1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:09,680 When men made chapter and verse divisions, they 2 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:11,280 did make mistakes. 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,079 The Word of God is divinely inspired. 4 00:00:15,420 --> 00:00:16,100 It's inerrant. 5 00:00:17,260 --> 00:00:21,380 But men, for the sake of helping us 6 00:00:21,380 --> 00:00:27,280 to find scriptures and to memorize passages, divided 7 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,220 the Bible into chapter and verses. 8 00:00:30,420 --> 00:00:33,100 And it's a very convenient way to reference. 9 00:00:36,070 --> 00:00:41,650 However, many times they made the divisions in 10 00:00:41,650 --> 00:00:42,790 the wrong place. 11 00:00:43,770 --> 00:00:46,870 And in our reading, we are prone to 12 00:00:46,870 --> 00:00:49,150 read to an end of a chapter and 13 00:00:49,150 --> 00:00:51,150 then quit until the next reading. 14 00:00:53,410 --> 00:00:57,990 And sometimes the thought carries right through. 15 00:00:59,170 --> 00:01:04,390 So that in the dividing of the chapters, 16 00:01:04,650 --> 00:01:08,870 they should have ended chapter 52 with verse 17 00:01:08,870 --> 00:01:13,130 12 and they should have started chapter 53 18 00:01:13,130 --> 00:01:15,330 with verse 13. 19 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,740 Because the last three verses here definitely fit 20 00:01:22,740 --> 00:01:24,900 in with Isaiah 53. 21 00:01:26,860 --> 00:01:31,280 And so that we might see the relationship 22 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:36,440 with 53, we will begin our study of 23 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,420 chapter 53 with verse 13 of 52. 24 00:01:41,660 --> 00:01:50,240 As God now speaks about His servant, His 25 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:56,500 only begotten Son, who was in the form 26 00:01:56,500 --> 00:02:00,820 of God and thought it not something to 27 00:02:00,820 --> 00:02:04,780 be grasped, to be equal with God. 28 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:09,020 And yet He humbled Himself and took on 29 00:02:09,020 --> 00:02:11,880 the likeness of man or the form of 30 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,360 man and came in likeness of man. 31 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,300 And being humbled, He came as a servant. 32 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,400 And so Jesus said, I came not to 33 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,420 do my own will, but the will of 34 00:02:27,420 --> 00:02:29,000 the one who sent me. 35 00:02:31,460 --> 00:02:33,720 And in the garden, He said, not my 36 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,620 will, thy will be done. 37 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,120 As He submitted as a servant unto the 38 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:40,460 Father. 39 00:02:41,260 --> 00:02:46,800 Now Isaiah begins to prophesy here concerning God's 40 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,260 servant that was to come. 41 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,060 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently. 42 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,380 He shall be exalted and extolled. 43 00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:04,740 The Hebrew word extolled is the word lifted 44 00:03:04,740 --> 00:03:05,220 up. 45 00:03:06,020 --> 00:03:09,520 It is the very same word that Jesus 46 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:14,520 used in the New Testament when talking to 47 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:19,000 His disciples said, and I, if I be 48 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:24,200 lifted up, will draw all men unto me. 49 00:03:24,980 --> 00:03:27,760 Now Jesus, when He was referring to being 50 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,200 lifted up, was referring to the death that 51 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,100 He was to die upon the cross as 52 00:03:33,100 --> 00:03:34,940 He would be lifted up upon a cross. 53 00:03:35,060 --> 00:03:37,760 And I, if I be lifted up, and 54 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,680 the idea is being lifted up on a 55 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,340 cross, I will draw all men unto me. 56 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:48,260 Now that scripture has been carelessly interpreted by 57 00:03:48,260 --> 00:03:51,380 many people as just lifting up Jesus. 58 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,900 If you'll just lift up Jesus, He'll draw 59 00:03:54,900 --> 00:03:56,640 all men to Him, you see. 60 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,140 So in your ministry, just lift up Jesus. 61 00:04:00,740 --> 00:04:03,860 And they even have choruses, let's lift Him 62 00:04:03,860 --> 00:04:06,280 higher, let's lift Him higher, that all the 63 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:07,220 world may see. 64 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,800 Well, whoever wrote that chorus doesn't have any 65 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,880 real understanding of scripture because they've taken it 66 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:15,060 out of its context. 67 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:20,240 In the context, the gospel writers said, this 68 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,520 said He signifying the manner of death that 69 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:24,320 He was going to die. 70 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,640 That is signifying the cross, lifted up on 71 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:28,220 a cross. 72 00:04:29,180 --> 00:04:32,960 And so here the cross is predicted, prophesied 73 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:34,600 in Isaiah. 74 00:04:35,380 --> 00:04:40,460 He shall be exalted and lifted up and 75 00:04:40,460 --> 00:04:41,300 be very high. 76 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:50,280 As many were astonished at Thee, His visage, 77 00:04:50,300 --> 00:04:54,180 or face, was so marred, more than any 78 00:04:54,180 --> 00:04:58,340 man, and His form more than the sons 79 00:04:58,340 --> 00:04:59,000 of man. 80 00:04:59,580 --> 00:05:04,700 In the Hebrew, this reads more literally, His 81 00:05:04,700 --> 00:05:08,340 face was so marred that He could not 82 00:05:08,340 --> 00:05:11,860 be recognized as a man or as a 83 00:05:11,860 --> 00:05:12,720 human being. 84 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,920 Now we are told in the gospel that 85 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,560 they covered His face and they began to 86 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:20,740 buffet Him. 87 00:05:25,020 --> 00:05:27,860 That is, with His face covered, they began 88 00:05:27,860 --> 00:05:28,880 to hit Him. 89 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,800 Now as a general rule, our bodies have 90 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,880 an automatic reflex kind of a action. 91 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,980 When we see a blow coming, we give 92 00:05:40,980 --> 00:05:43,360 with the blow, so it cushions the blow. 93 00:05:43,620 --> 00:05:45,600 You don't get the full brunt of it. 94 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,600 If you don't cushion the blow, it is 95 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,880 a surprise blow that you don't see coming. 96 00:05:55,220 --> 00:05:56,260 That's where you get hurt. 97 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,400 You guys that watch the Monday Night Football, 98 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:00,040 you know that. 99 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,080 When a quarterback gets blindsided, he's in trouble. 100 00:06:03,980 --> 00:06:07,060 If he can see the guy coming, you 101 00:06:07,060 --> 00:06:09,380 know, you just sort of, you reflex action 102 00:06:09,380 --> 00:06:11,560 to it and you sort of go with 103 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:12,000 it. 104 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:14,980 And you may get bounced all over, but 105 00:06:14,980 --> 00:06:18,460 you're reacting and coordinating with it. 106 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,080 And thus, it's a lot easier to take. 107 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,740 But if you don't see that big tackle 108 00:06:24,740 --> 00:06:28,620 barreling in on you, and he hits you 109 00:06:28,620 --> 00:06:34,240 without your having any ability to defend yourself 110 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,520 by the feigning that a person does, that's 111 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,880 when you get the broken bones and that's 112 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:42,400 when you get laid out of the game. 113 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:47,820 Those blindsides are the really things that will 114 00:06:47,820 --> 00:06:48,660 put you out. 115 00:06:48,660 --> 00:06:51,960 Now with Jesus, as they covered his face 116 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:57,140 and began to buffet him, no way to 117 00:06:57,140 --> 00:07:00,820 feign or to give with the blow. 118 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:06,340 And thus, his face must have been horribly 119 00:07:06,340 --> 00:07:07,420 disfigured. 120 00:07:08,940 --> 00:07:13,020 Here Isaiah declares that it was so shocking. 121 00:07:14,380 --> 00:07:18,020 As many as looked upon you were shocked 122 00:07:18,020 --> 00:07:22,380 when they saw how marred your face was. 123 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:26,020 So marred that you could not be recognized 124 00:07:26,020 --> 00:07:29,500 as a man, as a human being. 125 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,720 But so shall he sprinkle many nations. 126 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,060 The kings shall shut their mouths at him, 127 00:07:37,140 --> 00:07:40,440 for that which had not been told them, 128 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:41,760 they shall see. 129 00:07:42,580 --> 00:07:44,940 And that which they had not heard, shall 130 00:07:44,940 --> 00:07:45,740 they consider. 131 00:07:45,740 --> 00:07:48,480 But who hath believed our report? 