As the Tierra was always cutting edge he follows the developing stories especially those that are breaking in Israel and so friends I've asked him to come onto the show today and help us to make sense of what is happening in Israel thank you Michael for being with us thanks Pastor Larry it's always a great honor and a privilege to be with you well to start we know there have been 2 elections concerning the office of Prime Minister during the last year and there wasn't a clear winner Michael in your opinion what prompted Israel to be split down the middle and where do you think this is heading as there is no clear cut government in place of this time well after 2 elections for prime minister in 2019 in Israel and no winner we must ask how and why did this happen this all stemmed from 10215000 Palestinians trying to penetrate Israel at the Gaza border and 2018 it got to be very ugly as the protesters flew firebomb kites over into Israel creating fires in farmer's fields on the Israeli side on April 13th 2018 the Palestinian protesters hurled explosive devices fire bombs and grenades at Israeli troops at the border fence during what Israeli forces described as several attempts to breach the border so as to cross into Israeli territory. And it ition to that merits of cocktails that's bottles of gasoline with a torch on it and other explosive devices were thrown at Israeli soldiers of course there was no outcry from the world press the United Nations or e.u. European Union the Arab protest was dubbed the March of return in conjunction with Israel's 70th anniversary that's $948.00 to 2018 about $290.00 Palestinians were killed during that year and that protest went on for several months by November 2018 Defense Minister Avigdor or Lieberman Prime Minister Netanyahu wasn't doing enough to combat the terrorist. As a result Lieberman resigned as defense secretary and to be fair this couldn't have happened at a worse time because when Lieberman left a supposed he took with him many Knesset seats which was why the following year Mr Netanyahu couldn't get enough seats in the election to win the other beef Lieberman had with Netanyahu cooed party was the you're ready or culture Orthodox men are exempt from serving in the i.d.f. Or Israeli defense forces there's been a battle over that for years if Lieberman and his followers were to support Netanyahu Netanyahu would clearly have enough seats to win but up to now they haven't buried the hatchet there's only one time before 2 political parties had a stalemate which was in 1904 the election between Yitzhak Shamir and shown Pereira's in that case one candidate served 2 years followed by the other man serving 2 years we're hoping this time around maybe both parties will make some kind of concessions were by a deal can be made just another parallel Pastor Larry both America and Israel split down the middle. Wow That's very perceptive and division is always a serious thing it certainly weakens a group a country a church or whatever but Brother Mike we know that Israel lives in a very dangerous neighborhood from Hezbollah on more than one border and rockets by the hundreds being lobbed into Israel from Gaza it appears that there's a new player against Israel and the country of Turkey is what we want to look at can you tell us a little bit about Turkey's history do they have gone then or are they a threat to Israel at the present time well that's a very great question Pastor Larry up to recently Turkey which is technically a NATO ally of America and was for many years a good ally and prior to 2014 was actually very helpful to the state of Israel under the table if you will but all of that changed in 2014 when recep Eartha won became president of Turkey I've often said Turkey is the 800 pound gorilla in the region its military has a larger than England France and Germany combined but let's go briefly back to 1971 Turkey became a nation must stop at a Turk was the statesman over 80 years ago who shifted Turkey from a predominantly Islamic nation to a modern secular nation Ataturk was truly a godsend to this fledgling nation but around 2002 within a year after $911.00 the islamic a cape party in Turkey was swept into power also mentally this Islamic Party are sure to want into power in 2014 as you know there was an unsuccessful coup against her to won in 2016. It wasn't a pretty picture after Rita won sent over 50000 people to prison and who knows how many were executed I think it's important for the listeners to know brother Larry the u.s. Military has tactical nuclear weapons at the u.s. Air base in Incirlik Turkey of course this is been reported in the news and America was always careful in its placement of nuclear assets in foreign countries in November 2015 a Turkish f. 16 fighter plane shot down a Russian fighter plane that strayed into Turkey's airspace up to that point Russian Turkey weren't exactly good friends by 2017 that's only a couple years ago Turkey and Russia buried the hatchet and became very close political and military allies you asked the question is Turkey a threat to Israel the answer is a resoundingly yes especially since Turkey is acquired Russian as 400 surface to air missiles which are a very serious threat to Israel's war plans on another point Pastor Larry I think your audience oughta know President Eartha wine was put at the helm of the Oh I see which is the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. This organization which began in 1969 is centered on forming an overwhelming force to destroy the state of Israel with the goal of creating another Middle East caliphate when President Trump voted or buyout I should say to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in December 2017 the Oh I see invited her to want to become the head of the organization which obviously he was very happy to do the Oh I see is now