Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP201003S
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00:13 Purity.
00:16 Purity through the blood of the Lamb. 00:19 Lord God, You are holiness, 00:23 You are love, You are purity. 00:27 But the Apostle Paul says, 00:30 "I am captured in sin, 00:33 I do not do good that I would do, 00:37 and I do evil that I would not do. 00:41 All wretched man, that I am, 00:45 Lord God of purity, 00:47 how can we be pure?" 00:50 A hymn writer says, 00:52 "What can wash away my sin? 00:55 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:58 What can make me whole again? 01:01 Nothing but the blood of Jesus." 01:12 Holy, holy, holy! 01:19 Though darkness hide Thee 01:27 Though the eyes of sinful ones 01:33 Thy glory may not see 01:42 Only Thou art holy There is none beside Thee 01:57 Perfect in power In love, and purity 02:22 Lord Jesus for this 02:25 I most humbly do seek I wait, 02:32 Blessed Lord At Thy crucified feet By faith, 02:41 For my cleansing 02:44 I see Thy blood flow 02:48 Now wash me 02:50 And I shall be whiter than snow 02:59 Whiter than snow Yes, 03:04 Whiter than snow 03:08 Now wash me 03:11 And I shall be whiter than snow 03:26 Peace through the blood of the Lamb. 03:30 Scripture says, 03:33 "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, 03:37 then peaceable. 03:39 But evil is in fierce conflict with righteousness. 03:44 Lord God of peace, how can we be at peace?" 03:49 Hymn writer says, 03:52 "This is all my hope and peace, 03:55 nothing but the blood of Jesus. 03:58 This is all my righteousness, 04:00 nothing but the blood of Jesus." 04:09 Peace, 04:10 Perfect peace In this dark world of sin? 04:25 The blood of Jesus 04:32 Whispers peace within Prince of peace, 04:49 Control my will 04:52 Bid this struggling heart Be still Bid my fears 04:58 And doubtings cease 05:03 Hush my spirit into peace 05:13 Thou hast bought me With Thy blood 05:19 Opened wide the gate 05:22 To God Peace I ask, 05:27 but peace must be Lord, 05:29 in being one with Thee 05:50 Sweetly echo the gospel call 05:55 Wonderful words of life 05:59 Offer pardon and peace 06:02 To all Wonderful words of life Jesus, 06:10 only Savior Sanctify forever 06:19 Beautiful words, 06:21 wonderful words Wonderful words of life 06:29 Beautiful words, 06:31 Wonderful words Wonderful words of life 06:45 Peace and purity through the blood of the Lamb. 06:50 We shall now in anthem, these words from a hymn. 06:54 All Holy Father, 06:57 I will be a child of peace and purity for well I know. 07:02 Thy hand will bless the seeker after righteousness. 07:35 O Holy Father 07:41 I will be A child of peace and purity 07:55 For well I know Thy hand will bless 08:07 The seeker after righteousness 08:25 O Holy Father 08:32 I will be A child of peace and purity 08:45 For well I know 08:50 Thy hand will bless The seeker after righteousness 09:14 O Holy Father 09:20 I will be A child of peace and purity 09:34 For well I know 09:38 Thy hand will bless The seeker after righteousness 09:56 O Holy Father 10:03 I will be A child of peace and purity 10:17 For well I know 10:20 Thy hand will bless The seeker after righteousness 10:39 For well I know 10:46 Thy hand will bless 10:55 The seeker after righteousness 11:33 We are thinking about American apocalypse, 11:37 but the truth of the matter is, 11:41 what a week this has been for America. 11:47 Tuesday night, 11:48 the pundits are still trying to analyze it. 11:51 Friday morning, 11:52 we woke up with the news 11:54 that the President and the First Lady 11:56 had both contracted COVID-19. 11:59 Friday, late afternoon we watch live 12:02 as Marine 1 choppers off the White House lawn, 12:06 a 10 minute flight to Walter Reed Hospital 12:09 where the President is at this moment. 12:12 What a week for America. 12:16 The Apostle Paul makes a point 12:18 to the fledgling Christian Church in the Roman Empire 12:20 that we need to know in this season of the political 12:24 that would not hurt us to be reminded of. 12:26 And so I'm asking you to open your Bible, 12:28 before we pray to 1 Timothy, 1 Timothy Chapter 2. 12:33 Paul's saying, hey, guys, listen up. 12:35 I want to talk about, 12:37 I want to talk about political leaders. 12:39 Well, they are much on our minds these days, 12:42 as a nation and as a world. 12:44 So let's go to this. 12:46 What can we learn from this? 12:48 1 Timothy 2:1, 12:49 "I urge then first of all, 12:51 that petitions prayers, intercession, 12:53 thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings." 12:56 Okay, now he moves into political leadership. 12:59 "For kings and all those in authority." 13:02 Why? 13:04 "That we may live peaceful, 13:05 quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 13:08 Now keep going. 13:09 "This is good and pleases God our Savior when we pray." 13:13 Why should we pray? Keep going, verse 4. 