Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP201031S
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00:12 Well, hello and welcome to our second service here
00:15 at Pioneer Memorial Church. 00:16 We're so glad that you joined us. 00:18 Wanna welcome especially those tuning us online, 00:22 from the hundreds and eventually thousands 00:24 of different locations from where you're watching. 00:26 So glad you're here. 00:27 Also really glad 00:28 for all those joining us physically 00:30 here locally in Berrien Springs, Michigan. 00:33 So glad that we have the space 00:35 where we can physically distance appropriately 00:37 and be masked up to keep each other safe. 00:39 So we're really glad that you are here. 00:43 Our call to worship today comes to us 00:45 from Psalm 117, 00:48 it says, "Praise the Lord, all you nations, 00:52 extol Him, all you peoples, 00:55 for great is His love towards us 00:58 and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. 01:01 Praise the Lord." Let's pray together. 01:06 Father, here we are 01:09 Your people those that have been redeemed, 01:14 bought back, rescued, representing every kindred, 01:20 nation, tongue and people. 01:23 And we pray in the name of Jesus 01:25 that as we worship that 01:27 You, Jesus, would fill us with Your light 01:31 so that we can do what we've been called to do 01:33 and to be a light to all the nations. 01:36 For we do ask in the name of Jesus. 01:38 Amen. 01:57 Exceedingly 02:01 Abundantly 02:05 Above all 02:09 All you could ask or think 02:15 According to 02:19 The power 02:23 That worketh in you 02:32 God is able to do 02:35 Just what He said He would do 02:40 And He's gonna fulfill 02:43 Every promise to you 02:49 Don't give up on God 02:52 'Cause He won't give up on you 02:55 He's able 03:04 He's able 03:13 God is able to do 03:16 Just what He said He would do 03:21 And He's gonna fulfill 03:24 Every promise to you 03:29 Don't give up on God 03:32 'Cause He won't give up on you 03:36 He's able 03:43 He's able 03:53 Oh 03:58 He's able 04:01 Oh 04:06 He's able 04:09 Oh 04:14 He's able 04:17 Oh 04:22 He's able 04:24 He is able, He is able 04:26 He is able, He is able 04:28 He is able, He is able 04:30 He is able, He is able 04:32 Whatever He say He's able 04:34 He's gonna do He's able 04:36 Whatever He promise He's able 04:38 He's gonna do it He's able 04:40 He is able, He is able 04:42 He is able, He is able 04:44 He is able, He is able 04:46 He is able, He is able 04:49 Don't give up on God 04:52 'Cause He won't give up on you 04:57 Don't give up on God 05:00 'Cause He won't give up on you 05:04 He is able 05:24 The atmosphere is changing now 05:30 For the Spirit of the Lord is here 05:36 The evidence is all around 05:43 That the Spirit of the Lord is here 05:48 Overflow in this place 05:52 Fill our hearts with Your love 05:55 Your love surrounds us 06:01 You're the reason we came 06:04 To encounter Your love 06:07 Your love surrounds us 06:26 The atmosphere is changing now 06:32 For the Spirit of the Lord is here 06:38 The evidence is all around 06:44 That the Spirit of the Lord is here 06:50 Overflow in this place 06:53 Fill our hearts with Your love 06:56 Your love surrounds us 07:02 You're the reason we came 07:05 To encounter Your love 07:08 Your love surrounds us 07:25 Spirit of God fall fresh on us 07:32 We need Your presence 07:38 Your kingdom come 07:41 Your will be done 07:44 Here as in heaven 07:50 Spirit of God fall fresh on us 07:56 We need Your presence 08:02 Your kingdom come 08:05 Your will be done 08:08 Here as in heaven 08:14 Overflow in this place 08:17 Fill our hearts with Your love 08:20 Your love surrounds us 08:26 You're the reason we came 08:29 To encounter Your love 08:32 Your love surrounds us 08:55 Boy, we need a Savior on this planet today, 08:58 we need a Savior in America today. 09:00 Can I get an amen? Amen. 09:02 Come on, we need a Savior in America today. 09:06 We'll get to that. 09:07 In fact, I want to end this homily 09:09 with a statement about the election coming up 09:12 in a special prayer that you and I'll pray together. 09:15 Let's pray. Oh God, beautiful Savior. 09:18 That's Jesus. 09:20 Where would we be without Him? 09:23 We wouldn't be here, that's for sure. 09:25 Thank you for every way, You've been speaking 09:27 to our hearts all through the service. 09:28 We have been maxed out with blessings. 09:30 Few more minutes, Father, 09:32 save a few blessings for these moments in Your Word. 09:34 We humbly pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 09:39 Happy anniversary to you 09:42 Happy anniversary to you 09:46 Happy anniversary, dear Protestants 09:51 Happy anniversary to you 09:58 You want me to sing again. 10:00 Hey, guys, 503 years ago 10:03 this very moment, October 31, 1517, 10:09 young Augustinian monk 10:12 strides with determination 10:14 across the least ruined village center 10:19 of that tiny town called Wittenberg. 10:22 In one hand, he has his hammer, 10:24 and some nails in the other hand, 10:26 he has a parchment with his own inked words, 10:30 "95 challenges" 10:33 95 to the reigning church 10:37 of the Dark and bloody Middle Ages. 10:42 Martin Luther, I got to see my man, 10:45 Martin Luther, there he is. 10:47 Martin Luther has no idea. 10:50 This obscure monk in Germany 10:52 has no idea that with every blow of that hammer, 10:57 he is breaking the hegemony of that Middle Ages church. 11:01 He has no clue that 11:03 with every blow of that mallet, 11:08 he is launching the greatest reformation 11:11 in the history of this earth, the Protestant Reformation. 11:14 And guess what? 11:16 You and I are children of that Reformation. 11:21 Five hundred and three years ago, 11:24 the Reformation was launched. 11:26 Happy anniversary, everybody. 11:29 So here's the question. 11:31 Is the Reformation over? 11:36 I have a book in my library written by 11:38 an evangelical Protestant scholar 11:39 named Mark Noll. 11:40 Thought it over, Notre Dame 11:42 and then headed over to Wheaton. 