Participants:
Series Code: SCM
Program Code: SCM210009S
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00:09 Who was Jesus?
00:12 He had compassion for the weak and the hurting. 00:15 He loved every person He met 00:18 and taught them how to love. 00:20 His great heart helped all those who came near Him 00:24 but most of all He was a friend. 00:27 That was who He was. 00:29 Now find our who He is. 00:39 Hello and welcome back to 3ABN Camp Meeting. 00:42 Don't you just love this Summer Camp Meeting? 00:45 We've been blessed by such tremendous music, 00:48 great speaking... Pastor David Shin. And now 00:52 I'm getting ready to introduce our next speaker. 00:55 And this is the speaker for tonight: Pastor and Brother 00:59 Dr. Wintley Phipps. 01:01 We've been friends for more than a couple decades 01:03 so when I say it's long... you quit counting! 01:06 But an absolutely incredible individual. 01:11 He has a passion for evangelism. 01:14 And honestly, if I gave you his resume 01:17 I would take all of his time for preaching. 01:19 So I'm not going to do all of that. He's very humble. 01:22 But I can tell you this: he's an international speaker, 01:25 singer, author. Has the Dream Academy 01:28 that many of you know about. I'm sure he'll talk to you 01:30 a little bit about that. But most of all 01:33 that I'm so thankful that God is using him 01:37 literally to reach a lost and dying world. 01:40 And so while he's preaching if you have comments 01:43 or questions you can text us: 01:53 'Cause afterwards we're going to do a little Q&A with he 01:56 and Bro. David... so you can e-mail your questions: 02:01 So register at 3abncampmeeting.org 02:05 A lot of this is new to me... this 3ABN+ stuff... 02:08 but I'm learning as you are as we go. 02:10 But that's if you have any questions or comments 02:13 feel free to e-mail, text us, 02:15 however you want to contact us. 02:17 Then we're going to talk to them afterwards. 02:19 But I'd like to ask Bro. Phipps to come out. 02:21 And Bro. Wintley, I was trying to think of some things 02:24 to say but all I can say is I love you in the Lord. 02:27 Tremendous respect. I appreciate the many many years 02:31 of service that you have given to God and to the kingdom 02:34 of God. Your wife Linda... what an incredible gift 02:37 He's given you. And to see you two still traveling 02:40 and glorifying the name of Jesus is amazing. 02:43 Thank you so much for coming here and being a part 02:46 of our 3ABN Camp Meeting. My joy... my joy. 02:49 You're gonna be singing for us first - yes - & then preaching. 02:51 Right? That's right. If he didn't sing I'd have 02:53 a lot of people around the world upset. 02:56 So maybe you could do a song 02:57 after the sermon, too? All right. Thank you. 03:45 When peace 03:48 like a river 03:53 attendeth my way, 04:00 When sorrows 04:04 like sea billows 04:09 roll... 04:15 Whatever my lot 04:21 Thou hast taught me 04:26 to say: 04:29 "It is well, 04:33 it is well 04:36 with my soul. " 04:43 It is well 04:50 with my soul... 04:58 It is well, 05:02 it is well with 05:07 my soul. 05:24 And Lord, haste the day 05:30 when my faith shall be sight... 05:37 the clouds 05:39 be rolled back 05:42 as a scroll. 05:46 The trump shall resound 05:52 and the Lord 05:55 shall descend... 05:58 even so 06:01 it is well 06:04 with my soul. 06:12 It is well 06:18 with my soul... 06:24 it is well, 06:28 it is well with 06:34 my soul. 06:57 It is well 07:04 with my soul, 07:14 it is well, 07:18 it is well 07:23 with 07:27 my soul! 07:49 Amen. Let's pray. Father, 07:52 as we open Your Holy Word I ask that You would cleanse me 07:56 of all unrighteousness. 07:58 Fill my life with Your Holy Spirit's presence and power. 08:03 Speak to me, through me, and for me. 08:08 I promise You, Lord, I'll always give You the 08:11 honor, the glory, and the praise. 08:15 In Jesus' name I pray, Amen... amen. 08:21 I love coming to 3ABN. It's a blessing 08:24 to be with you today. 