Participants: Jac Colón
Series Code: RNN
Program Code: RNN000024
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00:18 Whenever we come to this last lesson
00:25 I always think of the last words of Peter, 00:30 the last words he wrote to the church. 00:34 2 Peter 3:18 00:37 "Grow in the grace and the knowledge 00:40 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:44 To Him be the glory both now and forever." Amen. 00:51 What a thought, Christian growth. 00:55 That's what I want to talk about. 00:58 For the last 24 lessons we have been looking 01:01 at the Book of Revelation. 01:06 Revelation is more than 01:07 just identifying the beast and the mark. 01:11 Revelation is learning how to be victorious in Jesus Christ, 01:16 all the way through to the end. 01:20 And the only way to be victorious is to grow, 01:24 and the only way to grow 01:26 is to grow in the grace of Jesus Christ. 01:32 I'm thankful for Christian growth. 01:35 I used to think, I don't know that I want to go to heaven 01:40 because all they do up there is float around on clouds 01:43 and play harps and I'm not into harps. 01:48 But I learned that it's not gonna be that way. 01:53 We are gonna be growing even in heaven 01:56 because we will never fully plumb the deeps 02:00 of the love of God 02:02 and who He is and what He has done will be learning forever. 02:10 It starts right here, 02:13 "Grow in the grace and the knowledge 02:18 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 02:22 Grown in His grace. 02:24 Peter didn't say, I want you to grow into His grace. 02:31 You don't take a handful of seeds 02:33 and through them on the sidewalk 02:35 waiting for them to sprout roots and leafs 02:38 and then plant them in the garden 02:39 there will be nothing for them to get nourishment from, no. 02:43 You plant the seed in the garden where it can get the attention, 02:48 the nourishment that it needs to grow. 02:51 We grow in the grace of Jesus Christ. 02:54 Some new believers feel like they have to be fully matured 03:00 and develop before they are ready for baptism 03:04 but that ignores the principles of Christian growth. 03:09 Some feel like they need the whole life 03:11 and be kind a like on probation for a month or two 03:15 before they are ready, 03:16 that ignores the fact that we grow 03:18 in the grace of Jesus Christ not into it. 03:22 Baptism is not the graduation service. 03:26 Baptism is the enrolment service for Christian growth. 03:30 It's the beginner's class 03:32 it's where we are learning to take our first steps. 03:35 Some people they have been Christians all along 03:38 and they have learned so many new things all at once. 03:41 They felt like they needed to be re-baptized 03:44 it doesn't deny of their past experience. 03:46 It just simply means that they are taking 03:48 another giant step in following the Lamb 03:51 and they want to start with the clean slate 03:53 and that's okay. 03:56 But those who think that I need to wait, 03:59 I need to grow, I need to get more experience, 04:01 I need to be more mature 04:03 or ignoring the principles of Christian growth. 04:06 And don't misunderstand me 04:09 I believe a person needs to be ready for baptism. 04:13 We need to understand 04:14 that baptism means we are dying to the old life. 04:18 And we should understand 04:20 what that old life is that we are dying to. 04:23 We need to understand that when we are buried in the water, 04:26 we are burying the old man. He is dead, he is done forever. 04:30 We need to know and be willing to do that. 04:32 And then we need to understand that 04:34 when we come out of that water 04:36 we are coming out to live a life 04:37 that will honor, glorify and praise God. 04:40 And we should understand what that life is. 04:43 We should be willing to live our lives that way. 04:46 Yes, we need to understand 04:48 we need to know, we need to be willing. 04:50 John the Baptist even wanted to see 04:52 some evidence produce fruit of repentance 04:58 before the people were baptized. 05:01 But once a person understands, 05:03 once a person is shown they have turned their life around 05:06 and they are on the right path that they are following Jesus, 05:09 they are following the Lamb. 05:11 May be not perfectly, none of us are perfect 05:13 but once we are willing to do that 05:15 and soon at that moment it's ready, 05:17 its time to be baptized. 05:19 It is dangerous to put it off to delay being baptized. 05:25 Being baptized is entry into the kingdom of God, 05:28 the visible kingdom of God on this earth 05:31 and that's where we grow in the grace 05:34 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 05:37 We must be ready but we don't need to be mature. 05:44 And then there are the new members, 05:46 sometimes new believers just getting baptized 05:50 not understanding the principles of Christians growth 05:54 and they come out of that water and you've seen it. 05:57 They come out of water with such a beautiful 05:59 peaceful expression on their face 06:02 and it's a good feeling. 06:04 It feels like--a little lady in Oklahoma City one time, 06:09 she must have been 89 years old. 06:12 Frail and small and we went in a nice church, 06:15 we were in a National Guard Armory. 06:18 And they didn't have a nice comfortable baptistery 06:21 with railings and steps going into it. 06:26 We had an aluminum tank sitting up there on the platform 06:31 and they had a rickety aluminum ladder 06:33 that went up and then down, no railings on it. 06:37 And this 89 year old lady comes to me saying pastor, 06:41 will you baptize me? 06:43 And I'll have to confess 06:45 I had difficulty seeing her climbing up that rickety ladder 06:49 and down into the water and back up again. 