1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:04,391 A lot of things we could say, but I have some things 2 00:00:04,391 --> 00:00:06,842 that are on my heart this morning. 3 00:00:06,842 --> 00:00:10,232 The last time we were with Leonard Ravenhill - 4 00:00:10,232 --> 00:00:14,022 Leonard and Martha down in Texas - 5 00:00:14,022 --> 00:00:15,302 he shared a lot of things, 6 00:00:15,302 --> 00:00:19,622 but he shared one thing just out of the clear blue sky, 7 00:00:19,622 --> 00:00:21,252 and said Luke 15 8 00:00:21,252 --> 00:00:25,081 and the lost sheep and lost coin 9 00:00:25,081 --> 00:00:27,886 and lost son. 10 00:00:27,886 --> 00:00:34,452 He says these are not three different parables, 11 00:00:34,452 --> 00:00:37,981 but they're just one. 12 00:00:37,981 --> 00:00:41,672 And maybe you've heard this already, 13 00:00:41,672 --> 00:00:43,582 but then he said this, 14 00:00:43,582 --> 00:00:50,610 we dare not separate them. 15 00:00:50,610 --> 00:00:55,043 And we dare not change the order. 16 00:00:55,043 --> 00:00:58,621 And that's all he said. That's all he said. 17 00:00:58,621 --> 00:00:59,969 But through the years, 18 00:00:59,969 --> 00:01:03,050 my heart's been drawn to that statement. 19 00:01:03,050 --> 00:01:06,230 If we could turn in our Bibles this morning 20 00:01:06,230 --> 00:01:09,682 to Luke, the 15th chapter. 21 00:01:09,682 --> 00:01:13,573 And we'll read this. 22 00:01:13,573 --> 00:01:17,171 "Then drew near unto Him 23 00:01:17,171 --> 00:01:20,041 all the publicans and sinners 24 00:01:20,041 --> 00:01:22,131 for to hear Him. 25 00:01:22,131 --> 00:01:25,520 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, 26 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,959 saying, This man receiveth sinners, 27 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:30,391 and eateth with them." 28 00:01:30,391 --> 00:01:32,771 I think these two verses are very significant 29 00:01:32,771 --> 00:01:34,891 to the parables here. 30 00:01:34,891 --> 00:01:36,971 He's talking to two classes of people. 31 00:01:36,971 --> 00:01:38,999 Probably His disciples are there too, 32 00:01:38,999 --> 00:01:43,890 but He's talking to sinners 33 00:01:43,890 --> 00:01:49,852 and He's talking to self-righteous people. 34 00:01:49,852 --> 00:01:51,921 "And He spake this parable unto them, 35 00:01:51,921 --> 00:01:54,080 saying, What man of you, 36 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,360 having a hundred sheep, 37 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,551 if he lose one of them, 38 00:01:58,551 --> 00:02:01,900 doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, 39 00:02:01,900 --> 00:02:05,192 and go after that which is lost, 40 00:02:05,192 --> 00:02:08,189 until he find it? 41 00:02:08,189 --> 00:02:09,852 And when he hath found it, 42 00:02:09,852 --> 00:02:12,331 he layeth it on his shoulders, 43 00:02:12,331 --> 00:02:14,183 rejoicing. 44 00:02:14,183 --> 00:02:15,921 And when he cometh home, 45 00:02:15,921 --> 00:02:20,291 he calleth together his friends and neighbors, 46 00:02:20,291 --> 00:02:22,611 saying unto them, 47 00:02:22,611 --> 00:02:25,882 Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep 48 00:02:25,882 --> 00:02:27,522 which was lost. 49 00:02:27,522 --> 00:02:32,581 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be 50 00:02:32,581 --> 00:02:36,801 in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, 51 00:02:36,801 --> 00:02:39,051 more than over ninety and nine just persons, 52 00:02:39,051 --> 00:02:42,332 which need no repentance. 53 00:02:42,332 --> 00:02:48,171 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, 54 00:02:48,171 --> 00:02:50,522 if she lose one piece, 55 00:02:50,522 --> 00:02:54,950 doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, 56 00:02:54,950 --> 00:03:00,070 and seek diligently until she find it? 57 00:03:00,070 --> 00:03:01,850 And when she hath found it, 58 00:03:01,850 --> 00:03:04,401 she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, 59 00:03:04,401 --> 00:03:07,212 saying, Rejoice with me; 60 00:03:07,212 --> 00:03:09,479 for I have found the piece 61 00:03:09,479 --> 00:03:12,029 which I had lost. 62 00:03:12,029 --> 00:03:13,811 Likewise, I say unto you, 63 00:03:13,811 --> 00:03:17,731 there is joy in the presence 64 00:03:17,731 --> 00:03:20,020 of the angels of God 65 00:03:20,020 --> 00:03:27,191 over one sinner that repenteth. 