Rise Up and Build 1997 Conference-01 Keynote Address — William MacDonald

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The Love of Christ and the Cross

Could we turn in our Bibles please to. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. I Just like to read two verses there verses 14 and 15. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. Verses 14 and 15. For the love of Christ constrains us because we judge thus.

But if one died for all. Then all died and he died for all but those who live should live no longer for themselves. But for him who died for them and rose again. I think On this first night of the new year We cannot do better That to go to Calvary.

And stand there before that middle cross and look up into the face of the one who is hanging there gaze and meditate. If that was the day of all days. It was never a day like it before and there will never be a day like it again.

The poet said center of two eternities Which look with rapt adoring eyes Onward and back to him and it's true, isn't it? And as we stand there and gaze upon the sinless Son of God Suspended between heaven and earth.

None of us fully comprehend what is taking place. None of us fully understand the tremendous implications of it all. The issues involved strain the brain. In a sense, they're incredible yet, holy credible.

We want to think about them and I Who is it who is hanging there on the cross. Some say it's the young Jew of Nazareth. Well, it was but it's more. Some say well, it's the one who wore that carpenters apron Amid the sawdust of that shop and it was but it was more.

So might say well, it's the one who girded himself with the apron of a slave. And got down and washed the disciples feet. Well, it was that too. But it's more that one hanging. There is absolutely unique virgin-born son of Mary.

No one like him ever walked the dusty lanes of this planet before He stands out through all of time. The dearest and the best. Who for a world of lost sinners was slain? He's true man. As he hangs there is true man.

He wept. He thirsted. He hungered. He entered into our humanity. He was perfect humanity. We are not. We're fallen. Humanity is more. He's sinless humanity. Marvelous how the scriptures bear witness to the perfect sinlessness of the Lord Jesus.

I am impressed that those who we never think of it being his friends spoke eloquently of his character. Pilot for instance said I find no fault in him. His wife said have nothing to do with this just man.

Herod said I don't see any reason why he should be put to death. That he's guilty of any capital crime. Even the betrayer Said I have sinned against innocent. So you get this choir of people I say who never are thought of as being his Friends yet.

They all had to attest to the perfection of the character of the Lord Jesus. But he's more that one hanging that middle cross is God. That probably is the center of what I want to say tonight. We think of him as a man hanging there.

He is. He's God Manifest in the flesh. He's God incarnate. Isaiah said he's the mighty God. John says the word was God. In another place he says this is the true God and eternal life. The Apostle Paul says in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

You could hardly find a stronger statement as to the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then in Romans Paul says he's the one who is over all God blessed forever. God the Father called him God. In Hebrews chapter 1 didn't he unto the Son he said thy throne.

Oh God is forever and ever. Scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy Kingdom. And Paul is most audacious of all. I think when in Acts chapter 20 and verse 28 He's speaking to the elders there the Ephesian elders at my beaten and he said shepherd the flock of God.

Which he purchased with his own blood. Just think of that verse the flock of God. Which he purchased with his own blood. Whose blood? The blood of God. I know that Darby changes that verse to read which he purchased with the blood of his own.

But I think the Spirit of God put that there for its shock value to you and to me. To wake us up to something of the implication of what happened there on Calvary's cross when the incarnate God hung there in agony and blood for you and for me.

The Incarnation and the Death of God Incarnate

Marvelous when you stop just think of it. God incarnate died. For us you say well does the Bible really say that. Are you sure there's you're not getting off into some doctrinal Aberration. But first of all think of what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians chapter 2 one of the great Christological passages in the Word of God.

There he describes the one who thought it not robbery to the equal with God. Who being in the form of God? Thought it not robbery to be equal with God. And in that very context. Where he's speaking of the absolute deity of the Lord Jesus.

He said he became obedient unto death even the death of the cross. Remarkable isn't it. And then in Colossians chapter 1 verses 14 through 20 the Apostle Paul describes him as the one who is the image of the invisible God.

Absolute equality. The image of the invisible God the firstborn over all creation at the highest honor over all creation. He described him as the creator and the upholder of all things. He's the one in whom all the fullness dwells.

