Good morning church family
Pastor Scottie is in Costa Rica
With there's 11 folks from better from our church that are down there right now
Ministering to young kids building classrooms. There should be a picture up there. Can you see them?
Huh? Just in case you missed them. Yay. It's okay to clap in church. It's alright
Who would have thought three years ago when the Lord planted this church that we would be
Traveling to another country to minister to children. We love children, especially children that have been rescued
From the slave market and they're working really hard down there. They're finishing the classrooms and stuff and
They're eating very well. I found out
In case you didn't know your pastor and mine Scotty the first night they were down there
He well in the restaurant there was a mechanical both
No
Okay, yeah
Yes, he did get on the bull
That's our pastor Scotty. So today of Scotty asked me to fill into a forum today while he is gone
Today is a very special day for ask Christians. It's a season that we celebrate
During these this season
Christians we like to celebrate the birth of Christ. We celebrate the death of Christ
Why because he went to the cross he defended defeated sin he defeated defeated death and then next weekend
We'll celebrate the resurrection of Christ
But today we celebrate Palm Sunday when Christ is presented as the Passover sacrifice
We celebrate the his triumphal end entry and today marks the start of Holy Week of
Passion Week a
Very special week for us as Christians
Before we get started. I want to pray for our Costa Rica team and
I want I'm gonna ask the congregation to pray for a member a member of our church by the name of
Dan Fronsack, he's gonna be having surgery here in a couple of weeks
I'm gonna ask the congregation to lift him in prayer. We'd love Dan if you don't know who he is
He usually comes in the front row right here. He's got a walking stick
That's about this tall and the kids just love him
So let's pray for our Costa Rica team today services that lift up our brother Dan father God
We we do thank you for this day. We pray for
These messages today your message is God we pray for the team in Costa Rica. We pray that you would bring them home safely
this Friday
lifting up Lord and
praying for our brother Dan Lord that you would be with the physicians as they
Operate on him. We pray that you would keep Dan
Full of energy keep them encouraged and bring them back among among them amongst us Lord
As we love this man like you do in Jesus name. Amen
So today being Palm Sunday, we are going to to end up talking about Palm Sunday
But that's not where I want to begin today
What I would like to do is introduce you to some people that were in
Jesus's life
During this time of him entering into the city of Jerusalem
We're going to learn about a little town a little village called Bethany a lot of history in Bethany
Bethany was a little town two miles to the east of Jerusalem and it's where
Jesus when he was teaching in in
Jerusalem and he needed a place to of
Quiet peace refuge he would leave Jerusalem and hike the two miles up the Mount of Olives
It just barely cross over the top of the Mount of Olives is Bethany and that's where he would stay
When he needed rest when he needed to get away and he would stay with his friends Mary Martha
Lazarus and
So I'm gonna ask you to begin by turning to John chapter 11
First one we're gonna do a survey of John 11. That's where we're gonna start today
but but first of all, I want to I want to introduce you to a
couple of gals sisters Mary and Martha and I will read out of
1030 Luke 10 38 now and now it happened as they went that he entered a certain village and a certain woman
Named Martha welcomed him into her house and she had a sister called Mary
who also sat at Jesus's feet and
Heard his word, but Martha was tracked was distracted with much serving
and
She approached Jesus and said Lord. Do you not care that my sister has left me alone?
