Tape 2 - The Word Became Flesh & Blood of the Lamb Pt. 1

You will open to John the first chapter.

We're talking about the tabernacle in Christianity the Christ life Christ the Christian life the Christian walk

as is seen in the tabernacle in the wilderness all the wilderness tabernacle last evening we talked about

the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building Hebrews 9 11 and

We saw very clearly how the tabernacle was a picture of Christ and we talked about how the furniture in

the tabernacle was arranged in the shape of a cross and.

So what we'll do is each night.

We will have one central theme that we will deal with.

Tonight our central thinking is the word became flesh.

The word became flesh and of course we would naturally go to the gospel according to John.

The first chapter verse 1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God

and the word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without

him was not anything Made that was made in him was life.

And of course this the antecedent pronoun this is dealing with the word and was not anything made that was

made in him was life.

And the life was the light of men and the light shineth in darkness.

We talked about how the veil of the temple was run into and we talk about the darkness over the earth and when Christ died Light came back

into the world and the darkness dissipated and the light shineth in darkness and darkness overcame it.

Not there was a man came from God whose name was John.

The same came for a witness to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe.

He was not that light but was sent to bear witness of that light.

That was the true light which lighted every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own and his own received him not.

But as many as received him to them gave you the power to become the children of God.

Even to them who believed upon his name are committed themselves to surrender them Themselves to his name

who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God

and the word was made flesh and tabernacled dwelt Tabernacled among

us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.

Full of grace and of truth.

Now in the 39 books of the Old Testament We see that shadow of the cross in your

mind The Old Testament and you can picture that tabernacle where those five pieces of

furniture Range like a cross and if you just kind of use your imagination a little bit you can picture

the 39 books of the Old Testament Covering all of the history of the people of Israel and up over that you

could picture the shadow of the cross Displaying itself down in those books you have that but in the

Gospels such as the gospel according to John The cross is no longer a shadow.

It is no longer horizontal.

It is vertical it has been raised and the choir sang that beautiful song if I

be lifted up.

If I be lifted up and so he would want draw all men unto himself all

attention would come to him and so our central thought is the word became flesh and dwelt

among us now in Exodus chapter 25 if you will look at it.

And I hope that you're able to write down make notes because we'll be giving you some interesting facts tonight.

That are not common facts.

We'll be doing that all along the week.

But Exodus 25 verse 8 God states the primary purpose if I ask the

question Why did God build the tabernacle would get many answers and most of them would be true.

But he gives us the primary purpose for the building of the tabernacle Exodus 25

verse 8 and let them make me a Sanctuary a holy dwelling place a

holy house that I may dwell among them and So the

central purpose was it was to be put up in the center of a camp and all the tribes would

be around it.

So that the people now watch my words could know and would know that God could

dwell amongst them.

God could because there were times when he didn't and So that was the reason that it was there

now.

It was to prepare the minds of the men and the people the human mind for the

Stupendous truth of the incarnation of God that God was going to

dwell Amongst people.

God dwelt in ancient days in this tabernacle in the wilderness that was made with hands.

But when God came in the body of the Lord Jesus as we've said time and again and scripture tells us Hebrews 9 11

Don't ever forget it that he came.

And he was that greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building

now.

The tabernacle was a perfect type a perfect picture a perfect symbol

of the incarnation.

Perfect the tabernacle was portable wasn't it?

That's one thought it was portable.

It was taken from place to place throughout the wilderness when God came to dwell in the greater and

more perfect Tabernacle he dwelt in the portable tabernacle of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ who went

from place to place According to God's direction.

He too was portable the wilderness tabernacle moved only at the order of God Who

directed its moving by the means of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night and

Jesus Christ that greater and more?

Perfect tabernacle not made with hands moved only at the direction of God if there's one thing that Jesus said

over and over again.

It was I have not come to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

I have meek that you know not of.

I have come to do the will of the father not my will but thine be done.

He said I came not of myself.

But the father he sent me and he only moved at the direction of God as

did that tabernacle.

Now listen.

Although that wilderness tabernacle was exquisitely beautiful on the inside it had an

extremely plain Exterior it was utterly amazing.

