Hello, friends.
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Welcome to another
Wednesday night meeting
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here at "A Sharper Focus"
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located at the
3ABN Worship Center
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here in Southern Illinois.
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I always say
sometimes Thompsonville,
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sometimes I say West Frankfort,
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we're altogether just
separated by a little thin line,
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one block away.
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But thank you for being faithful
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to continue to tune in.
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And if this is your first
time, remember this channel
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every Wednesday
night at 7 P.M. Central
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where we get into
the Bible together
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and study the topic, "How
to Live a Spiritual Life,"
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help me with this, in a what?
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Natural Body. Natural Body.
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That's what God
has called us to do,
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while we are in the world,
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how to be strong in the Lord
and in the power of His might.
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Tonight, we ask
you to get your Bibles,
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get your friends,
invite your family members
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to sit down for the next hour
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and if you like to
follow us with the lesson,
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go to this following website.
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Remember, do not put www.
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Just go to ASF.3abn.org
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and download lesson 006,
which is in fact, three pages.
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And tonight we're gonna
begin on question number 7,
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continuing on the topic
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of how to be
willing and obedient.
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That's the title
of tonight's lesson
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but the overall topic is,
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How to live a Spiritual
Life in a Natural Body.
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Now we're gonna
have some music tonight.
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We're gonna sing locally here
the song, "Victory in Jesus."
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But before we do anything,
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let's invite the
presence of God through prayer.
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Heavenly Father,
we thank you, Lord,
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tonight for the opportunity
of opening Your word.
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We thank you for
those who are tuning in
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and we welcome those
from around the world.
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But, Lord, we
pray that Your presence
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will be with each of us,
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those who are watching,
but those who are here locally.
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And may your presence
fill this room tonight,
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Lord as the
Holy Spirit is needed
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to guide and to make
sense of this lesson.
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So thank You, Father
for what we shall learn
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and how Jesus will be glorified.
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In Your name we pray.
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Amen. Amen.
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Now tonight, we're
gonna sing our favorite song,
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which has become my
favorite, "Victory in Jesus."
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"I heard an old, old story."
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So for those of
you who know the song
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and you hear us singing along,
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you'd like to
join us, you can do so.
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And the words will
appear on our screen.
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Let's sing the song together.
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I heard an old, old story
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How a Savior came from glory
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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To save a wretch like me
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I heard about His groaning
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Of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sins
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And won the victory
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet
day I'll sing up there
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The song of victory Key change
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Amen. Amen.
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Now you know that song
is talking about baptism,
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"Plunging us to victory
beneath His cleansing flood."
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I want to begin tonight
by showing you one of my,
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I think this picture
always brings a smile.
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It's not my favorite picture
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but I think it
illustrates really well
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how important it is for us
to yield ourselves to Christ.
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Now we showed those of
you saw the program last week,
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we showed you this picture
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but if you're tuning in
for the first time tonight,
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this is really what a
Christian is all about.
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Look at this
picture together with me.
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That's a Christian.
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"The spirit indeed is willing."
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Finish it with me, friends.
"But the flesh is weak."
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We can try our
best on any given day,
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I mean, that's, that's
any member in our church
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just add a name
to that little kid
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and that's who we
are in a daily basis.
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We want to do,
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there's so many
weights in our world
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that we try to lift.
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But without the strength
of Christ we cannot do it.
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Now our title for
the lesson tonight is,
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How to be Willing and Obedient.
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But before we go
to question number 7,
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let me set it up a little bit.
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You know, when you
become a Christian,
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you become painfully
aware that God has a law.
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It's called the Ten?
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Commandments. Commandments.
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You become
painfully aware of it.
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Now the reason I say
painfully aware of it
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is because all of a sudden,
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you are now facing
the standard of God,
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you're facing
the standard of God,
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and you know that you can't
live up to the standard of God.
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I mean, you are facing it
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but you know that
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the law of God
is now say to you,
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this represents
all the principles
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that from now on,
you've got to live by.
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And you look at
that and you realize,
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how am I gonna do that?
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I couldn't do
that the last time.
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God has now told me how to live.
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The law of God is
presented before me,
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the standard of righteousness,
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the very law
that's going to judge me.
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As James 2:12 says,
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"So speak and so do as
those who will be judged
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by the law of liberty."
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So the Commandments of
God is the law of liberty.
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If you can live in a harmony
with it, you remain free.
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Jesus set you free
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but if you could
live in a harmony
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with the law of
God, you remain free,
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just like if you live in
harmony with the speed limit,
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you remain without any
kind of speeding infractions,
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no speeding tickets,
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drive by policeman
without even feeling
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like you have to pull over.
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What have, what
do modern cars have
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that helps us
who have heavy feet
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live in harmony
with the speed limit?
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Come on, say it
together. What is it called?
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Cruise control.
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You know, when you are
approaching the speed limit,
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can I confess?
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Okay.
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Whenever I know
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that there are
police in the area,
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kind of like it is
here in West Frankfort,
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from West Frankfort, all
the way up to Mount Vernon,
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that's here in Southern Illinois
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in Highway 57, there
are police, motorcycles,
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cars on overheads,
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off the side of the
road with radar detectors.
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I set my cruise at 65
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and I stay there as
close between 65 and 70.
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Don't go faster than that.
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They'll give you a
little bit of latitude.
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And I stay on that
until I get to Mount Vernon.
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And then in my
mind I sing the song,
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"Free at last."
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Now that's not a great example
because what I'm in essence,
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is saying, what I'm
in essence, saying is,
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I feel like to
speed a little bit more
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when I pass Mount Vernon,
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you know, make up a
little bit more time.
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But the cruise
control represents something
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that God gives to us,
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He gives us access to
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that allows us
to live in harmony
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with the law of God.
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Now go with me, first of
all, to the Book of Acts.
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Book of Acts.
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Before we go to
question number one,
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I want you to
go to Book of Acts.
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Acts Chapter 1
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and we're gonna look at
this in context with the fact
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that when we are
aware, when we are aware
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of what our
responsibilities are,
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what we need now is, we
need some enabling force
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outside of ourselves
to be able to do something
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what we couldn't
do the first time.
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Because how much have we changed
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between the time
that we didn't know Christ
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to the time we
gave our lives to Him
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and we're baptized and
then now living in Christ.
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Now if you just
became a Christian,
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you haven't changed a whole lot.
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But hopefully, if
you've been a Christian
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for a while,
you've changed, right?
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That's a really weak one.
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Because the Lord is
the one that's changing us
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from one victory to the
other, victory in Jesus.
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We're going from one--
the thing that used to be
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a difficulty for most
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when we first give
our lives to Christ,
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shouldn't really
be a challenge with us
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as many years go by
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unless we feel to
continue to yield.
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Because that old mortal nature
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is there to
spring back into life
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the moment we give it
the permission to do so.
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But here is what
the Lord gives us
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that enables us to do something
that we couldn't do before.
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I want you to
notice the words here.
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Acts 1:8.
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"But you shall receive power."
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What's the next word? When.
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When and in some
translation it is after.
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"You shall receive power
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when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you."
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Now what do we
need? What do we need?
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What does this verse
make available to us?
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What do we all
need? We need what?
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We need power.
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Because in and of
ourselves, we can't do it.
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We don't have the
power to live in harmony
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with the law of God
with this mortal flesh
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fighting against
us every single day.
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So we need a power
outside of ourselves
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and the power
that's made available to us
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after we become Christians
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is the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Now let me break that down some.
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I got to really
lay the foundation
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here tonight and teach this.
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The Holy Spirit's power
is, we can't even estimate it.
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We really can't.
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We can't put a power in
me that you wouldn't say,
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well, now how powerful
really is the Holy Spirit.
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If you look at the work
that the Holy Spirit does,
00:11:05.13\00:11:07.86
the Holy Spirit
convicts us of sin
00:11:07.90\00:11:10.77
and of
righteousness and of judgment,
00:11:10.80\00:11:13.74
so much so till
we get to the place
00:11:13.77\00:11:15.44
where the
conviction leads us now,
00:11:15.47\00:11:17.21
by the goodness
of God to repentance.
00:11:17.24\00:11:19.91
Then after the Holy
Spirit has done that work,
00:11:19.94\00:11:22.64
then He has another work to do.
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The other work before
He gives us the gifts,
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the other work He does
00:11:27.22\00:11:28.58
is to bring alive the fruit
of the spirit, which is what?
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"Love, joy,
peace, longsuffering,
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gentleness, meekness, patience."
00:11:34.89\00:11:36.22
That what He has to,
He has to bring that out.
00:11:36.26\00:11:38.99
But in order for
that to come out,
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He has to come in.
00:11:41.50\00:11:44.80
For Paul says, "I know that
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in me that is, in
my flesh dwells" what?
00:11:46.53\00:11:48.90
"No good thing."
00:11:48.94\00:11:50.37
So in order for there to
be anything good to come out,
00:11:50.41\00:11:53.78
someone good has to what?
00:11:53.81\00:11:55.91
Come in. It is no
longer I who live.
00:11:55.94\00:12:00.32
But Christ who lives where?
00:12:00.35\00:12:01.92
In me and the life
which I now live in the flesh,
00:12:01.95\00:12:05.45
this mortal sinful flesh,
00:12:05.49\00:12:06.99
I live by faith
in the Son of God
00:12:07.02\00:12:08.69
who loved me and
gave Himself for me.
00:12:08.72\00:12:10.36
So we can't do it.
00:12:10.39\00:12:12.09
So here's my point
before we go to first question.
00:12:12.13\00:12:14.56
This is the set
up for the question.
00:12:14.60\00:12:16.26
If we allow our natural selves
00:12:16.30\00:12:18.27
to take control
from Monday to Friday
00:12:18.30\00:12:20.64
or from whatever
day to whatever day,
00:12:20.67\00:12:22.00
some people even on
Sabbath when they are in church,
00:12:22.04\00:12:24.31
the good old
mortal man is in control.
00:12:24.34\00:12:26.51
You can see it
sometimes in attitudes, really.
00:12:26.54\00:12:29.64
But if we allow the
mortal man to control,
00:12:29.68\00:12:33.01
then the Spirit of
God is not in control.
00:12:33.05\00:12:36.28
If the Spirit of
God is not in control,
00:12:36.32\00:12:38.62
the flesh is in control.
00:12:38.65\00:12:41.12
Because the flesh
was against the Spirit.
00:12:41.16\00:12:44.73
But if the Spirit is in control,
00:12:44.76\00:12:46.39
I want you to get this,
00:12:46.43\00:12:47.76
then the flesh
is not in control.
