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R733 The Living Dead, Pt.1

Encouraging Word / Don Wilton
The Cross Radio
March 14, 2019 8:00 am

R733 The Living Dead, Pt.1

Encouraging Word / Don Wilton

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March 14, 2019 8:00 am

The Daily Encouraging Word with Dr. Don Wilton

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When he went to the used vehicle on the cross he had me on his mom and you to that so much he loves you can imagine that you are one loved person God made you, he designed you the way that you are and he's intended purpose is for you to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Once having entered into that relationship with our heavenly father God, then provides for you by his spirit. All that's necessary in order for you to be able to conduct your life in a way that is pleasing God that is that wonderful South African Rd. is the voice of Dr. Don Wilton now in America for 30 or 40 years. But he still has that wonderful tinge of my goodness. That voice is different is yes and more than that.

His teaching is different than Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton is what you're in for if you stick around for the next 30 minutes or so as we open God's word about the living dead yes will be going. The book of Hebrews chapter 11 just a moment before we do so Dr. Don Wilton me to remind you we're here for you were connecting keyboard keyboard@theencouragingword.org would love to talk and pray with you and 866-899-WORD as well. That's 866899673. We love to connect with you now. So glad that the dioxin invite you to open your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11. I want you to do that right now.

Hebrews chapter 11 this week. Based upon the life of Enoch EOCH a mixed old green man who went through a strange strange set of circumstances in his life. I'm going to speak to you now subject to value is not the speaking day, but the living dead before I read to use some remarkable things from God's word want to make a statement to remarkable strike. A lot of people don't understand this but I just simply want to put it on the table and turn I want to tell you today that you actually in reality are never going to die.

Now you might say to me today will adopt will not understand because everywhere I look. Every time I open the newspaper I see that people die and that is some of us have lost people that we love more dearly than we could ever imagine. But I need to tell you my frames that God will show you something today that will absolutely give you more joy than you could possibly imagine, if you understand what Jesus would have us to understand concerning the living most certainly we going to die in the flesh were going to stop breathing and we not going to be on this earth. And for those of us who are alive and remain that. That's a hard thing to deal with this is a very difficult thing for us to deal with and in fact it's a great ministry wheat we don't know what goes on beyond the grave.

Because we've never been there and so we we have to come back to this one little word that we are discovering God's word court fight at some points. We've got to have faith, we gotta be willing to take God at God's word, something to say to you today as we consider the subject. The living dead. I'm going to say to you that it is a guarantee of the word of God that that you're not going to die fact, the Bible uses the word for those who are in Christ. The Bible uses the word falling asleep. It's a beautiful picture that the Lord gives us in his word he says that that when we're in the Lord Jesus Christ. Out of this experience is not going to be unlike falling asleep and all of us can identify with it. Paul talks about it repeatedly in the epistles not only in first Corinthians, but in first Thessalonians now sweet talks about those who have fallen asleep. I remember falling asleep lost not actually I did believe it or not.

I fell asleep, and do not set my alarm clock very early on Sunday mornings because I I have to be here at the church very very early and so I don't know when it was but I'm sure it was just moments before that treacherous instrument in my home decided to wake me up but just moments before I had a dream and I remember my dream I'd like to share with you. I was in this place must've been in the upstate summer. I mean, it was just magnificent. My frames were already in family were all around the engine suddenly I can't explain it to you. I just took off. I started to fly around the beer had a dream like that me I mean I was up there like a Leica in Eagle. I mean, I was just flying around waving at everybody.

I mean just having the greatest time. It was the most wonderful experience I just flying around all over looking down zooming and divebombing and I was flying having a good time and then letting alarm clock woke me up. You talk about coming down with a bang and when I got up, shook my head because I was so involved in this wonderful experience. Well folks, I had fallen asleep, but I I I was not in this world, but I was still in this world. I was out of this world, but I was school involved.

