One God | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

well praise the Lord everybody isn't it good to spend time in the house of the Lord spend time you know if you're an inmate if you're an inmate in a correctional center you talk about doing time I hope you don't talk about doing time here I'm glad I'm glad to be spending some time in the house of the Lord the other day I was preaching or made mention inside Carpenter having some personal Bible devotion together I mentioned the man brother Troy that had been sick for 38 years 38 years sister Carpenter said wow 38 years she said honey that's a long time I said I know 38 38 years 30 38 years and then she paused and she said you know we've been married 39 years I said if any dog can pass it are you comparing it's been 38 years that you've been sick here you know I'm glad I'm I'm glad I'm glad to be spending some time in God's house tonight and uh well I'm going to take a shot in the dark brother cash is that you back there is that that brother cash Pastor is down in Georgia is so good it's so good and that is his last name he is a pastor and his last name's cash I'd say he gets a lot of talk about that but brother cash it's so good to have to have you tonight here at First Apostolic let's give Pastor cash a great hand tonight thank you I think he Pastor somewhere around clifflo Dollar's church I think she got it one God series I better get I better get teaching right I better get to teaching tonight turn with me in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 1. verse number 26 and 27 Genesis chapter 1 26 verse 27. and God said let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the Earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth so God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them one God Series tonight and as we go to God In Prayer this evening let's remember the tragedy tragedy of all tragedies that happened Monday at all places a Christian school in Nashville Tennessee let's remember all the parents let's remember everyone in that Community tonight please as we pray over the message let's pray for the people of Nashville we need to pray for sister stepp this evening and sister Pruitt please pray brother Erickson mentioned brother Nash tonight and I'm so thankful for him to be here we're missing brother Perry um he has got a tremendous issue with his knee just about unbearable and for the Perry's such a valuable person here at fac and let's remember to pray for brother Perry tonight the Lord would touch him and brother Bryant Brother Ray Bryant has been sick for some some time and let's remember him and then brother Clarence tonight brother sister Hines they're so faithful to bring brother Clarence to the house of God brother Clarence lost his mother this week she passed away Clarence were praying for you we're praying that God will give you peace in the days to come and let's lift up a voice of prayer tonight father Lord you've heard all of these needs tonight Lord you've heard every need Lord you've heard every need oh God that we have Lord you've heard every request you saw every name scrolled across the screen Lord you know the needs that haven't even been spoken you know the needs that haven't been turned in God we bring our needs before you tonight Lord the Unseen audience online God I ask that you would move and Minister God on their behalf and God answered prayers Lord would you anoint me tonight that I may feed your people Lord anoint me with wisdom and knowledge as I break the bread of life and God May there be a receiving Spirit here Lord to receive this word tonight in Jesus mighty name we pray amen Give the Lord a hand to praise as you're being seated also let me remind everyone that we have started a new church service here the first Wednesday of every month the first Wednesday of every month we have prayer service here from 6 30 a.m to 8 30 a.m here in the auditorium and next Wednesday will be the first Wednesday of April and as many as you can make it out to the 6 30 a.m to 8 30 a.m prayer one God series well some may ask tonight some may ask tonight is it really a big deal about the Oneness of God is it really is it is it really a big deal when when you're talking about and emphasizing emphasizing that there is one God now of course I could answer that and say absolutely yes but isn't it so much better when you can make your own mind up for yourself by reading the word of God if the word of God says it's a big deal then it's a big deal if the word of God says it really doesn't matter as long as you're sincere then it really doesn't matter but let's dive into the word of the Lord tonight and there's a scripture I've omitted not on purpose but I just didn't get it down in my notes it has to do with worship it has to do with worship because believing in one God has to do with worship how we worship God believing in one God John chapter 4 and verse number 23 Jesus is is in a conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well and she begins to tell the Lord that the Samaritans are worshiping and the Jews worship differently on a different Mountain and in John chapter 4 verse number 23 Jesus says to this woman the hour cometh and now he is when the true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth for the father pay close attention to this for the father seeketh such to worship Him the father seeketh such to worship Him God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth now man can get together and say why don't