1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,120 Now, the theme of these four sessions that 2 00:00:03,120 –> 00:00:06,280 I’m privileged to have with you this week 3 00:00:06,280 –> 00:00:10,140 is faith that lasts and I’m introducing you 4 00:00:10,140 –> 00:00:13,560 to four characters who are really addressed 5 00:00:13,560 –> 00:00:16,480 in these verses from Hebrews. 6 00:00:16,480 –> 00:00:18,059 This morning we met Drifting, 7 00:00:18,059 –> 00:00:20,260 the first of the four characters. 8 00:00:20,260 –> 00:00:22,379 Thinks of himself as a good person 9 00:00:22,379 –> 00:00:24,139 but lacks clear conviction, 10 00:00:24,139 –> 00:00:28,559 is searching for more but still has not found it. 11 00:00:28,559 –> 00:00:33,560 And drifting we saw needs to grasp why he needs Jesus. 12 00:00:35,259 –> 00:00:37,740 Needs to grasp the most basic principle 13 00:00:37,740 –> 00:00:40,220 of the word of God. 14 00:00:40,220 –> 00:00:42,380 Needs to get the road that leads 15 00:00:42,380 –> 00:00:45,220 to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 16 00:00:45,220 –> 00:00:47,820 and this is really really important 17 00:00:49,380 –> 00:00:51,500 because I’m sure you don’t need me to say 18 00:00:51,500 –> 00:00:52,939 you will have seen this 19 00:00:52,939 –> 00:00:57,939 that too often the gospel has been replaced 20 00:00:59,340 –> 00:01:03,599 in our time with a message that basically says 21 00:01:03,599 –> 00:01:07,139 either that Jesus offers you a better life 22 00:01:07,139 –> 00:01:10,860 or that Jesus invites you to sign up for his cause 23 00:01:11,940 –> 00:01:13,699 and here’s the problem that if you come 24 00:01:13,699 –> 00:01:15,260 to some form of profession of faith 25 00:01:15,260 –> 00:01:18,339 on that basis then there will come a time 26 00:01:18,339 –> 00:01:22,139 when drift sets in and you will find yourself saying 27 00:01:22,139 –> 00:01:25,519 you know what I can have a good life without Jesus 28 00:01:25,580 –> 00:01:30,099 and I can sign up for a better cause than Jesus 29 00:01:30,099 –> 00:01:33,180 and the drift will set in. 30 00:01:33,180 –> 00:01:38,180 A faith that lasts begins with grasping deeply 31 00:01:38,660 –> 00:01:43,180 why we need Jesus and we saw it from the book 32 00:01:43,180 –> 00:01:45,040 of Hebrews together this morning. 33 00:01:45,040 –> 00:01:47,900 Let me personalize it, speak present tense. 34 00:01:47,900 –> 00:01:52,059 Why I today and everyday the best day of my life, 35 00:01:52,400 –> 00:01:54,199 the last day of my life, today, 36 00:01:54,199 –> 00:01:58,639 why I need Jesus today, because my best works, 37 00:01:58,639 –> 00:02:00,980 all my ministry, all of that, 38 00:02:00,980 –> 00:02:03,120 my best works are dead works 39 00:02:03,120 –> 00:02:07,040 and cannot, cannot possibly win the favor of God, 40 00:02:07,040 –> 00:02:08,360 I need the righteousness 41 00:02:08,360 –> 00:02:10,279 that Jesus Christ alone can give me. 42 00:02:11,080 –> 00:02:13,479 I need Jesus because my sins defile me 43 00:02:13,479 –> 00:02:16,600 and would exclude me from the presence of God 44 00:02:16,600 –> 00:02:19,240 and therefore I need the cleansing 45 00:02:19,320 –> 00:02:22,160 that only Jesus Christ can give me 46 00:02:22,160 –> 00:02:25,679 and I need Jesus because my life is eternal 47 00:02:25,679 –> 00:02:30,320 and one day I will stand in the presence of God 48 00:02:30,320 –> 00:02:33,279 and I need the salvation that only Jesus can bring, 49 00:02:33,279 –> 00:02:35,039 I need him on that day 50 00:02:35,039 –> 00:02:36,520 to put his arm around me 51 00:02:36,520 –> 00:02:38,320 and say, Collins, mine. 52 00:02:39,360 –> 00:02:40,759 And everything that justice 53 00:02:40,759 –> 00:02:42,660 could ever have brought to him 54 00:02:42,660 –> 00:02:45,880 came on me when I died for him on the cross. 55 00:02:45,940 –> 00:02:49,360 You take that and apply it to yourself as well. 56 00:02:49,360 –> 00:02:51,919 And we’re saying this morning from Hebrews 57 00:02:51,919 –> 00:02:53,199 that when these things, 58 00:02:53,199 –> 00:02:54,320 why we need Jesus, 59 00:02:54,320 –> 00:02:57,679 the basic principles of the word of God, 60 00:02:57,679 –> 00:02:59,039 when these things are clear, 61 00:02:59,039 –> 00:03:01,080 settled, established in your mind 62 00:03:01,080 –> 00:03:01,960 and in your heart, 63 00:03:01,960 –> 00:03:04,360 you will come to faith in the Lord, 64 00:03:04,360 –> 00:03:05,179 Jesus Christ, 65 00:03:05,179 –> 00:03:07,520 when you see this clearly 66 00:03:07,520 –> 00:03:11,979 and your faith will be a faith that lasts. 67 00:03:12,899 –> 00:03:14,600 Now tonight I want to introduce you 68 00:03:14,639 –> 00:03:17,679 to a second friend of mine 69 00:03:17,679 –> 00:03:21,160 who I’m going to call Defiant. 70 00:03:21,160 –> 00:03:25,139 And I expect that you know someone like her, 71 00:03:25,139 –> 00:03:28,740 maybe you will see something of yourself in her. 72 00:03:28,740 –> 00:03:30,759 Let me describe Defiant to you. 73 00:03:31,779 –> 00:03:34,600 Defiant grew up in the church. 74 00:03:34,600 –> 00:03:36,839 Over the years, she often went to camps, 75 00:03:36,839 –> 00:03:38,559 she played in concerts, 76 00:03:38,559 –> 00:03:40,039 she served on teams, 77 00:03:40,039 –> 00:03:42,220 she engaged in Bible studies. 78 00:03:42,300 –> 00:03:45,800 Her parents were relentless 79 00:03:45,800 –> 00:03:48,860 in trying to encourage her to get involved. 80 00:03:48,860 –> 00:03:51,940 She felt the pressure to conform. 