1 00:00:00,300 --> 00:00:03,000 What a wonderful opportunity that we have to worship God and 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,500 we appreciate that. So very much and we have some 3 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:09,000 visitors among us and we would hope that you would feel as you 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,900 are and that is an honored guest This series that I began a while 5 00:00:13,900 --> 00:00:16,100 back. I've really enjoyed very much 6 00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:18,600 presenting it on the seven. I am statements. 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,500 That Jesus made as recorded in the Gospel of John. 8 00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:26,100 This is number six. We've already noticed. 9 00:00:26,100 --> 00:00:29,000 The following Jesus says, I am the bread of life. 10 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:31,800 He said, I am the light of the world. 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,000 He said, I am the door. He said, I am the Good Shepherd. 12 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:40,800 He said, I am the resurrection and the life, and now he says, I 13 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,300 am the way. The truth and the life. 14 00:00:45,100 --> 00:00:47,400 Just a little bit about this text, a little background here. 15 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,400 This was on the eve of the crucifixion of Our Lord. 16 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,400 And he met one more time, behind those locked doors with those 17 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,100 disciples. He was eating the Passover feast 18 00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:00,200 with them. It was, then that he instituted 19 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,000 the memorial that we still participate in today and that is 20 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,800 the communion, the Lord's Supper. 21 00:01:05,900 --> 00:01:09,200 He instituted it on this particular occasion, with those 22 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,300 disciples. It was also the night that he 23 00:01:12,300 --> 00:01:16,700 would be betrayed Judas would sell our lord for thirty pieces, 24 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:21,200 of silver, the price of a Slave. But on this night, as you've 25 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:25,400 heard me say, I don't know, a hundred times Jesus was no man's 26 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,100 victim. There was nothing that Jesus 27 00:01:28,100 --> 00:01:32,000 didn't know, and Jesus was not surprised at all. 28 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,300 When they came to arrest him, he knew it all. 29 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,200 He also wasn't surprised when Judas would betray him, he knew 30 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,400 that in fact, on this night, with those disciples behind 31 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,300 those locked doors. He said, one of you will betray 32 00:01:45,300 --> 00:01:47,600 me. And then he said, I will be 33 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,700 delivered into the hands of man and he would lose his life on 34 00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:54,700 that occasion. You know, it's beautiful about 35 00:01:54,700 --> 00:01:56,900 this though in the midst of all of this. 36 00:01:57,500 --> 00:02:01,200 Jesus gives comforting words to his disciples that they're going 37 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,600 to need to get through their life, especially in the days, 38 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:09,300 following the Lord's crucifixion, he always thinks of 39 00:02:09,300 --> 00:02:15,000 his He would do this again to by the way, in the Garden of 40 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:16,900 Gethsemane. After he prayed to his father 41 00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:19,100 three times, I won't spend a lot of time on this. 42 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,600 After he prayed to his father. If it be possible, let this cup 43 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,800 pass from me. But not my will. 44 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,200 But yours be done with the determined resolve. 45 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,900 He looked out into the distance there and here they come. 46 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:35,800 The Roman cohort, 600 soldiers, a band of man led by the 47 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:40,400 horrible betrayer. Judas Iscariot Jesus sees them 48 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,200 coming and he goes out to meet them. 49 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:46,800 And he says this, he says, who you looking for? 50 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:52,800 And they said, Jesus of Nazareth, and Jesus said, I am 51 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,100 he, they all fell down. They all got back up. 52 00:02:56,100 --> 00:02:58,400 He asked again, who you looking for? 53 00:02:58,900 --> 00:03:02,100 They said, Jesus of Nazareth. He said I already told you that. 54 00:03:02,100 --> 00:03:05,700 I am. He therefore, let these go. 55 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,900 He protected his own. In the darkest most difficult 56 00:03:10,900 --> 00:03:15,100 times in his life. But in this particular occasion, 57 00:03:15,100 --> 00:03:17,900 these words of comfort, he speaks concerning the place 58 00:03:17,900 --> 00:03:22,200 where he's going. In John chapter 14 and verses 59 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,800 two and three. and where I go you know, Jesus said and the way 60 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:31,200 you know, Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where 61 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,000 you're going and how can we know the way Jesus said to him? 62 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,300 I am the way, the truth and the life. 63 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,900 No one comes to the father, except through me. 64 00:03:41,100 --> 00:03:43,700 First of all, what is the word Mansions mean? 65 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,800 In my father's house? Are many mansions, if it were 66 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,000 not. So I would have told you I go to 67 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,300 prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, 68 00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:55,500 I will come again. And receive you to myself that 69 00:03:55,500 --> 00:04:00,100 where I am, there you may be also Thomas said, we don't know 70 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:02,200 where you're going and how can we know the way? 71 00:04:03,300 --> 00:04:07,200 And Jesus says, in my father's house are many mansions, the 72 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,700 word mentioned, by the way, in this passage means a staying 73 00:04:10,700 --> 00:04:15,400 place and Abiding. Place a dwelling place and a 74 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,800 boat. Okay, he tells them, I'm going 75 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,500 to prepare a place. Now, in your mind, it kind of 76 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:25,500 sounds like Jesus is saying this, I've kind of thought this 77 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:28,100 too. But my conclusion doesn't really 78 00:04:28,100 --> 00:04:31,400 make sense. It sounds as though. 79 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,500 Jesus is saying I got to go away, so I can go build a place 80 00:04:35,500 --> 00:04:39,800 for you. I can go and create a place for 81 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,600 you in heaven, but, you know, that's not really what he's 82 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:47,800 saying, because the mansions that are there have always been 83 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,800 there, the heaven that is going to be prepared for God's. 84 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,300 People is already prepared for God's people. 85 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,000 So what does it mean when he says, I'm going to prepare a 86 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,100 place for you. It literally means this, I'm 87 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:04,200 going to make a reservation for you. 88 00:05:04,900 --> 00:05:08,900 I'm going to reserve a spot for You, you know, it's kind of like 89 00:05:08,900 --> 00:05:14,400 this Tina is my travel agent. And anytime over the all the 90 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,500 years we've been married that I was going to go somewhere. 