132 00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:52,880 And to whom is the arm of the 133 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,400 Lord revealed? 134 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,940 For he shall grow up before him as 135 00:08:00,940 --> 00:08:04,180 a tender plant, and as a root out 136 00:08:04,180 --> 00:08:05,180 of a dry ground. 137 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,820 Now he has no form nor comeliness. 138 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,400 And when we shall see him, there is 139 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,320 no beauty that we should desire him. 140 00:08:22,130 --> 00:08:25,170 Interesting prophecies concerning Jesus Christ. 141 00:08:25,990 --> 00:08:31,169 He has no beautiful form or comeliness. 142 00:08:32,409 --> 00:08:34,770 There is no beauty there that we should 143 00:08:34,770 --> 00:08:35,010 desire. 144 00:08:35,070 --> 00:08:36,650 In other words, we will not be attracted 145 00:08:36,650 --> 00:08:38,809 to him by the physical beauty. 146 00:08:41,150 --> 00:08:46,450 Now, so often we have in our minds 147 00:08:47,330 --> 00:08:52,550 sort of a mental picture of what a 148 00:08:52,550 --> 00:08:53,910 person may look like. 149 00:08:57,590 --> 00:09:01,330 And we sort of automatically do this. 150 00:09:02,710 --> 00:09:04,970 Even though we haven't seen a person. 151 00:09:05,850 --> 00:09:08,870 I get this all the time where I 152 00:09:08,870 --> 00:09:11,010 go into areas where people have been listening 153 00:09:11,010 --> 00:09:11,890 on the radio. 154 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,640 And I'll go into an area to speak 155 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:18,780 and all they've heard is my voice. 156 00:09:21,770 --> 00:09:25,690 And it's interesting to watch their shocked expressions 157 00:09:25,690 --> 00:09:26,970 when they see me. 158 00:09:30,940 --> 00:09:36,400 Because they have envisioned usually something far different 159 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,460 than what I look like. 160 00:09:38,940 --> 00:09:41,940 But somehow we always create sort of a 161 00:09:41,940 --> 00:09:42,860 mental image. 162 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:45,800 It's an ambiguous kind of an image, but 163 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,000 yet there is sort of a mental image 164 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,360 of what the person must look like who 165 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,060 has a voice like that. 166 00:09:52,060 --> 00:09:57,460 And it so often is very shocking when 167 00:09:57,460 --> 00:10:02,940 you see the person that you've been listening 168 00:10:02,940 --> 00:10:03,260 to. 169 00:10:03,380 --> 00:10:05,900 I was shocked when I first met Dr. 170 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:06,440 McGee. 171 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,340 And I didn't think he looked like that 172 00:10:11,340 --> 00:10:11,760 at all. 173 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:13,740 You know, with that southern voice I expect 174 00:10:13,740 --> 00:10:16,000 to see some tall Texan type of a 175 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:16,620 guy, you know. 176 00:10:17,180 --> 00:10:21,000 And it was just a surprise to me. 177 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,920 And I suppose he was just as surprised 178 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,600 to see me and to see what I 179 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:26,300 look like. 180 00:10:30,940 --> 00:10:33,840 So, we have in our minds sort of 181 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,300 a mental image of what Jesus is going 182 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:37,040 to look like. 183 00:10:37,180 --> 00:10:41,480 And we sort of imagine just being enthralled 184 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,660 with the physical beauty of Christ. 185 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,580 But as many as looked upon him were 186 00:10:48,580 --> 00:10:53,320 astonished because really there is no form or 187 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,260 comeliness that is really attractive. 188 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,220 When we shall see him there is no 189 00:10:58,220 --> 00:10:59,620 beauty that we should desire. 190 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,160 And it isn't for the beautiful form that 191 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:03,580 we will be attracted. 192 00:11:03,780 --> 00:11:06,640 And I think that this is... 193 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:13,510 I think that this is rather great that 194 00:11:13,510 --> 00:11:16,050 it will not be the beautiful form that 195 00:11:16,050 --> 00:11:17,370 we're attracted to. 196 00:11:20,980 --> 00:11:26,290 Because, face it, the majority of the people 197 00:11:26,290 --> 00:11:26,870 are ugly. 198 00:11:30,710 --> 00:11:34,090 Very few beautiful people, really beautiful people. 199 00:11:36,980 --> 00:11:39,040 Most of us are in the category of 200 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:40,080 we can get by. 201 00:11:44,380 --> 00:11:46,840 But it isn't our looks that really attract 202 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:47,340 people. 203 00:11:49,780 --> 00:11:53,860 Now, if he were one of those beautiful 204 00:11:53,860 --> 00:11:58,940 persons then it would be more difficult for 205 00:11:58,940 --> 00:12:00,440 us to identify with him. 206 00:12:02,740 --> 00:12:04,640 But the fact that it isn't the beauty 207 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:08,280 of his form that is attractive or draws 208 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,520 us to him means that each of us 209 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,980 can identify with him because it is that 210 00:12:14,980 --> 00:12:18,920 spiritual beauty and the love that just draws 211 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,500 us so much that we care not what 212 00:12:21,500 --> 00:12:24,040 the form may look like. 213 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:35,200 Now, when John was in heaven and he 214 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,740 saw the scroll in the right hand of 215 00:12:37,740 --> 00:12:42,680 him who sits upon the throne and he 216 00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:46,400 heard the angel proclaim with a loud voice 217 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,300 Who is worthy to take the scroll and 218 00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:50,560 loose the seals? 219 00:12:51,900 --> 00:12:54,020 And as he observed that no one was 220 00:12:54,020 --> 00:12:56,980 found worthy in heaven or earth to take 221 00:12:56,980 --> 00:12:58,900 the scroll or to loose the seals he 222 00:12:58,900 --> 00:12:59,900 began to weep. 223 00:13:01,420 --> 00:13:03,400 And one of the elders said unto John, 224 00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:04,260 Don't weep, John. 225 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,400 Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah 226 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,460 hath prevailed to take the seal and to 227 00:13:09,460 --> 00:13:12,100 loose to take the scroll and to loose 228 00:13:12,100 --> 00:13:12,660 the seals. 229 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,640 And John said, And I turned and I 230 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:21,420 saw him as a lamb that had been 231 00:13:21,420 --> 00:13:22,600 slaughtered. 232 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,680 No beauty that we should desire him. 233 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,980 John's first glimpse of Christ in heaven he 234 00:13:31,980 --> 00:13:34,080 saw him as a lamb that had been 235 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,000 slaughtered. 236 00:13:35,740 --> 00:13:43,300 Not as some tremendously physical, robust, handsome creature 237 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,260 that we all sort of envision Jesus to 238 00:13:47,260 --> 00:13:47,620 be. 239 00:13:49,950 --> 00:13:53,650 But perhaps the Lord still bears the marks 240 00:13:55,030 --> 00:13:57,210 of his suffering for you. 241 00:13:58,890 --> 00:14:02,590 He did bear those marks after the resurrection. 242 00:14:03,870 --> 00:14:06,890 For you remember Thomas said, Except I can 243 00:14:06,890 --> 00:14:10,530 put my fingers into his hand and thrust 244 00:14:10,530 --> 00:14:13,370 my hand into his side, I won't believe. 245 00:14:13,690 --> 00:14:15,930 And so the next time Jesus showed himself 246 00:14:15,930 --> 00:14:18,850 to the disciples, Thomas being present, he said, 247 00:14:18,970 --> 00:14:20,490 Okay, Thomas, go ahead. 248 00:14:20,630 --> 00:14:22,530 Put your finger in my hand. 249 00:14:23,750 --> 00:14:25,850 Put your hand in my side. 250 00:14:26,730 --> 00:14:28,070 The marks were still there. 251 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,200 It said, And they shall look on him 252 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,220 whom they have pierced. 253 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:39,600 And they shall say unto him, What are 254 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,020 the meaning of these wounds in your hands? 255 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:49,460 Yet future still bearing them, the marks of 256 00:14:49,460 --> 00:14:51,540 his love for you. 257 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,740 So as many as saw him were astonished. 258 00:14:58,750 --> 00:15:02,310 He has no form nor comeliness that is 259 00:15:02,310 --> 00:15:06,270 really an attractive, desirable or attracting feature. 260 00:15:06,430 --> 00:15:08,310 When we shall see him, there is no 261 00:15:08,310 --> 00:15:10,390 beauty that we should desire him. 262 00:15:10,530 --> 00:15:14,370 For he is despised and rejected of men. 263 00:15:16,030 --> 00:15:19,250 A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 264 00:15:20,310 --> 00:15:24,390 Now you probably have in your mind mental 265 00:15:24,390 --> 00:15:27,310 pictures of what Paul must have looked like. 266 00:15:29,150 --> 00:15:33,190 I read the epistles of Paul and I 267 00:15:33,190 --> 00:15:35,230 think of him as a giant. 268 00:15:36,230 --> 00:15:38,130 Surely he is a spiritual giant. 269 00:15:39,930 --> 00:15:44,510 I read in one of the Apogrypha books 270 00:15:44,510 --> 00:15:51,430 or one of the early writings a description 271 00:15:51,430 --> 00:15:52,830 of Paul the Apostle. 