81 00:03:51,940 –> 00:03:55,139 She really did try and fit in. 82 00:03:55,139 –> 00:03:59,880 But somehow, she always felt that she was on the outside 83 00:03:59,880 –> 00:04:02,539 and that she was looking in. 84 00:04:03,600 –> 00:04:05,800 Defiant can remember times 85 00:04:05,800 –> 00:04:08,899 when she might have come to faith, 86 00:04:08,899 –> 00:04:10,660 that time at the camp when she felt 87 00:04:10,699 –> 00:04:13,860 that God was speaking to her. 88 00:04:13,860 –> 00:04:17,519 And she wanted to respond but then she held back. 89 00:04:17,519 –> 00:04:19,980 There was that trip when she was serving the poor 90 00:04:19,980 –> 00:04:24,200 and she felt like this is what I’m meant to be doing, 91 00:04:24,200 –> 00:04:26,440 but then it passed. 92 00:04:26,440 –> 00:04:28,739 Then there was the time when her friend 93 00:04:28,739 –> 00:04:30,420 was diagnosed with cancer. 94 00:04:30,420 –> 00:04:35,420 Everybody prayed and the friend was wonderfully healed. 95 00:04:35,519 –> 00:04:38,980 On each of these occasions, 96 00:04:38,980 –> 00:04:43,980 defiant came very, very close to faith but she held back 97 00:04:46,239 –> 00:04:51,239 because she knew deep in her heart that in many ways 98 00:04:51,640 –> 00:04:56,239 following Jesus Christ would be costly for her. 99 00:04:56,239 –> 00:05:00,540 And over time she realized that somewhere down the line 100 00:05:00,540 –> 00:05:03,220 she was going to have to make a clear-cut choice 101 00:05:03,260 –> 00:05:05,859 between either going with Jesus 102 00:05:05,859 –> 00:05:08,100 or walking away from him altogether. 103 00:05:08,100 –> 00:05:11,899 Being close to faith without being committed to Christ 104 00:05:11,899 –> 00:05:14,380 was ultimately unsustainable. 105 00:05:14,380 –> 00:05:18,359 She knew that, that sooner or later 106 00:05:18,359 –> 00:05:20,820 she’d have to give herself completely to Christ 107 00:05:20,820 –> 00:05:23,779 or else she would walk away from Christ altogether. 108 00:05:25,500 –> 00:05:28,480 And today she avoids talking about faith. 109 00:05:29,579 –> 00:05:32,619 If the subject comes up she is a ready defense 110 00:05:33,679 –> 00:05:36,619 from time to time people from the church she grew up in 111 00:05:36,619 –> 00:05:39,820 try and reach out to her, try and draw her back 112 00:05:39,820 –> 00:05:44,820 but she really has no interest at all 113 00:05:45,540 –> 00:05:49,179 and that’s why I’m calling her defiant. 114 00:05:49,179 –> 00:05:51,739 So here’s a summary of defiant. 115 00:05:51,739 –> 00:05:54,220 She had some experience of Christianity 116 00:05:54,220 –> 00:05:56,260 but found it costly. 117 00:05:56,260 –> 00:05:59,160 She has decided to leave it behind. 118 00:05:59,200 –> 00:06:04,100 She has no interest in following Jesus Christ. 119 00:06:05,619 –> 00:06:07,239 Now let me say to you candidly 120 00:06:07,239 –> 00:06:09,700 and I’ve observed this over many years as a pastor 121 00:06:09,700 –> 00:06:13,899 that the hardest people in the world to reach 122 00:06:13,899 –> 00:06:17,140 are not those who have never heard the gospel 123 00:06:17,140 –> 00:06:20,179 and they are not those who are living 124 00:06:20,179 –> 00:06:23,859 in flagrant open rebellion against God either. 125 00:06:24,839 –> 00:06:29,019 The hardest people in the world to reach 126 00:06:30,019 –> 00:06:32,739 are those who have tasted the truth 127 00:06:34,100 –> 00:06:36,640 and then have turned away and become defiant. 128 00:06:38,059 –> 00:06:40,260 And Hebrews in the verses that were read 129 00:06:40,260 –> 00:06:42,679 speaks particularly about those who have fallen away 130 00:06:42,679 –> 00:06:44,779 from faith in Jesus. 131 00:06:44,779 –> 00:06:48,700 That is people who have walked away from a faith 132 00:06:48,700 –> 00:06:52,640 that they may once have professed. 133 00:06:53,880 –> 00:06:56,959 Now, as we saw this morning, Jesus said, 134 00:06:57,839 –> 00:07:02,559 my sheep will never perish. 135 00:07:03,679 –> 00:07:06,320 So how is it possible for people who once made 136 00:07:06,320 –> 00:07:09,500 a profession of faith to fall away 137 00:07:09,500 –> 00:07:14,500 if they abandon the faith were they ever Christ’s sheep? 138 00:07:14,980 –> 00:07:18,420 Now you will know that some Christians believe 139 00:07:18,420 –> 00:07:21,459 that a person who truly belongs to Jesus Christ 140 00:07:21,480 –> 00:07:23,940 can lose their salvation, 141 00:07:23,940 –> 00:07:26,299 and these words in Hebrews in chapter six 142 00:07:26,299 –> 00:07:29,679 are often pointed to, the words about falling away 143 00:07:29,679 –> 00:07:33,380 are often pointed to in support of that belief. 144 00:07:34,440 –> 00:07:37,019 But here’s the problem as I see it. 145 00:07:37,940 –> 00:07:42,600 The words of Hebrews about falling away 146 00:07:43,380 –> 00:07:47,940 needs to be put alongside the words of Jesus 147 00:07:47,940 –> 00:07:51,440 when he says my sheep never perish. 148 00:07:52,040 –> 00:07:54,140 All scripture is breathed out by God 149 00:07:54,140 –> 00:07:56,899 and God never contradicts himself. 150 00:07:56,899 –> 00:08:01,899 So all scripture must be read in the light of scripture 151 00:08:03,059 –> 00:08:06,660 and cannot be understood in such a way 152 00:08:06,660 –> 00:08:09,660 as to create open contradiction. 153 00:08:09,660 –> 00:08:14,660 So Jesus said my sheep will never perish. 154 00:08:16,380 –> 00:08:20,019 Hebrews 6 then cannot possibly mean that some of them will. 155 00:08:21,000 –> 00:08:24,480 Scripture tells us that nothing can separate us 156 00:08:24,480 –> 00:08:25,320 from the love of God 157 00:08:25,320 –> 00:08:26,820 which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 158 00:08:26,820 –> 00:08:28,700 That’s the end of Romans chapter eight. 