Participants: Pr. Louis Torres
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000717
|
01:00 Welcome to "Digging Up the Future"
01:02 Bible Prophecy Exposed. 01:03 Welcome back tonight. 01:05 We're glad that you're here. 01:06 Are you happy to be alive? 01:07 Yeah. 01:08 Are you happy the person next to you is alive? 01:10 Why don't you tell him I'm happy you're alive? 01:13 Only if you mean it, right? 01:15 Okay, good. 01:17 Well, we're glad that you are here this evening 01:19 and we are delighted tonight. 01:21 This is going to be 01:22 an important topic this evening. 01:24 How to Bury Your Past-- Your Evil Past? 01:28 Maybe you want to remember something, 01:29 there are some good things to remember right, 01:32 but maybe there are some things that you wanted to get rid of, 01:34 we're gonna be talking about that this evening. 01:37 And that's an important subject, 01:39 a lot of people like we learned in a previous time together, 01:42 struggle with guilt, struggle with their past 01:45 and tonight we're gonna see 01:46 what the Bible has to say about that. 01:48 Before we do that, let's prepare our heart though 01:51 to praying together and then singing our-- 01:55 you remember our theme song 01:56 "Jesus is Coming Again." 01:57 So let's pray first and then we'll sing together. 01:59 Father in heaven, indeed we're grateful 02:02 that You can take the past and get rid of it. 02:08 You can be here in the present 02:10 and You know also about the future. 02:12 Right here now in the present, 02:14 we ask that You would come near to us here, 02:17 near to those that are watching this in their homes 02:20 and we ask that Your spirit would just reach out. 02:24 And we thank You and we come in Your all powerful name 02:27 in the name of Jesus, amen. 02:30 Well, let's stand together sing that theme song 02:32 "Jesus is Coming Again." 02:41 Marvelous message we bring 02:45 Glorious carol we sing 02:48 Wonderful word of the King 02:52 Jesus is coming again 02:56 Coming again 03:00 Coming again 03:03 Maybe morning, maybe noon 03:07 Maybe evening, but surely soon 03:10 Coming again 03:14 Coming again 03:17 Oh what a wonderful day that will be 03:24 Jesus is coming again 03:31 Can you say amen to that? 03:32 Amen. 03:33 Love that He is coming again. 03:35 You can be seated. 03:37 You know as we talk about burying evil past 03:41 and we reminded of the words of David that said 03:44 "Create in me a clean heart, O God." 03:47 And tonight we are thankful that 03:49 Marion Peppers is with us to sing 03:51 about that wonderful text, 03:53 "Create in me a clean heart" 03:55 and she will be accompanied by Anthea. 04:24 Create in me a clean heart 04:29 Oh, Lord my God 04:37 And renew a right spirit within me 04:48 Create in me a clean heart, 04:53 Oh, Lord my God 05:00 And renew a right spirit within me 05:12 Cast me not away from Thy presence 05:19 Oh, Lord 05:23 Take not Thy holy spirit from me 05:34 Restore to me 05:38 The joy of Thy salvation 05:51 And renew a right spirit within me 06:02 Create in me a clean heart 06:06 Oh, Lord my God 06:13 And renew a right spirit within me 06:35 Lord, renew my spirit 06:40 And restore my soul 06:48 Cast me not away from Thy presence 06:56 Oh, Lord 07:00 Take not Thy holy spirit from me 07:11 Restore to me 07:15 The joy of Thy salvation 07:27 And renew a right spirit within me 07:39 Create in me a clean heart 07:43 Oh, Lord my God 07:50 And renew a right spirit within me 08:00 Within me 08:22 Thank you so much for that message and song. 08:25 Create in me a clean heart, 08:28 renew a right spirit within me. 08:32 So there's a young lady who showed up 08:34 to a church where I was preaching at. 08:41 She was dressed typical of the hippie movement. 08:48 I don't know how many of you remember the hippie movement. 08:53 And there was a gentleman with her, 08:56 another young man he also looked quite typically 09:03 as a hippie, bushy hair, bushy beard. 09:13 And as soon as I finished 09:15 they encountered me and said 09:20 "She needs to be baptized. 09:26 Can you baptize her right now?" 09:31 I said I like to get acquainted with her 09:33 first, spend a little time with her, 09:37 good to know her better. 09:40 You don't understand she broke within. 09:44 I've done a lot of things in my life 09:49 and I want to bury them. 09:54 There are a lot of people 09:55 who've done a lot of things in their lives 09:58 and wish they could bury them. 10:01 Isn't that true? 10:05 Things that you wish you had never done 10:12 and they just seem to haunt you 10:17 and you wish you could bury them. 10:18 Well, tonight let's talk about that. 10:21 First let's pray together as we open God's word. 10:24 Father, thank You so much for Thy word 10:26 and we ask Your blessing upon it now. 10:28 Give us understanding, we pray in Jesus name, amen. 10:34 In the scriptures, in the Book of Revelation, there's hope, 10:38 most people are fearful of the Book of Revelation. 10:42 Some people are so afraid of the Book of Revelation 10:45 that they don't want to open it. 10:48 They think there are some spooky things in there, 10:50 strange things, things that are not for us. 10:56 But the wonderful thing is that the Book of Revelation 10:59 shows pictures of the grand victory 11:03 that sinners will ultimately have over sin 11:09 and forever be separated from heaven. 11:12 We look into the Book of Revelation, 11:14 if you have your Bibles, chapter 7 verse 9. 11:18 Revelation 7:9, it tells us there that 11:24 "Behold and, lo, I saw a great multitude, 11:30 which no man could number, 11:33 of all nations, and kindreds, 11:36 and people, and tongues." 