Hello friends and welcome
to Spring 2013 Camp Meeting
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here at 3ABN. Want
you to know if you're
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just tuning in the
blessings have been immense.
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Can all of God's
people say "Amen" to that?
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Amen! We have been preached to.
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We have been
singing together... sung to.
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We have had some
wonderful teachings
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by Dr. Magna
Parks on topics that you
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really don't want to
miss. And if you've missed any,
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I encourage you to
try to get in touch with
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this information
by purchasing the DVDs
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later on after Camp Meeting.
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But I am your
speaker for this hour.
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It kind of seems self-
serving to introduce myself.
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But hey, the
reason I enjoy doing that
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is because I can make
my introduction very short
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so I can have more
time for my sermon.
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My name is John Lomacang
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and the message today
is entitled "False Armor. "
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We are living in some
very challenging times
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and the Lord wants us
to have on the only armor
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that will get us through
the trials that are ahead:
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the whole armor of God.
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Before I have the
opportunity also to sing a song
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that I feel really lays a
foundation for the message
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entitled False Armor.
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We can find the best
armor in the Word of God.
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And so this song that I'll
sing right after we have an
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opening word of prayer
will remind us that in a world
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where hearts are falling apart
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where people have
been disappointed in all
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the directions that they
have focused their attention
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if we focus our
eyes on the Word of God
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and find Christ His
Word will not fail us
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and His promises
will carry us through.
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So let's invite the
presence of the Lord
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to continue with us.
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Our heavenly Father, we
thank you that this afternoon,
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Lord, is a time to praise You,
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a time to focus hearts
in this challenging society.
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In a world that is
disintegrating around us
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and very few things that
we trust can be relied on
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for any length of time
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we thank you that You are
the same yesterday, today,
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and forever and we thank you
that Your Word never fails us.
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And so Lord today, help
us to put on the whole armor
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of God, look away from the
false things that disappoint
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and that bring
temporary excitement
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and help us to stand on the
foundation that will never fail:
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the Rock Christ Jesus.
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So be with us, Lord, and
bless us by Your presence
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and through the
power of Your Holy Spirit.
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In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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O soul,
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are you weary and troubled?
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No light in this darkness
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you see?
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There's light for a look at
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the Savior,
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and there's life more abundant
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and free!
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Turn your eyes
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upon Jesus,
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Look full in
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His wonderful face;
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And the things of earth
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will grow strangely dim
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In the light
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of His glory
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and grace.
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His word
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will not fail us
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He's promised;
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Believe it
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and all will be well:
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Then go to a world
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that is dying
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with His prefect salvation
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to tell!
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Turn your eyes
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upon Jesus,
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Look full in His
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wonderful face;
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And the things of earth
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will grow strangely dim
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In the light of His
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glory
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and grace...
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In the light
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of His glory
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and grace...
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In the light
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of God's glory
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and grace.
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Amen.
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If you have your Bibles
I'd like you to go with me
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to the book of Ephesians.
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Ephesians chapter 6.
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And the message is
entitled False Armor.
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Say that with me: False Armor.
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The text I'd like you to
focus on is Ephesians 6:11.
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And I'd like us to
read this together.
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Now because I only
have 50 minutes left
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I'm going to
preach like a New Yorker;
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I want you to listen
like a New Yorker. Is that OK?
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And if you miss
anything, get the DVD
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and play it all over again.
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I'm going to come
at you fast and furious
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and intense and
solidly based on God's Word.
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Is that all right? Let's
begin at the proper place.
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The Bible says: "Put
on the whole armor of God
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that you may be able
to stand against the wiles
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of the devil. "
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The New York
Times, January 7, 2006,
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under an article entitled
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The Pentagon Study links
fatalities to body armor.
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I discovered
that in this article
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a false sense of
security in battle was revealed.
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Just so I have not
committed this to memory
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I want to read the article
so that you can get it exactly
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how it was written
in the New York Times.
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It says as follows:
"A secret Pentagon study
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has found that as
many as 80% of the Marines
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who have been killed in Iraq
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from wounds to the upper body
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could have survived if
they had extra body armor. "
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But get this part:
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"Such armor has been
available since 2003. "
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It was available 'cause
this was written in 2006.
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"But until recently the
Pentagon has largely declined
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to supply it to the
troops despite repeated calls
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from the field for
additional protection
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according to military officials.
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The vulnerability of the
military body armor has been
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known since the
start of the war. "
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In other words, they
sent soldiers into the field
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with sub-standard body armor,
knowing it since the war began,
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and repeatedly
refusing to send body armor...
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even though they knew that
their soldiers were in jeopardy.
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It says: "The vulnerability
of the military's body armor
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has been known
since the start of the war
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and is part of a series of
problems that has surrounded
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the protection of
American troops. "
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And I'll repeat
again the statistics:
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80% of the
fatalities that occurred in Iraq
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could have been avoided if
the troops had been covered
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by the best armor.
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Eighty percent.
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That's a lot of fatalities that
we could have avoided. Amen?
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The armor was available
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but the request for
protection was denied.
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The weakness of the armor
was known since the war began.
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Now when I read that
article I immediately... with
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my preacher's mind I saw
that there was a spiritual
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parallel there.
Ever since the war began
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on earth between good and evil
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false armor has been given
to those living on the earth.
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Weak body armor.
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And the reason why fatalities
will increase in the end...
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the reason why there
will be so many that are lost
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as the Bible says in Revelation
"as the sands of the sea"
00:10:04.52\00:10:07.84
is because even Christians
are settling for false armor.
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Armor that is not
sufficient enough to protect us
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in this time of
intensifying battle.
00:10:17.98\00:10:20.39
I believe as we
get closer to the end
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the battle between light
and darkness, between truth
00:10:22.48\00:10:24.97
and error,
between Christ and Satan,
00:10:25.17\00:10:26.94
between good and evil
is going to intensify.
00:10:27.14\00:10:29.32
Do you believe that?
It's going to get worse!
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Thus it behooves us
that we have the best armor.
00:10:32.20\00:10:36.70
That's why Ephesians says: "Put
on the whole armor of God that
00:10:37.82\00:10:42.11
we may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil. "
00:10:42.25\00:10:44.90
Often times we read the
phrase by the apostle Paul
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"the wiles of the devil"
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and fail to
comprehend the deeper meaning.
00:10:49.46\00:10:51.22
Paul is not
talking about a wild devil
00:10:51.52\00:10:53.91
because Satan is very organized.
00:10:54.11\00:10:55.80
Satan is very strategic;
Satan is very patient.
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He waits for the proper time.
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He waits when his
prey is least suspecting.
00:11:01.35\00:11:04.12
He is not a wild
devil but a wily devil.
00:11:04.42\00:11:08.64
He looks at us... he studies us.
00:11:09.04\00:11:11.04
He has, I suggest to you today,
a file on every one of our
00:11:11.24\00:11:14.55
strengths and every
one of our weaknesses.
00:11:14.65\00:11:16.97
And he waits for
the most opportune time
00:11:18.13\00:11:20.66
to come at us
with his temptations.
00:11:20.96\00:11:23.37
He waits like
the boxer in the ring
00:11:23.68\00:11:27.96
when his
opponent is at his weakest
00:11:28.16\00:11:30.77
to hit him the hardest.
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I decided to study that
word "the wiles of the devil"
00:11:34.66\00:11:37.46
and in the dictionary
I discovered these words
00:11:37.66\00:11:42.22
are synonymous
to the word wiles:
00:11:42.42\00:11:44.84
Trickery, a con, a
hoax, a scam, a ploy,
00:11:45.04\00:11:50.81
a stunt,
deception, and subterfuge.
00:11:51.01\00:11:54.82
In other words, things
that really don't appear the way
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they really are, coming at you
from an angle that you are not
00:11:58.12\00:12:01.49
suspecting of. Conning you
when you are completely unaware
00:12:01.59\00:12:05.38
that you're falling for it.
00:12:05.58\00:12:06.95
And then my mind took me
back to that 1949 cartoon
00:12:07.03\00:12:10.26
called The Road
Runner. Anybody remember that?
00:12:10.57\00:12:13.51
Wile E. Coyote.
00:12:14.40\00:12:16.24
I said: "Wile E... "
Then all of a sudden you know
00:12:16.44\00:12:18.63
I'm admitting I'm a little older
than some of the young folk
00:12:19.03\00:12:21.73
that are around here.
00:12:21.93\00:12:23.30
But I remember watching that
cartoon. It came out in 1949.
00:12:24.17\00:12:28.86
It was called Wile E.
Coyote before they called it
00:12:28.96\00:12:31.39
The Road Runner. And it was
put together by Looney Tunes.
00:12:31.49\00:12:34.86
Anything put together by
something called Looney Tunes
00:12:35.06\00:12:37.19
you should question
whether or not to watch it.
00:12:37.29\00:12:38.97
Looney Tunes.
00:12:39.27\00:12:40.80
But in each of the
episodes Wile E. Coyote
00:12:41.10\00:12:43.86
used elaborate
plans - listen carefully -
00:12:44.06\00:12:47.11
and complex devices
00:12:47.41\00:12:49.68
to pursue his
enemies... to pursue his prey.
00:12:49.88\00:12:53.01
The intention was
to get the Road Runner
00:12:53.41\00:12:56.93
to fall into a trap that would
result in his own destruction.
00:12:57.07\00:13:01.81
I suggest to you today
00:13:02.11\00:13:04.37
that Satan is
using elaborate devices
00:13:04.57\00:13:07.24
and complex contraptions.
00:13:07.44\00:13:10.27
He's using elaborate plans,
00:13:10.57\00:13:12.93
and his intent is to try
to trap us into falling into
00:13:13.13\00:13:17.66
something that will
result in our own destruction.
00:13:17.86\00:13:21.02
Thus, it's important that we
put on the whole armor of God.
00:13:21.32\00:13:25.69
Peter said it well in
I Peter 5 and verse 8.
