Answers to the Three Greatest Questions — Lou Sutera

But who have come tonight to hear from God to hear speak Lord thy servant hereth. Open the spiritual ears of everyone in this meeting this night as we've been singing these songs. Let have not been words.

But let them be the cry of our heart and the conviction of heaven to our spirit. That we need to be ready to meet our King. So do that work in each of our hearts tonight and we'll thank you. Let nobody leave this meeting this night as they came in.

Let this be an hour of the mighty power of God in every one of our hearts and lives and we'll thank you. In the name Of Jesus, I pray.

Amen, you may be seated. I'm gonna do my message in two parts in just a moment.

I'm just going to say a few words of introduction and then come back and give the message man Joy to have you all here tonight, and I'll tell you I came tonight with two messages ready to preach. So are you ready?

But no, I'm going to leave one alone. All right, I Just sent them the Lord when I heard all this music as if God says this is the way you ought to go tonight I'm just going to give you a little word to introduce what I'm going to share with you I'll come back and share it in a few moments.

The Three Most Important Questions in Life

But where did this message come from that? I want to give you a number of years ago the Canadian Revival Fellowship was asked by the Briarcrest College to Come and put a five days of ministry on the subject a seminar morning in the afternoon and night sessions all day long to the students and whoever else wanted to come in on the subject of revival and So we were asked to do that.

Ralph and I were asked to be platform chairman for this whole Week when we got there was the dead of winter. You know what the wind does over here in Saskatchewan in that time and all the rest of it. We got there and we drove all the way from Seattle, Washington in a van came over and I was sick and so I had to stay in while the session started and the poor people had to put up with my brother all week long and That's the way it went.

They had to put up with him. So in the midst of all of that You know, I'd look out of the window I'd be in bed and so forth but in a room I didn't go out in that cold wind and the wind and all the rest of it and I'd look out the window and I'd See those students going across that campus.

For these meetings morning afternoon and night and I saw them all bundled up and all you could see the eyes, you know or something maybe the mouth or whatever and and there they go across the campus like that and For I don't know how many meetings a day and I thought to myself I wonder what these students are thinking about this school that makes them in this kind of weather Trot back and forth across this campus to three or four meetings a day to hear about revival here what what's all about so 8k and I'm thinking and they asked me to speak on the last session and I'm asking God give me enough strength to get out of bed to speak on the last session.

All right, and I said Lord, what do you want me to say to these students? They're hearing dr. Dick Sibley. They're hearing Bill McLeod. And I think that Irwin Lutzer I think was with us there I forget but all of these big-name guys, you know, and they asked me to speak on the last session and I'm saying Lord what I say and I thought to myself.

I wonder what's going through the minds of these students. Why does this school make us go through all of this? What is the importance of all this? What is so important about this? That they make drag us out.

That's kind of weather and it was compulsory they had no choice it was a. That was they had to be there, you know all that. And I said Lord, what what can I put in a cup and a cop's a capsule in a nutshell?

What is this really all about anyway? What is the importance of this and here's what the Lord gave me, you know what this is all about. Why is this so important because all of this is about. Here and now the three most important questions in life the three most important questions in life and That's what this is all about.

And I got up bed and I gave that message and put in a cup in that child and just to make 15 20 minutes and I spoke to students and the response of those students to that word was such. That the Lord said to me when we came away from that campus.

Lou every place you go you have a night of young people. I have the remember I told you I have a night for young people. Ralph has to take care of the old people he goes with the old ones, but I have a night on Saturday night that I give to the young people and.

And the Lord started saying you speak that message to young people. They need to know about this they need to start off with this in life and Then you know what happened the Holy Spirit of God starts speak to me.

Say Lou. What do you mean? What do you mean? This is just for young people. What about adults and I asked God help me give this message that in our pews our pews would be revolutionized but we would start to see what are the three most important questions about life and most of us as adults don't even realize what they are and don't relate to them proper way and So tonight I sense the Lord wants me to tell you What that's all about.