To serve therefore tell her to help me
And Jesus answered and said to her Martha, Martha
You are worried and troubled about many things
But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen the good part
Which will not be taken away from her take note
during this
Introduction that Martha is serving and Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus
We'll come back to that later next we meet
Lazarus of Bethany
The brother of Mary and Martha John chapter 11 verse 1
I don't have time to go through all 57 verses
Scotty said no on the two-hour sermon. So I'm just gonna do a survey of this as we go through it
And a survey is we're just gonna pull way back and look at Scripture and pick the story out as we move on
So you can follow along in John chapter 11 if you like as we do this survey
verse 1
Lazarus of Bethany was sick
Verse 3 Mary and Martha send word to Jesus Lord behold he whom you love is sick
Verse 4 Jesus says this sickness is not not unto death but for the glory of God
Verse 7 Jesus says to his disciples
Let's go to Judea again
To Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead and at this time
Jesus is ministering down along the Jordan River, which is about 18 miles from Jerusalem
gets wind that
Lazarus is dead and
He's going to go raise him from the dead and why is Lazarus dead for the glory of God
So the glory of God will be revealed in him
So at this time, this is just a couple of weeks before what we call Palm Sunday
That's why why I wanted to bring this to your attention so you could be in the story so you can see what's going on
In Jesus's life during this time. So at this time, we're just a few weeks before his triumphal entry
entry Palm Sunday
Jesus and his disciples were in the region of the Jordan River and from there
He makes a special trip back up to Bethany
specifically to raise
Lazarus from the dead all for the glory of God of God
Jesus made it clear to his disciples in verse 14 John 11 14 that Lazarus is dead
Let us go to him. So they made the journey back to Bethany
Then Martha were in verse 20 go down to verse 20 then Martha as
Soon as she heard that Jesus was coming went and met him but Mary was sitting in the house
Now Martha said to Jesus Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God God will give to you
And Jesus said to her here brother will rise again
I want you to take note of words like death rise of Rick rise again and life
You're gonna hear that repeated through the story
Your brother will rise again Martha said to him. I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day
Jesus said to her this is his fifth I am statement in the Gospel of John
Jesus says I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in me though. He may die
He shall live did you notice die live?
resurrection
There's a reason why John puts all this in here just before he goes in
To Jerusalem verse 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die says Jesus
Do you believe this and she said to him listen? Yes, Lord
I believe that you are the Christ the Son of God who is to come into the world
The church family. Do you believe this?
Death
resurrection life
continuing in John 11 our survey then when Mary verse 32
Then when Mary came where Jesus was she saw him she fell down at his feet
Saying to him Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died
Therefore when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came
Saw her weeping he groaned in the spirit and was troubled
Then he said where have you laid him they said to him Lord come and see
John 35 John 11 35 the shortest verse in the Bible Jesus wept I
Want you to take note of that word wept we're gonna be talking about it later
And if you're like me and you have a really hard time memorizing verses, this is a good one to start with
In fact, most of you have it memorized just by me saying it right Jesus wept
Not to make light of this we're gonna come back to that word wept
Towards the middle of this message. So verse 38 they went to the tomb and Jesus says to her
Take away the stone verse 39
Martha
Let's Jesus know that
Lazarus has been dead for four days and there is a stench he sneaketh
King James version
He's not mostly dead he's very dead
Look at verse 40 John 11 40
Jesus reminds her said did I not say?
Jesus said to her did I not say that if you would believe you would see the glory of God
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father
I thank you that you have heard me
and
I know that you always hear me
But because of the people who are standing by I said this that they may believe that you sent me
Now when he had said these things he cried out with a loud voice
Lazarus come forth and
He who had died came out bound
Hand and foot with grave cloths and his face
Was wrapped with the cloth cloth Jesus said to them loose him
and let him go
Now the chief priests and the Pharisees
Were not happy with Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave
You understand it's taking attention away from them
and
They wanted to put Jesus to death verse 53
Therefore verse 54 Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but went from there into
the country near the wilderness to a city called Ephraim and
there he remained with
His disciples so Jesus leaves the region of the Jordan goes 18 miles up to Bethany
Raises Lazarus from the dead the scribes and Pharisees want to kill him
But his time has not yet come so he heads to the north goes back down to the east
Drops down near the wilderness
Along the Jordan River and stays there with his disciples until the right tongue time comes
so Jesus and his disciples journey and
verse 55
the Passover of the Jews was near
John chapter 12 verse 1
We're gonna read the first 11 verses of John 12 verse 1 now remember
This is all happening before his triumphal entry before what we call Palm Sunday when he victorious
notoriously rides in to Jerusalem to defeat sin and death at the cross
John chapter 12 verse 1 then six days before
Passover Jesus came to Bethany
Where Lazarus was who had been dead whom he had raised from the dead verse 2
There they made Jesus a supper
Martha served but Lazarus who's one of those who sat at the table with him with Jesus
Can you imagine
The conversation this is the last meal of the day it's the biggest meal of the day
There's guests at the table. Jesus is the guest of honor
Lazarus another guest who by the way used to be dead
But I've I try to put myself
At this table and I'm just like I would be staring at Lazarus the whole time. It'd be like
What talk to me?
