1 00:00:01,336 --> 00:00:02,429 Good morning. 2 00:00:05,452 --> 00:00:11,717 bring greetings from the Oakey Boulevard Church of Christ in Las Vegas. 3 00:00:11,820 --> 00:00:22,855 where Brandon Green, was a graduate from the Memphis School of Preaching, is the preacher there, and he was familiar with Collierville during his time in school, and he said that 4 00:00:22,855 --> 00:00:29,538 he always had good recollections and good memories of Collierville, so your name goes before you even to Nevada. 5 00:00:29,538 --> 00:00:41,744 ah But the congregation there uh has a Hispanic congregation and an English congregation, both in the same building, so during the Bible class for the English 6 00:00:41,744 --> 00:00:48,764 congregation, they'd have that in the fellowship hall while the Hispanic congregation had their worship in the auditorium and then they'd flip spots. 7 00:00:49,044 --> 00:00:56,944 But it was good to get to meet them while I was out in Nevada and get to spend time in fellowship with them. 8 00:00:57,584 --> 00:01:07,264 This morning, a brief departure from our evangelism training and continuation, which we'll be back to next week. 9 00:01:07,984 --> 00:01:11,464 I want to spend some time this morning talking about... 10 00:01:11,658 --> 00:01:14,638 the only God. 11 00:01:17,068 --> 00:01:26,726 when you step back and consider that there are some things in life there's only one of. 12 00:01:28,704 --> 00:01:30,516 you as an individual. 13 00:01:31,618 --> 00:01:33,911 There may be a lot of people like you. 14 00:01:33,911 --> 00:01:39,037 There may be some ancestors that you derive a lot of characteristic from. 15 00:01:39,037 --> 00:01:43,993 And there may be some descendants that you share a lot of characteristics with. 16 00:01:44,935 --> 00:01:48,106 But there's only one of you. 17 00:01:50,208 --> 00:01:55,416 I think a few thankful prayers have gone up that there's only one of me. 18 00:01:59,894 --> 00:02:01,573 Mostly from my brothers. 19 00:02:04,044 --> 00:02:05,989 But when you consider... 20 00:02:08,078 --> 00:02:18,318 that Scripture is incredibly clear that there is only one God. 21 00:02:19,818 --> 00:02:22,678 We're going to begin in Acts chapter 17. 22 00:02:22,678 --> 00:02:24,998 Paul is, is in Athens. 23 00:02:27,267 --> 00:02:30,490 is moved, the text tells us. 24 00:02:32,233 --> 00:02:47,709 As he goes through that city and he observes all of the idols, it was said of Athens that there were more idols in the city than there were people. 25 00:02:49,794 --> 00:03:07,376 And in Acts chapter 17, we read beginning in verse 16, Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to 26 00:03:07,376 --> 00:03:08,496 idols. 27 00:03:09,797 --> 00:03:18,823 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 28 00:03:20,003 --> 00:03:31,049 Verse 22, and then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious, for as I was passing through and 29 00:03:31,049 --> 00:03:39,633 considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with the inscription, To the unknown God. 30 00:03:40,614 --> 00:03:49,279 Therefore, the one whom you worship without knowing, him I proclaim to you. 31 00:03:52,653 --> 00:03:53,670 Paul. 32 00:03:55,603 --> 00:04:09,991 as he is moved by witnessing the actions and the attitudes of those in Athens to worship everything under the sun. 33 00:04:12,501 --> 00:04:16,089 and many things that were nothing more than imaginary. 34 00:04:18,381 --> 00:04:28,971 He found that they even had an altar to a god in case there was one they didn't know about. 35 00:04:31,191 --> 00:04:34,169 And Paul says, actually, there is one you don't know about. 36 00:04:36,432 --> 00:04:42,209 I'm going to declare to you the God that you worship who you don't know. 37 00:04:44,097 --> 00:04:57,379 And as you consider what Paul presents in that text, he presents a number of things that we need to understand about the only God. 38 00:04:58,001 --> 00:05:05,087 We're actually going to see the majority of those through other texts of Scripture, yet Paul presents them here as well. 39 00:05:06,149 --> 00:05:09,031 First thing that you need to know about the only God. 40 00:05:10,859 --> 00:05:12,692 is that they're his only one. 41 00:05:14,869 --> 00:05:30,631 not dealing in this lesson with the nature of God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, rather with the fact that in contrast to the beliefs of men, there is only one 42 00:05:30,631 --> 00:05:31,691 God. 43 00:05:32,493 --> 00:05:38,577 And the scripture does not leave any room for argument. 