1 00:00:29,859 --> 00:00:33,859 Hard to believe that tonight's over and everybody's tired, but it's 2 00:00:33,859 --> 00:00:39,139 that good kind of tired. You wouldn't want to miss all this. And 3 00:00:39,219 --> 00:00:44,299 God will give us grace when we need it, especially when we're wanting 4 00:00:44,299 --> 00:00:48,859 to serve him and know more about him and grow and learn. And 5 00:00:48,859 --> 00:00:52,939 this is a very good crowd for Wednesday night. And so thank you 6 00:00:52,939 --> 00:00:55,819 for being here, Brother McCracken. We had lunch again with 7 00:00:55,819 --> 00:01:00,799 them today and just enjoyed so much. And I wouldn't compare myself 8 00:01:00,799 --> 00:01:05,599 to him in any way. He's taught me so much. But we did find at lunch 9 00:01:05,599 --> 00:01:08,479 today that there's some things that we think very strongly about 10 00:01:09,119 --> 00:01:13,079 together. We're right on the same page, and I like that. I like 11 00:01:13,079 --> 00:01:17,119 to feel like I'm doing right because you told me I was doing right. 12 00:01:17,599 --> 00:01:21,439 Amen. And he's just so much older than me, so I want to learn 13 00:01:22,159 --> 00:01:25,559 from my elders. That's what the Bible says. Learn from your elders. 14 00:01:26,669 --> 00:01:29,629 Okay. So, Elder McCracken, come on. God bless you. 15 00:01:32,349 --> 00:01:35,469 Thank you, preacher. Praise the Lord. Thank you very, very much. 16 00:01:35,629 --> 00:01:39,069 It has been a blessing for Nancy, and I get to spend some extra 17 00:01:39,069 --> 00:01:52,429 time with the Willoughbys. Anyway, I do want to say thank you 18 00:01:52,429 --> 00:01:56,459 for your attendance and being here. And it's a blessing, of course, 19 00:01:57,499 --> 00:02:04,059 when you show up, that's. It's just more opportunity. So I will 20 00:02:04,779 --> 00:02:08,899 a couple things. Let's see. Let's go ahead and do you put a marker 21 00:02:08,899 --> 00:02:13,899 in John, chapter 15. Put a marker there and then turn to Ephesians, 22 00:02:14,539 --> 00:02:23,749 chapter two, and I'll talk. Just a minute. Heritage Baptist Church 23 00:02:24,869 --> 00:02:30,869 has been supporting me monthly for. I don't know if it's eight years, 24 00:02:31,349 --> 00:02:38,069 I don't know. But I'm grateful for the kindness and the continued 25 00:02:38,069 --> 00:02:45,749 support Nancy and I used to use it for before Medicare, we used 26 00:02:45,749 --> 00:02:51,539 it for our health insurances and so on. And now we use it. I don't 27 00:02:51,539 --> 00:02:54,659 know which part it is, B, D, or one of those numbers. We give 28 00:02:54,659 --> 00:03:00,419 money to that. So. But anyway, it is a big help and a blessing to 29 00:03:00,419 --> 00:03:09,979 us. So I am grateful. We do live. This is our livelihood. And 30 00:03:09,979 --> 00:03:14,179 so I want to say thank you for being a help and a consistent blessing 31 00:03:14,179 --> 00:03:23,259 like that. Also, I've been praying for Herodies Baptist Church 32 00:03:25,339 --> 00:03:30,979 ever since the things unfolded and so on, and Pastor Crawford resigned 33 00:03:30,979 --> 00:03:34,059 and so on. I've been praying for you guys. I love Brother Crawford. 34 00:03:34,059 --> 00:03:37,819 I'm grateful for his friendship to me and Ms. Tanya, but 35 00:03:38,139 --> 00:03:43,229 I'm grateful for this church. This is the Lord's church, and it 36 00:03:43,229 --> 00:03:49,149 doesn't belong to you, it belongs to Him. And if we get in 37 00:03:49,149 --> 00:03:54,469 the right position of being spirit controlled, all stuff's going 38 00:03:54,469 --> 00:03:58,229 to work out. When our flesh jumps in, well, then there's some 39 00:03:58,469 --> 00:04:05,949 irritations. The Lord can use the irritations for his glory. Just 40 00:04:05,949 --> 00:04:09,199 like we talked about Sunday night. Things that happen are not 41 00:04:09,199 --> 00:04:13,519 always him doing it, but he allows things to happen because of 42 00:04:13,919 --> 00:04:18,159 we're all worldly, fleshly people. And so things like that happen. 43 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:23,359 So this one, you know, I continue to pray for you and that 44 00:04:23,519 --> 00:04:30,519 God will manifest himself to you. And I do, you know, I had. I 45 00:04:30,519 --> 00:04:33,679 knew that I was probably going to be preaching this series a year 46 00:04:33,679 --> 00:04:36,759 ago. And then when things happened and so on, I thought, well, 47 00:04:36,759 --> 00:04:39,389 there's nothing better that the church needs, needs to be aware 48 00:04:39,389 --> 00:04:42,949 of all of us. If we'll get over here and be spirit controlled, 49 00:04:43,509 --> 00:04:49,109 we'll behave, right? Everybody. You behave like Jesus 50 00:04:50,629 --> 00:04:54,749 when you're not behaving like Jesus, well then Mr. Concarney is 51 00:04:54,749 --> 00:04:59,109 in charge. And so I just knew this is what God would have me bring 52 00:04:59,109 --> 00:05:06,799 to you and so on. And so I appreciate the kind words between 53 00:05:06,959 --> 00:05:11,199 before and after service that people would say about how that God 54 00:05:11,199 --> 00:05:14,639 has touched you and spoke to you. I'm very grateful for that. 55 00:05:15,599 --> 00:05:20,719 Here's what I I'm in my second year of preaching the Spirit filled, 56 00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:26,719 Spirit controlled life. I'm fairly certain I'm going to continue 57 00:05:26,799 --> 00:05:31,249 to be preaching this theme. I know I'm going to be preaching it 58 00:05:31,249 --> 00:05:36,409 for the next two years. Not these sermons, but this theme. And 59 00:05:38,169 --> 00:05:41,809 I've already got the second series done and I've already preached 60 00:05:41,809 --> 00:05:46,009 it a few times. And then the third series is in the works. And 61 00:05:48,009 --> 00:05:58,339 here's what I have accepted. If just a small percentage of Heritage 62 00:05:58,339 --> 00:06:05,099 Baptist Church, just a few of you truly catch what God's allowed 63 00:06:05,099 --> 00:06:09,019 me to catch. I want everybody to know what I know. I want you to 64 00:06:09,019 --> 00:06:12,979 enjoy it like I enjoy it. And if I can preach it and get it across 65 00:06:13,059 --> 00:06:18,139 to you or just. I would love for. I'd love for the majority to 66 00:06:18,139 --> 00:06:23,649 catch it, but I don't. My brain knows that we're all. We're 67 00:06:23,649 --> 00:06:29,649 carnal and we don't want him to be in charge. We want to be in 68 00:06:29,649 --> 00:06:36,929 charge. And I know that. And so, but if, just if some of you would 69 00:06:36,929 --> 00:06:41,889 really catch it and live it, it will show up in your life. You 70 00:06:41,889 --> 00:06:45,089 don't have to say, hey, did you see what happened to me? You 71 00:06:45,089 --> 00:06:47,689 don't have to tell anybody. They know something happened to you 72 00:06:48,179 --> 00:06:51,419 and it'll be an encouragement and a help to them. And maybe you 73 00:06:51,419 --> 00:06:56,419 could even help them along, say, well, this is two or three things. 