1 00:00:08,205 --> 00:00:14,325 Speaker 1: Life audio question, is he Ani Christ alive today? A 2 00:00:14,325 --> 00:00:18,685 Speaker 1: lot of people think he is. Could artificial intelligence AI 3 00:00:19,165 --> 00:00:22,604 Speaker 1: actually be part of a future deception? One of the 4 00:00:22,685 --> 00:00:27,285 Speaker 1: greatest threat isn't something outright evil, but something that actually 5 00:00:27,285 --> 00:00:31,045 Speaker 1: looks well, kind of good. These aren't questions for some 6 00:00:31,165 --> 00:00:35,964 Speaker 1: far off time. These are questions for right now. So 7 00:00:36,125 --> 00:00:38,125 Speaker 1: I was at the market now too long ago, and 8 00:00:38,205 --> 00:00:41,805 Speaker 1: I saw the most beautiful tulip for sale and a 9 00:00:41,845 --> 00:00:45,525 Speaker 1: flower shop. I thought my wife Kathy might really like this, 10 00:00:45,604 --> 00:00:46,925 Speaker 1: so I bought it for her, and I have to 11 00:00:46,925 --> 00:00:49,165 Speaker 1: say it was a little bit on the expensive side, 12 00:00:49,284 --> 00:00:52,604 Speaker 1: but I thought, this is the most beautiful tulip infected, 13 00:00:52,765 --> 00:00:56,205 Speaker 1: so beautiful it's almost like it's fake. While we got 14 00:00:56,205 --> 00:00:58,765 Speaker 1: it home, we tried to clip off the bottom to 15 00:00:58,805 --> 00:01:02,285 Speaker 1: put it into a VOS with some water, and it 16 00:01:02,325 --> 00:01:05,645 Speaker 1: turns out it was fake. You know, the world was 17 00:01:05,685 --> 00:01:09,645 Speaker 1: full of fake things. Wherever there's a great original idea 18 00:01:09,765 --> 00:01:13,084 Speaker 1: doesn't take long until someone copies it and then floods 19 00:01:13,125 --> 00:01:18,005 Speaker 1: the market with imitations. As an example, take the first iPhone. 20 00:01:18,444 --> 00:01:21,325 Speaker 1: I mean, it was such a significant innovation that some 21 00:01:21,365 --> 00:01:25,605 Speaker 1: people actually called it the Jesus phone. I remember I 22 00:01:25,725 --> 00:01:29,445 Speaker 1: was at an Apple convention in San Francisco, and they 23 00:01:29,485 --> 00:01:34,164 Speaker 1: had this really thick plexiglass display case and inside of 24 00:01:34,205 --> 00:01:40,205 Speaker 1: it was this mysterious Jesus phone, this iPhone slowly turning. 25 00:01:40,245 --> 00:01:42,925 Speaker 1: People were standing around it. So I got up kind 26 00:01:42,925 --> 00:01:45,525 Speaker 1: of close to take a picture, and the security guard 27 00:01:45,565 --> 00:01:49,045 Speaker 1: told me to stand back. Security guard for the iPhone. 28 00:01:49,445 --> 00:01:52,525 Speaker 1: But Steve Jobs that effectively created something that had not 29 00:01:52,645 --> 00:01:57,485 Speaker 1: existed before. It was an absolute original. It changed the game. 30 00:01:57,565 --> 00:02:00,645 Speaker 1: Two thousand and eight. I remember it well. The popular 31 00:02:00,685 --> 00:02:03,445 Speaker 1: phones at the time were the BlackBerry and the Motorola 32 00:02:03,525 --> 00:02:06,925 Speaker 1: flip phone. In fact, the BlackBerry was so popular some 33 00:02:06,965 --> 00:02:10,805 Speaker 1: people even called it the Crackberry. And that little flip phone. 34 00:02:10,845 --> 00:02:14,325 Speaker 1: It actually just made phone calls, that's all they did. 35 00:02:14,725 --> 00:02:17,925 Speaker 1: Pretty soon every phone on the market looked just like 36 00:02:18,205 --> 00:02:22,365 Speaker 1: the iPhone. Then came apps. Then came social media, and 37 00:02:22,525 --> 00:02:26,405 Speaker 1: so much of it is fake, fake lives, fake smiles, 38 00:02:26,565 --> 00:02:30,805 Speaker 1: fake filters. Then came the rise in depression that I 39 00:02:30,805 --> 00:02:36,325 Speaker 1: think is directly connected to phones and social media, the 40 00:02:36,525 --> 00:02:41,405 Speaker 1: rise in suicide, especially among young people, something called social 41 00:02:41,525 --> 00:02:45,965 Speaker 1: contagions that didn't even exist maybe five years ago that 42 00:02:46,085 --> 00:02:49,445 Speaker 1: now are sweeping the youth culture. In fact, recent research 43 00:02:49,485 --> 00:02:52,565 Speaker 1: has shown that the United States is the most stressed 44 00:02:52,645 --> 00:02:56,925 Speaker 1: ridden nation on the planet. This onslot of technology has 45 00:02:56,965 --> 00:03:00,765 Speaker 1: only added to that. In fact, this generation is the 46 00:03:00,805 --> 00:03:05,365 Speaker 1: most stressed out in history. I read recently the college 47 00:03:05,485 --> 00:03:09,325 Speaker 1: students have the anxiety level of a psychiatric patient from 48 00:03:09,405 --> 00:03:13,485 Speaker 1: World War Two. Honestly, we were better off with flip phones. 49 00:03:13,605 --> 00:03:16,885 Speaker 1: They should have left that iPhone in the plexiglass case. 50 00:03:17,485 --> 00:03:20,565 Speaker 1: I think we've sort of opened up Pandora's box. As 51 00:03:20,565 --> 00:03:23,805 Speaker 1: an example, there's a well known entertainer that posts regular 52 00:03:24,285 --> 00:03:27,005 Speaker 1: videos that are a bit on the bizarre side of 53 00:03:27,045 --> 00:03:31,405 Speaker 1: herself dancing in front of her phone. Someone commented after 54 00:03:31,445 --> 00:03:35,445 Speaker 1: seeing the video, quote, get this girl a landline and 55 00:03:35,525 --> 00:03:39,005 Speaker 1: a Bible. You know. Speaking of fake things, there's a 56 00:03:39,005 --> 00:03:41,885 Speaker 1: lot of fake things that people believe about God. As 57 00:03:41,925 --> 00:03:45,525 Speaker 1: an example, some people would say all roads lead to God. 58 00:03:45,605 --> 00:03:48,125 Speaker 1: No matter what road you take, it will get you 59 00:03:48,205 --> 00:03:51,965 Speaker 1: to God. Well that's not true. Actually, Jesus said, I 60 00:03:52,005 --> 00:03:53,805 Speaker 1: am the way the truth in the life, and no 61 00:03:53,925 --> 00:03:56,405 Speaker 1: man comes to the Father but by Me. And the 62 00:03:56,445 --> 00:03:59,805 Speaker 1: Bible also says there's one God and there's one mediator 63 00:04:00,085 --> 00:04:04,125 Speaker 1: between God and man in its Christ, Jesus. But other 64 00:04:04,205 --> 00:04:06,965 Speaker 1: fake things people will say we'll go along the lines 65 00:04:07,005 --> 00:04:11,405 Speaker 1: of all religions basically teach the same thing. By the way, 66 00:04:11,485 --> 00:04:14,125 Speaker 1: if someone says that to you, that's another way of 67 00:04:14,165 --> 00:04:17,525 Speaker 1: them saying, I have no idea what I'm talking about. 68 00:04:17,725 --> 00:04:20,245 Speaker 1: The fact is all the religions of the world do 69 00:04:20,404 --> 00:04:24,125 Speaker 1: not teach the same thing. They teach very different things. 