1 00:00:00,780 --> 00:00:04,400 We'll be reading John chapter 3, starting at 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:05,020 verse 22. 3 00:00:06,060 --> 00:00:07,060 Let's stand. 4 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:08,520 We read the Word of God. 5 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:12,440 John chapter 3, starting at verse 22. 6 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,340 After these things came Jesus and his disciples 7 00:00:16,340 --> 00:00:17,720 into the land of Judea. 8 00:00:18,180 --> 00:00:19,940 And there he tarried with them and baptized. 9 00:00:20,820 --> 00:00:24,100 And John also was baptizing in Enon near 10 00:00:24,100 --> 00:00:26,560 to Salem, because there was much water there. 11 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,720 And they came and were baptized, for John 12 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:31,320 was not yet cast into prison. 13 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,340 Then there arose a question between some of 14 00:00:34,340 --> 00:00:37,080 John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,560 And they came unto John and said unto 16 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,860 him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond 17 00:00:43,860 --> 00:00:46,320 Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the 18 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,560 same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 19 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,380 John answered and said, A man can receive 20 00:00:52,380 --> 00:00:54,440 nothing except it be given him from heaven. 21 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,200 Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, 22 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,040 I am not the Christ, but that I 23 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:00,460 am sent before him. 24 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:02,820 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom, 25 00:01:03,060 --> 00:01:05,180 but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth 26 00:01:05,180 --> 00:01:07,860 and heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the 27 00:01:07,860 --> 00:01:08,840 bridegroom's voice. 28 00:01:09,260 --> 00:01:11,520 This my joy therefore is fulfilled. 29 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,360 He must increase, but I must decrease. 30 00:01:14,820 --> 00:01:16,740 He that cometh from above is above all. 31 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:18,740 He that is of the earth is earthly, 32 00:01:19,180 --> 00:01:20,320 and speaketh of the earth. 33 00:01:20,500 --> 00:01:22,520 He that cometh from heaven is above all. 34 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,300 And what he hath seen and heard, that 35 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:27,960 he testifieth, and no man receiveth his testimony. 36 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,160 He that received his testimony hath set to 37 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:32,400 his seal that God is true. 38 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,680 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the 39 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:36,320 words of God. 40 00:01:36,820 --> 00:01:38,600 For God giveth not the Spirit by measure 41 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:39,020 unto him. 42 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:41,340 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given 43 00:01:41,340 --> 00:01:42,780 all things into his hand. 44 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:45,640 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting 45 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,840 life, and he that believeth not the Son 46 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:49,900 shall not see life, but the wrath of 47 00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:51,360 God abideth on him. 48 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:52,320 Let's pray. 49 00:01:52,860 --> 00:01:54,760 Father, we ask that you would open up 50 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,880 our ears to hear, that there be an 51 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:58,940 anointing by your Spirit. 52 00:01:59,380 --> 00:02:00,420 We thank you that you're here. 53 00:02:00,540 --> 00:02:01,880 We pray for any that do not know 54 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,500 Jesus as their Savior, that there be a 55 00:02:04,500 --> 00:02:07,740 quickening, a drawing in their heart to recognize 56 00:02:07,740 --> 00:02:10,200 no matter what their experience is, no matter 57 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,920 how long maybe they've been in church or 58 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:17,920 whatever, that they must be born again, and 59 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:18,960 that they would understand. 60 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,260 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting 61 00:02:21,260 --> 00:02:24,140 life, and he that believeth not the Son 62 00:02:24,140 --> 00:02:26,600 shall not see life, but the wrath of 63 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:27,820 God abideth on him. 64 00:02:28,300 --> 00:02:30,040 Thank you, Father, in Jesus' name. 65 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:30,620 Amen. 66 00:02:31,300 --> 00:02:32,120 You may be seated. 67 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:39,080 We've been going through John, learning lessons, and 68 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,740 the title of this passage today, this message, 69 00:02:42,140 --> 00:02:43,000 is Grasping. 70 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:45,320 Grasping. 71 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,480 Now, I have here a box. 72 00:02:49,180 --> 00:02:52,900 This is a treasure box, and it is 73 00:02:52,900 --> 00:02:53,660 a treasure. 74 00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:57,700 Now, remember, our keyword is grasping. 75 00:02:59,060 --> 00:03:01,520 Matter of fact, there is an interesting passage 76 00:03:02,220 --> 00:03:05,000 I was just looking at in Proverbs 2, 77 00:03:05,980 --> 00:03:11,580 about this area of treasure, where Solomon said, 78 00:03:11,580 --> 00:03:13,660 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest 79 00:03:13,660 --> 00:03:16,580 for her as for hid treasure, and he 80 00:03:16,580 --> 00:03:19,680 was talking about the Word of God, he 81 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,680 said, so that thou incline thine ear, matter 82 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:23,840 of fact, he started in verse 1, My 83 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:29,680 son, if thou will receive my words, and 84 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,900 hide my commandments with thee, so that thou 85 00:03:31,900 --> 00:03:34,820 incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine 86 00:03:34,820 --> 00:03:37,340 heart to understanding, yea, if thou cryest after 87 00:03:37,340 --> 00:03:40,300 knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding, 88 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:43,740 if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest 89 00:03:43,740 --> 00:03:46,840 for her as for hid treasure, then shalt 90 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,900 thou understand the fear of the Lord, and 91 00:03:50,900 --> 00:03:53,040 find the knowledge of God. 92 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:58,540 Now, I'm going to set this treasure box 93 00:03:58,540 --> 00:04:00,260 here, where everybody can keep their eye on 94 00:04:00,260 --> 00:04:02,460 it, make sure nobody steals the treasure. 95 00:04:03,700 --> 00:04:04,440 It's in there. 96 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:05,820 Want to know what the treasure is? 97 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:08,240 Huh? 98 00:04:09,340 --> 00:04:10,640 Maybe we'll find out. 99 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,080 Maybe we won't. 100 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:13,920 We'll just see how things turn out. 101 00:04:14,780 --> 00:04:15,200 Grasping. 102 00:04:16,380 --> 00:04:16,860 Grasping. 103 00:04:17,940 --> 00:04:21,079 A lot of different things you can say 104 00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:23,920 about grasping, but let's just see what God 105 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:25,680 has to say to us from the Word 106 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:26,060 of God. 107 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:28,700 I'm not going to go back over a 108 00:04:28,700 --> 00:04:30,700 review of where we've come through, John. 109 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:32,680 I'm just going to take you right to 110 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:33,600 where we're at right now. 111 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,060 We've just read in verse 22 about Christ 112 00:04:37,060 --> 00:04:39,040 and His disciples in Judea. 