Participants:
Series Code: TMC
Program Code: TMC000011A
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00:19 From night to night Dona Klein has seen to it
00:22 that we have enjoyed just the best in music 00:25 during The Midnight Cry series. 00:27 She has talked with musicians across this land 00:31 and invited them to come and share with us. 00:33 And tonight is no exception. 00:36 Those of you that are watching by satellite 00:38 you are familiar with the music of Pam and Jimmy Rhodes. 00:42 And we are thrilled that they have come this weekend 00:45 to share their music ministry with us. 00:48 They're here tonight, and they're coming again 00:50 in their own way. Please welcome again... 00:52 Well, here they are: Jimmy and Pam Rhodes. 00:56 Glad you're here. 01:01 As I sing this little song 01:04 think about the time when Jesus became real to you. 01:17 I went down to Mexico 01:21 to have a little fun. 01:24 To hang around, see the town, 01:28 and lie out in the sun. 01:32 As I walked along one evening 01:35 just outside of town 01:39 I saw the little chapel 01:42 and I heard a pretty sound. 01:46 Curiosity carried me 01:49 in to stay for a while 01:53 and I heard things I hadn't heard 01:57 since I was a child. 02:00 They sang about God's saving grace 02:04 right there in that little place... 02:07 I found Jesus down in Mexico. 02:14 I know that I 02:18 never shall forget 02:21 all the pretty things I saw in Mexico, and yet 02:28 the most beautiful and precious 02:31 ever told 02:35 was salvation that I found 02:38 in Mexico. 02:50 I may never see that little 02:53 Spanish town again. 02:57 But I'll always think of it 03:00 as when my life began. 03:04 Every day I'm lifted up 03:07 just knowing that I'm loved. 03:11 I don't have to worry 03:14 about life way up above. 03:18 I'm depending on God's power 03:22 to keep me safe through every hour. 03:25 Eternity is beautiful to me! 03:32 I have a better life, I know, 03:36 I tell it everywhere I go: 03:40 I found Jesus down 03:42 in Mexico. 03:47 I know that I 03:50 never shall forget 03:54 all the pretty things I saw 03:57 in Mexico, and yet 04:00 the most beautiful and precious 04:04 ever told 04:07 was salvation that I found 04:11 in Mexico... 04:14 I found salvation down in old 04:18 Mexico... 04:21 I found salvation 04:23 down in old Mexico. 04:42 Those of you at home will have the opportunity 04:44 of enjoying the music of Dona Klein and Jimmy Rhodes. 07:26 I said to you on last evening 07:28 that Pastor Cox has preached this wonderful series 07:31 around the world. 07:34 And we are fortunate that we here in North America 07:37 and other places have the privi- lege of hearing these sermons. 07:41 He's here again tonight to pre- sent an all-important subject, 07:46 one that you don't want to miss. If you're watching 07:49 by satellite now, please let them know that the time 07:52 has come for the evangelist to come and tell you 07:55 a little about the features that are coming, and then 07:57 shortly after that he will have the message for the evening. 08:00 But join me now and let's welcome Evangelist Kenneth Cox. 08:04 Tomorrow night our subject is The Everlasting Covenant. 08:09 What would it mean to you... what would it mean to you 08:14 if God was to say to you 08:17 "If you will follow Me, if you will obey My voice, 08:22 then I will be your God 08:25 and you will be a special treasure to Me 08:29 above all the people of the earth. " 08:32 Would that mean anything to you? 08:34 Well tomorrow night we're going to take a look at this covenant 08:38 that God wants to make with you. A special covenant. 08:41 This is a very very important meeting because God has 08:45 great things He promises in this covenant that He wants 08:49 to make with you. So tomorrow night you'll want to be here 08:52 for that. Tonight we're going to take a look at the subject: 09:00 We hope that that will be a subject that will 09:03 help you understand your relationship to God; 09:07 help you as you walk with Him day by day. 09:11 And I'm sure that you'll be blessed in a special way 09:14 if you follow carefully as we talk about 09:16 Why Don't They Just Tell The Truth? 