WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:05.919 I might have to move from this spot because there's going to be visuals with this sermon 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:12.700 and I'm not sure if I can stand here with the overhead on, but we'll find out in a moment. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:20.559 Sometimes a few words can make all of the difference. 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:24.879 Sometimes a few words can make all of the difference in the world. 00:00:25.759 --> 00:00:31.399 Some of you have heard before the story of how I came to ask Louise to marry me. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:34.560 I know that it was in the late afternoon. 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:38.479 I wish I could remember the time precisely. 00:00:38.879 --> 00:00:41.120 I know that it was the 15th of May, 1981. 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:47.079 So for the purpose of this, let's say it was 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:52.000 At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, I said to Louise, 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:53.780 Louise, will you marry me? 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:56.260 Just five words. 00:00:56.380 --> 00:00:57.859 Louise, will you marry me? 00:00:57.980 --> 00:00:59.160 Five simple words. 00:00:59.940 --> 00:01:05.379 And she's right about most things and she claims that she just waited a few seconds. 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:07.079 I'm sure it was like 15 minutes. 00:01:07.180 --> 00:01:08.040 It felt like forever. 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:11.620 I wouldn't have asked her to marry me if I didn't think she'd say yes. 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:14.960 But of course, there's always that little bit of a doubt that she might say no. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:20.759 And then she said to me very properly, she said, you should be on your knees. 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:26.919 And I thought about that for a few seconds and I knew that she was worth it. 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:32.359 And so I got on my knees and I asked a second time, Louise, will you marry me? 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:35.879 And then I'm sure there was a 15 minute wait. 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:39.579 But she says it was only a few seconds and she's probably correct. 00:01:40.199 --> 00:01:41.459 And then she said yes. 00:01:42.619 --> 00:01:49.420 And, you know, if that all happened at 4 o'clock, I know it was the late afternoon of the 15th of May, 1981. 00:01:49.420 --> 00:02:02.500 Life for Louise and me was very different at 3.55 on the 15th of May than it was at 4.05 in the 15th of May. 00:02:03.240 --> 00:02:10.400 And the difference hanged around five simple words and then the response of yes. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:16.699 Today, I'm going to do something which is a little bit different for me and for this church. 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:21.419 I'm going to share with you very briefly the basic Christian story. 00:02:22.139 --> 00:02:25.239 And at the end of sharing with you the very basic Christian story, 00:02:25.519 --> 00:02:32.060 I'm going to invite those who have not invited Jesus into their life to invite Jesus into their life. 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:37.639 Some of you might have been coming to this church for a while and you've heard sermons on this and on that. 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:44.439 And maybe you're like me, that you felt, you know, quite a few years ago, 00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:47.939 you felt an increasing drawing and attraction towards Christ. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:55.079 And you just weren't maybe quite sure how to sort of close the deal or how to cross that threshold 00:02:55.079 --> 00:02:56.819 or how to turn the corner. 00:02:56.979 --> 00:03:01.159 And it's my privilege and honor to share with you the Christian story 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:05.300 and then at the end of it just describe briefly how you turn that corner. 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:09.960 And at the same time as I do this, I'm going to also be sharing for those of us who are Christians 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:12.040 how it is that you share the gospel. 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:18.400 You know, first of all, the thing we have to understand fundamentally is that there's only one evangelist. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:20.120 It's not Billy Graham. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:21.020 It's not the Pope. 00:03:21.100 --> 00:03:22.900 There's only one evangelist and it's God. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:30.040 God is the one whose Holy Spirit moves in lives and draws people to himself. 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:36.199 And so the first thing I'd like to encourage each of you is those of you who have given your life to Christ, 00:03:36.699 --> 00:03:41.479 that you have a fundamental obligation to pray for people who have not yet come to faith in Jesus. 00:03:42.239 --> 00:03:43.259 Just pray for them. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:44.340 Maybe it's some cousins. 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:46.419 Maybe it's some family members. 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:47.840 Maybe it's your best friend. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:50.919 Maybe it's some of your people you work with. 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:55.659 Or just God has put people in your path and he's calling you to pray for them 00:03:55.659 --> 00:03:58.120 that they will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:00.180 And I would just like to encourage you that you do that. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:03.860 And then maybe one day after you've been praying for your best friend, 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:07.300 maybe you go back home to work for four months 00:04:07.300 --> 00:04:09.900 and you've decided you're going to pray for your best friend 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:11.300 and you're working with your best friend. 00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:14.540 And then one of the scariest things in the world happens 00:04:14.540 --> 00:04:17.540 three and a half months after you've been praying for them. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.579 One day during lunch they say, 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:21.420 you're a Christian, eh? 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:23.480 And you say, yeah, I'm a Christian. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:26.699 And they say, like, what's this Christian thing all about? 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:28.339 And what would you have to do to become a Christian? 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:31.620 And for many people that would be one of the scariest things that could happen. 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:33.099 Somebody asked you that question 00:04:33.099 --> 00:04:35.420 and now you have to sort of give a bit of an answer. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.259 And, well, maybe what we'll do today will help you with that. 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:41.139 If you could put the first thing up, Kendra. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:46.300 One of the things, this little model that I'm going to be sharing with you 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:48.319 is something that was actually developed by an Anglican. 00:04:48.379 --> 00:04:51.399 He's now the Dean of the Cathedral in Sydney, Australia. 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:54.099 And his name is Philip Jensen. 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:57.699 And sometimes if you want to share the gospel with something, 00:04:57.779 --> 00:05:00.659 something that can be very helpful is if you have a pen with you 00:05:00.659 --> 00:05:03.399 and there's some napkins and stuff around, 00:05:03.479 --> 00:05:05.699 you can just draw a couple of simple little pictures 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:09.639 which will help to communicate the story which you're telling. 00:05:10.339 --> 00:05:13.879 And if you're really, really, really, really, really on top of it, 00:05:13.899 --> 00:05:16.239 you can have some Bible verses that you've memorized 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:20.360 because it's always helpful to be able to try to show people 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:22.040 that it's not just you making this up, 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:24.939 but it's ultimately God's Word. 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:26.939 In your bulletins, there's an insert 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:28.819 which gives you these different diagrams 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:32.139 which Nat has kindly generated for me. 00:05:32.460 --> 00:05:35.280 So if you just have this little napkin, 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:38.340 you just sort of write this big crown 00:05:38.340 --> 00:05:40.920 and a person standing there on the earth. 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:44.120 And the Christian story begins with this, 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:47.899 that God was originally, God is the one who's created all things. 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:50.920 And when God created all things in the original creation, 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:53.439 it was wonderful. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:57.740 God had his kingly rule and authority over the entire created order 00:05:57.740 --> 00:06:01.120 and the entire created order was completely and utterly at peace. 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:06.019 Humans would have been in complete communion with God, 00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:08.860 perfect fellowship with God, closeness with God. 00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:14.079 The book of Genesis even describes it in the terms of a wonderful picture story 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:17.699 that it would be as if every day God came from heaven and said, 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:20.180 George, let's go for a walk. 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:23.019 And it would be as if your very best friend, 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:25.659 the best friend you could ever possibly imagine, 00:06:26.019 --> 00:06:28.000 just wanted to go for a little stroll with you 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:29.759 in an absolutely beautiful setting 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:31.439 and just chat about your day. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:38.060 And this picture from the book of Genesis describes what was the original intention in creation. 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:43.699 The book of Revelation, which describes the final things, 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:49.319 has this simple verse which describes what was originally intended. 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:52.639 It's Revelation chapter 4, verse 11. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:57.019 And if you'd like to try to follow along as I started, 00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:00.599 we're going to look at one scripture verse with each of these pictures. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:04.839 And it's on page 1063 if you're using your pew Bibles. 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:07.740 And it's Revelation chapter 4, verse 11. 00:07:08.579 --> 00:07:11.560 And here's angels are singing this hymn of praise. 