Sermon
Introduction to The Godhead: The Names of Jesus | Steve Benson
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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a little better. Since last week,
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we've been going through a series on
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the sound doctrines of the word of God.
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That's what the church is to be built
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on. Church is the pillar and the ground
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of the truth. Those are all things that
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you know.
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So, we've been looking at the importance
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of the word of God
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and that's how God communicates with us.
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We don't need any other way. Not that we
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can't listen to other commentators and
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other people,
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but the truth is found in God's word.
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That's what we want to stand on.
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So, we've been looking at the Godhead.
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I think it's important when we as a new
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Christian or even as an older Christian
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that we stop and look at our God, who he
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is and what his word says that he is. I
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mean, that that causes us to worship him
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and praise him and thank him.
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So, we've been looking at the Godhead,
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God the Father, and God the Son and God
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the Holy Spirit. And we have been
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recently upon the Son of God upon upon
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the Lord Jesus Christ. So, turn with me
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to the book of Matthew in chapter 1.
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And this morning, uh, the message is on
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the names
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of Jesus.
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And you're going to see he had several.
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So this is why it's important for us to
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study God because that that we benefit
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just from studying God. That's how great
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he is.
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And Jesus is the best example there ever
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was. But he's more than an example. He's
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the greatest teacher that ever was. But
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he's more than a teacher. He's the
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greatest redeemer there ever was. But
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he's more than a redeemer. He's our
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mediator as well.
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So looking at Jesus in depth, I think is
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going to benefit me and hopefully
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benefit you as we look at these uh names
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for Jesus.
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And we have several right here together.
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And I know some of these we looked at in
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the incarnation, but we have a different
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reason to look at them today with the
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names of Jesus. And you're going to see
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it when you come to a verse and you're
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thinking a particular way with a
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particular subject. There's truth there.
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And then you know five minutes later or
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five months later you're coming back and
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there's still truth here. So that's the
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great thing about the word of God. It's
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living and is able to do what God wants
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us to do in our lives.
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So I'm up for 63 names for Jesus.
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I I think when I get back from my
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vacation, I'm going to be be gone on
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vacation. So, pray for I may have a few
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more, but I'm up to 63 names
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for the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you
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can remember when we went through the um
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doctrines of the Holy Spirit, there were
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26 names that we could find on Holy
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Spirit.
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So Jesus has more than double the names
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of the Holy Spirit.
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So that's what the spirit says. He's
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going to guide us into truth and Jesus
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is the truth, you know. So so uh the
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godhead is not in any kind of
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competition with each other. They're
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co-equal in every way, in every aspect.
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They love each other and they love us.
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That's the great thing about our God.
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So, we begin here in Matthew chapter 1
Matthew 1 chapter mention
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this morning
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and verse 21
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is one you're familiar with and we've
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looked at uh about the incarnation, the
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different things here
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that we've looked at already concerning
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Jesus. But in verse 21 here,
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and she shall bring forth a son,
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and notice it's a small s there,
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but humanly speaking, a son, Mary.
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That's why, you know, God come to Mary,
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the Virgin Mary, and and the embryo. We
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saw the Holy Spirit
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um producing the embryo that was none
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other than the person of Jesus Christ.
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And you know Jesus throughout his life
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constantly proved that he is the son of
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God.
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So the names that he have has is going
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to help us here. So we have a a human
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name. He's a son and you will call his
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name Jesus.
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So he literally was called Jesus and he
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was called Jesus for this very reason.
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So he had human names and one of them he
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was a human son to Mary. One of them
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he's is he is Jesus. Well what does that
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mean? Well Jesus means the it means the
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uh old testament we have that word
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Joshua. We have the book of Joshua
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and uh it means Jehovah is salvation
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is what that means. Well, the Greek name
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for that is Jesus.
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So the name Jesus very name means he is
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the savior. He's going to save us from
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our sins. That's what it says. He going
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to save his people from their sins. So
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right away we see he's the son. We see
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he's Jesus. We see he's the uh the
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savior and and this is all just here in
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one verse.
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He's going to save us from our sins. And
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now look down in verse 23.
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And the the virgin shall be with child
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shall bring forth a son and you will
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call his name Emmanuel.
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You know, well that you know that wasn't
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his middle name. He didn't go around as
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Jesus, Emmanuel, you know, the son of
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Joseph and Mary, but he this word is
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telling us what actually he did. He is
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God
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and he became a man. So we have we have
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God coming to us and that's what it
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says. God is with us. So Jesus is God
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and he is God with us here in verse 23.
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Now, if you look over in verse 18,
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he says here, "The birth
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of Jesus Christ." There's his last name,
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Christ.
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So, he is that means something. It means
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that he's the anointed one. That's the
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Old Testament word for Messiah.
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So, they're they're the same thing.
