Well welcome back to another
incredible message that we're
00:00:47.06\00:00:52.64
going to receive
from Shelley Quinn.
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How many of you know Shelley?
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She's been around
here for quite a while now
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and many of you have
asked me where she's been.
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Shelly is a gad
about. Did ya'll know that?
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She just came
back from South Africa.
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Of course, she was
ministering at a Camp Meeting
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in South Africa. A few weeks ago
she and J.D. were over there.
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Now they were in North
Carolina at a Camp Meeting
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just up until yesterday.
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And she came home
because she missed us so badly.
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And so now she's going to
minister to us this afternoon
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on Experiencing Salvation.
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And I'm really
looking forward to that.
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Not only is Shelly a
very received, very respected,
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and very gifted
speaker and teacher
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she's also a great author.
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How many of you have got her
current book The Grace Pipeline?
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This is an incredible book,
and it will just encourage you
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and build you up. But
before Shelley comes to share
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one of my favorite singers at
3ABN is going to minister to us
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next. Tammy, if
you will come on out...
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She's going to
minister a beautiful song:
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I Think About Home.
And she was telling me
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that, you know, we have a
couple that are usually here.
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They usually sit
over in that area...
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Merle and LaVerne
Johnson. They're from Texas.
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A lot of you may
have missed them.
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I had already
missed them this year.
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Well, Merle called Tammy
and asked her to sing this song.
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It's a beautiful song, so
Tammy we look forward to it.
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Well, and I want to say
"hi" to Merle and LaVerne
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and we're sorry that
you couldn't be here.
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And if you want me to sing
Thinking About Home, I will.
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And also my husband - I think
he's in the back somewhere -
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we're going to celebrate
our 35th wedding anniversary
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in a few weeks, and
this is his favorite song.
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And he always says:
"Why won't you sing the song?
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Why won't you? " And I... "Well,
I've got a different song...
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a new song. " "No,
no, I like that song. "
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So I guess I can do it
for him for thirty-five years.
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"A penny for your thoughts,
" I said to the old man
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as he sat there on
the park bench all alone.
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With silver hair, wrinkled brow,
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eyes gleaming
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he smiled and said: "I'm
thinkin' about my home. "
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I sat down and we
shared some laughs together.
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And the cinema of
remembrance it did roll.
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We talked about life's gains
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and its losses,
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but mostly we just
talked about his home.
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He said: "I'm
thinkin' 'bout home,
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thinkin' about goin' home.
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Thinkin' about leavin' here,
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ready to be movin' on...
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It won't be long
before the sun will set
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and I'll be gone. But until then
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I'll be thinkin' 'bout home. "
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I said: "Tell me, old
man, where's your home
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and what's it like? "
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He said: "Oh, ain't nothin'
'round here that compares. "
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He said: "A king had it built
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and gave the deed to me.
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And all of God's
family will be there. "
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He said: "I'm
thinkin' 'bout home,
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thinkin' about goin' home.
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Dreamin' about leavin' here,
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ready to be movin' on...
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It won't be long
before the sun will set
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and I'll be gone. But until then
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I'll be thinkin' 'bout home. "
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It won't be long
before the sun will set
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and I'll be gone. But until then
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I'll be thinkin' 'bout home. "
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Oooh, oooh, oooh...
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Thinkin' 'bout home.
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Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm...
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thinkin' 'bout my home.
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Amen. Amen.
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Thank you, Tammy.
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That was a beautiful song.
That's J.D.'s favorite song
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I think of all.
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And where is our home?
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In heaven! We are not
citizens of this world
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but we are citizens of heaven.
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You know, when we
were given this assignment
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C.A. said that this was
supposed to be a little bit more
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philosophical this year.
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And so boy, I've had
some hard time figuring out
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what to do with this message
on experiencing salvation.
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I took philosophy
when I was in college
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and kind of had... it
was kind of interesting.
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But I thought as I was
working on this message
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I though well, maybe I ought
to revisit what the definition
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of philosophy. And as
I did, it says that it is
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"the systematic
examination of basic concepts
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like truth and
existence, reality, causality.
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the cause and effect. "
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And you know what I found out?
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I'm a philosopher
and I didn't know it.
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I thought: "I just
wrote a 200-page book:
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The Grace Pipeline. "
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And this is what it was
was a systematic examination
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of the basic
concepts of salvation.
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Now, in Colossians 2:8 Paul says
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"Beware of
philosophy and empty deceit
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according to the
traditions of man
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and not according to Christ. "
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So when we talk about
philosophy in the church
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where are we
going to find our truth
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and our systematic principles?
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Right here. So we're going to be
doing a lot of looking things up
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as we're going through here.
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As a matter of fact, why don't
you turn to Revelation chapter 7
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and put your finger there?
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So I thought that since we
are going to... since I had to
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examine what it
meant about philosophy
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that it would be good
for us to examine... See,
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I took philosophy. I
thought I knew what it meant.
00:08:08.63\00:08:11.14
But my definition of
philosophy was a little bit off.
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So I thought
maybe we ought to look
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at God's system of salvation
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and define that
and define grace for us
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to make sure that
we've got this right
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because it is very important.
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We have to have a personal
experience with the grace of God
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to have a personal
experience with His salvation.
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In the Old Testament
King David wrote in Psalm 3:8
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"salvation
belongs to the Lord. "
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Now look at Revelation 7-
we're going to look at verse 9-
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because John echoes this truth.
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John says... Revelation 7:9:
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"After these things I looked
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and behold the great multitude
which no one could number
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of all nations,
tribes, peoples, and tongues
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standing before the
throne and before the Lamb
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clothed with white robes with
palm branches in their hands
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and crying out with
a loud voice saying:
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"salvation belongs to... "
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it comes from, it is due to
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"... our God who sits on
the throne and the Lamb. "
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The dominant theme
in the entire Bible
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is salvation by grace through
the substitutionary death
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and the resurrected
life of Jesus Christ
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and of - the
required action of us -
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of receiving by
faith His righteousness.
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His imputed righteousness
and His imparted righteousness.
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God's method of salvation
has always been by grace.
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I wish I had time to
prove that to you right now.
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But He says in
Malachi 3:6: "I am the Lord...
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I change not. "
00:10:03.63\00:10:05.20
Jesus said that "I
am the same yesterday,
00:10:05.23\00:10:09.27
today and forever. "
00:10:09.47\00:10:11.14
As a matter of fact, where do
we find the first gospel promise
00:10:11.44\00:10:15.36
of the Messiah? Do you know?
00:10:15.66\00:10:17.74
Genesis 3:15...
where the Lord says
00:10:18.04\00:10:22.51
that the serpent would
bruise the heel of the Messiah
00:10:22.71\00:10:26.17
but the Messiah's going
to bruise what? His head.
00:10:26.37\00:10:29.60
He is going to crush
Satan under His feet.
00:10:29.90\00:10:33.53
And a beautiful
picture of this...
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And that is, by the way, a
beautiful picture of salvation
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by grace... But I love -
you don't have to turn there -
00:10:38.76\00:10:41.97
but I love this line
from Psalm 85. It's verse 10.
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And it says: "Mercy and
truth have met together;
00:10:46.06\00:10:51.05
righteousness and
peace have kissed. "
00:10:51.25\00:10:54.64
The gateway to salvation is
the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
00:10:54.84\00:11:00.00
Sinful man
deserved to be destroyed,
00:11:00.30\00:11:03.87
and the holiness of
God demanded justice...
00:11:04.27\00:11:08.66
but the love of
God demanded mercy.
00:11:08.96\00:11:12.15
And in His love - in
spite of our hostility,
00:11:12.45\00:11:15.81
in spite of our rebellion -
00:11:16.01\00:11:18.00
in His love God sent His Son
00:11:18.20\00:11:22.00
to die for us while
we were yet sinners.
00:11:22.20\00:11:24.78
Hallelujah! So
justice and grace collided
00:11:24.98\00:11:29.44
at the cross of Calvary...
00:11:29.64\00:11:31.94
evidencing both the
holiness and the love of God.
00:11:32.14\00:11:36.51
So how does God's
system of grace work?
00:11:36.81\00:11:39.88
Love is the compelling force
00:11:40.18\00:11:44.61
behind the grace of God.
00:11:44.81\00:11:47.25
God's heart
overflows. It just wells up
00:11:47.55\00:11:52.10
and overflows with love for us.
