Participants:
Series Code: SCM
Program Code: SCM210003S
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00:09 Who was Jesus?
00:11 He had compassion for the weak and the hurting. 00:16 He loved every person He met and taught them how to love 00:20 His great heart helped all those who came near Him 00:24 but most of all He was a friend. 00:27 That was who He was. 00:29 Now find out who He is. 00:37 Hello and welcome to 3ABN's 2021 Virtual Summer Camp Meeting 00:43 where we are answering the question: "Who is Jesus? " 00:46 All of the messages that you will hear throughout this 00:49 Camp Meeting will address that very question. 00:52 So please make sure you visit 3ABNCampMeeting.org 00:56 so you can stay apprised as to what will be taking place. 00:59 We don't want you to miss any of these power-packed messages 01:02 or any of these wonderful songs. 01:05 Each night at 9 PM Central 01:08 we will have a Q&A segment: a question and answer 01:12 segment that will only be available on the 3ABN+ platform. 01:17 Please visits 3ABN+.tv to take part in that 01:22 and make sure you text your questions to 618-228-3975. 01:28 Our speaker is Pr. John Dinzey. 01:31 Pastor Dinzey is the general manager of 3ABN Latino. 01:35 He's a student of the Word and a follower of Jesus Christ. 01:39 The message is entitled His Government of Love. 01:44 After we're blessed in song by Celestine Dickens 01:47 and Farrah Barry the next voice you will hear 01:50 will be that of Pr. John Dinzey. 02:12 You never change. 02:17 You are the God You said You were. 02:21 When I'm afraid 02:25 You calm and still my beating heart. 02:29 You stay the same 02:33 when hope is just a distant thought. 02:38 You take my pain 02:43 and You lead me to the cross. 02:47 What love is this 02:51 that You gave Your life for me 02:58 and made a way for me to know You? 03:04 And I confess 03:08 You're always enough 03:12 for me... 03:15 You're all I need. 03:20 I look to You; 03:24 I see the scars upon Your hands. 03:29 And hold the truth, 03:32 that when I can't You always can. 03:37 And standing here 03:40 beneath the shadow of the cross 03:45 I'm overwhelmed 03:49 that I keep finding open arms! 03:54 What love is this 03:57 that You gave Your life 04:02 for me 04:05 and made a way for me to know You? 04:10 And I confess 04:14 You're always enough 04:18 for me... 04:21 You're all I need. 04:26 Jesus, in Your suffering 04:32 You were reaching 04:36 You thought of me! 04:41 Jesus, in Your suffering 04:47 You were reaching 04:52 You thought of me! 05:00 What love is this 05:04 that You gave Your life 05:08 for me 05:11 and made a way for me to know You? 05:16 And I confess 05:21 You're always enough 05:25 for me... 05:28 You're all I need! 05:32 What love is this 05:36 that You gave Your life 05:40 for me 05:43 and made a way for me to know You? 05:48 And I confess 05:52 You're always enough 05:55 for me... 06:00 always enough 06:03 for me... 06:09 always enough 06:14 for me. 06:33 Amen! Amen... praise the Lord! 06:37 Thank you Celestine and Farrah. 06:40 Praise the Lord for His goodness. 06:42 Today's topic as you have heard 06:44 is His Government of Love. 06:48 This is a very important topic 06:50 and I want to encourage you to take notes if needed 06:54 or record so that you can continue this study. 06:57 We're not going to be able to share all the scriptures 07:00 that are in this topic, 07:02 but you will have the basis to continue this study. 07:06 Before we begin I'd like to invite you to 07:08 pray with me. I'm going to kneel 07:10 and I ask you to join me in prayer if you are able. 07:13 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 07:17 Our loving heavenly Father, 07:20 We come before you in Jesus' name 07:24 and we thank you for the Holy Scriptures that are able to 07:28 make us wise unto salvation. 07:30 We thank you for Jesus that demonstrated such love 07:34 that we cannot even describe it 07:38 but we thank you for it. 07:40 And we pray that as we study 07:42 Jesus will draw near to us. 07:46 We pray for Your Holy Spirit. 07:49 I place myself in Your hands, Lord, that every word will come 07:53 from Your throne of grace. 07:55 We pray for a blessing upon all in Jesus' name. Amen. 08:02 We begin our study with a scripture that is found in 08:06 I John chapter 4 and verse 8. 08:09 I John chapter 4 verse 8. 08:12 "He who does not love 08:15 does not know God for God is love. " 08:21 This Scripture tells us in very clear language 08:26 that God is love. 08:29 You've heard from Pastor James Rafferty describing 08:33 that Jesus is God. 08:36 Jesus is our Creator. And yes, there are some people 08:41 that look at God in the Old Testament 08:43 and get a little confused thinking: 08:45 "Well, that's an angry God. " But Jesus shows us love. 08:49 But you see, God is one. 08:52 And when you consider that God is love 08:56 you have to understand that His mercy is beyond 08:59 our understanding. Let's consider the fact 09:03 that Romans chapter 5 verse 8 brings out. 09:07 Notice how it is written to us in Romans chapter 5 and verse 8. 09:13 A very powerful message that everyone should consider 09:17 and meditate upon. Are you ready? 09:20 Let's go to the Scriptures and it says in Romans 5:8: 09:26 "But God demonstrates 09:29 His own love toward us 09:32 in that while we were still sinners 09:36 Christ died for us. " 09:40 Praise the Lord! 09:42 And you have to make this personal. Yes, Jesus died for 09:46 the whole world, but He died for you personally. 09:49 God demonstrated His love in Jesus Christ. 