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Messiah and Christ are the same word.
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He's the anointed one.
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And when his mother Mary was in spouse
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of Joseph, they came together and she
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was found a child of the Holy Spirit. So
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we see here that he is the Christ. He's
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the anointed one. He's the He's the
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Messiah.
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So here in Matthew 1 are several just in
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a couple verses. Well, turn back to
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chapter uh one and verse one.
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Matthew 1. Matthew's the the gospel of
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the king Christ.
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So Matthew gives us a lot of names for
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Jesus. And here are two more in one
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verse in the book the genealogy of Jesus
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Christ. He's the son of David. He's the
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son of Abraham. So there's two more of
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his human names. He is the son of David.
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He is the son of Abraham.
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Well, if you've been part of Sunday
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school, you might not know the answer to
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this question, but I'll throw it out
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there anyway. What was Jesus favorite
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name that he called himself?
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>> The son of man.
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>> The Son of Man. You're right, John.
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Turn to Matthew chapter 16.
Matthew 16 chapter mention
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So when we look at him, you know, before
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he was born, he's the son of God. He's a
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he's the son the father gave. And when
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he come to earth and he was born a man,
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become Mary's son, now he's a he's the
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son of man.
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So that's what he's telling everybody.
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He's the son of man. And the Jews should
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have known this. I mean, you know, it's
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like Messiah and Christ. If we say
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somebody's a Messiah, we should know
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what that means. If we say somebody is
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Christ, we should know what that means.
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The Jews were the same way with the son
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of man. They should have known what that
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meant. We're going to see that in some
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of these. And in Matthew 16
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and verse 28
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here he says, "Verily I say unto you,
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there are some standing here who shall
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not uh taste of death till they have
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seen the son of man coming in his
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kingdom." So here he's got a kingdom.
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He's a king. The son of man is a king as
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well.
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So you know what Jesus called himself
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and what he said about himself you know
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it's very uh you know it it helps us
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understand him and his mission. I'll
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turn over to Mark
Mark 11 chapter mention
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chapter 11.
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Mark
Mark 11 chapter mention
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chapter 11
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and here in verse three
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he here he says and if any man say to
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you why are you uh doing this this is
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when the he borrows a donkey this just
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amazes me
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Jesus took the time to do this and and
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to borrow a donkey he didn't pull some
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money out of the fish mouth like he paid
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his taxes to buy a donkey, he just
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borrows one.
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And here he says
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what he is in verse three. If any man
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say unto you, why do you do this?
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Say to them, the Lord has need of him.
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So here we see Jesus himself
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calling himself
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Lord.
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Now let's go to Luke
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22.
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in verse 69
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Luke 22:69
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we you probably hear it I hear it from
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people well Jesus didn't say he was God
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or Jesus isn't God you know he's the
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brother to the devil I mean that's what
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these cult some of these cults are
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telling people they're so misinformed
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just read your Bible
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you're going to see these things. You
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know, look what Jesus said about
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himself, what he called himself, what he
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said he was here to do. These are all
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such important things. And here in Luke
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22
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and verse 69,
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here he says herein, the son of man will
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sit on the right hand of the power of
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God. So here he's calling himself the
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son of man. And here he's calling
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himself God,
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you know, not some lesser God. He's
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almighty God. That's what he says. The
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power of God, almighty God. So Jesus
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told the disciples, I, you know, I'm I'm
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from God. I am God. And I'm going to
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come out of the grave. I'm going to
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conquer sin. And not only do that,
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but uh he's going to come back to earth
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as a man. So here he called himself a
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man. Here he called himself a son of
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God. And here he calls himself almighty
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God.
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And uh look over in John chapter 8.
John 8 chapter mention
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John chapter 8.
John 8 chapter mention
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verse 40. John chapter 8
John 8 chapter mention
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and verse 40.
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You know, he don't let anyone say Jesus
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never said he was a man. Don't let
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anyone say Jesus never said he was God.
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It come out of his own mouth.
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And here he tells the Pharisees.
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He says, "You seek to kill me." Well,
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how can you kill him unless he's a man?
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Well, they couldn't have killed him if
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they wanted to. You know, how many times
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did he get away from him because his
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hour was not yet come. But you can see
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here that their plot,
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he knows their plot. He knows what
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they're up to.
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And he says, "You're going to kill me. A
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man, I told you the truth. a man,
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the man, Christ Jesus, is the one who
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speaks the truth. And he says, "Which I
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have heard of God, this did not
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Abraham." So he says, "I've got a closer
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relationship with God than Abraham
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because I am God in the flesh." So very
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interesting things that Jesus said about
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himself. John the Baptist, he said,
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"Behold the man, you know, he John
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called him a man. Jesus called him a
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man. Um, look over in Matthew chapter
Matthew 25 chapter mention
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25.