we just all get together and why don't we just all worship God in our different beliefs of God some believe there's only one God and some believe there's one God in three persons don't make a big fuss about it let's all just get together and let's just worship Our God now that line of thinking would work if all we had to deal with was just pleasing people but worship is not about pleasing people it's about pleasing God and God said in his word that the type of worship that he is seeking is worship that is built on spirit and on Truth watch in the spirit of a man and what is the truth of God's word these two combinations here the spirit of a man and the word of God that they that worship God must and then the next verse he said you must m-u-s-t you must worship in spirit and in truth it's the same m-u-s-t that he said you must be born again all right so it's not an optional thing tonight we don't get to get together and say well why don't we all just to have unity and one we all just get together and worship God because the the the the real Foundation of worship the real Foundation of worship isn't Unity with us it's Unity with him and so the worship that God is looking for and that God requires is they that worship Him in spirit and Truth Now the truth there is referring to God's word so now let's dive in to God's word Genesis 1 26 and God said let us make man this passage of scripture here has been used by many of the let us make man to teach that there is a plurality more than one a plurality of persons in the godhead there is a plurality of persons in the godhead for it says God says let us make man is asked who was God speaking with when he said let us make man who who was God speaking with let's go to the Bible for an answer turn with me to Ephesians chapter 1 and verse number nine Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus he says having made known unto us the church at Ephesus the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him in whom verse 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who work of all things after the Council of his own will who was he speaking to he was counseling with his own will the purpose of his own of his own will he was counseling with wisdom it was counseling with wisdom turn with me to the Book of Proverbs chapter chapter number eight and verse number one speaking about the wisdom of God about the wisdom of God in Proverbs 8 and 1 it simply says doth not wisdom cry and understanding put forth her voice hear wisdom wisdom takes on takes on the role of a person but no one would dare but teach that this person was a female although this wisdom is identified as a as a her and understanding put forth her voice go all the way down to verse 22 the whole chapter is dealing with wisdom the whole chapter is dealing with the wisdom of God Proverbs 8 22 the Lord possessed me wisdom in the beginning of his way before the works of old I wisdom was set up from Everlasting from the beginning or ever the Earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth wisdom was brought forth when there was no fountains abounding with water before the mountains were settled before the hills were brought was I brought forth while as yet he had not made the Earth nor the fields nor the highest part of the Dust of the world who knows what the highest part of the Dust of the world is it's man it's what we were it's what we were made from and in this this verse here wisdom is saying wisdom God's wisdom not a separate person God's wisdom is taking a voice and saying while is yet he had not made the Earth nor the fields nor the highest part of the Dust of the world verse 27 when he prepared the heavens I was there when he said accomplice upon the face of the deep when he established the clouds above when he strengthened The Fountains of the deep when he gave the sea his decreed that the waters should not pass his commandment when he appointed the foundations of the earth then I was by him as one brought up with him I was daily his Delight rejoice nursing always before him rejoicing in the habitable part of his Earth and my Delights were with the sons of men now therefore hearken unto me oh you children for blessed are they that keep my ways wisdom when God said let us make man God was counseling with his own will in the light in the light in the light of wisdom there's never been uninvented thing that can compare to the creation of the human brain there have never been an invention an invention that can dare compare to the human body they can dare compare to Creation as you and I know it why is that look at Proverbs 3 19. here's the reason there's not another Earth like this this is the reason we are so fearfully and wonderfully made the Lord by wisdom hath founded the Earth by understanding he hath established the heavens again in Jeremiah chapter 10 and verse number 12. he hath made the Earth by his power he hath established the World by his wisdom and has stretched out the heavens by his discretion do you you can you see this why that the the creation theory of a big bang or just a cosmic Collision could not have resulted in such a wonderful world solar system and Earth that we're on we're not the product of a cosmic Collision we're not the product of billions of years of evolution we are the product of The Marvelous wisdom of almighty God and so when and Lord keep the preacher out of me you see it was a man one time that told about his wristwatch he told a group of students at a university that the watch that