1 00:00:01,696 --> 00:00:03,501 Good to be with you. 2 00:00:03,501 --> 00:00:05,128 I'm going to speak to you 3 00:00:05,128 --> 00:00:08,489 about the greatness of Jesus Christ. 4 00:00:08,489 --> 00:00:10,345 I'm going to speak firstly 5 00:00:10,345 --> 00:00:14,046 about the greatness of His person, 6 00:00:14,046 --> 00:00:15,798 and then at the next section, 7 00:00:15,798 --> 00:00:16,994 I'm going to speak about 8 00:00:16,994 --> 00:00:19,113 the greatness of His work. 9 00:00:19,113 --> 00:00:20,904 And I'm going to do that 10 00:00:20,904 --> 00:00:24,016 from the letter to the Hebrews 11 00:00:24,016 --> 00:00:26,113 and the opening chapter, 12 00:00:26,113 --> 00:00:30,435 going on to verse 4 of chapter 2 13 00:00:30,435 --> 00:00:33,808 where we are asked this great question: 14 00:00:33,808 --> 00:00:37,263 "How shall we escape if we neglect 15 00:00:37,263 --> 00:00:39,664 so great a salvation?" 16 00:00:39,664 --> 00:00:42,818 And our salvation is so great 17 00:00:42,818 --> 00:00:46,153 because our Savior Jesus Christ 18 00:00:46,153 --> 00:00:48,002 is so great. 19 00:00:48,002 --> 00:00:52,011 And what he does in this first chapter 20 00:00:52,011 --> 00:00:55,077 is to show us the greatness of Christ. 21 00:00:55,077 --> 00:00:58,514 So I will read to you the opening few verses 22 00:00:58,514 --> 00:01:02,142 from Hebrews 1 and pray, 23 00:01:02,142 --> 00:01:05,819 and then we will turn to this subject. 24 00:01:05,819 --> 00:01:08,647 So, Hebrews 1: 25 00:01:08,647 --> 00:01:13,591 "In the past, God spoke to our forefathers 26 00:01:13,591 --> 00:01:18,586 through the prophets at many times 27 00:01:18,586 --> 00:01:21,011 and in various ways, 28 00:01:21,011 --> 00:01:23,590 but in these last days, 29 00:01:23,590 --> 00:01:27,192 He has spoken to us by His Son 30 00:01:27,192 --> 00:01:31,794 whom He has appointed heir of all things 31 00:01:31,794 --> 00:01:35,259 and through whom He made the universe. 32 00:01:35,259 --> 00:01:38,208 The Son is the radiance of God's glory 33 00:01:38,208 --> 00:01:41,540 and the exact representation of His being 34 00:01:41,540 --> 00:01:45,785 sustaining all things by His powerful word. 35 00:01:45,785 --> 00:01:49,213 After He had provided purification for sins, 36 00:01:49,213 --> 00:01:52,000 He sat down at the right hand 37 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:53,877 of the Majesty in Heaven, 38 00:01:53,877 --> 00:01:58,443 and so He became as much superior to the angels 39 00:01:58,443 --> 00:02:00,996 as the name He has inherited 40 00:02:00,996 --> 00:02:04,341 is superior to theirs." 41 00:02:04,341 --> 00:02:07,869 Let us pray. 42 00:02:07,869 --> 00:02:09,343 We bless Thee, Lord, 43 00:02:09,343 --> 00:02:12,990 for these great words that we've read together, 44 00:02:12,990 --> 00:02:16,339 and we pray that they will register 45 00:02:16,339 --> 00:02:20,168 on our minds and our consciences 46 00:02:20,168 --> 00:02:22,870 and our affections, 47 00:02:22,870 --> 00:02:26,062 so that the end of it all 48 00:02:26,062 --> 00:02:30,316 will be that we will love Thee, 49 00:02:30,316 --> 00:02:32,292 our God and Savior, 50 00:02:32,292 --> 00:02:35,170 far more than we've loved Thee 51 00:02:35,170 --> 00:02:37,208 so far in our lives, 52 00:02:37,208 --> 00:02:41,462 and not as much as we will love Thee tomorrow. 53 00:02:41,462 --> 00:02:43,254 We pray, loving God, 54 00:02:43,254 --> 00:02:45,790 Thy blessing on us all, 55 00:02:45,790 --> 00:02:48,976 on those here for the first time, 56 00:02:48,976 --> 00:02:51,550 on the youngest Christian, 57 00:02:51,550 --> 00:02:55,150 on those that are very near to the kingdom of God, 58 00:02:55,150 --> 00:02:58,653 but have not yet crossed the border. 59 00:02:58,653 --> 00:03:01,569 And we pray for Thy Holy Spirit to come 60 00:03:01,569 --> 00:03:04,511 and help us and do us much good 61 00:03:04,511 --> 00:03:09,504 in this hour of worship around the book. 62 00:03:09,504 --> 00:03:12,903 We ask it for the glory of Jesus our Savior, 63 00:03:12,903 --> 00:03:16,346 Amen. 64 00:03:16,346 --> 00:03:18,977 Now, this is a great salvation 65 00:03:18,977 --> 00:03:21,034 because the Savior is so great. 66 00:03:21,034 --> 00:03:23,668 But this word "great," it's so common, isn't it? 67 00:03:23,668 --> 00:03:25,530 Everything is "great." 68 00:03:25,530 --> 00:03:27,099 Music is great, 69 00:03:27,099 --> 00:03:28,737 and football is great, 70 00:03:28,737 --> 00:03:30,134 sport is great, 71 00:03:30,134 --> 00:03:33,307 food is great. 72 00:03:33,307 --> 00:03:35,257 And there is relative greatness 73 00:03:35,257 --> 00:03:37,029 and there is absolute greatness. 74 00:03:37,029 --> 00:03:39,697 Like back in Britain, 75 00:03:39,697 --> 00:03:41,943 the greatest mountain is Snowden 76 00:03:41,943 --> 00:03:43,349 in North Wales. 77 00:03:43,349 --> 00:03:45,899 It's the highest mountain in England and Wales, 78 00:03:45,899 --> 00:03:48,174 but if you take that 79 00:03:48,174 --> 00:03:50,752 and put it in the Alps in Switzerland, 80 00:03:50,752 --> 00:03:53,046 well, it's a hill. 81 00:03:53,046 --> 00:03:54,909 If you put it in the Himalaya's, 82 00:03:54,909 --> 00:03:56,348 it's a mole hill. 83 00:03:56,348 --> 00:03:59,592 That is great, but it's relative greatness. 84 00:03:59,592 --> 00:04:03,832 We've got a mayor in Aberystwyth. 85 00:04:03,832 --> 00:04:05,651 He's a great man in Aberystwyth, 86 00:04:05,651 --> 00:04:09,251 but compared to the mayor of London, 87 00:04:09,251 --> 00:04:11,675 well, he's just unknown. 88 00:04:11,675 --> 00:04:14,863 And compared to the mayor of New York... 89 00:04:14,863 --> 00:04:17,148 You see, there is relative greatness 90 00:04:17,148 --> 00:04:21,235 and there is absolute greatness. 91 00:04:21,235 --> 00:04:23,187 And we talk about greatness, 92 00:04:23,187 --> 00:04:26,673 and then we find things to compare it to 93 00:04:26,673 --> 00:04:30,010 to show us how great things really are. 94 00:04:30,010 --> 00:04:32,239 And this is what the writer to the Hebrews 95 00:04:32,239 --> 00:04:35,050 does in this passage before us. 96 00:04:35,050 --> 00:04:40,445 He has four or more comparisons 97 00:04:40,445 --> 00:04:44,391 to get us to see the greatness of Christ. 98 00:04:44,391 --> 00:04:46,846 Firstly, he says He's great 99 00:04:46,846 --> 00:04:52,214 in comparison to the prophets. 100 00:04:52,214 --> 00:04:55,446 "God who at sundry times and diverse manners 101 00:04:55,446 --> 00:04:57,515 spake in times past unto our fathers 102 00:04:57,515 --> 00:04:58,836 by the prophets, 103 00:04:58,836 --> 00:05:01,641 has in these last days spoken unto us 104 00:05:01,641 --> 00:05:04,105 by His Son." 105 00:05:04,105 --> 00:05:07,351 You know, a man will ring the doorbell 106 00:05:07,351 --> 00:05:09,716 on a Monday morning at 10:00 107 00:05:09,716 --> 00:05:11,829 and you wonder, "Oh, I wonder who's there?" 108 00:05:11,829 --> 00:05:13,058 And you go to the door 109 00:05:13,058 --> 00:05:14,861 and it's someone who's come 110 00:05:14,861 --> 00:05:18,893 to read the meter to find out 111 00:05:18,893 --> 00:05:22,048 about your electricity or your gas, 112 00:05:22,048 --> 00:05:24,993 and he's coming in and he goes, 113 00:05:24,993 --> 00:05:27,132 and he's your servant. 114 00:05:27,132 --> 00:05:29,821 Or, the postman comes and he delivers a package. 115 00:05:29,821 --> 00:05:33,104 He's a servant. He's come to help you. 116 00:05:33,110 --> 00:05:34,699 And then the doorbell goes again. 117 00:05:34,699 --> 00:05:36,288 Half past ten. 118 00:05:36,288 --> 00:05:38,800 Well, I'm popular this morning. 119 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,397 And you go to the door and you open it. It's your son. 120 00:05:41,397 --> 00:05:46,008 "Surprise, mother!" He says, "Surprise!" 121 00:05:46,008 --> 00:05:47,491 "The firm sent me down here. 122 00:05:47,491 --> 00:05:49,338 I thought I'd give you a surprise." 123 00:05:49,338 --> 00:05:51,041 Well, you give him a hug and a kiss 124 00:05:51,041 --> 00:05:52,565 and you say, "Come in! 125 00:05:52,565 --> 00:05:54,843 How's the wife? And how are the children? 