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We thank you for joining our Words of Life

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broadcast or podcast , where

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our mission is making God

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known for extolling Jesus , the Christ

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, as the sole hope for the eternal

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souls of humanity . We

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now join Pastor Mark for this week's

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Words of Life message .

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Hey , there again to you , our Words of Life , listeners

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and viewers . I am

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Pastor Mark and it

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is Easter morning

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and I am just really grateful

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because the truth of the matter is , my

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heart is full , just

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the fact that I know who I am , I know

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my sinful heart , I know

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how God's mercy and grace have

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covered me my entire life and

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the fact that I deserve eternal

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death . But God stepped in

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, jesus conquered death

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and the grave , and

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for that I am eternally

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thankful for the work of Jesus

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Christ on my behalf on

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Calvary . And now his Holy

1:04

Spirit lives within

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every believer , and

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so I could not start today's message

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off without just

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thanking God for my soul salvation

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in the work of Jesus Christ . And

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secondly , I want to start off

1:19

by thanking you , because the truth of the matter is

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you could have been doing anything else . You

1:23

could have been . If you're watching this broadcast

1:25

, you could have been watching anybody else . If

1:28

you're listening to the podcast , you could have been

1:30

listening to somebody else , but the truth

1:32

of the matter is you have allowed God's spirit

1:34

to direct you to this

1:36

ministry to hear a word

1:39

from him , and for that my

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wife and I , we truly are

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grateful . That being said , let's

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jump right into our message

1:47

for the week . I'm going to ask that

1:50

you turn to the gospel of

1:52

Mark . You have the first

1:54

three gospels in the New Testament

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Matthew , mark , and

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then no , that's the second

2:00

one . Matthew , mark , luke , there we

2:02

go , I better wake up . No , that's

2:04

the second one . Matthew , mark , luke , there

2:07

we go , I better wake up . Matthew , mark , luke , mark

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is that second synoptic gospel . Synoptic meaning those first three

2:14

gospels . They tell Jesus's story similarly . A lot of S's

2:17

there . I'm going to ask that you turn to Mark

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, chapter seven , verse

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18 . And I'm going to read

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down to verse 23

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. Again , I'll ad lib for just

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a little bit longer , give you an

2:30

opportunity to turn to the book

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of Mark , chapter 7 , beginning

2:35

at verse 18 , and I'm going

2:37

to read the New Living Translation

2:40

here , mark 7

2:42

, beginning at verse 18, . And

2:45

here is our text

2:47

for the morning . Jesus says

2:49

to his disciples can't

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you see that the food you

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put into your body cannot

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defile you ? Food

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doesn't go into your heart

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, but only passes through

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the stomach and then goes

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into the sewer

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. By saying this , jesus was declaring

3:09

that every kind of food is acceptable

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in God's eyes . And

3:14

then he , jesus , added it

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is what comes from inside that

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defiles you . For from

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within , out of a person's heart

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, come evil thoughts

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, sexual immorality

3:28

, theft , murder

3:30

, adultery , greed

3:32

, wickedness , deceit

3:35

, lustful desires

3:37

, envy , slander , pride

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and foolishness or

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folly . All

3:44

these things , these vile

3:47

things verse 23 closes

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come from within , ie

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the heart . They

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are what defile

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or desecrate or

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profane you . May

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the Lord add a blessing to the hearers , the

4:03

readers , but , most importantly , those that

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intend to do , with God's

4:07

help , his holy

4:10

word . The title that I would like

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for us to consider for this week's

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message is A Total

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Eclipse of

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Our Hearts , a

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Total E eclipse of

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our hearts , and

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my initial thoughts have

4:28

been reflecting because we're approaching

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this event . All eyes have

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been looking forward to this rare phenomenon

4:35

occurring , whereas

4:38

people are consumed with

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a celestial event that we know as

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an eclipse . In simple

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terms , what is an eclipse ? Well

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, an eclipse is the blocking or

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the blotting out of the light

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from one celestial body , and celestial

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bodies are that belonging

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to or related to the heavenly realm

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, ie planets , stars

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, galaxies , so on and

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so forth . So an eclipse

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is the blocking or blotting out

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of the light from one celestial

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body by another and its

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source of light In the

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natural sense . I want

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us to think of it as , in the simplest

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terms , the Earth , the

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moon and the sun , all

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celestial bodies . The

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earth , the moon and the sun , all celestial bodies . They will align , but we on earth are

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not receiving the light that earth

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naturally would because of one

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celestial body interrupting

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by coming between the pathway

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or alignment of the other

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two , two

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. Although this defines an eclipse , you know , it actually mirrors spiritually what occurred

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when humanity was separated from God . This happened by

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a fallen , discarded

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angel who sinned , satan , and

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, regrettably , death and

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darkness interrupted and

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came between the eternal relationship

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that God has always desired

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to have with us . But

6:10

just as an eclipse is

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a temporary event , god

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is eternal and he has always

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had a plan for humanity

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. Satan and sin . Throughout the

6:22

history of time , they have purposely

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wedged itself . Satan

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, the author of sin . He has purposely

6:30

wedged himself between

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our vision , our connection

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and relationship with

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a God , the only God

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of the universe , who loves humanity

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. 2nd Corinthians , chapter 4

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, verses 3 and 4 , corroborate

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this fact . I'm going to read the New Living Translation

6:49

version . The verses state

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if our gospel is veiled

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, if it is hidden to those who

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are perishing , it

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is Satan who is the God

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of this world . These people

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are already perishing . If you do not and

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here's a note that pay close attention

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If the gospel to you is foolish

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, if you can't really grasp

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it or understand it , you're just

