Participants: C. A. Murray
Series Code: 17HC
Program Code: 17HC000004A
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00:49 Hello and welcome! Praise the Lord we can come together
00:53 to study the Word. How wonderful. 00:55 We want to welcome everyone that's here 00:58 and everyone around the world that could be watching 01:01 and/or listening to these beautiful wonderful messages. 01:04 Are we having fun yet? Yes! 01:07 Good spiritual time, right? It's been a blessing. 01:09 And I know it's going to get better and better and better 01:11 because the Holy Spirit... we've been praying for the 01:13 Holy Spirit to come in among us. 01:15 So welcome to 3ABN. 01:17 We call it Homecoming and certainly Camp Meeting. 01:20 It's a wonderful time when we can come together 01:23 and be able to sing praises. 01:25 We can pray, we can study together 01:27 and draw closer to Jesus 'cause we do believe what? 01:29 He's coming soon! So we're just glad 01:32 and we welcome each and every one. 01:34 Today's speaker of the hour is going to be Pastor C.A. Murray. 01:39 He doesn't need an introduction 01:41 for most of you, right? We all know Pastor C.A. 01:43 You know, what a blessing he is to us as a personal friend 01:47 and a loved one. And may I say: he's real. 01:52 And that makes a difference, doesn't it? 01:53 He's a real man of God. 01:55 He knows the Word. God has given tremendous gifts 02:00 to him, and he's using those for God's honor and glory. 02:04 So he's going to be speaking to us here in just a few moments. 02:07 Again, we want to make you feel right at home 02:10 and we're glad you're here. Many's traveled from a long 02:12 distance and there's many more going to be coming. 02:14 So be praying for them as they travel and come together. 02:17 Especially those of you at home: we want you to know we love you 02:20 'cause it wouldn't be a good Camp Meeting or Homecoming 02:23 without people viewing and writing in 02:25 and letting us know what a blessing this Camp Meeting, 02:27 Homecoming, is. So before Pastor C.A. comes out 02:31 again I could spend a lot of time talking about him 02:33 as a personal friend and a man of God. 02:36 But I asked him did he want me to say anything. 02:39 Hi, Sweetie. He wanted me to say... 02:41 He wanted me to say something very... 02:43 I said: "Do you want me to say anything special? " 02:45 "Nope... no. " 02:48 And that's kind of the way he is. 02:50 He just wants to get on with the Lord's work. 02:52 And so we're very grate... But before he comes out 02:54 and speaks and blesses your heart 02:56 Celestine Barry is going to have our special music. 02:59 I think most of you know her. 03:01 God has gifted her... wonderful voice. 03:03 It will bless your heart. But I would like to have just 03:06 a quick prayer as we open the meeting 03:09 as she comes out to sing. So bow your heads with me 03:12 and just have our prayer today. Let's pray. 03:15 Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege 03:17 of prayer. We ask now that You be with this meeting... 03:20 Camp Meeting today. 03:21 We ask that the Holy Spirit would be poured out in abundance 03:24 on everything that takes place. 03:26 May You be honored and magnified and glorified. 03:28 May the name of Jesus be lifted up. 03:30 We're going to praise You and we're going to thank You 03:32 for the day's activity because we leave it in Thy 03:35 capable hands as the Holy Spirit now descends and occupies 03:38 the hearts and minds of each one. 03:40 And we're going to thank you in advance for what You're 03:42 going to do. Be with Pastor C.A. in a special way. 03:45 Celestine in a special way as she sings. 03:48 May our heart be prepared for that wonderful message. 03:50 In Jesus' name we pray and for His sake, Amen. 03:54 So after the special music 03:55 the next voice you will hear will be Pastor C.A. Murray. 03:58 God bless you. 04:04 There is a candle 04:07 in every soul 04:11 Some brightly burning, 04:14 some dark and cold. 04:18 There is a Spirit 04:21 who brings the fire 04:25 Ignites a candle 04:28 and makes His home. 04:31 Carry your candle, 04:35 run to the darkness, 04:39 Seek out the hopeless, 04:43 confused and torn. 04:46 Hold out your candle 04:50 for all to see it 04:53 Take your candle 04:57 and go light your world. 05:00 Take your candle 05:04 and go light your world. 05:11 Frustrated brother, 05:15 see how he's tried to 05:18 light his own candle 05:22 some other way. 05:25 See now your sister, 05:29 She's been robbed and lied to 05:32 Still holds a candle 05:36 without a flame. 05:39 So carry your candle, 05:43 run to the darkness, 05:47 Seek out the lonely, 05:50 the tired and worn 05:54 Hold out your candle 05:57 for all to see it 06:01 Take your candle 06:04 go light your world... 06:08 Take your candle 06:11 and go light your world. 06:19 We are a family 06:22 whose hearts are blazing 06:26 Let's raise our candles 06:29 and light up the sky. 06:33 Prayin' to our Father 06:36 in the name of Jesus 06:40 Make us a beacon 06:43 in darkest hours. 06:47 So carry your candle, 06:50 run to the darkness, 06:54 Seek out the helpless, 06:57 deceived and poor 07:01 Hold out your candle 07:05 for all to see it 07:08 Take your candle 07:12 and go light your world. 07:21 Run to the darkness... 07:24 Hopeless... 07:28 confused and torn 07:32 Candle... 07:36 for all to see it... 07:38 Take your candle 07:40 and go light your world... 07:44 Take your candle 07:51 and go light your world. 08:04 Amen! 08:12 Good morning. Good morning! 