WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.400 Would you turn with me to John chapter 7 please. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:06.440 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.700 Are you committed to it and faithful to it? 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:44.759 Rain or shine, heaven or hell, I'm going to do this? 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:48.480 Or do you kind of have second thoughts about it? 00:00:49.620 --> 00:00:53.000 In my own case, I'm kind of slow. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:01:00.820 In fact, my daughter, Angela, has said that on my tombstone, she's going to have put on it, 00:01:01.299 --> 00:01:03.759 here lies dad thinking about it. 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:04.500 Okay? 00:01:06.180 --> 00:01:13.700 And the reason is because growing up, okay, every time she asked me if she could do something 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:16.859 or if she could have something, guess what I said? 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:18.819 Let me think about it. 00:01:20.819 --> 00:01:22.579 I'm very slow at decisions. 00:01:22.579 --> 00:01:28.719 Actually, when we go on vacation in Roodle Beach, there's an outlet mall. 00:01:29.500 --> 00:01:32.920 And the outlet mall has a Columbia store. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:34.959 I really like Columbia stuff. 00:01:35.679 --> 00:01:41.719 And so, but the trouble is, my wife will tell you, we have to make more than one trip. 00:01:42.739 --> 00:01:42.959 Okay? 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:48.439 That's because I need to go and see everything they have and decide if I really want to spend 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:49.400 the money or not. 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:51.000 And I kind of go back and forth. 00:01:51.320 --> 00:01:54.500 And eventually, I have to go back and get something. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:58.160 So we have to make a second trip back to the same outlet mall. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:06.599 Recently, I decided, oh, I'm going to give Peggy my smartphone and I'm going to get a different 00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:06.879 one. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:07.219 Okay? 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:07.260 Okay? 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:13.560 So I was talking to Pastor Andrew, asking him about, you know, what kind of smartphone do 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:14.379 you think I should get? 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:15.579 Guess what he said. 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:16.079 Okay? 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:17.819 The newest Apple. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:18.500 Okay? 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:20.199 Well, actually, not the newest one. 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:26.360 So he told me about where I could get one, but I had to act quickly. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:27.680 Okay? 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:27.800 Okay? 00:02:30.480 --> 00:02:33.620 I was, I was, I struggled with it for a day. 00:02:33.700 --> 00:02:34.440 I said, yeah, I'm going to do it. 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:34.860 I'm going to do it. 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:35.200 I'm going to get it. 00:02:35.420 --> 00:02:37.120 And my wife just kind of looked at me. 00:02:37.320 --> 00:02:37.560 Okay? 00:02:37.720 --> 00:02:41.840 And then I finally said, by the end of the week, I said, no, I'm not going to do it. 00:02:43.040 --> 00:02:49.600 And my wife said, I was wondering who that man was that was in our house because you never 00:02:49.600 --> 00:02:51.100 make a decision like that. 00:02:51.099 --> 00:02:56.799 But she doesn't know it yet, but I made a decision kind of quickly this week. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:01.280 Well, this past week, I decided to buy a router table. 00:03:02.299 --> 00:03:05.000 And I had committed on which router table I was going to buy. 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:08.019 And I went to the store, and there was a different one. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:10.819 And I bought it. 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:11.659 I brought it home. 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:14.560 It's still in the box because I couldn't bring myself to open it. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.959 Tomorrow, she doesn't know this yet, tomorrow we're taking it back to get the one that I 00:03:19.959 --> 00:03:20.699 was going to get. 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:32.620 Well, all that aside, there is one decision that every single person must make. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:37.719 It's the most important decision of your life. 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:44.479 Would you follow along as I read John chapter 7, verses 25 to 36? 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:52.739 Some of the people of Jerusalem, therefore, said, is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:57.839 And here he is speaking openly, and they say nothing to him. 00:03:58.739 --> 00:04:02.500 Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 00:04:03.299 --> 00:04:05.319 But we know where this man comes from. 00:04:05.839 --> 00:04:08.419 And when Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:13.619 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, you know me? 00:04:14.179 --> 00:04:15.560 You know where I'm from? 00:04:16.719 --> 00:04:19.199 But I have not come of my own accord. 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:23.259 He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:27.919 I know him, for I came from him, and he sent me. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:33.900 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:36.879 Yet many of the people believed in him. 00:04:37.640 --> 00:04:41.480 They said, when the Christ appears, will you do more signs than this man has done? 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:45.860 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him. 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:49.420 And the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 00:04:50.400 --> 00:04:56.160 Jesus then said, I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:59.500 You will seek me, and you will not find me. 00:05:00.340 --> 00:05:02.100 Where I am, you cannot come. 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:08.240 And the Jews said to one another, where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:12.879 Does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 00:05:13.699 --> 00:05:17.319 What does he mean by saying, you will seek me, and you will not find me? 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:20.040 And where I am, you cannot come. 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:23.019 Remember the setting here. 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:25.019 Remember the situation from last week. 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:27.960 Jesus had come down to Jerusalem. 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:31.720 He had taught, and they had tried to arrest him and kill him. 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:36.379 He went back to Galilee, and he's back in Galilee teaching there. 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:41.560 And his brothers, in disbelief, say, you want to be something special? 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:43.500 Go down to Jerusalem. 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:46.060 Because it's the feast of the tabernacle. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:49.199 It's one of the biggest feasts of the year. 00:05:49.459 --> 00:05:51.319 And everybody else is going to be there. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:57.500 Jesus said, I will not go, because it's not time. 00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:00.860 Last week, we saw he did go. 00:06:00.860 --> 00:06:07.920 And here he is in the temple, teaching openly, and teaching with clarity and authority. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:11.860 Today, we're going to see the reaction to his teaching. 00:06:12.960 --> 00:06:20.920 Just like in our day, as we will see from our passage, the reaction of people to Jesus was not always direct. 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:23.840 It's not always simple and straightforward. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:25.360 It's not always accepting. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:33.080 The first thing I want you to see and understand is that Jesus responded to the apparent confusion. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:40.480 In fact, in this case, in Jesus' day, he confronted people's confusion. 00:06:42.080 --> 00:06:44.000 The people of Jerusalem were confused. 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:46.360 They didn't recognize the Messiah. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.340 And they did what you would expect them to do. 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:52.939 They thought, well, what about our leaders? 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:55.819 What about those who are supposed to know? 00:06:56.579 --> 00:06:59.019 Let's see what they're saying. 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:03.360 And they looked at their leaders, those who had supposedly more information, 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.860 and they seemed to be getting mixed messages. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:11.139 On the one hand, the leaders often confronted Jesus. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:16.740 They had threatened the people that if you believe in Jesus, if you follow him, 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.800 we're throwing you out of the synagogue. 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:21.959 That was the equivalent to being thrown out of the society. 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:27.740 And they had tried to arrest him on more than one occasion. 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:37.160 And here he is on one of the biggest days, biggest feast days of the year, 00:07:37.699 --> 00:07:41.899 teaching openly in the temple, and there's crowds around him. 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:47.699 There's a sense in which they're thinking, maybe there was something to this. 00:07:48.259 --> 00:07:50.220 Maybe there's something we're not being told. 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:57.860 And if it stopped right there, we would say, well, all they need is a little more information. 00:07:59.220 --> 00:08:01.700 All they need is to have things explained to them. 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:04.940 All they need is for their leaders to say, yes, this is the man. 00:08:05.580 --> 00:08:06.220 And they're beset. 00:08:08.260 --> 00:08:10.340 But the text doesn't end there. 00:08:10.339 --> 00:08:15.419 See, the people also had a theology of Messiah. 00:08:16.219 --> 00:08:18.379 They knew what they were looking for. 00:08:19.139 --> 00:08:20.439 Or they thought they did. 00:08:21.219 --> 00:08:23.539 It was made up mostly of the teachings of men, 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:28.379 mixed in with some passages that they had either taken out of context or misinterpreted. 00:08:28.419 --> 00:08:32.120 I don't want to get into all the detail and kind of get lost in that this morning. 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:39.799 But let me just say that Jesus was very different than what they were expecting to see. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:46.100 See, what they expected was that there would be this man. 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:49.120 He would be in Bethlehem. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:52.759 And one day, he would just appear out of nowhere. 00:08:52.759 --> 00:09:02.000 And he would have such presence, such command, such military prowess that everybody would simply follow him. 00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:09.100 They thought, well, when Messiah comes, there's not going to be any question 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:16.080 because he's going to set up the kingdom and the kingdom that we Jews get to be leaders in. 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:19.319 And here's Jesus. 00:09:20.779 --> 00:09:22.080 He's authoritative. 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:24.659 But he's also meek. 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:33.259 He lives in the back country of Nazareth, not the metropolis of Jerusalem in Bethlehem, which is close by there. 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:41.399 He seems to be more concerned about meeting people's needs than about military conquest. 00:09:44.059 --> 00:09:50.539 Jesus didn't fit the people's preconceived idea of what Messiah would be. 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:53.779 And so they didn't accept him. 00:09:55.379 --> 00:09:57.779 There was more to it than just misunderstanding. 00:09:58.539 --> 00:10:07.759 The Jews' nationalistic pride in their personal sin stood in the way of them really looking to God and his answer for their need. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:18.200 Their unrepentant hearts were blocking their view of what God was going to do to restore his people to himself. 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:21.940 You've heard the old saying, they couldn't see the forest for the trees. 00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:25.220 Well, they couldn't see their need for their self-righteousness. 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:32.140 And Jesus understood it was really not confusion, but it was rebellion. 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:35.059 We know this guy. 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:37.199 We know where he's from. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:42.159 And we will not have this man rule over us. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:44.580 That's really what they were saying. 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:54.420 When we see that, it helps us understand why Jesus responds to them the way he did. 00:10:55.840 --> 00:11:01.520 Jesus' response to them is to confront their hard-hearted unbelief. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:05.439 When Jesus said, you know me? 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:10.000 It could be that he was making the statement, you know me. 00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:12.819 But I don't think that's what he was doing. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:17.100 Because if you look at how they reacted to what he said, it was pretty strongly. 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:20.720 I think Jesus asked that to them as a question. 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:24.960 And remember, I told you last week that in the text, there's no punctuation. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:30.060 So we don't know what tone Jesus used in doing this. 00:11:30.300 --> 00:11:32.620 But I think Jesus said, you think you know me? 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:34.820 You think you know where I'm from? 00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:36.400 Let me tell you where I'm from. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:43.700 When Jesus said that, it could have been either way, but I think it was clearly that. 00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:46.360 Remember what he had just said in verse 24. 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:52.000 He had just said, judge rightly and not by appearances. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:57.659 Here they are looking at the appearances and they think that's the solution. 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:07.679 Jesus goes on, God sent me, but you don't know him, so you don't recognize me. 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:14.340 I said last week, these right judgments that come from a right relationship. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:20.539 And Jesus is saying to those individuals there that day, you don't have the right relationship, 00:12:20.539 --> 00:12:23.059 so you're not making the right judgment. 00:12:27.099 --> 00:12:30.860 They thought they knew God because they knew the law. 00:12:32.699 --> 00:12:35.299 But Jesus said, but you don't obey it anyway. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:39.860 Here again, they had it all confused. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:46.360 Over and over in the Gospels, we see Jesus trying to woo the Jews to himself. 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:50.919 And over and over again, we see them rejecting. 00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:54.659 It actually proceeds after this. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:58.220 Look over to Romans chapter 9. 00:12:58.460 --> 00:12:59.700 Romans chapter 9. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:06.519 One of the most direct teachings or passages on this. 00:13:06.800 --> 00:13:10.680 Romans chapter 9, verses 4 to 6. 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:37.659 In other words, is there any good to being a Jew? 