WEBVTT

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 Luke chapter 23, Jerry Seagull and Joe Shoster met in high school.

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! They began creating a science fiction character and drawing him into comic strips and hoping to get them in papers.

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! And then in 1938, after five years of working on the idea, with little success in publishing it,

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 they sold all the rights to their work for $130.

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 Now that's almost $2,900 in today's dollars.

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 Their character was Superman.

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 A forerunner of DC Comics bought it and the rest is history.

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 The Superman franchise has made $27 billion worldwide.

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 And the first comic book that was sold last year, the first Superman comic book was sold last year for $6 million.

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 After being sold three years earlier for $2.5 million.

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 If you are a Seagull or a Shoster in this place, I am sorry to tell you about the fortune that you missed out on.

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 The men missed an underestimated their potential and missed a golden opportunity.

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 And I don't want you to miss your chance.

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 I want to show you this morning about one man who just had a few minutes more to take advantage of the greatest opportunity that he possibly could.

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 And he didn't miss it.

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 And it made an eternal difference.

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 Luke chapter 23 tells us that Pilate delivered Jesus over to the will of the people.

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 The mob mentality led to kill him.

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 And they led him away to be crucified.

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 And then Luke chapter 23 verse 32 says this.

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 Two others who were criminals were led away to be put to death with him.

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 And when they came to the place that is called the skull, there they crucified him.

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 And the criminals on his right and on his left.

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 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

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 And they cast lots to divide his garments.

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 And the people stood by watching.

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 But the rulers scoffed at him saying, he saved others, let him save himself.

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 If he is the Christ of God, his chosen one.

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 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.

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 There was also an inscription over him, this is the king of the Jews.

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 One of the criminals who were hanging rail at him and saying, are you not the Christ?

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 Save yourself and us.

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 But the other one rebuked him saying, do you not fear God?

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 Since you are under the same sentence of condemnation and we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds.

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 For this man has done nothing wrong.

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 And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

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 And he said, Jesus said to him, truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

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 In the very next verses, it speaks of Jesus' death.

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 The Gospel of John tells us that the other men died shortly thereafter.

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 They wanted to make sure that all three men were dead before the sun went down because that would start the Sabbath.

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 And no one was to be hanging there when the Sabbath started.

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 And so the soldiers would break legs to get them dead by dark before the Sabbath started.

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 When they got to Jesus, he was already dead.

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 And then they thrust a spear through his chest cavity and into his heart to make sure he was dead.

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 And just like that, they were dead.

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 Jesus did not deserve to go to the cross.

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 In one way, it was not his cross to die on.

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 It was intended for Barabbas, a notorious criminal who had stirred up an insurrection,

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 who had robbed folks, possibly even killed folks.

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 It is often thought that he was a gang leader, a gang leader with two sidekicks.

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 The two sidekicks would be on the crosses beside Jesus,

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 with the intent being that Barabbas' cross would be the center cross.

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 Christ literally died on the cross intended for Barabbas after Pilate traded off Barabbas for Jesus.

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 However, in an even greater way, it was the cross of Christ.

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 Before the time existed, the cross of Christ was coming.

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 It would have to, due to the sin of humans and the redeeming grace of God.

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 He died so that we don't have to.

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 He died in our place.

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 He is the only one that could.

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 He was virgin born of the Spirit of God,

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 not born of the same sin state that we are in.

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 He stayed sinless throughout his life.

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 He is the only one that could perfectly fulfill the law.

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 The only way that a sinful humanity had hoped to coming back to God

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 was through a sacrificial atonement.

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 Somebody had to bridge the gap, and only Christ could do it,

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 and thank God that he did.

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 While he died, most jeered.

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 Some sneered.

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 But at least one's life was changed.

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 There's evidence that possibly more than that.

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 But it was the dying thief hanging on the cross next to Christ that was changed.

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 When one spoke harshly to him, another asked him for help.

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 And when he did, help came.