126 00:05:54,843 --> 00:05:56,123 If I knew you were coming, 127 00:05:56,123 --> 00:05:58,305 I'd have baked a cake," you say. 128 00:05:58,305 --> 00:05:59,904 And you give him some coffee 129 00:05:59,904 --> 00:06:01,069 and you talk together. 130 00:06:01,069 --> 00:06:02,273 Because he's your son; 131 00:06:02,273 --> 00:06:04,755 he's not a servant. 132 00:06:04,755 --> 00:06:10,034 Well, God's prophets were servants, weren't they? 133 00:06:10,034 --> 00:06:12,283 And the greatest prophet, I suppose, 134 00:06:12,283 --> 00:06:13,588 would be Elijah. 135 00:06:13,588 --> 00:06:14,864 Because when God 136 00:06:14,864 --> 00:06:16,445 on the Mount of Transfiguration, 137 00:06:16,445 --> 00:06:19,877 when He brings two from Heaven 138 00:06:19,877 --> 00:06:22,196 to speak to Jesus about the death 139 00:06:22,196 --> 00:06:24,484 He was going to accomplish in Jerusalem, 140 00:06:24,484 --> 00:06:26,617 then He brings Moses 141 00:06:26,617 --> 00:06:28,552 who is the representative of the law, 142 00:06:28,552 --> 00:06:30,008 and He brings Elijah, 143 00:06:30,008 --> 00:06:31,906 who was representative of the prophets. 144 00:06:31,906 --> 00:06:33,400 Great Elijah - standing along 145 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,846 against 850 prophets of Baal. 146 00:06:36,846 --> 00:06:38,734 And when he cries to God, 147 00:06:38,734 --> 00:06:41,058 the fire comes down. 148 00:06:41,058 --> 00:06:44,604 And it licks up even the water 149 00:06:44,604 --> 00:06:46,904 in the trench around the altar. 150 00:06:46,904 --> 00:06:48,165 Great Elijah. 151 00:06:48,165 --> 00:06:50,012 But when Jezebel says, 152 00:06:50,012 --> 00:06:51,459 "I'll get you for that. 153 00:06:51,459 --> 00:06:53,880 For killing my prophets - 154 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:55,332 the prophets of Baal - 155 00:06:55,332 --> 00:06:56,388 I'll get you." 156 00:06:56,388 --> 00:06:58,071 He runs, doesn't he? 157 00:06:58,071 --> 00:07:01,343 And he runs and runs for a couple of days 158 00:07:01,343 --> 00:07:03,037 out into the wilderness 159 00:07:03,037 --> 00:07:05,656 until he flops down exhausted 160 00:07:05,656 --> 00:07:10,130 under a juniper tree. 161 00:07:10,130 --> 00:07:12,291 And God comes to him. 162 00:07:12,291 --> 00:07:13,989 Elijah was saying, 163 00:07:13,989 --> 00:07:15,980 "Lord, take away my life. 164 00:07:15,980 --> 00:07:17,744 I'm no better than my fathers. 165 00:07:17,744 --> 00:07:19,718 They were failures. I'm a failure." 166 00:07:19,718 --> 00:07:21,182 God says, 167 00:07:21,182 --> 00:07:26,474 "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 168 00:07:26,474 --> 00:07:28,702 And rebukes him. 169 00:07:28,702 --> 00:07:30,590 The greatest of the prophets. 170 00:07:30,590 --> 00:07:34,584 Well, Jesus never ran away from duty 171 00:07:34,584 --> 00:07:36,479 or the threats of Herod and Pilate 172 00:07:36,479 --> 00:07:37,794 and the Sanhedrin. 173 00:07:37,794 --> 00:07:39,469 He set His face to Jerusalem 174 00:07:39,469 --> 00:07:40,953 and He kept going all the way. 175 00:07:40,953 --> 00:07:44,643 He's greater than Elijah. 176 00:07:44,643 --> 00:07:46,384 Or what would be the greatest 177 00:07:46,384 --> 00:07:51,206 of the writing prophets would be Isaiah. 178 00:07:51,206 --> 00:07:55,525 You know how Isaiah saw the Lord 179 00:07:55,525 --> 00:07:58,270 high and lifted up. 180 00:07:58,270 --> 00:08:02,985 And Isaiah wrote wonderful 181 00:08:02,985 --> 00:08:05,086 photographic pictures 182 00:08:05,086 --> 00:08:08,205 of the suffering of our Savior. 183 00:08:08,205 --> 00:08:09,774 What poetry! What passion! 184 00:08:09,774 --> 00:08:12,269 What pathos was there 185 00:08:12,269 --> 00:08:15,978 in Isaiah's writings! 186 00:08:15,978 --> 00:08:18,703 But when he saw God in the temple, 187 00:08:18,703 --> 00:08:20,947 he said, "Woe is me! I'm undone. 188 00:08:20,947 --> 00:08:22,604 I'm a man of unclean lips. 189 00:08:22,604 --> 00:08:26,497 I dwell amongst a people of unclean lips." 190 00:08:26,497 --> 00:08:29,903 But when Jesus came to speak to God, 191 00:08:29,903 --> 00:08:32,626 He never said, "I'm a man of unclean lips." 192 00:08:32,626 --> 00:08:34,347 He said, "Abba, Father." 193 00:08:34,347 --> 00:08:37,019 He talked to Him familiarly. 194 00:08:37,019 --> 00:08:38,617 And His Father said, 195 00:08:38,617 --> 00:08:40,345 "You're My beloved Son, 196 00:08:40,345 --> 00:08:42,927 and I love everything about You. 197 00:08:42,927 --> 00:08:44,832 I'm so pleased with all that You are 198 00:08:44,832 --> 00:08:46,160 and all You do." 199 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:50,187 So, Christ greater than the writing prophets. 200 00:08:50,187 --> 00:08:55,510 And then, I suppose the greatest prophet 201 00:08:55,510 --> 00:08:59,236 of that whole tradition was John the Baptist. 202 00:08:59,236 --> 00:09:01,563 "No man born of woman is as great 203 00:09:01,563 --> 00:09:03,318 as John the Baptist," Jesus said. 204 00:09:03,318 --> 00:09:07,196 He esteemed him and magnified him. 205 00:09:07,196 --> 00:09:11,410 But when John saw Him, he said, 206 00:09:11,410 --> 00:09:18,819 "I'm not worthy to undo the lace of His sandals." 207 00:09:18,819 --> 00:09:24,010 "I must decrease and He must increase." 208 00:09:24,010 --> 00:09:25,597 He said, "Behold the Lamb of God, 209 00:09:25,597 --> 00:09:27,381 who takes away the sin of the world." 210 00:09:27,381 --> 00:09:31,030 And he was conscious that he shouldn't be 211 00:09:31,030 --> 00:09:33,631 baptizing Jesus, 212 00:09:33,631 --> 00:09:36,829 but Jesus should be baptizing him. 213 00:09:36,829 --> 00:09:39,179 Greater than the greatest - 214 00:09:39,179 --> 00:09:42,139 the Lord Jesus Christ. 215 00:09:42,139 --> 00:09:46,664 So in comparison to that great army of prophets, 216 00:09:46,664 --> 00:09:51,052 many who gave their lives to serve Christ, 217 00:09:51,052 --> 00:09:55,029 Jesus is greater than them all. 218 00:09:55,029 --> 00:09:56,931 He is so great. 219 00:09:56,931 --> 00:09:58,976 Secondly, Jesus is great 220 00:09:58,976 --> 00:10:02,159 in comparison to the angels. 221 00:10:02,159 --> 00:10:06,833 And here in this first chapter, 222 00:10:06,833 --> 00:10:09,532 it's all about comparing Christ 223 00:10:09,532 --> 00:10:11,543 to the angels. 224 00:10:11,543 --> 00:10:15,521 "To which of the angels did God say at any time, 225 00:10:15,521 --> 00:10:19,589 'You are My Son, this day have I begotten Thee.'" 226 00:10:19,589 --> 00:10:21,798 His name is greater 227 00:10:21,798 --> 00:10:23,929 than the name of Gabriel 228 00:10:23,929 --> 00:10:25,818 or the name of Michael 229 00:10:25,818 --> 00:10:31,085 or the name of any archangel in Heaven. 230 00:10:31,085 --> 00:10:34,822 So, His greatness is in comparison 231 00:10:34,822 --> 00:10:37,450 to these illustrious beings. 232 00:10:37,450 --> 00:10:39,735 He has quite a unique grandeur 233 00:10:39,735 --> 00:10:43,149 and a more excellent name than they have. 234 00:10:43,149 --> 00:10:46,140 Angels are magnificent, aren't they? 235 00:10:46,140 --> 00:10:47,947 You remember how one angel 236 00:10:47,947 --> 00:10:51,224 could destroy the whole Assyrian army. 237 00:10:51,224 --> 00:10:56,108 70,000 people - one angel. 238 00:10:56,108 --> 00:11:00,625 When John on the isle of Patmos saw an angel, 239 00:11:00,625 --> 00:11:02,158 he wanted to worship him. 240 00:11:02,158 --> 00:11:06,421 He was so overwhelmed with his greatness. 241 00:11:06,421 --> 00:11:08,826 They've never sinned. 242 00:11:08,826 --> 00:11:10,824 They are so powerful. 243 00:11:10,824 --> 00:11:12,553 They speed to do God's will. 244 00:11:12,553 --> 00:11:14,210 They gather before God 245 00:11:14,210 --> 00:11:15,683 and they bow before Him. 246 00:11:15,683 --> 00:11:17,520 And then He gives them their orders - 247 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:19,895 what they are going to do today. 248 00:11:19,895 --> 00:11:22,969 He's saying, "you bring that person along 249 00:11:22,969 --> 00:11:25,555 to the church in San Antonio 250 00:11:25,555 --> 00:11:27,174 on Sunday morning. 251 00:11:27,174 --> 00:11:29,141 Make sure there are no hindrances, 252 00:11:29,141 --> 00:11:33,027 no accidents. You bring him there. 253 00:11:33,027 --> 00:11:35,114 Help him to understand." 