13:15 "God, our Savior, 13:17 who wants all people to be saved, 13:20 and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 13:23 God makes a play for every leader's heart, 13:27 anywhere on the planet, 13:29 anytime in history, why? 13:30 He loves leaders. 13:32 If He can get a leader, He can get the people. 13:35 He made a play for a king named Nebuchadnezzar. 13:39 Got him. 13:41 He made a play for governor named Pilate. 13:45 Lost him. 13:47 Just the odds that God faces, 13:48 but He still makes the play for the leader. 13:54 And so it feels within my soul 13:57 that it would be appropriate for us today 13:59 as a university congregation, 14:02 to bow our heads again 14:05 and to pray for the leader that is much in the news. 14:09 So let's pray right now. 14:11 Oh God, our God, 14:13 for the President of the United States, 14:15 we lift up our prayers. 14:18 Save him spiritually, for we know that is Your will. 14:24 Heal him physically, for we pray, that is Your will. 14:28 For how can You save a soul spiritually, 14:31 if you do not prolong her life physically. 14:37 So draw near to our President and his wife 14:40 and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 14:42 who stood before both Nebuchadnezzar 14:44 and Pilate draw out 14:46 Donald Trump's heart to You. 14:49 That in You, 14:51 he might find his healing, for body and soul. 14:55 In the name of Jesus Christ, who loves him. 14:59 Amen. Amen. 15:03 The truth of the matter is 15:04 we are living in a war 15:10 that is intensifying by the hour. 15:13 Now just look at this week. 15:16 Open your Bible to the apocalypse, 15:18 our theme book for this season's series. 15:21 Go back to the Book of Revelation. 15:23 Come on, let's go, Revelation Chapter 12. 15:26 Revelation Chapter 12 drop down to verse 12. 15:31 We are in a war and the battle is intensifying. 15:35 And I've got the proof right here for the reason, 15:37 for the reason. 15:39 Here it is, you're about to read it. 15:40 Revelation 12:12, 15:41 I'm in the New International Version, 15:43 "Therefore rejoice, 15:44 you heavens and you who dwell in them! 15:46 But woe to the earth and the sea, 15:48 because the devil has gone down to you. 15:51 He is filled with fury, 15:53 because he knows that his time is short." 15:57 We are in a war and the battle is intensifying. 16:00 Why is it intensifying? 16:01 Because the less time the dragon has, 16:06 the more rage the dragon displays, that's why. 16:11 He knows that his time is short. 16:14 Question, do we know that our time is short? 16:18 Think about that. 16:20 An American writer wrote over a century ago, 16:23 I'll put the words on the screen for you. 16:25 "Commotions in the nation," 16:26 she's talking about the United States. 16:28 "Commotions in the nation 16:30 will bring such scenes in the world 16:32 as we have heretofore been strangers." 16:35 Craziness in this country means craziness in the world. 16:37 And one day we're already in it. 16:41 It feels one day, 16:44 we will see such strange events 16:49 that heretofore have never occurred to us. 16:58 What's ahead of us? 17:00 There's not a soul that knows today. 17:02 We didn't know last Tuesday, 17:03 we didn't know Friday yesterday. 17:05 We don't know today the Sabbath or Saturday. 17:09 It is the life we live 17:11 that we are in a war and the battle is intensifying. 17:19 Why is the dragon so furious? 17:21 Was that line we just read, 17:23 because he knows that his time is short. 17:27 So how then shall we survive in this intensifying battle 17:30 that we cannot escape? 17:33 What would happen if we operationalize the line 17:36 just before verse 12? 17:38 Okay, so we just read verse 12. 17:39 Come on, 17:41 what would happen if we operationalized verse 11. 17:43 So your Bibles already opened. So we go to verse 11. 17:45 "They," those are the friends and followers of Jesus, 17:47 "triumphed." 17:48 Some of your translations read, 17:50 overcame, were victorious. 17:52 "They triumphed over him," who's this him? 17:54 It's the dragon of Revelation 12. 17:56 It's the accuser of the brothers and sisters. 17:59 Pastor Jenifer just read through us a moment ago, 18:01 this is the devil. 18:03 "And they triumphed over the dragon 18:04 by the blood of the Lamb 18:06 and by the word of their testimony, 18:07 they did not love their lives 18:09 so much as to shrink from death." 18:11 One day your line will be on the life 18:13 and you will have the choice. 18:14 Shall I shrink or shall I go forward? 18:17 That's what that line is all about. 18:19 We'll deal with that a little later in this series. 18:23 Put that line up, please. 18:24 "And they triumphed over him 18:28 by the blood of the Lamb." 18:32 There's something 18:34 you need to know about the dragon. 18:35 Number one, he is not a dragon. 18:37 Come on. 18:39 He's already identified in verse 9 of the same chapter 18:41 just lines above what we just read. 18:43 What's he identified there as? 18:44 He's called that ancient serpent 18:46 called the devil or Satan. 