113 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:43,820 We go to 23 and 24, and we 114 00:04:43,820 --> 00:04:47,200 see John baptizing in the same area that 115 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:48,020 Jesus is. 116 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:49,320 There's an attempt. 117 00:04:49,840 --> 00:04:52,300 There's an attempt by the Jews to get 118 00:04:52,300 --> 00:04:55,700 something stirred up between the disciples of Christ, 119 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,380 and they're just there to cause trouble. 120 00:05:00,940 --> 00:05:03,240 They're probably talking about, well, what's going to 121 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:03,740 purify? 122 00:05:05,540 --> 00:05:09,120 This baptism or the ceremonial law that you 123 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,660 have, and they were probably, you know, Jews 124 00:05:11,660 --> 00:05:13,560 like to get into it and throw themselves 125 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,280 into it, and you can imagine there might 126 00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:17,220 have been some fur flying and a little 127 00:05:17,220 --> 00:05:19,840 heat, and that's the way they get into 128 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:20,020 it. 129 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:25,380 They're just very intense people and very zealous 130 00:05:25,380 --> 00:05:27,400 and very strong on what they believe. 131 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,920 So you can imagine all of these Jews 132 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,480 out there going over this point. 133 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:37,040 Now, they also wanted to get something started 134 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,620 between the two groups, between Jesus, who is 135 00:05:40,620 --> 00:05:43,400 baptizing, and John the Baptist, who is baptizing, 136 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,840 trying to provoke John's jealousy. 137 00:05:47,540 --> 00:05:49,460 And then you get to 27 and 28. 138 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,680 We looked at John's humility as we read 139 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:52,140 through there. 140 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,840 We went to John's joy, and then we 141 00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:59,280 come to 30 through 35 through there, and 142 00:05:59,280 --> 00:06:01,760 we see Christ's preeminence, and then we end 143 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,380 up with the eternal choice that is laid 144 00:06:04,380 --> 00:06:05,080 out before us. 145 00:06:05,140 --> 00:06:08,880 Now, here's the historical setting of this passage. 146 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:15,480 The Jews were occupied with externals, where a 147 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,800 lot of the church is today, occupied with 148 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:19,120 the externals of religion. 149 00:06:19,860 --> 00:06:23,320 They also, since they're stirring up envy, what 150 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,020 a man usually stirs up, comes up, is 151 00:06:26,020 --> 00:06:28,560 where he is himself, and so they were 152 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:29,520 envious themselves. 153 00:06:30,180 --> 00:06:33,120 In verse 26, they came unto John and 154 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:34,780 said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with 155 00:06:34,780 --> 00:06:36,920 thee beyond Jordan to whom thou bearest witness, 156 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,860 behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come 157 00:06:39,860 --> 00:06:40,420 to him. 158 00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:42,400 It wouldn't happen to be that they were 159 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,660 maybe envious because all of a sudden, there 160 00:06:44,660 --> 00:06:46,840 are great multitudes out there in the desert 161 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:50,560 or out at the river now, and they 162 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,860 don't really draw the crowds like that. 163 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,040 This was an unusual thing, so they might 164 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,280 have been envious themselves very well it could 165 00:06:57,280 --> 00:06:57,620 have been. 166 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:02,200 They, at this point, are Christ's rejecters. 167 00:07:02,620 --> 00:07:05,760 They're not there to receive from the Lord. 168 00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:07,100 They are rejecting Christ. 169 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:11,240 And something else, they didn't understand John. 170 00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:14,220 If they were to listen to him the 171 00:07:14,220 --> 00:07:16,500 first time, he made it very clear he 172 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:17,400 wasn't the Messiah. 173 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,020 He was there to push and to promote 174 00:07:20,020 --> 00:07:20,500 Christ. 175 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,880 Now, the physical setting in verse 23, John 176 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,560 also was baptized in Enon near to Salem 177 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,340 because there was much water there. 178 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,680 Physically, they're at a place that's very pleasant. 179 00:07:33,300 --> 00:07:36,700 Enon means place of springs, and Salem means 180 00:07:36,700 --> 00:07:37,180 peace. 181 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,760 Sort of a contrast where we came from. 182 00:07:39,860 --> 00:07:42,700 John started off in the wilderness, in the 183 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:43,820 desert, desert man. 184 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,480 John came preaching in the wilderness, the Scripture 185 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:46,920 says. 186 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:52,060 And now the setting is very pleasing. 187 00:07:52,060 --> 00:07:56,540 Wherever there's springs, this is called Spring River 188 00:07:56,540 --> 00:07:58,880 because it comes out of springs. 189 00:07:59,380 --> 00:08:00,560 Two main springs, I understand. 190 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,280 I've seen where one of them is and 191 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:03,300 the other one I haven't seen. 192 00:08:03,940 --> 00:08:06,880 But this is the setting. 193 00:08:07,300 --> 00:08:09,440 There's much water there, meaning that there was 194 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:11,500 probably some deep pools. 195 00:08:11,820 --> 00:08:14,080 Sometimes in spring areas, there's some very deep 196 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:14,420 water. 197 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,240 And that was necessary for the baptizing that 198 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:17,840 was going on. 199 00:08:18,020 --> 00:08:20,360 They liked the deep water so that it 200 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,120 would be easier to baptize. 201 00:08:22,220 --> 00:08:27,560 The political setting of this situation is probably 202 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,920 the same bunch of Jews that came in 203 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:31,900 John chapter 1. 204 00:08:32,799 --> 00:08:38,120 And around verse 25, when we covered that, 205 00:08:38,220 --> 00:08:39,600 they asked him and said unto him, Why 206 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,820 baptizest thou if thou be not that Christ? 207 00:08:42,220 --> 00:08:43,940 Nor Elias, neither that prophet. 208 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,000 Politically, the setting is they are still the 209 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,860 same set of unbelieving Jews. 210 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:55,480 They are a self-appointed authority over men. 211 00:08:55,560 --> 00:08:57,580 If you don't do what they think you 212 00:08:57,580 --> 00:09:00,280 should do, then you'd be cast out like 213 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:01,900 the man that was cast out of the 214 00:09:01,900 --> 00:09:03,120 temple when Jesus healed him. 215 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:04,960 And when we get to John chapter 9, 216 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:11,860 they were just a bunch of controlling, unbelieving 217 00:09:11,860 --> 00:09:12,340 Jews. 218 00:09:12,620 --> 00:09:15,360 But Jesus, by the time he gets done 219 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:16,380 with them, there's going to be a lot 220 00:09:16,380 --> 00:09:16,900 of believers. 221 00:09:19,300 --> 00:09:20,940 Nicodemus, we've already covered him. 222 00:09:21,100 --> 00:09:21,460 He's one. 223 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,200 Now, the spiritual setting. 224 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:28,160 Here's the old working of Satan again to 225 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,840 set a trap, the old trick of the 226 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,280 enemy to divide and conquer. 