Latest / Simply Christ Podcast / Message from Aaron Keeton - Thursday Evening Session
Transcript
- 0:07Welcome back to the Simply Christ podcast.
- 0:10This episode was recorded at the Upper Midwest Fellowship Camp.
- 0:13Let's get right into it. All right, well, Leon didn't.
- 0:21He didn't mention that, but I actually went to him and asked
- 0:25him if he if he had already picked out the songs for tonight
- 0:31and he said yeah. And I said he said why?
- 0:34I said, well, I'm actually going to preach on a particular song.
- 0:38And I told him it was the last song he just sang my Jesus I
- 0:43love. Then he said, well, he said the
- 0:45the spirit didn't let me down tonight.
- 0:47So I said that worked out good. But as he said, it is one of my
- 0:54favorite songs as well. And I I really.
- 0:56See a. I see a a progression in that
- 1:02song. I see a change of as knowledge
- 1:07and understanding come the person grow in their love, and
- 1:12that's that's probably my favorite part about the song is
- 1:15the the last verse when he says, if ever I love thee, my Jesus,
- 1:20tis now, In other words, he he thinks the to me.
- 1:24I think that's what they're saying.
- 1:25He thinks that he loved Jesus and then he keeps thinking, if I
- 1:32ever loved you, it has to like if I ever realized how much I
- 1:35loved you, it has to be now. And then something else happens
- 1:38and he realizes now if I ever let it has to be right now.
- 1:42And the final one, the last verse and we'll talk about as we
- 1:45go, but the last verse is it's yet to come, right?
- 1:50Like I think that and I think that is true.
- 1:52Like I think there is a great deal of truth in that that.
- 1:57We're. Not really going to appreciate.
- 2:00All there. Is to appreciate till we see him
- 2:04in face to face right. So, but one of the reasons I
- 2:09wanted to do that this lesson over this song is I was trying
- 2:13to think, what is the? You know.
- 2:16Like what is the purpose of this now?
- 2:19Initially when I first started coming these, I wanted to come
- 2:23because I wanted to feel like I wasn't the only.
- 2:26I want to feel like I wasn't Elijah and thinking I'm the only
- 2:29one out there. Right.
- 2:30So so granted, I know a lot of us just come because we're.
- 2:34Looking for like. Minded people you know to
- 2:38fellowship with to interact with, but I also think that the
- 2:44the other thing that we should get out of this and I and I
- 2:47guess you could say you should get this out of every time that
- 2:49you study the word of God, but we should grow in.
- 2:53Our. Progression, right?
- 2:54In other words. I can see that in my own life,
- 2:57I. See as as I.
- 3:00Grew in knowledge and understanding of who.
- 3:03God. Is I.
- 3:04Appreciate him more. So that should.
- 3:07Be your goal, like when you come out here to something like this
- 3:10and you hear the word taught and you hear people talk about who
- 3:13God is or his characteristics. You should appreciate.
- 3:17Him more you should grow to. Learn and to know him.
- 3:21And I think. As you do that.
- 3:23You'll be like this song says and you'll think, well, I
- 3:26thought I loved you before, but now I really do.
- 3:29So that's really why I wanted to do this lesson.
- 3:33I've already done it once before up there where I preach but but
- 3:38I wanted to to share it with you all.
- 3:42I actually. Had that, I didn't know if he
- 3:45would have the lyrics to that song or not, so I just took a
- 3:48picture of it there. So I'll just remind you of what
- 3:50it says as we go along. But that first verse?
- 3:55When he says, my Jesus, I love thee, I know.
- 3:58Thou art mine. For thee all.
- 4:01The follies of sin I resign, my gracious Redeemer, my Savior.
- 4:07Art thou? If ever I love.
- 4:10Thee, my Jesus, tis now. Yeah, I.
- 4:13Wanted to read you a story. I think this fits with that
- 4:16verse really well. But if you want to turn to Luke.
- 4:18Chapter 7 and Luke chapter. 7 I think it illustrates this
- 4:26because again, I don't know what the song right what was in the
- 4:29songwriters head when they wrote the song, but but what I.
- 4:32Can imagine. Is a, is a instance.
- 4:36Like this story? That we're about ready to.
- 4:38Read here and the recognition that and here again, this could,
- 4:45this could. Vary.
- 4:46I think that there's. Some of you all.
- 4:47Probably that because there's probably some of you.
- 4:51All that really was just. Living and and was trying to
- 4:55please God by your own. Works and you realize that.