I was still alive in the Bible uses the word that when we die that we asleep. I want to speak to you today about the living. Here in Hebrews chapter 11 God includes a man by the name of Enoch and Enoch is because a lot of people a lot of consternation there being some theological theologians are gone over angles and people have tried to wonder why is that Enoch had the experience that he had. Why would God say what he did, folks, I I know that there is one thing that I'm called upon to doing that is to study the word of God to accept what God said to try and teach it to my people, and we're going to have a look at what God has to say concerning Enoch and we are going to ask ourselves the question what is it mean for you and me today. That's why the subject is the living.

Hebrews chapter 11 in verse five by faith Enoch was taken from this life.

Now let me just say this to you that the word last day is earthly life.

The RX kind of life.

It is the life of the and it's very interesting here that God tells us something about Enoch that this man who lived connected and as part of this life was taken from this we live not deprived of life, he wasn't taken from the knee life given act of deprivation of life, he was taken from this life to continue life and the instrument, the one who brought to bear upon him was none other than God in our day to submit to you today that God is the only one who could do that is not a single surgeon that I know that has the capability of being able to call someone to be taken from this earthly life, and then through an injection was some kind of medical treatment.

Give somebody life beyond that we don't have the capability of the capacity to do that.

Neither do we have the authority because the Bible says that life is God that God is life.

That's why he's the one who can do that if God gave me life. God can take it from me and God can give it to me.

God can do anything he wants to with my life in the Bible here says that Enoch was taken from this life and in his case so that he did not experience death.

There is physical not spiritual day. He's talking about the day that is associated with the cessation of earthly life now want to read this to you listen carefully by faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience.

He could not be found because the one who did this was the only one who could do this.

It was God who had taken him away and I want to submit to you that would taken him is the same word that we get in the book of Revelation. It is the word from which we borrow our word to rapture or to snatch away, and it carries with it to be translated, it carries with it and conjures up the idea being completely changed or transformed into life, which is the God life which is eternal life, which is never came back kind of life always is and always shall be life that we got an explanation of what happened full before he was taken by the way this happened before he suffered these things to light one's physical death occurs, it must take place.

What place must take place before he dies full before he was taken, Enoch was commended as one who pleased God. Same as God did with people that we learned about Lost Creek and without faith it is impossible by the way, the impossibility they leaves no window for discussion that eliminates any possibility of universalism.

For example, it gives a prohibition completely any human being siding that there is perhaps just a little window with an opportunity coming to the presence of God by any other means other than the manner with God the way God chooses to give and a tight black. There is no other way. It's a very exclusive statement that he says without faith it is possible, not maybe all potential all my pre-it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must do two things must believe that God exists and number two that God rewards those who earnestly seek him.

The living dead. I meant to submit to you today that the living dead.

Teach us three things that have great great urgent and glorious value for us in the year 2001, living dead like Enoch teach us that faith believes God is. That's not an incomplete same God of verse six. The first part of it. It says without Christ impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him.

What's this must no option.

No alternative must do what must believe that God exists. Now I'm going to believe that God exists. You want me to put it into a nutshell, I believe the God is thought God was but God may be if I believe that God exists. I believe that God is.

You see, when I believe that God is. I am believing that God is eternal, that he always is what I'm doing there as I'm placing my complete it. All that God tells me about himself and I'm saying that I'm willing to take God at his word. Now let's just understand a few things.

Number one let's understand that we cannot know God by sight. Did you know that the Bible tells us that John chapter 1 verse 18. The Bible says no one has ever seen God, but the one who has seen God is the one and only in the Greek text.

That word only means the only begotten who can be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ is the only begotten they was no other who was unique like Jesus was the only one who has seen God is the only begotten of the father by the way, is that the father side wisely at the father's side because he is seated at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for us and it is he. He is the one who has by God's.

That's why Jesus on the earth. They didn't see me you seen the father, may we step out and be the women and men of God, the Lord is called us to be to be stepping out in faith. You know, this broadcast ministry The Encouraging Word radio broadcast is a step of faith and before I was born before Dr. Don was born the men and women of our church that we need to be sharing the love of Christ to radio and television and that's why we're where we are today and every single day. The fruit of the ministry is at least one person says yes to Jesus for the first time to accept him as Savior and Lord.