254 00:11:35,114 --> 00:11:38,782 Angels do what God tells them to do. 255 00:11:38,782 --> 00:11:41,662 And yet for all their superhuman power 256 00:11:41,662 --> 00:11:46,016 and love for God and obedience to God, 257 00:11:46,016 --> 00:11:47,477 Christ is greater 258 00:11:47,477 --> 00:11:49,282 because He made the angels. 259 00:11:49,282 --> 00:11:50,854 He thought of the angels. 260 00:11:50,854 --> 00:11:52,728 He designed the angels. 261 00:11:52,728 --> 00:11:54,107 He created them. 262 00:11:54,107 --> 00:11:57,362 An innumerable company of angels. 263 00:11:57,362 --> 00:12:00,889 And their pleasure is to hear 264 00:12:00,889 --> 00:12:03,785 what He has to say and to do it. 265 00:12:03,785 --> 00:12:06,412 So, in Christ we find not just 266 00:12:06,412 --> 00:12:08,944 great humanness as a man, 267 00:12:08,944 --> 00:12:12,875 but superhumanness. 268 00:12:12,875 --> 00:12:18,341 It far excels the greatest of all the angels put together. 269 00:12:18,341 --> 00:12:21,951 So Christ is great in comparison to prophets, 270 00:12:21,951 --> 00:12:25,668 and He's great in comparison to angels. 271 00:12:25,668 --> 00:12:27,967 And then thirdly, He is great 272 00:12:27,967 --> 00:12:31,596 in relation to the universe - 273 00:12:31,596 --> 00:12:34,139 the world we see around us - 274 00:12:34,139 --> 00:12:36,237 because we're told in verse 3, 275 00:12:36,237 --> 00:12:40,172 "By Him God made the worlds." 276 00:12:40,172 --> 00:12:43,247 In other words, Jesus Christ had 277 00:12:43,247 --> 00:12:48,468 a creative role in making the world. 278 00:12:48,468 --> 00:12:50,462 Now, we simplify, 279 00:12:50,462 --> 00:12:52,258 and it's helpful to simplify 280 00:12:52,258 --> 00:12:54,064 the Persons of the Godhead - 281 00:12:54,064 --> 00:12:56,735 the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. 282 00:12:56,735 --> 00:13:00,511 And we say God the Father was the Creator. 283 00:13:00,511 --> 00:13:02,843 God the Son was the Redeemer. 284 00:13:02,843 --> 00:13:05,361 And God the Holy Spirit was the Regenerator. 285 00:13:05,361 --> 00:13:06,714 He gave us the new birth. 286 00:13:06,714 --> 00:13:08,060 He gave us the Holy Spirit - 287 00:13:08,060 --> 00:13:10,814 He came and lived in us. 288 00:13:10,814 --> 00:13:12,478 And that's helpful, 289 00:13:12,478 --> 00:13:15,828 but we mustn't absolutize those divisions 290 00:13:15,828 --> 00:13:20,610 because Jesus Christ also created, didn't He? 291 00:13:20,610 --> 00:13:21,443 John 1:1, 292 00:13:21,443 --> 00:13:24,153 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 293 00:13:24,153 --> 00:13:25,502 and the Word was God. 294 00:13:25,502 --> 00:13:27,519 All things were made by Him. 295 00:13:27,519 --> 00:13:30,508 Without Him was not anything made that was made." 296 00:13:30,508 --> 00:13:33,131 So this beautiful world 297 00:13:33,131 --> 00:13:35,310 that you see around you 298 00:13:35,310 --> 00:13:39,359 on spring days like today, 299 00:13:39,359 --> 00:13:42,590 my Savior Jesus Christ - 300 00:13:42,590 --> 00:13:48,638 He made the worlds. 301 00:13:48,638 --> 00:13:51,988 Now, that's immensely significant. 302 00:13:51,988 --> 00:13:54,162 My environment - 303 00:13:54,162 --> 00:13:57,357 the grass and the trees and the sky 304 00:13:57,357 --> 00:14:00,260 and the stars, the birds that sing, 305 00:14:00,260 --> 00:14:03,334 everything that makes life beautiful, 306 00:14:03,334 --> 00:14:05,205 the Lord Jesus made it all. 307 00:14:05,205 --> 00:14:07,578 All things bright and beautiful, 308 00:14:07,578 --> 00:14:09,731 all creatures great and small. 309 00:14:09,731 --> 00:14:12,295 Jesus Christ made them all. 310 00:14:12,295 --> 00:14:15,658 So, there will never be anything that I'll find 311 00:14:15,658 --> 00:14:18,783 in creation that's in contradiction 312 00:14:18,783 --> 00:14:20,577 to Jesus Christ. 313 00:14:20,577 --> 00:14:22,580 Christ is wisdom. 314 00:14:22,580 --> 00:14:24,147 Christ is love. 315 00:14:24,147 --> 00:14:27,159 Christ is grace and He made the world. 316 00:14:27,159 --> 00:14:29,291 So there would be nothing 317 00:14:29,291 --> 00:14:31,343 when I study the world 318 00:14:31,343 --> 00:14:33,101 that's going to be inconsistent 319 00:14:33,101 --> 00:14:34,644 with the power and the grace 320 00:14:34,644 --> 00:14:39,696 and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. 321 00:14:39,696 --> 00:14:43,948 And it's tremendously important to see this, 322 00:14:43,948 --> 00:14:46,238 that this world expresses the mind 323 00:14:46,238 --> 00:14:47,654 of the Savior. 324 00:14:47,654 --> 00:14:50,916 And it's logical with the logic of the Savior. 325 00:14:50,916 --> 00:14:53,091 And it's coherent with the intelligence 326 00:14:53,091 --> 00:14:54,849 of our Savior. 327 00:14:54,849 --> 00:14:57,107 When our children go to a big school 328 00:14:57,107 --> 00:14:59,733 and they bring the textbooks back. 329 00:14:59,733 --> 00:15:02,794 Look at this. 330 00:15:02,794 --> 00:15:05,668 Mathematics. 331 00:15:05,668 --> 00:15:08,538 Physics. 332 00:15:08,538 --> 00:15:10,566 Biology. 333 00:15:10,566 --> 00:15:15,235 Look, I'm in the big school now, mom. 334 00:15:15,235 --> 00:15:16,355 And we say to them, 335 00:15:16,355 --> 00:15:18,057 yeah, but those books are simply 336 00:15:18,057 --> 00:15:22,125 our understanding in 2018 - 337 00:15:22,125 --> 00:15:23,880 how men understand - 338 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:28,305 the thought patterns of Jesus Christ. 339 00:15:28,305 --> 00:15:30,457 How He made the atom. 340 00:15:30,457 --> 00:15:31,930 How He made the universe. 341 00:15:31,930 --> 00:15:34,093 How He made our solar system. 342 00:15:34,093 --> 00:15:38,641 How He made chemical elements. 343 00:15:38,641 --> 00:15:42,952 How He made the physical universe. 344 00:15:42,952 --> 00:15:45,207 And there's going to be nothing in it 345 00:15:45,207 --> 00:15:46,634 that's going to contradict 346 00:15:46,634 --> 00:15:49,046 what you hear from the Bible. 347 00:15:49,046 --> 00:15:51,075 Now, there will be people who use it 348 00:15:51,075 --> 00:15:53,942 to try and upset our trust in the Bible. 349 00:15:53,942 --> 00:15:56,618 But that's a very different thing. 350 00:15:56,618 --> 00:16:00,540 The world is charged with the grandeur of Christ. 351 00:16:00,540 --> 00:16:03,079 And because I know who made the world, 352 00:16:03,079 --> 00:16:05,200 it doesn't become less awesome 353 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,273 or less mysterious 354 00:16:07,273 --> 00:16:09,358 or less majestic. 355 00:16:09,358 --> 00:16:10,789 I don't worship the world. 356 00:16:10,789 --> 00:16:12,046 I don't worship cows. 357 00:16:12,046 --> 00:16:14,372 I don't worship sacred trees 358 00:16:14,372 --> 00:16:16,802 or mountains. 359 00:16:16,802 --> 00:16:19,643 I worship the One who made them. 360 00:16:19,643 --> 00:16:21,633 And His name is Jesus. 361 00:16:21,633 --> 00:16:23,390 And so Jesus is great 362 00:16:23,390 --> 00:16:25,735 in comparison to the whole universe. 363 00:16:25,735 --> 00:16:29,323 Like clay in comparison to a potter. 364 00:16:29,323 --> 00:16:32,694 The potter is much more important than the clay. 365 00:16:32,694 --> 00:16:37,665 And so Jesus is far greater than the universe 366 00:16:37,665 --> 00:16:39,485 because He made it. 367 00:16:39,485 --> 00:16:42,770 So, great in comparison to prophets. 368 00:16:42,770 --> 00:16:44,708 Great in comparison to angels. 369 00:16:44,708 --> 00:16:50,291 Great in comparison to the world around us. 370 00:16:50,291 --> 00:16:53,100 Fourthly, Christ is great 371 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:57,731 in comparison to God. 372 00:16:57,731 --> 00:17:02,904 Now, we're told about Him in these verses, aren't we? 373 00:17:02,904 --> 00:17:10,450 We're told that He is the brightness of God's glory. 374 00:17:10,450 --> 00:17:14,300 In other words, God is glorious. 375 00:17:14,300 --> 00:17:17,095 And Jesus Christ isn't a little candle 376 00:17:17,095 --> 00:17:19,735 like you have on a birthday cake, 377 00:17:19,735 --> 00:17:21,581 and you have one little candle 378 00:17:21,581 --> 00:17:25,075 because you're too old to have 80 candles now. 379 00:17:25,075 --> 00:17:27,416 You have one candle. 