11:44 The title of the book that very question, 11:45 "Is the Reformation Over?" 11:47 An evangelical assessment 11:49 of contemporary Roman Catholicism. 11:52 I'll put his words on the screen. 11:53 Let's look at Mark Noll, "A number of the dialogues 11:56 between Roman Catholic and evangelical scholars," 11:58 that have been taken place, "led to the cancellation 12:01 of anathemas, curses." 12:03 Curse you, curse you back. 12:04 And that's what was happening back then. 12:08 Let, no, no, go back please. 12:11 "Led to the cancellation of anathemas 12:13 that had been issued during the Reformation." 12:16 What's going on here? 12:18 "The cumulative results of these dialogues 12:20 record a momentous shaking of once settled ground. 12:25 On the basis of the ecumenical dialogues, 12:27 can it be said that the Reformation is over? 12:31 Probably not. 12:32 But a once yawning chasm 12:35 has certainly narrowed." 12:39 We're gonna come back to that word, in a moment. 12:43 Is the Reformation over? 12:48 I suppose. 12:50 We have a mutual enemy, 12:53 who is pouring every ounce of diabolical energy 12:56 that he possesses into bringing that Reformation 12:59 to a whimpering halt on this planet. 13:05 Luther knew all about that enemy. 13:07 He lived in a world where the devil was real. 13:09 We're so sophisticated today. 13:11 We don't even have the devil. 13:12 Who hasn't, who believes in that. 13:14 Luther believed in the devil. 13:17 Now Luther believed salvation 13:18 by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ champion. 13:22 He believed in the devil. 13:24 He fought the devil. 13:26 In fact, scholars are not sure 13:27 whether they can deny or verify the story 13:29 that has remained 13:31 when he was in the Wartburg Castle, hiding. 13:35 He had a death sentence on his head. 13:39 While there, he was so harassed 13:43 by our mutual enemy, you've been there. 13:46 His conscience, the devil always working 13:48 on his conscience, 13:50 devil plaguing all the details around him. 13:52 So exasperated he took a little inkwell, 13:55 because he wrote by ink and he threw it, 13:57 he hurled it against a plaster wall. 14:03 That's how real the devil was to him. 14:07 It's interesting that since 1650, 14:08 for almost 300 years, 14:11 that room where Luther was writing 14:14 was open to the public, tourists came 14:17 from 1650 to 100 years ago. 14:20 And what happened to that blue plasters ink spot 14:23 on the wall, 14:25 it's not there today, you can go 14:26 and you can see that in fact, the plaster is all gone. 14:30 Souvenir hunters piece by piece by piece over 300 years 14:34 have removed the wall and the ink splat. 14:39 Hey, listen, our legacy 14:42 is not the plaster on that wall. 14:46 Our legacy today on this campus and in this country, 14:51 the largest Protestant country on earth 14:54 and the most powerful. 14:56 Our legacy today is the battle Luther launched, 15:02 to break the hegemony 15:05 of the devil on America. 15:10 Yeah, Luther wrote the great Battle Hymn 15:12 of the Protestant Reformation, a mighty fortress is our God. 15:15 And he includes this stanza and though this world, 15:18 with devils filled should threaten to undo us, 15:21 we will not fear, for God has willed 15:24 His truth to triumph through us. 15:30 This is next to the last 15:33 in this series American apocalypse. 15:35 You want to see something 15:37 you never seen before regarding America? 15:40 Open your Bible with me right now. 15:42 Next the last time, the apocalypse, 15:44 Revelation Chapter 16, please. 15:47 Revelation Chapter 16, 15:49 our scripture reading just a moment ago. 15:51 Revelation Chapter 16. 15:53 I'm in the New International Version. 15:55 Let's go verse 13. 15:56 "Then I saw three impure spirits 15:59 that look like frogs." 16:01 Anybody like frogs here? Now frogs are ugly. 16:04 Come on, frogs are ugly. 16:06 We're talking about green, ugly. 16:10 Why do frogs show up here? Oh, that's right. 16:14 Before God delivered that nation of slaves 16:18 and liberated them. 16:20 Frogs are one of the 10 plagues over Egypt, weren't they? 16:24 Before God delivers his friends on earth. 16:29 In the seven last plagues, 16:31 there'll be a plague with frogs. 16:34 There it is. 16:35 "Then I saw three impure spirits 16:37 that looked like frogs, 16:38 they came out of the mouth of the dragon. 16:44 They came out of the mouth of the beast." 16:49 What's going on? John's watching this. 16:51 "And they came out of the mouth of the false prophet." 16:56 What's going on here? 16:58 Well, we know those three creatures. 17:00 We know the dragon. Who's the dragon? 17:02 Through that mask let me just see your lips move. 17:04 Who's the dragon? 17:05 We already know it's the devil, that old serpent called Satan. 17:09 So we know who the dragon is? Who's the sea beast? 17:13 The sea beast that was wounded in 1798. 17:16 That ruled during the dark, bloody Middle Ages, 17:20 that would disappear for a while. 17:22 But before the end, 17:24 the apocalypse is predicting 17:26 it will surge into global dominion 17:29 and dominance. 17:31 Who's that sea beast? 17:32 Yeah, that's the one Luther went for. 17:35 But hey, wait a minute. Who's this? 17:37 Who's this false prophet? 17:39 We've never run into him before. 17:41 This is first time we have. You're right. 17:43 Remember, there was an earth beast, 17:45 you remember that? 17:47 This earth beast, it came up just as the sea beast 17:49 is getting wounded. 17:50 You remember that? 17:52 This earth beast that came up with the new world far away 17:53 from the people thoroughfares of Europe. 17:55 This earth beast that would champion 17:57 for two and a half centuries. 17:59 The little, the twin liberties of civil 18:02 and religious freedom 18:06 that would spring up at the end of the 1700s 18:09 and become a global superpower. 18:12 There's only one nation that matches that description 18:14 and we know who it is. 18:15 We've already spent time on that. 18:17 That's America. 