Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL130017
|
00:01 Hello, friends, grab your Bible and a friend.
00:02 And sit back as we explore God's word together 00:05 on this edition of "House Calls." 00:21 Welcome to another House Calls program. 00:23 Those of you who're tuning in 00:25 whether you're watching from another country 00:27 or right around the corner, 00:29 my name is John and I got my good friend 00:31 John with me here today. Good to have you here, John. 00:32 It's good to be here, once again on the stage. 00:34 I'll tell you people, 00:35 have you noticed that wherever we go people say 00:38 this is one of their favorite program? 00:39 Yeah, it... it is. 00:42 They're affirming constantly 00:44 keep doing the program and so we do. 00:46 You know, it's been-- 00:48 Wow. Eight years. 00:49 Eight years now. Wow. 00:50 That God has been working on this program. 00:52 So that's why we're always excited 00:53 when you come and join us in our living room. 00:56 We may be in your living room or in your church 00:58 but our desire is to be in your heart. 01:00 So get your bibles together, get your friends, 01:02 invite your family and get your pens 01:04 and join us for a very thoughtful hour 01:07 in walking through the Bible together. 01:09 We'll tell you about the topic 01:11 but before we do anything 01:12 we always like to begin with a word of prayer. 01:14 John, would you have prayer for us? 01:15 Let's do that. Dear Father, in heaven. 01:17 We don't want to step on Your held ground 01:20 if you're word without 01:21 asking for Your presence to be here with us. 01:23 And so well, please send Your spirit. 01:25 The spirit of truth to guide and direct our thoughts 01:28 in our hearts to You and to preach and to teach 01:31 and to share the things that are on Your heart, 01:33 for Your people today, 01:34 in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. 01:38 You know, we have a lot of Bible questions 01:39 that this program begins with and John always-- 01:43 is a student in going to the, 01:44 into the internet and downloading them. 01:46 I often deal with the snail mail. 01:48 So don't stop, sending them. 01:49 We do need those. Not everybody has internet. 01:52 It seems strange nowadays to even hear that phrase. 01:55 But some people don't even use the internet. 01:57 Some people chose to stay away from all the electronics. 02:00 They want to be, 02:02 they want to just be normal people. 02:04 And I'm not suggesting that those of us 02:06 who are internet people aren't normal 02:07 but if you have any questions you like to send to us 02:10 you can send them to the following address, 02:12 housecalls @3abn.org. 02:15 That's housecalls@3abn.org. 02:19 And we'll go there and download those questions 02:21 and try our best to answer them. 02:23 And if we do we'll answer them always according to God's word. 02:25 If we have to ever include our opinion 02:28 we will always add a disclaimer. 02:30 This is our opinion but we don't like to do that 02:33 because opinions are really not the foundation of authority. 02:38 Now, John, I know you have a question for us today. 02:40 We each has or have may be two or so questions each. 02:44 So why don't you go ahead and lead 02:45 into our first question for today? 02:46 Yeah, I have got a question from Rudy. 02:48 And he says, "I'm trying to figure out 02:50 how to pray to God in general." Okay. 02:53 Well, I mentioned the holy trinity 02:55 but I don't know how to give recognition to God, the Son, 02:58 God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. 03:01 I know that we pray to our Father in Jesus name 03:04 but that is all. 03:06 I know what I want to say, 03:07 I just don't know what to leave-- 03:09 I don't want to leave any person 03:11 that got head out of my prayers. 03:12 Any suggestions? 03:14 It's a good one. Good question. 03:16 We're going to John 16 here. 03:18 We're gonna see what Jesus says. Okay. 03:19 Encourage His disciples to do when the matter of prayer. 03:23 This comes after His encouraging them 03:27 to pray to the Father. All right. 03:29 Because you remember the Lord's Prayer 03:31 starts with our Father 03:32 which art in heaven? That's right. 03:34 And so that was how He taught them how to pray. 03:36 But here is where He really explains, 03:39 why you're praying in Jesus name. 03:41 Why you're praying to the Father 03:43 and the whole motive behind it. 03:44 And I think this might help Rudy in his approach to prayer. 03:48 It says in verse 24 John 16, 03:51 "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. 03:55 Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." 03:58 So He is saying "ask in my name." 04:00 And John it isn't a name that is just, 04:03 we throw out there somehow to give our prayers credibility. 04:07 He is talking about the authority behind the name. 04:09 That's right. That's right. 04:11 Jesus is the authority in which we come to the Lord 04:15 the Father, in prayer. That's right. 04:17 And so when we ask His name, 04:18 we're asking not only for His sake, 04:20 for His benefit but in His authority. 04:22 Because, He asked us to pray in His name 04:24 and come in the righteousness of Christ. 04:28 And so then he goes on verse 25, 04:30 "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language, 04:33 but the time is coming 04:34 when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, 04:37 but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 04:40 In that day you will ask in My name, 04:44 and I do not say to you 04:46 that I shall pray the Father for you." 04:49 Now it's interesting there. 04:51 He doesn't say and I say I'll pray the Father for you. 04:54 He says, I do not say that I will pray the Father for you. 04:57 In other words, when you're praying in My name, 05:00 you're not asking Me to go 05:02 and take that prayer to your Father. 05:05 You-- I want you to take that prayer to the Father directly. 05:09 And here is why we know that. 05:10 Look at verse 27. 05:12 "For the Father Himself loves you, 05:15 because you have loved Me, 05:16 and have believed that I came forth from God." 05:18 In other words, when you pray, "Our Father who art in heaven" 05:21 know that you're in the audience chamber 05:23 of your Father and you come in My name 05:26 and My righteousness, in My authority 05:29 which gives you the right to be there. 05:31 But it doesn't mean that I'm taking your prayers 05:33 mixing them up and will pray for you. 05:36 Now this doesn't mean that Jesus doesn't pray for us 05:38 because I believe He does pray for us. 05:41 But what He is trying to say here is 05:43 when you say our Father know 05:44 that your prayers are been heard directly by the Father. 05:47 Right. Okay. 05:49 And so this is an important thing 05:50 because as you're praying 05:52 the Father who is the first person of the Godhead 05:55 is one that we want to make sure 05:59 that we're connected with. 06:00 And Jesus clearly is teaching that here. 06:03 But nowhere in the Bible does it say that 06:04 we need to be recognizing 06:06 necessarily everyone of the Godhead, 06:10 our Father, and Jesus and Holy Spirit. 06:14 Jesus is basically saying here, "Go to the Father. 06:17 Pray to him directly." 06:19 Now in prayers as you're talking to God, 06:21 as you're talking to a friend many times, 06:25 you do mention Jesus. 06:26 I'm thankful for you, you're for Jesus. 06:28 Please send Jesus and the power of His presence in my life. 06:30 And I need to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. 06:32 Send the Holy Spirit into my life. 06:34 All these things we should be praying for. 06:37 But Jesus is asking us to pray to the Father. 06:39 Now I don't believe this is necessarily, 06:42 John, a exact prescription. 