08:27 You know, 20 years ago I started a ministry 08:30 for children whose parents are in prison 08:33 and children falling behind in school. It's called 08:36 the U.S. Dream Academy. 08:38 And throughout those years 08:40 God has used miracle after miracle to sustain us. 08:45 The COVID pandemic challenged us to do mentoring, 08:50 tutoring, virtually and to do it online. 08:53 And you know what? I've learned and we've learned 08:58 that a virtual relationship is better than no relationship. 09:04 A virtual relationship is better than a relationship 09:09 with the criminal justice system. 09:12 Think of it. We FaceTime online with our grandkids 09:17 and we would not give up that virtual relationship 09:21 for the world. And the great lesson that I've learned 09:25 is never underestimate the power of a virtual 09:31 relationship. As a matter of fact, 09:34 the most transformational relationship I have 09:38 is a virtual one. 09:41 A virtual relationship. I have a virtual relationship 09:46 with someone I've never seen with my eyes. 09:48 I have a virtual relationship 09:51 with someone I've never seen in the flesh... 09:55 and His name is Jesus. 09:58 And that relationship means more to me 10:00 than anything in the world. That relationship 10:04 shapes my conduct and my choices 10:07 and I don't want to do anything to disappoint Jesus. 10:13 Oh, but one day Revelation 22:4 tells us 10:17 that that relationship will transform from a virtual one 10:21 to as the Bible says: "a relationship in the flesh" 10:26 "for we shall see His face. " 10:32 Oh, so please pray for us at the Dream Academy 10:36 as we mentor and tutor these thousands of children 10:40 in the name of Christ. 10:43 Now I love coming here to preach 10:46 because they always seem to give much such wonderful 10:50 and challenging topics to preach on. Today I've been asked 10:53 to preach on the message The Suffering Servant. 10:59 If you have your Bibles, turn with me 11:01 to the book of Isaiah chapter 53 verse 4. 11:04 The Word of God says: 11:34 You know, as I studied for this message 11:36 God led me to another passage in the Bible 11:40 where the same scriptures were used by God 11:43 to change the world. 11:47 If you have your Bibles, go with me to the book of Acts 11:50 chapter 8 verse 26. 11:52 The Bible tells us that the angel of the Lord 11:55 spoke to Philip the evangelist saying: 12:04 Philip, in obedience to the divine directive 12:07 arose and did just as God told him to do. 12:12 He was unaware that God in His sovereign irresistible will 12:18 had arranged for him 12:25 For you see traveling along that same road 12:28 was a high-ranking Ethiopian official. 12:32 A black man. 12:34 A black man of noble rank. 12:37 He was actually the treasurer to Queen Kandake: 12:40 Queen Candace of Ethiopia. 12:43 How many of you know 12:50 He arranges moments of destiny 12:52 with such meticulous precision 12:55 that it often leaves you tongue-tied and speechless. 12:59 All you can say is: "Did you see what God just did? " 13:05 "Did you see what my God just did? " 13:10 I want to tell you a story. Some years ago 13:13 my wife and I were on a flight, an Eastern Airlines flight, 13:17 and we saw this lady and recognized who she was. 13:21 So I went back to my seat and I got a cassette 13:24 of my first recording and I knelt down beside her 13:26 and I said: "You know the Lord has impressed me 13:27 to come share this with you. I'm a gospel singer. 13:30 I want you to listen to this cassette where there's a special 13:33 song entitled 'Lord, I give You my life. ' 13:35 It's about giving your life to God. " 13:37 She said: "Thank you so much! I travel with a cassette player 13:41 and I can play this tape you've given me as I travel. " 13:45 The plane landed in Atlanta. 