Participants: Pr. Louis Torres
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000714
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01:00 Welcome to "Digging Up the Future"
01:02 Bible Prophecy Exposed. 01:03 We're glad each of you are here this evening. 01:07 Are you glad to be here? All right. 01:10 I'm glad that you're here. 01:12 And you know, we have- 01:14 we have been studying about many different things 01:16 but tonight we're gonna be considering pain and suffering. 01:20 Why do good things or bad things 01:22 rather happen to good people? 01:23 What about human suffering? 01:25 What does the Book of Revelation 01:26 had to say about it? 01:27 I don't about you but if we're considering 01:29 subjects like that, there's a lot of people 01:31 that feel very strongly about that subject. 01:33 Isn't that right? 01:35 I mean, so we need to pray 01:36 that the Lord's spirit will be here especially 01:38 because I believe that for us here, 01:41 I'm sure there's someone here that has that question 01:43 and then those watching as well. 01:44 So let's bow our heads 01:46 and just invite God's presence this evening. 01:48 Father in heaven, You are the God of the good. 01:53 We get the word good from You 01:55 and good bye and God be with you. 01:58 But when we think about things that are, are bad 02:01 we sometimes don't know what to do and we are troubled. 02:05 Sometimes we think very bad things about You. 02:10 Tonight we want to kind of unpack that. 02:11 That we ask that Your spirit will be with us, 02:14 be with our speaker, give him just Your spirit 02:17 as he deals with this important subject 02:20 and we come in Christ name, amen. 02:23 Well, I'm thankful Jesus is coming again. 02:25 Aren't you? 02:26 Let's stand together and sing "Marvelous Message We Bring." 02:40 Marvelous message we bring 02:44 Glorious carol we sing 02:48 Wonderful word of the King 02:51 Jesus is coming again 02:55 Coming again, coming again 03:02 Maybe morning, maybe noon 03:06 Maybe evening, and maybe soon 03:10 Coming again, coming again 03:17 Oh what a wonderful day that will be 03:23 Jesus is coming again 03:31 Can be seated. 03:32 Man, you sound wonderful. 03:34 And do you believe it? 03:35 Do you believe Jesus is coming again? 03:37 Amen. I believe it's true. 03:39 Well, Chris Albrecht our trumpetist 03:42 is going to come and play for us. 03:45 Anthea is going to accompany him as they, 03:47 they play and reflect on "The Love of God." 07:42 Amen and amen. 07:44 You just sit and listen to that all night long, could you? 07:47 It's wonderful. 07:49 Thank you so much, Chris and Anthea. 07:51 Let us pray together again as we go into the subject. 07:53 Father in heaven, thank You for Your revelations 07:56 concerning all that trouble us, 07:58 and also all that brings us hope. 08:00 Bless us as we study now in Jesus name, amen. 08:06 As I was mentioning in another segment, 08:10 the Twin Towers had took place. 08:14 We were at a time in South Dakota. 08:17 We had no idea what was going on 08:20 and the phone rang and there was a 08:23 friend of ours from Australia. 08:26 And he called and said 08:28 what in the world is going on up there? 08:31 And my wife said, what are you talking about, Bruce? 08:34 Turn on the television he said on the phone. 08:36 And so my wife turned on the television 08:39 to see the second plane hit the towers. 08:44 Obviously it was something that no one anticipated at least 08:48 as far as we know 08:52 but it was a tremendous disaster. 08:54 I remember going there right after 08:57 to Twin Towers to help out 09:01 and it was a very, very sobering moment 09:09 for people in New York. 09:12 People in New York are pretty hard cored people. 09:18 I know because I grew up there. 09:20 And you deal with so much in New York 09:23 that you pretty much become hard shell. 09:29 And it takes a lot to move people in New York. 09:34 But that devastation made a lot of people sober 09:38 and the lot of people begin to ask questions. 09:41 Why? Why did it happen? 09:45 And what does it mean? 09:47 I should tell you that I read a book 09:50 that was written back in about 1901. 09:55 And it's interesting that the page number of it- 09:59 it happened to be volume 9, page 11. 10:04 What did I say? 10:06 It was volume 9 and page 11. 10:10 And the author was writing about 10:12 seeing some buildings in New York. 10:17 She specifically mentions New York 10:20 and saying that the fireman tried to turn out the fire, 10:26 but it was of no avail. 10:30 The author writes that it was like pitch, 10:35 the buildings went up in fire 10:38 and the fireman all they could do 10:39 is stand there and watch. 10:43 And the author was writing about buildings 10:46 that just went up and up and up skyscrapers. 10:50 There's no question friends, 10:53 that God still thus reveals 10:59 what is about to take place. 11:01 But listen, tonight we're going to study 11:04 this particular subject 11:05 on why is it that so much suffering takes place? 11:10 Why is it that the good suffer, 11:13 the holy, the innocent. 11:16 Sometimes the good suffer for the bad 11:20 or with the bad or by the bad. 11:25 Why is it that good honest people suffer? 11:30 Why is it that honest fathers and mothers? 11:34 Why is it that innocent children suffer? 11:37 These questions cause concern. 11:41 Many people are seeking to financers 11:43 and the more that we reach 11:45 the closing times of earth's history, 11:48 the more disastrous that we see, 11:51 the more questions that will be raised. 