06:46 As if we, if we don't say the right words 06:50 the Father will just close His ears 06:51 and not hear. Right. 06:52 That's not what's happening. 06:54 He loves us, He is open to our approach 06:57 in anyway we approach Him. 07:00 What He is asking us, what He is telling us here in the word is, 07:03 when you do come before the Father, 07:05 you are coming in My authority trusting Me 07:08 and I want you to know that the Father himself receives you, 07:11 pray directly to him. Right. 07:13 And that's just what He is encouraging us to do. 07:14 And I want to encourage Rudy 07:16 don't be so worried about making sure 07:18 you're recognized by name each one of the Godhead. 07:21 Go directly to the Father. Pour out your heart to Him. 07:24 Pray in Christ name because in His authority 07:27 by which you approach the Father on His throne 07:30 and then don't worry about that. 07:31 Leave that up to God, the results up to God 07:33 when it comes to your prayers. 07:35 And John, I want to add a couple of components to that. 07:39 We don't have any authority of our own. 07:42 So when the Bible says in John 14, 07:45 I know you're reading John 16 07:47 but in John 14 when the Lord says in John 14:6, 07:52 when He says here "I am the way, 07:55 the truth, and the life. 07:57 No one comes to the Father except through Me." 08:01 And you couple that with John where he says, 08:06 whatever you ask in My name the father hears you. 08:10 Because we have to keep in mind that 08:15 this middle wall of partition 08:17 which was something that the Jews didn't recognize 08:21 that's why John 14 was so significant. 08:23 He says, you believe in the Father 08:25 believe also in Me. 08:27 And today in our world you can see that 08:29 there're lot of people that say, 08:30 well I just give you an example. 08:32 There is rapper called KRS1 08:35 and I have been doing this research in a cult industry. 08:38 And he says, I believe I could go directly to the Father. 08:41 I don't have to go through anybody, 08:43 through any other person, through any others, 08:46 through any other medium. 08:48 And what he is doing in essence there 08:50 which is what Jesus, 08:52 which is what Jesus discouraged the Jews from doing was-- 08:55 ignoring His authority. 08:57 If you believe in God, yeah, you do. 08:59 But believe also in Me. Right. 09:02 Because there is one mediator 09:03 between God and man, man the Christ Jesus. 09:06 So when we pray we say in Jesus name. 09:10 That's why we always say it that way 09:11 because we're recognizing that not only 09:14 when I just recognizing the Father, 09:15 we're recognizing His Son also. 09:17 We can't come to the Father in prayer 09:19 without Jesus paving the way. 09:20 Right. Absolutely. 09:21 And so when we pray because this is-- 09:24 I like to go to also Romans 8. Look at Romans 8. 09:27 We often, read Romans 8:28, where it says, 09:30 "We know all things work together for good 09:31 those who love God." 09:32 But there's a lead into that that we often miss 09:36 when it comes to prayer. 09:37 Look at Romans 8:26. 09:40 It says, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. 09:47 For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought." 09:52 But this is where the spirit comes in. 09:54 "But the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us 09:58 with groanings which cannot be uttered." 10:01 Let me read verse 27 10:03 and then you'll see the context of verse 28. 10:06 "Now He who searches" the heart or "the hearts 10:09 knows what the mind of the Spirit is." 10:12 Who is the one searching the hearts? 10:13 "The Father is. Get this. 10:15 "He who searches the hearts knows 10:17 what the mind of the spirit is, 10:18 because He makes intercession for the saints 10:21 according to the will of God." 10:22 So you have in this one passage of the Father, 10:24 you've the son, you've the Holy Spirit 10:26 searching the heart, the Lord who is the one that 10:29 is making intercession between us and the Father 10:32 and the spirit is now helping our weaknesses 10:34 and bringing that before the Lord. 10:36 So what's happening is when people say 10:37 well, how should I pray? 10:39 This was the significant thing 10:40 because the disciples themselves 10:42 who were chosen by God didn't know how to pray. 10:45 And when he began that prayer he said. 10:46 Okay, here we go. 10:48 Our Father which art in heaven. 10:51 And then-- so they knew that 10:53 okay, well, our prayers are going to the prayer. 10:56 But he says that ah, but don't forget 10:57 you believe in God believe also in Me. 11:00 He has a second component. 11:01 But the one who actually takes our prayers 11:03 as the Bible says here in this verse in verse 26. 11:06 Sometimes we pray and we don't know 11:08 what we're really even praying. 11:10 You know, we'll say like a child 11:12 we'll come to a prayer and say, 11:14 mom, dad, and you sit there and let them go ahead. 11:20 Go ahead-- okay I'm following you 11:22 and then whey they have stumbled 11:23 their way though their request, 11:25 you'll say, I know actually what you're saying 11:26 is you want to borrow the car keys right. 11:29 Yes, that's what I'm saying. 11:30 And so at the same way 11:31 sometimes we come before the Father 11:34 and we pray as James adds components to this. 11:36 He says, sometimes we pray and sometimes we ask a miss. 11:40 We're asking for a request 11:41 so that we may waste it on our own selves. 11:44 So the Lord, that's what he says, 11:46 God will supply all of our need 11:48 according to His riches and glory. 11:49 So in a nutshell yes, we're praying directly to the Father 11:53 but the Spirit takes that prayer 11:54 that infirmity, that weakness of our prayer 11:57 and makes it acceptable before the Father 11:59 and the one who searches our hearts 12:01 continues to mediate before the Father 12:03 in behalf of that fledgling saint 12:05 who just sent up a prayer before the Lord. Yeah. 12:08 And you know what's wonderful about that? 12:09 In Peter's life we saw the example 12:11 of how God response to prayers. 12:13 Lord, save me. It's directly to the point. 12:16 Instantly the answer was given. 12:18 So-- 12:19 Well there is some who make an issue out 12:21 of how to pray exactly. Right. 12:23 And I think the point 12:25 that we're both trying to make here is 12:27 that there is a love that comes from them. 12:29 There is work that each one of them are involved with 12:32 when it comes to communication between man and God. Right. 12:36 Well, our prayers are going I mean, directly to the Father. 12:40 Jesus has a very-- a key role 12:43 in allowing those to prayers to be acceptable. 12:45 The Holy Spirit has a key role 12:46 and helping us in understand what we should pray for 12:49 and making those prayers acceptable to God 12:51 and clarifying those to God. 12:52 So in every respect they all do something 12:56 but nowhere do we find a scripture 12:58 that there is a specific prescription that you-- 13:01 the words you have to say to get prayer to acceptable. 13:03 Right, and that's the key. 13:05 And that's really the key that we're trying to make here 13:08 and I want Rudy to make sure that 13:10 at least Rudy is not confused by that. 13:12 Because I can see there is some concern here is 13:14 to whether or not my prayers are being heard. 13:15 That was the key. And pray the Father. 13:18 Pray in Christ name in His authority 13:19 He presents you to them. 13:21 Trust in the Holy Spirit working in your heart 13:23 and working through those prayers and the Lord. 13:26 Your Father will hear you. Yeah, that's right. 13:28 Because there are some people that are not even-- 13:30 so there is a young lady. 13:31 Let me give you just this example. 