11:41 Notice it says of all nations, 11:44 and kindreds, and people, and languages, 11:49 of course the word tongues means languages. 11:53 I'm glad for that 11:55 because as I travel all over the world, 11:57 I meet a lot of people who speak a lot of languages. 12:06 I was in Poloa as a missionary 12:11 and one night there walked into my prayer meeting night, 12:16 Wednesday night a couple I had never seen them before. 12:20 She was well dressed and so was he 12:23 and after the presentation, they came to talk with me 12:28 and told me how they were in deep trouble. 12:31 She was by the way 12:32 one of the first aides of the president of the country 12:37 but their marriage was on the rocks. 12:41 And she told me how they had tried all sort of things, 12:46 they had tried witchcraft, 12:48 everything to try to mend their marriage 12:52 and nothing seemed to work. 12:55 And finally they came and they wanted help. 13:01 They spoke Poloan. 13:03 Any of you have ever heard Poloan? 13:06 Well, that's a different language. 13:08 And I'm glad to know that gospel can reach people 13:12 of any language, what do you say? 13:13 Amen. 13:15 But notice it says and peoples and kindreds. 13:19 Now it says they stood before the what? 13:23 The throne which means that 13:25 if you are standing before the throne, 13:27 you are forever saved. 13:31 What do you say? 13:32 Notice it says they stood before the throne, 13:34 but what enabled them to stand before the throne? 13:38 It says that they were clothed with what? 13:42 With white robes and palms in their hands. 13:46 Now notice it says 13:48 they were clothed with white robes. 13:52 What did the white robes represent 13:56 and where did they get them from? 13:58 Well, Chapter 7 verse 13, 14 tell us 14:03 "One of the elders answered, saying unto me, 14:05 What are these that are arrayed in" what? 14:09 "In white robes." 14:10 And where do they come from? 14:11 "Whence came they?" 14:13 That's what it means, where did they come from? 14:16 Well, verse 14 tells us 14:20 that he says "I said to him, you know. 14:25 And then he said unto me, 14:27 These are they which came out of" what? 14:30 "Great tribulation, and have washed their robes, 14:34 and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." 14:38 That's interesting. 14:41 These are they that came from planet earth 14:43 in other words the great tribulation 14:46 but the reason they're here the messenger saying 14:49 is because they have washed their robes 14:52 in the blood of the lamb. 14:54 Now let me ask you a question. 14:56 How many of you have ever had blood? 14:59 Any of you? 15:01 How many of you've had blood 15:03 on your shirt or a white blouse? 15:07 Does the blood wash that blouse white? 15:10 No. What does it turn it? 15:12 Into red. 15:14 The scripture says here these are they 15:17 who have washed their robes 15:19 and made them white in the blood of the lamb. 15:23 Now I think most of you've recognize that 15:26 in order for us to be able to stand before the throne 15:32 then we must go through the same experience 15:33 where we have white robes 15:36 that we have been able to wash them 15:39 in the blood of the lamb. 15:41 And of course in order to understand 15:44 what does white robe represent, 15:47 we'll look at Revelation 19:8 and it says 15:50 "To her was granted that she should be arrayed 15:53 in fine linen, clean" and what else? 15:57 "And white, for the fine linen is the" what? 16:00 "The righteousness of saints." 16:03 Saints have righteousness? 16:06 How is it that a sinner can become righteous? 16:09 Well, the scripture says here that it's possible 16:13 and it happens and in fact it will happen. 16:17 The Bible says then that there are people 16:19 who are standing around the throne. 16:21 How is it possible? 16:23 I remember the first time I went to church. 16:26 Now I'll be telling you that a little bit more 16:29 later on in the next segment 16:31 but I can tell you when I went to church, 16:34 I did not feel comfortable in that setting. 16:41 You see I have been spending all my time in night clubs 16:47 and I hadn't dawn the doors of a church for years. 16:52 In fact the last time I think I went to church was 16:54 when I was about 10 years old 16:57 and after that I only went on Friday night to Saint Michael's 17:02 because that's when they had the dances. 17:07 Friday night, you see they had a school, 17:10 a high school and of all things a girl's high school. 17:16 Do you understand? 17:18 And so on Friday night, they threw a dance 17:22 so that these girls could have boys 17:25 they can dance with. 17:27 And I remember we had to 17:28 always show up with a shirt and tie 17:31 and look if we can stand. 17:34 That's the only time I went to church. 17:39 But that wasn't church, was it? 17:44 So I hadn't been in church for years 17:46 and when I first entered into a door of a church 17:51 I was 21 so what is that, 17:53 11 years, 21 17:58 and I thought to myself I don't belong here. 18:05 Any of you have ever felt that way? 18:08 I don't belong here. 18:20 However those that are in the kingdom 18:27 will feel like they are perfectly at home. 18:36 And the reason for that is because the Bible says 18:40 they've washed their robes, which means their characters. 18:44 Washed their what? 18:46 Their characters, their lives in the blood of the lamb. 18:53 One time Jesus was speaking to a religious man, 18:56 he must have been of high rank in his church. 19:04 His name was Nicodemus. 19:07 We know that he must have had a high rank 19:09 because Jesus said are you not a master? 