44 00:05:38,577 --> 00:05:41,499 Turn to Mark chapter 12. 45 00:05:42,477 --> 00:05:50,931 We quite often will discuss Jesus' answer to the question concerning the greatest commandment in the law. 46 00:05:51,531 --> 00:06:00,295 And yet as we discuss that, there are times where we will kind of skip over the beginning of his answer. 47 00:06:00,619 --> 00:06:13,046 In Mark chapter 12, beginning in verse 28, notice what we read, then one of the scribes came and having heard them reasoning together, perceived that he had answered them well, 48 00:06:13,046 --> 00:06:17,078 asked him which is the first commandment of all. 49 00:06:17,078 --> 00:06:28,334 The scribe is not asking in the chronological order of the Old Testament text which commandment was given first. 50 00:06:28,334 --> 00:06:30,375 That's not what the scribe is asking. 51 00:06:31,415 --> 00:06:37,099 The scribe is not asking about time order, he's asking about priority. 52 00:06:38,220 --> 00:06:44,345 Which is the first and greatest commandment of all? 53 00:06:44,345 --> 00:06:58,295 Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is here, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 54 00:07:03,939 --> 00:07:05,842 And we usually begin at the end. 55 00:07:07,969 --> 00:07:16,144 we often begin it, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, and you shall love your neighbors 56 00:07:16,144 --> 00:07:21,587 yourself, and we leave off that Jesus didn't start there. 57 00:07:23,148 --> 00:07:28,055 Jesus started with there's only one. 58 00:07:35,073 --> 00:07:39,270 and in order for the law to be understood. 59 00:07:41,099 --> 00:07:46,566 in order for the Jews to worship God acceptably. 60 00:07:48,909 --> 00:07:51,479 They needed to be crystal clear. 61 00:07:53,741 --> 00:07:55,327 There's only one God. 62 00:07:57,005 --> 00:07:58,648 There's only one Lord. 63 00:08:00,683 --> 00:08:05,906 And everything else flows forward from that. 64 00:08:08,463 --> 00:08:22,152 If look at Ephesians chapter four, Paul as he's writing to the church at Ephesus, a city like Athens that was pervasive with its idolatry. 65 00:08:22,513 --> 00:08:36,422 Paul was actually driven out of Ephesus because of the impact that he had made in their idol worship and the impact that it was having on the marketplace and the people who made 66 00:08:36,422 --> 00:08:37,523 the idols. 67 00:08:39,821 --> 00:08:54,239 We read in Ephesians chapter 4, Paul says, there is one body, verse 4, and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling. 68 00:08:54,859 --> 00:09:09,027 And he says this, there's one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all. 69 00:09:09,259 --> 00:09:22,248 and through all and in you all." Paul says there's no this God and this God. 70 00:09:23,229 --> 00:09:31,055 There is no God Jehovah and God somebody else. 71 00:09:32,056 --> 00:09:36,859 There is no competition for who is God. 72 00:09:37,601 --> 00:09:42,230 There is no question about who is God. 73 00:09:45,259 --> 00:09:46,809 many in this world. 74 00:09:48,929 --> 00:09:52,157 would love to hold and do. 75 00:09:53,997 --> 00:10:02,137 that there is no God except themselves, that they are accountable only to themselves. 76 00:10:06,251 --> 00:10:10,882 that what they want is what is right. 77 00:10:14,977 --> 00:10:28,891 And while I enjoyed the opportunity to be at the conference and to work with the people that I worked with over the last week, being in the city of Las Vegas is one of those 78 00:10:28,891 --> 00:10:31,531 experiences like Paul being in Athens. 79 00:10:32,432 --> 00:10:42,795 There's just nowhere you can go where you're not thrown in the, where it's not thrown in your face that people 80 00:10:42,795 --> 00:10:48,329 are living entirely for what they want. 81 00:10:49,933 --> 00:10:55,246 Had a conversation with a guy yesterday who had been at the conference who was not from there, he's from Massachusetts. 82 00:10:55,826 --> 00:11:03,270 Spends half of his year uh in Chile and half his year in Massachusetts, depending on the weather. 83 00:11:04,191 --> 00:11:07,572 a uh guy about my age. 84 00:11:07,933 --> 00:11:19,779 And he said, you know, I've looked at this city and I kind of feel like I'm on a movie set, like none of it's Because everything is just designed. 