1 00:00:06,399 --> 00:00:08,179 In chains I was bound, 2 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:09,939 I was a madman 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:11,139 on the run. 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:13,455 Through the hills I 5 00:00:41,255 --> 00:00:42,634 set me free. 6 00:00:43,734 --> 00:00:44,234 Oh, 7 00:00:44,934 --> 00:00:45,434 oh. 8 00:00:46,695 --> 00:00:48,554 Truth set me free. 9 00:00:49,655 --> 00:00:50,155 Oh. 10 00:00:51,734 --> 00:00:52,954 Oh. Truth 11 00:00:58,219 --> 00:01:00,799 Welcome to Tell the Truth, a weekly podcast 12 00:01:00,939 --> 00:01:03,759 about faith, current events, and life in general, 13 00:01:03,899 --> 00:01:06,079 brought to you from Mountain View Baptist Church 14 00:01:06,219 --> 00:01:08,755 live every Monday night at 6 15 00:01:09,215 --> 00:01:09,875 PM CST. 16 00:01:11,775 --> 00:01:13,395 Thank you for joining us tonight. 17 00:01:14,015 --> 00:01:15,775 Each night this week, we will be live 18 00:01:15,775 --> 00:01:18,015 streaming our revival service here at Mountain View 19 00:01:18,015 --> 00:01:18,915 Baptist Church. 20 00:01:19,215 --> 00:01:21,375 The message each night will be brought by 21 00:01:21,375 --> 00:01:24,429 brother Alan Carr, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist 22 00:01:24,429 --> 00:01:26,209 Church in Lenoir, North Carolina. 23 00:01:26,590 --> 00:01:28,750 Pastor Carr is also an instructor at West 24 00:01:28,750 --> 00:01:30,049 Lenoir School of Ministry, 25 00:01:30,349 --> 00:01:31,250 teaching homiletics, 26 00:01:31,869 --> 00:01:35,090 life of Christ, and manuscript evidence. We appreciate 27 00:01:35,149 --> 00:01:37,674 brother Carr for traveling to Sylvania, Alabama to 28 00:01:37,674 --> 00:01:40,474 bring us our revival messages this week. Here's 29 00:01:40,474 --> 00:01:41,295 brother Carr. 30 00:01:43,674 --> 00:01:44,174 Well, 31 00:01:45,275 --> 00:01:46,974 I don't know what to say about that. 32 00:01:49,034 --> 00:01:50,254 Except this is good. 33 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:51,180 Amen. 34 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,679 I appreciate that, don't you? Amen. I appreciate 35 00:01:54,679 --> 00:01:55,500 all the singing. 36 00:01:56,359 --> 00:01:58,439 Appreciate the privilege to be in the Lord's 37 00:01:58,439 --> 00:01:58,939 house, 38 00:01:59,719 --> 00:02:02,039 and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be 39 00:02:02,039 --> 00:02:03,899 back here. Been a number of years 40 00:02:04,359 --> 00:02:05,500 and lots changed. 41 00:02:06,105 --> 00:02:06,605 Faces. 42 00:02:07,944 --> 00:02:09,336 I'm glad to see you all again. And 43 00:02:09,336 --> 00:02:10,365 I appreciate you, saying up an 44 00:02:10,665 --> 00:02:12,185 extra hour to give me time to get 45 00:02:12,185 --> 00:02:12,685 here. 46 00:02:21,169 --> 00:02:22,789 It's not across the road. 47 00:02:26,449 --> 00:02:29,729 I left at 12 my time and got 48 00:02:29,729 --> 00:02:31,509 here at 6:30 in Georgia. 49 00:02:32,610 --> 00:02:33,669 So there he goes. 50 00:02:34,050 --> 00:02:34,949 It's a spot. 51 00:02:35,444 --> 00:02:37,205 So we make it. And I say, we 52 00:02:37,205 --> 00:02:38,664 and I mean we, my 53 00:02:39,044 --> 00:02:40,745 my girlfriend's in the car. 54 00:02:41,604 --> 00:02:43,205 I didn't bring her in because she ain't 55 00:02:43,205 --> 00:02:44,264 dressed for church. 56 00:02:46,084 --> 00:02:47,064 She's a snapper. 57 00:02:48,989 --> 00:02:50,909 She doesn't go to church, but she's with 58 00:02:50,909 --> 00:02:51,409 it. 59 00:02:51,789 --> 00:02:53,389 I didn't figure you'd want her in here 60 00:02:53,389 --> 00:02:54,209 in all of this. 61 00:02:55,629 --> 00:02:58,050 My wife knows she's with us. It's alright. 62 00:03:00,349 --> 00:03:02,865 I appreciate you letting me come back. Amen. 63 00:03:02,925 --> 00:03:04,365 Thank you so much. I want you to 64 00:03:04,365 --> 00:03:05,324 be turning to 1st John 65 00:03:06,365 --> 00:03:08,205 the book of 1st John and the first 66 00:03:08,205 --> 00:03:10,205 chapter and the first verse of the first 67 00:03:10,205 --> 00:03:12,064 chapter, the first book of John. 68 00:03:12,685 --> 00:03:14,764 And we're gonna talk about the first four 69 00:03:14,764 --> 00:03:17,159 verses this evening. But really, I'm going to 70 00:03:17,159 --> 00:03:20,120 focus in tonight on one word in that 71 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:21,719 text. We'll look at some more of it, 72 00:03:21,719 --> 00:03:23,019 but the primary one 73 00:03:23,719 --> 00:03:25,340 word. You've got to keep in mind. 74 00:03:26,039 --> 00:03:28,379 It's hard to get to preach this message 75 00:03:28,519 --> 00:03:31,819 this evening that my preaching, particularly this message, 76 00:03:32,275 --> 00:03:34,455 is kinda like the Alabama audience. 77 00:03:36,194 --> 00:03:38,194 First half, it kind of takes a while 78 00:03:38,194 --> 00:03:38,935 to get going. 79 00:03:39,875 --> 00:03:42,034 But hopefully, the second half is worth the 80 00:03:42,034 --> 00:03:42,534 wait. 81 00:03:42,915 --> 00:03:45,235 Isn't that right? Amen. You never know what 82 00:03:45,235 --> 00:03:47,699 they're gonna do after halftime. Roll the tires. 83 00:03:48,580 --> 00:03:50,659 Tires. That's right. I think I'm in a 84 00:03:50,659 --> 00:03:53,139 fairly crazy territory. They might give you an 85 00:03:53,139 --> 00:03:55,319 Auburn advantage around it, but forgive you. 86 00:03:55,699 --> 00:03:57,539 And I thank the Lord my and, 87 00:03:58,419 --> 00:04:00,759 Tennessee, but we'll go back real quick. 88 00:04:01,139 --> 00:04:03,705 I've already been there to us today. 89 00:04:05,044 --> 00:04:06,104 1st John 90 00:04:07,284 --> 00:04:09,625 chapter number 1 and verse 91 00:04:10,724 --> 00:04:11,465 number 1. 92 00:04:12,884 --> 00:04:13,784 John writes 93 00:04:14,405 --> 00:04:16,345 that which was from the beginning, 94 00:04:17,509 --> 00:04:19,209 which we have heard, 95 00:04:20,149 --> 00:04:22,629 which we have seen with our eyes, which 96 00:04:22,629 --> 00:04:23,930 we have looked upon, 97 00:04:24,870 --> 00:04:27,189 and our heads have handled all the world 98 00:04:27,189 --> 00:04:27,850 of life. 99 00:04:28,870 --> 00:04:30,490 For the life was manifest, 100 00:04:31,004 --> 00:04:32,956 you that eternal life which was with the 101 00:04:32,956 --> 00:04:35,084 father and was manifested unto us. That which 102 00:04:35,084 --> 00:04:36,705 we have seen and heard 103 00:04:45,710 --> 00:04:47,410 declare we unto you, 104 00:04:48,030 --> 00:04:50,770 that you also may have fellowship with us, 105 00:04:51,470 --> 00:04:53,009 and truly our fellowship 106 00:04:53,310 --> 00:04:54,370 is with the father 107 00:04:55,069 --> 00:04:57,410 and with his son, Jesus Christ. 108 00:04:58,384 --> 00:05:00,704 And these things write we unto you that 109 00:05:00,704 --> 00:05:01,444 your joy 110 00:05:02,384 --> 00:05:03,365 may be 111 00:05:04,144 --> 00:05:04,644 full. 112 00:05:05,584 --> 00:05:07,925 Seemed like John wants us to know 113 00:05:09,024 --> 00:05:10,485 that he heard something 114 00:05:11,425 --> 00:05:12,884 and he saw something 115 00:05:13,790 --> 00:05:15,089 and he touched 116 00:05:15,790 --> 00:05:18,370 something. Do you get that? He keeps repeating 117 00:05:18,430 --> 00:05:19,810 that theme over 118 00:05:20,430 --> 00:05:21,730 and over and over. 119 00:05:22,270 --> 00:05:24,029 I want to draw your attention to the 120 00:05:24,029 --> 00:05:25,410 very first word 121 00:05:25,870 --> 00:05:27,170 in the first verse. 122 00:05:27,884 --> 00:05:29,104 It is the word 123 00:05:30,044 --> 00:05:30,544 that. 124 00:05:31,084 --> 00:05:33,724 Now we talk about that a lot, don't 125 00:05:33,724 --> 00:05:34,224 we? 126 00:05:34,685 --> 00:05:36,784 But a lot of times, we don't realize 127 00:05:36,925 --> 00:05:37,745 that that 128 00:05:38,444 --> 00:05:39,904 is a demonstrative 129 00:05:40,444 --> 00:05:40,944 pronoun, 130 00:05:42,220 --> 00:05:45,500 And we use that demonstrative pronoun to point 131 00:05:45,500 --> 00:05:46,160 to a 132 00:05:46,540 --> 00:05:47,040 specific 133 00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:49,600 noun or phrase in a sentence. 134 00:05:50,459 --> 00:05:53,199 And the noun or phrase to which the 135 00:05:54,154 --> 00:05:57,615 demonstrative pronoun that refers to is called 136 00:05:57,995 --> 00:05:58,654 the antecedent. 137 00:05:59,835 --> 00:06:01,214 That's what it points to. 138 00:06:01,514 --> 00:06:03,995 In this case, that is the word of 139 00:06:03,995 --> 00:06:05,134 life. The antecedent, 140 00:06:05,595 --> 00:06:08,095 that is pointing to the word of 141 00:06:08,540 --> 00:06:11,180 life. So keep that in mind because that 142 00:06:11,180 --> 00:06:11,920 is crucial. 