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You know, this is what we need to
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remember.
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Matthew 25
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and verse 31.
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Here we see when the son of man shall
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come in his glory. So here he's telling
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them and telling us remember he said
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somebody here is not going to taste
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death until you see the son of God come
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in his glory
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and remember the transfiguration.
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You know Peter got to see it. Wow.
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There's Moses
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and there's Jesus and his glory.
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So this glory
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um he he had with his father. That's
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what John 17 says. And the father gave
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it to him. And then Jesus came and did
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the father's will accomplish great
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salvation for us. He went back to heaven
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and he's seated at the right hand of the
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father. And he's getting ready to come
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get up and come back. And here he's
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telling them that. And he here he still
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calls himself the son of man.
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So only God could pull this off.
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When the Son of Man shall come in his
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glory and all the holy angels with him,
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the ones that he made,
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Jesus is not a creature. He's the
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creator. That's what he's telling them
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here. Uh yeah, I'm a man, but I I was
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the one who created the angels back
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there in uh Job and Genesis. I'm the one
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that has the glory. No one made me. I'm
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eternal. I'm almighty God and he he owns
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every angel.
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And then shall he sit upon the throne
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of his glory. So Christ is a king
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and he's going to be the king over
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everything.
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As Peter said in Acts, he's lord of all.
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And indeed he is. He's going to return
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as a man and he's going to do these
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things. He's going to gather all the
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nations. He's going to separate one from
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another as a shepherd divides his sheep
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from the goats. He's going to divide
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them, the sheep on the right and the
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goats on the left. Then shall the king,
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he's a king,
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come be blessed by my father. So he's
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doing the father's will. He's inherited
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from the father this kingdom, this great
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kingdom of glory that was prepared
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before the foundation of the world.
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So this is not something this isn't plan
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B.
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Uh this is plan A. God does not need
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another plan. His is working perfectly
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and we're a part of it. We we are now
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believers in the son of man and the son
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of God having he accomplished our
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redemption.
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and turn to Acts chapter 17.
Acts 17 chapter mention
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Acts chapter 17. When we see Jesus in
Acts 17 chapter mention
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this way, you know, we see the complete
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Jesus. We not, you know, Paul said, you
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know, we celebrate Christmas, you know,
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and, you know, I think we should we
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should remember the incarnation. You
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know, we celebrate Easter and we should
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to remember the resurrection,
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but as well, Paul said, you know, we
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don't remember Jesus after the flesh
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anymore. We remember him as he is in
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Revelation chapter 1. We're going to go
Revelation 1 chapter mention
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there in a minute.
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But the scripture elevates our
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understanding of who Jesus is and what
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he has done.
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You know, he's been been back there
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since before the foundation of the
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world.
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We certainly can trust him
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and he chose us as the word of God says.
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But Paul tells them here in Acts chapter
Acts 17 chapter mention
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17.
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So anywhere we go around the world, we
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can say we can tell people this. This
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isn't an American thing. You know, this
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isn't a Israel thing. The Bible says
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this man Jesus is going to judge the
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whole world. everyone
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whether you like it or not.
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That's why Peter said he is the Lord of
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all. And here Paul says in
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Acts chapter 17, should you preach when
Acts 17 chapter mention
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you're alone? Paul did. That's your
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call.
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But things can get pretty hairy quick.
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I talked to a man that happened to this
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this last couple weeks. He was by
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himself and
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you know the persecution against Jesus
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is worldwide
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wherever you go
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because he's made these kind of
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statements and the devil knows it.
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But don't let anyone tell you Jesus is
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going to answer to anyone. The one he's
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going to answer to is his father and
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everybody else is going to answer to
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him. Every knee will bow, every tongue
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will confess. Wherever you live on this
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planet, know that.
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But here in Acts chapter 17,
Acts 17 chapter mention
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you guys are there and I'm getting there
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because he has appointed a day. Remember
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Jesus said, you know, this all started
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before the foundation of the world. I
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was with the father. What we chose the
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elect. The elect have believed. You
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know, we have Israel, the nation. We
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have the church. Jesus is the head of
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the church. He's the, you know, he's the
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the head of every man as well.
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So don't look anywhere else. He's the
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way, the truth, and the life. No man can
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come to the father but by him.
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And that's what Paul tells the
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Athenians.
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Oh, wicked Gentiles. That's what we are.
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We don't even we don't even know a god.
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We make our own. The Jews have God. He
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He's chose them
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and through them God is saving the
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Gentiles. That's us.
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Wherever we go around the world, God uh
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he says in righteousness, this is so
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important,
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you know. Yeah. How we live matters,
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you know. How we present the gospel
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matters. How we teach matters. How we
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talk about God matters.