85 00:11:21,207 --> 00:11:23,173 and it doesn't feel real at all. 86 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,231 Yes, it's designed, it's designed to take your money. 87 00:11:30,065 --> 00:11:38,595 the God that that city worships is fleshly desire and money. 88 00:11:40,697 --> 00:11:50,957 And yet, as you examine people's lives, consider that the majority of the people participating in that city aren't from there. 89 00:11:53,233 --> 00:11:58,009 There's a marked difference between some parts of that city and the rest of the city. 90 00:12:01,117 --> 00:12:04,173 people participating are the people who are going there. 91 00:12:05,671 --> 00:12:07,238 from everywhere else. 92 00:12:09,501 --> 00:12:11,373 from every different country. 93 00:12:11,915 --> 00:12:23,231 I saw people from the Middle East, I saw people from Asia, I people from America, all indulging their desires. 94 00:12:25,307 --> 00:12:29,042 and there to just worship themselves. 95 00:12:31,527 --> 00:12:33,709 And as you think about that... 96 00:12:36,411 --> 00:12:42,873 We should appreciate and realize that that's not new or unique in the world. 97 00:12:48,977 --> 00:12:53,010 And yet Paul says, there's only one God. 98 00:12:53,791 --> 00:12:56,513 And Jesus says, there's only one God. 99 00:12:56,774 --> 00:13:07,063 You go back to Deuteronomy chapter 6, as Moses presents the law to the second generation in Israel. 100 00:13:08,771 --> 00:13:23,101 Moses says, now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which 101 00:13:23,101 --> 00:13:33,498 you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God to keep all his statutes and his commandments which I command you, you and your sons and your grandson all 102 00:13:33,498 --> 00:13:36,700 the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 103 00:13:36,700 --> 00:13:38,521 Therefore, hero Israel. 104 00:13:38,931 --> 00:13:52,691 and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you a land flowing with milk and 105 00:13:52,691 --> 00:13:53,331 honey. 106 00:13:53,331 --> 00:13:59,171 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one." 107 00:13:59,973 --> 00:14:12,179 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 108 00:14:14,639 --> 00:14:24,943 Moses, as he stands before Israel, says, it is not enough for you to mentally acknowledge that there is one God. 109 00:14:27,109 --> 00:14:37,259 Rather, it must be the driving force in your heart that drives your life and your son's life and your grandson's life. 110 00:14:39,303 --> 00:14:45,239 that everything you do stems from, there is one God. 111 00:14:49,009 --> 00:14:58,735 Then consider as well that the only God does not share His glory with any other. 112 00:15:02,694 --> 00:15:04,666 you go look at Exodus. 113 00:15:07,281 --> 00:15:25,021 You see from Exodus chapter 3 forward through Exodus chapter 12 a demonstration of God, His power, His nature, and His character, and an emphasis in Egypt to the Egyptians that 114 00:15:25,021 --> 00:15:29,963 there is no other God besides Jehovah. 115 00:15:31,791 --> 00:15:41,791 as Moses and Aaron arrive to Pharaoh to tell Pharaoh, God has said, let my people go. 116 00:15:43,623 --> 00:15:47,896 Pharaoh's reply is, who is Jehovah that I should listen to him? 117 00:15:50,545 --> 00:16:01,795 And Jehovah is going to explain by way of demonstration through ten plagues who Jehovah is and why Pharaoh should listen to him. 118 00:16:03,655 --> 00:16:17,185 But as Israel arrives there at Mount Sinai and God begins to give the commandments from the mountain as the mountain is burning and smoking with fire and thunder comes from the 119 00:16:17,185 --> 00:16:20,275 very heavens as God speaks to Israel. 120 00:16:20,275 --> 00:16:32,055 We read in chapter 20 and verse 1, God spoke all the words saying, I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of bondage. 121 00:16:32,055 --> 00:16:38,295 You shall have no other gods before me. 122 00:16:41,125 --> 00:16:44,138 You shall not worship self. 123 00:16:44,739 --> 00:16:48,162 You shall not worship other gods. 124 00:16:48,163 --> 00:16:52,367 You shall not put me on the same level with other gods. 125 00:16:52,367 --> 00:16:56,433 You shall have no other god. 126 00:16:56,433 --> 00:16:58,034 before me." But he doesn't stop there. 127 00:16:58,034 --> 00:17:07,152 says, verse 4, "'You shall not make for yourselves a carved image, any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water 128 00:17:07,152 --> 00:17:07,913 under the earth. 