09:54 And when we consider His infinite love, 10:00 we understand that His love is for each and every one of us. 10:05 Now, when we go to John chapter 17 verse 3 10:09 the Bible helps us to understand 10:14 that to know God is eternal life. Notice: 10:17 John 17:3, Jesus speaking. "And this is eternal life 10:23 that they may know You, the only true God, 10:27 and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. " Praise the Lord! 10:31 So to know God is eternal life. 10:35 To know Jesus IS eternal life. 10:38 Let's take a look at how Jesus lived. 10:41 We're going to share some scriptures that talk to us 10:44 about how Jesus lived because we're talking about 10:47 His government of love. 10:51 We have to understand also 10:53 that God is merciful. 10:56 I'm going now to the book of Psalms 10:59 and we're going to go all the way to Psalm 145. 11:03 And in Psalm 145 we're going to read two verses. 11:07 We're going to go to Psalm 145 verse 8 and verse 9. 11:12 Notice: "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 11:17 Slow to anger and great in mercy. 11:22 The Lord is good to all 11:25 and His tender mercies are over all His works. " 11:30 Yes, the Lord is gracious and merciful 11:34 and His mercy has been extended to you! 11:38 Really! Because of Jesus the whole earth is filled 11:43 with an atmosphere of grace and mercy. 11:46 I marvel that after several thousand years of evil 11:51 upon this world things still grow. 11:54 The flowers, the fruits grow 11:57 and we have things that God gives us. You see, daily 12:02 God blesses us. The Bible says that He loads us daily 12:07 with benefits and you have been blessed. 12:10 You have partaken of His blessings and some of these 12:13 blessings you have not even noticed. You see God delights 12:17 in mercy. God delights in showing His mercy and His love 12:22 toward us. Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11. 12:27 The Bible declares a message that all should remember. 12:32 Because you see, as we go through this journey 12:35 in this world we're going to go through difficulties & problems. 12:38 But notice Jeremiah 29:11: 12:42 "For I know the thoughts 12:44 that I think toward you says the Lord. 12:46 Thoughts of peace and not of evil 12:49 to give you a future and a hope. " 12:53 Praise the Lord! 12:54 So let's put these things together. God is love. 12:57 He is infinite in mercy. He has thoughts of peace concerning us 13:03 and He wants to give us a future and a hope. 13:07 You see, by giving His Son God has secured for us 13:13 salvation through Jesus Christ, salvation through the grace 13:18 of Jesus Christ. But God gives us many, many gifts. 13:22 But the gift of His Son is the greatest gift He has given. 13:26 But I want to tell you that one of the greatest gifts 13:30 God has given as well... a great gift that God has given 13:33 is His law of love. 13:36 Yes, the Ten Commandments are God's law of love. 13:41 And I want to point out to you. Some people say: "Well you know 13:45 the Ten Commandments only began to exist 13:48 when they were given at Sinai. " But you see, 13:51 before Sinai the Ten Commandments existed. 13:55 And I want to point out just a couple of verses to you. 13:58 There are several in the Old Testament 14:00 and in Genesis chapter 26 verses 4 and 5 14:06 we begin. "And I will make your descendants 14:12 multiply as the stars of heaven. 14:16 I will give to your descendants 14:18 all these lands and in your seed 14:21 all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. " 14:24 Why? Why is the Lord going to do that? 14:27 Notice verse 5: "Because Abraham obeyed my voice 14:33 and kept My charge, My commandments, 14:37 My statutes, and My laws. " 14:40 You see, Genesis chapter 26 specifically verse 5 14:44 points out the fact that God's commandments existed 14:48 before they were given at Sinai. 14:50 Sinai is a retelling of the commandments. 14:53 The commandments were already known. 14:56 And I encourage you to consider 14:59 Abraham was blessed because he kept God's commandments. 15:03 And because he was faithful God bless him. 15:07 And I say to you: if you are faithful, God will bless you. 15:11 And if you turn to a life wickedness, you are placing 15:15 yourself in a situation where God has to limit the blessings 15:21 He wants to give you. You see, because God is good to all 15:25 but to those who are faithful He gives more. 15:29 Why? Because they identify with His government of love. 15:34 And so I encourage you to keep all of God's commandments 15:38 because they are the foundation of God's government. 15:43 Every government... you can study every government upon 15:45 the earth. They have laws. 15:48 Some are not so good. Some are even problematic 15:53 in some places, in some countries. 15:56 But God's law is perfect because they come from the divine 16:01 mind of God that is infinite in wisdom. 16:06 Notice what it says in James chapter 1 and verse 25. 16:11 James chapter 1 verse 25: "But he who looks into 16:14 the perfect law of liberty 16:18 and continues in it 16:20 and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word 16:24 this one will be blessed in what he does. " 16:28 So you see, Jesus wants to let us know that there is 16:32 a blessing for those that keep the commandments of God. 16:36 This is the book of James. Where did he learn it? 16:39 He learned it from Jesus. 16:41 And so my friend, let's go over to James chapter 2 verses 8 & 9. 16:46 Verse 8 exactly... verse 8. 16:48 James chapter 2 verse 8. Notice: "If you really fulfill 16:52 the royal law according to the Scripture... " 16:55 They are from the Scriptures... 