380 00:17:27,416 --> 00:17:30,507 There's some radiance from that candle, 381 00:17:30,507 --> 00:17:33,577 but compared to the sun, 382 00:17:33,577 --> 00:17:35,267 it's not like that at all. 383 00:17:35,267 --> 00:17:38,681 The brightness - if you think of the glory of God, 384 00:17:38,681 --> 00:17:40,408 and it's brightness, 385 00:17:40,408 --> 00:17:42,931 you look to Jesus, 386 00:17:42,931 --> 00:17:45,873 and you see who Jesus is 387 00:17:45,873 --> 00:17:48,155 and what He did. 388 00:17:48,155 --> 00:17:49,862 And all of that shows us 389 00:17:49,862 --> 00:17:51,718 how glorious God is 390 00:17:51,718 --> 00:17:57,978 because God and Jesus are one. 391 00:17:57,978 --> 00:17:59,956 "He's the brightness of God's glory," 392 00:17:59,956 --> 00:18:02,904 and He is the the transcript; 393 00:18:02,904 --> 00:18:04,980 He's the express image. 394 00:18:04,980 --> 00:18:07,888 You've got photocopies in your school, haven't you, 395 00:18:07,888 --> 00:18:08,929 and in your office. 396 00:18:08,929 --> 00:18:11,857 And remember when the new photocopier came 397 00:18:11,857 --> 00:18:16,107 and you were so weary of the old photocopier 398 00:18:16,107 --> 00:18:19,605 because it smudged and jammed. 399 00:18:19,605 --> 00:18:21,397 And one day the engineers came in 400 00:18:21,397 --> 00:18:23,389 with their trolley and they put it down. 401 00:18:23,389 --> 00:18:25,942 They set it up - a new photocopier. 402 00:18:25,942 --> 00:18:27,342 And they unscrewed it 403 00:18:27,342 --> 00:18:28,939 and they plugged it in. 404 00:18:28,939 --> 00:18:31,141 And then they had a special piece of paper 405 00:18:31,141 --> 00:18:32,313 and they put it down. 406 00:18:32,313 --> 00:18:33,909 And they pressed the button 407 00:18:33,909 --> 00:18:36,718 and in a second, out the other side, 408 00:18:36,718 --> 00:18:38,288 there came this copy. 409 00:18:38,288 --> 00:18:40,604 And then he brought up the original, 410 00:18:40,604 --> 00:18:44,027 and he said, now, which is the original 411 00:18:44,027 --> 00:18:46,832 and which is the copy? 412 00:18:46,832 --> 00:18:51,122 He's so proud of the exact representation. 413 00:18:51,122 --> 00:18:53,735 Well, if you had a magnifying glass 414 00:18:53,735 --> 00:18:57,481 you could find out which was which. 415 00:18:57,481 --> 00:19:02,025 But Jesus Christ is the exact - 416 00:19:02,025 --> 00:19:06,840 exact perfect image of God. 417 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:08,801 They're one. 418 00:19:08,801 --> 00:19:11,083 One Being. 419 00:19:11,083 --> 00:19:13,470 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 420 00:19:13,470 --> 00:19:14,544 They are One. 421 00:19:14,544 --> 00:19:17,705 He is the brightness of God's glory. 422 00:19:17,705 --> 00:19:21,118 And the express image of His Person. 423 00:19:21,118 --> 00:19:25,933 And so, in the early church, 424 00:19:25,933 --> 00:19:28,662 after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 425 00:19:28,662 --> 00:19:32,194 for 300 or 400 years, they thought, 426 00:19:32,194 --> 00:19:40,190 how are Jesus and God related to one another? 427 00:19:40,190 --> 00:19:44,440 Are they the same person? 428 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,800 They said, no, no, they are different persons. 429 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:48,261 Only the Father is the Father. 430 00:19:48,261 --> 00:19:49,545 Only the Son is the Son. 431 00:19:49,545 --> 00:19:54,259 Only the Holy Spirit is the sent by the Father and by the Son. 432 00:19:54,259 --> 00:19:55,501 What does it mean 433 00:19:55,501 --> 00:19:57,383 that He is in the form of God 434 00:19:57,383 --> 00:19:59,311 and He is the image of God 435 00:19:59,311 --> 00:20:01,032 and He is the glory of God? 436 00:20:01,032 --> 00:20:03,021 He's the brightness of God's glory. 437 00:20:03,021 --> 00:20:05,261 He's the express image of His person. 438 00:20:05,261 --> 00:20:08,009 And they talked about it 439 00:20:08,009 --> 00:20:09,263 and they thought about it, 440 00:20:09,263 --> 00:20:12,505 just like we talk about it today. 441 00:20:12,505 --> 00:20:14,001 And they came to the conclusion 442 00:20:14,001 --> 00:20:17,006 that the Father and the Son were the same 443 00:20:17,006 --> 00:20:21,670 in their substance; in their being. 444 00:20:21,670 --> 00:20:25,369 There weren't three clouds in Heaven. 445 00:20:25,369 --> 00:20:28,039 There's just one great cloud. 446 00:20:28,039 --> 00:20:29,767 One great Being. 447 00:20:29,767 --> 00:20:32,507 And that is God. 448 00:20:32,507 --> 00:20:34,670 The Father is God and the Son is God 449 00:20:34,670 --> 00:20:36,287 and the Holy Spirit is God. 450 00:20:36,287 --> 00:20:41,724 And these three are one God. 451 00:20:41,724 --> 00:20:44,603 The Father is distinct. He loves the Son. 452 00:20:44,603 --> 00:20:46,333 And the Son is distinct. 453 00:20:46,333 --> 00:20:48,605 And there's never a more loving Son, 454 00:20:48,605 --> 00:20:51,602 and never a more lovable Father 455 00:20:51,602 --> 00:20:53,794 than the Father and the Son. 456 00:20:53,794 --> 00:20:56,176 Distinct Persons, but the same power, 457 00:20:56,176 --> 00:20:57,216 and the same glory, 458 00:20:57,216 --> 00:20:59,726 the same eminence, the same status, 459 00:20:59,726 --> 00:21:01,754 the same name. 460 00:21:01,754 --> 00:21:04,820 Jesus is Jehovah Jesus. 461 00:21:04,820 --> 00:21:07,233 He has the same name as His Father. 462 00:21:07,233 --> 00:21:09,741 He is Lord. 463 00:21:09,741 --> 00:21:14,450 And the most basic thing about Christian people 464 00:21:14,450 --> 00:21:17,969 is that we worship the Lord Jesus Christ. 465 00:21:17,969 --> 00:21:20,879 We meet here on a Sunday. 466 00:21:20,879 --> 00:21:24,840 There's a million other churches like us 467 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:26,972 in North and South America, 468 00:21:26,972 --> 00:21:30,281 let alone in other parts of the world. 469 00:21:30,281 --> 00:21:32,342 And they are doing the same thing. 470 00:21:32,342 --> 00:21:34,309 They are gathering and they're saying, 471 00:21:34,309 --> 00:21:36,763 "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 472 00:21:36,763 --> 00:21:38,091 in a believer's ear." 473 00:21:38,091 --> 00:21:40,907 And they are expressing their love and their thankfulness 474 00:21:40,907 --> 00:21:43,646 that the Lord Jesus has helped them through another week, 475 00:21:43,646 --> 00:21:46,456 and it's the day of His resurrection from the dead. 476 00:21:46,456 --> 00:21:47,679 And He meets with them, 477 00:21:47,679 --> 00:21:49,712 like He's with us here this morning now. 478 00:21:49,712 --> 00:21:53,169 And He's brought me here. 479 00:21:53,169 --> 00:21:55,527 He's speaking to you. 480 00:21:55,527 --> 00:21:59,678 And we are responding in love and thankfulness 481 00:21:59,678 --> 00:22:03,176 and praise to our great Redeemer. 482 00:22:03,176 --> 00:22:06,349 There was a Roman emporer Nero, 483 00:22:06,349 --> 00:22:08,369 and he sent one of his proconsuls - 484 00:22:08,369 --> 00:22:11,342 he says, "What's all this about this new cult? 485 00:22:11,342 --> 00:22:12,598 What are they doing? 486 00:22:12,598 --> 00:22:14,940 Eating the bodies and drinking blood? 487 00:22:14,940 --> 00:22:16,389 What is all this about?" 488 00:22:16,389 --> 00:22:20,952 And so the proconsul crept in incognito. 489 00:22:20,952 --> 00:22:23,165 Sat there in the congregation. 490 00:22:23,165 --> 00:22:25,496 Watched and listened. 491 00:22:25,496 --> 00:22:27,241 And he sent a letter back. 492 00:22:27,241 --> 00:22:28,894 He said, "It's okay. 493 00:22:28,894 --> 00:22:33,694 These people, they meet early in the morning, 494 00:22:33,694 --> 00:22:37,917 and they sing hymns to Christ 495 00:22:37,917 --> 00:22:40,450 as to a God." 496 00:22:40,450 --> 00:22:43,238 So, it was not so early with us, 497 00:22:43,238 --> 00:22:48,916 but some of us have been up earlier. 