- 4:57That's. Vain and futile.
- 5:00And you? Realize that it's in Christ and
- 5:01Christ. Alone.
- 5:02So you may not have come directly out of sin, but but
- 5:07some of you may have right. Some of you may have literally
- 5:10be been in great and wicked sin and you.
- 5:15Realize that there's. Forgiveness and love in Christ.
- 5:19And you just you're willing to lay.
- 5:21All that. Passed down and to.
- 5:24Well as this. Woman is about to do.
- 5:26Fall at his. Feet and worship him and.
- 5:29So that's. Kind of what I see.
- 5:31And I am here again. I don't know what the songwriter
- 5:33was thinking, but. That's what I see in that.
- 5:35Verse is how that he. Is willing to forsake.
- 5:40All the follies. Of sin, he says I'm.
- 5:41Willing to resign that and I think this is a great story to
- 5:46illustrate. That but in Luke Chapter 7 and
- 5:48verse 36 Jesus is invited. To eat dinner with a.
- 5:54Pharisee it says in Luke 7 and verse 36 and one of the.
- 5:58Pharisees desired. Him that he would eat with him,
- 6:02and he that be Jesus went into the Pharisees house and sit down
- 6:06to meet and behold a woman in the city.
- 6:10Which was a. Sinner, when she knew that Jesus
- 6:14said at meeting the Pharisees house brought an alabaster box
- 6:18of ointment and stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and
- 6:24began to. Wash his feet with tears.
- 6:27And did wipe them with the. Hairs of her head.
- 6:30And kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
- 6:36Now I think. To me to really appreciate this
- 6:40story. I think you have to.
- 6:42Realize. Well, first of all, I think you
- 6:44need to realize. What the Pharisee realized.
- 6:47This woman is not like I don't know if it.
- 6:52Goes from. That very day to this.
- 6:55Instant or when, But in the Pharisees eyes there's no change
- 7:00from this great sinful. Life.
- 7:02This known Sinner you know. Like we're all sinners, but not
- 7:06everybody. Knows about all our sins.
- 7:07But they all knew about her sins, right?
- 7:09So. This woman is is living this
- 7:14way. This Pharisee.
- 7:15Knows that he knows who. She is he's.
- 7:17Heard about her, he's maybe had an interaction with her, I don't
- 7:19know. But he knows, as everybody else
- 7:22in the city knows, that she is in great sin.
- 7:26And when she hears, I don't know.
- 7:29I don't know if she's heard Jesus speak before now, but when
- 7:33she knows he's. There she sees by his.
- 7:39Words by his actions. She sees love.
- 7:43She sees. Forgiveness, She sees a new.
- 7:46Life, she sees a. Change in him, right?
- 7:50Do you see that like the hope that she has?
- 7:54Because I think that that's what a lot of people.
- 7:56That are in great sin. Whether they.
- 7:59Admit it or not, they. Want out of because there's no
- 8:01hope in it, right? There's misery in that.
- 8:04So she is in great. Misery because of her sin and
- 8:08she sees hope in this man, right?
- 8:11And that's so key, right? It's not.
- 8:13It's not in, it's not in you straightening up.
- 8:17It's not in a change. It's not in getting.
- 8:18Polished. Up.
- 8:19It's not just in. Putting away.
- 8:21A few bad habits. The real hope.
- 8:24Is in this man that's in this man's house eating right so she
- 8:28comes and she. Weeps at his feet.
- 8:32She's. Crying these tears on his feet.
- 8:35She's putting the ointment on his feet.
- 8:37She's wiping it. With the hairs of her.
- 8:39Head 39 says this is Luke 739 now when the.
- 8:44Pharisee, which had bitten. Him saw it, he spake within
- 8:48himself, saying, This man. If he were a prophet.
- 8:52Would have known who and what manner of woman this is that
- 8:57toucheth him for. She is a Sinner, right?
- 9:00Like in this guy's eyes. Again.
- 9:04I think that that's really key to this story because.
- 9:08Well, I mean, I've been guilty of it.
- 9:11Somebody shows up at church and like, I don't even know why
- 9:14they're. Here right, I mean so.
- 9:16We, we all. Make judgments on people we.
- 9:20All realize what? Kind of person it is that we're
- 9:24looking at or whatever and we may, we may.
- 9:27Feel like they're very. Unworthy.
- 9:29We may feel like they're very unsincere, right?
- 9:32So he makes that call on this woman.