00:13:25.90\00:13:28.27
You can turn there with
me but I'm going to read it
00:13:28.37\00:13:29.74
as you're turning.
He said: "Be sober. "
00:13:29.80\00:13:32.52
Say that word
together with me. Sober.
00:13:32.72\00:13:34.24
"Be sober, be vigilant
because your adversary the devil
00:13:34.44\00:13:38.35
walketh about like a roaring
lion seeking whom he may...
00:13:38.45\00:13:43.45
devour. "
00:13:43.65\00:13:45.02
Roaring lion.
00:13:45.27\00:13:46.71
I learned something
years ago from Elder Brooks.
00:13:46.91\00:13:49.06
And every time I read that text
I fail not to represent that,
00:13:49.26\00:13:52.54
to mention that. He
said: "In the jungle the lion
00:13:52.64\00:13:55.48
that roars is the male lion.
00:13:55.68\00:13:57.55
The male lion roars and you
hear the roar in that direction
00:13:57.85\00:14:01.24
and then which
direction do you run?
00:14:01.54\00:14:03.26
In the opposite direction...
00:14:03.56\00:14:04.93
and the female is there
to collect the groceries. "
00:14:05.11\00:14:07.66
She doesn't roar.
He roars from the chest
00:14:08.78\00:14:12.23
in such a body-shaking roar
00:14:12.33\00:14:16.40
that you run as fast as
you can. And the female lion is
00:14:16.60\00:14:20.22
waiting there with her
basket to collect the groceries.
00:14:20.42\00:14:23.25
That's why when you
hear the roar of a lion
00:14:23.65\00:14:25.99
you've got to stand still and
see the salvation of the Lord.
00:14:26.19\00:14:29.56
Don't always run.
You've got to stand firm
00:14:30.41\00:14:33.61
in the promises of Christ.
00:14:33.81\00:14:35.18
Ellen White says in
Great Controversy page 593-
00:14:35.36\00:14:38.24
this is an amazing
quotation - she says:
00:14:38.54\00:14:40.38
"Satan employs
every possible device
00:14:41.70\00:14:44.82
to prevent men from
obtaining a knowledge
00:14:45.12\00:14:47.71
of the Bible, for it's
plain utterances reveal
00:14:47.82\00:14:51.67
his deception. " Why would
he want us to study our Bibles
00:14:51.87\00:14:55.67
if it reveals his deception?
00:14:55.87\00:14:57.68
"This is the best blueprint...
00:14:57.98\00:14:59.95
this is the best
battle plan that we have:
00:15:00.16\00:15:02.82
to fortify our minds
with the protection we need
00:15:03.02\00:15:06.37
against the
wiles of the devil. "
00:15:06.57\00:15:08.34
She goes on to say:
"None but those who have
00:15:08.64\00:15:12.38
fortified the mind
with the truths of the Bible
00:15:12.58\00:15:15.18
will stand through
the last great conflict. "
00:15:15.38\00:15:18.30
Do you know why?
Because they've spent time not
00:15:18.40\00:15:20.89
with the devices that have...
preventing them from obtaining
00:15:21.03\00:15:24.83
a knowledge of the Bible
but they've spent their time
00:15:24.93\00:15:27.27
with the Bible.
Amen somebody. Amen.
00:15:27.47\00:15:29.59
Bible study... something
that's kind of getting old.
00:15:29.62\00:15:32.97
In a generation where
they expect things to respond
00:15:34.13\00:15:36.70
in a nanosecond,
in a millisecond,
00:15:36.80\00:15:39.65
we can click our
devices... And I'm a gadgetarian
00:15:39.85\00:15:42.37
and I always say that...
but I still love something
00:15:42.57\00:15:45.50
that has never lost
its inspiration to me.
00:15:45.60\00:15:47.59
I still love studying the
Bible by turnings its pages.
00:15:47.79\00:15:50.89
Amen? Amen. I mean, you
cannot find that in any device.
00:15:51.09\00:15:54.26
I've got it on my iPad.
I've got all the translations,
00:15:54.46\00:15:56.67
I've got all the commentaries,
00:15:56.77\00:15:58.67
I've got all of
Ellen White's writings...
00:15:58.87\00:16:00.24
but nothing
replaces feeling the Bible.
00:16:00.27\00:16:03.72
It's like sword
fighting with an iPad.
00:16:04.02\00:16:05.92
You can see the sword
there but you've seen an iPad.
00:16:07.26\00:16:09.53
You know, paper tigers
are just that... paper tigers.
00:16:09.93\00:16:13.53
We need to be
able to feel the armor.
00:16:13.73\00:16:15.73
And by the way, do
you know that in the...
00:16:15.93\00:16:17.73
in the armor of God the
only piece of the weapon
00:16:17.93\00:16:21.63
that is offensive is the Word
of God: the sword of the Spirit.
00:16:21.84\00:16:25.76
Everything else
is for protection.
00:16:25.89\00:16:27.26
If you don't know how to use
your Bible, you have no weapon
00:16:27.35\00:16:29.93
to fight against the
enemy in times of battle.
00:16:30.43\00:16:33.86
You will be defenseless.
00:16:34.17\00:16:35.93
That's why Wednesday
night Bible study is so vitally
00:16:36.43\00:16:38.76
important. That's why every
time the Word of God is studied
00:16:38.86\00:16:41.48
the people of
God should be there.
00:16:41.68\00:16:43.38
Regardless of
who the presenter is
00:16:43.78\00:16:46.52
if we're looking at the
Word of God as Jesus speaking
00:16:46.72\00:16:49.46
to us directly we will always
find that there is a blessing
00:16:49.56\00:16:52.98
available for us.
00:16:53.08\00:16:54.45
Some people say: "Who's giving
the Bible study tonight? "
00:16:54.53\00:16:56.64
That should never
be the question. Amen?
00:16:56.74\00:16:58.39
"Who's giving
the study tonight? "
00:16:58.80\00:17:00.40
No, it should be: "Are they
reading from the Word of God? "
00:17:00.60\00:17:03.33
If they're studying
God's Word and we are connected
00:17:03.67\00:17:06.33
with God's Word,
we will always find
00:17:06.43\00:17:08.77
that God always has a
message to communicate to us
00:17:08.97\00:17:13.01
when we are
studying His love letter
00:17:13.21\00:17:15.37
to the people that He loves.
00:17:15.57\00:17:17.40
In the final showdown
between heaven and hell -
00:17:18.72\00:17:21.38
it's on the horizon right
now - the most intense battle
00:17:21.58\00:17:24.44
to face this planet is
now in its planning stages
00:17:24.64\00:17:27.59
and Satan is using subterfuge,
scams, trickery, and deception.
00:17:27.79\00:17:32.76
And he's aiming it at
the Christian churches
00:17:33.06\00:17:35.24
and many Christians
are becoming casualties
00:17:35.44\00:17:38.00
because they are
settling for false armor.
00:17:38.20\00:17:41.48
Go to I Timothy with me... I
Timothy chapter 4 and verse 1.
00:17:41.78\00:17:44.92
I'm going to outline five
things in just a brief moment
00:17:45.32\00:17:48.68
that you've got to remember
00:17:48.88\00:17:50.32
and I'm going to go
through them quite rapidly.
00:17:50.52\00:17:52.72
But they're going to be on
the screen so you won't miss it.
00:17:52.92\00:17:54.84
So get a pen and paper ready.
I'm going to give you 5 points
00:17:55.14\00:17:57.99
that indicate whether or
not you are being affected
00:17:58.30\00:18:00.83
by false armor. I
Timothy 4 talks about
00:18:00.93\00:18:03.82
the conditions of the
last days. He says in verse 1:
00:18:04.02\00:18:06.57
"Now the Spirit expressly says
00:18:06.97\00:18:09.86
that in the latter times
some will depart from the faith
00:18:10.06\00:18:14.93
giving heed... " To
what kind of spirits?
00:18:15.13\00:18:17.42
"seducing and deceiving spirits
00:18:17.72\00:18:20.67
and doctrines of demons. "
00:18:20.87\00:18:24.02
Now just think
about that for a moment.
00:18:25.25\00:18:27.12
Doctrines of demons.
00:18:27.33\00:18:30.72
To go even further
there are some churches
00:18:31.12\00:18:34.23
that claim not to
teach doctrines at all.
00:18:34.43\00:18:36.96
And as you see on the
screen, evidence #1 that you are
00:18:40.16\00:18:43.33
surrounded by
false armor is this:
00:18:43.53\00:18:46.49
the claim not to teach doctrine
00:18:46.69\00:18:50.98
is false armor evidence #1.
00:18:51.18\00:18:55.46
Do you know the word
doctrine what it means?
00:18:59.56\00:19:01.49
It simply means teachings.
00:19:01.69\00:19:03.19
Jesus repeatedly referred
to the importance of doctrine.
00:19:04.39\00:19:07.64
Some people have
taken that word "doctrine"
00:19:07.85\00:19:09.81
and made the word
doctrine into a doctrine itself.
00:19:10.01\00:19:13.16
So they say: "We
don't teach that doctrine
00:19:13.47\00:19:15.43
or we don't teach
doctrine at all because doctrine
00:19:15.63\00:19:17.65
is divisive. "
Doctrine is not divisive.
00:19:17.75\00:19:20.44
Doctrine does not
divide... it reveals.
00:19:20.64\00:19:23.26
And so if a church
claims not to teach doctrine...
00:19:24.45\00:19:27.39
not to teach doctrine at all,
00:19:27.59\00:19:29.51
that's a church
that you should avoid.
00:19:29.72\00:19:31.94
I remember one of
our members that came...
00:19:32.24\00:19:35.06
because a member here. I
may have told this story.
00:19:35.36\00:19:37.12
I've told so many stories
I can keep up with the ones
00:19:37.42\00:19:39.59
that I'm telling. But
they're all true. Amen for that!
