Participants: Ron Halvorsen
Series Code: AOT
Program Code: AOT000047
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00:12 Welcome to Anchors Of Truth from the 3ABN Worship Center.
00:16 The Truth As It Is In Jesus with Ron Halvorsen. 00:23 Hello friends and welcome to Thompsonville, 00:25 the biggest little city in the world. 00:27 At least I believe that. 00:28 If you are a member of the 3ABN family, you know that 00:31 to be somewhat true, as we cover most of the planet. 00:34 As one of my favorite preachers said, Pastor C.A. says, 00:37 75% of the world is covered by water 00:40 and the rest of it is covered by 3ABN. 00:43 Thank you so much for tuning into Anchors Of Truth. 00:46 One of my favorite speakers for a number of reasons. 00:50 One most importantly is, he is a man of God. 00:52 Pastor Ron Halvorsen has graced us last night as we've 00:57 begun the series, The Truth As It Is In Jesus. 01:01 And tonight's topic is particularly, 01:04 The Truth About His Person. 01:06 And as you know, the Lord always has a message in store for 01:09 one who's heart is turned to the Lord. 01:12 A man who's been on the battlefield for more than 01:14 40 to 50 years preaching the gospel of the good news. 01:18 The other thing I like about him; he's also a native 01:20 New Yorker, something we share in common. 01:22 Born in Brooklyn, New York. 01:24 Which is, in fact, a city all by itself. 01:27 A man who understands the streets, the tough streets. 01:30 The Lord found him in a gang, turned his life over, 01:35 and made him a warrior for the Lord. 01:38 And what a warrior his has been for many years 01:41 of winning souls to Christ. 01:42 You may have heard his story in a book entitled, 01:45 From Gangs To God. 01:47 It tells how God pulled him out of the streets 01:49 of the city of New York. 01:51 He was also a boxer, one not just boxing spiritually, 01:55 but boxing physically as a light heavyweight. 01:58 And what a life, an amazing life. 02:00 He has blessed us as he divides the Word of truth. 02:04 I'd like to also tell you he has a wonderful book he has written 02:06 entitled, Prayer Warriors. 02:08 Now I do believe that a person who preaches like he does 02:11 and teaches as he does has to have a connection with God. 02:15 And that vital connection is, in fact, through 02:18 the power of prayer. 02:21 If you've never had a copy of this book, it's not just a book, 02:24 it's also a workbook walking you through. 02:27 And as I looked at the titles in the book, I said to 02:29 Pastor Halvorsen, "It looks like some of those titles have been 02:31 born from your experiences on the streets of New York City." 02:35 For example, the first chapter is entitled, War Zone. 02:38 Very true about some of the places in New York. 02:40 Also, Knowing the Enemy. 02:43 You've got to know the enemy when you are praying 02:45 and working for the Lord. 02:47 You've got to understand the way the enemy works. 02:49 Another chapter entitled, Arming for the Battle. 02:53 Prayer is, in fact, one of the strongest weapons 02:56 in the spiritual battle. 02:58 Then another chapter entitled, Battle Skills. 03:01 What do you do after you get these weapons of warfare? 03:03 What do you do after God arms you with these 03:05 spiritual weapons? 03:07 How do you use them? 03:08 Very important, he talks about those battle skills. 03:11 Then, Battleground. 03:13 How to recognize where the battle is, 03:16 and where the battle is not. 03:18 And finally, The Secret of Prayer. 03:21 In order to be able to walk with the Lord daily, 03:24 you have to have a one to one relationship. 03:26 You know, there are prayer warriors, there are 03:28 prayer websites. 03:29 So much is said about prayer. 03:31 But I want to say this. 03:32 We don't believe also in prayer, or just in prayer. 03:35 But we specifically believe in the One to whom we pray. 03:38 And Pastor Halvorsen has a wonderful connection 03:41 with the Lord. 03:42 So tonight, as we prepare our hearts for the message, 03:45 I'd like to invite you to bow your heads with me 03:47 as we go to the Lord and invite the Spirit of God to 03:50 come into this place. 03:51 Let's pray together. 03:54 Our gracious Father in heaven, what a blessing it is to 03:56 be able to stand before this desk knowing that from 04:01 this place You've chosen Your manservant to be, not only an 04:05 instrument, but to be the conduit through which heaven 04:09 comes down and glory fills out soul. 04:11 Tonight I pray a special anointing on 04:13 Pastor Ron Halvorsen as he brings the message, 04:17 the truth about His person, the person of Jesus. 04:21 Thank You so much, Father, for revealing Yourself to us 04:24 So anoint, not only what he's written down, 04:27 but anoint his mind that he'll speak in such a way 04:30 that we will know that he is connected continually to Christ. 04:34 And may those who are watching and listening to this program 04:37 feel the call from Christ upon their lives. 04:40 If they don't know Him as their personal Savior, 04:43 may they make that decision to follow Him. 04:45 So we thank You, Father, for what we shall receive. 04:47 In Jesus' name we pray, amen. 04:51 Before we have our speaker come this evening, 04:54 I'd like to introduce someone who's a personal friend of mine. 04:57 Someone who God has blessed to begin this ministry 04:59 more than 27 years ago. 05:01 And he's going to bless our hearts tonight. 05:03 Brother Danny Shelton is going to sing that song, 05:06 Heaven Means Home To Me. 05:31 I'm longing for a place I've never been, 05:39 but it's a place that I call my home. 05:49 Where the sun is the light in the midst of the night, 05:58 heaven means home to me. 06:07 Heaven means home to me. 06:17 Where Jesus is, I want to be. 06:25 There's no dying up there, this old earth can't compare. 