74 00:06:56,579 --> 00:07:00,419 Your light came on. This is how God helped you as time goes along. 75 00:07:00,659 --> 00:07:05,619 So I wanted to tell you that Nancy and I are grateful. Thankful. 76 00:07:05,619 --> 00:07:09,699 Thank you for how you make us feel like we belong here. Thank you. 77 00:07:10,259 --> 00:07:17,249 And so anyway, I look forward to hearing what God does and how 78 00:07:17,249 --> 00:07:22,729 he accomplishes his will in your lives. So that's a blessing 79 00:07:22,729 --> 00:07:27,129 to me. So, Ephesians. Did I tell you Ephesians already? I meant 80 00:07:27,129 --> 00:07:37,449 to. If you'd stand with me, please. Ephesians, chapter two. Two 81 00:07:37,449 --> 00:07:40,139 of our favorite verses. I should have been in church quarter 82 00:07:40,289 --> 00:07:48,529 quite a while. Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 8 and 9. For by 83 00:07:48,529 --> 00:07:56,049 grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. 84 00:07:56,369 --> 00:08:02,449 It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. 85 00:08:02,689 --> 00:08:11,139 Flip over a page. Chapter five. The theme verse for the week 86 00:08:11,139 --> 00:08:16,859 has been verse 18. And be not drunk with wine. Don't let wine control 87 00:08:16,939 --> 00:08:24,819 you wherein is excess. But be filled with the spirit. Let the spirit 88 00:08:24,819 --> 00:08:34,569 of God control you. Let's turn over to John, chapter 15. Not going 89 00:08:34,569 --> 00:08:36,729 to read right now. I'm going to have prayer with you and then 90 00:08:36,729 --> 00:08:40,769 we'll read it and get going. Okay. Let's pray. Our great God, 91 00:08:40,769 --> 00:08:49,489 I sure love you. Thank you. That you do constantly teach us to 92 00:08:49,489 --> 00:08:58,769 live by faith. The key to Christianity is that we live by faith. 93 00:08:58,769 --> 00:09:02,149 And if we're going to live by faith, we have to surrender to that. 94 00:09:03,989 --> 00:09:08,149 So I pray that we would be people that are walking in the light, 95 00:09:09,429 --> 00:09:14,149 that we are controlled by you and we're enjoying that by faith. 96 00:09:15,348 --> 00:09:19,069 And then I'm grateful that I have privileged to preach at Heritage 97 00:09:19,069 --> 00:09:24,509 Baptist Church this week and these kind people to Nancy and I 98 00:09:24,509 --> 00:09:31,769 and through the years, I'm grateful. God, only you can do what 99 00:09:31,769 --> 00:09:38,249 needs to be done. And I pray that as a congregation from young 100 00:09:38,249 --> 00:09:44,089 to old would have the heart's desire to get out of the way and 101 00:09:44,089 --> 00:09:49,889 just let you be in control. And we would treat each other like 102 00:09:49,889 --> 00:09:55,799 Christians. That as that we're living your life, your life is living 103 00:09:55,799 --> 00:10:00,439 through us. And so as I endeavor to get this across tonight, 104 00:10:00,439 --> 00:10:06,599 I pray to have impact for each one of us. So I'm thankful to say 105 00:10:07,799 --> 00:10:13,959 that you love me and you put up with me, you allow me to be a 106 00:10:13,959 --> 00:10:17,719 servant. I'm grateful. I pray that you would do it again tonight. 107 00:10:18,809 --> 00:10:23,529 So I sure love you, Jesus. I can't wait to see you. And it's in 108 00:10:23,529 --> 00:10:27,769 your mighty and holy name we Pray, Amen. Amen. You may be seated. 109 00:10:31,369 --> 00:10:39,009 The key aspect to Christianity, to salvation, here 110 00:10:39,009 --> 00:10:45,219 it is, I've said it a few times, is that Christ Jesus is in 111 00:10:45,219 --> 00:10:51,859 us. He's in us. It's not a placebo, it's not psychological gymnastics, 112 00:10:52,099 --> 00:10:56,659 it's a reality. People that know that they know it, people that 113 00:10:56,659 --> 00:10:59,139 don't know that, they think that we're weird or they say, how 114 00:10:59,139 --> 00:11:02,659 do you know that? But people that are born again know they're 115 00:11:02,659 --> 00:11:07,259 born again. Here's the thing about us born again people. The moment 116 00:11:07,259 --> 00:11:11,949 we get born again, the battle begins. And, and often Mr. Khan Carney 117 00:11:11,949 --> 00:11:17,189 is so in charge of our life that we think this life is really 118 00:11:17,509 --> 00:11:22,829 not attainable. Only a few people get to do it. It's supposed 119 00:11:22,829 --> 00:11:27,509 to be, it's for all of us. Amen. Thank you for saying Amen. 120 00:11:27,989 --> 00:11:33,909 So let's start here again. In John 15, Jesus says, I am, verse 121 00:11:33,909 --> 00:11:40,959 one, I am the true vine. When you look at that, when Jesus, when 122 00:11:40,959 --> 00:11:47,159 he says I am the true vine, it's just almost giggled that he 123 00:11:47,159 --> 00:11:49,919 has to delineate to say, all right,. 124 00:11:49,919 --> 00:11:54,679 Guys, I'm the one and only. I am the real one. 125 00:11:55,239 --> 00:11:55,959 There's no. 126 00:11:56,359 --> 00:11:58,279 And why would he have to say that? 127 00:11:58,519 --> 00:12:01,399 Because there are imposters. 128 00:12:01,719 --> 00:12:05,959 Even in his day, while he was on the planet, there were others 129 00:12:05,959 --> 00:12:09,399 that saying, no, I'm the Christ. No, I have the answers. No, 130 00:12:09,399 --> 00:12:13,519 I have the hope. And Jesus said, no, no, no, there are, they're 131 00:12:13,519 --> 00:12:17,719 liars. I am the true, the real, the only vine. 132 00:12:18,279 --> 00:12:21,599 Now, I didn't give the illustration or the analogy, Jesus 133 00:12:21,599 --> 00:12:29,199 did. He says, I'm the vine. My dad was my preacher and I have much 134 00:12:29,199 --> 00:12:33,779 of my theology from him and my personality and stuff is delivered 135 00:12:33,779 --> 00:12:37,099 from him quite a bit and so on. But he used to say this. He says, 136 00:12:37,099 --> 00:12:42,259 the Bible means exactly what it says unless it's impossible for 137 00:12:42,259 --> 00:12:47,699 it to do so. Oh, what was that about? Well, when Jesus says I'm 138 00:12:47,699 --> 00:12:49,979 the true vine, he is not a piece of vegetation. 139 00:12:52,299 --> 00:12:53,899 So it means exactly what it says. 140 00:12:53,899 --> 00:12:57,419 But it doesn't mean that he's a piece of vegetation. Everybody, 141 00:12:57,949 --> 00:13:00,509 it's an analogy, it's an illustration. 