Participants: Pr. Louis Torres
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000725
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01:00 Welcome to Bible Prophecy Exposed.
01:03 We've been digging up the past 01:04 now we're looking to the future 01:05 and we're just glad that you're with us this evening. 01:07 Boy, it's been an exciting series 01:09 and as we gone further and further 01:11 with Pastor Louis Torres it's been exciting to me. 01:14 I am just glad that you can be part of it 01:17 and all of you are here and let's just ask the Lord 01:19 to bless us as we again have a very important study today. 01:23 Let's just bow our heads and pray together. 01:26 Father in heaven, today we're indeed grateful 01:28 that as we are digging up the future, 01:30 as we're looking at Bible prophecy 01:33 that You've promised to be with us. 01:34 You've said that your words are spirit 01:36 and that they are life and so we ask Your Holy Spirit 01:40 to be with us today 01:42 and be with our speaker Pastor Torres 01:44 as he opens the word to us and we thank You 01:47 and we come on the our power name of Jesus, 01:50 our master and our king, amen and amen. 01:55 We're delighted again to have another special number 01:58 and Chris Albrecht is going to be playing for us, 02:03 "He Giveth More Grace." 05:32 Thank you so much, Chris. 05:35 My wife a former concert violinist Carol 05:39 said to me that her favorite instrument was the trumpet. 05:43 And certainly I can understand why now. 05:48 This evening we are going to be studying the subject 05:51 God's grace for the millions. 05:54 But I like you to join me 05:55 with added word of prayer as we begin. 05:57 Our father, as we study Your holy word 06:00 we thank You for it. 06:02 You've promised Your spirit 06:03 to quicken our minds and impress our hearts. 06:07 We asked you to do that for us just now 06:10 in Jesus name, amen. 06:14 In the year 1794 06:17 the dungeons of France and Paris 06:21 in particular were filled 06:23 with people destined for the guillotines. 06:28 One particular night, an old man 06:30 was cast into the guillotine-- 06:32 into the dungeons destined for the guillotines 06:35 and as he stumbled through the dark dungeons 06:41 he tripped over a sleeping form. 06:46 As he was about to rise 06:48 he caught the face of the individual 06:52 who was dead asleep 06:53 and it turn out to be his own son. 06:57 Not wishing to awaken him 07:00 he thought next to his son as he sat there 07:05 what could he do to deliver his boy 07:08 from the terrible fate that awaited him. 07:13 He sat there all night long 07:14 and just before dawn it struck him 07:19 and he thought I got it. 07:22 He and I have the same name 07:25 and so when the soldiers came in 07:28 and they called for Pear 07:32 he responded, here I'm John Pear. 07:37 Come with us. 07:38 And so he went with the soldiers, 07:42 they came to the registry 07:44 and there a soldier read his name again, 07:48 John Pear age 37. 07:52 Well the old man said the name was correct, 07:56 the age is incorrect 73. 08:00 Oh, the soldiers had done mistake 08:03 and scratched out 37 changed it to 73 08:07 and the old man was taken to the guillotines 08:10 where he lost his life. 08:12 Later on that morning, 08:14 the young man as he awakened 08:18 he wondered why his name had not been called 08:22 and finally somebody came close to him 08:25 and said last night an old man was sitting next to you, 08:30 he was thrown in here last night 08:31 and I see sat all night long finally 08:34 when your name was called he responded in your place. 08:41 That young man wondered 08:44 who in the world would take his place. 08:49 And he did not know until July 28th of that same year 08:54 Robespierre himself, 08:56 the leader of the reign of terror 08:58 was cast to the guillotines 08:59 and all the prisoners were set free 09:02 and when the young man arrived at home 09:04 is when he discovered 09:06 who took his place, his own father. 09:11 And my friends, 2,000 years ago 09:15 when your name and my name were called, Jesus responded. 09:22 what do you say? Amen. 09:27 Tonight as we consider this subject of grace, 09:31 perhaps I can ask you a question 09:33 if I would to ask you the question 09:35 what is grace what is to that most people 09:39 give as a definition? 09:41 Why most people say unmerited favor. 09:46 Well, that sounds like a wonderful definition 09:48 but let's consider that. 09:50 If I told you that I am giving you a gift 09:54 and you ask me what is it I-- 09:57 and I say something you don't deserve. 09:59 Have I told you what it is? Yes or no? 10:03 Well the answer of course is, no. 10:06 Just because you give a nice definition to something 10:09 it doesn't mean you really have given the definition. 10:12 What is grace? 10:14 Is it just something you don't deserve? 10:17 Well, true we don't deserve but what is it? 10:20 If you ask me what is the gift something you don't deserve 10:24 or what is it something you don't deserve. 10:26 I still I'm not telling what is it is. 10:29 So what is grace? 10:33 The scripture says in the Book of Ephesians 2:8. 10:38 Ephesians 2:8 10:40 "For by grace have you been saved through faith 10:46 and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God" 10:51 Now notice the Bible says, 10:52 by grace have you been saved 10:55 and not of yourselves it is the gift of God. 10:59 Let's consider that. 11:02 God says that what saves us is something called grace. 11:07 And people just say it's unmerited favor. 11:10 But it still does not tell us exactly what it is 11:13 and therefore we must go into the Bible to discover 11:16 what this wonderful word really means. 11:19 So let's-- let's look at another text 11:21 in the Book of Acts 4:33. 