Participants:
Series Code: TWH
Program Code: TWH000042A
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00:01 Music...
00:32 We are going to study God's Word together 00:35 and I would like to encourage you 00:37 to pray for me and for yourselves. 00:38 I am going to kneel and ask for the Lord to bless us 00:42 and I would ask you to pray for yourself and for me... 00:46 for myself... let us pray together. 00:48 Kneeling. 00:52 "Our loving heavenly Father, 00:55 we thank you that whenever we call upon you 01:00 you listen to our prayers. 01:02 We thank you Lord 01:04 that you are more concerned for us 01:07 than we are for ourselves. 01:09 In this moment Lord, we approach your throne of grace 01:13 in Jesus' name 01:14 and we pray that you will bless each and every one of us 01:18 for whether we know it or not, 01:22 we desperately need your help 01:26 and so, Father, 01:28 we pray for your Holy Spirit to be poured out. 01:30 I place myself in your hands 01:32 that every word will come from your throne of grace 01:36 pause 01:38 and we pray a blessing upon all 01:39 and we ask it in Jesus' name, amen... amen. " 01:44 Pause. 01:47 We live in this world 01:48 and this is a world of trial and tribulation. 01:54 Pause. 01:56 This is not the world that God had intended for His children 02:01 for He made a perfect world... 02:04 a world where there would be no trouble... 02:06 no concern about somebody pressing a button in one place 02:11 sending a missile to where you are 02:14 and destroying you and everyone around 02:16 and man has done terrible things to cause destruction 02:21 and we live in times when we need Jesus 02:26 and we know that He is coming soon. 02:30 Many things tell us that Jesus Christ is coming soon. 02:35 if you believe that, would you raise your hand? 02:37 Amen. 02:38 The Lord is good. 02:40 So, I have some questions for you. 02:42 What is your highest hope? 02:44 How do you define success? 02:46 When will you know and be satisfied 02:50 that your dreams have come true. 02:53 What will let you know 02:55 I have reached the highest 02:59 happiness I could upon this world. 03:02 You see, these are questions 03:05 that even though people don't always express them... 03:10 in their heart they want to be happy. 03:13 In their heart, they want peace. 03:16 They want to be happy 03:19 and so, we are trained in this world to go to school, 03:23 get a good job 03:26 and make as much money as you can 03:31 so you can get that dream life to have what you need 03:36 and take vacations whenever you want to. 03:39 This is the world that we live in. 03:44 Pause. 03:46 Unfortunately, there are things against us 03:49 and that is competition. 03:52 Others want the same job you want 03:54 and there are also things that hinder us 03:59 because the devil is roaming around 04:02 seeking whom he may devour 04:04 and if he can fool you 04:06 into going into what people call "the rat race" 04:10 and I don't know if anyone here has been in the rat race, 04:13 has anybody been in the rat race here? 04:15 The rat race... 04:17 trying to get as much as you can, 04:19 as quick as you can 04:20 and be happy 04:22 pause 04:24 but God has a better way for us 04:28 and His way is a way of salvation... 04:33 a way of happiness and peace 04:35 and so, I bring you to a time when Adam and Eve... 04:41 it was their joy to have communion with God. 04:46 They experienced true happiness for a while. 04:51 We do not know how long it was 04:53 that Adam and Eve enjoyed the joys of purity and holiness 04:59 going through the garden that God created, 05:02 seeing all the beautiful things that He had done 05:04 without any trouble... 05:07 without the devil being on their track 05:09 until one day, as we know, 05:12 Satan came disguised as a serpent, 05:15 tempted Adam and Eve 05:17 and they fell into sin 05:19 and after sin, it was not a joy to search for the Lord, 05:25 they felt... they lost something 05:30 that there was a struggle to regain 05:33 that communion with God... that fullness of joy... 05:37 because sin had entered into their lives 05:39 and so, 05:44 God is seeking to draw each one of us to Himself 05:48 and there were some who came close to the Lord. 05:52 You may remember Enoch. 05:53 The Bible mentions Enoch, the Bible mentions Moses 05:57 and others who followed the Lord 05:59 and I want to talk to you 06:01 about the words found in Psalm 16 verse 11. 06:09 Psalm 16 verse 11... 06:11 if you join me in Psalm 16 verse 11, 06:14 you will find some wonderful words and they are these, 06:20 "You will show me the path of life; 06:24 In Your presence is fullness of... " 06:28 what? "joy; 06:30 At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. " 06:34 You see, there were individuals that we read about in the Bible 06:40 that found the fullness of joy... 06:42 that it wasn't in the rat race of their day, 06:46 it was being in the presence of the Lord 06:50 and they knew they could walk with Jesus. 06:55 The Bible tells us... there was one individual 06:57 that walked with Jesus 07:00 and he was not. 07:01 Let's go to Genesis chapter 5, verse 22 to 24. 07:06 In Genesis chapter 5 verses 22 to 24, 07:10 pause 07:13 and I think most of you know who this individual was. 07:16 If you found Genesis chapter 5, please say, "Amen. " 07:19 Okay, let us read it together. 07:22 "After he begot Methuselah, 07:25 Enoch walked with God three hundred years, 07:29 and had sons and daughters. 07:31 So all the days of Enoch were 07:32 three hundred and sixty-five years. 07:35 And Enoch walked with God; 07:39 and he was not, for God took him. " 07:42 Enoch walked with God. 07:45 He had fullness of joy in walking with God 07:51 and Enoch was so close to God 07:54 that the time came when the Lord said, 07:56 "Enoch, you are ready to enter into the kingdom of heaven" 08:02 and so it was that God took him. 08:07 Marvelous... and you know, the day will come 08:10 when the same thing will be for us 08:12 if we walk in the presence of the Lord, 08:16 the Lord will come and take us with Him, amen. 08:20 Now, there were some as I mentioned 08:23 you can read about Noah, Job, Abraham, Isaac, 08:27 Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, David, Daniel 08:29 and the list will go on 08:31 that trusted in the Lord... followed the Lord... 08:35 and served Him... served Him with all their hearts. 