Episode Transcript
Good afternoon everyone.
Happy New Year Day.
I love this place.
Alright, real quickly, before we get started in our lesson today, I need to apologize for something I said last weekend.
Clear something up.
Last week, I said that Adam and Eve ate an apple, and that may not be the fruit that they ate when they disobeyed God and brought sin to the world.
So I.
I go home in the evenings and a lot of times while I'm doing other church work I'll sit there and I'll listen to the lessons that we do here.
And when I hear that I say something wrong, oh, it just eats me up all through the whole week until I can come back.
So I apologize for that.
The scripture says in Genesis 3, 6, and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it Pleasant to the eyes, and a tree he desired to make one wise.
She took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband of her, and he did eat.
Now, the scripture does not designate what kind of fruit it was, and I shouldn't either.
Because that is adding to God's word and that is something that I do not want to do.
So I apologize for saying that they ate an apple.
And hopefully I will not say that again, but if I do and realize it, I will be standing up there in front of you.
Of you again, apologizing again because God knows that I don't want to tell you wrong, and when I accidentally do, it bothers me, so I get to apologize.
That ain't me up already, folks.
So now that we have that cleared up, let's get into our lesson today in the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 14, which says, And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night.
And let them be for signs.
And for seasons and for days and years.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you so much, Lord, through your precious word, Father.
Thank you for this lesson that you've learned.
This word here today, Father, and we pray, Lord, as we go through it, that you will just teach each and every person that has come here to hear your word.
Learning, Father.
Please just teach us now, Lord.
We thank you, and we're just so grateful for each and every person that's faithful to come here, Lord.
Just thank you so much for Jesus, Lord, and in His precious name.
So we are now on the fourth day of creation.
And God has created lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night.
And God says, let them be for signs. signs and for seasons and for days and years.
The Hebrew word used here for sign means A signal, a signal.
That loud noise that we hear Usually during our lesson is that ice maker back there in the corner.
And when it starts making that loud noise, that is a signal that it is working.
Sometimes we get another loud noise in the background during our lesson.
Brother Rory was just asking me about that.
A real loud alarm sound that is very ear-piercing and disruptive. designed to get the listeners attention.
We are even not we're not even the listener.
And we hear that.
That is not a sign designated for And yet we hear that noise, don't we?
We hear it.
This loud noise is a signal to the nurses. that a patient is in need and it will not stop making that noise until the nurse shows up for the patient and turns the alarm off.
If we were to look around this place, there are signs everywhere.
Everywhere.
The door that we come in throughout there. front as a sign on do not push this bar or the alarm goes off it's got it's got a sign on it put your hand here to push the door there are signs all over this place If we were to just close our eyes and listen, we could even hear signs of things.
Did you know a flag is a sign?
If you see a flag blowing in the wind, It is a sign that the wind is blowing and can also be a sign of how hard that wind is blowing and in which direction the wind is blowing.
That's a sign.
There are so many things that can be used for signs.
And God has blessed us with signs if we will just take the time and learn from what God is showing us.
He not only gave us the lights in the firmament for signs, but in Isaiah 7:14.
The scripture says, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and Shaul shall call his name Emmanuel.
The name may well means with us is God, or God with us, God of flesh.
A virgin conceiving a child is only something God could make heaven, folks, and that within itself is a miracle.
Miracles are also signs from God.
The word signs used in our text in Genesis 1. 14 can also be interpreted to mean miracles.
Which only God can do.
That child brought forth by God from a virgin was God in the flesh, grew up and performed many miracles. which should be interpreted by you and I as signs from God, but some people simply refuse to believe the signs from God In the book of John, Jesus speaks of his death ahead of time, which is a miracle within itself because in the people's eyes that he is speaking to his death.
Has not happened yet.
Jesus is prophesying of his own death.
That's a sign, folks.
That is Harry.
If y'all look at John 12, 27, I've got you marked already.
John chapter 12, verse 27.
