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 --> 00:00:22,080 message from God's Word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,280 Let's go ahead and turn. Our Bibles to Malachi chapter #3 8 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,800 No, it's not Malachi. All right, Malachi chapter #3 9 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:31,360 get. That out of the. 10 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:32,800 Way right now. OK. 11 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,520 He was not Italian. He was Jewish, as far as I know. 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:37,400 So I don't know where Malachi is. 13 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:38,960 I'm going to give you a hint. Are you ready? 14 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,360 Go to the book of Matthew. Go back about two pages. 15 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:42,640 All right, You'll be in the book of Malachi. 16 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:43,960 It is the last. Book. 17 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,960 Of the Old Testament, and we're going to continue looking at 18 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,120 some of these. Prophecies of Jesus Christ. 19 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,360 Of course we did that last. Week as well and we will be 20 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,320 doing so this morning as well you know we. 21 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,400 In a society today where it seems like. 22 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,200 Truth is subjective, isn't it? You know what I mean by 23 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,560 subjective meaning like you know your truth and my truth. 24 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,360 In fact, I hear that all the time about, well, that's your 25 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,600 truth. And of course, I think what they 26 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,000 mean is that's your opinion, because we can all have opinions 27 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,240 about different things. Last night there was that 28 00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:16,960 dessert table. That Kaylee had laid out. 29 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:20,280 Like an artist back there, I never seen someone put cookies 30 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,400 and brownies and all these different things in such an 31 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,200 artful way. And then I never saw people just 32 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,120 like, destroy it as quick as it was. 33 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:28,560 Well, I'm not. I don't have a lot of 34 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,040 compliments. For you that I'm sorry. 35 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,080 About that, no it. Just it was really good. 36 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:33,560 Wasn't it? But you know we. 37 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:34,680 Look at all. That and we could say. 38 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,440 You know, what's your favorite dessert? 39 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:40,040 And you know, I could say it's cheesecake or pecan pie. 40 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,680 You could say brownies, you could say ice cream. 41 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:43,720 You know, you could say. All kind. 42 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,800 Thankfully didn't have any ice cream on that table last night. 43 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,320 That would have been a little awkward, but could you imagine? 44 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:49,920 And we? Could all be listen, we could 45 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:51,760 all be right. About that right I mean, listen, 46 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,000 I love cheesecake and listen, I think it's probably the best 47 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:56,760 dessert right up there with pecan pie. 48 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,640 But I. Will tell you this that if you 49 00:01:58,640 --> 00:01:59,520 don't agree with. Me. 50 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,520 Well, you're not safe. No, No, that's not what I meant 51 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,080 to say. No, what I meant to say what I'm 52 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,240 that was not in the notes. All right, What I. 53 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,000 Meant to say is this. That's just my opinion, right? 54 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,120 Because you could. Feel that way about cookies. 55 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,800 Or you could feel that way about brownies or ice cream or 56 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,720 whatnot. Listen, we all have an. 57 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:18,960 Opinion. That's not your truth and my 58 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,280 truth, that's just your opinion and my opinion. 59 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,520 The problem is the world today is taking the idea of truth and 60 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,200 made it like an opinion, like there really is no truth. 61 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,000 Well. That's what you feel about God. 62 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:29,920 That's your truth. This. 63 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:32,440 Is what I feel about God this? Is my truth this is? 64 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,760 What you feel about? The Bible, that's your truth. 65 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,800 And this is what I feel about my holy. 66 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,200 Books. And that's my truth. 67 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:39,400 Well. The fact of the matter. 68 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:40,840 Is. Well, there certainly are. 69 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,560 Opinions in this? World about certain matters of 70 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,520 things, there is real, substantial truth. 71 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,640 In the world as well, in fact. There is truth that Listen, it's 72 00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:51,960 not my. Truth or your truth? 73 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,080 Listen. It's just God's truth. 74 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,000 And if you don't agree, you don't have to take it up with me 75 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:57,640 this morning. Sure, I'm the pastor, but you 76 00:02:57,640 --> 00:02:58,680 don't have to take it up with me. 77 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,720 We would have to take it up with God if we had a disagreement 78 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,640 with God's truth. Let me tell you, people have 79 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:05,040 been trying. To take their disagreements. 80 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,840 To the Lord all these years about how his truth was wrong 81 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,680 and it seems like, well, he's still around and they aren't. 82 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,040 God's truth is well. Truth. 83 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,640 And living in this kind of world, where truth seems to be 84 00:03:18,640 --> 00:03:21,920 so subjective can make us almost like Pontius Pilate. 85 00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:23,520 And I. Don't want to compare ourselves? 86 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:24,320 To him. But there is. 87 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,360 Something that he said. That reminds me of this 88 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,360 situation where he threw up his hands. 89 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,840 Right as he was in the trial of Jesus Christ and he said this, 90 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,880 What is truth? Not recognizing the truth was 91 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,560 literally standing in front of him, the embodiment of truth, 92 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,720 Jesus Christ. Today we are going to look at 93 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:41,800 another prophecy of the arrival of. 94 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,360 Jesus Christ upon the scene and the title I message this morning 95 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,360 is this 2 Unchanging Truths. For an ever changing world. 96 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,200 In a world that. Seems to be on shifting. 97 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:56,120 Sand there are two unchanging truths for this ever changing 98 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:57,360 world. Would you stand? 99 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,560 Please for the reading of God's Word where Malachi again 100 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:08,240 chapter. #3 We'll read in verse #1 Behold, I will send my 101 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,080 messenger. And he shall prepare the way 102 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,040 before me. And the Lord whom you. 103 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,680 Seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of 104 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,279 the covenant whom you delight in. 105 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,760 Behold, he shall come say at the Lord of hosts, but who may abide 106 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,600 the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? 