directing their hate and oppression against the Kurds living in Syria as well as Turkey the 1st caliphate actually started in the 14th century with Morocco the 1st in 1360 to 80 there's debate as to when it ended but no question it was gone by 1924 you asked about goals it's important for the folks to know Mr Ertel want has set a goal of 2024 as of the year the caliphate will be in place in most of the Middle East and Mr Erdogan won has every expectation to be the leader of it. Wow that sounds ominous to me and 2024 is not very far away and the way you describe things from Ataturk then 2000 to Dak party and we can see the direction that all of that is moving and well from my guy recently in an e-mail to me you refer to Iran Turkey and Russia as the evil empire What did you mean by that and do you think the as equals chapter 38 war has a direct connection to these countries I mean we also see Libya included in this band of nations do you believe all these countries are forming into this future prophecy that the Bible speaks about well that's a good question and it would have been on thinkable 4 years ago that Russia Turkey and Iran would be military allies but it's all come about in just a couple years there's differences of opinion about when the god may God of War and as he kill chapter $38.39 takes place but I am of the opinion it happens towards the end of the 7 year tribulation the 1st 3 verses and as they kill chapter 38 depict Russia and Persia or Iran and verse 5 and to Garma in verse 6 is Turkey in my opinion this alignment which is never happened in previous history is now for the very 1st time in human history firmly in place in verse number 5 a-C. Kill 38 says a Libya or poet p h u t as some versions of the Bible have it I am of the opinion this Libya or poet is indicative of a people group such as Kush as mentioned in Genesis Chapter 10 verses x. And 1st Chronicles Chapter one Verse 8. If this is correct we can pinpoint this will be or put located in the Horn of Africa around Somalia and Djibouti today so what's the big picture brother Mike this will be in the Bible could be chip booty this little country Djibouti in the Horn of Africa is home to a large u.s. Naval base called Camp why many are in the same country the Chinese also have a brand new naval base keep in mind this could be the places e.q. Chapter 38 is talking about just think China has assets in Syria along with the Russians it's just another location missiles could be directed against Israel yes the vices getting tighter around little Israel but the good news is Pastor Larry Israel may be the size of New Jersey by God calls them an exceeding great army and because he killed Chapter 37 verse 10 and I would want to be their side a man then I would want America to be on their side too you mention Djibouti and I believe the you know there might be some listeners looking that up and Wikipedia doesn't start with a d. As in David d.j. I think yes the way you spelled your beauty is d.j. I b o u t i i write so for the us it wasn't correct I never thought of that connection but with the Chinese there the Americans their missiles there that's very very significant Well Mike in our last few months ago we had you on Southwest Radio Church discussing your new d.v.d. Joseph in Egypt we had a great time in that and you discussed many prophecies that were embedded in this Bible story that many of us never heard before as an example you state that there is a type and shadow future free trip branch or and the 7 year tribulation hidden in the story and on top of that he said. Story of yours of an age or could possibly be showing us the approximate time frame return of Jesus the Messiah could you briefly give us an explanation as to why you believe that I want to tell our listening audience that we are offering that d.v.d. Joseph in Egypt Yes Well just to keep it simple with our time constraints the day that Joseph is going to reveal his identity to his Jewish brothers as alluded to in Genesis Chapter 45 he has all the non jewish servant believers leave the room and you'll find that in Genesis 45 1st one we strongly believe this is a type and shadow of the rapture Joseph is evacuating all the non Jews out of the area so he can be alone with his Jewish brothers just as Christ reveals his identity to Israel his Jewish brothers and sisters on the day of the Lord our 2nd Advent at the end of the tribulation but going back to Joseph It's the 3rd time the brothers are in the land he reveals himself or brother Larry it's the 3rd time the Jews are in the land today the 1st time the Jews entered the Promised Land with Joshua the 2nd time as Israel leaves Persia to go back home under King Cyrus after 70 years of captivity and of course the 3rd time was 948 in a nutshell it's the 3rd time Israel's in the land today and in the not too distant future Jesus is the Messiah will reveal himself to his Jewish brothers and sisters Amen Wow what a day that will be will brother Mike it's really exciting to have you I know you are working on a new d.v.d. I believe and I think you said it's going to be ready in December is that correct. Yes your I believe will be ready next month in December Well we're looking forward to having you back on the program so thank you so much for your research and I love tapping into your your understanding of current events brother Matthew please come to the bike and tell our listeners about our special offer. Thank you Pastor Larry our special offer today is the new d.v.d. Titled The mystery of the red heifer you can have your copy for a gift of $20.00 if you live in the United States and 30 dollars if you live in Canada to place your order just car call center 180-652-1144 you can also place your order by writing to us at Post Office Box 76834 Oklahoma City Oklahoma 73147 and of course you can order this special offer