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:12.719 And they sing, 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:30.240 See, so here you have, in a sense, the original picture that God has created all things. 00:07:30.520 --> 00:07:34.040 His kingly rule goes throughout all the created things. 00:07:34.320 --> 00:07:36.320 And there's just harmony and there's peace. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:38.540 And God is acknowledged as God. 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:42.660 Well, if there's one thing we all know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, 00:07:42.760 --> 00:07:44.480 that that's not the way the world is today. 00:07:45.200 --> 00:07:46.060 Far from it. 00:07:46.140 --> 00:07:50.240 You just have to, you can't read the newspaper or listen to the news 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:52.120 or even look at your own life in the mirror 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:55.240 and know that that does not describe the way that the world is today. 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:57.980 Kendra, if you could put up the second slide. 00:07:58.220 --> 00:08:02.000 The second picture shows what's happened to human beings. 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:07.580 And one of the things which God created in us human beings is freedom, free will. 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:12.759 And we human beings have used our free will to turn our back in God. 00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:15.279 And in fact, we've turned our back on God 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:18.459 and we've decided that we're going to live as if God doesn't exist. 00:08:18.859 --> 00:08:22.579 And we want to be the rulers and the kings of our own lives. 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:23.740 In a sense, we've said, 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:27.539 God doesn't exist and I want his job. 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:31.459 And that's the motto of human beings. 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:34.480 God doesn't exist and I want his job. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:38.039 And so in this picture, we can see the big crown representing God. 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:40.920 And before there was God and people over the earth. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.800 And now we have God crossed off. 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:43.879 The earth is still there. 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:47.379 And human beings are off to the side with their own little tiny crown. 00:08:47.920 --> 00:08:55.200 And we walk through this life being our own kings and our own rulers. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:59.940 And there's two Bible verses which talk about this. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.560 More than two, but these two sort of point you to it. 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:06.460 The first one is a very hard verse and it's very hard for people to accept. 00:09:07.160 --> 00:09:10.980 But it's Romans chapter 3, verses 10 through 12. 00:09:11.800 --> 00:09:15.400 If you want to use your pew Bibles, it's page 976. 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:23.860 And Paul here is quoting from the Old Testament. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:25.740 And here's what it says. 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:29.120 Page 976, Romans 3, verses 10 to 12. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:30.659 As it is written, 00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:48.339 It's a very, very hard text. 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:54.019 But it's trying to describe how human beings, there's every human being is like this. 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:57.059 They've in a sense put a big X through God and his authority. 00:09:57.659 --> 00:10:01.159 And we've decided that we will have a crown that we put over our own heads. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:03.679 And we will walk around as if we are little gods. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:06.199 Just continue in Romans chapter 3. 00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:07.460 Look at verse 23. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:09.699 And this sort of brings the matter home. 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:10.879 Romans 3, 23. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:13.120 A simple verse, easy to memorize. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:17.699 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:10:18.819 --> 00:10:21.240 Now, what's the consequence? 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:23.559 Kendra, if you could put up the third one. 00:10:24.319 --> 00:10:28.639 What's the consequence of us using our freedom to turn our back on God? 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:32.120 I'm no scientist. 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:32.980 You all know that. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:33.939 I'm an arts guy. 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:38.579 But if I was to have a table here as a demonstration, 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:42.819 and I was to have six or seven or eight pieces of iron, 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:48.699 and I was to pick up one of the pieces of iron and press it to another piece of iron, 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:49.620 nothing would happen. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:53.379 If I picked up the piece that I'm holding, I pick it up, the iron just stays there. 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:57.439 Iron doesn't connect to iron unless it's glued or welded or something. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:10:59.980 But if I was to take a very powerful magnet, 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:03.639 and I was to reach down and put that magnet on a piece of iron, 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:05.840 the magnet would pick up the piece of iron. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.240 And then, I know enough science to know this, 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:13.159 that if I was to then take the magnet holding the iron, 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:16.039 and I was to touch a second piece of iron, 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:20.799 the magnetism flows through the magnet into the iron, 00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:23.259 and in fact, it can pick up a second piece of iron. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:25.719 Now, there's engineers here, 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:27.919 and some of you folks, you could tell me, 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:29.679 depending, I guess, on the quality of the iron 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:31.360 and the power of the magnet, 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:33.600 how many pieces of iron we could pick up. 00:11:33.819 --> 00:11:36.059 And every piece of iron would be picked up, 00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:39.079 all because that very first iron, piece of iron, 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:40.959 is firmly connected to the magnet. 00:11:41.839 --> 00:11:43.639 And what Christians believe is this, 00:11:44.239 --> 00:11:48.099 that when we human beings turned our back on God 00:11:48.099 --> 00:11:50.879 and we decided to be our own kings and our own gods, 00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:53.699 that's what's called sin. 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:54.579 It's called rebellion. 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:56.859 It means that evil has entered into the world. 00:11:56.979 --> 00:11:59.299 And it's because of that that we have disunity, 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.439 we have crime, 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:02.820 that we, in a sense, 00:12:02.880 --> 00:12:04.600 are inwardly broken ourselves, 00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:06.340 and that we know within ourselves 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:08.680 that things aren't just right within ourselves, 00:12:08.800 --> 00:12:10.320 and it's not right within the world, 00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:11.740 and it all flows, 00:12:11.880 --> 00:12:13.120 not because of God, 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:14.640 but because we, as human beings, 00:12:14.780 --> 00:12:16.140 turned our backs on God 00:12:16.140 --> 00:12:18.340 and have decided to live on our own terms. 00:12:18.760 --> 00:12:21.060 And one of the consequences of that decision, 00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:21.900 beyond evil, 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.200 is actually even the existence of death, 00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:25.560 because, 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.840 and you imagine this piece of, 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:29.400 you can imagine the magnet, 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:30.600 you can imagine the iron, 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:33.439 and if I was to take that first piece of iron 00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:35.360 and I was to pull it away from the magnet, 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:36.519 what happens? 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:38.199 All of the iron falls apart. 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:43.279 And so that when we turned our back on God 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:46.419 and then evil enters into the world 00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:48.319 and death follows from that, 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:51.659 as our soul lost its communion with God, 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.299 then all of the breaking, 00:12:53.439 --> 00:12:55.519 including ultimately the breaking of our body 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:56.259 from our soul, 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:56.919 which is death, 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:58.519 that was to enter into the world, 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:00.460 and death is a sign 00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:03.279 of our rebellion against God. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.220 And it's also a pointer 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.480 to the possibility 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:08.559 that we could spend, 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:09.939 that that could be, in a sense, 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.360 the final word about us, 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:13.240 that on into eternity, 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.519 that we would be, 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.279 in a sense, 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:16.600 under God's judgment, 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:19.759 that brokenness and diminishment 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:21.980 would be the final word about us 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:23.419 under his judgment, 00:13:24.079 --> 00:13:25.360 that death would only be 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:27.919 the beginning of the final word about us. 00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:29.240 Now, friends, 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:31.580 if that was on one level, 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:33.980 there is nothing more real about the world 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:35.180 than what I've just described. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.279 If there's one thing 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:38.980 that is incontrovertibly true, 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:40.419 is that there is death, 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.740 that death seems to rule, 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:43.019 that there is sin, 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.820 and that no matter what type of perfect system 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:46.600 has been developed, 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:49.500 it doesn't seem to deal with these fundamental conditions, 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:51.600 and that there are no perfect people. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:53.740 And if all I was able to share with you, 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:54.779 and even though I could show 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:56.279 that it was empirically true, 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.540 it would be the worst news in the world. 00:13:58.659 --> 00:13:59.820 But the Christian story 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:01.100 is called the good news, 00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:02.279 not the bad news. 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.560 It's the gospel, 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:04.720 not depression. 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.620 And the good news 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:08.220 comes with this fourth slide, 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:09.820 and that is, 00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:10.659 and by the way, 00:14:10.680 --> 00:14:11.560 in that earlier slide, 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.899 we saw the little tiny crown 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:13.580 over the person, 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:14.360 and the person that was, 00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:15.519 the person was lying dead. 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.899 That was what I was trying to describe. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.940 In the fourth picture here, 00:14:18.940 --> 00:14:21.740 we see God's plan. 00:14:22.640 --> 00:14:23.800 And in God's plan, 00:14:24.260 --> 00:14:27.320 he sends his son Jesus to earth. 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:29.340 Throughout the years, 00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:31.200 God had sent different prophets 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.680 to warn people 00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:34.180 to turn from their ways 00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:35.420 and to make a promise 00:14:35.420 --> 00:14:36.460 that someday one 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:38.100 who would come from God 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:40.340 who would be the mighty deliverer. 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:42.320 And Christians believe 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:43.800 that God had this plan 00:14:43.800 --> 00:14:45.340 to send this mighty deliverer. 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:47.120 And this person, Jesus, 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.519 was one who was able 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.960 to perform mighty miracles. 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:51.600 And he was able 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:53.600 to talk of God 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.980 in intimate terms. 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.019 And he was able 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:57.539 to clearly express 00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.919 what was right and wrong. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.740 And his teaching 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.560 and his stories 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:02.019 had great power. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:04.100 But ultimately, 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:04.799 as we saw 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.100 in the gospel text today, 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:06.860 Jesus, 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:07.980 and Jesus came, 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.259 and he is the only person 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.000 who's ever lived 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.100 completely and utterly 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:11.960 a perfect life. 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.740 He lived under 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.960 the kingly authority 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.960 and rule of God. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:16.340 And he never sought 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.840 his own tiny crown. 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:18.940 He never sought 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:20.460 to turn his back on God. 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.080 But he lived 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:22.400 a perfect life 00:15:22.400 --> 00:15:23.120 of obedience 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.960 under God's kingly rule. 00:15:25.400 --> 00:15:26.400 And in that context, 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.860 he performed miracles. 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:29.240 He did many, 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.560 many mighty things. 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:31.780 And yet, 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:32.940 the very same man 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:34.259 who could walk on water, 00:15:34.400 --> 00:15:35.480 who could feed thousands 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:37.000 from a few loaves of bread, 00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.860 the very, very same man 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.920 who could speak a word 00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:41.040 and call a dead man 00:15:41.040 --> 00:15:41.940 back to life, 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:44.060 the very, very same man 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:44.899 who could do all 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.839 of these things, 00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:46.839 he died. 00:15:47.619 --> 00:15:49.019 And we Christians believe 00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:50.159 that Jesus didn't die 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:50.839 because of anything 00:15:50.839 --> 00:15:51.739 that he had done 00:15:51.739 --> 00:15:52.459 that was wrong. 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:53.739 It wasn't because, 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:54.219 you know, 00:15:54.239 --> 00:15:54.979 he was doing really, 00:15:55.099 --> 00:15:55.500 really good, 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.119 and then one day 00:15:56.119 --> 00:15:57.439 he just sort of slipped up 00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:58.639 and powerful people 00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.159 were sort of able 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.059 to jump on him 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:01.039 and overwhelm him. 00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.759 We Christians believe 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.779 that Jesus, 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:05.279 out of obedience to God 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:05.879 and out of love 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.539 for you and me, 00:16:06.599 --> 00:16:07.939 that he came to this earth 00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:09.119 not only to live 00:16:09.119 --> 00:16:09.979 a perfect life 00:16:09.979 --> 00:16:11.019 and not only to perform 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:11.699 those miracles 00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:13.220 and not only to give 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.000 mighty teachings, 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:15.580 but he came to die. 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:18.080 He came to die 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.220 upon the cross 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.840 as our substitute. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:23.320 Some of you have heard 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.240 this story before 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.400 of a time in my life 00:16:25.400 --> 00:16:26.040 when substitution 00:16:26.040 --> 00:16:27.200 was made very real. 00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:28.820 It was the story of, 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:29.860 I was in grade eight, 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.580 and I was supposed to have 00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:31.759 done a French speech, 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:32.520 and it was time 00:16:32.520 --> 00:16:33.960 to give our presentations, 00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:37.640 and I was completely, 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:38.800 utterly unprepared, 00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:40.259 and I am terrible at French, 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:42.600 was then and worse now, 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:47.899 and one day the teacher said, 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.019 well, before we're going 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.980 to give these French speeches, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.779 it wouldn't be fair 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.819 to go alphabetical 00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:54.240 or reverse alphabetical order 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.419 like I do every other week. 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:57.580 There's 32 kids in the class. 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.139 I'm going to put, 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:00.220 I've put 32 pieces of paper 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:00.679 in a hat, 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.700 and each piece of paper 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.740 has number one 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:03.500 and number two, 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.259 number three, 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.599 32 pieces, 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.859 each with a different number 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.859 from one to 32. 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.480 We'll pass the hat, 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.660 and as you take 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.680 a number out of the hat, 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.720 that will be your order, 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:13.799 and she said, 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.880 is that a fair thing to do, 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.819 and everybody in the class, 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.400 including me, 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.299 said that's completely, 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.079 and utterly fair, 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.099 and you know, 00:17:20.120 --> 00:17:21.319 I'm like those 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.720 that watch that show, 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.660 Deal, No Deal, 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.099 and you're like, 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:24.400 I'm thinking, 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.059 what are the odds 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:26.019 of something really bad 00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.880 happening, you know? 