19:13 Are you not a what? 19:15 The master, the leader. 19:20 And he came to try to figure out 19:24 something about what Jesus was talking about. 19:28 He came by night because he was too embarrassed to come by day. 19:32 Don't want anybody to know. 19:34 You know sometimes people don't like that. 19:37 Deep inside honestly 19:39 they have a longing and yearning 19:41 to find their way to God 19:42 but they are too embarrassed to admit it. 19:45 Isn't that true? 19:48 Too embarrassed to admit it. 19:50 I remember in Poloa, when I was there in Poloa, 19:53 the king wanted to take Bible studies 19:58 and I would have to go 20:00 and see him at 2 o'clock in the morning. 20:04 What time? 20:06 Two o'clock in the morning. 20:09 He didn't want anybody to know 20:11 that he had an interest. 20:17 Nicodemus came by night and said to Jesus, 20:20 "We know that you must be from God, 20:22 because no one can do the things You do, 20:24 except God be with him." 20:26 Well, Jesus had not take the flattery, 20:30 He was not the subject to flattery. 20:33 And "Jesus then said to him, 20:37 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 20:39 Except a man be born" what? 20:42 "Again, he cannot" what? 20:45 "See the kingdom of God." 20:47 Now let me ask you a question, 20:48 Revelation says that there is a group of people 20:51 that no one can number 20:52 who were standing before the throne, correct? 20:55 And because they have their robes 20:57 washed in the blood of the lamb, correct? 21:00 And now we find that Jesus is saying that 21:02 no one can stand in that kingdom, right? 21:05 No one can-- unless they are born again. 21:10 So obviously there's something 21:11 that this white robe has to do with being born again. 21:16 Well, of course Nicodemus didn't understand, 21:18 how in the world can you be born again? 21:20 And in essence said to Jesus, how can a man be born again? 21:25 Does he have to go back into his mother's womb, 21:27 come back out again and be born again? 21:30 Well, Jesus again explained it in verse 5 and it says, 21:35 "Verily, verily I say unto thee, 21:36 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 21:40 he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 21:45 Except a man be born enough water and of the spirit. 21:51 Now there are two things here, 21:54 normally speaking, what do you do with water? 21:57 You wash things. Isn't that true? 22:00 So there is a washing that it is to take place 22:03 in order for you to enter the kingdom of God. 22:06 But then it says also that there must be the spirit. 22:09 So there are two things that must take place. 22:11 The Spirit of God must work in the heart 22:14 and as the Spirit of God works in the heart, 22:16 there must be in the heart, 22:18 a desire that is born from the spirit to be washed. 22:23 To be what? To be washed. 22:25 And you remember as we studied 22:27 how to get rid of the guilt 22:28 that the only way you want to get rid of your sins 22:32 is as you feel bad about that. 22:34 Isn't that true, yes or no? 22:36 If you don't feel bad about it, 22:38 you're not gonna get rid of your sins. 22:41 For example, there was a certain prisoner in a cell, 22:46 he was just crying 22:48 and he was saying I feel-- I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry 22:54 and he goes kept on saying I'm so sorry. 22:56 There happened to be a minister 22:58 who was in the person that particular day 23:00 and as they heard this man 23:02 just be willing the fact that he was so sorry, 23:04 approached the man and said, can I help you, sir? 23:07 You know, why are you so sorry about? 23:09 He said I'm so sorry, I have sneezed. 23:12 Well, minister thought that's kind of funny. 23:16 You're so sorry you sneeze? 23:18 Well, then he told the story. 23:19 He had broken into a store and as he was ready to leave, 23:24 he saw the flashing red lights. 23:27 You know what that means, right? 23:28 So he decided to hide under the counter 23:31 until he thought it would be all cleared. 23:35 So the police then opened the door 23:37 to check things in there 23:38 and while the police was looking around-- 23:40 what do you suppose happened? 23:42 He sneezed. 23:44 And so he was so sorry of what? 23:46 He sneezed. 23:49 Now let me ask you a question. 23:51 Was he sorry about the fact that he was stealing? 23:53 Yes or no? No. 23:55 He was sorry about the fact he got caught. 23:58 And my friends, I don't know how many of you have 24:01 ever said to your mom or dad, 24:02 I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 24:04 Any of you? Come on. 24:07 Yes or no? 24:08 How many of you will confess 24:10 I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry? 24:12 But let me ask you something, what were you sorry about? 24:15 Hmm? 24:17 You were sorry about the fact you got caught, right? 24:20 And my mother had, 24:22 I don't know what she ever do with that thing, 24:25 but there was a belt that looked like a large snake, 24:29 and she was a little, little, short lady but I tell you 24:31 when she got a hold of you, you couldn't get loose. 24:34 She had like an iron fist, you know. 24:37 And she would tell us, boys, I don't want you to fight. 24:40 Well, one time I got into a fight 24:42 not because I wanted to fight 24:43 but because what happened was 24:45 somebody beat up my little brother, 24:46 you know how it goes, 24:47 you beat up on my little brother, 24:48 you have to beat up on me, right? 24:50 So I got into this fight 24:52 and my mother discovered that I got into a fight 24:56 and with her, there was no excuse. 