Dear Lord, I pray and this shall be a night will revolution every one of our lives in simplicity nothing complicated. Very simple, but Oh God how far it seems to be from our spirit. Do a work Lord go up and down the aisles and in out these pews and let there be not one soul in this meeting go Out of this meeting different same as when they came in.

Do that office work Lord in our hearts pull this whole crusade together with this word. Let us see that everything about what we've been talking and and hearing about in this week and a half. Relates to what we're going to share tonight.

Thank you Lord in the name of Jesus. I pray Amen for 50 years ago, and I haven't seen them since then and So, I don't know if they're gonna recognize me and I'm gonna recognize them. So I'm good God saved them in our meetings way back in the state of Iowa that long ago.

And there they are and they call my wife and my wife said Wow, they sound weakly and sickly. Well, I don't know what I'm gonna see when I see them. But anyway, praise the Lord will I'll have good fellowship there with them.

What a joy it has been to be with you. All right. Three most important questions in life and these are really profound right? Very simple. First one. What is the meaning of life itself? Is that a profound one?

What is the meaning of life itself? Here on this earth. What's the meaning of it? Good question. I heard about the Jewish rabbi who was performing a wedding ceremony with young man and young lady and He said something like this at the wedding ceremony.

He said there are three things that happen in anybody's life most people's lives. He said you were you were born. Yeah. Today you got married. So he said so now there's nothing left for you to do but die him.

In the realm of life in the realm of the world we live in it's just about like that men and women. I'm I said life is like a goose chase without the goose. All kind definition. What is life? What is life on this earth all about anyway?

And you know what? I find out for three basic scripture verses that give me a cue into it and then I want to give you application to it. Here's the verse you don't need to turn just listen. Psalm 24 verse 1 says the earth is the Lord's and The fullness thereof that earth out there and the fullness row then he goes on to say the world.

The earth is the Lord's fullness throughout the world got all that is God's but what about the last statement of the verse and They that dwell therein. They that dwell therein. Are the Lord's are you an indweller?

Are you dweller therein? Huh? Got some here tonight? They are the Lord's. Here's another one Colossians 116 the verse this says for by him by Jesus or by God all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth now listen all things were Created by him.

He say amen to that but listen this one and for him and for him you and I were created by him and I am looking at bodies that are looking at me and You know what? Every single one of those all those two eyes looking at me.

You were created For him. Interesting verse isn't it? Here's another one Revelation 411 we sang it and this is what turned me on as it gave me a cue we sang about Worthy is the lamb right when we get into heaven around heaven is what I'm going to sing Revelation 411 thou art worthy.

Oh Lord. That's it. What to receive glory and honor and power. You're worthy to get all that kind of acclimates. Acclamations why why for thou has created all things. Been saying that and listen and for thy pleasure they were created.

Everybody in this meeting here tonight men and women. Everybody look at me tonight. You know what about you? Last night you found out that you are not a nobody you're somebody if you're a child of God.

But everybody look at me you were created all over there and everybody here. You were created for God to get pleasure out of you. Wow, what a thought. What a thought. Is he getting it from you? You were made for that.

Well, if those three verses are true and you say they're true because they're in the Bible and you know God means what he says it says what he means if those are true, you know what they're doing to us.

They're taking us back to what I'd call the owner's manual in the car. You know, you have a you buy a Ford a Chrysler Chevy, I don't know which one's popular up here, but anyway Rolls Royce, excuse me.

And you buy a car and what is it in them in the glove compartment is a what? Owner's manual what's that for? That's the book that tells you how this car runs and what and what makes it tick. Hmm. So we better go back to the owner's manual about you and me all you people looking at me and me myself.

Where's the owner's manual about us? I'll tell you where it is right when God made us. Right in the beginning the garden Eden. What did God do in Genesis 2 15? Here's the verse, you know, here it is. Here's what it says.

Here's the owner's manual what you and I are all about right when we are created. Here's what it says. God took the man. And then it says and God put the man. God placed the man in the garden and then it says he gave him a job to cultivate and keep it now.

I like those three statements. Because that's the essence of what you and I are all about. Here it is. God took the man. You know what? I find I have an idea that God didn't have to drag him. I Didn't I don't get the idea that man Dug in his heels and said wait a minute God.