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totally lost , lost . It agitates

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you , like , what is this ? The Bible

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says that if it is veiled

7:21

, it is hidden from those who are

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perishing , and the reason

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this is so is because the God

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of this world that we must live in , he's

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not in control of all . God

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is but God for a season

7:35

, has allowed Satan to be the

7:37

God of this world and

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he has blinded the minds

7:41

of those who do

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not believe . They are unable

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to see the glorious light

7:48

of the good news . They don't

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understand this message

7:52

about the glory of

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Christ , who is the exact likeness

7:57

of God . So

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as we begin our message , it

8:01

is crucial that we understand

8:04

the condition of the human

8:06

heart prior to beginning

8:09

our exegesis . So let's backtrack

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momentarily to establish

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a fact . There was something

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, ie sin , caused

8:19

by somebody , ie Satan

8:22

. And sin and

8:24

Satan came between

8:26

, and Satan purposely interrupted

8:29

the original plan for humanity

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to rule on earth while

8:34

being securely in God's

8:36

presence forever . Now

8:39

, this interruption , this

8:41

blockage , this darkness

8:43

which can separate us from God eternally

8:46

, it has been instantiated

8:49

since birth for every

8:51

single human being

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that has ever lived

8:56

. Sin is hereditary

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, it is unavoidable

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, and we must see our

9:03

hearts as God sees

9:05

them , in spirit and in truth

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, if there is any hope of

9:10

being securely with God eternally

9:12

. Sin is what causes

9:15

the darkness , the stain

9:17

, the hopelessness , all

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that infects humanity , symbolically

9:23

blocking and interrupting our fellowship

9:25

with and , in some cases , an

9:28

eternal relationship with , god

9:30

. Thus , sin

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has caused this total

9:35

eclipse of our

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hearts . Let there

9:39

be no doubt about it Without God's

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one and only remedy , there

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is hope for nobody

9:47

. We are hopeless . That's

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a fact , period

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. Or , as my students say , facts

9:55

, mr Ingram . Without God's

9:57

one and only remedy , we

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are hopeless . And so , as

10:02

we drive towards

10:04

the one remedy that God has

10:06

for humanity , let's

10:09

ponder God's exact words

10:11

, in case there might be someone

10:13

watching the broadcast or listening to the podcast

10:16

and they believe that

10:18

they're good enough in their own

10:20

efforts , their own goodness

10:22

and their hearts can't be

10:24

as hopeless as

10:26

God has deemed . Let's

10:29

start in the book of beginnings , with

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the origin of humanity

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. After Adam's initial fall , genesis