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:39.740 Is there anything worthwhile in being a Jew? 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:40.819 Yes. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:45.039 Because it's the Jews that God gave his word to. 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:49.860 It's the Jews that God gave the tabernacle and then subsequently the temple to. 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:52.659 It's the Jews that God gave the worship to. 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:56.039 It's the Jews that God gave the heritage to. 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:59.740 And it is to the Jews that he sent his son. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:04.759 But I didn't finish the passage. 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:09.799 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:15.600 For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:29.040 What Paul was saying is, just because of your birth certificate doesn't mean that you have a relationship with God. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:35.840 Just being a good Jew is not going to get you into heaven. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:45.340 Just being a Jew and having that relationship with God doesn't mean that you really have a relationship with God. 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:50.360 People today have a different problem, or slightly different, but it's related. 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:57.240 At the core of what people think today is that sin is not really that bad. 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:02.519 In fact, the sin that they do is not even really a sin. 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:03.440 It's just a choice. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:11.240 And God, of course, wouldn't punish or limit in any way our personal choices, would he? 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:14.840 Sins of others. 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:17.759 Even against us. 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:22.600 Well, they should be punished, but we want the person to be rehabilitated. 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:29.639 We want to give them a better education, better economics, better opportunity, so it will never happen again. 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:34.259 But God can't possibly hold them responsible for that, can he? 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.279 Yes. 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:42.740 Don't all roads lead to the same place? 00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:44.600 No, they do not. 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:49.460 I'm going to say it very simply, very clearly. 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:54.040 Salvation is only in Jesus Christ. 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:56.620 I want to remind you of two passages. 00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.840 I know that most of you are familiar with them, know them. 00:15:59.060 --> 00:16:00.160 Both of them are in the book of Acts. 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.200 You don't have to turn to them. 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:02.080 I'm going to read them to you. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:05.200 But if you want to, the first one's in Acts chapter 4, verse 12. 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.519 And there is salvation in no one else. 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:15.400 For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:18.840 Chapter 16 of Acts. 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:22.500 A man facing death cries out for help. 00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:25.460 He says, what must I do to be saved? 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:32.860 And the answer is, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household. 00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:36.899 There are not multiple ways to heaven. 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:39.620 There is only one way to heaven. 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:44.840 Whether you are the nicest person or a mass murderer makes no difference. 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:47.519 You have only hope in Jesus Christ. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:57.059 Whether you are Jew, Greek, English, Irish, Italian, Swahili, Japanese, Chinese, or Martian. 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:00.579 There is only one God. 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:06.119 And His answer to sin is acceptance of Jesus Christ. 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:15.539 Being a good person, being a good Jew, will no longer be the answer, only Christ. 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:20.039 You know, I don't think we take that seriously enough. 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:24.940 Well, I've got this Uncle Joe. 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.200 I don't have any uncles. 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.740 I have this Uncle Joe. 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:30.159 And Uncle Joe is pretty well-to-do. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:33.060 And he's really a nice person. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:38.640 I'm certainly not going to confront him about his relationship with Christ. 00:17:38.840 --> 00:17:39.840 He doesn't really have one. 00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:42.100 But he's a nice person. 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.480 I certainly don't want to offend him. 00:17:44.560 --> 00:17:49.759 This person I work with that I don't give a hoot about when it really comes down to it. 00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:51.160 I don't want to offend them. 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:57.000 So I'm not going to tell them that what they're seeking after has no hope. 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:00.200 We don't take it seriously. 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:05.420 Next thing I want you to see is the response of the people. 00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:08.300 Which was division. 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:15.320 The result of Jesus' coming is not the division of Jews and Gentiles, 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:19.160 but believer in Jesus Christ or enemy of God. 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:26.540 Jesus' exalted claims forced people to decide about him, 00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:30.100 and the result was always division. 00:18:31.580 --> 00:18:32.620 Always division. 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:35.140 It's always true. 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:38.360 Jesus does not bring world unity, 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:42.560 at least not in the way that people expect. 00:18:44.040 --> 00:18:48.080 Those who strive for ecumenicalism miss the point. 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:51.519 We have brothers and sisters all over the world. 00:18:52.699 --> 00:18:57.799 And we don't need to pick at them and argue with them about every single little detail. 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:06.179 But there is unity only in full acceptance of Jesus Christ for salvation. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.079 That's what he said. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:13.079 And that division leads not only to peoples, not only to nations, 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:16.099 but it also comes right down to the family. 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:18.859 I will ask you to turn to this one, Matthew chapter 10. 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:24.859 Matthew chapter 10, verses 34 to 36. 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:30.979 Jesus is speaking. 00:19:34.479 --> 00:19:36.519 Matthew 10, verses 34 to 36. 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:39.359 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:43.159 I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.879 For I have come to set a man against his father, 00:19:46.959 --> 00:19:48.240 and a daughter against her mother, 00:19:48.459 --> 00:19:50.559 and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:56.179 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 00:19:57.259 --> 00:20:02.139 There are some of you here this morning who understand this on a personal level. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:06.039 Because the day that you came to Christ, 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.720 your family said, 00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:09.119 we want none of that. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:17.519 It's not just families, external associations, 00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:22.719 but we're also divided, we're changed and divided internally. 00:20:23.219 --> 00:20:27.119 Where acceptance of Jesus Christ always separates us 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:30.479 from what we were and from the world. 00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:33.559 It's one of our great hopes. 00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:38.939 That as a result of salvation, I'm now a new creation. 00:20:39.879 --> 00:20:41.659 That old things have passed away, 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:43.819 and the new truly has come. 00:20:45.739 --> 00:20:50.159 There's now no connection between me and the world and its practices. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:53.619 We're in the world, but we're not of the world. 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:57.539 All of us still battle the old self. 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:00.819 But if there's no battle going on, 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:03.879 perhaps it's because there's no new self. 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:07.600 And if there is a battle, 00:21:08.320 --> 00:21:11.940 we should be able to see little victories. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.700 Maybe not the big battles, 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:17.500 but we ought to see some little skirmish that is successful. 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:21.120 And I hope you can see those. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.620 Come back to the passage in John. 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:27.519 And I want to take a couple of minutes 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.579 and just look at an aside here. 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:34.279 Because I think it's really important. 00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:36.419 It's something we could easily just kind of skip over. 00:21:37.719 --> 00:21:40.179 Here in the passage, we see three groups of people. 00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:45.959 The first group are people who are offended by his claims. 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:48.960 And they try to lay hands on him. 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:51.600 And they're unable to do that. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:55.860 The second group believed in him. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:58.539 And at least because of his miracles, 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:05.079 they at least for the moment are committed to Jesus Christ. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.819 The third group is kind of a strange group. 00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:08.960 I won't go into this one. 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:11.960 But the Pharisees and the priests hated each other. 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.400 They were not buddies. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:17.519 And in fact, if you remember in Acts, 00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:21.160 Paul uses that fact at one of his trials 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:23.160 to bring such confusion 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:26.060 that they just have to put him back in the jail cell 00:22:26.060 --> 00:22:28.140 and just cancel the hearing 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:31.200 because none of the people can agree. 00:22:31.560 --> 00:22:34.720 Because he set the Pharisees against the Sadducees, 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:36.700 which is the group of chief priests. 00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:40.940 But their hatred for Jesus is so strong 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:44.400 that they join forces during that day. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:47.480 And they do everything they can 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:50.360 to try to remove him from the public arena. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:53.500 But that's not the thing I want you to notice. 00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:56.120 What I want you to notice is go looking at verse 30. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.700 A little phrase there. 00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.580 It says, 00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:08.819 This idea of the time or the hour 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:10.159 is a common one. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:12.699 And John appears more than eight times. 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:17.079 David had said it best back in Psalm 31. 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.240 You don't need to turn to this. 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.839 Psalm 31 verse 15. 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:22.059 My times are in your hand. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:26.099 Rescue me from my enemies and from my persecutors. 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:29.919 Here we are at the Feast of Tabernacles. 00:23:30.439 --> 00:23:32.259 It's a time when they're celebrating 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:34.279 the trip through the wilderness. 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:37.519 They're celebrating the fact that God brought them through 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.719 and he brought them into a land of rest. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.799 It's six months before Passover. 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:47.599 And though he's surrounded by danger, 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:51.000 the anger of the Jerusalemites, 00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:54.379 the hostile desire for power of the leaders, 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:58.620 and even the questionable belief of those who say, 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.940 well, at least look at his miracles. 00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:05.500 Jesus was in reality free from all danger. 00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:09.400 Because it was not the will of God 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:11.180 that he should die at this time. 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:14.220 So here's the thing I want you to understand. 00:24:15.520 --> 00:24:21.000 Nothing happens out of time in our lives. 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:24.259 And there is no safer place 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:28.039 than to be at the center of God's will. 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:32.779 Maybe you face health issues, concerns, 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.460 financial concerns. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.019 Maybe there's family problems. 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:39.819 Nothing happens out of time. 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:43.420 Nothing is surprise to God. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.740 Nothing is outside of his control. 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.259 Maybe it's not the specifics. 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:53.259 Maybe it's just that we live in such a frightening time. 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:56.879 To simply let your family members 00:24:56.879 --> 00:24:59.079 outside, out of your sight 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:01.920 can flood us with worry and fear. 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:05.259 Just sending our children off to school 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:07.720 can frighten us. 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:14.640 There's no place safer than the center of God's will. 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:17.380 There was a situation in our family 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:19.240 just a couple weeks ago. 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:23.120 June Stoll, and I've already checked with her 00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:24.220 if it was okay for me to tell this. 00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:27.360 June Stoll was going to stay the week 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.839 with our grandchildren 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:32.039 while Rob and Steph went to a conference. 