66 00:03:27,191 --> 00:03:30,405 And He said, A certain man had two sons: 67 00:03:30,405 --> 00:03:33,106 And the younger of them said to his father, 68 00:03:33,106 --> 00:03:35,738 Father, give me the portion of goods 69 00:03:35,738 --> 00:03:37,997 that falleth to me. 70 00:03:37,997 --> 00:03:43,117 And he divided unto them his living. 71 00:03:43,117 --> 00:03:45,638 And not many days after 72 00:03:45,638 --> 00:03:49,487 the younger son gathered all together, 73 00:03:49,487 --> 00:03:52,359 and took his journey into a far country, 74 00:03:52,359 --> 00:03:55,158 and there wasted his substance 75 00:03:55,158 --> 00:03:58,407 with riotous living. 76 00:03:58,407 --> 00:04:01,447 And when he had spent all, 77 00:04:01,447 --> 00:04:04,996 there arose a mighty famine in that land; 78 00:04:04,996 --> 00:04:09,099 and he began to be in want. 79 00:04:09,099 --> 00:04:10,578 And he went and joined himself 80 00:04:10,578 --> 00:04:13,130 to a citizen of that country; 81 00:04:13,130 --> 00:04:15,608 and he sent him into his fields 82 00:04:15,608 --> 00:04:18,758 to feed swine. 83 00:04:18,758 --> 00:04:22,009 And he would fain have filled his belly 84 00:04:22,009 --> 00:04:25,749 with the husks that the swine did eat; 85 00:04:25,749 --> 00:04:30,539 and no man gave unto him. 86 00:04:30,539 --> 00:04:32,977 And when he came to himself, he said, 87 00:04:32,977 --> 00:04:36,640 How many hired servants of my father's 88 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,828 have bread enough and to spare, 89 00:04:39,828 --> 00:04:44,889 and I perish with hunger! 90 00:04:44,889 --> 00:04:47,939 I will arise 91 00:04:47,939 --> 00:04:51,067 and go to my father, 92 00:04:51,067 --> 00:04:53,707 and will say unto him, 93 00:04:53,707 --> 00:04:58,378 Father, I have sinned against heaven 94 00:04:58,378 --> 00:05:00,809 and before thee, 95 00:05:00,809 --> 00:05:02,528 and am no more worthy 96 00:05:02,528 --> 00:05:05,490 to be called thy son: 97 00:05:05,490 --> 00:05:10,317 make me as one of thy hired servants. 98 00:05:10,317 --> 00:05:13,830 And he arose, and came to his father. 99 00:05:13,830 --> 00:05:16,849 But when he was yet a great way off, 100 00:05:16,849 --> 00:05:18,679 his father saw him, 101 00:05:18,679 --> 00:05:21,620 and had compassion, 102 00:05:21,620 --> 00:05:24,059 and ran, 103 00:05:24,059 --> 00:05:28,638 and fell on his neck, 104 00:05:28,638 --> 00:05:32,289 and kissed him. 105 00:05:32,289 --> 00:05:34,357 And the son said unto him, 106 00:05:34,357 --> 00:05:38,190 Father, I have sinned against heaven 107 00:05:38,190 --> 00:05:39,699 and in thy sight, 108 00:05:39,699 --> 00:05:44,300 and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 109 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:46,720 But the father said to his servants, 110 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:51,109 Bring forth the best robe, 111 00:05:51,109 --> 00:05:53,808 and put it on him; 112 00:05:53,808 --> 00:05:56,258 and put a ring on his hand, 113 00:05:56,258 --> 00:05:59,491 and shoes on his feet: 114 00:05:59,491 --> 00:06:02,618 And bring hither the fatted calf, 115 00:06:02,618 --> 00:06:03,966 and kill it; 116 00:06:03,966 --> 00:06:07,038 and let us eat, and be merry: 117 00:06:07,038 --> 00:06:09,329 For this my son was dead, 118 00:06:09,329 --> 00:06:11,138 and is alive again; 119 00:06:11,138 --> 00:06:15,219 he was lost, and is found. 120 00:06:15,219 --> 00:06:17,428 And they began to be merry. 121 00:06:17,428 --> 00:06:21,518 (V. 32) It was meet that we should make merry, 122 00:06:21,518 --> 00:06:22,828 and be glad: 123 00:06:22,828 --> 00:06:25,419 for this thy brother was dead, 124 00:06:25,419 --> 00:06:26,980 and is alive again; 125 00:06:26,980 --> 00:06:32,758 and was lost, and is found." 126 00:06:32,758 --> 00:06:34,799 Father, by Thy Spirit I pray, that You 127 00:06:34,799 --> 00:06:40,848 would quicken Your Word to our hearts this morning. 