he had on his hand he said this has been in my family for hundreds of years he said 500 years ago this was a button on one of my ancestors jacket it got kept in the family a few more hundred years it developed into a compass a few more hundred years later it developed into a kind of a timepiece and it's developing here the college students were laughing at him and he said yes just like evolution you have to believe that a team model Ford going 30 miles an hour ran through a junkyard and came out on the other side of 747 jet aren't you thankful tonight to have the wisdom of God to know that by wisdom this Earth has been created by wisdom First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 24. First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 24 but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God now go all the way back up let us make man one logical explanation is not a plural plurality of persons a plurality of persons but a logical explanation is God was counseling with his own with his own will verse 27 is an interesting verse for those that want to put plurality in the godhead because verse 26 is the thoughts of what he was going to do and verse 27 is the actual doing of it so God created man in h-i-s somebody say that with me is wouldn't that be if there were a plurality a person's brother Tyler wouldn't that be the absolute awesome spot to put in their image that's why the word Trinity is not in the Bible neither is the teaching of a three-person co-eternal co-equal godhead in the Bible it's a later development several hundred years after the establishment of the church it was later established to bring religion and man together to cause there to be unity and that's where this came from so God created man in somebody say it with me his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he he no plurality of terms are used there so if you would want another explanation if counseling with the own your own will not suffice I do know of other Spiritual Beings that were present at creation the angels were present at creation the Bible says in Job 38 and verse 3 through 7. as job was demanding answers from God seems to be a little irritated with him and God says in verse 3 to job gird up now thy loins like a man and I will demand to thee and answer thou me in other words God said wait a minute wait a minute job you're trying to demand answers from me like I'm out of control and I don't know what I'm doing and you want to know what's going on he said I'd like to ask you a few things verse 4. where was thou when I laid the foundations of the Earth declare if thou has understanding who hath laid the measures thereof if thou knowest or who has stretched the lion upon it whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened and who laid the Cornerstone thereof when the morning Stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for Joy he uses those two terms Sons sons of God and morning stars to describe the Angelic Coast he said when I was hanging stars to shine when I was creating the Earth and measuring it all out the pound of dirt and how much gallons of water were in the Seas where were you at when I was doing all this work and the sons of God were shouting for Joy so there again Genesis 1 26 could have been God looking at the Angelic host saying let us make man although this is not this is not in my notes but you could say he made man from the Dust of the Earth and you could say that he spoke to the Earth and said let us make man if you'd like to make a side note here Adam was made in the image verse 26 and the image and in the likeness of God the image and the likeness of God and when God created Adam he only created one atom it was only one man there was only one man made in the image and in the likeness of God there's also others that struggle that struggle believing that there is only one God because they want to ask the questions and they're good questions who was Jesus praying to on the cross who was Jesus praying to the truth of the matter don't just put it at the cross take every time in Scripture that Jesus ever prayed and ask that same question who was he praying to the man Christ Jesus the son the humanity was praying just like he had done many times before to God two separate only as the Son of God apart from deity fully God fully man and fully God he prayed as a man as the son of man he prayed who was he praying to on the cross ask who he was praying to when he raised Lazarus from the dead ask who he was praying to before he multiplied the fish in the loaves the man fully fully man 100 percent man son of man but also fully God 100 percent God it's interesting in Matthew 27 45-46. it says now from the sixth hour there was Darkness over all the land and to the ninth hour and about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli Eli Lamont Sabbath and I that is to say my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me now many of us know that when Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary that there are several times according to his virgin birth that it would say that it might be fulfilled in the scripture you remember reading that that it might be fulfilled in the scripture he was taken he was taken and down to Egypt because Herod was going to kill him and it was said that it might be fulfilled by the scripture because the scripture said I'll call my son out of Egypt and the scripture said a virgin the Old Testament said so in a lot of things that he did he did it in the