00:19:39.69\00:19:41.83
And he told the story about
he was standing next to his
00:19:43.11\00:19:45.63
pastor's Bible and he saw
his pastor's Bible highlighted
00:19:45.73\00:19:48.94
with yellow all
over. And he was so excited
00:19:49.04\00:19:51.55
that his pastor was a
very deep Bible student.
00:19:51.75\00:19:55.37
And he said to his pastor:
'I notice that you have your
00:19:55.67\00:19:58.09
very highlighted in yellow
in so many different places. "
00:19:58.29\00:20:01.72
He said: "Have you
studied all that? "
00:20:01.92\00:20:03.55
He said: "Oh no.
When I went to seminary
00:20:03.65\00:20:05.38
those parts that are highlighted
00:20:05.58\00:20:07.68
I was told
never to talk about. "
00:20:07.99\00:20:10.42
I won't tell you
what denomination.
00:20:12.03\00:20:13.55
I want to be respectful.
00:20:13.75\00:20:15.12
And he and his wife showed
up here on a Wednesday night
00:20:15.25\00:20:17.86
and he said: "That the reason
why we're here. " Amen somebody?
00:20:18.16\00:20:21.14
Amen! See we teach
doctrine but we keep it centered
00:20:21.34\00:20:23.70
on Christ. What
do you say? Amen!
00:20:23.80\00:20:25.27
Doctrine without Christ
is nothing but... is like...
00:20:25.47\00:20:28.81
is like truth
without the Spirit.
00:20:29.01\00:20:30.76
As the Bible says,
we must worship the Lord
00:20:30.96\00:20:33.28
"in Spirit and in
truth. " Somebody once said:
00:20:33.38\00:20:35.79
"Too much Spirit... you blow up;
00:20:35.99\00:20:38.44
too much truth you dry up;
00:20:38.74\00:20:40.46
but when you put them
both together you grow up. "
00:20:40.86\00:20:44.20
"In Spirit and in truth. "
00:20:44.61\00:20:46.60
But the Bible warns
us how important it is
00:20:47.75\00:20:50.64
to not accept false armor.
00:20:50.94\00:20:53.04
Go with me to I
Samuel chapter 17.
00:20:53.14\00:20:55.31
I know you know where that
is. Turn there very quickly.
00:20:55.51\00:20:56.99
I Samuel 17:38-39.
00:20:57.19\00:21:00.11
Notice how the Bible
talks about how important it is
00:21:00.31\00:21:03.30
for us to have armor
that we have tried ourselves.
00:21:03.50\00:21:06.08
You know you can't win
with somebody else's armor.
00:21:07.09\00:21:09.09
I think you
know where I'm going.
00:21:09.29\00:21:10.66
Some of you are theologically
sound. You know exactly where
00:21:10.69\00:21:12.97
I'm headed. If you
haven't tested it for yourself,
00:21:13.07\00:21:15.99
don't put it on
and don't accept it.
00:21:16.20\00:21:18.30
And it must be
tested by the Word of God.
00:21:18.70\00:21:20.97
I Samuel 17:38 reads as follows:
00:21:21.27\00:21:23.92
"So Saul clothed
David with his armor
00:21:24.12\00:21:28.03
and he put a bronze
helmet on his head. "
00:21:28.33\00:21:32.15
That is, he put his
bronze helmet on David's head.
00:21:32.45\00:21:35.53
"He also clothed
him with a coat of mail.
00:21:35.73\00:21:38.94
David fastened his
sword to his armor... "
00:21:40.24\00:21:42.55
That is he fastened
Saul's sword and tried to walk.
00:21:42.65\00:21:45.98
"for he had not tested them.
00:21:46.08\00:21:49.11
And David said to Saul:
'I cannot walk with these
00:21:49.41\00:21:52.22
for I have not tested them. '
So David... " Did what, church?
00:21:52.25\00:21:56.87
He "took them off. "
00:21:57.17\00:21:59.15
If somebody tries to sell
you something that has not been
00:21:59.35\00:22:02.42
tested, take it off.
Come on... say "Amen" to that.
00:22:02.62\00:22:05.06
Don't even put it on!
00:22:05.26\00:22:06.71
Notice the context here.
00:22:07.11\00:22:09.38
Saul was trying to
put his armor on David
00:22:09.58\00:22:13.04
and Paul says: "Put on
the whole armor of God. "
00:22:13.24\00:22:17.32
You cannot put on
your mother's armor.
00:22:17.52\00:22:19.13
You can't put on
the deacon's armor.
00:22:19.33\00:22:20.89
You can't put on your
husband or your wife's armor.
00:22:21.19\00:22:23.05
You've got to
have your own armor
00:22:23.25\00:22:24.75
and that armor is
furnished by nobody else
00:22:24.95\00:22:27.40
than the best armor maker
I've ever known: Jesus Christ.
00:22:27.80\00:22:31.07
"Put on the
whole armor of God. "
00:22:31.38\00:22:33.42
We are told to test
all things and hold fast
00:22:33.72\00:22:37.62
to that which is good.
00:22:37.72\00:22:39.81
And so today, when you
go to different churches
00:22:40.12\00:22:42.37
and different movements,
I've discovered something
00:22:42.47\00:22:44.64
very important.
When somebody is afraid
00:22:44.74\00:22:47.75
to test what he
believes or she believes
00:22:47.86\00:22:50.16
that's evidence
that the armor is false.
00:22:50.36\00:22:52.70
When the Bible does not
support what someone believes
00:22:55.01\00:22:58.16
it's also an evidence
that the armor is false.
00:22:58.95\00:23:04.02
You've got to have Bible
support for what you believe.
00:23:04.32\00:23:07.64
Amen? Nowadays
doctrines are coming from
00:23:07.84\00:23:11.48
all different directions
and all different schools...
00:23:11.58\00:23:14.30
even schools of philosophy.
00:23:14.50\00:23:17.21
In an article... and I don't
want to give you the person's
00:23:17.61\00:23:20.11
name because this
person is a contemporary.
00:23:20.21\00:23:22.37
But if you look up the
article it's called Four Ways
00:23:22.57\00:23:25.92
Christians Are Being Deceived.
00:23:26.12\00:23:28.37
The article was
first published in 1990
00:23:28.57\00:23:30.99
and then
published again in 2010.
00:23:31.19\00:23:33.36
And I found amazing the four
points that were brought out
00:23:33.56\00:23:37.10
by this writer in the Four Ways
00:23:37.30\00:23:39.16
That Christians
Are Being Deceived.
00:23:39.36\00:23:41.36
The first one
he talked about was
00:23:42.02\00:23:44.31
our second evidence.
00:23:44.61\00:23:46.46
Let me follow this very
carefully and make it very clear
00:23:54.46\00:23:57.09
to you: Accepting
the repackaged lie.
00:23:57.19\00:23:59.89
Let's go back to
the very beginning.
00:24:00.09\00:24:01.47
Did Satan tell
Eve the truth or not?
00:24:01.77\00:24:03.99
Huh?
00:24:04.59\00:24:06.12
He lied to her!
00:24:06.32\00:24:07.69
The Bible says he is
"the father of lies. "
00:24:07.72\00:24:10.37
And not only that, he
is the author of confusion.
00:24:10.57\00:24:13.33
So he lied to Eve
in the very beginning.
00:24:13.53\00:24:15.91
Get the context: Eve is a woman.
The woman represents the church.
00:24:17.05\00:24:20.54
He is lying to the
church even still today.
00:24:20.84\00:24:23.84
There is a particular practice
that finds its home in many
00:24:24.42\00:24:27.95
Christian circles.
It's called neo-paganism.
00:24:28.05\00:24:30.44
Say that with
me... neo-paganism.
00:24:30.64\00:24:33.38
I know some of you
had a really good lunch
00:24:33.48\00:24:35.39
but right now you've
got to battle that lunch.
00:24:35.59\00:24:37.76
Let the lunch be digested...
don't let you be digested!
00:24:38.06\00:24:41.29
Want you to
catch what I'm saying.
00:24:41.69\00:24:43.28
Neo-paganism. And
what neo-paganism...
00:24:43.68\00:24:46.54
Because we use these big
phrases. When people go home
00:24:46.64\00:24:48.64
and for weeks later
they are trying to figure out
00:24:48.75\00:24:50.12
what neo-paganism is.
00:24:50.19\00:24:51.65
Let me make it very clear.
Neo-paganism in short is this:
00:24:51.85\00:24:55.10
the claim to be spiritual
while not being scriptural.
00:24:55.53\00:25:01.34
The claim to be spiritual
while not being scriptural.
00:25:02.57\00:25:07.98
There are many people that
claim they have high levels of
00:25:08.28\00:25:10.87
spirituality, but the
Bible says in the last days
00:25:10.97\00:25:13.86
the evidences of that
happening to the world
00:25:14.16\00:25:16.82
and to the
churches is simply this:
00:25:17.02\00:25:18.73
"having a form of godliness
00:25:18.93\00:25:22.79
but denying the power thereof. "
00:25:23.00\00:25:25.99
There are those individuals
that "Oh man, my nature's real
00:25:27.05\00:25:30.10
spiritual. " You
give people Bible studies
00:25:30.20\00:25:32.21
and they say they
are very spiritual.
00:25:32.24\00:25:33.61
What always amazes me is
how do people that are so
00:25:33.89\00:25:36.03
spiritual not want
to study the Bible?
00:25:36.13\00:25:38.11
Have you noticed that?
00:25:41.02\00:25:42.39
And people will say...
Well you show them what the
00:25:43.36\00:25:47.10
Word of God says
and then they'll say:
00:25:47.26\00:25:48.86
"Well I'm going to
wait for the Holy Spirit
00:25:49.06\00:25:51.67
to convince me of that. "
00:25:51.97\00:25:53.63
"I'm going to wait for
God to reveal it to me. "
00:25:54.63\00:25:57.94
Kind of like the guy on
his roof and it's flooding
00:25:58.24\00:26:00.57
and they send a helicopter
and he says: "I'm waiting
00:26:00.77\00:26:02.91
for help. "
00:26:03.11\00:26:05.45
You know the story. I
think I did it backwards.
