Spring Camp Meeting

Don't Bear False Witness--Commandment #9

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

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Series Code: SCM

Program Code: SCM190019A


00:39 Previously on Law of Love & Liberty:
00:43 Remember it... and as I stated earlier
00:45 today we live in a world where the very commandment that God
00:48 said "Remember" is the commandment that more and more
00:51 Christians today are deceived into believing that we should
00:54 forget! I was lost...
00:57 with loving hands
01:00 He reached for me.
01:04 Get on our knees and ask the Lord: "Come into my life.
01:08 Help me to see what I'm not able to see myself:
01:11 to see myself as filthy rags in Your sight
01:13 but to see that I'm a child of Yours.
01:16 You gave Your life for me! "
01:18 Great is Thy
01:20 faithfulness...
01:29 "You shall not steal. "
01:34 This straightforward command employs no elements
01:39 of poetry or prophecy.
01:43 There are no symbols to decode.
01:45 There are no characters to explore...
01:49 no nuanced meanings hidden in the original language.
01:53 I would love to come out and say "But did you know that in Hebrew
01:56 the real... " It means steal there too.
02:01 Amen! Welcome back to Spring Camp Meeting 2019.
02:05 We've been blessed haven't we today?
02:07 AMEN! Had a wonderful lunch, great messages.
02:10 Fed physically and spiritually.
02:12 We're so glad that you're here with us.
02:13 Thank you for joining us on radio or on television,
02:17 through the Internet. We are blessed!
02:19 It's hard to believe it's already Sabbath afternoon.
02:21 Camp Meeting's gone by in a hurry.
02:22 Always tends to be. We have it marked on our calendar.
02:25 We're counting the days down and then here we are
02:27 and now it's almost done. But thank you again for being here
02:29 with us. I have the privilege of introducing
02:32 my wife. She's going to be the next speaker
02:36 for the hour... of course Jill Morikone.
02:38 I've been blessed to be married to a wonderful woman of God.
02:41 She loves the Word of God.
02:43 She studies it daily.
02:44 I think it's evident in how she presents the Word of God.
02:47 We've been married 17 years this September, and it's been
02:51 a blessed 17 years.
02:54 And it's a blessing, too, to minister together
02:57 at such a place as 3ABN.
03:00 I just count it a privilege.
03:02 Our offices are just right down the hall from each other
03:05 and that's a blessing, too.
03:07 But before she speaks Tim Parton's going to be playing
03:10 a beautiful song entitled Daystar.
03:12 And after he has sung and played we'll hear Jill
03:15 on the ninth commandment: Don't Bear False Witness.
03:24 I invite you to make this your prayer this afternoon.
03:37 Lily of the Valley,
03:41 let your sweet aroma
03:44 fill my life.
03:50 Rose of Sharon, show me
03:54 how to grow in beauty
03:57 in God's sight.
04:04 Fairest of ten thousand.
04:08 make me a reflection of Your light.
04:18 Daystar, shine down on me...
04:21 let Your love shine through me
04:25 in the night.
04:33 Lead me... Lord, I'll follow
04:37 anywhere You open up the door.
04:47 Let Your Word speak to me...
04:51 show me what I've never seen
04:55 before.
05:01 Lord, I want to be Your witness...
05:05 You can take what's wrong
05:08 and make it right.
05:16 Daystar, shine down on me...
05:20 let Your love shine through me
05:24 in the night.
05:31 Lord, I see a world that's dying...
05:36 wounded by the master of deceit.
05:44 Groping in the darkness,
05:48 haunted by the years of past defeat.
05:56 But then I see You're standing near me, Lord,
06:00 shining with compassion
06:04 in Your eyes.
06:08 And I pray: "Jesus, shine down on me...
06:15 let Your love shine through me
06:18 in the night. "
06:25 Lead me, Lord, I'll follow
06:28 anywhere You open up the door.
06:37 Let Your Word speak through me...
06:41 show me what I've never seen before.
06:50 Lord, I want to be Your witness...
06:55 You can take what's wrong and make it right.
07:03 Lord, make it right...
07:06 Jesus, shine down on me,
07:09 let Your love shine through me in the night...
07:20 Daystar, shine down on me...
07:24 let Your love shine through me
07:29 in
07:32 the night.
07:44 Amen! Thank you so much, Tim.
07:47 What a privilege to have Greg introduce me!
07:50 That's really special... my husband do that.
07:52 And thank you for that song, Tim.
07:54 Lord, I want to be Your witness.
07:56 You can take what's wrong and make it right.
08:00 Daystar, shine down on me...
08:03 let Your love shine through me in the night.
08:07 Now you might be saying: "What in the world
08:10 does that have to do with the ninth commandment? "
08:13 "You shall not bear false witness. "
08:17 Exodus chapter 20 verse 16 is where we find that
08:21 commandment. Exodus 20:16: "You shall not bear
08:25 false witness. " But by the time we get to the end of the
08:29 presentation I hope you will see the tight connection
08:33 between that song and this message.
08:37 The eighth and ninth commandments are related
08:39 even if at first glance you might think they're not related.
08:42 Eighth commandment: "Don't steal. "
08:44 Talks about theft. Not taking something from someone else
08:49 that belongs to them. It doesn't rightfully belong to us.
08:52 The ninth commandment: "Don't bear false witness"
08:56 is also a form of theft:
08:59 withholding from someone what is their rightful due.
09:04 The ninth commandment is most immediately concerned
09:07 with truthfulness in a judicial context.
09:12 Now I like teaching even more than preaching
09:15 so I'm telling you where we're going ahead of time.
09:19 We're going to look at truth versus lies.
09:22 What constitutes a true witness and a false witness.
09:26 And the most important thing:
09:28 we'll spend the balance of our time on this:
09:30 what are the characteristics of a witness?
09:34 What should be our character- istics as a true witness
09:38 for the Lord Jesus Christ?
09:40 If you and I are called to be His witness,
09:42 what does that look like?
