The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me."

We welcome you today to our study of Jesus as the way of salvation.

You know, in the world we live in today there seem to be in a lot of peoples' minds a variety of different ways that you can be saved. Some would say that you can be saved under the Hindu religion or by being a Buddhist. Others would say that you could be saved by Allah or Muhammed under Islam. Whether it be Judaism, whether it be some kind of spiritual "-ism" today or something like that, there's just a whole host of different religions and people claim that all these and all the followers of and leaders of can save you. Well friend, is that true?

Not according to Jesus. Jesus clearly taught us, we think today on the subject of salvation; Jesus was emphatic that He is the only way. Listen to it again, Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life. No man comes to the Father except by Me.” Jesus did not propagate this idea that you can be saved under the variety of religions that exist. He clearly taught unless you come through Him, you cannot be saved. He was very single-minded. He was very restricted in that view because that's the only plan God has made.

Let's think about these three things Jesus said: ‘I'm the way, I am the truth, and I am the life.’ Let's consider the importance of each of those statements.

Today, as we think about salvation, let's realize, Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved. There are not a multitude of paths; there are not a multitude of religions that can save you. Buddhism and Hindu cannot save you. Muhammed cannot save you. Confucius cannot save you. What will save you? Jesus is the only way to be saved.

Listen to Acts 4:12. The Apostle Peter said: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which you must be saved.” Only the person in the power of Jesus can save man from sin. Remember, ‘you'll call His name Jesus,’ why? ‘He'll save His people from their sins,’ Luke 19:10. Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost. I remember the words of 1 John 2:1-2, “He is the propitiation for our sins, not for ours alone, but for the sins of the whole world.” Now there's no doubt that people are going to claim that you can be saved by Muhammed and Islam. They're going to say that you can be saved by Gandhi and living a life of purity or by Confucius, or by going back to Judaism and living under the old law, but friend, you don't find that to be true and you sure don't find that in the Scriptures.

If I'm going to go to Heaven, if I'm going to one day live with the Father, the Creator of all people, the only path that I can get to God on is Jesus Christ. It is restricted. It is narrow, and Jesus clearly taught that Himself.

When we think about Jesus as ‘the Way,’ not only is He the way to the Father, but Jesus is also the way to a life that has real meaning and purpose. Do you want to live a life that has meaning? There are so many people who are going through life without any real purpose, that don't know why they're here, don't know where they're going, don't know what to do while they're here, and their life just has no real meaning or purpose. Jesus gives you the way to a life that is fulfilling and has a real purpose in this life.

Think about the questions of Jesus. In Mark 8:36-37 Jesus said: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” What's more important than your soul? Absolutely nothing. What could you give one day that would be equal to your soul? Your soul's the most important thing you have. Friend, if that's the case then that clues me in to my purpose in this life. If my soul is my most important possession, then I need to make sure that I spend my life preparing my soul to live with God forever. The flesh is not what's important, this body, its desires, its passions, its lust- all that one day is going to cease to exist. The world's not the most important thing. It's one day going to be burned up with a fervent heat, 2 Peter 3:9-12. Whatever is most important should be my meaning and purpose in life. That's my soul and that's your soul. That's the reason that I'm here is to get my soul, to prepare my soul to live with God for eternity.

When you think about a life that has real meaning and purpose, look at people in the Bible who may be tried for purposes in other things, to find meaning in other ways. Solomon rises to the top in that venture. He tried projects. He tried building things. He tried passion, lust, and desire. He had multiple wives and projects going. He was always busy and had his hand in various things. In the book of Ecclesiastes that's what he tried to do. He tried to search meaning in life. Is it in art? Is it in music? Is it in projects? Is it in the fulfillment of pleasure? What did Solomon figure out in the end of that book?

Let's hear the conclusion of the whole matter. What's the whole purpose of life? “Fear God and keep His commandments. This is the whole duty of man.” Why? “God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

My purpose and yours in this life is to realize Jesus is the way. Obeying God, living for God, and making sure my soul is right with God is the way to a life that has real meaning. In fact did you know that's why we were created? Isaiah 43:7 God says ‘Everyone who's called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.’ The life that has real meaning is a life that glorifies God. Matthew

5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” If I'm living for Christ, if I'm trying to follow God's teaching and be a good example to the world, then my life does have a lasting meaning and purpose that transcends this world. Paul said it this way, in 1 Corinthians 10:13, ‘Whether we eat or whether we drink, or whatever we do, we do all to the glory of God.’ That's our purpose in life and that's the meaning in life, and Jesus gives us that meaning. This is why Paul could say in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Now friend, you think about that for a moment. What life, what type of life, what ideology of life, what way of life, can give you a view of the end that says dying is a good thing? Not many. There are a lot of people that all they focus on is the here and now. Paul could say, "For me, to live is Christ "and to die is gain." That's living a life that has a meaning and purpose beyond the here and now. This is why Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

As you think about Jesus as the way, not only is He the way to the Father- the only way- Jesus is the way to a life that has forgiveness and peace at the center of it.

Listen to the words of Philippians 4:6-7. Paul said, ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made know to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’

What type of life can give you forgiveness and peace? Christianity can. The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, Paul said, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

If I have God's peace in my life and I know I'm at peace with God, friend, I can live my life in such a way that I know I'm forgiven, and that I don't have to go around worrying and be anxious about all the things of this life. Forgiveness is something that God promises to His children. ‘The Lord has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to

our iniquities,’ Psalm 103:10. God has forgiven our misdeeds, Psalm 130:4-5. He has cast all those away from us, Micah 7:18-19.God has forgiven each one of us- if we've obeyed the Gospel our sins have been forgiven. This is what God told the Apostle Paul, Saul at the time, Acts 22:16, Ananias came to Saul and said ‘Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.’ Can you imagine the peace that must have come into Saul of Tarsus's life?

He held the coats of those who stoned the great martyr Stephen. He was wreaking havoc on the Lord's church at one time. He actually was dragging men and women to be put into prison. Imagine the guilt that he must have carried around! But then, when Paul obeyed the Gospel, all that was forgiven. Peace and forgiveness became a part of the Apostle Paul's life. And friend, that can be true for you as well.

Not only is Jesus the way to salvation, He's also the way to peace and forgiveness. You want a life that has real peace?

Peace is a big thing in the world today. People think about peace in a world setting and a government setting, and we pray for peace, and all that's good and well- but the only way true peace can be had is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Why? He's the Prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6. ‘Peace on earth and goodwill toward men, when Jesus came into the world,’ Luke 2:15. If peace is going to be secured, it'll only come through the Prince of peace, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As you think about Jesus as that way, let's also realize He's the only way to defeat Satan. Think about all the havoc that Satan has wreaked on humanity and all the havoc he's wreaked in your life and mine. Go back to the Garden. Look at that beautiful state of euphoria that Adam and Eve were living in: No sin, no problems- until Satan entered the picture. He tempted them to eat that forbidden fruit. They ate of it, and sin and death, and consequences occurred. Look what he did to Adam and Eve. Then look at your life and look at mine: things we've said, the things we've done, the things we've participated in that weren't right. He's wreaked havoc in our lives very likely as well.

How are you going to defeat such a great enemy that is described like a dragon in Revelation 12? He is described like a roaring lion, in 1 Peter 5:8. How can you defeat him? Only through Jesus- the Way. Listen to Hebrews 2:14. The Bible says, ‘And as much then as the children have become partakers of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the Devil, and He's going to go on to say and release those who in all their lifetime were subject to bondage,’ Hebrews 2:14-15. Jesus is the only way in my life and yours that we can defeat Satan. Jesus threw death, overcame and defeated him who had the power of death. By obedience to the Gospel and living the way Christ lived, I also can defeat Satan. Revelation 12:11, talks about those who overcame the Devil. Here's what it said: ‘These are they and it will go on to say who overcame those who were obedient to the Gospel, they overcame him, Satan, by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto the death.’ They had the blood of Christ in their life. They didn't love their lives more than they love Christ, and they gave themselves to the word of their testimony, which we have as the Bible today.

The good news is through Jesus as the way, you can get to the Father. You can have forgiveness. You can have a life of peace. You can overcome Satan and everything that he throws at you- but you have got to be committed to Jesus as the way.

Let's then direct our attention to that second statement made by Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way." Then He said emphatically, "I am the truth." You see, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of truth. He came in human form and brought God's truth to mankind.

Do you remember Ephesians 4:21? The Bible says: ‘If indeed you have heard Him,’ heard Christ, ‘and have been taught by Him,’ listen now, ‘as the truth is in Jesus.’ Jesus is the embodiment of God's truth in human form. He came to bring that proof to mankind. ‘In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God,’ and the Bible goes on to say in John 1:14: ‘That Jesus is that Word.’ The Word, the truth of God, came through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What makes Jesus important as the truth? Without Him, there's no way we can know truth. Proverbs 23:23, the Proverb writer said, “Buy the truth and sell it not.” That's how important truth is. Whatever it costs us, you need to get ahold to the truth and never give that up. Jesus spoke about becoming a disciple of His in John 8:31- 32. Jesus said, ‘If you continue in My word, you are My disciples indeed.’ Now listen to this, ‘and you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.’ What makes Jesus as the Embodiment of truth so important? He's the only way you can be free from the sin problem and that which haunts man. God's word is truth. John 17:17 Jesus said, ‘Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth.’ You can know Jesus and God's word are truth. I need to know truth so that I can be saved. The truth on salvation is available in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here's what Hebrews 7:25, ‘Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those that come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. The truth on the matter of salvation is Jesus is able to save, completely, those who come to God through Him. If I will obey Christ, if I will follow Him, and if I will do what He says, then friend, I absolutely can be saved.

As you think about John 14:6, I once heard someone say something very memorable that stuck with me about this verse. Someone said, "Jesus is the Way. Without Him, there's no going. Jesus is the truth, without Him there's no knowing. And Jesus is the Life, without Him there's no living."

How true that is. I cannot get to the Father, I cannot know God, and I cannot live forever without Jesus Christ.

We think about Jesus as the Way. We've thought about Jesus as the embodiment of God's truth. Now let's think about Jesus as the Life. What does it mean when Jesus says, "I am the Life?"

Well friend, there are multiple ways of living life, but there's only one abundant life and that's found in Jesus Christ. John 10:10 the Bible says, Jesus speaking, “I come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” What makes Jesus the Life? He is the abundant life. You cannot have a better life than the life of being a Christian. Why? You have

God as your father. Jesus is our Savior. Every sin and misdeed has been forgiven. We have the peace of God, and we have the love of God. We have the blessings of God in our life. You just can't find a more abundant life than the life the Christian lives.

As you think about Jesus as the Life, let's also realize Jesus gives us eternal life. Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled.” Now, He'd previously told them, ‘I'm about to die. I'm about to be buried. I'm about to be raised the third day. I'm about to go back to the Father.’ That would discourage His disciples in the immediate context knowing that the Savior, who they've been with for these years, is now going to leave them. And so Jesus wanted to offer them comfort. “Let not your heart be troubled,” why? “You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; were not so I would have told you.” And then He said, “I go to prepare a place for you. If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, receive you to Myself that where I am, there you may be also.” Thomas goes on to say, ‘Lord, we don't know where you're going, how can we know the way?’ And then Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except by Me.”

As you think about Jesus, the Life, it ought to bring every Christian, every follower of God, comfort to know that Jesus is the life in the sense that this is not all there is to life. The here and now is the temporary-the here and now, the tangible, the touchable, the feel-able, one day that will be done away with. The Bible says the earth and all that's in it will be burnt up with a fervent heat. Matthew 24:34-36, Jesus promised that Heaven and Earth will one day be destroyed. The word of God, it'll endure forever, and so Jesus gives us life in the sense that this is not all I'm looking for. There is so much more and there's so much greater than what we see in this life. Jesus promises us we can have eternal life. Matthew 25:46, “The righteous will go away into eternal life.”

Friend, as you think about living forever, it isn't the length of it, necessarily, that we want to focus on- while eternity is eternity and we understand that- there's a lot more than that to eternal life. Jesus defined eternal life in this way, in John 17:3 Jesus prayed to the Father, ‘This is

eternal life.” What? “That they may know you, the only true and living God.” Eternal life is knowing God and being with the true and living God forever. Being in the presence of God, can you imagine that? When you think about Heaven, what makes it great? Being with God forever. Being around the throne of God. Being in the presence of the God who spoke and the world came into existence. The God who exhibited His love by not even holding back His own Son, who gave us the Bible. Who sent Jesus to die as a sacrifice and who has taken care, always taken care of His own. Can you imagine, living in a place of wonder like that, forever?

As we think about Jesus as the Way to the Father, the Way of salvation, we want to encourage you today to think seriously about salvation. Have you thought about your soul? Remember, it's the most important thing you have. Have you thought seriously about, why am I here? What's my life all about? How long am I going to be here? Where will I spend eternity with God? Let's think about some of those questions today.

The sad fact is, or the reality is, none of us are going to be here very long. “What is your life, but a vapor? It appears for a little while, then it vanishes away,” James 4:14. I've got, if lucky, 70 maybe 80 years, Psalm 90:10-12. Life is short, but friend, with the time we have, we need to make sure that we focus on the right things.

Remember the questions of Jesus. “What will it prophet a man if he gains the whole world and loses His own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” If I spend my life in worldly, pleasure-filled ventures, and then in the end, I didn't think about my soul- I would have wasted my life.

Your life and mine is about making sure that our soul is in the right shape with God to live for all eternity.

We ask you today, have you become a Christian? Have you looked to Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, to find salvation? How do you do that? Well friend, the Bible is very clear.

You must realize Jesus is the Son of God. ‘You will call His name Jesus, you'll save His people from their sins,’ Matthew 1:21. Jesus said, “Unless you believe that I am He, you'll surely die in your sins,” John 8:24. Do you really believe? Are you committed to the fact that you live your life in view of, the fact that Jesus is God? He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Would you be so committed to that truth that you would change your life? Acts 3:19 Peter preached, “Repent and turn again that your sins may be blotted out.” Would you repent and turn from sin, and turn to God? Would you confess the name of Jesus before men? Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, “If you won't confess Me before men, neither will I confess you before the Father who is in Heaven.” And friend would you, to be saved, be baptized? Peter said in 1 Peter 3:21, “Baptism does now also save us.”

Have you realized and have you put your trust in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

Friend, if not, we want you to know today that God loves you and that we love you. More than anything, our prayer for you today is that you will obey the Gospel and look to Jesus, the Author of eternal salvation.

Study Questions for:

“Salvation: Lesson 2”

1. According to John 14:6, how do we get to God?

2. How many can save you according to Acts 4:12?

3. In Ecclesiastes, what does Solomon say is the whole duty of man? Why?

4. According to Matthew 5:16, why should we let our light shine?

5. According to 1 Corinthians 10:13, how should we do all things?

6. According to Philippians 1:21 how did Paul view life?

7. According to Psalm 103:10, how does God deal with us?

8. How is Satan described in 1 Peter 5:8?

9. According to Proverbs 23:23, what should we buy and never sell?

10. According to John 17:17, what is truth?

In the midst of his suffering and agony on the cross the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ cried out, “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani,” which is translated “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:34

We welcome you to our series of lessons ‘More About Jesus.’ Every one of us who loves the Lord, who wants to follow the Bible, and believes in the New Testament indeed wants to know more about Jesus. We want to pattern our lives after His life, the life of the Savior. Today in our series of lessons we think about the seven statements that Jesus made on the cross, and how those statements impact and change world history. But not only history, they change our lives and motivate us to be greater followers of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today we study those great statements, the seven statements that Jesus took time to make on the cross. We say it in that way, because every breath that the Lord took on the cross was no doubt a breath of suffering and agony. To breathe and say those things had to mean they were very very important to say.

Imagine in your mind if you will as Jesus is hanging on the cross. His hands are nailed. His feet are nailed to the cross. To inhale Jesus has to put pressure on His feet. The nails in His ankles and in His feet hurt. To exhale Jesus has to put pressure on his hands. And so friend, with every breath the Lord took it was indeed a breath of agony, pain, and suffering.

Therefore the things He said on the cross had to be extremely important and essential for Christians and something that God desperately wanted us to have.

What did Jesus take time to say on the cross?

We begin with the words of Luke 23:34, as Jesus taught us probably one of the most masterful lessons about forgiveness you could ever imagine. The Scripture records, “Then Jesus said while He was on the cross looking down at all the people, who would likely put Him there, then Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them for they do not know what they do,’ and they divided His garments and cast lots.”

As was the fulfillment of Scripture, but I want you think about what Jesus has just endured. He came into the world to save people from sin. He went about doing good and preaching the gospel. He didn’t do evil. He didn't degrade people. He healed the sick. He helped the poor and fed those who are hungry. He cast out demons from those who are afflicted. And for all of that what did they say? ‘Crucify Him!’ the mob cried out. And yet they took Jesus, they beat Him, they mocked Him, and they twisted a crown of thorns and embedded it into His skull. They beat Him on the head with the rod. They took Him and bound Him with His back tied, and over and over again they scourge the Lord and Savior. And then they took Him up that to that place of the skull, to Golgotha, Calvary. And they nailed His hands and feet to a cross, and He hung there in agony. And yet the love of Christ, the master of forgiveness, had the heart, the attitude, and the mindset to say to the very people who had done that, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Now you put yourself in that situation. You think if somebody had tortured you, if somebody had beaten you, if those things that occurred in your life and your there on the cross, what would you be thinking? You might be thinking about those legions of angels that could indeed come down at that moment and reek violence and destruction on all those who done that. We might be thinking about pity and why and how bad it is for me. We might be thinking how bad we've got it. We might be thinking, ‘Why did God let this happen.’ We might be thinking of a host of other things.