11:55 Is that true? 11:58 You think of the devastations that some of these tornados 12:03 or some of these hurricanes or earthquakes 12:10 and then some of these diseases 12:11 that are lurking here and there. 12:16 There's trouble everywhere. 12:17 There seems to be a dark, 12:19 dark shadow on planet earth. 12:25 And the question is if God is so good 12:30 then why does He permit evil? 12:34 If God is really in control, 12:37 why does He allow things to happen? 12:41 I remember my mother asking that question often 12:46 because there are many things that happened to her. 12:51 As I think about my poor mother 12:54 who was abandoned by her husband, 12:58 left with six children to rise by herself 13:03 and then she had cancer 13:05 and she prayed that somehow 13:07 God would have mercy on her and let her live until 13:10 we could take care of ourselves. 13:13 And then after that it was arthritis 13:16 and then cancer again. 13:19 And mother would just plagued with the lot of suffering, 13:22 a lot of things that happened in her life. 13:25 And there's no question 13:28 that in her mind there was that thought. 13:35 Why is it? 13:39 The Bible reveals where evil came from. 13:43 And in the Bible, if you have your Bibles 13:47 let us turn to Matthew 13:24-30. 13:52 And we find there a parable. 13:56 And this particular parable in Matthew Chapter 13, 14:00 Jesus is talking about some seeds 14:04 that are being sown. 14:08 If you notice in verse 24 it says, 14:12 "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man 14:14 which sowed good seed in the field" 14:16 Do you see that? 14:18 And if you read through the parable 14:19 and you see that it says, 14:21 "But while men slept, his enemy came 14:23 and sowed tares among the wheat, 14:25 and went his way. 14:27 But when the blade was sprung up, 14:29 and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 14:32 So the servants of the householder 14:34 came and said unto him, 14:35 Sir, did not we sow good seed in thy field? 14:39 From whence then hath it tares?" 14:42 And verse 28 it says, who has done it? 14:45 "An enemy hath done this. 14:50 The servants said unto him, 14:51 wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 14:55 But he said, Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, 14:58 ye root up also the wheat with them." 15:01 Notice it says then that the good seed was sown 15:06 but once it began to grow, what also showed up? 15:10 Tares. 15:12 And the question was then, 15:13 where that these tares come from? 15:16 "So the servants of the householder 15:18 came and said unto them, do you want us to buckle up?" 15:22 Where did they come from? 15:24 Well, you remember the answer. 15:27 An enemy have done this. 15:29 Now later on, when the disciples were by- 15:33 well, Jesus by themselves 15:35 then that Jesus began to explain the parable. 15:38 And if you notice in verse 37 15:41 He said, "Unto to them, 15:42 He who sows the good seed" is who? 15:46 "The Son of Man." 15:47 So who created this world? 15:51 The Son of Man. 15:52 What did the Son of Man plant on this earth? 15:55 Good or bad seed? 15:57 Good seed. 15:59 Was Adam and Eve created bad or created good? 16:02 They were created good. 16:03 In fact if you read verse 31 of Genesis Chapter 1 it says, 16:06 "Behold everything was not just good but very good." 16:11 And so God created everything good 16:14 and planted good people on planet earth. 16:17 So then the parable is illustrating the reality 16:20 that the Creator put good things here 16:22 but then an enemy sowed what? 16:25 Tares. 16:27 And enemy sowed what? 16:28 Tares. 16:29 In verse 38 "The field is the" what? 16:33 "The world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, 16:38 but the tares are the sons" of whom? 16:41 "Of the wicked one." 16:43 And verse 39 it says, 16:45 "The enemy who sowed them is" who? 16:48 There you have it. 16:49 So according to the scriptures then, 16:51 did God create a bad world? 16:53 What's the answer? 16:55 No. 16:56 According to the scriptures God created a good world. 16:59 But also according to the scriptures 17:01 God says that the tares were also sown 17:05 and the question is where do they come from? 17:07 Who sowed them? 17:09 And the answer is who? 17:10 The devil. 17:12 Now the question is who is the devil then? 17:16 What is he? 17:17 There are lots of people who believe there's a devil. 17:20 You know, that, right? 17:23 They think it's just a figment of the imagination. 17:29 But the Bible speaks about the devil 17:32 and in fact the Bible gives him several names. 17:36 I want you to know notice various names 17:38 in the scriptures that the devil has. 17:42 Notice that he is called the devil, okay. 17:46 He is called Satan. 17:48 He's called Lucifer, the Dragon, 17:50 Serpent, Beelzebub, 17:51 Angel of the bottomless pit, 17:54 Abaddon, Belial, Apollyon, 17:57 Lier, Adversary, Roaring Lion, 18:00 Deceiver, Murderer, 18:02 Accuser of the brethren, Covering Cherub, 18:04 Prince of the power of the air, The tempter. 18:09 Those are many names. 18:11 Now we think of names, 18:13 the reasons why many names are given. 18:15 It's because in the scriptures and then in the ancient times 18:18 when people are given the name, 18:20 a significant of their character 18:22 or a particular characteristic that they had. 18:24 The Native Americans used to do that. 18:26 Here in this country they wouldn't give names 18:29 like sitting bull, okay, et cetera. 18:33 By the way many of us have names 18:35 that we don't even know what they mean, 18:36 but they actually have some meaning. 18:39 For example my name Louis means strong. 