70 00:04:24,125 --> 00:04:26,685 Speaker 1: In fact, if you were to sum everything up, you 71 00:04:26,725 --> 00:04:29,605 Speaker 1: can take all of the religions of the world and 72 00:04:29,725 --> 00:04:33,525 Speaker 1: sum them up in one word, do do this, and 73 00:04:33,605 --> 00:04:36,445 Speaker 1: maybe you'll get to Heaven. Do that, and maybe you'll 74 00:04:36,485 --> 00:04:39,445 Speaker 1: find inner peace. To this other thing, and maybe you'll 75 00:04:39,485 --> 00:04:42,685 Speaker 1: reach Nirvana. It's all about doing. But if you were 76 00:04:42,685 --> 00:04:46,205 Speaker 1: to sum up Christianity and one word, it would be done. 77 00:04:46,725 --> 00:04:49,525 Speaker 1: In other words, God has done it for you. Christ 78 00:04:49,605 --> 00:04:53,325 Speaker 1: purchased your salvation on the cross where he died for 79 00:04:53,485 --> 00:04:56,645 Speaker 1: you and rose again from the dead. Here's another fake 80 00:04:56,725 --> 00:04:59,645 Speaker 1: thing people believe about God. They'll say things like God 81 00:04:59,765 --> 00:05:03,685 Speaker 1: helps those who help themselves. That's not true. It's not 82 00:05:03,725 --> 00:05:06,685 Speaker 1: in the Bible, and it's not true at all. Actually, 83 00:05:07,005 --> 00:05:09,005 Speaker 1: a better way of saying it would be God helps 84 00:05:09,005 --> 00:05:12,844 Speaker 1: those who can't help themselves. God helps those who will 85 00:05:13,085 --> 00:05:16,645 Speaker 1: reach out to God for help. So with all of 86 00:05:16,685 --> 00:05:20,525 Speaker 1: this fake news and fake information. I think it's really 87 00:05:20,565 --> 00:05:24,245 Speaker 1: important that as Christians we are reminded of what is 88 00:05:24,365 --> 00:05:28,045 Speaker 1: actually true. Coming back to the topic of anti Christ, 89 00:05:28,565 --> 00:05:31,765 Speaker 1: the Bible tells us in the last days, there's going 90 00:05:31,845 --> 00:05:36,165 Speaker 1: to be a world figure that will emerge on the stage. 91 00:05:36,485 --> 00:05:40,404 Speaker 1: He is going to be charismatic. He'll probably be very attractive, 92 00:05:40,925 --> 00:05:45,365 Speaker 1: He'll probably be very intelligent. He'll probably be on the 93 00:05:45,405 --> 00:05:49,205 Speaker 1: cover of Time magazine and GQ at the same time, 94 00:05:49,485 --> 00:05:53,245 Speaker 1: think the Doublwar's product. He's going to be a man 95 00:05:53,285 --> 00:05:56,925 Speaker 1: that will come with temporary global solutions. In fact, the 96 00:05:56,965 --> 00:06:00,125 Speaker 1: Bible even says of the anti Christ. Through peace, he 97 00:06:00,205 --> 00:06:03,485 Speaker 1: will deceive many. Some will regard him as the greatest 98 00:06:03,525 --> 00:06:07,605 Speaker 1: peacemaker of all time. In reality, he'll be the biggest 99 00:06:07,725 --> 00:06:11,965 Speaker 1: troublemaker of all time. He's known as the anti Christ. 100 00:06:12,285 --> 00:06:16,765 Speaker 1: He's also called the Beast. He's also called the wicked One. 101 00:06:16,965 --> 00:06:21,044 Speaker 1: Listen to this. If Satan had a son, this would 102 00:06:21,045 --> 00:06:24,285 Speaker 1: be him. Yes, a world figure will come on the scene, 103 00:06:24,685 --> 00:06:28,845 Speaker 1: known as the Antichrist, and he will inaugurate what we 104 00:06:28,885 --> 00:06:32,525 Speaker 1: often call the Great Tribulation Period that will last for 105 00:06:32,605 --> 00:06:36,005 Speaker 1: seven years. The Great Tribulation Period will begin with the 106 00:06:36,045 --> 00:06:39,565 Speaker 1: emergence of anti Christ and it will end with the 107 00:06:39,645 --> 00:06:44,125 Speaker 1: return of Jesus Christ. So a man is coming, the 108 00:06:44,165 --> 00:06:48,445 Speaker 1: anti Christ, who will pretend to be the Messiah, but 109 00:06:48,525 --> 00:06:52,045 Speaker 1: he'll turn out to be the son of the devil. Well, 110 00:06:52,085 --> 00:06:55,645 Speaker 1: you've probably heard of the Antichrist before. Maybe you imagine 111 00:06:55,845 --> 00:06:59,765 Speaker 1: a sinister figure dressed head to toe in black robes, 112 00:07:00,085 --> 00:07:04,165 Speaker 1: glowing red eyes and six sixty six across his forehead 113 00:07:04,365 --> 00:07:07,605 Speaker 1: as he quotes ac DZ lyrics, and of course you 114 00:07:07,685 --> 00:07:11,285 Speaker 1: have the Darth Vader theme playing in the background. But 115 00:07:11,365 --> 00:07:14,765 Speaker 1: that's not who he's going to be. The real Antichrist 116 00:07:15,085 --> 00:07:16,925 Speaker 1: is not going to look like a villain from a 117 00:07:16,965 --> 00:07:20,205 Speaker 1: Marvel movie. He's going to be someone who looks like 118 00:07:20,525 --> 00:07:23,765 Speaker 1: a savior. One of the things the Antichrist will do 119 00:07:23,925 --> 00:07:28,605 Speaker 1: is he will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This will 120 00:07:28,645 --> 00:07:33,365 Speaker 1: be the Third Temple, and many will feel he's the 121 00:07:33,485 --> 00:07:36,205 Speaker 1: very Messiah because of it. In fact, years ago I 122 00:07:36,245 --> 00:07:39,245 Speaker 1: was in Israel. I was talking with an Israeli tour 123 00:07:39,285 --> 00:07:44,085 Speaker 1: guide and he said, we believe when our Messiah comes, 124 00:07:44,325 --> 00:07:46,765 Speaker 1: he's going to bring peace to the region and he's 125 00:07:46,805 --> 00:07:50,285 Speaker 1: going to rebuild our temple. I said, excuse me, you 126 00:07:50,485 --> 00:07:54,685 Speaker 1: just described the anti Christ, because that's what he's going 127 00:07:54,725 --> 00:07:58,205 Speaker 1: to do. His response was anti Christ or not, he 128 00:07:58,285 --> 00:08:02,085 Speaker 1: will be our Messiah. You can see how people could 129 00:08:02,085 --> 00:08:07,965 Speaker 1: be misled. The Antichrist is inner job by the devil himself. 130 00:08:08,405 --> 00:08:11,805 Speaker 1: The Bible even says the dragon, which is defined later 131 00:08:11,885 --> 00:08:15,325 Speaker 1: in Revelation as being a picture of Satan, will give 132 00:08:15,445 --> 00:08:18,765 Speaker 1: him his authority. As already said, he'll come off as 133 00:08:18,805 --> 00:08:22,605 Speaker 1: a unifier, a diplomat, maybe even a genius, but he's 134 00:08:22,645 --> 00:08:28,525 Speaker 1: a counterfeit. Consider this. The prefix anti doesn't just mean against, 135 00:08:28,765 --> 00:08:32,564 Speaker 1: though it includes that, it also means instead of So 136 00:08:32,684 --> 00:08:38,045 Speaker 1: think of Antichrist as an instead of Christ's character. Jesus 137 00:08:38,045 --> 00:08:40,605 Speaker 1: said and Matthew twenty four in the last days, many 138 00:08:40,685 --> 00:08:44,925 Speaker 1: will come saying I am Christ and will deceive many. 139 00:08:45,165 --> 00:08:49,965 Speaker 1: One other thing, It's really futile to look for Antichrist. 