00:12:47.80\00:12:50.77
Did you get that?
00:12:50.80\00:12:52.13
So in order for the
flesh to not be in control,
00:12:52.17\00:12:54.60
who has to be in control?
00:12:54.64\00:12:56.71
Come on, tell, I just
told you. The Holy Spirit.
00:12:56.74\00:12:59.54
So who do you want to be
in control during the week,
00:12:59.57\00:13:01.71
the flesh or the Spirit?
00:13:01.74\00:13:03.08
The Spirit. You
got to have the Spirit.
00:13:03.11\00:13:04.55
Because this
flesh, I mean, honestly,
00:13:04.58\00:13:06.11
I've been pastoring 25 years.
00:13:06.15\00:13:07.75
I've been a
Christian for many, many years.
00:13:07.78\00:13:10.22
But I tell you
what, all it takes
00:13:10.25\00:13:11.59
is just one
single moment to think
00:13:11.62\00:13:13.09
that you are able for the
flesh to be back in control.
00:13:13.12\00:13:16.59
Ain't that right?
00:13:16.62\00:13:18.06
It doesn't take much.
00:13:18.09\00:13:19.43
Sometimes the environment
that you're in enhances that.
00:13:19.46\00:13:21.93
Sometimes people that
know your buttons to press,
00:13:21.96\00:13:24.67
that really in fact,
you press your own buttons.
00:13:24.70\00:13:26.80
Sometimes people
knowing where you're weak,
00:13:26.84\00:13:29.20
will try you in those weak areas
00:13:29.24\00:13:31.07
to get you to see,
00:13:31.11\00:13:32.44
see you're
really not born-again.
00:13:32.47\00:13:33.81
And you know the
sad reality about that,
00:13:33.84\00:13:36.08
is that people
that are in the world,
00:13:36.11\00:13:37.51
they look at you fail
and the first thing they say,
00:13:37.55\00:13:40.65
the devil does
this through them.
00:13:40.68\00:13:42.08
The first thing
sometimes they say is,
00:13:42.12\00:13:44.09
"And you call
yourself a Christian."
00:13:44.12\00:13:46.52
They'll throw that in your face.
00:13:46.55\00:13:48.42
"I thought you were Christian."
00:13:48.46\00:13:50.13
"You a Christian?"
00:13:50.16\00:13:51.49
They label you that
way to make you appear
00:13:51.53\00:13:54.06
to be a Christian
00:13:54.10\00:13:55.43
who's really not a good witness.
00:13:55.46\00:13:56.80
But now the reason why
this topic is so important
00:13:56.83\00:13:58.87
as we go to question 7,
00:13:58.90\00:14:00.24
and I'll call for
that in a moment, is this.
00:14:00.27\00:14:03.10
In order for the
world, in order for those
00:14:03.14\00:14:05.34
who don't know God
to want to know God,
00:14:05.37\00:14:07.94
they've got to
see the difference
00:14:07.98\00:14:09.31
He's made in your life.
00:14:09.34\00:14:11.55
They've got to see you,
those who knew you before
00:14:11.58\00:14:15.48
have to see you after.
00:14:15.52\00:14:17.25
Do you not catch the stories
of the miracles of Jesus?
00:14:17.29\00:14:19.99
The blind man, he got his sight.
00:14:20.02\00:14:22.29
It was hard for
people to understand
00:14:22.32\00:14:23.83
that he got a sight
00:14:23.86\00:14:25.19
but he said to those
who didn't understand it,
00:14:25.23\00:14:27.10
the Pharisees who said,
00:14:27.13\00:14:28.46
look, they tried
to fight this man
00:14:28.50\00:14:30.17
on the fact that he
got his sight restored
00:14:30.20\00:14:32.30
and you know what he said?
00:14:32.33\00:14:33.67
"One thing I know, I was" what?
00:14:33.70\00:14:35.50
"Blind. But now I see."
00:14:35.54\00:14:38.14
So our witness has to
be that simple one line,
00:14:38.17\00:14:40.84
"One thing I know, I
used to be a drug addict,
00:14:40.88\00:14:43.24
but now I'm free."
00:14:43.28\00:14:44.71
I used to be
this but now I'm that.
00:14:44.75\00:14:46.75
And it's all in Christ.
00:14:46.78\00:14:48.12
If any man be in
Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
00:14:48.15\00:14:51.89
So outside of Christ,
this theory is not gonna work.
00:14:51.92\00:14:55.19
We can get all the
Bible verses together
00:14:55.22\00:14:56.59
but if we don't
say, "Lord, come in."
00:14:56.62\00:14:59.13
This is great theory.
But that's all it's gonna be.
00:14:59.16\00:15:01.20
This is great
paperwork, great printing,
00:15:01.23\00:15:03.00
great Bible notes
but if that's all it is,
00:15:03.03\00:15:05.13
if we got all this
intellectual information
00:15:05.17\00:15:07.04
without asking the
Spirit of God to come in,
00:15:07.07\00:15:09.30
it's not gonna work.
00:15:09.34\00:15:11.11
Let's go to the
questions tonight.
00:15:11.14\00:15:12.47
Our topic by the way is
00:15:12.51\00:15:13.84
"How to be
willing and obedient?"
00:15:13.88\00:15:15.88
But here is question
number 7. Question number 7.
00:15:15.91\00:15:18.55
If you've followed us,
we've covered one through six.
00:15:18.58\00:15:21.72
But question number seven
is vitally important right now.
00:15:21.75\00:15:24.59
And here it is.
00:15:24.62\00:15:25.95
"Why is it important for us
00:15:25.99\00:15:28.39
to acknowledge
that we are weak?"
00:15:28.42\00:15:31.93
That's the hardest thing.
00:15:31.96\00:15:34.23
I know from the streets
that I come from New York,
00:15:34.26\00:15:36.77
if somebody call you weak,
00:15:36.80\00:15:38.33
you want to
prove you are not weak.
00:15:38.37\00:15:39.73
Right, David? Yeah.
00:15:39.77\00:15:41.20
When you're on the
streets, "Oh, man, you're weak."
00:15:41.24\00:15:44.04
"Bring it." You know, this
is the basketball language.
00:15:44.07\00:15:45.74
If you bring it, you know,
00:15:45.77\00:15:47.11
so you see that in
sports and football.
00:15:47.14\00:15:49.14
It's all about who's strong.
00:15:49.18\00:15:50.51
And wrestling is
about who's strong
00:15:50.55\00:15:51.95
and boxing is
about who's strong.
00:15:51.98\00:15:53.68
And singing competition
is about who's strong.
00:15:53.72\00:15:56.15
And the Christian
world is about who's weak.
00:15:56.18\00:15:58.79
Can you imagine
walking in to the boxing ring
00:16:02.62\00:16:05.26
and say, you know, I am weak?
00:16:05.29\00:16:08.06
People say, "I paid
to come and see somebody
00:16:08.10\00:16:09.96
who is weak go up against him?"
00:16:10.00\00:16:12.20
But then, look what God can do.
00:16:12.23\00:16:13.74
Look at David
and look at Goliath.
00:16:13.77\00:16:17.01
Who would you
say is weak? David.
00:16:17.04\00:16:20.24
And not only was he unskilled
in war, but he was a youth.
00:16:20.28\00:16:24.71
So brethren, all
those stories in the Bible,
00:16:24.75\00:16:26.31
in the Old Testament,
00:16:26.35\00:16:27.68
in the New
Testament, life through of Jesus
00:16:27.72\00:16:29.25
shows you what we can do
if we are strong in Christ.
00:16:29.28\00:16:32.09
Now here's the answer.
00:16:32.12\00:16:33.86
Go with me to 2
Corinthians 12:9.
00:16:33.89\00:16:35.76
And that's where
we find the answer.
00:16:35.79\00:16:38.56
Why is it important for us
00:16:38.59\00:16:39.93
to acknowledge that we are weak?
00:16:39.96\00:16:41.30
Here is the reason.
00:16:41.33\00:16:42.66
"And He said to me."
00:16:42.70\00:16:44.03
Let's read the rest together.
00:16:44.07\00:16:45.40
"My grace is
sufficient for you."
00:16:45.43\00:16:49.84
This is powerful.
00:16:49.87\00:16:51.21
"For My strength is
made perfect in weakness.
00:16:51.24\00:16:55.44
Therefore most
gladly I will rather" what?
00:16:55.48\00:16:59.31
"Boast in my infirmities,
00:16:59.35\00:17:01.38
that the power of
Christ may rest upon me."
00:17:01.42\00:17:04.22
Let's not run past
that. That's powerful.
00:17:04.25\00:17:06.69
You know what they say, oh,
so why is it important for us
00:17:06.72\00:17:09.19
to acknowledge that we are weak.
00:17:09.22\00:17:11.43
First answer,
00:17:11.46\00:17:12.79
so that the power of
Christ may rest on you.
00:17:12.83\00:17:15.66
So that the power of
Christ may rest on you.
00:17:15.70\00:17:18.40
How many of us need
the power of Christ?
00:17:18.43\00:17:20.94
Everyone of us do.
00:17:20.97\00:17:22.37
That's what Acts
1:8 is all about.
00:17:22.40\00:17:25.04
Acts 1:8 say, "You
shall receive power
00:17:25.07\00:17:28.18
when the Holy
Spirit comes upon you."
00:17:28.21\00:17:30.85
Not when you join the church.
00:17:30.88\00:17:32.58
That's the biggest
mistake people make.
00:17:32.61\00:17:34.58
"I'm now a member."
"So what?" The devil says.
00:17:34.62\00:17:38.65
People are member of all--
00:17:38.69\00:17:40.06
you know, people are
members of all kinds of things.
00:17:40.09\00:17:42.42
But are you in
Christ? Are you in now imbued?
00:17:42.46\00:17:45.19
Are you covered by the power?
00:17:45.23\00:17:46.90
Are you operating in the Spirit?
00:17:46.93\00:17:48.86
Are you walking in the Spirit?
00:17:48.90\00:17:50.50
Are you realizing
that you are weak?
00:17:50.53\00:17:53.47
'Cause the moment
we say we're strong,
00:17:53.50\00:17:55.94
the Lord can't do
much for us at all.
00:17:55.97\00:17:58.24
So here is the key.
00:17:58.27\00:18:00.24
First reason under question 7,
00:18:00.28\00:18:02.44
so that the power of
Christ may rest upon us.
00:18:02.48\00:18:05.95
But now let's go to verse 10.