24:57 She said would say don't fight, 24:58 so what does that mean? 25:00 Don't fight. 25:02 So she heard and I remember when she finally saw me 25:07 she had her hand behind her back, 25:08 you understand and she said-- 25:11 which means come here. 25:13 And when she said-- I knew I was in trouble. 25:17 So what do you think I began to do? 25:19 I began to cry. 25:20 What do you think I began to say? 25:23 I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 25:27 But friends, that kind of sorrow 25:30 that's not bring a change of heart. 25:34 It is true sorry for sin that God want's in us. 25:38 What do you say? 25:39 When we see what sin does, 25:43 we see the pain that it brings-- the heartache. 25:47 And we finally recognize that we don't want it anymore. 25:53 It is at that point 25:55 that we stand a good chance of repenting. 25:58 And that's what repentance really means, 26:01 a sorrow and a turning away from sin. 26:06 So when Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, 26:13 Nicodemus was not comprehending what he was saying 26:16 and so Jesus continue to explain. 26:19 And He said something very interesting in verse 8. 26:22 He says "The wind listeth where it goeth." 26:26 And you can hear the sound thereof. 26:29 But you cannot tell where it is coming and where it going. 26:33 So is Holy Spirit. 26:37 In other words friends, 26:38 the Spirit of God is working in every human heart. 26:43 Spirit of God is working on your heart. 26:45 Spirit of God is working on those 26:47 who are viewing and listening. 26:49 The Holy Spirit constantly works in our hearts 26:52 because He desires to bring us to the place 26:54 where we desire to be saved. 26:57 But as Jesus said unless you know you're sick 27:02 you'll not go to a physician. 27:05 So we must recognize our true condition. 27:08 And as we do then we can go as forgiveness 27:13 and recognize that God is willing to do for us 27:18 what we cannot do for ourselves. 27:20 Now, that means then that we can be forgiven 27:24 but what about all those things that one has done in the past? 27:28 I'm thankful that God forgives but remember that 1 John 1:9 27:33 does not stop at forgiveness. 27:36 Remember, that 1 John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins 27:41 God is faithful and just to, what? 27:44 Forgive us our sins but what else, 27:46 what's the next word? 27:47 But to what, cleanse us. 27:50 To do what? 27:51 Cleanse us from how much, 27:54 some unrighteousness, from all unrighteousness. 27:57 So God wants to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 28:01 but we must come to God. 28:04 We must sense our need of God. 28:06 And unless we do God cannot do for us 28:09 what He would rather do for us. 28:11 Now, in order to help people understand 28:15 what Jesus is speaking about-- 28:16 about the spirit and about the washing 28:20 because it says except the man be born of, what? 28:23 Water and what else? 28:24 Of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 28:27 Jesus Himself then demonstrated 28:30 what He was talking about by His example. 28:33 Notice it says in the scriptures in Matthew 3:16. 28:37 "And Jesus, when he was baptized 28:40 went up straightway out of the water 28:42 and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him 28:44 and He saw the Spirit of God 28:46 descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him." 28:49 There's the example, Jesus was washed or baptized 28:55 and then the Spirit of God came upon Him. 29:01 It is important for us to understand 29:03 that though the Spirit of God works in every human heart 29:06 the Spirit of God will not force himself into your heart 29:10 unless you are willing to allow him to come into your life. 29:15 And friends, let me say this one can never live a holy life, 29:18 one can never live a Christ like life 29:21 without the aid of the Holy Spirit. 29:24 All of us need the Spirit of God to dwell in us 29:27 so that we by His grace can live in harmony 29:32 with His wonderful will. 29:33 What do you say? Apart from God we cannot do it. 29:36 But notice Jesus it says that He was baptized, 29:40 washed and after His baptism 29:43 then the Spirit of God came upon Him. 29:45 Now what is baptism then? 29:49 Since the washing according to the Bible 29:51 really means to be baptized 29:53 most people for example have different ideas of baptism. 29:57 How many of you have heard of sprinkling as a baptism? 30:01 By the way how many of you have been sprinkled? 30:03 Can I see your hands? 30:05 All right, so a lot of people 30:07 consider that sprinkling is baptism. 30:09 And there're different forms of baptism 30:11 I have seen all different ideas. 30:14 But what's interesting is this. 30:16 Jesus says that there in order for us to come to Him 30:22 we must then be washed, 30:24 which means we must be converted 30:26 and then be baptized. 30:29 What does baptism signify or what is it symbolized? 30:34 In Romans 6:3, 4 30:37 Paul speaking about this particular process says this. 30:41 "Know ye not, that so many of us 30:44 as were baptized into Jesus Christ 30:47 were baptized into his death?" 30:49 Okay, baptized into what? Into His death. 30:53 And then it says 30:54 "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death 31:00 that like as Christ was raised up from the dead 31:03 by the glory of the Father, 31:04 even so also should we walk in." 31:06 What? "In newness of life." 31:12 Okay. 31:13 So according to the scriptures then when a person is converted 31:18 when his heart is changed then he desires to be washed. 