18:19 So who's this false prophet then? 18:21 Because that's the earth beast. This is false prophet. 18:23 Just go to Revelation Chapter 19, 18:25 and it will show you that 18:27 the false prophet is another name 18:28 for the earth beast. 18:30 Because the earth base begins as a political power 18:34 that dominates the world 18:36 but before the earth beast is finished, 18:39 he will become a false religious power, 18:44 a false prophet. 18:48 That's what's going on. 18:52 Okay, let's pick it up. 18:53 Verse 13 again, then we'll read 14, 18:57 "Then I saw three impure spirits 19:00 that look like frogs. 19:01 They came up out of the mouth of the dragon, 19:03 out of the mouth of the beast, 19:04 and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 19:06 They are demonic spirits that perform signs." 19:12 Demonic spirits, can you see spirits? 19:14 No, spirits are of another order than you and I are, 19:17 but they will perform signs. 19:19 The only way that you can see a sign is 19:21 if you see it, 19:22 because a sign is only a sign when it's seen. 19:25 They will perform signs that will be seen. 19:30 Verse 14, "They are demonic spirits 19:32 that perform signs and they go out to the kings, 19:35 the presidents and the prime ministers 19:37 of the whole world to gather them 19:39 for the battle on the great day of God Almighty." 19:42 We are talking about the last great showdown battle 19:45 that the entire history 19:47 of this fallen planet has been headed 19:48 toward the final showdown. 19:50 This is it. This is it. 19:55 Three ugly demonic spirits 19:58 to set the stage for this withering attack. 20:03 You want to know who's given the orders 20:04 to these three demonic spirits. 20:06 I'll show you who's given the order. 20:09 You may never have read this passage 20:10 before in your life, I'd like you to find it. 20:11 Good luck. 20:13 It's in 2 Thessalonians, that's in the New Testament. 20:16 2 Thessalonians, you got to go back 20:18 towards the gospels, don't go too far. 20:21 You come into Timothy, and you get to Timothy, 20:23 go a little bit beyond Timothy, 20:24 and you're gonna get to 2 Thessalonians. 20:26 I want you to see this in your own Bible. 20:28 Sure, I'm gonna put the words on the screen, 20:30 but see these words in your own Bible. 20:33 So this is the Apostle Paul writing, 20:35 he's going to be tuned in with the Apostle John. 20:38 They're just like this. They're just like this 20:40 and what they're describing, watch this. 20:42 This is Chapter 2 of 2 Thessalonians. 20:44 Drop down to verse 3, Paul writing, 20:46 "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way." 20:52 Oh, I want you to listen carefully 20:56 to what Paul is telling us, 20:58 because whatever follows is going to be deception. 21:02 I'm not surprised. 21:04 Do you know who the deceiver is gonna be? 21:05 Who do you think the deceiver is gonna be? 21:09 The one who has dealt with deception 21:11 from the very beginning of human time, 21:13 it's the devil. 21:16 Do you know how does it go here? 21:17 "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, 21:21 for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs, 21:24 and the man of lawlessness is revealed, 21:26 the man doomed to destruction." 21:27 Come on, what's going on? 21:29 Deception is the name of the game 21:31 and guess who's the source? 21:32 The source is Satan. Jesus minces no words. 21:35 This is the toughest I've ever heard Jesus speak 21:38 except for the woes, except for the woes. 21:41 Watch this, John 8:44. 21:43 These are the words of Christ, gentle, Jesus, meek and mild, 21:46 not today. 21:47 "You," He's talking to the religious leaders, 21:49 "You belong to your father," I know who your daddy is, 21:54 "the devil, and you want to carry out 21:57 your father's desires. 21:59 He was a murderer from the beginning, 22:02 not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him." 22:05 And then Jesus just rolls His sleeves up 22:07 because now here comes. 22:09 When he lies, the devil, he speaks his native language. 22:14 I like the NIV's rendition. 22:16 He speaks his native tongue. 22:18 That's all he can do is lie, lie, lie, like, 22:20 for he is a liar. 22:22 And the father of lies, he is a pathological liar. 22:26 Once in a while you meet a pathological liar 22:28 who no longer knows that she, that he is telling lies, 22:32 no longer knows it. 22:33 The devil does not know he lives, 22:35 he soaked in deception. 22:39 Wow! 22:40 Verse 3 again, "Don't let anyone 22:43 deceive you in any way, 22:44 for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs, 22:47 and the man of lawlessness is revealed, 22:49 the man doomed to destruction." 22:51 Now that word lawlessness is a huge key. 22:56 Because lawlessness means there's someone who has a law 23:01 that the devil has been gunning for from the beginning. 23:05 And that someone is God. 23:07 God has ruled this universe in a benevolent rulership 23:11 from the beginning of eternity, 23:13 which is beyond our comprehension. 23:16 He's always had a law. 23:18 He had a law for the human race. 23:21 And this enemy, this man of lawlessness, 23:26 the puppeteer behind him, 23:29 has been seething for the chance 23:32 to destroy that law at every single turn. 23:36 So there is a Sabbath tucked away 23:37 in the geometric literary heart of the Ten Commandments. 23:40 I'm not surprised, come to find out that Lucifer 23:43 has had his claws, and his eyes on the Sabbath 23:47 from the get go. 23:48 He's a man of, any front 23:50 that he has will be lawless, it will be lawless, 23:52 it will not be by the Ten Commandments. 23:53 No, no, no, no. 23:58 That's seventh day Sabbath, gifted by the Creator, 24:02 written with the Creator's fingering in granite. 24:07 I'm not surprise Lucifer 24:09 with fangs and claws 24:14 would go for that Sabbath. 24:15 The day the Creator gave to His earth children. 