272 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,720 And it describes him as a skinny little 273 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:08,390 runt about five feet tall with a horribly 274 00:16:08,390 --> 00:16:14,560 large hooked nose and eyes that were red, 275 00:16:14,780 --> 00:16:16,500 swollen and constantly running. 276 00:16:19,300 --> 00:16:22,740 And I was upset because that's not how 277 00:16:22,740 --> 00:16:24,180 I picture Paul at all. 278 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:27,460 I'm in love with Paul. 279 00:16:30,090 --> 00:16:32,430 My, what this man has given to us 280 00:16:32,430 --> 00:16:36,710 of his great depth of understanding and background. 281 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,720 And I so love the writings of Paul 282 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,740 that I've been drawn to him. 283 00:16:43,740 --> 00:16:47,640 He is one of those that I'm looking 284 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,160 forward to just really spending some time with 285 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:50,880 in the future. 286 00:16:56,940 --> 00:17:06,530 And yet without seeing the physical 287 00:17:06,530 --> 00:17:11,970 person it is possible to be in love 288 00:17:11,970 --> 00:17:15,569 with an individual and yet not be physically 289 00:17:15,569 --> 00:17:16,310 attracted. 290 00:17:18,619 --> 00:17:21,880 And yet it is interesting that so often 291 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,480 today we only associate love with physical attraction 292 00:17:28,710 --> 00:17:31,130 and not with the person themselves. 293 00:17:33,890 --> 00:17:35,170 And that's rather tragic. 294 00:17:36,830 --> 00:17:39,210 And that's why so many marriages are miserable. 295 00:17:40,290 --> 00:17:42,370 Because the person's married a face. 296 00:17:43,590 --> 00:17:45,590 But there's nothing behind the face. 297 00:17:46,990 --> 00:17:48,870 There's no depth of character. 298 00:17:49,610 --> 00:17:51,930 There's just, you know, there's just a face 299 00:17:51,930 --> 00:17:54,190 and that's it. 300 00:17:56,300 --> 00:17:58,020 One of the most miserable dates I ever 301 00:17:58,020 --> 00:17:59,440 had in my life was with a girl 302 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:00,440 with a pretty face. 303 00:18:03,190 --> 00:18:04,090 Oh, I was excited. 304 00:18:04,370 --> 00:18:05,810 Man, I lied, this is going to be 305 00:18:05,810 --> 00:18:06,110 great. 306 00:18:11,460 --> 00:18:14,120 My sister worked with her sister and, you 307 00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:16,000 know, as they talked, well, my brother goes, 308 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,520 oh, well, my sister goes, oh, well, my 309 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,540 sister thinks your brother's cute or something, you 310 00:18:20,540 --> 00:18:20,960 know, and so. 311 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,240 Man, that's all I needed, you know. 312 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:24,640 So you call up and you make a 313 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:24,940 date. 314 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:28,580 Most miserable night. 315 00:18:29,620 --> 00:18:32,400 She had a beautiful face, but man, she 316 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:33,300 was a dud. 317 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,560 I mean, just a dull evening. 318 00:18:47,380 --> 00:18:49,440 No conversation, nothing, just. 319 00:18:51,660 --> 00:18:56,660 And people make mistakes many times in relationships 320 00:18:56,660 --> 00:19:00,580 because we relate on the physical rather than 321 00:19:00,580 --> 00:19:02,880 upon the true nature of a person. 322 00:19:07,900 --> 00:19:09,980 Now, he is despised and rejected of men. 323 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:11,160 He is a man of sorrows. 324 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:12,540 He's acquainted with grief. 325 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,560 And we hid, as it were, our faces 326 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:25,450 from him, perhaps in shock and in horror. 327 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:29,920 Have you ever looked at something that was 328 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:31,340 so shocking you couldn't look? 329 00:19:31,420 --> 00:19:32,440 You turned your face. 330 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:35,440 You couldn't stand to look at it. 331 00:19:35,620 --> 00:19:37,180 It was so horrible. 332 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,140 It may be that that will be your 333 00:19:41,140 --> 00:19:45,720 first response when you see the marks of 334 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:47,340 the suffering that he bore for you. 335 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:50,100 You look and you can't even... 336 00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:52,720 He doesn't even look like a human being. 337 00:19:53,820 --> 00:19:55,880 Ooh, you know, you just sort of cringe 338 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:56,520 at it. 339 00:19:59,080 --> 00:19:59,980 He is despised. 340 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:00,780 He is rejected. 341 00:20:04,470 --> 00:20:06,310 And we didn't esteem him. 342 00:20:07,710 --> 00:20:13,890 But surely, in that suffering, in that death, 343 00:20:14,410 --> 00:20:18,730 he bore our griefs and he carried our 344 00:20:18,730 --> 00:20:19,830 sorrows. 345 00:20:20,810 --> 00:20:25,370 Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of 346 00:20:25,370 --> 00:20:26,570 God and afflicted. 347 00:20:28,630 --> 00:20:32,710 But he was wounded for our transgressions. 348 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:39,540 Now, this is why it is so ridiculous 349 00:20:39,540 --> 00:20:43,640 to try to hold the Jews responsible for 350 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:49,460 the death of Jesus Christ and to blame 351 00:20:49,460 --> 00:20:52,900 them and to persecute them, as has been 352 00:20:52,900 --> 00:20:56,900 the history of the church, persecute them for 353 00:20:56,900 --> 00:20:58,260 the death of Jesus Christ. 354 00:20:58,580 --> 00:21:01,760 That's sheer unscriptural idiocy. 355 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,000 They are no more responsible for the death 356 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:14,490 of Jesus Christ than you or I. 357 00:21:19,660 --> 00:21:22,860 We are all equally responsible for his death, 358 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:27,440 for he was wounded for our transgressions. 359 00:21:28,300 --> 00:21:30,860 It was my sin that put him on 360 00:21:30,860 --> 00:21:31,500 the cross. 361 00:21:32,860 --> 00:21:35,480 It was my sin that brought him that 362 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,680 suffering and that beating and that shame and 363 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:40,680 that reproach. 364 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:41,660 I'm guilty. 365 00:21:44,210 --> 00:21:47,590 And we shouldn't seek to blame someone else 366 00:21:47,590 --> 00:21:50,110 for our own guilt and to persecute someone 367 00:21:50,110 --> 00:21:53,270 else for that for which we are ourselves 368 00:21:53,270 --> 00:21:54,170 responsible. 369 00:21:56,340 --> 00:22:00,440 Surely, he hath borne our griefs, carried our 370 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:01,280 sorrows. 371 00:22:01,820 --> 00:22:04,400 He was wounded for our transgressions. 372 00:22:04,740 --> 00:22:07,880 He was bruised for our iniquities. 373 00:22:08,260 --> 00:22:12,120 The chastisement of our peace was upon him, 374 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,440 and with his stripes we are healed. 375 00:22:17,370 --> 00:22:20,530 So, we are the ones responsible for the 376 00:22:20,530 --> 00:22:23,510 suffering and the death of Jesus Christ because 377 00:22:23,510 --> 00:22:26,930 he suffered and died for me, that he 378 00:22:26,930 --> 00:22:29,510 might bring me the forgiveness of my sins, 379 00:22:29,510 --> 00:22:32,370 that he might bring me into fellowship with 380 00:22:32,370 --> 00:22:32,750 God. 381 00:22:33,010 --> 00:22:36,030 You see, God created man in the beginning 382 00:22:36,030 --> 00:22:36,850 for fellowship. 383 00:22:37,010 --> 00:22:39,110 That was the purpose of God when he 384 00:22:39,110 --> 00:22:41,490 created man, that God might be able to 385 00:22:41,490 --> 00:22:43,750 fellowship with man. 386 00:22:44,610 --> 00:22:48,130 But when man turned his back upon God 387 00:22:48,130 --> 00:22:52,010 and sinned, fellowship with God was broken. 388 00:22:53,170 --> 00:22:56,150 And fellowship with God who is holy and 389 00:22:56,150 --> 00:23:01,470 righteous cannot be restored until something is done 390 00:23:01,470 --> 00:23:03,130 about my sin. 391 00:23:04,290 --> 00:23:06,810 And that is why Jesus came, that he 392 00:23:06,810 --> 00:23:08,910 might take the guilt of my sin, that 393 00:23:08,910 --> 00:23:12,850 he might bear my iniquities, my transgressions, my 394 00:23:12,850 --> 00:23:15,810 guilt, die in my place in order that 395 00:23:15,810 --> 00:23:18,470 through his death I can now come to 396 00:23:18,470 --> 00:23:20,970 God and have fellowship with God. 397 00:23:25,170 --> 00:23:29,430 All we like sheep have gone astray. 398 00:23:29,430 --> 00:23:32,510 We have turned everyone to his own way. 399 00:23:33,590 --> 00:23:37,570 But the Lord hath laid on Jesus Christ 400 00:23:37,570 --> 00:23:40,070 the iniquities of us all. 401 00:23:41,090 --> 00:23:43,830 You remember Jesus cried on the cross, My 402 00:23:43,830 --> 00:23:47,370 God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 403 00:23:48,510 --> 00:23:51,090 Crying out the 22nd Psalm and in the 404 00:23:51,090 --> 00:23:54,250 verse 4, the answer is given, For thou 405 00:23:54,250 --> 00:23:57,430 art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises 406 00:23:57,430 --> 00:23:58,330 of thy people. 