Participants: Pr. Louis Torres
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000733
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01:00 Welcome to Digging Up the Future,
01:02 Bible Prophecy Exposed. 01:03 We're just glad that you're with us today. 01:05 And you know we're thankful that we're able each day 01:08 to be looking deeper and deeper into the Bible 01:10 and the Bible's are complete system of truth. 01:13 They are also the foundational beliefs and truths 01:16 like the fact that the Bible is God's word 01:19 and then we build on that truth 01:22 and as a result our lives become simpler and simpler. 01:26 And today's topic "Vows of Freedom" 01:28 is really gonna get to the heart of that. 01:30 I'm excited about hearing this message. 01:31 I'm glad you're with us today, 01:33 glad that you're with us as well. 01:35 Let's just invite God's presence to be with us 01:37 before we open this meeting. 01:39 Father in heaven, we're thankful 01:40 that You took a vow 01:41 and You came down here to give us freedom 01:43 and today as we talk about "Vows of Freedom" 01:46 we ask that your presence would be with us to guide us 01:49 and to lead us and we thank You 01:53 and we come in Your all powerful name, 01:55 in the name of Jesus, amen. 01:58 Our special music today, 02:01 Aletheia is going to be playing on the piano a medley, 02:05 "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded." 09:58 Amen. 09:59 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 10:05 I was asked to officiate 10:06 over a wedding in the country of Romania. 10:09 I've officiated many weddings in Palau and other countries 10:14 and this particular one was interesting 10:16 because I did not know the custom 10:20 but in turn itself that the husband to be had to go 10:24 over to the wives home and knock on the door 10:30 and try to get into the house 10:32 and they were trying to dissuade him 10:34 and finally he persisted and they said all right, 10:37 come and look around and of course, 10:40 the bride to be was right in the home. 10:43 Then the-- as he found her then they got together, 10:46 they went outside and there was a band outside 10:49 and the family and the band began to play 10:52 and they escorted the couple over to the church 10:55 and there we waited those that we're going to be witnessing 10:59 as well as the participants 11:01 and finally we sat, they sat down. 11:04 And in Romania a wedding sermon is not a sermon 11:07 unless it lasts for an hour. 11:09 So the couple sits down and then you begin 11:12 and there are poems and songs and poems 11:14 and songs and then the sermon 11:16 and then the hour came for the exchange of vows. 11:22 And as they were standing there, 11:24 can you imagine if that husband to be would be thinking 11:32 as he standing next to the bride, 11:35 boy, its gonna cost me quiet a bundles to support 11:39 this young lady the rest of my life. 11:43 And I'm gonna have to let go of Sally and of Su 11:47 and of Joan et cetera. 11:49 Can you imagine him standing there thinking that way? 11:52 Is this gonna be pretty restrictive? 11:54 I'm gonna have to narrow my life 11:56 for the rest of my life just with her. 11:58 And could you imagine her 11:59 standing on the other side thinking, 12:01 boy, to be strap to this guy for the rest of life 12:04 is gonna be quiet an experience. 12:07 Now, I can tell you that both of those young people 12:09 were so anxious that I get over the vow 12:12 so that they could finally declare themselves 12:15 as husband and wife. 12:17 I think you recognize that the most restrictive vows 12:21 that people make on this planet is the vows 12:26 that they make to one each other 12:28 when a man and a woman 12:31 bring their lives together in holy matrimony. 12:36 But what is it that enables an individual 12:39 to decide to restrict themselves only to one person 12:42 for the rest of their lives? 12:44 What is it that makes an individual 12:46 decide that they are going to support a person 12:48 for the rest of their lives irrespective of the cause? 12:52 Well, its something called just four letter word "love." 12:56 What is it? It is love. 12:59 It is love that enables somebody 13:01 to get into that kind of relationship 13:04 that they are willing to commit themselves 13:07 one to the other until death do them apart. 13:11 And what a joy it is to see young people 13:14 who love each other to get together, get married 13:17 and then to live a life hopefully, happy ever after. 13:23 And so the wedding, marriage vows, 13:28 vows restrictive that any person can make on earth 13:32 and yet so many people make them willingly, anxiously 13:37 desiring the privilege to finally be together 13:40 with that person forever. 13:41 Well, when a person accepts Christ 13:45 and a person is baptized 13:46 and as since what one is doing is also making 13:50 some very, very wonderful vows. 13:53 A commitment to be the large until He returns 13:58 and then that relationship will continue on forever. 14:04 According to the Book of John Chapter 14, 14:07 then the Jesus says that "If you love Me, 14:11 you will keep My commandments." 14:13 Obviously then love is what motivates and individual 14:16 to get married and it is love 14:18 that will motivate a person to commit his life to Christ 14:21 and that which enables a person to have that relationship 14:25 is that wonderful glue that binds 14:28 the lives together called love. 14:31 When we love somebody we don't mind doing things 14:36 that otherwise we would never do. 14:39 We love to please somebody that we love, 14:41 isn't that true? 14:43 Even if it may not be that 14:45 which is most pleasant to oneself 14:48 but the fact that it pleases 14:49 somebody else you're willing to do it. 14:52 And so that's why the Bible says 14:55 that "Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, 14:58 because we keep His commandments, 15:00 and do those things that are" what? 15:03 "Pleasing in His sight." 