06:34 That's why heaven means home to me. 06:53 Well I've heard of a beautiful city above, 07:02 with streets that are paved with pure gold. 07:12 But my eyes are fixed on Jesus my King. 07:21 That's why heaven means home to me. 07:30 Heaven means home to me. 07:40 Where Jesus is, I want to be. 07:48 There's no dying up there, this old earth can't compare. 07:57 That's why heaven means home to me. 08:07 What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. 08:16 And I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace. 08:25 When He takes me by the hand 08:29 and leads me through that Promised Land. 08:34 What a day, glorious day, that will be. 08:43 There's no dying up there, this old earth can't compare. 08:52 That's why heaven means home to me. 09:22 Thank you very much, Danny. 09:24 A beautiful song. 09:26 And he told me just before he came out 09:29 that he wrote that song. 09:30 And that makes it even more meaningful. 09:33 Heaven is our home. 09:35 We haven't been there yet, but it's our home. 09:38 It's our home. 09:39 I want to welcome you who are watching the program. 09:42 This is a second in a series on Anchored in the Truth 09:47 As It Is In Jesus. 09:50 Last night, we talked about the birth of Christ, 09:52 the incarnation, God coming down with a baby in His arms, 09:55 and that salvation began in a crib. 10:00 Tonight, I want to talk to you about the personality of Christ, 10:02 the person of Christ. 10:04 I mean, I want to talk to you about the unique Jesus; 10:07 how unique He is, how different. 10:10 Now tonight, we find a culture in a crisis. 10:15 Tonight we find a culture searching for meaning, 10:18 a culture tottering on the brink of collapse. 10:23 It's like a great ship adrift in a stormy sea without a rudder. 10:27 I mean, postmodern man has all kinds of questions, 10:33 but very few answers. 10:35 Postmodern man has all kinds of problems, 10:39 but no solution. 10:42 The world tottering, the society tottering, 10:46 on the brink of disaster. 10:48 Perhaps you heard about the policeman driving across 10:50 the Brooklyn Bridge. 10:52 And as he was driving across the bridge, he notice someone on the 10:55 super structure ready to take a back dive into the East River. 10:59 And so he pulled the patrol car over and he jumped out. 11:02 He climbed up and got close. 11:04 The man said, "Stop, I'm going to jump." 11:05 He said, "No, you don't want to jump. 11:09 Life is too wonderful, you don't want to jump." 11:11 He said, "No, life is terrible. I can't take any more of it. 11:15 I'm going to jump." 11:16 He said, "Oh no, please." 11:17 He said, "Look, give me ten minutes to tell you why 11:23 life is worth living. 11:25 And then I'll give you ten minutes to tell me why 11:27 life isn't worth living. 11:30 And then you decide." 11:32 So the man shook his head. 11:33 And the patrolman, he waxed eloquent about life and about 11:38 the birds and the flowers, which you don't see 11:41 very much in Brooklyn. 11:42 But anyway, he talked about life and happiness and 11:45 joy and family and friends and jobs. 11:48 I mean, he was going on eloquently for ten minutes. 11:53 And when he finished, he said, "Now it's your turn." 11:55 And the man went on, he said, "I lost my job, 11:57 I lost my family. 11:58 I'm about to be evicted from my home." 12:01 And he went on and on. 12:02 Ten minutes later, they shook hands and both jumped. 12:07 I mean, that's kind of the situation we 12:09 find ourselves in, isn't it. 12:11 A culture about to jump. 12:16 Politically, economically, morally; 12:21 it's about to collapse. 12:23 In fact, I read a poem so time ago about this culture 12:26 in which we live, about postmodern man. 12:28 His search for meaning. His search for God, actually. 12:34 This is the age of the half read page, 12:37 the quick hash and the mad dash, 12:39 the bright knight with nerves tight, 12:41 the plane hop and a brief stop, the lamp tan in a brief span. 12:45 I mean, the big shot in the right spot, 12:47 and a brain strain and a heart pain, 12:50 and the cat naps till the spring snaps, 12:52 and the fun is done. 12:55 Now that may not be good poetry. 12:59 But I believe it describes the age in which you and I live. 13:01 I mean, this is the age of dry eyes, hard noses, cold feet. 13:07 It follows the wind, it loves a vacuum. 13:09 It's beatitude is, "Blessed are the mighty, 13:11 for they shall make money." 13:13 It's beatitude is, "Blessed are the smooth, 13:16 for they shall never get wrinkled." 13:18 I mean, it's beatitude is, "Blessed are the cool, 13:21 for they shall never sweat," 13:23 I mean, this is the age that sits around bragging about 13:25 its accomplishments, "Look, see what we have done." 13:28 Split atoms, split nations, 13:31 split homes, split personalities. 13:33 That's our age, that's the culture in which you and I live. 13:36 I mean, we send tons of tin into outer space 13:38 and we don't know what to do with the space we already have. 13:44 We walk in space and we cannot walk in some neighborhoods. 13:49 I mean, that's our dilemma. 13:50 I mean, what an age. 13:51 We talk about brotherhood, but we're suspecting 13:53 there are more hoods than there are brothers. 13:57 And down deep in the heart, 14:01 they're crying out. 14:03 What's the problem? 14:05 While you're trying to decide what kind of TV dinner to 14:08 pop into the microwave, 20 new corpses show up 14:11 on the streets in America. 14:13 I mean, for no better reason than someone took the 14:15 wrong turn in the wrong neighborhood and got in the 14:18 wrong place at the wrong time, and a bunch of unemployed kids 14:20 were going at it over another block, a little piece of turf. 14:25 Or some innocent married man jogging along the track. 