00:26:06.55\00:26:08.60
First it was a canoe...
00:26:09.00\00:26:10.39
First it was somebody
on the ground, and a canoe
00:26:10.59\00:26:13.43
and then the helicopter.
And he says: "I'm praying
00:26:13.53\00:26:15.17
for God to deliver me. "
00:26:15.27\00:26:16.88
All the
evidences are very clear.
00:26:17.18\00:26:18.65
Let me make it very clear.
If it's from the Word of God,
00:26:18.85\00:26:21.46
it is imbued by the
power and the direction
00:26:21.66\00:26:26.63
of God's Holy Spirit.
00:26:26.83\00:26:28.58
If it's in the Bible, it's there
because all scripture is given
00:26:28.88\00:26:33.26
by inspiration of God.
00:26:33.46\00:26:35.49
So if somebody says to you:
"You know, I know what it says.
00:26:35.79\00:26:39.00
I know what it teaches, but I'm
waiting for the Holy Spirit. "
00:26:39.20\00:26:42.47
And then there's some people...
And I'm always leery about
00:26:42.77\00:26:45.64
phrases like this. And this
is part of the neo-paganistic
00:26:45.74\00:26:48.69
terminologies nowadays.
00:26:48.89\00:26:50.47
"You know, the
Spirit just told me. "
00:26:50.67\00:26:52.36
And that's supposed to
override what the Bible teaches.
00:26:52.66\00:26:55.53
There are lots of
people on television.
00:26:55.73\00:26:57.84
"Oh, God just gave
me a message for you. "
00:26:58.05\00:27:00.00
You'd better run
north if they're hanging out
00:27:01.73\00:27:04.55
in the south. Amen?
Be careful, because if it
00:27:04.65\00:27:07.27
doesn't measure up to the
Word of God it's nothing more
00:27:07.37\00:27:10.05
than neo-paganism
claiming to be spiritual
00:27:10.25\00:27:13.11
but not scriptural at all.
00:27:14.22\00:27:16.51
And then the ideology
of neo-paganism is this:
00:27:16.81\00:27:19.61
your beliefs and my
beliefs are no different...
00:27:19.82\00:27:22.16
result in the
salvation of both of us.
00:27:22.36\00:27:24.92
So some people say:
"I don't have to believe
00:27:25.22\00:27:26.59
what you believe
but I'm saved too! "
00:27:26.63\00:27:28.22
And I'm only asking
myself the question:
00:27:28.62\00:27:30.38
"Your driving directions
are different than mine
00:27:30.59\00:27:33.38
and we're both
going the same place? "
00:27:33.48\00:27:35.31
And for people that
don't think it's important
00:27:39.23\00:27:42.07
to have the right directions
00:27:42.27\00:27:43.65
tell that to the pilot
next time you take a flight.
00:27:43.95\00:27:46.42
"I just enjoy the flight...
00:27:48.08\00:27:49.45
I don't really care
where you're going. "
00:27:49.57\00:27:51.22
And they always say
when the door is closed:
00:27:51.62\00:27:53.91
"If your final
destination is not Seattle,
00:27:54.11\00:27:57.06
this is a good
time to get off. "
00:27:57.26\00:27:59.05
You see: if you don't
care about your destination,
00:28:00.18\00:28:03.21
then just go to the
airport and hang out!
00:28:03.41\00:28:05.56
But I do care about my
destination. Anybody else?
00:28:05.96\00:28:08.85
I want to get to heaven.
00:28:09.35\00:28:10.72
I don't want to just
hang out in Christianity
00:28:10.75\00:28:12.37
and end up being lost.
00:28:12.47\00:28:13.84
They also say in
neo-paganistic circles
00:28:14.88\00:28:17.77
"We serve the same
God... all that matters
00:28:18.07\00:28:21.95
is that we just love the Lord. "
00:28:22.26\00:28:24.37
And you say: "If you love
Me, keep My commandments. "
00:28:26.65\00:28:28.67
"Well, that's
your interpretation. "
00:28:28.77\00:28:30.15
And I ask myself: "How many
ways can you read that text? "
00:28:31.59\00:28:35.68
But the Lord knew this
was coming. Isaiah 4 verse 1
00:28:36.08\00:28:39.27
"And in that day seven
women shall take hold of one man
00:28:39.57\00:28:42.50
and this is what they'll
say: 'We will eat our own bread.
00:28:42.70\00:28:46.66
We'll wear our own apparel.
00:28:46.86\00:28:49.15
Only let us be called by
your name' - Christian label -
00:28:49.35\00:28:53.13
'to take away our reproach. ' "
00:28:53.33\00:28:54.98
Our own bread...
our own doctrine.
00:28:55.18\00:28:57.38
Our own apparel...
our own righteousness.
00:28:57.58\00:28:59.72
Our own level of...
"I'm right; you're right.
00:28:59.92\00:29:02.50
I'm righteous; you're righteous.
It doesn't really matter. "
00:29:02.71\00:29:04.78
That's why the people of
God must remember that God has
00:29:06.49\00:29:09.59
called us for a special
purpose and a special time.
00:29:09.69\00:29:12.89
I say this with respect to all
Christians but I must say this:
00:29:13.29\00:29:16.99
"If God has revealed to you
a clear message and you choose
00:29:17.82\00:29:22.55
not to communicate it,
00:29:22.75\00:29:24.84
and you choose not to give
the trumpet a certain sound,
00:29:25.04\00:29:27.75
the people that should
be warned are not warned
00:29:27.95\00:29:30.85
and their blood is
required at your hand. "
00:29:31.05\00:29:33.76
Isn't that right?
00:29:33.87\00:29:35.57
God has given this church
a message, and it's too late
00:29:35.87\00:29:37.85
for us to think that we
could preach the same message
00:29:38.05\00:29:40.75
that every other church preaches
00:29:40.85\00:29:42.24
and still be faithful to the
call of God on our lives. Amen?
00:29:42.45\00:29:45.90
That's very simple. There's
lots of things we can share
00:29:46.20\00:29:49.41
but when you
preach the Word of God
00:29:49.61\00:29:52.88
you've got to remember what
they say when you stand in the
00:29:53.08\00:29:55.94
court 'cause one day we are all
going to stand before the Judge.
00:29:56.04\00:29:58.78
What do they say?
00:29:58.98\00:30:00.35
"Do you solemnly
swear to tell... " What?
00:30:00.43\00:30:02.49
"the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth. "
00:30:02.79\00:30:05.89
That's the call that God
has placed on this church.
00:30:06.29\00:30:09.83
What do you say? Amen!
00:30:10.03\00:30:11.40
And by the way, that call
is placed on all Christians.
00:30:11.60\00:30:14.01
Whether or not
you accept that call
00:30:14.31\00:30:15.93
determines where you end up.
00:30:16.03\00:30:17.75
The whole truth and
nothing but the truth.
00:30:18.16\00:30:21.73
Those that are
claiming to be on another road
00:30:22.03\00:30:24.57
I like one of the programs
I saw... I don't necessarily
00:30:24.77\00:30:27.16
like it but I like the
response one of the viewers had
00:30:27.27\00:30:29.61
when they watched a very
famous person on television.
00:30:29.81\00:30:32.39
I won't tell you
what her name is.
00:30:32.59\00:30:34.39
But she once
said to the audience:
00:30:34.69\00:30:38.18
"There are many ways to God. "
00:30:38.38\00:30:40.07
Neo-paganism. "There
are many ways to God. "
00:30:40.27\00:30:43.17
And a Christian lady
stood up in the audience
00:30:44.29\00:30:48.75
and said: "No, there
are not many ways to God.
00:30:48.95\00:30:51.13
There's only one way to
God and that's through Jesus. "
00:30:51.33\00:30:53.18
And then the talk show hostess
said: "Well how can you say that
00:30:53.48\00:30:57.35
when so many people are
finding God different ways? "
00:30:57.55\00:30:59.71
And she said: "I'm
sorry. Just because you say
00:30:59.91\00:31:01.79
that that's not the way
Jesus said: 'I am the Way;
00:31:01.99\00:31:04.33
I am the Truth; I am the Life
00:31:04.53\00:31:06.37
and no one comes to the
Father except through Me. ' "
00:31:06.57\00:31:10.64
And so in respect of all of
the smorgasbord of Christianity,
00:31:11.77\00:31:15.50
all of the
different labels of religion
00:31:15.80\00:31:18.25
in all of its innumerable forms,
00:31:18.46\00:31:20.29
Jesus is still the
only way to the Father.
00:31:20.49\00:31:23.75
Evidence #3... evidence #3:
00:31:26.88\00:31:29.84
Blurred distinctions.
00:31:37.93\00:31:40.48
Wednesday night you know
we have a Bible study here.
00:31:41.36\00:31:44.06
Live every Wednesday night 7
o'clock Central Time on 3ABN.
00:31:44.26\00:31:47.35
That's not an advertisement.
7 o'clock Central Time 3ABN.
00:31:47.65\00:31:51.58
Live Bible study.
00:31:51.88\00:31:53.49
Now it's called A Sharper Focus.
00:31:53.69\00:31:56.33
This fits into
my point right here.
00:31:56.63\00:31:59.40
Why is it
called A Sharper Focus?
00:31:59.70\00:32:01.07
Because if a picture
is out of focus you cannot
00:32:01.34\00:32:03.73
do anything with it
once that picture's taken.
00:32:03.94\00:32:05.80
You cannot
focus a blurry picture
00:32:06.10\00:32:08.92
no matter what tools
you use on the Internet.
00:32:09.02\00:32:12.47
There are no tools that
can focus a blurry picture.
00:32:12.77\00:32:18.34
You've got to make sure it's in
focus before you take the shot.
00:32:19.47\00:32:23.20
In the very same way,
Christians are accepting
00:32:23.70\00:32:27.60
teachings that
are blurred at best.