I'm too busy when I get around and I'll be I'll be there. I get nothing like that when I read it's a simple statement. God took the man. This is the creation. He just made and he put his hand on he took the man.

You know what I have an idea the creature that God made now is in total Submission to the Creator that made him no kick in his spirit. No bucking. No talking back. Okay, God total submission to the Creator.

Hmm from there it says then God placed him. Put him in a garden placed him. You know what now now we have from a total the creature in total submission to God now we have a creature Located by God put him somewhere.

So now we have the creature in location. Ah. Took him he placed him he put him somewhere and here it is man in submission to God. Now God has the privilege to locate him anywhere wants to put him. Now, you know what happens then it says he gave him a job to do he put him there to cultivate and keep the garden.

Now what do we have? We have the creature that God made in total submission to him and because of that God could just pick him up and put him Anywhere he wanted so God put him in a garden. So God locates him and now what do we have.

God vocates him? Vocates him. God gives him a job. Huh? Isn't that interesting? Oh, you know what? This is all saying God is wanting to do that kind of work in our heart life. That's what you and I were made for and God wants a work of Restoration to go on in this meeting and in this community and in your heart and mine tonight.

Where those same three things get back in proper relationship with their God. What's that? God wants you to be a creature that he made in total submission to him. That he could pick you up by the scruff of the net anytime he wants and he can locate you anywhere he wants.

You're ready no kick in your spirit. You're ready to do what God wants for you and Go where he wants to go and God give you a job locate you. He'll give you the job. He wants you to do. Ah. Isn't that interesting?

Wonderful indeed, you know what many women that's what God wants you to live your whole life. God Constantly Lord you have submission. I'm in submission to you. You can locate me anytime and you can vocate me give me a job any kind of job you want anytime.

When did you stop saying that in your life? Do you live under that kind of philosophy? Do you get up every day in the philosophy that that's what life in your what life is all about? You were made for that.

Now. I have an interesting little article here. Some palm trees the little picture sees some palm trees. So that must be in the West Indies or in the tropics somewhere and you know. It is here's the story of the island of Grenada and there's the story of a lady 80 years of age.

Who just now has gone to Grenada to be a missionary? 80 years of age now, how come well not to be a full-time but go there for six months go there for six months because She's back at home and she gets these missionary papers from the organization and it says that one of the missionaries there and Grenada has to go home because they have physical problems and They're praying that God would send somebody there to fill in the gap to to work with the women that this woman worked with when she was this missionary and to work with the children's Bible lessons and the Correspondence courses and we need somebody to take the place in the article said we're praying that God sends somebody and here's an 80 year old.

Down there and Ralph and I had the privilege of going to the island Grenada when we find this 80 year old just got there. And we saw it said, you know the tropics and that hot humidity and all the rest of that kind of heat and we said to.

The man is that we're sort of amazed. This is an 80 year old age. You come in here for the first time. You come into the mission field. Yeah said how come I said Well, I read this article and I said well God I can I can do that.

But it said do you have any physical problems? What's your health condition like? Oh said I've got a very bad heart. I Said you have a heart condition terrible and you come down here in this kind of climate with a heart condition you have.

Well, she she act like I was surprised. Why didn't you know? Why should I be surprised? She said she said to me. Well, I can die down here just as easy as dying in the United States. Ah. Are you getting the point.

You're God's. You were made for God to be in total submission to him. That he can locate you anytime he wants and he can vocate you any way you want now. What's the meaning of life? In other words, we are gods.

We were made for God. We are God's property. That's the bottom line of this you know what the Corinthian church had trouble understanding that and Paul had to speak to the Christians according to church like I believe the church today has trouble understand.

Understanding that and Paul had to write to the Corinthians says has what listen we say what. No you not. You know, he's saying don't you know it? Don't you know it? I'm looking people on this side of the congregation.

I'm asking don't you know it folks? And what about you folks here? Don't you know it and you folks over there? Don't you know it what? Yes, he says don't you know what don't you know it that your body?

All these bodies I'm looking at your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Which you have in you? Don't think you're a nobody and here it is and it says and you have that of God and listen and you are not your own and Paul had to write to the Corinthians and say you folks.