24:17 Hey, this is a Friendship Day. 24:19 We're enjoying one right now. 24:21 This is a friendship day. It's just you and me. 24:23 Have great time. 24:24 Get together with your friends this afternoon. 24:25 But make sure that I'm a part of that. 24:27 Just make sure I'm a part of that, 24:29 because this is our day. 24:31 Get him. Kill him.Kill him. 24:36 Verse 4. 24:38 This man of lawlessness, what's he going to do? 24:40 "He will oppose and will exalt himself 24:42 over everything that is called God 24:45 or his worship so that he sets himself 24:47 up in God's temple 24:49 proclaiming himself to be," what? 24:52 "To be God." 24:54 Five hundred and three years ago today, 24:57 Martin Luther that young priest 25:00 took on the deception that this verse describes. 25:05 Martin Luther, don't you ever sell yourself short. 25:08 One boy, one girl, one young man, 25:13 one not so young woman. 25:16 It's all it takes is one. 25:22 God ignites the fire. 25:26 It could be you. 25:28 We need a reformation again. 25:29 You could be it. 25:31 I'm looking at some mass faces and thinking you'd be perfect. 25:37 Yeah. 25:42 All right, let's read verse 4 again 25:44 and drop down to verse 9, 25:45 "He will oppose this power," this man of lawlessness," 25:49 he will oppose and will exalt himself 25:51 over everything that is called God 25:53 or his worship 25:54 so that he sets himself in God's temple 25:56 proclaiming himself to be God." 25:58 Verse 9, "And the coming of the lawless one 26:00 will be in accordance with how Satan works. 26:04 He will use all sorts of displays 26:06 of power through signs." 26:08 Wait a minute. 26:09 Didn't we just read about these demonic signs, 26:12 the green frogs, 26:14 oh, now we know who's behind the green frogs. 26:18 "He will use all sorts of displays 26:20 of power through signs 26:23 and wonders through signs 26:25 and wonders that serve the," what? 26:29 "The lie." He is a liar. 26:31 Liar. Pants on fire, kinda liar. 26:36 He's pathological, you can't help it. 26:41 What lies you're talking about? It says that served the lie. 26:43 Hey, how about if we take the very first lie Lucifer 26:47 ever told on this planet? 26:49 Let's just take the first lie. 26:50 I mean, the rest of it all fit in. 26:52 What first lie you're talking about, Dwight. 26:53 I'm talking about when Lucifer encased himself 26:58 in this shining, 26:59 brilliant serpent that's entwined 27:03 into this gorgeous tree 27:04 and he's looking down and his eyes, 27:07 his dark eyes catch the eyes of this beautiful girl 27:10 who's walking by. 27:13 Girl. 27:16 I'm talking about the lie that he hissed at her. 27:18 You shall not surely die. 27:20 You're not gonna die, girl. 27:22 Get off, kid off. 27:24 God's just trying to scare you. 27:25 He's afraid you're gonna be like Him. 27:27 Trust me. You do not die. 27:30 Liar, liar pants on fire. 27:35 How did Jesus put it? 27:38 John 8:44. 27:39 "There is no truth in him for when he lies, 27:42 he speaks his native language, 27:43 for he is a liar and the father of lies." 27:47 You are not going to die, you are not going to die. 27:51 It's the first line. 27:52 It's still being told all over this planet. 27:54 Every major religion, every major philosophy 27:56 on this planet deals with the thought 27:58 that after death, there's something else. 28:02 When you die, you don't die. 28:03 You go to heaven. You go to hell. 28:07 You go to purgatory. You enter into Nirvana. 28:11 You go on, incarnation, you just keep going on, 28:13 you will not die. 28:25 So it's no surprise when the Creator of this earth 28:29 comes to earth, comes down to this planet. 28:31 And He puts on humanity. 28:34 It's no surprise that He will find a moment 28:37 when He will go straight for that lie and abolish it. 28:40 He will shatter that lie. 28:41 I'm going to show it to you right now. 28:43 You're not gonna believe this. He is so gentle. 28:45 He's so smooth. He shatters that lie. 28:49 Watch this. 28:50 Everybody knows the beloved story 28:52 of Lazarus in John 11. 28:53 Right? John 11. 28:54 We all love that story. 28:56 Jesus is far away from Mary and Martha, 28:58 but they dash him a note, "The one you love is sick," 29:03 meaning please come quickly 29:06 and heal our brother before he dies. 29:09 But Jesus strangely continues to mosey around, 29:14 no urgency in His heart at all, it doesn't seem. 29:17 And finally a few days go by and He turns to His disciples. 29:20 He said, "You guys," these words, John 11. 29:24 He says, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, 29:28 but I am going there to wake him up." 29:31 His disciples replied, 29:32 "We never joined the boy scouts. 29:34 But we have all learned the premise that 29:36 when you're ill you need your sleep." 29:39 Exactly what they said to him, "Lord, if he sleeps, 29:42 he will get better." 29:43 Jesus had been speaking of his death, 29:46 keep reading. 29:48 "But his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 29:53 So then Jesus told them plainly, 29:55 'Hey guys, I need to tell you this. 29:57 Lazarus is dead.' 30:00 For your sake, 30:02 I am glad I was not there so that you may believe.'" 30:08 Isn't it amazing? 30:09 That the great giver of human life, 30:12 of all life 30:14 chooses to define death as a sleep. 30:20 Wow. 30:21 Lazarus is falling asleep. 30:23 Hey, boys, he's dead. 30:25 But I'm going to wake him up. 30:28 Come along, you'll believe. 30:30 And that's exactly what Jesus says to Martha 30:32 when she finds out He's at the outskirts 30:34 of little village, Bethany, she races out 30:36 and then falls on the ground sobbing, 30:38 "If you'd only been here earlier, 30:40 what were you thinking?" 30:41 Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, listen to me." 30:44 These are the great words of John 11:25-26. 30:47 "I am the resurrection and the life. 30:53 The one who believes in me will live even though they die. 30:57 And whoever lives by believing in me will never die forever." 