Eleventh Hour Evidence

The Cross- Part 2

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: David Asscherick

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Series Code: EHE

Program Code: EHE000008


00:17 Good evening friends and welcome to another
00:19 edition of the Eleventh Hour Evidence
00:21 coming to you live from Battle Creek, Michigan.
00:23 Are you folks being blessed? Amen.
00:26 Now, we're Seventh-day Adventist, which means
00:28 that nobody excels our amens.
00:30 You know, we're not big clappers,
00:31 but we know how to say amen.
00:32 Let's try that one more time. Amen, amen,
00:35 Praise the Lord. Isn't God good?
00:36 I'm so excited about the messages
00:38 that we've been hearing night-by-night.
00:40 And now we're in the second part of that series
00:42 that David Asscherick has been sharing.
00:44 He is standing by for us
00:46 and he'll be out in just a moment,
00:47 but before that we're turning to our friends
00:50 Buddy Houghtaling, Dan Grentz and Romon Weber.
00:55 Hey, I just thought of it at the last second there.
00:57 How about that? Glad you guys are here with us;
01:00 I know you have something special, what's on, on,
01:02 can you say on tap? Is that alright?
01:05 That's dangerous isn't it?
01:07 What do you have for us tonight?
01:08 The song will be called Mercy Road, Pastor Jason.
01:11 Thank you, take it away.
01:29 In the coolness of the evening,
01:33 on a lovely garden path, you would walk in sweet
01:44 communion with the Lord, amen and amen.
01:51 Till one day and suddenly stop,
01:57 and a gate without a home
02:03 and you knew it will last forever,
02:09 it after all the Mercy Road.
02:15 Mercy Road, the way of sorrow road,
02:22 But you chose that way to go
02:27 So that they could have tomorrow
02:33 You placed your feet on Mercy Road
02:45 On the way you healed a blind man
02:50 chased away birds faraway,
02:57 but in the joy of recreation was a place
03:05 You couldn't stand.
03:08 You're never weary from your mission
03:14 As so stay to leave you strong.
03:21 To the Cross on the horizon at the end of Mercy Road
03:33 Mercy Road, the way of sorrow road,
03:39 But you chose that way to go
03:44 So that we could have tomorrow
03:50 You kept your feet on Mercy Road
03:56 Mercy Road, the way of sorrow road,
04:03 But you chose that way to go
04:08 So that we could have tomorrow
04:14 You kept your feet on Mercy Road.
04:20 So that we could have tomorrow
04:35 You kept your feet on Mercy Road.
04:39 Thank you guys, isn't that just wonderful to know
04:42 that Jesus Christ kept his feet on Mercy Road for us.
04:46 Isn't that just wonderful? I don't know,
04:48 if anyone has ever had a chance.
04:49 How many of you here in the studio were in a,
04:52 as we would say in the
04:53 Urbandale Seventh-day Adventist Church.
04:54 That's what we know it as.
04:55 How many of you have met my wife Stephanie?
04:57 I want to show you something
04:59 I got for her a couple of years back, a little bit
05:02 more then seven years ago.
05:03 Take a look at this beauty
05:04 right here that is a Movado, the museum watch.
05:08 It's a very nice watch. Can you see it?
05:10 There you can see it. It's an amazing, amazing watch.
05:14 And nothing but the best would do.
05:15 I was getting ready to ask my wife to marry me
05:17 and so doing the good Adventist thing
05:19 I got her a watch.
05:21 And this Movado cost me a fair penny truth be told.
05:25 It didn't cost me anything.
05:27 I have got a really nice mom and a really nice dad.
05:29 And I wasn't making much money at the time.
05:31 So, my mom helped me buy my wife's engagement watch.
05:36 And she didn't have very much money
05:38 at the time to reciprocate.
05:40 And so it was a few months later, we were laying out
05:44 on the patio at her parent's place and she,
05:47 she, I felt something being put on my arm
05:49 and I looked up and there was this lovely watch.
05:52 The band's broken I've worn it out. It's a Citizen,
05:55 it's not nearly as pricey as the Movado,
05:59 but it was the best that she could afford at the time
06:01 and I put it on and I enjoyed it for quite something
06:04 after that and another day came when we were,
06:06 we were driving in the car about
06:08 two or three years later. And I was talking to my wife
06:11 and I said you know we need to simplify our lives.
06:14 We need to simplify our lives.
06:16 We, we don't want anyone to think
06:17 that we're putting on a show.
06:18 Let's, let's get rid of the watches. Let's sell them,
06:21 I'm gonna open that watch back up for you.
06:24 My wife burst into tears.
06:25 She said, you just don't understand.
06:28 I said, honey come on you know, let's be frugal,
06:31 let's just use the money for the Lord.
06:32 She said, you don't understand, you don't understand.
06:35 So, I said, well explain it to me.
06:37 My wife said to me, she said, honey
06:41 when I married you. I hardly had any money,
06:46 in fact when we got engaged I didn't have any money.
06:48 And so what I did is I took all my graduation money
06:51 that was given to me. And I poured it out
06:55 into this Citizen watch that you're wearing.
06:59 And that wasn't enough to get the watch I wanted.
07:02 So, I went down to the blood bank and I sold my plasma.
07:06 So, that I can purchase for you the watch
07:10 that I thought belonged on your arm.
07:12 And I realized that what I was wearing
07:16 was the blood of my wife around my hand.
07:19 And I realized something about the love
07:21 that she had for me.
07:23 Friends, she gave me a piece that represents time,
07:30 but Jesus Christ did something even greater
07:33 than my wife did for me.
07:35 The greatest thing anyone has ever done for me
07:37 is exceeded by what Jesus Christ did for me.
07:40 When he poured out his blood
07:42 to give us another time piece, we call it eternal life.
07:47 What's it worth to you
07:49 Pastor Asscherick asked that question.
07:52 Amen, wasn't that a great story.
07:55 Amen. I'll bet you felt like a real heal, didn't you?
08:02 I can just imagine, let's sell the watches.
08:09 And, and I know, Jason well enough to know
08:11 he's very persuasive, so I can see him just you know,
08:14 come on sweetie what's the problem you know,
08:16 let's sell it. And all of a sudden you know,
08:18 open mouth, insert both feet.
08:22 Well, praise the Lord, he keeps us humble, amen.
08:25 Amen. Amen, well it's a pleasure to be back
08:27 here with you. Did you have a nice weekend? Yeah.
08:30 Wonderful, I had a nice weekend as well.
08:32 It was a whirlwind weekend where I,
08:34 I flew down to Florida and spent the day in Florida
08:37 and when the sunset on Saturday evening,
08:39 yesterday evening I got on a plane and flew back.
08:41 And it's, it's a privilege to be here with you,
08:44 but I will say that the weather is considerably.
08:46 nicer there. I don't know if you knew that or not,
08:49 the rumors are true. It is much nicer there,
08:52 but it's very warm inside of here, amen.
08:55 Amen. As I look out and see all of your smiling faces
08:57 and certainly for our television audiences.
09:00 I look out it's, it's wonderful to have you
09:02 all with us. And wonderful to be here
09:03 in warm Michigan. Amen.
09:06 Amen. Well, we're actually concluding a two part
09:08 series today. Our message is entitled the Cross,
09:12 The Fulcrum of The Ages part II.
09:15 And we had part I the last time we were together
09:17 and so we will commence with the second part
09:19 of this series. And before we get into the
09:21 message proper, what are we going to do first.