- 9:34He says, I don't know why he's fooling with her.
- 9:37I know. Who she is he?
- 9:39Wouldn't be letting her touch him if she if he knew.
- 9:43Who she really was. So he doubts, he doubts that
- 9:47Christ is really a real prophet, because a real prophet.
- 9:50Would have been able. To foresee this, right?
- 9:53So he says in verse. 40 And Jesus answering, said unto him.
- 9:58So Jesus does this all. The time, but it's another one
- 10:02of these. Instances in which the person
- 10:04has a thought. Like he didn't speak that out
- 10:06loud, right? He just.
- 10:07Sitting there thinking I don't. Know about this guy?
- 10:10And then Jesus just answers. His thoughts, right?
- 10:13And he does that all the time, but but he just answers his
- 10:16thought. And he says, Simon, I have
- 10:17somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, That is, Simon
- 10:21Says, Master say on so. And again, I think this is
- 10:26another. Part of the.
- 10:27Story I don't want you to miss. Simon is not.
- 10:32This particular Pharisee, I don't think he is.
- 10:36He's not the guys that are just asking Jesus a question to catch
- 10:40him up. He invited him to his.
- 10:41House, right? He is interested in who Jesus is
- 10:45and what he has. To say so, he is curious, but he
- 10:49gets a little doubt here. When the man allows this sinful
- 10:54woman to touch him, and to annoy his feet and to wipe.
- 10:57His feet with the. Hairs of her head, he.
- 11:00Questions. Who he is so Jesus.
- 11:01Says to him, I have something to say unto you.
- 11:03And he says Master say on you know, so he he is he wants to
- 11:07know what? Jesus has to say right?
- 11:09Like, in other words, he he is honestly.
- 11:11Curious as to what Christ would. Say 41 says.
- 11:14There was a certain this is what Jesus says to him.
- 11:17There was a certain creditor which had two debtors.
- 11:21The one owed 500 pence and the other 50.
- 11:26So just simple math. Here, but you've got.
- 11:29A 10 times difference in the amount that they owe right now,
- 11:36I understand. That I think we all.
- 11:41Underestimate our sin debt, except maybe a person like this
- 11:48and they know right? I mean they.
- 11:50I think we all, I think we all feel like we're better people.
- 11:56Than we really. Are.
- 11:57Or certainly we used to feel that way.
- 11:59So. I think most of us underestimate
- 12:02or credit. But I think she probably.
- 12:05Knows. In fact, I think it's.
- 12:06I think that's what Jesus is getting ready to say.
- 12:09I think that that's. What I see in the first line of
- 12:11the song. The.
- 12:13Person in this shape sees that there's only hope in this man,
- 12:18and they're willing to give it all up for him, right?
- 12:22And they, and, and they see love in that.
- 12:24They see his love in that. So he says.
- 12:28One guy owes 500 pence, the other 50, 42 says, and when they
- 12:32had nothing to pay, that is neither one of the persons in
- 12:35debt had anything to pay, he frankly forgave them both.
- 12:40And he asks Simon, he says, tell me therefore, which of them will
- 12:45love him most right. Jesus is simply asked, tells, I
- 12:50mean. That's actually one of the
- 12:52shortest. Stories he ever tells, right?
- 12:53I mean, it's just two verses, or really just one.
- 12:56Verse. A guy had two creditors.
- 12:58One owes 10 times more than the other one.
- 13:01Neither one of them can pay. What they owe.
- 13:04Neither one of them have. The ability to get out of debt.
- 13:07And he just. Says to both forgive.
- 13:11I forgive. You right And Jesus simply asked
- 13:14the man. If this is a real story.
- 13:18Who do you think's going to love him more?
- 13:21Verse 43, Simon answered. And said unto him, And.
- 13:23Said, I suppose that he. To whom he forgave most.
- 13:29And he said unto him, That is, Jesus says unto Simon, Thou.
- 13:33Hast. Rightly judged.
- 13:35And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon.
- 13:40So picture. This Simon is the host.
- 13:44Jesus is there. He comes in the This great
- 13:47sinful woman comes in and. Is is.
- 13:52Crying on his feet, worshipping him, wiping his feet.
- 13:55With the hairs of her head. Simon has a thought.
- 13:58Jesus says to. Him.
- 14:01He, you know, like. She comes up behind him, so he's
- 14:03probably already facing Simon, He says to Simon, I've got.
- 14:06Something to say to you. He answers.