16:57 "you shall love your neighbor as yourself you do well. " 17:02 But notice verse 10: 17:04 "For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble 17:08 in one point he is guilty of all. " 17:10 If you look at the Ten Command- ments and you say: "Ah... 17:12 this one I don't think is convenient for me. 17:14 I don't think I'll do that one. I'll do the other nine 17:17 but this one I'm not going to it. " 17:19 "Oh, you know what? This other one here, too. I don't 17:21 think I'll take that one... it's against my lifestyle. " 17:25 You see? And so if you start taking commandments away from 17:28 the Ten Commandments you're placing yourself 17:31 in a dangerous situation. And the Bible says: "For whosoever 17:35 shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point 17:37 he is guilty of all. " James chapter 2 verses 11-12 17:41 we have the following words: "For he who said 17:43 do not commit adultery also said do not murder. 17:49 Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, 17:52 you have become a transgressor of the law. 17:56 So speak and so do as those who will be judged 18:02 by the law of liberty. " 18:04 So we see that the Bible clearly tells us 18:10 that we will be judged by the law of liberty. 18:15 Notice how he says "the law of liberty. " 18:18 And we also read that it's the perfect law. If it's perfect, 18:23 there's no need for change. There's no need for addition. 18:27 There's no need to take one out, take 2 out of 3 or say 18:32 "The first four... we don't have to keep the first four. 18:34 Let's just keep the last six that have to deal with 18:38 the moral behavior of human beings. " 18:41 You are placing yourself as a transgressor of the law. 18:46 And the Bible says: "So speak and so do 18:49 as those that will be judged by the law of liberty. " 18:53 Oh yes, you may say: "Well he doesn't mention 18:55 the first four commandments. 18:58 Maybe we're just going to be judged by the last six? " 19:01 No, my friend, please understand 19:04 that the Scripture said if you decide to leave one out 19:09 you are guilty of all. 19:11 But Jesus wants you to be happy 19:15 and see, the Ten Commandments are a hedge of protection 19:19 for us so that we know the parameters that we walk in 19:23 to be at liberty: liberty from the condemnation 19:28 of the law because if you are a transgressor of the law 19:32 then you place yourself in the dangerous situation 19:36 that is described in Romans chapter 6 verse 23. 19:40 "For the wages of sin is death. " 19:44 But if you choose to walk with Jesus, 19:47 you will not need to worry about those things. You will 19:50 desire to please Him when you consider the great sacrifice 19:55 of Jesus; when you consider that He daily loads you with 19:59 benefits; when you consider the fact that Jesus said: "I will be 20:03 with you always... even unto the end of the world. " 20:06 You can walk in peace knowing that Jesus is with you. 20:10 And so I encourage you to walk in liberty, walk with Jesus 20:15 because: "There is therefore no condemnation to them 20:19 that are with Jesus. 20:22 Let's take a look at God's Ten Commandments 20:26 as revealed in the book of Exodus. 20:28 In the book of Exodus chapter 20. 20:30 And I would encourage you to begin reading in Exodus ch. 19 20:36 because it sets the stage because you see what's going on 20:39 here in Exodus chapter 20 is that God comes down from 20:44 heaven upon Mount Sinai. 20:46 And God told Moses and the people to prepare. 20:49 God is going to be among you. 20:52 You need to prepare. For 3 days they were supposed to prepare 20:57 for God coming down upon the mount. 21:00 And God... this was the first record I would say to you 21:04 in the Bible of God talking to a multitude of people. 21:09 His voice was heard! 21:12 Now let's take a look at Exodus chapter 20 21:17 and we're going to read from verse 1 to 17 from God's Word. 21:21 Notice how it begins in verse 1: "And God spoke all these words 21:26 saying" 'I am the Lord your God 21:28 who brought you out of the land of Egypt 21:31 out of the house of bondage. " 21:33 Oh you say: "Well, He's only talking to the people of Israel. 21:35 God's law is only for the people of Israel. " 21:37 God's law of love is for the whole world! 21:41 The people of Israel were His representatives. They were 21:44 supposed to take this to the whole world. The whole world 21:48 was supposed to know about God's law. They were supposed 21:51 to bring the gospel to the whole world. 21:54 So God chose them to be His particular people 21:58 to be His priests upon the earth but notice how it continues. 22:02 Beginning in verse 2: "I am the Lord your God 22:06 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of 22:09 bondage. " God brings us liberty! 22:11 You, too, have been given liberty by Jesus. 22:15 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 22:17 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness 22:22 of anything that is in heaven above 22:24 or that is in the earth beneath 22:26 or that is in the water under the earth. 22:28 You shall now bow down to them nor serve them. 22:31 For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God 22:36 visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 22:39 to the 3rd and 4th generations of those who hate Me 22:43 but showing mercy to thousands to those who love Me 22:48 and keep My commandments. 22:50 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain 22:54 for the Lord will not hold him guiltless 22:56 who takes His name in vain. " 22:58 Verse 8: "Remember the Sabbath day 23:01 to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor 23:04 and do all your work, but the seventh day 23:08 is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 23:10 In it you shall do no work... 23:13 you nor your son nor your daughter nor your male servant 23:17 nor your female servant nor your cattle nor your stranger 23:20 who is within your gates. 23:22 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, 23:26 the sea and all that is in them 23:29 and rested the seventh day. 23:31 Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. 