128 00:06:40,848 --> 00:06:44,589 We ask Thee Father, by Thy Spirit, 129 00:06:44,589 --> 00:06:47,669 to speak to each one of us. 130 00:06:47,669 --> 00:06:53,549 We'll praise You and thank You in Jesus' name. 131 00:06:53,549 --> 00:06:57,669 As I meditated on these things, 132 00:06:57,669 --> 00:07:02,649 I'd like to share first of all from the middle one. 133 00:07:02,649 --> 00:07:05,669 The lost coin. 134 00:07:05,669 --> 00:07:09,448 First of all, I think we need to see this 135 00:07:09,448 --> 00:07:12,629 from not the standpoint of the son, 136 00:07:12,629 --> 00:07:15,479 the sheep, and the coin, 137 00:07:15,479 --> 00:07:19,920 but from heaven's standpoint. 138 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:24,118 Look what it says here in verse 6. 139 00:07:24,118 --> 00:07:29,868 "Joy in heaven." 140 00:07:29,868 --> 00:07:31,968 And then in verse 10, 141 00:07:31,968 --> 00:07:36,641 "joy in the presence of the angels of God." 142 00:07:36,641 --> 00:07:40,458 And then joy in the Father's house. 143 00:07:40,458 --> 00:07:42,599 We look at so many of these things 144 00:07:42,599 --> 00:07:44,840 just from the human standpoint, 145 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,547 from our standpoint, 146 00:07:46,547 --> 00:07:48,519 but I want us to think of this 147 00:07:48,519 --> 00:07:57,836 from heaven's standpoint. 148 00:07:57,836 --> 00:08:06,358 Beloved, we don't know how much we mean to God. 149 00:08:06,358 --> 00:08:07,877 If you're out here this morning 150 00:08:07,877 --> 00:08:09,208 and you don't know Jesus, 151 00:08:09,208 --> 00:08:14,910 you don't have any idea how much joy 152 00:08:14,910 --> 00:08:26,399 you're robbing the Father of. 153 00:08:26,399 --> 00:08:31,187 The reason I would like to look at this here 154 00:08:31,187 --> 00:08:34,138 lost coin first of all is because 155 00:08:34,138 --> 00:08:36,868 if I understand it rightly, 156 00:08:36,868 --> 00:08:46,387 this is where grace finds us. 157 00:08:46,387 --> 00:08:51,269 Paul said to the Ephesians, 158 00:08:51,269 --> 00:08:53,139 "and you hath He quickened 159 00:08:53,139 --> 00:08:57,868 who were dead 160 00:08:57,868 --> 00:09:00,198 in trespasses and sins." 161 00:09:00,198 --> 00:09:02,929 How dead? 162 00:09:02,929 --> 00:09:08,809 As dead as a lost coin. 163 00:09:08,809 --> 00:09:11,120 How helpless? How hopeless? 164 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,868 Of ever finding your way back to God? 165 00:09:13,868 --> 00:09:16,398 You're as dead as a coin. 166 00:09:16,398 --> 00:09:20,650 Every one of us. 167 00:09:20,650 --> 00:09:22,068 That's where grace finds us. 168 00:09:22,068 --> 00:09:25,770 "And you hath He quickened 169 00:09:25,770 --> 00:09:28,778 who were dead 170 00:09:28,778 --> 00:09:34,697 in trespasses and sins." 171 00:09:34,697 --> 00:09:36,869 In John, Jesus said, 172 00:09:36,869 --> 00:09:43,908 "No man can come to Me 173 00:09:43,908 --> 00:09:52,598 except the Father which hath sent Me draw him." 174 00:09:52,598 --> 00:09:59,498 Do you believe that? 175 00:09:59,498 --> 00:10:02,250 What I want to share this morning 176 00:10:02,250 --> 00:10:04,809 is to do two things: 177 00:10:04,809 --> 00:10:07,921 I want, and if I know my heart, 178 00:10:07,921 --> 00:10:12,499 I am longing to go home and be with the Lord. 179 00:10:12,499 --> 00:10:14,518 I would love for the Lord to come. 180 00:10:14,518 --> 00:10:17,469 I wish it would be first. 181 00:10:17,469 --> 00:10:19,498 But I tell you, I want to stay down here 182 00:10:19,498 --> 00:10:23,969 just as long as I can for two reasons. 183 00:10:23,969 --> 00:10:37,779 I want to stay down here to talk to God about men. 184 00:10:37,779 --> 00:10:43,268 And I want to stay down here to talk to men about God. 185 00:10:43,268 --> 00:10:53,357 I don't want to come to the ground... 186 00:10:53,357 --> 00:10:55,849 There's a wonderful promise, 187 00:10:55,849 --> 00:10:57,648 and I ask you to pray with me: 188 00:10:57,648 --> 00:11:04,508 "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age." 189 00:11:04,508 --> 00:11:06,228 And another time David said, 190 00:11:06,228 --> 00:11:12,457 "Let me not go hence till I've shown Thy power 191 00:11:12,457 --> 00:11:16,288 to this generation." 