107 00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:27,640 For he is like a refiners fire, and like fuller's soap, And he 108 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,960 shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. 109 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,120 He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and 110 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,160 silver, that they may offer unto the Lord, and offering in 111 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,360 righteousness in those three short verses. 112 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,880 We see 2 unchanging truths. For an ever changing world. 113 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,720 That I want us to look at this morning. 114 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,840 Why don't you go ahead and be seated and let's pray together? 115 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:53,680 Heavenly Father, I do. Thank you for this morning, and 116 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:55,640 I just thank you for the wonderful weekend we've been 117 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,200 able to have as a church. And I think of the joy. 118 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,080 That we had yesterday. Last night and just being here 119 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,920 this morning, Lord, even with some of the conditions not being 120 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,520 optimal for driving. And I look at the people who are 121 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,680 here today, Lord, so many of them faithful, happy. 122 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,920 Lord, it just blesses my soul. But Lord, today we're not. 123 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,760 Here just to be able to feel good and leave. 124 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:20,640 Lord, we want to be changed into your image. 125 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,760 Do we want to be more like Christ and to Lord help us to do 126 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:25,960 that this morning. Let the unsaved realize their 127 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,200 need for salvation. May those of us. 128 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,760 Who are saved realize our. Need to remove the dross from 129 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,080 our life to be put through the refiners fire and be more the 130 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,280 better for your service. Thank you again for this time 131 00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:41,280 and we ask it all in Jesus name, Amen. 132 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,000 The Book of Malachi is written. As the last of the minor 133 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,360 prophets, and we call them minor prophets not because they 134 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:48,960 weren't as important as the other prophets. 135 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,160 But they were minor in the sizes of their books. 136 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:53,960 For instance, Malachi just being. 4 chapters. 137 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,360 And just a few pages in your. Bible Malachi was the last. 138 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,840 Of the minor. Prophets, it is the last. 139 00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:02,560 Book of the Old Testament. And he is the last of the 140 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:07,320 prophets before the Lord was silent for about 400 to 400. 141 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:09,920 And 50 years, you say? Well, why was the Lord silent? 142 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,160 Well, as you know. As you've been around Liberty 143 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,440 Baptist Church for a little bit and we've preached on this over 144 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,760 and over again, but. The Lord and His graciousness 145 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,160 kept trying to have the people of Israel return. 146 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,120 To him, in fact, he gave them good kings and bad kings during 147 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,800 their divided reign, and then kept. 148 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,760 Trying to work with them. He sent prophets. 149 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:27,200 They even went into. Exile. 150 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:28,680 Then some of them. A remnant came. 151 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,800 Back and tried to rebuild, but even despite all of these 152 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,040 different things, you would have thought that somewhere. 153 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,480 Along the line their. Attention would have turned back 154 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:41,320 to God, but yet in the book of Malachi, God will try to 155 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,120 lovingly correct the people of Israel and they constantly. 156 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,440 Question the Lord over and. Over again. 157 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,760 In fact, the. Book of Malachi in many ways is 158 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,720 a book of questions, not of the. Prophet questioning the people 159 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,240 or God even questioning the people. 160 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,600 But the people questioning God, it's amazing that they're 161 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,440 questioning him about things they're guilty about. 162 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:03,400 They're like the child who. Took a. 163 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,160 Cookie from the cookie jar. And the father. 164 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,480 Says hey, did you take that cookie and they have it behind 165 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,120 their? Back and they go no. 166 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,440 Like that? That's what Israel is here in 167 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,000 the book. Of Malachi, listen. 168 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,480 God's got them dead to rights. By the way, God knows you. 169 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,920 That's still true today. He knows you, He knows about 170 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:23,400 you. He knows you better than you 171 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,080 know yourself. That's why when you're saved, 172 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,080 the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you is able to reveal the 173 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,000 deep things of the heart about you so that you can confess 174 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,320 those and make those right before the Lord and the people 175 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,280 of Israel kept saying, are you talking about me? 176 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,720 You mean me? Did I do anything wrong? 177 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,040 The whole time the cookies hidden behind, they're back. 178 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,040 And so God is trying to correct them. 179 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,280 And over and over through this very short book, He tries to do 180 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,440 that. And they are questioning him and 181 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,160 questioning him and questioning him. 182 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:54,160 And by the time that the book is done, the final 2 words of the 183 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,040 book of Malachi. In essence, the final 2 words of 184 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,040 the Old Testament. Are this a curse? 185 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:04,080 And for 400 plus years, God is silent. 186 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:05,880 Did I say God didn't? Exist. 187 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:07,360 No. God was very much present. 188 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,800 God was very much still at work. Listen, there's never a time 189 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,840 when God is just in heaven, not knowing, not understanding, like 190 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,840 some sort of a spiritual dementia. 191 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,720 Where God doesn't know what's. Going on, you know. 192 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,200 God is very aware of the affairs of men, but because the people 193 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,120 of Israel stopped listening, He stopped speaking. 194 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,240 For 400 years. But yet even in the midst of 195 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,800 their spiritual. Stubbornness even in the midst 196 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:35,000 of their rebellion towards him. He still here in chapter #3 in 197 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,400 these 3 verses, gives us this incredible prophecy. 198 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,880 Behold, I will send my messenger. 199 00:08:41,039 --> 00:08:43,840 He shall prepare the way before. Me and the Lord. 200 00:08:43,919 --> 00:08:47,120 Whom he seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the 201 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,320 messenger of the covenant whom you delight in. 202 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,520 Behold, he shall come, sayeth the Lord of hosts. 