140 00:08:50,165 --> 00:08:53,165 Speaker 1: I've heard people come up with the crazy ideas, Oh, 141 00:08:53,245 --> 00:08:56,564 Speaker 1: Donald Trump is Antichrist, some would say, others would say 142 00:08:56,605 --> 00:09:00,605 Speaker 1: the Pope is the Antichrist. Although try to identify some 143 00:09:00,805 --> 00:09:05,405 Speaker 1: world figure as Antichrist, which is ridiculous because anti Christ 144 00:09:05,685 --> 00:09:10,085 Speaker 1: cannot even be revealed until the tribulation period begins and 145 00:09:10,125 --> 00:09:13,805 Speaker 1: the tribulation period has not yet begun. That is going 146 00:09:13,845 --> 00:09:17,005 Speaker 1: to be preceded by what we call the rapture of 147 00:09:17,125 --> 00:09:19,564 Speaker 1: the Church. Now, I know some will say, well, you 148 00:09:19,605 --> 00:09:22,245 Speaker 1: can't find the word rapture in the Bible. Hey, to 149 00:09:22,285 --> 00:09:25,565 Speaker 1: be technical, you can't find the word Bible in the Bible, 150 00:09:25,885 --> 00:09:28,605 Speaker 1: nor can you find the word trinity in the Bible. 151 00:09:28,645 --> 00:09:31,765 Speaker 1: But of course we believe in those things as Christians. 152 00:09:32,045 --> 00:09:34,725 Speaker 1: The fact is you do find the rapture in the Bible, 153 00:09:35,045 --> 00:09:39,365 Speaker 1: but identified by a different word. It's the Greek word harpazzo, 154 00:09:39,645 --> 00:09:42,845 Speaker 1: which means to take away by force. So in First 155 00:09:42,845 --> 00:09:46,645 Speaker 1: Thessalonians four seventeen it says that the Lord himself will 156 00:09:46,685 --> 00:09:49,365 Speaker 1: dissent from heaven with a child, with a voice of 157 00:09:49,405 --> 00:09:52,805 Speaker 1: the Archangel, that dead in Christ shall rise first, and 158 00:09:52,845 --> 00:09:55,485 Speaker 1: we which are alive and remaining shall be caught up. 159 00:09:55,685 --> 00:09:59,045 Speaker 1: That's the Greek word harpazo taken by force, caught up 160 00:09:59,445 --> 00:10:03,565 Speaker 1: to be with the Lord. Jesus references it as well 161 00:10:03,565 --> 00:10:06,485 Speaker 1: in John fourteen, when he said, and my father's health, 162 00:10:06,525 --> 00:10:08,885 Speaker 1: so many dwelling places that were not so, I would 163 00:10:08,925 --> 00:10:11,245 Speaker 1: have told you if I go, I will come again 164 00:10:11,325 --> 00:10:15,125 Speaker 1: and receive you to myself. So that is what we're 165 00:10:15,165 --> 00:10:17,205 Speaker 1: caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The 166 00:10:17,325 --> 00:10:21,845 Speaker 1: rapture happens before this time known as the Great Tribulation 167 00:10:22,085 --> 00:10:25,845 Speaker 1: Period begins. It is my firm conviction that Christians will 168 00:10:25,885 --> 00:10:30,525 Speaker 1: not go through the Great Tribulation Period because it's God's 169 00:10:30,685 --> 00:10:34,245 Speaker 1: judgment ultimately coming on the planet. And the Bible says 170 00:10:34,485 --> 00:10:37,525 Speaker 1: God has not appointed us to wrath as Christians, but 171 00:10:37,645 --> 00:10:42,085 Speaker 1: to attain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, the 172 00:10:42,125 --> 00:10:45,605 Speaker 1: Bible says, he who now restrains will continue to do 173 00:10:45,725 --> 00:10:48,285 Speaker 1: so until he is taken out of the way, and 174 00:10:48,325 --> 00:10:51,285 Speaker 1: then that wicked one will be revealed, whom the Lord 175 00:10:51,285 --> 00:10:54,325 Speaker 1: will destroy with the brightness of his coming. So the 176 00:10:54,325 --> 00:10:57,765 Speaker 1: Bible is teaching that there is a restraining force in 177 00:10:57,805 --> 00:11:02,125 Speaker 1: the world today, and that restraining force is the Holy 178 00:11:02,165 --> 00:11:05,685 Speaker 1: Spirit working through the Church. If you think things are 179 00:11:05,725 --> 00:11:08,125 Speaker 1: bad right now in America or in the world, think 180 00:11:08,165 --> 00:11:11,485 Speaker 1: about how bad they would be if millions of Christians 181 00:11:11,565 --> 00:11:15,445 Speaker 1: were suddenly removed from the face of the planet. Because 182 00:11:15,485 --> 00:11:18,925 Speaker 1: it's Christians that speak out against what is wrong. It's 183 00:11:19,085 --> 00:11:22,925 Speaker 1: Christians that speak up for what is true. It's Christians 184 00:11:22,925 --> 00:11:27,804 Speaker 1: that start relief organizations. It's Christians that build hospitals. It's 185 00:11:27,925 --> 00:11:30,725 Speaker 1: Christians that care for the people who are out there 186 00:11:30,725 --> 00:11:33,525 Speaker 1: in the culture and are hurting. And if we were 187 00:11:33,605 --> 00:11:36,005 Speaker 1: suddenly taken from this planet, or at least if a 188 00:11:36,005 --> 00:11:38,565 Speaker 1: lot of us were, you could see how it would 189 00:11:38,605 --> 00:11:41,125 Speaker 1: be a game changer. So I bring this up because 190 00:11:41,485 --> 00:11:44,005 Speaker 1: if you're saying I think this person or that person 191 00:11:44,125 --> 00:11:47,565 Speaker 1: is the Antichrist, that's feudile. The Bible does not tell 192 00:11:47,645 --> 00:11:50,605 Speaker 1: us to be looking for Antichrist. It tells us to 193 00:11:50,605 --> 00:11:54,165 Speaker 1: be looking for Jesus Christ. In fact, the Bible says 194 00:11:54,285 --> 00:11:57,285 Speaker 1: he will appear a second time for those who are 195 00:11:57,605 --> 00:12:01,325 Speaker 1: looking for him. So don't look for Antichrist, look for 196 00:12:01,445 --> 00:12:04,525 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. But listen to this. Not only will an 197 00:12:04,565 --> 00:12:09,325 Speaker 1: Antichrist figure emerged on the scene, but according to First John, 198 00:12:09,565 --> 00:12:14,165 Speaker 1: there's going to be anti Christ's plural more than one. 199 00:12:14,765 --> 00:12:19,525 Speaker 1: Let's talk about that. Remember again, the prefix anti doesn't 200 00:12:19,605 --> 00:12:23,205 Speaker 1: just mean against, it means instead of. In First John 201 00:12:23,245 --> 00:12:26,445 Speaker 1: two eighteen, we read these words, dear children, this is 202 00:12:26,485 --> 00:12:31,125 Speaker 1: the last hour. So clearly John is addressing end time's events. 