Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: GMTB
Program Code: GMTB000058
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00:19 Well good morning and happy Sabbath everybody.
00:22 Good to have all of you here: 00:24 visitors and our guests 00:26 here at the Thompsonville 00:27 Seventh-day Adventist church. 00:29 And I want to welcome you 00:30 from around the world who are watching us on 3ABN 00:33 or listening to us over the radio. 00:35 We welcome you to the Thompsonville SDA church 00:38 Sabbath morning service 00:39 where Pastor Kenneth Cox continues with 00:42 Give Me The Bible. 00:43 You know, this is the 12th month that he's come. 00:48 Each month he's brought us five different sermons. 00:51 Do you realize this is sermon #58 that he's going to bring 00:55 to us today? The title of the series this month 00:59 is No Other Name Like Jesus. 01:01 You know, there's something that the scripture says 01:03 about the name of Jesus. 01:05 At the name of Jesus every knee's going to do what? 01:08 Every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess 01:12 that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. 01:15 Jesus Christ is Lord. 01:16 Well, today's title is... Pastor Cox asks the question 01:23 What Makes Jesus Different? 01:25 I'm very interested in seeing what he has discovered 01:29 that makes Jesus so different... different from the other ones 01:32 that would call themself god. 01:34 But Jesus is different, isn't He? 01:36 I'm looking forward to Pastor Cox' sermon on this. 01:39 But before Pastor Cox comes, 01:41 we have Melody Firestone with us. 01:43 Melody is Danny's daughter, and God has blessed her 01:47 and gifted her with a beautiful gift. 01:49 And she's taken that gift and given it right back to the Lord. 01:52 And she's going to minister a beautiful song: 01:54 All My Praise. 02:13 My soul thirsts for You. 02:19 My heart burns for You. 02:24 No earthly love can fill 02:30 this void inside of me. 02:36 I long to know You better. 02:42 Spend some time together. 02:48 You are exactly 02:52 what I need. 02:58 And Lord I've come to worship 03:04 and give You all my praise. 03:10 My blessed Redeemer 03:16 my hands to You I raise. 03:22 In You I find solace, 03:28 a peaceful resting place. 03:33 With all that I have 03:36 and all that I am 03:39 I give You 03:42 all my praise. 03:54 Lord, You are my refuge... 04:00 a haven I can run to. 04:06 You're the only perfect love 04:10 I have ever known. 04:17 My eyes desire to see You. 04:22 My spirit longs to embrace You. 04:29 For You are the lover of 04:34 my soul. 04:38 And Lord I've come to 04:42 worship 04:45 and give You all my praise. 04:51 My blessed Redeemer, 04:56 my hands to You I raise. 05:02 In You I find solace... 05:08 a peaceful resting place. 05:13 With all that I have 05:16 and all that I am 05:19 I give You all my praise. 05:25 With all that I have 05:28 and all that I am 05:30 Lord I give You 05:34 all my 05:37 praise. 05:52 Thank you, Melody. Appreciate that. 05:55 Give You all my praise. 05:57 That's what we want to do... 05:59 to give God our praise. 06:02 Welcome to each of you today. 06:04 Glad to welcome you here. 06:06 And to all of you who are 06:07 joining us by television 06:09 or by radio, 06:10 we welcome you. 06:11 We hope that as you have tuned in 06:15 as we've been going through this series on the... on Jesus: 06:19 No Other Name Like Jesus. 06:22 That's what we're looking at this series is Jesus Christ. 06:26 We've looked at Who Is Jesus? 06:28 Historically who was He and what took place. 06:31 We've also taken a look at Why Believe in Jesus Christ? 06:36 Why should you and I believe in Him? 06:39 And today: What Makes Jesus Christ Different? 06:43 What Makes Christ Different? 06:45 And then our next presentation is going to deal with 06:48 the positions of Christ in a subject entitled 06:59 We'll take a look at those different three positions 07:02 that He holds and how they fit into the ministry 07:06 of Jesus Christ. 07:08 And then our closing presentation will be entitled 07:10 Unto You A Savior. 07:12 So we're very happy that you're here 07:14 and hope that you'll continue to follow as we go through 07:20 the subjects on Jesus Christ. 07:23 But today we're looking at: 07:27 What makes Him different than Buddha? 07:30 What makes Him different than Confucius 07:33 or different than Mohammad? 