407 00:23:58,330 --> 00:24:03,150 God forsook his Son when your sin was 408 00:24:03,150 --> 00:24:04,310 placed upon him. 409 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,700 For that's the effect of sin, it's being 410 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:12,400 forsaken of God, being separated from God. 411 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,140 And when your sin was placed upon Jesus 412 00:24:16,140 --> 00:24:18,860 Christ, he was separated from the Father and 413 00:24:18,860 --> 00:24:21,760 thus the cry, My God, my God, why 414 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:23,740 hast thou forsaken me? 415 00:24:24,900 --> 00:24:27,760 But he was forsaken of God in order 416 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,240 that you won't have to be forsaken by 417 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:30,720 God. 418 00:24:31,820 --> 00:24:35,100 For God laid on him the iniquities of 419 00:24:35,100 --> 00:24:35,640 us all. 420 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:38,840 He was oppressed. 421 00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:42,000 He was afflicted. 422 00:24:42,980 --> 00:24:45,260 Yet he opened not his mouth. 423 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,960 You remember before Pilate, Pilate marveled that he 424 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:50,740 didn't answer. 425 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:52,180 He said, answers thou not me? 426 00:24:52,460 --> 00:24:54,020 Don't you know that I have power to 427 00:24:54,020 --> 00:24:55,460 free thee or power to put thee to 428 00:24:55,460 --> 00:24:55,680 death? 429 00:24:57,360 --> 00:24:59,840 Jesus said, you don't have any power except 430 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:01,360 that which my Father gives you. 431 00:25:02,420 --> 00:25:03,240 But don't worry. 432 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:05,920 Those that turn me over to you have 433 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:07,260 the greater sin than you do. 434 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:09,960 That really troubled Pilate. 435 00:25:11,500 --> 00:25:13,000 He didn't know what he had on his 436 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:13,300 hands. 437 00:25:13,380 --> 00:25:14,820 He did his best to free him. 438 00:25:18,890 --> 00:25:20,430 But he opened not his mouth. 439 00:25:21,290 --> 00:25:23,230 He is brought as a lamb to the 440 00:25:23,230 --> 00:25:26,490 slaughter and as a sheep before her shears 441 00:25:26,490 --> 00:25:27,050 his dung. 442 00:25:27,050 --> 00:25:29,810 So he opened not his mouth. 443 00:25:30,410 --> 00:25:31,250 All of the accusations. 444 00:25:31,430 --> 00:25:33,010 Hear not all these things they accuse thee 445 00:25:33,010 --> 00:25:33,130 of? 446 00:25:33,170 --> 00:25:34,410 What do you say for yourself? 447 00:25:36,290 --> 00:25:37,510 Jesus didn't answer. 448 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:41,840 He was taken from prison and from judgment. 449 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:44,800 And who shall declare his generation? 450 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:47,700 For he was cut off. 451 00:25:47,860 --> 00:25:50,100 You see, without any children, who's going to 452 00:25:50,100 --> 00:25:51,040 declare his generation? 453 00:25:51,360 --> 00:25:53,300 He was cut off out of the land 454 00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:53,780 of the living. 455 00:25:56,500 --> 00:25:58,820 Now that's an interesting phrase, cut off out 456 00:25:58,820 --> 00:25:59,500 of the land of the living. 457 00:25:59,500 --> 00:26:02,760 You remember that Daniel prophesies from the time 458 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:04,440 the commandment goes forth to restore and rebuild 459 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:05,720 Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah. 460 00:26:05,820 --> 00:26:09,680 The prince will be seven sevens and sixty 461 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,460 two sevens, three score and two sevens. 462 00:26:11,780 --> 00:26:14,300 And the wall shall be built again in 463 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:14,960 troublous times. 464 00:26:15,060 --> 00:26:17,220 And after the three score and two sevens 465 00:26:17,220 --> 00:26:19,780 shall the Messiah be cut off. 466 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,500 But not for himself, but for the people. 467 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:26,480 Phrase cut off. 468 00:26:26,540 --> 00:26:30,480 He'll be crucified out of the land of 469 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:30,840 the living. 470 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:35,260 And God cries out, for the transgression of 471 00:26:35,260 --> 00:26:37,860 my people, he was stricken. 472 00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:41,880 Now he made his grave with the wicked 473 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,280 and with the rich in his death. 474 00:26:44,340 --> 00:26:46,660 You remember Joseph of Arimathea, a very rich 475 00:26:46,660 --> 00:26:50,120 man, came and begged Pilate for the body 476 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:51,920 of Jesus that he might bury it. 477 00:26:52,460 --> 00:26:53,340 And here it is. 478 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:54,900 He's with the rich in his death. 479 00:26:55,180 --> 00:26:59,300 Because he had done no violence, neither was 480 00:26:59,300 --> 00:27:01,320 there any deceit in his mouth. 481 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:06,580 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. 482 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:15,020 He hath put him to grief when he 483 00:27:15,020 --> 00:27:18,680 shall make his soul an offering for sin. 484 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,000 So Christ became the sin offering for us 485 00:27:22,510 --> 00:27:24,670 according to the will of God. 486 00:27:25,470 --> 00:27:27,030 Because God loved us. 487 00:27:27,610 --> 00:27:30,290 He shall see his seed and prolong his 488 00:27:30,290 --> 00:27:32,810 days and the pleasure of the Lord shall 489 00:27:32,810 --> 00:27:34,930 prosper in his hand. 490 00:27:35,630 --> 00:27:38,050 He shall see the travail of his soul 491 00:27:39,750 --> 00:27:41,110 and shall be satisfied. 492 00:27:41,230 --> 00:27:44,790 That is, he travailed in order that you 493 00:27:44,790 --> 00:27:45,890 might be born again. 494 00:27:48,850 --> 00:27:52,650 And in seeing your redemption, in seeing you 495 00:27:52,650 --> 00:27:56,430 in fellowship with God, he's satisfied. 496 00:27:57,670 --> 00:27:59,270 He looks upon it and says, well, it 497 00:27:59,270 --> 00:28:00,050 was worth it all. 498 00:28:01,620 --> 00:28:04,680 Because of the redemption that he is able 499 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,280 to offer to us, that fellowship that he 500 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,400 can bring to us with the Father. 501 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:12,440 And so he shall see the travail of 502 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:13,600 his soul and shall be satisfied. 503 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:16,340 And by his knowledge, that is by the 504 00:28:16,340 --> 00:28:22,100 knowledge of Jesus Christ, my righteous servant shall 505 00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:23,100 justify many. 506 00:28:23,820 --> 00:28:25,480 So how many of us tonight have been 507 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:28,460 justified before God through the knowledge of Jesus 508 00:28:28,460 --> 00:28:29,000 Christ? 509 00:28:29,900 --> 00:28:32,080 So God declares by his knowledge, so my 510 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:36,920 righteous servant justify many for he shall bear 511 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,500 their iniquities. 512 00:28:40,820 --> 00:28:46,240 Now, all of this written 700 years before 513 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:47,120 Christ was born. 514 00:28:50,740 --> 00:28:54,740 That is why when Peter stood up on 515 00:28:54,740 --> 00:28:58,700 the day of Pentecost and talked to the 516 00:28:58,700 --> 00:29:02,340 people who were involved in the crucifixion of 517 00:29:02,340 --> 00:29:09,990 Jesus Christ, he said unto them, Jesus of 518 00:29:09,990 --> 00:29:13,370 Nazareth, a man who was proved to be 519 00:29:13,370 --> 00:29:15,190 of God by the signs and the wonders 520 00:29:15,190 --> 00:29:17,390 which he did while he was still living 521 00:29:17,390 --> 00:29:24,370 with you, whom you, according to the predetermined 522 00:29:24,370 --> 00:29:27,450 counsel and foreknowledge of God, with your wicked 523 00:29:27,450 --> 00:29:28,830 hands have crucified and slain. 524 00:29:29,670 --> 00:29:32,110 But when he talks about the crucifixion, he 525 00:29:32,110 --> 00:29:35,850 speaks about the predetermined counsel and the foreknowledge 526 00:29:35,850 --> 00:29:36,130 of God. 527 00:29:36,230 --> 00:29:36,810 God knew it. 528 00:29:36,970 --> 00:29:40,230 God had planned it in order that he 529 00:29:40,230 --> 00:29:42,790 might demonstrate to you how much he loves 530 00:29:42,790 --> 00:29:42,990 you. 531 00:29:44,450 --> 00:29:46,010 Here in his love, not that we love 532 00:29:46,010 --> 00:29:47,810 God, but that God loved us and sent 533 00:29:47,810 --> 00:29:49,730 his son to be a propitiation for our 534 00:29:49,730 --> 00:29:50,050 sins. 535 00:29:52,890 --> 00:29:57,390 Paul said, for a righteous man, some might 536 00:29:57,390 --> 00:29:58,570 dare to die. 537 00:29:58,650 --> 00:30:00,570 For a good man, for adventure, some would 538 00:30:00,570 --> 00:30:01,870 even give their lives. 539 00:30:02,030 --> 00:30:03,830 But here in his God's love manifested in 540 00:30:03,830 --> 00:30:05,930 that while we were yet sinners, Christ died 541 00:30:05,930 --> 00:30:06,750 for the ungodly. 542 00:30:09,020 --> 00:30:10,680 He bore your iniquities. 543 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:12,280 He bore your sins. 544 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,260 Therefore, the Father says, will I divide him 545 00:30:16,260 --> 00:30:18,460 a portion with the great, and he shall 546 00:30:18,460 --> 00:30:20,580 divide the spoil with the strong. 547 00:30:21,900 --> 00:30:23,540 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, 548 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:28,440 and his sons and heirs, joint heirs with 549 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:29,280 Jesus Christ. 550 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,040 He divides the spoil with the strong, because 551 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,260 he has poured out his soul unto death. 