- 14:08You know. Addresses the thought in his
- 14:10head, if you will. And then he turns to the woman.
- 14:14I'm assuming that would be back down to the woman.
- 14:17He turns to the woman. And then he says to Simon, See
- 14:22us thou this woman. Right.
- 14:24See us thou this. Woman, I entered into thine
- 14:27house, and thou gave us me no water for my feet, but she hath
- 14:33washed my feet. With tears.
- 14:36And wiped them with the hairs of her head.
- 14:40Thou gave us me no kiss. But this woman, since the time I
- 14:44came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet, right?
- 14:50He didn't. He's saying the same.
- 14:51You didn't come in, kiss me on the cheek or on the forehead, or
- 14:55kiss my hand. He said but since.
- 14:56I came in she is kissing my feet right my head with.
- 15:02All. Thou didst not anoint, but this
- 15:05woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
- 15:09And this is. The great verse right here.
- 15:11Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, listen to this.
- 15:18Which are many, right? Which are many?
- 15:22I mean, Jesus didn't lighten it. He didn't say she's not really
- 15:27that bad or he said her. Sins and think about it she's
- 15:32she's in the process of doing this he's speaking out loud to
- 15:35Simon and he recognizes it to Simon and to.
- 15:39Her right, in other words. I mean, think about the whole
- 15:44story. Simon thinks he doesn't know
- 15:47who. She is right.
- 15:49So Jesus. Turns to her and says her sins,
- 15:53which are many, right? He did.
- 15:56He knew all about her, right? Her sins, which are many, he
- 16:02says, are forgiven. For she loved.
- 16:07Much but to whom little is forgiven, The same loveth little
- 16:13now. If.
- 16:17I mean, I think. We all should have this.
- 16:19Experience, in other words, all of us that recognize what Christ
- 16:23has done. And come to him.
- 16:25Regardless of what? We come out of should.
- 16:27Have great love, but those of us that have.
- 16:30Came out of great sin, I think are like this song says and
- 16:36realize the great love right? Because there's only hope there.
- 16:41There's only I mean, and like I said, it's only in a person.
- 16:46You know that's what she's. Saying she is she is worshipping
- 16:50a person here, not a plan, not a a program, not a A.
- 16:56Way to quit her bad habits she realizes that the love.
- 17:00And I mean he, and that's what he's reckoning, right?
- 17:03Her love. Is is manifest in her action to
- 17:07the man, right? So as like I said, as we said
- 17:12that first verse, I think this is a.
- 17:14Great, a great story to go along with that of wanting to.
- 17:20Depart. From sin.
- 17:21Leave all those follies. Of sin behind and go.
- 17:25To the Savior, now the second. Verse says this.
- 17:31This is the second verse of the song I love.
- 17:33Thee because thou has first loved.
- 17:36Me and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree I.
- 17:42Love thee for. Wearing the thorns on thy brow.
- 17:46If ever I love thee. My Jesus, tis now, now this
- 17:53woman that we were just talking about.
- 17:55I. Really, I have no idea.
- 17:57How long her? Her knowledge of Christ is, I
- 18:04don't know if she just heard of him, I don't know if she's
- 18:06heard. Him for a while I've heard
- 18:07people speculate on who they. Thought this was.
- 18:09But I still don't really know the answer.
- 18:11To how long she's known about. Christ, but but I would say this
- 18:15that regardless of of your. Situation or my situation when
- 18:21when I? First realized that Christ.
- 18:24Has the answer and nothing else does.
- 18:27Then I appreciate him and I love him.
- 18:29For that. But when I dig deep into.
- 18:33What he actually? Accomplished.
- 18:35In other words, like. Ephesian.
- 18:37Says that you might know the. Or I don't know after I said
- 18:40that it may not be an. Efficient where he says that you
- 18:42might know the height and the depth and the width and all that
- 18:45of the. You know, so as I dig.
- 18:47Into that height and depth and and the width.
- 18:51Of the riches of God. As I dig into what?
- 18:54Christ. Actually accomplished for me,
- 18:56which is what I think the second verse is saying.
- 18:58In other words, when you. Realize that he wore the.
- 19:01Crown of thorns that he suffered in his.
- 19:04Body for your sake. Then I think.
- 19:07That love should grow. Right.
- 19:09In other words, you might. And here's why I'm saying this,
- 19:11and here's why I see the progression.
- 19:14You don't have to know much. To be saved, do you?