09:18 You see, when you take a look at this old world 09:23 and all the things around us 09:25 and all the things that clamor for our attention 09:29 let me tell you, friend: there's only one person 09:33 that can satisfy your soul. 09:35 Things of this world won't do it. 09:39 Education won't do it. 09:41 Only Jesus can satisfy your soul. 09:45 Listen as Pam and Jimmy Rhodes bring us that beautiful song. 10:01 This world will try to satisfy 10:07 oh, that longing in your soul. 10:12 You may search this wide world o'er 10:17 but you'll be just as before. 10:22 You'll never find true satisfaction 10:27 until you find the Lord. 10:32 Only Jesus 10:35 can satisfy your soul. 10:42 Only Jesus 10:46 can satisfy your soul. 10:52 Only He can take your life 10:57 and make it whole. 11:01 He'll give you peace you never knew, 11:06 sweet love and joy 11:09 and heaven too... 11:11 only Jesus 11:15 can satisfy your soul. 11:22 If you could have fame and fortune 11:26 and all the wealth you could attain, 11:31 yet if you didn't have my Jesus 11:35 you see your living would be in vain. 11:40 There's going to come a day when death will call you; 11:46 riches will not help you. 11:50 Come to Jesus... 11:53 only He will satisfy. 12:00 Only Jesus 12:03 can satisfy your soul. 12:09 Only He can take your life 12:14 and make it whole. 12:19 He'll give you peace you never knew, 12:23 sweet love and joy 12:26 and heaven too... 12:29 only Jesus 12:32 can satisfy 12:35 your soul. 12:46 Only Jesus 12:50 can satisfy your soul. 12:55 Only He can take your life 13:01 and make it whole. 13:05 He'll give you peace you never knew, 13:10 sweet love and joy 13:12 and heaven too... 13:15 Only Jesus 13:19 can satisfy 13:23 your soul. 13:44 Heavenly Father, tonight 13:48 we just simply come to You 13:51 asking that You will fulfill Your Word 13:55 that says that the Holy Spirit 13:58 will lead and guide us into all truth. 14:02 Bless us tonight. 14:04 We ask that our hearts may be open 14:07 that the Holy Spirit may have access 14:11 and that each one of us may see and understand 14:15 the relationship that Jesus desires to have with us 14:19 and that we all might rejoice 14:22 in the salvation that we have in Him. 14:25 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 14:37 We live in an age... 14:40 we live in an age in which there is not 14:45 a great lot of emphasis placed on telling the truth. 14:51 In fact, I'm sure that all of you 14:53 some time or other have been in an airport 14:58 and you had a plane to catch. 15:03 And some reason the plane is delayed 15:08 and you have been told all kinds of things 15:12 other than what was actually the truth. 15:16 Sat on the runway for two or three hours 15:19 and they tell you well there's just bad weather or something 15:21 somewhere. But it'd just be great if we 15:25 were just told the truth. 15:28 Seems that there's not a great emphasis 15:31 on telling the truth such as this one: 15:39 You know? Why don't we... you know... 15:43 state the truth? Or even in advertising 15:47 when they put advertising and they tell you 15:50 "Oh, cigarettes won't hurt you. " 15:53 No, they won't hurt you... they'll kill you. 15:57 OK. We just... We don't put much emphasis 16:01 on telling the truth and yet the Lord 16:04 puts great interest on telling the truth. 16:08 Makes it extremely important that we know the truth. 16:11 The Scripture tells us here in John 8 verse 32, it says: 16:21 So the Scripture says that if you know the truth 16:24 the truth is what will set you free, friends. 16:27 And I can assure you that is absolutely true! 16:32 To know the truth will set you free. 16:36 That's what the Lord wants to do for you and I. 16:38 And He has given us certain ways by which we can know 16:43 the truth. The Scripture has laid it out very clear. 16:47 We don't have to be in doubt as to what the truth is. 16:50 Jesus said in John 14 verse 6: 17:05 So Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life... 17:09 and if you want to know truth... 