23:35 Honor your father and your mother that your days may be 23:38 long upon the land which the Lord your God has given you. 23:43 You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. 23:47 You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness 23:51 against your neighbor. 23:53 You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not 23:56 covet your neighbor's wife nor his male servant nor his 23:59 female servant nor his ox nor his donkey 24:03 nor anything that is your neighbor's. " 24:05 Praise the Lord for God's Ten Commandments! 24:08 The whole world was to know God's Ten Commandments. 24:11 The whole world was to receive the blessing of God's 24:14 Ten Commandments AND if they lived 24:17 according to the Ten Commandments, imagine: 24:20 no stealing, no adultery, no coveting! 24:24 There will be only one God that will be worshiped 24:26 in the whole world. The whole world will be living in peace. 24:31 I remember one time 24:33 the young man that I met 24:35 and he was talking to me. Actually, I was in the Army 24:39 at that time. And I met him there in the beginning 24:42 and he said that his mother-in-law gave him a Bible. 24:47 And he said: "I am reading the Bible for the first time! " 24:50 I said: "Oh really? First time? " 24:53 And this was an at least 20-year-old. 24:56 "I am reading the Bible for the first time! " Wonderful! 25:00 And I said: "Great! You're going to learn many 25:04 wonderful things. " And he began to read the Bible 25:07 in the book of Genesis and he kept reading. 25:09 He got to Exodus, read the Ten Commandments 25:12 and he spoke to me. He said: "Hey! 25:14 I read the Ten Commandments. These commandments 25:18 are great! " And he said: "If the Ten Commandments were 25:22 kept in these United States imagine what a tremendous 25:26 wonderful country this would be. " 25:29 And I said: "You're right! " 25:31 "Imagine: you could walk down the street without fear 25:34 that nobody's going to come and kill you. Without fear 25:36 that nobody's going to come and steal your things. 25:38 You can leave the keys inside your car. 25:40 You can leave your doors open because you know that everyone 25:44 loves God, serves God, loves his fellow man 25:47 and will not do them any harm. " 25:49 But you see the whole world has forgotten God's Ten Commandments 25:53 and therefore this world is in great danger. 25:56 The whole world needs to know that God has a government 25:59 of love and that He wants to bless His children. 26:03 And that's why I want to read to you Deuteronomy 5:29. 26:09 Notice what it says: "Oh that they had such a heart 26:14 in them that they would fear Me 26:17 and always keep all My commandments... " 26:21 Why? "that it might be well with them 26:24 & with their children forever. " 26:27 Praise the Lord! 26:29 Oh, my friend, if you have a desire to serve God 26:34 and love God and get close to God 26:36 study the Ten Commandments. 26:38 They are marvelous, beautiful. They were made... 26:42 they were created by God's divine mind for your wellbeing. 26:47 Remember: Jeremiah chapter 29 says 26:51 that God has thoughts of peace concerning us. 26:54 And these Ten Commandments are commandments that promote 26:58 peace in the world, in the universe. 27:02 Oh that we had such a heart to keep God's commandments. 27:06 What a world this would be! 27:08 But today there are murders every day. 27:12 There are, unfortunately, children being raped, 27:17 women being raped, men being raped. 27:19 This is a wicked world we live in! 27:21 Oh what a world this would be 27:24 if we all kept God's commandments. 27:27 And God is calling us to return to loving Him 27:33 with all of our hearts and we would be happy. 27:37 Notice what it says in Matthew chapter 22 27:39 reading verses 35 to 39. 27:43 "Then one of them - a lawyer - 27:45 asked Him a question testing Him 27:47 and saying: 'Teacher, 27:49 which is the great commandment in the law? ' 27:52 Jesus said to him: 27:53 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart 27:56 and with all your soul and with all your mind. 28:01 This is the first and great commandment. 28:04 And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor 28:08 as yourself. On these two commandments 28:12 hang all the law and the prophets. ' " 28:15 You see Jesus in telling him these two great commandments 28:20 summarized the first four 28:22 that deal with our relationship to God 28:24 and summarized the last six 28:28 which talk about our relationship to our neighbor. 28:31 That's why He says: "And the second is 28:32 like unto it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. " 28:36 If you love your neighbor as yourself, you're not going to 28:38 do him harm. And if your neighbor loved the Lord 28:42 with all his heart he would not do you harm. 28:44 But we live in a world that does not love God, 28:49 and God has a message of love for the world: 28:54 "Keep my commandments. Follow me with all your heart. 28:57 Love me with all your heart and you will be happy. " 29:00 So I ask you: how are we going to know 29:04 who are God's children? When you look in the world 29:06 how do you know who are God's children? 29:09 Is it because they go to a church and it says 29:12 there whatever the name of the church is 29:13 and they go into that church and come out? 29:16 "Oh, that's a Christian. That's a child of God! 29:17 Because he goes into that build- ing he must be a Christian. " 29:21 You see, people know you're a Christian by your behavior. 