09:23 That's right we have some housework to do, don't we.
09:26 So, let us first pray and invite the
09:27 the Lord's presence to be with us.
09:31 Father in heaven, as we come before you now,
09:33 we're moved by the story that Pastor Jason
09:36 has told us. Father, what commitment that would
09:39 have taken for Stephanie to go out and to actually
09:42 give her own blood to afford this watch.
09:44 And Lord this is a microcosm a picture of what
09:49 Jesus has done for us. Shedding his blood
09:51 that we might have a beautiful gift.
09:53 Father, please be with us now as we open the word,
09:56 as we study. We pray that our heart would be knit
10:00 together with your heart. And that your spirit
10:02 and your angels will come and dwell in this room
10:04 and be our teacher. Father, I pray that I would
10:08 not be a distraction but an extension
10:10 of what you're trying to do.
10:12 Not just here in Battle Creek,
10:14 but the world over through 3ABN and these programs.
10:17 Be with us now Father as we continue to investigate
10:20 this Eleventh Hour Evidence for we ask it in Jesus name.
10:24 And everyone can say, amen. Amen.
10:27 Well, let's do a little bit of review.
10:29 Our message again, as we've already said
10:32 is the second of a two part series.
10:34 And the last time we were together we read
10:36 Revelation chapter 12 through in its entirety.
10:38 How many of you were with us the last time
10:39 we were together raise your hand, good.
10:41 Okay, now how many of you were not.
10:42 Just so I can have an idea here.
10:44 You were not with us, okay.
10:45 So, we have quite a bit of review to do.
10:46 We're going to rush through this as quickly
10:47 as is possible. We read Revelation 12 through
10:50 in its entirety and we subdivided
10:52 Revelation Chapter 12 into five elements,
10:54 five elements. In some ways, I wish it wasn't already
10:56 up on the screen here for you,
10:58 so that I could test you on it. Maybe I should make
11:00 you close your eyes, but I won't do that
11:01 the interest of time. We subdivided
11:03 Revelation chapter 12 into five elements.
11:06 The first was the woman, that's what John saw
11:08 there a women clothe with the Sun, the moon
11:10 under her feet and upon her head a garland
11:11 of twelve stars. Then he saw the wicked dragon
11:14 after that we heard about the war.
11:16 We're going to talk more about the war this evening.
11:18 The fourth element was the weapon and we're going to
11:20 spend all of our evening tonight on points four,
11:23 oh pardon me, three and four, the war and the weapon.
11:25 And the last element that we're introduced to there
11:27 is number five, the winners. That is to say those who
11:30 overcame the dragon by the blood of the lamb
11:33 and by the word of their testimony.
11:35 And we said that of all the chapters in the Bible,
11:37 there is no other single chapter that distills down
11:41 this great cosmic conflict.
11:43 This great cosmic controversy between good and evil,
11:47 light and darkness more than Revelation chapter 12,
11:49 that is the single best chapter that shows us
11:53 the great back drop of war and conflict that is taking
11:56 place between the kingdom of darkness and
11:58 the kingdom of light, are you with me so far, yes or no?
12:00 Amen. Alright, let's continue then with our review.
12:02 We talked about also this, this Eden-to-Eden concept.
12:07 This Eden-to-Eden paradigm and remember that we began
12:09 in Genesis. And we noted that in the fist two chapters
12:12 of the Bible we find a perfect God in perfect
12:14 communion with a, what everyone?
12:16 A perfect people that's exactly right.
12:18 And then we move down to the last book of the Bible.
12:20 The Book of Revelation, written by John there.
12:22 He was stranded out 24 miles into the Aegean sea.
12:25 And he was on an island called Patmos.
12:27 He had been exiled there because Christian tradition
12:29 tells us that he Roman emperor Diocletian had
12:33 tried to kill him. And the method that he used to put
12:36 his life to an end was he put him into a pot,
12:37 a cauldron of boiling oil. After he had been in there
12:41 for sufficient time to, to elicit the desired response,
12:44 namely his death. They went over, they lifted up
12:46 the lid of the cauldron of boiling oil
12:48 and he was alive. And the Roman emperor Diocletian
12:52 was afraid of this. Afraid of this man and said, man
12:54 this is a kind of person that we can't kill.
12:56 And so at that point he was exiled
12:58 to the island of Patmos.
12:59 And that is where the Revelation was given to him.
13:02 And that's where he wrote that incredible book
13:04 that we have. Now, when we come to the last two
13:06 chapters of Revelation, what we find is,
13:08 the same thing that we find in the first two
13:10 chapters of Genesis. Namely, a perfect God
13:12 in perfect communion with a perfect people.
13:14 And this is easily illustrated,
13:15 if you just take your Bible and think in your minds
13:18 that on this cover we have Eden.
13:20 On this cover we have Eden restored.
13:23 So, what we have here are these two Edens,
13:26 back-to-back. This end and this end and everything
13:29 in between is telling the story of how we lost
13:32 it here and how we regain it here,
13:35 this Eden-to-Eden perspective.
13:37 When we said the last time we were together
13:38 that the Bible suggests an Eden-to-Eden perspective.
13:42 Now, the reason that we say the Bible suggests
13:45 that is to make it crystal clear that this is not some
13:47 arbitrary or capricious category or categorization
13:51 that is being thrust upon the Bible.
13:53 This is something that is intrinsic
13:54 with the Bible itself. It's not a co-incident that
13:57 the first two chapters of Genesis and the last two
13:59 chapters of Revelation have this great theme
14:02 as they're under girding. You remember then we put
14:05 Genesis over here and Revelation over there
14:07 and I ask you that if we step just one chapter
14:09 this way, what chapter would we be in.
14:11 We said, that would be Genesis III.
14:12 And then if we were here in Revelation 21 and 22.
14:15 And we step just one chapter this way we would be
14:17 in Revelation 20. And then we ask this significant
14:19 question. Is there are any parallel between
14:22 Genesis III and Revelation 20? And the answer is yes.
14:25 In Genesis III, we find the first conflict
14:28 or the first battle that Jesus Christ fights
14:30 with the serpent on planet earth.
14:32 We find the first battle there.
14:35 We find the, what word did I say, everyone?
14:36 First. First battle, now remarkably when we come down
14:39 to Revelation. Revelation chapter 20,
14:41 what do we find there. Last battle.
14:44 The last battle that Jesus Christ fights
14:45 with the serpent on this planet and so what we have
14:47 here it's absolutely remarkable.
14:49 We have a large paradigm or a large construct,
14:52 a frame work with which we can begin to understand
14:55 the great themes of the Bible.
14:56 Namely that on this end, a perfect God
14:58 and perfect communion with a perfect people
15:00 move one direction this way, the first battle between
15:02 Christ and the serpent. So, to in Revelation
15:04 a perfect God and perfect communion
15:06 with a perfect people. And we step just one chapter
15:08 this way and yet again we have the last battle.
15:10 And so this gives us a sweep, a large panorama
15:14 and overview of the great themes and the
15:16 great picture in scripture. Now,
15:18 if this makes sense, do you say amen? Amen.
15:20 Alright, so far so good. The Bible also implies a
15:23 first battle and a last battle perspective.
15:26 And then what we did is we traced that battle
15:28 through the pages of scripture. And we noted
15:31 there were six phases. How many phases
15:33 everyone? Six phases. Six phases, let's note
15:35 them very carefully. The victory was declared in
15:39 Eden. That is the eventual victory of Christ over
15:42 Satan and his kingdom. It was declared in Eden.