227 00:09:31,740 --> 00:09:32,680 Divide and conquer. 228 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:33,580 Divide and conquer. 229 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:34,820 And they're trying to do that. 230 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,080 Well, we're not making any headway, so we'll 231 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:38,600 go down there and try to get something 232 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,220 going between them, get them to fighting. 233 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:42,060 And it doesn't work. 234 00:09:42,060 --> 00:09:47,980 John's answer in John chapter 3 in verse 235 00:09:47,980 --> 00:09:50,920 27, John answered and said, A man can 236 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,360 receive nothing except to be given him from 237 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:53,720 heaven. 238 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:58,320 He speaks of the sovereignty of God in 239 00:09:58,320 --> 00:09:58,980 that verse. 240 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:01,280 He speaks of the Lord. 241 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,720 He reminds the Jews that he was sent 242 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:06,740 in 28. 243 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,440 I am sent before him. 244 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,560 In verse 29, he reminds the Jews that 245 00:10:13,560 --> 00:10:15,600 Israel belongs to Christ. 246 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,400 All these people wasn't his. 247 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:21,060 They belong to the Lord. 248 00:10:22,300 --> 00:10:23,680 He wasn't possessive. 249 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:28,280 And in verse 30, he reminds them of 250 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,320 proper procedure. 251 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,100 He must increase, but I must decrease. 252 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,560 This is the right thing in life. 253 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,480 This was the right thing for his mission. 254 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:42,100 And he was headed for a beheaded. 255 00:10:43,420 --> 00:10:47,020 His purpose in life was just to promote 256 00:10:47,020 --> 00:10:48,620 Christ to exalt him. 257 00:10:49,300 --> 00:10:51,100 Is ours any different now? 258 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,380 Let's look at some lessons as we slip 259 00:10:55,380 --> 00:10:56,760 through here a couple of times, couple of 260 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:57,320 different ways. 261 00:10:57,460 --> 00:10:58,820 Let's see if there are any lessons in 262 00:10:58,820 --> 00:11:02,420 their first lesson that I saw in verse 263 00:11:02,420 --> 00:11:02,920 23. 264 00:11:03,820 --> 00:11:06,640 And John also was baptized in Enoch near 265 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:08,460 to Salem because there was much water there 266 00:11:08,460 --> 00:11:10,320 and they came and were baptized. 267 00:11:13,140 --> 00:11:16,700 John ministered in the wilderness first. 268 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,140 And then we see him over in the 269 00:11:21,140 --> 00:11:23,860 spring area, close to Jesus. 270 00:11:24,820 --> 00:11:27,120 The lesson here I see as we are 271 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,580 faithful in the desert, as we're faithful in 272 00:11:30,580 --> 00:11:33,320 the desert, then the Lord will draw us 273 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,320 to minister closer to him in a place 274 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:37,280 of blessing. 275 00:11:38,420 --> 00:11:39,440 He tests our spirit. 276 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:40,640 He stretches us. 277 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,700 He puts us through all of this so 278 00:11:43,700 --> 00:11:46,640 that we will be able to work with 279 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,020 him, right there with him without trying to 280 00:11:50,020 --> 00:11:51,940 take any of his honor, trying to take 281 00:11:51,940 --> 00:11:53,600 any of his praise and his glory. 282 00:11:54,100 --> 00:11:55,560 And this is why we're going to get 283 00:11:55,560 --> 00:11:57,280 in this lesson here with John. 284 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,120 John is right there near Jesus. 285 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,180 His crowds are diminishing and he just keeps 286 00:12:03,180 --> 00:12:03,960 on going on. 287 00:12:07,540 --> 00:12:09,020 Interesting lesson there. 288 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:11,220 So as you're faithful in the desert, then 289 00:12:11,220 --> 00:12:13,440 Jesus will draw you to minister closer to 290 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,100 him by the springs in the place of 291 00:12:16,100 --> 00:12:16,420 blessing. 292 00:12:16,580 --> 00:12:19,580 Now, there's another lesson here while we're right 293 00:12:19,580 --> 00:12:19,920 there. 294 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:21,380 Verse 23. 295 00:12:21,540 --> 00:12:24,540 The crowds have dropped for John and from 296 00:12:24,540 --> 00:12:28,080 all appearance, it looks like his ministry is 297 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:28,600 diminishing. 298 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,420 From all appearance, it looks like he's on 299 00:12:33,420 --> 00:12:36,360 the way out as the preacher terminology is. 300 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:37,880 He's being placed on a shelf. 301 00:12:38,420 --> 00:12:41,600 He's being placed on a shelf and he's 302 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:42,320 being replaced. 303 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:43,880 No problem for John. 304 00:12:45,180 --> 00:12:47,200 And the lesson there is faithfulness to our 305 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:48,140 duty for the Lord. 306 00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:49,280 Second lesson. 307 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,180 We'll be revealed and are continuing on no 308 00:12:52,180 --> 00:12:54,360 matter how the circumstances change. 309 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,360 Easy to go up, not so easy to 310 00:12:58,360 --> 00:12:58,800 come down. 311 00:12:59,060 --> 00:13:00,940 Paul said, Let us not be weary in 312 00:13:00,940 --> 00:13:02,640 well-doing for in due season we shall 313 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:03,760 reap if we faint not. 314 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,400 Now, as we slip down through there, there 315 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:07,340 is verse 26. 316 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:08,520 I want to show you a lesson there. 317 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:10,580 It's a lesson on envy. 318 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:12,400 Of course, we could take a whole session 319 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:13,080 on this. 320 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,480 But he said, They said to him, To 321 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,160 whom thou bearest witness, Behold, the same baptizeth 322 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:20,640 and all men come to him. 323 00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:26,180 If there is any envy, it shows up 324 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,940 in an unsurrendered area of our life. 325 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,380 It wouldn't stick with John. 326 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:39,200 Just like he was greased with grace and 327 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,480 the goodness of God and greased and filled 328 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:42,080 with the Spirit. 329 00:13:42,860 --> 00:13:43,860 Envy wouldn't stick in him. 330 00:13:43,940 --> 00:13:45,000 That old dart wouldn't stick. 331 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:46,080 It couldn't find a place. 332 00:13:47,220 --> 00:13:49,100 So there was no unsurrendered ground. 333 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,580 The Bible says, Who is able to stand 334 00:13:51,580 --> 00:13:52,260 before envy? 335 00:13:52,340 --> 00:13:54,780 It's one of the most powerful weapons that 336 00:13:54,780 --> 00:13:56,940 the enemy uses to divide us. 337 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,460 And these Jews, because they were energized by 338 00:13:59,460 --> 00:14:04,780 their fleshly, demonic, influenced minds, they grabbed a 339 00:14:04,780 --> 00:14:06,660 hold of this dart, knowing that this would 340 00:14:06,660 --> 00:14:07,680 be a deadly dart. 341 00:14:09,100 --> 00:14:09,560 All right. 