31:22 He desires to be what? Washed. 31:25 And that washing is done by baptism. 31:28 And what the scripture says is that baptism represents 31:31 the death, the burial and the resurrection of whom? 31:36 Of Christ. 31:37 It represents what? The death. 31:39 What else? The burial. 31:41 And what else? And the resurrection, okay. 31:45 Let me demonstrate and I'm going to ask Anthea 31:47 if she would mind coming up here for a moment? 31:52 Let me explain what I'm talking about 31:53 so you can see what we're talking about. 32:00 When a person is baptized 32:04 basically what we do with the person 32:07 is explain to them that representing the death 32:13 what else, the burial 32:15 and what else, and the resurrection. 32:17 Now, normally speaking 32:19 when a person is dead do they breathe? 32:23 Yes or no? No. 32:24 No, so when a person is baptized then 32:28 a person holds their breath. 32:30 They do what? They hold their breath. 32:33 Okay, so Anthea is gonna hold her breath, all right. 32:36 That represents what? 32:38 Death and then Anthea will be buried back okay like-- 32:45 just how your feet on the floor there we are. 32:49 We lay them down. 32:51 Let's try one more time Anthea, 32:52 and don't worry about I hold you up. 32:54 Okay there we are, okay. Okay. 32:56 So we bury them back representing what? 33:00 Burial. 33:01 And then they come up representing what? 33:05 Resurrection. Thank you so much, Anthea. 33:11 The death the what, the burial and what else the resurrection. 33:16 Now death of Christ, 33:22 the burial of Christ and what else? 33:25 The resurrection of Christ. 33:27 Now let me explain what I'm talking about here. 33:31 Sometimes people think that what Jesus left us 33:35 to remind us of the death, burial and resurrection 33:38 something called Easter. 33:40 Is that true? 33:42 In other words the resurrection of Christ 33:44 we celebrate on when? 33:46 On Easter. 33:47 Easter Sunday, is the memorial that most Christians have 33:52 as the resurrection of Christ. 33:54 But in reality what the Bible has given us 33:56 to remember the death, the burial 33:57 and the resurrection is not Easter. 34:01 What God has given us to remember the death, 34:03 the burial and resurrection of Christ is baptism. 34:06 Is what? Baptism. 34:07 Baptism. 34:09 Why baptism and why not Easter? 34:12 Because the greatest miracle 34:14 that God can perform on planet earth 34:17 is the death, the burial 34:20 and resurrection of heart. 34:26 What is the greatest miracle? 34:28 The death, the burial and what, 34:31 and the resurrection of the human heart. 34:38 Every time a person is baptized 34:42 every time that the person is baptized 34:45 there is symbolized the death, 34:49 the burial and the resurrection. 34:51 Let me ask you a question 34:53 why did Jesus come to this earth? 34:57 He did not come for the purpose of changing the human heart 35:01 so He could save the sinner? 35:04 Yes or no? 35:06 And so the greatest the greatest memorial 35:10 that you and I can have of the death, the burial 35:13 and the resurrection of Christ is the baptism. 35:18 You want to celebrate the death and burial 35:21 and resurrection of Christ then see a baptism. 35:28 See what? A Baptism. 35:31 Now, according to the scriptures then 35:37 when a person is baptized a person puts on whom? 35:43 Christ. 35:44 Notice it says "For as many of you 35:46 as have been baptized into Christ 35:49 have put on" whom? 35:50 "Christ." 35:52 When a person who is unrighteous, 35:55 a person who is sinful 35:57 and his character is filthy as a Bible says 36:00 all our righteousness is as what? 36:03 Filthy rags and he desires to have a change character 36:08 a new character then he must then be clothed 36:13 with the righteousness of Christ. 36:15 In other words when a person is converted 36:18 God no longer looks at the sinner 36:20 but rather looks at his sinless son 36:24 who covers the sinner with his own righteousness. 36:29 So as a person is baptized 36:31 as it says there "For as many of you 36:34 as have been baptized into Christ" have what? 36:38 "Have put on" who? "Christ." 36:41 How many of you would like to put on Christ then? 36:43 Obviously then what must we do? 36:46 We must be baptized. 36:47 Now "For as by one spirit 36:51 we're all baptized into one body 36:53 whether we be Jews or Gentiles, 36:56 whether be bond or free 36:57 and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 37:00 When a person is baptized 37:02 and he has baptized into a church. 37:05 How many of you have ever heard 37:07 of somebody being born motherless? 37:13 Every body is born must be born from a mother. 37:15 Is that true? 37:17 In other words it must be a mother 37:18 that carries a child until he is born. 37:21 Right, is that true yes or no? Yes. 37:24 According to the scripture when a person then is born 37:29 he should be born then into a church. 37:32 This is why all churches-- how many? 37:35 All churches perform or practice baptism 37:39 because it means then that the person is being initiated 37:43 or being brought into that particular church, okay. 37:47 Catholic church what do they do? 37:49 To ensure that the people are Catholics 37:52 as soon as the child is born what are they want to do? 37:55 They want to have the child baptized. 37:57 What about Baptist do they baptize people, yes or no? 38:01 What about the Episcopalian do they baptize people? 38:03 What about orthodox? 38:05 All churches baptize people 38:07 why because biblically speaking it teaches 38:10 that when a person is baptized 38:12 he is baptized into the body of Christ. 