Paul says to the Colossians. And then in that very context he says in whom we have redemption through his blood. Marvelous, but just stop to think of it. Hebrews the writer to the Hebrews in chapter 1.

He speaks of him as the brightness of God's glory. The expressed image of his person. And without scarcely a break. He said he purged our sin. Just think of that he purged our Sins. Dear friends. I've known of other religions.

Where the people died for their God. I've never known another religion. Or a divine being died for his creatures. Did you? That's what we grapple with tonight. That's what you want to think about tonight.

The tremendous implications. What happened there at Calvary, but you say brother? Raising some questions. God is spirit. Can God die. And the answer is of course in the incarnation? God. The Lord Jesus was spirit pure spirit from all eternity.

But he came down and took upon himself flesh so that he might die. Society through his most divine array. And Veiled his Godhead in a garb of clay. And in that garb this wondrous love display. Restoring what he never took away.

But somebody will say to me, but God is immortal and immortal means not subject to death. That's a yes, that's absolutely true. But once again, it's solved by the incarnation isn't it? It's solved by the incarnation.

I'm intrigued by By reading our hymns and seeing how this light flashed into the souls of some men like Isaac. What he said forbid it Lord. That I should boast save in the death of Christ my God. All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to his blood.

And Charles Wesley in his own inevitable way that his mystery all The immortal dies. Who can explore his strange design in? Vain the firstborn seraph Tries to found the depths of love divine. And then quickly he adds these like amazing love.

How can it be that thou my God? Should die. For me it really is Amazing love, but it's a third question. And that's if God died. Who ran the universe during those days when his body was in the tomb? And of course the answer is the body of the Lord Jesus went into the tomb.

If the Lord Jesus went to heaven didn't he Said to the thief on the cross today thou shalt be with me in Paradise. At one moment. He's here on earth Upholding all things by the word of his power. The next moment.

He's in heaven doing the exact same Thing and I want to tell you this really strikes at my heart. It fills my heart when I think of it. What heck what happened at Calvary was not homicide? That's one person killing another person.

It was not genocide. That's wiping out an ethnic group or race. What happened at Calvary with the aside the murder of a divine being and I think the poet has said it very well. The maker of the universe as man for man Was made a curse.

The claim of law which he had made unto the uttermost. He paid His holy fingers made the bow. Which grew the thorns that crowned his brow? Just think of it. The nails that pierced his hands were mined in secret places.

He designed he made the forest whence there's whence there sprung the tree on which his body Hung. He died upon a cross of wood. It made the hill on which it stood. The sky that darkened or his head by him above the earth Was spread.

The Sun that hid from him its face by his decree was poised in space wonder of wonders. The spear that spilled his precious blood was tempered and the fires of God. The grave in which his form was laid was hewn in rock.

His hands had made the throne in which he now appears with his from everlasting years and It's but a new glory crowns his brow every knee at him. Shall bow. Think of the marvel of think of the marvelous who's hanging there at the cross of Calvary.

Human Frailty, Depravity, and the Wonder of Redemption

Think of what he did for us. He died and then think of us the persons for whom he died. We're insignificant really in the universe. Such as the one in which we live. I Think it's good. What a physicist said.

He said that we are mere Self-replicating specks of matter. Trapped in a tiny planet for a few dozen orbits around an undistinguished star in one of billions of galaxies. That were insignificant. Really are and not only so but we're very frail creatures one day.

We're standing moving. Racing in full athletic strength. Then a non-filterable virus enters our system and we're weak weak as water. We're perishable. Which is born for one brief day. The Bible has all kinds of Synonyms to describe the shortness of our life.

It's it's just a breath. It's swift. It's like as a weaver shuttle. It's like a hand breath. It's like a cloud mist and So forth, but that isn't the worst. We're evil. We're totally Depraved. Dear friends what we are inside is a lot worse than anything.

We've ever done the capability for evil and the human heart is Absolutely monstrous. And you mean to tell me that God incarnate Died for people like what I mean to tell you tonight. We're unclean. Really unclean.