It was covered with brown badger skins.

And if you've ever seen a badger skin if you have seen most skins.

Unless they're up into the mink clash you know or something of that nature.

They're not very attractive if you just look at what's trapped.

It really isn't.

They were covered with brown badger skins and from the outside.

The tabernacle looked like any of the other buildings or tents of the Israelite because it was constructed

of earthly material.

Christ also looked like other men from the outside because he was bone of our bone and

flesh of our flesh.

But he was entirely different on the inside on the inside because in him dwelt

the fullness of the Godhead bodily Bodily they said show us

God.

He said if you have seen me you have seen God.

Jesus is God seen the Holy Spirit is God since you cannot see God.

God is spirit.

God is an omniscient spirit, and you can't localize him and get him into one location.

Christ look like other men from the outside.

Now the walls of both the holy place and the Holy of Holies were of gold

and the Ceilings and the curtains were of the most beautiful colors and fabrics.

And we're going to talk about those very interesting where they came from blue purple scarlet white fine linen.

I'll tell you now that the scarlet came from the tolerant Shania Which was a worm and the purple came

from the Murex trunculus Which was a little shellfish and we'll explain that to you as we move through.

But it's a very beautiful thing that Christ tells us about in the Psalms the prophetic Psalms.

But you have the blue and the purple the scarlet the white fine linen and all of those with all of it was Embroidered

with actual gold embroidery in the design of the heavenly cherubim upon

them now.

No light from the outside world could enter the tabernacle and the light from the

Shekinah glory on the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy of Holies itself.

Reflected on the golden walls and the lovely ceiling and the veil no outside light was

allowed in that tabernacle at all and Especially in the Holy of Holies it did not need any light

because in that place God's glory shined and in the holy place the light came from

the golden candlesticks seven of them and it left the golden table of showbread and the golden

altar of incense and it shed its soft light on the magnificently blessed colors of the purple

the scarlet and the white fine linen as I've tried to picture in my mind what it might Be like because the

words that you read in the books and the descriptions Just do not convey the exquisite beauty of

that place.

It was unbelievable the beauty of it.

But there's something strange about this building gold all in the Holy of

Holies.

Golden embroidered and beautiful can you know the value of that candlestick?

We'll get into it as the week goes along, but it was valued at over a hundred thousand dollars just for that golden

candlestick.

But friends there's something wrong with this building.

Have you noticed it?

Have you thought about it?

There is something wrong strange.

It has no floor.

It has no floor.

Did God make a mistake in a beautiful building and not put a floor in it?

Did the divine architect of the universe omit it purposely perhaps?

Why was there no floor not even a rug or a mat?

There was nothing in the floor of the wilderness tabernacle now God knew.

That the only floor of that beautiful tabernacle was dirty wasn't a mystery to God.

He certainly knew it.

It was the sands of the wilderness.

Wasn't it the dirt that brings forth thorns and Thistles.

The dirt that had received the blood of righteous Abel when his brother Cain murdered him and the blood of millions of

men And women who have died upon the battlefields that was the only floor in that Magnificent structure called the

wilderness tabernacle now God knew it very well.

Because when you read numbers the fifth chapter if you're writing these down when you read numbers the fifth chapter He gave

instructions to what the priest should do when an Israelite wife proved unfaithful.

God knew it was dirt because the priest was told by God to go into the tabernacle pick up some of the dirt off of the

Floor mix it with water at the brazen labor and then throw it at that adulterous wife and curse her

Seven times with the curse of God now.

Why was there no floor?

There is a beautiful and subtle reason why there was no floor.

The tabernacle we say is the perfect picture of the incarnation of God and In the

incarnation that God demonstrated for the world God came all the way.

Down to the earth where we live he came all the way down.

In other words the tabernacle without a floor Was a perfect picture of the perfect incarnation of God who

actually became man and dwelt on this sin -cursed earth.

He walked it.

God in the flesh walked it now.

What was the first temptation that Satan the devil hurled at Christ after 40 days of hunger

in the wilderness it was basically this?

Don't make this a real incarnation.

It's all right for you to become partially human, but you must not go all the way.