159 00:08:28,700 –> 00:08:31,480 So Hebrew 6 cannot mean that there will be some things 160 00:08:31,480 –> 00:08:33,739 that will separate us from the love of Christ. 161 00:08:34,739 –> 00:08:38,140 Scripture says that when God begins a good work in us 162 00:08:38,140 –> 00:08:39,820 he does bring it to completion. 163 00:08:39,820 –> 00:08:41,460 That’s Philippians in chapter one, 164 00:08:41,460 –> 00:08:44,200 so Hebrew 6 cannot therefore mean 165 00:08:44,200 –> 00:08:46,179 that in some cases God will start a work 166 00:08:46,260 –> 00:08:49,979 and then abandon it and leave off what he has begun. 167 00:08:49,979 –> 00:08:54,280 So we must understand Hebrews chapter six 168 00:08:54,280 –> 00:08:55,880 as those who believe that the whole Bible 169 00:08:55,880 –> 00:08:56,780 is the word of God, 170 00:08:56,780 –> 00:08:59,059 we must understand the warnings of Hebrew six 171 00:08:59,059 –> 00:09:03,080 in a way that is consistent with the promise of Jesus 172 00:09:03,080 –> 00:09:06,039 when he says, my sheep never perish 173 00:09:06,039 –> 00:09:08,000 because both the promise of Jesus 174 00:09:08,000 –> 00:09:11,059 and the warning of Hebrews are equally the word of God. 175 00:09:12,559 –> 00:09:15,880 Now, putting these together then we can say two things. 176 00:09:16,719 –> 00:09:20,460 The first is that we can say with confidence 177 00:09:20,460 –> 00:09:24,780 that a person who was truly one of Christ’s sheep 178 00:09:25,640 –> 00:09:30,059 and turned away will come back. 179 00:09:31,039 –> 00:09:32,479 If she is one of Christ’s sheep, 180 00:09:32,479 –> 00:09:33,900 if he is one of Christ’s sheep, 181 00:09:33,900 –> 00:09:37,739 he will come back must, must. 182 00:09:37,739 –> 00:09:40,400 May be gone for a long time, 183 00:09:40,400 –> 00:09:44,119 may wonder very very far away. 184 00:09:44,119 –> 00:09:47,219 But if they are among Christ’s sheep, 185 00:09:47,219 –> 00:09:49,820 they will come back, they must come back. 186 00:09:49,820 –> 00:09:51,299 It is inevitable, 187 00:09:51,299 –> 00:09:54,239 because Jesus Christ never loses one of his own. 188 00:09:56,580 –> 00:09:58,460 Take Peter as an example. 189 00:09:59,440 –> 00:10:02,479 I mean, he denied that he ever knew Jesus 190 00:10:02,479 –> 00:10:04,359 and he did it with cursing. 191 00:10:05,820 –> 00:10:08,400 And if you had stood there on that night 192 00:10:08,400 –> 00:10:11,140 when this explosion came out of it, 193 00:10:11,140 –> 00:10:13,219 you would have thought, I would have thought, 194 00:10:13,239 –> 00:10:14,700 oh, he’s gone, 195 00:10:14,700 –> 00:10:16,940 I mean, there’s no coming back from this. 196 00:10:17,979 –> 00:10:19,539 But Peter repented, 197 00:10:19,539 –> 00:10:22,340 and he was wonderfully, wonderfully restored, 198 00:10:22,340 –> 00:10:24,260 showing that he was indeed, 199 00:10:24,260 –> 00:10:25,739 truly one of Christ’s sheep. 200 00:10:25,739 –> 00:10:27,780 The evidence of it was that he came back. 201 00:10:29,299 –> 00:10:30,260 On the other hand, 202 00:10:30,260 –> 00:10:32,260 surely putting these two truths together, 203 00:10:32,260 –> 00:10:33,559 we can conclude this, 204 00:10:33,559 –> 00:10:38,020 that a person who turns away from Jesus Christ 205 00:10:38,020 –> 00:10:41,179 and never comes back to the end of their life, 206 00:10:41,179 –> 00:10:42,260 never comes back. 207 00:10:43,659 –> 00:10:45,099 Thereby gives demonstration 208 00:10:45,099 –> 00:10:47,739 that they never were among Christ’s sheep. 209 00:10:48,840 –> 00:10:52,260 And of course we have an example of this in Judas Iscariot, 210 00:10:52,260 –> 00:10:56,780 who walked away from Jesus and never returned. 211 00:10:58,020 –> 00:11:02,460 Now, what makes this confusing and difficult for all of us 212 00:11:02,460 –> 00:11:04,760 is of course that Peter and Judas 213 00:11:04,760 –> 00:11:06,599 look pretty much the same. 214 00:11:07,580 –> 00:11:10,059 Both professed faith, 215 00:11:10,059 –> 00:11:14,260 both followed Jesus, both served in ministry. 216 00:11:14,260 –> 00:11:18,039 How could one have belonged to Christ’s flock 217 00:11:18,039 –> 00:11:20,700 and the other not? 218 00:11:20,700 –> 00:11:24,239 Well, Hebrews chapter 6 really helps us here 219 00:11:24,239 –> 00:11:25,520 by making it clear, 220 00:11:25,520 –> 00:11:27,419 and this is the fundamental point to grasp 221 00:11:27,419 –> 00:11:29,520 about Hebrews 6 tonight, 222 00:11:29,520 –> 00:11:34,099 that it is possible to have spiritual experience 223 00:11:34,099 –> 00:11:36,679 that is not saving experience. 224 00:11:36,679 –> 00:11:39,619 It is possible to have spiritual experience 225 00:11:39,640 –> 00:11:43,080 that is not saving experience. 226 00:11:43,080 –> 00:11:45,479 Now notice what is said in verses four to six 227 00:11:45,479 –> 00:11:47,419 in which various spiritual experiences 228 00:11:47,419 –> 00:11:49,159 that do not save are described. 229 00:11:49,159 –> 00:11:52,099 It is impossible in the case of those 230 00:11:52,099 –> 00:11:54,500 who have once been enlightened 231 00:11:54,500 –> 00:11:56,780 who have tasted the heavenly gift, 232 00:11:56,780 –> 00:11:58,340 have shared in the Holy Spirit, 233 00:11:58,340 –> 00:12:00,440 have tasted the goodness of the Word of God 234 00:12:00,440 –> 00:12:02,299 and the powers of the age to come 235 00:12:02,299 –> 00:12:04,419 and then have fallen away, 236 00:12:04,419 –> 00:12:07,619 it’s impossible to restore them again to repentance. 237 00:12:08,440 –> 00:12:13,440 Now Hebrews here lists five kinds of spiritual experience 238 00:12:14,599 –> 00:12:18,580 that a person can have without being saved. 