1 00:00:00,450 --> 00:00:03,350 Welcome to From the Pulpit and Classic Sermons. 2 00:00:03,550 --> 00:00:05,530 Each week we bring you a different message 3 00:00:05,530 --> 00:00:07,610 from some of history's greatest speakers in the 4 00:00:07,610 --> 00:00:10,870 Christian faith and powerful sermons from modern preachers 5 00:00:10,870 --> 00:00:11,150 too. 6 00:00:11,370 --> 00:00:13,430 This week we have Derek Prince with his 7 00:00:13,430 --> 00:00:14,970 message, How to Enter In. 8 00:00:15,370 --> 00:00:19,690 We've been dealing with the whole salvation of 9 00:00:19,690 --> 00:00:22,410 God provided by the death of Jesus on 10 00:00:22,410 --> 00:00:22,930 the cross. 11 00:00:24,490 --> 00:00:28,810 I've suggested to you that everything that was 12 00:00:28,810 --> 00:00:31,310 accomplished for us by the death of Jesus 13 00:00:31,310 --> 00:00:34,910 on the cross is described by the single 14 00:00:34,910 --> 00:00:37,310 biblical word, salvation. 15 00:00:38,810 --> 00:00:41,870 We looked at a number of examples of 16 00:00:41,870 --> 00:00:44,290 the use of the word, save, in the 17 00:00:44,290 --> 00:00:48,410 New Testament which included a lot more than 18 00:00:48,410 --> 00:00:52,190 merely having our sins forgiven or even being 19 00:00:52,190 --> 00:00:52,890 born again. 20 00:00:53,790 --> 00:00:57,870 I believe it would be practical to consider 21 00:00:57,870 --> 00:01:02,590 now what the New Testament teaches about how 22 00:01:02,590 --> 00:01:04,870 to enter into salvation. 23 00:01:06,570 --> 00:01:10,570 Meaning, not just the forgiveness of your sins. 24 00:01:10,570 --> 00:01:13,210 When I say just, I don't want in 25 00:01:13,210 --> 00:01:16,750 any way to underestimate because it's a tremendous 26 00:01:16,750 --> 00:01:18,490 miracle to have your sins forgiven. 27 00:01:19,090 --> 00:01:22,350 But it's only a little part of God's 28 00:01:22,350 --> 00:01:24,670 total provision in salvation. 29 00:01:25,530 --> 00:01:28,990 Now you are familiar with many Scriptures that 30 00:01:28,990 --> 00:01:33,370 speak about being saved, but probably you've never 31 00:01:33,370 --> 00:01:37,950 applied them to this more full picture of 32 00:01:37,950 --> 00:01:38,490 salvation. 33 00:01:38,490 --> 00:01:40,750 So I want to take some of those 34 00:01:40,750 --> 00:01:46,010 Scriptures and show you how to enter into 35 00:01:46,010 --> 00:01:46,690 salvation. 36 00:01:47,250 --> 00:01:50,850 I want to add that it's a progressive 37 00:01:50,850 --> 00:01:52,390 experience. 38 00:01:53,130 --> 00:01:55,530 It's not just a one-time experience. 39 00:01:55,890 --> 00:01:59,810 Salvation is something that unfolds and becomes fuller 40 00:01:59,810 --> 00:02:02,530 and richer the more you move into it. 41 00:02:03,450 --> 00:02:06,490 The Scriptures that I'm going to take will 42 00:02:06,490 --> 00:02:09,070 be familiar to many of you, but I'll 43 00:02:09,070 --> 00:02:12,690 give them a slightly new application because of 44 00:02:12,690 --> 00:02:14,910 the increased scope of salvation. 45 00:02:15,610 --> 00:02:18,410 We'll turn first of all to Mark chapter 46 00:02:18,410 --> 00:02:24,190 1 and verse 15, which is the first 47 00:02:24,190 --> 00:02:27,610 public preaching of Jesus with which He opened 48 00:02:27,610 --> 00:02:28,310 His ministry. 49 00:02:28,310 --> 00:02:33,650 It says there that He said, The time 50 00:02:33,650 --> 00:02:36,910 is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at 51 00:02:36,910 --> 00:02:41,210 hand, repent and believe the gospel. 52 00:02:42,090 --> 00:02:46,290 So the first two requirements, and these run 53 00:02:46,290 --> 00:02:51,150 all through the New Testament, are repent and 54 00:02:51,150 --> 00:02:51,590 believe. 55 00:02:53,110 --> 00:02:57,730 Now, there is a kind of preaching which 56 00:02:57,730 --> 00:03:02,470 leaves out repent and says only believe. 57 00:03:03,410 --> 00:03:05,110 But it is not Scriptural. 58 00:03:06,070 --> 00:03:09,610 I question whether it is possible to believe 59 00:03:10,310 --> 00:03:12,810 the way the New Testament speaks of believing 60 00:03:12,810 --> 00:03:15,810 without first repenting. 61 00:03:16,070 --> 00:03:18,730 At least, you will find all through the 62 00:03:18,730 --> 00:03:21,290 New Testament from the ministry of John the 63 00:03:21,290 --> 00:03:24,970 Baptist onwards, through the ministry of Jesus, through 64 00:03:24,970 --> 00:03:27,510 the ministry of Peter, through the ministry of 65 00:03:27,510 --> 00:03:32,070 Paul, all the way through, that repentance is 66 00:03:32,070 --> 00:03:35,510 the first step towards salvation. 67 00:03:37,130 --> 00:03:39,710 On the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 68 00:03:39,710 --> 00:03:41,330 2, well, we might as well turn there 69 00:03:41,330 --> 00:03:42,350 while we're about it. 70 00:03:43,270 --> 00:03:46,810 Acts chapter 2, verses 37 and 38. 71 00:03:47,770 --> 00:03:51,170 After Peter had preached the sermon declaring the 72 00:03:51,170 --> 00:03:53,470 significance of the descent of the Holy Spirit, 73 00:03:55,030 --> 00:04:00,510 it says about the unbelievers present, in verse 74 00:04:00,510 --> 00:04:03,950 37, When they heard this, they were cut 75 00:04:03,950 --> 00:04:06,590 to the heart and said to Peter and 76 00:04:06,590 --> 00:04:08,290 to the rest of the apostles, Men and 77 00:04:08,290 --> 00:04:09,730 brethren, what shall we do? 78 00:04:10,090 --> 00:04:12,010 That was a practical question. 79 00:04:12,970 --> 00:04:15,630 And Peter immediately came up with a practical 80 00:04:15,630 --> 00:04:16,170 answer. 81 00:04:16,810 --> 00:04:20,410 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let 82 00:04:20,410 --> 00:04:21,970 every one of you be baptized in the 83 00:04:21,970 --> 00:04:23,650 name of Jesus Christ for the remission of 84 00:04:23,650 --> 00:04:26,830 sins, and you shall receive the gift of 85 00:04:26,830 --> 00:04:27,550 the Holy Spirit. 86 00:04:28,450 --> 00:04:34,050 I understand that as God's unvarying reply to 87 00:04:34,050 --> 00:04:36,070 the sinner who wants to know what God 88 00:04:36,070 --> 00:04:37,070 requires him to do. 89 00:04:37,930 --> 00:04:41,530 The church has truncated the message and in 90 00:04:41,530 --> 00:04:44,390 some sense misapplied the message, but the message 91 00:04:44,390 --> 00:04:45,450 remains the same. 92 00:04:46,010 --> 00:04:48,450 And if I'm dealing with a sinner who 93 00:04:48,450 --> 00:04:50,090 says to me, What am I to do? 94 00:04:50,610 --> 00:04:52,510 It will always be my aim to give 95 00:04:52,510 --> 00:04:54,350 him the full biblical answer. 96 00:04:54,610 --> 00:04:59,450 Repent, be baptized, and then you are qualified 97 00:04:59,450 --> 00:05:01,510 to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 98 00:05:01,550 --> 00:05:03,230 I don't believe God has ever changed His 99 00:05:03,230 --> 00:05:03,610 program. 100 00:05:04,210 --> 00:05:05,590 But I want to point out to you 101 00:05:05,590 --> 00:05:08,850 that the first requirement is repent. 102 00:05:10,550 --> 00:05:14,810 Now the Greek word to repent, I don't 103 00:05:14,810 --> 00:05:16,790 think it does much good my writing Greek 104 00:05:16,790 --> 00:05:19,890 words up on the board, but it means 105 00:05:19,890 --> 00:05:23,310 primarily to change your mind. 106 00:05:24,350 --> 00:05:28,250 In secular Greek literature you'll find almost invariably 107 00:05:28,250 --> 00:05:30,690 it'll be translated to change your mind. 108 00:05:31,410 --> 00:05:33,290 What I want to make clear to you 109 00:05:33,290 --> 00:05:36,070 is repentance is not primarily an emotion. 110 00:05:37,010 --> 00:05:38,270 It's a decision. 111 00:05:38,790 --> 00:05:41,650 It's your will, not your emotions, that God 112 00:05:41,650 --> 00:05:42,230 is after. 113 00:05:43,510 --> 00:05:47,550 You've been living one way, now you change 114 00:05:47,550 --> 00:05:49,850 your mind and you're going to live a 115 00:05:49,850 --> 00:05:50,450 different way. 116 00:05:51,150 --> 00:05:55,050 You've been living by your own rules, setting 117 00:05:55,050 --> 00:05:58,910 your own standards, pleasing yourself, doing your own 118 00:05:58,910 --> 00:05:59,270 thing. 119 00:05:59,890 --> 00:06:01,330 Now that's all over. 120 00:06:01,810 --> 00:06:05,410 Now you say, God, I submit to you. 121 00:06:06,610 --> 00:06:09,170 Show me what to do and I'll do 122 00:06:09,170 --> 00:06:09,330 it. 123 00:06:10,090 --> 00:06:11,310 That's repentance. 124 00:06:12,750 --> 00:06:14,890 Why do we all have to repent? 125 00:06:16,050 --> 00:06:19,490 Isaiah 53, verse 6 is the answer. 126 00:06:19,610 --> 00:06:22,730 Because we have all gone astray. 127 00:06:23,130 --> 00:06:26,470 We have turned everyone to his own way, 128 00:06:27,210 --> 00:06:31,170 which in one word I said was rebellion. 129 00:06:31,530 --> 00:06:32,130 That's right. 130 00:06:32,750 --> 00:06:36,110 And because we are all rebels, the first 131 00:06:36,110 --> 00:06:39,510 step that cannot be bypassed is we have 132 00:06:39,510 --> 00:06:40,890 to lay down our rebellion. 