15:45 Genesis chapter 3 verse 15. Number two, it was
15:48 begun in the earthly ministry of Jesus.
15:51 Number three; it was achieved on the Cross.
15:54 The victory was achieved on the Cross.
15:55 We're going to hone in that, hone in on that more
15:57 tonight. Number four, it was proclaimed by the;
16:00 what is that word everyone. The
16:02 resurrection, the victory is continued in the,
16:06 church and it will be concluded after the one
16:09 thousand years, what we just eluded to in
16:11 Revelation chapter 20. Now, that more or less
16:13 brings us right up to speed. We have this, this
16:17 overview that sort of sets the tone for what we're
16:19 going to discuss tonight. Now, of those five
16:22 elements that we talked about in Revelation
16:24 chapter 12. Remember the women and the wily
16:26 dragon, the war, the weapon and the winner.
16:28 So, what we're going to do tonight is hone in on
16:30 the weapon and on the war. The weapon and the
16:34 war. So, let's go to Revelation chapter 12.
16:35 As we now leave our review and begin on new
16:39 territory. Revelation, what chapter are we going
16:41 to everyone? Twelve. Revelation chapter 12.
16:45 Now, let us note beginning in verse seven.
16:47 Revelation chapter 12 and verse 7. The Bible
16:51 says, and war broke out, where everyone?
16:55 In heaven, Michael and his angels fought with
16:57 the dragon, and the dragon and his angels
16:59 fought. Now, there is no mystery here as to the
17:01 identity of the dragon. Notice verse 9, so the
17:03 great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old
17:06 called the devil and Satan, who deceives the
17:07 whole world, he was cast to the earth and his
17:08 angels are cast out with him. So, notice the war
17:11 begins in heaven. Where does the war begin
17:13 everyone? In heaven. In heaven, now do you
17:15 remember where the war finishes or where it
17:17 reaches its conclusion in climax? On earth,
17:20 that's right. Notice verse 17. And the dragon was
17:22 enraged with the woman and he went to make
17:24 war. There is the word, that's only the second
17:26 time it occurs in Revelation. Just those
17:28 two times in Revelation chapter 12. The dragon
17:30 was wroth with the woman and went to make war
17:32 with the rest of her offspring, who keep the
17:34 commandments of God and cling or have the
17:37 testimony of Jesus Christ. And so the far begins in
17:41 heaven and finishes on planet earth. Are you
17:43 with me on that, yes or no? Yes. Very powerful.
17:46 Now, let's try to understand a little more
17:49 clearly, what's taking place in verses 7 through
17:51 12. And let's walk through them as carefully
17:53 as we can. Notice verse 7 with me again. And war
17:56 broke out in heaven. When did this transpire?
17:59 We're going to try and unpack that this evening.
18:01 Michael and his angels fought with the dragon
18:03 and the dragon and his angels fought, but they
18:05 did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in
18:09 heaven and notice the last two words there, any
18:12 longer. Now, when it says that their place was not
18:15 found in heaven any longer, what do you
18:17 automatically know? What do they, what does the
18:19 addition of those two words tell you? That they
18:22 formally had been there, are you comfortable with
18:24 that, yes or no? They formally had been there,
18:27 but now that they have been cast out or threshed
18:30 out, their place was found in heaven no longer
18:33 or not any longer. So far so good. Yes or no?
18:36 Yes. And notice beginning in verse 9. So, the
18:38 great dragon, and notice this phrase occurs three
18:40 times. This cast phrase, so the great dragon was
18:43 cast out, that serpent of old called the Devil and
18:46 Satan who deceives, how much of the world
18:47 everyone? The whole world. He was cast to the
18:50 earth and his angels were cast out with him.
18:53 Now, what is the obvious emphasis there in verse
18:55 9. What is John trying to get across to us? What's
18:58 the thrust of verse 9? That he was cast, that's
19:01 exactly right. He was cast, he was cast, he
19:04 was cast three times in that one verse. Now, this
19:07 raises the question. When did that take place?
19:11 When did that transpire? Notice verse ten.
19:13 We're walking through this now in chronological
19:15 sequence. Then I heard a loud voice saying in
19:18 heaven now, what is that word everyone?
19:22 Now. Now, and I want you to take that word 'now'
19:23 and put it on a shelf in your mind, because we're
19:26 going to comeback to that word. What words on
19:27 the shelf in your mind? Now. Now. Now, notice
19:30 what verse ten says. Now, salvation and
19:33 strength and the kingdom of our God and the
19:35 power of his Christ have come. For the accuser of
19:38 our brethren who accused them before our God
19:40 day and night has been what everyone? Cast out,
19:43 there it is a fourth time. Again John emphasizes
19:47 that he is cast out. Now, verse ten tells us that
19:50 four things happened now. Four things transpired
19:54 and I wish we had time to go into all of them,
19:56 but let's just note them quickly and carefully.
19:58 The four things that were initiated, that were
20:00 brought into existence at this time whenever now
20:03 is, are the following. Salvation and strength
20:08 and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his
20:11 Christ. Do you see those four, yes or no?
20:13 Salvation, strength, the power of our God, and the
20:15 Kingdom of his Christ. Now, when did that
20:17 happen? When did this take place, you got it
20:19 right. Now, but the question is when is NOW.
20:23 Alright, let's continue. Notice now verse 11.
20:26 And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb
20:30 and by the word of their testimony, and they did
20:32 not love their lives to the death. Now, quick
20:34 question, where was the blood of the lamb
20:37 spilled? Where did that transpire? On the Cross.
20:41 Now you remember the last time we were
20:42 together, we asked the question and we went to
20:44 the Gospel of John and we tried to determine
20:46 according to Jesus, according to the Gospel
20:47 writer John. When was it that Satan was cast out?
20:51 Do you remember? Let's go to John chapter 12.
20:55 Go with me to John chapter 12. Now, take if
20:56 you have one of these fancy red ribbons, take
20:59 that ribbon and put it right here in Revelation
21:01 chapter 12 'cause we're going to comeback to it
21:03 in just a moment, but first let's go to John and
21:05 the 12th chapter. John chapter 12, now it is
21:08 significant to know that the same John that wrote
21:10 the Gospel of John is the same John that wrote the
21:13 Book of Revelation and you find significant
21:15 similarities in language between the two, if you
21:18 know the Gospel of John and the, the Apocalypse
21:21 or the Book of Revelation, significant similarities
21:23 not just in language, but in thematic context that
21:25 is to say the themes are the same. So, we're in
21:28 John chapter and we're reading in verse 31.
21:30 What verse are we reading everyone? Thirty one,
21:32 now what's the first word of verse 31. Now.
21:35 It's the word 'now' isn't it? Now, when is 'now'
21:38 let's notice what Jesus is saying. Now is the
21:41 judgment of this world and he says it again.
21:43 Now, the ruler of this world will be what's the
21:46 next two words? Cast out. Now that's exactly,
21:51 that's about the identical figuration, the same
21:54 phraseology and grammatical configuration
21:56 as we just read in Revelation chapter 12
21:58 and verse 10. Now, he is cast out, isn't that what
22:01 said, what it said there in Revelation chapter
22:02 12, yes or no? Amen. And Jesus just said that too.
22:06 Now, this raises the question, when is now?