11:25 Acts 4:33 11:27 notice what it says there, as you look at it. 11:30 Acts 4:33 notice in the screen it says 11:32 "And with great power gave the apostles witness 11:37 of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 11:40 and great grace was upon them all." 11:45 Now let's consider that text, 11:47 notice it says that they were able to give great witness 11:52 because they had great power. 11:55 But what was it that gave him the great power. 11:57 Well, it says great grace was upon them all. 12:03 So, let's consider that, 12:05 if great power was upon them all 12:07 then what gave them the great power? 12:08 Great grace. 12:10 Suppose they only have little grace 12:12 then how much power would they have had? 12:15 Little power. 12:16 And so, they had great power 12:19 because God had given them great grace. 12:24 Now its-- it's easy to understand 12:26 why Paul then said in Romans 1:16 12:32 notice what it says. 12:33 Romans1:16 the scripture says 12:38 "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ 12:42 for it is the power," The what? 12:46 "It is the power of God unto salvation." 12:49 Notice here, the gospel has power, 12:53 the gospel is power. 12:56 So, the word here in the Greek, 12:59 by the way power is actually 13:04 comes from what we have to they as dynamite 13:08 and in the Greek is Dunamis. 13:09 So, the gospel is dynamite power. 13:15 Isn't that amazing? Amen. 13:17 And so you find then that grace 13:19 is not something that is abstract 13:22 but something that is real. 13:24 God gives real power. 13:29 God provides something called grace. 13:34 Paul himself understood the price of grace 13:38 when he said in 1 Corinthians 15:10 13:41 notice what he says, 13:43 "But by the grace of God" by what? 13:45 "By the grace of God I am what I am 13:49 and his grace was bestowed upon me" 13:54 that was bestowed upon me pardon me "was not in vain, 13:57 but I labored more abundantly than they all. 14:01 Yet not I, but" what does it say 14:03 "the grace of God which was with me." 14:07 In other words, Paul says 14:10 I am when I am and the reason I am when I am 14:13 is because I have received grace 14:16 and that grace has enabled me 14:19 to preach with far more power the good news of salvation 14:24 and that's why I am what I am 14:27 because God's grace has done wonderful things for me. 14:32 When you think of grace then 14:34 you think then of something that God provides 14:37 that you and I do not have. 14:40 In other words, the human agent 14:44 is not able to change himself, 14:47 he cannot accomplish things for God 14:50 without the power of God in him 14:53 and if a person is going to become godly 14:57 then that person needs that which comes from without 15:01 and somehow mysteriously enters within 15:04 and enables him to do that 15:06 which otherwise in his own strength 15:08 he could never accomplish. 15:09 And so, God then provides mysterious power 15:14 to take a human being and enable him 15:17 to accomplish great things for God. 15:19 Isn't that good news? Amen. 15:21 So, the divine grace is God's power. 15:26 But let me say this to you 15:29 grace also has with it forgiveness 15:33 and so it has the power to forgive 15:36 and the power to enable the individual 15:39 to live in harmony with that 15:42 which he had to be forgiven for. 15:44 In other words, as a sinner you and I 15:47 constantly sin against God. 15:50 We're told in the scriptures that all have sin 15:53 and come short of the glory of God. 15:56 Now since we have sin in order to escape from sin 16:00 we cannot do it by ourselves 16:01 and so God then must provide something 16:04 that you and I don't have and that is called forgiveness 16:07 and power to over come. 16:11 Now if God only provided forgiveness 16:13 as a lot of people think grace simply means 16:18 then you and I would have to be confessing, 16:20 confessing, confessing, confessing, 16:22 confessing all through eternity. 16:25 But I'm here to tell you tonight, 16:27 that there is good news, we are not stuck in a mud. 16:31 By God's grace you do not have to continue 16:35 the process of just confessing, confessing, confessing. 16:39 God is able through His grace to give you power 16:43 so that you can live above that which we call sin 16:47 and that is good news. 16:49 That's why Paul says, 16:50 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. 16:53 Just think of it if Paul had preached 16:56 and Paul had never seen the drunkard become sober. 17:03 If Paul had preached and he had never seen 17:07 the wife beater become a loving husband. 17:11 If Paul had preached and he had never seen the liar, 17:15 become truthful. 17:16 If Paul had preached 17:18 and the sinner had not become a saint 17:20 then Paul could have been ashamed. 17:23 But Paul says, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ 17:28 because it is the power of God unto salvation. 17:32 And you well now can understand 17:35 why Paul was so excited by this thing called grace. 17:38 But listen I hear a lot of people talking 17:42 about the grace of God 17:44 and I hear things like this on the radio 17:47 and on television preachers will say, 17:51 we are under the dispensation of grace here 17:56 and the people in the Old Testament 17:58 live by the law. 18:00 And so in the Old Testament people were saved by the law, 18:03 in the New Testament people are saved by grace. 18:06 And in fact, they quoted a statement that simply says 18:10 that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18:13 So, the assumption is that grace appeared 18:16 when Christ appeared on this earth. 