08:40 They didn't have some of the things that we have today. 08:44 We... today... can carry a Bible wherever we go. 08:50 I am happy to have many Bibles on my phone 08:54 and many wonderful books 08:57 that help me to stay in contact with the Lord 08:59 and so, they did not have a Bible in their pocket. 09:04 There were scrolls in those days... 09:06 eventually there were scrolls 09:08 but they knew they could have communion with God 09:12 in talking to the Lord. 09:13 We can talk to the Lord throughout the day. 09:16 Yes there are times and seasons 09:19 when we need to go to the Lord and pray... 09:23 kneeling and pouring out our souls unto Him, 09:27 pleading before Him, 09:28 asking Him to be with us 09:30 and you will find that in the presence of the Lord 09:33 there is... what? Fullness of joy... 09:36 there is fullness of joy 09:39 and some of us here... if not all... 09:42 have experienced a time when you were reading the Scriptures... 09:45 when you were praying... 09:47 and you were drawn close to the Lord 09:49 and there's this wonderful presence... 09:53 a sweet abiding of the Lord Jesus Christ 09:56 and you don't want to leave that moment 10:00 and so, there's one individual that really is amazing to me 10:08 pause 10:10 and this individual is called Job. 10:13 Pause. 10:14 Now, I don't know if you can compare your experience 10:17 to Job's experience but he went through a lot. 10:20 How many here would like to go through what Job went through? 10:24 Pause. 10:26 Wow! Job went through a horrible, horrible experience, 10:30 pause 10:32 I was... we were talking to some... 10:33 to someone this week 10:35 and we were taking about these boils that get on people, 10:39 Job had these... I think they were boils, 10:42 does anybody here had a boil before? 10:45 pause 10:46 they're painful things... 10:48 was a painful? It was painful... 10:50 Samuel and others in Pohnpei 10:53 for some reason... 10:55 I don't know if it was the atmosphere... 10:57 the temperature... I don't know what it is 10:59 many in the groups were getting boils. 11:02 Samuel showed us... he had one in his leg... 11:04 painful... 11:05 and Job was covered with whatever it was 11:09 and the Bible says that he would even grab things 11:13 to scrape his skin. 11:15 Friends came to visit Job and they looked upon Him 11:20 and he looked so horrible... 11:22 that he was in such pain and agony 11:25 that they stood and sat there speechless 11:29 for several days 11:30 because his suffering was so great. 11:33 But this Job... walked so close to the Lord... 11:40 that even though he had lost practically everything he had, 11:45 he still praised the Lord. 11:48 Would you say, "Amen" to that? 11:50 Audience: Amen. 11:51 And there is a Scripture 11:54 that is amazing... and is of comfort to God's children. 11:59 I would like to point you to Job chapter 13, 12:02 Job 13 and verse 15. 12:06 It's very simple, if I start reading it, 12:09 you may be able to quote the rest of it 12:12 and Job chapter 13 verse 15 says the following words, 12:18 "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. 12:24 Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. " 12:28 Though He slay me, 12:30 yet will I trust Him 12:32 and you know, it's amazing to me... 12:34 it has happened to me also. 12:36 That some suffering has come into my life 12:39 and I said, "Phew, this is... this is hard 12:42 are others going through what I am going through?" 12:45 Then you start looking around wondering if... 12:48 "Is this fair what I am going through?" 12:51 Pause... 12:53 And then I look back and say, 12:55 "What in the world was I thinking?" 12:57 When you think about Job... 12:59 when you think about others that suffered great horrible things 13:04 and I looked at my things and they were so small in comparison 13:08 you feel ashamed to think, 13:10 "Lord, are you... are you with me 13:12 are you helping me, are you... 13:14 where are you Lord?" 13:15 Pause. 13:17 But God wants us to know that whatever we go through, 13:22 He is with us. 13:24 That whatever suffering we encounter, 13:28 God is with us 13:31 but in this world, Jesus said, 13:33 "We will suffer tribulation 13:36 but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" 13:41 and because He has overcome the world, 13:43 there is hope for us 13:46 that nothing, nor no one, 13:49 not even the devil and all his demons can take away from us 13:54 hope in Jesus... hope in salvation... 13:59 hope in eternal life... 14:01 hope in a life where there will be no sickness, 14:04 suffering nor pain, 14:05 and this is what God wants us to understand 14:08 that in Him there is fullness of joy 14:12 and I encourage you to follow Jesus with all your heart... 14:17 with all your heart... 14:19 and so, one of the things that these people did 14:22 was pray... 14:24 pray when you're happy... 14:26 pray when you're sad... 14:28 pray... pray... pray... 14:31 Paul said, "Pray without ceasing" 14:35 now he wasn't saying that 14:37 you are on your knees all the time with your eyes closed 14:40 but you can have a prayer in your heart 14:42 and you're in communion with the Lord. 14:44 Pause. 14:45 The devil wants to take peace from you, 14:48 the devil wants to take hope from you, 14:50 the devil wants to take that fullness of joy from you 14:56 and prayer is one of the keys of staying with the Lord, 15:02 keeping your eyes on the Lord 15:03 and walking with Him, 15:05 memorizing Scripture 15:07 and rehearsing them in your mind 15:09 as you go throughout the day 15:11 you are in communion with the Lord 15:13 and in the presence of the Lord there is fullness of joy. 15:18 Pause. 