22:09 In what context is the prince of this world cast
22:12 out. In what context is this world judged. And
22:15 verse 32 makes it crystal clear. You know,
22:18 verse 32 probably many of you by heart.
22:20 It says, and I, if I'm lifted up from the earth,
22:23 I will draw all peoples to myself. Now, quick
22:27 question for you, when was it that Jesus Christ
22:29 was lifted up from the earth, you tell me.
22:32 On the Cross, now let's put these two verses
22:34 together because they are in the immediate
22:36 context of one another. Jesus says in verse 31.
22:39 Now, is the prince of this world judged. Now, the
22:42 ruler of this world is cast out and then he says in
22:44 verse 32, if I'm lifted up all people will be drawn
22:47 to me. In other words on the Cross. So, in the
22:50 immediate context of the Cross Jesus affirms that
22:54 Satan was cast out, that he was what everyone?
22:59 Cast out. Cast out, now let's continue to unpack
23:01 this. Go with me to John chapter 14. John chapter
23:04 14, we're putting together piece-by-piece.
23:08 A very powerful and significant Bible truth
23:11 that will broaden our picture of the significance
23:14 of the Cross of Jesus Christ. John chapter 14
23:17 and I'm reading in verse 11. John chapter 14 and
23:21 I'm reading in verse 11. And pardon me, verse.
23:27 John chapter 14, we'll pick it up in verse 11.
23:29 Jesus says, believe me that I'm in the Father
23:31 and the Father in me or else believe me for the
23:34 sake of the works. The sake of the what
23:36 everyone? The works themselves. Now, what
23:39 works, to what works is he referring? Notice
23:41 verse 30. Verse 30 Jesus says, I will no longer,
23:45 same chapter. I will no longer talk with you much
23:48 for the ruler of this world is coming. Who is
23:49 the ruler of this world, everyone? Satan.
23:52 Satan, that's exactly right. The ruler of this
23:54 world is coming and he has nothing in me.
23:57 So, Jesus now has used this phrase two times to
24:00 refer to Satan. The ruler of this world is judged,
24:02 the ruler of this world comes and has nothing
24:04 in me. Now, what does Jesus mean when he says
24:06 the ruler of this world has nothing in me?
24:07 What do you think he is saying? Any ideas.
24:12 He is sinless. He is sinless, that's exactly
24:14 right. What he's affirming here is that Satan
24:16 comes to condemn. Satan comes to accuse,
24:19 Satan comes to cast down and to condemn and
24:23 Jesus says, he has no answering code in me.
24:26 He finds nothing in me. Did Jesus ever commit
24:28 a sin, yes or no? No. Now, is Satan fair in his
24:32 condemnation of you without the blood of
24:33 Jesus covering you, yes or no? Sure he is, but he
24:36 had nothing in Jesus. Nothing to condemn in
24:39 Jesus and in that context Jesus says, the prince of
24:42 this world comes, but he has nothing. He can say
24:44 nothing. Now, Jesus uses this phrase one more
24:47 time and this was in John chapter 16. Notice with
24:49 me verse 11. John chapter 16 and verse 11.
24:53 Jesus is speaking about the coming of the Holy
24:55 Spirit, the coming of the comforter and he says in
24:56 verse 11 of judgment because the ruler of this
25:01 world is judged. The, who of this world is
25:03 judged everyone? Ruler. Now, it's remarkable that
25:06 Jesus uses that phraseology. Why would
25:09 Jesus refer to Satan as the ruler of this world,
25:11 the ruler of this world and the prince of this
25:13 world? Chiefly for this reason. Remember the last
25:16 time we were together, we talked about that
25:17 experience there in the Garden of Eden.
25:19 Where God had given everything into the hands
25:21 of Adam and Eve and they were to stand on his
25:24 word and to trust him, but in and hearing to the
25:27 words of Satan over and above the words of God,
25:33 they effectively changed loyalties or switched
25:34 allegiance. Are you with me on that, yes or no?
25:36 They effectively stepped from the side of God
25:40 over to the side of Satan and because Adam was
25:43 our genetic father and our representative
25:45 ambassador, when Adam gained, went over to the
25:48 side of Satan and gave him his allegiance and
25:50 him his loyalty; Satan became effectively the
25:53 ruler of this age. It was Adam whom God had said
25:57 to him, you have, you shall have dominion and
26:00 you can subdue the world etcetera, etcetera.
26:03 And so when he now gives his allegiance and
26:05 his loyalty to Satan he has effectively handled,
26:08 handed the baton of this world, the rulership of
26:11 this world over to Satan and Jesus affirms that
26:14 three times. The ruler of this world, the ruler this
26:17 world, and the prince of this world. Now, write
26:18 this verse of scripture down because it's
26:20 incredible, we don't have time to go there.
26:22 Second Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 4.
26:25 In Second Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 4,
26:27 the Apostle Paul says something that is utterly
26:29 remarkable, in referring to Satan he actually
26:32 calls him. Listen to this carefully, the God of
26:35 this world. How many of you were aware of that?
26:39 That Satan is actually referred to as the God of
26:42 this world in the Bible. You can read it in Second
26:44 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 4. Now, now
26:46 what does that mean? What does it mean when
26:48 Jesus affirms that he is the prince of this world
26:51 and Paul says, he is the God of this world,
26:53 to what are these men referring? Well, in order
26:57 to understand that let's go back now to Revelation
26:59 chapter 12. And let's see if we can put all of these
27:01 puzzle pieces together in to a cohesive hold.
27:04 Revelation chapter 12, Revelation chapter 12.
27:09 Jesus says that Lucifer, that is Satan was cast
27:13 out at the Cross. At the where everyone? Cross.
27:16 At the Cross. Now, let us note that again in verse
27:19 9. Revelation 12:9, so the great dragon was cast
27:22 out, that serpent of old called the Devil and
27:25 Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast
27:26 to the earth, and his angels were cast out with
27:28 him. Now, if we were to ask Jesus, Jesus when did
27:30 this happen. He would say exactly when I told
27:33 you it happened at the Cross? At the what
27:36 everyone? Cross. At the Cross. Now, notice this,
27:39 in verse 10, it says then I heard a loud voice
27:42 saying in heaven, 'now,' that's the very same word
27:45 that Jesus used. Now, salvation and strength
27:49 and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his
27:52 what? Christ, what's the word Christ means.
27:54 It means anointed. The messiah, he is saying at
27:58 this time, the strength, the salvation, the power
28:01 of his Christ and his Kingdom have come,
28:04 when did the power of his Christ come.
28:06 When was the power of the Christ most perfectly
28:09 epitomized and manifested, when was it? On the
28:12 Cross. Now, watch this, let's plug this into our
28:16 equation and you're going to see something utterly
28:18 remarkable. The contention that we're making
28:20 here is that at the Cross Satan was utterly cast
28:24 out from heaven, utterly cast out from the
28:26 Celestial Kingdom. Now, I know what you might
28:28 be thinking. You're saying, no, no, no Pastor
28:29 Asscherick you got that wrong. He was cast out in
28:31 the beginning. Sometime back thousands of years
28:34 before the Cross around the creation time, that's
28:36 when he was cast out. And the answer is, you're
28:38 right, but only partly. You're only partially
28:42 correct, if you say that's when he was cast out.