13:46 She was standing in the jet way waiting for me. 13:48 She took my hand... she squeezed it. 13:50 Her eyes were misty; she had a warm beautiful smile 13:53 and she said: "Thank you so much. God bless you. " 13:57 That lady was Natalie Wood, the actress, 14:01 a few days before she drowned. 14:03 And when I heard that she had drowned, I was shaken 14:05 but I knew without a doubt it was God who had allowed 14:09 our paths to cross 14:11 and had given me the opportunity to share a little of God's love 14:15 with her. Oh my friends, 14:17 here God was arranging a meeting 14:22 between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch 14:26 because God wanted the good news of His Son's life, 14:31 death, and resurrection to get to the continent of Africa 14:36 as soon as possible. 14:38 So what does that tell us? 14:41 It tells us... I know what that tells me: 14:45 it tells me that to God 14:50 black lives matter. 14:52 And so in the tense social climate we live in today 14:57 while we're debating what to say and how to say it 15:01 God has already settled the matter. 15:04 He's already silenced the debate. 15:22 God wanted that news to go all over the world 15:26 but He wanted it to go to Africa. 15:37 To me that was God's way of saying 15:41 that black lives matter to Him... end of discussion. 15:45 No more deliberation or debate. 15:48 Amen and amen. 15:51 Well that day, this black minister of finance, 15:57 the director of Queen Candace's federal reserve, 16:01 who had come to Jerusalem to worship... 16:03 He was now being chauffeur- driven back to Africa. 16:08 Now this brother... and, forgive me, I call him a brother 16:12 not only because I call all who love the Lord 16:16 my brother regardless of color 16:19 because I especially call him my brother because 16:24 the Greek word used in the Scriptures to describe this 16:28 black man literally meant, and this is what it meant: 16:36 Ha, ha... I love that! 16:38 And I don't know about you... 16:40 I don't know if you've figured it out yet 16:43 but that's the color of my face, too. 16:47 Well let me say it to you this way: 16:49 my face is the color I like my toast: 16:54 just a little burnt. Pray church, pray. 16:58 Now I'm sure you do not need much imagination 17:01 to correlate the Bible's burnt-face description 17:05 with this man's color and complexion. 17:09 After his visit to Jerusalem and for reading material 17:13 on his long journey home he decided he would purchase 17:17 a copy of a Biblical scroll. 17:20 And of all the books in the Old Testament he could choose to 17:23 purchase 17:29 Now he could have purchased a copy of Genesis 17:32 or Exodus. Money was no object. 17:35 With all the wealth at his disposal he could have secured 17:37 a copy of all of David's inspirational psalms & sonnets. 17:41 He could have secured a copy of Deuteronomy or Leviticus. 17:45 He could have afforded it. 17:47 Instead, this officer of the queen's court 17:51 chose, and I believe by the direction and providence of God, 17:56 to purchase the book... a copy of the book 17:59 of Isaiah. Now why Isaiah you may ask. 18:04 Well, I'm glad you did. 18:07 Now I don't know for sure but I have a hunch. 18:10 You see, I believe that the word had gotten out 18:13 that in the book of Isaiah there was an astonishing verse: 18:17 a verse containing astounding promises from God 18:22 to of all people eunuchs! 18:27 You'll find it in the book of Isaiah chapter 56 verse 4. 18:31 Look at what the Bible says: 19:00 Friend, nowhere else in the Bible does God single out 19:04 eunuchs who love Him for blessing and affirmation. 19:08 And I believe from the first eunuch who read that 19:13 he must have spread the word 19:15 and the word must have gotten around. 19:18 God has a special plan for us... for eunuchs who love Him. 19:24 Now that's in chapter 56. 19:27 But before the Ethiopian eunuch gets to chapter 56 19:31 the Ethiopian eunuch is stumped and confounded 19:36 by what he reads in chapter 53 of the book of Isaiah. 