15:05 I think you will recognize that a dear mother 15:09 that has to change the diapers of those children day after day 15:13 and perhaps sometimes or many times a day, 15:16 does it because she enjoys the aroma? 15:18 No, she does it because she loves the children. 15:21 Love then is that which enables us to do things 15:25 which otherwise we would not do except love for they. 15:31 And so the relationship that 15:33 we as Christians should have Christ 15:35 should be relationship of love and if we love the Lord 15:39 we will want to do all that pleases Him. 15:43 And so a Christian then needs to understand 15:49 that the relationship with Christ can be sweetened 15:55 and it can endure as long as there is love for Christ. 16:01 But sometimes what happens 16:02 is that people lose that love for the Lord 16:05 and then the religious experience becomes golly, 16:08 it becomes bitter and people began to think 16:11 that there is a yoke about them 16:13 and consequently wished they could get out of a yoke. 16:17 And so it turns into a relationship of fear 16:21 rather than the relationship of love 16:23 and that's not what the Lord prefers. 16:25 Now, Jesus of course says, 16:28 that if we're going to follow Him one of the things 16:30 we need to learn to do is to deny ourselves 16:35 and take up the cross daily to follow Him. 16:39 The Christian life just like the marital life 16:42 requires some giving up. 16:44 We call it sacrificing. 16:47 I know when I got married with my wife for example, 16:51 I remember the first time 16:52 she washed my clothing hung them up. 16:54 I went to the closet to get up my shirt 16:56 and discovered that my shirts were hung on backwards. 16:59 Now, you may say, how do you hang shirts on backwards? 17:02 Well, its simple I use to hang my shirts 17:04 with the buttons facing this way 17:06 and she would hang out 17:07 the shirts buttons facing this way. 17:09 Well, to me that's backwards. 17:10 So I went to get my shirt and it was so awkward 17:14 I though I was gonna have a difficult time 17:17 trying to use my left hand. 17:19 And I thought to myself why did she hang my shirts backwards, 17:22 that's not the way I hang my shirts. 17:24 Then I though well, it doesn't matter. 17:27 She's gonna be washing my shirts from here on now 17:30 so I'll just switch and so to me 17:33 it was just a matter of this is the way it is, 17:35 this is what will make her happy, 17:37 thinking it would make it easier for her 17:39 so I switched and by the way 17:40 she never knew that I made that decision, 17:42 I made that switch until about 25 years later 17:45 when we were counseling a couple premarital counseling 17:49 and I was trying to finding an example 17:51 how people are different and how when they meet together 17:54 and then I thought of that example 17:56 and began to tell the couple about this example 17:59 and the next day I went to get my shirts from the closet. 18:05 What do you suppose? She put them backwards. 18:07 And she was watching me behind the corner 18:09 and when I went to get the shirt it was awkward now 18:13 because I had been so used to the other way. 18:15 And she just laughed and laughed and laughed. 18:18 My friends, when you love somebody 18:20 you don't mind changing for them. 18:21 What do you say? 18:22 Love is what motivates us 18:25 and should motivate the Christian of all people 18:27 to deny self and to follow the master. 18:30 "So, likewise, whosoever He be of you 18:34 that forsaketh not all that he hath, 18:36 he cannot be my" what? "My disciple." 18:38 And so Christ wants us to understand that many things 18:42 that we hold on to really are not good for us 18:45 and if we let go of them we'll find a greater joy 18:47 in what Jesus gives us in exchange of that 18:51 which we have forsaken. 18:52 I'm thankful that we server a God of love. 18:54 What do you say? 18:55 That He is a God that cares about all, 18:57 about us not just our mental, not just our spiritual 19:01 but even God is concerned about our physical wellbeing 19:04 just like parents. 19:06 I remember my mother always making sure of that 19:09 we would the food that she provided. 19:11 I had to be honest with you there are sometimes 19:13 that I didn't like what she cooked 19:15 but she only cooked that 19:18 what she thought would bring good health to me. 19:20 And so parents are like that. Isn't that true? 19:23 You may not like that's been that 19:24 you may not like the greens, you may not like something 19:27 but dad or mom are not doing it to make it difficult on you 19:31 they do it because they think out of love that 19:33 this is the nutrition you need 19:34 so you can be healthy and strong. 19:37 Well, when you're going through this process 19:39 you don't think that way. 19:40 You're wishing that mom somehow would change your mind 19:44 but just as a mother who loves children 19:49 and provides for them so God does the same thing. 19:52 In fact, if we go back to the Book of Genesis, 19:55 the Book of Genesis tells us in chapter 1 verse 29 19:59 that God gave man the first diet. 20:02 The first what? The first diet. 20:04 In a perfect world God gave man a perfect diet. 20:09 Now you would think well, 20:10 if a man is perfect why does he need a diet? 20:12 Well, simply because God loves His children. 20:15 In out of love God provided the best that man could have. 20:18 In fact, Genesis 1:29, 20:20 the Bible says that God said to man, 20:23 every seed and every tree 20:28 that has a seed for you it shall be for meat. 20:32 The word meat is an old English word for food. 20:34 And so God provided mankind all the food, 20:38 all the grain, all the nuts as the first diet. 20:40 In fact, it's interesting He also provided 20:42 for the animal kingdom their diet 20:44 and it says all the green herbs 20:45 of the field shall be for, their food. 20:50 God, a loving God giving us the best that He could. 