08:14 I almost want to say "Good morning and Happy Sabbath" 08:18 but we're not quite there just yet. 08:21 I want to thank my dear friend Pastor Kenny 08:24 for his gracious introduction 08:26 and Celestine for singing for us this morning. 08:31 We want to go right into our message 'cause there's a lot 08:34 to say and little time to do it. 08:37 Turn with me if you will to I Peter chapter 3. 08:41 The title of our message is 08:43 The Sanctity of Suffering/Sacrifice. 08:48 I'm going to use those two words somewhat interchangeably: 08:53 suffering and sacrifice. So we're in I Peter 08:58 chapter 3 09:01 and we'll look at verses 13 and 14 09:07 and then muse for the next several moments. 09:10 Shall we pray? Gracious Father, we praise You and thank You 09:14 for the wonderful privilege that is ours to study Your Word. 09:19 We thank You for the walk that we have with Jesus 09:22 which is not always easy. 09:25 But we have the promise that we will never walk alone. 09:32 So bless us this morning, Father, as we study together. 09:35 Give us encouragement and strength 09:38 and faith. In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. 09:45 I Peter chapter 3. I'm looking at verses 13 and 14. 09:50 The Bible says: "And who is he 09:55 who will harm you if you become followers 09:59 of what is good? 10:03 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake... " 10:09 What does the Bible say? 10:11 "happy are you. " My New King James says: 10:15 "you are blessed. " 10:18 "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake 10:22 you are blessed. " Now that is not one of those 10:26 texts that we tend to readily and heartily say amen to. 10:30 But we should! Amen! Amen. 10:35 I said Amen. Amen! Um-hmm. 10:42 The title of this sermon and this text we just read 10:45 presupposes that there is a blessing 10:51 to be had from suffering and sacrifice. 10:59 Amen. Amen. 11:03 The sermon presupposes a number of realities, 11:08 many of which are spiritual - which makes them 11:11 a little counterintuitive 11:16 to the carnal mind which is why 11:18 I'm going to have to pull these amens out of you. 11:24 In other words, the subject of suffering 11:28 and sacrifice, having to endure trial and hardship 11:34 is something that we naturally recoil from. 11:37 There's nobody just running to suffering. 11:40 We tend to want to reject it. 11:44 One of the reasons - certainly not the only - but one 11:46 of the reasons is that so many unenlightened 11:51 and uninformed and frankly misinformed... 11:54 I call them "purveyors of pastoral Pablum... " 12:06 teach us that when you come to Jesus 12:09 all of your trials, all of your suffering, 12:13 all of your challenges come to an end. 12:17 To which I say: "Are you kidding? " 12:24 Anybody who's been in the church, who's been in the Lord 12:27 even for several moments, knows 12:31 that there are some trials, some troubles 12:35 that cease, but there are other trials... other trials... 12:41 that begin. Amen. Amen. 12:45 I knew you were going to say amen to that one. 12:48 When you come to the Lord, the truth is, 12:51 Lewis, war breaks out. That's right. Amen? Amen. 12:55 And you fight that war as long as you're in Jesus 12:58 or until you close your eyes. 13:00 And even if you leave Jesus 13:03 you don't get excused from the war. 13:08 Certain troubles, certain trials, certain suffering 13:13 God solves for you. 13:17 But there are certain trials, certain suffering, 13:21 certain things God chooses to solve THROUGH you. 13:26 Amen... amen. 13:28 The truth is: nobody gets a scholarship on suffering. 13:35 Amen! Everybody's got to pay their spiritual dues. 13:39 I cannot pay it for you; you cannot pay it for me. 13:44 You've gotta pay it for yourself in Jesus. Amen! 13:50 The Bible tells us how to address this unavoidable aspect 13:56 of our Christian experience. 13:59 Ladies and gentlemen: you are going to suffer. 14:03 Amen... amen. 14:06 You're not going to get a pass. 14:08 And if you have not suffered... two words: 14:12 keep living. Amen? Amen! 14:17 It's coming... it's coming. 14:22 Now I'm not going to tell you to rejoice in suffering. 14:27 Because if you don't love Jesus and have a relationship with 14:30 Him that's almost impossible to do. 14:33 Unless you are into pain or a masochist or have some 14:39 kind of Munchausen thing going on. 14:42 I will not say it... I'll let Peter do it. 14:47 Amen... amen. 14:50 Peter has a little more nerve than me. 14:52 And Peter says in I Peter chapter 4 verse 12: 14:56 "Beloved, think it not strange 15:01 concerning the fiery trial 15:05 which is to try you as though some strange thing 15:10 has happened unto you. " 15:12 So when you get your turn... Years ago... years ago 15:15 when I was pastoring in New York City... 15:17 the conference treasurer told me something that I've 15:19 never forgotten. He said: "C.A., everybody gets a turn. " 15:25 Amen... amen. 15:27 Everybody gets a turn. 15:29 So I agree with Peter 15:32 that there is something... 15:35 something sanctifying in sacrifice 15:41 and suffering. In order words, this thing 15:43 that we so much want to avoid 15:47 is actually for our good. 15:51 Amen. Amen! 15:54 And for our growing. Amen. 15:57 I see now this is going to be a tough one. 16:05 Suffering... dealing with adversity... 16:08 builds or perhaps more emphatically or more accurately 16:13 reveals our character, 16:18 the presence of the Holy Spirit - or lack of same. 16:25 Suffering - dealing with adversity - shows 16:29 if we have any spiritual backbone. 