129 00:17:07,913 --> 00:17:19,202 You shall not bow down to them nor serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations 130 00:17:19,202 --> 00:17:21,093 of those who hate me.'" 131 00:17:23,591 --> 00:17:27,057 God says, want to demonstrate to me that you hate me? 132 00:17:27,057 --> 00:17:29,921 Start making idols out of the things you see. 133 00:17:30,764 --> 00:17:34,189 Start worshiping the things that are around you. 134 00:17:35,472 --> 00:17:37,495 There's a reason why. 135 00:17:39,741 --> 00:17:54,979 Paul, over in Colossians, will tell you that covetousness, the desire of what others have that you desire to take for yourself, is idolatry. 136 00:17:57,297 --> 00:18:01,028 God says, don't see the things around you and make them your God. 137 00:18:02,049 --> 00:18:11,171 You don't see the things that exist in this world, all the things that are great, all the things that are magnificent, and worship them. 138 00:18:12,092 --> 00:18:21,795 Because I alone am God, and I am a jealous God. 139 00:18:22,333 --> 00:18:33,768 Now the term jealous here is not the idea that we have sometimes where here's a boy who's got a girlfriend and another boy is acting a certain way and this boy's jealous of the way 140 00:18:33,768 --> 00:18:35,609 that he's acting towards his girlfriend. 141 00:18:35,609 --> 00:18:37,349 No, no, no, that's not it. 142 00:18:38,650 --> 00:18:41,541 Because that girlfriend doesn't belong to either one of those boys. 143 00:18:44,113 --> 00:18:56,216 God is jealous in the use of the term that says, am and you belong to me and you don't belong to anybody else. 144 00:18:57,418 --> 00:19:01,922 And I'm not going to share you with anyone else. 145 00:19:07,483 --> 00:19:12,616 as you consider the fact that God does not share his glory. 146 00:19:12,616 --> 00:19:19,891 You might be reminded that Jesus was once tempted by Satan. 147 00:19:20,031 --> 00:19:32,099 In Matthew chapter four, as we read some of the records of some of the temptations that Jesus experienced in his life in this particular scenario, 148 00:19:34,043 --> 00:19:46,051 We find in beginning in verse 8, the devil took him, Jesus, up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 149 00:19:51,473 --> 00:19:57,681 America has a lot of glory in it. 150 00:19:59,973 --> 00:20:04,388 and other nations around the world have a lot of glory in them. 151 00:20:05,831 --> 00:20:12,039 Satan takes Jesus to exceeding high mountains, shows him all the nations and all the glory. 152 00:20:14,011 --> 00:20:20,909 And he said to him, All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me. 153 00:20:24,665 --> 00:20:36,767 Jesus said to him, await with you, Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve. 154 00:20:38,989 --> 00:20:47,822 as Jesus reached back into the Old Testament and pulls forward that quote from the law in Deuteronomy. 155 00:20:50,375 --> 00:20:53,317 He makes it clear to Satan, no, I won't serve you. 156 00:20:54,658 --> 00:20:56,519 I won't bow my knee to you. 157 00:20:57,601 --> 00:20:59,982 Not for anything you could give me. 158 00:21:01,344 --> 00:21:06,151 Because there is only one God. 159 00:21:08,239 --> 00:21:10,088 Over in First Thessalonians. 160 00:21:11,943 --> 00:21:15,343 Paul as he is writing to the church at Thessalonica. 161 00:21:19,063 --> 00:21:25,688 emphasizes this very critical point to these brethren. 162 00:21:26,643 --> 00:21:40,349 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 and in verse 8, for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth as he commends these brethren on their labor, on their work, on their influence in 163 00:21:40,349 --> 00:21:45,903 the region around them, because when they became Christians, they didn't keep it to themselves. 164 00:21:46,385 --> 00:21:53,343 When they were obedient to the gospel, they didn't just say, hey great, I'm saved, and move on with life. 165 00:21:55,323 --> 00:22:02,107 He says, word is sounded forth not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. 166 00:22:02,747 --> 00:22:07,560 Your faith toward God has gone out so that we do not need to say anything. 167 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:22,699 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 168 00:22:27,193 --> 00:22:35,265 Are there Buddhists who are sincere in their belief concerning their religion and the deities that they serve? 169 00:22:35,265 --> 00:22:36,206 Yes. 170 00:22:38,745 --> 00:22:47,622 Are there Hindus that are sincere in their belief and their religion and their understanding of who they serve? 