WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daley preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.760 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.960 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:25.560 All right. Let's go ahead and find our seat everyone, 00:00:25.559 --> 00:00:30.679 and we're going to go ahead and get started. 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:37.359 Well, it is great to be here this morning as we are going to be, 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:40.239 well, we're going to be opening the Word of God, 00:00:40.239 --> 00:00:42.679 looking to the pages of scripture, 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:47.840 and answering some of the questions that have been submitted. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:50.719 So it's going to be a continuation of the Q&A session, 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.519 but this time it's going to be questions on scripture 00:00:54.520 --> 00:00:56.680 and questions on theology. 00:00:56.680 --> 00:00:59.480 So before we go any further, 00:00:59.480 --> 00:01:01.720 I'd like for us to turn to the Lord. 00:01:01.720 --> 00:01:03.480 Let's open an award of prayer. 00:01:03.480 --> 00:01:07.079 And there are seven questions that I have prepared, 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:11.920 and then one that was submitted this morning that we'll turn to as well. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:13.600 So we're going to, Lord willing, 00:01:13.600 --> 00:01:14.719 get through all the questions. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:16.200 There's going to be a lot of verses, 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:18.920 as you can see on your notes. 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:22.640 So feel free to follow along on this as we are going through this. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:26.040 But let's pray to the Lord together. 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.200 And Father, we come before you this morning 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:33.079 as we are going to be just going over some very deep, 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:35.920 biblical and theological questions, 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:37.879 questions about your Word. 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:42.319 May we be reminded that there's nothing wrong with asking questions 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:46.879 as we can be hungry to grow closer to you, 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:48.960 to grow in faith in you. 00:01:48.960 --> 00:01:51.240 And we get curious about who you are. 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:53.599 There's so much to this world that you've created 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:56.519 and so much to this life that you have given to us 00:01:56.519 --> 00:02:00.119 and so much to what your Word has to say. 00:02:00.119 --> 00:02:01.439 We ask that you are with us 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:05.239 and you'll just help us navigate through these questions. 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:08.879 We ask that you send down your Holy Spirit with us 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:12.159 to soften our hearts and our minds, 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:15.240 open our minds to the truth of your Word. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:17.959 It is in Jesus' name that we pray 00:02:17.959 --> 00:02:20.199 and we all say together, amen. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:21.959 So I wanna first start off with the question 00:02:21.959 --> 00:02:22.959 that was submitted. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:27.439 Do I have to be baptized to be saved? 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:29.119 It's actually not gonna be that first question. 00:02:29.119 --> 00:02:30.919 Just go ahead and go back to the title slide. 00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:32.319 This is one that was submitted. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:36.679 Let's turn our Bibles to the Gospel of John, 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:38.959 John chapter three. 00:02:40.839 --> 00:02:44.199 So one question that comes up all the time is, 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:48.079 do I need to be baptized in order to be saved? 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:52.719 Okay, so we're gonna look at the Word of God. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:54.600 It's gonna be John chapter three. 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:05.360 So here we go. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:06.480 John chapter three. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.680 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:12.400 a ruler of the Jews. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:15.360 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.880 Rabbi, we know that your teacher come from God 00:03:18.880 --> 00:03:21.840 for no one can do these signs that you do 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:23.560 unless God is with him. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:26.560 So this Pharisee is recognizing who Christ is, right? 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:29.520 That there's something different about him. 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.480 And Jesus answered him, truly, truly I say to you, 00:03:32.480 --> 00:03:34.640 unless one is born again, 00:03:34.640 --> 00:03:36.400 he cannot see the kingdom of God. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:39.040 Okay, that's pretty self-explanatory, right? 00:03:39.040 --> 00:03:42.080 Nicodemus said to him, how can a man be born 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:43.440 when he is old? 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:46.319 Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:47.639 and be born? 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:51.199 And Jesus answered, truly, truly I say to you, 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:54.199 now pay attention here, this is very significant. 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:58.039 Unless one is born of water and the spirit, 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:00.680 he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:02.919 So on the surface when we read that, 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:05.840 it would appear, okay, you must be baptized 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:08.159 and you must believe in the Lord to be saved, right? 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:10.680 You must be born of water and of spirit. 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:12.400 But let's go to that next verse. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:13.240 Okay? 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:18.439 That which is born of the flesh is flesh 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:21.920 and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:24.280 That's very interesting. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:30.720 Well, water, a water birth of flesh, 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:32.280 what does that sound like? 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:37.000 Doesn't it sound like the water breaking 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:41.040 when someone is born of the flesh, so to speak? 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.640 So what Christ is talking about is 00:04:43.640 --> 00:04:47.040 you must be born into this earth, right? 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:49.200 And then you must believe in the Lord, 00:04:49.200 --> 00:04:53.320 you'll be born again because Christ is answering 00:04:53.320 --> 00:04:56.160 that question that Nicodemus is asking, 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:58.840 how can a man be born again when he's old? 00:04:58.840 --> 00:05:01.520 He can't enter the womb again. 00:05:01.520 --> 00:05:03.360 So he's responding to that. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:05.240 So Christ is going on in verse seven, 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:09.040 do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:13.920 So even Christ is saying, don't get confused by this, right? 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:16.879 Don't marvel, don't overthink it here. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:19.720 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear it sound, 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.320 but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. 