He was dead he's quiet he's just sitting there very quiet that's another message right there
They made him a supper verse 2 Martha served Lazarus is one of those who sat at the table with him
Then Mary
Then Mary verse 3
Took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and
The house was filled with the fragrance
Take note
Martha is serving Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus
Remember when we first met them Martha is serving Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus
Which is the better place?
Verse 4
but
One of his disciples Judas Iscariot
Simon's son who would betray him said
Why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?
This he said not that he cared for the poor
But because he was a thief
There's nothing woke about the Bible. It tells it just like it is you still you're a thief
and he had the money box they trusted him and
He used to take what was put in it
He
Was a thief he had in the money box now a great many of the Jews verse 9
Knew that he was there that Jesus was there in Bethany and
They came not for Jesus's sake only but they that they might also see
Lazarus whom he raised from the dead by the way Bible students notice
Forever Lazarus is going to have a comma next to his name
It's gonna be Lazarus whom he raised from the dead. It's like it's his middle name
and
Words that repeat to whom he raised from the dead whom he raised from the dead over and over in John 11 and John 12
There's a reason for that
But they they came the Jews came from
Jerusalem they want to see Jesus, but they also want to see Lazarus
Whom he raised from the dead
So it's the Passover is near there's thousands and tens of thousands of people coming into Jerusalem
They're going into to Jerusalem for their ceremonial
cleansing and
to talk to the money changers and to pick up their
offerings their sacrifices while they're there and
So that but the Jews are leaving Jerusalem they're going against the crowd they're walking the two miles up to
Bethany over the top up to Bethany because they want to see Jesus and they want to see
Lazarus whom he raised from the dead
Verse 10, but
the chief priests and
Plotted to put Lazarus to death also
um a
I'm not the smartest person on the block but common sense would tell me that if Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
He's alive
Your first thought would be to kill him
That doesn't make sense to me
because on the hat on account of him verse
11 many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus
They're very jealous
Judas Iscariot
Before we move on we're going to be going to
Luke chapter 19 next but before we
While you guys are finding your way there
I want to I want to cover a little bit of what we've already talked about and in John chapters
11 and 12
As I read that to you
There were words that repeat anytime Bible students when you see words that repeat phrases that repeat while you're reading the Bible
They're in there for a reason pay attention in
The 67 verses that we just surveyed listen death is mentioned 13 times
resurrection is mentioned eight times and
Life eternal life is mentioned five times
Jesus has not even got on that cult yet and
entered into Jerusalem
When when we were reading that?
Just weeks before his triumphal entry
We have death resurrection and life
repeated over and over and over again and just a few hours before the triumphal entry
a supper was held in Jesus honor and
Sitting at the table is Lazarus whom he raised from the dead
Resurrection life no more death a
Couple of key takeaways from John's gospel
When we first met Mary she was sitting at the feet of Jesus
Remember Jesus said Mary has chosen that good part
Which is listening to my word the words of Christ
Mary has chosen that good part and then listen to this. He says it will not be taken away from her
What does that mean?
God's Word
Is eternal it's always existed it always will exist in the beginning was the
Word
God's Word
You guys on the front row, yeah
But listen to this is what what it will not be taken away from her listen to Psalm
119 89 forever Oh Oh Lord
Your word is settled in heaven Isaiah 40 the grass withers the flower fades
But the word of our God stands forever
Matthew chapter 24 heaven and earth will pass away
but my words Jesus will by no means pass away and
in John chapter 12 verse 3
We see Mary again
Worshipping at the feet of Jesus the eternal word
Mary chose a path that leads to life life everlasting
Eternal life
What path are you choosing
Are you sitting at the feet of Jesus are you listening to his word are you distracted with many things?
What path are you choosing oh
Oh my
Another guest sitting at the supper table
with Jesus
Lazarus Mary and Martha
Is also mentioned by name?