00:18:05.98\00:18:08.05
I want to break
those down together
00:18:08.08\00:18:09.85
so that the power of
Christ may rest upon us
00:18:09.88\00:18:11.59
and He wants to
do that everyday.
00:18:11.62\00:18:13.02
But now look at verse
10. 2 Corinthians 12:10.
00:18:13.05\00:18:16.19
"Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities,"
00:18:16.22\00:18:20.73
look at all the
things he struggled with,
00:18:20.76\00:18:22.10
"in reproaches, in needs,
00:18:22.13\00:18:24.43
in persecution, in distress."
00:18:24.47\00:18:27.30
For whose sake?
"For Christ's sake.
00:18:27.34\00:18:29.47
For when I am weak,"
come on, say it with me,
00:18:29.50\00:18:32.64
"then I am strong."
00:18:32.67\00:18:34.88
Isn't that what you
face during the week?
00:18:34.91\00:18:36.61
Come on.
00:18:36.64\00:18:37.98
Isn't that what we
face during the week?
00:18:38.01\00:18:39.35
We face infirmities,
00:18:39.38\00:18:40.72
that's everything weak about us.
00:18:40.75\00:18:42.42
We face reproaches, people,
I don't need to go there.
00:18:42.45\00:18:48.19
Sometimes the reproaches we face
00:18:48.22\00:18:50.93
and what a
reproach primarily is?
00:18:50.96\00:18:52.96
If somebody falsely accusing you
00:18:52.99\00:18:54.80
or even accusing you.
00:18:54.83\00:18:56.20
Or saying, "Uh,
Cynthia, you ain't all that.
00:18:56.23\00:18:58.57
I mean, prove good."
00:18:58.60\00:18:59.93
And so they are
trying to draw out of you,
00:18:59.97\00:19:01.30
the humanities.
00:19:01.34\00:19:03.91
When, in fact, if we are
partakers of divine nature,
00:19:03.94\00:19:06.88
what should be seen in our lives
00:19:06.91\00:19:08.24
is the presence of
Christ, His divinity there.
00:19:08.28\00:19:11.08
Do you know that's
what the temptation
00:19:11.11\00:19:12.45
of Christ is all about?
00:19:12.48\00:19:13.82
Satan was tempting
Jesus to show His divinity,
00:19:13.85\00:19:17.52
to deliver His humanity.
00:19:17.55\00:19:19.99
Satan tempts us
to show our humanity
00:19:20.02\00:19:25.26
while we are
claiming to be in divinity.
00:19:25.29\00:19:27.60
Did you get that?
Jesus was in humanity.
00:19:27.63\00:19:31.20
Satan appealed to His divinity.
00:19:31.23\00:19:33.23
Now if any man be in Christ,
we claim to be in divinity.
00:19:33.27\00:19:37.24
But he's
appealing to our humanity.
00:19:37.27\00:19:39.31
So when people
are reproaching you,
00:19:43.04\00:19:45.68
when you have needs
that you can't meet,
00:19:45.71\00:19:48.02
when you are
living in persecution,
00:19:48.05\00:19:49.58
when you are distressed,
00:19:49.62\00:19:51.32
remember, Christ is the one
00:19:51.35\00:19:54.76
that you set at the
forefront of your life.
00:19:54.79\00:19:58.93
In other words, he's saying,
00:19:58.96\00:20:00.46
take pleasure in
all this for my sake.
00:20:00.50\00:20:02.80
You know what that means?
00:20:02.83\00:20:04.17
When the blind
man received his sight
00:20:04.20\00:20:06.43
for Christ sake,
Jesus was glorified, right.
00:20:06.47\00:20:11.91
The Pharisees couldn't
argue with the evidence.
00:20:11.94\00:20:15.21
So all the
infliction, all the reproach
00:20:15.24\00:20:17.71
and they reproached
that blind man quite a bit.
00:20:17.75\00:20:19.75
All the reproach and distress
00:20:19.78\00:20:21.68
that they tried to
place on that blind man,
00:20:21.72\00:20:23.89
he boiled it down and
said, okay, I'll tell you what.
00:20:23.92\00:20:26.96
Let's make it really simple.
00:20:26.99\00:20:28.46
You want to find
out how it happened?
00:20:28.49\00:20:31.33
Do you want to be
one of His disciples too?
00:20:31.36\00:20:33.46
They don't want that.
00:20:33.50\00:20:34.83
They just wanted the
answer to how he was made whole.
00:20:34.86\00:20:37.07
And so the fact
of the matter is,
00:20:37.10\00:20:38.50
if we put Christ in charge,
00:20:38.53\00:20:40.24
that's where the
beginning of the verse
00:20:40.27\00:20:41.70
comes into reality.
00:20:41.74\00:20:43.07
"Therefore I take pleasure."
00:20:43.10\00:20:44.57
Meaning, you
know what that means?
00:20:44.61\00:20:46.27
You're not pleasuring yourself
in being week and reproached
00:20:46.31\00:20:49.61
and persecuted and distressed.
00:20:49.64\00:20:51.51
Does anybody
have pleasure in that?
00:20:51.55\00:20:54.12
You know, you are on pleasure.
00:20:54.15\00:20:55.68
You know, you're taking pleasure
00:20:55.72\00:20:57.35
that all of this
is happening to you
00:20:57.39\00:21:00.09
so that the power of
Christ may be revealed.
00:21:00.12\00:21:03.22
Let me give you an example,
Take the story of a bully.
00:21:03.26\00:21:06.73
Take the story of a bully.
00:21:06.76\00:21:08.10
Now you know, that issue
has been coming to the forefront
00:21:08.13\00:21:09.56
here in America, bullies.
00:21:09.60\00:21:10.93
Well, let me tell
you my story, all right.
00:21:14.17\00:21:17.14
I was bullied when I
was in a high school.
00:21:17.17\00:21:19.34
That's why I didn't go to school
00:21:19.37\00:21:21.04
most of my sixth grade,
00:21:21.08\00:21:23.41
and a lower grade.
00:21:23.45\00:21:27.18
And I was absent from
school because I was bullied,
00:21:27.22\00:21:31.49
persecuted, distressed.
00:21:31.52\00:21:35.79
But when my
sister stood up for me
00:21:35.82\00:21:37.69
and my cousin stood up for me,
00:21:37.73\00:21:40.06
from that day on people knew,
00:21:40.10\00:21:42.86
"You don't want
to mess with him."
00:21:42.90\00:21:45.53
Doesn't anybody know about that?
00:21:45.57\00:21:46.90
You know when your
parent comes to your rescue,
00:21:46.94\00:21:49.20
when somebody stands up for you,
00:21:49.24\00:21:51.11
people know from that day on,
00:21:51.14\00:21:52.67
you don't want to mess with him.
00:21:52.71\00:21:55.21
And so my
cousin who at the time,
00:21:55.24\00:21:56.81
I'm converted now, praise God.
00:21:56.85\00:21:58.81
And I want to say this.
00:21:58.85\00:22:00.18
He worked for the
mafia but before he died,
00:22:00.22\00:22:02.52
he gave his life to Jesus
00:22:02.55\00:22:03.92
and he died as a
deacon in the church.
00:22:03.95\00:22:05.79
Amen. Amen.
00:22:05.82\00:22:07.29
He worked for the
mafia, if you owed money,
00:22:07.32\00:22:08.92
he went and collected it.
00:22:08.96\00:22:10.33
And don't want to spend
00:22:10.36\00:22:12.76
too much time
on how he did that.
00:22:12.79\00:22:14.13
But he gave his life to the Lord
00:22:14.16\00:22:16.16
but when he died, he
was a deacon in church.
00:22:16.20\00:22:19.93
So God brought him in.
00:22:19.97\00:22:21.30
That's what God can do
00:22:21.34\00:22:22.67
to form a mafia
man that collect.
00:22:22.70\00:22:24.84
God can change him.
00:22:24.87\00:22:26.21
People say, "Is this the same?"
00:22:26.24\00:22:28.04
When he was laid to
rest, deacon in church.
00:22:28.08\00:22:30.55
So God can do everything.
00:22:30.58\00:22:31.91
But when he walked
into the classroom,
00:22:31.95\00:22:33.28
I never forget that.
00:22:33.31\00:22:34.65
The public school I
went to in New York City,
00:22:34.68\00:22:36.02
I won't mention
the name of the school,
00:22:36.05\00:22:37.39
but he walked in the classroom
00:22:37.42\00:22:38.75
and without the
teacher's permission he said,
00:22:38.79\00:22:40.56
"Listen up,
anybody mess with him,
00:22:40.59\00:22:44.39
has to answer to me."
00:22:44.43\00:22:46.73
Do you know that the Lord says
the same thing to the devil?
00:22:46.76\00:22:50.47
For our sake, for Christ's sake,
00:22:50.50\00:22:52.93
we can take
pleasure in all the things
00:22:52.97\00:22:54.77
that we cannot do
because when we are weak,
00:22:54.80\00:22:57.14
then we are strong.
00:22:57.17\00:22:58.51
We are strong in who?
00:22:58.54\00:22:59.87
We're strong in the Lord
and in the power of what?
00:22:59.91\00:23:02.34
His might.
00:23:02.38\00:23:04.25
But only as we
come to the place.
00:23:04.28\00:23:05.91
Now let's get the
answer for verse 10.
00:23:05.95\00:23:09.22
Why is it important for us
00:23:09.25\00:23:11.25
to acknowledge that we are weak?
00:23:11.29\00:23:14.76
Come on, tell me.
00:23:14.79\00:23:17.26
Then I am strong.
That's the answer.
00:23:17.29\00:23:20.80
First of all, so
that the power of Christ
00:23:20.83\00:23:22.53
may rest upon us.
00:23:22.56\00:23:23.90
Secondly, when we are
weak in our admission,
00:23:23.93\00:23:26.63
then we are strong.
00:23:26.67\00:23:30.04
That's right.
00:23:30.07\00:23:31.41
His power is made
perfect in our weakness.
00:23:31.44\00:23:34.84
Oftentimes, we
forget that very thing.
00:23:34.88\00:23:36.95
But when you read Acts 1:8,
the whole beauty of Acts 1:8,
00:23:36.98\00:23:40.52
God was unleashing on
the New Testament church,
00:23:40.55\00:23:42.62
which is still
available to us today.
00:23:42.65\00:23:44.05
He said after the
Holy Spirit comes upon you,
00:23:44.09\00:23:45.89
you'll receive power.