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:37.059 And so, June and Gary were there 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:38.359 same time we were there. 00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:40.500 And they needed to come back. 00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:42.200 And then June was going to come back. 00:25:42.639 --> 00:25:46.059 So, Joseph and Samuel decided 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.599 that they would go with Grandma 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:49.420 and they would ride with her. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:51.859 And that way they could go back with her 00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:53.240 so she would have someone with her. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:54.859 And also they'd be able to, 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:58.240 Joseph would be able to share with the driving. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:01.259 So, they're traveling back 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:03.839 and they stopped at one of the roadside rests. 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:07.160 And this guy came up to June 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:07.960 and said, 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:10.620 hey, can you help me with a situation 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.519 over here in my car? 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:14.859 At one of the roadside rests on 70. 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:18.779 And she just kind of looked at this young man 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:20.400 and said, I don't think so. 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.779 Got in the car. 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.900 Samuel said, 00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.279 you know, nanny, 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:28.099 there was nobody in that car 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:30.419 until after he went back to it. 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:32.619 And then three guys were in there. 00:26:33.679 --> 00:26:34.939 They were just hiding 00:26:34.939 --> 00:26:36.799 down on the seats. 00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:40.240 They drove on 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:42.279 and at the next roadside, 00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:43.159 there's another one. 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:45.179 There's several of them in a row 00:26:45.179 --> 00:26:46.639 in Indiana on 70. 00:26:47.199 --> 00:26:49.299 And they got to the next one 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.959 and Joseph, who was driving, 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:51.759 told Samuel, 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.559 look over there and see if you see that car. 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.679 And Samuel said, 00:26:55.679 --> 00:26:57.539 yeah, it's that silver one over there. 00:26:58.099 --> 00:27:00.119 At the next roadside rest. 00:27:02.419 --> 00:27:04.859 We stop at that roadside rest 00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:06.899 every time we go to Indiana. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:13.099 There is no place safer 00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:16.419 than being in the will of God. 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:20.100 I want to remind you 00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:22.840 that Jesus came 00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:25.100 to die for the sins of the world. 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:29.080 Here at the Feast of Tabernacles, 00:27:29.320 --> 00:27:31.620 there is absolutely no danger 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:33.779 despite the appearances. 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.380 Six months 00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:38.880 in the future, 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:42.200 when they come together 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:43.279 for the Passover, 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:45.039 the celebration 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.139 of the land 00:27:46.139 --> 00:27:47.599 dying as a sacrifice 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:49.200 so that its blood 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.660 could mark God's people 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:53.720 and they would be protected 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.819 from God's wrath. 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.299 I want to be careful 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.399 how I say this, 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:01.720 but because of the will of God, 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.099 His hour 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.460 will come 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:06.819 and no power 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.480 on heaven 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.879 or on earth 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:10.339 can stop 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.619 what is going to happen 00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:12.459 that day. 00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:16.679 There's no place 00:28:16.679 --> 00:28:17.239 safer 00:28:17.239 --> 00:28:19.259 than being 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.659 in the will of God. 00:28:21.939 --> 00:28:23.299 Back to the main point. 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.939 Jesus confronts, 00:28:25.439 --> 00:28:26.219 He divides, 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.079 and He gives 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.719 a clear warning. 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:31.239 Then Jesus said, 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.099 I will be with you 00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:32.939 a little longer, 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.279 and then I am going 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.479 to Him who sent me. 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.779 You will seek me, 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:38.379 and you will not 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.119 find me. 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.559 Where I am, 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.299 you cannot come. 00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.539 In the midst of this 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:46.420 rather tense situation, 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:48.000 Jesus proclaimed 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:49.079 very clearly 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.519 that they had 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.440 to make a decision. 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.460 Last week, 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.019 you saw 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.379 that He said, 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.319 you think because 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.500 you know the law 00:28:58.500 --> 00:29:00.019 of Moses 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.940 that you know 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.619 God's will, 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.599 but none of you 00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.119 keep it. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:05.219 then here, 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.099 as some believe 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.599 and accept 00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.819 while others reject, 00:29:08.459 --> 00:29:09.099 He presents 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:09.599 the way 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.159 to know 00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:11.019 the will of God 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:12.119 by acceptance 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:12.659 of Him. 00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.819 And here, 00:29:14.939 --> 00:29:15.819 in this declaration, 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:16.759 Jesus makes 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.639 the truth clear. 