09:44 Let's pray. Holy Father, we come before You
09:47 in the name of Jesus and we ask right now
09:50 for the outpouring of Your Holy Spirit.
09:53 That You would hide me and that Your Word would go forth.
09:59 May Jesus be seen and glorified.
10:03 And I thank you in Jesus' name, Amen.
10:07 I heard a woman speak once.
10:10 I heard a woman speak many times.
10:13 That did not come out right.
10:15 What I meant was I heard a woman at a woman's conference
10:18 speaking, and she was telling a story
10:20 about a trip she had taken overseas.
10:24 She said she and her husband had traveled overseas,
10:26 and when she returned from over- seas she gathered some friends
10:30 together and she regaled them with stories of their journey.
10:34 She talked about the cruise that they had taken
10:37 and what it was like onboard the ship
10:40 and the food that they ate and the great friends that they met
10:45 and what it was like for she and her husband to sit on the deck
10:49 of the ship and they watched the sun set.
10:53 Now her husband's just sitting back while she is
10:56 telling this whole story about the cruise they took.
10:59 And when she got to the end of her recital
11:01 she said two words: "We flew. "
11:05 You see they never took a cruise.
11:09 They did travel overseas to the country
11:12 but they never took a cruise.
11:15 Everything... the ship, the meals, the friends,
11:18 the sunset on the deck...
11:20 that wasn't true.
11:22 What is truth?
11:25 Turn with me to John chapter 18.
11:27 Pilate asked Jesus this question:
11:30 "What is truth? "
11:32 John chapter 18. I love the book of John;
11:35 it is probably one of my favorite New Testament books.
11:39 John 13 is the foot washing of the disciples.
11:43 Jesus humbling himself as a servant
11:47 and washing the disciples' feet.
11:50 Then we have the rest of John 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17
11:54 where He gives almost as it were His last words
11:58 of wisdom, His last prayer for His disciples
12:04 because He knows that He's going to the cross.
12:07 We get to John chapter 18:
12:09 He's arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.
12:13 He goes before Annas and Caiaphas
12:16 and now He's before Pilate.
12:18 Verse 38... John 18 verse 38:
12:21 "Pilate said to Him: 'What is truth? ' "
12:26 Now obviously if Pilate asked the question
12:28 there was something that preceded that question.
12:31 So let's take a look at that. The verse before, verse 37.
12:34 "Pilate said to Him: 'Are You a King? ' "
12:36 "Jesus answered: 'You say rightly that I am a King.
12:41 For this cause I was born
12:44 and for this cause I have come into the world
12:47 that... ' What? 'I should bear witness
12:52 to the truth. ' "
12:54 "I came into the world that I should bear witness
12:58 to the truth. " Now we often said Jesus came
13:01 what? John 3:16: He came to die for our sins.
13:05 He came as our perfect substitute.
13:07 He came as our sacrifice.
13:09 He came to show us the Father.
13:12 All of those things are correct.
13:14 But He also came to bear witness to the truth.
13:19 Now, we're going to have a Greek lesson today.
13:22 But there's only one Greek word so it's not a hard lesson.
13:24 But we're going to use it repeatedly
13:27 so I want to make sure you all learn it.
13:29 That is the word mártyras. Can we say that?
13:32 Mártyras. Guess what that means.
13:35 Oh, you would think truth. It means witness.
13:39 But it doesn't just mean witness.
13:42 It means an eye or an ear witness.
13:47 Mártyras.
13:49 So this word here in John 18
13:51 Jesus said: "I came that I should bear witness
13:54 to the truth. " The word there is martyró, which comes
13:59 from mártyras which means an eye or a?
14:03 ear witness. OK.
14:08 The Old Testament... Turn with me here.
14:10 We're just setting a little bit of groundwork here.
14:13 Turn with me to Deuteronomy 19.
14:15 Witnesses were an important piece...
14:18 They are today in our judicial system
14:20 but they also were in the Old Testament underneath
14:23 the Mosaic law. Witnesses were important.
14:27 So turn with me to Deuteronomy 19 verse 15.
14:31 Deuteronomy 19 verse 15.
14:34 It says: "One witness shall not rise against a man
14:37 concerning any iniquity
14:39 or any sin that he commits.
14:43 By the mouth of two or three witnesses
14:47 the matter shall be established. "
14:51 Under Mosaic law you needed two witnesses
14:56 in order to corroborate - I can't say that very well -
14:59 a statement. You needed two witnesses.
15:02 So in other words, if my oxen... I was driving my oxen
15:06 and he ran the stop light,
15:09 what's going to happen?
15:10 You need more than one person
15:13 to say: "Jill's oxen ran that stop light. "
15:16 You need two people to see that,
15:18 two people to testify, and then two people
15:23 would provide that conclusive proof in the court of law.
15:27 Under the Mosaic law you needed two witnesses.
15:30 Under Mosaic law a valid witness to an event
15:34 must be an eye or an ear witness.
15:39 Now what was our word again?
15:41 Mártyras. Good job! Mártyras.
15:44 That's Greek, and we're in the Old Testament here,
15:46 but it's the same principle.
15:48 The witness must be an eye or an ear witness.
15:52 Under Mosaic law, the witness must speak directly to the judge
15:56 and the witness could not recant his testimony.
16:00 Now jump over to John chapter 8.
16:02 John chapter 8... This is the story of the woman
16:06 caught in adultery.
16:09 John 8 verse 11 Jesus says to her:
16:12 "Neither do I... " What's the words? "condemn you. "
16:15 "Go and sin no more. "
16:17 Then Jesus says in verse 12: "I am the Light
16:21 of the world. He who follows me shall not walk
16:24 in darkness but have the light of life. "
16:29 Now the Pharisees had an issue with that -
16:31 Jesus saying He's the Light of the world -
16:33 and so they took issue. The next verse it says:
16:36 "The Pharisees said to Him: 'You bear witness
16:39 of Yourself. Your witness is not true. ' "
16:42 Now remember, under Mosaic law you needed how many
16:45 people to testify? Two!
16:47 So they're saying: "Hey, You're just one person.