00:23:45.92\00:23:47.76
And I tell you,
we all need power
00:23:47.79\00:23:49.66
to live a Christ
like life everyday.
00:23:49.69\00:23:51.69
Don't we?
00:23:51.73\00:23:53.06
Let's go to question number 8.
00:23:53.09\00:23:56.87
We have to move fast.
00:23:56.90\00:23:58.23
We have 25
questions to get to, you know.
00:23:58.27\00:24:00.80
I doubt if we
can do that tonight.
00:24:00.84\00:24:02.17
Don't worry
about the clock. Okay.
00:24:02.20\00:24:04.97
Here's the next question.
00:24:05.01\00:24:06.94
The next
question, question number 8.
00:24:06.98\00:24:08.68
"What daily action must we take
00:24:08.71\00:24:11.58
to strengthen our
Christian growth?"
00:24:11.61\00:24:16.12
What daily action must we take
00:24:16.15\00:24:19.15
to strengthen
our Christian growth?
00:24:19.19\00:24:23.09
We're gonna go to
Hebrews Chapter 12
00:24:23.12\00:24:25.89
and we're gonna first
look at verse 1, all right.
00:24:25.93\00:24:30.13
Okay. It's on the
screen. Here we are.
00:24:36.60\00:24:39.51
What action must we
take? Here is the answer.
00:24:39.54\00:24:42.84
"Therefore we also,
00:24:42.88\00:24:45.31
since we are surrounded by
00:24:45.35\00:24:47.48
so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside" what?
00:24:47.52\00:24:53.72
Every weight, and the sin
00:24:53.76\00:24:56.09
which so easily
ensnares us," or besets us,
00:24:56.12\00:25:00.80
"and let us run with
endurance," or patience,
00:25:00.83\00:25:04.77
"the race that
is set before us."
00:25:04.80\00:25:07.47
How? Let's go to verse 12 next.
00:25:07.50\00:25:09.84
But let's first
put the answer in.
00:25:09.87\00:25:11.54
What daily action must we take
00:25:11.57\00:25:13.07
to strengthen
our Christian growth?
00:25:13.11\00:25:16.01
What must we do every day?
00:25:16.04\00:25:17.55
Okay. Say it again, Glen.
00:25:22.25\00:25:23.59
Lay aside all the
sin, run with endurance.
00:25:23.62\00:25:26.15
"Let us lay aside every weight."
00:25:26.19\00:25:29.22
Did you see the
picture of that kid?
00:25:29.26\00:25:31.06
Now can that
weight be lifted up?
00:25:31.09\00:25:32.79
Do you think somebody could
00:25:32.83\00:25:34.16
life that weight up that we saw?
00:25:34.20\00:25:35.53
Of course.
00:25:35.56\00:25:36.90
Somebody that's a lot
stronger than that child,
00:25:36.93\00:25:38.27
somebody that's been conditioned
00:25:38.30\00:25:39.63
to lift that kind of weight.
00:25:39.67\00:25:41.00
Jesus is conditioned.
00:25:41.04\00:25:42.37
He does not allow,
remember 1 Corinthians 10:31,
00:25:42.40\00:25:44.91
"He does not
allow us to be tempted
00:25:44.94\00:25:46.57
beyond what we are able," right.
00:25:46.61\00:25:48.08
So He doesn't, He
never puts a weight on you
00:25:48.11\00:25:49.94
that you can't handle.
00:25:49.98\00:25:51.31
But he says but what are
you gonna do with that weight?
00:25:51.35\00:25:53.08
If you say I can handle it,
00:25:53.11\00:25:54.58
then you feel
that your righteousness
00:25:54.62\00:25:56.28
is in your own hands.
00:25:56.32\00:25:57.65
But if you say
Lord, I'm giving this,
00:25:57.69\00:25:59.29
I'm laying aside this
weight, you deal with it,
00:25:59.32\00:26:02.22
and what does He
say about His yoke?
00:26:02.26\00:26:04.36
His yoke is what?
00:26:04.39\00:26:05.79
Easy and His
burden is what? Light.
00:26:05.83\00:26:08.86
"Take my yoke upon
you and learn of me.
00:26:08.90\00:26:12.27
For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light."
00:26:12.30\00:26:15.34
How many of you would
not mind facing somebody
00:26:15.37\00:26:19.64
that's very
good in a competition
00:26:19.67\00:26:21.44
if you know
that you're gonna win
00:26:21.48\00:26:22.81
before you even
got on the field?
00:26:22.84\00:26:24.38
How many would like that?
00:26:24.41\00:26:26.95
Really, everyone of us.
00:26:26.98\00:26:29.02
Why go out on the
field? So here's the point.
00:26:29.05\00:26:32.05
In Christ, go
with me to Romans 8.
00:26:32.09\00:26:36.06
Well, let me finish Hebrews 12.
00:26:36.09\00:26:37.59
Since you're already there,
let me go to the second verse.
00:26:37.63\00:26:39.63
It makes it easier for
our people on graphics also.
00:26:39.66\00:26:41.86
We saw the first part.
00:26:41.90\00:26:43.47
The first thing we must do daily
00:26:43.50\00:26:45.00
is lay aside every weight.
00:26:45.03\00:26:47.47
Put that sin down.
00:26:47.50\00:26:48.84
Say Lord, let's
keep that sin down.
00:26:48.87\00:26:51.14
Because if the sin, if
we don't keep the sin down,
00:26:51.17\00:26:53.21
the sin is gonna keep us down.
00:26:53.24\00:26:54.74
Look at verse 2. Here it is.
00:26:54.78\00:26:57.08
Next thing, "Looking unto Jesus,
00:26:57.11\00:27:00.65
the author and
finisher of our faith,
00:27:00.68\00:27:03.59
who for the joy
that was set before Him
00:27:03.62\00:27:05.79
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
00:27:05.82\00:27:09.06
and has sat down
at the right hand
00:27:09.09\00:27:11.33
of the throne of God."
00:27:11.36\00:27:13.13
What's the second thing
that we have to do every day.
00:27:13.16\00:27:15.46
First, lay aside the weight.
00:27:15.50\00:27:16.83
Second thing,
what? Look to Jesus.
00:27:16.87\00:27:21.34
As a baby, I think many of
us could learn a lot of lessons
00:27:21.37\00:27:24.57
from new born babies.
00:27:24.61\00:27:26.47
"As new born babes,"
Peter talks about desire,
00:27:26.51\00:27:29.28
"desire the
sincere milk of the Word
00:27:29.31\00:27:31.15
that you may grow thereby."
00:27:31.18\00:27:32.55
Even as adults,
00:27:32.58\00:27:33.92
we grow by the milk
of the Word, don't we?
00:27:33.95\00:27:35.92
If you drink the milk,
00:27:35.95\00:27:37.29
you're gonna get
some nourishment.
00:27:37.32\00:27:39.09
But as is the case with babies.
00:27:39.12\00:27:42.59
Adults shouldn't
be drinking milk.
00:27:42.62\00:27:45.53
We should be handling
the meat of the word, right?
00:27:45.56\00:27:48.43
Or even say
calves, don't drink milk
00:27:48.46\00:27:50.63
beyond a certain point.
00:27:50.67\00:27:52.00
So we, as we're
growing in Christ,
00:27:54.27\00:27:56.20
if we are consistent
in studying the word,
00:27:56.24\00:28:00.58
we will get to the place one day
00:28:00.61\00:28:01.94
where we can handle
the meat of the Word.
00:28:01.98\00:28:04.38
Go from liquid to solid food
00:28:04.41\00:28:07.32
and Paul says the
unfortunate thing is,
00:28:07.35\00:28:08.98
some people who should
be strong in that area,
00:28:09.02\00:28:11.25
they need to go
back to drinking milk.
00:28:11.29\00:28:13.36
Because they
have not substitute,
00:28:13.39\00:28:14.72
they have not allowed Christ
00:28:14.76\00:28:16.09
to come in and
be their sufficiency
00:28:16.12\00:28:18.36
and be the one that
carries them through.
00:28:18.39\00:28:20.50
So the two things, first of all,
00:28:20.53\00:28:21.86
lay aside every weight,
second thing, look unto Jesus.
00:28:21.90\00:28:24.60
Now let's go to Romans
8. I want you to see this.
00:28:24.63\00:28:26.40
Okay.
00:28:33.54\00:28:34.88
It is amazing, okay...
00:28:40.38\00:28:42.08
Are you ready?
00:28:51.63\00:28:53.43
Okay, here we are, Romans 8.
00:28:53.46\00:28:55.66
I'm on my way there.
00:28:55.70\00:28:57.03
One of your favorite
verses because, you know,
00:29:02.24\00:29:03.91
we talk about the tribulation
in the Book of Romans.
00:29:03.94\00:29:09.31
I'm gonna go to the latter part.
00:29:09.34\00:29:11.28
Romans 8:31.
00:29:11.31\00:29:14.32
In order to understand verse 31,
00:29:14.35\00:29:16.05
we'll go back to the
verses after we read verse 31.
00:29:16.08\00:29:18.82
It says, "Yet,
in all these things
00:29:18.85\00:29:20.89
we are more than," Romans 8:37.
00:29:20.92\00:29:25.03
My pen covered
that. Romans 8:37.
00:29:25.06\00:29:29.30
It says, "Yet
in all these things
00:29:29.33\00:29:30.97
we are more than conquerors
through Him who" does what?
00:29:31.00\00:29:35.70
"Loved us."
00:29:35.74\00:29:37.71
But now, when he
talks about this,
00:29:37.74\00:29:39.87
there are lots of things that
we're gonna face as Christians.
00:29:39.91\00:29:42.31
Distress, persecution,
nakedness, or sword,
00:29:42.34\00:29:45.01
famine, all these difficulties.
00:29:45.05\00:29:46.98
Some of them we
have not faced yet like,
00:29:47.02\00:29:49.88
I can't say what
your category may be,
00:29:49.92\00:29:52.05
but whatever we
face, the Lord is saying,
00:29:52.09\00:29:54.06
if we are in Christ,
yet in all these things
00:29:54.09\00:29:56.62
and all the things that we face,
00:29:56.66\00:29:57.99
we are more than
conquerors through Him.
00:29:58.03\00:30:01.63
In other words, we can win,
00:30:01.66\00:30:03.00
we could win more than anything,
00:30:03.03\00:30:04.80
anything that comes our way,
00:30:04.83\00:30:06.17
we are more than
victorious in it,
00:30:06.20\00:30:08.07
if we put Christ to
the table to handle the sin
00:30:08.10\00:30:12.04
that we cannot handle.