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 Jesus said, he said,

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 Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

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 And God answered his prayer.

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 Jesus answered it immediately.

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 The thief on the cross died that day with the promise of two certainties.

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 And I want you to know something this morning.

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 Those two certainties are open to all of us as well.

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 There are two realities that can be absolute certainties for us.

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 The first one is the certainty of salvation.

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 There's no need for you today to be uncertain about salvation in Christ.

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 I want you to be clear.

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 Our lives can be changed.

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 How does that happen?

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 Well, it's a three-step process.

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 One, it's by our confession, the confession of our need.

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 This repentant thief knew his sin was leading to death.

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 He told the other criminal while he was on the cross,

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 we deserve what we're getting, but not him.

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 In a day when people want to excuse away their sin,

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 when people want to ignore their sin,

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 when people want to justify their sin,

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 we need to understand that your sin,

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 that my sin, that our wrongdoing will forever condemn us

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 and separate us from God.

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 We don't have to stay that way.

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 If we refuse to admit that we have a problem,

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 when God has shown us that we are separated from him

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 and what has separated us from him,

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 we will never receive help for our eternal problem.

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 It begins with a confession.

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 You got to confess that you've got a need.

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 It continues by our change in our heart and life.

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 One must turn from his or her sin to be saved.

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 And whereas one criminal ridiculed Christ,

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 the other repentant one said to Christ, please.

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 And salvation came when he acknowledged Christ for who he is.

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 The third process of that is by calling upon him for salvation.

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 And he saw the innocence of Christ.

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 He saw the lordship of Christ.

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 Christ, I want you to hear me this morning.

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 If that old boy would have known in his heart

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 but never acknowledged with his life,

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 he would have spent eternity in hell.

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 Knowing's not enough.

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 But thank God he didn't do that.

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 He acknowledged the state of his circumstances

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 and he called upon the Lord.

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 If you have a familiarity with Christ today,

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 but you've never truly submitted your life to Christ,

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 Christ, I want you to know that familiarity is not enough.

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 An old preacher was talking to a lady one time

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 that knew little about salvation.

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 And he asked her,

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 do you know that God has set a definite date for your salvation?

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 And she looked surprised at him and said,

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 no, I didn't know that.

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 Well, he has.

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 And he asked her, he said,

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 if I show you that he has,

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 will you keep that engagement with him?

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 She looked at him seriously and said,

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 yes, I would.

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 He said, all right, then here it is.

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 Behold, now is the favorable time.

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 Behold, now is the day of salvation.

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 My friend, the promise of salvation is that

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 when you turn to him,

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 you will be with him both here and forever.

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 And the difference in the saved and the unsaved

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 and the difference in the forgiven and the unforgiven

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 is that the unbeliever

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 and the believer and the unbeliever

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 is that the believer

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 has received the forgiveness

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 and the grace and the mercy of God

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 by their personal surrender.

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 And my friend,

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 that's the only hope that we have.

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 Once we have that through Christ,

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 we ought to be different.

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 We ought to be changed.

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 And there's times when we don't look that much different.

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 The apostle Paul said,

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 the things I want to do

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 is the things sometimes I don't do.

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 And the things that I wish I didn't do

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 are the very things that I do.

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 Sometimes there's a struggle in that.

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 But the reality is the power of the Holy Spirit

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 of God within us

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 teaches us to lean upon God daily

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 as he leads us.

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 And we get better at that with time.

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 We ought to if it's real.

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 Each day that we live,

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 we ought to get better at it.

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 So come to Christ.

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 Drop what you're doing and come.

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 Confess your sin.

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 Turn to him.

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 Call upon him.

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 That is exactly how

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 the thief in his final moments

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 was saved.

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 And that's how any of us are saved.

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 That is our hope.

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 It is the certainty of salvation.

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 But there's another certainty here

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 and that's the certainty of heaven.

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 Jesus said,

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 today you will be with me in paradise.

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 In other words,

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 life continues.

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 My friend,

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 this is not all there is.