What was Jesus thinking on the cross? He stayed true to His mission. He came to seek and save the lost, Matthew 1:21. He came to bring God's plan of salvation, and friend that plan of salvation was available to all men and even those who put Him on the cross.

And so as I think about the statements of Jesus, you can’t help but see Jesus as the master of forgiveness.

Now practically speaking, how does this apply to me and you? Here's the application, let's say that in our lives there somebody who wrongs us. Let's say there's someone who does harm to us, does evil to us, and does something that they shouldn't do to us. What should be our attitude? To forgive them. If they repent, “If he repents forgive him,” Luke 17:3. Jesus gave the illustration on the Sermon on the Mount, if you're at the altar and you find that you’ve got fault your brother, what do you do? You leave your gift at the altar. You go make it right with your brother. Friend the idea forgiveness is not only something that God extends to us; it's something we should extend to others. You know too many times we hold grudges. We get angry. We get all worked up, and it is as though we want people to get what's coming to them. Not Jesus, if men would've got what was coming to them, Jesus indeed had the power to do it. But instead He said “Father forgive them they know not what they do.” Reminiscent of the words of Stephen. As he's being stoned, he looked up to heaven and said much of the same in Acts 7. And friend our attitude always needs to be an attitude of love and forgiveness and hope that people will turn to God.

On the cross one of the great statements Jesus also makes and it expresses Jesus’ love for the lost is found in Luke 23:43. There were two thieves on the cross at one time. They both reviled the Lord and Savior the gospel accounts record for us. But then one of them had a change of heart, and he turned to the Lord. He realized He was a just man, that he had done wrong, and he's now pleading for his eternal soul. Nobody comes down from a cross, he knows that. He's talking about matters in the future. He looks for forgiveness. He looks for hope. Here's what Jesus said in Luke 23:43 and Jesus said, “That the assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Look at the love of Jesus! Even on the cross Jesus is saving souls, pointing people toward God, and fulfilling His mission in which He came to seek and save the lost. This penitent thief who is now come to terms with his own demise is facing eternity square, in reality comes to Jesus, penitent heart ready to change. Jesus says, ‘You made the right

choice. Today you'll be with me in Paradise.’

Now there's a great lesson learned here and it indeed is the love of the Savior for the lost. Don't miss the point. Jesus wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. The Scripture clearly records 1 Timothy 2:4 the Bible says that, “God is not slow concerning His slowness or slack concerning His promises as some men count slowness, but He is long-suffering toward us not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” This man under the age in which he was living, came to Jesus, expressed his faith, a desire to change, and Jesus had the power on earth to save him. So what wonderful love the Savior had for the lost!

But now friend as we think about this statement let me mention that often times this thief is used in a context and in a manner which is not in accord with the Scriptures teaching on salvation. Many times as we talk with people about the New Testament plan of salvation which Jesus clearly taught to be saved you've got to believe in Him, John 8:24. Jesus said, “Unless you believe that I'm He you will surely die in your sins.” Jesus clearly taught in the Scriptures that you have to change your life. Luke 13:3 Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” The Lord ever so plainly said that one must confess Him as Savior. Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, “If you won't confess Me before men neither will I confession you before the Father.” And friend Christ made it so plain that to be saved in the New Testament age; one must be baptized for the remission of sins. Listen to what Jesus said. Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believes and is baptized will be saved; he that does not believe shall be condemned.” What did Jesus say you have to do to be saved? Believe and be baptized. It’s not the first time He said that. John 3:5, Jesus said “Unless a man is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

So to be saved, to go to Heaven, Jesus said you have to be baptized. Now that's clear, that's plain, and that's pretty simple language. But often time when people object to that, they try to bring up the wonderful example of the Lord's love for the thief on the cross as an example that all you got to do is believe. Now friend the thief is not an example of salvation today for the following reasons. Number one: I don't know for sure that the thief wasn't baptized. Do you remember Matthew 3? The Bible says all the regions in Jerusalem, Judea, and all the regions roundabout went out to be baptized. Where's the thief crucified at? In Jerusalem. How do you know he

wasn’t baptized? I don't, nor do you. Someone says ‘Well the thief was never baptized, the thief was saved, and therefore you don’t have to be baptized to be saved. Wait a minute now! To prove that theory, you've got to prove the thief was never baptized. Did you know that's unprovable? Therefore that syllogism falls flat on its face in the very first part of it.

Secondly, the thief is not a good example that a person doesn't have to be baptized to be saved, because he's living under the Old Testament not the new. Friend the thief cannot be an example of New Testament salvation. He died prior to New Testament Christianity and the gospel being opened up to the Jews even. Acts 2, for the very first time the gospel is preached and men and women are told how to be saved in the New Testament age. What about the Old Testament? Am I going to be saved like David, Noah, and Solomon or like others of the Old Testament? No, those are Old Testament examples.

What age did that thief live and die under? Friend, he lived and died under the Old Testament. The Old Testament has been nailed to the cross Colossians 2:14 clearly teaches. And therefore if anything, he’d be an example of Jesus’ power to save while He was on earth under the Old Testament age. But we now have God's full revealed will under the New Testament age, and we know exactly what Christ expects of us today. And so from Acts 2 forward, anyone who obeys the gospel must do that according to the Lord's teaching.

Now with that in mind, let's then look at the third statement Jesus made on the cross. Jesus here now with one of His last statements expresses His great love for His family. John 19:26, “When Jesus therefore saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved, John, standing by He said to His mother, ‘Woman behold your son.’ He said to John, ‘Son behold your mother.’” When we think about Christ, even up to His very last breath He was making sure His mother was taken care of. Family, especially those a part of God's family, were indeed a priority for Christ. Why was that so? Because God commanded it. Do you remember one of the commandments under the old law? ‘Honor your father and mother all the days of your life.’ Did Jesus not do that right up to the end? And so, as we think practically from this statement which indeed was an important one, we learn the importance of family. We learn the importance of children obeying their parents. Ephesians 6:1-4, ‘Parents bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.’ We see the significance of parents taking care

of children. In Mary and John we see children taking care of their parents and making sure, especially in the family of God, that we put one another above all else. Mark 3:35 Jesus is at His brother’s and His mother comes to Him. The crowd says, “Lord do you not care that your mother and brother are asking for you?” Jesus looked around the crowd and said, “To those who heard His word and followed Him these are My mother, my brother, and My sisters, whoever does the will of God that's a real family.” And so, we see the prime importance in Jesus statement of family in one's life.

Then Jesus also made this statement the one that we began with Mark 15:34. As Jesus is on the cross and as His time is drawing near, Jesus at the ninth hour cried out with a loud voice saying, “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani,” which is translated “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” What do I learn from this statement about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Some of the greatest ways that people around the world learn is by question. Jesus asked a question I believe to teach us. Why did God the Father forsake His son for a period of time on the cross?

Friend again I don't have to look far for that answer. Do you remember the words of 2 Corinthians 5:21? The Scripture says, “God made Christ,” listen now, “who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” And so 2 Corinthians 5:21, Christ became that sin offering. He took the world’s sin upon Him. Do you remember 1 Peter 2:24? “He Himself bore our sins in His own body upon the tree that we having died to sin might live for righteousness by whose stripes we are healed.” And so, when Jesus asked that question, ‘God why have you forsaken me?’ He knew the answer. The answer reminds us of our own sin that Christ bore. God made Him a sin offering, 2 Corinthians 5:21. He bore our sins in His own body. And as you remember the Scripture records, sin separates one from God, Isaiah 59:1-2. And Habakkuk 1:12-13 says “God is of pure eyes than to behold evil and cannot look upon wickedness.” If Christ bore the sins of the world and became that perfect sin offering, the propitiation for sin, no sin of His own, but willingly became that scapegoat for sin, then my friend God had to for a short period of time look away as that sin was taken by the Savior and while redemption was made in sacrifice became available for us today.

And so what do I learn from this? Friend do we realize what that took and what that meant? I believe one of the greatest things Jesus suffered on the cross was not the agony and the pain of the physical suffering, but the

momentary separation from God. Why is that? John 17:3 Jesus prayed to the Father, “Restore to me that which We had from eternity.” How long had the Father and Son had that closeness, been one, never been separated? For eternity. They’d always known the communion that fellowship that closeness. And then Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be separated from that. As a parent maybe you can understand. Have you ever been somewhere and lost a child? Maybe just momentarily, you’re in Walmart maybe, or a theme park, or the zoo and your child just slipped away for a second? Can you can you feel that sense of loss? Can you feel that nagging sense of ‘This can't be happening,’ the loneliness that's there? Can you imagine how the Father and the Son must've felt when Christ said those words, “My God my God why have you forsaken me?”

And then, let's realize the answer to that question. When Jesus asked, “My God my God why have you forsaken me?” I need look no further than the mirror for the answer. I'm the answer and you’re the answer. He bore our sins in His own body upon the tree. What a powerful teaching of Christ and His willingness to bear sin and really become the world's greatest sacrifice!

As we think about some of the statements made by Jesus on the cross, we now move toward one of the statements that teaches us about the humanity of Christ. Let’s realize this, Jesus is indeed a relatable Savior, because He faced the things that I'll have to face as well. He suffered, He hurt, He agonized, and He faced discouragement just like we face. Hebrews 4:15, “He was tempted all points as we are yet without sin.” Here's one of the proofs of that. In one of the statements on the cross Jesus in John 19:28 said, “After this Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled said, ‘I thirst.’” On the cross Jesus became thirsty. As the body was leaving Him, as the body was winding down, as the blood was no doubt letting out, as His physical hurt was indeed mounting up the thirst which one would naturally have in times like these, overtook Him. Jesus cried out, “I thirst.” They gave Him sour wine mingled with vinegar and He tasted that and didn't drink it. But nonetheless, you see here the humanity of Christ.

Friend I want you think about this. One of the most beautiful passages I think is found in 2 Corinthians 8:9. The Scripture records, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, though He was rich yet for your sakes He became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich.”

Jesus was in Heaven. He left heaven, came to this earth, enclothed Himself in humanity, and faced and suffered what I have to face and suffer. Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery made equal with God that made Himself of no reputation taking the form of a servant coming in the likeness of man He humbled Himself.”

God, who saves me from sin and saves you from sin, came in human form. He really suffered. He really hurt. He really became thirsty on the cross. And why did He do all that? Because He wanted to save His people from sin and Satan and all that goes along with that.

Now we also mention as we think about the ultimate statements on the cross this would be right up at the top, as Jesus is now drawing near to His death we see that statement He makes about His fulfillment in the great completion of God's will. Listen to the words of John 19:30, “So when Jesus had received that sour wine, He said ‘I thirst.’ They gave Him sour wine mingled with vinegar. When He received that sour wine He said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing His head He gave up His spirit.” Can you imagine what the Lord had to go through in saying that? This had been planned from eternity. As we said Genesis 3:15, Genesis 22:18, Genesis 49:10 all the references in Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, this has been planned from eternity. This was His mission. This was His purpose. Jesus said, “I came to do the will of the Father.” Can't you sense the joy and the fulfillment in Jesus’ voice? Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Jesus for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” What was that joy? The completion of God's plan. The fulfillment of it was that joy.

Now you can think of that in earthly terms. Let’s say you’ve got a project, something you're doing. You're looking forward to that; it’s your mission. You’re on task and have been working on it for a period of time. And you get to the last point, or maybe you're driving that last nail and you’re finishing the last part of that project, and it’s completed. There is a sense of joy and completion. You can imagine that being in the mind of Christ as this is what God's ultimate plan from eternity has been. He could say with such joy and fulfillment, “It is finished.” ‘We've done it! Satan has been defeated! The world now has opportunity to salvation!’ The church could be established. Forgiveness could be a reality. People can now be brought back together with God, live with Him in Heaven, and Satan is

ultimately going to be defeated through all this. Look at what Christ did, what God did, and how He went to the greatest lengths to make sure we could be saved.

Now that final statement made on the cross expresses along with that statement, ‘It is finished,’ the absolute submission of our Lord and Savior. Listen to the words of Jesus as everything draws to an end in His life. In Luke 23:46 and “When Jesus had cried out with a loud voice he said ‘Father into your hands I commit my spirit,’ having said this He breathed His last.” All the way to the end Jesus was submissive to the Father.

Friend as I think about this great statement, what a practical application there is for me and you. Hebrews 5:8-9 says “Jesus is the author of salvation to all who obey Him.” Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” Jesus clearly teaches us that whoever humbles himself unto the mighty hand of God, he's going to be exalted in the last day. When Jesus said in Matthew 26 in the garden, “Not my will but yours be done,” here's the ultimate fulfillment of that. He went to the cross. He died. And he said, “Father my spirit is now in your hands. I’m committing it to you.” I need that type of submissive, humble, contrite attitude to really please God. If I'm going to do what God wants me to do, I need that submission to say, “Lord what would you have me to do?” Acts 9:4-6.

And Christ answers that question. He wants us to believe with all our heart He is the Christ, John 8:24. He wants us to make changes in our life where necessary, Luke 13:3. He wants us to acknowledge before the world Jesus is the Christ the son the living God, Acts 8:37-39. Christ wants us to be immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins, so that the Lord can add us to His church, Acts 2:38 and Acts 2:47.

Friend as we think about everything the Lord did for us, everything He gave up, everything He suffered, the natural question becomes am I willing to give up? Am I willing to sacrifice? Am I willing to submit, to follow Jesus?

We urge you today if your life is not in line with the will of God, won’t you submit to the Lord?

Please join us again as we study ‘More About Jesus.’

Study Questions for: “More About Jesus: Lesson 3”

1. In Luke 23:24 what did Jesus ask God to do?

2. According to Matthew 1:21, why did Jesus come?

3. Luke 17:3 tells us to do what?

4. Where did Jesus tell the thief that had a change of heart he would be according to Luke 23:43?

5. According to 1 Timothy 2:4, what does God want?

6. What must we do according to John 8:24?

7. According to Luke 13:3, what must we do or perish?

8. What must we confess according to Matthew 10:32-33?

9. According to Mark 16:16, what must we do to be saved?

10. How did Jesus show His love for His family in John 19:26?

In an attempt to criticize the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his critics gave him one of the greatest compliments you can ever imagine. In Matthew 11:19, they said of Jesus, that they accused him of being a, “winebibber, a glutton, a friend of tax collectors, and sinners.” Jesus is indeed the greatest friend a sinner, one who is living in sin and desires to be saved, has ever had. Those words beautifully illustrate that idea.

In Matthew 11:19, Jesus begins to comment on the people of John's generation, and those who really didn't listen to John, who was indeed a great servant of God. And he goes on to say, “What am I going to liken this generation to?” As you think about their fickle, their mundane nature, he's reminded of some of the things they said about him, of the Son of Man. They said, “He is a winebibber, and a glutton, a friend of tax collectors, and sinners,” and while they meant that to criticize, to deride, Jesus to make him look less like the Messiah and the Savior. How true it is for the person lost in sin, who wants to know God, who wants to be saved, not someone who's living in sin and doesn't have a plan of changing, but for the person who is lost in sin. Jesus is indeed the greatest friend they could ever know.

The reason he came was to save those who were lost. Mark 2:13-17 paints a beautiful picture of Jesus, as the best friend that the one is lost in sin has. This text tells us a great deal about the character of the Lord. Jesus is there with those who that the society didn’t want anything to do with, the worst of society, and some are going to say about Jesus, how is it that he can be the Messiah? He’s not over here with the religious elite. In essence he's down in the slums with the tax collectors and sinners. Jesus will say he did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. In fact, he’ll go on to say those who were well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

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Jesus uses a very interesting sense of logic and irony in his teaching. Think about it this way, let's say you wake up tomorrow and you say, “Man I feel great I’m on top of the world! I think I'll call up to the doctor and make sure everything's okay. I better get this checked out. I feel too good.” Well you wouldn’t do that. Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick, Jesus, the friend of a sinner, came to save him and ultimately release him from that sin.

Why is Jesus a friend of sinners? As you think about this idea, if Jesus had not been a friend to the one in sin, he would have been friendless. Have you ever thought about that? As Jesus walked upon this Earth, he's the only one who didn't have sin. Hebrews 4:15, “He was tempted all points as we are yet, without sin.” “Who committed no sin nor was guile or deceit found in his mouth,” 1 Peter 2:21-22. Jesus, had he not been a friend to those in sin, would've been friendless. We desperately need Jesus, the friend to the one in sin. Recall Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, no not one.” What did Paul mean by that? All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Even in the Old Testament 1 Kings 8:46, the Bible says, “There is none who does not sin.” “Even the righteous sin, there’s not a righteous man in the face of the earth who does good and does not sin,” Ecclesiastes 7:29. That's something that we all have to face and so thank God that Jesus came to this world, that he was the greatest friend ,one whose lost in sin, does have. I'll assure you that includes me and that includes you. Ezekiel 18:4, “The soul who sins shall surely die.” I've been in that place of spiritual death because of sin; you've been in that place. Our sins separated us from God. Isaiah 59:1-2, “God who is of pure eyes that behold evil cannot look upon the wickedness. Separated from that that one who’s in sin.” And the salary, “the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23.

We rejoice in the idea, we’re excited in the idea, that Jesus came to this earth that he did live as a friend to those who were in sin in that he made the greatest sacrifice that could ever be made.

Why else is Jesus a friend of sinners? Jesus is the friend of the sinner, the one lost in sin, because of his great love for the lost. It is the love of Christ that motivated God to send Christ to the world. You're probably very familiar with the verse, “God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It's God's love that motivated his son to come, and it is the love of Christ that made salvation available.