17:13 if you want to know truth, then look at the life of Jesus 17:17 because His life is truth 17:20 and in Him you can find truth. 17:22 It also says in John 17:17, it says: 17:31 So dear friend, this Book is truth. 17:34 And when I say it's truth it is not relative truth 17:40 it is absolute truth. 17:42 From cover to cover in this Book is truth 17:46 in every respect of the word. 17:48 There are some people that don't understand it 17:52 and they wrestle with it and they have a hard time 17:56 understanding God's Word. There's a reason for that. 17:59 And let me tell you what that reason is: 18:01 this Book... this Book here will harmonize 18:05 all the way through. 18:07 There are people that never understand the truth 18:11 because they try to build a belief on one text. 18:16 You cannot build a belief on one text. 18:20 You can't be like the fellow... He was... his way 18:24 of trying to find inspiration for the day 18:27 was he would get up in the morning had he would take 18:29 his Bible and let it fall open 18:31 and the first text his eyes fell on well that was his inspiration 18:35 for the day. 18:36 And so this particular morning he got up 18:38 and opened his Bible up. First text his eyes fell on 18:42 said: "Judas went and hung himself. " 18:45 You know, wasn't really very inspirational 18:49 so he closed his Bible up and let it fall open again. 18:52 And he looked at it and it said: "Go do thou likewise. " 18:54 You see, you don't build a belief on one text... 18:58 doesn't work that way. 19:00 And people who many times never understand the Word of God 19:04 because they build a belief on one scripture. 19:08 You can't do that. Secondly, 19:10 Paul and Moses will never disagree. 19:15 Never! Moses and Matthew will never disagree. 19:21 Daniel and John will never disagree. 19:25 That Bible will harmonize from Genesis to Revelation. 19:30 Therefore, if you read something over here 19:32 in the Old Testament and it doesn't harmonize 19:35 with what's taught in the New Testament 19:38 then dear friend you need to keep studying! 19:42 Follow me? You need to keep looking 19:44 and it will harmonize all the way through. 19:47 Those are principles in understanding truth. 19:51 It also says in the 119th Psalm 19:56 verse 142... it says: 20:08 In other words, the law of God is truth. 20:11 So tonight if you want to know what truth is, 20:14 if you want to see what truth is, 20:16 then look at Jesus Christ, 20:19 study the Scripture, 20:21 and look at God's law... and in those three things 20:24 you will find truth. No question about it. 20:28 And the Bible says the Holy Spirit will lead you 20:30 into truth. It will guide you and lead you into exactly 20:34 what truth is. So tonight we want to look 20:37 at what the Scripture says about truth. 20:40 There are three very very special words in the Scripture. 20:47 Three words that you need to put down in your mind 20:51 that have very very special meaning. 20:54 One of those words is the word hallowed. 20:58 That word is not used very often in Scripture. 21:02 In fact, that word is used only 22 times in the Bible 21:07 when it says hallowed. 21:09 What does that word mean? 21:12 It means to make something holy. 21:15 OK? Remember what it says here: 21:28 Holy... holy is Your name. That's what it's saying. 21:32 "Hallowed is Your name. " 21:35 So that means something that's made holy. 21:37 Do you know what makes something holy, folks? 21:40 Do you know what makes something holy? 21:43 Well do you remember the time when Moses was up on the 21:45 mountain he saw this bush burning? 21:47 And you remember he got close to it 21:49 and the voice said: "Moses, take off your shoes 21:53 'cause the ground you're standing on is holy. " 21:57 What made that ground holy? 22:00 Presence of God! 22:02 That's what makes something holy. 22:04 So he said: "Make sure... understand 22:07 that that is special... it's holy to God. " 22:10 The other word is sanctified. 