Perhaps you would like to get involved. Prayerfully support the ministry of The Encouraging Word.

You can discover more details on our website The Encouraging Word.org/support.

That's all you need to type in us support and you will discover opportunities to become perhaps, encourage, or other opportunities to prayerfully support our ministry and see the fruit be a part of your investment as well. Again we love to connect with you online@theencouragingword.org support if you like more information. Just call us 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-WORD 9673 will be glad to put some information the mail for you as well. Now let's dive back into God's word together with Dr. Don Wilton and some friends. Just understand something in order to have a faith that believes that God is. You are never going to get to that point by knowing God by sight.

Bible tells us we walk by faith and not by sight. If you waiting to visibly see God in order to believe you've got it backwards.

You see God because you believe not in order to believe. Second, I want to tell you that you cannot know him by being we know that Ephesians 289 tells us recite by grace through faith, but of ourselves the gift of God not of works lest any one of us should boast. You can't be saved you want know God you won't come tonight. You want know that he exists by virtue what you feel. And besides that, if I place my faith in the existence of God about what I feel.

I'm in real trouble because some days I feel good and some days I feel poorly. That means that one day I'm going to fight the next I am not I'm going to be in and out of believing God is folks. I believe God is, no matter what I feel. Number three. We need to understand that we cannot know God by reason people from time to time, say listen, let's sit down and reason God I'm not a great proponent of the weights about the existence of God. Every once in a while and I certainly don't have any problem with a sigh. I remember when I was at seminary.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

20 years ago III remember being on seminary campus in New Orleans and for what ever reason our president Dr. label brought into great man of God might God remember that Steve I'm going to any names not just keep it brought. I remember sitting there 20 years ago Steve Skinner was there with not remember sitting there listening to these guys and to borrow a phrase in the Martin century sitting there saying say yeah they were in all their brilliance to the existence of folks. You cannot reason fight into existence to follow what I'm saying. If you decide to me today will pasta give me reason prime reasonable rationale.

God frames I'm going to say to you, my friends in this world.

What man can fathom all reason behind God's majesty. What man can fathom the depth of God's love one human being can fathom all reason, the extent of God's grace. You cannot reason the existence of God brought you cannot mind by science and you cannot blame by feelings and you certainly cannot line by reason and you most definitively cannot know him by science.

That's the proverbial debate going on and has raged for many years everybody from Dalen on down the line and up the swing down the other of trying to ring science to bear upon this one is King of Kings and Lord of this sovereign and eyesight will look. Science can prove and disprove the existence of God. Paul little most of us are familiar with political roots and I'm going to quote for he said, but it can be said with equal emphasis that you can't prove Napoleon by the scientific method even the reason lies in the nature of history itself and in the limitation of the scientific method in order for something to be proven by science.

It must be repeatable. One cannot announce a new finding to the world on the basis of a single experiment. But history is by its very nature, repeatable even though the greatest lesson we learn from history is that we never learned any lessons from history that doesn't mean to say that history within itself is repeatable. No one can really run the beginning of the universe.

No one can bring Napoleon back or repeat the assassination of Lincoln or the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the fact that these events can't be proved by repetition does not disprove their reality. Yet we have a man lacking perhaps in these early days of God's creation of the world. A man with a simple faith. The man who had nothing a man who was void of the textbooks of life and the debate arenas that present themselves to us. I simply submit to you what the living dead.

Teach us is that faith believes God exists.

You cannot put the love and grace and justice into a texture science can provide evidence reason can provide evidence but follows fight frame.

Listen carefully to die.

I pray that God by his spirit would open your heart follows fight. It does not precede fight. I remember when I did my PhD and I got down to the time of my dissertation and I was worn out. I had been in academic studies. Full 14 consecutive years after graduating from high school and teaching and and my wife and I will worn out and I have to present the hypothesis I'm going to say to you, even scientists receive proof off the fight when a scientist develops and hypothesis. His faith becomes greater and greater as evidence for the hypothesis begins to mount.