10:36

, chapter 6 , verse 5 , this is

10:38

the NIV version reads

10:40

the Lord saw how great

10:42

the wickedness of the human race

10:44

had become on the earth and that

10:47

every inclination , ie

10:49

the intentions or

10:52

plans of the wheel , or

10:54

feelings or intellect

10:57

, all of it

11:02

of the thoughts of the human

11:04

heart , was only

11:07

evil all the

11:09

time . You see , people

11:12

see our outside hey , this

11:14

is me . But God sees our unspoken

11:16

, hidden inner selves and says , no

11:19

, this sinful

11:21

is really you

11:23

. And we have this habit of you

11:26

know , we masquerade People , see

11:28

that outer us and we've got it all together

11:30

, but the truth is we really don't

11:32

. Jeremiah , chapter 17

11:34

, verses 9 through 10 . And this is

11:36

the Berean version . The

11:39

heart is deceitful above all

11:41

things . It is beyond

11:43

cure . It fools us into

11:45

thinking we've gotten it , we got it together

11:47

. It fools us into thinking , hey , I'm

11:50

all right . It fools us into believing

11:52

, hey , don't , nobody know about that

11:54

. But God does . The verse says

11:56

the heart is deceitful above

11:58

all things . It's beyond cure . Who

12:01

can understand it ? I

12:03

, the Lord , search the heart

12:06

, I examine the mind

12:08

to reward a man according to his

12:10

way , by what his deeds

12:12

deserve . And in

12:14

that , god's mercy

12:17

, god's grace , and I'm thankful for his

12:19

mercy , his grace and his

12:21

pity towards me , towards

12:24

us , it is immense

12:26

, it's unimaginable , because

12:29

God hasn't dealt with us , he

12:31

hasn't dealt with me as our sins

12:34

, as my sins deserve . But

12:36

notice what he said prior to Calvary According

12:39

to a man's way and his deeds way

12:47

in his deeds , that's what humanity , that's what we really have earned eternal

12:49

death and separation from God . But again , as I started

12:51

the message off on this Easter

12:53

morning , I thank God

12:56

for Jesus and his Holy Spirit

12:58

now doing the work in our hearts as believers

13:00

, because this

13:02

symbolic eclipse of the

13:04

heart , it is temporary

13:07

and it is not eternal for

13:09

those who will believe and accept

13:11

Jesus's work on our

13:14

behalf , because now his Holy

13:16

Spirit indwells us and he

13:18

will perfect that which concerns

13:20

each and every one of

13:23

his children . So

13:25

let's read a few more verses before we get to

13:27

our exegesis and we're just going

13:29

to really focus in

13:31

on what God says about our

13:34

hearts , so that there can be

13:36

no doubt that , oh

13:38

my gosh , I'm a wretch . Ecclesiastes

13:41

, chapter seven , verse 20 , 20

13:44

, new Living Translation Version , states

13:46

not a single person

13:48

on earth is always

13:51

good and never sins

13:53

. In other words , there is nobody

13:55

. And if you flip that sentence , everybody

13:59

sins , even Christians

14:01

. The only difference is we're expecting

14:03

Jesus to do this work in our hearts and

14:06

to bring us spotless before the

14:09

only God , the Holy

14:11

One of all . That's the only difference

14:13

. Being a Christian doesn't mean you're perfect

14:15

. The Bible just tells us that Not a

14:17

single person on earth , even Christians

14:19

, none of us , are good

14:22

and never sin . A Christian still

14:24

sins . We're just covered by

14:26

the blood of Jesus and we have accepted

14:28

Jesus's free gift

14:30

and we sin less and

14:33

less as God brings us towards

14:35

our death date to meet

14:37

him . Psalm 14

14:40

, verses 1 through 3 , the English Standard

14:42

Version states the fool in

14:44

his heart says there

14:46

is no God . They are

14:48

corrupt , they do abominable

14:51

deeds . There is none who

14:53

does good . The verses continue

14:55

the Lord looks down from heaven on the

14:57

children of man to see

14:59

if there are any who understand

15:02

, who seek after God . They

15:05

have all turned aside

15:07

together . They have become corrupt

15:10

. There is , the verses

15:13

reiterate there is none

15:15

who does good

15:17

, not even

15:19

one . And so

15:21

it

15:39

is critical , before we get to this exegesis of our

15:41

opening text , it the

15:44

verses Jesus addresses the condition

15:46

of our hearts within a parable

15:48

because uber religious

15:50

Pharisees and scribes . You

15:53

know they were present and you

15:55

know they came to watch Jesus , to

15:57

interrogate him , and you know

15:59

, and as they were there watching

16:01

Jesus and his disciples , they

16:04

were demonstrating the rituals

16:06

of hand washing before

16:08

eating , you know , but at this particular

16:10

time , the disciples , they

16:12

weren't doing any hand washing at

16:14

this gathering . I guess they were just ready to eat

16:17

. Now there's

16:19

absolutely nothing wrong

16:21

with hand washing before

16:23

you eat your meal , nothing

16:28

wrong with hand washing before you eat your meal . But for the Pharisees and

16:30

the scribes , on this particular day , it was a pompous religious I

16:32

am good enough outward show

16:34

of religious hypocrisy . And

16:37

it added this unnecessary

16:39

spiritual component by

16:42

treating hand washing as

16:44

this uber spiritually

16:46

ceremonial act to

16:49

be respected . And now the

16:52

disciples keep in mind , you know

16:54

, they're following Jesus , they're feeding

16:56

thousands , they're fishing . At times

16:58

they knew the law , but

17:00

they didn't get caught up in this religious

17:02

traditional display of

17:04

acting as if washing hands before

17:07

eating was this religious

17:09

ceremonial requirement , matter

17:12

of fact , in verse two , the verse indicates

17:14

that the religious elders

17:16

saw the disciples about to eat , but

17:19

they hadn't washed their hands like they had

17:21

Thereby . Oh , my goodness

17:23

, these are the disciples

17:25

of Jesus . Their hands are defiled

17:28

, they are tainted , they are

17:30

not as spiritual as we

17:32

are . Verse 5 then

17:34

reads so the Pharisees and the teachers

17:36

of the law . They asked Jesus

17:39

why don't your disciples

17:41

live according to the traditions

17:43

of the elders instead of eating

17:46

their food with these

17:48

defiled , unwashed

17:50

hands . Oh yeah they

17:52

. They felt spiritually

17:55

superior . Jesus

17:57

saw through their motives and their hypocrisy

17:59

, though , and he replied you

18:01

are hypocrites . You honor

18:03

with your lips , but your hearts

18:05

, your hearts , they

18:07

are far from God . You

18:10

worship in vain , but your

18:12

teachings are merely human

18:14

rules . You set

18:16

aside the commands of God in order

18:19

to observe your own traditions , thereby

18:22

nullifying the

18:24

word , making it of non-effect

18:26

, the word of God

18:28

. Then Jesus concludes his

18:30

conversation with the religious community

18:32

, and he calls the crowd to him

18:35

to announce truth , and I think that's

18:37

very important , because sometimes , if

18:39

we just think about this in context , we

18:41

can get so caught up in rituals

18:44

