WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.279 The sacrifice of Jesus. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:06.080 What is a sacrifice? 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:09.759 What is a sacrifice? 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:11.759 What is a sacrifice? 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:26.079 A sacrifice is giving up something voluntarily for the sake, giving up something precious to you voluntarily for the sake of something else. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:34.320 Giving the voluntary giving up of something precious to you for the sake of something else. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:35.600 That's a sacrifice. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:44.079 Usually, that something else is you have reckoned it to be higher than what you are giving up. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:50.159 But what you are giving up is not something that is not something to be winged at anyway. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:58.479 The sacrifice is giving up something that is precious to you for the sake of something else. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:01.359 And we're talking about the sacrifice of Jesus. 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:03.200 John chapter 10, verse 18. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:05.200 John chapter 10, verse 18. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:12.239 Jesus speaking, he says that no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:15.439 A sacrifice is not given under duress. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:20.959 You see, it is not a sacrifice if you are forced to do it. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:25.439 It is not a sacrifice if you are forced to do it. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:28.400 You see, it's not a sacrifice if you are forced to do it. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:31.200 So Jesus is telling us here that nobody took my life. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:34.319 Yes, the Roman soldiers actually nailed him to the cross. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:37.840 But he's saying that nobody can actually take my life. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:40.079 I'm the one that laid it down. 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:41.760 The Bible says the Lord loves what? 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:43.519 The Lord loves a cheerful giver. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:45.680 Can we um welcome Sister Lucy? 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:47.920 Our first time at the landmark church. 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:49.840 Welcome to the landmark church. 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:54.480 Welcome, welcome, welcome. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:57.120 Sister Lucy, welcome to the landmark church. 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:58.400 You're welcome. 00:01:58.959 --> 00:01:59.840 Thank you, Lord. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:01.040 Thank you for coming. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:06.159 So Jesus is saying that I'm talking about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:08.319 The sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.919 It was not forced to do it. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:15.039 Anything you are forced to do does not have reward. 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:17.360 I don't know if you're hearing what I'm saying. 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:20.800 Anything that you are forced to do does not have reward. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:22.800 The Bible says the Lord loves what? 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:24.319 A cheerful giver. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:26.479 The Lord loves a cheerful giver. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:34.159 If you ever find yourself in a place and you are being forced to do things, find yourself in the church and you are being forced to serve, you are being forced to do things. 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:38.400 Uh you may not know the word is in view for you. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:44.479 Know the word is in view because sacrifices are done voluntarily. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:45.599 Voluntarily. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:48.159 If you give under duress, you serve under duress. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:54.560 If you are doing your devotion under duress, if you are like, oh, I have to do this devotion because if I don't do it now, God will be angry at me. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:58.319 That your devotion has there's no there's no reward in view for it. 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:01.199 There's no reward in view for it. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:07.360 You you your your sacrifice, your your everything we do in the kingdom has to be done willingly. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:16.400 The Lord loves what a cheerful giver, not a grow, not a giver that is that is doing it grudgingly or doing it as if ah, something a gun has been put into your head. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:19.360 No, not the kind of sacrifice the Lord loves. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:23.680 Jesus says, I lay down my life and I do it off, I will do it willingly. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:25.680 Nobody is taking it from me. 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:27.840 Nobody's taking it from me. 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:30.560 That is why it is called a sacrifice. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:32.560 That's why it qualifies to be what? 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:33.599 A sacrifice. 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:44.159 The thing about a sacrifice is that while you are giving up something that is precious to you, somebody else is benefiting from what you are giving up. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:46.479 I don't know if you're hearing what I'm saying. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:55.680 As you are giving up something, that thing that is precious to you, somebody else, and you are losing it, somebody else is benefiting from what you are you gave up. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.879 Jesus sacrificed himself for us. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:03:59.919 Jesus did what? 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:01.520 He sacrificed himself for us. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:03.680 Look at Romans chapter 5, verse 8. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:05.039 Romans chapter 5, verse 6. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:06.000 Let's read it together. 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:07.439 Everybody with a loud voice. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:08.719 One to go. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:16.879 But God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:25.839 One more time, but God demonstrates his love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.759 Somebody say Christ died for me. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:31.759 First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 9 to 10. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:42.959 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.560 Died for us. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:46.160 Died for us. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:54.240 Every time you're reading your Bible and you encounter these three words, died for us, it is speaking to something called substitution. 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:57.519 He's speaking to the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:06.079 When you hear died for us, died for us, he's telling you that something has been done for you, that all you now need to do is to appropriate it. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:07.360 Somebody say appropriate. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:10.959 Yes, he's saying that something has been done for you. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:13.839 Now all you need to do is appropriate it. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.720 That is make it manifest in your own life. 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:19.199 Appropriate is lay hold on it. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:21.839 Appropriate is lay hold on it. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:25.360 See it as a reality, see it as a benefit that you need to lay hold on. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:27.759 You appropriate it, it has been done for you. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:28.879 So Christ did what? 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:29.920 He died for us. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:33.519 So he laid down his life and he sacrificed for us. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:42.399 For you to be an effective New Testament Christian, a Christian that will not be cheated out of their inheritance in redemption. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:48.480 For you to be a Christian, that the devil will not cheat out of their inheritance in Christ. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:50.959 You must understand this. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:54.160 That Christ died for you. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:57.120 This must be etched in your consciousness. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.240 It must be etched in your consciousness that Christ did what? 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:02.399 He died for you. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:05.360 Somebody say it again. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:07.199 Say Christ died for me. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:08.560 Say it again. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:09.920 Say Christ died for me. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:12.160 Yes, he died for you. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:13.680 He died for you. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:15.439 He died for you. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:20.639 You know, God the Father could have stopped the pain that Jesus was experiencing at any time. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:22.959 He could have, he could have. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:24.720 He could have. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:33.680 Jesus had the he had the clearance, he had the access to the father to to ask him to send a legion of angels. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:39.199 Look at what Matthew chapter 26, verse 52 to 54 says. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:45.199 But Jesus said to him, Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:52.399 Or do you think that I cannot pray to my father and he will provide me with more than 12 legions of angels? 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:56.720 How then could the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus? 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:02.800 So Jesus is telling Peter here that you don't have to start cutting people's ears and doing all that. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:11.040 Do you not think I can pray that God will bring a legion of angelic hosts and come and sort this out? 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:18.800 The reason I'm not doing that is because one, I'm laying down my life, it is a sacrifice, and I'm also doing it so that the scriptures will be fulfilled. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:23.279 I'm doing it so that the scriptures will be fulfilled. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:27.920 That's why Jesus did not ask his heavenly father to intervene. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:39.519 Jesus knew that if the father intervened and prevented him from going through the pain and the shame, it would thwart the fulfillment of the prophecies of scriptures. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:49.680 He knew that if he did anything to ask God to intervene, that it would thwart the fulfillment of the scriptures. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:56.240 God did not stop the pain Jesus went through because of the consequences for you and I. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:04.319 And the death as a substitute and not a victim. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:05.920 Right that down, right now. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.639 Jesus went through all that pain. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.040 He went through all the pain. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:14.240 He went through that gruesome pain and the death. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:15.600 He went through it as what? 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.800 A substitute and not a victim. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.879 You see, Jesus was not a victim of the Roman system. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:26.160 Jesus was not a victim of the Pharisees. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.480 Jesus was not a victim of the high priest. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.480 Jesus was not a victim of Pilate. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.480 No, Jesus was not a victim. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.080 Jesus was not a victim of the soldiers that nailed him to the cross. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:37.360 He was not. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.600 He laid it down by himself. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:41.679 And he can pick it up again. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:46.000 He did it as a substitute and not a victim. 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:48.080 Victims are pitied. 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:50.879 I don't know if you're hearing what I'm saying. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.360 A victim is supposed to be pitied. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:56.480 Substitutes are honored and worshipped. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.200 Victims are pitied. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:06.000 Substitutes are appreciated, honored, and worshipped. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:09.759 You you pity a victim. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:11.759 You pity a victim of abuse. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.919 You pity a victim of violence. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:20.159 But when somebody says, I'm taking this up for you, oh, you place them in a class of their own. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:24.399 You respect them, you honor them, you celebrate them. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:28.399 Substitutes are meant to be celebrated, not pity. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:34.320 I know you might have seen you know movies depicting the gruesome sacrifice of Jesus, and that's great. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:36.159 It gives us the pictorial. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:41.759 But the response, when you see the horrible things it went through, the response shouldn't be pity. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:43.440 The response is not pity. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:45.039 He's not asking you for pity. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.559 He's not asking us for pity. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.480 He's not asking us for pity. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:54.159 He's asking us for devotion, for worship. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:55.600 He's asking us for what? 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:57.600 For devotion and worship. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:02.240 Victims are pitied, substitutes are worship. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:05.279 The kind of substitute that Jesus is, they are worship. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:09.039 Let's look at what the sacrifice of Jesus means for us. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.720 What does the sacrifice of Jesus mean for you and I? 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:18.159 We're going to look at four quick things and then we'll begin to bring this to a close. 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:22.240 What does the sacrifice of Jesus, what does it mean for me? 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.559 What does it mean for you? 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:27.200 What does the sacrifice of Jesus mean for you? 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:29.120 What does it mean for me? 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:42.960 Number one, the sacrifice of Jesus, it shows us that it was penalized as an innocent man so that we can be justified though we are guilty. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:05.360 He was penalized as an innocent man so that you and I we can be justified though we are guilty. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.039 Luke chapter 23, verse 4. 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:12.000 Let us establish the fact of his innocence. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:16.480 Jesus was penalized as an innocent man. 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:19.840 Let's establish the fact of his innocence. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:21.600 In Luke chapter 23, verse 4. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:22.320 Look at what it says. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.200 Everybody read together. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:24.000 I want to go. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:31.039 So Pilate said to the chief priest and the crowd, I find no fault in this man. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.120 Let's say it again. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:39.919 So Pilate said to the chief priest and the crowd, I find no fault in this man. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:46.159 The highest authority in the land at that point was the Roman government, as you know. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:58.480 And that Roman government, the contingent that was sent to Israel to watch over Israel, the highest authority there was Pilate. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:02.000 And God recognizes earthly authority. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.080 I don't know if you're hearing what I'm saying. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:09.600 Psalm 115, verse 12 of Psalm 115, verse 16. 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:16.559 It tells us that the heavens are the Lord's, but the earth he has given to the sons of man. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:20.480 The earth he has given to the children of men. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:24.960 So God recognizes the authority of earthly bodies. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.120 I don't know if you understand what I'm saying. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:30.399 God recognizes the authority of men on the earth. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:35.200 That's why he says, Whatever you bind on the earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:39.279 Because if you don't do it on the earth, it will not be done in heaven. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:41.279 You have to do it on the earth first. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:47.279 Because God, if you want something to be done in your life on the earth, you have the responsibility to initiate it. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.960 Are you hearing what I'm saying? 00:12:49.200 --> 00:13:05.840 You are because God recognizes spirits generally, because they don't have the um license to operate on this earth, they need human hosts, they need people that would partner with them, that would agree with them for them to carry out their enterprise on the earth. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.399 The same thing with God. 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:11.519 So God recognizes earthly authority. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:18.320 So God could not have said from heaven and said, Ah, this my son, in whom I'm well pleased, is guiltless. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:23.840 No, he needed an earthly authority to proclaim that verdict. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.720 Are you hearing? 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:39.200 He needed an earthly authority, a respected and agreed-upon earthly authority, and a heartly authority that is known in antiquity and that is this is historically verifiable to declare the innocence of Jesus. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.679 To declare the innocence of Jesus. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:47.600 I'm trying to say God recognizes the authority of those that are in your life. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:58.159 Yes, he recognizes the authority of your parents, he recognizes the authority of your boss, He recognizes the authority of those who have authority over you. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:00.399 So you don't just say that, oh, it's me and God. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:03.759 As long as God knows that you know I'm I'm no no no no no. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:07.600 You submit to the authority that God, because God Himself submits the authority. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.320 Are you here? 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.080 You understand what I'm saying? 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:19.600 So we're he recognizes the authority, and the God needed the earthly authority over Jesus' jurisdiction to declare his innocence. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:37.440 In verse 14, he says it again, he said to them, verse 14 of Luke chapter 23, you have brought this man to me as one who misleads the people, and indeed, having examined him in your presence, I have found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:47.919 Jesus was penalized as an innocent man, so that you and I, though guilty, can go free, can be justified. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.799 Verse 22 of Luke chapter 23. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:54.240 Pilate saying it the third time, then he said to them the third time, Why? 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:55.519 What evil has he done? 