16:35 Amen! 16:38 Shows you what you're made of. 16:40 God already knows what you're made of... YOU need to know. 16:43 That's right. Amen! Um-hmm. 16:48 So let's look at this quickly. 16:52 Let's look at... well, let's do it in reverse. 16:55 Let's kind of do a reverse kind of thing here. 16:57 Let's look at what we ought not to be suffering for 17:00 then we'll look at the positive aspect of sacrifice 17:03 and suffering. Is that all right? 17:05 I'm going to draw this particular part of the scripture 17:08 from a translation by Thomas Nelson Publishers 17:11 called The Voice. Only been out a couple years. 17:14 I'm not ready to heartily endorse it 17:16 because it calls itself a dynamic equivalent translation. 17:21 That kind of gives me the "willies" a little bit. 17:22 But there are things in here that I find that you can use. 17:25 This is like the New Living Translation. 17:27 You don't want to use it for doctrine 17:29 but it can be inspirational. 17:30 And The Voice is kind of like that. 17:32 I'm in I Peter chapter 4 verse 15. 17:34 I Peter 4:15. 17:39 And I'm reading from the translation called The Voice. 17:42 "But none of you should ever merit suffering 17:46 like those who have murdered or stolen or meddled in the 17:50 affairs of others or done evil things. " 17:54 Now one translation translates that last part as... 17:58 as "trying to pry into other people's affairs. " 18:04 Amen. Um-hmm. 18:06 New Living says: "Trying to run other people's lives. " 18:09 When you try to play God with other people's lives 18:11 you're gonna suffer 18:13 'cause that's not your role. That's God's job. 18:17 One translation I looked up the other day said 18:19 "Trying to be the boss of other people's lives. " 18:22 When you try to play God for other people 18:25 you're putting yourself on dangerous ground. 18:27 So now let's jump quickly into our case study. 18:30 Our target and test subject for our study today 18:34 will be John the Baptist. 18:37 Let's go to Luke chapter 7 and I want to begin reading 18:40 at verse 24. 18:42 Luke chapter 7, and I think I want to begin 18:47 reading at verse 24. Then we'll do some comparing 18:50 and contrasting. Luke 7 verse 24. 18:53 The Bible says in Luke 7:24 18:57 "The poor have the gospel preached to them 19:00 and blessed is he who is not offended 19:04 because of Me. " 19:07 Oh, that's 23. Here we are... 24: 19:11 "When the messengers of John had departed 19:13 He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John. " 19:17 You know, every year I've got to buy a Bible with bigger print. 19:21 And I just got this one two years ago. This is my 19:23 handy study and I love it and somehow it's shrinking on me. 19:30 "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? 19:34 A reed shaken by the wind? 19:36 But what did you go out to see? 19:38 A man clothed in soft garments? 19:41 Indeed, those who are gorgeously appareled 19:46 and live in luxury are in king's courts. 19:49 But what did you go out to see? 19:52 A prophet? Yes, I say to you and more than a prophet. 19:56 This is he of whom it was written: 'Behold I send My 20:01 messenger before your face 20:03 who will prepare your way before Me. ' " 20:06 Now, look at verse 28. 20:07 "For I say to you... " I'm in the New King James... 20:09 "Among those born of woman 20:12 there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. " 20:17 I want to stop there. 20:19 I want to begin our study by comparing and contrasting - 20:22 excuse me - this statement with one that precedes it. 20:26 So you're in chapter 7 already. Let's go back to verse 20. 20:33 "When the men had come to Him 20:35 they said: "John the Baptist has sent us to You saying: 20:41 'Are You the coming One or do we look for another? ' " 20:48 I'll go a little bit further. 20:50 "And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, 20:54 afflictions, and evil spirits 20:57 and to many blind He gave sight. " 21:04 Now let's try to look at the pedigree 21:09 of John the Baptist by comparing him with another similar case. 21:13 Abraham had a child of promise 21:16 whose name was Isaac. 21:20 Zacharias had a child of promise. His name was John 21:24 who we call "The Baptizer. " 21:28 Zacharias was informed of the coming birth of John 21:32 by Gabriel in the Holy Place standing before the altar 21:35 of incense. Zacharias, like Abraham, 21:40 was an older man who with reason 21:44 doubted his ability to father a child. 21:51 You know, many times God does that. 21:53 God does things and sets things up so that when 21:55 it does take place you know it wasn't you 21:59 it was God. Anybody know what I'm talking about? 22:01 Amen! And so we see this parallel. 22:03 Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children. 22:09 Zacharias and his wife, again: too old to have children. 22:13 So let's look at this scenario in Luke chapter 1 verse 8. 22:18 Luke 1 verse 8. 22:19 Here is Zacharias' response to Gabriel's announcement 22:24 "You're going to have a child. " 22:26 "Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man 22:30 and my wife stricken in years. " 22:33 Now, he is asking for a sign. 22:37 Basically: "You're saying I'm going to have a child. 22:41 I'm too old for children 22:42 and my wife is way too old for children 22:46 so how am I going to know that this is true? " 22:49 He is asking for a sign. 22:51 He forgot what we many times forget and that is: 22:57 what God promises He is able to perform. 