13:32 There was a young lady we met over 13:35 in Australia an Asian young lady. 13:38 At that particular point she came from an atheist home. 13:41 She did not know how to pray. 13:43 You know, how she learned how to pray? 13:44 She said, she learned how to pray 13:45 by watching the Simpsons. 13:48 Now this is strange 13:49 but I'm using that as an example. 13:51 She didn't know about-- 13:53 okay in Jesus name and the Holy Spirit. 13:55 All that was not even in her thought pattern. 13:58 But her prayer was simply this. 14:00 God, if You exist 14:02 may be you could answer my prayer like you answered 14:05 the little girl and the Simpsons. 14:07 Because they showed an example 14:08 where the little girl knelt down at her bed 14:10 and prayed in the snow and prayed again it rained. 14:13 And she says, wow. 14:14 If God could answer her prayer may be He could answer mine. 14:17 So God, if You exist here is what I'm asking. 14:21 It wasn't the Jesus name, it wasn't in the-- 14:23 and the Lord heard her and guided her 14:26 and she is strong Christian now today. 14:30 So God is not saying 14:31 okay, you know, I would have heard your prayer 14:33 but you didn't follow the pattern. Yeah. 14:36 That's what you're saying. Yeah, yeah. 14:37 God is not saying 14:39 go learn the pattern and then I'll hear you. 14:41 That's not what God is saying. 14:42 And praise the Lord for that. 14:44 The confidence to come boldly before the throne of grace 14:47 is what the Lord wants from each one of us. 14:49 Here is another one. 14:51 Well, I'll tell you. This is about the judgment. 14:56 And thank you for this, Harry. 15:00 Thank you for this question. 15:02 According to "We Believe" 15:04 that is the STA book called "We Believe." 15:09 The redeemed will investigate the lives of the lost. 15:14 However in the section dealing with the heavenly sanctuary 15:18 it indicates that both 15:20 the righteous and the unrighteous 15:21 are both judged before Jesus returns. 15:25 Okay, let first start with that one. 15:27 The judgment, talking about the judgment. 15:30 Let's go to the Book of 2 Corinthians 5:10 first. 15:36 2 Corinthians 5:10. 15:40 I'm glad you asked this question 15:41 because there are couples of topics 15:43 that are not talked about very much nowadays 15:45 and one is the judgment. 15:47 People often say, well, you know, 15:49 when Lord comes there's going to be 15:50 the great white throne judgment. 15:52 Yes, the Bible teaches that in the Book of Revelation. 15:54 But this topic is not something 15:56 you find preached very much or talked about very much 15:58 because for whatever reason 16:00 I can't even begin to suppose what the reasons it might be. 16:03 You know, because judgment has negative connotation today. 16:06 They don't really see positive sides in judgment too. 16:09 With the phrase people say, don't judge me. Yeah. 16:11 Its kind of like judgment is always seen 16:13 as a terrible negative thing. 16:14 That's, that could be one of the reasons. 16:16 But in 2 Corinthians 5:10 let's go and begin there. 16:20 Where the Bible says, "For we must all appear 16:25 before the judgment seat of Christ, 16:29 that each one may receive the things done in the body, 16:32 according to what he has done, 16:34 whether good or evil." 16:36 You find the very same teaching repeated 16:40 in the Book of Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. 16:43 You know, everything will come into judgment before God 16:47 with every secret thing 16:48 whether it be good or whether it be evil. 16:50 Yes, but the difference I think 16:52 the question that is being asked here is, 16:54 if the righteous and the wicked are going to be judged 16:57 before the Lord comes 16:58 what need is there for a judgment 17:01 through the one thousand years. 17:04 Which Paul's, has talked about. 17:05 He says, do you know-- 17:06 do you not know that saints, 17:08 the saints will judge the angels. 17:11 And if in fact they could do that 17:13 are they not worthy of judging in the smallest matters of men. 17:16 Well, the judgment has talked about there 17:18 and if you go to Revelation Chapter 22, 17:20 let's go ahead and show you 17:21 that this judgment that is talked about here 17:25 culminates in a decision made 17:28 in Revelation Chapter 22. 17:31 Revelation Chapter 22. 17:33 And John, why don't you read verse 11 for us? 17:36 Revelation 22:11. 17:39 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still, 17:43 he who is filthy, let him be filthy still, 17:45 he who is righteous, let him be righteous still, 17:48 and he who is holy, let him be holy still." Okay. 17:51 So this judgment that John just read about 17:53 that's pretty much of the verdict. 17:55 The righteous, the unrighteous, 17:58 the holy, the filthy. 18:01 Those are the two decisions that are being made. 18:03 So everyone is going to be in one of those two categories. 18:07 Now those who are in the holy and righteous category 18:11 when the Lord comes they would have been sealed 18:14 and their judgment is over. 18:17 Now they receive their reward, 18:19 because the very next verse 18:20 in verse 12 of Revelation Chapter 22. 18:23 It says, "And behold, I am coming quickly, 18:25 and My reward is with Me, 18:26 to give to every one according to his works." 18:29 So now the question is, 18:34 how do we determine who receives what reward? 18:37 Well, it's obvious what the reward of the righteous is 18:39 because in Matthew Chapter 25, 18:41 the Lord says, as His angels goes and gathers the sheep. 18:46 And gathers the elect, 18:48 He says come you're blessed of my Father 18:50 inherit the kingdom prepared for you 18:52 from the foundation world. 18:54 So that is clear they get to inherit the kingdom 18:57 but what about the other group. 18:58 What do they get to inherit? 18:59 What's actually happening there? 19:01 Revelation Chapter 20, go there. 19:03 Revelation 20 and here is that second judgment 19:07 that's talked about. All right. 19:10 Revelation 20:11-15. 19:14 "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, 19:18 from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. 19:21 And there was found no place for them." 19:24 And the for them, let's, keep going. 19:27 "And I saw the dead, 19:28 small and great, standing before God, 19:32 and books were opened. 19:34 And another book was opened, 19:36 which is the Book of Life. 19:38 And the dead were judged according to their works, 19:42 by the things which were written in the books. 19:46 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, 19:48 and Death and Hades" or hell 19:50 "delivered up the dead who were in them. 19:53 And they were judged, each one according to his works. 19:57 And Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. 20:00 This is the second death. 20:01 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life 20:04 was cast into the lake of fire." 20:07 So now let's look at both of appointments. 20:09 Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom. 20:11 That's what those who are righteous can only receive 20:13 but also a filthy and unrighteous 20:15 receive the lake of fire. 20:17 That's the second death. 20:19 That's why Revelation Chapter 20 20:20 the very same chapter and verse 6 says. 20:23 "Blessed and holy is he who has part 20:26 in the first resurrection. 20:27 Over such the second death has no power, 20:31 but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, 20:34 and shall reign with Him a thousand years." 20:37 So the righteous are there. 20:39 When the Lord returns the righteous ascend 20:41 to go to be with the Lord for a thousand years. 20:44 But sin has not yet been fully eradicated. 20:47 Because there is now at the end of the thousand years 20:50 the second group is resurrected. 