16:49 You're just saying 'I am the Light of the world'
16:52 so then clearly that cannot be established. "
16:55 "This word You bear witness of Yourself. " Martyró
16:58 comes from mártyras: an eye or an ear witness.
17:03 You jump down a couple verses...
17:05 In verse 18 Jesus says: "I am One who bears witness of Myself
17:11 and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me. "
17:16 There you have two. He said: "I am speaking it
17:19 and the Father also bears witness of Me. "
17:23 What is truth?
17:25 God is truth.
17:27 Isaiah 65:16.
17:30 "So he who blesses himself on the earth shall bless himself
17:33 in the God of truth. "
17:37 Jesus is truth.
17:38 John 14 verse 6: "I am the Way,
17:42 the Truth, and the Life.
17:45 No one comes to the Father but through Me. "
17:49 The Holy Spirit is truth.
17:53 I John 5:6: "It is the Spirit who bears witness. "
17:57 There's our word again.
17:58 It comes from mártyras: an eye or an ear witness.
18:03 "because the Spirit is truth. "
18:06 The Word is truth.
18:08 John 17:17.
18:10 "Sanctify them through Thy truth;
18:14 Thy Word is truth. "
18:16 And we know: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
18:19 with God and the Word WAS God. "
18:22 So the Word is truth, but the Word is Jesus Christ.
18:26 He is the Living Word.
18:28 By contrast we see that Satan
18:32 is the father of lies.
18:35 He would be the father of false witnesses.
18:38 Would you say that's true?
18:39 The granddaddy of false witnesses.
18:42 John 8:44... Jesus speaking to the Pharisees:
18:45 "You are of your father the devil
18:48 and the desires of your father you want to do.
18:51 He was a murderer from the beginning
18:54 and does not stand in the truth
18:57 because there is no truth in him.
18:58 When he speaks a lie he speaks from his own
19:02 resources for he is a liar and the father of it. "
19:06 Before we get... The balance of our sermon today we're going to
19:09 spend on the four character- istics of a true witness.
19:12 But before we get there I want to talk just a moment
19:15 about this thing we call lying.
19:19 Now we know Satan began it in heaven.
19:22 Remember? He was successful enough that a whole third
19:25 of the angels were convinced of his lies
19:29 that God is not just, God is not fair,
19:32 God is out to take your freedom.
19:35 And a third of the angels believed his lies
19:38 and they were cast out of heaven with him.
19:41 Now he took that false witness -
19:45 those lies - and he brought it to this earth.
19:49 We're going to look at seven snapshots of a false witness
19:53 as we see it progress through the Bible.
19:56 Now of course there's many more... I'm just picking seven.
19:59 The first one here on this earth is actually the very first
20:02 falsehood in the Bible in the Garden of Eden.
20:06 Genesis chapter 3 verse 4: "The serpent said to the woman:
20:10 'You shall not surely die. ' "
20:15 A false witness lies about the truth of God's Word.
20:21 Any time someone speaks something, preaches something,
20:25 shares something that does not line up
20:29 with the truth in the Word of God
20:32 that person is a false witness.
20:36 A false witness lies about the truth in the Word of God.
20:39 "To the law and to the testimony...
20:40 if they speak not according to this Word
20:43 it is because there is no light in them. "
20:46 Snapshot #2 is Cain's lie to God.
20:50 We're just one chapter over: Genesis chapter 4 verse 9.
20:55 Remember? After Cain murdered his brother
20:56 God came for a visit.
20:58 And He said: "Where is Abel your brother? "
21:03 And Cain said: "I don't know. "
21:05 "Am I my brother's keeper? "
21:09 A false witness lies to escape responsibility for sin.
21:15 That's what Cain was trying to do:
21:17 escape responsibility for his own actions.
21:22 Snapshot #3 is Abraham and Sarah.
21:25 This is in Genesis chapter 12
21:27 when there was the famine in Canaan, remember?
21:29 And they went down to Egypt to find food.
21:32 And this always bothered me. I'll just be honest with you all
21:35 but this always bothered me. Remember when Abram told Sarai
21:38 "When the Egyptians see you... " We're in verse 12...
21:42 "they will kill me because you are so beautiful.
21:46 Please say you are my sister
21:49 that it may be well with me for your sake
21:51 that I may live because of you. "
21:54 That always "bugged" me because I thought: "Well, he certainly
21:56 didn't mind the fact that she was pretty
21:58 when he married her,
22:01 and now it clearly bothers him now when his life might be
22:05 at stake. " A false witness lies
22:09 to protect himself.
22:11 That's what Abraham was doing.
22:13 Snapshot #4: Jacob's lie to his father Isaac.
22:18 Remember? Jacob wanted the birthright
22:21 and he said: "I want that. "
22:23 And he tried to get it by deceit with a little "mess" of lentils
22:27 in the pottage. He tried to get it other avenues
22:30 and then his mom stepped in
22:32 and said: "OK... deceive your father. "
22:35 Genesis 27:24.
22:37 "Isaac said: 'Are you really my son Esau? '
22:39 and Jacob said: 'Yeah... that's me; I'm Esau. ' "
22:44 A false witness lies to get what he wants.
22:50 A false witness lies about the truth of God's Word.
22:52 A false witness lies to escape responsibility for sin.
22:56 A false witness lies to protect himself.
23:00 A false witness lies to get what he wants.
23:03 Snapshot #5: Joseph's brothers.
23:05 Remember when they took Joseph?
23:09 They cast him in the pit and then they sold him
23:12 as a slave headed to Egypt.
23:15 They took his tunic - the coat of many colors.
23:18 They dipped it in the blood of a kid and they sent it
23:20 home to daddy. And they said: "OK,
23:24 recognize. Is this your son's tunic or not? "
23:27 Of course, he was devastated.
23:29 He said in Genesis 37: "A wild beast has devoured him!
23:33 Without doubt, Joseph has been torn to pieces. "
23:37 A false witness lies to cover sin.
23:43 Snapshot #6: the priests and elders.
23:46 This is right after Jesus died and was resurrected.