18:42 My last name Torres means towers. 18:46 So strong towers, 18:50 that's a big name to live up to isn't it? 18:53 Especially when I'm short tower. 18:57 But names had meanings. 18:59 They had some significant and that's why for example 19:03 that the other night we're talking about Christ 19:05 and how many names did He have? 19:07 Over 40 names, you remember that. 19:10 Which means then that there are many, many titles given 19:14 because of the individual 19:16 who carries all the titles and all the names, 19:18 it means that they have a lot of influence, 19:21 may have a lot of power, 19:22 there's a characteristics about them 19:24 that may be good or evil but none the less 19:26 these names spell out 19:28 these different characteristics. 19:30 Now most people have the idea 19:33 that the devil is some half human, half creature, 19:38 half animal creature. 19:40 For example, how many of you ever have seen 19:43 the painting of the devil kind of with hooves, 19:46 you know, and with a tail 19:49 and then usually red as a goatee 19:53 and two horns right. 19:55 Usually he's painted red, correct. 19:58 And usually he has it what? A pitchfork. 20:02 And he's supposed to be in charge of what? 20:04 Of hell and he's the one that roast people around in hell, 20:07 so to speak, right. 20:09 In other words that's the picture of the devil. 20:12 I remember when I was a young lad as a Catholic boy, 20:18 I gave the nuns a lot of trouble. 20:27 I wish I could go back and apologize to them 20:29 but I don't think they are still alive 20:32 and I don't remember who they are anyway. 20:37 But in catechism I remember the warnings. 20:42 You better watch out 20:44 or the devil is gonna get hold of you. 20:48 Oh, that shook me up. 20:50 And I remember going to, to bed. 20:56 And when I was going to go to bed 20:58 it was dark underneath and somehow I had this idea 21:04 that the devil was hiding underneath my bed 21:07 and to ensure that he could not grab me 21:10 and pull me underneath into that darkness. 21:11 You know, what I would do? 21:13 I would take a running start and leap onto my bed 21:17 and I always succeeded in landing on the bed, 21:19 never getting pulled under. 21:24 I had that idea that the devil was some half human, 21:31 half animal creature. 21:35 But in reality that's a pagan concept. 21:39 That description is not found in the Bible. 21:42 The Bible on the contrary gave us a clear understanding 21:47 that the devil is a superior being 21:52 with high intellect and powers. 21:57 The scripture reveals that the devil 22:01 or called Satan was actually an angel 22:05 who was created in heaven. 22:08 When Jesus was on earth, 22:10 Jesus made a statement in Luke 10:18. 22:14 "I beheld" who? 22:16 "Satan fall from" where? "From heaven." 22:20 Now notice it says, "I beheld Satan fall from heaven." 22:23 And Jesus said this to the disciples 22:25 because the disciples had just been on a venture 22:28 of doing ministry and they came back 22:31 and they were rejoicing and said to the Lord, 22:33 Lord, the devils of subject unto us. 22:36 And the Lord said in essence 22:40 watch out, fellows, don't get high minded. 22:44 I saw Satan fall from heaven. 22:48 In other words, what's taking a hold of your spirit 22:52 is the same spirit that caused Satan to fall from where? 22:56 From heaven. Pride is a terrible thing. 22:59 What do you say? Pride is a terrible thing. 23:02 And so Jesus says that He saw Satan fall from heaven. 23:07 And now going to the Book of Revelation 23:09 we find that the Book of Revelation substantiates that 23:13 and the Book of Isaiah and Book of Ezekiel as well. 23:17 Looking at some of the prophet's writings 23:19 concerning Lucifer notice that in Isaiah 14:2 it says, 23:25 "How are you fallen from" Where? 23:28 "From heaven." 23:30 Notice that this is written where? 23:32 In the book of what? Isaiah. 23:34 Now there are some people who think that 23:36 in the Revelation Chapter 12, we'll go to that shortly 23:39 that the devil has fallen sometime in our time 23:42 because it's written in the Book of Revelation, 23:44 therefore he must have fallen way after. 23:46 But I want you to notice that the Book of Isaiah was written 23:50 about 500 years before Christ 23:53 and notice that right there it says what, 23:56 how are you going to fall? 24:01 How is it written? 24:03 "How are you fallen" from where? 24:05 "From heaven." 24:06 And what's his name here? Lucifer. 24:09 Which means light bearer. 24:11 "How are you fallen from heaven, 24:13 O Lucifer, son of the morning! 24:16 How are you cut down to the ground. 24:19 For you have said in your heart" 24:21 What will I do? 24:23 "I will ascend into heaven, 24:25 I will exalt my throne above the" What? 24:28 "The stars of God 24:30 and I will be like the Most High." 24:35 Okay. 24:38 At some point the scripture reveals 24:42 that God had created a beautiful angel, 24:44 his name was Lucifer, light bearer. 24:48 And this beautiful angel was in the very presence of God, 24:51 one of the exalted angels because the scripture says, 24:53 that the cherub is usually one 24:55 that's stands at the presence of God, 24:58 a high exalted privilege. 25:00 To be able to stand right by the presence of God, 25:03 you must agree that it was an honored position. 25:06 What do you say? 25:08 But the scripture reveals then that Lucifer 25:11 began to consider his abilities and his beauty 25:16 and decided that he could do better than God. 25:19 And so the scripture reveals then that, 25:22 that because of his beauty 25:24 Lucifer or Satan wanted to be like who? 25:28 Like the Most High. 25:30 In other words, he wanted to take the place of whom? 25:33 Of God. 25:34 And notice that it says, I, I, I. 25:40 And please remember this 25:42 that the word sin has what letter in the middle? 