I have to chuckle almost when I read what build ad said in the book of Job. He said the moon does not shine. The stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man who is a maggot and the son of man with a worm.

Isaiah was more delicate. He compared us to grasshoppers. We were God haters. We said we desire not a knowledge of your way. We were only happy when we could forget him. And only said when we remembered him.

Worse than that we were murderers murderers guilty of the death. God Incarnate we were forgetful and Unmoved. I like what Jowett said he said we leave our places of worship and no deep and inexpressible wonder sits upon our faces.

We can sing those lilting melodies and when we go out into the streets our Faces are one with the faces of those who have left the theaters and the music hall. There's nothing about us to suggest that we've been looking at anything stupendous and Overwhelming.

And what is the explanation of this? Preeminently our impoverished view. Different it's surprising. We're not more surprised, isn't it? Well, you think of what happened? Thousand years ago the hill outside the city of Jerusalem.

You think of the marvelous program that he had in mind in doing this one day you and I would be saved. Saved from going to hell. Mind you if he had just if he had just saved us to live on the earth For a short time and then go off into oblivion if he had only Saved us.

To live on the earth forever. No, no, babe from hell our sins all forgiven. What a miracle. What a no, what a marvelous redemption. Can a mortal ever know how our sins though red like crimson? Can be whiter?

Than the snow given us eternal life his own life. We become partakers of his own Life. That quality of life that explains the difference that comes into a person when he or she trusts the Lord Jesus. It's enough to make angels gasp to know that sinners saved by grace are accepted in the beloved.

If God looks down and sees them in Christ. Absolutely perfect as far as their position is concerned. And if that isn't enough we're complete complete in Christ, which means that we're. We have absolute fitness for heaven through him not in ourselves.

But through the Lord Jesus Christ complete in Him. Something to think about isn't it? We're children of God. Children of God. What a privilege to be able to look up and call God our father. I don't think any individual Jew in the Old Testament did that.

If we can do it God is our Father not only that we're heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Marvel, I tell you God could have done less when he formed that way of salvation couldn't he? Heirs of God we're indwelt by the Holy Spirit by one of the persons of the Trinity.

Bodies of our humiliation become the temple of the Holy Spirit. I get To think about her and You know now we're able to pray we have instant access into the presence of God. I read recently that some if you're close to the president the United States is a special number.

You can call and get through to him and the special email address. You can use to get through the special fax number you can use to get through. It's not always easy getting through to the president and it's always easy getting through to the father, isn't it?

Always easy getting through that you don't have to have any special number and then to think. To think that God the Father will not be fully satisfied. Till he has us all in glory like the Lord Jesus Christ.

Living for the One Who Died

We shall be like him, but we shall see him as He is. You know we need to respond to that. That's why I read those verses at the beginning the love of Christ Constrains us because if we that's because we just judge if one died for all then we're all dead.

And he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but that they can die for them. And rose again. Oh you say brother. I was saved 16 years ago. That was a good beginning, but there's more.

There's more you said well, I was baptized and received it all that's wonderful praise the Lord more. More far fitness for heaven is concerned you're a fit in Christ. But you have to respond and I have to respond to the fact that that one who hung on the middle cross Was the one who made me?

He's the one who designed my body the one who decides that he's the one who who? Put Andromeda into space and Embroidered the Milky Way and billions of galaxies, I want to tell you something. There's only one response we can make that is turn our lives over to the Lord.

But whatever he wants oh. It'd be nice to think that everyone who has trusted Christ for salvation Has also made that dedication of themselves to him for birth. That isn't true. You know that is it's not true.

And I know it's true. It's possible to be saved through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and then live your life the way you want to live it. And he never intended that. Then that that we live for him who died for us dear friends.

Failure to do that is yawning in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's looking up into his face and say You haven't done anything of such consequence that I should turn my life over to you that Solemn you haven't done anything.

That's of such importance such implication. Such significance that I should turn my life over to you. He wants us spirit soul and body. That's what commitment is. Commitment is going before the Lord and presenting your body a living sacrifice.

Holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable? service. That's exactly what it is. It's saying take me as I am Lord and make me all thine own. Make my heart thy palace. And I royal. Be careful could mean a change of career.

Goodness in the will of God it could mean a change of career. I want to tell you it's possible to commit my life to the Lord's salvation. To the Lord for salvation and then go live the way I want to live.

Map out my own course of action. And if I'm really fully committed To the Lord Jesus there are certain words that are not found in the vocabulary of commitment. Not so Lord. Not now but later. Let me first Lord.

I say these expressions are not found in the vocabulary of of commitment. Commitment is is to say Oh Jesus Lord and master. I give myself to thee for thou and thine atonement this give thyself to me. I own no other master.

My heart shall be thy throne. My life I give henceforth to live for thee O Christ Alone. I'd like to give you eight Reasons why this is the proper thing to do first of all we've gone over the first one.

That is our creator died To save us. There's no mistake about it friends our creator Died not only the one who framed our bodies But the one who's giving you and me the breath that we're taking right now to stay alive.

It all comes From him. No wonder No wonder the poet said thus might I hide my blushing face. While I dear cross appear dissolve my heart in thankfulness and melt my eyes to tears but drops of grief and Mary pay the debt of love I owe dear Lord I Give myself away.

It's all that I can do. If it is true that that one in the middle cross if God incarnate. The only proper response is dear Lord. I give myself away is all that I can do. The fact that our God incarnate died for us.

The Mercies of God Demand Surrender

Reason number one reason number two the mercies of God Demanded. Paul says that doesn't he in Romans 12 1 and 2. I beseech you therefore by the mercies of God. We've already gone over a short list of some of the mercies of God save.

Forgiven you could add justified redeemed reconciled. Sanctified by the Spirit of God we said in dwelt by the Spirit of God given the seal of the Spirit Which marked you up as belonging to God and secure for all eternity the earnest of the Spirit.

Which means that as sure as you have the Holy Spirit of God you're going to get the whole inheritance someday the anointing the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, which enables you to distinguish between truth and Error and so you could go down through a long list of mercies of God.

He meant. It's the only reasonable rational Sane Sensible response we can make to what the Savior did for us three simple. Gratitude requires it you know if a person Saves you from drowning I'm sure you'd be grateful to that person the rest of your life wouldn't you I?

Would be just saved you're from Drowning. You'd be tremendously grateful the Lord Jesus saved us from more than that. J Alexander tells this. J. Alexander Clark tells this story about in Africa he saw a national being attacked by a lion and the national was severely mauled and Mr.. Clark got his gun.

And he he brought down the lion and he got that man. And he took him to the nearby Mission Hospital and that man was a nurse back to health and went back to his home. Three months later Alexander Clark was sitting on the porch and the veranda of his house out there.

And he heard all these noises coming down the road. There was the clucking of chickens and with the quacking of duck and there was the sound of sheep and of Cattle and then there was the gaggle of Human voices too as well and pretty soon came in to view that man.

He had saved from the lion and When the man came to him he said mr.. Clark. Do you remember me? He said I'm the one you saved. He said the rule of our tribe is when something like that happens everything I have Belongs to you all my chickens belong to you all the ducks belong to you all of the cattle and sheep Belong to you all my children.

He had quite a few belong to you. He said all my wives he had several. They belong to you. He said this is the rule of our tribe. Dear friends the Lord Jesus died for us didn't he? We should say Lord Jesus Thou has bled and died for me and forth.

I will live for thee. Oh Christ I bleeding hands and feet thy sacrifice for me. Each wound each tear demands my life a sacrifice. But a Simple gratitude then the love of Christ compels us the love of Christ.

That's why we read that verse in 2nd Corinthians 5 those verses the love of Christ Constrains us. We're so interesting to go to David Livingston's home in in Scotland and see this plaque. And it says the love of Christ constrains me Paul and then David Livingston the love of Christ compels me compelled by the love of Christ and we should be to love so amazing.

So divine Demands my heart my soul. My all. Another reason is we're not our own. We're not our own and I like what C .T. Studd said once he said I had always known that Jesus died for me. But it didn't.