192 00:11:16,288 --> 00:11:23,618 (unintelligible) 193 00:11:23,618 --> 00:11:25,217 There's some wonderful promises 194 00:11:25,217 --> 00:11:27,506 and I don't want to get sidetracked here, 195 00:11:27,506 --> 00:11:30,549 but it says the Lord whom ye seek 196 00:11:30,549 --> 00:11:34,299 shall suddenly come to His temple. 197 00:11:34,299 --> 00:11:37,589 I'm looking for that, beloved. 198 00:11:37,589 --> 00:11:40,358 Again and again and again. 199 00:11:40,358 --> 00:11:44,298 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven 200 00:11:44,298 --> 00:11:47,068 as of a rushing, mighty wind. 201 00:11:47,068 --> 00:11:52,520 Oh! To see that every time we gather together - 202 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,118 suddenly! 203 00:11:54,118 --> 00:11:57,867 And when He is come, 204 00:11:57,867 --> 00:12:00,498 He'll reprove the world of sin, 205 00:12:00,498 --> 00:12:04,930 of righteousness, and of judgment. 206 00:12:04,930 --> 00:12:09,287 But here we are as where grace finds us. 207 00:12:09,287 --> 00:12:11,177 Dead. 208 00:12:11,177 --> 00:12:15,618 Now how did we get that way? 209 00:12:15,618 --> 00:12:20,017 How did we get this way: dead? 210 00:12:20,017 --> 00:12:24,388 How did we ever get dead 211 00:12:24,388 --> 00:12:27,168 in trespasses and sins? 212 00:12:27,168 --> 00:12:31,938 We have to go back to the first one, don't we. 213 00:12:31,938 --> 00:12:39,031 All we like sheep have gone astray, 214 00:12:39,031 --> 00:12:42,718 every one turned to his own way. 215 00:12:42,718 --> 00:12:46,527 And the Lord hath laid on Him 216 00:12:46,527 --> 00:12:52,269 the iniquity of us all. 217 00:12:52,269 --> 00:12:56,090 Brother Conrad made a statement one time. 218 00:12:56,090 --> 00:13:01,909 He said that all the great truths of Scripture 219 00:13:01,909 --> 00:13:07,770 are in latent form of the first few chapters of Genesis. 220 00:13:07,770 --> 00:13:11,488 That's a tremendous statement. 221 00:13:11,488 --> 00:13:14,676 But remember what our first parents - 222 00:13:14,676 --> 00:13:17,880 I wish we could take time to do this. 223 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,249 Well, let's go back to Genesis, can we? 224 00:13:21,249 --> 00:13:30,187 To Genesis the second chapter. 225 00:13:30,187 --> 00:13:31,718 One of the burdens of my heart 226 00:13:31,718 --> 00:13:33,441 here this morning 227 00:13:33,441 --> 00:13:37,338 is that we would understand this word: 228 00:13:37,338 --> 00:13:39,958 repentance. 229 00:13:39,958 --> 00:13:42,969 And we'll never understand 230 00:13:42,969 --> 00:13:45,200 the real meaning of repentance 231 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,617 unless we understand the word sin. 232 00:13:49,617 --> 00:13:53,821 Because that's what we'll repent of. 233 00:13:53,821 --> 00:13:55,678 So there's joy in heaven, 234 00:13:55,678 --> 00:13:57,430 there's joy in the presence of God 235 00:13:57,430 --> 00:14:00,109 over one sinner (that repents). 236 00:14:00,109 --> 00:14:06,649 Now in Genesis the second chapter. 237 00:14:06,649 --> 00:14:09,350 We'll just break in chapter 2:16. 238 00:14:09,350 --> 00:14:13,451 "And the Lord God commanded the man, 239 00:14:13,451 --> 00:14:15,568 saying, Of every tree of the garden 240 00:14:15,568 --> 00:14:17,408 thou mayest freely eat: 241 00:14:17,408 --> 00:14:19,089 But of the tree of the knowledge 242 00:14:19,089 --> 00:14:20,389 of good and evil, 243 00:14:20,389 --> 00:14:22,018 thou shalt not eat of it: 244 00:14:22,018 --> 00:14:31,846 for in the day that thou eatest thereof 245 00:14:31,846 --> 00:14:39,487 thou shalt surely die." 246 00:14:39,487 --> 00:14:44,448 And when the Lord met them in the garden 247 00:14:44,448 --> 00:14:50,378 after they had sinned, it says - 248 00:14:50,378 --> 00:14:53,088 in chapter 3 now and verse 8, 249 00:14:53,088 --> 00:14:54,509 "And they heard the voice 250 00:14:54,509 --> 00:14:56,278 of the Lord God walking in the garden 251 00:14:56,278 --> 00:14:58,837 in the cool of the day: 252 00:14:58,837 --> 00:15:00,819 and Adam and his wife hid themselves..." 253 00:15:00,819 --> 00:15:02,340 They had made themselves aprons. 254 00:15:02,340 --> 00:15:03,738 They knew they were naked. 255 00:15:03,738 --> 00:15:05,201 They'd made themselves aprons. 