25:46 I. I, I, I. 25:53 The Bible then further says in Ezekiel, 25:57 "You were perfect in your" what? 26:00 "In your ways from the day you were created, 26:02 till iniquity was found in you." 26:06 Let me ask you the question. 26:07 And according to the Bible, did God make a devil? 26:11 What's the answer? No. 26:12 What did God make? 26:14 God made the perfect angel, a perfect being 26:18 with the ability to bear light to other galaxies, 26:22 and other places in the universe. 26:24 But for some reason unexplainable, 26:26 the scripture says, 26:27 that this particular being decided that 26:30 he was better than God and more capable than God 26:34 to run the universe 26:35 and therefore he began to exalt himself. 26:39 And the scripture says, you were perfect in your ways 26:42 from the day that you were created till what? 26:44 Till iniquity. 26:45 Was what? Found in you. 26:48 Now you may ask the question. 26:49 How is it possible for a perfect being to become evil? 26:55 Let me explain this mystery to you 26:59 and I'm going to do it hopefully in a way 27:01 that you will be able to capture it. 27:04 When God created, God created free moral agents. 27:09 What did He create? Free moral agents. 27:12 In other words God because He has love 27:17 wanted to be in the domain 27:19 where love existed and love cannot exist 27:23 without there being the ability to love. 27:27 In other words, this apparatus here, 27:29 this in animate object has no capacity 27:33 to respond to me in love. 27:35 Is that true? Yes or no? 27:38 So in order for me to experience love 27:41 I must then get together with somebody 27:43 who was capable of loving. 27:45 What do you say? 27:47 And that means that, that thing whatever it is 27:50 must have all the apparatus necessary 27:53 in order to process this thing called love, 27:55 experience this thing called love 27:57 and be able in turn to share love with others. 28:01 And so God created beings not machines, not robots 28:07 but beings who were able to freely 28:11 experience this thing that God is. 28:14 Because the Bible says, God is love. 28:23 So God made beings with that ability, 28:27 but when you make beings with their ability 28:29 there's always a potential that beings 28:31 who had the potential for good 28:33 can also have the potential for what? 28:36 For evil. 28:40 And so we find angels, 28:43 in fact the scripture reveals that 28:45 when Lucifer rebelled against God 28:49 that actually in this rebellion 28:53 He brought a third of the angels with him, 28:58 which we'll see. 29:00 Notice it says, "Your heart was lifted up because of" What? 29:04 "Your beauty, you corrupted your wisdom 29:06 for the sake of your splendor." 29:09 So the scripture then is clear concerning what happened. 29:13 Now notice the result of this rebellion. 29:17 The devil began to try to win the affection 29:20 of other beings in heaven 29:22 and the result was that a battle in the ensued. 29:26 In Revelation Chapter 12, 29:28 if we turn there to chapter 12 of Revelation 29:31 you will see what the scripture says. 29:33 Notice Revelations Chapter 12 and it says there, 29:36 verse 7 and there was war. 29:40 Where was this war? 29:42 Bible says, "There was war in," what? 29:45 "In heaven." Chapter 12 verse 7. 29:48 " Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; 29:51 and the dragon fought and his angels, 29:52 and prevailed not; neither was their place found 29:55 any more in heaven." 29:56 And so the scripture says, 29:58 that there resulted war. 30:04 There was war where? In heaven. 30:07 In the place of bliss and glory, 30:13 a place where God intended 30:15 and there would be eternal joy and happiness 30:18 there came sadness. 30:23 And in comparison to the high and holy state 30:27 that God and the angels have 30:30 would be the pain that heaven will experience. 30:34 With this great controversy that erupted in heaven. 30:38 Lucifer leading the angels rebelled against God 30:43 and in verse 9 it says- "He was" what? 30:47 "Cast to" where? 30:49 "To the earth and his angels were cast with him." 30:53 Now you may ask the question 30:56 why did God cast the devil to the earth, 30:58 why didn't He send it to Mars 31:00 or someplace else, right? 31:02 Isn't that question, right? 31:04 Why didn't they send it to another universe? 31:06 I will tell you why. 31:09 God made the angels 31:14 with the purpose of experiencing 31:16 and spreading this thing called love and joy. 31:22 When Lucifer and his angels rebel 31:25 God still purposed 31:27 that His plan would be satisfied and fulfilled 31:30 and so God went about to create 31:32 a different form of being more like Himself. 31:36 More like what? More like Himself. 31:39 In fact, if you read the scriptures 31:40 in Genesis 1:26, it says, 31:43 "In the image of God He created He Him, 31:46 male and female He created them." 31:50 So in the image of God He created man and woman. 31:55 God intended that you and I 31:57 would reflect the image and character of God. 32:02 The goodness, the love, the purity, 32:06 all the wonderful virtues of God, 32:08 He intended for us to have. 32:11 What do you think of that? 32:14 And you recognize where we are in time 32:18 and what has happened to human race? 32:20 We certainly do not reflect 32:22 all that God purposed and intended. 