29:28 By the way, you speak; by the way, you act. 29:31 That's how people know. 29:33 I'm sure many of you that are listening to me perhaps you have 29:37 heard: "Oh, you must be a Christian. " 29:40 "How do you know? " "Because of the way you act, 29:43 the way you talk you must be a Christian. " 29:44 And so I encourage you to consider the fact that God's 29:48 people are identified by their behavior, by their words, 29:52 and the way they even look, by the way they act. 29:56 The way they behave, the way they dress even. 30:00 Notice what it says in John chapter 13 verse 35. 30:03 "By this all will know all that you are My disciples: 30:08 if you have love for one another. " 30:12 Yes, God's Ten Commandments show us how we can show love 30:18 to others. Show kindness to others. 30:21 Let's go to the book of Hebrews, and in the book of Hebrews 30:25 we have some powerful words that we need to consider 30:29 at this time. In Hebrews chapter 12 30:32 we're going to go to verse 14. Notice: 30:34 "Pursue peace with all people 30:38 and holiness, without which 30:41 no one will see the Lord. " 30:46 Notice how this verse states that we must pursue peace 30:51 and holiness. 30:54 If you do a study in the definition of holiness, 30:58 if you look up the definition; read it in several dictionaries, 31:01 you will notice that it's talk- ing about a person's behavior. 31:06 And in fact, you will notice that holiness includes 31:11 not living an evil life. You're living differently. 31:16 You're being separated in your behavior as compared to the rest 31:22 of the world. In fact, when you look into the Bible, 31:25 you will notice the context when it talks about being faithful, 31:30 when it talks about being holy, 31:32 when it talks about righteous- ness, it's in the context 31:36 of God's commandments. 31:38 Look at Psalm 119. I think it's verse 172. 31:41 It says: "All Your commandments are righteousness. " 31:46 Yes, you see the Ten Commandments are God's 31:51 hedge of protection for His children. 31:53 And so the next verse I'm going to read to you... 31:56 And this one is not long. 31:58 I know it by memory. You may know it by memory. 32:00 Jesus says in John chapter 14 and verse 15: 32:04 "If you love me, 32:08 keep My commandments. " 32:11 Notice that the reason 32:13 for keeping God's commandments is if we love Him. 32:18 That's why we keep His commandments. 32:20 Not because "Oh, if I keep His commandments, 32:22 going to be saved. " No, keeping the commandments 32:26 is not your ticket to heaven. 32:29 Jesus... it's by His blood, by His grace, 32:33 that we can enter into heaven. 32:36 The Ten Commandments show if you obey God's commandments 32:41 you're showing God that you love Him. 32:44 You must do it out of love because you love God. 32:50 It's the motivation of love... that really keeping it 32:54 from the heart is what really has value before God. 32:59 And so I encourage you: Jesus said 33:02 "If you love me, keep My commandments. " 33:04 And if you don't love Him, don't keep His commandments. 33:09 You have one choice or the other. 33:12 And so please consider the fact 33:15 that Jesus is asking us to keep the commandments. 33:19 When He says: "Keep the command- ments" I know some people say 33:21 "Well, we cannot keep God's commandments. " 33:24 Wait a minute: who's asking us to keep the commandments? 33:27 This is Jesus. I remember talking to 33:29 one person that called 3ABN when I was working in pastoral 33:32 ministries. And he was upset that somebody was 33:34 talking about the commandments. 33:36 "Hey you guys, you're talking about the Ten Commandments! 33:38 Why are you doing that? 33:40 Why don't you just talk about Jesus? " 33:41 You see you cannot separate Jesus 33:43 from the commandments because Jesus is asking us... 33:47 asking us to keep the commandments. 33:51 And Jesus showed us that we should keep the commandments. 33:55 And if He's asking us to keep the commandments 33:57 and if we read in John 15:5 that Jesus says: "Without Me 34:01 you can do nothing. " 34:03 So I asked this person. He said: "No, we cannot keep God's 34:07 commandments. " You're right! In our own flesh 34:09 in our own power we cannot keep God's commandments. 34:13 But with God's help, we can keep the commandments. 34:16 With the help of Jesus we can keep the commandments. " 34:19 And he said: "No, we cannot keep God's commandments. " 34:22 I said: "You mean to tell me 34:25 that with God's help you cannot keep the commandments? " 34:29 And he ran into a difficulty because he so believed 34:33 that we don't have to keep the commandments 34:35 that he dared to say: "Yes, that's right... 34:39 I cannot keep the commandments even with God's help. " 34:42 Shocking... but this is what this man said. 34:45 You see the Bible says: "With God all things are possible. " 34:51 What did Paul say in Philippians 4:13? 34:54 "I can do all things through Christ 34:57 who strengthens me. " 35:00 You see in heaven there are not going to be any murderers, 35:03 any liars, any adulterers. 35:06 Cannot go. Why? Because you are not living 35:10 in the liberty of God's commandments. 35:13 The Ten Commandments show us 35:17 how to live a life that is pleasing to God 35:21 and a life that shows love for God and love to our fellow man. 35:26 And this is why I now read to you from John chapter 14 35:31 and verse 21. In John chapter 14 verse 21 35:36 we have a wonderful blessing to talk to you about. 35:40 Notice John chapter 14 verse 21. 35:42 He says, this is Jesus talking; 35:44 "He who has My commandments 35:47 and keeps them it is he who loves Me. " 35:51 If you have His commandments 35:52 and you keep them, you love Him. 35:54 And it says: "And he who loves Me 35:57 will be loved by My Father 36:00 and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. " 36:06 Praise the Lord! Jesus is willing to manifest himself 36:13 to us if you choose to keep His commandments. 