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He has loved us
with an everlasting love,
00:11:55.96\00:12:00.07
and He draws us
with loving- kindness.
00:12:00.37\00:12:02.61
And here's how as I was seeking
the Lord to understand grace
00:12:02.91\00:12:07.47
here's how He
showed me it works.
00:12:07.67\00:12:09.70
From this well of love
there is this huge pipeline
00:12:10.00\00:12:14.53
that comes down from
heaven: the grace pipeline.
00:12:14.73\00:12:19.30
And everything
that you and I receive,
00:12:19.60\00:12:23.08
every good and perfect gift,
00:12:23.28\00:12:25.23
comes to us from our
heavenly Father on high.
00:12:25.43\00:12:29.58
It comes down to us
through His grace pipeline.
00:12:29.61\00:12:33.92
Everything is by grace.
00:12:34.22\00:12:36.32
We are called by
grace. We are saved by grace.
00:12:36.62\00:12:39.09
Justified, sanctified by grace.
00:12:39.29\00:12:40.93
We repent by grace.
00:12:41.23\00:12:43.14
Did you know we
even love by grace?
00:12:43.44\00:12:46.16
Everything comes to
us by the grace of God:
00:12:46.46\00:12:51.21
the giver of every
good and perfect gift.
00:12:51.51\00:12:54.16
How to we tap in to
this grace pipeline?
00:12:54.46\00:12:57.41
We tap in by faith.
00:12:57.71\00:13:00.68
Romans 5:2 says that it
is by... through Jesus Christ
00:13:00.99\00:13:06.32
and by our faith
that we have access
00:13:06.52\00:13:10.84
into this grace in
which we now stand.
00:13:11.05\00:13:14.48
So think of faith as the faucet
00:13:14.78\00:13:18.12
where we can tap into
the various places around
00:13:18.32\00:13:21.67
in this big grace pipeline.
00:13:21.87\00:13:23.79
And you know, some
people have faith to tap in
00:13:24.09\00:13:26.71
for justification
but maybe not faith to
00:13:26.91\00:13:29.99
tap in for sanctification.
00:13:30.09\00:13:32.07
There's different
places along the way.
00:13:32.47\00:13:35.93
You might have faith
to celebrate His Sabbath
00:13:36.23\00:13:40.06
but not have faith to tap
in when He talks about tithing
00:13:40.26\00:13:44.39
and tithes and offerings
and how He will bless it.
00:13:44.59\00:13:47.37
But see, we've got
to... How does faith come?
00:13:47.67\00:13:50.24
By hearing and
hearing by the Word of God.
00:13:50.27\00:13:54.35
So we tap in by faith,
00:13:54.65\00:13:57.14
but the handle on that
faith faucet is prayer.
00:13:57.44\00:14:03.16
Faith regulates and
our prayers regulate
00:14:03.46\00:14:09.04
the release of
God's grace to us.
00:14:09.24\00:14:11.64
We have to tap in by faith,
00:14:11.94\00:14:14.00
and it is the prayer of
faith, that earnest prayer.
00:14:14.20\00:14:18.60
Now prayer... If
prayer is the handle,
00:14:18.80\00:14:22.24
the... what is the foundation
for the prayer of faith?
00:14:22.54\00:14:27.97
Trust. We have to trust in
the Lord with all of our heart
00:14:28.27\00:14:31.94
and lean not on
our own understanding.
00:14:32.15\00:14:34.33
Whose understanding
are we going to lean on?
00:14:34.64\00:14:36.60
God's. And I have to tell you
00:14:36.90\00:14:39.98
little Word = little faith.
00:14:40.18\00:14:43.36
You've got to get
into the Word of God.
00:14:43.76\00:14:47.22
Get His promises into your heart
00:14:47.43\00:14:49.68
and that's what
builds your faith. Amen?
00:14:49.98\00:14:53.50
So trust - the foundation
for trust - is relationship.
00:14:53.80\00:14:59.39
Did you know? God wants to
have an intimate relationship
00:14:59.69\00:15:04.64
with you. He wants it to
be that of father and child...
00:15:04.84\00:15:09.94
one where we cry
out "Abba Father. "
00:15:10.25\00:15:12.90
So what is the
foundation for relationship?
00:15:13.21\00:15:16.18
Love... love.
The more we recognize
00:15:16.49\00:15:21.63
how much God loves us,
00:15:21.83\00:15:24.94
how much we are worth to Him -
00:15:25.15\00:15:27.22
and you're worth nothing less
than the price He paid for you
00:15:27.53\00:15:30.51
with the
precious blood of Jesus...
00:15:30.71\00:15:32.71
The more we
recognize how much He loves us
00:15:32.91\00:15:35.65
the more intimate
our relationship becomes
00:15:35.85\00:15:39.17
because we love Him
because He first loved us.
00:15:39.48\00:15:42.57
And the more intimate our
relationship, the more we learn
00:15:42.87\00:15:47.09
to trust the Lord.
And the more we trust Him
00:15:47.29\00:15:49.31
the greater our
prayer of faith will become.
00:15:49.52\00:15:52.21
We'll open up that faith
faucet and access His grace.
00:15:52.51\00:15:57.18
Hallelujah! Turn to
Ephesians chapter 2.
00:15:57.48\00:16:01.10
Ephesians chapter 2.
00:16:01.30\00:16:04.50
If anyone appreciated
the benefits of grace,
00:16:04.70\00:16:07.43
it was the apostle Paul.
00:16:07.63\00:16:09.08
He was a Pharisee of Pharisees
00:16:09.38\00:16:11.58
who thought that his pedigree
and his religious practices
00:16:11.78\00:16:16.68
earned him favor with God.
00:16:16.88\00:16:18.30
That is, until
the moment that he had
00:16:18.60\00:16:23.22
an encounter with
the Master of grace.
00:16:23.43\00:16:27.16
He was lacking the
love of God within.
00:16:27.46\00:16:30.47
Spiritually destitute
until this time, actually.
00:16:30.77\00:16:33.69
Did you know Paul was
actually commissioned by
00:16:33.89\00:16:35.77
the Sanhedrin to destroy
anyone who followed Christ?
00:16:35.87\00:16:40.00
So here he is out breathing
murderous threats against
00:16:41.06\00:16:44.98
Christians. He - the
Shekinah glory of Christ -
00:16:45.08\00:16:49.24
just knocks him
right off his high horse.
00:16:49.44\00:16:51.35
And grace
awakened in Paul an emotion
00:16:51.66\00:16:56.62
that could not be suppressed.
00:16:56.82\00:17:00.55
He had difficulty
even expressing it.
00:17:00.85\00:17:03.04
But Paul became God's
most ardent ambassador
00:17:03.07\00:17:07.24
for grace. In Ephesians
2 let's look at verse 4.
00:17:07.34\00:17:11.14
We'll begin with verse 4.
00:17:12.38\00:17:14.08
Paul is writing to
the church at Ephesus
00:17:14.48\00:17:17.32
and here's what he says:
00:17:17.52\00:17:19.34
"But God who is rich in mercy
00:17:19.64\00:17:22.93
because of His great love" -
00:17:23.13\00:17:26.39
the compelling
force behind His grace -
00:17:26.49\00:17:29.04
"because of His great
love with which He loved us
00:17:29.24\00:17:33.30
even when we were
dead in trespasses
00:17:33.50\00:17:36.39
He made us alive
together with Christ.
00:17:36.59\00:17:40.17
By grace you have
been saved, " Paul says.
00:17:40.37\00:17:44.81
"He raised us up together
and made us sit in the heavenly
00:17:45.11\00:17:48.30
places in Christ Jesus
that in the ages to come
00:17:48.40\00:17:51.53
He might show the
exceeding riches of His grace
00:17:51.73\00:17:54.48
in His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus. "
00:17:54.68\00:17:57.80
Now as if you
didn't notice in verse 5
00:17:58.10\00:18:00.88
that he said "by
grace you have been saved, "
00:18:01.08\00:18:04.26
he's going to make sure
that you get this again.
00:18:04.46\00:18:07.11
"For by grace you have
been saved through faith
00:18:07.41\00:18:11.02
and that not of yourselves.
00:18:11.12\00:18:13.28
It is a gift of God,
00:18:13.48\00:18:15.32
not of works
lest any should boast.
00:18:15.52\00:18:17.56
For we are His workmanship. "
00:18:17.86\00:18:22.02
You are God's workmanship.