Fulfillment of scripture now at the very end of his ministry hanging on a cross he fulfills an Old Testament prophecy about him he cried out my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me Psalms chapter 22 verse number one through three is the prophecy Psalms 22 verse 1 through 3. my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring oh my God I cry in the daytime but thou hearest not and in the ninth season I am not silent but Thou Art holy o thou holy o thou that inhabitants the Praises of Israel here at the last on the cross he fulfilled scripture he fulfilled scripture of Psalms 22 1-3 by saying my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me the truth of the matter of this passage is that God did withdraw his spirit from that vessel God did withdraw himself from that vessel for what purpose so that that vessel could be the sacrifice the acceptable sacrifices for the sins of man but watch this now not only did the man Christ Jesus feel God forsaken but something else happened as God's spirit withdrew itself from that vessel all of the sins of humanity this is when Jesus said father if it be possible let this cup pass from me it wasn't the cup of dying that he asked to be removed from it was the cup of he who knew no sin became sin every Sin from Adam and Eve up to the present moment and then a blank check was written out through eternity every sin fell upon the perfect Lamb of God and there he uttered those prophetic words my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me who was he praying to it was Humanity it was Humanity crying out to God why have you forsaken me it would be sometime later if you would go to the first book of John not the Gospel of John but the first book of John chapter 4 verse 1. let me give you a little background of what's Happening Now the church has been established for several decades and along with the church being established rumors and lies of the identity of Jesus Christ are beginning to swirl one of the rumors one of the lies that swirled about him was that he wasn't truly a man he was just a ghostly image that God projected upon the Earth he wasn't truly flesh as we know it that lie was swirling and then another lie was swirling that was he was just a man that God used he was just another Moses he was just another prophet he was just another man and brothers and sisters tonight both of those beliefs is a tremendous error in the word of God so the old aged some believed John to be 90 some odd years old John wrote first John 4 and 1 beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world now now watch this and pay close attention to this what does it mean to try the spirits what does it mean how do you put a spirit to the test first off a spirit speaks words a spirit speaks words a spirit will will speak through the mouth of a so-called Prophet or a so-called preacher how do you try the spirit the only reliable way to try the spirits is to make them line up to the word doesn't matter they can call fire down from heaven they better line up to this word does it matter if they can go pitch a tent out here at the edge of town and claim that tumors are rolling off people's heads and crippled people are leaping out of wheelchairs in that I would be glad for any tumor coming off a person and I would be glad for any crippled person to receive the the ability to walk it comes down to Eternity and I would say do they preach the word because what good is it to be able to heal a man you just send a well man to Eternity to meet God it's far better to preach the Plan of Salvation and the word of God to them and the Bible said you need to try to try the spirits now watch him now he writes in the culture the atmosphere Jesus was just a projection from Heaven Jesus was he was manned just like any of us only beloved believe not every Spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world and hereby know ye the spirit of God you see you want to know the spirit of God every spirit that confesseth that's words every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth words not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not a God he said if someone is getting up telling you that Jesus Christ was a projection from Heaven not of God if somebody gets up and says the identity of Jesus Christ he's just a man like any of us used of God not of God not of God but if somebody comes along and says that Jesus Christ did come in the flesh he is God manifest made known in the flesh he's God he's of God but he is not of God that says he's a projection he's just a good man verse 3. and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of what a lot of people worrying about a Mark or a code ought to really study their Bible about the identity of Jesus Christ every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God and this is that Spirit of antichrist wherever you have heard that it should come even now already is it in the world he said you've been hearing that an antichrist is coming I said I got news for you he's already in the world and he's telling people that Jesus Christ is a projection on the wall that Jesus Christ is just a man like anybody else that God used or any other thing you want to put in there other than a Biblical answer for who Jesus Christ is the biblical answer for who Jesus Christ is can be found in first Timothy 3 16. simply says this and without controversy and without debating without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest In the Flesh