00:05:22.320 --> 00:05:26.000 So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:32.120 So that is the quick answer for that. 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:35.400 We understand and we recognize that baptism is important 00:05:35.400 --> 00:05:37.960 as it is an outward expression. 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:42.479 It is the public proclamation of being a believer. 00:05:42.479 --> 00:05:44.719 It is saying to your friends, to your family, 00:05:44.719 --> 00:05:48.479 to your church, to your community that you are a Christian 00:05:48.479 --> 00:05:50.439 and that you are saved by grace through faith 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:53.159 and you're publicly displaying that. 00:05:53.159 --> 00:05:54.879 Because when you make a decision for Christ, 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:57.799 that's a very personal decision, right? 00:05:57.799 --> 00:06:00.519 That is between you and the Lord. 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:02.879 And when we're considering baptism, 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:07.399 it is something that we should all do, certainly, 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:12.399 but we must remember that baptism itself does not save you. 00:06:12.719 --> 00:06:16.439 So I thank you for the one who submitted that question 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:18.839 and we're just gonna go right on into the questions 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:20.719 that you'll see on your notes. 00:06:20.719 --> 00:06:23.359 So the first question that pops up is question one. 00:06:24.439 --> 00:06:29.159 It says, over the years, they say that they found letters 00:06:29.159 --> 00:06:32.639 that belong in the Bible and these were either taken 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:35.079 out of the Bible many years ago, 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:38.359 or they were never put in your thoughts 00:06:38.359 --> 00:06:40.039 on if we will ever know what they said 00:06:40.039 --> 00:06:41.439 and if the letters are true. 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:44.399 And so the first thing that I want you to keep in mind, 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.919 there's two aspects to this. 00:06:46.919 --> 00:06:51.039 There are books that are not a part of canon, right? 00:06:51.039 --> 00:06:54.879 You have the Apocrypha and you have non-canonical books 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:57.079 such as the Gospel of Thomas, 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:59.519 which was written in the second century. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.120 But then you also have lost books of the Bible 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:04.360 that were mentioned in scripture 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:07.319 that we just have no trace of. 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:10.680 So when I'm speaking of canon, 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:12.280 I wanna make it extremely clear 00:07:12.280 --> 00:07:14.720 that we're talking about the 66 books 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:17.639 that we have in scripture. 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:22.639 There are some Bibles, such as the New Revised Standard Version 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:25.000 that have the Apocrypha. 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:27.600 There are some King James versions of scripture 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:30.000 that also contain the Apocrypha. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:31.600 And there's also other books 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:34.200 that just didn't make it into scripture. 00:07:35.280 --> 00:07:37.400 And so the canon, like I'm saying, 00:07:37.400 --> 00:07:40.240 is why it is in scripture 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:44.640 is because it is consistent with itself. 00:07:44.640 --> 00:07:46.760 You've heard me mention before the idea 00:07:46.760 --> 00:07:49.680 of looking at the context when we're reading the Word of God 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:52.280 and the connections with scripture. 00:07:52.280 --> 00:07:55.080 Through the context and through the connections, 00:07:55.080 --> 00:07:58.200 we also have to look at the consistency. 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:03.199 Does this book, is it consistent with the rest of scripture? 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:06.719 And if it is not, it makes one wonder 00:08:06.719 --> 00:08:10.079 if it should be in scripture to begin with. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:15.879 So examples of books that we have no trace of 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:19.560 would be found in Numbers 21, 14, 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:21.480 if you wanna write that down. 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:25.199 It is known as the Book of the Wars of the Lord. 00:08:26.599 --> 00:08:28.039 If you wanna take a moment to write that, 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:30.680 that's Numbers 21, 14. 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:32.800 There's also, and I'm gonna be going through a lot, 00:08:32.800 --> 00:08:34.879 so just bear with me here. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:37.320 There's the Book of Jactr, 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:40.320 which is found in Joshua 10, 13, 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.759 and 2 Samuel 1, 18. 00:08:43.560 --> 00:08:45.960 So those are two, there's actually quite a few examples 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:48.560 of books that we just don't have any trace of. 00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:51.080 And for one reason or another, 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:53.840 it just, maybe it was the Lord's will 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.720 that wasn't meant to be in scripture. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:59.480 There's also the Book of the Acts of Solomon, 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:03.920 which is found in 1 Kings chapter 11, verse 41. 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:08.200 So there's quite a few more of other books 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:10.800 that are just, again, not found in scripture. 00:09:12.160 --> 00:09:14.680 So those are books that are lost. 00:09:14.680 --> 00:09:17.160 So what about non-canonical books? 00:09:17.160 --> 00:09:18.879 What about the Apocrypha, 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.320 and what about the Gospel of Thomas, 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:23.399 or the Apocalypse of Peter, 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:24.480 or the Book of Judas, 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:26.920 or these other books that you may have heard about? 00:09:26.920 --> 00:09:30.680 I know for me, I go on TikTok and I go on YouTube, 00:09:30.680 --> 00:09:33.879 and every so often, I'll see a content creator 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:35.039 who's posting these, 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:36.800 did you know there's secrets that are, 00:09:36.800 --> 00:09:38.920 there's books that are just not in scripture, 00:09:38.920 --> 00:09:42.039 and they're lying to you and hiding things from you? 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:47.039 Well, no, they have been reviewed by the early church leaders. 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:49.080 The early church leaders, 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:52.759 they found inconsistencies as well as the facts 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:55.720 that these books were written in the second 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:58.360 and third century, far beyond the scope 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:01.840 of the New Testament writings. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:03.319 Many non-canonical books, 00:10:03.319 --> 00:10:06.559 they talk about things that are contrary to scripture. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:10.519 For example, in the Apocalypse of Peter, 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:13.559 there is the idea of suffering in heaven. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:17.480 Well, that's something that is contrary to scripture. 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:19.480 There's also something in one book 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:22.920 that teaches about self-baptism, 00:10:22.920 --> 00:10:25.279 that you yourself can baptize yourself, 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:26.800 which is something that is pretty wild 00:10:26.800 --> 00:10:27.960 if you go on into that. 