15:19 You know in the book "Steps to Christ" 15:21 I am going to paraphrase what it says, 15:25 it says, "The darkness of the evil one 15:29 enclose those who neglect to pray. " 15:34 Wow! Scary isn't it? 15:37 If we neglect to pray, 15:39 that's an invitation for the devil to come to our side 15:45 and bring darkness upon us, 15:48 so, is it important to pray? 15:51 Yes! Paul knew it 15:53 and that's why he said, "Pray without ceasing. " 15:56 Pause. 15:57 We desperately need to be in connection with the Lord. 16:03 Pause. 16:05 I would like to ask you to join me in Isaiah chapter 57... 16:08 Isaiah chapter 57... 16:10 let's read a few verses in Isaiah 57 16:14 beginning in verse 19, 16:17 Isaiah 57 verse 19, 16:19 if you have found it, I hear some pages turning, 16:22 Isaiah 57 beginning in verse 19, 16:24 if you found it say, "Amen" 16:26 notice what the Bible says, "I create the fruit of the lips: 16:30 Peace, peace to him who is afar off 16:34 and to him who is near, Says the Lord, 16:37 'And I will heal him. ' 16:39 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, 16:44 When it cannot rest, 16:47 Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 16:50 'There is no peace,' 16:53 Says my God, 'for the wicked. '" 16:57 That's the life of the wicked. 17:01 They may have pleasure... a little bit here and there 17:05 because they spend their money on this or they do that... 17:08 they think they found some joy. 17:11 But you know all the joys of this world 17:16 are temporary... 17:19 they end... and then they go down 17:21 and the Bible says that the wicked are like the sea. 17:25 Have you ever stopped to look at the sea? 17:26 I like to go and look at the sea sometimes. 17:29 Of course, we can't find it in this area... 17:32 Audience: Laughter... 17:35 but I'd like to go when we get to travel 17:37 to one of these places where you can go close 17:39 to where there's this large body of water, 17:41 pause 17:42 and you can watch the sea and it is constantly moving, 17:45 the wicked are like the troubled sea... 17:47 cannot rest... 17:49 and you see, 17:51 we cannot find true rest until we open our hearts to Jesus. 17:57 Pause. 18:00 He brings serenity... He brings peace to our hearts. 18:04 Pause. 18:06 There is a painting, I think it's still there at 3ABN 18:08 pause 18:10 you may have seen it where there's... 18:12 the artist tried to paint this storm of wind... 18:16 the waves are roaring... 18:18 and there is a group of people in a boat 18:22 and Jesus is at the wheel 18:27 and the people close to Jesus 18:30 have this look of peace in their hearts... in their faces... 18:34 pause... 18:36 and that's what it is. 18:38 If you face storms in life, 18:40 with Jesus, you could have peace 18:43 and you can have fullness of joy. 18:45 If you're going through a difficult time, 18:49 it's meant to be difficult. 18:52 It can cause you pain, it can cause you grief, 18:56 it can cause you even to doubt, 19:01 but never lose your connection with Jesus. 19:07 Pause. 19:09 Keep looking unto Jesus 19:13 because He is the way out, the truth and the life. 19:19 Satan would love to throw more upon us 19:22 than we can handle 19:24 but thanks be to God that He puts a limit on the devil 19:29 pause 19:31 he restrains the devil 19:33 from doing things to us that he will love to do. 19:36 Pause. 19:38 I don't know what it would have done to you 19:40 if Jesus had come to you 19:42 and told you what Jesus told Peter. 19:45 I don't know if you would have had chill bumps 19:48 if Jesus would tell you, 19:51 "Simon, the devil has sought to have you 19:55 that he may sift you as wheat. " 19:58 What would it do to you if Jesus did that. 20:01 The devil is asking for you... to sift you as wheat. 20:04 Pause. 20:07 Would you be scared? 20:08 Pause. 20:10 But would you take courage in the following words of Jesus 20:14 "But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not. " 20:18 Pause. 20:21 Our hope is Jesus 20:23 and I encourage you to stay close to Him. 20:26 Jesus wants to give us rest, 20:29 the wicked are like the troubled sea, 20:31 there is no peace for the wicked. 20:33 I'd like you to consider the words of Jesus 20:35 and his invitation to those that were around him 20:38 in those days when He walked among men, 20:42 suffering as others suffered in His time. 20:47 In Matthew chapter 11, verses 28 to 30, 20:52 Jesus makes the invitation to those that were around Him 20:55 and to us today. 20:57 In Matthew 11 verse 28 to 30, 21:00 Jesus says, "Come to Me, 21:03 all you who labor and are heavy laden, 21:06 and I will give you rest. 21:08 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 21:12 for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 21:15 and you will find rest for your souls. 21:18 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. " 21:23 Praise the Lord. 21:25 "Come to Me... and I will give you rest. " 21:30 So, if the wicked are out there, 21:32 Jesus says... He can give them rest 21:35 but they have to separate themselves from the evil things 21:41 by asking Jesus to rescue them from the hands of the devil. 21:47 Jesus wants to give you rest 21:50 and if you're in here today 21:53 and you don't feel you have that rest... 21:55 that joy... 21:57 Jesus wants to give it to you today 22:00 and I encourage you to open your heart to receive it. 22:03 Let's go to Jeremiah... Jeremiah chapter 9. 22:08 In Jeremiah chapter 9, God has a message for us. 22:13 You may want to write some of these down, 22:16 Jeremiah chapter 9 verses 23 and 24 22:22 Jeremiah 9:23 and 24, the Bible says, 22:27 "But let him who glories glory in this, 22:32 That he understands and knows Me, 22:35 That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, 22:39 judgment and righteousness in the earth. 22:43 For in these I delight, says the Lord. " 22:48 Amen. 22:49 Pause. 