00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:18.579 In the presence 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.279 of the Father, 00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:21.359 there is no room 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.799 for those 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:24.139 who have refused 00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:25.079 to accept 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:26.259 the Son. 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:30.119 One last thing 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:30.959 I want you to notice 00:29:30.959 --> 00:29:31.259 there. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.319 because it's the hope 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.459 of all of us today. 00:29:37.199 --> 00:29:37.919 John MacArthur 00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:38.539 wrote this. 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.639 They found the idea 00:29:40.639 --> 00:29:41.479 that the Messiah 00:29:41.479 --> 00:29:42.219 would minister 00:29:42.219 --> 00:29:43.039 to Greeks, 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.939 to Gentiles, 00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:46.019 to be preposterous. 00:29:47.699 --> 00:29:48.839 They were mocking 00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:49.619 His warning. 00:29:52.459 --> 00:29:54.319 But they do not realize 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:56.879 that what they're saying 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:57.619 in mockery 00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:58.359 contains 00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:59.539 a wonderful 00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.759 prophecy. 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:00.859 prophecy. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.759 Did God send 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.240 a message 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.819 of Christ 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.839 to the Gentiles? 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.059 Yeah. 00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.379 Yeah. 00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:08.960 The gospel 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.460 is open 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:09.980 to all. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.559 Regardless 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.400 of race, 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.059 color, 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.299 nationality, 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:14.920 no matter 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.980 what you've done, 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.599 no matter 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.660 where you've been, 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:18.720 whether you are 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:20.140 young or old, 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:21.200 the offer 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.279 of salvation 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.299 is there. 00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:27.480 neither you 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.220 nor I 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.960 know your hour. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.619 I do know 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.419 that no matter 00:30:32.419 --> 00:30:33.119 what you do, 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.599 that hour 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.460 will not change. 00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:37.079 I don't know 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:37.759 how many days 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.480 you have left, 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.759 but I do know 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.200 that today 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.759 can be the day 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.299 of salvation. 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.779 I'm going to ask 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.180 you to look 00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:46.039 at four passages 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.639 with me, 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.799 just briefly. 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.579 If you don't have 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.480 a Bible this morning, 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.960 there's one in the pew 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.779 right in front of you. 00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.819 You can take that one. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.440 I'm going to actually 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.440 give you the page number. 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.720 And if you don't have 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.440 one of your own, 00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:00.680 you can take that one 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:01.100 with you. 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:06.779 For those who do not, 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.519 who have not 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.480 accepted Christ, 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:10.000 I trust these 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.000 are a clear warning. 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:11.840 For those of you 00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:12.500 who have, 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.440 I trust they're 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.160 a wonderful 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.400 encouragement. 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.000 First one's in Isaiah 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.500 chapter 55 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:20.519 in verses 6 and 7. 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:22.119 The pew Bible 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.500 is on page 615. 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.539 Isaiah 55 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.759 verses 6 and 7. 00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.180 Seek the Lord 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.259 while he may be found. 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.319 Call upon him 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.299 while he is near. 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.500 Let the wicked 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.579 forsake his way 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:42.680 and the unrighteous man 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.259 his thoughts. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:44.519 Let him return 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.240 to the Lord 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.460 that he may have 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.779 compassion on him 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:49.119 and to our God 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:50.079 for he will 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:51.439 abundantly pardon. 00:31:54.959 --> 00:31:56.139 Isaiah is saying 00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:57.219 don't delay. 00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.799 God wants to have 00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:00.559 compassion. 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:05.219 2 Corinthians chapter 6 00:32:05.219 --> 00:32:07.079 verse 2. 00:32:08.699 --> 00:32:10.339 It's on page 966. 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:18.519 2 Corinthians 6. 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:18.839 2. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.559 For he says 00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.879 in a favorable time 00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:23.339 I have, 00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:24.639 I listened to you 00:32:24.639 --> 00:32:25.839 and in a day 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.639 of salvation 00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:27.519 I have helped you. 