18:48 We know him well. 18:50 The dragon is no dragon. 18:51 Dragon is simply 18:53 an apocalyptic prophetic symbol. 18:54 That's all it is. It represents a fallen angel. 19:00 A brilliant fallen angel. 19:04 But as it turns out, 19:06 our culture has gone gaga over dragons. 19:07 Have you noticed, 19:08 thanks to DreamWorks and Disney, 19:10 nobody has to imagine what a dragon looks like. 19:16 DreamWorks came along 19:17 and put a little funny story together 19:19 about an animated movie How to Train Your Dragon. 19:22 It's a sweet story of a friendly dragon 19:24 befriended by a boy who 19:25 just didn't fit in and a girl that came to like the boy 19:27 will happen to like the dragon. 19:29 Figured that one out. 19:32 And thanks to J. R. R. 19:34 Tolkein, Smaug also brought to this big silver screen. 19:42 You know what? 19:44 If I weren't... 19:51 If I were the devil, 19:57 you can be thankful I'm not. 20:01 If I were the devil, 20:03 man, I'd want to, 20:04 I want to have dragons everywhere. 20:06 I want the kids to bring dragons home, 20:07 I'd want dragons 20:09 every little square inch of American entertainment, 20:11 you know why? 20:12 Because you play the dragons enough times 20:15 people will believe it's just, this is all make believe, 20:16 don't you understand this, 20:18 these are just cartoon, this is just, this is nothing, 20:19 there's no truth to this. 20:21 And then I would work very hard 20:23 so that they would just slip in the notion as well, 20:24 they wouldn't know they were doing it 20:26 but you know what? 20:27 The folklore and mythology 20:28 that the devil belongs in that same category 20:31 there is no devil, 20:32 there are no dragons, forget it. 20:36 Wrong. 20:38 The first thing to remember about the dragon 20:39 is he is no dragon. 20:44 Who is he? 20:47 He is the insanely brilliant 20:50 but demented numero uno 20:52 created being in God's wide, wide universe. 20:57 He stand right beside the throne. 21:00 He is the prime, 21:01 he was the prime minister of the cosmos. 21:05 Wherever the government of God extended, 21:07 he extended. 21:08 The highest created being. 21:13 Perfect and beauty, 21:14 Ezekiel tells us 21:15 until he coveted the throne of the Almighty, 21:17 Isaiah informs us, 21:18 deceit a third of heaven's brightest minds 21:21 the apocalypse reminds us 21:23 and was cast out of eternity to this planet. 21:27 Where so furious he is over losing his face 21:30 and his place in heaven, 21:32 he has vowed to get revenge against Christ the creator 21:35 by devouring and destroying every human 21:38 baby born on this planet 21:40 as soon as it's born, if he could. 21:45 That's who we're up against. 21:49 There's something you need to know about the dragon, 21:50 he is not a dragon. 21:52 With a snap of event of his angelic finger, 21:56 he is a shining being of light. 22:00 You want to know 22:02 what he really looks like right now? 22:03 I'm gonna put before your eyes 22:05 a word picture you have never seen before, 22:08 but you will never forget this word picture 22:10 that you see right now. 22:12 Let's put it on the screen for us, please. 22:14 "I was shown Satan as he once was, 22:18 a happy, exalted angel. 22:21 Then I was shown him as he now is. 22:24 He still bears a kingly form. 22:26 His features are still noble, for he is an angel but fallen. 22:31 But the expression of his countenance 22:33 is full of anxiety, care, unhappiness, malice, hate, 22:37 mischief, deceit and every evil. 22:40 That brow which was once so noble, 22:43 I particularly noticed." 22:44 Keep reading. 22:46 "His forehead commenced from his eyes to recede." 22:49 Now your forehead goes up from your eyes, 22:50 minds goes up, 22:52 but his goes back from the eyes. 22:57 "I saw that he had so long bent himself to evil 23:00 that every good quality was debased, 23:02 and every evil trait was developed. 23:05 His eyes were cunningly sly, 23:07 and showed great penetration. 23:09 His frame was large, 23:11 but the flesh hung loosely about his hands and his face. 23:14 As I beheld him, 23:16 his chin was resting upon his left hand. 23:18 He appeared to be in deep thought. 23:20 A smile was upon his countenance, 23:22 which made me tremble, 23:23 it was so full of evil and satanic slyness. 23:27 This smile is the one he wears 23:29 just before he makes sure of his victim, 23:35 and as he fastens the victim in his snare, 23:38 this smile grows horrible." 23:42 He is no dragon. 23:50 Number two, learn this about the devil. 23:55 He is driven to frenzy. 23:58 When an earth child calls upon the blood of the Lamb 24:04 for deliverance, 24:05 never forget that for the rest of your life. 24:07 He's driven a frenzy. Why? 24:10 Because the Lamb took him a few hours 24:14 to figure out this baby born beneath the star. 24:17 But he figured it out quicker 24:19 than most human beings have. 24:23 He spent his whole life 24:24 the life of that baby growing up 24:26 and eventually Nazareth. 