06:52 And I explain that to her. 06:53 I said, are you sure you want to do that? 06:55 She said I belong to a church 06:57 that doesn't baptize the right way 06:59 and I have been wanting for years to be baptized. 07:02 Pastor, won't you baptize me? Well, what can you say? 07:06 So we had a deacon on each side 07:08 and they helped to go up that rickety ladder 07:10 and she went down into the water. 07:12 I'm telling you when she came out, 07:14 you could have just turn the lights out 07:17 and the room would have been lit 07:18 with the glow on her face. 07:20 And she said, I feel so good, I just feel clean all over. 07:24 And it is, it's a good clean feeling 07:27 when you come out of that water. 07:31 But sooner or later it's gonna happen 07:37 may take a day, may take a few hours, 07:43 may take a few minutes 07:45 but this gonna happen, you are gonna stumble 07:50 and you are gonna make some mistakes. 07:53 And guess who is right there? 07:55 Now, God is always there to help you up. 07:57 But guess who else is right there to give you a kick 07:59 when you are down. The devil always is there. 08:05 The Bible Revelation says, 08:06 he is the accuser of the brethren. 08:10 And the moment you make a mistake he is gonna be there. 08:12 He doesn't mind kicking when you are down. 08:14 He says, you see you can't do it. 08:16 The standards are too high. 08:18 You will never be able to measure up. 08:21 You may as well just give up and quit now. 08:24 That's what he is gonna tell you. 08:27 But when you understand 08:28 the principle of Christian growth, 08:30 it means that we are still growing. 08:32 And if we are still growing we are not there yet. 08:35 God isn't finished with us yet, amen. 08:38 So that means we are gonna make mistakes. 08:41 So the real Christian understanding Christian growth 08:44 instead of wallowing around in an orgy of self pity 08:47 thinking that I will never be able to measure up. 08:50 Realizes that Jesus has already measured up for us 08:54 and gets off the ground and on their knees and says, 08:57 God forgive me and help me to do better next time. 09:00 I want to do better. 09:01 I hate it when I live this way 09:03 and get up off your knees rejoicing in the forgiveness 09:05 that God has already given you. 09:09 Christians are to be the happiest people on earth, amen. 09:13 There is nothing more abominable to God 09:15 than a bunch of long face, 09:17 sourpuss Christians walking around, 09:20 looking guilty for the sins 09:22 that Jesus died on the cross to forgive us for. 09:28 We should be happiest people on earth 09:34 and we are growing in the grace of Jesus Christ. 09:39 And then there are new members that don't understand 09:41 the principle of Christian growth. 09:42 They look at some of the older, 09:45 that's not the best way to say it, 09:48 some of the more experienced members of the church. 09:53 I am getting more and more sensitive about these things. 09:58 Some of the more experienced members 10:01 and they see some of these experience members 10:04 have been in the church for years and years 10:06 and oh, they have studied their Sabbath school lessons everyday 10:10 and they know the Bible backwards and forwards 10:13 and they have been looking up to these people 10:15 they are, giants, they may be elders or deacon 10:17 or even pastors in the church 10:19 and they see them make a mistake. 10:24 They forget they were all growing 10:28 and if we are growing we are not growing yet. 10:31 That means we gonna make mistakes. 10:35 I remember one man was baptized 10:37 he had to battle with cigarettes. 10:41 He just really fought and fought 10:44 and finally he got the victory. 10:46 He didn't want to get baptized 10:48 and come out of that water, blowing smoke. 10:51 He wanted to be done with it before he was baptized 10:54 and I think that's a good thing. 10:57 Got the victory, he is baptized. 11:01 He came out of that water 11:02 energized, excited, it mean something 11:05 when you had the really fight for some-- 11:07 it means something. 11:09 You know, sometimes God just takes it away from us. 11:12 And that's good I'm glad He does 11:15 but you lose the benefit of fighting 11:17 and wrestling and watching God give you the victory. 11:20 I have something they have to. 11:24 I was so happy and then shortly 11:25 after he was baptized 11:27 he was driving somewhere, stop at a red light 11:30 and looked at the car next to him 11:32 and there was one of the elders of the church 11:34 with a cigarette in his mouth. 11:38 And he was looking at that elder, 11:40 getting mad and furious. 11:43 Wishing he had a cigarette that he could smoke too. 11:45 If the elder can, I should be. Why they make me quit? 11:51 He looked again and the elder turned 11:53 and saw him and he said instantly 11:55 that cigarette disappeared. 11:58 He says, I don't know where it went. 12:02 Well, shame on the elder. 12:05 He shouldn't have been doing that. 12:08 But folks, we are all growing. 12:09 We all stumble, we all make mistakes. 12:13 I mean, how powerful would our witness be 12:15 if we all live perfectly the way-- 12:19 it would be awesome. 12:20 My job would sure be a lot easier. 12:23 You know, one of the biggest things I hear 12:25 is that, well, you are asking me to do that, 12:27 and I look at the members and they are not doing it. 12:30 That's not easy to deal with 12:32 unless you understand Christian growth. 