20:52 That's a resurrection of condemnation. 20:54 John 5:28, 29. "Shall come forth, 20:59 they have done good to the resurrection of life, 21:02 and those who have done evil, 21:03 to the resurrection of condemnation." 21:05 So this is now resurrection that's talked about here 21:07 is the resurrection of condemnation. 21:10 You know, our court system in the United States is very-- 21:14 it, it I think is a good example of what we're seeing here 21:17 because, there are two kinds of judgment. That's right. 21:20 There is a pronouncement of guilt or innocence. 21:23 Okay, that's the first judgment 21:26 and then there is they're brought back 21:27 at later date for sentencing. That's right. 21:30 And there is a second judgment 21:31 that occurs there. There you go. 21:32 And that judgment which is the sentencing parallels 21:36 what you just read from Revelation Chapter 20. 21:39 That's right Verse 11-15. 21:42 And so this is the sentencing pronounced upon those 21:44 that are already declared guilty. That's right. 21:47 And here is how we-- one of the reasons we know that 21:49 if you look and read very carefully verse 12. Okay. 21:53 Where it says, "And the books were opened." 21:55 That's the books plural. That's right. 21:58 And then it says "Another book was opened" singular 22:01 "which is the book of life" 22:03 but then "the dead were judged according to their works 22:05 by the things written in the books." 22:06 Plural. That's right. 22:08 You heard the statement, I can read you like a book. 22:11 Yeah, okay. 22:12 We each have a book of records for us. That's right. 22:15 Those that book of record is opened and assessed 22:19 and sentencing is pronounced based upon 22:21 what you have done in that book of record. 22:25 Now fortunately, for the righteous, 22:27 when that book of record is opened 22:30 what God sees is Jesus. 22:32 Which is wonderful 22:33 because we cannot stand in our own works. 22:37 There is nothing we can do that deserves 22:39 a righteous judgment. That's right. 22:41 So Jesus has written all over our book. 22:43 But with these books Jesus is not there 22:45 and so they were judged 22:47 according to the things written in the books, plural. 22:49 Each had a book, a book that kept records of their life 22:54 and then sentencing 22:55 was pronounced according to that 22:57 and they were thrown into the lake of fire. 22:59 And I think sometimes we try too hard 23:04 and we make this so convoluted, John, 23:07 that it just confuses people and people give up. It's true. 23:09 But I think we have a very simple system 23:11 even within United States and many other countries 23:13 have the same thing where 23:16 from the very beginning to the very end 23:19 which is sentencing and then and then punishment 23:22 we find a very similar a great parallels 23:26 with the biblical view of judgment of the process. 23:31 And that's just part of it. 23:32 I wish we--if we did something on the judgment 23:34 I go into all the rest of it. Oh, I'll tell you. 23:36 And we have to do a program on that. 23:38 This is a powerful topic 23:39 because the facets of the judgment 23:41 should give us confidence and courage 23:44 for those of us who know the Lord 23:45 and have given our lives. 23:47 That as John says, that we may have boldness 23:49 in the Day of Judgment not fear. 23:52 Perfect love casts out fear. 23:53 We just gonna and add a couple of more-- 23:55 John pointed out book and books. 23:58 Look at one of the reasons why those who are in heaven 24:02 they also have books written about their lives. 24:06 And just lets me, go ahead and even go further. 24:09 John's life, my life all the things 24:11 that we've done wrong were recorded. That's right. 24:14 But what made the difference. 24:15 Look at Acts Chapter 3, 24:17 Acts Chapter 3 and look at-- 24:23 Acts 3:19 here it is. Notice, what it says. 24:27 In matter of fact just a change of tone it says, 24:30 "Repent therefore and be converted, 24:34 that your sins may be blotted out, 24:38 so that times of refreshing 24:41 may come from the presence of the Lord." 24:44 So what is that saying? 24:45 Not that your sins will be covered up but what? 24:49 Blotted out. 24:50 So you open my book, 24:51 you open John's book in the judgment 24:53 what do you see? Where are the sins? 24:57 How were they blotted out? Jesus. 24:59 By the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 12:11. 25:02 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. 25:06 So where my sin used to be the blood of the Lamb 25:10 figuratively speaking, literally He shed His blood for us 25:13 but that's why my sins were blotted out. 25:17 Transferred yes, to my books 25:19 but the when the time came to read my record, 25:21 where are the sins. Blotted out. 25:23 And my name was written in the book of Life. 25:25 One last one, look at Psalm 69:27, 28. 25:29 Because David the Psalm here talks about the other group. 25:32 He talks about the persecution he faced 25:35 but notice what he says. 25:37 Psalm 69:27, verse 26 to 28, okay. 25:45 He says, "For they persecuted-- 25:48 for they persecute him whom you have struck, 25:52 and talk of the grief of those you have wounded." 25:56 And notice what David says. 25:58 "Add iniquity to their iniquity, 26:01 and let them not come into your righteousness. 26:06 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, 26:11 and not be written with the righteous." 26:14 And that's what you're talking about there. 26:15 And that book there is the book of life. 26:17 There you go. Their names are blotted out of. 26:19 That's right. So-- 26:20 And don't let their names be written with the righteous. 26:23 That's the book of life and that's what Revelation says, 26:25 "Whoever is not found written in that book 26:28 will be cast into lake of fire." 26:30 Wow. Good. 26:31 You want to go on or just kind of wind up here 26:32 and just going to our topic. 26:34 This one is going to be I think fair enough for it. 26:37 Turn to 1 Corinthians 11. Okay. 26:40 1 Corinthians 11, a passage often used by pastors 26:43 and those leading out in communion services. 26:45 Oh, yeah. 26:48 Now the question is asked and this is from, 26:53 he doesn't give his name. 26:54 He says, could you explain these verses 26:57 and who is unworthy to take communion? Okay. 27:00 Okay, so we're going to read 1 Corinthians-- 27:04 11:24. 27:08 And-- 27:09 Verse 24, whoever eats in an unworthy manner. 27:13 Verse 27. 27:14 Yes, so we're going to start with-- 27:17 well, this is essentially Paul is iterating what Jesus said. 27:22 Repeating what He said at the table 27:23 in regards to communion. 27:25 And He says there in verse 25. 27:27 "In the same manner He also took the cup, 27:30 after supper, saying, 27:31 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, 27:33 this do, as often as you drink it, 27:34 in remembrance of me.' 27:35 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, 27:37 you may proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27:41 Therefore whoever eats this bread 27:42 or drinks this cup of the Lord 27:44 in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body 27:48 and blood of the Lord." 27:50 Now contextually we need to add verse 28. 27:52 "But let a man examine himself, 27:55 and so let him eat of the bread 27:56 and drink of the cup" and then "for he who eats 28:00 and drinks in an unworthy manner" 28:02 there is again "eats and drinks judgment to himself, 28:05 not discerning the Lord's body." 28:07 So essentially here don't take lightly 28:10 communion number one. That's right. 28:12 Number two, there is always is a need for self examination. 28:15 I mean, any think we do and it's not just communion. 