133 00:06:42,410 --> 00:06:44,910 Repentance is laying down your rebellion. 134 00:06:46,030 --> 00:06:48,150 You see, since the root problem of the 135 00:06:48,150 --> 00:06:52,350 human race is rebellion, any form of religion 136 00:06:52,350 --> 00:06:56,190 which doesn't deal radically with rebellion is ineffective. 137 00:06:57,190 --> 00:06:58,850 And I have to say there is a 138 00:06:58,850 --> 00:07:04,510 whole area of presenting the gospel that doesn't 139 00:07:04,510 --> 00:07:05,430 deal with rebellion. 140 00:07:06,210 --> 00:07:12,290 That's why I'm sometimes concerned when people glibly 141 00:07:12,290 --> 00:07:15,070 say, I'm born again, or even I'm saved. 142 00:07:16,410 --> 00:07:19,390 If I don't see the evidence that they've 143 00:07:19,390 --> 00:07:23,430 laid down rebellion, I can't accept their claim 144 00:07:23,430 --> 00:07:24,310 that they're saved. 145 00:07:25,570 --> 00:07:27,750 It's very important to see this. 146 00:07:28,930 --> 00:07:31,070 I mean, I'm thinking of all sorts of 147 00:07:31,070 --> 00:07:34,710 people and situations that I know where they 148 00:07:34,710 --> 00:07:37,970 have a form of religion, they use all 149 00:07:37,970 --> 00:07:40,850 the language, but they're still doing their own 150 00:07:40,850 --> 00:07:41,450 sweet thing. 151 00:07:42,550 --> 00:07:44,450 They're still living by their own standards. 152 00:07:45,130 --> 00:07:47,590 They do as much of what God requires 153 00:07:47,590 --> 00:07:48,830 as they feel like doing. 154 00:07:50,410 --> 00:07:52,850 God gave me a message once about the 155 00:07:52,850 --> 00:07:55,210 behavior of King Saul when he was sent 156 00:07:55,210 --> 00:07:56,570 to deal with the Amalekites. 157 00:07:57,610 --> 00:08:00,710 He came back and told Prophet Samuel, I've 158 00:08:00,710 --> 00:08:01,850 done what God said. 159 00:08:02,890 --> 00:08:04,930 Samuel said, If that's so, why do I 160 00:08:04,930 --> 00:08:06,990 hear the sheep bleeding and the oxen lowing? 161 00:08:07,010 --> 00:08:08,490 Because he was told to kill them all. 162 00:08:09,550 --> 00:08:12,290 Dead sheep don't bleed and dead oxen don't 163 00:08:12,290 --> 00:08:12,550 low. 164 00:08:13,470 --> 00:08:14,850 A lot of people are like that. 165 00:08:14,890 --> 00:08:16,870 I've done everything that God told me but 166 00:08:16,870 --> 00:08:18,810 the sheep are still bleeding and the oxen 167 00:08:18,810 --> 00:08:19,610 are still lowing. 168 00:08:20,790 --> 00:08:22,290 The evidence isn't there. 169 00:08:23,410 --> 00:08:25,310 And as I was teaching that to my 170 00:08:25,310 --> 00:08:28,610 students in Africa once, I said to them, 171 00:08:28,670 --> 00:08:30,850 I'll tell you the lesson of this story. 172 00:08:31,470 --> 00:08:33,730 And God interrupted me inwardly. 173 00:08:33,970 --> 00:08:35,470 He said, I'll tell you the lesson of 174 00:08:35,470 --> 00:08:35,970 this story. 175 00:08:36,070 --> 00:08:39,990 The lesson is this, incomplete obedience is disobedience. 176 00:08:40,870 --> 00:08:42,830 The people who only do as much of 177 00:08:42,830 --> 00:08:44,990 what God tells them as they want to 178 00:08:44,990 --> 00:08:46,390 do, have never repented. 179 00:08:47,090 --> 00:08:47,930 They're still rebels. 180 00:08:48,670 --> 00:08:53,310 They're sweet, religious, maybe tongue speaking rebels, but 181 00:08:53,310 --> 00:08:53,950 still rebels. 182 00:08:53,950 --> 00:08:56,830 Is it possible to be a rebel and 183 00:08:56,830 --> 00:08:57,510 speak in tongues? 184 00:09:00,030 --> 00:09:02,730 The problem with tongue speakers, and I'm one 185 00:09:02,730 --> 00:09:05,450 myself, is that they think tongue speaking is 186 00:09:05,450 --> 00:09:06,690 a substitute for repentance. 187 00:09:06,830 --> 00:09:07,370 It isn't. 188 00:09:08,610 --> 00:09:10,850 There is no substitute for repentance. 189 00:09:12,310 --> 00:09:13,430 It's essential. 190 00:09:13,590 --> 00:09:14,110 It's inescapable. 191 00:09:15,570 --> 00:09:17,790 You have to lay down your rebellion. 192 00:09:18,190 --> 00:09:18,470 All right. 193 00:09:19,550 --> 00:09:21,950 Requirement number one, repent. 194 00:09:22,970 --> 00:09:25,850 Requirement number two, believe. 195 00:09:27,310 --> 00:09:29,850 There's no substitute for believing. 196 00:09:31,610 --> 00:09:33,890 Turn with me, if you want to, to 197 00:09:33,890 --> 00:09:35,870 Hebrews chapter 11 for a moment. 198 00:09:36,510 --> 00:09:37,790 Verse 6. 199 00:09:39,910 --> 00:09:41,910 Hebrews 11, verse 6. 200 00:09:43,490 --> 00:09:48,510 But without faith, it is impossible to please 201 00:09:48,510 --> 00:09:48,910 God. 202 00:09:50,270 --> 00:09:53,630 It's not difficult, it's impossible. 203 00:09:54,970 --> 00:09:58,710 For he who comes to God must, do 204 00:09:58,710 --> 00:09:58,970 what? 205 00:09:59,890 --> 00:10:00,370 Believe. 206 00:10:00,590 --> 00:10:01,050 That's right. 207 00:10:01,370 --> 00:10:02,710 There's no way around that. 208 00:10:03,510 --> 00:10:04,710 What have you got to believe? 209 00:10:04,790 --> 00:10:05,910 You've got to believe two things. 210 00:10:05,970 --> 00:10:06,550 It's important. 211 00:10:06,770 --> 00:10:08,210 Number one, you've got to believe that God 212 00:10:08,210 --> 00:10:09,790 is, that God exists. 213 00:10:09,930 --> 00:10:11,210 Most people believe that. 214 00:10:11,630 --> 00:10:12,590 That's not enough. 215 00:10:13,530 --> 00:10:15,350 You've got to believe that God is a 216 00:10:15,350 --> 00:10:18,190 rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 217 00:10:18,190 --> 00:10:21,610 And faith is having confidence in the character 218 00:10:21,610 --> 00:10:22,190 of God. 219 00:10:23,010 --> 00:10:25,410 It's believing that He's a just and a 220 00:10:25,410 --> 00:10:26,330 faithful God. 221 00:10:27,070 --> 00:10:29,750 Why unbelief is such a sin is it 222 00:10:29,750 --> 00:10:31,770 imputes wickedness to God. 223 00:10:32,690 --> 00:10:35,450 It implies that God won't do what He 224 00:10:35,450 --> 00:10:36,230 said He will do. 225 00:10:37,790 --> 00:10:40,750 So, it is required of us that we 226 00:10:40,750 --> 00:10:41,090 believe. 227 00:10:42,290 --> 00:10:44,650 Now, many of us have problems believing. 228 00:10:45,530 --> 00:10:47,750 I have problems at times believing. 229 00:10:49,230 --> 00:10:51,530 Let me tell you the solution. 230 00:10:53,030 --> 00:10:55,090 Faith, you know how faith comes. 231 00:10:55,190 --> 00:10:55,850 We've looked at this. 232 00:10:55,990 --> 00:11:01,190 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the 233 00:11:01,190 --> 00:11:02,170 Word of God. 234 00:11:03,050 --> 00:11:05,350 Listen, dear brother and sister, if you're having 235 00:11:05,350 --> 00:11:09,150 problems with believing, let me suggest to you 236 00:11:09,150 --> 00:11:10,970 that you spend a lot less time in 237 00:11:10,970 --> 00:11:13,210 front of the television and a lot more 238 00:11:13,210 --> 00:11:14,410 time in front of your Bible. 239 00:11:14,410 --> 00:11:16,770 It'll make a dramatic change in some of 240 00:11:16,770 --> 00:11:16,910 you. 241 00:11:18,170 --> 00:11:20,850 Faith does not come normally by watching the 242 00:11:20,850 --> 00:11:21,270 television. 243 00:11:21,470 --> 00:11:23,510 Now, there are some preachers on television, I 244 00:11:23,510 --> 00:11:23,770 agree. 245 00:11:25,230 --> 00:11:27,890 But if you really want faith, you've got 246 00:11:27,890 --> 00:11:30,210 to do the thing by which faith comes, 247 00:11:30,330 --> 00:11:33,530 which is, listen to the Word of God. 248 00:11:33,650 --> 00:11:35,350 Hear it, give it your attention. 249 00:11:36,690 --> 00:11:38,330 Faith comes by hearing. 250 00:11:39,030 --> 00:11:40,510 I'll tell you something else. 251 00:11:41,810 --> 00:11:44,810 We need to renounce unbelief. 252 00:11:45,770 --> 00:11:48,590 We need to take an active stand against 253 00:11:48,590 --> 00:11:49,190 unbelief. 254 00:11:49,610 --> 00:11:53,070 If you turn back in Hebrews to the 255 00:11:53,070 --> 00:11:59,150 third chapter, Hebrews 3, verse 12. 256 00:11:59,350 --> 00:12:00,530 Hebrews 3, verse 12. 257 00:12:02,090 --> 00:12:05,410 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of 258 00:12:05,410 --> 00:12:08,570 you an evil heart of unbelief. 259 00:12:09,910 --> 00:12:13,270 What kind of heart is an unbelieving heart? 260 00:12:13,650 --> 00:12:14,210 What is it? 261 00:12:14,610 --> 00:12:15,450 It's evil. 262 00:12:15,510 --> 00:12:16,910 It's not a harmless weakness. 263 00:12:17,670 --> 00:12:18,510 It's evil. 264 00:12:19,190 --> 00:12:21,190 I think the majority of the professing church 265 00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:23,850 treats unbelief as, you know, a kind of 266 00:12:23,850 --> 00:12:26,010 harmless weakness that we're all exposed to. 267 00:12:27,310 --> 00:12:29,150 One thing I've learned, and I think we're 268 00:12:29,150 --> 00:12:31,630 going to do it, is it's important to 269 00:12:31,630 --> 00:12:33,190 renounce unbelief. 