171 00:22:47,622 --> 00:22:48,583 Yes. 172 00:22:50,809 --> 00:22:56,293 Are there atheists who are sincere in their belief and their religion that there is no God? 173 00:22:56,293 --> 00:22:57,254 Yes. 174 00:22:59,717 --> 00:23:06,443 Are there Christians who claim to be Christians and yet don't follow God and Jehovah? 175 00:23:06,645 --> 00:23:07,606 Yes. 176 00:23:11,451 --> 00:23:16,058 Are there those who serve nothing greater than themselves? 177 00:23:16,058 --> 00:23:16,998 Yes. 178 00:23:19,027 --> 00:23:22,267 but there's only one. 179 00:23:23,147 --> 00:23:28,187 I love this statement that Paul makes and the way he makes it. 180 00:23:28,707 --> 00:23:34,587 True and living God. 181 00:23:36,955 --> 00:23:45,917 There were sincere worshipers of a God who once stood on a mountain in Israel. 182 00:23:47,338 --> 00:24:00,192 And in their sincere worship of their God, they cried out to God, they screamed out to God, they prayed to their God, they cut themselves before their God, trying to get their 183 00:24:00,192 --> 00:24:05,503 God to send fire down from heaven to light their altar. 184 00:24:07,781 --> 00:24:13,986 And all morning went by as they tried to get their God to simply light their altar. 185 00:24:16,369 --> 00:24:17,892 Nothing happened. 186 00:24:24,985 --> 00:24:26,662 there on that mountain. 187 00:24:28,925 --> 00:24:39,878 Elijah demonstrated quite clearly there's one God who's not only a true God, he's actually alive. 188 00:24:41,691 --> 00:24:43,518 He actually exists. 189 00:24:46,533 --> 00:24:51,658 and he actually has power in this world. 190 00:24:55,525 --> 00:24:58,064 and he doesn't share his glory with anyone. 191 00:25:00,231 --> 00:25:10,215 But then consider as well that the only God is the Creator and the Sustainer. 192 00:25:10,976 --> 00:25:25,763 As Paul opened the words of the message that he presented there on the Areopagus there in Athens in Acts chapter 17, he begins with the God who created heavens and earth. 193 00:25:28,333 --> 00:25:39,914 It should be no wonder to us that the book that we hold as scripture begins with, the beginning, God created. 194 00:25:43,633 --> 00:25:47,921 because there's only one who's creator. 195 00:25:49,491 --> 00:25:53,451 there's only one who has the power to create. 196 00:25:54,231 --> 00:26:08,191 One of the things we know by way of science is that in this universe, to the extent of our knowledge and understanding, you can neither create nor destroy energy. 197 00:26:11,333 --> 00:26:13,186 You can change its form. 198 00:26:14,109 --> 00:26:19,961 It can go from passive energy to active energy, but you can't destroy it. 199 00:26:21,627 --> 00:26:23,367 and you can't create it. 200 00:26:25,999 --> 00:26:28,955 And yet there was one. 201 00:26:30,673 --> 00:26:34,354 who spoke it into existence. 202 00:26:38,259 --> 00:26:47,639 In Isaiah chapter 43, Isaiah presents a number of prophecies to Israel. 203 00:26:48,499 --> 00:27:00,219 Chapter 43, chapter 44, chapter 45, chapter 46, the point that is central to each one of these prophecies. 204 00:27:02,970 --> 00:27:04,922 is that there is one creator. 205 00:27:07,603 --> 00:27:10,703 and there is no one else like him. 206 00:27:10,983 --> 00:27:27,983 In Isaiah chapter 43 and in verse 10, we read, are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant, whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am, is 207 00:27:27,983 --> 00:27:29,663 what the text says. 208 00:27:31,103 --> 00:27:36,063 Before me there was no God formed. 209 00:27:36,139 --> 00:27:39,702 nor shall there be after me. 210 00:27:40,823 --> 00:27:50,035 I, even I, am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior." 211 00:27:52,611 --> 00:27:58,871 God, through Isaiah, makes it clear to Israel, there wasn't a God that preceded me. 212 00:28:01,893 --> 00:28:04,437 Raise your hand if you came from parents. 213 00:28:07,697 --> 00:28:09,210 Raise your hand if you didn't. 214 00:28:09,512 --> 00:28:10,934 All right, just checking. 215 00:28:12,603 --> 00:28:15,007 You came from somewhere. 216 00:28:15,089 --> 00:28:17,232 You came from someone. 217 00:28:18,035 --> 00:28:22,283 You share their characteristics and they preceded you. 218 00:28:24,432 --> 00:28:25,742 Not so with God. 219 00:28:27,801 --> 00:28:37,523 Not only does Isaiah make it clear that there was no one who preceded God, there's no one who will secede God. 220 00:28:40,027 --> 00:28:43,324 one of the greatest attributes of this country. 