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 1 Corinthians 15, 9 says,

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 if in Christ we have hope in this life only,

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 we are of all pity,

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 of all people,

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 most to be pitied.

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 This is not all there is.

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 Leave this life without Christ

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 and you'll have hell to pay.

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 You leave it knowing Christ

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 and you'll be changed forever.

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 All of that,

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 we don't quite understand.

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 It's a little bit beyond us.

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 However,

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 we can know the assurance of the change.

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 1 Corinthians 15 puts it this way

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 in verse 50.

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 He said,

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 I tell you brothers,

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 flesh and blood cannot inherit

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 the kingdom of God,

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 nor does the perishable

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 inherit the imperishable.

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 For this perishable body

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 must put on the imperishable

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 and this mortal body

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 must put on immortality.

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 When the perishable

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 puts on the imperishable

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 and the mortal puts on immortality,

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 then death is swallowed up in victory.

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 In other words,

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 in Christ,

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 death has lost its sting.

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 Life in Christ

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 is real.

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 Life after death

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 is as real

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 as the empty tomb

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 in Jerusalem

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 where they laid the body of Jesus

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 but it lays no longer.

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 Thank God,

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 it's empty.

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 I've been there.

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 He's gone

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 and he lives.

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 And that's why we celebrate today.

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 We celebrate because he lives

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 and because he lives,

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 we too may live.

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 The certainty of salvation

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 means that life continues.

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 It also means

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 that we can be with him forever.

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 Scripture promises us

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 the unchallenged presence of God.

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 The greatest news of this passage is

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 today you shall be with me

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 in paradise.

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 People have wondered,

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 theologians have struggled

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 over what paradise means there.

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 Where's paradise?

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 Well,

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 the word comes from a Greek

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 transliteration of a Persian word

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 that speaks of the king's garden.

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 And the king's garden

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 in that atmosphere

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 is somewhere

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 where nobody could go

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 unless they were invited

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 into this gated garden.

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 That reminds me

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 of the Garden of Eden

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 before there was sin

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 and they walked with God

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 in the cool of the day.

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 So where is this paradise

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 and what is it?

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 Well, let me tell you

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 what really matters.

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 Scripture says,

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 today you will be with me

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 in paradise.

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 You see, I believe paradise

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 is heaven under construction.

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 And what I mean by that

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 is not that they're up there

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 building golden mansions.

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 I'm not talking about

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 building construction.

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 No, heaven will not be complete

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 until all God's family

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 is there.

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 Once you've lost loved ones here,

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 there'll never be a time

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 on this earth

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 when all your family

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 will be back together again

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 unless they know Jesus

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 and then you can be with them

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 in glory

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 if you

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:36.620
 are in Christ.

00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.879
 Then we'll be together

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.279
 in the presence of God

00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:43.179
 with no enemy chasing us down

00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:44.559
 and no temptation

00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.919
 whispering in our ear

00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.839
 and no human frailty

00:14:47.839 --> 00:14:49.259
 hampering our fellowship.

00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:51.439
 We'll be there

00:14:51.439 --> 00:14:52.679
 together

00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:55.359
 in the unchallenged presence

00:14:55.359 --> 00:14:56.359
 of God.

00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:58.559
 What's heaven like?

00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:00.620
 Scripture tells us

00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:02.100
 a bunch about it

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:04.240
 but how do you

00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.500
 explain

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:08.399
 an eternal place

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.820
 in temporal words?

00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:11.240
 How do you describe

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:11.980
 the divine

00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:13.840
 to the human?

00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:15.120
 How do you describe

00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:15.919
 the infinite

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:18.240
 to the finite?

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.940
 I'm convinced

00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:22.360
 it's all watered down words

00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.360
 to try to satisfy

00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.560
 some of our questions.

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.220
 But in reality

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:26.980
 it's so beyond

00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:28.039
 our concepts.

00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:31.039
 I like what the old doctor

00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:31.860
 said to his patient.