19:40 And here's what it reads: 20:04 And so now as he is traveling back to Africa 20:07 he's reading those verses out loud. 20:10 And the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip, the evangelist, 20:14 and said: "There he is! 20:16 The one I sent you along the road to meet. 20:18 Go to that chariot and you stay with him. 20:21 I want you to run alongside it and stay near. " 20:24 And so Philip began a light jog 20:27 alongside the eunuch's chariot and Philip hears him 20:31 reading aloud that passage over and over again 20:34 trying to understand it. 20:37 Little did the Ethiopian eunuch know 20:39 that as he was studying the words of Isaiah 20:43 that God had sent someone uniquely qualified 20:48 to interpret those Scriptures to him. 20:51 And not just any someone. 20:53 Philip was a mighty evangelist... 20:56 one who understand that God did not send him 20:59 on that road to Gaza to make chitchat with the eunuch 21:03 about the weather. 21:05 He understood that God did not bring him to this moment 21:08 of destiny to converse with the eunuch about politics 21:12 or the latest news. You know friends, I think 21:14 it's time we stopped talking so much about politics 21:18 and start talking more about Jesus. 21:22 Philip, this consummate evangelist, this passionate 21:27 soul winner, he knew enough 21:29 to seize the moment for Jesus 21:32 and he understood that: 21:43 that He loved. Hallelujah! 21:46 And so Philip says to the Ethiopian eunuch: 21:49 "Sir, do you understand what you're reading? " 21:53 The Ethiopian eunuch says: 21:55 "How can I understand these Hebraic mysteries 21:59 unless someone explains it to me? " 22:01 "I can help you, " said Philip. 22:03 "Oh please! " said the Ethiopian eunuch. 22:06 "Please come aboard! 22:08 Join me here in the chariot. " 22:11 And as they ride along Philip watches and listens 22:14 as with a puzzled face the Ethiopian eunuch 22:17 continues to read: 22:50 And then the Ethiopian eunuch said to Philip: 22:52 "Sir, please tell me 22:56 who is the prophet talking about here? 22:59 Himself or someone else? " 23:02 Oh friends, that Ethiopian eunuch was having trouble 23:06 wrapping his mind around this mystery 23:10 of a suffering servant. And you can understand 23:13 if you see the teaching of a suffering Messiah was unknown 23:19 in Jewish theology. It was unimaginable 23:22 to the Jewish people of Christ's day. 23:24 And then Philip begins to explain to the eunuch 23:29 what to me is the greatest mystery of all mysteries: 23:49 The Bible says that Philip opened his mouth. 23:52 And you know, if you love the Lord you have to open 23:54 your mouth. And Philip began teaching 23:58 the message of: 24:14 Philip explains to the eunuch 24:17 that the One the prophet Isaiah was writing about is Jesus. 24:29 And this made such a deep impression on him that day 24:33 the Ethiopian eunuch said: "Stop the chariot! " 24:37 "Stop my chariot! " And then he said: "Look! 24:40 here is a pool of water. 24:43 Is there any reason why I can't be baptized right here 24:47 and right now? " 24:49 And Acts 8:37 says: 25:21 And the Bible says: 25:37 The Greek writer Irenaeus said that: 25:49 And Luke also makes it clear 25:51 that the eunuch's conversion was a significant event 25:55 in the advance of the gospel. 25:58 But I want you to know today the words in this verse 26:02 Acts 8:39 have gripped my thoughts and thinking. 26:07 It says: 26:21 You see, I believe the reason the eunuch went on his way 26:24 rejoicing is because when Philip explained to the eunuch 26:30 that God had expressed His love towards us 26:36 through substitutionary suffering and sacrifice. 26:40 When he explained to the eunuch that God loved us so much 26:46 that He allowed His Son to die in our place 26:50 as a substitute for us 26:52 to spare us eternal shame, eternal damnation and death, 26:57 I believe that's why the Ethiopian eunuch 27:02 went on his way rejoicing. 