00:32:27.80\00:32:30.66
Listen to what this individual
included in the article.
00:32:30.96\00:32:33.66
Listen very carefully.
00:32:33.96\00:32:35.33
He pointed out that the message
and the priorities of the church
00:32:35.52\00:32:39.95
are becoming indistinguishable
from the world.
00:32:40.15\00:32:43.84
He said: "I can't tell whether
that is being put on by the
00:32:44.24\00:32:47.59
world or being put
on by the church. "
00:32:47.69\00:32:50.28
I went to a
Christian concert once
00:32:52.28\00:32:54.44
and it was
sponsored by Budweiser.
00:32:54.74\00:32:57.16
Now who was putting on?
This is what I was shocked with,
00:33:04.91\00:33:09.71
this is way back in the 80's...
00:33:09.82\00:33:11.19
before I was a
pastor so quiet down.
00:33:11.33\00:33:13.84
Now I asked myself the question:
00:33:15.29\00:33:17.26
"Did this Christian
group invite Budweiser
00:33:17.56\00:33:20.96
to be at their concert?
00:33:21.06\00:33:22.43
Or did Budweiser put
out the money to invite this
00:33:22.60\00:33:26.34
Christian group to be
there so they could sell? "
00:33:26.54\00:33:29.85
Isn't that an oxy-moron?
00:33:30.15\00:33:31.84
A Christian group
sponsored by Budweiser.
00:33:32.72\00:33:36.41
Blurred
distinctions. You cannot tell
00:33:36.71\00:33:38.77
if the world is doing
this or the church is doing it.
00:33:38.97\00:33:41.58
I've got to go fast enough
because I've got more to cover.
00:33:41.68\00:33:43.21
But the blurred
distinction... Listen carefully.
00:33:43.71\00:33:45.81
It says: "New Age, occult
and fiction books are being sold
00:33:46.21\00:33:50.85
in Christian bookstores
00:33:51.06\00:33:52.43
blurring the distinctions
of truth and error. "
00:33:52.67\00:33:55.52
You can't really tell anymore.
00:33:55.82\00:33:57.19
I went to a Christian bookstore
one day and I saw an entire
00:33:57.22\00:33:59.27
section in the Christian
bookstore, and this big old
00:33:59.37\00:34:01.83
broad sign above the
top of it said FICTION.
00:34:01.93\00:34:04.91
And I went to the
counter and I said:
00:34:05.04\00:34:06.47
"Why do you sell fiction
in a Christian bookstore? "
00:34:06.67\00:34:08.82
And he said: "Well
I just work here. "
00:34:09.89\00:34:11.53
It's a good
response: "I just work here. "
00:34:13.21\00:34:16.74
And I said to myself:
"Since when was fiction
00:34:17.04\00:34:20.32
acceptable in a
Christian setting? "
00:34:20.42\00:34:23.18
And all the titles there.
You know, all the many volumes
00:34:24.18\00:34:27.22
of Left Behind. As
Steve Wohlberg said:
00:34:27.42\00:34:31.96
"The truth is the only
thing that was left behind. "
00:34:32.16\00:34:34.49
Fiction. He goes on to say:
00:34:35.74\00:34:38.95
"These books teach that
humans are evolving to godhood,
00:34:39.15\00:34:42.42
that we must become mystics
and use Eastern meditation,
00:34:42.62\00:34:45.71
and they advocate a
one-world government. "
00:34:45.92\00:34:48.31
But this is something else
that really caught my attention.
00:34:48.41\00:34:50.21
"They also support the
philosophy of the emerging
00:34:51.02\00:34:54.37
church. " Have you
heard about that phrase
00:34:54.57\00:34:55.94
"the emerging church? "
00:34:56.04\00:34:58.07
I've studied it and I thought
to myself: "That is amazing! "
00:34:58.37\00:35:00.89
The emerging church happens
00:35:01.29\00:35:04.25
in the context of something
that is not called a movement
00:35:04.45\00:35:08.04
but is called "a conversation. "
00:35:08.24\00:35:10.07
In other words, the emerging
church philosophy is this:
00:35:11.16\00:35:13.37
"You may be Baptist,
Pentecostal, Presbyterian,
00:35:13.67\00:35:15.77
Methodist, Lutheran,
Anglican, or Adventist.
00:35:15.97\00:35:17.46
That's great. Let's
drop all the labels,
00:35:17.66\00:35:20.22
forget what you believe,
and let's have a conversation
00:35:20.43\00:35:22.85
and see what we can agree on. "
00:35:23.05\00:35:25.51
You know what the #1 is
thing that they all agree on
00:35:25.91\00:35:28.24
in the emerging church movement?
00:35:28.34\00:35:29.94
Sorry... the
emerging church conversation.
00:35:30.14\00:35:32.08
They all agree
that the institutional
00:35:32.28\00:35:35.55
and the organized
church must be disbanded.
00:35:35.76\00:35:39.38
And they all agree
that it's better to be
00:35:45.02\00:35:49.44
community centered
than Christ centered.
00:35:49.64\00:35:54.58
So let's do what we
can do for our community...
00:35:55.08\00:35:57.65
let's not preach things
that are going to divide us.
00:35:58.05\00:36:00.65
Let's get together
in this ecumenical push
00:36:00.95\00:36:03.41
to all be one but not
based on the Word of God.
00:36:03.61\00:36:06.49
Let's develop one mind.
00:36:06.69\00:36:08.52
As the Bible say in
Revelation 17: "They will have
00:36:08.82\00:36:11.59
one mind and give
their power to the beast. "
00:36:11.69\00:36:13.99
Then there's also
spiritual formation.
00:36:14.19\00:36:16.21
I'd love to do an
entire week on that alone.
00:36:16.41\00:36:18.38
Spiritual formation. Praying
and asking for the Spirit to do
00:36:18.78\00:36:22.09
strange and unusual things
to bring a feeling to let you
00:36:22.19\00:36:25.24
know that you are now in
contact. You have actually
00:36:25.34\00:36:27.38
crossed over into
the spiritual experience.
00:36:27.48\00:36:29.36
And then
contemplative spirituality.
00:36:29.66\00:36:31.94
All these methods are part
of the things that are causing
00:36:32.24\00:36:34.65
the church to have
blurred distinction.
00:36:34.76\00:36:36.91
It's hard now to pick
out the truth from the false.
00:36:37.21\00:36:40.41
But here's the
point I want to make:
00:36:40.65\00:36:42.03
if you begin your examination
00:36:42.81\00:36:45.12
by measuring everything
against the Word of God,
00:36:45.32\00:36:47.98
there'll never be a
problem finding out what is true
00:36:48.18\00:36:50.89
and what is false
00:36:50.99\00:36:52.36
if the Word of God is
the guide. Amen somebody?
00:36:52.39\00:36:54.82
Amen! Let the Word of
God be the measuring guide.
00:36:55.02\00:36:57.03
Let the Word of God be the ruler
00:36:57.13\00:36:58.89
and there will be
no blurred distinction.
00:36:59.09\00:37:01.19
Because when the picture
of God's Word was developed
00:37:01.49\00:37:05.00
it was clear from
the very beginning.
00:37:05.20\00:37:07.76
It's not blurred... it's clear.
00:37:08.16\00:37:10.79
You also find spiritualism,
00:37:12.10\00:37:14.17
the New Age,
mysticism, occultism,
00:37:14.27\00:37:17.05
and Eastern meditations
are all a part of this now
00:37:17.25\00:37:21.89
developing,
emerging church environment.
00:37:22.09\00:37:25.43
And so we can have the
gigachurch and the megachurch
00:37:25.63\00:37:28.48
and the large movements
doing all these things...
00:37:28.68\00:37:31.44
and they do it all
in the name of Christ.
00:37:31.64\00:37:33.41
But you know what Jesus
said in Matthew 7 verse 21?
00:37:33.44\00:37:35.62
"Not everybody that
says unto Me 'Lord, Lord'
00:37:35.92\00:37:38.68
shall... " Do what?
"enter the kingdom of heaven
00:37:38.92\00:37:40.87
but only those who
do the will of My Father
00:37:40.97\00:37:43.19
which is in heaven. ' "
00:37:43.39\00:37:44.76
Amen? Amen!
00:37:44.79\00:37:46.24
Boy, that pizza must
have been really heavy.
00:37:46.64\00:37:49.17
I'm just
trying... that's a reset.
00:37:50.83\00:37:52.70
The point of the matter is this:
00:37:53.10\00:37:54.96
if the message is not clear
the enemy is not identifiable.
00:37:55.16\00:38:00.41
Don't forget that. If
the trumpet is not given
00:38:00.61\00:38:03.09
the right sound... Can
you imagine playing taps
00:38:03.19\00:38:06.26
during the time of a battle?
00:38:06.56\00:38:08.91
Here it is: the enemy is
coming and you're playing
00:38:09.22\00:38:11.91
ta-da-da... ta-da-da...
00:38:12.12\00:38:16.01
If that's what you're playing,
00:38:16.41\00:38:17.78
you're talking about
your own death not theirs!
00:38:17.81\00:38:20.22
Am I telling the truth?
00:38:20.63\00:38:22.00
The trumpet must
give a certain sound
00:38:22.49\00:38:25.21
and as Paul says: "If the
trumpet makes an uncertain sound
00:38:25.41\00:38:28.21
who will prepare for battle? "
00:38:28.41\00:38:30.25
Evidence #4.
00:38:30.55\00:38:32.22
This one was really interesting.
00:38:38.08\00:38:39.62
Now you guys are going to get
home and look at this all over
00:38:39.92\00:38:41.43
again and say: "I've got
it! " But until then, let me
00:38:41.53\00:38:44.35
read the text to
you. II Corinthians 6:14.
00:38:44.45\00:38:46.85
Go there quickly with me.
00:38:47.26\00:38:48.63
Exercise is a good
thing... get your body moving.
