1 00:00:00,580 --> 00:00:04,560 Let's read from the first verse of 1st 2 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:05,820 John, chapter 5. 3 00:00:09,270 --> 00:00:12,350 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is 4 00:00:12,350 --> 00:00:13,510 born of God. 5 00:00:14,590 --> 00:00:17,530 And everyone that loveth him that begat loveth 6 00:00:17,530 --> 00:00:19,710 him also that is begotten of him. 7 00:00:21,310 --> 00:00:23,410 Dost thou believe in Jesus? 8 00:00:24,270 --> 00:00:25,090 Do you really? 9 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:30,200 Well, it seems to me that we have 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,620 an opening statement that makes it known to 11 00:00:32,620 --> 00:00:36,840 us that love is certainly an integral part 12 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:38,900 of this business of God's salvation. 13 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:42,020 It starts out, for many, with a single 14 00:00:42,020 --> 00:00:45,140 verse of Scripture, John 3, 16. 15 00:00:45,780 --> 00:00:48,540 For God so loved the world that he 16 00:00:48,540 --> 00:00:51,120 gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth 17 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,000 in him should not perish but have everlasting 18 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:54,680 life. 19 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,040 Now, the world just does not understand and 20 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,780 get the message that something wonderful happens in 21 00:01:02,780 --> 00:01:04,000 the life of a believer. 22 00:01:05,540 --> 00:01:08,100 We've said this, but it's worthy of repeating, 23 00:01:08,460 --> 00:01:14,380 that the new birth, being born again, certainly 24 00:01:14,380 --> 00:01:18,660 rivals the miracle that would happen if you 25 00:01:18,660 --> 00:01:23,200 went out to the cemetery and resurrected someone 26 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,660 that was dead in the grave. 27 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,540 The Lord did that for Lazarus. 28 00:01:29,700 --> 00:01:33,940 But being born again brings spiritual life to 29 00:01:33,940 --> 00:01:36,900 the person that receives Jesus Christ as his 30 00:01:36,900 --> 00:01:37,580 Lord and Savior. 31 00:01:40,450 --> 00:01:43,810 I'm telling you, that is a miracle. 32 00:01:44,750 --> 00:01:49,950 Dead in trespasses and sin, and now alive 33 00:01:49,950 --> 00:01:52,070 unto God through faith in our Lord Jesus 34 00:01:52,070 --> 00:01:52,510 Christ. 35 00:01:52,570 --> 00:01:55,570 Now that vital life of God, eternal life, 36 00:01:55,890 --> 00:01:57,550 we become a possessor of it. 37 00:01:58,110 --> 00:02:02,570 It's ours, now and for all eternity. 38 00:02:03,130 --> 00:02:05,090 If you have eternal life, it's eternal. 39 00:02:07,009 --> 00:02:08,770 And as we read down through this passage, 40 00:02:08,990 --> 00:02:11,990 we'll touch on some scriptures that perhaps have 41 00:02:11,990 --> 00:02:15,670 troubled some people, but they have provided what 42 00:02:15,670 --> 00:02:18,170 some people long for, and that is to 43 00:02:18,170 --> 00:02:22,210 know with certainty that I'm saved, that I 44 00:02:22,210 --> 00:02:24,830 possess eternal life, and I'm on my way 45 00:02:24,830 --> 00:02:25,230 to heaven. 46 00:02:27,790 --> 00:02:29,930 By this we know that we love the 47 00:02:29,930 --> 00:02:33,450 children of God when we love God, keep 48 00:02:33,450 --> 00:02:34,130 his commandments. 49 00:02:35,150 --> 00:02:37,190 For this is the love of God, that 50 00:02:37,190 --> 00:02:41,790 we keep his commandments, and his commandments are 51 00:02:41,790 --> 00:02:42,510 not grievous. 52 00:02:42,510 --> 00:02:49,870 You know, the treatment of what God asks 53 00:02:49,870 --> 00:02:54,110 us to do sometimes, first and foremost, I 54 00:02:54,110 --> 00:02:56,390 think people think about something that's unpleasant. 55 00:02:57,850 --> 00:03:00,110 He's going to ask me to do something 56 00:03:00,110 --> 00:03:01,250 that's hard to do. 57 00:03:02,270 --> 00:03:04,810 It would be hard for you to do 58 00:03:04,810 --> 00:03:09,550 it, but with God working in and through 59 00:03:09,550 --> 00:03:12,770 you, he makes it something that becomes very 60 00:03:12,770 --> 00:03:16,390 pleasurable to be occupied in doing. 61 00:03:16,390 --> 00:03:19,790 You'll enjoy doing the will of God. 62 00:03:20,330 --> 00:03:22,970 It becomes something very meaningful to you. 63 00:03:23,690 --> 00:03:27,110 Obedience, again, becomes the watchword. 64 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,520 This is what proves that our faith is 65 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:33,980 real. 66 00:03:35,620 --> 00:03:37,080 Our faith is real. 67 00:03:39,290 --> 00:03:42,070 It's not just something that we talk about, 68 00:03:42,330 --> 00:03:44,190 but our faith is real. 69 00:03:44,190 --> 00:03:48,430 Hebrews 11 says, Now faith is the substance 70 00:03:48,430 --> 00:03:50,810 of things hoped for, the evidence of things 71 00:03:50,810 --> 00:03:51,550 not seen. 72 00:03:53,130 --> 00:03:56,790 Obedience proves the truth of faith. 73 00:03:57,390 --> 00:03:58,990 I have faith in God. 74 00:03:59,970 --> 00:04:01,330 I obey my God. 75 00:04:01,430 --> 00:04:03,470 It's important that I obey my God. 76 00:04:05,290 --> 00:04:07,370 Oh, it's so important that I do what 77 00:04:07,370 --> 00:04:08,730 he tells me to do. 78 00:04:10,660 --> 00:04:13,140 What I see, the enlightenment that he gives 79 00:04:13,140 --> 00:04:14,680 me in the word of God, I am 80 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:15,740 to obey that. 81 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:17,440 Walk in that light. 82 00:04:19,690 --> 00:04:21,730 Our feet have been placed upon a pathway 83 00:04:21,730 --> 00:04:23,610 of righteousness for his namesake. 84 00:04:24,750 --> 00:04:26,350 There's so much involved here. 85 00:04:26,970 --> 00:04:27,950 We represent him. 86 00:04:28,050 --> 00:04:29,390 We call ourselves Christians. 87 00:04:30,150 --> 00:04:31,450 We belong to God. 88 00:04:31,870 --> 00:04:35,870 We have a living relationship with God through 89 00:04:35,870 --> 00:04:37,990 the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. 90 00:04:40,970 --> 00:04:47,950 Obedience is so important, especially those direct commands 91 00:04:47,950 --> 00:04:49,850 that we have in the word of God. 92 00:04:51,770 --> 00:04:53,470 Now, I know all of you probably know 93 00:04:53,470 --> 00:04:55,390 this verse, and the minute I start quoting 94 00:04:55,390 --> 00:04:56,970 it, you could say, Oh, I've heard that. 95 00:04:57,090 --> 00:04:57,630 I know that. 96 00:04:57,730 --> 00:04:59,570 And it's so important. 97 00:05:00,070 --> 00:05:03,330 A new commandment I give unto you, that 98 00:05:03,330 --> 00:05:05,530 you love one another the same way I 99 00:05:05,530 --> 00:05:06,190 loved you. 100 00:05:07,290 --> 00:05:09,470 Other men will know that you are my 101 00:05:09,470 --> 00:05:11,610 disciples because you love one another. 102 00:05:11,610 --> 00:05:17,840 I think we've talked about this before, but 103 00:05:19,540 --> 00:05:23,680 what sometimes is called love is no more 104 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:24,300 than lust. 105 00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:31,780 We're talking about people being exploited and used 106 00:05:31,780 --> 00:05:34,800 by other people simply because they told them 107 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:35,540 they love them. 108 00:05:36,660 --> 00:05:37,700 I love you. 109 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,020 I think this was something we discussed yesterday 110 00:05:42,020 --> 00:05:43,500 morning at our Bible study. 