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From His Heart: Jeff Schreve

Jeff Schreve - Decision Time

December 29, 2024 | S1:E5176

Jeff Schreve - Decision Time
From His Heart Ministries is the multimedia broadcast ministry of Dr. Jeff Schreve.
#Salvation #Faith #WalkwithGod #RelationshipwithGod #SeekGod #Bible #Religion #Repentance #Choices #inActive #FromHisHeart:JeffSchreve #JeffSchreve #Savior

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From His Heart: Jeff Schreve | Jeff Schreve - Decision Time | December 29, 2024
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Pastor jeff schreve: happy new year.
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  • I'm pastor jeff schreve, and today, as we look to the new
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  • Year, we're going to consider the most important decision that
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  • Anyone can ever make.
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  • It's the decision concerning jesus, a decision that
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  • Determines your eternal destiny.
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  • So grab your bible, follow along, and prepare your heart
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  • For a blessing.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeff: the decision that you make today is critical, and god wants
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  • You to make the right decision.
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  • Now acts chapter 2 is one of the most important chapters of the
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  • New testament because it's the birth of the church.
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  • It's the day of pentecost.
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  • Jesus has been gone for ten days.
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  • He's ascended to heaven.
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  • He was crucified at passover and--pentecost comes 50 days
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  • After passover and it's the day of pentecost, and that's the day
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  • The holy spirit is coming.
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  • And jesus told the guys in acts chapter 1, "you're to remain in
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  • Jerusalem until you receive the promise of my father, which i
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  • Told you about."
  • 00:01:36.199 --> 00:01:37.534
  • And so they were there and they were waiting.
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  • And on the day of pentecost, that's when the holy
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  • Spirit descended.
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  • Now, the holy spirit was coming.
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  • This was new because he was coming not just to be with them
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  • But to live inside them, the indwelling holy spirit.
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  • Remember, jesus said, "it's to your advantage that i go away,
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  • Because if i don't go away, then the holy spirit won't come."
  • 00:01:55.552 --> 00:01:58.688
  • And that happened on the day of pentecost, and we know
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  • What happened.
  • 00:02:00.623 --> 00:02:01.991
  • So you have 120 believers, and the holy spirit falls, and they
  • 00:02:01.991 --> 00:02:05.195
  • Begin to speak with tongues.
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  • Not gibberish but known languages, but they were
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  • Languages that these people, these galileans, had never heard
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  • And they had never learned.
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  • And it was all the native tongues of the people that had
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  • Gathered for the great feast.
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  • Pentecost was a great feast.
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  • And they asked this question, they said, "what does
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  • This mean?"
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  • Great question.
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  • They were filled with amazement.
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  • What does this mean?
  • 00:02:32.622 --> 00:02:33.957
  • They knew something was taking place that was extraordinary,
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  • And that opened the door for peter to preach.
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  • And peter preached about jesus and he said, "you guys all know
  • 00:02:40.663 --> 00:02:45.034
  • About jesus because he did all these miracles, and everybody
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  • Was talking about jesus, and jesus was huge news," and he
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  • Said, "and you killed him.
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  • He is the messiah and god raised him from the dead."
  • 00:02:55.178 --> 00:02:58.081
  • And he gives this powerful sermon and he ends
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  • Up the sermon this way.
  • 00:03:00.750 --> 00:03:02.085
  • He says in acts 2:36, '"therefore let all the house of
  • 00:03:02.085 --> 00:03:05.421
  • Israel know for certain that god has made him both lord and
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  • Christ--this jesus whom you crucified.'
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  • Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and
  • 00:03:14.731 --> 00:03:19.602
  • Said to peter and the rest of the apostles, 'brethren, what
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  • Shall we do?'"
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  • Oh, it was like somebody ran them through in the heart with
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  • A spear.
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  • They were pierced and so convicted.
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  • "this is what we did.
  • 00:03:33.383 --> 00:03:34.851
  • We crucified our messiah, our long awaited messiah.
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  • We've been waiting for him for thousands of years.
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  • And when he got here, we rejected him.
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  • And we said, 'not this man, but barabbas.'
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  • And we crucified the prince of life.
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  • And that is such a tremendous, horrible, awful sin.
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  • How can you get worse than that?"
  • 00:03:53.636 --> 00:03:56.239
  • And they said to peter and the apostles, "what shall we do?"
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  • Well, it's decision time, and he is going to give us, in the rest
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  • Of acts chapter 2, four decisions that every person must
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  • Make, four decisions that every person must make, and they're
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  • In order.
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  • You make this decision and the second decision and the third
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  • Decision and the fourth decision, and this is the
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  • Christian life.
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  • The first decision
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  • Deals with salvation.
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  • So they asked the question, verse 37, "'brethren, what shall
  • 00:04:31.774 --> 00:04:36.646
  • We do?'"
  • 00:04:36.646 --> 00:04:38.014
  • "brethren" not talking about christian brothers, talking
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  • About jewish brothers, "'brethren, what shall we do?'
  • 00:04:39.349 --> 00:04:42.018
  • And peter said to them, 'repent...'"
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  • Repent.
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  • What do you do?
  • 00:04:47.390 --> 00:04:48.725
  • You have committed this sin that's beyond comprehension,
  • 00:04:48.725 --> 00:04:53.029
  • That you would murder not with your own hands but by calling
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  • For the death of messiah, thinking that you believe the
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  • Lies of the chief priest that jesus was a blasphemer and that
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  • He was a fraud and he was not your messiah.
  • 00:05:06.976 --> 00:05:10.046
  • And you said, "not this man, but barabbas."
  • 00:05:10.046 --> 00:05:12.148
  • You've done that terrible sin and god has made him both lord
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  • And christ, this jesus whom you crucified.
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  • What shall we do?
  • 00:05:18.221 --> 00:05:20.089
  • And so they said to them, peter said to them, "you guys need
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  • To repent.
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  • There is hope for you because you can repent."
  • 00:05:25.395 --> 00:05:28.264
  • Now, the lord calls us to repent and believe.