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:57.759 I have found no reason for death in him. 00:14:57.840 --> 00:15:00.240 I would therefore chastise him and let him go. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:04.080 Pilate was like, Okay, you guys, I don't want blood on my hands. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:07.759 I'm just gonna beat this man, give him a few strokes, and you know, let him go. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:14.639 But before he could do that, he started shouting, crucify, crucify, crucify. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:20.320 And we have to say, Thank God Pilate did not let Jesus go. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:24.159 Yes, thank God that Pilate did not let Jesus go. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:29.120 Because if he had let him go, the prophecy of scriptures wouldn't have been fulfilled. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:37.759 The innocence of Jesus being confirmed by earthly authorities is very critical for our redemption. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:51.679 Because it's only a perfect man that could have died for the sins of the world, it's only a perfect man, an innocent man is only the one that whose sacrifice could have been acceptable before God. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:16:03.440 And Jesus's innocence and sinlessness was not only um a verdict of heaven but or his disciples, it was also a verdict of earthly authorities. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:10.639 Yes, it was the verdict of earthly authorities, recognized earthly authorities that are verifiable in history. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:28.960 You see, and that is the reason for our confidence that because it was penalized though guilty, we though guilty, it was penalized though guiltless, we though guilty can be justified. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.159 Somebody say amen. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:32.480 I said somebody say amen. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:38.399 This is the confidence that we have in approaching God. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:45.440 Not only approaching God, but we also have this confidence in the face of the devil, in the face of Satan. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.799 We also have this confidence when we confront the devil. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:51.919 We have this confidence when we confront the prevailing situation. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:59.039 The reason for our confidence is because the penalty for our sins have been carried by an innocent man. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:06.480 The second thing, we're talking about what does the sacrifice of Jesus mean to you and I. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:15.440 Number one, we said the sacrifice of Jesus means that he was penalized so that you and I, though we are guilty, we can be justified. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:30.880 Secondly, he lived right but died with a negative label so that you and I, having lived wrong and deserving a negative label, can have a positive label ascribed to us. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.279 We're talking about what the sacrifice of Jesus means to you. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:53.200 Jesus lived right and died with a negative label, so that you and I, even though we have lived wrong and we deserve the negative label, can have a positive label ascribed to us. 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.079 We can have a positive label ascribed to us. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:02.000 Luke chapter 23, verse 32 to 33. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.880 There were also two others, criminals. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:08.799 Somebody said criminals, criminals, yes, led with him to be put to death. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:13.039 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified him. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:17.599 And the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:20.240 Think with me here for a minute. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:25.920 Say you knew these two criminals, you knew them that they were the people that were disturbing the neighborhood. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:33.759 They were just good for nothing guys, and you were just walking around Calvary that day, and then you saw the two of them on the cross. 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:37.759 You saw that these are the guys that used to come and steal our things. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:41.359 And then you see one man right in the middle of them. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:48.240 You see one man just, you know, also crucified in the middle of these two thieves that you know are the trouble in the society. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:51.599 What will you think of that man sitting being crucified in the middle? 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:54.000 Will you think of that man as different? 00:18:54.160 --> 00:19:01.119 You probably think, Oh, he's their ring leader, he's the one that has been locking in the shadows that used to send them to come and disturb us. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:04.160 I mean, because I mean, people will come up with all sorts of things. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:08.240 If he smells like a dog, if he walks like a dog, it's probably a dog. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.319 Evil communication corrupts, good manner. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:14.000 You know, show me your friend, and I will tell that was the people that Jesus was seen with. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:17.599 It was seen with criminals, it was it was killed with criminals. 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:22.240 If somebody came and just observed it, he will look at Jesus and say, He must be a criminal. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.880 Are you on are you understanding what I'm saying? 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:33.119 Yes, Jesus would Jesus was crucified with criminals, he was crucified with who? 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.400 With criminals. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:42.079 So if somebody came to that scene that day, he will have just said that everybody being crucified today, they are all criminals. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:48.960 It took on that negative label, it took on what that negative label. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:56.640 So that you and I don't have to accept any legit negative label over our lives. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.119 I don't know what negative label they have called you. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:08.880 Maybe they have called you not smart, maybe they have called you good for nothing, they have called you dumb, they have called you black, they have called you immigrant with no prospects. 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:09.519 Yeah, yeah. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:14.000 Whatever label they have called you, you don't have to accept that negative label. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:15.359 Somebody say amen to that. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:18.400 Yes, you don't have to accept that negative label. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.359 You don't have to. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:19.920 Why? 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:23.119 Because Jesus already took that negative label. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:25.119 Somebody say, I'm not accepting that label. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:30.960 Yeah, you don't have to accept that negative label, you don't have to accept it. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:37.039 Any negative label that is on your heart, that is on your mind, that you it is because you are aligned the devil to play tricks on you. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:41.599 Yes, it is because you are aligned the devil to play tricks on you, you don't have to accept it. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:43.200 Somebody say, I'm not accepting it. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.880 Yes, don't accept it. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:50.640 Jesus took on the negative label of a criminal so that you don't have to take on that negative label. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:54.480 You don't have to, you don't have to take it on. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.839 Why does he do that? 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:02.319 Because that's just the way Jesus is, that's just the way Jesus is. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:04.880 Think about his encounter with the woman at the well. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:13.200 Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in John chapter 4, verse 15, John chapter 4, and verse 15 to 18. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:16.160 This woman had had five husbands. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:24.319 Think about a man of Jesus' caliber encountering a woman that has had five husbands. 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.799 Five husbands. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:29.200 You would think Jesus would judge the woman. 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:35.200 You would think Jesus would say that this woman, yeah, maybe what's what good can come out of you? 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.400 No. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:41.920 Jesus did not look at the negative label that society has placed on that woman. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:47.680 Yes, Jesus did not look at the negative label that the society had placed on that woman. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:54.400 Jesus bypassed, he bypassed other negative level and was having deep theological conversations with this woman. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:59.440 He was having deep conversations about where you know we will worship, where our fathers worship. 00:21:59.519 --> 00:21:59.680 You know. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:09.599 When you meet people that we call people of low morals, you know, like that, you don't they're not the people you start wanting to have deep theological conversations with. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:13.359 You might you are you might have quoted this scripture many times. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:18.400 You know, the father is spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.400 Who do you think Jesus spoke those words to? 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:25.599 Jesus spoke those words to a woman that has had five husbands. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:32.559 He spoke those words to a woman, he spoke those words to a woman that has had five husbands. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:35.759 Deep theological conversations. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:42.240 The father is spirit, God is spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:49.839 We wouldn't have known that if Jesus had accepted the negative label on this woman. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:56.079 The way of Jesus, I'm trying to show you that the way of Jesus that he doesn't see the negative level. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.759 That's the way of Jesus. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:03.200 He doesn't care about the negative level that the society has placed on you or the society is trying to place on you. 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:05.039 He doesn't care about it. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.559 The same thing with Rahab, the halot. 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:10.720 Rahab, the halot. 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:15.440 Rahab is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, a woman that was an alot. 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:25.279 Because the way of Jesus is that he doesn't look at the negative level that society places on people, it bypasses it. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.640 It bypasses it. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:29.759 God does not remember the wrong that you have done. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.920 Jesus took that negative level. 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.119 Yeah, high school. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:45.759 You have friends that used to be friends from high school, and then uh now they see you and they still want to be calling you those names that they used to call you in high school. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:48.400 Those names that are not flattery. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:54.880 When they see you today, they they still want to call you those names, they don't know that you have changed. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:24:01.759 That time when you had you know people and all sorts of things on your face, that you are not this pretty and fine. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:15.119 That time that you know that you had no prospect, but now you are a you know working class woman earning a lot of money, and and you know, they still see you and they still want to call you by that name. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:18.319 Would you be like, uh that name you are calling me? 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:21.119 Nobody has called me that name for 15 years now, for 10 years. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:23.119 I mean, it doesn't feel right. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:27.119 You know, it doesn't feel right. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:27.839 Why? 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.519 Because you are no longer that person. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.799 Are you understand what I'm saying? 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:32.240 You're no longer that person. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:44.160 That negative label, that label that they maybe they had a maybe that when you I mean some people I in high school, maybe you are you are still, you know, some people still bend wet in high school. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:49.599 You know, maybe you come to school and you are a little smelly and all that, you know. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:54.160 Maybe you you you do something and then a negative label kind of sticks. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:58.960 And they see you many years later, and they're still trying to call you. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:04.640 I mean, many of us you will you will distance yourself from such people and say that okay, this person does not recognize it. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:07.119 Imagine somebody now, you know, looking at me from high school. 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:10.720 Maybe of course I don't I don't even remember the name that I they used to call me in high school. 