It is his commitment to the hypothesis, if you please. His faith that eventually leads to prove if the hypothesis is indeed true that what is the sight of me. What is Enoch trying to tell me what is the living dead saying to the whole issue related to my relationship with Jesus Christ is that I'm willing to accept the fact that God exists that he is. I'm not saying that because I have reason that all because I feel like it's kind of put all because I've got Simon sign some scientific method will evidence implies all that I go out and say will there's a tree God must've created even though I know that he did but I'm going to say to you what God requires of me is that I'm willing to take in Maddie's word and say to him, Lord God in heaven.

I know that you exist for one reason room for one reason only because you have told me that because the Holy Spirit is calling me to believe that and I'm going to simply put my faith and trust in you.

And when I put my trust in the existence of God will approve his existence begins to come. My wonderful thing is a wonderful thing. Please all go away.

Dr. John has a closing thought in just a moment, but I want you to know we are connecting Dr. Don often reminds us this is not just a communication. It is a conversation so we'd love to hear from you can connect with his keyboard keyboard on our website everything via email, text is all there@theencouragingword.org that's the Encouraging Word.org, but would love to speak with you. Pray with you right now on the phone as well. At 8668. That's 866-899-9673 and now those closing thoughts from Dr. Don Wilton are you ready would you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that Jesus loves me and that he died on the cross for me today. I repent of my sin and I can face my sin to the Lord Jesus, and I give him my heart and my life in Jesus name I pray, amen. If you prayed that pray from your heart and you given your life to Christ.

I welcome you to the family of God. You are my brother, my sister in Christ. Let's get engaged together because we are connected together for ever as believers in Christ and don't leave whatever you do is I'll be right back after the Encouraging Word broadcasters over there still a wonderful place to connect 24 hours a day. It's the Encouraging Word.org you can visit our message archives download Dr. Wilton sermons or sign up for our weekly podcast of favorite button on our website is the prayer request, but you can share a prayer request or personal need. You have a praise report or testimony. Let us know so we can rejoice with you as well. You can also sign up for our daily Bible guide and have devotion sent to your email every single day. If you have a question about your salvation perhaps questions about how to share your faith with a friend.

Let us walk you through the steps to a personal relationship with Jesus and the ability to share that with others you're looking for a book from Dr. Wilton or maybe a CD or DVD. We have resources ready to send to you at the click of a button. No matter what the reason we hope you'll connect with us today online@theencouragingword.org.

Thank you for your partnership with the Encouraging Word God's doing great and wonderful things and I want you to know that I pray for you.

I want to pray for you right now. In fact, you can see that number on the television screen. We've got people 24 seven.

Praying for you. You can calling your prayer requests at any time, let me pray for you right now.

Dear God, I want to pray for my precious friends right now and for someone is spatially in need of prayer, Lord Jesus, please touch them touch their lives and be a blessing to them today in every way and I pray this in the strong and wonderful name of the Lord Jesus. Amen. The Lord is been speaking to you through our pastor, Dr. Don, let's talk about.

Let's pray about it. Our number again is 8668 that's 866-899-WORD 9673 or connect online@theencouragingword.org. Many are asking about this promise is resource the promises of prayer here share with all the details. Revolutionize your prayer life in 2019, with Pastor Donaldson in his powerful, uplifting and faith building message. The promises of praying for others. You will come to understand the wonderful gift of prayer in your life and learn to delight in the privilege of approaching God's throne on behalf of others. The promises of praying for others can be yours on CD or DVD to enjoy and share with family members and friends for your gift of any amount to the Encouraging Word this month right to us in PO Box 2110, Spartanburg, SC 29304 or call us toll-free at 866-899-WORD or visit online@theencouragingword.org. Thank you for your support and generosity will be a tremendous blessing to the Encouraging Word ministry as we continue. You had in 2019 bringing hope and changing lives through God's Encouraging Word times off today but would love to stay connected@theencouragingword.org or jot this number down store in yourself 866-899-WORD 9673 will always want us to pray, encourage