1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,960 Welcome to the Liberty Baptist Sermon Archives. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,040 The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty Baptist 3 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,040 Church in Easton, MA. You can find out more about us 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:17,280 or contact us at my libertybaptist.org or just look 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,760 us up on Facebook. And now we hope that this 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,040 message from God's Word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,320 We're going to be back in the book of Acts, and we'll be in 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,400 Acts Chapter 4 this morning. The book of Acts chapter #4 as 9 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,080 we continue to look at Peter and his growth and we mirror his 10 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,880 growth or we attempt to mirror his growth in our own life. 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,400 As we've looked at that over the last few weeks, we started. 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,640 Well, we started at the end with Peter at the end of his life, 13 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,240 the last verse of second Peter. And we saw that he was to grow 14 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,040 in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, but he 15 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,360 also grew in giving God glory. And we asked ourselves, will you 16 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,240 grow? Will you make this? 17 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,960 Growth within your own Christian life not that we are perfect, 18 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:03,080 not that we are stained glass Saints, but rather that we are 19 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,720 just trying to get where we need to go in the Christian life a 20 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,680 little bit more every day that we're trying to be like Christ 21 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,920 because that is the goal. Then we saw in Acts chapter 2 22 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,760 the method of growth was the Holy Spirit and that the Holy 23 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,400 Spirit who lives inside of us, as soon as we get saved, He is 24 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,800 the one who helps us grow. And then we looked at last week 25 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,520 the fact that someone's counting on you to grow. 26 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,560 And we remember we found this lame man, this man who from 27 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,280 birth was not able to walk, but that Peter said silver and gold 28 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,960 have I none but such as I have, I give thee in the name of Jesus 29 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:36,840 of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And what happened? 30 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,480 That's exactly that took place and that we saw that there are 31 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:40,680 people. In the same way. 32 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,360 Who Jesus has left behind, not because he's forgotten about 33 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,120 them, no, quite the opposite, because he has left them for you 34 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:49,880 and I to minister to. And we talked about who some of 35 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,800 those people were last week. And so I'll ask you again if 36 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,800 you've been here the last several weeks, I want to ask you 37 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,040 again, because again, I'm a nosy pastor. 38 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,120 And so I have to ask you the question, have you grown over 39 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,640 the last few weeks? Have you taken time in your 40 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:07,160 Christian life to be able to grow in certain areas where you 41 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,600 know that you are weak? Do you remember that it's really 42 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,400 the Holy Spirit who is the one that gives you the power and 43 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,160 assistance to grow, that certainly you have to put forth 44 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:16,640 the effort, but it's the Holy Spirit. 45 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:20,440 We'll see that here this morning in Acts chapter #4 as well. 46 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,960 And you realize that there are people who are counting on you 47 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,400 to grow. And I will tell you, maybe 48 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,000 perhaps one of the greatest groups that is counting on you 49 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:33,640 to grow is the lost are those who do not know Jesus Christ as 50 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:35,640 their Savior. And so this morning, we're going 51 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:38,680 to look at that great need and we're going to see how we can 52 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,880 fulfill that need in a message that I have entitled this 53 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,720 growing and giving the gospel. Growing and giving the gospel 54 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:50,680 the necessity of you and I to be able to share our faith. 55 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,360 Would you stand pleased for the reading of God's Word? 56 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,400 Acts chapter 4, we'll begin in verse #1 Acts chapter 4, 57 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,600 beginning in verse #1 but we'll really take time to treat the 58 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,480 whole chapter. But this is where we'll start. 59 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,760 And it says, And as they spake unto the people, the priests and 60 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,440 the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 61 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,920 that being Peter and John, being grieved, that they taught the 62 00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:15,120 people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the 63 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:16,920 dead. And then they had hands on them, 64 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:20,000 and put them in the hold until the next day, for was now even 65 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,440 time. Howbeit many of them which heard 66 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,400 the word believed, and the number of the men was about 67 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,080 5000. And it came to pass on the 68 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,760 Morrow that their rulers and elders, and scribes, and Anis, 69 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,840 the high priests, and Caiaphas, and John and Alexander, and as 70 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,160 many as were the kindred of the high priest, gathered together 71 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,360 Jerusalem. And when they had set them in 72 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,200 the midst, they asked, By what power or by what name have you 73 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,200 done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy 74 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:52,080 Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people and elders of 75 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,640 Israel. And if we this day be examined 76 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,680 of the good deed done to the impotent man, talking about that 77 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,320 man who could not walk, by what means is he is made whole? 78 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,560 Be it known unto you and to all the people of Israel, that by 79 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:08,120 the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom he crucified, 80 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:12,040 whom God raised from the dead, even by Him, that this man stand 81 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:13,040 here. Before you whole. 82 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,839 This is the stone which was said it not of you builders, which 83 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:18,160 has become the head of the corner. 84 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,720 Now listen to this. Neither is there salvation in 85 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,680 any other for there is none other name under heaven give it 86 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,440 among men whereby we must be saved. 87 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,960 Do you know that verse was true 2000 years ago? 88 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,480 And I've got good news for you. It's true today, isn't it, that 89 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,600 this? Neither is there salvation in 90 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,920 any other. There is none other name under 91 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,760 heaven give it among men whereby we must be saved. 92 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:44,880 And you're either one or two groups here this morning. 93 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,480 You're someone who needs to be saved or you're someone who is 94 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:48,640 saved that. Needs to tell someone else how 95 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,520 to get saved. Those are the only two groups 96 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,160 that are here today. We'll try to treat both of those 97 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:53,920 through our text today. Why don't you be seated? 98 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,880 Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, I do thank you 99 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,560 for this morning. And again, I thank you just for 100 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,800 the wonderful group of people who are here today. 