And after we get done now, we're going to go to John chapter 20.
I'm sorry at John chapter 12.
You can't get in hand on the bees, can you?
No.
You're John is well.
You can't get in heaven without Jesus.
That's right.
You're exactly right.
John 1.
Very good.
John chapter 12.
John chapter 12, verse 26.
First, second, third John.
That's all.
John twelve eighty seven John twelve twenty seven This is Jesus speaking at his death.
He says, Now is my soul troubled.
And what shall I say?
Father, save me from this hour.
But for this cause kind came I unto this hour.
This is Jesus telling us.
This is the miracle Jesus is going to perform.
Father, glorify thy name.
Then came there a voice from heaven saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.
Simon.
The people therefore that stood by and heard it said that it thundered.
Others said an angel spake to him.
Now, wouldn't that be a sign if I was to hear that?
Wouldn't that be a sign who was there?
Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Your sakes.
Now is the judgment of this world.
Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Now, if you look at the word signifying.
What is the root word there?
Sign.
Sign.
Sign.
I like gave you sign.
This he says, signifying what death he should die.
The people answered him.
We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever.
And how sayest thou, the Son of Man must be lifted up.
How sayest thou, the Son of Man must be lifted up?
They don't understand.
Who is this Son of Man?
They're talking to the Son of Man right there, to Jesus.
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you.
Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.
For he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
And y'all remember that God created light.
He said, let there be light.
And God saw that the light was good.
What did God do?
With the darkness and with the light, we separated it, didn't you?
We separated it.
Jesus says, While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.
These things spake Jesus and departed.
And did hide himself from them.
But though he had done so many miracles.
Before them, yet they believed not on him.
Here is Jesus doing all these miracles in front of all these people.
They still didn't believe.
They still did not believe.
So many miracles, so many signs, and yet they believed not on him.
Are you one of those people who refuse to reject the signs of God?
You can see the lights in the firmament of heaven that God created.
You believe they are there because you can see them.
There is a wonderful lesson taught in John chapter 20, verse 24 through 29 about believing in things you cannot see.
John chapter 20.
Everybody bright one for y'all to look at.
Okay, John chapter 20.
John chapter 20.
Got you more.
You got it, John.
I don't care where you go.
Now remember now, Jesus is talking to all these people who have seen all of these miracles.
And yet they still refuse to believe.
This is for the people that haven't seen all Americans.
If you haven't seen a miracle in your life, folks, listen up.
John chapter 12.
I'm sorry, John chapter 20.
After Jesus was raised from the tomb, he came to visit all the disciples as they were gathered together in a meeting.
All the disciples, except for one named Thomas, who was absent from the meeting.
So he did not get to see the risen Savior as of yet.
But that was about to change.
So think now, folks, Jesus has been crucified on the cross.
He died on the cross.
He was taken down from the cross.
He was placed in a tomb, where he laid in that tomb.
God reached down and pulled Jesus out of that tomb and Jesus was resurrected again.
All the disciples had gathered in a room that was in a meeting, except for one.
Jesus came and visited all of them.
Except that one he says, but Thomas, one of the twelve called Didymus.
Was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.
But he said unto them, except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails And put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand to his side, I will not believe.
Remember now, Jesus was nailed to a cross.
A Roman soldier came up to make sure he was dead, and he took a spear and he run it up in the side of Jesus.
Leaving a spear wound, leaving nail prints in Jesus' hand.
Thomas said he refused to believe unless he sees it with his own eyes.
And after eight days, again, his disciples were within.
And Thomas with them.
So now all the disciples have come together and now Thomas is with them too.
Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace be unto you.
I could just see old Thompson's face when that happened.
I could just see.
Then saith he to Thomas, Jesus looks over at Thomas, ah, this is good.
Jesus looks over at Thomas and he says, reach hither thy finger and behold my hands.
And reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing.
Wow!
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him of Thomas, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed.
Jesus says, blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.
Yet have believed.