31:01 Well, you have to put the word forever 31:03 in because Lazarus died and he believed in Jesus, 31:04 so he doesn't mean you won't die at all. 31:06 He means you won't die forever. Oh, why? 31:12 Because for the life giver, 31:15 death is nothing more than a sleep. 31:17 A sleep that you and I 31:20 can be awakened from when Jesus returns 31:22 on that glorious resurrection morning. 31:24 If He doesn't come soon, we're all gonna be sleeping. 31:27 But that's okay, 31:29 because I need to show you how long death last. 31:31 Some of you are afraid of death. 31:32 Because there's something in your mind that says, boy, 31:35 when I die, it's gonna be really bad. 31:37 I need to tell you, what happens when you die? 31:40 Do you know how long death is? 31:42 Watch this. Watch this. 31:43 Do you know how long death is? 31:45 Eyes? Eyes closed in death. 31:47 So the last moment of cognition or you breathe your last 31:50 whichever happens and it can happen either way. 31:52 Your eyes close. 31:54 Right? Yeah, your eyes close. 31:57 When that resurrection morning comes 31:59 and Jesus wakes you up. 32:00 Guess what? Eyes open. 32:04 So watch this. Now watch this. 32:06 This is death. This is how long death last. 32:08 Eyes close. Eyes open. 32:11 That's it. That's it. 32:14 There's nothing to be afraid of. 32:16 Death is a sleep. 32:18 It's like you fell asleep in the arms of your Savior 32:22 who's holding you, say, sleep on baby. 32:26 I'll waken you soon. 32:28 Hey, am I, we all know this. 32:31 You have an exhausting day. 32:33 Wherever you spent that day 32:35 and when your head hits the pillow, you are gone. 32:38 In fact, we call it dead to the world. 32:41 No way. Yeah, you're gone. 32:44 The next thing you know is that alarm 32:47 just beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. 32:55 What happened in between? 32:56 I don't know. 32:59 Did you see anything? No. 33:00 I was just tired. 33:03 Did you do anything? 33:05 I didn't do a thing. 33:06 I went to sleep, eyes closed, eyes open. 33:09 That is death to the life giver who created human life. 33:14 Even with sin ruling on this planet, 33:16 He says, "I've taken the thorn out of that," 33:18 even with sin ruling is the death. 33:23 Of all the philosophies of death on this planet today, 33:26 existential or otherwise, this teaching of the Bible 33:32 is the most satisfying teaching of death of anybody, 33:35 anywhere. 33:37 In fact, let's put this on the screen 33:38 because I don't want you to miss this. 33:39 "70 times Jesus and the Bible writers 33:44 described death as a sleep 33:46 from which you can be awakened." 33:48 Leave that up on there, jot that down, 33:50 we have 70 times somebody comes and says, "Hey, come on. 33:52 There's only Jesus in John 11." 33:54 Wrong, 70 times in Holy Scripture, 33:58 death is described as a sleep. 34:03 Whoa, Satan is a liar. 34:06 Or the truth is when you die, you don't go to heaven, 34:09 you don't go to hell, you don't go to purgatory, 34:11 you go to sleep. 34:16 That's death. It could not be better. 34:19 Bad news could not be better, because it's awful. 34:24 None of us wants to die. 34:26 But if you're gonna die, that's it. 34:30 Ah, but, Dwight, who cares? Come on, this big deal. Why? 34:32 Why are you going in all this death thing? 34:33 Because I need to, it's a very good question 34:35 that you raised by the way, a fair question. 34:37 I need you to see how the end game 34:42 that we just read in Revelation 16, 34:47 the truth about death. 34:50 The Bible's truth is absolutely critical. 34:53 Because of these three ugly demonic spirits 34:55 that go across the planet, 34:58 and they do signs, means you see them. 35:00 They do signs, they do signs. 35:02 And you need to know what those signs are about. 35:07 It's gonna have to do with that first lie. 35:11 I mean, can you imagine 35:12 how convincing it would be for you and me? 35:15 If our beloved mother 35:20 or father or spouse or child, 35:26 middle of the night. 35:29 Who's that? 35:30 If they showed up 35:32 where we were sleeping in the middle of the night, 35:34 can you not imagine how gripping that would be? 35:46 Mommy, Mommy, 35:51 Mommy, it's me. 35:57 I came back. 35:59 Jesus sent me. 36:02 He wants you to know, everything's okay. 36:05 I'm all right. 36:07 I'm in heaven now. 36:09 He wants me to come back in a few days 36:11 to bring a message to you. 36:15 Bye Mommy, I love you. 36:19 What mother would not be wild with grief 36:22 and joy, realizing she's established contact 36:25 with that precious little girl that is buried in the ground. 36:31 Oh my! 36:34 Talking about overwhelming the senses. 36:37 And that's the key. 36:38 The senses. 36:40 Say, my baby's here. 36:43 My baby's here. 36:46 You don't think the dragon, 36:47 you don't think Satan can pull that one off? 36:49 Oh, think again. 36:50 Watch this, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 36:54 "And no wonder for Satan himself 36:56 masquerades as an angel of light." 36:58 Look it. 37:00 If he wants to show up in front of you... 37:04 you'll be on your face, you will be on your face. 37:08 In fact, it's not just him. 37:09 Watch this next line. 37:11 "It is not surprising then, if his servants," 37:14 those are the angel demons, the fallen angels, 37:17 "also masquerade as servants of righteousness, 37:21 beings of light from heaven." 37:23 Can you imagine demonic spirits 37:27 moving all over the face of this earth, 37:30 showing up where nobody expects them to show up? 37:33 They're going to the kings. 37:34 So Winston Churchill shows up at the Prime Minister's office 37:38 or his bedroom in England. 37:41 He says, "Yeah, you're having a tough, 37:43 bloody mess down here right now. 37:45 I noticed it. 37:46 Oh, I remember what I went through." 37:51 Listen, every mannerism, 37:55 every peculiar characteristic, 37:59 these masquerading demons, 38:02 they know it perfectly. 38:05 A silent pet name, 38:07 a secret pet name that you and your spouse shared. 