00:38:48.99\00:38:52.27
The Bible says in
II Corinthians 6:14:
00:38:52.57\00:38:56.30
"Be ye not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers,
00:38:56.60\00:39:01.87
for what fellowship has
righteousness with lawlessness
00:39:02.27\00:39:06.62
and what communion
has light with... " What?
00:39:06.92\00:39:10.55
"darkness? "
00:39:10.85\00:39:12.42
In the article this
gentleman pointed out
00:39:12.72\00:39:14.95
that Christian leaders
and Christian organizations
00:39:15.15\00:39:19.34
are more and more
connecting themselves with
00:39:19.64\00:39:23.93
unbiblical pagan
groups and movements
00:39:24.14\00:39:28.80
which set the followers up
for a synthesis, syncretism,
00:39:28.94\00:39:34.32
and compromise of
doctrine and priorities.
00:39:34.52\00:39:37.14
Now I just said a whole lot
and you didn't even catch it.
00:39:37.44\00:39:40.14
But let's go to the
first book of Samuel.
00:39:40.54\00:39:42.95
First book of Samuel... you'll
get the picture right here.
00:39:43.25\00:39:45.66
I Samuel chapter 28.
You've got to move fast.
00:39:45.96\00:39:49.73
Come on, let's
get... There we go.
00:39:49.93\00:39:51.96
I hear the oil; I
could hear the pages turning.
00:39:52.36\00:39:55.91
This is a text you've
read before, but I'm going to
00:39:56.21\00:39:59.31
share with you in
a different light.
00:39:59.41\00:40:01.15
Because when we talk about
being unequally yoked together,
00:40:01.55\00:40:04.92
uniting ourselves with those
that are in fact spiritists
00:40:05.12\00:40:08.62
to accomplish spiritual designs,
00:40:08.92\00:40:11.76
this is the
most amazing passage.
00:40:11.86\00:40:13.72
And my wife... I told her
about this when I was doing
00:40:13.92\00:40:16.07
the sermon. I had no
intentions of using this text
00:40:16.17\00:40:18.83
but I knew the Lord inspired me
00:40:19.04\00:40:20.74
because this
text says it so well.
00:40:21.04\00:40:23.28
Three points, very carefully.
Are you ready? Here we go.
00:40:23.58\00:40:26.04
Verses 7 to 10.
00:40:27.15\00:40:29.30
"Then Saul said to his
servants: 'Find me a woman
00:40:29.60\00:40:31.84
who is a medium...
" When I read this...
00:40:31.94\00:40:33.66
think about it, church.
00:40:33.77\00:40:35.14
The woman represents the church.
00:40:35.30\00:40:36.67
'Find me a woman who is a medium
00:40:36.70\00:40:38.49
that I may go to her
and inquire of her. '
00:40:38.70\00:40:41.40
And his servant said to
him: 'In fact, there is a woman
00:40:41.60\00:40:44.30
who is a medium at Endor. ' "
00:40:44.50\00:40:46.27
Thus we had... Bewitched...
her mother was from Endor.
00:40:46.48\00:40:50.15
Endora.
00:40:50.35\00:40:51.72
"So Saul disguised himself... "
00:40:51.85\00:40:54.06
What did he do,
church? He did what?
00:40:54.26\00:40:55.76
He disguised himself; he went to
find a woman who was a medium.
00:40:56.06\00:40:59.62
"So he disguised himself,
put on other clothes... " -
00:40:59.82\00:41:03.74
all spiritually significant -
00:41:04.04\00:41:06.73
"and he went and
two men with him.
00:41:06.93\00:41:09.64
And they came to
the woman by night. "
00:41:09.84\00:41:11.84
That's what happens when
you're going away from God.
00:41:12.04\00:41:13.86
"And he said: 'Please
conduct a séance for me
00:41:14.16\00:41:16.62
and bring up for me the
one I shall name to you. '
00:41:16.82\00:41:19.94
Then the woman
said to him: 'Look,
00:41:21.17\00:41:22.87
you know what Saul has done.
00:41:23.07\00:41:24.51
How he has cut off the mediums
00:41:24.61\00:41:25.98
and the
spiritists from the land.
00:41:26.01\00:41:27.59
Why then do you
lay a snare for my life
00:41:27.63\00:41:30.00
to cause me to die? ' "
00:41:30.20\00:41:32.62
And get this:
00:41:32.92\00:41:34.29
"And Saul swore
to her by the Lord
00:41:34.46\00:41:37.48
saying: 'As the Lord lives
00:41:37.78\00:41:41.51
no punishment shall come
upon you for this thing. ' "
00:41:41.81\00:41:46.20
Now here are the
three things he did
00:41:46.33\00:41:48.32
that's prevalent
in Christianity today.
00:41:48.62\00:41:51.07
First, a man of
God sought demonic aid.
00:41:51.37\00:41:56.65
Now that may sound hard,
00:41:57.50\00:41:59.81
but how do you think Babylon
is going to get to the place
00:42:00.01\00:42:03.06
where it's the cage
of every foul spirit
00:42:03.26\00:42:05.45
and unclean and hated bird?
00:42:05.65\00:42:07.68
How do you think we get
to the place where Babylon
00:42:07.78\00:42:10.19
has to be destroyed?
00:42:10.39\00:42:11.76
Because to get to the place
where those who are a part of
00:42:11.96\00:42:15.09
that institution are being
affected by the institution
00:42:15.19\00:42:18.92
and that's why the
Lord is going to say...
00:42:19.12\00:42:20.59
Because He loves His people
He's going to say to them what?
00:42:20.79\00:42:22.71
"Come out of her, My people. "
00:42:23.01\00:42:26.10
And many churches today...
Well let me just make the point
00:42:28.32\00:42:31.12
before I go to the next level.
00:42:31.22\00:42:32.59
First of all, a godly
man sought demonic aid.
00:42:32.78\00:42:35.40
Secondly, he hid his identity.
00:42:35.70\00:42:39.63
In other words, his
identity wasn't the same
00:42:40.84\00:42:44.31
as it was before. He covered
himself in different clothing.
00:42:44.41\00:42:47.82
He clothed himself
in a different garb.
00:42:48.12\00:42:50.31
And the third thing -
what's most amazing to me -
00:42:50.61\00:42:53.07
is he guaranteed God's support
00:42:53.27\00:42:56.93
for demonic activity.
00:42:57.13\00:42:59.55
He said: "Nothing... No
punishment shall come upon you
00:42:59.95\00:43:03.77
for this thing. " And
nowadays... I did a series
00:43:03.87\00:43:06.51
entitled "Unclean Spirits. "
00:43:06.61\00:43:08.09
If you haven't seen that before,
you should get a copy of it.
00:43:08.29\00:43:10.18
It's the most amazing
thing. Talks about the occult
00:43:10.38\00:43:12.65
and the entertainment industry.
00:43:12.85\00:43:14.22
It shows you how
churches are incorporating
00:43:14.95\00:43:18.51
in their very forms of worship
00:43:18.71\00:43:21.01
things that should
never be included in a place
00:43:21.21\00:43:24.29
that is claiming to be
led by God's Holy Spirit.
00:43:24.49\00:43:27.93
Am I telling the truth?
00:43:28.13\00:43:29.71
But the other thing
is amazing like this text
00:43:31.27\00:43:33.45
they are saying that
"Don't worry about it.
00:43:33.66\00:43:35.32
There'll be no punishment
for us participating in
00:43:35.46\00:43:38.38
this kind of activity. "
00:43:38.58\00:43:40.17
According to the text
that's what I got from it.
00:43:41.29\00:43:43.69
Saul said to the woman.
00:43:43.99\00:43:45.36
And the reality today is
many churches are becoming
00:43:45.72\00:43:48.17
nothing more than
a medium for Satan
00:43:48.27\00:43:52.54
to communicate a
diabolical message.
00:43:52.57\00:43:55.36
They use the Bible but
they exclude the key elements.
00:43:55.76\00:43:59.26
There are many preachers
that are not interested in Bible
00:44:00.02\00:44:02.50
integrity at all.
00:44:02.63\00:44:04.00
I was sitting down having a
Bible study with a pastor once
00:44:04.58\00:44:07.27
and he kept asking me questions.
00:44:07.37\00:44:08.93
And I kept
answering him from the Bible
00:44:09.13\00:44:10.83
and you know, he
broke.. He said: "Would you stop
00:44:11.03\00:44:12.73
telling me what the Bible says
00:44:12.83\00:44:14.20
and just tell me
what you believe. "
00:44:14.23\00:44:15.60
I've told Bro. Dick
that story a number of times
00:44:17.82\00:44:19.91
and I said to him... I said:
00:44:20.11\00:44:21.55
"Excuse me? " I
said: "You know, in reality
00:44:21.75\00:44:24.59
my word has no
weight... " Isn't that right?
00:44:24.79\00:44:27.20
"but I'm concerned
about what the Bible says.
00:44:27.40\00:44:29.49
If the Bible
says it it's safe. "
00:44:29.60\00:44:31.59
But he was more interested
in what my opinion was
00:44:31.89\00:44:35.48
rather than the Bible.
00:44:35.68\00:44:37.22
There's a very popular
television show and every now
00:44:37.42\00:44:39.98
and then I get a chance
to peek at it. And there's
00:44:40.08\00:44:41.45
a whole panel of
pastors. And they get together,
00:44:41.48\00:44:42.91
people ask
questions and they try to...
00:44:43.11\00:44:46.41
You know, they all
answer from their opinions.
00:44:46.71\00:44:49.29
And I tried to get on
that Bible program once.
00:44:49.50\00:44:51.64
It was a different denomination.
00:44:51.84\00:44:53.32
And I was excited because
I was invited to be on that
00:44:53.52\00:44:55.98
Bible program and
I said: "Oh great!