270 00:12:34,430 --> 00:12:37,050 Many times before we conduct a healing service, 271 00:12:37,050 --> 00:12:38,890 one of the things we'll do is get 272 00:12:38,890 --> 00:12:40,410 people to renounce unbelief. 273 00:12:40,470 --> 00:12:44,070 Because, unbelief is a barrier between you and 274 00:12:44,070 --> 00:12:44,670 salvation. 275 00:12:45,350 --> 00:12:48,930 Not necessarily your initial experience of salvation, but 276 00:12:48,930 --> 00:12:51,130 your ongoing experience of salvation. 277 00:12:52,090 --> 00:12:53,670 I find it very helpful. 278 00:12:53,870 --> 00:12:55,970 I'm a preacher, but I still need to 279 00:12:55,970 --> 00:12:57,210 renounce unbelief. 280 00:12:58,810 --> 00:13:00,370 Ruth and I were talking about this last 281 00:13:00,370 --> 00:13:02,030 night, and she said something which rather stuck 282 00:13:02,030 --> 00:13:02,310 with me. 283 00:13:02,390 --> 00:13:03,990 She said, unbelief is like mildew. 284 00:13:03,990 --> 00:13:07,190 When it first comes you don't notice it, 285 00:13:07,290 --> 00:13:08,950 but it spreads and it grows and it 286 00:13:08,950 --> 00:13:09,870 affects other people. 287 00:13:11,390 --> 00:13:13,850 So, I'm going to suggest, and this is 288 00:13:13,850 --> 00:13:15,870 optional, you don't have to do it, that 289 00:13:15,870 --> 00:13:18,730 we just take a moment or two to 290 00:13:18,730 --> 00:13:20,850 renounce unbelief. 291 00:13:21,210 --> 00:13:21,730 All right? 292 00:13:21,930 --> 00:13:24,070 And to proclaim faith. 293 00:13:24,890 --> 00:13:26,870 See, it's very important what we say. 294 00:13:29,310 --> 00:13:31,550 So, let's turn to the Lord for a 295 00:13:31,550 --> 00:13:31,770 moment. 296 00:13:31,770 --> 00:13:34,790 Now, I'll be the one that speaks, but 297 00:13:34,790 --> 00:13:36,530 you're not dealing with me, you're dealing with 298 00:13:36,530 --> 00:13:36,810 God. 299 00:13:36,910 --> 00:13:38,330 You can close your eyes or keep your 300 00:13:38,330 --> 00:13:40,070 eyes open, that's absolutely up to you. 301 00:13:41,210 --> 00:13:43,970 But, I want to invite you to say 302 00:13:43,970 --> 00:13:45,630 this confession after me. 303 00:13:47,070 --> 00:13:52,250 O God, I confess that unbelief is a 304 00:13:52,250 --> 00:13:56,090 sin, and I have been guilty of that 305 00:13:56,090 --> 00:13:56,430 sin. 306 00:13:57,930 --> 00:14:00,610 And I ask you to forgive me now, 307 00:14:02,230 --> 00:14:04,550 and to deliver me from unbelief. 308 00:14:06,590 --> 00:14:08,990 And God, I want to declare my faith. 309 00:14:10,890 --> 00:14:12,150 I believe in You, God. 310 00:14:13,250 --> 00:14:14,930 I believe in God the Father. 311 00:14:16,310 --> 00:14:17,650 I believe in God the Son. 312 00:14:19,130 --> 00:14:20,710 I believe in God the Holy Spirit. 313 00:14:21,810 --> 00:14:25,050 I believe in the Bible, the Word of 314 00:14:25,050 --> 00:14:25,430 God. 315 00:14:25,430 --> 00:14:27,110 I believe it all. 316 00:14:27,710 --> 00:14:28,690 It's all true. 317 00:14:29,690 --> 00:14:30,890 God, I believe. 318 00:14:32,230 --> 00:14:35,350 Help me, I pray, in Jesus' name. 319 00:14:36,310 --> 00:14:36,570 Amen. 320 00:14:36,690 --> 00:14:37,750 Now just thank Him for a moment. 321 00:14:39,450 --> 00:14:40,950 All right, some of you will find it 322 00:14:40,950 --> 00:14:43,190 easier to receive from now on. 323 00:14:44,310 --> 00:14:46,650 Okay, the second thing you have to do 324 00:14:46,650 --> 00:14:47,630 is believe. 325 00:14:48,890 --> 00:14:51,930 The third thing is confess. 326 00:14:53,930 --> 00:14:57,710 Now, I know that in some cases there's 327 00:14:57,710 --> 00:15:00,490 been what I would call an excessive and 328 00:15:00,490 --> 00:15:03,930 unscriptural emphasis on confessing. 329 00:15:04,170 --> 00:15:07,210 But the fact of the matter is, confessing 330 00:15:07,210 --> 00:15:09,590 is still very scriptural. 331 00:15:10,150 --> 00:15:11,790 You can abuse anything. 332 00:15:12,050 --> 00:15:14,550 You can carry anything to extremes and people 333 00:15:14,550 --> 00:15:16,130 regularly do. 334 00:15:16,890 --> 00:15:19,690 But don't let the fact that some people 335 00:15:19,690 --> 00:15:23,890 have maybe abused this truth, keep you from 336 00:15:23,890 --> 00:15:24,530 enjoying it. 337 00:15:25,790 --> 00:15:29,390 All right, let's turn to Romans chapter 10, 338 00:15:31,150 --> 00:15:32,530 verses 9 and 10. 339 00:15:33,630 --> 00:15:35,030 That's the middle of a sentence. 340 00:15:35,190 --> 00:15:36,690 One of the problems with Paul was he 341 00:15:36,690 --> 00:15:37,910 wrote such long sentences. 342 00:15:38,090 --> 00:15:40,410 But we won't go into the whole of 343 00:15:40,410 --> 00:15:40,530 it. 344 00:15:40,590 --> 00:15:42,030 We'll just start in the middle of it. 345 00:15:43,410 --> 00:15:45,050 Romans 10, 9 and 10. 346 00:15:45,050 --> 00:15:48,850 That if you confess with your mouth the 347 00:15:48,850 --> 00:15:52,010 Lord Jesus, it's better to say Jesus as 348 00:15:52,010 --> 00:15:56,670 Lord, and believe in your heart that God 349 00:15:56,670 --> 00:15:59,950 has raised Him from the dead, you will 350 00:15:59,950 --> 00:16:01,970 be, what? 351 00:16:02,610 --> 00:16:03,250 Saved. 352 00:16:03,330 --> 00:16:03,690 That's right. 353 00:16:03,770 --> 00:16:05,930 That means total salvation. 354 00:16:06,890 --> 00:16:08,650 Everything that we've looked at. 355 00:16:08,970 --> 00:16:10,010 What do you have to do? 356 00:16:10,090 --> 00:16:11,430 What two things do you have to? 357 00:16:12,490 --> 00:16:16,710 Believe in the heart and confess with the 358 00:16:16,710 --> 00:16:17,070 mouth. 359 00:16:17,170 --> 00:16:19,770 And then in the next verse Paul changes 360 00:16:19,770 --> 00:16:20,390 the order. 361 00:16:21,590 --> 00:16:23,870 He says, for with the heart... 362 00:16:24,230 --> 00:16:26,490 I'm sorry, in the previous verse it was 363 00:16:26,490 --> 00:16:29,730 confess with the mouth and believe in the 364 00:16:29,730 --> 00:16:30,030 heart. 365 00:16:30,130 --> 00:16:32,410 Now he changes it and says, for with 366 00:16:32,410 --> 00:16:36,850 the heart one believes to righteousness and with 367 00:16:36,850 --> 00:16:40,150 the mouth confession is made to salvation. 368 00:16:40,790 --> 00:16:44,070 The Greek preposition is into salvation. 369 00:16:44,790 --> 00:16:50,270 With the mouth confession is made into salvation. 370 00:16:50,270 --> 00:16:51,970 How do you get into salvation? 371 00:16:52,730 --> 00:16:56,950 You believe with the heart and you confess 372 00:16:56,950 --> 00:16:57,910 with the mouth. 373 00:16:57,990 --> 00:17:00,510 It is not enough to believe in the 374 00:17:00,510 --> 00:17:00,850 heart. 375 00:17:01,990 --> 00:17:04,910 Nor is it enough just to confess with 376 00:17:04,910 --> 00:17:05,250 the mouth. 377 00:17:05,970 --> 00:17:08,790 We have some people who sincerely believe but 378 00:17:08,790 --> 00:17:10,150 they don't have the courage to confess. 379 00:17:11,210 --> 00:17:12,770 And we have other people who put on 380 00:17:12,770 --> 00:17:14,690 the act of confessing but they don't really 381 00:17:14,690 --> 00:17:15,130 believe. 382 00:17:15,990 --> 00:17:18,910 And neither of them get what God has 383 00:17:18,910 --> 00:17:19,190 promised. 384 00:17:19,550 --> 00:17:22,030 Because to get what God has promised you 385 00:17:22,030 --> 00:17:25,250 have to believe in the heart and confess 386 00:17:25,250 --> 00:17:26,030 with the mouth. 387 00:17:26,170 --> 00:17:27,990 That's the way into salvation. 388 00:17:27,990 --> 00:17:31,810 Whatever area or aspect of salvation you have 389 00:17:31,810 --> 00:17:35,170 in mind, the way in is believe with 390 00:17:35,170 --> 00:17:37,790 the heart, confess with the mouth. 391 00:17:38,010 --> 00:17:41,510 Now, we need to be clear as to 392 00:17:41,510 --> 00:17:44,610 the Scriptural meaning of the word confess. 393 00:17:46,010 --> 00:17:48,570 For many people, especially with a background in 394 00:17:48,570 --> 00:17:51,590 the Roman Catholic Church or other liturgical churches, 395 00:17:52,610 --> 00:17:55,170 confession means confessing your sins. 396 00:17:55,170 --> 00:17:58,610 But that is only a small part of 397 00:17:58,610 --> 00:18:00,650 what the Bible means by confession. 398 00:18:01,350 --> 00:18:06,510 The word confess is derived from a Latin 399 00:18:06,510 --> 00:18:09,190 word which we won't go into, which means 400 00:18:09,190 --> 00:18:11,430 to say the same as. 401 00:18:12,410 --> 00:18:15,890 It's the translation of the Greek word which 402 00:18:15,890 --> 00:18:19,230 means to say the same as. 403 00:18:19,650 --> 00:18:23,550 So confession is saying the same as. 404 00:18:24,250 --> 00:18:26,930 Now, saying the same as what? 405 00:18:27,630 --> 00:18:30,850 The answer is saying the same as God 406 00:18:30,850 --> 00:18:33,910 has already said in His Word. 407 00:18:34,630 --> 00:18:36,930 Or, to say it another way, it's making 408 00:18:36,930 --> 00:18:40,790 the words of your mouth agree with the 409 00:18:40,790 --> 00:18:41,990 written Word of God. 410 00:18:42,670 --> 00:18:43,870 That's confession. 