1 00:00:30,499 --> 00:00:33,059 Looking forward to the message again this morning. 2 00:00:33,059 --> 00:00:35,419 If you missed this morning, you were in another ministry working. 3 00:00:35,419 --> 00:00:37,539 I encourage you to go online and listen to it. 4 00:00:37,699 --> 00:00:41,059 What a fantastic, fantastic sermon. 5 00:00:41,059 --> 00:00:43,459 And Brother Davison is. 6 00:00:43,859 --> 00:00:45,539 He's got all these titles. 7 00:00:45,539 --> 00:00:47,059 So he's the president. 8 00:00:47,539 --> 00:00:52,259 Messing with him now again, Southwest pastor emeritus of Southwest 9 00:00:52,259 --> 00:00:53,779 Baptist Church and what a church that is. 10 00:00:54,259 --> 00:00:58,929 And then pastor emeritus chancellor of Heartland Baptist Bible 11 00:00:58,929 --> 00:00:59,369 College. 12 00:00:59,849 --> 00:01:01,449 Brother Davis to come preach for us. 13 00:01:02,329 --> 00:01:03,369 Thank you, Pastor. 14 00:01:04,249 --> 00:01:07,449 The thing I like about those titles is they don't mean anything. 15 00:01:07,849 --> 00:01:08,489 Amen. 16 00:01:11,209 --> 00:01:11,969 Yes, sir. 17 00:01:11,969 --> 00:01:13,369 Appreciate that very much. 18 00:01:14,809 --> 00:01:19,609 All right, let's see how many read the assignment this afternoon. 19 00:01:20,409 --> 00:01:21,249 Oh, that's right. 20 00:01:21,249 --> 00:01:22,129 Hold on just a second. 21 00:01:22,129 --> 00:01:22,969 Hold them up there. 22 00:01:23,939 --> 00:01:24,579 Uh huh. 23 00:01:25,699 --> 00:01:26,819 Oh boy. 24 00:01:27,939 --> 00:01:29,099 We like about five. 25 00:01:29,099 --> 00:01:31,379 I haven't enough to shave off 20 minutes. 26 00:01:31,699 --> 00:01:33,059 I'm sorry about that. 27 00:01:33,779 --> 00:01:34,899 Just didn't work out. 28 00:01:35,219 --> 00:01:37,219 So maybe the next time. 29 00:01:37,219 --> 00:01:40,659 Tomorrow night if you would read chapter four. 30 00:01:40,659 --> 00:01:44,259 Tomorrow night if you'd read chapter 14 for those of you that 31 00:01:44,259 --> 00:01:44,699 are interested. 32 00:01:44,699 --> 00:01:48,499 I was really blessed by coming in the door tonight and had about 33 00:01:48,499 --> 00:01:50,099 five people stop me. 34 00:01:50,099 --> 00:01:56,939 I didn't ask anybody and, and told me that they had read the assignment 35 00:01:57,259 --> 00:02:01,139 and some expressed interest like, yeah, I can't wait to see what 36 00:02:01,139 --> 00:02:02,459 are we gonna talk about there? 37 00:02:02,939 --> 00:02:06,459 And as I was going over my notes, I said, yeah, that's what 38 00:02:06,459 --> 00:02:07,339 I'm wondering now. 39 00:02:07,578 --> 00:02:09,499 Am I remembering this right so? 40 00:02:09,499 --> 00:02:10,379 I think so. 41 00:02:10,699 --> 00:02:14,139 So let's go in our Bibles to Ezekiel, chapter three. 42 00:02:14,699 --> 00:02:16,139 Ezekiel, chapter three. 43 00:02:18,009 --> 00:02:26,249 Now, just a little setting before we read so we can maybe dispense 44 00:02:26,249 --> 00:02:28,009 with a little bit of that to begin with. 45 00:02:28,569 --> 00:02:34,649 By the time we come to our reading, we understand that Nebuchadnezzar 46 00:02:34,649 --> 00:02:40,969 and Babylon have made their move against Jerusalem. 47 00:02:41,849 --> 00:02:46,719 And remember that by reason of the judgment of God, Isaiah prophesied 48 00:02:46,719 --> 00:02:47,919 that Nebuchadnezzar would come. 49 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:53,999 And Jeremiah had been sounding the trumpet, so to speak, that they 50 00:02:53,999 --> 00:02:58,519 were going to come under the besiegement and then to captivity 51 00:02:58,839 --> 00:03:00,359 from Babylon. 52 00:03:01,159 --> 00:03:07,159 And Babylon led by the ruthless pagan Nebuchadnezzar. 53 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:08,559 What a weirdo. 54 00:03:08,559 --> 00:03:12,679 Read the book of Daniel and see what a strange individual he 55 00:03:12,679 --> 00:03:12,999 was. 56 00:03:14,059 --> 00:03:18,259 And yet we have to understand that in the process of God dealing 57 00:03:18,259 --> 00:03:22,619 with his disobedient people, he called Nebuchadnezzar his servant. 58 00:03:23,339 --> 00:03:29,179 So he was serving a purpose, that God would use him as an instrument 59 00:03:29,179 --> 00:03:34,179 of judgment upon the house of Israel who generation after generation 60 00:03:34,179 --> 00:03:37,859 after generation after generation after generation had thumbed 61 00:03:37,859 --> 00:03:43,039 their nose at God and his word and were in disobedience to him. 62 00:03:43,919 --> 00:03:46,159 And so when we come to chapter three. 63 00:03:46,479 --> 00:03:48,719 The city of Jerusalem is besieged. 64 00:03:50,159 --> 00:03:55,839 A good number of the royal household has been carried away to 65 00:03:56,399 --> 00:04:00,399 Babylon, and they are being trained away at the Babylonians. 66 00:04:01,039 --> 00:04:05,759 And then there is another element that was taken to Babylon 67 00:04:06,329 --> 00:04:10,489 that are in what I would call like a refugee camp. 68 00:04:11,209 --> 00:04:13,489 You've seen the clashes that have happened. 69 00:04:13,489 --> 00:04:16,449 I'm thinking especially of some African countries, and they 70 00:04:16,449 --> 00:04:19,489 have all these refugees that go to another place, and they live 71 00:04:19,489 --> 00:04:24,009 in some of the most incredible and undesirable conditions that one 72 00:04:24,009 --> 00:04:27,049 can imagine in those refugee camps. 73 00:04:27,449 --> 00:04:32,169 Well, where Ezekiel was assigned was by the river Chebar, 74 00:04:32,459 --> 00:04:34,379 a town called Telabim. 75 00:04:35,099 --> 00:04:39,979 And this was not a desirable place, a wretched and a miserable 76 00:04:39,979 --> 00:04:41,099 place to be. 77 00:04:41,659 --> 00:04:47,939 And there were hundreds of Israelites that were there that had 78 00:04:47,939 --> 00:04:53,539 been carried away from Israel by Nebuchadnezzar and Ezekiel was 79 00:04:53,539 --> 00:04:54,299 their prophet. 80 00:04:54,939 --> 00:04:59,829 So there, at the river Chebar, Egypt, Ezekiel is the prophet in 81 00:04:59,829 --> 00:05:03,909 Babylon, in the royal palace is where Daniel is the prophet. 82 00:05:03,989 --> 00:05:08,069 And back in Jerusalem, where they are besieged by the Babylonian 83 00:05:08,069 --> 00:05:11,109 army, Jeremiah is the prophet. 84 00:05:11,509 --> 00:05:16,829 So God in his mercy and grace, is still providing his voice, his 85 00:05:16,829 --> 00:05:20,709 word to his people through those prophets. 86 00:05:21,029 --> 00:05:25,109 All right, so let's stand and read, beginning in chapter number 87 00:05:25,109 --> 00:05:27,679 three of Deuteronomy. 88 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:28,679 Deuteronomy. 89 00:05:28,679 --> 00:05:30,439 Where in the world did that come from? 90 00:05:30,439 --> 00:05:34,079 Ezekiel and chapter three, verse number 22. 91 00:05:34,879 --> 00:05:37,599 All right, now we're gonna read quite a bit, but we shouldn't 92 00:05:37,599 --> 00:05:41,599 ever apologize for reading the Bible at church, right? 93 00:05:41,599 --> 00:05:43,039 All right, so verse 22. 94 00:05:43,519 --> 00:05:46,159 And the hand of the Lord was there upon me. 95 00:05:46,559 --> 00:05:50,279 And he said unto me, arise, go forth into the plain, and I will 96 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:51,439 talk there with thee. 97 00:05:51,929 --> 00:05:53,729 Then I arose and went forth into the plain. 98 00:05:53,729 --> 00:05:55,689 And behold, the glory of the Lord stood there. 99 00:05:56,009 --> 00:05:58,689 As the glory which I saw by the river Chebar. 100 00:05:58,689 --> 00:06:00,009 And I fell on my face. 101 00:06:00,409 --> 00:06:04,169 Then the Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet and spake 102 00:06:04,169 --> 00:06:09,049 with me, and said unto me, go shut thyself within thine house. 103 00:06:09,849 --> 00:06:14,009 But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon 104 00:06:14,009 --> 00:06:18,249 thee and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among 105 00:06:18,249 --> 00:06:18,569 them. 106 00:06:18,569 --> 00:06:20,249 And I will make thy tongue. 107 00:06:20,759 --> 00:06:21,479 Now watch this. 108 00:06:21,719 --> 00:06:26,119 I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou 109 00:06:26,119 --> 00:06:34,519 shalt be dumb and shalt not be to them a for they are a rebellious 110 00:06:34,679 --> 00:06:35,079 house. 111 00:06:36,439 --> 00:06:41,239 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt 112 00:06:41,239 --> 00:06:46,599 say unto them, thus saith the Lord God, he that heareth, let him 113 00:06:46,599 --> 00:06:46,919 hear. 114 00:06:47,949 --> 00:06:50,149 And he that forbeareth, let him forbear. 115 00:06:50,149 --> 00:06:52,109 For they are a rebellious House. 116 00:06:52,509 --> 00:06:54,029 All right, now in chapter four. 117 00:06:54,349 --> 00:07:00,509 Now chapter four begins a threefold movement in this drama. 118 00:07:01,069 --> 00:07:05,389 I call Ezekiel God's dramatic prophet. 119 00:07:06,109 --> 00:07:07,549 I call this sermon. 120 00:07:08,109 --> 00:07:10,989 The way seems weird, but the message is clear. 121 00:07:11,949 --> 00:07:17,879 And certainly the way that God dealt with and used Ezekiel would 122 00:07:17,879 --> 00:07:22,279 be strange in our eyes, and was strange in his eyes. 123 00:07:22,519 --> 00:07:24,359 But this is the way God was working. 124 00:07:24,519 --> 00:07:29,199 So in this drama that begins in chapter four and verse one, you 125 00:07:29,199 --> 00:07:30,279 have the first movement. 126 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:36,439 Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile and lay it before thee 127 00:07:36,839 --> 00:07:43,119 and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem, and lay siege against 128 00:07:43,199 --> 00:07:49,919 it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it, 129 00:07:50,719 --> 00:07:55,439 set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it 130 00:07:55,599 --> 00:07:56,319 round about. 131 00:07:57,359 --> 00:08:04,159 Moreover, take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall 132 00:08:04,559 --> 00:08:09,619 of iron between thee and the city, and set thy face against it, 133 00:08:09,619 --> 00:08:13,139 and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. 134 00:08:13,299 --> 00:08:15,779 This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. 135 00:08:16,259 --> 00:08:17,539 Now listen to what he says. 136 00:08:18,019 --> 00:08:20,659 Lie thou also upon thy left side? 137 00:08:21,379 --> 00:08:24,179 So he's got this illustration there. 138 00:08:24,259 --> 00:08:31,859 The tile and the description that is given, that is supposed to 139 00:08:31,859 --> 00:08:34,099 be in place in relation to that tile which. 140 00:08:34,099 --> 00:08:37,309 The tile which represents the city of Jerusalem. 141 00:08:37,629 --> 00:08:42,989 And now he says to Ezekiel, now you lie on your left side and 142 00:08:43,149 --> 00:08:47,029 lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it, according to the 143 00:08:47,029 --> 00:08:50,029 number of the days thou shalt lie upon it. 144 00:08:52,109 --> 00:08:53,949 Thou shalt bear their iniquity. 