14:29 And because one man wants to know what it is 14:32 to fulfill a fantasy, takes his life. 14:35 The films we watch at night bring us to 14:38 what we see in the day. 14:40 There are more hoods than there are brothers. 14:41 The culture in crisis. 14:42 It over eats, it over drinks, it over plays, it over spends. 14:46 What a culture. 14:47 We think delicately, we think slovenly, and we think dully. 14:51 I mean, we take a pill to go to bed at night to sleep 14:53 and we take a pill to wake up. 14:55 And we talk about overpasses and underpasses, 14:57 and we talk about bypasses. 14:59 That's our age. 15:02 He knows more about the bomb than he does the Bible. 15:06 We have smart bombs and we have dumb leaders. 15:10 And what a culture we live. 15:12 I mean, this is postmodern. 15:13 These are the people that are suppose to solve the 15:15 problems of the world. 15:16 Grown men wrapped in the swaddling clothes 15:18 of intellectualism. 15:20 Long sentences, long words; short on meaning. 15:24 It's above all, an age, a gadget filled age of paradise 15:28 suspended in the hell of insecurity. 15:30 Above all, it's an age of unexamined concepts and 15:34 limp images and limber lips. 15:36 It knows everything about sex, but nothing about love. 15:38 That's our age. 15:41 And this is the age of the fast buck, 15:43 the goof off, the fixed price, the half done job. 15:48 It above all, a culture on the brink of disaster. 15:51 It's world painted gray. 15:53 They tell us there is no truth, there is no authority, 15:57 and there is no God. 15:58 The interim ethic, the smooth cliché, 16:00 the bottomless relativism. 16:02 I mean, the new morality. 16:03 An age that has limited vision of poverty, 16:07 but an unlimited poverty of vision. 16:09 It's like in the old days in the book of 1 Samuel. 16:12 The Bible tells us in chapter 3 of 1 Samuel 16:15 and verse 1 these words: 16:25 There's no vision. 16:27 And added to all this, it's an age where men wonder 16:30 around in a stupor wondering what's wrong with them. 16:34 He knows so much and yet cares so little. 16:39 He knows so much and understands so little. 16:42 He's fearful, he's frustrated, he's empty. 16:45 There's an emptiness in his heart. 16:46 I mean, asking a thousand questions that have not 16:48 substance nor purpose, fulfilling the prophetic words 16:51 found in the book of Romans when Paul wrote 16:54 to the Roman Christians. 16:55 He wrote these words in the first chapter of Romans 16:58 and in verses 21 and 22. 17:11 What a text of scripture to our age. 17:15 Knowing God, and yet not glorifying this God. 17:23 Modern man trying desperately to avoid, 17:25 trying desperately to avoid an encounter with Jesus Christ, 17:29 the Jesus Christ of history. 17:31 He runs from the only One who can save him. 17:36 Modern man runs from the only One that can bring him peace, 17:39 the only One that can lift his burden, 17:41 the only One that can give him a great future. 17:44 He runs from the only One that can give him 17:45 purpose in his life. 17:47 But you can't run from Jesus Christ. 17:51 It's amazing isn't it? 17:52 People are still talking about Jesus in this secular age. 17:55 I mean, in spite of postmodernism, secularism, 17:58 humanism, determinism, atheism, and other -ism's. 18:02 I mean, we're still talking about Jesus. 18:04 His life still impacts ours. 18:06 You try to avoid Him, but you run into Him every day. 18:10 I mean, amazing isn't it, that after 2000 years, 18:13 people meet Him in every conceivable spot on the earth, 18:17 and to honor and to respect Him. 18:20 I've traveled around the world. 18:21 I've been to the darkest places of Africa. 18:24 I've been in Europe. 18:25 I've been in some of the great cities of culture. 18:27 But everywhere I turn, there is the face of Jesus. 18:30 If I go into the museums, there it is, the art work 18:33 of Jesus of history, the Christ who impacted the world. 18:36 I mean, everywhere you look, Jesus is still the 18:39 center of the universe. 18:42 Books at our library, you can't avoid Him. 18:44 Don't even go to the library. 18:45 I mean, the art adorns our cathedrals and our art galleries 18:49 and reams of music are written about Him. 18:52 Whole radio and television stations, this station, 18:55 are dedicated, committed, to uphold Jesus Christ. 19:00 Twenty-four hours a day they sing about Him. 19:02 I mean, twenty-four hours a day they honor Him. 19:05 Seven days a week. 19:07 At this very moment somewhere in the world 19:09 He is being honored, He's being worshiped, 19:12 He's being loved. 19:13 And what figure in history is so honored than Jesus Christ. 19:18 And yet, you say He doesn't exist? 19:21 Give me a break. 19:24 No other figure in history is so revered. 19:28 I mean, philosophies, political schemes, 19:31 religious movements, have been arrayed against Him. 19:34 Enemies have tried to defeat Him, destroy Him, 19:37 to push Him out of their minds, but He still turns up. 19:39 He remains unvanquished; Jesus. He remains undefeated; Jesus. 19:44 He remains unconquerable; Jesus. 19:48 And there's no one anywhere foolish enough 19:53 to deny the impact He's made upon our civilization, 19:57 upon our world, friends. 19:59 You can't get away from Jesus Christ. 20:01 He is Messiah. 20:03 The Messiah of God. 20:04 In spite of all this, there is still misconception 20:07 about Jesus Christ. 20:09 I mean, there are still myths surrounding Him. 20:11 He's still being attacked. 20:12 I mean, some say He was just an iconoclastic Jew, 20:15 just a man in history. 20:17 Others say, well He was a revolutionary. 20:19 Just one revolutionary in all the history of the world. 20:22 Some say He was just a human being. 20:24 An attack on His person. 20:26 Hollywood paints Him in the dark shades of wickedness, 20:30 their own wickedness. 20:32 And so they try to put flaws in Him. 20:34 They try to make weaknesses, sexual perversions. 