411 00:18:44,830 --> 00:18:46,310 It's extremely important. 412 00:18:47,450 --> 00:18:49,790 I'd like you to turn to Hebrews for 413 00:18:49,790 --> 00:18:54,650 a moment and study what the epistle of 414 00:18:54,650 --> 00:18:59,030 Hebrews says about Jesus Christ as our High 415 00:18:59,030 --> 00:18:59,430 Priest. 416 00:19:00,130 --> 00:19:04,310 The unique revelation of Hebrews is the High 417 00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:05,430 Priestly ministry of Jesus. 418 00:19:05,530 --> 00:19:08,010 It is not really revealed anywhere else in 419 00:19:08,010 --> 00:19:08,630 the New Testament. 420 00:19:09,590 --> 00:19:12,230 But, you'll find as you study Hebrews that 421 00:19:12,230 --> 00:19:14,250 the High Priestly ministry of Jesus on our 422 00:19:14,250 --> 00:19:17,270 behalf in heaven is directly connected with our 423 00:19:17,270 --> 00:19:18,350 confession on earth. 424 00:19:19,190 --> 00:19:22,070 Turn to Hebrews 3, verse 1 for a 425 00:19:22,070 --> 00:19:22,390 moment. 426 00:19:24,110 --> 00:19:25,890 Hebrews 3, verse 1. 427 00:19:26,510 --> 00:19:30,030 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, 428 00:19:31,050 --> 00:19:34,150 consider the Apostle and High Priest of our 429 00:19:34,150 --> 00:19:36,290 confession, Christ Jesus. 430 00:19:37,230 --> 00:19:39,390 Jesus is called two things there. 431 00:19:40,050 --> 00:19:42,370 The Apostle, the High Priest. 432 00:19:43,190 --> 00:19:46,050 As Apostle, He was sent forth from God 433 00:19:46,050 --> 00:19:49,270 the Father to do the work of redemption. 434 00:19:50,090 --> 00:19:53,010 As High Priest, He's returned into the presence 435 00:19:53,010 --> 00:19:56,230 of the Father to represent before the Father 436 00:19:56,230 --> 00:19:59,170 those who have received His work of redemption. 437 00:19:59,530 --> 00:20:01,870 So He's both the Apostle and the High 438 00:20:01,870 --> 00:20:02,190 Priest. 439 00:20:02,570 --> 00:20:05,130 But the writer of Hebrews calls Him the 440 00:20:05,130 --> 00:20:07,680 High Priest of our confession. 441 00:20:08,590 --> 00:20:09,450 That's vital. 442 00:20:10,630 --> 00:20:14,630 His High Priestly ministry is directly related to 443 00:20:14,630 --> 00:20:15,710 what we confess. 444 00:20:15,710 --> 00:20:19,710 When we say with our mouth the same 445 00:20:19,710 --> 00:20:24,150 as the Bible says, Jesus Christ acknowledges us 446 00:20:24,150 --> 00:20:28,330 and stands behind our confession with His authority 447 00:20:28,330 --> 00:20:28,750 in heaven. 448 00:20:28,910 --> 00:20:32,970 If we say nothing, we frustrate the ministry 449 00:20:32,970 --> 00:20:33,970 of our High Priest. 450 00:20:34,330 --> 00:20:35,050 Do you understand that? 451 00:20:35,630 --> 00:20:39,030 So, in a sense, His ministry as High 452 00:20:39,030 --> 00:20:41,610 Priest on our behalf is limited by the 453 00:20:41,610 --> 00:20:42,850 extent of our confession. 454 00:20:43,710 --> 00:20:46,250 If you turn to the next chapter of 455 00:20:46,250 --> 00:20:51,070 Hebrews, chapter 4, and verse 14 and following, 456 00:20:52,070 --> 00:20:54,490 Seeing then that we have a great High 457 00:20:54,490 --> 00:20:57,270 Priest, praise God He's a great High Priest, 458 00:20:57,850 --> 00:21:00,730 who has passed through the heavens into the 459 00:21:00,730 --> 00:21:03,930 immediate presence of God, Jesus the Son of 460 00:21:03,930 --> 00:21:08,070 God, let us hold fast our confession. 461 00:21:08,830 --> 00:21:12,450 So first of all you confess, and then 462 00:21:12,450 --> 00:21:13,110 what do you do? 463 00:21:13,570 --> 00:21:15,630 You hold fast your confession. 464 00:21:15,730 --> 00:21:16,770 You don't change it. 465 00:21:17,490 --> 00:21:19,150 You keep on saying it. 466 00:21:19,890 --> 00:21:21,270 You don't give up. 467 00:21:22,330 --> 00:21:23,550 But that's not all. 468 00:21:24,130 --> 00:21:26,770 If you go to Hebrews 10, and we'll 469 00:21:26,770 --> 00:21:30,110 just read from verse 21, which is again 470 00:21:30,110 --> 00:21:31,710 the middle of one of these long sentences. 471 00:21:32,610 --> 00:21:34,750 I want you to see the relationship between 472 00:21:34,750 --> 00:21:37,990 confession and the High Priestly ministry of Jesus. 473 00:21:39,550 --> 00:21:41,750 Having a High Priest over the house of 474 00:21:41,750 --> 00:21:44,650 God, let us draw near with a true 475 00:21:44,650 --> 00:21:47,090 heart in full assurance of faith, having our 476 00:21:47,090 --> 00:21:49,290 hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, our bodies 477 00:21:49,290 --> 00:21:53,510 washed with pure water, let us hold fast 478 00:21:53,510 --> 00:21:57,390 the confession of our hope without wavering. 479 00:21:58,330 --> 00:21:59,570 Does that tell you something? 480 00:22:00,690 --> 00:22:04,730 First you confess, then you hold fast your 481 00:22:04,730 --> 00:22:07,790 confession, and then you hold it fast without 482 00:22:07,790 --> 00:22:08,310 wavering. 483 00:22:08,370 --> 00:22:09,410 What does that tell you? 484 00:22:09,870 --> 00:22:11,670 You're going to encounter opposition. 485 00:22:12,550 --> 00:22:15,430 There'll be all sorts of situations and circumstances 486 00:22:15,430 --> 00:22:18,330 which could cause you to change your confession. 487 00:22:19,090 --> 00:22:24,970 But, the New Testament says, confess, hold fast, 488 00:22:25,590 --> 00:22:27,150 hold fast without wavering. 489 00:22:27,650 --> 00:22:31,070 It is an essential part of salvation. 490 00:22:31,070 --> 00:22:33,970 It's not something added on. 491 00:22:35,050 --> 00:22:37,950 Salvation comes to those who believe in the 492 00:22:37,950 --> 00:22:41,370 heart and confess with the mouth. 493 00:22:41,850 --> 00:22:44,950 For with the heart one believes to righteousness, 494 00:22:46,050 --> 00:22:50,950 but with the mouth, confession is made into 495 00:22:50,950 --> 00:22:51,350 salvation. 496 00:22:51,910 --> 00:22:55,050 In other words, you come into salvation in 497 00:22:55,050 --> 00:22:57,230 the sense in which we're talking about it, 498 00:22:58,730 --> 00:23:03,030 by believing and then saying it. 499 00:23:04,410 --> 00:23:06,430 Let's think for a moment what we will 500 00:23:06,430 --> 00:23:06,830 say. 501 00:23:06,990 --> 00:23:10,350 We're talking now about what Jesus accomplished by 502 00:23:10,350 --> 00:23:11,950 His death on the cross. 503 00:23:12,170 --> 00:23:15,530 So, I say, this is one of our 504 00:23:15,530 --> 00:23:19,630 standard confessions, and it puts together Isaiah 53, 505 00:23:20,230 --> 00:23:28,570 4 and 5, Matthew 8, 17 and 1 506 00:23:28,570 --> 00:23:32,150 Peter 2.24. It's totally based on Scripture. 507 00:23:33,010 --> 00:23:38,250 Jesus Himself took my infirmities and bore my 508 00:23:38,250 --> 00:23:42,070 sicknesses and with His wounds I am healed. 509 00:23:42,830 --> 00:23:44,410 That's my confession. 510 00:23:45,450 --> 00:23:47,290 When Ruth and I conduct a healing service, 511 00:23:47,510 --> 00:23:51,550 we usually require the people to make that 512 00:23:51,550 --> 00:23:52,030 confession. 513 00:23:52,970 --> 00:23:55,750 Because that qualifies them for salvation. 514 00:23:55,950 --> 00:23:56,530 Do you understand? 515 00:23:57,470 --> 00:23:59,630 Now, when you say that and you've got, 516 00:23:59,850 --> 00:24:02,350 let's say, a problem in your kidneys. 517 00:24:02,490 --> 00:24:03,690 I don't know why I think of that, 518 00:24:03,710 --> 00:24:04,190 but I do. 519 00:24:04,730 --> 00:24:07,950 So you say, Jesus Himself, and remember the 520 00:24:07,950 --> 00:24:12,130 emphasis on Him, took my infirmities, bore my 521 00:24:12,130 --> 00:24:14,970 sicknesses, with His wounds I'm healed. 522 00:24:15,950 --> 00:24:17,790 And you've still got the problem in the 523 00:24:17,790 --> 00:24:18,030 kidneys. 524 00:24:19,010 --> 00:24:20,370 So what do you do? 525 00:24:21,730 --> 00:24:23,770 You hold fast your confession. 526 00:24:25,310 --> 00:24:27,130 You've still got the problem in the kidneys, 527 00:24:27,250 --> 00:24:27,970 so what do you do? 528 00:24:28,190 --> 00:24:31,030 You hold fast the confession without wavering. 529 00:24:31,750 --> 00:24:32,210 That's right. 530 00:24:32,530 --> 00:24:33,510 Can you understand? 531 00:24:33,650 --> 00:24:34,530 This is a battle. 532 00:24:35,850 --> 00:24:40,310 Believe me, and I know from experience, pressing 533 00:24:40,310 --> 00:24:43,050 your way into healing can be a tremendous 534 00:24:43,050 --> 00:24:43,550 battle. 535 00:24:43,710 --> 00:24:45,670 The writer of Hebrews said to the Hebrews 536 00:24:45,670 --> 00:24:48,290 Christians, he said, you have not yet resisted 537 00:24:48,290 --> 00:24:51,250 unto blood striving against sin. 538 00:24:52,270 --> 00:24:54,070 We're used to the idea that we have 539 00:24:54,070 --> 00:24:56,930 to strive against sin, but we also have 540 00:24:56,930 --> 00:24:58,010 to strive against sickness. 541 00:24:59,330 --> 00:25:00,770 We have to fight. 542 00:25:01,930 --> 00:25:03,350 We are soldiers. 