22:13 That word sanctified is used 22:16 forty times in the Bible. 22:19 The word sanctified has a very special meaning. 22:23 And it says in John 17 verse 19: 22:34 The word sanctified simply means to be set apart 22:39 for sacred purpose. 22:41 That's what the word sanctified means. 22:43 It means that object, that person 22:46 has been set apart for a sacred purpose. 22:51 Timothy talks about it. 23:08 That means set apart... he's a vessel of honor. 23:11 Set apart for what? 23:14 Huh? Set apart for the Master's use. 23:18 That's what he's set apart for. 23:19 "And useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. " 23:23 So when it uses that word sanctified 23:26 it means that has been set apart. 23:31 OK... the other word is blessed. 23:33 Now that word blessed is used numbers of times: 23:37 it's used 307 times in the Bible. 23:40 Uses the word blessed. 23:42 And that means that God has put a special blessing 23:46 on something. And I'll give you an example 23:50 when it talks about a blessing that God has put on it. 23:53 You remember the case of Joseph? 23:55 You remember he was sold 23:58 to the caravan of Ishmaelites that had bought him. 24:04 Sold him and they put him on the auction 24:07 and you remember Potiphar bought him. You remember that? 24:11 You want to see what happened because of Joseph? 24:14 This is what the Scripture says happened: 24:44 Well what does it mean when it says He blessed 24:47 his house? Huh? What did that mean? 24:51 What did that do for Potiphar? 24:54 Nothing? Didn't do anything for him? 24:59 Or did it do something for him? 25:01 You'd better believe it did something for him. 25:08 It meant he prospered; he prospered wonderfully 25:12 because God blessed it. 25:15 OK... so when God says something is hallowed, 25:19 something is sanctified, and something is blessed 25:23 you'd better believe that has special meaning. 25:25 And when God blesses something, folks, 25:28 it doesn't change. Watch: 25:50 So I mean, he said: "You blessed it, Lord, 25:53 it will be blessed forever. " 25:55 There are not very many places in the Scripture 26:00 where it uses all three words for something. 26:06 Now I know of one place in the Scripture 26:09 where it uses two words. 26:12 You can find it in the book of Revelation 26:14 where it speaks of two words. Revelation 20 verse 6: 26:33 So the Scripture says that these people are blessed 26:36 and they're holy. OK? 26:41 Now friends, I know of only one place in Scripture 26:47 that it uses all three of those. 26:51 Only one place where it applies 26:53 blessed, hallowed, and sanctified 26:57 to one particular thing. 27:00 Look at it with me and let me tell you something: 27:02 when God says: "Listen, this is blessed; 27:05 this is hallowed; this is sanctified" 27:08 you'd better put it down 27:11 and you'd better put it down for sure 27:13 that that is special to God. 27:16 OK? Listen carefully: 27:38 All right... now this is God speaking. 27:40 God blessed and sanctified the seventh day... 27:52 Let's continue on... 27:58 So here it's talked about the Sabbath 28:00 and it says it is blessed, 28:03 it is hallowed, 28:05 it is sanctified. I don't find anything else 28:10 in the Word of God that it gives those 3 words to. 28:15 And when you and I take that particular day 28:19 that God said: "Listen, I'm blessing this day; 28:21 I'm hallowing this day; I'm sanctifying this day" 28:24 and attach no importance to it 28:27 then dear friend, let me tell you something: 28:29 God does. 28:31 God places GREAT importance upon that day. 29:17 I mean, that day as far as God is concerned 29:22 is special. It has been sanctified. 29:26 That means it has been set apart. 29:30 It has been hallowed. 29:32 That means God's presence is in that day. 29:36 And it has been blessed, and it means that God will prosper you 29:41 if you will follow Him in keeping it. 29:44 That's what it means! 29:46 And God will not fail. Never! 