- 19:18You don't have to know much. I mean a person, a person could
- 19:23truly hear the gospel in a 5 or 10 minute span or whatever.
- 19:28Just. Hear about a man that died for
- 19:30them and not know any of the. Details believe that and be
- 19:34saved, but as you dig. Into that story.
- 19:39That's why I said. As you come and hear.
- 19:41The word taught or as you. Study it yourself.
- 19:43And you dig into that. Story Your love should grow as
- 19:47you realize. What's going on?
- 19:48So that's what he says. I think in the second verse, you
- 19:50know I love. Thee, because I was first.
- 19:52Love me like you start realizing that he.
- 19:55Loved you. 1st right? I mean it's like it's one thing.
- 20:02It's one thing to meet someone you mutually grow in respect.
- 20:08And love for one another. And then you do some.
- 20:10Sacrifice or you give up something to life.
- 20:13For them. But to realize that God loved
- 20:18you before you cared. Anything about him is another
- 20:23story, right? So.
- 20:26Let's just and this is. Just a kind of like.
- 20:28You could. You could.
- 20:29I guess you. Could connect all kinds of.
- 20:31Verses with. This but the one I.
- 20:34Particularly. Chose in Hebrews Chapter 9
- 20:36because this is one of those things.
- 20:38Personally, this. Was one of the things that as I
- 20:40realized. It the the light.
- 20:43Bulbs and the and the. Love started going off as I.
- 20:46Personally realized this this Hebrews.
- 20:48Chapter 9 and verse 24. Hebrews 924.
- 20:56Like I almost. Can't read that without reading
- 20:59verse 12 of the same. Chapter Hebrews 912 says this
- 21:04that neither. By the blood of goats and
- 21:07calves, but by his. Own blood he entered in once
- 21:13into. The holy Place.
- 21:15Having obtained eternal redemption for.
- 21:18Us so as the picture was that's what basically all of.
- 21:22Hebrews has been leading up to here, especially 8 on forward.
- 21:26He's leading up to the fact that they were painting a picture.
- 21:30They were. Showing us the shadow of things
- 21:32to come in in the fact that a high priest would take blood in.
- 21:36Offer it God. Would come down receive.
- 21:38That blood and go. Away and you know, forget the
- 21:41sins for a year. So he says.
- 21:43He didn't do that with the blood of animals, but by his own
- 21:47blood. That is Jesus.
- 21:50Has something to offer God for the sins of the people, but it's
- 21:53His own blood, and He enters in once into the Holy place, having
- 21:57obtained eternal redemption for us.
- 22:00That is as the shadow portrayed. There in the Old Testament.
- 22:04Christ is. Going to make a blood atonement
- 22:08for the sins of the. People to God the Father, right?
- 22:12That's what he just said. Not a animal sacrifice.
- 22:15But a? Sacrifice of his own blood.
- 22:18Then he goes on to verse 20. Four.
- 22:20And he says this for. Christ is not entered into the
- 22:23holy places made with hands. That is, He did.
- 22:26The shadow was not saying that Christ is going to enter into
- 22:29this. Temple that they built or the
- 22:31second one they built? And make an atonement.
- 22:34There, he says, which are figures of the truth.
- 22:38That is those. Temples and those tabernacles.
- 22:40That they had or just a figure. They're like a little.
- 22:44Scale model of the real 1. He says, but he is.
- 22:49Going to enter into heaven itself now to appear in the
- 22:54presence of God for us, right? I mean, like I said, personally.
- 23:01As I saw. That and realized that truth.
- 23:04There I had a. Greater appreciation and a
- 23:07greater. Love.
- 23:08For who Christ is, knowing that He.
- 23:10Literally takes. His own blood and.
- 23:14Offers it to God. On my behalf, right?
- 23:17Let's read the next. Verse verse 25 says.
- 23:19Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high priest
- 23:23entered into the holy place. Every year with the blood of
- 23:26others. For then must he have suffered
- 23:29since the foundation, for then must he have often suffered.
- 23:33Sorry for. Then must he often have suffered
- 23:37since the foundation of the world, but now once in the end
- 23:43of the. World hath he appeared to put
- 23:46away. Sin by the sacrifice of himself.
- 23:52Now again I want you. To think about the reality of
- 23:55what's. Going on in these verses.
- 23:57And what it's. Kindly referring to, let's say.
- 24:02Again, I really can't picture this because I've lived in this
- 24:07country and had the. Freedoms that I've had so.