00:30:12.07\00:30:13.98
Isn't that right?
00:30:14.01\00:30:15.61
Question number
9. Question number 9.
00:30:15.64\00:30:20.88
Now this question
is really amazing.
00:30:20.92\00:30:22.45
Here it is.
00:30:22.48\00:30:23.82
"What does the Bible revealed
00:30:23.85\00:30:25.19
to encourage us in
our Christian growth?"
00:30:25.22\00:30:29.09
When people first
give their lives to Christ,
00:30:29.12\00:30:31.46
a lot of times they say,
00:30:31.49\00:30:33.93
"Wow. I got so
much to do to catch up.
00:30:33.96\00:30:39.27
Sometimes we are in
the presence of people
00:30:39.30\00:30:42.10
that have been in
ministry 30 and 40 years
00:30:42.14\00:30:45.04
when I compare
myself to Elder Brooks,
00:30:45.07\00:30:47.44
Elder C.D. Brooks,
00:30:47.48\00:30:48.81
I got so much
catching up to do, right?
00:30:48.84\00:30:51.95
But we are not to do that
because we get discouraged.
00:30:51.98\00:30:54.48
We compare ourselves,
00:30:54.52\00:30:56.55
we don't compare
ourselves to anybody.
00:30:56.58\00:30:58.55
We submit ourselves to Christ.
00:30:58.59\00:31:01.52
Comparing you will
always give you discouragement.
00:31:01.56\00:31:03.79
So we submit
ourselves to Christ.
00:31:03.83\00:31:05.89
But what's wonderful
about this particular passage,
00:31:05.93\00:31:08.90
the Lord doesn't say,
00:31:08.93\00:31:10.33
that the moment
you become a Christian
00:31:10.37\00:31:11.93
that you're gonna
be perfect right away.
00:31:11.97\00:31:13.30
He doesn't say that.
00:31:13.34\00:31:15.37
So the encouragement
we get as Christians,
00:31:15.40\00:31:18.17
as we continue to grow,
00:31:18.21\00:31:19.54
he said, let's begin this place.
00:31:19.57\00:31:21.44
Look at the verse.
Let's start some place.
00:31:21.48\00:31:23.58
And here it is,
2 Corinthians 8:12.
00:31:23.61\00:31:26.95
That's where our
answer comes from.
00:31:26.98\00:31:29.58
"For if there is
first a" what kind of mind?
00:31:29.62\00:31:34.96
"Willing mind,
00:31:34.99\00:31:37.69
it is accepted
according to what one has,
00:31:37.73\00:31:40.50
and not according to
what he does not have."
00:31:40.53\00:31:44.10
Now let's start there.
00:31:44.13\00:31:45.93
If you are
willing, if you are what?
00:31:45.97\00:31:48.90
Willing.
00:31:48.94\00:31:50.27
The Lord is not
looking for able people.
00:31:50.31\00:31:55.08
Because the Bible
says for God is able
00:31:55.11\00:31:58.48
who will not
allow you to be tempted
00:31:58.51\00:32:00.82
above what you are able.
00:32:00.85\00:32:02.42
But what the
temptation make way of escape,
00:32:02.45\00:32:04.42
God is looking
for willing people.
00:32:04.45\00:32:05.82
He said, "Are you
willing?" I'm willing.
00:32:05.85\00:32:08.66
I remember the first
time I got on a horse back,
00:32:08.69\00:32:11.26
in Idaho I think it was.
00:32:11.29\00:32:13.19
When we were out,
00:32:13.23\00:32:14.56
when I was in a
Heritage Singers,
00:32:14.60\00:32:15.93
we went to a farm.
00:32:15.96\00:32:18.60
And my reluctant
son, in getting on a horse
00:32:18.63\00:32:22.74
was the fact that
he had his own mind.
00:32:22.77\00:32:26.04
I said, I know
where I want to go
00:32:26.07\00:32:27.58
but where does he want to go?
00:32:27.61\00:32:29.34
You see.
00:32:29.38\00:32:30.88
I was with, they had to
talk me into being willing.
00:32:30.91\00:32:32.98
So I got on a horse
00:32:33.01\00:32:34.35
and then what
was encouraging to me
00:32:34.38\00:32:36.85
is that the owner of the horse
held the reigns of the horse
00:32:36.89\00:32:40.92
and said, no matter
where he wants to go,
00:32:40.96\00:32:43.66
it's where I want to go
that makes the difference.
00:32:43.69\00:32:46.36
So I got on a horse
with the encouragement
00:32:46.39\00:32:48.20
that the horse is
not gonna take off
00:32:48.23\00:32:49.66
and tear off the
pasture with me on his back,
00:32:49.70\00:32:53.37
which could happen.
00:32:53.40\00:32:54.94
But the owner was in
control of that beast.
00:32:54.97\00:32:57.31
Now let's put this together.
00:32:57.34\00:32:59.21
When we wake up every morning,
00:32:59.24\00:33:00.58
our sin nature is
like an uncontrolled horse.
00:33:00.61\00:33:03.78
It just wants to take off.
00:33:03.81\00:33:05.98
But we have to
live with it, right?
00:33:06.01\00:33:08.78
So what you do is you submit
that uncontrollable nature,
00:33:08.82\00:33:11.29
that nature that can take off
00:33:11.32\00:33:12.65
and run you into
all kinds of pastures
00:33:12.69\00:33:14.09
that you cannot
exist in situations
00:33:14.12\00:33:17.03
that are just this
close to taking your life.
00:33:17.06\00:33:21.43
But you look down at that
00:33:21.46\00:33:24.07
3000 pounds of human nature
00:33:24.10\00:33:26.94
uncontrolled, unregenerated
00:33:26.97\00:33:29.37
and you see Jesus with
the reigns in His hands.
00:33:29.40\00:33:32.11
And He says, your
nature is not going anywhere
00:33:32.14\00:33:36.04
that I am not going to lead it.
00:33:36.08\00:33:38.08
Amen. Amen.
00:33:38.11\00:33:39.58
That's what the submission
of Christianity is all about.
00:33:39.61\00:33:41.68
It's not saying
that we are perfect.
00:33:41.72\00:33:43.05
He's saying if you're
willing, you just get on,
00:33:43.08\00:33:45.02
you wake up in the
morning, your nature is there
00:33:45.05\00:33:47.09
but if you allow me
to guide that nature,
00:33:47.12\00:33:49.46
mold that nature and
that's called submitting.
00:33:49.49\00:33:53.63
That's called what? Submitting.
00:33:53.66\00:33:55.43
That's called submitting.
00:33:55.46\00:33:56.90
The Lord, this is
very powerful point here.
00:33:56.93\00:33:59.67
The Lord does not take
your nature and control it.
00:33:59.70\00:34:03.20
You've got to
submit your nature.
00:34:06.94\00:34:10.85
You got to submit your,
00:34:10.88\00:34:12.38
He doesn't try
to break your will.
00:34:12.41\00:34:16.05
You've got to submit your will.
00:34:16.08\00:34:18.42
What does Jesus say?
00:34:18.45\00:34:19.79
Can you imagine
Jesus and His Father
00:34:19.82\00:34:21.16
having an argument?
00:34:21.19\00:34:23.16
This is the sad truth.
00:34:23.19\00:34:24.53
But let's think about
00:34:24.56\00:34:25.89
when Jesus is about to go
to the cross, what did he say?
00:34:25.93\00:34:27.36
"Not my?" "Will"
00:34:27.40\00:34:29.96
But before He
said that, he said,
00:34:30.00\00:34:31.33
"Lord, if it is Your will,
let this cup pass from me."
00:34:31.37\00:34:34.14
This is not the
road I want to go down.
00:34:34.17\00:34:38.14
If that was all that Bible wrote
00:34:38.17\00:34:39.64
we would come to the conclusion
00:34:39.67\00:34:41.31
that Jesus went
where He didn't want to go.
00:34:41.34\00:34:44.05
But I like the text
where He said, He said,
00:34:44.08\00:34:45.88
"Not my will,
but thine be done."
00:34:45.91\00:34:48.25
That's why this lesson
is about being willing.
00:34:48.28\00:34:50.42
But it's not just
willingness that gets us there.
00:34:50.45\00:34:52.72
Willingness is
the starting point.
00:34:52.75\00:34:54.96
Willingness is
the starting point.
00:34:54.99\00:34:57.36
Let's go to the next question.
00:34:57.39\00:34:59.39
So If you answer
question number 9,
00:34:59.43\00:35:01.36
what does the Bible
reveal to encourage us
00:35:01.40\00:35:03.37
in our Christian growth?
00:35:03.40\00:35:04.73
Be willing. Be willing.
00:35:04.77\00:35:07.04
If you're willing,
if you are willing,
00:35:07.07\00:35:09.37
but there's something else.
00:35:09.40\00:35:11.17
What else? Question number 10.
00:35:11.21\00:35:14.41
"What other action
00:35:14.44\00:35:15.78
must accompany our willingness?"
00:35:15.81\00:35:18.75
What other action must
accompany our willingness?
00:35:18.78\00:35:21.88
It's okay to be willing
but what do we after that?
00:35:21.92\00:35:24.22
When I was in the...
00:35:27.79\00:35:30.96
when I was in the Philippines,
I got introduced to a fruit
00:35:30.99\00:35:34.86
that didn't smell like a fruit.
00:35:34.90\00:35:38.23
It was called durian
00:35:38.27\00:35:40.57
and if you go into a
shop that sold durian,
00:35:40.60\00:35:44.31
well, let me just tell you.
00:35:44.34\00:35:45.67
I went to a shop
where they sold durian.
00:35:45.71\00:35:47.58
It didn't smell
like a fruit sort.
00:35:47.61\00:35:51.05
They smell like baby diapers--
00:35:51.08\00:35:54.08
It smell like baby, you
know, just smell putrid.
00:35:54.12\00:35:57.59
And I said,
"What is that smell?"
00:35:57.62\00:35:59.39
And they said, "That's
fruit, the tastiest fruit."
00:35:59.42\00:36:03.53
I said, "Why does
that smell that way?"
00:36:03.56\00:36:05.69
I couldn't get beyond the smell,
00:36:05.73\00:36:08.40
you know, some of you may
know what I'm talking about.
00:36:08.43\00:36:11.03
Adame know what
I'm talking about
00:36:11.07\00:36:12.40
'cause I know he's
been to the Philippines
00:36:12.43\00:36:13.77
and Celestine
'cause she's Filipino.