23:02 Amen! Amen? Amen... yeah. When God makes a promise 23:05 it's not really based on... 23:07 the promise is not based on your belief. 23:10 God makes a promise He is able to make that promise happen. 23:13 Amen. Amen! That is a good handle to hold on to 23:17 when you're suffering or having to make a sacrifice. 23:20 That if God asks you to do some- thing He's going to enable you 23:23 to do precisely that. Amen. 23:26 God doesn't throw promises out and throw injunctions out 23:30 and throw things out for you to do and then not assist you 23:33 in getting them done. If God says: "Do this, " 23:36 He has the ability to help you do this. Amen? Amen. All right. 23:41 So here now in Luke 1:19 is God's answer. 23:48 Three words: "I am Gabriel. " 23:52 Now what kind of answer is that? 23:58 "I need a sign. " "I am Gabriel. " 24:02 It's a great answer... it really is. 24:06 Ellen White says in Desire of Ages page 99 24:09 "The words 'I am Gabriel' shows that he occupies 24:12 the highest position and the message is important. 24:16 Gabriel is next in honor to the Trinity. " 24:22 God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, 24:25 Gabriel. So Gabriel is saying: "I am Gabriel. " 24:30 In other words: "I didn't come here to pull your leg. " 24:35 Um-hmm. "I didn't come here to waste time. " 24:38 "I didn't fly down here to joke with you. " 24:40 "I am Gabriel. " 24:45 Yeah. "I'm Gabriel; I'm pretty high up in this thing 24:50 so if I'm here it's because God's got something that 24:54 you need to follow. " Amen! 24:57 "I am Gabriel. " He didn't say: "Listen, 24:59 let me explain this to you: God is going to give you youth. 25:02 God is going to give you some sort of spiritual Viagra 25:05 and all of a sudden you're going to have a child 25:07 and it's going to be wonderful. " 25:08 He said: "No... no... I'm Gabriel. " 25:14 Amen. "I'm Gabriel, and I'm here to tell you something 25:20 that God is getting ready to do 25:23 and your job is to have faith and follow through. " 25:27 "I am Gabriel. " 25:29 This is the same Gabriel who 500 years earlier 25:33 homeschooled Daniel and helped him write 25:37 one of the greatest prophetic books in the Bible. 25:39 Amen! So because he doubted 25:42 he was not allowed to speak again until the prophecy 25:46 was fulfilled. He was struck dumb. 25:49 You see, when you doubt you open yourself up for suffering. 25:53 You've gotta trust God. Amen! 26:00 Let's look at John's life in Luke chapter 1 verses 14-17. 26:04 I'm not going to read all of this 'cause I see my time 26:05 is getting away from me. I've got to move kinda fast. 26:07 But I will summarize it for you. 26:09 Luke 1:14-17. This is what was predicted 26:12 about John the Baptist. "Many will rejoice 26:15 and praise his birth. " 1. No wine; no strong drink. 26:19 2. Filled with the Holy Spirit. 26:21 "John the Baptist will be filled with the Holy Spirit 26:23 even in his mother's womb. " You remember verse 41 26:27 when Elizabeth met Mary and they greeted each other 26:30 and the baby leapt in the womb? 26:32 So even before he was born God had something very very 26:36 special for him. "He will turn the hearts of many 26:39 in Israel to God 26:42 and he will labor in the power of Elijah. " 26:47 So I'm begging the point here. I'm telling you what God 26:51 had predicted for and with John the Baptist. 26:57 John had godly parents. 27:00 He was uncontaminated by city life... he was a country kid. 27:05 He was surrendered; he was consecrated; 27:09 he was committed; he was favored by God. 27:13 He was blessed; he was not afraid to call sin 27:17 by its right name. Amen. Amen! 27:22 Now with all of that background 27:25 let me show you a couple things. 27:27 Jesus and John were related; you know that. 27:30 Some people say second cousins; some say first cousins. 27:33 We're not quite sure... the Bible is not clear. 27:35 We know that Mary and Elizabeth were related. 27:39 Again, we're not quite sure. 27:41 Some translations say cousins. 27:45 That's something that could be true, it may not be true. 27:48 It has some tradition but we know that they were related. 27:53 The King James does say cousins in Luke 1:36. 27:58 John and Jesus 28:04 were contemporaries. John was six months older than Jesus. 28:09 We understand from the Spirit of Prophecy 28:12 that John had heard the story of Jesus' birth. 28:16 John knew about Jesus in the temple. 28:21 John was aware of Christ's sinless life 28:25 but he had no personal contact with Jesus. 28:31 In other words, before he baptized Him in the Jordan 28:35 John had never laid eyes on Jesus. 28:37 They functioned in two different arenas. 28:40 They did not have social intercourse with one another. 28:44 Prior to that baptism in Jordan they had never met. 28:49 He obviously - that is, John - had been following Jesus 28:53 by reports and anecdotes. 28:55 But his belief in Christ 28:58 was faith-based... just like you and me. 29:03 Amen! Because he was a forerunner of Christ 29:06 he didn't get any special advantage. 29:09 He had never seen Christ; he had never met Christ; 29:11 he had never talked with Christ. 29:13 His belief in Christ was a matter of his faith 29:16 and nothing more. 29:18 Now get this: even though at Jesus' baptism 29:24 he uttered the words "Behold the Lamb of God 29:29 that taketh away the sins of the world" 29:32 he didn't really understand the depth of what he was saying. 29:38 It was a prophetic utterance. 29:41 The Holy Spirit fell on him at that occasion 29:44 and he said "Behold the Lamb of God 29:46 who taketh away the sins of the world. " 29:49 John was moved by the Holy Spirit 29:51 and I am sure he knew what he said 29:54 but he didn't have a complete understanding of what it meant. 