12:35 So, yes, we are to be together. I'm not excusing the elder. 12:39 He shouldn't be smoking cigarettes 12:41 but we are all human, we all make mistakes. 12:45 We need to understand 12:46 the principle of Christian growth. 12:48 Some of you have given up things 12:50 that are dear and precious to you. 12:52 You changed the way you eat, you changed what you drink, 12:55 you changed what you watch, where you go, what you wear 12:59 and you come to church and you may see people, 13:01 that haven't made those changes yet 13:02 or they did and they went back. 13:05 You see, you could decide, well, I'm gonna go back too. 13:10 But people aren't your example. 13:12 I never said that you should follow the people. 13:17 You follow the Lamb, amen. 13:20 The people are still growing. The Lamb's done growing. 13:26 While you could get critical and judgmental 13:28 some do that, oh they can't wait to get on the phone 13:32 and do you know what she wore today? 13:34 Do you know where I saw him going today? 13:37 I saw them in the cafe 13:38 with a cup of coffee on the table. 13:42 They get judgmental, critical. 13:46 I hope you are not like that. 13:49 I have been to churches, 13:50 they just gossip and gossip about people 13:53 because they haven't measured up to the standards yet. 13:58 Well, I want to tell you, 14:00 I would rather have a church full of people 14:02 that is striving and trying. 14:04 It haven't measured up yet than a church 14:07 with one person who gossips about it. 14:11 I don't have a lot of tolerance for gossipers. 14:14 Pray for me there, I need to be more patience. 14:23 Or you could do the third thing and recognize 14:25 we are all growing in the grace, 14:29 in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus. 14:32 And people you see stumbling and making mistakes 14:35 instead of getting judgmental and critical. 14:38 If you just knew how far they have come 14:40 and how fast they made it, 14:42 you would be praising God instead of criticizing. 14:47 Let's be the family of God. 14:50 You know, I'm convinced that 14:53 the more we conform to the Bible principles 14:57 the more powerful our witness and our testimony is gonna be. 15:01 Unity is measured by the degree 15:04 to which we agree 15:05 and bring our lives into harmony with the word of God. 15:08 But there is a bigger test of unity 15:11 and that is the degree to which you love people 15:14 who see things differently than you do. 15:19 We need to be an agreement, we need to be together. 15:21 Jesus said that can two walk together 15:23 with out be in an agreement? 15:25 But we need to love those who-- 15:27 and then may be we will give them 15:29 the opportunity to do the growing they are to do 15:32 and provide the environment that they need. Amen. Amen. 15:36 Then there is another kind of person 15:41 who doesn't understand 15:42 the principles of Christian growth. 15:45 And some people seem to think that, 15:50 when you come out of that water, 15:53 all your problems are left in the water 15:57 and you are fully grown and matured. 16:01 You are not gonna have any more problems. 16:03 Smooth sailing into the kingdom. 16:05 There are lot of preachers that preach-- 16:07 usually they are late at night on the radio, 16:09 when I'm out in a road driving at night 16:11 I listen to some of these preachers. 16:12 I call them the prosperity gospel, 16:16 you heard them? 16:19 Any of you struggling with financers? 16:23 I was struggling with financers one time they will say, 16:26 and I sent a donation in for $5,000 16:29 check in the mail. 16:31 And if you send me, 16:33 you will get 25,000 in a mail too, 16:35 you know what I'm talking about. 16:38 Prosperity gospel, its not pie in the sky by and by, 16:42 its every thing you want it right now. 16:45 Well, I want to tell you Jesus said 16:47 that they are gonna be battles to fight in this whole world. 16:52 Take up your cross and follow me. 16:56 When you come out of that water it's true. 16:58 That whole life is gone, it's dead. 17:01 And you are a new creature in Jesus Christ. 17:03 But you are going to face a whole new set of problems 17:05 that you never saw before. 17:07 The difference is now you got Jesus walking with you 17:10 and you are not by yourself. 17:14 I want to tell you a story that illustrates us tonight. 17:18 I get more and more reluctant to tell it, 17:20 because its--its about a time in the history of our country 17:24 that we are not very proud of. 17:27 We embarrassed in the shame during the time of slavery. 17:30 But I want to tell you when people are oppressed 17:34 it bring out illustrations of the gospel. 17:37 It seems like you can't find any other way. 17:41 And this particular one was during the time of slavery. 17:46 It was a slave living on a plantation. 17:50 His name was Sam. 17:53 He was born there 17:56 and he is born about the same time 17:57 that the plantation owner's son was born. 18:01 His father was the top slave 18:05 and the owner and his father were good friends. 18:08 And so he was good friends with the son. 18:11 They even study together, school work together, 18:15 they did everything together, they played together. 