Participants:
Series Code: HCAU
Program Code: HCAU190009A
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00:01 Music...
00:29 Welcome to 3ABN Australia Homecoming 2019 00:34 and I am here with Pastor Alban. 00:35 Good morning. 00:37 Good morning, welcome to the Program this morning. 00:40 Good morning and thank you for that. 00:42 And he has recently had a new child born. 00:45 Yes, a young little girl. 00:47 How old is she? 00:48 She's just 10 days old. 00:50 Aaah... and he's getting some sleep, I hope. 00:54 Right now, in this Program, 00:57 we're going to be listening to Diane Hope 01:00 and she's going to sing an Aaron Wilburn song called, 01:03 "Four Days Late... " 01:05 and then, John Malkiewycz, my husband, 01:08 is going to be speaking to us 01:11 and he's going to ask us a question, 01:13 "Can the dead really live again?" 01:16 What is his key text, Pastor? 01:18 His key text is taken from the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 9, 01:24 verses 5 and 6, 01:26 and I would like to read for you this morning, 01:29 and it tells us, 01:30 "For the living know that they shall die: 01:33 but the dead know not any thing, 01:37 neither they have any more a reward; 01:40 for the memory of them is forgotten. 01:43 Also, their love... their hatred... 01:47 their envy... is now perished; 01:50 neither they have any more a portion for ever 01:53 in anything that is done under the sun. " 01:56 Would you like to pray for them before they come out? 01:59 I'd like to do that. 02:00 Let us bow our heads, 02:02 "Precious loving Father, 02:03 we thank You Lord for this beautiful day. 02:06 We pray that You will be with us... 02:08 in a very special way, 02:09 we pray that You will be with John and Diane, 02:11 we pray that Your Holy Spirit will guide them, 02:13 we ask Your presence here and we ask for Your leading, 02:16 in Your name we pray, Jesus, amen. " 02:17 Amen. 02:23 Pause... 02:28 Music... 02:32 The news came to Jesus 02:37 Please come fast 02:42 Lazarus is sick 02:44 And without Your help he will not last 02:51 Mary and Martha 02:56 watched their brother die 03:00 They waited for Jesus 03:03 He did not come 03:05 They wondered why 03:10 The death watch was over 03:13 Buried four days 03:19 Somebody said, 03:22 "He'll soon be here, 03:24 the Lord's on his way" 03:28 Martha ran to him 03:32 and then she cried 03:37 "Lord, if you had been here 03:40 You could have healed him, 03:43 He'd still be alive 03:47 But You're four days late 03:52 And all hope is gone 03:56 Lord, we don't understand 04:01 Why You waited so long?" 04:04 But His way is God's way 04:10 Not yours or mine 04:15 And isn't it great 04:17 When He's four days late 04:19 He's still on time 04:24 Jesus said, "Martha, 04:29 show me the grave" 04:33 But she said, "Lord, You don't understand, 04:38 He's been there four days" 04:43 The grave stone was rolled back 04:48 Then Jesus cried, 04:52 "Lazarus come forth... " 04:54 Then somebody said, 04:57 "He's all right, he's alive" 05:03 Music... 05:07 You might be fighting 05:11 a battle of fear 05:15 You cry to the Lord 05:18 "I need You now" 05:20 But He has not appeared 05:25 Friend, don't be discouraged 05:29 'Cause He's still the same 05:34 He'll soon be here 05:36 He'll roll back the stone 05:38 And He'll call out your name 05:43 But He's four days late 05:48 And all hope is gone 05:53 Lord we don't understand 05:57 Why You waited so long 06:02 But His way is God's way 06:06 Not yours or mine 06:11 And isn't it great 06:13 When He's four days late 06:16 He's still on time 06:21 My God is great... He's four days late... 06:25 He's still on time... 06:33 Music... 06:40 Pause... 06:44 You know, that song 06:45 really resonates with me. 06:47 The first time I heard it was in 3ABN in USA 06:52 and we met Aaron Wilburn and he is an incredible man... 06:57 the Bible talks about... "We have gifts. " 06:59 Well, this man has the gift 07:01 to make you laugh and be happy. 07:04 He said, "You know, God said that the fact that we laugh 07:09 is merry to our heart... it makes us feel really good. 07:14 A joyful smile brings something to you 07:18 that will make you feel good 07:21 and Diane, you sang that very beautifully, thank you. 07:25 In our title for our Program, 07:30 it's "Certainty Amid Uncertainty. " 07:32 The world is fully of uncertainty 07:35 but unless we read the Bible, 07:38 we will discover 07:40 that every answer to any uncertainty we have 07:44 is found in the Word of God 07:46 and I discovered that when I first became a Christian 07:50 because there were a lot of things 07:51 that I was uncertain about 07:53 but God revealed to me through His Word 07:57 that there is certainty in His Word. 08:00 In our key Bible verse, 08:03 in Ecclesiastes chapter 9 and verse 5, 08:06 I want to tell you, Solomon got it right. 08:09 "The living know that they shall die... " 08:12 has anyone seen Solomon recently? 08:16 No, he died... 08:18 there's not a man or a woman here or anywhere on this earth 08:24 who does not have to come to terms with death. 08:26 It is a part of life. 08:29 From the moment we are born, we start our journey 08:33 to the grave. 08:34 In most countries, everyone starts with... 08:38 a what? A Birth Certificate... 