145 00:08:54,349 --> 00:08:58,589 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according 146 00:08:58,589 --> 00:08:59,789 to the number of the days. 147 00:09:00,189 --> 00:09:01,789 390 days. 148 00:09:02,768 --> 00:09:06,448 So shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 149 00:09:07,008 --> 00:09:10,688 And when thou Hast accomplished them 390 days, lay again 150 00:09:10,688 --> 00:09:11,568 on the right side. 151 00:09:11,728 --> 00:09:14,328 So he starts out on the left side for 390 days. 152 00:09:14,328 --> 00:09:17,368 And he says, lay again on the right side, and thou shalt bear the 153 00:09:17,368 --> 00:09:18,768 iniquity of the house of Judah. 154 00:09:18,768 --> 00:09:19,408 40 days. 155 00:09:19,888 --> 00:09:24,128 So you got nearly 14 months that he's going to be laying on his 156 00:09:24,128 --> 00:09:26,048 side, unable to say anything. 157 00:09:26,448 --> 00:09:29,559 I have appointed thee each day for a year. 158 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:33,439 Therefore shalt thou set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, 159 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:37,679 and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy 160 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:38,319 against it. 161 00:09:38,319 --> 00:09:42,439 And behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn 162 00:09:42,439 --> 00:09:46,119 thee from one side to another till thou hast ended the days of 163 00:09:46,119 --> 00:09:46,799 the siege. 164 00:09:47,919 --> 00:09:49,599 See the little paragraph marker. 165 00:09:50,079 --> 00:09:52,079 All right, now we have the second movement. 166 00:09:52,799 --> 00:09:58,139 Take thou also unto thee what wheat and barley and beans and lentils 167 00:09:58,139 --> 00:10:02,499 and millet and fitches, and put them in one vessel and make thee 168 00:10:02,499 --> 00:10:06,739 bread thereof according to the number of the days thou shalt lie 169 00:10:06,739 --> 00:10:07,899 upon thy side. 170 00:10:07,979 --> 00:10:11,899 390 days shalt thou eat thereof. 171 00:10:12,539 --> 00:10:19,579 And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight 12, or rather 172 00:10:19,579 --> 00:10:20,779 20 shekels a day. 173 00:10:20,779 --> 00:10:23,739 That would be about 8 ounces of food a day. 174 00:10:24,899 --> 00:10:26,259 20 shekels a day. 175 00:10:26,979 --> 00:10:29,539 From time to time shalt thou eat it. 176 00:10:29,939 --> 00:10:35,859 Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hen. 177 00:10:36,899 --> 00:10:40,499 From time to time shalt thou drink. 178 00:10:40,499 --> 00:10:43,219 That amount of water would be about. 179 00:10:43,939 --> 00:10:46,539 Let's see, what are those liter. 180 00:10:46,539 --> 00:10:48,659 It would be about 6 liters. 181 00:10:49,059 --> 00:10:54,589 So if you take a 20 liter bottle and you look at it well, it 182 00:10:54,589 --> 00:10:59,069 would be just more than a third of a bottle of that per day. 183 00:10:59,069 --> 00:11:00,949 That would be how much water he would drink. 184 00:11:01,029 --> 00:11:01,589 All right. 185 00:11:01,909 --> 00:11:06,789 And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake 186 00:11:06,789 --> 00:11:07,109 it. 187 00:11:07,429 --> 00:11:08,549 Okay, now watch this. 188 00:11:08,549 --> 00:11:13,749 The food that he's going to have, bake it with dung that cometh 189 00:11:13,749 --> 00:11:15,669 out of man in their sight. 190 00:11:16,469 --> 00:11:19,739 And the Lord said, even thus shall the children of Israel eat 191 00:11:20,689 --> 00:11:24,529 defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. 192 00:11:24,929 --> 00:11:28,969 Then said I, Ezekiel answered back to the Lord and said, o Lord 193 00:11:28,969 --> 00:11:32,929 God, behold, my soul hath not been polluted from my youth. 194 00:11:32,929 --> 00:11:37,969 Up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself 195 00:11:38,049 --> 00:11:39,449 or is torn in pieces. 196 00:11:39,449 --> 00:11:42,609 Neither came their abominable flesh into my mouth. 197 00:11:43,649 --> 00:11:48,149 Then he said unto me, lo, I, I have given thee cow's dung for man's 198 00:11:48,149 --> 00:11:48,629 dung. 199 00:11:49,109 --> 00:11:52,629 Thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith. 200 00:11:53,589 --> 00:11:55,029 Somebody said, that's weird. 201 00:11:55,509 --> 00:11:56,869 That's what I told you. 202 00:11:57,109 --> 00:12:00,989 The way seems weird, but the message should be clear. 203 00:12:00,989 --> 00:12:02,149 Shall we keep reading? 204 00:12:02,389 --> 00:12:03,109 Verse 16? 205 00:12:03,509 --> 00:12:06,909 Moreover, he said unto me, son of man, behold, I will break the 206 00:12:06,909 --> 00:12:08,549 staff of bread in Jerusalem. 207 00:12:08,709 --> 00:12:11,749 And they shall eat bread by weight and with care. 208 00:12:12,269 --> 00:12:14,069 And they shall drink water by measure. 209 00:12:14,069 --> 00:12:18,789 And with astonishment that they may want bread and water, and 210 00:12:18,789 --> 00:12:23,389 be astonied one with another, and consume away in their iniquity. 211 00:12:23,869 --> 00:12:26,669 And now at the beginning of chapter five is the third movement. 212 00:12:26,669 --> 00:12:29,069 Here's the third thing he says to him in this drama. 213 00:12:29,469 --> 00:12:34,869 And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's 214 00:12:34,869 --> 00:12:39,439 razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard. 215 00:12:39,839 --> 00:12:44,239 Then take the balances away and divide the hair. 216 00:12:44,959 --> 00:12:50,479 Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, 217 00:12:50,799 --> 00:12:53,359 when the days of the siege are fulfilled. 218 00:12:53,359 --> 00:12:57,759 And thou shalt take a third part and smite about it with a knife. 219 00:12:58,479 --> 00:13:03,039 And a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind, and I will draw 220 00:13:03,039 --> 00:13:04,639 out a sword after them. 221 00:13:05,719 --> 00:13:09,639 Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy 222 00:13:09,639 --> 00:13:10,119 skirts. 223 00:13:10,599 --> 00:13:14,759 Then take of them again and cast them into the midst of fire. 224 00:13:14,999 --> 00:13:20,079 Burn them into for thereof shall a fire come forth into all 225 00:13:20,079 --> 00:13:21,079 the house of Israel. 226 00:13:21,879 --> 00:13:23,399 Thus saith the Lord God. 227 00:13:23,799 --> 00:13:25,239 This is Jerusalem. 228 00:13:25,799 --> 00:13:30,159 I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are 229 00:13:30,159 --> 00:13:31,079 round about her. 230 00:13:32,099 --> 00:13:38,139 And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than 231 00:13:38,139 --> 00:13:43,019 the nations and my statutes, more than the countries that are 232 00:13:43,019 --> 00:13:43,859 round about her. 233 00:13:43,859 --> 00:13:48,339 For they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have 234 00:13:48,339 --> 00:13:50,099 not walked in them. 235 00:13:50,579 --> 00:13:54,339 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, because you multiplied more 236 00:13:54,579 --> 00:13:57,699 than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked 237 00:13:57,699 --> 00:14:01,299 in my statues, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done 238 00:14:01,299 --> 00:14:04,119 according to the judgments of the nations that are round about 239 00:14:04,119 --> 00:14:04,479 you. 240 00:14:04,639 --> 00:14:06,479 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God. 241 00:14:06,479 --> 00:14:08,159 Behold, even I. 242 00:14:08,719 --> 00:14:09,599 Behold I. 243 00:14:09,759 --> 00:14:14,759 Even I am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst 244 00:14:14,759 --> 00:14:17,519 of Thee, in the sight of the nations. 245 00:14:17,919 --> 00:14:20,479 He says he's going to do this one more verse. 246 00:14:20,639 --> 00:14:21,439 Verse 12. 247 00:14:23,039 --> 00:14:29,279 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine 248 00:14:30,139 --> 00:14:32,859 shall they be consumed in the midst of thee. 249 00:14:33,419 --> 00:14:38,539 And a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee, and I 250 00:14:38,539 --> 00:14:39,659 will scatter thee. 251 00:14:41,099 --> 00:14:46,499 Scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a 252 00:14:46,499 --> 00:14:50,979 sword after them, which is the interpretation that we'll talk more 253 00:14:50,979 --> 00:14:52,459 about in just a little bit. 254 00:14:54,539 --> 00:14:57,489 So, Father, we are thankful tonight for Thy word. 255 00:14:57,969 --> 00:15:01,649 And certainly we are challenged when we look at the nature 256 00:15:01,809 --> 00:15:06,609 of the text and the tone of the text. 257 00:15:07,729 --> 00:15:13,049 And certainly this would cause some to be left scratching their 258 00:15:13,049 --> 00:15:15,329 heads, saying, what is this about? 259 00:15:16,209 --> 00:15:18,529 Why is God dealing with them in this way? 260 00:15:19,729 --> 00:15:23,169 What is the message that is supposed to be received here? 261 00:15:24,349 --> 00:15:28,029 And so, Lord, I pray that you would help me tonight, that I would 262 00:15:28,029 --> 00:15:33,429 have clarity in my own mind and clarity and thought and be able 263 00:15:33,429 --> 00:15:36,349 to express it in a way that would be helpful. 264 00:15:37,549 --> 00:15:42,589 Because if we only discussed this in terms of what it meant to 265 00:15:43,069 --> 00:15:47,069 the nation of Israel at that time, then we would look at it as 266 00:15:47,069 --> 00:15:48,589 simply a history lesson. 267 00:15:49,319 --> 00:15:53,639 But we understand that according to what we see in thy word, 268 00:15:53,639 --> 00:15:55,799 this is more than a history lesson. 269 00:15:56,359 --> 00:15:58,919 And there are lessons here that we are to learn. 270 00:15:59,799 --> 00:16:03,959 Though we are far removed from those events and from that scene, 271 00:16:04,758 --> 00:16:09,879 yet we are supposed to learn principles, truths, precepts that 272 00:16:11,399 --> 00:16:17,809 we should acknowledge you, fear you, obey you, walk in your 273 00:16:17,809 --> 00:16:18,369 ways. 274 00:16:19,649 --> 00:16:24,649 And so I pray that you would cause that the service tonight would 275 00:16:24,649 --> 00:16:25,409 be meaningful. 276 00:16:26,129 --> 00:16:29,929 That it would be helpful and that it would accomplish your purposes 277 00:16:29,929 --> 00:16:31,009 and bring glory to you. 278 00:16:31,009 --> 00:16:33,489 In Jesus wonderful name I pray. 279 00:16:33,889 --> 00:16:34,489 Amen. 280 00:16:34,489 --> 00:16:34,889 Thank you. 281 00:16:34,889 --> 00:16:35,489 God bless you. 282 00:16:35,489 --> 00:16:40,629 You may be searching. 283 00:16:47,979 --> 00:16:52,699 I remember years ago when I was pastoring at Southwest Baptist 284 00:16:52,699 --> 00:16:57,859 Church, in the earlier days of our pastor there, and when we had 285 00:16:57,859 --> 00:17:01,459 a staff that we could get everybody in our house, we'd have 286 00:17:01,459 --> 00:17:06,459 these gatherings, maybe New Year's or the holidays or something 287 00:17:06,459 --> 00:17:07,019 like that. 288 00:17:07,329 --> 00:17:10,609 And one of the things that we always enjoyed, I got a big bang 289 00:17:10,609 --> 00:17:16,289 out of it, was mainly watching people as they played charades. 290 00:17:16,849 --> 00:17:20,289 So we had the pastor secretary, she got all the games 291 00:17:20,289 --> 00:17:21,409 and everything ready. 292 00:17:21,809 --> 00:17:23,329 And many of you know what that's about. 