342 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:11,640 Who is able to stand before envy? 343 00:14:11,780 --> 00:14:15,000 That's Proverbs 27.4. I believe the Jews 344 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,000 were full of envy. 345 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,240 It was a political system that they had. 346 00:14:20,060 --> 00:14:23,300 Just, you know, if you patted this priest 347 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:24,740 on the shoulder or whatever, he would see 348 00:14:24,740 --> 00:14:26,980 if you got a bigger vacation or a 349 00:14:26,980 --> 00:14:28,440 better position or whatever it did. 350 00:14:28,740 --> 00:14:31,140 Just like in Acts 13.45, when Paul 351 00:14:31,140 --> 00:14:32,740 and them, when they came in there preaching 352 00:14:32,740 --> 00:14:35,600 and they gathered the crowds there and they 353 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,080 preached and that was great and everything. 354 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,220 But the next Sunday, there were big crowds, 355 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:42,160 huge crowds. 356 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,020 And then the Scripture says, But when the 357 00:14:44,020 --> 00:14:46,160 Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with 358 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:46,420 envy. 359 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,500 Envy will reveal the flaw in your heart. 360 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:52,660 I was reading, I went back over to 361 00:14:52,660 --> 00:14:55,440 that old passage in Philippians about Paul. 362 00:14:56,220 --> 00:14:58,000 Where he said, I can do all things 363 00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:59,580 through Christ which strengthens me. 364 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:02,600 I can do all things. 365 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:04,740 He had learned. 366 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,960 He said, I know both how to be 367 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,280 abased and I know how to abound everywhere 368 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:11,180 in all things I am instructed, both to 369 00:15:11,180 --> 00:15:12,680 be full and to be hungry, both to 370 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,360 abound and to suffer need. 371 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:15,860 You remember what he had said back in 372 00:15:15,860 --> 00:15:17,000 the first part of that book then? 373 00:15:18,140 --> 00:15:20,180 He said, some were preaching Christ. 374 00:15:20,180 --> 00:15:23,040 Some indeed preach Christ, even of envy and 375 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:23,520 strife. 376 00:15:24,380 --> 00:15:25,440 And some also of goodwill. 377 00:15:25,500 --> 00:15:26,820 He said, the dart doesn't stick in me. 378 00:15:27,500 --> 00:15:29,560 If Christ preaches great, praise the Lord. 379 00:15:31,220 --> 00:15:33,480 The one preached Christ of contention, not sincerely 380 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,780 supposing to add affliction to my bonds. 381 00:15:36,060 --> 00:15:37,180 He said, it didn't add it. 382 00:15:37,820 --> 00:15:38,620 It didn't stick. 383 00:15:38,740 --> 00:15:39,700 That dart doesn't work. 384 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:41,680 But the other of love, knowing that I 385 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:43,260 am set for the defense of the gospel, 386 00:15:43,460 --> 00:15:43,920 what then? 387 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,120 Notwithstanding every way, whether in pretense or in 388 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,280 truth, Christ is preached. 389 00:15:50,460 --> 00:15:52,540 I therein do rejoice, and yea, and will 390 00:15:52,540 --> 00:15:53,060 rejoice. 391 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:54,180 Pure heart. 392 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,140 Envy, oh dart of envy, doesn't stick in 393 00:15:59,140 --> 00:15:59,720 a pure heart. 394 00:16:00,180 --> 00:16:03,360 Now there's another lesson and it's in verse 395 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:03,940 27. 396 00:16:05,220 --> 00:16:07,140 John answered and said, a man can receive 397 00:16:07,140 --> 00:16:09,120 nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 398 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:10,880 That's an interesting statement, isn't it? 399 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,360 Man can receive nothing, except it be given 400 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:14,080 him from heaven. 401 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,960 Let me just say this in a little 402 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:18,640 bit different way. 403 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:19,960 But listen. 404 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:23,660 Before man can receive spiritual things, he must 405 00:16:23,660 --> 00:16:25,520 be given spiritual things from heaven. 406 00:16:28,820 --> 00:16:29,920 Have you ever thought about that? 407 00:16:30,220 --> 00:16:31,180 You've got to receive. 408 00:16:31,420 --> 00:16:32,160 You've got to receive. 409 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,900 Yes, you have to receive, but before you 410 00:16:34,900 --> 00:16:37,900 receive, you have to recognize that God is 411 00:16:37,900 --> 00:16:38,160 giving. 412 00:16:39,220 --> 00:16:39,980 God's doing the giving. 413 00:16:40,860 --> 00:16:43,920 All things come from above first. 414 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,180 And these Jews will not receive because they 415 00:16:48,180 --> 00:16:50,460 thought that everything come from them. 416 00:16:52,870 --> 00:16:55,530 And actually, they look to themselves for their 417 00:16:55,530 --> 00:16:57,830 wisdom and the direction that they had. 418 00:16:57,890 --> 00:16:59,810 If they were looking to God, well, God, 419 00:16:59,930 --> 00:17:02,130 what about this man out in the wilderness? 420 00:17:02,750 --> 00:17:05,369 What about this one who they're saying may 421 00:17:05,369 --> 00:17:06,109 be the Messiah? 422 00:17:08,460 --> 00:17:09,599 They were going to God. 423 00:17:10,380 --> 00:17:12,020 Give us instruction and wisdom. 424 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:13,520 If they would have, then they would have 425 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,300 received from above. 426 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:21,200 And so, John says, a man can receive 427 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,339 nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 428 00:17:25,420 --> 00:17:26,800 God has given to me. 429 00:17:27,099 --> 00:17:29,580 I have received what God has given to 430 00:17:29,580 --> 00:17:29,860 me. 431 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:32,700 All things come from above. 432 00:17:33,060 --> 00:17:33,920 I've got a story. 433 00:17:34,060 --> 00:17:35,300 I should have looked it up. 434 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:37,440 It's about a little boy. 435 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:38,600 I've shared it before. 436 00:17:39,580 --> 00:17:42,360 His dad was going to die, and so 437 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:44,900 he told his son before he died, he 438 00:17:44,900 --> 00:17:47,580 said, remember this, as you go through life, 439 00:17:47,660 --> 00:17:48,940 you go through a lot of hard things, 440 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:51,160 that all things come from above. 441 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:53,520 And there was a series of things that 442 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:55,760 happened to him as he went through life. 443 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:57,240 And in the story, one of them, like 444 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,980 he was very poor, and so he did 445 00:17:59,980 --> 00:18:01,100 whatever he could to get some money. 446 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,420 And one man hired him to deliver a 447 00:18:04,420 --> 00:18:07,800 letter, very important letter, he told him, very 448 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:08,200 important. 449 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:09,840 And he was going, and he jumped the 450 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:11,340 stream, and he slipped, and he fell in 451 00:18:11,340 --> 00:18:13,480 the stream, and he lost the letter in 452 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:14,120 the process. 453 00:18:14,260 --> 00:18:15,540 And oh, he was really scared. 454 00:18:15,660 --> 00:18:16,860 And he went back, and he told the 455 00:18:16,860 --> 00:18:19,500 man, but before he did, he said, well, 456 00:18:19,620 --> 00:18:20,820 all things come from above. 457 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,860 That's what dad said. 458 00:18:22,980 --> 00:18:24,060 And so he went back, told the man, 459 00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:26,100 the man was very, very angry at him. 460 00:18:27,020 --> 00:18:27,780 And he went on. 461 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:29,660 A few days later, the man contacted him 462 00:18:29,660 --> 00:18:31,980 again, gave him a great big fat reward. 