101 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:06,880 My heart is so, so much rejoicing in my heart for what I 102 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,120 see here today. But Lord, we didn't just come 103 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,200 here today to gather a crowd. The Lord people didn't just come 104 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,160 here to be 1 of several that are numbered, but we all came today 105 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,440 because of Your word. And so I pray it's Your word 106 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,760 that what stands out. It's your word that changes 107 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,760 lives. And Lord, it's your word that 108 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,240 would change someone's life today from death to life. 109 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,920 And it'll be Your word today that encourages us to tell 110 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,880 someone else how they can know that name of Jesus Christ so 111 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,160 that if we're saved that they can be saved as well. 112 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,560 Thank you for this time. We ask your blessing upon it in 113 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,960 Jesus name, Amen. Let me ask you this. 114 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:41,760 Don't answer out loud, but answer with your heart this 115 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:43,760 morning. When was the last time that you 116 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:47,040 shared your faith? When was the last time you told 117 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,680 someone that you were a believer and that you hoped that they 118 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,360 would be a believer too? When was the last time you 119 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,600 handed someone a gospel tract you know, a little pamphlet and 120 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,680 let them know about how that they can come to trust Jesus 121 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,720 Christ as their Savior? When was the last time you wept 122 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,640 tears for someone that you wished would get saved but 123 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:08,480 hasn't gotten saved yet? What was the last time you were 124 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:10,920 concerned about someone's eternal destiny? 125 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,600 Because the Bible says there are only two eternal destinies? 126 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,720 That's a very real heaven. There's a very real lake of 127 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,120 fire. What was the last time that was 128 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:20,560 something that was a concern for you? 129 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,400 When was the last time that was something that was a burden for 130 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,360 you? Well, Charles Spurgeon said this 131 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:27,280 about the issue of giving the gospel. 132 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:31,480 He said live your faith boldly and let your words and deeds be 133 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,240 a bridge for others to find Christ. 134 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,960 Lee Strobel, who wrote the book The Case for Christ, said this. 135 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,800 When you share your faith, you're not imposing. 136 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,360 You're offering an invitation to know the God. 137 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:47,000 Who loves us all? You'll see God uses you and God 138 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,240 wants to use me to be able to reach the lost for Christ. 139 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,360 And we see that in a very powerful way here in Acts 140 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,720 chapter 4. And really what we just read is 141 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,600 a continuation of what just happened in Acts chapter 3. 142 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,720 I know I made mention of it a few moments ago, but really the 143 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,760 difference between Acts chapter 3 and chapter 4 as far as time 144 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,760 is really immediate. When Acts chapter 3 ends and 145 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,720 Peter is saying unto you, first God having raised up his Son, 146 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,400 Jesus sent him to bless you and turning away every one of you 147 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,600 from his iniquities, There's really just seconds that pass 148 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:22,040 before verse 1 of chapter 4 says where it says, and they spake 149 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:24,880 unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and 150 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,680 the Sadducees came upon them. So really what we're reading 151 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,240 this morning is just a continuation of what we looked 152 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,120 at last week. Now if you weren't here last 153 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,240 week, just as a reminder, Peter and John heal a man who was lame 154 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,520 in his feet through the power of Jesus Christ. 155 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,240 This is not something that Peter and John did on their own. 156 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,280 Oh no, quite the opposite. These two men about 50 days ago 157 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,040 couldn't do anything right. These two men 50 days ago 158 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,240 couldn't even get out of their own way, let alone each other's 159 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,520 way. But now they're working together 160 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,400 in Christian harmony for one cause and one purpose to further 161 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,160 the gospel. And in that moment, it was 162 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,160 bringing healing. To this man who? 163 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,720 Leaps up on his feet and gives glory to God. 164 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,760 And Peter doesn't talk. He starts to preach and he 165 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,400 preaches the word of God. Now what's the result of this? 166 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,400 We saw, did you, did you catch this in verse #3 it's mentioned 167 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:14,040 so casually at the end of verse #3 where it says, and well, 168 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:15,920 actually verse #4 my apologies. It says. 169 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,640 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed. 170 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,480 And the number of the men was about 5000. 171 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,640 Now, if you're keeping track, in Acts chapter one, there was 120 172 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,080 at the day of Pentecost, 3000 people got saved, dead to the 173 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:34,320 church, and now there's 5000 more, more than the day of 174 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:35,960 Pentecost. How much do we talk about the 175 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,240 day of Pentecost? And rightly so because of the 176 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,640 promise of the Spirit that was fulfilled that day. 177 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,680 But there were 2000 more who were saved on this day than 178 00:08:44,680 --> 00:08:46,160 there were even on the Day of Pentecost. 179 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:47,800 Listen, you think this church is growing? 180 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:52,200 Talk about church that went from 120 to 8120 in a few weeks. 181 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:57,240 Now I'd be up for it. I don't know where we put 182 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:58,640 everybody. I don't, we don't even know put 183 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,280 the cars, let alone the people. But I would tell you this, I'd 184 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,440 love to find out. And that's what happened, this 185 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:04,000 church. Why? 186 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:08,280 Because of the power of God and the usefulness of Peter and John 187 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:10,680 availing themselves to the power of God. 188 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,080 But of course, the forces of evil don't like people getting 189 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:17,800 saved. The forces of evil don't like it 190 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,280 when people's lives change. Some of you had some difficulty, 191 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:22,840 maybe even getting to church this morning. 192 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:24,680 Why was that? Well, because Satan wasn't 193 00:09:24,680 --> 00:09:26,920 exceptionally pleased for you to come to church. 194 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:29,760 Satan was exceptionally pleased for you to be able to hear the 195 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,240 Word of God, knowing that your life could change today by 196 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,080 walking through the doors of Liberty Baptist Church. 197 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:36,440 Why? Because you're at Liberty 198 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,200 Baptist Church? No, Why? 199 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,360 Because of the pastor? No, because of the Word of God 200 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:42,880 that's being proclaimed here today. 201 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,360 Anytime you come in contact with the Word of God and your heart 202 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:48,680 is open, your life can change forever. 203 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:50,200 And he doesn't want you to be a part of that. 204 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:51,960 And that's exactly what happens here. 205 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,040 Now, may I remind you, Peter and John are humble fishermen. 206 00:09:56,040 --> 00:10:00,440 These men are really nobodies, but all of a sudden the 207 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,920 establishment comes raining down on them. 208 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,400 How much so? Well, in my Bible here I counted 209 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,560 11 different individuals. Or groups of people. 210 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:11,960 That immediately bring the hammer down on Peter. 