203 00:12:31,805 --> 00:12:34,285 Speaker 1: It's the last hour. And as you have heard that 204 00:12:34,325 --> 00:12:38,045 Speaker 1: the Antichrist is coming. We've already talked about him that 205 00:12:38,125 --> 00:12:43,125 Speaker 1: coming world leader, and now many anti Christs plural have come. 206 00:12:43,485 --> 00:12:46,125 Speaker 1: This is how we know it is a last hour. 207 00:12:46,725 --> 00:12:49,645 Speaker 1: So what is John talking about? What is this anti 208 00:12:49,845 --> 00:12:55,165 Speaker 1: Christ or instead of Christ's behavior that he's addressing. Basically, 209 00:12:55,205 --> 00:13:00,085 Speaker 1: it's putting something in the place of Jesus Christ. Anti 210 00:13:00,165 --> 00:13:06,125 Speaker 1: Christ behavior is replacing Jesus Christ with someone or something else. 211 00:13:07,245 --> 00:13:10,165 Speaker 1: It's a person who maybe will talk about God but 212 00:13:10,245 --> 00:13:15,365 Speaker 1: wants nothing to do with Jesus. It's religion without redemption. 213 00:13:15,605 --> 00:13:17,725 Speaker 1: I think a real problem that's happening right now in 214 00:13:17,765 --> 00:13:22,085 Speaker 1: the church is people are engaging in what they call deconstructing. 215 00:13:22,765 --> 00:13:26,205 Speaker 1: And the deconstruct is when someone says, well, I have 216 00:13:26,285 --> 00:13:28,685 Speaker 1: these questions and I'm not sure if I believe these 217 00:13:28,685 --> 00:13:31,005 Speaker 1: things have been raised to believe, so I'm going to 218 00:13:31,125 --> 00:13:34,685 Speaker 1: deconstruct my faith. And then they're going to put something 219 00:13:34,725 --> 00:13:38,965 Speaker 1: else in this place, not because they necessarily have sincere questions, 220 00:13:39,045 --> 00:13:43,045 Speaker 1: but because maybe they never really knew Jesus to begin with. 221 00:13:43,205 --> 00:13:48,885 Speaker 1: It's not atheism that's dangerous, it's substitution. It's putting something 222 00:13:48,925 --> 00:13:53,925 Speaker 1: else in the place of Jesus that is anti Christ 223 00:13:54,205 --> 00:13:58,045 Speaker 1: or instead of Christ behavior. So John basically says and 224 00:13:58,045 --> 00:14:01,925 Speaker 1: I'm loosely paraphrasing, they went out from us, but they 225 00:14:02,005 --> 00:14:04,765 Speaker 1: did not return to us, which shows they were never 226 00:14:04,845 --> 00:14:09,645 Speaker 1: really of a before. That raises the question, what if 227 00:14:09,685 --> 00:14:12,804 Speaker 1: someone makes a profession of faith and one day walks 228 00:14:12,805 --> 00:14:16,285 Speaker 1: away from the church and then ultimately they walk away 229 00:14:16,325 --> 00:14:19,685 Speaker 1: from their faith. Have they lost their salvation? My question 230 00:14:19,725 --> 00:14:23,645 Speaker 1: would be did they have salvation to begin with? Listen, 231 00:14:23,685 --> 00:14:27,245 Speaker 1: It's possible for a Christian to walk away from their 232 00:14:27,245 --> 00:14:30,325 Speaker 1: faith for a time. It's possible for a Christian to 233 00:14:30,445 --> 00:14:33,605 Speaker 1: fall into overt sin. The Bible is filled with many 234 00:14:33,965 --> 00:14:38,445 Speaker 1: stories of godly men and women who failed big time. 235 00:14:38,565 --> 00:14:42,525 Speaker 1: You think of King David with Vathsheba and later murdering 236 00:14:42,645 --> 00:14:45,565 Speaker 1: her husband. You're riyah. You think of Simon Peter and 237 00:14:45,685 --> 00:14:48,685 Speaker 1: his denial of Jesus Christ. So it happens. But when 238 00:14:48,685 --> 00:14:52,445 Speaker 1: you're a true Christian, you'll always come back home. But 239 00:14:52,525 --> 00:14:54,645 Speaker 1: if you never come back home, and by that I 240 00:14:54,645 --> 00:14:57,325 Speaker 1: mean return to the church, return to your faith, then 241 00:14:57,325 --> 00:15:00,485 Speaker 1: you were never really a Christian. To begin with, example, 242 00:15:00,685 --> 00:15:03,885 Speaker 1: the prodigal son. Prodigal son must a big time and 243 00:15:03,965 --> 00:15:06,445 Speaker 1: this is the story Jesus told us to show us 244 00:15:06,485 --> 00:15:09,485 Speaker 1: what God is like a father had two sons, says 245 00:15:09,685 --> 00:15:13,525 Speaker 1: our Lord, and one said, Dad los pair phrase, give 246 00:15:13,565 --> 00:15:15,885 Speaker 1: me my portion of the inheritance that's coming to me. 247 00:15:15,965 --> 00:15:18,325 Speaker 1: And then that kid went out and blew all of 248 00:15:18,365 --> 00:15:22,645 Speaker 1: his money and crazy living, consorting with prostitutes and just 249 00:15:22,725 --> 00:15:24,245 Speaker 1: made a mess of his life. And one day the 250 00:15:24,285 --> 00:15:26,645 Speaker 1: boy came to his senses and he said, you know what, 251 00:15:26,885 --> 00:15:28,645 Speaker 1: I had it better when I was living at home 252 00:15:28,645 --> 00:15:30,325 Speaker 1: with Dad. I'm going to go home and say, Father, 253 00:15:30,685 --> 00:15:33,165 Speaker 1: I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Make 254 00:15:33,205 --> 00:15:36,045 Speaker 1: me a hired servant. And then Jesus tells the story 255 00:15:36,085 --> 00:15:39,245 Speaker 1: again to show us what God is like. When the 256 00:15:39,285 --> 00:15:42,165 Speaker 1: boy was a great way off, the father saw him 257 00:15:42,525 --> 00:15:45,245 Speaker 1: and ran to him and threw his arms around him 258 00:15:45,365 --> 00:15:48,605 Speaker 1: and kissed him and welcomed him back and said, this 259 00:15:48,685 --> 00:15:51,525 Speaker 1: is my son. Who is dead is alive again. He 260 00:15:51,565 --> 00:15:54,885 Speaker 1: who was lost is found. So he was always a son, 261 00:15:55,365 --> 00:15:58,445 Speaker 1: but he was a prodigal son. If you're a real 262 00:15:58,565 --> 00:16:01,645 Speaker 1: child of God, you'll always come back. But if you say, 263 00:16:01,685 --> 00:16:06,125 Speaker 1: well I've deconstructed, well maybe you never constructed to start with. 264 00:16:06,285 --> 00:16:10,165 Speaker 1: It's not the issue of losing one's salvation, it's the 265 00:16:10,285 --> 00:16:14,525 Speaker 1: issue of maybe never having salvation to begin with it's 266 00:16:14,685 --> 00:16:20,045 Speaker 1: anti Christ or instead of Christ behavior. Okay, let's talk 267 00:16:20,045 --> 00:16:24,165 Speaker 1: about something now that seems futuristic, but actually it isn't anymore. 