08:40 and if you go to college and school, 08:42 you'll end up with a... with an educational certificate 08:47 and then, if you're blessed and you get married, 08:50 you have a marriage certificate 08:53 but at the end of life's journey, 08:56 you will receive a death certificate 08:58 confirming you died. 09:01 Audience: Laughter. 09:03 And you have legal access to your last resting place. 09:08 For some, it's in a box like this 09:12 and, you know, it is even tailor made 09:16 just to suit you. 09:18 But in some cases, you see a procession of cars 09:22 of friends and family following a funeral hearse 09:26 traveling slowly... bearing the body in a coffin 09:31 to its final resting place. 09:33 Just to make sure by-the-way, you don't get out of that box... 09:38 the lid on the coffin is secured 09:41 and then, when it gets to its destination, 09:45 it is placed in a hole. 09:47 You can see there, it's covered with soil. 09:50 That's doubly sure you can't get out 09:52 and then, in some cases, 09:55 a granite slab is placed over the coffin. 09:59 That's triply sure you won't get out. 10:03 You may be smiling, 10:05 but this box or whatever method a body is disposed of 10:10 in this world, 10:11 awaits every one of us when we die. 10:14 It doesn't matter if you're an Atheist. 10:18 It doesn't matter if you are a Hindu, 10:20 or a Buddhist... 10:22 it doesn't matter if you're a Muslim... 10:24 it doesn't matter even if you are a Protestant, 10:27 or even if you're a Catholic, 10:28 or any other belief, 10:30 what is sure... that as time continues, 10:36 sooner or later, whatever we're doing in this life... 10:41 it comes to an end. 10:42 You know, when you are younger, 10:45 you don't think about these things, 10:47 they are way out of your mind, it seems to be so far away. 10:53 However, as the years roll by and you get older, 10:59 you notice, the body doesn't respond 11:02 to what the brain is telling you, 11:04 and if you're older and you're getting closer to retirement, 11:08 you know that for a fact 11:09 and we realize that that final certificate, 11:15 is not too far away. 11:17 You know what we do? 11:20 We start to think more about the things that apply to us 11:23 and it seems to happen just automatically. 11:27 We begin to think and prepare and plan 11:31 for the time we think we have left 11:34 and I know when we've traveled around Australia, 11:38 particularly with older people, 11:40 they're traveling in their caravans around Australia, 11:44 and we often hear them say, 11:46 "You know, the last thing I want to do 11:49 before I die, 11:51 is travel around Australia 11:52 and so, people have these bucket lists 11:56 that they want to accomplish before they die. 12:01 With each one of us, there is a desire to know 12:05 the answer to many questions that confront us during our life 12:10 and some are very basic 12:14 but some are very challenging. 12:15 One challenging question... and this one, I think, 12:19 is very pertinent, 12:22 and this is, "What happens when we die?" 12:25 It's a question that confronts every one of us 12:28 and the young may not think about it, 12:30 but you need to think about it. 12:32 There are many differing views, 12:34 but one thing that none of us can argue with 12:38 is the Scientific and somewhat graphic reality 12:42 of what actually takes place to these bodies of ours 12:46 when we die. 12:48 You know, modern Science has made great contributions 12:53 in the battle against illness and disease. 12:56 You know that this world is full of all sorts of diseases 13:00 and I think of Cancer in particular, 13:02 they've made progress on that and in any other way... but... 13:07 at the best they can do, 13:10 is give us some additional time in this life, 13:14 but the inevitable day does come 13:17 and the heart stops pumping blood through our bodies 13:21 and we die. 13:22 I want to say to you, 13:25 if the heart beats at about 70 times a minute, 13:28 took... to... took... to... took... 13:31 with each beat, it pumps 60 to 90 milliliters 13:36 of blood out of the heart, 13:39 that's about two to three ounces. 13:41 It can move five to seven liters of blood in one minute 13:45 and 7,600 liters in one day, 13:51 that's 2,000 gallons, think about that. 13:54 That's what your heart's doing 13:56 as you're sitting there... 2,000 gallons in a day. 14:01 In a life time, it beats over 2.5 billion times 14:06 and pumps over 200 million liters, 14:10 that's 50 million gallons of blood. 14:15 This is an amazing organ and it determines if we're dead 14:22 or if we're alive. 14:23 The Bible speaks a lot about blood 14:27 and it's right when it says in Leviticus 17:11, 14:31 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood... " 14:35 so, what does Science tell us 14:40 happens when this heart of ours stops beating 14:43 and the blood flow stops? 14:45 When a person's heart stops beating, 14:48 the body goes through several stages, 14:51 the heart is no longer pumping blood, 14:54 and within minutes, the blood begins to settle 14:59 in the lower parts of the body. 15:02 Usually, eight to 12 hours later, 15:05 the skin becomes discolored where the blood settles 15:09 and is known as Liver mortis 15:11 and you have the postmortem stain. 