00:44:56.08\00:44:58.12
I'll be able to sit on a Bible
panel and finally be able to
00:44:59.17\00:45:01.93
answer questions
from God's Word. "
00:45:02.03\00:45:03.85
And the person said:
"I'll get you on there. "
00:45:04.80\00:45:06.92
And I said: "I'm
looking forward to it. "
00:45:07.22\00:45:08.92
I met somebody last week
and I said: "Whatever happened
00:45:10.16\00:45:12.99
to that invitation I got?
00:45:13.09\00:45:14.62
And they said: "Well they
came up with some really strange
00:45:14.82\00:45:17.06
excuse why they
couldn't include you. "
00:45:17.16\00:45:19.18
And I said: "I'll tell
you what the #1 excuse it:
00:45:20.36\00:45:22.34
I use the Bible and they
don't. " Come on somebody,
00:45:22.64\00:45:25.04
say "Amen. " Amen!
00:45:25.14\00:45:26.51
That's the problem
with Christianity nowadays:
00:45:26.71\00:45:29.02
there are lots of people
that don't use the Bible.
00:45:29.22\00:45:31.58
And the Lord says: "For
such are false apostles,
00:45:31.78\00:45:34.10
deceitful workers
transforming themselves
00:45:34.30\00:45:36.82
into the apostles of
Christ. " II Corinthians 11:13.
00:45:37.02\00:45:41.25
That's what Satan does.
00:45:41.55\00:45:42.92
They are unequally
yoking themselves together.
00:45:43.00\00:45:46.17
I'll tell you something else,
and I'm going to spend a minute
00:45:48.18\00:45:50.49
on this because I don't have
a whole lot of minutes left.
00:45:50.60\00:45:52.98
'Cause I've got to
get to the last one.
00:45:53.38\00:45:55.40
There's something
called Do Your Own Homework.
00:45:56.50\00:45:58.82
It's called Hegelian dialetics.
00:45:59.02\00:46:01.78
Let's try to say that
without chewing up your tongue.
00:46:01.98\00:46:03.93
Are you ready? Here we
go: Hegelian dialetics.
00:46:04.03\00:46:07.96
Let me just tell
you the story quickly.
00:46:08.26\00:46:09.63
This is what
Hegelian dialetics is.
00:46:09.66\00:46:11.05
When someone
observes a conflict in society
00:46:11.25\00:46:13.62
the tendency is
to try to figure out
00:46:13.82\00:46:15.91
which side is good
and which side is bad.
00:46:16.21\00:46:19.41
And then we jump
onboard the band wagon
00:46:20.29\00:46:23.13
of the good guys.
00:46:23.33\00:46:24.70
Because of how a professing
Christian reacts against
00:46:26.67\00:46:29.42
the bad guys they
yoke themselves up
00:46:29.52\00:46:32.18
with the good guys...
not realizing that Satan
00:46:32.28\00:46:34.43
is controlling both sides.
00:46:34.53\00:46:36.22
That's the Hegelian concept.
00:46:36.52\00:46:38.20
That's why, my brothers and
sisters, let me appeal to you.
00:46:38.50\00:46:41.22
We've got to get rid of
this terminology in our church:
00:46:41.52\00:46:44.08
conservative and liberal.
00:46:44.28\00:46:46.04
I wish I had a
big "Amen" on that.
00:46:46.84\00:46:48.67
Amen. 'Cause every time election
comes the Adventist church
00:46:48.97\00:46:51.85
gets split down the center.
00:46:51.95\00:46:53.72
We become more
enemies of each other
00:46:53.92\00:46:56.03
than enemies of Satan.
00:46:56.43\00:46:58.36
I'm telling the truth;
I know that to be a fact.
00:46:58.66\00:47:00.69
I steer clear of that in
the pulpit... keep politics out.
00:47:01.78\00:47:04.97
We've got these terms
"conservative" and "liberal" -
00:47:05.17\00:47:07.38
the Hegelian concept.
00:47:07.48\00:47:08.85
Doesn't matter
who's in the seat...
00:47:08.98\00:47:10.73
there's one agenda - Amen!
- and it does not get lost.
00:47:10.93\00:47:15.51
Doesn't matter who the pope
is, the aim of Rome is the same.
00:47:15.65\00:47:18.80
Doesn't matter who the leader-
ship is, there's an overall plan
00:47:19.90\00:47:23.11
that never is off course.
00:47:23.21\00:47:24.68
And so they use a
phrase like thesis,
00:47:25.62\00:47:27.20
antithesis, and synthesis.
00:47:27.30\00:47:28.85
In other words, a
thesis gives rise to a reaction
00:47:28.99\00:47:31.66
somebody may say.
Let me use an example.
00:47:31.97\00:47:33.46
Somebody may stand up and
say: "I believe in marriage. "
00:47:33.67\00:47:35.48
And all the Christians
say: "Amen; praise the Lord. "
00:47:35.59\00:47:37.91
And then they bring up
an antithesis. They say:
00:47:38.22\00:47:40.38
"But I also believe that every-
body should have the right. "
00:47:40.48\00:47:43.42
And the people that don't
believe in traditional marriage
00:47:46.51\00:47:49.31
say "Amen" and then
they bring up a synthesis.
00:47:49.42\00:47:52.36
And then they say:
"Because I believe in marriage,
00:47:52.56\00:47:55.08
because I believe in
people having individual rights,
00:47:55.28\00:47:57.64
I believe everybody
should have the right to marry
00:47:57.84\00:47:59.75
whomever they want to. "
00:47:59.95\00:48:01.32
Synthesis.
00:48:02.47\00:48:04.74
Thesis: you agree.
Antithesis: ohhhhhhhhhhhh,
00:48:05.04\00:48:09.42
contradicts what I said.
00:48:10.02\00:48:12.26
And then synthesis:
two opposing sides merge.
00:48:12.56\00:48:15.92
How do you think gay marriages
00:48:16.32\00:48:19.06
are happening in
Christian churches?
00:48:19.27\00:48:21.94
Marriage and gay opposing. How
do they ever get synthesized?
00:48:23.02\00:48:28.54
Because somebody cleverly
tests the Hegelian dialetics
00:48:29.04\00:48:32.57
used by many theologians today.
00:48:32.77\00:48:35.85
So be careful when people
get you passionately connected
00:48:36.16\00:48:39.09
to an issue. Check
it out by God's Word.
00:48:39.19\00:48:42.06
Forget your passion; let the
passion come from God's Word.
00:48:42.26\00:48:45.07
What do you say? Amen!
00:48:45.27\00:48:46.74
That's how people are
passing things in laws
00:48:47.05\00:48:49.62
'cause people get obsessed.
I was listening to the news
00:48:49.82\00:48:51.90
when I was coming back from
Minnesota oh, a number of...
00:48:52.01\00:48:54.49
I can't remember when we
went. But I was in the airport
00:48:54.60\00:48:56.74
and because of the
rising challenges with terrorism
00:48:56.94\00:49:00.31
the question was asked:
"How many Americans are willing
00:49:00.51\00:49:04.56
to give up a
certain level of freedom
00:49:04.66\00:49:08.59
to guarantee
safety from terrorism? "
00:49:08.62\00:49:11.41
I was shocked. 73% of Americans
are willing to give up something
00:49:11.61\00:49:15.45
of their Bill of
Rights to guarantee...
00:49:15.65\00:49:19.00
to guarantee... How could
you guarantee that you are free
00:49:20.66\00:49:23.87
from a terrorist when you
don't even know who they are?
00:49:23.97\00:49:26.04
Don't give up your freedom.
00:49:28.67\00:49:30.53
Freedom is bought and
paid for. Don't give it up.
00:49:31.69\00:49:34.51
Put your life in the hand
of the Lord. What do you say?
00:49:35.46\00:49:37.49
Amen! And the last one:
00:49:37.79\00:49:39.37
Don't abandon spiritual correct-
ness for political correctness.
00:49:39.67\00:49:42.38
Don't abandon
Christ-centered gospel
00:49:42.48\00:49:44.31
for social-centered gospel.
00:49:44.51\00:49:47.11
Don't abandon godly
living for good feeling.
00:49:47.31\00:49:50.55
All that is the
Hegelian concept.
00:49:51.45\00:49:53.25
Let's do good things.
00:49:53.35\00:49:54.72
Let's become
politically correct.
00:49:54.75\00:49:56.12
Let's support this
agenda and that agenda.
00:49:56.15\00:49:57.61
And then whenever they
pick two men to go head to head
00:49:59.28\00:50:02.10
in the political circles we all
start fighting with each other.
00:50:02.20\00:50:05.89
We ought to all hold
on to Jesus and forget
00:50:06.19\00:50:08.18
all the temporary
leaders. Amen somebody?
00:50:08.28\00:50:10.48
Look unto Jesus: the Author
and Finisher of our faith.
00:50:10.78\00:50:14.76
And then the fifth one.
00:50:15.06\00:50:16.43
I praise the Lord
I'm able to get to this.
00:50:16.46\00:50:17.94
I had to edit my sermon
down because I was held by the
00:50:18.14\00:50:21.27
constraints of the clock.
00:50:21.37\00:50:22.74
But the Lord says in the last
days there will be a form of
00:50:22.87\00:50:24.86
godliness. But here is
the fifth one: it's amazing.
00:50:24.96\00:50:27.33
Ooh, this is
deep. Let me read it.
00:50:32.92\00:50:35.62
Here's what he says: "We
are much more likely these days
00:50:35.85\00:50:39.77
not to refer to our Bible for
our convictions and our world
00:50:39.97\00:50:43.78
view but instead to
follow the opinions of leaders
00:50:43.88\00:50:47.98
we look up to. In these
days of Christian mass media
00:50:48.08\00:50:53.02
celebrity ministers are
likely to draw our attention
00:50:54.43\00:50:58.23
and our allegiance. "
00:50:58.43\00:51:00.48
Celebrity ministers.
00:51:00.88\00:51:02.99
"It is a dangerous thing to
set up gurus within the body
00:51:03.29\00:51:07.93
of Christ who are
beyond criticism. "
00:51:08.03\00:51:11.08
Isn't that powerful?
