Wednesday Evening | The Evidence | Dillon Hirsch
by Dylan Hirsch
First Apostolic Church of Maryville (Maryville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Revelation 12:10, John 8, John 14:16-18, Isaiah 43:25, Revelation 12:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Acts 1:8

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/dylan-hirsch--wednesday-evening-the-evidence
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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If you'd stand with me, please. We're going to if you'd open your Bibles to Revelation 12. It's where we're going to start our study this evening. We also want to mention uh as you leave this main door in the front at the guest services desk, we have lots of magnets with our pictures on it and with QR code on it that you can scan. You can find additional ways to get involved, to pray, to connect with us. So, please grab one of those. Put it on your refrigerator. Again, right out the main door here at the guest services desk. Please grab one of those. Revelation 12, we're going to read verse 10 as we begin. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser," say that with me, the accuser. Now say it like you're mad. The accuser, the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. With the help of the Lord for a few minutes here, we want to speak uh together with you on the evidence. The evidence. Let's pray right now. God, we pray all across this room that you would have your will. that you would take these words and these lips and this heart that I might follow and speak your will tonight. I pray for hearts all across this place that they would hear your voice. That they would hear your words and you would permeate in that heart. That you would allow them to have hope tonight. You would allow them God to break through in this fight with the accuser. Lord, we pray all these things giving you the honor and the glory in Jesus mighty name. You can be seated please. The evidence in John chapter 8 we find it says the devil our enemy is the father of all lies. It says that when he speaks lies he speaks what is familiar. He speaks what is his own. So we could say he's speaking his language. When he lies it is what he does. And I've heard it said that the most convincing, the most believable lie is the one that contains the most truth. The lie that is closest to the truth is the one that is most convincing. It doesn't seem so far-fetched. It looks like the real thing. It seems like the real thing, but it is just a cheap counterfeit. The lies. In the garden, we find Adam and Eve. The lie seemed to be so true because it contained some truth. He said, "If you eat this, you're going to have the knowledge of good and evil just like God. You're going to be just like, and you won't die. Surely, you won't die." It has some truth in it. They would know good and evil, but they would die. And they would be severed from the presence of God. There would be a death that happens that day. So the lies that seem so believable are the ones that contain the most evidence. It seems just like the real thing, but it is just a counterfeit. When we talk about the accuser, accusing means he brings allegations of wrongdoing, of sin. You sinner, I seen what you did. I know what happened. I was there. You're just a sinner. I saw what you looked at. I heard what you said. I know who you are. You're just a sinner. I hear those echoes of that accuser all throughout scripture. We hear it when we see Gideon. When we see God calling Gideon, if you would give me a moment, I hear him saying things like, "You call this a mighty man of valor. Then why are we hiding? This is your mighty man of I can't see real well in this wine press where we're hiding from the Midianites. But one thing I can see clearly, God, that this is no mighty man. This is a coward. This is no mighty man of he is not courageous. He has no valor. This is not who he is. You're saying he's a mighty man of valor, but the evidence doesn't quite match. You're saying these things about this man, but it just doesn't seem to line up with the facts, God. >> And then I hear it again in David's life. This is the man after your own heart. >> Then how come he's lying with somebody else's wife? >> And he's hiding it and he's killing somebody to keep it hidden. >> This is the man after your own heart. You see, it seems true, doesn't it? It sounds like the real thing. It's it has some truth, but he comes in with accusations. Where's the evidence? If he's the man after your own heart, where is the evidence? It looks God like the evidence is all contrary. Like there is nothing pointing to this man after your own heart. I hear it again as God calls Peter. This is the rock that you will build your church on. You believe it so much you changed his name from Simon to Peter, Simon to rock, >> what kind of church you building. >> If this is the foundation, this is the man that cut it the guy's ear off, right? Because he didn't have patience for God's plan. This is the same guy that denied him three times. Didn't just deny him, but said, "I don't even know who that guy is." I mean, I have a pretty fun imagination as you probably already seen. But I can imagine lots of ways you can slip around. I mean, we broke some bread sometimes. I knew I knew him kind of, but no, I didn't even I don't even know who that I don't even know what you're talking about three