463 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,260 And he said, if you would have delivered 464 00:18:36,260 --> 00:18:38,760 that letter, I would have been financially ruined 465 00:18:39,460 --> 00:18:41,880 because I delivered that letter in anger. 466 00:18:42,820 --> 00:18:45,460 And he learned some more facts about it. 467 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:47,800 And so he gave the boy a nice 468 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:48,660 big fat reward. 469 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,020 And you know what the little boy said? 470 00:18:50,540 --> 00:18:51,980 All things come from above. 471 00:18:53,220 --> 00:18:54,280 The bad and the good. 472 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:55,760 And the story just went like that. 473 00:18:55,820 --> 00:18:57,220 Different things happening to him. 474 00:18:57,880 --> 00:18:58,140 All right. 475 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:00,500 Before man can receive spiritual things, he must 476 00:19:00,500 --> 00:19:01,700 be given spiritual things. 477 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:04,580 And actually, if God first gives, and he 478 00:19:04,580 --> 00:19:10,150 does, and if we receive, then there will 479 00:19:10,150 --> 00:19:13,490 be no room on our part for boasting, 480 00:19:13,930 --> 00:19:18,710 envy, pride, fear, bitterness, anger, all those different 481 00:19:18,710 --> 00:19:19,730 things, worry. 482 00:19:21,810 --> 00:19:23,290 John knew who he was. 483 00:19:23,890 --> 00:19:25,230 John knew where he came from. 484 00:19:25,390 --> 00:19:27,290 John knew what his commission was. 485 00:19:27,530 --> 00:19:29,590 He was sent to proclaim and to push 486 00:19:29,590 --> 00:19:30,010 Christ. 487 00:19:30,730 --> 00:19:33,410 And he says, I am sent before Him. 488 00:19:34,730 --> 00:19:36,990 He said, a man can receive nothing except 489 00:19:36,990 --> 00:19:38,230 it be given him from heaven. 490 00:19:38,570 --> 00:19:40,430 You yourselves bear me witness that I said 491 00:19:40,430 --> 00:19:42,170 I am not the Christ, but that I 492 00:19:42,170 --> 00:19:43,230 am sent before Him. 493 00:19:44,810 --> 00:19:45,730 God gave. 494 00:19:45,730 --> 00:19:46,830 I received. 495 00:19:48,090 --> 00:19:49,490 And so he's saying that. 496 00:19:51,830 --> 00:19:56,290 In verse 29, he talks about the bride. 497 00:19:56,450 --> 00:19:57,930 Traditionally, this is looked at. 498 00:19:58,330 --> 00:19:59,850 I went and looked at a couple of 499 00:19:59,850 --> 00:20:00,710 my commentaries. 500 00:20:01,710 --> 00:20:04,270 And they say that the bride refers to 501 00:20:04,270 --> 00:20:05,010 the church here. 502 00:20:06,510 --> 00:20:08,770 And I'm not going to get into it 503 00:20:08,770 --> 00:20:10,890 now, but it's a very interesting thing that 504 00:20:10,890 --> 00:20:14,030 the church hasn't even been born yet at 505 00:20:14,030 --> 00:20:14,510 this point. 506 00:20:14,590 --> 00:20:15,590 They're dealing with Israel. 507 00:20:16,650 --> 00:20:18,010 John was sent to Israel. 508 00:20:18,190 --> 00:20:20,110 Jesus was sent primarily at that time. 509 00:20:20,250 --> 00:20:21,330 His mission was to Israel. 510 00:20:21,470 --> 00:20:23,410 Remember the woman that came about the crumbs 511 00:20:23,410 --> 00:20:24,010 under the table? 512 00:20:24,170 --> 00:20:28,950 And he says, and so when these commentaries 513 00:20:28,950 --> 00:20:30,870 say this refers to the church. 514 00:20:32,430 --> 00:20:35,110 I'm scratching my head and say, wow, we're 515 00:20:35,110 --> 00:20:37,630 really scratching around and maybe stretching here a 516 00:20:37,630 --> 00:20:37,810 little bit. 517 00:20:37,870 --> 00:20:38,590 This is interesting. 518 00:20:38,670 --> 00:20:40,470 And I went back and studied and the 519 00:20:40,470 --> 00:20:42,010 church is referred to as the bride. 520 00:20:42,090 --> 00:20:43,790 That's not any problem there. 521 00:20:43,790 --> 00:20:50,310 But it was just the bride here really 522 00:20:50,310 --> 00:20:53,090 is presented as a company of regenerated Israelites 523 00:20:53,090 --> 00:20:57,170 who were receiving the Messiah at this context, 524 00:20:57,270 --> 00:20:58,050 right in this section. 525 00:20:58,670 --> 00:21:02,630 And the work is not completed with this 526 00:21:02,630 --> 00:21:04,690 aspect of the bride of Christ. 527 00:21:04,830 --> 00:21:06,270 Matter of fact, we are referred to as 528 00:21:06,270 --> 00:21:06,690 a body. 529 00:21:08,250 --> 00:21:10,270 In the New Testament, we're at a body. 530 00:21:11,150 --> 00:21:13,110 And God's going to get some things together 531 00:21:13,110 --> 00:21:14,810 and we'd have to go over to Revelation 532 00:21:14,810 --> 00:21:17,530 19-21 and look in there and see 533 00:21:17,530 --> 00:21:20,410 how Jerusalem comes down from above adorned as 534 00:21:20,410 --> 00:21:20,970 a bride. 535 00:21:21,450 --> 00:21:23,010 And there are precious jewels in there. 536 00:21:23,490 --> 00:21:25,150 But anyway, I thought this was an interesting 537 00:21:25,150 --> 00:21:29,410 little thing that John the Baptist used this 538 00:21:29,970 --> 00:21:31,990 as a word picture to them. 539 00:21:32,050 --> 00:21:34,270 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom. 540 00:21:35,470 --> 00:21:37,410 But the friend of the bridegroom, this would 541 00:21:37,410 --> 00:21:40,150 be John the Baptist, which standeth and heareth 542 00:21:40,150 --> 00:21:43,030 him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. 543 00:21:43,390 --> 00:21:45,630 This my joy therefore is fulfilled. 544 00:21:47,130 --> 00:21:48,770 This is why envy wouldn't stick in him. 545 00:21:49,450 --> 00:21:52,350 He was not to marry the bride. 546 00:21:52,910 --> 00:21:55,630 The bride was for the groom. 547 00:21:56,190 --> 00:21:58,470 And so, what would have been the problem 548 00:21:58,470 --> 00:22:00,030 is if he hung on to part of 549 00:22:00,030 --> 00:22:02,810 the multitude and said, oh, you stay with 550 00:22:02,810 --> 00:22:03,110 me. 551 00:22:03,870 --> 00:22:06,030 But his job was to get them to 552 00:22:06,030 --> 00:22:06,770 go to Jesus. 553 00:22:09,810 --> 00:22:10,970 What's your job? 554 00:22:11,050 --> 00:22:12,130 Who are you getting the people to go 555 00:22:12,130 --> 00:22:12,330 to? 556 00:22:12,470 --> 00:22:16,150 This is why guys in their churches, many 557 00:22:16,150 --> 00:22:17,290 build up their own kingdoms. 558 00:22:17,950 --> 00:22:20,050 They want the multitudes for themselves. 559 00:22:20,210 --> 00:22:21,070 There's another lesson. 560 00:22:22,070 --> 00:22:22,930 Matter of fact, I'm going to take you 561 00:22:22,930 --> 00:22:26,010 through a series of six lessons as we 562 00:22:26,010 --> 00:22:28,550 move on ahead, as we move on down 563 00:22:28,550 --> 00:22:29,350 through the passage. 564 00:22:30,030 --> 00:22:33,230 In verse 29, we had this. 565 00:22:33,750 --> 00:22:35,190 Notice, there's the standing. 566 00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:38,940 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom, 567 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,160 but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth 568 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:42,760 and heareth him. 569 00:22:44,020 --> 00:22:44,900 John stood. 570 00:22:45,380 --> 00:22:47,640 The two disciples stood with him at the 571 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:48,120 first two. 572 00:22:48,180 --> 00:22:48,840 He says they stood. 573 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:50,720 They looked and they heard. 574 00:22:50,860 --> 00:22:52,220 I noticed these three things. 575 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,420 And here's the lesson, spiritual lesson for us. 576 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,580 We must stand before we can hear him. 577 00:22:59,660 --> 00:23:01,660 We must stand before we can hear him. 578 00:23:04,860 --> 00:23:07,540 I was never taught this in all those 579 00:23:07,540 --> 00:23:08,820 years in college. 580 00:23:10,540 --> 00:23:13,500 I was taught you're going to be trained, 581 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:15,020 you're going to be equipped to go out 582 00:23:15,020 --> 00:23:16,880 there and really do a job. 583 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,840 But I never did have a course on 584 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:26,080 standing, being still, listening, receiving from God, and 585 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:26,680 then going out. 586 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,760 It was all geared for head knowledge, going 587 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:32,000 out and throwing in a little prayer here 588 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:32,360 and there. 589 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,120 They didn't teach us to stand still, to 590 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:37,020 go and get it out of prayer. 591 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:38,400 In the times, listen to God. 592 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:39,340 What's God have to say? 593 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:40,640 If he doesn't have anything to say, you'd 594 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:41,060 be quiet. 595 00:23:47,620 --> 00:23:54,420 Grasping for the wrong treasure leaves you with 596 00:23:54,420 --> 00:23:58,300 an empty basket, leaves you empty. 