239 00:12:19,820 –> 00:12:23,099 They have been enlightened, that’s number one. 240 00:12:23,099 –> 00:12:27,299 In other words, it is possible to have the light of truth, 241 00:12:28,460 –> 00:12:31,479 to be brought up in a faithful biblical church, 242 00:12:31,479 –> 00:12:35,260 to come to a faithful biblical place like Taylor University 243 00:12:35,260 –> 00:12:37,580 and to know the truth. 244 00:12:37,580 –> 00:12:39,580 And for you to understand it. 245 00:12:40,859 –> 00:12:44,460 And even as in the case of Judas to teach it 246 00:12:44,460 –> 00:12:47,900 because he did that and yet not to be saved. 247 00:12:49,619 –> 00:12:53,359 Notice secondly they have tasted the heavenly gift. 248 00:12:54,219 –> 00:12:55,140 What’s the heavenly gift? 249 00:12:55,140 –> 00:12:57,739 The heavenly gift clearly is Jesus himself. 250 00:12:57,739 –> 00:13:01,039 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. 251 00:13:01,039 –> 00:13:03,440 Jesus is the heavenly gift. 252 00:13:03,440 –> 00:13:05,619 And what we’re being told here is 253 00:13:05,760 –> 00:13:08,940 that it is possible for someone who is 254 00:13:08,940 –> 00:13:13,059 not one of Christ’s sheep to have at least some taste 255 00:13:13,919 –> 00:13:15,299 of the love of God. 256 00:13:15,299 –> 00:13:19,580 Remember that tasting is not the same as eating. 257 00:13:19,580 –> 00:13:22,539 Before Jesus was nailed to the cross Matthew tells us 258 00:13:22,539 –> 00:13:27,539 that they offered to him wine to drink mixed with gall 259 00:13:27,640 –> 00:13:30,979 and when he tasted it he would not drink it. 260 00:13:31,960 –> 00:13:33,960 The wine mixed with gall actually had 261 00:13:33,960 –> 00:13:36,400 mild anesthetic properties. 262 00:13:36,400 –> 00:13:38,479 It was the one little piece of compassion 263 00:13:38,479 –> 00:13:39,679 that was offered to someone when 264 00:13:39,679 –> 00:13:41,299 they were nailed to a cross. 265 00:13:41,299 –> 00:13:44,080 But of course Jesus had to be fully conscious 266 00:13:45,080 –> 00:13:47,400 throughout all of his suffering. 267 00:13:47,400 –> 00:13:50,000 And when he tastes it and realizes what it is 268 00:13:50,000 –> 00:13:52,039 he refuses and he will not take it. 269 00:13:52,039 –> 00:13:54,400 Now in the same way it is possible 270 00:13:54,400 –> 00:13:59,400 to taste the heavenly gift to have some knowledge of Jesus 271 00:13:59,940 –> 00:14:02,900 and yet not to have any appetite for more. 272 00:14:02,900 –> 00:14:07,900 Third they have shared in the Holy Spirit. 273 00:14:09,719 –> 00:14:12,239 Now when I have the opportunity as a pastor 274 00:14:12,239 –> 00:14:16,359 of speaking to someone who has turned away from faith 275 00:14:16,359 –> 00:14:19,179 a question that I sometimes ask is this. 276 00:14:20,400 –> 00:14:25,400 What was the nearest you ever came to being a Christian? 277 00:14:27,219 –> 00:14:28,979 And I often get an answer like this 278 00:14:29,000 –> 00:14:31,239 well I remember one night at camp 279 00:14:31,239 –> 00:14:34,239 and I did feel that God was speaking to me then 280 00:14:34,239 –> 00:14:37,020 but and I wanted to respond but I didn’t. 281 00:14:38,280 –> 00:14:40,059 And when I hear a story like this 282 00:14:40,059 –> 00:14:42,039 there’s absolutely no question in my mind 283 00:14:42,039 –> 00:14:46,219 that the Holy Spirit touched this person’s life. 284 00:14:48,099 –> 00:14:50,599 They shared in the Holy Spirit. 285 00:14:50,599 –> 00:14:52,260 Though of course sharing in the Holy Spirit 286 00:14:52,260 –> 00:14:55,280 is not the same as being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. 287 00:14:56,200 –> 00:14:57,820 What happened was that this person 288 00:14:57,960 –> 00:15:00,140 had a spiritual experience 289 00:15:00,140 –> 00:15:04,580 but it was not a saving experience. 290 00:15:04,580 –> 00:15:07,580 And it is possible to see and experience 291 00:15:07,580 –> 00:15:12,580 the spirit of God at work without being truly saved. 292 00:15:14,820 –> 00:15:16,580 And then number four. 293 00:15:16,580 –> 00:15:19,900 They have tasted the goodness of the word of God. 294 00:15:19,900 –> 00:15:21,719 Notice again the word tasted 295 00:15:22,979 –> 00:15:25,320 and remember that tasting is not the same as eating. 296 00:15:25,340 –> 00:15:27,719 It is possible to be well taught 297 00:15:27,719 –> 00:15:31,179 in the word of God over many, many years 298 00:15:31,179 –> 00:15:33,239 to have that as a spiritual experience 299 00:15:33,239 –> 00:15:36,679 but for it not to be a saving experience 300 00:15:36,679 –> 00:15:40,580 and still not to be one of Christ’s sheep. 301 00:15:40,580 –> 00:15:43,280 And then fifthly and finally they have tasted 302 00:15:43,280 –> 00:15:47,159 the powers of the age to come. 303 00:15:47,159 –> 00:15:49,400 In other words, it is possible for a person 304 00:15:49,400 –> 00:15:52,179 to experience real answers to prayer. 305 00:15:53,159 –> 00:15:56,320 Even to experience a miracle, 306 00:15:56,320 –> 00:15:58,900 to be used in a remarkable way by God. 307 00:15:58,900 –> 00:16:00,780 Even to bring someone else to faith 308 00:16:00,780 –> 00:16:01,880 in the Lord Jesus Christ 309 00:16:01,880 –> 00:16:03,780 and still not to be saved yourself. 310 00:16:05,640 –> 00:16:07,419 Now it would be easy when you go through 311 00:16:07,419 –> 00:16:11,799 this list to simply assume that someone 312 00:16:11,799 –> 00:16:13,679 who has let’s put them together 313 00:16:13,679 –> 00:16:17,679 been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, 314 00:16:17,679 –> 00:16:19,619 shared in the Holy Spirit, 315 00:16:19,619 –> 00:16:21,320 tasted in the goodness 316 00:16:21,320 –> 00:16:24,200 of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come 317 00:16:24,200 –> 00:16:27,380 that such a person must belong to Jesus Christ. 