203 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,720 And from this rich and incredible prophecy, we find 2 204 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,160 truths, 2 unchanging. Truths. 205 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:03,360 About God that are comforting in today's society, in the ever 206 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,720 changing rather world. That we live in. 207 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:07,960 So the first that I want us to. Look at this morning. 208 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,400 Is this God never forgets? His promises. 209 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,040 Listen to me, you want truth this morning we'll start here. 210 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,000 God never forgets his promises and in. 211 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,280 Verse #1 we see. Two things that are. 212 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,960 Promised to mankind. A messenger and a Messiah. 213 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,880 There were two things that are promised in verse #1A messenger 214 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,040 and a Messiah. Who is this messenger? 215 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,280 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare 216 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,720 the way before me. That would be none other than 217 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,520 John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the one. 218 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,040 Who was? Going to prepare the way of the 219 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,280 Lord, to make the path straight for his appearing. 220 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,800 He was the messenger, a messenger, right? 221 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,840 A herald in old times would go before the King. 222 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,120 He would announce to those who are along the way, the King is 223 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,680 coming, the King is coming. And everybody who was on the way 224 00:09:56,680 --> 00:09:59,480 that heard the voice of the messenger was to stop what they 225 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,840 were doing, to cease all activity. 226 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,480 And they were to be there in the presence of the King when he 227 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,320 passed by. What was John the Baptist job? 228 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,000 What was his mission? What was his ministry, if you 229 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,480 will? It was simply to announce this, 230 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:18,560 that the Messiah is coming, be ready, and then we see that 231 00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:22,920 Jesus is that. Messiah, who is shown to us to 232 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,600 be God. What I love about this is that 233 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,400 not only is there the Messiah that is being spoken of, but 234 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,360 this Messiah is God. And the fact of the matter is 235 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:35,040 Jesus wasn't just a good man. He wasn't simply a good teacher. 236 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,400 He wasn't just a model for us to live by. 237 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:41,520 This verse here tells us of the deity of Jesus Christ. 238 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,520 Behold, I. Who is I? 239 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,200 God, I will send my messenger, John the Baptist. 240 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:49,840 He shall prepare, Prepare the way before me. 241 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:51,960 Who is me? Well, Jesus. 242 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:57,680 Christ, hold on a second. That choked up I God will 243 00:10:57,680 --> 00:11:00,520 prepare the way, and the messenger before me, Jesus 244 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:05,080 Christ, well, who is me God, who is Jesus Christ, and the Lord 245 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,480 whom he seeks, shall suddenly come to his temple well, when 246 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,080 did Jesus Christ. Come to the temple well, we can 247 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,760 think of when he was an. Infant we can think of when he 248 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,000 was a 12 year old, we can think of during his earthly ministry. 249 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,200 We could see that he went to not just the temple. 250 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,520 Whose temple did he go? To his temple meaning. 251 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,320 What? That Jesus Christ was God and it 252 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,680 says this that. He was going to come suddenly to 253 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:33,120 his temple, you say? Well, Pastor, Well, hold on a 254 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,640 second. Well, I don't know that he came 255 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,040 suddenly, because it seems. Like this is a 400 year old 256 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,160 prophecy. We looked at even older prophecy 257 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:43,720 last week. You're telling me that? 258 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,280 That it's sudden but. It seems like it wasn't so 259 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:47,760 sudden at all. Well, there is a. 260 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,200 Difference between something happened suddenly, suddenly, 261 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:56,240 suddenly, but with there being warning, meaning this Mount 262 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:57,840 Saint Helen. Some of you will remember the 263 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:00,400 eruption of Mount Saint Helen some years ago. 264 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,640 All accounts, it happened suddenly, people happen, people 265 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,640 did not know what was about to take place, did not take heed of 266 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,320 what was going to take place, and many died in the very sudden 267 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,160 eruption. But there were a lot of warning 268 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:20,200 signs and there were people that ignored those warning signs and 269 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,360 when it happened. It did not happen. 270 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,640 Slowly it happened quite suddenly. 271 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,200 Could I tell you that the quote UN quote warning signs of the 272 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,760 Messiah coming are all over the Old Testament? 273 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,680 You can go from Genesis chapter 3 all. 274 00:12:34,680 --> 00:12:35,880 The way here until the end of the. 275 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:37,360 Book of Malachi and what do you see? 276 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,880 The warning signs. And what happened when he came? 277 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,520 He didn't come suddenly. They didn't expect him. 278 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,080 They didn't know we saw last. Week that, Herod said. 279 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,680 Who is? This king and that the the the 280 00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:51,160 Pharisees had to look up the prophecies to be able to 281 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,720 understand that would be born in Bethlehem and they just didn't 282 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,600 quite understand but when it happened it happened and so we 283 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:58,880 see here that there's a messenger that's going to 284 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,880 prepare the way and then there will be a Messiah he is the. 285 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,560 One who is going to go and he is the. 286 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:08,840 One who is going to preach and is coming in verse #2 and 3 is 287 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,640 going to be unlike anything that has ever been seen before and it 288 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:14,680 will be like anything. That has never been seen again. 289 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,720 God. Promises and when God promises. 290 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:25,600 Something he does it, he promises, say well, it seems 291 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,520 like it took a while, but he did it. 292 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,400 By the way, he's promised to come back, so it seems like it's 293 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,440 been a while. He's going to do it. 294 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,200 Say, why is that? Well, because he always keeps. 295 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,440 His promises. That's the first unchanging 296 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:40,800 truth. God always keeps his promises. 297 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:45,240 Look at any fool can make a. Promise anybody can make a 298 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:46,920 problem. Listen, even a well intended. 