I didn't have the realization that when he died for me he bought me. He bought me. I belong to him and if I take what belongs to him and do with it what I want. I'm a thief. These are when I saw that it didn't seem too hard to turn my life over to him.

That's the truth dear friend. If I take my life and carve out my own career. Do the thing that I want to do do the thing that I think is best. I'm a thief. I'm taking something that really doesn't belong To me.

Jesus Is Lord and Knows What Is Best

We're not our own. The next reason is because Jesus is Lord Jesus and you know, we use that expression all the time. We call him Lord. The word Savior is found 24 times in the New Testament. The word Lord is found 670 times in the New Testament.

We always say our when not always but we often say our our Savior and Lord. The New Testament never says that's always our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There must be a reason and you know, I Believe that the Lord Jesus and his teaching with the disciples and his teaching to us to look.

Either do what I say or don't call me Lord. Why do you call me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say we would say today. Either do either obey me or quit calling me Lord, it's just as simple as that.

Then we know and then he knows better than I do. You know and that's so true. He knows better than I do. What would be the best life for me? And that's what he would want. He would want the best life.

For me. I counted dollars while God counted crosses. I counted gained while he counted losses. I Counted my worth by the things gained in store. He sized me up by the scars that I wore. I counted honors and sought for degrees.

He wept when he thought of the hours on my knees. I never knew till one day by the grave. How vain are the things we spend life to save. I Wonder if that speaks to somebody here tonight then climbing the ladder of success.

One day you're going to reach the top then you'll realize that the ladder was against the wrong wall. What a tragedy what a tragedy that would be. The Lord Jesus knows better than we do, you know, and we do him a strange disrespect.

By saying that we know better than he knows. We question his wisdom and we question his love and we question his power. Commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ for whatever he would want saves us from a life of trivia.

A life of trivia a life of emptiness a life where your soul is saved and your life is lost. Why do we hesitate? Why do we hesitate? Why is that such a battle that goes on in the human breath when the issue of full surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fears That Resist Full Surrender

Well here here. Let me go over some of the fears. Fear of God's will. We're afraid of God's will. You know when you talk about full surrender to people? What's the first thing they think about. They think about the mission field?

With its spiders and it's snakes and it's tarantulas and it's suffocating. Humidity and everything is terrible and formidable. And you know that does a great disservice to the Lord. Doesn't he first of all God only wants volunteers for the mission field.

And secondly if he wants you on the mission field He so works in your life, but that will be the thing you want to do. He doesn't drag reluctant draftees to the mission field. We're all volunteers, but also God is a wonderful God.

He's very imaginative. He has a he has a Encyclopedia of options for people who are surrendered to him. Not just one, but a whole raft of options that he has for those who love his will. Second fear we're afraid of what he might take from us.

You know this does another terrible disservice to the Lord. The Lord Jesus said the thief cometh not but for to Steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life that they might have it more abundantly.

He wills only the very best for those Who leave the choice with him. I want to tell you tonight dear friend dear young friend. Maybe the battles going on in your soul. You present your life to the Lord with no conditions attached.

He will do for you the greatest thing. That the wisdom of God can conceive. That's pretty good. That's pretty good the greatest thing that the wisdom of God conceive. Fear of God's denials, but I do want to be yielded to the Lord, but I want to get married first.

These but but first, but let me first that is not full surrender. That is not that's playing games with God. You know the fact of the matter is God's will for most of the human races. They should be met they should be married.

That's proved by the fact that most of us come from a long line of married people and Just yielding your life to the Lord. The difference would be maybe you'd be choosing your mate. Where if you yield to the Lord Jesus He would choose for you.

Those who want to get married in the worst possible way usually end up doing that. But you know you could this is something you can commit to the Lord and let him make the choice. I want to tell you it'll be the very best choice.

Fear of loss of Independence, you know I like I'd like to have a home in the in the suburbs of hot and cold folding doors. And all the gimmicks and then two car garage with a car in each one, and you know a good name in the community.

It's also vain also empty. It's also like The world fear of the unknown Abraham without not knowing whether he went we fear the unknown. But I tell you we never go anywhere Without his presence when we're walking in his will.