142 00:13:01,309 --> 00:13:04,429 But if Jesus is going to use the illustration, I'm pretty sure 143 00:13:04,429 --> 00:13:04,789 it would. 144 00:13:04,789 --> 00:13:08,509 Be the correct illustration. It wouldn't go well. 145 00:13:08,509 --> 00:13:09,949 He didn't really mean it all the way. 146 00:13:09,949 --> 00:13:15,869 No, he's the vine. He's the true vine. Then he says, my Father 147 00:13:16,749 --> 00:13:18,189 is the husbandman. 148 00:13:18,909 --> 00:13:20,829 And his disciples that have been following. 149 00:13:20,909 --> 00:13:24,549 Him, they know when he speaks of the Father, he's talking about 150 00:13:24,549 --> 00:13:28,329 Yahweh. He's talking about Jehovah. He's talking about the Lord 151 00:13:28,329 --> 00:13:36,409 God, the Creator. They know that Jesus is the Father's Son. Amen. 152 00:13:36,889 --> 00:13:44,569 They know that. I think that's fascinating in my limited abilities 153 00:13:44,649 --> 00:13:50,209 and so on, that. Here you are on a Wednesday night. You're a church 154 00:13:50,209 --> 00:13:58,629 goer, you believe the Bible. And so you would say, oh, yeah, God 155 00:13:58,709 --> 00:14:05,189 is the husbandman. What is that word? He's the caretaker. He's 156 00:14:05,189 --> 00:14:10,509 the farmer. He's the arborist. He takes care of it. Everybody with 157 00:14:10,509 --> 00:14:17,869 me. What's so comical to me about it? We all go, oh, yeah, God 158 00:14:18,349 --> 00:14:23,869 is the caretaker. Look at verse five. Jesus says, I am the 159 00:14:23,869 --> 00:14:31,789 vine, ye are the branches. Well, who be ye? Well, ye be me. 160 00:14:34,029 --> 00:14:37,829 Those that are born dead again did. Those that have moved from the 161 00:14:37,829 --> 00:14:42,709 Adamic life with the dead spirit to the saved life with an 162 00:14:42,709 --> 00:14:47,629 alive spirit. You're born again. At that moment, you are placed 163 00:14:47,629 --> 00:14:48,789 into Jesus. 164 00:14:49,429 --> 00:14:50,389 We're in him. 165 00:14:51,669 --> 00:14:53,989 He's divine. I'm a branch. 166 00:14:55,989 --> 00:15:02,749 Who's the caretaker? God. So here's what's comical. How you and 167 00:15:02,749 --> 00:15:08,469 I become whiners and crybabies and disappointed and discouraged 168 00:15:08,789 --> 00:15:09,749 so easily. 169 00:15:13,519 --> 00:15:16,799 As if God. He didn't know a storm was coming. 170 00:15:19,679 --> 00:15:24,799 Did you hear me? Our Father knows everything. 171 00:15:25,839 --> 00:15:31,839 He is the caretaker. He knows when a storm is going to come in 172 00:15:31,839 --> 00:15:38,889 my life. And he's not up there going, too bad, guys. He still takes 173 00:15:38,889 --> 00:15:48,129 care of his children. His vine. It's his vine. Trust him. I'm 174 00:15:48,129 --> 00:15:54,649 so. We're so shallow in our Christianity. How do you know? 175 00:15:54,649 --> 00:15:58,569 Well, just listen to the whiners, listen to the crybabies, 176 00:15:58,809 --> 00:16:03,699 listen to the discouraged. Excuse me. Who's your father? 177 00:16:05,459 --> 00:16:09,379 Did he know that the enemy was going to come and try to destroy 178 00:16:09,699 --> 00:16:10,499 his crop? 179 00:16:11,299 --> 00:16:17,299 Oh, no. It tricked him. He had no idea it was coming. Is anybody 180 00:16:17,299 --> 00:16:20,259 hearing me? It's incredible. 181 00:16:21,859 --> 00:16:25,099 Does he know the varmints are going to come and try to destroy 182 00:16:25,099 --> 00:16:25,779 the crop? 183 00:16:26,899 --> 00:16:27,419 Yes. 184 00:16:27,419 --> 00:16:34,389 He knows disease is coming. Is anybody hearing this? What is wrong 185 00:16:34,389 --> 00:16:39,109 with us that we all believe in God? He's awesome. He knows everything. 186 00:16:39,189 --> 00:16:40,629 It's just that he don't know. 187 00:16:40,869 --> 00:16:46,229 He doesn't take care of us when bad death happens. That's what 188 00:16:46,229 --> 00:16:53,189 bothers me. So, Brother Dave, has it ever happened in your life? 189 00:16:53,749 --> 00:17:01,999 Yeah. How come? I'm human and Mr. Konkarni is often the one that's 190 00:17:01,999 --> 00:17:11,679 ruling my life, and Mr. Konkarney doesn't trust God. Wow. 191 00:17:11,759 --> 00:17:15,919 Well, there's much to preach about that. I think I got to move 192 00:17:15,919 --> 00:17:23,109 on. Let's just believe he's the husbandman, okay? Trust him. 193 00:17:24,309 --> 00:17:28,189 Don't get all bent out of shape when stuff happens as if God's 194 00:17:28,189 --> 00:17:41,109 not there. He's in the middle of it. Amen. Huh? The only way that 195 00:17:41,109 --> 00:17:46,669 any branch can produce fruit, it must be connected to the root 196 00:17:46,669 --> 00:17:52,719 system or the vine. That's impossible. There's no. It's not 197 00:17:52,719 --> 00:17:56,919 going to happen. There will be zero fruit unless you're connected 198 00:17:57,159 --> 00:18:06,959 to Jesus. Now he says, abide in me and I in you. Is there something 199 00:18:06,959 --> 00:18:12,439 that's required for me to do to abide in Him? There's one thing. 200 00:18:14,609 --> 00:18:22,009 What is it? Get saved. Did you just hear it? The moment I got saved, 201 00:18:22,009 --> 00:18:32,449 I was in Jesus. If I'm in Him, I'm in Him. It's secure. Can I quench 202 00:18:32,449 --> 00:18:35,649 him? Can I bend the hose? 203 00:18:36,449 --> 00:18:39,869 Mr. Kunkarni is constantly bending the. 204 00:18:40,019 --> 00:18:41,459 The power, the hose. 205 00:18:42,019 --> 00:18:46,539 It's all there. It's all available. But when we're in charge 206 00:18:46,539 --> 00:18:50,939 and our life, and we take over our life, the fruit of the Spirit 207 00:18:50,939 --> 00:18:52,819 is not going to be evident. 208 00:18:54,659 --> 00:18:58,059 It's going to be the fruit of Dave. Well, I've got a lot of wisdom. 209 00:18:58,059 --> 00:19:00,939 I got a lot of love. I care a lot about people. I got a lot of. 210 00:19:00,939 --> 00:19:06,989 I got a lot of advice. I'm good. I don't want to hear from you. 211 00:19:06,989 --> 00:19:11,749 I want to hear from Jesus. I want to hear how Jesus is working 212 00:19:11,749 --> 00:19:19,429 in your heart and life. Wow. I'm not going to preach it, but I 213 00:19:19,429 --> 00:19:24,869 am going to spill it out. It's. It's weird. It's a good sermon. 214 00:19:24,869 --> 00:19:30,469 But anyway, I'm connected to Jesus and I'm 100 dependent upon 215 00:19:30,469 --> 00:19:39,879 him. He's the vine. He doesn't produce any fruit. The only fruit 216 00:19:40,519 --> 00:19:49,039 that's produced comes off the branch. I don't know if you're paying 217 00:19:49,039 --> 00:19:51,479 attention or not. Do you know what the fruit is supposed to look 218 00:19:51,479 --> 00:19:59,649 like? It's supposed to look like who it's connected to. It's 219 00:19:59,649 --> 00:20:04,129 impossible to go into an apple orchard and expect to see some oranges. 