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  • That's very, very clear.
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  • And you say, "well, it doesn't say anything about
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  • Them believing.
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  • It just says that they should repent."
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  • Well, you know, the bible uses those terms interchangeably.
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  • So true repentance always means that you're repenting and
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  • Believing, and true belief always means that
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  • You're repenting.
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  • So in acts chapter 16, you have the philippian jailer and he
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  • Comes before paul and silas when the lord worked a miracle and
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  • Opened up the jail and this guy thought he was--all the
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  • Prisoners had escaped.
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  • He's getting ready to kill himself.
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  • And paul said, "do yourself no harm.
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  • We're all still here."
  • 00:06:05.435 --> 00:06:06.803
  • And he fell down before paul and silas and he says, "sirs, what
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  • Must i do to be saved?"
  • 00:06:09.071 --> 00:06:11.007
  • And they said, "believe on the lord jesus christ and you'll be
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  • Saved, you and your household."
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  • They didn't say anything about repent, but it's embedded in
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  • There, repent and believe.
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  • And you'll find it used both ways.
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  • So, god is now declaring that all men everywhere
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  • Should repent.
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  • He's not willing that any should perish, but that all
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  • Should repent.
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  • And when you say "repent," you're saying, well, that's
  • 00:06:32.228 --> 00:06:35.498
  • Connected to belief, and when you're saying true belief,
  • 00:06:35.498 --> 00:06:38.100
  • That's connected to repentance.
  • 00:06:38.100 --> 00:06:39.502
  • Paul broke it out in acts 20:21 and he said this, he was, his
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  • Ministry, "...solemnly testifying to both jews and
  • 00:06:43.339 --> 00:06:46.509
  • Greeks of repentance toward god and faith in our lord
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  • Jesus christ."
  • 00:06:50.346 --> 00:06:51.681
  • Both of those things are critical, vital, essential in
  • 00:06:51.681 --> 00:06:57.854
  • Order for someone to be right with god, in order for someone
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  • To be saved.
  • 00:07:01.157 --> 00:07:02.525
  • You can't be saved apart from repentance and faith.
  • 00:07:02.525 --> 00:07:06.062
  • Now, the holy spirit is involved, obviously,
  • 00:07:06.062 --> 00:07:09.799
  • In salvation.
  • 00:07:09.799 --> 00:07:11.133
  • There can be no salvation without the holy spirit opening
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  • Blind eyes and convicting.
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  • But then there's the response of man.
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  • And, see, in salvation we know that the lord is sovereign and
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  • We know that he has given man a free will.
  • 00:07:22.912 --> 00:07:25.581
  • Now, we have debates, theological debates, and you'll
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  • Find these in seminaries with calvinism.
  • 00:07:29.185 --> 00:07:32.054
  • John calvin was the one that wrote about these things, and
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  • Then his followers came up with the five points of calvinism,
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  • And they really focus--calvinism really focuses on the
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  • Sovereignty of god and they focus on scriptures john chapter
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  • 15: "you didn't choose me, but i chose you."
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  • And we say, "well, you know, you don't have a choice in the
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  • Matter of salvation.
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  • God chooses you, he predestines you, and it's not your choice.
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  • It's god's choice."
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  • Well, it is god's choice.
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  • "you didn't choose me, i chose you," jesus said, but then it
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  • Also says that you're judged because you did not receive the
  • 00:08:06.155 --> 00:08:11.027
  • Love of the truth, so as to be saved, but took pleasure
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  • In wickedness.
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  • There is the response of man.
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  • And when peter preached, and the people said, "what do we do?"
  • 00:08:16.198 --> 00:08:20.703
  • Well, what do you do?
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  • "well, there's nothing you can do because it's just god's
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  • Sovereign choice, and so you're just ripped potato chip.
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  • I hope you're in the elect."
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  • He didn't say that.
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  • He said, "what do you do?
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  • You need to repent and believe in jesus, and you'll be saved
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  • And your sins will be washed away."
  • 00:08:35.785 --> 00:08:37.453
  • And so that is critical.
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  • That's the first decision.
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  • And, hey, listen, you ask yourself this question: have i
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  • Really done that?
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  • Have i really left the pigsty of sin and come to the lord and put
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  • My faith and trust in him?
  • 00:08:48.064 --> 00:08:50.399
  • That is the first decision.
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  • It deals with salvation.
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  • The second decision deals with obedience and identification.
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  • So, first i hear i'm convicted, what do i do?
  • 00:08:59.842 --> 00:09:03.646
  • Repent.
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  • Put your faith and trust in jesus.
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  • Okay, i do that.
  • 00:09:06.349 --> 00:09:07.683
  • Now, what do i do?
  • 00:09:07.683 --> 00:09:09.051
  • Well, look what he says in verse 38, we'll read the full verse.
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  • "and peter said to them, 'repent, and let each of you be
  • 00:09:12.254 --> 00:09:15.958
  • Baptized in the name of jesus christ for the forgiveness of
  • 00:09:15.958 --> 00:09:19.161
  • Your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit.'"
  • 00:09:19.161 --> 00:09:23.499
  • Baptism is something you do.
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  • Baptism is a work.
  • 00:09:25.668 --> 00:09:27.737
  • "it's not by works," titus 3:5, "it's not by works of
  • 00:09:27.737 --> 00:09:30.139
  • Righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
  • 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:32.775
  • He saved us."
  • 00:09:32.775 --> 00:09:34.377
  • So when you put those together in the bible, you say, "well,
  • 00:09:34.377 --> 00:09:37.279
  • Wait a minute.
  • 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:38.648
  • Is there a contradiction?"
  • 00:09:38.648 --> 00:09:39.982
  • There is no contradiction.
  • 00:09:39.982 --> 00:09:42.985
  • You have to put things into context.
  • 00:09:41.651 --> 00:09:46.455
  • And so baptism is identification and obedience.
  • 00:09:46.455 --> 00:09:53.062
  • And immersion baptism, that's what the word means.