- 24:11Just imagine with me for a minute.
- 24:13Let's. Say that.
- 24:15We're in a foreign country. That it is.
- 24:18Illegal with the penalty of death.
- 24:21To come and worship God. And read from the Bible.
- 24:24So here we. Are and we're.
- 24:25Hid out in the woods somewhere and somebody.
- 24:28All of a sudden kicks the door open.
- 24:30And they run. In with guns and they say the
- 24:34penalty. Is death for this?
- 24:36And we're going to kill. One person in here.
- 24:39To prove that we're serious. And some St. stands up.
- 24:45And offers themselves to these people.
- 24:47For the rest of the crowd, that. 'D be, I mean.
- 24:52How would you feel? How would you?
- 24:56Like I said that, I mean, I can say the story, but I.
- 24:58Really can't. That's I'm so far removed from
- 25:02anything like that going on that I can't picture that.
- 25:06But if you experienced that, it would change your life, wouldn't
- 25:11it? I mean that would be a that.
- 25:12'D be a life. Changing experience to watch
- 25:15someone stand up and. Offer to die so that the rest of
- 25:20you all could live. What about someone doing that?
- 25:24For the whole world. Sinners and all right like.
- 25:28For for the for the whole world? What about if he is God's?
- 25:33Son and he gives. Up all that.
- 25:36He has in glory and all that of being with the Father and all
- 25:40that, and comes down and does. Do that.
- 25:44Does stand up and die for the sins people and and I guess
- 25:50let's look. At it from the other
- 25:51perspective. Let's say that you have the
- 25:54love, that you're the. Person that does that.
- 25:57That is quite the. Sobering thing to know that you
- 26:02are, I mean. Jesus said greater love.
- 26:03Hath no man than this, that a man lay his life down for his
- 26:06friends, right? That would be a sobering.
- 26:10Experience to know that I am going to stand up and offer
- 26:14myself. To those, to the people.
- 26:17Just knock the door in and be killed.
- 26:22So. I think when you understand that
- 26:25in a in a very. Literal sense Christ does do
- 26:29that. Like literally says.
- 26:32I mean, that's. What the Bible says that?
- 26:33Before the foundation of the world, they made the plan right.
- 26:38The plan was put in place before the foundation of the.
- 26:40World, the Father says if we do this.
- 26:42There's a great risk in it and if.
- 26:44You if we do this. Somebody's going to have to die
- 26:48to to pay for their sins and. Jesus says he'll do it.
- 26:53Right, so that as you learn. Those things, I think that
- 26:59personally, I think it's true that you may have thought you
- 27:02loved him when you first came to him.
- 27:05But as you. Grow in your understanding what
- 27:07he actually did then you may say.
- 27:11Well, I thought I loved you, but if I ever loved you.
- 27:13It has to be right? Now as I realize this now, the
- 27:17third verse of the song says. I love.
- 27:21Thee in life, I will love thee in death, and.
- 27:25Praise thee as. Long as thou lendest me breath
- 27:30and say, when the death do lies cold on my brow.
- 27:35If ever I love thee. My Jesus, tis now, now.
- 27:40There's two ways that I want to look at.
- 27:42This the one. Because the guy is.
- 27:44Recognizing that in the approach.
- 27:47Of death. In other words.
- 27:50He may have he he thought he loved.
- 27:52Him but. As death.
- 27:56Draws nigh, then he. Says if I ever.
- 28:01Loved you. It's right now, right?
- 28:03Now there's two ways to. Look at this.
- 28:04One Revelation 210 says Be thou faithful unto death, and I will.
- 28:08Give thee a crown, a life. Now I've all I mean.
- 28:11The churches I was raised in would have said that that meant
- 28:15your whole life. If you live.
- 28:16To be 90. Two, be faithful.
- 28:19But if you read the context of it.
- 28:21I think he's, I think. It's when they come to.
- 28:25Kill you for your faith. Right.
- 28:29I mean, I think that. That's really the context if you
- 28:31go back and read the context. Revelation 210 It's in the fact
- 28:34that they're going to be persecuted and maybe slain for
- 28:37their faith. And he says, Be thou faithful
- 28:39unto death. So the first aspect would be.
- 28:44You know, it's like, let's go. Back to the first woman.
- 28:46There. She saw hope.
- 28:49In this man, it's like Leon kind of meant.
- 28:52I don't remember how he said it, but.
- 28:53He kind of mentioned that when he stood.