268 00:16:24,765 --> 00:16:29,285 Speaker 1: I'm talking about AI, artificial intelligence. I originally watched a 269 00:16:29,365 --> 00:16:33,005 Speaker 1: Fox News segment where the host discussed how AI is 270 00:16:33,125 --> 00:16:38,245 Speaker 1: quickly advancing to the point where it can replicate human emotions, 271 00:16:38,765 --> 00:16:42,245 Speaker 1: generate your friend's voices. It even acts as sort of 272 00:16:42,285 --> 00:16:45,965 Speaker 1: a therapist or counselor. Elon must put it this way. 273 00:16:46,405 --> 00:16:50,045 Speaker 1: He said that AI could end up becoming an immortal 274 00:16:50,205 --> 00:16:54,725 Speaker 1: dictator from which we would never escape. Now my suggesting 275 00:16:54,805 --> 00:16:58,645 Speaker 1: that AI is the Antichrist, know, but could it be 276 00:16:58,725 --> 00:17:02,205 Speaker 1: a part of the end time scenario? I think it's 277 00:17:02,365 --> 00:17:05,965 Speaker 1: very possible. As a matter of fact, the Bible tells 278 00:17:06,044 --> 00:17:10,004 Speaker 1: us that Antichrist is going to erect an image of 279 00:17:10,125 --> 00:17:13,284 Speaker 1: himself in the rebuilt Temple. Remember I said that a 280 00:17:13,324 --> 00:17:16,844 Speaker 1: few moments ago, and he's going to commend people to 281 00:17:16,965 --> 00:17:21,405 Speaker 1: worship it, and it's going to somehow be animated. That 282 00:17:21,524 --> 00:17:25,044 Speaker 1: sounded so futuristic a long time ago. Now, with the 283 00:17:25,125 --> 00:17:31,445 Speaker 1: advances in robot technology, AI technology, and more, it doesn't 284 00:17:31,484 --> 00:17:34,685 Speaker 1: seem far fetched at all. AI has become a part 285 00:17:34,685 --> 00:17:38,044 Speaker 1: of our life. In fact, Mark Zuckerberg recently said that 286 00:17:38,244 --> 00:17:43,644 Speaker 1: artificial intelligence might be better than actually having real friends. He 287 00:17:43,685 --> 00:17:46,844 Speaker 1: says it's because it could learn your preferences and be 288 00:17:47,004 --> 00:17:51,124 Speaker 1: more in tune with your needs. An algorithm can love you, 289 00:17:51,365 --> 00:17:54,004 Speaker 1: know you, and guide you. Well. Okay, so now I'm 290 00:17:54,004 --> 00:17:56,084 Speaker 1: not supposed to hang out with people. I'm supposed to 291 00:17:56,205 --> 00:18:00,804 Speaker 1: have cappuccino with my rumba or something. This is getting ridiculous. 292 00:18:01,205 --> 00:18:03,764 Speaker 1: This is Antichrist. You go, what do you mean by that? 293 00:18:04,405 --> 00:18:08,044 Speaker 1: This is instead of Chris, I'm looking for a substitute 294 00:18:08,084 --> 00:18:10,804 Speaker 1: for God in my life. Instead of looking to the Bible, 295 00:18:10,885 --> 00:18:13,445 Speaker 1: God's word that will give me wisdom and tell me 296 00:18:13,524 --> 00:18:17,764 Speaker 1: God's opinion, I'm pretty much everything. I'm looking to artificial 297 00:18:17,885 --> 00:18:22,804 Speaker 1: intelligence to give me guidance in wisdom and even companionship. 298 00:18:23,084 --> 00:18:25,564 Speaker 1: This is something we need to be very careful of. Now. 299 00:18:25,764 --> 00:18:27,844 Speaker 1: I think AI can be a great tool. I even 300 00:18:27,925 --> 00:18:30,405 Speaker 1: use it a bit myself. But don't let it take 301 00:18:30,445 --> 00:18:33,844 Speaker 1: the place of God in your life. If we start 302 00:18:33,885 --> 00:18:36,764 Speaker 1: looking to machines to tell us what is right and wrong, 303 00:18:37,165 --> 00:18:41,004 Speaker 1: and good and evil, we've already stepped into deception. That's 304 00:18:41,125 --> 00:18:45,324 Speaker 1: the danger of the spirit of anti Christ, or instead 305 00:18:45,324 --> 00:18:50,805 Speaker 1: of Christ behavior. It doesn't look demonic, it looks convenient, 306 00:18:51,324 --> 00:18:55,405 Speaker 1: it looks helpful, it looks smart. But God says, have 307 00:18:55,564 --> 00:19:00,324 Speaker 1: no other gods before me. Listen to this. Everything you 308 00:19:00,524 --> 00:19:05,085 Speaker 1: need is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything 309 00:19:05,125 --> 00:19:07,964 Speaker 1: you need to know about God is found in the 310 00:19:08,004 --> 00:19:12,405 Speaker 1: pages of the Bible. The Bible is the user's manual 311 00:19:12,484 --> 00:19:15,685 Speaker 1: of life you've been looking for in life. I strongly 312 00:19:15,804 --> 00:19:18,884 Speaker 1: urge you to open it up and let God speak 313 00:19:18,925 --> 00:19:23,405 Speaker 1: to you. It's the ultimate thing you're looking for, all right. 314 00:19:23,484 --> 00:19:26,284 Speaker 1: So what's the alternative to all of this fake stuff, 315 00:19:26,484 --> 00:19:30,845 Speaker 1: this AI and other substitutes for God. It's a relationship 316 00:19:30,844 --> 00:19:33,965 Speaker 1: with Christ. In fact, in First John, we are told 317 00:19:34,044 --> 00:19:37,165 Speaker 1: that we need to abide in him. John says, if 318 00:19:37,205 --> 00:19:41,364 Speaker 1: we abide in Him, we will not sin. Now, of course, 319 00:19:41,885 --> 00:19:44,564 Speaker 1: we're all going to sin in some way, shape or form. 320 00:19:44,925 --> 00:19:46,965 Speaker 1: In fact, we're even told of First John one eight. 321 00:19:47,004 --> 00:19:49,725 Speaker 1: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves 322 00:19:49,725 --> 00:19:52,804 Speaker 1: and the truth is not in us. But then John 323 00:19:52,844 --> 00:19:55,965 Speaker 1: tells us later, abide in Christ and you will not sin. 324 00:19:56,044 --> 00:19:58,725 Speaker 1: But if you understand what he's seen. In the original language, 325 00:19:58,725 --> 00:20:01,244 Speaker 1: it would go as follows. If you abide in Christ, 326 00:20:01,365 --> 00:20:04,484 Speaker 1: you will not habitually sin. You will sin, but you 327 00:20:04,564 --> 00:20:08,244 Speaker 1: won't practice sin. You will sin, but you won't be 328 00:20:08,484 --> 00:20:12,364 Speaker 1: comfortable in sin. What does it mean to abide? It 329 00:20:12,405 --> 00:20:16,804 Speaker 1: means to sink your roots deeply into Jesus. Jesus said, 330 00:20:17,484 --> 00:20:21,285 Speaker 1: abide in me, and I will abide in you. It's 331 00:20:21,324 --> 00:20:24,085 Speaker 1: sort of like planting a tree, right, and you get 332 00:20:24,205 --> 00:20:27,605 Speaker 1: your roots deep into the soil. Let's say, as an example, 333 00:20:27,645 --> 00:20:31,604 Speaker 1: you planted a peachtree in your front yard and it 334 00:20:31,725 --> 00:20:34,124 Speaker 1: was doing well, and you'd watered it, and you were 335 00:20:34,165 --> 00:20:36,524 Speaker 1: looking at it, and you thought, you know what, it 336 00:20:36,564 --> 00:20:38,564 Speaker 1: would have been better if I put this in my backyard. 337 00:20:38,604 --> 00:20:40,925 Speaker 1: So you dig it up, you carry it to your backyard, 338 00:20:41,004 --> 00:20:43,365 Speaker 1: dig a hole, plant the tree there. But then maybe 339 00:20:43,405 --> 00:20:45,205 Speaker 1: you're in your backyard and you look at the tree 340 00:20:45,205 --> 00:20:47,244 Speaker 1: and you think, you know what, I think I should 341 00:20:47,244 --> 00:20:48,965 Speaker 1: have left it in the front yard. So you dig 342 00:20:48,965 --> 00:20:51,725 Speaker 1: it up again and replant it in your front yard. 343 00:20:51,764 --> 00:20:54,484 Speaker 1: Your tree is going to die. You can't be digging 344 00:20:54,564 --> 00:20:57,525 Speaker 1: up a tree and planting it and replanting it and 345 00:20:57,564 --> 00:21:00,284 Speaker 1: planting it again. And this is what happens to people, 346 00:21:00,365 --> 00:21:03,764 Speaker 1: is they don't get their roots deeply into Jesus. How 347 00:21:03,804 --> 00:21:06,644 Speaker 1: do you do that? Here's an example. Every day you 348 00:21:06,764 --> 00:21:09,404 Speaker 1: just start with the Bible, open up the Bible and 349 00:21:09,524 --> 00:21:12,564 Speaker 1: let God speak to you. You pray, you talk to 350 00:21:12,685 --> 00:21:16,845 Speaker 1: God about things, and you're rooted in a Christian community. 