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It should be in righteousness
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by the man whom he has ordained
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concerning which he has given assurance
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unto all men that he raised him from the
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dead. So our assurance doesn't rest in
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us, it rests in him. You know, God
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raised him from the dead. You know, let
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every everyone know that at the name of
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Jesus, whosoever will may come.
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So that's who this man is.
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Remember in John chapter 20, let's go to
John 20 chapter mention
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that one. It's close by. Two times here
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we see
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in after the appearance after the
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resurrection, people called Jesus God.
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You know, he didn't get on him before he
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died for calling him God. He didn't say,
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"Don't worship me. I'm not God." Like
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John did. with the angels.
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No, people worshiped Jesus from
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Bethlehem on
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he didn't become God. He is God.
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And here in John, the very people that
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were with him. You know, if Jesus was a
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fraud, these people would have figured
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him out. But they go totally the other
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way. He's not a fraud. He is the way,
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the truth, and the life.
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And here we have Mary Magdalene's
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appearance
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uh with Jesus in
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chapter 20
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verse 18. Touch me not. I'll start in
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17. For I not yet ascended to my father.
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So you know the whole trinity is
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involved in our salvation. That's how
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that's how great this is. God the
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father, God the son, and God the holy
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spirit. They all play a part. And here
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touch me not. I've not ascended to my
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father Mary,
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but go to my brethren.
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He's calling us his brothers.
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He He's a friend of the sinners, by the
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way. Another name.
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Here he's our friend. Here he's their
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brother. Here he's the one who has risen
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from the dead. He didn't come to judge.
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He come to save.
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and I've yet to go to my father,
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to your father, to my God, and to your
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God. Jesus made us a family, a family of
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God, uh, under his umbrella, you know,
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we've got good coverage
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when you're in Jesus.
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And here in John chap
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20 verse 28, we've looked at this one,
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but again remember what Thomas said, my
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Lord and my God. So people called him
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Lord and God on the earth before he ever
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ascended
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to heaven.
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Now turn to Revelation chapter 1.
Revelation 1 chapter mention
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So now we see the Jesus. We see what he
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did on the earth. We see what he
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accomplished. We see who he is,
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you know, we see the work that he done.
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We see the apostles saying he's he's the
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Lord of all. Every knee will bow. Every
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nation needs to know this. Go into all
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the world and preach the gospel. And
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here in Revelation,
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we meet the new Jesus.
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He's not hanging on a cross. Sorry,
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Catholic Church.
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He's been there and done that.
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And and notice what he says
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in Revelation.
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He takes it up another notch.
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They couldn't handle it on earth. What?
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You're God?
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Yep. He's God. And now even John, he
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falls at his feet as dead. He's John
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spent more time with him than than all
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of us.
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And
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Jesus is now
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glorified.
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He's no longer hanging on the cross.
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He's no longer in the tomb, empty tomb.
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He's no longer walking around in
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Galilee. He's about to come back.
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And that's what John tells us what's
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going to happen because of not anything
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we've done, but because of everything
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that he has done.
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Our great high priest offered himself
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for our sins. And that's what he says
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here in verse eight.
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I am the alpha and the omega, the
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beginning and the ending. Well, there's
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there's some more names
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uh we can add and we can see a part of
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this is part of our 63
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sayeth the Lord there. John calls him
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Lord
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and and he here who he is. He is he was
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and he is to come. He's the almighty
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God. Who that little Jesus back there in
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Bethlehem? Remember when the wise men
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came and brought him gifts and worshiped
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him, they knew he was God then.
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And he goes on to say in verse 11, I am
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the alpha and the omega, the first and
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the last. So we don't forget that.
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You know, far back as you want to go,
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there's Jesus. As far forward as you
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want to go, there's Jesus. And Jesus all
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the way in the middle
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as well. He's done these things for us.
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As he tells John verse 17, fear not.
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I am the first and the last.
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I am he that lives. So Jesus is the
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living one. He's eternal. He in him is
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life.
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And he can give that life to us. That's
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eternal life.
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And the only way to receive it is by a
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gift from him through faith.
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And I was dead and behold, I am alive
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forever more. That's the way he wants us
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to remember him.
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Yes, the incarnation's great. The cross
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is great. The resurrection is great. The
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ascension is great. But he's eternal
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forever and ever.
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He has the keys of Hades and death.
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Remember I told you he was every knee
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would bow and every tongue would
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confess. Now he's telling John that here
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in the book of Revelation. He's the
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living one. He's Lord of all. He's
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almighty God.
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Um turn over to chapter 4
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of Revelation
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and verse eight.
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here. He's the worthy one. That's what
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worship is.