15:14 That's why during a postmortem investigation, 15:19 they can tell the position of a body, 15:22 when it... when you die. 15:23 For example, if you are lying on your back, 15:26 the blood would flow to the lower parts of your back. 15:30 If you were lying on your side when you died, 15:33 the blood would flow to the lower side of your body. 15:36 In fact, that's how they know if someone has moved the body. 15:41 Pause... 15:44 At the moment of death, 15:45 the body muscles relax completely 15:49 and this is called, "Primary Flaccidity. " 15:52 The body temperature also begins to drop, 15:55 usually cooling to match the surrounding 15:58 environment temperature 16:00 and begins to stiffen two to six hours later 16:04 known as Rigor Mortis. 16:05 Now, I've got to tell you something about Rigor Mortis. 16:08 Now, I grew up on a farm... 16:09 how many of you have grown up on a farm? 16:12 There's a... quite a few have grown up on a farm 16:14 and you know, we had cattle, 16:16 and sometimes, things would happen 16:18 and some of those animals might die 16:21 and usually always happens seemed to be at night 16:24 and, you know, if you left the body there, 16:28 you had a problem in the morning 16:31 because it had stiffened 16:34 and so, we would all have to dig a hole as kids 16:37 and we would put that dead body in that... 16:40 the carcass of that animal in the grave 16:42 but there was a problem 16:44 sometimes, it was laid out like this 16:46 and so, it was very difficult 16:49 and you had to manipulate that body to fit it into that hole. 16:53 So, Rigor Mortis is a real thing 16:55 and I saw it and it is very interesting. 16:59 Now, we're told the body begins to decompose, 17:03 and as bacteria and insects break down the body, 17:08 with it comes a notable stench 17:11 often becoming unbearable. 17:14 You know, I have to tell you, 17:17 Australia is a big country, 17:18 and as we traveled around Australia, 17:21 putting satellite dishes, 17:22 we traveled across the vast lands of Australia, 17:26 and unfortunately, 17:27 a lot of animals wander up to the edge of the road, 17:31 and often, they are killed by these big road trains and trucks 17:35 or vehicles... 17:37 you don't want to hit one of these animals with the vehicles 17:39 and they are killed 17:40 and they are left on the side of the road 17:42 and it's interesting as we would be driving along... 17:46 what I said... that stench is unbearable. 17:49 As you're driving along, 17:51 suddenly, something is coming through the vent 17:54 and I can remember, Rosemary and I 17:57 as we were driving along, we would always say, 17:59 "Quick, close the vent... " 18:01 so that it won't come in 18:02 and after a little while, we'd open the vent 18:04 and down the road, we would go. 18:06 Pause... 18:09 It's a reality. 18:10 That's what happens to the body... it decomposes. 18:14 So, we see that over a period of time, the body decomposes. 18:19 Given sufficient time, it breaks down 18:23 to where there is no visible evidence of its existence. 18:26 We know that the body left in the open environment 18:30 decomposes the fastest... 18:33 the quickest. 18:34 It takes longer in water... 18:36 it's quicker in an acidic soil environment, 18:40 and slower in an alkaline soil environment. 18:43 Science is clear and it's accurate, 18:47 the body returns to the ground. 18:51 What does the Bible say? 18:54 And before we go there, 18:56 I'm just going to ask you to bow your heads. 18:58 "Father in heaven, 19:02 the Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. 19:07 You made us, Father, 19:08 and we thank you that we have Your Word to confirm that 19:12 but You also give us hope. 19:14 Thank You for Jesus Who is able to do 19:18 all that You have said to give us life 19:21 and to give it abundantly. 19:23 Thank you, Father, and I pray right now 19:26 that the Holy Spirit will be here as people open the Bible 19:29 to learn more of what You have to say on this subject, 19:33 in Jesus' name, amen. " 19:35 Pause... 19:37 I want you to turn with me in your Bibles 19:40 to Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and verse 20. 19:44 Pause... 19:46 This is a book that Solomon... 19:48 Solomon was supposed to be... 19:49 well, he was, the wisest man that ever lived, 19:51 and the Bible is very clear 19:54 in relation to what happens when we die... 19:58 the Bible says, "All go... " where? 20:01 "unto one place... 20:03 all are of... " what? 20:05 "the dust, and all turn to the dust again. " 20:10 I think that that text is very clear... 20:13 Science confirms... we go to one place... 20:18 it returns to the ground 20:20 and that's why we hear a Minister at the graveside say, 20:25 "Dust to dust and ashes to ashes. " 20:29 In the teachings of different religions in this world, 20:33 there are many different doctrines and beliefs 20:36 but the Bible text is clear... all go to one place. 20:42 Yes, it doesn't matter if you're an Atheist, 20:46 it doesn't matter if you're a Buddhist, 20:48 it doesn't matter if you're a Hindu, 20:51 it doesn't matter if you're a Muslim, 20:53 or a Catholic... 20:55 or a Protestant... 20:57 or any other religion. 20:58 When we die, we all go to the same place... 21:02 back to the dust and back to the earth. 