543 00:25:04,630 --> 00:25:06,610 We do not lie down and let the 544 00:25:06,610 --> 00:25:07,750 devil walk over us. 545 00:25:08,770 --> 00:25:10,530 That's not glorifying to God. 546 00:25:11,730 --> 00:25:15,690 Now, I'm not going to focus exclusively on 547 00:25:15,690 --> 00:25:17,830 physical healing, but it's a thing that touches 548 00:25:17,830 --> 00:25:19,430 most people where they're at. 549 00:25:20,870 --> 00:25:23,290 What about our financial needs? 550 00:25:23,730 --> 00:25:25,450 Well, Ruth and I have already demonstrated that, 551 00:25:25,490 --> 00:25:26,230 but we'll do it again. 552 00:25:26,650 --> 00:25:26,970 Come on. 553 00:25:28,850 --> 00:25:32,010 And I mean, for us, this is important. 554 00:25:32,230 --> 00:25:35,770 I mean, this is not just a ritual. 555 00:25:36,410 --> 00:25:39,650 This is our way of releasing the treasures 556 00:25:39,650 --> 00:25:41,950 that God has in His storehouse for our 557 00:25:41,950 --> 00:25:42,350 ministry. 558 00:25:42,570 --> 00:25:42,950 You understand? 559 00:25:43,510 --> 00:25:45,610 God spoke to us and told us that 560 00:25:45,610 --> 00:25:47,510 He had made full provision for everything He'd 561 00:25:47,510 --> 00:25:48,190 asked us to do. 562 00:25:49,070 --> 00:25:51,290 But to obtain the full provision, we have 563 00:25:51,290 --> 00:25:53,110 to believe and confess. 564 00:25:54,150 --> 00:25:54,570 You understand? 565 00:25:55,350 --> 00:25:56,050 What are we going to say? 566 00:25:56,110 --> 00:25:56,690 God is able. 567 00:25:56,850 --> 00:25:58,170 All right, we make it personal. 568 00:25:58,410 --> 00:25:58,830 You understand? 569 00:25:59,430 --> 00:26:04,010 This is 2 Corinthians 9.8. God is 570 00:26:04,010 --> 00:26:08,390 able to make all grace abound toward us, 571 00:26:08,390 --> 00:26:13,470 that we always, having all sufficiency in all 572 00:26:13,470 --> 00:26:17,830 things, may abound to every good work. 573 00:26:18,010 --> 00:26:18,450 Amen. 574 00:26:18,610 --> 00:26:19,230 Don't go. 575 00:26:20,090 --> 00:26:21,390 While we're here, we'll do a little more. 576 00:26:21,530 --> 00:26:22,430 We have so many. 577 00:26:23,310 --> 00:26:26,090 And I think it'll just kind of— why 578 00:26:26,090 --> 00:26:27,250 don't I say, take some of the pressure 579 00:26:27,250 --> 00:26:28,350 off you if we do a few more. 580 00:26:28,430 --> 00:26:32,650 We do one from Deuteronomy 33, verse 25 581 00:26:32,650 --> 00:26:33,210 and following. 582 00:26:33,430 --> 00:26:36,310 It's in the NIV, which is the version 583 00:26:36,310 --> 00:26:36,950 Paul used. 584 00:26:36,950 --> 00:26:37,390 But you know that. 585 00:26:39,570 --> 00:26:40,190 All right. 586 00:26:40,550 --> 00:26:41,850 Now, we make it personal. 587 00:26:41,910 --> 00:26:42,290 You understand? 588 00:26:42,570 --> 00:26:44,090 It says you, we say we. 589 00:26:44,290 --> 00:26:44,930 Where are we now? 590 00:26:45,930 --> 00:26:46,490 Deuteronomy. 591 00:26:46,690 --> 00:26:47,450 Yeah, the bolts. 592 00:26:48,210 --> 00:26:51,470 The bolts of our gates will be iron 593 00:26:51,470 --> 00:26:55,170 and bronze, and our strength will equal our 594 00:26:55,170 --> 00:26:55,650 days. 595 00:26:56,250 --> 00:26:58,590 There is no one like the God of 596 00:26:58,590 --> 00:27:01,890 Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help 597 00:27:01,890 --> 00:27:05,290 us, and on the clouds in His majesty. 598 00:27:05,290 --> 00:27:10,450 The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath 599 00:27:10,450 --> 00:27:12,610 are the everlasting arms. 600 00:27:13,110 --> 00:27:17,270 He will drive out our enemy before us, 601 00:27:17,290 --> 00:27:19,110 saying, Destroy Him! 602 00:27:19,370 --> 00:27:19,650 Amen. 603 00:27:20,070 --> 00:27:21,610 Glory to God. 604 00:27:21,730 --> 00:27:22,430 Thank you. 605 00:27:22,890 --> 00:27:23,230 Wait a minute. 606 00:27:23,290 --> 00:27:23,830 We'll do one more. 607 00:27:24,490 --> 00:27:25,810 I feel so much better. 608 00:27:25,990 --> 00:27:28,150 The thing is, I don't want to cheat 609 00:27:28,150 --> 00:27:28,970 you people out of it. 610 00:27:29,630 --> 00:27:31,610 Now, we do, what is it, 2 Corinthians 611 00:27:31,610 --> 00:27:34,430 2, 14. 612 00:27:34,430 --> 00:27:36,470 We do it in two versions, and we 613 00:27:36,470 --> 00:27:38,210 sometimes get a little mixed, so be patient. 614 00:27:38,290 --> 00:27:40,210 We'll do the old King James first. 615 00:27:42,050 --> 00:27:46,470 Now, thanks be unto God, who always causeth 616 00:27:46,470 --> 00:27:50,470 us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest 617 00:27:50,470 --> 00:27:54,010 the savor of His knowledge by us in 618 00:27:54,010 --> 00:27:55,190 every place. 619 00:27:55,410 --> 00:27:58,470 You notice it's always and in every place. 620 00:27:59,130 --> 00:28:01,590 That leaves out no time and no place. 621 00:28:01,810 --> 00:28:02,050 Okay? 622 00:28:02,050 --> 00:28:03,750 Now we'll do the NIV. 623 00:28:05,370 --> 00:28:08,970 But thanks be to God, who always leads 624 00:28:08,970 --> 00:28:13,790 us in triumphal procession in Christ, and through 625 00:28:13,790 --> 00:28:17,930 us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge 626 00:28:17,930 --> 00:28:18,510 of Him. 627 00:28:18,670 --> 00:28:20,010 And we add one more verse to this 628 00:28:20,010 --> 00:28:20,210 one. 629 00:28:20,690 --> 00:28:23,950 For we are to God the aroma of 630 00:28:23,950 --> 00:28:27,650 Christ among those who are being saved and 631 00:28:27,650 --> 00:28:28,950 those who are perishing. 632 00:28:29,590 --> 00:28:30,490 Thank you so much. 633 00:28:30,490 --> 00:28:33,450 Now, we have a repertoire, but this is 634 00:28:33,450 --> 00:28:35,870 not a religious exercise with us, you understand. 635 00:28:36,110 --> 00:28:38,810 This is part of a warfare that we're 636 00:28:38,810 --> 00:28:39,010 in. 637 00:28:40,310 --> 00:28:44,370 We are shortly going on a ministry trip 638 00:28:44,370 --> 00:28:47,450 that will take us to Tapua New Guinea, 639 00:28:48,670 --> 00:28:50,750 Malaysia, and Indonesia. 640 00:28:50,910 --> 00:28:53,970 Now those are countries where there are tremendously 641 00:28:53,970 --> 00:28:55,830 powerful forces of darkness. 642 00:28:56,890 --> 00:29:00,610 But we have said, God will drive out 643 00:29:00,610 --> 00:29:03,770 our enemy before us, saying, destroy him. 644 00:29:04,330 --> 00:29:06,470 Now if we only said it with our 645 00:29:06,470 --> 00:29:08,630 mouths, it wouldn't work. 646 00:29:09,430 --> 00:29:10,770 You have to believe it in your heart. 647 00:29:10,790 --> 00:29:12,270 But if we only believed it in our 648 00:29:12,270 --> 00:29:14,590 heart, we wouldn't get the full benefits. 649 00:29:15,190 --> 00:29:18,450 We have to believe with the heart and 650 00:29:18,450 --> 00:29:19,690 confess with the mouth. 651 00:29:19,870 --> 00:29:21,490 Now you can go down the list. 652 00:29:22,310 --> 00:29:24,710 I haven't prepared this, but let's consider. 653 00:29:25,910 --> 00:29:28,870 You're having a struggle with condemnation. 654 00:29:29,510 --> 00:29:31,210 The devil is accusing you of all sorts 655 00:29:31,210 --> 00:29:31,710 of things. 656 00:29:32,930 --> 00:29:36,150 But you turn to Isaiah 53.10 and 657 00:29:36,150 --> 00:29:39,810 2 Corinthians 5.21 and you say, Jesus 658 00:29:39,810 --> 00:29:43,510 was made sin with my sinfulness that I 659 00:29:43,510 --> 00:29:45,970 might be made righteous with his righteousness. 660 00:29:46,610 --> 00:29:47,690 Listen, devil. 661 00:29:48,410 --> 00:29:50,010 You can accuse me as much as you 662 00:29:50,010 --> 00:29:50,390 like. 663 00:29:50,390 --> 00:29:53,210 But it's a waste of time accusing the 664 00:29:53,210 --> 00:29:54,270 righteousness of Jesus. 665 00:29:54,650 --> 00:29:56,930 That's what you're up against, you see. 666 00:29:57,830 --> 00:30:00,830 But, it will not really be yours if 667 00:30:00,830 --> 00:30:01,670 you just think it. 668 00:30:02,150 --> 00:30:03,790 Or even just believe it. 669 00:30:04,370 --> 00:30:06,050 You have to say it. 670 00:30:06,730 --> 00:30:09,050 When the devil came against Jesus in the 671 00:30:09,050 --> 00:30:12,470 wilderness, Jesus answered three times, It is written. 672 00:30:13,070 --> 00:30:14,150 He spoke it out. 673 00:30:14,710 --> 00:30:16,750 He proclaimed the Word of God. 674 00:30:17,370 --> 00:30:17,870 All right. 675 00:30:18,730 --> 00:30:20,750 The next thing you have to do, and 676 00:30:20,750 --> 00:30:22,570 we're back with our outline after a little 677 00:30:22,570 --> 00:30:26,270 detour, is act. 678 00:30:27,350 --> 00:30:29,810 Turn to James for a moment, chapter 2. 679 00:30:30,790 --> 00:30:33,570 We read a few excerpts from this passage. 680 00:30:34,470 --> 00:30:35,970 James 2, verse 20. 681 00:30:36,030 --> 00:30:37,370 But do you want to know, O foolish 682 00:30:37,370 --> 00:30:40,570 man, that faith without works is dead. 683 00:30:40,730 --> 00:30:44,450 Faith without corresponding actions is dead. 684 00:30:45,030 --> 00:30:47,950 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, 685 00:30:48,010 --> 00:30:50,850 by his actions, when he offered Isaac his 686 00:30:50,850 --> 00:30:51,470 son on the altar? 