256 00:15:05,201 --> 00:15:06,627 But they "hid themselves 257 00:15:06,627 --> 00:15:09,158 from the presence of the Lord God 258 00:15:09,158 --> 00:15:11,049 among the trees of the garden. 259 00:15:11,049 --> 00:15:14,257 And the Lord God called unto Adam and to his wife 260 00:15:14,257 --> 00:15:15,718 Where art thou? 261 00:15:15,718 --> 00:15:17,653 And he said, I heard thy voice 262 00:15:17,653 --> 00:15:19,042 in the garden, 263 00:15:19,042 --> 00:15:21,044 and I was afraid, 264 00:15:21,044 --> 00:15:22,207 because I was naked, 265 00:15:22,207 --> 00:15:23,810 and I hid myself. 266 00:15:23,810 --> 00:15:25,654 And then I want us to get verse 11. 267 00:15:25,654 --> 00:15:26,831 "And he said, 268 00:15:26,831 --> 00:15:31,353 Who told thee that thou wast naked? 269 00:15:31,353 --> 00:15:33,297 Hast thou eaten of the tree, 270 00:15:33,297 --> 00:15:34,628 whereof I commanded thee 271 00:15:34,628 --> 00:15:39,190 that thou shouldest not eat?" 272 00:15:39,190 --> 00:15:40,329 What was their sin? 273 00:15:40,329 --> 00:15:43,518 We could say unbelief. 274 00:15:43,518 --> 00:15:45,089 I want to put it this way: 275 00:15:45,089 --> 00:15:47,909 They took themselves out from under 276 00:15:47,909 --> 00:16:03,708 the authority of their Creator. 277 00:16:03,708 --> 00:16:08,058 What's repentance? 278 00:16:08,058 --> 00:16:10,268 Repentance is putting ourselves 279 00:16:10,268 --> 00:16:23,269 back under the authority of our Creator. 280 00:16:23,269 --> 00:16:28,078 But that alone won't do it. 281 00:16:28,078 --> 00:16:29,697 They took themselves out 282 00:16:29,697 --> 00:16:39,699 and now they're dead. 283 00:16:39,699 --> 00:16:48,638 Beloved, if the Lord God wouldn't have come down, 284 00:16:48,638 --> 00:16:59,309 in that state, they'd still be dead forever. 285 00:16:59,309 --> 00:17:02,659 But the Lord came down and He did something. 286 00:17:02,659 --> 00:17:04,581 Now I know some of you, 287 00:17:04,581 --> 00:17:07,000 you've thought of this a long time ago, 288 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:12,471 but I confess, it says in the end of this chapter, 289 00:17:12,471 --> 00:17:14,809 well, verse 21, 290 00:17:14,809 --> 00:17:17,921 "Unto Adam and also unto his wife 291 00:17:17,921 --> 00:17:20,941 did the Lord God make coats of skins 292 00:17:20,941 --> 00:17:24,011 and did clothe them." 293 00:17:24,011 --> 00:17:27,520 I'd like to ask you this question this morning here. 294 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:34,330 Do you think that the Lord said, 295 00:17:34,330 --> 00:17:36,446 after He'd encountered them 296 00:17:36,446 --> 00:17:44,249 and talked to them about their disobedience, 297 00:17:44,249 --> 00:17:46,010 do you think He said, 298 00:17:46,010 --> 00:17:50,489 now I want you to wait here for a little bit? 299 00:17:50,489 --> 00:17:52,938 I'll be back. 300 00:17:52,938 --> 00:17:54,639 And you think He went out 301 00:17:54,639 --> 00:17:57,230 and behind their backs 302 00:17:57,230 --> 00:18:03,768 took a lamb and killed it? 303 00:18:03,768 --> 00:18:06,429 Shed its blood and then brought it back? 304 00:18:06,429 --> 00:18:17,378 Or do you think He did it right before their eyes? 305 00:18:17,378 --> 00:18:28,199 What do you think would have made the greatest impression on them? 306 00:18:28,199 --> 00:18:31,572 (unintelligible) 307 00:18:31,572 --> 00:18:33,768 In Galatians, it says this: 308 00:18:33,768 --> 00:18:40,939 Before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been 309 00:18:40,939 --> 00:18:45,958 eminently set forth 310 00:18:45,958 --> 00:18:55,488 crucified among you. 311 00:18:55,488 --> 00:18:58,089 It's my belief, dear beloved, 312 00:18:58,089 --> 00:19:03,599 that probably the Lord took a lamb - 313 00:19:03,599 --> 00:19:10,198 an innocent lamb - 314 00:19:10,198 --> 00:19:19,570 shed its blood right in front of their eyes. 315 00:19:19,570 --> 00:19:23,139 Oh, there was a great truth to be taught, 316 00:19:23,139 --> 00:19:26,086 that without the shedding of blood 317 00:19:26,086 --> 00:19:36,440 there's no forgiveness. 