07:38 If He is a Savior, what makes Him different than these 07:42 other people who claim to be saviors? 07:45 That's what we're looking at. 07:46 So as we go through the subject, 07:48 you want to look for those things that are distinct 07:52 concerning Jesus Christ. 07:54 I think you'll find that there are certain things about Jesus 07:58 that no one else has or can do. 08:04 So we just thank you for being with us 08:07 and we ask that you'll continue to walk with Him 08:10 and follow Him in all that you do. 08:12 Very happy to have with us today Pastor John Lomacang. 08:16 And he's going to sing for us a medley that deals 08:20 with Jesus Christ. 08:23 Thank you, John. 08:35 I come to the garden 08:39 alone, 08:43 while the dew 08:46 is still on the roses; 08:53 And the voice I hear, 08:57 falling on my ear, 09:02 the Son of God 09:06 discloses. 09:14 He speaks, 09:16 and the sound of His voice 09:21 is so sweet 09:23 that the birds hush their singing; 09:30 And the melody 09:34 that He gave to me 09:39 Within my heart 09:43 is ringing. 09:48 And He 09:53 walks with me, 09:56 and He talks with me, 10:00 And He tells me that I am 10:05 His own; 10:09 And the joy that we share 10:13 as we tarry there 10:18 None other 10:20 has ever known. 10:32 Grant it, Jesus, 10:37 is my plea; 10:42 I want to be daily walking 10:48 close to Thee... 10:52 Let it be, dear Lord, 10:58 let it be. 11:03 Let it be, 11:07 dear Lord, 11:09 let it be. 11:16 What... what a friend we have 11:21 in Jesus, 11:26 All our sins and griefs 11:32 to bear! 11:36 And what... what a privilege 11:42 to carry 11:47 Ev'rything 11:51 to God in prayer! 11:57 O what peace 12:01 we often forfeit, 12:07 And O what needless 12:11 pain we bear, 12:17 It's all because 12:21 we do not carry 12:27 Ev'rything 12:31 to God in prayer! 12:37 Yes, take it 12:42 to the Lord 12:47 in prayer. 13:01 Amen! 13:16 Heavenly Father, 13:19 we come today desiring to see Jesus. 13:26 May we understand better 13:32 what He's done for each one of us. 13:36 We give our hearts to You today, Lord. 13:38 Send Your Spirit. 13:41 May it touch each one. 13:45 May our hearts be open, responsive. 13:50 And may we get a glimpse 13:54 of Your greatness and Your majesty 13:57 in Your sacrifice in our behalf. 14:02 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 14:13 I'm going to do something today that I seldom do. 14:17 And it's very, very few times in my ministry 14:22 that I have preached sermons 14:25 in which I have dealt with just one text 14:30 and centered everything around 14:32 one text. 14:33 But that is essentially what I'm 14:35 going to do today: 14:36 we're going to take a look at one text. 14:39 And that text is this one that says in Hebrews 13:8: 14:49 That simple text: "Christ is the same yesterday, 14:53 today, and forever" we're going to look at today. 14:57 And as far as I'm concerned, in this text 15:01 is contained everything that is necessary 15:04 to understand why Jesus Christ 15:07 is different than anyone else. 15:11 And so we're going to look to start with 15:14 at Christ, the same yesterday. 15:17 What He was in the past. 15:19 Then we're going to take a look at what He is today. 15:23 And then we're going to take a look 15:25 at what He is in the future... forever. 15:28 And so that's what we're going to look at as we go through this 15:31 presentation. And watch as we talk about what makes 15:36 Jesus Christ different. 15:38 When it comes to Christ yesterday, 15:41 the Bible has some very, very clear points 15:45 that it makes about where Christ was, 15:49 where He existed, and so forth. 15:51 And so we're going to take a look at the pre-existence 15:54 of Christ. What does the Bible tell us 15:58 about Jesus before He came to this earth? 16:01 What does it tell us, what does it inform us 16:05 about Him? Well, it starts out and says here: 16:17 Said: "Father, glorify Me with the glory that I had 16:22 with You before the world was. " 16:26 Before there was ever sin. 16:30 See? Sin did not exist. 16:33 God's universe was peaceful. 16:38 God's universe had no taint 16:41 of any kind of thing that was bad 16:44 in all the universe of God, 16:47 because this is talking about before this world ever was. 16:52 When all the universe worshiped God. 16:57 That God the Father and Jesus Christ were supreme 17:03 and they were worshiped and glorified 17:06 before the whole universe. 