24:30 Consumed a being you just saw described 24:36 2000 years less deformed than he is now. 24:40 Consumed with a passion to destroy that child. 24:43 Just kill him, kill him, kill him, kill him, kill him. 24:48 This was Emmanuel, this is God with us, 24:50 who came down and laugh with us and wept with us, 24:53 ate with us and slept with us and eventually died for us 24:56 hoisted, hoisted by a Roman cross 25:01 suspended between heaven and earth. 25:06 We're all a part of the dragon's last play. 25:11 But Lucifer, 25:13 who has always overplayed his hand, 25:17 signs his own death warrant in that play, 25:23 you lose. 25:26 When Jesus throws his head back, 25:28 all that pent up breath 25:30 that is for His final gasp 25:33 and he cries out, it is finished. 25:42 Every bell, I promise you, 25:45 every bell in the universe began to wildly peal. 25:51 Do you know why the bells were wildly pealing? 25:54 Watch this the apocalyptic classic, 25:55 Great Controversy on the screen. 25:57 "In the Savior's expiring cry, 'It is finished, 26:00 ' the death knell of Satan was rung. 26:03 The great controversy which had been so long 26:05 in progress was then decided," 26:07 keep going. 26:09 Next slide, please. 26:10 "And the final eradication of evil," 26:12 what's that? What are those next two words? 26:14 Was made what? 26:16 "Was made certain." 26:18 Do you understand, ladies and gentlemen, 26:19 that when He cried out it is finished, 26:22 that war, that war was in that split second, 26:26 immediately won. 26:28 Do you know that He won 2000 years ago? 26:32 This being that you saw 26:33 in that word picture a moment ago 26:35 who's, who's watching you, his chin on his left hand, 26:39 what's he gonna do? 26:41 What's that boy going to do now? 26:42 He's watching you like a hawk 26:43 because if he can get you to make the wrong move, gotcha. 26:46 That being, do you know what? 26:48 That being is a loser. He has already lost. 26:53 He's dead meat and he knows it. 26:57 That's why because his time is short, 26:59 I'm taking every boy and girl on this planet that I can. 27:02 He is working around the clock, he never sleeps. 27:06 While you're sleeping, he's on somebody else. 27:09 And when you awaken, boom, he's right back with you. 27:12 He sometimes is even in your dreams. 27:17 Why? 27:18 One, 27:21 one wrong decision 27:26 and I have that boy forever. 27:28 I have him forever. 27:30 He's not only a loser, he's a liar. 27:35 That's not true. 27:37 That's not true at all. 27:39 Jesus, the Lamb of God can pull you out 27:42 of any predicament you're in right now. 27:46 I was in Sacramento, California. 27:50 I went out there to preach a weekend, 27:52 I was in the Carmichael Church. 27:54 And my sister Carrie and her husband Keith 27:56 are pastors of that church today. 27:58 This is before they were pastoring that congregation. 28:00 Anyway it's Friday night, 28:02 I'm sitting right up here in the front row, 28:03 waiting for the meeting to start. 28:05 I turn around and I see, 28:06 I see a young men 28:07 come right down the center aisle. 28:09 Young man and he's wearing a black t-shirt. 28:11 Nothing wrong with a black t-shirt. 28:12 But I can see even from where I'm sitting 28:15 he has a name on the t-shirt with big all cap red letters. 28:19 Satan. Satan. 28:25 Is this the right address? 28:26 Is this the right meeting? 28:28 Satan and he's coming straight down the aisle 28:30 and he's looking at me now. 28:32 And I said, "Man, I am in trouble." 28:33 But then he, as he gets close, 28:34 he breaks into the smile and he gets close enough 28:36 to extend his hand which we can't do anymore. 28:38 He extends his hand, 28:40 I reach out and when he's that close, 28:41 I see that under the giant red Satan 28:44 are two little white lettered words. 28:48 Satan is defeated. 28:56 Please, listen guys, seriously, 29:00 if you ever decide to get that t-shirt. 29:03 I have a humble little bit of counsel, 29:05 listen for what it's worth. 29:06 What you do is this? 29:07 The black t-shirt is fine with me. 29:09 But just very tiny in red, Satan, right up here. 29:14 And then under it, 29:16 under it with the largest font that that store has, 29:19 Satan is defeated. 29:23 That's the truth. 29:24 That's the truth of this cross here. 29:27 That's the truth, 29:28 by the blood of the Lamb 29:30 they overcame the dragon. 29:32 That is the truth. 29:33 He was whopped, he was shattered, 29:36 he was beaten 2000 years ago. 29:39 This is all a mop up operation for the kingdom of heaven. 29:42 Now I want to get that boy, I got to get that girl, 29:43 I got to get that boy, I got to get that girl, 29:45 so that's why heaven continues to wait. 29:47 They're waiting for you, they're waiting for me, 29:49 but Satan has already been defeated. 29:52 Can I get an amen to that? Amen. 29:53 He's already defeated. 