00:18:22.43\00:18:24.80
His work of art.
"Created in Christ Jesus" -
00:18:25.00\00:18:29.25
actually re-created as
a new creature in Christ.
00:18:29.45\00:18:33.39
For what purpose?
00:18:33.59\00:18:35.51
"for good works which
God prepared beforehand
00:18:35.81\00:18:40.74
that we should walk in Him. "
00:18:40.94\00:18:43.44
Now turn to Galatians chapter 3.
00:18:44.56\00:18:47.20
You know, it has
been said that Judaism
00:18:47.50\00:18:50.75
was the cradle of Christianity.
00:18:50.95\00:18:53.52
And it was almost likewise,
very nearly its grave as well.
00:18:53.82\00:18:58.90
And what happened in
the churches of Galatia
00:18:59.20\00:19:02.09
is some Judaizers came in.
00:19:02.29\00:19:04.72
And these Judaizers who
professed to know Christ as Lord
00:19:04.92\00:19:09.15
began telling the
Gentiles that they had to keep
00:19:09.35\00:19:12.53
the Mosaic law to be justified.
00:19:12.73\00:19:15.01
That they could not
be justified by faith.
00:19:15.31\00:19:17.17
And Paul attacks what he
calls their "different gospel" -
00:19:17.37\00:19:21.14
their gospel of works -
00:19:21.44\00:19:23.20
saying that it perverted
the gospel of divine grace
00:19:23.50\00:19:26.86
through faith. And he
proves in the book of Galatians
00:19:26.96\00:19:30.55
that our true
experience of salvation
00:19:30.65\00:19:33.14
results in our total
dependence upon God -
00:19:33.17\00:19:37.58
Our TOTAL dependence upon God -
00:19:38.90\00:19:40.76
and that our freedom in Christ
00:19:41.06\00:19:43.37
results in a Spirit-led life
00:19:43.57\00:19:47.16
that produces
fruits of righteousness.
00:19:47.46\00:19:50.65
Now look at Galatians
chapter 3 and verse 3.
00:19:50.85\00:19:54.54
Paul's writing to
them saying: "How can you
00:19:55.50\00:19:57.67
accept another gospel? "
00:19:57.77\00:19:59.59
And here's what he
says: "Are you so foolish?
00:19:59.89\00:20:03.57
Having begun in
the Spirit are you now
00:20:03.77\00:20:07.85
being made
perfect by the flesh? "
00:20:08.05\00:20:11.05
Let me ask you:
00:20:11.26\00:20:12.58
anybody in here besides me
ever try to perfect your walk
00:20:12.88\00:20:18.54
by the flesh?
00:20:18.75\00:20:20.71
Paul says you can't do it.
00:20:21.01\00:20:24.12
Having begun in the Spirit
00:20:24.42\00:20:26.24
you've got to
continue in the Spirit.
00:20:26.44\00:20:28.57
Turn to chapter 5 of Galatians
00:20:28.67\00:20:30.72
and let me show you
why this is so important.
00:20:31.02\00:20:33.74
In Galatians 5 and verse 4
00:20:34.04\00:20:36.96
Paul is telling these same
ones who are trying to work out
00:20:38.24\00:20:42.62
their own
justification, he said:
00:20:42.82\00:20:45.02
"You have become
estranged from grace
00:20:45.22\00:20:48.84
you who attempt to
be justified by law.
00:20:49.04\00:20:52.75
You have.. " What?
"fallen from grace. "
00:20:52.95\00:20:58.23
It is true. We
can fall from grace.
00:20:58.53\00:21:01.30
You know, grace puts us on
that highway of holiness...
00:21:01.60\00:21:06.77
that path of life where we find
joy in the presence of the Lord.
00:21:07.07\00:21:11.96
But we can either
go a little to the left
00:21:12.26\00:21:15.85
or a little to the right.
00:21:16.15\00:21:18.31
And if we go off that pathway
00:21:18.61\00:21:21.76
either by trying to
save ourself through works
00:21:21.96\00:21:24.45
or by getting -
how can I say it? -
00:21:24.65\00:21:28.90
by looking at
grace as if it were cheap
00:21:29.10\00:21:32.24
and we don't think we have
to worry about obedience...
00:21:32.44\00:21:35.73
If we get off on either
side, the devil has a snare
00:21:35.86\00:21:39.44
on either side. And
boy I'll tell you what:
00:21:39.54\00:21:41.60
those steel teeth of that
snare will get around your...
00:21:41.70\00:21:44.94
around your ankle and hang on.
00:21:45.04\00:21:47.23
Now, turn to
Philippians chapter 2.
00:21:48.45\00:21:52.21
Here's Paul saying
"don't fall from grace. "
00:21:52.51\00:21:56.59
"Don't... don't think that
you can work your way to heaven.
00:21:56.79\00:22:00.76
Salvation is a gift from God.
00:22:00.86\00:22:03.87
There is absolutely
nothing you can do to earn it! "
00:22:04.07\00:22:07.17
Now here a few years later
he's writing to the Philippians
00:22:07.47\00:22:10.98
and in chapter 2
and verse 12 he says:
00:22:11.18\00:22:15.12
"Therefore, my beloved,
00:22:15.42\00:22:17.80
my beloved Philippians,
as you have always obeyed
00:22:18.10\00:22:22.63
not as in my presence only
but now much more in my absence"
00:22:22.83\00:22:26.66
So he's putting some emphasis
on obedience here, isn't he?
00:22:26.86\00:22:30.40
"work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling. "
00:22:30.60\00:22:36.04
Now wait a minute, Paul.
00:22:36.34\00:22:38.35
Are you preaching
a different gospel?
00:22:38.65\00:22:41.44
Is this a gospel of works?
00:22:41.74\00:22:44.93
What does he mean
"work out your own salvation
00:22:45.23\00:22:48.45
with fear and trembling? "
00:22:48.75\00:22:49.83
There's not even a hint
of a gospel of works in this.
00:22:50.13\00:22:54.92
You know what it is?
00:22:55.22\00:22:56.87
You cannot... He hasn't
finished his sentence yet.
00:22:57.17\00:22:59.45
Some people stop
at Philippians 2:12.
00:22:59.65\00:23:01.69
I used to, and my knees
would knock and I'd tremble
00:23:01.90\00:23:04.96
before the Lord 'cause I
was trying to work out my
00:23:05.06\00:23:08.44
own salvation not by
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:23:08.54\00:23:11.03
but in my flesh.
00:23:11.23\00:23:12.55
But Paul is saying
in the next scripture
00:23:12.85\00:23:16.26
which is part of
the same sentence
00:23:16.46\00:23:19.11
"not in your own strength
00:23:19.31\00:23:22.14
for it is... " Who?
"God who works in you
00:23:22.34\00:23:26.44
to... " What? "to will
and to do His good pleasure. "
00:23:26.64\00:23:32.02
So what we see is a
picture of salvation by grace
00:23:32.32\00:23:36.10
that is accompanied by
some cooperative effort
00:23:36.30\00:23:40.00
on our part. But it is
a Spirit-empowered effort.
00:23:40.20\00:23:44.79
Paul paints a picture of
those who have experienced
00:23:45.02\00:23:48.89
the justification of salvation
00:23:49.09\00:23:51.64
and who are experiencing
the sanctification of salvation.
00:23:51.94\00:23:57.32
It is absolutely appropriate
to say "I have been saved, "
00:23:57.62\00:24:03.31
"I am being saved, "
00:24:03.61\00:24:06.21
and "I will be saved. "
00:24:06.51\00:24:08.86
Past, present, and future.
00:24:09.16\00:24:11.28
Let's visit and define salvation
so we can make this clear.
00:24:11.48\00:24:16.27
If you had to... If you
met somebody on an airplane
00:24:16.57\00:24:20.38
and they said: "Well, I don't
know anything about salvation,
00:24:20.58\00:24:23.90
what is it? " How
would you define salvation?
00:24:23.93\00:24:26.45
Have you ever thought of that?
00:24:26.75\00:24:28.42
Salvation, if I were to say
it in one sentence, I would say:
00:24:28.72\00:24:34.71
"It is the
rescue from the penalty,
00:24:34.91\00:24:39.62
the power, and the presence
of sin and eternal death. "
00:24:39.92\00:24:45.74
And those are
three different stages.