29:58 Now John had been divinely informed... and this is very 30:01 interesting... He had been informed 30:06 that Jesus was going to come to him for baptism. 30:10 So he knew that was coming. 30:11 Too, he knew that something was going to happen 30:15 to prove Christ's divinity at that occasion. 30:18 So he was expecting something to happen. 30:22 Now here's the thing about faith: 30:25 the truth is, ladies and gentlemen, 30:27 if God connected all the dots for you now, 30:31 you wouldn't need faith. 30:33 Amen? Amen! Yeah... if God put it on a platter 30:38 and laid it out for you... 30:40 all of it... you wouldn't need any faith. 30:45 Heaven didn't give even John the Baptist 30:50 that kind of set-up. 30:55 The just - even John - 30:58 have to live by faith. 31:02 You and I and every other man and woman born of woman 31:06 have to live by faith. 31:09 Now for me, I tend to like to have things laid out for me. 31:15 Amen. Yeah, I like to know tomorrow we're going to do this 31:19 and we're going to do that. I kind of like to have it laid 31:21 out. But it is my settled belief 31:24 and let me suggest to you that number one 31:28 it is not God's intention to answer every question now. 31:33 Amen. Some questions you will take into paradise 31:37 and wrestle with that stuff throughout the ceaseless ages 31:39 of eternity. You're not going to get every answer to every 31:41 question now. You know what I'm saying? 31:43 Yeah. Some things you have to just accept by faith. 31:48 Two: it is not God's intention to remove every obstacle now. 31:56 Some stuff you've gotta climb over. 31:59 You know, some mountains the Lord will move. 32:03 Other mountains He says: "Climb it. " 32:07 Amen. Amen? Yeah. 32:10 Three: it is not God's intention to make the road 32:14 perfectly smooth and straight now. 32:18 Anybody know what I mean? Yeah. 32:21 Sometimes you've got to go down a winding path that's not... 32:23 And you don't always see the end from the beginning. 32:29 So God's not going to make it too comfortable for you here 32:33 because you may be in danger of wanting to stay here. 32:37 Amen. So just when you think it's going along perfectly 32:44 you hit a snag. 32:47 I just got my car out of the shop the other day. 32:49 Took it home and opened the car door 32:53 and the handle came off. 32:59 And I didn't have time to take it back to the shop... 33:01 we've got Camp Meeting. 33:03 So if you see me reaching in through the back door 33:05 and trying to open the front door, 33:07 that's cause the handle came off. 33:10 So God doesn't make it too smooth for you. 33:13 Amen. Amen! Yeah... some little bumps in the road. 33:16 That's not earth shattering; I'm not going to die. 33:19 I wish the handle was still there! 33:22 But God doesn't want it to be too smooth for you right now. 33:27 He's not going to answer every question. 33:29 He's not going to remove every obstacle 33:31 and not going to make it too smooth. 33:34 Nobody gets a pass on the exercise of faith. 33:40 Amen. Amen! Everybody's got to know 33:45 that you've got to exercise faith 33:49 and your faith will be tested and tried 33:53 through adversity and sacrifice. 33:56 Amen. Amen. No other way 34:00 to test your faith except through adversity and sacrifice. 34:06 Amen. Amen! 34:08 I'm reading from Desire of Ages page 111. 34:10 Read this when you get home. 34:12 "No one on earth had understood Him, and during His ministry 34:16 He must still walk alone. " Talking about Jesus. 34:19 "Throughout His life His mother and His brothers 34:21 did not comprehend His mission. " 34:23 His mother and His brothers 34:27 didn't understand what He was doing. 34:30 "Even His disciples did not understand Him. 34:34 He had dwelt in eternal light as one with God 34:36 but His life on earth must be spent in solitude. " 34:41 Do you know what it is to go through life and 34:43 nobody understands what you're trying to do? 34:47 Every sin, every discord, every defiling lust 34:51 that transgression had brought was torture to His spirit. " 34:57 Now this was said about Jesus... not John. 34:59 Jesus didn't just suffer on Calvary. Ladies and gentlemen, 35:04 He suffered every single day. 35:07 Amen! Because everything He saw happening on earth 35:11 brought pain to His spirit. When He saw injustice, 35:14 poverty, ingratitude... 35:16 these things hurt Christ within. 35:18 Every single day He was in the face with that. 35:21 Nobody on planet earth had the same reaction to sin 35:26 as did Jesus. 35:29 That alone was cause for suffering. 35:33 Ellen White says, again on page 111 Desire of Ages: 35:36 "He saw and felt all. 35:39 Jesus, too, needed faith and trust in His Father. " 35:44 So even Christ didn't get a pass on faith. 35:45 He had to exercise faith in His Father also. 35:49 "The Savior had to reach out His hand to grasp the hand 35:52 of omnipotent love just like we do. " 35:58 At that baptism in Jordan 36:01 God sent Jesus a coded, personal, encrypted 36:07 video communique. 36:10 Heaven opened. Light shone on Jesus. 36:13 The Holy Spirit assumed the form of a dove 36:15 and landed on His head. A voice spoke out 36:17 that sounded like thunder to many. 36:20 Some heard it as thunder but John heard it as words. 36:23 John was moved. He saw Christ pleading with tears 36:26 for the apparent blessing of His Father. 