32:24 Is that true? 32:26 And so God created the human race 32:30 and God intended that the human race would repopulate 32:34 that which was lost 32:35 but the devil had brought certain charges against God 32:39 and one of the charges was that God was a tyrant 32:43 that if you disobey God, He would wipe you out. 32:47 In other words, there was no real freedom. 32:50 God was a selfish God. 32:53 Everything He wanted was for Himself. 32:55 And so if you went against Him, 32:58 you would find out very quickly 32:59 that you would pay the price. 33:02 Another point that he brought out was that 33:05 God was expecting all to blindly obey Him, 33:11 blind obedience. 33:14 These charges were brought against God. 33:16 And the problem is that when you're an honest person 33:19 and you're dealing with a dishonest person 33:21 it is hard to argue the point. 33:23 Is that true? 33:24 How many of you have dealt with that situation 33:26 where you're honest, 33:28 you're dealing with somebody who is dishonest 33:29 and it was very difficult to gather around it 33:32 because they could tell a lie but you couldn't. 33:37 And so charges brought against God 33:42 and because sin was something unheard of and not known, 33:47 God then had to allow time for this thing to develop 33:51 and show his true character. 33:53 You may ask why didn't God destroy Satan then 33:56 since God knows the end from the beginning? 33:58 Number one, because God is love. 34:00 Because God is what? Love. 34:02 And aren't you thankful for that? 34:04 You know, sometimes we will say, 34:06 why didn't God destroy Satan? 34:08 Well, how many times have you sinned? 34:11 How many times? 34:13 If you ask why then destroyed Satan, 34:15 then you have to ask the question, 34:16 why didn't God destroy you? 34:19 Aren't you glad that God has mercy? 34:20 What do you say? 34:22 Aren't you glad that God is patient, 34:24 the long suffering and not willing that any should perish? 34:28 And so God's love extended beyond that which- 34:34 we would say we require. 34:36 God wipe him out and then we have no problems, 34:38 but it wouldn't solve the problem 34:40 because if one being was wiped out 34:42 he would put the other angels at the position 34:48 where they would think, 34:49 well, if He did it to Satan 34:53 and we decide that we don't want to follow Him, 34:56 then we're next. 34:57 And then the whole host of heaven 35:00 would be with God out of what? 35:02 Fear rather than out of love. 35:06 And God does not work that way. 35:08 Listen, friends, you as a human being, 35:12 as sinful as you may be 35:14 still preferred to have somebody 35:16 who desires to love you out of their volition 35:19 rather than that you put a gun to them 35:21 and say you better love me or else. 35:24 Is that true, yes or no? 35:26 Not one of us want to feel like 35:28 we're being forced to have to accept somebody 35:31 or like somebody we rather wish 35:34 that we could actually come to the place 35:36 where we could do that out of our own hearts. 35:38 Is that true? 35:39 And so God prefers that we like Him, 35:45 can love out of our freewill. 35:48 When God created Adam and Eve, 35:51 the devil then decided 35:53 that he would command them, plan there if he could 35:57 and demonstrate that he could be 35:59 a better ruler than God himself. 36:02 And so when the scripture says 36:04 that the devil was cast on to the earth, 36:06 God had already informed Adam and Eve 36:09 about the problem. 36:11 God had created a perfect world. 36:13 If you would read in the Book of Genesis 36:15 everything was perfect 36:17 and Adam and Eve already knew about the situation 36:21 because God had put a tree to test them. 36:24 Now you may say to yourself, 36:26 why is it that God put a test? 36:28 Isn't that putting Adam and Eve at risk? 36:33 Why did He have to test them? 36:34 Well, let me ask you a question. 36:37 Suppose that you and your husband 36:42 were the only ones on planet earth 36:44 and your husband were to make a statement. 36:46 Honey, if there are million others 36:48 you would only be the other, only one. 36:51 How would she know? 36:58 But suppose there are lot of women around, 37:01 and your husband said, honey, 37:02 even if there are thousand other you are the only one. 37:05 Now how much does that mean to you? 37:09 Is it more meaningful yes or no? 37:11 Of course it is because it allows 37:15 love to be demonstrated. 37:17 It allows what? Love to be what? 37:20 Demonstrated. 37:21 How many of you like people who say 37:22 I love, I love, I love, I love, 37:24 but really don't love? 37:30 We don't like what we call "hypocrites," right? 37:33 We like people who are what? 37:35 Genuine. 37:36 Well, you can understand why God 37:40 prefers us to be the same, genuine in love. 37:44 Well, the devil then decided 37:50 that he would thwart God's plans. 37:54 And even though God had made man in His own image 37:57 and after His own likeness 37:59 and even though God had warned man 38:01 and said, don't touch the tree, don't eat of it, 38:05 you can eat everything else, but don't go there 38:10 because in the day that you eat there off you will die. 38:15 The test, the test of loyalty, 38:18 the test of free will, 38:19 the test of demonstration 38:22 of faithfulness to the one who had created them. 38:26 Now think of it, how big of request was that? 38:31 Was that a big request? 38:33 Can you consider God made a garden for them. 38:36 God made all truths 38:37 and so you can eat of every tree, 38:39 but just one, how many? 38:41 Just one that's all. 38:44 But that was sufficient. 