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.319 Four kids a day, 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.579 I have only one odd in eight 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.279 that I'm going to have 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.079 to do anything today. 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.680 I can, you know, 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.839 I was completely, 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.799 utterly uncomfortable, 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:37.099 and as the hat came to me, 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:38.799 and I took the number 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.419 out of the hat 00:17:39.419 --> 00:17:41.539 to my horror, 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.439 I had number one, 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:46.799 and I had been really carefree 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.159 and smiling and laughing, 00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:49.519 but now I knew 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.099 that my doom was upon me 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:52.179 and that there was 00:17:52.179 --> 00:17:52.819 absolutely nothing 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.399 that I was going 00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:54.019 to be able to do 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:55.519 because I was unprepared 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:57.259 and unskilled at French, 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:59.679 and I had been presumptuous, 00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:01.539 just assuming that I had 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.559 one or two more nights 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.579 to work on this thing, 00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:04.419 I had done nothing. 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:06.120 And so the teacher says 00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:07.060 with a nice, bright, 00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:09.320 you know, teacherly type of, 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.960 like as if we're doing 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:11.840 something really fun 00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:12.420 and exciting, 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.920 okay, who's next? 00:18:14.080 --> 00:18:15.080 Who's number one? 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.779 And I had to put my hand up 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.240 and I said, 00:18:17.300 --> 00:18:18.100 I am number one. 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:19.519 And she said very brightly 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.680 and enthusiastically 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.880 like good teachers are, 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:22.800 well, George, 00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:23.880 you come on up to the class 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.820 and give us your speech. 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.460 And I had to say, 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.920 I can't do my speech. 00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.620 I have not done anything 00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.320 to prepare. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.680 I can't do it. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.039 And she said, 00:18:31.080 --> 00:18:31.840 George, just come up 00:18:31.840 --> 00:18:32.759 and at least try. 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.259 And I say, 00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:34.900 I can't even try. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.839 And I am just, 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.879 I was completely 00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:38.920 and utterly flummoxed 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:39.980 and defeated by this. 00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:41.819 And so the teacher said, 00:18:41.879 --> 00:18:42.240 well, George, 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:42.940 we all agreed 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:44.339 that this is the fair way to go. 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.519 You agreed that this 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.500 was the fair way to go. 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.900 And I have to either 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.619 give you zero 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.900 unless there's somebody 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.559 in the room 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.900 who would be willing 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:53.279 to trade their number 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.240 with your number. 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.920 And they took number one. 00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:58.079 And she said, 00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:58.740 is there anybody 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.900 in the class like this? 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:01.540 And Ricky, 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.900 of blessed memory, 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:05.180 who had number 16, 00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:06.580 said, 00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:07.580 I am willing 00:19:07.580 --> 00:19:08.700 to come 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.780 and give George 00:19:09.780 --> 00:19:10.940 my number 16 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:12.860 and he can take my number. 00:19:13.540 --> 00:19:14.519 I will give him 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.360 my number 16 00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:16.019 and I will take 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.720 his number one. 00:19:16.780 --> 00:19:17.259 And he walked 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.040 across the class 00:19:18.040 --> 00:19:18.960 and dropped 16 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.019 on my desk. 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:20.980 And he went up 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.340 to the front 00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:22.280 and he did the speech. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:26.080 He was my substitute. 00:19:26.280 --> 00:19:27.880 He traded places with me. 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:30.320 And the wonderful good news 00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:30.860 of the gospel 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:31.460 is the gospel 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.140 doesn't deny 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:33.040 that there is evil. 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:33.800 It doesn't deny 00:19:33.800 --> 00:19:34.600 that there is death. 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.000 In fact, 00:19:35.040 --> 00:19:37.180 it says that we human beings 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:37.880 should wake up 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:39.120 to the reality of death 00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:40.300 and the reality of evil 00:19:40.300 --> 00:19:41.880 and the impossibility 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:43.140 for us to lift ourselves 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:44.320 up by our bootstraps 00:19:44.320 --> 00:19:45.520 or impossibility 00:19:45.520 --> 00:19:46.860 of changing ourselves 00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:48.580 and we should understand 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.940 that what this points to 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.900 is that we need a savior. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.980 And at the heart 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.240 of that saving work, 00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:57.080 there has to be substitution. 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:58.399 We don't need 00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:59.319 another example. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.639 Like how many of us 00:20:00.639 --> 00:20:01.480 need to see another 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:03.179 unbelievably fit person 00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:04.500 telling us how we can 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.019 lose weight 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.819 and look like them? 00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:06.799 Like we don't need 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.859 another example, 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:08.419 you know? 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.579 And on top of that, 00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:11.399 they're just fantastically perfect. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.139 They can cook. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.259 They can fix things. 00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.480 They never do anything wrong. 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.359 We don't need another example. 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.579 We need a savior 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.939 who is a substitute. 00:20:19.939 --> 00:20:21.220 And Christians believe 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.339 that Jesus came, 00:20:23.159 --> 00:20:24.299 lived perfectly under 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.359 God's kingly rule 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:25.980 and authority. 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:29.200 and never broke 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.339 fellowship with God 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.819 and that Jesus came 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.839 not only to do that 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.720 but more importantly 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.519 that he came 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.960 to die upon the cross 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.980 and that he came 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:39.380 and in his death 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.940 he says to George 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:42.380 and he says to each one of us, 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.900 he says, 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:44.299 I am willing 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:46.039 to trade places with you 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:49.039 and I will take your place 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.980 and suffer the consequences 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.839 of all your actions 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.920 and all your rebellion 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:55.180 and you can take my place 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:56.920 of unbroken fellowship 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.140 with God. 