20:54 But then sin came in. 20:56 And if you were to track from Genesis 20:58 down the line you would discover 21:00 that a sin came in man's diet began to change. 21:04 But listen, in the Book of Revelation 21:07 we find the restoration of that diet. 21:10 In fact, we're told that there is a tree of life 21:13 which bears twelve men their fruit. 21:15 And in the Book of Isaiah it also tells us 21:18 that we will plant vineyards and the fruit of them. 21:21 In other words, obviously what man lost God will restore. 21:27 Man lost the tree of life, do you remember that? 21:30 God usher them out of the Garden of Eden and said, 21:33 unless they eat of the fruit forever 21:35 we got to separated them from that. 21:37 Well, God restores back the tree of life 21:40 and man again will be able to eat that 21:42 which will be the best for his life 21:45 and his well being. 21:47 So what has happened in between that from being fruitarians? 21:51 I was just talking to a young man today 21:53 who happens to weight lift and I was telling him that, 21:57 by the way, they had all sorts of stakes there in the grill 22:01 and they offered me stakes and I said no thanks, 22:04 I don't partake of the stakes. 22:06 And he said, why not? 22:08 I said, well because I'm a vegetarian. 22:10 And he said, well don't you need protein? 22:12 I said, of course, but protein comes from all food 22:15 that you grow and I said I have a friend 22:20 whose name is Dick Nunez 22:21 who happens to be a vegan vegetarian 22:24 and he presses 400 pounds. 22:25 Well, he said, well that's impressive. 22:28 Well, it is impressive because a lot of people have the notion 22:31 that the first diet that God gave was not the best. 22:34 But let me ask you a question, 22:35 a God of love and the God who knows all 22:38 doesn't He know what's best for us? 22:40 What do you say? 22:41 And if He knows what's best for us He provided the best. 22:44 Well, when man then began to fall into sin 22:47 you'll find a decline in the diet. 22:49 From Genesis 1 22:51 where the first diet is given you find Genesis 3 22:53 where man now is in eating the herb of the field 22:55 which was given to the animals. 22:57 Then by Chapter 9 of Genesis 22:58 man now is in meat and so he continues to go 23:01 down, down, down into the change of diet. 23:06 And finally God was so concerned about 23:10 what man was eating that God finally wrote down. 23:13 What did He do? 23:14 He wrote down, 23:16 what He considers to be best for mankind. 23:19 And we find that 23:21 in the Book of Leviticus 11:1-47, 23:24 write it down, Leviticus 11:1-47. 23:28 There you find all that God has said is better for you 23:33 and all that God has said is no good for you. 23:36 And so I'm glad for this because when I was growing up 23:40 my mother didn't know anything about good nutrition 23:43 and she gave me the best that she could. 23:45 But I was always sick going to the hospital, 23:47 always having colds and all that and finally 23:52 when I became knowledgeable about what God says 23:56 and change my eating habits, 23:57 boy, what the difference has made. 24:01 I'm so thankful 24:03 that God has provided good counsel for good health. 24:06 What do you say? 24:08 And so Leviticus 11, 24:10 it speaks about unclean and the clean. 24:13 In fact, the unclean by the way, 24:15 some people think that came with a loss of Moses 24:17 with unclean animals will mention back 24:19 in Genesis Chapter 6 and 7 and 8 24:22 when God told Noah to prepare the Ark 24:26 and then the unclean came in and the clean. 24:28 And so right from the beginning 24:30 we know that there were clean and unclean. 24:33 So when the problem is this 24:36 that from Genesis all away to Noah 24:38 all communication was verbal. 24:40 What it was it? Verbal. 24:42 Well, when you pass on 24:43 from generation to generation messages 24:46 what can happen with that? 24:47 Well, it can get distorted. Is that true? 24:49 So from Noah all the way to Moses 24:53 it was still verbal and finally God decided 24:55 that because mankind was the generating 24:58 even in mental composite 24:59 God decided then to write it down 25:02 and so you and I have the prerogative 25:05 of having God's counsel written down for us 25:08 that we can study and read and find out 25:10 how we can whether enjoy good health and good life. 25:14 Listen, God said don't eat the unclean things 25:17 and it will be well for you to study out the see 25:20 what that says. 25:21 Now, there are some people who say well, 25:23 when Jesus died, Jesus cleansed all things. 25:26 My friends, Jesus not come to clean animals, 25:28 Jesus came to clean sinners. What do you say? 25:31 And to believe that Jesus came to clean all things 25:34 it's incorrect. 25:36 In fact, it's interesting 25:38 one time Jesus fed a group of people 25:40 about 5,000, remember that? 25:42 And after He finished with them He told the disciples, 25:46 "When they were filled, 25:47 gather up the fragments that remain, 25:50 that nothing be" what? "Lost." 25:52 Let me ask you a question, 25:54 did Jesus believe in wasting good food? 25:57 Yes or no? No. 25:59 He says, gather up that nothing be what? Lost. 26:03 And so man, He did it again for second time and again 26:06 He did the same thing gather it that nothing be lost. 26:10 Now, Jesus went to a certain village 26:14 and discovered that there were some people who are possessed. 26:16 In fact, that the demoniac of the scriptures 26:19 who was dwelling in the caves in the cemeteries 26:23 and cutting themselves and all that Jesus approach them 26:26 and the man then began to beg, 26:30 actually the demons began to talk 26:32 through the man to Jesus. 26:34 And begged that they would not be just cast out 26:39 but they would be allowed to go into the swine. 26:42 Into what? Swine. 