21:07 This leads to an underlying thought, 21:10 and it's an important question, 21:14 "Can the dead really live again?" 21:18 "Can the dead... really live again?" 21:22 I want you to turn with me to Job chapter 14 and verse 14. 21:29 Job chapter 14 and verse 14. 21:34 Pause... 21:36 Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, 21:40 and Ecclesiastes. 21:41 In Job 14:14, it says, 21:44 "If a man die, shall he live again?" 21:49 Now, you know Job, had terrible boils... 21:52 he was afflicted with terrible boils 21:55 and he couldn't find any relief and he just wanted to die, 22:02 but the question was... if he did die, 22:04 what did he say? 22:06 "If a man die, shall he live again?" 22:10 This was on his mind... this is the same question 22:13 that I believe many of us can ask. 22:17 So, what would you say? 22:19 Would you say, "Yes... " 22:22 would you say, "No...?" 22:24 Would you say, "Maybe... " 22:27 or "I just don't know. " 22:29 Pause... 22:31 Science has only one answer, "No... " 22:34 Science cannot bring a body back to life 22:38 once the blood flow stops 22:40 and the blood flow settles in the lower parts of the body, 22:44 and Rigor Mortis sets in. 22:46 They cannot make the heart beat again, 22:49 the blood flows through the body... 22:51 the brain... the organs... and the tissues again. 22:54 You know how I know that? 22:56 It's true... they can't because the Undertakers 23:00 are still in the "Dead" business 23:02 arranging funerals every day. 23:04 However, if your answer was "Yes" 23:09 a resounding "Yes... " 23:11 then with absolute certainty, you are right. 23:15 If you said, "Maybe" or "I just don't know... " 23:19 then, I'm hoping you too will discover why those who say "Yes" 23:25 know with absolute certainty that they can live again 23:29 after they die. 23:31 Notice, I said, "Can... " 23:33 not "maybe live again" 23:35 it's true but it's conditional... 23:38 it is a conscious decision you make while you're living 23:44 that comes from the knowledge and the writings of this book... 23:48 the Bible. 23:49 In fact, the idea of living again 23:54 is a fundamental teaching of all Christian faiths 23:58 and is called, "The Good News. " 24:01 It is God's plan for all of us to know God 24:06 and His good news of the plan of salvation for mankind 24:12 and if by faith, we believe God's Word, 24:16 we will discover how we can live again. 24:21 Pause... 24:23 I want to ask you this question, "Why is it then that we die... 24:28 when we die, we return to the ground?" 24:32 And I want you to turn with me to the book of Genesis, 24:35 chapter 3 and verse 19. 24:38 Genesis chapter 3 and verse 19. 24:43 Pause... 24:45 And I want you to just follow along with me here, 24:49 it says, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 24:55 till thou return unto the ground; 24:58 for out of the ground... 25:00 for out of it wast thou taken: 25:05 for dust thou art, 25:06 and unto dust shalt thou return. " 25:09 I need to say something here 25:11 that will help you understand the thought... 25:13 why we return to the ground. 25:15 In Genesis chapter 2, God told Adam and Eve 25:19 to eat the fruit of every tree except one 25:23 and if they ate from this forbidden tree, 25:27 they would die. 25:29 In chapter 3, we have the sad story 25:32 where Eve was deceived by Satan, 25:35 as she took of the fruit and gave to Adam 25:38 and they did both eat. 25:39 And so, we see, that they disobeyed God. 25:44 They were barred access to the Tree of Life 25:50 and Adam and Eve died... they died. 25:54 God tells Adam exactly in that verse, 25:57 the consequences for what he did. 26:01 Pause... 26:03 He says, "When you die... " what happens? 26:07 "You will return to the ground. " 26:08 let me read it again to you, "In the sweat of thy face... " 26:11 now, these are the consequences, Adam would have to now work 26:15 when you work... and you men know 26:17 and some of you ladies that work hard, 26:19 sweat comes upon you, does it not? 26:21 And so... and He said... "This will happen for you... 26:25 you would have to feed your family... 26:27 you'll have to care for them... 26:28 you will have to work 26:30 and then, at the end of that, when you die, 26:35 you will know what happens, you return to the ground. " 26:39 Pause... 26:42 It was our Creator's plan 26:45 that none of us should have ever or would die. 26:50 It was His aim that you and I would live forever with Him 26:55 in the earth throughout eternity 26:58 but because of this one act of disobedience, 27:02 death came upon all men. 27:05 it was our Creator's plan that we would not die. 27:11 How does this Bible describe human beings 27:14 and I want you to just come back to Genesis chapter 2 27:17 and verse 7. 27:19 Genesis chapter 2 and verse 7. 27:23 And the Bible says, 27:26 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, 27:31 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; 27:35 and man became a living soul. " 27:37 I want to tell you this morning, 27:39 if you can imagine dust with water... it's like clay 27:44 and I can see a sculpture... a sculptor... sorry... 