on our website at s w r c dot com Also available is the popular d.v.d. By Michael Smith titled The Cyrus effect you can have a copy of this favorite d.v.d. For a gift of $20.00 and we have the d.v.d. That started it all titled Joseph in Egypt also for a gift of $20.00 Our very special offer today is to get all 3 tremendous D.V.D.'s for a gift of $45.00 That number again is 180-652-1144 you can also place your warder by writing to us at Post Office Box 76834 Oklahoma City Oklahoma 73147 and the website is s w r c dot com Here again is Pastor Lynn. Force of the Hong Kong protest have usually been traced to an extradition Bill advanced by the Chinese communist government in Beijing on one day in the summer of 2019 more than a 1000000 Hong Kong residents gathered to protest legislation. That would allow Beijing to try citizens of Hong Kong this wouldn't from Hong Kong would face hostile tribunals and fear they would never be returned to Hong Kong the Beijing government has a sad history of assassinations and kidnappings However the extradition legislation was one of many other perceived abuses that embolden the protesters among other things the charges that the Beijing government was not honoring its 1907 promise of one state 2 systems the desire for real democratic reform and Beijing's insistence that candidates for high office in Hong Kong would be supplied by Beijing also promoted hostility on the part of the residents of Hong Kong he has more of an end feeling the lack of trust was the Causeway Bay Books incident 5 individuals involved in publishing sensitive political materials that were critical of the Chinese Communist Party had disappeared the circumstances of their disappearance and the flavor of foul play suggested that the disappearances were the suppression of free political speech by the communist government as the protest have continued added fuel has been thrown on the growing fire of dissent there have been charges of police brutality and the growing violent tactics to work some of the protesters have resorted while a hard core group of protesters say that the extreme actions are needed to get the attention of the free world the violence has led some Christians and their families in Hong Kong to side with the police it pull conducted by the Center for communication and public opinion survey at the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that 70 percent of respondents do not trust the police to some degree with 52 percent saying they have 0 trust in the police however the erosion of trust in the police has been very difficult on some of the police officers many of whom attend churches in Hong Kong. They feel that no one except or appreciates them any longer a change in attitude that the police feel is not justified once known as Asia's finest Hong Kong police officers now receive death threats and are met with angry charges and shouts of corrupt cops some protesters hurl Moeller talk cocktails bricks and corrosive liquids of the police and at times gang up to attack them on October 13th Hong Kong Police reported that protesters remotely detonated a homemade explosive device on a road near where police were clearing road blocks Sadly the spouses and children of police officers are also receiving threats some find their personal information posted online while others say their children face discrimination at schools some police officers have even left their churches because of their church in support of the protest and also because fellow church members view them of the hostility fade dissatisfaction of many Hong Kong citizens with a hardline Beijing government is a good thing Chinese President Xi Jinping is amount wished and every sense of the word has made his hostility against Christianity evident in many ways including tearing down church buildings disrespect for basic human rights harsh rhetoric and a general disdain for anyone who does not accept the tenets of the Chinese Communist Party however when some pastors in Hong Kong and church members side with the protesters police officers who believe they are simply trying to do their job and keep peace from Hong Kong find that Christianity leaves a bad taste in their mouths to them the protestors are looking more like mindless rioters they wonder if perhaps the Chinese Communist Party is doing the right thing in seeking to exterminate Christianity some pastors in Hong Kong have observed that some police officers are more resistant then ever before against the gospel because they view Christians. As siding with lawless protestors and allowing them to take shelter in their churches and the the church in Hong Kong is a house divided punk on pastors and leaders are walking a fine line between members who support the protests and members who support the police they have people in their congregations people who passionately are both sides of the controversy many of the younger Christians in Hong Kong think that the church in Hong Kong isn't doing enough to fight the abuses that they see Beijing imposing on Hong Kong at the same time Christians who are more pro-government complain of pastors whom they feel have mix church and politics and are to openly support of the protests some have changed churches because of political differences June Chang writing an article that appeared in the November 9th issue of World magazine writes quote I spoke to 10 Hong Kong church leaders about what it's been like past 3 during such to mulcher was times some of OJT all discussion about politics inside the church while others bring up current events in their sermons despite pushback they all describe the difficulty in finding unity among the Christian community at this time close quote pes or Larry this is a very bad situation Jesus Christ has lost his witness in Hong Kong because of the division I think much of the division is