36:30 Most of the people did not understand it; 36:33 John did. Most of the people thought it was thunder; 36:36 John heard the words. Ellen White says: 36:38 "Christ prayed a prayer at that baptism 36:41 that angels had never even heard before. 36:46 Christ was bathed in light... the kind of light that ever 36:49 surrounds the throne of God. 36:51 John was in the presence of all of this. 36:55 But here is the warning - the caveat - for you and me: 36:59 It is a spiritual descent from "Behold the Lamb of God" 37:04 to "Are You the One? Do we look for another? " 37:09 That's a great drop. Think about it. 37:12 "Behold the Lamb of God 37:13 that taketh away... " That's a very positive statement. 37:16 That's an affirmative statement. 37:17 So how do we go from "Behold the Lamb of God 37:21 who taketh away the sins of the world" 37:24 to "Are you the Messiah or shall I look for somebody else? " 37:31 That needs to be studied 37:32 because John the Baptist was no ordinary man. 37:35 We just read Christ said "Of man born of woman 37:39 none greater. " So how do we go from "Behold the Lamb of God" 37:43 to "Are you it? Or is there a plan B? " 37:50 And if it could happen to John, ladies and gentlemen, 37:54 it could happen to you and me. Amen! 37:59 Anyone here ever have any doubt? 38:07 Look at what Ellen White says in Desire of Ages 179. I love this! 38:11 "John had by nature the faults and weaknesses 38:14 common to humanity. " 38:18 Um-hmm. So he's just like you and me. 38:21 The fact that he was a great prophet did not excuse him 38:24 from being human. 38:27 But the touch of divine love had transformed him. 38:31 Amen! The touch of divine love 38:35 can transform you and me. Sounds like you and me. 38:37 Now... "He dwelt in an atmosphere... " I love this... 38:40 This is Desire of Ages 179: "He dwelt in an atmosphere 38:43 uncontaminated with selfishness and ambition. 38:47 He was far above jealousy. " 38:50 Are you hearing me? 38:52 He wasn't ambitious; he wasn't selfish; 38:55 he wasn't jealous. 38:57 But life, ladies and gentlemen, has a way of gettin' on you. 39:02 Anybody know what I'm talking about? 39:04 Life can do some stuff to you. 39:07 Amen. He was not naturally jealous. 39:11 He was not a person who was ambitious 39:15 and he wasn't selfish! 39:21 There was a time when John was the most influential person 39:24 in the nation. 39:26 He was a preacher of righteousness. 39:28 The crowds were huge and they flocked to hear him. 39:36 Now that didn't impress John 39:41 because he was not selfish, he was not ambitious, 39:46 and he wasn't jealous. 39:48 So the fact that he had big crowds 39:51 didn't impress him and it didn't seduce him. 39:56 I saw someone the other day... we were talking. 39:58 And, gotta look at my time... Ooh! Forty years ago 40:03 Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones said: "I don't plan to be 40:05 55 and singing "I Can't Get No Satisfaction. " 40:11 You know what? He's heading towards 70 40:14 and he's still singing "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" 40:19 because fame and popularity are seductive - 40:25 Amen - and once you get it it's hard to let it go. 40:29 Amen. Amen. 40:32 So John was the most popular thing in Israel: 40:37 a preacher of righteousness preaching to large crowds. 40:42 It didn't impress John because he was focused on God 40:46 but evidently it impressed his disciples. 40:52 Day by day John and his disciples 40:55 saw their crowds getting smaller 40:58 and Jesus' crowds getting larger. 41:02 Now unless your head is on straight 41:05 that can play with your mind. 41:07 Didn't bother John 41:09 but evidently it did affect his disciples. 41:13 John's disciples, and this is brought out clearly in the 41:15 Spirit of Prophecy, alluded to in the Bible, 41:17 were jealous of Jesus' popularity. 41:22 Not John... John's disciples. 41:25 The Bible indicates that the disciples would come back 41:29 and report to John. They stood ready - Ellen White says - 41:34 to criticize Jesus' work. And the one issue was baptism. 41:44 Here's how we know. 41:46 John chapter 3. Here are the disciples' words 41:52 to John. "Rabbi... " You know, a little butter up... 41:58 "He that was with thee beyond the Jordan 42:01 to whom thou bearest witness 42:05 'Behold... ' The same baptizes all men and all men 42:10 come to Him. " John 3:26. 42:12 Now what's that saying? 42:15 "The guy that you talked about 42:18 who was with you in the Jordan 42:19 He's kind of taking your place. " 42:23 The NIV says: 42:25 "He is baptizing and everybody is going to Him. " 42:30 The unsaid statement is: "And leaving you. " 42:35 "Through these words... " Ellen White says... 42:38 "Satan brought temptation to John. " 42:41 "John... you're slipping in the ratings 42:45 and Jesus is the hot ticket now. " 42:49 Division is a common demonic strategy. 42:54 It is! 42:56 "He doesn't really care about you. " 42:59 "That church doesn't really love you. " 43:02 That's a common demonic strategy. 43:04 And why is Satan still using it? 43:06 Because it still works. Amen. 43:10 Amen! Um-hmm. 43:15 Point: you have to watch out, oh Christian, 43:19 who you allow access into your brain. 43:26 Yeah. You can't let everybody filter stuff into your head. 43:32 Don't let every rattling can 43:36 rent space in your noggin. 43:42 Amen. Amen! 43:44 The Bible says in I John 4:1 "Try the spirits. " 43:48 Don't just listen to everything that's floating by. 43:52 Ephesians 4:14: "Don't be blown about by 43:56 every wind of doctrine. " You've gotta plant your feet. 43:59 Don't let everybody rent space in your brain. 