Paul said in Romans 5:6, “While we were still without strength in due time or at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man one die yet perhaps for a good man someone might dare to die but God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Can't we say with the beautiful words of 1 John 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us that we can be called children of God?” It's that love of Christ for those in sin that motivates us to want to serve God each and every day.

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Have you ever stopped to think about just what Jesus went through? You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich. It’s that love that compels us to live every day for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Why is Jesus a friend to sinners? Jesus is that one who deeply cares and loves those in sin, because they're the ones he came to heal and to save. You’re reminded again of Mark 2, the religious elite the pious Pharisees and scribes and the Jews they’re thinking to themselves, if this is our Messiah we've got a big problem, because instead of being over here with us, he's over there with the tax collectors and sinners. And they deride Jesus. They say, “Why are there tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus vividly said, “Those who are well they don’t have need a doctor, but those who are sick, I came to call the sinner to repentance.” Jesus is the friend of the one in sin, because they’re the very people Jesus came to save and heal.

The one, who thinks he's right, is going to have a hard time really turning to Jesus and submitting to his will. The one who knows he's lost in sin, that's a man Jesus will be happy with. Let me give you an illustration, Luke 18, two men go up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stands and prays thus within himself, “God I thank you that I'm not like other men of murder adultery whatever it may be like this tax collector I give I fast I do all these things.” What about this other man? He won’t even so much as raise his head to Heaven. He beat his breast and said, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus said, “Which of these two went to his house justified?” The one who knew he was lost in knew he needed God's mercy and grace not the man who thought he was right but the one who knew he was wrong.

Jesus is the friend of the one in sin, because they’re the very people Jesus came to heal. Luke 19:10 Jesus vividly states his mission when he says that the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which is lost. Those who are in sin are the ones he came to save. You see sin is that disease. 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 17, it's likened unto a cancer, a gangrene maybe. Psalm 38:4, Psalm 37:25 it goes over our head like a heavy burden. We can't bear it in of ourselves. Luke 17:10 Jesus taught about being thankful and gives an illustration of the 10 lepers one came back gave glory to God. Those are the people God is looking to save, the ones who desperately need him and his mercy and his grace

Jesus is also a friend of sinners, the one lost in sin wants to be saved, and he’s a friend of that person, because Jesus can teach them how to overcome a life of sin. He's the perfect one really. He's the only one qualified to do that because he lived a life above reproach. Remember Hebrews 4:15? “Tempted all points as we are yet, without sin.” If you are going to find a great teacher you’d want one who was the premier person to teach about this. How can Jesus be that premier person to teach us how to overcome sin? Because, he lived just like you and me. He faced the problems we do. He dealt he

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was dealt temptation Matthew 4: 1-11, he’d spent 40 days in the wilderness. Satan tempts him, everything Satan can throw at him. Satan does it, and Jesus overcame the temptation of Satan. He's qualified to help teach us how to overcome sin. The Bible, says in 1 John 2:15-17, “ Do not love the world or all that’s in the world, lust of flesh, lust the eyes, the pride of life, they're not of the Father but of the evil one, and the world, all that's in its passing away, but he who does will of God will last or live forever.” How can Jesus teach me overcome sin? Same way he did it. Matthew 4 Jesus said, “It is written, it is written, it is written.” By realizing how Satan works, lust of flesh, lust the eyes, and the pride of life, I can have the tools, the ability, to overcome just as Jesus himself overcame.

When we think about what makes him qualified, no one could be a better example than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is why Paul would say, “Imitate me as far as I imitate Christ,” 1 Corinthians 11:1. I am to walk in the footsteps of the Lord and Savior. 1 Peter 2:21-22, and I'm to let my light shine as I live for Jesus as an example each and every day. I'm not to be overcome with the world, but I am to overcome the world through Christ. “Do not be deceived,” Paul will say “Godliness and worldliness they cannot go hand-in-hand.” You can’t have both; you've got to stay true to Jesus and his teaching.

As we think about this idea, understanding more about Jesus and his love for those lost in sin, we want to think about the question: How is it that Jesus showed his friendship to sinners? Friendship isn't just a word you throw around. It’s an action, it's a part of life, it's a quality or a characteristic that is that is seen and visible. How did Jesus show his friendship to those lost in sin, who wanted to be saved? Jesus didn't do it in some of the ways people maybe think we should today. Jesus didn't show friendship by tolerating sin. We live in a world today where sometimes people say, if you're my friend you can overlook these things. There's no doubt that all of us make mistakes, but tolerating sin and allowing someone to live in it, that’s not real friendship.

In John 4, the woman at the well, Jesus clearly pointed out to her that she had many husbands and the one she was married to right then, was not her husband. You were living in sin and you need overcome that. To the woman in adultery, again, Jesus pointed out those things. Both of those people were indeed appreciative of Jesus saying that. Jesus doesn't show his friendship in the way that sometimes people of the World think we ought to do it today, by never say anything that would offend anyone. We live in a society that is so concerned about never offending anybody that sometimes it's hard to get what people really think out. That’s not the way Jesus was. Jesus wasn't so concerned about not offending, as he was about making sure people knew God's truth and could be saved. Did he preach the truth and love? Are we supposed to do that? Absolutely, Ephesians 4:15 teaches that and yet it was Jesus who to the hardhearted Jews and the Scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees who had overlooked God's law. Jesus boldly said, “You do therefore greatly earn not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Mark chapter 12:24.

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Jesus didn't show his friendship by having just the good old neighbor mentality. Ah, they’re just good old people. That’s just the way they are, the way they've always been. We just kind of got a go along to get along. We’ve got to live peacefully by everybody and not rock the boat. Again, that wasn't Jesus’ mentality. Jesus’ mentality was there two great commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus was committed to God and his truth, and he was committed to loving his neighbor. Which at times meant Jesus had to say things that on the outset people might think are not the friendliest, but if you look at his motives and you see what is trying to do, Jesus was indeed their best friend.

So, how is it Jesus shows his love to the sinner? Jesus exhibited this in the most wonderful exhibit you can ever imagine, wonderful way you can ever think of, Jesus shows his love to sinners by his ultimate and sacrificial death on the cross. 1 Peter 2:24 says it this way, “He himself, Jesus himself, bore our sins in his own body upon the tree that we having died to sin might live for righteousness by whose stripes we are healed.”

How do I know the Lord loves sinners today that he loves me and he loves you? Jesus sacrificed himself. He gave up his life, went through horrible suffering beaten, mocked, spit upon, laughed at, ridiculed, as the son of God, hung in agony on a cruel Roman cross until he struggled for his very last breath and said it is finished. Why did he do that? Because, he love sinners more than we can probably ever begin to comprehend.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that, “God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” John 1:29 as John saw Jesus approaching he said, “Behold, look the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” He was manifest in these last times for us. He is the one who, although the Jews had put their trust in tradition, things of the world, Jesus really made that sacrifice available. “He tasted death for every man,” Hebrews chapter 2 verse number 9. This man, Christ, after he made one sacrifice for sin forever sat down at the right hand of God. How do you, how can you know Christ loves sinners? Look at what he suffered, and look at what he did, so that we can have the hope of Heaven.

We also know that Jesus loves sinners, because he was willing to come to this Earth and teach them the truth about salvation. John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way I am the truth I am the life no man comes to the Father except by me.” Jesus taught those things that we know are true and right. Truth on the way to the father there's only one way. Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus said, “There are two paths.” Yes there are two paths; one wrong path, one with a wide path abroad gate that leads to eternal destruction, and then there is that narrow path that restricted path. Few are going down it that leads to eternal life.

What did Jesus teach about salvation that shows his love? He clearly taught the

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one way to get to the Father. Jesus said, “I am the way I am the truth.” Jesus clearly taught the truth was the way to be free. John 8:32, Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” We live in a world that kind of wants to deny that there is any definite truth, but when we think about that in and of itself is utterly ridiculous. There have always been truths 2+2 will always be 4 no matter where you are the world. If you drop a steel ball, it's always going to go down. Why? Gravity. There are truths that we cannot deny. Jesus came and talked the truth about truth. He, himself, being the way to salvation. Jesus taught the truth about life. John 10:10 Jesus said, “I came that you may have life and have it more abundantly,” but more than just now, Jesus taught the truth about eternal life.

There is a day coming when all men will stand before the throne of God. We’ll each give an account of the things done in the body. 2 Corinthians 5:10 and we’ll either hear two things said, “well done,” to those who live faithfully, “well done good and faithful servant enter into the joys of your Lord,” or “depart from me you worker of iniquity I never knew you.” Jesus made both of statements in Matthew 25, and he came and taught the truth about how to have eternal life.

As we think about Jesus illustrating, showing his love for those who were lost in sin, let's also realize Jesus is the friend of the sinner and he demonstrates that because he came here to associate with sinners for the greatest cause in the world, the salvation of lost souls. What’s the most important thing that each of us has? What is it that we have that is more important than anything else? Our soul. Mark 8:36-37 Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” My soul and your soul, they're the most important thing that we have, and if I lose that, I've lost it all.

I know Christ loves me, and he loves you because of what he sacrificed, because of what he taught, because look at his love that he shared with men and women while he was here. Look at the good that he did. Mark 7:37 says he they said of Jesus he's done all things well, he healed the sick, he fed the poor, he help those who are hurting, he cast demons out of those who were possessed by them, and ultimately he brought salvation, joy, hope, and comfort to those who were entangled by the snares of the devil.

As we think about Jesus, as a friend of sinners, I think there's no doubt he is, to the one lost in sin, the best friend they've ever had; you can vividly see that by what he did. That friendship is a two-way street. I also want to be a friend to the Lord, to the one who is the great friend of sinners. I want to repay that friendship. I want to also be one who is worthy of friendship. What is it that we can do to be a friend to Jesus, the greatest friend, we've ever had? We need first not have the mindset of the Pharisees that in Jesus day were so ridiculing of the people around them. We don't want to have a mindset that we’re better than everybody else. We don’t want to have a mindset that Jesus came to be with the righteous and that the sinners in the slums, whoever they

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may be, they’re not worthy of the Lord. Friend that's not true.

Pride goes before destruction, the haughty spirit before a fall. We need the attitude and the mindset of, let's take the gospel to the whole world. Let's not get caught up thinking we’re better than others that Christ came just to save us or that people who are living this way, we don't even need go talk to them. Friend those are the very people we need to go and speak to, and so we want the mindset of going into the entire world and preaching the gospel, the message of salvation, and giving people that hope.

You know, to be a friend to Jesus, I need to remember I was at one time lost in sin, and I desperately needed God's grace. Ephesians 2:1, “you he made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” I've been in that place, maybe you’ve obey the gospel; you've been in that place.

To be a friend to Jesus, I need to realize and be reminded of exactly what he did to save mankind. And friend it's that reminder, it's thinking about that that motivates me through my desire to obey Jesus and really be the type of friend that means that he wants me to be. To go take the gospel to the lost, “go into all the world,” Mark 16:50. Ezekiel 33, “To sound the trumpet to let the message be heard far and wide him we preach warning every man teaching every man that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Why do Christians want to take the message of Christ in the world? Because they love the Lord, and they want others to know about his hope and his joy that is made available. It's this idea that motivates us to encourage you, to encourage all men, about salvation.

Have you really accepted? Have you obeyed the gospel of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? I will promise you this if you're living in the depths of sin; you know what that's like. Sin is a burden that you cannot bear alone. Whatever the sin is you need, the greatest friend that anyone lost in sin has ever had, and I can assure you he can bring you out of those depths and give you joy beyond measure.

Will you obey Christ? Will you become a Christian? It's not hard. On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, they heard the message about Jesus as the son of God Acts 2:36 they responded to that message in belief and repentance. Peter preached repent and be converted. Acts 3:19 those who gladly received that word, they were baptized for the remission of their sins. Acts 2:38 the Bible says they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And so, today our hope, our desire, is for each person to see that Jesus truly is the friend to the one who is lost in sin and wants to be saved. Won’t you let him save you today, by obeying his gospel?

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Study Questions for: “More About Jesus: Lesson 5”

1. What did they accuse Jesus of in Matthew 11:19?

2. In Romans 3:10 who was found righteous?

3. In Ezekiel 18:4, what happens to the soul that sins?

4. According to John 8:32, what does the truth make us?

5. According to Mark 8:36-37, what is the most important thing each man has?

6. What good has Jesus done according to Mark 7:37?

7. What happened in Acts 2 when they heard the message?

8. In John 4, what did Jesus tell the woman?

9. According to Matthew 4:1-11, how did Jesus deal with the testing in the wilderness?

10. According to Acts 2:38, what did they continue to do that we must also do?

‘Though He was a son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and having been perfected He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.’

Welcome to our study of Jesus, the author of eternal salvation. As we think about the idea of Jesus being the author of eternal salvation, this word for author is a very unique word.

In fact it's only used one time in the New Testament. That makes it unique and special. When God inspired the New Testament, He wrote it in the common language. To find a special or unique word like this there is an idea that God is trying to get across. The word literally means ‘that which causes’ or ‘is the source of anything that resides.’ It's the idea of being the reason or force for an action. The idea of author carries with it someone who maybe writes a book or someone who invents a storyline. There are some similarities there but maybe even a better word would be ‘the inventor.’

Jesus is the inventor of eternal salvation. He brought to fruition. The idea was in the mind of God, and Jesus put into action by His perfect life and lifestyle in every way.

When you think about famous inventors and inventions and the effect that they had a life and humanity-where would we be without certain inventions that have made life so much more productive?

For example in the year 1903, the Wright brothers invented the airplane. Look at what a difference that has made in our ability to go to other countries and even in the ability to spread the gospel to places. Before the airplane the automobile was created in the year 1889. Look at the way travel has taken off with the automobile, roads, engines, and all that goes along with that. Think of other inventions like the steel plow. John Deere made the steel plow in 1836, and look at the way agriculture has changed for good. Thomas Edison created the lightbulb invented it in the year 1879. Think about how much that invention has changed the world.

Then think about the greatest invention of all time. Jesus Christ is the greatest inventor. The greatest invention ever is salvation and bringing that to fruition. That's what God did. That's what God made possible through His son Jesus Christ.

Today we will ask several questions as it relates to Jesus, the author or inventor of salvation.

First of all what makes it possible for Jesus to be the author and the inventor of salvation? Friend as you think about the salvation, we have this is only because of the perfect life that Jesus lived. Jesus makes salvation possible, because He lived a perfect life of obedience to God. Were it not for Jesus’ life and His perfection, salvation wouldn’t be possible. “Having been perfected,” the Hebrew writer says “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

But what does it mean that Jesus became perfected? Friends just like me and just like you, Jesus faced challenges. He faced difficulties. He was tempted. Yet through all that, He lived a pure and perfect life. Notice what the Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 4:15. The Bible says “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are,” notice “yet without sin.” It's not that we can't sympathize with Jesus. Jesus can sympathize with us. He knows what I'm going through. He knows what you're going through, because He's been there. And yet, Jesus did it without sin. 1 Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin nor was guile or deceit found in His mouth.” For that reason the Bible

says ‘God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin, to be the sin offering on our behalf that we might be the righteousness of God in Him.’ When we think about Jesus the son of God, we must realize He is that perfect example of a life lived correctly.

John said in John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” I believe Mark summed it up in Mark 7:37 when he said this “And they were astonished beyond measure saying He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” What a great commentary on the perfect life of Jesus. He did everything well. That summarizes Jesus, the inventor of salvation, by His perfect life.

What else did Jesus do that makes the salvation possible? Jesus makes this salvation possible by His suffering that He gave on Calvary. I want you to think about Hebrews 5:7-8. “Though He was a son, yet He learned obedience by the things He suffered.” Jesus had to suffer to make salvation a reality and to bring it to fruition. He had to go through horrible suffering. Think about the words of 1 John 2:1-2. The Scripture says John says “My little children these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ, the righteous, and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus suffered for all mankind. He gave up His life. Hebrews 2:9 “He tasted death for every man.” He was offered outside the camp. Hebrews 13:12 He suffered greatly so that I can have the hope of eternal life and so that you could as well. Peter thought about the suffering. Peter saw the suffering Jesus went through in many ways first hand. When he thought about this suffering here's what he said in 1 Peter 4:1. Peter said “Therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind for He was suffer in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Peter identifies that this suffering was in the flesh- meaning that it did hurt when Jesus suffered. It was painful. The things He went through were agonizing. Jesus did all of that so that we can have the hope of eternal life through Him.

I want you think about, for just a moment, some of the passages that teach us about the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ. For example take your mind back to the events surrounding the cross and the events surrounding the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Think about this: Jesus suffered horribly at the hands of ungodly men. Matthew 26:67 the Bible says “Then they spat in His face and beat Him and others struck Him with

the palm of their hands.” Before that Roman government and the Jews and all the evil people of that day- what did they do to Jesus? Can you imagine? They spit in the face of the Lord. They beat Him. They strike Him with the palm of their hand. I don't think it's a slap; I think it's more with the palm like a martial arts hit. They did that to Jesus as part of His suffering.

But then think about this also. In Matthew 27:26 we’re told “Then he,” Pilate, “released Barabbas to them, and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered Him to be crucified.” What else did Jesus go through? Jesus was scourged. When you think about the scourging of Christ we’re talking about something like a whip with metal or bone or pieces of glass embedded in the end of it. They would stretch Jesus’ back tightly across a post or something like that. Then over and over again they brought that whip down on the back of Jesus. Why did they do that? He hasn't done anything wrong. They did that so that Jesus would suffer the penalty of my sin and for yours. They may not even have known that, but in God's mind that suffering Jesus went through was the suffering that each of us deserve to receive. And yet, Jesus took our place.