299 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,280 Person can make a promise. You could. 300 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,120 Promise that you're going to do a certain thing on a certain 301 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,560 day, but perhaps you get ill or perhaps the weather turns bad, 302 00:13:55,560 --> 00:13:57,920 or perhaps you don't have the money that you thought you had. 303 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,120 It could have been anything that you were well-intentioned even 304 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,800 in making your promise, but yet you couldn't fulfill it Because, 305 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,320 listen, there are things that happen that are out of your 306 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,760 control, but God can keep his promises. 307 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,640 And the way that we know that God can keep his promises is 308 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:12,880 because there's nothing that's out of his control. 309 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:13,440 And. That's. 310 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,080 That should give comfort to us. At this time of year. 311 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,880 That should give comfort to us for the other. 11 months of the 312 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:20,560 year. That God always keeps his 313 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,440 promises. Listen because God is always in 314 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,880 control. That Go to Mark chapter 1 very 315 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,120 quick, just a couple pages away. Go to Mark chapter #1. 316 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,120 I want you to see that, you say, well, you're. 317 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,400 Connecting some dots about the John the Baptist and Jesus and I 318 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:35,480 just. Don't know that that actually 319 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:37,160 there. Well, let's go to Mark chapter 320 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:43,920 1, Or Mac Either way, you know, if we can do Malachi, we can do 321 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,840 Mac, right? So come on, Mac. 322 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,480 All right, verse #1 the beginning of the. 323 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,920 Gospel of Jesus. Christ, the Son of God as it is. 324 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,600 Written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy 325 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,080 face, which I'll prepare the way before me. 326 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,960 The voice of one crying in the wilderness Prepare you the way 327 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:03,200 of the. Lord make. 328 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,320 His path straight. Well, what Prophet spoke of 329 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:06,960 that? Well, that would have been 330 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,400 Malachi chapter #3 as it. Is written there it is 331 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,520 confirming this isn't just some wild eyed independent Baptist 332 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,600 preacher who's trying to make connections that aren't there. 333 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,440 The very Word of God confirms. To us. 334 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,360 That that messenger was John the Baptist, verse 4. 335 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,240 John did baptize in the. Wilderness and preach the 336 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,040 baptism. Of repentance for the remission 337 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,160 of sins. And look at what it says. 338 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,800 And then verse #5 there went out with him all the land of Judea, 339 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,240 and they have Jerusalem, and we're all baptized. 340 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,040 Of him in the Jordan River confessing their sins, and John 341 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,440 was. Clothed with camel's hair and 342 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,760 with a girdle. Of a skin of those loins. 343 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:43,280 And he did eat locust and wild honey. 344 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,720 Well, I mean, he wasn't perfect, but anyway, the locust part kind 345 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:48,520 of kind of weirds me out, but verse 7. 346 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:50,480 And he preached. Saying there cometh 1. 347 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:54,040 Mightier than after I after me, the latchet of whose shoes? 348 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:55,880 I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 349 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,240 I have indeed baptized you with water, but he shall baptize you 350 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:00,520 with the holy. Ghost and it. 351 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:04,400 Came to pass in those days that Jesus came for. 352 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:09,120 From Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John in the Jordan. 353 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:13,160 What are we saying? There's the messenger and 354 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:17,200 there's the Messiah. The messenger made prepared the 355 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,400 way and he announced the coming Messiah. 356 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,400 We see in other passages that when he. 357 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:27,280 Sees Jesus Christ says behold the Lamb of God, which taketh 358 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,280 away the sin of the world and Jesus asked to be baptized of 359 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,640 him by the way, showing us the process as well. 360 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,040 Did Jesus quote UN quote need to be baptized? 361 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,000 No, but he was showing us the process of which we go through 362 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,240 after we are saved that we are baptized and then we grow in our 363 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,440 faith. This is what Jesus is showing us 364 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,480 here and then he's submitting himself to this and John says 365 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,320 no, I can't. I'm not even worthy to unbuckle 366 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,560 your shoes. Because he understood who Jesus 367 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:56,120 was, God never forgets his promises. 368 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,720 Listen, God kept his promises. To Israel. 369 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:02,480 Despite their unfaithfulness, I think of it the dedication of 370 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,839 the temple. Saul dedicated the temple in 371 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:06,040 First Kings. Chapter 8. 372 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:07,720 Verse 50. Six he says this. 373 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,640 Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people 374 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:12,240 Israel. According to all that he. 375 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:16,560 Promised there has not failed. One word of all, His good 376 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:20,599 promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 377 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,880 God will keep his promises despite listen our own 378 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,440 sinfulness. You ever make a promise to 379 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,880 somebody and they kind of make you mad and they kind of say, 380 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:32,800 you know what? All bets are off. 381 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,400 You know what? You're not faithful to me. 382 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:36,480 I. Don't have to be. 383 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:40,240 Faithful to you Well that's kind of the human condition isn't 384 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:44,400 that's the flesh that wants to feel that way, but God despite. 385 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:48,040 The fact that we have. Been very unfaithful to him, has 386 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:53,280 been very faithful to us. God never forgets his promise. 387 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:58,800 He promised a Messiah. It looked bleak, but he came by 388 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,840 the way. He's promised salvation through 389 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,440 that Messiah and it is available for you today through his 390 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,400 precious blood. People will fail us. 391 00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:11,160 I wish it wasn't true. People will fail us. 392 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,200 God will never fail you. So I'm tired of. 393 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,560 In fact, I'm tired of church pastor because, you know, I'm 394 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,920 just, I'm just tired of, of the church scene. 