36:16 So what should you do? 36:18 By God's grace through the help of Jesus Christ 36:23 through the help that is avail- able to each and every one of us 36:26 by God's grace choose to love the Lord 36:30 and keep His commandments. 36:32 And I continue now reading to you from I John 2:3-4. 36:38 Let's read that first: I John 2:3-4. 36:42 "Now by this we know that we know Him. " 36:47 Oh, this is great! We must know. 36:48 How is it that we know that we know Him? 36:50 If we keep His commandments. 36:53 There it is. This is how you know that you 36:56 that you love Him. Remember: "And this is life the eternal: 36:59 that they may know God. " 37:02 "This is life eternal: to know God and to know Jesus Christ 37:05 whom He has sent. " So by this we know that we know Him: 37:08 if we keep His commandments. 37:10 "He who says... " verse 4... "I know Him 37:13 and does not keep His commandments 37:16 is a liar and the truth is not in him. " 37:22 Look at this and you say: "This is a very strong statement. " 37:25 But the Bible declares that you are denying God 37:30 if you say you love Him and do not keep His commandments. 37:34 Remember: by this people will know that you are Christ's 37:39 disciples: if you keep His commandments, 37:42 if you love one another. And if you love one another 37:45 you will keep the commandments to say how you can love 37:49 one another. And so let's go to I John chapter 2 verses 5-6 now. 37:55 But notice: "But whoever keeps 37:58 His Word truly the love of God 38:02 is perfected in him. 38:04 By this we know that we are in Him. 38:07 He who says he abides in Him 38:10 ought himself also so to walk 38:14 just as He walked. " 38:19 So we have the Scripture: I John chapter 2 verses 5-6 38:23 that the love of God will be perfected 38:27 in those that love God and keep His Word. 38:32 The love of God will be perfected in you. 38:35 And also we read that if you say you are Christian, 38:40 if you say you abide in Him, 38:42 you should walk as He walked. 38:45 So the question is: 38:47 How is it that Jesus walked? How did He live? 38:52 How did Jesus live? 38:56 Notice what it says in John chapter 15 verse 10. 39:00 The Bible says: 39:04 "If you keep My commandments, 39:07 you will abide in My love 39:09 just as I have kept My Father's commandments 39:13 and abide in His love. " 39:17 So how did Jesus live? 39:20 He kept His Father's commandments. 39:24 And Jesus is our example. 39:27 If we want to abide in the love of God, 39:30 by God's grace with the help of Jesus 39:33 we should keep His commandments. 39:36 This is something that can be done 39:40 because Jesus is asking us to do it. 39:43 And it is by His grace because of His love for us 39:47 He's going to give us all the help we need. 39:51 Jesus lived in perfect harmony with the Father 39:56 and He did this by keeping the commandments. 40:01 He is our example. 40:03 And if you want to be trans- formed into the image of Christ, 40:07 you must do as He did. 40:10 We contemplate the life of Christ. 40:14 As you read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you contemplate 40:20 the life of Christ. Daily spend time with Jesus... 40:23 you will be transformed into His image. 40:26 What did we read about Jesus? 40:28 He kept the Father's commandments. 40:31 Now please understand that Satan hated Jesus 40:35 and Satan will hate those that choose to keep God's 40:40 commandments. How do I know? 40:42 It's because the Bible reveals this. 40:44 Let's go to Revelation chapter 12 and verse 17. 40:47 Revelation 12:17... notice what the Bible says. 40:50 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman. " 40:53 This is the New King James version. In the King James 40:56 version it says: "And the dragon wroth with the woman 40:59 and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring. " 41:04 Who are they? 41:05 "who keep the commandments of God 41:08 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. " 41:11 You see Satan does not want you to be happy. 41:16 Satan wants you to disobey God's commandments 41:21 so that you will be among those that have to suffer 41:26 the wages of sin. Satan doesn't want you to keep 41:29 God's commandments because then you're walking, 41:32 you're living according to God's government of love. 41:36 And if you live according to God's government of love, 41:38 Satan will try to attack you. 41:41 But "be of good cheer... " Jesus says: "I have overcome 41:44 the world. " And Jesus offers us His peace; 41:47 Jesus offers us all the help we need. 41:50 I want to tell you that the Bible reveals 41:54 that in the last days 41:58 the Ten Commandments will come to the forefront. 42:00 There will be issues as to whether you should obey God 42:04 or obey man. A mark of the beast will be declared. 42:08 A law will be passed talking about to receive a mark 42:12 in your forehead or in your hand. 42:14 You can read about this. Read it! Revelation 12, 13 & 14. 42:19 The Ten Commandments are going to come to the forefront 42:22 and people will have to choose to take the mark of the beast 42:25 or be faithful to God's commandments. 42:28 And now I'm to read to you from Revelation 14:9-12. 42:34 Revelation 14:9-12. Ready? 42:38 This is what the Bible says. 42:40 Notice how it makes a contrast between those that take the mark 42:44 of the beast and those that are faithful to God. 42:46 Notice: "Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud 42:51 voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and his image 42:57 and receives his mark on his forehead or his hand, 43:02 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God 43:07 which is poured out full strength 43:10 into the cup of His indignation. 