220 00:20:05,329 --> 00:20:09,729 That ain't gonna happen. If you go into the Jesus orchard, you're 221 00:20:09,729 --> 00:20:11,089 supposed to be seeing Jesus. 222 00:20:14,129 --> 00:20:17,449 What is produced out of my life is not supposed to look like 223 00:20:17,449 --> 00:20:21,369 Dave. It's supposed to look like Jesus. It's not supposed to 224 00:20:21,369 --> 00:20:24,049 look like Nancy. It's supposed to look like Jesus. 225 00:20:30,069 --> 00:20:39,029 The other part that's. This isn't Jesus is. He's made himself 226 00:20:39,109 --> 00:20:47,349 dependent upon us branches to be produced. Is that incredible? 227 00:20:48,149 --> 00:20:49,029 He did it. 228 00:20:49,029 --> 00:20:50,709 He said, I'm the vine, you're the branch. 229 00:20:52,549 --> 00:20:53,749 I'm depending on you. 230 00:20:55,109 --> 00:21:01,149 And you're going, why? I ain't got no power? And he goes, hey, dummy, 231 00:21:01,149 --> 00:21:06,709 you're connected to me. You don't need no power. I'm going to 232 00:21:06,709 --> 00:21:10,229 say it again, probably, but he doesn't expect the branch to do anything 233 00:21:11,029 --> 00:21:15,349 on its own. Mercy sakes. That's so good. 234 00:21:16,559 --> 00:21:16,999 Watch this. 235 00:21:16,999 --> 00:21:25,119 I did not graft myself into Jesus. All I did was trust him, ask 236 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,519 him to forgive me. He put me right in there. 237 00:21:29,279 --> 00:21:31,519 There's nothing I can do to keep the graft. 238 00:21:35,519 --> 00:21:42,969 I'm in him eternally. I don't produce any fruit on my own. Everything 239 00:21:43,529 --> 00:21:52,609 the branch has comes from the vine. Michael Wells, the man who 240 00:21:52,609 --> 00:21:56,249 wrote the Sidetracked in the Wilderness that God used as the catalyst 241 00:21:56,569 --> 00:22:00,769 to help turn my lights on, help me see things, he suggested 242 00:22:00,769 --> 00:22:08,609 a prayer that we might pray as branches. Nancy has it pasted in 243 00:22:08,609 --> 00:22:12,869 her Bible. I have. I've not memorized it, and I think it's okay 244 00:22:12,869 --> 00:22:17,869 if you do. I quote pieces of it every day for two and a half years 245 00:22:17,869 --> 00:22:25,469 now. I'll read it to you. Dear Father, I thank you and praise you 246 00:22:25,709 --> 00:22:31,549 for the life of the vine. Today in this moment, I choose to 247 00:22:31,549 --> 00:22:38,819 abide and allow you to fill me with the precious life of your son, 248 00:22:39,619 --> 00:22:47,499 the true vine this day. Lord, I thank you that I am in you and 249 00:22:47,499 --> 00:22:56,899 you are in me. Thank you that no matter how I feel, I abide in 250 00:22:57,059 --> 00:23:06,349 you. Thank you, Lord. That is not a position I must struggle to 251 00:23:06,349 --> 00:23:12,749 maintain, for you have put me there. So in this moment,. 252 00:23:14,989 --> 00:23:15,629 All I will. 253 00:23:15,629 --> 00:23:23,309 Be concerned for is that you put me there and I accept my position 254 00:23:23,389 --> 00:23:33,159 of abiding with joy. Wow. Amen. For two and a half years now, 255 00:23:33,479 --> 00:23:36,079 in the mornings when I wake up, I sleep on the right side and 256 00:23:36,079 --> 00:23:40,399 my right leg comes out first as I'm laying there getting ready 257 00:23:40,399 --> 00:23:46,079 to get out or while I'm getting out. I say these words 98% 258 00:23:46,079 --> 00:23:51,399 of the time in the last year, two and a half years. Thank you, 259 00:23:51,399 --> 00:23:57,969 Jesus, that you're the vine. I'm just the branch. There's nothing 260 00:23:57,969 --> 00:24:06,849 you expect me to do today on my own. Bless his holy name. This 261 00:24:06,849 --> 00:24:12,329 life is in and from the vine. Remember I mentioned that it's supposed 262 00:24:12,329 --> 00:24:17,489 to be rivers? Amen. Jesus. The one that said it's supposed to be. 263 00:24:17,809 --> 00:24:24,539 There's another word that we use, fountains of living water. Here's 264 00:24:24,539 --> 00:24:27,019 what I would say about the rivers and the fountains of living 265 00:24:27,019 --> 00:24:30,619 water. That this would be what I would. We could Call the abundant 266 00:24:30,619 --> 00:24:40,819 life the victorious life. Bless his name. So this life that 267 00:24:40,819 --> 00:24:48,359 I have in Christ, it allows me to produce fruit that looks like, 268 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:55,079 tastes like, walk like, talk like, be like. Well, Jesus. Wow. 269 00:24:57,559 --> 00:25:01,599 So I'll say this. I would say that I know that there's. I think 270 00:25:01,599 --> 00:25:03,759 there's six times the word fruit is used in the Bible and you 271 00:25:03,759 --> 00:25:07,039 could use it as illustrations and so on. But I'm just. I know the 272 00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:09,359 fruit of a Christian is another Christian. I know that. And 273 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:10,919 so on. And I'm not opposed to. 274 00:25:12,289 --> 00:25:14,369 But what we've talked about this week,. 275 00:25:14,369 --> 00:25:19,489 Here's what I would say, the abundant life, I'd say that's considered 276 00:25:19,489 --> 00:25:25,809 fruit, the victorious life. It's not because of me. I'd consider 277 00:25:25,809 --> 00:25:30,969 that fruit of being connected to Jesus, the spirit filled. The 278 00:25:30,969 --> 00:25:36,929 spirit control life is because I'm connected to Jesus. The love 279 00:25:37,169 --> 00:25:42,229 that the vine produces and the fruit that I get to have of his love, 280 00:25:42,629 --> 00:25:46,269 I'd say that's fruit. In fact, since we're talking about it, some 281 00:25:46,269 --> 00:25:49,029 of us would know that there is a place in the Bible that talks about 282 00:25:49,029 --> 00:25:54,869 the fruit of the spirit. I don't know if you know this, but 283 00:25:54,869 --> 00:26:01,309 there's. There's nine of them. But I don't know if you know the 284 00:26:01,309 --> 00:26:06,619 word fruit is singular. It's the fruit, not fruits. It's the fruit 285 00:26:06,619 --> 00:26:10,459 of the spirit. And there's nine revelations of this singular 286 00:26:10,459 --> 00:26:10,939 fruit. 