293 00:17:23,409 --> 00:17:23,769 It's. 294 00:17:23,769 --> 00:17:28,849 You have a certain topic or subject or object, and without words, 295 00:17:29,889 --> 00:17:33,649 someone is supposed to help their team understand what it is 296 00:17:33,729 --> 00:17:40,099 only by actions, by moving, movement of the body, and not able 297 00:17:40,099 --> 00:17:42,579 to talk, just acted out. 298 00:17:43,459 --> 00:17:48,619 And I remember enjoying that particularly because we had one guy, 299 00:17:48,619 --> 00:17:51,779 God took him to heaven in the year of 2008. 300 00:17:52,019 --> 00:17:55,699 Our music director of 25 years, Floyd Sick Snyder Brother 301 00:17:55,699 --> 00:17:56,739 Floyd was one of the most. 302 00:17:56,899 --> 00:17:58,299 He was a down to earth. 303 00:17:58,299 --> 00:18:00,259 I called him the consummate co worker. 304 00:18:00,899 --> 00:18:06,899 But the man was very, very diligent about his personal appearance. 305 00:18:07,059 --> 00:18:08,979 He looked very sophisticated. 306 00:18:08,979 --> 00:18:12,059 He's just a down to earth guy, but he looked like a stuffed shirt, 307 00:18:12,059 --> 00:18:12,819 you know what I mean? 308 00:18:13,219 --> 00:18:15,779 And every hair was in place always. 309 00:18:16,739 --> 00:18:19,859 And his shirt, a white shirt, always starts. 310 00:18:19,859 --> 00:18:23,179 I mean, he could wear it all day and never get a wrinkle in the 311 00:18:23,179 --> 00:18:23,459 sleeves. 312 00:18:23,459 --> 00:18:27,459 I have no idea how that worked, but he was always so proper. 313 00:18:28,299 --> 00:18:31,539 But when it came time to play in this game and to trying to make 314 00:18:31,539 --> 00:18:35,339 sure that his team won, he lost all sense of dignity and went 315 00:18:35,339 --> 00:18:38,059 absolutely crazy, which others did too. 316 00:18:38,059 --> 00:18:41,339 And I remember standing around just dying, laughing about them as 317 00:18:41,339 --> 00:18:45,259 they carried on trying to converse without words, not saying 318 00:18:45,259 --> 00:18:45,739 anything. 319 00:18:46,619 --> 00:18:49,019 Well, Ezekiel is doing that. 320 00:18:49,739 --> 00:18:55,829 The only thing is that it's not a game and it's not funny, because 321 00:18:55,909 --> 00:19:02,309 God has a job for Ezekiel, and that job is to deliver his message. 322 00:19:02,629 --> 00:19:07,069 But then you read with me how he told him, I'm going to cause the 323 00:19:07,069 --> 00:19:10,589 tongue to stick to the top of your mouth and you're not gonna be 324 00:19:10,589 --> 00:19:11,269 able to talk. 325 00:19:12,149 --> 00:19:15,629 You're gonna deliver my message, but it's gonna be a message 326 00:19:15,629 --> 00:19:16,629 without words. 327 00:19:17,509 --> 00:19:19,189 And then we have this movement. 328 00:19:20,159 --> 00:19:24,359 Now, I think it's really important to understand that at this 329 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:27,919 particular time, Nebuchadnezzar, as I've mentioned, 330 00:19:27,919 --> 00:19:33,839 and Babylon are bearing down on Jerusalem and upon the Jews. 331 00:19:34,399 --> 00:19:38,799 It'll be a matter of time and the city of Jerusalem will be completely 332 00:19:38,799 --> 00:19:39,519 destroyed. 333 00:19:40,319 --> 00:19:42,959 The city will be destroyed by fire. 334 00:19:43,039 --> 00:19:47,669 The walls will be destroyed, the house of God will be completely 335 00:19:47,669 --> 00:19:48,149 destroyed. 336 00:19:48,149 --> 00:19:50,509 Not one stone left upon another. 337 00:19:51,149 --> 00:19:55,469 The streets of the city will be soaked with the blood of the Jews 338 00:19:55,469 --> 00:19:57,549 that will be killed by the Babylonians. 339 00:19:57,549 --> 00:19:58,669 And that's coming. 340 00:19:59,309 --> 00:20:02,349 And God has made it known by the prophets that it's coming. 341 00:20:02,589 --> 00:20:04,989 But the Jews at Jerusalem were in denial. 342 00:20:05,629 --> 00:20:10,349 And what they were counting on was for Egypt to be like an ally 343 00:20:10,349 --> 00:20:14,909 to them and, and to help them so that Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon 344 00:20:14,909 --> 00:20:16,029 would not come against them. 345 00:20:16,589 --> 00:20:21,829 And so as the prophets would say, Babylon is coming and Nebuchadnezzar 346 00:20:21,829 --> 00:20:23,229 is going to overthrow Jerusalem. 347 00:20:23,469 --> 00:20:26,909 They said among themselves, no, that's not good teaching. 348 00:20:26,909 --> 00:20:29,349 They didn't like what Jeremiah said and the other prophets, they 349 00:20:29,349 --> 00:20:31,629 didn't like what they said because no, that's not good. 350 00:20:31,709 --> 00:20:33,149 Egypt is going to help us. 351 00:20:33,149 --> 00:20:37,109 And if Egypt is our ally, Babylon doesn't want to come all 352 00:20:37,109 --> 00:20:41,279 to a distant they have to come from and then fight Egypt too. 353 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:42,479 That's not going to happen. 354 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,079 But this is not somebody predicting something. 355 00:20:46,079 --> 00:20:48,079 This is what God said was going to happen. 356 00:20:48,399 --> 00:20:50,879 And they were in absolute denial. 357 00:20:51,679 --> 00:20:57,999 Now on top of that you have the Jews that Ezekiel is ministering 358 00:20:57,999 --> 00:21:02,159 to at the river Chebar in the town called Telabim. 359 00:21:02,879 --> 00:21:07,219 And the people that he is ministering to are hearing words 360 00:21:07,299 --> 00:21:11,739 from Jerusalem that they're going to be spared the judgment that 361 00:21:11,739 --> 00:21:16,899 the prophets had said would come from Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. 362 00:21:17,299 --> 00:21:20,419 And so the Jews there are in denial. 363 00:21:20,899 --> 00:21:25,459 They are expecting and thinking and listening to wrong voices 364 00:21:25,539 --> 00:21:28,939 and they are thinking we're not going to be here that long and 365 00:21:28,939 --> 00:21:32,579 we'll be making our way back to Jerusalem and things will be restored 366 00:21:32,699 --> 00:21:34,289 to back to normal then. 367 00:21:34,689 --> 00:21:37,169 Well that is completely opposite of the message that God 368 00:21:37,169 --> 00:21:37,489 has. 369 00:21:38,049 --> 00:21:43,449 And so Ezekiel's job is a very unpleasant task because whether he's 370 00:21:43,449 --> 00:21:46,889 preaching about the people back in Jerusalem that are in denial 371 00:21:46,889 --> 00:21:50,049 of a coming judgment or whether he's talking to these people 372 00:21:50,209 --> 00:21:54,249 that their suffering is going to be long and so is their captivity 373 00:21:54,249 --> 00:21:55,089 going to be long. 374 00:21:55,169 --> 00:21:56,689 They are in denial of that. 375 00:21:56,929 --> 00:22:01,249 So Ezekiel's message is precisely what they do not want to 376 00:22:01,249 --> 00:22:05,289 hear, exactly what they did not want to hear. 377 00:22:05,769 --> 00:22:09,649 Well, we have to understand that it's always kind of been amusing 378 00:22:09,649 --> 00:22:14,409 to me to hear ignorant souls say something like this. 379 00:22:14,489 --> 00:22:16,409 Well, I don't like the Old Testament. 380 00:22:16,649 --> 00:22:19,889 I even heard this on TV one time where a so called preacher Got 381 00:22:19,889 --> 00:22:22,449 on and said, I only preach out of the New Testament. 382 00:22:22,449 --> 00:22:25,779 And the reason I do that is because there's grace there and there 383 00:22:25,779 --> 00:22:27,819 ain't no grace in the Old Testament. 384 00:22:27,899 --> 00:22:30,979 And the audience sat there and clapped and said, yeah, yeah, yeah. 385 00:22:30,979 --> 00:22:33,739 And I just said, why don't you wear a sign that says, stay clear? 386 00:22:33,739 --> 00:22:35,099 I am an ignorant soul. 387 00:22:35,499 --> 00:22:37,419 I have no idea what I'm talking about. 388 00:22:38,139 --> 00:22:42,659 To try to pretend that God is one way in the Old Testament becomes 389 00:22:42,659 --> 00:22:44,819 a different God in the New Testament. 390 00:22:44,819 --> 00:22:48,819 And the reality of God and his character, one of his major attributes, 391 00:22:48,819 --> 00:22:53,549 is his immutability, that he can never be other than who and what 392 00:22:53,549 --> 00:22:54,149 he is. 393 00:22:54,389 --> 00:22:55,789 He cannot deny himself. 394 00:22:55,789 --> 00:22:57,309 The same is said about Jesus. 395 00:22:57,309 --> 00:23:00,149 Same yesterday, today, and forever. 396 00:23:01,189 --> 00:23:08,949 And so, in spite of the generations now that have, as I said, 397 00:23:08,949 --> 00:23:13,149 thumbed their nose at God and at His Word and at his prophets, 398 00:23:13,149 --> 00:23:14,549 you know what God's still doing? 399 00:23:14,949 --> 00:23:21,509 Sending prophets, giving them his word and giving them even opportunity. 400 00:23:21,509 --> 00:23:25,109 All they ever had to do was humble themselves before God and 401 00:23:25,109 --> 00:23:30,589 come to him in contrition and in repentance, because that's where 402 00:23:30,589 --> 00:23:31,789 God said he dwells. 403 00:23:31,789 --> 00:23:34,149 I dwell in the high and holy place and with him also. 404 00:23:34,389 --> 00:23:38,229 That is of a broken spirit and contrite heart, to revive the spirit 405 00:23:38,309 --> 00:23:42,069 of the broken and revive the heart of the contrite ones. 406 00:23:42,799 --> 00:23:45,359 So God was still sending his prophets. 407 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,799 Don't tell me there's no grace in the Old Testament, no mercy in 408 00:23:48,799 --> 00:23:49,559 the Old Testament. 409 00:23:49,559 --> 00:23:50,559 There absolutely is. 410 00:23:50,639 --> 00:23:53,519 And God is showing it by sending these prophets. 411 00:23:54,479 --> 00:23:55,839 So Ezekiel comes. 412 00:23:55,839 --> 00:24:00,799 Now, here's what God tells him to do in this threefold movement 413 00:24:00,959 --> 00:24:06,639 that I made mention of here as we read through chapter number four 414 00:24:07,199 --> 00:24:08,719 and into chapter five. 415 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:13,679 First of all, he said, now I want you to make a replica of Jerusalem. 416 00:24:14,479 --> 00:24:18,799 And then he told how he wanted a mound of dirt, he wanted a shield 417 00:24:18,799 --> 00:24:19,759 up against it. 418 00:24:19,999 --> 00:24:23,439 And rather than trying to go into every detail and make an explanation, 419 00:24:23,519 --> 00:24:24,799 let's just say it like this. 420 00:24:25,039 --> 00:24:31,359 The idea of the replica is to show the city of Jerusalem that it 421 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:34,419 is wide open to the judgment of. 422 00:24:34,809 --> 00:24:35,929 Of God. 423 00:24:36,089 --> 00:24:39,409 That's coming from Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, because 424 00:24:39,409 --> 00:24:44,169 you see the hill and the shield, or the presence of the Lord 425 00:24:44,169 --> 00:24:45,849 was on the other side of it. 426 00:24:46,169 --> 00:24:47,049 And they're coming. 427 00:24:47,609 --> 00:24:50,009 I don't know the directions in here, but let's say they're coming 428 00:24:50,009 --> 00:24:50,808 from this way. 429 00:24:50,809 --> 00:24:52,729 And God said, here's the city. 430 00:24:52,729 --> 00:24:54,089 It's sitting here wide open. 431 00:24:54,969 --> 00:25:03,139 So he had Ezekiel to make this replica and give them a message without 432 00:25:03,219 --> 00:25:07,099 talking, give them a message you're wide open for the judgment 433 00:25:07,099 --> 00:25:12,979 that God's prophets have said is coming and that is Nebuchadnezzar 434 00:25:12,979 --> 00:25:16,099 is coming and Jerusalem will be destroyed. 