27:48 with a large piece of clay 27:51 and He works on it and he molds it and He makes it 27:54 but I want to tell you that this piece of clay 27:58 stood about 16 or 17 feet high 28:01 and there it is... there... there it is... 28:04 the form of the first man... 28:07 you know, man was made in the image of God 28:11 male and female... 28:13 and then, when God had finished, 28:16 I can imagine God leaning over... 28:18 Jesus leaning over and breathing into his nostril 28:21 and suddenly, you could see the eyes of that creature... 28:27 that new person... open... 28:30 and you could see the body beginning to work 28:33 and I can just imagine him meeting Jesus' eyes 28:37 and the smile that would have come across his face. 28:41 What an experience that would have been! 28:44 Pause... 28:48 It is often believed by many people 28:52 that a human is comprised of a body and soul... 28:58 two separate entities 28:59 which is not what the Bible says, 29:02 as a formula it looks like this, 29:06 Dust + Breath = Living Soul 29:10 or a Living Being. 29:12 Many modern translations of Genesis 2:7, 29:16 read, "And man became a living being. " 29:20 "Soul" and "Being" are interchangeable 29:23 and encompass the whole person. 29:26 In English, we use the word "soul" in the same way 29:32 for example, we send an emergency SOS 29:37 Save Our Souls... 29:41 we refer to someone as an "honest soul" 29:46 or a "soul of discretion" etc... 29:48 in each case, we are referring to the whole person. 29:53 Pause... 29:55 The soul... being a separate immortal entity 30:00 that exists apart from the body is not a Biblical notion at all. 30:06 Furthermore, the Bible states and if you come with me 30:11 to Ezekiel chapter 18 verse 4, 30:15 we will find that it's very clear in Ezekiel 18 verse 4, 30:24 the Bible says, "Behold, all souls are mine; 30:31 as the soul of the father, 30:32 so also the soul of the son is mine: 30:36 the soul that sinneth, it shall die. " 30:40 It's very clear... 30:42 very clear. 30:44 What else does the Bible say happens to us when we die? 30:49 And I want to come to our key text that we used 30:53 at the very beginning, 30:54 and it's found in Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verses 5, 6 31:01 and I'm adding one, Ecclesiastes chapter 9, 31:05 verses 5, 6, and I'm adding 10. 31:10 So this is... what else does the Bible say happens at death? 31:14 And we read... we read in our text at the beginning, 31:19 "For the living know that they shall die... " 31:21 tick one... okay... 31:22 "but the dead know not anything, 31:25 pause... 31:27 neither have they any more a reward; 31:30 for the memory of them is forgotten. 31:32 Also their love... their hatred... 31:35 and their envy, is now perished; 31:38 neither have they any more a portion for ever 31:42 in any thing that is under the sun. " 31:44 And verse 10 says, 31:46 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, 31:48 do it with thy might; 31:50 for there is no work nor device, 31:54 nor knowledge, nor wisdom, 31:56 in the grave, whither thou goest. " 31:59 Very clear... very clear. 32:02 Where you're going in the grave, 32:05 there's no wisdom... 32:08 there's no knowledge... 32:11 there's no device. 32:13 In Psalm 146 verse 4, "His breath goeth forth, 32:20 he returneth to his earth; 32:22 in that day his thoughts perish. " 32:25 So where... what does the Bible say happens at death? 32:28 Where do we go? 32:29 To the earth. 32:30 What happens to your thoughts? 32:32 They perish... 32:33 It's very clear... 32:34 come back with me now to Job chapter 7 32:37 verses 9 and 10. 32:39 Just one back... book back more... 32:43 Job chapter 7 verses 9 and 10. 32:47 Pause... 32:52 It says, "As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: 32:57 so he that goeth down to the grave 33:01 shall come up no more. 33:03 He shall return no more to his house, 33:06 neither shall his place know him any more. " 33:10 To me that's a... a very clear text. 33:13 You know, you wake up in the day 33:15 and there are clouds in the sky, 33:17 you see them move across the sky... 33:19 do you ever see them again? 33:21 No... 33:22 do they ever come back to the same place? 33:24 No. 33:26 That's exactly what happens to us. 33:28 The Bible tells us... this is what happens to us when we die, 33:33 Pause... 33:37 I want you to turn... and by the way 33:39 if we... he goes down to the grave and does not come up, 33:44 that's what happens to us... 33:45 we go down to the grave and we do not come up. 33:48 Life is over as we know it. 33:50 The Bible tells us, we can live again 33:53 but it's very different to this life 33:56 and I want you to come with me as we read 33:58 Revelation 21 verse 4, 34:00 that's the last book... Revelation... 34:03 John chapter 21 and verse 4, 34:08 21 and verse 4... 34:12 pause... 34:16 Revelation 21 and verse 4, 34:19 the Bible says, 34:23 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; 34:29 and there shall be no more death, 34:30 neither sorrow, nor crying, 34:33 neither shall there be any more pain: 34:36 for the former things are passed away. " 34:38 Now, at the beginning, 34:40 Solomon made a very profound statement... 34:43 "The living know that they shall die... " 34:45 but there's a profound statement here... even two... 34:49 because the living know that they shall live... 34:52 it is true that there will be no more death... yes absolutely. 