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:01.320 It's what the Bible teaches. 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.980 Turn in your Bibles 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.700 to 2 Corinthians 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:07.080 chapter 5 00:21:07.080 --> 00:21:07.940 verse 21. 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:13.380 2 Corinthians 5 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:15.559 and it's on page 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:20.259 990 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.700 sorry, 00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:21.620 it's 1 Corinthians 00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:24.120 2 Corinthians 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:25.080 5 00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:25.840 verse 21 00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:27.680 and it's on page 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:29.259 1002 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:31.100 the very last verse. 00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:34.299 2 Corinthians 5 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:34.740 521 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.919 on page 1002 00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:37.460 for God made him 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.480 that's Jesus 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.839 who knew 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.879 no sin 00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:42.279 to be 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:43.159 sin 00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:44.180 for us 00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:44.940 in other words 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.700 to trade places 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.279 with us 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:48.079 that we might become 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.159 the righteousness 00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:49.899 of God 00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:50.559 in him. 00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:51.940 It's this 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:53.139 wonderful news 00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:53.899 of 00:21:53.899 --> 00:21:54.399 of 00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:55.019 of 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:56.039 of exchange 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:57.059 of substitution. 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.419 Please put up 00:21:58.419 --> 00:21:59.259 the next slide. 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.019 And 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.639 and 00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:02.519 and the good news 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.159 continues. 00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:03.639 You see, 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.360 we Christians 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:04.940 believe that 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:05.540 not only did 00:22:05.540 --> 00:22:06.380 Jesus die 00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:07.300 upon the cross 00:22:07.300 --> 00:22:07.840 and taste 00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:08.420 all there is 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.700 and and die 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.460 in a sense 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.140 bearing my 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:11.700 punishment 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.620 and my sin 00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.220 that it wasn't 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.840 an accident. 00:22:14.020 --> 00:22:14.620 It wasn't as if 00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.820 the bad Romans 00:22:15.820 --> 00:22:16.460 or the bad 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.320 religious people 00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:18.080 somehow were able 00:22:18.080 --> 00:22:19.000 to overwhelm 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.380 Jesus 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.100 but Jesus 00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:21.000 willingly 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.940 entered into 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.240 this 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:22.940 out of love 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.700 for you and me 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.860 willing to be 00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.740 our substitute 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.920 willing to trade 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.960 places with us 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.880 and Jesus 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.759 after tasting 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.680 everything there is 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.600 to taste of death 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:32.640 with nothing 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.240 left over 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:33.920 on the third 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.279 day 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:35.960 he emerged 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.640 on the far 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.480 side of death 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.980 because he had 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.859 never sinned 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:40.839 death could 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.700 ultimately not 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.359 hold him 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.259 or swallow him 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.240 and on the 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.240 third day 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.799 he arose 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.960 he arrived 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.640 or rose 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:48.380 on the far 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.059 side of death 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:50.019 having defeated 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.539 sin 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.859 having defeated 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:52.660 death 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.799 which is a sign 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:54.299 of sin 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.440 and we also 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.059 believe all 00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:57.160 hostile spiritual 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.599 powers 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.440 anything 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.620 which separates 00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.539 us from God 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.480 is defeated 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.500 by the person 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.039 of Jesus 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:04.299 and he rose 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.099 from the dead 00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.920 and he sits 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.420 at God's 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.000 right hand 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.139 it's why 00:23:08.139 --> 00:23:08.639 you see 00:23:08.639 --> 00:23:09.639 we don't talk 00:23:09.639 --> 00:23:10.139 about him 00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:11.059 as an historical 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:11.599 person 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.240 we don't talk 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.559 about him 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.039 like we might 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.399 have talked 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:14.539 about Napoleon 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.460 or we might 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.519 even talk 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.200 about a holy 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:17.680 person 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:19.039 like Augustine 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.859 or Saint 00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.279 Teresa 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:20.819 of Avila 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.599 we don't talk 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.099 about God 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:22.879 as Jesus 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:23.399 as if he's 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.039 in the past 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.700 we know 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.099 that he's 00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:25.480 alive 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:28.180 and Jesus 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.160 invites us 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.059 to share 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.160 in his triumph 00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:33.299 he invites us 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.960 to share 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.740 in his triumph 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.259 and he can 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.980 hear us 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.099 when we speak 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.960 and we Christians 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.480 believe 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.640 that one day 00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.620 he will return 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.660 and the work 00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.440 of salvation 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.160 which he had 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.599 begun 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.740 by allowing 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.559 our souls 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.839 to be reconnected 00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.440 to God 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.319 and yet we still 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.920 see things 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.339 which aren't 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:49.940 right in the world 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.900 and the work 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.559 of salvation 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.099 which he has 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.400 begun 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:52.920 by allowing 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.599 