29:57 Death now has sounded and he knows it. 30:00 Oh, Man, thanks to Calvary, thanks to Calvary, 30:06 we have the chance for life eternal. 30:10 Thank you, Jesus. 30:15 Which means that you can pray this prayer 30:16 every single day of your life that's left until Jesus comes. 30:19 Oh, go to the Gospel of Matthew. 30:21 Come on, let's go to Matthew. 30:22 I want you to see this in your own Bible, 30:24 we're gonna put it on the screen. 30:25 But come on, if you've got your Bible, 30:27 I know that it will stick in your mind longer 30:28 if you just see this. 30:30 Let's go to Calvary. 30:31 Let's go to the story of Matthew. 30:32 Matthew Chapter 27. It's a story of the cross. 30:35 And speaking of Pilate, 30:38 the governor that Jesus made a play for 30:40 very clearly in John 18. 30:43 It's talking about Pilate here. So this is a story of Calvary. 30:47 Matthew 27, drop down to verse 24. 30:49 "And when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, 30:53 but that instead an uproar was starting, 30:55 he took water 30:56 and washed his hands in front of the crowd. 30:59 'I am innocent of this man's blood,' 31:01 he said.'" 31:02 Liar, liar. 31:04 "'It is your responsibility.' 31:06 And all the people answered, '" 31:07 now this is the verse I want you to take home today, 31:09 please. 31:10 "And all the people answered," 31:11 verse 25, "His blood," be where? 31:15 'His blood be on us and on our children.'" 31:21 That blood, 31:22 the blood of the cross 31:24 that the men were singing of a moment ago, 31:26 that blood let that be on us and on our children. 31:32 Oh, by the way, this is a very short prayer. 31:35 It can be this short, 31:36 "His blood be on me." 31:38 Because you have nobody else you're praying for right now. 31:39 His blood be on me. 31:41 Pray that prayer every morning before you go out, 31:43 out of that dormitory room and out into the world 31:45 where the dragon is roaring and waiting, 31:47 before you go out his blood be on me today. 31:50 It'd be a beautiful prayer, you can pray it every morning. 31:53 But you might because there's only one of you 31:54 and one of you that you're praying for 31:56 but you could also pray this way, 31:57 "His blood be on us." 31:58 Because there are two of you in that room. 32:00 There are two of you in that marriage, 32:02 His blood be on us. 32:04 Just the two of you, fine. 32:05 Pray that prayer every day before you go out 32:07 but there may be more. 32:09 Let's put the last line up, 32:10 "His blood be on us and on our children." 32:13 You can say His blood be on us and on our children 32:15 and our grandchildren. 32:16 You can say His blood be on, 32:18 His blood be on me 32:19 and all my students in my classes, 32:21 His blood be on me 32:22 and all the employees in that office where I work. 32:24 His blood be on me 32:26 and all the neighbors in my neighborhood, 32:27 His blood be on us today. 32:30 You go out every day with that prayer. 32:32 And I tell you what, 32:33 what, they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. 32:36 You are on the winning side 32:37 when you apply that blood to you. 32:40 His blood be on me, His blood be on me. 32:45 Maybe, 32:46 you want to know how effective by the way 32:47 this blood is. 32:49 This is gonna knock your socks off. 32:50 You want to know how effective this blood is 32:51 if you pray that prayer every morning, watch this. 32:53 This is incredible. 32:54 Same author, back on the screen. 32:56 "Dear brother." 32:57 I love this kind of familiar moment here. 32:59 "Dear brother, dear sister, 33:01 when Satan would fill your mind with despondency, gloom, 33:05 and doubt, resist his suggestions. 33:08 Tell him of the," what? 33:11 "Tell him of the blood of Jesus, 33:13 that cleanses from," 33:14 how much? 33:15 "All sin." Keep reading. 33:17 "You cannot save yourself from the tempter's power." 33:19 No, no, no, no, no. 33:21 "But he trembles," 33:22 and what's the next word? 33:23 He does what? 33:25 "He flees when the merits 33:26 of that precious blood are urged." 33:28 Isn't that amazing? 33:30 He flees, 33:32 might as well start your day with him fleeing 33:34 rather than entering. 33:36 Let him flee as you begin today. 33:38 Oh God, I'm awake now. 33:40 The blood of the Lamb be upon me now 33:43 and for the whole day, please. 33:46 Be on me, be on her, be on them, be on all of us. 33:50 Pray that prayer every day. 33:52 That's how powerful the blood is. 33:55 Maybe we ought to take a play out of the Israelites. 33:58 Remember the children of Israel. 33:59 They're going to escape Egypt tomorrow. 34:02 This is tonight. 34:04 They're going to escape Egypt, the Exodus will be tomorrow. 34:06 Do you remember what they did? 34:08 They killed a little lamb. 34:09 And do you remember what they did with the lamb? 34:10 Come on, tell me out here. What did they do with the lamb? 34:13 With a little pan 34:14 and then where did they go with it? 34:16 They went to the doorposts, the lintel, the doorpost. 