687 00:30:51,590 --> 00:30:54,610 Do you see that faith, working together with 688 00:30:54,610 --> 00:30:57,230 his works, and by works faith was made 689 00:30:57,230 --> 00:30:57,650 perfect? 690 00:30:58,730 --> 00:31:01,070 And then we go on to verse 25. 691 00:31:01,510 --> 00:31:04,670 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified 692 00:31:04,670 --> 00:31:07,970 by works when she received the messengers and 693 00:31:07,970 --> 00:31:09,030 sent them out another way? 694 00:31:09,590 --> 00:31:11,770 For as the body without the spirit is 695 00:31:11,770 --> 00:31:17,830 dead, so faith without works, without corresponding actions, 696 00:31:18,050 --> 00:31:18,790 is dead. 697 00:31:19,410 --> 00:31:25,970 So, once you've repented and believed and confessed, 698 00:31:26,190 --> 00:31:27,930 at some point you're going to have to 699 00:31:27,930 --> 00:31:29,750 act your faith out. 700 00:31:30,510 --> 00:31:32,170 That's the acid test. 701 00:31:32,610 --> 00:31:33,950 Will you act it out? 702 00:31:34,910 --> 00:31:38,270 Now, just to go back to something I 703 00:31:38,270 --> 00:31:42,490 said yesterday, you remember how I described how 704 00:31:42,490 --> 00:31:46,610 I received healing in the hospital by going 705 00:31:46,610 --> 00:31:48,810 to Proverbs 4, 20 through 22. 706 00:31:49,010 --> 00:31:51,210 My son, attend to my words, incline thine 707 00:31:51,210 --> 00:31:53,630 ear unto my sayings, let them not depart 708 00:31:53,630 --> 00:31:55,330 from thine eyes, keep them in the midst 709 00:31:55,330 --> 00:31:57,010 of thine heart for they are life to 710 00:31:57,010 --> 00:32:00,030 those that find them and health or medicine 711 00:32:00,030 --> 00:32:02,630 to all their flesh. 712 00:32:03,270 --> 00:32:05,950 So I decided to take God's Word as 713 00:32:05,950 --> 00:32:06,490 my medicine. 714 00:32:06,490 --> 00:32:09,190 Being a medical orderly or a hospital attendant, 715 00:32:09,350 --> 00:32:11,570 I knew how people take medicine, three times 716 00:32:11,570 --> 00:32:12,990 daily after meal. 717 00:32:13,410 --> 00:32:14,490 So that's what I did. 718 00:32:15,030 --> 00:32:18,010 I took God's Word as my medicine, three 719 00:32:18,010 --> 00:32:19,590 times daily after meals. 720 00:32:19,850 --> 00:32:20,650 And I was healed. 721 00:32:21,470 --> 00:32:24,450 You see, it's important to get out of 722 00:32:24,450 --> 00:32:25,190 being passive. 723 00:32:25,970 --> 00:32:28,770 Passivity is a tremendous spiritual problem. 724 00:32:29,430 --> 00:32:32,130 I didn't work this out, I didn't understand 725 00:32:32,130 --> 00:32:35,250 the principles the Holy Spirit prompted me, but 726 00:32:35,250 --> 00:32:36,910 I didn't just lie there in the hospital 727 00:32:36,910 --> 00:32:39,570 and say, I believe God is going to 728 00:32:39,570 --> 00:32:40,010 heal me. 729 00:32:40,750 --> 00:32:43,670 I said, God, I'm taking your Word as 730 00:32:43,670 --> 00:32:43,970 medicine. 731 00:32:44,090 --> 00:32:46,050 Three times every day I acted. 732 00:32:47,190 --> 00:32:49,550 And that's what changed me from being passive 733 00:32:49,550 --> 00:32:51,050 to being active. 734 00:32:51,890 --> 00:32:56,990 So at some point, whatever line of faith 735 00:32:56,990 --> 00:33:00,210 you're following, whatever area of salvation you're moving 736 00:33:00,210 --> 00:33:03,710 into, you're going to have to act. 737 00:33:04,830 --> 00:33:08,270 Let me warn you, very rarely, although it 738 00:33:08,270 --> 00:33:12,290 may be sometimes, is a negative action an 739 00:33:12,290 --> 00:33:13,190 expression of faith. 740 00:33:13,890 --> 00:33:15,950 I've met many people who say, I believe 741 00:33:15,950 --> 00:33:17,050 God is going to heal me, I'm not 742 00:33:17,050 --> 00:33:17,750 going to the doctor. 743 00:33:18,890 --> 00:33:21,790 Well, generally speaking, not going to the doctor 744 00:33:21,790 --> 00:33:23,510 is not having faith. 745 00:33:23,750 --> 00:33:24,270 Do you understand? 746 00:33:24,870 --> 00:33:26,530 Some people don't go to the doctor because 747 00:33:26,530 --> 00:33:27,850 they're afraid of what the doctor would tell 748 00:33:27,850 --> 00:33:28,450 them if they go. 749 00:33:30,270 --> 00:33:31,410 Faith is positive. 750 00:33:33,270 --> 00:33:35,130 I believe it's possible to have faith and 751 00:33:35,130 --> 00:33:36,410 go to the doctor, let me say that. 752 00:33:37,030 --> 00:33:38,810 It just depends how the Holy Spirit leads 753 00:33:38,810 --> 00:33:39,010 you. 754 00:33:39,810 --> 00:33:41,650 We can't tie the Holy Spirit down to 755 00:33:41,650 --> 00:33:42,310 one system. 756 00:33:43,450 --> 00:33:45,850 God healed me that time by taking His 757 00:33:45,850 --> 00:33:46,490 Word as medicine. 758 00:33:46,610 --> 00:33:49,530 Other times He's healed me other ways. 759 00:33:50,310 --> 00:33:52,310 The Holy Spirit is the one who shows 760 00:33:52,310 --> 00:33:54,090 us what we have to do. 761 00:33:54,150 --> 00:33:55,870 But sooner or later you're going to come 762 00:33:55,870 --> 00:33:57,030 up against this principle. 763 00:33:57,630 --> 00:33:59,790 You've got to act your faith out. 764 00:34:00,630 --> 00:34:02,710 All right, you believe God is going to 765 00:34:02,710 --> 00:34:03,690 provide for you. 766 00:34:04,110 --> 00:34:04,910 That's wonderful. 767 00:34:05,790 --> 00:34:08,630 They're taking a missionary offering and the Holy 768 00:34:08,630 --> 00:34:10,670 Spirit says, put in your last one hundred 769 00:34:10,670 --> 00:34:11,030 dollars. 770 00:34:13,850 --> 00:34:15,670 Okay, that's your act of faith. 771 00:34:16,690 --> 00:34:18,510 Are you going to do it or not? 772 00:34:18,550 --> 00:34:19,670 We're not going to take an offering, don't 773 00:34:19,670 --> 00:34:20,170 get nervous. 774 00:34:22,050 --> 00:34:24,969 But you see, at some point, you've got 775 00:34:24,969 --> 00:34:27,889 to pass out of the passive, I believe 776 00:34:27,889 --> 00:34:32,690 attitude into an attitude where you actually act. 777 00:34:33,590 --> 00:34:35,870 A man came to me once in a 778 00:34:35,870 --> 00:34:36,270 church. 779 00:34:36,750 --> 00:34:37,570 He said, I'm sick. 780 00:34:38,370 --> 00:34:39,810 I want you to anoint me with oil. 781 00:34:39,870 --> 00:34:41,050 Then he said, but I don't know if 782 00:34:41,050 --> 00:34:41,790 I have any faith. 783 00:34:42,130 --> 00:34:44,090 I said, brother, you're coming to be anointed 784 00:34:44,090 --> 00:34:45,030 is your faith. 785 00:34:45,170 --> 00:34:45,790 You understand? 786 00:34:46,350 --> 00:34:48,130 It's the act that is the faith. 787 00:34:48,370 --> 00:34:50,270 You've all heard of Smith Wigglesworth, I'm sure, 788 00:34:51,090 --> 00:34:52,909 the pioneer Pentecostal evangelist. 789 00:34:52,909 --> 00:34:55,130 I came to the Lord through people who 790 00:34:55,130 --> 00:34:56,270 were the fruit of his ministry. 791 00:34:57,270 --> 00:34:58,510 I never knew him personally. 792 00:34:59,470 --> 00:35:01,810 But he was, before he got saved, he 793 00:35:01,810 --> 00:35:02,490 was a plumber. 794 00:35:02,610 --> 00:35:04,170 He couldn't even read the New Testament. 795 00:35:04,790 --> 00:35:06,830 I'm not suggesting that plumbers can't read the 796 00:35:06,830 --> 00:35:07,350 New Testament. 797 00:35:07,750 --> 00:35:09,110 But he had a very low level of 798 00:35:09,110 --> 00:35:09,430 education. 799 00:35:09,590 --> 00:35:14,610 He was one of those English people, of 800 00:35:14,610 --> 00:35:16,910 whom there are a good many, who put 801 00:35:16,910 --> 00:35:19,530 in the H where it doesn't belong and 802 00:35:19,530 --> 00:35:21,210 leave out the H where it does belong. 803 00:35:21,910 --> 00:35:25,490 He was preaching one day to people and 804 00:35:25,490 --> 00:35:28,050 he was trying to get them acting their 805 00:35:28,050 --> 00:35:28,470 faith. 806 00:35:29,510 --> 00:35:32,070 He said, faith is a act. 807 00:35:33,870 --> 00:35:35,210 He said, they're not believing it. 808 00:35:35,250 --> 00:35:36,070 They need to hear it twice. 809 00:35:36,250 --> 00:35:37,850 So he called the other preacher up, who 810 00:35:37,850 --> 00:35:40,750 happened to be a teacher of elocution, and 811 00:35:40,750 --> 00:35:42,790 said, now you stand there and I'll stand 812 00:35:42,790 --> 00:35:43,110 here. 813 00:35:43,730 --> 00:35:46,470 I say, faith is a act, and you 814 00:35:46,470 --> 00:35:47,930 say, faith is an act. 815 00:35:47,930 --> 00:35:51,190 So the teacher of elocution copied him exactly 816 00:35:51,190 --> 00:35:53,370 and after that everybody knew that faith is 817 00:35:53,370 --> 00:35:53,770 a act. 818 00:35:53,870 --> 00:35:54,390 Do you understand? 819 00:35:55,110 --> 00:35:55,910 But it's true. 820 00:35:56,630 --> 00:35:59,990 At some point you've got to get off 821 00:35:59,990 --> 00:36:04,970 the sitting posture or the lying posture and 822 00:36:04,970 --> 00:36:06,430 do something. 