our souls 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.319 to be connected 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.799 to God 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.639 that God 00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:56.200 himself 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.899 through the 00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.619 Holy Spirit 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.299 would actually 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:58.839 make his 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.500 home 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.399 within 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.240 mortals 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:01.680 like you 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:01.940 and me 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.579 that one day 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.200 Jesus will 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.659 return 00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:04.659 and fix 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:05.240 the entire 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.039 created order 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.639 and in the meantime 00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:09.159 he invites us 00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:09.720 to share 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.639 in his triumph 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:11.579 and learn 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.180 to live 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:12.740 under 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.720 the kingly 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.480 rule of God 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.460 not now 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.200 purely from 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.680 our own 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.220 strength 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.819 but with 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:19.159 God himself 00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:20.079 the Holy Spirit 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:21.299 actually living 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.779 in us 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.960 let's look 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.519 at a passage 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.180 of scripture 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.799 which talks 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.519 about this 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.200 and it's 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.200 Hebrews chapter 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.759 9 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:30.740 Hebrews chapter 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.279 9 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:36.620 and verses 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:37.400 the sort of 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:38.299 the second half 00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:38.960 of 26 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:39.799 right up 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.240 till the end 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.860 of the chapter 00:24:40.860 --> 00:24:41.900 just two and a half 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:42.380 verses 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:44.960 page 1040 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:47.840 and 00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:53.519 Hebrews 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.799 9 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.900 26 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.400 B 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.539 so to speak 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.140 and so it's 00:24:59.140 --> 00:24:59.660 beginning at the 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.259 third line 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.100 which says this 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:02.299 but now 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:03.259 once 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.059 at the end 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:04.740 of the ages 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:06.079 Jesus has 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.460 appeared 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.480 to put away 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:07.960 sin 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.100 by the 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.620 sacrifice 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.400 of himself 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:12.059 and as it is 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:13.019 appointed for men 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.900 to die once 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.759 but after this 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.359 the judgment 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.440 so Christ 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:16.980 was offered 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.500 once 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.279 to bear 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:18.779 the sins 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.259 of many 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.339 to those 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:21.039 who eagerly 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.900 wait for him 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.940 he will appear 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.000 a second time 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.220 apart from sin 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:26.579 for salvation 00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:28.359 Kendra if you could 00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:28.759 put up the 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.700 final one 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:31.960 so friends 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.400 today we have 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:33.920 a choice 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.779 before us 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:36.019 and this is 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.720 illustrated by 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.240 these two 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.559 dot 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.059 dot 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.980 drawings 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:40.180 on 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:42.160 my 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.440 right 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:42.940 on the 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.539 left hand 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:43.900 side 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.220 as you 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.559 look at 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:44.839 this 00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.779 you see 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.500 the state 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.000 of human 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.380 beings 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.000 apart from 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.460 Christ 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.759 and a little 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.500 tiny crown 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:50.940 over our 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:51.200 heads 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.620 and we go 00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.299 through life 00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.720 and we go 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.200 through world 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.579 saying 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:55.140 we're 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:55.880 going to 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.360 live as if 00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:56.980 God does 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.620 not exist 00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:58.059 and I 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.539 want his 00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.000 job 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:00.620 and on 00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.220 the right 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.519 hand 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.000 side 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.460 is the 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:02.900 person 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.759 who has 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.579 made the 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.099 choice 00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.120 to leave 00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:06.980 the left 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.640 hand side 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:07.960 and move 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.259 to the 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.460 right 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:08.759 hand 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.240 side 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.180 to live 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.840 under the 00:26:10.840 --> 00:26:11.620 kingly 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.000 rule 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.600 of Jesus 00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:13.200 trusting 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.640 Jesus 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.040 as 00:26:14.040 --> 00:26:14.400 savior 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:15.480 and learning 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:15.960 to allow 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.500 him to be 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.940 the Lord 00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:19.220 and the 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.040 gospel message 00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:20.780 is that no 00:26:20.780 --> 00:26:22.300 matter what 00:26:22.300 --> 00:26:23.140 your state 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:23.640 of affairs 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.259 is on the 00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.920 left hand 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.160 Jesus will 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:27.000 never cast 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.500 you out 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.100 and it 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:28.420 is 00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:29.380 it would 00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:29.740 make 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.280 God 00:26:30.280 --> 00:26:31.160 I mean 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:31.840 