143 00:06:12,540 --> 00:06:14,300 You probably didn't know we were gonna have 144 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:16,560 a grammar lesson this evening, did you? 145 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:19,259 But I'm a grammar nerd, and because I'm 146 00:06:19,259 --> 00:06:20,399 a grammar nerd, 147 00:06:20,915 --> 00:06:23,235 I have a kind of a love hate 148 00:06:23,235 --> 00:06:23,735 relationship 149 00:06:24,514 --> 00:06:25,735 with the word that. 150 00:06:26,435 --> 00:06:28,915 A lot of times most that's could be 151 00:06:28,915 --> 00:06:31,154 left out of that, and that would be 152 00:06:31,154 --> 00:06:33,029 better if that wasn't in there. 153 00:06:33,750 --> 00:06:36,230 But sometimes that fits and when that fits 154 00:06:36,230 --> 00:06:38,310 you gotta use that. Right? Am I right 155 00:06:38,310 --> 00:06:39,050 about that? 156 00:06:39,829 --> 00:06:41,829 Well in this case since the word of 157 00:06:41,829 --> 00:06:43,290 God uses that, 158 00:06:43,910 --> 00:06:45,209 I guess it's okay. 159 00:06:46,285 --> 00:06:47,105 Now to understand 160 00:06:47,644 --> 00:06:49,485 the book of 1st John, I really believe 161 00:06:49,485 --> 00:06:49,985 this. 162 00:06:50,444 --> 00:06:52,144 I believe you have to understand 163 00:06:52,444 --> 00:06:54,944 why John wrote this epistle. 164 00:06:55,725 --> 00:06:57,584 And John had a specific 165 00:06:57,884 --> 00:06:59,185 reason in mind 166 00:06:59,659 --> 00:07:02,000 when he pinned this to the early church, 167 00:07:02,539 --> 00:07:04,139 and I think it would be good for 168 00:07:04,139 --> 00:07:06,300 us to understand that right out of the 169 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:09,039 gate. And this is where the slow offense 170 00:07:09,099 --> 00:07:10,959 comes in, so bear with me. 171 00:07:11,659 --> 00:07:14,639 This epistle was a circular letter, 172 00:07:15,345 --> 00:07:17,524 which was written to the churches 173 00:07:18,305 --> 00:07:19,524 of the 1st century 174 00:07:20,224 --> 00:07:23,044 to warn them about a dangerous heresy 175 00:07:23,904 --> 00:07:25,044 that was infiltrating 176 00:07:25,345 --> 00:07:26,404 the early church. 177 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,860 The heresy was a mixture of 178 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:31,300 pseudo Christianity, 179 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:32,500 paganism, 180 00:07:32,879 --> 00:07:34,660 and Greek philosophy. 181 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,759 And it gained As it gained traction in 182 00:07:37,759 --> 00:07:38,420 the churches, 183 00:07:39,404 --> 00:07:40,224 many believers 184 00:07:40,524 --> 00:07:42,704 in the churches became lax 185 00:07:43,324 --> 00:07:45,104 about their Christian standards. 186 00:07:46,044 --> 00:07:48,925 And so John writes both to combat the 187 00:07:48,925 --> 00:07:49,824 false doctrine 188 00:07:50,204 --> 00:07:51,504 which is being taught, 189 00:07:52,339 --> 00:07:54,819 and to encourage the people of God to 190 00:07:54,819 --> 00:07:56,120 live godly lives 191 00:07:56,500 --> 00:07:57,959 to the glory of God. 192 00:07:58,579 --> 00:08:01,879 And the heresy John is combating is a 193 00:08:02,019 --> 00:08:03,399 heresy known as 194 00:08:03,699 --> 00:08:04,199 gnosticism. 195 00:08:06,305 --> 00:08:06,805 Gnosticism, 196 00:08:07,345 --> 00:08:09,925 the beginning part of it, gnosis comes from 197 00:08:09,985 --> 00:08:12,004 the Greek word gnosis which means 198 00:08:12,384 --> 00:08:12,884 knowledge. 199 00:08:13,985 --> 00:08:14,805 And gnosticism 200 00:08:15,264 --> 00:08:17,125 taught there was some kind of 201 00:08:17,919 --> 00:08:22,160 esoteric knowledge available to certain people and they 202 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:23,939 had certain insight. 203 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,259 And only those who possess this superior knowledge 204 00:08:28,399 --> 00:08:31,139 could ever hope to be saved. 205 00:08:32,345 --> 00:08:35,625 2nd they believed that all matter was evil. 206 00:08:35,625 --> 00:08:39,465 This pulpit is evil. This microphone is evil. 207 00:08:39,465 --> 00:08:41,165 This well this 208 00:08:41,705 --> 00:08:44,250 coat is evil. My body is evil. This 209 00:08:44,649 --> 00:08:47,769 building is evil but everything that is of 210 00:08:47,769 --> 00:08:49,149 spirit is good. 211 00:08:49,610 --> 00:08:51,470 Thus our bodies are bad 212 00:08:51,929 --> 00:08:53,710 but our souls are good. 213 00:08:54,809 --> 00:08:58,110 And when this particular heresy began to infiltrate 214 00:08:58,409 --> 00:08:59,070 the church 215 00:09:00,264 --> 00:09:03,144 the people in the church were led away 216 00:09:03,144 --> 00:09:04,764 into various forms 217 00:09:05,465 --> 00:09:06,924 of doctrinal error. 218 00:09:07,785 --> 00:09:11,325 Church members who adopted gnostic teachings went to 219 00:09:11,639 --> 00:09:12,860 one of 2 extremes. 220 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:15,639 I'm still building my case. Alright? Hang with 221 00:09:15,639 --> 00:09:17,960 me. I gotta build the front porch before 222 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:19,820 we go in the house. Alright? 223 00:09:20,759 --> 00:09:23,879 One of those doctrinal issues was that of 224 00:09:23,879 --> 00:09:24,379 asceticism, 225 00:09:25,514 --> 00:09:26,415 And that is 226 00:09:27,035 --> 00:09:29,695 a belief system in which a person will 227 00:09:30,075 --> 00:09:32,815 punish their body or deny their body 228 00:09:33,195 --> 00:09:36,014 in order to bring it into line. So 229 00:09:36,075 --> 00:09:38,254 an ascetic might starve themselves. 230 00:09:38,970 --> 00:09:39,709 They might, 231 00:09:40,250 --> 00:09:43,789 prevent themselves from sleeping. They might not enjoy 232 00:09:43,850 --> 00:09:44,829 certain pleasures. 233 00:09:45,129 --> 00:09:47,449 And they believe that since all matter is 234 00:09:47,449 --> 00:09:50,190 evil, they need to abuse their body 235 00:09:50,649 --> 00:09:53,709 in order to free the spirit living inside. 236 00:09:54,945 --> 00:09:56,884 The other extreme is licentiousness. 237 00:09:58,305 --> 00:10:00,565 And this refers to a person who 238 00:10:00,865 --> 00:10:02,325 lives as they please. 239 00:10:02,945 --> 00:10:05,105 Since the body is evil and the spirit 240 00:10:05,105 --> 00:10:07,529 is good and all the stuff we do 241 00:10:07,529 --> 00:10:09,929 outside is done in the body, then it 242 00:10:09,929 --> 00:10:12,350 doesn't matter what you do with the body. 243 00:10:12,570 --> 00:10:13,870 Rules don't matter, 244 00:10:14,250 --> 00:10:15,389 laws don't apply, 245 00:10:15,850 --> 00:10:18,570 drink all you want to, use drugs if 246 00:10:18,570 --> 00:10:19,629 that's your desire, 247 00:10:20,024 --> 00:10:22,584 have sex outside of marriage, and since the 248 00:10:22,584 --> 00:10:25,384 body is evil and the spirit is good, 249 00:10:25,384 --> 00:10:27,304 then no matter what you do in your 250 00:10:27,304 --> 00:10:30,044 body it has no effect upon your spiritual 251 00:10:30,345 --> 00:10:30,845 life. 252 00:10:31,625 --> 00:10:34,125 Perhaps you can see why this caused problems 253 00:10:34,870 --> 00:10:35,690 in the church. 254 00:10:36,470 --> 00:10:38,470 On the one hand you've got people over 255 00:10:38,470 --> 00:10:39,450 here who are wearing 256 00:10:39,990 --> 00:10:42,389 shirts made of hair, and they're crawling up 257 00:10:42,389 --> 00:10:44,629 and down steps on their knees and they're 258 00:10:44,629 --> 00:10:45,769 beating their bodies, 259 00:10:46,149 --> 00:10:47,210 that is the ascetics. 260 00:10:47,714 --> 00:10:49,315 On the other side, you got a bunch 261 00:10:49,315 --> 00:10:52,034 of drunks carousing with everybody they come into 262 00:10:52,034 --> 00:10:53,095 contact with. 263 00:10:54,995 --> 00:10:56,375 And both are errors. 264 00:10:57,554 --> 00:11:00,514 Now the problem is those gnostics are still 265 00:11:00,514 --> 00:11:01,975 with us today. 266 00:11:03,059 --> 00:11:04,040 Did you know that? 267 00:11:04,980 --> 00:11:07,779 There are some people maybe some in these 268 00:11:07,779 --> 00:11:11,139 pews who apply all kinds of rules to 269 00:11:11,139 --> 00:11:11,879 their lives. 270 00:11:12,899 --> 00:11:15,540 Rules which go beyond the clear teachings of 271 00:11:15,540 --> 00:11:18,105 the bible and they do this in an 272 00:11:18,105 --> 00:11:19,485 effort to make themselves 273 00:11:20,345 --> 00:11:22,365 appear to be more holy. 274 00:11:23,225 --> 00:11:25,565 They don't realize it, but they're practicing 275 00:11:26,184 --> 00:11:26,684 asceticism. 276 00:11:27,065 --> 00:11:28,764 They don't enjoy the liberties 277 00:11:29,304 --> 00:11:30,764 they have in Christ. 278 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,039 And they try to deny their body all 279 00:11:34,039 --> 00:11:36,440 pleasure in hopes that they will be found 280 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,940 more pleasing in the eyes of others. 