23:49 And remember: they're having a "conniption fit. "
23:52 They're saying: "I don't know what I'm going to do with this
23:55 because Jesus resurrected and what am I going to do? "
23:59 So they paid off the soldiers. Remember?
24:02 And said: "You're supposed to tell the people the disciples
24:05 came at night and they stole the body. "
24:09 A false witness lies to obtain a profit.
24:14 Last snapshot... #7:
24:15 Ananias and Sapphira.
24:17 Who did they lie to?
24:19 They lied to God... the Holy Spirit and to God
24:21 AND to Peter!
24:23 Remember? They said: "Oh yes, we sold the land
24:26 for this certain price. " We're in Acts chapter 5.
24:29 And Peter said: "Why have you conceived this thing
24:32 in your heart? You have not lied to men
24:34 but you have lied to God. "
24:36 A false witness always lies at the peril of his own life
24:41 and his salvation.
24:44 By contrast, Jesus is the faithful and true witness.
24:50 Revelation 1:4-5.
24:52 "Grace to you and peace from Him who is and was
24:55 and is to come and from Jesus Christ
24:57 the faithful witness. "
25:00 Witness. That word is? Mártyras... that's right!
25:05 An eye or an ear witness.
25:08 How is Jesus our faithful and true witness?
25:11 Because He is and He was and He is to come.
25:13 Because He is the first and the last.
25:16 He's alpha and omega.
25:18 He's the ruler of the kings of the earth.
25:21 He is the "Amen" and the first begotten of the dead.
25:25 He's the Son of Man and the Son of God.
25:27 He shuts the door and no one can open it.
25:30 He is holy and true; He is Lord.
25:34 Lion of the tribe of Judah, root of David,
25:37 Lamb of God, King of kings, Lord of lords,
25:40 and the Word of God.
25:42 THAT's why Jesus can be the faithful and true witness. Amen!
25:47 John the Baptist witnessed of Jesus.
25:50 John chapter 1 verses 6 and 7.
25:52 "There was a man from God whose name was John.
25:55 He came for a witness... " There's our word again:
25:58 an eye and an ear witness...
26:01 "to bear witness of the light. " That's Jesus Christ.
26:04 "that all through Him might believe. "
26:06 Acts chapter 1 and verse 8.
26:08 This is right before Jesus ascended to His Father.
26:11 You all know Acts 1:9-11 is when He ascended
26:15 up and the clouds received Him out of the disciples' sight.
26:19 But just before He ascended up
26:21 Acts chapter 1 verse 8 He said: "You shall receive power
26:27 when the Holy Spirit is come upon you.
26:30 And you shall be witnesses unto Me
26:32 in Jerusalem and Judea
26:34 and Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. "
26:40 You shall be witnesses.
26:41 How could they be a witness? That word is mártyras
26:44 again: an eye or an ear witness.
26:48 How could they be a witness?
26:50 Because they had seen Jesus.
26:52 They had walked with Jesus.
26:55 And they could testify first hand
26:57 what He had done in their life.
27:00 They'd spent ten days in the upper room
27:03 and then the Holy Spirit was poured out with power.
27:06 In Acts chapter 2 we see Peter's sermon.
27:09 And he says again: "This God Jesus has raised up
27:13 and we are all His witnesses. "
27:17 Now we really come to the sermon.
27:19 That is, the four character- istics of a true witness.
27:25 Four characteristics of a true witness.
27:27 I'll tell you what they are and then we'll go back
27:29 and we'll "unpack" them.
27:30 Number one: a true witness testifies
27:33 to what they have seen and heard.
27:35 Number two: a true witness tells the truth.
27:39 Number three: a true witness teaches in love.
27:44 Number four: a true witness trusts God for the result.
27:51 So let's go back to testifies to what they've seen and heard.
27:53 Turn with me to John... I John, I'm sorry... I John chapter 1.
27:58 This is John the beloved writing.
28:02 I John chapter 1 verses 1 through 3.
28:06 "That which was from the beginning
28:08 which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
28:12 which we have looked upon and our hands have handled
28:17 concerning the Word of Life. " Jump down to verse 3:
28:21 "That which we have seen and heard we declare to you
28:25 that you also may have fellowship with us.
28:28 And truly, our fellowship is with the Father
28:31 and with His Son Jesus Christ. "
28:34 So let's go back. "That which was from the beginning
28:36 which we have heard. "
28:38 That means in the Greek to give in the audience of.
28:42 So John is not saying: "I'm sharing with you something
28:45 that I heard from Sally and Sally got it from Dawn
28:49 and Dawn got it from David...
28:50 and I don't even know where David got it from. " NO!
28:53 He's saying: "I was there
28:57 by the Sea of Galilee on the mountain when Jesus
29:01 gave the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. "
29:04 "I heard Him with my own ears. "
29:08 "That which was from the beginning which we have heard...
29:12 which we have seen with our eyes. "
29:14 That means in the Greek: to stare at or to gaze with
29:17 wide open eyes.
29:20 John said: "I have seen the miracles from Jesus. "
29:23 "I was there in the boat when it was rocking
29:25 and the storm was raging and we were bailing water
29:29 and Jesus was sleeping.
29:31 And I saw Him stand up and I heard His voice say
29:35 'Peace, be still '
29:37 and I witnessed the calmness. "
29:40 "I saw Jesus reach His hand out and touch the eyes of the
29:43 blind and they received sight. "
29:47 "I listened to the Sermon on the Mount. "
29:50 "I heard His voice cry out: 'LAZARUS,
29:53 COME FORTH ' and I saw a man who had been dead
29:57 in the grave come forth and be resurrected. "
30:01 "I felt Jesus untie my sandals in the upper room
30:05 and wash my feet, doing the work of a servant. "
30:11 "I'm not telling you something
30:13 that I haven't seen or experienced...
30:15 I'm telling you first hand. "
30:17 We cannot share what we've never experienced.
30:21 If you don't have a walk with Jesus,
30:25 if you have never experienced Him for yourself,
30:29 you cannot share Him with someone else.