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.099 Behold, 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.039 now 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:31.899 is the favorable time. 00:32:32.699 --> 00:32:33.159 Behold, 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:33.899 now 00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:35.019 is the day 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.699 of salvation. 00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.919 Now is the day. 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:40.580 If you have not 00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:41.680 accepted Christ, 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:42.620 do it now. 00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:44.880 If you have, 00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:46.240 who do you know 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:48.160 that you plan 00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:49.140 to plead with 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:50.019 one more time? 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.620 Hebrews chapter 4 00:32:53.620 --> 00:32:54.279 verse 7. 00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:55.120 I'm going to focus 00:32:55.120 --> 00:32:56.300 on the second part of it. 00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:59.140 It's on page 1003 00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:00.279 in the Pew Bible. 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:08.339 Today, 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.859 if you hear his voice, 00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.839 do not harden 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.940 your heart. 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.639 Let me get you 00:33:16.639 --> 00:33:17.220 back to John. 00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:19.319 John chapter 6 00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:21.079 verses 35 to 37. 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:22.779 It's on page 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.779 892 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:25.160 of the Pew Bible. 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.480 892. 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:26.639 892. 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:31.340 Jesus said to them, 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:32.280 I am the bread 00:33:32.280 --> 00:33:32.860 of life. 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.720 Whoever comes 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.100 to me 00:33:35.100 --> 00:33:36.080 shall not hunger. 00:33:36.560 --> 00:33:37.440 Whoever believes 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:37.759 in me 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.680 shall never thirst. 00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:39.880 But I say 00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:40.220 to you 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.820 that you have 00:33:40.820 --> 00:33:41.560 seen me 00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:42.020 and yet 00:33:42.020 --> 00:33:43.180 do not believe. 00:33:44.080 --> 00:33:44.880 All that the 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:45.759 Father gives me 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.960 will come to me 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.980 and whoever 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.940 comes to me 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:50.060 I will never 00:33:50.060 --> 00:33:50.780 cast out. 00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:52.940 Right there 00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:53.420 in the middle 00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:54.600 in verse 36 00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:55.659 again 00:33:55.659 --> 00:33:56.459 is the same 00:33:56.459 --> 00:33:56.899 warning 00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:57.519 that Jesus 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.059 has. 00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.359 Again, 00:34:00.459 --> 00:34:00.779 I don't know 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.219 your hour. 00:34:03.899 --> 00:34:04.699 I don't know 00:34:04.699 --> 00:34:05.319 if you will 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:06.059 have another day. 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:06.699 I don't know 00:34:06.699 --> 00:34:07.159 if I'll have 00:34:07.159 --> 00:34:07.719 another day. 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.480 So I plead 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:10.960 with you. 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.739 Today is the day. 00:34:14.799 --> 00:34:15.519 Do not harden 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:16.139 your heart 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:18.719 because the day 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:19.639 could come 00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:21.559 when the door 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.039 is closed. 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:25.699 that's exactly 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.340 what Jesus 00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:26.980 was warning 00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:27.579 these people. 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.699 You will seek 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:30.219 me and you 00:34:30.219 --> 00:34:30.900 will not find 00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:31.079 me. 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.779 You will want 00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:33.380 to go where 00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:33.880 I am 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:35.039 and you may 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:35.519 not come. 00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:38.480 One day 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:38.880 they would no 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.440 longer be able 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:39.920 to follow, 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:41.659 no longer able 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.239 to go where 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:42.960 he was going. 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.679 Here it is, 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.440 the simplicity 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.179 of the gospel. 00:34:47.779 --> 00:34:48.420 Agree with 00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:49.059 God that you 00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:49.639 are a sinner. 00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:52.639 accept 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:53.960 that Jesus 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.539 Christ 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.699 is God 00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.219 the Son. 00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:57.480 He gave 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.019 his life 00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.619 for you 00:34:58.619 --> 00:34:59.839 on the cross. 00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:02.500 And then 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.400 put your faith 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:04.799 and trust 00:35:04.799 --> 00:35:06.259 in him 00:35:06.259 --> 00:35:07.219 for your 00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:07.719 salvation. 00:35:11.299 --> 00:35:11.920 Would you 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.400 pray with me? 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:20.800 Father, 00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:21.400 the gospel 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:22.440 is so simple 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:24.599 and yet 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:24.920 for the 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.680 hardened heart 00:35:25.680 --> 00:35:26.660 is so difficult. 