00:51:11.48\00:51:13.54
I don't want to mention the
names, but you all see them.
00:51:13.94\00:51:16.44
'Cause I'm always
fearful of allowing
00:51:16.85\00:51:21.57
these leaders and preachers
and teachers of different
00:51:21.77\00:51:25.03
conflicting views to be standing
where God's people should stand
00:51:25.23\00:51:28.80
and preach where God's
people should be preaching.
00:51:29.00\00:51:31.31
Somebody say
"Amen" to that. Amen!
00:51:31.51\00:51:33.70
And you say: "Well you
know, remember what happened
00:51:33.90\00:51:35.65
in the Bible: the man of
God, the prophet of God? "
00:51:35.76\00:51:38.13
Remember the story? The Bible
just uses called the man of God,
00:51:38.33\00:51:42.01
the prophet of God. God
told him: "Now when you go
00:51:42.22\00:51:45.49
don't stop and talk to anybody.
00:51:45.69\00:51:47.50
Don't eat with them.
Don't go to their house. "
00:51:47.70\00:51:51.10
And he went and did God's
bidding. Was on his way home
00:51:51.40\00:51:53.68
and he met
somebody who said what?
00:51:53.88\00:51:55.91
"I'm a prophet also
and God told me to have you
00:51:56.21\00:52:00.11
come over and
have dinner with us. "
00:52:00.25\00:52:01.97
That very same phrase.
00:52:02.92\00:52:04.39
We are admiring prophets
in this realm of criticism
00:52:04.70\00:52:08.76
and that realm of theology and
people with doctorate degrees
00:52:08.86\00:52:12.16
get together and
just massage each other.
00:52:12.36\00:52:14.22
And they worship the degree
00:52:14.62\00:52:17.71
rather than
exalt the Word of God.
00:52:17.81\00:52:19.26
Come on somebody. I'm
telling it like it is. Amen!
00:52:19.46\00:52:21.50
I don't care what your degree
is. You could have a doctorate
00:52:21.64\00:52:23.51
degree in a lie. You could have
a doctorate degree in deception.
00:52:23.61\00:52:28.29
I go not by the degree
00:52:28.59\00:52:30.99
but by a "thus
saith the Lord. " Amen!
00:52:31.19\00:52:34.25
That's what my safety is.
00:52:34.55\00:52:35.92
And so I get together...
Sometimes I get sick.
00:52:35.95\00:52:37.32
Sometimes I get in some of these
circles where everybody but me
00:52:37.45\00:52:39.88
has a doctorate
degree and I'm thinking:
00:52:39.99\00:52:41.36
I said...
"Somebody give me a doctor!
00:52:41.39\00:52:43.34
I'm getting sick. "
00:52:44.74\00:52:46.26
Now there's nothing
wrong with those degrees.
00:52:47.18\00:52:49.16
That's not what I'm saying.
00:52:49.36\00:52:50.73
But when we are more
concerned of the label a man has
00:52:51.00\00:52:53.67
rather than what God's Word says
00:52:53.87\00:52:55.56
the danger seeks to
find a way in. Amen.
00:52:55.76\00:52:59.93
"And I got my degree from
this university and that... "
00:53:00.17\00:53:01.93
I don't have a doctorate
I have a B.A.: born again.
00:53:02.13\00:53:04.49
Is that OK? Amen!
00:53:04.59\00:53:07.04
Don't settle for
publication without inspiration.
00:53:07.94\00:53:11.39
If you are admiring any
popular religious leader,
00:53:11.59\00:53:14.53
politician, or
talk show celebrity
00:53:14.83\00:53:17.26
that leads you away from
following Christ and His Word,
00:53:17.56\00:53:20.99
you are covered
with false armor.
00:53:21.19\00:53:23.90
We have a "more
sure word of prophecy
00:53:24.40\00:53:28.66
that we do well to take
heed as a light that shineth
00:53:28.97\00:53:31.74
in darkness. "
We've got the light.
00:53:31.94\00:53:34.84
Let me say it another
way: the light has us.
00:53:35.04\00:53:37.21
We don't have the
light, the light has us. Amen?
00:53:37.61\00:53:39.78
Amen! We don't have the
Bible, the Bible has us.
00:53:39.88\00:53:42.06
And that's the day and age
00:53:43.09\00:53:44.46
truly the Word of God
will continue to be our guide.
00:53:44.60\00:53:47.54
And the reason why
this is so important to me:
00:53:48.04\00:53:49.81
it's not possible to
prepare for the final battle
00:53:49.91\00:53:52.34
when your leader is
orchestrating your destruction.
00:53:52.54\00:53:55.70
That's deep.
00:54:00.67\00:54:02.69
That made me
even think about it.
00:54:03.00\00:54:04.70
Watch out who you
read. We like to quote folk.
00:54:05.00\00:54:07.47
Quote the Bible. Amen!
00:54:07.77\00:54:09.85
You know Jesus didn't say:
"Well you know Elder So-and-So
00:54:10.16\00:54:12.63
said. " Jesus said: "It
is... " What? "It is written! "
00:54:12.83\00:54:16.13
The devil will mess with
you like he did that person who
00:54:16.24\00:54:18.76
wanted to use the Holy
Spirit in the New Testament.
00:54:18.86\00:54:20.40
He said: "Now Paul I
know and Jesus I know
00:54:20.51\00:54:24.44
but who are you? "
00:54:24.55\00:54:25.97
He only shakes... he only
shivers at the commandment
00:54:27.24\00:54:33.14
of God's Word: a
"thus saith the Lord. "
00:54:33.34\00:54:36.96
Can't get that
statistic out of my head.
00:54:38.09\00:54:39.95
Eighty percent of the fatalities
that occurred in the war
00:54:40.15\00:54:43.28
could have been avoided if
the troops had better armor.
00:54:43.48\00:54:46.84
And I suggest today, Christians,
00:54:47.80\00:54:49.41
it's time for us
to get better armor.
00:54:49.61\00:54:51.10
My conclusion is
this, my last sight is this:
00:54:51.30\00:54:54.31
The battle is coming to us
00:55:04.80\00:55:06.62
that already came to Jesus
00:55:07.02\00:55:09.36
and the best armor is
the armor that He used:
00:55:09.86\00:55:14.35
a "thus saith the Lord. "
00:55:14.65\00:55:17.58
"It is written. "
So here's my counsel:
00:55:17.89\00:55:20.23
Don't just sing it,
live it. Amen? Amen.
00:55:20.43\00:55:23.64
Don't just talk it, walk it.
00:55:23.74\00:55:26.14
Don't just wait for
the coming of Jesus,
00:55:26.34\00:55:28.69
WORK for His coming.
00:55:28.89\00:55:30.92
Don't just be a
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:55:31.12\00:55:33.04
be an Adventist
every day. Amen somebody?
00:55:33.14\00:55:35.84
Don't settle for
being in the congregation,
00:55:36.24\00:55:39.04
but be in Christ.
00:55:39.34\00:55:41.79
And that will all happen
00:55:42.29\00:55:43.81
when we have on
the whole armor of God.
00:55:44.01\00:55:47.20
Isn't that right? Amen!
00:55:47.30\00:55:49.44
I want to pray today.
00:55:49.68\00:55:51.05
I tried to end a little
earlier today so I can pray.
00:55:51.14\00:55:52.98
I'm going to pray
today that in this world of
00:55:53.18\00:55:55.17
so many authors coming at us
00:55:55.37\00:55:56.91
from so many
different directions
00:55:57.01\00:55:59.12
that we not forget this
one statement that Jesus made.
00:55:59.32\00:56:02.75
"Looking unto Me...
00:56:03.05\00:56:05.65
the Author and the
Finisher of our faith. "
00:56:05.85\00:56:10.78
Father in heaven,
we are in a world that
00:56:11.48\00:56:14.64
is swirling with
doctrinal controversy
00:56:14.84\00:56:17.39
and so much armor that is being
put on in Christian churches
00:56:17.59\00:56:20.84
and Christian
movements is false armor.
00:56:20.94\00:56:22.66
The devil, the wily foe,
is rubbing his hands as he
00:56:24.21\00:56:27.54
anticipates the loss
of so many who are unaware
00:56:27.74\00:56:30.94
of his deceptions.
00:56:31.14\00:56:32.93
And so, heavenly
Father, we pray for our church,
00:56:33.13\00:56:35.36
our leaders, our people.
We pray for them, Lord, to
00:56:35.56\00:56:37.51
come to a knowledge and
understanding of the truth
00:56:37.71\00:56:39.57
of Your Word that
they not be pulled in...
00:56:39.67\00:56:41.91
that we not be preachers
that settle for popularity
00:56:42.11\00:56:45.11
but we settle for
nothing short of faithfulness.
00:56:45.41\00:56:49.19
We come not from the quotations
of men that are frail and
00:56:49.99\00:56:53.39
fragile. We come from the
understanding of the Word of God
00:56:53.50\00:56:56.30
that is the same as Jesus is:
the foundation that never fails.
00:56:56.50\00:57:00.61
So heavenly Father, give
us wisdom and understanding
00:57:01.01\00:57:03.90
to trust the Lord, to
dedicate our lives to Him.
00:57:04.10\00:57:07.16
To stand firmly on the
foundation that You have built
00:57:07.46\00:57:10.15
and to live by
nothing other than a plain
00:57:10.35\00:57:13.28
"thus saith the Lord. "
00:57:13.48\00:57:15.30
This is our prayer
and this is our desire.
00:57:15.40\00:57:18.11
In Jesus' name we pray.
And all of God's people said:
00:57:18.31\00:57:20.70
"Amen. " Amen. My
brother and my sisters,
00:57:20.90\00:57:23.23
may God bless
you. May God guide you.
00:57:23.43\00:57:26.02
May God keep you safe
as you trust in His armor.
00:57:26.22\00:57:30.84