498 00:22:48,916 --> 00:22:52,789 We'll soon be singing hymns to Christ as to a God, 499 00:22:52,789 --> 00:22:54,977 and that's what characterizes us 500 00:22:54,977 --> 00:22:57,398 as Christians - 501 00:22:57,398 --> 00:22:58,677 because He's the God. 502 00:22:58,677 --> 00:23:00,842 He's the only God there is. 503 00:23:00,842 --> 00:23:02,884 And if He wasn't God, 504 00:23:02,884 --> 00:23:06,144 what are we doing worshiping Him? 505 00:23:06,144 --> 00:23:08,578 We worship Him because He is Jehovah. 506 00:23:08,578 --> 00:23:10,679 He is the Lord. 507 00:23:10,679 --> 00:23:13,429 He is co-eternal, co-equal. 508 00:23:13,429 --> 00:23:17,385 Co-substantial as God. 509 00:23:17,385 --> 00:23:22,453 And so we worship Him because of that. 510 00:23:22,453 --> 00:23:24,001 He's at the right hand of God. 511 00:23:24,001 --> 00:23:25,868 He's in the midst of the throne of God. 512 00:23:25,868 --> 00:23:28,627 He's equal in glory to God. 513 00:23:28,627 --> 00:23:30,629 He does all the functions of God. 514 00:23:30,629 --> 00:23:32,917 He's got the whole world in His hands. 515 00:23:32,917 --> 00:23:34,628 He decrees everything. 516 00:23:34,628 --> 00:23:36,897 He is the Lord of the angels. 517 00:23:36,897 --> 00:23:39,021 He said, "Bring these people here, 518 00:23:39,021 --> 00:23:43,307 and look after them this coming week." 519 00:23:43,307 --> 00:23:50,329 And they do just that for us. 520 00:23:50,329 --> 00:23:53,362 God upholds everything in Christ. 521 00:23:53,362 --> 00:23:58,127 And so, Christ is great, 522 00:23:58,127 --> 00:24:01,101 not now in comparison to stuff, 523 00:24:01,101 --> 00:24:04,970 but He's great in comparison to the Creator. 524 00:24:04,970 --> 00:24:06,648 Well, He must be great! 525 00:24:06,648 --> 00:24:10,595 That's why our salvation is so great a salvation, 526 00:24:10,595 --> 00:24:14,742 because Christ is great in comparison to God. 527 00:24:14,742 --> 00:24:19,243 So, I've told you four things this morning so far: 528 00:24:19,243 --> 00:24:23,448 Great in comparison to prophets. 529 00:24:23,448 --> 00:24:25,865 Great in comparison to angels. 530 00:24:25,865 --> 00:24:31,192 Great in comparison to the creation. 531 00:24:31,192 --> 00:24:35,818 And great in comparison to God. 532 00:24:35,818 --> 00:24:38,470 And that's a magnificent Savior! 533 00:24:38,470 --> 00:24:43,244 That is an awesome Savior. 534 00:24:43,244 --> 00:24:48,070 I'm just a little in danger here. 535 00:24:48,070 --> 00:24:51,264 I'm on the edge of a precipice here. 536 00:24:51,264 --> 00:24:53,040 And I'm almost falling over here 537 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,039 and pulling you over with me 538 00:24:55,039 --> 00:24:58,890 because I've made Him so different 539 00:24:58,890 --> 00:25:01,366 from any of us. 540 00:25:01,366 --> 00:25:06,078 I've made a gulf between ourselves and Him. 541 00:25:06,078 --> 00:25:09,341 I've almost given you an unreachable 542 00:25:09,341 --> 00:25:11,966 and inaccessible Savior. 543 00:25:11,966 --> 00:25:13,702 And that's where the danger is, 544 00:25:13,702 --> 00:25:18,041 that we lose contact with the Lord Jesus. 545 00:25:18,041 --> 00:25:20,932 That we feel there's no continuity 546 00:25:20,932 --> 00:25:25,381 between ourselves and the Lord Jesus. 547 00:25:25,381 --> 00:25:28,919 And He becomes too remote 548 00:25:28,919 --> 00:25:33,083 and too incomprehensible for us. 549 00:25:33,083 --> 00:25:35,860 How can He speak to us? 550 00:25:35,860 --> 00:25:38,473 How can He come into a building like this 551 00:25:38,473 --> 00:25:41,123 and we're just ordinary men and women, aren't we? 552 00:25:41,123 --> 00:25:43,420 What does so massive and mighty 553 00:25:43,420 --> 00:25:47,499 and high and glorious a Christ 554 00:25:47,499 --> 00:25:52,235 have to do with common people like ourselves? 555 00:25:52,235 --> 00:25:56,348 And you know, that happened in church history. 556 00:25:56,348 --> 00:25:58,153 They saw Christ in majesty 557 00:25:58,153 --> 00:25:59,470 and they stressed it. 558 00:25:59,470 --> 00:26:01,514 And Christ awesome and high 559 00:26:01,514 --> 00:26:03,044 and they exalted Him, 560 00:26:03,044 --> 00:26:07,894 and they made Him so magnificent a Savior, 561 00:26:07,894 --> 00:26:10,160 and they lost touch with Him. 562 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:11,466 And then people said this: 563 00:26:11,466 --> 00:26:15,448 Ah, but He's got a mother. 564 00:26:15,448 --> 00:26:18,337 And ah, she understands us. 565 00:26:18,337 --> 00:26:20,980 And she sympathizes with us 566 00:26:20,980 --> 00:26:24,569 and she'll put in a good word for you. 567 00:26:24,569 --> 00:26:27,898 Speak to His mother 568 00:26:27,898 --> 00:26:32,720 and His mother then will help us. 569 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:35,660 And so this cult began to develop 570 00:26:35,660 --> 00:26:38,992 and to grow - the cult of Mary. 571 00:26:38,992 --> 00:26:44,072 And this godly woman that we esteem 572 00:26:44,072 --> 00:26:48,228 is a sort of goddess, 573 00:26:48,228 --> 00:26:50,316 because she can hear a million people 574 00:26:50,316 --> 00:26:52,043 praying at the same time 575 00:26:52,043 --> 00:26:54,964 from Tierra Del Fuego to Alaska, 576 00:26:54,964 --> 00:27:01,019 and from South Africa to the Mediterranean, 577 00:27:01,019 --> 00:27:04,641 and from Russia across to India and China. 578 00:27:04,641 --> 00:27:09,314 And there are little people in rice fields 579 00:27:09,314 --> 00:27:13,396 and men who are hunting in Africa. 580 00:27:13,396 --> 00:27:17,071 And they can say, "Mary, mother of God, 581 00:27:17,071 --> 00:27:19,956 listen to me now, a sinner, in my hour of need." 582 00:27:19,956 --> 00:27:24,434 And then, a million people at the same time 583 00:27:24,434 --> 00:27:27,867 and she's hearing and she's answering 584 00:27:27,867 --> 00:27:31,764 their prayers. 585 00:27:31,764 --> 00:27:34,955 And all that has come about 586 00:27:34,955 --> 00:27:39,522 because people just stressed one thing - 587 00:27:39,522 --> 00:27:41,730 how different and how great 588 00:27:41,730 --> 00:27:44,015 and how exalted and how mighty 589 00:27:44,015 --> 00:27:46,169 and how omnipotent 590 00:27:46,169 --> 00:27:49,887 was the Lord Jesus Christ. 591 00:27:49,887 --> 00:27:52,206 And so they have to then make up for that 592 00:27:52,206 --> 00:27:55,469 by inventing this figure. 593 00:27:55,469 --> 00:27:58,288 Because Mary is glorified, 594 00:27:58,288 --> 00:27:59,700 but she's a glorified woman, 595 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:02,026 and she has a brain which 596 00:28:02,026 --> 00:28:04,687 I could put in the palm of my hands 597 00:28:04,687 --> 00:28:08,092 like I could put my brain in the palm of my hands. 598 00:28:08,092 --> 00:28:09,755 She's limited in her knowledge 599 00:28:09,755 --> 00:28:11,264 and will be forever and ever. 600 00:28:11,264 --> 00:28:13,544 She'll never become omnipotent. 601 00:28:13,544 --> 00:28:16,165 She'll never become omniscient 602 00:28:16,165 --> 00:28:18,363 and know everything - she can't. 603 00:28:18,363 --> 00:28:23,012 She'll never know God like Jesus knows God. 604 00:28:23,012 --> 00:28:24,439 He knows Him exhaustively 605 00:28:24,439 --> 00:28:26,326 and thoroughly and completely. 606 00:28:26,326 --> 00:28:27,689 There are no secrets in God 607 00:28:27,689 --> 00:28:29,686 that Jesus doesn't know about. 608 00:28:29,686 --> 00:28:31,562 And there are no secrets in your heart. 609 00:28:31,562 --> 00:28:32,871 And He knows your future, 610 00:28:32,871 --> 00:28:35,553 and He knows what you need. 611 00:28:35,553 --> 00:28:38,722 And so I have to add a fifth point 612 00:28:38,722 --> 00:28:41,027 about the greatness of Jesus. 613 00:28:41,027 --> 00:28:42,524 And I have to say to you 614 00:28:42,524 --> 00:28:47,468 He is great in His compassion. 615 00:28:47,468 --> 00:28:52,238 Great concerning prophets and angels 616 00:28:52,238 --> 00:28:55,109 and creation and God, but oh... 617 00:28:55,109 --> 00:28:59,026 He is great in His compassion. 618 00:28:59,026 --> 00:29:02,359 And so then I turn only a couple of pages 619 00:29:02,359 --> 00:29:04,569 to the end of chapter 4 620 00:29:04,569 --> 00:29:07,241 where we have that wonderful verse there, 621 00:29:07,241 --> 00:29:08,346 that double negative. 