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:29.680 We're not gonna go into all of the intricacies, 00:10:29.680 --> 00:10:31.879 but just giving you some ideas. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:35.120 The use of magic to cast out demons 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.960 was another one that's been used. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:41.279 Secret knowledge and Gnosticism is a very big one 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:43.240 that there is this secret knowledge 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:47.560 that you must learn in order to get closer with God 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:49.000 and things are being hidden. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:52.879 Well, the secrets of scripture 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.879 have been revealed in the New Testament, 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:58.039 and the secret of the Old Testament 00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:00.360 is the coming of Jesus Christ 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:02.480 and salvation being available to all. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.879 There's no secret, there are things that we can discover, 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:07.679 but when we're talking about Gnosticism 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.399 and secret knowledge, it's this kind of this 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:13.120 holding close to this knowledge 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.159 and nobody should know it, 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.879 or only certain people should know it, 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:18.759 which is something that we are against. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.559 There's also praying for the dead. 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:26.559 There's also giving to the poor as means of salvation. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:29.279 There is even in the Gospel of Judas, 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.000 which was also written between the second 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:35.200 and third century, which is making Judas the hero. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:36.240 That's wild. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:38.080 What's going on there? 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:42.200 So it's, again, it's inconsistent with the canon, 00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:45.000 with the 66 books of scripture. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.319 And because they're written so far 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:51.320 beyond the Pauline letters, the Gospel accounts, 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:55.280 it's something that is just found to not align 00:11:55.280 --> 00:11:59.560 with the bulk, with the canon of scripture. 00:12:00.400 --> 00:12:01.720 And one thing to keep in mind, 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:05.560 if you are raised with the apocrypha, 00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:08.320 or you're raised reading or studying 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:09.720 these other books of the Bible, 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.840 one caution I must give to you is that 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:17.300 you must reconcile with what those books have to say, 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:20.240 along with the rest of scripture. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:23.359 And what happens is you either end up ignoring it, 00:12:23.359 --> 00:12:27.359 or you blatantly disregard certain parts of scripture. 00:12:27.359 --> 00:12:30.799 And so that creates a very big issue. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.599 For example, there's some people that believe 00:12:32.599 --> 00:12:35.359 in praying to the dead, and they believe 00:12:35.359 --> 00:12:38.039 that there can be communication between the dead, 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:41.779 which we find that that's not consistent with scripture. 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:44.679 But if you elevate that, that actually will change 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:49.679 your faith, your theology when it comes to scripture. 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:53.279 And so all that to say, we're blessed to have our scripture 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:54.599 that stood the test of time. 00:12:54.599 --> 00:12:57.359 I'd like to put, we're just gonna go through 00:12:57.359 --> 00:13:00.359 a bunch of verses, 2 Timothy chapter three, verse 16. 00:13:00.359 --> 00:13:01.519 This is in your notes. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.000 And it says that all scripture is breathed out by God, 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:08.479 which means it is divinely inspired by God. 00:13:08.479 --> 00:13:10.599 It is profitable for teaching. 00:13:10.599 --> 00:13:13.319 The word of God is being used to be preached, 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:15.200 to be taught to people, right? 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:20.200 Reprove the idea of conviction, the idea of correction, right? 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.280 Oh, we don't like that. 00:13:21.280 --> 00:13:23.200 We don't like being corrected, right? 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:27.120 But it's part of the molding process that God does with us. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:28.640 That the man of God may be complete 00:13:28.640 --> 00:13:30.560 and equipped for every good work. 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:33.520 Revelation 22, verse 18 through 19. 00:13:34.640 --> 00:13:36.560 This is talking about the prophecy of the book. 00:13:36.560 --> 00:13:39.880 If anyone adds to them, God will add to him 00:13:39.880 --> 00:13:41.800 the plagues described in this book. 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:45.439 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book, 00:13:45.439 --> 00:13:47.399 God will take away his share of the tree of life. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:49.839 There's some pretty big warnings in there. 00:13:49.839 --> 00:13:51.919 In Deuteronomy chapter four, verse two, 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.559 I know I'm going quick here, so just bear with me. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.839 You shall not add to the word that I command to you, 00:13:56.839 --> 00:13:58.120 nor take from it. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:01.799 And then in Proverbs chapter 30, verse five through six, 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:04.240 every word of God proves true, 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:09.000 which speaks to the consistency of scripture, right? 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:10.839 That the word of God is true, 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:12.519 that the word of God is pure, 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:15.120 it is consistent within itself. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.600 Let's go to question two. 00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:24.800 Does God allow some people to go through punishment? 00:14:24.800 --> 00:14:27.120 And this is a very interesting question 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.600 because I want to make the distinction 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:33.800 that there is a difference between punishment and discipline. 00:14:34.800 --> 00:14:38.800 Punishment is referring to the consequence 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.879 of rejecting Christ, right? 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.359 Believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:14:43.359 --> 00:14:45.919 Well, if you don't, there is a punishment 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.199 that comes from that. 00:14:48.079 --> 00:14:52.759 Discipline, on the other hand, is more of the molding, right? 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:57.599 It is the process in which God is working in and through you 00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:59.279 to be more like him. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:01.279 So there's a difference and a distinction 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.879 between discipline and punishment. 