211 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,600 You're talking about two guys again that didn't even get their 212 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,680 stuff together 50 days ago, and now the entire religious 213 00:10:19,680 --> 00:10:23,200 establishment has come upon him. I've circled them in my Bible in 214 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,320 verse #1 there's the priests, the captain of the temple, and 215 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,240 the Sadducees. In verse #5 there's the rulers, 216 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,440 the elders, the scribes. Verse 6, there's Anis and 217 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:36,440 Caiaphas, John Alexander, the kindred of the high priest. 218 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:40,560 All of these have come together in one accord and one voice, and 219 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:42,000 they're all saying the same thing. 220 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,840 Stop preaching about Jesus Christ. 221 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,640 Stop telling people this seemingly life giving, life 222 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,440 changing message. We don't want other people to 223 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:53,680 know. And remember, it was just a 224 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:56,080 couple chapters ago in Acts chapter 2 on the day of 225 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,960 Pentecost that the same people were mocking when they were 226 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,600 speaking in those other languages and saying these men 227 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,400 aren't holy. These men aren't doing right. 228 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,720 They're just drunk and here they are. 229 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:08,360 It sure doesn't seem like they're drunk. 230 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,640 It seems like they're filled with the Spirit of God and they 231 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,840 are preaching the word of God. And what are they doing? 232 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:16,960 They're trying to intimidate these men. 233 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:22,000 In fact, if you look at verse #21 it says later on that when 234 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,480 they had further threatened them, they let them go. 235 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,520 Well, if they had further threatened them later on, that 236 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,440 means that they had threatened them before. 237 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,160 And so really, when James and John, or Peter and John rather, 238 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:36,200 are first brought in and arrested, they are threatened. 239 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,960 The very next day they're brought out and they say answer 240 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:43,520 yourselves for what you've done. And Peter, that boldness comes 241 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:45,960 in handy when it's powered by the Holy Spirit. 242 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:48,960 That boldness in your flesh gets you in a lot of trouble, doesn't 243 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,880 it? Some of you are really quiet all 244 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:53,480 right about that because you know I'm right. 245 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,760 Your boldness powered by the flesh gets you in trouble. 246 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,320 You know how I know? Because it gets me in trouble. 247 00:12:00,560 --> 00:12:01,600 Oh, yeah. You're willing to laugh at that. 248 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:06,080 OK, gets me in a lot of trouble, but boldness when empowered by a 249 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,680 Holy Spirit. Friend, do you realize what God 250 00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:10,640 can do with you? And Peter stands up. 251 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,520 He gives not one apology. He says nothing that's wrong. 252 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:16,120 He says this, are you all bringing us in? 253 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,040 Have you? Has all of the religious 254 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:21,280 establishment of Israel come down upon the two of us because 255 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:25,400 a man who was impotent, a man who had no power in his legs is 256 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,800 now whole. This is what our crime is. 257 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:29,400 This is what you're worried about. 258 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:31,160 He says here's what the problem is. 259 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:32,720 Let's just get down to the root of the matter. 260 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,240 You don't like the fact that we're preaching and teaching the 261 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,800 name of Jesus Christ to the point that he says in verse #12 262 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,160 one of the greatest verses of salvation you will find in all 263 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:45,800 the Bible. Neither is there salvation in 264 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,880 any other, for there is none other name under heaven. 265 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,960 Give it among men whereby we must be saved. 266 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,920 And as I said before and I'll say again, that's as true today 267 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,960 as it was 2000 years ago. There is no salvation in Islam 268 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,320 and the name of Allah. There is no salvation in Buddha 269 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,200 and the name of Buddhism. There is no salvation in any 270 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,880 other name. It's only in Jesus Christ. 271 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,840 By the way, if you take Jesus Christ and add another name with 272 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:13,720 Jesus Christ, there's no salvation. 273 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,400 You can't take away Jesus Christ and have salvation, and you 274 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,560 can't add to the name of Jesus Christ and salvation. 275 00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:23,680 Well, pastor, it's Jesus Christ and works. 276 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,920 Nope, Nope. The Bible tells us that 277 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,520 salvation is a free gift by the grace of God, not of works, lest 278 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,360 any man could boast. That's what the Bible says. 279 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,440 There's not salvation in any other. 280 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,440 There's not salvation in Jesus Christ. 281 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,920 And baptism. I got baptized by the Lutheran 282 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,640 Church when I was a baby, and I was told for many years that 283 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,160 that was all I needed to be saved. 284 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,440 Oh, and take of the Lord's Supper and keep my nose clean 285 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,880 and make sure that I was doing right and coming to church and 286 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:54,200 giving and all those other things. 287 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,960 You know, I came to find out then on December 2nd, 1998 that 288 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,800 there was no other name, not Martin Luther. 289 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:07,800 Not the name of the Pope, Jesus Christ and Christ alone and my 290 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,400 life changed forever. By the way, there is no 291 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,400 salvation found in the name of Adam Rivero. 292 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,000 Listen, if you're hanging your hat on getting to heaven because 293 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:20,800 you know me, man, I am. I feel sorry for you. 294 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:22,960 Whoever said, oh, you're right, man. 295 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,040 I thought that was my wife at first, but no, it's it's. 296 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:27,960 That voice is too deep to be my wife. 297 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:31,520 But but Steve, you're right. If it's in my name, listen, 298 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:35,800 you're not getting anywhere. But an eternal hell by the name 299 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,400 of Jesus Christ? That's where salvation is. 300 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,400 And so I want to encourage you today, if you don't know Jesus 301 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,960 Christ your Savior, say, oh pastor, you say that every week. 302 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,520 And as long as I fill this pulpit, I will say it every week 303 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:49,880 until they drag me out of here. Why? 304 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,280 Because there is no other name. And that's why we're here. 305 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,640 You've got to know you can't just come here and say why? 306 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,160 I get a good feeling when I come to Liberty Baptist Church and 307 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,080 that's why I come. Listen, it's not about a good 308 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:01,640 feeling. It's not about the coffee. 309 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:02,760 It's not about the friendly. Sure. 310 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,360 Not about the parking. Although we had valet. 311 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:09,840 All of you would love it. You know, it's about this, about 312 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:11,960 the name of Jesus Christ. That's what it's about. 313 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,120 That's what it must be about. That must be what it remains 314 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,240 about. It must all be about Jesus 315 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:17,800 Christ. Well, they didn't like this. 316 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,320 The Pharisees and the Sadducees and all those as you could 317 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:24,720 imagine, in fact they question verse #14 and beholding the man 318 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,240 which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing 319 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:28,920 against it. They said, you know, we don't 320 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,160 like this, but we know this man got healed. 