We learn in Matthew 27:28-29 not only did they scourged Jesus, the Bible says this “And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, And when they twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head.” They take Jesus, and after they've beaten Him they place that robe on his back. That robe adheres to the sores and the wombs. They take a crown of thorns, and they put it in the on Jesus’ head. They press it into His brow. Can you imagine the suffering Jesus had to endure? Making Him out to be a king, mocking Jesus, and then listen to these words “then they spat on Him, took the read, struck Him on the head, and when they mocked Him they took the robe off.” That crown of thorns that’s in the brow Jesus, they then hit Him on the head with something like a stick and pressed those thorns into His brow. Then that robe, which had adhered to His bloody back, they tore off and the pain started all over again. Then we learn in Matthew 27:35 “Then they crucified Him and divided His garments casting lots.”

They took the Lord and Savior, the great inventor of salvation, and they nailed Him to a cross. For every breath Jesus had to put pressure on His ankles, and to exhale He had to let it out on His arms. Jesus suffered in agony until He died on that cruel cross for me and for you. Jesus has the right to be the inventor of salvation because of what He suffered in this life and what He gave up.

Let's think about this then, what is it that makes this salvation that Jesus brought to life so great? What is it about salvation that makes a person want to take part in that? This salvation is great because it's eternal in nature. We’re not talking about being saved temporarily or momentarily. We’re talking about being saved from sin forever. If one obeys the gospel, Matthew 25:46 Jesus said, ‘The righteous will go away into eternal life never ever having to worry about sin and death and all the things that go along with that.’ When I get to heaven, it'll be eternal in nature.

Sometimes when we think about eternal life, we only think in terms of time, but when God defined eternal life, God didn't define it based on time. Here's God's view of eternal life. John 17:3 notice what the Scripture says. The Bible says in John chapter 17:3 Jesus speaking, “And this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

What's eternal life all about? Living forever? Not in the real sense. That's included in it. Jesus said this is ‘eternal life that they may know you.’ Eternal life is being in a close relationship with God. Having that closeness that oneness that's the real essence of eternal life.

What else makes this salvation great? This salvation is great because it is salvation from sin and from Satan. What is it in this life that hurts man? It's sin and the work of Satan. Sin causes death. It's something we all have to deal with. Romans 3:10 says “There is none righteous, no not one.” “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. As result of the fact that all have sinned the Bible says “the wages of sin is death.” Not dying physically necessarily but spiritual death. ‘The soul who sins shall surely die.’ It's the death, the eternal destruction of the soul in hell.

Think about in these terms. In Isaiah 59:1-2 the Bible says “The Lord's ears not heavy that He cannot save, nor His arm shortened that He cannot save, Lord's ear heavy that He cannot hear, but your sins and your iniquities have separated you from your God.” Sin is a separation. If eternal life is being in the closeness of God, then the opposite of that is sin is a separation from God and from His presence. The good news is Jesus and the salvation He brought to life gives us hope from sin. Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.” But aren’t you thankful for the last part of that verse? “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Not only am I safe from sin, I also can be saved from Satan and all his devices.

The Bible says that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He's actively trying to cause men and women to be lost. Here's the good news about Jesus salvation: He, Jesus, through death overcame in the power of death and has released those, who all their lifetime, were subject to bondage. Jesus defeated death, and He has defeated Satan.

Think about the words of Romans 6:17. Notice this beautiful statement that Paul makes. The Bible says “God be thanked that though you were the slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which were delivered, we have the hope that as we have obeyed the gospel we can know we been delivered from sin and Satan.”

Then there's a third thing that makes this salvation so great. This salvation is ultimately in that beautiful place we know is heaven or Paradise. Remember what Jesus told his disciples in John 14? His disciples had been hearing that Jesus was about to have to leave them. He was going to go back to the Father and knowing that they would get discouraged. Jesus said this “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in me. In My Father's house are many mansions. Were it not so, I would've told you.” And then He said this “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also.”

Jesus has gone to prepare that heavenly place that place where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death; all the former things have passed away, Revelation 21:4. That place the Bible describes as Paradise. Jesus said to the thief in Luke 23:43 “This day you shall be with Me in paradise.”

Don't you long to go to a place like that? I think of the words Romans 8:18 Paul said “We consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

When we think about heaven, that wonderful eternal home of all the saved, friend that's one of the things that makes salvation so great.

Let's ask another important question about this salvation that Jesus has invented or brought to life. Who can receive the salvation? Who's it for? Is it for just a few? Is it just for the elite? Is it just for one group or another?

The good news is all who are willing to obey Jesus can access the salvation. Remember again Hebrews 5:8-9. “Though He was a son yet He learned obedience by the things He has suffered, and having been perfected He became the author of eternal salvation,” listen, “to all who obey Him.” This salvation is not prejudiced. It is not biased. It is not just for one group. Any person who's willing to obey God and submit to Him can and will be saved.

I love the words of Peter in Acts 10:34-35. The Bible says “Then Peter opened his mouth and said ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality,’” but notice ‘every nation who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.’” God is not prejudice. God is not partial. The Bible says ‘Every nation.’ Every nation who does what? ‘Fears Him and works righteousness can be accepted.’

Friend the good news is this salvation is available to the whole world. Here's the nature of God. “God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth,” 1 Timothy 2:4.

How bad does God want that? God wanted so bad. His son, His only unique son, tasted death for every man. He is the propitiation for our sins. Not for ours alone, but for the sins of the whole world. When God makes His invitation, He clearly says “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden,” Matthew 11:28. “Let whosoever will come” God says, Revelation 22:17.

Anyone who is willing to change their life and submit to the will of God can be saved.

Notice what Paul said to a group of idolatrous people in Acts 17:30-31. The Scripture says “Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Why? “Because He has appointed a day that He will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom He has ordained. And He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” I know God is willing and able to save all who will repeat.

All men everywhere, from every nation, who are willing to obey God's will can partake of this salvation.

There's one final question that we need to ask. How does a person obey Jesus, the inventor or author of salvation?

Friend, if Jesus is the author and if He is the inventor, He owns the patent. He holds the right, and He gets to set the guidelines for what a person must do to be saved. It doesn't matter what I think. It doesn’t matter what you think or some religious leaders somewhere thinks. Here's what matters: What does the Scripture say? Romans 4:3, Jeremiah 37:17.

What has God said one must do to become a Christian?

It's this simple if you will do what God says in the Bible, you can partake of this salvation. I love the words of Mary at the wedding in Cana in John 2. Somehow Mary has sensed that Jesus is going to perform His first miracle turning the water into grape juice, turning the water into wine. In John 2 when she realizes Jesus is going to do this, she turns to the servants and says “Whatever He,” Jesus, “says to you do it.”

Any person who will have that mindset ‘Whatever God says to me in the Bible, I'm going to do it,’ that person can be saved. In fact look at what Jesus said. Jesus realized it wasn't enough just to verbalize His name, but you had to do what He said. Notice Matthew 7:21. The Bible says Jesus speaking “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.” It isn’t enough just to look up and say ‘Lord, Lord’ you've got to be willing to do what God says. Jesus asked this haunting question to the religious elite to the Pharisees in Luke 6:46 Jesus said “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do the things which I say?”

Friend it is true that if I'm going to be saved, I have to obey Jesus. Obedience is essential to salvation. In fact, you can't say you love God if you're not willing to obey Him. Did you know that's what Jesus said? Jesus simply said “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

What must a person do then to be saved? What does Jesus say I've got a do to be saved?

The Scriptures clearly teaches that a person must first hear the word of God. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 “without faith it's impossible to please God.” If I have to have faith to please God, then whatever way I get

faith is essential.

How do I get faith in God? Romans 10:17 tells us “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” To be saved I first must hear the word of God, which creates faith in the individual member. Jesus said every one of the seven congregations in Revelation and in every one of those letters Jesus said “To him that has ears let him hear.” I must listen carefully what God says, and only except His word as the final truth.

Secondly then I must believe in Jesus. Here's what Jesus said. Jesus said “Unless you believe that I'm He, you'll surely die in your sins,” John 8:24. It can't stop at the point ‘believe only.’

There's more to being saved then just believing in Jesus. A person also has to repent. The Bible says Jesus speaking in Luke 13:3-5, “I tell you no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Repentance is a turn. Acts 3:19 Peter preached “Repent and turn again that your sins may be blotted out.”

Are you willing today not only to believe in Jesus, not only to accept His word as the final guide, but to turn from a life of sin to a life of serving God?

If so, would you make that great confession? Jesus taught us it was essential to confess Him before men. Jesus said “If you won’t confess me before men neither will I confess you before the Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32-33.

Having made that great confession, would you be immersed in water to obey Jesus?

Here's how plain and how simple Jesus made it, in Mark 16:16 Jesus said “He that believes and is baptized will be saved.” If you've got the mindset ‘Whatever Jesus says, I'm going to do it,’ then friend you have got to realize Jesus said you must believe and be baptized. For what reason? To be saved. That's in accord with the first gospel sermon in Acts 2. When they cried out “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The answer was “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Baptism is not something you do two weeks after

saved. It's not something that is just something good to do. It is necessary.

The Bible says “One must be born of water and spirit to get into the kingdom of God,” John 3:5.

We ask you today, are you sure you've accessed this great salvation? He is, Jesus is, the author of eternal salvation to all who obey.

Ask yourself: Have I really obeyed the word of God? Are you sure today? Don't wonder. Don't guess.

Are you sure, based on the knowledge of God's word that you’re saved?

If not, we encourage you today get your life right. Make sure you have accessed the great salvation before it's everlastingly too late.

Study Questions for Topical Lesson 2:

“Jesus, the author of eternal salvation”

1. According to Hebrews 4:15, can Jesus sympathize with us?

2. According to Hebrews 4:15, how was Jesus tempted? Did He sin?

3. What does 1 Peter 2:22 say of Jesus?

4. Who takes away the sins of the world according to John 1:29?

5. How does Mark 7:37 summarize Jesus’ life?

6. According to 1 John 2:1-2, why were the things written?

7. According to 1 John 2:1-2, if we sin who is our advocate?

8. According to Hebrews 2:9, what did He taste for every man?

9. What does Matthew 25:46 say about the righteous?

10. What’s the free gift of God according to Romans 6:23?

“There was a man who lived in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil.”

Welcome to our study on the living messages of the book of Job. Job is one of the favorite books of many in the Bible, because it teaches us how that God will take care of and see his children through times of suffering.

Key words in the book of Job would include the idea of suffering or trial or even perseverance. Do you remember James 5:11? James says, “Consider the suffering or the perseverance of Job.” Another key word would of course be the sovereignty of God. God is supreme, and that in all his decisions and in all his ways, God is right- even when those may not look right to man.

Key verses in the book of Job that portray the key ideas and central ideas of this book you find in Job 1:9. Satan asks God, "Will a man serve God for nothing?" And of course, Job is the divine answer to that question, In Job 13:15 Job says, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." And so, will man serve God just because He's God? Take away all the blessings, all the privileges, all the promises, and will he serve God because God is worthy of our devotion and service? And of course, Job answers in the

affirmative showing that a man will serve God for nothing. I love the words of Job 23:12. It is such a central idea found here. Job said of God's word that it was ‘more necessary than our food that we eat every day.’ God's word is more necessary, more important than our daily food. And then, of course, Job 1:21-22 Job said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord."

The key chapters, as we try to get an idea around this book, the key chapters that we'll find are chapters 1 and chapter 42. In chapter one, we have the plot unfolding as Satan now begins to use his resources and tools available to him to bring suffering to Job- his wealth, his family, his own health, tempting Job to curse God. But in chapter 42, as Job has endured that persecution and trial, all is now restored by God, even more than Job initially had.

As we think about the book of Job, this book has been loved by many, because it has helped them through the valley of the shadow of death and suffering. Let me illustrate.

Victor Hugo once said of the book of Job, "Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed and it was left to me to retain only one work, I should save Job." Daniel Webster said of the book of Job, "Taken as a mere work of literary genius, it is one of the most wonderful productions of any age or of any language." And of course, Philip Shaft, great student of the Bible, said, "The book of Job rises like a pyramid in the history of literature, without a predecessor and without a rival."

We think about some of the practical lessons in this great book. What is the central message in the book of Job? Many think that suffering is really the central idea- that the book of Job is all about how to address and how to deal with the problem of suffering. I don't think that's really what Job is about, because if the book of Job is about suffering, God never tells Job why and how to deal with and how to overcome that suffering. You see Job learned some of those problems, but that's not necessarily the main idea of the book. Job’s suffering is only a cause of the real theme in the book.

What is this real theme that God is trying to address? Here's the message of Job. Satan brings an accusation to God. ‘Will a man serve God for nothing?’ In essence, Satan says to God, ‘people only serve you for what they can get out of it.’ Remember Job 1:9-10? Notice these words. Satan says of Job, "Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has on every side? You've blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land." And so God says, "What about Job?" Satan says, "Job, he only follows you because of what you've blessed him with."

And so Satan's question is, ‘does Job fear God for nothing?’ Of course, this is the key question, I believe in understanding the book of Job. ‘Will men serve God just because He's God?’ How do we figure that out? Is righteousness apart from the blessings possible? Now we bring up Job as the primes example that men will serve God apart from the blessings. How do we prove that? God says, ‘Let's take Job, my servant, as an example. I'm going to give you limited power over him. You can take away his possessions and certain things- only don't harm his person.’

How does Job respond? “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” He still doesn't curse God. Satan comes back and says, ‘well, he's still got certain blessings in essence.’ God says, ‘I'm going to give you power to touch his person now. You just can't take his life.’ Satan afflicts Job with this horrible, dreaded disease, and even his wife encourages him, "You need to stay around, you need to curse God and die." He says to her, "You sound like one of the foolish women. Shall we indeed receive good from God and not bad?" Throughout the book, this shows us that God can be served, because of who He is.

As we think about the divine plot unfolding in the book of Job, and its message for us today, and as we read and study this book, what can we walk away with that will help us to be more faithful to God, trust him more, and live the Christian life even better?

Here are some of the practical lessons that we do learn out of the book of Job: Number one, let's realize that life is so brief. Job 14:1, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Now, I understand Job is in the throes of depression. He's in the throes of suffering and anguish, and yet he makes a valid point here that man is born woman. It is of few days. Friend, I have not been promised, nor have you, that we're going to live and last forever. In fact, we've been promised just the opposite. Psalm 90:10-12 says of man that ‘threescore and 10, maybe fourscore, 70, maybe 80 years, if we're lucky.’ The Bible says in James 4:14, ‘What is your life? It is but a vapor, here for a little while and then it vanishes away.’ I'm reminded of the words of 2 Samuel 14:14. David said, “Life is like a glass of water, like a cup of water, once it's poured out, it cannot be drawn back up again.” Psalm 144:4, “life is like a shadow or a passing very quickly by a man.” So when we think about life, let's realize that our life is so brief. Let's make the most of this life. Let's not let anything but God rule our life.

Job realized very quickly that life was brief, and yet he still trusted in the Almighty. My friends, that's what we need to do today. Even though our life may be brief, let's make sure that in this life, we're trusting in God, and we're putting first things first. If my life is brief, then how that reminds me that I need to make sure I have my priorities where they need to be. Jesus asked two questions in Mark 8:36-37. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?? Are you really seeking first the kingdom of God, Matthew 6:33? Can you say as Paul did, “for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain?” Philippians 1:21. Whether you eat or whether you drink, are you doing all to the glory of God? 1 Corinthians 10:31.

A second very practical lesson that we learn from the book of Job is there is life beyond the grave. Job asked a question in Job 14:14, which we really don't find an answer to, until a little later in the New Testament. Job asked, "If a man dies, shall he live again?" What is the answer to that? Is this life all that there is? To some it must be, because their whole focus and their whole emphasis in this life is all about the here and now. If we're living for money and pleasure and worldliness, aren't we living just for the here

and now? What about the other side? Is there more than just this life? You bet there is. Jesus said in John 11:25-26 that there was more to life than just here. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will never really die.” Do you remember Jesus' words in John 5:28 and 29? Jesus said, “All who are in the graves will one day come forth. Those that have done good to the resurrection of life, those that have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.” Jesus clearly taught there was something beyond the grave. “The righteous will go away into everlasting life,” Matthew 25:46. We learn there is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, Luke chapter 16, where the cowardly and the ungodly will live forever, Revelation 21:8. Since life is brief, are we really focusing on the eternal?

Friend, it's so easy sometimes to get caught up in what's going on right now that we lose sight of what's really important. My soul and your soul are the most important things we have. Are we preparing those to live with God in eternity?

I love the words of Job 19:25, another very practical lesson is learned from the book of Job. Job asked, as he thinks about his own suffering, and as he thinks about his own plight, he's looking for someone to bring his plight, bring his case before God in essence. Job makes this great statement, "I know that my Redeemer lives." Job was looking for a redeemer to help him with his current plight and situation. How much more for the child of God? Don't we know that our Redeemer lives today? To redeem is to buy something back. A price has to be paid. And friend, that price was paid by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:22 says, ‘without the shedding of blood, there's no forgiveness of sins.’ What was that great price? When Jesus suffered and died and gave His life on Calvary, He paid the ultimate price as a ransom to buy us back from God or from the captivity we found ourselves in due to sin, Galatians 1:4. We have the great redeemer.