justified in the spirit scene of angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into Glory who was Jesus Christ God manifested In the Flesh not a projection on a wall and not just a good man he was God who is Jesus Christ he's God made known to us in the flesh In the Flesh praise God not like this next term justified in the spirit the meaning of the word justify simply means to render righteous or such he ought to be in other words Justified means to prove one's identity to prove one's identity Luke chapter 1 verse 34 then shed Mary unto the angel how shall this be seeing I know not a man and the angel answered and said unto her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee the power of the highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born to thee shall be called the son of God Behold thy cousin Elizabeth she had conceived a son in her old age and this is this and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren so what justifies him his virgin birth what justifies him his virgin birth but how many knows just because the word says it doesn't mean people will believe it just because the word said virgin birth just because Mary Joseph Shepherds and the the party grew the wise men this child is a miraculous conception the religious people didn't believe it the religious people did not believe that he's of his day did not believe that he was a verge of birth oh no in John chapter 8 verse number 40 Jesus is trying to teach a Bible study to religious people He's 33 years old now and he's trying to teach a Bible study and tell them that he's the Fulfillment of Moses and he's the he's the Old Testament prophecies come come to flesh he says to them because they believe in reading the Old Testament he says to them in verse 40 but but now but now you you seek to kill me a man that hath told you the truth which I've heard of God this did not Abraham it came in to be the Seed of Abraham and he said well Steve Abraham didn't try to kill what God was doing and said I'm just trying to show you what God but what God is doing and then verse 43 he kind of put the kind of put this surgeon's scalp a little deep he said ye do the Deeds of your father then they said to him we be not born of fornication we have one father even God Jesus saith unto them if God were your father ye would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God neither came I of myself but he sent me now go back to verse 41 because he's got him real upset when he says in verse 41 ye do the Deeds of your father and he referring to Abraham either then then said they unto him we be not born to fornication you know what they're really saying there you're not a miraculous birth your Mom and Daddy got together before they were married your mom and daddy you are the product you are the product of fornication you're the product of fornication well evidently the religious people didn't believe the Virgin birth okay so let's go further if you don't believe that because every miracle that was done listen to me now every miracle that was done was done through the spirit of God that the fullness dwelt in Christ every miracle that was done every miracle was done by the fullness of God's spirit that dwelt in Christ how about this one John 2 and 11. this beginning of miracles did Jesus in Canaan of Galilee and manifested forth his glory and his disciples believed on him I've turned water in to Wine look at this how did he do it man can't turn water into wine but almighty God can take water and through the act of a miracle go through the process of grapes growing fermentation all of that and it could all be turned into wine how did he do it did it he's God he's God he's more than just a man he's God well let's look at another thing of creation when and the effects of wind Mark 4 37 Mark 4 37. and there arose a great storm of wind and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full now he Jesus was in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow they awake him and say unto him Master carest thou not that we perish he arose and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea peace be still and the wind ceased and there was a great come how in the world do you control the wind as man you don't but as the creator of when you simply speak to what you've already created you speak to what you brought into existence and you said stop blowing and the wind yielded to its creator and then he told the sea peace be still and the Sea begin to lay down it answered to its creator verse 40. look at this and he said unto them why are you so fearful how is it that you have no faith and they feared exceedingly and said one to another what manner of man is this that even the wind and the Sea obey him they stood back and they said what man look at those words what manner of man is this what kind of man is on board this ship I'll tell you sister Josephine what kind of man is on this ship it's both the son of man and it's the Son of God it is God manifested In the Flesh that's what's standing on that he passes by fig tree the Fig Tree is full of foliage this fig tree promises figs but as he approaches the Fig Tree the Fig Tree is Barren of any figs he curses the Fig Tree says no man will ever eat from you again the next day Mark 11 20. and in the morning as they passed by they saw a fig tree they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him Master behold the Fig Tree which thou curseth is withered away Jesus answering saith unto him have faith in God Peter looks