1 00:00:31,059 --> 00:00:32,419 Luke chapter number 15. 2 00:00:36,179 --> 00:00:38,539 If you're here today and you're not sure you're saved, you're 3 00:00:38,539 --> 00:00:40,979 not sure if you died, you would go to heaven immediately. 4 00:00:41,379 --> 00:00:44,939 You want to, you hope to, of course, maybe think you're trying 5 00:00:44,939 --> 00:00:45,299 to. 6 00:00:45,858 --> 00:00:48,499 But we're saved by grace, not by works. 7 00:00:48,579 --> 00:00:49,379 It's a gift. 8 00:00:50,019 --> 00:00:55,319 And Jesus said, you must be born again if you had a second birthday. 9 00:00:56,269 --> 00:00:59,229 You see, people that have never been saved are spiritually 10 00:00:59,309 --> 00:00:59,789 dead. 11 00:01:01,069 --> 00:01:04,869 When God created us, he created us with a body, a soul and 12 00:01:04,869 --> 00:01:05,549 a spirit. 13 00:01:07,309 --> 00:01:10,389 And when man sinned, his spirit died and he was cut off. 14 00:01:10,389 --> 00:01:12,069 Adam and Eve was cut off from God. 15 00:01:12,069 --> 00:01:13,789 So now they were just a body and soul. 16 00:01:14,429 --> 00:01:17,309 And when you get saved, you are made alive in Christ. 17 00:01:17,789 --> 00:01:20,029 Until a person's saved, they're spiritually dead. 18 00:01:20,029 --> 00:01:22,909 That's why they're not really interested in church or Bible or 19 00:01:22,909 --> 00:01:25,829 preaching or gospel music or anything else. 20 00:01:25,989 --> 00:01:27,749 They don't understand, what's the big deal? 21 00:01:28,149 --> 00:01:31,669 Why does anybody waste a perfectly good Sunday to go to church? 22 00:01:32,229 --> 00:01:33,189 They don't get it. 23 00:01:33,589 --> 00:01:36,549 It never even crosses their mind because they're spiritually 24 00:01:37,109 --> 00:01:37,589 dead. 25 00:01:38,629 --> 00:01:42,029 And a lot of people go to church, they don't get much out of 26 00:01:42,029 --> 00:01:44,669 it, but they go to see their friends or because it's the right 27 00:01:44,669 --> 00:01:47,509 thing to do or whatever, but they're spiritually dead. 28 00:01:48,229 --> 00:01:51,129 And so you must be born again. 29 00:01:51,769 --> 00:01:53,729 But then after you're saved, your life. 30 00:01:53,729 --> 00:01:58,209 Now I want you to listen your life right now for the rest of your 31 00:01:58,209 --> 00:02:02,649 life, whether it's days, weeks, months, years, however time 32 00:02:02,649 --> 00:02:04,489 you have left on this earth. 33 00:02:04,969 --> 00:02:10,249 The quality of life, the quality of life, the success of life, 34 00:02:10,249 --> 00:02:15,609 the prosperity of your life, the joy of your life is going to 35 00:02:15,609 --> 00:02:20,779 be directly in proportion to, to your knowledge and applying the 36 00:02:20,779 --> 00:02:21,459 word of God. 37 00:02:22,419 --> 00:02:24,339 It's all tied to the word of God. 38 00:02:26,099 --> 00:02:29,379 That is exactly why the devil wants to do everything can to keep 39 00:02:29,379 --> 00:02:33,019 you from reading the Bible or understanding the Bible. 40 00:02:33,019 --> 00:02:35,099 A lot of people read it, but they don't understand what they're 41 00:02:35,099 --> 00:02:35,539 reading. 42 00:02:36,019 --> 00:02:39,499 They read words over and over again and they never really know 43 00:02:39,499 --> 00:02:41,299 ones who really tell them, what does that word mean? 44 00:02:41,459 --> 00:02:45,949 And they never stop and get a dictionary and look it up and so 45 00:02:45,949 --> 00:02:47,229 what good does it do? 46 00:02:48,029 --> 00:02:52,269 Have you ever thought, you know, I read the Bible today, but 47 00:02:52,429 --> 00:02:54,989 I don't know if I really got anything out of it or not. 48 00:02:55,949 --> 00:02:59,389 And let's be honest, sometimes we just read the words. 49 00:03:00,349 --> 00:03:02,909 Remember, I've told you many times, I'm gonna keep telling you, 50 00:03:03,069 --> 00:03:05,789 don't read the Bible to please God. 51 00:03:06,589 --> 00:03:11,109 Read the Bible to know God, don't do a checklist with God and 52 00:03:11,109 --> 00:03:13,549 say, oh, I'm a good Christian, I read a chapter today. 53 00:03:14,229 --> 00:03:15,909 That's the way a lot most Christians live. 54 00:03:16,709 --> 00:03:22,229 But read the Bible to know God and read the Bible so that God can 55 00:03:22,229 --> 00:03:22,869 speak to you. 56 00:03:22,869 --> 00:03:25,429 You see, God doesn't speak in an audible voice. 57 00:03:25,989 --> 00:03:27,429 He speaks through the Bible. 58 00:03:27,429 --> 00:03:29,669 We speak to God through prayer. 59 00:03:31,509 --> 00:03:33,909 But communication is a two way street. 60 00:03:33,909 --> 00:03:38,789 And so God wants to speak back to you through the Bible. 61 00:03:39,679 --> 00:03:43,839 When you read the Bible, pray first and then say now Lord, you 62 00:03:43,839 --> 00:03:46,439 know where I'm at and you know the things I'm dealing with. 63 00:03:46,439 --> 00:03:50,639 You know the problems, my worries, my fears, you know my confusion 64 00:03:50,639 --> 00:03:51,239 about things. 65 00:03:51,239 --> 00:03:53,599 You know about my marriage, you know about my children. 66 00:03:54,239 --> 00:03:56,319 Lord, I need to hear from youm today. 67 00:03:57,119 --> 00:03:59,279 Would you'd speak to me through the word of God. 68 00:03:59,999 --> 00:04:01,599 And that's when God speaks. 69 00:04:02,319 --> 00:04:05,519 But I'm telling you from experience for many, many years, 70 00:04:06,539 --> 00:04:10,699 most Christians may read a few verses on Sunday when the preacher 71 00:04:10,699 --> 00:04:14,699 says open your Bible and they place their Bible every Sunday after 72 00:04:14,699 --> 00:04:18,619 church and they don't go back to it till next Sunday. 73 00:04:19,179 --> 00:04:21,019 Now I hope I'm not speaking about you. 74 00:04:21,339 --> 00:04:24,499 This church would be above the average because the emphasis is on 75 00:04:24,499 --> 00:04:25,099 the Bible. 76 00:04:25,339 --> 00:04:29,139 In a lot of churches the emphasis is on entertainment or the 77 00:04:29,139 --> 00:04:32,179 emphasis is on this and ministry and that ministry. 78 00:04:32,179 --> 00:04:34,859 But it's not really can say it's all about the Bible. 79 00:04:36,219 --> 00:04:37,139 That's the average church. 80 00:04:37,139 --> 00:04:38,779 But this church is above average. 81 00:04:39,099 --> 00:04:42,939 But still there could be some here today that's struggling with 82 00:04:43,739 --> 00:04:47,019 getting the Bible and getting it into them and then getting it 83 00:04:47,019 --> 00:04:47,899 into their life. 84 00:04:48,779 --> 00:04:53,819 And I want to help you today with something, in fact I've entitled 85 00:04:53,899 --> 00:04:59,979 the Message this morning, getting the lesson from the story. 86 00:05:01,669 --> 00:05:05,309 How many of you don't raise your hand but a lot of us know the 87 00:05:05,309 --> 00:05:07,669 stories of the Bible frontwards and backwards. 