111 00:05:44,420 --> 00:05:47,640 How many people are taken advantage of by 112 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:49,560 someone else just because they said, I love 113 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:49,800 you? 114 00:05:51,140 --> 00:05:52,320 And they didn't mean it. 115 00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:53,720 It was just a word. 116 00:05:54,460 --> 00:05:57,520 It was just a word that they used. 117 00:05:57,660 --> 00:06:00,000 A word that does have power. 118 00:06:01,140 --> 00:06:02,960 Oh, there's power in that word. 119 00:06:04,100 --> 00:06:06,080 It's an important word. 120 00:06:07,180 --> 00:06:08,400 Our God is love. 121 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,980 But listen, we must stay focused on the 122 00:06:11,980 --> 00:06:13,460 real meaning of love. 123 00:06:16,580 --> 00:06:20,220 We talked about Peter and how the Lord 124 00:06:20,220 --> 00:06:22,480 asked him that question, Peter, do you really 125 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:22,960 love me? 126 00:06:24,420 --> 00:06:26,340 Here's that man, you know, that denied the 127 00:06:26,340 --> 00:06:26,560 Lord. 128 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:30,560 And don't rush ahead now and say, yes, 129 00:06:30,580 --> 00:06:31,520 he denied the Lord. 130 00:06:31,700 --> 00:06:32,360 How about you? 131 00:06:32,540 --> 00:06:33,220 How about me? 132 00:06:33,900 --> 00:06:35,160 Have we ever denied the Lord? 133 00:06:35,280 --> 00:06:36,140 Of course we have. 134 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,480 In many ways we have denied the Lord. 135 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,860 So let's don't become judgmental when we think 136 00:06:44,860 --> 00:06:49,320 about someone else being questioned about their love 137 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,440 of God or their love for the Lord 138 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:51,860 Jesus. 139 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,900 It's very important that we stay focused on 140 00:06:56,900 --> 00:06:59,000 the true meaning of love. 141 00:06:59,380 --> 00:07:00,600 Love gives of itself. 142 00:07:01,020 --> 00:07:02,420 And we're going to touch on some of 143 00:07:02,420 --> 00:07:04,740 those things, I believe, in this passage. 144 00:07:04,900 --> 00:07:07,240 Ultimately, I started out with this. 145 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,380 I wanted to say some things about prayer, 146 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:11,180 and we will. 147 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:12,660 And I'm not going to go over time. 148 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:14,600 I was reminded this morning that I went 149 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:15,200 over time. 150 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,040 And I had the clock right here. 151 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,940 That clock, it's a little fuzzy from here. 152 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,120 And that's my excuse. 153 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:26,280 You've got my excuse. 154 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:28,760 I should have looked at this. 155 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:29,800 This is good. 156 00:07:29,900 --> 00:07:31,360 This is a good reminder. 157 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,240 But here we have obedience. 158 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:35,560 Here we have love. 159 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,440 This is no idle talk about being saved. 160 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,280 Salvation brings to us the present possession of 161 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,660 so many benefits that sometimes it's hard to 162 00:07:48,660 --> 00:07:51,400 take in at one time all the things 163 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,400 that become ours when we become believers in 164 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:55,580 our Lord Jesus Christ. 165 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,760 And certainly we should acquaint ourselves with all 166 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:01,680 that we have. 167 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,940 These ones that have been born again into 168 00:08:05,940 --> 00:08:09,440 the family of God, you've come into that 169 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,140 possession of God's possessions. 170 00:08:15,070 --> 00:08:16,970 Does that have a nice ring to you? 171 00:08:17,070 --> 00:08:18,570 I'm a child of God. 172 00:08:19,750 --> 00:08:21,430 I'm a child of God. 173 00:08:21,830 --> 00:08:23,430 I'm a child of the King. 174 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,820 Brothers sing sometimes, The King is coming. 175 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,440 And that is a beautiful selection, and I 176 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:35,840 love it. 177 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,520 The King is coming. 178 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:39,179 He's my King. 179 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:40,880 He's my Savior. 180 00:08:41,460 --> 00:08:42,740 He's my Lord. 181 00:08:44,420 --> 00:08:46,580 All of those things should take on special 182 00:08:46,580 --> 00:08:49,560 meaning to us as believers in the Lord 183 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:50,480 Jesus Christ. 184 00:08:52,860 --> 00:08:56,200 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the 185 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:56,580 world. 186 00:08:58,060 --> 00:09:00,640 This is the victory that overcometh the world, 187 00:09:00,740 --> 00:09:01,880 even our faith. 188 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,580 Who is he that overcometh the world but 189 00:09:05,580 --> 00:09:09,980 he that believeth that Jesus is the Son 190 00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:10,560 of God? 191 00:09:16,180 --> 00:09:20,660 I've heard people say that I never considered 192 00:09:20,660 --> 00:09:24,800 myself to be a person that had ever 193 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,280 had a contact with anything that was very 194 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:28,440 special in my life. 195 00:09:30,740 --> 00:09:33,600 My life was one of those that just 196 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,040 nothing special ever happened. 197 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:39,260 You might say my life was rather dull. 198 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:44,140 But I'm telling you, and this is that 199 00:09:44,140 --> 00:09:47,140 testimony, when I met Jesus Christ, the Son 200 00:09:47,140 --> 00:09:48,840 of God, He transformed my life. 201 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:55,680 If other people weren't excited about it, I 202 00:09:55,680 --> 00:09:58,400 was more excited about that than anything else 203 00:09:58,400 --> 00:09:59,700 that had ever happened in my life. 204 00:09:59,860 --> 00:10:01,900 I became a new creature in Christ Jesus. 