18:19 But listen that is not exactly true 18:22 I'll tell you why, 18:24 because there are scripture that help us to understand 18:27 that grace is not just all of a sudden appeared 18:30 when Jesus Christ came to this earth. 18:32 Let me show you a few texts that will help 18:34 underscore what I have just said. 18:36 If we were to read in the scriptures 18:40 notice Ephesians 3:20 18:42 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding 18:44 abundantly above all that we ask or think, 18:47 according to the power that worketh in us. 18:51 The Grace-- the power of God, 18:53 which cooperates with the will of man 18:55 for the eradication of all sinful tendencies." 18:59 In other words, man has always been a sinner 19:02 and since man has always been a sinner 19:04 since the fall of mankind he has always needed grace. 19:10 Let me show you from the Book of Timothy what it says. 19:15 I'm gonna skip the slide right now 19:17 because I have already expressed that 19:19 but let me just share with you from 2 Timothy 1:9. 19:25 Notice what it says, "Who hath saved us, 19:30 and called us with an holy calling, 19:34 not according to our works, 19:37 but according to his own purpose and grace" 19:42 And notice it says that the Lord has saved us 19:45 and called us with a holy calling 19:48 not according to our works 19:50 but accordingly to His own purpose and grace 19:53 now notice the next part of this text 19:56 "Which was given unto us in Christ Jesus" 20:00 and what are the next few words "before the world began." 20:06 So, when was grace given to us? 20:08 Well, it says there before the world began. 20:13 Obviously grace is something that comes from the Lord 20:17 and the Lord always existed and therefore 20:19 He always provided that wonderful thing 20:22 called grace for mans needs. 20:31 Paul further states, 20:33 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 20:37 that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help" when? 20:42 "In time of need." 20:45 Can you see now tonight 20:48 as we consider this statement today 20:52 that the scriptures underscore the reality 20:55 that mankind isn't capable in his own strength 20:59 to accomplish that which God desires for him. 21:04 And because man is weak God then provides 21:07 that wonderful thing called grace. 21:10 And the scripture says, to help when? 21:14 In time of need. 21:15 Have you ever been in need? 21:17 Have you ever had conflicts in your heart? 21:19 Have you ever had challenges in your life 21:22 where you felt that you needed something beyond 21:24 what you could muster up in your own strength? 21:27 And the answer is of course, yes. 21:28 All of us have and that's why God provides 21:31 this wonderful mysterious thing called grace. 21:35 And it was given to us before the world began. 21:41 Speaking about grace I want you to notice 21:43 that the scripture says even Noah found grace. 21:48 Now notice it doesn't say anything 21:52 other than what Noah needed. 21:55 See, when Noah lived in his time, 21:58 Noah was surrounded the Bible says 22:00 with wickedness and fact that the Bible says that 22:04 there was so much wickedness 22:05 that God finally had to act and bring an end 22:10 to the wickedness of that antediluvian people. 22:13 But listen the Bible says, that God gave to Noah grace. 22:21 What did Noah need grace for? 22:23 Well, Noah needed the grace of God 22:26 the power of God to resist the tide of temptation 22:31 that was present in his day. 22:33 Noah needed the grace of God to enable him 22:35 to live in harmony with God's will 22:37 and the Bible says that Noah also needed grace, 22:41 you know, that to obey. 22:43 And so by faith the Bible says Noah obeyed. 22:49 God enabled them through faith 22:52 as we read in the Ephesians 2:8 22:54 for Noah to receive the grace that he needed 22:56 in honor for him to be true to God, 22:59 build an ark and finally land on a dry shore 23:04 after the tremendous flood that hit the earth. 23:08 Noah needed the grace. 23:09 Now, the question is this, when did Noah live? 23:12 Well, Noah lived back almost 2,000 years 23:17 after creation or about 4,000 years ago. 23:22 Did Noah need grace? Yes. 23:23 Did God provide it? The answer is absolutely so. 23:27 God provided grace. 23:28 Now we think of another time of earth's history. 23:31 It was a time for God's people 23:34 to be brought out of the bondage of Egypt. 23:38 When God decided to bring those people out of Egypt, 23:42 God had to provide for those people 23:45 the enabling power for them to obey 23:48 and by faith to do all 23:50 that we read about in the scriptures 23:52 concerning what God accomplished for them 23:54 during the wilderness. 23:55 But I want you to notice something interesting 23:57 in the Book of Jeremiah 31:2, 24:01 Jeremiah 31:2 notice what the scripture says. 24:05 "Thus saith the Lord, 24:07 the people which were left of the sword found" 24:11 what did they find? 24:12 "Found grace" 24:15 but where did they find that grace? 24:17 While it says, "They found grace 24:20 in the wilderness even Israel, 24:22 when I went to cause him to rest." 24:25 So, do you see my friends, no one has ever been saved 24:31 or shall ever be saved apart from the grace of God. 24:36 The people in the Old Testament needed God's grace 24:39 and the people in the New Testament 24:41 needed the God's grace. 24:42 And what do you suppose today, 24:44 do you and I need God's grace today? 24:46 What's the answer? Of course, amen. 24:49 And aren't you thankful that God is willing 24:53 to provide for you that thing called grace. 24:57 I am so thankful for that. 24:59 But listen let's continue 25:02 why is it then that God provides grace? 