281 00:11:39,879 --> 00:11:41,799 And then of course there are folk who 282 00:11:41,799 --> 00:11:44,440 on the other side, and they say something 283 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,379 like well I'm saved by grace, 284 00:11:47,014 --> 00:11:50,215 and I'm eternally secure in Jesus, my body 285 00:11:50,215 --> 00:11:52,695 is evil, and I have a sin nature 286 00:11:52,695 --> 00:11:55,975 which has a very strong desire for our 287 00:11:55,975 --> 00:11:56,475 sin, 288 00:11:57,174 --> 00:11:58,634 and since I'm saved 289 00:11:59,009 --> 00:12:01,570 and nothing can bring me out of Christ 290 00:12:01,570 --> 00:12:03,170 and I might as well live as I 291 00:12:03,170 --> 00:12:05,830 want to, I might as well enjoy 292 00:12:06,210 --> 00:12:08,450 life and let it come to me. I 293 00:12:08,450 --> 00:12:11,269 mean grab all the gusto you can. 294 00:12:12,304 --> 00:12:14,625 They would say the moral rules do not 295 00:12:14,625 --> 00:12:15,924 apply to me. 296 00:12:16,785 --> 00:12:18,164 This is called antinomianism 297 00:12:19,105 --> 00:12:20,644 which means no law. 298 00:12:21,264 --> 00:12:25,424 The licentious people have no law governing their 299 00:12:25,424 --> 00:12:25,924 lives. 300 00:12:26,779 --> 00:12:29,340 Now we have both kinds of those folk 301 00:12:29,340 --> 00:12:31,120 around us even today. 302 00:12:32,139 --> 00:12:34,720 And whether they realize it or not, 303 00:12:35,420 --> 00:12:38,480 they're still living out the gnostic heresy 304 00:12:39,100 --> 00:12:40,160 in our world. 305 00:12:40,884 --> 00:12:43,304 Now, I'm getting somewhere, y'all with me? 306 00:12:45,044 --> 00:12:47,384 The gnostic heresy in the church, 307 00:12:48,485 --> 00:12:52,024 it generated 2 major doctrinal problems. 308 00:12:52,659 --> 00:12:54,100 And I'm gonna tell you about these and 309 00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:56,440 this is important that's why I'm doing it. 310 00:12:56,740 --> 00:12:58,919 Hang on, we're headed somewhere. 311 00:12:59,860 --> 00:13:02,419 It's 4th and 14, I'm gonna go for 312 00:13:02,419 --> 00:13:03,559 it, so hang on. 313 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:06,840 The first era was called syrenthian 314 00:13:07,764 --> 00:13:08,264 gnosticism. 315 00:13:09,284 --> 00:13:12,584 Now Cerinthus was a contemporary of John who 316 00:13:12,884 --> 00:13:15,205 who taught that since all matter is evil 317 00:13:15,205 --> 00:13:17,125 therefore the body is evil but the spirit's 318 00:13:17,125 --> 00:13:20,644 good. So he said that Jesus had a 319 00:13:20,644 --> 00:13:22,024 real human body 320 00:13:23,340 --> 00:13:26,220 but he was just an ordinary man and 321 00:13:26,220 --> 00:13:28,399 not god in the human flesh. 322 00:13:29,740 --> 00:13:32,960 Joseph was his father, Mary was his mother, 323 00:13:33,179 --> 00:13:35,340 he had a real human body. And at 324 00:13:35,340 --> 00:13:38,174 his baptism the holy spirit came upon him 325 00:13:38,334 --> 00:13:40,414 and anointed him for his work. And at 326 00:13:40,414 --> 00:13:42,894 that moment he became the Christ. Then when 327 00:13:42,894 --> 00:13:43,794 he went to Calvary 328 00:13:44,334 --> 00:13:46,095 and the sins of the world were put 329 00:13:46,095 --> 00:13:49,054 upon him. And since the holy spirit in 330 00:13:49,054 --> 00:13:51,315 Cerinthus' view could not be 331 00:13:51,649 --> 00:13:54,690 associated with suffering and death and evil, so 332 00:13:54,690 --> 00:13:57,350 the spirit departed from Jesus before 333 00:13:57,889 --> 00:13:58,710 he died. 334 00:13:59,809 --> 00:14:01,509 You see the problem with that? 335 00:14:02,210 --> 00:14:04,690 And that's why Jesus he said cried out, 336 00:14:04,690 --> 00:14:05,990 my God my God 337 00:14:06,605 --> 00:14:07,504 why hast 338 00:14:08,125 --> 00:14:09,345 thou forsaken me? 339 00:14:10,204 --> 00:14:13,565 So Cerinthian gnosticism said that the Holy Spirit 340 00:14:13,565 --> 00:14:16,204 came on Jesus for about 3 years, and 341 00:14:16,204 --> 00:14:17,725 that it left him and he died a 342 00:14:17,725 --> 00:14:19,584 mere man just like you and me. 343 00:14:20,389 --> 00:14:22,470 Now the problem with this is that it 344 00:14:22,470 --> 00:14:23,850 denies the substitutionary 345 00:14:24,950 --> 00:14:26,170 atonement of Jesus. 346 00:14:27,190 --> 00:14:30,470 Yes Jesus was a man but he was 347 00:14:30,470 --> 00:14:31,610 also God 348 00:14:31,990 --> 00:14:33,210 at the same time. 349 00:14:33,590 --> 00:14:36,375 He is the God man. And when he 350 00:14:36,375 --> 00:14:38,634 died he died in the flesh, 351 00:14:39,174 --> 00:14:41,034 and he died in the spirit 352 00:14:41,414 --> 00:14:44,154 to accomplish the will of his father 353 00:14:44,695 --> 00:14:47,674 and to fulfill the law of sacrifices 354 00:14:48,294 --> 00:14:50,235 that we might go free. 355 00:14:51,629 --> 00:14:54,370 If Jesus was a mere man like us, 356 00:14:55,149 --> 00:14:56,929 how could he have died for us? 357 00:14:57,629 --> 00:14:59,410 Well he couldn't have, could he? 358 00:15:00,269 --> 00:15:01,410 Cerinthian gnosticism 359 00:15:01,870 --> 00:15:03,870 lives on. If you wanna know where it's 360 00:15:03,870 --> 00:15:04,850 located today, 361 00:15:05,154 --> 00:15:07,154 you can find it in the doctrines of 362 00:15:07,154 --> 00:15:09,414 the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witness. 363 00:15:10,754 --> 00:15:13,014 A second major doctrinal error 364 00:15:13,394 --> 00:15:14,615 was that of docetism. 365 00:15:15,875 --> 00:15:17,654 And while syrinthian gnosticism 366 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,799 denied the deity of Christ, they said he's 367 00:15:20,799 --> 00:15:22,419 a man but he's not God. 368 00:15:23,039 --> 00:15:26,339 The docetic gnostics, they denied the humanity 369 00:15:26,639 --> 00:15:27,379 of Jesus. 370 00:15:27,919 --> 00:15:30,240 They said well yeah he's God, but he's 371 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:31,539 not really a man. 372 00:15:32,095 --> 00:15:34,894 He doesn't look like a man. He's a 373 00:15:34,894 --> 00:15:35,394 spirit. 374 00:15:35,774 --> 00:15:38,014 When you saw him you might have thought 375 00:15:38,014 --> 00:15:40,254 he was a man but if you'd have 376 00:15:40,254 --> 00:15:42,254 tried to touch him why your hand would 377 00:15:42,254 --> 00:15:44,995 have gone right through him, because he just 378 00:15:45,054 --> 00:15:45,554 appeared 379 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,019 to be real. 380 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:50,720 So he just appeared to be a man, 381 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:52,179 didn't have a physical body. 382 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,759 Pray tell, how do you nail Casper to 383 00:15:55,759 --> 00:15:56,500 a cross? 384 00:15:58,080 --> 00:15:59,539 You don't, do you? 385 00:16:00,585 --> 00:16:03,945 When people saw Jesus they said well they're 386 00:16:03,945 --> 00:16:04,924 seeing a phantom. 387 00:16:06,184 --> 00:16:08,585 You couldn't shake hands with him, because there's 388 00:16:08,585 --> 00:16:11,065 no hand there to shake. It would get 389 00:16:11,065 --> 00:16:11,965 really awkward 390 00:16:12,424 --> 00:16:13,965 in the receiving line. 391 00:16:14,899 --> 00:16:17,879 When Jesus walked on sand or saw soil, 392 00:16:17,940 --> 00:16:19,240 he left no footprints. 393 00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:21,879 So do ascetic gnosticism 394 00:16:22,980 --> 00:16:25,000 deny the incarnation of Christ? 395 00:16:26,019 --> 00:16:28,259 You see Jesus, you might know this I'm 396 00:16:28,259 --> 00:16:29,160 sure you do, 397 00:16:30,554 --> 00:16:33,134 You might know that Jesus, yes, 398 00:16:33,754 --> 00:16:36,014 he is god as I've already said, 399 00:16:36,554 --> 00:16:38,014 but he is a man. 400 00:16:39,195 --> 00:16:41,754 And when he was conceived in the womb 401 00:16:41,754 --> 00:16:42,495 of Mary, 402 00:16:43,940 --> 00:16:45,879 he was a real man 403 00:16:46,980 --> 00:16:48,679 who came into this world 404 00:16:49,220 --> 00:16:50,519 to fix everything 405 00:16:50,899 --> 00:16:54,100 Paul Paul Adam messed up in the garden 406 00:16:54,100 --> 00:16:54,759 of Eden. 407 00:16:55,865 --> 00:16:57,725 Jesus is the last Adam 408 00:16:58,264 --> 00:17:00,044 who would get it all right. 409 00:17:00,424 --> 00:17:02,445 And that's why John writes this. 410 00:17:02,825 --> 00:17:05,304 Because you've got these gnostics saying well he 411 00:17:05,304 --> 00:17:06,984 couldn't have had a body because that would 412 00:17:06,984 --> 00:17:08,900 have been bad And the other ones are 413 00:17:08,900 --> 00:17:10,420 saying well he had a body but it 414 00:17:10,420 --> 00:17:12,420 wasn't really God. So right out of the 415 00:17:12,420 --> 00:17:14,759 gate Paul says I heard some things, 416 00:17:15,380 --> 00:17:16,679 I saw some things, 417 00:17:17,059 --> 00:17:19,480 and I've handled some things. 