318 00:16:28,559 –> 00:16:30,960 And Hebrews chapter six is quite clearly telling us 319 00:16:30,960 –> 00:16:33,940 that that would be a false assumption. 320 00:16:35,559 –> 00:16:38,380 Now at this point you might very reasonably 321 00:16:38,380 –> 00:16:40,960 be asking and wondering 322 00:16:40,960 –> 00:16:43,359 well are there any examples, 323 00:16:43,359 –> 00:16:46,599 real examples in the Bible 324 00:16:46,599 –> 00:16:50,400 of people who experienced these five things 325 00:16:51,619 –> 00:16:53,200 and were not Christ’s sheep? 326 00:16:54,099 –> 00:16:58,799 And the answer to that is yes, plenty of examples. 327 00:16:58,799 –> 00:17:00,940 I don’t wanna keep you here all night on this 328 00:17:00,940 –> 00:17:03,119 so let me just give you three, 329 00:17:03,119 –> 00:17:05,880 the first would be the people of Bethsaida, 330 00:17:06,880 –> 00:17:10,000 listen to what Jesus says in regards to them. 331 00:17:10,000 –> 00:17:14,000 Then Matthew says, Matthew 11 20 he began 332 00:17:14,000 –> 00:17:17,900 to denounce the cities where most 333 00:17:17,900 –> 00:17:22,040 of his mighty works had been done 334 00:17:22,040 –> 00:17:24,660 because they did not repent. 335 00:17:25,680 –> 00:17:27,680 Now notice that we’re being told quite clearly here 336 00:17:27,680 –> 00:17:30,680 in the gospels that Bethsaida was the place, 337 00:17:30,680 –> 00:17:33,180 one of the places where most 338 00:17:33,180 –> 00:17:37,099 most of Jesus’ miracles were done. 339 00:17:38,459 –> 00:17:42,300 The light of Christ came to this town. 340 00:17:42,300 –> 00:17:46,599 The people of Bethsaida, they tasted the miraculous powers 341 00:17:46,599 –> 00:17:47,520 of the age to come. 342 00:17:48,780 –> 00:17:53,359 They heard the word of God from the lips of Jesus himself. 343 00:17:53,359 –> 00:17:55,540 You can’t get better than that. 344 00:17:55,540 –> 00:18:00,140 They saw the Holy Spirit working in power. 345 00:18:00,140 –> 00:18:03,459 The people of Bethsaida enjoyed remarkable 346 00:18:03,459 –> 00:18:06,060 spiritual experiences, but in the end 347 00:18:06,060 –> 00:18:10,020 they rejected Jesus and they did not repent. 348 00:18:11,140 –> 00:18:14,060 In contrast, the people of Tyre and Sidon, 349 00:18:14,060 –> 00:18:16,020 and Jesus draws the contrast here, 350 00:18:16,020 –> 00:18:17,540 the people of Tyre and Sidon 351 00:18:17,579 –> 00:18:20,819 never enjoyed privileges like the people of Bethsaida did. 352 00:18:20,819 –> 00:18:24,060 And so Jesus says, woe to you Bethsaida. 353 00:18:25,339 –> 00:18:26,180 Why? 354 00:18:26,180 –> 00:18:28,400 Because if the mighty works that were done 355 00:18:28,400 –> 00:18:30,140 in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, 356 00:18:30,140 –> 00:18:33,380 they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes 357 00:18:33,380 –> 00:18:35,199 but I tell you, it will be more bearable 358 00:18:35,199 –> 00:18:36,739 on the day of judgment for Tyre 359 00:18:36,739 –> 00:18:40,140 and for Sidon than for you. 360 00:18:40,140 –> 00:18:41,900 Now you see the point here. 361 00:18:41,900 –> 00:18:46,900 Great opportunities were given to the people of Bethsaida 362 00:18:48,459 –> 00:18:50,819 and Jesus is quite clear that the judgment 363 00:18:50,819 –> 00:18:54,239 upon the people of Bethsaida will be greater, 364 00:18:54,239 –> 00:18:57,579 greater than it will be on the people of Tyre and Sidon. 365 00:18:57,579 –> 00:18:58,420 Why? 366 00:18:58,420 –> 00:19:00,459 Because these people of Bethsaida squandered 367 00:19:00,459 –> 00:19:02,979 the privileges that were given to them. 368 00:19:04,819 –> 00:19:07,319 Second example, we’ll come back to this, 369 00:19:07,319 –> 00:19:09,780 God willing, on Wednesday morning. 370 00:19:09,780 –> 00:19:13,099 John chapter 6 speaks about disciples who turned back. 371 00:19:13,099 –> 00:19:17,099 After this, many of his, that’s Jesus’ disciples, 372 00:19:17,099 –> 00:19:19,880 turned back and no longer walked with him. 373 00:19:19,880 –> 00:19:23,459 That’s John 6 in verse 66. 374 00:19:23,459 –> 00:19:25,979 Now the story here begins at the beginning of John 6 375 00:19:25,979 –> 00:19:28,819 where Jesus feeds 5,000 people with the loaves 376 00:19:28,819 –> 00:19:32,420 and the fish that are given to him by a little boy. 377 00:19:32,420 –> 00:19:37,219 And the people were fed, miraculously fed on that day. 378 00:19:37,219 –> 00:19:40,219 They heard the word of God from the lips of the son of God 379 00:19:40,219 –> 00:19:43,459 and they literally tasted a miracle. 380 00:19:43,459 –> 00:19:44,579 Tasted a miracle. 381 00:19:45,400 –> 00:19:47,540 So it’s not surprising that on the next day 382 00:19:47,540 –> 00:19:49,680 when they find that Jesus isn’t in that place, 383 00:19:49,680 –> 00:19:51,260 they come to the other side of the lake, 384 00:19:51,260 –> 00:19:53,260 they follow him all the way around there 385 00:19:53,260 –> 00:19:55,060 because they want something more. 386 00:19:55,060 –> 00:19:57,699 And Jesus teaches them the significance 387 00:19:57,699 –> 00:20:01,239 of the multiplying of the loaves and the fish. 388 00:20:01,239 –> 00:20:03,780 I am the bread of life, he says. 389 00:20:03,780 –> 00:20:06,680 Whoever comes to me shall not hunger 390 00:20:06,680 –> 00:20:10,859 and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 391 00:20:11,020 –> 00:20:14,739 Whoever feeds upon me will live because of me. 392 00:20:14,739 –> 00:20:17,859 He teaches them throughout John and chapter six, 393 00:20:17,859 –> 00:20:21,520 but this teaching of Jesus made them uncomfortable. 