justified there is obvious wrong on both sides in the church in Hong Kong maintain a consistent Christian witness and yet not be too closely identified with either side well that's a really important question Marvin and in my estimation there's division in the ranks of groups that call themselves Christian and identify with Jesus Christ as really intolerable is doing a great harm to the witness of the church churches must not have their witness to Christ cancelled by becoming too closely identified with either side and they surely must not become embroiled. In a cycle of escalating violence for what it's worth I believe that churches need to unite on some basic principles that need to be published and made available for public dissemination these principles are broad enough so that a number of different Christian groups of various doctrinal persuasion can stand together and maintain a Christian witness pistol or why don't you share these principles with our listeners you are right we don't want a Christian witness lost in Hong Kong because the church is a house divided Well Marvin's here are my suggested principles that hopefully will establish a degree of unity in the churches and maintain a Christian witness 1st of all this is the statement that they need to publish we believe that the Bible is the Word of God and cannot be altered or changed by any human governing body will pass a Larry I think just about every Christian group can affirm that who was the next principal But secondly this is what I believe needs to be published we believe in religious liberty and in the freedom of each individual to why the reject the tenets of the Christian faith or to accept them will pass away or adding to everyone who names the name of Christ can abide by that to what is the 3rd principle that you suggest well the 3rd principle is this and this is another principle that needs to be publicly affirmed while we affirm the right of Christians to peacefully protest and make his or her views known we seek a peaceful and nonviolent solution to all disagreements and the 4 friends wall and the last one is really important we will pursue a solution that is in complete accord with the principles clearly articulated in the one country 2 systems approach originally established in the 1997 agreement. Thank you Pastor Larry our special offer today is the new d.v.d. Titled The mystery of the red heifer. Or you can have your copy for a gift of $20.00 if you live in the United States and $30.00 if you live in Canada to place your order just car call center 180-652-1144 you can also place your order by writing to us at Post Office Box 76834 Oklahoma City Oklahoma 73147 and of course you can order this special offer on our website at s w r c dot com Also available is the popular d.v.d. By Michael Smith titled The Cyrus effect you can have a copy of this favorite d.v.d. For a gift of 20 dollars and we have the d.v.d. That started it all titled Joseph in Egypt also for a gift of $20.00 Our very special offer today is to get all 3 tremendous D.V.D.'s for a gift of $45.00 That number again is 180-652-1144 the website is s w r c dot com Thank you for joining us today tune in Monday when we begin a new series here on the watchman a wall program from southwestern Radio Church. To preceding program is sponsored by watchman media God's word worldwide at 670 Kayleigh t.t. Dot com and all over Colorado in digital age d a m 670 k l t t e Commerce City Denver ancient Christians had a reputation for running toward the plate not away from it today there's a new play that. Mann's our response to the calls in center on Johnstone street this is breakpoint. Between 10592016 life expectancy in the us rose from 69.9 years to 78.9 years now most people know that but did you know that since then it's reversed course a new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association paints a portrait of a society in deep trouble for the 3rd year in a row now the average life expectancy in the u.s. Has declined the last time American life expectancy declined 3 years in a row War One and the Spanish flu pandemic killed 675000 Americans of course in the early 1900 there were no antibiotics the germ theory of disease had only recently been widely accepted in the u.s. In the kind of public health and sanitation measures that we now take for granted were still in their infancy and today the u.s. Spends a far larger share of its g.d.p. On health care than any other nation yet other wealthy nations are not experiencing the same reversal in life expectancy in fact people in some less wealthy nations like Kosta Rica have significantly longer life expectancies than Americans so whatever is causing Americans to die younger and younger has nothing at all to do with medical science or technology as a recent Washington Post article describes the causes behind this dramatic shift are things like suicide drug overdoses liver disease and dozens of other causes these causes are summed up in a phrase deaths from despair that was coined by researchers and case in Angus Deaton as a public health expert told the Post people are feeling worse about themselves and their futures as leading them to do things that are self destructive and not promoting health the same hopelessness leading to the uptick in deaths from despair is also driving what I call acts of desperation that we also see. In our culture and this category I'd put acts of mass violence or abuse and the increasing number of young people willing to self mutilate in a pursuit for their identity this sad story brings to mind Matthew 936 when Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd the Greek word that is here translated compassion describes a visceral reaction not a mere sentiment and other words it's like Jesus felt this one in the gut his response to their plight was to tell his disciples pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest starting with themselves our current epidemic of dying young should elicit a similar response from us as chuckle some like to say it's time for the church to be the church like our Lord we must see the harassed and helpless around us we must feel their suffering as if it were our own and we must pray that God would show us how he'd have us respond if as Paul told the Athenians God has determine the time and place where we live we cannot be spectators in this cultural moment to the unfolding tragedies around us God has placed us here to act that is doesn't mean we'll solve the problem any more than those who ran toward the plague in ancient Rome could stop it the restoration of all things will only be complete when Christ returns and glory but we can offer a preview of that restoration here and now that's what we and only we have to offer the world if we can't bring ourselves to do this and something else is terribly wrong this time with us for breakpoint on Johnstone street. Salt and light light. 670 k. L. D. . If your thoughts are getting you into trouble your mind this process. On the world you need some help developing what the Bible calls the mind of Christ today on turning point Dr David Jeremiah turns to the book. To shed light on what that expression means and doesn't mean from the series what do you think here's David to introduce the priority of a dedicated. This is one of the most powerful passages in all of the Bible and it begins with these words Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus I do want to give away any of the rest of this because we're going to study this today and again on Monday but this is for Libyans Chapter 2 verses one through 11 this is the priority of a dedicated mind it is not only powerful for this series but it is such a wonderful passage to prepare our hearts for the message of Christmas the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ during the month of December we are making available to all of you who will help us with the year end gift a very very wonderful and specially designed devotional book for the New Year one up again 2020 reading your Bible every day and having a devotional right along with you to just prime the pump and get you going each day there's a special reading that will help you think your way through the things that are happening in your life we cannot possibly know what's going on in your life but the variety and the personality of each of these devotional readings will touch you somewhere during the year it will be exactly what you need for that day but every day it will encourage you and I want you to have a copy of this the only way you can get this devotional is by giving a December gift a turning point and we really need your help in December we want to face 2020 with everything we need to do the work of God in the new decade so join with us where you make a special. Effort to give a special gift to this ministry that God has been using to encourage your heart be sure and ask for your copy of this beautiful devotional call daily in his presence and we'll send you this devotional as our way of saying thank you for your gift today now let's get started with our lesson the priority of a dedicated. Today we want to talk about the priority of a dedicated mind what does it mean when we read in Philippians chapter 2 and verse 5 let this minded be in you which was also in Christ Jesus it seems to say bet you and I. The creatures of Almighty God can have the same mindset the same mind that was given to the Lord Jesus now we need to be sure we understand that when the Bible says we are to have the mind of Christ it doesn't mean we become infallible and we start playing God. To have the mind of Christ means that we can learn to look at life the way the savior looks at life having his values and his desires it means to think God's thoughts not to think as the world thinks. It's an incredible thing that God has equipped us with this marvelous computer between our ears that this Gift of God that we call our mind can do what no electronic computer can ever do what no technology can ever manage to create according to the Bible our minds are capable. Of understanding God communicating with God fellowshipping with God No electronic device will ever be able to do that God has given us a receiver and a transmitter as a part of our equipment so that we can know God that's part of what it means when we are told that God has created us with God shaped vacuum in our lives and until God is at home the receiver and the transmitter shut off but when God comes to live within us we then have the capacity to know God and to fellowship with God and the Bible says we even learn how to understand God's word because the natural man does not receive the things of God but he that is spiritual or he that is a Christian so today we want to look at this verse in the book of Philippians that says let this minded be in you which was also in Christ Jesus when I began this series I knew the verse I knew it was in the Bible I knew it said were to let the mind of Christ be in us but I was quite surprised as I went back and learned just exactly what this means and you will no doubt be surprised as well how many of you know that when you want to understand a verse you have to look at it in its context in the 1st thing you notice when you read verse 5 of Philippians Chapter 2 is that it is connected with verse 6 and following Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus and there's no period there there's a comma Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who and then there's a whole paragraph that follows that that explains what is the mind of Christ. Let us be sure today that we understand that we're talking here about something that happens in our mind in fact in