205 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:04,260 I was born again. 206 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,140 I was in the family of God. 207 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:10,640 Not everybody can say that. 208 00:10:12,010 --> 00:10:14,350 Some people say, I'm a Christian. 209 00:10:15,530 --> 00:10:16,690 I'm a Christian. 210 00:10:17,870 --> 00:10:21,230 And they may refer to something that really 211 00:10:21,230 --> 00:10:22,730 does not make you a Christian. 212 00:10:26,270 --> 00:10:28,450 Joining a church fellowship does not make you 213 00:10:28,450 --> 00:10:28,890 a Christian. 214 00:10:30,750 --> 00:10:33,510 Going through the ordinances of the church, being 215 00:10:33,510 --> 00:10:36,670 baptized in water, no matter what the mode 216 00:10:36,670 --> 00:10:38,590 might be, doesn't make you a Christian. 217 00:10:39,330 --> 00:10:40,950 Even if it happened when you were a 218 00:10:40,950 --> 00:10:41,250 baby. 219 00:10:42,250 --> 00:10:44,470 You say, I had infant baptism from my 220 00:10:44,470 --> 00:10:45,870 very birth. 221 00:10:47,090 --> 00:10:49,270 I've heard people say, I've always been saved. 222 00:10:50,090 --> 00:10:51,950 I've always been a child of God. 223 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,100 Put your finger on that somewhere in Scripture 224 00:10:56,100 --> 00:10:57,820 and direct me to it, because I haven't 225 00:10:57,820 --> 00:10:58,480 found it yet. 226 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,240 You have to be born again into the 227 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:02,040 family of God. 228 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:04,340 If you're going to be saved, you must 229 00:11:04,340 --> 00:11:06,400 receive Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as 230 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,780 your Savior and as your Lord. 231 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,180 And you're not a child of God unless 232 00:11:13,180 --> 00:11:15,260 you've been born again into the family of 233 00:11:15,260 --> 00:11:15,640 God. 234 00:11:17,940 --> 00:11:19,540 The world needs to know that. 235 00:11:22,390 --> 00:11:24,770 We left this banner up here for a 236 00:11:24,770 --> 00:11:25,110 purpose. 237 00:11:25,730 --> 00:11:28,170 There are millions and millions and millions of 238 00:11:28,170 --> 00:11:29,910 people in the world today that need to 239 00:11:29,910 --> 00:11:30,730 be born again. 240 00:11:32,290 --> 00:11:33,670 A lot of them have religion. 241 00:11:34,570 --> 00:11:37,030 A lot of them have credentials that they're 242 00:11:37,030 --> 00:11:37,870 proud of. 243 00:11:38,350 --> 00:11:41,010 And they claim these credentials. 244 00:11:41,730 --> 00:11:45,750 Qualifying themselves to call themselves children of God. 245 00:11:46,010 --> 00:11:47,870 God is my Heavenly Father. 246 00:11:49,390 --> 00:11:51,030 And they've never been born again. 247 00:11:51,950 --> 00:11:55,550 They've never, never bowed the knee and confessed 248 00:11:55,550 --> 00:11:57,630 that Jesus Christ is God. 249 00:11:58,810 --> 00:12:00,270 That's where it all starts. 250 00:12:02,950 --> 00:12:06,110 You remember what the Lord asked Peter after 251 00:12:06,110 --> 00:12:08,550 all these questions had been raised about who 252 00:12:08,550 --> 00:12:09,590 he really was? 253 00:12:10,670 --> 00:12:13,050 And he asked his disciples. 254 00:12:13,630 --> 00:12:15,970 Peter is the one who responded to that 255 00:12:15,970 --> 00:12:16,450 question. 256 00:12:16,870 --> 00:12:18,210 Thou art the Christ, the Son of the 257 00:12:18,210 --> 00:12:18,990 living God. 258 00:12:20,670 --> 00:12:22,530 Thou art the Christ, the Son of the 259 00:12:22,530 --> 00:12:23,070 living God. 260 00:12:23,270 --> 00:12:24,330 You are God. 261 00:12:26,950 --> 00:12:28,530 And our Lord said, flesh and blood didn't 262 00:12:28,530 --> 00:12:29,550 reveal that to you. 263 00:12:30,850 --> 00:12:33,150 It had to come from my Heavenly Father. 264 00:12:33,270 --> 00:12:35,650 It had to come through the power of 265 00:12:35,650 --> 00:12:39,410 the Spirit of God that brings enlightenment and 266 00:12:39,410 --> 00:12:41,590 blessing into our lives. 267 00:12:41,690 --> 00:12:43,730 That evidence, and if you have not the 268 00:12:43,730 --> 00:12:45,330 Spirit of God, you're none of His. 269 00:12:46,350 --> 00:12:48,350 Oh, I'm saddened when I hear these people 270 00:12:48,350 --> 00:12:50,810 say, I'm saved, but I'm praying that I 271 00:12:50,810 --> 00:12:52,470 will receive the Holy Spirit. 272 00:12:53,690 --> 00:12:54,970 Oh God, have mercy. 273 00:12:56,030 --> 00:12:58,490 When so clearly upon the pages of Scripture, 274 00:12:58,670 --> 00:13:00,630 and I was just reading this this afternoon, 275 00:13:05,550 --> 00:13:07,730 and it has to do with this matter 276 00:13:07,730 --> 00:13:10,270 of knowing Him. 277 00:13:11,510 --> 00:13:14,750 And if we have not Him, the Spirit 278 00:13:14,750 --> 00:13:18,650 Himself bears witness with our spirit that we 279 00:13:18,650 --> 00:13:20,070 are the children of God. 280 00:13:21,570 --> 00:13:23,470 That's real, brother and sister. 281 00:13:23,610 --> 00:13:24,370 That's real. 282 00:13:24,870 --> 00:13:27,330 The Spirit of God that indwells us bears 283 00:13:27,330 --> 00:13:27,930 witness. 284 00:13:28,210 --> 00:13:32,510 He confirms that we are God's children because 285 00:13:32,510 --> 00:13:35,050 of what we've done in an obedient act 286 00:13:35,050 --> 00:13:37,910 of receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our 287 00:13:37,910 --> 00:13:38,730 Lord and Savior. 288 00:13:40,770 --> 00:13:43,730 Oh, the book provides so much that can 289 00:13:43,730 --> 00:13:46,370 clear up so many of the things that 290 00:13:46,370 --> 00:13:49,210 sometimes bother people and cause them to err 291 00:13:49,210 --> 00:13:52,350 in their judgment regarding this matter of God's 292 00:13:52,350 --> 00:13:52,930 salvation. 293 00:13:55,500 --> 00:13:57,800 So faith does have a lot to do 294 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:02,480 with this business of receiving the gift of 295 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:03,120 salvation. 296 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:05,260 For by grace are you saved through faith, 297 00:14:05,380 --> 00:14:06,260 but not of yourselves. 298 00:14:06,780 --> 00:14:08,660 It is a gift from God. 299 00:14:12,010 --> 00:14:13,830 And to me, it's so exciting when we 300 00:14:13,830 --> 00:14:16,110 begin to think about whatever He does in 301 00:14:16,110 --> 00:14:19,250 our lives when He's changing us into those 302 00:14:19,250 --> 00:14:22,350 new creatures in Christ Jesus that we are 303 00:14:22,350 --> 00:14:23,810 His workmanship. 304 00:14:25,150 --> 00:14:27,530 Isn't it wonderful that He's doing something in 305 00:14:27,530 --> 00:14:28,710 our lives now? 306 00:14:28,710 --> 00:14:31,490 Before, we were in no condition. 307 00:14:31,810 --> 00:14:32,950 We had rebelled. 308 00:14:33,390 --> 00:14:36,230 We had not made one concession to God 309 00:14:36,230 --> 00:14:38,190 that He should be in control of our 310 00:14:38,190 --> 00:14:38,510 lives. 311 00:14:38,570 --> 00:14:40,090 Now we've yielded all to Him. 312 00:14:41,750 --> 00:14:44,190 And the Spirit of God that empowers and 313 00:14:44,190 --> 00:14:47,530 indwells us is working out God's plans and 314 00:14:47,530 --> 00:14:48,930 purposes for you and me. 315 00:14:50,150 --> 00:14:50,890 That's wonderful. 