Judas Iscariot another guest at the table
Mr.. Narcissistic personality disorder himself sitting at the table
He is the president and CEO at of the bank of me myself and I it's all about me
So
Judas Iscariot sees Mary pouring this very costly oil of spark spike nard on Jesus
Anointing his feet and says hey, what are you doing?
We could have sold that we could we could have clothed the poor we could have put that money to a good use
Who invited her? What are you doing?
But he was a thief remember and who's whose his focus on is that on the poor it's on him me me me
gee Judas Iscariot followed Jesus for three years and
he was making a pile of money because he was in child in charge of the money box and
He could care less about Jesus could care less just used him to make money
Judas was focused on things that are passing things that are temporary. He was self-focused and it all ended in death
and
A big way he worshipped money
He worshiped and his God small letter G was money
What are you worshipping today do you have any idols in your life today? What are you worshipping?
Judas chose a path that leads to death
Separated from God for ever church family. What path are you choosing on this day?
Luke chapter 19 verses 28 and 29
Then when he had said this he went on ahead going up to Jerusalem this is the day before
His triumphal entry this is when the supper happened when he was a guest of honor at supper
This is the day before and it came to that pass verse 29
When he drew near to Beth phage and Bethany at the mountain called Olivet that he sent two of his disciples
Then now it's the day of his entry into Jerusalem he sent two of his disciples
Let's read verses 30 through 36
Saying go to the village opposite you whereas when you enter you will find a
cult-tide on which no one has ever set lose it and bring it here and if anyone asks you
Why are you losing it thus you shall say to him because the Lord has need of it fulfillment of Zechariah 9 9
So those who were sent went their way and found it just as he had said to them
But as they were losing the cult the owners of it said to them. Why are you losing the cult?
and
They said the Lord has need of him
They then they brought him to Jesus they threw their own clothes on the colt and they set
Jesus on him and as he went many spread their clothes on the road
Matthew mentions both the donkey and the colt the donkey the mayor
Mark Matthew and John
Mention the branches that are being cut and laid on the road the palm branches
that's where we get the tradition of palm Sunday and
There was plenty of palm branches on the Mount of Olives during that time and the palm branches
symbolized joy and
Salvation the king is coming
But listen to this
And it even pictures a future
royal tribute to Christ in
Revelation chapter 7 verses 9 and 10 in the future
Listen to this revelation 7 9
After these things I looked and behold a great multitude which no one could number of all nations tribes peoples and
Tongues standing before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes
With palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice
Saying salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb
Amen in the future
And Bible students take note when
When God instituted
the Passover in
Exodus chapter 12
The Passover lamb was to be selected or presented on the 10th of Nisan
Jesus our Passover lamb was selected or
Resented on the 10th of Nisan when he rode in to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday
As the people cried out
Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord the 10th of Nisan as foretold in Nehemiah
I love it when these stories of the Bible
come to life and when the Bible interprets the Bible and when we see things like this and
Isaiah written 700 years before his birth
Talks about him steadfastly setting his face towards Jerusalem
in
Luke
951
I'm going to Jerusalem. Nothing is gonna stop me. I'm not gonna be distracted
Move out of the way. I'm going to Jerusalem
700 years before was foretold by the prophet Isaiah
Continuing in in Luke 1937 are we down there already?