221 00:28:45,411 --> 00:28:50,102 of all the things that our founding fathers decided to do. 222 00:28:52,453 --> 00:28:56,790 was make sure that a president was in power for only a limited amount of time. 223 00:28:59,655 --> 00:29:03,006 That's probably saved our country more times than we can count. 224 00:29:06,843 --> 00:29:15,082 because some of these individuals who have held that position are really, really not good people. 225 00:29:17,457 --> 00:29:20,031 but at least they're only there for so long. 226 00:29:21,455 --> 00:29:30,690 That's part of the reason why there's a good argument going for why all of the positions in power in Congress, et cetera, should be term limited. 227 00:29:33,135 --> 00:29:35,589 and gone after a period of time. 228 00:29:37,799 --> 00:29:39,092 But consider... 229 00:29:42,459 --> 00:29:52,935 that when this world is over, when this universe is consumed as God said it will be, God's not going away. 230 00:29:55,407 --> 00:29:59,591 and no one is going to secede him. 231 00:30:00,953 --> 00:30:03,635 There will not be a change of power. 232 00:30:04,477 --> 00:30:10,883 There's not going to be an expectation, if I just live long enough, I'll get a new judge. 233 00:30:12,723 --> 00:30:13,890 It's not going to happen. 234 00:30:15,635 --> 00:30:17,735 Chapter 44 of Isaiah. 235 00:30:19,547 --> 00:30:32,739 We read, thus says the LORD, verse 6, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, I am the first and I am the last. 236 00:30:33,441 --> 00:30:36,303 Besides me there is no God. 237 00:30:39,163 --> 00:30:42,188 Some will say, I believe in God. 238 00:30:42,188 --> 00:30:46,535 I'm just hedging my bets, and so I'm going to worship all of them. 239 00:30:49,853 --> 00:30:51,179 And God says no. 240 00:30:53,147 --> 00:30:58,042 because the only one who actually exists isn't going to accept that. 241 00:31:00,647 --> 00:31:08,813 Chapter 45, Isaiah writes, verse 5, I am the Lord and there is no other. 242 00:31:09,754 --> 00:31:11,866 There is no God besides me. 243 00:31:11,866 --> 00:31:23,747 I will gird you through you though you have not known me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides me. 244 00:31:23,747 --> 00:31:26,827 I am the Lord and there is no other. 245 00:31:28,701 --> 00:31:32,221 only one, the only God. 246 00:31:32,221 --> 00:31:36,441 Chapter 46 and verse 9. 247 00:31:38,084 --> 00:31:42,508 He says, verse 8, remember this and show yourselves men. 248 00:31:42,689 --> 00:31:45,652 Recall the mind, O you transgressors. 249 00:31:45,652 --> 00:31:50,436 Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is no other. 250 00:31:50,436 --> 00:31:54,572 I am God and there is none like me. 251 00:31:56,646 --> 00:32:05,658 calls upon Israel to think back, to go all the way back in their mind to when their nation was birthed out of Egypt. 252 00:32:07,428 --> 00:32:13,162 and God's point that He made to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians, go ahead, find another one like 253 00:32:15,248 --> 00:32:16,501 because you can. 254 00:32:18,916 --> 00:32:20,577 Nehemiah will write. 255 00:32:22,682 --> 00:32:27,668 there in Nehemiah chapter 9 as he is. 256 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,248 dealing with the circumstances in Jerusalem. 257 00:32:34,126 --> 00:32:36,777 as he prays before God. 258 00:32:37,679 --> 00:32:42,842 He says, verse 5, stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever. 259 00:32:43,262 --> 00:32:48,626 Bless be your glorious name which is exalted above all, blessing and praise. 260 00:32:48,626 --> 00:32:50,627 You alone are the Lord. 261 00:32:50,627 --> 00:33:03,676 You have made heaven the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. 262 00:33:05,968 --> 00:33:08,311 hosts of heaven worship you. 263 00:33:10,032 --> 00:33:13,711 There's a reason why atheists and skeptics... 264 00:33:15,384 --> 00:33:20,136 argue so diligently to get rid of Genesis chapters 1 through 11. 265 00:33:21,890 --> 00:33:40,148 why individuals who are willing to allow the world to teach them about things the world cannot prove and could never demonstrate concerning the origin of this universe and have 266 00:33:40,148 --> 00:33:49,112 demonstrated over and over and over again that they are wrong about because they keep changing their theory. 