, religions and traditions , and

18:46

then you have a whole body , a whole

18:48

church congregation

18:51

, more focused on all of that

18:53

instead of what matters the most

18:55

. And so Jesus not only

18:57

corrected and addressed

18:59

the untruth , he caused the crowd

19:01

to him to announce the real

19:03

truth . In verse 15 , he

19:06

states nothing outside

19:08

a person can defile them

19:11

, can desecrate them by going

19:13

into them . In other words , no

19:16

unwashed , dirty hand

19:18

that touches and then eats food

19:20

at a table that maybe hasn't been washed

19:23

. That does not make

19:25

a person unclean , profane

19:28

or desecrated

19:30

. Rather , it is what comes

19:33

out of a person , originating

19:35

from inside of a person , ie

19:38

the heart that

19:40

defiles , desecrates

19:42

and profanes them . And

19:44

this now brings us full circle

19:46

to our opening text , where

19:48

Jesus specifies what

19:51

really defiles humanity the

19:53

things that come from within us . It

19:56

is a sin-sick , darkened

19:59

, interrupted , hopeless

20:02

heart , without

20:04

God's intervention on

20:06

our behalf . That is

20:09

what defiles every

20:11

human being that

20:13

has lived . It is what

20:15

comes from inside that

20:18

defiles us , rendering everybody

20:21

no-transcript

20:33

. Come evil thoughts , sexual

20:35

immorality , theft , murder

20:37

, adultery , greed

20:39

, wickedness , deceit

20:42

, lustful desires , envy

20:44

, slander , pride

20:46

and foolishness . All

20:48

these vile things come

20:51

from within , ie

20:53

the heart . They

20:55

are what defile us , the

20:58

vile things from within our hearts . These

21:01

are the obstacles that obscure

21:04

the daily light of God

21:06

that we need lest

21:08

we continue going on deceived

21:11

by sin . And , regrettably

21:13

, we continue with

21:16

this total eclipse

21:18

of our hearts

21:21

. And so how

21:23

can we get ourselves , as we transition

21:25

from the text to our call

21:27

to action application point ? How

21:33

can we get restored or reconciled

21:36

so that Satan and sin

21:38

no longer interrupt , they

21:40

no longer block , our daily

21:42

fellowship or eternal

21:45

relationship with God

21:48

? How can we get ourselves realigned

21:50

? Here's call to action , point number

21:52

one we must

21:54

evaluate if rituals , tradition

21:56

or religion blocks

21:58

our view of God

22:01

. I'll repeat call to action , point

22:03

number one , if you're taking notes , we

22:06

must always evaluate if

22:08

rituals , tradition or

22:11

religion blocks

22:13

our view of

22:15

God . You know , sometimes

22:17

we can be just like the Pharisees and

22:19

the scribes . We might do it in

22:21

another way and today it might sound like

22:24

you know that religious , pious , hypocritical

22:28

, you know superior

22:30

. It can sound like this today , you know

22:32

what . Today , you know what . You must tithe

22:35

and you must pay your 10%

22:38

, or God is mad and

22:40

you are robbing God . Well

22:42

, no , he isn't mad and you're

22:44

not robbing God . I've

22:48

often told members and

22:50

believers at times you know , if

22:52

the option remains , okay

22:55

, it's the end of the month or

22:57

the beginning of the month Pay my mortgage

22:59

or rent or pay the tent . Please

23:02

pay your rent

23:04

or mortgage . Okay

23:07

, god does not want you to be put out

23:09

and then have to go to the church

23:12

or take out a loan just to pay

23:14

your rent or your mortgage . No , if

23:18

the option remains you are hearing it from a preacher Pay

23:21

the rent or pay the tent . Please

23:23

pay your rent

23:26

. Okay , our first

23:28

ministry is always home , for

23:30

how can a man or woman oversee the house of

23:32

God without first mastering

23:34

and taking care of his own

23:37

. But you know what that's exactly

23:39

, what false religion can impose

23:41

this set of rules

23:43

and rituals . And you have

23:45

to do this . And Jesus died

23:48

for relationship with

23:50

us , not rules and rituals

23:53

that we must carry

23:55

out to please him . Okay , false

23:58

religion will impose that interruption

24:01

of the relationship that

24:03

God desires the most

24:05

. You know , I've visited , I

24:07

know people that have almost

24:09

died was I was at

24:12

the hospital , I

24:14

was at the bedside and

24:16

I never saw those

24:18

spiritual leaders . But

24:21

now that the person is healed

24:23

, the first thing that person

24:25

gets . So when

24:27

are you going to send your tithes in ? And

24:29

I'm sitting there like wow , but

24:32

she almost died . That's

24:34

foolishness . Ok , we

24:37

, we have to always evaluate

24:39

and our rituals , traditions

24:41

and is . Is

24:44

all of this religion blocking my

24:46

view and my relationship , my growth

24:48

, my walk with God ? I

24:51

mean , is this perception of

24:53

outward religion , the

24:56

collars that care

24:58

about looking spiritual but

25:01

then won't even do the basics

25:03

of what God really requires

25:06

Love somebody , be

25:08

there with them , mourn with

25:11

them , buy a meal if

25:13

you have to , just listen

25:15

, don't talk about it . Be

25:17

like Christ . That's

25:21

what we must become . But when we concern ourselves with

25:23

how others view us instead

25:26

of how God views us . Well

25:29

, that's when fellowship with

25:31

God can be blocked because

25:33

he isn't pleased , and it's like

25:35

we're masquerading on the outside

25:37

. You know I'm blessed , but

25:39

on the inside we are still a mess

25:41

, and God sees it

25:43

all . That's one of the things

25:46

my dad , god bless his heart . I've been a

25:48

minister preaching the gospel for

25:50

some 23 , 24 years and

25:53

, you know , under my dad for those first eight

25:55

, and he , you know , would always

25:57

tell me , son , the secret to staying

26:00

in lockstep with the Lord your

26:02

, your relationship is secure , but you want

26:05

that daily fellowship . You

26:07

address your mess before God gets to

26:09

it , and that is so

26:11

true . As

26:13

parents , we always discipline our children

26:15

to stop something worse from

26:18

occurring . And if we do

26:20

not address and discipline , then the worst

26:22

possibly would occur . And

26:24

so we have to stop this

26:26

masquerading on the outside . Oh , you know I'm

26:28

so blessed , but on the inside we let

26:30

stuff slide . No , I'm blessed

26:33

, but I'm still a mess , and God

26:35

sees it all . Confess it , god

26:38

already sees it . I'll give you a great

26:40

example of something that happened recently

26:42

. One day , a friend of mine she looked pale

26:45

and she also had this sour

26:47

mood for the day , and it's all good because she's normally

26:49

jovial , so she informs

26:51

me why her mood is so

26:54

messed up . She said you know , I'm hungry

26:56

, I'm like , you know . My reply

26:58

was like , okay , you want something to eat

27:00

? I got you . And her reply was no

27:02

thanks , I'm fasting , you

27:11

know . So my inside silent voice thinks okay , nevermind that . Jesus said we shouldn't fast like this , for