  • 00:09:53.062 --> 00:09:55.831
  • "baptizó" in the greek means to fully immerse.
  • 00:09:55.831 --> 00:09:59.168
  • Immersion baptism, this is what it is, it is the outward sign of
  • 00:09:59.168 --> 00:10:04.106
  • Inward conversion, the outward sign of inward conversion.
  • 00:10:04.106 --> 00:10:09.779
  • It shows everybody what's happened on the inside.
  • 00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:13.916
  • If you repent and believe in jesus, what do you do?
  • 00:10:13.916 --> 00:10:17.653
  • You get baptized to show everyone what's happened on
  • 00:10:17.653 --> 00:10:21.991
  • The inside.
  • 00:10:21.991 --> 00:10:23.492
  • Baptism is the visible picture of an invisible reality.
  • 00:10:23.492 --> 00:10:29.932
  • And immersion baptism is critically important, but
  • 00:10:29.932 --> 00:10:36.005
  • Not salvific.
  • 00:10:36.005 --> 00:10:39.041
  • You say, "salvific?
  • 00:10:39.041 --> 00:10:40.409
  • Did you just make up that word?"
  • 00:10:40.409 --> 00:10:41.977
  • No, i didn't.
  • 00:10:41.977 --> 00:10:43.345
  • I learned it in seminary.
  • 00:10:43.345 --> 00:10:44.680
  • It's a really big word, isn't it?
  • 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:46.082
  • I remember the first time i heard it, i thought my professor
  • 00:10:46.082 --> 00:10:48.250
  • Made it up, but it's a real word.
  • 00:10:48.250 --> 00:10:49.952
  • It means "producing salvation."
  • 00:10:49.952 --> 00:10:52.021
  • So, immersion baptism, critically important, but
  • 00:10:52.021 --> 00:10:56.292
  • Not salvific.
  • 00:10:56.292 --> 00:10:57.660
  • Why is it critically important?
  • 00:10:57.660 --> 00:10:58.994
  • Because it's the wedding ring of the christian life, because it
  • 00:10:58.994 --> 00:11:02.298
  • Lets everybody know that you belong to jesus.
  • 00:11:02.298 --> 00:11:04.467
  • It's--lets everybody know i have decided to follow jesus.
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  • No turning back, no turning back.
  • 00:11:07.169 --> 00:11:09.305
  • It's the very first thing he asked us to do once we get
  • 00:11:09.305 --> 00:11:12.408
  • Saved, once we repent and believe.
  • 00:11:12.408 --> 00:11:14.243
  • He said, "now give a testimony through baptism."
  • 00:11:14.243 --> 00:11:17.113
  • He's asking you to go down in the water and come back up to
  • 00:11:17.113 --> 00:11:20.316
  • Let people know that you belong to him.
  • 00:11:20.316 --> 00:11:23.953
  • We can do that.
  • 00:11:23.953 --> 00:11:26.055
  • It's critically important, but it doesn't produce salvation
  • 00:11:26.055 --> 00:11:31.460
  • Because it's a work, and salvation is all of grace.
  • 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:35.865
  • "it's not of works, lest any man should boast."
  • 00:11:35.865 --> 00:11:39.635
  • Now, there are two examples in scripture that show us beyond
  • 00:11:39.635 --> 00:11:44.607
  • Any shadow of any doubt that baptism doesn't save you and you
  • 00:11:44.607 --> 00:11:48.978
  • Don't have to be baptized to go to heaven.
  • 00:11:48.978 --> 00:11:51.714
  • But if you're really saved, you'll wanna be baptized and you
  • 00:11:51.714 --> 00:11:54.683
  • Wanna be baptized soon.
  • 00:11:54.683 --> 00:11:56.719
  • The ethiopian eunuch in acts chapter 8 when philip shared the
  • 00:11:56.719 --> 00:12:00.556
  • Gospel with him, and he put his faith and trust in jesus and he
  • 00:12:00.556 --> 00:12:03.492
  • Says to philip, "look, water.
  • 00:12:03.492 --> 00:12:04.860
  • What prevents me from being baptized?"
  • 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:06.495
  • He said, "if you really believe with all your heart, you may."
  • 00:12:06.495 --> 00:12:09.165
  • He said, "i believe that jesus is the christ, the son of god."
  • 00:12:09.165 --> 00:12:12.968
  • And so philip took him down into the water and baptized him.
  • 00:12:12.968 --> 00:12:15.771
  • It doesn't mean anything until you really believe.
  • 00:12:15.771 --> 00:12:19.775
  • But we know that the thief on the cross couldn't be baptized.
  • 00:12:19.775 --> 00:12:22.478
  • He appealed to jesus, he owned his sin, "i'm getting what
  • 00:12:22.478 --> 00:12:26.682
  • I deserve.
  • 00:12:26.682 --> 00:12:28.017
  • This man has done nothing wrong.
  • 00:12:28.017 --> 00:12:29.385
  • Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
  • 00:12:29.385 --> 00:12:30.719
  • And jesus said to him, "truly, i say to you, today you shall be
  • 00:12:30.719 --> 00:12:33.989
  • With me in paradise."
  • 00:12:33.989 --> 00:12:35.324
  • He was saved, he wasn't baptized.
  • 00:12:35.324 --> 00:12:36.892
  • He went to heaven.
  • 00:12:36.892 --> 00:12:38.227
  • You'll see him, meet him.
  • 00:12:38.227 --> 00:12:39.595
  • If you go to heaven, you'll meet him in glory.
  • 00:12:39.595 --> 00:12:42.097
  • Well, so he didn't have to be baptized to be saved.
  • 00:12:42.097 --> 00:12:45.301
  • And you know who else, definitive case, that shows that
  • 00:12:45.301 --> 00:12:49.705
  • Baptism does not produce salvation?
  • 00:12:49.705 --> 00:12:52.508
  • Acts chapter 10, cornelius.