18:18 So, when his father died, 18:21 this son took over the plantation 18:26 and Sam was his right hand man. 18:30 Nothing changed, Sam was a Christian, 18:35 he was always singing, 18:36 you know the old spirituals about the toils, 18:39 the strife of life. 18:42 And the other fellow says Sam, you are Christian, I'm not. 18:45 I don't have all those kinds of strife 18:47 and problems and toils in my life. 18:50 Why don't you just give it all up and be like me? 18:52 You won't have those problems either. 18:55 Poor Sam he doesn't even knew how to answer that question. 18:58 Until one day they were out hunting 19:01 and a flock of ducks flew over. 19:03 The man lifted his shotgun pulled the trigger 19:06 and he got two ducks in one shot. 19:08 One of them he killed, the other one he nicked. 19:12 The wounded--that one went right straight down, 19:16 the wounded one just flattered to the ground. 19:18 As soon as he hit the ground he began to scamper away. 19:22 Sam, Sam's job was to go get the ducks. 19:27 So he had his bag in his hand 19:29 and he went chasing after that duck trying to get away. 19:32 Chasing him down, he ran right past of the dead one. 19:35 He finally caught that wounded duck 19:38 he put him in the bag 19:41 and then he is walking back pick up the dead one, 19:46 put the dead one in the bag and all of a sudden. 19:50 Big smile broke out in his face. 19:53 He said, you know, you are always asking me 19:56 how come I'm a Christian and I'm singing about the toils 19:58 and strife of life and you are not a Christian 20:00 you don't have those problems. 20:01 I never knew how to answer you before but now, I do. 20:03 You see, you shot two ducks you killed one 20:06 and wounded the other one. 20:07 You know, I went chasing after the wounded one 20:10 because I knew I had the dead duck in the bag. 20:12 I'm the wounded duck. 20:13 The devil is after me 20:14 and I'm trying to get away as hard as I can. 20:16 You are the dead duck, he has got you. 20:17 He is not worried about you, 20:18 because you are in the bag already. 20:25 Some people think they're better off 20:28 because they don't have some of the problems that we have. 20:32 But one of these days, Jesus is gonna come 20:35 and all those problems will be gone, amen. 20:38 Amen. Praise the Lord. 20:41 I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God 20:45 and then there is another kind of church member 20:48 that does not understand Christian growth. 20:51 I don't think we have any here, 20:54 but just in case somebody snuck in, 20:58 I'm going to talk about it. 21:01 I call them fossilized church members, 21:06 because fossils don't grow, they finished growing. 21:11 Not only they are not growing, 21:13 but they are not helping other people 21:14 to grow, they are fossilized. 21:17 They have been in church a long time. 21:18 They know all the answers to all the questions 21:20 every Sabbath in the Sabbath school class. 21:23 They may teach a class. 21:25 They may be deacons and deaconesses and elders. 21:28 Oh, they know everything they got--they are fossilized. 21:31 They are not growing 21:33 because they are not helping other people to grow. 21:35 They are the ones who stand 21:36 on the sidelines in evangelistic team 21:39 and they see all the new members. 21:40 We are gonna have them down here, 21:41 everybody will be lined up front 25-30 people 21:45 and they are looking at him and they are going to be saying, 21:50 do you think they are gonna stick? 21:56 And you almost feel like they hope they don't stick 22:01 because they view the church as their exclusive club. 22:06 And that person has the audacity 22:09 to sit in my pew for the last 24 nights 22:13 and I had to sit somewhere else, 22:16 and they park in my parking line. 22:19 And they don't dress the way we dress. 22:22 And they bring stuff to the potluck 22:26 that we don't eat here. 22:28 I'm not talking about unclean foods, 22:30 they know better than that. 22:32 You know what I'm talking about they are just-- 22:35 it would rather keep everything like it is. 22:40 Fossilized members 22:42 and I hope we don't have any this morning. 22:45 If I here any of these sticking stuff, 22:47 you gonna get another sermon from me. 22:51 Don't say it near me. 23:00 They look at the church like it's an exclusive club. 23:03 And let's hold these guys off for about six months 23:06 they can prove themselves first 23:08 because after all, we have to consider 23:10 our reputation in the community. 23:15 When you had your first child what was it like? 23:20 You remember that, first born child. 23:24 You stop at the window in the nursery. 23:28 May be mom had never had a chance to go. 23:30 You know the big--they still have the big glass windows, 23:33 impression owes against the glass 23:35 and look at all the babies in there. 23:36 They still do that. 23:37 Probably have TV cameras on it now or something. 23:41 It's all digital. 23:44 Well, this is a old fashioned hospital 23:47 and the momma says before we go home 23:48 I want to look in the window. 23:51 So they get everything together and wheel it over there. 23:54 She is looking in the window, 23:56 there he is all purple and wrinkled up 24:00 and ugly looking like a little prone. 24:04 New born babies are not really that pretty. 24:09 I mean ours are exception of course but 24:14 and he is screaming at the top of his lungs. 24:18 He is shaking his fist and he is kicking his legs, 24:21 face is ready as a beat and dad goes wow. 24:26 Look at that guy. Man, he is got a temper. 24:30 Must have got it form you? 24:35 He could grow up to be a disgrace to our family name. 24:40 He could embarrass us. 24:42 And the mother says, yeah you know, 24:45 he don't look very intelligent either. 