Don't you know that you are not your own and Paul is coming to this meeting tonight. So you and me say don't you folks know that don't you think you don't belong to yourself? You are not your own. You are God's get your hands off of your life.

You are God's don't you know it? You know, I was speaking for you're bought with a price. We were singing about that the price of Jesus you're bought with a price. Therefore because that's true glorify God in that body, which isn't yours your gods.

Your gods glorify God in your body and in that spirit which are God's how many times you want to hear it that we belong to God. That's what life on this earth is all about the realization that you belong to God.

Is you'd be in total submission to God who owns you? At his control anytime he wants to move you and anytime he wants to give you the job. He wants to give you at any time, you know when I was speaking along this line to the young people one time I remember one I when I got in the foyer of the church and I saw the young people out there and I got to one teenage one guy and I said that I said what what did you learn in the message tonight and what impressed you and One teenage company.

He said to me Wow. What impressed me. Wow, he said, you know like a surprise. I'm surprised it. Wow. He said Wow. What's the Wow? I belong to God. Huh, I wonder how many people need to say Wow tonight, I Hope it gets you that you belong to God.

Everything about your life you belong to God. One man preacher in my country made a profound statement and I believe it's so true. And this is why life is so empty to so many people. He said we were made by God and We were made for God and Until you figure that out.

Listen. Life isn't going to make any sense. When are you going to figure it out? I'll tell you that's when life's going to make some sense. So I suggest to you. There it is. What's life all about the recognition that you are totally God's the second question.

Why Jesus Christ Died on the Cross

Most important in the light of the first one. This inevitably is the same question. What is it? Why did Jesus Christ die on the cross anyway? Why did Jesus die on that cross anyway? Good question. All right, no answers right now because you answer everybody answer, but you know what you're gonna tell me.

I know what you're gonna tell me. To take away my sins. Well, isn't that wonderful? But I want to tell you something the devil doesn't want you to know the rest of the story and that question and. That's the problem our church is filled with people that all they want to know is the fact.

Oh Lord take away my sins. And they stop right there. I hope God shakes us up tonight and shows us something more. To take away my sins. Half the truth to remove your sins is a byproduct of what that cross is all about.

Thank God he did it. Thank God because it says in Titus 2 14 listen who gave himself for us. That's what we're singing about tonight. Who gave himself for us. To do what three things? But we're only talking about one to redeem us for all iniquity.

I'll take my sins, right? Yeah, thank God for that. But wow to redeem us from iniquity, but listen, that's to do something else and to purify unto himself. He wants something for himself to purify unto himself.

What huh a people that are zealous zealots zealous zealous zealots. Unto good works serving him. Zealot serving he wants you for himself a Zealot to serve him now if you brought your Bibles. I want you to see that in another place in Romans chapter 14.

Romans chapter 14. Look at these words. Romans chapter 14. Tremendous words. Romans 14 verse 7. Look at this this doesn't say it. Romans 14 verse 7 for none of us liveth unto himself. You don't live a life just for yourself and none of us die unto himself.

You don't live nor die unto yourself. For whether you live. There's Romans 14 verse 8 for whether you live you live unto the Lord and. Whether you die you die unto the Lord. Whether we live therefore or die.

We are the Lord's. That's saying the same thing all over again. Now look at for to this end to this end Christ both died what we're singing about tonight and rose again Easter Sunday morning. This is the reason why he did it.

This is the reason why he did it. Listen. That he might be the Lord. Both of the dead and the living. Oh. That sounds like something different than just taking my sins away. He died and rose again. That he might be Lord.

Over your life. He wants you for himself. I'm asking a question does he have you for himself? Hmm good question. He wants you for himself basically. I tell you God doesn't want your sins. We say he died.

Oh, he'd take away my sins. What is he gonna do with your sins? He doesn't want them. I Thank God he takes away our sins, but he isn't interested in our sins primarily. He is interested in us. But many women in the process he has to take away our sins.

He has to clean us up because he's a holy God. But he wants you to Belong to him not just say you've got him in your heart. He wants to possess that which is his possession you are his possession, but the problem is he doesn't possess it.