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:06.000 So I'd like to speak to discipline 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.799 and we'll go into punishment a little bit further along. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:11.960 In 2 Timothy chapter three, verse 16, 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:13.240 as I've mentioned before, 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:15.919 all scripture is breathed out by God. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:19.200 That reproof is the conviction of the Lord. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.879 So we think of the word of God 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:25.600 convicting us to act, to change, to be sanctified, right? 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:29.360 To be molded and to be more like Christ. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:31.639 And we can see that in scripture, 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:35.720 it says that the word of God is living and active, 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:40.720 that God will train us and prepare us to be more like him. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:44.160 And this process, it does require the believer 00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:46.399 to become more disciplined. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.560 And sometimes God corrects us. 00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:53.040 It's a means, it guides us to be more like him. 00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:54.600 Another verse that I'd like to share with you 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:57.480 is from Isaiah chapter 64, verse eight. 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:01.440 But now, oh Lord, you are our Father and what? 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:03.080 We are the what? 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:04.320 The clay, right? 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.639 When you're thinking of a potter, 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:07.679 being literally molded, right? 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.319 Being the potter is working in as, you know, 00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:12.879 it's spinning around and you're seeing, 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:15.879 it's turning and taking shape and form. 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:18.679 How many of you have worked with clay before? 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:19.519 It's pretty cool, right? 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:22.600 It's pretty amazing how that molding process, 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.879 so to speak, happens. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:29.000 And so in second Peter chapter two, verse nine, 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.120 that's a couple of verses ahead, 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:35.600 the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:38.759 and to keep the unrighteous under punishment 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.679 until the day of judgment. 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:44.279 And then in Revelation chapter three, verse 19, 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:46.840 those whom I love, this is a difficult one, 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:50.159 those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:53.200 So be zealous and repent. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:58.000 Okay, question three, did God say that He would not allow 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.560 Israel to be attacked by its enemies ever again? 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.679 Very good question. 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:05.039 If you go to Isaiah chapter 60, 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:07.000 that whole bulk of it is talking about 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.759 the future of Israel. 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:11.720 But a verse that I want to specifically point out 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:15.319 is from Isaiah chapter 60, verse 18, 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:19.240 violence shall no more be heard in your land, 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:22.599 devastation or destruction within your borders. 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:25.480 You shall call your walls salvation 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:28.399 and your gates praise. 00:17:28.399 --> 00:17:30.079 So this is specific because look, 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:35.079 Isaiah chapter six, it's a prophecy of what is to come 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:37.319 in the future. 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:39.359 The prophecy is talking about when God 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:42.240 will finally establish peace. 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:46.079 This is a time where there will be no conflict for Israel. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:48.960 So the answer is yes, it's just further along. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:52.480 And look, I understand that this is very difficult for us, 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:55.480 especially when we hear about the conflict 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:59.240 in the Middle East, right, with Israel and Hamas happening. 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:01.920 It makes you wonder, well, why is there conflict 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:03.240 that's happening? 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:07.279 Well, the reality is it makes us not only turn to the word 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.440 of God, but understand that God will see to it 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:12.519 that he will fulfill his promise. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:15.599 It's the timing that we have to consider. 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:21.039 In Ezekiel chapter 37, verse 26 through 28, 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:25.799 this is basically God making a covenant of peace with them, 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:27.960 the everlasting covenant, right? 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:30.279 Set them in their land and multiply them, right? 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:32.759 So this is where in the very beginning, 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:35.160 we see that covenant. 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:37.559 So we know that in the future, there will be a time 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:39.960 where Israel will see peace. 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:43.319 Let's go to that next question, question four. 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:46.400 The Bible said, when Jesus returns, 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:48.880 the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:51.279 Don't the dead go up before heaven then? 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:53.160 This is a very, very interesting one. 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:54.279 Let's go to that next one. 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:57.680 First Thessalonians chapter four, verse 16 through 17. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.000 Let's read this. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:01.080 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven 00:19:01.080 --> 00:19:04.279 with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:06.680 and with the sound of the trumpet of God. 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.799 What does it say then? 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:10.759 And the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.880 Then we who are alive, who are left, 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:15.160 will be caught up together with them in the clouds 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:16.560 to meet the Lord in the air. 00:19:16.560 --> 00:19:19.000 So we will always be with the Lord. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:24.039 And then in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 52, 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:27.560 in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:29.559 the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:32.480 imperishable, and we shall be changed. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:34.279 So the thing that's interesting about this 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:36.399 is when you're reading this on the surface, 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:38.679 it almost appears like when you die, 00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:40.839 you just stay in the ground. 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:44.679 And that's not accurate, because what happens here, 00:19:44.679 --> 00:19:48.639 I want you to think of this idea of already, but not yet. 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:51.200 You see, we have a physical body, amen, right? 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:55.119 We have a physical body and we have a soul, amen, right? 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:56.960 When we make a decision for Christ, 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:00.360 it means that you will only die a physical death, 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:02.640 but it is your soul that will go to heaven. 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.960 It will be present with the Lord. 00:20:06.840 --> 00:20:10.480 Consider 2 Corinthians chapter five, verse eight. 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:12.600 Yes, we are of good courage, 00:20:12.600 --> 00:20:14.440 and we would rather be away from the body 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.640 and at home with the Lord. 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:19.039 So there's a distinction here between the physical body 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:21.160 and the spirit or the soul. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:25.360 So our soul will be with Christ, right? 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:28.079 That is the already with the Lord, 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:29.839 and then there's the not yet, 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:32.599 because our physical body is either going to be cremated 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:34.599 or it's going to be in the ground. 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:36.639 It's very kind of sad when we think about it, 00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:39.240 like our body's just being left behind. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:41.479 But our physical bodies will be resurrected 00:20:41.479 --> 00:20:42.719 at Christ's second coming, 00:20:42.719 --> 00:20:46.839 which is what the first Thessalonians passage is mentioning. 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:49.199 This is where you see that the dead in Christ 00:20:49.199 --> 00:20:50.399 will rise first. 00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:54.479 We're talking about restoration of the physical body, 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:57.920 because you see also, I don't have this in the notes, 00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:59.279 but if you want to write this down, 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:02.440 in Revelation chapter 21 and 22, 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:06.079 we're talking about the new heavens and the new earth, right? 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.759 That there will come a time 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:10.839 where our physical bodies will be restored. 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.680 It'll be nice to have a new body, right? 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:16.000 When we're thinking of all of the physical issues 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:18.160 or the mental issues or whatever issues 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.519 that we have with this body, 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.599 getting a new body would be wonderful. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:24.000 And to be able to live in the new heavens 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.240 and the new earth, 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:28.519 it is what the Garden of Eden was supposed to be, right? 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:30.559 Before sin had entered the world, 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:34.759 it is the completion of the timeline, right? 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:39.759 Of Scripture, the Garden of Eden where there was no death, 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:42.680 there was no sin, but then it entered the world, right? 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:44.680 So not only was there physical death 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:46.799 that could happen once sin entered the world, 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:49.200 there was also spiritual death. 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:53.319 So God allows had Christ come to earth, right? 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.919 The whole gospel account, 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.679 believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:21:57.679 --> 00:22:01.159 Your soul will be taken care of, it will be saved. 00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:05.639 Your physical body, that's gonna take some time for the end. 00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:08.399 And these are future events that we find in Scripture, 00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:11.399 the new heavens, the new earth, the new body. 00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:15.159 And in Philippians chapter one, verse 21, right? 00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:16.839 Many of you know this, 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:19.839 to live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.399 If I am to live in the flesh, 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:24.800 that means fruitful labor for me, 00:22:24.800 --> 00:22:27.200 yet which I shall choose, I cannot tell. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:29.640 I am hard pressed between the two. 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:34.640 My desire is to depart and to be with Christ, right? 00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:38.080 For that is far better. 00:22:38.080 --> 00:22:41.040 And you'll see in your notes, there's second Corinthians, 00:22:41.040 --> 00:22:42.480 chapter five, verses one through eight, 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:45.920 which kind of go on further and speak to that as well. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:48.240 Question number five that comes up. 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:50.960 And I realized that in asking this question, 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:54.079 this is a very difficult question that comes up. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:55.960 It's a very sensitive topic. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:59.000 I wanna go to that first verse here. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:03.680 It's from Romans chapter eight, verse 38 through 39. 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:07.480 I am sure that neither what? 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:12.480 Death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:16.920 nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:20.600 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:22.719 will be able to what? 00:23:22.719 --> 00:23:27.279 Separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:30.359 Let's go to that next one, John 3.16, right? 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:33.639 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son 00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:37.119 that whoever believes, right? 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:39.319 In him should not what? 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:42.079 Should not perish but have eternal life. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.439 And we can answer this question. 00:23:43.439 --> 00:23:46.240 This is part of the fundamental of our faith. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:48.000 Believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:51.160 You will not perish, period. 00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:54.680 We know that in scripture, it doesn't matter 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:56.759 what your background is. 00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:59.319 It doesn't matter what you have gone through. 