91 00:05:17,300 --> 00:05:19,200 She makes a reservation for me at a hotel. 92 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,100 She doesn't create the hotel door exist. 93 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,500 She makes a reservation for me so that when I get there, it's 94 00:05:24,500 --> 00:05:27,200 ready for me. That's what Jesus was saying. 95 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:30,200 He's telling those disciples. I'm going to go make a 96 00:05:30,207 --> 00:05:34,200 reservation for you in heaven because in my father's house are 97 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:35,500 many mansions. If it were not. 98 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:38,300 So I would have told you that's what he meant when he said I'm 99 00:05:38,300 --> 00:05:39,700 going to prepare a place for you. 100 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,100 I'm going to make reservations for you and you know, Not just 101 00:05:43,100 --> 00:05:46,300 those disciples but guess what? The faithful Christian lives 102 00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:50,000 today. And has lived all the years 103 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,900 beginning in Acts chapter 2, all those that are saved. 104 00:05:53,900 --> 00:05:57,800 All those that are the redeemed, he tells them at this place is 105 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:02,600 prepared for them. And Thomas says this Thomas 106 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,400 says, Lord, we do not know where you're going and how can we know 107 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,600 the way. And Jesus said these beautiful 108 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,000 words, by the way, these are the most encouraging thoughts. 109 00:06:12,900 --> 00:06:15,400 Is the Lord's response. Thomas said we don't know where 110 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:16,700 you're going, how we can get there? 111 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,200 Where is it? Jesus says, I am the way. 112 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,900 The truth and the life. This is the sixth. 113 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,600 I am statement of Jesus, and you remember this to the, I am 114 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:35,600 statements of Jesus indicate who Jesus was and is and they also 115 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,100 tell us a great deal about God himself. 116 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,000 In fact, in John chapter 1 and verse 18. 117 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,400 The Bible says, no one has seen God at any time. 118 00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:46,900 Okay. These are exclusive words here. 119 00:06:46,900 --> 00:06:50,000 By the way, no one has seen God at any time. 120 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,600 The only begotten son, that's Jesus. 121 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,500 Who is in the bosom of the father, he has declared Are 122 00:06:56,700 --> 00:07:01,600 these are exclusive in nature. These statements just God and 123 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,800 Jesus. So what are we saying? 124 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:09,400 Jesus says three things. I'm the way I am the truth. 125 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:12,400 And I am the life. What did he mean? 126 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:17,000 First of all first and foremost, he said, I am the way. 127 00:07:18,100 --> 00:07:21,100 And Deuteronomy chapter 30, we learned something very sobering. 128 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,400 This is back in the Old Testament and these were words 129 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,200 that were given a long time ago and they describe the following, 130 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,700 they described there's only two ways. 131 00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:37,600 Just too. Only to in Deuteronomy chapter 132 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,900 30 verses 15 through 20. The two ways, our life and good 133 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:44,900 and death and evil. Now we're talking about death 134 00:07:44,900 --> 00:07:47,800 here, everybody's going to die physically unless the Lord comes 135 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,400 back. Sooner before they're dead. 136 00:07:50,500 --> 00:07:53,100 Everybody's going to pass the chilly Waters of death, everyone 137 00:07:53,100 --> 00:07:56,000 that's just part of life. So the debt that we're talking 138 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:57,900 about here is not physical death. 139 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,500 It's talking about spiritual death, in other words before us 140 00:08:01,500 --> 00:08:04,200 going all the way back to Deuteronomy, chapter 30. 141 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:08,500 Life has a choice. We choose good and there's life, 142 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:13,800 we choose evil and then there's death, spiritual life and 143 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,500 spiritual death going all the way back to the Old Testament. 144 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,400 All right. What about the New Testament? 145 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,900 What kind of choices are we going to make in Matthew? 146 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:26,900 Chapter 6, and verse 24, Jesus says, no one can serve two 147 00:08:26,900 --> 00:08:30,100 masters for either. He will hate the one and love 148 00:08:30,100 --> 00:08:34,000 the other or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the 149 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,100 other. And then he says, you cannot 150 00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:39,000 serve God. And Mammon, what does all that 151 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:43,500 mean? Well, first of all, the Slave, 152 00:08:43,500 --> 00:08:45,500 master relationship was well-known. 153 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:50,900 In fact, at the time in this country, in that country, many 154 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:52,700 people had slaves. There's many people that were 155 00:08:52,700 --> 00:08:54,900 slaves, they the slave relationship. 156 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,200 But everybody understood. And they would have known the 157 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:02,000 concept if you're trying to make a point and making an 158 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,700 illustration to the slave master relationship. 159 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:06,500 They would have got it, you know why? 160 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,300 Because it was very common, they all knew that you had a master 161 00:09:10,300 --> 00:09:13,600 and the master had slaves. Everybody also would have 162 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,800 understood the concept that the slave Would never divide his 163 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:22,000 devotion between his master. And somebody else wouldn't do 164 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,400 it. Not only would he not do it? 165 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,800 He wouldn't want to. I mean, after all why would a 166 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:31,600 slave that is enslaved to a Master create devotion of that 167 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,100 Master and then Devotion to another Master, he wouldn't do 168 00:09:34,100 --> 00:09:36,500 that. Number two. 169 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,500 If he didn't do that, he would be subjected to the punishment 170 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,700 of his own master. So, when Jesus starts speaking 171 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:46,800 these words, they would have totally understood what he 172 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,700 meant. You can't serve two masters, you 173 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:54,300 can't be devoted to two masters, but then Jesus adds a little 174 00:09:54,300 --> 00:09:57,700 something, his own self. He adds a little idea here. 175 00:09:57,700 --> 00:10:02,900 He said, you can't serve God and Mammon, what is that? 176 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:09,400 Mammon is, what is trusted, it is a treasure It is riches. 177 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:17,800 Please don't misunderstand here. Jesus was not saying you can't 178 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:22,500 have riches. He wasn't saying you can't have 179 00:10:22,500 --> 00:10:25,200 things in life that you enjoy that are not sinful in wrong and 180 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:29,900 it said either he didn't say you can't have any money. 