267 00:33:52,026 --> 00:33:57,115 why there are Christians that will allow the world to convince them. 268 00:33:58,874 --> 00:34:15,042 that the only one who exists who had the power to create heaven and earth and had the audacity to come in the flesh and walk this earth in the flesh and die so that we might be 269 00:34:15,042 --> 00:34:21,248 saved couldn't accurately describe what he did when he created the world. 270 00:34:28,148 --> 00:34:49,216 every single section of every part of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation demands and insists and repeats the creation story. 271 00:34:51,554 --> 00:34:55,662 as if it was true, because it is. 272 00:34:57,850 --> 00:35:10,501 And the reason why the skeptic and the atheist tries to dismantle the creation story is because they're at least honest enough to know and to realize that if they get rid of 273 00:35:10,501 --> 00:35:12,704 that, the rest of it falls too. 274 00:35:15,802 --> 00:35:20,077 And yet there are Christians who will try and say, well, we evolved. 275 00:35:23,996 --> 00:35:27,770 time and chance got us to where we are. 276 00:35:27,770 --> 00:35:32,704 And they'll repeat such things as the reptilian brain that we have. 277 00:35:34,938 --> 00:35:37,177 What a load of nonsense. 278 00:35:40,835 --> 00:35:42,519 in all honesty. 279 00:35:44,684 --> 00:35:51,163 Anyone you know who believes in evolution, ask them one question. 280 00:35:55,558 --> 00:36:02,020 So explain to me how, in your theory of evolution, you deal with this one thing. 281 00:36:05,446 --> 00:36:12,468 We'll ignore all of the process of evolution all the way up until the point that you claim apes became men. 282 00:36:14,468 --> 00:36:18,479 I'll grant you all of it till that point, but let me ask you one thing. 283 00:36:20,422 --> 00:36:25,171 How is it that in your theory of evolution and time and chance... 284 00:36:27,024 --> 00:36:44,004 that you just happen to get an ape that was a male and an ape that was a female both evolving into a man that was a male and a human that was a female in the same time, in the 285 00:36:44,004 --> 00:36:47,786 same place, on the same part of the planet so they could have a child. 286 00:36:50,328 --> 00:36:54,026 And furthermore, my question to you is... 287 00:36:56,056 --> 00:37:05,486 Was it two apes that gave birth to a human child or was the ape walking through the woods and changed from being an ape to a man? 288 00:37:08,188 --> 00:37:08,869 Because guess what? 289 00:37:08,869 --> 00:37:10,691 The theory can't explain it. 290 00:37:11,092 --> 00:37:22,168 Not only can the theory not explain it, the theory can't demonstrate one time in all history and all known humanity and all verifiable wisdom that it could ever happen. 291 00:37:23,918 --> 00:37:39,393 And if you can't get the simple change in evolutionary terminology from an ape to a man, and by the way, a male ape and a female ape to a male man and a female woman in the same 292 00:37:39,393 --> 00:37:48,226 place and the same time, you can't have offspring and whatever that evolutionary change was died and resulted in no change at all. 293 00:37:50,192 --> 00:37:55,911 You see, when you replace revelation... 294 00:37:58,116 --> 00:38:00,970 with the stupid ideas of men. 295 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:11,491 You come up with theories that don't even make any sense at all, yet people hold them religiously. 296 00:38:13,338 --> 00:38:17,954 Yet they cannot even explain the simple questions, let alone the hard ones. 297 00:38:20,314 --> 00:38:27,392 Hebrews chapter 1, the Hebrew writer makes it clear that God did not just create the universe. 298 00:38:27,392 --> 00:38:30,174 He did not just create the world. 299 00:38:31,236 --> 00:38:35,079 But as Nehemiah pointed out, he also sustains it. 300 00:38:35,541 --> 00:38:38,864 That without him, it would not continue to exist. 301 00:38:39,276 --> 00:38:46,759 If He did not allow it to continue to exist, if He did not enforce its continued existence, it would not continue. 302 00:38:46,899 --> 00:38:56,893 Hebrews chapter 1, God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed 303 00:38:56,893 --> 00:39:07,508 heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, upholding all things by the word of His power. 304 00:39:07,738 --> 00:39:17,028 when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high." Did you catch what Jesus does? 305 00:39:18,174 --> 00:39:23,457 He upholds all things by the word of His power. 