35:00 Here is what the Bible records 35:03 and if you turn with me... 35:04 if you turn with me to John chapter 1, verses 1 to 4, 35:09 we will discover that God is not only the Creator of life, 35:15 He's the Intelligent Designer 35:17 and the Bible says, "In the beginning was the Word, 35:20 and the Word was with God, 35:22 and the Word was God. 35:24 The same was in the beginning with God. 35:26 All things... " you notice that... 35:28 "all things were made by Him; 35:30 and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 35:34 In Him was life; 35:36 and the life was the light of men. " 35:39 Beautiful passage of Scripture. 35:42 Come with me to Psalm 36 and verse 9... 35:50 pause... 35:54 And we read, Psalm 36 verse 9, 35:56 what is it telling us... 35:59 what is the Bible telling us? 36:00 "For with thee is the fountain of life: 36:03 in thy light shall we see light. " 36:06 In Acts chapter 37, 36:10 sorry 17 and 24 and 25, 36:13 that's Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts... 36:18 chapter 17 and verses 24 and 25, we read, 36:25 "God has made the world and all things therein, 36:28 seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, 36:32 dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 36:34 neither is worshipped with men's hands, 36:37 as though He needed any thing, 36:39 seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. " 36:45 Beautiful passage of Scriptures 36:47 telling us that God is the One Who gives us life 36:51 and He sustains it also. 36:54 Did you know that God not only gives life to human beings 37:00 but also to the animals. 37:01 God formed the beasts of the land and the fowls in the air 37:05 out of the dust of the ground and He gave them life. 37:09 Those same creatures... they also die like we die, 37:13 as a result of man's disobedience. 37:17 How does the Bible describe death? 37:21 The Bible clearly records ten people that were raised to life. 37:28 Young... old... male... female... 37:30 but I want to look at Lazarus 37:33 and that song that Diane sang is one of those songs 37:39 that tells me something very special 37:42 and I want you to turn with me to John chapter 11:11 37:48 to see what Jesus said what death really is, 37:55 John chapter 11... 37:56 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, 38:00 chapter 11 and verse 11, 38:03 and the Bible says, "These things said He: 38:07 and after that He said unto them, 38:09 'Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; 38:13 but I go, that I may awake him from death. '" 38:17 Pause... 38:19 Did you hear what Jesus said? 38:22 Death is a sleep... 38:26 Jesus describes death as a sleep. 38:28 I want to read to you the full account. 38:33 In John chapter 11... just a page or two... 38:37 a page over... we're going to read verses 39 to 44 38:41 but I want you to know something, 38:43 this is the exciting thought that I get from that song... 38:46 and the thought that I get from this portion of Scripture, 38:49 the account that Jesus said... gives us... 38:53 it doesn't matter how long we have been dead, 38:57 it doesn't matter if we've been dead for one year... 39:01 one thousand years... 39:03 six thousand years... 39:06 God, through what Jesus has revealed, 39:10 can bring us back to life. 39:11 Four days... it's never too late for God to bring you to life. 39:17 Let's read the full account in John 11:39-44. 39:21 Jesus said, 'Take ye away the stone. '" 39:24 He's now at the graveside. 39:26 "Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto Him, 39:30 'Lord, by this time he stinketh: 39:33 for he hath been dead four days. ' 39:35 Jesus said unto her, 'Said I not unto thee, 39:39 that, if thou wouldest believe, 39:42 thou shouldest see the glory of God?' 39:44 Then they took away the stone from the place 39:46 where the dead was laid, 39:48 And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, 39:50 'Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 39:52 And I knew that thou hearest me always: 39:54 but because of the people which stand by... I said it, 39:58 that they may believe that thou hast sent me. ' 40:02 And when he had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice, 40:07 'Lazarus, come forth. ' 40:09 And he that was dead came forth, 40:12 bound hand and foot with grave clothes: 40:15 and his face was bound about with a napkin. 40:18 Jesus said unto them, 'Loose him, and let him go. '" 40:22 Folk, Jesus has the power to bring a person back to life... 40:29 even a person who has been dead for more than four days... 40:35 pause... 40:38 then there's Jesus Himself. 40:39 It doesn't matter... we are sleeping in the grave 40:44 and Jesus can bring us back to life. 40:47 Then there's Jesus Himself... 40:49 please take time to read the story in the gospels... 40:52 Matthew, Mark, Luke and John have the account, 40:54 of how Jesus died. 40:56 In summary, certain people conspired 40:59 to murder Jesus Christ. 41:02 After a mock trial, He was scourged and taken to Golgotha, 41:05 till just outside Jerusalem, 41:08 where Roman soldiers nailed Him to a cross, 41:11 but it was all part of God's plan of salvation for humanity, 41:15 Jesus died on a Friday 41:17 and that afternoon, before the Sabbath began, 41:19 His lifeless body was put in a tomb 41:21 belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. 