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[ Silence ] [MUSIC] ♪ For I want to be more loving in my heart ♪ ♪ In my heart ♪

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♪ In my heart ♪ ♪ For I want to be a Christian in my heart ♪ ♪ In my heart ♪ Lord, I want to be more holy

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♪ In my heart ♪ In my heart ♪ Lord, I want to be more holy ♪ In my heart

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♪ Oh, in my heart ♪ ♪ In my heart ♪ ♪ Lord, I want to be a Christian ♪ ♪ In my heart ♪

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♪ I don't want to be like Judas ♪ In my heart, in my heart, I know what to be like Judas, in my heart. ♪ In my heart, in my heart ♪ ♪ In my heart, in my heart ♪

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♪ I want to be like Jesus ♪ - Last stanza as we take our seats. Last stanza as we take our seats. ♪ Lord, I want to be like Jesus ♪

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♪ In my heart, in my heart ♪ ♪ Lord, I want to be like Jesus ♪ ♪ In my heart ♪ ♪ Oh, in my heart ♪

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♪ In my heart ♪ [music] And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. John 18, verse 5.

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Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. the subject Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. Most of the time when the name Judas Iscariot is mentioned in the New Testament, it is accompanied by a qualifying phrase,

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Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. There may be others who bear the name Judas, but let there be no mistake about the Judas in question. It is Judas Iscariot,

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who betrayed him. In the list of Jesus' disciples provided by Luke, two of them have the name Judas. Judas, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, the traitor. There are three listings of the disciples of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels.

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Each sets Judas apart by pointing to him as the one who betrayed Jesus. Judas Iscariot is the last name on the list. considered last and least. He's looked upon by the early church as low down, the lowest in the assembly of degenerate persons. No person could be lower than to

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lead others to engage in the crucifixion of God. Judas is carried, the man from Kerioth. The only Judean among Jesus' disciples. He is an oddball. It's like being the only Southerner in a group of Yankees. Judas Iscariot, disciple of Jesus Christ, called to be with him and share the fellowship of his spirit. Judas, an

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an apostle of Jesus Christ, sent to minister to others in the name of the Lord. We may well wonder why Jesus called Judas Iscariot to be a disciple.

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With his understanding of human nature, why would Jesus call Judas Iscariot? Maybe Jesus calls Judas Iscariot because he sees in him possibilities of nobility and opportunities of great usefulness.

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Jesus sees in others what we do not see. He sees that which is hidden from our eyes. Why did Judas say yes to the Master's call? At first Judas may have responded to Jesus' proclamation of the arrival of God's Kingdom

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with excitement and satisfaction. Charles S. Carey had succeeded in getting one of the most important offices. He was elected treasurer, the keeper of the purse for the apostolic band. We have a tendency to measure people by character and reputation.

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Character we say is what you really are, and reputation is what people say you are. to tradition in the Eastern Church, Judas was once higher on the list of apostles, but in the course of time his name was blackened by the fourth gospel. He began with warm enthusiasm, but in the course of time he cooled off, and he became

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disenchanted with this movement that at first seemed to show such promise. Judas is carried. The betrayer. You know we have a way of attaching certain qualifying phrases to a name and they sort of color the whole situation. I remember when I was candidate for public office I was serving on the school board I had served

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as president of the school board and each time my name was mentioned by the media they said Marvin Griffin president of the school board who initiated busing whatever it was it would add in there who was instrumental in initiating busing cross-town busing so we can just put a qualifying phrase behind any name

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and it sort of determines how you look at the name and the judgment that you make Judas is carried the betrayer to betray one's confidence is one of the worst sins to lead and encourage a person to trust you and let that person down in the time of crisis is a terrible act to give false representation to

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portray yourself as a dear friend when underneath lurks a dangerous enemy. This is Judas' sin, it's terrible. That's why his name is placed at the bottom of the list. I'd like to ask Judas the question, "Why did you betray Jesus Christ? Was it because your enthusiasm for him cooled?

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Did you think Jesus was associating with the wrong kind of people? Did you believe Jesus was a deceiver of the people? A false messiah?

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Tell me, Judas Iscariot, tell me, that I may tell others, why did you betray Jesus? History provides no answer. We are left to ponder and wonder.