395 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,400 I'm tired of the whole issue. I'm tired of all the different 396 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:23,720 things. Listen, it wasn't. 397 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:25,000 Church that failed you as. People. 398 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:30,040 Because the God of the Church. Is not the one who failed you 399 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:32,400 Listen. God will never fail. 400 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,760 Why He? Always remembers how he never 401 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,360 forgets his promises #2 Here's the other truth. 402 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,480 First of all. God never forgets his promises, 403 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,160 but #2 God is always willing to forgive. 404 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,480 He is always willing to forgive. Go back to Malachi chapter #3 if 405 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:50,240 you would. Malachi Chapter 3. 406 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:59,250 Let's look at verses #2 and 3. One of God's. 407 00:18:59,250 --> 00:19:01,930 Promises to us is that there would always be a means of 408 00:19:01,930 --> 00:19:05,970 forgiveness for our sins. In the Old Testament, that was 409 00:19:05,970 --> 00:19:08,650 the blood of bulls and goats. Hebrews 10, verse 4. 410 00:19:08,970 --> 00:19:11,770 But here's the problem. Hebrews 10/4 is not. 411 00:19:11,770 --> 00:19:13,930 Possible that the blood of. Bulls and goats should take away 412 00:19:13,930 --> 00:19:16,240 sins. The sacrament. 413 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,240 The sacrificial system. Could only cover the sins of the 414 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,520 people, but they can never truly be forgiven. 415 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,000 You say well. How could that possibly? 416 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,680 Be true because if could forgive sins, then Jesus Christ would 417 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,320 never have come there'd be no need for him to come and we. 418 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:31,080 Would still be having sacrifices. 419 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,560 Today, the closest we have to. Sacrifice our church BBQ. 420 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:34,680 That we have once a year, all right. 421 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,440 And that has nothing to do with the religious. 422 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:37,560 Right, that's just the fact that. 423 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,560 You know, we like to eat, you know, that's what I'm saying. 424 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:42,800 But we don't have that happen today. 425 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:44,160 Why? Because. 426 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:48,440 There was a more perfect sacrifice in the New Testament. 427 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:52,280 Hebrews 10 verses 10 through 12 by the which we are sanctified 428 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:56,120 through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, 429 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,440 and every piece standeth daily, ministering and offering 430 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:03,160 sometimes or often times the same sacrifices which can never 431 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,920 take away sins. But this man, after he had 432 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,600 offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat. 433 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,760 Down at the right hand of God. It wasn't a sacrificial system, 434 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:14,760 that said. Again and again and again and 435 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,640 again and again. And you never will be clean from 436 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:19,880 your sins, it'll only be covered for a year. 437 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:24,120 But yet we realize that when Jesus Christ came that He always 438 00:20:24,120 --> 00:20:27,080 forgives those who come to Him in repentance. 439 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:29,440 What does that mean? That He is the one that 440 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:30,800 forgives. Sins. 441 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,720 And that's why he came. That's why he lived. 442 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,120 That's why he died, by the way. That's why he rose again. 443 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:39,520 Because he is the perfect sacrifice. 444 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:41,440 He lived a life. For 33 years. 445 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,000 Where he never sinned during that time he was tempted. 446 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,720 So I remember he was tempted 3 times in the wilderness. 447 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:49,960 Well, he was tempted 40 days in the wilderness, not just three 448 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,600 times. And no doubt he was tempted 449 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,400 throughout his entire life. He's tempted all points like we 450 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,960 were, the Bible says, yet without sin. 451 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,400 Why? To be the perfect sacrifice? 452 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,240 Because here's some bad news. You're a Sinner. 453 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,520 Say, who do you? Think I am a Sinner. 454 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:08,920 I just said it. Why are you asking that? 455 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:11,600 Why would you ask me that? Just I literally. 456 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:15,200 Just said it, you are a Sinner. I'm a. 457 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,440 Sinner, everyone. Who's ever walked this Earth? 458 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,880 Has been a Sinner except for Jesus Christ, which is why only 459 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,320 he could be the sacrifice for sins, but he's always willing to 460 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,480 forgive and it says in. Verse #2 look at. 461 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:30,040 What it says, But who may abide the day of His coming, and who 462 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:31,920 shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a. 463 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,280 Refiners fire and like fuller soap. 464 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,320 Now let's consider. These things because Jesus. 465 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,440 Is like a refiners fire and he is like Fuller soap. 466 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:41,720 Now, these are two things that maybe aren't right at the. 467 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,360 Forefront of our minds that are part of our. 468 00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:46,280 Day-to-day life, a refiners fire and a fuller soap, but a 469 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:48,760 refiners fire. Is in ancient metalworking. 470 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,280 Where a refiner. Would heat silver and gold 471 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:53,120 until. It melts as it did. 472 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:54,920 So is that ore was melting in that? 473 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,760 Very high heat, the Imperial. Would rise to the top. 474 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,360 What the refiner would do would then skim all the impurities. 475 00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:04,320 Off allow it to cool. And then go through the process 476 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,640 again and again. Sometimes it was said up to 477 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:08,840 seven times. That a perfect. 478 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:12,080 Amount of as the number. 7 is often represented as perfection. 479 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,400 In the word of God. We see that it was. 480 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,080 An amount of. Heat that came that purities 481 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,840 were removed, impurities were. Removed and when. 482 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:20,680 You were done. You were. 483 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,440 Left with something that was. Pure and that was ready for use. 484 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:29,240 It was said that the refiner trainer knew that the OR was now 485 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,280 what it needed. To be when he could see his 486 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:36,200 reflection in what was melted in front of him and isn't that what 487 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:41,400 Jesus Christ is to us he is the refiners fire listen that he is 488 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,200 the one that purifies us from sin. 489 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:48,320 By the way, when you're saved, but then that day-to-day sin 490 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:49,920 that we have in our. Life as well when we don't. 491 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:51,720 Follow him. Hey believer, we don't always 492 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:53,040 follow after. We get saved like we. 493 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:56,720 Should And sometimes he puts us through the fire and it's not 494 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,560 because he hates us. Do you know why? 495 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,040 Because he's trying to bring out something better within us. 496 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,400 Christ likeness. He wants to see our his image in 497 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:08,240 US and the world should see his image in US. 498 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:09,800 And so sometimes we got to go through. 