418 00:17:20,674 --> 00:17:22,694 And John is saying you've got these gnostics 419 00:17:22,755 --> 00:17:25,875 who have infiltrated your churches. They deny the 420 00:17:25,875 --> 00:17:28,035 deity of Christ on the one hand and 421 00:17:28,035 --> 00:17:30,934 this other group denies the incarnation of Jesus. 422 00:17:31,234 --> 00:17:32,295 What they deny 423 00:17:33,049 --> 00:17:33,710 I experienced 424 00:17:34,490 --> 00:17:34,990 personally. 425 00:17:35,609 --> 00:17:38,329 I was there with him. I saw him 426 00:17:38,329 --> 00:17:40,970 with my eyes. I heard him with my 427 00:17:40,970 --> 00:17:44,509 ears and I touched him with my hands. 428 00:17:44,809 --> 00:17:45,309 He 429 00:17:45,609 --> 00:17:46,109 is 430 00:17:46,410 --> 00:17:46,910 real. 431 00:17:48,015 --> 00:17:50,595 He had a real body and he was 432 00:17:50,734 --> 00:17:51,634 real god 433 00:17:52,414 --> 00:17:54,275 in a real body. 434 00:17:55,375 --> 00:17:58,035 So John declares world of the gnostics 435 00:17:59,295 --> 00:18:00,595 by talking about 436 00:18:01,375 --> 00:18:01,875 that. 437 00:18:02,990 --> 00:18:04,210 Now John liked that. 438 00:18:04,990 --> 00:18:07,089 He spoke about that some 120 439 00:18:07,629 --> 00:18:08,129 times 440 00:18:08,990 --> 00:18:10,990 in this little epistle, and don't worry we're 441 00:18:10,990 --> 00:18:12,929 not gonna look at every instance of it. 442 00:18:14,190 --> 00:18:15,809 John was where he was, 443 00:18:16,734 --> 00:18:18,595 and he was who he was 444 00:18:19,454 --> 00:18:20,515 because of that. 445 00:18:21,615 --> 00:18:24,894 John wanted the the church to focus on 446 00:18:24,894 --> 00:18:27,054 that. And by the way, that is the 447 00:18:27,054 --> 00:18:28,274 subject of the bible. 448 00:18:29,134 --> 00:18:32,194 That makes a difference between heaven and hell. 449 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,500 That changed you from the enemy of God 450 00:18:35,559 --> 00:18:36,940 to a child of God. 451 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,019 That is what we preach. 452 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:41,019 That is what we believe. 453 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,299 That is all I have to talk about. 454 00:18:44,565 --> 00:18:47,304 We're saved because of that. We're justified 455 00:18:47,605 --> 00:18:49,464 because of that. We're sanctified 456 00:18:50,005 --> 00:18:51,384 because of that. 457 00:18:52,404 --> 00:18:54,825 We're not what we used to be because 458 00:18:54,964 --> 00:18:55,625 of that. 459 00:18:56,980 --> 00:18:58,200 And I like that. 460 00:18:59,059 --> 00:19:01,079 And I want to hear more about that. 461 00:19:01,859 --> 00:19:03,539 And so if you'll let me I want 462 00:19:03,539 --> 00:19:04,759 to talk about that. 463 00:19:05,460 --> 00:19:06,980 And what do you think about that? Is 464 00:19:06,980 --> 00:19:07,880 that all right? 465 00:19:08,835 --> 00:19:11,015 The that I want to explore 466 00:19:12,034 --> 00:19:13,974 is the that John heard, 467 00:19:15,075 --> 00:19:16,934 the that John saw, 468 00:19:17,794 --> 00:19:19,335 and the that John 469 00:19:19,634 --> 00:19:20,134 failed. 470 00:19:21,075 --> 00:19:24,214 So John shares some facts with us 471 00:19:24,809 --> 00:19:26,750 in these first four verses 472 00:19:27,450 --> 00:19:29,069 that hopefully will understand 473 00:19:29,369 --> 00:19:30,990 why that is so important. 474 00:19:32,009 --> 00:19:33,690 I want you to notice what he says 475 00:19:33,690 --> 00:19:34,190 first. 476 00:19:35,450 --> 00:19:37,309 John tells us that 477 00:19:37,835 --> 00:19:40,335 he heard that with his ears. 478 00:19:41,355 --> 00:19:43,855 He said that which was from the beginning 479 00:19:43,914 --> 00:19:44,815 which we 480 00:19:45,355 --> 00:19:45,855 have 481 00:19:46,474 --> 00:19:46,974 heard. 482 00:19:48,315 --> 00:19:51,214 To hear means to possess and use 483 00:19:51,859 --> 00:19:52,519 the faculty 484 00:19:52,900 --> 00:19:54,119 of hearing. 485 00:19:54,820 --> 00:19:57,320 So when John says he heard that, 486 00:19:57,940 --> 00:19:59,559 what's he talking about? 487 00:20:00,340 --> 00:20:03,000 Well John heard that on a feast day 488 00:20:03,380 --> 00:20:04,119 in Jerusalem 489 00:20:04,420 --> 00:20:05,799 when Jesus said 490 00:20:06,184 --> 00:20:08,505 if any man thirst let him come unto 491 00:20:08,505 --> 00:20:11,224 me and drink. He that believeth on me 492 00:20:11,224 --> 00:20:13,944 as the scripture has said out of his 493 00:20:13,944 --> 00:20:15,244 belly shall flow 494 00:20:15,704 --> 00:20:17,565 rivers of living water. 495 00:20:19,539 --> 00:20:22,200 John heard that when Thomas said to Jesus 496 00:20:22,819 --> 00:20:25,539 lord we know not whether thou goest. How 497 00:20:25,539 --> 00:20:28,039 can we then know the way? And Jesus 498 00:20:28,099 --> 00:20:28,599 said 499 00:20:28,980 --> 00:20:30,819 I am the way the truth and the 500 00:20:30,819 --> 00:20:34,115 life and no man cometh under the father 501 00:20:34,575 --> 00:20:35,714 but by me. 502 00:20:36,734 --> 00:20:37,954 John heard that. 503 00:20:39,214 --> 00:20:41,154 He heard that at the tomb of Lazarus 504 00:20:41,375 --> 00:20:44,859 when Martha said in John 11, Lord if 505 00:20:44,859 --> 00:20:47,819 thou hadst been here my brother had not 506 00:20:47,819 --> 00:20:48,319 died. 507 00:20:49,339 --> 00:20:51,119 But I know that even now 508 00:20:51,740 --> 00:20:54,859 whatsoever thou would ask of God he will 509 00:20:54,859 --> 00:20:55,839 give it thee. 510 00:20:56,539 --> 00:20:59,019 And he heard that when Jesus answered and 511 00:20:59,019 --> 00:20:59,519 said 512 00:21:00,375 --> 00:21:01,595 I am the resurrection 513 00:21:02,134 --> 00:21:03,035 and the life. 514 00:21:03,654 --> 00:21:05,974 He that believeth in me though he were 515 00:21:05,974 --> 00:21:07,674 dead yet shall he live. 516 00:21:08,535 --> 00:21:11,994 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall 517 00:21:12,295 --> 00:21:13,275 never die. 518 00:21:14,214 --> 00:21:15,595 Believest thou this? 519 00:21:16,589 --> 00:21:18,990 Now John heard that when a woman was 520 00:21:18,990 --> 00:21:19,490 taken 521 00:21:19,950 --> 00:21:21,250 in the act of adultery. 522 00:21:22,589 --> 00:21:25,730 And she was brought before Jesus in John 523 00:21:26,109 --> 00:21:27,410 chapter number 8, 524 00:21:27,789 --> 00:21:30,829 and after everything was over Jesus said to 525 00:21:30,829 --> 00:21:34,315 her woman where are those thine accusers? Hath 526 00:21:34,414 --> 00:21:36,115 no man condemned thee? 527 00:21:37,134 --> 00:21:38,755 She said no man, Lord. 528 00:21:39,375 --> 00:21:41,855 And Jesus said unto her, neither do I 529 00:21:41,855 --> 00:21:42,835 condemn thee. 530 00:21:43,214 --> 00:21:43,714 Go 531 00:21:44,255 --> 00:21:45,714 and sin no more. 532 00:21:46,809 --> 00:21:47,950 John heard that. 533 00:21:48,970 --> 00:21:50,730 And by the way, John heard a whole 534 00:21:50,730 --> 00:21:52,990 lot more about that than I ever have. 535 00:21:53,849 --> 00:21:55,549 Because I wasn't there 536 00:21:56,570 --> 00:21:58,190 at the feast to hear 537 00:21:58,730 --> 00:22:00,190 Jesus say that. 538 00:22:01,325 --> 00:22:03,904 I wasn't with Jesus and Thomas 539 00:22:04,445 --> 00:22:06,144 and the others when Jesus 540 00:22:06,445 --> 00:22:07,265 said that. 541 00:22:07,884 --> 00:22:10,845 I wasn't with Mary and Martha at the 542 00:22:10,845 --> 00:22:12,945 tomb of Lazarus when Jesus 543 00:22:13,325 --> 00:22:14,065 said that, 544 00:22:14,690 --> 00:22:17,029 nor was I in the temple that day 545 00:22:17,170 --> 00:22:18,869 when Jesus said that. 546 00:22:19,490 --> 00:22:21,670 But there was a day in my life 547 00:22:23,089 --> 00:22:24,309 when I heard that. 548 00:22:25,410 --> 00:22:26,230 Oh, yes. 549 00:22:27,250 --> 00:22:29,269 Someone took the word of God 550 00:22:30,184 --> 00:22:33,005 and they showed me what the lord said. 551 00:22:33,865 --> 00:22:36,525 He said for god so loved the world 552 00:22:37,305 --> 00:22:39,805 that he gave his only begotten son 553 00:22:40,184 --> 00:22:40,924 that whosoever 554 00:22:41,305 --> 00:22:43,565 believeth in him should not perish, 555 00:22:44,130 --> 00:22:47,589 but have everlasting life. Well I heard that. 556 00:22:48,049 --> 00:22:51,089 Amen. Someone showed me where Paul said that 557 00:22:51,089 --> 00:22:53,490 if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the 558 00:22:53,490 --> 00:22:54,309 lord Jesus 559 00:22:54,690 --> 00:22:57,349 and shall believe in thine heart that God 560 00:22:57,694 --> 00:23:00,575 hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt 561 00:23:00,575 --> 00:23:01,954 be saved. Hey, 562 00:23:02,255 --> 00:23:03,714 I heard that. 563 00:23:05,134 --> 00:23:08,194 And someone showed me where Paul said 564 00:23:08,494 --> 00:23:10,755 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 565 00:23:11,650 --> 00:23:14,390 and thou shalt be saved. I heard that. 566 00:23:15,890 --> 00:23:17,029 And then one night 567 00:23:18,049 --> 00:23:19,349 in May of 1983, 568 00:23:21,329 --> 00:23:22,869 outside of my home, 569 00:23:23,984 --> 00:23:25,684 minding my own business, 570 00:23:26,865 --> 00:23:29,444 intending to wait to drink myself 571 00:23:29,984 --> 00:23:30,964 into oblivion. 