29:50 'Cause He took that day and He said: "It has very 29:53 very special meaning to Me. " 29:58 You see, if it's been sanctified, 30:01 it's been hallowed, 30:03 it's been blessed, 30:05 it's been set aside for sacred use. 30:09 That's what it's set aside for. 30:11 And God expects you and He expects me 30:15 to use it for sacred use. 30:18 You say: "Does it make any difference? " 30:21 "Does it really make any difference whether I do 30:24 or whether I don't? " 30:25 I want you to listen to something and you decide 30:28 whether it really makes any difference or not. 30:31 Jerusalem... you're looking at Jerusalem. 30:35 You're seeing the Dome of the Rock. 30:38 Listen to what the Scripture says in relation to 30:41 this question of the Sabbath. 30:43 Now listen. I'm talking about the Jewish nation. 30:46 I'm talking about Jerusalem; I'm talking about this city 30:50 in relationship to the Sabbath. 31:20 Now this is God's instruction to them. 31:22 He said: "Listen, take the Sabbath. 31:25 Set it aside. Don't carry a burden on the Sabbath. 31:29 Don't work on the Sabbath as I have told your forefathers. 31:33 Hallow it! " 31:35 You want to see what would have happened 31:37 if they would have done that? 31:40 I'm talking about does it carry any consequences 31:43 if I do it... what difference would it have made? 32:02 They said: "Nah... we're not going to do this. " 32:07 What would have happened if they would've? 32:10 This is what would've happened if they would've. 33:09 Huh, huh... I can tell you, dear friends, 33:12 when God blesses and God hallows 33:16 and God sanctifies something 33:18 you'd better believe that is tremendously important to God. 33:24 And He says: "Listen, I will bless you 33:26 marvelously if you will follow what I say... 33:30 if you'll just do what I say. " 33:32 "I'll care for you; I'll bless you in a special way. " 33:36 Blessed! We found out the bless- ing means God would prosper you, 33:41 right? "Blessed is the man... " 33:55 When God says: "You want to be blessed? " 33:58 "You want God to care for you and bless you in a special way? 34:03 Then be faithful in keeping the Sabbath. " 34:07 That's what He's telling you. 34:08 It makes a great difference to Him. 34:13 Why? 'Cause Jesus... Jesus says 34:18 that He - HE - is the Lord of the Sabbath. 34:34 Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. 34:36 Why would Jesus be Lord of the Sabbath? 34:39 Why would it say that He, Jesus Christ, 34:43 is Lord of the Sabbath? 34:46 When I first gave my heart to Jesus Christ, 34:50 accepted Him as my Savior, 34:51 and I began to pick up the Bible and read it, 34:56 I came across something. 34:59 And when I came across that and began to understand it 35:02 the whole Bible just began to open up like a new book 35:05 and I began to understand things I had never seen before. 35:09 I want to share just a few texts with you 35:11 because it has to do with Jesus being Lord of the Sabbath. 35:14 It says in John 1:1: 35:38 All things were made through Jesus Christ. 35:44 Are you with me? That's what the text is saying. 36:04 So Jesus Christ the Scripture says 36:06 is the One that created this world. 36:08 He's the One that made it. 36:09 Let me give you a couple other texts about that. 36:37 So the Scripture says clearly that Jesus 36:40 was the One that made the worlds. 36:42 Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 36:44 One more text... Colossians. 37:10 So Jesus Christ is the One who made this world. 37:16 All right... Now apply what you just learned. 37:33 Is that talking about God the Father 37:37 or God the Son or God the Holy Spirit? 37:42 Who created the world? 37:44 Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is Jesus that created this world. 37:48 Therefore, it was Jesus Christ that gave the Sabbath. 37:53 'Cause He is the One that rested and gave the Sabbath. 37:57 So that's the reason it says that Jesus is 38:00 "Lord of the Sabbath. " 38:10 So Jesus Christ is the One that said: "Listen, 38:14 I created this world... made it all. 38:18 And for you to remember... for you to remember 38:22 that I'm the One that made the world, 38:25 I'm the One that made you, 38:27 I'm taking this day and I'm sanctifying it 38:32 and I'm making it holy 38:33 and I'm blessing it so you will remember 38:36 that I'm the One that made this world and I created you. " 38:41 That's what God is telling you; 38:43 that's what God is saying to you, dear friend. 