26:43 What's another word for swine? Well, pig. 26:46 They were pigs there. 26:47 And so let us go into the swine. 26:50 How many are you? 26:51 Well, a legion. That's about 6,000. 26:55 Well, that's a lot of demons in one person 26:57 but anyway Jesus gave them permission 27:00 and the scripture says then that they, 27:03 "Then went the devils out of the man, 27:05 and entered into the swine 27:07 and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, 27:10 and were" what? "Were choked." 27:12 Let me ask you something friends, 27:14 if Jesus beliefs swine to be good food 27:16 would He allow it to be lost? 27:19 Yes or no? No. 27:20 So obviously then the idea 27:23 that Jesus came to cleanse all things, it's not true. 27:26 Well, there are some people 27:27 then who refer to the Book of Acts. 27:29 Well, pastor, you have not referred to the Book of Acts. 27:32 Do you remember the vision of Peter? 27:33 Well, let's look at Peter's vision. 27:35 According to the scriptures Peter had a vision. 27:38 And it says that he had it about moon time. 27:40 Well, he was hungry, he fell into a trance 27:43 and the Bible says that he saw all sorts of unclean beast. 27:48 Now, please understand it doesn't describe 27:50 that there were pigs there. 27:51 It just says all manner of unclean things 27:54 which would have been snakes and rats 27:55 and all sorts of things. 27:56 And so the scripture then says that Peter 28:01 when he came out of trance was wondering, 28:04 what in the world is this? 28:06 Can you imagine having that kind of a vision, 28:08 having all sorts of strange creatures come down 28:11 and God saying to you, Peter, rise kill and eat. 28:14 And Peter's response was I have never eaten anything 28:17 common or unclean. 28:18 Let me ask you something, 28:20 how many years did Jesus spend with-- the pardon me, 28:22 did Peter spend with Jesus? 28:25 Three and a half years. 28:26 Yet, Peter says I have never eaten anything 28:30 common or unclean. 28:31 So let me ask you a question, while Peter was with Jesus, 28:34 did Peter ever eat any swine? 28:37 What's the answer? Absolutely not. 28:39 So, he's making a statement, I have never eaten that. 28:42 He was troubled then, he wakes up 28:44 and wonders what in the world is this all about. 28:46 And so the scripture then says 28:49 that the voice said, kill and eat. 28:51 Peter doubts in his mind and Peter says, 28:55 oh, God I have never done anything like that, Lord. 28:58 Well, if you notice 29:01 then what the scripture says concerning this, 29:04 Peter finally goes to Cornelius 29:07 who the Lord has asked them to send messengers 29:10 to find Peter and when Peter arrives at Cornelius home, 29:13 Peter finally understands what the vision is all about. 29:18 And so Peter says to the people of Cornelius 29:21 and all the house hold, "I now realize 29:24 how it is true that God does not show" what? 29:28 "Favoritism, but accepts men from every nation 29:32 who fear Him and do what is right." 29:35 Friends, listen, the message to God 29:37 was trying to bring the Peter 29:38 was that unfortunately Peter was still a separatist. 29:41 Peter still thought that salvation was only for the Jews 29:44 and they would not at all mingle with gentiles 29:47 and God had to shake him up enough to help them realize, 29:50 hey, Peter, you need to realize 29:52 that you need to preach the gospel 29:53 to everybody not just to the Jews. 29:55 And so Peter finally realizes it 29:58 and the Holy Spirit comes up on these people 30:01 and Peter says then to everybody listen, 30:03 the holy ghost has come up on them 30:04 just as it come up on us. 30:05 Is there any reason 30:07 why we should forbid them baptism? 30:09 And so the whole family was baptized. 30:11 That's what that mission was all about 30:13 and it was not about eating unclean things 30:16 because if you use that to say you can eat all unclean things 30:19 then most people use suggest to excuse eating swine. 30:23 But you have to be consistent 30:25 there are all sorts of unclean things out there 30:27 and I'm sure not one of you would want to eat. 30:29 What do you say? 30:31 Oh, what about drinking? 30:33 Is God concerned about our drinking, what we drink? 30:36 Well, the Bible says in Proverbs 20:1, 30:39 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging 30:41 and whosoever is deceived thereby is not" what? 30:44 "Not wise." 30:45 There is a controversy that exists among Christians. 30:50 Some think its okay to drink alcoholic beverages 30:53 and some think it isn't and some people refer to Jesus 30:56 turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana 31:00 as an example that it's okay to drink alcoholic beverages. 31:03 But please understand this 31:05 alcohol in the Bible is synonymous 31:07 or symbolic of corruption or sin. 31:10 And so Jesus would not create something 31:13 that was symbolic of sin. 31:18 Number two, the scripture reveals 31:21 that Jesus himself did not partake of alcohol. 31:26 Now, you may say, how do you know that? 31:29 When Jesus is crucified one of the things that, 31:35 that those hardened soldiers would sometimes 31:38 do as they were moved with compassion 31:41 and that was not very often was that they would try 31:44 to give the person who was suffering, 31:46 excruciating pain something to deaden their pain. 31:50 And when they saw Jesus hanging there 31:53 and He said I thirst, the scripture says 31:55 that they gave him, they gave him what? 31:57 It says, "they gave Him to drink wine mingle 32:00 with myrrh but He" what? "He received it not." 32:03 My friends, listen, if there was a time 32:06 what He would've been justifiable, 32:08 excusable for the Lord to have taken something 32:11 it would have been there. 32:12 What do you say? 32:13 Then He could have justified and I said I was in deep pain 32:17 and people today when they have pain 32:19 what did they do? 32:20 They go and get painkillers. 