at a fig tree that one day before less than 24 hours before was full of green foliage stood tall with green foliage leaves all over it and less than 24 hours later he walks by it has toppled over it has toppled over and the roots are dried up and Peter begins to tap Jesus and says hey hey the fig tree that you cursed yesterday and you know what the simple explanation Peter's wanting to know how how did this happen and he got the answer with one simple statement have faith in God it wasn't a man that cursed that tree it was God that cursed that tree God cursed that tree oh I I wanna go to Mark let's go to Mark 5 and 13 there on your your notes he also exercised Authority dominion over the Demonic realm the Demons of the world and forth with Jesus gave them leave the unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine and the herd ran violently down can I tell you that he was not only God over creation he was also God over the Demonic world of the Angels but he's not only God over creation water wind he was also God over our bodies Luke 7 22. then Jesus answering said unto them go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard how that the blind sea the lame walk the lepers are cleansed the death here the dead are raised and the poor and to the poor the gospel is preaching to them he not only exercised Divinity over water and wind he not only exercised Divinity over water wind and trees he not only exercise Divinity over that and over the Demonic world but he looked down upon human bodies that he had created he looked down he knew every nerve that connected to every eye and every muscle and every ear and he knew all the ligaments and he knew all the spinal cords and so when it come time to heal a blind man he healed a blind man and when it come time to heal people death he healed them and the crippled he healed them why even he was the god that breathed life into the dirt man that laid on the ground he breathed life into him and he can stand at the tomb of Lazarus and he could breathe life back into Lazarus and Lazarus could come if you don't believe that he's God for any other reason he was God manifested In the Flesh justified in the spirit if you don't believe that Jesus is God because of what he says for God's sake believe he's God by what he does he turns water into wine he can heal the sin and he can cast out all the Devils Jesus is God Jesus is God you say man we ought to believe we ought to believe can I tell you I've not even touched the cherry on the cake I have not even ministered to you tonight the Utopia of why we ought to believe that Jesus is God oh brothers and sisters go to Romans chapter 1 and verse number four no excuse me Romans chapter 1 verse number one Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle separated into the gospel of God which he had promised a fourth time by His prophets in the Holy Scripture concerning his son Jesus Christ Our Lord which was made of the seed of David son of man according to the what flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of Holiness by the resurrection from the dead listen we're about to celebrate Easter and Easter is the cherry on the cake if you don't believe he's God by turning the water into wine and if you don't believe he's God by calming the Seas and you don't believe that he is God by healing all manner of sickness then you have got to believe that when they put him to death on Calgary and he was As Dead As any man could ever be dead they laid him in that tomb and the same God that caused his conception reentered that body because it had paid the sin dead re-entered that body because God had been pleased reentered that body resurrected that body that body is now Immortal raises that body and three days a man that had been dead walks out of that tomb and he's a Alive forevermore Jesus Is God he's not a projection on a wall he's not just a good man and he's not a second person of a Roman godhead he is the almighty Creator he is God and can you shout hallelujah to the lamb he is bring the teacher back to the house right now he is God Matthew 28 1. in the end of the Sabbath as it began to Dawn toward the first day of the week Came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the Sepulcher and behold there was a great earthquake for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the Stone from the door and set upon it his countenance was like lightning his raiment white as snow and for fear pay close attention to the verse 4 and for fear of him the keepers did shake and became his dead men pilate soldiers witnessed the angel Pilots soldiers witnessed we watched them put a dead man in that grave the angel came down rolled it away there's no dead man in there as a matter of fact the Angels said the angel said he's not here he's risen the Angels told Mary what and Mary Magdalene what to do the keepers did Shake look at verse 4 closely and became his dead men they passed out going down to verse 11. now when now when they were going behold some of the watch came into the city and showed unto the chief priest all the things that were done they go back the keepers the soldiers go back to the religious people and boy don't they have news well you guys look like you've seen a dead man the Angels Angel of the bright shining rolled the stone away Jesus not there angel said he's risen he's not here going to Galilee now Watch What Happens they came and they told the chief priests verse 11 these things and when they were assembled with the elders that's the