88 00:05:07,989 --> 00:05:10,349 We could tell little kids about David and Goliath. 89 00:05:10,349 --> 00:05:11,789 Do we have a picture of David and Goliath? 90 00:05:11,789 --> 00:05:14,149 Yeah, we've seen that story, we've told that story. 91 00:05:14,149 --> 00:05:16,469 And the sling and the giant fell, hit him in the head. 92 00:05:17,269 --> 00:05:18,229 But so what? 93 00:05:18,869 --> 00:05:20,469 What's that got to do with me? 94 00:05:21,349 --> 00:05:23,029 How does that apply to my life? 95 00:05:24,389 --> 00:05:26,549 And most people don't know how to make that application. 96 00:05:27,899 --> 00:05:34,179 I was raised, I still have a huge family Bible that sat on my 97 00:05:34,179 --> 00:05:34,939 coffee table. 98 00:05:35,419 --> 00:05:38,299 There was six of us in the family and we lived with my grandfather 99 00:05:38,299 --> 00:05:39,179 that made seven. 100 00:05:39,579 --> 00:05:42,379 And my granddad went to church, but the rest of us didn't. 101 00:05:42,858 --> 00:05:44,659 And he had an old Bible. 102 00:05:44,659 --> 00:05:45,579 I still have it. 103 00:05:46,539 --> 00:05:48,579 And it was one of those family Bibles. 104 00:05:48,579 --> 00:05:49,659 Some of you may have them. 105 00:05:50,219 --> 00:05:51,819 And that family Bible was. 106 00:05:52,059 --> 00:05:53,259 Nobody really read it. 107 00:05:53,759 --> 00:05:55,279 It's just kind of a decoration. 108 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:57,439 And it was open right in the middle. 109 00:05:57,439 --> 00:05:58,719 And they had all these pictures. 110 00:05:59,599 --> 00:06:02,759 And I remember as a little kid, I wasn't saved, but I loved 111 00:06:02,759 --> 00:06:03,679 to look at the pictures. 112 00:06:03,999 --> 00:06:05,279 I never read anything. 113 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:05,719 I just. 114 00:06:05,719 --> 00:06:06,239 Wow. 115 00:06:06,639 --> 00:06:09,039 And I remember Samson holding up the pillars. 116 00:06:09,039 --> 00:06:12,079 And it was just so many great pictures, colorful pictures. 117 00:06:13,199 --> 00:06:14,479 And I still had that Bible. 118 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:17,919 And there's nothing wrong with having a Bible on the table and having 119 00:06:17,919 --> 00:06:22,489 a family Bible, certainly that would be great. 120 00:06:23,209 --> 00:06:28,689 But the Bible just sitting on a table or a bed stand or in the 121 00:06:28,689 --> 00:06:32,409 car is not gonna do anything for you. 122 00:06:33,369 --> 00:06:34,729 Truth changes nothing. 123 00:06:35,689 --> 00:06:37,049 Only applied truth. 124 00:06:38,169 --> 00:06:39,369 Only applied truth. 125 00:06:40,249 --> 00:06:41,649 And before I get in the message. 126 00:06:41,649 --> 00:06:46,059 And I have to enlarge the clock back there so I could watch 127 00:06:46,059 --> 00:06:47,059 it a little bit better. 128 00:06:48,019 --> 00:06:49,499 But write these down. 129 00:06:49,499 --> 00:06:51,059 I'll tell you what, don't write them down. 130 00:06:52,499 --> 00:06:54,499 Sam was so nice this morning. 131 00:06:54,499 --> 00:06:57,059 She came in early and she ran these off. 132 00:06:57,299 --> 00:06:59,139 And I'll have the ushers, if you could. 133 00:06:59,139 --> 00:07:00,259 They're over on that table. 134 00:07:00,339 --> 00:07:03,699 Hand everyone up one of those copies when they leave today. 135 00:07:04,259 --> 00:07:06,259 And if they don't want it, they can throw it away. 136 00:07:06,339 --> 00:07:08,179 Okay, but look at this. 137 00:07:08,819 --> 00:07:10,539 How do you get the most out of the Bible? 138 00:07:10,539 --> 00:07:11,779 Look at number one here. 139 00:07:13,979 --> 00:07:16,219 When you read the Bible, ask yourself this question. 140 00:07:16,219 --> 00:07:20,579 If I read a verse or a chapter or a book, is there a sin I need 141 00:07:20,579 --> 00:07:23,859 to confess in that passage I read? 142 00:07:23,859 --> 00:07:25,259 That's just any passage. 143 00:07:26,779 --> 00:07:27,339 And you. 144 00:07:27,978 --> 00:07:29,219 Was sin even mentioned there? 145 00:07:29,219 --> 00:07:30,539 Is there anything, Any sin? 146 00:07:30,539 --> 00:07:34,939 Because, you see, the Bible says if we don't confess, our sin 147 00:07:35,499 --> 00:07:37,179 is a blockage in our life. 148 00:07:38,149 --> 00:07:38,709 A blockage. 149 00:07:38,709 --> 00:07:39,989 That's exactly what it is. 150 00:07:40,229 --> 00:07:43,509 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. 151 00:07:44,709 --> 00:07:45,909 Nobody's perfect. 152 00:07:46,549 --> 00:07:48,309 And that's why nobody's sinless. 153 00:07:48,309 --> 00:07:51,029 Nobody here today can go a day without sinning. 154 00:07:51,829 --> 00:07:54,429 You might think you can, but Jesus said, if you've thought it, 155 00:07:54,429 --> 00:07:55,109 you've done it. 156 00:07:55,589 --> 00:07:58,989 Okay, so we all have trouble with sin till we get to heaven. 157 00:07:58,989 --> 00:08:00,149 There'll be no more sin. 158 00:08:00,469 --> 00:08:03,909 All right, but when you read first thing, because you ought to 159 00:08:03,909 --> 00:08:05,029 be sensitive to that. 160 00:08:06,939 --> 00:08:07,899 Is there something here? 161 00:08:08,059 --> 00:08:12,299 Number two, Is there a command to obey? 162 00:08:12,859 --> 00:08:13,979 You may read that. 163 00:08:14,779 --> 00:08:17,859 I don't know what you're reading, if you're using a devotional 164 00:08:17,859 --> 00:08:21,819 or whatever, but is there a command in that verse or in that 165 00:08:21,819 --> 00:08:23,259 chapter or in that passage? 166 00:08:24,139 --> 00:08:27,099 Remember, the commandments of God are love notes from God. 167 00:08:28,539 --> 00:08:31,019 God doesn't give us the commandments so he can put us under 168 00:08:31,019 --> 00:08:33,399 his thumb and control us. 169 00:08:33,959 --> 00:08:38,279 He gives us those commandments so we can live good, so we can succeed 170 00:08:38,279 --> 00:08:39,159 and prosper. 171 00:08:40,839 --> 00:08:41,919 They're for our benefit. 172 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:43,039 They're not grievous. 173 00:08:43,039 --> 00:08:45,959 The Bible says the commandments of God are not grievous. 174 00:08:46,439 --> 00:08:47,359 Isn't it funny, though? 175 00:08:47,359 --> 00:08:49,719 In the day in which we live, everybody wants to know something 176 00:08:49,719 --> 00:08:50,999 about God, but they don't want. 177 00:08:51,079 --> 00:08:53,959 We don't want to teach kids the ten Commandments. 178 00:08:53,959 --> 00:08:56,919 We don't want to hang them around the school, might warp their 179 00:08:56,919 --> 00:08:57,639 little conscience. 180 00:09:00,539 --> 00:09:04,899 And so putting the Bible in front of kids today, I'm talking 181 00:09:04,899 --> 00:09:05,459 about the world. 182 00:09:05,459 --> 00:09:07,419 I mean, thank God we have a Christian school. 