181 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,300 Nowhere in the scriptures does it say you can't have any money? 182 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,800 What he's saying is don't divide your attention or your devotion 183 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:46,500 between God and anything else. Anyone else? 184 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:53,200 Here's the simple Point, folks. God must be number one in your 185 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:54,500 devotion. That's it. 186 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,100 And you can have things in life. Surely you, can they're not 187 00:10:58,100 --> 00:11:00,400 sinful. And by the way, every good and 188 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,800 perfect gift is from above. So every good thing in the world 189 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,700 is because of God and anybody in the world. 190 00:11:06,700 --> 00:11:08,500 That's blessed with something good. 191 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:10,600 That comes from God. That's a fact. 192 00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:15,100 Everybody enjoys that blessing from God in life. 193 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:19,700 The point is, don't ever let it be that God competes with your 194 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:22,600 devotion for your devotion with anything else. 195 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,600 Well, let's talk about what Jesus said about two gates. 196 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,200 And two ways in a very familiar, passage in the great Sermon on 197 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,700 the Mount. In Matthew Chapter 7, Enter by 198 00:11:32,700 --> 00:11:35,700 the narrow gate for wide. Is the gate and Broad is the way 199 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:39,300 that leads to destruction. And there are many who go in by 200 00:11:39,300 --> 00:11:42,800 it, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that 201 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,300 leads to life. And there are few that find it 202 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:50,700 in the King James version. It says the word straight stra 203 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:54,300 it, that's the Straight Gate and it means narrow. 204 00:11:54,300 --> 00:11:56,900 And I like the way the new King James renders it because it says 205 00:11:56,900 --> 00:12:00,300 the word that it actually means. It is the narrow way. 206 00:12:00,900 --> 00:12:05,700 It's Looked, I want to make a point about this, though being a 207 00:12:05,708 --> 00:12:07,600 Christian. Please get this. 208 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:10,400 And stay with me. Please do this point so you 209 00:12:10,408 --> 00:12:12,200 don't misunderstand. I'm really trying hard for you 210 00:12:12,208 --> 00:12:18,500 to get Living the Christian life is difficult. 211 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:24,400 And it's a struggle. It's difficult. 212 00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:29,200 And it's a struggle. In Jude 3. 213 00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:32,400 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you 214 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:36,100 concerning our common salvation. I found it necessary to write to 215 00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:40,500 you exhorting, you to what contend earnestly for the faith. 216 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:44,600 That once was delivered for the Saints, the word contend there. 217 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,800 By the way, it's a strengthened word in its Origins and it 218 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:53,300 actually means to agonize, so the word contend means to 219 00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:56,300 agonize mr. Thayer said it this way, he 220 00:12:56,300 --> 00:13:01,400 said, the whole idea is A matter of Christians facing the foe 221 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:04,700 wherever he is, wherever the opposition is. 222 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:09,200 Yes, Christianity is a struggle and contention means to be 223 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:12,200 agonizing in it. By the way, when I get done with 224 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:15,600 this is going to be encouraging. But let's be realistic. 225 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,400 We got to be realistic. And I'm gonna tell you why just 226 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:19,300 a moment. You know why? 227 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,400 First this passage in Ephesians 6 and 12. 228 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:28,100 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. 229 00:13:29,100 --> 00:13:31,600 But against principalities against Powers against the 230 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,700 rulers of Darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of 231 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:37,100 wickedness in the Heavenly places. 232 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,700 Alright, here's some more reality, it's not easy. 233 00:13:42,100 --> 00:13:44,600 It's not I think people need to be realistic. 234 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,200 You know, what happens to people when they have unrealistic 235 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:54,100 expectations. When they're about to Embark 236 00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:59,500 upon an Endeavor and they have unrealistic expectations of 237 00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:03,400 easy, you know, what happens when it's hard, they get 238 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,800 discouraged and quit. You know why? 239 00:14:05,900 --> 00:14:09,100 Because their expectations were, it's going to be easy. 240 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,700 My mother will remember this years ago, my whole family's Old 241 00:14:12,700 --> 00:14:17,400 World Book, Back when actually had Book Sales and all the 242 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,900 educational products and every year, there was a great big 243 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:24,700 convention somewhere in the United States, everybody got all 244 00:14:24,700 --> 00:14:27,200 excited about making it to the convention you wanted to sell 245 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,200 enough so that conventions paid for it all that. 246 00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:30,900 You know why? Because you got there and you 247 00:14:30,900 --> 00:14:35,100 want to talk about getting pumped up then get all the cream 248 00:14:35,100 --> 00:14:36,600 of the crop that we're in the company. 249 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,800 All the best salesman. You know they do they get up and 250 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,500 give their testimony they say look this is what I did. 251 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,200 And people get the idea, man. This is so easy. 252 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,700 I'm going to go home and do all this. 253 00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:50,800 They get so high in the air, they got to look down and see 254 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,000 the clouds. You know what happens? 255 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,300 You go home and you start working it. 256 00:14:55,700 --> 00:15:00,800 Oh, it's hard. Wait a minute, I think it's 257 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:02,600 gonna be hard. He made it sound real easy. 258 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,400 You know, what happens to those, especially the newcomers. 259 00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:08,900 They quit and they do something else. 260 00:15:10,500 --> 00:15:13,000 Unrealistic expectations. I don't want you to have an 261 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,200 unrealistic expectation expectation about being a 262 00:15:15,208 --> 00:15:17,900 Christian, I just want you to understand what it is and it's 263 00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:20,400 worth it. It's worth it. 264 00:15:20,900 --> 00:15:22,500 Yeah, it's going to be a struggle sometimes, folks. 