00:24:46.04\00:24:49.43
So how does God
rescue us from the penalty
00:24:49.73\00:24:54.11
of death? The penalty of sin?
00:24:54.41\00:24:58.61
I heard it... Justification!
00:24:58.91\00:25:01.21
Absolutely. That is the
first stage of salvation.
00:25:01.51\00:25:05.44
Justification is an act of God.
00:25:05.74\00:25:08.59
It happens when
we confess our sins
00:25:08.89\00:25:11.54
and by faith we accept
the imputed righteousness
00:25:11.74\00:25:17.50
of Christ Jesus.
00:25:17.70\00:25:19.59
What does that mean?
00:25:19.89\00:25:21.01
It means that the
perfect moral character
00:25:21.31\00:25:25.74
and the perfect
record of obedience
00:25:25.94\00:25:28.97
that belong to
Jesus is given to us.
00:25:29.17\00:25:33.15
It is credited to our account.
00:25:33.45\00:25:35.25
Hallelujah! This
is an act of God.
00:25:35.55\00:25:39.84
There's nothing you and I can
do other than confess our sins
00:25:40.14\00:25:43.38
and know that He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins
00:25:43.48\00:25:46.35
and cleanse us of all
unrighteousness. Amen?
00:25:46.55\00:25:50.16
So this is the rescue
from the penalty of sin
00:25:50.46\00:25:55.48
and eternal death.
Takes but a moment.
00:25:55.78\00:25:58.18
And once we've
confessed it's past tense.
00:25:58.48\00:26:01.72
We are justified.
00:26:02.03\00:26:03.31
I have been saved
from the penalty of death.
00:26:03.51\00:26:06.93
But now the second
stage is sanctification,
00:26:07.23\00:26:10.78
and this is rescue
from the power of sin.
00:26:11.08\00:26:16.58
Sanctification. Do you
know what that word means?
00:26:16.88\00:26:20.65
Holy! It means
holy. Thank you, Richard.
00:26:20.95\00:26:24.73
He said it loud enough
where we could all hear it, too.
00:26:25.03\00:26:28.74
Sanctification means holiness.
00:26:28.97\00:26:32.50
It means being
separated from sin.
00:26:32.80\00:26:34.89
This isn't in my notes, but flip
over to I Thessalonians 3:12
00:26:34.99\00:26:38.49
real quick 'cause I've
just got to share this with you.
00:26:38.69\00:26:40.70
This is one of my favorite...
my new favorite scriptures.
00:26:41.00\00:26:45.41
I Thessalonians 3...
let's begin with verse 12.
00:26:45.71\00:26:51.31
I Thessalonians
3:12: "May the Lord
00:26:51.61\00:26:56.91
make you increase
and abound in love
00:26:58.33\00:27:03.38
to one another and to
all just as we do to you... "
00:27:03.48\00:27:07.19
For what purpose?
00:27:07.29\00:27:08.51
"so that He may
establish your hearts
00:27:08.81\00:27:14.78
blameless in holiness
before our God and Father
00:27:14.98\00:27:18.51
at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. "
00:27:18.71\00:27:20.57
Do you realize what that says?
00:27:20.97\00:27:23.87
Grow in love you
grow in holiness.
00:27:24.17\00:27:26.82
I don't know what
your picture of holiness is
00:27:28.24\00:27:30.11
but God's picture of holiness
is having a character like Him.
00:27:30.22\00:27:34.52
God is love.
00:27:35.39\00:27:36.69
And so when the Holy Spirit
- who is the Spirit of holiness
00:27:37.19\00:27:41.96
and the Spirit of
love - fills our hearts
00:27:42.16\00:27:45.60
we will grow in love.
00:27:45.80\00:27:48.66
So sanctification...
we're going to look at this
00:27:48.86\00:27:51.47
a little more
closely in a minute.
00:27:51.57\00:27:53.11
But it is a progressive work
through the power of Christ's
00:27:53.31\00:27:57.25
imparted righteousness.
00:27:57.45\00:27:59.16
Holiness is not the
cause of our salvation...
00:27:59.37\00:28:01.60
it is the
consequence of our salvation.
00:28:01.80\00:28:04.19
As God works in us to
renew a right spirit within us,
00:28:04.49\00:28:08.14
restore us to more purity,
00:28:08.34\00:28:10.57
and renew our
character to lead a life
00:28:10.77\00:28:13.10
that is morally pleasing to Him,
00:28:13.30\00:28:14.84
this is rescue
from the power of sin
00:28:15.04\00:28:17.81
and it's the work of a lifetime.
00:28:18.11\00:28:19.65
So it is present
tense: "I am being saved. "
00:28:19.85\00:28:22.85
Now glorification... ah-ha!
00:28:23.15\00:28:25.47
The grace of
glorification is the future.
00:28:25.77\00:28:28.70
This is I
Corinthians 15 and verses 51-54.
00:28:29.01\00:28:33.62
When we who are dead in
Christ come up from the grave
00:28:33.92\00:28:38.13
and those who alive are
caught up in the air with us
00:28:38.33\00:28:41.60
and we put on immortality;
00:28:41.81\00:28:45.52
when God transforms us
in the twinkling of an eye
00:28:45.82\00:28:48.57
to receive this immortal body
00:28:48.77\00:28:50.94
that is not
subject to sin and death
00:28:51.14\00:28:53.49
and to an inheritance
that will never fade away...
00:28:53.70\00:28:56.63
this will be rescue
from the presence of sin,
00:28:56.84\00:29:02.22
and that's future tense.
00:29:02.52\00:29:03.93
Now, here's the
question that I have to ask you:
00:29:04.43\00:29:07.87
can we experience the
grace of sanctification...
00:29:08.65\00:29:12.44
excuse me, can we experience
the grace of justification
00:29:12.64\00:29:16.98
and fall from grace
because we fail to experience
00:29:17.18\00:29:20.22
the grace of sanctification?
00:29:20.42\00:29:22.10
Let's look at it.
00:29:23.08\00:29:24.22
Turn to Matthew 25.
00:29:24.52\00:29:27.06
Jude wrote in Jude 1... Well,
there's only one chapter in Jude
00:29:28.74\00:29:33.06
In Jude 3 and 4 Jude
wrote: "Contend honestly for the
00:29:33.26\00:29:37.05
faith which was once for
all delivered to the saints.
00:29:37.25\00:29:39.50
For certain men have crept
in unnoticed who long ago were
00:29:39.60\00:29:42.27
marked out for
this condemnation.
00:29:42.47\00:29:44.21
Ungodly men who turn
the grace of our Lord Jesus
00:29:44.41\00:29:47.72
into lewdness and
deny the only Lord God,
00:29:47.93\00:29:51.02
our Lord Jesus Christ. "
00:29:51.22\00:29:53.02
Recently someone said to me
00:29:53.32\00:29:55.97
because they
heard a bad teaching
00:29:57.58\00:29:59.53
"I can enjoy my pornography
00:29:59.73\00:30:02.40
because I'm saved by grace. "
00:30:02.70\00:30:05.01
Look at Matthew 25. This
is a parable that cautions us
00:30:08.83\00:30:12.04
for the need to be
prepared for the uncertain time
00:30:12.24\00:30:14.62
of Christ's
return... His second coming.
00:30:14.82\00:30:17.92
Matthew 25.
00:30:18.22\00:30:20.41
And this parable...
You have to understand:
00:30:20.71\00:30:24.69
there was a Jewish
custom of the day -
00:30:24.79\00:30:26.94
it was of their culture
- that the groom would come
00:30:27.14\00:30:31.20
late at night,
attended by his groomsmen.
00:30:31.40\00:30:33.24
The bride had made herself ready
00:30:33.54\00:30:35.41
and the bridesmaids would be
out there waiting for the groom
00:30:35.61\00:30:39.65
with their lamps to
usher him to the bride
00:30:39.85\00:30:42.25
so that he then could
usher them to his home.
00:30:42.45\00:30:45.03
So in
scripture, who's the bride?
00:30:45.33\00:30:48.19
The church is the bride.
00:30:48.49\00:30:49.97
Who's the bridegroom?
00:30:50.17\00:30:51.37
Christ. So He's telling
about His second coming.
