Participants: Frank Fournier
Series Code: HPOV
Program Code: HPOV000015A
00:01 Hello, my name is Frank Fournier.
00:03 I'm here to welcome you to Heaven's Point of View. 00:05 We started a lesson 00:07 on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. 00:09 Today is lesson two, go get your Bible, 00:11 come and meet with us, there's a blessings in it. 00:43 Thank you for coming and joining us. 00:45 Turn your Bibles, turn to yours Bibles 00:47 if you will Galatians Chapter 6 00:49 we are going to be reading verse 3 in just a minute. 00:53 In our last study we saw that a certain man had two sons. 00:57 The certain man represents God 00:59 the two sons represent the human race. 01:02 One of the sons is lost in the world 01:04 and perhaps you and I can understand 01:06 something like that we probably have been there. 01:09 The other son however was in the church. 01:12 And because he was in the church 01:13 he thought himself saved, 01:16 he thought that that's all that it took, 01:18 he thought that his good behavior 01:20 would get him merits with God 01:21 and we found out 01:23 that it's not enough to be religious. 01:26 As a matter of fact I have a question to ask you. 01:29 How much confidence would you put in nothing? 01:33 Well, I assume you wouldn't put much confidence in it. 01:36 Turn with me to Galatians Chapter 6 01:39 we're going to look at verse 3. 01:44 "For if a man thinks himself to be something, 01:48 when he is nothing, he deceives himself." 01:53 Do you know friends, 01:54 that this is the very basis for all deceptions? 01:58 Did you know that if we had no confidence in ourselves 02:01 we could not be deceived? 02:03 Perhaps that's an exaggeration I don't know, 02:05 but let me tell you something 02:06 because we put confidence on ourselves 02:09 we set ourselves up to be deceived. 02:12 If a man thinks himself to be something, 02:14 when he is nothing, he deceives himself." 02:18 And of course, this was the problem 02:20 with the elder brother 02:21 in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. 02:24 Now I would like to tell you a little story. 02:27 As a matter of fact before I do, 02:30 do you know that the very central theme 02:34 of the Bible says this. 02:37 This is found 02:40 "Cursed it is the man, the trust in man." 02:42 Cursed is the man, that trust in himself 02:44 or in any other man for that matter, 02:47 but blessed it is the man, that trusts in God. 02:53 In 1987, my wife and I were asked 02:58 to take up a ministry in Zambia in Africa. 03:02 We were in Zambia for one year, 03:04 after one year we received the call 03:06 to go to a little country called Lesotho. 03:08 I don't know if you've ever heard of Lesotho 03:10 but Lesotho is a little landlocked country 03:13 in South Africa. 03:14 So you have the South Africa the country 03:16 and in the middle of it 03:17 there is a little country called Lesotho. 03:19 A doctor as a matter of fact two doctors, 03:21 Dr Rick and Lorna Lukens had been in Africa for 14 years 03:27 and they started a little mission 03:29 in a valley called Senqunyane in Lesotho. 03:32 Well, their children had become teenagers 03:34 and because they were teenagers 03:36 they thought that their children 03:37 needed to go to school in America. 03:40 Well, my children had become teenagers 03:43 and I thought that they needed an education in the third world. 03:48 And so we made our way to Africa 03:50 while they were making their way to America. 03:54 When we arrived in Lesotho the chiefs in the valley 03:58 there were about 3,000 people. 04:00 The chiefs called a meeting and they said to us listen, 04:03 the only reason we allowed a white man 04:06 to be here in this valley 04:07 is because he's a doctor and he opened the clinic. 04:10 Now he's leaving and he's bringing in another family 04:13 and we want to say to you that the only reason 04:16 that we would allow a different family to live in this valley 04:19 would be if they kept the clinic going. 04:23 Well, friends, no problem 04:25 my wife has a grade ten education 04:27 and I have a grade ten education that's 20 years between us. 04:30 Surely we can keep a clinic going. 04:32 Well, no, no, it doesn't work that way 04:35 and I understand that it doesn't. 04:36 But we are in Africa at that time 04:39 and there were certain needs there, 04:41 so we said yes we will keep the clinic going. 