572 00:23:31,825 --> 00:23:32,884 About midnight, 573 00:23:33,184 --> 00:23:34,724 somebody showed up 574 00:23:35,184 --> 00:23:37,045 where I was all alone, 575 00:23:37,900 --> 00:23:39,279 and I heard a voice. 576 00:23:40,220 --> 00:23:42,240 And it was the voice of a shepherd 577 00:23:43,259 --> 00:23:44,720 calling along sheep. 578 00:23:45,500 --> 00:23:47,359 And when he called my name, 579 00:23:48,460 --> 00:23:49,519 I heard that. 580 00:23:50,555 --> 00:23:52,015 And when I heard that 581 00:23:52,555 --> 00:23:53,934 I believed that 582 00:23:54,394 --> 00:23:56,255 and that changed my life. 583 00:23:57,434 --> 00:24:00,575 I've heard the that that John heard 584 00:24:01,035 --> 00:24:02,335 and I like that. 585 00:24:02,910 --> 00:24:05,230 And if you know Jesus, you've heard that 586 00:24:05,230 --> 00:24:08,430 too, haven't you? What about that? I've heard 587 00:24:08,430 --> 00:24:09,170 some things 588 00:24:09,470 --> 00:24:11,890 and I know some things to be true 589 00:24:11,950 --> 00:24:14,595 that I've never heard with my own ears. 590 00:24:14,835 --> 00:24:17,394 But every time I pick up this old 591 00:24:17,394 --> 00:24:20,615 blessed book, guess what? It talks to me. 592 00:24:20,835 --> 00:24:23,474 And it speaks to me. And it lets 593 00:24:23,474 --> 00:24:25,095 me hear that over 594 00:24:25,474 --> 00:24:26,134 and over 595 00:24:26,515 --> 00:24:27,654 and over again. 596 00:24:28,369 --> 00:24:30,549 And I've been saved 41 years, 597 00:24:31,410 --> 00:24:33,029 but I still hear that. 598 00:24:34,130 --> 00:24:36,289 Hear it all the time. But not only 599 00:24:36,289 --> 00:24:37,430 did John say 600 00:24:37,970 --> 00:24:40,070 he heard some stuff with his ears, 601 00:24:40,705 --> 00:24:42,545 But let's talk for a minute about what 602 00:24:42,545 --> 00:24:43,365 John saw 603 00:24:44,065 --> 00:24:46,065 with his eyes. He said that which was 604 00:24:46,065 --> 00:24:47,125 from the beginning, 605 00:24:48,065 --> 00:24:49,684 which we have seen 606 00:24:51,265 --> 00:24:51,765 with 607 00:24:53,150 --> 00:24:55,250 our eyes. And by the way, 608 00:24:55,710 --> 00:24:57,250 I'll just point this out. 609 00:24:58,349 --> 00:25:00,210 He says we we 610 00:25:00,509 --> 00:25:03,230 are we are all that right there in 611 00:25:03,230 --> 00:25:03,970 verse 1. 612 00:25:04,669 --> 00:25:07,490 He's not using the pastoral third person. 613 00:25:08,404 --> 00:25:10,164 You know the pastor will get up sometimes 614 00:25:10,164 --> 00:25:12,164 and say we believe this or we should 615 00:25:12,164 --> 00:25:12,825 do that 616 00:25:13,204 --> 00:25:14,804 or we're thinking this. You know you know 617 00:25:14,804 --> 00:25:15,764 you don't know if you do that or 618 00:25:15,764 --> 00:25:17,125 not. I try not to, but it just 619 00:25:17,125 --> 00:25:18,664 sounds kind of weird to me. 620 00:25:19,444 --> 00:25:21,605 We're praying for you, but you got a 621 00:25:21,605 --> 00:25:22,744 mouse in your pocket? 622 00:25:23,490 --> 00:25:25,809 Well when John says we and I who's 623 00:25:25,809 --> 00:25:26,869 he talking about? 624 00:25:27,809 --> 00:25:30,289 He's talking about the other apostles who were 625 00:25:30,289 --> 00:25:31,109 with him, 626 00:25:31,650 --> 00:25:34,049 because he wasn't the only one who heard 627 00:25:34,049 --> 00:25:34,549 that, 628 00:25:35,170 --> 00:25:37,250 nor was he the only one who saw 629 00:25:37,250 --> 00:25:37,750 that, 630 00:25:38,134 --> 00:25:40,214 nor was he the only one who touched 631 00:25:40,214 --> 00:25:42,855 that. There were some other people who can 632 00:25:42,855 --> 00:25:45,514 back him up and confirm that. 633 00:25:46,134 --> 00:25:47,674 John says I 634 00:25:47,974 --> 00:25:48,474 saw 635 00:25:49,014 --> 00:25:49,754 some things. 636 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,539 Now the word seen refers to the faculty 637 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:54,420 of sight, 638 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,380 means to witness something for oneself. 639 00:25:58,320 --> 00:25:59,779 John said, I have 640 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,580 looked upon something and when I looked 641 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:04,820 I saw that. 642 00:26:05,714 --> 00:26:08,454 Looked upon does not mean just a passing 643 00:26:08,515 --> 00:26:09,015 glance, 644 00:26:09,634 --> 00:26:11,335 but it means a long searching 645 00:26:11,634 --> 00:26:12,134 gaze. 646 00:26:12,755 --> 00:26:14,454 It's as if John's saying, 647 00:26:14,994 --> 00:26:16,454 when I saw that 648 00:26:17,154 --> 00:26:18,454 I watched that 649 00:26:18,779 --> 00:26:20,400 and I studied that 650 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:23,340 and I learned everything about that that I 651 00:26:23,340 --> 00:26:25,200 could learn by observation. 652 00:26:25,820 --> 00:26:27,759 He says I saw that. 653 00:26:28,460 --> 00:26:29,519 What did he see? 654 00:26:30,059 --> 00:26:32,454 There's a buzz, but just a couple things 655 00:26:32,454 --> 00:26:35,015 that come to mind. He saw that when 656 00:26:35,015 --> 00:26:36,474 Jesus was baptized. 657 00:26:37,494 --> 00:26:41,174 He watched Jesus go into the water and 658 00:26:41,174 --> 00:26:42,875 he saw the holy spirit 659 00:26:43,255 --> 00:26:44,954 descending like a dove 660 00:26:45,269 --> 00:26:47,670 onto the lord. And he heard the father 661 00:26:47,670 --> 00:26:50,630 say this is my beloved son in whom 662 00:26:50,630 --> 00:26:53,289 I'm well pleased. John saw that. 663 00:26:54,470 --> 00:26:56,470 He saw that at a wedding in Cana 664 00:26:56,470 --> 00:26:59,049 of Galilee when they ran out of wine. 665 00:27:00,055 --> 00:27:02,055 And Mary the Lord's mother came to him 666 00:27:02,055 --> 00:27:03,894 in John 2 and she said, they have 667 00:27:03,894 --> 00:27:04,715 no wine. 668 00:27:05,255 --> 00:27:06,535 If they'd have said that to me I'd 669 00:27:06,535 --> 00:27:07,515 have said good. 670 00:27:08,855 --> 00:27:11,174 But Jesus said give me 6 water pots 671 00:27:11,174 --> 00:27:13,894 of water and he turned the water into 672 00:27:13,894 --> 00:27:14,394 wine. 673 00:27:14,775 --> 00:27:15,275 John 674 00:27:15,900 --> 00:27:16,640 saw that. 675 00:27:17,259 --> 00:27:19,039 He probably drank that too. 676 00:27:19,980 --> 00:27:22,000 Sorry Baptist, he probably did. 677 00:27:23,740 --> 00:27:26,960 John saw that when a leper approached Jesus 678 00:27:27,100 --> 00:27:29,825 in Mark 1 and said if thou canst, 679 00:27:29,825 --> 00:27:32,465 thou can if thou if thou will, thou 680 00:27:32,465 --> 00:27:33,924 can make me clean. 681 00:27:35,424 --> 00:27:38,325 And Mark says and Jesus moved with compassion, 682 00:27:39,345 --> 00:27:41,125 did something unheard of. 683 00:27:41,585 --> 00:27:43,365 He put forth his hand 684 00:27:44,700 --> 00:27:46,000 and he touched him 685 00:27:47,019 --> 00:27:48,799 and saith unto him I 686 00:27:49,579 --> 00:27:51,359 will be thou clean. 687 00:27:51,899 --> 00:27:53,039 John saw that. 688 00:27:53,419 --> 00:27:54,779 And if you know what you think about 689 00:27:54,779 --> 00:27:57,119 leprosy and about that how that society 690 00:27:57,579 --> 00:27:59,785 felt about it, I mean John, he sees 691 00:27:59,785 --> 00:28:02,424 Jesus reaching out to this unclean man. He 692 00:28:02,424 --> 00:28:04,744 might have said Lord don't touch that guy, 693 00:28:04,744 --> 00:28:06,904 don't touch him. You know what he's got 694 00:28:06,904 --> 00:28:08,424 and you might get it and we might 695 00:28:08,424 --> 00:28:09,945 get it. We don't want it and we 696 00:28:09,945 --> 00:28:11,545 don't want you to have it. But listen, 697 00:28:11,545 --> 00:28:13,164 deity need not fear corruption. 698 00:28:14,609 --> 00:28:15,910 Jesus touched him 699 00:28:16,930 --> 00:28:17,430 instantly. 700 00:28:18,130 --> 00:28:19,830 The leper was made whole. 701 00:28:20,529 --> 00:28:21,830 John saw that. 702 00:28:23,009 --> 00:28:24,769 He saw that one night in the middle 703 00:28:24,769 --> 00:28:26,630 of a storm on the Sea of Galilee. 704 00:28:27,734 --> 00:28:29,734 I mean they think they think they're going 705 00:28:29,734 --> 00:28:31,355 to die. All hope is 706 00:28:31,815 --> 00:28:33,335 gone. And in the 3rd hour of the 707 00:28:33,335 --> 00:28:36,315 night Jesus came walking upon the water 708 00:28:36,694 --> 00:28:37,434 and Jesus 709 00:28:37,734 --> 00:28:40,214 walked out to them and he stilled the 710 00:28:40,214 --> 00:28:41,434 storm. John 711 00:28:42,990 --> 00:28:43,809 saw that. 712 00:28:45,150 --> 00:28:47,789 John saw that in John 6 where they 713 00:28:47,789 --> 00:28:49,250 had a big crowd of 714 00:28:49,789 --> 00:28:50,289 5,000 715 00:28:50,670 --> 00:28:53,730 men besides women and children, probably 20, 25000 716 00:28:54,269 --> 00:28:54,769 people. 