394 00:20:21,520 –> 00:20:24,739 And John chapter six and verse 60 says 395 00:20:24,739 –> 00:20:29,079 when many of his disciples, many of them heard it, 396 00:20:29,079 –> 00:20:32,400 they said this is a hard saying, 397 00:20:32,400 –> 00:20:34,140 they’ll like what Jesus is saying here, 398 00:20:34,140 –> 00:20:35,599 who can listen to it? 399 00:20:35,599 –> 00:20:39,040 And eventually, John six, 66, 400 00:20:39,040 –> 00:20:41,520 many of his disciples turned back 401 00:20:41,520 –> 00:20:43,800 and no longer walked with him. 402 00:20:44,979 –> 00:20:47,880 Now, here again are people who have heard 403 00:20:47,880 –> 00:20:50,420 the word of God from the Son of God. 404 00:20:50,420 –> 00:20:53,479 They have experienced a miracle 405 00:20:53,479 –> 00:20:57,439 and they have followed Jesus around the lake. 406 00:20:57,439 –> 00:21:00,020 They’ve seen enough of Jesus to want to follow him 407 00:21:00,020 –> 00:21:01,939 up to a certain point, 408 00:21:02,760 –> 00:21:06,800 but when they are faced with the full implications 409 00:21:06,800 –> 00:21:09,079 of his sovereign claim upon their lives, 410 00:21:09,079 –> 00:21:09,920 what do they do? 411 00:21:09,920 –> 00:21:10,760 They’re off. 412 00:21:12,020 –> 00:21:12,939 They turn back. 413 00:21:14,260 –> 00:21:16,359 And the third example I’ll give to you this evening, 414 00:21:16,359 –> 00:21:18,260 of course, is the one that is best known 415 00:21:18,260 –> 00:21:20,719 and that is the example of Judas Iscariot. 416 00:21:20,719 –> 00:21:23,839 Everything that is said in Hebrews in chapter six 417 00:21:23,839 –> 00:21:26,420 was true of Judas Iscariot. 418 00:21:26,420 –> 00:21:30,500 For three years he was in the company of Jesus, 419 00:21:30,500 –> 00:21:32,199 he was a follower of Jesus. 420 00:21:32,199 –> 00:21:34,760 During that time the light of truth came to him, 421 00:21:34,760 –> 00:21:36,459 he knew it. 422 00:21:36,520 –> 00:21:38,540 During that time he tasted the goodness 423 00:21:38,540 –> 00:21:39,859 of the word of God, he’s sitting there 424 00:21:39,859 –> 00:21:42,300 when Jesus teaches the Sermon on the Mount. 425 00:21:43,780 –> 00:21:46,160 In that time, he shared in the Holy Spirit, 426 00:21:46,160 –> 00:21:48,479 he was sent out with the other disciples 427 00:21:48,479 –> 00:21:50,760 on a mission of proclamation and of healing 428 00:21:50,760 –> 00:21:53,319 and of casting out demons. 429 00:21:54,380 –> 00:21:56,400 He was engaged in these works. 430 00:21:57,599 –> 00:22:00,140 And he tasted the powers of the Age to Come. 431 00:22:00,140 –> 00:22:03,060 He’s in the boat when Jesus calms the storm, 432 00:22:03,119 –> 00:22:07,939 he’s by the tomb when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. 433 00:22:07,939 –> 00:22:10,520 But despite all of this spiritual experience 434 00:22:10,520 –> 00:22:12,520 that was not saving experience, 435 00:22:12,520 –> 00:22:16,319 Judas Iscariot walks away. 436 00:22:17,319 –> 00:22:20,040 Now I’m saying to you from this passage of scripture 437 00:22:20,040 –> 00:22:22,300 and from these very clear examples 438 00:22:22,300 –> 00:22:24,599 that it is therefore possible 439 00:22:24,599 –> 00:22:26,800 to have spiritual experience 440 00:22:26,800 –> 00:22:29,520 that is not saving experience, 441 00:22:29,520 –> 00:22:32,540 it is possible to enjoy spiritual privilege 442 00:22:33,060 –> 00:22:38,060 opportunity without actually becoming one of Christ’s sheep, 443 00:22:40,660 –> 00:22:45,660 and that puts a person in the most dangerous 444 00:22:45,680 –> 00:22:50,680 spiritual position of all. 445 00:22:50,719 –> 00:22:53,099 It really does. 446 00:22:55,239 –> 00:22:57,599 Now here we come to the most difficult part 447 00:22:57,599 –> 00:22:59,760 of Hebrews and chapter six. 448 00:22:59,800 –> 00:23:02,339 So please try to follow with me 449 00:23:02,339 –> 00:23:04,579 as we walk through these verses. 450 00:23:04,579 –> 00:23:07,000 For it is impossible. 451 00:23:08,880 –> 00:23:13,800 In the case of those who have once been enlightened 452 00:23:13,800 –> 00:23:17,040 and so forth through the five different things we’ve seen 453 00:23:17,040 –> 00:23:19,640 it’s impossible in the case of these people 454 00:23:19,640 –> 00:23:23,160 who have experienced these things and then have fallen away. 455 00:23:24,959 –> 00:23:28,199 It is impossible to restore them again to repentance 456 00:23:28,959 –> 00:23:33,760 since they are, present tense, crucifying, 457 00:23:35,160 –> 00:23:37,439 hard even to read this, once again 458 00:23:38,319 –> 00:23:42,319 the son of God to their own harm 459 00:23:42,319 –> 00:23:47,319 and holding him up to contempt. 460 00:23:49,380 –> 00:23:53,640 Now let’s try and take in this astonishing statement. 461 00:23:54,880 –> 00:23:56,439 Hebrews is talking about people 462 00:23:56,599 –> 00:23:58,579 who have experienced remarkable, 463 00:23:58,579 –> 00:24:01,040 they’ve had remarkable experiences. 464 00:24:01,979 –> 00:24:04,339 Tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit 465 00:24:04,339 –> 00:24:06,520 and have fallen away, 466 00:24:06,520 –> 00:24:09,619 that is they no longer follow Christ. 467 00:24:10,719 –> 00:24:12,800 They’ve walked away from Him. 468 00:24:14,359 –> 00:24:17,000 They have become defiant towards Him. 469 00:24:18,300 –> 00:24:21,459 They want nothing of His Lordship over their lives. 470 00:24:23,420 –> 00:24:25,300 And Hebrews six says it is 471 00:24:25,459 –> 00:24:28,359 impossible to restore 472 00:24:29,459 –> 00:24:32,780 such a person to repentance. 473 00:24:32,780 –> 00:24:33,900 Why? 474 00:24:33,900 –> 00:24:35,839 Notice what it says, it’s very important. 