27:05 You see, he saw past the gruesome details 27:09 of the suffering servant and he saw the love of God 27:14 expressing itself in substitutionary suffering 27:19 for our peace, for our well- being. And when he saw that 27:24 he could not help but rejoice. 27:28 And I admit to you when I think of God's love 27:31 expressed in substitutionary suffering and sacrifice 27:35 for me, I too rejoice 27:38 for I do not understand such love. 27:42 I do not understand such reckless abandonment 27:47 of divine self-interest. 27:50 I do not understand such calculated disregard 27:56 by Jesus for His own life 27:59 just to rescue the perishing like you and like me. 28:04 I do not understand such abasement of self 28:08 and the deliberate premeditated embrace 28:13 of the horrors of Calvary and the dangers 28:17 that He faced just to save us... 28:20 to save those who are unfit and unworthy. I do not understand 28:26 God's love expressed in substi- tutionary sacrifice & suffering 28:31 so that I and you, and so that we can be: 28:42 Now we've heard of subjects giving their lives for their 28:45 kings. We don't hear of kings 28:49 giving their lives for their subjects. 28:53 And this news of a righteous King who chose to be wounded, 28:59 who chose on sinners' behalf to wear the robe of scandal, 29:05 who chose to die for those worthy of only dishonor 29:09 and disrepute, who chose to die 29:13 for sinners mired in degradation and disgrace, 29:17 who chose to die that we might be rescued, 29:22 redeemed, AND restored. 29:26 I believe the eunuch went on his way rejoicing 29:30 over such love. Love that would throw itself in harm's way 29:36 to rescue the foolish, to rescue the incorrigible 29:41 like you and like me. 29:43 I too rejoice over this good news! 29:46 Now I want to tell you there are those who believe 29:52 that to introduce the gospel to modern minds 29:56 it would be more appropriate to skip over 30:00 the narrative of the suffering servant 30:03 giving His life as a sacrifice. 30:05 They believe that the subject of suffering... because 30:09 it's not a popular one... And think of it: 30:13 no evangelist starts his crusade 30:17 with a sermon based on: 30:25 Oh, but what they miss 30:27 is that everyone understands suffering. 30:30 None of us are immune from suffering. 30:37 I think it was Edward Judson who once said: 30:53 Too many believe if you want to persuade people 30:56 of the benefits and blessings of Christianity today 31:00 that it would make more sense to hold up a gospel of wealth 31:03 and prosperity 31:05 or a gospel of health and healing 31:08 or a gospel of wonders and miracles. 31:11 Or a social gospel or a liberation gospel 31:15 or a prosperity gospel. But Philip does not shun 31:19 the inferences of pain and sacrifice. 31:23 He makes no apologies about this love that 31:27 shines brightest in adversity. 31:29 Instead Philip holds up: 31:38 Friends, we live in a modern world where: 31:51 We have focused our gaze on the peripherals, 31:55 the temporal, the non-essentials 31:57 and we've neglected this preeminent truth 32:01 that Christ suffered for us. 32:04 Bled and died to secure our rescue, 32:09 our redemption, and our restoration. 32:13 Please allow me to share with you something 32:16 important God has taught me. God showed me that: 32:36 The complete good news of the gospel 32:40 is that Jesus suffered and bled and died 32:45 and was risen to do three things: 32:47 to rescue us from the power of sin; 32:51 He died to redeem us from the penalty of sin; 32:55 and He died to restore us 33:00 into the image and likeness of His Father's character. 33:05 I call this a trinity of divine purpose: 33:08 to rescue, redeem, and restore. 