38:15 Into what? The body of Christ. 38:17 Now the only problem with that is that you need to determine 38:20 which body is the body of Christ. 38:27 Does that make sense? 38:30 Now you may say now wait a minute pastor, 38:32 are you telling me that there is a specific body? 38:35 Well, according to the Bible the body is the literal church. 38:40 I want you to notice 38:41 what it says in Ephesians 1:22, 23. 38:44 "And hath put on all things under his feet, 38:47 and gave him to be the head 38:49 over all things to the" what, "to the church." 38:52 Notice in next part "Which is His body." 38:56 So the church is His body. 38:58 In other words does Christ have a church? 39:01 What's the answer? 39:02 Yes, when a person then is baptized 39:05 he is baptized into the church or into the body of Christ. 39:10 Now is it the literal body? 39:12 I believe it is simply because Jesus Himself 39:16 for example counsels us and says listen 39:19 when somebody errs against you go and talk to him. 39:23 And if he doesn't listen take some witnesses with you. 39:26 And if he still doesn't listen take it to the church. 39:28 Now if there is no literal church and an ethereal church 39:32 then who you'll take him to? 39:36 Do you understand what I'm saying? 39:38 The same thing about elders and deacons. 39:40 Now the Lord says that if a man was to be an elder 39:43 he desires a good thing. 39:46 The elder of the church well, if is an ethereal church 39:49 then what, what is he an elder of? 39:53 And if he if it's an ethereal church what is he deacon of? 39:57 Obviously then there must be a real church, correct, 40:00 that has real deacons, real elders. 40:03 Will you say amen to that? Amen. 40:05 And so then Christ has a literal church 40:08 that we become part of. 40:10 There are many reasons why we become part of the church 40:13 but the primary reason is 40:14 that we want to belong to Christ. 40:16 What do you say? 40:20 Now what about baby baptism, by sprinkling? 40:29 I was sprinkled when I was a baby 40:31 but I have to confess you I don't remember. 40:37 How many of you remember being sprinkled? 40:39 While you're saying pastor, 40:40 you're asking a silly question. 40:41 Of course, we don't remember being sprinkled 40:43 but we're told that we were sprinkled. 40:46 In other words we have a baptismal certificate. 40:49 I'm fortunate that I have a baptism certificate 40:53 and I have a birth certificate. 40:55 The only problem is there's disharmony between them. 40:57 One says I'm born June 21 40:59 and other one says I'm born June 2. 41:05 So I have to depend on my mother 41:07 to verify which one. 41:09 And she said June 22. 41:11 So I have to tell you then that the priest was wrong 41:13 and my mother was right. 41:15 I'm saying the priest because in those days 41:17 there was a priest that made all baptismal certificate 41:20 and how they'd write down the day that you were born. 41:23 That is in Puerto Rico I was born, okay. 41:27 So my mother says that I was sprinkled. 41:30 How do I know I was sprinkled? 41:31 Well I have a baptismal certificate 41:33 that tells me then that I was what? 41:36 That I was a bona fide sprinkled child. 41:42 But let me ask you a question. 41:44 According to the scriptures 41:46 the Bible says that a person should repent. 41:50 Here is what it says "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, 41:54 that your sins may be blotted out, 41:56 when the times of refreshing shall come 41:58 from the presence of the Lord." 42:00 Repent and be what? 42:03 Converted. 42:05 Now here is a question. 42:07 If a person has not repented can he be converted? 42:12 Yes or no? No. 42:14 So let me ask you a last question. 42:15 Can a baby be repent? 42:19 A baby does not know anything. 42:21 So if a baby cannot repent can he be converted? 42:24 No. 42:25 If he cannot be converted then can he be baptized? 42:28 Because according to the scriptures 42:30 the person who is converted is the one that is baptized. 42:36 Can you see what I'm saying? 42:37 Now that doesn't mean that people 42:40 have done us injustices 42:42 because we were baptized by sprinkling 42:44 and when we were children. 42:45 People usually do what they think 42:47 is best for their children. 42:48 Isn't that not true? 42:49 My mother was a catholic she believed that 42:52 she was doing the right thing 42:53 because they told her that 42:55 when a child is born unless he is baptized 42:57 if he dies and then he goes to limbo. 43:00 Well, mother didn't want us to go to limbo 43:02 and so she made sure that all of us were what? 43:05 Were baptized. 43:06 She loved us and wanted to assure our safety. 43:11 But I was not converted. 43:14 I had no idea what was going on. 43:16 I did not participate with that. 43:18 And so I have to tell you then that 43:21 because of that that baptism 43:23 though people wanted me to be saved 43:26 really did not provide my safety. 43:29 Because baptism by the Lord is accepted 43:34 when we follow what He says. 43:37 In fact, in the Book of Acts Chapter 2 43:40 it says "repent and be converted 43:44 and be baptized." 43:48 Let me read you the exact language that Peter uses 43:53 when the Jews were listening to Him 43:55 on the day of Pentecost, 43:57 heard a sermon and finally responded. 44:02 Notice if you have your Bibles Chapter 2 and verse 38 44:08 notice what it says. 44:10 Acts 2:38, notice that the Bible says 44:14 "Then Peter said unto them" 44:17 this is after they're convicted in verse 37. 44:21 If you look at verse 37 it says 44:23 "Now when they heard this 44:25 they were pricked in their hearts." 