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You know, that's what we get. We see a
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we see a celebrity or an athlete,
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we're in awe of them because of what the
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talents they have and you know that
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that's you know that's the worth that
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they have in our own minds. Here the
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Lord Jesus has a greater worth. That's
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what worship is. We're not supposed to
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worship men. We save that for the Lord
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Jesus Christ who has accomplished all
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these things, is seated at the right
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hand of the father, listening to our
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prayers and building his church and
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going into all the world preaching the
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gospel. He's able to do these things
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from afar.
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Although he lives in us as well
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here chapter 4 verse 8 the foreign
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living creatures each of them
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were full of eyes within and they rest
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not day and night you know there are
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some pretty amazing creatures on this
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earth I mean I'm just I just am in awe
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of some of these creatures
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you know what they do you know
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incredible creator
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that we have. But when we get to heaven,
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that's going to go up a notch. We're
-
going to we're going to see heaven and
-
the glory that this son of God has been
-
preparing for his people, his family, us
-
down here on the earth.
-
And that's what they're saying. Holy,
-
holy, holy
-
to who? To the lamb.
-
He's the one only one that can um take
-
the title deed. He's the worthy one.
-
So that's another one of Jesus names.
-
He's the worthy one. And that comes from
-
this verse here,
-
verse 8. And now look over in verse 11.
-
You're worthy, oh Lord. That's what
-
worship means. He's worthy
-
to receive glory and honor and power for
-
you have created all things. And don't
-
miss this. For your pleasure they are
-
and were created. That's why we're here
-
on this earth for this time.
-
The Lord created us for his pleasure
-
to to go to go into all the world and
-
tell the world what he has done for
-
them.
-
And then um
-
if you will look over in chapter 19,
-
you say, "What are we going to do for
-
eternity?
-
We're going to worship the Lord
-
and be with the angels he created and
-
the heaven he's created and the family
-
he has created.
-
And now in chapter 19
-
verse 16
-
and he has a name written on his
-
besture. Now, this is 19 chapters into
-
the book of Revelation.
-
He's changed. He's still Lord of all.
-
Like Peter said back there in Acts, like
-
Paul said, he's going to judge the whole
-
world. Those men have never read the
-
book of Revelation. They come along way
-
later.
-
And John,
-
he saw these things and he wrote these
-
things down for us. And John said he's
-
got a name. Are the names of the Lord
-
important?
-
Yeah, they absolutely are.
-
King of kings and Lord of lords.
-
You know that's what Thomas said. My
-
God, my Lord and my God. That's what
-
Mary Magdalene said. My Lord and my God.
-
And when we come here and we sing these
-
songs and we look into God's word and we
-
get together, that's what we do. Lord,
-
these things are true. You are the great
-
king
-
and lord. Turn over to chapter 21
-
verse 6.
-
Revelation 21 and verse 6. He said unto
-
me,
-
how's this book start?
-
He told John, I'm the alpha and the
-
omega. And we're 20 almost 21 chapters
-
into Revelation.
-
He's still the first and the last. He's
-
still lord of lords. He's still the king
-
of kings. Nothing has changed.
-
And forever he's going to be known like
-
this. And forever we're going to be with
-
him. And forever we're going to worship
-
him and praise him for this gift of
-
salvation that he has given to us.
-
And he said unto me, "It is done.
-
I am the Alpha and the Omega." He said
-
on the cross, "It is finished." Now he
-
says it is done. What's done? This his
-
father's will.
-
They had an agreement way back yonder
-
that the father would send the son to
-
become a man and to pay for our sins and
-
to accomplish
-
these things and give us the gift of
-
eternal life. This sounds like the woman
-
at the well. I will give unto him that
-
is a thirst, a fountain of water of life
-
freely.
-
You know that's incredible thing about
-
God. He's doesn't bargain very well. He
-
just gives it away.
-
And that's what he has done in his son.
-
No bargaining with him. You better come
-
on his terms. And his terms are what his
-
son has done.
-
So as we go from Matthew all the way to
-
Revelation here through the gospels
-
seeing you know these names about Jesus
-
and who he is and what he has done you
-
know that's what the apostles did
-
you know after all these things were
-
done you know they saw it in Acts
Acts 1 chapter mention
-
chapter 1 go he told them go into all
-
the world preach the gospel be witnesses
-
of me everywhere and they did that and
-
churches were planted and churches grew
-
up because they obeyed uh the Lord. I'll
-
turn back to Romans chapter 1.
Romans 1 chapter mention
-
So, you know, that's what the apostles
-
preached was an accomplished salvation.
-
That's what we must preach. That's what
-
we must believe in. This isn't something
-
is a ify or a maybe or if I hang on long
-
enough.
-
These are eternal decrees from God.
-
God said you believe on me and you will
-
have everlasting life. And these men,
-
Paul didn't start the church in Rome,
-
but he wrote this wonderful letter
-
that's one of my favorites. And look in
-
chapter 1 verse 7 what he says.