33:11 This is the complete gospel: 33:13 that because of God's love 33:16 expressed through substitution- ary suffering and sacrifice 33:21 that we may become partakers of what the Bible calls 33:26 "the divine nature. " 33:28 That means that we may resemble, reflect, 33:32 and reveal the likeness, image, and character of God. 33:37 And even today we can start the process 33:40 of growing evermore into the likeness of God's character. 33:44 Now that process can begin for you right now. 33:48 It can begin this moment 33:51 with a decision to follow Christ. 33:53 And every day we can grow to be 33:58 more like Christ. Can I tell you something? 34:08 Somebody say amen. 34:09 If you're a touchy Christian... 34:11 You know, some Christians are just touchy... touchy. 34:13 You say something wrong to them they come at you. 34:22 For some Christians all it takes is a little provocation 34:25 to really show you who they really are. 34:28 If you're a Christian who is easily annoyed, 34:32 you've got some growing to do. 34:35 Or if you're easily frustrated, you've got some growing to do. 34:41 As a matter of fact 34:51 Christlikeness is the purpose for our probation. Hallelujah! 34:56 The years we have been given by God 34:59 left on earth are for our growth. 35:03 It is to begin now 35:05 what will be an eternal growth process 35:07 in our lives. 35:16 And throughout eternity we will be learning 35:20 and growing. Yes... always, 35:24 more into the likeness of His character. 35:28 Listen to what the servant of the Lord says: 35:40 My God! 35:42 Faith that does not produce Christlikeness is a false faith. 35:48 And she says: 35:56 And so I state unequivocally I believe that it is 36:00 Christ-like character and not our evangelistic methods 36:05 that will be the key to successful church growth. 36:50 The substitutionary suffering and sacrifice of Christ 36:56 saves us. It is a moral force 36:59 that confounds the forces of retributive justice. 37:04 It is a moral force that shreds all objections 37:09 and accusations that the devil makes against us. 37:13 His suffering - His substitu- tionary suffering & sacrifice - 37:18 it wastes all objections in the fires of substitution 37:24 and sacrifice. That's why John said in 37:27 chapter 15 verse 13: 37:40 Substitutionary suffering and sacrifice. 37:48 As I close today I want to tell you 37:51 I've sung for many memorial services. 37:56 One of the most amazing ones that touched me 37:59 was really a memorial for four men. 38:03 You see, on January 3, 1943, 38:09 in the middle of World War II 38:12 a civilian ship used by the Navy was carrying 38:17 900 U.S. servicemen to Europe 38:21 in the fight against Nazi Germany. 38:26 Their first stop was to be Greenland. 38:30 The Coast Guard told the ship's captain 38:35 that he had to extra careful because sonar had detected 38:39 a German U-boat submarine in the area. 38:45 The captain ordered everyone on board 38:49 to sleep in their clothes and to keep their life jackets on. 38:55 Sadly, many of the soldiers disregarded the order 39:00 because they said: "With the life jackets on 39:04 it made them too hot and too uncomfortable. " 39:10 Well, at about 1 AM in the morning 39:14 in the dark of night on February 3, 1943, 39:20 the German submarine U-boat 223 39:24 spotted that ship. The Dorchester was its name... 39:30 that ship carrying the U.S. troops to Europe. 39:35 And quietly the submarine lay in wait to strike. 39:40 Just when the Dorchester was most vulnerable 39:45 the German submarine went in for the kill. 39:50 In the icy cold waters of the North Atlantic 39:54 the submarine launched a torpedo 39:57 and in moments the Dorchester was hit. 40:03 The torpedo knocked out the ship's electrical system. 40:08 That left the ship completely dark. 40:13 Many of the soldiers who were trapped below its deck 40:18 never made it up. 40:20 In all the panic and confusion, 40:23 however, there were four men 40:29 who brought calm to those soldiers. 40:33 They were four Navy chaplains. 