43:11 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 43:14 in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence 43:17 of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment 43:20 ascends forever and ever and they have no rest 43:25 day nor night... ' " Who are they? 43:27 "Who worship the beast and his image or whoever 43:30 received the mark of his name. " The commandments of men 43:33 are here talked about. Now let's go to the next verse. 43:37 That's Revelation chapter 14 verse 12. 43:40 Notice the contrast between those that take the mark of the 43:44 beast and those that do not. "Here is the patience 43:49 of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God 43:55 and the faith of Jesus. " 43:58 Do you want to have the faith of Jesus? 44:01 The faith of Jesus is that He kept all of His Father's 44:05 commandments. And here in Revelation 14 44:09 there is a declaration 44:12 that there are people living in the last days 44:16 that will keep God's commandments 44:19 because they love God with all their heart, 44:22 with all their mind, with all their soul 44:25 and refuse to take the mark of the beast 44:27 because they'd rather keep God's commandments. 44:31 Will you be one of those? 44:34 Will you choose to love God with all your heart 44:36 and keep His commandments? 44:38 Or will you take on the mark of the beast? 44:40 You have a choice. 44:42 Choose to love God with all your heart because those that 44:46 love God with all their heart, mind, and soul 44:49 are those that enjoy the peace and happiness that God offers. 44:55 But those that take on the mark of the beast 44:58 are destined to suffer in the lake of fire 45:03 and they will receive the wages of sin. 45:07 So brothers and sisters, please understand 45:11 that keeping the commandments 45:15 is not what gives you salvation. It is Jesus. 45:21 But His government of love is that those that love Him 45:26 will keep His commandments. Romans chapter 3 verse 20. 45:30 Romans chapter 3 verse 20, it says: "Therefore by the deeds 45:34 of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight. 45:38 For by the law is the knowledge of sin. " 45:42 And I want to say this right now: 45:44 that there are people saying that the Ten Commandments 45:48 have been done away at the cross. 45:50 Since the cross we don't have to keep the commandments. 45:52 You see, when you take the Ten Commandments away 45:55 you have no way by which you identify what is sin. 46:01 And so it says here that "by the law is the knowledge of sin. " 46:06 The law is still binding. 46:08 God is still expecting His children 46:11 to keep His law because they love Him. 46:16 You see Jesus came... Jesus came to magnify the law 46:21 and make it honorable. He came to magnify the law 46:26 and to make it honorable. 46:29 Please understand that when Jesus gave the... 46:33 When you're talking about Matthew chapter 5 verses 6-7 46:36 you can see Jesus magnifying the law of God. 46:39 And this is why when you read in Matthew chapter 5, 46:43 for example... Matthew chapter 5 beginning in verse 21 46:46 "You have heard that it was said to those of old 46:51 you shall not murder. And whoever murders will 46:53 be in danger of the judgment. 46:55 But I say to you whoever is angry with his brother 46:58 without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. 47:01 And whoever says to his brother 'raca' shall be in danger 47:05 of the council. But whoever says 'you fool' 47:08 shall be in danger of hell fire. " 47:11 So you see, Jesus came to magnify the law 47:15 and to make it honorable... make it honorable. 47:19 In I John 3:4 the Bible says: 47:22 "Whoever commits sin 47:25 also commits lawlessness 47:30 and sin is lawlessness. " 47:32 So we have here the fact that whoever commits sin 47:38 is a transgressor... commits lawlessness. 47:41 The fact remains that if sin exists 47:45 it's because the Ten Commandments exist 47:48 and they are binding. Remember that just because 47:53 you are saved by grace does not mean that you do not have to 47:58 keep the commandments. You show God that you love Him 48:01 by keeping His commandments. I'm going to read to you now 48:03 from Ephesians chapter 2. And we believe in it fully. 48:08 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9. The Bible says: 48:13 "For by grace you have been saved through faith 48:18 and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. 48:22 Not of works lest any man should boast. " 48:25 Praise the Lord. It is by grace that we are saved. 48:28 You see, it is through the grace of Christ 48:32 that we are saved. But Jesus asks: "If you love Me, 48:37 keep My commandments. " 48:39 Will you love Jesus and keep His commandments? 48:42 He has done so much for you and is doing so much for you. 48:49 He has given so many reasons to love him. 48:52 Will sin take such control of your life 48:57 that it becomes more wonderful to you than the love 49:03 that God has demonstrated in giving His Son? 49:06 You see, Romans chapter 3 verse 31 49:09 we have this message for us. It says: 49:12 "Do we then make void the law through faith? 49:15 Certainly not! 49:17 On the contrary... we establish the law. " 49:21 Romans chapter 3 verse 31. 49:23 Now notice the new covenant because some people think: 49:26 "Well the new covenant... we don't have to keep 49:28 the commandments. " You know 49:31 the new covenant is described in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 16. 49:36 Hebrews 10:16 has the following words: 49:40 "This is the covenant that I will make with them 49:45 after those days says the Lord: I will put my law into their 49:50 hearts, and in their minds will I write them. " 49:54 This, my friend, is the new covenant. 