34:19 Every house under the blood. 34:23 So at midnight 34:24 when the destroying angel would pass over Egypt 34:29 the houses under the blood, 34:31 the families under the blood, the marriages under the blood, 34:36 the roommates under the blood, 34:38 under the blood meant salvation. 34:42 My, maybe that's what we ought to do. 34:46 What if we go to our laptops and our smartphones? 34:49 Come on, let's go to our laptops and smartphones. 34:50 And with that screen right in front of you, 34:52 you and your mind. 34:53 Come on, 34:54 paint the blood of the Lamb all over that screen. 34:57 That means, Jesus, 34:59 I am dedicating the screen to You, 35:01 anything that comes up on the screen 35:03 that is not in harmony with Your will 35:04 for my life, turn me away. 35:07 I'm dedicating this laptop to you. 35:10 Any pornography that appears on this screen, I reject, 35:14 I rebuke the enemy who put that in, 35:20 put it on our doorpost of our laptops 35:23 and our smartphones. 35:24 How about the doorpost of our refrigerators 35:26 up one side, top across the top of the refrigerator, 35:29 down again, why? 35:30 So that everything that is on that shelf, 35:32 on those shelves will bring glory and honor 35:35 in my body to God. 35:36 There'll be nothing there 35:39 through which I might dishonor God. 35:42 Everything. 35:43 How about painting our social media... 35:48 on trace? 35:49 Right as you enter into the social media, 35:51 you just painted up right there. 35:53 Jesus, anything I write right now may it be, 35:55 may it, please Jesus, may keep it out of the blood. 35:58 Don't let me, don't let me participate in that 36:01 which is destroying somebody else, please Jesus. 36:03 Keep me under the blood. 36:05 Come on, what if we did that? 36:07 Would be wrong with that? 36:09 My playlist? 36:10 How about my play this Jesus? 36:11 You know what? 36:13 Everything in this playlist needs to honor you. 36:15 You say, Dwight, you're just ruining my life, 36:18 that's exactly what you're doing. 36:19 This is awful. 36:21 Hey, listen, my friend, 36:22 I hope this does not come as an unwelcome shock to you. 36:24 But listen up, the party is over. 36:29 The party is over for America. 36:33 The party is over for you and me. 36:44 Party on. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 36:47 Look, I'm not saying 36:48 that we can't be filled with joy. 36:49 I'm not saying that 36:51 we can't be filled with the zest 36:52 and the flourishing of our Lord Jesus. 36:54 Every time I walk out of that room, 36:55 and I step back into life. 36:57 I'm not saying that, 36:58 that isn't a moment 36:59 just to be cherished to look forward to. 37:01 There's nothing wrong with living life to the max. 37:04 But there is an enemy 37:05 who does not want you to realize 37:06 that we're running out of time. 37:08 There is an enemy who works by distraction. 37:09 Don't worry about it. 37:11 I got it, hey, look, look, look, 37:12 look, look, look at me now. 37:13 There is an enemy. 37:21 That's all. 37:23 Nobody's trying to be a kill joy. 37:25 I mean, come on. 37:28 He doesn't want me to get ready, 37:29 I get that part. 37:31 He doesn't want me to notice I'm running out of time, 37:33 I get that part. 37:35 The apocalyptic classic 37:37 Great Controversy on the screen here, please. 37:39 "We are living in the most solemn period 37:41 of this world's history. 37:43 The destiny of earth teeming millions." 37:45 Let's just read this this way. 37:47 "The destiny of you and me is about to be decided." 37:51 Is that okay to read it like that? 37:52 Okay, keep reading. 37:54 "We need to humble ourselves before the Lord, 37:56 with fasting and prayer, 37:58 and to meditate much upon His Word." 38:02 Man, Dwight, 38:03 you are really getting boring 38:05 as this sermon nears an end. 38:06 I mean, wouldn't. 38:09 Hey listen, guys, what did you want me to say? 38:12 What am I supposed to say? 38:15 This planet is about to be obliterated, 38:18 have a good time. 38:21 Ignore what is happening all around you, 38:23 be unattached to life 38:25 as it's being lived beyond this campus. 38:31 I went out running one Sunday morning 38:32 and I ran by a church here in town. 38:34 I ran by a church 38:36 that had this sign in front of the church. 38:38 The party inhale 38:40 has been canceled due to the fire. 38:50 This nation and this planet is about to go up in smoke 38:55 and you'd rather party. 38:56 Give God a break. 38:58 Let me read that line one more time 38:59 from Great Controversy. 39:00 "We are living in the most solemn period 39:02 of this world's history. 39:03 The destiny of earth's teeming millions, 39:04 read you and me, 39:06 is about to be decided." 