  • 00:12:52.508 --> 00:12:54.777
  • And cornelius calls for peter to come preach the gospel to him,
  • 00:12:54.777 --> 00:12:58.881
  • And peter does, and he's preaching to him about jesus and
  • 00:12:58.881 --> 00:13:02.284
  • About forgiveness and salvation.
  • 00:13:02.284 --> 00:13:04.954
  • And this is what the scripture says.
  • 00:13:04.954 --> 00:13:06.655
  • "while peter was still speaking these words, the holy spirit
  • 00:13:06.655 --> 00:13:10.492
  • Fell upon those who were listening to the message.
  • 00:13:10.492 --> 00:13:13.095
  • And all the circumcised believers who had come with
  • 00:13:13.095 --> 00:13:15.531
  • Peter were amazed," the circumcised believers, they're
  • 00:13:15.531 --> 00:13:18.133
  • Talking about jews, "who had come with peter were amazed,
  • 00:13:18.133 --> 00:13:20.469
  • Because the gift of the holy spirit had been poured out upon
  • 00:13:20.469 --> 00:13:23.072
  • The gentiles also."
  • 00:13:23.072 --> 00:13:24.640
  • I mean, gentiles are--gentiles, no way would god say gentiles.
  • 00:13:24.640 --> 00:13:29.545
  • Yeah, he does say gentiles and he gives the holy spirit to
  • 00:13:29.545 --> 00:13:32.181
  • Gentiles, and that's a good thing because you are a gentile
  • 00:13:32.181 --> 00:13:34.717
  • And so am i. it says, "and--for they were all hearing them
  • 00:13:34.717 --> 00:13:38.721
  • Speaking with tongues and exalting god."
  • 00:13:38.721 --> 00:13:41.123
  • Just like they did in acts chapter 2, they were doing in
  • 00:13:41.123 --> 00:13:43.525
  • Acts chapter 10.
  • 00:13:43.525 --> 00:13:44.860
  • "then peter answered, 'surely no one can refuse the water for
  • 00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:47.897
  • These to be baptized who have received the holy spirit just as
  • 00:13:47.897 --> 00:13:51.133
  • We did, can he?'
  • 00:13:51.133 --> 00:13:52.468
  • And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of
  • 00:13:52.468 --> 00:13:54.169
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:13:54.169 --> 00:13:55.504
  • Then they asked him to stay on for a few days."
  • 00:13:55.504 --> 00:13:57.640
  • So if you receive the holy spirit and he comes to live
  • 00:13:57.640 --> 00:14:04.847
  • Inside of you, and the evidence is you're speaking of the mighty
  • 00:14:04.847 --> 00:14:08.684
  • Deeds of god in a language you've never learned but in a
  • 00:14:08.684 --> 00:14:11.687
  • Language that people can understand because they know it,
  • 00:14:11.687 --> 00:14:14.390
  • It's not gibberish, it's a language that they knew, you are
  • 00:14:14.390 --> 00:14:18.827
  • Saved and you haven't yet been baptized.
  • 00:14:18.827 --> 00:14:22.731
  • That's what peter said.
  • 00:14:22.731 --> 00:14:24.066
  • He ordered them to be baptized.
  • 00:14:24.066 --> 00:14:25.434
  • "it's obvious these people have been saved.
  • 00:14:25.434 --> 00:14:26.902
  • Now, let's baptize them."
  • 00:14:26.902 --> 00:14:30.639
  • You receive the holy spirit, you're a christian.
  • 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:32.508
  • What does it mean to be a christian?
  • 00:14:32.508 --> 00:14:34.576
  • It means that you have god living inside of you.
  • 00:14:34.576 --> 00:14:37.012
  • That's what a christian is.
  • 00:14:37.012 --> 00:14:38.414
  • To be saved is to be plus god.
  • 00:14:38.414 --> 00:14:40.182
  • To be lost is to be minus god.
  • 00:14:40.182 --> 00:14:42.451
  • And when the holy spirit comes in and he indwells you, you
  • 00:14:42.451 --> 00:14:46.522
  • Are saved.
  • 00:14:46.522 --> 00:14:47.856
  • You've been sealed with the holy spirit of promise.
  • 00:14:47.856 --> 00:14:50.059
  • You give a testimony through baptism.
  • 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:53.362
  • So the first decision: i repent and believe.
  • 00:14:53.362 --> 00:14:56.031
  • Question.
  • 00:14:56.031 --> 00:14:57.366
  • Have you done that?
  • 00:14:57.366 --> 00:14:59.635
  • Second decision deals with obedience and identification.
  • 00:14:59.635 --> 00:15:04.673
  • Have you followed the lord in believer's baptism?
  • 00:15:04.673 --> 00:15:09.078
  • Have you put on the wedding ring of the christian life?
  • 00:15:09.078 --> 00:15:11.513
  • Have you said to the world, "i have decided to follow jesus.
  • 00:15:11.513 --> 00:15:14.350
  • No turning back, no turning back.
  • 00:15:14.350 --> 00:15:15.884
  • And i'm not ashamed of him and i'm willing to do whatever"--my
  • 00:15:15.884 --> 00:15:19.755
  • Pastor used to say, "if jesus told us to stand on our head as
  • 00:15:19.755 --> 00:15:23.792
  • A testimony to the fact that we put our faith and trust in him,
  • 00:15:23.792 --> 00:15:26.829
  • We--ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do or die."
  • 00:15:26.829 --> 00:15:29.932
  • Yes, lord, because you are both lord and christ.
  • 00:15:29.932 --> 00:15:33.736
  • Decision number three.
  • 00:15:33.736 --> 00:15:35.270
  • The third decision deals with church membership and church
  • 00:15:35.270 --> 00:15:40.009
  • Participation and activity.
  • 00:15:40.009 --> 00:15:42.811
  • It says in verse 41, "so then, those who had received his word
  • 00:15:42.811 --> 00:15:46.949
  • Were baptized; and there were added that day about three
  • 00:15:46.949 --> 00:15:50.352
  • Thousand souls."
  • 00:15:50.352 --> 00:15:52.654
  • How did they know?