38:12 A touching detail nobody else on earth even knows about. 38:16 The being says, "It's me. 38:21 I've been sent to you from heaven." 38:23 We're in a mess down here. 38:26 But I have a way, 38:27 Jesus is going to come and set us free. 38:32 Oh, guys, the truth about 38:35 what happens at death 38:36 is absolutely critical for that moment 38:40 when the green frogs fan out over the earth 38:43 with their deception. 38:48 But the crowning... 38:50 Come on, put this on the screen for us, 38:51 the apocalyptic classic. 38:53 At the end, we're gonna give you 38:54 an opportunity to get this book for free. 38:56 Put this on the screen, The Great Controversy, 38:58 "As the crowning act in the great drama of deception 39:01 which he has been 39:02 from the beginning of human history. 39:04 Satan himself will personate," whom? 39:08 He will show up, and that book tells us that 39:10 there's only one physical description 39:12 of Jesus in the New Testament. 39:13 It's in Revelation 1, white hair, golden sash. 39:17 He will show up just like that 39:18 because it's the only one we recognize. 39:22 And He will say, "It's me. 39:24 See the nail scars? 39:27 It's me." 39:31 "This is the strong almost overmastering delusion." 39:36 If you believe, seeing is believing, 39:38 and we're in a generation right now 39:39 that believes seeing is believing. 39:41 I only will see it if I see it on a screen. 39:44 If I can see it on a screen virtual reality, forget it. 39:47 If I can see it, I believe it. 39:48 If we live in a culture where seeing is believing, 39:51 you will be dead meat. 39:53 When Christ Himself stands in front of CNN's cameras 39:56 and every eye sees Him 40:01 He says, "It is I." 40:03 He knows the gospels backwards and forth, 40:06 He will speak with a melodious voice. 40:10 "Come to me, you labor 40:12 and are heavy laden come, come, come. 40:14 And I'll give you rest." 40:16 I tell you what the whole planet 40:17 will be on their faces. 40:18 There will be a band of people who'd say, "Wait a minute, 40:21 wait a minute, wait a minute, this cannot be." 40:25 Look at that line, "Are the people of God 40:27 so firmly established upon his word 40:29 that they would not yield 40:30 to the evidence of their senses?" 40:32 Don't believe what you see, don't believe what you see. 40:36 "Would they in such a crisis cling to the Bible 40:40 and the Bible only?" 40:41 You haven't spent much time in this book. 40:43 But I'm telling you what? 40:44 This series came along at just the right time 40:46 to begin to introduce to us history in advance. 40:49 That's what the apocalyptic prophecies are, 40:51 it's history in advance. 40:52 You need to know there's a massive test coming. 40:55 You know, the finals on this campus. 40:57 They're nothing. They're nothing. 41:01 There's a test coming for the human race 41:03 and only those people who like Jesus they mentioned 41:06 I live by bread alone, 41:07 but by every word that proceeds 41:09 out of the mouth of God, only those boys and girls, 41:11 young men and young women, 41:12 only those men and women who have turned here, 41:15 you can't wait till the crisis return. 41:17 Crisis do not make a believer. 41:19 Crisis reveal a believer, they do not make a believer. 41:22 You cannot wait till the crisis comes. 41:25 There is a crisis coming. 41:29 Don't neglect the Word of God, 41:32 and that's why this teaching. 41:34 People say, "Why do we have to do prophecy?" 41:36 Because we're living on the edge, that's why. 41:39 And you're not responsible for feeding this community. 41:44 We have to go here. 41:46 Some of you have never heard any of this in your life, 41:49 because nobody's talked about it. 41:53 I'll leave you with one verse more, 41:55 Isaiah 8:19. 41:59 "And when they say to you, 'Seek those who are mediums 42:02 and wizards,' Harry Potter, Harry Potter, Harry Potter, 42:05 with Harry Potter is all about setting up the demonic spirits. 42:08 That's all it was, just setting it up. 42:10 Parents were taking their children, 42:12 boys and girls five, 42:13 six years old, Harry Potter, Harry Potter, what was it? 42:17 Now I'm comfortable with wizards. 42:18 That's not a big deal. 42:20 You get the dead conjure up, it doesn't matter. 42:22 "When they say to you, 42:24 'Seek those who are mediums 42:25 and wizards who whisper and mutter' 42:28 should not have people seek their God?'" 42:30 You wanna know about the dead? Go to God. 42:32 "Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?" 42:34 No, no, no. 42:36 The next verse, 42:37 "To the law and to the testimony," 42:38 that is right here, "To the law and to the testimony 42:41 if they do not speak according to this word, 42:44 it is because there is no light in them." 42:46 That's the only way, seeing is believing 42:50 will be put on the skids in your mind and life. 42:54 You say, "Can't be, 42:55 it just can't be, it just cannot be. 42:58 It was never to be this way." 43:01 Only this book will carry you through. 43:06 Martin Luther's championed principle 43:08 from the Protestant Reformation, 43:10 Sola scriptura, solely from the Bible, 43:14 solely from Scripture, 43:16 it's time to reclaim that legacy 43:18 and to become a people of the word. 43:20 It is time. It is past time. 43:25 At the peril of your soul, you will neglect this book. 43:29 At the peril of your soul, you will neglect this book. 43:36 Oh, Dwight, I need to study this more. 43:38 Connect card in a moment. 43:40 Okay. I have to share this with you. 43:45 And I'm going back to Mark Noll, 43:46 promise you I come back. 43:48 This is great controversy. 43:49 This is a profound statement. 43:52 You know that the satanic trinity? 43:54 This is how the satanic trinity merges 43:56 and takes action. 43:58 "Through the two great errors... 43:59 What are they? 44:00 What are the two great lies or deceptions? 44:02 The immortality of the soul. 44:04 Oh, when you die you keep living, 44:06 that would be a lie. 44:07 "The immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness," 44:11 that's the day that God has blessed. 