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:26.640 But Auntie Lucy, when she came to America in eight eight or nine years ago now, ten years ago, you know, somebody that saw you then, that saw you, that saw the your hairstyle and the way you look then, and then they see you now. 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:37.039 You that you are not a working-class woman, they see you now, they still want to like treat you like that or talk to you like that, you have changed. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:41.359 You have changed, things are different, you know. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:51.119 Jesus does not stick with that negative label, that thing that is not flattery, that other people are prone to want to hold on to. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.960 I don't know if you're hearing what I'm saying. 00:25:53.119 --> 00:26:00.160 You see, the world wants to hold on to the the most unflattering thing about you is the is what people want to remind remember you for. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:13.759 The most unflattering things about you is what many people want to remind remember you for, they want to hold on to it, but Jesus is not like that, he's not like that. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.920 Number three, let's move on quickly. 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:22.880 Jesus suffered helplessness so that we can stand to receive help from God. 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:26.720 You're talking about what the sacrifice of Jesus means to us. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:33.440 We said what he was penalized as an innocent man so that we can be justified though we are guilty. 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:47.200 We said number two, he lived right but died with a negative label so that you and I, even though we have lived wrong and we deserve the negative label, we can have a positive label ascribed to us. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:54.880 And we said number three, that Jesus suffered helplessness so that we can stand to receive help from God. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:58.079 Somebody say stand, say it louder, say stand. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:05.039 Yes, so that we can stand to receive help from God. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:08.480 Luke chapter 23, verse 35. 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:19.680 And the people stood looking on, but even the rulers with them sneered, saying, He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ, the chosen of God. 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:21.680 Jesus looked so helpless. 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:24.880 This man has been performing miracles for the past three and a half years. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:29.039 Now your life is on the line, and you are so helpless. 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:36.160 You've been performing miracles, healing the sick, raising the dead, opening blind eyes for the past three and a half years. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:40.160 Now your own life is on the line, and you look so helpless. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:40.960 How come? 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:49.920 He surrendered himself to that helplessness so that you and I can stand to receive help from God. 00:27:51.680 --> 00:28:02.400 Stand to receive help from God, not crawl to receive help from God, not beg to receive help from God, not genuflect to receive help from God. 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:05.440 It is stand to receive help from God. 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.720 Somebody say stand again. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:09.920 Yes, stand to receive help from God. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:24.000 You see, many Christians of African heritage, like you and I, that have our own pigmentation, um, sometimes culture and religion could have damaged our psyche and our approach to God. 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:29.440 It's very possible that culture and religion could have damaged our psyche. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:44.319 Some of us who've experienced this with, you know, maybe you have an auntie or an uncle, or worse, if it's your parents, that you know, if you don't greet them properly, if you don't kneel down properly, if you don't prostrate properly. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:48.319 Ah, I have an uncle like that. 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:50.079 Till today. 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:59.119 If you if you go to the village and you greet him and you don't and he's not satisfied with the greeting, he will report you to my parents, he will report you to my mother. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.960 Isn't it recently? 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:09.359 My sister went to the village, greeted him, he wasn't satisfied, and he reported my sister to my mother. 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:13.200 That ah, this she she didn't greet me properly. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:15.839 She she she didn't greet me properly. 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.759 People like that. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:23.279 Imagine you are you are depending on such people for your daily bread or for dinner. 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:34.240 They will say they will have you, they will have you crawl, they will have you crawl, they will have you beg, they will have you do all sorts of things before they can qualify you, before they can help you. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:38.480 Imagine you are depending on that person for the next breath in your lungs. 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:48.000 Imagine you are depending on that person that that is so victimizing, that is so that that is so you know, that wants to victimize you. 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:52.079 Imagine you're depending on them for the for the next help. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.599 But God is not like that. 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:59.200 God is not like that. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:04.240 Stand to receive help, stand to receive help, not not beg for help. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:07.359 Look at what Hebrews chapter 13, verse 5 to 6 says. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:22.240 Look at what Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5 to 6 says, Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:31.920 So we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do to me. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.960 So we may what? 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:42.160 We may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do to me. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:51.519 So I may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do to me. 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:58.079 Oh, I wish somebody would say, I will boldly say, The Lord is my helper. 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:01.440 I will not fear what man can do to me. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.160 Say it again. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:09.279 I can boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do to me. 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:20.319 The day you find yourself fearing what man can do to you more than what God can do, you found yourself in a very bad place. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:29.039