717 00:28:55,704 --> 00:28:57,644 And Jesus fed them with what? 718 00:28:58,424 --> 00:28:59,404 Five loaves 719 00:29:00,585 --> 00:29:01,565 and 2 fish. 720 00:29:02,345 --> 00:29:03,884 And what did Jesus do? 721 00:29:04,505 --> 00:29:05,484 He took them. 722 00:29:06,345 --> 00:29:07,404 He gave thanks. 723 00:29:08,264 --> 00:29:09,404 He broke them, 724 00:29:09,704 --> 00:29:10,799 and he fed them. 725 00:29:11,759 --> 00:29:12,740 And everybody 726 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:14,500 had plenty 727 00:29:15,519 --> 00:29:18,420 and there were 12 baskets left over. 728 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:20,080 I don't want to get too deep into 729 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:21,779 that because I might preach that sometime 730 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:23,460 later. I don't know. 731 00:29:24,274 --> 00:29:26,774 But John saw that. Could you imagine? 732 00:29:27,794 --> 00:29:29,875 Y'all having a Thanksgiving brunch. What if your 733 00:29:29,875 --> 00:29:31,414 preacher was able to do that? 734 00:29:31,714 --> 00:29:32,994 He said, all you gotta do is bring 735 00:29:32,994 --> 00:29:34,214 a bag of stuff and 736 00:29:34,835 --> 00:29:36,900 bring me a turkey leg and I got 737 00:29:36,900 --> 00:29:37,640 you covered. 738 00:29:39,299 --> 00:29:40,980 He can't do that. You know why he's 739 00:29:40,980 --> 00:29:41,799 not God, 740 00:29:42,340 --> 00:29:44,039 but Jesus is God. 741 00:29:44,420 --> 00:29:46,100 He saw that again at the tomb of 742 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:48,914 Lazarus when Lazarus, who's been dead for 4 743 00:29:48,914 --> 00:29:51,875 days and Jesus just said Lazarus come forth. 744 00:29:51,875 --> 00:29:53,414 And the Bible said he did. 745 00:29:53,795 --> 00:29:55,875 He saw it in Matthew 17 when they 746 00:29:55,875 --> 00:29:57,174 went up the mount of transfiguration 747 00:29:58,035 --> 00:29:59,654 and Jesus was transfigured 748 00:29:59,955 --> 00:30:02,180 before them. And the glory that was on 749 00:30:02,180 --> 00:30:04,359 the inside burst over the outside 750 00:30:04,660 --> 00:30:07,480 and they saw the Shekinah glory of God 751 00:30:07,619 --> 00:30:10,259 on top of that mountain. Oh John saw 752 00:30:10,259 --> 00:30:10,759 that. 753 00:30:11,619 --> 00:30:12,840 John saw that. 754 00:30:13,700 --> 00:30:14,840 He saw that 755 00:30:15,704 --> 00:30:16,845 One day at Calvary, 756 00:30:17,625 --> 00:30:19,325 when he watched Jesus die, 757 00:30:20,105 --> 00:30:22,184 he saw that 3 days later at the 758 00:30:22,184 --> 00:30:23,085 empty tomb. 759 00:30:23,865 --> 00:30:24,924 Well, guess what? 760 00:30:26,744 --> 00:30:28,605 I didn't see that. Did you? 761 00:30:30,819 --> 00:30:33,319 I've never seen anybody walk on water. 762 00:30:34,579 --> 00:30:37,960 I've never seen anybody multiply loaves and fishes. 763 00:30:38,819 --> 00:30:40,279 I've never seen anybody 764 00:30:40,740 --> 00:30:41,799 heal sickness. 765 00:30:42,734 --> 00:30:44,115 I've never seen anyone 766 00:30:44,494 --> 00:30:45,634 raise the dead. 767 00:30:46,255 --> 00:30:49,375 I've never seen anyone do what John says 768 00:30:49,375 --> 00:30:51,634 he saw. I've never seen that, 769 00:30:52,414 --> 00:30:53,875 but I have seen that 770 00:30:55,535 --> 00:30:57,154 and I've seen all of it. 771 00:30:58,539 --> 00:31:01,100 Now how can I see something that I 772 00:31:01,100 --> 00:31:02,320 have not seen? 773 00:31:03,660 --> 00:31:06,460 I didn't see the Holy Spirit coming on 774 00:31:06,460 --> 00:31:06,960 Jesus, 775 00:31:07,580 --> 00:31:08,720 but I saw that. 776 00:31:09,595 --> 00:31:11,914 I didn't see Jesus turn water into wine, 777 00:31:11,914 --> 00:31:14,075 but I saw that. I didn't see him 778 00:31:14,075 --> 00:31:15,914 walk on water, but I saw that. I 779 00:31:15,914 --> 00:31:17,514 didn't see him heal the leper, but I 780 00:31:17,514 --> 00:31:19,914 saw that. I didn't see him transfigured, but 781 00:31:19,914 --> 00:31:21,914 I saw that. I didn't see him raise 782 00:31:21,914 --> 00:31:24,234 Lazarus, but I saw that. I didn't see 783 00:31:24,234 --> 00:31:26,049 him die on the cross, but I saw 784 00:31:26,049 --> 00:31:27,970 that. I didn't see him get up, but 785 00:31:27,970 --> 00:31:28,869 I saw that. 786 00:31:30,529 --> 00:31:31,890 And some of you have seen that too, 787 00:31:31,890 --> 00:31:32,710 haven't you? 788 00:31:34,210 --> 00:31:36,289 Every time I read out of this blessed 789 00:31:36,289 --> 00:31:37,029 old book, 790 00:31:38,054 --> 00:31:39,835 I see what I've never seen. 791 00:31:41,174 --> 00:31:43,095 And I see it with eyes of faith 792 00:31:43,095 --> 00:31:45,914 that God gave me. You know Christianity's weird? 793 00:31:47,414 --> 00:31:48,394 If you're a 794 00:31:48,934 --> 00:31:51,095 if you're a Mormon, alright, you can go 795 00:31:51,095 --> 00:31:53,034 to the temple in Salt Lake City, 796 00:31:53,870 --> 00:31:55,789 and you could go in there and worship 797 00:31:55,789 --> 00:31:58,029 and you can even see some of the 798 00:31:58,029 --> 00:32:01,330 original writings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. 799 00:32:01,470 --> 00:32:02,610 You can see that 800 00:32:03,950 --> 00:32:04,610 can't you? 801 00:32:05,390 --> 00:32:06,529 If you're a catholic, 802 00:32:07,304 --> 00:32:09,144 roman catholic, you can go to Rome and 803 00:32:09,144 --> 00:32:10,744 if they'll let you in you can go 804 00:32:10,744 --> 00:32:12,585 in there and you can see all these 805 00:32:12,585 --> 00:32:14,984 artifacts and stuff that purport to be from 806 00:32:14,984 --> 00:32:17,404 the time of Jesus. You can see that. 807 00:32:18,345 --> 00:32:19,004 You can. 808 00:32:19,865 --> 00:32:21,804 But you can't see nothing we believe. 809 00:32:23,820 --> 00:32:24,559 Can you? 810 00:32:27,740 --> 00:32:29,339 Bible's the word of God. How do I 811 00:32:29,339 --> 00:32:31,279 know? Well, it says it is. 812 00:32:32,220 --> 00:32:34,480 That's kind of circular reasoning, ain't it? 813 00:32:35,404 --> 00:32:36,845 I mean I could say I'm a squirrel, 814 00:32:36,845 --> 00:32:38,204 but just because I climb a tree don't 815 00:32:38,204 --> 00:32:39,184 mean I am 1, 816 00:32:39,884 --> 00:32:40,384 right? 817 00:32:40,845 --> 00:32:42,204 I'm a car, but I don't park in 818 00:32:42,204 --> 00:32:42,784 a garage. 819 00:32:43,804 --> 00:32:46,125 I mean looks can be deceiving, right? I 820 00:32:46,125 --> 00:32:48,599 don't Everything we believe none of us have 821 00:32:48,599 --> 00:32:51,000 seen any of it have we? Listen, you 822 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:51,819 really believe, 823 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:54,460 you really believe that God 824 00:32:54,759 --> 00:32:56,700 stepped out on nothing and said 825 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,099 let there be light and light was. 826 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:01,099 You really believe that? 827 00:33:02,134 --> 00:33:02,954 Do you 828 00:33:03,335 --> 00:33:04,234 really believe 829 00:33:04,774 --> 00:33:07,034 that god sent his son into a woman, 830 00:33:07,174 --> 00:33:08,774 into her, into a woman, and she was 831 00:33:08,774 --> 00:33:10,375 she gave birth to him and she was 832 00:33:10,375 --> 00:33:11,115 a virgin. 833 00:33:13,014 --> 00:33:14,634 Do you really believe that? 834 00:33:16,070 --> 00:33:18,150 Do you really believe the son she gave 835 00:33:18,150 --> 00:33:19,369 birth to was sinless? 836 00:33:20,390 --> 00:33:22,150 Do you really believe that he did all 837 00:33:22,150 --> 00:33:24,070 the miracles, that he died for our sins 838 00:33:24,070 --> 00:33:26,070 on the cross, that he was buried and 839 00:33:26,070 --> 00:33:28,309 rose again from the dead 3 days later, 840 00:33:28,309 --> 00:33:30,070 that he got up from the from death 841 00:33:30,070 --> 00:33:32,285 and ascended back to heaven and sat down 842 00:33:32,285 --> 00:33:34,125 at the right hand of God and glory 843 00:33:34,125 --> 00:33:36,865 to you really tell me you believe that. 844 00:33:38,285 --> 00:33:39,805 Well, why have you believed why do you 845 00:33:39,805 --> 00:33:40,625 believe it? 846 00:33:41,404 --> 00:33:43,184 Because you saw it, didn't you? 847 00:33:44,204 --> 00:33:46,545 Every bit of it you've seen right there. 848 00:33:47,299 --> 00:33:48,740 You know what Paul said about that in 849 00:33:48,740 --> 00:33:49,559 Romans 1017? 850 00:33:50,740 --> 00:33:53,400 He said, so then faith cometh by hearing 851 00:33:54,500 --> 00:33:55,799 and hearing by 852 00:33:56,819 --> 00:33:57,640 the word 853 00:33:58,019 --> 00:33:58,920 of God. 854 00:34:00,355 --> 00:34:02,595 This book lets me see what I've never 855 00:34:02,595 --> 00:34:03,095 seen. 856 00:34:04,034 --> 00:34:06,694 It lets me watch David kill Goliath. 