20:38 They try to connect Him to their own life and their own living. 20:44 But everything Jesus was suppose to do, He did. 20:47 Why did they hate Him? 20:49 Because He contradicts the scientific view. 20:52 He contradicts and says, there is the supernatural, 20:55 there is a power in the universe. 20:57 And that power is the power that changes lives. 20:59 That when they're impacted by this God of history, 21:02 this Christ of history, He changes lives. 21:05 And He can change yours, who are watching this 21:07 program right now. 21:09 He can change your life right here in this place, 21:11 right at this moment. 21:13 Jesus impacts us. 21:16 I want to look at this historical Jesus. 21:19 I call Him the unique Son of God; Jesus. 21:23 If ever a culture needed Christ, it's now. 21:26 I think of art, I think of the sculpture. 21:29 Perhaps you're familiar with that great statue 21:31 there at Rio de Janeiro on that mountain. 21:34 It's called, the Redeemer. 21:36 The statue of the Redeemer. 21:40 Over the sprawling city of Rio de Janeiro, 21:42 there on that mountain, there is the "Christ the Redeemer" 21:45 with his arms out stretched. 21:47 And anyone who ever goes to Rio de Janeiro 21:49 will make their way up the mountain and stand before 21:51 that great statue, the Redeemer, the statue of Jesus Christ. 21:56 But there are two ironies about the statue. 21:58 Have you ever noticed there are two ironies about this statue? 22:01 First of all, he has blind eyes. 22:03 And secondly, he has a stony heart. 22:06 But you say, "Ron Halvorsen, all statues have blind eyes." 22:10 But you see, the artist intended them to be blind. 22:14 He didn't even put pupils to suggest sight. 22:18 A blind redeemer looking out with no sight 22:23 over the sprawling city of 7 million people sinning and 22:27 hurting and dying; human beings. 22:30 A blind eyed savior, redeemer. 22:35 The second is the stony heart. 22:37 It's a stone heart, a valentine's heart, 22:40 on the outside of the cloak. 22:42 A heart not made of love, a heart not filled with love. 22:45 But a heart filled with cement. 22:49 A heart made of stone. 22:51 Held together, not with passion and love, but held together... 22:56 Listen to me. 22:57 ...held together with concrete and mortar. 22:59 What kind of redeemer is this with blind eyes? 23:02 And what kind of redeemer is this with a stony heart? 23:05 That's not the Christ of the Scripture. 23:07 That's not the Christ of the Bible. 23:09 That's not the Christ that you and I have encountered, 23:11 who has changed our life. 23:13 This bronze Galilean who was authenticated by eye witnesses. 23:19 Peter, the fisherman, saw Him and preached about Him 23:21 and died for Him. 23:23 Matthew, the tax collector. There was Luke, the doctor. 23:26 I mean, there was Mark, the teenager. 23:28 In fact, they write with pens dipped in 23:30 the ink of inspiration. 23:32 And those words stand to us as the infallible Word of God, 23:35 even to this hour. 23:39 Biographies about Jesus written a few years 23:42 after the resurrection. 23:44 Some place it in 40 AD. 23:46 Later, 70 AD. 23:48 But none the less, it's substantiated by the events. 23:51 Three synoptic gospels speak of this Jesus. 23:53 I mean, Paul's writings and letters proceed the gospel 23:57 as eye witnesses through the Damascus road encounter. 24:00 He encountered Jesus. 24:01 He saw Him with his eyes, he felt Him with his heart. 24:04 At least seven secular sources in history. 24:07 Early historians have written about this Jesus. 24:10 He is a historical figure. 24:12 He did live. 24:14 And He did love. 24:15 And He was crucified outside Jerusalem walls. 24:18 And the tomb is empty now, for He is resurrected Lord in glory. 24:23 Listen to me. 24:24 Prophecy confirms it. 24:27 Push away man's petty arguments and let us meet Him personally. 24:31 Jesus, the unique Son of God. 24:33 The Bible says in 2 Corinthians, 24:35 notice here in 2 Corinthians the 4th chapter. 24:50 The god of this world blinded, blinded. 24:55 Later, Paul writes to the Philippians. 24:57 He writes it in Philippians 2 verse 9 and verse 10. 25:01 Listen to the words. 25:05 Jesus highly exalted. 25:18 Wow. 25:20 God is exalted. 25:23 This preacher tonight wants to exalt Him. 25:27 I mean, the Bible tells us He is unique. 25:29 By the way, Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God. 25:33 More than just a good man. 25:34 More than just a historical figure like Washington or 25:38 Abraham Lincoln or Kennedy. 25:40 I mean, He was more than just a historical person. 25:42 He is the Son of God. 25:43 And He is unique. 25:44 He is unique in His origin. 25:46 By the way, He is unique in His name. 25:48 He is unique in His salvation. 25:49 And He is unique in His promise. 25:51 Let's look at that together for these few moments. 25:55 First of all let me tell you, Jesus is unique in His origin. 25:58 There never was another 26:01 who was a human Child and also a divine Son. 26:05 Never. 26:06 There never was another who was wounded by Satan, 26:09 yet at the same time crushed him under His feet. 26:12 Never. 26:13 There never was another who walked the earth 26:15 before He was born. 26:16 Never. 26:17 There never was another who wrote the law, and 2000 years 26:20 later would come under the dictates of that same law. 26:23 Never. 26:24 There never was another who saved others, 26:26 Himself He could not save. 26:31 There never was another who was King of glory, 26:36 but wore no earthly crown but a crown of thorns. 26:39 Never. 26:40 Jesus Christ is unique in His origin. 26:42 I mean, there never was another who was Lord of the Sabbath, 26:45 yet was accused of breaking the Sabbath. 26:47 I mean never. 26:48 There never was one who was called truth, 26:50 yet at the same time called a liar, a hypocrite, an imposter. 