435 00:25:16,899 --> 00:25:20,819 Now why is he doing that if he's by those people that are in 436 00:25:21,139 --> 00:25:22,819 Babylon, at Chebar? 437 00:25:22,979 --> 00:25:25,459 Well, they're still thinking they're going to leave and go back. 438 00:25:25,939 --> 00:25:29,449 They're still thinking everything's going to be fine here 439 00:25:29,449 --> 00:25:30,169 for a little bit. 440 00:25:30,169 --> 00:25:32,489 And he is saying to them, no, that's not so. 441 00:25:33,449 --> 00:25:38,449 And then he said, I want you to do that for 390 days on the left 442 00:25:38,449 --> 00:25:38,809 side. 443 00:25:39,609 --> 00:25:43,049 And then day by day by day lay on the right side. 444 00:25:43,369 --> 00:25:47,209 And what God is saying, this is going to be a thorough judgment 445 00:25:47,289 --> 00:25:48,889 that is coming from God. 446 00:25:49,609 --> 00:25:54,929 And Ezekiel has the task of making that clear that this judgment 447 00:25:54,929 --> 00:25:55,529 is coming. 448 00:25:56,209 --> 00:25:59,969 And then he says to him about the diet, about the diet. 449 00:26:00,289 --> 00:26:02,689 Because see, they were already experiencing want. 450 00:26:04,369 --> 00:26:06,849 Like it's not like there was plenty of food there. 451 00:26:07,249 --> 00:26:10,489 And now he's just saying to them, you're acting like this is 452 00:26:10,489 --> 00:26:12,849 just a little temporary inconvenience. 453 00:26:13,169 --> 00:26:18,409 No, you got months and months ahead of you where your diet is going 454 00:26:18,409 --> 00:26:20,369 to be totally disgusting to you. 455 00:26:20,689 --> 00:26:24,779 And then he talks about, prepares this food. 456 00:26:24,779 --> 00:26:28,979 He says down there, and thy meat, verse 10 of chapter four, thy 457 00:26:28,979 --> 00:26:30,219 meat which thou shalt eat. 458 00:26:31,019 --> 00:26:32,659 It'll be about eight ounces a day. 459 00:26:32,659 --> 00:26:34,059 Eight ounces a day for you. 460 00:26:34,859 --> 00:26:36,779 I said about eight ounces a day. 461 00:26:37,499 --> 00:26:40,579 I got a birthday coming up and my daughter and son in law took us 462 00:26:40,579 --> 00:26:42,299 out for a steak the other night. 463 00:26:42,859 --> 00:26:46,779 I ate a 16 ounce rib eye in one setting. 464 00:26:47,989 --> 00:26:50,709 I know I don't look like it, but so help me. 465 00:26:50,709 --> 00:26:52,109 Next thing I knew, that plate was clear. 466 00:26:52,109 --> 00:26:53,109 I got her all down. 467 00:26:53,349 --> 00:26:54,349 Oh man, it was good. 468 00:26:54,349 --> 00:26:56,229 If you're ever in Oklahoma City, eat at Cattlemen's. 469 00:26:56,229 --> 00:26:57,029 It's a great steak. 470 00:26:57,189 --> 00:27:00,069 And so they're going to get about 8 ounces a day. 471 00:27:00,549 --> 00:27:01,189 That's all. 472 00:27:01,749 --> 00:27:05,149 That 16 ounce thing's not counting the couple of bowls of cereal 473 00:27:05,149 --> 00:27:09,229 I had in the morning and what I found necessary to eat before I 474 00:27:09,229 --> 00:27:10,389 went to bed that night. 475 00:27:10,869 --> 00:27:11,269 No. 476 00:27:11,749 --> 00:27:15,699 You know, and they're going to have about, about 8 ounces of food 477 00:27:15,939 --> 00:27:16,659 per day. 478 00:27:17,539 --> 00:27:22,179 And look at the nature of the food it's gonna be, it's gonna be 479 00:27:22,819 --> 00:27:23,459 shekels. 480 00:27:23,459 --> 00:27:25,459 Let's see, where is he talking about that? 481 00:27:25,459 --> 00:27:28,259 Where he talks about the kind of food it is. 482 00:27:28,499 --> 00:27:31,899 In other words, you don't look at it and think, this is appetizing. 483 00:27:31,899 --> 00:27:33,859 This is something I'd really be interested in. 484 00:27:33,939 --> 00:27:40,959 And then on top of that, he said, you're going to bake or cook 485 00:27:40,959 --> 00:27:44,959 this food with human dung. 486 00:27:45,759 --> 00:27:47,159 Now, I don't mean to be gross. 487 00:27:47,159 --> 00:27:48,239 That's just what it says. 488 00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:51,439 And of course, this was repulsive to them. 489 00:27:51,839 --> 00:27:53,839 It was repulsive to Ezekiel. 490 00:27:54,319 --> 00:27:56,759 And that's why Ezekiel contended with the Lord. 491 00:27:56,759 --> 00:27:59,759 And so, no, Ezekiel was a priest as well, you know. 492 00:27:59,839 --> 00:28:02,639 And so Ezekiel says, no, I've kept myself clean. 493 00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:04,959 I've never defiled myself like this. 494 00:28:05,199 --> 00:28:09,719 And so God let them replace cow dung. 495 00:28:10,439 --> 00:28:16,199 So now the source of fuel that's going to be used to cook this 496 00:28:16,199 --> 00:28:16,599 food. 497 00:28:17,079 --> 00:28:21,559 That sounds undesirable to begin with, it's going to be from 498 00:28:21,719 --> 00:28:22,679 cow dung. 499 00:28:23,239 --> 00:28:25,719 And you're supposed to be sitting there saying, in your mind, 500 00:28:25,719 --> 00:28:26,279 gross. 501 00:28:27,079 --> 00:28:27,799 That's right. 502 00:28:28,279 --> 00:28:30,439 But what are we trying to understand here? 503 00:28:30,439 --> 00:28:31,879 What is the purpose of all of this? 504 00:28:31,959 --> 00:28:33,719 They are under the judgment of God. 505 00:28:34,639 --> 00:28:36,799 And this is all Ezekiel is going to have, too. 506 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,959 He's out there laying on his side for 390 days. 507 00:28:40,959 --> 00:28:42,719 On the left side, 40 more days. 508 00:28:42,719 --> 00:28:45,679 We're talking about 14 months of doing this every day. 509 00:28:45,679 --> 00:28:46,079 When you. 510 00:28:46,079 --> 00:28:47,959 What are you doing when you go to work, Ezekiel? 511 00:28:47,959 --> 00:28:51,039 I'm going to go lay down, and he's going to lay out in the open, 512 00:28:53,519 --> 00:28:59,319 and he's going to eat food that is disgusting, and it's going 513 00:28:59,319 --> 00:29:02,239 to be made in a way that's disgusting to him and everybody. 514 00:29:02,989 --> 00:29:05,069 This is happening under the judgment of God. 515 00:29:05,389 --> 00:29:09,989 See, this probably wouldn't be popular stuff in the typical 21st 516 00:29:09,989 --> 00:29:13,869 century pulpit across America, but it's still the word of God. 517 00:29:14,269 --> 00:29:18,388 This is how God is dealing with his people, who for how many 518 00:29:18,388 --> 00:29:22,549 generations have thumbed their nose at God and at His Word. 519 00:29:22,549 --> 00:29:26,269 And God says, give them this lesson. 520 00:29:26,989 --> 00:29:31,689 And then you come to chapter number five, and he tells Ezekiel 521 00:29:31,769 --> 00:29:35,529 something as a priest that you'd never think you'd hear. 522 00:29:35,609 --> 00:29:39,209 God said, go get a sharp knife and cut your hair off. 523 00:29:40,009 --> 00:29:43,209 Now, if you know anything about the priests and the priesthood, 524 00:29:43,369 --> 00:29:45,289 a razor was not to come to their head. 525 00:29:46,249 --> 00:29:49,609 And now God is saying to him, now you're gonna shave your head. 526 00:29:49,769 --> 00:29:53,449 Well, for him to obey God and do this, you know what he is doing? 527 00:29:53,769 --> 00:29:55,529 He is defrocking himself. 528 00:29:56,619 --> 00:30:00,139 Because once he shaves the head, forget about him being a priest, 529 00:30:00,379 --> 00:30:03,499 he's disqualified himself as a priest. 530 00:30:03,659 --> 00:30:05,659 And yet God is telling him to do that. 531 00:30:05,739 --> 00:30:10,619 You shave the hair off of your head, and then I want you to take 532 00:30:10,619 --> 00:30:13,019 that hair that comes off your head. 533 00:30:13,019 --> 00:30:15,699 And how much there was had to eat quite a bit. 534 00:30:15,699 --> 00:30:17,259 He never had a razor on his head. 535 00:30:17,899 --> 00:30:18,939 He was a priest. 536 00:30:19,179 --> 00:30:20,539 He was not a kid here. 537 00:30:20,539 --> 00:30:24,039 He was not an old man, but he was a full grown man. 538 00:30:24,039 --> 00:30:25,279 And he takes this here. 539 00:30:25,279 --> 00:30:28,439 God says, now, I want you to weigh it out and I want you to divide 540 00:30:28,439 --> 00:30:29,839 it into three parts. 541 00:30:30,559 --> 00:30:34,199 And he said, once you get it divided into three parts, I want 542 00:30:34,199 --> 00:30:37,599 you to take the first part, equal parts, and I want you to set 543 00:30:37,599 --> 00:30:38,159 it on fire. 544 00:30:39,039 --> 00:30:41,919 I want you to take the second part and take your knife and chop 545 00:30:41,919 --> 00:30:42,399 it up. 546 00:30:43,119 --> 00:30:45,919 And the third part, I want you to pick it up and throw it in the 547 00:30:45,919 --> 00:30:47,919 air and let the wind blow it away. 548 00:30:49,499 --> 00:30:53,019 And again, it looks so weird, so strange. 549 00:30:53,739 --> 00:30:56,059 Can you imagine how it looked at the people of that day? 550 00:30:57,179 --> 00:31:01,899 Can you imagine as the people observed the prophet and as they 551 00:31:01,899 --> 00:31:03,899 paid attention to what Ezekiel was doing? 552 00:31:04,059 --> 00:31:09,979 What is he doing now besides this diet that they're on and experiencing 553 00:31:10,139 --> 00:31:12,619 near starvation besides that? 554 00:31:12,699 --> 00:31:18,679 Here is our priest who is defrocking himself as a priest, disqualifying 555 00:31:18,679 --> 00:31:19,119 himself. 556 00:31:19,119 --> 00:31:21,199 And he cut his hair all off. 557 00:31:21,199 --> 00:31:22,479 Boy, that looks strange. 558 00:31:22,719 --> 00:31:27,479 Got his head bald and he's got his hair all piled up, and he takes 559 00:31:27,479 --> 00:31:29,279 part of it and sets it on fire. 560 00:31:29,598 --> 00:31:33,079 Don't you know he's not saying a word, and these people are looking 561 00:31:33,079 --> 00:31:33,319 at him. 562 00:31:33,319 --> 00:31:35,999 Don't you know they think this man is completely over the edge, 563 00:31:36,079 --> 00:31:37,399 he is completely gone. 564 00:31:37,399 --> 00:31:39,399 He has lost his mind. 565 00:31:39,399 --> 00:31:40,629 And here's that fire. 566 00:31:41,419 --> 00:31:44,779 Then he takes his knife and his sharp knife and he starts chopping 567 00:31:44,779 --> 00:31:45,499 up the hair. 568 00:31:46,699 --> 00:31:48,259 He's got to be out of his mind. 569 00:31:48,259 --> 00:31:50,539 What's he doing chopping up this hair? 570 00:31:50,779 --> 00:31:54,299 Then he finally gets up, takes the other, throws it up in the air, 571 00:31:54,299 --> 00:31:55,499 and there it goes. 572 00:31:56,538 --> 00:31:59,019 That's Ezekiel's message to them. 573 00:32:00,539 --> 00:32:06,779 Incredible, isn't, actually, is just almost unbelievable. 574 00:32:07,939 --> 00:32:14,019 I might remind you that the comfort of God's prophets was not 575 00:32:14,019 --> 00:32:14,979 his primary concern. 576 00:32:16,499 --> 00:32:20,859 I don't know if you read the Bible that way or not, but, you know, 577 00:32:20,859 --> 00:32:25,979 Isaiah went around for, I don't know, an undetermined amount 578 00:32:25,979 --> 00:32:28,019 of time naked. 579 00:32:28,819 --> 00:32:33,509 Now, not in the nude, like people would think, but what they 580 00:32:33,509 --> 00:32:38,589 would classify as shameful attire for a dignified man. 581 00:32:38,989 --> 00:32:43,269 And showing nakedness, which probably would be from about here 582 00:32:43,269 --> 00:32:43,629 down. 583 00:32:45,469 --> 00:32:50,749 And God had Isaiah go about in what they would call nakedness, which 584 00:32:50,749 --> 00:32:56,949 doesn't again mean absolute nudity, but indecent dress, what 585 00:32:56,949 --> 00:33:01,009 would be considered dressed in decent dress, which our country knows 586 00:33:01,009 --> 00:33:04,569 hardly anything about anymore, but it was in decent dress. 