25:06 Well, the Lord says, He provides grace 25:09 because its something called sin. 25:12 In fact, in the Bible in the Book of Romans 5:20 25:18 notice that it says, 25:19 "Moreover where the law entered, 25:24 that the offence might abound. 25:27 But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." 25:34 Think of it, it says then 25:37 that where sin abounded grace did much more abound. 25:43 Where there is sin God then provides what? 25:46 Grace. 25:50 You and I as sinners then need that wonderful element 25:56 that mysterious power that somehow 25:59 enters into the human fiber and enables us 26:03 to accomplish what we could never accomplish 26:07 in our own strength. 26:09 God provides that thing called grace. 26:12 And so Paul says where sin abounded-- 26:16 where there is a lot of sin grace does much more abound. 26:20 In other words grace is far more powerful than sin. 26:24 Praise the Lord for that. 26:26 Good news what do you say? 26:29 But the question is this, what is sin? 26:32 According to the scriptures 26:33 sin is the transgression of the Lord God. 26:38 Notice what it says, in the book of John, 26:41 1 John 3:4, 1 John 3:4. 26:46 Notice it says there 26:49 "Whosoever committed sin transgresseth also the law 26:53 for sin is the transgression of the law." 26:58 Now consider that, the Bible says 27:02 then that when you and I sin, 27:05 you and I are transgressing the law of God 27:09 but what does it mean to transgress? 27:12 What does it actually mean? 27:14 Well, when you and I do something wrong 27:20 in actuality what we doing is violating the law of God. 27:25 Let me give you some example in the scriptures. 27:29 If we were to turn to the Book of Genesis 27:32 and read to them occasion 27:35 where Adam and Eve were tempted. 27:38 In the Book of Genesis Chapter 3, 27:40 I want you to notice something very interesting. 27:43 The scripture says in chapter 3 verse 1 27:46 if you're with me in Genesis 3:1. 27:49 "Now the serpent was more subtle 27:53 than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. 27:56 And he said unto the woman, 27:58 Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat 28:02 of every tree of the garden?" 28:03 Notice it's in a situation that God really say that. 28:08 Really God didn't mean that in other words. 28:10 Well, the woman said aren't you the serpent 28:12 "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden 28:15 but of the fruit of the tree 28:18 which is in mist of the garden God have said" 28:20 Notice what it says. 28:21 "You shall not eat of it, 28:23 neither shall you touch it, lest you die." 28:24 There is a question, did this woman understand 28:27 whether she part took of the fruit 28:30 that she would die? 28:31 The answer of course is, yes. 28:33 Now notice then it says 28:35 the serpent said unto the woman, 28:36 "You shall not surely die. 28:40 For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, 28:42 then your eyes shall be opened, 28:44 and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." 28:49 Then it says, "When the woman saw 28:51 that the tree was good for food, 28:52 and that it was pleasant to the eyes, 28:55 and a tree to be desired to make one wise, 28:58 she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, 29:03 and gave also unto her husband with her 29:06 and he did eat also." 29:09 Now let's consider this, 29:11 I want you to know there's something interesting 29:13 number one, we already know that the woman understood 29:17 that if she violate what God said she would die. 29:21 Today we call that suicide 29:23 and so there is a scripture that tells us 29:27 a list of rules or commandments that God has given to us 29:32 concerning how we are to behave from reference to our God 29:35 and in reference to mankind. 29:37 And one of those commandments says, 29:39 "Thou shalt not kill." 29:42 But I want you to notice something also the Bible says 29:45 that this woman saw that the tree was good for food 29:48 and it was pleasant to the eyes and tree to be desire. 29:51 Now what commandment covers that? 29:53 Well the scripture says, "Thou shalt not covet." 29:57 In other words, Eve was violating 29:59 not just one commandment 30:01 now we discover she is violating two commandments. 30:04 Thou shalt not covet. 30:06 But wait a minute, did the tree belong to her? 30:08 Did the fruit belong to her? 30:10 And the answer of course is, no. 30:12 Who did the tree belong to? Well, it belonged to God. 30:15 And what the God say? Don't take it. 30:19 Did eve take something that didn't belong to her? 30:21 What's the answer? Of course she did. 30:24 What do we call that today when somebody takes something 30:27 that doesn't belong to them? 30:29 Well, it's called stealing. 30:31 Is there a commandment in the Ten Commandments 30:33 that addresses that issue? 30:34 The answer of course is what? 30:36 Yes, God says "Thou shalt not steal." 30:41 So we see now that there are three commandments 30:43 that have been violated 30:44 but then that the devil insinuated 30:46 you shall be as God so that the idea was pleasing to her. 30:51 And what is the first commandment 30:53 of the Ten Commandments? 30:54 Thou shalt have how many? No other God before God. 30:59 So let's me ask you question, 31:01 when Eve's sin what was she actually doing? 31:04 She was actually violating the commandments of God. 31:10 Now, we're told if you break one 31:14 you break how many? 31:16 You break them all. 31:17 So in reality Eve sin and the Bible says, 31:23 sin is the transgression of what? 31:26 Of love of God. 31:28 Can you see now why the Bible reveals 31:32 what really took place? 31:33 A lot of people think 31:34 well, all Eve did was just took that fruit 31:37 and boy, she suffered tremendous for just that fruit. 31:40 The reality is this there is far more 31:44 at stake here than just the fruit. 