the Bible 00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:32.360 says that 00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:32.880 the angels 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.340 throw a 00:26:33.340 --> 00:26:33.940 party in 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.280 heaven 00:26:34.280 --> 00:26:36.140 when any 00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:36.860 person 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.859 decides to 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.259 move from 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.639 the left 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.199 hand side 00:26:39.199 --> 00:26:39.659 there to 00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:40.079 the right 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:42.019 and you 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.339 know what 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.679 there is no 00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:44.500 better time 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.319 than today 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.299 to listen 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:46.799 to the 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.299 words and 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:47.799 heed the 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.259 words of 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:48.799 John 3 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.359 16 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.519 for God 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.019 so loved 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.519 the world 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.259 that he 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.639 gave his 00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.019 one and 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.679 only son 00:26:53.679 --> 00:26:54.439 to the end 00:26:54.439 --> 00:26:54.819 that all 00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.399 that believe 00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:56.119 in him 00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:57.059 shall not 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:57.659 perish 00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.679 but have 00:26:58.679 --> 00:26:59.519 eternal 00:26:59.519 --> 00:26:59.959 life 00:26:59.959 --> 00:27:01.139 there is no 00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:01.919 better time 00:27:01.919 --> 00:27:02.519 than right 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:02.919 now 00:27:02.919 --> 00:27:03.779 to move 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.159 from the 00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:04.859 left side 00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.500 to the 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.079 right side 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:06.939 and how 00:27:06.939 --> 00:27:07.159 do you 00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:07.639 do that 00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:09.679 remember I 00:27:09.679 --> 00:27:10.159 said to 00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:10.619 you earlier 00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:11.539 on that 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.759 my life 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.379 was different 00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:13.919 at 3 00:27:13.919 --> 00:27:15.359 55 p.m. 00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:16.480 the 15th 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:16.939 of May 00:27:16.939 --> 00:27:18.159 1981 00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:18.639 than it 00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:19.019 was at 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:20.039 4 0 5 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.619 p.m. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.000 May 15 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.819 1981 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:24.079 and the 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.539 difference 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.319 was five 00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:26.439 simple words 00:27:26.439 --> 00:27:26.980 which I 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.379 said to 00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:27.879 my wife 00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.819 Louise 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:30.299 will you 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:30.919 marry 00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:31.599 me 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.259 and 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:33.699 sometimes 00:27:33.699 --> 00:27:34.319 a few 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.960 words make 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.399 all the 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:35.759 difference 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.060 in the 00:27:36.060 --> 00:27:36.360 world 00:27:36.360 --> 00:27:37.580 and 00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.160 it 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:38.400 you know 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:38.720 it's 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.360 it's 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:39.680 as if 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.300 right now 00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:40.740 God 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.620 through his 00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:42.140 son Jesus 00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:42.700 Christ 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.940 is standing 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.380 at the 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:44.720 at the 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.259 very very 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:45.740 in a sense 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.240 he's standing 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.720 in front 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.000 of you 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.300 and he's 00:27:47.300 --> 00:27:47.740 knocking 00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.300 on the 00:27:48.300 --> 00:27:48.700 door to 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.120 your heart 00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:49.360 and the 00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:49.620 door to 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:50.060 your life 00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:50.940 and he's 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.220 saying 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.100 you know 00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:53.040 I would 00:27:53.040 --> 00:27:53.480 like to 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.080 come in 00:27:54.080 --> 00:27:54.780 and make 00:27:54.780 --> 00:27:55.560 this offer 00:27:55.560 --> 00:27:55.960 of being 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.700 your substitute 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.140 of being 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.820 your savior 00:27:57.820 --> 00:27:58.600 I would 00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.460 like you 00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.120 to enter 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:00.660 into my 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.160 triumph 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:01.680 and Jesus 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.340 stands 00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:02.740 and he 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.060 knocks 00:28:03.060 --> 00:28:03.320 and he 00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:03.600 knocks 00:28:03.600 --> 00:28:03.880 and he 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.259 knocks 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:05.019 and it's 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.400 up to 00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:05.839 us to 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.259 open the 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:06.779 door and 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.240 allow him 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.579 to come 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:07.799 in 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:09.279 and the 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.680 way we 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.140 open the 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:10.440 door of 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:10.900 our hearts 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.259 and allow 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.500 him to 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:11.900 come in 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.359 is to 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:12.680 say a 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:12.980 simple 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.420 prayer to 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:13.720 God 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.480 that involves 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.200 three very 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.900 very simple 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.720 concepts which 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.059 we're all 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.819 familiar with 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.940 sorry 00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:20.339 thank you 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.240 and please 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.660 anybody who 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.200 understand 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:25.579 anybody who 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:25.779 has all 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.000 of the 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.539 power that 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.079 they need 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.620 to ask 00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.019 Jesus 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.039 to move 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.700 from the 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.299 left to 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:30.640 the right 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.380 hand side 00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:31.759 of that 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.220 picture 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.700 and so 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.579 there's no 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.200 better time 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.759 than today 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.940 to say to 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:37.500 God something 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.180 like this 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:39.339 father I am 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:40.839 sorry that I 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.200 have been 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:41.799 living my 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.900 