321 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,880 Remember, everybody knew him. Everybody was aware of who this 322 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,040 guy was. Nobody could say a word about 323 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:40,560 it. And they said, well, we don't 324 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,880 like what they're preaching, but how do we deny what we see with 325 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,520 our own eyes? When they commanded them to go 326 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,840 aside out of the Council, they conferred among themselves, 327 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:49,800 saying. What shall we do to these men? 328 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,920 For they indeed notable miracles been done by them, is manifest 329 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:55,960 to all that dwell in Jerusalem. We can't deny it. 330 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,160 That spread no further among the people. 331 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,360 Let us straightly threaten them that they speak henceforth to no 332 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:04,120 man in this name that listen, we'll just threaten them and 333 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:05,920 tell them speak no more about Jesus. 334 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,680 Yeah, that'll work. And they called them, and 335 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,000 commanded in verse 18 not to speak at all, or teach in the 336 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,560 name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and 337 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:15,920 said unto them. Will it be? 338 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,320 Right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than us, 339 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:22,080 to God, judge E we cannot but speak the things which we have 340 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:24,560 seen and heard. Basically they say this, and I 341 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,000 say this in no disrespect, but listen, they said this, I 342 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:28,600 believe because they were filled with spirit. 343 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,960 They said it with no disrespect. They're saying this. 344 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:35,000 You do what you need to do, but we'll do what we must do, and we 345 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,600 must continue to preach the name of Jesus. 346 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,000 And that's why I said last week mistakenly would be in this 347 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,760 chapter, but it's actually in chapter #5 where they say we 348 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,160 must obey God rather than men. Listen, we won't stop preaching 349 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,240 the name of Jesus Christ no matter what anybody says. 350 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,760 That's what Peter says. You know what I love that, that 351 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,920 they come back and they come back to the church. 352 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,720 That group that was fitting in an upper room just a few days 353 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,400 ago and now has to fit on Solomon's porch because there's 354 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,520 over 8000 of them. And they report what takes 355 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,200 place. And look at what happens in 356 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,480 verse #29 they start to pray as a church. 357 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,599 They're there in 1 accord, it says in verse 24, but in verse 358 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:10,720 29 it says, And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, grant 359 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,480 unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy 360 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:14,760 word. They're praying as a church. 361 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:18,000 Lord, we can't stop, we got to keep going. 362 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,680 Lord give us boldness because even though the establishment 363 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,400 doesn't want us to preach the name of Jesus, we must keep 364 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,040 preaching Jesus. And by stretching forth thy hand 365 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,120 to heal thy signs and wonders may be done by the name of the 366 00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:32,240 holy Child Jesus and look. And when they had prayed, the 367 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,080 place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were 368 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,800 all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the word of God 369 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,560 with boldness. So what happens earlier in the 370 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:45,120 text we find that Peter verse 8 was filled with the Holy Ghost. 371 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,800 He preached with boldness. What happens in 31? 372 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,000 They pray for boldness. They are filled with the Holy 373 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,080 Ghost and they preach the word of God with boldness. 374 00:17:52,360 --> 00:17:54,160 You know, this isn't just the leadership. 375 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,080 This isn't just the disciples, the apostles who are preaching 376 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,680 and teaching with boldness and authority and giving the word. 377 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:02,920 You know, this is the entire church. 378 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:07,440 This is everyone together saying this, we must speak the name of 379 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:09,360 Jesus. They can throw Peter in jail, 380 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,400 they can throw John in jail. They can martyr these men. 381 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,240 They can do whatever they want. They can do what they want. 382 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,080 But we do what we must, and that's this we must. 383 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,560 Preach Jesus. It's amazing. 384 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,560 It reminds me a little bit of what Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 385 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:28,680 chapter 20 verse 9 when he said this. 386 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,080 Then I spake, I will make no more mention of him, don't speak 387 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,480 anymore in his name, Speaking of the Lord, but he said this but. 388 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,640 His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my 389 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:41,960 bones. I was weary with forbearing that 390 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,360 I could not stay, Jeremiah says. I tried to hold the word of God 391 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:48,160 in and the more I held it in, the more I couldn't hold it in 392 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,400 and finally I had to speak the word of. 393 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,040 God, despite the consequences. And by the way, Jeremiah had 394 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,560 quite a few consequences for preaching the word of God. 395 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,040 But you know, he did. He kept preaching. 396 00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:00,200 Paul said the same thing in First Corinthians 9/16. 397 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,160 He says, For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory 398 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:05,640 in. Of necessity it is laid upon me. 399 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,280 Yeah, woe is me if I preach not the gospel. 400 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:10,480 And you look at Paul and he was beaten. 401 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,080 He was stoned, he was shipwrecked. 402 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:19,520 He he was left for dead. And he explains all these things 403 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,920 and anyone would have told Paul, tap out. 404 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,720 Just stop. You've given yours at the 405 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,120 office. You've done all that you need to 406 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:32,480 do. But he kept going and going and 407 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:33,160 going. Why? 408 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,760 Because there were more people that needed to hear the word of 409 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:40,360 Jesus Christ. What do we see here? 410 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:44,480 We see Peter and John had boldness, and the church turns 411 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,120 into people who speak boldly as well. 412 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:49,800 Why is this? Well, there's no doubt it's 413 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,920 because of the Holy Ghost. We've already discussed this. 414 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,600 I'm not trying to make light of that or minimize that this 415 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,720 morning, but that they allow the Holy Spirit to work within them. 416 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,920 And we talked about that a few weeks ago, but there's no doubt 417 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:02,360 about that. But there's also something else 418 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:04,960 I want you to see here that I think is very important, and 419 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,280 that's in verse number. 12, or rather verse #13. 420 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,320 It says this now. When they saw the boldness of 421 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:15,200 Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and 422 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,160 ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them. 423 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,920 Can you read the next few words? Words with me that they had been 424 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:27,080 with Jesus when they saw the boldness, but yet they. 425 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:31,200 Also saw their ignorance and the fact they were uneducated they 426 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:31,640 looked. At them. 427 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,240 And they said there's only one explanation for this. 428 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,680 There's only one. They've been with Jesus. 