41:23 He was in the tomb all Sabbath. 41:25 Soldiers guarded the place. 41:27 Sunday morning, the stone was found rolled away, 41:30 the tomb was empty... 41:32 angels said, "Jesus is risen from the dead. " 41:36 He has risen as He said 41:37 and appeared first to Mary Magdalene, 41:40 then to His apostle... 41:42 then to many others around the city, 41:44 Jesus died and rose again 41:47 and it gives us certainty that we too can live. 41:51 He is able to bring us back to life. 41:54 God is eager to do the same for all of you... all of us... 41:57 the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 42:01 God sees death as His enemy. 42:04 He longs to have you live with Him throughout eternity. 42:08 He has defeated the enemy when He rose from the dead, 42:11 He has told us that there will be a resurrection, 42:14 and I want you to turn with me to 1st Thessalonians 42:18 chapter 4 and verse 13 42:20 and the Bible tells us something here, 42:24 it's a beautiful, beautiful account 42:27 of what is going to happen when Jesus comes to take us 42:31 to bring us back to life 42:35 and verse 13 through to 18, 42:39 and we read from the Bible, 42:42 "But I would not have you ignorant... " 42:45 what does Jesus say, "I would not have you ignorant, 42:47 brethren, concerning them which are asleep, 42:51 that ye sorrow not, 42:52 even as others which have no hope. 42:55 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 42:59 even so them also which sleep in the dust... 43:03 Jesus will bring with Him. 43:05 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, 43:09 that we which are alive and remain 43:11 unto the coming of the Lord 43:13 shall not prevent them which are asleep. 43:15 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven 43:19 with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, 43:23 and with the trump of God: 43:25 and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 43:29 Then we which are alive and remain 43:32 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, 43:34 to meet the Lord in the air: 43:36 and so shall we ever be with the Lord. " 43:40 We are going to live again. 43:44 Then He says, "Wherefore comfort one another 43:48 with these words. " 43:50 Living again... it will be a reality. 43:53 You know, when we had our building 43:56 when it was being built, 43:57 a lady who loved 3ABN and had a radio station, 44:01 said, "I want to give you something 44:03 to put in that building... " 44:05 and she commissioned an artist to paint that picture, 44:09 and I want you to look at it because a messenger of God 44:13 by the name of Ellen White said this 44:15 and it's found in the Review and Herald, 44:17 of September 5, 1899. 44:20 When you look at that picture, listen to what I'm saying, 44:24 "No human language 44:26 can portray the scenes of the Second Coming 44:29 of the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven. 44:32 He is to come with His own glory, 44:35 and with the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 44:39 He will come clad in the robe of light 44:42 which He has worn from the days of eternity. 44:45 Angels will accompany Him. 44:48 Ten thousand times ten thousands will escort Him on His way. 44:52 The sound of the trumpet will be heard 44:56 calling the sleeping dead from the grave. 45:00 The voice of Christ will penetrate their tomb 45:04 and pierce the ears of the dead, 45:06 and all that are in the graves shall come forth. " 45:11 Do you see in that picture... 45:13 I've seen many pictures 45:14 and you see those people coming to life again... 45:19 coming for... and the others are waiting... 45:22 they will rise to meet Jesus first in the air 45:25 followed by those who are His people 45:28 who have been waiting for Jesus to come. 45:31 What a beautiful picture! 45:34 The resurrection assures us we can live again. 45:39 There is life after life... 45:44 with absolute certainty we can live again. 45:49 It's your choice... 45:51 for if we believe in God and Jesus Christ Whom He sent, 45:56 it will be a reality. 46:01 So, what will we do up there? 46:03 There's no end to what we will do... 46:05 we will be able to do... 46:07 everything you ever wanted to do, 46:10 but didn't have the time... the skill... 46:13 or the resources to accomplish 46:15 will be freely available to every one of us, 46:19 and I want you to turn with me to Isaiah chapter 6... 46:23 65 and verse 22... 46:26 Isaiah 65 and verse 22, 46:31 Isaiah 65 and verse 22... 46:35 I like this text, listen to what it says, 46:39 I'll actually read verse 21 46:42 but there will be on the screen only verse 22, 46:45 "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; 46:48 and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. " 46:50 Verse 22 now says, 46:52 "They shall not build, and another inhabit; 46:56 they shall not plant, and another eat: 46:58 for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, 47:02 and mine elect shall long enjoy the works of their hands. " 47:08 What a beautiful thought! 