04:43 We were in touch with Maluti Hospital 04:45 and if anything happen that we just couldn't handle 04:48 we could get some help from there, 04:49 so we agreed to do it. 04:53 Now all this is background. 04:56 One night it's about midnight 04:58 and my wife and I are sleeping 04:59 and all of sudden we heard a rocket outside. 05:02 We didn't know what was going on, 05:03 but you have to understand 05:04 Lesotho is called the kingdom in the sky. 05:07 It's because it's situated on top of the Drakensberg 05:10 or the Maluti mountains 05:11 depending on which side of the mountains you are. 05:13 And my drive way was very, very steep 05:18 I had cemented two tracks so that I could come in and out. 05:20 I had to only pickup in the whole valley. 05:24 And so it was very difficult to get out of there. 05:26 But what was happening was an ox cart 05:29 was coming down the drive way 05:31 and it was making a lot of noise. 05:34 My wife and I got dressed we went outside to see 05:37 who it was and what they wanted. 05:39 And it turned out that 05:40 there was a pregnant woman in this ox cart. 05:43 And this pregnant woman said to my wife, 05:45 you must deliver my baby. 05:48 Now my wife said, 05:51 I've never delivered a baby before. 05:53 I don't know how to deliver babies. 05:56 Why don't you go on to the hospital 05:57 it's about 12 kilometers away 05:59 and they can deliver the baby there. 06:01 But the lady said, well, sorry, but it's too late. 06:04 I'm in an ox cart I don't have enough time 06:06 to get to the hospital you must deliver my baby. 06:10 So I went in to the library that Dr. Lukens had left 06:14 and I found the book there and in the book 06:15 I found the chapter that said how to deliver babies. 06:18 Well, that was wonderful. 06:19 I lit all the lanterns, we had no electricity, 06:22 I boiled water, 06:23 I didn't know that you didn't need to boil water 06:25 to deliver babies, but they do in the movies 06:27 and so I boiled water. 06:29 I gave my wife the book and with the book in one hand 06:32 my wife delivered her very first baby 06:35 with the other hand. 06:38 Now here's a question. 06:39 Here's the point of the whole thing. 06:41 Do you know that we were in Africa for 10 years? 06:45 Do you know that my wife delivered 06:46 one, two, three, four, five babies 06:49 every week for 10 years? 06:51 How many babies is that we never counted them. 06:54 But I can tell you this, my wife never lost one baby. 07:00 Do you know why she never lost one baby? 07:03 Because she didn't know how to deliver babies 07:05 and every time she saw someone coming 07:08 she would get on her knees and she would say, 07:09 Lord, I'm here to help people, 07:12 I'm not here to hurt people, 07:13 I've never been trained as a midwife, 07:15 I don't know what I'm doing, 07:17 don't send these people here 07:19 unless you send wisdom with the people. 07:21 And in 10 years she never lost one. 07:25 She even delivered one of our grandchildren. 07:27 Yeah, yeah. 07:29 This is an example of the plan of salvation. 07:33 She didn't know how and yet she never lost one. 07:38 We can't save ourselves, we can't heal ourselves, 07:41 but we need not be lost. 07:46 Turn with me to Luke 15 07:49 we are studying the Parable of the Prodigal Son together. 07:53 So we were in Luke Chapter 15. 07:54 Yesterday we looked at verse 11 07:57 and in verse 11 of course 07:59 we saw that a certain man had two sons. 08:01 Now we're going to verse 12 in Luke Chapter 15. 08:07 "And the younger of them said to his father, 08:09 Father, give me the portion of goods that fall to me." 08:14 And so here we have it. 08:15 Is a young man we don't know how old he is, 08:18 all we know is that he's young 08:20 and he's asking his father for his inheritance. 08:24 Now in that culture, 08:25 that would have been a terrible insult to the father. 08:27 Its equivalent to saying dad, I wish you were dead, 08:30 because I want my inheritance now. 08:33 If you had been the father of that boy 08:35 what would you have said? 08:37 What would common sense had said? 08:39 Well, obviously you'd put your arm around the boy 08:42 and you would say listen kid, I love you. 08:44 You know that I love you but you're very young, 08:48 you're immature, you have no experience 08:50 and I have put all kinds of money into this, 08:54 I have invested all kinds of efforts into this, 08:56 I have built up an empire. 