- 28:55Up here, you know. It it changes your perspective.
- 29:00Right. In other words, if.
- 29:02You realize the great Oh, that's what, that's what.
- 29:04When you sang the song stand on the.
- 29:06Promise if if you think about the.
- 29:07Promises that God has left us. It changes your perspective.
- 29:12You could face death. In light of those promises,
- 29:16right, you truly could. Now I know the.
- 29:20Bible says that he'll give. Grace and time give grace in
- 29:24time of need. So I don't know.
- 29:26I mean, I think that there's things that you may not you
- 29:30might get not just mad. I'm confident that a person gets
- 29:35an extra. Dose, if you will, of.
- 29:37Grace if he is faced. With something like that, and I
- 29:41think as that dose of grace would come.
- 29:44To be able to face death for your faith, you would say, if I
- 29:50ever loved. You.
- 29:51That's right now, right? Now the other.
- 29:54Side of that is this. Let's say it's not that drastic.
- 29:57Let's say you do. Live and whatever point, it
- 30:01doesn't really matter. What point of life?
- 30:04That you would would. Come to God that.
- 30:06You would believe him. But but let's say whatever.
- 30:11Point that. Is if it's the middle of your
- 30:12life or early in your life. And you live through your.
- 30:16Life. The natural thing that happens
- 30:20is loved ones die and go on. The body starts.
- 30:26Not being what it was when it was young, the aches and the
- 30:30pains and the all the in fact sorrows are multiplied like me
- 30:36and my wife. Have talked about this several
- 30:38times that. You know, as a.
- 30:40Kid, you don't realize. I think.
- 30:43You're. Most parents, kind of.
- 30:45Shield you from all that. Goes on in the world and and
- 30:48you're distracted with youth and you.
- 30:49Don't realize the the. Sufferings and the pain that
- 30:53people go through and the losses.
- 30:55And divorces and all those things.
- 30:56And as you get older, that becomes much more real, right?
- 31:00You know, you the people. That you grew up with.
- 31:02Go through pains and sorrows and I mean that's.
- 31:06What life? Is so in the natural flow of
- 31:09things you're going to have. You're going to have your body.
- 31:13Breakdown you're going to have. All these sorrows.
- 31:16Come in life and in the natural. Flow of life I.
- 31:20Think that a person that. Truly loves God will get.
- 31:24To the end of life, think about the promises.
- 31:28That God has left. And and see the hope again in
- 31:33him and say. If I ever loved it has to be.
- 31:37Right now, right, because you don't you understand what I'm
- 31:41saying, but that if. If life is referred to.
- 31:45Oftentimes as this peak. You know, like that's.
- 31:47What we say. You're over the hill now, you
- 31:49know. At a certain age, so life is
- 31:51it's like. Not saying that sorrow can't
- 31:53come and youth, but it's like you are going upward and upward,
- 31:57and then you reach this point and the sorrows begin and the
- 32:00sufferings not not necessarily that they just begin there, but
- 32:04they become much more real and the body decays and gets older
- 32:08and all those things start coming on you and as.
- 32:11You face. I mean, you know, first.
- 32:13Corinthians 15 when? He's talking about that.
- 32:15He talks about. That is something being in a you
- 32:20know, in a decade or in a state of defilement or uncleanness,
- 32:27you know, or not that's. Still not the word he uses, but.
- 32:30You know a a state of weakness. You know, like the.
- 32:34I always give this example and I'll talk about that chapter.
- 32:37The corn seed when it's on the. Ear is.
- 32:41Full and you know. Tasty, all that.
- 32:44And as it shrivels up and wrinkles up like the body and
- 32:48die, and then it actually. Dies.
- 32:51That at that point only is life going to come out of it.
- 32:54So you go through this. Progression in which you go
- 32:57downhill, you head towards more and more suffering and more and
- 33:01more physical pain and all that, and then you get to the end of
- 33:05life and you look. Back at the promises.
- 33:08Or you're looking at. Face to face the promises that
- 33:12God has and. He says when the death do lies
- 33:14cold on my brow, then I'll. Realize how much I love you.
- 33:19So there is a great. Truth in that verse as well.
- 33:23And finally. The last verses on.
- 33:26He says in mansions of glory and endless delight.
- 33:31I'll ever adore. Thee in heaven so bright I'll
- 33:36sing with the glittering crown on my brow.
- 33:39If ever I love. Thee, my Jesus, tis now.