587 00:33:05,529 --> 00:33:06,969 Isaiah went about like that. 588 00:33:08,009 --> 00:33:12,449 And you might remember not only what we have here with Ezekiel, 589 00:33:12,449 --> 00:33:14,089 but if you read The Book of Jeremiah. 590 00:33:14,089 --> 00:33:16,729 Lately, that man did not have it easy. 591 00:33:17,129 --> 00:33:20,849 I mean, he not only found himself incarcerated unjustly, but 592 00:33:20,849 --> 00:33:25,219 he also found himself in slime pits, forgotten and nearly starved 593 00:33:25,219 --> 00:33:26,579 to death himself. 594 00:33:27,379 --> 00:33:28,699 And so these men. 595 00:33:28,699 --> 00:33:31,139 And by the way, there's Hosea. 596 00:33:31,379 --> 00:33:34,899 God said to him, go marry a harlot. 597 00:33:36,899 --> 00:33:37,859 Imagine that. 598 00:33:38,259 --> 00:33:39,459 And he did. 599 00:33:40,819 --> 00:33:42,259 And loved her. 600 00:33:43,859 --> 00:33:46,179 No, no, the Book of Hosea's amazing, too. 601 00:33:46,579 --> 00:33:50,499 But I'm just saying, God put his prophets through some things 602 00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:52,079 in order to. 603 00:33:52,079 --> 00:33:53,759 It's not like he didn't like the prophets. 604 00:33:53,759 --> 00:33:55,199 It's not like he didn't care for them. 605 00:33:55,359 --> 00:33:57,999 He was that intent on getting the message. 606 00:33:58,079 --> 00:34:00,639 Okay, you won't listen to them preach. 607 00:34:00,799 --> 00:34:02,479 Watch Isaiah for a while. 608 00:34:02,799 --> 00:34:06,319 You won't listen to their message as they preach, so watch 609 00:34:06,319 --> 00:34:10,719 how Jeremiah handles this adversity that he's facing. 610 00:34:11,039 --> 00:34:15,759 And you won't listen to their message as they preach, so watch 611 00:34:15,759 --> 00:34:19,869 the life of Hosea and the love that he shows. 612 00:34:20,189 --> 00:34:23,429 And you don't want to listen to him preach or at least pay attention 613 00:34:23,429 --> 00:34:24,349 to his message. 614 00:34:24,589 --> 00:34:29,229 So keep your eye on Ezekiel and see all the things that God put 615 00:34:29,309 --> 00:34:31,949 him through for their benefit. 616 00:34:32,589 --> 00:34:34,109 Is everybody with me here so far? 617 00:34:35,309 --> 00:34:36,589 We could go start over. 618 00:34:37,629 --> 00:34:40,589 It would behoove you to say, oh, yeah, we're with you. 619 00:34:41,069 --> 00:34:43,229 Yeah, that's what's taking place. 620 00:34:44,538 --> 00:34:45,018 Incredible. 621 00:34:45,018 --> 00:34:45,658 Amazing. 622 00:34:46,618 --> 00:34:51,338 Which makes a person say, why? 623 00:34:53,258 --> 00:34:56,938 Well, we know they've sinned and all of that, but my soul. 624 00:34:57,898 --> 00:35:01,898 Can we get a better understanding of the nature of their 625 00:35:01,898 --> 00:35:04,058 offense against God? 626 00:35:04,618 --> 00:35:05,178 Mm. 627 00:35:05,498 --> 00:35:06,698 Look in chapter five. 628 00:35:07,978 --> 00:35:08,818 You read it with me. 629 00:35:08,818 --> 00:35:12,118 This is after the third part of the drama where he has taken the 630 00:35:12,118 --> 00:35:16,998 knife and cut it and divided the hair and such as that. 631 00:35:17,078 --> 00:35:19,478 All right, now look in verse number five. 632 00:35:21,238 --> 00:35:22,358 This is all happening. 633 00:35:22,358 --> 00:35:23,478 Pay attention to this now. 634 00:35:24,118 --> 00:35:25,078 This is so important. 635 00:35:25,318 --> 00:35:26,438 Thus saith the Lord. 636 00:35:26,438 --> 00:35:26,838 God. 637 00:35:27,238 --> 00:35:28,758 This is Jerusalem. 638 00:35:29,478 --> 00:35:30,358 Wait, wait, wait. 639 00:35:30,518 --> 00:35:31,718 What's Jerusalem? 640 00:35:32,518 --> 00:35:38,438 Well, that model that Ezekiel made that everybody's looking at 641 00:35:39,289 --> 00:35:42,809 that tile and all that went with it. 642 00:35:43,369 --> 00:35:44,889 This is Jerusalem. 643 00:35:45,929 --> 00:35:49,209 And so the Lord said, this is Jerusalem. 644 00:35:49,849 --> 00:35:51,129 I have set it. 645 00:35:51,449 --> 00:35:52,409 You've said what? 646 00:35:52,569 --> 00:35:53,449 Jerusalem. 647 00:35:53,849 --> 00:35:59,529 I have set Jerusalem in the midst of the nations and countries 648 00:36:00,809 --> 00:36:03,449 that are round about her. 649 00:36:04,979 --> 00:36:07,899 Now, I've read that slowly, and I've read it carefully because 650 00:36:07,899 --> 00:36:13,459 it's so vital to understand why God is dealing with them in this 651 00:36:13,459 --> 00:36:16,979 matter and why such judgment is coming upon them. 652 00:36:17,459 --> 00:36:21,459 And God gives us the answer right here when he makes it clear. 653 00:36:21,459 --> 00:36:23,619 He said, I took this nation. 654 00:36:23,859 --> 00:36:24,739 Now watch this. 655 00:36:25,459 --> 00:36:27,459 And I set it. 656 00:36:27,619 --> 00:36:30,979 This nation in the midst of the nations. 657 00:36:32,449 --> 00:36:37,489 I'm sure many of you know this, but what we know as the Palestine 658 00:36:37,649 --> 00:36:42,369 and the Holy Land would also be known as the cradle of humanity. 659 00:36:43,249 --> 00:36:45,169 It's the cradle of humanity. 660 00:36:45,169 --> 00:36:48,689 It's the center of humanity in the earth. 661 00:36:49,169 --> 00:36:52,689 If you look at history, you look at geography, you look at everything. 662 00:36:52,769 --> 00:37:01,399 Then God says, I situated my people and place among all the nations 663 00:37:01,399 --> 00:37:02,079 of the world. 664 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:03,759 Now look at it again. 665 00:37:04,239 --> 00:37:08,879 I have set it in the midst of the nations. 666 00:37:09,359 --> 00:37:09,919 I have. 667 00:37:10,399 --> 00:37:11,519 Please get this, please. 668 00:37:11,679 --> 00:37:19,039 I have situated my people and my city in the midst of the nations. 669 00:37:20,799 --> 00:37:22,159 What's the big deal about that? 670 00:37:24,569 --> 00:37:28,489 Well, you got to understand that when God made a covenant with 671 00:37:28,489 --> 00:37:29,609 the nation of Israel. 672 00:37:30,089 --> 00:37:31,529 Well, let's just back up. 673 00:37:31,529 --> 00:37:35,729 When God made a covenant with Abraham, this covenant was not just 674 00:37:35,729 --> 00:37:40,169 going to be about Abraham and his seed and everybody's left out. 675 00:37:40,569 --> 00:37:40,969 No. 676 00:37:41,289 --> 00:37:44,849 The covenant God made with Abraham was to be a blessing to all 677 00:37:44,849 --> 00:37:46,569 the nations of the earth. 678 00:37:46,809 --> 00:37:47,929 Isn't that right? 679 00:37:48,649 --> 00:37:52,799 I mean, he meant for what he was going to do through Abraham and 680 00:37:52,799 --> 00:37:53,319 his seed. 681 00:37:53,399 --> 00:37:57,719 God meant for that to be a benefit and a blessing to all the 682 00:37:57,719 --> 00:37:58,839 nations of the world. 683 00:37:59,479 --> 00:38:00,519 That's what he meant. 684 00:38:01,159 --> 00:38:08,039 And when he placed the Jews in Jerusalem and situated here, he says 685 00:38:08,039 --> 00:38:13,559 it, he said in the midst of the nations, he meant that so that 686 00:38:13,719 --> 00:38:18,359 their light as God's people would shine to the darkness. 687 00:38:19,459 --> 00:38:23,339 In other words, they were situated in that place, the city 688 00:38:23,339 --> 00:38:24,339 of Jerusalem. 689 00:38:24,339 --> 00:38:28,579 They were situated in that country, the cradle of humanity. 690 00:38:28,739 --> 00:38:29,939 They were sent to. 691 00:38:30,019 --> 00:38:31,059 I didn't say it. 692 00:38:31,139 --> 00:38:32,339 The Bible says it. 693 00:38:32,419 --> 00:38:34,499 In the middle of the nations. 694 00:38:34,578 --> 00:38:39,379 God put them there so they could see through Israel the kind 695 00:38:39,459 --> 00:38:41,779 of God that God is. 696 00:38:42,659 --> 00:38:43,699 That's why they're there. 697 00:38:44,669 --> 00:38:46,829 There to be a light to shine in the darkness. 698 00:38:47,309 --> 00:38:51,029 And the pagan and the idolatrous practices and all the 699 00:38:51,029 --> 00:38:54,949 wickedness of the pagans everywhere in the world, they needed 700 00:38:54,949 --> 00:38:55,789 to see the light. 701 00:38:55,949 --> 00:38:58,189 And Israel was placed there by God. 702 00:38:58,429 --> 00:38:59,309 So that what? 703 00:38:59,629 --> 00:39:04,269 So that they would shine their light to be light to the darkness. 704 00:39:04,349 --> 00:39:06,989 They could see the kind of God God was. 705 00:39:09,549 --> 00:39:11,309 All we got is a little taste of it. 706 00:39:13,259 --> 00:39:13,739 Of what? 707 00:39:15,099 --> 00:39:16,779 Them being that. 708 00:39:17,499 --> 00:39:19,019 Showing the glory of God. 709 00:39:19,819 --> 00:39:21,339 Just a little taste of it. 710 00:39:21,659 --> 00:39:29,379 For a little season while Solomon was king and Israel got right 711 00:39:29,379 --> 00:39:32,499 with God and they observed the Passover. 712 00:39:32,499 --> 00:39:33,459 They brought the offerings. 713 00:39:33,459 --> 00:39:34,779 They observed the Sabbath days. 714 00:39:34,859 --> 00:39:36,139 They observed the feast days. 715 00:39:36,139 --> 00:39:36,779 They observed. 716 00:39:36,779 --> 00:39:37,819 They obeyed God. 717 00:39:39,709 --> 00:39:47,189 When Solomon was the king and God blessed and their light shined 718 00:39:47,189 --> 00:39:47,789 everywhere. 719 00:39:48,349 --> 00:39:50,949 People were wanting to understand what was taking place 720 00:39:50,949 --> 00:39:52,229 in Jerusalem among the Jews. 721 00:39:52,229 --> 00:39:53,229 Come on, you've read it. 722 00:39:53,868 --> 00:39:55,549 They're from all over the world. 723 00:39:55,869 --> 00:39:57,309 They were sending gifts. 724 00:39:57,549 --> 00:39:59,789 They wanted to be on the good side of Solomon. 725 00:40:00,109 --> 00:40:00,829 Oh, yeah. 726 00:40:01,309 --> 00:40:03,229 He received gold from everywhere. 727 00:40:03,799 --> 00:40:08,679 I mean, his empire, his wealth just continued to grow and to grow 728 00:40:08,679 --> 00:40:12,239 and to grow and his fame throughout the world till they were 729 00:40:12,239 --> 00:40:13,599 coming from everywhere. 730 00:40:13,599 --> 00:40:16,919 And of course, we know the story of the Queen of Sheba, how 731 00:40:17,399 --> 00:40:21,839 she and her entourage came from Ethiopia and they came that 732 00:40:21,839 --> 00:40:23,479 they might see what. 733 00:40:23,719 --> 00:40:25,879 Well, can it really be what we've heard? 734 00:40:25,879 --> 00:40:26,879 What have you heard? 735 00:40:26,879 --> 00:40:30,389 Well, we've heard that there is peace there, Heard there is joy 736 00:40:30,389 --> 00:40:30,709 there. 737 00:40:30,709 --> 00:40:32,549 We heard there is prosperity there. 738 00:40:32,549 --> 00:40:34,869 We hear there is devotion to their God there. 739 00:40:34,869 --> 00:40:36,069 We hear all of this. 740 00:40:36,069 --> 00:40:37,109 Let's go see. 741 00:40:37,189 --> 00:40:39,989 And the Queen of Sheba came and found out. 742 00:40:39,989 --> 00:40:40,949 Hold on just a second. 743 00:40:41,029 --> 00:40:42,069 She found out. 744 00:40:42,389 --> 00:40:44,149 I heard about this. 745 00:40:44,229 --> 00:40:46,309 But as it turns out, she's about to faint. 