38:45 He's the One that made it. 38:47 Therefore, when you and I take a look 38:50 at this question it says: 38:56 Jesus Christ rested from all of that. 39:07 Now OK. 39:10 He said to you and to me, Jesus is talking 39:14 and He says here in Mark 27... 2:27... 39:17 He said to them: 39:26 Well, what He was saying He said: "I made that 39:29 Sabbath to be a blessing to you. " 39:32 That's what Jesus said. He said: "Listen, 39:34 I'm making that Sabbath to be a blessing to you. " 39:36 And let me tell you tonight: if you keep it, 39:41 if you follow the Lord and keep the Sabbath, 39:44 He promises in this Book, and He won't fail... 39:48 He will not fail; He promises in this Book 39:50 that He will bless you. Promises that. 39:54 That if you will just follow Him and keep His Sabbath. 39:59 But He made the Sabbath to be a blessing 40:02 to you and to me. 40:05 He made it as a day of rest. 40:08 A day in which you and I 40:12 are to rest from physical labor. 40:26 So God rested and refreshed. He made it 40:29 as a day in which you and I are to cease 40:33 physical labor. 40:37 God says: "Don't labor on the Sabbath... 40:40 you are to rest. " 40:55 So the Lord says: "I want you to take that seventh day 40:59 and I want you to set it aside. It is to be a day of rest... 41:03 physical rest. " 41:05 Not only that, dear friend, 41:07 it's to be a day of spiritual rest. 41:14 You say: "What do you mean spiritual rest? " 41:17 Well, let me tell you something: 41:20 I know some people who keep... well, I shouldn't say they keep 41:24 the Sabbath. They think they keep the Sabbath... 41:26 let's put it that way. 'Cause I know some people 41:30 who, when it gets close to the time of the Sabbath, 41:33 they try to get ready for the Sabbath. You know? 41:36 You know what I'm talking about? 41:38 They're going to get their house clean and all the dishes done 41:41 and all this kind of stuff. 41:43 And they go after that and they get all that done 41:45 and by the time the Sabbath comes 41:47 nobody can live with them they're so out of sorts. 41:50 That's not Sabbath-keeping. You want to understand me? 41:53 It's not the way you keep it. 41:55 Yes, I need to get ready for the Sabbath 41:57 but I must get ready spiritually. 42:01 I must get ready spiritually. 42:04 Let me tell you a little bit of what's involved 42:07 in resting spiritually. 42:46 You see, what I'm trying to tell you tonight 42:49 is salvation... 42:51 salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. 42:56 Salvation is not found, friends, in what you can do. 43:02 It's not found in your ability. 43:05 It's not found in how good you are. 43:08 It is found only and completely in Jesus Christ. 43:11 And so when that Sabbath comes around 43:15 I must learn to rest 43:17 totally and completely in Jesus Christ. 43:22 When you learn to turn everything over to Him 43:28 and rest in Christ Jesus 43:30 then you're really keeping the Sabbath. 43:35 That's what it's talking about. 43:48 What are you going to rest in? 43:52 You've got to rest in what Jesus Christ has done for you. 43:57 That's what you rest in. 43:58 You don't rest in your works; 44:00 you don't rest in your ability. 44:02 You rest in what Jesus Christ has done for you. 44:13 So when I come to the Sabbath every week 44:16 and that seventh day rolls around 44:19 and I'm approaching the Sabbath day 44:21 the Scripture tells me "cease your labor, 44:27 stop your work. " 44:28 But it also says: "Kenneth Cox, stop! " 44:33 Think about it. Understand that it's resting in Jesus Christ 44:39 and what He has done for you that you find salvation. 44:44 That's what the Sabbath is about. 