You don't have to feel hunger as human beings.

Do you can make what bread out of stones if you want to and satisfy your hunger?

But Jesus Christ knew that a real incarnation and a real atonement were absolutely necessary.

Philippians 2 verses 2 and following he became obedient to death.

He was made in fashion as a man.

And being found in fashion as a man he became obedient unto death even the death of the cross.

He knew he thought it not robbery to be with God and he knew about all this and so this is what happened now.

Let's see how complete absolute the incarnation was.

The winds of the desert and the winds of the wilderness.

Blew around all the other tents and buildings of the Israelites.

But everything was calm and beautiful inside that holy tabernacle.

There was no disturbance.

It was perfectly calm in there.

So also did the winds of temptation blow around the Lord Jesus Christ, but everything within him was serene

calm and beautiful.

He was in all points tested like as we are yet without sin.

I'm gonna give these to you about four different ways and you can learn something right here.

The Jews shall expound to the Gentiles.

He was tempted physically the lust of a flesh.

Make bread out of these stones.

Make them.

That was the lust of the flesh.

This was appealed to his physical desires.

He was tempted physically.

He was tempted mentally.

Mentally the pride of life fall down off the pinnacle of the temple.

Don't you worry about it?

The angels will lift you up.

You'll not even stomp your toe.

He was tempted spiritually the lust of the eyes.

And the spiritual nature it appealed to him fall down and worship me.

And I will give you the kingdoms of the world for they have been delivered unto me and I can give them to whomsoever I will.

Satan told Jesus and Jesus didn't say you don't have them because he did have them by right of conquest.

He took the rule back from Adam.

God had given it to Adam and Satan come and defeat him and took it back.

God said Adam have dominion over the earth.

Satan came down.

Adam sin, and so Satan by right of conquest.

That's why Jesus went in the wilderness.

Most people think Jesus was out there hiding from Satan.

He was waiting on him.

He was going to by right of conquest take the septon rule back from Satan and he did so now the

Bible says he was Tempted in all points like as we are every sin that you'll ever face in your life.

Every sin that confronts you and me falls into one of three categories the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride Of life

ever sin.

That's why you go back into first Peter and it plainly says all that is in this world.

The lust of the eyes the lust of flesh and the pride of life.

You don't have a trouble name.

See it's right there.

It'll be in one of those three.

All right.

Now, here's what it is.

Lust of the eyes lust of the flesh the pride of life spiritual physical

mental or body mind spirit either way you want to look at it and friends that is the

total person and Jesus was tested and the word tempted is a misuse of a word.

It means tested.

Now why to prove that Jesus could or could not sin friends.

Jesus knew he wasn't gonna sin.

God knew he wasn't but it proves to the one who does the testing that he could pass the

test.

It defeats the one doing the testing.

It has nothing to do with one who was tested.

He was God.

Could he have sinned.

He could never sin but could he be tested?

Yes, because the test proves to the one giving the test.

You face that in school.

Don't you all the time you go take a driver's test, you know, you can pass it.

You're not that sweaty.

You got to prove to that guy.

You can pass it.

You got to prove it to him then do anything for you did it excite you when you took it didn't excite me.

You get a an emotional thrill out of taking a test to hand to the state policeman.

No, but when you saw he was pleased and put a passing grade down there.

Well, that's the same way with the Lord friends.

Jesus knew what was going on in this world.

He knew it before the foundations of the world.

He was with God the Father.

He is God.

Was he man?

Yes.

He was tempted in every way.

Don't let it throw you the Lord Jesus Christ came all the way down to this earth.

Just as the old world in his tabernacle rested upon this cursed earth and dwelt amongst us also.

There was no beautiful floor.

There was no beautiful carpet.

Christ came all the way down.

And that's why the Bible says the word became flesh.

Was he really human?

Did he ever get tired?

Did he ever go hungry?

Was he ever thirsty in John the fourth chapter you read about him getting tired?

It says Jesus therefore being wearied rest that by the well.

He was tired.

Rested by the well in Mark.

He was on a fishing trip.

He was in the hand of him to part of the ship.

He was asleep on a pillow.