31:47 There was a violation of the transcript 31:49 of the character of God. 31:51 God had made man and woman, 31:53 perfect able to live forever in relationship with Him. 31:58 But when man chose to become a God himself 32:02 which God have said you should not do 32:05 man then fell into transgression 32:07 and become what we call today a sinner. 32:11 And that's why you and I then inherit 32:14 the natural tendencies of our forefather's 32:17 and that's why somebody usually says 32:19 I can't help it, my dad had a bad temper. 32:26 And so we inherit tendencies and those tendencies 32:31 have the ability of leading us into what is called sin. 32:38 Sin then is a transgression of God's holy law. 32:42 But listen now you see then 32:45 that the law was present there in the Garden of Eden 32:48 and the law has always been present 32:50 and that's why when man fell God provided 32:53 that wonderful thing called grace. 32:55 God forgave man and also gave him the ability 32:59 to come back into harmony with His perfect law. 33:03 And that grace was provided through Jesus Christ. 33:07 Man has always needed the grace of God after the fall 33:11 and man shall always need the grace of God 33:14 until the day that Jesus comes back. 33:17 It is through God's grace His keeping power 33:20 that you and I can live in harmony with God's will. 33:24 Well, listen, the Bible clearly says 33:28 that the law then helps us to understand what sin is. 33:31 Paul wrote in Roman 7:7 "What shall we say then? 33:36 Is the law sin? God forbid. 33:40 Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law 33:44 for I had not known lust" Which is what Eve did, correct. 33:49 "I would not have known lust, except the law had said" what? 33:53 "Thou shalt not covet." 33:54 You see, Paul clearly understands 33:57 that Eve herself lusted after the fruit 34:01 and therefore committed sin or violated the law 34:04 and Paul himself says, I would not have understood 34:07 that lusting was bad unless there was a commandment 34:10 that said thou shalt not covet. 34:14 Paul wrote often times about this Great War 34:20 that takes place in the flesh because of the tendency 34:23 to the desires of the heart. 34:25 But he also brings to light the reality 34:28 that man doesn't have to be stuck in the mud. 34:32 I remember when I was a young boy in New York City, 34:35 growing up in New York sitting in class 34:37 and the teacher making a statement 34:40 which kind of made me feel like 34:42 I was locked into a certain mode. 34:46 He said this, he said psychiatrists 34:49 and psychologists have just concluded 34:50 that if you happen to be born of a Puerto Rican family 34:54 and your father happened to be drinker 34:57 and he carry the switchblade in his back pocket 35:01 that you will also be the same. 35:05 Well, you then realize it but it so happen that 35:09 I was a Puerto Rican and number two, 35:12 that my dad was a drinker who abounded the family 35:15 and I tell you about that later 35:18 and also that he happen to be fighter 35:20 and did carry a knife around. 35:22 And I taught to myself 35:23 when the professor said that I am stuck. 35:29 And in fact it was that kind of thinking 35:33 that let me later on into getting into gangs 35:36 and fighting et cetera. 35:38 I thought well, if this is the way 35:41 I am gonna have to live for the rest of my life 35:43 I better make the best of it. 35:46 My friends, God provides grace. 35:50 What does He provide? Grace. 35:52 To get us out of those moles 35:55 that mankind and sin has set for us. 36:00 And He provides grace so that we can overcome 36:03 that terrible thing called Sin. 36:05 And so Paul very plainly makes it clear 36:09 that God's grace is an antidote for that thing called sin. 36:15 Now, let's consider what the law really is. 36:18 According to the scriptures 36:19 I am just gonna show you a few text here 36:21 and the scriptures so you can see. 36:23 It says that "The Law of God is perfect." 36:25 Psalms 19:7 36:27 In fact it says that the Law of the Lord 36:29 is perfect converting the sole. 36:32 It also says in Romans 7:12 36:34 "It is Holy, Just and Good." 36:38 It's it is the Law of Righteousness 36:41 Psalms 119:172 36:43 and same chapter verse 42, it says 36:47 it is Truth and of course Jesus himself said 36:51 I have not come to destroy the law or the prophets. 36:54 By the way, Jesus was actually referring to Psalms 119 36:59 which is the longest Psalm in the Bible 37:02 and that Psalm is divided up 37:04 into the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. 37:07 Each eight verses begin with the first letter, 37:12 the second letter, the third letter, 37:13 the fourth letter. 37:14 If you have a Bible you could look at it right there 37:17 and you can see all the Hebrew alphabet 37:20 beginning with each eighth or ninth verse. 37:24 So you have eight verses then nine to sixteen 37:27 and then seventeenth and on. 37:29 Each one has the letter and when Jesus said, 37:32 "Not one jot or tittle shall be removed 37:34 from the law to all be fulfilled." 37:36 He was actually referring to the jot 37:38 is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet 37:42 and the tittle is an action mark. 37:45 And what Jesus was saying was 37:47 that not one of the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet 37:51 nor one action mark will be removed 37:54 from the law till law be fulfilled. 37:56 So here is the question, 37:57 when will this law come to an end? 37:59 Obviously the law cannot come to an end 38:02 because Jesus himself referring to Psalms 119 38:05 tells us that not the letter jot 38:08 nor the punctuation action mark 38:11 will be removed until all be fulfilled. 