22:51 What is the Lord? He exercises loving kindness, 22:55 judgment, righteousness in this world. 22:58 Pause. 23:00 In Psalm 34, the Bible says, 23:03 "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. " 23:09 You see, God wants to do you good. 23:14 He wants you to be happy, 23:17 He wants you to have fullness of joy. 23:20 The devil wants to take that away from you 23:23 and the best thing we could do 23:25 is to turn our backs on the devil 23:27 and the works of the devil 23:29 and follow Jesus with all of our hearts. 23:32 I encourage you to stay close to Jesus. 23:35 The Lord delights in blessing His children 23:38 and as you come to the Lord in prayer, 23:41 bring your concerns... your petitions before Him. 23:45 I rejoice to see people coming to the Lord in prayer 23:48 and many of you come during the congregational prayer 23:51 to present your petitions before the Lord 23:54 and I'm going to ask this question, 23:56 many of you have been coming Sabbath after Sabbath, 23:58 week after week, asking the Lord to bless you. 24:02 You've been doing it for several years. 24:05 How many of you have had God answer your prayers 24:10 would you raise your hand? 24:11 Praise the Lord. 24:13 How many of you say, "The Lord is good. " 24:17 Praise God. 24:19 God is good to every one of us, amen and amen to that. 24:24 I would like to take you to Mark chapter 12. 24:27 In Mark chapter 12, we have some individuals 24:30 that... 24:34 went before the Lord. 24:36 You see, God wants us to consider Him as our Father 24:42 how did Jesus say was the model prayer? 24:45 How does He begin? 24:46 "Our Father which art in heaven. " 24:50 He wants us to form this relationship with Him 24:53 so that we know we're not just a number, 24:57 so that we know we're not just a face in the crowd 25:01 you see, God knows each and every one of us by name... 25:05 knows more about us than we know about ourselves. 25:08 Pause. 25:10 In Mark chapter 12, verse 28, 25:13 if you found this, say, "Amen. " 25:16 Amen. 25:17 "Then one of the scribes came, 25:19 and having heard them reasoning together, 25:22 perceiving that He... " that is Jesus... 25:25 "had answered them well, asked Him, 25:27 'Which is the first commandment of all?'" 25:30 Verse 29, Jesus answered him, 25:33 "The first of all the commandments is: 25:36 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, 25:39 the LORD is one. 25:41 And you shall love the LORD your God 25:44 with all your heart, with all your soul, 25:46 with all your mind, and with all your strength. ' 25:49 this is the first commandment. " 25:52 And Jesus went further 25:54 because the man just asked for the first commandment, 25:56 Jesus went further and said, "And the second like it is this: 26:00 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ' 26:05 There is no other commandment greater than these. 26:08 So the scribe said to Him, 'Well said, Teacher, 26:12 You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, 26:16 and there is no other but He. 26:19 And to love Him with all the heart, 26:21 and with all the understanding, 26:24 with all the soul, and all the strength, 26:26 and to love one's neighbor as oneself, 26:28 is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. " 26:35 Pause. 26:37 Praise the Lord. 26:38 "Now when Jesus saw that He answered wisely, 26:42 He said to him, 26:43 'You are not far from the kingdom of God. ' 26:47 But after that no one dared to ask him any questions. " 26:52 You are not far from the Kingdom of God. 26:57 This man had been thinking, 26:59 this man went beyond the external 27:02 and the surface reading. 27:04 This man was seeking to understand 27:08 and when he saw these questions and that Jesus answered wisely, 27:14 pause 27:16 he asked him the question. 27:17 And to hear Jesus say, 27:19 "You're not far from the kingdom of heaven" 27:22 was good news. 27:23 So I ask you this question, 27:26 "Are you far from the kingdom of heaven?" 27:30 Is the road you're traveling on leading you closer to God 27:36 and to heaven? 27:38 Or are you far from the kingdom of God? 27:43 Pause. 27:44 Are you beginning to practice things 27:47 that are drawing you away from God 27:49 and to the devil? 27:52 Are you doing things 27:54 that are inviting the devil to come closer? 27:57 Are you neglecting prayer? 27:58 The reading of the Scriptures? 28:00 I remind you that 28:03 those who neglect to pray... 28:05 it's like an invitation to the devil to draw near 28:07 and bring darkness all around the individual. 28:10 So, are you close or far from God? 28:16 Had the things of this world... the busyness of life 28:21 taken you a little further from the Lord than you wanted to be? 28:26 If that is the case, it's time to come back to Jesus. 28:34 He wants to rescue us 28:37 not only from falling further into sin, 28:41 but also to rescue us from destruction 28:44 because the devil wants to destroy us. 28:47 While God is working to draw us to Him, 28:50 the devil is trying to take us away from Him 28:53 by different things. 28:55 Pause. 28:57 And you know, 29:00 pause 29:02 he doesn't always pull you like he's forcing you... 29:06 the devil is not always like, 29:08 "Come on, you're coming with me whether you like it or not. " 29:11 Pause. 29:12 No... he draws you... 29:13 pause 29:15 just like people try to draw the... the... 29:18 like the mice with something good to eat, 29:20 the devil throws things at you, "Isn't this good?" 29:24 "Doesn't this taste good?" 29:26 "Doesn't this look good?" 29:27 "Doesn't she or he look good to you?" 29:31 Pause. 29:33 Tries to draw you away... 29:34 "Don't you think you can make more money 29:36 doing something else?" 29:37 Tries to draw us away from the Lord 29:41 Pause. 29:43 so that we can fall into his traps. 29:46 But God is also working to draw you close to the Lord... 29:51 close to Him... that we may rejoice in His salvation 29:56 and we may have the fullness of joy 29:59 that only He can give. 30:01 I would like to invite you to the book of Mark again 30:05 chapter 10... 