265 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:24,000 It really is. That's what the Bible says. 266 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:29,400 Paul In this passage Likens, the Christian Warfare to a wrestling 267 00:15:29,500 --> 00:15:33,800 contest, very common in those days, by the way and you know, 268 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,300 I'm not a wrestler. I never was a wrestler but I 269 00:15:36,308 --> 00:15:38,200 think. Yep, if you pin a guy for two 270 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:44,700 seconds or so you win the match. But back then, wrestling contest 271 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:48,600 were quite different. What they did in a wrestling 272 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,400 context contest. Not only, did you have to pin 273 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:56,500 the opponent but you have the take your hand on the neck of 274 00:15:56,500 --> 00:16:01,200 the opponent and hold his neck down his head, down until that 275 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,000 opponent or that other person that you're beating. 276 00:16:05,300 --> 00:16:10,900 acknowledges, his defeat Yet hold them down until they say. 277 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:16,900 I'm tapping out. That's what Paul is talking 278 00:16:16,900 --> 00:16:19,800 about. It's that kind of, it's that 279 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:24,800 kind of a contest. The idea is the antagonist or 280 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,400 the opponent must be held down and let me ask you something. 281 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:32,100 Who is our opponent? Who is it? 282 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:37,100 Who is our greatest antagonist? It's the devil. 283 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,100 In James 4:7. Therefore submit to God. 284 00:16:42,100 --> 00:16:44,600 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 285 00:16:44,700 --> 00:16:46,900 In your life, you're going to have to wrestle with the devil. 286 00:16:46,900 --> 00:16:48,700 Why? Because all the Temptations. 287 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:52,200 And by the way, the devil doesn't come at you with all the 288 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:57,000 ugly mean, terrible, bad stuff. Because if he did, he would run 289 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:02,300 from it, we all would be easy. The Devil comes and temps us 290 00:17:02,300 --> 00:17:07,099 with things that we like Temps us with things that we enjoy 291 00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:11,300 appeals to our flesh appeals to our fun side. 292 00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:16,400 And if things are fun and they're okay, it's not from the 293 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,500 devil. But if there are things that are 294 00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:20,800 fun and it's not, okay, those things are from the devil. 295 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:24,599 So we're in a wrestling contest with the devil, and we need to 296 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:27,599 rise up against him. How do you do it submit to God? 297 00:17:27,599 --> 00:17:28,600 What else? You got to do? 298 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,600 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 299 00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:34,300 And I promise you this, if you have temptations from the devil 300 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,000 and you're struggling, go to God In Prayer, right? 301 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,100 Then and there submit yourself to God and pray to God, you know 302 00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:46,000 what the devil will leave you. We're time but he always comes 303 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,500 back, but you can have the power to keep him on the run. 304 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,100 All right? Jesse James 4 and verse 7. 305 00:17:52,100 --> 00:17:53,900 Very practical passage of scripture. 306 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,800 Yes, being a Christian requires effort and sacrifice. 307 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:04,900 In Luke chapter 9 and verse 23. And he said to them all if 308 00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:08,400 anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up 309 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,500 his cross and follow me. All right, what does it mean to 310 00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:13,800 deny yourself? It means to disown ones. 311 00:18:13,900 --> 00:18:17,100 Earthly interest. And again, what are we talking 312 00:18:17,100 --> 00:18:18,900 about? We're just saying this. 313 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,800 Nothing's going to be more important than God, that's all. 314 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:27,300 And by the way, when Jesus says that if a person has to do this 315 00:18:27,300 --> 00:18:29,500 and has to do that, and hate this one and love the other at 316 00:18:29,500 --> 00:18:33,200 all, he's not saying that you have to have horrible feelings 317 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,000 about Look your loved ones. You just means you got love God 318 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:36,900 more. That's it. 319 00:18:37,500 --> 00:18:41,300 God put God first. So you may not have to give up 320 00:18:41,300 --> 00:18:42,900 your Earthly riches to be a Christian. 321 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:47,200 You may not have to I think we live comfortable lives. 322 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,000 The question, is this, you have to be willing to disown your 323 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,400 Earthly interest. If need be to serve God, that's 324 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,100 what it means. What else? 325 00:18:57,300 --> 00:19:01,300 It's a life of sacrifice. He says, take up your cross. 326 00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:04,300 This was a figurative phrase based on the practice of a 327 00:19:04,308 --> 00:19:07,800 doomed man carrying his cross to the place of crucifixion. 328 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:09,900 And that's exactly what Jesus did. 329 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,800 So in our life, we don't literally take up a wooden 330 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,800 cross. We literally in our life in a 331 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,100 figurative sense, I mean, in a figurative way We carry our 332 00:19:19,100 --> 00:19:20,900 cross. Meaning we are willing to 333 00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:23,600 sacrifice for Jesus in our life. What are you gonna do? 334 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,600 Put God first and realize it's a life of sacrifice. 335 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:31,900 So this way is what this way is the way of Christians. 336 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:36,700 What else acts 16 and 17 This girl, followed Paul and said, 337 00:19:36,700 --> 00:19:40,600 and cried out saying, these men are the Servants of the most 338 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,500 high God, who proclaimed to us the way of Salvation. 339 00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:47,600 It's also the way of God and Acts chapter and Acts chapter 18 340 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,400 and verse 26. So he began to speak boldly in 341 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,700 the synagogue when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took 342 00:19:53,700 --> 00:19:58,500 him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 343 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:00,900 So, what is the way? It's a great way. 344 00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:03,900 It's the way of Christians is the way of Salvation is the way 345 00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:09,000 of God. And here's why it's so worth it, 346 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:14,000 it's the way to have it. It's the way to hit me. 347 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,500 Ask you a question. You want to go to heaven? 348 00:20:20,300 --> 00:20:25,100 Think about that. I would imagine there's no one 349 00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:28,400 here in this audience that would say, nope not me. 350 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:33,100 I want to go to hell. You want to go ahead? 351 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,800 There's a way to have it. Jesus says, you got choices to 352 00:20:38,808 --> 00:20:42,300 make to Matthew 7:14 because narrow is the gate and difficult 353 00:20:42,300 --> 00:20:44,900 is the way that leads to what leads to life. 354 00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:52,500 And there are few that find it. Also folks listen to this it's 355 00:20:52,500 --> 00:20:56,500 sometimes the lonely path. Sometimes you feel like you're 356 00:20:56,500 --> 00:20:59,000 all by yourself, it's the lonely path. 357 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,200 I did tell you there's some good stuff coming. 