552 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,600 He was numbered with the transgressors, two thieves, 553 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:41,000 one on either side. 554 00:30:41,860 --> 00:30:45,200 He was numbered with the transgressors, and he 555 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,040 bore the sin of many, and he made 556 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,100 intercession for the transgressors. 557 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:52,320 You remember, even as they were nailing him, 558 00:30:52,340 --> 00:30:54,060 he said, Father, forgive them. 559 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:55,440 They know not what they do. 560 00:30:55,660 --> 00:30:57,360 Interceding for the transgressors. 561 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:02,140 All of these things prophesied in advance, all 562 00:31:02,140 --> 00:31:04,920 of them fulfilled through the death of Jesus 563 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:05,440 Christ. 564 00:31:05,620 --> 00:31:09,840 Surely, it sets him alone in history as 565 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:13,220 the only man who could ever qualify to 566 00:31:13,220 --> 00:31:17,360 be the Messiah, the suffering servant. 567 00:31:18,540 --> 00:31:21,780 If Jesus is not the Messiah, there is 568 00:31:21,780 --> 00:31:22,620 no Messiah. 569 00:31:23,620 --> 00:31:26,980 No other man can qualify. 570 00:31:27,340 --> 00:31:33,720 But Jesus has qualified in all 300 points 571 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:39,920 of prophecy that spoke about his life, his 572 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:42,100 ministry, his death. 573 00:31:43,140 --> 00:31:46,740 And here in Isaiah, outstanding example of clear 574 00:31:46,740 --> 00:31:47,620 -cut prophecy. 575 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,160 And if it doesn't refer to Jesus Christ, 576 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:53,720 it can't refer to any other person in 577 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:54,200 history. 578 00:31:57,660 --> 00:31:59,940 He stands alone as the only one who 579 00:31:59,940 --> 00:32:01,460 has fulfilled these things. 580 00:32:06,030 --> 00:32:14,280 And to reject him after the basis of 581 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,540 this kind of evidence is to sin against 582 00:32:17,540 --> 00:32:19,860 your own conscience and to sin against the 583 00:32:19,860 --> 00:32:22,660 truth, which becomes even a greater evil. 584 00:32:27,060 --> 00:32:30,900 Israel is to be restored as Jehovah's wife. 585 00:32:33,620 --> 00:32:37,240 Chapter 54, Sing, O barren, thou that didst 586 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:37,800 not bear. 587 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:40,520 Break forth into singing and cry aloud, thou 588 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:42,320 that didst not travail with child. 589 00:32:42,780 --> 00:32:45,780 For more are the children of the desolate 590 00:32:45,780 --> 00:32:48,800 than the children of the married wife, saith 591 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:49,360 the Lord. 592 00:32:50,940 --> 00:32:52,640 Enlarge the place of thy tent. 593 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,320 Let them stretch forth the curtains of thy 594 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:56,040 habitation. 595 00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:58,920 Spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy 596 00:32:58,920 --> 00:32:59,280 stakes. 597 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:01,140 As God speaks of how He's just going 598 00:33:01,140 --> 00:33:03,380 to enlarge the nation and the people of 599 00:33:03,380 --> 00:33:06,080 Israel as He receives them again and places 600 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,440 His blessings upon them once more. 601 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:10,620 For thou shalt break forth on the right 602 00:33:10,620 --> 00:33:12,300 hand and on the left, and thy seed 603 00:33:12,300 --> 00:33:15,280 shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate 604 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:16,460 cities to be inhabited. 605 00:33:16,940 --> 00:33:18,940 Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed, 606 00:33:19,100 --> 00:33:21,440 neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not 607 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:23,700 be put to shame, for thou shalt forget 608 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:25,380 the shame of thy youth and shall not 609 00:33:25,380 --> 00:33:28,240 remember the reproach of thy widowhood anymore. 610 00:33:28,420 --> 00:33:30,440 As we go to the prophecy of Hosea, 611 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:34,980 we will find a very classic picture of 612 00:33:34,980 --> 00:33:37,960 how God took Israel as His own wife. 613 00:33:38,380 --> 00:33:42,540 How that she forsook Him, serving other gods. 614 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:46,620 And how that God finally will redeem her 615 00:33:46,620 --> 00:33:50,480 back again to Himself and marry her once 616 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:55,440 more and have that right relationship that He 617 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:57,760 has always desired with her. 618 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:00,260 And so here the same idea, you'll not 619 00:34:00,260 --> 00:34:02,640 remember the reproach of your youth or your 620 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:04,000 widowhood anymore. 621 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:09,219 For thy Maker, God, is your husband. 622 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:12,139 The Lord of hosts is His name, and 623 00:34:12,139 --> 00:34:17,320 thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the 624 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:20,500 God of the whole earth, shall He be 625 00:34:20,500 --> 00:34:20,900 called. 626 00:34:21,540 --> 00:34:23,760 For the Lord hath called thee as a 627 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:26,400 woman that is forsaken and grieved in spirit 628 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,060 and a wife of youth, when you were 629 00:34:29,060 --> 00:34:31,480 refused, saith thy God. 630 00:34:31,860 --> 00:34:35,760 For a small moment I have forsaken thee, 631 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:40,120 but with great mercies will I gather thee. 632 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:46,040 The glorious grace of God, the glorious mercy 633 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:49,560 of God, the glorious patience of God as 634 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:52,860 He deals with His people, the nation Israel. 635 00:34:53,420 --> 00:34:56,660 And as for a moment in a thousand 636 00:34:56,660 --> 00:34:59,440 years as a day with the Lord, for 637 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:03,960 a moment I have forsaken you, but with 638 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:06,340 great mercies will I gather thee. 639 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:09,220 In a little wrath I hid my face 640 00:35:09,220 --> 00:35:12,260 from thee for a moment, but with everlasting 641 00:35:12,260 --> 00:35:15,940 kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith 642 00:35:15,940 --> 00:35:17,380 the Lord thy Redeemer. 643 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:20,200 For this is as the waters of Noah 644 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:21,100 unto me. 645 00:35:21,740 --> 00:35:23,540 For as I have sworn that the waters 646 00:35:23,540 --> 00:35:25,440 of Noah should no more go over the 647 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:28,320 earth, so have I sworn that I would 648 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:31,820 not be angry with thee nor rebuke thee. 649 00:35:32,540 --> 00:35:36,080 For the mountains shall depart, the hills shall 650 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:39,580 be removed, but my kindness shall not depart 651 00:35:39,580 --> 00:35:42,540 from thee, neither shall the covenant of my 652 00:35:42,540 --> 00:35:45,200 peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath 653 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:46,820 mercy on thee. 654 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:51,160 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest and not 655 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:55,440 comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with 656 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:58,800 fair colors and lay thy foundations with sapphires, 657 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:01,720 and I will make your windows of agates 658 00:36:01,720 --> 00:36:03,980 and the gates of carbuncles and all of 659 00:36:03,980 --> 00:36:05,700 the borders of pleasant stones. 660 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,620 And all of your children shall be taught 661 00:36:08,620 --> 00:36:11,740 of the Lord and great shall be the 662 00:36:11,740 --> 00:36:13,420 peace of thy children. 663 00:36:13,980 --> 00:36:16,660 In righteousness shalt thou be established and thou 664 00:36:16,660 --> 00:36:19,200 shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt 665 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:26,000 not fear from terror, for it shall not 666 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:27,900 come near thee. 667 00:36:28,540 --> 00:36:30,880 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not 668 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:31,460 by me. 669 00:36:31,900 --> 00:36:34,780 Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall 670 00:36:34,780 --> 00:36:35,860 for thy sake. 671 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,760 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth 672 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:41,840 the coals in the fire and that bringeth 673 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:44,040 forth the instrument for his work, and I 674 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:46,340 have created the waster to destroy. 