times. That's the rock that you're going to build your church on. That's the one. The one that denied you. the one that after all that happened, he went back to fishing. He said, "You know what? I'm going back to fishing. I'm going back to my old life. I'm turning my back on all of this. It's over. That's the one you're going to build your church on. I'm sorry, but the evidence doesn't seem to support that." I hear it again when God is calling Saul. This is a chosen vessel. Chosen for what? to preach the gospel or to take them all out because the evidence looks like he's doing real good at the second but not real good at the former. This is the chosen vessel that's going to take your gospel to the Gentiles and to the kings and the children of Israel. I hate to break it to you, but he's a little busy right now killing all of them because the evidence shows that's not who he is. You're saying all these things about him, but it doesn't quite add up with the evidence. You're saying all this all these identities about this, but it just doesn't make sense. Have you heard that voice before? Boy, I hear that voice all the time. You're never going to be anybody. Do you know who your family is? God's calling you to do what? That's not who you are. Let me tell you who you You're nothing but an addict, son. You're nothing but a sinner. You can't go do nothing nowhere for anybody. You just stay down and be quiet. Have you heard that? Is Am I the only one? >> Y'all heard that boy? It might sound different for you. It might sound like you're just a scared little girl. You can't do nothing in Central America. >> Oh, you you're just you're just addicted to social media. You can't do anything. You're just full of lust. And it sounds true, doesn't it? It seems right because there is some evidence. There's a little truth and you know I did do that thing. But I want to encourage you those are lies. >> The accuser seems really convincing. He twists it and he adds just enough truth to slip by and say, "Well, I that does that seem it seems overwhelming. What do I do?" I want to turn your attention to John 14 and 16. And I will pray the father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you forever even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it sees him not neither knows him. But you know him for he dwells in you and he shall be in you and I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. So that word there comforter that he says I'll give you a comforter. When we look at that word a little deeper it means that it is a legal advocate it is someone that comes alongside and makes a judgment call that is appropriate because they know the situation. He says I will be your helper. I will be your comforter. I will be your advocate. I will be the one that guides you through this life. I will be the one that brings the evidence when the enemy is shouting his lies at you. We see it in Isaiah 43 and 25. I even I am he that blotss out all of your transgressions for my own sake. And I will not remember thy sins. He says, "I'll blot them out. I'll destroy them. I will wipe them away to where they're nothing but a memory." And he says, "I'm not going to bring it up. I will not bring it to your reme I ain't going to talk about it." He says, "Not only am I going to wipe the slate clean, but I'm not going to say anything more about it." So when the enemy comes in, now picture this with me. The enemy comes in, he starts yapping that thing. You're just this, you're not that. You're just go sit down. The comforter comes in and says, "Actually, you're talking about all that sin, but I don't see any evidence because it's under the blood. You're talking about all this stuff that he's done, but I can't see it because I have blotted it out and I'm not going to talk about it." He says, "I have destroyed." The enemy comes with this stack of evidence. Here's the dates. Here's the hours. Here's the things. Here's the people. Here's all of it. Jesus, he's a sinner. He deserves to be cut off from you. And the comforter slides in and says, "Hang on just a minute." I actually don't think that evidence is admissible here because it's been wiped away. >> How awesome is that? >> When he comes in talking about how you're just an insecure little thing struggling with your just fighting with fear that the the comforter comes in and says, "Actually, that's not admissible here. I keep looking for it, but all I see is blood. >> I keep looking for all that sin, but all I see is the blood of the lamb covering, wiping away. He comes in with his evidence, but God, but the comforter, but the Holy Ghost, our advocate, the one that comes alongside, our friend, and says that's not admissible. Here, I'd like to read our opening scripture and go one verse further. 