religious people and had taken counsel they gave large money unto the soldiers say ye his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept and if this come to the governor's ears we will persuade him and secure you so they took the money and did as they were taught and this saying is commonly believed among the Jews unto this day now you've got to realize Matthew wrote several decades later after the event what we're reading happened several decades later several decades later they are still believing a lie about Jesus Christ that's why you must be a student of the word of God and you must not be led by the opinions of man because there's a bunch of people in this day right here that walked away saying there's nothing to that Christianity there's nothing to that Jesus the soldiers fell asleep and the disciples came and stoled him he's probably buried somewhere we don't know where he's buried I'm glad tonight to report I don't believe a lie I believe the written word of a holy God tonight let me tell you who Jesus is let me tell you let me tell you who Jesus is aren't you thankful tonight so thankful even in the book of Acts it's amazing how religion how religion will go the extent that religion will go just to dumb down the truth Peter and John by the help Peter and John through the spirit of God may I say grabbed a lame man and in the name of Jesus that lame man began to walk but the religious people got upset about it and in Acts chapter 4 verse 17 . they said to Peter and John but that it spread no further among the people let us straightly threaten them that they speak henceforth no to no man in this name now you would have thought they would have said let's tell them not to do any more miracles let's tell them not to heal any more lame people but they didn't because they didn't care about that all they were concerned about as a religious group just don't let that name be mentioned we don't care if you raise the dead we don't care if the are walking just don't give Jesus the credit for it just don't speak anymore in that in that name well many have used the salutations of the Epistles how that the Epistles sound something like this and we'll read through them real quickly we'll read through them real quickly First Corinthians 1 and verse 3 Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ it sounds like two to me second Corinthians 1 2-3 Grace be grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ blessed be God comma even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ father of mercies God of All Comfort sound like two to me Galatians 1 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the father and from the Lord Jesus Christ but sound like two to me Ephesians 1 Ephesians 1 verse two and three grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ and blessed be the god wait a minute now Ephesians is interesting Ephesians 1 verse 2. Grace be to you because now wait a minute you got to stay consistent you got to stay consistent if you're saying that Grace be unto you from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ is two you're counting then you have to stay consistent with Ephesians one and two Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ blessed be the god and father of our Lord Jesus Christ so now who is this God before the father if you're going to be consistent but when you understand when you understand these salutations isn't talking about plurality of persons they are battling what I read to you in first John 4. the false prophets that are saying he was a projection on the wall he he he he was just an image of God he's just another man that's why the Epistles are written with salutations to balance that he is both God and man to balance that out for them to know the Jesus that you worship is both son of man and Son of God Son of Man and Son of God so don't let anyone take you to the to the Epistles and say look look at these plurality here's God and giving thanks unto God and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ it is too exactly right there's two Humanity and deity if you can ever get a grasp of the Dual nature of Jesus Christ you've got the godhead conquered you you've got the godhead conquered you you you there's certain types of math that you can never Master until you master basic arithmetic one plus one uh it equals two and and and on and on you that's what you're that's what and so in order to understand the godhead you've got to understand that he it has a dual nature fully man but fully God except the carpenter you spend the whole Bible study on this that's right because John 4 23 and 24 says they that worship God must worship God in spirit and in truth if we're going to be the worshipers of God we must worship God let me let me close with this tonight let me close with this tonight because you may be taken someone may refer to this Acts chapter 7 verse 54. you'll have to write that down on your notes Acts chapter 7 verse number 54. Stephen is preaching to the religious people they've got very upset with him Stephen in Acts chapter 7 verse 54. when they heard these things they were cut to the heart gnashed on him with their teeth but he Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God what did he see he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said behold I see the heavens open and the son of man that's interesting underline it son of man standing on the right hand of God they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one Accord and cast