44:04 John's disciples were trying to help 44:09 but they were motivated by jealousy. 44:13 John 1:27, Mark 1:7, 44:16 Matthew 3:11 John said: "Someone is coming after me 44:21 whose sandal straps I am unworthy to unlatch. " 44:27 John knew his place. 44:29 John knew what he had been called to do. 44:32 But when people constantly drum things into your head 44:36 and run their agenda under your nose 44:39 it works on your brain. 44:43 Amen. And if you listen too closely 44:46 it can affect your spiritual life. 44:52 Truth or consequences, pain or circumstances, 44:55 pain and suffering can get inside your head... 44:57 particularly protracted pain. When you're suffering 45:01 for a long time you begin to "think stuff. " 45:04 Anybody know what I'm talking about? Amen! 45:09 Number one: when you're suffering for a long time 45:12 it can skew your sense of priority. 45:17 Things become important that really aren't important 45:19 and important stuff becomes less important 45:21 because you're suffering... you're in pain. 45:24 It can weaken your faith. 45:27 When you're suffering day after day after day after day 45:32 unless you know where Jesus is it can weaken your faith! 45:34 It can! 45:39 It can alter you spiritually, 45:42 psychologically, and even after the suffering is over 45:49 you still suffer. That's what PTSD is all about. 45:54 You're out from under the gun but you're still suffering. 45:58 Desire of Ages page 215: 46:01 "These suggestions... " these things coming to John 46:04 from his disciples - these are his friends not his enemies - 46:07 I said these are his friends. Amen. 46:11 These are his friends - Amen - not his enemies... 46:15 "These suggestions were not without effect. " 46:18 Now this is a godly man. 46:21 "But these suggestions were not without effect. 46:25 Doubts, which otherwise would have never arisen 46:29 in John were suggested to him 46:32 by his friends. " Amen. 46:37 Here's a quote from Desire of Ages 215: 46:40 "How often those who think themselves the friends 46:43 of a good person who are eager to show their fidelity to them 46:49 prove to be his most dangerous enemy. " 46:53 From my friend. 46:56 "Instead of strengthening their words depress 47:00 and dishearten. " In these last days 47:04 you need to be very selective about who you chum 47:07 around with - Amen - and who you are close to. 47:12 Now, your call as a Christian is to be Christ-like 47:17 to everybody. But I'm talking about your intimates. 47:22 Those that you share secrets with 47:24 and who share secrets with you 47:25 and those who have influence on you 47:28 and those on whom you have influence. 47:30 Be very careful about your inner circle. Amen? 47:34 They've got to build you up not tear you down. 47:38 And sometimes your best friend can become 47:41 your worst enemy. 47:45 John had the same general idea - 47:47 and I see I'm going to run out of time so I've got to 47:49 try to speed up here. "John had the same general idea 47:51 as the disciples. He, too, expected Jesus 47:55 to take the throne of David. " 47:57 Now you wouldn't think that John would hold that thought. 48:00 But it was so ubiquitous, it was so in the popular culture, 48:04 I think the only thing equal to that today would be... 48:06 would be Sunday-keeping. There are people 48:08 who are so into Sunday-keeping and it's so wide-spread 48:12 it's just in our culture. Well, this idea that Jesus would come 48:16 and take the throne of David was so widespread in Israel 48:19 even John kind of bought into it. 48:23 Christ was saying: "My kingdom is not of this world. " 48:26 And the truth is there were very few in Israel 48:28 who were ready to accept that. 48:30 They wanted His kingdom to be precisely of this world. 48:34 "We want to get the Romans off our backs 48:37 and Jesus is the One to do it. " And even John 48:40 was buying into that 48:43 and, of course, John's disciples. 48:47 So now John is in a dungeon. 48:49 Ellen White says he's a country boy... 48:51 Used to being out here in nature 48:53 and going where he wants to go and doing what he wants to do. 48:55 He's confined in a little, dirty space 48:57 and that brought pressure. No fresh air. 49:00 He is caged and he is suffering. 49:04 His disciples are saying: "If He is the Son of God 49:07 and if He's doing all of these miracles, 49:09 why are you still in here? " 49:16 "He came to set the captives free 49:19 and last we looked you ain't free. " 49:25 "You're in prison... " Desire of Ages page 216: 49:30 "There were hours when whisperings of demons 49:34 tortured his spirit 49:35 and shadows of a terrible fear crept over him. " 49:39 But here's where John the Baptist shines. 49:41 Ellen White says: "The Baptist did not surrender 49:45 his faith in God. " Amen! Ladies and gentlemen, 49:48 we're all gonna be tested. 49:49 Everything you have is going to be tested. 49:52 And I mean a lot more than your door handle breaking off. 49:55 You are going to be tested 49:58 and will you hold fast to your faith is the question. 50:02 John didn't discuss his doubts and anxieties 50:05 with his companions. John Bradshaw said something 50:08 last night during the panel that was very true. 50:10 If you've got doubts in the church 50:13 and if you've got doubts in the Bible 50:15 and if you have doubts in the Word of God, 50:18 may I humbly suggest: keep that stuff to yourself. 50:22 Amen. Don't spread your doubts. 50:25 Take your doubts to Jesus. 50:26 What is it with us that when we get a disease 50:29 we feel we've got to infect everybody? 