28:44 What I'm going to show you now, is that
28:45 according to Revelation he had been cast out in a
28:48 sense before that, but his fullest casting out
28:52 actually took place at the Cross. And let us
28:56 continue, this gets so powerful. Notice verse
28:58 ten, now salvation and strengthen the Kingdom of
29:00 our God have and the power of his Christ have
29:02 come for the accuser of our brethren, who accused
29:04 them before our God day and night has been cast
29:07 out. Let me ask you a quick question, according
29:08 to verse ten, did Satan have access; some kind
29:12 of access in verse 10 to God, yes or no?
29:15 Yes. Sure he did, because it says that he was
29:17 accusing them before our God day and night.
29:20 And John is rejoicing here. He says, Praise the
29:23 Lord in essence because now he has been cast out.
29:26 The one who formally was accusing day and night
29:28 no longer has access. Now notice verse 11,
29:31 it gets so, so much better and they overcame him
29:33 by the blood of the lamb and by the world of their
29:35 testimony and they did not love their lives to the
29:37 death. Notice verse 12 therefore. Now, you've
29:42 probably heard me say this before, but let me
29:43 repeat it. When you see the word therefore in the
29:46 Bible, you ask yourself what is therefore, amen.
29:50 Amen. The word therefore is used as a concluding
29:53 remark. What kind of a remark? A concluding
29:56 remark, in other words you've point number one,
29:58 point number two, point number three. And then
30:00 as you come to your conclusion, you say
30:01 therefore, are you with me, yes or no?
30:04 Yes. On the basis of my foregoing preemies
30:07 therefore this is my conclusion and notice
30:10 carefully John's conclusion, we've not read
30:13 this verse yet, but note it with me and note it
30:14 very carefully. Therefore rejoice all, what's the
30:19 next word. Heaven. Heavens and you who dwell
30:21 in them. According to that verse, who is to
30:25 rejoice? The heavens and those who dwell in
30:28 them. Now, notice what it goes on to say, woe to
30:31 the inhibitors of the? Earth. Earth and the sea,
30:34 for the devil has come down to you having great
30:37 wrath because he knows that he has a short time,
30:40 isn't verse 12 an interesting verse.
30:43 Verse 12, sends out paradoxical commands.
30:48 The first command is, if you live in heaven
30:50 rejoice. The second command is, if you live
30:52 on earth wow! Watch out, be aware, caution,
30:57 why? Why the paradox? Why the duality of, of,
31:01 of encouragements here. One to rejoice and one
31:03 to, to watch out and be careful and woe! Why?
31:07 Chiefly for this reason friends. At the Cross,
31:10 Satan was fully cast out from heaven. He lost all
31:15 access to heaven and the only place that he
31:18 continues to have access to the minds of free
31:21 sentient volitional beings is right here on planet
31:26 earth. Notice verse 13, now when the dragon saw.
31:32 When the dragon, what everyone?
31:34 Saw. When the dragon saw, the word there is
31:37 perceived. When the dragon perceived that he
31:41 had been cast to the earth. Notice there it is
31:44 again cast to the, what everyone? To the earth,
31:48 he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the
31:49 male child. Notice it at the end of verse 12,
31:51 it says, that now he knows he has a great long
31:55 amount of time. A short time and then in verse
31:58 13, it says, he saw that he was cast out.
32:01 What was it that sealed permanently and
32:05 inexorably and irrevocably the faith
32:08 of Satan. What was it that sealed the faith of
32:10 Satan? It was the Cross. Now, let's continue to,
32:12 to unpack this. Well, let's go to the screen.
32:15 Satan still had limited access to heavenly
32:18 realms, and he used this access to accuse God and
32:22 his people. Let me note this very carefully with
32:24 you. After the sin of Adam and Eve. After his
32:28 initial rebellion in heaven up to the time
32:31 of the Cross Satan still had limited access to
32:35 celestial realms. He had what kind of access did
32:37 I say? Limited access, that's John's whole point
32:41 there in Revelation chapter 12, verses
32:42 7 to 13, that's why he says, woe to the
32:45 inhibitors of the earth because now all of his
32:47 resources, all of his energies are concentrated
32:49 in the here and now, but the heavens can rejoice
32:51 because he cannot harass them any longer.
32:55 Now, let's continue this, Satan still had limited
32:57 access, why? What happened at the Cross.
33:00 Friends the Cross exposes the true nature
33:02 of Satan's character and plans. At the Cross,
33:07 we saw what the devil is really like, but more
33:10 than this what the Cross shows us is what God is
33:14 really like. Now, do we have some Bible proof
33:18 that Satan still had access to, to heavenly
33:21 realms, to some sort of celestial realm before
33:24 the Cross yet after his fall? Do we have some
33:27 Bible evidence of that, yes or no? Job.
33:29 That's exactly right. The Book of Job, let's go to
33:31 Job chapter 1. Now Job, is that in the Old
33:35 Testament or the New Testament. Old. That's in
33:37 the older testament. That's right, go with me
33:39 to Job chapter 1. Job chapter 1 just before the
33:42 Book of Psalms. Job chapter 1 and I'm going
33:45 to begin reading in verse 6. Job chapter 1 and I'm
33:48 reading in verse 6. Now, there was a day when
33:51 the sons of God came to present themselves
33:54 before the LORD, and Satan also came among
33:57 them. Now, you can be confident that the,
33:59 that this is not Lucifer the unfallen angel,
34:02 because it refers to him as Satan. Satan,
34:05 so Job says, there was a day when the sons of God
34:07 we don't know who the sons of God are, but some
34:08 sort of heavenly beings. Heavenly counsel
34:11 members come to present themselves before the
34:14 God of the universe and Satan comes lollygagging
34:17 into the assembly. Notice verse 7, and the Lord
34:22 said to Satan from where do you come, if,
34:24 if I might give a little paraphrase here; a little
34:27 interpretive paraphrase. What God is saying is,
34:29 what are you doing here? Are you with me?
34:33 Where are you coming from? The rest of verse 7.
34:36 So, Satan answered the Lord and said, well you
34:38 know, from going to and fro on the earth and from
34:40 walking back and forth on it. Why does Satan say
34:43 that? What he's essentially saying here?
34:46 You know, God I, I have just been walking to and
34:49 fro you know; back and forth on my planet,
34:53 planet earth. Now, friends the fact that verse 7,
34:57 where God says, where are you coming from and
34:59 the fact that he says I'm coming from earth proves
35:03 that this thing didn't take place on earth,
35:06 amen. Amen. See, I wouldn't ask you, if we
35:08 had an assemblage right here in the Urbandale
35:10 Church and we were in the Urbandale Church and
35:13 I said, where did you come from? It wouldn't
35:15 make any sense if you were already always in
35:17 Urbandale Church. You follow that, he said what
35:19 do you mean where did I come from. This is what
35:20 I'm at, this is where we're at. The very fact
35:23 that God says, why are you here and where did
35:26 you come from is Prima facie evidence friends
35:28 that they were not on planet earth. Are you
35:31 with me, yes or no? Yes. Now, where did this take
35:33 place, the answer is, are you ready here is the
35:35 Bible answer drum roll, we have no idea. Alright,
35:40 we just don't know, we have no idea where this
35:43 took place, but we do know where it didn't take
35:45 place and that's right here on planet earth.
35:46 It took place somewhere out there in celestial
35:50 heavenly realms, the sons of God are there in this
35:52 assembly. They're presenting their case
35:54 before God, they're there as representatives of the
35:57 unfalling universe, Satan comes walking in, God
35:59 interrogates him, what are you doing here?