  • 00:15:52.654 --> 00:15:54.023
  • They counted them.
  • 00:15:54.023 --> 00:15:55.357
  • That's how they knew.
  • 00:15:55.357 --> 00:15:56.692
  • They counted them.
  • 00:15:56.692 --> 00:15:58.060
  • Some people say, "well, you guys are all--you're just interested
  • 00:15:58.060 --> 00:16:00.129
  • In money.
  • 00:16:00.129 --> 00:16:01.463
  • You always count--are interested in the numbers.
  • 00:16:01.463 --> 00:16:03.165
  • You're always counting numbers.
  • 00:16:03.165 --> 00:16:04.733
  • Like, why are you so interested in numbers?
  • 00:16:04.733 --> 00:16:06.468
  • God's not interested in numbers."
  • 00:16:06.468 --> 00:16:08.003
  • He's not?
  • 00:16:08.003 --> 00:16:09.371
  • There's a whole book of the bible called numbers.
  • 00:16:09.371 --> 00:16:11.073
  • He's pretty interested in numbers, right?
  • 00:16:11.073 --> 00:16:14.309
  • Three thousand, they counted them.
  • 00:16:14.309 --> 00:16:16.378
  • Then we're gonna find out that that's 5000 a little later on.
  • 00:16:16.378 --> 00:16:21.183
  • And so it's important.
  • 00:16:21.183 --> 00:16:22.518
  • Why?
  • 00:16:22.518 --> 00:16:23.886
  • We count because people matter.
  • 00:16:23.886 --> 00:16:26.722
  • And so they counted those that followed the lord and those who
  • 00:16:26.722 --> 00:16:30.292
  • Were baptized, and they were added to the church.
  • 00:16:30.292 --> 00:16:33.228
  • They were added to their number.
  • 00:16:33.228 --> 00:16:35.397
  • Church membership is important.
  • 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:42.504
  • Church participation and activity is important.
  • 00:16:42.504 --> 00:16:47.109
  • God saved us to live in spiritual community.
  • 00:16:47.109 --> 00:16:52.381
  • He didn't save us to live, just, floating around out
  • 00:16:52.381 --> 00:16:56.285
  • By ourselves.
  • 00:16:56.285 --> 00:16:57.653
  • No, when you put your faith and trust in jesus christ, you're a
  • 00:16:57.653 --> 00:17:00.756
  • Part of the family of god, and god wants you to be involved in
  • 00:17:00.756 --> 00:17:04.760
  • The family.
  • 00:17:04.760 --> 00:17:06.095
  • He wants you to be an active member of the family.
  • 00:17:06.095 --> 00:17:08.664
  • Jesus said, "upon this rock i will build my church, and the
  • 00:17:08.664 --> 00:17:13.135
  • Gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
  • 00:17:13.135 --> 00:17:15.704
  • And see, god uses the church to provide spiritual protection
  • 00:17:15.704 --> 00:17:20.576
  • And accountability.
  • 00:17:20.576 --> 00:17:22.177
  • Those things are important.
  • 00:17:22.177 --> 00:17:23.979
  • How does the church help you?
  • 00:17:23.979 --> 00:17:25.914
  • The gathering of the saints of god, the gathering of the people
  • 00:17:25.914 --> 00:17:28.784
  • Of god.
  • 00:17:28.784 --> 00:17:30.152
  • And church is a time where we worship the lord in spirit
  • 00:17:30.152 --> 00:17:33.021
  • And truth.
  • 00:17:33.021 --> 00:17:34.356
  • Unbelievers are definitely welcome.
  • 00:17:34.356 --> 00:17:35.824
  • They're always welcome here.
  • 00:17:35.824 --> 00:17:37.392
  • But the reason we gather is not to entertain unbelievers.
  • 00:17:37.392 --> 00:17:42.097
  • It's to worship the lord, and that's what we do, and we invite
  • 00:17:42.097 --> 00:17:46.335
  • People to come in.
  • 00:17:46.335 --> 00:17:47.703
  • We're going to worship our king.
  • 00:17:47.703 --> 00:17:49.037
  • We want you to see what that is all about.
  • 00:17:49.037 --> 00:17:51.273
  • But we're not here to entertain you.
  • 00:17:51.273 --> 00:17:54.009
  • We're here to worship him.
  • 00:17:54.009 --> 00:17:56.044
  • And so we come together as a church, and the church provides
  • 00:17:56.044 --> 00:18:00.382
  • Spiritual protection and accountability.
  • 00:18:00.382 --> 00:18:04.353
  • I've seen this over and over and over in my years as a pastor.
  • 00:18:04.353 --> 00:18:07.723
  • People, they're involved in church and they're doing great.
  • 00:18:07.723 --> 00:18:11.126
  • And then what happens?
  • 00:18:11.126 --> 00:18:12.494
  • Something happens.
  • 00:18:12.494 --> 00:18:13.962
  • They--maybe they start dating somebody that pulls them away
  • 00:18:13.962 --> 00:18:16.732
  • From the church, or maybe other things start coming in, kids's
  • 00:18:16.732 --> 00:18:20.769
  • Sports a lot of times.
  • 00:18:20.769 --> 00:18:22.104
  • "well, we can't come because we have this and that," and they
  • 00:18:22.104 --> 00:18:24.473
  • Pile their schedule with all these other things that
  • 00:18:24.473 --> 00:18:26.341
  • Don't matter.
  • 00:18:26.341 --> 00:18:27.709
  • And they start drifting away from the church and they say,
  • 00:18:27.709 --> 00:18:29.344
  • "well, it's no big deal."
  • 00:18:29.344 --> 00:18:30.679
  • It's a big deal.
  • 00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:32.014
  • And what happens to those people over time?
  • 00:18:32.014 --> 00:18:33.882
  • Their heart cools for the lord.
  • 00:18:33.882 --> 00:18:36.084
  • And then their lives start going down the tubes and their
  • 00:18:36.084 --> 00:18:38.687
  • Marriage starts having trouble and their family starts having
  • 00:18:38.687 --> 00:18:41.123
  • Trouble, and they teach their sons and their daughters that
  • 00:18:41.123 --> 00:18:44.193
  • Little league is more important than god.