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:01.720 It doesn't matter what you are going through. 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:06.920 Believe and be saved. 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:09.279 To live here on the earth when I was talking 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:13.720 about the Garden of Eden and sin entering the world, right? 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:15.640 There was physical death. 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:18.280 There was imperfection that happened, right? 00:24:18.280 --> 00:24:21.520 And what's so interesting about the Garden of Eden 00:24:21.520 --> 00:24:25.920 is we see a decline in the human condition. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:30.920 New diseases, new issues that happen with the earth 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:33.240 because I know unfortunately culture teaches 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:35.320 that the world is getting better. 00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:37.560 It may get better technologically 00:24:37.560 --> 00:24:39.960 but is it really getting better? 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:42.759 Do things in the earth seem to be more complicated 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.759 or more simple? 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:45.079 What do you think? 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:47.200 I seem to think it's more complicated 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:50.200 as times going on which goes to show the fact 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:52.440 that when we're thinking of the Garden of Eden, 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.920 there will be the decline 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:57.920 but there will also be the restoration that happens. 00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:00.319 And so to live here on earth, 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:02.400 it is to be in the human condition 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:07.400 where we are imperfect people who hear is perfect, right? 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:11.240 Didn't Christ say, let he who is without sin 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.960 cast the first stone, right? 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:16.000 And nobody did, right? 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:18.160 Because we aren't perfect here. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:22.160 We are imperfect people in an imperfect world, right? 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:24.720 We're not perfect people in a perfect world. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.960 If that was the case, we wouldn't need Christ 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:29.680 but the reality is we do need Christ. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:31.240 And because sin entered the world, 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.680 there's separation from God. 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:35.400 And many of us in this imperfect world 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:40.000 as imperfect people, we have physical complications. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:43.119 Some of us have mental complications. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:45.960 Some of us have emotional complications, right? 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.440 It could be disease. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.039 It could be all sorts of things. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.799 And especially as you get older, 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:52.720 my dad used to jokingly tell me, 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.880 I mean, he's much older than I am. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.279 He'll tell me the older you get, 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:58.640 the more you start falling, the more you fall apart. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:00.480 And I didn't really like that hearing that as a kid 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:03.279 but it's the reality though, right? 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:08.279 That as time goes on, things just won't work as well. 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:12.119 Even if you had a beautiful body or a beautiful mind, 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:14.720 we still live in an imperfect world. 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:17.240 Look, I'm here to tell you, you're not perfect 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.200 and neither am I. 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.599 That's just the reality here. 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:21.519 But as we are imperfect, 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:23.960 that goes to show our need for Christ. 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:27.240 That goes to show our need for that which is perfect. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:33.079 So even when it comes to the question of suicide, 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:37.799 we know that nothing can separate us 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:40.720 from the love of God. 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:43.399 In fact, unfortunately, this did not end up on your notes. 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.359 I don't know why. 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:48.919 John chapter 10 verse 28, we'll put it up here. 00:26:48.919 --> 00:26:50.480 What did Christ say? 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:54.639 I give them eternal life and they will never perish, amen? 00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:56.720 And no one will what? 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:59.200 Snatch them out of my hand. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.240 And I want you to understand, again, 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:05.279 I know this is an extremely sensitive topic 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:09.000 because the hope, the truth of scripture 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:12.000 is that no one can snatch us from Christ. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:14.079 That is why it is so important for us. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:16.160 No matter what you are struggling with, 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:18.399 no matter what sin you have, 00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:21.079 no matter what imperfection you have, 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:22.599 come to know the Lord. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:26.720 And even in our darkest moments, look, 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.480 when we believe in the Lord, 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.559 does that make our life perfect? 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.759 Are we still going to sin? 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:33.039 Are we still going to be imperfect? 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:34.200 Well, the answer is yes. 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:36.480 If you don't know that, you should know that now, 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:39.120 but there's security and salvation. 00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:43.240 That's so powerful because even in our darkest moments, 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:45.279 we are still secure in the salvation 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:48.400 that comes from believing in the Lord. 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:50.319 And if you are depressed, 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:53.480 if you have suicidal thoughts, 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:55.360 speak to one of us at church. 00:27:55.360 --> 00:28:00.240 And if that doesn't help, seek a professional by all means. 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:04.720 Because God has equipped doctors and specialists 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.599 to work with you with these diseases. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:11.200 And by all means, us as Christians, certainly, 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:13.519 let's not forget the power of prayer, 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:17.640 praying for those who have those thoughts. 