Now 30 -year -old man will have to be tired to go back in the back of a ship and sleep.

He's 30 -year -old outdoorsman.

He lived out there walked everywhere.

He went ate bread and cheese most time little fish thrown into his diet.

Worked in the company shop.

Listen, he walked everywhere.

You know, I ride.

I get outside my air -conditioning.

I have a collapse.

Now I know you don't have a problem with that.

I know you probably walk everywhere.

You're on an economy kid.

Most of you just probably walk to church today.

You know, I thought about running from Fort Worth jogging over.

You believe that and I have another one to tell you.

But listen to me the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled and the little boat heaved to

and fro and the boat was being filled with water and it Was cast upon the bosom of the tempestuous sea, but the tired

one slept on 30 years of age.

He would have really had to be tired.

But he slept on and they said master.

Don't you care that we perish?

And he said where is your faith?

And he got up and he calmed the sea to sleep and made it as smooth as a pavement and he hushed the wind to Silence and there was a

calm and there was peace on the cross.

He said I thirst to the condemnation of sinful men.

And there was not even a cup of water for him who created all the streams and the brooks and the rivers and all the world.

But there wasn't a cup for him to drink.

It was a complete incarnation.

God became absolutely human in the person of Jesus Christ.

He knew moments and hours of sorrow.

He loved little children.

He loved the birds and the sunsets.

He spoke of them.

He attended suffers frequently.

He attended a supper with Simon Zacchaeus Mary and Martha.

He enjoyed life.

He began his public ministry where at a wedding in Canaan Galilee.

One of the great events of living a marriage ceremony.

That's where he began his public ministry and he loved music.

He sang a song at the Last Supper.

It says when they had sung at him.

They went out on the Mount of Olives.

We have not a high priest who is not touched with the feelings of our infirmities and John 11 35 says what?

Jesus wept.

Some of y 'all start looking at your Bible.

Jesus wept my friends.

He was tested in every way that you and I are tested and we don't have to be succumbed to it or don't have to Succumb to it either.

All right.

And talk about the humanity in the Godhead God in Christ.

You've got to talk about wood and gold when you come to the tabernacle.

The wood in the wilderness tabernacle Represents the humanity of our Lord.

Incidentally, it was a casea wood if you want to what kind of wood was used.

It was a casea wood and that is the wood that grows in the desert like a root out of a dry ground.

Like a root out of a dry ground but the wooden boards of the tabernacle walls were covered with Magnificent

gold and the gold represents the deity of our Lord.

And this is very plainly seen when one considers the golden ark inside the Holy of Holies the sides and the bottom

of the ark were made of wood covered with gold and the lid of the ark was a Solid gold and as we said last

evening was called the mercy seat.

Now that ark in the Holy of Holies was intended by God to foreshadow Christ.

And we know that it's so and it's clear from the fact that it kept something for us that no one else

could keep.

What was it keeping that no one else could keep it kept the law?

It kept the law who kept the law.

Jesus kept the law.

He's the only one that ever did it kept the law for us.

The Ten Commandments were inside that also inside that was the pot of manna with many ramifications.

But it represented Jesus as the bread of life and it also had Aaron's rod that budded now.

How do you get a rod?

First of all.

You got to go out my friends and you have got to cut something and this was a type of the resurrection of the

Lord Jesus Christ it had to be cut from a tree a tree and This fact

was a type of the death of Christ and this rod that was cut from a tree and supposedly was dead.

Budded and blossomed it bloomed and that is a picture of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ

when he seemingly was dead.

He blossomed into life.

And so we have a picture of it inside that the tabernacle was not only made of wood.

We say it was also covered with gold.

The wood is a type of his humanity the gold is a type of his deity and remember that Jesus Christ was human

but don't ever forget he was more than human and No matter what Jesus Christ

superstar says and no matter what Mary Magdalene in that abominable thing says and

that Musical abomination as far as Christianity is concerned and she says I don't know how to love him.

He is just a man and only a man and that's false.

He is a man, but he's more than a man.

He is a God man.

And we must never forget that a Merry human Christ would be no avail for me.

You when I die and I'm put in a coffin and six feet under the ground.