746 00:40:46,469 --> 00:40:49,029 And turns out she hadn't heard half of it. 747 00:40:49,749 --> 00:40:51,189 She hadn't heard half of it. 748 00:40:51,189 --> 00:40:52,949 The glory of God was everywhere. 749 00:40:53,109 --> 00:40:55,069 The joy of God was all over the place. 750 00:40:55,069 --> 00:40:55,299 She. 751 00:40:55,449 --> 00:40:56,889 She said, I've never seen anything like this. 752 00:40:56,889 --> 00:40:58,729 I can't even imagine something like this. 753 00:40:58,889 --> 00:41:02,529 Because you and your people are happy and your servants are happy 754 00:41:02,529 --> 00:41:06,209 and your men are happy and your armies are happy and everybody's 755 00:41:06,209 --> 00:41:06,809 happy here. 756 00:41:06,969 --> 00:41:08,249 Everybody has joy. 757 00:41:08,329 --> 00:41:09,529 And what was that going? 758 00:41:09,529 --> 00:41:10,729 What was taking place? 759 00:41:11,289 --> 00:41:12,649 I'll tell you what was taking place. 760 00:41:12,729 --> 00:41:16,489 What God meant to take place by situating his people in that place. 761 00:41:16,649 --> 00:41:19,929 They were to be in such a standing before God that they would 762 00:41:19,929 --> 00:41:24,789 show the glory of God to the entire nation, shed the light on 763 00:41:24,789 --> 00:41:28,509 the darkness of their idolatry, shed the light on the darkness 764 00:41:28,509 --> 00:41:32,909 of their paganism, shed the light on the darkness of their immorality 765 00:41:32,909 --> 00:41:37,229 and all the associated practices they had in their paganism. 766 00:41:37,389 --> 00:41:39,549 Here's what it's supposed to be like. 767 00:41:39,709 --> 00:41:43,149 And God meant for everybody on earth to know his glory. 768 00:41:45,709 --> 00:41:47,469 And we had a little season of it. 769 00:41:48,189 --> 00:41:50,919 Now, I know Hezekiah came along. 770 00:41:50,919 --> 00:41:51,919 He was a good king. 771 00:41:52,239 --> 00:41:53,919 Maybe another little snippet. 772 00:41:55,359 --> 00:41:56,759 Josiah was a good king. 773 00:41:56,759 --> 00:42:02,479 The last good king before the captivity had a little time of reformation, 774 00:42:02,479 --> 00:42:03,519 if not revival. 775 00:42:05,519 --> 00:42:06,479 That's why God. 776 00:42:06,799 --> 00:42:07,919 Look at verse 5 again. 777 00:42:08,479 --> 00:42:11,319 Thus saith the Lord God, this is Jerusalem. 778 00:42:11,319 --> 00:42:15,239 I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are 779 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:15,939 round us. 780 00:42:17,209 --> 00:42:23,849 God said, I put them there for my purposes, for my glory. 781 00:42:24,569 --> 00:42:25,609 Look at me a second. 782 00:42:26,169 --> 00:42:31,289 The whole land of Canaan was not given to Israel so they could 783 00:42:31,289 --> 00:42:36,809 be fat, sassy and have a happy life with all kinds of material prosperity. 784 00:42:36,809 --> 00:42:37,609 Mm, mm. 785 00:42:37,769 --> 00:42:38,649 No, no, no. 786 00:42:38,969 --> 00:42:45,469 God meant for them to inhabit that holy land, the holiness of their 787 00:42:45,469 --> 00:42:48,909 God and what have they done? 788 00:42:51,629 --> 00:43:03,469 Verse 6 and she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more 789 00:43:03,469 --> 00:43:07,789 than the nations and my statutes, more than the countries 790 00:43:07,869 --> 00:43:09,679 that are around about her. 791 00:43:10,639 --> 00:43:15,799 For they have refused my judgments and my statutes and they 792 00:43:15,799 --> 00:43:17,519 have not walked in them. 793 00:43:17,599 --> 00:43:18,799 Look at me saints. 794 00:43:18,959 --> 00:43:23,759 You listen to some politically correct preaching, you listen to 795 00:43:23,759 --> 00:43:29,679 some of the hypersensitivity trying to be accommodated from pulpits 796 00:43:29,679 --> 00:43:35,839 today that totally ignore this kind of revelation that's made here, 797 00:43:36,159 --> 00:43:39,999 this kind of teaching, this kind of preaching that God, who is 798 00:43:39,999 --> 00:43:43,599 God, would actually deal with them in judgment. 799 00:43:43,679 --> 00:43:46,119 And people say it just doesn't. 800 00:43:46,119 --> 00:43:50,359 I just can't believe that God would judge them in such way when 801 00:43:50,359 --> 00:43:54,879 really we ought to be saying, what were those people thinking? 802 00:43:58,719 --> 00:44:02,639 My question is not why did God judge them this way. 803 00:44:03,199 --> 00:44:05,359 My question is how did he wait so long? 804 00:44:07,279 --> 00:44:08,719 How did he wait so long? 805 00:44:09,759 --> 00:44:12,359 Somebody says, well, that's a rather self righteous statement. 806 00:44:12,359 --> 00:44:14,479 Well, no, no, I've wondered about myself too. 807 00:44:14,639 --> 00:44:17,599 One of the things I marvel I got saved when I was six years old. 808 00:44:17,679 --> 00:44:19,359 So it's been a long, long time. 809 00:44:19,759 --> 00:44:22,399 I've been saved almost 74 years. 810 00:44:23,039 --> 00:44:26,239 And as I look back, I marvel at two things. 811 00:44:26,479 --> 00:44:29,599 One is the providential care of God. 812 00:44:30,529 --> 00:44:35,009 Number two is the long suffering and patience of God. 813 00:44:36,209 --> 00:44:39,409 There were plenty of times in my life if he would have done this, 814 00:44:39,969 --> 00:44:43,569 he'd have been totally justified, totally justified. 815 00:44:44,049 --> 00:44:46,849 And yet he showed mercy and yet he showed grace. 816 00:44:46,849 --> 00:44:50,369 And I have this overwhelming feeling that I'm not alone in this 817 00:44:50,369 --> 00:44:54,969 room in this matter, that he is a patient and a caring and a long 818 00:44:54,969 --> 00:44:56,139 suffering God. 819 00:44:56,299 --> 00:45:02,219 But God says about his people, I am going to do this because I will 820 00:45:02,299 --> 00:45:05,339 get ultimate victory and ultimate glory. 821 00:45:05,339 --> 00:45:09,659 And he is dealing with them in this kind of judgment. 822 00:45:14,939 --> 00:45:17,419 Yep, verse 8. 823 00:45:18,219 --> 00:45:19,979 These are words you never want to hear. 824 00:45:21,029 --> 00:45:21,989 Are you in verse 8? 825 00:45:22,789 --> 00:45:29,429 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I am against 826 00:45:29,989 --> 00:45:30,469 Thee. 827 00:45:31,749 --> 00:45:34,469 I said, those are words you never want to put yourself in a place 828 00:45:34,469 --> 00:45:41,069 to hear where you have so backslid, backslidden, where you 829 00:45:41,069 --> 00:45:46,109 have so refused the will of God for your life that actually you 830 00:45:46,109 --> 00:45:52,369 could read this account and think, my soul tempting God, my soul. 831 00:45:52,849 --> 00:45:54,609 No wonder I'm not getting anywhere. 832 00:45:54,849 --> 00:45:58,449 What if you're trying to live life and find joy and happiness and 833 00:45:58,449 --> 00:46:00,369 he's against you? 834 00:46:04,368 --> 00:46:05,249 That's not a threat. 835 00:46:05,249 --> 00:46:10,489 I'm just saying that's what it says God said to his people, but 836 00:46:10,489 --> 00:46:11,249 he loves me. 837 00:46:11,249 --> 00:46:12,049 He loved them. 838 00:46:13,409 --> 00:46:14,689 I said he loved them. 839 00:46:18,359 --> 00:46:19,799 And he said, I am against Thee. 840 00:46:21,639 --> 00:46:25,959 And These judgments will come against you in the sight of the nations. 841 00:46:26,359 --> 00:46:30,039 The nations are going to know I'm not a God that tolerates that 842 00:46:31,639 --> 00:46:32,279 I'm not. 843 00:46:33,479 --> 00:46:36,759 That's what it says now. 844 00:46:38,519 --> 00:46:40,999 That's sort of an explanation of the passage. 845 00:46:42,839 --> 00:46:47,239 Now somebody might say, well, how do you make a jump from that 846 00:46:47,959 --> 00:46:50,999 in the days of Israel to the New Testament? 847 00:46:51,799 --> 00:46:55,799 Cause we didn't assemble here tonight to beat up on Israel, did 848 00:46:55,799 --> 00:46:56,119 we? 849 00:46:56,839 --> 00:47:00,239 No, I didn't come here tonight saying something, brrr, let's beat 850 00:47:00,239 --> 00:47:02,839 up on Israel while look what they did and look how God's dealing 851 00:47:02,839 --> 00:47:03,119 with them. 852 00:47:03,119 --> 00:47:04,919 No, no, no, no. 853 00:47:05,799 --> 00:47:08,519 God's dealt with them and will deal with them. 854 00:47:09,669 --> 00:47:10,709 And that's in the past. 855 00:47:12,149 --> 00:47:15,749 But my walk and your walk is not in the past, it's now. 856 00:47:18,389 --> 00:47:22,549 And so to make a jump in application from the Old Testament 857 00:47:22,709 --> 00:47:26,949 to this day and time, I wonder if there's anything, any hint we 858 00:47:26,949 --> 00:47:31,149 have in the New Testament that would make us think that God wants 859 00:47:31,149 --> 00:47:35,389 something like this to get our attention and help us live the way 860 00:47:35,389 --> 00:47:36,709 we're supposed to live now. 861 00:47:37,819 --> 00:47:40,779 Well, I do know this, that when Jesus dealt with his disciples 862 00:47:41,419 --> 00:47:44,339 and he was giving them what we know as the Sermon on the Mount, 863 00:47:44,339 --> 00:47:48,539 I call it, in the discipleship class with Jesus, while he was discipling 864 00:47:48,619 --> 00:47:52,539 his disciples, he started out and gave them the Beatitudes. 865 00:47:53,179 --> 00:47:56,779 And at the end of the Beatitudes, he said, ye are the light 866 00:47:56,779 --> 00:47:57,419 of the world. 867 00:47:59,339 --> 00:48:01,099 Ye are the salt of the earth. 868 00:48:02,059 --> 00:48:02,419 Yeah. 869 00:48:02,419 --> 00:48:04,619 He said to them, ye are the salt of the earth. 870 00:48:05,179 --> 00:48:12,379 But if the salt has lost his savor, then it is no more fit but 871 00:48:12,379 --> 00:48:16,139 to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. 872 00:48:17,019 --> 00:48:19,339 So he said, I have a purpose for you being here. 873 00:48:19,419 --> 00:48:19,819 Question. 874 00:48:19,979 --> 00:48:23,419 Did he have a purpose for putting Israel where he put them, 875 00:48:24,139 --> 00:48:26,379 in Jerusalem and in that land? 876 00:48:26,379 --> 00:48:27,019 Did He? 877 00:48:27,099 --> 00:48:28,059 Of course he did. 878 00:48:28,779 --> 00:48:31,619 Okay, then what you're going to have to do is look and say, is 879 00:48:31,619 --> 00:48:34,269 there anything in the Bible that tells me that I'm here for a 880 00:48:34,269 --> 00:48:34,549 reason? 881 00:48:35,189 --> 00:48:39,549 That he didn't just save me as an escape from hell, but he saved 882 00:48:39,549 --> 00:48:42,069 me and left me here to live this life? 883 00:48:42,149 --> 00:48:43,109 For what reason? 884 00:48:43,829 --> 00:48:46,549 So you could be the salt of the earth. 885 00:48:46,789 --> 00:48:47,429 Amen. 886 00:48:47,989 --> 00:48:50,189 That's why the salt of the earth. 887 00:48:50,189 --> 00:48:53,469 Now, I don't have time to develop that sermon and preach it 888 00:48:53,469 --> 00:48:55,749 and keep within a reasonable time frame tonight. 889 00:48:55,749 --> 00:48:58,549 But we understand what he means by the salt of the earth. 890 00:48:58,549 --> 00:49:00,669 It has to do with flavor. 891 00:49:00,909 --> 00:49:02,269 Oh, my soul. 892 00:49:02,269 --> 00:49:05,149 I get sick and tired of doctors that are against salt. 893 00:49:05,309 --> 00:49:06,989 Jesus said, salt is good. 894 00:49:08,189 --> 00:49:09,549 So I eat salt. 895 00:49:09,549 --> 00:49:11,469 But it adds flavor, doesn't it? 896 00:49:12,109 --> 00:49:12,749 Oh yeah. 897 00:49:12,749 --> 00:49:14,349 You know that steak I was talking about? 