I was not there to see our Savior crucified on that cross, and I can only imagine the misery and torment and pain that he must have experienced.
But God has shown me that it was real just like he has shown me the lights and the firmament of heaven Those lives are for signs, and the dead, burial, and resurrection of Christ are for signs as well.
And if you will believe, you will be saved.
Amen.
Amen.
Numbers 14, 11 says, And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me?
And how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?
How many signs do you need to know?
Unbelievable.
How many signs do you have to have before you will trust?
In Christ as your Savior.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 says, For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God frame with him.
So we have discussed signs now.
Let's look at another reason for the lights in the firmament.
God says, and for seasons, not four seasons.
Brother Red.
But for the word seasons is translated as meaning an appointment.
Or a fixed time or season.
He still had that.
I'll explain to you after Psalms 104, 19 through 23.
He appointed the moon for seasons.
The sun knoweth his going down.
Thou makest darkness, and it is night.
Wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
The young lions roar after their prey and seek their meat from God.
The sun ariseth.
They gather themselves together and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening.
God gave us the lights in the firmament for seasons.
The sun and the moon have seasons or appointments.
They have seasons or appointments they keep.
When the sun goes down, the beasts of the forest go out creeping around. because of the darkness and the young lions go out seeking your prey because they have an appointment to keep due to the hunger in their bellies and the coolness of the night as compared to the heat of the day.
God told Adam in the Garden of Eden after he had sinned in Genesis 3:19, In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.
For out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.
See.
Season.
Without the lights in the firmament of heaven, there would be no seasons or appointments.
But if we were to think about it, Without sin, we would need no seasons at all.
Let's look at the next things God says the lights in the firmament are for.
He says, and for days and years.
So far, we have been through three days in our study.
We are in our fourth day of creation.
I find it very interesting.
How God has counted each and every day of his creation for us here in the book of Genesis, so that we may learn.
You know, if we were just sitting down reading these verses.
Each and every line of verse we could read fairly quickly if we wanted.
If you think about it, And compare reading these verses to our time living here in this world.
They both go by very quickly.
God is in control of how many days and years He blesses us with.
And we should all be thanking God each and every morning He wakes us up to see another day that He has blessed us with.
It because we do not know when our last day or year shall come.
Psalms 39:4 as we start to wind this down.
Lord, make me to know mine in, and a measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am.
Folks, one day we're strong, strong, prosperous, vigilant, just getting it.
No cares, no worries.
And the next day, rogues pulled out motors are held Starts to go down, our bodies start decomposing and getting worse and weaker.
We don't know when that time comes.
I could ask each and every one of you here if you knew when the time was going to be when your circumstances did.
I don't imagine nobody could tell me for sure that they knew.
I've had people tell me, oh, Doug, I was doing so good.
Everything was going well.
I was in perfect health.
They had to struggle.
Then they go to the doctor, and the doctor says, I'm sorry, you're diagnosed with the tone of the world.
We don't know.
When that's going to happen, Psalms 39, 5 says, Behold, thou hast made my days as a handbread.
And mine age is as nothing before thee.
Verily, every man at his best state is altogether vanity.
See Lord.
A hand breadth is the distance between one side of your palm to the other side of your palm.
That is how fast our life goes.
Book of James says, What is your life but of faith?
You see it one morning, you get up, you look outside, you see a fog, you go back, lay asleep.
Get back up again, go out, and the fog's gone.
You have your hot cup of coffee.
You see the little steam coming off the top.
Oh, I love the coffee.
That's why I said that.
She got a little steam coming off the top of it.
Next thing you know, that little steam's gone.
That is our life, folks.
See it.
It's here but for a moment, and it's gone.
A hand breadth is not very wide, is it?
We were talking here after service last week about how fast life goes by.
I was talking to a beer person here, and once again, I. .
I don't like to mention names because I don't want to embarrass anybody.
We were talking in here after service last week about how fast life goes by and sometimes near the end of our lives.