44:26 Which means they were convicted, correct. 44:29 "And said onto Peter into the rest of the apostles, 44:32 men and brethren what shall we do. 44:34 Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized 44:37 everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ 44:40 for remission of your sins." 44:42 The word remission means for the removal of your sins. 44:46 So you can see then that repentance 44:49 and baptism go hand and hand. 44:51 Do you see that? 44:52 Now, now that we have established that 44:55 baby baptism is something that it's not biblical 44:59 then the question is this. 45:01 What about then a person being re-baptized? 45:06 Some of us unfortunately have been baptized 45:09 even by immersion 45:12 but sometimes what happens is 45:14 that we're baptized young, 45:17 we really do not have a relationship with the Lord 45:21 or we have had the relationship with the Lord 45:23 and as we begin life 45:25 we get with the wrong influences, 45:26 with the wrong crowd 45:28 we begin to do things that are un-Christian 45:30 and pretty soon we're far down the track. 45:33 Do you understand what I'm saying? 45:35 You were baptized before 45:36 but now you have turned your back on the Lord, 45:39 you have forsaken the vows that you've made the Lord 45:42 to be faithful to Him and the question is this. 45:44 If a person has been sprinkled 45:47 or a person has been baptized by immersion 45:49 if they have not walked with the Lord 45:52 should they be re-baptized? 45:55 And the Bible does teach rebaptism. 45:57 In fact, the Lord says "that there is one faith, 46:01 one Lord and one" what? 46:03 "One baptism." 46:04 And some people think well, Paul says its only one baptism. 46:10 See but I want you to understand 46:12 that Paul is saying one kind of baptism. 46:16 How do I know that? 46:18 Well, let's look at this. 46:21 Let's look at the Book of Acts for example, chapter 19. 46:25 And I want you to notice Acts 19 46:27 and look at who is doing a rebaptism, 46:33 Acts 19. 46:36 Notice what the Bible says there in Act 19 46:41 the scripture says that Paul is traveling 46:44 and as he is traveling 46:45 he comes across several disciples. 46:49 And he came to path, verse 1, 46:50 "That while Apollos was at Corinth, 46:52 Paul having passed through the upper coast came to Ephesus 46:56 and he found certain disciples." 46:58 Now notice verse 2, "He said unto them 47:00 'Have you received the Holy Ghosts 47:02 since you believed?' 47:03 And they said unto to him 'We have not so much as heard 47:07 whether that be any Holy Ghosts.'" 47:08 So these were disciples 47:10 but had not heard about the Holy Spirit, correct. 47:13 Then it says "Paul asked the question 47:16 'Unto then what you baptize?' 47:20 And their response was unto John's baptism." 47:24 And let me ask you a question. 47:26 I know that people today from the United States 47:28 and all over the world 47:30 will pay money to take a plane flight over to Jerusalem 47:33 so they can go to the Jordan and get baptized. 47:38 Have you heard of people doing that? 47:39 Yes. 47:40 Now let me ask you a question. 47:42 If it's a special baptism to fly to there 47:44 and go to the Jordan get baptism in the Jordan 47:47 how special do you think it was 47:49 for you to get baptized by the Baptist himself? 47:56 In the Jordan you would consider 47:59 that to be a very what? 48:00 Special and honored baptism. 48:03 Not just in the Jordan but by the Baptist himself. 48:06 But notice what Paul says to them verse 4. 48:10 "Paul said, John verily baptized 48:13 to the baptism of repentance 48:14 saying unto the people that they should be believe him 48:18 we should come after Him." 48:19 That is on Jesus Christ. 48:21 Verse 5 notice what it says. 48:23 "When they heard this they were baptized 48:26 in the name of the Lord Jesus." 48:28 When they heard this they were what? 48:30 Baptized. 48:31 Let me ask you a question then. 48:33 Paul says "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." 48:36 But Paul is practicing another baptism. 48:40 Is it he not, yes or no? 48:42 Were these people baptized, yes or no? 48:44 Yes. 48:45 Did he baptize him again? Yes. 48:48 So was Paul talking about new miracle or quality? 48:52 He was talking about quality. 48:53 In other words the baptism that counts in the Bible 48:57 is not sprinkling or any other type of baptism 48:59 but that which represents a death, 49:02 a burial and a what, 49:04 and the resurrection. 49:06 Will you say amen to that? 49:07 Amen. Amen. 49:08 You can see it its clear in the scriptures 49:11 that there is a rebaptism. 49:15 In fact let me say this. 49:16 In the day of Pentecost 49:18 there were many, many proselytes there. 49:21 The word proselyte by the way means somebody 49:24 who was converted to Judaism. 49:27 And the way that they converted people to Judaism 49:29 was that somebody would gonna study with them 49:31 and once they accepted the Jewish faith 49:34 then they were baptized into the Jewish faith, okay. 49:37 And the Bible says that these proselytes 49:39 in the day of Pentecost 49:41 when they heard the message 49:42 the scripture says that Peter says repent and be baptized 49:46 and the Bible says that they were baptized 49:48 in the name of the Lord. 49:49 So even in the day of Pentecost 49:51 there were people who had been re-baptized. 49:57 So rebaptism is a biblical practice. 50:00 What do you say? Amen. 50:03 Now Peter of course and Paul recognize 50:10 that a heart must change. 50:13 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. 