12 and 10 of Revelation. The latter part says, "For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." I'm so thankful for verse 11, and they overcame him. They overcame the accuser by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony. >> >> The accuser comes in throwing these things that look convincing, but it says by the blood and by the word of my testimony. I'm thankful that when the evidence seems so stacked against me, when it looks like, yeah, that's true. I am just a sinner. I can appeal to my helper. I can appeal to my advocate. I can know the Holy Ghost is coming right alongside me and is saying actually all that stuff is under the blood and we can't talk about it anymore because it doesn't exist anymore. All that sin is wiped away. The accuser says he doesn't deserve your love, God. He deserves to be cut off. She deserves to be thrown out. You're guilty. But the comforter says, "I don't see anything but the blood of the lamb. I don't see the sin. I don't see the offense because it's under the blood. That evidence doesn't stack up. The accuser, the evidence doesn't stack up. I want to show you this through scripture in 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom? Be not deceived. Neither fornicators, idolattors, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves, or mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkers, revilers, extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. And the accuser likes to stop right there and say, "Don't you dare be deceived, Dylan. I know who you are. I've seen the evidence. I know who you've talked to. I know who you've been with. I know who what you've done. I know the things you've said. I know the anger you've had. I know the fear. I know all of that. Don't be deceived, Dylan. It says you can inherit those promises because you're one of those people. And I got evidence. But then the next verse is so beautiful. Because it says, "Such were some of you, but you were washed. You were sanctified. and you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of God. Such were some of you, but that ain't who I am anymore because that's under the blood. That's not who That's who I used to be. I'm a has been. That's who I used to be, but that's not me anymore. That's not me anymore because that's under the blood. The accuser comes with all this evidence and the comforter says that's not who he is anymore. By the blood of the lamb, he's been washed. He's been sanctified and he's been justified. When we look at those three things, it's so beautiful because first he says, "You were washed. It's all gone. redeemed by the blood of the lamb, set free from the guilt, from the debt. It's been wiped away. And then he says, you've been sanctified, which means that you've been set aside for a special purpose. That's why we look different because we're set aside for something different. That's why I talk different because I'm not who I used to be. That's why we dress different. That's why we are different. That's why we seem strange sometimes to the world because we are sanctified, set apart for a different purpose. We've been washed. We've been sanctified. And then lastly, we've been justified. I love this one because it means that he has presented us as innocent. All the evidence looks like you're guilty. You owe a debt you can't pay. There is so much sin that you're going to have to pay for. But the comforter says in and says, "Actually, he's innocent. >> I'll take that blame. >> I'll take that blame and I'll put it under my blood and I'll hang on a cross so we can wash it away. So we can make him innocent >> and so I can set them aside for a purpose that is special >> and that is different. >> How wonderful it is." When the evidence looks so convincing, we can just say, "Actually, that's who I used to be." But not anymore because I've been washed. I've been sanctified and I've been justified. So the evidence, Mr. Accuser, doesn't add up anymore. That used to be true, but it's not me anymore >> because I've been washed >> and I've been justified >> and I've been sanctified. The phrase says that they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony. That word testimony there means to give a record, to give a witness, and it also means evidence given. So when the enemy comes in and starts breathing those accusations, you can say, "That's not who I used to be, but let me show you who I am now. That's the way I used to talk. That's the way I used to walk, but let me show you who I am now. Now I'm walking with the King. Now I'm walking with the comforter. Now I'm walking with the one who loves me more than I can ever imagine. Now I'm walking with the one who paid the debt for me. >> That's who I used to be. Such were some of you. But I can stand and give a record. Not only to the accuser, but also to the people I work with. I say, you know what? He acts different. He seems different. He used to get angry at everything, but man, he's just he's full of peace now. What's going on? You see that evidence starting to be introduced? Well, let me tell you who I am. I'm I'm not who I used to be because there was a cross because there was a man called Jesus that came and poured out that blood of the lamb so that I can put forward a testimony. So, if you find yourself this morning and you're like, I or this this evening, sorry. If you find yourself this evening saying, I don't know, I don't have a testimony. Well, just as soon as the blood is applied, you have a testimony. The evidence is stacking up. It looks like the accuser is just overwhelming. I don't know what I'm going to do. It looks true. But then the comforter comes in, says, "No, no, no. That's who you used to be. This is who you are now." And then we can give an account to those that are in this city and say, "You know what? He does seem different. He's got joy he didn't have before. He's got a peace he didn't have before. He They dress different. Why is that? Because we're sanctified. Because we're different. I used to be fearful but the blood. I used to struggle with anxiety, with