Sometimes we end up laying in bed unable to sleep.
This is the specific subject we'll be talking about.
Sometimes we lay there, we're not able to communicate, can't speak, can't move, or we just lay there.
Folks, if you don't know Christ as your Savior, don't you think it's time now while you still can?
Let your loved ones go if you do.
Do it now, for you know not what tomorrow may bring, the Bible says.
If you do know Jesus Christ as your Savior, let someone know, please.
Please don't have me standing up at your funeral not being able to tell your loved ones that you knew Jesus Christ is your Savior.
Please don't have any preacher doing that.
When I do eulogies, when I talk to the people, and they let me know that they were saved.
I believe that is the best comfort that your loved ones can hear at that time.
They're already shook up because you're gone.
But to know.
Where you are, that you are with God, is the greatest comfort that you could give a loved one during Things to tell people.
Please don't have somebody standing up there not being able to tell people that you were saved and that you knew Christ.
Please don't put your family members through that.
If you love your family members, please tell them.
If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, please get that strength out.
And once you do, please share that information with some.
Folks, I'm telling you right now, I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior.
I want y'all to know that.
I want my family to know that.
I want the people on the internet to know that.
I want strangers that I meet at work to know that when I lay there.
I want everybody to know that new Jesus Christ is his Savior.
I want no question marks beside my name.
Amen.
I want you to know this man right here believes Jesus Christ died for his sins.
This man right here believes that Jesus Christ went to the tomb and on the third day God raised him up.
And he is seated on the right hand of the Father in heaven right now, waiting to come back and claim his hand.
Amen.
That's what this man believes.
I want everybody to know.
No question marks on my future.
What misery to leave your loved ones they'll not know it if you knew Jesus are not a true They want to believe that you were saved, but you never told them.
And now you can't.
If that was to happen to you, how could they know if you can't tell?
If you're laying there, if you can't.
No chance to come back to tell them.
You had opportunity, but you kept putting it off and putting it off until it was too late.
God has given you days and years to seek Christ as your Savior.
Now. is the time.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness while you have time for it.
Heavenly Father, thank you so much, Lord, for this wonderful lesson that you blessed us with, Father, and I pray, Lord, at those wonderful That's unsafe today, Lord.
I pray, Lord, that this message breaks their hearts, Father, and that they will see you, Lord.
I pray that they will see you, Father, and your guidance.
Lord, I just pray that you'll draw them to the cross while they still have time, Lord.
And I pray, Lord, if they have ignored all the time that you've drawn them.
On the to the cross, Father.
They just put you off, Lord, and turned your back on you, Father.
I pray, Lord, that you will try again, Lord, and that they will hear you and that they'll turn to you, Father.
Oh, Lord, thank you, Lord, for all that you do.
Father, thank you for your wonderful words.
We thank you, Lord, for each and every person that comes to hear your words.
Father, thank you for the encouragement that they bring, Lord.
Thank you, Lord, so much for Jesus.
Thank you, Lord, He stayed on that cross and died for our sins, Father.
We thank you, Lord, that you brought him up out of that tomb.
Father, overcoming death, Lord.
We just thank you for all that you've done, Lord.
It's such a blessing.
Lord, I want to pray for the caregivers that are here, Lord.
Pray, Lord, that you will just help them to care for each and every person here, Lord, the way you want them to be cared for, Lord.
Thank you for those who come and help us here, Lord, to share your word, Father.
Thank you for the camera lady and Brother Lake and Gray, Lord.
And Lord, I want to pray for Brother Larry and his wife, Lord.
Their situation that they're going through now, Lord.
Pray your perfect will be done in their lives.
I want to pray for each and every person here, Lord.
Pray that your perfect will will be done in their lives too.
Father, as well as those who tune in on the internet to watch, Father.
We pray your will be done in their lives too.
Thank you, Lord.
We love you so much, Father.
Thank you for all that you do, Lord, in Jesus' name of the prayer today, Lord.