44:12 What? 44:14 Yeah, "Through the two great errors 44:15 Satan will bring the people under his deceptions." 44:18 Keep reading, "While the former," spiritism, 44:22 "lays a foundation of spiritualism." 44:23 This is the occult. 44:25 The occult is nothing but spiritism. 44:27 "While the former lays the foundation 44:29 of spiritualism the latter Sunday sacredness 44:32 creates a bond of sympathy with Rome." 44:33 Why? Because Rome says we invented Sunday. 44:36 You are following not the Bible. 44:38 Was very clear in the Bible, the seventh day Sabbath. 44:41 You're following us, just admit it, 44:43 fall in line, let's go. 44:47 "The Protestants of the United States 44:49 will be foremost in stretching their hands 44:51 across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism." 44:55 And then they got another hand, 44:56 "They will reach over the abyss 44:58 to clasp the hands with the Roman power." 45:01 And then what? 45:02 "And under the influence of this tripartite, 45:05 this threefold union, this country America 45:08 will follow in the steps of Rome 45:09 in trampling on the rights of conscience." 45:12 What we were famous for will be gone. 45:18 Those words of Mark Noll, 45:19 do I put them back on the screen Okay, 45:20 here they are. 45:22 "On the basis of the ecumenical dialogues 45:23 can it be said that the Reformation is over? 45:25 Probably not. 45:27 But a once yawning," what's this word? 45:29 "Chasm. 45:31 A once yawning chasm has certainly narrowed." 45:34 You're getting closer. You're getting closer. 45:35 Okay, now put the Great Controversy 45:37 right below it, please. 45:38 "The Protestants of the United States 45:40 will be foremost lead the way 45:42 in stretching their hands across the gulf." 45:45 You see this word gulf? You see this word chasm? 45:47 It's the same word. 45:51 Great Controversy is saying what Noll is projecting. 45:56 The Bible is predicting that bridge will be built. 46:02 That bridge will be built. 46:04 Wow. Listen, folks. 46:08 It's not a matter 46:09 of if this will come to pass in America, 46:12 it is now a matter of when in America 46:17 this will come to pass. 46:22 America, America 46:27 God shed His grace on thee 46:32 And crown thy good With brotherhood 46:37 From sea to shining sea 46:43 That America. 46:46 We must pray for America right now. 46:50 The nearly interminable election season 46:52 is about to end in three days or maybe three weeks. 46:56 I don't know, maybe three months. 46:57 Nobody knows. Nobody knows. 47:01 But of this, I am sure. 47:04 When the results are finally announced, 47:06 50% of this country will be deeply disappointed 47:09 and no doubt angry. 47:11 You say, "Dwight, what a guy you are? 47:14 You're looking if the glass is half empty. 47:16 Why don't you make it half full?" 47:17 Okay. 47:20 Fifty percent of this country will try to celebrate 47:24 all the while realizing their nation 47:26 is divided as divided 47:27 and fractured as it has ever been. 47:29 And the election has not solved America's deepest problems. 47:31 Is that better? 47:37 I love this country. 47:39 I sorrow for America. 47:42 I belong to no political party, never have and never will. 47:48 But I think the heart of God, it must kill Him. 47:52 This fractious mess the enemy has fomented in this nation. 47:58 USA Today carried a story earlier this month, 48:01 reported on a survey, 48:02 an online survey that I'm quoting now, 48:05 "Finds a majority of US adults believe the country 48:09 is on the verge of a second Civil War." 48:13 Are you serious? 48:16 A second Civil War? 48:19 You believe that? 48:23 Gun sales are going up right now like crazy. 48:30 Wow. 48:33 Listen, folks, it is long beyond the time for blame, 48:37 for we are all culpable. 48:40 We have not loved one another 48:43 as we should. 48:46 We have not served one another as we could have. 48:52 And perhaps we've hoped 48:54 this election might somehow solve 48:56 our country's ills and needs. 48:58 Read my lips. 48:59 It will not. 49:04 We don't need a political savior 49:05 because there is no political savior. 49:07 There is only one Savior, 49:09 and His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. 49:12 And He's the only one that can save America now, 49:14 whether you're an atheist or not. 49:16 Amen. 49:17 He's the only one. 49:21 Is it too late for God to save America? 49:24 I think not. 49:25 God is on the throne right now. 49:28 Ready for that very mission 49:30 we have been raised up to fulfill to be accomplished. 49:35 So let's talk to Him right now. 49:38 I'll pray and you pray in your heart. 49:41 I invite you to stand as we pray. 49:50 Oh, Jesus, son of David, 49:54 have mercy on us. 49:56 Your Word declares blessed 49:58 is the nation whose God is the Lord. 50:00 The people He chose for His inheritance. 50:03 Well, the scripture promises righteousness exalts a nation 50:06 but sin condemns any people. 50:10 Have we send away our day of opportunity? 50:13 Have we squandered away Your gifts? 50:15 Have we abused away Your children? 50:17 Have we turned away time 50:19 and again when all of heaven was waiting to save us? 50:24 Jesus, Son of David, please have mercy on us. 50:30 Grant to us, won't you please 50:32 an extension of Your mercy and Your grace. 50:35 Don't treat us as our sins deserve. 50:36 In wrath remember mercy, 50:38 in judgment remember grace and discipline. 50:41 Oh, Lord, we don't want the word punishment, 50:42 indiscipline, remember compassion. 50:46 We acknowledge our sins before You 50:49 and we humbly appeal for Your divine forgiveness. 50:53 God of our fathers and mothers, 50:55 grant us please another chance. 51:00 In the words of the poet, 51:02 "Once to every man 51:04 and nation comes a moment to decide 51:06 in the strife of truth with falsehood 51:09 for the good or evil side." 51:12 If the poet is right, then oh God, 51:14 we wish to choose the good side, 51:16 Your side for America. 