44:45 That's what it's to teach you. 44:47 That's what it's to teach me. 44:49 The Sabbath, the Scripture says: 44:54 That's what it was set aside for. 44:57 Not only was it a time that I was to rest 44:59 but it's a time that we are to worship God. 45:04 Acts 13:42, and there may be some of you here tonight 45:09 that are saying: "Oh, Brother Cox, 45:12 that Sabbath, that was given for the Jewish people. " 45:16 Well, if you think it was given for the Jewish people, 45:19 then you need to take a look at this Scripture. 45:22 Listen to what it says here: 45:43 These aren't Jews asking for the Word to be preached to them. 45:46 It's Gentiles! They're saying: "Paul, preach to us 45:50 the next Sabbath. " 45:52 You'd better believe it was given to the Gentiles. 46:07 They preached to them. Watch what takes place 46:10 here... what happens: 46:20 These are Gentiles! They poured out 46:23 on the Sabbath to hear the Word of God preached. 46:26 That promise about the Sabbath, dear friends, 46:29 is given to you. And God says: "Listen, 46:33 if you will honor Me, if you'll keep My Sabbath, 46:38 if you'll set it aside, 46:40 I'll bless you, I'll bless you in a special way. " 46:44 That's a promise that God gives to you... 46:46 gives to me. 46:49 In fact, the Scripture even tells you that you're 46:52 going to keep the Sabbath in heaven. 46:56 Now if you're going to keep it in heaven, friend, 46:59 wouldn't it be well to start keeping it here? 47:02 This is what it says... Isaiah 66:22: 47:18 So it says that as a new heavens and a new earth 47:22 so shall your name remain. 47:24 And it goes on in Isaiah and it says: 47:27 "From one Sabbath to another and from one new moon to another 47:32 all flesh shall come to worship before Me saith the Lord. " 47:36 God tells us very clearly. 47:39 It says that you and I are to meet together 47:42 on the Sabbath. It says: 47:57 So He says as you see the Sabbath approaching 48:00 that you need to worship God. The Sabbath was given 48:03 as a time of worship. 48:06 You see, Jesus Christ took that Sabbath 48:11 and He blessed it, He hallowed it, and He sanctified it 48:16 because He said: "This is special time 48:20 I want to spend with you. " 48:22 That's what it is! 48:24 It's special time that God wants to spend with you. 48:27 And dear friend, when you say: "Ah, doesn't make any 48:30 difference" and you go on about your own way 48:32 and you pay no attention to it, 48:34 that's very very special time that you're giving up 48:38 that you could have spent with Jesus 48:41 'cause He set it aside for that. 48:45 Isaiah 58:13. 48:48 I've told you as we've gone through from night to night 48:51 there are certain texts in the Bible that I've told you 48:53 you need to highlight, underline, and so forth. 48:56 Well this is one of them. 48:57 OK... Isaiah 58:13: 49:03 That means trodding it under- foot. That's what it means. 49:05 Don't trod it underfoot. 49:13 God says, you know, "Stop forgetting about Me 49:16 and going about and doing your own thing. " 49:18 All right? 49:37 In other words He's saying: "Don't treat that day common. 49:40 This is not a day when you're to do your own thing. " 49:43 Said: "Don't treat it that way. " 49:45 Watch what He says He will do for you 49:48 if you will treat that day special: 49:58 You want to delight yourself in the Lord? 50:00 Do you want the Lord saying to you: 50:02 "I'm very very pleased with you? " OK? 50:15 That's blessings, folks. 50:17 He said: "If you'll just do that, 50:19 I will abundantly bless you in a very very special way. " 50:37 That's a promise that's given to each one of you 50:41 if you will spend some time with the Lord. 50:45 You say: "Well Brother Cox, 50:47 can I really know which day is the Sabbath? " 50:51 "Is that possible? " 50:53 "Can I really know which day is the Sabbath? " 50:55 Absolutely you can know which day is the Sabbath 50:58 without any question of a doubt at all. 51:03 You don't have to be in the slightest doubt about it. 51:06 To begin with, languages. 51:24 In German their word for Wednesday is? 51:29 Anybody tell me? 51:31 Mitwoch. 