26:57 Who was as old as His heavenly Father; 27:01 ages older than His earthly mother. 27:04 There never was, there never was. 27:07 But the Scripture says He is the Creator, 27:09 He is the Creature, He is the Servant. 27:12 I mean the Bible says He is the Savior. 27:14 He is unique in His origin; Jesus. 27:20 And that's why Paul writes in Colossians, 27:23 he writes to the Colossian church in chapter 1 verse 16 27:27 these words. 27:30 By who? By Jesus Christ. 27:43 The Bible says in Ephesians, Paul picks up that theme. 27:46 And in the book of Ephesians, he says: 27:56 Jesus Christ is unique. 27:59 It is He, Jesus, who poured all the seas and the lakes 28:05 and the rivers and the crystal chalice of eternity. 28:08 It was He on the cross who cried, "I thirst." 28:14 Uniquely the living water... 28:17 ...who thirsts, who thirsts. 28:21 It was He who spoke and the green grass sprouted. 28:24 He spoke and the little flowers blossomed, and the pine tree 28:26 pointed its finger to the sky, and the oak spread out its arms, 28:29 and lakes curled down in the huddles of the glen, 28:31 and rivers ran down to the sea. 28:40 He is inclusive... 28:44 ...in His origin. 28:46 There has been no one like Him. 28:49 Because of His unique origin, He is the end of all mystery. 28:54 Because of His unique origin, He is the reason, 28:56 the explanation, for all enigmas. 29:00 He is the only One from eternity who is incarnated. 29:04 Born of a virgin. 29:06 Birthplace dictated by the imperial senses. 29:10 And He is truly unique in His origin. 29:15 But secondly, not only is He unique in His origin, 29:19 but the Bible tells us He's unique in His name. 29:22 I mean, Jesus' name holds forever beauty. 29:24 Jesus' name forever holds variety and 29:26 proportion and perfection. 29:28 He is the Immanuel, He is God with us. 29:31 He is with us in our sorrows, He is with us in our joy. 29:34 He's with us in lonely nights and He's with us at the party. 29:37 He's with us everywhere and every time. 29:42 God with us. 29:44 He's unique in His name. 29:52 Why? 29:53 Because He is God's eternal purpose consummated; Jesus. 29:58 He is love's eternal dream dramatized. 30:01 We see love dramatized in the life of Jesus. 30:05 Why? Because He is justice married to mercy. 30:10 And He is... 30:11 The Creator went into His creation. 30:13 I mean, Jesus; there is none. 30:14 He is always the unlike; Jesus Christ. 30:17 Even the name Immanuel describes His unlikeness. 30:19 I went to the alphabet to find His name; Jesus. 30:21 He was everywhere. 30:22 He is the Alpha and the Adam and the Advocator and the Anointed 30:26 and the Author of faith. 30:27 He is the Amen of salvation. 30:29 I went to the alphabet to find His name and His office; Jesus. 30:32 He is everywhere. 30:33 He is the Beginning and the Begotten and the Beloved 30:36 and the Branch and the Bread and the bright and morning Star. 30:40 I went to the alphabet and I found His name. 30:42 He is everywhere. 30:43 He is the Creator and the Counselor and the Comforter 30:46 and the Child and the Cornerstone. 30:48 I went to the alphabet to find His name; Jesus. 30:51 He is everywhere. 30:52 He is the Deliverer and the Daystar and the 30:55 Desire of Nations and the divine Son of God. 30:57 You can say amen, can't you? 31:01 I went to the alphabet and I found His unique name. 31:07 He is the Eternal One, He is the Emmanuel, 31:11 He is the Elect, He is the Eternal, 31:12 He's the Everlasting One. 31:13 He is the Faithful and the Father and the Friend 31:16 and the Faithful Witness. 31:17 He is the Good Shepherd and the Governor and the Guide. 31:20 And He is glorious Lord. 31:24 I went to the alphabet to find His unique name. 31:30 And He is everywhere. 31:32 He is Husbandman and Help and Holy One 31:36 and Horn of Salvation and the Heir of all things. 31:38 He is the Heavenly Priest. 31:39 I went to the alphabet. 31:40 He is the Immortal One, the Invincible One, 31:42 the Invisible One. 31:43 He is the Judge and the Just and the Jesus and the Jehovah. 31:49 He is King of Glory, King of Israel, 31:54 and King of kings. 31:57 I went to the alphabet and I found His name. 31:59 He was everywhere. 32:00 He is the Light and the Life. 32:02 He is the Love and the Lion and the Lamb and the Lawgiver. 32:05 He is the Mediator and the Master. 32:07 And He is the Mighty God, this Jesus. 32:10 I went to the alphabet to find His name. 32:12 He is everywhere. 32:13 He is the Omega, the only Begotten, 32:15 the Offering, the Offerer. 32:17 He is the Passover and the Potentate and the Prophet 32:19 and the Propitiation and the Priest and the Physician. 32:23 I went to the alphabet to find His name. 32:27 And He was everywhere. 32:30 For He is the Righteousness, the Rabbi, the Ransom, 32:38 the Rest, the Root of Jesse. 32:40 He is the Rose of Sharon. 32:42 And He is the Resurrection and the Life. 32:44 I went to the alphabet to find His name. 32:46 He's everywhere. 32:47 He's the Ruler and Redeemer and Rock of Ages. 32:49 He is the Stone and the Shepherd and the Son of God 32:52 and the Savior. 32:53 He is the Truth and the Tabernacle and the Testator. 32:56 He is the Witness and the Word and the Way 32:58 and the Wisdom of God, and He is the wonderful Jesus. 33:01 He is Yahweh forever. 33:05 The name above every name. 33:09 He was the perfect Son of God. 33:13 We have failed Him. 33:16 History past has proved our failure. 33:19 Even our holiest of heroes. 33:22 Those people we study, those people that we admire. 33:25 I mean, the prophets and the priests and the 33:27 patriarchs and the apostles. 33:29 I mean, they failed us. 33:31 Some of the stories from the Holy Bible 33:33 are more like adventures from Sinbad the Sailor. 