898 00:49:15,869 --> 00:49:16,749 Oh yeah. 899 00:49:16,749 --> 00:49:18,269 Two or three times during the meal. 900 00:49:18,269 --> 00:49:19,629 Had to get her salted down good. 901 00:49:19,629 --> 00:49:21,709 Ah, man, it adds flavor. 902 00:49:21,789 --> 00:49:27,559 It preserves, doesn't prevents decay and it preserves. 903 00:49:27,799 --> 00:49:28,759 That's what it does. 904 00:49:29,159 --> 00:49:30,839 Salt makes one thirsty. 905 00:49:31,479 --> 00:49:34,279 If we're the salt of the earth, then we ought to be of those 906 00:49:34,279 --> 00:49:38,159 kind that agree with the psalmist when he said, my soul thirsteth 907 00:49:38,159 --> 00:49:38,759 for thee. 908 00:49:39,399 --> 00:49:41,559 Yes, indeed, it creates thirst. 909 00:49:41,639 --> 00:49:45,439 And somebody ought to look at your life that's not a believer and 910 00:49:45,439 --> 00:49:48,199 not a Christian and say, I wish I had what they had. 911 00:49:48,999 --> 00:49:52,199 I wish I had to drink what they had to drink. 912 00:49:52,659 --> 00:49:55,939 Spiritually speaking, yes, that's the purpose. 913 00:49:56,019 --> 00:49:57,539 You're the salt of the earth. 914 00:49:57,619 --> 00:50:01,779 Here's the problem with so much of professing Christianity today 915 00:50:02,019 --> 00:50:05,899 and even in independent Bible believing churches. 916 00:50:05,899 --> 00:50:09,299 What is so sad is the salt lost. 917 00:50:09,619 --> 00:50:12,179 Savor the distinction. 918 00:50:13,459 --> 00:50:14,579 The distinction. 919 00:50:15,299 --> 00:50:19,359 It seems to be a real popular thing today, Pastor, A real popular 920 00:50:19,359 --> 00:50:23,359 thing to go to a church that stands for something, but then to 921 00:50:23,359 --> 00:50:29,039 make sure you fit in the world as well, to make sure that nobody 922 00:50:29,039 --> 00:50:35,359 thinks you're strange or weird about something because of your followship 923 00:50:35,359 --> 00:50:36,359 of Jesus Christ. 924 00:50:36,999 --> 00:50:39,479 Oh yeah, a popular Christianity. 925 00:50:40,359 --> 00:50:42,599 No, it's preached around the country. 926 00:50:42,599 --> 00:50:46,759 Most pulpits in America today preach what is called a popular Christianity 927 00:50:47,329 --> 00:50:49,329 because you can be a Christian, you can believe all the 928 00:50:49,329 --> 00:50:52,409 right things, know the lingo and how to say this, but you don't 929 00:50:52,409 --> 00:50:54,249 abstain from this, you don't abstain from that. 930 00:50:54,249 --> 00:50:55,049 You don't abstain. 931 00:50:55,049 --> 00:50:57,929 You don't separate yourself from the things or the ways and the 932 00:50:57,929 --> 00:50:58,769 thinking of the world. 933 00:50:58,769 --> 00:50:59,329 No, sir. 934 00:50:59,329 --> 00:51:00,329 You manage to fit. 935 00:51:00,329 --> 00:51:01,969 I listen to it all the time. 936 00:51:01,969 --> 00:51:05,049 I've been following for months, like many of you have, the 937 00:51:05,049 --> 00:51:08,649 news and it amazes me, the news channel that I listen to, it 938 00:51:08,649 --> 00:51:09,249 amazes me. 939 00:51:09,249 --> 00:51:12,689 Some of the people that talk about faith and prayer and Jesus 940 00:51:12,689 --> 00:51:15,369 and the next thing you know they're talking about being at a 941 00:51:15,369 --> 00:51:18,719 bar and, and drinking and carrying on and this and that. 942 00:51:18,719 --> 00:51:23,439 And their favorite musician was Ozzy Osbourne and that kind of, 943 00:51:24,239 --> 00:51:26,759 you know, that kind of entertainment and stuff like that. 944 00:51:26,759 --> 00:51:30,799 It's sort of like, see, we can blend it all together. 945 00:51:31,999 --> 00:51:34,239 No, no, you actually cannot. 946 00:51:35,119 --> 00:51:36,479 There's no communion. 947 00:51:37,199 --> 00:51:39,039 I said there's no communion. 948 00:51:39,119 --> 00:51:43,999 The way of the world and the way of Jesus, they do not run parallel. 949 00:51:44,929 --> 00:51:47,969 I said they are not on parallel tracks. 950 00:51:48,129 --> 00:51:51,329 The way of the world and the way of Jesus collide. 951 00:51:52,209 --> 00:51:53,569 It causes a collision. 952 00:51:53,649 --> 00:51:55,489 There Is opposition there? 953 00:51:55,889 --> 00:51:59,889 And Jesus said, I want you to be the salt of the earth, and I want 954 00:51:59,889 --> 00:52:01,169 you to be the light of the world. 955 00:52:01,489 --> 00:52:03,449 A city that is on a hill cannot be hid. 956 00:52:03,449 --> 00:52:06,169 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on 957 00:52:06,169 --> 00:52:08,929 a candlestick so that it may give light to all that are in the 958 00:52:08,929 --> 00:52:09,169 house. 959 00:52:09,249 --> 00:52:14,169 Why did he put those people in the land of Israel and in the city 960 00:52:14,169 --> 00:52:17,569 of Jerusalem to shine the light to darkness. 961 00:52:18,529 --> 00:52:23,569 Well, why are you here as a child of light, and why am I here? 962 00:52:25,249 --> 00:52:27,649 Not to see if I can blend with the darkness. 963 00:52:29,009 --> 00:52:33,169 But I'm here to shine the light on the darkness. 964 00:52:34,049 --> 00:52:34,849 So are you. 965 00:52:35,969 --> 00:52:36,689 So are you. 966 00:52:37,909 --> 00:52:39,749 Talks about it on an individual basis. 967 00:52:39,829 --> 00:52:42,069 A candle, that would be an individual. 968 00:52:42,309 --> 00:52:43,749 Is your light shining? 969 00:52:48,149 --> 00:52:50,229 Do people know that there's something different? 970 00:52:51,749 --> 00:52:52,949 I'm not accusing anybody. 971 00:52:52,949 --> 00:52:54,309 I'm asking a simple question. 972 00:52:55,269 --> 00:52:56,789 It's why he left us here. 973 00:52:58,309 --> 00:53:02,069 No, there's a reason he didn't save us, take us to heaven. 974 00:53:02,069 --> 00:53:02,429 Come on. 975 00:53:02,429 --> 00:53:06,739 Heaven's better than this, that's for sure. 976 00:53:07,699 --> 00:53:09,539 But there's a reason he left us here. 977 00:53:10,899 --> 00:53:11,619 I don't. 978 00:53:13,779 --> 00:53:14,419 I don't know. 979 00:53:14,419 --> 00:53:16,859 I have people ask me all the time, how long are you going to keep 980 00:53:16,859 --> 00:53:17,379 preaching? 981 00:53:17,619 --> 00:53:18,499 I don't know. 982 00:53:21,299 --> 00:53:23,699 Don't you want to just kind of sit down sometimes? 983 00:53:23,779 --> 00:53:24,259 Yes. 984 00:53:25,059 --> 00:53:26,739 I'm getting downright lazy. 985 00:53:27,379 --> 00:53:30,299 Somebody asked me the other day, he said, brother Sam, a young 986 00:53:30,299 --> 00:53:33,419 preacher, he said, what is your day like, a normal day? 987 00:53:33,419 --> 00:53:34,059 What's your day like? 988 00:53:34,059 --> 00:53:37,169 I said, well, first of all, I get up and make my coffee, and then 989 00:53:37,169 --> 00:53:41,049 I make out my nap schedule for the day, you know, and not having 990 00:53:41,049 --> 00:53:44,569 the pastoral duties and the president duties of the school and 991 00:53:45,049 --> 00:53:45,769 stuff like that. 992 00:53:45,769 --> 00:53:50,889 I don't mind telling you, I take a nap, but I ain't quitting. 993 00:53:52,489 --> 00:53:54,329 There's nothing in me that wants to quit. 994 00:53:54,889 --> 00:53:57,449 There's nothing in me that says, well, I preached my last sermon. 995 00:53:57,849 --> 00:53:58,569 Are you sick? 996 00:53:58,569 --> 00:53:59,129 You can't talk. 997 00:53:59,129 --> 00:54:00,569 You can't do this, you can't do that. 998 00:54:00,649 --> 00:54:00,969 No. 999 00:54:00,969 --> 00:54:01,289 And. 1000 00:54:01,539 --> 00:54:04,819 And I say, if I have soundness of mind until I'm 90 years old, which 1001 00:54:04,819 --> 00:54:09,299 my wife said, it's not looking very good, but if I do, if I do, 1002 00:54:09,299 --> 00:54:10,579 I want to serve the Lord. 1003 00:54:12,819 --> 00:54:15,659 The world is in need of light and needs your light. 1004 00:54:15,659 --> 00:54:19,059 You may never stand behind a pulpit, but your light needs to shine. 1005 00:54:20,019 --> 00:54:23,419 And I got a feeling I'm not talking to ignoramuses who don't 1006 00:54:23,419 --> 00:54:26,819 really know what causes the light to be dimmed. 1007 00:54:28,349 --> 00:54:30,189 I don't think I'm talking To people like that. 1008 00:54:30,829 --> 00:54:33,829 I think I've talked to people that know full well what causes the 1009 00:54:33,829 --> 00:54:34,829 light to be dimmed. 1010 00:54:35,229 --> 00:54:39,589 I think I'm seeing some young people over here that know what it 1011 00:54:39,589 --> 00:54:44,509 means for their light to shine and take a stand for Jesus Christ. 1012 00:54:46,269 --> 00:54:47,309 That's why we're here. 1013 00:54:48,749 --> 00:54:49,549 And you know what? 1014 00:54:49,549 --> 00:54:51,949 You know what happened to them that turned the wrath of God upon 1015 00:54:51,949 --> 00:54:52,269 them? 1016 00:54:53,879 --> 00:54:54,759 What does it say? 1017 00:54:56,919 --> 00:55:04,119 And she, jerusalem, Jews, the nation hath changed my judgments 1018 00:55:04,759 --> 00:55:05,959 into wickedness. 1019 00:55:06,599 --> 00:55:08,039 More than the nations. 1020 00:55:08,518 --> 00:55:12,999 Their wickedness is greater than the nations that they're supposed 1021 00:55:12,999 --> 00:55:15,399 to be showing righteousness to. 1022 00:55:16,999 --> 00:55:17,799 How could their. 1023 00:55:18,659 --> 00:55:21,859 How could their unrighteousness be worse? 1024 00:55:22,899 --> 00:55:25,219 Basically, because they're the people of God. 1025 00:55:26,179 --> 00:55:28,019 Basically because they know better. 1026 00:55:28,739 --> 00:55:31,859 Basically because they haven't been in blindness. 1027 00:55:32,019 --> 00:55:37,059 They had their eyes opened to truth and chose darkness. 1028 00:55:37,859 --> 00:55:38,499 That's why. 1029 00:55:40,979 --> 00:55:44,869 You know, same thing about a church ought to be a city that is 1030 00:55:44,869 --> 00:55:45,629 set on a hill. 1031 00:55:47,869 --> 00:55:49,589 I don't mean to go off on a tangent. 1032 00:55:49,589 --> 00:55:52,749 I could, but I don't want to. 1033 00:55:53,149 --> 00:55:54,909 But I don't want to go off on a tangent. 1034 00:55:55,229 --> 00:55:58,109 And I loved what I heard the pastor say today after the choir 1035 00:55:58,109 --> 00:55:59,269 sang that good song. 1036 00:55:59,269 --> 00:56:02,789 Still, still, the pastor talked about there's certain things 1037 00:56:02,789 --> 00:56:05,309 we're not gonna compromise and we're not interested in changing 1038 00:56:05,789 --> 00:56:07,549 just to blend in and fit. 1039 00:56:08,269 --> 00:56:08,669 No. 1040 00:56:08,909 --> 00:56:13,309 Don't you know that Jesus never established his churches? 1041 00:56:13,789 --> 00:56:18,469 You ought to read Revelation 2 and 3 sometime real soon and see 1042 00:56:18,469 --> 00:56:22,829 those churches in Asia Minor and how they are situated in Asia 1043 00:56:22,829 --> 00:56:27,629 Minor so that they should be used to reach out to the known world. 1044 00:56:28,509 --> 00:56:29,869 Yeah, it's amazing. 1045 00:56:29,869 --> 00:56:31,869 All of them were placed there by him. 1046 00:56:33,069 --> 00:56:36,839 Those seven churches, you know, those seven churches were placed 1047 00:56:36,839 --> 00:56:37,399 there by him. 1048 00:56:38,039 --> 00:56:40,599 Those churches were his candlestick. 1049 00:56:41,159 --> 00:56:42,839 Somebody say amen so I can keep going. 1050 00:56:42,919 --> 00:56:44,039 That's what he called it. 1051 00:56:44,039 --> 00:56:45,719 He said, this is my candlestick. 1052 00:56:45,719 --> 00:56:46,359 It's mine. 1053 00:56:46,759 --> 00:56:47,519 He put it there. 