00:30:51.67\00:30:54.44
In Matthew 25 He says:
00:30:54.64\00:30:56.57
"The kingdom of heaven shall
be likened to ten virgins. "
00:30:56.88\00:31:01.06
Ha! You know, the
church is always presented as
00:31:01.36\00:31:06.16
a virtuous woman... one un-
defiled by other relationships.
00:31:06.36\00:31:09.17
So when He's talking about
ten virgins, who are these?
00:31:09.47\00:31:12.25
Church members.
00:31:12.55\00:31:14.84
Church members who took
their lamps. What's the lamps?
00:31:15.14\00:31:18.50
"Thy Word is a lamp to my
feet and a light to my path. "
00:31:18.60\00:31:22.33
They took their lamps and they
went out to meet the bridegroom.
00:31:22.53\00:31:24.91
"Now 5 of them were
wise and 5 were foolish. "
00:31:25.11\00:31:28.06
Two different
classes of church members.
00:31:28.36\00:31:30.31
"Those that were foolish took
their lamps and took no oil... "
00:31:30.61\00:31:34.20
Who's the oil? The
Holy Spirit... "with them.
00:31:34.40\00:31:37.54
But the wise took
oil in their vessels. "
00:31:37.85\00:31:40.94
These vessels were
little flasks that they had
00:31:41.14\00:31:45.26
for... to hold a supply of oil.
00:31:45.56\00:31:47.85
That represents our heart.
00:31:48.15\00:31:50.03
"So they took oil in their
vessels with their lamps but
00:31:50.33\00:31:53.29
while the bridegroom was delayed
they all slumbered and slept. "
00:31:53.30\00:31:56.07
A spiritual weariness
set in... a certain apathy.
00:31:56.37\00:31:59.79
"And at midnight a
loud cry pierced the air:
00:32:00.19\00:32:05.00
'behold, the bridegroom is
coming. Go out to meet Him. '
00:32:05.20\00:32:08.81
Then all of those virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps.
00:32:09.11\00:32:12.24
And the foolish said to the
wise: 'Give us some of your oil
00:32:12.44\00:32:15.32
for our lamps are going out. '
00:32:15.52\00:32:16.77
But the wise answered saying:
00:32:16.97\00:32:18.96
'No, lest there should not
be enough for us and for you.
00:32:19.16\00:32:22.17
But go rather to those who
sell and buy for yourself. ' "
00:32:22.37\00:32:25.31
You know, the oil
of the Holy Spirit
00:32:25.61\00:32:27.57
in this parable is also
by inference the character
00:32:27.77\00:32:31.21
that the wise virgins gained
by His influence in their lives.
00:32:31.41\00:32:36.81
They couldn't. It
wasn't being selfish.
00:32:37.11\00:32:39.04
They couldn't share their oil.
00:32:39.25\00:32:41.52
You have to have a
personal relationship
00:32:42.02\00:32:44.82
with the Holy Spirit.
00:32:45.02\00:32:46.45
"And while they went to
buy the bridegroom came and
00:32:46.75\00:32:49.50
those who were ready went
in with Him to the wedding
00:32:49.71\00:32:52.36
and the door was shut. And
afterward the other virgins
00:32:52.46\00:32:54.98
came also saying:
'Lord, Lord, open to us. ' "
00:32:55.18\00:32:57.51
Ah... "But He answered and said:
00:32:57.71\00:33:00.99
'Assuredly I say to
you I do not know you. ' "
00:33:01.29\00:33:06.75
Then Jesus
gives us this warning:
00:33:07.05\00:33:08.69
"Watch therefore for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:33:08.79\00:33:11.66
in which the Son
of Man is coming. "
00:33:11.86\00:33:13.60
Did you notice
that Jesus doesn't say
00:33:13.70\00:33:18.06
there's wise
virgins and foolish maidens.
00:33:18.27\00:33:23.43
They're all
members of the church.
00:33:24.95\00:33:27.25
He referred to all
of them as virgins.
00:33:27.55\00:33:30.93
That leads us to
believe that the foolish virgins
00:33:31.23\00:33:34.05
were not hypocrites.
00:33:34.25\00:33:35.91
They had... They were members
of His church who had their
00:33:37.52\00:33:41.18
spiritual progress stifled.
And as I studied this out
00:33:41.38\00:33:45.88
as I was writing
The Grace Pipeline
00:33:46.18\00:33:49.03
boy, it hit me
like a ton of bricks.
00:33:49.23\00:33:53.00
What Jesus is saying here is
that each of these 10 virgins
00:33:53.20\00:33:57.94
had an experience with
the grace of salvation.
00:33:58.14\00:34:02.19
The foolish
virgins had been justified.
00:34:03.57\00:34:07.69
Had accepted Christ as
their Savior... repented.
00:34:07.99\00:34:10.84
They joined the church, but
they refused to tap into God's
00:34:11.14\00:34:15.39
grace pipeline
for sanctification.
00:34:15.59\00:34:18.47
Either because they had
a fixed rebellious attitude
00:34:18.77\00:34:21.70
or perhaps because they'd
heard and erroneous teaching.
00:34:21.91\00:34:26.57
So, their ill-judged
rejection of God's will...
00:34:27.87\00:34:33.22
And what is God's
will for your life?
00:34:33.43\00:34:34.98
What does it say in
I Thessalonians 4:3?
00:34:35.28\00:34:37.92
"This is the will of
God... your sanctification. "
00:34:38.12\00:34:43.03
Their ill-judged
rejection of God's grace
00:34:43.33\00:34:47.24
shuts the door of
eternal salvation.
00:34:47.44\00:34:49.94
Jesus warned His followers
for many generations saying this
00:34:50.24\00:34:54.92
in Matthew 7:21-23.
00:34:55.12\00:34:57.76
He says: "Not
everyone who says to Me
00:34:58.06\00:35:01.35
'Lord, Lord' shall
enter the kingdom of heaven
00:35:01.55\00:35:03.94
but he who does the will
of My Father in heaven. ' "
00:35:04.15\00:35:09.96
"Many will say to Me
in that day 'Lord, Lord.
00:35:10.17\00:35:12.97
Have we not
prophesied in Your name?
00:35:13.17\00:35:14.74
Cast out demons in Your name?
00:35:14.94\00:35:16.42
And done many
wonders in Your name? '
00:35:16.62\00:35:18.61
And I will say to them
00:35:18.91\00:35:21.18
'I never knew you.
00:35:21.48\00:35:23.49
Depart from Me you who
practice lawlessness. ' "
00:35:23.69\00:35:27.67
So justification by
grace is rather easy to grasp.
00:35:27.98\00:35:32.84
We confess our sins;
given the gift of repentance;
00:35:33.14\00:35:37.19
it's an act of
God... a sovereign act.
00:35:37.39\00:35:40.46
He credits Christ's record
to us so our record is clean.
00:35:40.76\00:35:45.88
That's imputed righteousness.
00:35:46.08\00:35:47.68
But now the confusion
comes with sanctification.
00:35:47.98\00:35:52.63
Turn to I
Thessalonians chapter 5.
00:35:52.93\00:35:55.49
I Thessalonians chapter 5.
00:35:56.80\00:35:58.84
You know, Peter said
that some things Paul wrote
00:35:59.14\00:36:01.61
were hard to understand.
00:36:01.81\00:36:03.47
He said that
unstable, untaught people
00:36:03.78\00:36:07.86
twist the scriptures
to their own destruction.
00:36:08.06\00:36:11.15
And he says: "Therefore beware
lest you fall from your own
00:36:11.45\00:36:17.29
steadfastness... being led away
with the error of the wicked. "
00:36:17.49\00:36:21.21
But he says in II Peter 3:18
00:36:21.61\00:36:25.09
"Grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior
00:36:25.29\00:36:29.54
Jesus Christ. " So let's look
at I Thessalonians 5 verse 23.
00:36:29.74\00:36:35.52
I Thessalonians 5 verse 23.
00:36:35.72\00:36:37.91
If sanctification is
so important and salvation
00:36:39.71\00:36:43.04
belongs to God but we're
sitting here talking about
00:36:43.24\00:36:45.50
our cooperative
effort, how do we explain this?
00:36:45.70\00:36:48.35
I Thessalonians 5:23
is a beautiful scripture!
00:36:48.65\00:36:52.89
And what Paul writes is
this: "Now may the God of peace
00:36:53.19\00:36:58.47
Himself sanctify you completely
00:36:58.67\00:37:02.33
and may your spirit,
soul, and body be preserved
00:37:02.54\00:37:06.36
blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
00:37:06.56\00:37:10.46
He who calls you is faithful...