622 00:29:08,346 --> 00:29:11,409 We have not a high priest who cannot be touched 623 00:29:11,409 --> 00:29:13,631 by the feeling of our infirmities, 624 00:29:13,631 --> 00:29:17,087 but One who was made in all points as we are, 625 00:29:17,087 --> 00:29:19,332 except for sin. 626 00:29:19,332 --> 00:29:20,765 Not like us there. 627 00:29:20,765 --> 00:29:22,884 Ah, thank God He's not like us - 628 00:29:22,884 --> 00:29:25,087 proud and vain and lustful 629 00:29:25,087 --> 00:29:28,038 and covetous and greedy and angry. 630 00:29:28,038 --> 00:29:29,333 He's not. 631 00:29:29,333 --> 00:29:32,001 Not our gentle and loving Savior. 632 00:29:32,001 --> 00:29:33,403 He's not like that. 633 00:29:33,403 --> 00:29:35,314 He's not like us in our sin. 634 00:29:35,314 --> 00:29:37,843 But He's like us. 635 00:29:37,843 --> 00:29:41,430 And He is full of compassion. 636 00:29:41,430 --> 00:29:44,836 Not like Annas and Caiaphas, the high priests. 637 00:29:44,836 --> 00:29:47,286 Remember what they did? They trumped up charges, 638 00:29:47,286 --> 00:29:49,697 and they bribed people to tell lies about Him. 639 00:29:49,697 --> 00:29:51,780 And then they went on that Friday, 640 00:29:51,780 --> 00:29:54,268 and they climbed the green hill, 641 00:29:54,268 --> 00:29:56,276 and they stood in front of the cross 642 00:29:56,276 --> 00:29:58,108 where our Savior was nailed 643 00:29:58,108 --> 00:30:01,099 and they mocked Him. 644 00:30:01,099 --> 00:30:05,082 They weren't compassionate. 645 00:30:05,082 --> 00:30:07,723 But Jesus is full of compassion 646 00:30:07,723 --> 00:30:11,587 and tenderness and love. 647 00:30:11,587 --> 00:30:13,881 The One who is the brightness of God's glory 648 00:30:13,881 --> 00:30:16,344 and the express image of His person 649 00:30:16,344 --> 00:30:19,854 is also a God of sympathy. 650 00:30:19,854 --> 00:30:24,072 He feels for our weaknesses. 651 00:30:24,072 --> 00:30:25,973 He sympathizes with us. 652 00:30:25,973 --> 00:30:28,797 He just doesn't feel for us, 653 00:30:28,797 --> 00:30:31,905 but He feels with us. 654 00:30:31,905 --> 00:30:35,120 There is empathy between ourselves 655 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:36,743 and this One I've described to you 656 00:30:36,743 --> 00:30:38,800 who is so great 657 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,289 beyond all that we conceive of. 658 00:30:41,289 --> 00:30:46,338 You see, He has taken our nature. 659 00:30:46,338 --> 00:30:49,733 He's become the seed of Abraham. 660 00:30:49,733 --> 00:30:53,385 And He's come into our weakness 661 00:30:53,385 --> 00:30:56,172 and into our temptability 662 00:30:56,172 --> 00:30:57,852 and our vulnerability 663 00:30:57,852 --> 00:30:59,177 and our humanness. 664 00:30:59,177 --> 00:31:01,175 He had a human body, didn't He? 665 00:31:01,175 --> 00:31:02,579 He had a human anatomy, 666 00:31:02,579 --> 00:31:04,578 and human physiology, 667 00:31:04,578 --> 00:31:06,857 and a human nervous system. 668 00:31:06,857 --> 00:31:11,525 He had human sensitivity to pain. 669 00:31:11,525 --> 00:31:13,837 God didn't build in some analgesic, 670 00:31:13,837 --> 00:31:16,193 some pain killer into Jesus 671 00:31:16,193 --> 00:31:17,531 when He came into the world 672 00:31:17,531 --> 00:31:21,262 any more than He builds it into you and I. 673 00:31:21,262 --> 00:31:22,930 And He had a human mind 674 00:31:22,930 --> 00:31:26,920 and human affections, human emotions, 675 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:28,442 and a human will, 676 00:31:28,442 --> 00:31:30,750 and the human way of making decisions - 677 00:31:30,750 --> 00:31:34,671 asking people, "where have you buried him?" 678 00:31:34,671 --> 00:31:36,865 and "who touched Me?" 679 00:31:36,865 --> 00:31:39,581 He learned from His mother as He grew up 680 00:31:39,581 --> 00:31:40,689 as a little boy. 681 00:31:40,689 --> 00:31:44,419 He's taken our nature - our human nature. 682 00:31:44,419 --> 00:31:45,918 And in that nature, 683 00:31:45,918 --> 00:31:49,024 He's been put to the test. 684 00:31:49,024 --> 00:31:52,126 In all points, He was tested. 685 00:31:52,126 --> 00:31:54,545 Are you tested to disbelieve 686 00:31:54,545 --> 00:31:56,600 and to be full of self-pity 687 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,453 and to doubt? 688 00:31:58,453 --> 00:32:03,534 Jesus was tempted by the devil. 689 00:32:03,534 --> 00:32:07,874 But unlike us, He overcame 690 00:32:07,874 --> 00:32:10,722 and He resisted and He said no. 691 00:32:10,722 --> 00:32:12,823 And in His humanness, 692 00:32:12,823 --> 00:32:16,250 He suffered physical pain and emotional pain. 693 00:32:16,250 --> 00:32:18,017 They all left Him. 694 00:32:18,017 --> 00:32:20,076 They all ran away. 695 00:32:20,076 --> 00:32:23,522 And they denied Him. 696 00:32:23,522 --> 00:32:26,661 They denied Him with curses. 697 00:32:26,661 --> 00:32:29,539 He knew spiritual pain. 698 00:32:29,539 --> 00:32:32,078 He was forsaken by God. 699 00:32:32,078 --> 00:32:36,150 When He said, "My God, My God, 700 00:32:36,150 --> 00:32:39,938 why have You forsaken Me?" 701 00:32:39,938 --> 00:32:41,448 God didn't answer. 702 00:32:41,448 --> 00:32:44,256 There was just an echo of His voice 703 00:32:44,256 --> 00:32:46,075 and an emptiness. 704 00:32:46,075 --> 00:32:48,331 His compassion. 705 00:32:48,331 --> 00:32:50,574 There's a wonderful verse that you know 706 00:32:50,574 --> 00:32:53,456 in Psalm 103, and it says, 707 00:32:53,456 --> 00:32:56,429 "He remembers that we are dust." 708 00:32:56,429 --> 00:32:58,158 It isn't just that He's omniscient 709 00:32:58,158 --> 00:32:59,861 and He knows everything. 710 00:32:59,861 --> 00:33:01,740 But He remembers that we are dust 711 00:33:01,740 --> 00:33:04,048 because He's been dust 712 00:33:04,048 --> 00:33:06,773 and He is dust - the dust of the world 713 00:33:06,773 --> 00:33:10,152 is on the throne of the universe this morning. 714 00:33:10,152 --> 00:33:15,158 And He remembers. He remembers. 715 00:33:15,158 --> 00:33:18,796 There's no memory cell loss. 716 00:33:18,796 --> 00:33:20,624 He doesn't get forgetful 717 00:33:20,624 --> 00:33:23,086 as the years go by. 718 00:33:23,086 --> 00:33:26,233 His cross is as vivid to Him now 719 00:33:26,233 --> 00:33:28,058 and all that He endured 720 00:33:28,058 --> 00:33:35,118 as if it had taken place this morning. 721 00:33:35,118 --> 00:33:37,439 He hasn't forgotten the weight of the cross 722 00:33:37,439 --> 00:33:39,735 and stumbling under its load. 723 00:33:39,735 --> 00:33:42,630 He hasn't forgotten the pain 724 00:33:42,630 --> 00:33:46,728 of rejection and betrayal, 725 00:33:46,728 --> 00:33:48,373 and Peter denying Him, 726 00:33:48,373 --> 00:33:51,126 and the darkness. 727 00:33:51,126 --> 00:33:52,948 He hasn't forgotten what it's like 728 00:33:52,948 --> 00:33:55,105 to shout, "Why?" to God. 729 00:33:55,105 --> 00:33:59,475 It's not a sin, you know, to ask God why. 730 00:33:59,475 --> 00:34:03,138 Because Jesus asked Him why. 731 00:34:03,138 --> 00:34:06,530 And He remembers. 732 00:34:06,530 --> 00:34:09,875 And when He sees us in our struggles 733 00:34:09,875 --> 00:34:11,250 and in our pains; 734 00:34:11,250 --> 00:34:14,232 when there are bullies on the school bus; 735 00:34:14,232 --> 00:34:17,793 and when our husband 736 00:34:17,793 --> 00:34:19,974 starts staying out late; 737 00:34:19,974 --> 00:34:22,400 and when we have emotional pain 738 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:26,078 and social pain and spiritual pain, 739 00:34:26,078 --> 00:34:29,601 His heart beats for us. 740 00:34:29,601 --> 00:34:31,562 He's so concerned about us 741 00:34:31,562 --> 00:34:32,974 and cares for us. 742 00:34:32,974 --> 00:34:34,930 And He turns to His Father, and He says, 743 00:34:34,930 --> 00:34:39,201 "Father, there's that woman in San Antonio 744 00:34:39,201 --> 00:34:42,417 and she's really going through it at the present time. 745 00:34:42,417 --> 00:34:44,737 She's found a lump. 746 00:34:44,737 --> 00:34:47,642 Her children are troubling her. 747 00:34:47,642 --> 00:34:50,134 They're staying out late. 748 00:34:50,134 --> 00:34:53,937 She doesn't feel strong. 