28:18 It is in how we worship God and how we serve Him, 28:21 and how we give offering to Him. 28:23 In fact there is another passage here, 28:25 in fact if you can go to Matthew 5 28:27 around verse 20-21. All right. 28:30 I think it has a connection in with this. 28:33 But anyway, anything we do, 28:35 we need to do with a pure heart. 28:36 And so it requires self examination. 28:38 You know, I say often in churches 28:42 and I've said this through my last several 28:44 churches that I pastored. 28:47 We often we tend to judge others 28:50 and extent mercy to ourselves. 28:53 And we need to reverse it. Right. 28:55 If really the Lord calls us to reverse 28:57 that we are to judge ourselves and extend mercy to others. 29:01 And if we follow those principles 29:03 there will be lot less finger pointing going on. 29:05 And so He is essentially saying examine yourself. 29:07 Judge yourself to see if you are worthy at this moment 29:10 to partake of communion. That's right. 29:13 And if you read that passage from Matthew 5:20-22. 29:17 Okay I will read 20 and 21. Okay. 29:21 "For I say to you, 29:22 that unless your righteousness exceeds 29:25 the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, 29:28 you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 29:30 You have heard that it was said to those of old, 29:32 'You shall not murder, 29:33 and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. 29:38 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother 29:40 without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. 29:43 And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' 29:45 shall be in danger of the council. 29:47 But whoever says, 'You fool!' 29:49 shall be in danger of hell fire." 29:51 Well, all danger there. 29:52 And the whole point that's being brought out here is, 29:55 be careful because the judgment 29:56 is something that you must face. 29:58 The judgment is something that must give an account in 30:01 for your actions and activities. 30:04 And I believe it says in there that first leave your gift. 30:10 Look at verse 24. Well first of all the 23. 30:13 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, 30:16 and there remember that your brother 30:17 has something against you, leave your gift there 30:20 before the altar, and go your way. 30:23 First be reconciled to your brother, 30:25 and then come and offer your gift." 30:27 Because before you do anything 30:29 out of worship which includes giving, 30:31 singing and communion and prayer 30:34 and all these things make sure you reconciled 30:37 with those around you in your relationships. 30:40 Especially, those within the church. That's right. 30:43 And it's so important to do that 30:45 that if you come even with the gift don't give it yet, 30:47 go reconcile first and then come. 30:50 And I think although there is not a direct parallel 30:52 to communion here the principle is very much the same. 30:55 We are unworthy to partake off communion 30:57 if we know right there before we partake of it 30:59 that there is someone we have something against. 31:03 Who have something against us, 31:04 reconciliation needs to happen first. That's right. 31:07 Don't ask God to forgive us 31:08 if we're not willing to forgive somebody else. 31:10 I just but I just recently 31:12 that a sermon on the communion service 31:14 and why Jesus washed the feet of the disciple 31:18 and the lesson was, until we are willing 31:20 to participate in the lower blessing 31:23 we will not be worthy to receive the higher blessing. 31:26 You see, Jesus was willing 31:28 to participate in the lower blessing 31:30 kneeling and washing someone's feet, 31:32 therefore He was worthy of the higher blessing. 31:35 And that's why the Bible says in Revelation 4 and 5, 31:37 you alone are worthy and unless we are willing 31:40 to participate in the lower blessing 31:42 we will never be able 31:43 to partake off the higher blessing. 31:45 And what a thing it was. 31:46 But I think that's gonna be it for our questions today. 31:50 We may have activated a thought in your mind 31:52 about a question or may be a question came up 31:54 that you'd like to submit to us. 31:56 If that in fact is the case send it to the following email, 31:59 housecalls @3abn.org that's housecalls@3abn.org 32:04 and we'll download those questions 32:06 and respond to the topic as soon as we can. 32:10 Thank you, so much for all you do 32:12 for this network and this program. 32:14 Share with your friends 32:15 if you want to get people involved 32:17 in a solid Bible program this is it. 32:20 We do appreciate that. 32:21 Now, John, we're gonna talk about resurrection today. 32:24 I want to lead you. 32:25 Yeah, because I know you have experience recently. 32:26 Oh I tell you. 32:27 That kind of prompted a need to go into this topic. 32:30 So tell us about that. 32:31 The resurrection, we talked about a titled of a book, 32:35 funerals and what? 32:37 Funerals and false doctrines. Funerals and false doctrines. 32:40 Do you know that more I want to be kind here? 32:44 But that's not a book it's out. It's not out yet. 32:46 But it's a book that we think should be out. 32:47 It should be out. 32:49 And so we're gonna write that one. 32:50 We're gonna put that together it could be fairly easy 32:53 but more lies 33:00 are told at funerals than any other service held 33:04 in a Christian church. 33:06 More untruths are told at funerals than any place else. 33:13 Matter of fact I think we were talking about this 33:14 when we talked about this off the air. 33:17 John said why is it that no matter 33:20 who dies what happens to them. 33:22 Everybody is in heaven. Everybody goes to heaven. 33:25 It says like car accident, 33:29 whether they lived right or didn't live right, 33:31 everyone seems to be assigned instantly to heaven. 33:36 I was at a funeral recently 33:38 and I did all I could to sit there 33:41 out of complete respect for the family 33:42 that's one of the reason I remain silent. 33:46 But the minister says on the authority of God's word 33:50 so and so is in heaven right now 33:54 in the presence of the Lord. 33:56 And I thought okay for to go I could feel it coming on. 34:01 And you know what is sad 34:03 and as may be light hearted 34:04 as I am presenting this thought right now 34:06 it's a real travesty. 34:09 This lie that Satan told that people don't really die 34:13 but they continue to go on and live. 34:16 You know you will surely die or Genesis Chapter 3, 34:19 you will not surely die. 34:21 Genesis 3:4, 34:23 when Satan told that lie to Eve 34:25 it is caught on and preachers today 34:28 have omitted some of the-- 34:30 one of the most important teachings 34:32 in the Bible the resurrection. 34:34 It's like there won't be any resurrection. 34:36 We don't need one because we just go. 34:39 You're on your way. 34:40 You know, it also is a peace in safety message. 34:43 You know, if you keep hearing enough 34:45 that everybody is there you're going to think, 34:47 well, when I die I'm going to there. 34:49 I'm there. 34:50 So I don't have to worry about much. 34:52 And not that we're supposed to be worrying 34:54 but I'll tell you it's-- there is definitely an agenda 34:57 that Satan has behind that message that, 35:00 well, when you die you're going to be there. 35:03 In fact some 35:05 may be it's just political correctness if something be. 35:07 Can you imagine being at a funeral 35:10 with somebody that has recently died 35:12 may be an awful death 35:13 and in some kind of I won't even name the kind of sin 35:17 but let's say it's just some horrific sin or something. 35:20 Can you imagine that 35:21 the pastor standing up there in front of the church saying, 35:25 well, Fred is in hell burning right now 35:29 and if we could just go there we would hear him screaming? 