351 00:21:17,125 --> 00:21:19,524 Speaker 1: By that, I mean you're rooted in a church. I 352 00:21:19,524 --> 00:21:22,645 Speaker 1: think the problem that some Christians have is they're going 353 00:21:22,685 --> 00:21:25,165 Speaker 1: to a church for maybe a long period of time. 354 00:21:25,205 --> 00:21:29,564 Speaker 1: They built relationships up there, they have a great community there, 355 00:21:29,885 --> 00:21:32,524 Speaker 1: a lot of friends there, and then something bothers them 356 00:21:32,685 --> 00:21:34,684 Speaker 1: and they say, we're leaving this church. And they go 357 00:21:34,764 --> 00:21:37,284 Speaker 1: to another church and they're there for a time, and 358 00:21:37,324 --> 00:21:39,804 Speaker 1: then something bothers them there. Now they're leaving and going 359 00:21:39,844 --> 00:21:44,364 Speaker 1: to even another church. They're sort of planting uprooting, planting, uprooting, 360 00:21:44,564 --> 00:21:46,244 Speaker 1: and then one day you hear, well, they're not going 361 00:21:46,324 --> 00:21:49,044 Speaker 1: to church at all anymore. You know that's not good. 362 00:21:49,365 --> 00:21:52,925 Speaker 1: You need to remain rooted in a community. Reminds you 363 00:21:52,965 --> 00:21:54,445 Speaker 1: of a story I heard about a guy who was 364 00:21:54,484 --> 00:21:58,524 Speaker 1: stranded on a desert island and they finally rescued him, 365 00:21:58,524 --> 00:22:01,725 Speaker 1: and they noticed he had built three buildings, three little huts, 366 00:22:02,165 --> 00:22:04,325 Speaker 1: and so they said to him, so, what are these buildings? 367 00:22:04,405 --> 00:22:07,204 Speaker 1: He said, Well, the first time is my house. That's 368 00:22:07,244 --> 00:22:10,365 Speaker 1: where I live. Oh okay, what's the second hut, Well, 369 00:22:10,405 --> 00:22:13,445 Speaker 1: that's my church, that's where I go to church. Okay, 370 00:22:13,445 --> 00:22:16,365 Speaker 1: what about the third hut? He said, that's a church 371 00:22:16,405 --> 00:22:19,165 Speaker 1: I used to go to. See. That's how some people are. 372 00:22:19,324 --> 00:22:23,284 Speaker 1: They're just always uprouding themselves. Get planted in a community. 373 00:22:23,405 --> 00:22:26,804 Speaker 1: Listen to this amazing promise Jesus gives us. He says, 374 00:22:26,885 --> 00:22:29,725 Speaker 1: if you abide in Me and my words abiding you, 375 00:22:29,725 --> 00:22:31,764 Speaker 1: you shall ask what you will, and it shall be 376 00:22:31,844 --> 00:22:34,764 Speaker 1: done unto you. If you were to translate that from 377 00:22:34,925 --> 00:22:38,284 Speaker 1: a Greek translation, it would go as follows, Christ speaking, 378 00:22:38,445 --> 00:22:41,404 Speaker 1: if you maintain a living communion with Me and my 379 00:22:41,524 --> 00:22:43,924 Speaker 1: words are at home and you, you shall ask it 380 00:22:44,044 --> 00:22:47,884 Speaker 1: once for yourself, whatever your heart desires, and it's yours. 381 00:22:48,405 --> 00:22:52,684 Speaker 1: That's a radical promise. Ask it once, whatever your heart desires, 382 00:22:52,844 --> 00:22:55,725 Speaker 1: and it's yours. But don't miss the condition. If you 383 00:22:55,885 --> 00:22:59,244 Speaker 1: maintain a living communion with Me and my words are 384 00:22:59,284 --> 00:23:02,484 Speaker 1: at home in you, listen. When you're studying the Bible 385 00:23:02,885 --> 00:23:07,405 Speaker 1: and memorizing scripture, your desires are going to change, your 386 00:23:07,564 --> 00:23:11,444 Speaker 1: thoughts are going to change. You're going to start thinking biblically, 387 00:23:11,885 --> 00:23:13,645 Speaker 1: and then when you go to God in prayer, you're 388 00:23:13,685 --> 00:23:16,724 Speaker 1: not going to pray for self indulgent things. You're going 389 00:23:16,804 --> 00:23:20,804 Speaker 1: to pray more in an alignment with the will of God. 390 00:23:21,244 --> 00:23:25,725 Speaker 1: So the answer is abiding in Christ. The answer is 391 00:23:25,844 --> 00:23:31,685 Speaker 1: relationship with Christ, not in cheap substitutes or anti Christ 392 00:23:31,844 --> 00:23:38,165 Speaker 1: or instead of Christ figures activities or anything else you 393 00:23:38,284 --> 00:23:42,445 Speaker 1: might find yourself doing. You are created to know God. 394 00:23:43,044 --> 00:23:45,725 Speaker 1: You are created for a relationship with God. You know, 395 00:23:45,764 --> 00:23:48,804 Speaker 1: it's so interesting they do all these studies these days 396 00:23:48,844 --> 00:23:51,964 Speaker 1: on the topic of happiness, and it seems like the 397 00:23:52,004 --> 00:23:54,685 Speaker 1: culture is coming around to what the Bible has said 398 00:23:54,764 --> 00:23:58,244 Speaker 1: all along. I read an article in The Atlantic Monthly 399 00:23:58,645 --> 00:24:01,885 Speaker 1: about the pursuit of happiness recently, and they said they 400 00:24:01,885 --> 00:24:04,124 Speaker 1: have found that if you want to be a happy person, 401 00:24:04,205 --> 00:24:06,924 Speaker 1: you need to be a forgiving We have found that 402 00:24:06,965 --> 00:24:09,044 Speaker 1: if you want to be a happy person, you have 403 00:24:09,084 --> 00:24:12,445 Speaker 1: to be in a community of people and have relationships. 404 00:24:12,645 --> 00:24:14,445 Speaker 1: We have found that if you want to be a 405 00:24:14,524 --> 00:24:18,844 Speaker 1: happy person, you must engage in serving others and helping 406 00:24:18,885 --> 00:24:21,965 Speaker 1: other people. Aware have I heard all of that before. 407 00:24:22,365 --> 00:24:25,044 Speaker 1: That's all in the Bible. If we would just get 408 00:24:25,084 --> 00:24:28,924 Speaker 1: back to God's original plan, we would find that happiness 409 00:24:29,004 --> 00:24:32,364 Speaker 1: we're looking for in life. You'll find the fulfillment you 410 00:24:32,484 --> 00:24:36,365 Speaker 1: want in life not from chasing after it, but from 411 00:24:36,524 --> 00:24:41,805 Speaker 1: well chasing after God and knowing God. So here's a solution. 