As we think about the book of Job, another very powerful lesson emerges from this great text, found in Job 23:12. I want you to notice what Job says in the midst of his suffering and trials in Job chapter 23. Job

states, "I have not departed from the commandment of His lips. I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." How important is the word of God to each Christian! When we think about Job's predicament and the peril he finds himself in- lost his family, lost his total wealth, loses his own health, begins to consider his relationship with God and wonders why all this is happening- and yet in the midst of that, Job says, ‘I've not departed from God's commandments. His word I've treasured more than my necessary food.’ How important is the word of God to each one of us? Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found and I did eat them and they were to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." Do we have that mentality that we're hungry for the word of God, that when we find it we want to spiritually consume it and make it a part of our life?

As Jesus faced great trial and suffering, at the hand of the devil, he used the most powerful tool he could think of in overcoming him. That tool was the word of God. Jesus was tempted by Satan after he'd been in the wilderness 40 days. He was hungry. He was tempted by Satan, "If you're the Son of God, command these stones to become bread." Do you remember what Jesus said in Matthew 4:4? "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Let's make sure that like Job, the Bible, is where we get our sustenance from. ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,’ the psalmist said in Psalm 119:105. Earlier in that chapter, he said in Psalm 119:10-12, ‘your word I've hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee.’ We need the courage to trust God's word even when the situation isn't always rosy. I can know God's sovereign; He's in control. If I trust him, He'll see that I'm taken care of.

Another very powerful lesson that we learn from the book of Job and this is we have an aggressive, militant enemy who will stop at nothing to reach his goal of causing men and women to be lost. I want you to think about the aggressive nature of Satan. Job 1:6-7, we see God and the sons of God coming before God. Satan also appears, and God asks Satan, "Where have you come from?" His answer is, "I've been going to and fro,

back and forth on the earth." What was he doing down there? The very next question of God tells us what he was doing. "Have you considered my servant Job?" Satan was going to and fro, back and forth on the earth, looking actively, aggressively looking for men and women to tempt. That's the picture we see in every scenario about Satan in the Bible. Consider these pictures in Scripture. Genesis chapter 3, Satan is likened unto a wily, cunning serpent lying in wait for the perfect moment to strike. We move a little further forward in the New Testament, and in 1 Peter chapter 5, you see his aggressive, destructive nature. ‘He's like a roaring lion.’ Consider your adversary the devil. ‘He's like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.’ Think about the power that he has. He's described as that great dragon, that serpent of old in Revelation chapter 12. One thing you can be certain of, Satan isn't wasting any time. He's not sitting around being lazy. He's actively aggressively trying to tempt men and women, so that they can be lost.

But is there any hope in this then? Well, sure there is. 1 Peter 5:7 says, ‘As Christians we can overcome him and resist him,’ 1 Peter 5:7-9. ‘Resist him steadfast in the faith.’ With God's help, I have the power to resist Satan. Do you remember Luke 22:32? Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, Satan desires to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I've prayed for you, that your faith would not fail or falter." With God's help, and with power in the word of God and knowing that I can resist him in the faith, there is help for the child of God to resist the enemy.

Let's notice another powerful lesson from the book of Job. Sometimes the Lord does give and the Lord does take away. You remember Job chapter one. I want you to listen to the words again of Job 1:21. Job has just lost his children to a great destruction and devastation. Job has lost his financial wealth, his cattle, and all that he had to thievery. Look at what Job says in Job 1:21. Job says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gives and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Look at Job chapter 2:10. Job speaking to his wife, but he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this, Job did not sin with his lips. I need to

realize that in this life, there are going to be times of plenty, and there are going to be times, probably of poverty. There are going to be times when we're on the mountaintop, and there are going to be times we're in the valley. We need to realize that in all those times, that doesn't necessarily mean that we've been separated from God, but that we need to examine the situation, look into our own life, make sure that we're living right, and then do our best, even in the difficulties to trust God.

Do you remember James 1:2-4? James said, "My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." When I face those difficulties, when I have those trials that come into my life, I need to realize that God knows what I'm going through. God knows and God cares. “Cast all your cares upon Him. He cares for you,” 1 Peter 5:7.

Let's notice, then, another very practical message from the book of Job. No matter what, trust God. Trust God implicitly, even when things don't always look good, even when I may not know the reason why- like Job struggled greatly, suffered as much as any man's probably ever suffered, even to the brink of death, and yet Job trust in God implicitly. I want you to hear again the words of Job 13:15. Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Job was dying. He felt like, every day, he was getting weaker. He was suffering more. He was proving that a man would serve God for nothing. Even in the midst of all that, Job said, ‘although it may be God who slay me,’ it feels like it anyway, ‘I'm going to trust him.’ That's the kind of trust that each of us needs today. Hebrews 13:5-6 says, ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart.’ Proverbs 3:5 “Let your life be without covetousness. Be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I'll never leave you nor forsake you,’ so that we may boldly say, ‘the Lord is my helper, what can man do to me?’” Do we really have that type of faith that we can trust God even when things aren't going well in our life? Do we have the type of faith that we can put our trust in Him and know that God will provide for us and that we can trust God even when things are getting more difficult and even when the challenges of life are being thrown at us?

We must always look to God as the great source of our faith. Remember Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Let's put our trust in the Almighty. Make sure that we do follow God, just as Job did. Remember again, what happened to Job as he suffered so much- family loss, financial loss, great health loss. His wife stays and tells him to ‘curse God and die.’ He has to deal with a lot of things emotionally, physically, psychologically, and yet as Job persevered, James 5:11. Look at Job 42, God restores what Job has lost, blesses him many fold on top of what he had, and yet, God is the one who comes out looking like men will serve him, and men do serve Him for nothing.

And so let's ask ourselves, why am I a Christian? Am I a Christian because of what I believe I can get out of it? Now, don't get me wrong. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:3, ‘all spiritual blessings are ours in Christ Jesus.’ But am I a Christian because of what I think I can get out of Christianity? We raise a society of people who are standing with their handouts saying, "What can you give me?" I wonder sometimes if people aren't in Christianity for what they can get out of it.

Friend, let's realize that our purest, deepest motive for serving God must simply be: He's God and He deserves it.

We ask you to consider your life. Consider your faith. Consider the events that have happened in your life and my life and let's see if we've really been true to the Almighty as Job has. We ask you today to consider your own faithfulness to the Lord. Are you a child of God? Have you obeyed the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Are you a Christian? The Bible says that to become a child of God you must hear the word of God, Romans 10:17. Having heard that word, you must believe that Jesus is God's son. John 8:24 Jesus said, "Unless you believe that I am he, you'll surely die in your sins." Having believed that Jesus is the great Redeemer, we then need to repent of sin. Luke 13:3 Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you'll all likewise perish." Having repented of those wrongs in our life, we must make that good confession, Acts 8:37-39. Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized will be saved." Friend, have you obeyed the gospel? If not, we encourage you to today.

If maybe, as a child of God, at one time you were faithful, and yet you faced a lot of suffering. Maybe you faced a lot of difficulty and life came tumbling down on you and maybe you blame God. Let's realize there are a lot of other reasons for the problems and sufferings we face besides God.

Instead of blaming God, let's take the time to honor and worship Him as the Almighty, as He so greatly deserves.

Study Questions for:

“Living Messages of the Old Testament: Lesson 18”

1. What does James 5:11 tell us to consider?

2. What does Satan ask in Job 1:9?

3. What does Job say of God in Job 13:15?

4. What is said of God’s word in Job 23:12?

5. According to Job 1:21-22, how does Job view his life?

6. How does Job respond to his wife wanting him to curse God?

7. What does Job 14:1 say of Job?

8. According to 2 Samuel 14:14, how does David view life?

9. According to Matthew 25:46, where do the righteous go?

10. According to Matthew 5:6, blessed are who?

“There was a man sent from God whose name was John,” John 1:6.

We welcome you today to our study of great Bible characters. In this series of lessons, we've been looking at both Old and New Testament

characters who stand out as men of God and characters in the Bible-who are ones we can follow as we strive to live for Christ and ultimately glorify God and make it to that wonderful place called heaven.

What do we know about John the Baptist or John the Immerser?

He is a unique figure who stands out in the Bible as one of the great heroes who prepared the way for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Here's just some basic information about John himself and a little bit of biographical information about his life. John's name, which means "God is gracious", was given divinely to John's parents Zacharias and Elizabeth by God himself, Luke 1:13. He is known as the baptizer or the immerser, one who baptizes. This is not really a title but is more a description of the work that John , the immerser, did. He was called this, in Matthew 3:1 and Matthew 11:11, by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In fact, Josephus, in his Antiquities of the Jewish History, even writes about John and refers to him as the baptizer.

Now, when we think about the why of that, you can remember all the regions of Jerusalem, Judea, and the regions there about, they went out to be baptized by John, Matthew 3:5 following. The great work John did was getting people ready for the kingdom of God.

You know one of the great compliments that, probably the greatest

compliment John ever received, was given by the Lord and Savior. In Matthew 11:11, Jesus said of those born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist.

John played second fiddle. He prepared the way for Jesus. He didn’t want the limelight. He wasn't even looking for the spotlight. He wanted to help people get their heart ready so that, when the Messiah came, they would be ready for His message. Luke 1:5 records of John's

background that he was actually born to a priestly family. His father, Zacharias, was going to be going to his priestly duties when he received that message: they were going to have a son whose name was going to be John as well.

As we think about John, he has a great and rich history, but he also has a very unique connection to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In fact, he was the cousin of Jesus. The Bible records in Luke 1:36

that Elizabeth and Mary were kin, "Your close kin Mary is going to give birth". So we have that indication that John and Jesus were also kin and so

connected to the Savior in that way as well. In fact, Luke 1:36 records that Jesus was three months younger than John the immerse. John was six months older than Jesus.

What's unique about John is that, from his birth, John was a Nazarite. You study back to the book of Numbers and you look at the Nazarites. They weren't to cut their hair. They weren't to drink strong drink. They there to be separated for a special, unique purpose. My friends, John

the immerser surely, John the Baptist surely fulfills that role in that he was a rather rugged and rough individual. He did a work that God sent him to do.

What was that work? He was not the Messiah, even though some thought he was, Luke 3:15. His work, rather, was to prepare people for the

Messiah.

Now as we mentioned about John, one of the things stand out as really unique is his nature. John wasn't like a lot of people. He was a rather

rough and rugged type of individual. Matthew 3:4, we learn, of John, that he was dressed in camel hair. He ate locusts and honey. He spent a great deal of time in the wilderness. He wasn't your typical, everyday person.

He was a little different, maybe walked to the beat of a different drum, in the sense that he was more of a rugged and rough and type of nature of an individual.

As you think about John, John may have even rather been reclusive in some ways concerning his nature, maybe more of an introvert, rather than an extrovert. Matthew 11:18, they said of Jesus, he came eating and drinking, but John didn't come eating and drinking. The idea of eating and drinking during that time frame meant socializing. John wasn't the social type. Although Jesus went to the masses, the masses actually would end up coming to John to hear him preach the gospel.

Here's what we know about John, one of the things that stands out as so unique and amazing about John was his phenomenal influence for Jesus Christ. Matthew 3:5, "All the regions of Jerusalem, Judea went out to be baptized by John." John 1:28, John 3:23, "He was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there". In all those occasions,

you've got hordes of people coming out to be baptized by John.

His message was, “Repent, the kingdom is at hand”, but look at the mass influence he had. He simply preached the word of God, did what God told him to, and that word had the power to change people's hearts.

You know another unique thing about John, and this really speaks to how a lot of people have some misconceptions, today, about the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:13-15, the Bible says that John had the Holy Spirit without measure, that is, that he was full of the Holy Spirit. When people think about the Holy Spirit today, they want to tie that in with miraculous and speaking in tongues and the sign that you got Holy Spirit, that you can do some type of miraculous. John teaches us that's not true.

Friend, John 10:41, the Scripture says of John, "John performed no sign". Now think about this, had the Holy Spirit without measure and never did a miracle. What do I learn from that? I must not naturally think: Holy Spirit - miracle. That's not always the case, the word of God dwells in men and women today and they also can have the Holy Spirit, through the word

of God, and John is a prime example that. All too often, our minds are quick to run to the miraculous, when we think Holy Spirit, but that may not necessarily be the case.

Well, let's think just a moment, then, about some of the prophesies we have concerning John. I want to direct your attention to a prophecy in

the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 40. I want you to notice what Isaiah says about

John and the work that he would do. Written 750 years before John comes on the scene, Isaiah 40:3 records this, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God".

What was John? John was simply a voice proclaiming the way. John would say, ‘I am not he. There's one coming after me whose sandal strap I'm not even worthy to loose. I baptize you water; he'll baptize you with fire.’

He preached to the people, "Repent for the kingdom is at hand". To those who wanted to do it for outward show, John would say, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come". Was he a fiery, intense, bold, and straightforward, proclaimer? Sure he was. He proclaimed the way of God in truth and sincerity. He prepared the way for Christ. He was to prepare the way, to make his paths straight.

You know in any kind of work, you have preparation. You maybe even need somebody to go ahead of you and to get things ready. To make sure that when that work is ready, you're ready for it happen as well. That was John's job. He got the people's hearts softened. He broke that outer shell that we often think of. Now that their hearts are tender, they're thinking about God, spiritual things, and where they need to be.

Jesus comes on the scene, the path is straight, and the Messiah can come in and now teach the will of God.

Now, a second Old Testament passage that speaks about John is

Found in the book of Malachi. I direct your attention to that minor prophet, Malachi, as he speaks about the Messiah and of course his forerunner, John the Immerser. Notice Malachi 3, here's what the Scripture says in verse 1, God said, "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me".

What was John's work again? To be a messenger. He had a message from God. He faithfully proclaimed that message, and he was to prepare the way for the Messiah. Now in the book of Malachi 4:4-5, it is prophesied that one was going to come in the spirit of Elijah, or Elijah was coming. Who was that? According to Luke 1:16 and Matthew 11:12-15, that was John the Immerser. So that same spirit, that same heart, that same prophesying what God wanted him to say, preaching what God wanted him to say, is exactly what John came to do.

Now, we know that John came with a message. Let's take just a moment and let's think about the powerful message John brought and how that prepared the people for the Savior. What was his message? John pointed people to the Lamb of God. Notice John 1:29, John said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" John sees Jesus approaching and he cries out to the people. That voice crying in the wilderness, cries out, "this is the Lamb of God".

He wasn't trying to live in the limelight. He wanted people to know Jesus was the Messiah. He was bruised for our iniquities and chastisement of our peace was upon him, by his stripes we are healed, Isaiah 53:3-4. 1 Peter 1:18-21 says that he was foreordained before the foundation of the world, the lamb without spot and blemish, manifest in these last times for us. He pointed people to the Lamb of God.

What else did John do? John 1:34, John pointed people to Jesus as

the Son of God. Not only did he say here's the Lamb of God, he identified Christ as the Son of God, Deity, and God in the flesh, as well.

Then when I think about John, John had a real message of change. Here's that message: Matthew 3:2, John said, "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand".

What was his message all about? Changing their hearts, getting right with God. You know the Jews over history and through time had had that outward show of repentance but really getting to the heart of the matter was always the challenge. Yes, they might sit around the ash pile and throw dust and ashes on their heads, they might pull the hair out of their beard or out of their head and they might have a great outward sign of repentance. That's not what God's looking for. Joel 2:13, God said, "Rend

your hearts, not your garments". That's what John wanted to do: get people to change their hearts.

Along with that repentance, there was a message motivating them to do that. Matthew 3:7 John said of Jesus, ‘His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he would separate, as it were, the wheat from the chaff.’ He would bring judgment on those who did not follow the teaching and the principles of Almighty God. We see the great work that John did.

Now, let's take just a few moments and let's make some practical application from the life and example of John that would help us to live more faithfully in Christ. What is it? Let me ask you this, what is it that gave John such a head start in life? Friend, I want you to listen real carefully,

and parents, grandparents, listen carefully as well; John had a head start in

life because of his parents. Listen to Luke 1:6, of Zacharias and Mary it is said, they were both righteous before God, walking in all the statutes and commandments of the Lord, blameless.

As we think about John, what made him such a great worker, what gave him such a head start in life, John was head and shoulders above others in some ways, because his parents really lived and taught what they believed.

Friends, as we think about the work of parents today and the good that can be done, think about Timothy: his mother and grandmother taught him the holy Scriptures from childhood, 2 Timothy 3:14-15. As parents train their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Ephesians 6:1-4,

as they teach them the way of God from the earliest days. Deuteronomy 6:6-10, look at the good and the impact that can have on our children. It gives them a head start in righteousness and doing the things that God wants them to do.

Let's then make a second practical application from the life of John:

John taught a baptism that was similar, but not the same as the baptism of Jesus. John's baptism, according to Luke 3:3, was a baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins, meaning that for one to be baptized, they had to repent. Do you remember certain people came out be baptized by John and John said, "Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance". It was a baptism that was, that went ahead of it, before that baptism, preceded by repentance. One had to change his life before he could be baptized, but it

was also a baptism for the remission of sins. Those who follow John's baptism and died in that state would have been forgiven of their sins.

When Christ comes on the scene, do we see that they have to be baptized into Christ? Sure they do, Acts 18 and 19 clearly teaches that.

It was unique and a lot like the baptism of our Lord and Savior. In this baptism, people of John's, people acknowledged their sins and recognized need for the Savior, Matthew 3:5-6. They came to John confessing that they were in sin and in need of salvation.

Friend, for a person to be saved and obey the gospel, must that person realize and come to the recognition he's in sin? That's something we'll all have to do. Do you remember Romans 3:23? The Scripture says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". As we think about John's work and what he did in his baptism, it's a lot like Christ.