475 00:24:35,839 –> 00:24:38,859 The reason that it is impossible to restore 476 00:24:38,859 –> 00:24:42,119 the defiant person to repentance is 477 00:24:42,119 –> 00:24:45,680 that they are, present tense, 478 00:24:46,699 –> 00:24:49,239 crucifying once again the Son of God 479 00:24:49,239 –> 00:24:52,599 to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt. 480 00:24:53,599 –> 00:24:55,959 Notice the present tense. 481 00:24:57,119 –> 00:25:00,660 They are doing, Hebrews says, in effect, 482 00:25:00,660 –> 00:25:04,660 what the crowd on Good Friday did all over again. 483 00:25:06,540 –> 00:25:11,540 They said we got no place for him so crucify him. 484 00:25:12,520 –> 00:25:14,880 And what Hebrews six is saying is that 485 00:25:14,880 –> 00:25:17,239 when a person has tasted something of the truth 486 00:25:17,239 –> 00:25:19,040 and they’ve decided to go in the opposite way 487 00:25:19,040 –> 00:25:20,920 and they have become defiant and resistant 488 00:25:20,920 –> 00:25:23,579 towards Jesus Christ, what is actually happening 489 00:25:23,579 –> 00:25:26,599 is that in that decision and in taking that direction, 490 00:25:26,599 –> 00:25:28,439 you’re doing exactly the same thing 491 00:25:28,439 –> 00:25:30,239 as was being done on Good Friday. 492 00:25:30,239 –> 00:25:31,699 Away with Jesus. 493 00:25:32,599 –> 00:25:37,520 There’s no place for him as sovereign over this life. 494 00:25:40,180 –> 00:25:44,219 Now, here is then what I would want to say 495 00:25:44,219 –> 00:25:47,380 to the person who has become defiant. 496 00:25:48,119 –> 00:25:52,520 If you once professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 497 00:25:52,520 –> 00:25:53,800 and now have fallen away 498 00:25:53,800 –> 00:25:58,000 and now are resisting his claims upon your life, 499 00:25:58,000 –> 00:26:03,000 you are my friend, in the most dangerous position of all. 500 00:26:03,439 –> 00:26:06,699 And the longer you resist the claim 501 00:26:06,699 –> 00:26:08,719 of Jesus Christ upon your life, 502 00:26:08,719 –> 00:26:11,140 the harder your heart will become. 503 00:26:12,359 –> 00:26:15,500 And understand this, that what’s really happening 504 00:26:15,540 –> 00:26:17,579 is that with every day that passes, 505 00:26:17,579 –> 00:26:20,180 you, in your resistance to Jesus, 506 00:26:20,180 –> 00:26:25,180 are crucifying once again the Son of God to your own harm. 507 00:26:27,739 –> 00:26:30,260 And then I’d lean forward, and I’m doing this right now 508 00:26:30,260 –> 00:26:32,000 in regards to each of us here, 509 00:26:32,000 –> 00:26:36,520 and I’d say, stop doing that. 510 00:26:38,599 –> 00:26:40,400 Stop doing that. 511 00:26:41,400 –> 00:26:47,260 I’ve seen friends, an awful lot of people over the years, 512 00:26:47,260 –> 00:26:50,459 who’ve had some experience of spiritual things, 513 00:26:50,459 –> 00:26:53,579 some taste of the truth, 514 00:26:53,579 –> 00:26:54,739 maybe have professed faith 515 00:26:54,739 –> 00:26:57,160 at one season of their lives, 516 00:26:57,160 –> 00:27:00,859 but it wasn’t a faith at last, 517 00:27:00,859 –> 00:27:05,859 and they have drifted or they have become defiant. 518 00:27:06,800 –> 00:27:11,260 And let me just describe the nightmare scenario 519 00:27:11,260 –> 00:27:14,160 that weighs on my mind, 520 00:27:14,160 –> 00:27:15,319 and it really does. 521 00:27:15,319 –> 00:27:18,400 And I’ve come with a burden about this 522 00:27:18,400 –> 00:27:21,180 to tailor this week. 523 00:27:21,180 –> 00:27:25,180 The one day, there really will be 524 00:27:25,180 –> 00:27:27,859 a vast company of people who will be 525 00:27:27,859 –> 00:27:32,239 gathered with and around the Lord Jesus Christ, 526 00:27:32,560 –> 00:27:36,839 and many of them will have been raised in homes 527 00:27:41,839 –> 00:27:45,699 where they never heard the gospel, 528 00:27:45,699 –> 00:27:50,459 raised in homes where they never attended church. 529 00:27:50,459 –> 00:27:54,099 Vast numbers of them will be people 530 00:27:54,099 –> 00:27:56,599 who were born in poverty, 531 00:27:56,599 –> 00:28:01,119 struggled daily just to survive, 532 00:28:01,119 –> 00:28:02,619 just to survive. 533 00:28:04,099 –> 00:28:06,819 Some of them would, for some time in their lives 534 00:28:06,819 –> 00:28:10,540 have been immersed in lives of violence and of crime, 535 00:28:10,540 –> 00:28:12,739 but they have come to repentance 536 00:28:12,739 –> 00:28:15,239 and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 537 00:28:15,239 –> 00:28:18,939 And there they stand in this vast company of people. 538 00:28:18,939 –> 00:28:21,260 Their faces alight with joy 539 00:28:21,260 –> 00:28:23,699 as, at last, they see face-to-face 540 00:28:23,699 –> 00:28:27,439 the one they’ve come to love and to trust, heart-to-heart. 541 00:28:27,439 –> 00:28:32,439 And in this nightmare scenario that weighs on my mind, 42 00:28:35,239 –> 00:28:39,640 outside there is another crowd, 543 00:28:41,800 –> 00:28:46,800 and they will include many who were raised 544 00:28:46,979 –> 00:28:51,979 by godly parents, attended worship in a faithful church, 545 00:28:52,500 –> 00:28:53,500 and perhaps even were educated 546 00:28:58,560 –> 00:29:00,439 at a marvelous Christian University. 547 00:29:02,079 –> 00:29:04,699 And they enjoyed privileges 548 00:29:04,699 –> 00:29:08,160 that others never knew or even dreamed of. 549 00:29:10,300 –> 00:29:13,699 And for some years, they were close to the kingdom of God. 550 00:29:15,459 –> 00:29:20,459 But they drifted, and then they became defiant, 551 00:29:22,599 –> 00:29:24,199 and now they are outside. 