When you're going to take your hands off of your life and let him possess the you that's sitting in this meeting here tonight. He wants you to belong to him. He wants to have total authority. Total authority over everything about your life that when you wake up in the morning you say orders for today, please Lord.

Or no God. I'm gonna do my own thing. No. All this is saying let me hear me now. You know what this message is already saying. You have the right to choose to be a child of God. Don't you? You choose and I have some people this meeting have chosen to be children of God probably say yes.

Now let me tell you something about it. You have the right to choose, but once you choose. From that point on you have been chosen. You have no more choice. You have only the right to the choice to choose, but from then on you have been chosen by God.

And he has the right over your life the tragedy the matter men women is most of us who call ourselves Christians are not really the Possession of God and God is waiting to possess his possession. Does he really possess you as his possession?

That's the question tonight. In a nutshell then then why did Jesus die on the cross anyway put it in a nutshell. Here it is the nutshell to make it possible. For us to get back into the original purpose for which God created us to live under the loving joyful authority and Lordship of the God who made us for himself and Jesus had to die.

To make it possible for you and me to get back to the original purpose for which God made us. That's why he died. Are you experiencing that are you living with that truth? Are you living under that umbrella as it were.

Are you living under that sense of authority? That's what it's all about. I Suggest to you your our response to that claim of God on our life is the crux of the matter of the Christian experience. Your response to the to that claim of God on your life.

That's the crux of this message. How do you respond to it? So in the light of that that's question number one, what is life on our fall about anyway number two. Why did Jesus Christ die on the cross anyway, just to take away my sins?

No. That's just the beginning. Too many of us stopped there. You know I we want a one-way ticket to heaven in the back pocket and do our own thing and keep on doing our own thing God. You go your way, but just give me that one-way ticket to heaven.

That's what I want. Take my sins away. Watch out you might not even begin thinking you're getting what you think you're getting. When that's your attitude and our church is full of people this attitude.

Maybe you're here tonight. I hope I hope God changes your life tonight. So in the light of that that takes us naturally to the third basic question of life. And what is that what then in the light of these first two is?

The Basic Sin of Living for Self

The most basic sin. The most basic sin. To which every one of us is tempted to commit every single day. What is the most basic sin. What is my basic problem in the light of those first two questions. What is it?

I? Want you to turn your Bibles to first 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 and look at it Sanctuary chapter 5 and see it for what it is. Sanctuary chapter 5 verse 15. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 50 you see how it all works together.

St. Corinthians 5 verse 15 and says these words and that he died for all that's where we start how many times you want it. You see why the Lord led those brothers to sing these songs tonight. Ah. There it is that he died for all second Corinthians 5 15 and that he died for all.

That they which live all right, I'm gonna stop right there. How many folks in this meeting say I live because he died? Don't need to raise your hands. Okay. We're Christian. We say we live we have eternal life.

Because he died. They say amen to that so I'm talking to the right bunch of people tonight. I Got the right bunch. Are you here? I want to tell you what it means to you here. It is that they which live.

Because he died. Should not henceforth. No means that just to stop something from that point on stop something. From that point on stop something. What should you stop should not henceforth live on to themselves from that point on?

No more living unto yourself. Huh? There's our temptation every day, what is it to take our life and live for number one. I do my own thing. I'm my own boss. Nobody tells me what to do. I run my own life.

I want to live unto myself. No more live unto my live unto myself. No more, but I should live unto him who died for me and rose again. There's the cross and there's a resurrection. All right, those two things.

Let's start the first one the negative one first. Should no more live unto myself. The mistake we all make here's the mistake with me. We're prone to think. We're prone to think and describe sin when we think about sinning and sin in external terms.

You know what I mean by that adultery fornication stealing lying cheating murder boom-boom name them, right and We're prone to think of sin as that. You know what men and women those are basically externals of.

The express there are only expressions of sin not the essence of sin. You know what. I'm convinced that men and women many of us could be in this meeting here tonight now listen. You might even be cleansed from some of those externals.