36:01 Well, you know, just walking to and fro back
36:03 on my planet, that's the obvious implication
36:05 of what Satan is saying. Now, you know that
36:07 that's what Satan is saying here and you know,
36:09 that's the implication of what he is saying because
36:11 notice God's response in verse 8. God's response
36:13 in verse 8 proves that that's exactly what Satan
36:16 was saying, then the Lord said to Satan, have you
36:19 considered my servant, who everyone? Job.
36:22 Job, that there was none like him on the earth,
36:25 a blameless and a bright man who fears God and
36:28 shuns evil. What's God saying here in essence?
36:31 You claim the planet as your own, but have you
36:33 considered my servant Job, he doesn't follow
36:36 your ways, sure many of them do, but he is not
36:39 under your rulership and under your banner.
36:41 He does not take you as his representative.
36:44 Are you with me, yes or no? God here is taking
36:46 issue with Satan's claim to have universal control
36:50 over this planet. Notice verse 9, so Satan
36:53 answered the Lord and said, does Job fear God
36:55 for nothing. Why does he fear you God?
36:58 Why does he, why does he give you reference,
37:01 respect and, and reverence and, and he is
37:03 deferential toward you. Verse 10, have you not
37:07 made a hedge around him and around his
37:09 household and around all he has in every side,
37:11 you have blessed the work of his hands and his
37:12 possessions have increased, but now he
37:14 says stretch out your hands and touch all that
37:17 he has and he will surely curse you to your face.
37:19 Friends, what is Satan saying? What is he
37:23 saying? What, what is the the thrust of what Satan
37:25 is saying about Job's obedience? That it's a
37:29 farce. That's what he saying. He is saying it's
37:32 farce. The only reason that he obeys is you give
37:35 him the goodies. If you take away the goodies,
37:37 he will turn on you and he will curse you to your
37:39 face. He is accusing. He is what everyone?
37:43 He is accusing God, amen. Amen. And he is
37:47 accusing Job. His acquisition of God is,
37:51 the only way you can get friends is by giving
37:53 them the goods. And his acquisition of Job is the
37:56 only reason he is loyal to you, the only reason
37:58 he stays faithful to you is because you give him
38:00 all of the nice goodies and amenities of his life.
38:03 It's an acquisition party. Are you with me?
38:06 And then next, that's the context of the Book
38:07 Job and you know the context of Job,
38:09 everything is stripped away from him, family,
38:11 material goods, health, everything is taken away
38:14 and I love that phrase there in Job or in Job
38:16 where he says, though he slay me, yet will I
38:20 trust him. Amen. Amen. Amen. At one point his
38:23 wife comes to him and says curse God and die,
38:26 though he slay me, yet will I trust him.
38:31 Job proved that Satan's acquisitions were
38:34 groundless and false, amen. Amen.
38:36 But don't miss the larger point. The larger point
38:39 here is that Satan had access both to God and to
38:45 earth. So, he could accuse God and he could
38:47 accuse his followers somewhere in the heavenly
38:50 realms. Are you with me, yes or no? Amen.
38:52 But what John is saying in Revelation chapter 12
38:54 is, is that limited access was cut off, when?
39:01 At the Cross. Now, why might that be? Why
39:04 might it be that at the Cross no longer Satan was
39:08 allowed access to these other celestial realms?
39:13 Friends the reason is just this. The only place
39:16 that is yet undecided about Satan and his plans
39:21 and his ploys is planet earth. Are you with me on
39:24 that? The only planet that has not yet made up
39:27 its mind is this planet. Friends, at the Cross all of
39:33 the unfallen worlds, all of the angels, all of the
39:37 unfallen universe, universes and galaxies
39:39 and whatever is out there. All of them saw
39:43 that Satan was a murderer. Satan was a
39:44 what word did I say? Murderer. Murderer, now
39:48 you say well big deal, we know that. Well, let's,
39:51 let's back up here just a moment. Satan had raised
39:56 acquisitions and insinuations against the
39:58 government and character of God, true or false?
40:00 True. True, that's exactly right. You can read
40:02 it in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 and other
40:04 places. He basically said in essence I could
40:06 run the government, I could run the
40:07 government of this universe better than God
40:10 can and he began to raise insinuations and doubts
40:12 about God's government, about his nature and
40:14 about his character. Now, do you think his
40:17 arguments were persuasive, yes or no? Yes.
40:20 Absolutely, how do we know they were
40:22 persuasive? Because a full one third of the
40:26 unfallen angels. That is to say, angels that had
40:29 the full capacity of their mental strength.
40:33 They believed his, his insinuations, they
40:36 believed his persuasive innuendos and
40:39 insinuations and they followed him. Are you with
40:43 me on that? Amen. Now, now these must have
40:45 been some very persuasive arguments because
40:48 civil war basically took place right there.
40:52 Now, do you think that there would have been
40:53 questions in the minds of the two thirds that
40:55 remained, yes or no? Of course, think about
40:59 that friends, a full one third of the loyal angels
41:01 have left, they've abandoned God for this
41:04 character Lucifer now Satan and, and they're
41:06 gonna be scratching their heads and thinking well
41:09 it, it doesn't seem like what Satan is saying is
41:11 right but maybe he is on to something.
41:14 And friends when Jesus Christ came incarnate and
41:17 he was put into the womb of Mary and he walked
41:20 the path with; of tears and he came as a man and
41:24 he grew and he went eventually to the Cross
41:26 through that whole period of 30+ years the angels
41:29 in heaven were basically looking down and
41:31 holding their breathe. They were terrified, what
41:36 will happen, God becomes a man. And friends,
41:40 when, when Satan took Jesus and laid him out on
41:43 that Cross and through those soldiers, put him
41:47 on that Cross and raised him up, all of the loyal
41:50 angels saw that what God have been saying
41:53 about Lucifer all along, Satan all along was true,
41:57 mainly that he was a murderer. And when the
41:59 unfallen universes saw that. When they saw him
42:02 put him on the Cross and actually kill God,
42:04 they said we, we're not interested. We want to
42:07 have nothing to do with this. Are you with me on
42:10 this? Amen. So friends the minds of the unfallen
42:13 universes was made up at the Cross. Jesus says
42:18 in John chapter 8, verse 44. He is speaking to the
42:20 Scribes and the Pharisees and he says, you are of
42:22 your father, the devil and then he says, he was
42:24 a murderer from the beginning. Now, that's a
42:27 remarkable thing for Jesus to say. He was a
42:29 murderer from the beginning. Did God know
42:31 that yes or no? Yes. But here is the point,
42:34 the other angels didn't. It wasn't until the
42:39 Cross that they could see with clear vision what
42:43 Satan's all about? What his plans are and the
42:45 direction that it will take the universe?
42:47 Now, think about this for just a moment.
42:50 Imagine with me that one of President Bush's
42:52 senior level advisers; one of his senior level
42:55 cabinet members begins to raise doubts and
42:57 insinuations about the president. And, and he is
43:00 charging or she is charging major scandal.
43:04 Major scandal throughout the entire presidency
43:06 and you know she; she is ready to document it
43:08 and here and here and she is about ready to go
43:10 on television and announce the whole thing
43:12 scandal throughout the whole administration and
43:14 the day before or two days before, she is to
43:17 leak all of this information, she turns
43:19 up dead. Just out of nowhere, surprise. She,
43:24 she died in a tragic car accident. Now, what if
43:27 that happened, of course this is a
43:28 fictitious situation, but just imagine with me.