08:58 How can I put this empire in the hands 09:01 of one who has invested no sweat, 09:03 no blood, no tears? 09:04 As a matter of fact it's all yours anyway, 09:06 it's yours when I die. 09:08 The only problem is of course I ain't dead yet see. 09:11 Now wouldn't that have been the right thing to say? 09:16 Wouldn't common sense have said that? 09:19 Oh, I hope so at least in your mind, 09:22 but I want you to notice 09:23 what the father in the Parable says to his son. 09:27 This is the last half of verse 12 now. 09:30 We're in Luke Chapter 15 and it says 09:35 "And He the Father divided unto them his living." 09:40 Now don't miss what's happening here. 09:42 We're studying the Gospel here, 09:44 we're studying the plan of salvation. 09:46 This is not just common sense. 09:48 God sense is anything but common. 09:52 And so where we would with hold He gives 09:55 and it has to be that way don't you understand, 09:58 God is not trying to tell us by giving us this parable 10:01 that we need to put aside common sense. 10:03 This is not the point of the parable. 10:06 God is trying to tell us 10:07 that unless God's steps into the picture, 10:10 unless God does something we cannot be saved. 10:14 And so in the parable the Father does something 10:16 which would be contrary to our common sense, 10:19 He gives us something. 10:25 When the Father gave his living what was He giving? 10:29 Well, if you spiritualize this parable 10:34 you would go to John 3:16 10:38 " God so loved the world, 10:40 that He gave His only begotten Son." 10:42 Everyone knows that verse and it's true. 10:45 Do you know what God has given 10:47 when He gave His Son? 10:48 I'm gonna ask you to turn with me 10:50 to Romans Chapter 8, 10:52 turn with me to Romans Chapter 8 10:54 and I want you to see 10:56 what God gave when He gave His Son. 10:59 Look at Romans Chapter 8 11:02 and we're going to look at verse 32. 11:03 This an amazing verse and by the way friends, 11:06 if you could ring up your faith to the point 11:10 where you can accept every word 11:12 we're about to read you will have all things. 11:15 Look at it this is Romans Chapter 8 11:18 we're looking at verse 32. 11:21 "He that spared not his own Son" Talking about the Father. 11:25 "But delivered him up for us all." 11:27 Now notice for whom he delivered him. 11:30 He delivered him up for us all. 11:32 Did God delivered His Son for the Christian? 11:35 Oh, no. No, no. 11:36 God so loved the world He gave His Son. 11:39 He gave His Son to the whole world. 11:41 Now notice what the rest of the verse says. 11:46 "How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" 11:53 Do you know that you have all things today? 11:57 Does it feel like you have all things today? 12:02 Well, I don't know what you're feeling. 12:04 I don't care what you're feeling. 12:05 The word of God says that with His Son 12:08 He has freely given you all things. 12:11 You know, there was a time 12:15 when I truly, truly wished that I could be a millionaire. 12:19 Now I'm sure I'm not alone in this thing. 12:21 And it was very difficult in my mind 12:24 to come to grips with the idea 12:26 that some people could be so wealthy 12:28 and I could be so poor. 12:30 And I really wished that I also could be a millionaire. 12:33 Well, friends, I don't wish this any more because I am. 12:36 Do you see it in the verse, 12:39 with His Son He has freely giving me all things. 12:41 Now its true the money isn't in my pocket, 12:44 the money isn't in an account under my name, 12:47 I understand all of that but it doesn't matter 12:50 because there is a verse in the Bible. 12:52 Philippians 4:19 doesn't it say 12:55 "My God shall supply all your needs." 12:58 Isn't that true? 12:59 If God has promised to supply all our needs 13:02 do you need anything more than that? 13:04 Oh, friends, from the soul that feels 13:07 his need nothing is with held this is the promise of God. 13:10 What a blessing it is 13:12 and today I don't have to envy anyone 13:14 who has the money in their pockets. 