27:13

recognition or sympathy , going around telling everybody . But you know

27:15

, it is what it is . But it's

27:17

what she said next that tickled me . She

27:19

let her stomach growl

27:22

real loudly in the midst

27:24

of our conversation and

27:27

she literally cussed . And

27:30

you know I didn't judge her , I just laughed

27:32

because I offered okay , now

27:34

, shouldn't you , you

27:36

know , prayerfully , think about relinquishing

27:39

the fast right now so you can eat and

27:41

you don't probably faint or fall out

27:43

? And she responded why

27:46

would I do that ? And I'm like if

27:50

I cuss , doesn't that render

27:52

that I can't eat meat ? Reasoning

27:54

null and void right now . And

27:56

her reply uh-uh , but that's different . And

27:59

at that I just couldn't help . But you

28:01

know , I laughed because that

28:03

really is . I'm not laughing at her

28:06

, but if we are not careful and we don't check ourselves

28:08

, that is the true condition

28:11

of our hearts on any

28:13

given day . I

28:15

look good outwardly , I'm doing

28:18

the spiritual things , I'm

28:21

fasting , I give my tithes

28:23

, my time , my money , but inside

28:25

we still have a lot of

28:27

unconfessed sin

28:30

and that then brings

28:32

in this hopelessness that

28:34

sometimes Satan will whisper in our ear

28:36

and then that wretchedness

28:39

that our hearts are man

28:41

on any given day . That's

28:44

us . We will do , we

28:46

will look good outwardly , but inside

28:48

still we are sinful

28:50

and it can look hopeless and

28:53

wretched without the saving

28:55

grace of Jesus Christ

28:57

. And we have to understand when

29:00

we add rituals , when

29:03

we add traditions , religious

29:05

works to the simple come

29:08

as you are invitation that Jesus

29:10

espouses , it blocks

29:12

our fellowship and our

29:15

communion with the

29:17

God of humanity

29:19

. And so it was this outward

29:21

display of the Pharisees

29:23

and the scribes in the text lifting

29:26

their hands to be seen with

29:28

this ceremonial washing while

29:30

letting the water roll off , so

29:33

that everybody could see that they were indeed

29:35

clean and deserving

29:38

and hopeful of . Oh

29:40

, they are so spiritual

29:42

and so holy

29:45

. Jesus said nope . Matthew

29:48

23 , verse 28 . So

29:50

you are also outwardly

29:52

appearing righteous

29:55

to others , outwardly

30:01

appearing righteous to others , but within the heart you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness

30:04

. John , chapter 4 , verse

30:06

24 , the word says God

30:09

. He is a spirit

30:11

and those that worship him

30:13

must worship him in

30:16

spirit and in

30:18

truth . To say that

30:20

we must worship God in spirit

30:22

simply means that

30:24

it must originate

30:26

from a sincere

30:29

heart . Lay it

30:31

bare , lay it

30:33

bare . And that literally brings

30:36

me to our call to action

30:38

, point number two when we lay

30:40

stuff bare , we must see

30:42

, then confess the sin

30:45

within our heart daily

30:47

. Again , we must

30:49

see , then confess

30:51

the sin within our heart

30:54

daily . We just don't

30:56

want it to fester , you don't

30:58

want it to build up . You

31:00

know we have to have a sincere

31:02

heart when we worship

31:04

and we come to God in spirit and in

31:07

truth . He already knows it . He

31:10

sees within our hearts anyway . He

31:12

knows if we're going to try to be deceitful by

31:14

keeping up that symbolic guard

31:17

. Yet Jesus

31:19

has already laid bare what

31:22

lies within the hearts of each one

31:24

of us in our opening

31:26

text , informing us that

31:28

we are defiled not by

31:30

what we do or put into our bodies

31:33

, but what originates from

31:35

within our sin , sick

31:37

heart . And it is crucial

31:40

that every single day , now

31:42

, as a believer , our relationship

31:45

with Jesus , our

31:47

relationship with God eternally

31:49

, for a believer it is secure , but

31:52

the fellowship that can

31:54

be impacted on a daily basis

31:56

. So again , as my dad would often

31:58

say , confess the mess

32:00

before God gets to it . We

32:03

have to see into our hearts

32:05

and then confess that sin

32:07

within on a daily

32:09

basis . Proverbs

32:12

the book of wisdom , chapter 21

32:14

, verse 2 , the English Standard standard

32:16

version states every way

32:18

of a man is right in his

32:21

own eyes , but the

32:23

Lord weighs the

32:26

heart . Even when

32:28

we purpose to do good , you

32:30

know , it's a miss at times and

32:33

we need God's daily

32:35

guidance to truly

32:37

help us because our intent

32:39

, it might be good in our eyes

32:41

, but deeper in

32:43

that , sin filledicks our hearts

32:45

and comes from

32:48

without , comes out . It

33:02

could be our mouth , it could be our actions

33:05

. It's just a daily

33:07

fight . And if again

33:09

I have someone that's watching the

33:11

broadcast or listening to the podcast

33:13

and you're like , not me , you

33:16

tripping , no , that

33:18

literally happened doing a church service

33:20

, as I was preaching from the pulpit

33:22

and an elder lady , she

33:25

said not me , no

33:27

, darling , yes , you too

33:30

, all of us . First , john

33:32

, chapter one , verse eight and nine

33:34

, 9 . The word of God says if

33:36

we say we have no sin

33:38

, we deceive

33:41

ourselves , and again the word

33:43

corroborated that earlier . The

33:45

heart is deceitful above

33:47

all things . So

33:49

if we say that we have no sin , we

33:52

deceive ourselves and

33:54

the truth is not in

33:57

us . But if we confess

33:59

our sins , that's what we just , that's

34:01

what we're literally purposing

34:04

to do in this application . Point number two

34:06

confess the mess . If

34:08

we confess our sins , then

34:11

God is faithful and just

34:13

to forgive us our sins

34:16

and to cleanse us from

34:18

all unrighteousness . Why

34:21

is God the faithful promise , keeper

34:23

? Why is he just to forgive

34:26

us our sins and then wipe our slate

34:28

clean , renewing and

34:30

creating in us a clean

34:32

, renewed heart ? Well , he

34:34

can do so because of what Jesus did on

34:36

our behalf this weekend

34:38

. Call to action . Point number three perfect

34:41

setup . We need to understand

34:44

that attempting to access

34:46

God is impossible

34:48

without accepting Jesus

34:51

. I want to say that again because

34:53

this is the only reason , preachers , we have been

34:55

given and called to preach Attempting

34:59

to access God is

35:01

impossible without

35:04

accepting Jesus . 1

35:07

Timothy , chapter 2 and 5 , for

35:09

there is one God and

35:11

there is one mediator

35:13

between God

35:15

and men , that

35:17

is the man Christ

35:20

Jesus . And so now this

35:22

total eclipse of

35:31

the heart . It can be removed because

35:33

on one side , you the spectrum , there is

35:36

humanity Lost

35:38

, hopeful , sinful

35:41

, defiled , and

35:47

now darkness has been pushed out of the way because the one mediator

35:49

that stands right in the middle , that

35:51

has imparted himself , making

35:54

like a bridge the cross , we

35:56

can now cross over to God . It

35:58

is God's only

36:00

begotten son , jesus

36:03

the Christ . And so now that

36:05

perfect alignment , the total eclipse

36:07

of the heart is gone and now humanity

36:10

has been realigned

36:12

, we have been reconciled to

36:15

God if we

36:17

agree to accept the

36:19

one mediator that

36:21

stands between God and

36:24

men and he intercedes on

36:26

our behalf . There

36:29

are not get this clear as we get ready to conclude

36:31

there are not many options

36:33

or ways to God . There's

36:36

only one are not many options or ways to God . There's only one Jesus

36:38

alone . He is our go-between

36:40

, our

36:49

mediator , who has defeated Satan and death and , as I said earlier , he has now reconciled us . He

36:51

has restored God's presence . We have him forever

36:53

now , his eternal light and

36:55

life . When all

36:57

was eternally lost for

37:00

humanity , life

37:02

is no longer eclipsed or interrupted

37:05

for the believer . Our sins

37:07

have been blotted out because of our

37:09

acceptance of this free gift

37:11

that God is giving to anyone

37:14

who accepts his

37:16

precious offer . There

37:19

is now no condemnation for those of

37:21

us who are securely in Christ

37:23

Jesus . There is no longer

37:25

a total eclipse of

37:28

the heart for a Christian who

37:30

trusts in Jesus alone to

37:32

complete the good work that he has

37:34

started within our hearts by

37:37

his Holy Spirit , who now indwells

37:40

every believer . As

37:42

I conclude , I'm going to conclude with Psalm

37:45

138 and 8 , because it's

37:47

probably my favorite verse , because God

37:49

is a promise keeper and I

37:51

am encouraged on the days that

37:54

my heart is just screaming you're

37:56

guilty , you're guilty , you're guilty . Mark the

37:59

verse and I pray it daily . You

38:02

, o Lord , will perfect that

38:04

which concerns me . Your

38:07

mercy , o Lord , endures

38:10

towards me forever

38:12

. You will never forsake

38:14

the works of your hands . You

38:21

will never forsake the works of your hands , which I am Now . I want us to notice something as we prepare