17:08 As it says in the oldest book, oldest book in our Bible... 17:13 the first chapter and verse 6... 17:15 Job the first chapter verse 6 says 17:18 that "the Sons of God came together. " 17:23 Here the Sons of God, 17:24 those created beings that God had made 17:28 on the worlds that He has made... 17:31 because in Isaiah it tells us 17:33 that He created the worlds - plural - 17:36 to be inhabited. 17:37 And so here they came to present themselves before 17:41 the Lord, and they worshiped God. 17:43 All the innumerable host of angels 17:48 that are without number worshiped God 17:52 with the glory that He had with the Father 17:54 before this world ever was. 17:57 This was Christ, the Son of God. 18:01 Goes on and says: 18:10 Before this world or any other world 18:14 ever came into existence 18:18 Jesus Christ was there. 18:23 Now you think about it. 18:24 Before anything existed Jesus Christ was there. 18:39 Said: "I have been from everlasting. 18:42 There has never been a time in which He wasn't there... 18:48 worshiped, honored, glory... as God. 18:53 As One with the Father. 18:57 And so when we're talking about Jesus Christ 19:00 we're talking about Jesus Christ yesterday. 19:05 That's before there was ever an earth... there was ever sin, 19:11 there was ever a problem that we find ourselves in today. 19:38 Existed... always there. 19:41 And so when we take a look at Jesus Christ 19:45 indeed, He was before this world ever came into existence. 19:51 But not only was He here before the world ever came 19:54 into existence, but the scripture tells us 19:58 that this world and the other worlds 20:00 all came forth from His hand. 20:04 That He is the Creator of this world. 20:08 I don't know about you, but when I first became a Christian 20:11 and started reading through my Bible 20:14 and began to study it, and all of a sudden I became aware 20:18 for the first time that it was Jesus Christ that created. 20:23 Oh what a difference that made 20:26 in my understanding of the scripture 20:28 as I read and understood that He was the One that 20:33 created and made this world! 20:35 That it came forth from His hand. As we read here in John: 20:39 "In the beginning was the... " 20:41 In the when? 20:43 "In the beginning. " 20:45 Now that's... that's hard for you and I to understand. 20:49 You know, "in the beginning. " 20:51 Well, what do you mean "in the beginning? " 20:53 Before there was ever a world He existed. 21:04 Jesus Christ was with God and He was God. 21:24 He... He is God, 21:28 and there wasn't anything that came into existence 21:33 that He didn't make. 21:35 It says that He could speak things into existence. 21:41 Just... just consider that: 21:44 to be able to speak and something would form. 21:50 But He can speak it into existence. 21:54 Because if you ever go through the scripture and just 21:57 look at what it has to say about God speaking. 22:02 I mean, it talks about Him doing all kinds of things. 22:05 It talks about Him whispering things in existence. 22:08 It even talks about Him whistling to the fly, 22:11 did you know that? 22:13 Talks about Him... great voice 22:16 that He proclaimed things into existence. 22:19 He could speak it, and it would come into being. 22:23 This One - The Word, God... 22:28 who was the Creator - came to this earth. 22:40 He who existed before the world was into being, 22:45 He who created everything, 22:48 this One became flesh. 23:03 This was Jesus Christ. 23:07 So when we're taking a look at Jesus Christ yesterday, 23:10 folks, I'm talking about what makes Him different. 23:14 Clearly, His pre-existence makes Him different. 23:20 Being Creator makes Him different. 23:25 These are things that nobody else claims 23:29 and nobody else can claim 23:31 but Him. 23:33 That He was the Creator of this world. 23:57 And folks, please notice. We read that many times 23:59 but it doesn't say He created the world. 24:02 It says He created the worlds plural. 24:07 And so when you step out at night and you see all these 24:10 stars, understand that He's the One 24:17 that spoke them into existence. 24:20 That He is the One who is the Creator of everything. 24:27 God... ever since... He is God. 24:46 Made all this; created all things 24:49 through His Son Jesus Christ. 24:52 So if you're looking for what makes Jesus Christ different 24:56 then I would tell you that He is the Creator. 