39:07 Listen, guys, you're living at a time nobody, 39:09 four years ago, 39:10 the students here were not living 39:11 what you're living in now. 39:13 Four years ago, the people in your office 39:14 were not living in what we're living in now. 39:15 There's never been a time like this. 39:17 Do you understand that, just this week has shown us. 39:22 "We need to humble ourselves before the Lord, 39:24 with fasting and prayer, 39:26 and to meditate much upon His word." 39:31 Okay, that's it. 39:35 So every morning, you pray it, 39:37 His blood be upon me or His blood be upon us 39:43 or His blood be upon us and our children, 39:45 just pray it every day. 39:48 Every day, 39:49 live with the promise 39:51 and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. 39:55 Be of good courage. 39:57 Look at the devil's been doing a number. 39:59 The dragon, dragon on your life, 40:02 coming after you 40:04 with that same old temptation, doesn't it? 40:05 Where is his creativity, 40:07 why do you have to keep coming back to me with the same thing? 40:09 Change your mind. 40:10 No, he knows my soft buttons. 40:15 You tired of that? 40:17 There's one other way I'm going to tell you, 40:18 there's one other way you can whoop the dragon 40:20 in his own game. 40:23 And that's not just praying the prayer 40:24 His blood be upon me. 40:26 That's taking us, 40:28 taking advantage of a super bonus gift. 40:33 And that is when you take the bread 40:35 and you take the cup 40:37 at the Lord's Supper, you are turbocharged, 40:41 you are supercharged to the symbols of Calvary. 40:51 You are supercharged for victory. 40:55 Oh, the victory will never come from you, 40:57 the victory has to come from Him. 40:59 But if you take the symbols 41:01 as we're about to do in a split second, 41:04 man, don't, don't leave now. 41:06 This is when victory, 41:08 victory is ingested into your very system. 41:11 When you take the symbols of this victory, 41:14 you will never be the same again. 41:16 We do this four times a year. 41:18 This was your lucky day, you came on the right Sabbath 41:21 because today we're going to do this COVID-19 and all, 41:24 we're going to do it right now. 41:26 Why? 41:27 Because ingesting the bread and the wine 41:34 brings in a level of spiritual victory 41:39 that the victim on that cross assured us, 41:41 you do this until I come and you'll be fine. 41:46 You'll make it you. 41:48 You okay with that? 41:49 I say, let's do it right now. 41:51 Come on right now. 41:52 COVID-19, sealed packets, we're good to go. Let's pray. 41:56 Father, we're here, we got it. 42:00 That cross is the symbol of our eternal victory. 42:04 The dragon has been whooped, 42:07 but he keeps lying to us 42:09 that he's the prince of this world. 42:11 And if we just yield to him, 42:12 we'd have everything our heart's desire, liar. 42:17 We hear the lamb instead. 42:20 Do this in remembrance of me 42:23 so that you may overcome that dragon by My blood, 42:28 My sacrifice right now. 42:33 In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. 42:36 We're gonna do it right now. 42:38 It's COVID-19. 42:39 Did you get the emblems when you walked in? 42:41 I hope you did. 42:42 But if you didn't, 42:44 we're going to activate this because we're going, 42:45 come on, we'll get some ushers standing. 42:47 If you didn't get the emblems, 42:49 you're going to want to do this with us. 42:50 You're not, you don't have to go anywhere. 42:52 We're gonna stay right here, 42:53 the service will end in 12 minutes. 42:55 But you need to take the emblems 42:58 and ingest them. 43:00 Not just because it's like vitamin C. 43:02 No, it's because you are declaring 43:04 to the God of the universe 43:05 come into my life, empower me, power me up, 43:10 so that I might live a life of victory 43:11 in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by His blood, 43:15 by His blood the victory is gained. 43:18 Those of you who are watching online, 43:20 you've been to the church, you've picked him up. 43:21 I saw some of you come today. I'm glad you did. 43:23 I'm glad you're back at home safe and sound. 43:26 Take out those emblems right now. 43:29 We're good to go. 43:31 Now listen, 43:33 there's a beautiful collage 43:35 that our media team has put together 43:39 All right, it's sight and sound for two minutes, 43:42 it's now going to run on the screen 43:43 in this place and on your screen at home. 43:46 That's fine. 43:48 When you come back, pulpit's gone, 43:50 communion table here 43:51 and Pastor Jenifer and I will lead you 43:53 through the simple short Lord's Supper. 43:56 So let's start rolling that tape 43:58 and, deacons, let's go. 46:51 The only pandemic on Jesus mind 46:55 that night was a pandemic of sin. 47:00 He knows tomorrow, He will hang on that cross, 47:03 the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 47:09 But tonight, it's Thursday, 47:11 these are the closest people on earth to Him, 47:15 He must leave something for them 47:19 that will keep them fighting until He comes again. 