358 00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:03,500 I'm presenting the realistic side. 359 00:21:03,500 --> 00:21:06,300 Sometimes it's going to be difficult and I do that like I 360 00:21:06,300 --> 00:21:09,100 said before, so when things are difficult and lonely, you don't 361 00:21:09,100 --> 00:21:11,200 quit, you just understand what it is. 362 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,600 This is often times the lonely path, but this is the path that 363 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,200 our savior. Our Good Shepherd is leading us 364 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,700 with love in the 23rd. Psalm he restores my soul. 365 00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:24,900 He leads me in the paths of righteousness. 366 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:29,700 For his name sake and those that walk on this road and stay on. 367 00:21:29,700 --> 00:21:32,200 This road will receive eternal life. 368 00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:38,300 So very important in Romans chapter 2, We got to have some 369 00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:41,900 staying power. Eternal life to those by. 370 00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:43,300 What? Who? 371 00:21:43,300 --> 00:21:48,000 By patient continuous continuance in doing good seek 372 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,800 for glory, honor and immortality What does this mean? 373 00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:54,900 Beat says it this way. One scholar it. 374 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:59,200 Signifies the grave holding up under burdens, which would cost 375 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:04,300 castus down a pressing forward in the face of foes who would 376 00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:09,600 drive us back and that patients manifest itself in Good Works. 377 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,700 Tell him stay in power. Revelation 2 and 10 won't spend 378 00:22:15,700 --> 00:22:17,700 very much time on this but I got we got four with look at this 379 00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:21,100 passage In the seven churches of Asia. 380 00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:22,800 One of the letters from Jesus Through. 381 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,900 John was the church at Smyrna. That was the persecuted Church. 382 00:22:27,900 --> 00:22:29,400 And this is what was said to them. 383 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:33,400 They were under tremendous persecution, do not fear any of 384 00:22:33,408 --> 00:22:35,900 those things which you are about to suffer. 385 00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:39,300 Indeed the devil is about to throw some of you into prison 386 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:44,700 that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days, 387 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:49,000 be faithful unto death and I will give you a Crown of Life. 388 00:22:49,300 --> 00:22:51,500 This phrase be faithful unto death. 389 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:54,400 Okay. It sounds on the surface like 390 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:59,300 he's just saying this. Be faithful, all of your life or 391 00:22:59,300 --> 00:23:02,900 until your death and it includes that but contextually that's not 392 00:23:02,900 --> 00:23:05,500 what he's saying. What he's saying is this be 393 00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:09,600 faithful? Even if it takes your life. 394 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:16,000 Even if you lose your life be faithful, even if it cost you 395 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,100 and you die, don't worry about that. 396 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,100 He said, I'll give you a crown of life. 397 00:23:20,100 --> 00:23:23,800 Now, there's a lot said about this phrase, here, 10 days. 398 00:23:24,100 --> 00:23:26,200 What's 10 days? I've read commentators that 399 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,000 said, 10 days, a day represents a year. 400 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,100 So 10 days is 10 years and some say a lifetime, some say short 401 00:23:33,100 --> 00:23:35,100 lifetime. It really doesn't matter. 402 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:39,600 This is what it means. Ten days refers to a full and 403 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:44,100 complete period. It may be long or short, but it 404 00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:47,400 will come to an end, it means to have a willingness to die, 405 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:53,500 rather than quit, and that's what it means. 10 days. you 406 00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:57,800 know, sometimes people Whether it's those that preach the idea 407 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:04,400 of a period of tribulation. And they say comes after Jesus 408 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:08,300 comes back. And there is a period of 409 00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:13,700 tribulation know, the tribulation is right now. 410 00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:17,400 It began all the way back in Acts. 411 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,600 Chapter 2 and the church was established. 412 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,700 It began all the way back there. It will exist until time shall 413 00:24:24,700 --> 00:24:26,600 be no more. That is the period of 414 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:30,000 tribulation. So when Jesus comes back it's 415 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,000 over with it's good for the same. 416 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,300 No tribulation and those that are lost are cast into the Lake 417 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:36,500 of Fire. That's what it says. 418 00:24:37,900 --> 00:24:40,100 May have some difficult stuff going on your life, but you can 419 00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:42,800 make it. What else, not only is he the 420 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:46,700 way, there's no other way to get to God, except through Jesus 421 00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:49,000 Christ. But secondly, Jesus says, I am 422 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:53,200 the truth, Jesus is the word of God. 423 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:58,800 And what's that mean? In John chapter 1, And beginning 424 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:02,600 in verse 1 there, he says, in the beginning was the word and 425 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:06,400 the Word was with God. And the Word was God, the 426 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,100 phrase, the word, it was with God. 427 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:16,900 Now that word in the Greek is from logos, It was a word used 428 00:25:16,900 --> 00:25:20,900 to express, reason and speech, and thought and expression. 429 00:25:21,900 --> 00:25:27,100 Now obviously, the word here is referring to Jesus Christ before 430 00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:32,900 Jesus was born in the flesh. He was known as the word and the 431 00:25:32,900 --> 00:25:39,500 Word was with God, but there's more, then it says, and the Word 432 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:43,100 was God and this is where people get confused. 433 00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:45,300 I'm going to try not to be confusing here. 434 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:51,100 The Word was God, first of all, in these two Clauses, the first 435 00:25:51,100 --> 00:25:55,800 clause in the beginning was the word shows the Lord's Eternal 436 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,600 existence number one, the second clause. 437 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,400 Is the Lord's distinct personality. 438 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:10,700 He was God, okay. Here's the deal. 439 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,100 Here's the attributes of his deity. 440 00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:16,100 He is God. Let me try to explain this as 441 00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:22,600 simply as I can. There are three separate persons 442 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:26,900 in the godhead. They are God. 443 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:31,600 They are Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. 