John baptized Christ himself, Matthew 3:15. Jesus came to John to be baptized. You remember John's response. John said ‘You came to me to be baptized? I need to be baptized by you.’ Jesus said, "Permit it to be so to fulfill all righteousness.” Now here's an interesting passage, I want you to notice this one. Look in Luke 7. There's often a passage that we overlook,

I think, concerning the idea of baptism that we learn about in Luke's account concerning John's baptism. Luke 7:28-29, the Scripture records, John speaking, "For I say to you, (or Jesus speaking), for I say to you, among those born of woman there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist,

but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. When all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John". And notice verse 30, "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves not having been baptized".

What do we learn here about baptism? Here's what we learn: a failure to be baptized, the way the Bible teaches, is a rejection of God, Himself. You cannot say ‘I believe in God. I'm a Christian. I've never been baptized.’ Those two don't go hand-in-hand. A failure to be baptized is a rejection of God, Himself.

Now we do know that John's baptism was not the final and ultimate baptism. Acts 19, we find certain people, they come on the scene and they're asked, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you're baptized?" Their

response basically is, Holy Spirit, what's that? We didn't even know there was a Holy Spirit. Whose baptism were you baptized in? John's. They took and baptized them into Christ.

Jesus' baptism is unique in that John 3:5 Jesus said, "Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God". Christ's baptism was not preparatory, didn't get people ready, it puts them in the kingdom of God, is for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38, and is how one contacts the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

You know another reason we often look up to John in the Bible

is that John wasn't afraid to speak the truth, even in difficult situations.

Do you remember Mark 6? Here we have Herod and his wife, Philip as well, mentioned in the context and John is now going is preach to them about the truth. He's going to speak about their marriage and how that it is not according to the will of God. John, although he knows this man has the power to take his life, said, "It's not lawful for you to have her". John wasn't afraid to speak on difficult situations like marriage, divorce, and remarriage. The Bible clearly says there's only one scriptural reason for divorce and that's fornication, Matthew 19:9. John wasn't afraid to say, ‘You're living in unscriptural relationship. That is not right in the sight of God.’

Friend, we need the courage, like John, to boldly speak out on what God says concerning His truth and His will, for the home, for the family, for our nation, and whatever it may be. If we're going to be like John, we've got preach the whole counsel of God, Acts 20:28. We've got to preach the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15. We've got to preach the word, 2 Timothy 4:2. We've got to speak as the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4:11.

You know it's amazing about John is: John stands out as a wonderful hero because he was willing to give his life for the cause of Christ.

He knew his purpose in coming was to prepare the way. Christ is now on the scene. He isn't afraid to give his life since his mission had been completed. When he told that ruler, in Mark 6, "It's not lawful for you to have her". The wife then goes and asked for the head from her daughter,

the daughter asked for the head of John the Baptist. The mother tells the daughter that, in Mark 6, and John loses his life for the cause of Christ.

Friend, are we committed, like John was? Do we really believe Revelation 2:10? "Be faithful until death, and I'll give you the crown of life."

Can we say as Paul did, "I've been crucified with Christ, it's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me"?

You know one of the great things about John, as we think more about practical lessons from his life, is John wanted to get out of the way

and point others to Jesus. John 1:27, he wasn't even worthy, he said,

to loosen the sandals from Jesus feet. John 3:30, he would say, "He must increase. I must decrease". He wanted people to see Christ through him. He didn't want to be out in front. He wanted to push Jesus to the forefront. We desperately need that same mentality!

What is it we want in this life? I want people to see Christ living in me, the hope of glory. We want to let our light shine so that others can see Christ living in us, Matthew 5:16. We want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus,

1 Peter 2:21. We want to imitate Christ, 1 Corinthians 11:1. When people look at us, we want them to realize that we've been with Jesus. We want to direct them to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You know as we think about John, and as we kind of wind things up regarding him, John wasn't more worried about suffering than he was about preaching the truth.

Regardless of the issue, John was willing to say what God said. Let me give you an example: certain of the religious elite, everybody's doing it and so certain of the religious elite come out to be baptized by John. John spoke as clearly as he's ever spoken when he said, "You brood of vipers", current language we might say ‘you bunch of snakes,’ "Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance". Don't say to yourself, "We've got Abraham as our father", John will say, Jesus will say as well. Here are people who are trusting in self, trusting in their heritage and they want to do it because it's popular. John said, "No,

that's not the way it works, you need to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance".

Friend, if there is a very practical lesson that we learn from John,

from his work, from his teaching, from his life, it is that God wants us to prepare our hearts so that, in obedience to the gospel, we can enter into the kingdom and truly live a life of sacrifice for our God.

As we think about John today, we ask you kindly and yet we ask you with a sense of soberness and reality: Are you really ready

for that day when the Lord does return to claim His own? Are you prepared

right now, spiritually, so that your life can glorify God every day?

Have you become a Christian? I'm not asking have you become a part of a denominational group. We're asking: Have you become a Christian?

Remember Acts 11:26? “They were simply called Christians first in Antioch.” What does one do to become a Christian? The Bible teaches: you've got to hear the word.

Are you willing to listen to this book and this book alone? Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."

Once you've heard that message, are you willing to believe in Jesus? Jesus said, "Unless you believe that I'm He, you'll surely die in your sins", John 8:24.

Would you be willing to repent, change your life, and turn to God? Jesus said in Luke 13:3, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Would you make that great confession, "Jesus is the Christ, the Son the living God'? "With the heart one believes unto righteousness, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation", Romans 10:10.

Would you do what Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized will be saved"? Friend, if you've not done those things, we encourage you to. As Christians, as parents, as members of the Lords body, let's have the same zeal as John.

Let's point others to the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Study Questions for:

“Great Bible Characters Lesson 3: John the Baptizer”

1. According to John 1:6, who was sent from God?

2. What did Jesus say about John in Mathew 11:11?

3. How is John described in Matthew 3:4?

4. Why did the people go to John in Matthew 3:5?

5. What does it tell us John had in Luke 1:13-15?

6. What does Isaiah 40:3 tell us about John?

7. According to John 1:9, who did John want people to focus their attention to?

8. What is John’s message in Matthew 3:2?

9. Who has sinned according to Romans 3:23?

10. According to Matthew 3:15, who baptized Christ?

Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Welcome to our study of living messages of the Old Testament. We now enter into the period of the history of Israel. Joshua covers about a thousand years in Israel's history, and it spans three different types of governments. There is the Israel reigning is a theocracy where God is king operating as they should. Then they moved to a monarchy where they desire to have a king. God gives it to them, but it doesn't work out like they thought it would. Eventually we find Israel in Captivity under Babylon and later under of Syria. Joshua then covers about 50 years of the history of Israel under this known as the theocracy-where God is reigning as King.

The keyword to the book of Joshua is the word courage or courageous. God reminds His people that if you're going to enter Canaan land, if you're going to make it to that ultimate home that I've promised you, you must be courageous. There are going to be battles to fight. There are going to be difficulties they face. There may be even times when you feel like throwing in the towel, but you've got to remain courageous and never give up.

The key verse is Joshua 1:5-6. God says to Joshua, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I'll be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you be strong and of good courage for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which

I swore to their fathers to give them.” God says ‘I'll never leave you nor forsake you.’ In the book of Joshua, God fulfills the promises that He makes. God will always keep His promises. Joshua is proof of that the promise in Genesis chapter 12 that God made to Abraham. Look in Joshua 21:43-45. The Scripture says, “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land which would swore to give their fathers and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The Lord gave them rest all around according to all that He had sworn to their fathers and not a man of all their enemies stood against them.”

The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands, not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. God is a God who keeps His promises. When He says it you can rest assured of it. What kind of promises has God made for us? Hasn't God promised us that if we put Him first all else will be taken care of? Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Hasn't it always been the case that as we put God first, He takes care of us? Philippians 4:19 Paul said, “My God shall supply all your needs in Christ Jesus.” Every good gift comes down from above. God has always taken care of His people.

I love the words of Psalm 37:25. David takes a snapshot of life, and he says “I was young and now I'm old, yet I've never seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread.” As long as we put God first, God will live on as promised. God will deliver on His promise in that ultimate day to save us. If we're unto faithful death, Revelation 2:10, He promised to give us the crown of life. Friend you can rest assured if you live faithful to the Lord and His gospel and die faithfully, you will have that ultimate home in heaven-that beautiful home that Jesus spoke of John 14:1. Jesus said to His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. Were it not so I would've told you.” Then He said, “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also.” We've got that promise of heaven that we must longingly look for and that we must stay faithful to God to so that we can receive that.

Now the name Joshua is an interesting name in and of itself. The name means savior in the Hebrew. The Greek equivalent of Joshua is Jesus. Joshua was a type of savior. He led God's people over the Canaan, over the Jordan River into the Canaan and helped them conquer their enemies. He allowed them to take the land, and he was seen as a great type of the Messiah. Jesus, our true Savior, leads us over the Jordan of death into that heavenly home. Don't you remember the words of Revelation 14:13? “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Yes says the spirit that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.” Death for the child of God is not a bad thing. ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.’

What then are some living messages that we can take away from the book of Joshua? Number one we notice that we have to have courage as we go through this life toward heaven. In Joshua 1:5-8 the Scripture says, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I'll be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage for this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them only. Be strong and very courageous so that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left that you may prosper wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you'll make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Look at the encouragement! ‘Be ready. Be courageous. Stay true to my book and to my word, and then you can enter in to that heavenly home.’ Friends Satan is going to do everything possible in this life to discourage us and to make us lose hope. That's his whole game plan. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “He's like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” Jesus said to Simon, “Simon, Simon Satan desires to have you that he may sift you as wheat,” Luke 22:31. We've got to be wary and make sure that we know Satan is on the prowl. He will take advantage of us if we allow him to. If we

stay true to God and His word and if we stay strong in our faith and courageous in our outlook, we can win the battle.

In fact the book of Joshua teaches us that it is faith that will ultimately give us the victory. In Joshua chapter 6 God makes the promise to the people. ‘I want to give you the city.’ I God says, ‘it's yours I'm going to give it to you.’ There were things they had to do-march around the city for six days, on the seventh day seven times blow the trumpet, and then and only then when they obeyed God's will did they receive the victory. Hebrews 11 comments on this and it shows us the power of Christian faith as an example of faith. In Hebrews 11:30 the Scripture says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” Friend this is a perfect illustration of salvation. “God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth,” 1 Timothy 2:4. “Let whosoever will come,” Revelation 22:14 following. “Jesus tasted death for every man,” Hebrews 2:9.

As we think about the gift of salvation, it's here. It's available to anyone who wants it- but there are conditions that must be met just as there were conditions in taking the city of Jericho. Today a person must meet God's conditions. You have to have knowledge of the word of God. You have to study it and believe this is the only word from God. You must be willing to accept Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. No man comes to the Father except by Him, John 14:6. If I'm going to receive salvation, I've got a change my life. I've got to repent and turn from sin to God, Acts 3:9. A condition God set forth, Jesus speaking in Matthew 10:32-33 said, “If you won't confess me before men, neither will I confess you before my Father who is in heaven.”

God's condition is a person must be baptized to be saved. Jesus made it so simple. “He that believes and is baptized will be saved. He that does not believe shall be condemned,” Mark 16:16.

Another powerful lesson that we learn from the book of Joshua is seen by the testament of Rahab the harlot. Our God truly is an awesome God. Notice what Rahab the harlot here says in Joshua 2:8-11. The

Scripture records, “Now before they lay down she came up to them on the roof and said to the man ‘I know that the Lord has given you the land that the terror of you has fallen on us and that all the inhabitants of the land our fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan whom you utterly destroyed.’” A woman who’s not living the most pure life, the harlot, and she gives great testimony to the power of God.

Christians often sing that song our God is an Awesome God and how true that is. God spoke and the world came into existence. Our God is an awesome God in that He takes care of us every day. Jesus spoke about God's care for man that the lilies of the field, the birds of the air, they don't have to worry about their food. He said, ‘Are you not of more value than they? If takes care of those won’t He take care of you?’ Our God is an awesome God because He sent His Son to die for our sins. Can you imagine sending someone you love to die for the sins of people who weren’t living according to your will and did not respect and reverence you? That's what God did. “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich yet for your sakes; He became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich.” Look at what our God has done!

Our God's an awesome God because He's given us the Bible. It is all true, John 17:17. It has the power to save, Romans 1:16. It is able to blast sin out of our life and fills us with the good things that God wants us to have in this life.

As we think about living messages from the book of Joshua we see a message about sin in Joshua chapter 7. Aiken and his family as they go into destroy the city, Aiken and his family and everyone is told not to keep anything to utterly destroy and to wipe it out. Aiken takes Babylonian garment, and he takes a bar of gold. He hides it in his tent. As he is doing those things, bad things begin to happen for Israel. They begin to lose battles. Things begin to happen to show that God is not on their side, and eventually it comes down to the point they realize there must be sin in the camp. They begin to separate them out by houses by families until it comes

down to Aiken and his family. He says confess what you've done. They bring it out. They realize that he's committed that great sin. He confesses that. Aiken said ‘I've sinned,’ but it was too late to clear out the sin from the camp. Aiken and his whole family were burned. That family lost their life. They perished because of one person's bad choice, but it was necessary to keep the whole camp of Israel pure and faithful to God.

Now what does this teach us? Today in the Lord's church if there is sin in the church, it must be dealt with. If someone is living impure or is not living faithfully to God, that sin must be dealt with so that the church can remain pure. Isn't that what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5? Paul said, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when you are gathered together along with my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ delivers such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Here we learn a powerful lesson about how to deal with sin in the church. This man who is presented in 1 Corinthians 5 is living with his father's wife. Many believe they're having heinous sexual relationship, and it's as though everybody in the church thinks they're bigger and can just overlook that. In the assembly everybody's going on like normal. No one is dealing with the sin problem. Paul said, ‘one little leaven leavens the whole loaf.’ One bad apple ruins the whole bushel. A little sin would spread like cancer. It's true today when sin is permitted inside God's church, it spreads like wildfire. If people are not living lives of purity, that must be dealt with. Are we doing that because we don't love those people? No! Just the opposite! 2 Thessalonians 3 says that we do that because we love them. We exhort them as a brother, and we want them to come back to the Lord. We must withdraw fellowship from those who are not living according to God's teaching. It's God's way. If those people loved us and they love God, they would realize the error of their way and they would come back. We must start taking this fellowship discipline seriously and elders in the Lord's church need to take the responsibility God's given them. Elders who know, who willingly know, that there are members living in sin who are not living as they ought to, and they don't do something about that –they are going to give an account before God on the day of judgment. Hebrews 13:17 says they're going to give an account for

the soul of those whom they watch over. You need to take a step process. A process so we want to encourage them and exhort them and want to teach them. We want to appeal to them in love, but if that won't work withdrawal of fellowship is absolutely necessary to save their soul from being lost. We learn about that from Aiken's example of sin, the camp in Joshua chapter 7.

From Joshua chapter 9 we learn of making evil alliances. God had warned His people ‘don't make alliances with the heathen nations.’ Don't allow them to marry your sons and daughters. Don't marry their sons and daughters. In chapter 9 it so happens that they do that, and they are a thorn in their side and their flesh from that point on. God said ‘don't get involved with them; don't let them rub off on you.’ And yet they did that, and it caused bad things for the people of Israel.

Here's a very powerful lesson for us in the church today for Christians, we have got to realize that friendships of our closest friendships are people of this world who don't follow the teaching of Christ, who don't live according the gospel- are they going to encourage us or discourage us in our faith? If they don't hold that same precious faith as we do, they are surely not going to encourage us. 1 Corinthians 15:31 the apostle Paul said “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” If I run around with people who are evil and ungodly, they very well may bring you down. Realize that the most important thing you have is your soul. The Bible teaches in Mark 8:36-37 “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Your soul is not worth a few worldly friends in the here and now. In fact Solomon gave us; the proverb writer gave us, some great advice on the kind of friends we ought to have. In Proverbs 12:26 notice what the text says here. The Bible says, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” What's God's advice? ‘Be careful. Your friends will either sharpen you as iron sharpens iron, or they'll drag you down as evil people often can do.’ The wicked may cause you to go astray.

From the book of Joshua we learn about making the best choice. Joshua 24:15 I want you notice what Joshua says. He is speaking to the

people making an appeal for them to do right and notice what Joshua says. In Joshua 24:50 Joshua says, “and if it seems evil to you just serve the Lord choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve whether the gods which your fathers served that were on those other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell,” but notice Joshua says, “as for me and my house will serve the Lord.” Joshua made the best choice. You have to stand up and you have to have the courage to say word and do the right thing no matter what. Joshua made that decision.

Sometimes Christians have to stand up and not be cowards. Maybe you're in a crowd and there are people in that crowd who are not talking like they ought to, Christians have to stand up and say would you please stop talking like? Colossians 3:8 and Ephesians 4:29 teach that we're not to let any filthy communication come out of our mouth. Sometimes you may be around people who are using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, Christians have to stand up and oppose that. Ephesians 5:18 says ‘do not be drunken with wine where it is dissipation but be filled with the spirit.’ Proverbs 20:1 says ‘wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler and whoever is lead astray by it is not wise.’ You've got to stand up for what you believe. That's exactly what Joshua does.