00:36:13.80\00:36:15.67
But I couldn't
get beyond the smell.
00:36:15.70\00:36:18.61
And they said, "Do
you want to try it?"
00:36:18.64\00:36:20.24
What was my initial
response? "There is no way."
00:36:20.28\00:36:23.55
I was not willing to try that.
00:36:23.58\00:36:26.25
So the guy that
helped me out cut in fours
00:36:26.28\00:36:28.82
and he took a piece and
said, "Look, very good."
00:36:28.85\00:36:30.89
He ate it first and I'm
thinking, that's a set up.
00:36:30.92\00:36:34.32
Because what is good to--
00:36:34.36\00:36:35.69
some people's taste bud
00:36:35.72\00:36:37.06
doesn't
necessarily work for yours.
00:36:37.09\00:36:39.09
But he said if you taste it,
00:36:39.13\00:36:41.76
you'll see that you
cannot go by the odor.
00:36:41.80\00:36:45.43
I tasted it and you know what,
00:36:45.47\00:36:47.17
it became one of
my favorite fruits.
00:36:47.20\00:36:49.47
But you have to get
past. What did I have to be?
00:36:49.50\00:36:52.11
I have to be what? Willing.
00:36:52.14\00:36:55.48
But now I want you
to look at the rest
00:36:55.51\00:36:56.85
of what else must
accompany being willing.
00:36:56.88\00:36:59.51
What other action must
accompany our willingness?
00:36:59.55\00:37:02.58
Here is it. Isaiah 1:19.
00:37:02.62\00:37:07.02
Here it is.
00:37:07.06\00:37:08.59
And I like you to
read this with me.
00:37:08.62\00:37:09.96
Are you ready? Here we go.
00:37:09.99\00:37:11.33
"If you are
willing and obedient,
00:37:11.36\00:37:15.26
You shall eat the
good of the land."
00:37:15.30\00:37:17.80
That's what I, I had to
be obedient to eat the good.
00:37:17.83\00:37:21.07
They said it was good but man,
I wasn't initially obedient.
00:37:21.10\00:37:24.71
I was somewhat willing
00:37:24.74\00:37:26.27
but they had to
really convince me,
00:37:26.31\00:37:27.64
don't just be willing, try it.
00:37:27.68\00:37:29.38
And you know what,
brethren, the Lord is saying,
00:37:29.41\00:37:31.08
if we are willing
and if we are obedient.
00:37:31.11\00:37:33.88
Heaven is going to
be a beautiful place
00:37:33.92\00:37:35.95
but let me tell you something.
00:37:35.98\00:37:37.32
Heaven is not gonna
be furnished with people
00:37:37.35\00:37:38.85
that are
unwilling and disobedient.
00:37:38.89\00:37:41.26
And one other verse that is
00:37:41.29\00:37:43.46
well, I can't say
this naturally or generally
00:37:43.49\00:37:45.96
but so much of
the topic of obedience
00:37:45.99\00:37:49.06
is not talked about.
00:37:49.10\00:37:50.73
Obedience, it almost sounds like
00:37:50.77\00:37:52.63
something that has been on
the endangered species list.
00:37:52.67\00:37:56.71
And we talk
about palatable topics
00:37:56.74\00:37:58.44
that seem light and airy
00:37:58.47\00:38:00.58
and easy to understand
and make me feel good.
00:38:00.61\00:38:03.98
It's not a good, it's not a
good feeling to be obedient.
00:38:04.01\00:38:08.92
As a matter of fact, I'm
glad my wife brought that out.
00:38:08.95\00:38:11.52
Some women even say when
you do the marriage vows,
00:38:11.55\00:38:13.79
leave out that obey part.
00:38:13.82\00:38:16.19
You know, love,
honor, they put cherish.
00:38:16.22\00:38:19.49
They have long since
deleted the word obey.
00:38:19.53\00:38:22.36
But the Bible has
a whole lot of obey.
00:38:22.40\00:38:24.77
"Obey your parents in
the Lord for this is right."
00:38:24.80\00:38:28.60
Now how many children
disobey their parents today?
00:38:28.64\00:38:31.71
The statistics are alarming.
00:38:31.74\00:38:34.34
"Obey your parents in
the Lord for this is right."
00:38:34.38\00:38:37.08
The context of
that is in the Lord,
00:38:37.11\00:38:38.55
godly parents, loving parents.
00:38:38.58\00:38:41.15
They nurture that
heart of obedience.
00:38:41.18\00:38:43.69
But being willing and obedient
00:38:43.72\00:38:46.82
is what must
accompany us on a day
00:38:46.86\00:38:49.62
but Lord I'm willing.
00:38:49.66\00:38:51.33
He said, if you're
willing, be obedient.
00:38:51.36\00:38:52.99
And then He gives us
the power to be obedient.
00:38:53.03\00:38:55.23
He works out His
will in our lives
00:38:55.26\00:38:56.67
when we submit our will
to His molding influence.
00:38:56.70\00:38:59.40
Because outside of ourselves,
00:38:59.43\00:39:00.77
Dave, and I've known
Dave for a number of years,
00:39:00.80\00:39:04.34
but everyday
that I've known him,
00:39:04.37\00:39:06.34
he submits his life to Christ
because outside of Christ,
00:39:06.37\00:39:09.01
none of us can
accomplish anything
00:39:09.04\00:39:12.91
worthy of glory for Christ.
00:39:12.95\00:39:16.35
And the devil
looks for those moments
00:39:16.38\00:39:17.82
where he can sneak something in.
00:39:17.85\00:39:20.59
Now the next
question is even deeper.
00:39:20.62\00:39:23.83
The next
question is even deeper.
00:39:23.86\00:39:25.89
Question number 11.
00:39:25.93\00:39:29.46
"To what extent and
with what determination
00:39:29.50\00:39:33.00
must our willingness be?"
00:39:33.03\00:39:36.77
To what extent and
with what determination
00:39:36.81\00:39:41.04
must our willingness be?
00:39:41.08\00:39:43.48
We're gonna look
at Philippians 2:8.
00:39:43.51\00:39:47.05
Every time I look at
the word Philippians,
00:39:47.08\00:39:48.42
I think it looks like
Philippines, you know.
00:39:48.45\00:39:51.49
Look at Philippians 2:8.
00:39:51.52\00:39:53.09
This is a powerful passage.
00:39:53.12\00:39:54.46
By the way, as
you're turning there,
00:39:54.49\00:39:55.82
think of it this
way, if I'm willing,
00:39:55.86\00:39:58.39
some people will say,
00:39:58.43\00:39:59.76
"I'm willing but I'm not,
00:39:59.79\00:40:01.13
I mean, I'm not
going to do all that."
00:40:01.16\00:40:04.63
I only imagine what
our faith would have been
00:40:04.67\00:40:06.67
if Jesus was only
going to be willing
00:40:06.70\00:40:08.40
to a certain extent.
00:40:08.44\00:40:10.31
We would be in
trouble today, wouldn't we?
00:40:10.34\00:40:12.74
We would all be lost.
00:40:12.77\00:40:14.11
If Jesus said, I'm willing
00:40:14.14\00:40:15.48
but to be beaten for
something I didn't do,
00:40:15.51\00:40:19.78
oh, that's just
not gonna happen.
00:40:19.81\00:40:22.88
And the Father
says, but that's not it.
00:40:22.92\00:40:24.32
They are gonna
spit in your face,
00:40:24.35\00:40:27.66
I'll be honest with you,
00:40:27.69\00:40:29.02
with all the
power that He harnessed,
00:40:29.06\00:40:31.26
what a willing heart.
00:40:31.29\00:40:32.63
Amen. To go through what He did.
00:40:32.66\00:40:35.66
And the reason why
He went through that
00:40:35.70\00:40:37.70
was not just for the actions
that were taken against Him
00:40:37.73\00:40:40.74
but here is the
beauty of it, brethren.
00:40:40.77\00:40:42.10
He went through it
because He had us in mind.
00:40:42.14\00:40:45.87
He, "For God so
loved the world."
00:40:45.91\00:40:48.28
He went through all
that so He can rescue us.
00:40:48.31\00:40:51.48
When a person is
on a rescue mission,
00:40:51.51\00:40:53.85
what would a parent
not be willing to do
00:40:53.88\00:40:56.32
to rescue his
child or her child?
00:40:56.35\00:40:59.09
I've seen some amazing feats.
00:40:59.12\00:41:01.06
I heard a parent,
a lady talked about,
00:41:01.09\00:41:02.79
she said, she don't know
00:41:02.82\00:41:04.33
where she found
the strength from
00:41:04.36\00:41:06.06
when her child was hit by a car.
00:41:06.09\00:41:07.93
She said, I don't know
where I found the strength
00:41:07.96\00:41:09.30
but I lift the front
right fender of that,
00:41:09.33\00:41:11.13
front right fender of that car
00:41:11.17\00:41:12.73
so that my child could be
pulled from under the tire.
00:41:12.77\00:41:15.60
Where did I get the
strength from, I don't know.
00:41:15.64\00:41:18.87
But she was willing.
00:41:18.91\00:41:20.74
And I will haste to say though,
00:41:20.78\00:41:22.11
angels of God
helped her with that.
00:41:22.14\00:41:25.01
But to what extent
are we to be willing.
00:41:25.05\00:41:27.18
Now as we read the
text, keep this in mind.
00:41:27.22\00:41:29.68
This is a powerful
text. This text challenges us.
00:41:29.72\00:41:32.92
It says how far
are you willing to go.
00:41:32.95\00:41:35.69
Because I tell you why
this text is important.
00:41:35.72\00:41:37.83
Before Jesus
comes, our willingness,
00:41:37.86\00:41:41.10
to be obedient to everything
00:41:41.13\00:41:42.46
that we know to be the
truth is gonna be tested.
00:41:42.50\00:41:45.17
Are you willing
to honor the Sabbath
00:41:45.20\00:41:47.54
even if it means your life?
00:41:47.57\00:41:49.67
Are you willing
00:41:49.70\00:41:51.04
to keep the Commandments of God
00:41:51.07\00:41:52.41
even if it means
that you might die?
00:41:52.44\00:41:54.41
Are you willing to
stand firm on truth
00:41:54.44\00:41:56.71
in spite of what others may say?
00:41:56.75\00:41:59.55
Even if the trends of the world
turn completely against you,
00:41:59.58\00:42:02.02
how willing are you
to stand on your own?
00:42:02.05\00:42:04.69
Well, look at one
who did stand on his own.
00:42:04.72\00:42:07.36
To what extent and
with what determination?