35:32 Can you imagine that? 35:33 I mean, that's never been done in the funeral. 35:36 But the reality is, the reality is 35:39 that if you have to go somewhere right away 35:43 some are going there. 35:44 Right if-- 35:46 If the truth is you go somewhere right away 35:49 not everybody would go to heaven. 35:50 Some would be going somewhere else. That's right. 35:52 The truth is not that anybody goes anywhere right away 35:56 and that we will look at 35:57 in this topic called the 'Resurrection.' 35:59 We titled the 'Resurrection' here for today. 36:01 And the other thing is that 36:02 as I was getting ready this morning 36:04 to come to do this program. 36:07 I like to watch the news. 36:08 I was like to begin the date to watch the news 36:10 and there is this program, 36:12 there is this lady called the Long Island Medium. 36:16 Have you heard about her? 36:18 Okay, she is from Long Island, New York. 36:22 I'm a New Yorker so I could use that kind of accent. 36:27 And she is a medium 36:30 who say she has the ability to talk to the dead. 36:33 She can communicate with anybody's-- 36:36 anybody who died or anyone's loved one 36:38 who has as she says gone on? 36:42 That's why when we sing songs have gone on before 36:45 or and then in the Egyptology 36:48 they use to believe that the dead people cross the river. 36:50 That's why--and that has been built into the song. 36:53 You know, "And then one day, 36:55 I will cross that river, 36:56 I'll fight life's final war with pain." 36:58 That's where that whole concept came from. 37:01 It's an Egyptian cultic believe. 37:03 That's why when those pharoses were buried 37:05 they were buried with their boats. 37:07 So they could, there their servants-- 37:09 they were buried with the servants and their boats 37:11 so that they could row him across the river, 37:13 across the river and he has life somewhere else. 37:16 That's why they were buried with all their treasures. 37:18 But this Long Island Medium 37:20 there is a new book out now called, 37:24 that's not all "That's not all there is to Life." 37:29 And she talks about all these dead people 37:31 that she spoke to afterwards 37:33 and they pose the question on the news 37:35 as she was sitting on the restaurant 37:37 going from table to table telling people about 37:39 particular features about their dead loved ones. 37:41 Did your husband wear a hat? 37:43 Did you stroke your father's hair the day he died? 37:45 Did you-- and forgetting the fact that 37:47 somebody say well before you tried to discount this gift 37:52 how could she know that. Yeah. 37:56 How could she know that? 37:58 The devil who has been around, 38:00 who is the deceiver, 38:03 who began his artistic work of deception 38:05 in the Garden of Eden, 38:06 the devil who is referred to as one who can conjure 38:10 familiar spirits from which we get the word family 38:14 is the one giving here all this information. 38:16 And the Bible has warned us repeatedly. 38:20 Matter of fact I want to begin this topic 38:21 with the text that's not on this page. 38:23 Let's go to Isaiah, Isaiah 8. 38:26 Showing you Isaiah 8. 38:29 And not only-- I think we're gonna have 38:31 more than one program with this. 38:33 But lot times we read Isaiah 8:20 38:38 and we say, okay. 38:40 "To the law and to the testimony!" 38:41 But go ahead and read verse 19 for me, John. 38:45 Okay. Isaiah 8:19. 38:48 And then 20. 38:49 "And when they say to you, 38:51 "Seek those who are mediums and wizards." 38:53 Okay pause, stop right there. 38:55 Long Island Medium. Right. 38:57 Don't go after them. Go ahead. 38:58 When they say-- 38:59 "When they say seek them who whisper and mutter, 39:03 should not a people seek their God? 39:06 Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 39:09 To the law and to the testimony! 39:12 If they do not speak according to this word, 39:15 it is because there is no light in them." 39:17 Okay how much light? 39:19 None. None. 39:20 So should we seek wizards and mediums? 39:24 Should we seek the dead on behalf of the living? 39:29 One of the reasons why this text is so significant here is 39:31 because wizards and mediums were the ones 39:34 that had connections with evil spirits. 39:39 The example of Saul, 39:41 when he went to the witch of Endor 39:43 who was a medium 39:45 and she conjured up the prophet 39:47 and Samuel conjured up the spirit. 39:52 And the Bible says, Samuel being a righteous man 39:54 showing you that he is dying and going to heaven 39:57 stuff that's its just not really true. 39:59 This witch knew right away. 40:01 She says, do you not know what Saul has said 40:03 concerning witches and mediums? 40:05 How we'll be destroyed, how we can be killed? 40:08 But it was Saul himself 40:09 seeking after this witch of Endor. 40:12 From which we get endurer and bewitched. 40:15 You know the whole thing nowadays. 40:17 And so this spirit was conjured up 40:21 and the spirit spoke judgment on the King Saul. 40:25 And King Saul his life not too long 40:27 after that his life ended. 40:29 And the reality of this is people discount the idea 40:32 that evil angels had been around 40:35 for thousands of years. 40:37 And somebody say, well, how can anyone know this? 40:39 These evil angels are familiar with the, 40:43 with the workings of our lives 40:45 and they communicate that to their people. 40:48 Now get this, what's a medium? 40:50 To think about a medium. To go between. 40:52 Okay perfect. Go between who? 40:55 Between Satan and humanity. 40:58 A medium is a person 41:00 that's between Satan and humanity. 41:03 That's why they do their bidding. 41:05 That's why they're talking about these topics 41:07 and here is the danger. 41:09 If preachers teach that people die 41:12 and go right to heaven 41:13 they make perfect room for these mediums. 41:16 They got a job. 41:17 So now the preacher teaches that they're alive in heaven 41:20 the medium comes along and it says 41:21 okay, I can contact them now. 41:23 That's why this is a satanic topic 41:25 that has discount of the fact 41:27 that we are not alive when we die 41:29 and there is secondly going to be resurrection. 41:32 And there's two reasons 41:33 why God specifically instructed us 41:37 to not communicate through mediums with the dead. 41:40 Number one, because He knows 41:44 if that is the devils opened door. That's right. 41:46 That is the way that devil gains access 41:49 to direct communication with mankind. 41:51 There is no other way to do it. 41:53 But in openness on the part of a human being 41:57 that somebody from beyond the grave 41:59 can communicate with them. 42:00 Then the devil or his demonic host can step in 42:04 and communicate directly. 42:07 That's one of the reasons. 42:08 The second reason is 42:09 because there is a great deception behind that. 42:13 More than just a direct communication 42:14 there is a deception and a doctrine, a theology 42:19 that is just not true 42:21 that diminishes the greatest event 42:24 this world will ever know. That's right. 42:26 And that is the second coming of Jesus 42:28 and the resurrection of the saints. 42:30 And so those two things are reasons 42:32 why God says do not even dabble in this area 42:35 because which you would get is not what you expect. 42:39 You'll get-- oh I'll tell you, see today, 42:44 mediums and wizards and witchery 42:49 and the whole dark satanic world is business today. 42:53 Its business, its big business. 42:56 Halloween all this stuff its big business. 42:59 In America it is the place of enterprise. 43:02 So we don't really care what sacred 43:04 and whats truth and whats holy. 43:06 There's no, there's no line of demarcation 43:09 that separating what's earthly from what's heavenly, 43:12 what's truth in God's word from what's a false error 43:15 that is proliferated and promulgated 43:18 from the pulpits of America or the world for that matter. 