Kwasizabantu Youth Conference
6 Dec 2002 - Day 1

2002/12/06 - 19:00
"Who do you belong to?" - Bill Bathman
John 8:31 - 47

"Who do you belong to?" was the theme of the first message, preached by Rev Bill Bathman. Uncle Bill (as he is affectionately known here) gave a powerful sermon based on John 8: 31-47

A brief summary:
In my years of working in Eastern Europe it was clear that communism was based upon 2 pillars, lies (resulting in terror, bondage, slavery and deception) and force.
To continue with the concept of slavery, in 2Pet 2: 19-22 we read that one is a "slave to whatever has mastered him." Whatever controls you, you are a slave to that thing.
Before I was a Christian I went to a dog show with my pals. We caught an alley cat before we went into the show where dogs (of all shapes and kinds) were being paraded and doing tricks. When we released the cat the dogs behaved in a way which came naturally to them.
We do what we do because we are what we are. We sin because we're sinners. In the text in Peter we find that dogs and pigs behave in this way because it is their nature. It would take a "change of heart" to change their nature. So too, we need a change of heart. We need to renounce sin and turn to Christ. That is why we are here at this Kwasizabantu Youth Conference. We need Jesus Christ for without Him we're lost. He died to live His life in us.
"The truth shall set you free". Here are 3 ways to know this truth:
1. The payment He paid - an example is how the Old Testament priest would take 2 sparrows, kill one and sprinkle it's blood on the other, then releasing it to go free because one had died for the other. So too, Christ took our place and shed His precious blood.
2. The power He possesses - an example is the woman who was bent over for 18 years (in Luke 13). When Jesus healed her he declared that she was "loosed from" her infirmity. Jesus declares us free when we come to Him for He has the power to do it.
3. The presence He supplies - Christ gives victory over sin by living His life in us.

(Rev Bill Bathman founded In Touch Mission International.

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