32:22 So it would've been merciful but listen 32:25 Jesus knew that your salvation 32:28 and my salvation was in the balance 32:32 and He did not want anything to confuse His mind 32:35 or weaken His ability to stick through the commitment 32:39 He made to die for your sins and my sins 32:42 so that we can have salvation. 32:44 What do you say? 32:45 And so there no question then 32:46 that Jesus did not drink wine or anything that was fermented. 32:52 And so you can understand then why? 32:55 Think of all that lives that are lost. 32:57 Think of all that families that are destroyed. 33:00 Husbands that beat wives up who get drunk, 33:04 young people who commit all sorts of atrocities 33:08 as they are drunk. 33:10 I can tell you friends, 33:12 that the a lot of things were done 33:13 when I was young because people get intoxicated 33:17 either with drugs or with alcohol 33:19 and it was a lot of pain, a lot of misery. 33:24 Think of all the untold stories of people who have suffered 33:28 and families, wives, children, broken homes 33:31 as a result of this terrible thing called alcohol. 33:35 Friends, the Lord is not the originator of that 33:41 nor you see the one that supports such a thing. 33:44 In fact, the scripture tells us 33:46 that our bodies are the temple of our holy God. 33:48 And notice it says, 33:50 "Know you're not that ye are the Temple of Holy God" 33:52 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. 33:57 "That you are the temple of God 33:58 and that the Spirit of God dwells in you if any men," 34:01 what does it say? 34:03 If any man and does that include women? 34:05 Yes, it is generic. 34:06 "If any man to follow temple of God 34:09 him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy, 34:13 which temple ye are." 34:14 So friends, our bodies are made to be kept holy. 34:17 What do you say? 34:18 And we are asked by God to preserve this body 34:23 and in appreciation for what God has done for us 34:26 we delight to do His will. 34:29 We enjoy that which otherwise would be restricted to us, 34:33 it's not restricted to us it's a pleasure. 34:35 I'm thankful friends, that the delivered from alcohol 34:39 and from drugs and marijuana and from cigarettes. 34:43 I can tell you that while I was doing that 34:45 I was not free. 34:46 I was in bondage. 34:48 But Jesus said, you shall know the truth 34:50 and the truth shall do what? 34:51 Set you free and when you set free you shall be freed indeed. 34:57 The Bible says that we're bought with a price. 34:59 "Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost 35:02 which is in you, which you have of God, 35:03 and you are not your own?" 35:05 Why, because "you are bought with a" what? "With a price. 35:09 Therefore glorify God in you body, 35:12 and in your spirit, which are God's." 35:14 My friends, it tells us then that we're not on our own. 35:17 A Christian who understands the great sacrifice 35:20 that Christ made in His behalf certainly will do 35:23 everything to preserve His body in good shape. 35:25 What do you say? 35:27 Well, what about our, the way we dress. 35:30 Mother was concerned about how we dressed and in fact, 35:35 the hardest time for mother was during Easter. 35:37 As a catholic she had to-- 35:39 she felt the burden of the tradition 35:41 and so she had to buy a suit and brand new shoes 35:44 and brand new socks and brand new tie 35:45 and brand new shirt for all six boys. 35:48 I don't know how mother did it every year but she did it. 35:51 And I remember we look forward to Easter 35:54 not because of the burden that brought to mother 35:56 we look forward to Easter because of the new clothes 35:58 that we will be getting because of the tradition. 36:00 Mother was always concerned that we would dress well 36:04 and if our clothing needed to be mend 36:07 she'd mend it in and she even taught us. 36:10 In fact, today I know how to sew 36:11 and I know how to iron 36:12 and I know to do all those things because of mother. 36:15 I'm thankful for what mother taught me. 36:17 But listen, God is concerned also, 36:20 the loving Father is concerned about 36:21 how we represent the heavenly family. 36:24 What do you say? 36:25 Just as our parents are concerned about 36:28 how we represent their family 36:30 so our Heavenly Father is also concerned about 36:33 how we represent the heavenly family. 36:37 In fact, it's interested in the scriptures 36:40 we find that in Genesis 2:11, 12, 36:45 we find that there is Gold and Bdellium 36:51 and Onyx stone in the first creation. 36:58 Did you know that? 36:59 Most people do not recognize 37:01 that God when He created the earth 37:04 He not only made the Garden of Eden 37:06 to make it beautiful 37:08 He also laid around gold and precious stones. 37:12 But where was the gold and the precious stones? 37:14 Was it on the people? No. 37:16 Where was it? It was on the ground. 37:19 Now why did God made jewels and put them on the ground? 37:21 Simple because of this, my friends. 37:23 God is a lover of beauty. 37:27 God is a lover of what? Of beauty. 37:31 He made birds for what reason? We don't need birds to survive. 37:36 Birds bring us joy as we listen to their lofty songs. 37:40 He made flowers. 37:41 Do we need flowers to survive? No. 37:43 He made flowers so that our eyes 37:45 could behold beautiful things. 37:48 God is a lover of that which is beautiful 37:51 and He created the earth in the beautiful way. 37:53 And so the stones, the precious stones, 37:55 gold all was to attract the eye to that which is beautiful. 37:59 But what happened along the way. 38:01 Well, if you were to go all the way 38:03 to the Book of Revelation again you'll find 38:06 what I shared before how things are restored. 38:09 Notice Revelation 21:18-21, 38:13 reveals then that God again 38:15 has precious stones in the holy city. 38:18 Isn't that interesting? 