30:31 We cannot testify what we have never experienced.
30:36 I don't know about you, but I've experienced His mercy.
30:39 Amen! Lamentations 3: "Through the Lord's mercy
30:43 we are not consumed.
30:45 Because His compassions fail not,
30:48 they are new every morning.
30:49 Great is His faithfulness! " Amen!
30:52 I don't know about you, but I've experienced His forgiveness.
30:56 Amen. I John 1:9: "If we confess our sins,
30:59 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
31:02 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "
31:05 I've experienced His love.
31:07 I John 3:1: "Behold what manner of love
31:10 the Father has bestowed on us
31:13 that we should be called the sons and daughters of God. "
31:16 I've experienced His adoption.
31:19 Romans 8:15: "You did not receive the spirit of bondage
31:23 again to fear but you received the spirit of adoption
31:27 by whom we cry out 'Abba! Daddy! Father! ' "
31:32 I've experienced His peace and His joy
31:35 and His strength and His victory
31:39 and His deliverance.
31:42 "Therefore if the Son makes you free
31:45 you shall be free indeed. "
31:48 We cannot share what we haven't experienced.
31:51 But if you have experienced deliverance from addiction
31:54 and you have experienced deliverance from bondage
31:57 and you have walked in a night of darkness
32:00 and Jesus has turned your sorrow into joy...
32:03 If you have walked under oppression
32:06 and Jesus has lifted that,
32:09 if you have walked in fear
32:11 and Jesus has delivered that, Amen!
32:14 if you have walked in guilt and shame and condemnation
32:19 and Jesus has given you freedom,
32:21 don't you want to testify? Yes!
32:23 Don't you want to share what Jesus has done in your heart
32:28 and life? The first character- istic of a true witness:
32:32 we testify what we have seen,
32:37 what we have heard,
32:39 what we have experienced
32:43 of the life and the love of Jesus.
32:47 Testify. Second characteristic:
32:50 a true witness tells the truth.
32:55 Now definitely we are called to tell the truth from the pulpit.
33:00 Turn with me to II Timothy chapter 4
33:03 and then we'll get to everyone else
33:04 'cause you might be saying: "Well surely I'm not called
33:06 to preach so this doesn't apply to me. "
33:08 Yes it does.
33:10 Because we are ALL called to tell the truth.
33:14 II Timothy... this is the last book that Paul wrote.
33:18 You know, I Timothy was written between probably
33:20 his first and second imprisonment.
33:23 II Timothy was written during his last imprisonment
33:27 just before he was executed.
33:30 II Timothy. You remember Timothy was his son in the
33:33 faith and he's writing to him.
33:36 II Timothy 4 verse 2.
33:38 "Preach the word... be ready. " The King James says
33:42 "instant in season and out of season.
33:45 Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
33:49 and teaching. For the time will come when
33:51 they will not endure sound doctrine
33:54 but according to their own desires because they have
33:56 itching ears they will heap up for themselves teachers
34:00 and they will turn their ears away from the truth
34:02 and be turned aside to fables. "
34:05 We are called to preach the truth.
34:08 We are not called to preach something that feels good.
34:10 Although... the truth CAN feel good after it cuts.
34:15 We are not called to sugar-coat.
34:17 We are called to share an undiluted
34:21 three angels' messages... one that would counteract
34:24 the counterfeit. We are called to preach the truth.
34:27 But in case you're saying: "Well I'm not called
34:29 to preach the truth" turn with me to II Corinthians
34:32 chapter 5. II Corinthians chapter 5 verse 18.
34:40 "Now all things are of God
34:42 who has reconciled us to Himself
34:45 through Jesus Christ
34:49 and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. "
34:53 Now you might read that and say: "Well that's just
34:54 for the pastor. Definitely the pastor's ministry is a ministry
34:58 of reconciliation but I'm not sure what my role is in this. "
35:01 The word ministry there - diákonos -
35:03 is where we get our word deacon.
35:05 Remember in Acts chapter 6 when the deacons were appointed
35:08 in the New Testament church?
35:10 That's where we get our word deacon
35:11 but literally it means waiting at tables.
35:17 You ever go to a restaurant
35:18 and the waitress or the waiter comes and assists you?
35:23 It's service; it's ministry.
35:26 It's reaching out. You and I are all called
35:30 to this ministry: the ministry of reconciliation.
35:37 Turn back one chapter... II Corinthians 4
35:41 is one of my favorite scriptures.
35:43 II Corinthians 4. It says: "It is God who commanded
35:46 light to shine out of darkness. "
35:48 Do we live in a dark world?
35:50 A world of sin and suffering and oppression
35:53 and sickness and death and pain?
35:55 We live in a dark world. God has shone the light
35:59 of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ
36:03 into this dark world.
36:05 "He has shone it in our hearts
36:07 to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
36:09 in the face of Jesus Christ. "
36:10 But we have this treasure... " What is that treasure?
36:13 That's the gospel.
36:15 "in earthen vessels
36:17 that the excellency of the power may be of God
36:20 and not of us. "
36:21 Now I have a little cracked pot here.
36:24 This actually RobbieD gave to me.
36:26 RobbieD is one of our set designers.
36:29 She worked with Scott Ellis and several others
36:31 and Michael and Rodney... and I don't want to start naming names
36:34 but on the set design here
36:36 and they do quite a bit with set design. She gave me this pot.
36:38 It looks pretty good on this side. I don't know...
36:40 Can you all see it looks pretty good on this side?
36:42 Now if I flip it around the other side
36:45 can you see that?
36:47 Can you see that? It's cracked.
36:49 It fell and it broke.
36:52 Why does God pour the light of the gospel
36:57 into you and I
36:58 cracked clay pots?
37:01 I would think He'd use something a little more professional.
37:05 We are cracked, and yet God says: "I want to use you. "
37:12 "I want to use you. "
37:14 Do you feel that you're too sinful?
37:16 God can use the crack made by sin
37:18 to create a beautiful testimony of His forgiveness
37:22 and His transforming power.
37:25 Are you a new Christian?