823 00:36:06,830 --> 00:36:08,570 It often doesn't matter what you do. 824 00:36:09,530 --> 00:36:11,350 I think about the ministry of Elisha. 825 00:36:12,230 --> 00:36:14,510 I think he just did anything that came 826 00:36:14,510 --> 00:36:15,070 into his mind. 827 00:36:15,070 --> 00:36:17,910 They said to him, this spring is no 828 00:36:17,910 --> 00:36:18,110 good. 829 00:36:18,150 --> 00:36:18,890 The water is bad. 830 00:36:18,950 --> 00:36:21,410 He said, bring me a bowl of salt. 831 00:36:21,610 --> 00:36:22,970 Threw the salt in and said, thus said 832 00:36:22,970 --> 00:36:24,050 the Lord, the waters are healed. 833 00:36:24,210 --> 00:36:25,130 They've been healed ever since. 834 00:36:25,210 --> 00:36:26,570 You can go to Elisha's spring today. 835 00:36:26,630 --> 00:36:27,310 It's still healed. 836 00:36:28,450 --> 00:36:32,610 Another time, the Bible school students said, I've 837 00:36:32,610 --> 00:36:33,730 lost the head of my axe. 838 00:36:33,790 --> 00:36:35,170 It went down into the waters of the 839 00:36:35,170 --> 00:36:35,410 Jordan. 840 00:36:35,690 --> 00:36:37,310 If you've ever been in the Jordan, you 841 00:36:37,310 --> 00:36:39,290 know it's about three or four inches deep 842 00:36:39,290 --> 00:36:40,070 in mud at the bottom. 843 00:36:40,390 --> 00:36:41,990 You'll never get an axe head back. 844 00:36:43,690 --> 00:36:46,450 Elisha said, took a piece of wood, threw 845 00:36:46,450 --> 00:36:47,810 it in and said, come up. 846 00:36:47,870 --> 00:36:48,810 And the axe head came up. 847 00:36:48,870 --> 00:36:49,290 You understand? 848 00:36:50,970 --> 00:36:52,910 If you study the ministry of Elisha, if 849 00:36:52,910 --> 00:36:55,750 it ever demonstrated anything, it demonstrated what I 850 00:36:55,750 --> 00:36:58,950 call the simple act of faith that releases 851 00:36:58,950 --> 00:37:00,750 the miracle working power of God. 852 00:37:02,010 --> 00:37:04,030 There are many, many different ways. 853 00:37:05,470 --> 00:37:08,390 In my ministry, one of the things that 854 00:37:08,390 --> 00:37:10,470 God has given me to do is check 855 00:37:10,470 --> 00:37:11,230 people's legs. 856 00:37:12,150 --> 00:37:15,050 As I hold their legs, if they're unequal, 857 00:37:15,130 --> 00:37:16,190 the short leg grows out. 858 00:37:16,810 --> 00:37:19,430 That doesn't necessarily heal them all over, but 859 00:37:19,430 --> 00:37:20,830 it releases faith. 860 00:37:20,890 --> 00:37:21,390 You understand? 861 00:37:22,210 --> 00:37:25,270 It brings them in touch with something beyond 862 00:37:25,270 --> 00:37:25,890 the natural. 863 00:37:27,330 --> 00:37:29,210 All right, we need to move on. 864 00:37:29,230 --> 00:37:31,030 Otherwise I won't get through it in time. 865 00:37:32,710 --> 00:37:36,490 What is the simplest single act of faith 866 00:37:36,490 --> 00:37:37,330 that you can make? 867 00:37:37,330 --> 00:37:38,970 We can all make. 868 00:37:39,470 --> 00:37:41,570 If you can't do anything else, there's one 869 00:37:41,570 --> 00:37:42,410 thing you can do. 870 00:37:43,730 --> 00:37:44,710 Give thanks. 871 00:37:44,890 --> 00:37:45,310 That's right. 872 00:37:46,310 --> 00:37:49,490 It's really the purest expression of faith. 873 00:37:50,010 --> 00:37:51,450 I always like the story of Jonah. 874 00:37:52,150 --> 00:37:54,030 You turn to Jonah chapter 2 for a 875 00:37:54,030 --> 00:37:54,290 moment. 876 00:37:54,810 --> 00:37:55,610 You can find him. 877 00:37:56,790 --> 00:37:58,970 Now Jonah is in the belly of the 878 00:37:58,970 --> 00:37:59,330 fish. 879 00:38:00,330 --> 00:38:03,370 I imagine it was very cramped and he 880 00:38:03,370 --> 00:38:05,190 had few movements that he could make. 881 00:38:06,190 --> 00:38:08,030 But, he needed faith. 882 00:38:08,950 --> 00:38:11,190 If you read the second chapter, he prayed 883 00:38:11,190 --> 00:38:13,250 about eight verses and nothing happened. 884 00:38:16,210 --> 00:38:19,890 Then, in verse 9, he said, But I 885 00:38:19,890 --> 00:38:21,950 will sacrifice to you with the voice of 886 00:38:21,950 --> 00:38:22,670 thanksgiving. 887 00:38:23,790 --> 00:38:25,950 The fish couldn't hold him any longer. 888 00:38:27,230 --> 00:38:31,230 So when you've got nowhere by praying, start 889 00:38:31,230 --> 00:38:31,990 giving thanks. 890 00:38:32,870 --> 00:38:35,010 If you turn to the New Testament, to 891 00:38:35,010 --> 00:38:38,430 John chapter 6, one of the greatest miracles 892 00:38:38,430 --> 00:38:40,910 of Jesus was feeding 5,000 people with 893 00:38:40,910 --> 00:38:42,030 five loaves and two fishes. 894 00:38:43,550 --> 00:38:44,970 How did He do it? 895 00:38:46,630 --> 00:38:49,370 What released the miracle-working power of God? 896 00:38:50,530 --> 00:38:52,270 If you look in John chapter 6, verse 897 00:38:52,270 --> 00:38:57,210 11, And Jesus took the loaves, and when 898 00:38:57,210 --> 00:39:00,550 He had given thanks, He distributed them to 899 00:39:00,550 --> 00:39:01,110 the disciples. 900 00:39:01,110 --> 00:39:01,930 He didn't pray. 901 00:39:03,270 --> 00:39:04,510 He just gave thanks. 902 00:39:05,310 --> 00:39:07,590 And this must have made a real impact 903 00:39:07,590 --> 00:39:10,930 on John because in the same chapter, chapter 904 00:39:10,930 --> 00:39:16,390 6, verse 23, John says, Other boats came 905 00:39:16,390 --> 00:39:18,730 from Tiberias near the place where they ate 906 00:39:18,730 --> 00:39:21,590 bread after the Lord had given thanks. 907 00:39:22,170 --> 00:39:25,730 So it really impacted John that he didn't 908 00:39:25,730 --> 00:39:26,310 have to pray. 909 00:39:27,170 --> 00:39:28,530 What released that miracle? 910 00:39:29,190 --> 00:39:30,350 Giving thanks. 911 00:39:31,570 --> 00:39:35,710 And in John chapter 11, it's interesting how 912 00:39:35,710 --> 00:39:37,950 different writers pick up different themes. 913 00:39:38,950 --> 00:39:41,930 John chapter 11, When Jesus was outside the 914 00:39:41,930 --> 00:39:51,010 tomb of Lazarus, verse 41, You know the 915 00:39:51,010 --> 00:39:52,890 story, He'd been there four days dead. 916 00:39:53,770 --> 00:39:55,590 Then they took away the stone from the 917 00:39:55,590 --> 00:39:57,110 place where the dead man was lying. 918 00:39:57,910 --> 00:40:00,250 And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, 919 00:40:00,750 --> 00:40:03,490 Father, I thank you that you've heard me. 920 00:40:03,590 --> 00:40:04,350 And that's all He did. 921 00:40:06,030 --> 00:40:10,190 That tremendous miracle was released by that simple 922 00:40:10,190 --> 00:40:11,570 phrase, I thank you. 923 00:40:12,650 --> 00:40:14,410 In closing this, let me give you one 924 00:40:14,410 --> 00:40:15,990 other piece of advice. 925 00:40:16,070 --> 00:40:20,330 We're talking about appropriating total salvation, which is 926 00:40:20,330 --> 00:40:22,190 everything that was accomplished by the death of 927 00:40:22,190 --> 00:40:22,870 Jesus on the cross. 928 00:40:22,930 --> 00:40:23,890 You need to bear that in mind. 929 00:40:24,510 --> 00:40:27,670 One other very important thing is keep your 930 00:40:27,670 --> 00:40:31,210 eye on Jesus and the cross. 931 00:40:31,990 --> 00:40:37,290 In John chapter 3, verses 14 and 15, 932 00:40:38,790 --> 00:40:42,350 Jesus is teaching about the purpose of His 933 00:40:42,350 --> 00:40:43,450 sacrificial death. 934 00:40:44,490 --> 00:40:47,930 And He says, As Moses lifted up the 935 00:40:47,930 --> 00:40:50,790 serpent in the wilderness, even so must the 936 00:40:50,790 --> 00:40:53,510 Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever 937 00:40:53,510 --> 00:40:57,390 believes in Him should not perish but have 938 00:40:57,390 --> 00:40:58,290 eternal life. 939 00:40:58,350 --> 00:41:01,630 So He takes an example from the story 940 00:41:01,630 --> 00:41:05,370 of Moses and the serpent of bronze in 941 00:41:05,370 --> 00:41:05,830 the wilderness. 942 00:41:06,010 --> 00:41:09,390 Now, this is very briefly related in Numbers 943 00:41:09,390 --> 00:41:10,990 chapter 21. 944 00:41:11,790 --> 00:41:12,990 Let's turn there for a moment. 945 00:41:13,710 --> 00:41:17,790 We'll read from verse 5 through verse 9. 946 00:41:18,890 --> 00:41:21,310 And the people spoke against God and against 947 00:41:21,310 --> 00:41:21,670 Moses. 948 00:41:23,030 --> 00:41:24,670 Why have you brought us up out of 949 00:41:24,670 --> 00:41:25,890 Egypt to die in the wilderness? 950 00:41:26,690 --> 00:41:28,550 For there is no food and no water 951 00:41:28,550 --> 00:41:31,090 and our soul loathes this worthless brain. 952 00:41:32,130 --> 00:41:33,330 Now they were complaining. 953 00:41:33,850 --> 00:41:35,710 How many of you realize that complaining is 954 00:41:35,710 --> 00:41:36,970 a serious sin? 955 00:41:38,570 --> 00:41:41,150 So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the 956 00:41:41,150 --> 00:41:42,930 people and they bit the people and many 957 00:41:42,930 --> 00:41:44,210 of the people of Israel died. 958 00:41:44,490 --> 00:41:47,490 Bear in mind, it's dangerous to complain. 959 00:41:48,810 --> 00:41:50,550 What's the alternative to complaining? 