13:16 I don't care because when I have a need I have a God. 13:20 And because I have a God who has made this promise 13:22 I can go to Him on my knees and say Father, you promised 13:26 and He will give me that which I need. 13:28 He doesn't always give me that which I want of course, 13:31 but He does give me that which I need. 13:34 Turn with me now to 1 John Chapter 5 this is-- 13:39 this is that little John in the back of the Bible 13:42 we're going to go to chapter 5 13:43 and our friendly Baptist friends really make hey of this verse 13:48 and rightly they should, 13:49 because it's one of the most beautiful verses 13:51 in the Bible. 13:53 So we're in the 1 John Chapter 5 13:54 we're looking at verse 11. 13:56 And it says there "This is the record, 13:59 that God has given to us eternal life." 14:02 Well, with His Son He's given us all things. 14:04 Do you know that God has given to the whole world eternal life? 14:07 It's true He's proffered to them. 14:11 Yeah. 14:12 But there is a caveat, there is. 14:15 Look at verse 12 it tells us how we need to relate to this. 14:18 Look at verse 12, "He that has the Son has life, 14:23 he that have not the Son of God have not life." 14:27 This is how we're meant to relate to this thing. 14:29 Well, it's true. 14:31 Friends, God does not separate His gift 14:34 and give us money as I would do it. 14:37 I could take $20 out of my pocket and give it to you. 14:39 I could walk in one direction you could walk in another. 14:42 I may never see you again, I may never see the $20 again. 14:45 But God doesn't operate that way. 14:47 God has given to us every gift that we could possibly want, 14:51 but the gift is in His Son. 14:53 He does not separate the gift from His Son. 14:56 And so the question now is, 14:58 do you have the Son? 15:00 Friends, I hope so. I truly, truly hope so. 15:04 This is what we want, this is what we need. 15:07 I'd like to have to turn with me to Genesis Chapter 2. 15:11 We're in Genesis Chapter 2 15:12 and we're going to begin 15:13 taking a little look at the plan of salvation. 15:16 We need to explain this thing to ourselves sometimes 15:18 and I don't know you may have been Christian for 50 years 15:22 and I don't care, truly it's still bears 15:25 looking into this thing will never understand it at all. 15:28 In Genesis Chapter 2 15:29 God has just finished creating the world, 15:31 He put our first parents in the garden there 15:34 and in the garden He provided for everything for them 15:37 everything they could possibly need. 15:40 But now He began to reason they have everything 15:44 how can they prove that they love Me 15:47 if there is no way of doing anything contrary to My will. 15:50 And so for that I will give them just a little test. 15:54 And it was barely a test at all there was plenty of fruit trees, 15:57 there were plenty of food there they didn't need this, 15:59 but God said from a certain tree 16:01 you shouldn't eat from it. 16:03 While here we are, we're in Genesis Chapter 2 16:05 we're looking at verse 17. 16:08 "But of the tree of the knowledge 16:09 of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, 16:12 for in the day that thou eat there of thou shalt surely die." 16:18 Now does God mean what He says? 16:22 Does God say what He means to say? 16:25 Did He actually say that in the day 16:27 that you eat there off you will surely die? 16:30 Friends, did Adam and Eve eat from that tree? 16:33 Did they die in that day that's the question? 16:39 Well, you know there's three answers to that. 16:41 And every time I share this with other people 16:44 everyone comes up with the three answers 16:46 and the three answers are right. 16:47 Somebody will say well, they began to die. 16:50 Well, that's true. 16:51 Adam lived 930 years after he ate or at least 16:55 that was his age when he died in any case. 16:58 And so he began to die that day. 17:00 Someone else would say yes 17:01 but we died spiritually that day. 17:03 And that's true also 17:05 if you look at Ephesians Chapter 2 17:07 it says that we are, 17:08 we are dead in sin and trespasses 17:10 when we are in our carnal nature. 17:12 Isn't that King David who said that we are conceived in sin, 17:16 born in inequity or the other way around? 17:18 And anyway it means the same thing. 17:21 And also the third answer is, 17:24 no, Adam and Eve did not die that day. 17:28 What God was saying to them 17:30 was when you disobey Me, when you fail to trust Me, 17:33 when you don't want to believe Me, 17:35 when you believe someone else 17:37 then I will send you back where I got you. 17:39 And do you know where He got them? 17:41 Well, as far as I know they didn't exist before. 