38:46 For some reason the Bible doesn't explain 38:48 that Eve walked that way 38:49 and before we know it Adam and Eve fall. 38:53 And you can imagine Lucifer 38:55 watching over the whole scenario. 38:58 He purposed to put God in a position by tempting man 39:03 and casing man to fall into rebellion. 39:05 He was hoping one of two things. 39:07 He was hoping either that God would destroy man immediately 39:11 and he could say to the angelic host you see, 39:13 I told you He's a tyrant. 39:17 If you disobey Him, poof there you go. 39:20 But he was also hoping that if God did not destroy man 39:24 and just simply forgave him then he could claim, look, 39:28 You are inconsistent, if You forgive him 39:31 You will also have to forgive us 39:33 and allows back into heaven. 39:37 In either way he was hoping to win? 39:42 But he did not really fully know the love of God, did he? 39:47 He really did not understand the character of God 39:49 because when man fell 39:52 it brought great grief to heaven 39:55 but it also reveals greater love than ever before. 40:00 Because the Bible says then that as Eve 40:05 being the one to first be tempted 40:08 and then now tempting Adam and as they both fell 40:11 and the devil expecting the destruction of both 40:14 because sin brings what? 40:17 Separation. 40:18 According to Isaiah 59:2 40:22 the devil intended to separate man from God forever, 40:26 but God so loved that He could not bear the thought 40:30 of being separated from those that He had created. 40:33 And since Adam was deceived contrary to the devil 40:36 who actually rebelled in the full light 40:39 God gave man another opportunity 40:41 and revealed the plan 40:43 and we find that in Genesis 3:15. 40:47 I want you to notice that God said "I will" what? 40:50 "Put enmity between thy seed" and what? 40:53 "And her seed." 40:55 And so that seed will be whom? Christ. 40:59 In other words, here's the first gospel message 41:02 ever recorded and holy... 41:05 God promising that in the future 41:08 the seed would come and deliver mankind 41:12 and there would be enmity. 41:13 In other words, there would be 41:15 hatred between the good and the bad. 41:18 And so God intended them 41:20 that in spite of the fall the Son, his own Son, 41:25 the Creator of heaven and earth 41:27 would come and take the place of man. 41:31 Now think of this. 41:35 Man was guilty, Christ was innocent 41:40 and here's revealed a great love of God, 41:43 that God allowed the innocent to pay for the guilty. 41:49 Christ then was promised and it brought hope to mankind 41:54 that even though he fell into the bondage of sin, 41:58 yet through the promise of the Savior, 42:01 someday the deliver would come 42:03 and man could be restored 42:05 once again into union with God, 42:07 full cooperation with God 42:10 and at last live in harmony with God forever. 42:15 Good news, what do you say? 42:17 Well, the struggle then began 42:20 and it doesn't take long for the struggle to be seen. 42:24 In the great controversy between the heaven and earth 42:28 and on planet earth, you see then in those chapters, 42:33 chapter 1 and 2 Eden is lost. 42:35 And according to Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is" what? 42:39 "Death. 42:40 But the gift of God is eternal life." 42:43 And of course the great controversy 42:45 is revealed as man falls and he stubbles into sin, 42:50 the plan is that at some point 42:53 the Savior would come and through the Savior 42:56 man would be lifted up again, restored again in character, 42:59 so man could then be restored 43:02 back to the Edenic home that was lost 43:04 and man could live again forever with his God. 43:08 How many of you would like to live with God? 43:11 I would love to live with God. 43:13 Everything that He has showed me of Himself is good 43:16 and I love to be with Him. 43:17 What do you say? And so that is the plan. 43:21 Now as we consider what transpires? 43:25 We find then through the Bible that is man falls into sin 43:30 and the devil seeks to plunge man 43:33 deeper and deeper into rebellion. 43:35 He is hoping somehow to completely obliterate 43:39 that which God has created 43:40 or completely instill in man his own image. 43:46 At the same time God seeks to restore in man 43:52 through the gift of Christ His own image. 43:55 And so you have the controversy between good and evil 43:58 and you also find that is mankind 44:02 accepts rebel in his heart, 44:04 he goes down, down, down, 44:06 becomes more degenerated, more rebellious, 44:08 more hateful, more evil, 44:11 so much so then that by the time- 44:13 the time of Noah came, 44:15 man was so desperately wicked that God have no alternative 44:18 then to destroy the human race and start all over again. 44:24 And no sooner does He start all over again, 44:26 then the devil infects one of Noah's boys, 44:29 his name is Ham 44:31 and the controversy continues again. 44:33 And of course the wicked begin to increase in numbers 44:36 and at the same time 44:38 the righteous increase in numbers. 44:40 You always have two sides throughout history. 44:43 The enemy seeking to gain control of mankind 44:46 and God seeking to still 44:48 restore in man His image just like this, 44:50 love and loyalty and honesty 44:55 and truths for us and goodness. 45:02 Finally, as the devil seeks to punch man 45:08 deeper and deeper the time comes 45:12 and the darkest hour of first history 45:15 when even the religious people of Christ, 45:17 even His own followers are so darkened 45:21 that they are now following things 45:24 that they think are pertained to God 45:26 but then reality are leading people away 45:29 into a different direction 45:30 with cruelty and hatred and lust 45:36 and selfishness and egotism. 