318 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:41,858 Maybe this will put significance in that verse: 319 00:19:41,858 --> 00:19:47,028 "By faith, Abel offered unto God 320 00:19:47,028 --> 00:19:53,418 a more excellent sacrifice than Cain." 321 00:19:53,418 --> 00:19:57,711 By faith - which very clearly indicates 322 00:19:57,711 --> 00:20:02,348 there was some previous instruction 323 00:20:02,348 --> 00:20:07,669 of what to do. 324 00:20:07,669 --> 00:20:09,178 Let me break in right here 325 00:20:09,178 --> 00:20:12,359 and bring another verse into light. Can I? 326 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,538 Turn to Matthew's Gospel, 327 00:20:15,538 --> 00:20:41,398 chapter 11. 328 00:20:41,398 --> 00:20:46,061 In verse 20, Jesus said, (this is Matthew 11), 329 00:20:46,061 --> 00:20:49,028 it says then began the Lord 330 00:20:49,028 --> 00:20:50,538 to upbraid the cities 331 00:20:50,538 --> 00:20:54,208 where most of His mighty works were done, 332 00:20:54,208 --> 00:20:56,908 even saying that if the works 333 00:20:56,908 --> 00:20:58,179 that had been done in you 334 00:20:58,179 --> 00:21:02,269 had been done in Sodom, 335 00:21:02,269 --> 00:21:04,258 it would have remained. 336 00:21:04,258 --> 00:21:07,939 V. 24, "It will be more tolerable 337 00:21:07,939 --> 00:21:10,821 for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment 338 00:21:10,821 --> 00:21:12,059 than for thee." 339 00:21:12,059 --> 00:21:13,639 What does that mean? 340 00:21:13,639 --> 00:21:15,379 I don't know what that means. 341 00:21:15,379 --> 00:21:17,268 I don't know what that means. 342 00:21:17,268 --> 00:21:21,320 But I believe what it says. 343 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,791 But here's the verse I want us to get. 344 00:21:24,791 --> 00:21:30,128 V. 25, "At that time..." 345 00:21:30,128 --> 00:21:33,636 At that time, when He had told them, 346 00:21:33,636 --> 00:21:35,308 it was going to be more tolerable - 347 00:21:35,308 --> 00:21:37,620 at that time, when He said 348 00:21:37,620 --> 00:21:39,141 woe to you, cities - 349 00:21:39,141 --> 00:21:41,067 "At that time..." 350 00:21:41,067 --> 00:21:42,889 I want us to get this carefully now. 351 00:21:42,889 --> 00:21:44,699 Mark this in your Bible. 352 00:21:44,699 --> 00:21:47,950 "At that time, Jesus answered and said, 353 00:21:47,950 --> 00:21:54,700 'I thank Thee, O Father...'" 354 00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:59,481 Put it in the Zupke translation: 355 00:21:59,481 --> 00:22:05,779 Father, there's something on My heart 356 00:22:05,779 --> 00:22:11,520 that I want to thank You for. 357 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,449 Oh, I want us to get this, beloved. 358 00:22:14,449 --> 00:22:17,359 "At that time, Jesus answered and said, 359 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:23,640 'I thank Thee, O Father, 360 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:25,309 Lord of Heaven and earth, 361 00:22:25,309 --> 00:22:32,034 because Thou hast hid these things 362 00:22:32,034 --> 00:22:35,584 from the wise and prudent, 363 00:22:35,584 --> 00:22:40,234 and hath revealed them unto babes.'" 364 00:22:40,234 --> 00:22:45,103 Oh, beloved, let's get a hold of that! 365 00:22:45,103 --> 00:22:47,014 Do we realize this? 366 00:22:47,014 --> 00:22:48,905 "I thank You, Father, 367 00:22:48,905 --> 00:22:51,545 that You hide these things from some, 368 00:22:51,545 --> 00:23:01,134 and You reveal them to others." 369 00:23:01,134 --> 00:23:03,053 I want that to affect my life. 370 00:23:03,053 --> 00:23:08,415 I want that to affect my prayer life. 371 00:23:08,415 --> 00:23:10,294 I want that to affect the way 372 00:23:10,294 --> 00:23:11,935 I'm talking to men. 373 00:23:11,935 --> 00:23:18,045 Oh, Father, I thank You 374 00:23:18,045 --> 00:23:23,968 that You hide these things 375 00:23:23,968 --> 00:23:26,814 from the wise and prudent 376 00:23:26,814 --> 00:23:39,814 and reveal them unto babes. 377 00:23:39,814 --> 00:23:44,254 Can I give you a picture of a babe? 378 00:23:44,254 --> 00:23:46,617 Have you got your Redemption Hymnal there? 379 00:23:46,617 --> 00:24:05,653 Turn to page 341, would you with me? 380 00:24:05,653 --> 00:24:08,944 Oh, the song reader gives some words 381 00:24:08,944 --> 00:24:11,864 that depicts some of this dead, 382 00:24:11,864 --> 00:24:22,356 or in this sense, someone that's a babe. 383 00:24:22,356 --> 00:24:23,934 Begin in verse 2. 