38:23

for our invitation to Christ . Did you notice that during

38:25

the preparation for an eclipse , the

38:28

news everybody warns us

38:30

that special glasses are encouraged

38:33

or irrevocable harm

38:35

to our eyes and vision are

38:37

foretold . It can't occur . Well

38:40

, meeting God after death

38:43

is no different . Irrevocable

38:45

harm will

38:47

occur eternally if

38:50

we reject Jesus as

38:53

the only remedy that God

38:55

has provided to mediate

38:57

and to reconcile us

38:59

to him . Greater

39:03

is Jesus who has overcome Satan

39:05

and death , and Jesus has properly

39:07

removed him as ruler

39:10

over those of us who have accepted

39:12

God's gracious offer . We

39:14

have been properly realigned

39:17

God's

39:19

gracious offer , we have been properly realigned . We are back in fellowship and

39:21

eternal relationship with God through Jesus alone . But if you have

39:24

not accepted God's

39:26

gracious offer or if you

39:28

reject him through this or

39:30

any other invitation to

39:33

claim Jesus exclusively as

39:35

the only way to safely be

39:37

guided into the light that God alone

39:39

is , you are playing

39:42

dangerously with your eternal

39:44

existence and risk

39:46

being cast into utter darkness

39:48

and unimaginable

39:50

torment forever

39:52

. Listener , viewer , we

39:54

must know this God's offer

39:56

is time sensitive . Today

39:59

is the day of salvation . Tomorrow

40:01

is not promised . God

40:04

set our departure dates before

40:07

he even placed us

40:09

in our mother's womb and

40:12

we took our first breath on

40:14

this planet earth . And this is

40:16

the only reason that we stand before you today

40:18

to extol Jesus , the Christ

40:20

, as the sole hope for

40:23

the eternal souls of

40:25

humanity . No

40:27

religious rules , no opinions

40:29

to offer you , no requests

40:31

for monetary support . And we certainly don't

40:33

stand before you in our own strength as

40:35

if we have it all together . If we're

40:38

being honest , none of us do . I

40:40

certainly don't . Jesus said it

40:42

, but guess who does God

40:45

? Does Jesus , does His

40:47

Holy Spirit that dwells within our heart

40:49

perfecting and getting us ready for

40:52

this eternal date with God ? He's

40:54

got it together , and it's why

40:56

I can confidently offer him to you

40:58

at this very moment

41:00

, because he is the only

41:03

promise keeper . No

41:06

one can come to God unless

41:08

God draws them to him , through

41:11

Jesus alone . And

41:14

maybe today is the day that

41:16

God is drawing you . If you're watching

41:18

this broadcast , if you're listening to the

41:21

podcast , it's not luck

41:23

, it's an appointment . God

41:25

had you list . Maybe this is your invitation

41:28

day , that God is asking you

41:30

, drawing you into this eternal

41:33

relationship and fellowship with

41:35

him at this very moment . Do

41:37

not take it for granted . If

41:39

this is you , all

41:42

you must do to repeat to

41:44

secure your eternal security

41:46

in our Lord and Savior . Just

41:48

repeat this simple prayer in faith

41:51

with me . Oh Lord , I'm

41:53

going to A acknowledge that I am a sinner

41:55

. My heart is as sinful as you

41:57

have warned us that it is . I

41:59

cannot come to you in my own

42:02

goodness and effort , and

42:04

this is why I will B believe

42:06

. I believe that you alone

42:08

. You're the only son of God

42:10

. You have taken away the sin of

42:12

the world , of which I am a

42:14

part of . I am in

42:17

the world now , but because I

42:19

believe in you , I no

42:21

longer belong to the world . I

42:24

belong to you exclusively

42:27

, and it is now why I will

42:29

go forward and do the last thing , which

42:31

is see , confess . I will confess with my mouth

42:33

that you alone . Confess . I will confess with my mouth that

42:36

you alone , you

42:38

are my sole Savior and Redeemer

42:40

. You

42:47

have reconciled me back to God . You have removed the scales from my

42:49

eyes so that I will now see and understand this glorious

42:52

gospel of Christ

42:54

. Because of Jesus , I

42:57

am saved and I say

42:59

Amen

43:02

, or it is so

43:04

. Well , viewer , listener

43:07

, we are elated for you that

43:09

you have made the best decision of

43:11

your life . And if you

43:13

are not one of those

43:15

that accepted Christ today and

43:17

you are a believer already , there's

43:20

still some work for us to do , just daily , looking

43:22

within our hearts to make sure

43:24

that we don't leave any sin unconfessed

43:27

in there , because if we do , that's

43:29

when that darkness and that defilement

43:32

comes up , and it was the whole

43:34

reason once humanity started

43:36

, for the total eclipse

43:39

of our hearts

43:41

that Jesus has now taken

43:44

care of for

43:46

us eternally . This

43:48

is Pastor Mark again , and I want to thank you for tuning

43:51

in to this week's Words of Life

43:53

episode . Also , be on the lookout

43:55

, because I think my wife's

43:57

next episode drops and

43:59

her broadcast and podcast

44:01

is also called Biblical

44:03

Thoughts with Twala

44:06

, and the Words of Life broadcast

44:08

podcast , as well as Biblical Thoughts , the

44:11

broadcast and the podcast . Both of those are

44:13

free . How you might ask

44:15

? Well , all you have to do is download

44:18

our Roku channel . Just

44:20

look for the logo

44:22

. And if you do find that Words

44:25

of Life logo

44:27

, words of Life with Pastor Mark D Ingram

44:29

, you'll notice that you can download

44:31

our Roku channel for free for

44:34

sermons , music videos , short films

44:36

, as well as the digital app

44:38

for Biblical Thoughts and Words

44:40

of Life . If you want that

44:42

to travel with on your phone , your laptop

44:46

, you can find our digital app at

44:49

Amazon , spotify , apple Music

44:51

as well , and that too , our

44:55

app is free . As

44:57

I get out of here , man , I thank you all for joining

44:59

us , but until the next

45:01

time we meet , same pastor , same

45:04

words of life , which is the word of life

45:06

, god's word . I'm

45:08

out of here , and before I do that

45:10

, I want to leave you with the song of the week . It

45:13

is called Me Again . Hey

45:15

y'all , this is my prayer . It's a long one , but

45:18

I hope that you find something in there . That

45:20

, lord , that's me , forgive me

45:22

, we're out of here . Song of the week

45:24

. We love you See you next week . Bye-bye

45:26

, it's

45:29

me again . It's why I'm