1937 Luke 19
Then as he was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives
Mark's account mentions the crowds that are going before Jesus and after Jesus
So Jesus is on the cold. There's thousands of people ahead of him
There's thousands of people behind him
Palm bad branches are waving
What a visual that is crying out Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Oh those pesky Pharisees they always got to come into the scene here we go verse 39 and some of the Pharisees
Called to him from the crowd
Saying teacher rebuke your disciples. They can't stand that all these people are singing hallelujah to Jesus
Tell them to be quiet
And they will be able to sing Hallelujah to Jesus
Tell them to be quiet
In
First 40
First 40 Jesus says
He's answered and said to him after they told him tell your rebuke your disciples
Jesus says I tell you that if these should keep silent the stones would immediately cry out
There's a better probability of these stones singing and dancing than there is of these multitudes keeping silent
Although scripture often speaks of inanimate objects
Praising God Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 11 for the stone will cry out from the wall and the beam from the timbers will answer it
In other words, they're telling Jesus tell your disciples to be quiet and Jesus is saying that ain't gonna happen
Finally we're getting to the end
This is the part I don't want you to miss pay attention
Finally all that the set up the next four verses
verse 41
Now as he drew near like I mentioned Luke 9 51
When he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem like a flint
No distraction the journey is over
He saw the city
From his vantage point up on the Mount of Olives as they left Bethany Beth phage
They're coming up over the top of the Mount of Olives
Finally he could see Jerusalem he could see in to the city of Jerusalem
The gates are a hundred feet high but he's up on the Mount of Olives and he can see in there
He can see the city he can see all the people the temple with all the gold all of its glory the rocks the stones
The carvings the wood beams gold everything's covered with gold thousands and thousands of people
The road in front of him and the road behind him filled with people
That journey from 9 51 and Luke has come to fruition
Okay I'm going to slow down for one second
Because I don't want you to miss this
This is when you want to wake up the person next to you and tell them you don't want to miss this
Okay here we go is it hot in here is it just me?
Okay the way we adjust the heat here is by opening the doors outside
That's another story
Listen very close
At the funeral of Lazarus remember in John 11 35 when Jesus wept
Do you remember that Jesus wept?
That is the Greek word dakruo dakruo d-a-k-r-u-o
In the Greek the meaning is to shed a tear
It's under control your eyes are filling up with tears to cry silently
Jesus wept
If I can get through this I have an illustration for you guys
Perfect illustration of this on Tuesday of this week
I got a phone call from my sweet daughter-in-law Marissa
Papa are you home? Yeah I'm home
You need to come watch Dawson Cooper needs to go to emergency
Okay I'm on my way I fly down the road I get there
What happened is Cooper's fine by the way I want to get that out right now
What happened was it was bath time Marissa's raising two boys ladies
Can you relate to that?
She's raising two boys that's three and a year and a half
My job is to watch Dawson while Cooper gets put in the ambulance and taken to the hospital
So during that time I have dakruo
I'm weeping but it's under control my eyes are filled with tears
I'm holding Dawson and I'm praying
The fire truck is coming down the road with the lights going like that
That's partly what woke Cooper up because he was disoriented
When he saw the fire engine he was like wow
But I wanted to give you that illustration of the different kinds of weeping that we have
Okay?
You know ladies you know this when you get your boys out of the tub
And they're dancing on top on the back of the toilet
Just like get down you're gonna fall you get it then he falls
Raising boys and special gift in heaven for the ladies that have raised boys
The problem is we never grow out of it do we?
No, no we don't
Okay here we go
But here in Luke chapter 19 verse 41 when Jesus wept over the city
Now as he drew near he saw the city and wept over it
This is a different word than the other word for weep
This is the word klaio k-l-a-i-o klaio
And it is there is no stronger word in the Greek language than this one for wailing and crying out loud
It's the top there's there's none stronger
If this means to sob to to wail aloud you're inconsolable and you're not able to be comforted
That's our Lord
That's Jesus
When he sees the city of Jerusalem riding on that colt on Sunday
So Jesus sees Jerusalem and starts weeping uncontrollably
Why?
Why is he weeping?
Is it the cross?
No very good
No
Let's look at scripture and back that up
Hebrews 12 2 looking on to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith
Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross
Despising the shame and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God for the joy that was set before him
Mark records Mark records that when at the Last Supper when Jesus and the disciples are leaving that upper room
And they're walking down the steps they're going to go down to the Kidron Valley
They're going to go across the book Brooke Kidron up into the Mount of Olives
Jesus is going to be arrested he's going to be crucified and they're singing hymns
For the joy set before him
Jesus was not weeping for himself
He was weeping for his unending desire for the peace of Jerusalem
He was weeping with Jeremiah and all the prophets who loved the city of Jerusalem the city of peace
He was weeping because he had full knowledge of the destruction coming 37 years later
AD 70
When not one stone remains that won't be thrown down on that beautiful temple
And those stones are there today Susan and I saw them a year ago you can actually walk up to these stones
You can walk up to them and touch them you can stand back and you can see the temple mount
You can see the platform a hundred feet in the air where they pushed these huge stones off of there the size of a Volkswagen
And they bashed into the ground and put a divot a foot and a half deep into the pavement
They're there right now what I just read to you the stones are there
He saw that coming he knew that was coming
Not one stone will remain that won't be thrown down but most of all
Are you still with me?