429 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:41,160 Well, that was their education, wasn't it? 430 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:43,680 They walked with Jesus for. Three years. 431 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,560 They saw the miracles. They saw Jesus do. 432 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:51,880 Things that were inexplainable. They heard him teach on the 433 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,280 hillside. And from the ship. 434 00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:57,360 As he spoke to those who were on land. 435 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,480 They watched him. Say you fellas stay in the boat 436 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,400 for a while and I'll catch up with you. 437 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:06,040 And saw him do miraculous things. 438 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:12,520 They saw it over and over and over and over again, but yet it 439 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:16,600 didn't make an impact. But when the Holy Ghost was 440 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:18,880 availed in their heart and their life, what happened? 441 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:21,080 They were then able to speak with boldness. 442 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,920 Why? Because they had been with 443 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:27,280 Jesus. You know, I, I. 444 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,160 Would hesitate to ask this morning how many you are 445 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,040 unlearned and unignorant, raised or ignorant. 446 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,280 Raise your hand. I may be ignorant because I said 447 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,600 unignorant, all right? So how ignorant am I? 448 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,240 Because I used the word unignorant, OK, But some of you 449 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:40,200 don't care, all right? How many? 450 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,400 You are unlearned? And I did it again, all right? 451 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:44,800 How many are unlearned and ignorant? 452 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:46,160 Raise your hand. I think a lot of us feel that 453 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,040 way, don't we? And some of you, you're the ones 454 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:49,640 that didn't go peekaboo earlier. All right? 455 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,280 So I know who you are. Yeah, that's my crowd. 456 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:53,800 The ones raising their hand. You know what I'm saying? 457 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,160 Listen, I think a lot of us feel like this. 458 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,080 You know, I wish I knew more about the Bible. 459 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:02,240 Look, I'm worried. About the ones? 460 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,040 Who say I know everything I need to know about the Bible? 461 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:06,960 You're the ones I worry about. I think a lot of us. 462 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:08,240 I wish I knew more about the Bible. 463 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:10,520 I wish. I knew better. 464 00:22:11,120 --> 00:22:12,640 How to share my faith with somebody? 465 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:19,120 I, I, I wish when I felt that that tug on my heart was someone 466 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:21,400 who's unsaved and they're saying something that I know they need 467 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,440 Jesus, that I, I just don't know what to say. 468 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:26,560 And if you feel like that this. Morning. 469 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:28,440 It's already very evident you're in good company. 470 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,040 Because all of us feel that way. To a point. 471 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,040 I pulled up some statistics this week for both Barna and Lifeway 472 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,840 that shows some pretty disturbing trends when it comes 473 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:39,800 to Christians sharing their faith. 474 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,840 And this is just talking about evangelicalism as a as a whole 475 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:47,080 70. 3%. Believe that giving the gospel 476 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:50,920 is a personal responsibility, but less than half of that group 477 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:55,080 actually acts upon it. 54% said this. 478 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,760 They had no evangelistic conversations. 479 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,920 Again, these are evangelical believers. 66% say they're 480 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,560 unfamiliar with sharing the methods or sharing the. 481 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:11,600 Gospel. 39% they're willing, but only 15% say they're eager. 482 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,840 And believe it or not. 95% of people have never let LED 483 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:22,960 someone to Christ. 95%. Now listen, can you force 484 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:23,920 someone? To get saved. 485 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,120 You can't force someone to much to get saved as much as I can't 486 00:23:27,120 --> 00:23:31,080 force a fish to jump on my hook when I'm fishing. 487 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:35,160 Went fishing a few weeks ago and had the Fletcher's with us and 488 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,240 there's Scott Hot Hands Fletcher. 489 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:39,480 I mean, he's pulling 1 fish after another. 490 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:40,800 I just created a new name for him. 491 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:42,840 All right, so 1 fish after another. 492 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:44,320 They're coming out. They're coming out of the water. 493 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,080 It's incredible. We go to the same spot. 494 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,040 Three weeks later and it's like he caught them all, they're 495 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,520 gone. And there's my children. 496 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:52,480 I'm. Trying to teach them this is how 497 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,800 you fish this is. To my girls, this is. 498 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:56,440 This is what it's like. I'm going to this place. 499 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,360 This is a, this is a great place to be able to fish. 500 00:23:58,360 --> 00:24:00,480 And they're like, Dad, can we, can we go now? 501 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,000 I mean I. I, I mean, I would have gone, I 502 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,400 would have gone to the store and bought some Gordon's fish. 503 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:10,360 Do you know what I mean? That's, that's where I was at. 504 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,720 Were those frozen fish sticks just floating in the water? 505 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:14,600 No, that just take them, you know, listen. 506 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,240 I can't force them onto the line, and you can't force 507 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,000 someone to get saved if you are. I'm not. 508 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:22,640 Trying to discourage you if you've never LED someone to 509 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:24,360 Christ and you've prayed. On it. 510 00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:26,320 And you've tried. Listen, you leave that to the 511 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,560 Lord. But I will say this. 512 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,560 If you've never prayed on it and you've never shared the gospel 513 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,000 with somebody, guess what? You need to do it. 514 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,440 Why? Well, because you need to show 515 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,600 that you've been with Jesus. Do you know to share? 516 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,240 Jesus, you have to spend time with Jesus. 517 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:48,720 If you get one thing this. Morning. 518 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:50,800 It's this. You want to share Jesus. 519 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:55,120 You spend time with Jesus because you may not have the 520 00:24:55,120 --> 00:25:00,080 skills. That's OK, you may not have. 521 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,040 The education you wish you had, That's OK. 522 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:05,800 There's a bunch probably that you don't know. 523 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:07,560 And that's the actual term for ignorance. 524 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:09,440 It's not just things you don't know. 525 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:11,560 Maybe you haven't learned yet, or they haven't come across your 526 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:14,680 path. You may be ignorant, but Peter 527 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,360 and John had one thing that nobody could argue with. 528 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,840 They've been with Jesus. And listen, have you walked with 529 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,440 Jesus physically for three years like those disciples had? 530 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:30,080 No, but if you're saved, have you walked with him in a 531 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,760 personal close relationship for years now? 532 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,640 The closer you are with him, the more you want to tell people 533 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,400 about him. Isn't it interesting that? 534 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:44,480 The more you get to meet people who are your heroes, usually the 535 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:46,640 less you are impressed with them. 536 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,720 It's just that way in. Life isn't it that when we see 537 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,960 someone afar they are incredible, but the closer you 538 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:58,240 get you realize the best of men are men at best. 539 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:01,480 I'll give you an example. When I was a kid, I lived in 540 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,320 Tampa, FL, and I was a big fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 541 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,320 By the way, in those days, there were no Super Bowls, there 542 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,080 wasn't Tom Brady. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 543 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,120 the worst team in NFL history in the 1990s. 544 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,280 But they started to finally get good. 545 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:18,160 They finally started to have a couple of decent seasons. 546 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,600 And I remember I was about 15-16 years old, something like that. 547 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,440 There was a big event at Kmart. Yes, I said that right, Kmart. 548 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,160 You know, I've talked about. CDs and Kmart today you can tell 549 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:30,800 what generation I'm a part of, all right. 550 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:34,160 At Kmart they had. Warren Sapp, who would end up 551 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:38,080 being a Hall of Fame defensive player, He was coming to Kmart 552 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,680 to be able to sign autographs. I asked my dad, can I go see 553 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:43,360 Warren Sapp? I would love to have him sign of 554 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:44,760 football card that I have of his. 555 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:45,920 I think that would be a great thing. 556 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,920 We stood in line for probably 2 hours at Kmart. 557 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:50,360 All the blue light specials are going off. 558 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:52,400 We can't go anywhere because we're stuck in line. 559 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,240 And so we're there, we're waiting, we're waiting. 560 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,440 This is this is my hero. He plays football. 561 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,440 He's a he's a big deal. And you know, I've got to the 562 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,160 front of the line and you know what Warren Sapp did the whole 563 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:08,040 time I talked to him, well, tried to talk to him. 564 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,440 He was staring a hole right through the woman behind me. 565 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:14,760 That he probably. Wanted to go on a date with. 566 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,800 He couldn't care much. About this 1516 year old that 567 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:20,880 was standing right in front of him that had waited for a couple 568 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,200 hours. I was disappointed. 569 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:28,320 I waited to meet my hero. You know what I found out that 570 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,400 day? Why is he my hero? 571 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:35,240 Because he can play football. That that doesn't seem to make 572 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:36,200 a. Whole lot of sense because he 573 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:39,760 can, because he can sack a quarterback, because he can 574 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:43,080 catch an interception. And this is a guy that I want to 575 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,200 emulate. He didn't even care about me. 576 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:46,880 He was more worried about getting me out of the way. 577 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,920 So we talked to the woman. And I wish that was a. 578 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:50,800 Joke. And it's not. 579 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:52,640 It's exactly the way it happened. 580 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:56,360 You get close to people. And you start to see the flaws, 581 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,640 start to see the imperfections, you spend time with them, and 582 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,600 you start to see some things that maybe are unsavory or at 583 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:07,680 least less than savory. I'm not saying everyone has a 584 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:09,760 skeleton in their claws. I'm not trying to be so 585 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,480 negative. I'm just saying the best of men, 586 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:14,600 or men at best, We're all sinful creatures. 587 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:16,520 But I'll tell. You this this morning. 588 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:21,120 The closer you get to Jesus Christ, the more beautiful He 589 00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:23,520 becomes. You'll never get. 590 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:25,080 Closer to Jesus Christ and say, oh, I. 591 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,280 Didn't know that about him. That's not good. 592 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:32,640 Oh, the closer I get to him. Oh, I didn't know he taught 593 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,440 that. I don't like that so much. 594 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:36,800 Oh, oh, I didn't. Know he felt that way about 595 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:38,280 this. According to his word I, I. 596 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:40,240 Don't think I care for that. Can I tell you? 597 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:44,640 The longer I serve him, the old song says, the sweeter he grows, 598 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,040 and the more time. You spend with him the more time 599 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:48,320 you want to. Spend with him, and the more 600 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:51,280 time you want to spend with him, the more time you want to spend 601 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:52,720 with him. The more time you should spend 602 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:54,600 with him, and the more time you spend with him. 603 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:56,040 The more time you should spend with him, the more time you 604 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:57,000 should tell other people about Jesus. 605 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,600 Because they noted. That they had been with Jesus. 606 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,960 We turn to first Peter chapter #3 because Peter actually talks 607 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:08,160 about this in his epistle. Now, we covered First Peter 608 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:09,560 chapter 3 about a year and a half ago. 609 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:10,800 So I don't expect you to remember. 610 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:13,320 I don't know that I remember, all things considered, as I was 611 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,920 looking this up this week. First Peter chapter #3 because 612 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:18,440 Peter did talk about not necessarily this situation, but 613 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,680 I believe this issue of having spent time and having been with 614 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:23,360 Jesus. Look at first Peter chapter. 615 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:26,840 Three verse #15. It says this. 616 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:28,400 But. Sanctify. 617 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:32,160 The Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an 618 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:34,160 answer to every man that asketh you. 619 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:38,480 A reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 620 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:43,040 What does the Bible say? Always be ready to give people 621 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:44,920 an explanation of why you're a believer. 622 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:48,520 Always be ready to. Talk about the hope that lives 623 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:50,360 within you. Have you ever seen someone that 624 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:53,600 was so excited about a product to someone that was so excited 625 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,360 about this, this newfangled thing that they've gotten? 626 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:59,880 I remember the very first time I saw someone carrying an iPhone 627 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,080 and I remember they showed me, look, you can get a website, you 628 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,840 can make it bigger and smaller and you just use your fingers 629 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:09,320 and, and I remember my pastor at the time who just got one said I 630 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:13,120 can control my DVR. With this. 631 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:18,720 And I said you can control ADVR with a no irony whatsoever. 632 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,520 This is incredible. How is that possible? 633 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:27,400 And now you say, who cares? What's the big deal? 634 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,640 Have someone said what's a DVR? Yeah, you're TiVo. 635 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,280 A TiVo. Feel like a TiVo? 636 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:36,920 Like Tim Tebow? No, a TiVo, Yeah. 637 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:40,880 No. No, no, But you listen it it we. 638 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:45,800 End up not being so impressed about, but at first it's So what 639 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:48,960 do people do? They tell everybody tell you've 640 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:50,480 got to see this. You. 641 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:52,480 You can't believe. This, it's incredible. 642 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,040 But again, as we get closer to it, we realize actually this is 643 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:59,280 actually probably harmed my life more than it's helped it in a 644 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:03,840 lot. Of ways the more you talk about 645 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:06,240 Jesus, the. More you realize you're. 646 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:09,040 Not selling a bill of goods that will cause destruction to 647 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:11,880 someone down the line. You end up telling. 