444 00:26:32,700 --> 00:26:36,200 There are three separate persons in the godhead. 445 00:26:36,500 --> 00:26:41,700 Not one person, three persons in the godhead and those three 446 00:26:41,700 --> 00:26:45,400 persons in the godhead. They are one in purpose. 447 00:26:46,500 --> 00:26:51,500 They agree with each other. They are working together as one 448 00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:55,600 All in the godhead working together. 449 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:00,600 So what does it mean? When it says the Word was God, 450 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,300 and what does it mean? When it says Jesus Is God, it's 451 00:27:03,300 --> 00:27:04,800 very simple. Is what sir said. 452 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:05,900 I want to put this on the screen. 453 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,900 This really explains it. Very simply for me. 454 00:27:09,300 --> 00:27:10,800 How do you sort out? What? 455 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:11,900 Wait a minute. They're all God. 456 00:27:11,900 --> 00:27:13,500 How can be three persons? Here it is. 457 00:27:14,700 --> 00:27:19,200 The Word was God that phrase is set on the basis that God is the 458 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:25,500 family name of deity. Hence, any member of that family 459 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:30,300 would rightfully take that name. Just as any member of the Smith 460 00:27:30,300 --> 00:27:34,200 family would take on the name. Smith, are they all the same 461 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,000 person? No, there's a bunch of Smith's. 462 00:27:38,900 --> 00:27:42,500 The family name. Well, that God. 463 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:48,100 It's the family name of deity and God the father has it. 464 00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:51,200 The sun has it and the Holy Spirit has it. 465 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:56,300 They bear the name of deity three separate persons though 466 00:27:56,300 --> 00:27:59,100 working together. And by the way, that's why Jesus 467 00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:02,600 is called God in Isaiah 9:6 For unto us. 468 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:06,200 A child is born, unto us a son is given and the government will 469 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,100 be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called 470 00:28:09,100 --> 00:28:10,600 wonderful. Still talking about. 471 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,000 Jesus counselor, still talking about Jesus. 472 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:17,200 God still talking about Jesus Everlasting father, Prince of 473 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,400 Peace. He Bears, the family name of 474 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:25,800 deity and that is God. It also explains this to why the 475 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,800 phrase Church of Christ and Church of God are often used 476 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:33,500 interchangeably in the New Testament acts 20:28. 477 00:28:33,500 --> 00:28:36,600 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock 478 00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:40,500 among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to Shepherd 479 00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:44,900 the Church of God, which he purchased with his own blood who 480 00:28:44,900 --> 00:28:47,600 died on the cross, who shed his blood? 481 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,600 It was Jesus. Here, he's called It's called 482 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,700 The Church of God, because Church of God, and church of 483 00:28:53,700 --> 00:28:57,300 Christ are the same. Are the same. 484 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:00,900 Alright. Then, what happened to this 485 00:29:00,900 --> 00:29:03,100 word? Well, he became flesh. 486 00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:08,400 And dwelt among us and we beheld, his glory, the glory, as 487 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:12,300 of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth, 488 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:15,400 the word of God. Please get. 489 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:23,800 This is truth in John 17 and 17. Sanctify them by your truth. 490 00:29:24,500 --> 00:29:34,200 Your word is truth in Psalm 119 and verse 16 T, the entirety of 491 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:38,900 your word is truth and every one of your righteous judgement 492 00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:41,900 indoors forever. Here's another passage first 493 00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:45,400 Thessalonians 2:13 for this reason. 494 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,100 We also thank god without ceasing because when you receive 495 00:29:49,100 --> 00:29:54,100 the word of God, which You heard from us, you're welcomed it, not 496 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,500 as the word of men. Hold it right there. 497 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,900 I have to make a point. Because we're talking about 498 00:30:02,900 --> 00:30:06,000 truth. And the Apostle Paul makes a 499 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:10,200 distinction between the word of men and the word of Truth. 500 00:30:10,700 --> 00:30:13,900 Why do I make that point? Because sometimes people today 501 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:17,900 believe in this concept, that every man or every person 502 00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:22,000 determines what truth is for their life and there's no such 503 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,600 thing as absolute truth. Not according to Paul, Paul 504 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:27,700 makes a distinction, you didn't receive it. 505 00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:31,100 Because it came from, man, you received it as it came from God, 506 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:34,100 the Of Truth, let me take it a step further. 507 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:39,400 If I as a man, come up with a philosophy, that is against 508 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,100 God's word. It's the way of man is not the 509 00:30:42,100 --> 00:30:46,300 way of God, if I preach the truth from the word of God, even 510 00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:49,000 though it's coming out of the mouth of a man, it is the word 511 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:50,900 of God. And that's how those of vessel 512 00:30:50,900 --> 00:30:54,500 and Aika received the word, which Paul's talking about when 513 00:30:54,500 --> 00:30:59,900 it was preached to them. Came from God, What else is this 514 00:30:59,900 --> 00:31:02,400 truth going to do for us John 8:32. 515 00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:06,800 And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. 516 00:31:07,700 --> 00:31:11,000 Romans chapter 8, and verse 24, the law of the spirit of life in 517 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:15,500 Christ, Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death, 518 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:19,800 okay? Truth brings us to heaven. 519 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:24,800 And those who live in truth or by the truth, have their names 520 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,300 written in the book of life. Now, Do me a favor. 521 00:31:28,300 --> 00:31:30,900 Would you as we're progressing now, I want you to wrap your 522 00:31:30,900 --> 00:31:35,700 mind around the concept. Of being in the Book of Life. 523 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:38,700 Because I'll tell you want to be in that. 524 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:43,100 We all want to be in there. Everybody wants to be in that 525 00:31:43,100 --> 00:31:46,900 book of life, okay? The truth of the word of God 526 00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:49,700 leads us to be found in the book of life. 527 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,500 It leads us to be put in the Book of Life we will all want 528 00:31:52,500 --> 00:31:55,300 that, Philippians chapter 4, and verse 3. 529 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:57,700 And I urge you also True Companion. 530 00:31:57,700 --> 00:32:01,200 Help those women who labored with me in the gospel with 531 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,000 Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers. 532 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:08,500 Notice whose names are in the Book of Life. 533 00:32:09,300 --> 00:32:12,900 The phrase book of life comes from an Old Testament passage 534 00:32:12,900 --> 00:32:14,900 where it describes God's covenant people. 