the 1st verses of Philippians 2 you will see the word mind 4 times verse 2 says like minded one mind verse 3 says lowliness of mind verse 5 says Let this mind. The book of Philippians has a lot to say about the My not just in the 1st chapter not in the 2nd chapter but in the whole book The concept of the human mind the concept of our thought process is mentioned over 10 times now what we're going to learn today is that it's not just our thinking for instance if a friend does something that puzzles us or we might ask what was it that he had in mind in doing it. It is this sense that Paul uses this word here in Philippians to what was in the mind of the Lord Jesus and then we read that section Hulu and it tells us all about what happened when Jesus came to this earth the passage that is before us describes the mind of Christ now listen if you study the Gospels you will learn a lot about Jesus all 4 gospels tell the story of the life of Christ most of the Gospels most of the 4 gospels have to do with the death of Christ his passion when you come to the epistles that were written to the churches you find out what all that means because Paul and Peter John they explain the cross but only in Philippians Chapter 2 do you have a chance to see the cross through the eyes of Jesus himself what did it mean to him when he came to this earth to be our savior that's what Paul wants us to know about the mind of Christ he says Let this mind be on you which was also in Christ Jesus. Then he tells the story of the incarnation he tells the story of what it meant to the Lord Jesus to come to this earth back in 1902 I wrote a book on The Book of Philippians called turning toward joy it was one of the 1st books that I wrote it was a little commentary on the book of Philippians I remember when I 1st got my arms around Philip in chapter 2 and I thought. This is the greatest passage in the scripture about the birth of Jesus and His coming to this earth and as I studied it and I spent a lot of time writing the little chapter of the incarnation I began to realize that while this story is a very accurate report of Jesus coming to this earth the purpose of the story is not to give us more information about Jesus' birth the purpose of the story is to help us understand what it means to have the mind of Christ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who do and now Paul is going to tell us a story that will help us understand the mind of Christ I've taught this passage many times and I have never been able to come up with a better way to outline his descent to this earth than the one we're going to look at today so let's begin there are some steps that Jesus took from heaven to this earth and we're going to follow them through Remember this is a story to teach us a lesson about the mind of Christ what happened when God the Father. Spoke to God the Son and he said. We are going to invade the earth with the gospel. And it will take everything we have to do it and I'm assigning the task to you. The Bible says the 1st thing that the Lord Jesus had to do when he came to this earth. Was he had to relinquish his place notice verse 6 let this mine be you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God The word being here is used many times in the New Testament it always refers to a preexistence In other words that Jesus was always God always has been always will be never will not be he's always been who he is and it says here that being in the form of God having the very substance of God Jesus in Heaven had to do something that is mind boggling to all of us if we're to understand the greatness of Christ's coming to this earth and if we're to know the mind of Christ we must see that it is a mind if you Melody we must try to comprehend the lofty position that he held before he was made man not only had Christ existed eternally he had existed eternally as God And when Paul says that he was in the form of God He's not just referring to how he looked outwardly he's talking about the very substance of Christ he was the very God of gods God himself once in a while you hear people say well you know I don't have a problem with you believing in Jesus he was a good man I'm sure he was among the better of the prophets and all of that but don't give me this nonsense about Jesus being God because the Bible doesn't teach that. When somebody tells you that you can pretty well rest assured that they don't ever read the Bible. Because the Bible does teach that over and over and over again so that we won't miss it John 49 Jesus said He who has seen Me has seen the Father. Questions 1904 it please The Father that in Him Christ all the fullness should do well. 1st of the 316 and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is God and friends if he were not God then the Christian faith is a joke because no man can die for the sins of the whole world only the God man can do that only Jesus Christ who was in the very essence and substance God could hang on a cross and his death be worthy of the death of everyone who would put their trust in him so let's understand that the deity of Jesus Christ the godhead of Jesus Christ is not an option for those of us who are Christians if you do not believe that Jesus was God then you do not have anything to believe because if he is not God We are still in our sins it was Jesus Christ who came God in the flesh down to this earth and the point that Paul is making here is that in order for him to become our Savior he had to walk away from the place that he had he had to relinquish his place and then secondly he had to refuse his prerogative Notice in verse 6 at the end of the verse it says he did not consider it robbery to be equal with God when the text says that Christ did not consider it robbery to be equal with God It means that he did not hold on to the outer manifestation of His