00:42:07.39\00:42:09.16
Here is the
answer. Philippians 2:8.
00:42:09.19\00:42:12.09
"And being found in
appearance as a" what?
00:42:12.13\00:42:15.36
"Man." He looked just like us.
00:42:15.40\00:42:17.50
"He humbled Himself and
became obedient" to what?
00:42:17.53\00:42:21.34
"To the point of death,
even the death of the cross."
00:42:21.37\00:42:26.27
That is powerful.
00:42:26.31\00:42:28.61
Now I know that
because He and His Father
00:42:28.64\00:42:31.01
laid out the plan of salvation
00:42:31.05\00:42:33.01
and the Father revealed
to Him the plan of salvation
00:42:33.05\00:42:34.98
as He was in human
form, if you can endure this,
00:42:35.02\00:42:38.55
the greater blessing comes
on the other side of the tomb.
00:42:38.59\00:42:42.39
And when He came
forth from the tomb,
00:42:42.42\00:42:43.96
He came forth in perfect glory,
00:42:43.99\00:42:46.16
perfect power in that
sinless glorious nature
00:42:46.19\00:42:49.96
that was awaiting Him on
the other side of obedience
00:42:50.00\00:42:53.37
that even led to
the point of death.
00:42:53.40\00:42:55.74
I tell that's something
else. That's a text for martyrs.
00:42:55.77\00:42:59.11
You know, you hear
the stories of martyrs
00:42:59.14\00:43:00.48
during the dark ages
that gave their lives.
00:43:00.51\00:43:02.64
And you read those stories
in Foxe's Book of Martyrs,
00:43:02.68\00:43:05.51
one of the great controversy
on history books and you say,
00:43:05.55\00:43:07.75
"How could they do that?"
00:43:07.78\00:43:09.85
You know how,
because they were willing.
00:43:09.88\00:43:11.72
They submitted their will to God
00:43:11.75\00:43:13.12
on day by day basis and
here is what sets us up.
00:43:13.15\00:43:15.72
If you are submitting yourself
00:43:15.76\00:43:17.23
to the will of
God in small things,
00:43:17.26\00:43:19.36
then you are preparing yourself
00:43:19.39\00:43:20.73
to submit your will
to God in big things.
00:43:20.76\00:43:22.40
Am I right?
00:43:22.43\00:43:23.77
But if you wait for
the biggest test to come
00:43:23.80\00:43:25.43
before you
submit to will to God,
00:43:25.47\00:43:27.10
submit your will
to the will of God
00:43:27.14\00:43:28.97
or to the influence of
God or the molding of God,
00:43:29.00\00:43:30.91
you are not ready.
00:43:30.94\00:43:32.57
In the very same way,
00:43:32.61\00:43:33.94
before that child was ready
00:43:33.98\00:43:35.31
for the major
leagues of baseball,
00:43:35.34\00:43:36.95
chances are he
played little league,
00:43:36.98\00:43:39.88
he played sandlot baseball,
00:43:39.91\00:43:41.82
he played, maybe some
baseball in high school,
00:43:41.85\00:43:44.45
maybe some baseball in college
00:43:44.49\00:43:46.19
and then he
still had to compete it
00:43:46.22\00:43:47.66
at a high level
even to be considered
00:43:47.69\00:43:51.33
before he gets that
Championship baseball trophy.
00:43:51.36\00:43:54.70
He went a long
way but how willing.
00:43:54.73\00:43:57.27
One coach has said to me,
well, I can't say said to me
00:43:57.30\00:44:00.57
but I heard a coach
say this, a matter of fact,
00:44:00.60\00:44:02.80
it was years ago,
one of the coaches
00:44:02.84\00:44:04.31
on Bolton Celtics, he says,
00:44:04.34\00:44:06.24
"I don't want people
on my team that are good.
00:44:06.27\00:44:08.14
I want people on my team
00:44:08.18\00:44:09.51
that I can coach that
are willing to listen.
00:44:09.54\00:44:12.08
I want people not
with good skills."
00:44:12.11\00:44:14.02
He said "I could
win a game with guys
00:44:14.05\00:44:15.42
that are mediocre
00:44:15.45\00:44:16.79
if they are willing to
listen to my coaching."
00:44:16.82\00:44:19.35
And God is not
looking for people
00:44:19.39\00:44:20.72
with super human abilities,
00:44:20.76\00:44:22.22
God is not looking for people
00:44:22.26\00:44:23.59
with super abilities or talents.
00:44:23.63\00:44:25.56
He's looking for
people that are willing
00:44:25.59\00:44:27.20
and are willing to be willing
even to the point of death.
00:44:27.23\00:44:30.87
Willing to be obedient
even to the point of death.
00:44:30.90\00:44:32.97
Amen. Amen.
00:44:33.00\00:44:34.34
And you know why?
00:44:34.37\00:44:35.70
Let me encourage you
for those of you who think,
00:44:35.74\00:44:38.37
do I have to die?
00:44:38.41\00:44:40.18
How often do you have to die?
00:44:40.21\00:44:42.38
Every day.
00:44:42.41\00:44:45.08
Thankfully, we
haven't gotten to the point
00:44:45.11\00:44:47.58
where we given up,
giving up our lives literally.
00:44:47.62\00:44:50.69
But if you give your
life to the Lord day by day,
00:44:50.72\00:44:53.52
dying to self,
00:44:53.56\00:44:55.32
then one more
death is no big thing
00:44:55.36\00:44:57.13
knowing that on
the other side of that
00:44:57.16\00:44:58.59
the great promise of
God will be revealed in you
00:44:58.63\00:45:01.33
in the
resurrection, eternal life,
00:45:01.36\00:45:03.80
glories forever more.
00:45:03.83\00:45:06.60
But you got to be
willing to the point of
00:45:06.67\00:45:08.84
even if it means
losing your life.
00:45:08.87\00:45:12.11
Now let's go to
question number 12.
00:45:12.14\00:45:15.04
Wow.
00:45:15.08\00:45:16.54
That's something to
think about and consider.
00:45:16.58\00:45:18.65
The willingness
that Jesus demonstrated.
00:45:18.68\00:45:21.85
Here's the next question.
00:45:21.88\00:45:24.09
"What daily armor
is the Christian given
00:45:24.12\00:45:28.22
to shield against failure?"
00:45:28.26\00:45:30.39
How many of you want to succeed?
00:45:30.43\00:45:31.76
Do we all want to succeed?
00:45:31.79\00:45:33.86
I mean,
everybody wants to succeed
00:45:33.90\00:45:35.23
but what kind of
armor are we given daily
00:45:35.26\00:45:36.60
to shield against failure?
00:45:36.63\00:45:38.23
I like this one.
00:45:38.27\00:45:39.93
Oh, this is beautiful.
00:45:39.97\00:45:42.77
I get a triple
blessing when I study this one.
00:45:42.80\00:45:44.87
When I put it
together when I edit it
00:45:44.91\00:45:46.68
and when I present
it to you, it's like
00:45:46.71\00:45:48.04
man, I've had three
slices of cake already.
00:45:48.08\00:45:50.68
And I'm trying to
convince you how good it is.
00:45:50.71\00:45:52.75
Here it is, number 12.
00:45:52.78\00:45:54.68
That's where I am, right?
00:45:54.72\00:45:56.05
Okay, here is the answer.
00:45:56.08\00:45:57.42
Romans 13:14.
00:45:57.45\00:45:59.45
Let's read this
together. I like this one.
00:45:59.49\00:46:02.46
But put on the
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:46:02.49\00:46:06.53
and make no
provision for the flesh,
00:46:06.56\00:46:10.10
to fulfill its lusts."
00:46:10.13\00:46:12.10
Now you know if
you do the first thing,
00:46:12.13\00:46:13.77
the second thing is
gonna happen naturally.
00:46:13.80\00:46:16.24
When you put on the Lord,
00:46:16.27\00:46:17.64
He's not gonna make
decisions to fulfill your flesh.
00:46:17.67\00:46:20.81
But when you put him on,
you know what that means,
00:46:20.84\00:46:24.25
have you seen, wow,
00:46:24.28\00:46:29.35
they are in
development some people
00:46:29.38\00:46:31.49
that put on
these robotic outfits
00:46:31.52\00:46:35.46
that allows them
with their human hand
00:46:35.49\00:46:37.49
to lift a weight
that's much heavier
00:46:37.53\00:46:38.89
than the human hand
could possibly lift,
00:46:38.93\00:46:40.80
robotic arms.
00:46:40.83\00:46:42.56
Sometimes they use that to
work in areas in environments
00:46:42.60\00:46:45.53
like in deep,
underwater in the sea,
00:46:45.57\00:46:47.54
they have robotic arms
00:46:47.57\00:46:48.90
that are
controlled by human hands
00:46:48.94\00:46:50.27
but those robotic
arms could do a lot more
00:46:50.31\00:46:51.71
than the human hands
could ever accomplish.
00:46:51.74\00:46:53.94
In the very same
way, Christ becomes,
00:46:53.98\00:46:56.61
He doesn't turn us into robots
but we participate with Him
00:46:56.64\00:47:01.12
in the molding of our character.
00:47:01.15\00:47:02.98
If we simply put the
Lord Jesus Christ on,
00:47:03.02\00:47:05.69
He's the one shielding us now.
00:47:05.72\00:47:07.26
He's the one
encapsulating this human flesh.
00:47:07.29\00:47:09.86
So therefore, do you believe
00:47:09.89\00:47:11.46
that the power of
Christ is strong enough
00:47:11.49\00:47:14.83
to subdue the human flesh?
00:47:14.86\00:47:19.20
Every temptation that
came His way, He resisted.
00:47:19.23\00:47:22.37
That what the Bible says,
"He was tempted in all points,
00:47:22.40\00:47:24.44
just as we are,
yet without sin."
00:47:24.47\00:47:27.54
So I'm tempted
sometimes to be angry.
00:47:27.58\00:47:30.95
Sometimes I do get angry.
00:47:30.98\00:47:32.51
But I try never to get angry
00:47:32.55\00:47:33.88
to the point where I
lose my temper and...
00:47:33.92\00:47:36.79
and do a disservice to Christ.
00:47:40.29\00:47:43.12
Now at home, I'll
argue with myself.
00:47:43.16\00:47:46.49
Do you ever go home
and have a second argument?
00:47:46.53\00:47:48.96
"This is what I
should have said."
00:47:49.00\00:47:50.47
You know, "This is
what I should have did."