It's a lot of stuff
Most of all he wept for the people of Jerusalem
The very people who willfully rejected him would all be destroyed
These same people that are singing
Baruch haba b'shem Adonai blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord within a week are going to be yelling crucify him
He sees that he knows he knows their hearts their hearts not in the right place crucify him
There is no greater sin than rejecting Jesus
Oh my I would ask that you get that visual back in your minds as we finish these verses
The Lord Jesus Christ is wailing aloud not able to be comforted
Verse 42 if you had known even you especially in this your day the things that make for your peace but now they are hidden from your eyes
For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an abatement around you surround you and close you in on every side
And level you and your children within you to the ground they will not leave in you one stone upon another
Because you did not know the time of your visitation
You should have known Jesus is saying you should have known as this he's drenched with tears you should have known
That all things this is Luke 24 Jesus talking you should have known that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms concerning me the Old Testament is all about Christ you should have known that
John 5 46 for if you believe this is Jesus if you believe Moses you would believe me for he wrote about me if you do not believe his writings how are you going to believe my words
And listen to Jesus and John chapter 8 43 Why do you not understand my speech you should have known
I sent prophets to you you tortured them you stone them you killed them you saw them into
How does that relate to us today. The Bible it's in your lap I hope it is
The preachers like like Scotty Rick teaching you the word I sent all these spokes to you listen listen to the word of God
Back to verse 42 you did not know the things that make for your peace
But now they are hidden from your eyes. I don't want to ever hear those words from my Lord. Oh my goodness
But now they are hidden from your eyes you are spiritually blind you have eyes you to see you can see people around you you can read you can see everything but spiritually in your heart you are blind you cannot see
2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 15 talks about a veil that lies on your heart
Well I don't want a veil on my heart I want to be able to know what's going on. Well read the next verse
2 Corinthians 3 16 nevertheless when one turns to the Lord the veil is taken away and now you have spiritual eyes to see
Is it really that easy yes it is
And verses 43 and 44 talk about total destruction we didn't read it tonight
Well this morning well it's gonna be night when I'm done but we didn't read it today and then Luke 19
chapter 19 verse 27 the parable of the minas says something just absolutely terrifying in that story it is a parable but Jesus is saying bring those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them and slay them right here before me
You don't want to reject Jesus Christ why because they rejected him they did not know the time of their of their visitation
And church family do you understand the time of your visitation do you understand the times we are in today
I don't need to go into detail do you remember 4 years ago where did you go celebrate Easter 4 years ago this next weekend
Nowhere all the churches were closed across the world most of them you could still go to the liquor store but the churches were all closed
Those are the times we live in Pastor Scottie and our crew from out west Bible church as we speak right now by the way we're on the same time zone so they're eating lunch down there
But as we speak they are down there ministering oh my
To young kids who have been rescued out of the sex slave market it's worldwide these things are happening worldwide you understand the times we are in today kids in this country are being mutilated
They could get a sex change operation but you don't have to tell mom and dad are you kidding me 2024 need to know the times that we live in pay attention
Jews are being hated all around the world right now and Scottie says it all the time and I'll repeat it if you hate the Jewish people you are not a Christian
God is and Scottie says this too I love the way he says this God is not going to save the Jews because they are good he's going to save them because he is good amen
Son I could go on and on but I can't the Bible says that it will be like this in the last days and you know what encourages me is even the unbelievers the people that don't go to church people that don't read their Bibles they don't know any of this stuff we're talking about
Even they I'm hearing them say they are saying this isn't right this is different something's wrong it's not about getting the right person in the White House okay let's don't go there it's not about that you're looking at the wrong kingdom if you're looking at that
But they're saying this is different folks can you tell something is very different two months from now we're going to have the pride whatever for a month our veterans get one day okay I need to repent and settle down a little bit I love I love I love this by I love the stories of the Bible it is dark it's spiritual or warfare
But God is sovereign
I had about five more minutes in this message. The notes that I shared with you today they were by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures they were my own notes
But right now I want to borrow from another pastor another pastor Steve you can't have too many Steves in your life. Scotty says we're a dime a dozen but he he doesn't know
But a pastor Steve Lawson whom I really trust I heard him present this gospel message one time and it he nails it and I wanted to make darn sure that I shared the gospel message with you today there are people in this room who who are not yet saved I want to focus on you guys I want you to hear very clearly the gospel message
And as I read this if you can if you feel compelled to stand at any time during during this during this five minute presentation. You're in church don't feel awkward about it
But it's very powerful. It's the gospel message.