33:35 You know that. 33:37 That's why I love this Book. 33:38 It's authentic realism and doesn't pull punches. 33:44 Everything in these pages are not bubbling brooks 33:47 and happy days. 33:49 He tells us about raw living. 33:52 He talks about life and He talks about being hounded by Satan. 33:56 He talks to us about standing and then falling, 33:58 and getting up and stumbling and falling and falling. 34:01 More falling than standing. 34:03 He talks about these holy men of God. 34:05 Take a look at them and see them as God sees them. 34:06 Adam... 34:09 Adorned with fig leaves. 34:12 Stains of forbidden fruit on his lips. 34:15 Hiding behind a tree. 34:18 Not so perfect. 34:21 Not so perfect. 34:23 Then what makes you think you are going to be? 34:27 Noah... 34:29 Master boat builder. 34:31 But not master of his habits. 34:34 He lies drunken and naked before his children. 34:36 Come on now. 34:38 And the Bible says, "As it was in the days of Noah, it will 34:40 be like that in the days of the coming of the Son of Man." 34:45 Imperfect. 34:47 But thank God for perfect grace. 34:50 Which, by the way, I'll talk about tomorrow. 34:53 That's a sermon if you're going to stay away, 34:54 stay away tomorrow. 34:57 Because you may be uncomfortable with it. 35:00 There's Moses throwing down his staff in a temper tantrum. 35:04 Receiver of the law... 35:07 ...and breaker of the law. 35:09 He saw God's back and he did a few things behind God's back. 35:13 Come on now. 35:15 Aaron, right hand man of Moses. 35:17 I mean, witnessed the place. 35:19 He was on the Red Sea expedition. 35:21 I mean, he was the holy priest of God. 35:23 But if he's so holy, what is he doing aerobics 35:26 before a golden calf? 35:31 That's our heroes. 35:35 There was David. 35:37 A man after God's own heart. 35:39 Giant slayer, song writer, poet. 35:41 A man after God's own heart. 35:43 And after a few other things. 35:46 Samson swooning on Delilah's couch. 35:50 Come on. 35:51 Judge in Israel. 35:54 Drunk with wine. 35:55 Perfume, soft lights. 35:57 I mean, it looked like a soap opera. 36:02 She leaves the room and he's thinking to himself, 36:04 "Ah, she's getting into something more comfortable." 36:06 She's saying, "Where did I leave those scissors?" 36:11 Not so perfect. 36:13 Not so perfect. 36:16 The Old Testament ends in failure. 36:19 The prophets can't save the people. 36:22 The patriarchs can't save the people. 36:25 The priests can minister the sacrifice, 36:28 but they cannot save the people. 36:29 I mean, they cannot save. 36:31 They can get out of physical bondage, but they could not 36:34 get them out of bondage to sin. 36:36 And then He enters; Jesus. 36:40 Unique in His origin, unique in His name. 36:42 unique in His salvation. 36:44 He enters as a baby. 36:47 No fanfare, no trumpet sounding, no great crowds. 36:51 He comes as a baby to a manger. 36:58 The only way He could ever save us, 37:01 cleanse us, 37:04 is to touch us. 37:06 As we talked about last night. 37:10 He could not save us from the far reaches of heaven. 37:14 He had to come down to earth. 37:17 He had to come down to show us how we should have lived, 37:22 how we ought to live. 37:24 But how we can't live; so that we might have 37:28 Him live within us, the hope of glory. 37:37 He had to be tempted like we. 37:40 But even greater, let's face it. 37:41 Come on now. 37:43 I'm tempted to eat too much bread, not to turn 37:45 stones into bread. 37:49 Come on now. 37:53 He had to feel pain as we feel pain. 37:57 He had to suffer and be killed for the son's of Adam. 38:02 And we, the son's of Adam, have killed everything we've touched. 38:10 He comes, not that we're worthy of that love, 38:12 not that we're worthy of that care, 38:14 not that we're worthy of that forgiveness, 38:16 but because we need it. 38:20 He comes to this planet living in rebellion. 38:26 He comes to wicked hearts. 38:30 He comes to cruel minds, 38:33 to sinners. 38:34 And by the way, we don't all sin alike, but alike we all sin. 38:42 He enters, even after this planet in rebellion, 38:44 even after generations have stripped Him naked. 38:47 And He enters to save us, to die for us. 38:49 And He enters. And what to do. 38:51 We strip Him naked. 38:56 We lacerate His incarnated flesh. 39:02 We place a crown of thorns on His brow. 39:07 Blood in His eyes. 39:12 We lift the cross and drop it with a thud into the earth 39:15 and it tears the flesh of the Son of God. 39:17 Listen, what did we do to Him? 39:22 And when He dies, we say, 39:24 "Well, we weren't there to do it." 39:29 It was your sin that put Him there. 39:32 It was my sin that put Him there. 39:35 You see, your sin and my sin placed Him there. 39:42 Your sin and mine pounded the nails in His hands. 39:45 I mean, it was your sin and mine that lifted the cross and 39:47 dropped it with a thud into the earth. 39:49 It was your sin and mine. I mean, with a thud. 39:52 It is the sins of the whole world and the sins of 39:54 our culture and postmodern man, it fell upon Jesus. 39:58 Like Samson, He pulled it down upon Him. 40:05 Then why does He die? 40:09 Not because we have power over Him. 40:13 But He wants to give us power 40:16 to become son's and daughter's of God. 40:21 Then why does He die? 40:25 Because He loved us. 40:28 "For God so loved the world 40:35 that He gave His only begotten Son." 40:40 Love. 40:42 They say love is what makes the world go around. 40:45 Love. 40:46 I remember when I met her. 40:49 My first real love. 40:50 Everything else was infatuation. 40:54 But my first love. 40:56 It was in health class at AUC, Atlantic Union College. 41:00 I was just out of New York and just a recent convert to Christ. 41:05 And I was rough on the edges. 41:07 Not only on the edges. 41:11 And I looked across the room and there she was, 41:13 sitting across the room, beautiful. 