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:29.300 Father, 00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:29.740 I pray 00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:30.220 today 00:35:30.220 --> 00:35:32.840 that you 00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:33.340 would work 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:34.019 in the hearts 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:34.639 that are 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:35.019 hardened, 00:35:35.139 --> 00:35:35.320 that you 00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:35.980 would soften 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.320 them, 00:35:37.860 --> 00:35:38.980 that you 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:39.460 would open 00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.059 them to the 00:35:40.059 --> 00:35:40.480 truth. 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:43.199 and that 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:43.480 someone 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:43.940 would come 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.619 to Christ 00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:47.139 recognizing 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.980 the sinfulness 00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:48.380 of their 00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:48.940 own heart 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:51.539 and accepting 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.300 the truth 00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:53.900 of his 00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:54.380 provision. 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.199 If you're 00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.579 here this 00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:58.059 morning and 00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:58.619 that's you, 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:01.199 then I pray 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:01.719 that you 00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:03.159 will recognize 00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.780 that 00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:06.400 and will 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:06.940 cry out 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:07.400 to God 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:07.880 and beg 00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.639 for salvation. 00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:12.879 Father, 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.639 for those 00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.039 of us 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.379 who are 00:36:14.379 --> 00:36:15.079 here today 00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:16.460 that have 00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:16.799 come to 00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:17.259 the place 00:36:17.259 --> 00:36:18.000 of salvation, 00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.219 first, 00:36:20.359 --> 00:36:20.980 it's great 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:21.460 news. 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:22.359 It's wonderful 00:36:22.359 --> 00:36:22.940 to hear 00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.699 the truth 00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:27.719 that simply 00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:28.579 believing in 00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.359 Jesus Christ 00:36:29.359 --> 00:36:29.940 is enough. 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:33.219 It's an 00:36:33.219 --> 00:36:33.679 encouragement 00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:34.119 to us, 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:34.679 but it's also 00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:35.379 a challenge 00:36:35.379 --> 00:36:35.900 to us 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:37.139 to remember, 00:36:37.279 --> 00:36:37.739 to think 00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:38.319 that people 00:36:38.319 --> 00:36:39.099 around us, 00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:39.619 people we 00:36:39.619 --> 00:36:40.159 care about, 00:36:40.299 --> 00:36:40.639 people we 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:40.979 love, 00:36:42.979 --> 00:36:44.239 have hardened 00:36:44.239 --> 00:36:44.879 their hearts 00:36:44.879 --> 00:36:46.939 and have not 00:36:46.939 --> 00:36:47.279 come to 00:36:47.279 --> 00:36:47.979 acceptance of 00:36:47.979 --> 00:36:48.159 you. 00:36:49.899 --> 00:36:50.379 Father, 00:36:50.439 --> 00:36:50.859 we pray 00:36:50.859 --> 00:36:51.399 that you 00:36:51.399 --> 00:36:51.859 would help 00:36:51.859 --> 00:36:52.259 us, 00:36:52.979 --> 00:36:53.399 give us 00:36:53.399 --> 00:36:54.019 words to 00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.299 say, 00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:54.939 give us 00:36:54.939 --> 00:36:55.599 opportunities. 00:36:56.279 --> 00:36:56.719 If you 00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:57.039 do not 00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:57.879 have us 00:36:57.879 --> 00:36:58.299 in that 00:36:58.299 --> 00:36:59.039 family member, 00:36:59.159 --> 00:36:59.519 we pray 00:36:59.519 --> 00:36:59.839 that you 00:36:59.839 --> 00:37:00.319 would bring 00:37:00.319 --> 00:37:01.019 someone to 00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:01.359 them that 00:37:01.359 --> 00:37:01.759 would tell 00:37:01.759 --> 00:37:02.119 them the 00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:02.539 truth, 00:37:03.379 --> 00:37:05.579 that it's 00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:06.059 not about 00:37:06.059 --> 00:37:06.459 choice, 00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:06.880 it's about 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:07.280 sin. 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.420 And it's 00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:11.099 not about 00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:12.000 offense to 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.300 people, 00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:12.699 but it's 00:37:12.699 --> 00:37:13.260 an offense 00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:14.500 to you. 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:16.760 Father, 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.659 help us to 00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:18.179 be committed 00:37:18.179 --> 00:37:18.579 to that. 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:19.500 And if 00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:20.360 there's anyone 00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:21.300 here that's a 00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:22.460 believer that 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:23.019 makes that 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.440 commitment, 00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.059 I pray that 00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:24.320 you would 00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:25.000 speak to 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:25.500 God right 00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:25.880 now, 00:37:26.760 --> 00:37:27.199 tell him I'm 00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:27.519 going to 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:27.860 work at 00:37:27.860 --> 00:37:28.139 that. 00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:30.740 Gracious 00:37:30.740 --> 00:37:31.000 Father, 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.659 we thank you 00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.280 for our 00:37:32.280 --> 00:37:32.780 Lord Jesus 00:37:32.780 --> 00:37:33.220 Christ, 00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.360 for his 00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:34.700 clear 00:37:34.700 --> 00:37:35.240 teaching, 00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:37.260 for his 00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:38.060 miracles, 00:37:38.240 --> 00:37:38.800 but most 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.200 of all, 00:37:39.260 --> 00:37:39.540 for his 00:37:39.540 --> 00:37:39.900 finished 00:37:39.900 --> 00:37:40.280 work on 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:40.740 the cross. 00:37:41.880 --> 00:37:42.740 We pray 00:37:42.740 --> 00:37:43.120 in Jesus' 00:37:43.300 --> 00:37:43.480 name. 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:44.380 Amen. 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:44.880 Amen. 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:44.880 00:37:44.880 --> 00:38:14.860 Thank you.