What good would a human Christ do me?

He wouldn't do me any good.

No but I have someone who could reach down through that dirt and he can take my hand with a grip of a lion of The tribe of Judah

and he can say come forth and I can come out of there.

Christ stood at the tomb of Lazarus who was dead and he wept.

What was he when he wept.

When Christ cried come forth.

What was he?

He was very God of God when he was asleep in that little boat that we mentioned during the storm on the Sea of

Galilee.

What was he but when he stood up on that ship and cried to the winds and the waves peace be still.

What was it?

He again was very God of God and that is why the world in this tabernacle was made of wood.

Symbolizing the humanity of Jesus and gold symbolizing the deity of Jesus now in order to save us

from real sin and a real Satan and a real hell.

He had to become completely incarnate and make a completely real atonement in

This way he came all the way down the tabernacle had no

floor.

Now what was the last temptation that confronted Christ?

What was the last keen Temptation.

It was very subtle.

Wasn't it that Satan hurled at him through a group of kind -hearted Well

-meaning women they offered him a cup of wine mixed with myrrh

just as he was marching up to Golgotha to be crucified and this forms an anesthetic

opiate and They offered it to him and even the Roman severity allowed for this to be

true.

They allowed this merciful potion to be given to condemned criminals.

But when he tasted thereof the scripture said he would not drink.

Why wouldn't he drink it.

Because he was going to pay the full price for salvation.

He had to feel real nails in Real wounds in real hands and in

real feet and the agony of the crucifixion could not be dulled in.

Anyway, he came all the way down to the earth.

There was no floor in the world of this tabernacle.

And when he came from heaven He came all the way he touched this dirty old earth.

And when he went back through the clouds into heaven carrying a poor lost thief in his bosom.

Nobody in heaven or hell had any doubt but that the incarnation had been complete.

That it was.

He paid it all.

We say Jesus paid it all.

Now friends the incarnation was only a part.

It was only a part of a price that the Lord paid to redeem us.

His price was so terrible that it had to be paid in five installments.

Five installments I give them to you.

They're all mentioned in Philippians.

You know them well.

Christ thought that being on equality with God was not a thing to be grasped after

he released it.

Philippians 2 he released it in order to save us from our sins.

He made himself of no reputation.

Now no good thing come out of Nazareth.

No good thing come out of Galilee.

Nothing could come out of a carpenter shop while they met Jesus the son of Joseph the carpenter.

No reputation.

He was made in the likeness of sinful men.

Being found in fashion as a man he became obedient until he was subservient to the will of God.

He gave up his rightful ownership to heaven.

He gave it all up and became obedient.

And the Bible says he grew in his sufferings and obedience.

And Then he died.

He gave himself up even to death on the cross now.

He paid the first four of those installments without hesitation.

But my friends at the fifth one there was a hesitation.

On the fifth one he hesitated.

You study the last 24 hours of our Lord's life.

And it'll bear out this fact during this period of his life.

Our Lord uses the first personal pronoun.

He gives expression to his own feelings.

He pleads for pity and companionship.

And he asks the father if it be possible.

Let this cup pass from me.

This fifth installment was foreshadowed in two of the most poignant services connected with a wilderness tabernacle.

Let's listen to the Lord and watch him during those last 24 hours of his life.

Here's what he said with desire.

I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I Suffer again.

He said my soul is exceedingly Sorrowful unto death again.

He said Terry you here and watch with me.

Encourage me stand with me just for a little while.

Stay here and watch with me.

And then he said what could you not watch with me just one hour.

Couldn't you stay with me for now?

I need you for just one hour.

The agony our Lord Jesus faces is so terrible that we see him asking help and seeking aid from the poor fisherman

Peter James and John.

Won't you stay with me for just a little while.

Watch with me for a few moments.

Then he comes back and finds him sleeping.

Couldn't you just watch with me for an hour my friends?

He is speaking out of the agony of his life.

Couldn't you just watch with me for a little while?

Well He goes deeper into the garden and Mark John Mark Mark's

gospel.

He is the only gospel writer who uses a particular term Regarding Jesus which makes his

statement one of the most poignant in the Bible.