287 00:26:11,739 --> 00:26:14,739 These are not the only ones. There are others, but there's nine 288 00:26:14,739 --> 00:26:14,979 that. 289 00:26:14,979 --> 00:26:23,179 Are mentioned in the text. This is fascinating to me. Some of 290 00:26:23,179 --> 00:26:26,179 you can quote all nine. I'm super proud of you. Way to go. And 291 00:26:26,179 --> 00:26:37,909 so on. The first one is love. If I have him in control, it would 292 00:26:37,909 --> 00:26:43,709 be obvious I'm supposed to love like him. Love who? Who does 293 00:26:43,709 --> 00:26:51,629 he love? You. And I pick and choose. There's people that aggravate 294 00:26:51,629 --> 00:26:56,789 us, or there's people that are so wicked. Like, in my opinion, if 295 00:26:56,789 --> 00:27:04,349 Washington D.C. disappeared, I wouldn't be super sad because they 296 00:27:04,349 --> 00:27:13,549 aggravate me. For me to say I love Nancy Pelosi. Is anybody hearing 297 00:27:13,549 --> 00:27:23,829 me? You can name a whole bunch of people that doesn't matter. Does 298 00:27:23,829 --> 00:27:32,799 Jesus love her? Does he care about her soul? Does Dave McCracken? 299 00:27:33,039 --> 00:27:39,519 Well, whatever. Is anybody hearing me? No, no, no. 300 00:27:40,239 --> 00:27:44,559 It's the people that live inside your house, the people that 301 00:27:44,559 --> 00:27:48,559 are your neighbors, the people you work with that just constantly 302 00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:50,319 get on your nerves. 303 00:27:52,009 --> 00:27:57,249 Is the people you go to church with. Do you love them the way Jesus 304 00:27:57,249 --> 00:28:05,089 loves them? He's a. Without sin casts. Whatever. Is anybody hearing 305 00:28:05,089 --> 00:28:08,249 Me, I'm weary with our shallow Christianity. 306 00:28:08,249 --> 00:28:10,289 Well, yeah, I'm one of the finest Christians in our church. 307 00:28:10,289 --> 00:28:14,409 I just don't love like Jesus loves, because that's impossible. 308 00:28:14,489 --> 00:28:18,169 Excuse me, who are you connected to? 309 00:28:21,349 --> 00:28:25,869 Joy, Man, I don't have time to preach these, but it is a fascinating 310 00:28:25,869 --> 00:28:31,789 thing to me how much lack of joy we have in our churches. It's 311 00:28:31,789 --> 00:28:37,469 joy unspeakable. We should be happy people. Oh, brother, you're 312 00:28:37,469 --> 00:28:44,749 just a weirdo. That's what. If anybody should be happy, it should 313 00:28:44,749 --> 00:28:46,389 be people that have the joy of the Lord. 314 00:28:47,329 --> 00:28:51,969 Not my joy. Peace. 315 00:28:53,409 --> 00:28:55,889 I'm not going through all nine of them, but I'll just do this last 316 00:28:55,889 --> 00:29:00,969 one. Peace. I've said it since I was in my 30s and I'm no longer 317 00:29:00,969 --> 00:29:05,689 in my 30s. We could get Christian psychologists to set up 318 00:29:05,689 --> 00:29:10,569 their offices in our churches and they can make a living because 319 00:29:10,569 --> 00:29:16,339 our churches are full of people that don't have peace. Where 320 00:29:16,339 --> 00:29:26,659 do you get it from? It's his peace. Amen. So there's nine of them. 321 00:29:28,099 --> 00:29:29,618 I'm sorry, some of you can't. 322 00:29:29,618 --> 00:29:29,939 It's. 323 00:29:29,939 --> 00:29:36,259 This is backwards. I'll change it. Okay, five over here. 9:04. Anyway. 324 00:29:36,419 --> 00:29:39,949 All right, there's nine of them. Here's what I've learned. Watch. 325 00:29:40,029 --> 00:29:48,309 If I'm missing one. Did you just see? If I'm missing peace, if 326 00:29:48,309 --> 00:29:55,709 I'm missing meekness, if I'm missing one, that means I don't. 327 00:29:57,709 --> 00:30:02,749 The door is shut. I got like three of them. 328 00:30:03,949 --> 00:30:05,709 Well, you're not connected to Jesus. 329 00:30:05,949 --> 00:30:07,549 You got some of it quenched off. 330 00:30:08,999 --> 00:30:15,159 Act. We are so shallow. We act like we're men and women of God, 331 00:30:15,159 --> 00:30:17,799 but we go, well, nobody can have nine. 332 00:30:19,879 --> 00:30:22,719 Well, if you're connected to Jesus, it's supposed to be his life, 333 00:30:22,719 --> 00:30:31,359 not your life. Wow. So I'm going to ask some questions. You 334 00:30:31,359 --> 00:30:37,449 don't have to answer out loud. Is it possible to quench the Holy 335 00:30:37,449 --> 00:30:45,209 Spirit? So is it possible for the door to shut? Okay. So we learned 336 00:30:45,209 --> 00:30:50,809 we shut the door by the works of the flesh. Disobedience. So don't 337 00:30:50,809 --> 00:30:54,689 answer. I wonder how long we could go with the door shut. How 338 00:30:54,689 --> 00:30:58,049 long can Dave McCracken, a believer, a man of God, a preacher, 339 00:30:58,049 --> 00:31:01,669 an evangelist around the world, how long could he go with 340 00:31:01,669 --> 00:31:05,189 the door shut? No, no. How long could your wife go with the 341 00:31:05,189 --> 00:31:07,549 door shut? She lives in your house. How long could she go with 342 00:31:07,549 --> 00:31:16,789 that door shut? How long could your parents just. In your head, 343 00:31:17,029 --> 00:31:21,949 I wonder how long we could go. How long could we go without that 344 00:31:21,949 --> 00:31:28,399 moment? By moment filling, controlling of the Holy Spirit. Is 345 00:31:28,399 --> 00:31:37,439 it possible to go about our daily lives with the door shut? Is 346 00:31:37,439 --> 00:31:40,759 it possible to serve God and. 347 00:31:40,759 --> 00:31:42,919 Do all church stuff and do a. 348 00:31:42,919 --> 00:31:49,199 Lot of things with the door shut? Is it possible to be kind, 349 00:31:49,679 --> 00:31:56,089 benevolent, giving, helpful, do good and right things and have 350 00:31:56,169 --> 00:32:10,009 the door shut? And here's what I wrote down. Yes, yes, yes. Wait 351 00:32:10,009 --> 00:32:15,369 a minute. If I. If I got the door shut, I'm still doing church 352 00:32:15,369 --> 00:32:21,699 stuff. I'm writing sermons, I'm preaching, singing songs, passing 353 00:32:21,699 --> 00:32:26,179 out tracts, still giving my tithe and missing. But the door is 354 00:32:26,179 --> 00:32:37,539 shut. Is God going proud of you? No. Do you know that everything 355 00:32:37,539 --> 00:32:41,179 that we do over here when Mr. Konkarni's in charge, here's what 356 00:32:41,179 --> 00:32:48,609 the Holy Bible calls it. Works of the flesh. You mean writing a 357 00:32:48,609 --> 00:32:54,969 sermon? Yeah. Given to faith, promise, works of the flesh. If Mr. 358 00:32:54,969 --> 00:32:58,609 Concarney is in charge. I don't know if you know this, but 359 00:32:58,609 --> 00:33:08,369 the Holy Bible calls it wood, hay and stubble. A Christian that 360 00:33:08,369 --> 00:33:10,569 is living with Mr. 361 00:33:10,569 --> 00:33:13,889 Con Carney in charge. I don't care how many sermons they. 362 00:33:13,889 --> 00:33:15,729 Preach, how many people got saved. 363 00:33:15,729 --> 00:33:19,069 I don't care how much money they gave to missions. They. All 364 00:33:19,069 --> 00:33:22,629 of this they're doing is called wood. God will not accept 365 00:33:22,949 --> 00:33:28,389 what we do in the flesh. He hates it. It makes him sick. 366 00:33:29,909 --> 00:33:37,109 And yet most of us spend most of our life right here. I don't mean 367 00:33:37,109 --> 00:33:41,989 just to be self deprecating, but we're going to stand before him 368 00:33:44,719 --> 00:33:51,639 and there's a pile of works. And if we imagine this room was my 369 00:33:51,639 --> 00:33:54,559 barn in heaven and it's full, it's stuffed. 