insecurity. I used to struggle with insecurity. I used to struggle with pornography. I used to struggle with this or with that. You fill in your blank. And as the evidence starts stacking up from the accuser, you can say that's not who I am anymore because the blood of the lamb has been applied and everything has been blotted out and he has given me a new name. He has raised me up. I'm so grateful and I want to encourage you. What an advocate we have. What a helper we have. What a wonderful message we heard Sunday about the necessity to receive this Holy Ghost. And how wonderful it is to know that that's just the that's just the beginning. The best is yet to come. Knowing that every step when I hear that lying, accusing, good for nothing enemy coming in and trying to remind me, you remember what you did? Do you remember where you do? You remember when you denied him? You remember when you were fearful? Do you remember when you were frustrated? You remember those words you said? You remember those things you looked at. You remember those reels you scrolled by in YouTube. You remember you sinner. But the advocate comes right alongside and says, "Actually, that's under the blood. The blood has been applied." And I won't make mention any more of that. I want to encourage you tonight. If you hear that voice in the back of your head trying to remind you of who you used to be, trying to remind you of where you've come from, trying to remind you who your family is, what your family history looks like, trying to remind you six months ago, three weeks ago. If it's under the blood, I'm so thankful that it's no longer evidence, but it's a testimony. It's a testimony and a record that I can give with every step that I walk in my life that says I serve a God who can redeem. I serve a God that it doesn't matter how far you think you've walked. I serve a God that it doesn't matter how high you are right now, how drunk you are right now, how messed up your family situation is right now. But I serve a God that can take this mess and turn it to a testimony. He can take the evidence that is stacked against you and he can bring in the comforter and say actually they've been washed. They've been justified. They've been sanctified and all things are become new. So I encourage you today, you have an advocate. >> You have a helper. >> You have a Holy Ghost. You have a friend. You have a God >> that is right there with you. >> He sees everything. He knows everything. But as it's been put under the blood, you can walk in a new way. You can talk in a new way. You can dress in a new way. You can be a new person and walk as a testimony, as a record that shows with every single step. It's a painful reminder to that accuser that I'm not who I used to be. As such were some of you. So, I want to encourage you that evidence that seems stacked against you is just a testimony. When the blood's applied, it's just a testimony. Once you've gone down in the precious blood of Jesus, once you've repented, once you receive this promise of the Holy Ghost, you have that advocate, you have that helper that will come and walk right there with you. Can you stand with me, please? I want to share two more verses. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. >> Old things are passed away and all things are become new." That evidence that used to be stacked against me, it's been made new. It's put under the blood and no longer is it a reference to how much of a rotten scallwag I am. I don't know if that's a word here, Tennessee. how much of a sinner I used to be, but now it's a reminder of how far he's brought me from. It used to be a reminder of how awful I was. It used to be a reminder of how far I was from where he needed me. But now that the blood's been applied, it's a record that tells the accuser, "Look what the Lord has done. Look where he brought me from. Look where he's taking me to. My God, look what the Lord has done. That evidence accuser, it's not against me anymore, but it's a record and a testament to the blood. Acts 1 and8 as we end. Ye shall receive power >> after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you >> and ye shall be witnesses. Somebody throw up your hand and say, "I'm a witness." You shall be witnesses for me in both Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. We see again that word witness. That's the same word, >> the evidence. You'll be my evidence as you go forward into Samaria, in Jerusalem, everywhere you walk in this county, your witness. You're part of the evidence that stacks up and says, "That's who I used to be, but that's not me anymore." So let me tell you who you are right now. Where you find the evidence you see stacked against you from the accuser, it can be wiped away and you can be made new. You can be made new. You can walk forward with the power of the Holy Ghost. You can walk forward with the power of the advocate coming in your corner. >> That word test you witnesses. When we read that from a lexican study, it says, "At its heart, this word witness points to a person who testifies to what he or she has seen or knows." So when you get that Holy Ghost upon you, you can start talking about, "Let me tell you about the God that I know. Let me tell you what I've seen. I've seen a messed up addict in a weird situation that God turns around. The evidence that used to be stacked against me, now it's just evidence of how good God really is. Now it's