We need to stand up for the Lord and His church. There may be occasions when you're around other people and they say ‘you know isn't one church just as good as another? It really doesn't matter what church you are a part of as long as you believe in God.’ We need to remind people Jesus said, “I'll build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus built one church, and it’s His. It is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said in Acts 20:28 “He purchased the church with His own precious blood.” Paul taught in Ephesians 1:22-23 that Jesus is the head of the body which is the church. Ephesians 4:4 says ‘there is but one body.’ If the church is the body, there's only one body, how many churches are there? Friends there's just one. You've got to make the best choices and stand up for what you believe.

I want you notice Joshua's final farewell address in Joshua chapter 23. Look at what he says in verse six. Joshua concludes by saying

“Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the Law of Moses, lest you to turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left.” His encouragement and his plea for the people is, ‘Obey God and listen to His word. Study it and live your life by it.’

Friend, that's the same plea that we make with you today. We talk about making the best choice- there's no greater choice you can make. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, Hebrews 5:8-9. He is that once for all sacrifice, Hebrews 10:12. Jesus came so that we could have the hope of eternal life.

Have you made the best choice? Have you given your life over to God to be a living sacrifice to live faithful to Him each and every day? Maybe you're thinking to yourself ‘what does the Bible teach I got a do to become a Christian?’

It's very simple. Jesus made it very simple and very plain. You've got to listen to what God says in this book to be saved. Romans 10:17 ‘faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.’ Once you've heard that word you then must believe that Jesus is God's Son. I think of the words of John 8:24. Jesus said ‘unless you believe I'm he you'll perish in your sins.’ Do you believe with all your heart Jesus is God's Son the Savior of the world? Would you believe so much so that you change your life? 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 it is said of those in Thessalonica that they turned from sin to God to serve the true and living God- there is repentance. They turned away from sin, that wasn't enough they then turn to God to serve Him. Would you turn from sin and repent? Would you make that great confession? Romans 10:10 ‘with the heart one believes unto righteousness with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.’ Would you today be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins? Peter made it so plain in 1 Peter 3:21. Peter said, ‘baptism does now also save us.’

Have you obeyed the gospel? If not, we're pleading with you today to do just that.

If as a Christian maybe you face struggles, maybe you face difficulties in your life- have the courage and the strength to trust God.

The message of Joshua is that God will always lead us over the Jordan to the promise land if we put Him first in our life.

May God help each of us to do that as we study the gospel of Christ together.

Study Questions for:

“Living Messages of the Old Testament: Lesson 6”

1. What is the key word in Joshua?

2. What does God tell Joshua in Joshua 1:5-6?

3. According to Matthew 6:33, what should we seek first and above all else?

4. What does Philippians 4:19 say of our needs?

5. According to Psalm 37:25, what has David never seen?

6. How long must we be faithful according to Revelation 2:10?

7. What does Jesus tell His disciples in John 14:1?

8. What does Revelation 14:13 say of the people who die in Christ?

9. What is the devil compared to in 1 Peter 5:8?

10. According to Mark 16:16, who does Jesus tell us will be saved?

The Scripture records, of the good king David, that at times he was a man after God's own heart.

We welcome you today to our study of great Bible characters.

As we think today about David, we want to emphasize the good that David did, some of the areas that he could have done better in and then some of the things that were really ugly in the life of David so that it will help each of us to be closer to Almighty God.

As we think today about King David, we think about principles of righteousness, principles for life, and practical lessons of both- what to do and not to do- so that our relationship with God can be better.

You know someone once said, "Smart people learn from their own mistakes. Really smart people learn from mistakes of others." Not only can we say that about mistakes, we could say that about right things done as well. I can learn from the good David did. I can learn from the bad and the ugly in his life. In each principle, I can learn it in a way that it can be applied to my life so that I can live faithful to the Lord.

Now, as you think about David, what brought David into being king?

Because of King Saul's unlawful sacrifice committed in 1 Samuel 13 and his failure to obey God's commands, 1 Samuel 15:21-22. God, according 1 Samuel 13:14 began to look for an immediate replacement to King Saul.

David, in Samuel's estimation, was the most unlikely of all of Jesse's sons to be replacement for King Saul. He wasn't the tallest. He wasn't the strongest, but he did have the right heart. David's life and his work cover a large portion of biblical literature in the Old Testament.

The life of David can be found from 1 Samuel 16 through 31, all of 2 Samuel. 1 and 2 Kings covers a lot of David's life as well as 1 Chronicles 11 to 29. So, you've got a massive chunk of Old Testament literature, and on top of the Psalms, that deals with the life of David. He is a key figure in Scripture.

We want to think about his life and what we can apply for that from that for just a few moments.

These following four statements are kind of a summary description of David's life maybe his epitaph we might think of. David is aptly known as a man who was a mighty man-of-war. When we think about David, he was a warrior, a gladiator in many ways, 1 Samuel 16:18. At the same time, he's known as the sweet psalmist, poet of Israel. Of David it was said by Nathan, you are a man caught in sin.

The Bible says he was a man after God's own heart. What a great complement! Now of David, he was a man who died in old age, for the most part, as a man of God. In fact David's reign actually became the litmus test, the criterion, by which all other Kings are judged according 1 Kings 15:3.

Let's take just a few moments and think about some of the things in David's life that were really good that he did.

First, and probably one of the least mentioned of the things David did that was good as it related to God, is David actually spared Saul's life on various occasions. David had already been anointed as king of Israel, according to 1 Samuel 16, yet David would not rise up and take that mantle

away from Saul because he revered him as God's anointed 1 Samuel 24:6 and 1 Samuel 26:9.

Now did David have every right to be king? Absolutely! Had God already placed His approval on that? Yes, he had! But God had anointed Saul. Saul was still reigning as king and the people recognized that. So for David to rise up and do that could have been detrimental to some of the people watching or to the view of God's anointed. He didn't want to do anything that would detract from people serving God, from God remaining holy, and having that reverence and fear for him in their lives.

From David we learn great respect and reverence for Almighty God.

Friend, when people look at my life, when they look at your life, and they see Christ living in us, we want people to see respect for God and holy things. When we talk about the Bible, we want people to see the respect oozing out of our lips. We want people to see how much love we have for God. When we talk about God himself, his character, his nature, his promises, we want the respect for the Almighty to be seen in our words. But just not in our words, we want people to see in our actions. We want what we say to match up to what we do, just as David tried to do in his life.

We want to really live for Christ every day. Especially as you, think about this, as young people look at other Christians, they're looking to see what a pattern for Christ lived in somebody else's life looks like. Friend, we want them to see this. Jesus said, "If any man desires come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."

A second good thing that David did, and this is probably what David is best known for, is his defeat of the ungodly giant Goliath.

You remember the story of David and Goliath. There is this giant of the heathen nation, Goliath by name. Nobody in Israel wanted to go up against him. He's huge. He's a big, strong, mighty man of valor. The text tells us in 1 Samuel 17, he goes out every morning, and he taunts God's people. He rebels and mocks God. David, just a shepherd boy, is going to deliver goods to his brothers who are actually soldiers. He hears this; he's made angry. He's incensed by it. So David says ‘I'm not to let this go on.

Give me some armor. Let me go out there.’ He puts the armor on, and it doesn't fit. He goes out there anyway as a young lad, five stones and a sling, and God behind him, takes that giant down.

You know when you think about David, here's what you learn: This good lesson from the life of David shows us the courage David had and his deep abiding trust in God and his promises.

Friend, isn't that practical lesson for us? What can Christians accomplish with God on their side? The Bible says in Philippians 4:13,"I can do all things through Christ, through him who strengthens me." The question is not: What can we accomplish? The question is really: What can we not accomplish?

There isn't anything beyond our reach, if we put our trust and faith in God. We do have some pretty monumental tasks set before us. Jesus gave us one of the greatest. Do you remember it? "Go into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature", Mark 16:15. That's a magnificent, monumental task. Can that be accomplished? Only with God, can it be accomplished. I need the courage to take God at His word, to do my best, to do what I can to serve Him, and to never let fear or lack of courage get in the way.

Then I need the ability, just like David, to trust God's promises. Did God tell His people you can defeat the heathens? I'm going to give them your hand, you will win the battle? You bet he did on numerous occasions.

Israel's failure is when they begin to look at their foes as bigger than their God. David didn't see that. He didn't see a giant in Goliath. He saw a giant in God and with God on his side wasn't anything he couldn't accomplish.

Friend, we need to trust in the Almighty. Listen to the words of Hebrews 13 the Bible says, "Let your life be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have." Why? "For the Lord Himself has said ‘I will never’ ", listen to this, "I will never leave you nor forsake you, so that you may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can men do to me?' " Another great promise or blessing David received, and a part of the good came from his life is due to his faithfulness. David received the seed promise which is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, 2 Samuel 7:12-14. God says to David, "There'll be one of your seed who will sit on your throne. He'll reign in the house of Judah forever." Who is that? Jesus is that seed of Abraham bless all nations, Galatians 3:14-15. And it is said of Christ, in Luke 1:32-33, "You will call His name Jesus. He'll be great. He'll be son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and", listen now, direct fulfillment, "He will reign over the house of

Israel or Judah forever." He had that wonderful blessing because he put trust in God. God worked through his family, worked through his lineage, to bring Christ into the world. How grateful we are for those who are willing to follow God!

Look at the good that can be done. Only eternity will know what good can be done in my life and yours, if we trust God and take Him at face value and do what He says.

Friend, I also learn from the life of David about kindness and mercy that must be extended to others. David showed great kindness to Mephibosheth, that is the son of Jonathan. Although he could've been viewed as an enemy and viewed in a negative light, this young man who faced a hard life himself brought to the table of David, treated like a son, dealt with in mercy and fairness and kindness and love.

What a powerful lesson for us! How does God want me and you to deal with people? We're to deal with them in love. "Love your neighbor, do good to those who use you and those who mistreat you" Jesus would say

in Matthew 5:10-12. I am to have the kindness that Christ had. Let the spirit of Christ rule in me. I'm to be tenderhearted, kind, loving, and gentle towards all men and in view of that I do it all to give God the honor and the glory when people look at my life. If we have the kindness, the love, the sincerity, the hospitality, that we ought to have, Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven," Matthew 5:16 .

As we think about practical lessons that were good from the life of David, David stands out as a true and faithful prophet of God, who ended up writing by inspiration many of the Psalms and Proverbs.

When you think about David, David was a man inspired by God.

2 Samuel 23:2, David said, "His word was on my tongue." As a prophet, as one who looked into the future through God using him, he faithfully proclaimed and said what God said. He stood true to the word of God and he let God use him to speak His word.

Now let's make practical application of that today. As God's people today, if we can learn from David how he was a faithful prophet, a man of God, we too need today to be faithful spokespersons of, faithful people who are willing to speak God's word.

Remember 2 Timothy 4:2? The Bible says, "Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season." Paul said to Titus, "As for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine" Titus 2:1.

So when we speak, let's let our speech be the speech of God. Let's say what God says. Let's speak the truth in love and point Jesus point people to Jesus by faithfully proclaiming what He's taught and what He said.

You know another very practical, this is a difficult lesson that we learn from David is: he's an example of a man who was willing to repent.

Was David perfect? Not at all. He had problems in his life and we'll identify some of those. In particular the one is being spoken of in Psalm 51, is his sin with Bathsheba. He committed wrong. He tried to hide it.

He did those things that were not pleasing in the sight of God. And yet, while we may think about that momentarily, the thing to hone in on as we relate to David's good qualities, is he was a man when he recognized sin owned up to it. He was willing to repent.

Listen to the beautiful words of David in Psalm 51, David said, "Have mercy upon me, oh God, according to your loving kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercies. Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin," Psalm 51:3, "I acknowledge my transgressions, my sin is always before you a before me, against you and you only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight."

And so when I think about David's life, I think of a man who was willing to repent.

Who among us doesn't need to have that quality? The Bible says, "All, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. I've made mistakes. I've done things wrong and so have you. So, part of being a person who has the heart after God, is when we do wrong, we're willing to repent and make it right. Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" Luke 13:3.

Now let's shift gears for just a moment. As we think about David's life, I want to learn from the good; I want to follow that. I also want to take note of some things he did that were not right. I want to avoid that.

One of the things David did that was bad is in violation of the law of God: he multiplied wives-which was a direct violation of God's word and wasn't according to the original principal of marriage in Genesis 2.

Listen to the words of Deuteronomy 17 where the Scripture clearly teaches that Kings were not to multiply wives. Deuteronomy 17:17 says this

principle is given to the king says, "Neither shall he, the king, multiply wives for himself lest his heart turn away, nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself." And so, God said to the king, ‘Don’t multiply wives.’ What's God's original pattern? Jesus goes back to it in Matthew 19. He says, "From the beginning it was not so.” What beginning? "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh."

Did God intend for all these Kings to have all these? Never in His original pattern. Did God allow it? Yes, Acts 17:30-31, 'These times of ignorance, God once overlooked,’ allowed them to continue it without endorsing it- but it was never a part of his plan.

Some of the problems you'll see in David's life- and especially, you can't help but read Deuteronomy 17:17 and think of Solomon. God said don't multiply wives- they're going to turn your heart away from God. We're now in 1 Samuel, 1 Kings 11, up on the hilltop, there's Solomon with his wives worshiping false gods. Proof that it would never was God's plan and it was going to pull them away from the Almighty.

I want to learn from this that God intended for one man and one woman to remain in that marriage for life, Romans 7:1-4, that they're to help one another, to love one another, to encourage, to uplift, to follow the teachings of God, and by doing that, you can have the best life possible.

Now another bad thing that we learned that David did-I don't think it was intentional-I know it wasn't intentional, but it was still bad: David transported the Ark of God in an unauthorized way. It led to Uzzah's death.

Do you member the scene and the setting? The people, the enemies have taken over the Ark of God. They're asking God's people to take it back

because they couldn't handle it. It's being sent back, and David goes to get it. The Bible tells us that Uzzah and Ahio put it on a new cart, and they drove it. As they reach a place called Nachon's threshing floor, evidently they hit what one might think of as a bump in the road. It looks like the Ark is going to fall. Uzzah loves God. He loves the Ark. He doesn't want it to fall, and so he reaches out to stabilize it. H died right there on the spot. He drops dead. David's angry. He didn't know what's going on. He thinks he's trying to do the right thing and yet, in the process of this, he had violated the word and the will of God unknowingly.

Look to 1 Chronicles 15, concerning this event, "For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us. Because we did not consult him about the proper order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel and the children of the Levites bore the Ark of God on their shoulders by its poles as Moses had commanded according to the Lord.

What do we know about David? David made an error here. Was it intentional? No, but they didn't consult God about the proper order. They didn't look to the word of God to find out how to transport that.

Friend, as we think about this, even though our intention

may be to follow God as David's was, the only way to do that correctly is by following God's word. That's how God has revealed Himself to us in His word the Bible.

Now, let's turn our attention to the ugly in David's life. And friend, it is ugly in the sense that these things are violations of the will of God and heinous crimes against God and man. There are powerful lessons I can learn from in the negative sense of what not to do. What's the ugliest of all? We turn to 2 Samuel 11 and 12. We think about David. He's up on the rooftop, time when kings ought to be out to war. He sees beautiful Bathsheba bathing nude. He desires her. He wants to take her as wife and

at the time when he should've been out to war. He finds another man's wife he's attracted to. In 2 Samuel 11, he desires her. In the process, he takes her for his own. In the process of this adulterous relationship where David and Bathsheba are together, she becomes pregnant. He tries to bring her

husband home so he'll think it's his. He eventually sends him to the front lines and tells them to back away so that he'll be killed.

You've got adultery, lying, deception, murder, and a host of things going on here all because he wanted to have another man's wife. David's family suffered greatly because of this sin with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 12 through 20. The things that go on with Absalom, the unrest that was in David's house, can be directly related back to this: David's sin against God in doing that.

We desperately need to realize that this was a violation of God's will and His commands. What do I learn from that? Friend, listen very carefully, we have the expression "the grass is always greener on the other side" but you know that's just not true. The Bible says in Proverbs 5,"Rejoice with the wife of your youth." If you're always trying to up the ante, you'll never be happy. If you can find the true joy in two people striving to serve God together and help one another get to heaven-what a wonderful thing that will be.

We have the adultery with Bathsheba, David's cover-up, his continued sinful relation in that and we have him causing her husband

to be murdered, and having to deal with the consequences and guilt of that. There are a host of things that were very ugly, back to this one event.

As you think about David's life and the ugly things in it, David did one other thing that God was deeply upset about. David sinned against God in his unauthorized census of the people. This is recorded in 2 Samuel 24 and as a result of this sin, 70,000 people died in three days. When you look at that context in 2 Samuel 24, it wasn't even that the numbering or the census was the problem is that in so doing it looks like they were putting their trust in their numbers not in God.

Friend, as we think about trusting God, it's not the numbers. It's not the amount of people. It's not the weaponry. It's not those types of things. It's God who is the true source of our health and our hope. People are going to be hurt.

You know I learn from David's life, when I make bad decisions and you make bad decisions, when we do things that are direct violation of God's will, it not only hurts us, it hurts others.

How do you think Bathsheba felt when she found out her husband was dead? How do you think that they both felt when that son died? How do you think David felt for the lie as a public figure, for the lying that he did there, for the deception, when the nation found out and they would, what happened? What about the 70,000 people who died because David decided to make a census for their own showing?

My actions and your actions, although sometimes we think they're independent of ourselves, have deep ramifications with everyone in our life.

I need to think about what I'm doing before I do that.

David, a man after God's own heart, teaches us good things we can do in serving God, in following him, living after his truth, and in trying to have the right heart.

We mentioned David did repent of those things. He did get his life right with God. He was man enough to say, ‘I have sinned. I've erred exceedingly.’ He said ‘you know I'm putting this out before you, help me deal with it,’ in essence. He was big enough to deal with it, and we learn greatly from that.