-
Now remember,
-
um, Paul spent a lot of time with the
-
Lord. He wasn't there with the other
-
apostles in the Gospels. He just wasn't
-
there.
-
Judas betrays Christ.
-
God accomplishes our salvation. And then
-
God decides to make a murderer
-
his best apostle, one of his best
-
apostles.
-
Paul spent a lot of time with Jesus.
-
Some of it he tells us about and some of
-
it he didn't. Months he spent with Jesus
-
learning.
-
But Paul knew that salvation was
-
accomplished. He knew uh the the the man
-
born in Bethlehem was in heaven in
-
glory. A man was born. A man lived. A
-
man died. A man has raised from the
-
dead. A man is in heaven. And a man is
-
coming back.
-
And that's what Paul says here to the
-
Romans. Verse 7. To all you that are in
-
Rome.
-
Beloved of God.
-
What? We're beloved by God. I thought we
-
were separated from God. I thought we
-
were sinners. I thought we were all our
-
righteousnesses were filthy rags. That's
-
all true.
-
But God has given a gift
-
um and loved us. And now he calls us
-
saints. Grace to you and peace from God
-
our father in the Lord Jesus Christ. You
-
see how Paul
-
tells people about what's been done. You
-
know 30 years after what happened in
-
Jerusalem.
-
You know, salvation is something that is
-
accomplished
-
and you know, it's from God and from the
-
Lord Jesus Christ. He puts them
-
together. The Father and the the Lord
-
are the same.
-
One's not greater than the other.
-
They're equal. Equal in every way.
-
And so was the spirit. Paul go into that
-
in chapter 8.
-
But this is why Jesus had to go away.
-
He told the the disciples in John,
-
remember we looked at that made them
-
sad.
-
They didn't want a savior. They just
-
wanted a, you know, a Santa Claus, I
-
guess, to walk around with them. They
-
didn't fully understand what was going
-
to happen.
-
How could you? But once Jesus was rose
-
from the dead, he told us this was going
-
to happen.
-
You better get on board with this.
-
And he says in verse 8, first I thank
-
God
-
through Jesus Christ for you are all
-
that your faith. What's God looking for?
-
Faith and what he's done. Not faith in
-
ourselves, not commandments,
-
you know, not morality,
-
uh none of that stuff. He's looking for
-
faith in what he has done.
-
God is my witness whom I serve with my
-
spirit and the gospel of his son. Now we
-
have a gospel to preach and that's his
-
son is that gospel he's that means good
-
news that goes all the way back to
-
Genesis chapter 3 when God said I'll
Genesis 3 chapter mention
-
crush the serpent's head and he's done
-
it and he did it with his only begotten
-
son. Now look at in 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 1 chapter mention
-
chapter 1.
-
That's why you see all these epistles
-
that came along later start out like
-
this
-
and 1 Corinthians chapter 1
1 Corinthians 1 chapter mention
-
and now it's you know that's what's the
-
requirement
-
there's only one
-
and it's faith in the gospel of the son
-
of god
-
and Paul said beware lest any man spoil
-
you through philosophy be in vain
-
deceit, after the tradition of man,
-
after the rudiments of the world. Don't
-
go after those things.
-
If you've got Christ, you've got it all.
-
And here he tells the Corinthians that
-
this is a bad church.
-
You know, Paul didn't put him back under
-
the law.
-
He said, "God has given us grace to go
-
forward."
-
So it's that grace we need, that mercy
-
we need, that love we need.
-
And here in chapter 1 and verse three,
-
he says this, like he said to the
-
Romans, grace be unto you and peace from
-
God. What
-
I thought I was at war with God. You
-
know, when things get really bad out
-
there, that's kind of how we feel
-
sometimes. But Lord, I didn't realize
-
that you and I were at war. No, we're
-
not at war with God.
-
We're at peace with God
-
because of the grace which he's given to
-
us
-
in Jesus Christ.
-
And that in everything,
-
even when you sin, we don't have to talk
-
about that.
-
But we do, you know, we fall down, we
-
mess up, we could have done better. We
-
don't get kicked out of the family, you
-
know, we don't get thrown over the
-
mountain and we got to start climbing
-
back up. None of that. We just come to
-
God through his son and plead his grace,
-
plead his blood and thank him
-
for supplying everything to us in one
-
person and in one work.
-
And he says, even the testimony of
-
Christ which was confirmed in you. So,
-
the apostles preached Christ, you know,
-
and him and his who he is and what he's
-
done. We don't need to leave that
-
behind. We need to amen that and get in
-
line and do the same thing. He's the
-
Lord Jesus Christ. That's what Paul says
-
here to the Corinthians. He's the Lord
-
of every church. He's the head of every
-
church. He's the head of every man.
-
Everyone goes back to him.
-
And now look over in verse nine.