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Was Judas Iscariot attempting to force the hand of Jesus, forcing him into a display of power, believing that Jesus would escape and save himself? Was Judas trying to force a showdown

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so Jesus would usher in the kingdom in its fullness? After all, Jesus has marched triumphantly into the city of Jerusalem. It's time for the clouds of doubt to fade away and let the sunshine of success and certainty be seen. Judas is carrying it. Why did you do it? Was it because of your zeal to uphold Judaism?

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Did you think you were participating in an attack of false prophets and false messiahs? Judas! Why did you betray Jesus? Why did you pose as a dear friend and reveal yourself as his worst enemy?

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Why did you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? Why did you masquerade as a friend when you were a foe? How tragic. Eric Cosby, the only son of Bill Cosby,

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called the people he met, even for the first time, friend. Everybody was friend, friend, friend. And how tragic that one with such openness to others was murdered by someone he did not know

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and did not know him just because he happened to have a flat on the highway and was repairing it. Susan Smith and her husband, David Smith, had two little boys, one three years old,

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the other 17 months. And she pushed her car containing the two boys into a pond where they were killed. They met with a watery grave.

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And then she went to the media saying a black man had taken her children and tearfully begged the public to help her find the children. Hours later, investigators discovered

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that she was the culprit. She betrayed herself, she betrayed her family, she betrayed the public, she betrayed her friends, she betrayed her neighbors,

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she betrayed herself most of all. Judas, why did you do it? Some claim you did it to carry out God's plan, that you were following the will of God.

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Others say the devil made you do it, that Satan drove you to it. Judas did it, but you did it, Judas, for a trivial sum of money.

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such a trivial sum you betrayed the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. 30 pieces of silver for 30 pieces of silver you committed such a treacherous crime such a high crime for such a cheap price In fact, Judas, you seemed to be mad for money.

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You resented the fact that Mary gave her precious perfume, all of it, and anointed the body of Jesus. And you were so greedy that you hated to see this done to the Lord of life. You hated to see him honored by such a humble subject.

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And you were heard in the group grumbling, murmuring your disapproval, saying this money could have been given to the poor. Judas, you were so selfish, so self-centered,

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so greedy for money, as to betray the one who gives his life as a salvation for many. Judas, the disciples said that you stole from the treasury.

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They said you are a thief. Time and time again, the money came up short. John reports it, others confirm it. So, why did you do it, Judas?

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One of the notable poets of our time said, "He who steals my purse steals that which not enriches him "but leaves him poor indeed. But he who steals my good name takes that which

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does not enrich him but leaves him poor indeed. To steal the purse is one thing, but to try to steal one's name is another. Why did you do it, Judas?

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The traitor is at the table in the upper room. He eats from the same dish. she drinks from the same cup. The traitor is at the table of fellowship.

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Jesus knows it. Can you hear the master as he says, "One of you will betray me." Judas knows he's the one.

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He arises from the table of fellowship and completes his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus says, "What you're going to do, do it quickly." The traitor is at the table. Well, the traitor is in the garden of

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Gethsemane. In the dark night of the soul, the traitor is there. Jesus is agonizing in prayer. The traitor is consummating his plans. So the traitor comes into our Gethsemane. There's always a traitor in your Gethsemane and my Gethsemane. There's always someone masquerading as a dear

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friend who comes into our Gethsemane and betrays the Son of Man with a kiss. Judas uses a sign of affection to carry out an act of betrayal. Judas, the false friend leads the enemy to the secret place posing as a friend that's that's that's that's the dark night of the soul when our friend is revealed as a

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dangerous enemy that is a bitter cup to drink no wonder no wonder Jesus prayed to the Father to let the cup pass from Him. It's a better cup when love is confronted with the poison of hate, when trusted friends fall asleep in the time of crisis. It's the dark night of the soul. Jesus is arrested, taken to Pilate's

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judgment hall where he's tried, unjustly condemned, and crucified. And you see what's happening He goes to the temple And he takes the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priest and he said here

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Is that we don't want it we paid you to do what you did it's your money So they refused to take it This is blood money blood money. Yes You take it Judas we don't want it

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So blood money Money taken at the price of another's life blood money Blood money used as the supreme sacrifice Blood money used to compensate for the salvation of the world

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So Judas can't keep it. It's money that burns holes in his pockets. He cannot keep it. It's blood money. The religious leaders don't want it. It's blood money. In desperation, Judas throws the money on the table, rather on the temple floor, and runs away. The religious leaders decide to use the money to purchase a

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potter's field, a cemetery for the poor, blood money. The symbol of betrayal and crucifixion and death, they don't want the blood money of Jesus on their hands. So Judas goes out and hangs himself. He goes to the chief priests for forgiveness, but they cannot provide forgiveness. They are the rascals who

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provided the opportunity and the encouragement for the dastard deed of of betrayal in which Judas is engaged. Pilate tries to wash his hands when he gives an unjust judgment,

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but there is no redemption at Pilate's judgment hall. The chief priests try in vain to get rid of the blood money, but it will not go away. The temple cannot cleanse Judas of the guilt.