316 00:14:51,490 --> 00:14:52,390 That's wonderful. 317 00:14:53,590 --> 00:14:55,870 It's so sad that sometimes we don't put 318 00:14:55,870 --> 00:14:57,970 a proper value upon what God has done 319 00:14:57,970 --> 00:14:58,570 for us. 320 00:15:03,910 --> 00:15:05,910 And so often it's so good just to 321 00:15:05,910 --> 00:15:06,930 say, Thank you, Lord. 322 00:15:07,650 --> 00:15:10,230 Thank you for what you have done for 323 00:15:10,230 --> 00:15:10,430 me. 324 00:15:10,510 --> 00:15:11,950 You have changed my life. 325 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,400 You have brought me out of death into 326 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:16,960 life. 327 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:21,520 And now old things have passed away, and 328 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,340 behold, all things have become new. 329 00:15:26,590 --> 00:15:29,250 This is He that came by water and 330 00:15:29,250 --> 00:15:31,310 blood, even Jesus Christ. 331 00:15:32,210 --> 00:15:35,050 Not by water only, but by water and 332 00:15:35,050 --> 00:15:35,470 blood. 333 00:15:36,850 --> 00:15:41,730 Here we have a mention of something that 334 00:15:41,730 --> 00:15:47,090 is sometimes interpreted in several different ways. 335 00:15:48,250 --> 00:15:50,510 Some interpret this to mean the water means 336 00:15:50,510 --> 00:15:51,150 baptism. 337 00:15:54,810 --> 00:15:56,750 I'm not persuaded that that is true. 338 00:15:57,850 --> 00:16:00,170 I go to a reference in John 19, 339 00:16:00,410 --> 00:16:03,930 34, where upon the cross the Lord, you 340 00:16:03,930 --> 00:16:07,670 know, the soldier pierced his side, and water 341 00:16:07,670 --> 00:16:10,050 and blood came forth. 342 00:16:11,150 --> 00:16:15,450 There was a rupturing of the chest cavity 343 00:16:15,450 --> 00:16:20,910 and the water that surrounds the heart and 344 00:16:20,910 --> 00:16:21,470 all of this. 345 00:16:21,510 --> 00:16:22,330 It was released. 346 00:16:22,970 --> 00:16:25,930 I see in all of this strong evidence 347 00:16:25,930 --> 00:16:26,930 of His death. 348 00:16:28,490 --> 00:16:31,450 Some have tried to say that the Lord 349 00:16:31,450 --> 00:16:33,510 just swooned upon the cross and they took 350 00:16:33,510 --> 00:16:34,950 Him and put Him in a tomb and 351 00:16:34,950 --> 00:16:37,170 in the coolness of that tomb He was 352 00:16:37,170 --> 00:16:39,990 resurrected and He came out of that tomb. 353 00:16:40,150 --> 00:16:41,830 I don't believe that for a moment. 354 00:16:43,010 --> 00:16:48,010 But so many things are sometimes said by 355 00:16:48,010 --> 00:16:52,550 men who make judgment calls about things that 356 00:16:52,550 --> 00:16:55,110 have happened in the life of our Lord. 357 00:16:55,110 --> 00:17:00,990 And sometimes it not only confuses, but sometimes 358 00:17:00,990 --> 00:17:05,190 it takes away from the true value of 359 00:17:05,190 --> 00:17:06,310 what God has done. 360 00:17:06,690 --> 00:17:09,290 In the atoning work that Jesus Christ did 361 00:17:09,290 --> 00:17:13,349 upon the cross, in that atoning work, there 362 00:17:13,349 --> 00:17:16,569 is something so wonderful that it need not 363 00:17:16,569 --> 00:17:17,690 be tampered with. 364 00:17:19,010 --> 00:17:21,310 He that atoned for us. 365 00:17:21,530 --> 00:17:23,290 He that made that atonement. 366 00:17:23,290 --> 00:17:26,550 He that in that one moment of time, 367 00:17:27,310 --> 00:17:31,370 hanging upon a cross, was made sin for 368 00:17:31,370 --> 00:17:34,450 us that we might be made the righteousness 369 00:17:34,450 --> 00:17:35,530 of God in Him. 370 00:17:35,590 --> 00:17:36,850 Don't tamper with that. 371 00:17:37,850 --> 00:17:38,650 That's real. 372 00:17:39,750 --> 00:17:40,910 That's the truth. 373 00:17:42,650 --> 00:17:45,750 He that knew no sin was made sin 374 00:17:45,750 --> 00:17:47,570 for us that we might be made the 375 00:17:47,570 --> 00:17:50,290 righteousness of God in Him. 376 00:17:51,990 --> 00:17:54,770 The 7th and 8th verses of this chapter 377 00:17:54,770 --> 00:17:58,170 support the belief in the Divine Trinity. 378 00:17:58,730 --> 00:18:00,770 For there are three that bear record in 379 00:18:00,770 --> 00:18:03,210 heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy 380 00:18:03,210 --> 00:18:03,650 Ghost. 381 00:18:04,390 --> 00:18:06,190 And these three are one. 382 00:18:06,590 --> 00:18:08,910 And there are three that bear witness in 383 00:18:08,910 --> 00:18:11,610 earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the 384 00:18:11,610 --> 00:18:12,010 blood. 385 00:18:12,570 --> 00:18:15,890 And these three agree in one. 386 00:18:18,490 --> 00:18:21,980 You know, the very fact that we, as 387 00:18:21,980 --> 00:18:23,940 members of the body of our Lord Jesus 388 00:18:23,940 --> 00:18:29,160 Christ, living members in that spiritual body, that 389 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:33,940 body of our Lord Jesus Christ, these provide 390 00:18:33,940 --> 00:18:38,260 us with that assurance that God as a 391 00:18:38,260 --> 00:18:42,300 Trinity, He works in and through that spiritual 392 00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:45,440 power that He is able to provide in 393 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:49,220 working out His will in our lives. 394 00:18:51,380 --> 00:18:56,100 Someone has said, we find in that work 395 00:18:56,100 --> 00:18:59,720 that was done upon the cross, peace-giving 396 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:05,040 energy, released in a special way, peace-giving 397 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:09,080 energy, the life of God was poured out 398 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:14,580 as an act that would satisfy divine righteousness 399 00:19:14,580 --> 00:19:17,060 in providing salvation for our souls. 400 00:19:18,690 --> 00:19:21,610 Oh, that's a tremendous thing that God has 401 00:19:21,610 --> 00:19:22,530 done for us. 402 00:19:23,190 --> 00:19:27,950 The human mind sometimes can't comprehend the wisdom 403 00:19:27,950 --> 00:19:29,630 and the power of God in what He 404 00:19:29,630 --> 00:19:30,850 is doing for us. 405 00:19:31,270 --> 00:19:33,110 Oh, to grow in grace and knowledge of 406 00:19:33,110 --> 00:19:34,210 the Lord Jesus Christ. 407 00:19:34,550 --> 00:19:36,670 Oh, to possess the mind of Christ. 408 00:19:37,070 --> 00:19:39,050 Oh, to have the Word of God, which 409 00:19:39,050 --> 00:19:40,890 is a lamp under my foot and a 410 00:19:40,890 --> 00:19:44,030 light under my pathway, to help me through 411 00:19:44,790 --> 00:19:46,990 all of these things that I may not 412 00:19:46,990 --> 00:19:50,330 comprehend and understand, but He wants me to 413 00:19:50,330 --> 00:19:51,090 understand it. 414 00:19:51,150 --> 00:19:52,690 He wants me to know it. 415 00:19:54,070 --> 00:19:56,850 So often we focus on one aspect of 416 00:19:56,850 --> 00:20:00,030 our salvation, like knowing that we are saved. 417 00:20:00,150 --> 00:20:01,850 But there is a whole lot more to 418 00:20:01,850 --> 00:20:03,450 know, brother, sister. 419 00:20:04,450 --> 00:20:07,370 There is a whole lot more that we 420 00:20:07,370 --> 00:20:07,970 can know. 421 00:20:09,070 --> 00:20:15,060 The Spirit of God, that power that resides 422 00:20:15,060 --> 00:20:17,080 in each one of us, that power to 423 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:22,240 do the will of God, is not in 424 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,580 the power of my flesh that I do 425 00:20:24,580 --> 00:20:25,300 these things. 