552 00:29:26,300 –> 00:29:28,239 And I’ve come with this burden on my heart, 553 00:29:28,239 –> 00:29:29,979 why should any person 554 00:29:31,540 –> 00:29:34,540 in this auditorium tonight be in that crowd? 555 00:29:35,420 –> 00:29:37,319 Why should any of you be in that crowd? 556 00:29:40,079 –> 00:29:43,599 If the light of truth has shined on you, 557 00:29:43,599 –> 00:29:45,119 and you’ve tasted at least something 558 00:29:45,119 –> 00:29:47,260 of the heavenly gift shared in the Holy spirit, 559 00:29:47,260 –> 00:29:48,619 the goodness of the word of God 560 00:29:48,619 –> 00:29:50,319 and the powers of the age to come, 561 00:29:50,319 –> 00:29:53,420 great, great, great privileges have been given to you, 562 00:29:55,359 –> 00:29:57,040 the sin of turning away from the light 563 00:29:57,040 –> 00:30:00,199 that you have received is especially offensive towards God. 564 00:30:00,199 –> 00:30:04,319 It is crucifying a fresh, 565 00:30:05,319 –> 00:30:07,780 the son of God to your own harm 566 00:30:08,880 –> 00:30:11,780 and holding him up to contempt. 567 00:30:13,959 –> 00:30:18,040 If you are resisting the claim of Jesus Christ 568 00:30:18,079 –> 00:30:21,020 upon your life tonight, dear friend, 569 00:30:21,020 –> 00:30:24,119 I want to say to you with great love from the heart, 570 00:30:25,739 –> 00:30:28,040 stop crucifying again the son of God 571 00:30:28,040 –> 00:30:29,959 and cast yourself upon his mercy. 572 00:30:32,280 –> 00:30:33,819 If you have become defiant, 573 00:30:33,819 –> 00:30:36,040 you will know from your own experience 574 00:30:36,040 –> 00:30:38,400 and you may be feeling this right now, 575 00:30:40,079 –> 00:30:42,079 that if God begins to tug your heart, 576 00:30:42,079 –> 00:30:44,239 to draw you to submit your life 577 00:30:44,239 –> 00:30:46,400 unconditionally to Jesus Christ, 578 00:30:46,400 –> 00:30:50,880 your heart will mount a vigorous defiance 579 00:30:52,160 –> 00:30:54,560 or resistance to the very thought 580 00:30:55,719 –> 00:30:57,459 that you would come back. 581 00:30:58,540 –> 00:31:00,420 And that’s why tonight, 582 00:31:01,599 –> 00:31:05,319 you need to ask Jesus Christ to do for you 583 00:31:05,319 –> 00:31:07,319 what you cannot do for yourself, 584 00:31:07,319 –> 00:31:10,839 ask him to change your hard defiant, 585 00:31:10,839 –> 00:31:12,520 resistant, rebellious heart 586 00:31:13,459 –> 00:31:15,959 and deliver you from the power 587 00:31:18,500 –> 00:31:22,839 of your own rebellion and make you therefore his own. 588 00:31:24,219 –> 00:31:29,380 Friends, many of you here tonight will have a mother, 589 00:31:29,380 –> 00:31:32,619 a father, a grandmother, a grandfather, 590 00:31:33,979 –> 00:31:36,479 a friend, a colleague, a pastor 591 00:31:38,500 –> 00:31:40,920 who has been praying for you, 592 00:31:42,599 –> 00:31:45,520 and maybe praying for you for years. 593 00:31:48,439 –> 00:31:53,479 And there is an urgency in the hearts of those who love you 594 00:31:53,479 –> 00:31:57,479 because they see the spiritual danger you’re in. 595 00:31:58,859 –> 00:32:03,040 And here in God’s mercy you are here in this chapel. 596 00:32:04,880 –> 00:32:09,459 And I am pleading with you if you have been resisting, 597 00:32:09,619 –> 00:32:12,560 defiance towards the claim of the Lord Jesus Christ 598 00:32:12,560 –> 00:32:13,359 upon your life. 599 00:32:14,859 –> 00:32:16,439 You know he has been pressing in on you. 600 00:32:16,439 –> 00:32:18,119 You feel him pressing in on you now 601 00:32:18,119 –> 00:32:21,000 and you’re even now tempted to try and push him away. 602 00:32:22,800 –> 00:32:26,900 Stop defying the claim of Jesus Christ upon your life 603 00:32:26,900 –> 00:32:31,900 and embrace him humbly in repentance and in faith. 604 00:32:35,199 –> 00:32:37,540 And as I prayed about this week I thought this. 605 00:32:38,380 –> 00:32:41,959 What would happen right here on the campus 606 00:32:41,959 –> 00:32:46,400 of Taylor University if God were to take the defiance 607 00:32:46,400 –> 00:32:50,359 that can lurk in our hearts and to change it 608 00:32:52,079 –> 00:32:55,260 and for us to become a community of students 609 00:32:55,260 –> 00:32:59,599 who in a whole new way are submitted 610 00:32:59,599 –> 00:33:03,520 to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 611 00:33:04,359 –> 00:33:05,780 Will you pray with me please? 612 00:33:08,280 –> 00:33:13,280 And in these moments will you humble yourself 613 00:33:14,500 –> 00:33:16,640 before the Lord Jesus Christ 614 00:33:17,800 –> 00:33:22,339 and tell him that you can resist him no longer, 615 00:33:22,339 –> 00:33:27,339 ask him to save you from the defiance 616 00:33:28,300 –> 00:33:30,780 and even the rebellion of your own heart? 617 00:33:32,680 –> 00:33:35,280 If when you look at your heart you find that there, 618 00:33:35,680 –> 00:33:37,939 and he can and he will, 619 00:33:44,040 –> 00:33:48,420 Lord Jesus Christ come move among us, 620 00:33:52,439 –> 00:33:57,060 come move among us even now. 621 00:33:59,959 –> 00:34:04,959 Break through all that resists and defies you. 622 00:34:06,219 –> 00:34:10,780 Make me wholly yours 623 00:34:13,159 –> 00:34:18,159 as in faith and in repentance 624 00:34:19,800 –> 00:34:24,800 I draw near and embrace you, Jesus 625 00:34:26,679 –> 00:34:28,959 as my living savior 626 00:34:30,320 –> 00:34:32,780 and as my sovereign Lord. 627 00:34:32,959 –> 00:34:37,340 Father, hear our prayers. 628 00:34:38,300 –> 00:34:42,320 Move on this campus for your own glory, we pray. 629 00:34:43,820 –> 00:34:46,219 And these are our prayers tonight. 630 00:34:47,459 –> 00:34:51,139 In Jesus name, and everyone together, said amen.