30:06 in the book of Mark, 30:08 there's another individual that came to Jesus, 30:11 and he also had a question. 30:13 In Mark chapter 10 beginning in verse 17, 30:16 we find this person. 30:18 If you found this, say, "Amen. " 30:21 "Now as He was going out on the road, 30:25 one came running and knelt before Him, 30:29 and asked Him, 'Good Teacher, 30:31 what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?'" 30:36 We'll stop right there... 30:38 you see, Jesus had just done something marvelous 30:43 and it could be... I think this person was watching Jesus 30:47 and saying, "Wow! look how He's blessing these children!" 30:50 They brought little children to Jesus 30:52 and the disciples had first tried to stop them... 30:55 "No, no, no, no, no... He's... Jesus is too busy... 30:58 He doesn't have time for children. " 31:01 God always has time for children. 31:03 Pause. 31:05 And Jesus says, "Suffer the little children to come unto me. 31:08 Let the little children come to Me 31:11 for of such is the kingdom of heaven" 31:13 and Jesus blessed the children 31:16 and the children loved to be in His presence. 31:18 Jesus always has time for children. 31:22 Jesus also always has time for adults 31:26 and this young man saw this 31:30 and apparently Jesus was beginning to walk away 31:33 and this person came running to Jesus. 31:39 It will be wonderful to see people running to Jesus today. 31:43 Pause. 31:44 He came running to Jesus... knelt before Him 31:47 and asked Him the question... 31:49 a very important question. 31:52 "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" 31:59 What a question! 32:01 "What can I do... 32:03 how can I have that assurance that I have eternal life?" 32:07 Wouldn't you want to know? 32:09 Wouldn't you want to know the answer to that question? 32:12 You as an individual... where you are at now... 32:17 what can you do that you may inherit eternal life? 32:21 Notice what Jesus said, verse 18... 32:25 so, Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? 32:29 No one is good but One, that is, God. " 32:35 Very interesting answer. 32:38 "No one is good but One, that is, God. " 32:42 Jesus wanted to take this man's view from the external 32:48 pause 32:51 from the visible to the invisible. 32:53 If only this man knew who he was talking to 32:57 but he knew that Jesus had words of life 33:01 and so the question... 33:04 Jesus continued... the answer came... 33:08 pause 33:11 "You know the commandments: 33:13 'Do not commit adultery,' verse 19 33:16 'Do not commit adultery' 'Do not murder,' 33:19 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 33:21 'Do not defraud,' 33:23 'Honor your father and your mother. '" 33:27 Wow! how did Jesus answer the question? 33:31 "What do I need to do to inherit eternal life?" 33:36 Pause. 33:38 And so, in this question you have to ask yourself, 33:41 "Does Jesus say that you can work your way to heaven?" 33:44 No... He's not... and we'll talk about that in a moment. 33:49 He mentioned part of the commandments. 33:52 Why didn't He give him the whole list? 33:55 The Ten Commandments... 33:56 why didn't he say, 33:58 "You should not make any graven images" 34:00 "You should not take the name of the Lord in vain... " 34:03 "Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy" 34:06 He didn't mention any of these commandments. 34:08 He mentioned the last four. 34:11 See, Jesus looked into this man's eyes 34:14 and He knew what was lacking. 34:17 Pause. 34:19 So, He answered him that way. 34:21 This was a perfect time for Jesus to answer 34:26 in some other way... as some people would have thought, 34:28 "Oh, don't worry about it, by grace you are saved... " 34:31 we'll read that in a moment 34:33 but let's consider what is written, 34:35 keep your finger in Mark 10, we'll come back to it, 34:38 let us consider the words of Galatians chapter 2, 34:41 Galatians chapter 2. 34:43 In Galatians chapter 2 we find in verse 16 34:47 the following words, 34:49 "Knowing that a man 34:51 is not justified by the works of the law 34:55 but by faith in Christ Jesus, 34:57 even we have believed in Christ Jesus, 35:01 that we might be justified by faith in Christ 35:05 and not by the works of the law; 35:08 for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. " 35:13 Praise the Lord. 35:15 Pause. 35:17 So, was Jesus saying to him... 35:18 was He contradicting what the rest of the Bible says? 35:21 No, we'll find that in a moment. 35:24 Let's go to that other Scripture that we mentioned before, 35:29 Ephesians chapter 2, how are we saved? 35:33 Ephesians chapter 2 gives us the answer... 35:37 in Ephesians 2 beginning in verse 8, 35:40 if you found this, say, "Amen. " 35:43 Amen... we have at least two witnesses so we read, 35:47 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, 35:51 and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God... " 35:55 It is what? "a gift of God" 35:58 "... not of works, lest anyone should boast. 36:01 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus 36:06 for good works, 36:07 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. " 36:12 We are saved by grace through faith 36:17 but these things are the reality of our salvation 36:25 "by grace through faith" 36:27 no amount of works that we do can we say, 36:31 "I have done this list of requirements, 36:35 therefore, I am now worthy to be saved. " 36:40 Pause. 36:42 "For by grace are we saved through faith" 36:46 it is the gift of God 36:48 you cannot buy it. 36:50 You cannot work your way to receive it 36:53 but you can accept it by faith as it is in Christ Jesus. 36:58 But you see, when you are, 37:01 "accept by grace the gift of salvation" 37:05 we must work with the Lord... cooperate with the Lord 37:11 in keeping the commandments 37:13 because if you are living in disobedience to the commandments 37:18 you cannot be saved 37:21 because the wages of sin is death. 