426 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,760 The flesh cannot be improved upon. 427 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:35,360 The flesh cannot do anything that is well 428 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:36,380 -pleasing to God. 429 00:20:38,060 --> 00:20:40,220 It's only by the power of the Spirit 430 00:20:40,220 --> 00:20:43,600 of God working in and through us that 431 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,540 God is well-pleased. 432 00:20:47,790 --> 00:20:50,050 If we receive the witness of men, the 433 00:20:50,050 --> 00:20:51,390 witness of God is greater. 434 00:20:51,390 --> 00:20:53,790 For this is the witness of God which 435 00:20:53,790 --> 00:20:55,450 He had testified of His Son. 436 00:20:56,550 --> 00:20:58,190 He that believeth on the Son of God 437 00:20:58,190 --> 00:20:59,590 hath the witness in himself. 438 00:21:00,750 --> 00:21:02,930 He that believeth not, God hath made him 439 00:21:02,930 --> 00:21:08,030 a liar, because he believeth not the record 440 00:21:08,670 --> 00:21:11,130 that God gave of His Son. 441 00:21:11,690 --> 00:21:14,030 And this is the record that God hath 442 00:21:14,030 --> 00:21:16,690 given to us, eternal life. 443 00:21:17,430 --> 00:21:19,810 And this life is in His Son. 444 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:25,080 That Scripture is so adequate in providing us 445 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,060 with what we need in the way of 446 00:21:27,060 --> 00:21:31,880 confirmation that what God has done is real. 447 00:21:32,340 --> 00:21:34,460 This, brother, is not a delusion. 448 00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:40,940 This is real salvation by faith in our 449 00:21:40,940 --> 00:21:42,120 Lord Jesus Christ. 450 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,500 He that hath the Son hath life. 451 00:21:46,740 --> 00:21:48,600 He that hath not the Son of God 452 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:49,480 hath not life. 453 00:21:51,140 --> 00:21:53,500 These things have I written unto you that 454 00:21:53,500 --> 00:21:55,160 believe on the name of the Son of 455 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:58,420 God, that you may know that you have 456 00:21:58,420 --> 00:22:02,360 eternal life, and that you may believe on 457 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:04,700 the name of the Son of God. 458 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:11,700 You know, we believe, but we can believe 459 00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:12,060 more. 460 00:22:13,460 --> 00:22:14,460 You know what I'm talking about? 461 00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:17,500 I can believe and accept Jesus Christ as 462 00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:18,920 my Lord and Savior, but I ought to 463 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:19,940 know more. 464 00:22:19,940 --> 00:22:22,840 Are you satisfied with just being saved? 465 00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:26,140 You say, God saved me and that's enough. 466 00:22:26,180 --> 00:22:26,920 Leave me alone. 467 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:28,880 Oh, no. 468 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:30,080 Oh, no. 469 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,760 God wants you and me to grow spiritually. 470 00:22:36,120 --> 00:22:38,820 He wants to see spiritual development in the 471 00:22:38,820 --> 00:22:41,080 life of every child of God. 472 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,340 Don't be satisfied with just being saved. 473 00:22:44,380 --> 00:22:45,040 It's wonderful. 474 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:46,760 You can rejoice in it. 475 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:47,840 You can sing about it. 476 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:53,580 You can just be thrilled about it, but 477 00:22:53,580 --> 00:22:55,520 want to know more. 478 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,020 I want to grow, Lord. 479 00:22:57,740 --> 00:23:01,900 I want that evidence in my life that 480 00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:03,920 I am really a child of God. 481 00:23:04,740 --> 00:23:05,700 It will take faith. 482 00:23:06,860 --> 00:23:08,100 It does take faith. 483 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,980 I read that verse, number 13. 484 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:20,560 These things have I written unto you that 485 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:21,920 believe on the name of the Son of 486 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:26,860 God that you may know experientially a person 487 00:23:26,860 --> 00:23:30,720 that has been born again will receive the 488 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:32,840 confirmation through the reading of the Word of 489 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:34,560 God that he is a child of God. 490 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,780 The Spirit of God that enlightens, guides, directs, 491 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:43,380 teaches, instructs in the things of God can 492 00:23:43,380 --> 00:23:46,240 truly make these things so precious and dear 493 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:47,940 to our hearts. 494 00:23:49,950 --> 00:23:52,310 And I am so saddened when I hear 495 00:23:52,310 --> 00:23:54,190 someone say, I hope I'm saved. 496 00:23:55,450 --> 00:23:56,750 I hope I'm saved. 497 00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:04,050 I think I've trusted Him, but I don't 498 00:24:04,050 --> 00:24:04,890 know for sure. 499 00:24:05,850 --> 00:24:09,310 I still have some doubts in my heart 500 00:24:09,310 --> 00:24:10,930 and soul that I'm really saved. 501 00:24:14,230 --> 00:24:16,630 I've heard so many people give testimony to 502 00:24:16,630 --> 00:24:18,950 the fact that when I read this, the 503 00:24:18,950 --> 00:24:22,110 Spirit of God settled that question for me 504 00:24:22,110 --> 00:24:22,550 forever. 505 00:24:24,780 --> 00:24:25,840 Now, I know. 506 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:32,180 I know that I have eternal life and 507 00:24:32,180 --> 00:24:34,660 that I truly believe on the person of 508 00:24:34,660 --> 00:24:36,580 Jesus Christ, the Son of God as my 509 00:24:36,580 --> 00:24:37,240 Lord and Savior. 510 00:24:37,460 --> 00:24:39,300 If God said it, I believe it. 511 00:24:40,060 --> 00:24:41,420 And that's what it takes. 512 00:24:42,180 --> 00:24:43,160 That's what it takes. 513 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,340 Become very positive about what you believe. 514 00:24:47,620 --> 00:24:50,440 Be very positive in going out and sharing 515 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:52,740 your faith with someone else. 516 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:55,480 The world is not going to do this, 517 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:55,820 brother. 518 00:24:56,140 --> 00:24:58,720 You can see the direction the world is 519 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,420 going in today when you just look at 520 00:25:02,420 --> 00:25:04,800 the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, 521 00:25:04,900 --> 00:25:05,600 the Son of God. 522 00:25:10,570 --> 00:25:12,910 Anybody that looks upon this and thinks about 523 00:25:12,910 --> 00:25:14,890 it just for a moment would say this 524 00:25:14,890 --> 00:25:15,530 is ridiculous. 