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It's blood money, it's a curse. They paid Judas 30 pieces of silver. When he got what he bargained for, when they got what they bargained for,

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Judas really didn't want it. He could not keep it. It's not blood money we need. It's the precious, cleansing, redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. That's what Judas needed. And he fails to come back and ask for

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repentance because there was no genuine change that had occurred in his mind and in his heart. And so he goes down, he goes down as a scoundrel in human history with the blood of Jesus on his hands. But I hear the question as it comes ringing in the words of the song what can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of

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Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other help I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus. And as we ponder and wonder about the power of the blood of Jesus, it's a mystery, it's a miracle how Jesus gives himself, makes the supreme

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sacrifice that we may be rightly related to the Father we come to the blood of Jesus and it's because of the blood of Jesus that we can greet one another and say brother and sister and call God our Father and Jesus Christ our elder brother. It all is made possible by the blood of Jesus. Well Judas is

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remembered he's remembered he has his place in history for being a foe to the one who is the sinless matchless son of God but we have one who is a friend he is our friend to the end he's with us all along life's way what a friend Peter betrays him the others forsaken Peter denies him rather and Judas betrays him

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but Jesus remains the friend not only in that time but he's a friend in every condition and circumstance he is the friend what a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. So the invitation is extended for one who has a change of heart who

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accepts Jesus Christ as Lord of life, wishes to identify with the family of God here at Ebenezer as we sing "What a Friend." I invite you to come. The door is open. [MUSIC PLAYING] [CHOIR SINGING]

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♪ We have in Jesus ♪ ♪ All our sins and griefs ♪ ♪ To bear ♪ ♪ What a privilege to carry ♪

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♪ Everything to God in prayer ♪ ♪ Oh, what peace we often covet ♪ ♪ Oh, what heaven's grace we have ♪ ♪ Oh, because we do not carry ♪

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♪ Everything to God in prayer ♪ ♪ Happy Child of God ♪ ♪ Happy Child of God ♪ ♪ Of retrials and temptation ♪

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♪ Is there trouble anywhere ♪ ♪ Jesus has a reason ♪ ♪ And we'll never ♪ ♪ Take it to the Lord in bed ♪

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♪ Can we find a friend ♪ ♪ Way far ♪ ♪ To the home of the brave ♪ ♪ He knows how to help the weak ♪

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♪ Take him to the holy grave ♪ ♪ Lord, we pray ♪ ♪ God, we need that day, lady ♪ ♪ Come and be the Lord of heaven ♪

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♪ Precious Savior, still our refuge ♪ ♪ Take it to the Lord in prayer ♪ ♪ Do not frown, this our Christmas day ♪ ♪ Take it through the light ♪

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♪ If your heart is brave and shielded ♪ ♪ I will find a soul in heaven ♪ - Amen. Let's listen to the report of our church clerk,

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Brother Terry Steele. - We have coming to unite with us this morning, Brother Alfred Jamison. He is a member of a Baptist church,

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St. Matthew's Baptist Church. He's from Memphis, but he's here with work. He's here till just till November, so he's coming to watch care of Pastor. All right, so will you stand?

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You wish to unite with the church on the watch care, and we're delighted that you've made this decision to be under the watchful care of the Ebenezer family. We welcome you, and we trust that together we will be found faithful in seeking to carry out our Lord's command. God bless you and keep you. God bless you. You may be seated.

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Let's all say amen! Amen! Amen! I'm going to give the benediction. We'd like for you to remain in your seats and

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we're going to ask that you accompany me as we go to the rear. Let's bow our heads. Lord we thank you for the challenge of this season, challenge to be better, challenge meaningful change bless us as we confront the challenge of this new week strengthen us as we face temptations and help us to overcome and

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to be faithful to your commands grace mercy peace be with you from God our father and Jesus Christ our Lord amen (indistinct chatter) ♪ (soft music)

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- Grandma! ♪ (soft music) [BLANK_AUDIO]