00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.599
 It was in a day

00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:33.259
 when doctors

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.199
 made house calls

00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:34.740
 and he had made

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.519
 a house call

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:37.179
 and there was a man there

00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.159
 who was very sick

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:40.219
 and he said

00:15:40.219 --> 00:15:40.559
 Doc

00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:41.779
 what's heaven

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:42.679
 going to be like?

00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:46.099
 And the doctor's dog

00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:46.919
 had followed him

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:47.939
 to the man's house.

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.379
 The dog was out

00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:49.919
 on the porch

00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.639
 and he was scratching

00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.319
 on the door

00:15:51.319 --> 00:15:52.539
 whimpering and whining

00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.139
 to get in

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.980
 and the doctor said

00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:54.599
 do you hear that?

00:15:55.599 --> 00:15:56.179
 He said yeah.

00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:58.219
 He said that's my dog.

00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.019
 He's never been

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.039
 inside your house.

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.699
 He don't know

00:16:01.699 --> 00:16:03.259
 what's inside your house.

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.439
 All he knows

00:16:05.439 --> 00:16:06.459
 is that the master

00:16:06.459 --> 00:16:07.939
 is there

00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:10.120
 and if the master's there

00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:11.899
 he wants to be there too.

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.819
 It must be

00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:14.979
 okay.

00:16:16.459 --> 00:16:16.859
 Paradise

00:16:16.859 --> 00:16:19.679
 is where the Lord is.

00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:23.120
 What else really matters?

00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:26.259
 Knowing heaven

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.360
 is real

00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:29.120
 means real life

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.759
 continues.

00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.820
 We are with him

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:33.639
 and also

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.539
 and I want you

00:16:34.539 --> 00:16:35.279
 to get this

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.399
 heaven

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.759
 is immediate.

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.539
 Jesus said

00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.159
 today

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:42.940
 you shall be

00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.460
 with me

00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:45.120
 in paradise.

00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:47.320
 When we've surrendered

00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:47.919
 our lives

00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.600
 to Christ

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:51.279
 and one day

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.379
 we close our eyes

00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:53.240
 in death here

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.620
 we open them

00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:57.120
 with Christ.

00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.560
 It's

00:16:58.560 --> 00:16:59.759
 instantaneous.

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.960
 1 Corinthians 15

00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.560
 verse 52

00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:03.480
 says in a moment

00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.200
 in the twinkling

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:04.839
 of an eye

00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:06.120
 we shall

00:17:06.120 --> 00:17:06.680
 be

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.700
 changed.

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.900
 The apostle Paul

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:09.319
 tells us

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:09.799
 to be absent

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.319
 from the body

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.299
 is to be present

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.200
 with the Lord.

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:12.920
 No delay

00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.339
 it's immediate.

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.220
 The thief died

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.900
 that day

00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:18.099
 so did the Lord

00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:19.379
 the thief

00:17:19.379 --> 00:17:20.219
 was instantly

00:17:20.219 --> 00:17:21.439
 in his presence

00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:22.819
 just like he promised

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:24.419
 and that day

00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:24.899
 is coming

00:17:24.899 --> 00:17:26.199
 for all of us.

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.079
 So I ask you

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.579
 this morning

00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:31.099
 on Easter Sunday

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.500
 morning

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.799
 in your Easter best

00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.679
 let me ask you

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:35.419
 are you ready?

00:17:36.699 --> 00:17:37.359
 Are you ready?

00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:40.099
 He died for us.

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.980
 He met us

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.799
 where we are.

00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:43.919
 He makes us

00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:44.980
 aware of our need

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.579
 for him.

00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:47.159
 Listen

00:17:47.159 --> 00:17:48.939
 if there's

00:17:48.939 --> 00:17:49.419
 anything

00:17:49.419 --> 00:17:50.059
 in you

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.759
 that pulls

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.599
 toward wanting

00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.159
 to know more

00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:52.679
 of God

00:17:52.679 --> 00:17:53.619
 of wanting

00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.039
 to be in

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.500
 relationship

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:54.980
 with God

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.500
 I want you

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:55.720
 to know

00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.039
 you didn't

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.399
 come up

00:17:56.399 --> 00:17:56.639
 with that

00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:57.259
 on your own.