49:58 If you say you're a new-covenant Christian, 50:01 then you must allow the Lord to write His law in your heart 50:07 and in your mind so that you may serve the Lord 50:11 with all of your heart out of love. 50:14 Jesus did not come to do away with the law. 50:18 In Matthew chapter 5 verses 17 and 18 50:23 notice the words of Jesus: 50:26 "Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. 50:32 I did not come to destroy 50:36 but to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you 50:40 till heaven and earth pass away 50:43 one jot or one tittle will by no means 50:48 pass from the law till all is fulfilled. " 50:52 Praise God! 50:54 You see, Jesus did not come to do away with the law 50:58 but to fulfill the law. Heaven and earth exists... 51:01 the law of God continues to exist. 51:05 Not one jot. That's like the equivalent of a dot over an i 51:10 or a tittle like the crossing of a t. 51:12 Not one little tiny aspect of the law 51:15 will by no means pass away Jesus said. I praise the Lord 51:21 for His kindness and mercy. Now I want to take you quickly 51:23 to a time when Jesus was talking to His disciples. 51:27 They asked him: "What will be the sign of 51:31 the end and and and of the end of the world 51:34 and of Your coming? " 51:36 You see Jesus had told them as they were looking at the temple 51:39 in Jerusalem. He said: "Not one stone shall be 51:42 upon another" and Jesus spoke to them of signs that were coming. 51:47 And then He said something very interesting 51:50 that you should consider. Notice in Matthew 24:20. 51:57 Jesus told them how they could escape the destruction 52:00 of the temple which took place in 70 AD. 52:05 It's about 40 years into the future 52:09 Jesus was talking about the destruction of the temple. 52:13 Notice Matthew 24 verse 20: 52:15 "And pray that your flight... " 52:18 In other words, your escape... 52:19 "may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 52:23 For there will be great tribula- tion such as has not been 52:28 since the beginning of the world until this time 52:32 no nor ever shall be. " Matthew 24:20-21. 52:37 So you see, Jesus is talking to His disciples 52:39 and He's talking to us as well to understand that He 52:44 expected His disciples to still be keeping the Sabbath 52:48 in the future after His crucifixion. 52:51 That's why He said: "Pray that your flight... " 52:53 your escape... "is not in the winter nor on the Sabbath day. " 52:57 So the Sabbath is still binding upon us 53:00 and we need to make decisions concerning God's holy law. 53:06 His government of love. And I want to encourage you 53:11 to consider God's appeal... Jesus' appeal to us. 53:14 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. " 53:18 I encourage you to identify with God's government 53:22 of law... of love, His law of liberty. 53:26 Walk in liberty; walk with Jesus 53:29 and by His grace obey His commandments. 53:32 I want to encourage you to pray with me at this time. 53:37 We're going to go to the Lord in prayer right now 53:39 and ask for His blessing upon all that have listened to this 53:42 message. To ask the Lord: "Lord, what will You have me to do? " 53:46 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 53:51 Our loving heavenly Father, 53:53 we thank you so much for the holy Scriptures 53:57 that are a light to our path, 54:00 that shows the way we should walk, the way we should live. 54:04 And we read that he who loves the Lord, he who wants to 54:08 abide in His love should walk even as He walked. 54:12 We read that Jesus loved the Father 54:16 and kept His commandments. 54:18 Help us, heavenly Father, to love You with all our hearts, 54:21 soul, and mind and to keep Your commandments. 54:25 We know that we cannot do it of ourselves. 54:27 But through Your grace and Your power 54:31 all things are possible. 54:33 We pray, heavenly Father, that You will guide Your children. 54:36 Help us to understand that You love us 54:39 and want the best for us. 54:41 We ask You for a blessing upon all. 54:43 In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. 54:46 And so my friend, 54:47 I want to take you now to Isaiah chapter 48 verse 18. 54:54 Isaiah 48:18 has a message for us. 54:59 Notice what the Bible says in Isaiah 48:18. 55:02 "Oh that you had heeded My commandments! 55:07 Then your peace would have been like a river 55:11 and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. " 55:16 You see, if we choose to walk 55:21 according to God's law of love, 55:25 God wants to give us peace. 55:27 Remember: He has thoughts of peace, to give us a future 55:31 and a hope. And if we want to walk 55:34 according to the way Jesus walked, we must do as He did. 55:38 Spend time with God just as Jesus did. 55:43 Learn how great is His love. 55:47 Search out the love of God. 55:50 You see, the fact that Jesus died on the cross 55:53 is the strongest argument that you can present 55:57 that tells us that God's law has not been done away with. 56:01 He died to bring us liberty 56:04 and to walk in liberty with God's commandments. 56:08 If the law of God was going to be done away with, 56:11 why not do away with it before Jesus died on the cross 56:15 so that He would not have to die? 56:17 Today God wants to tell you that: 56:22 "If you love Me, keep My commandments" 56:26 Jesus says, and I hope you continue to watch 56:30 all of these messages that we will be presenting. 56:35 We're talking about "Who is Jesus? " 56:37 And Jesus is our Savior. He wants us to be happy, 56:42 to rejoice in His salvation, 56:45 and to be prepared to live among God's family 56:49 that will love Him with all of our hearts, 56:52 soul, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourself. 56:56 That we will not want to do them harm 56:59 but want to do them good. 57:00 I encourage you to live accord- ing to the way Jesus lived. |
Revised 2021-07-29