38:14 Well, that should help us to understand 38:17 the role that the law plays. 38:19 In fact, let me give you another illustration here. 38:24 The Bible says, "They that forsake the law praise" who? 38:28 Praise not pardon me, "praise the wicked 38:31 but such as keep the law contend with them." 38:33 In other words, if I am a person that turns away 38:40 from the law then I will do wickedness. 38:45 But if I keep the law I would contend against wickedness. 38:51 Not too long ago there was a certain judge 38:54 in the southern part of America 38:56 that wanted to put the Ten Commandments up 38:58 in the walls of his chambers. 39:01 And that began to become the great controversy 39:04 in North America over the Ten Commandments 39:06 and still its today. 39:09 But let me ask you a question. 39:11 If everyone in this town in Wichita, Kansas 39:15 were to keep just the letter of the law 39:18 what kind of city would you have? 39:22 You wouldn't have to have a police department. 39:24 You wouldn't have to have an army. 39:26 You wouldn't have to have a government. 39:28 In other words, you would have perfect citizens 39:31 and I am just talking about just the letter of the law 39:34 you wouldn't have locksmiths, 39:36 you wouldn't have to have locks on your doors. 39:38 You would be living in what? In heaven, on earth. 39:43 Just by keeping the what? The letter of the law. 39:47 But it is possible for us even to keep the letter of the law. 39:51 Where is the answer? No. 39:53 So the Bible says 39:54 that you and I need that thing called grace. 39:58 The law of God is like a mirror 40:01 many of you have gone to the mirror 40:05 before you came to the meetings. 40:07 You went and look there to see if your hair was in place, 40:10 you also wanted to make sure 40:12 that your face was clean or that you added sometime 40:14 to your face to make yourself more attractive. 40:17 But anyway whichever the case maybe 40:19 the mirror simply serves 40:21 to help you to see what you look like. 40:24 Now, you obviously don't take the mirror off the wall 40:27 if you discover that your face is dirty 40:29 and decide to try to clean yourself with the mirror. 40:32 That's not the place of the mirror, 40:34 the mirror simply reveals what you are like 40:37 but if you want cleansing you have to go to the water. 40:40 And so it is with the sinner. 40:42 When he see's himself 40:44 in contradiction of the law of God 40:46 and recognize his deformity where must he go? 40:51 He must go to the water of life to find cleansing. 40:54 And so the law simply reveals sin 40:58 and it doesn't provide power. 41:03 That's why the Bible says it is the grace 41:06 that gives you the power to come into harmony 41:09 with the law of God. 41:12 So the law actually points out sin 41:15 that's the function of God's law. 41:18 Now, the Bible says then Paul again writing, 41:27 he was having a struggle in his life. 41:31 And some commentators believe that the struggle 41:33 was that some how he had eye problem's 41:37 physically eye problems. 41:39 And he wanted God to remove this impediment 41:43 so that he could be more effective 41:45 and he asked God to remove it 41:47 but finally the Lord said to him, 41:50 my grace, my what? 41:53 "My grace is sufficient for thee." 41:56 Now, I want you to notice what it says there. 41:59 Notice that it first says, My grace is sufficient for you 42:03 then it says for My strength, 42:05 notice, first he says my grace and then he says 42:08 "my strength is made perfect in weakness. 42:13 Then it says "Most gladly therefore 42:15 will I rather glory in my infirmities, 42:17 that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 42:21 There you have it, you see 42:23 it says grace, straight, and power. 42:27 Three words they are just marvelous 42:30 which helps us to understand that Paul had this infirmity 42:34 and he wanted it to be removed 42:36 but God said to him it's all right Paul, 42:40 My grace My power sufficient for you 42:43 and Paul then was satisfy. 42:46 That God will give him the grace 42:47 to live with his infirmities. 42:49 There's some of you out there 42:51 who may be thinking to yourselves 42:53 oh, why was I born this way? 42:55 I'm handicapped or I have this problem why why oh, God. 42:59 Why don't You remove it? 43:02 I think friends that often times God permits things 43:07 to take place so that it could be a witness to others 43:12 as to what the grace of God can do in a human being. 43:16 In other words, I remember one time in Romania, 43:21 a man who used to come to my series of meetings. 43:24 There are rough 4,000 people in the audience 43:27 and this particular man had several fingers missing. 43:32 So he had three fingers in one hand 43:34 and these two fingers were missing in this hand. 43:36 So he had three fingers here 43:38 and there are these three fingers. 43:39 So, he had these three and these three. 43:44 And so he came in a motorcycle 43:49 and this man had no legs as well. 43:52 So he had several fingers missing, 43:54 no legs but he rode a motorcycle 43:57 and he came with his motorcycle 43:58 and back of his motorcycle he had a wheelchair. 44:01 So he would come and stop at the meeting 44:03 yank out his wheelchair put it down 44:06 pick himself up put himself in the wheelchair 44:08 and roll himself into the auditorium. 44:11 The wonderful thing is that this man was carver as well. 44:14 And such a carver that people from all over Europe 44:18 would come and visit him just by his works. 44:21 And I asked him how do you accomplish that? 44:23 He said by God's grace. 44:25 By what? By God's grace. 