370 00:33:54,559 --> 00:33:57,959 It's stuffed. Dave McGregor's been serving God. He's been preaching 371 00:33:57,959 --> 00:34:01,279 since he was 18. World, look at all this stuff. 372 00:34:02,639 --> 00:34:11,209 Mercy, it's stuffed. And then God says, okay, my fire is going 373 00:34:11,209 --> 00:34:19,769 to come down and judge what sort it is. You know what's left? 374 00:34:20,409 --> 00:34:30,209 Gold, silver, precious stones. Have you ever been sitting at the 375 00:34:30,209 --> 00:34:33,409 table, you're eating with some other people and so on, and you see 376 00:34:33,409 --> 00:34:39,239 a couple of grains of salt, the table. Have you ever done what 377 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:48,119 I've done? Have you ever done that? It's a weird thing. There's 378 00:34:48,119 --> 00:34:54,039 not a traditional thing that we do with it. Very few people go 379 00:34:54,039 --> 00:35:00,399 put it on their plate. Some people would do this. Just a little 380 00:35:00,399 --> 00:35:01,399 tiny grain of salt. 381 00:35:01,399 --> 00:35:01,779 Thank you. 382 00:35:03,448 --> 00:35:13,768 Many of us. I'm ashamed and embarrassed. I hate to say it out 383 00:35:13,768 --> 00:35:19,928 loud. I've been a preacher. I surrendered when I was 17. I've been 384 00:35:19,928 --> 00:35:26,928 preaching since I've been in Bible college. I've worked in churches. 385 00:35:26,928 --> 00:35:28,128 I love the Bible. 386 00:35:28,128 --> 00:35:30,728 I love to find stuff. It's awesome. 387 00:35:32,569 --> 00:35:38,129 But most of my Christian life has been like this. And when the 388 00:35:38,129 --> 00:35:53,209 fire comes down, I don't know, Two or three grains there. I'm just 389 00:35:53,209 --> 00:35:56,249 telling you I'm ashamed and embarrassed that I have to say that 390 00:35:56,249 --> 00:36:02,609 out loud to you. It shouldn't be that way. It should be that most 391 00:36:02,609 --> 00:36:06,089 of my life has been lived here. I've apologized to my wife 392 00:36:06,089 --> 00:36:10,369 and my two daughters to say to their face, I'm sorry that you've 393 00:36:10,369 --> 00:36:12,809 lived with your dad or you've lived with your husband, that most 394 00:36:12,809 --> 00:36:17,649 of the time he's been carnal rather than letting God control his 395 00:36:17,649 --> 00:36:26,739 life. That will humble you. It'll break your heart. But I am 396 00:36:26,739 --> 00:36:30,539 glad to say the last two and a half years, I've spent more time 397 00:36:30,539 --> 00:36:35,579 here than I have over there. Do I still get bothered? Oh, yeah. 398 00:36:35,579 --> 00:36:41,459 I'm still breathing air, but I've spent more time here than I 399 00:36:41,459 --> 00:36:46,499 have to let Mr. Kankarney be in charge of my life. God will not 400 00:36:46,499 --> 00:37:04,149 accept carnal, fleshly service. I'm trying to decide what 401 00:37:04,149 --> 00:37:07,429 I'm cutting out, so I'm going to cut out some stuff. But anyway, 402 00:37:14,399 --> 00:37:20,799 It's. We are. When we are in the wilderness, we're here because 403 00:37:20,799 --> 00:37:25,999 of lack of faith. So when Mr. Konkarni is in charge, that's the 404 00:37:25,999 --> 00:37:31,279 idea. We are in the wilderness. Is God stop loving us 405 00:37:31,279 --> 00:37:32,399 when we're in the wilderness? 406 00:37:33,439 --> 00:37:33,839 No. 407 00:37:35,839 --> 00:37:40,639 Isn't that wild? When the children of Israel were in the wilderness 408 00:37:40,799 --> 00:37:46,179 40 years. Years, he still loved them. Do you know he provided 409 00:37:46,179 --> 00:37:52,339 for them for 40 years, food every day. Their clothes did not 410 00:37:52,339 --> 00:37:52,859 wear out. 411 00:37:53,979 --> 00:37:57,579 He got enough water out of a rock to feed over 2 million people 412 00:37:57,579 --> 00:38:04,179 and all their cattle. He protected them from the enemies that 413 00:38:04,179 --> 00:38:11,109 did not want them there. Incredible. 40 years,. 414 00:38:13,029 --> 00:38:17,989 And he still loves them. He still desires to work in their life. 415 00:38:19,109 --> 00:38:27,349 He wants them to learn how to trust him and not themselves. You 416 00:38:27,349 --> 00:38:32,069 and I in our life. I'm amazed that God has put up with me all these 417 00:38:32,069 --> 00:38:39,499 years, but he still loves me. He's still at work in my life. He 418 00:38:39,499 --> 00:38:44,179 protects me. He meets our needs. He does marvelous, exciting, 419 00:38:44,179 --> 00:38:47,739 wonderful things to us. Even though I've been carnal so much, 420 00:38:48,939 --> 00:38:53,579 you got to hear this. Here's how foolish and shallow Dave McCracken 421 00:38:53,579 --> 00:39:00,259 has been most of my life. I thought, wow, he keeps blessing me, 422 00:39:01,299 --> 00:39:07,299 and I'm still an idiot. He and I both know. He knows that's in my 423 00:39:07,299 --> 00:39:18,499 life, and he keeps blessing me, protects me. He meets my needs. 424 00:39:19,859 --> 00:39:25,029 He lets me keep preaching. This is incredible. Do you know how 425 00:39:25,029 --> 00:39:30,629 shallow I am? Here's what I thought. I must not be as bad as 426 00:39:30,629 --> 00:39:35,949 I thought I was. I must be doing okie dokie. 427 00:39:36,829 --> 00:39:38,189 Cause he keeps doing it. 428 00:39:39,229 --> 00:39:44,549 Is everybody hearing me? I didn't even know this was called 429 00:39:44,549 --> 00:39:49,309 the Wilderness Psalm until I prepared these sermons. We're not 430 00:39:49,309 --> 00:39:51,029 going to turn there, but I'm going to read you a couple verses 431 00:39:51,029 --> 00:39:59,319 out of the Wilderness Psalm. Psalm 78. But God, being full of 432 00:39:59,319 --> 00:40:04,479 compassion, forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not. 433 00:40:05,279 --> 00:40:10,159 Yea, many a time turned thee away his anger and did not stir up 434 00:40:10,159 --> 00:40:11,039 all his wrath. 435 00:40:12,319 --> 00:40:13,199 Did you hear me? 436 00:40:14,319 --> 00:40:17,519 When the kids in Israel were. When they were in the wilderness, 437 00:40:17,759 --> 00:40:18,119 God. 438 00:40:18,119 --> 00:40:20,559 Didn't say, well, they're better than they think they are. 439 00:40:20,559 --> 00:40:22,229 They're doing pretty good. No, no, no. 440 00:40:22,789 --> 00:40:25,589 Many a time turned away his anger. 441 00:40:25,589 --> 00:40:27,109 And destroyed them not. 442 00:40:27,509 --> 00:40:32,149 It's of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed. He's full 443 00:40:32,149 --> 00:40:38,029 of compassion. Mercy sakes, Lord, Thou art full of compassion. 