  • 00:18:44.193 --> 00:18:46.495
  • It's a horrible thing to teach your kids.
  • 00:18:46.495 --> 00:18:48.830
  • You teach them that the lord, he is god, the lord, he is god, and
  • 00:18:48.830 --> 00:18:52.201
  • We worship him and serve him because he is worthy,
  • 00:18:52.201 --> 00:18:55.704
  • Worthy, worthy.
  • 00:18:55.704 --> 00:18:57.139
  • That is critical.
  • 00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:59.374
  • Hebrews 13:17 says, "obey your leaders, and submit to them; for
  • 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:08.650
  • They keep watch over your souls, as those who will give
  • 00:19:08.650 --> 00:19:11.820
  • An account.
  • 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:13.155
  • Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would
  • 00:19:13.155 --> 00:19:15.157
  • Be unprofitable for you."
  • 00:19:15.157 --> 00:19:18.493
  • Hey, spiritual protection, spiritual accountability, those
  • 00:19:18.493 --> 00:19:22.130
  • Things are good things.
  • 00:19:22.130 --> 00:19:23.498
  • They're not bad things.
  • 00:19:23.498 --> 00:19:25.300
  • Hey, first decision, you've repented and believed.
  • 00:19:25.300 --> 00:19:30.205
  • Have you done that?
  • 00:19:30.205 --> 00:19:31.573
  • Second decision, you followed the lord in believers baptism.
  • 00:19:31.573 --> 00:19:33.642
  • You said, "i'm not ashamed of jesus.
  • 00:19:33.642 --> 00:19:37.012
  • I want the world to know that i belong to jesus."
  • 00:19:37.012 --> 00:19:39.281
  • Third decision, that i'm an active member of the church and
  • 00:19:39.281 --> 00:19:43.752
  • I'm here.
  • 00:19:43.752 --> 00:19:45.087
  • And i'm not just coming once a month when the mood hits me.
  • 00:19:45.087 --> 00:19:48.490
  • I am participating and i am using the gifts and talents god
  • 00:19:48.490 --> 00:19:52.060
  • Has given me.
  • 00:19:52.060 --> 00:19:53.428
  • And the fourth decision, very quickly, the fourth decision
  • 00:19:53.428 --> 00:19:55.597
  • Deals with spiritual growth.
  • 00:19:55.597 --> 00:19:57.899
  • So you may be hearing, you say, "well, i've done the
  • 00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:59.801
  • First decision.
  • 00:19:59.801 --> 00:20:01.169
  • I've done the second decision.
  • 00:20:01.169 --> 00:20:02.504
  • I've done the third decision."
  • 00:20:02.504 --> 00:20:03.872
  • But what about the fourth decision?
  • 00:20:03.872 --> 00:20:05.207
  • What about spiritual growth?
  • 00:20:05.207 --> 00:20:06.575
  • Are you growing in your relationship with the lord?
  • 00:20:06.575 --> 00:20:09.244
  • 2 peter 3:18, "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our lord
  • 00:20:09.244 --> 00:20:12.614
  • And savior jesus christ."
  • 00:20:12.614 --> 00:20:14.549
  • And so this is what the scripture says, verse 42, "and
  • 00:20:14.549 --> 00:20:17.319
  • They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles'
  • 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:20.856
  • Teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and
  • 00:20:20.856 --> 00:20:23.959
  • To prayer.
  • 00:20:23.959 --> 00:20:25.294
  • And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders
  • 00:20:25.294 --> 00:20:28.163
  • And signs were taking place through the apostles.
  • 00:20:28.163 --> 00:20:30.599
  • And all those who had believed were together, and had all
  • 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:34.036
  • Things in common; and they began selling their property and
  • 00:20:34.036 --> 00:20:36.438
  • Possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might
  • 00:20:36.438 --> 00:20:39.841
  • Have need.
  • 00:20:39.841 --> 00:20:41.209
  • And day by day, continuing with one mind in the temple, and
  • 00:20:41.209 --> 00:20:44.513
  • Breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their
  • 00:20:44.513 --> 00:20:47.049
  • Meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising
  • 00:20:47.049 --> 00:20:51.953
  • God, and having favor with all the people."
  • 00:20:51.953 --> 00:20:54.790
  • Man, they were growing spiritually.
  • 00:20:55.691 --> 00:20:58.093
  • Are you growing spiritually?
  • 00:20:58.093 --> 00:20:59.561
  • Have you made that decision to grow spiritually?
  • 00:20:59.561 --> 00:21:02.631
  • There is no substitute for prayer and bible study
  • 00:21:02.631 --> 00:21:05.934
  • And fellowship.
  • 00:21:05.934 --> 00:21:07.302
  • Those things are critical.
  • 00:21:07.302 --> 00:21:08.970
  • There's no substitute for gathering with the people of
  • 00:21:08.970 --> 00:21:11.373
  • God, as they would hear the apostles's teaching.
  • 00:21:11.373 --> 00:21:13.275
  • That's big group.
  • 00:21:13.275 --> 00:21:14.643
  • And then they would be house to house.
  • 00:21:14.643 --> 00:21:15.977
  • That's small group.
  • 00:21:15.977 --> 00:21:17.346
  • We need big group time, we need small group time.
  • 00:21:17.346 --> 00:21:18.680
  • We need bible study time, we need prayer time.
  • 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:20.682
  • We need fellowship time.
  • 00:21:20.682 --> 00:21:22.551
  • Hey, online church and tv church, all those things
  • 00:21:22.551 --> 00:21:25.554
  • Are great.
  • 00:21:25.554 --> 00:21:26.888
  • They're great supplements, they're not great substitutes,
  • 00:21:26.888 --> 00:21:28.757
  • Because you can't substitute fellowship for something on
  • 00:21:28.757 --> 00:21:32.627
  • A screen.