47:24 The sacred record here in Mark Chapter 14 47:26 while they were eating, "Jesus took bread. 47:28 And when He had given thanks, 47:29 He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, 47:32 'Take it, this is my body.' 47:35 And then He took a cup. 47:36 And when He had given thanks, 47:37 He gave it to them all and they drank from it. 47:42 This is My blood of the covenant 47:44 which is poured out for many He said to them, 47:46 'Truly I tell you, 47:48 I will not drink again 47:49 from the fruit of the vine until that day 47:51 when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.'" 47:55 Before we ingest these emblems, 47:59 Pastor Jenifer is going to ask God's blessing 48:02 on what we're about to partake. 48:05 Let us pray. 48:08 Lover of our souls, 48:11 blessed Redeemer, wonderful Savior. 48:16 Jesus, 48:19 Your love has brought us here today. 48:23 We come with grateful hearts, 48:25 asking that You bless these symbols. 48:30 Your body is represented in the broken bread. 48:35 The wine represents 48:38 the cleansing blood that You shed. 48:42 As we partake of them today 48:45 we ask that Your life giving power 48:48 will revitalize our lives, 48:51 transform our hearts and fill us with joy and peace. 48:56 Amen. 49:16 And so Jesus turns to us 49:21 and He invites us to partake. 49:25 Now it's a bit of a trick with this sealed packet, 49:31 but you'll see there are two, there are two lips to it. 49:33 One is cellophane. 49:35 If you'll take just the cellophane lip 49:37 and just pull it towards you. 49:41 There is your wafer. 49:48 So take the wafer in your hand with me please. 49:51 Jesus turn to those who are dearest on earth to Him 49:54 as He turns to us right now. 49:57 Take this, 49:59 this symbol of My body broken for you, 50:02 do this in remembrance of Me. 50:26 And then we just read the record, 50:28 He took the cup. 50:29 So you do the same, 50:30 turn it away from you 50:32 so that in case it's under pressure, 50:33 it won't spurt out on you. 50:36 You don't have to take the whole lid off 50:39 and get it just far enough 50:41 to where you can drink from this. 50:46 Jesus turns to us as He did to them. 50:50 And He says, now, please, 50:52 the cup, 50:54 which is a blood of my new covenant, 50:56 I will never drink the juice of the vine again 51:02 until you're home with me. 51:06 Do this in remembrance of Me. 51:32 Isn't that beautiful? 51:34 Is it? 51:35 Now they had two customs left 51:37 for the suppers of the Passover. 51:41 One custom was they would receive an offering 51:42 for those in need, and we're going to do it. 51:45 When the deacons usher us out today, 51:47 they're going to have a little basket 51:48 or an offering plate, 51:50 just put an offering in there. 51:51 If God has blessed you over the last three months, 51:53 come on, put a little offering in there. 51:55 We have people from all over Berrien County 51:57 who come here knowing that 51:59 we have the finances to be able to serve them. 52:02 It's because of your generosity. 52:03 So the deacons will come by in just a moment. 52:05 But it also, 52:07 the other tradition they had is they sang a hymn, 52:12 now we can't sing anymore. 52:15 But there is a beautiful, 52:16 a beautiful song 52:17 that the girls standing behind me Canta Bella. 52:21 They sang it in first service it'll bless you, 52:23 now it's going to be in Spanish 52:24 but it's going to come in English, 52:26 you'll get all the language 52:28 and you know that 52:30 they are singing of the God 52:32 who lacks nothing 52:34 and the last line is so beautiful. 52:37 God is enough. 52:40 Meditate as they sing now. 53:50 Let nothing frighten you 53:53 All things are passing 53:57 God never changes 55:08 Those who love God They will lack nothing 55:20 Let nothing frighten you All things are passing 55:26 God never changes 55:57 God, 56:02 God is enough 57:08 Think of the last time someone said, 57:10 "I'm praying for you." 57:12 Didn't it give you a sense of peace 57:14 and reassurance that somebody cares for me. 57:16 I know how I feel 57:17 when I get an email from one of our viewers saying, 57:19 "You know, Dwight, 57:20 I've been praying for you lately." 57:21 There's nothing like knowing someone is praying for you. 57:23 So I want to offer you an opportunity to partner. 57:26 Let me, let us partner with you in prayer. 57:28 If you have a special prayer request 57:30 or a praise of thanksgiving, you'd like to share with us. 57:33 I'm inviting you to contact one of our friendly chaplains. 57:36 Simple to do, 57:37 you can call our toll free number 877, 57:39 the two words, HIS-WILL, 877-HIS-WILL. 57:43 That friendly voice it answers, you tell him, 57:45 you tell her what your prayer need is, 57:47 we'll join with you in that petition. 57:50 May the God who answers prayer journey with you 57:52 these next few days 57:53 until we're right back here together 57:55 again next time. |
Revised 2020-10-26