That's the greatest place to be and all the world to be walking in his will. Fear of the loss of security people think oh If I did that turn you know I might be on the wealth there. Different but God is the only security we have in this world.

He really is he's the only security we have and he'll never let you down. If you're yielded to him if you turn over The reins to him if you get off the throne of your life and put the Lord Jesus on The throne he's all the security you'll ever need.

The fear of hardships isn't it wonderful. What what vivid Imaginations we have if I gave Myself to the Lord. I would be in a world of outdoor toilets and No hot and cold water, you know, I'd be work wearing early Salvation Army clothes and While all my friends are back at home living a high off the hall here and Maybe Enjoying all the things that kill the soul.

Who knows? Who knows? Fear of inadequate, well, I I don't have any gift to give to the Lord. I think a lot of people are sincere when they say that I don't have any anything. I'm just a nobody dear friends.

God has no nobody's and God couldn't love you more than he loves you at this very minute. All you have to do is continue to be poor weak-faced despised he can use you. I I Tell you his ways are not our ways.

I think I think the biggest the biggest problem when the subject of turning my life over to the Lord Jesus pride. Rotten stinking pride, you know, I'm too good for that. I'm too good for that and I want to say a lot of Christian parents have that too.

They'd be totally embarrassed to see their son out on the street corner preaching the gospel. They'd rather see him as the vice president of some utility in charge of paper clips and I want to tell you pride today.

Keeps an awful lot of people from enjoying what God has For them the wonderful things that God has for them. You choose that pathway. Possible for your soul to be saved as your life to be lost. Possible to go to heaven.

Empty hand is possible to bar her miss out on God's. Bar to God's first and be satisfied with his second third or fourth. What it comes down to is this. It's a crisis. It's a process it's a crisis. There has to be a first time in your life when you turn controls over to him.

Ideally it happened when you were saved and it seldom does it did with the Apostle Paul. But we're not the Apostle Paul. And oftentimes we trust the Lord maybe all we know at the time we trusted in line before lost sinner.

But Jesus died somebody who can be saved and be very ignorant, you know. And as time goes on as I say we stand before the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and realize in a new sense What's happening there?

I tell you common sense tells us. Turn your life over to him. It's a crisis. Spurgeon put it this way and I liked it. He said Oh great and unsearchable God Who knows my heart and tries all my ways. With a humble dependence on the support of thy Holy Spirit.

I yield up myself to thee as thy own Reasonable sacrifice. I return to thee thine own. I would be forever Unreservedly perpetually thine while I am on earth. I would serve thee. May I enjoy thee and praise thee forever.

Amen. And Hudson Taylor and his commitment was similar. He said well. Do I remember as I put myself my friends my all upon the altar the deep? Solemnity that came over my soul with the assurance that my offering was accepted the presence of God became Unutterably real and blessed and I remember stretching myself in the ground and lying there before him with Unspeakable awe and unspeakable joy.

For what service I was accepted. I knew not. But a deep consciousness that I was not my own took possession of me. Which has never since been a faith. God used him to open up inland China for the gospel.

William Borden scion of millionaires. He forsook all to take the gospel to the Muslim people died in Cairo on his route to China the age of 26 he said Lord Jesus I Take hands off as far as my life is concerned.

I put thee on the throne in my heart change Cleanse use me as thou shalt choose. I take the full power of thy Holy Spirit. I thank thee. Amen. And dear Jim Elliot said father. Take my life. Yes my blood if thou wilt and Consume it with thine enveloping fire for I would not save it.

It's not mine to save. Have it Lord have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before thine altar. I've used that illustration before that dear young woman in in South Carolina and She gave her testimony of this experience in her life.

She said I just took a blank piece of paper. And I just signed my name at the bottom and I let the Lord fill in the details. That's nice, isn't it? I wonder if somebody tonight's going to take a blank piece of paper.

Just sign it at the bottom. Let the Lord Fill in the details. It's a crisis, but it's also a process. You'd soon find out that after you've laid that sacrifice on the altar. It was a terrible tendency to wiggle off.