38:19 He had gold and precious stones in the Garden of Eden 38:23 now He has precious stones again in the holy city. 38:27 Now, the question is this, 38:28 it says that it has transparent gold, 38:30 it has all sorts of precious stones, 38:32 topaz, beryl, et cetera. 38:34 And where is all that? Is it on the people? 38:37 Where is it? 38:38 No, it's on the streets, on the foundation of the earth. 38:42 Why? Why is it? 38:44 Then the God does that again 38:47 because God is a lover of that which is beautiful 38:50 and God wants to deck out all of heaven 38:54 and all of your heavenly abode so that it's attractive, 38:57 so that you would love it all that God is preparing. 38:59 What do you say? 39:01 That's a wonderful thing to know that God is that way. 39:03 Well, but when does it happen along the way 39:06 that which God has made to be-- 39:09 to, so we can behold where has it gone 39:12 from the ground to what? 39:14 To the people. 39:16 And so now people wear all sorts of jewels 39:20 and rings et cetera 39:21 to demonstrate that they are beautiful. 39:25 But listen, in the Bible you'll find two churches, 39:29 two women representing churches. 39:32 One woman is clothed 39:33 with the righteousness of Christ 39:35 plain simple robe of righteousness 39:37 and the other woman is clothed with all sorts of jewels 39:41 and scarlet color et cetera. 39:43 There's a contrast there 39:45 the woman in the white represents 39:47 the faithful church of Christ. 39:49 The woman on the left or should I say 39:51 the one dressed with purple and jewels 39:53 and all that represents an unfaithful church. 39:55 Now, let me ask you a question, 39:57 if you wanted to represent Christ 39:59 which one would you adorn yourself like? 40:01 The first one or the second one? 40:03 Now, why does it say a robe? 40:07 I wanted to say this to you 40:08 and this may be of interest to you, 40:10 in the beginning... 40:11 when man was walking around the Garden of Eden 40:14 people think that Adam and Eve 40:16 were walking around naked oh, it's not true. 40:18 It's just that there's a passage there and it says, 40:22 the man and the woman were naked 40:24 and they were not ashamed but doesn't say man and woman, 40:26 it says the husband and wife were naked 40:30 and they were not ashamed. 40:31 In other words, a husband and wife should not be ashamed 40:33 in each other's presence in the nude or being naked. 40:37 But it doesn't mean that they walked around the garden naked 40:39 because we know that when Adam and Eve 40:41 sin something was lost. 40:44 And when they recognize that something was lost 40:46 the Bible says that they hid themselves 40:48 and tried put some covering 40:50 around their private parts as aprons. 40:52 Well, when God talked to them 40:54 God did not leave them in that condition 40:56 the Bible says in Genesis 3:18 40:59 that God put on them clothes of skin. 41:02 What did God do? 41:03 Put on them the clothes of skin. 41:04 Which means then that all of time they were not naked 41:07 they had a robe of righteousness, 41:08 a robe of light that covered them 41:11 and so we know that in the new beginning 41:13 again God will close His people 41:15 again with robes of righteousness. 41:17 What do you say? 41:18 And so we can see then the restoration 41:21 of what man has lost. 41:23 Well, what about then jewelry, how does God look at jewelry? 41:27 Well, according to the scriptures then, 41:29 looking at the Book of Genesis Chapter 35, 41:32 if you have your Bible's Genesis 35, 41:34 I want you to notice something interesting there 41:36 so that all Christians can understand 41:39 how God looks at this which we call adornment. 41:43 Notice what it says in Genesis Chapter 35, 41:47 Jacob is approached by God 41:49 and is asked to go and worship at a place called Bethel. 41:53 The word Bethel, the Hebrew word means 41:55 a house of God or dwelling of God. 41:58 And Jacob then in verse 2, tells his family, 42:02 listen, we need to go and make an altar to the God 42:06 who appeared to me and from the face of Easton 42:09 and then he says in verse 2, and Jacob said to his household 42:14 and to with all that were with him, 42:15 put away the strange God that among you 42:18 and be clean and change you garments. 42:20 And I want you to notice something interesting. 42:21 Number one, Jacob understands 42:24 so that if we're going to worship a holy God 42:26 what must we first do? 42:27 Put away what? The strange God's. 42:29 What is the first commandment? Thou shall have how many? 42:33 No other God's before-- 42:35 can we approach God with strange God's? 42:38 What's the answer? No, we can't but should we? 42:42 Absolutely not. 42:43 Then it says be clean. Be what? 42:45 God is a God that loves cleanliness 42:48 and so one of the things that a person should do 42:51 then if he's going to come to God is also be clean. 42:53 And then it says, change your garments. 42:55 In other words, when we come to worship God 42:57 we should leave our God's behind, we should be clean 43:00 and we should have clean garments. 43:02 What do you say? 43:03 Well, but how does a person get clean garments? 43:05 Through the Lord Jesus Christ. 43:06 Remember as we studied it says 43:08 they have watch their robes in the blood of the lamb. 43:12 And so now, the family is ready, they understand. 43:16 Now, notice what it says in verse 3, 43:19 Jacob says, "let us arise and go to Bethel 43:21 and I will make there an altar unto God, 43:23 who answered me the day of my distress 43:25 and was with me and the way which I went." 43:27 Now notice what it says in verse 4, 43:29 "And they gave on to Jacob all the strange God's 43:32 which were in their hand and all their ear rings 43:35 which were in their ears 43:37 and Jacob hit them under the oak 43:39 which was by Shechem." 