43:30 What is everybody going to assume if that
43:33 happened? What do you think, what do you think
43:36 people would think? She was on to something,
43:40 you following me. She was on to something.
43:42 And so they couldn't afford to have it come
43:43 out and you got rid of her. Now, think about
43:45 this in terms of the celestial, this cosmic
43:48 conflict. Satan begins to raise doubts about God's
43:50 character, about his graciousness, about his
43:52 nature. He begins to say, well you know, I could
43:54 really run things better. God's not the benevolent,
43:56 nice guy that he seems or the, the magnanimous
43:58 nice guy that he seems to be. He is really
44:00 malevolent malefactor. He is a bad guy.
44:04 Obviously this was persuasive and if God in
44:06 a moment had just said, that's it you're out.
44:09 And he had killed Satan and he had killed all of
44:12 his followers. What do you think the other
44:15 angels may have thought? He was onto
44:19 something. And friends it probably would have
44:21 only confirmed their very fears namely that God
44:23 was a great big bad guy. Are you understanding
44:26 now, yes or no? So, what did God do? God
44:30 gave Satan this planet and he said, alright go
44:32 down there, try to tempt Adam and Eve. And after
44:34 they fell he said; okay the, the planet is yours,
44:36 that's why Jesus says the ruler of this world,
44:38 the ruler of this world, the prince of this world.
44:40 And Paul says, the God of this world because
44:42 this little planet is a theater for the entire
44:45 universe to see how God's plans contrast with
44:49 Satan's plans. How God's governmental system
44:52 contrasts with Satan's governmental system.
44:54 And at the Cross all of the unfallen universes
44:57 says, no, no, no. We see where this thing is going.
45:00 We see what Satan is all about. We're not
45:02 interested, but you and I as individuals are still
45:07 making up our mind. Now, let's go very
45:10 quickly to First Corinthians chapter 4.
45:12 First Corinthians chapter 4, that's in the New
45:14 Testament. First Corinthians, what chapter
45:16 everyone? Four. Four, very quickly verse 9.
45:19 Who wrote First Corinthians by the way?
45:21 Paul. The Apostle Paul and in First Corinthians
45:22 chapter 4 and I'm reading in verse 9. The Apostle
45:24 Paul says this. For I think that God has displayed
45:28 us, the apostles lashed as men condemn to death
45:32 for we have been made a spectacle to the world
45:35 both to angels and to men. Now, notice he says
45:39 there we've been made a spectacle. We've been
45:41 made a what? Spectacle. Spectacle, now I'm
45:43 reading from the New King James version. And if
45:45 I look in my marginal reference there of that
45:46 word spectacle. There is a little one by it.
45:48 And if I go over hoop to the center call and I look
45:51 up that word spectacle. Do you what word appears
45:53 there. Theater. Theater, that's exactly right.
45:56 It's the word for theater. It's the Greek word for
45:58 theater. Now, let's try to understand what
46:00 Paul is saying here. Paul is saying that we
46:02 the apostles that is to say the church of God we
46:05 are the theater for both angels and men. In other
46:09 words, what do you do at a theater? You say, I,
46:14 I don't know, I have never been to the theater.
46:15 Well, you're good Christian folk that don't
46:17 go to the theater, but what do other people do
46:20 at theaters. They watch. And Paul here is saying
46:24 this whole great cosmic conflict. This whole great
46:27 cosmic plan, this great battle between good and
46:30 evil, light and darkness, righteousness and
46:32 unrighteousness is being played out and we're a
46:35 theater, we're a spectacle and all of the angels are
46:38 watching. Amen. Are you understanding now?
46:41 Yes. And friends, the, the, the moment of most
46:44 intense interest was when they saw Satan ding,
46:48 ding put Jesus on the Cross and when they saw
46:50 that, not interested. Their minds were made up
46:55 and that's why John says there in Revelation
46:56 chapter 12. He says, verse 4, or verse,
46:59 Revelation 12:12 he says therefore rejoice you
47:01 heavens and those that dwell in them, but woe to
47:03 the inhibitors of the earth and of the sea
47:04 because the Devil is coming down. And he
47:06 knows, he's got just a short time. Why rejoice
47:08 to the heavens because God took away Satan's
47:11 access to those celestial kingdoms. Their mind
47:14 was made up, what's the point. Why should Satan
47:17 be allowed to have access anymore. Their mind is
47:19 totally made up and so Satan, that's why it says
47:21 in verse 13. He saw that he was here, I don't know
47:24 what happens. I don't know how spiritual beings
47:26 travel, but maybe it's like star trek where they're
47:27 beamed up you know, beam me up, but maybe
47:30 Satan tried to do that, he said. And he couldn't,
47:36 he saw, he perceived that he was stuck to this
47:40 planet. And when he realizes that he's stuck to
47:43 this planet and he sees what has taken place on
47:45 the Cross and that Jesus has come out of the tomb
47:48 triumphantly on resurrection morning.
47:50 Now, he knows his tomb, or pardon me,
47:54 his destiny and his faith is sealed.
47:58 Amen. And what does he do, repent. No, now he
48:02 pours all of his energies and all of his resources
48:06 into one central locality, namely a neighborhood
48:11 near you and I, planet earth, coming to a
48:15 neighborhood near you friends. Satan pouring
48:17 out all of his hellish resources right here on
48:21 this planet. Why? Because at the Cross, he lost his
48:25 access. So it's kind of making sense now,
48:28 yes or no? Yes. Now, notice it becomes even
48:31 more powerful, go wit me to several verses I
48:35 want to go to. Let's go to, let's go to First
48:37 Corinthians chapter 1. Since we're right there
48:40 in First Corinthians, let's stay there and go
48:42 to First Corinthians chapter 1. This planet is
48:45 the only planet yet undecided, have you ever
48:49 heard of the term sympathy for the Devil?
48:50 You ever heard of that? Yes. We're the only ones
48:52 that manifest sympathy for the Devil. Have you
48:54 ever heard somebody say, well you know let me
48:55 just play Devil's advocate. You understand
48:58 it. We're the only planet that's not made up
48:59 our minds yet friends. The only ones and here is
49:02 the thing about planet earth. Planet earth will
49:04 not make up it's mind corporately. All of planet
49:08 earth is not going to decide one way or the
49:10 other. Planet earth will be saved as individuals.
49:14 As individuals we will decide whether or not we
49:17 want to follow Christ or the Kingdom of darkness.
49:20 Remember Colossians chapter 2 and verse 15.
49:22 And the hostile princes and rulers He shook off
49:24 from Himself, and boldly displayed them as his
49:27 conquests, when by the Cross He triumphed over
49:29 them. Remember that verse, that's the verse
49:31 where, where Jesus basically took Satan by
49:33 the scruff of the neck and walked him through
49:35 the streets of the universe and said, this is
49:37 the one. He triumphed over him, where did he
49:40 triumph over the man? At the Cross, at the where
49:43 everyone? At the Cross. At the Cross. Brothers
49:46 and sisters, this is absolutely powerful,
49:49 there is this great cosmic conflict.
49:51 This great controversy going on, every one of
49:53 the angels has made up their minds friends.
49:56 The unfallen angels have made up their minds
49:58 for God, and the fallen angels have solidified
50:00 their decision for Satan and the only people yet
50:02 decide are people like you and I, who must
50:04 decide Christ's way Satan's way. We will not
50:07 make this decision as a planet or as a nation.