45:33

calling out

45:36

to you . It's

45:53

me again , my

45:56

God . You created me

45:58

. You know everything about me . You

46:00

searched my heart from afar To see if

46:02

I'll keep up the guard or run

46:04

to you for help . You know my

46:06

rising up and my sitting down . You

46:08

live within me and still surround you

46:11

, formed before I came from mother's womb , not

46:14

a minute late , nor did I arrive a minute too soon

46:16

. Time is temporary , so that

46:18

I will be , because my forever with

46:20

you is eternally . So

46:22

, in spirit and the truth , it's

46:27

me again . It's me

46:29

again Cause you know me through and through . It's

46:33

me again , even

46:36

when I'm in control . It's

46:40

me again . It's

46:42

why I'm calling out to you . It's

46:47

me again , my

46:49

God . I am a woeful

46:51

sinner , saved only by your grace . I

46:54

can imagine , but I can't picture the glory

46:56

of seeing your face . Angels cover

46:58

their eyes , so I'd best recognize that hope

47:01

is the essence of you . And lest

47:03

I forget how exalted you are , their

47:05

feet must be covered too . Though the

47:07

enemy roam , there's me , let alone Coping

47:09

with snares that surround . But in

47:11

confidence I seek , because in every defeat your

47:14

grace much more abounds . So

47:16

, spirit in the truth . It's

47:20

me again , cause

47:23

you know me through and through . It's

47:27

me again , even

47:29

when I'm in control . It's me again , even when I'm misconstrued . It's

47:33

me again . It's

47:36

why I'm calling out to you . It's

47:40

me again , my

47:43

God . Only you alone

47:45

can perfect every issue that

47:47

to this day concerns sinful me . Your loving kindness and your patience

47:49

, my God , can perfect every issue that to this day concerns sinful me . Your loving

47:51

kindness and your patience , my God

47:53

, they mean more than this life

47:55

to me . It endures

47:58

forever . Your love , that is

48:00

. You can't forsake the work of your hands

48:03

that I am . Before you

48:05

command it , let there be . You

48:09

anointed me for your plans . Spirit in the truth . It's

48:13

me again , cause

48:16

you know me through and through . It's

48:20

me again , even

48:23

when I'm in control . It's

48:27

me again . It's

48:29

why I'm calling out to you . It's

48:33

me again , my

48:36

God . I must admit , this

48:38

thorn in my side Erases sinful

48:40

pride , a heart I miss , like the betrayal

48:42

of a kiss Is why I might not abide

48:44

In your midst , creating me

48:46

a clean heart , cause today I'm here , laying

48:48

at your feet . Where ? do I start when

48:51

, enveloped by dark On the days , I feel like

48:53

defeat . Without you , with

48:55

sin , it feels like whack-a-mole they pop

48:57

up , but the show ain't a game . Victory

48:59

now , but tomorrow comes and I'm stumbling

49:01

back in the same . So , spirit , in

49:03

the truth , it's

49:07

me again , cause

49:09

you know me through and through . It's me again , cause you know me through and through . It's

49:13

me again , even

49:16

when I'm in control . It's

49:20

me again . It's

49:22

why I'm calling out to you . It's

49:27

me again , my

49:29

God . Everybody's blessed

49:31

, but am I the only best ? Cause the heart you

49:33

search and you see , blessed and favored

49:36

, is cool . But I'm kinda confused Cause I'm struggling

49:38

in reality . There are days I

49:40

wanna cuss and even scream , but trials

49:43

perfect these temporary things With

49:45

no condemnation . Relationship is based

49:47

on you being the one , not

49:50

me being my very best , for when I confess

49:52

my sin , you are the

49:54

faithful one . So , in spirit

49:57

and the truth , it's

50:00

me again , cause

50:03

you know me through and through . It's

50:07

me again . It's

50:09

me again , even when I'm in control . It's

50:13

me again . It's

50:16

why I'm calling out to you . It's

50:20

me again , my

50:22

God , with expectation

50:25

from the promise keeper . I want to know what

50:27

you have in store , but with every wish

50:29

and your will for me . Why am I

50:31

always at war , can't catch a

50:33

break , even in my dreams I toss and I

50:35

turn because I fight . But when I sleep

50:37

, your thoughts of me , they outnumber the stars

50:39

. At night , when I feel barren and naked

50:42

to the world , like you didn't clothe me in righteousness

50:44

, can I feel your embrace , encased

50:46

in your arms , just to give me some peace

50:48

and some rest ? It's me again . It's why

50:51

I'm

50:54

calling out to

50:56

you . It's

51:13

me again , my

51:16

God , your love

51:18

for me , unconditional as

51:20

I am temperamental . But I'm still

51:22

relying on you . Not one

51:25

good thing you withhold If I'm just

51:27

devoted to Trust you , love

51:29

you , obey you and walk with

51:32

you , talk to you , listen to you , praise you

51:34

and worship you . Lord , where

51:36

else could I go ? I

51:38

might not know much , but this

51:40

much I surely know . So

51:43

, in spirit and the truth , it's

51:47

me again . Does

51:49

you know me through and through ? It's

51:53

me again , even

51:56

when I'm in control . It's

52:00

me again . It's

52:02

why I'm calling out to you . It's

52:07

me again , my

52:09

God . You're God , the Almighty

52:11

alone and Lord , I know there's only you . I

52:14

know that you're not finished with me . So , lord , what

52:16

would you have me to do ? I thank

52:18

you for brand new mercy , to which start every day

52:20

anew , want to stand , but I fall

52:22

, because I realize my dependence upon you

52:24

and all that you expect in me , light

52:26

or salt . Help me to pursue Every

52:29

step , every breath . How , how dare I predict the

52:31

day , morning , noon or sleepless

52:33

night ? It's you who lights my way

52:35

, so it's spirit and the truth . It's

52:40

me again , cause

52:43

you know me through and through . It's

52:47

me again , even

52:49

when I'm in control . It's me again , even when I'm in control . It's

52:53

me again . It's

52:56

why I'm calling out to you it's

53:00

me again , my

53:02

God , oh Lord , hear my prayer

53:05

, my plea , as I approach you every

53:07

day , because it's me and I

53:09

know I'm in need , bearing my heart

53:11

before judgment day . I know you're

53:13

risen and thinking of me , but sometimes I don't

53:15

understand . So . I'm leaning on

53:17

my faith alone . Lord , it's

53:20

just me again . Take my

53:22

hand , help me stand . Lord

53:25

, it's me , me again

53:28

.