43:41 What did they understand jewelry was? 43:45 Strange God's. 43:46 Can you understand now, why they took him off? 43:49 Because God said, do not have any other God's before me. 43:54 They rightly understood the application 43:57 were willing to give it to Jacob, 43:59 Jacob then takes the jewelry 44:01 and hides it in the oak by Shechem. 44:03 And that is the end of that. 44:05 And so you can see then that God's people 44:09 have always been people who have chosen to be plain. 44:13 Now, what about Jesus? Did Jesus himself wear jewels? 44:18 Well, you may say well, how do we know that? 44:20 Well, let's look at the scriptures. 44:22 When Jesus was hanging on a cross, 44:25 He says that the soldiers did something with His clothing. 44:29 The Bible says then that these are soldiers 44:34 took His clothing and it says 44:37 that they divided it into four parts, 44:40 each one to each soldier 44:43 but then when it came to the actual coat 44:49 that He had it was of one seam 44:51 and rather than divided and tear it up 44:54 and says that they actually gambled for it 44:57 and decide that whose it should be. 44:59 Let me ask you a question. 45:01 Why did they gamble for the coat? 45:02 Because it was the most valuable thing that Jesus had. 45:05 Now, did they gamble for His ring? 45:08 Did they gamble for His necklace? 45:12 Did they gamble for His bracelet? 45:14 The answer of course, is no. Why? 45:17 Because Jesus is not wearing. 45:19 Jesus is not what? Jesus did not wear. 45:24 In fact, when Jesus who was the one who was leading 45:28 the children of Israel out of Egypt 45:30 and Jesus the one who was at the pillar of cloud 45:33 and Jesus the one who spoke from Mount Sinai 45:36 wanted to get close to the people, 45:37 one of the things that Jesus said 45:39 to His people in Exodus 33:5, 45:42 "The Lord had said unto Moses, 45:46 Say unto the children of Israel, 45:47 Ye are a stiff-necked people. 45:49 I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, 45:52 and consume thee therefore now put off thy" what? 45:56 "Ornaments from thee, 45:57 that I may know what to do with thee." 46:00 Obviously then the Lord is not pleased 46:04 when His children wear what? Ornaments. 46:08 You can see then from the scriptures 46:09 that this un-regarded in the Old Testament 46:13 what about the New Testament? 46:15 We know Jesus didn't wear jewels. 46:16 What about the disciples? 46:18 Well, in the Bible again looking at 1 Timothy 2:9, 46:23 the Bible says, "In like manner also, 46:25 that woman adorn themselves in modest apparel, 46:27 with shamefacedness and sobriety, 46:29 not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls," or what? 46:32 "Costly array." 46:34 The Bible says that women who are professing godliness 46:37 should dress modestly. 46:40 And it says "but that which becometh 46:43 while women professing godliness and good works." 46:46 In other words Christian woman, 46:49 God says should dress very simply. 46:53 Now, notice it says in 1 Peter 3:3, 4, 46:59 "Whose adorning let it not be that 47:01 outward adorning of plaiting the hair, 47:02 and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of what? 47:06 Apparel." 47:07 Notice what the next verse says, 47:09 "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, 47:11 in that which is not corruptible, 47:13 even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, 47:16 which is in the sight of God is of" what? 47:18 "Great price." 47:19 My friends, God wants us to work on the inside 47:23 because that's what's gonna save you. 47:26 When it comes to salvation Job rightly said 47:32 naked I come and naked I go. 47:35 How much we will take with us to the kingdom? 47:39 We will take nothing with us except the character 47:42 that we've allowed Jesus to workout in us. 47:45 That's why the Bible says let this mine be in you 47:50 which was also in whom? 47:52 In Christ Jesus. 47:55 We know friends, that even the scripture tells us 48:01 that we're not to cut ourselves and of course, 48:05 not to make markings on ourselves. 48:08 Today just today as I was out trying 48:11 to take care of some business I came across a gentleman 48:15 whose last name happens to be Torres 48:16 and we talked a little bit 48:18 and he had all sorts of markings allover him. 48:20 He had all sorts of things stuck in his ear you know, 48:24 used to be something that women used to do 48:26 but now we see that is something that 48:28 men are doing also. 48:29 I have seen people with all sorts of things 48:31 stuck everywhere in the eyelids, 48:34 in the belly button, 48:36 I have seen men put studs on the nipples 48:40 I have seen all sorts of things that are taking place. 48:43 It seems like people can't find 48:45 enough places to stick something in 48:47 but you know when you ask people the question, 48:51 does a stud in your tongue 48:52 help you to taste the food better? 48:54 What's the answer? No. 48:56 So, the question is why that you put a stud, 48:59 well, because it's a cool thing to do. 49:01 But my friends listen, as a Christian 49:05 we should not seek to do the cool thing. 49:08 We should seek to do the pleasing thing 49:11 that pleases God. 49:12 What do you say? 49:13 No wonder the Lord says that we ought to be people 49:17 who dress plainly and who walk humbly 49:22 before the Lord as Jesus Himself walked. 49:27 I can tell you stories that are quiet interesting 49:30 concerning jewelry et cetera that people have worn. 49:36 I remember one time I have studied with a lady 49:39 and had helped her to understand 49:42 what the Bible says about this particular subject. 49:45 And she took off her jewelry. 49:48 And she was baptized. Gladly she was baptized. 49:52 Then along the way about a year 49:53 or so later I know that she said 49:55 she began to kind of get... 49:58 careless in a church attendance. 50:00 So I visited with her. Went to see her. 50:03 The shepherd went looking for the sheet in the stand. 