What do you say the most awesome scripture in the Bible is what would you say?

The most awesome statement in the Bible is may I share with you what I personally believe the most awesome Sentence in the Word of

God is simply when Jesus said my God my God.

Why has thou forsaken me my friends?

That is awesome when you think about what he was saying.

When you think about all that could be behind there and you and I'll never see it.

That is reserved for only God himself to know.

But I think of the awesomeness of that statement.

But there is a soul shaking sentence and it's used by Mark to describe the agony of Jesus as

our Lord approached the crucial hour.

He said he began to be sore and the word is amazed.

He began to be sore amazed and then followed that bloody sweat and agony as he cried to the father Oh my father

if it is possible, let this cup pass for me.

Well, what was the cup?

We could speak a whole message on that and you could do was it is death.

No, why is it death?

He was afraid of no, was it the agony?

No, then what was it?

You find it in 2nd Corinthians, don't you?

Let's look at it 2nd Corinthians 5, you know it already, but let's just look at it so that you can mark it down in

2nd Corinthians chapter 5 we find out exactly what it was.

It helps us understand the answer chapter 5 of 2nd Corinthians verse 21.

For he hath made him who knew no sin To be

sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God.

In him he who knew no sin became sin for us

and first Peter It says his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree.

Isaiah 53 6 says the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us

all.

Do you see a wonderful truth there?

Our Lord Jesus not only bore the penalty for our sins.

He bore our sins.

Not just the penalty.

He bore the sins In his own self.

He not only took the punishment.

He took the sin he his own self bore our sins and the Lord knew this to be the

deeper truth of the atonement.

And in the wilderness tabernacle and the services connected there with he foreshadowed it.

Plainfully and wonderfully the priest went down to the Roman altar the brazen altar of

sacrifice and they received a spotless little lamb.

And there they shed its atoning blood but first the priest raised his hands

over the people and over himself and Then rested his hands upon the head of that innocent lamb.

He raised his hands over the people.

He raised his hands up over himself and then he leaned over and rested his hands upon the head of that innocent

lamb.

Now if I ask you the question, what was that priest doing?

You know it.

Well, he was setting aside that lamb for the sacrifice.

But when he puts his hands on the head of that little lamb, he was doing something more.

He was symbolically Transferring the sins of the people and of himself to that

innocent little lamb his own self Bore our sins on the tree

and to make that tremendous truth still plainer God directed in the wilderness tabernacle services

the following ritual for shadows the two great aspects of the atoning work of Christ forgiveness

and forgetfulness.

Forgiveness of sin and the remission of sin the forgiving and the forgetting concept of

redemption.

You know them well.

The first aspect of the atonement is that the Lord took the penalty for our sins.

And the second aspect is that he actually took our sins into and upon his own body.

This explains why he cried father if it's possible let this cup pass for me and it also

explains the the expression Soar amazed and it's also amazing to me that Luke

Uses a word that nobody else uses it says he being in an agony

and that is the word Agony, and the Holy Spirit only uses that word one time in the 66 books of Bible.

And that's the place it's used and it is only used for the excruciating Sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ

if there is a word name agony in Bible, but it is a different word.

It is not that word that word only appears one time and it's in reference to the suffering of Christ He being in an agony that no human being would

ever experience and the Holy Spirit picked up one word Devises a new word and only allows that word to be used one time and makes

in reference to the matchless Son of God and does Not allow the word to be used ever again.

Although those men knew the words well, and they wrote many things, but they never used that again.

But my friends the phrase in an agony and soar amazed to describe the soul agony of Jesus

on the way into Gethsemane.

Here is the ritual which foreshadows the second aspect to he goats.

Two male goats without spot or blemish and with no bone broken and all the

other numerous features that we gave you 11 of them last evening.

Necessary to foreshadow to picture to symbolize to be a type of the perfect

sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.

These two male goats were brought to the high priest before the altar sacrifice.

Now the high priest laid his hands again Upon one of the goats as he had on the little lamb

and then that goat was just sacrificed.

They just killed it as he put his hands upon them and the second goat was laid up there.