Yes, you've been cleansing from the externals and you can even be saved from some of these externals and have some of these externals drop off and in the midst of it still continue to plan to run your own life and do your own thing and Never deal with the heart and essence of what is the real sin of the heart?

And my brother's gonna give me one of these because he knows don't throw it. He's knows I might throat is tickling a little bit. So thank you. That's why the Lord give me a twin brother. Amen. Now hear me here.

I'm saying some of these things. Oh, I quit smoking. I thank God when God sets people free from spark the smoking and then I quit drinking and God says people from Who is that's a second blessing my brother gave me the first one.

Are you gonna sit there? Oh No, that's right. Thank you. Wow. She must be a nurse, huh? Servants heart amen. All right. Now here come here you can be freed from some of these externals and yet not have dealt with the real sin of the heart and God's good to you and let's say that and we think we're all right because we we've done that.

Oh, listen, not it. You know, I think you could even tie your money. You can even give submissions. But your basic motivation about your life. Still is I Want to do what I want to do and I want to live for number one and nobody really tells me what to do.

You know the scripture describes this principle way back in Isaiah. Where it says all we like sheep have gone astray. What's our problem? We've turned everyone to our own way see Isaiah 64 6 is that and I'm suggesting to you now here it is.

Here's the truth that the devil doesn't want us to hear here. It is at its very center the essence of sin. Remember I told you those other things are just external expressions of sin. What is the real sin at the essence of sin is living in pride to gratify myself?

That's it. Here I am do my own thing. You know my claim here. There's a statement my claims to my rights to myself there it is my claims to my rights to myself and My Lord tells me that I should henceforth no more live unto myself.

If I believe that I live I have eternal life because of Jesus who died and rose again. I should henceforth henceforth from that point on no more. But there it is most of us in this meeting many of us in this meeting my claims to my rights for myself.

That's what it's all about. Interesting, you know what when you study when Jesus walked on this earth. He didn't talk like that. He didn't talk about just believe in Jesus just accept Jesus. Oh No when he walked on this earth, you know what he said he called people to follow me.

He said lady he didn't say just stop drinking and stop cheating and smoking gambling. No, he convinced he convinced it down to a simple issue. I want you first of all to deny yourself. That's what he talks deny yourself.

Come after me you deny yourself. It's this self then. The way you talk now you folks have a paper in Regina. It's called the Regina leader. Did you know that? Oh. You do years ago. I got out of the one graph.

I were here years ago out of the Regina leader. There's an article. I am to this day read it, but I'd like the time. I mean, I don't like the title, but I like the title. I'll tell you about it. The title says goal is the goal is to keep people Independent see that goal is to keep people independent.

Now, you know it was to keep people in their own house. So they have to go to the hospitals and they can live independently like that nice nice idea. I'm not jumping on that but I thought to myself. Can you say it any better than that that seems to be the goal of most of our lives?

Do my own thing. Don't let God or anybody else get in my way. This is still a basic problem. Man a man said I was struck by the idea that I have been getting God's opinion and then making my own decisions and there were at.

They were at. Remember what I'm saying sin is what missing the mark missing the mark. It's missing the purpose of God for your life. That's what it is. Sin is living for yourself instead of the will of God.

That's what it is. Sin is missing the will of God. What is the will of God the will of God is basically No longer live on to yourself, but Live on to him. Live on to him. That's the positive side who died for you and rose again.

What's there about your life that says I'm living on to him not just believing on him. Living on to him. It's interesting. Live on to him who died for us and rose again. I'd like to ask you Is there a more positive thing in life than that?

I don't think there is. Live on to him. Huh? What a question could there be a better cause than that? When are you gonna get busy at it? When are you gonna get wrapped up in it? When ah You know what a friend of mine in Chicago is a Almost a millionaire, but very very successful in business.

He was a real an insurance man. He was making money hand over fist. Very successful nice big car and a nice wife and a nice home boom boom boom, you know, he had it all. Had it all but he had the Lord.

He walked with the Lord and one day was driving down the road and he had a passenger with him in the front seat. When he was driving this fellow was an attorney and another wealthy rich man. They're an attorney and between my friend driving and this attorney sit in front seat.