25:00 And none of these others can claim that. 25:04 He is the One who is the Creator. 25:05 Not only is He the Creator but He's the sustainer of life. 25:10 You see, you're here this morning 25:15 because of Him. 25:17 You may not have realized that, 25:20 but when you woke up this morning and you found yourself 25:24 still breathing, that was because of Him 25:27 that you're breathing. 25:29 Because it says: 25:46 Through Jesus Christ that you and I live. 25:50 He is the One since He spoke the world into existence 25:55 and all the laws of nature took place because He placed 26:00 them in order and they operate at His command. 26:04 Therefore because He does those things 26:08 you and I can live. 26:11 Do you understand this morning? 26:14 Do you understand that some of the laws of nature 26:18 that if they were off just a fraction 26:23 you and I would not be alive? 26:28 See, that all happens. And it says here: 26:39 So Jesus Christ is the One that sustains our life day by day. 26:45 And dear friend, you and I certainly shouldn't be 26:51 so - how should I say? - so, uh, 26:56 unaware, so unconcerned 27:01 that we don't take time every morning 27:05 to thank Him that we're alive. 27:09 Thank Him that we're living. 27:11 That we move, we have our being in Jesus Christ. 27:16 These are things as far as Jesus Christ 27:21 yesterday, these are things that make Him decidedly different 27:27 than any other person who claims 27:32 to have any kind of salvation 27:37 or hope to offer to you. 27:40 I don't know. I would much rather put my hope 27:46 in One who created 27:51 and One who existed 27:55 than placing it in someone who had been created any day. 28:01 Secondly, it says Jesus Christ 28:05 the same yesterday but what? Today. 28:11 So what about Jesus Christ today? 28:14 What does it tell us? What has He done today 28:18 that makes Him different than anyone else? 28:23 Well, to begin with 28:25 it tells us that He took upon Himself 28:30 our form. It says: 28:39 What... we found that out... that He was the Creator. 28:44 That He was with the Father in the beginning 28:46 before the world was ever created. 28:48 That He was in the form of God. 28:50 That He was equal with God, if you please. 29:07 Umm, this is where, as far as I am 29:13 concerned personally, 29:16 I lose all concept 29:22 of what's involved in that. 29:24 It just completely leaves me. 29:28 I... I don't even start 29:30 to comprehend what that verse has to say. 29:34 That He took upon Himself, no reputation, 29:37 "Taking the form of a bondservant 29:40 and coming in the likeness of men. " 29:42 I can't comprehend that. 29:43 It just totally leaves me when I read it. 29:48 'Cause you think about it: 29:51 that He who was from the beginning, 29:55 from everlasting, 29:57 equal with God, 30:01 the Creator, 30:04 would take the form of His creation? 30:09 I can't comprehend that. 30:14 You know? Even... I couldn't even comprehend 30:21 it for Him to take that step. 30:25 But for Him to take the step and become an angel 30:31 maybe... maybe some way. 30:36 But He didn't do that. 30:39 He became a human being. 30:43 Became one of us. 30:47 That means that He became 30:51 lower than the angels. 30:57 Became human. 31:02 The Creator became 31:07 like one of His creations. 31:13 The Creator took... 31:17 took two steps down. 31:24 Would you be willing to do that? 31:27 Can... can you comprehend it? 31:30 I can't. 31:33 Would you take two steps down? 31:37 The next order of life below you would be what? 31:42 Animals. 31:44 Horses, cows, cats, dogs. 31:49 Would you be willing to become one? 31:54 And - don't misunderstand me - not just become one 31:58 for a day. 32:01 Would you be willing to become one for the rest of time? 32:08 But that's one step. 32:12 But he didn't take one step. 32:15 He took two. 32:19 The next order of life below that would be? 32:22 Insects. 32:24 You willing 32:27 to become an ant or a grasshopper? 32:34 And take that form upon you for the rest of time? 32:39 To always be like that? 32:41 I can't comprehend that. 32:45 I can't even start in any way to consider. 32:51 It wouldn't even be a question, 32:55 but that's what He did. 32:58 He took upon Himself the form 33:04 of His creation. 