One of the fun things about my travels is getting picked up by people you don't know and then having to spend two and a half hours in a car with a completely new estranged that you've never met before and trying to figure out things to talk. And like I said last week, I've just become a question kind of a guy. Met a man this week that actually is a pilot. And so that was awesome. I picked his brain about what it's like being a pilot. That's pretty amazing when you think about pilots and what they do. And learned a lot about flying. And I don't know if I feel safer now or less safe, but it was very interesting the things I learned about that. And tomorrow morning, I'll be meeting a very random person. He'll pick me up at the airport. I've already got his name and number. Never met him before. And we're going to jump in a car and drive two hours and talk. And why are you saying that? Because I'm amazed how many times I learn things in those conversations that really help me. And Wednesday, I landed in Seattle, and Brother Jordan Fenera is the youth pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Spanaway, Washington, which is about 25 to 30 minutes outside of Seattle. Of course, the camp was 2 1⁄2 hours away when I first heard that. I thought, couldn't you get something in Seattle? But when I got to the camp, I'm like, thank God we drove 2 1⁄2 hours. It was worth it, because it's just beautiful to see that my God, your God, created that. created that just because he spoke it these mountains and these it's just wow it was breathtaking and it was just amazing and then and be honest with you last night as I was driving home thinking about how Missouri doesn't have those same mountains God reminded me of the beautiful sunset over this wonderful state of Missouri how hey God's creation and God's beauty is everywhere it's just different it's different And I know my daughter loves the mountains, and my other daughter loves the stars. I got pictures of all that and sent it to him. But still nothing beats the beautiful sound of waves crashing on the beach, as the ocean is still number one and dear in my heart, amen. Mountains are great, but the ocean is greater. Thank you, God, for making the sea. And God loved us so much it covers 75% of our planet, which means God is pro-ocean. Can I get an amen right there, anyway? But we were talking about the Apostle Paul. He's younger than me, and so we were talking about our ministries. He got started pretty young, I got started pretty young, and Brother John McElroy, another phenomenal Sunday school lesson on 1 Timothy. And one of the luxuries of having him teach up here is you can go back and watch it online, and I strongly recommend you watch his teachings throughout the week. They're just amazing. As a young preacher, very young, I grew a fond admiration of the Apostle Paul. And I know the apostle Paul would tell me today that he is nothing without Christ, and we all know that, we understand that. But there's no doubt in anybody's mind that God had a special plan for this man who was known as Saul, and he was gonna transform his life like he's transformed ours. And I used to struggle, Brother Koontz, with the thought of Paul, because I felt like, man, God really went out of his way to get his attention. There's certain people in the Bible, and then one day it hit me, no, God does what's necessary to get your attention no matter who you are. God used football and circumstances to get my attention at one point in my life. Brother Bussey has a great testimony, a powerful testimony of his home situation, and public school, and baseball, and how God used some of those situations to change his mind and heart about things. God will do what he does. He's not going to force anybody to do anything. He still doesn't force Paul to do anything in this chapter, but he sure shows up in a dynamic way. And 2,000 years later, we sit in a Gentile, independent, local, autonomous church because the Lord Jesus Christ last week promised us that he would build his church because Peter made that proclamation that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. So last week, we looked at two questions Jesus asked. Jesus said to them, whom do men say that I am? Then the second question was, who do you say that I am? And of course they said, some say thou art to John the Baptist and Elias and Jeremiah. You can find that reference in Matthew 16. And then Peter says, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. But today in this chapter, we see the questions are now changed. Paul actually asks the questions today. And can I say one of the most frustrating things for somebody who didn't get saved till he was 18 years old, was seeing how many times man will switch things in the proper order of God's sequence. For example, why, pray tell me, would you baptize a baby? I'm not being mean or ugly here. I was baptized as a baby. I was sprinkled. Would somebody just answer that question, why? There's nothing in the Bible that says that. So why? And I'm not being mean or ugly to anybody, but I just want to ask that question, why? Why would a baby who has no clue what's happening to him be baptized? And I ask that question in love. I ask this question too in love. Why would you baptize a child before he really understands salvation? You've heard my testimony. Sprinkled as a baby, baptized three times growing up. That was my testimony. Many times in our walk, we will get things switched around. We will do what's second when God wants us to do that, which is first. And many times in our Christian life, you can go and put the slide up now, thank you, man. We will get enamored with the what's of Christ before we find out the who of Christ. And Paul knew enough Old Testament and knew enough Bible and knew enough about God that he asks the questions in the right order. Because what we decide about who Christ is will then decide what we do with the significance of that who. So Paul asks a very, very simple, yet profound question here. And Brother Jordan Finera and I were discussing this, and he made a statement that just jumped into my heart and my mind. I thought, wow, and I've been meditating on it ever since. And as