40:38 And those four chaplains stayed on the ship 40:44 to organize and orderly evacuate the soldiers. 40:49 Not only that, they aided and guided 40:53 the wounded to safety. 40:56 And as the men prepared to leave the ship 41:00 the chaplains were there helping, handing them their 41:05 life jackets before they got into the water... until 41:10 to their horror and dismay 41:14 they soon realized they had run out of life jackets. 41:21 And in that moment something extraordinary happened. 41:26 Those four chaplains 41:30 took off their life jackets 41:34 and handed their life jackets to soldiers 41:37 who needed one. Those four chaplains 41:42 from different faiths - 41:44 two Protestants, one Catholic, and a Jewish rabbi - 41:49 that night those four chaplains 41:52 went down with the ship 41:55 into those icy waters off of Newfoundland. 42:02 One of the 200 men who survived 42:05 he had been given a life jacket. 42:07 He said: "As I swam away from the ship 42:11 I looked back and the flares had lighted everything. 42:15 The bow of the ship came up high 42:18 and then the ship, " he said, "it slid under the water. " 42:22 He said: "The last thing I saw 42:24 were those four chaplains. They were up there praying 42:30 for the safety of the men. " 42:33 They had done everything they could 42:36 and everyone saw those four chaplains 42:40 on that sinking ship. 42:43 Their arms... their arms were linked together. 42:47 Those four chaplains were praying together 42:51 and singing hymns 42:54 as the ship went down into the icy sea that night. 43:00 Oh my friends, I want you to know 43:03 that was love demonstrated 43:06 through substitutionary sacrifice 43:10 and substitutionary suffering. 43:14 The died so that others could live. 43:20 Well, I want you to know on Calvary, 43:24 on that hill called Mt. Calvary, 43:27 my Jesus took off His life jacket 43:32 and He gave it to me; 43:36 He gave it to you; He gave it to us. 43:39 On that cruel cross 43:43 God expressed His love towards us 43:48 through the substitutionary suffering and sacrifice 43:53 of His Son. 43:56 And He wept that we might weep no more. 43:59 Hallelujah God! 44:01 He endured our sorrow so that we would be spared 44:05 shame and death. 44:08 And on Calvary He single-handedly 44:12 salvaged our freedom, 44:15 wrestled away from the enemy 44:18 the keys of hell and death. 44:22 And He died so that we might live. 44:28 I Peter 4:12-13 tells it to us this way: 45:01 That means, my friends, that we may suffer 45:06 but we can rejoice because God is faithful. 45:10 You know the difference between iron and steel 45:15 is only time spent in the fire. 45:19 Sure, God leaves you in the fire. 45:21 It is to make steel out of you. 45:25 Rejoice! God is faithful. 45:30 You may be persecuted... but rejoice. 45:34 God is faithful. 45:37 You know, every time I look at the cross 45:40 and I think of His substi- tutionary suffering & sacrifice 45:45 for me, I ask myself the same question every time: 45:53 "Jesus did that for me? " 46:00 "Jesus did that for me? " 46:06 Yes, He did! 46:08 And He did that for you. 46:11 He did that for me. 46:15 And one day, my friends, 46:18 He is coming back for you. 46:23 He is coming because of that love. 46:28 He is coming because of the gift of substitutionary 46:34 suffering and sacrifice. 46:38 You know, one day I found myself 46:41 trying to ask God 46:46 "Why are You so good to me? " 46:48 As a matter of fact, I was actually on an airplane... 46:52 it was the only airplane crash I've ever been in. 46:57 I was flying in on a small private plane 47:01 from Seattle to Spokane. We were going over 47:07 the Cascade Mountains and we crashed 47:13 while trying to land. 47:17 The FAA investigated the situation 47:21 and found out that the pilot 47:24 had forgotten to put the wheels down. 47:28 And so we came in out of the sky 47:32 and we slammed into the concrete. 