33:05 He became like you and me. 33:10 No one else ever did that. 33:16 No one else. 33:24 Indeed He did! 33:26 And it says "He humbled Himself" 33:28 like none of us would ever, ever, ever 33:34 be required to do. 33:44 Here... here, folks, 33:48 He's leaving... He's leaving all of heaven, 33:55 the glory He had with his Father and everything, 33:57 He's leaving all that and taking two steps down 34:01 and becoming human. 34:04 And we don't... have enough audacity... 34:09 to welcome Him as the King of Kings 34:16 but don't even give Him a place to lie in a manger. 34:22 Humbled Himself. 34:26 "Became obedient... even to the death 34:32 of the cross. " 34:35 Took upon Himself mankind. 35:00 That He just didn't take upon Himself our form 35:04 but He came here willing to die 35:11 for you and for me. 35:13 Now you tell me... now you tell me 35:16 who else has done that. 35:21 We're talking about what makes Him different. 35:23 Who else - willing to leave heaven, willing to leave 35:28 all that and come and face 35:33 what Jesus faced here on this earth. 35:51 He learned obedience by things that He suffered. 35:57 Interesting. 36:03 Has life been hard on you lately? 36:06 Had a rough time? 36:09 Let me tell you something: you never, never, never 36:15 learn obedience or suffering 36:20 in a book. 36:24 That doesn't come in a book. 36:26 Only way you learn obedience 36:29 and suffering is by experience. 36:33 You have to experience it. 36:36 And that's the way we learn. 36:39 And that's the way He learned. 36:41 He came here. Made Himself one of us 36:46 and then faced life just exactly like you and I 36:52 face life. He learned obedience. 36:56 He learned suffering. 36:58 Those were things that He experienced just like we 37:01 must experience it. 37:10 It says: "And having been perfected... " 37:14 that does not say "having been perfect. " 37:17 It says: "having been perfected. " 37:19 That meant day by day He learned through obedience 37:23 and suffering. 37:26 And so you and I must learn 37:31 day by day through obedience and suffering. 37:36 That's how we learn. That's what changes our characters, 37:42 folks. You see, 37:46 He who was from the beginning, 37:50 He who was the Creator, 37:53 He who came to this earth 37:58 and took upon Himself your form and mine 38:00 did that because you... 38:06 because you are lost 38:11 and He had to provide a way back 38:15 if you were going to be saved. 38:17 And so you and I must follow Him 38:22 and follow what He did 38:25 that we, too, might be made new 38:30 and have eternal life. 38:33 This is what He did for us. 38:46 He faced life just exactly like we face it 38:50 in every aspect. 38:55 And so if life's a little rough 38:59 then pick up the Bible. 39:03 Spend some time in it on the life of Jesus. 39:09 And take courage 39:11 'cause He's been there before. 39:14 He's lived it. 39:15 He learned it just like you and I must learn it. 39:19 Granted, at times it will test your faith 39:24 but you will come through much, much better 39:29 and much, much stronger 39:32 because you have walked with Him by faith. 39:37 So nobody else has done that. 39:43 Secondly, His divinity. 39:46 That He not only came to this earth 39:50 as a man like one of us 39:55 but He was also divine. 40:09 Came here as one of us 40:13 but veiled in this human form, 40:18 veiled in this body, 40:20 was One who was also the Son of God. 40:26 It was God. 40:28 Think... You talk about trials. 40:33 You talk about temptation. 40:35 Think about when if in your hand 40:42 lay all the power of the universe. 40:48 That you could speak and it would happen... 40:55 and you can't use it. 41:00 Think about that. 41:03 That you can't use it... 41:05 because part of His coming to this earth 41:09 was the fact that He was to come here 41:13 and live like we must live 41:17 and tempted in all points as we are tempted. 41:20 And therefore as the Son of God 41:25 He could not use that power to overcome 41:29 or to help Himself in any situation. 41:33 Oh, He exercised power as God 41:38 to help you, but never to help Himself. 41:44 This... this is part of the divinity 41:48 that He came here to this earth with. 41:51 That He, indeed, was God. 42:14 "Unto you a child is born. " 42:19 You understand what that's saying? 42:21 That's human. 42:25 "Unto you a child is born. " 42:29 Mary gave birth to Jesus. 42:33 "Unto you a child is born. " 42:36 "Unto you a Son is given. " 42:41 That's divine. 