24:50 May be we should leave him here till 24:53 he is old enough to take a IQ test or something. 24:56 And then we will decide what to do. 24:58 I mean, we don't want him to embarrass our family. 25:02 Is that what happens? No. 25:04 Man, if you are like we are, you resent the fact. 25:08 They have kept him back there isolated from you for so long. 25:12 You can't wait to get him or her home 25:14 and put him in his bed, his own bed. 25:16 Get some good old family germs all over him. 25:24 Should it be like that with new believer in Jesus? 25:30 Can't wait to get our arm around him, 25:33 bring him into the family. 25:35 Can't do it soon enough. Put him on probation? 25:41 Make sure they are not gonna disgrace us. 25:43 Hey, it's a risk. 25:46 That child could bring you-- 25:47 nothing can bring more pain to a parent 25:50 than a child turning against them. 25:53 It's a risk, but you don't even think about the risk 25:58 because of love. 26:00 Share the risk when you bring in new people, 26:03 they may not behave the way you want to, 26:04 and they can cause more problems for the pastor 26:06 than you ever dreamed of. 26:08 But you don't even think about it, 26:09 at least you shouldn't. 26:12 Not when a person is ready to take their stand, 26:15 for all the things that they have been learning about church. 26:18 It's not easy to become an Adventist. 26:20 We have high standards 26:22 and anybody willing to take their stand, 26:24 we should be willing to take a risk. Amen. Amen. 26:29 And by the way, here's a new one. 26:33 My wife just reminded me this morning. 26:36 When our boy came home, 26:38 you know we spent nine months getting ready for this guy. 26:43 We did all kind-- we brought a little baby bed 26:46 from the flea market. 26:48 Sanded it down, getting all those old things off of it, 26:52 paint it nice and new and perfect. 26:54 Dena, decorated that room. 26:56 She went shopping and bought all kinds of stuff. 26:59 I mean this went on, I took classes. 27:03 I have to go there watching her learn how to breathe. 27:08 And we really worked at it, 27:10 but then when we got him home it was all done, right. 27:12 Put him in his bed we are done. 27:17 The work just started. 27:21 And sometimes we think well, we have been working. 27:24 Building this set and camera crews 27:28 and greeters and rushers 27:29 and we have been coming out every night 27:30 and we are getting tired. 27:31 And now we got this new members 27:33 in our family, we are done. 27:35 No, you are not, folks. 27:38 And new members you are not done either 27:41 because that's older more established 27:42 one need help just as much as you do. 27:45 We all need to strengthen one and another. 27:47 This is a family of God. 27:51 You see about a year later, 27:53 not a year later this father comes home from work 27:58 and mom is so excited. 28:00 She can't even talk. She is gone. 28:04 He--he did it. He did it, he walked. 28:07 He took a step today. Oh, isn't that exciting time. 28:10 So dad just drops his briefcase on the floor 28:13 and he bends over and puts his arms out 28:15 and mom is out there holding him steady 28:17 and dad is out there coaxing him come on, come on. 28:20 Hey, he did it before so he puts out that little foot, 28:23 he takes a step right into his dad's arms 28:25 and always dad tosses him up in the air wow, 28:28 he can do it, he can walk. 28:30 They bundling him up in his coat put his shoes on 28:32 off to grandma and grandpa's house. 28:34 All the way there he can walk, he can walk. 28:36 They go in the grandma and grandpa open the door 28:38 and there is grandma and grandpa, 28:39 aunt, uncle, cousin standing around there watching 28:42 and they have him there 28:43 standing on carpet under his feet, 28:45 shoes on, coat but he did it before. 28:47 He can walk, he can walk 28:49 and there is mom holding him study 28:51 and there is dad coaxing him come on, 28:52 you did it before, come on just take a step. 28:54 He is there standing looking around at everybody 28:57 and hey, he did it before. 28:58 He puts out that little foot, 29:00 wheels around in his heel and falls to the floor. 29:04 And dad walks over to him 29:05 and he kicks him across the route. 29:14 You idiot, I knew you couldn't do it. 29:22 Should I wait a year to do this? 29:27 Sometimes we get new, 29:31 brand new Christians just learning how to walk. 29:36 And they stumble 29:38 and we kick him across the floor. 29:43 We do baptize them too soon. 29:49 We are grounded enough, 29:52 didn't give them enough time to prove themselves 29:59 or may be just leave him alone and not say anything. 30:07 How long you think it would take a little baby to learn 30:09 how to walk if nobody was there to teach him how? 30:15 Probably never so they tell us, 30:20 truth is he didn't fall to the ground 30:22 because dad caught him before he hit the floor. 30:27 And he stood him back on his feet 30:29 and he said he can walk, he can walk 30:33 and they did it again and again and again until they got it. 30:37 If he didn't get it that night, 30:39 they bundle him back up all the way home. 30:41 He can walk, he can walk. 30:43 Dad takes off the next day, they practice all day long. 30:47 And when he's got it, he is back to grandma 30:48 and grandpa's house again. 