  • 00:21:32.627 --> 00:21:34.029
  • You need--it's just like facebook.
  • 00:21:34.029 --> 00:21:36.898
  • I've told you before, i have 5000 facebook friends.
  • 00:21:36.898 --> 00:21:41.536
  • I don't have 5000 friends.
  • 00:21:41.536 --> 00:21:44.573
  • Sometimes i wonder if i have 50.
  • 00:21:44.573 --> 00:21:46.775
  • But, just, all these facebook friends.
  • 00:21:46.775 --> 00:21:48.577
  • "i'm your friend on facebook."
  • 00:21:48.577 --> 00:21:49.945
  • I don't even know who you are.
  • 00:21:49.945 --> 00:21:51.279
  • I've never even met you.
  • 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.614
  • We're not really, you know, great friends if i don't know
  • 00:21:52.614 --> 00:21:54.816
  • Who you are.
  • 00:21:54.816 --> 00:21:56.184
  • So you have to have the interaction time.
  • 00:21:56.184 --> 00:21:57.586
  • We need all that, the fellowship time, the one-on-one time
  • 00:21:57.586 --> 00:22:00.655
  • With people.
  • 00:22:00.655 --> 00:22:02.023
  • And there's no substitute for that.
  • 00:22:02.023 --> 00:22:03.625
  • You never get past that prayer and bible study and fellowship
  • 00:22:03.625 --> 00:22:07.996
  • And gathering and worship and praising god.
  • 00:22:07.996 --> 00:22:10.632
  • You never do.
  • 00:22:10.632 --> 00:22:12.000
  • And the bible is our food.
  • 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.335
  • It's our milk, it's our meat, it's our bread.
  • 00:22:13.335 --> 00:22:16.104
  • And communing with god through prayer, that connects us to
  • 00:22:16.104 --> 00:22:19.875
  • The lord.
  • 00:22:19.875 --> 00:22:21.243
  • Those things are critical.
  • 00:22:21.243 --> 00:22:22.577
  • How are you doing with that?
  • 00:22:22.577 --> 00:22:23.945
  • Are you growing in your knowledge of the lord?
  • 00:22:23.945 --> 00:22:26.515
  • In your hunger for the lord?
  • 00:22:26.515 --> 00:22:28.216
  • In your fellowship with the lord?
  • 00:22:28.216 --> 00:22:30.786
  • And then, god wonderfully transforms the life of a
  • 00:22:30.786 --> 00:22:34.022
  • Growing believer.
  • 00:22:34.022 --> 00:22:35.357
  • What's the result?
  • 00:22:35.357 --> 00:22:36.725
  • Man, you're gonna have a heart that's totally changed.
  • 00:22:36.725 --> 00:22:38.360
  • You're gonna wanna give, and they're a giving church.
  • 00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:40.729
  • You're gonna wanna praise, and they're a praising church.
  • 00:22:40.729 --> 00:22:42.731
  • There's gonna be awe,
  • 00:22:42.731 --> 00:22:44.065
  • God's gonna be at work.
  • 00:22:44.065 --> 00:22:45.500
  • It is gonna be awesome.
  • 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.968
  • You are changed from glory to glory,
  • 00:22:46.968 --> 00:22:48.970
  • As it says in 2 corinthians chapter 3.
  • 00:22:48.970 --> 00:22:52.240
  • And the lord does a work in you, "for it
  • 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:54.242
  • Is god who is at work in you both to will and to work for his
  • 00:22:54.242 --> 00:22:56.645
  • Good pleasure."
  • 00:22:56.645 --> 00:22:58.013
  • And people begin to notice.
  • 00:22:58.013 --> 00:23:00.315
  • The sweet aroma of the knowledge of you--of him goes forth in
  • 00:23:00.315 --> 00:23:03.885
  • Every place you go.
  • 00:23:03.885 --> 00:23:05.220
  • People start noticing.
  • 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.588
  • Hey, when you see a growing christian, you notice there's
  • 00:23:06.588 --> 00:23:09.024
  • Something different about them.
  • 00:23:09.024 --> 00:23:10.926
  • Man, they're excited about jesus.
  • 00:23:10.926 --> 00:23:13.528
  • There's praise on their lips, there's joy in their heart.
  • 00:23:13.528 --> 00:23:16.865
  • This isn't--they're not putting on a show.
  • 00:23:16.865 --> 00:23:18.767
  • They're different in the way they act.
  • 00:23:18.767 --> 00:23:20.435
  • They're different in the way they react.
  • 00:23:20.435 --> 00:23:22.204
  • You pull them--you know, you pull out in front of them on the
  • 00:23:22.204 --> 00:23:25.106
  • Road and all of a sudden you find out what's really--people
  • 00:23:25.106 --> 00:23:28.043
  • Are really like, right?
  • 00:23:28.043 --> 00:23:30.045
  • But for a christian that's growing, what--and when you're
  • 00:23:30.045 --> 00:23:32.914
  • Filled up with jesus, you put the squeeze on somebody, out
  • 00:23:32.914 --> 00:23:35.517
  • Comes jesus.
  • 00:23:35.517 --> 00:23:36.885
  • And they respond in grace and kindness, and not in selfishness
  • 00:23:36.885 --> 00:23:43.391
  • And ugliness.
  • 00:23:43.391 --> 00:23:45.126
  • God wonderfully transforms the life of a growing believer.
  • 00:23:45.126 --> 00:23:48.330
  • And it says in verse 47, "and the lord was adding to their
  • 00:23:48.330 --> 00:23:51.166
  • Number day by day those who were being saved."
  • 00:23:51.166 --> 00:23:55.036
  • Man, they had impact.
  • 00:23:55.036 --> 00:23:57.305
  • Does your life have impact?
  • 00:23:57.305 --> 00:24:01.276
  • People follow you around and they say, "man, whatever you
  • 00:24:01.276 --> 00:24:04.045
  • Have, i want it because there is--there's a--the power of god
  • 00:24:04.045 --> 00:24:09.050
  • Is on your life.