1054 00:56:47,519 --> 00:56:48,839 And he put it there for a reason. 1055 00:56:49,959 --> 00:56:52,279 And you know what was happening in some of those churches? 1056 00:56:52,439 --> 00:56:54,279 Five out of seven got a rebuke. 1057 00:56:54,599 --> 00:56:58,719 And of those five of the seven that got a rebuke, some of them were 1058 00:56:58,719 --> 00:57:01,119 told, you either get things right or. 1059 00:57:01,429 --> 00:57:04,469 Or I'll remove your candlestick if you're not going to 1060 00:57:04,469 --> 00:57:04,869 be here. 1061 00:57:04,869 --> 00:57:08,149 What I put you here for, then I'm going to remove it. 1062 00:57:09,189 --> 00:57:10,309 I'm going to remove it. 1063 00:57:10,709 --> 00:57:12,309 And I look at this area here. 1064 00:57:13,349 --> 00:57:16,869 I made mention I came here in the year 2012, first time to see 1065 00:57:16,869 --> 00:57:17,789 what was going on around here. 1066 00:57:17,789 --> 00:57:19,349 And you could tell it was a growing area. 1067 00:57:19,669 --> 00:57:23,349 But I come now my wife and I drove her out. 1068 00:57:23,749 --> 00:57:25,589 I can't believe what's taking place here. 1069 00:57:25,749 --> 00:57:26,949 It's taking place here. 1070 00:57:27,569 --> 00:57:30,369 The expansion, the growth, the industry, the housing. 1071 00:57:30,369 --> 00:57:30,929 And just. 1072 00:57:31,409 --> 00:57:32,369 It's incredible. 1073 00:57:32,609 --> 00:57:36,049 I wonder if this church situated on that highway right in 1074 00:57:36,049 --> 00:57:38,769 the midst of all of this activity that's going on here. 1075 00:57:38,769 --> 00:57:41,729 I wonder if he has a purpose for this church right here. 1076 00:57:44,209 --> 00:57:47,449 It's certainly not so that we can have a nice Christian place to 1077 00:57:47,449 --> 00:57:48,769 have fellowship, though. 1078 00:57:48,769 --> 00:57:51,009 Fellowship is a wonderful thing, isn't it? 1079 00:57:51,889 --> 00:57:56,059 But this church doesn't exist so you and I can have a Christian 1080 00:57:56,059 --> 00:57:56,699 social club. 1081 00:57:59,099 --> 00:58:03,099 No, it exists because there are sinners this way and that way 1082 00:58:03,179 --> 00:58:05,019 and that way and that way. 1083 00:58:05,499 --> 00:58:09,299 And if churches like this aren't going to pursue them and reach 1084 00:58:09,299 --> 00:58:10,459 them, who is? 1085 00:58:11,979 --> 00:58:15,499 Who is the Vegas churches? 1086 00:58:17,739 --> 00:58:19,259 I never heard that term before. 1087 00:58:19,899 --> 00:58:20,859 I never had either. 1088 00:58:21,819 --> 00:58:25,979 But I was waiting to this guy on the airplane and he was lost. 1089 00:58:26,939 --> 00:58:28,859 And I said, called him by name. 1090 00:58:28,859 --> 00:58:32,539 He's a Hispanic man, just a sharp guy, really enjoyed talking 1091 00:58:32,539 --> 00:58:33,019 to him. 1092 00:58:33,099 --> 00:58:36,859 And I said to him, we're over Phoenix, Arizona. 1093 00:58:37,659 --> 00:58:39,139 We're headed to Phoenix, Arizona. 1094 00:58:39,139 --> 00:58:40,339 I said, I'm going to be preaching. 1095 00:58:40,339 --> 00:58:42,539 Told him where I was, wasn't far from where he lived. 1096 00:58:42,619 --> 00:58:43,979 Like for you to come, eh? 1097 00:58:45,509 --> 00:58:48,789 So after we talked a while and I talked to him about salvation and 1098 00:58:48,789 --> 00:58:51,989 so forth, I said, have you ever attended a church? 1099 00:58:52,469 --> 00:58:53,349 Yeah, yeah. 1100 00:58:53,509 --> 00:58:56,909 He said, some of my friends and I, there's this big church for. 1101 00:58:56,909 --> 00:59:00,269 We're kind of in an upstart neighborhood, a lot of young families 1102 00:59:00,269 --> 00:59:00,709 and couples. 1103 00:59:00,709 --> 00:59:02,149 There's this mega church there. 1104 00:59:02,229 --> 00:59:04,469 He said, we've gone there. 1105 00:59:04,469 --> 00:59:06,549 I've gone there several times with some friends. 1106 00:59:07,109 --> 00:59:10,069 And he said, my friends and I call it the Vegas Church. 1107 00:59:10,959 --> 00:59:12,799 I said, the Vegas Church. 1108 00:59:12,879 --> 00:59:14,759 He said, no, that's not the name of it. 1109 00:59:14,759 --> 00:59:17,519 But he said, it's what we call it because he said, we go to Vegas. 1110 00:59:17,519 --> 00:59:19,279 From Phoenix to Vegas isn't a big deal. 1111 00:59:19,359 --> 00:59:22,079 We go there and we go to the shows and gamble and everything. 1112 00:59:22,479 --> 00:59:25,399 And he said, when we come back and go to that church, it seems like 1113 00:59:25,399 --> 00:59:26,959 they're trying to compete with Vegas. 1114 00:59:26,959 --> 00:59:29,759 And he said, actually, Vegas does a lot better job than they do. 1115 00:59:31,439 --> 00:59:32,759 So I just borrowed it from him. 1116 00:59:32,759 --> 00:59:38,109 A lost man that looked at a church, called it a Vegas church. 1117 00:59:38,749 --> 00:59:43,589 It's more entertainment than anything, I guarantee you. 1118 00:59:43,589 --> 00:59:46,669 He didn't leave this church here to be a Vegas church. 1119 00:59:46,909 --> 00:59:49,669 He didn't put, you ought to see where we are at Southwest. 1120 00:59:49,669 --> 00:59:50,909 Some of you maybe been there. 1121 00:59:51,789 --> 00:59:53,789 It makes me angry with people like you. 1122 00:59:55,229 --> 00:59:58,629 Well, you're sitting here on this road, traffic going by all the 1123 00:59:58,629 --> 00:59:58,909 time. 1124 00:59:59,149 --> 01:00:01,549 We're sitting back on a secondary road. 1125 01:00:01,709 --> 01:00:03,469 This is not a four lane, four lanes. 1126 01:00:03,469 --> 01:00:05,949 A half mile that way, another one half mile that way and a quarter 1127 01:00:05,949 --> 01:00:08,209 mile that way and 3/4 of a mile that way. 1128 01:00:08,689 --> 01:00:10,929 Yeah, we're sitting back in this neighborhood. 1129 01:00:10,929 --> 01:00:14,369 Old, old neighborhood. 1130 01:00:15,329 --> 01:00:16,009 Murderers. 1131 01:00:16,009 --> 01:00:19,489 Right next to us, my wife and I, I got up one morning to leave. 1132 01:00:19,889 --> 01:00:23,809 Four people were killed right next door to a boom, boom drug deal. 1133 01:00:24,369 --> 01:00:26,809 Right next door to where I lived, a block and a half from the 1134 01:00:26,809 --> 01:00:27,169 church. 1135 01:00:27,569 --> 01:00:31,689 That's where our church is in 1993. 1136 01:00:31,689 --> 01:00:33,329 The church is growing and taking off. 1137 01:00:33,869 --> 01:00:36,189 I'd been there about three years and things were happening. 1138 01:00:36,269 --> 01:00:40,749 So we kind of formed an official, unofficial, I should say 1139 01:00:40,749 --> 01:00:43,309 committee, and we started praying about this and we're going 1140 01:00:43,309 --> 01:00:44,589 to start searching for land. 1141 01:00:44,669 --> 01:00:47,869 Maybe we should rebuild, get out of that neighborhood. 1142 01:00:48,589 --> 01:00:53,269 And after a couple of years, we had no inclination from the Lord 1143 01:00:53,269 --> 01:00:54,669 at all that we should do that. 1144 01:00:55,069 --> 01:00:57,509 So we kept buying property around us and built. 1145 01:00:57,509 --> 01:00:59,229 You've seen the properties there. 1146 01:00:59,589 --> 01:01:04,549 And it's a nice, it's nice sitting in the midst of a rough area, 1147 01:01:05,109 --> 01:01:06,309 a rough neighborhood. 1148 01:01:07,269 --> 01:01:12,949 You know what I feel like God means for us to be there and be a 1149 01:01:12,949 --> 01:01:13,189 light. 1150 01:01:14,389 --> 01:01:18,029 Would I like to have a church sitting out on the outskirts on a 1151 01:01:18,029 --> 01:01:21,429 nice street where thousands of cars drive by every day and see it? 1152 01:01:22,229 --> 01:01:22,709 Yes. 1153 01:01:23,509 --> 01:01:24,789 But that's not where we are. 1154 01:01:26,319 --> 01:01:27,119 God put us there. 1155 01:01:27,359 --> 01:01:31,359 God situated that church there in the year of 1952. 1156 01:01:31,759 --> 01:01:33,359 Situated that church right there. 1157 01:01:33,439 --> 01:01:34,239 It's still there. 1158 01:01:34,239 --> 01:01:37,559 It's still winning souls, still baptizing people, still sending 1159 01:01:37,559 --> 01:01:40,519 out missionaries and starting churches and doing the work of a 1160 01:01:40,519 --> 01:01:40,879 church. 1161 01:01:41,359 --> 01:01:42,639 It's very much alive. 1162 01:01:43,839 --> 01:01:44,799 Hallelujah. 1163 01:01:45,999 --> 01:01:47,479 You know what he means for that church? 1164 01:01:47,479 --> 01:01:48,719 To be a light. 1165 01:01:49,919 --> 01:01:50,559 A light. 1166 01:01:53,799 --> 01:01:56,559 No, he doesn't mean for it to be a social club for Christians to 1167 01:01:56,559 --> 01:01:59,479 get together and read the Bible and have a Bible study. 1168 01:01:59,559 --> 01:02:00,439 Mm, mm. 1169 01:02:00,839 --> 01:02:03,159 No, he means it to function like a church. 1170 01:02:03,959 --> 01:02:04,679 Acts 13. 1171 01:02:04,679 --> 01:02:06,599 The function of a church is to assemble. 1172 01:02:07,319 --> 01:02:09,639 Number one business of the church, assemble. 1173 01:02:10,119 --> 01:02:11,639 They had Acts 13. 1174 01:02:11,879 --> 01:02:13,799 They had prophets and teachers. 1175 01:02:13,879 --> 01:02:16,759 Prophets, preaching, preaching. 1176 01:02:16,759 --> 01:02:17,639 They preached. 1177 01:02:18,739 --> 01:02:20,499 I said they preached. 1178 01:02:21,859 --> 01:02:22,699 And teachers. 1179 01:02:22,699 --> 01:02:30,539 And they taught the word of God and they fasted and prayed and 1180 01:02:30,539 --> 01:02:32,419 ministered one to another. 1181 01:02:34,099 --> 01:02:35,379 That's what the Bible says. 1182 01:02:35,699 --> 01:02:37,139 That's the function of a church. 1183 01:02:38,019 --> 01:02:40,419 But churches today are much more on the cutting edge and da, 1184 01:02:40,419 --> 01:02:40,859 da, da. 1185 01:02:40,859 --> 01:02:41,339 I don't care. 1186 01:02:41,339 --> 01:02:45,309 I'm telling you what the Bible says about order churches or that's 1187 01:02:45,309 --> 01:02:46,749 what he means for us still to be. 1188 01:02:47,949 --> 01:02:54,349 And whenever we change his intent, it will meet with his displeasure. 1189 01:02:55,389 --> 01:02:57,389 I don't care if bigger buildings are built. 1190 01:02:57,469 --> 01:02:59,309 I don't care if bigger crowds come. 1191 01:02:59,709 --> 01:03:02,149 Somebody said they're getting a bigger crowd than you. 1192 01:03:02,149 --> 01:03:05,149 Well, so is the Pope, but that really is not an issue. 1193 01:03:08,749 --> 01:03:09,709 That's not the issue. 1194 01:03:11,089 --> 01:03:11,329 See? 1195 01:03:14,369 --> 01:03:17,009 So there you have it. 1196 01:03:19,169 --> 01:03:22,449 They were in trouble with God and got judgment because they changed 1197 01:03:22,449 --> 01:03:27,089 from what God intended them to be, where he put them. 1198 01:03:27,729 --> 01:03:28,449 You're here. 1199 01:03:29,329 --> 01:03:30,209 You're alive. 1200 01:03:30,689 --> 01:03:31,569 You're saved. 1201 01:03:31,889 --> 01:03:33,249 Is your light shining? 1202 01:03:34,209 --> 01:03:35,249 Are you salt? 1203 01:03:36,299 --> 01:03:39,139 Are there things that ought to be changed that are affecting the 1204 01:03:39,139 --> 01:03:39,819 Savior? 1205 01:03:42,379 --> 01:03:44,419 The salt doesn't have the power it once did. 1206 01:03:44,419 --> 01:03:46,459 The light doesn't have the brightness it once did. 1207 01:03:47,179 --> 01:03:48,779 Lord, you know who's in this room. 1208 01:03:48,779 --> 01:03:49,979 You know every life. 1209 01:03:51,179 --> 01:03:53,739 It's still true what John said of Jesus. 1210 01:03:54,139 --> 01:03:54,439 You.