525 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,120 What is all this celebration about? 526 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,120 What is this all about? 527 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,400 Well, it has to do with the person 528 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:31,460 of the Son of God coming into the 529 00:25:31,460 --> 00:25:35,480 world to provide salvation for all mankind. 530 00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:40,060 He came into the world, and the world 531 00:25:40,060 --> 00:25:41,080 rejected Him. 532 00:25:41,460 --> 00:25:43,340 The world would not receive Him. 533 00:25:44,260 --> 00:25:46,680 Light came into the world, but men loved 534 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,280 darkness rather than light because their deeds were 535 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:49,680 evil. 536 00:25:49,940 --> 00:25:52,860 And they rejected Him, and they nailed Him 537 00:25:52,860 --> 00:25:53,720 to a cross. 538 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:59,640 Little did they know that they had sovereignly 539 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:03,060 fulfilled the plan and purposes of God in 540 00:26:03,060 --> 00:26:05,000 that the Lamb of God that came into 541 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:09,040 the world to provide salvation for us, that 542 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:10,440 He died upon a cross. 543 00:26:13,230 --> 00:26:17,050 Well, I haven't caught the spirit of what 544 00:26:17,050 --> 00:26:19,790 that means if you attach so much importance 545 00:26:19,790 --> 00:26:20,170 with it. 546 00:26:20,290 --> 00:26:22,230 I cannot catch the spirit of what you 547 00:26:22,230 --> 00:26:24,270 mean in looking at what is happening in 548 00:26:24,270 --> 00:26:25,110 the world today. 549 00:26:26,710 --> 00:26:29,890 All of this celebration seems to be alien, 550 00:26:30,630 --> 00:26:34,810 so far away from what you've just indicated 551 00:26:34,810 --> 00:26:39,890 is the true meaning of Christmas, the birth 552 00:26:39,890 --> 00:26:44,430 of Christ, that sinless life that was lived, 553 00:26:46,650 --> 00:26:53,720 all that He did in performing miracles, what 554 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:55,700 He did on that cross outside the city 555 00:26:55,700 --> 00:26:56,420 of Jerusalem. 556 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:00,860 And, beloved, we can personally identify with that. 557 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:02,740 I'll tell you, when He died on that 558 00:27:02,740 --> 00:27:03,860 cross, I died with Him. 559 00:27:06,180 --> 00:27:07,640 That's what the Word of God says. 560 00:27:07,980 --> 00:27:10,560 God reckoned when I received Him as my 561 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:14,920 Lord and Savior, it was just as if 562 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:16,760 I died upon that cross with the Son 563 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:17,360 of God. 564 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,240 God laid on Him the iniquity of us 565 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:20,660 all. 566 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,600 Oh, we should think ever so highly of 567 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:27,380 the person of the Son of God. 568 00:27:30,380 --> 00:27:34,260 You say, how would you celebrate this special 569 00:27:34,260 --> 00:27:36,640 day that is set aside to remember the 570 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:37,720 birth of the Savior? 571 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:40,700 I'll answer it this way. 572 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:42,580 I wouldn't do it the way the world 573 00:27:42,580 --> 00:27:43,480 is doing it now. 574 00:27:43,580 --> 00:27:44,840 I'll tell you that for sure. 575 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:49,360 And I'll never be asked, of course, as 576 00:27:49,360 --> 00:27:51,440 to how would I celebrate it. 577 00:27:51,500 --> 00:27:54,340 How would I put in place something that 578 00:27:54,340 --> 00:27:59,360 could properly look at and worship and praise 579 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:00,880 Him as He should be praised? 580 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:05,880 I don't think any limit should be placed 581 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:09,340 upon how much we praise and worship our 582 00:28:09,340 --> 00:28:11,320 God and His Son. 583 00:28:12,500 --> 00:28:14,040 He has done something for us that no 584 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:15,420 one else could do for us. 585 00:28:16,900 --> 00:28:19,300 No one else could love us the way 586 00:28:19,300 --> 00:28:20,160 He has loved us. 587 00:28:21,100 --> 00:28:23,500 No one, no human being you know, your 588 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:26,040 wife, your mother, your father, no one could 589 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,120 love you the way He has loved you. 590 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,740 Scripture says, having loved His own, He loved 591 00:28:32,740 --> 00:28:33,820 them to the very end. 592 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:35,460 He went to the cross. 593 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:38,060 Went to the cross. 594 00:28:39,300 --> 00:28:40,980 I tell you, it grew forth out of 595 00:28:40,980 --> 00:28:43,300 that heart of the Son of God a 596 00:28:43,300 --> 00:28:46,980 cry that you just can never, never as 597 00:28:46,980 --> 00:28:50,160 a believer reach a point where you are 598 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:51,880 comfortable when you hear it. 599 00:28:53,980 --> 00:28:56,540 My God, my God, why have you forsaken 600 00:28:56,540 --> 00:28:56,860 me? 601 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:58,500 Can you be comfortable with that? 602 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:02,540 Doesn't that distress your soul to think that 603 00:29:02,540 --> 00:29:06,820 the Son of God, His Father, forsook Him? 604 00:29:07,540 --> 00:29:08,360 There was darkness. 605 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:10,740 Where are you? 606 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,520 There's nothing but judgment and wrath in store 607 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:15,700 for the Son of God. 608 00:29:15,940 --> 00:29:17,240 He's taking our place. 609 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:19,680 He's paying the penalty for our sin. 610 00:29:22,990 --> 00:29:24,930 You talk about love, brother and sister. 611 00:29:25,090 --> 00:29:25,810 That's love. 612 00:29:25,950 --> 00:29:27,330 That's divine love. 613 00:29:27,430 --> 00:29:29,850 That's elegate love that they talk about. 614 00:29:30,490 --> 00:29:32,270 Sacrificially giving of yourselves. 615 00:29:33,350 --> 00:29:35,290 No one ever loved me like the Lord 616 00:29:35,290 --> 00:29:36,370 Jesus loved me. 617 00:29:38,140 --> 00:29:41,800 Oh, it's something to celebrate the coming into 618 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:44,340 the world of the Son of God and 619 00:29:44,340 --> 00:29:46,340 what He did for us by dying for 620 00:29:46,340 --> 00:29:47,700 us upon the cross. 621 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:53,080 I wanted to say something about prayer. 