499 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:11,680 The fire a little bit say, well, pastor, I've been going through. 500 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,120 Some tough times right now it seems like God hates me. 501 00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:16,760 No, he loves you. He's the refiners. 502 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,800 Fire it may be. Hot for a little bit. 503 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:24,920 It may be difficult for a bit. It may not be comfortable, but 504 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,960 what? Comes out is something the 505 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,840 better that is useful in the master's hands, far better than 506 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:32,000 what you could have done on your. 507 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,880 Own he is the refiners fire but he's. 508 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:39,360 Also the fuller's soap. Now, a fuller back in those days 509 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:41,200 would be someone that dyed fabrics. 510 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,440 That's what that is today. You want fabric that's dyed 511 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:46,880 different colors while you buy it at the store. 512 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,640 That's the way it works. But what did they do in those 513 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:50,440 days? You wanted to? 514 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:52,320 Get fabric that was a different color. 515 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:54,280 Well, if. Fuller was the one that would go 516 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,960 put the fabric in the dyes and do that type of thing. 517 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,240 But you know that type of dye would. 518 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,920 Really mess with your hands. It would really get it pretty 519 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:06,480 pretty messed. Up so they need a special type 520 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,520 of soap. This special soap usually 521 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,720 included. Lye or ash the closest. 522 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,080 That we would have today. Something like this would be. 523 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,400 Lava soap they use. Pumice soap, lava soap. 524 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:19,960 I mean, that's for people that work with their hands. 525 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,960 So someone like me that types all day, lava soap wouldn't 526 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,320 really help me a whole lot. But you know you're changing the 527 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:29,600 oil, you know, you know you're, you're working on something down 528 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,320 deep in the dirt. Maybe you're even out in the 529 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,920 garden and you got just stuff everywhere all over your hands 530 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,240 and and the regular soap just isn't cutting it. 531 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:40,400 You pull out that lava soap, and by the way, it'll take off 532 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,120 probably. A good two or three layers of 533 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:45,320 your skin. But what's left is clean. 534 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:50,080 I mean, it's thorough. Nothing gets missed that that 535 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,880 lava soap, that Puma soap. And here he says he's not just 536 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:58,400 the refiners fire, he's the the, the the soap, the fuller soap as 537 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,600 well. Meaning this that he will clean 538 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:02,880 you better than anything else can clean you. 539 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,400 Listen, you can try to be cleansed by your works and guess 540 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,920 what, there's still be residue leftover. 541 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,880 You can try to be. Clean by just going to. 542 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,080 Church, there's still be residue leftover. 543 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:17,040 You can try to be clean by just being a nice person. 544 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:20,160 There'll be residue leftover. You can try to give money to the 545 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,440 church and there'll be residue leftover. 546 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,600 You can just try to pray and there'll be residue leftover. 547 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:29,920 You can just try to learn as much as you can about God and 548 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,480 the humanities and all those different things, and there'll 549 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:35,680 be residue leftover. Whatever you try to do to clean 550 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:37,720 yourself from your sins. The Bible says this. 551 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:41,280 It's nothing but a filthy rag. You're smearing that which is 552 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:43,520 already dirty. You're just readjusting the 553 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:44,760 dirt. The dirt's not really. 554 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,040 Going anywhere? But if you want to be clean, 555 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,520 it's got to be the fuller soap. Who is that? 556 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,800 That's Jesus Christ. Listen, God never forgets his 557 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:56,720 promises, but he always forgives. 558 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:00,800 Those who come to him asking for forgiveness say, well, you don't 559 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:02,960 know what I've done. I don't know what you've done. 560 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:05,240 And can I be honest? With you, I don't want to know 561 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:09,280 what you've done. I got enough to deal with my own 562 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:10,320 life. I don't need to know what you 563 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,440 got going on in your life. Listen if you need. 564 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:15,840 To counsel things like I'm glad to you understand what I'm 565 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,720 saying, but I don't need to know specifically what's going on in 566 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:20,840 your life to know this. God will forgive you. 567 00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:24,960 So you don't know what I did. I'll, I'll, I'll counter that. 568 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,920 I do know what Paul. Did and Paul did. 569 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,880 Some pretty wicked things. In the name of God, no less. 570 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,080 You know this, He was forgiven and became one of the apostles, 571 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,960 and you think you're much more? In a worse shape than he was. 572 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:43,440 Listen. God could forgive the apostle 573 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,280 Paul. God could forgive you. 574 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,160 I remember giving the Gospel once, several years ago, to a 575 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:50,600 woman. In fact, it was a day much like 576 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:52,320 this. Diane and I went into Boston. 577 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,240 She was in the hospital actually with a baby that was there. 578 00:26:56,120 --> 00:26:58,320 It was a snowy day, and I remember that she was in a very, 579 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,880 very bad situation and we were trying to give her the gospel. 580 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:02,640 We had to make clear to her. We want to make sure she 581 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:04,600 understood that. Listen, we're here to visit you. 582 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:06,760 We're here to visit the baby. I'm really concerned, ma'am, 583 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:09,520 about your salvation. But we don't want you to pray to 584 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:12,160 be saved just because you think that'll make the baby better. 