37:27 Let's read a few Scriptures to help us with that. 37:30 In 1st John chapter 3 verse 4, 37:34 1st John chapter 3 verse 4, 37:36 pause 37:40 1st John chapter 3 verse 4, 37:41 has the following words, "Whoever... 37:46 Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law: 37:51 for sin is the transgression of the law. " 37:55 What does it say? 37:56 "the transgression of the law" 37:58 the New King James Version says, 38:00 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness... " 38:04 in other words, you're living not in harmony with the law. 38:08 "... and sin is lawlessness" 38:10 living without harmony to the law. 38:14 So, whoever commits sin is transgressing the law 38:18 and the wages of sin is death 38:21 as we read in Romans chapter 6. 38:24 Let us continue in 1st John chapter 3... now in verse 5, 38:27 "And you know 38:29 that He was manifested 38:32 to take away our sins" that is Jesus... 38:35 "and in Him there is no sin" praise God 38:38 "whoever abides in Him does not sin. " 38:40 How is it that we can live our lives without sin? 38:47 The answer is in verse 6, 38:49 "Whoever abides in Him does not sin. 38:51 Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. " 38:55 Whoever lives in habitual sinning. 38:58 "Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 39:01 Little children, let no one deceive you. 39:04 He who practices... " what? 39:07 "righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous. 39:11 He who sins" who lives his life sinning... 39:14 "is of the devil, 39:16 for the devil has sinned from the beginning. 39:18 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 39:21 that He might destroy the works of the devil. " 39:24 So, when Jesus answered this man, 39:27 "You know the commandments" 39:29 He was saying to him, 39:31 "You must live in harmony with the commandments 39:35 if you are to be part of the family of God. " 39:39 Why? 39:40 Because the first and great commandment 39:42 is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, 39:45 with all your soul, all your mind, 39:46 and the second is like unto it, 39:48 you shall love your neighbor as yourself, 39:49 and the Ten Commandments describe just this... 39:53 to love the Lord with all your heart 39:55 and your neighbor as yourself. 39:57 Jesus told him the commandments that define 40:01 your neighbor as yourself. 40:02 "You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, 40:06 and honor your father and your mother, et cetera. 40:10 Now, let's go to Mark chapter 10 again, 40:13 Mark chapter 10. 40:14 Pause. 40:16 In Mark chapter 10, I hope you had your finger there 40:19 we continue in verse 20, 40:21 The young man waiting for Jesus to... 40:23 as he heard the words of Jesus, 40:25 He says... "And he answered and said to Him, 40:27 'Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth. '" 40:34 Pause. 40:35 "All these things... I've done this, 40:38 there must be something else. " 40:40 "I've done this... " he did not feel the joy. 40:45 You see, he was not walking in the presence of the Lord, 40:50 he did not have fullness of joy 40:52 and that's why he felt 40:55 something was missing. 40:58 Notice what the Bible says as He continued... 41:02 verse 21... "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, 41:08 and said to him, 'One thing you lack: 41:13 Go your way, sell what you have 41:18 and give to the poor, 41:19 and you will have treasure in heaven; 41:22 and come and take up the cross 41:25 and follow Me. " 41:26 I can see this man's face as he heard the words of Jesus 41:30 and as Jesus had said, "One thing you lack... " 41:33 I could see anticipation in his face, 41:36 "What is that one thing? I want to know" 41:39 because he came running to Jesus. 41:41 He wanted to know. 41:44 "One thing you lack" 41:46 pause 41:48 "Go and sell what you have... " 41:50 oooh... 41:53 struck at the chord of his heart, 41:57 Jesus was speaking to him 42:02 the truth of what would lead him into salvation 42:06 and that is: to give up the idol that he loved more than God 42:11 and that is the treasures he owned. 42:16 He said, "Go and sell what you have... " 42:19 you see, the Bible says there... 42:21 it says that Jesus was looking to him. 42:24 That was not a passing glance, Jesus was looking at him... 42:29 fixedly on him 42:31 and gazing into him. 42:34 Contact with his eyes, looking at him, 42:37 the man saw Jesus 42:39 and the man did not know that Jesus was looking into his life. 42:44 Pause. 42:46 One thing you lack, and I tell you, this man knew 42:52 that Jesus answered him exactly 42:55 what was lacking in his life. 42:58 He knew that Jesus has spoken the truth to him 43:03 and I wonder... had he asked this question 43:08 to the Scribes and the Pharisees. 43:11 Had he asked this question before 43:14 and no answer satisfied the longing in his heart. 43:19 Pause. 43:21 No one answered him in a way that gave him the peace 43:27 to know that he was on the right track 43:29 but here was One that spoke to him of the truth 43:33 and of the idol that he had in his life 43:37 pause 43:40 and he was greatly distressed and in sorrow. 43:45 Wouldn't you love to hear that Jesus would say to you, 43:50 "There's only one thing you've got missing 43:52 pause 43:55 everything else is okay, 43:57 there's only one thing... 43:59 only one thing... " 44:02 pause 44:04 I don't know if there's one thing for you or more, 44:06 I don't know how Jesus would answer you... 44:09 what He would tell you... 44:10 what specific thing 44:12 because Jesus spoke to him specific things. 44:17 He didn't leave it in the dark, 44:20 he didn't say, "Well, there is one thing 44:21 but I can't really talk to you about that" 44:23 He didn't say, 44:25 "There is one thing and you know what that is. " 44:27 He told him what it was. 44:29 He read his heart. 