deity he was still God He always will be God He never was not God but in order to come down here to be one of us he had to lay aside some of the outward manifestation of his Godhead to become a man. He became one of us he did not view it according to Paul something to be grasped to we do know that Christ surrendered that which he loved in order that he might minister to those that he loved what he did when he left Heaven to come down to earth was according to Paul in another passage he who was rich became poor for us he who had everything. In the outer manifestation of his Godhead walked away from that. To give down. And be one of us and then in verse 7 we're told he renounced his privileges he made himself of no reputation listen Jesus Christ made himself of no reputation don't forget the admonition Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ. What does it mean that he made himself of no reputation some scholars say that when Jesus came to this earth he laid aside his deity he laid aside all of the attributes of his Godhead Well let me tell you something diminish deity is no deity at all. You can't lay aside part of being God you're either God or you're not God you're not partly God you're not 75 percent God and I'm laying aside 25 percent so I can go down and minister to the people on the earth no no no God never ever cease to be God Jesus never ceased to be God but the Bible says He emptied himself and he made himself of no reputation what does that possibly mean once again it's the picture of the condescension of Christ to come so that he could be our Savior it means that when he came to this earth he set aside the independent use of his attributes of his power so that he could identify with us if God had come in Jesus Christ with all of the manifestations of the power of God. It would have been so overwhelming. It would have been so overwhelming. He could not have identified as the Bible says that he was identified with us in His humanity so that he felt every temptation that we feel that he was under every pressure that we have ever been under yet apart from sin that's what the Bible says In order for that to be true the Bible says that when he came to this earth he set aside all that he could be although he still was and he submitted himself come. Plait Lee to the will of the Father I want you to notice this I found all these verses right in the center of the book of John that teaches this so powerfully notice in John as you look at your Bibles Let's go through these verses just quickly so you can see what I'm talking about 1st 1000 of chapter 5 Jesus said the son can do nothing of himself Wait a minute isn't the Son God. Yes but notice the Son can do nothing of himself but what he sees the Father do. Verse 30 I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father does not God have His own will is not Jesus God Yes but what does the text say. Verse 16 of Chapter 7 says My doctrine is not mine but he who sent me verse 28 says I have not come of myself John 828 says I do nothing of myself but as my father taught me I speak these things John 850 says I do not seek my own glory John 1424 says the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent Me What is this all about is it Jesus God Yes Did he lay aside his Godhead when he came to this earth know what he did was in order to identify with us he voluntarily submitted himself to the will of the father while he walked upon this earth so that he never did anything on this earth that was not 1st of all laid before the Father in heaven so that he always did the Father's will in the book of Hebrews Jesus said Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written to do by Will oh god. I want you to see that in order for Jesus Christ to be our Savior what he did what he gave up to come down here to be part of humanity so that he could be our savior but this mind be in you which was also in Christ. He really wished his place he refused his prerogative he renounced his privileges and notice also he restricted his presence I remember when this 1st hit me when I saw this and I cut this picture in my mind and I hope I can put it in your mind too but here's the picture verse 7 says taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men to do you know what God did in order that he could be our savior listen to me the Lord of Glory the Son of God seated at the right hand of the father was willing to come and be a little baby in the womb of a woman and be born as a human so that he could be our savior. The one who had the on bounded freedom of the whole universe restricted himself. First of all to the womb of Mary and then also to a human body Jesus Christ in a human body I've said over the years that Jesus Christ is God walking around in a body. And that's who he is but you see this passage gives us the picture of this from the mind of Jesus what did it cost Jesus to be our savior he left heaven he laid aside the independent use of his attributes he came to this earth and I willingly became a part of humanity he was it just placed in this world as an adult human No no no he came into this world exactly as all of us come into this world the humanity of Christ is one of the greatest testimonies of his love for us Thomas Watson wrote this in a magnificent paragraph in Old English but listen carefully. Christ taking our flesh was one of the lowest steps of humility. He humbled himself more by lying in the Virgin's womb than by hanging on the cross it was not so much for a man to die men die but for God to become man was the wonder of humility for him to be made flesh who was equal with God Oh what humility. He stood upon even ground with God yet he stripped himself of the robes of his glory and covered himself with the rags of humanity. That's what he did. That's what he did. And ultimately in verse 8 we're told