50:34 Work that stuff out between you and Jesus. Don't spread that 50:37 because there are people who are weaker than you. 50:39 Your suggestion of doubt 50:42 can pull someone out of the church of God. Amen. 50:45 Keep that stuff to yourself... work it out with Jesus. 50:49 John NEVER spoke of his doubts. 50:53 He spoke of his pain; he spoke of his sorrow 50:56 but his doubts he kept between him and the Lord. 50:59 So if you don't believe in the Sabbath 51:01 take it to Jesus. 51:03 You've got a problem with health reform? 51:05 Take it to Jesus. 51:07 You just love pork chops... 51:14 Amen! Don't, you know... 51:16 You've got a problem with women's ordination 51:18 or any number of these things 51:21 you've gotta, you know, take that stuff to the Lord. 51:26 Amen? Amen! 51:29 Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth? 51:31 No! Everything you don't need to share. 51:35 Some stuff... take it to Jesus and work it out with Him. 51:38 Besides, I'm too busy dragging my own wagon. 51:42 Amen. 51:46 Kinda hard to take my wagon and your wagon too. 51:50 That's right! You've gotta drag your wagon. 51:53 And the same Jesus who helps me drag mine 51:56 will help you drag yours. Amen! 52:00 So take that stuff to the Lord. Don't express every doubt 52:03 and every fear. And then even be selective 52:08 who you suggest those to. 52:14 Everybody's not prepared to handle your stuff. 52:18 Too busy handling their own stuff. 52:21 Amen. Amen! 52:23 So John did not do that. 52:25 Lookin' at my clock. 52:27 He sends his two disciples. 52:29 He expected Christ to give him a special little something 52:34 'cause he's in prison and he's suffering for the Lord. 52:38 That's how you go from "Behold the Lamb" 52:42 to "Do we look for another? " Pain, imprisonment, 52:44 bad advice, attack of the devil, 52:47 deferred, delayed, displaced deliverance. 52:49 Invalid expectations accompanied by 52:52 not only the threat of death but the expectation of death. 52:56 Anyone here ever have a lapse in faith? 52:58 I'm raising my hand first. I've had times when my faith 53:01 has sort of given out. 53:03 I'm so glad when we give up on God God doesn't give up on us. 53:06 Amen! 53:10 So you've gotta love Jesus. 53:11 The disciples come and they say: "OK, are You it 53:15 or do we look for somebody else? " 53:16 And you know what Christ said? 53:18 Nothing. 53:21 No response. 53:23 The Bible says He just went about healing. 53:25 He just did what He always did. 53:28 Whole day went by 53:30 and the disciples watched Him heal and bless and preach 53:34 and teach and save, and He never answered the question. 53:37 Then at day's end He said: "Now go back and tell him 53:39 what you saw. " Brilliant! 53:43 "Just go back and tell him what you saw. " 53:45 And I believe from that time on 53:48 John was settled. 53:52 During the day Christ threw them an esoteric bone. 53:57 Now let me do that real quick 53:59 then our time might be gone. 54:01 John... let's go to Luke chapter 7 and verse 23. 54:04 I read it before but I want to just examine it 54:07 for just a second. 54:10 "Blessed is He who is not offended because of Me. " 54:15 Now, John didn't get it at the moment. 54:17 His disciples didn't get it, but I think later on he did. 54:21 And I didn't really get it till I studied it. 54:23 Here is what Christ is saying. 54:27 "Happy is he who does not turn away from Jesus 54:31 because Jesus does not conform to his preconceived ideas. " 54:36 Amen. 54:38 In other words, you can't put Christ in a box. 54:43 Amen. Amen! 54:45 You cannot! Christ has a million ways to do things 54:49 that you know not of. 54:51 So sometimes you've gotta sit back and let God be God 54:55 and not tell Him HOW to save you 54:58 or how to outline the path. 55:01 You've just gotta walk the road that He outlines before you. 55:05 Amen? You don't get a pass on faith. 55:10 That's the message from John for us. 55:13 Blessed is he who believes 55:17 even though it's not working just like you want it. 55:20 You trust God to work it all out as it should be. Amen? 55:25 Amen! Christ didn't give John a secret message. 55:29 He gave him a godly example. 55:32 He didn't give John what he wanted... 55:36 He gave John what he needed. 55:39 I've gotta slip over and I just want to read 55:42 a couple closing statements and then we are done. 55:47 "When the Lord appeared to Saul in his conversion - 55:51 this is the Damascus road experience - 55:54 He did not purpose to show him how much good 55:57 he would enjoy but what great things he should suffer 56:02 for His name. " Um-hmm. 56:04 "Suffering has been the portion of God's people 56:07 from the days of the martyr Abraham. 56:09 And why should we who have the Blessed Hope of immortality 56:14 to be consummated at the soon appearing of Christ 56:18 shrink from sacrifice and suffering? " 56:22 Don't do that. Last one: 56:24 I Testimonies page 126: 56:27 "Those who are willing to make any sacrifice 56:31 for eternal life will have it. " 56:33 Amen! "And it will be worth the sacrifice, 56:38 worth the crucifying of self, 56:42 worth the sacrificing of every idol 56:46 to be forever with Jesus. " 56:49 There is sanctity in sacrifice. 56:54 There is salvation in sacrifice. 56:57 Dare I say we will not see Jesus face to face without it. 57:03 And even the beloved John, you and me, 57:07 each of us must walk the road of sacrifice 57:12 and even suffering. But it will end 57:16 in a face-to-face meeting with Jesus. |
Revised 2024-10-15