45:40 When you come to time of Christ, 45:44 Christ appears on the earth for two purposes. 45:49 Number one, to show what man could become like 45:54 and number two, to show what God 45:57 was really liked... 45:59 You see through the generations 46:00 you got to the place where people began to think 46:03 that what the devil was saying was true. 46:05 That if you rebel against God you're going to be zapped. 46:09 Are you acquainted with that term? 46:11 That you're going to be hit with lightening. 46:14 I remember a particular story of a man in England 46:17 who was an atheist and he stood there 46:20 in Piccadilly Circus and defied God and said, 46:24 I can prove that there is no God and then he said 46:27 God if you're there strike me with lightening. 46:29 Go ahead I dare You and nothing happened. 46:32 So he told the others, you see I've told you, 46:34 there's no such as God 46:35 and are there any one to come and challenge me 46:38 to prove that there is a God. 46:40 And he kept on saying, God go ahead prove it. 46:44 Well, there's a little lady who was a Christian 46:47 standing in the back of the audience 46:49 and no one seemed to go up and defend God. 46:52 So she pressed through the crowd 46:55 and came up to the man and said, 46:56 I like to say something and the man said, 46:58 well, go ahead say on, lady, what do you have to say? 47:01 And the lady said, Mister, do you have any children? 47:05 And the man said, of course I have children. 47:07 Are they big or small? 47:09 Well, they are little kids right now. 47:11 Well, Mister, what if 47:13 your little boy came to you and said, 47:15 dad, I dare you to kill me. 47:22 Go ahead prove how big of a man you are. 47:25 Go ahead and kill me. 47:27 What would you say to your boy? 47:31 I would say silly little kid, go on your way. 47:35 And the little lady said, aren't you glad 47:37 that God thinks you're silly too. 47:47 The reality is that people think that God is a tyrant. 47:50 And if you really want to understand 47:52 this whole issue of human suffering read the Book of Job. 47:55 Read the book of what? Job. 47:57 You will find there, Job who is innocent with righteous, 48:02 you will find that the devil 48:03 goes to heaven to a special meeting. 48:06 He presents himself as a representative, 48:08 rightful representative of planet earth. 48:10 And when he asked 48:12 when the Lord asked to devil where you come from? 48:14 He said from walking to and fro the earth. 48:16 In another words I'm the director 48:18 the representative of the earth. 48:19 The Lord says, have you considered My servant Job? 48:24 You think you're the one 48:25 but have you considered My servant Job? 48:29 And the devil said, well, he's only serving you 48:30 because, you know, you have done all these things for him, 48:32 you protected him and if you take everything away from him 48:36 he will curse You. 48:38 You watch and see. 48:39 Go ahead and do it, You will see. 48:40 Well, God says all right, 48:42 go ahead and take everything from him you will see. 48:44 Well, the devil comes back down and all of a sudden 48:46 Job who was very wealthy and rich, 48:49 all of a sudden he has nothing. 48:52 And so the whole host of heaven is expecting Job's response. 48:57 And Job simply bows down and he says, 49:01 naked I came into the world and naked shall I return. 49:06 The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. 49:10 Blessed be the name of the Lord. 49:14 Can you imagine heaven saying, hey! 49:17 Yeah, Job! 49:20 Can you imagine the angels? 49:22 I mean, over here we go yeah! 49:25 I wonder what the angels did. 49:27 Took those harps and what? 49:29 They struck them, began to sing praises to God 49:32 that there was a person down here on earth 49:35 who loved God so much that even if he did not understand, 49:39 he still believes that God had his good at heart. 49:45 Then the devil went back to the meeting again 49:48 and said to the God well, you know, he's faithful to You 49:51 because You put a hedge about him. 49:53 Take Your hedge away 49:55 and you will see what he will do, 49:56 he will curse You. 49:57 And so the Lord says okay, 49:59 you can do that and you will see. 50:01 Well, Job gets filled with boils 50:06 and the expectation is that Job was what? 50:09 Will curse God. 50:11 Job does not understand and he makes a lot of questions 50:14 but he does not move from his integrity to his God. 50:19 And finally, after the wife says, 50:20 Job, look why don't you just curse God and die? 50:24 Job said, though he slay, yet well I trust Him. 50:30 Ah friends, if only you and I could have 50:33 that kind of faith what do you say? 50:35 If only you and I can have that kind of love. 50:38 Well, finally the time comes 50:42 when Christ comes to the earth 50:47 and Jesus reveals that there are two sides. 50:53 Notice as His opponents seek to controvert Him, 50:59 Jesus says to them "You are of" what? 51:04 "Your father the" what? 51:05 "The devil, and the lust of your father will you do. 51:09 He was a" What? 51:11 "A murderer." From when? 51:13 "From the beginning, and abode not in" what? 51:16 "In the truth, because there is" 51:19 how much truth in him? 51:20 "There was no truth in him. 51:22 When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his" who? 51:25 "Of his own, for he is a liar," and what else? 51:29 "The father of lies," John 8:44. 