him out of the city and stoned him and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet his name was Saul and they stoned Stephen look at this they stoned Stephen calling upon God who's Stephen calling on saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit now they may take you and say in Acts 7 Jesus is on the right hand of God he's on the right hand of God but if you have to stay consistent with the scripture he's on the right hand of God if God his father is another person he's on the right hand he's standing on the right hand Stephen saw Jesus Christ in the role of a mediator the only way the only way listen to this real closely do you know who was offended when Adam and Eve sinned not Jesus Christ Jesus Christ was in the plan of God who was offended God was offended it was God that the sin was against and in order for man to be back and reconcile with God man needed a mediator that's why First Timothy 2 5 says there's one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus you see we had to have a mediator and Jesus Christ the son of man is our mediator no man cometh unto the father but by me there is salvation in no other name but the name of Jesus Christ I am the way I am the truth I am the life the only way to come to him to come to God the only way to get forgiveness of sin is through Jesus Christ I could go into great detail here Stephen saw him standing on the right hand of God Stephen saw the glory of God Stephen was calling out upon God's saying Lord Jesus received my spirit yeah but at the right hand of God you've got to understand right hand it is symbolic language it's symbolic language it's not talking about a literal Place opposite to the left because then that terrorist theology ought to Pieces because he's an omnipresent ever-present God how do you get to the right side of an ever-present God you can't there's a North Pole in the South Pole but there's not an East pole in the west Pole all right that's why when he said I cast your sins as far away the East is from the West he didn't say the north from the south because there is a point there there is no East Poe in West Pole it just it just goes like the Eternal Circle so it's all figurative language it's all figurative right hand means a place of acceptance it means a place of honor it means a place of power it means it it means it accepts it and the man Christ Jesus was the acceptable sacrifice to God and he beca he stands at that acceptable place it's not a literal place it's a figure of speech for example Luke 11 and 20. listen to this in Luke 11 and 20. Jesus says but with the Finger of God cast out Devils but if I with the Finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the kingdom of God is coming to you he's he's telling them about God he's telling them that he's casting out Devils but look at what he uses he said with the Finger of God now we know what I'm about to say is so absurd but I want to prove my point figurative he didn't reach back in his back pocket have the Finger of God he's talking about when it comes to moving demonic spirits just with the Finger of God he says it's a figurative speech it's figurative speech I'll leave you with this describing how the Red Sea was divided in Exodus 15 and verse number eight Exodus 15 and verse number eight and with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together the flood stood upright as a heap and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea now folks brothers and sisters ladies and gentlemen of the jury none of us believe that God poked his nose to the sky and breathed on the Red Sea and he divided it's using it's using just figurative speech this figurative speech the nostrils of God the Finger of God the right hand of God is all just simply describing a God who is Spirit and for God to save us he had to become flesh and so I worship God tonight I am a one God believer tonight I am a one God believer tonight and Jesus is that Mighty God would you stand with me right now I Praise You Lord oh God I thank you tonight Lord come on let's worship him right now hear o Israel the Lord I God is one Lord Lord I worship you tonight almighty God almighty God I praise you tonight Lord Jesus I worship you tonight Lord in the Old Testament they knew you as Jehovah Jireh they knew you is Jehovah Shalom they knew he was Jehovah Nissi they knew you God in a lot of names but Lord tonight we worship you in the name of Jesus almighty God I praise you and I worship you Lord I magnify your name I glorify your name tonight Lord you are great and you are greatly to be praised Lord I worship you in spirit and truth right now I worship you my mediator I worship you my sin cleanser I worship you my Advocate I worship you tonight through which all the blessings from Heaven flow through your name and they flow through you tonight I have faith in you Lord Jesus I Praise You almighty God come on just for a moment listen lift up praise and worship in this house hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah oh hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah let's give the Lord a hand of Praise right now I thank you tonight I'm glad that I know who Jesus is please tonight as you're leaving out on the tables is a bunch of invitations for Easter Easter is a time of year that people are more open to be invited to church than any other time of the year would you grab a bunch of those and pass them out at your workplace as you're leaving tonight God bless you in The Wonderful Name of Jesus