597 00:23:58,900 --> 00:24:01,020 And this is why so much burnout and 598 00:24:01,020 --> 00:24:06,240 so much dissatisfaction in the churches, in their 599 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:06,440 lives. 600 00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:07,760 This is why so many people now are 601 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,200 roaming around here and there looking for a 602 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:14,220 church, whatever, because they receive so little from 603 00:24:14,220 --> 00:24:16,100 this type of a system. 604 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:21,900 But John, he says, they stand it. 605 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,180 He stood and he heard and then he 606 00:24:25,180 --> 00:24:25,740 rejoiced. 607 00:24:26,140 --> 00:24:27,400 And so this is what I say. 608 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,900 We must stand before we can hear him. 609 00:24:31,420 --> 00:24:33,540 Standing is a cessation of activity. 610 00:24:34,100 --> 00:24:35,380 And so here it is. 611 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:37,640 Standing, hearing, rejoicing. 612 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:39,260 These three things, I wrote them down. 613 00:24:39,500 --> 00:24:44,560 Standing, hearing, be still, hear, and then rejoice. 614 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:47,340 And so if you don't stand and you 615 00:24:47,340 --> 00:24:49,460 don't hear and you want to have the 616 00:24:49,460 --> 00:24:50,800 joy, what do you do? 617 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:53,700 You pump up some artificial joy. 618 00:24:54,580 --> 00:24:56,840 And so we got our artificial joy programs 619 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:57,560 around today. 620 00:24:58,060 --> 00:24:59,400 Because we won't be still. 621 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,380 A lot of places are very noisy places. 622 00:25:02,780 --> 00:25:03,940 You can't even hear yourself think. 623 00:25:04,120 --> 00:25:05,500 Music would be so loud in there. 624 00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:06,920 You can't hear God. 625 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,440 All you can hear is the drumbeat of 626 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:14,340 the activity of man driven, many, by other 627 00:25:14,340 --> 00:25:14,860 spirits. 628 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,420 Here's another lesson out of these little six 629 00:25:18,420 --> 00:25:19,880 concluding lessons. 630 00:25:20,620 --> 00:25:23,520 Joy, I notice, is the byproduct of hearing 631 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:24,860 the bridegroom's voice. 632 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:27,520 It's the byproduct. 633 00:25:29,890 --> 00:25:31,490 And that's a perfect tense, too. 634 00:25:32,150 --> 00:25:35,730 Hearing, continuous action, continued, keep hearing, continue. 635 00:25:35,730 --> 00:25:37,330 Okay, verse 30. 636 00:25:37,470 --> 00:25:38,190 Now let's slip on down. 637 00:25:38,590 --> 00:25:41,350 He must increase, but I must decrease. 638 00:25:42,930 --> 00:25:44,450 This lesson is very obvious. 639 00:25:44,590 --> 00:25:47,950 The more I decrease, the more I delight 640 00:25:47,950 --> 00:25:50,790 in standing and hearing. 641 00:25:51,670 --> 00:25:52,850 Now let me say it again. 642 00:25:53,250 --> 00:25:55,130 Because it may not be as obvious as 643 00:25:55,130 --> 00:25:55,490 you think. 644 00:25:55,590 --> 00:25:58,410 The more I decrease, the more I delight 645 00:25:58,410 --> 00:25:59,670 in standing and hearing. 646 00:25:59,790 --> 00:26:01,230 Do you delight in being still? 647 00:26:05,050 --> 00:26:07,990 Do you delight in quietness and calmness? 648 00:26:08,730 --> 00:26:10,170 Some don't know what it is. 649 00:26:10,490 --> 00:26:11,650 From the time they get up in the 650 00:26:11,650 --> 00:26:13,850 morning, they flip on the radio, and they're 651 00:26:13,850 --> 00:26:16,130 doing this and that, and they have no 652 00:26:16,130 --> 00:26:17,190 periods of silence. 653 00:26:18,050 --> 00:26:20,390 So how can you hear God, who's continually 654 00:26:20,390 --> 00:26:20,790 speaking? 655 00:26:20,910 --> 00:26:22,950 The more I stand and hear, the more 656 00:26:22,950 --> 00:26:24,370 He will increase. 657 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:29,740 To decrease is to be less occupied with 658 00:26:29,740 --> 00:26:30,480 ourselves. 659 00:26:31,860 --> 00:26:34,580 Interesting that Jesus would say, no man can 660 00:26:34,580 --> 00:26:35,600 serve two masters. 661 00:26:36,260 --> 00:26:38,480 Either he'll love the one and hate the 662 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:38,680 other. 663 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:40,780 And I wonder if a lot of this 664 00:26:40,780 --> 00:26:42,920 stuff going around that we call Christianity isn't 665 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:46,620 just self-love and self-service. 666 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:48,960 And we go through all of this. 667 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:51,700 A fourth lesson. 668 00:26:54,300 --> 00:26:57,780 Humility is the byproduct of being occupied with 669 00:26:57,780 --> 00:26:58,460 Christ. 670 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:00,900 A lot of people want to be humble. 671 00:27:01,220 --> 00:27:03,000 I want to be humble, but I can't 672 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:03,460 be humble. 673 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,340 All I can do is occupy myself with 674 00:27:07,340 --> 00:27:10,100 Christ and humility will be the byproduct. 675 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,520 John the Baptist was occupied with Christ. 676 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:15,160 His sole mission, his desire, his love, his 677 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,360 heartbeat was for the Messiah. 678 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:21,320 Hey, you better be a little bit concerned 679 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:22,340 about yourself, John. 680 00:27:22,420 --> 00:27:23,380 He's getting bigger crowds. 681 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,340 Not concerned about John at all. 682 00:27:25,980 --> 00:27:28,760 Just concerned that Jesus would be lifted up. 683 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:30,200 Humility. 684 00:27:30,540 --> 00:27:32,480 And so, he was humble. 685 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,620 And because of his position of being so 686 00:27:35,620 --> 00:27:38,020 low, Jesus said, among those that are born 687 00:27:38,020 --> 00:27:39,800 of women, there's none greater than John the 688 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:39,980 Baptist. 689 00:27:40,180 --> 00:27:43,440 What a testimony of the Messiah for him. 690 00:27:43,820 --> 00:27:46,080 Humility is the byproduct of being occupied with 691 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:46,500 Christ. 692 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:50,320 We're changed from glory to glory, 2 Corinthians 693 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,800 3.18. By what you look at will 694 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:54,340 change you. 695 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,160 His whole focus was on Jesus and that 696 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:58,800 changed him and made him such a wonderful, 697 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,920 beautiful person in himself because of his looking 698 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:03,340 at Jesus. 699 00:28:03,460 --> 00:28:04,000 Verse 31. 700 00:28:07,470 --> 00:28:09,270 He that cometh from above is above all. 701 00:28:09,270 --> 00:28:11,190 He that is of the earth is earthly 702 00:28:11,190 --> 00:28:12,870 and speaketh of the earth. 703 00:28:16,300 --> 00:28:19,600 He that cometh from above is above all. 704 00:28:20,420 --> 00:28:22,560 He that is of the earth is earthly 705 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:24,840 and speaketh of the earth. 706 00:28:25,340 --> 00:28:28,520 He that cometh from heaven is above all. 707 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:33,060 This is not the same as world and 708 00:28:33,060 --> 00:28:34,060 worldly, I don't think. 709 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:36,920 John was saying, I live in this earth. 710 00:28:37,360 --> 00:28:38,260 I'm earthly. 711 00:28:39,220 --> 00:28:40,560 Men, we're earthly. 712 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:42,180 But Jesus, He's not. 713 00:28:43,380 --> 00:28:44,140 He's different. 714 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:45,720 He came from above. 715 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:47,920 He that cometh from heaven is above all. 716 00:28:47,940 --> 00:28:49,660 So He's above us. 717 00:28:50,100 --> 00:28:52,140 And the lesson here, I think, that Christ 718 00:28:52,140 --> 00:28:54,440 would give us is that we are limited 719 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:57,980 by our finite grasp. 