But he required a different service he was brought to the high priest into his presence and the hands of the priests were

raised above the Congregation and then they were raised above himself and then they were laid on the head of the goat.

But in order of the foreshadowing of the second aspect of the atonement of Christ the goat with the sins

on its head On its innocent head was led by a Levi out of the court

into the wilderness and into the land of Nod and was Released never to come back again.

It was gone and it is that taking of his sins

Into his own body that made him cry father if it be possible.

Let this cup pass from me, but you can thank God and you best thank God.

That the three times that he cried that out he closed up a saying not my will but thine

be done.

Friends the thing that his holy soul shrank from was becoming sin for you

and me.

The only thing that would make his holy soul shrink.

He confronted the Jews under the threat of death.

Everywhere he went he knew he was at the point of death.

They took up stones to kill him several times.

He stood before the leader of the land and said you couldn't do anything if my father didn't want you to do it.

He was unafraid.

He stayed 40 days and nights out in the wilderness with the wild animals and beasts the Bible says and he was unafraid.

He wasn't afraid to die.

But the thing that caused his soul to shrink back and to cry out to God was his

holiness could not tolerate sin and Yet he was not only going to pay the

penalty for those sins and die.

He was going to actually take the sins of mankind and my friends when he said it is finished

as we mentioned last evening.

I believe in those moments prior to that Fulfillment of Isaiah 53 6 and God laid on

him the iniquity of us all.

Sin came upon his precious body and he his own self.

Bore our sins in his own body on the tree.

Is it any wonder that he would cry out old father if it's possible.

Let this cup pass for me.

Oh God if it's possible remove this cup from me.

Oh good, if it's possible take this cup away from me nevertheless.

Not my will but thine be done my friends he Resented and

resisted becoming sin.

But as he struggled through that battle his heart and life was totally committed to the will of God as he was

in the flesh.

And he surrendered to the will of God and that's why he went to the cross.

I have a question for you.

What does that mean to you?

Personally, we know about it.

We sing about it.

We talk about it.

But what does it mean to you personally?

Personally.

Your sins and mine put him on the cross.

The song says were you there when they crucified my lord?

Yes.

Yes.

But you know if that had been me I hate hesitate tell you what I probably would have done.

If I were God, I would have already annihilated the human race.

My patience would have run short a long time ago.

But aren't you grateful that God doesn't deal with us the way we deal with him?

Aren't you glad that God's more faithful than we are?

God's more faithful to you and me than we are to him.

God is long -suffering and he's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and

Then once you come to repentance We ought to walk in the light as he is in the light and we

have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son keeps on cleansing from all sin.

What does that mean to you personally?

You said means everything to me.

I have a question That I won't ask you and it's simply this.

Who gives your life its meaning tonight?

Who is the central one of your life who had you

rather please Than anyone else in this world is

Pleasing Christ more important to you than pleasing this world system in which you live.

Where does your allegiance really and truly lie this night.

In what or in whom does your trust depend.

You say Jesus that true and He had some things to say

in John 14 and John 15.

He said if you love me, he said you are my friends.

If you do what I command you.

And he said in this is my father glorified That you bear much

Fruit, but what did he say right before that John 15 8?

So then Are you my disciples?

You are my disciples in this is my father glorified

That you bear much fruit and then we'd be as disciples if we bear much fruit.

What are the fruits three?

The fruits of righteousness the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of winning converts.

Now, you know what?

I'm about to say When was the last time you personally led somebody to Jesus Christ?

When was the last time that you personally?

Sat down with somebody talk with somebody wrote somebody a letter sent somebody some information.

Somehow or other God was able to use you as an instrument as a tool to

change another life for the cause of Christ and I'm convinced that most of

you sweet people will have to bow your head in embarrassment and shame.

Because you have enjoyed your fellowship so much.

And you've enjoyed your Christianity so much and you've enjoyed your salvation so much and there's nothing wrong with any of

those that you have forgotten that there is a commandment to proclaim the gospel to every

creature and You and I don't have a choice about that matter.

We are going to do it or we're not going to have God's blessings upon our life.

One of the two one of the two and If every one of you here tonight who's a member of this church wins one

person to Christ in the next 52 weeks.