  • 00:24:09.050 --> 00:24:10.418
  • The sweet aroma, the knowledge of him is on your life.
  • 00:24:10.418 --> 00:24:11.920
  • Tell me what that means"?
  • 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.321
  • "you have something i don't have."
  • 00:24:13.321 --> 00:24:16.258
  • That's what it means to be a witness.
  • 00:24:16.258 --> 00:24:18.560
  • Well, yeah, are you growing more like jesus, or are you
  • 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:22.197
  • Crabby and mean and bitter?
  • 00:24:22.197 --> 00:24:25.433
  • And nobody wants to be around you?
  • 00:24:25.433 --> 00:24:27.235
  • And everything is negative?
  • 00:24:27.235 --> 00:24:29.504
  • Well, what has happened to you?
  • 00:24:29.504 --> 00:24:31.740
  • Obviously, you need to make decision number four, that you
  • 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:35.243
  • Would continue to grow spiritually so you'd be more
  • 00:24:35.243 --> 00:24:38.713
  • Like jesus.
  • 00:24:38.713 --> 00:24:42.284
  • Decision time.
  • 00:24:42.284 --> 00:24:44.953
  • I don't know what decision you need to make, but i know that
  • 00:24:44.953 --> 00:24:49.558
  • There's not a person in this room that doesn't need to make a
  • 00:24:49.558 --> 00:24:52.327
  • Decision today.
  • 00:24:52.327 --> 00:24:53.695
  • Jeff: no matter where you are in life, god's love and care is
  • 00:24:56.197 --> 00:24:59.634
  • Always available.
  • 00:24:59.634 --> 00:25:01.269
  • And you can discover the depth of his love for you each day in
  • 00:25:01.269 --> 00:25:04.472
  • 2025 in a brand-new daily devotional book called, "god's
  • 00:25:04.472 --> 00:25:08.610
  • Mercy, grace, and compassion."
  • 00:25:08.610 --> 00:25:10.946
  • I had the honor of joining with 47 other pastors and christian
  • 00:25:10.946 --> 00:25:14.282
  • Leaders to produce this brand-new, high-quality book
  • 00:25:14.282 --> 00:25:18.053
  • That features daily scripture readings, inspiring devotional
  • 00:25:18.053 --> 00:25:21.823
  • Thoughts, and a daily prayer that i believe will help you
  • 00:25:21.823 --> 00:25:25.293
  • Walk more closely with the lord.
  • 00:25:25.293 --> 00:25:27.395
  • We hope you'll contact us today to get your copy of this new,
  • 00:25:27.395 --> 00:25:30.932
  • Year-long daily devotional that will help you grow in gratitude
  • 00:25:30.932 --> 00:25:34.869
  • For god's mercy, grace, and compassion.
  • 00:25:34.869 --> 00:25:38.340
  • Here's how you can get yours.
  • 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:40.575
  • Male announcer: to get your copy of this beautiful and inspiring
  • 00:25:40.575 --> 00:25:43.445
  • Year-long daily devotional book, "god's mercy, grace, and
  • 00:25:43.445 --> 00:25:46.781
  • Compassion," either for yourself or as a present for a friend,
  • 00:25:46.781 --> 00:25:50.619
  • Make your timely and important calendar year-end gift to from
  • 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:53.922
  • His heart today.
  • 00:25:53.922 --> 00:25:55.290
  • To help us sustain and expand our reach in 2025, call
  • 00:25:55.290 --> 00:25:59.427
  • 877-777-6171, or go to fromhisheart.org and make that
  • 00:25:59.427 --> 00:26:06.901
  • Year-end gift today.
  • 00:26:06.901 --> 00:26:08.803
  • Jeff: we've been talking about the three gifts of christmas, so
  • 00:26:08.870 --> 00:26:11.673
  • Here's the question: have you given jesus the greatest gift?
  • 00:26:11.673 --> 00:26:15.777
  • That's the gift of your heart.
  • 00:26:15.777 --> 00:26:17.479
  • Have you surrendered to him?
  • 00:26:17.479 --> 00:26:19.781
  • If not, you can do it right now.
  • 00:26:19.781 --> 00:26:22.584
  • Just pray this simple prayer with me.
  • 00:26:22.584 --> 00:26:24.686
  • "lord jesus, i'm a sinner and i'm lost and i can't
  • 00:26:24.686 --> 00:26:30.025
  • Save myself.
  • 00:26:30.025 --> 00:26:31.459
  • But i believe that you are god in the flesh, i believe you died
  • 00:26:31.459 --> 00:26:35.597
  • On the cross for my sins, and rose again from the dead.
  • 00:26:35.597 --> 00:26:39.134
  • And right now, jesus, i surrender my heart and my life
  • 00:26:39.134 --> 00:26:43.505
  • To you.
  • 00:26:43.505 --> 00:26:44.839
  • Come into my life, forgive me of all my sins, be my lord
  • 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:48.176
  • And savior.
  • 00:26:48.176 --> 00:26:49.511
  • And i promise to follow you all the days of my life."
  • 00:26:49.511 --> 00:26:53.114
  • My friend, if you'll pray that kind of prayer and mean it, the
  • 00:26:53.114 --> 00:26:56.284
  • Lord will come in, and your life will never be the same.
  • 00:26:56.284 --> 00:27:00.388
  • We'd love to hear from you.
  • 00:27:00.388 --> 00:27:01.823
  • If you just prayed that prayer
  • 00:27:01.823 --> 00:27:03.324
  • To receive christ,
  • 00:27:03.324 --> 00:27:04.826
  • If this program is a blessing
  • 00:27:04.826 --> 00:27:06.161
  • To you, let us know.
  • 00:27:06.161 --> 00:27:07.495
  • You're important to god
  • 00:27:07.495 --> 00:27:08.830
  • And you're important to us,
  • 00:27:08.830 --> 00:27:10.165
  • And we're here for you.
  • 00:27:10.165 --> 00:27:11.499
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:11.499 --> 00:27:17.005
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 aberdeen.io
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