00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:20.519 For some people, it may be a struggle their entire life. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:24.519 For others, maybe not so much. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:28.240 In Psalm 34, verse 18, it says, 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:31.079 Lord is near to the brokenhearted 00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:33.839 and saves the crushed in the spirit. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:35.240 That's a very hopeful verse. 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:38.359 And in Matthew 11, chapter 28, verse 30, 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.559 very famous verse, 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:44.000 come to me all who labor and are heavy laden 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.120 and I will give you what? 00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:47.359 I will give you rest. 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:50.240 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.759 for I am gentle and lowly and heart 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:55.240 and you will find rest for your souls. 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.960 My yoke is easy in the burden 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:59.440 and my burden is light. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:01.240 Question six that comes up. 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.279 Excuse me. 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:09.279 If God is loving, why doesn't he save people 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.400 who don't know him? 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:12.680 And this is the classic question 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:15.000 that gets asked all the time. 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:17.039 You have people who are not Christian, 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:19.360 those who do not believe, who do not know the Lord 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:22.000 and even Christians ask this question. 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:27.600 You see, God, his love, it extends to everyone. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:29.279 When we're talking about salvation, 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:32.959 the availability is for everyone. 00:29:32.959 --> 00:29:34.639 It is not an elitist group. 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:36.279 It's not a country club. 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:40.000 Salvation is not available for only the rich, right? 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.480 Or only the tall, right? 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.639 I've mentioned this before. 00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:45.480 It is available for everyone who believes. 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:50.480 So God calls us and we should respond to his call. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:54.319 God gives us the freedom and the free will 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:57.359 to say yes or to say no. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:30:00.439 It is important for us to know that God desires 00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:04.240 for all of us to be saved by grace. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:07.439 And what needs to happen is that we, 00:30:07.439 --> 00:30:10.159 all of us need to hear the word of God 00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:14.039 and respond, learn the truth of scripture. 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:18.799 When we see diseases and we see a lot of issues 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:21.439 that people have here on the earth, 00:30:21.439 --> 00:30:25.279 and a lot of us want justice, 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:27.279 a lot of us want peace on earth. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:29.240 A lot of us want healing and restoration. 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:32.200 And they ask the question, why doesn't God intervene? 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:38.319 When if God were to force someone to believe, 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.879 is that love? 00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:41.960 I want you to think for a moment. 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:45.359 Now, I love my wife, right? 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:47.000 She is a wonderful wife. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:49.519 Can I force her to love me? 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:54.319 And even if I could force her to love me, 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:56.920 is that really love on my part? 00:30:56.920 --> 00:31:01.440 Am I exhibiting love to her if I'm forcing her to love me? 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:03.920 The same applies with God. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.920 God gives us this choice. 00:31:06.800 --> 00:31:10.080 And we must remember it is our responsibility 00:31:10.080 --> 00:31:14.000 for us as Christians to proclaim the gospel, 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:17.120 the good news to the world. 00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:20.000 That's why the Great Commission exists. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.680 That's why it's so important for us to do that. 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:27.680 In 2 Peter, the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise 00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:35.759 as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.400 not wishing that what? 00:31:38.320 --> 00:31:40.200 That any should perish, 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:42.039 but that all should reach repentance. 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:44.799 In 1 Timothy chapter two, verse four, 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:50.039 that God who desires all people to be saved 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:53.000 and come to the knowledge of the truth. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:58.000 Ezekiel 1823 says, this is God talking here. 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:02.279 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:05.039 Declare the Lord God, and not rather 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:08.680 that he should turn from his way and live? 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:11.240 What a great question, right? 00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:14.079 He's asking, do I have any pleasure 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:18.839 of the wicked perishing of those who don't believe to perish? 00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:21.959 Because God's giving us again, 00:32:21.959 --> 00:32:24.679 the ability to choose him or to not choose him. 00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:31.359 And then finally in 1 Timothy chapter four, verse 10, 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:33.720 for to this end, we toil and strive 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:38.039 because we have our hope set on the what? 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:41.839 The living God who is the savior of all people, 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:44.359 especially those who believe. 00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:46.959 I want you to keep those verses in mind. 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:51.240 And finally, question seven, why did God favor David? 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:53.559 Interesting question, right? 00:32:54.840 --> 00:32:56.640 Well, what's so interesting about David 00:32:56.640 --> 00:33:00.200 is that he was a sinner, right? 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:01.880 He wasn't a perfect guy, much like, 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:03.880 you'll find in a lot of scripture, right? 00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:05.840 Matthew the tax collector, right? 00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:10.480 You find a lot of the main characters, 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:15.200 the stories in scripture speak of people who are imperfect. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:19.640 And David reminds us of a man who was a sinner, 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:21.400 much like how we are sinners. 