622 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:58,580 Do you believe God answers prayer? 623 00:29:59,460 --> 00:30:01,720 Do you have any confirmation that He answers 624 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:02,040 prayer? 625 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:04,880 Do you have definitive answers to your prayers? 626 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:09,780 You know, when you give some consideration to 627 00:30:09,780 --> 00:30:12,120 the fact that we're asked to have prayer, 628 00:30:12,460 --> 00:30:14,840 that we ought to have confidence in our 629 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:17,100 God that when we cry out to Him, 630 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:19,740 He hears us and He answers our prayers. 631 00:30:23,340 --> 00:30:26,020 I think we do need an intelligent look 632 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:29,580 at what it means to have prayer made 633 00:30:29,580 --> 00:30:31,280 and to have prayer answered. 634 00:30:34,030 --> 00:30:36,190 Reading at verse 14, it says, and this 635 00:30:36,190 --> 00:30:38,030 is the confidence that we have in Him 636 00:30:38,030 --> 00:30:42,130 that if we ask anything, we ask anything. 637 00:30:42,710 --> 00:30:43,930 Don't stop there, brother. 638 00:30:44,270 --> 00:30:44,970 Don't stop there. 639 00:30:46,390 --> 00:30:47,890 You've got to read all of this. 640 00:30:49,270 --> 00:30:51,070 This is the confidence that we have in 641 00:30:51,070 --> 00:30:54,830 Him that if we ask anything according to 642 00:30:54,830 --> 00:30:56,690 His will, He hears us. 643 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,040 You know, a mind of a believer out 644 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:08,120 of touch with the will of God may 645 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:10,000 not make a connection with God. 646 00:31:12,250 --> 00:31:14,250 That's why we need the Spirit of God 647 00:31:14,250 --> 00:31:17,230 to direct and help us in this area. 648 00:31:17,750 --> 00:31:19,350 Let me read again from Romans. 649 00:31:22,610 --> 00:31:24,710 In the same way, the Spirit also helps 650 00:31:24,710 --> 00:31:26,610 our weakness, for we do not know how 651 00:31:26,610 --> 00:31:27,110 to pray. 652 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:31,980 Are we offering up spiritual prayers? 653 00:31:32,740 --> 00:31:35,240 Are we offering up prayers that the Spirit 654 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:37,320 of God is working in our hearts and 655 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:37,620 souls? 656 00:31:38,140 --> 00:31:41,060 Is He generating the kind of thoughts in 657 00:31:41,060 --> 00:31:42,800 our soul as to what we should pray 658 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,260 for as we ought? 659 00:31:47,850 --> 00:31:49,690 We do not know how to pray as 660 00:31:49,690 --> 00:31:54,430 we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for 661 00:31:54,430 --> 00:31:54,870 us. 662 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:58,860 Oh, isn't He a wonderful comforter? 663 00:31:59,420 --> 00:32:01,540 The Lord Jesus Christ said, I will send 664 00:32:01,540 --> 00:32:02,560 you another comforter. 665 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:05,080 I'll send you someone just like me. 666 00:32:06,660 --> 00:32:08,180 He will abide in you. 667 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,480 He will empower you to be my witness. 668 00:32:12,700 --> 00:32:15,580 But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with 669 00:32:15,580 --> 00:32:19,720 groanings that are too deep for words. 670 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:24,700 And He that is the Spirit of God, 671 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:25,840 He is divine. 672 00:32:26,540 --> 00:32:27,360 He is not an it. 673 00:32:27,460 --> 00:32:31,340 He is a person, a real person, the 674 00:32:31,340 --> 00:32:32,220 Spirit of God. 675 00:32:33,220 --> 00:32:36,500 He searches the hearts and knows what the 676 00:32:36,500 --> 00:32:40,820 mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes 677 00:32:40,820 --> 00:32:43,600 for the saints according to the will of 678 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:43,940 God. 679 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,340 We are holy in the sight of God. 680 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:48,560 We are God's children. 681 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,760 He wants us to know His mind and 682 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:51,320 His will. 683 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,540 I wouldn't for a moment suggest to you 684 00:32:58,540 --> 00:33:02,200 that you not cry out to God any 685 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,020 time that you have a problem in your 686 00:33:04,020 --> 00:33:05,720 life that you need help with. 687 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:10,640 My dear wife was in the hospital for 688 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:12,420 a month and recovering for a while. 689 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:13,720 I don't know how many times I said, 690 00:33:13,820 --> 00:33:14,760 Oh, God, have mercy. 691 00:33:16,260 --> 00:33:17,380 Oh, God, have mercy. 692 00:33:18,380 --> 00:33:19,960 I know you are a merciful God. 693 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:21,040 You are rich in mercy. 694 00:33:22,620 --> 00:33:23,620 Have mercy. 695 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:25,760 That's all I could think of at the 696 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:26,060 time. 697 00:33:27,700 --> 00:33:28,900 And God was merciful. 698 00:33:31,250 --> 00:33:35,070 But you know, a spiritual-minded person will 699 00:33:35,070 --> 00:33:38,250 seek to always be sure that he is 700 00:33:38,250 --> 00:33:40,570 thinking in terms of is this God's will? 701 00:33:44,390 --> 00:33:45,530 I've said this before. 702 00:33:45,690 --> 00:33:47,410 I think it was Lehman Strauss that wrote 703 00:33:47,410 --> 00:33:49,830 that book about all the foolish things that 704 00:33:49,830 --> 00:33:51,090 people say in prayers. 705 00:33:51,090 --> 00:33:55,290 And that book is rather humorous in that 706 00:33:55,290 --> 00:33:57,810 it reminds us that people sometimes when they 707 00:33:57,810 --> 00:34:01,030 pray and say some foolish things, say some 708 00:34:01,030 --> 00:34:04,530 foolish things, even when they look back and 709 00:34:04,530 --> 00:34:05,870 look over what they said. 710 00:34:07,409 --> 00:34:09,510 You know, I'm embarrassed that I even ask 711 00:34:09,510 --> 00:34:09,830 that. 712 00:34:11,489 --> 00:34:14,690 But when the Spirit of God is a 713 00:34:14,690 --> 00:34:17,489 part of our prayer life and the offering 714 00:34:17,489 --> 00:34:20,650 up of prayer, I can ask of God 715 00:34:20,650 --> 00:34:24,250 anything that is His will for my life. 716 00:34:24,429 --> 00:34:25,469 And He will do it. 717 00:34:26,370 --> 00:34:27,489 He will do it. 718 00:34:29,580 --> 00:34:31,920 We have the Word of God that confirms 719 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:32,120 it. 720 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:35,620 If we ask anything according to His will, 721 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:37,080 He hears us. 722 00:34:38,199 --> 00:34:39,080 He hears us. 723 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:43,920 You know, your mom and daddy, when you 724 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:45,679 went to them and you asked of them 725 00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:48,199 something, they always did what was best for 726 00:34:48,199 --> 00:34:48,620 you. 727 00:34:48,620 --> 00:34:50,480 They had that maturity. 