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.299
 You didn't

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:58.980
 conjure that

00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.879
 up on your own.

00:18:00.699 --> 00:18:01.039
 I didn't

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.759
 convince you

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.079
 of that

00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.779
 on my own.

00:18:02.899 --> 00:18:03.759
 No my friend

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.619
 the Holy Spirit

00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:05.000
 of God

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.619
 is drawing

00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.619
 you to himself.

00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:08.599
 All you have

00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:08.839
 to do

00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:09.619
 is obediently

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.439
 follow his

00:18:10.439 --> 00:18:11.019
 lead

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.859
 and the reality

00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:14.000
 is our hope

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.059
 is as real

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:15.879
 as the empty

00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:16.779
 tomb that we

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:18.079
 celebrate today

00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:20.200
 and thank God

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:20.779
 for you

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:22.639
 it's not

00:18:22.639 --> 00:18:23.359
 too late

00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.660
 if you're

00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.299
 sitting here

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.220
 breathing this

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:27.559
 morning

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.819
 and if you're

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.420
 not let your

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.079
 neighbor know

00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:32.859
 but if you're

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:33.359
 sitting here

00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.000
 breathing this

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.740
 morning I want

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.139
 you to know

00:18:35.139 --> 00:18:35.859
 it's not

00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.200
 too late.

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.900
 I think about

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.359
 what the old

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.039
 boy said that

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.680
 fell off the

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.079
 horse.

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.079
 He said

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.960
 betwixt the

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.659
 stirrup and

00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.339
 the ground

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:47.099
 mercy I ask

00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:48.720
 mercy I found.

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.920
 My friend

00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.059
 I don't know

00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:51.440
 what you've

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.039
 fallen into

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.519
 today

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.779
 but I want

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.180
 you to know

00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:54.579
 something

00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.779
 you can come

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.240
 to Jesus.

00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:59.339
 He'll meet

00:18:59.339 --> 00:18:59.759
 you

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.899
 where you

00:19:01.899 --> 00:19:02.240
 are.

00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.759
 He knows

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.700
 your circumstances

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:08.480
 better than

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:08.940
 you do.

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.220
 He knows

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.639
 the things

00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:12.119
 you've done

00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:12.639
 that nobody

00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.359
 else knows

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:13.960
 about but

00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.539
 you and

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.180
 maybe you

00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:15.879
 even forgot.

00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.000
 He knows

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.480
 it all

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:20.319
 and yet he

00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.000
 loves you so

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.000
 much that he

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.759
 came and lived a

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.420
 sinless life and

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.200
 died a sinner's

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:28.000
 death for your

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.000
 sake and for

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.399
 mine.

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.359
 Thank God

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.039
 three days later

00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:33.000
 he rose again to

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.639
 remind us of the

00:19:34.639 --> 00:19:35.720
 eternal life that we

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.680
 have because of what

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.599
 he did on the

00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:38.059
 cross.

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:40.259
 if you're here

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:40.940
 this morning I

00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.460
 want you to know

00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.179
 it's by a divine

00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:42.639
 appointment.

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.559
 If you've never

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:46.299
 acknowledged the

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.259
 Lord Jesus as your

00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.079
 personal Lord and

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.359
 Savior I promise you

00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:50.419
 today he'll meet you

00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:51.240
 where you are.

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.440
 He'll take you to

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.079
 where he'd have you

00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.440
 to be.

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.740
 All you have to do

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.240
 is surrender your

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.079
 life to him today.

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:58.119
 Lord take me as I

00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:58.379
 am.

00:19:59.639 --> 00:20:00.419
 Forgive me of my

00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:00.879
 sins.