30:51 See it's hard to fall when someone has their arm 30:54 around your shoulder holding you up. 30:58 One of my favorite Bible verses 31:04 Hosea, 11 chapter, in Hosea 11 31:10 one of my favorite pictures of God. 31:12 Verse 1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him." 31:15 Verse 3, "It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, 31:18 taking them by the arms." What a picture of God. 31:22 He holds us up as we walk along 31:25 as we grow in the grace of our Lord 31:28 and Savior Jesus Christ. 31:29 That's what it means to be a part of the family of God. 31:32 We hold each other up. 31:35 It's hard to fall when somebody is holding you up. 31:39 There was an article in 31:40 Readers Digest years ago after World War II, 31:45 it's called the Awesome Power of Love. 31:47 And they discovered that, 31:49 they discovered that they were lot of babies 31:53 brought into orphanages 31:55 and all the babies run into orphanage 31:56 under the age of two years old. 31:58 Few of them ever grew up 31:59 to live normal healthy adult lives. 32:02 And they couldn't understand why. 32:05 So they did a lot of research. 32:08 Doctors and researchers went 32:10 to all the different orphanages trying to figure out, 32:12 finally they found one in Germany. 32:15 All their babies grew up, 32:17 they live normal healthy adult lives. 32:20 And so they can converged on that orphanages 32:22 they had to feel what are they doing, 32:24 that nobody else is doing. What's the difference here? 32:28 They couldn't find anything, 32:30 food, the schedule, everything is same. 32:35 But one day a doctor saw an elderly lady 32:41 standing off in the side of the room 32:44 with a baby in her arm and he said, who is that? 32:47 Ah, it's nobody. It's just old Anna. 32:51 Old Anna. What does old Anna do around here? 32:55 Oh, she don't do anything. 32:57 She is just here and when one of the babies get sick 33:00 we let old Anna hold it. 33:06 Is it possible? 33:08 The thing missing in the lives of those babies 33:12 was the love of a mother? 33:15 So they did an experiment 33:17 and they went around hiring ladies to be 33:20 mothers to the babies in these orphanages. 33:23 That's all they had to do all day long, 33:25 just love the babies. 33:26 We try to have a job like that. Amen. 33:29 Love the babies all day 33:30 and years and years later they went back 33:32 and discovered that in those orphanages 33:35 where they hired mothers to love the babies 33:36 they all grew up to live normal healthy adult lives. 33:40 The awesome power of love 33:43 and if love is so essential in order for us 33:45 to grow physically how much more 33:51 do we need love in order to grow spiritually? 34:03 We have been doing this for 35- 36 years now. 34:08 Sometimes we get a chance to go back 34:11 a year or two later to a church we have been. 34:14 And now, I have to confess sometimes 34:16 it's with fear and trepidation that we go 34:22 wondering are they still gonna be there. 34:25 Some churches do really well, 34:28 and almost all their new people are active and involved. 34:32 Some churches don't do too well 34:36 and they don't do a very good job 34:37 of hanging on to their new ones. 34:40 And you know, it's not that difficult to figure out 34:42 which ones do the best and which ones don't do well. 34:46 Because it's the cold formal churches 34:50 that have a hard time holding on to their new members. 34:54 The warm, friendly, caring church, 34:58 they usually hang on to them. 35:01 Now tell me, 35:06 both churches 35:09 where the new people came in the program was the same, 35:15 preacher same, sermons same, 35:19 Bible same, singer same. 35:25 Length of time they prepare the same. 35:30 The only difference was what? 35:34 The church where they were left behind. 35:39 So I want to ask you, what is your church like? 35:46 Is it a warm, friendly, caring church or is it cold and formal? 35:51 Some people will come through those doors and visit it-- 35:54 visits last week and they've said, 35:56 this the friendliest church we have ever been in. 36:00 Ever since the first time we've had people-- 36:02 that we came we just had people talking to us 36:05 and sitting with us and bring their arms around us 36:08 and this is a friendly church. I command you for that. 36:14 But I think we still have room to grow. 36:18 Think we have room to grow. 36:21 What kind of a member are you? 36:23 You are friendly member? 36:26 Do you know the new people 36:29 that are about to join your church? 36:32 You know their names? Do you know what they do? 36:36 Would you recognize one if you saw one out before you? 36:42 What kind of a member are you? 36:46 Do you go to church in order to get a blessing 36:49 or do you go to church in order be 36:51 a blessing to someone else too? 36:54 Do you seek people out or do you wait for people 36:58 to come to you or worse yet? 37:04 You kind of go in and make yourself rare and scarce 37:08 and then leave criticizing the church 37:10 because it isn't friendly. 37:15 What kind of a member are you? 37:16 That's what I want you to live with. 37:18 And no matter how friendly you are 37:20 I think there are things we can do to be better. 37:24 Let's be the true family of God. Amen. Amen. 37:28 Jac's been talking about 37:29 becoming a part of the family of God. 37:32 And want a rich invitation 37:33 that God gives us to become part of His family. 37:37 God's inviting us to become his children, 37:40 to be His sons and daughters. 37:44 What a rich, what a very rich invitation 37:47 to be a part of his family. 37:49 My grandfather before-- 37:51 many years ago before he became ill he gave me this book. 37:56 It's a family tree 37:57 that was put together by some one in the family. 