41:14 I could have written a song about her, 41:16 "Across the Dusty Room," or whatever. 41:22 So I told my friend, I turned to my friend and I said, 41:25 "I'm going to ask her out." 41:26 He said, "Oh no, she's engaged." 41:28 I said, "Well, she's not married." 41:33 So the bell rang, I got to the door of the classroom 41:37 and she came out, and I said, "Hi, I'm Ron Halvorsen." 41:39 And I reached out and she looked at me. 41:41 I said, "You doing anything Saturday night? 41:43 Would you like to go out with me?" 41:44 She said, "I'm engaged." I said, "You're not married." 41:53 And she went out. 41:56 Lucky girl, she married me and not him. 42:00 I mean, love; you know it the first time. 42:06 Come on, your heart beats. 42:09 I feel sorry for the kids today. 42:12 They don't go through the stages. 42:15 Now it's, "Oh, you have a red car. 42:17 I have a red car. 42:18 We have something in common. Let's live together." 42:20 You know, I feel sorry for them. 42:22 They don't go through the touch and the hug. 42:24 You know what I'm saying? 42:30 Remember that love. 42:33 When Jesus, the first time He saw you, He loved you. 42:37 He loved you as a little embryo 42:40 in the womb of your mother. 42:44 That's the tragedy of abortion. 42:46 God was beginning to love you as a tiny little embryo. 42:51 He loved you through the passage into earth. 42:54 He loved you the moment you cried the first cry. 42:57 He loved you. 42:58 He loved you to the last breath. 42:59 He loved you. 43:00 God so loved the world and mankind and 43:03 womankind and childkind. 43:11 And He further proves it. 43:14 Because He laid down His life for you and for me. 43:22 You see, God would give up His only Son 43:26 before He would give up on you. 43:30 Amazing grace. 43:34 In the book, or magazine, Christian Leader, 43:38 Don Ratzlaff retells a story Vernon Grounds came across 43:44 in Ernest Gordon's, Miracle On The River Kwai. 43:47 I don't know if you've ever read it. 43:48 I just finished it for the second time. 43:50 It's a marvelous book. 43:53 It's about Scottish soldiers who were forced by their Japanese 43:57 captors to labor on a jungle railroad going nowhere. 44:04 And those soldiers, in time of depredation and time of hunger, 44:12 they turned on each other. 44:16 They were suspicious of each other. 44:19 They stole from each other. 44:22 But one afternoon, something happened. 44:27 One afternoon, a shovel was missing. 44:30 A shovel. 44:34 And the officer in charge, when he counted, 44:38 that shovel was gone. 44:40 He became enraged. 44:44 "Who took the shovel? 44:48 Who stole the shovel?" 44:52 He pulled out his gun and he said, 44:53 "I'll kill every one of you." 44:55 "Who stole the shovel?" 45:03 It was obvious that the officer meant it. 45:07 And then finally, one man... 45:11 brave Scottish soldier... 45:15 stepped out. 45:20 The officer so enraged took a shovel 45:25 and beat him to death. 45:32 The Scottish prisoners lifted him up to carry him 45:35 to the next station where they counted the shovels. 45:39 And they discovered that the officer had 45:43 miscounted the shovels. 45:46 They were all there. 45:49 But the Scottish prisoners realized, the man who 45:53 stepped out didn't steal the shovel. 45:56 He stepped out so that he might give life, 46:00 he might lay down his life, 46:03 so that all the others could live. 46:14 After that, there was a change that came over the whole camp. 46:24 Survivors took the bloody body and they buried it. 46:31 This has profound effect. 46:33 I mean, the men began to treat each other like brothers. 46:38 And when the victorious allies swept in, 46:41 the survivors, human skeletons by then, 46:43 lined up in front of their captors. 46:45 And instead of attacking their captors, they insisted, 46:48 "No more hatred. 46:52 No more killing. 46:55 Now, what we need... 46:59 ...is forgiveness." 47:02 The Bridge Over The River Kwai. 47:10 Christ, at Calvary... 47:13 ...built a bridge. 47:19 There will be no more hatred. 47:22 No more killing. 47:26 And there would be transforming power. 47:31 He is unique... 47:34 ...in His promise. 47:38 The Bible says He made a promise to Adam. 47:41 He said, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman." 47:45 What is He saying? 47:46 He said, "I'll take your place, Adam. 47:48 Come to Me." 47:53 He made a promise to Noah. 47:55 And He wrote it in the sky. 47:57 The rainbow coalition. 48:03 He made a promise. 48:06 And when we break our promises, 48:11 God doesn't break His. 48:18 When we forget, He doesn't forget. 48:22 Except the things we wish He would forget. 48:26 When we give up on ourselves, 48:29 or on those who we know because they have feet of clay, 48:37 He doesn't give up. 48:40 Because He's unique in His promise. 48:43 When Moses said, "Here I am, send Aaron," 48:49 when Samson whispered to Delilah, 48:52 and Saul wrought against David, 48:56 and David schemed against Uriah, 48:59 God didn't give up. 49:02 When Peter denied Him, and John and James fought over position, 49:06 and when Judas kissed the kiss of death, 49:08 and Pilate washed his hands of Jesus, 49:11 God did not give up. 49:19 Jesus made it possible... 49:22 when He came to a poor man's crib... 49:28 and left in a rich man's crypt. 49:32 He came into the world with swaddling clothes 49:34 and left the world with death clothes. 49:39 A Joseph stood beside Him at the manger, 49:42 and a Joseph stood beside Him at the grave. 49:47 When He enters, the Son of Man, the Son of God, 49:49 He enters the world through the backdoor 49:51 amidst strife and terror; amazing. 49:53 Eternity's embryo in the womb of a woman. 49:59 And God stoops as low as a stable. 50:03 Eternity's Savior hangs on a cross. 