50:18 Old things are passed away 50:21 behold all things become new. 50:26 And it tells us then like, "The like the figure whereunto 50:31 even baptism doth also now" what? 50:35 "Now save." 50:38 And of course the commission 50:39 that Christ gave to the disciples was 50:42 "Go ye therefore and teach all nations" and do what? 50:45 "and baptize them in the name of the Father-- Holy Ghost." 50:50 In other words friends, 50:52 baptism then is what God has ordained 50:57 to enable a person to start a new beginning. 51:08 Many of us have wished like my mother I used hear her say 51:14 I wish that I could be born again 51:18 and know what I know, know 51:20 and I would not make the same mistakes. 51:24 Any of you have ever felt that way? 51:26 I wish you could be born again know what I now know 51:30 and will not make the same mistakes. 51:34 I think many of us wish we could have a new start 51:36 what you say, a new beginning. 51:42 Christ offers you that beginning. 51:45 I remember in New York City 51:49 a catholic bishop his name was Fedeli. 51:54 He is Italian. 51:57 He lived next door to friend of mine 51:59 and that lady friend used to be very missionary minded. 52:03 So every time she saw the bishop 52:05 she had something to give him. 52:08 And every time she got it-- he got it, 52:09 he threw in the garbage can, do you understand. 52:12 But she didn't give up. 52:14 Every time she saw him give him some literature. 52:19 Well, one day 52:21 there was a special prayer meeting going on 52:26 and she decided to invite him. 52:29 She feared that he would not accept 52:30 but she thought it would be a good idea anyway. 52:33 And it turned out that he was just at a point in his life 52:37 where he sensed that something was missing. 52:40 And so he said "all right, I'll go. 52:44 You're a good person 52:46 I don't think I will lose anything." 52:48 He went to the prayer meeting. 52:51 And I happened to be there at that prayer meeting. 52:54 And he just loved what he saw take place. 52:58 He saw that genuineness of the people praying. 53:02 And the wading of the word and he just felt so at home 53:06 that he decided to come 53:08 it was a kind of prayer meeting going on for a whole week. 53:11 And he decided that he would attend every night. 53:14 At the conclusion of that 53:17 the subject of baptism had been presented 53:20 and he had never heard that before. 53:22 He was a bishop 53:24 of the Catholic Church in New York City, 53:26 one of the bishops. 53:28 And at the conclusion he then asked if he could get baptized. 53:34 And Fedeli was 69-years-old 53:39 and he was just about to have a birthday. 53:43 And he said "I have had such a change 53:45 in my heart during this week 53:47 and I realized that the baptism I had does not count. 53:54 And I want my baptism to count. 53:57 So I want to be re-baptized." 54:01 He invited all of his bishop friends 54:04 and prelates and priests 54:07 who would come to his birthday celebration. 54:12 But they did not know 54:13 that his birthday celebration was his baptism. 54:18 So they came and I remember 54:19 they came and brought a plaque in his honor 54:22 because he had been immigrant that came 54:25 and he had grown through the ranks. 54:29 And when he entered into the baptistery 54:31 he said the following. 54:34 "I was baptized when I was a baby 54:36 but I had no part in it. 54:39 My family and parents loved me 54:40 and wanted to assure my salvation. 54:43 But as I studied the scriptures I see 54:45 that there must be repentance 54:47 and there must be a change of heart. 54:49 I have done things in my life that I'm sorry for. 54:53 And I have tried to cover them up with what I have done. 54:57 But now I realize that God has a better plan. 55:01 God is the one that can bury things 55:03 that you never have to worry about them again." 55:06 So he said "Today I have invited you 55:09 to celebrate my birthday. 55:12 I'm being born today as I'm baptized." 55:17 And he said "I thank to the Lord 55:20 that all my sins can finally be buried and put away." 55:27 And he was baptized. 55:29 And friends, listen I too came to the place in my life 55:34 where there are lot of things 55:37 that I regretted and wish I had never done. 55:43 And I'd never knew 55:44 that one could have a new beginning, a fresh start. 55:50 I was always afraid 55:51 that somebody may open that closet door 55:53 and discover the ugly things in my past. 55:56 Do you understand what I'm saying? 55:58 And how grateful I was at last to discover 56:02 that through baptism I could at last close the door 56:08 and know that my life was washed 56:12 in the blood of the Lamb. 56:16 My friends, through Christ you can have that privilege. 56:21 What do you say? 56:23 How many of you here tonight will have to lift up your hand 56:25 and say "Lord, thank you that we can have a fresh start. 56:30 Thank You that you give new beginnings. 56:33 Thank You that all of our sins could be washed away." 56:36 Let us pray. 56:38 Our Father and our God, 56:42 we see then that as human beings 56:45 we try to cover up and hide and bury things 56:49 that we wished no one would ever know. 56:53 But we recognize that all of our efforts 56:56 are feeble efforts, futile 56:59 that devil accuse and bringing them 57:00 back to our attention reminding us. 57:03 But thank you Lord, 57:05 that in Christ we can be washed 57:07 all of our sins could be removed 57:10 and in baptism we can have a fresh start. 57:13 Thank You for that new beginning 57:15 in Jesus name, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17