960 00:41:51,510 --> 00:41:53,050 Giving thanks and praising. 961 00:41:53,230 --> 00:41:53,730 That's right. 962 00:41:55,210 --> 00:41:57,310 Therefore the people came to Moses and said, 963 00:41:57,390 --> 00:42:00,250 We have sinned, for we have spoken against 964 00:42:00,250 --> 00:42:01,430 the Lord and against you. 965 00:42:01,870 --> 00:42:03,490 Pray to the Lord that He take away 966 00:42:03,490 --> 00:42:04,530 the serpents from us. 967 00:42:05,150 --> 00:42:06,730 So Moses prayed for the people. 968 00:42:07,810 --> 00:42:10,250 Then the Lord said to Moses, Make a 969 00:42:10,250 --> 00:42:12,910 fiery serpent and set it on a pole 970 00:42:13,450 --> 00:42:15,350 and it shall be that everyone who is 971 00:42:15,350 --> 00:42:18,430 bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. 972 00:42:19,090 --> 00:42:22,430 So Moses made a bronze serpent and put 973 00:42:22,430 --> 00:42:24,870 it on a pole and so it was, 974 00:42:24,910 --> 00:42:27,530 if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he 975 00:42:27,530 --> 00:42:29,950 looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. 976 00:42:30,390 --> 00:42:34,370 Now, the phrase, he lived, means two things. 977 00:42:34,690 --> 00:42:38,190 He was physically healed and his sin was 978 00:42:38,190 --> 00:42:38,510 forgiven. 979 00:42:39,650 --> 00:42:41,950 Actually the emphasis is on the healing, not 980 00:42:41,950 --> 00:42:42,450 the forgiveness. 981 00:42:43,350 --> 00:42:46,630 Jesus said, As Moses lifted up the serpent 982 00:42:46,630 --> 00:42:49,510 in the wilderness, so also the Son of 983 00:42:49,510 --> 00:42:50,670 Man must be lifted up. 984 00:42:50,710 --> 00:42:53,710 In other words, to accomplish what was accomplished 985 00:42:53,710 --> 00:42:56,650 through the type of the bronze serpent, which 986 00:42:56,650 --> 00:42:59,030 was forgiveness and what? 987 00:42:59,930 --> 00:43:00,970 I didn't hear you. 988 00:43:01,610 --> 00:43:03,030 You really convinced of that? 989 00:43:03,470 --> 00:43:05,130 Make all the difference for the rest of 990 00:43:05,130 --> 00:43:06,070 your life if you are. 991 00:43:07,150 --> 00:43:08,890 It's such a clear example. 992 00:43:09,850 --> 00:43:11,370 Now what did the people have to do? 993 00:43:12,370 --> 00:43:16,730 Well, according to God's instructions, Moses made an 994 00:43:16,730 --> 00:43:19,250 emblem in bronze of the thing that was 995 00:43:19,250 --> 00:43:21,150 the cause of their problem, which was the 996 00:43:21,150 --> 00:43:21,490 snake. 997 00:43:22,390 --> 00:43:25,430 Bronze in the Bible is usually a type 998 00:43:25,430 --> 00:43:25,990 of judgment. 999 00:43:27,030 --> 00:43:30,370 So when he put the bronze snake up 1000 00:43:30,370 --> 00:43:33,570 on a pole high up, it spoke of 1001 00:43:33,570 --> 00:43:37,770 God's judgment on the sin that had caused 1002 00:43:37,770 --> 00:43:39,810 them to be bitten by the snakes. 1003 00:43:40,830 --> 00:43:45,430 And when they looked at the sin judged 1004 00:43:45,430 --> 00:43:48,290 on the pole, they lived. 1005 00:43:49,410 --> 00:43:51,190 That's all they had to do. 1006 00:43:52,290 --> 00:43:54,050 They didn't have to say a prayer. 1007 00:43:55,430 --> 00:43:58,370 They didn't have to go through some ablution 1008 00:43:58,370 --> 00:43:59,030 with water. 1009 00:44:00,070 --> 00:44:02,190 They just had to look. 1010 00:44:03,230 --> 00:44:06,150 And everyone who looked lived. 1011 00:44:06,150 --> 00:44:09,310 Now in the National Gallery of Great Britain 1012 00:44:09,310 --> 00:44:14,250 in London, there's a celebrated painting by the 1013 00:44:14,250 --> 00:44:17,330 Dutch artist Rubens of this scene. 1014 00:44:18,370 --> 00:44:20,570 And he must have been gripped by it 1015 00:44:20,570 --> 00:44:23,970 because there is the brazen serpent on the 1016 00:44:23,970 --> 00:44:28,090 pole and various groups of Israelites all around. 1017 00:44:28,230 --> 00:44:30,630 But in the forefront there is a mother 1018 00:44:30,630 --> 00:44:33,770 with a little baby, sick baby in her 1019 00:44:33,770 --> 00:44:34,310 arms. 1020 00:44:34,310 --> 00:44:38,030 And she is—it's made so clear— she's doing 1021 00:44:38,030 --> 00:44:41,090 everything she can to get the baby to 1022 00:44:41,090 --> 00:44:42,850 look at the serpent on the pole. 1023 00:44:43,630 --> 00:44:47,070 And it's such a vivid illustration of the 1024 00:44:47,070 --> 00:44:49,130 fact that no one else can look for 1025 00:44:49,130 --> 00:44:49,350 you. 1026 00:44:50,870 --> 00:44:52,990 The mother can't look for a child. 1027 00:44:53,390 --> 00:44:55,490 The husband can't look for his wife. 1028 00:44:56,310 --> 00:44:59,870 Each one has to look individually. 1029 00:45:00,850 --> 00:45:03,730 Now, the application, I think, in the light 1030 00:45:03,730 --> 00:45:05,550 of what we've studied is very clear. 1031 00:45:06,490 --> 00:45:11,910 We have to look to Jesus, crucified, and 1032 00:45:11,910 --> 00:45:18,150 see in Him our sicknesses, our poverty, our 1033 00:45:18,150 --> 00:45:21,610 sin, everything in Him. 1034 00:45:21,670 --> 00:45:24,930 And because it's in Him, we don't have 1035 00:45:24,930 --> 00:45:25,550 to bear it. 1036 00:45:25,910 --> 00:45:27,350 See how simple that is? 1037 00:45:28,030 --> 00:45:30,110 Now we've come almost to the end of 1038 00:45:30,110 --> 00:45:30,650 our time. 1039 00:45:30,650 --> 00:45:32,570 I want to give you a little immediate 1040 00:45:32,570 --> 00:45:33,710 practical application. 1041 00:45:34,290 --> 00:45:35,590 I want you to look at that list 1042 00:45:35,590 --> 00:45:37,190 that's in front of you of the different 1043 00:45:37,190 --> 00:45:40,930 changes, the exchange that took place. 1044 00:45:41,070 --> 00:45:43,570 And I want you to come up for 1045 00:45:43,570 --> 00:45:47,670 yourself with some phrase of thanksgiving by which 1046 00:45:47,670 --> 00:45:50,550 you express your faith and appropriate what God 1047 00:45:50,550 --> 00:45:51,390 has done for you. 1048 00:45:51,890 --> 00:45:52,330 All right? 1049 00:45:52,650 --> 00:45:54,330 Each one of you, just for a moment 1050 00:45:54,330 --> 00:45:54,810 or two. 1051 00:45:55,770 --> 00:45:58,330 Like, I thank you, Jesus, that you have 1052 00:45:58,330 --> 00:46:01,490 made sin with my sinfulness, that I might 1053 00:46:01,490 --> 00:46:03,410 be made righteous with your righteousness. 1054 00:46:04,010 --> 00:46:04,410 All right? 1055 00:46:04,950 --> 00:46:06,430 And you don't need to say it very 1056 00:46:06,430 --> 00:46:09,810 loud, but just say it out loud enough 1057 00:46:09,810 --> 00:46:10,690 to hear yourself. 1058 00:46:10,970 --> 00:46:12,310 Address the words to Jesus. 1059 00:46:12,430 --> 00:46:13,830 You're looking away from yourself. 1060 00:46:13,950 --> 00:46:14,310 You understand? 1061 00:46:15,170 --> 00:46:16,810 There's no solution in you. 1062 00:46:18,090 --> 00:46:20,750 The more you talk about your problems, generally 1063 00:46:20,750 --> 00:46:22,450 speaking, the deeper you are in them. 1064 00:46:24,130 --> 00:46:24,730 All right? 1065 00:46:26,070 --> 00:46:27,510 Anybody want to volunteer? 1066 00:46:28,650 --> 00:46:30,190 Stand up and say what you see. 1067 00:46:31,430 --> 00:46:31,870 Anybody. 1068 00:46:32,470 --> 00:46:33,270 You've got just a moment. 1069 00:46:33,590 --> 00:46:33,910 All right? 1070 00:46:33,990 --> 00:46:35,570 Say it out loud so that everybody can 1071 00:46:35,570 --> 00:46:35,750 hear. 1072 00:46:35,930 --> 00:46:36,430 Stand up. 1073 00:46:37,830 --> 00:46:39,570 Turn around so that people can hear. 1074 00:46:41,670 --> 00:46:42,510 Praise God! 1075 00:46:43,470 --> 00:46:43,910 Amen. 1076 00:46:43,990 --> 00:46:45,130 That was a really good one. 1077 00:46:45,170 --> 00:46:45,730 That was original. 1078 00:46:45,910 --> 00:46:47,150 I think we've got time for one more. 1079 00:46:47,270 --> 00:46:47,490 Anybody? 1080 00:46:49,330 --> 00:46:52,010 That's a wonderful application, brother, because that's making 1081 00:46:52,010 --> 00:46:52,950 your sin specific. 1082 00:46:53,730 --> 00:46:55,830 Anybody else want to volunteer? 1083 00:46:55,990 --> 00:46:56,290 Yes. 1084 00:46:57,350 --> 00:46:59,330 Stand up and turn around so that people 1085 00:46:59,330 --> 00:47:00,310 can see you. 1086 00:47:01,630 --> 00:47:02,490 Praise God! 1087 00:47:02,710 --> 00:47:02,950 Amen. 1088 00:47:04,010 --> 00:47:05,090 Do you people have wives? 1089 00:47:06,530 --> 00:47:08,150 Your wives are going to be happy for 1090 00:47:08,150 --> 00:47:08,350 a moment. 1091 00:47:09,610 --> 00:47:10,410 Somebody else? 1092 00:47:10,990 --> 00:47:13,050 You've been listening to From the Pulpit and 1093 00:47:13,050 --> 00:47:14,230 the Classic Sermon Series. 1094 00:47:14,490 --> 00:47:16,610 This week you heard Derrick Prince with his 1095 00:47:16,610 --> 00:47:18,070 message, How to Enter In. 1096 00:47:18,290 --> 00:47:20,390 Tune in next week for another powerful message 1097 00:47:20,390 --> 00:47:22,850 from God's Word on From the Pulpit and 1098 00:47:22,850 --> 00:47:23,830 Classic Sermons.