We also learn some things I don't want to do: I don't want to lie. I don't want to cheat. I don't want to look after another man's wife. I want to put my trust in God and His word. I always want to turn to this book to find out what to do.

Friend, we ask you today to seriously consider your own spiritual state.

Jesus asked two questions to get to the heart of what our real priority ought to be.

Jesus said, "What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

The most valuable thing you have, my friend, is your soul. That soul will spend eternity somewhere forever. There are only two options: either heaven with God and with Christ or hell with the devil and all the wicked of eternity.

Friend, our encouragement to you is to obey the gospel and become a Christian.

If you already believe Jesus is the son of God, would you be willing to follow that up by making true repentance in your life? Would you confess "I believe Jesus is the Christ"? Would you be baptized for the remission of your sins?

Wouldn't it be great of us, if one day, it was said that's a man who tried to follow the heart of God.

Study Questions for:

“Great Bible Characters Lesson 2: King David”

1. Who was the other king compared to in 1 Kings 15:3?

2. How did David beat Goliath in 1 Samuel 17?

3. According to Philippians 4:13, what can we do through Christ?

4. What great task did Jesus give us in Mark 16:15?

5. What did God promise us in Hebrews 13:5?

6. In 2 Samuel 23:2, who spoke through David?

7. In Psalms 51, did David acknowledge his sins and repent?

8. According to Romans 3:23, who has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?

9. According to Luke 13:3, what will happen if we do not repent?

10. Who did David say he sinned against in Psalms 51:4?

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUS

TEACH US TO PRAY SERIES

“Introduction to Prayer: Lesson 1”

Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Ben Bailey.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man overcomes much,” James 5:16.

We welcome to our study of prayer. The disciples said to Jesus, ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ We're going to be thinking about in this series of lessons, the beautiful subject of prayer. We encourage you to get your Bible, and stay tuned as we study this wonderful subject together.

As we think about prayer we begin by asking, what is prayer? Is prayer just wishful thinking? Is prayer just some hopeful idea? Is it a maybe? Is it a guess? Is there doubt involved in that? What exactly is prayer to the child of God?

When you think about prayer, there are some interesting ideas that go along with that. Prayer gives the child of God great strength. Jesus said in Luke 18:1, “Men ought to pray always and never lose heart.” In fact it was Leonard Ravenhill who once said, ‘If weak in prayer, we are weak everywhere.’ Prayer has a certain amount of strength that it gives to the child of God. How true it is that we need prayer in our life.

Prayer is also a necessity. It's something that the child of God cannot go day-to-day without having in his life. Like breathing, like eating and drinking, prayer ought to be second nature to the child of God. Francois Fenelon said this, "Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity, none is more essential and yet more neglected than prayer." We all talk about prayer; we think about it; we sing about prayer; we know that the Scripture says, ‘We

can come boldly to the throne of grace that we might find grace and mercy to help in time of need.’ But, do we really make prayer an active part of our life, or is prayer something we just kind of neglect at times?

I believe it was Corrie ten Boom who once said, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Do we really utilize the power of prayer as found in Scripture, or is it something we just lean up on when bad times come?

We can use prayer at any time. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we ought to, ‘Pray without ceasing.’ Prayer needs to be more than just a last resort for the child of God.

Let's let the Bible and the language of the New Testament define what prayer is. If we were to look up the word prayer in the dictionary, Webster would define it this way: prayer is to address God with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving. It is the communication between God and His children to express their praise, to express their thanksgiving, and no doubt to find help in time of need.

And while that's a textbook definition of prayer, the Greek language does help us a little with this subject. The Greek word proseuchomai, proseuchomai is the word that's most common used for prayer. And really it's a combination of two words. The word 'pros' literally means to express one's desire or longing toward in the direction of. When we talk about prayer from the original language, it's the expressing of one's desire with a direct purpose toward Almighty God. Our desire, our longing is expressed through the avenue of prayer directly to God. It's our way of showing our praise and thanksgiving to Him. Another Greek word that is used to describe prayer is 'erotao.' This word is defined: to ask or to make one's request.

When we think about prayer in this aspect, we're making our request toward God. We're asking Him for help. We're letting our cares fall upon Him, as 1 Peter 5:7 teaches.

But then there's a third word that we emphasize from the Greek language, and this is the word 'parakaleo.' This word paints a beautiful picture of the idea of prayer. In fact the word means: to call to one's aid or to entreat, to ask for help. A perfect example of this is found in Matthew

26:53. Notice what Jesus here said. Jesus used this word when He said, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father and He will provide Me with more than 12 legions of angels?” When you look at prayer from this viewpoint, it's asking God to come to our side, to come to our aid. We know Hebrews 2:16-18 says that we can find grace to help in time of need and that Christ is able to aid those who are in need. This picture of prayer is that we’re petitioning the throne of God, and God's forces are coming to the aid of His children. What a beautiful picture these ideas paint of prayer.

As we give an introduction to the idea of prayer, let's also realize that prayer is not just a figment of somebody's imagination. Prayer is not just wishful thinking. It's not talking to the sky we might say. In prayer there is real power, strength, and praise that is given to and received from Almighty God. Christians believe prayer is real, because the Scripture says so. Matthew 6:9 in the disciples' prayer, Jesus taught them ‘Pray our Father who is in heaven.’ Jesus didn't think prayer was a figment of somebody's imagination or a hoax or a trick. Jesus believed prayer was real communication with Almighty God. James 5:16 tells us it's real, “For the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man,” here's how it's real, “overcomes much.” Prayer has real results. It has real power, and the child of God can take true faith in that. Isaiah 38:5 God said, “I've heard your prayer and your supplication.” 1 Kings 9:3 speaking to the king there God said, “Your prayer and your supplication that you've made before Me,” in essence “I have heard.”

We know God heareth not the prayer of the ungodly, implied from that is He hears the prayer of the righteous, Acts 10:31 and John 9. And so, when we think about prayer let's realize, prayer is real, that it's something Christians can take comfort and encouragement in. Now someone says, ‘well how do we know prayer is real?’

Let me offer just a few ways that one can know from experience and from the things that happen that prayer is real. For example the Bible teaches us to pray for those who are sick. "If anyone's sick let them call for the elders the church, let them pray over him,” James 5:13-16. We know that prayer is real, because it helps those who are in need to get better, to overcome sickness, and to overcome the struggles, and the diseases that they may have. Prayer is real, because it has real power in evangelism. Matthew 9:36-38 Jesus, He looked out upon the multitudes, and He said to

His disciples, “Truly the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few,” and listen to this, “pray the Lord of hosts He'll send laborers into His vineyard or His harvest.”

Prayer has powerful results in reaching the lost. How many of us have prayed for someone who was lost, who never obeyed the gospel, whose heart was hardened, and God through the power of prayer and the word and those who were working with it, began to work on their heart?

Prayer is also real because we know it helps us in overcoming our troubles. Do you remember 1 Peter 5:7? Peter says, “Cast all your cares upon Him, the Lord, He cares for you.” When we find ourselves in trouble and in difficulty and in turmoil and difficulty of heart, how do we overcome that? “Cast all your anxieties or cares upon Him, He cares for us.” A Christian can pray and know that the burden and the weight that he is carrying, God is more than able and willing to help with that. Remember again Luke 18:1, Jesus said, “Men ought to pray always and never lose heart.”

When we get discouraged and we go down on her hands and knees to the Father in prayer, there is strength, there is help, and there is power to be attained through Almighty God. But you know we also know prayer is real because we believe in our faith in Almighty God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” One who truly has faith in God's word, we're not talking about a leap into the dark, we’re talking about faith in the inspiration of the Bible, faith in the evidence that shouts to us there is a God, faith in that creates a faith in God's word and faith in God, and prayer go hand-in-hand. This is why James would say, ‘If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all liberally without reproach and it will be given to him, but let him ask in faith with no doubting for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea tossed to and fro and driven by the wind.’

When we ask in faith, we can have confidence; we can know God is more than able and willing to help His people. And so in understanding what prayer is, it also helps us to understand the reality of prayer. When a man bows his head, when a person gets down on his hands and knees at night, he's not just talking to the air. He's communicating with the creator of the universe, who spoke and all things came into existence, who sent His son to die for the sins of the world, and who ultimately wants to help His people go to heaven.

Now as we think about prayer, let's also realize we’re not talking about naturalism. And by that we mean this, we're not just saying that the things that are naturally going to happen are going to happen anyway. When we talk about prayer, we’re talking about God intervening and helping in someone's life. The naturalist approach to life just simply says that that we are completely governed by the laws of nature, which cannot be changed. What's going to happen is going to happen, and there's nothing we can do to change that. Friend, this is where prayer has power. If things are going to happen no matter what, what's the purpose in praying? Christians realize the Bible teaches that prayer has the ability to change the outcome, to change the course, to supplicate the will of God, and as a result intervene. God intervene on man's behalf. If such is the case that whatever's going to happen is going to happen anyway, then when Dan Barker said in "Losing Faith" that if the answer to prayers are merely what God's will is all along, then why pray?

We believe that prayer has the ability to change things. Prayer has the power to move the hand of God in the direction of and for the comfort and help of His people. And while we don't live in the age of miracles, we understand that we’re not living in a day and age where God's going to raise the dead or put the lame person's arm back together, that happened in the First century. We do believe God intercedes in human affairs. Ambrose Pierce said it this way, ‘In the devil's dictionary he defines prayer as to ask that the laws of the universe be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner confessed unworthy.’ We're speaking on behalf of God. God through His word speaks to us.

As we think about prayer, when we pray we’re asking God to intercede, to do something on the behalf of His children. And to make sure that as God's children, we are indeed striving to do His will and put first things first. So when we pray for somebody to get well, what are we asking? Are we asking God to just let things naturally work out the way the going to? No, we're asking God to intervene through means, providential means, through the means that He is more than able to use.

We’re asking God to help in this matter. It is different from miracles in that miracles were designed to specifically confirm the word. That word has been confirmed today. We know that God's word, the Bible, is true but prayer and the working of God in Providence, is different in that God through His own means and time whatever that may be. I don't have to

know, to realize, and understand and believe in the power of prayer whatever that may be. I know that God is more than able to work and to help in times like those.

As we think about the idea of prayer, let's also realize that God does answer all prayers that are heard, and we say it this way for a purpose. The Bible does teach that God does not hear certain prayers. I want you to; for example, look with me in Psalm 66:18. The Bible teaches that someone who's living in sin, God does not hear their prayer. The Scripture says, ‘if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.’ Now watch verse 19, ‘but certainly,’ David said ‘God has heard me, He has attended to the voice of my prayer.’ Is it the case that everybody who prays God hears? Not necessarily. The Bible teaches if ‘we regard iniquity in our heart,’ what's that mean? If I know I've got sin in my life, I'm living in sin, and I'm blatantly ignoring the will of God in doing what I want instead of what the will of God wants me to do, the psalmist clearly said if ‘I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.’

God does not acknowledge; God does not bless the prayer of someone who's living in sin. But to those whom God does hear their prayers David said Psalm 66:19, “I know He's heard my prayer.” To those who are trying to walk in the light, 1 John 1:7, God answers their prayers. God does not ignore the prayers He hears. The Bible pictures God as attentive to our needs, as listening to our prayers, and as ready to help those who are his children. Let me give an example 1 Peter 3 pictures God beautifully listening to and ready to help those who pray to Him. Listen to 1 Peter 3:12 the Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,” watch this now “His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” What's the picture of God? His eyes are open. He's attentive. His ear’s, they’re ready to hear their prayers.

When we think of God, God's a God who's ready to hear, who's ready to help in time of need. This is what we find again in 1 Peter 5:7. The Bible word there is 'to hurl', literally took to the cast to throw, “cast all your cares anxieties upon Him.” Why? Listen to this beautiful wordage, “He cares for you.” What's the result of God caring for you? I can cast my cares upon Him. He cares for me. The anxieties, the troubles, the difficulties we have, we can know and have confidence in the fact that God hears and that He is willing to answer those prayers and help His people who are in need.

When we think about prayer that God answers, you know there's been a lot of damage done with the old country music song that Garth Brooks sang: "Unanswered Prayers". ‘I thank God for unanswered prayers.’ You know for the child of God that's really not correct language. Here’s what I mean by that, when we say ‘unanswered prayer’ likely what we mean is, I prayed and the outcome was not what I wanted. But friend that doesn't mean God didn't answer the prayer. If I asked, if I seek, if I pray to God, and whatever it is I may be praying, just because the end result is not what I thought it ought to be doesn't mean God didn't answer.

Let me illustrate. The answer to prayer can come in several forms. Let's say that we're praying for somebody who's sick, and we’re asking God to heal that person, and God hears our prayers. Friend whether we like it or not the answer may at times be no. It may not be in that person's best interest. It may not be for their spiritual outcome. It may not be best for the longevity of their life for that person to get well. Although God heard our prayer, God knew what was best in His infinite wisdom. His answer and He did answer it, may be no. And you know that's the hard part. Sometimes I've got to realize my will may not be God's will. This is why Jesus prayed, “Not my will but thine be done.” Did God hear His prayer? Sure did! God answer that prayer in the immediate sense which Jesus wanted it answered. Then ‘if it's possible Father, let this cup pass from Me.’ What was the answer? No, it's not possible. Jesus knew that in the moment that he saw and felt the struggle and the difficulty and temptation. God heard His prayer, but God's will interceded and overcame at that time.

And then there may be another answer, the answer may be ‘not right now.’ Not just, ‘no’, but ‘not right now in my own time, in my own way.’ The timing of working things out for the furtherment of His kingdom, for the betterment of His children, and for the overall purpose of salvation is dependent upon God's time not ours. And so we may pray, and God may say the time's not right. ‘Not right now’ may at times be the answer.

Sometimes when we pray, it may be that things need to work out differently than what we realize. Then sometimes, the answer maybe yes, and we can positively identify certain times when that happens. That's why we say God answered my prayer.

Friend if we're walking in the light and we’re a child of God, God answers our prayer every time. But the answer may not always be what we

want it to be. When I look at my own life, when you look at yours, can't we really see times when we're glad that God was in control of that? Let me illustrate. Let's say that a man prays to take a different job, whatever that job may be. He prays to God and the answer is no to that job. As life passes, as years pass some other door opens up and it works out for his betterment, the betterment of his family, the betterment of the kingdom, and the end result that person looks at that scenario; and he looks back and said how thankful to God I am that God knew better than I did. That other job may not have really been what he needed, may not have helped him develop spiritually, and may not have been best for his family, best for the church.

When we pray, let's have the attitude, ‘not my will but thine be done.’ Let's realize just because God doesn't say yes, doesn't mean He doesn't answer. And thank God that God doesn't answer everything we want the way we want, because sometimes we don't always see things God's way.

What do we know about prayer? Friend we know positively that prayer is a very valuable asset for the child of God. Jesus used prayer multiple times throughout His ministry to praise God, to ask for help, to overcome the struggles in the garden, and to honor the Almighty plan that God had set forth.

But then we also see prayer like in the lives of Paul and Peter when they prayed in time of difficulty. We can to gain strength from prayer to overcome and be victorious in this life. We’re not just praying that things are going to naturally work out the way they are. We’re asking God to help, and we’re prefacing that with the Lord's will.

Friend ultimately as 1 Peter 3:12 says, “The eyes of the Lord, they're on the righteous. His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” One thing we've certainly seen today is that God does not hear the prayer of those who are living in sin. His face is against those doing evil. ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.’ Friend that alone ought to encourage and motivate one to make sure he is in a right relationship with God, so that he can access and have the power of prayer.

We ask you today, are you a child of God? Are you sure that you're in a relationship with God knowing that God is able to hear your prayer? Friend if you've never obeyed the gospel, more than anything God loves you and wants you to become His child. And we do as well.

The Scripture says God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2:4. The Bible says that ‘the Lord's not slow concerning His promises as some men count slowness, but He is long-suffering toward us not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ Friend, ‘God so loved you and He so loved me that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

Do you really believe that Jesus is God's son? Do you believe it enough that you're willing to repent of things in your life that are not according to the will of God, turn from sin, and turn to God? Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish,” Luke 13:3. Would you confess the beautiful name of Jesus as the son of God and Savior of the world? The Bible says in Romans 10:10, “With the heart, with the mind one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Having heard God's word, believed in Jesus, repented of your sin, and confessed His beautiful name; would you be immersed in water for the forgiveness of your sins? In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, when they realized they'd killed their Messiah they were lost in sin. They cried out, ‘Men and brethren what shall we do?’ Here is the answer, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.’

Have you obeyed the gospel? If not friend, then God does not hear your prayer, if one's regarding iniquity in his heart. But He can, and you can become a child of God. You can have access to one of the greatest powers all the world, the power of prayer that has the power to overcome. If you're not a child of God, friend we urge you become one today. And if we are, let's utilize prayer. It truly has powerful results.

Study Questions for: “Prayer: Lesson 1”

1. According to James 5:16, what overcomes much?

2. What does Jesus tell me to do in Luke 18:1?

3. How shall we pray according to 1 Thessalonians 5:17?

4. In Matthew 26:53, what did Jesus have the ability to do?

5. According to Hebrews 2:16-18, what can we find to help in time of need?

6. According to Matthew 6:9, who did Jesus teach them to pray to?

7. In Isaiah 38:5, who heard the prayer?

8. According to James 5:13, who should we pray for?

9. What shall we do with our trouble according to 1 Peter 5:7? Why?

10. According to Psalm 66:18, whose prayer does God not hear?