720 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:01,120 Now, there's a treasure in the box. 721 00:29:02,460 --> 00:29:04,340 The one that gets the treasure is the 722 00:29:04,340 --> 00:29:05,980 one that will grasp it. 723 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:08,620 John is saying, we're earthly. 724 00:29:09,180 --> 00:29:15,440 But we've got to understand that and his 725 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:17,460 lesson there, Jesus is not. 726 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:18,920 He's from above. 727 00:29:19,100 --> 00:29:20,840 And what He has seen and heard that 728 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,440 He testifies and no man received His testimony. 729 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:24,480 It's just like a treasure. 730 00:29:24,980 --> 00:29:26,740 If you're going to get the treasure that's 731 00:29:26,740 --> 00:29:28,340 in the box, you've got to go over 732 00:29:28,340 --> 00:29:29,820 there and open the box and get it. 733 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:30,900 Do you want the treasure? 734 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:34,800 If you want the treasure, you go over 735 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:36,080 to the box, you open it up and 736 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:36,520 you get it. 737 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,180 If you want the treasure, you grab a 738 00:29:39,180 --> 00:29:39,760 hold of it. 739 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:42,880 And He's trying to get these guys to 740 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:43,300 understand. 741 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:44,820 We've got to move out of the earthly 742 00:29:44,820 --> 00:29:46,840 realm and into the spiritual realm. 743 00:29:48,340 --> 00:29:49,640 And He said about the Lord and what 744 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:51,640 He has seen and heard that He testifies 745 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:53,180 and no man received His testimony. 746 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:55,020 Now, here's an interesting lesson. 747 00:29:56,140 --> 00:29:59,920 In this lesson on being limited by our 748 00:29:59,920 --> 00:30:04,860 finite grasp, by our understanding or whatever, Jesus 749 00:30:04,860 --> 00:30:05,980 had no limitations. 750 00:30:06,180 --> 00:30:06,980 John's telling them. 751 00:30:07,580 --> 00:30:09,780 And then He comes out with this lesson 752 00:30:09,780 --> 00:30:10,920 here in verse 32. 753 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:13,080 And what He has seen and heard that 754 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,360 He testifies and no man received His testimony. 755 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:17,380 Now, I think this is interesting. 756 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:18,540 An interesting lesson. 757 00:30:19,780 --> 00:30:23,300 Statistics are feeble in measuring spiritual results. 758 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:25,720 Notice what He said. 759 00:30:27,020 --> 00:30:29,000 No man received His testimony. 760 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:31,380 You go back over to 326. 761 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:33,500 They came in as John said unto Him, 762 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,260 Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan 763 00:30:35,260 --> 00:30:36,840 to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the same 764 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:37,400 baptizeth. 765 00:30:37,580 --> 00:30:39,260 And all men come to Him. 766 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:42,280 They're measuring big multitudes. 767 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:47,340 John said unto him, Statistics are feeble. 768 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:53,700 We left off in 224 where Jesus would 769 00:30:53,700 --> 00:30:54,640 not commit Himself. 770 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:57,680 Jesus did not commit Himself unto them because 771 00:30:57,680 --> 00:30:59,640 He knew all men. 772 00:31:00,060 --> 00:31:01,440 So this is a lesson we need to 773 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:01,880 take to heart. 774 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,120 We know politicians can drum up the statistics 775 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:07,100 for whatever their purpose. 776 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:09,140 News media, we know they do that all 777 00:31:09,140 --> 00:31:09,860 the time. 778 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:13,820 So statistics really depend on who's putting them 779 00:31:13,820 --> 00:31:14,160 together. 780 00:31:14,780 --> 00:31:16,460 You want a true statistic, you get somebody 781 00:31:16,460 --> 00:31:16,900 that's neutral. 782 00:31:17,060 --> 00:31:19,360 John had a true statistic there. 783 00:31:19,820 --> 00:31:21,840 Really, very few are receiving Him. 784 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:23,900 Have you received His testimony? 785 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:25,120 Have you received His word? 786 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:28,200 Let me ask you this question. 787 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:29,900 I'm going to close down. 788 00:31:29,900 --> 00:31:34,340 Why don't men receive Jesus? 789 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,940 Why would not these Jews receive His testimony? 790 00:31:42,820 --> 00:31:45,120 What would really be in the heart of 791 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:48,740 a man to keep them from rejecting the 792 00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:49,080 gospel? 793 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:53,620 Think about it. 794 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,940 Actually, for someone to reject the gospel, they 795 00:31:56,940 --> 00:31:57,800 are just crazy. 796 00:31:58,740 --> 00:32:01,400 To reject Christ, they are just crazy because 797 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:03,460 they're going to die and go spend eternity 798 00:32:03,460 --> 00:32:06,140 in hell and burn forever. 799 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:10,820 So what would make them do that? 800 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:16,120 Some, you'd say, well, they're earthly minded. 801 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:20,500 They're too educated. 802 00:32:21,100 --> 00:32:23,360 Some are too brilliant. 803 00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:25,140 They just can't figure it out. 804 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:26,720 Some are too proud. 805 00:32:27,180 --> 00:32:32,080 Some are too high-born, just too dignant. 806 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:34,280 They can't bow down. 807 00:32:34,620 --> 00:32:35,500 It's too much for them. 808 00:32:35,500 --> 00:32:37,740 They're too haughty. 809 00:32:37,980 --> 00:32:38,980 They're whatever. 810 00:32:39,420 --> 00:32:41,540 You know, the scripture says to the Jews, 811 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,340 Jesus was a stumbling block. 812 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:48,000 And to the Greeks, He was foolishness. 813 00:32:48,860 --> 00:32:53,520 To you, most of us here today, we 814 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:55,980 would say He is our light, delight. 815 00:32:56,100 --> 00:32:56,840 He is our love. 816 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:02,340 So why would people want to reject Jesus? 817 00:33:08,020 --> 00:33:10,400 The root reason for the rejection of Christ 818 00:33:11,100 --> 00:33:12,100 is in this chapter. 819 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:15,520 It's in verse 19. 820 00:33:16,940 --> 00:33:18,100 You remember that? 821 00:33:19,140 --> 00:33:21,080 And this is the condemnation that light has 822 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:24,500 come into the world and men love darkness 823 00:33:24,500 --> 00:33:27,300 rather than light because their deeds were evil. 824 00:33:28,500 --> 00:33:30,800 Because people love their sin. 825 00:33:32,940 --> 00:33:34,000 They love darkness. 826 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:37,960 Then verse 33, as we slip on down, 827 00:33:38,460 --> 00:33:41,340 just make some comments on this. 828 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:45,960 He that hath received His testimony hath set 829 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:47,880 to His seal that God is true. 830 00:33:48,020 --> 00:33:49,440 Set to His seal that God is true. 831 00:33:49,540 --> 00:33:51,960 This is a meaning to certify or to 832 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:52,360 ratify. 833 00:33:53,420 --> 00:33:57,580 Is your life a ratification or confirmation that 834 00:33:57,580 --> 00:33:58,260 God is true? 835 00:33:59,860 --> 00:34:02,260 I think this is why John says, back 836 00:34:02,260 --> 00:34:04,160 over in 1 John 3, and it's so 837 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:08,000 powerful, that He that is controlled by sin 838 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,800 has a testimony, has His seal that He 839 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:12,620 is not free, that God is not true 840 00:34:12,620 --> 00:34:13,679 in His life. 841 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:16,260 And then verse 34. 