585 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:14,960 We want to make clear that it just God doesn't. 586 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,280 We're not doing that. That's not what salvation is 587 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,920 about trying to do. Do well, maybe if I can make God 588 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,240 happy and pray this little prayer that my baby will get 589 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:24,920 better. So we try to make it clear, but 590 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:26,920 she said this to me and my wife. She goes, well, you don't know 591 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:30,640 what I've done. And I knew enough to know it 592 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:32,960 wasn't good. Like there was a reason they 593 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:34,560 were at the hospital in the 1st place. 594 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:37,600 I said this, I don't need to know the exact things that 595 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:39,840 you've done to know this. God will forgive you. 596 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:46,000 God will forgive you. And that's true of you today. 597 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,480 It doesn't matter if you're a young person. 598 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:51,440 It doesn't matter if you're in your Middle Ages. 599 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:54,040 It doesn't matter if you're an older person, say, well, it's 600 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:58,320 too late for me, are you alive? It's not too late. 601 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:03,440 It's time to accept Christ. And sure, you say, well. 602 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,000 Wouldn't it would have been? Better if it was earlier. 603 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,120 Listen, don't worry about what? Could have been. 604 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,600 You are here today and what are you going to do with the gospel 605 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,160 is being presented to you today? Listen, He never forgets his 606 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,120 promises, which means this. He's promised that you can be 607 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:18,760 saved. He'll forgive you. 608 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,840 Just give your life to Christ. Today, Amen. 609 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,880 Why would you try to take this? Is this whole idea of trying? 610 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:28,800 To to to work your own righteousness out. 611 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:32,120 Why would you take God's perfect plan and try to? 612 00:28:32,120 --> 00:28:36,120 Improve it. Why do you add baptism? 613 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:37,840 This plan is perfect it. Doesn't need your baptism. 614 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:40,480 What? And it requires the Lord's 615 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:41,560 Supper. His plan is perfect. 616 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:42,760 Doesn't. Require you taking the Lord's 617 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:44,240 Supper. Why? 618 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:47,360 To go through the confirmation. No, no, it's not that I got to 619 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,240 be an altar boy, which, by the way, I was. 620 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:53,480 And I was still lost as a goose. I don't know what the goose did 621 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:54,960 to be lost, but I'm just saying that's just I. 622 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:56,360 I was lost. I didn't know. 623 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:00,760 I didn't know. Could you imagine someone 624 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:02,640 looking at the Mona Lisa now they don't let you close to the 625 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:04,400 Mona Lisa anymore. I've seen as like it's in case 626 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,360 encased in bulletproof glass. And you got to stand like I 627 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,840 think, I think you actually got to look at it with binoculars 628 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,080 from about another about a couple 100 meters away. 629 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:15,680 But could you imagine someone letting you close to the Mona 630 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:17,840 Lisa and you say something like this? 631 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:25,160 I think I can make this better and pull out a magic marker, a 632 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:29,680 Sharpie, and just start making a little bit of a mark there with 633 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:34,200 hands that are dirty. Listen, You would have all of 634 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:40,880 humanity up in arms at you defacing this amazing painting. 635 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:42,920 At least that's what I've been told that it's amazing painting. 636 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:46,720 Listen. Why would? 637 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:50,280 Mankind, try to change the gospel which truly is the 638 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:54,000 masterpiece of all time. You think you can make it better 639 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:55,960 with your magic marker in your dirty hands? 640 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,840 Just give your life to Christ today. 641 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:02,840 Understand you're a Sinner. Understand only Jesus. 642 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,080 Christ can save you because of His. 643 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:08,480 He said why the Bible says I need to be washed yet not washed 644 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,160 in the baptismal orgy to be washed in the blood of the lamb. 645 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,400 Amen through. Salvation. 646 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:18,480 That's what salvation is about. First Peter 1 verses. 18 and 19. 647 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:20,560 For as much as you know that you are not redeemed. 648 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:22,720 With corruptible things as silver and gold. 649 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:25,240 From your vain conversation received by tradition. 650 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,840 From your father's. But with the precious blood of 651 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:32,320 Christ as of a lamb without. Blemish and without spot. 652 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,040 Would you turn just one page over to Malachi chapter? 653 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:43,660 #4 Remember I said the last two words of the Old Testament were 654 00:30:43,660 --> 00:30:47,820 a curse? Look at verse #5 Despite all of 655 00:30:47,820 --> 00:30:52,200 that, behold, I will. Send you Elijah the Prophet. 656 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:55,160 Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, 657 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:57,360 you said that Elijah the prophet who was that? 658 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:01,160 Well, Jesus revealed in Matthew Chapter 11, verses 12 through 14 659 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,960 that Elijah the prophet was John the Baptist, that he was the 660 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:06,160 one. No, this isn't me saying this 661 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:06,640 this. Is what? 662 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:08,120 Jesus Christ, I'm not going to make you turn. 663 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:10,360 Right now, for the sake of time, write it down and look it up for 664 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:12,720 yourself later. Matthew Chapter 11, verses 12 665 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:16,360 and 14. So even in the midst of the. 666 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:19,440 Very. Darkest moment God is. 667 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:22,120 Still just telling him. Listen, there's still. 668 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,480 Hope. There's still hope. 669 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:28,200 Despite everything, go back to verse #1 for behold, the day 670 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:30,240 cometh. That day shall or that shall. 671 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:31,680 Burn is then oven and the. Proud. 672 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,280 Yeah, All that do. Wickedly shall be stubble, and 673 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:37,200 the day that cometh shall burn them up, say at the Lord of 674 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:42,480 hosts, that is, that shall leave them neither root nor branch. 675 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,160 But unto you that fear my name shall the sun. 676 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:47,840 Do you see that word sun there? What's interesting about that 677 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:49,600 word Sun? Has a capital. 678 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:52,600 Letter S, doesn't it? It's the SUN, but I'd also. 679 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:56,640 Tell you it's the SON, the Sun of Righteousness. 680 00:31:57,360 --> 00:31:59,760 Fell arise with. Healing in his wings, and you 681 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,680 shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. 682 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:03,960 You know it. Talks about the sun of. 683 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:05,360 Righteousness arising with healing. 