675 00:36:46,340 --> 00:36:50,460 But no weapon that is formed against thee 676 00:36:50,460 --> 00:36:53,720 shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise 677 00:36:53,720 --> 00:36:57,420 against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn, for 678 00:36:57,420 --> 00:37:00,040 this is the heritage of the servants of 679 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:02,940 the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, 680 00:37:05,700 --> 00:37:06,680 saith the Lord. 681 00:37:07,620 --> 00:37:09,300 Their righteousness is of me. 682 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:11,740 Our righteousness is not of ourselves. 683 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:12,840 It's not of our works. 684 00:37:13,180 --> 00:37:15,200 It's not by the works of righteousness that 685 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:16,720 we have done, but by His grace alone. 686 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:20,100 God declares their righteousness is of me. 687 00:37:21,260 --> 00:37:25,220 Of course, the primary promise here is being 688 00:37:25,220 --> 00:37:29,020 made to the nation of Israel after He 689 00:37:29,020 --> 00:37:31,380 has regathered them and claimed them as His 690 00:37:31,380 --> 00:37:31,840 people. 691 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:34,760 No weapon that is formed against thee shall 692 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:35,420 prosper. 693 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:38,580 Every tongue that shall rise against thee in 694 00:37:38,580 --> 00:37:41,720 judgment thou shalt condemn, this is the heritage 695 00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:44,080 of the servants of the Lord, so that 696 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:45,880 it goes beyond just Israel. 697 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,500 And it comes to us as servants of 698 00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:50,840 the Lord who find our righteousness in Christ. 699 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:54,880 Ho, everyone that thirsteth, going into the glorious 700 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:55,920 kingdom age. 701 00:37:56,940 --> 00:38:06,410 Now, God detests 702 00:38:08,300 --> 00:38:12,560 and hates commercialism. 703 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:25,200 God hates how people take advantage of one 704 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:34,780 another, profiteering on someone else. 705 00:38:37,750 --> 00:38:42,070 God is going to bring down the whole 706 00:38:42,070 --> 00:38:43,850 commercial system. 707 00:38:45,910 --> 00:38:48,410 And when God brings it down, there is 708 00:38:48,410 --> 00:38:51,410 going to be great rejoicing in heaven, though 709 00:38:51,410 --> 00:38:53,450 on earth there's going to be tremendous mourning 710 00:38:53,450 --> 00:38:54,550 and lamentation. 711 00:38:57,140 --> 00:38:59,920 But in Revelation 18, God spends a whole 712 00:38:59,920 --> 00:39:03,080 chapter telling of how He's going to bring 713 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:08,540 down this whole commercial world that have put 714 00:39:08,540 --> 00:39:20,000 people into bondage through credit cards and 715 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:24,180 have made slaves out of people, put people 716 00:39:24,180 --> 00:39:29,140 under all kinds of financial pressures, taken advantage 717 00:39:29,140 --> 00:39:31,400 of people's misfortunes. 718 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:36,440 And God hates it with a passion. 719 00:39:38,530 --> 00:39:39,910 And He's going to bring it down. 720 00:39:41,190 --> 00:39:44,190 And in the new age that is going 721 00:39:44,190 --> 00:39:51,970 to be established by Jesus Christ, no commercialism 722 00:39:51,970 --> 00:39:52,970 at all. 723 00:39:53,470 --> 00:39:58,590 Man's greed will not have an opportunity of 724 00:39:58,590 --> 00:40:02,370 exploiting the weaker man or his fellow man 725 00:40:02,370 --> 00:40:03,530 or the poorer man. 726 00:40:05,890 --> 00:40:10,110 Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come to the waters. 727 00:40:11,150 --> 00:40:15,170 He that has no money, come, buy and 728 00:40:15,170 --> 00:40:15,510 eat. 729 00:40:16,210 --> 00:40:18,050 Yea, come and buy the wine and the 730 00:40:18,050 --> 00:40:21,010 milk without money and without price. 731 00:40:22,170 --> 00:40:24,210 God is going to allow the earth to 732 00:40:24,210 --> 00:40:26,610 just bring forth abundantly and every man shall 733 00:40:26,610 --> 00:40:29,890 sit neath his own vine and fig tree. 734 00:40:32,130 --> 00:40:33,750 And they shall live in peace together. 735 00:40:34,110 --> 00:40:37,410 There won't be the greed that has actually 736 00:40:37,410 --> 00:40:40,950 created so many of the horrible wars in 737 00:40:40,950 --> 00:40:41,550 our history. 738 00:40:43,590 --> 00:40:46,130 Those men who profit over wars. 739 00:40:50,580 --> 00:40:55,000 Those men who have the commercial interest and 740 00:40:55,000 --> 00:41:01,260 all, who can make great gain through bringing 741 00:41:01,260 --> 00:41:03,300 a nation against a nation, all be gone. 742 00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:06,640 The basis of greed will be gone. 743 00:41:06,740 --> 00:41:07,800 Everything will be free. 744 00:41:10,020 --> 00:41:11,860 Ho, everyone that thirsteth, just come. 745 00:41:12,620 --> 00:41:13,240 Help yourself. 746 00:41:15,580 --> 00:41:16,320 Take what you want. 747 00:41:16,380 --> 00:41:17,720 No money, no price. 748 00:41:20,240 --> 00:41:21,840 Why do you spend your money for that 749 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:23,640 which is not bread, the Lord said? 750 00:41:25,860 --> 00:41:28,300 You labor for that which does not satisfy 751 00:41:28,300 --> 00:41:32,540 as he speaks out against, you know, our 752 00:41:32,540 --> 00:41:33,680 whole system today. 753 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:36,220 How that we labor so hard to get 754 00:41:36,220 --> 00:41:38,380 things that really don't satisfy. 755 00:41:40,650 --> 00:41:42,170 Why is it that you do this? 756 00:41:43,650 --> 00:41:46,130 Hearken diligently to me. 757 00:41:46,830 --> 00:41:48,450 Eat that which is good. 758 00:41:49,430 --> 00:41:51,970 Let your soul delight itself in fatness. 759 00:41:52,090 --> 00:41:53,130 Incline your ear. 760 00:41:53,650 --> 00:41:56,370 Come unto me and hear and your soul 761 00:41:56,370 --> 00:41:59,150 shall live and I will make an everlasting 762 00:41:59,150 --> 00:42:02,250 covenant with you even the sure mercies of 763 00:42:02,250 --> 00:42:02,750 David. 764 00:42:03,650 --> 00:42:05,930 Behold, I have given him for a witness 765 00:42:05,930 --> 00:42:08,950 to the people, a leader and a commander 766 00:42:08,950 --> 00:42:09,870 to the people. 767 00:42:10,390 --> 00:42:12,490 So Christ shall come and sit upon the 768 00:42:12,490 --> 00:42:15,070 throne of David and order it and establish 769 00:42:15,070 --> 00:42:17,090 it in righteousness and in judgment. 770 00:42:18,450 --> 00:42:19,930 And he shall be as a witness to 771 00:42:19,930 --> 00:42:21,670 the people, a leader, a commander. 772 00:42:22,790 --> 00:42:25,110 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou 773 00:42:25,110 --> 00:42:28,270 knowest not and nations that knew thee not 774 00:42:28,270 --> 00:42:30,770 shall run unto thee because the Lord thy 775 00:42:30,770 --> 00:42:32,970 God and for the Holy One of Israel 776 00:42:32,970 --> 00:42:34,830 for he hath glorified thee. 777 00:42:35,950 --> 00:42:38,730 Seek ye the Lord while he may be 778 00:42:38,730 --> 00:42:39,270 found. 779 00:42:40,330 --> 00:42:44,390 Call upon him while he is near and 780 00:42:44,390 --> 00:42:47,470 let the wicked forsake his way and the 781 00:42:47,470 --> 00:42:50,090 unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return 782 00:42:50,090 --> 00:42:52,830 unto the Lord and he will have mercy 783 00:42:52,830 --> 00:42:56,410 upon him to our God for he will 784 00:42:56,410 --> 00:42:57,710 abundantly pardon. 785 00:42:57,950 --> 00:43:00,310 Oh, what beautiful words of God to us 786 00:43:00,310 --> 00:43:00,790 tonight. 787 00:43:02,070 --> 00:43:04,050 Call upon the Lord while he is near 788 00:43:04,050 --> 00:43:08,050 while he may be found. 789 00:43:08,790 --> 00:43:09,870 Seek him while he may be found. 790 00:43:10,030 --> 00:43:11,530 Call upon him while he is near. 791 00:43:12,350 --> 00:43:14,330 Let the wicked forsake his way. 792 00:43:15,870 --> 00:43:18,050 The unrighteous man his thoughts of evil. 793 00:43:18,890 --> 00:43:20,970 Return to the Lord for God will have 794 00:43:20,970 --> 00:43:21,410 mercy. 795 00:43:21,510 --> 00:43:25,190 He'll abundantly pardon you for God says my 796 00:43:25,190 --> 00:43:29,350 thoughts are not your thoughts. 797 00:43:30,070 --> 00:43:35,150 Neither are your ways my ways saith the 798 00:43:35,150 --> 00:43:35,430 Lord. 799 00:43:37,790 --> 00:43:39,510 I will vouch for that. 800 00:43:42,370 --> 00:43:47,230 I don't understand so many times why God 801 00:43:47,230 --> 00:43:48,670 does the things he does. 802 00:43:50,820 --> 00:43:55,700 His thoughts are not my thoughts nor are 803 00:43:55,700 --> 00:43:56,880 his ways my ways. 804 00:43:56,880 --> 00:43:59,140 I would do many things much differently. 805 00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:07,660 I wouldn't do them more wisely. 806 00:44:07,780 --> 00:44:08,820 I just do them differently. 807 00:44:12,750 --> 00:44:14,950 But you see, the difference between God's thoughts 808 00:44:14,950 --> 00:44:18,250 and my thoughts and God's ways and my 809 00:44:18,250 --> 00:44:23,350 ways is that God knows the end from 810 00:44:23,350 --> 00:44:23,950 the beginning. 811 00:44:27,300 --> 00:44:29,940 Therefore, he doesn't do something and wonder if 812 00:44:29,940 --> 00:44:30,560 it's right. 813 00:44:32,510 --> 00:44:34,610 When he does it, he knows it's right. 814 00:44:36,640 --> 00:44:38,360 Now, the way I do things, I do 815 00:44:38,360 --> 00:44:39,820 them and I hope it's right. 816 00:44:41,380 --> 00:44:42,940 And sometimes it is. 817 00:44:44,520 --> 00:44:46,080 But many times it isn't. 818 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:49,320 But when I started doing it, I was 819 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:50,080 sure it was. 820 00:44:54,470 --> 00:44:56,650 So many times I think that this is 821 00:44:56,650 --> 00:44:58,930 the best way and then I find out 822 00:44:58,930 --> 00:45:00,130 it isn't. 823 00:45:00,490 --> 00:45:01,890 There was a much better way. 824 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:09,020 So God says, Hey, my thoughts are not 825 00:45:09,020 --> 00:45:09,660 your thoughts. 