384 00:24:23,934 --> 00:24:27,993 "Not the labor of my hands." 385 00:24:27,993 --> 00:24:33,565 Verse 3: "Nothing in my hands I bring." 386 00:24:33,565 --> 00:24:38,144 How does a babe come into this world? 387 00:24:38,144 --> 00:24:44,606 Nothing! 388 00:24:44,606 --> 00:24:49,934 Nothing in his hands. 389 00:24:49,934 --> 00:24:55,504 Naked. 390 00:24:55,504 --> 00:24:58,485 "Come to Thee for dress..." 391 00:24:58,485 --> 00:25:02,785 Helpless. 392 00:25:02,785 --> 00:25:04,596 Now, that's a picture, beloved, 393 00:25:04,596 --> 00:25:06,665 if I understand the Bible rightly, 394 00:25:06,665 --> 00:25:09,064 when He's talking this lost coin 395 00:25:09,064 --> 00:25:15,904 is the same thing as the babe. 396 00:25:15,904 --> 00:25:18,374 Just as helpless. 397 00:25:18,374 --> 00:25:21,875 Just as hopeless. 398 00:25:21,875 --> 00:25:23,519 But God hides these things 399 00:25:23,519 --> 00:25:25,095 from the wise and prudent 400 00:25:25,095 --> 00:25:31,883 and reveals them unto babes. 401 00:25:31,883 --> 00:25:37,415 I don't know how to say this, 402 00:25:37,415 --> 00:25:44,164 but if you're here this morning without Jesus, 403 00:25:44,164 --> 00:25:48,005 could you ask Him to make you a babe? 404 00:25:48,005 --> 00:25:56,946 To give you the heart of a babe. 405 00:25:56,946 --> 00:25:59,785 I shouldn't say this here... 406 00:25:59,785 --> 00:26:10,734 (unintelligible) foul. 407 00:26:10,734 --> 00:26:16,483 If a baby needs a diaper change, 408 00:26:16,483 --> 00:26:22,465 well, it smells that way at least, doesn't it? 409 00:26:22,465 --> 00:26:25,863 What can they do about it? 410 00:26:25,863 --> 00:26:27,665 What can a babe do about it? 411 00:26:27,665 --> 00:26:29,584 Nothing! 412 00:26:29,584 --> 00:26:35,236 Nothing! 413 00:26:35,236 --> 00:26:37,444 It's as good as dead. 414 00:26:37,444 --> 00:26:54,874 Can't do anything unless God does something. 415 00:26:54,874 --> 00:27:04,203 Let's go back to Luke, the 15th chapter, shall we. 416 00:27:04,203 --> 00:27:09,803 The lost son. 417 00:27:09,803 --> 00:27:14,024 He says, "Father, give me the portion of goods..." 418 00:27:14,024 --> 00:27:17,803 V. 13, "He wasted his substance with riotous living." 419 00:27:17,803 --> 00:27:19,474 I want to submit to you, brethren, 420 00:27:19,474 --> 00:27:22,484 that's a sin to waste your substance 421 00:27:22,484 --> 00:27:25,254 in riotous living. 422 00:27:25,254 --> 00:27:27,304 It's a terrible thing. 423 00:27:27,304 --> 00:27:28,941 But I want to tell you, beloved, 424 00:27:28,941 --> 00:27:32,114 where it began. 425 00:27:32,114 --> 00:27:33,695 This son took himself out 426 00:27:33,695 --> 00:27:36,775 from under his father's authority. 427 00:27:36,775 --> 00:27:45,094 That's where it began. 428 00:27:45,094 --> 00:27:51,695 He took himself out from under his father's authority. 429 00:27:51,695 --> 00:28:01,744 And that's sin. 430 00:28:01,744 --> 00:28:05,023 And that has to be repented of. 431 00:28:05,023 --> 00:28:07,374 Repentance is putting ourselves 432 00:28:07,374 --> 00:28:09,094 (unintelligible) 433 00:28:09,094 --> 00:28:11,916 Repentance is putting ourselves 434 00:28:11,916 --> 00:28:20,455 back under His authority. 435 00:28:20,455 --> 00:28:23,494 If you're marking down quotes 436 00:28:23,494 --> 00:28:24,484 in your Bibles, 437 00:28:24,484 --> 00:28:26,783 I'd like you to write down this quote 438 00:28:26,783 --> 00:28:32,463 by John Calvin. 439 00:28:32,463 --> 00:28:41,273 John Calvin says, "We're saved by faith alone, 440 00:28:41,273 --> 00:28:48,395 but faith that saves is not alone." 441 00:28:48,395 --> 00:28:54,374 Oh, beloved, you're never find more truer words than that. 442 00:28:54,374 --> 00:29:01,913 We're saved by faith alone, 443 00:29:01,913 --> 00:29:11,984 but faith that saves is not alone. 444 00:29:11,984 --> 00:29:20,742 Verse 17, it says he came to himself. 445 00:29:20,742 --> 00:29:27,553 Verse 18 - faith that saves says, 446 00:29:27,553 --> 00:29:34,083 "I will arise." 447 00:29:34,083 --> 00:29:37,393 Faith that saves says, 448 00:29:37,393 --> 00:29:48,585 "I'll go to my Father." 