444 00:40:38,029 --> 00:40:42,109 Gracious, long suffering, plenteous in mercy and truth. 41 445 00:40:42,109 --> 00:40:48,629 times in Psalm 136. 26 times in 26 verses. God's word says, his 446 00:40:48,709 --> 00:40:55,589 mercy endureth forever. Do you know why I'm breathing air tonight? 447 00:40:55,589 --> 00:41:00,469 His mercy. You and I know that grace means that he gives us what 448 00:41:00,469 --> 00:41:04,869 we do not deserve. He gives it to us. We don't deserve it. We can't 449 00:41:04,869 --> 00:41:05,429 earn it. 450 00:41:05,669 --> 00:41:10,869 What's mercy? Mercy is when he does not give us what we deserve. 451 00:41:12,389 --> 00:41:18,429 And I'll say it to your face, my testimony many a time turned his 452 00:41:18,429 --> 00:41:24,829 anger away and destroyed me not. That is the only reason I can 453 00:41:24,829 --> 00:41:31,629 stand in front of anybody and open up. His book is his mercy. Most 454 00:41:31,629 --> 00:41:37,109 of you might have the ability to be honest enough to say you don't 455 00:41:37,109 --> 00:41:44,039 want what you deserve. You want God's mercy. Bless his holy 456 00:41:44,039 --> 00:41:51,439 name that his mercy endureth forever. There's an old song that 457 00:41:51,439 --> 00:41:55,879 came out some years ago that it says that he's the potter, I'm 458 00:41:55,879 --> 00:42:02,599 the clay. This vessel is broken, but he doesn't throw the 459 00:42:02,599 --> 00:42:09,169 clay away. And his kindness and love, he remoulds me and reshapes 460 00:42:09,169 --> 00:42:14,889 me. And today I could be a vessel of honor. Not because of me, 461 00:42:15,609 --> 00:42:23,049 but because his mercy endureth forever. I'll conclude with one of 462 00:42:23,049 --> 00:42:34,659 our heroes. His name is Peter, one of the famed apostles. He was 463 00:42:36,179 --> 00:42:44,179 gregarious, he was outspoken, he was loud, he was passionate in 464 00:42:44,179 --> 00:42:46,179 many things. It's awesome. He's the only one that walked on 465 00:42:46,179 --> 00:42:55,459 the water. Just before Jesus was going to be crucified. Jesus 466 00:42:55,459 --> 00:43:00,419 begins to wash the disciples feet. I told you that Peter says, 467 00:43:00,419 --> 00:43:03,699 no, no, no, you're not washing my feet. Okay, okay. Watch me all 468 00:43:03,699 --> 00:43:17,339 over. And that meeting that that night, Jesus told Peter, before 469 00:43:17,339 --> 00:43:22,139 the cock crows, you're going to deny me three times. You're sitting 470 00:43:22,139 --> 00:43:25,969 there in this precious moment, you think Peter's going? 471 00:43:27,409 --> 00:43:27,889 Probably. 472 00:43:28,209 --> 00:43:32,569 I can see that he's going. There's no way he didn't maybe say. 473 00:43:32,569 --> 00:43:36,289 It out loud in his head. There's no way I would ever, ever. 474 00:43:37,009 --> 00:43:39,769 I love you. I've been serving you, following you for three and 475 00:43:39,769 --> 00:43:43,009 a half years. I'm the one that said, thou art the Christ, the son 476 00:43:43,009 --> 00:43:46,049 of the living God. I know who you are. You're the Messiah. 477 00:43:46,769 --> 00:43:53,259 I would never ever deny you. Not too long after this, Jesus goes 478 00:43:53,259 --> 00:43:57,859 to what we call the garden prayer. And he's praying. He takes 479 00:43:57,859 --> 00:44:02,819 three of them with him. John, James and Peter. And he says, you 480 00:44:02,819 --> 00:44:05,939 guys wait right here. The Bible says he went about a stone's 481 00:44:05,939 --> 00:44:09,779 throw away. He said, I'm just watch him pray. And he goes over 482 00:44:09,779 --> 00:44:16,139 here and he prays three times. Jesus goes over there in that prayer. 483 00:44:16,859 --> 00:44:19,859 Either every time or one of the times. Jesus said, father, if 484 00:44:19,859 --> 00:44:24,559 it be thy will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my 485 00:44:24,559 --> 00:44:32,519 will, thine be done. He comes back to them and he wakes them up 486 00:44:32,919 --> 00:44:37,719 and he says, judge, you're not watching. Pray one hour. Then he 487 00:44:37,719 --> 00:44:42,799 says to them, listen to these words. The spirit's willing, but 488 00:44:42,799 --> 00:44:48,439 the flesh is weak. Just a few moments. Not too long after that, 489 00:44:48,439 --> 00:44:53,769 Jesus is being arrested and they're taking him over to Ki because 490 00:44:57,609 --> 00:45:03,249 only Peter and somebody that knew someone at the gate followed 491 00:45:03,249 --> 00:45:08,289 him. There was a big window at Caius House, if it's a house that 492 00:45:08,289 --> 00:45:11,449 they say it is. I've had privilege to see it. There's a window 493 00:45:11,449 --> 00:45:14,969 there. It's not as big as this window here, but it's almost that 494 00:45:14,969 --> 00:45:18,899 big. There's a large window on the second story. It's kind of on 495 00:45:18,899 --> 00:45:22,819 a hillside, so you're like in a courtyard down here. And then there's 496 00:45:22,819 --> 00:45:27,339 a basement area. And then you can see up on the second floor, Caiaphas 497 00:45:27,339 --> 00:45:31,858 and Jesus and some soldiers and some Sanhedrin are up there. 498 00:45:33,699 --> 00:45:38,019 Peter is down here. It's 3 o', clock, 4 o' clock in the morning. 499 00:45:38,339 --> 00:45:42,389 He's warming himself by the fire, it's a little chilly. And someone 500 00:45:42,389 --> 00:45:45,509 comes up to him and says, you're one of them, aren't you. He 501 00:45:45,509 --> 00:45:47,869 goes, I don't know who he is. I know not the man. 502 00:45:52,349 --> 00:45:55,549 In Peter's head. You got to be going, what? What? 503 00:45:55,789 --> 00:45:57,429 There's no way I should say that. 504 00:45:57,429 --> 00:45:58,429 I love him. 505 00:45:59,869 --> 00:46:05,669 He's my master. He's the Messiah. Not too long after that, 506 00:46:05,669 --> 00:46:10,949 someone else comes. You're one of them. You follow him, don't you? 507 00:46:10,949 --> 00:46:13,229 And with an oath, he says, I do not know him. 508 00:46:15,469 --> 00:46:17,469 Peter's going, what have I said? 509 00:46:19,389 --> 00:46:22,669 I can't believe I even said it out loud. What is wrong with me? 510 00:46:24,669 --> 00:46:27,669 And then another person comes by and says, your speech betrays 511 00:46:27,669 --> 00:46:31,189 you. You're a Galilean. You're one of them. And with a curse and 512 00:46:31,189 --> 00:46:41,309 an oath, he says, I know. And the rooster crows and Peter is brokenhearted. 513 00:46:41,389 --> 00:46:47,349 This is amazing to me. Jesus is looking down and he catches Peter's 514 00:46:47,349 --> 00:46:52,669 eyes while the cock is crowing and they are eyeball to eyeball. 