00:37:10.76\00:37:14.64
He will do it!
00:37:14.94\00:37:18.21
Hallelujah! Do you realize
salvation belongs to the Lord?
00:37:18.51\00:37:23.14
It isn't just the
salvation of justification,
00:37:23.44\00:37:26.95
it is the
salvation of sanctification.
00:37:27.15\00:37:29.60
God will work in us
00:37:29.90\00:37:33.11
to will and to do
His good pleasure.
00:37:33.41\00:37:35.12
God will sanctify us.
00:37:35.42\00:37:38.01
And to experience this
daily process of sanctification
00:37:38.31\00:37:42.19
by grace we need to understand
God's 3 greatest gifts of grace.
00:37:42.39\00:37:47.82
So let's look at those
00:37:48.12\00:37:50.56
because when we understand
the 3 greatest gifts of grace
00:37:50.86\00:37:56.46
we will understand
the effects of grace
00:37:56.66\00:37:59.52
to rescue us from sin and death,
00:37:59.82\00:38:02.15
to renew a right spirit with us,
00:38:02.35\00:38:04.13
and to restore
us to moral purity.
00:38:04.34\00:38:07.09
Number 1: the
greatest gift of God's grace.
00:38:08.77\00:38:13.59
We find it in John chapter 4.
00:38:13.79\00:38:16.39
When a woman - a Samaritan
woman - had come to the well
00:38:16.69\00:38:20.56
and she had an
encounter with Jesus.
00:38:20.76\00:38:24.23
And Jesus said to her...
00:38:24.26\00:38:27.26
In John chapter 4 and verse 10
00:38:28.12\00:38:34.06
He said to her: "If
only you knew the gift of God
00:38:35.16\00:38:40.70
and who it is that speaks to you
00:38:40.91\00:38:44.07
you would ask Him and He
would give you living water
00:38:44.27\00:38:48.15
that would well up
within you a fountain of water
00:38:48.35\00:38:51.70
that springs up to
everlasting life. "
00:38:51.90\00:38:54.59
In my mind's eye, this is
how I see Jesus saying that
00:38:54.89\00:39:00.14
to this precious woman
who'd had five husbands before,
00:39:00.54\00:39:05.56
living with a sixth man
who was not her husband,
00:39:05.76\00:39:08.49
and now meets man
#7... the Man of perfection.
00:39:08.69\00:39:13.60
And here's
Jesus... and He looks at her
00:39:13.90\00:39:18.23
and He spreads His arms widely
00:39:18.43\00:39:21.58
and He says: "If only you knew
00:39:21.88\00:39:25.56
the gift of God and who it
is that's speaking to you. "
00:39:25.76\00:39:31.00
His arms were spread
wide in an embrace of love
00:39:31.30\00:39:35.79
and perhaps in the sign of
the posture He would assume
00:39:36.19\00:39:42.18
on the cross. What
He was saying to her is:
00:39:42.38\00:39:46.17
"If only you knew, I
am the gift of God. "
00:39:46.37\00:39:52.11
"For God so loved the world
He gave His only begotten Son. "
00:39:52.41\00:39:57.97
"I am the gift of God...
00:39:58.18\00:40:01.56
the Lamb who was slain from
the foundations of the world
00:40:01.86\00:40:06.30
who will take away
the sins of the world. "
00:40:06.60\00:40:09.73
Jesus Christ is
the greatest gift
00:40:10.03\00:40:14.73
God has ever given to humanity.
00:40:14.93\00:40:17.75
And God
demonstrated His love for us
00:40:18.05\00:40:20.37
in that while we were
yet sinners He sent Jesus.
00:40:20.57\00:40:24.25
Paul wrote to the Corinthians.
In I Corinthians 1:30
00:40:24.55\00:40:27.94
he said: "It is because
of Him" - because of God -
00:40:28.14\00:40:31.38
"that you are in Christ
Jesus who has" - Christ has -
00:40:31.58\00:40:36.56
"become our wisdom from God,
00:40:36.79\00:40:40.81
our righteousness...
our sanctification...
00:40:41.11\00:40:45.65
and our
redemption. " Hallelujah!
00:40:45.95\00:40:48.33
Christ in you is
your only hope of glory.
00:40:48.63\00:40:54.04
Your only hope of attaining
to the character of God.
00:40:54.34\00:40:59.15
So if Jesus is the
greatest gift, who is the second
00:40:59.45\00:41:03.82
greatest gift?
00:41:03.85\00:41:05.65
The Holy Spirit.
00:41:05.95\00:41:08.31
When... when... Turn to
Thessalonians chapter 2.
00:41:08.62\00:41:12.74
Just keep your finger there.
00:41:12.84\00:41:14.10
When Peter was preaching
on the Day of Pentecost
00:41:15.76\00:41:19.44
he said... And those who are
taking notes you might want to
00:41:19.74\00:41:22.59
just note this: Acts 2:38-39...
00:41:22.69\00:41:25.20
Peter said to the people:
"Repent and let every one of you
00:41:25.50\00:41:29.59
be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins
00:41:29.70\00:41:33.87
and you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:34.07\00:41:38.79
For the promise is for
you and to your children,
00:41:38.99\00:41:42.71
to all who are afar off...
00:41:43.01\00:41:44.50
as many as the Lord
our God will call. "
00:41:44.70\00:41:48.05
Later Peter wrote in I Peter 1:2
00:41:48.35\00:41:51.10
that we receive... He
says: "You are the elect
00:41:51.40\00:41:55.84
according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father
00:41:56.04\00:41:57.85
in sanctification of the Spirit
00:41:58.05\00:42:01.80
for obedience of Jesus Christ. "
00:42:02.00\00:42:06.29
Now let's look what Paul says.
00:42:06.69\00:42:09.14
II Thessalonians 2:13.
00:42:09.54\00:42:12.25
II Thessalonians 2:13.
00:42:12.45\00:42:15.31
Paul says: "We are bound
to give thanks to God always
00:42:17.29\00:42:22.25
for you brethren
beloved by the Lord
00:42:22.46\00:42:24.76
because God from the beginning
chose you for salvation
00:42:24.96\00:42:30.95
through sanctification
00:42:31.15\00:42:35.76
by the Spirit and
belief in the truth. "
00:42:35.96\00:42:39.69
Sanctification is what those
foolish virgins missed out on.
00:42:40.57\00:42:46.45
God sent Christ as
our wonderful gift.
00:42:48.32\00:42:53.00
He sent the Holy
Spirit. Doesn't it amaze you
00:42:53.20\00:42:56.54
that the Spirit
of the Living God
00:42:57.56\00:43:00.70
that God chose us to
be His living temples?
00:43:01.00\00:43:04.52
Hallelujah! And the sanctifying
activity of the Holy Spirit
00:43:04.82\00:43:09.53
leads to perfect
submission of the will of God.
00:43:09.73\00:43:14.22
Which is what? Your
sanctification and obedience
00:43:14.52\00:43:18.99
like Christ.
00:43:19.20\00:43:21.05
Romans 8. Why don't
you turn there very quickly
00:43:21.75\00:43:25.12
because I want to
show you this scripture.
00:43:25.22\00:43:27.12
Romans chapter 8.
00:43:27.32\00:43:28.96
See, what we're going to
see here in just a moment
00:43:29.97\00:43:32.87
Christ lives in
our hearts by faith.
00:43:34.47\00:43:37.49
We'll look at that scripture.
00:43:37.59\00:43:38.79
And His imparted
righteousness comes to us
00:43:39.09\00:43:43.38
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:43:43.58\00:43:46.11
And also one more
gift that we'll look at.
00:43:46.41\00:43:48.47
But let's continue
looking at the Holy Spirit.
00:43:48.67\00:43:51.79
Romans 8:13 says:
00:43:51.99\00:43:53.92
"If you live
according to the flesh... "
00:43:54.32\00:43:57.75
What's going to happen?
00:43:58.06\00:43:59.23
"you will die. "
00:43:59.54\00:44:00.54
If you're justified
and you continue to live
00:44:00.94\00:44:04.39
according to the flesh, what
do you think is going to happen?
00:44:04.59\00:44:06.55
"But if by the Spirit
you put to death the misdeeds
00:44:06.85\00:44:12.11
of your flesh... " and
notice, there's two parties here
00:44:12.21\00:44:16.07
working in cooperation...