00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:25.759 He, David was a man who was after God's own heart. 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:28.840 David had demonstrated a deep faith, 00:33:28.840 --> 00:33:31.279 a repentance for his sins, 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:35.640 and a willingness to follow God, follow where God would lead. 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:38.440 So in Acts chapter 13, verse 22, 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:41.759 and when he had removed him, 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:43.720 he raised up David to be their king 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:45.759 of whom he had testified and said, 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:48.440 I have found in David the son of Jesse, 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:52.319 a man after my heart who will do some of my will. 00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:56.039 He'll do all of my will, right? 00:33:56.039 --> 00:34:00.480 First Samuel, but now your kingdom shall not continue. 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:04.160 The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:08.679 and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people 00:34:08.679 --> 00:34:13.079 because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. 00:34:14.399 --> 00:34:16.559 When we think of David, right? 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:20.119 It's a reminder of us that we are sinners. 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:22.039 We repent of our sins. 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:25.399 We go on this path with Christ to allow for God 00:34:25.399 --> 00:34:28.119 to work in and through us in our lives. 00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:31.119 And what transformation that can happen in our lives? 00:34:32.359 --> 00:34:36.159 When you make a decision for Christ, it is the beginning. 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:37.759 It is not the end. 00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:40.080 When you believe in the Lord and when you're saved, 00:34:40.080 --> 00:34:42.360 be on a journey to be more Christ-like 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:46.160 and do good in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:34:46.160 --> 00:34:51.160 David's life shows us God's grace. 00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:56.240 When we fall, we have God who is always there with us. 00:34:57.480 --> 00:35:00.480 God is always available for us. 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:02.760 And that's so important for us. 00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:06.080 God is ready to forgive and to restore us. 00:35:06.080 --> 00:35:06.920 How many of us screwed? 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.740 I mean, you don't have to raise your hand. 00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:10.199 How many of us have screwed up before, right? 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:14.419 We have a God who will forgive us and restore us. 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:20.679 And that David, Solomon, the disciples, 00:35:23.319 --> 00:35:25.359 it goes to show imperfect people. 00:35:25.359 --> 00:35:27.119 Because think of it like this. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:30.399 God takes imperfect people 00:35:30.399 --> 00:35:34.639 and uses these people for great things. 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:38.879 Allow for God to work in your life. 00:35:38.879 --> 00:35:42.719 And you'll see some wonderful things that can happen 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:45.799 through the working of the Holy Spirit by God 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.279 directing you in your life 00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:51.639 and the word of Christ dwelling richly in you. 00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:56.279 And so that is our seven questions that we have today 00:35:56.279 --> 00:35:57.879 out at I Do On Time, right? 00:35:57.879 --> 00:35:59.319 At 11, right? 00:35:59.319 --> 00:36:00.519 So that was pretty good. 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:02.119 So I know there's a lot of verses, 00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:04.039 but my friends, check it out. 00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:08.840 In your notes, you'll have all of the verses 00:36:08.840 --> 00:36:12.360 for you to open scripture and for you to read. 00:36:12.360 --> 00:36:14.960 Look at the context, look at the connections 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:19.639 and know that there is consistency in scripture. 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:24.480 That helps us understand the power of the word of God. 00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:27.279 That helps us come to know who the Lord is, 00:36:27.279 --> 00:36:30.719 but also helps us grow in our faith. 00:36:30.719 --> 00:36:34.679 And so with that, let's pray together. 00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:38.879 And Heavenly Father, as we conclude our time together today, 00:36:38.879 --> 00:36:41.439 we thank you for the light, 00:36:41.439 --> 00:36:44.359 for the truth that comes from your word. 00:36:44.359 --> 00:36:48.519 For this light has, it helps us discover who you are, 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:52.239 come to know who you are and grow in faith. 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:54.719 Through the reading and studying of your scripture, 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:56.619 through the preaching and teaching, 00:36:56.619 --> 00:37:01.619 we ask that you guide us in our lives. 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:04.799 May our faith be strengthened as well 00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:09.799 as our understanding of your unchanging love and grace. 00:37:09.799 --> 00:37:11.159 May we come to know you. 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:14.799 May we know who you are and believe in you. 00:37:14.799 --> 00:37:19.079 May we grow in faith by being convicted and moved 00:37:19.079 --> 00:37:20.599 to live like you. 00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:24.759 You are perfect and we're certainly imperfect 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:27.100 and we need you. 00:37:27.100 --> 00:37:30.240 May we reflect this truth. 00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:32.640 May we exhibit this truth and show this truth 00:37:32.640 --> 00:37:35.440 in our everyday interactions with people 00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:38.800 and the things that we say and the things that we do. 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:43.520 May we recognize that there is simplicity in you, 00:37:43.520 --> 00:37:45.800 that we just have to believe in you. 00:37:47.040 --> 00:37:50.120 May we be encouraged to be baptized 00:37:50.120 --> 00:37:52.760 as a public proclamation. 00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:57.400 May we do good works, do good service to this church, 00:37:57.400 --> 00:38:00.880 this church body and to the community, to our neighbor, 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:03.440 doing good in your holy name. 00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:06.100 May we bring glory to your name. 00:38:06.100 --> 00:38:09.360 We ask that your Holy Spirit will work with us 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:11.200 and that it will transform our hearts 00:38:11.200 --> 00:38:15.000 and renew our spirit, that it will transform our minds 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:18.240 and it will lead us on a path of knowing you 00:38:19.160 --> 00:38:21.200 and lead us in a path of living out this faith 00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:26.199 and being curious about knowing more about you. 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:30.119 Certainly we realize we may not know everything about you 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:32.839 but may we still have that curiosity nonetheless. 00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:36.719 It is in Jesus' name that we pray 00:38:36.719 --> 00:38:38.480 and we all say together amen. 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.519 Thank you for tuning in 00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:42.519 to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:44.039 For more about our church 00:38:44.039 --> 00:38:46.719 and how you can get involved or support our mission, 00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:50.480 please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:38:50.480 --> 00:38:52.480 May God's blessings be with you.