And my question is do you want hope.
I need a drink.
Excuse me. The gospel message is Jesus Christ. He is the son of God sent into this world to be born of a virgin that he might be sinless that he might be born under the law that he would obey the very law that you and I break every day.
He is the perfect sinless son of God.
He is met perfectly all the requirements of a perfect holy God and is ready to give his righteousness to us that we have a perfect standing before God that he went to the cross there he was lifted up to die and there upon that cross the sins of everyone who would believe in him were transferred to him who knew no sin.
God put our sins on him that we might be righteous through him. That's the great exchange of the cross.
The worse about me laid upon him the best about him laid upon me.
As he shed his blood upon that cross he reconciled sinful man to a holy God.
There is no other way for us to have a relationship with an infinitely holy God except through the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ.
It was as if he took sinful man in one hand and a holy God in the other hand and he brought the two of them together through his death his death on the cross.
And by that death he satisfied the righteous anger of God and appease his wrath toward all who would believe in him.
Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was by that death that Jesus has now provided salvation free to all who would call upon his name.
After saying it is finished he was taken down from the cross buried in a rich man's tomb and on the third day by all accounts by all the power that was inherent in him.
As the Son of God he raised himself from the dead came walking out of that tomb a living risen victorious Savior.
As he ascended back to heaven and is now as we speak seated at the right hand of God the Father and whoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
To call upon the Lord Jesus Christ is to look away from yourself look away from your religion look away from your denomination your church membership and all of your so-called good works and look exclusively upon the face of the Lord Jesus Christ and his work.
Jesus said he who comes to me I will by no means cast out.
He loves to save sinners he is a friend of sinners.
He came to seek and save the lost he came not for the righteous but for the unrighteous.
Will you tell him this moment what a sinner you are will you tell him how sick you are by sin and that you are not able to save yourself.
Would you call upon him Lord Jesus I am a wretched hell-bound sinner but your grace is up being offered freely to me today.
If you would call upon his name this very moment he will save you he will save you today he will wash away your sins.
You will be clean and pure from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet.
His righteousness is a free gift there's nothing you can do to earn it there's nothing you can do to merit it he will clothe you with his righteousness and when God looks at you he will see the righteousness of his son Jesus Christ.
And one day when you die and you will die he will take you into the very presence of God the Father and present you faultless before the throne of God.
Today the gates of paradise have been swung wide open to you.
Jesus says come the Spirit and the bride say come.
Your friends and family who invited you here today say come.
Come.
Today is the day of salvation.
Don't put it off another day you may never have an opportunity like this again.
I beg you I urge you if you are not saved commit your life to Jesus Christ before you leave this room.
He will receive you he will save you he will wash you clean and one day he will take you into heaven where you would spend eternity with him.
This is the gospel message this is the good news of salvation found only in Jesus Christ.
I urge you at this moment as an act of your will to commit to following Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Father God Lord we do thank you so much for this day and I thank you for all those in attendance Lord lifting up and praying especially for those who do not know you yet today Lord we pray for the salvation of their souls.
We pray for fruit unto eternal life Father God that through the power of the holy spirit Lord that you would raise up people Father God that would come to know you Jesus Christ as their Lord and as their Savior.
Amen.