42:43 The Father - God the Father - 42:46 gave us His Son. 42:50 So One is born human. The other is given to us. 42:56 And the One who was given to us 43:01 is equal with the Father. 43:04 He is called Wonderful. 43:07 And oh, indeed, folks, as you look at His life 43:11 indeed He is wonderful. 43:14 No question. Counsellor. 43:16 There is guidance, there is direction, 43:21 there is help with Jesus Christ. 43:25 Oh so often... When you're burdened 43:29 and when you have something that you don't know what to do with 43:32 dear friends, go... go to Christ. 43:37 Go to Him; seek His counsel. 43:39 He'll give you counsel; He'll give you direction. 43:44 He's a Counsellor. 43:47 The Mighty God. 43:50 Do you... do you see Him as the Mighty God? 43:57 Do you realize that there is nothing that He can't do? 44:03 Do you realize that there is no situation 44:08 that you are in that He can't handle? 44:14 That if you and I will just simply turn it over to Him... 44:19 Everlasting Father. 44:22 From the beginning. 44:23 The Prince of Peace. 44:34 This is Jesus, 44:37 the divine Son of God. 44:41 No one else makes that claim. 44:53 This is not something that was forced upon Him. 44:59 This is something that He did of His own choice 45:04 out of love 45:09 for someone in our understanding 45:13 would be equal to an ant. 45:16 Out of love for that 45:19 He gave Himself. 45:23 Freely gave Himself. 45:37 This was not something that anybody forced upon Him. 45:42 This was done out of love for you. 45:59 So He said: "I can lay down My life. 46:02 I can take it again. 46:06 I do this out of the command of My Father. " 46:13 So God - Jesus Christ - came 46:17 and gave His life willingly 46:22 for you and for me. 46:40 Have you read that lately? 46:43 Have you noticed 46:45 "But He was wounded for... " 46:50 Now you ought to emphasize that word OUR... 46:53 "He was wounded for our transgressions. " 46:57 Not His, but ours. 46:59 "He was bruised for OUR iniquities. " 47:02 The things that WE did... this is what brought Him here 47:06 and put Him on the cross. 47:23 He came and He gave His life. 47:29 Now you need to understand, folks, 47:32 that Jesus Christ came and took upon Himself our form. 47:38 And He realized that when He 47:40 did that He took upon Himself 47:42 our form for eternity. 47:45 But He also understood 47:48 when He came here that He would have to die. 47:52 That was clear. 47:54 And as you read through His work with the disciples 47:58 time and time again He told them 48:01 this was what was going to happen. 48:03 They couldn't comprehend it. 48:05 But He told them over and over "I'm going to die. 48:08 This is going to take place. " He understood 48:11 that there could be no salvation 48:14 for anyone without His death. 48:18 Therefore don't let anybody ever tell you 48:23 that salvation can come any other way. 48:28 It cannot come by works. 48:34 Absolutely impossible. If it could come by works, 48:38 He would not have had to die. 48:42 But it could only take place 48:45 as He paid the price for your sins and mine. 48:51 And He willingly did that. 49:03 The thing that makes the difference here, folks, 49:06 is relationship. 49:08 You understand that? 49:10 When we talk about His death, 49:12 it's relationship that makes the difference. 49:15 Like right now here in West Frankfort 49:20 I'm sure in the funeral home 49:23 there's probably somebody laying there dead. 49:27 Doesn't mean anything to you. 49:33 You don't know them... they're laying there. 49:35 They're dead. Doesn't concern you or mean anything to you. 49:41 But if it was your brother laying there, 49:44 would it make a difference? 49:46 What makes the difference? 49:49 Relationship makes the difference. 49:53 He is our Elder Brother. 49:56 Came, became obedient... even to the death of the cross. 50:01 He died for you! 50:03 That's relationship... your Brother dying for you. 50:06 He became one of us... like one of us... 50:09 and died for us. 50:15 I must hurry. 50:16 Jesus Christ... the same yesterday, 50:20 today, and what? Forever. 50:25 What does forever offer? 50:38 I'm talking about what makes Him different. 50:41 Yesterday makes Him different. 50:44 Today makes Him different. 50:45 And dear friend, what the future holds makes Him different 50:50 because He will reign forever and ever. 50:56 He will always be God. 51:09 Jesus comes before Him, and it says: 51:31 He will always be there. His kingdom will last forever. 