37:59 I don't know who but it lists the-- 38:01 the ancestors of the Bryson families 38:04 having come from Ireland 38:06 to America in about 1730 or something. 38:08 William Bryson was born in Ireland 1700 38:11 and came to America 38:12 and as you look down through the, 38:14 through the list of the families 38:16 and the children and where they came from 38:18 and I link over to even my tree in this branch 38:23 I find up my ancestor Jessie Montgomery Bryson, 38:28 who lived in North Carolina, 38:30 was a solider for the confederacy. 38:32 Stole horse and food from the northern armies 38:36 and was captured twice and escaped both times. 38:39 After the war he was in North Carolina 38:41 and the Southern soldiers were being 38:43 shot up by the northern occupying forces. 38:45 Finally his family says, you got to get out of here. 38:47 He headed to the Colorado 38:48 where he eventually found his wife Sara Praeter who-- 38:51 they had nine children 38:52 and eventually they migrated to Oregon on the Oregon Trail. 38:56 When they arrived in Moab, Utah my grandfather told me, 39:00 Sara was ready to give birth 39:01 to the last child the tenth child 39:03 and Jessie went to find a doctor. 39:05 Finally he found him in a bar, 39:06 sobered him up and brought him back to the camp 39:08 and she had already given birth, it was too late. 39:12 You know, all of us have rough family histories 39:16 with skeletons in the closet. 39:18 But its okay, it doesn't matter 39:21 what your family background is like the skeletons 39:23 that may be in your closet 39:25 because we have somebody in the family 39:27 who overseas that, who erases that past in Him 39:31 and through His, His friendship with us. 39:34 And God has invited us to be a part of his family. 39:40 It says in Hebrews-- 39:44 if can find the chapter here says in Hebrews 2 Chapter, 39:48 "Therefore, in all things He" that's Jesus 39:53 "had to be made like His brethren, 39:57 that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest." 40:03 You see, Jesus has called our brother 40:07 and if you are in Christ if you are part of His family 40:13 then you have Him as your brother advocating for you. 40:18 He is our advocate, He is our judge, He is our hope. 40:26 What a Savior and His father is called our Father 40:32 and of course the third person of the God 40:34 had his the Holy Spirit is called the Counselor. 40:38 When you are part of the family of God 40:40 you are in good hands with a marvelous heritage. 40:48 In this series that Jac has been sharing, 40:49 we had people come to Christ. 40:52 They have given their heart to Him. 40:54 They are prepared for baptism. 40:56 Some have been baptized, some will be baptized 40:58 and in that baptism they are joining the family of God. 41:03 Their names written in heavens book of life 41:05 from the foundation of the world 41:07 and yet they finally recognize 41:08 that they are part of His family. 41:10 And you too that are listening can be a part of His family. 41:14 If you will give your heart to Him in surrender 41:16 and prayer you can be a part of the family of God, 41:19 the children of God. 41:22 And our Father in heaven 41:24 as Jesus tells us in John 14 is making a mansion for us. 41:30 In fact Jesus says, I go to prepare a place for you. 41:32 In My Father's house are many mansions or many rooms 41:37 and we will have a place in the Father's house 41:40 for all the rest of eternity, how rich? 41:45 Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us 41:51 that we should be called the children of God. 41:57 If you had not made that decision 41:58 to give your heart to Jesus 42:01 I would invite you right now to-- 42:03 to bow your head and to pray. 42:08 In fact, let's bow our heads right now, 42:09 I will pray and you could pray in your heart. 42:12 Father in heaven, we thank You 42:14 that You have invited us to become a part of Your family, 42:18 to be a part of the rich heritage 42:20 that was established by the sacrifice of Jesus 42:23 and that You establish before the world was created. 42:27 For those that are listening right now on TV, 42:31 if you would like to give your heart to Christ right now 42:33 and full surrender just repeat after me. 42:36 Dear Father, come into my heart through the Holy Spirit, 42:42 may Jesus sacrifice apply to me. 42:48 And I thank you in His name, Amen. 42:53 If you pray that prayer with me, 42:56 then you too are now a part of the family of God. 43:02 I heard an old, old story 43:06 How a Savior came from glory 43:11 How He gave His life on Calvary 43:15 To save a wretch like me 43:20 I heard about His groaning 43:24 Of His precious blood's atoning 43:28 Then I repented of my sins 43:33 And won the victory 43:37 O victory in Jesus 43:41 My Savior, forever 43:46 He sought me and bought me 43:50 Justin, this is a privilege today, 43:52 to brought you to this point of rebirth 43:54 and we baptize you in the name of the Father, 43:57 in the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 44:00 And all my love is due Him 44:04 He plunged me to victory 44:08 Beneath the cleansing flood 44:19 Carrie, on this special day we baptize you 44:22 in the name of the Father, 44:23 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 44:26 Of His cleansing power revealing 44:30 How He made the lame to walk again 44:35 And caused the blind to see 44:39 And then I cried, dear Jesus Come and heal my broken spirit 44:44 We baptize you in the name of the Father, 44:47 