-
You say, "Well, I'm not very faithful."
-
And God factored that in. He is.
-
He'll make up for your infidelity.
-
Read the book of of Hosea.
-
God is faithful by whom you were called.
-
So our calling is of God
-
and our fellowship is with his son Jesus
-
Christ our Lord. You know that's where
-
it's at. You know we people don't want
-
it there. You know that's what happens.
-
We you know we witness to people and say
-
hey man there's peace with God. Just you
-
just got to come through Christ. Ah no
-
thank you. People go through they lose
-
loved ones and they go through mourning
-
and you know a time of stress and and
-
and and terror in their minds but
-
not us.
-
The reason being is because we know
-
God's son Jesus Christ who is Lord of
-
all. He's greater than any circumstances
-
we can find ourselves in. That's what he
-
told the Corinthians.
-
Go to Galatians chapter 1. It's what he
Galatians 1 chapter mention
-
told
-
them
-
as well. Galatians chapter 1.
Galatians 1 chapter mention
-
And that's why Paul says here in
-
Galatians 1:1,
-
he's an apostle. He's a called one.
-
You know, God,
-
he God chooses his vessels
-
and he Paul tells us second Timothy, if
-
you want to be a chosen vessel of God,
-
then clean yourself up.
-
So, we're fighting that battle
-
constantly. That's why we need the word
-
of God. That's why we need the grace of
-
God, the mercy of God, the love of God.
-
All found in Christ, Paul, an apostle,
-
not of men, neither by men by man.
-
Also, I didn't go to a seminary and get
-
this. I didn't go to uh, you know, to a
-
school and get this, a college and get
-
this. He was called of God.
-
And, you know, he did such a good job.
-
He didn't add anything to the gospel. He
-
didn't take anything away. He did just
-
what he told everybody else to do.
-
You're complete in Christ.
-
you know, be rooted and grounded in him.
-
And Paul was Paul was a great sinner as
-
well. He knows that God raised him from
-
the dead because he saw him raised from
-
the dead.
-
That's a requirement of an apostle
-
and all the brethren who are with me
-
unto the churches of Galatia. So, not
-
only does his family exist in small
-
groups and in small areas, it it it's
-
branched out and all all over the world.
-
So, wherever we go and we find born
-
again Christians, you know, they're like
-
us. They're in a family. And they're in
-
the family because of what Jesus has
-
done. And here he says, gave himself.
-
That's it.
-
You know, he was a good teacher. He was
-
a good miracle worker. You know, there
-
there's never been anyone like him.
-
But if he doesn't give himself for our
-
sins, then we're still dead in our sins.
-
That's what Paul told the Corinthians
-
later on.
-
So this perfect man
-
and this perfect God
-
paid for our sins. And that was the will
-
of God, his father, to whom he glory
-
forever and ever. Amen. And he Paul
-
says, "Don't be moved from this.
-
Don't let anyone trick you. Don't let
-
anyone fool you. Don't let anyone tell
-
you this isn't true."
-
And that's what people do. It's out
-
there. If you believe what we believe,
-
we believe what the Bible believes,
-
we're not going to be liked very well
-
out there because of these things. You
-
know, yeah, there's only one way to
-
heaven. I'm sorry. It's what the Bible
-
says. This isn't my world. It's the Lord
-
Jesus world
-
and to him be the glory and the honor.
-
And that's what the apostles did. I
-
mean, they loved people. They planted
-
these churches. They preached the
-
gospel. They preached the truth. They
-
preached Jesus. They did all those
-
wonderful things. Now, go back to second
-
Corinthians
-
verse chapter 13 and verse 11.
-
You know, so now we can see this is why
-
it's so important for us to understand
-
the Godhead
-
and study
-
the Godhead. God the Father, God the
-
Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
-
And there's not three gods. There's only
-
one.
-
That's a part of this mystery
-
that Paul proclaimed and we proclaim and
-
the word of God does. And Paul after
-
after all the years that Paul spent in
-
Corinthians,
-
they rebelled against him
-
and joined the false teachers and great
-
damage was brought and Paul got in there
-
and tried to to to help. He never gave
-
up on them.
-
So important for us to remember God will
-
never give up on us ever.
-
If we are in Christ Jesus
-
and here in verse 11, finally, brethren,
-
farewell,
-
be perfect.
-
That's maturing,
-
you know, grow.
-
You know, that's that's what helps is if
-
we grow, you know, it's going to help us
-
personally and it's going to help our
-
neighbor because we're Christian. You
-
know, we're we know Jesus
-
and we follow Jesus.
-
and be of one mind. That's worldwide.
-
One mind. You know, this goes all the
-
way back to when Paul wrote this 2,000
-
years ago. You know, we are to be of one
-
mind of this book, one mind of these
-
doctrines, one mind of these truths.