17:43 And He meant to send them back. 17:47 Yeah. 17:49 Why didn't they die? 17:52 Does that make God a liar? 17:54 I mean, does God's is He like a permissive parent? 17:58 Does He say something and then 17:59 when the kids disobey when they went oh, 18:01 well, I promised you spanking, but I let you go this time. 18:05 No, no, no, no, God means exactly what He says. 18:08 So why did they not die that day? 18:11 Do you know that the answer is Revelation Chapter 13? 18:15 Go with me to the Revelation Chapter 13. 18:17 It always strikes me when I talk about this 18:19 that we ask this question in Genesis Chapter 2 18:22 and we can't find the answer 18:23 until we hit Revelation Chapter 13. 18:27 It's also a very strange place in which to find this answer 18:32 because Revelation Chapter 13 18:34 is about beasts and images to the beasts 18:37 and the number of his name and 666 18:39 and all of these symbolisms 18:40 that many people do not understand. 18:42 Why should the answer be there? 18:45 Well, we're in Genesis Chapter 13 18:47 and we're looking at verse 8 here. 18:50 Notice what it says. 18:54 "And all that dwell upon the earth 18:55 shall worship him, 18:57 whose names are not written in the book of life." 18:59 Now watch "Of the lamb slain 19:03 from the foundation of the world." 19:07 Who's the lamb? Why Jesus is. 19:11 When was He slain? 19:13 Well, it says here He was slain at the very beginning 19:16 and the very foundation of the world. 19:18 Now wait a minute, 19:19 I thought He was crucified just 2,000 years ago 19:22 and isn't that where He was-- when He was slain. 19:24 Well, yes for sure, 19:26 He was slain 2,000 years at the cross of Calvary 19:28 but friends, let me tell you 19:30 the pain that He suffered on the cross 2,000 years ago 19:33 did not begin 2,000 years ago. 19:36 It began with the very inception of sin. 19:40 And friends, the minute there was a sinner 19:43 there was a savior. 19:45 When Adam took a bite of that apple 19:47 God true to His word, 19:49 send the blow to put Adam out of his misery, 19:52 but Jesus stood between Adam 19:55 and the blow that was coming from heaven 19:57 took the blow upon Himself and became the Lamb slain 20:01 from the foundation of the world. 20:06 What would have happened to you and to me 20:10 had Adam been killed that day? 20:13 Why? 20:14 We wouldn't be here. 20:16 Do you know that the only reason 20:18 that you have life today 20:19 is because of the cross of Calvary? 20:22 Do you know that it had there been no cross 20:24 there had been no life and it goes deeper than that. 20:28 Do you know that every loafer bread is stamped 20:30 with the cross of Calvary? 20:31 Do you know that every drink of water 20:33 is stamped with the cross of Calvary? 20:35 Everything that you enjoy 20:37 is stamped with the cross of Calvary, 20:39 because you would enjoy none of it. 20:40 Adam and Eve sinned and in sinning 20:43 they forfeited every blessing of God. 20:46 Well, friends, you and I-- 20:48 well, Adam and Eve are not the only ones who have sinned, 20:50 you and I have sinned and we have done our share 20:53 in forfeiting all the blessings. 20:57 But did you eat today? 20:58 Did it taste good? 21:01 Have you been breathing air today? 21:04 Do you have a wife? Do you have children? 21:06 Do you have a husband? 21:08 Do you enjoy anything? 21:09 Do you know that in this world 21:11 we enjoy all kinds of things 21:13 whether we are a sinner 21:14 or whether we are a saved sinner? 21:18 We enjoy things in this world 21:19 because Jesus went to the cross of Calvary. 21:22 I often think if Hitler had known this wonderful fact 21:27 would he had done what he did? 21:30 Do you know that Hitler enjoyed all kinds of things? 21:32 There's no doubt in my mind that he enjoyed a good meal. 21:35 He had a girlfriend her name was Eva Braun. 21:37 There's no doubt he enjoyed her and there are many things 21:40 that he might have enjoyed in his life. 21:42 Isn't that amazing that God would give to Hitler 21:45 a blessing and blessing and more blessing? 21:49 Why would he do that? 21:50 It hardly makes sense doesn't it? 21:52 Because he was such an evil man. 21:55 But friends, Jesus went to the cross 21:57 with every man's sins. 21:59 Jesus paid the penalty for every man 22:01 whether his sin is in the past, the present or the future 22:04 Jesus paid the penalty 22:06 and turns around and gives to every soul 22:08 a huge blessing of bloodbath at the cross of Calvary. 