306 00:39:24,337 --> 00:39:29,260 He is the creator of all things by the word that He spoke. 307 00:39:31,458 --> 00:39:34,756 And when he says it's done. 308 00:39:36,344 --> 00:39:38,491 It will be done without question. 309 00:39:41,700 --> 00:39:47,975 The only God is the Creator and the Sustainer of everything that exists. 310 00:39:51,984 --> 00:39:54,651 and that only God. 311 00:39:56,816 --> 00:40:00,569 who doesn't share his glory with anyone. 312 00:40:03,724 --> 00:40:09,575 of whom there is none like Him, none before Him, and none after Him. 313 00:40:12,260 --> 00:40:14,640 That only God. 314 00:40:17,542 --> 00:40:18,914 provided a path. 315 00:40:20,966 --> 00:40:22,759 but He only provided one. 316 00:40:30,988 --> 00:40:35,602 as Jesus says to His disciples that He is about to depart. 317 00:40:37,850 --> 00:40:43,468 and that if he goes and prepares a place for them, then they will join him. 318 00:40:45,328 --> 00:40:51,684 Thomas says to him in verse 5, Lord, we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way? 319 00:40:55,108 --> 00:41:02,360 And Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 320 00:41:03,863 --> 00:41:09,251 No man comes to the Father but by me. 321 00:41:15,088 --> 00:41:18,730 We're not all on different roads headed to the same place. 322 00:41:22,586 --> 00:41:25,504 Jesus said there's two options. 323 00:41:26,870 --> 00:41:30,299 There's a narrow way that's hard and difficult. 324 00:41:32,410 --> 00:41:40,146 that involves the path of obedience to God that He declared through His words and by His words you will be judged. 325 00:41:41,287 --> 00:41:47,792 But if you will walk that straight and that narrow path, it leads to life everlasting. 326 00:41:49,766 --> 00:41:51,499 But there's another way too. 327 00:41:52,384 --> 00:41:55,651 And it's broad and wide and easy. 328 00:41:57,712 --> 00:42:01,139 And if you walk that path, it leads to eternal destruction. 329 00:42:03,226 --> 00:42:10,042 And Jesus said, unfortunately, there will be few who find the narrow path. 330 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:16,671 The world wants you to believe everybody's fine, everybody will be saved, everybody will be great. 331 00:42:19,932 --> 00:42:27,371 except we know, and even people who proclaim that know in their heart of hearts, that's not how life works. 332 00:42:27,371 --> 00:42:28,212 m 333 00:42:32,666 --> 00:42:34,295 There's only one path. 334 00:42:36,070 --> 00:42:37,601 There's only one God. 335 00:42:38,684 --> 00:42:43,891 Jesus said that one God is seeking worshippers to worship Him. 336 00:42:44,553 --> 00:42:52,844 John chapter 4, that God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. 337 00:42:54,640 --> 00:43:03,854 But that means they're going to have to realize, and they're going to have to live out in their life that there is only one God. 338 00:43:07,214 --> 00:43:25,837 And from that stems forward, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 339 00:43:26,958 --> 00:43:29,620 If you're going to be obedient to the one God, 340 00:43:29,924 --> 00:43:33,068 And you're going to accept and walk that one path. 341 00:43:33,068 --> 00:43:37,192 You're only going to get to that God through Jesus Christ. 342 00:43:37,593 --> 00:43:38,994 He's the only Savior. 343 00:43:38,994 --> 00:43:40,676 That's what Isaiah told us. 344 00:43:41,417 --> 00:43:46,923 And as the only Savior, He provides you salvation if you are willing to be obedient to Him. 345 00:43:46,923 --> 00:43:51,348 But if you are not, He is your only judge. 346 00:43:52,698 --> 00:44:00,674 You're here this morning and you're outside the body of Christ, the place where salvation is found, the place where the blood of Christ cleanses you from all sin. 347 00:44:00,674 --> 00:44:09,760 If you're outside the church, that Jesus shed His blood to purchase its redemption, its salvation, and its glory. 348 00:44:11,632 --> 00:44:13,352 then you're outside of hope. 349 00:44:14,713 --> 00:44:25,918 For there's only one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. 350 00:44:26,698 --> 00:44:30,019 If you're outside the body of Christ, why stay there? 351 00:44:30,680 --> 00:44:34,641 If you say, would like to know more about the one God, why not ask? 352 00:44:35,142 --> 00:44:36,502 And we'll help you. 353 00:44:36,863 --> 00:44:40,704 If you have need of the invitation for any reason, 354 00:44:41,114 --> 00:44:45,035 to come to God, why not come now as we stand and as we sing.