51:33 You know what that means? That means middle of the week. 51:39 Now if Wednesday is the middle of the week, 51:42 let me see you find any other day 51:45 but Saturday be the last day of the week. 51:49 We don't have to be in doubt at all. 51:51 You take something as simple as the Jewish people. 51:54 I mean, here you have a group of people 51:56 that have kept the Sabbath in a sense 52:01 since God gave it all the way down through time. 52:04 Their calendar that hangs on their wall 52:07 still is clear as to exactly when the Sabbath is. 52:10 It falls every week on Saturday, friends. 52:14 We don't have to be in doubt as to which day is the Sabbath. 52:20 Your calendar, the calendar that hangs on your wall, 52:24 clearly tells you that the seventh day is Saturday. 52:29 You don't have to be in doubt about that. 52:32 But you can do away with the calendar. 52:34 You can do away with all those things 52:36 and you and I still don't have to be in doubt. 52:38 All you have to do is take a look 52:40 at the death of Jesus Christ 52:44 and it will tell you clearly 52:46 which day is the Sabbath. Listen: 52:57 So it tells us that the day on which Jesus died 53:03 was the day before the Sabbath. 53:05 We call that day Good Friday. 53:10 That's the day that He died on. 53:12 It was called The Preparation Day. 53:15 Watch as Luke continues: 53:39 OK... they rested on the Sabbath. 53:41 That's the next day. 53:43 That's the very next day: Saturday, the Sabbath Day. 53:48 Watch as Luke continues. 53:50 He doesn't leave you in any doubt. 54:08 They came to the tomb on the first day of the week. 54:12 Jesus was not there... He had risen, right? 54:15 And we refer to that day, we call that day... 54:24 We call that day Easter Sunday, 54:27 the first day of the week. 54:30 Now folks, if I know which day 54:34 is the day that Jesus died on 54:37 and I know which day He rose on, 54:40 do I have any trouble knowing which day is the Sabbath? 54:43 None at all. 54:45 Scripture is perfectly clear on this. 54:49 No question about it. 54:57 Only the Sabbath Day... no other day. 55:02 Therefore, what I'm trying to tell you tonight 55:08 is God has taken one day of the week 55:13 and He's put His blessing upon it. 55:17 Let me illustrate it for you. 55:19 Let's say I have seven glasses of water up here. 55:23 All the glasses are just exactly alike 55:28 and the water in the glasses is all just exactly alike. 55:34 They're all the same. 55:37 When I come down to the seventh glass 55:41 God said He did something special with it. 55:45 He blessed it, He hallowed it, He sanctified it. 55:49 So if I come down to that seventh glass 55:52 and I put some concentrated juice in it 55:58 and I bless it. I take it, hallow it, 56:03 sanctified it, is it like the other six? 56:06 No... never will be, friends. 56:08 You see, the Sabbath... God's not asking you now 56:14 tonight folks... God's not saying to you 56:18 "Make the Sabbath holy. " 56:21 He's not asking you to do that. 56:22 God's the One that makes the Sabbath holy. 56:24 He tells you and I to keep it holy. 56:27 Only day we can keep holy 56:29 is the one that God made holy. 56:32 That's why that day is special. 56:35 That's why that day is different. 56:37 That's why God is inviting you 56:40 to keep that day special. 56:43 And He says: "If you will do so, 56:46 I will bless you in a special way. " 56:48 The Sabbath is a very very special time 56:53 that God has set aside. 56:59 Holy Sabbath Day 57:04 of rest, 57:08 by our Master 57:12 richly blessed. 57:17 God created 57:21 and divine 57:27 set apart 57:30 for holy 57:33 time. 57:41 Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer. 57:42 Father, we thank you... 57:46 thank you for Your interest in us, 57:50 asking us, Lord, to keep the day that You've blessed, 57:54 that You've hallowed, and You've sanctified. 57:57 Bless each one here tonight. 57:59 May they find this very special time with You. 58:05 And we pray that each one of us 58:08 may be able to rejoice with You in heaven 58:11 because we've given our hearts to Jesus Christ. 58:14 For this we ask in His name, Amen. |
Revised 2019-03-13