749 00:34:53,937 --> 00:34:57,497 Send the Holy Spirit into her heart 750 00:34:57,497 --> 00:35:01,978 to strengthen her and encourage her 751 00:35:01,978 --> 00:35:03,523 and help her." 752 00:35:03,523 --> 00:35:06,769 And He lives and He prays 753 00:35:06,769 --> 00:35:10,695 for San Antonio sinners 754 00:35:10,695 --> 00:35:12,201 who believe in Him 755 00:35:12,201 --> 00:35:14,808 and who've given their lives to Him. 756 00:35:14,808 --> 00:35:20,541 He keeps them because He's full of sympathy for us. 757 00:35:20,541 --> 00:35:23,879 There are many Christians today in America 758 00:35:23,879 --> 00:35:26,020 and they can't understand 759 00:35:26,020 --> 00:35:29,648 why God is dealing with them the way He does. 760 00:35:29,648 --> 00:35:32,480 Why the emptiness? 761 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:35,120 Why is deep calling unto deep? 762 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:36,628 And they talk to their friends 763 00:35:36,628 --> 00:35:39,900 and they talk to their pastor. 764 00:35:39,900 --> 00:35:43,995 And really, no one can give them the answers. 765 00:35:43,995 --> 00:35:46,618 Nobody can. 766 00:35:46,618 --> 00:35:48,178 And I'm saying to you, 767 00:35:48,178 --> 00:35:50,335 there is no degree of pain 768 00:35:50,335 --> 00:35:52,907 that Jesus doesn't understand. 769 00:35:52,907 --> 00:35:55,796 There's no dark valley that you're walking through 770 00:35:55,796 --> 00:36:00,421 that Jesus has not walked through first. 771 00:36:00,421 --> 00:36:01,998 There's no spiritual pain. 772 00:36:01,998 --> 00:36:04,912 There's no satanic temptation 773 00:36:04,912 --> 00:36:06,802 that He doesn't understand. 774 00:36:06,802 --> 00:36:10,856 And that is why it's a great salvation, 775 00:36:10,856 --> 00:36:16,108 and that is why Christ is a great Savior. 776 00:36:16,108 --> 00:36:21,939 He's great in comparison to the prophets 777 00:36:21,939 --> 00:36:23,529 and to the angels 778 00:36:23,529 --> 00:36:25,964 and to the creation around us 779 00:36:25,964 --> 00:36:28,073 and to God Himself. 780 00:36:28,073 --> 00:36:32,268 But He's great in His sympathy; 781 00:36:32,268 --> 00:36:34,524 in His love. 782 00:36:34,524 --> 00:36:40,114 And that's why He says in chapter 2:3-4, 783 00:36:40,114 --> 00:36:43,930 How shall we escape 784 00:36:43,930 --> 00:36:50,036 if we neglect so great a Savior 785 00:36:50,036 --> 00:36:52,396 and so great a salvation? 786 00:36:52,396 --> 00:36:57,627 Where will you find another Savior 787 00:36:57,627 --> 00:37:00,269 like Jesus Christ? 788 00:37:00,269 --> 00:37:03,162 So powerful and so loving. 789 00:37:03,162 --> 00:37:08,197 So omnipotent and so sympathizing. 790 00:37:08,197 --> 00:37:12,749 And I can't understand how 791 00:37:12,749 --> 00:37:15,217 if you've heard about Him 792 00:37:15,217 --> 00:37:19,408 and if He's nudging you now, 793 00:37:19,408 --> 00:37:23,971 and He's saying to you, 794 00:37:23,971 --> 00:37:25,395 it's true, you know... 795 00:37:25,395 --> 00:37:29,712 what this guy with a funny accent is saying to you. 796 00:37:29,712 --> 00:37:33,751 It's true. It's true. 797 00:37:33,751 --> 00:37:35,692 You need a Savior. 798 00:37:35,692 --> 00:37:39,401 And not just any Savior, but this Savior. 799 00:37:39,401 --> 00:37:43,140 Because He is so, so great. 800 00:37:43,140 --> 00:37:45,029 So great. 801 00:37:45,029 --> 00:37:49,365 And without Him, there's going to be a future - 802 00:37:49,365 --> 00:37:52,360 you're on your own, son. 803 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:55,715 You're on your own, girl. 804 00:37:55,715 --> 00:37:57,739 As you make the big decisions in your life 805 00:37:57,739 --> 00:37:59,338 about who you're going to marry, 806 00:37:59,338 --> 00:38:00,803 and what you're going to do, 807 00:38:00,803 --> 00:38:02,431 and how you're going to work, 808 00:38:02,431 --> 00:38:05,970 and what's going to be fun... 809 00:38:05,970 --> 00:38:08,313 you're on your own. 810 00:38:08,313 --> 00:38:10,324 And when you get ill 811 00:38:10,324 --> 00:38:11,618 and when you're lonely, 812 00:38:11,618 --> 00:38:13,838 you're on your own. 813 00:38:13,838 --> 00:38:16,750 And when you're dying, 814 00:38:16,750 --> 00:38:21,040 if you don't take my Savior, 815 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:31,106 just you and an appalling eternity. 816 00:38:31,106 --> 00:38:33,263 And this great Savior - 817 00:38:33,263 --> 00:38:34,630 He's brought me here 818 00:38:34,630 --> 00:38:36,157 and He's brought you here, 819 00:38:36,157 --> 00:38:39,332 and we're talking about Him, aren't we? 820 00:38:39,332 --> 00:38:42,190 We're just ordinary people. 821 00:38:42,190 --> 00:38:44,285 We're not very beautiful people. 822 00:38:44,285 --> 00:38:48,690 We're not very smart. We're not very wealthy. 823 00:38:48,690 --> 00:38:51,000 All we've got to share with the world 824 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,477 is the Lord Jesus Christ. 825 00:38:53,477 --> 00:38:57,278 And we're inconsistent. 826 00:38:57,278 --> 00:39:00,234 We're sorry we're not as patient and loving 827 00:39:00,234 --> 00:39:03,800 and caring as we should be. 828 00:39:03,800 --> 00:39:06,643 We're sorry about that. 829 00:39:06,643 --> 00:39:09,995 But we don't preach ourselves. 830 00:39:09,995 --> 00:39:12,231 We're not your answer. 831 00:39:12,231 --> 00:39:15,050 And all this congregation put together 832 00:39:15,050 --> 00:39:18,640 with all the talents and the gifts 833 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:20,821 that they have - 834 00:39:20,821 --> 00:39:22,269 they're not your answer. 835 00:39:22,269 --> 00:39:23,845 This is not your answer. 836 00:39:23,845 --> 00:39:27,733 He is your answer. 837 00:39:27,733 --> 00:39:32,476 This wonderful Savior Jesus Christ. 838 00:39:32,476 --> 00:39:38,170 And so we want you to know Him 839 00:39:38,170 --> 00:39:39,699 as your Lord and Savior 840 00:39:39,699 --> 00:39:43,594 by reading the Bible, listening to the preaching, 841 00:39:43,594 --> 00:39:44,929 sitting under the ministry, 842 00:39:44,929 --> 00:39:48,048 reading the books and the leaflets 843 00:39:48,048 --> 00:39:49,663 and so on that we give you. 844 00:39:49,663 --> 00:39:51,826 We want you to think about these things. 845 00:39:51,826 --> 00:39:53,215 We want you to know Him 846 00:39:53,215 --> 00:39:54,930 because we want you to make 847 00:39:54,930 --> 00:39:59,927 an intelligent response. 848 00:39:59,927 --> 00:40:01,775 You've been edified. 849 00:40:01,775 --> 00:40:04,389 You've learned about Jesus Christ 850 00:40:04,389 --> 00:40:05,737 from what we tell you 851 00:40:05,737 --> 00:40:10,974 so that you know who He is. 852 00:40:10,974 --> 00:40:13,697 Jesus is worthy of your mind, 853 00:40:13,697 --> 00:40:15,223 of your intellect. 854 00:40:15,223 --> 00:40:16,840 Bring your mind with you 855 00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:19,774 every Sunday when you come here. 856 00:40:19,774 --> 00:40:23,347 We want you to know Him. 857 00:40:23,347 --> 00:40:28,654 But we want you to submit to Him. 858 00:40:28,654 --> 00:40:32,358 If He's going to be your Savior, 859 00:40:32,358 --> 00:40:35,494 He's also going to be your Lord. 860 00:40:35,494 --> 00:40:39,270 And you can't separate the two. 861 00:40:39,270 --> 00:40:40,937 You know, I marry people, 862 00:40:40,937 --> 00:40:42,026 and I stand here, 863 00:40:42,026 --> 00:40:43,456 and she comes down the aisle 864 00:40:43,456 --> 00:40:46,219 and he's there glowing in anticipation. 865 00:40:46,219 --> 00:40:47,661 And she looks so lovely. 866 00:40:47,661 --> 00:40:51,736 And then I say to her at one point in the service, 867 00:40:51,736 --> 00:40:57,734 "Do you take him to be your loving husband?" 868 00:40:57,734 --> 00:41:01,378 "Do you take him now to be your husband?" 869 00:41:01,378 --> 00:41:05,084 And she has to think... 870 00:41:05,084 --> 00:41:10,158 "Well, I'll take his credit cards. 871 00:41:10,158 --> 00:41:16,989 And I'll take his car, 872 00:41:16,989 --> 00:41:22,016 but I don't take his dirty washing. 873 00:41:22,016 --> 00:41:26,440 And I don't want to be the mother of his children." 