51:32 Jesus then came and lived a life among man. 51:37 He had to live the life so that you and I could see 51:40 that it is possible to live as Christ lived. 51:45 I've heard people say, well, Jesus lived that way 51:49 because He was God. 51:50 No Jesus lived that way because He became flesh 51:53 to demonstrate that is possible for you and for me to become 51:57 like Christ in character. 51:59 What do you say? 52:01 And He also came to remove that, 52:05 that charge against Him that he was a tyrant. 52:09 Christ healed, Christ forgave. 52:12 You remember the woman that was brought to Him 52:15 that they wanted Him to stone her, remember that? 52:18 She had been caught in adultery. 52:20 By the way they only brought the woman 52:22 and according to the law 52:23 it was both who would be stoned not one. 52:26 What happened to the man? 52:28 Why did they just bring the woman? 52:30 Well, it's a plot. 52:32 They were trying to put Christ in a position 52:34 to make Him make a mistake 52:37 but Jesus then writing their sins on the floor, 52:41 finally one by one they left 52:43 and finally Jesus said, 52:46 where are those that accused you? 52:50 And she said no man condemn me, Lord. 52:52 And Jesus said those most wonderful words, 52:55 "Neither do I condemn you. 52:58 Go and sin no more." 53:01 Ah friends a longing of the heart of Christ 53:05 is that you and I will sin no more. 53:10 That you and I could become like Christ in heart. 53:13 That we will love the Father and that we would love that 53:16 which is just good and virtuous and pure and holy. 53:22 But we must allow Jesus to come into our hearts 53:25 and to dwell in our hearts. 53:26 What do you say? 53:28 Mankind by nature has accepted 53:31 the inheritance of that which is rebellious, 53:36 but through Christ man's nature can change 53:40 and when he was evil he can become good again. 53:46 Listen, I was holding an evangelistic meeting like this, 53:50 prophecy seminar, Jacksonville, Florida. 53:53 And one night in the tent, in those days I had projectors, 53:58 a slide projectors and you had to turn off the lights 54:01 because you couldn't see the screen. 54:03 And so a man and woman came in 54:07 and I could just see their shape 54:09 because there was dark in there. 54:10 As soon as I finished they left. 54:11 The next night they came and sat closer 54:13 and then I could tell, he was a big, big man, 54:17 handlebar mustache, baldheaded, 54:19 turnout he was a weight lighter. 54:20 He looked like Mr. Clean. 54:22 If you know who I'm talking about. 54:25 And so mighty man, his wife also came around, 54:30 she was also weight lifter, both came in. 54:32 Well, one night I preached about the Great Controversy 54:37 and I made an appeal to the people, 54:39 who would accept the Christ? 54:40 Who would choose to be on God's side? 54:43 There are two sides you cannot be on both. 54:46 You either accept this side or you accept that side. 54:50 God says you cannot serve how many? 54:52 Two servants. 54:53 And so I made an appeal for those 54:56 who wanted to commit their lives for Christ. 54:58 Those who wanted to accept Jesus 55:00 as Lord and Savior to come forward. 55:02 That big man came forward 55:04 and when he came forward he was crying. 55:06 He was upset because he had never cried in his life. 55:09 And he told me, he said, can God forgive me? 55:12 I said, yes, God can forgive you. 55:13 How do you know God can forgive me? 55:15 He said, you don't know what I've done. 55:16 I said I don't know how you are but I know who my God is. 55:20 And my God says, if we confess our sins 55:23 He is faithful and just to what? 55:25 Forgive us our sins and to do what else? 55:28 Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 55:30 That man could not believe it. 55:31 So what do you think you have done 55:33 and God can't forgive you? 55:34 He said I killed 3,500 people. 55:38 I said, how do you kill- how did you do that? 55:42 He said I grew up in my home, my dad was a hired killer. 55:46 And I always wanted to kill but I decided to do it legally. 55:48 So I volunteered in Vietnam War, flew a helicopter 55:52 and I wanted to kill as many people as I could legally. 55:55 And I counted 3,500 people. 55:57 I never felt bad about that 55:59 until I came to these meetings and now I'm troubled. 56:02 Can God forgive me? 56:04 And the man was weeping and I said yes, 56:06 God can forgive you, 56:08 if you will give your heart to God tonight. 56:11 Will you choose Christ as your Lord and your Savior? 56:14 He says gladly. 56:15 I said would you kneel down with me. 56:18 That big hulk of a man knelled down 56:20 and poured out his heart in tears 56:22 asking God to forgive him 56:24 and saying, oh, God, I want to be on Your side, 56:27 will you accept me? 56:28 My, friends, remember this, 56:30 Jesus says, "Him that cometh to Me I will" what? 56:33 "In no wise cast out." 56:35 And I wonder here tonight, 56:37 how many of you want to be on the Lord's side? 56:40 Any of you? 56:41 How many of you are thankful 56:43 that there is a time when God will destroy Satan's wickedness 56:47 and forever we'll be with the Lord. 56:49 What do you say? 56:50 Well, listen, I like to have a prayer with you 56:53 and after the prayer 56:54 I like to make an invitation tonight. 56:56 Shall we pray? 56:58 Our heavenly Father, 57:00 we see the great controversy rage you. 57:03 We know that Jesus won the victory on Calvary. 57:06 He said it is finished, it is done, 57:09 now it remains with us. 57:11 Oh, God, help us to choose You and to obey You 57:16 and to love You in Jesus name, amen. |
Revised 2019-12-02