44:28 A wonderful testimony of the power of God 44:31 to enable people in this sin filled world, 44:35 with all the problem that it brings 44:37 that God provides us strength and fortitude 44:42 to be able to deal with the challenges of life 44:44 and over come where we need over coming. 44:47 So the grace of God. 44:51 Paul says my grace is sufficient for you. 44:54 Now, let me -- let me give you 44:56 some practical-- a practical illustration 45:00 concerning a thing called grace. 45:03 I was born in Puerto Rico back in the times 45:09 when it was very, very difficult in Puerto Rican 45:12 to live and my mother who was very poor 45:14 moved from her home town to San Juan to find work. 45:18 My dad who I discover later on was not poor 45:22 but just went on drinking left his home town 45:25 and went to San Juan also and my mother 45:28 and dad met together there. 45:30 After six children I was the number five, 45:34 then there was a little girl that came along 45:35 but when I was six months old 45:37 my dad decided to do something 45:43 about his relationship with my mother 45:45 and here's what happened. 45:46 One day, my mother was walking out in the streets 45:49 and she had a girlfriend and her girlfriend 45:53 happened to be without a place to stay. 45:55 So mother then invited that woman to move in with our-- 45:59 with us and we have only have little shanty. 46:02 In fact not too long ago, 46:03 I met a man who was a sailor in Puerto Rico 46:06 when I was born 46:08 and when I was about five years old pardon me 46:10 and he says that he had never seen 46:12 such a poor place in all his life 46:15 as he saw there in Puerto Rico. 46:16 The place was called El Fanguito 46:18 which means literally the mud place. 46:21 And so all we had was a little shanty 46:24 and that where-- where we lived. 46:26 Well, that woman moved in with us 46:30 and I don't know how long it took 46:33 but before long my dad and that woman 46:36 ran off together. 46:38 And so my mother was devastated. 46:42 Here she had done a favor for her friend, 46:45 took her in out of the street, 46:47 out of the elements and woman repays my mother 46:52 with running off with her husband 46:53 and leaving her 46:54 with six children to raise by herself. 46:57 It punched my mother into greatest despair 47:00 and I remember from the time I was a little boy 47:05 and from the time I could remember, 47:07 my mother whenever something bad took place in the home, 47:11 she will always think of that woman 47:13 and she would say God curse that woman wherever she is. 47:19 Well, you can understand my mother's feelings. 47:20 Well, finally my little sister died 47:25 who my mother adored. 47:27 She always wanted a girl, 47:29 and every time she tried she had a boy. 47:31 Finally she had a girl and she was delighted 47:33 that she had a girl and then our little sister 47:36 because of our poorest condition dies. 47:38 And I remember my mother with a heart tears 47:40 again thinking of that woman and saying God curse her. 47:45 Finally, my mother got together 47:47 with another man and another child 47:49 came along what do you suppose it was another boy. 47:52 And so now were six boys 47:54 but my stepfather decided to move us to New York 47:57 because they had heard so much about, 48:00 the land of good in plenty. 48:01 People would say that you could find gold-- 48:04 money in the streets of all that New York. 48:06 And so my mother and my stepfather 48:08 moved to New York but they could only afford 48:10 to take three of us boys. 48:12 So we went to New York City with mother and step dad. 48:15 He set us up in one of those small one room efficiencies 48:19 and then he went back to Puerto Rico to work 48:21 to get the other three boys to come 48:24 but unfortunately after several months 48:27 my mother received a telegram 48:30 and the telegram simply said your husband is dead. 48:36 We don't know what happened 48:38 we just know that he passed away. 48:41 It again plunged my dear mother and to great disperse 48:44 because three boys across the ocean, 48:50 no husband, she couldn't speak English 48:52 and three boys they're with her. 48:55 And I remember mother weeping again 48:58 and I remember my dear mother 48:59 remembering that woman and saying 49:01 God curse that woman wherever she is. 49:05 Now she find no rest to her soul. 49:08 Trouble her consciously oh, God curse her. 49:12 Well, mother 49:19 I don't know how she worked it out 49:21 but finally she got a job in the factory 49:26 we have to take care of each other 49:27 and she got enough money to bring one 49:30 and then the other and finally we are all together. 49:33 This is the picture of five of us 49:35 with my mother back in New York City 49:38 in Brooklyn, New York. 49:40 And so now we were together 49:43 and mother begins to rise us in the gallows 49:45 because all she could afford was gallows. 49:47 Well, she moves then to another place 49:50 and another gallows and finally she got sick. 50:00 She was told by the physician 50:01 that she had cancer and in those days 50:03 of course there was no remedy for cancer 50:06 rather than just try to cut off some parts from your body. 50:11 Mother again I remember her weeping. 50:16 She prayed Oh, God, don't take my life now. 50:19 Not for me but for my boys. 50:22 Lord, if I'm taken they will have no one. 50:25 Please let me live until they are old enough 50:28 to take care of themselves. 50:30 Oh, God, and then she would say but curse that woman. 50:37 While she's praying on the one hand for mercy 50:39 she also remembering that the terrible woman 50:41 that did what she did to her. 50:43 God curse that woman. 50:45 Well, while mother was sick a woman showed up 50:51 to help nurse my mother back to health. 50:54 We didn't know who she was to begin with 50:56 her name was Lolita. 