826 00:45:10,260 --> 00:45:11,680 My ways are not your ways. 827 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:16,320 For as the heavens are higher than the 828 00:45:16,320 --> 00:45:22,290 earth, so are my ways higher than yours 829 00:45:23,070 --> 00:45:24,670 and my thoughts than your thoughts. 830 00:45:25,410 --> 00:45:28,230 I mean, there is such a difference. 831 00:45:29,150 --> 00:45:32,310 And yet, herein is the folly of man 832 00:45:32,310 --> 00:45:36,350 because I get angry with God sometimes because 833 00:45:36,350 --> 00:45:37,770 he doesn't do it my way. 834 00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:44,640 Now, isn't that ridiculous? 835 00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:49,800 For a person to get angry with God 836 00:45:49,800 --> 00:45:52,860 because God has done something a way they 837 00:45:52,860 --> 00:45:54,500 didn't want it done or a way they 838 00:45:54,500 --> 00:45:55,260 wouldn't do it. 839 00:45:59,480 --> 00:46:00,820 Now, if I did it my way, I 840 00:46:00,820 --> 00:46:02,120 would never have any troubles. 841 00:46:04,630 --> 00:46:06,230 I would never have any weakness. 842 00:46:07,070 --> 00:46:08,730 I would never have any problems. 843 00:46:10,130 --> 00:46:11,630 If I did it my way, it would 844 00:46:11,630 --> 00:46:14,550 just be smooth sailing all the way. 845 00:46:14,630 --> 00:46:15,270 No storms. 846 00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:22,600 But that's not God's way. 847 00:46:24,930 --> 00:46:26,090 For you see, if I did it my 848 00:46:26,090 --> 00:46:28,690 way, I would never develop any strength of 849 00:46:28,690 --> 00:46:29,190 character. 850 00:46:29,190 --> 00:46:34,980 I would become a very weak, flabby, spoiled 851 00:46:34,980 --> 00:46:43,150 person, miserable to be around because I would 852 00:46:43,150 --> 00:46:49,660 not understand a person that did have problems, 853 00:46:50,380 --> 00:46:53,160 a person that did experience weaknesses. 854 00:46:54,000 --> 00:46:57,360 I would become intolerable towards them. 855 00:47:01,610 --> 00:47:02,950 And so God doesn't let me do it 856 00:47:02,950 --> 00:47:03,450 my way. 857 00:47:04,490 --> 00:47:06,130 God lets me fall. 858 00:47:06,330 --> 00:47:07,430 God lets me stumble. 859 00:47:07,650 --> 00:47:09,690 God lets me experience weaknesses. 860 00:47:09,690 --> 00:47:14,230 God lets me experience troubles, trials, problems, difficulties 861 00:47:18,890 --> 00:47:20,790 so that when my brother is in need, 862 00:47:20,910 --> 00:47:22,690 I can come to him in meekness and 863 00:47:22,690 --> 00:47:28,090 lift him as I consider myself realizing that 864 00:47:28,090 --> 00:47:29,190 I too am tempted. 865 00:47:32,650 --> 00:47:34,830 So, God's ways are really best. 866 00:47:36,670 --> 00:47:40,050 Now, for me to insist that God do 867 00:47:40,050 --> 00:47:45,750 it my way is sheer folly because now 868 00:47:45,750 --> 00:47:48,230 I am exalting my knowledge above God's. 869 00:47:49,610 --> 00:47:52,030 For me to demand that God do it 870 00:47:52,030 --> 00:47:52,870 my way. 871 00:47:53,850 --> 00:47:55,810 God, I want you to do this now. 872 00:47:56,030 --> 00:47:57,710 I'm speaking this into existence. 873 00:47:57,970 --> 00:47:59,030 I want you to do it. 874 00:48:00,890 --> 00:48:02,830 Oh man, how foolish. 875 00:48:04,410 --> 00:48:07,630 Because you see, that's exalting my knowledge, my 876 00:48:07,630 --> 00:48:09,850 ways, my thoughts. 877 00:48:12,480 --> 00:48:18,580 It's seeking to make them supreme instead of 878 00:48:18,580 --> 00:48:25,450 God's supreme who knows all things and knows 879 00:48:25,450 --> 00:48:26,790 so much better than I know. 880 00:48:27,610 --> 00:48:29,390 Now, the wrath of God is going to 881 00:48:29,390 --> 00:48:33,830 be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and 882 00:48:33,830 --> 00:48:37,610 unrighteousness of man who hold the truth of 883 00:48:37,610 --> 00:48:40,270 God in unrighteousness. 884 00:48:41,810 --> 00:48:44,230 And, for you to hold the truth of 885 00:48:44,230 --> 00:48:47,330 God and yet exalt yourself and your thoughts 886 00:48:47,330 --> 00:48:49,290 and your ways above Him is holding the 887 00:48:49,290 --> 00:48:51,630 truth of God in unrighteousness. 888 00:48:53,860 --> 00:48:55,360 That's the wrong way to hold the truth 889 00:48:55,360 --> 00:48:57,140 of God because you say, well, God is 890 00:48:57,140 --> 00:48:58,940 supreme, God knows everything and then I say, 891 00:48:58,980 --> 00:49:00,700 now God, I demand that you do this 892 00:49:00,700 --> 00:49:02,720 or I command you, Lord, to do this. 893 00:49:06,140 --> 00:49:08,460 That is not making God supreme. 894 00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:10,480 That's now making me supreme and my ways 895 00:49:10,480 --> 00:49:10,920 supreme. 896 00:49:13,730 --> 00:49:15,410 So, I'm holding the truth of God in 897 00:49:15,410 --> 00:49:15,730 righteousness. 898 00:49:15,990 --> 00:49:17,290 I'm saying, God, I know better than you 899 00:49:17,290 --> 00:49:17,530 know. 900 00:49:20,340 --> 00:49:21,760 My way is better than your way. 901 00:49:24,010 --> 00:49:25,370 How much better it is. 902 00:49:25,490 --> 00:49:28,190 How much more glorifying to God it is. 903 00:49:28,190 --> 00:49:31,310 What a great witness it is when I 904 00:49:31,310 --> 00:49:33,070 can just say, Oh, God, your will be 905 00:49:33,070 --> 00:49:33,270 done. 906 00:49:33,350 --> 00:49:35,290 I just commit myself and my ways to 907 00:49:35,290 --> 00:49:36,930 you, Lord, that your will will be done 908 00:49:36,930 --> 00:49:37,510 in my life. 909 00:49:38,190 --> 00:49:39,530 You do what is best. 910 00:49:40,090 --> 00:49:41,950 You do what you know is best. 911 00:49:42,570 --> 00:49:44,930 And not to question and not to challenge 912 00:49:44,930 --> 00:49:47,310 and not to gripe and not to complain 913 00:49:47,310 --> 00:49:49,410 when things aren't going my way. 914 00:49:52,820 --> 00:49:55,780 Not to give God such a miserable time. 915 00:49:59,710 --> 00:50:00,390 Oh, again. 916 00:50:02,550 --> 00:50:06,890 If I were God, man, would I put 917 00:50:06,890 --> 00:50:08,330 a plug in some people's mouths. 918 00:50:12,470 --> 00:50:16,950 As they come whining and complaining, you know, 919 00:50:17,030 --> 00:50:19,610 and the minute I'd hear that, Oh, God, 920 00:50:19,830 --> 00:50:20,810 I'd just... 921 00:50:28,570 --> 00:50:29,810 Whining to God. 922 00:50:32,340 --> 00:50:35,000 Of course, I'm very intolerable towards whining. 923 00:50:35,460 --> 00:50:36,480 Talk to my kids. 924 00:50:37,840 --> 00:50:39,700 Man, that's one thing I can never stand. 925 00:50:39,760 --> 00:50:40,500 A whining kid. 926 00:50:43,900 --> 00:50:44,920 And they learn that. 927 00:50:48,300 --> 00:50:49,520 And my kids may do a lot of 928 00:50:49,520 --> 00:50:51,140 bad things, but they don't whine. 929 00:50:55,160 --> 00:50:58,340 And I can imagine God's attitude towards the 930 00:50:58,340 --> 00:51:01,180 constant griping and whining and all that he 931 00:51:01,180 --> 00:51:02,560 hears from people. 932 00:51:04,930 --> 00:51:07,690 Because he isn't doing something to suit me. 933 00:51:07,970 --> 00:51:09,210 To suit my way. 934 00:51:11,340 --> 00:51:13,280 To harmonize with my thoughts. 935 00:51:14,540 --> 00:51:18,440 But yet, as high as the heaven is 936 00:51:18,440 --> 00:51:18,980 above the earth. 937 00:51:19,040 --> 00:51:21,080 Now, how high that is, I don't know. 938 00:51:21,600 --> 00:51:23,420 And I don't think anybody knows. 939 00:51:24,240 --> 00:51:25,380 But it's... 940 00:51:26,280 --> 00:51:27,900 It's out there. 941 00:51:28,300 --> 00:51:29,160 It's high. 942 00:51:30,420 --> 00:51:32,200 Just how high, I don't know. 943 00:51:32,260 --> 00:51:33,680 But it's awfully high. 944 00:51:34,780 --> 00:51:39,320 So are God's thoughts higher than mine. 945 00:51:39,320 --> 00:51:42,840 And His ways are higher than mine. 946 00:51:44,120 --> 00:51:47,660 So surely, the wisest thing I could ever 947 00:51:47,660 --> 00:51:50,380 do is just to commit my way unto 948 00:51:50,380 --> 00:51:50,980 the Lord. 949 00:51:54,090 --> 00:51:56,190 And that's what the Scripture tells me to 950 00:51:56,190 --> 00:51:56,470 do. 951 00:51:57,210 --> 00:51:59,930 Commit your way unto the Lord and He 952 00:51:59,930 --> 00:52:01,870 shall bring it to pass. 953 00:52:04,110 --> 00:52:06,110 Whatever He plans. 954 00:52:06,250 --> 00:52:07,250 Whatever He purposes. 955 00:52:07,590 --> 00:52:09,410 He'll bring it to pass if I just 956 00:52:09,410 --> 00:52:11,170 commit my way to Him. 957 00:52:15,000 --> 00:52:18,900 For as the rain cometh down in the 958 00:52:18,900 --> 00:52:24,080 snow from heaven and returns not thither, but 959 00:52:24,080 --> 00:52:25,980 it waters the earth and makes it to 960 00:52:25,980 --> 00:52:28,960 bring forth and bud, that it may give 961 00:52:28,960 --> 00:52:31,120 seed to the sower and bread to the 962 00:52:31,120 --> 00:52:34,360 eater, so shall my word be that goes 963 00:52:34,360 --> 00:52:35,560 forth out of my mouth. 964 00:52:36,300 --> 00:52:39,140 It shall not return unto me void, but 965 00:52:39,140 --> 00:52:42,200 it shall accomplish that which I please and 966 00:52:42,200 --> 00:52:44,360 it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I 967 00:52:44,360 --> 00:52:44,960 have sent it. 968 00:52:45,540 --> 00:52:48,560 Now God here uses a very common figure, 969 00:52:49,640 --> 00:52:51,740 an occurrence of nature, the rain and the 970 00:52:51,740 --> 00:52:54,800 snow, to illustrate His Word. 971 00:52:55,460 --> 00:52:59,280 How that they come down from heaven even 972 00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:03,160 as God's Word has come to us, not 973 00:53:03,160 --> 00:53:05,720 as an invention of man as some would 974 00:53:05,720 --> 00:53:06,680 have you to think. 975 00:53:08,040 --> 00:53:11,340 But all Scripture is given by inspiration of 976 00:53:11,340 --> 00:53:12,000 God. 977 00:53:12,720 --> 00:53:15,560 Holy men of old wrote as they were 978 00:53:15,560 --> 00:53:18,620 inspired by the Holy Spirit. 979 00:53:19,400 --> 00:53:21,500 God's Word has come to us from heaven. 980 00:53:23,560 --> 00:53:26,240 And the purpose of God's Word is to 981 00:53:26,240 --> 00:53:28,120 work here on earth, not to work in 982 00:53:28,120 --> 00:53:30,020 heaven, but it's to work here on earth. 983 00:53:30,840 --> 00:53:33,320 Its effect and its fruit and its result 984 00:53:33,320 --> 00:53:34,620 is here on earth. 985 00:53:37,490 --> 00:53:40,530 Now even as rain comes down to water 986 00:53:40,530 --> 00:53:44,090 the earth in order that it might spark 987 00:53:44,090 --> 00:53:48,350 into life all of the potential that is 988 00:53:48,350 --> 00:53:49,330 there in that dirt. 989 00:53:51,250 --> 00:53:55,670 You look at a dry, parched, dusty field, 990 00:53:56,670 --> 00:54:03,970 barren, but yet in that dirt, in that 991 00:54:03,970 --> 00:54:09,050 dry field, there's all kinds of latent life 992 00:54:09,050 --> 00:54:10,050 forms. 