857 00:34:07,234 --> 00:34:09,894 It lets me watch Noah build an ark. 858 00:34:10,195 --> 00:34:12,434 It lets me watch all the things I've 859 00:34:12,434 --> 00:34:14,950 talked about tonight and I've not seen any 860 00:34:14,950 --> 00:34:16,809 of it, but I've seen all of it. 861 00:34:17,349 --> 00:34:18,890 Oh yes, I've seen that. 862 00:34:19,750 --> 00:34:22,010 That's why the writer of Hebrews said, now 863 00:34:22,070 --> 00:34:24,390 now faith is the substance of things hoped 864 00:34:24,390 --> 00:34:24,890 for. 865 00:34:25,670 --> 00:34:27,369 It is the evidence of things 866 00:34:28,230 --> 00:34:29,130 not seen. 867 00:34:30,444 --> 00:34:33,105 Everything I've read in the bible, 868 00:34:34,125 --> 00:34:35,184 I believe it, 869 00:34:35,804 --> 00:34:38,224 because God, when he saved me, 870 00:34:39,244 --> 00:34:40,144 gave me 871 00:34:40,684 --> 00:34:41,184 faith. 872 00:34:42,219 --> 00:34:44,160 And I may not understand that, 873 00:34:45,340 --> 00:34:46,640 but I believe that 874 00:34:47,420 --> 00:34:49,039 because God said that. 875 00:34:49,820 --> 00:34:51,599 And because God said that, 876 00:34:51,980 --> 00:34:54,800 I believe that. And because I believe that, 877 00:34:54,984 --> 00:34:57,464 I've seen that. Even though I wasn't there 878 00:34:57,464 --> 00:35:00,125 to see that, I've seen it all. 879 00:35:01,224 --> 00:35:02,764 And it's as real to me 880 00:35:03,304 --> 00:35:04,984 as if I had seen it with my 881 00:35:04,984 --> 00:35:06,925 own eyes maybe more real. 882 00:35:07,945 --> 00:35:08,684 You see, 883 00:35:10,039 --> 00:35:12,840 I saw that when Jesus saved me from 884 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:13,900 spiritual death, 885 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:17,019 delivered me from the wrath of God, 886 00:35:17,559 --> 00:35:20,519 adopted me into his family and changed every 887 00:35:20,519 --> 00:35:21,019 aspect 888 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:22,780 of my life. 889 00:35:23,795 --> 00:35:26,275 I've seen that on countless occasions when God 890 00:35:26,275 --> 00:35:28,535 has multiplied my loaves and fishes. 891 00:35:29,635 --> 00:35:31,255 I've seen that when Jesus 892 00:35:31,715 --> 00:35:35,335 has raised many spiritual lazarus's from the dead 893 00:35:35,555 --> 00:35:36,614 in my presence. 894 00:35:37,469 --> 00:35:40,210 I've had Jesus walk in on my storm 895 00:35:40,269 --> 00:35:42,989 and just say peace be still. He might 896 00:35:42,989 --> 00:35:44,909 not have calmed the storm but he sure 897 00:35:44,909 --> 00:35:47,489 did calm me in the middle of it. 898 00:35:47,550 --> 00:35:48,769 I've seen Jesus 899 00:35:49,150 --> 00:35:50,210 turn the water, 900 00:35:50,510 --> 00:35:52,130 the water of my tears 901 00:35:52,464 --> 00:35:54,405 into the wine of his joy. 902 00:35:54,784 --> 00:35:56,085 I've seen that 903 00:35:56,464 --> 00:35:58,565 and a whole lot more than that. 904 00:35:59,105 --> 00:36:00,085 Isn't that some? 905 00:36:01,264 --> 00:36:02,724 What do you think about that? 906 00:36:03,184 --> 00:36:05,204 But notice one more thing, 907 00:36:05,820 --> 00:36:08,480 John heard about that with his ears. 908 00:36:09,260 --> 00:36:11,360 He saw that with his eyes 909 00:36:11,980 --> 00:36:13,340 and then he tells us, if I can 910 00:36:13,340 --> 00:36:14,559 get my bible open. 911 00:36:15,980 --> 00:36:16,800 He says, 912 00:36:18,300 --> 00:36:20,079 that which was from the beginning, 913 00:36:22,605 --> 00:36:23,824 which our hands 914 00:36:26,045 --> 00:36:27,025 have handled 915 00:36:28,445 --> 00:36:29,585 of the word 916 00:36:31,405 --> 00:36:32,065 of life. 917 00:36:33,329 --> 00:36:34,550 John talks about 918 00:36:34,930 --> 00:36:37,349 how he felt that with his embrace. 919 00:36:39,250 --> 00:36:40,869 Handled means to touch 920 00:36:42,130 --> 00:36:43,030 or to feel. 921 00:36:43,890 --> 00:36:46,050 Let's talk about that. And chew on this, 922 00:36:46,050 --> 00:36:47,190 you gnostic heretics. 923 00:36:49,655 --> 00:36:50,954 John felt that 924 00:36:51,655 --> 00:36:52,875 on many occasions 925 00:36:53,175 --> 00:36:55,894 when he walked with Jesus day and night 926 00:36:55,894 --> 00:36:56,875 for 3 years. 927 00:36:58,054 --> 00:37:00,155 He felt that in John 13 928 00:37:00,534 --> 00:37:03,015 when he laid his head on the Lord's 929 00:37:03,015 --> 00:37:03,515 bosom. 930 00:37:04,430 --> 00:37:07,390 He's felt that in the upper room when 931 00:37:07,390 --> 00:37:08,530 Jesus appeared 932 00:37:08,910 --> 00:37:11,390 and they could touch the wounds in his 933 00:37:11,390 --> 00:37:11,890 hand 934 00:37:12,430 --> 00:37:13,329 and in his 935 00:37:14,110 --> 00:37:14,610 side. 936 00:37:16,990 --> 00:37:18,050 He felt that. 937 00:37:18,875 --> 00:37:20,335 I've never felt that. 938 00:37:21,034 --> 00:37:22,494 With my hands have you? 939 00:37:23,355 --> 00:37:24,974 I've never touched Jesus. 940 00:37:26,155 --> 00:37:28,255 I'm not like Oral Roberts. You remember 941 00:37:29,194 --> 00:37:31,755 some years ago when Oral Robert, I met 942 00:37:31,755 --> 00:37:32,255 Roberts, 943 00:37:33,940 --> 00:37:36,260 said that he had a visitation, I didn't 944 00:37:36,260 --> 00:37:37,239 misspeak really, 945 00:37:37,619 --> 00:37:40,660 had a visitation from Jesus and Jesus came 946 00:37:40,660 --> 00:37:43,219 to his bedside 1 night and told him 947 00:37:43,219 --> 00:37:44,360 to build a 900 948 00:37:44,660 --> 00:37:45,800 foot tall Jesus 949 00:37:46,099 --> 00:37:46,920 in Tulsa. 950 00:37:48,035 --> 00:37:49,555 Now if I could have somebody build a 951 00:37:49,555 --> 00:37:51,335 statue of me it wouldn't be in Tulsa. 952 00:37:51,875 --> 00:37:53,175 You ever been to Tulsa? 953 00:37:54,675 --> 00:37:55,175 No. 954 00:37:55,555 --> 00:37:57,635 I wouldn't put it there. I'd put it 955 00:37:57,635 --> 00:37:59,015 somewhere a whole lot better. 956 00:37:59,555 --> 00:38:01,394 In fact, right here's a whole lot better 957 00:38:01,394 --> 00:38:02,055 in Tulsa. 958 00:38:02,369 --> 00:38:04,690 Say amen right there. If you know, you 959 00:38:04,690 --> 00:38:05,190 know. 960 00:38:06,289 --> 00:38:08,789 I have never felt that with my hands. 961 00:38:09,090 --> 00:38:11,990 Honestly folks, I've never touched Jesus. 962 00:38:12,530 --> 00:38:15,090 I've never seen him. I've never heard a 963 00:38:15,090 --> 00:38:18,224 literal voice and I've never felt him. Have 964 00:38:18,224 --> 00:38:18,724 you? 965 00:38:20,304 --> 00:38:21,824 But there been a whole lot of times 966 00:38:21,824 --> 00:38:22,804 when he's touched 967 00:38:23,344 --> 00:38:23,844 me. 968 00:38:26,704 --> 00:38:28,464 Been a few years back I was coming 969 00:38:28,464 --> 00:38:30,385 down here to preach somewhere in Alabama. I 970 00:38:30,385 --> 00:38:31,444 don't remember where. 971 00:38:32,909 --> 00:38:34,769 But I was on my way down and 972 00:38:35,230 --> 00:38:37,630 just one of those days just travel and 973 00:38:37,630 --> 00:38:39,309 traffic and you're ready to get to where 974 00:38:39,309 --> 00:38:41,710 you're going. And I was riding down the 975 00:38:41,710 --> 00:38:44,190 road right about the Tennessee Georgia line on 976 00:38:44,190 --> 00:38:46,885 24 West, and if anything will either get 977 00:38:46,885 --> 00:38:48,724 you closer to God or move you away 978 00:38:48,724 --> 00:38:50,664 from him it's 24 West 979 00:38:51,125 --> 00:38:51,784 right there. 