37:26 God can use the crack of inexperience.
37:29 Do you feel that you're too old?
37:31 God uses the crack of experience and wisdom.
37:36 Nothing is wasted.
37:37 No experience that we've been through
37:39 is too dark that He can't lighten.
37:41 No pit is too deep that He cannot pull us out of.
37:45 Everything... every cracking experience
37:49 you've ever had in your life:
37:51 your past, present, and what's going to come in the future...
37:54 can be used for His glory
37:56 to enable us to become His witness.
37:59 And why are we cracked clay pots?
38:02 So that we can never take the glory to ourselves. Amen!
38:05 We can never say we were the one who shared the gospel.
38:08 We were the one who did such a great job of it.
38:12 He doesn't transform us to be focused on ourselves
38:15 or we take glory to ourselves.
38:17 On the contrary, He empower us
38:20 to be His witness.
38:23 II Timothy 2 talks about in the great house
38:26 there are vessels of gold and silver,
38:28 of wood and clay. Some for honor; some for dishonor.
38:34 I want to be a vessel of honor.
38:38 I want to be a vessel that God can pour through.
38:41 The master was searching for a vessel to use.
38:44 On the shelf there were many.
38:46 Which one would he choose?
38:48 "Pick me" cried the gold one...
38:50 "I'm shiny and bright.
38:52 I'm of great value and I'll do things just right.
38:55 My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
38:58 and for someone like you, master,
39:01 I would be best. "
39:02 Unheeding, the master passed on to the brass.
39:05 It was wide-mouthed and shallow and polished like glass.
39:09 "Here, here" cried the vessel, "I know I will do.
39:12 Place me on your table for all men to view. "
39:15 "Look at me" cried the goblet of crystal so clear.
39:19 "My transparency shows that my contents are dear.
39:23 Though fragile am I... I'll serve you with pride
39:25 and I know I'll be happy in your house to abide. "
39:30 The master came next to a vessel of wood.
39:33 Polished and carved it solidly stood.
39:37 "Use me, dear master" the wooden bowl said.
39:39 "But I'd rather you use me for fruit, please, not bread. "
39:45 Then the master looked down
39:47 and saw a vessel of clay.
39:49 Empty, broken it helplessly lay.
39:53 No hope had that vessel that the master might choose
39:56 to cleanse and make whole, to fill or to use.
40:01 "Ah, this is the vessel I've been hoping to find.
40:05 I'll mend it and use it and make it all mine.
40:10 I need not a vessel with pride in itself
40:13 nor the one so narrow who sits on the shelf.
40:15 Nor the one who's big-mouthed and shallow and loud...
40:18 nor the one who thinks he can do all things just right.
40:23 But this plain, earthen vessel
40:26 filled with my power and might. "
40:29 Then gently he lifted the vessel of clay.
40:32 Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
40:35 He spoke to it kindly: "There's work you must do.
40:38 You pour out to others and I will pour into you. "
40:45 God calls us to testify what we've seen and heard.
40:49 Number two: He calls us to tell the truth from the pulpit
40:52 but to tell the truth in our own lives as His ambassador.
40:57 We can all share Him with neighbors and co-workers
41:00 and friends and community.
41:02 Number three: He calls us to teach in love.
41:07 Teach in love.
41:10 Ephesians 4:14-15.
41:13 "That we should no longer be children
41:16 tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine
41:20 by the trickery of men and the cunning craftiness
41:23 of deceitful plotting. But speaking the truth in love
41:26 may grow up in all things into Him who is the head...
41:30 even Christ. " How do you react without being judgmental?
41:34 You ever wondered that?
41:36 Without being hypocritical or hateful?
41:38 How do you speak the truth but still be kind about it?
41:42 Still be caring? Still be tactful?
41:47 Turn with me to John chapter 4.
41:49 John chapter 4. This is the encounter of Jesus
41:52 with the woman at the well.
41:56 John chapter 4... we'll pick it up in verse 8.
42:01 When I read this there's many things we can gain from it,
42:04 but I see very quickly in just a brief summary
42:06 that there's four keys to teaching the truth in love
42:10 just from this passage.
42:11 Key #1 is that the setting matters.
42:15 That's in verse 8... John 4 verse 8.
42:17 His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
42:22 So remember that they always went to the well when?
42:25 In the early morning and in the evening.
42:28 Nobody went to the well mid-day.
42:30 And why did she go mid-day?
42:31 Because she'd been with five different husbands, remember?
42:34 There was shame and guilt and condemnation about her.
42:39 Maybe she wanted to avoid the whispers of the townspeople.
42:42 Maybe she just wanted to be alone.
42:45 She went to the well at noon.
42:46 The disciples had gone in to buy food and Jesus is alone
42:52 with her. The setting matters.
42:55 Sometimes we approach people in the middle of a public
42:57 setting and we think we need to speak the truth to them
43:00 at that time. Have you ever experienced that?
43:03 Sometimes we approach people in the open on social media.
43:07 And there is a time and a place to speak the truth.
43:09 I'm not saying that.
43:11 But we need to be conscious and sensitive
43:14 to the right setting,
43:16 the right time to share the truth.
43:21 Be sensitive to other peoples' needs and what's going on
43:23 around them.
43:26 Key #2 is that time and understanding matters.
43:30 Go back one verse.
43:31 It says: "A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
43:33 Jesus said to her: 'Give Me a drink. ' "
43:37 Now... He understood her shame and guilt.
43:40 He knew her sense of condemnation
43:45 and He didn't lead with any of those questions, right?
43:47 Remember later He said: "Go call your husband. "
43:49 But He didn't start with that.
43:51 He COULD HAVE started with that.
43:52 "So tell me about who's your husband right now. "
43:55 He could have started with that.
43:57 Instead He started with something seemingly innocuous:
43:59 "Will you give me a drink? "
44:02 There's a right time and a right place
44:06 to bring up the truth.
44:08 Be sensitive to peoples' needs and their pain
44:12 and know the right time to share the truth in love.
44:16 The third key is that Jesus matters.