44:31 So, what would Jesus tell you? 44:35 What do you have to give up? 44:39 What do you love more than God? 44:42 What is it? 44:44 And if Jesus answers you, the best thing you could do 44:49 is say, "Lord, here I am... take me 44:54 and take this love for this other thing away 44:57 and give me eternal life. " 45:00 Would you do that? 45:02 Would you ask the Lord to reveal to you that one thing? 45:07 The Bible says that Jesus looked upon him 45:11 and loved him 45:12 and this is that word in the Bible 45:14 that you have heard before, 45:15 Agape... it's that agape love... 45:18 that pure heavenly love... 45:20 pure heavenly love... 45:23 you see, this man... 45:25 if you would look at these things... 45:28 he didn't love his neighbor as himself. 45:30 He didn't have pure love towards God 45:33 and if you don't first pure love towards God, 45:35 you're going to fail in the other thing... 45:38 is loving your neighbor as yourself. 45:41 Pause. 45:42 And I encourage you to come before Jesus 45:46 and tell Him all. 45:49 give... have a... have a one-on-one time with the Lord 45:54 so, "Lord, where am I? Am I missing one thing? 45:59 Or is it more than one thing? 46:01 Is there something that is an obstacle between me and you? 46:05 Is there something that is keeping me from experiencing 46:09 that fullness of joy?" 46:12 And if you come before the Lord 46:15 as he did for this young man, 46:18 He will reveal to you the truth. 46:21 When I was younger 46:23 as I was reading the Scripture, 46:25 I found one that impacted me 46:28 and I decided to buy... I think it was a 100 or more pens 46:33 and put the Scripture on the pen... 46:35 I said, "I'm going to give this away to people. " 46:37 And this is the Scripture found in Proverbs chapter 21. 46:40 In Proverbs chapter 21 and verse 13, 46:43 Proverbs chapter 21 verse 13, 46:47 pause 46:52 and the reality is that if you live in this world 46:55 you're going to encounter someone 46:58 that is less fortunate than you. 47:00 Someone that has less than you... 47:03 that you could possibly be a blessing to them 47:05 and you know it's amazing, 47:07 I have even seen people give things 47:10 and they look like they need things 47:12 and yet they give to help others. 47:15 Praise God for that. 47:17 And there it is, Proverbs 21 verse 13, 47:21 "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor 47:25 will also cry himself and not be heard. " 47:30 Pause. 47:31 So, if the Lord presents someone that is in need to you 47:34 and you have the capacity to help this person 47:37 and you know the need 47:39 and you know it's a legitimate need 47:40 because some of us question, 47:42 "I don't know if he's going to use that money for drugs" 47:44 but if you know there's a need 47:46 and you know there's a need 47:49 and you don't help and you can, 47:51 pause 47:54 and this keeps happening 47:55 that God presents people that need 47:57 and you say, "No, somebody else will help you" 48:02 one day, you too will cry and no one will answer you. 48:07 Pause. 48:11 May God bless you to be able to see 48:14 that in helping others 48:16 Jesus is going to say, "You have helped me. " 48:20 Pause. 48:22 In Deuteronomy chapter 8, I would like to... 48:25 invite you to quickly go to Deuteronomy chapter 8, 48:28 pause 48:31 more pause 48:33 in Deuteronomy chapter 8, 48:35 we have the Scriptures that let us know 48:39 from where we get the blessings we... we have. 48:43 Pause. 48:44 Deuteronomy 8:18, the Bible says, 48:47 "And you shall remember the Lord your God, 48:49 for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, 48:53 that He may establish His covenant 48:55 which He swore to your fathers, 48:57 as it is this day. " 48:59 God is the One that gives us power to get wealth 49:03 and when He gives us opportunity to share with others, 49:06 He's giving us an opportunity 49:08 to let our lives so shine before men 49:11 that they may see our good works and glorify our heavenly Father. 49:15 God may send someone to you 49:17 that has a need that you can supply 49:20 and God is giving you an opportunity 49:22 to be a blessing to others so, you may get more. 49:28 You see, that's the way God works. 49:30 You give and God keeps giving unto you. 49:34 God is good... amen. 49:37 Let's go back to Mark chapter 10. 49:39 In Mark chapter 10, we ask ourselves, 49:42 "How did this young man respond?" 49:44 In Mark chapter 10 verse 22, the Bible says, 49:46 "But he was sad at this word, 49:50 and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. " 49:55 These are some of the saddest words in the Bible. 49:59 His reactions revealed who or what was his God, 50:03 he loved the gift more than he loved the Giver. 50:06 God gave him those gifts... those possessions... 50:10 but instead of being a blessing to others with them, 50:14 he was hoarding them, keeping them to himself 50:18 and God would have him find salvation in Jesus Christ. 50:26 It was sad that he could not see 50:31 that God had greater treasures for him. 50:34 What did Jesus say to this man? 50:37 "Go and sell what you have 50:40 and you will have... " what? 50:42 "treasure in heaven. " 50:45 You see, he could have greater treasures 50:49 than he could ever imagine 50:50 because he would have treasure in heaven 50:53 which is the greatest riches... 50:54 more than any riches you can get in this world. 50:58 You see, God has the better offer, 51:01 pause 51:03 God has the best offer for us. 51:05 Pause. 51:07 You and I are in church today. 51:11 You are in church 51:15 but is Christ in you? 51:19 You're in church... but is Christ in you? 51:23 Pause. 51:24 You see, every day Jesus stands at the door of our heart 51:27 and says, "Behold I stand at the door and knock. " 51:30 And if we let Him in, Jesus will be in. 51:33 Pause. 51:35 And if we are walking with Him, 51:39 He will bless us more than we can imagine. 51:43 I would like to invite you to turn to Colossians chapter 1. 51:46 Colossians chapter 1... 51:48 in Colossians chapter 1, 51:50 we find the words of Jesus in verse 26. 51:53 We find the words from... from the Lord... 51:57 pause 51:59 Colossians chapter 1... 