that he realized his purpose in being found in appearance as a man He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even the death of the cross. From Heaven all the way down down down down until ultimately outside of Jerusalem. He hung on a cross and died as a common criminal. And the death of Christ was not an accident. It was in the program of God The Bible says it was in God's mind to be for the world began nearly one 3rd of the material in the Gospels is devoted to the days that Jesus spent in the shadow of the cross because that was the very purpose for his coming to this earth for even the Son of Man did not come to be served says Mark but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. When the Lord's death is described here in Philippians as even the death of the Cross that seems to be almost the last straw for the humility of Christ even the death of the cross the death of the cross was a death which was reserved for non Romans who were convicted of a crime while in Rome or for criminals of any nature the cross was restricted for their execution and when the Bible says that Jesus Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross it is saying that from the Lord of glory he was humbled all the way down to a death like a common criminal. From below Satan and all of his hosts assailed him from round about men heap scorn on him God dropped darkness on him. And there arose this bitter cry from the Cross My God my God why have you forsaken me in this hell in this hell of Calvary Christ descended he came all the way down here for us he did all of that for you that you might ultimately be a Christian the Bible says that when he was finished with his death and his resurrection Philippians $29.00 says God also highly exalted him gave him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven and those on Earth. And those under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father this passage covers the entire life of Jesus it covers his preexistence it covers his incarnation it covers his humiliation it covers his crucifixion and now it covers his ascension and his actual take somebody said this is the passage of Scripture that gives you the round trip by 10 array of Jesus. From heaven to earth and back to heaven or a passage of Scripture meditate on it is you get ready for the Christmas season and it will help you get your mind right I promise you if you do it they were at the end of another week can you believe we just have just a couple weeks now before we'll be gathering with our families to celebrate the birthday of Jesus these are such important days for us and I know that you are busy with so much to do let me encourage you to just take a moment and reflect upon the ministry of turning point if it is Ben and courage meant to you if God is used in any way. To Bless your heart and encourage you in your walk this is the time to respond we very seldom mention anything about this during the year but during the month of December we really need you to help us so sit down and perfectly consider your best gift a turning point and when you do so be sure and ask for your copy of this beautiful devotional called daily in his presence it's an amazing devotional book that will certainly bless your life and fill you with hope in the new year it will give you mighty 670 k. L.t. You're tuned to am 670 calle t.t. Commerce City Denver h.d. And streaming worldwide at 670 k l t t dot com your radio has a request please don't smack it if you're having trouble hearing kale t.t. Don't play innocent it senior with the vending machine the fact is there are just times the government says we have to lower our power and some of you may not be able to hear us as well it is not your radio's fault so instead of taking a frustrated swing at it simply go to 670 k. L. T. T. Dot com and hear everything we do 24 seventh's or get the free tuning in radio and listen to us everywhere anytime on your phone and your radios no longer nervous Thank you. Infusing your morning with the light of God's word your 2 am 67 t.t.c. Cayle th do Commerce City. At 95 point one and streaming world 1670 calle t. T's dot com. The ground upon which you and I have a right relationship with God has nothing to do with our performance and that's a hard lesson because our our nature our old sin nature even when it sugarcoats it was self righteousness and piety we try to prove that we're better. Then what God says we are that somehow we're not as bad as a people though we know who we really look down i Watch out a right relationship to God is based on being justified by faith. Welcome to hold for today the Bible teaching ministry of David Hockney it's here you get the Bible the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible. Our actions have nothing to do with our standing with God That's a hard lesson but it's one that we all need to learn after all we live in a performance centered culture our jobs and salaries depend on how we perform that means that our successes and failures become part of our identities rather than simple accomplishments or disappointments it can seriously mess with how we perceive ourselves but here's the good news with God none of that matters with him it doesn't matter how we do all that matters is who he is well David shares more as he heads into his look at Romans Chapter 5 titled this section what we have by faith stick around 1st though David is here in studio and he has details about a must have resource that pairs perfectly with our Roman series. Well I hope friends here are enjoying our study of the book of Romans I call it the constitution of Christianity Well anyway we have a commentary on the entire book the title The Gospel of Jesus Christ the Gospel of Jesus Christ commentary on the entire book of Romans You Can Get It Now normally this paperback pretty big one is $20.00.