648 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:16,000 Them about the one who will change their life forever and 649 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,120 the more time you spend with him, the more you should want to 650 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:22,400 tell other people about him. What does it say? 651 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:24,680 How does that hell happen? The very first part of the verse 652 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:27,840 sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, meaning this put him in 653 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,560 his proper place. When you put him in his proper 654 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:32,800 place where you put him where he belongs. 655 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:34,800 What happens? You want to tell as many people 656 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:36,400 as you can. Now listen. 657 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:39,200 Can you always give a full gospel presentation to 658 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:41,280 everybody? Not necessarily. 659 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:44,600 When you're in the workplace, can you give every customer a 660 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:46,840 full gospel presentation? Well, it will not be your 661 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:49,600 workplace very long. If you give everyone a full 662 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,960 gospel presentation where you work, It won't be. 663 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,360 Can everyone you come in contact to on the street or everyone you 664 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,120 come contact to at the store, or maybe you sit down next to them 665 00:31:58,120 --> 00:31:59,720 at a table. You're at one table at Duncan 666 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:00,760 and they're at the table next to you. 667 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:03,480 Can you always have a full conversation about the Bible? 668 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,040 Not necessarily. But I will tell you this, You 669 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:09,760 can show a bit of Jesus to everybody that you come in 670 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,320 contact with. How is that by showing them 671 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:16,280 through your life that you've been with Jesus, that you are 672 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:18,840 different? That no, you're not going to get 673 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,840 upset when the line is too long. That you'll handle it with 674 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,200 grace. You won't get upset. 675 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,200 When they tell you, well, you can't make this return even 676 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:31,160 though you know you can make the return, you try to talk to about 677 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:32,400 it. You say, well, so we're just 678 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:34,720 supposed to just just give up. That's what we do as Christians. 679 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:36,880 I didn't say give up. If you have the right to return 680 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:38,960 something, return it, but handle it like a Christian. 681 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:41,760 And that doesn't mean this screaming louder than the person 682 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:49,260 across the desk because that's not showing him Jesus, that Co 683 00:32:49,260 --> 00:32:51,520 worker that. Irks you in the next cubicle and 684 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:56,160 you just wish they would get fired or transfer or anything. 685 00:32:57,760 --> 00:33:02,520 You realize they really need Jesus and you may be the first 686 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,560 one in that office to actually be kind to them because everyone 687 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:07,640 else who is not a believer has been so irked by them. 688 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,520 They've just pushed him away and you could be the one to show 689 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:12,840 them Jesus. Why? 690 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:14,240 By showing. That you have spent time with 691 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:16,200 Jesus. You know, I've often had in 692 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,600 situations like this in my life, I have not been able to fully 693 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:21,760 give the gospel, but somebody will say something like this. 694 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:23,160 You ever heard this? There's something different 695 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:25,160 about you. There's something different 696 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:27,520 about you. And then you end up saying, 697 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,400 well, you know, I'm, I know Jesus Christ. 698 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:32,960 And they said, you know what? That's it. 699 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:36,600 That's it. I've been blessed to work in 700 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,320 churches for the last 20 years, but there have been times and 701 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:41,560 seasons where because of situations I've had to work 702 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:43,880 outside of the church as well as working in the church. 703 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:46,320 Being in Tampa, FL was one of those and some of you that are 704 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:48,800 been here a while know that I've told stories about working for 705 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,200 the Tampa Bay Lightning. I had a very prestigious job 706 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:52,440 working for the Tampa Bay Lightning. 707 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:54,440 That's the hockey team by the way, that's won a few Stanley 708 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:56,320 Cups. My prestigious job with the 709 00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:58,560 Tampa Bay Lightning was sanitation. 710 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:01,720 I empty trash cans. After the game, that's all I 711 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,120 did. I would empty trash cans after 712 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:05,880 the game and then work back at the church in our Christian 713 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:07,320 School in the morning. That's what I had to do to get 714 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:09,159 some things done. And you know when you're 715 00:34:09,159 --> 00:34:11,280 emptying trash cans, you don't have a lot of time to tell 716 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:14,639 people about Jesus. But you know what I found in 717 00:34:14,639 --> 00:34:15,560 the? Time that I worked there 718 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,520 overnights, over time people started to ask if there was 719 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:19,560 something different about me and. 720 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:23,199 Then they started to make fun. Of me and call me Bible boy 721 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:25,560 which I. Always like because it's kind of 722 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:27,120 like. A superhero like Bible Boy, you 723 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,480 know. Because like. 724 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,320 But you know what started as a joke turned into something that 725 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,600 was actually serious? And in the time that I. 726 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:41,400 Was there, I had two different men from that group. 727 00:34:41,679 --> 00:34:44,000 The ones that made fun of me, the group of old guys, they 728 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:46,800 called us the old guys because I was I think 26 at the time. 729 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,679 And anything over 20 was the old guys because it was all 1819 730 00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:52,600 year olds would be the only ones that want to clean up. 731 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:55,719 And a few of us old guys. Of that old guys group, I got 732 00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:58,800 several to come to church. Never came to trust. 733 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:00,080 Christ. One of them's passed. 734 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:03,560 And I think of. Him every once in a while and 735 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:05,720 think I sure do hope he accepted Christ. 736 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:11,200 But I do know this that I was able to show them Jesus and as 737 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:14,400 the doors opened then I was able to tell them about Jesus. 738 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:17,200 Well, there are people say, well, just show your lifestyle 739 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:18,440 to people. That's a good way to start. 740 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:22,240 But don't stop there. As the doors open, they see 741 00:35:22,240 --> 00:35:25,520 you're a genuine Christian. Tell them about Jesus. 742 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:28,160 You know what you can do? Pray for the lost. 743 00:35:29,240 --> 00:35:31,360 Paul said this in. Colossians 4 three says with all 744 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:34,320 praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of 745 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:36,000 utterance to speak the mystery of Christ. 746 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:38,440 When was the last time you were concerned about someone's soul? 747 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:40,960 And you prayed to the Lord and said, Lord, will you give me a 748 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:44,320 window to talk to this person? That's what Paul said. 749 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,960 Here, pray for us that we have a door of utterance that we could 750 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:48,760 talk. You have someone that's heavy on 751 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:50,160 your heart. Lord, would you just give me a 752 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:52,400 time where it's just the two of us and that we can talk about 753 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:56,000 this very issue? This week we pray for the lost. 754 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:58,720 Will you talk in a way that gives glory to God? 755 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:01,480 You know, a great way, even if it's in conversation, to be able 756 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:03,680 to bring things up with people is to say something like this, 757 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:07,200 praise the Lord, that's a blessing or bring up, oh, you 758 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:09,920 know, I was at church yesterday and, and these are ways you can 759 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:12,200 bring up the name of Jesus even in conversation. 