47:37 I saw a couple in Maryland trying to land. They, too, had 47:42 forgotten to put their wheels down. 47:44 And when their plane hit the tarmac 47:48 the sparks ignited the fuel and I saw that plane 47:53 go up in a ball of flames. 47:56 But the FAA said it didn't happen to us 47:59 because it was raining heavily that night 48:04 and the wet conditions may have doused the sparks 48:09 that could have ignited the fuel 48:13 and sent us up in a ball of flames. 48:16 But you know what? 48:19 That's what they said happened. 48:22 Let me tell you what happened. 48:26 I was coming in on that plane 48:30 calling out to God. I was coming in on that plane 48:34 praying to God that same prayer that I prayed 48:39 when I looked at Jesus on the cross. 48:43 I was praying: "Lord, why are You so good to me? " 48:51 "Lord, I don't deserve it. " 48:56 And I heard that voice that I know as God 49:01 speaking to my heart saying: "My son... 49:06 my son, no matter what happens 49:09 I'm gonna take care of you. " 49:14 And that's what Jesus is saying to you today. 49:18 Give Him your life. 49:23 Give Him your heart 49:27 and He will take care of you. 49:33 You are a recipient of God's love 49:39 expressed in substitutionary 49:44 suffering. He suffered for you. 49:48 You are a recipient of God's love 49:54 expressed in substitutionary sacrifice. 50:00 And He did it for you. He did it so that you can 50:05 be... say it with me... He did it so that you can be 50:10 rescued. Rescued from the power of sin. Praise the Lord! 50:16 Praise the Lord you can be redeemed 50:21 from the penalty of sin. 50:24 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! 50:27 And that you can be restored. 50:33 You see, the Lord doesn't just stop at rescuing you 50:36 and walk away. 50:37 He doesn't stop at redeeming you 50:40 and walking away. 50:42 He wants to restore you more and more every day 50:48 into the likeness, image, and character 50:54 of the Father and of His Son. 51:00 You know, the servant of God tells us 51:03 that to be a Christian 51:07 means to be Christ-like. 51:12 And He will give you the strength 51:15 and the power every day 51:16 to grow more to be like Him. 51:22 There's a song I want to sing for you. 51:25 Listen to the words of this beautiful hymn. 52:02 A wonderful Savior 52:07 is Jesus my Lord... 52:11 a wonderful Savior to me. 52:19 He hideth my soul 52:23 in the depths of His love 52:27 where rivers of pleasure 52:32 I see. 52:36 He hideth my soul 52:41 in the cleft of the rock 52:45 that shadows 52:47 a dry, thirsty land. 52:53 He hideth my life 52:57 in the depths of His love 53:01 and covers me there 53:06 with His hand... 53:10 and covers me there 53:14 with His hand. 53:22 A wonderful Savior 53:27 is Jesus my Lord... 53:32 He taketh my burdens away. 53:39 He holdeth me up 53:43 and I shall not be moved... 53:48 He giveth me strength 53:51 as my day. 53:56 He hideth my soul 54:01 in the cleft of the rock 54:05 that shadows a dry, thirsty land. 54:12 He hideth my life 54:17 in the depths of His love 54:22 and covers me there 54:26 with His hand... 54:30 and covers me there 54:34 with His hand. 54:55 When clothed in His brightness 54:59 transported I rise 55:04 to meet Him in clouds 55:07 of the sky 55:16 His perfect salvation, 55:20 His wonderful love: 55:24 I'll shout 55:26 with the millions on high! 55:33 He hideth my soul 55:38 in the cleft of the rock 55:42 that shadows 55:44 a dry, thirsty land. 55:50 He hideth my life 55:54 in the depths of His love 55:59 and covers me there 56:03 with His hand... 56:07 and covers me there... 56:18 He covers 56:22 me there 56:27 with 56:31 His hand... 56:46 with 56:50 His hand. 57:03 His body was broken 57:06 so that we could live, giving us the gift of eternal life. 57:12 He pursues us relentlessly with an everlasting love. 57:17 Regardless of our failures and mistakes 57:20 the One who loves us like no other. 57:25 This is who Jesus IS. |
Revised 2021-08-24