43:21 There is no difference there. 43:22 And so truly we have at the age 43:24 where you know the Bible says that 43:26 the devil will go out 43:28 and produce many signs and many miracles. 43:32 And there was a youngman many many years ago 43:34 that was a, that was a medium. 43:36 His program ended 43:38 now they come with a Long Island Medium. 43:41 And yes, she is saying things that make people cry 43:43 and make people feel that 43:45 oh, yes my husband works at a hat company. 43:48 She says, did your husband wear many hats? 43:50 Yes, he worked at a hat company 43:52 and they think to themselves 43:53 how could she possibly know that 43:54 unless my husband told her that. Yeah. 43:57 And I think that what we need to do 43:58 before we dive into the reality of this program 44:01 I want to establish a couple of things so that 44:04 and we'll spend a couple of programs on this topic. 44:07 But I want to go to the Book of Leviticus. 44:10 Leviticus Chapter 19. 44:12 It's not only our syllabus for today 44:14 but I just want to go ahead and I just want to go ahead 44:16 and try to hopefully help somebody 44:18 watching this program. 44:19 They may have been falsely led by a medium 44:24 or soothsayers or palm readers 44:27 all those people that claim to have this kind of ability 44:31 or gift as it were. 44:33 One of the facts its just a satanic tool. 44:35 Leviticus 19:31, John, if you have that one. 44:39 "Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits, 44:43 do not seek after them, to be defiled by them, 44:46 I am the Lord your God." 44:47 Medium and familiar spirits 44:50 from which we get the word family. 44:52 This Long Island Medium 44:54 is getting in touch with familiar spirits, 44:57 spirits that are family members. 45:00 And what does the Lord say? 45:02 Don't seek after them to be defiled by them. 45:06 Satan knows that once you are defiled by them, 45:09 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says. 45:12 If you're defiled him will God destroy. 45:15 God cannot save someone 45:17 who is defiled by familiar spirits. 45:20 These are evil spirits. Then look at another one. 45:22 Leviticus 20:6. Look at that one. 45:26 "And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, 45:29 to prostitute himself with them, 45:32 I will set My face against that person 45:34 and cut him off from his people." 45:36 Okay, so what do you think 45:37 the devil is doing this nowadays? 45:39 He knows there're many ways 45:40 to lead a person to destruction 45:42 and the last one. 45:44 Verse 27 of Leviticus Chapter 20. 45:48 "A man or a woman who is a medium, 45:50 or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death, 45:54 they shall stone them with stones. 45:56 Their blood shall be upon them." 45:57 Okay, so but nowadays 45:59 we get these people that are mediums 46:01 and we sell their books. 46:03 And we put them on television. 46:04 And people are being deceived. 46:06 I saw a lady stand their literally vibrating 46:10 out of this anxiety of, I can't believe it. 46:12 You're talking to my father. You're talking to my brother. 46:16 And the devil is just in glee over the fact 46:19 that he is able to get into the minds and hearts 46:21 and lives of these people and deceives them 46:23 up to such depth and such degradation. 46:27 But you know that there is a greater issue here too 46:31 not in regard to this topic 46:32 but just that helps set up this deception. Yes. 46:35 And I think one of those things 46:37 that I find very disturbing about the Christian faith today. 46:41 I'm talking about in general those who say I'm Christian. 46:45 Is that greater than 50% of Christians today 46:49 the numbers have been done Barna, 46:50 George Barna did this research. 46:52 Do no believe the devil is a literal actual person 46:57 or the demons are actual fallen angels like he is. Right. 47:02 They don't believe they exist. 47:04 And if you don't believe they exist 47:06 and dwell in the spiritual realm 47:08 and want to communicate and cross that road, 47:11 that boundary to directly influence this life. 47:15 Aren't behind temptations and everything else 47:17 that we see that horrible happening in this world. 47:19 If you don't believe that exist 47:22 you're at a complete disadvantage 47:23 when it comes to these kinds of issues. 47:25 That's right. 47:27 Because you think it's really your loved one. 47:31 And not only that it does a worst damage. 47:33 Your tribute to God 47:36 all the bad things have happened. 47:37 That's right. 47:38 And so when disasters happen we call them Acts of God. 47:42 Well, people die well it was His will. 47:45 Well, God too him or her. Or God needed an angel. 47:49 All those things we forget 47:50 the Bible says very clearly Jesus in his own words 47:54 "An enemy has done this." That's right. 47:56 I didn't do this. 47:58 The enemy has done this. That's right. 48:00 And we say oh there's a no real enemy. 48:02 And the devil says oh, I'm halfway there. 48:05 And the--if we're going to be Christians 48:08 let's follow the word. That's right. 48:09 And that's what this program is about. 48:10 What did the Bible say? 48:11 And the Bible first of all says 48:12 if there is enemy he wants to take you down, 48:15 he sowed off for your destruction. 48:16 And he is ready to do everything 48:17 he can deceive you about this matter. 48:21 And the first thing to do is to recognize that 48:23 and then go from there as to what the Bible says, 48:27 how to avoid him and resist him in every area. 48:30 Revelation 16:13, 48:33 just to show you how widespread 48:35 Satan's attack of deception is. 48:38 Revelation 16:13. This is terrible, but is true, 48:43 And look at Revelation 16:13-14 the Bible says 48:48 "I saw three unclean spirits like frogs." 48:51 Connection with Leviticus, unclean. 48:54 There you go. Don't be defiled. 48:56 Defiled, unclean that's right. 48:58 There you go, being defiled 49:00 how can you be defiled by unclean spirits? 49:03 Yeah. Here it is. 49:04 Thank you, John. 49:05 "Like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, 49:08 out of the mouth of the beast, 49:10 out of the mouth of the false prophet." 49:12 And here is what men have turned their minds off 49:15 from actually accepting. 49:17 "For they are spirits of demons." 49:20 This is what people forget? 49:22 Satan and his angels were casted to earth 49:24 for they are the spirits of demons. 49:26 What are they doing? Performing signs. 49:28 Revelation 16:14, performing signs. 49:33 Another word for signs are miracles. 49:35 "Which go out to the kings of the earth" great leaders 49:39 "and of the whole world to gather them." 49:43 Pulling them and raking them and like leaves. 49:46 And you know when people get pulled them 49:47 by the stuff like leaves. 49:49 And what are they being pulled into? 49:51 "To the battle of that great day of God Almighty." 49:54 Satan is getting all these people to stand on his side 49:58 to battle God in that final battle 50:00 between darkness and light, between truth and error. 50:03 And why is that. 50:04 If I can get you to believe that 50:05 your loved is still alive somewhere 50:07 then I have got an avenue to you. 50:09 And I'm actually-- I find a home inside of you. 50:14 And now you're on my side 50:16 because I have been able to deceive you. 50:18 These spirits of demons 50:20 that perform signs that got to deceive. 