412 00:24:42,524 --> 00:24:47,644 Speaker 1: Abide in Christ, develop your relationship with Christ, and don't 413 00:24:47,685 --> 00:24:52,164 Speaker 1: settle for cheap substitutes. All right, So let's wrap it 414 00:24:52,244 --> 00:24:54,844 Speaker 1: up with a couple of questions. Here's the first one. 415 00:24:55,004 --> 00:24:59,324 Speaker 1: I'm a believer of God and I love him so much. 416 00:24:59,524 --> 00:25:02,604 Speaker 1: But one thing that I'm really questioning is when I 417 00:25:02,645 --> 00:25:05,764 Speaker 1: hear that God is coming back, I get scared. I 418 00:25:05,804 --> 00:25:07,844 Speaker 1: have fear in my heart and I don't know what 419 00:25:07,885 --> 00:25:10,284 Speaker 1: to do about that. Please tell me how I can 420 00:25:10,324 --> 00:25:13,084 Speaker 1: get rid of the fear that God is coming back 421 00:25:13,125 --> 00:25:15,445 Speaker 1: and be happy about it. That's a very good question, 422 00:25:15,604 --> 00:25:20,564 Speaker 1: all right. Number one, don't be afraid. Jesus put it 423 00:25:20,564 --> 00:25:25,084 Speaker 1: this way in John fourteen. Let not your hearts be troubled, 424 00:25:25,645 --> 00:25:30,164 Speaker 1: neither let them be afraid. So Jesus literally is addressing 425 00:25:30,284 --> 00:25:33,804 Speaker 1: your issue. Don't be afraid. When we study Bible prophecy, 426 00:25:33,885 --> 00:25:36,924 Speaker 1: which is the teaching of the Bible at end times events, 427 00:25:37,044 --> 00:25:42,164 Speaker 1: sometimes called the study of eschatology, it should not scare us. 428 00:25:42,484 --> 00:25:45,965 Speaker 1: It should prepare us, and I would also add it 429 00:25:46,004 --> 00:25:49,524 Speaker 1: should excite us. It's something to look forward to. The 430 00:25:49,564 --> 00:25:52,925 Speaker 1: Bible calls a return of Christ a blessed hope, and 431 00:25:53,004 --> 00:25:56,004 Speaker 1: the word blessed can be used interchangeably with the word happy, 432 00:25:56,084 --> 00:25:58,965 Speaker 1: so we could call it a happy hope. So when 433 00:25:59,004 --> 00:26:02,284 Speaker 1: you think about Jesus coming back, you should be happy. 434 00:26:02,405 --> 00:26:04,764 Speaker 1: Let's illustrate it. Let's say you know, when you're a 435 00:26:04,764 --> 00:26:08,364 Speaker 1: little kid, it's something wrong, and your mother said, just 436 00:26:08,445 --> 00:26:10,804 Speaker 1: wait until your father gets home. So you kind of 437 00:26:10,885 --> 00:26:14,165 Speaker 1: dreaded dad coming home because you knew you were in trouble. 438 00:26:14,324 --> 00:26:16,405 Speaker 1: But let's say you were a good boy, a good girl, 439 00:26:16,484 --> 00:26:19,644 Speaker 1: and everything was great, and mom said, daddy's home. You 440 00:26:19,844 --> 00:26:23,564 Speaker 1: ran to greet your father. So if you're right with God, 441 00:26:24,165 --> 00:26:27,205 Speaker 1: as you would be right with your earthly father, you'll 442 00:26:27,205 --> 00:26:30,165 Speaker 1: look forward to him coming. But if you're not right 443 00:26:30,244 --> 00:26:33,844 Speaker 1: with God, then you might dread his coming. So I 444 00:26:33,844 --> 00:26:36,685 Speaker 1: would say, make sure that you're ready to meet the Lord. 445 00:26:36,804 --> 00:26:40,125 Speaker 1: Make sure you're walking right with him. It doesn't mean 446 00:26:40,165 --> 00:26:42,925 Speaker 1: you live perfectly, it doesn't mean you don't make mistakes. 447 00:26:42,925 --> 00:26:45,205 Speaker 1: We all sin, we all fall short, but it means 448 00:26:45,244 --> 00:26:49,044 Speaker 1: we're looking forward to his return. In fact, at first John, 449 00:26:49,484 --> 00:26:51,684 Speaker 1: it says he that has this hope, that is the 450 00:26:51,685 --> 00:26:55,604 Speaker 1: hope of the Lord's return, purifies himself even as he 451 00:26:55,725 --> 00:27:00,004 Speaker 1: is pure. The word purify means to clean oneself right. 452 00:27:00,604 --> 00:27:03,125 Speaker 1: And so the idea is that I want to keep 453 00:27:03,125 --> 00:27:08,565 Speaker 1: my life morally pure, spiritually right, so when Jesus comes, 454 00:27:08,645 --> 00:27:11,244 Speaker 1: I will not be ashamed at his coming. So let 455 00:27:11,244 --> 00:27:14,044 Speaker 1: me just wrap it up and say, if you've put 456 00:27:14,084 --> 00:27:17,004 Speaker 1: your faith in Jesus Christ, you don't have to be 457 00:27:17,084 --> 00:27:20,564 Speaker 1: afraid when you hear that Christ is coming back. You 458 00:27:20,685 --> 00:27:23,445 Speaker 1: can say, like the apostle John said in the Book 459 00:27:23,484 --> 00:27:30,044 Speaker 1: of Revelation, even so, come Lord Jesus. It's a happy hope. 460 00:27:30,524 --> 00:27:33,204 Speaker 1: And here's one more question, and we'll wrap up with 461 00:27:33,244 --> 00:27:37,084 Speaker 1: this one. Someone asks, what if I feel far from 462 00:27:37,125 --> 00:27:42,324 Speaker 1: God or have walked away, can I come back? Absolutely 463 00:27:42,365 --> 00:27:45,484 Speaker 1: you can, and God will welcome you back. One of 464 00:27:45,564 --> 00:27:49,084 Speaker 1: my favorite passages is when the Lord tells us seek 465 00:27:49,125 --> 00:27:51,604 Speaker 1: the Lord while he may be found, call upon him 466 00:27:51,645 --> 00:27:54,725 Speaker 1: while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way 467 00:27:54,844 --> 00:27:58,084 Speaker 1: and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return 468 00:27:58,284 --> 00:28:00,804 Speaker 1: to our God. And then it goes on to say 469 00:28:01,365 --> 00:28:06,125 Speaker 1: who will pardon abundantly. Yes, if you turn to God, 470 00:28:06,244 --> 00:28:08,924 Speaker 1: God will pardon you. Back to the story of the 471 00:28:09,004 --> 00:28:12,165 Speaker 1: prodigal son. How did the father react when the son 472 00:28:12,244 --> 00:28:15,004 Speaker 1: came home? He ran to his son. You know, there 473 00:28:15,084 --> 00:28:17,244 Speaker 1: are different ideas as to why the father may have 474 00:28:17,284 --> 00:28:20,885 Speaker 1: done that. You see, that boy had denigrated the family name, 475 00:28:21,004 --> 00:28:23,965 Speaker 1: drug it to the gutter. That boy had denigrated the 476 00:28:24,084 --> 00:28:27,284 Speaker 1: village where he lived, and he was ashamed to them. 477 00:28:27,604 --> 00:28:29,964 Speaker 1: And many thought that maybe the father ran to the 478 00:28:29,965 --> 00:28:34,004 Speaker 1: son to protect him from a hostile crowd. Maybe to 479 00:28:34,084 --> 00:28:36,725 Speaker 1: protect his son from a crowd that would have stoned 480 00:28:36,804 --> 00:28:39,924 Speaker 1: him on the spot. The father wanted to get to 481 00:28:39,965 --> 00:28:42,644 Speaker 1: the son as quickly as he could and wrap his 482 00:28:42,885 --> 00:28:45,805 Speaker 1: arms around him. Is that not what happened at the 483 00:28:45,885 --> 00:28:50,325 Speaker 1: cross where Christ died in our place, He took