993 00:54:15,160 --> 00:54:19,240 Out in the desert, dry, parched sand, but 994 00:54:19,240 --> 00:54:23,020 just get a few inches of rain and 995 00:54:23,020 --> 00:54:28,900 oh, the beauty, the glory that is there. 996 00:54:29,420 --> 00:54:36,640 As the rain sparks into life all of 997 00:54:36,640 --> 00:54:38,640 the seeds and everything else that are there 998 00:54:38,640 --> 00:54:41,700 and the desert turns purple, it turns yellow, 999 00:54:41,960 --> 00:54:45,580 it turns golden, it turns blue with all 1000 00:54:45,580 --> 00:54:46,960 of the beautiful flowers. 1001 00:54:48,400 --> 00:54:50,700 As the seeds have been touched by the 1002 00:54:50,700 --> 00:54:54,660 rain and brought forth into life, so our 1003 00:54:54,660 --> 00:55:00,020 lives, as God's Word comes to us, is 1004 00:55:00,020 --> 00:55:03,940 able to transform our lives and bring into 1005 00:55:03,940 --> 00:55:05,300 life that Spirit. 1006 00:55:07,320 --> 00:55:14,150 Now, the Word of God is that which 1007 00:55:14,150 --> 00:55:18,050 comes to our spirit and brings life to 1008 00:55:18,050 --> 00:55:20,870 our spirit and thus brings forth all of 1009 00:55:20,870 --> 00:55:24,070 the glory and the potential of our being. 1010 00:55:27,310 --> 00:55:30,490 Man without the Word of God remains dead, 1011 00:55:30,690 --> 00:55:34,490 lifeless, barren, deserty. 1012 00:55:36,010 --> 00:55:40,130 But oh, when God's Word like rain begins 1013 00:55:40,130 --> 00:55:43,190 to just soak my life, the fruit, the 1014 00:55:43,190 --> 00:55:46,890 results, as it waters, in order that it 1015 00:55:46,890 --> 00:55:54,800 might bud, blossom forth to give seed to 1016 00:55:54,800 --> 00:55:56,380 the sower and bread to the eater. 1017 00:55:57,380 --> 00:55:59,720 The first effect of God's work in my 1018 00:55:59,720 --> 00:56:02,080 life is towards me, what it has done 1019 00:56:02,080 --> 00:56:02,640 for me. 1020 00:56:03,360 --> 00:56:05,420 And the second is bread to the eater, 1021 00:56:05,420 --> 00:56:09,200 what God can do through me in helping 1022 00:56:09,200 --> 00:56:09,760 others. 1023 00:56:10,280 --> 00:56:11,680 So is my Word. 1024 00:56:12,880 --> 00:56:15,280 It shall not return unto me void. 1025 00:56:15,500 --> 00:56:19,300 God's Word will not come back void. 1026 00:56:21,790 --> 00:56:29,560 He that goeth forth with weeping, bearing precious 1027 00:56:29,560 --> 00:56:36,040 seed, shall doubtless come again, bringing the sheaves 1028 00:56:36,040 --> 00:56:36,660 with him. 1029 00:56:38,170 --> 00:56:40,510 You go forth with the Word of God, 1030 00:56:40,810 --> 00:56:41,570 the seed. 1031 00:56:41,670 --> 00:56:44,750 Now the seed is the Word, Jesus said. 1032 00:56:45,750 --> 00:56:51,230 You go forth bearing the precious seed, the 1033 00:56:51,230 --> 00:56:54,610 Word of God, carrying it to others. 1034 00:56:55,030 --> 00:56:57,010 Doubtless you're going to come again with a 1035 00:56:57,010 --> 00:56:57,490 harvest. 1036 00:56:58,910 --> 00:57:02,070 For God's Word will not return unto him 1037 00:57:02,070 --> 00:57:02,550 void. 1038 00:57:04,170 --> 00:57:06,970 Now learn to start using the Word and 1039 00:57:06,970 --> 00:57:08,170 quit defending it. 1040 00:57:08,770 --> 00:57:10,850 It doesn't need your defense. 1041 00:57:11,330 --> 00:57:14,070 It needs that you just use the Word 1042 00:57:14,070 --> 00:57:14,550 of God. 1043 00:57:17,700 --> 00:57:22,920 How many people have started to read the 1044 00:57:22,920 --> 00:57:27,300 Bible in order that they might learn it 1045 00:57:27,300 --> 00:57:30,200 better so that they can better argue against 1046 00:57:30,200 --> 00:57:35,000 it and have ended up believing. 1047 00:57:35,000 --> 00:57:38,500 I think of Lou Madison in our congregation 1048 00:57:38,500 --> 00:57:39,140 here. 1049 00:57:41,200 --> 00:57:45,860 And his wife loved the Lord and was 1050 00:57:45,860 --> 00:57:48,300 a Christian and Lou was so angry. 1051 00:57:49,940 --> 00:57:52,440 With his engineering mind, he was going to 1052 00:57:52,440 --> 00:57:54,480 read the Bible so that he could just 1053 00:57:54,480 --> 00:57:59,600 tear to shreds her whole faith, destroy it. 1054 00:58:02,260 --> 00:58:04,000 And as he got to reading the Bible 1055 00:58:04,000 --> 00:58:06,540 in order that he might destroy his wife's 1056 00:58:06,540 --> 00:58:10,020 faith, God's Word didn't return void and faith 1057 00:58:10,020 --> 00:58:11,580 was planted in Lou's heart. 1058 00:58:13,700 --> 00:58:17,920 They ended up together in the faith instead 1059 00:58:17,920 --> 00:58:18,900 of out of the faith. 1060 00:58:19,500 --> 00:58:23,540 Because God's Word won't return void if a 1061 00:58:23,540 --> 00:58:27,910 person would only read with an open heart. 1062 00:58:29,570 --> 00:58:31,090 God's Word will not return void. 1063 00:58:31,330 --> 00:58:33,650 It shall accomplish that which God pleases. 1064 00:58:34,870 --> 00:58:40,030 It shall prosper in the thing for which 1065 00:58:40,030 --> 00:58:40,930 God sent it. 1066 00:58:41,550 --> 00:58:44,910 Now God has sent His Word to bring 1067 00:58:44,910 --> 00:58:48,850 you hope, to bring you encouragement, to bring 1068 00:58:48,850 --> 00:58:51,950 you joy, to bring you life. 1069 00:58:52,850 --> 00:58:55,990 And all of these things will come to 1070 00:58:55,990 --> 00:58:57,490 you as you read the Word of God. 1071 00:58:57,810 --> 00:58:59,130 It's not going to return void. 1072 00:58:59,290 --> 00:59:03,470 It's going to accomplish the purposes for which 1073 00:59:03,470 --> 00:59:04,310 He has sent it. 1074 00:59:05,710 --> 00:59:07,650 And so how important for us is just 1075 00:59:07,650 --> 00:59:10,070 let the Word of God soak into our 1076 00:59:10,070 --> 00:59:10,390 lives. 1077 00:59:10,390 --> 00:59:13,530 Just each day get a new drenching of 1078 00:59:13,530 --> 00:59:15,510 God's Word and just let it soak in. 1079 00:59:16,010 --> 00:59:18,490 And oh, how it will cause your life 1080 00:59:18,490 --> 00:59:22,190 to just bud forth into glory, into beauty. 1081 00:59:23,930 --> 00:59:26,490 For ye shall go out with joy and 1082 00:59:26,490 --> 00:59:28,490 be led forth with peace. 1083 00:59:29,910 --> 00:59:33,230 The mountains and the hills shall break forth 1084 00:59:33,230 --> 00:59:36,390 before you into singing and the trees of 1085 00:59:36,390 --> 00:59:38,250 the field shall clap their hands. 1086 00:59:38,250 --> 00:59:40,490 Oh, that person who is saturated in the 1087 00:59:40,490 --> 00:59:41,050 Word of God. 1088 00:59:41,350 --> 00:59:43,850 All nature seems to just come into harmony 1089 00:59:43,850 --> 00:59:45,230 and into tune. 1090 00:59:46,390 --> 00:59:47,710 It's just glorious. 1091 00:59:48,550 --> 00:59:50,730 As you come into harmony with God, you 1092 00:59:50,730 --> 00:59:53,150 come into harmony with the nature around you. 1093 00:59:54,770 --> 00:59:56,490 And oh, you begin to see things you 1094 00:59:56,490 --> 00:59:57,470 never saw before. 1095 00:59:57,770 --> 01:00:01,810 I've always said, hey, if you're not a 1096 01:00:01,810 --> 01:00:04,230 Christian, be sure that you give your life 1097 01:00:04,230 --> 01:00:05,930 to the Lord before you take your vacation. 1098 01:00:07,290 --> 01:00:11,950 You cannot enjoy your vacation completely unless you 1099 01:00:11,950 --> 01:00:12,950 have Christ in your heart. 1100 01:00:13,230 --> 01:00:16,610 And I'll tell you, you'll see things through 1101 01:00:16,610 --> 01:00:22,760 Christ-filled eyes that you have never seen 1102 01:00:22,760 --> 01:00:23,220 before. 1103 01:00:26,710 --> 01:00:29,610 Those flowers that used to just trample down 1104 01:00:29,610 --> 01:00:34,070 in the meadows, you'll be enthralled with them. 1105 01:00:34,990 --> 01:00:37,990 With their design, with their color, with their 1106 01:00:37,990 --> 01:00:38,490 beauty. 1107 01:00:38,490 --> 01:00:40,330 You'll see new things. 1108 01:00:41,470 --> 01:00:44,070 The hills will break forth into singing. 1109 01:00:44,850 --> 01:00:47,170 The trees will clap their hands. 1110 01:00:47,630 --> 01:00:49,610 And oh, you'll just come in tune and 1111 01:00:49,610 --> 01:00:52,730 in harmony with God's creation. 1112 01:00:53,950 --> 01:00:58,300 Instead of the thorn, there'll come up a 1113 01:00:58,300 --> 01:00:58,940 fir tree. 1114 01:00:59,800 --> 01:01:02,400 Instead of a briar, the myrtle tree. 1115 01:01:03,280 --> 01:01:05,220 And it shall be to the Lord for 1116 01:01:05,220 --> 01:01:08,400 a name, for an everlasting sign that shall 1117 01:01:08,400 --> 01:01:09,540 not be cut off. 1118 01:01:10,060 --> 01:01:14,240 God's glorious days of restoration. 1119 01:01:16,400 --> 01:01:18,600 You know the glorious thing about teaching the 1120 01:01:18,600 --> 01:01:19,120 Word of God? 1121 01:01:19,240 --> 01:01:21,380 I never need to worry about the results. 1122 01:01:22,960 --> 01:01:25,400 Because God's Word won't return void. 1123 01:01:26,780 --> 01:01:29,520 He's going to accomplish the purposes for which 1124 01:01:29,520 --> 01:01:30,220 He sent it. 1125 01:01:31,380 --> 01:01:33,620 And I can always know that you're going 1126 01:01:33,620 --> 01:01:36,680 to go away and be blessed because you've 1127 01:01:36,680 --> 01:01:37,180 been here. 1128 01:01:37,180 --> 01:01:40,180 And that's sort of comforting to know. 1129 01:01:41,240 --> 01:01:42,700 If I stood up here and gave you 1130 01:01:42,700 --> 01:01:45,680 my Word all evening, then I'd worry all 1131 01:01:45,680 --> 01:01:47,500 week about what had happened to it. 1132 01:01:49,000 --> 01:01:51,620 But because we give to you God's Word, 1133 01:01:53,000 --> 01:01:55,480 we commend you now unto the Word of 1134 01:01:55,480 --> 01:01:55,860 God. 1135 01:01:57,260 --> 01:01:59,740 That God might work in your life His 1136 01:01:59,740 --> 01:02:00,880 glorious work. 1137 01:02:02,320 --> 01:02:05,240 As now by the Spirit He makes application 1138 01:02:05,240 --> 01:02:07,840 of the truths to your life. 1139 01:02:08,880 --> 01:02:11,220 And as He begins His work of enriching 1140 01:02:11,220 --> 01:02:14,760 you in His love, through His grace. 1141 01:02:15,480 --> 01:02:17,680 May God be with you this week and 1142 01:02:17,680 --> 01:02:19,940 keep your life steadfast in Him. 1143 01:02:20,900 --> 01:02:23,220 And may you grow up into Christ in 1144 01:02:23,220 --> 01:02:26,360 all things as your life comes into that 1145 01:02:26,360 --> 01:02:28,920 place of maturity that God wants you to 1146 01:02:28,920 --> 01:02:32,960 know and to experience in Jesus Christ. 1147 01:02:34,260 --> 01:02:38,140 And thus may your life be rich and 1148 01:02:38,140 --> 01:02:45,160 full as God's Word works in you through 1149 01:02:45,160 --> 01:02:45,740 the Spirit.