just evidence of how powerful that blood flows, of how it reachth to the highest mountain, about how it flows in the lowest valley. My God, we are a testimony. With every step you walk, you can say, "That's who I used to be. That's who the accuser tries to remind me. He tries to kick me back in that box. Say, "You get don't get don't get out of the line. You know who you are. You know where you've been." It's like, "Well, actually, the evidence is no longer there." But now the evidence says that God sets free. Now the evidence says that God can take somebody that's addicted and he can make you free. Now the evidence says God can take somebody that's entrenched in sin and he can make you free. He can take the old and make it new. He can take the old and make it new. He can take the person that is stagnant and get you on the move. Your testimony is important. Not only to remind yourself, but to remind the accuser and to remind every person you see. Every person you see that I've been changed. I've been washed. I've been sanctified. I've been justified. Everything about who I used to be is gone. Everything about the way I used to walk is different. Everything about the way I used to talk is different. The thing I used to take in is different. What I used to watch is different. The way I used to behave is different. How I spend my money is different. How I spend my time is different. Because when you have been made new, >> old things are passed away and all things. I'm so grateful for every word in this Bible cuz it says all things. >> Not most things. >> Not many of the things, just about every it says but all things. Every single thing about you that the accuser has tried to twist. Every single thing about you that the accuser has tried to put you in the box, God says, "I will make it new. I will make it a testimony. I will take the evidence that is stacked against you. And through the blood, I will put it on your side so that you can go forward and preach the gospel to each and every creature. So that you can be my witness that people can look at you and say, "My goodness, look what God can do." If God can do it for him, my word, I'm sure he can do it for me. >> Because you're a record. You're a witness. You're part of the evidence that stacks up and says, "Our God is a good God. My God is a good God. He's a lifechanging God." Won't you throw your hands up right now? And if you hear that voice right now that's trying to tell you of who you used to be, won't you step out? Won't you step out and say, "That's who I used to be. That's not who I am anymore. That's who I was before the blood. That's who I was before I found Jesus. Those are my BC days. Those are my pre Jesus days. That's before I found the blood. That's before I found the fountain. That's before I found hope. That's before I found joy. That's before I found the one that said, "If you repent and be baptized, I will give you the Holy Ghost. I will give you an advocate. I will give you a helper. I will give you a redeemer. I will pay for the debt. I will make you just. I will make you guiltless even though you owe it. I will take your sin and I will make it a testimony. I will take these things that stacked in your favor and I will bring it to his glory. I will take your past and I will give you a future. I will take your fear and I will give you strength. I will take your lust and I will give you purity. I will take these things that I am doing that the enemy is doing in your life and I'll turn it for good. Come on, somebody begin to tell that voice to shut up. Begin to tell that voice of the accuser, shut your mouth. The blood has been applied and it says he blotted it out and he'll never mention it again. He's blotted it out and we can't talk about it because that's not me anymore. That's not me anymore. Come on now. Throw your hands up. There's a handful of people in here. There's a dozen people. There's 50 people. You've been hearing that voice this week. You've been hearing the enemy trying to remind you. You've been hearing the accuser trying to tell you, "Don't you remember who you are. Don't you forget the places we were. Don't you forget that sin. Don't you forget that curse. Don't you forget that family member. Don't you forget that things that God supposedly brought you out of. Come on now, somebody throw up your hands and start to appeal to that advocate. Throw up your hands right now and start to say, "I have been redeemed and I will say so. I have been redeemed. I have been purchased by the blood of the lamb and I will be a testimony. I will be a record." Come on, somebody scream it out right now. I'm not going to hear this voice of fear any longer. I'm not going to hear this voice of insecurity any longer. I'm not going to hear this voice any longer that's chirping in my ear trying to tell me how worthless I am. Try to tell me I'll never do anything for God. Try to tell me I'll never do anything that amounts to anything. Come on, somebody. There's victory right now. There's victory right now. And if you've not got under the blood of Jesus, if you've not been baptized, I encourage you right now. Grab somebody and say, "I got to be baptized. I want that. I want that helper. I want that advocate. I want that one who walks alongside me and gives me strength. I want that one who can help me. I want that one who can be with me. Come on, somebody. Come on, somebody. Lift your hands up right now