50:06 When I arrived at her home I remember 50:09 we sat down together and I said sister how are you doing? 50:12 Well, I'm doing okay. 50:13 Well, I notice that your attendance in church 50:16 is not as frequent as you used to. 50:19 Well, yeah I just got busy and all that. 50:22 And so we talked a little bit she says, 50:24 look I need to ask you a question. 50:25 Something strange is happening. And I said like what? 50:28 She said, well, I was on my bed and all of a sudden 50:36 I fell like as if though I couldn't tell 50:38 if I was awake or asleep. 50:40 But I felt like something came at the foot of my bed. 50:44 Some-- it was a strange form and I felt paralyzed 50:50 and I try to scream for help and I couldn't. 50:53 And I couldn't open my mouth and I kept on struggling, 50:56 struggling until finally I called the name of the Lord 51:00 and the thing disappeared. 51:02 She said, that's happened to me several times. 51:04 I said, oh. 51:06 She said, why pastor, what is it? 51:09 I said, well, it's an apparition, evil spirit. 51:12 She said, then why is it coming to my home? 51:15 I said, because you're inviting him. 51:17 She said, I didn't invite him. I never said come to my home. 51:22 And I said, my sister, there are different ways 51:24 that we can make an invitation. 51:27 I said, have you somehow become indifferent 51:33 to some other things that you've learned, 51:35 the vows that you've make to Christ. 51:37 Is it well, I can't think of anything. 51:39 And then she said, oh, yeah, well, she said, 51:43 one day I was cleaning my house 51:45 and I happened to clean around my bed stand 51:53 and I opened the drawer 'cause I couldn't remove 51:54 what's inside there and there were my jewels. 51:58 And she said, I thought well, I wondered how they would look. 52:03 So she took them out one to the mirror 52:05 and put them on and she though that look so attractive. 52:08 I forgot how nice I used to look and so she put them on. 52:12 And it was after that she says, 52:14 and I began to have these experiences. 52:17 My friends, listen, the only person, 52:22 the only being in the Bible that was made 52:27 with jewels the Bible says is Lucifer. 52:32 And I believe this may be a strange thing to you 52:34 but I believe that Lucifer is doing is tempting 52:38 as many as he can to emulate him. 52:43 And my friends, I believe as Christians 52:45 we are to emulate Christ. 52:47 What do you say? Not the enemy but Christ. 52:54 In Pompeii, in Italy 52:57 when that earthquake pardon me-- 52:59 that volcano erupted we told that 53:04 the lava came down about 200 miles an hour 53:07 toward that city and people were engulfed. 53:12 In excavation they actually found some people 53:15 were still encrusted in the lava. 53:20 And they found the skeleton of a woman 53:23 and they found that the woman hands were clutched. 53:27 And so they wondered 53:29 what was in the hands of the woman. 53:33 So they opened up the skeleton fingers 53:35 only to discover that in each hand she had a golden earring. 53:43 And what seems to have taken place is that 53:49 when the volcano erupted people fled for their lives. 53:55 And apparently this lady forgot what? 54:00 Her earrings. 54:01 Ran back into her house 54:04 grab what she though was the most precious things 54:06 that she had and on the escape route 54:09 she got overtaken by the lava. 54:14 And there she was entombed and centuries later 54:21 as a witness to what happened with somebody 54:25 who considered their jewels 54:28 more precious then their salvation. 54:32 My friends, it is clear from the scriptures 54:36 that what God wants us for us to reflect 54:39 and notice what Philippians 4:8 says, 54:43 Philippians 4:8. 54:45 It says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, 54:48 whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, 54:51 whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, 54:55 whatsoever things are of good report, 54:58 if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, 55:01 think on these things." 55:02 Unless you have a conclusion this, 55:04 my wife and I have written the book 55:06 entitled "Notes on Music." 55:08 And the reason we wrote is because we have seen 55:11 what music is doing in the minds, 55:14 in hearts of young people. 55:16 I tell you this, the Bible says 55:18 "as we behold we become changed." 55:21 As we what? 55:23 "As we behold we become changed." 55:25 Obviously if we want to overcome in our lives 55:30 let us put aside those things 55:33 which are awaits that encumber us. 55:36 Let us lay aside the things 55:39 that testified a different testimony 55:44 then what we would want to. 55:46 We would like the world to know that we are lovers of Jesus. 55:51 What do you say? 55:52 And so how you live, how you dress, 55:56 how you eat can be a witness. 55:59 And so Daniel when the Bible says 56:03 that Daniel was given the food of the king the scripture says 56:07 he purposed in his heart not to defile himself. 56:12 In other words, Daniel purposed to give his heart to God. 56:19 Is that your purpose today? 56:22 Friends, listen, let Jesus inhabit a tabernacle 56:27 that He would be pleased to dwell in 56:29 and by thus doing we will bring glory to Him 56:34 and be a testimony to others as to our love for our Master. 56:40 Let us pray. 56:41 Our father in heaven, 56:44 we thank You for all the good counsel 56:46 that we have in the word how to eat, 56:49 how to drink to Your glory. 56:51 We thank You Lord, that even you give us counsel 56:54 as to what to listen to, 56:56 what to think and we thank You 56:59 that You also give us counsel us to how to dress. 57:02 Oh, God, bless us, 57:05 help us to seek the kingdom of heaven first 57:09 and its righteousness. 57:11 And then Lord, do for us what You have promised. 57:14 Add all these things to us in Jesus name, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17