50:08 Think of it; the majesty and the mystery of it. 50:12 The first Adam wounded in his side, 50:16 and there comes forth the woman Eve. 50:19 The second Adam wounded in His side, 50:24 and there comes forth the new Eve, 50:26 the church of Jesus Christ. 50:29 The birth is consummated. 50:32 God in woman. 50:35 From that moment on, the world could never blame God. 50:40 From that moment on, we have no excuses. 50:45 From that moment on, life was worth living. 50:53 The test is complete. 50:56 Perfect life lived... 50:59 ...a perfect death. 51:02 A perfect glorious resurrection. 51:08 He without blemish. 51:11 And Hollywood, put all the blemish you want in Him, 51:13 but He still comes out with translucent character. 51:19 An atoning death. 51:22 And a resolute resurrection. 51:26 The womb of Mary, and the incarnation. 51:31 The woman of the earth, 51:35 and redemption. 51:38 And He made a promise to you and to me. 51:42 For those of you who are looking right now at your 51:45 television screen, wherever you are in this world, 51:49 He makes a promise, "I am with you always." 51:58 When times get hard, look to Jesus. 52:03 He made a promise. 52:04 When people don't listen or care, look to Jesus. 52:07 He made a promise. 52:08 When tears come and will not stop, look to Jesus. 52:10 He made a promise. 52:12 When you falter and fail, look to Jesus. 52:14 He made a promise. 52:15 When you do all you can and it's not enough, look to Jesus. 52:22 He made a promise. 52:26 For years I've been holding evangelistic meetings 52:28 around the world. 52:29 Mostly in inner cities of North America. 52:32 The brethren go off to the Philippines. 52:34 They send me to Harlem. 52:37 I stand up somewhat against the brethren, 52:38 but God will forgive me. 52:40 But anyway, I prayed that I would go to an 52:43 exotic place sometime. 52:46 And one of my friends became president in Hawaii. 52:49 And he called me up one day and he said, 52:50 "Ron, would you like to come and hold an evangelistic series 52:53 of meetings in Oahu, in Honolulu?" 52:59 I said, "Let me pray about it." 53:00 "Thank You, Jesus." 53:01 That was one of those instant prayer requests. 53:05 I told my wife, "Pack our suitcase and our bathing suit. 53:09 We're going to Hawaii." 53:11 When I got to Hawaii, my wife wanted to go shopping. 53:18 She always shops for the grandkids, not for herself. 53:20 You know how it is. 53:21 She's from Venus, I'm from Mars, you know. 53:23 So I kind of send her. 53:25 But when I go to these cities, I prayer walk. 53:28 I follow the Joshua model with prayer walking the perimeters. 53:31 In fact, I'm going to Las Vegas. 53:34 And there, I'm going to be with Brother Bradford. 53:39 Bradshaw. Get me right here. 53:42 It Is Written. 53:44 And I'm going to do the prayer walking. 53:48 And I'm organizing the prayer walk as we're praying for 53:51 hundreds of prayer walkers to begin to walk the city and pray 53:54 for the Holy Spirit of God to fall on that wicked city. 53:57 I'm going to ask you to pray for It Is Written. 53:59 They're taking a great challenge. 54:02 It's a great challenge. 54:04 That wicked city, it's like going up against Gomorrah. 54:10 But I was praying. 54:11 And I always pray for tough people, you know. 54:14 I always pray for the worst because they become the best, 54:16 by the way. 54:18 And one night, a family had been coming to the meetings, 54:20 and he was a marine, a sharp shooter. 54:23 The first Iraq war, he was shooting people off the hills. 54:29 An expert at long distance. 54:32 And he was at a bar with his wife. 54:36 And his wife got a handbill and so she said, 54:38 "I'd really like to go to these meetings." 54:39 So he said, "Well, I'll take you to those meetings." 54:41 Because he noticed that we give out a free Bible. 54:43 He said, "Maybe it would be good I have a Bible." 54:46 So they came to the meetings. 54:48 And night after night, they came to the meetings. 54:50 Night after night. 54:51 And it was the night he was suppose to get his Bible, 54:54 he was in a long line because many people came. 54:57 In fact, more people came than we had Bibles. 54:59 Lack of faith. 55:02 And he came. 55:03 When he got up to the desk, they said, "Oh, we're out of Bibles." 55:05 He said, "What's this?" 55:07 They said, "No, we've ordered more. 55:09 They will be here in a few days." 55:10 That happened twice. 55:13 And when I met him, this drunk Marine, 55:16 tough Marine, sharp shooter Marine. 55:20 And the Lord Jesus spoke to his heart. 55:23 I mean, Jesus came down and became real. 55:25 And he gave his life to Christ. 55:30 The second Iraq war, he's not a sharp shooter. 55:34 The second Iraq war, he's a Chaplain. 55:41 Our God can change your life. 55:48 He can bring you peace. 55:52 But you say, "More convenient time, Ron. 55:54 I just need more time." 55:58 When will that time be? 56:01 When you have more money? 56:04 More free time? 56:06 More energy? 56:09 When your husband or wife can come? 56:10 I mean, when you get older and retire? 56:13 "It's not a convenient time." 56:15 It wasn't a convenient time for Jesus to enter through 56:18 the womb of a virgin. 56:19 It wasn't a convenient time for Jesus to lay in a crib. 56:22 It wasn't a convenient time to hang on a cross. 56:27 Today, Christ wants to grant you eternal life. 56:33 Right now, Christ wants to come to you like He came to Mary. 56:37 To be incarnated in your heart, to His divine love. 56:43 Right now, Jesus Christ, the real Christ, 56:47 wants to reach down and touch your heart 56:51 and give you eternal life. 56:56 Tonight, He wants to lift your burden. 56:59 Don't wait until tomorrow night. 57:02 He wants to lift your burden tonight. 57:07 Will you not say to Jesus, "Take my heart." 57:14 Will you not say to Jesus now, "Change my life." 57:22 Will you not say to Jesus, "I'm Yours forever." 57:29 And He will fulfill that promise. |
Revised 2014-12-17