535 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:18,300 It goes all the way back to Exodus, 32 and beginning there 536 00:32:18,300 --> 00:32:24,000 in verse 32 yet, now if you will forgive their sin, but if not, I 537 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,500 pray, blot me out of your book, which you have written, and the 538 00:32:27,500 --> 00:32:30,900 Lord said to Moses, Whoever has sinned against me. 539 00:32:30,900 --> 00:32:37,000 I will blot him out of my book. Those who overcome folks. 540 00:32:38,100 --> 00:32:40,100 Will be found written in the Book of Life. 541 00:32:40,500 --> 00:32:43,000 John the Revelator said in Revelation chapter 3 and verse 542 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:50,100 5, He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I 543 00:32:50,108 --> 00:32:52,800 will not blot out his name from The Book of Life. 544 00:32:54,100 --> 00:32:57,700 But I will confess his name before my father and before his 545 00:32:57,700 --> 00:33:01,100 angels. You know, the phrase he who 546 00:33:01,100 --> 00:33:05,200 overcomes. It's the same idea as be 547 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:09,600 faithful unto death. Sir says this that phrase has a 548 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:12,800 universal practice for institutions that consists of 549 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:17,500 individual membership, to keep a record of its names in a book. 550 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:22,400 That fact, is the basis for the figurative idea of Book of Life, 551 00:33:22,900 --> 00:33:25,300 in which the Lord keeps a list of his people. 552 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:28,900 The point is that all whose names are in there may be 553 00:33:28,900 --> 00:33:31,100 considered in good standing with the Lord. 554 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:34,900 I want to be in the book of life and I want to In there, because 555 00:33:34,900 --> 00:33:37,100 if I do that, I'm in good standing with the Lord. 556 00:33:37,100 --> 00:33:40,700 And by the way, the only relationship that matters, the 557 00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:44,200 absolute most in your life, we have a lot of relationships. 558 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:48,900 The only one that matters the greatest second to none. 559 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:52,600 Is our relationship with the Lord. 560 00:33:54,100 --> 00:33:57,100 That's all that matters. And you know why? 561 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,000 Because if we don't get that right, nothing else matters, 562 00:34:00,500 --> 00:34:05,200 nothing number. Glad I was born used to say if 563 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:13,400 there is no God, Then, nothing matters. but if there is a God, 564 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:19,199 nothing else matters. That's the most important 565 00:34:19,199 --> 00:34:21,699 relationship that you will ever have. 566 00:34:22,300 --> 00:34:24,300 I want to be in good standing with the Lord. 567 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:26,000 I want to be in that book of life. 568 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:29,900 All right in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1, The Who some sobering 569 00:34:29,900 --> 00:34:33,100 words we got to use this to its time about those that reject the 570 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:34,300 truth. They're not going to be found in 571 00:34:34,300 --> 00:34:37,400 the book of life but look at this very sobering passage Paul 572 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:39,100 wrote this. Second Thessalonians 1. 573 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:44,400 And to give you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord 574 00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:48,300 Jesus is revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in 575 00:34:48,300 --> 00:34:51,600 flaming fire taking Vengeance. On those who do not know God, 576 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,900 And on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord, Jesus 577 00:34:56,900 --> 00:34:59,600 Christ. These shall be punished with 578 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,400 Everlasting, destruction from the presence of the Lord, and 579 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:05,600 from the glory of his power. When he comes in that day to be 580 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:09,000 glorified in his Saints and be admired among all those who 581 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:13,000 believe because our testimony among you was believed I want to 582 00:35:13,008 --> 00:35:16,300 ask you the question again. Are you in the Book of Life? 583 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:21,100 Are you in there? Revelation 20:15. 584 00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:26,000 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into 585 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:27,700 the Lake of Fire. What did Jesus say that? 586 00:35:27,700 --> 00:35:29,500 He said I'm the way there's no other way. 587 00:35:30,500 --> 00:35:32,400 He said I'm the truth. There's nothing else that will 588 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:36,300 guide you and Lead You. And then, he says this finally, 589 00:35:37,100 --> 00:35:42,300 Jesus is the life. He said, I am the life without 590 00:35:42,300 --> 00:35:44,900 Jesus. There is no life. 591 00:35:45,300 --> 00:35:49,200 We learn in John chapter 1, and verse 3, he is Creator. 592 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:51,500 He was there in the very beginning with God. 593 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,400 When the Bible says, let us make man in our image, after our 594 00:35:55,400 --> 00:36:00,300 likeness, It included, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit In 595 00:36:00,300 --> 00:36:05,000 The Creation in Jesus only there is life without him. 596 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:09,300 There is no life. In fact, John 1:4 tells us that 597 00:36:09,300 --> 00:36:12,700 very thing in him was life. Number three, what else does he 598 00:36:12,700 --> 00:36:17,100 do? Has life it, upholds all things 599 00:36:17,100 --> 00:36:20,900 by the word of his power. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 3 in 600 00:36:20,900 --> 00:36:25,000 him, all things consist Colossians chapter 1 and verse 601 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:29,300 17. All right, now In Romans chapter 602 00:36:29,300 --> 00:36:36,100 6, there's a contrast there. For the wages of sin is death. 603 00:36:36,100 --> 00:36:39,400 And again we're talking about spiritual death, okay? 604 00:36:39,500 --> 00:36:42,400 Spiritual death, Bible says all have sinned and come short of 605 00:36:42,408 --> 00:36:45,000 the glory of God, except the precious little kids. 606 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,200 They haven't sinned, and if they lost their life, their Precious 607 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:49,000 Little Lives. They go straight. 608 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,300 That they be saved. They go straight to him. 609 00:36:52,100 --> 00:36:53,600 They'd make it right to write to him. 610 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,300 But everybody else that gets old enough to be able to know 611 00:36:57,300 --> 00:37:01,100 better, especially from a moral choice, and commits, a sin, 612 00:37:01,100 --> 00:37:03,600 which is everyone of us at some point, our life. 613 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:07,400 It's it begins. We become accountable for our 614 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:09,500 sins. Well, what Paul says is this 615 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:14,700 what you got coming for sin is spiritual death, separation from 616 00:37:14,700 --> 00:37:17,400 God, here's the great news though, it doesn't have to 617 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:21,600 happen, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus 618 00:37:21,600 --> 00:37:27,400 Christ, Our Lord The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus 619 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:31,600 Christ. Our Lord, I want to talk about 620 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:33,500 the kind of life that it is, by the way. 621 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:39,900 In John 10:10. I have come that they may have 622 00:37:39,900 --> 00:37:44,800 life and that they may have it more abundantly. 623 00:37:46,100 --> 00:37:47,900 Okay. Remember when I said that 624 00:37:47,900 --> 00:37:50,100 sometimes being Christian is a struggle. 625 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:53,100 Sometimes it's hard work, sometimes it's discouraging. 