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 44:49 And somehow Jesus came and brought 44:52 To me the victory 44:57 I heard about a mansion 45:01 He has built for me in glory 45:05 Veronica, because Jesus loves you so much, 45:09 He gave His life for you 45:11 and He is coming soon to take you to His home. 45:14 Well, as a pastor, 45:18 I baptize you for the forgiveness of your sins 45:23 and for the anointing of the spirit, 45:25 in the name of the Father, and the Son, 45:28 and the Holy Ghost. Amen. Amen. Amen. 45:32 O victory in Jesus Amen. 45:36 My Savior, forever 45:40 He sought me and bought me 45:45 With His redeeming blood 45:47 Alisha, because you love Jesus, 45:48 we baptize you in the name of the Father, 45:50 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 45:54 And all my love is due Him 45:58 He plunged me to victory 46:03 Beneath the cleansing flood 46:07 Frieda, because of your love for Christ, 46:08 we baptize you in the name of the Father, 46:11 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 46:18 Our Father 46:27 Melinda, because you love Jesus, 46:29 we baptize you in the name of the Father, 46:31 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 46:33 Our father, 46:40 hallowed be 46:48 thy name 46:50 Tanya, because of your faith in Christ, 46:52 and you are requesting to be re-baptized 46:54 we baptize you in the name of the Father, 46:56 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 46:58 Thy kingdom come, 47:06 thy will be done on earth 47:13 Thomas, because of your faith in Jesus 47:16 and your willingness to obey Him, 47:17 we baptize you in the name of the Father, 47:20 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 47:39 So, Raymond, we baptize you in the name of the Father, 47:42 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 47:46 Give us this day 47:51 our daily bread 47:57 and forgive us our trespasses 48:02 Albert, because of your love for Christ Jesus 48:05 we baptize you in the name of the Father, 48:07 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 48:15 And lead us not into temptation 48:22 but deliver us from evil 48:27 Margarita, because you love Jesus, 48:29 He want to be your Savior. 48:30 We baptize you in the name of the Father, 48:32 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 48:36 And the glory forever 48:52 Brendon, because you have 48:53 given yourself back to Jesus tonight, 48:56 we baptize you in the name of the Father, 48:58 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 49:24 When this is all over 49:30 when Jesus comes and take us to heaven. 49:38 On the second day, 49:41 first day is saved for my family 49:45 and for Jesus, maybe Paul. 49:51 Second day, 6 o'clock in the morning 49:59 I'm gonna be standing under the tree of life. 50:05 Right hand side when you are facing the throne, 50:08 because it's on both sides 50:13 I want to see you there. Amen. 50:19 Oh, Lord, 50:23 it is been so good 50:28 and I just want to lift up I preach all these people 50:32 standing here this morning. 50:35 Some have just become a part of your church family here 50:41 and some brand new in Christ 50:45 taking their first baby steps, 50:48 others who have been Christians for a long time 50:52 they are just continuing to follow the Lamb. 50:57 Lord, I pray that you will 50:58 put a hedge around them, 51:01 keep the devil away. 51:03 Give them a chance to grow 51:05 in the grace of our Lord and Savior. 51:09 Then those who are already been around a while 51:14 I pray that You will specially strengthen and power them. 51:20 Let us love each other, Lord. 51:23 Help us to grow above the pettiness. 51:26 It holds so many churches down 51:30 and let's be a true family of God. Amen. 51:35 I pledge allegiance to the Lamb 51:42 With all my strength, with all I am 51:48 I will seek to honor His commands 51:54 I pledge allegiance 51:58 to the Lamb 52:11 I have heard how Christians long ago 52:17 Were brought before a tyrants throne 52:24 They were told that he would spare their lives 52:30 If they would renounce the name of Christ 52:36 But one by one, they chose to die 52:43 The Son of God, they would not deny 52:49 Like a great angelic choir sings 52:56 I can almost hear their voices ring 53:02 I pledge allegiance to the Lamb 53:08 With all my strength, with all I am 53:14 I will seek to honor His commands 53:21 I pledge allegiance 53:25 to the Lamb 53:36 Now, the years have come and the years have gone 53:42 And the 'cause of Jesus still goes on 53:48 Now, our time has come to count the cost 53:55 To reject this world, to embrace the Cross 54:01 So one by one let us live our lives 54:08 For the One who died to give us life 54:14 Till the trumpet sounds on the final day 54:20 Let us gladly stand and boldly say 54:26 I pledge allegiance 54:30 to the Lamb 54:33 With all my strength, with all I am 54:39 I will seek to honor His commands 54:46 I pledge allegiance 54:49 to the Lamb 54:52 To the Lamb of God who bore my pain 54:59 Who took my place, who wore my shame 55:07 I will seek to honor His commands 55:13 I pledge allegiance 55:17 to the Lamb 55:26 I pledge allegiance 55:29 to the Lamb 55:32 With all my strength, with all I am 55:38 I will seek to honor His commands 55:44 I pledge allegiance 55:48 to the Lamb 55:51 I pledge allegiance 55:55 to the Lamb 55:58 With all my strength, with all I am 56:04 I will seek to honor His commands 56:10 I pledge allegiance 56:14 to the Lamb 56:16 I pledge allegiance 56:21 to the Lamb 56:27 To the lamb |
Revised 2014-12-17