684 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:07,480 In his wings, it's almost like those wings would be like 685 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:13,120 sunbeams or rays and there's healing within the sun of 686 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:16,200 righteousness. It was about couple years ago 687 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:18,560 Diane and I, for our 20th anniversary, got to go to the 688 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:20,800 Cayman Islands. I'll tell you, I got a couple 689 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:22,360 bank accounts there. I got oh, no, nevermind. 690 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:26,760 No, it's, I just want to check on the balances and it's all 691 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:32,560 good, you know what I'm saying? But anyway, yeah, so, but 692 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:37,280 anyway, I I just remember being out there and it's a small 693 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:38,840 island. It's so small. 694 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:41,240 I mean, you could drive from one side of it to the other in in an 695 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:44,120 hour. I remember some of the sunrises 696 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:47,280 and the sunsets I saw weren't like anything I ever saw. 697 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,680 Diane said one day she goes, we should, we should go see the 698 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:52,200 sunrise. And I said, you know, we ought 699 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:56,600 to do, we ought to sleep in. I'm just saying, I mean, it's 700 00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:59,520 sunrise pretty early, you know, and we're on vacation. 701 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:01,320 Just seems like that's probably not the right thing to do. 702 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:03,640 But what we went out and we went out. 703 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:08,640 It was, it was still dark. And I've never seen a sunrise 704 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,720 like this. Before we had our coffee. 705 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:13,160 And we were sitting down there on the and the on the beach and 706 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:19,200 our our beach chairs and just watch it slowly come up and it 707 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,720 and it and it and it. All of a sudden the. 708 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:25,440 Sky starts changing colors and then before you know it, it's 709 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:26,320 like you. Snap your finger. 710 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:30,280 And it's morning. The changes happened so slowly 711 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:33,320 and so subtly, and all of a sudden it's like the Lord just 712 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:35,160 turns on the light switch. It is morning. 713 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:37,600 So have you ever seen a sunrise before? 714 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:39,880 Yes, I've been up that early that I've seen a sunrise before. 715 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:43,160 I'm just saying all I saw was water and sun. 716 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:45,840 That that's the idea here. Some of you think, Do you get up 717 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:50,040 before 7:00 regularly? OK, I have too many children. 718 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:52,680 To not get up. Before 7:00, all right, But I'm 719 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:55,880 just saying to be able to see it with that clarity, not a cloud 720 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:57,880 in the sky, just the water in front of you. 721 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:02,080 Radiating off the water. The beauty of that was unlike 722 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,000 anything I'd probably ever seen of that type of thing. 723 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:10,440 But the Bible says the Sun of Righteousness has healing within 724 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:12,960 his wings. When you think of the beauty of 725 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,440 that sunrise and you've seen probably some very incredible 726 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:20,520 sunrises and some very incredible sunsets, beautiful, 727 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:27,360 awe inspiring, jaw-dropping, that the creator of that very 728 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:33,600 sun is the one who wants to bring forgiveness and healing to 729 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:37,040 your life today. Life's a mess in this world, 730 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:40,400 life's a mess. And at this time of year. 731 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,080 Let me tell you, you think everyone got it together. 732 00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:45,800 In fact, I would say things are worse for people this time of 733 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,239 year than the other times of the year because we've been told on 734 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:51,239 television and on social media and all these things that 735 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:52,920 everything has to be perfect this time of year. 736 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,719 And most of us are confronted with our imperfect lives and we 737 00:34:56,719 --> 00:34:59,520 feel like we're less than or we feel like we're not enough. 738 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:01,600 Or if we don't do all the things, we're letting our 739 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:04,240 families down, we're letting all the people we love down. 740 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:07,120 If we don't spend enough on gifts and all that, then we're 741 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:10,160 then, then, then we're losers that what are we even doing? 742 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:11,800 Why would anybody even care about us? 743 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:13,680 And listen, there's a lot of discouragement. 744 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:18,280 There's a lot of depression, there's a lot of anxiety this 745 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:21,240 time of year. Let me tell you, listen, there 746 00:35:21,240 --> 00:35:25,120 is hope in Jesus Christ. What's the hope for the unsaved? 747 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:27,280 That you can be saved, That He will. 748 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:30,040 Purify your soul. And that you can be saved, not 749 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:31,720 on anything that you've done, but what He's done. 750 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:34,520 And if you are saved, listen, he'll continue to refine you. 751 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:38,080 He'll continue to clean you, not so that you can be saved, but 752 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:39,960 because you are saved. So that you can be more like 753 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:44,000 Christ in this life and you can reflect Him to a lost and dying 754 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:45,560 world. So you can be a better 755 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:47,520 ambassador for. Him to the people. 756 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:51,160 That need to hear about it. And so you say, well, this time 757 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:52,240 of year it's got me all worked up. 758 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:53,960 Hey, remember the Sun of Righteousness? 759 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,720 He's got healing in his wings. Well, that's a beautiful sight. 760 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:00,960 Well, who created that? And everything else you see 761 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:05,120 everything you can't see. Listen, God never forgets his 762 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:08,400 promises. He always forgives his people 763 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:10,920 when they come to him asking for forgiveness. 764 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:12,920 Will you take? Care or take? 765 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:15,200 Heed of these things. If you need to get saved, get 766 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:17,240 saved the day. And if you are saved, listen, 767 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:21,440 rejoice and live as a believer, knowing that even in this hectic 768 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:24,880 time of year, God will help you and God will give you what you 769 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:26,760 need to be able to be more like Christ. 770 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,640 Thank you for listening to the sermon from the pulpit of 771 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:33,520 Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 772 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:37,000 to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 773 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:41,600 know by contacting us at info@mylibertybaptist.org. 774 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:46,400 Or you can visit us this Sunday at 800 Washington St. in Easton, 775 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:49,240 MA. May the Lord bless you as you 776 00:36:49,240 --> 00:36:50,440 grow in His Word.