the 484 00:28:50,365 --> 00:28:53,485 Speaker 1: punishment that should have come upon us, and he took 485 00:28:53,525 --> 00:28:57,645 Speaker 1: it upon himself. Jesus came to Piad dead. He did 486 00:28:57,685 --> 00:29:00,844 Speaker 1: not oh, because we owed a debt we could not pay. 487 00:29:00,965 --> 00:29:03,365 Speaker 1: So yes, you can return to the Lord, but let 488 00:29:03,365 --> 00:29:07,885 Speaker 1: me urge you to do it. So. The devil's favorite 489 00:29:07,925 --> 00:29:13,724 Speaker 1: word is tomorrow. God's favorite word is today. Today is 490 00:29:13,765 --> 00:29:16,364 Speaker 1: the day of salvation. The devil will say do it 491 00:29:16,405 --> 00:29:21,205 Speaker 1: another time, Minyana, not right now, because he knows the 492 00:29:21,365 --> 00:29:24,725 Speaker 1: longer you put it off, the harder your heart can get. 493 00:29:25,005 --> 00:29:27,884 Speaker 1: The Bible says he who has often reproved will harden 494 00:29:27,925 --> 00:29:29,924 Speaker 1: his heart, and he will be cut off, and that 495 00:29:30,084 --> 00:29:33,325 Speaker 1: without remedy. So let me paraphrase that, when you hear 496 00:29:33,365 --> 00:29:35,724 Speaker 1: the gospel again and again and you don't respond to 497 00:29:35,765 --> 00:29:39,005 Speaker 1: it in the affirmative, your heart can get hardened, sort 498 00:29:39,045 --> 00:29:41,965 Speaker 1: of like the first day you go outside barefoot in 499 00:29:42,005 --> 00:29:44,725 Speaker 1: the summer and walk around. Your feet are so tender. 500 00:29:44,765 --> 00:29:47,485 Speaker 1: But then if you walk barefoot a few days and 501 00:29:47,525 --> 00:29:50,005 Speaker 1: then a few weeks, they get tough. You get calloused, 502 00:29:50,325 --> 00:29:53,125 Speaker 1: and your heart can get calloused. And listen to this, 503 00:29:53,525 --> 00:29:56,685 Speaker 1: The easiest place to get a hardened heart is in 504 00:29:56,725 --> 00:29:59,925 Speaker 1: the church. You might say, oh, no, the easiest place 505 00:29:59,965 --> 00:30:02,525 Speaker 1: to get a hardened heart would be, you know, living 506 00:30:02,604 --> 00:30:04,805 Speaker 1: in sin. Well, yes, you could get a hardened heart 507 00:30:04,844 --> 00:30:07,565 Speaker 1: there too. But if you hear the Gospel and you 508 00:30:07,604 --> 00:30:12,645 Speaker 1: don't respond to it, you can become jaded. It's been said, 509 00:30:12,725 --> 00:30:16,364 Speaker 1: the same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay. 510 00:30:16,925 --> 00:30:20,565 Speaker 1: The same message that can liberate one person can cause 511 00:30:20,604 --> 00:30:24,204 Speaker 1: another to be hardened. That's why we need to always 512 00:30:24,205 --> 00:30:29,325 Speaker 1: come with an open, receptive heart to the word of God. Therefore, 513 00:30:29,965 --> 00:30:32,405 Speaker 1: we want to get back with the Lord as quickly 514 00:30:32,885 --> 00:30:36,725 Speaker 1: as possible. He welcomes you with open arms. Don't put 515 00:30:36,765 --> 00:30:39,285 Speaker 1: it off. In fact, why don't you do it right now? 516 00:30:39,805 --> 00:30:42,485 Speaker 1: Maybe you're watching this and you're saying, I need to 517 00:30:42,485 --> 00:30:45,165 Speaker 1: get right with God, but I don't know. How can 518 00:30:45,205 --> 00:30:47,765 Speaker 1: I help you. Let me lead you in a simple 519 00:30:47,844 --> 00:30:50,844 Speaker 1: prayer that you can pray where you're asking Christ to 520 00:30:50,965 --> 00:30:53,925 Speaker 1: come into your life, or if you're a prodigal, or 521 00:30:54,005 --> 00:30:57,245 Speaker 1: you will be coming back to the Lord again. If 522 00:30:57,285 --> 00:31:01,124 Speaker 1: you want your sin forgiven, if you want a relationship 523 00:31:01,165 --> 00:31:03,325 Speaker 1: with God, if you want to know that when you 524 00:31:03,405 --> 00:31:06,965 Speaker 1: die you will go to Heaven. Pray this prayer with me. 525 00:31:07,045 --> 00:31:09,285 Speaker 1: You could pray it out loud if you like, but 526 00:31:09,365 --> 00:31:12,285 Speaker 1: do pray it. Let's pray right now. Just pray this 527 00:31:12,685 --> 00:31:16,765 Speaker 1: Lord Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner, but I 528 00:31:16,805 --> 00:31:20,205 Speaker 1: know that you're the Savior who died in the cross 529 00:31:20,245 --> 00:31:23,525 Speaker 1: for my sin and rose again from the dead. I'm 530 00:31:23,885 --> 00:31:27,725 Speaker 1: sorry for my sin. I turned from my sin, and 531 00:31:27,805 --> 00:31:32,205 Speaker 1: I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank 532 00:31:32,245 --> 00:31:36,525 Speaker 1: you for curing my prayer in answering my prayer in Jesus. 533 00:31:36,565 --> 00:31:40,164 Speaker 1: They might ask this, Amen, Hey, if you just prayed 534 00:31:40,165 --> 00:31:43,005 Speaker 1: that prayer, I want you to know, on the authority 535 00:31:43,005 --> 00:31:46,165 Speaker 1: of God's word that God has heard you and He's 536 00:31:46,205 --> 00:31:49,765 Speaker 1: answered that prayer. First John says, these things we write 537 00:31:49,765 --> 00:31:51,365 Speaker 1: to you that believe in the name of the Son 538 00:31:51,405 --> 00:31:54,884 Speaker 1: of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 539 00:31:54,885 --> 00:31:57,404 Speaker 1: If you believe in God's Son, you put your faith 540 00:31:57,445 --> 00:32:00,245 Speaker 1: in him, you can know. It doesn't say so, you 541 00:32:00,245 --> 00:32:03,365 Speaker 1: can feel you have eternal life, or you can hope 542 00:32:03,365 --> 00:32:06,084 Speaker 1: if God's in a really good mood, maybe you'll have 543 00:32:06,165 --> 00:32:09,325 Speaker 1: eternal life. No, you can know it. If you prayed 544 00:32:09,325 --> 00:32:12,245 Speaker 1: their prayer minute, you can know on the authority of 545 00:32:12,285 --> 00:32:15,525 Speaker 1: scripture that you are a child of God. Let me 546 00:32:15,565 --> 00:32:18,125 Speaker 1: send you a gift. It's called the New Believer's Bible. 547 00:32:18,365 --> 00:32:21,045 Speaker 1: This bible has been on a number of years. It's 548 00:32:21,084 --> 00:32:24,565 Speaker 1: actually designed for someone that's new in the faith. It's 549 00:32:24,604 --> 00:32:29,005 Speaker 1: a very friendly translation, the New Living Translation, and it 550 00:32:29,005 --> 00:32:32,205 Speaker 1: has hundreds and hundreds of notes that I wrote that 551 00:32:32,245 --> 00:32:35,045 Speaker 1: will help you grow spiritually. And I want to send 552 00:32:35,084 --> 00:32:38,165 Speaker 1: you one of these bibles at no charge to help 553 00:32:38,205 --> 00:32:42,005 Speaker 1: you get started on the right foot and following Jesus Christ. 554 00:32:42,045 --> 00:32:43,445 Speaker 1: So God bless you