183 00:09:07,419 --> 00:09:11,179 And thank God you parents are hopefully reading the Bible to your 184 00:09:11,179 --> 00:09:11,499 children. 185 00:09:12,699 --> 00:09:16,939 But look at where we're at today because of the lack of commandments. 186 00:09:16,939 --> 00:09:22,299 Number three, is there a warning to heed? 187 00:09:22,299 --> 00:09:26,059 You see, the Bible not only gives us a winning message and a 188 00:09:26,059 --> 00:09:28,689 wounding message, but it gives us a warning message. 189 00:09:28,689 --> 00:09:32,929 If you read the Bible, it may say, be careful or watch out or beware. 190 00:09:32,929 --> 00:09:34,569 You find that in the Bible a lot. 191 00:09:35,769 --> 00:09:40,929 Number four, is there a promise to claim we sing Standing 192 00:09:40,929 --> 00:09:41,689 on the Promises. 193 00:09:42,249 --> 00:09:44,169 What promises are you standing on? 194 00:09:45,929 --> 00:09:48,329 Can you name any of the promises of God? 195 00:09:50,809 --> 00:09:56,289 Standing on the promises I cannot fail when the storms of doubt 196 00:09:56,289 --> 00:10:00,569 and fear assail by the living word of God I shall prevail Standing 197 00:10:00,569 --> 00:10:01,969 on the promises of God. 198 00:10:02,129 --> 00:10:04,929 But most people don't really know what those promises are. 199 00:10:05,409 --> 00:10:06,249 That's about faith. 200 00:10:06,249 --> 00:10:09,089 We live by faith because we believe God keeps his promises. 201 00:10:10,049 --> 00:10:11,489 God cannot lie. 202 00:10:12,449 --> 00:10:17,649 Okay, number five, is there an example to follow? 203 00:10:19,019 --> 00:10:19,539 An example? 204 00:10:19,539 --> 00:10:19,899 Of course. 205 00:10:19,899 --> 00:10:21,299 Jesus is our great example. 206 00:10:21,299 --> 00:10:24,779 But you know, there's people in the Bible that God blessed because 207 00:10:24,779 --> 00:10:25,659 of the way they lived. 208 00:10:25,659 --> 00:10:27,499 And they're good examples for us to follow. 209 00:10:27,739 --> 00:10:29,979 They weren't sinless, they weren't superheroes. 210 00:10:30,139 --> 00:10:31,979 They were people just like you and I. 211 00:10:32,379 --> 00:10:36,139 But God blessed them and they may have given us a good example 212 00:10:37,099 --> 00:10:41,219 for a father or for a mother or a husband or a wife or even a 213 00:10:41,219 --> 00:10:41,899 teenager. 214 00:10:42,939 --> 00:10:47,009 God used teenagers in the Bible and he can use them today. 215 00:10:47,009 --> 00:10:51,809 You don't have to be 18 or 21 to pray or to understand the Bible 216 00:10:51,809 --> 00:10:55,449 or for God to use you in a mighty way. 217 00:10:55,449 --> 00:10:59,249 Some of the greatest preachers that I've ever known read about started 218 00:10:59,249 --> 00:11:01,929 preaching 19, 20, 21, 18. 219 00:11:02,089 --> 00:11:06,009 I mean, God would love to use teenagers. 220 00:11:07,369 --> 00:11:14,669 And then number six, is there a lesson to learn in that story, 221 00:11:14,669 --> 00:11:15,709 in that passage? 222 00:11:16,029 --> 00:11:18,429 Now, some of these May go, yes, some of them may know. 223 00:11:18,429 --> 00:11:22,389 But if you say, God, I want to know something, and I want you to 224 00:11:22,389 --> 00:11:26,149 personalize this scripture that I'm reading today, would you 225 00:11:26,149 --> 00:11:26,589 do that? 226 00:11:26,829 --> 00:11:27,869 God will do that. 227 00:11:28,109 --> 00:11:29,389 That's what he wants to do. 228 00:11:29,869 --> 00:11:32,829 He wants to speak to you as if it was just you and him. 229 00:11:33,949 --> 00:11:37,429 Sometimes you read a Bible and you read a verse and you go, wow, 230 00:11:37,429 --> 00:11:38,949 this is like a neon light. 231 00:11:38,949 --> 00:11:40,709 It's like it was written personally to me. 232 00:11:40,709 --> 00:11:44,999 And you share it with somebody and they go, yeah, that's good, because 233 00:11:45,239 --> 00:11:47,319 that wasn't personalized for them. 234 00:11:48,359 --> 00:11:54,039 I preach a sermon and some people may think, eh, glad that's 235 00:11:54,039 --> 00:11:56,679 over with, or that was all right. 236 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:57,639 I give it a five. 237 00:11:57,879 --> 00:11:59,159 I want a one to ten. 238 00:11:59,639 --> 00:12:04,079 But there's some people that go, wow, that was exactly what I 239 00:12:04,079 --> 00:12:05,159 dealt with this week. 240 00:12:05,799 --> 00:12:07,239 And I didn't know what to do. 241 00:12:07,239 --> 00:12:09,559 And you preached right on that subject. 242 00:12:10,979 --> 00:12:16,139 In fact, I prayed this morning that my message, that God would personalize 243 00:12:16,139 --> 00:12:16,619 it to you. 244 00:12:16,619 --> 00:12:21,979 It would not just be another long list of sermons that God brought 245 00:12:21,979 --> 00:12:26,659 you here today to hear something that would be personal 246 00:12:27,699 --> 00:12:28,499 just for you. 247 00:12:30,419 --> 00:12:32,259 Number seven, I'm almost through. 248 00:12:32,739 --> 00:12:37,629 Is there a blessing to share when you read about how good God 249 00:12:37,629 --> 00:12:42,109 is and some blessing that he gave you? 250 00:12:42,669 --> 00:12:44,189 And you want to share that. 251 00:12:44,189 --> 00:12:47,069 You want to share that with your family or your friends? 252 00:12:47,709 --> 00:12:53,509 And then last, number eight, is there a word to look up? 253 00:12:53,509 --> 00:12:55,149 And I already kind of mentioned that. 254 00:12:55,389 --> 00:12:56,269 But when you get. 255 00:12:56,269 --> 00:12:59,469 Let me encourage you to get you just a plain old dictionary, 256 00:13:00,189 --> 00:13:03,839 Webster's Dictionary, and put it beside your Bible. 257 00:13:04,719 --> 00:13:07,959 Now, I have Bible dictionaries, and that's true, that's 258 00:13:07,959 --> 00:13:08,479 wonderful. 259 00:13:08,879 --> 00:13:12,479 But there's some words in the English language that may not be 260 00:13:13,039 --> 00:13:14,879 in that particular dictionary. 261 00:13:15,039 --> 00:13:20,839 So when you run across a word sanctification, you look it up instead 262 00:13:20,839 --> 00:13:21,559 of just reading. 263 00:13:22,919 --> 00:13:23,479 Takes time. 264 00:13:23,479 --> 00:13:26,639 I know everybody's busy and the devil says, yeah, and you're 265 00:13:26,639 --> 00:13:27,999 real busy and you're doing good stuff. 266 00:13:27,999 --> 00:13:29,439 Don't stop and look up a word. 267 00:13:32,259 --> 00:13:33,859 I'd like to talk to our teachers. 268 00:13:34,659 --> 00:13:39,619 If I'm here long enough to maybe all teach the same lesson on 269 00:13:39,619 --> 00:13:41,779 the 12 key words of the scripture. 270 00:13:42,739 --> 00:13:44,259 There's 12 key words. 271 00:13:44,659 --> 00:13:48,979 If you can understand and explain and define that to a fifth 272 00:13:48,979 --> 00:13:50,339 grader, you got it. 273 00:13:51,379 --> 00:13:53,539 And you need to know what those words mean. 274 00:13:53,939 --> 00:13:55,059 They're all in the Bible. 