728 00:34:51,940 --> 00:34:54,880 They had good, sound judgment about what was 729 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:56,060 best for you. 730 00:34:57,380 --> 00:34:59,040 And so it is with God our Father. 731 00:35:00,580 --> 00:35:03,080 The Spirit of God will put us in 732 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,820 touch with the will of God so that 733 00:35:05,820 --> 00:35:09,980 we, in asking of Him, we won't go 734 00:35:09,980 --> 00:35:12,940 off and say something ridiculous, or like Leman 735 00:35:12,940 --> 00:35:14,880 Strauss says, say something foolish. 736 00:35:17,950 --> 00:35:20,630 It certainly would be in the mind and 737 00:35:20,630 --> 00:35:22,470 the will of God to bless every one 738 00:35:22,470 --> 00:35:22,990 of us. 739 00:35:23,770 --> 00:35:25,890 O God, bless us tonight as we gather 740 00:35:25,890 --> 00:35:26,650 in this place. 741 00:35:27,750 --> 00:35:30,290 O God, bless, we pray Thee, the Word 742 00:35:30,290 --> 00:35:32,990 of God as it's ministered to our needs, 743 00:35:33,070 --> 00:35:35,690 as the Spirit of God, as He works 744 00:35:35,690 --> 00:35:38,910 in each of our hearts and minds, renewing 745 00:35:38,910 --> 00:35:43,010 us, transforming us into that state of mind 746 00:35:43,010 --> 00:35:44,810 that wants to know and will do the 747 00:35:44,810 --> 00:35:46,430 good and perfect will of God. 748 00:35:48,700 --> 00:35:49,760 That will be answered. 749 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:51,120 He will bless us. 750 00:35:51,740 --> 00:35:53,180 He will give us enlightenment. 751 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:56,140 He will give direction to us. 752 00:35:58,820 --> 00:36:00,780 And it doesn't just happen to people that 753 00:36:00,780 --> 00:36:02,540 don't know God very well. 754 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:04,820 I think the Apostle Paul was a man 755 00:36:04,820 --> 00:36:05,620 that knew the Lord. 756 00:36:06,900 --> 00:36:08,320 He prayed three times. 757 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:09,800 He said, Take away the thorn in the 758 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:10,280 flesh. 759 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:12,720 The Lord didn't do it. 760 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:14,060 That wasn't His will. 761 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:16,260 He said, I'll do something better. 762 00:36:17,260 --> 00:36:19,180 My grace will be sufficient for you. 763 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:21,160 You see how God works? 764 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:23,180 You see how the Spirit of God puts 765 00:36:23,180 --> 00:36:25,740 in place something that is better than what 766 00:36:25,740 --> 00:36:26,580 we ask for? 767 00:36:27,860 --> 00:36:29,880 And was the Apostle Paul pleased with that? 768 00:36:29,980 --> 00:36:31,200 You better believe he was. 769 00:36:33,710 --> 00:36:35,290 He said there was a victory won for 770 00:36:35,290 --> 00:36:35,990 me that day. 771 00:36:36,730 --> 00:36:38,910 I learned that when I am weak in 772 00:36:38,910 --> 00:36:40,950 myself, that's when I'm strong in the Lord. 773 00:36:41,010 --> 00:36:42,030 I trusted Him. 774 00:36:42,830 --> 00:36:44,110 I trust His judgment. 775 00:36:45,190 --> 00:36:47,850 I trust the application of His will to 776 00:36:47,850 --> 00:36:48,390 my life. 777 00:36:48,470 --> 00:36:52,090 Now I rejoice, and I find victory in 778 00:36:52,090 --> 00:36:52,830 infirmities. 779 00:36:54,510 --> 00:36:56,670 You want to get all you can out 780 00:36:56,670 --> 00:36:59,050 of the things that God allows to come 781 00:36:59,050 --> 00:37:01,150 into your life that are not pleasant. 782 00:37:01,290 --> 00:37:03,430 Get all you can out of the suffering 783 00:37:03,430 --> 00:37:05,390 that you're entrusted with. 784 00:37:06,470 --> 00:37:10,510 It becomes something that God, in measuring out 785 00:37:10,510 --> 00:37:12,410 for each one of us, something that will 786 00:37:12,410 --> 00:37:16,210 help us grow and develop and mature as 787 00:37:16,210 --> 00:37:16,710 believers. 788 00:37:16,710 --> 00:37:18,590 Don't ever forget He loves you. 789 00:37:19,450 --> 00:37:20,950 Don't ever forget He loves you. 790 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:27,080 And He chastens us sometimes because He loves 791 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:27,560 us. 792 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:30,140 And He wants to see us grow. 793 00:37:30,520 --> 00:37:32,140 And He wants us to be like His 794 00:37:32,140 --> 00:37:33,560 Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 795 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:39,180 We are predestined to be like Him. 796 00:37:40,360 --> 00:37:42,120 Isn't it wonderful to think that one day 797 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:43,620 you will see Him and you will be 798 00:37:43,620 --> 00:37:44,220 like Him? 799 00:37:45,540 --> 00:37:48,140 Rest with perfect confidence at what God has 800 00:37:48,140 --> 00:37:49,380 promised He will fulfill. 801 00:37:50,340 --> 00:37:52,900 Our Heavenly Father, again, we thank Thee tonight 802 00:37:52,900 --> 00:37:53,840 for the Lord Jesus. 803 00:37:56,900 --> 00:37:59,440 And we're so thankful that He accepted us. 804 00:38:00,740 --> 00:38:03,180 We're so thankful that we found that one 805 00:38:03,180 --> 00:38:05,300 and only way into Thy presence was through 806 00:38:05,300 --> 00:38:05,640 Him. 807 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:10,080 And we're so thankful tonight that we can 808 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:13,720 rejoice and praise and worship Thee as our 809 00:38:13,720 --> 00:38:14,100 God. 810 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:17,620 Bless each one of us in this room 811 00:38:17,620 --> 00:38:18,000 tonight. 812 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:18,580 Bless us. 813 00:38:18,700 --> 00:38:19,540 Bless our families. 814 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:22,060 Give us direction and help. 815 00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:23,740 Lord, we need help. 816 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:29,140 We're living in a world that indeed we 817 00:38:29,140 --> 00:38:31,740 need the sovereign grace of God in all 818 00:38:31,740 --> 00:38:35,140 of its sufficiency to face the trials and 819 00:38:35,140 --> 00:38:36,140 testings of life. 820 00:38:38,660 --> 00:38:40,420 Help us as we read this word of 821 00:38:40,420 --> 00:38:43,480 Yours day by day to recognize faith comes 822 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:45,420 by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. 823 00:38:46,940 --> 00:38:48,520 Bless us, Father, we pray. 824 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:50,920 In the precious name of the Lord Jesus, 825 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:52,080 we ask this, amen. 826 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:56,580 And now, will we have a closing hymn? 827 00:38:57,780 --> 00:38:58,320 Yes.