50:10 This decision is not even made as a family.
50:12 This decision is made as an individual.
50:15 Amen. Are you understanding, yes or no?
50:17 Yes. Right here on planet earth we see this
50:19 contrast, this playing out of the Kingdom of
50:22 Christ, verses the Kingdom of Satan. Now,
50:26 I told you to go to First Corinthians chapter 4,
50:27 but let me sort of paint the picture here.
50:30 In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus tells the parable
50:32 of the sower. The parable of the, what everyone?
50:34 Sower, keep your fingers there in First
50:36 Corinthians chapter 1. We'll come right back to
50:38 it. And go with me quickly to Matthew chapter
50:40 13. In Matthew chapter 13, we're going to get a
50:43 a lesson in speed reading. Are you ready?
50:47 Matthew chapter 13, Jesus tells a parable and
50:49 I'm in verse 24. What verse am I in everyone?
50:51 Twenty four. Verse 24, Another parable put he
50:54 forth unto them, saying the Kingdom of heaven
50:55 is like a man, who sowed good seed in his field.
50:57 What kind of seed? Good. Good seed, but while
50:59 man slept, he came and sow tares among the
51:01 wheat and went his way, but when the grain has
51:02 sprout and produced a crop. Then the tares also
51:04 appeared and the servants of the owner came and
51:05 said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in
51:07 your field? How then does it have tares? He said
51:09 to them an enemy has done this. The servant
51:11 said to him, watch this carefully. Do you want us
51:13 to go then and gather them up? You want us to
51:16 gather up the bad stuff. What does he say in verse
51:19 29, but he said, what's the word, no, why? Lest
51:23 while you gather up the tares you also root up the
51:25 wheat with them, let both grow together until
51:27 the when everyone, harvest and in the time
51:30 of the harvest, I will say the reapers first
51:32 gathered together the tares and bind them in
51:33 bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat
51:34 into my barn. Now, any gardeners here, I'm a
51:39 gardener. Well, my wife and I have a beautiful
51:41 garden in the back of our house, 13 feet by 24 feet
51:44 and two years ago, would you believe out of that
51:45 little garden plot, we got 280 pounds of
51:47 tomatoes, amen. Amen. We said, Lord Jesus,
51:50 bless the garden and boom did he ever bless
51:51 it, tomatoes everywhere. Tomatoes, tomatoes here
51:55 is the point. For somebody who is not a gardener,
51:57 who is not schooled in these things. When, when
51:59 you go out and you look at, at those fresh little
52:04 budding burgeoning plants, it's tough to tell
52:07 for somebody who does not have a green thumb,
52:08 the difference between a weed and the plant.
52:12 So you send out an inexperienced person and
52:14 they're gonna say. Umm! And they might pull up
52:17 the one you want to keep. Why? Because friends,
52:21 listen carefully it's tough to tell in the beginning
52:24 what's the bad and what's the good, but when they
52:26 come to maturation, when they come to harvest,
52:28 is it tough to tell the difference between a
52:29 fissile and a tomato plant where they're fully
52:31 grown, yes or no? No. Now, think about that,
52:33 when Satan began his rebellion. It was tough
52:37 to tell, but now that his rebellion has come to
52:40 total fruition and Jesus was put on the Cross,
52:43 it's crystal clear now friends what that is all
52:46 about, are you with me, yes or no? Amen.
52:48 That's Jesus whole point. And he says, in the time
52:50 of the harvest, it will be very clear both the wheat
52:53 and the tares must fully mature before they can be
52:55 perfectly distinguished from one another, amen.
53:00 Amen. So, then I'm in First Corinthians chapter
53:02 1. And I'm reading in verse 18. Paul says,
53:07 for the message of the Cross is foolishness to
53:09 those who are perishing, but to us who are being
53:11 saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
53:14 I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring
53:16 to nothing the understanding of the
53:17 prudent, where is the wise? God calls out
53:19 almost rhetorically. Where is the scribe,
53:21 where is the disputer of this age, has not God
53:23 made foolish the wisdom of this world, for
53:26 sensing the wisdom of God, the world through
53:27 wisdom did not know God, it pleased God
53:29 through the foolishness of preaching to save
53:31 those who believe. For the Jews request to sign
53:34 and Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach
53:37 Christ crucified, Christ what everyone? Notice
53:40 what it says in verse 23. To the Jews, a stumbling
53:42 block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those
53:45 who are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
53:47 power of God and the wisdom of God, because
53:50 the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the
53:52 weakness of God is stronger than men, amen.
53:56 Amen. Now, notice chapter 2, in verse 2. He says,
53:59 for I determine not to know anything among you
54:00 except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
54:03 Notice Paul says, when we go out and we preach
54:05 the Cross. When we go out and we preach the
54:08 Cross, we find that there are three potential
54:11 responses. How many potential responses?
54:14 Three, he says, when we preach the Cross the,
54:17 the, the Greek step over and it's foolishness to
54:19 them. They're not interested. What do the
54:21 Jews do? They stumble over the Cross. And
54:24 friends your option tonight is to stop and
54:27 shoulder it. Amen. There only three options
54:30 friends, Paul says, when we preach the Cross,
54:32 this is the only planet that is not yet decided
54:35 right here. The rest of the universe has decided,
54:38 this planet has not yet decided and friends when
54:41 Paul said that he preached the Cross.
54:42 The smart people, the Jews, the Athenians, or
54:44 pardon me, the Greeks, they would step over the
54:47 Cross, not interested, it was foolishness to them
54:49 and the Jews looked at and they said, no, no,
54:51 no. We do not believe in the messianic identity of
54:53 Jesus. And it's not something that they
54:55 stepped over intellectually, it's
54:56 something that they stumbled over, are you
54:58 with me, yes or no? Amen. Now, you only have
55:01 three options. You can step over it like the
55:03 Greeks, you can stumble over that like the Jews
55:05 or you can stop and lift it like Simon.
55:09 Amen. Amen. Amen. Friends, the universe has
55:14 made up their mind. The question tonight is,
55:17 will you make up your mind. Friend, I put this
55:20 question to you. Tonight what will you do with
55:24 the Cross. The Cross is the fulcrum of the ages.
55:31 The Cross is the great fulcrum that will decide
55:32 not only the destiny of the universe, but your
55:34 destiny. Are you understanding, yes or no?
55:37 Yes. Now, as we close I'm wondering if there is,
55:40 if there is a young man in here or a young
55:41 woman or somebody in this room who wants to
55:43 stand to their feet right now, not everybody,
55:45 but somebody who wants to say tonight I'm
55:46 making my decision for Christ. Tonight I'm gonna
55:50 follow him all the way. Why doesn't that person
55:52 stand right now, who is that person? Is there
55:55 somebody in this room who will stand right now
55:56 and say for me it's all the way. I'm making my
55:58 decision tonight. Some young man, some young
56:02 woman who wants to stand to their feet and
56:04 say this is my decision. Friend, how about you?
56:10 You're sitting there tonight in our television
56:12 audience. What would prevent you from standing
56:15 and joining those of us here in the Urbandale
56:16 Seventh-day Adventist Church? Friend, what will
56:18 you do with the Cross of Jesus? Will you step
56:21 over? Will you stumble over it or will you stop
56:24 tonight, stop and shoulder it. You can lift
56:28 the Cross, Jesus said pick up your Cross and
56:30 come after me. Friend, lift your Cross for Jesus.


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Revised 2014-12-17