50:57 This is her and Lolita spends time 51:01 with my mother in the bedside 51:04 helping her to get back into health. 51:07 The lady disappeared. 51:09 Later on I discovered who this Lolita was, 51:13 this Lolita was a wife of my dad's. 51:17 But here is the strange thing 51:19 my father without woman number two, 51:22 had left Puerto Rico and went to Chicago. 51:26 There in Chicago he left that woman number two 51:29 and found woman number three 51:31 and that woman number three was Lolita. 51:34 Lolita by God's grace heard a problem 51:38 called a voice of prophecy and began to study 51:41 the Word of God the grace of God 51:43 began to change her and through her influence 51:45 my dad also began to study the Word of God 51:48 and here is grace God's wonderful grace 51:51 began to make marvelous changes in my dad's life 51:55 and my dad and Lolita became converted 51:57 they were baptized and then decided 52:00 that they were go back to New York to reach us. 52:07 Well, finally God's grace began to change my life 52:12 I was in show business at that time 52:14 and I'll tell you more about it and I performed for eight years 52:16 in show business and the last group 52:18 I was performing was Bill Haley and the Comets, 52:21 the fame father of rock and roll. 52:23 But I left show business because of the grace of God 52:29 as God's grace began to work in my heart 52:31 I could see then that God had wonderful power 52:35 and through His power by His grace 52:38 I was able to leave the formal life 52:40 and take up a new walk in Christ. 52:43 Then my youngest brother and my other brothers 52:47 and to make a long story short, my mother herself 52:50 was transformed by the grace of God. 52:53 By the time then I was in show business 52:55 mother was into-- into spiritualism. 53:00 She had all sorts of idols and statues and things 53:02 around our house and at the same time 53:03 she would pray to the saints. 53:06 Mother was quite involved 53:08 in a lot of kind of interesting things. 53:11 Well, finally when the grace of God 53:14 began to work in our heart 53:16 my mother then gave up all those things, 53:19 accepted Christ and decided to follow His ways. 53:24 Well, here's what happens. 53:27 I become a preacher 53:29 and I'm asked to go to Chicago to preach in Chicago 53:33 and my brother then also my oldest brother 53:36 who became a minister moved to Chicago as well. 53:39 Well, I was visiting there my brother said 53:41 that I got a idea, because I discovered 53:44 that while he was knocking on doors 53:47 he came and across guess what? 53:49 Woman number two. 53:51 And so he taught it would be a great idea 53:54 to get that woman to come and listen to me preach. 53:56 Then he had another idea he thought 53:59 why don't we invite mother to come hear you preach? 54:02 And so, he and I worked it together 54:06 we paid the trip for mother to come 54:08 to hear me preach in Spanish 54:09 because my mother had never heard me speak in Spanish. 54:12 And so when she arrived my wife and I 54:15 and she were together with my brother. 54:17 My brother took us to the church 54:18 dropped us off in the foyer and said I'll be right back. 54:21 You see, he did not tell my mother what he was up to. 54:25 And so he takes off 54:28 and we're waiting there in the foyer 54:30 and people are coming in and finally, 54:33 finally the door opens and my mother 54:36 who was looking down at the floor looks up 54:39 and the door opens, 54:40 as the door opens and walks lady number two. 54:46 And when she entered that door she froze 54:51 because even though 35 years had transpired 54:56 she merely recognized my mother 54:58 and mother immediately recognize her. 55:02 And I wondered then what mother would do 55:04 after so many years of suffering 55:08 as a result of the treasury 55:10 that she suffered from her friend. 55:12 I wonder what mother would do 55:15 and I'll never forget my friends, 55:16 as I stood there watching this episode, 55:18 this woman frozen, turned pale 55:22 and my mother looking at her. 55:25 I remember what happened, her cheeks began to quiver, 55:29 tears began to come down her face. 55:32 And mother open up her arms and walk forward 55:35 and grabbed that woman and kissed her. 55:39 Oh, friends, listen, the grace of God 55:43 is able to accomplish that. 55:44 What do you saying? 55:45 Then we discovered that they were two girls 55:48 actually one girl that was born out of that relationship 55:52 and you can understand 55:54 now mother might have felt embittered 55:57 because what he wanted from dad of a girl, a daughter 56:03 was given to another woman. 56:05 And I wonder how mother would feel. 56:07 Well, we had a wedding 56:08 and my brother again invites the whole clad. 56:11 Lady number two, lady number three 56:13 and lady number one. 56:15 And they all come together and the wonderful thing is 56:20 then I saw my mother walking with my half sister 56:25 hand in hand as mother and daughter. 56:29 My friends, only the grace of God can do that for you. 56:32 What do you say? 56:33 Listen, you have bitterness in your heart 56:38 as somebody betrayed you, 56:42 as somebody done something wrong to you, 56:44 have you been unable to forgive? 56:47 Listen, the grace of God is sufficient for you. 56:52 God can give you strength and power 56:56 to overcome whatever sin you're dealing with. 56:59 How many of you here would like to say 57:02 oh God, I want that grace, give me that wonderful grace. 57:06 Let us pray. 57:08 Our Father, we thank You 57:11 for this miraculous wonderful mysterious power 57:13 that you provide Your grace. 57:15 Oh, help us we pray in Jesus name, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17