44:19 Verse 14: "Whoever drinks of the water I shall give him
44:22 will never thirst. But the water I shall give him
44:26 will become in him a fountain of water
44:28 springing up into everlasting life. "
44:33 Who's He talking about? Himself.
44:35 Jesus... the Water of Life.
44:39 Whenever we present truth it must always
44:44 lead back to Jesus.
44:46 If truth is not couched... if Jesus is not the center
44:51 of what we present we're wasting our time.
44:55 We can have educated Seventh-day Adventists,
44:59 educated Christians,
45:00 and that means nothing without Jesus
45:05 at the center of everything that we teach.
45:09 And finally... truth matters.
45:12 That's an important piece, too.
45:13 At the very end of this encounter with the woman
45:16 at the well, verses 25 and 26,
45:19 the woman said to Him:
45:21 "I know that Messiah is coming who is called Christ.
45:24 When He comes He will tell us all things. "
45:26 "Jesus said to her: 'I who speak to you am He. ' "
45:31 Speak the truth plainly
45:33 so that there is no room for confusion.
45:37 We're called to testify what we've seen and heard.
45:40 We're called to tell the truth and to teach in love.
45:42 And finally we're called to trust God
45:46 for the results. Amen!
45:49 Trust God for the results.
45:52 My sister has four boys. She lives in North Carolina.
45:56 And every time she has a new baby
45:58 I always go to visit her and spend a week
46:02 because when you just have a baby you need a lot of help.
46:05 And she's with a new baby
46:07 and then I can watch the older kids.
46:09 Well the littlest one is six
46:11 so I think we're done with having new babies.
46:13 But six years ago when he was born
46:17 I went out there for a week watching the older three boys.
46:20 And they were really little at that time.
46:23 And one of their favorite games to play with Auntie Jill
46:25 is hide and seek.
46:27 And so I'm in the kitchen starting to count.
46:30 One, two three... and I can hear their little stocking feet
46:34 as they scamper off to go hide.
46:36 They LOVE hide and seek.
46:37 Four, five, six... and I can hear the baby cry
46:41 in the bedroom, and my sister's trying to soothe him
46:44 and calm him down.
46:45 Seven, eight, nine, ten...
46:47 ready or not, here I come!
46:48 So here I just start out of the kitchen
46:50 and I hear: "Caleb here. "
46:54 Now what is the object of hide and seek?
46:58 It's to hide, right? That's the object
47:00 is you're supposed to be hidden.
47:02 But Caleb was only two
47:03 so Caleb didn't know that you're supposed to actually be
47:06 quiet when you hide.
47:08 So I ignored him, and I went into the living room.
47:11 "Maybe Caleb's here behind the couch. " No.
47:14 "Maybe Caleb's in the front closet. " No.
47:17 "Caleb here... " and I could hear him from the bedroom.
47:21 So I ignored him and I went into the bathroom.
47:24 "Maybe Caleb's behind the shower curtain. "
47:28 No... Caleb's not there.
47:29 "Maybe he's by the washer and dryer. "
47:31 No... Caleb's not there.
47:33 "Caleb here. " He was getting insistent.
47:36 "OK Auntie Jill... get with the program.
47:38 I've been calling you and you haven't come and found me yet. "
47:42 So I went in the bedroom and there he lay.
47:45 Head underneath the bed.
47:47 Arms, torso, legs
47:52 sprawled out in plain view.
47:56 I ignored him, and "Maybe Caleb's in the closet. "
48:01 So I could hear giggles from underneath the bed
48:03 'cause he's so proud of his hiding place
48:05 and the fact that Auntie Jill can't find him.
48:08 So I look in the closet... no Caleb.
48:11 "Maybe Caleb's behind the chair. "
48:13 More giggles from under the bed. No Caleb.
48:16 Finally I've looked every place I can think to look
48:18 so here he is: "Caleb! He's under the bed! "
48:22 So he comes out and his little baby face
48:25 he's so happy. So I gave him a hug
48:28 and he starts off to play because you know he's not
48:31 holding still for long.
48:32 And when he went off I just kind of sat back
48:35 and it was like God spoke to my heart.
48:37 Not an audible voice but in my spirit.
48:40 And He said: "Jill, that's exactly
48:43 how I feel about you. "
48:46 "You wake up in the morning
48:47 and you give your heart to Me as best you know how. "
48:51 "God, I surrender my heart to You just now. "
48:55 Little realizing that there's a whole "mess" of me
48:59 lying out in plain view in the middle of the room.
49:03 I might have surrendered this part
49:06 but the rest of me full of undiscovered sins
49:10 sticking out in the room.
49:12 And yet, Jesus had never criticized me.
49:15 Not once... not ever.
49:18 He's never said: "You know, Jill, there's a whole "mess"
49:21 of you lying out in plain view.
49:23 Don't you think you could realize that and grow up? "
49:26 Instead, every day
49:29 as I opened up His Word
49:31 He showed me a little piece of my heart.
49:35 As I went in to work, as I shared with my husband
49:39 or encountered situations throughout the day
49:41 He showed me another place where I was not abiding
49:46 in Him. John 15... He was not abiding in me.
49:52 Another area of my life that He wanted me to surrender.
49:57 Philippians 1:6... I love that verse:
49:59 "Being confident of this very thing:
50:01 that He who has begun a good work in you
50:06 will carry it forward to completion. "
50:10 What does that mean?
50:12 That means as long as I have Christ in me,
50:14 as long as I am clothed with His righteous white robe,
50:18 as long as every day, moment by moment,
50:22 when He calls to my heart
50:26 I say: "Yes, Lord. I choose Your will and Your way. "
50:30 He is responsible for showing me those things
50:34 in my life. He is responsible for cleaning me up.
50:39 He is responsible for completing the work
50:43 He began and perfecting His character in me.
50:49 It was a cold, rainy day and I forgot my umbrella...
50:54 which is not unusual... and I was running into Wal-Mart
50:56 to get groceries. And I went into the shampoo aisle
51:00 and I saw a lady - kind looking face,
51:03 hair kind of swept up away from her face.