51:52 So throughout eternity 51:55 what He formerly had with His Father 51:59 before the earth was ever created 52:02 will be reinstated. 52:05 He is definitely different. 52:07 No one else offers these things. 52:10 He alone is God. 52:13 Greater, fairer than anyone else is Jesus Christ. 52:24 Fairest 52:27 Lord Jesus! 52:31 Ruler of all nature, 52:38 O Thou of God 52:44 and man 52:47 the Son! 52:52 Thee will I 52:56 cherish, 53:00 Thee will I 53:03 honor, 53:06 Thou art my glory, 53:11 joy, 53:13 and 53:16 crown! 53:22 Let us pray. 53:24 Heavenly Father, 53:27 as we consider that indeed there is no one else 53:33 like Jesus Christ. 53:37 For He has been from old... 53:41 from everlasting... 53:43 before ever there was an earth. 53:49 He, the Creator of all mankind 53:57 willing to come, Lord, and to lay down His life 54:02 that we each might reach out 54:07 and accept the sacrifice that was made in our behalf. 54:14 As we consider that indeed there is a day soon coming 54:20 in which He is coming back, 54:23 where again He will be Lord of Lords and King of Kings, 54:27 and there will be no longer sin 54:31 but peace and happiness 54:35 throughout all Your universe, 54:38 we ask Lord that each one of us here today 54:43 and all of us that are watching by television 54:45 or listening by radio 54:47 may have the privilege of being in Your kingdom. 54:50 Not because we're worthy... 54:53 indeed, we're not... 54:54 but because we have accepted You as Savior. 55:00 In this we give our hearts and our souls to you. 55:03 Amen. 55:06 Well, remember our next presentation 55:09 is Jesus: Prophet, Priest, and King. 55:13 So we hope all of you will join us again. God bless you. 55:18 Hello, friends. 55:20 In Luke the 12th chapter Jesus tells an interesting story 55:24 of a master who returned home from his wedding 55:28 hoping to find each of his servants eagerly waiting 55:31 to let him in 55:33 no matter what hour of the day or the night. 55:35 This story is about each of us 55:37 who have been bought by His precious blood 55:40 and therefore have become His servants. 55:42 And His hope is that we will faithfully be doing 55:47 the work He assigned while anxiously awaiting His return. 55:52 But this beautiful parable 55:53 has a dark warning as well. 55:56 Luke writes about a break-in that happens 55:59 in the night while the master of the house is fast asleep. 56:03 Under the cover of darkness, 56:05 a thief steals his most precious possession. 56:08 And Jesus goes on to say 56:10 "But know this, that if the master of the house 56:13 had known what hour the thief would come 56:15 he would have watched 56:16 and not allowed his house to be broken into. 56:19 Therefore you also be ready for the Son of Man is coming 56:23 at an hour you do not expect. " 56:25 Friends, none of us know the hour of Christ's second coming. 56:29 To some it may seem like a far-off event. 56:32 But if their life should end today, 56:35 it will feel like only a moment. 56:38 Jesus' message is the same for us today. 56:41 Do all you can to prepare 56:43 and faithfully watch and wait. 56:46 Satan is a thief, and there is nothing he enjoys more 56:51 than stealing our relationship with Jesus. 56:54 He robs us by making us careless and indifferent. 56:58 He tries to distract us from spending time with our Lord 57:01 and to burden us with so much care that we become indifferent 57:05 to those who are suffering 57:07 and those who don't know about our loving Savior. 57:12 As Christians, we are given the great privilege of being 57:16 called the sons and daughters of God. 57:18 But with this privilege comes an awesome responsibility: 57:23 to be faithful servants and to tell others about Jesus. 57:27 Are you being faithful to God? 57:29 Are you ready to give an account of your stewardship? 57:32 Our ministry is geared entirely 57:35 to taking care of those spiritual needs 57:37 of those who watch us all over the world. 57:40 Won't you help us? 57:42 Please consider what you can do 57:43 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 57:46 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:48 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 58:02 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 58:05 through television and radio. 58:07 Your gifts help bring the blessed hope of salvation 58:09 to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17