760 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:13,920 Well, people will think I'm crazy. 761 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:16,760 Well, do you think you're crazy for believing Jesus? 762 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:19,520 So when talking about. Him. 763 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:21,560 That shouldn't be crazy at all. It's just be. 764 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:25,080 Normal. You know what's often find? 765 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:28,200 Funny when you do stuff like that you find out you'll find 766 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:30,720 other believers who you encourage as well. 767 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,360 My wife and I know there's some others here as well that that 768 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,400 wear shirts that have Bible verses or different things like 769 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:38,920 that. She talked to someone when she 770 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:42,720 was having PTA few days ago and she says I like your shirt. 771 00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:46,800 To my wife. Yeah it's like but she didn't 772 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:50,880 want to let her Co workers know. But then she told another Co 773 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:54,240 worker, hey, she's a Christian too and they got to talk to each 774 00:36:54,240 --> 00:36:56,960 other and maybe that was encouraging them to be 775 00:36:56,960 --> 00:36:59,680 emboldened. To work with them. 776 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,000 In their own office. I don't know. 777 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:03,640 You don't know. The thing is, we don't know 778 00:37:03,640 --> 00:37:08,680 unless we share his name. Pray that God would give you an 779 00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:12,160 opportunity to talk, then live in such a way you could witness 780 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:15,800 to anyone, anytime. I was a store a few days ago and 781 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:18,200 one of the things I love doing when people ask for my e-mail 782 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:22,000 address, I tell them Pastor at mylibertybaptist.org. 783 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:25,040 Now it's not good if I've. Chewed them out right before 784 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:26,120 they ask for the e-mail address and. 785 00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:30,080 Then I say. Pastor at 786 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:32,960 calvarycatholic-church.org. That's what I try to say like, 787 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:34,920 like, I don't know, you know, I don't know. 788 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:36,240 See if you can get a hold of me. I don't know. 789 00:37:36,240 --> 00:37:38,600 But no. Pastor at my libertybaptist.org. 790 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:40,840 And I had a gentleman just asked me at the store this week. 791 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:41,800 He says. You know, I've always been 792 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:43,960 wondering, what's the difference between a Christian, a Catholic 793 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:47,280 and a Baptist? And I said, how long do you? 794 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:50,160 Have. And we had a good. 795 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:52,600 Conversation did I get to lead him to Christ there No did I get 796 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:58,240 to plant a seed I hope so find ways to be able to talk and live 797 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:04,320 out your faith so that when the door does open you're ready we 798 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,280 have friends and family Sunday coming in a few weeks it'll. 799 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:10,160 Be an opportunity with. You to have some invitation to 800 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:12,520 be able to invite people. That's not why I'm preaching 801 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:14,120 this message today. It's just next where we are 802 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:16,320 looking in Peter's life. But I will tell you, we, we try 803 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:18,760 to give you opportunities to make it very easy to invite 804 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:21,040 people. The problem is you just have to. 805 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:25,360 Step out by faith and invite. Well, they may not like it. 806 00:38:25,720 --> 00:38:28,480 They may not like it, but I'll tell you they will not like a 807 00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:31,840 devil's hell. So we ought to do everything we. 808 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:35,600 Can while we can to show them the love of Jesus Christ. 809 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:39,000 This is a story we're done. In 1949, a man named John 810 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:41,960 Courier was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in 811 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:43,800 prison. Later he was transferred and 812 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:47,840 paroled to work on a farm near Nashville, TN in 1968. 813 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:49,960 So about 20 years later, Courier's sentence was 814 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:52,360 terminated. A letter bearing the good news 815 00:38:52,360 --> 00:38:56,480 was sent to him, but John never saw the letter nor was told 816 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:59,240 anything about it. Life on that farm was hard 817 00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:01,880 without the promise of a future, yet John kept. 818 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:03,480 Doing. What he was told even after the 819 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:06,320 farmer for whom he worked had died 10. 820 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:09,520 Years went by, then a. State parole officer learned 821 00:39:09,520 --> 00:39:13,360 that Courier's plight of Courier's plight found him and 822 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:15,040 told him that his sentence had been terminated. 823 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:16,640 He was a free. Man. 824 00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:20,360 And could have been a free man 10 years before. 825 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:24,240 What happened? No one told him. 826 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:29,640 Do you realize that the precious blood of Jesus Christ is 827 00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:34,280 efficacious enough and powerful enough to save everyone who 828 00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:38,000 calls upon the name of Jesus? It won't run out. 829 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:42,760 It won't lose its power. Anyone and everyone can call 830 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:44,240 upon the name of the Lord to save him. 831 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:48,840 But what happens? Somebody has to tell them that 832 00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:50,880 it's there. How shall they hear? 833 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:54,640 Romans chapter 10 Without a preacher, how shall they hear? 834 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:57,680 Without you, preacher? No, not. 835 00:39:57,680 --> 00:40:03,000 Just the preacher, the preachers, the ones who give the 836 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:05,080 word of God. Listen. 837 00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:08,520 Why do we need to grow? Well, you need to grow because 838 00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:12,560 there's someone who needs to know salvation and listen. 839 00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:15,200 If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Savior, remember you're 840 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:18,240 in the other group. None of this even reflects upon 841 00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:20,440 your life. None of this is even 842 00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:24,040 consequential to you until you get to the place where you trust 843 00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:26,040 in Christ and Christ alone to save you. 844 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:29,760 Listen, you're a Sinner. Only Christ can save you. 845 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:32,320 All those things I mentioned before could never save you. 846 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:34,320 I had to come to that place in my own life. 847 00:40:34,680 --> 00:40:36,000 The Catholic Church can't save you. 848 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:37,320 The Lutheran Church can't save you. 849 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:38,800 The Methodist Church can't save you. 850 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,880 By the way, the Baptist Church can't save you just by being a 851 00:40:41,880 --> 00:40:44,880 Baptist. It's what does it. 852 00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:51,400 Say Acts 412. By the name of Jesus Christ, you 853 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:54,480 can be saved. Get saved today and if you are 854 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:57,280 saved, tell someone else how they can get saved because God 855 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:00,920 expects you to grow even in giving your faith. 856 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:04,800 Thank you for listening to the sermon from the pulpit of 857 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:07,720 Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 858 00:41:07,720 --> 00:41:11,160 to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 859 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:15,800 know by contacting us at info@mylibertybaptist.org. 860 00:41:16,080 --> 00:41:20,600 Or you can visit us this Sunday at 800 Washington St. in Easton, 861 00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:23,440 MA. May the Lord bless you as you 862 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:24,640 grow in His Word.