626 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:54,900 Sometimes, it's lonely. All that's true. 627 00:37:54,900 --> 00:37:58,200 But guess what, the life that we're talking about here, what, 628 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:01,100 what Jesus says, I came that they may have life and have it 629 00:38:01,100 --> 00:38:03,800 more abundantly. That weren't abundantly means 630 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:08,400 overflowing rich. Fulness That is the life of a 631 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,800 Christian overflowing rich fulness. 632 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:15,100 Burton Kaufman wrote this, I love this. 633 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:20,200 How grotesque and unreal are the ideas of those who think the 634 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:23,400 Christian leads a life of boring inhibition. 635 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:26,800 Sitting out his years in the chili, Twilight of a monastic, 636 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:31,000 Gloom forbidden to do, anything that anyone else wants to do and 637 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:34,400 always cowering in the fear before an Angry God on the 638 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:38,600 contrary the Christian Life is the happy life free. 639 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:43,300 Abundant overflowing adventurous, exciting be Any 640 00:38:43,300 --> 00:38:47,200 other kind of existence, why can't men believe their creator 641 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:52,200 to the effect that the way of Christ is the way of joy and 642 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:55,600 fulfillment? It's the best life. 643 00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:01,300 It is the greatest life and you know why? 644 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:07,700 That's what make it practical. That's why, when a faithful 645 00:39:07,700 --> 00:39:11,600 child of God passes away, we're saddened because they're not in 646 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:14,400 our presence anymore. Oh, but we Rejoice because, you 647 00:39:14,408 --> 00:39:18,700 know, why is saying it? there's a better life after this 648 00:39:18,700 --> 00:39:23,400 one, a Christian has an abundant life and lives his life with the 649 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:27,200 Abundant riches, understanding all that he gets all that she 650 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:33,300 gets by being a Christian. In conclusion this morning. 651 00:39:34,700 --> 00:39:39,400 Jesus says, I am the way I am the truth and the life, but 652 00:39:41,100 --> 00:39:46,100 Here's the rest of the story. He says no one comes to the 653 00:39:46,100 --> 00:39:50,300 father. Except through me. 654 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:57,300 This is the way of God today. In this idea. 655 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:06,600 This is specific. All and only. 656 00:40:07,500 --> 00:40:11,000 So, if we would look at this passage like this, all those 657 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:16,500 that would come through Jesus Christ, can go to the father It 658 00:40:16,500 --> 00:40:20,500 also means only those that go through Jesus Christ. 659 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:26,300 Can go to the father, there's no other way except through Jesus 660 00:40:26,300 --> 00:40:29,100 Christ. So let me ask you this. 661 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:33,400 Remember when I asked you the question are you in the Book of 662 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:36,300 Life? Are you following Jesus? 663 00:40:36,300 --> 00:40:38,600 According to the truth. That we talked about today. 664 00:40:39,700 --> 00:40:41,500 If not that I ask you this question. 665 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:45,700 Are you ready to follow Jesus? Are you ready? 666 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:48,400 Here are the steps to follow Jesus here. 667 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:50,800 They are very simple to put every one of them on the screen. 668 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,400 You got to hear the word of God, Romans, 10:17. 669 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:58,200 So, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 670 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:01,300 We've done that today. But after you hear the word of 671 00:41:01,308 --> 00:41:04,200 God, you got a choice to make. Jesus said you got to make this 672 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:06,400 Choice, what's the choice? You got to believe, with all 673 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,800 your heart, Hebrews 11 and 6, but without faith, it's 674 00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:13,300 impossible to please him for. He who comes to God, must 675 00:41:13,300 --> 00:41:16,300 believe that he is, and that he is, a rewarder of those that 676 00:41:16,300 --> 00:41:19,300 diligently seek Him. Do You Believe In Jesus with all 677 00:41:19,300 --> 00:41:22,300 your heart? Today, surely you do? 678 00:41:24,100 --> 00:41:26,900 Then we got to make a change. All that means is I got to 679 00:41:26,900 --> 00:41:28,400 repent, I've been going in this direction. 680 00:41:28,400 --> 00:41:29,600 I don't want to go that direction anymore. 681 00:41:29,700 --> 00:41:32,500 I want to follow Jesus. It's called repentance but 682 00:41:32,500 --> 00:41:33,900 changed my life. Yeah. 683 00:41:33,900 --> 00:41:37,600 Repent of those sins acts 17:30 truly these times of ignorance, 684 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:40,200 God, overlooked. But now commands, all men 685 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:42,800 everywhere to repent. What else? 686 00:41:42,900 --> 00:41:46,100 I got to make the confession. I believe that Jesus Christ is 687 00:41:46,100 --> 00:41:48,300 the Son of God. The greatest words you will ever 688 00:41:48,300 --> 00:41:52,800 say. When Philip was preaching to the 689 00:41:52,800 --> 00:41:56,700 Ethiopian eunuch, they came to a body of water in the man said, 690 00:41:56,700 --> 00:41:59,300 well here's water, what's keeping me from being baptized 691 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:03,300 Philip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may and he 692 00:42:03,300 --> 00:42:05,900 answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of 693 00:42:05,900 --> 00:42:10,000 God, but it is. Now the point of Salvation when 694 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:12,900 you're baptized for the remission of your sins, Mark 695 00:42:12,900 --> 00:42:16,700 16:16. He who believes and is baptized, 696 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:20,000 will be saved. But he, who does not believe 697 00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:22,700 will be condemned. If you'll do all of that, your 698 00:42:22,700 --> 00:42:25,000 sins will be washed away. You become a child of God. 699 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:26,000 And you know what's gonna happen? 700 00:42:26,700 --> 00:42:28,200 Your name's gonna be in that book of life. 701 00:42:29,900 --> 00:42:32,100 If you've never taken those steps, obedience we'd love to 702 00:42:32,100 --> 00:42:33,600 assist you in doing that right now. 703 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:36,100 Today during our invitation, you come forward, let your requests 704 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:39,800 be made known but maybe maybe have taken all those steps. 705 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:42,200 May your life, just isn't what it should be. 706 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:45,400 Maybe you have some changes you need to make maybe use, you've 707 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:49,000 straightened gone away, that's the case, then what a great time 708 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:53,800 to come back to Jesus today while we stand while we sing, We 709 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:56,700 thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the Church of 710 00:42:56,700 --> 00:43:02,100 Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 711 00:43:02,100 --> 00:43:05,200 would like any additional information or you would like to 712 00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:08,300 receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 713 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:12,800 Please email us at info at True Church of Christ 714 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:16,800 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 715 00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:22,500 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. p.m. 716 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:26,500 please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 717 00:43:26,500 --> 00:43:27,400 honored guest