51:06 Her hand was wrapped with a bandage.
51:08 And instantly I felt the Holy Spirit say:
51:10 "Jill, go over and talk to her. "
51:12 I said: "OK. " So I went over to her
51:14 and I said: "Hey, my name's Jill and I noticed your hand.
51:18 What's goin' on with your hand? "
51:20 And she said: "Oh, I don't know.
51:22 I've been even to Mayo Clinic
51:24 and I don't know what's wrong with my hand. "
51:26 And then I felt the second impression of the Holy Spirit.
51:29 "Jill... pray for her. "
51:31 And I thought: "God, we're in Wal-Mart.
51:34 Did You forget that?
51:36 OK, we're in the middle of a public thoroughfare
51:39 and there's a lot of people here.
51:41 That could be embarrassing. "
51:44 So I said: "No. " Instead...
51:50 this is not obedience. This is walking in Jill's own
51:53 self-will... instead I said: "Oh, what's your name?
51:57 My husband I keep a prayer journal
52:00 and we'd love to pray for you at home. "
52:02 That's not what He asked me to do.
52:04 So she said: "Oh, honey. Thank you for being willing
52:07 to pray for me. My name's Jan. " And I wrote it down
52:09 and I left. And the Holy Spirit said:
52:11 "I asked you to pray now. "
52:14 And I said: "Well, I should have and I recognize that, God,
52:18 but too late. "
52:20 And so I came around the corner
52:22 five minutes later... candle aisle.
52:25 There's Jan.
52:27 And the Holy Spirit said: "I gave you another opportunity,
52:30 Jill... pray with her. "
52:32 And I said: "No. "
52:35 "God, it's too embarrassing. I should have prayed before.
52:39 I recognize that now, but it's too late for me
52:42 to go back. And how am I going to explain?
52:45 'Excuse me. I was supposed to pray for you before
52:48 but I wasn't obedient to God
52:50 so I just want to know if I can pray... '
52:52 That's awkward so I'm not goin' there. "
52:54 So I just kept walking and 5, 10 minutes later
52:57 I'm in the chip aisle. There's Jan.
53:00 The Holy Spirit said: "Jill, will you pray? "
53:04 And I said: "No. "
53:08 I kept walking. She went to the back of the store...
53:10 the butter and egg section
53:13 and I'm in the baking aisle...
53:15 you know, the chocolate chip aisle?
53:18 And I'm in that aisle and the Holy Spirit said:
53:24 "Jill, how many times do I have to ask you to obey
53:31 before you will walk in obedience? "
53:35 And I said: "God, I'm so sorry.
53:37 Can You forgive me? "
53:39 And He said: "Of course, right now. "
53:42 And then I said: "Will You give me an opportunity
53:46 to make it right? "
53:49 And so I went to the end of the chocolate chip aisle
53:52 and I peeked to the back - the butter and egg section -
53:55 and she was there still!
53:57 And so I ran to the back and I said: "Oh, God please,
54:00 will You give me an opportunity?
54:02 'Cause I'm not sure about how to go about doing this
54:04 but I want to walk in obedience as Your witness
54:10 because I have experienced what You've done in my life
54:14 and I want to share that. "
54:16 And so just as I walked up to her
54:18 there was another couple there and they walked off
54:20 and she said: "Oh, this couple is from my church
54:23 and I had just told them about the nice girl I met
54:27 in Wal-Mart who said she's going to pray for me. "
54:29 And it was the opening. God gave me the opening!
54:32 And I said: "Jan, that's why I came back.
54:34 Can I pray for you now? "
54:36 She said: "Oh, honey, I'd like that. "
54:37 She held out her good hand and we held hands there in Wal-Mart
54:41 and petitioned the throne of grace knowing
54:45 that we find grace, mercy, and help in our time of need.
54:49 Amen!
54:50 The story doesn't end there. I saw Jan in Wal-Mart
54:52 just a couple of months later
54:55 and she said: "Who's your pastor? "
54:57 "What church do you go to? "
54:59 And I said: "I go to the Thompsonville SDA church. "
55:03 She said: "Oh, I know your pastor: Pr. John Lomacang.
55:07 I listen to him on the radio. "
55:12 Sharing Jesus and witnessing for others
55:16 doesn't come from a Bible study...
55:18 although it CAN come from a Bible study.
55:20 It doesn't always come from the preacher in the pulpit...
55:23 although it CAN come from the preacher in the pulpit.
55:26 It doesn't always come from knocking on strangers' doors.
55:29 It is simply walking with Him
55:33 and obeying His voice when He speaks to our hearts.
55:38 It's being willing to say: "I want to be Your witness,
55:41 Lord. You can take what's wrong
55:44 and make it right.
55:47 Lead me; let Your love shine through me in the night. "
55:53 We started with what is truth.
55:56 Pilate said: "What is truth? "
55:58 Truth is not an abstract concept.
56:01 It's not something we hold onto when it's convenient...
56:04 when it's easy... when we feel like it...
56:08 when it benefits us.
56:10 Truth is not optional and it's not secondary.
56:15 It is life changing.
56:17 It is liberating.
56:19 Truth is not a what... it's a who.
56:23 Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
56:28 "You shall know the truth
56:31 and the truth shall set you free. "
56:34 You want to be set free?
56:37 Do you want to experience the power of Jesus in your life?
56:42 Do you want to experience what it's like to walk with Him
56:46 and talk with Him and see that He can give you
56:50 freedom and deliverance and victory?
56:54 And He never changes us so that we just sit on it.
56:59 He changes us so we can be a witness:
57:03 an eye and an ear witness
57:06 of what He has done in our lives.
57:10 Are you thankful for what Jesus has done in your life?
57:12 Amen! Do you want - at home -
57:15 do you want to be His witness?
57:17 Do you want to say: "Yes, Lord!
57:20 Today and forever I will be your mártyras.
57:25 I will be Your witness. "
57:27 That's my prayer and I hope it's yours as well.


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Revised 2019-10-09