449 00:29:48,585 --> 00:30:00,333 Faith that saves says, "I have sinned!" 450 00:30:00,333 --> 00:30:01,494 Faith that saves says, 451 00:30:01,494 --> 00:30:10,325 "I am no more worthy to be called Thy son." 452 00:30:10,325 --> 00:30:11,766 Faith that saves says, 453 00:30:11,766 --> 00:30:16,254 "Make me as one of the hired servants." 454 00:30:16,254 --> 00:30:17,395 What's he doing? 455 00:30:17,395 --> 00:30:19,805 He's putting himself back under 456 00:30:19,805 --> 00:30:24,234 the authority of his father. 457 00:30:24,234 --> 00:30:26,603 Oh, beloved, the Word of God is clear: 458 00:30:26,603 --> 00:30:37,732 "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." 459 00:30:37,732 --> 00:30:40,823 And I want us to know, beloved, 460 00:30:40,823 --> 00:30:44,814 that repentance is not a one time act. 461 00:30:44,814 --> 00:31:02,614 Repentance is entering into a way of life. 462 00:31:02,614 --> 00:31:10,845 I think I want to share this with you. 463 00:31:10,845 --> 00:31:15,994 In this matter of being a babe, 464 00:31:15,994 --> 00:31:20,134 it wasn't just that one time I saw myself as a babe. 465 00:31:20,134 --> 00:31:26,573 I see myself that way all the time. 466 00:31:26,573 --> 00:31:30,675 I see myself helpless. 467 00:31:30,675 --> 00:31:34,353 I see myself naked. 468 00:31:34,353 --> 00:31:36,873 I see myself foul. 469 00:31:36,873 --> 00:31:39,423 What do I do? 470 00:31:39,423 --> 00:31:46,684 What do I do? 471 00:31:46,684 --> 00:31:50,491 By faith I come to Him. 472 00:31:50,491 --> 00:31:53,573 Let us come boldly 473 00:31:53,573 --> 00:31:55,173 unto the throne of grace 474 00:31:55,173 --> 00:31:57,884 that we may obtain mercy, 475 00:31:57,884 --> 00:32:03,654 find grace to help in time of need. 476 00:32:03,654 --> 00:32:05,286 Here we are, beloved. 477 00:32:05,286 --> 00:32:10,964 We're all eternity bound this morning. 478 00:32:10,964 --> 00:32:13,323 Where does this find you? 479 00:32:13,323 --> 00:32:15,844 Where does this lost sheep, 480 00:32:15,844 --> 00:32:17,544 this lost coin, this lost son - 481 00:32:17,544 --> 00:32:30,044 where does it find you this morning? 482 00:32:30,044 --> 00:32:31,894 We need two things: 483 00:32:31,894 --> 00:32:35,175 We need forgiveness 484 00:32:35,175 --> 00:32:38,864 and we need repentance. 485 00:32:38,864 --> 00:32:42,434 Repentance towards God. 486 00:32:42,434 --> 00:32:47,584 Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 487 00:32:47,584 --> 00:32:49,574 A life of faith. 488 00:32:49,574 --> 00:33:02,094 A life of repentance. 489 00:33:02,094 --> 00:33:04,485 I think I'll close. 490 00:33:04,485 --> 00:33:07,204 Let's bow our heads. 491 00:33:07,204 --> 00:33:11,574 Father, thank You for Your Word. 492 00:33:11,574 --> 00:33:14,606 You said the entrance of Your Word giveth light, 493 00:33:14,606 --> 00:33:19,744 giveth understanding to the simple. 494 00:33:19,744 --> 00:33:22,454 Father, Father, I pray that Your Word 495 00:33:22,454 --> 00:33:24,985 will find each one here this morning. 496 00:33:24,985 --> 00:33:28,275 Oh God... 497 00:33:28,275 --> 00:33:35,344 Let everyone of us here see ourselves as a babe. 498 00:33:35,344 --> 00:33:39,483 Not initially, but daily. 499 00:33:39,483 --> 00:33:43,653 Daily in need of You. 500 00:33:43,653 --> 00:33:45,604 Daily in need of You. 501 00:33:45,604 --> 00:33:49,712 Oh, we pray for our sons and our daughters. 502 00:33:49,712 --> 00:33:53,492 Oh, Father, open our eyes. 503 00:33:53,492 --> 00:33:57,984 Open eyes that we might see. 504 00:33:57,984 --> 00:34:04,844 We're totally and utterly at the mercy of God. 505 00:34:04,844 --> 00:34:06,255 So we cry to Thee for mercy, 506 00:34:06,255 --> 00:34:08,094 for ourselves, for our families, 507 00:34:08,094 --> 00:34:11,362 for the church, for our neighbors. 508 00:34:11,362 --> 00:34:14,002 Just breathe upon us today, Breath of God. 509 00:34:14,002 --> 00:34:15,605 We'll praise You. 510 00:34:15,605 --> 00:34:17,934 Make Thy Word quick and powerful today. 511 00:34:17,934 --> 00:34:20,173 Sanctify us through Thy truth. 512 00:34:20,173 --> 00:34:21,244 Thy Word is truth. 513 00:34:21,244 --> 00:34:23,562 We'll praise You, Father, for Your faithfulness, 514 00:34:23,562 --> 00:34:25,726 in Jesus' name, Amen.