50:22 And here something else that happens to Satan 50:28 and demonic forces are clearly 50:30 part of the secular world as well 50:32 because they make a lot of movies about them. 50:34 Oh yeah. 50:35 So they may not believe them 50:36 but they think it's good selling tool 50:37 and they use it for movies 50:39 and other things and people eat it up. 50:41 But I think the devils main purpose 50:44 is to bring this deception into the church. 50:48 His attack, if you read the Book of Revelation 50:50 and then obviously throughout the battles with the church 50:54 and things during the age of Apostles, 50:57 the devils attack is on the church. Right. 51:00 That's what he is trying to get at. 51:01 He is trying to attack the church 51:02 and destroy the church 51:03 and he is doing this with lies and deception. 51:05 So we can read something like 2 Corinthians Chapter 11. 51:09 Okay. Are you there? 51:11 I'm there, John, I don't know-- 51:12 Well, you're thinking like me again. 51:13 Let's going on. You got the same name. 51:15 So you're already there 13 to 15. Go for it. 51:18 No, I just read so you read it. Okay. 51:21 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, 51:25 transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 51:29 And no wonder! 51:30 For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 51:36 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers." 51:39 Who? Who is his? 51:41 Satan's ministers. Satan's ministers. 51:43 "Also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, 51:48 whose end will be according to their works." 51:51 Can it be any clear than that? 51:52 So he makes it appear as a good thing 51:56 and he comes into the church with this deception. 51:59 He says, all the secluded world out there, look at the devil. 52:01 He is red with the pitchfork 52:02 and his angry is beastly looking. 52:05 And then the devil comes in and presented the church 52:07 as not that but something glorious, something beautiful 52:10 and uses his own ministers 52:12 to bring about this false deception. 52:14 And I believe that it is no more clearly outlined 52:19 and identified and evident 52:21 than in the teaching of this immortal soul. 52:25 Oh, John. 52:26 And the things we're going to talk about here 52:27 over our next program. 52:29 It looks we're running out of time pretty quickly. 52:30 But I think this foundation we're laying 52:33 is really widely important. 52:34 To understand that where we headed is not-- 52:36 this is not just a, well, that's a great teaching 52:39 we should know about. 52:40 No my brother, my sister this is a doctrine 52:42 that Satan doesn't want you to know, 52:44 secondly he doesn't want you to embrace 52:47 the doctrine taught by Jesus Himself about Him. 52:50 This doctrine of the resurrection 52:52 is such a key element in how we're gonna get 52:55 from the grave to heaven. 52:58 We are not-- there is no see-saw 53:01 from life straight over to heaven. 53:04 There is this middle section called the grave. 53:07 We all go there when we die 53:09 and we have to wait for some event before we are changed 53:12 and prepared to go to heaven. 53:15 And why is this expressed? Look at 1 Timothy 4:1. 53:19 Just give you another example, 53:20 why is this happening so much today? 53:22 Why is it going on this way? 53:24 The Bible warns, warns, warns. 53:27 Look what it says in verse 1 of 1 Timothy 4. 53:31 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times 53:36 some will depart from the faith, 53:40 giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons." 53:47 Isn't that powerful? That's what is happening. 53:49 Doctrines of demons. Paul warned even in his days. 53:52 He says, after my departing grievous wolves will come in 53:56 not sparing the flock. 53:58 And they will bring in heresies 54:00 and they will draw disciples away after themselves. 54:02 And so when I sat in that funeral John 54:05 and the preacher told this lie 54:08 and he says on the authority of God's word 54:11 I can tell you, they mention the person's name. 54:13 They are in heaven right now. 54:17 And I was in gasp. 54:19 Should I stand now? No, I can't do that. 54:22 But I want to but I can't do that 54:24 because that be something terrible. 54:26 And I thought to myself, so afterwards 54:28 all of those who heard that 54:29 and knew that he was not telling the truth came to me afterward. 54:32 There was like a little camp meeting right out after that 54:35 'cause we had so many church members 54:37 they are paying respect to this person 54:40 who had been eulogized at that particular service. 54:45 And I thought to myself at what point 54:48 do these ministers shut their mind 54:50 to what the word of God says. 54:52 That's what the Bible says. 54:53 And no wonder his ministers also appear 54:57 as ministers of righteousness. 54:59 So today, somebody may say to me. 55:01 Pastor John Stanton, Lomacang, 55:03 you don't have the right to say that that minister was lying. 55:06 On the authority of God's word I do. 55:08 Because the Bible says when you teach these doctrines 55:11 or which are doctrines of demons. 55:14 When you teach something opposite to God's word 55:17 I have got to say on the authority of God's word 55:19 that that is deception. 55:21 I'm not assigning that person to heaven or hell 55:24 that's not what I'm saying. 55:25 But I'm saying like a person giving you wrong directions. 55:28 Like the police officer gave me wrong directions 55:31 when I was in San Francisco once trying to find the bus station, 55:34 sorry in Oakland, California. 55:36 The police officer gave me the wrong directions 55:40 in a vagrant who walked the streets panhandling. 55:44 After the police officer walked away-- 55:46 this is the perfect example, after the police officer 55:49 who looked the position of authority 55:50 who looked like he should know the directions, 55:53 after he walked away my wife and sitting at the light 55:55 this vagrant comes over just matted clothing. 55:58 He said, I heard what the police officer said 56:00 but that ain't right, 56:01 it's like right around the corner, right there. 56:04 I mean this really broken 56:06 and he pointed me in right direction. 56:08 My wife and I looked at each other and said 56:11 who would have we believed 56:12 the police officer with the uniform 56:14 or this vagrant on the street. 56:17 So not everybody who looks like they tell the truth, 56:20 the tell the truth. 56:22 Just because it's the most popular version-- Yeah. 56:27 The most popular and known teaching 56:29 doesn't make it right either. 56:30 Doesn't make it right. And that's what is happening. 56:32 So you may be a member of a church 56:34 where you've heard this thing over and over. 56:35 I want to encourage you to stay tune for our next program 56:38 and next week hopefully right after this one 56:41 that we'll talk about the truth about the resurrection. 56:44 Actually, what happens? 56:45 We know the Bible says 56:46 the living know that they will die 56:48 but he dead know not anything, Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6. 56:52 What else is going to be connected to that story? 56:55 And also believe once you know 56:56 the whole picture of the resurrection. 56:59 And what happens in that 57:00 it's much easier to understand why this deception. 57:02 Why the devil hates it so much. That's right. 57:04 Because God has something wonderful 57:06 in store for us in future. 57:08 He's taken away the second coming 57:10 with the rapture theory. 57:11 He's taking the second coming 57:12 by deleting resurrection topic. 57:15 So much is happening in a world today 57:17 to bring people to darkness but here at House Calls, 57:20 we believe in telling the truth of God's word 57:22 not our word but God's word. 57:25 So keep studying, keep studying. 57:27 And friends, if doesn't make sense 57:29 one day God will open your eyes. 57:32 Get read, Jesus is coming soon. |
Revised 2014-12-17