275 00:13:56,919 --> 00:13:58,839 And so I want you to think about that. 276 00:13:58,839 --> 00:14:06,479 But the message today is getting the lesson and the Bible. 277 00:14:06,479 --> 00:14:06,999 When you. 278 00:14:08,199 --> 00:14:11,239 It's just hard to describe the glory of the Bible. 279 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,279 We have a marvelous Savior, we have a marvelous book. 280 00:14:14,839 --> 00:14:16,759 We have a marvelous holy Spirit. 281 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:18,719 We can just go on and on. 282 00:14:18,719 --> 00:14:19,879 Don't lose your marvels. 283 00:14:19,879 --> 00:14:20,519 Amen. 284 00:14:21,409 --> 00:14:22,609 Just hang on to them. 285 00:14:23,409 --> 00:14:25,569 But sometimes, God, listen. 286 00:14:25,569 --> 00:14:27,729 Reading the Bible is like looking in the mirror. 287 00:14:29,089 --> 00:14:31,249 And that's something most of us don't want to do. 288 00:14:31,409 --> 00:14:34,289 I don't like the first thing I do, I don't want to look in the mirror. 289 00:14:35,009 --> 00:14:37,649 I go, oh, no, the tribulation period's here. 290 00:14:39,169 --> 00:14:42,049 No, I want to keep the lights out long as I can. 291 00:14:43,329 --> 00:14:45,529 Maybe that's the reason a lot of people afraid to read the Bible, 292 00:14:45,529 --> 00:14:46,769 because it starts reading them. 293 00:14:47,719 --> 00:14:54,039 You know, mirrors don't lie, and neither do scales, weighing yourself. 294 00:14:54,039 --> 00:14:54,759 They don't lie. 295 00:14:54,999 --> 00:14:59,519 Some of them, we have one, you can adjust, you know, that's a little 296 00:14:59,519 --> 00:14:59,959 too much. 297 00:14:59,959 --> 00:15:00,919 We can turn it down. 298 00:15:03,319 --> 00:15:05,079 But mirror, it's like a mirror. 299 00:15:05,479 --> 00:15:07,319 The Bible is like an answer book. 300 00:15:07,639 --> 00:15:10,599 This world's going crazy trying to find answers that are right 301 00:15:10,599 --> 00:15:11,319 in the Bible. 302 00:15:11,479 --> 00:15:12,559 But they don't read the Bible. 303 00:15:12,559 --> 00:15:13,399 They don't want the Bible. 304 00:15:13,399 --> 00:15:14,439 They don't believe the Bible. 305 00:15:15,899 --> 00:15:16,699 It's a map. 306 00:15:17,659 --> 00:15:19,059 Do you know how to get to heaven? 307 00:15:19,059 --> 00:15:20,619 From Haslett, Texas. 308 00:15:22,139 --> 00:15:23,379 There's a map in your hand. 309 00:15:23,379 --> 00:15:26,619 If you're holding a Bible, it's a medicine cabinet. 310 00:15:28,939 --> 00:15:33,659 A lot of people don't realize that God has some good stuff in the 311 00:15:33,659 --> 00:15:34,939 Bible to make you feel better. 312 00:15:35,659 --> 00:15:37,019 It won't just cover up. 313 00:15:37,739 --> 00:15:38,859 It's not a sedative. 314 00:15:39,579 --> 00:15:40,539 It's a solution. 315 00:15:41,459 --> 00:15:42,339 It'll heal you. 316 00:15:43,779 --> 00:15:50,579 The Bible's like a sword for battle that the devil fears greatly. 317 00:15:51,539 --> 00:15:53,899 I'm thinking right now of Eliezer. 318 00:15:53,899 --> 00:15:56,179 The Bible says he was a great warrior. 319 00:15:56,419 --> 00:15:59,619 And the Bible says he killed a lot of people in that war. 320 00:15:59,779 --> 00:16:02,579 And at the end of the battle, he couldn't let go of his sword. 321 00:16:02,579 --> 00:16:04,659 It says his hand clave to the sword. 322 00:16:06,429 --> 00:16:08,869 You ever held something so tight so long that it was kind of 323 00:16:08,869 --> 00:16:11,789 hard and made your hand hurt when you finally let go? 324 00:16:12,349 --> 00:16:14,669 Well, that's what happened to Eliezer. 325 00:16:16,909 --> 00:16:18,589 The sword clave to his hand. 326 00:16:20,029 --> 00:16:22,508 Wouldn't it be great if we got such a grip on the Bible? 327 00:16:22,508 --> 00:16:26,469 And I'm not talking about physically, but just get such a grip 328 00:16:26,469 --> 00:16:28,909 on the word of God and you never graduate. 329 00:16:28,909 --> 00:16:31,309 You're always learning more about the Bible, always. 330 00:16:33,079 --> 00:16:37,759 But that Bible, you get so much into the Bible, people think 331 00:16:37,759 --> 00:16:42,919 you're a fanatic, and pretty soon it starts holding you and it's 332 00:16:42,919 --> 00:16:43,719 hard to let go. 333 00:16:43,959 --> 00:16:46,759 That's why it's so important to teach children at a very young 334 00:16:46,759 --> 00:16:47,159 age. 335 00:16:47,399 --> 00:16:48,239 They can learn. 336 00:16:48,239 --> 00:16:48,919 They're smart. 337 00:16:49,399 --> 00:16:52,559 They're smarter than we give them credit for, even at little three 338 00:16:52,559 --> 00:16:54,199 and four or five year old kids. 339 00:16:55,239 --> 00:17:01,089 But to get them into the Bible, what greater goal? 340 00:17:01,329 --> 00:17:02,889 And then the Bible's like an anchor. 341 00:17:02,889 --> 00:17:05,409 We're living in a time when there's constant. 342 00:17:05,409 --> 00:17:07,249 Every day there's all kinds of storms. 343 00:17:07,249 --> 00:17:11,529 And I'm not talking about physical storms, but storms of life 344 00:17:11,529 --> 00:17:15,089 that come blowing into our life unexpectedly. 345 00:17:15,569 --> 00:17:20,369 We need an anchor that will hold us steady while everybody else 346 00:17:20,369 --> 00:17:21,249 is getting blown off. 347 00:17:23,179 --> 00:17:25,939 You can stand steady, but that's about the Bible. 348 00:17:25,939 --> 00:17:27,419 That's the only way you're going to be able to do that. 349 00:17:27,419 --> 00:17:28,859 The Bible is like a compass. 350 00:17:29,979 --> 00:17:31,699 They've taken our compass away today. 351 00:17:31,699 --> 00:17:34,339 To most people, they don't know which way is north, south, east 352 00:17:34,339 --> 00:17:34,699 or west. 353 00:17:34,699 --> 00:17:37,819 I'm talking about spiritually and morally our country now. 354 00:17:37,819 --> 00:17:40,259 They think right's wrong and wrong's right because they lost the 355 00:17:40,259 --> 00:17:40,779 compass. 356 00:17:41,979 --> 00:17:44,619 They didn't really lose it, they threw it away. 357 00:17:46,619 --> 00:17:50,079 And then the Bible's like a shield and it's like a blueprint. 358 00:17:50,959 --> 00:17:53,039 It's a solid rock salvation. 359 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:55,439 It's a solid rock foundation. 360 00:17:57,279 --> 00:18:00,479 The wise man built his house upon the rock. 361 00:18:01,839 --> 00:18:05,359 And the rain came and the winds blew and beat upon that house, 362 00:18:06,879 --> 00:18:10,799 but it fell not because it was founded on the rock. 363 00:18:10,799 --> 00:18:11,679 Who's the rock? 364 00:18:14,249 --> 00:18:15,769 Jesus is the only rock. 365 00:18:18,089 --> 00:18:25,929 So the Bible, we're not gonna read the whole Luke 15 and we're 366 00:18:25,929 --> 00:18:26,889 not gonna read the part. 367 00:18:26,889 --> 00:18:28,209 We're gonna read it as we go along. 