52:00 "... the mystery which has been hidden from ages 52:04 and from generations, 52:05 but now has been revealed to His saints. 52:07 To them God willed to make known 52:10 what are the riches of the glory 52:13 of this mystery among the Gentiles: 52:16 which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. " 52:21 Christ in you... that is the hope of glory 52:26 and I would like to invite you today to consider... 52:29 I'd like to invite you to please come... 52:32 to consider the invitation that Jesus has 52:35 for each and every one of us. 52:37 Pause. 52:39 If there's one thing that you lack, 52:42 I would like to invite you to consider 52:46 that God is asking you to give up whatever it is 52:50 that's keeping you from being 100% belonging to Jesus. 52:57 If you see that you need holy communion with the Lord 53:03 more than ever before, 53:04 if you sense that the Lord is 53:07 drawing you closer than ever before, 53:09 I encourage you to come to Jesus. 53:12 I encourage you to give Him your whole heart. 53:16 Piano playing. 53:20 I ask, "Are you far from the Lord 53:24 or close to the Lord?" 53:26 In Acts chapter 26, Paul is talking 53:29 to King Agrippa and others... 53:32 Paul is sharing his testimony of what happened to him, 53:36 how he discovered Jesus 53:38 and King Agrippa is listening intently 53:42 and in Acts chapter 26 verse 27, 53:47 Paul asked this man... King Agrippa... 53:51 "Do you believe the prophets?" 53:54 He didn't wait for an answer, 53:56 he says, "I know that you believe" 53:58 "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 54:01 'You almost persuade me 54:04 to become a Christian. '" 54:07 You almost persuade me to become a Christian... 54:11 and Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, 54:16 but also all who hear me today, 54:18 might become both almost and altogether such as I am, 54:23 except for these chains. " 54:25 Wouldn't it be wonderful 54:27 if King Agrippa 54:31 didn't answer or say it that way. 54:34 "You almost persuaded me to be a Christian but... " 54:38 wouldn't it have been wonderful, 54:41 "Paul, you have convinced me to become a Christian. " 54:44 Pause. 54:46 So, I wonder if there is anyone here 54:49 that's almost convinced 54:51 to give your whole heart to the Lord 54:53 that has seen the Lord calling you time after time... 54:57 last week's sermon... the week before... 54:59 the week before, 55:01 throughout the week, God drawing you in different ways 55:03 and you almost say, "Yes" 55:06 but something keeps you from it. 55:08 Is there one thing that you're holding on to 55:11 that's going to keep you out 55:13 pause 55:14 of the greatest happiness 55:16 you could have 55:18 and that is to have Jesus in your heart. 55:20 I would like to make an appeal today 55:23 that if you are willing to say to the Lord, 55:26 "Lord, there may be one thing and I may not even know it 55:31 but I'm asking you to reveal it to me. " 55:33 I would like to invite you to not only stand 55:36 but come to the front and say to the Lord, 55:39 "Lord, I give you all today, 55:41 if there is one thing that I lack, 55:43 I want you to let me know. 55:45 I want you to let me know and give me power to put that away. 55:49 If there's something 55:53 that is an obstacle between you and the Lord 55:55 and you want to know what that is, 55:57 that perhaps you may not even notice 55:59 that it's there... eating away, eating away... 56:03 little by little... 56:04 I encourage you to say to the Lord, 56:07 "Lord, reveal to me 56:08 because I know that what this world has to offer 56:13 is not all that I want... 56:15 I want the fullness of the joy that only you can give. " 56:21 I praise the Lord for your decisions. 56:24 You see, God is drawing us to Him... 56:27 drawing us... 56:28 but we must make decisions to give Him all... a 100% 56:36 that as we do this, 56:37 we will begin to experience the fullness of joy 56:42 as only He can give us 56:44 and that peace that passes all the understanding... 56:48 you see, 56:53 I heard it before many times 56:54 rich people... they have all that they could possibly buy 56:58 but they do not have fullness of joy 57:01 because they do not have Jesus 57:04 pause 57:05 and Jesus is all you need 57:07 to be happy... 57:09 communion with Him and joy with Him. 57:12 I would like to invite you to prayer... 57:15 while we pray, pour out your heart to the Lord and say, 57:19 "Lord, is there one thing... 57:21 if there's more than one thing, let me know 57:23 but I want to be among those that inherit eternal life. " 57:28 If it's possible for you, I invite you to kneel, 57:30 let's go to the Lord in prayer. 57:32 Piano playing. 57:40 "Our loving heavenly Father, 57:42 pause 57:45 praise be to your name Lord 57:46 for this opportunity you give to each and every one of us 57:51 to give you all 57:54 and Lord, we ask, 57:57 "Is there one thing that's keeping us 58:04 from having that eternal life that you want to give us, 58:09 let us know what it is Lord 58:11 and help us to understand 58:14 that with You all things are possible, 58:18 help us Lord that whatever it may be 58:22 pause 58:24 or whomever it may be... 58:27 it may be an idol to us, 58:29 we pray that You will take this love for whatever it is... 58:35 away from us, 58:36 and give us victory 58:42 and give us Jesus. 58:43 We pray, heavenly Father, for each and everyone here, 58:48 you know them and love them, speak to them now Lord, 58:52 I beg of you, 58:53 let them know of your love and your mercy, 58:56 extend to them your forgiveness and give them your acceptance. 59:02 We pray Lord, that your promise will be fulfilled 59:06 that if we confess our sins, 59:07 you are faithful and just to forgive us for our sins 59:12 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 59:15 We ask you for this to happen in our lives 59:18 and we pray that you will help us to walk with you forever, 59:23 in Jesus' name, amen... amen." |
Revised 2018-10-09