00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:02.980
 Come into my life

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.200
 and change me from

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:05.000
 this day forward

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.740
 to live for you.

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.680
 I'd love to guide

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.180
 you in that.

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.059
 In a moment after I

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.660
 pray we're going to

00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.339
 stand and we're going

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:11.960
 to sing but more

00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.680
 important than singing

00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:13.920
 I encourage you to be

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.720
 obedient to God.

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.859
 I'm available for you

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:17.059
 to come.

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.759
 Just tell me what God's

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.579
 laid upon your heart.

00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:20.299
 Maybe you're here this

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.279
 morning and you have

00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.059
 acknowledged the Lord

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:23.220
 Jesus Christ but you've

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.200
 never done that publicly.

00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.579
 It's a private matter

00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.079
 for you.

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.099
 Jesus by his example

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:29.000
 and by his commission

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.740
 tells us that we need

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.720
 to follow that with

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.700
 believers baptism.

00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:33.940
 We're going to do

00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.539
 that in a couple of

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.480
 weeks and I'd love to

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.240
 guide you in that

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:38.120
 process and so if you've

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.640
 never done that I

00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:40.680
 encourage you to come.

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.759
 Let's start that

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.559
 conversation.

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.860
 Or maybe you're here

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.819
 and God's guiding you

00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.460
 to Pickens First

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.240
 Baptist Church.

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.039
 Man I thank God for

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.080
 what God's doing in our

00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.460
 midst.

00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.500
 He's doing a wonderful

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:51.920
 work.

00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:53.860
 He might be drawing you

00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:54.759
 to be a part of that

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:56.019
 and if he is then I

00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:56.920
 encourage you to come.

00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.440
 I'd love to guide you

00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:59.420
 in what that means.

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:01.220
 Guide you in that

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.640
 process.

00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:03.680
 Or maybe you're here

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.560
 and you got all that

00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:04.920
 down.

00:21:08.060 --> 00:21:09.140
 But there's just

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:09.800
 stuff.

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.860
 Stuff in your life that

00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:13.640
 you don't like to

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:15.060
 acknowledge but today

00:21:15.060 --> 00:21:16.860
 the Holy Spirit of God

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:18.300
 has spoke to you about

00:21:18.300 --> 00:21:19.800
 your circumstances and

00:21:19.800 --> 00:21:22.420
 you realize that today's

00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.200
 the day of decision.

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:27.180
 This Easter day is a day

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.900
 of new beginnings.

00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:28.080
 things.

00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:30.120
 It's time to renew.

00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:32.140
 It's time to be fresh

00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:33.940
 again with the Lord.

00:21:35.120 --> 00:21:36.200
 And I'm thankful that

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.080
 you can do that in the

00:21:37.080 --> 00:21:38.060
 pew where you'll stand

00:21:38.060 --> 00:21:38.780
 in just a moment.

00:21:39.280 --> 00:21:40.140
 You can do it at this

00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:41.680
 altar or you can do it

00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.440
 with a pastor praying

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:42.880
 for you.

00:21:43.560 --> 00:21:44.740
 I just encourage you

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:46.540
 don't leave here until

00:21:46.540 --> 00:21:47.400
 you've done everything

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.360
 that God would have you

00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:48.740
 to do.

00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:50.480
 Nothing more.

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.200
 Nothing less.

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.480
 He'll take care of

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.259
 everything else.

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.900
 Just be obedient.

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:58.280
 Heavenly Father I love

00:21:58.280 --> 00:22:00.000
 you and I thank you

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.240
 for your love for us.

00:22:02.040 --> 00:22:03.240
 Lead us right now

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:05.400
 dear God to follow you

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:07.600
 with boldness, with

00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:09.480
 obedience dear God and

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.880
 with courage oh God I

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:12.940
 pray in Jesus precious

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.500
 name.

00:22:13.840 --> 00:22:14.080
 Amen.

00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:14.180
 Amen.

00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:14.220
 Amen.

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.220


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