368 00:18:28,209 --> 00:18:30,849 Cause I wanna give you an illustration of what I'm talking 369 00:18:30,849 --> 00:18:31,129 about. 370 00:18:31,289 --> 00:18:33,689 We know the story of the prodigal son. 371 00:18:33,929 --> 00:18:35,569 It's a favorite of a lot of people. 372 00:18:35,569 --> 00:18:37,369 I never get tired of preaching on it. 373 00:18:37,689 --> 00:18:40,409 And you've heard some great sermons on the prodigal son. 374 00:18:41,209 --> 00:18:44,369 And most people, if they're saved now, unsaved, people may know 375 00:18:44,369 --> 00:18:48,009 it, may not, but they don't get the lesson. 376 00:18:48,809 --> 00:18:52,969 They know the story, but they think, okay, it's great. 377 00:18:53,049 --> 00:18:53,729 Makes me cry. 378 00:18:53,729 --> 00:18:54,649 It's a sad story. 379 00:18:54,649 --> 00:18:55,649 The boy came home. 380 00:18:55,649 --> 00:18:56,329 Hallelujah. 381 00:18:56,329 --> 00:18:57,849 But what's that got to do with me? 382 00:18:59,209 --> 00:19:02,129 You could be sitting in church and your heart and mind can be a 383 00:19:02,129 --> 00:19:03,689 thousand miles away from God. 384 00:19:05,209 --> 00:19:05,689 Yeah. 385 00:19:06,979 --> 00:19:07,139 Right. 386 00:19:07,139 --> 00:19:09,979 Now, some of you may be thinking about dinner and thinking 387 00:19:09,979 --> 00:19:13,059 about work and thinking about things you're going to go do today. 388 00:19:13,139 --> 00:19:14,019 Not a bad thing. 389 00:19:14,259 --> 00:19:15,699 Nothing wrong necessarily. 390 00:19:20,499 --> 00:19:21,539 But what does it mean? 391 00:19:22,019 --> 00:19:23,299 How do we get the lesson? 392 00:19:23,459 --> 00:19:28,819 Well, verse 11, and he said, A certain man had two sons. 393 00:19:29,299 --> 00:19:31,649 You say, okay, I can read the rest I know the rest of the. 394 00:19:32,039 --> 00:19:37,199 And the younger of them said to his father, father, give me the 395 00:19:37,199 --> 00:19:40,199 portion of goods that falleth to me. 396 00:19:40,279 --> 00:19:42,039 I want my inheritance early. 397 00:19:43,239 --> 00:19:46,279 And he divided them his living. 398 00:19:47,079 --> 00:19:48,359 What's the lesson there? 399 00:19:49,399 --> 00:19:52,039 Well, he said, give me. 400 00:19:52,199 --> 00:19:54,479 At the end of the story, he doesn't say, give me anymore. 401 00:19:54,479 --> 00:19:55,399 He says, make me. 402 00:19:57,729 --> 00:19:59,329 Make me as one of thy hired servants. 403 00:19:59,329 --> 00:20:02,409 My father has it all, and I didn't realize it, and I wanted mine 404 00:20:02,409 --> 00:20:04,369 now, and I want to go do what I want to do. 405 00:20:05,089 --> 00:20:06,689 He was very presumptuous. 406 00:20:07,329 --> 00:20:08,209 Presumption. 407 00:20:09,089 --> 00:20:13,448 It implies here that it's almost, you can almost say kind of 408 00:20:13,448 --> 00:20:14,049 demanding. 409 00:20:14,129 --> 00:20:14,769 He wasn't. 410 00:20:14,769 --> 00:20:17,729 You don't get the idea that he said, dad, could we talk? 411 00:20:18,369 --> 00:20:21,169 I'd like to see the world, and I'd like to go here and do this. 412 00:20:21,169 --> 00:20:24,819 And if you don't mind, you know, you may live longer than I'm 413 00:20:24,819 --> 00:20:25,179 thinking. 414 00:20:25,179 --> 00:20:29,179 And I'd kind of like to have my inheritance now while I'm young. 415 00:20:30,939 --> 00:20:32,699 We don't get that implication here. 416 00:20:33,019 --> 00:20:33,739 I don't know. 417 00:20:34,459 --> 00:20:37,099 I'm not going to build a doctrine on what the Bible doesn't 418 00:20:37,099 --> 00:20:37,419 say. 419 00:20:39,339 --> 00:20:42,539 But he said, I want that. 420 00:20:42,699 --> 00:20:43,819 That falls to me. 421 00:20:43,819 --> 00:20:45,099 I want my inheritance. 422 00:20:45,579 --> 00:20:49,179 He was presumptuous, taken for granted. 423 00:20:50,279 --> 00:20:53,119 You know, the Bible says, we have plans for tomorrow. 424 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:55,999 The Bible tells us all the time, and we know it, and we say 425 00:20:55,999 --> 00:20:56,799 amen to it. 426 00:20:56,799 --> 00:21:00,079 But it says, boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not 427 00:21:00,079 --> 00:21:01,479 what a day may bring forth. 428 00:21:02,679 --> 00:21:04,199 Tomorrow may not come. 429 00:21:04,439 --> 00:21:08,199 If you're not saved, you need to get saved today, not tomorrow. 430 00:21:08,999 --> 00:21:11,839 If you're going to start getting faithful in church, you need 431 00:21:11,839 --> 00:21:12,759 to do that now. 432 00:21:13,879 --> 00:21:15,159 Don't be presumptuous. 433 00:21:15,159 --> 00:21:18,399 Don't assume, well, I got at least 10 more years or 20 or 30, 434 00:21:18,399 --> 00:21:18,639 or. 435 00:21:18,639 --> 00:21:19,519 I'm just a teenager. 436 00:21:19,519 --> 00:21:20,849 I got my whole life ahead of me. 437 00:21:21,639 --> 00:21:22,599 That's presumption. 438 00:21:23,639 --> 00:21:27,599 That's assuming that God's going to do what you want him to 439 00:21:27,599 --> 00:21:27,879 do. 440 00:21:31,159 --> 00:21:35,239 Don't be presumptuous of the Holy Spirit working in your life. 441 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:37,279 You know, I've seen it happen. 442 00:21:37,279 --> 00:21:38,439 It breaks my heart. 443 00:21:38,759 --> 00:21:43,079 I've seen people move to tears in a sermon and they refuse to come 444 00:21:43,079 --> 00:21:44,319 and refuse to get right. 445 00:21:44,319 --> 00:21:46,479 And they just said, well, you know, I don't know. 446 00:21:46,479 --> 00:21:50,279 And they go on and on, and pretty soon the tears dry up and 447 00:21:50,279 --> 00:21:53,239 pretty soon they get bored and drawing pictures during the sermon. 448 00:21:53,799 --> 00:21:57,719 Pretty soon the song is boring and the sermon's boring. 449 00:21:57,879 --> 00:22:00,919 They used to be over here and their heart was shaking and Trembling. 450 00:22:00,919 --> 00:22:03,559 And they were hearing God and now they don't hear anything. 451 00:22:04,759 --> 00:22:06,359 Get to church and get it over with. 452 00:22:07,879 --> 00:22:08,839 What a way to live. 453 00:22:10,999 --> 00:22:12,279 He was presumptuous. 454 00:22:14,529 --> 00:22:16,929 And then number two, look here at verse 13. 455 00:22:17,489 --> 00:22:20,929 And not many days after, the younger Son gathered all together 456 00:22:21,889 --> 00:22:26,449 and took his journey into a far country and there wasted his 457 00:22:26,449 --> 00:22:29,009 substance with righteous living. 458 00:22:30,849 --> 00:22:31,569 We know that. 459 00:22:31,569 --> 00:22:33,009 We know that's part of the story. 