- 33:47I mean, that one's yet to come, right?
- 33:50And I, and I truly think that no matter.
- 33:52What you go? Through in life, no matter.
- 33:54What you have experienced, I don't think it matters how much
- 33:58knowledge you get. I don't think it matters how
- 34:01much love that. You actually.
- 34:04Grow into for God. I think there'll be a.
- 34:08Whole new level when you see him face to face, right?
- 34:13It'll be a whole different thing.
- 34:15It'll because. You you may believe you may.
- 34:22Believe that he is that he has died for.
- 34:28Your sins you may. Have all confidence in that.
- 34:32You may. Believe that He is the Creator.
- 34:34Of the universe right now. But to actually see.
- 34:38Him and like Revelation. Pictures they're.
- 34:41Seeing one at his side as a lamb that had been slain, I'm
- 34:46confident that somewhere you're going to see.
- 34:48The blood of Christ, maybe? Before God or around God or I
- 34:53don't know where you're going to see it, but.
- 34:54If it's. What made the atonement force?
- 34:58I feel confident I'm going to see it somewhere.
- 35:00When you actually lay eyes. On that when you.
- 35:03Actually see. Him, in fact, in Revelation
- 35:06there 20. Two, he talks about all those
- 35:08things. That are laid up for us.
- 35:12And I think when you, I think. It's like, I don't know.
- 35:16Where else you're going to be if he's, if he's going to burn up
- 35:20this world, melt the elements with fervent heat, and then make
- 35:24a new heaven and new earth, I think you're going to get.
- 35:27To see that, I think. You're going to get to.
- 35:30See that? That new creation I make all
- 35:32things new. I think you're actually going to
- 35:34get to see those things. You may believe right now He's
- 35:37the Creator, but to watch Him do it is another thing, right?
- 35:43To know that Christ died for your sins.
- 35:47But yet to see. Him and maybe his blood is
- 35:51another thing and you may have feel.
- 35:54Like felt like. You really loved him here.
- 35:57But I think it's yet to come, right?
- 36:00I think that that next level of appreciation is next to come.
- 36:04I mean, that's. What he says I'll it.
- 36:07I mean. He says that with the.
- 36:09Glittering clown on my crown. On my.
- 36:11Head, I'll be singing. Your praises right So.
- 36:17I will read you that. Revelation 22 and verse 1 he
- 36:21says, and he showed me a pure river.
- 36:24Of water of life clears. Crystal proceeding out of the
- 36:28throne of God and of the Lamb in the midst of the.
- 36:31Street of. It and on either.
- 36:33Side of the river was there the tree of life which bare. 12
- 36:37Manner of fruits and. Yielded her fruit every.
- 36:40Month and the. Leaves of the trees were for
- 36:42the. Healing of the nations, and
- 36:43there was no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb
- 36:48shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him and they.
- 36:53Shall see his face. And his name shall be in their
- 36:57foreheads, and there shall be no night there.
- 37:01They and they need no candle, neither light of the sun.
- 37:05For the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign
- 37:08forever and ever. And just in case you.
- 37:12Thought that was just allegory or?
- 37:16Something made-up, he says. This verse 6.
- 37:19And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true,
- 37:26right? Just in case you thought.
- 37:28That was just somebody's. Opinion or some mystical?
- 37:33Thing that I don't. Really know what that means?
- 37:34He says no. These sayings are faithful and
- 37:36true. This is a reality.
- 37:39This is a real. A real, tangible promise.
- 37:44That you can be sure of. I mean, in fact, because of
- 37:47promises like this is what would make.
- 37:49You be able to do. What the third verse says.
- 37:53And face death knowing or. Realizing at that moment your
- 37:59great love. For him and his son.
- 38:01So I hope that is an encouragement.
- 38:03To you. I hope that you will that.
- 38:06That will be your experience that as you learn more about
- 38:09God. That you would grow in your
- 38:11love. That you grow in your
- 38:12appreciation for him. I hope that.
- 38:14We can encourage. You to do that.
- 38:17If you don't know him. And if you don't love him, I
- 38:20guess that would be the. The ultimate hope.
- 38:22That we would all have. Is that you would.
- 38:25Come to a knowledge. Of who he.
- 38:27Is and be like that. Woman there in the 1st.
- 38:31Place that we read and and just see that there's no hope.
- 38:35Anywhere else but in him and come and.
- 38:37Want to worship him? So hope that's been encouraged
- 38:40to you. I appreciate it.