-
And he says, and the God of
-
wrath, no, that's them.
-
God of love, that's us who are in his
-
son. God is not at war with us. He's at
-
peace with us and he will be with you.
-
Greet one another with a holy kiss and
-
all the saints greet you. And the grace
-
Paul starts these books with grace. He
-
ends these books with grace.
-
It's it's sufficient
-
for us and for our sins. And where does
-
it come from?
-
Well, it's come to us through the Lord
-
Jesus Christ. this man who was born in
-
Bethlehem,
-
who lived a perfect life, who died
-
in Jerusalem on that cruel cross, was
-
raised from the dead, ascended to the
-
father, and he's soon coming again.
-
He's the one that we worship.
-
Turn over to Titus chapter 2.
Titus 2 chapter mention
-
Titus
Titus 2 chapter mention
-
chapter 2.
-
And I'm no expert on the languages,
-
but there are several places in the New
-
Testament.
-
There are maybe 11 or 12 of these
-
verses that we can turn to that say this
-
about the Lord Jesus Christ. And in
-
Titus chapter 2 and verse 13,
Titus 2 chapter mention
-
looking for that blessed hope.
-
He's our blessed hope. See the names of
-
Jesus just go on. Looking for that
-
blessed hope and that glorious
-
appearing. He's not defeated.
-
He's he's he's in glory. He's he's
-
triumphed over the grave. He's uh able
-
to save us to the uttermost. All those
-
great things and all those great
-
promises.
-
Looking for that blessed hope and the
-
glorious appearing of the great God.
-
Forget the end. Our savior Jesus Christ.
-
The New Testament says Jesus is the
-
great God and Savior
-
of mankind. That's the one we preach.
-
That's the one we follow. That's the one
-
we want to be like. That's the one we
-
preach. We don't want to get sidetracked
-
like the Galatians did. Well, speaking
-
of Galatians, go to chapter 2 and verse
-
13.
-
Galatians
-
who
-
Galatians is a great book
-
shows us the law can't save. Our works
-
can't save. They fall short.
-
Way short. So come to Christ. Give up
-
trying to save yourself.
-
give up trying to do it right
-
and believe in him who did do it right.
-
That's what Paul told him.
-
And here in Galatians chapter 2 and
Galatians 2 chapter mention
-
verse 13
-
and here we see
-
when I saw that they walked not upight
-
up uprightly according to the truth of
-
the gospel. So that's what we do. You
-
know, we're never under the law. We
-
can't keep the law. Well, the law's
-
there. It's how we know what sin is. But
-
we can't keep it. But God has made a
-
better way. His word and his gospel,
-
they sanctify us. And I said unto Peter
-
and unto them all, if you bring a Jew uh
-
in here and the manners of the Gentiles
-
and not as the Jews, why do you compel
-
the Gentiles to live as Jews? So, it's,
-
you know, fruit.
-
You know, I when I when I got saved and
-
I was trying to, you know, read these
-
things and understand these things, I
-
got to Romans where he said Abraham
-
couldn't please God. David couldn't
-
please God. Those two way too better men
-
than me. I gave up and I come to Christ.
-
He's the one who has paid it all. And he
-
says uh in verse 13 of here of chapter 3
-
Galatians my last verse Galatians 3:13
-
and this is what God has done. This is
-
not what we have done. So we should see
-
our approach to salvation is not
-
something men do. We'll get to that. We
-
got to believe
-
here. Christ has redeemed us from the
-
curse of the law. I'm not under the law.
-
Don't bring it on me. I'll have a fit.
-
You've been made a curse for us. Cursed
-
is everyone that hangs on a tree. So,
-
we've been redeemed from the curse.
-
We've been redeemed from our sin. We've
-
been redeemed from our sinful life.
-
Oh, because
-
of the second member of the trinity
-
became a man and come to this earth.
-
2 Corinthians 4, Paul calls him the
-
image of God. 1 Corinthians chapter 2:8.
-
Paul says he's the Lord of glory.
-
So let's pray. Father, we thank you this
-
morning for this great plan of
-
redemption.
-
A sinner such as I. Father, all our
-
righteousnesses are as filthy rags.
-
But through the blood of your son and
-
the work of your son, you raised him
-
from the dead. And he's seated at your
-
right hand. He's still pleading his
-
blood on our behalf. What a blessed
-
redeemer. What a blessed mediator. What
-
a blessed advocate we have. And thank
-
you for becoming the friend of sinners.
-
And uh Lord Jesus, thank you for dying
-
for us. We thank you for this great gift
-
of salvation.
-
Thank you for giving it to us. And we
-
pray in Jesus name. Amen.
-
Lord, as we go from this place,
-
loving you more, trusting you more.
-
May the power of your love and the light
-
of your word shine to a sin darkened
-
world. As we go from this place,