460 00:22:33,649 --> 00:22:35,169 Well, what's it got to do with me? 461 00:22:35,169 --> 00:22:36,609 Why did he go far away? 462 00:22:37,729 --> 00:22:41,979 Well, if you're saved, you can't enjoy your sin and be close 463 00:22:41,979 --> 00:22:42,539 to God. 464 00:22:43,659 --> 00:22:46,739 It's hard to really, really get somebody out of sermon and enjoy 465 00:22:46,739 --> 00:22:49,019 church in the choir and go, wow, what a great day. 466 00:22:49,179 --> 00:22:54,019 And knowing that there's hidden sin in your life, you can't 467 00:22:54,019 --> 00:22:56,139 enjoy it because the Holy Spirit's in you. 468 00:22:56,219 --> 00:23:01,459 Now if you can enjoy it, you can separate it and just live one 469 00:23:01,459 --> 00:23:03,259 way over there and another way in here. 470 00:23:03,739 --> 00:23:05,019 You're probably not saved. 471 00:23:07,009 --> 00:23:09,889 The Holy Spirit is in you and he is holy. 472 00:23:10,929 --> 00:23:15,289 And he convicts us when we're not where we ought to be, or we're 473 00:23:15,289 --> 00:23:17,889 somewhere we shouldn't be, or we're watching something we shouldn't 474 00:23:17,889 --> 00:23:19,729 be looking at, or we're listening to something we shouldn't 475 00:23:19,729 --> 00:23:23,169 be listening to, or we're acting the way we shouldn't be acting. 476 00:23:24,129 --> 00:23:25,929 Again, we're not perfect. 477 00:23:25,929 --> 00:23:30,089 And if we fall into sin, we can confess it and say, God, I can't 478 00:23:30,089 --> 00:23:30,449 believe it. 479 00:23:30,449 --> 00:23:34,099 I'm sorry, I don't want to do this, but please forgive me and cleanse 480 00:23:34,099 --> 00:23:35,739 me and give me power. 481 00:23:35,819 --> 00:23:39,179 If that temptation ever comes again, God says, I'll be there. 482 00:23:40,059 --> 00:23:41,739 God's not going to say, no, leave me alone. 483 00:23:41,739 --> 00:23:42,699 Fight it out yourself. 484 00:23:42,699 --> 00:23:47,739 No, he couldn't enjoy it. 485 00:23:48,219 --> 00:23:51,979 You know, I read a phrase this week that's kind of haunted me a 486 00:23:51,979 --> 00:23:52,459 little bit. 487 00:23:53,419 --> 00:23:54,699 Can't get it out of my head. 488 00:23:55,179 --> 00:24:02,339 I don't even know who said it, that it said we sin when we become 489 00:24:02,339 --> 00:24:13,019 bored with God, When God loses the fascination and just being able 490 00:24:13,019 --> 00:24:16,819 to walk with him and talk with him and listen to him and enjoy him. 491 00:24:16,819 --> 00:24:19,939 When that just becomes kind of, eh, take it or leave it. 492 00:24:20,419 --> 00:24:22,099 Then we start turning to the world. 493 00:24:23,859 --> 00:24:25,859 Instead of getting our pleasure from God, we. 494 00:24:26,639 --> 00:24:28,679 We want to look around the world and see if there's something 495 00:24:28,679 --> 00:24:29,039 better. 496 00:24:29,039 --> 00:24:33,839 Christians can do that you can't lose your salvation ever. 497 00:24:34,159 --> 00:24:37,599 You can't ever be unsaved because it's a gift. 498 00:24:37,839 --> 00:24:39,759 God doesn't give a gift to take it back. 499 00:24:39,839 --> 00:24:40,639 It's a gift. 500 00:24:43,759 --> 00:24:48,639 His love is an unfailing, unchanging love. 501 00:24:49,999 --> 00:24:52,879 But I tell you what, if you're saved, you get away from God, you 502 00:24:52,879 --> 00:24:56,089 can lose your family, you can lose your health, you can lose your 503 00:24:56,089 --> 00:24:59,889 mind, you can lose your job, you can lose your peace, you can 504 00:24:59,889 --> 00:25:02,009 lose your joy, you can lose your future. 505 00:25:02,889 --> 00:25:04,009 You can lose it all. 506 00:25:04,009 --> 00:25:05,409 You can't lose your salvation. 507 00:25:05,409 --> 00:25:07,369 You'll go to heaven if you've trusted Christ. 508 00:25:10,569 --> 00:25:13,289 But you get away from God, anything can happen. 509 00:25:14,009 --> 00:25:16,889 You say, well, I'd never do some things I'd never do. 510 00:25:18,729 --> 00:25:19,729 I've never said that. 511 00:25:19,729 --> 00:25:23,339 If you have, I'm not condemning you for it. 512 00:25:23,339 --> 00:25:24,699 And I'm not patting me on the back. 513 00:25:24,699 --> 00:25:28,339 But every time a preacher falls or people fall or things go 514 00:25:28,339 --> 00:25:31,739 wrong, I say, that would be me were it not for the grace of God. 515 00:25:33,659 --> 00:25:38,019 I'm not stronger and better and more spiritual, and neither are 516 00:25:38,019 --> 00:25:38,299 you. 517 00:25:39,339 --> 00:25:41,419 We are what we are by the grace of God. 518 00:25:42,459 --> 00:25:46,319 He went into a far country where. 519 00:25:47,029 --> 00:25:48,469 Why didn't he just go down the road? 520 00:25:49,829 --> 00:25:53,629 You know, the Bible tells us to flee the very appearance of evil. 521 00:25:53,629 --> 00:25:55,909 Well, he just went after looking for evil. 522 00:25:56,629 --> 00:25:59,709 I heard a story one time about a man, a wealthy man, he wanted a 523 00:25:59,709 --> 00:26:00,309 chauffeur. 524 00:26:00,549 --> 00:26:03,629 And he ran an ad in the paper, and he said, come to the house if 525 00:26:03,629 --> 00:26:05,589 you're interested in the job, and I'll try you out. 526 00:26:05,589 --> 00:26:08,149 So the man came, nice limousine. 527 00:26:08,389 --> 00:26:11,029 And the man got in the back seat, said, let's go for a drive, 528 00:26:11,029 --> 00:26:12,309 and I'm gonna be watching you. 529 00:26:12,309 --> 00:26:14,149 So he went and went and drove and did okay. 530 00:26:14,559 --> 00:26:19,519 And they were coming to a cliff, and the driver, the chauffeur, 531 00:26:21,279 --> 00:26:22,319 increased his speed. 532 00:26:24,879 --> 00:26:27,839 And then at the last minute, he hit those brakes. 533 00:26:27,919 --> 00:26:31,919 And that car slid around and slid around, and it finally stopped 534 00:26:32,159 --> 00:26:33,999 about that far from the cliff. 535 00:26:34,479 --> 00:26:36,119 And he turned around and smiled. 536 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:36,879 How about that? 537 00:26:37,839 --> 00:26:39,359 He said, yeah, how about that? 538 00:26:41,029 --> 00:26:45,069 Well, the next day, another man came, same type of thing, and 539 00:26:45,069 --> 00:26:46,389 said, I'm going to try it for the job. 540 00:26:47,029 --> 00:26:48,629 And he said, let's go for a job. 541 00:26:49,109 --> 00:26:50,189 Let's go for a ride. 542 00:26:50,189 --> 00:26:50,869 And he did. 543 00:26:51,269 --> 00:26:54,629 And they got going down the road, and he saw a cliff. 544 00:26:54,629 --> 00:26:55,909 That cliff, same cliff. 545 00:26:56,469 --> 00:26:58,069 And he turned left at a street. 546 00:26:58,069 --> 00:26:58,949 He said, wait a minute. 547 00:26:58,949 --> 00:27:00,709 Why didn't you go straight so there's a cliff? 548 00:27:02,229 --> 00:27:03,269 He said, you're hired. 