842 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:18,780 For he whom God has sent speaketh the 843 00:34:18,780 --> 00:34:19,280 words of God. 844 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:21,120 For God giveth not the Spirit by measure 845 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:21,600 unto Him. 846 00:34:22,500 --> 00:34:24,380 And basically words there is Ramos. 847 00:34:24,980 --> 00:34:26,540 The Spirit abode upon Him. 848 00:34:26,860 --> 00:34:28,900 It's said in 1 John 3, and we 849 00:34:28,900 --> 00:34:30,400 started off in the book that the Spirit 850 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:31,920 abode on Christ. 851 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:34,080 For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of 852 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:34,420 God. 853 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:37,320 So John is saying, for he whom God 854 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:38,820 has sent speaketh the words of God. 855 00:34:39,260 --> 00:34:43,920 He said, Jesus of Nazareth is speaking the 856 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:45,179 Word of God. 857 00:34:45,260 --> 00:34:47,179 You can't speak the Word of God unless 858 00:34:47,179 --> 00:34:47,860 you're God. 859 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:52,159 He said, actually, every word He spoke was 860 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:53,159 the Word of God. 861 00:34:53,219 --> 00:34:54,739 So if we take the Word of God 862 00:34:54,739 --> 00:34:58,400 and change it, I wouldn't want to be 863 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:00,440 in trouble with the Lord for doing that. 864 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:04,740 So He said, every rhema, every word that 865 00:35:04,740 --> 00:35:07,460 He came, came out of His mouth, was 866 00:35:07,460 --> 00:35:09,020 actually from God. 867 00:35:13,700 --> 00:35:15,300 And He set to His seal that God 868 00:35:15,300 --> 00:35:15,740 is true. 869 00:35:16,100 --> 00:35:17,000 The words are Ramos. 870 00:35:17,140 --> 00:35:18,640 Now, and then verse 35. 871 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,040 The Father loveth the Son and hath given 872 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,000 all things into His hand. 873 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:28,560 Look at the depth of the understanding of 874 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:32,560 John the Baptist in the relationship between Jesus 875 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:35,220 of Nazareth and God. 876 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:35,960 He understood. 877 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:38,340 The Father loveth the Son and hath given 878 00:35:38,340 --> 00:35:39,720 all things into His hand. 879 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:41,240 Who taught John these things? 880 00:35:42,260 --> 00:35:43,580 The Spirit of God did. 881 00:35:44,720 --> 00:35:46,700 And then he comes up with this closing 882 00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:47,380 verse. 883 00:35:50,540 --> 00:35:53,440 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting 884 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:53,960 life. 885 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:57,200 This is what John says later on when 886 00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:58,240 he records in 1 John. 887 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:00,400 He that hath the Son hath life. 888 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:01,580 Do you have life? 889 00:36:02,420 --> 00:36:04,100 Either you have it, or you don't. 890 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:07,200 Do you have this treasure? 891 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:08,620 Have you grasped it? 892 00:36:10,300 --> 00:36:11,700 Either you have it, or you don't. 893 00:36:11,780 --> 00:36:14,060 So far nobody's got up and got into 894 00:36:14,060 --> 00:36:15,240 the box to get the treasure. 895 00:36:18,100 --> 00:36:19,900 Grasping is a matter of taking a hold 896 00:36:19,900 --> 00:36:20,600 and getting it. 897 00:36:20,780 --> 00:36:22,400 And the first one to do it gets 898 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:22,660 it. 899 00:36:26,290 --> 00:36:27,770 Just like receiving Christ. 900 00:36:27,990 --> 00:36:29,790 If you get Him, you've got the treasure. 901 00:36:29,910 --> 00:36:31,470 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting 902 00:36:31,470 --> 00:36:31,950 life. 903 00:36:32,350 --> 00:36:34,010 And he that believeth not the Son shall 904 00:36:34,010 --> 00:36:35,690 not see life, but the wrath of God 905 00:36:36,590 --> 00:36:37,510 abideth on him. 906 00:36:38,850 --> 00:36:40,750 If you want the treasure, you've got to 907 00:36:40,750 --> 00:36:43,690 get up and go open the box and 908 00:36:43,690 --> 00:36:44,770 grasp the treasure. 909 00:36:45,170 --> 00:36:48,050 If you want Jesus, He's given, you have 910 00:36:48,050 --> 00:36:48,730 to receive Him. 911 00:36:49,070 --> 00:36:49,710 It comes from above. 912 00:36:52,900 --> 00:36:53,840 Who would like that treasure? 913 00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:58,880 Whoever would like eternal life has to grab 914 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:00,080 a hold of the eternal treasure. 915 00:37:00,920 --> 00:37:02,300 And whoever would like to have that treasure 916 00:37:02,300 --> 00:37:03,360 in that box has got to get up 917 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:04,240 and go over there and get it. 918 00:37:07,620 --> 00:37:08,980 Boys and girls, do you understand me? 919 00:37:22,620 --> 00:37:23,480 You're welcome. 920 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:27,040 Boy, did you all know there was a 921 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:27,960 treasure in that box? 922 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:31,220 John did. 923 00:37:31,380 --> 00:37:32,520 He knew something was in the box. 924 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:33,480 He got the message. 925 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:37,340 And when we go through this week, our 926 00:37:37,340 --> 00:37:39,720 business is going to be get people to 927 00:37:39,720 --> 00:37:41,380 get that treasure out of the box. 928 00:37:42,240 --> 00:37:42,820 Get Jesus. 929 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:43,820 Receive Jesus. 930 00:37:44,060 --> 00:37:44,960 Not to push ourselves. 931 00:37:46,660 --> 00:37:49,180 Don't be concerned if this happens or that 932 00:37:50,180 --> 00:37:51,420 about our circumstances. 933 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:52,660 Keep on being faithful. 934 00:37:53,100 --> 00:37:53,600 Let's pray. 935 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:00,420 We thank you, Father, for ministering to us. 936 00:38:00,540 --> 00:38:01,640 We thank you for your word. 937 00:38:02,700 --> 00:38:06,480 Lord, help us to grasp a hold of 938 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:08,160 that which you had for us today. 939 00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:09,820 May have been just one little nugget, one 940 00:38:09,820 --> 00:38:12,060 little statement that you had for us. 941 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:15,900 And that one little thing, if that's what 942 00:38:15,900 --> 00:38:18,300 you want, is all we need for today. 943 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:22,300 We may not remember anything else. 944 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:24,620 And we remember very little. 945 00:38:25,060 --> 00:38:26,720 We can't even remember what was preached last 946 00:38:26,720 --> 00:38:26,980 week. 947 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:30,260 But if we'll remember that and let it 948 00:38:30,260 --> 00:38:32,400 carry us through this week, somewhere along the 949 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:36,340 line, this week, it's going to be a 950 00:38:36,340 --> 00:38:37,620 valuable thing for us. 951 00:38:37,820 --> 00:38:39,700 Maybe it's a valuable thing right this moment. 952 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:40,880 Thank you for blessing us. 953 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:42,220 Thank you for coming by here. 954 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:45,580 Thank you for loving us. 955 00:38:46,820 --> 00:38:48,460 Thank you for dying on the cross for 956 00:38:48,460 --> 00:38:48,780 us. 957 00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:52,320 Help us to grasp what a treasure you 958 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:52,620 are. 959 00:38:53,700 --> 00:38:55,360 Not to get all wrapped up like the 960 00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:57,900 Jews in the ceremonialism and all of that 961 00:38:57,900 --> 00:39:02,320 stuff and to miss out on the true 962 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:02,720 treasure. 963 00:39:03,340 --> 00:39:04,980 Thank you, Father, in Jesus' name. 964 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:05,600 Amen.