515 00:46:57,629 --> 00:47:01,859 The Bible says Peter went out and wept bitterly. I don't know if 516 00:47:01,859 --> 00:47:05,259 you've ever been that broken for your sin, if you've ever been 517 00:47:05,259 --> 00:47:06,539 that humble that you cannot. 518 00:47:06,539 --> 00:47:09,059 Believe where you've been and what you've been doing. 519 00:47:10,419 --> 00:47:16,019 That's how Peter feels. Do you know when he went out, don't you 520 00:47:16,019 --> 00:47:18,819 know what he was thinking? I don't deserve to be a disciple. I 521 00:47:18,819 --> 00:47:22,139 don't deserve this. I shouldn't even tell people I follow 522 00:47:22,139 --> 00:47:26,619 Jesus. This is embarrassing. How can I say I love him? How can 523 00:47:26,619 --> 00:47:30,269 I say he's the Messiah? When I do this, I might as well give it 524 00:47:30,269 --> 00:47:34,829 up. I might as well quit. I probably should just go back to my 525 00:47:34,829 --> 00:47:43,789 old job, go fishing. Jesus is crucified. He's buried. Peter's not 526 00:47:43,789 --> 00:47:51,829 there. The only one we know for sure is John. They bury Jesus 527 00:47:53,269 --> 00:47:59,329 three days later. Some girls go, and they're going to go anointing 528 00:47:59,329 --> 00:48:06,209 with some perfume ointment. They go, who's going to open? Who's 529 00:48:06,209 --> 00:48:08,329 going to put that big rock out of the way? Who's going to move the 530 00:48:08,329 --> 00:48:08,849 big stone? 531 00:48:08,849 --> 00:48:13,169 I get there, the stones are moved. They go in. There's a young 532 00:48:13,169 --> 00:48:15,169 man sitting there, looks like an angel. 533 00:48:15,729 --> 00:48:20,579 And he said, who y' all looking for? Jesus. Where have you 534 00:48:20,579 --> 00:48:23,739 laid him? Where have you taken him? He said, he's not here. He's 535 00:48:23,739 --> 00:48:28,219 risen, as he said he would be. Then the angel said these words. 536 00:48:28,219 --> 00:48:29,419 I love it. He said, go tell the. 537 00:48:29,419 --> 00:48:29,819 Go back. 538 00:48:29,819 --> 00:48:34,059 Go tell the. Go tell the disciples that he's risen. That's 539 00:48:34,059 --> 00:48:39,179 not all they said, go tell the disciples and Peter. Why would God 540 00:48:39,179 --> 00:48:44,499 send an angel from heaven to say, and Peter. Because Peter was 541 00:48:44,499 --> 00:48:48,059 about to quit. He's about to hang it up. He's about to give up. 542 00:48:48,059 --> 00:48:51,499 Because he thought he's gone so low so bad. That he doesn't even 543 00:48:51,499 --> 00:48:56,979 deserve to say Jesus out loud. And God said, no, you go tell the 544 00:48:56,979 --> 00:49:04,059 disciples and Peter that he's alive. Wow. I don't know if you're 545 00:49:04,059 --> 00:49:11,779 catching that or not. In my life that the enemy has told me, 546 00:49:11,779 --> 00:49:16,859 McCracken, you might as well quit. You're a loser. You're lousy. 547 00:49:17,259 --> 00:49:20,779 You're the worst Christian probably that ever lived. Why are 548 00:49:20,779 --> 00:49:20,979 you. 549 00:49:20,979 --> 00:49:22,499 Why do you even pretend like you're. 550 00:49:22,499 --> 00:49:26,939 A preacher and you stand in front of people? It's of the Lord's 551 00:49:26,939 --> 00:49:32,059 mercies that I've not consumed. Many a time turned his 552 00:49:32,059 --> 00:49:35,819 anger away. And he said, hey, McCracken. It would be like that 553 00:49:35,819 --> 00:49:38,739 angel showed up in here tonight. Said, hey, Heritage. Want 554 00:49:38,739 --> 00:49:42,479 y' all to know Jesus is alive. Would y' all go tell Dave McCracken 555 00:49:42,719 --> 00:49:47,839 he's alive? God doesn't want me to quit. The enemy does. 556 00:49:48,079 --> 00:49:51,919 My flesh wants me to quit. But God Almighty says, I don't throw 557 00:49:51,919 --> 00:49:56,159 the clay away. You still can be a usable servant if you'll just 558 00:49:56,159 --> 00:50:02,239 respond to me. Confess your sin, humble yourself and say, I don't 559 00:50:02,239 --> 00:50:05,319 want to be in charge. I surrender you and by faith. Thank 560 00:50:05,319 --> 00:50:09,379 you, Jesus. You're in charge of my life. Thank you that you didn't 561 00:50:09,379 --> 00:50:10,539 throw the clay away. 562 00:50:11,179 --> 00:50:12,139 Thank you, Christ. 563 00:50:12,939 --> 00:50:16,459 I don't care how bad and how wicked and how crummy you've lived. 564 00:50:16,459 --> 00:50:20,339 I'm telling you, he doesn't throw the clay away. His mercy. I 565 00:50:20,339 --> 00:50:24,979 love those words. Endureth forever. Tonight, right now, his 566 00:50:24,979 --> 00:50:30,019 mercy is available to you. If you'll humble yourself, ask him to 567 00:50:30,019 --> 00:50:34,749 forgive you and surrender to him by faith. And say, I'm tired 568 00:50:34,749 --> 00:50:41,069 of Mr. Klein Carney being in charge. Thank you. You're now in 569 00:50:41,069 --> 00:50:46,469 charge of my life. Will this stuff keep bothering you? It'll show 570 00:50:46,469 --> 00:50:51,229 up. But it doesn't have the same teeth it used to have. Doesn't 571 00:50:51,229 --> 00:50:56,909 have the same chain it used to have. No. No, thanks. You're dead 572 00:50:56,909 --> 00:51:02,349 to me. I'm just a branch. You don't expect me to do anything on 573 00:51:02,349 --> 00:51:07,749 my own. I can't handle that. You know I can't handle it. But you 574 00:51:07,749 --> 00:51:13,229 can bless his holy name. Would you stand with me, please? Thank 575 00:51:13,229 --> 00:51:20,789 you. Thank you for listening. I'd like to pray with you. Our great 576 00:51:20,789 --> 00:51:25,769 God. I come to you again and thank you for the Bible. Thank you 577 00:51:25,769 --> 00:51:33,649 for its truth. It's pointed, it's direct. It is directly to our 578 00:51:33,649 --> 00:51:38,929 hearts and souls. God, many of us know who we are and what we are. 579 00:51:40,289 --> 00:51:44,969 And many a time we've wanted to quit and give up because we're 580 00:51:44,969 --> 00:51:52,119 not worthy, we're not worth it, and we are not on our own. But 581 00:51:52,279 --> 00:52:02,959 we're just branches, and we're totally dependent on you. I pray 582 00:52:02,959 --> 00:52:08,719 that we would surrender to that and we'd stop trying to live 583 00:52:08,719 --> 00:52:14,159 for you. And we would surrender to you. Jesus, if someone's 584 00:52:14,159 --> 00:52:17,719 not saved, I'm so thankful you give them another opportunity. I 585 00:52:17,719 --> 00:52:23,579 pray they'd get saved, that they'll say yes to you tonight. Us 586 00:52:23,579 --> 00:52:29,259 believers, I pray we'll say yes. Our heads are bowed, and Brother 587 00:52:29,259 --> 00:52:34,299 Donaldson's going to begin the invitation. You're welcome to sing 588 00:52:34,299 --> 00:52:38,619 with him, but our heads are bowed. Give people privacy. Let's 589 00:52:38,619 --> 00:52:39,459 surrender to him.