549 00:27:04,469 --> 00:27:06,269 I don't want to see how close you can get. 550 00:27:06,269 --> 00:27:08,309 I don't want to say how far away you can stay. 551 00:27:10,619 --> 00:27:13,059 And yet we have a lot of Christians today that say, well, 552 00:27:13,059 --> 00:27:16,099 I'm not going to go all the way, but I want to see how close 553 00:27:16,099 --> 00:27:18,939 I can get without actually committing the sin. 554 00:27:20,619 --> 00:27:24,778 We ought to treat sin like a huge poisonous rattlesnake. 555 00:27:27,339 --> 00:27:30,619 When you see it, you stop and freeze and move the other direction. 556 00:27:31,339 --> 00:27:32,179 That's what I do. 557 00:27:32,179 --> 00:27:33,099 I don't know about you. 558 00:27:36,789 --> 00:27:37,469 That's the lesson. 559 00:27:37,469 --> 00:27:39,189 We know the story, but the lesson. 560 00:27:41,269 --> 00:27:47,909 And then it says in verse 14, and when he had spent all, there 561 00:27:47,909 --> 00:27:52,789 arose a mighty famine in the land, and he began to be in want. 562 00:27:53,989 --> 00:27:55,509 Yeah, we know all about that. 563 00:27:55,829 --> 00:27:56,869 But the lesson. 564 00:27:56,869 --> 00:27:59,749 The lesson is, things don't last very long. 565 00:28:01,099 --> 00:28:02,779 You think you gotta have it, you gotta go. 566 00:28:02,779 --> 00:28:04,139 You gotta have one of those. 567 00:28:05,179 --> 00:28:08,539 And before you know it, you know something? 568 00:28:09,899 --> 00:28:14,219 He says he spent all and wasted his substance with righteous 569 00:28:14,219 --> 00:28:14,699 living. 570 00:28:15,419 --> 00:28:17,499 Would you lean into me right here for just a moment? 571 00:28:17,499 --> 00:28:18,139 And I'm not. 572 00:28:18,219 --> 00:28:19,779 This is not new to me, okay? 573 00:28:19,779 --> 00:28:22,939 I didn't come up with this, but I've been preaching it for years. 574 00:28:23,179 --> 00:28:24,899 And some of you go, oh, yeah, I remember that. 575 00:28:24,899 --> 00:28:27,359 But some of you may be hadn't been saved long. 576 00:28:28,399 --> 00:28:29,439 This is very important. 577 00:28:30,799 --> 00:28:34,159 Sin always takes you further than you planned to go. 578 00:28:36,399 --> 00:28:37,919 You didn't plan to go that far. 579 00:28:38,799 --> 00:28:42,719 Sin always keeps you longer than you planned to stay. 580 00:28:45,919 --> 00:28:54,529 Thirdly, sin always, always cost you more than you thought you 581 00:28:54,529 --> 00:28:55,129 would pay. 582 00:28:56,809 --> 00:28:58,649 There's no exceptions to that rule. 583 00:29:00,329 --> 00:29:01,369 That's the lesson. 584 00:29:02,489 --> 00:29:03,449 You know the story. 585 00:29:04,489 --> 00:29:07,609 And then the Bible says he began to be in want. 586 00:29:09,289 --> 00:29:11,609 There's no substitute for the things of God. 587 00:29:12,249 --> 00:29:14,249 There's nothing tastes like God does. 588 00:29:15,289 --> 00:29:17,129 There's nothing on earth compared to it. 589 00:29:17,619 --> 00:29:19,979 But notice it says he went and joined himself. 590 00:29:19,979 --> 00:29:21,979 He didn't join himself with his father. 591 00:29:21,979 --> 00:29:24,579 He didn't call home and say, dad, I'm in trouble. 592 00:29:24,579 --> 00:29:24,859 No. 593 00:29:24,859 --> 00:29:27,779 He went to a citizen of that country. 594 00:29:28,579 --> 00:29:34,179 And that citizen, the Bible says, sent him into his fields to 595 00:29:34,179 --> 00:29:36,259 feed swine pigs. 596 00:29:36,579 --> 00:29:40,699 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husk that the 597 00:29:40,699 --> 00:29:41,859 swine did eat. 598 00:29:42,019 --> 00:29:46,659 And no man gave unto him the lesson, the world's not going to 599 00:29:46,659 --> 00:29:47,139 help you. 600 00:29:48,579 --> 00:29:50,019 Not the way God helps you. 601 00:29:51,459 --> 00:29:52,739 You know what husks are? 602 00:29:52,739 --> 00:29:53,379 You farmers. 603 00:29:53,379 --> 00:29:55,779 Some of you men know that we don't eat husk. 604 00:29:55,859 --> 00:29:59,619 We take that off the corn, right, and throw it in the trash. 605 00:30:00,099 --> 00:30:01,139 We eat the corn. 606 00:30:02,179 --> 00:30:05,859 There's not much value nutritionally in the husk. 607 00:30:07,059 --> 00:30:08,539 Well, that's what he wound up eating. 608 00:30:08,539 --> 00:30:10,019 He had his whole inheritance. 609 00:30:10,499 --> 00:30:11,379 He wasted it. 610 00:30:11,459 --> 00:30:12,419 He asked for help. 611 00:30:12,419 --> 00:30:13,379 The man said, yeah, I'll help you. 612 00:30:13,379 --> 00:30:15,659 You can go out there in the field and there's a bunch of pigs 613 00:30:15,659 --> 00:30:15,979 out there. 614 00:30:15,979 --> 00:30:19,619 And Reach down in the pig pen and get some husk and eat it. 615 00:30:19,619 --> 00:30:20,739 Can you picture that? 616 00:30:24,179 --> 00:30:25,939 That's how the devil presents sin. 617 00:30:25,939 --> 00:30:31,699 He presents it with the corn in it and a wonderful opportunity, 618 00:30:33,459 --> 00:30:37,309 but he tears it off and hands you the husk. 619 00:30:40,029 --> 00:30:45,629 He realized Jesus said, come and dine. 620 00:30:47,469 --> 00:30:48,509 Remember that song? 621 00:30:48,509 --> 00:30:52,829 Jesus has the table spread where the saints of God are fed. 622 00:30:52,909 --> 00:30:57,589 He invites his chosen people, come and dine with this manna he 623 00:30:57,589 --> 00:30:59,709 doth feed and supplies your every need. 624 00:30:59,709 --> 00:31:03,579 Oh, tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time. 625 00:31:04,379 --> 00:31:07,379 And yet Christians say, well, I want to taste some of the worldly 626 00:31:07,379 --> 00:31:07,819 stuff. 627 00:31:12,459 --> 00:31:17,139 Well, the Bible says verse 17, he came to himself when he came to 628 00:31:17,139 --> 00:31:23,859 himself, in other words, he started to realize how many hired 629 00:31:23,859 --> 00:31:27,739 servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, they got 630 00:31:27,739 --> 00:31:30,459 bread, homemade bread, and even got extra left over. 631 00:31:30,779 --> 00:31:33,429 And I perish with hunger. 632 00:31:34,549 --> 00:31:41,429 I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, father, 633 00:31:42,789 --> 00:31:50,149 I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy 634 00:31:50,869 --> 00:31:52,549 to be called thy son. 635 00:31:53,669 --> 00:31:57,029 Make me as one of thy hard servants. 636 00:31:58,319 --> 00:32:00,159 And he arose and came to his father. 637 00:32:00,719 --> 00:32:03,279 You see, that's what repentance is. 638 00:32:03,839 --> 00:32:05,839 Repentance is not just regret. 639 00:32:07,119 --> 00:32:13,759 Repentance is a change of mind that causes you to change direction. 640 00:32:14,959 --> 00:32:16,479 That's what repentance is. 641 00:32:18,159 --> 00:32:19,079 Jesus preached. 642 00:32:19,079 --> 00:32:23,519 His first sermon he ever preached was repent or perish. 643 00:32:25,389 --> 00:32:26,109 Change your mind. 644 00:32:26,189 --> 00:32:29,549 It's not about you if you're not saved today. 