life as if 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.660 I am my 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.120 own God 00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:45.039 or father I 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.740 am sorry that 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.099 I have been 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:46.599 living my 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.380 life apart 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:47.900 from you 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:49.759 and then 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.440 to say to 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:50.700 him 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:52.220 father thank 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.540 you that 00:28:53.540 --> 00:28:54.180 you had a 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.720 plan that 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.280 could save 00:28:55.280 --> 00:28:56.180 me thank 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:56.580 you that 00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:57.080 you sent 00:28:57.080 --> 00:28:57.560 your son 00:28:57.560 --> 00:28:58.840 Jesus to 00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.280 be my 00:28:59.280 --> 00:29:01.780 savior and 00:29:01.780 --> 00:29:02.380 then say 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:04.720 please Jesus 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.860 come into 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:07.560 my life and 00:29:07.560 --> 00:29:08.000 be my 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:10.580 savior make 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:11.080 your home 00:29:11.080 --> 00:29:12.420 within me and 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.060 help me to 00:29:13.060 --> 00:29:14.600 learn to 00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:15.660 live under 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.420 your authority 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:18.180 to say 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:19.460 sorry thank 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:19.980 you and 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.440 please 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:22.539 very few 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:24.160 words it 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.580 can be your 00:29:24.580 --> 00:29:26.080 own words your 00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.600 own way of 00:29:26.600 --> 00:29:27.320 saying sorry 00:29:27.320 --> 00:29:28.259 your own way 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:29.060 of saying thank 00:29:29.060 --> 00:29:29.759 you your own 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.360 way of saying 00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:32.120 please but I 00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:32.680 can tell you 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.080 right now that 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:34.759 no one who 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.539 says that to 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:37.480 God will he 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.180 say no to 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:39.880 you and there 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.320 is no better 00:29:40.320 --> 00:29:41.060 time than right 00:29:41.060 --> 00:29:42.000 now to do 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.220 that could you 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:43.940 please stand 00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:51.519 there's nothing 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.380 magic I'm 00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:52.779 going to I'm 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.160 going to move 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:53.640 over to the 00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:54.259 side here 00:29:54.259 --> 00:30:01.299 there's there's 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.120 nothing magic 00:30:02.120 --> 00:30:03.180 about leaving 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:04.059 your pew and 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.640 there's nothing 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.180 like this I 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.700 just know that 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.580 sometimes it's 00:30:06.580 --> 00:30:07.500 really helpful for 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:09.820 people maybe 00:30:09.820 --> 00:30:10.500 you're not sure 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.000 whether you've 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:11.720 ever done this 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:13.200 before maybe 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.660 you just really 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.500 feel compelled 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.160 in your heart 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:15.539 that you would 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:15.900 like to have 00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.920 some public 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.819 way of acknowledging 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.340 that you would 00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:18.940 like to now 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.960 come to Christ 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:21.340 and I'm going 00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:21.900 to allow a few 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:23.279 seconds and 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.600 if you would 00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:25.220 like to pray 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.600 that prayer I 00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:27.220 invite you to 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.900 come up to the 00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:29.180 front and I'm 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:29.400 not going to do 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:29.799 anything to 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.580 embarrass you other 00:30:30.580 --> 00:30:31.180 than the fact that 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.019 I invite you to 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.420 come to the 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.299 front and I 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.900 will say the 00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:35.620 prayer slowly and 00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:37.640 you are free to 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:39.380 repeat the words 00:30:39.380 --> 00:30:42.120 after me and 00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:42.939 there's no better 00:30:42.939 --> 00:30:43.639 time than today 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:44.099 to give your 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:44.819 life to Christ 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:47.099 and so I'm 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.359 just going to 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:47.839 have a few 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:48.739 moments of 00:30:48.739 --> 00:30:49.319 silence if 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.759 you'd like to 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.279 come forward 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.939 you can 00:30:50.939 --> 00:30:52.559 if you're not 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.079 sure if you 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.599 can come 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.139 forward you're 00:30:54.139 --> 00:30:54.659 free to remain 00:30:54.659 --> 00:30:55.299 in your seats 00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:55.859 and say the 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.279 prayer from 00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:56.639 there but it 00:30:56.639 --> 00:30:57.059 can be very 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.819 powerful to 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.439 come forward 00:30:58.440 --> 00:31:13.519 lid 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:15.259 hij 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:44.640 Wherever you're standing, if this is the prayer of your heart, 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:47.320 just repeat silently the words after me. 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:51.080 He said, you can use your own words, but if you're not sure about your own words, 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:54.480 you can just borrow mine and make them your own. 00:31:58.820 --> 00:32:05.020 Father, I am sorry that I have lived apart from you, 00:32:07.800 --> 00:32:09.520 turned my back on you. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:15.519 Thank you, Father, that you love me. 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:20.440 Thank you for sending Jesus. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:26.279 Thank you for sending a Savior. 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:33.759 Please, Jesus, come to me. 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:38.559 Come into my life. 00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:42.379 Be my Savior. 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:45.220 Be my Lord. 00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:50.539 Thank you that you will never leave. 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:59.740 Pour your Holy Spirit upon me today. 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:08.079 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:15.339 Father, I thank you for the gift of your Son and the working of your Holy Spirit. 00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:18.599 May your Holy Spirit fall afresh upon each of us. 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:21.299 Those of us who have given our lives to Christ, 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:25.659 may your Holy Spirit fall afresh upon us and draw us ever closer to yourself. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:28.839 And those fathers still seeking after you, 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:32.960 may your Holy Spirit move and work within them to draw them closer to yourself. 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:35.079 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:35.980 Amen. 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:39.480 Amen. 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:39.879 Amen. 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:40.699 Amen. 00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:41.679 Amen. 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.720 Amen. 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:43.799 Amen. 00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.199 Amen. 00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:44.879 Amen. 00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:45.919 Amen. 00:34:01.439 --> 00:34:01.939 Amen. 00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:02.699 Amen. 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.339 Amen. 00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:04.419 Amen. 00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:04.759 Amen. 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.299 Amen. 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:05.319 Amen. 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:05.359 Amen. 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:05.879 Amen. 00:34:05.879 --> 00:34:05.919 Amen.