22:14 Now why would He do that? 22:18 Turn with me to the Romans Chapter 2, 22:21 Romans Chapter 2 22:23 and I want you to see the answer to that questions. 22:26 It is so plain that you can't miss it. 22:28 We're in Romans Chapter 2 22:30 and this is from the Apostle Paul 22:33 and he puts it in the form of a question. 22:35 Look at verse 4 Romans Chapter 2 22:37 we're looking at verse 4. 22:39 "Do you despise the riches of his goodness." 22:42 Now friends, you can't get any gooder. 22:44 Forgive my English but this is the way I see it. 22:47 God so loved the world that with His Son 22:49 He has freely given us all things 22:51 you can't get any better and it says here 22:54 "Do you despises that kind of goodness 22:56 and forbearance and long suffering, 22:58 don't you know that the goodness of God 23:01 is meant to lead you to repentance." 23:05 When the Father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son 23:08 gave his Son his inheritance he gave him a gift. 23:11 Do you know that there is a message 23:12 in every gift that his given? 23:14 Have you ever given a gift? 23:17 What do you say in the gifts 23:19 that you give isn't it I love you 23:24 and when the father in the parable 23:25 gave his inheritance it was meant to say to the Prodigal Son 23:28 I love you turn your heart toward home. 23:33 This is what repentance is by the way, 23:36 and this is why God has been willing to freely 23:39 give us all things. 23:42 Now, some of you may be saying 23:47 if I have everything why do I feel so deprived? 23:53 Why do I feel so poor? 23:55 Why do I have so little money in my account? 23:57 Why so few brains in my head? 23:59 Why so little power in my influence? 24:01 Why do I feel so sick? 24:04 How can this guy preach such abundance 24:07 when I feel so deprived? 24:09 Do you know the answer to that question? 24:11 Well, friends, the answer is in 2 Corinthians 5:7. 24:15 It says there "That we need to live 24:17 by faith and not by sight." 24:20 What's wrong with sight? 24:22 Do you have a sight? 24:24 Well, what's wrong with sight is that 24:25 we see things only under surface 24:27 that as far as where our sights can penetrate. 24:30 You may see a beautiful lady 24:31 and you may think what a doll. 24:34 And you may wish that she is as beautiful inside 24:36 as she is outside, but she may not be 24:39 we cannot tell just by looking at a person externally. 24:43 And so it is with everything 24:45 that we look at all we see is the surface of things, 24:49 but faith is different. 24:52 Faith can penetrate to internal realities. 24:57 I like to illustrate that. 25:00 This way I have a little acorn here, 25:05 it's full of life. 25:06 Here you are here's a little acorn. 25:07 I don't know if you can see this on the screen 25:09 it's pretty small. 25:11 Now usually I ask the question 25:14 what do you see 25:15 and the people will automatically respond 25:17 and say I see an acorn. 25:20 And then I'd say well, now if you had faith 25:23 what would you see and someone will invariably say 25:26 I see a oak tree. 25:28 Can you imagine there is an oak tree in this little seed? 25:30 That's the truth. 25:32 But if you had more faith what would you see? 25:35 Wouldn't you see a whole forest? 25:37 Should you plant this acorn? 25:40 Wouldn't there be an oak tree to grow? 25:42 And wouldn't it drop more acorns 25:44 and more oak trees and more acorns 25:46 and more oak trees 25:47 until you could have a whole forest. 25:49 And not only that don't you see the furniture? 25:51 Don't you see the baluster? 25:53 Don't you see the toilet paper 25:55 whatever it is that can come out of here 25:57 do you see it? 25:58 Friends, it's a miracle as far as I'm concerned, 26:00 how can all of that come out of this little seed 26:03 a whole forest and tons and tons of furniture 26:07 it just doesn't make sense but that's the way it is. 26:10 That's exactly the way it is. 26:11 Do you know that God's gifts are in His seeds? 26:17 Do you know that His seeds are His promises? 26:19 Do you know that the seeds are in His Bible? 26:21 And where is the Bible? 26:23 Isn't it in your hand? 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Revised 2014-12-17