00:44:16.37\00:44:18.52
It is by the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:44:18.82\00:44:21.43
but He's not going
to force you to do it...
00:44:21.63\00:44:23.33
It's you putting to death
the misdeeds of your flesh.
00:44:23.63\00:44:26.25
You can't do it on your own
00:44:26.45\00:44:28.28
any more than you could
change... a leopard can change
00:44:28.48\00:44:32.02
its spots. But by the
power of the Holy Spirit,
00:44:32.12\00:44:35.66
if you put to death
the misdeeds of your flesh
00:44:35.76\00:44:37.95
you will live. "For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God
00:44:38.15\00:44:42.41
these are the sons of God.
00:44:42.61\00:44:44.53
For you did not
receive the spirit of bondage
00:44:44.74\00:44:47.87
you came to fear but
you received the spirit of
00:44:48.07\00:44:50.41
adoption by whom we
cry out 'Abba, Father. ' "
00:44:50.51\00:44:53.93
Now turn to Ephesians chapter 3
00:44:54.24\00:44:57.00
because it is only by
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:44:57.30\00:45:01.41
that we can put to death
the misdeeds of our flesh.
00:45:01.61\00:45:05.61
And that's what sanctification's
all about, folks,
00:45:06.31\00:45:09.50
is putting to death
the misdeeds of our flesh.
00:45:09.80\00:45:12.22
Ephesians chapter 3.
00:45:12.72\00:45:15.97
We're going to look
at verses 16 through 20.
00:45:16.27\00:45:21.37
Paul writes to the Ephesians
saying that he's praying that
00:45:22.91\00:45:25.79
"He would grant you...
" - God would grant you -
00:45:25.99\00:45:28.66
"according to the
riches of His glory
00:45:28.86\00:45:31.07
to be strengthened with
might. " That's dunamis -
00:45:31.27\00:45:35.84
that's the
dynamite power of God.
00:45:36.04\00:45:38.38
"Strengthened with
might through... " Whom?
00:45:38.59\00:45:42.71
"Through His Spirit... " Where?
00:45:42.81\00:45:45.31
"In your inner man. That
Christ may dwell in your hearts
00:45:45.51\00:45:50.36
through faith. " It is
only when the Holy Spirit
00:45:50.56\00:45:54.17
is dwelling in you that
Christ can dwell in you.
00:45:54.37\00:45:58.49
And only then that you can
be rooted and grounded in love
00:45:59.98\00:46:04.01
"and may be able to comprehend
with all of the saints
00:46:04.21\00:46:07.76
what is the width, the
length, the depth, and height
00:46:07.96\00:46:10.91
to know the love of
Christ which passes knowledge
00:46:11.21\00:46:15.57
that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. "
00:46:15.87\00:46:19.73
So how is God gonna do this?
00:46:20.03\00:46:22.75
He's going to do it by the
power of His Holy Spirit in us.
00:46:23.05\00:46:27.44
And he goes on in
verse 20 and says:
00:46:27.64\00:46:29.14
"Oh, now to Him who
is able to do exceedingly
00:46:29.24\00:46:33.01
abundantly above all that
we would ask or think... "
00:46:33.31\00:46:36.37
How? "according to the
power that works in us. "
00:46:36.57\00:46:41.52
It is by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:46:41.82\00:46:45.03
Jesus is the #1 most
important gift of grace.
00:46:45.43\00:46:50.04
The Holy Spirit is God's
second greatest gift of grace.
00:46:50.35\00:46:54.86
What do you think might be the
third greatest gift of grace?
00:46:55.16\00:46:58.79
Turn to II Peter
if you will. II Peter.
00:46:59.10\00:47:02.39
The Bible says... Paul
wrote to Timothy and he says:
00:47:04.25\00:47:07.18
"All scripture is
given... " It is a gift to you.
00:47:07.38\00:47:11.02
"by inspiration of
God. It is profitable
00:47:11.22\00:47:13.62
for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction,
00:47:13.72\00:47:16.21
instruction of righteousness
that the man of God
00:47:16.41\00:47:19.31
may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work. "
00:47:19.51\00:47:22.99
But now look at
what this Word will do.
00:47:23.39\00:47:27.19
II Peter.
00:47:27.39\00:47:28.76
Why is this gift - this
wonderful gift of grace -
00:47:29.78\00:47:35.77
so powerful?
00:47:35.90\00:47:38.00
II Peter chapter 1.
Let's look at verses 3 and 4.
00:47:38.30\00:47:43.10
Peter writes and he
says: "His divine power... " -
00:47:45.52\00:47:49.35
God's divine power -
00:47:49.55\00:47:51.09
"has given to
us... " - by grace -
00:47:51.39\00:47:56.09
"all things...
" How many things?
00:47:56.39\00:47:59.41
"all things that
pertain to life and godliness
00:47:59.71\00:48:05.62
through the
knowledge of Him who called us
00:48:05.82\00:48:09.70
by glory and virtue
00:48:09.71\00:48:12.35
by which... " - by
His glory and virtue -
00:48:12.55\00:48:15.70
have been given to
us exceedingly great
00:48:15.90\00:48:19.60
and precious
promises so that... "
00:48:19.80\00:48:23.43
This is the reason why
He gave us His exceedingly
00:48:23.63\00:48:25.92
great and precious promises:
00:48:26.12\00:48:27.56
"so that through
these you may be partakers
00:48:27.96\00:48:33.86
of the divine nature
and escape the corruption
00:48:34.06\00:48:37.53
that is in the
world through lust. "
00:48:37.73\00:48:40.08
There is transforming
power in the Word of God.
00:48:40.48\00:48:46.46
James says in James
1:21 that when this Word
00:48:47.26\00:48:50.55
is planted in your
heart the implanted Word
00:48:50.75\00:48:54.46
has the power to save your soul.
00:48:54.66\00:48:59.69
Why? Why does the Psalmist say
00:49:01.19\00:49:04.11
"Thy Word I have
hidden in my heart
00:49:04.32\00:49:07.63
that I might not
sin against You. "
00:49:07.83\00:49:10.78
Paul wrote - I believe
that's I Corinthians 2:14-
00:49:12.18\00:49:15.87
he wrote to the
Corinthians saying:
00:49:16.17\00:49:19.43
"You have the mind of Christ. "
00:49:19.73\00:49:22.18
He's writing to all of us.
00:49:22.68\00:49:24.90
We have been given
the mind of Christ.
00:49:25.21\00:49:28.72
Here it is.
00:49:29.02\00:49:30.38
Every one of these words
was inspired by the Holy Spirit
00:49:30.68\00:49:34.96
as He recorded God's wishes.
00:49:35.26\00:49:37.71
And Jesus said in the garden:
00:49:37.91\00:49:40.45
"Oh, Lord, sanctify them. "
00:49:40.75\00:49:42.74
Set them apart from evil.
00:49:42.94\00:49:44.65
"Make them holy by Your truth.
00:49:44.95\00:49:48.16
Your Word is truth. "
00:49:48.36\00:49:49.48
So the sanctifying
power of the Holy Spirit
00:49:50.59\00:49:54.57
and the
sanctifying power of the Word
00:49:54.77\00:49:57.21
and the impart... is
how the righteousness of
00:49:57.41\00:50:01.46
Jesus Christ is imparted to us
00:50:01.66\00:50:04.41
and Christ lives in us by faith.
00:50:04.71\00:50:07.59
No wonder...
Can you see by grace
00:50:08.93\00:50:13.37
how God provides
His divine assistance
00:50:13.57\00:50:17.34
and His supernatural
power for salvation?
00:50:17.54\00:50:19.94
For your sanctification?
00:50:20.24\00:50:22.98
No wonder Paul heard
these words from Jesus:
00:50:23.28\00:50:28.55
"My grace is sufficient for you
00:50:28.85\00:50:33.55
for My power is made
perfect in your weakness. "
00:50:33.75\00:50:37.96
As we recognize
these gifts of grace
00:50:38.26\00:50:42.02
we begin to
recognize the effects of grace.
00:50:42.22\00:50:45.03
Through the gift of
Christ's overflowing life,
00:50:45.43\00:50:48.07
the transforming power of
the Holy Spirit, and the Word
00:50:48.17\00:50:51.40
God recreates us in His image.