645 00:32:30,189 --> 00:32:32,589 You've been selfish, self centered, self righteous. 646 00:32:32,829 --> 00:32:33,629 You're a rebel. 647 00:32:33,629 --> 00:32:34,429 You're a rebel. 648 00:32:34,509 --> 00:32:35,869 You say, I don't think so. 649 00:32:35,949 --> 00:32:37,949 Well, you won't be saved till you think so. 650 00:32:38,749 --> 00:32:42,589 If you think you're not that bad, then you're probably not saved 651 00:32:42,589 --> 00:32:44,189 and you may not ever get saved. 652 00:32:45,229 --> 00:32:47,949 The challenge today is to get people before they can get saved, 653 00:32:47,949 --> 00:32:51,279 to realize they're lost and everybody thinks they're just as 654 00:32:51,279 --> 00:32:52,199 good as somebody else. 655 00:32:52,199 --> 00:32:52,839 I'm not lost. 656 00:32:52,839 --> 00:32:53,959 I'm not a bad person. 657 00:32:54,519 --> 00:32:56,519 What do I need to get saved for? 658 00:32:57,079 --> 00:33:01,159 That's just for them weak people, those bad sinners. 659 00:33:04,039 --> 00:33:05,959 Most people say I don't need to be saved. 660 00:33:06,759 --> 00:33:07,399 They don't know what. 661 00:33:07,399 --> 00:33:12,839 Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. 662 00:33:12,839 --> 00:33:13,719 That's what he said. 663 00:33:13,719 --> 00:33:14,519 He said, I will. 664 00:33:14,679 --> 00:33:15,399 And he did. 665 00:33:15,399 --> 00:33:17,479 He didn't say I should or ought to. 666 00:33:17,479 --> 00:33:18,359 He said, I. 667 00:33:18,759 --> 00:33:23,699 It says he arose and came to his father now, but when he was yet. 668 00:33:24,099 --> 00:33:25,059 Oh, this is the. 669 00:33:25,139 --> 00:33:26,339 This is the best part. 670 00:33:26,579 --> 00:33:30,619 When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and Started 671 00:33:30,619 --> 00:33:31,779 throwing rocks at him. 672 00:33:33,059 --> 00:33:34,739 No, of course not. 673 00:33:35,699 --> 00:33:40,099 When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion 674 00:33:40,179 --> 00:33:42,259 and ran, not walked. 675 00:33:42,739 --> 00:33:45,859 And fell on his neck and kissed him. 676 00:33:47,629 --> 00:33:48,389 There's God. 677 00:33:48,389 --> 00:33:49,949 That's the forgiveness of God. 678 00:33:50,429 --> 00:33:52,589 That's exactly a picture of God. 679 00:33:54,669 --> 00:33:56,109 He can't overlook sin. 680 00:33:56,749 --> 00:33:58,589 He can't pretend and cover it up. 681 00:33:59,229 --> 00:34:00,789 But God says, when you realize. 682 00:34:00,789 --> 00:34:03,629 And you'll repent of your sin and realize what it's done to me 683 00:34:03,629 --> 00:34:07,789 and what it's doing to you, I'm ready to forgive you. 684 00:34:07,949 --> 00:34:09,149 God's waiting on you. 685 00:34:09,149 --> 00:34:10,029 It's your move. 686 00:34:11,309 --> 00:34:12,509 God's already moved. 687 00:34:12,509 --> 00:34:12,949 Moved. 688 00:34:12,949 --> 00:34:13,549 Lots of times. 689 00:34:14,539 --> 00:34:15,979 He spoke to you lots of times. 690 00:34:16,299 --> 00:34:18,019 And, Christian, you're not where you ought to be. 691 00:34:18,019 --> 00:34:18,899 And God's told you that. 692 00:34:18,899 --> 00:34:20,459 And he's waiting for you to turn around. 693 00:34:22,139 --> 00:34:22,939 Repentance. 694 00:34:27,579 --> 00:34:30,619 And the Son said unto him, father, I have sinned against heaven 695 00:34:31,179 --> 00:34:32,219 and in thy sight. 696 00:34:32,219 --> 00:34:35,739 And am no more worthy to be called thy son. 697 00:34:39,749 --> 00:34:40,389 But the Father. 698 00:34:41,989 --> 00:34:46,629 But the Father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe 699 00:34:47,669 --> 00:34:48,949 and put it on him. 700 00:34:50,389 --> 00:34:54,629 And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 701 00:34:54,709 --> 00:34:57,509 And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it. 702 00:34:58,149 --> 00:35:01,109 And let us eat and be merry. 703 00:35:01,669 --> 00:35:04,549 For this my son was dead and he's alive again. 704 00:35:04,629 --> 00:35:06,389 He was lost and is found. 705 00:35:06,389 --> 00:35:08,469 And they began to be merry. 706 00:35:09,599 --> 00:35:09,799 Wow. 707 00:35:09,799 --> 00:35:11,039 Wouldn't you like to have seen that? 708 00:35:11,039 --> 00:35:11,759 What a day. 709 00:35:13,279 --> 00:35:15,519 What a celebration. 710 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:18,879 A robe, a ring, shoes, a big cookout. 711 00:35:19,919 --> 00:35:20,879 No probation? 712 00:35:20,879 --> 00:35:22,639 No, we'll have this. 713 00:35:22,639 --> 00:35:25,279 And maybe we'll just give you the shoes right now. 714 00:35:25,279 --> 00:35:26,799 And see how you do for a few days. 715 00:35:26,799 --> 00:35:28,719 And then we may give you a robe. 716 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:32,239 And if you keep doing right for six months, we might give you 717 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:32,719 that ring. 718 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:33,599 It's pretty expensive. 719 00:35:33,759 --> 00:35:35,519 No, he said, bring it all. 720 00:35:38,159 --> 00:35:39,759 God's got so much for you. 721 00:35:41,039 --> 00:35:43,799 Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart 722 00:35:43,799 --> 00:35:44,199 of man. 723 00:35:44,199 --> 00:35:47,439 The things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 724 00:35:48,559 --> 00:35:51,679 So many blessings are being stacked up in heaven. 725 00:35:51,679 --> 00:35:54,519 Because we don't think about them and we don't take advantage 726 00:35:54,519 --> 00:35:54,959 of them. 727 00:36:01,529 --> 00:36:03,849 You ever heard the old saying, there's no place like home? 728 00:36:05,609 --> 00:36:06,169 Yeah. 729 00:36:06,409 --> 00:36:07,609 It's true, isn't it? 730 00:36:08,569 --> 00:36:10,009 There's no place like home. 731 00:36:11,209 --> 00:36:13,529 And there's no place like being right with God. 732 00:36:14,809 --> 00:36:17,929 There's no better joy and thrill and blessing and hope. 733 00:36:18,409 --> 00:36:21,129 Life just doesn't make sense when you take God out of it. 734 00:36:25,859 --> 00:36:28,499 Oh, boy, what a savior. 735 00:36:31,059 --> 00:36:33,459 Brother Donaldson, would you come to the piano for just a minute? 736 00:36:33,779 --> 00:36:36,019 We're going to stand in a moment, but I want you to think about 737 00:36:36,019 --> 00:36:36,299 this. 738 00:36:36,299 --> 00:36:37,539 This is an old hymn. 739 00:36:38,659 --> 00:36:39,979 You've sung it here many times. 740 00:36:39,979 --> 00:36:41,059 It's a great song. 741 00:36:43,939 --> 00:36:47,299 And a lot of times, again, we sing these songs and these words. 742 00:36:47,299 --> 00:36:52,259 And we don't really stop and go, you know, that's me. 743 00:36:55,809 --> 00:37:07,649 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for me.