980 00:38:52,324 --> 00:38:54,984 I was right there on the state line 981 00:38:55,444 --> 00:38:57,304 and there was a song playing 982 00:38:57,684 --> 00:38:58,821 on my radio and it was a gospel 983 00:38:58,821 --> 00:38:58,855 song about the Lord. I'm gonna tell you 984 00:38:58,855 --> 00:38:58,964 something. He moved in that truck. He moved 985 00:38:58,964 --> 00:38:59,464 in 986 00:39:01,789 --> 00:39:04,210 something, he moved in that truck with me. 987 00:39:04,829 --> 00:39:08,050 And I literally, I'm wiping snot and slinging 988 00:39:08,110 --> 00:39:10,110 tears and I'm trying to drive and I 989 00:39:10,110 --> 00:39:12,636 can't see. I finally got to put the 990 00:39:12,636 --> 00:39:15,414 blinker on and get over to the emergency 991 00:39:15,414 --> 00:39:18,193 and get out on the side of the 992 00:39:18,193 --> 00:39:20,971 road and say, hallelujah. I knew they they 993 00:39:20,971 --> 00:39:23,750 figured out they're the fat crazy boy over 994 00:39:23,750 --> 00:39:26,528 there. But he touched me. There have been 995 00:39:26,528 --> 00:39:27,570 some dark times 996 00:39:28,130 --> 00:39:29,269 when I felt that. 997 00:39:29,809 --> 00:39:30,710 How about you? 998 00:39:31,650 --> 00:39:33,349 There've been some worship services 999 00:39:34,610 --> 00:39:35,910 where I felt that. 1000 00:39:37,010 --> 00:39:39,269 Sometimes what other folk did and sometimes 1001 00:39:39,730 --> 00:39:41,110 when it was just me. 1002 00:39:41,855 --> 00:39:44,255 There'd been hours of prayer when I cried 1003 00:39:44,255 --> 00:39:46,494 out to God in fear and in need 1004 00:39:46,494 --> 00:39:47,795 and I felt that. 1005 00:39:48,094 --> 00:39:50,894 There'd been times of loneliness when I couldn't 1006 00:39:50,894 --> 00:39:53,614 find a friend and even my wife didn't 1007 00:39:53,614 --> 00:39:55,554 understand where I was coming from 1008 00:39:55,934 --> 00:39:57,155 and I felt that. 1009 00:39:57,929 --> 00:40:00,170 And I can remember seasons of insert of 1010 00:40:00,170 --> 00:40:00,670 uncertainty 1011 00:40:01,530 --> 00:40:03,309 when I didn't know what to do. 1012 00:40:03,849 --> 00:40:05,869 And I just turned to God in hopelessness, 1013 00:40:05,929 --> 00:40:07,150 and I felt that. 1014 00:40:08,730 --> 00:40:10,989 Some of you felt that too, haven't you? 1015 00:40:11,904 --> 00:40:14,005 You know what it's like, don't you, 1016 00:40:14,784 --> 00:40:16,085 for God to show 1017 00:40:17,344 --> 00:40:18,944 up and just kind of put his arms 1018 00:40:18,944 --> 00:40:19,684 around you, 1019 00:40:20,625 --> 00:40:21,844 hug you right up, 1020 00:40:22,464 --> 00:40:24,164 and start loving on you. 1021 00:40:24,625 --> 00:40:25,924 Have you felt bad? 1022 00:40:26,469 --> 00:40:28,170 It's not a physical thing. 1023 00:40:29,269 --> 00:40:30,410 It's better. 1024 00:40:31,829 --> 00:40:34,410 Now in our text, John says that which 1025 00:40:34,789 --> 00:40:36,010 was from the beginning, 1026 00:40:37,269 --> 00:40:38,170 which we 1027 00:40:39,755 --> 00:40:40,574 have heard, 1028 00:40:41,195 --> 00:40:43,994 which we have seen, which we have looked 1029 00:40:43,994 --> 00:40:46,074 upon. I've already mentioned this, but he's not 1030 00:40:46,074 --> 00:40:47,055 alone. Right? 1031 00:40:48,795 --> 00:40:50,974 And when he says I have seen it 1032 00:40:51,755 --> 00:40:53,695 and I have heard it, 1033 00:40:56,150 --> 00:40:58,309 That is a verb form that's and you 1034 00:40:58,309 --> 00:41:01,049 probably don't care. It's in the perfect tense, 1035 00:41:02,069 --> 00:41:04,469 and it refers to an occurrence in the 1036 00:41:04,469 --> 00:41:04,969 past 1037 00:41:05,750 --> 00:41:07,529 that has an ongoing impact 1038 00:41:08,394 --> 00:41:09,215 in the present 1039 00:41:09,835 --> 00:41:11,295 and for and forever. 1040 00:41:12,555 --> 00:41:15,055 John said I heard that then 1041 00:41:15,434 --> 00:41:17,135 and I saw that then 1042 00:41:17,434 --> 00:41:20,414 and I felt that then, but I still 1043 00:41:20,715 --> 00:41:22,489 hear that and I still 1044 00:41:22,949 --> 00:41:24,730 see that and I still 1045 00:41:25,510 --> 00:41:26,010 feel 1046 00:41:27,030 --> 00:41:27,530 that. 1047 00:41:28,630 --> 00:41:30,809 And when he says my hands have handled 1048 00:41:30,869 --> 00:41:31,369 and 1049 00:41:32,469 --> 00:41:34,469 and have looked upon, that's an intense. It 1050 00:41:34,469 --> 00:41:36,389 refers to something happened in the back. It's 1051 00:41:36,389 --> 00:41:37,289 like a snapshot. 1052 00:41:38,355 --> 00:41:40,835 John is pulling up these snapshots from his 1053 00:41:40,835 --> 00:41:41,894 time with Jesus 1054 00:41:42,434 --> 00:41:44,614 and he's remembering. And as he 1055 00:41:44,914 --> 00:41:47,255 accesses this album in his mind, 1056 00:41:47,635 --> 00:41:50,195 he sees it again and he hears it 1057 00:41:50,195 --> 00:41:50,695 again 1058 00:41:51,155 --> 00:41:52,534 and he feels it 1059 00:41:53,609 --> 00:41:54,109 again. 1060 00:41:58,489 --> 00:42:00,109 He says there about Jesus, 1061 00:42:00,730 --> 00:42:02,429 that which was from 1062 00:42:03,449 --> 00:42:04,269 the beginning. 1063 00:42:05,815 --> 00:42:08,614 Was doesn't refer there to the beginning of 1064 00:42:08,614 --> 00:42:11,035 something. It doesn't mean to come into existence. 1065 00:42:12,215 --> 00:42:13,994 It means to already exist. 1066 00:42:14,934 --> 00:42:16,875 In the beginning, Jesus existed 1067 00:42:18,050 --> 00:42:19,349 and he still exists. 1068 00:42:19,969 --> 00:42:22,869 And everything that was true then is true 1069 00:42:23,489 --> 00:42:23,989 now. 1070 00:42:25,809 --> 00:42:28,389 Do you understand what I'm talking about tonight? 1071 00:42:30,050 --> 00:42:32,050 You do not have to walk through this 1072 00:42:32,050 --> 00:42:33,030 world blind. 1073 00:42:34,204 --> 00:42:36,204 You don't have to walk through this world 1074 00:42:36,204 --> 00:42:38,765 deaf. You don't have to walk through this 1075 00:42:38,765 --> 00:42:42,045 world untouched by the things of God. John 1076 00:42:42,045 --> 00:42:45,085 saw it. John heard it. John felt it. 1077 00:42:45,085 --> 00:42:47,750 I've seen it. I've heard it. I've felt 1078 00:42:47,750 --> 00:42:50,389 it, others here have seen it, heard it, 1079 00:42:50,389 --> 00:42:52,329 and felt it, and you 1080 00:42:52,789 --> 00:42:53,289 can 1081 00:42:53,989 --> 00:42:54,489 too. 1082 00:42:58,630 --> 00:43:00,889 Do you ever think back over your life 1083 00:43:03,114 --> 00:43:04,654 and think about all that 1084 00:43:05,355 --> 00:43:07,534 the Lord has done for you? 1085 00:43:08,474 --> 00:43:09,534 Do you do that? 1086 00:43:10,474 --> 00:43:11,214 Do you 1087 00:43:11,835 --> 00:43:13,295 count your many blessings, 1088 00:43:14,474 --> 00:43:16,174 name them 1 by 1, 1089 00:43:17,380 --> 00:43:19,300 and guess what? If you begin to do 1090 00:43:19,300 --> 00:43:19,800 that, 1091 00:43:21,059 --> 00:43:22,360 you're gonna see that 1092 00:43:22,980 --> 00:43:24,599 and you're gonna hear that 1093 00:43:25,059 --> 00:43:27,800 and you're gonna feel that all over 1094 00:43:28,420 --> 00:43:28,920 again. 1095 00:43:30,144 --> 00:43:31,364 I don't know about you, 1096 00:43:31,985 --> 00:43:33,525 but I'm glad the salvation 1097 00:43:33,905 --> 00:43:35,684 I have did not end 1098 00:43:36,704 --> 00:43:38,244 with me getting saved. 1099 00:43:39,345 --> 00:43:41,125 I'm glad I have a salvation 1100 00:43:41,744 --> 00:43:44,885 I can still hear and see and feel. 1101 00:43:45,460 --> 00:43:46,519 I like that. 1102 00:43:47,059 --> 00:43:48,519 I'm thankful for that. 1103 00:43:49,140 --> 00:43:51,320 And I praise God for that. 1104 00:43:52,260 --> 00:43:54,280 And I hope we never get over that. 1105 00:43:55,699 --> 00:43:57,460 I mean, I hope you never look at 1106 00:43:57,460 --> 00:44:00,074 that the same way again. Well how about 1107 00:44:01,175 --> 00:44:02,695 that? Now that's really all I got to 1108 00:44:02,695 --> 00:44:03,594 say about that. 1109 00:44:04,135 --> 00:44:05,335 Pastor, I don't know how you want to 1110 00:44:05,335 --> 00:44:07,894 close the service but I'm done. Father thank 1111 00:44:07,894 --> 00:44:09,574 you for your word. Thank you for your 1112 00:44:09,574 --> 00:44:11,670 son. Thank you for your grace. Thank you 1113 00:44:11,670 --> 00:44:14,170 for these people who have listened so graciously 1114 00:44:14,230 --> 00:44:16,309 to me and I pray that you'd bless 1115 00:44:16,309 --> 00:44:17,909 us in this week of meeting. Give us 1116 00:44:17,909 --> 00:44:18,889 what we need. 1117 00:44:19,190 --> 00:44:20,869 Help each one of us to grow in 1118 00:44:20,869 --> 00:44:22,489 our relationship with you. 1119 00:44:22,869 --> 00:44:24,650 Bless this church and their pastor. 1120 00:44:25,284 --> 00:44:27,204 Father, use them for your glory in this 1121 00:44:27,204 --> 00:44:27,704 community. 1122 00:44:28,324 --> 00:44:30,264 Save sinners for Christ's sake 1123 00:44:30,644 --> 00:44:32,744 and we'll praise you for what you do 1124 00:44:33,125 --> 00:44:33,864 and, Lord, 1125 00:44:34,324 --> 00:44:35,465 thank you for that. 1126 00:44:36,644 --> 00:44:39,500 I really mean that. Thank you in your 1127 00:44:39,500 --> 00:44:40,960 name and amen. 1128 00:44:41,739 --> 00:44:44,880 Special thank you to Carter Pridemore, Brian Harris, 1129 00:44:45,019 --> 00:44:46,000 Waverly Henderson, 1130 00:44:46,460 --> 00:44:49,500 Tatum Harris Spears, and Josie Partain for our 1131 00:44:49,500 --> 00:44:51,535 theme song, truth Set Me Free. 1132 00:44:51,835 --> 00:44:54,255 I've been Tyler Goza on production and audio. 1133 00:44:54,635 --> 00:44:56,635 We hope you can join us live next 1134 00:44:56,635 --> 00:44:58,255 Monday at 6 PM CST. 1135 00:44:58,635 --> 00:45:01,275 Thank you for listening. But truth found me 1136 00:45:01,275 --> 00:45:01,775 there. 1137 00:45:02,635 --> 00:45:04,815 It was in my darkest eye. 1138 00:45:05,355 --> 00:45:06,480 I traded my black 1139 00:45:22,974 --> 00:45:24,195 set me free. 1140 00:45:25,135 --> 00:45:25,635 Oh, 1141 00:45:26,335 --> 00:45:26,835 oh. 1142 00:45:27,855 --> 00:45:28,355 Truth 1143 00:45:28,655 --> 00:45:30,114 set me free. 1144 00:45:31,054 --> 00:45:31,554 Oh. 1145 00:45:32,335 --> 00:45:32,835 Oh. 1146 00:45:33,775 --> 00:45:34,275 Truth 1147 00:45:34,734 --> 00:45:35,880 set me free.