00:50:52.26\00:50:55.63
Salvation belongs to God.
00:50:55.66\00:51:00.27
And now... When this begins
happening, we have the hope
00:51:00.57\00:51:04.82
of attaining the character
of Christ as we grow in grace...
00:51:05.02\00:51:10.09
as we mature in our
Christian experience.
00:51:10.59\00:51:13.50
Let me give you the definition
00:51:13.80\00:51:16.65
that as I studied out grace -
00:51:16.75\00:51:18.40
and I have spend many years
studying this to make sure...
00:51:18.60\00:51:21.32
God had to do a lot
to correct my beliefs -
00:51:21.72\00:51:24.58
divine grace we usually
say is "unmerited favor. "
00:51:24.88\00:51:30.06
Well what is that?
That's the unearned, undeserved
00:51:30.36\00:51:33.26
gift of God.
00:51:33.46\00:51:34.49
So we've just seen...
Did we do anything to deserve
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the gift of Jesus Christ? No.
00:51:38.05\00:51:39.76
Did we do anything to deserve
the gift of the Holy Spirit? No.
00:51:40.07\00:51:43.48
What did we do to deserve
that God would write to us
00:51:43.78\00:51:47.86
such a precious
love letter as His Bible?
00:51:48.06\00:51:50.22
See, divine grace is
the unearned, undeserved
00:51:50.52\00:51:55.73
gift of God bestowed
by a God of infinite love
00:51:55.93\00:51:59.88
that produce His
divine assistance
00:52:00.18\00:52:04.83
and supernatural
power of salvation.
00:52:05.03\00:52:08.30
That's why Paul said
in I Corinthians 15:10
00:52:08.60\00:52:11.83
"I am what I am
by the grace of God
00:52:12.03\00:52:16.08
and His grace for me was
not in vain, but I labored more
00:52:16.38\00:52:21.02
more abundantly than they all.
00:52:21.22\00:52:22.98
Yet not I, but the
grace of God that was in me. "
00:52:23.18\00:52:27.41
Turn to Titus 2.
00:52:27.71\00:52:30.26
Titus 2.
00:52:30.56\00:52:31.79
That's over there with the T's.
00:52:32.69\00:52:35.12
Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus.
00:52:35.32\00:52:37.78
Paul wrote this to Titus,
and I think it's important
00:52:38.19\00:52:42.59
for us to see
00:52:42.69\00:52:44.52
because there
is a very dangerous
00:52:44.82\00:52:49.36
encroachment in
our very own church.
00:52:49.56\00:52:52.03
We hear from time to time
00:52:53.11\00:52:55.76
that it is
being preached by some
00:52:55.96\00:52:59.09
that anyone who
mentions obedience is legalistic
00:52:59.29\00:53:04.19
and unlearned in grace.
00:53:04.29\00:53:06.08
Let me tell you something.
00:53:06.38\00:53:07.96
God is very serious about
purifying His people. Amen.
00:53:08.26\00:53:13.85
Let's look at Titus 2 and
we'll begin with verse 11.
00:53:14.15\00:53:18.16
In Titus 2:11 the Bible says
- Paul writes to Titus saying:
00:53:19.77\00:53:23.51
"For the grace of
God that brings salvation
00:53:23.71\00:53:27.07
has appeared to all
men teaching us... "
00:53:27.27\00:53:30.77
here's the lesson of grace -
00:53:30.97\00:53:32.99
"teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts
00:53:34.19\00:53:38.50
we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly
00:53:38.70\00:53:42.15
in the present age... "
00:53:42.35\00:53:43.72
Sounds like sanctification
to me. How about to you?
00:53:43.92\00:53:46.68
"looking for the blessed
hope and glorious appearing
00:53:46.98\00:53:52.30
of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ. "
00:53:52.50\00:53:55.60
See when Paul wrote and said:
"Work out your own salvation
00:53:56.20\00:54:00.74
in fear and trembling,
00:54:00.94\00:54:02.65
but not in your own strength
00:54:02.95\00:54:06.03
for it is God who works
in you to will and to do
00:54:06.23\00:54:09.33
according to
His good pleasure. "
00:54:09.53\00:54:11.24
What Paul was saying is
00:54:11.54\00:54:13.83
not only is
justification important -
00:54:14.23\00:54:17.87
being delivered
from the penalty of sin -
00:54:18.08\00:54:20.19
but Jesus Christ came to
destroy the works of the devil.
00:54:20.39\00:54:23.56
He came to sanctify us.
00:54:23.86\00:54:26.88
The Bible says we're
sanctified by His body,
00:54:27.18\00:54:29.95
by His blood. We're
sanctified by the Holy Spirit
00:54:30.16\00:54:33.43
for the purpose of
obedience to God's will.
00:54:33.73\00:54:36.96
We're sanctified by His Word.
00:54:37.26\00:54:39.35
So what we've got to do
is open our hearts and say:
00:54:39.66\00:54:43.36
"Lord, fill me
with Your Holy Spirit. "
00:54:43.46\00:54:45.72
Day by day. And
we've got to say: "Father,
00:54:45.73\00:54:48.94
help me to have an unquenchable
desire for Your Word.
00:54:49.14\00:54:52.28
Let me get these
promises in there.
00:54:52.58\00:54:54.71
Digest them,
hide them in my heart
00:54:54.91\00:54:57.12
that I may be
partaker of Your divine nature.
00:54:57.33\00:55:00.13
And let me work out
the salvation that You put
00:55:00.43\00:55:03.73
into my heart.
Not by my own power
00:55:03.93\00:55:07.06
but let me put to death
the misdeeds of my flesh
00:55:07.36\00:55:09.86
by the power of
the Holy Spirit. "
00:55:09.96\00:55:12.05
Now is the time to awaken to all
00:55:13.22\00:55:17.52
that God has to
give to us by grace.
00:55:17.72\00:55:21.37
Are you allowing God to develop
your full potential by grace?
00:55:21.60\00:55:26.87
Soon we will
hear the clarion call:
00:55:27.17\00:55:29.71
"Behold, the bridegroom comes. "
00:55:29.91\00:55:34.10
Will we be like
those wise virgins
00:55:34.40\00:55:38.99
who... yes, they slept... but
they had had a real experience
00:55:39.19\00:55:44.60
with Christ, with the
sanctification of salvation.
00:55:44.90\00:55:50.13
They had welcomed the
Holy Spirit into their heart.
00:55:50.43\00:55:54.50
They weren't yet perfected.
00:55:54.70\00:55:56.34
They may not have
been one of the 144,000
00:55:56.64\00:55:58.95
but they had a true
relationship with God.
00:55:59.15\00:56:03.27
So when the call came
00:56:03.57\00:56:06.62
how many of the virgins woke up?
00:56:06.82\00:56:08.45
All of them.
00:56:08.75\00:56:10.01
They all recognized and said:
00:56:10.85\00:56:12.91
"He's coming; He's coming! "
00:56:13.11\00:56:15.86
But it will
happen with a loud trump,
00:56:17.01\00:56:19.94
in the twinkling of an eye.
00:56:20.34\00:56:22.62
Every eye will see Him.
00:56:22.93\00:56:25.18
And there's not time at
that point to say: "Okay, Lord,
00:56:25.48\00:56:28.68
I'm one of those foolish ones
who never surrendered to You.
00:56:28.88\00:56:31.72
Yes, I prayed that prayer
before to ask for forgiveness
00:56:31.92\00:56:35.87
but, Lord, I never
did. I accepted Christ
00:56:35.97\00:56:40.08
as Savior but I never
accepted Him as Lord. "
00:56:40.28\00:56:42.93
Oh, please. I don't
know what your experience is
00:56:44.00\00:56:49.93
with salvation. Have you
experienced only justification
00:56:50.23\00:56:55.50
or have you
experienced sanctification?
00:56:55.80\00:56:59.77
Be like that wise virgin...
00:56:59.97\00:57:02.78
those wise virgins who
opened their hearts to God.
00:57:02.99\00:57:05.50
And it all comes by
tapping into His grace pipeline.
00:57:05.80\00:57:11.72
By faith...
trusting in the Lord...
00:57:11.92\00:57:15.42
understanding how
much He loves us...
00:57:15.72\00:57:19.40
and learning to walk
in the power of surrender
00:57:19.70\00:57:24.30
as God works in us to will
and to do His good pleasure.
00:57:24.61\00:57:28.72