You will double your congregation basically now.

There's nobody here that can't win one person to Christ.

Even little Randy even some little children can win one person to Jesus.

I Know a little boy.

That's 12 years old that won a hundred and something junior college students to Christ in one year.

Weatherford Junior College.

Look, it's 12 years old.

He goes down and challenges them quote some scripture read them the Bible these kids are fascinated with him.

They wind up getting saved.

I Know a little eight -year -old boy That went to school

and in the first year 110 Of his little friends to Christ and his mom and dad were able to go and share

with the parents.

Not all the parents became Christians, but those little kids are doing great.

What was the last time?

Someone has said oh, thank you.

I know Jesus now and it's because God used you.

Thank you.

How many gonna be in the heavenly portals and say oh, I'm so glad to see you.

I'm here because you witnessed to me.

You didn't remember it because I didn't like it at that time and I didn't get saved but brother.

You know I went off somewhere and they'll tell you store.

They'll be there because you'd planted a seed and somebody else came along and watered and somebody else bore the fruit but friends if you don't

plant the seed you don't share in the rewards and You ought to be planting seed.

You ought to be planting seed everywhere you go seed scatterers go out and scatter it, but if you don't

so You're not gonna reap.

Oh.

You'll reap disobedience.

But I'm afraid we're not sowing.

I'm afraid we're selfish.

I'm afraid we're greedy with the gospel.

I'm afraid that we're more concerned about ourselves.

Then we are winning people to Christ at school on the job.

And our leisure our recreation and your church has a sweet

sweet fellowship.

And it's such a delight and a joy to be around you.

And you minister to my heart just being in your presence.

But since I have known you I believe that every time I've been with you I can honestly say to you with all of my heart and with

the love that you Know I have for you.

There is still one thing you lack.

You're in danger of losing your first love and that is to share your Christ

with whoever you can.

Whoever you can and there are many we can meet him all the time meet him every day.

Control the conversation you control it and draw it around to your Lord and God

will bless you.

You see if I'll be faithful in doing that I might say something to someone and share some scripture.

They may pass your way.

And you might be able to say something else and they might move along and pass someone else's way.

And they'd say something else and but then the Holy Spirit has got them drawing them.

And they become a Christian.

You've seen it happen you have.

Let's be much aware that it's wonderful to study God's Word and to worship the Lord and fellowship together.

But if it doesn't transfer itself out into bearing fruit my friends.

It is vain.

It's vain, and it will accomplish nothing and I know that's not your desire, so let's pray together

father I Thank you for these faithful people.

Lord we thank you that God was in Christ Reconciling the world and himself.

We thank you that in the Lord Jesus who walked to the sandy shores of Galilee.

The same Jesus that called upon that cross is the same one who rose from the dead and who is coming again.

We thank you that in him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

We thank you father that nothing was made that was not made by him and for him.

We thank you that by him all things consist and cohere and and adhere together.

We thank you father that he could say I and the father are one and when we want to see you.

We look at our wonderful Lord, and we see God personified God as we

study this week about that wonderful Wilderness Tabernacle as we move into some of the depths

of that thing from tomorrow night on through the rest of the week we'll move into the very depths of it and

see the wonders and the holiness of God and The wonders of thy making God

use it to not just give us information and knowledge.

But use it to help us bear the fruit of the spirit in our life.

May we be loving but may we be bold?

May we be patient and compassionate?

But father may we have that much aggressiveness that would cause us to be willing to share Christ

and To Lord even force the issue.

In order to get the information of the Word of God into someone's mind.

So that the Holy Spirit would have something in that life to work with to draw them to the blessed Savior.

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Logic.

Argumentation.

And none of these things will accomplish it.

But if we'll share your word you have promised to honor it and to do thy job.

May we share scripture, and we make scripture a part of our life.

Thank you for that wilderness tabernacle.

Thank you that it's a perfect picture of all that is in Christ.

And it even portrays the Christian life in so many ways.

God.

Thank you for your love and your grace.

Thank you for who you are, and we praise you that you love us.

Would you stand with me for a moment in just we're not going to sing an invitation or anything?

But I want you just to stand and bow your heads.