47:10 You know, in my short life, 47:12 I built four houses for myself to dwell in, 47:16 and I don't live in any one of them, 47:19 I don't live in any one of them. 47:22 Someone else has bought them and is living and enjoying them 47:25 and I often thought, you know, 47:27 when I know Jesus is coming, 47:28 I won't hesitate to strike up a match and let it all go 47:32 because it's not my final home. 47:35 My final home is in heaven. 47:39 God... Jesus said, 47:42 "I've gone to prepare a place for you... 47:44 that where I am, there ye may be also. " 47:47 Pause... 47:50 In my wildest... in our wildest dreams, 47:52 we never even come close to what God has in store 47:57 for His people. 47:58 Pause... 48:00 1st Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 9, 48:02 1st Corinthians has come over quickly... 48:05 1st Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 9, 48:08 pause... 48:10 1st Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 9... 48:12 the Bible says, "But it is written, 48:14 eye hath not seen... 48:16 eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, 48:21 neither have entered into the heart of man, 48:24 the things which God has prepared for them 48:27 that love Him. " 48:28 Isn't that fantastic? 48:31 We think we know it all, 48:33 but the Bible tells us, 48:36 it doesn't even enter our hearts and mind... 48:37 you see, we have only the vision of what we see here on earth. 48:41 God is going to give you a vision 48:44 that goes beyond eternity. 48:47 What a thought! 48:48 Best of all... God will be there, 48:52 what peace... 48:54 the most wonderful people will be there too, 48:57 everyone will be kind, loving, considerate and joyful. 49:01 The experience is literally out of this world. 49:04 Is there anyone who wouldn't want to live in a kind, 49:09 loving, considerate, deathless and joyful society? 49:14 Is there anyone who wouldn't want that? 49:16 It's simple, really, 49:18 All we need to do is tell God... we do... 49:21 and if you'd never before heard of what I'm speaking about, 49:25 or sharing to you from the Bible, 49:27 Jesus makes it possible. 49:29 Please take time to pray and read. 49:32 Pause... 49:35 I want to say something, 49:37 remember back there in the Garden of Eden, 49:41 Adam and Eve were barred from entering it 49:44 and having access to the Tree of Life, 49:48 I want you to turn with me to Revelation 22 and verse 2, 49:52 Revelation 22 and verse 2, 49:55 the Bible is very clear here, 49:58 Revelation 22 and verse 2, 50:01 it says, "In the midst of the street of it... " 50:05 this is talking about the new heaven and earth 50:08 when Jesus comes and takes us home, 50:10 "there is the Tree of Life 50:12 which bear twelve manner of fruits, 50:14 and these yielded her fruit every month... 50:17 the leaves of the tree were there 50:19 for the healing of nations. " 50:21 God is going to give you access back to the Tree of Life 50:24 and in Revelation 22:40, it says, 50:28 "Blessed are they that do His commandments, 50:30 that they may have right to the tree of life, 50:33 and may enter in through the gates into the city. " 50:36 What a blessed place that will be... no more death. 50:39 I want to conclude now with what we've learnt. 50:42 The ability to bring us back to life 50:46 does not come through Science or medical discoveries, 50:49 instead, it comes through the teachings 50:51 revealed through the Bible by knowing the only Creator God 50:55 and Jesus Christ Whom He sent to this world. 50:58 Would you believe and look to Jesus and live again? 51:02 Here is the summary, at creation there was no death... 51:05 Sin brought death to all living beings... 51:08 The living know they shall die... 51:10 All the dead go to one place... 51:13 Science confirms we all return to the earth... 51:16 Science is not able to take a decomposing body 51:20 and make it live again... 51:22 The Creator God of the Bible 51:24 Who with His hands formed man from the dust of the ground 51:27 can bring a body back to life at any time 51:30 whether it's four days or 6,000 years... 51:33 The body and breath equal a living soul... a living being... 51:38 They are not separate entities but the same... 51:41 Jesus said, "Death is like a sleep... " 51:44 Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead... 51:47 Jesus Himself rose from the dead... 51:50 He will raise us at His second coming... 51:53 We will see Jesus when He comes... 51:56 The righteous will live forever... 51:59 They will again have access to the Tree of Life... 52:03 Look to Jesus Christ, 52:04 believe in Him, 52:06 and walk by faith and keep His Commandments... 52:10 You can live again, it's your choice. 52:15 Let me conclude with Job's answer to his earlier question 52:20 and I want to quickly go to Job 19... 52:23 pause... 52:30 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, 52:33 and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 52:36 and though after my skin worms destroy this body, 52:39 yet in my flesh shall I see God. " 52:42 If a man dies, shall he live again? 52:45 Job answered that question. 52:47 I pray we will maintain confidence like Job, 52:53 believe our Redeemer lives... 52:54 rise to meet Him in the air 52:56 and live for Him forever. 52:58 God bless you 52:59 and the church said, "Amen and amen. " 53:04 Audience: Amen. |
Revised 2020-02-13