you look in this passage here, the Bible says, look at Saul. He was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. He went into the high priest. I mean, this was a vicious man. He was ruthless. Breathing out threatenings means to be bent on something, meaning nothing is going to deter me. I am determined to crush these people and destroy them and devour them at whatever cost. He was ruthless. He was so devout in Israel. He tells us in Philippians 3, I was of the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised the eighth day. He was climbing the corporate religious ladder. He was a rock star, if you will, of Israel. And people were looking at Paul and saying, wow, this man has some clout. This man has some gravitas. This man's going to make a difference. And Israel was really getting excited about him. And no doubt, he was probably alive when Christ was crucified. He had witnessed some of those events. He had heard about those events. And yet he's breathing out threatenings and slaughter. You hear that? We use that word slaughter today to talk about animals. He had no mercy and no sympathy. And then one day, when he's on a mission, he meets Jesus. Hey, go back to that day when you met Jesus. It doesn't matter where you were, how you were. It doesn't matter if you were in church or at home or in school or at a camp or a conference. It doesn't matter if you were all by yourself. Where did you meet Jesus? And then when he meets Jesus, look what the Bible says in verse number four, and he fell to the earth. He fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And Paul asked this question very simply, who art thou, Lord? I've got to get the who down right now. I'm determined. I'm hungry for this. I'm going to crush this fanaticism. I'm going to destroy Christianity. I'm going to cut it off at the head because I'm that devout Jew. I'm so determined. I'm purpose, a zeal according to knowledge. A zeal according not to knowledge. He didn't have the knowledge with his zeal. He was so passionate. He was so deliberate. He was so determined, but he meets Jesus. Watch the significance of the answer here. The Bible says this, I am Jesus. That's the answer. I am Jesus. And immediately, Paul's mind floods back to all the Old Testament saints and the Old Testament prophets and the Old Testament patriarchs, those that learned about the great I am, the Abrahams of the Old Testament, Moses of the Old Testament, how Moses says, who do I say send me? And he said, tell them the great I am. And that's why I was so excited to hear the choir sing that today. The great I am is still his. And Paul says, oh, my soul, once I got this who down, once I really recognize who this is, Jesus says, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. You think you're persecuting the church and the people, but you're persecuting me. I've already been persecuted. I've already been to that cross. I've already resurrected. I've already ascended. I finished my task. I finished the work. You are working towards the wrong goal, the wrong mission, and you're about to be transformed. And Paul's question, who art thou? Who art thou, Lord? And Jesus says, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. And then the Bible says this, what will thou have me to do? Church, today, may I challenge you to think about this. Here's an observation I've made, and I believe it to be true today, and I believe I can prove it by just observations I've made all across the country. We jump into the what's of the Christian life before we ever realize who the who is. The what's of the Christian life can be appealing at times. Brother John mentioned in the last hour that the Christian life is not easy, pastoring is not easy, and being a Christian is not easy, but there's a lot of appealing things about it. There's a lot of neat what's about it. Can I tell you, I love being a Christian today. I love being a part of this way, as the Bible says here in this passage. I love knowing that I'm going to heaven someday. I love knowing that I have a Christ-centered home. We're not a perfect home. I love knowing that I get to go to a church that still preaches and sings freely about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love knowing the Lord Savior as Jesus Christ. I love having access to the blessings of joy and mercy and forgiveness. I mean, there's a lot of amazing what's, but listen to me, my friend. If we don't get that first question right, if we don't get that first question down, If we don't seal it in our hearts, then the what's will come and go, the what's will change. You see, Jesus Christ even proves that in this passage now. Watch this. The first question he asks is this. He says, Paul asks, who art thou, Lord? And he says, let's get this question down right. I am Jesus. I am Jesus. I am Jesus. Then Paul says, first question he asks, Paul's now becoming a believer, what will thou have me to do? And notice the answer to this question is not as significant as the answer to the first question. Jesus says, look at this, he says there, he says, arise and go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And Jesus actually goes to Ananias and he goes to some of the leadership of the Christians there, and he tells them, go help Saul. And they're like, what? Are you kidding me? That guy's gonna cut my head off. They said, no, no, no, he's changed. And then he actually reveals the plan he has for Paul to them before he reveals it to Paul. Because what Paul was supposed to do is not as important as Paul understanding who he was doing the what for. There's a lot of what's I love about my wife. She's going to kill me today. She's beautiful. She's still the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on. Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night as I went to bed, I thought about my two J's. Last two things I think about, Jesus and Janelle. And I woke up each morning thinking about them. We texted each other all day and couldn't wait to see each other again and just be in each other's arms. Her what's are amazing. But who she is is what has me mesmerized. I'm in love with who she is. The What's are amazing. She travels all summer with me. She lives out of a suitcase 25 weeks out of the year sometimes. She homeschools her kids. She sings in the choir. She teaches a Sunday school class. She puts up with this. How'd you like to be married to this? Miss Paula, you're not supposed to laugh that time. I know what it's like, I travel, and many preachers' wives, I'm not being mean or ugly here, don't even go to the services when their husband preaches, and I've never demanded that of her. One of my preacher friends, I'm not being mean or ugly here, won't name his name, would never want to embarrass their family, his wife is known for playing games on her phone while he preaches. Seen her do it, I'm like, wow. And I've told my wife many times, baby, listen, you don't have to hear me preach, I'm preaching the same message you've heard 40 times. You're gonna laugh at the same illustrations. And as I stand in the pool, but there she is, sitting back there, because of who she is. And that's why I adore her. That's why you wanna hear me talk down to her. I don't call her woman. Everybody else is a woman out there, but that's my wife. She's my queen. I love all the what's, but who she is is what I'm enamored with and mesmerized with. And I fail her all the time, and she'll stand up. I gotta say this just for the, she says, tell them, babe, I'm a sinner. She does sin every once in a while. No, she's a sinner, and she'll tell you that. Do you understand what I'm saying today? The who has now become so much more powerful than the what. That's why I want to treat her as best as I can, and I fail miserably at that. And some of you are relating to me right now because we understand how much we can love a human being. My children are the same way. I love them. I love them for who they are. I don't think about them as much as I do my wife. I'm just being honest. She was here first, and she'll still be there after they're gone, thank God. But I love who my children are, and I love all their what's, and all their what's are different, and their passions are different, and their interests are different, but who Brielle is, and who Rayn is, and who Grant is, and who Claire is, that's what's significant. And I've been pastoring some of you for a long time, and we all have different what's and different interests, but can I tell you, as I've learned who you are, many of you, that's what makes me so excited to be your pastor, more importantly, your friend, Because there's something about recognizing who somebody is when you start to understand who he is. It doesn't matter what the what's are. It doesn't matter, Jesus. Fine, Paul says, I'll be abused. I'll be in prison. I'll live in shackles. I'll be beat up. I'll have scars on my body. I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Why? Because Paul answered that question. He found out who Christ is. Today I want to tell you that I have served him many times unashamedly to say today because of the what. Can I tell you how good he is? He still blessed me. But it seems like in the last few years I've started to figure out who he is. You start to understand why the Fox's Book of Martyr was written. And you start to understand why one-way missions was all about when missionaries would literally, in the 1800s and 1700s, pack their things in a coffin and hug their family for the last time, no more Christmas, no more birthday parties, and go overseas and unpack their coffin. And the next time they put something in that coffin is when they died on the mission field. How could somebody do that? Because they answered. They found out who he is. I'm telling you, young person today, if you'll find out who he is, it'll change your life. Oh, he's a savior, yes, but he is a being. He is a person who feels. He's a person who shows interest in your life. He's a person that goes out of his way to get Saul and change his life. He went out of his way to get Peter. He went out of his way to get me. He went out of his way to get you. And I'm telling you, all the what's are amazing. I'm glad I'm never going to touch hell. I'm glad I get to preach a gospel. I'm glad I've been forgiven. I'm glad for all the what's. All those things are amazing. I remember asking similar questions when I first got saved. Oh, my soul lord, what am I going to do? What do you want me to do? Hey, where do I go? And I never dreamed he'd take me where he's taking me. I never dreamed he's done some things in my life that he's done. He's been so good to me. But recently I found out that if he took all my what's away, there's something about who he is and who is he today, my friend, here's who he is. I am Jesus. Nobody can touch that title. Nobody can touch that phrase. Nobody can come close to saying those three words. Would you briefly with me go to Philippians chapter two? Do you understand that one day every single person that has ever lived will know who he is? Every person, every single person that has breathed breath will know who he is. Every single person who has walked on this earth, every single person who has believed religions that defy him, every single atheist that has denounced him, every single critic that has attacked him, every single Pharisee who paved that way to get him crucified. Every single, even demon who hates him, every single king or politician who has just so vehemently hated Christ. They've tortured people and still do to this day. And people don't realize that right now there's more Christians being tortured in 2021 than the history of mankind. And we don't even know it because we live in comfortable America. We've been so blessed. What would it be like if we had to have church underground? What would it be like if our government was breathing down our necks? It's happening right next door in Canada. Maybe that day's going to come here. But I'm telling you, no matter what happens, if the sun's shining, or if it's dark outside, if it's a beautiful sunny day, or it's pouring down rain, if the storms are out brewing, once you answer and find out the answer of who He is, it doesn't matter what happens. It doesn't matter what's going to come. It doesn't matter what burdens will come. It doesn't matter the battles we might fight. Because when you find out who He is, it changes everything for anybody. who he is today. All he had to say to Paul was, I am Jesus. Look at Philippians 2, boy. Verse 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of who? At the name of who? Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and tongues in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Who art thou Lord I've got I've got to hear the answer to this question You just not nothing horse. I'm on earth. I'm holding the plans and the orders to to threaten and slaughter these Christians in Damascus and I've got to do something, but I've got to have this question answered. Who are Thou? A man of passion, a man of drive, a man who wanted to do some great things for what he considered was God. He thought he was doing these things for the Hebrew God. And Jesus just says, I am Jesus. As soon as Paul heard that, the what became easy. If you study the life of Paul, you'll find out that because of that who question being answered, he never deterred. He never backed down. He never quit. He never let up. As they say many times, most of his epistles are written in prison. Why? He was so determined to do things for God that God had to lock him up sometimes to get him to write the Bible. Beaten stone, thrown outside. of a city, gets back up, walks in, stands before the Sanhedrin, stands before the Hebrews, stands before the kings, stands before Roman leaders, in and out of jail and prison, transforming this world, reaching the whole known world. Why? Because of that answer to that question, who art thou, Lord? I fear today many of our churches in America are filled with a lot of what Christians, but very few who Christians. And that's why we have the leadership of our country. That's why we have the wickedness in our country. That's why sin runs rampant in our streets. That's why our churches have become social clubs and places of entertainment. Listen, we have fun here, and I'm all for that. But can I tell you one thing about Bible Baptist Church? And I want to remind you this no matter where I preach, whether it's in Washington or this week in Wisconsin or North Carolina or right here in this pulpit. I'm telling you what we're going to do here. We're going to preach the truth. And the truth is this. Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And it's not because He's on some power trip. He earned every bit of that. He was humble enough and became obedient even to the death of the cross. Same chapter. Flipping chapter 2. And He died on that cross for us. And He rose again. He is the forever champion. He is the forever King. He is the forever Lord. And so when Paul gets knocked off his horse, and sometimes in life, when we get knocked off our horse, God is just trying to remind us to ask that question, who art thou Lord? And all you've got to hear sometimes is those three precious words, I am Jesus. And when you hear those three precious words, you'll get back up. You'll get in that saddle. You won't quit. You won't back down. You won't let up. Why? Because he is worthy today. He is worthy today. Why? He is Jesus. The great I am still is. Who art thou Lord? I am Jesus. I was walking from the field, played a little football late Wednesday night. It was dark, got dark. Washington's not as bright as Alaska at 1030 at night. I was walking up through there and I looked up at the sky and saw the stars and I had a little David moment, I call it Psalm 8. where you look up to the sky and say, wow, what is man that thou visit to see him? I mean, who am I? And I walked into that cabin that night. I just felt the love of Jesus. Like I hadn't felt in a while. It's almost like he wrapped his arms around me and just reminded me, Randy, I love you. You just keep doing what you're supposed to do. I'll take care of the woods. You just stay close to the who. All of us today answer that question. Who is he? Are you standing at a crossroad? Wondering which road ♪ And you're dreading the decision ♪ And a possible mistake ♪ But the will of God won't lead you ♪ Where the grace of God can't keep you ♪ You will never be out of His care Remember that the Lord's already there, wherever you are. ♪ Wherever you're going ♪ God is right there beside you ♪ Seeing, knowing ♪ Wherever you go, he already knows ♪ What lies ahead and what's behind ♪ You'll always find he's never too far ♪ From wherever you are to hear thunder and see lightning in the sky. Oh, but God can work his wonders through a still, small voice inside. Just keep listening and learning And continue on the journey Following the one who is the way Oh, he's the only road you need to take Wherever you are Wherever you're going, God is right there beside you, seeing and knowing. Wherever you go, He already knows what lies ahead and what's behind. You'll always find He's never too far from wherever you are. Wherever you go, He already knows what lies ahead and what's behind. You'll always find that He's never too far from wherever you are. so Coachman, house deliverer, divider of the sea The conqueror of Jericho, Jehovah set them free Some think of these as fables with no relevance today But God's vast power never passed away The great I Am still is The heavens and the earth are His. He's the merciful and mighty, forever holy. In everything we must remember this, the great I Am still is. For all the walking wounded ones who seek to make things right. To stranded souls in darkness who long to see the light. For those who tread a troubled road and feel they can't go on. There is a promise we can stand upon. The great I Am still is. He's the merciful and mighty, forever holy, through everything we must remember this. I am still is. I can stand in every test. For the great I am still is. I can lose it all and still be blessed. Yes, the great I am still is. I'm a sinner saved by grace because. For the great I am still is. I'm not today what I was. the heavens and the earth are His. He's the merciful and mighty, forever holy. Everything we must remember this, the great I Am still is. The heavens and the earth are His. He's unmerciful and mighty, forever holy In everything we must remember this In everything we must remember this In everything we must remember this The great I Am