51:18 Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. 51:21 In a few hours the election will be over. 51:24 In a few days or weeks the ballots will be counted, 51:26 and the result will be announced. 51:29 Oh, God, our Father, 51:31 deliver us from evil and the evil one. 51:34 Do not let the enemy inside our hearts to retaliation, 51:39 or goad our souls to reprisals. 51:42 Teach us how a soft answer may yet turn away wrath. 51:47 Teach us how to love our enemies 51:48 and do good to those 51:50 who hate us and bless those who curse us. 51:52 Give us a heart and mind of Christ, 51:55 that even yet for America, supreme love for God, 51:59 and impartial love 52:00 for our neighbors might yet prevail. 52:04 Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. 52:09 And grant us one more chance 52:13 that we might yet become the light of the world, 52:16 the shining city on a hill that cannot be hidden. 52:19 And if you cannot save the entire land, 52:21 then bless it God, whether you save by few 52:25 or by many, save the America, we can touch and love 52:29 and reach right here in this little town 52:33 in on this beloved campus. 52:36 America, America, God, 52:39 shed Your grace on us, please. 52:43 For we come to You in the mighty name of Jesus, 52:47 who taught us to pray together, our father, 52:53 which art in heaven, 52:54 hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, 52:59 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 53:03 Give us this day, our daily bread. 53:06 And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 53:11 And lead us not into temptation, 53:13 but deliver us from evil, 53:16 for thine is the kingdom 53:19 and the power and the glory forever. 53:23 Amen. 53:37 You may be seated. 53:40 Thank you, Pastor Dwight, for that message, 53:43 it requires a response. 53:45 And we're gonna do that right now. 53:47 We're gonna put some next steps on the screen. 53:50 But first I wanna make an invitation. 53:51 I wanna ask every single person watching online, 53:54 if you're watching online, pull out your smart phones, 53:56 go to this website, pmchurch.org/connect. 54:00 For those of us gathered physically in here, 54:03 we invite you to do the same. 54:05 Go ahead and pull out your smart phones 54:06 right now. 54:07 We invite you to go to this website, 54:09 I'm gonna reference some resources 54:10 that you're going to want to make sure to have. 54:12 So thank you for pulling those out. 54:14 Okay, let's walk through 54:15 some next steps as you're going there. 54:17 The first next step today is this. 54:21 "I will trust my life to the Lord Jesus 54:25 the nail scarred Conqueror over my enemy." 54:28 So if you can check that off, 54:29 I think that's something that hopefully all of us 54:32 should be able to say yes to, just check that off online. 54:36 Next, "I would like 54:37 to further study the Bible truth 54:39 about death and the resurrection." 54:42 Maybe some of you heard 54:44 this topic today for the first time. 54:45 And you have some questions, that's okay. 54:47 Would love to put some resources in your hands 54:50 for those of us gathered here as well. 54:52 We're gonna send you something this week, 54:54 so that you can go a little bit deeper on that topic. 54:56 So just check that off. It's free. 54:59 By the way, in case you're wondering, 55:00 with these email addresses, 55:02 we're not gonna put you on any kind of list, 55:03 we're just going to send you 55:05 the resource that you asked for. 55:07 Next, "I would like to follow Jesus in baptism." 55:11 Let me speak it very plainly. 55:13 If you have never been baptized before, 55:17 what are you waiting for? 55:20 Do not delay. 55:21 I asked you in the name of Jesus. 55:23 Right now, just check that off. 55:25 If you've never been baptized before, 55:26 just check that off. 55:28 Or for whatever reason, 55:29 you really need to be re-baptized, 55:31 check that off as well. 55:32 We'll connect with you. And we'll plan for that date. 55:35 Finally, this one's really important as well. 55:38 "I would like to have a copy of The Great Controversy." 55:42 If you've never read this book before, 55:45 we want to send you a free eBook version this week. 55:50 We're gonna send it to you via email. 55:51 So we need your email address. 55:53 If you've never read it before, check that off. 55:55 We're gonna send it to you, it's very important. 55:57 Let me say this as well though. 56:00 Maybe you've read it before. 56:02 This is the time to reread it. 56:06 I reread it this summer 56:07 when everything started happening. 56:09 You really need to freshen up on some of the stuff, 56:12 it's really, really powerful. 56:14 So may God bless you 56:16 as you continue taking these next steps today. 56:22 I'd like to take another moment with you 56:24 here at the end of our worship service 56:25 to share a special offer. 56:27 We have a new series called "American Apocalypse" 56:30 at our New Perceptions website. 56:32 And I hope you'll be blessed by watching it. 56:35 Given the times of uncertainty we now live in. 56:37 There's a book I mentioned every now 56:39 and then that I'd love for you to have at no charge. 56:42 It's the apocalyptic classic, "The Great Controversy," 56:45 the dramatic story of Christianity 56:47 and the church down to the Dark and Middle Ages 56:49 into the turbulent present, and very uncertain future. 56:53 I read a lot of books on Bible prophecy. 56:55 And by far this is the most gripping 56:57 and informative. 56:59 So if you pick up the phone 57:00 and dial one of our friendly operators 57:01 at 877-HIS-WILL, those two words 877-HIS-WILL. 57:06 Ask for The Great Controversy. 57:08 It is very much a story whose time is way overdue. 57:11 Read the book for yourself. 57:13 So call this number 877-HIS-WILL 57:16 and ask for this book by name, "The Great Controversy." 57:19 And I'm gonna be praying you get as blessed 57:22 as I am every time I read it. |
Revised 2020-11-30