874 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:27,879 If she said that, I would say, 875 00:41:27,879 --> 00:41:31,118 right, I pronounce you man and wife. 876 00:41:31,118 --> 00:41:32,671 I can't say that, can I? 877 00:41:32,671 --> 00:41:35,399 Because she's going to take him as her husband. 878 00:41:35,399 --> 00:41:38,843 The two are going to become one flesh. 879 00:41:38,843 --> 00:41:42,723 And there's a special relationship between the two. 880 00:41:42,723 --> 00:41:44,981 And so I've told you about this 881 00:41:44,981 --> 00:41:47,423 wonderful Savior. 882 00:41:47,423 --> 00:41:50,398 And He's a wonderful Lord too. 883 00:41:50,398 --> 00:41:53,102 And if you're going to become 884 00:41:53,102 --> 00:41:56,445 a follower of Jesus Christ, 885 00:41:56,445 --> 00:41:58,201 He doesn't take His crown off 886 00:41:58,201 --> 00:42:02,131 before He comes into your heart and life. 887 00:42:02,131 --> 00:42:05,225 He comes with His crown 888 00:42:05,225 --> 00:42:08,056 and His crown rights over you; 889 00:42:08,056 --> 00:42:15,772 over all the big decisions that you have to make. 890 00:42:15,772 --> 00:42:18,956 This Savior - He'll forgive your sins. 891 00:42:18,956 --> 00:42:20,448 Isn't that wonderful? 892 00:42:20,448 --> 00:42:22,926 The great chains that bind you 893 00:42:22,926 --> 00:42:24,670 to your past, 894 00:42:24,670 --> 00:42:26,451 and the things that make you blush 895 00:42:26,451 --> 00:42:28,329 and you groan at 2:00 in the morning 896 00:42:28,329 --> 00:42:32,049 as you remember the people you've hurt. 897 00:42:32,049 --> 00:42:34,776 And He'll forgive you. He'll forgive you. 898 00:42:34,776 --> 00:42:36,155 Yes. 899 00:42:36,155 --> 00:42:39,689 But He comes as your Lord. 900 00:42:39,689 --> 00:42:44,063 And you can't separate what God has joined together. 901 00:42:44,063 --> 00:42:46,766 Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ. 902 00:42:46,766 --> 00:42:48,866 He's here and He comes into your life 903 00:42:48,866 --> 00:42:51,692 for you from now on to serve Him. 904 00:42:51,692 --> 00:42:53,584 And if there are some things that are 905 00:42:53,584 --> 00:42:55,389 tremendously precious to you, 906 00:42:55,389 --> 00:43:05,569 your mind, your love of music and sport, 907 00:43:05,569 --> 00:43:11,012 your relationships - 908 00:43:11,012 --> 00:43:15,318 you can't keep them from Him. 909 00:43:15,318 --> 00:43:19,546 The dearest idol you've known has to go. 910 00:43:19,546 --> 00:43:21,811 You have to give it over to Jesus Christ, 911 00:43:21,811 --> 00:43:25,338 this Savior who is also the Lord. 912 00:43:25,338 --> 00:43:28,623 You have to hand them to Him. 913 00:43:28,623 --> 00:43:30,977 And then He'll do something wonderful. 914 00:43:30,977 --> 00:43:32,531 He'll give them back to you, 915 00:43:32,531 --> 00:43:37,681 but no longer will they be lording it over you. 916 00:43:37,681 --> 00:43:39,246 And you can have them, 917 00:43:39,246 --> 00:43:46,322 but they are then in a servant's role. 918 00:43:46,322 --> 00:43:48,809 So you can keep your interest in cameras 919 00:43:48,809 --> 00:43:50,708 and photography, 920 00:43:50,708 --> 00:43:53,597 and your interest in music and sport, 921 00:43:53,597 --> 00:43:56,028 and all the things that we are interested in - 922 00:43:56,028 --> 00:44:00,065 God's creation gifts. 923 00:44:00,065 --> 00:44:01,626 You're not going to serve them. 924 00:44:01,626 --> 00:44:05,033 You're not going to live for them. 925 00:44:05,033 --> 00:44:07,289 You're going to live for Him. 926 00:44:07,289 --> 00:44:10,797 This great Savior who has come into your life now 927 00:44:10,797 --> 00:44:15,824 as your Lord. 928 00:44:15,824 --> 00:44:18,671 And you bow to Him. 929 00:44:18,671 --> 00:44:23,237 And you receive Him. 930 00:44:23,237 --> 00:44:27,461 You can receive Him now where you are 931 00:44:27,461 --> 00:44:29,238 just sitting and listening to me 932 00:44:29,238 --> 00:44:31,795 and thinking about all I said to you 933 00:44:31,795 --> 00:44:36,097 about the great Jesus Christ. 934 00:44:36,097 --> 00:44:37,295 And you can think, 935 00:44:37,295 --> 00:44:40,795 yeah, it's about time I stop 936 00:44:40,795 --> 00:44:43,898 sitting on the fence, 937 00:44:43,898 --> 00:44:50,707 and stop putting it off until another Sunday. 938 00:44:50,707 --> 00:44:53,928 I'll have Him. 939 00:44:53,928 --> 00:44:58,107 I must have Him. 940 00:44:58,107 --> 00:44:59,500 A friend of mine was talking 941 00:44:59,500 --> 00:45:04,169 to a Scottish farmer named Douglas. 942 00:45:04,169 --> 00:45:05,613 Douglas didn't want to come 943 00:45:05,613 --> 00:45:10,957 to evangelistic meetings. 944 00:45:10,957 --> 00:45:13,053 David spoke to him and spoke to him. 945 00:45:13,053 --> 00:45:17,367 Look, he said, in this hand 946 00:45:17,367 --> 00:45:22,108 I've got everything that you have as a farmer, 947 00:45:22,108 --> 00:45:23,914 and as a highland wrestler, 948 00:45:23,914 --> 00:45:26,061 and as a good Scotsman - 949 00:45:26,061 --> 00:45:27,612 your health and strength 950 00:45:27,612 --> 00:45:30,979 and all your future - it's there. 951 00:45:30,979 --> 00:45:33,032 And in this hand, 952 00:45:33,032 --> 00:45:38,823 I have Jesus Christ. 953 00:45:38,823 --> 00:45:48,053 Which one are you going to take? 954 00:45:48,053 --> 00:45:54,197 It's the same decision that faces you this morning. 955 00:45:54,197 --> 00:45:56,001 Are you going to have 956 00:45:56,001 --> 00:45:58,926 all that this world has to offer? 957 00:45:58,926 --> 00:46:03,211 Is it: I want that. 958 00:46:03,211 --> 00:46:06,521 Or are you going to take 959 00:46:06,521 --> 00:46:11,629 this great, sympathetic, divine, 960 00:46:11,629 --> 00:46:14,778 tender, loving, Savior Jesus Christ 961 00:46:14,778 --> 00:46:16,470 for now and forever. 962 00:46:16,470 --> 00:46:18,667 Which one? 963 00:46:18,667 --> 00:46:23,600 Which one are you going to have? 964 00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:24,640 Which one? 965 00:46:24,640 --> 00:46:26,538 You've got to choose. 966 00:46:26,538 --> 00:46:28,556 You must choose. 967 00:46:28,556 --> 00:46:32,076 He says He's your God. 968 00:46:32,076 --> 00:46:37,572 He's your God. He's your Lord. 969 00:46:37,572 --> 00:46:41,861 Which one are you going to choose? 970 00:46:41,861 --> 00:46:44,912 Let's pray together. 971 00:46:44,912 --> 00:46:46,232 Our Heavenly Father, 972 00:46:46,232 --> 00:46:49,099 we are so often in the valley of decision 973 00:46:49,099 --> 00:46:55,419 and so often we find such excuses 974 00:46:55,419 --> 00:46:59,969 to stay sitting on the fence. 975 00:46:59,969 --> 00:47:04,872 So ungainly, so awkward, so painful. 976 00:47:04,872 --> 00:47:07,443 We don't come down on one side. 977 00:47:07,443 --> 00:47:09,211 We put it off and put it off. 978 00:47:09,211 --> 00:47:12,119 Oh, what fools we are, 979 00:47:12,119 --> 00:47:14,329 when we could have this great Savior 980 00:47:14,329 --> 00:47:16,537 as our Savior forever. 981 00:47:16,537 --> 00:47:18,932 Oh Lord, help everyone 982 00:47:18,932 --> 00:47:21,190 who is on the fence today. 983 00:47:21,190 --> 00:47:22,980 Help the children. 984 00:47:22,980 --> 00:47:26,209 Help the visitor, the stranger. 985 00:47:26,209 --> 00:47:29,704 Help them all to see 986 00:47:29,704 --> 00:47:33,586 with new insight and a clear mind 987 00:47:33,586 --> 00:47:36,405 and broken will 988 00:47:36,405 --> 00:47:37,816 and a loving heart 989 00:47:37,816 --> 00:47:43,762 that Jesus Christ is tremendous, 990 00:47:43,762 --> 00:47:47,423 and that He's worthy of our minds 991 00:47:47,423 --> 00:47:49,969 and our whole lives. 992 00:47:49,969 --> 00:47:51,899 And by Thy Holy Spirit now, 993 00:47:51,899 --> 00:47:54,622 take the Word and persuade us 994 00:47:54,622 --> 00:47:56,447 and draw us. 995 00:47:56,447 --> 00:47:58,343 Because we can't come, 996 00:47:58,343 --> 00:47:59,990 unless Thou dost draw - 997 00:47:59,990 --> 00:48:02,642 Oh, draw, loving Savior, we pray, 998 00:48:02,642 --> 00:48:05,287 everyone here to Thyself. 999 00:48:05,287 --> 00:48:08,296 Please, please have mercy on us. 1000 00:48:08,296 --> 00:48:11,406 We ask it for the glory of Jesus our Savior, 1001 00:48:11,406 --> 00:48:12,629 Amen.