00:47:50.50\00:47:51.83
Then, "Wait till
I see him again."
00:47:51.87\00:47:53.20
You know, you have,
you got to get that out.
00:47:53.23\00:47:54.70
Vent at home but don't vent
where God will be dishonored.
00:47:54.74\00:47:57.87
Amen.
00:47:57.91\00:47:59.24
And even when you vent at
home, watch out what you say.
00:47:59.27\00:48:02.78
Right.
00:48:02.81\00:48:04.21
'Cause sometimes, you
know, "I wasn't thinking
00:48:04.25\00:48:07.12
but wait till I
see him tomorrow.
00:48:07.15\00:48:08.48
This is I want to tell him."
00:48:08.52\00:48:09.95
We think that
human, we got to satisfy
00:48:09.98\00:48:11.72
that craving that's carnal
and that old man was saying.
00:48:11.75\00:48:14.26
"That's right. Get
him." "There he is. Get him."
00:48:14.29\00:48:17.36
We got to pray that
God can some do that?
00:48:17.39\00:48:19.46
Am I telling the truth?
00:48:19.49\00:48:20.90
That's the human nature.
00:48:20.93\00:48:22.26
And it's sometimes
that's not an anger.
00:48:22.30\00:48:23.63
Sometimes it's in lust.
00:48:23.67\00:48:25.07
Sometimes it's in lying.
00:48:25.10\00:48:26.50
We can't wait
for the opportunity.
00:48:26.53\00:48:28.50
"Did you do that?"
00:48:28.54\00:48:30.21
"Yes."
00:48:30.24\00:48:31.57
I knew.
00:48:35.18\00:48:36.51
My wife, we knew
our niece really well,
00:48:36.54\00:48:39.65
my sister's daughter.
00:48:39.68\00:48:41.22
She had a mannerism.
00:48:41.25\00:48:42.58
Every time she lied, we
could tell, "You're lying."
00:48:42.62\00:48:45.32
'Cause her ears
would turn red right away.
00:48:45.35\00:48:47.42
"You're lying.
Just tell the truth."
00:48:47.46\00:48:49.39
"No, honestly."
00:48:49.42\00:48:50.76
And it's getting
redder and redder.
00:48:50.79\00:48:52.49
"Just tell the truth."
00:48:52.53\00:48:53.96
I tell you, brethren.
We are some creatures.
00:48:54.00\00:48:56.26
We would do anything
to go under the radar
00:48:56.30\00:48:58.17
of God's detecting hand.
00:48:58.20\00:49:00.04
But Paul the writer of
Hebrew said, "Oh, brethren.
00:49:00.07\00:49:02.67
We are all naked and open to him
00:49:02.70\00:49:05.21
with whom we have to deal.
00:49:05.24\00:49:06.71
We got to give an account.
God sees us under the radar.
00:49:06.74\00:49:10.11
He sees us in the dark.
00:49:10.15\00:49:11.75
He sees us before we
lie, before we mess up.
00:49:11.78\00:49:13.95
He said, now brethren,
00:49:13.98\00:49:15.32
since we have to
give an account to Him,
00:49:15.35\00:49:16.92
why don't you just
simply make it easy?
00:49:16.95\00:49:18.65
Why don't you submit yourself
unto the Almighty hand of God
00:49:18.69\00:49:21.86
and He will exalt
you in due season.
00:49:21.89\00:49:23.56
Amen. Amen.
00:49:23.59\00:49:24.93
He knows how to
hold us together.
00:49:24.96\00:49:26.29
But this beautiful text says,
"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ."
00:49:26.33\00:49:28.70
If that's the first
thing you do in the morning,
00:49:28.73\00:49:30.73
you can't do that haphazardly.
00:49:30.77\00:49:32.33
Let me give you an example.
I'll be honest with you.
00:49:32.37\00:49:34.34
The days that you
hardly let Jesus come in,
00:49:34.37\00:49:36.60
are the days that has
the greatest trouble for you.
00:49:36.64\00:49:39.51
The days that you don't
spend time in the word of God,
00:49:39.54\00:49:41.68
or get that
devotional open real quick
00:49:41.71\00:49:43.85
and start filling your
mind with spiritual things,
00:49:43.88\00:49:46.21
you'll find that the battles
that Satan brings your way
00:49:46.25\00:49:48.78
are right at your door step.
00:49:48.82\00:49:50.15
Isn't that right?
00:49:50.19\00:49:51.52
But when you
get that ammunition,
00:49:51.55\00:49:52.89
when you're putting
on the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:49:52.92\00:49:54.49
and you can't do it
sometimes with one Bible verse.
00:49:54.52\00:49:57.09
And for those who
read one Bible verse,
00:49:57.13\00:49:58.66
it's like taking
one bowl of cereal,
00:49:58.69\00:50:00.13
and expecting to
go all day with one,
00:50:00.16\00:50:01.93
not even one bowl,
one spoon of cereal.
00:50:01.96\00:50:05.33
3 o'clock.
00:50:05.37\00:50:06.70
That's why, you
see those commercials,
00:50:06.74\00:50:08.24
"How many of you
need five-hour energy?"
00:50:08.27\00:50:10.84
And you see when that 2
o'clock blues come around,
00:50:10.87\00:50:13.48
they're selling
these little bottles
00:50:13.51\00:50:14.84
of 300,000 milligrams
of caffeine, fake energy.
00:50:14.88\00:50:21.22
What we need to do is
put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:50:21.25\00:50:23.08
Amen. Amen.
00:50:23.12\00:50:24.45
The parallel to that
is eat a good breakfast,
00:50:24.49\00:50:26.02
eat a good lunch,
nourish your body.
00:50:26.05\00:50:28.86
But you cannot get this.
00:50:28.89\00:50:30.23
You can't get a
bottle of Christianity
00:50:30.26\00:50:32.23
when you are about
to blow your stack.
00:50:32.26\00:50:35.63
You can't get a bottle
of Christianity to drink.
00:50:35.66\00:50:38.50
"Oh, now I can't tell him off."
00:50:38.53\00:50:40.24
No, you got to put on
00:50:40.27\00:50:41.60
the Lord Jesus
Christ in the morning.
00:50:41.64\00:50:42.97
Amen. Amen.
00:50:43.00\00:50:44.34
You got to do the first
00:50:44.37\00:50:45.71
because the moment
you get out of that house,
00:50:45.74\00:50:47.34
you're gonna
meet with influences
00:50:47.38\00:50:48.71
that are far beyond
your ability to handle.
00:50:48.74\00:50:52.21
And if you have children,
that's an extra challenge.
00:50:52.25\00:50:55.48
If you have people that
you work with or around you,
00:50:55.52\00:50:57.52
that's another challenge.
00:50:57.55\00:50:59.05
If you are a monk, you
are your own challenge.
00:50:59.09\00:51:03.73
Some people think if
I hide in the mountains,
00:51:03.76\00:51:06.16
I could make it without sinning.
00:51:06.19\00:51:07.53
No, you're not.
00:51:07.56\00:51:08.90
Because in your flesh,
00:51:08.93\00:51:10.43
your mind is
adamant against God's law.
00:51:10.47\00:51:12.60
You can't hide
yourself into righteousness.
00:51:12.63\00:51:14.84
You got to face that every
day in the power of Christ.
00:51:14.87\00:51:17.24
Look at question number 13.
00:51:17.27\00:51:19.27
Moving at a very good pace.
00:51:19.31\00:51:21.01
Okay. Question number 13.
00:51:21.04\00:51:22.58
So if you've put
the answer there,
00:51:22.61\00:51:23.98
what's the answer to number 12?
00:51:24.01\00:51:25.88
What daily armor?
00:51:25.91\00:51:27.28
What's the daily
armor? One word "Christ."
00:51:27.32\00:51:30.52
"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ."
00:51:30.55\00:51:33.69
Think of that.
00:51:33.72\00:51:35.06
That deep sea diving suit.
00:51:35.09\00:51:36.42
You don't get wet.
00:51:36.46\00:51:37.79
The oxygen tight suit.
00:51:37.83\00:51:39.16
The astronauts could
exists in outer space.
00:51:39.19\00:51:42.36
When you put on
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:51:42.40\00:51:44.03
it's amazing where you can exist
00:51:44.07\00:51:46.50
without any
hindrance to your life,
00:51:46.53\00:51:48.84
without any risk to your life.
00:51:48.87\00:51:50.44
Question 13.
00:51:50.47\00:51:51.81
How does the
Bible show that the Lord
00:51:51.84\00:51:53.17
has always been our hope?
00:51:53.21\00:51:55.98
He has always been our hope.
00:51:56.01\00:51:57.58
One of the things that
really sometimes stretch me
00:51:57.61\00:51:59.65
is when I hear
people say, well, you know,
00:51:59.68\00:52:01.42
"In the New Testament is grace
and the Old Testament is law.
00:52:01.45\00:52:07.36
You know, we see about
the righteousness of Jesus
00:52:07.39\00:52:09.19
in the New Testament
00:52:09.22\00:52:10.56
but you don't hear
about it in the Old."
00:52:10.59\00:52:12.09
Well, I don't know
what Bible you're reading.
00:52:12.13\00:52:14.30
Well, right now we're gonna
go to one of those Bible texts
00:52:14.33\00:52:16.30
that we often say are not there
00:52:16.33\00:52:18.80
and see that Christ
has always been our hope.
00:52:18.83\00:52:22.50
Jeremiah 23, and let's
look together at verse 6.
00:52:22.54\00:52:27.38
How does the Bible show
00:52:27.41\00:52:28.74
that the Lord has
always been our hope?
00:52:28.78\00:52:30.11
Here's the answer.
00:52:30.15\00:52:31.78
It says, "In His
days Judah will be saved,
00:52:31.81\00:52:35.85
And Israel will dwell safely,
00:52:35.88\00:52:39.72
Now this is His name by
which He will be called,"
00:52:39.75\00:52:44.46
come on together, "The
Lord our righteousness."
00:52:44.49\00:52:48.96
One of the--
number of years ago the,
00:52:49.00\00:52:51.10
I think the General
Conference adopted a slogan,
00:52:51.13\00:52:55.14
which was "The Lord,
Our Righteousness Still."
00:52:55.17\00:52:59.17
That was the
slogan many years ago,
00:52:59.21\00:53:00.91
oh, 10, 15, 20
years ago, I think.
00:53:00.94\00:53:02.94
"The Lord, Our
Righteousness Still."
00:53:02.98\00:53:04.81
The righteousness
of Judah and of Israel
00:53:04.85\00:53:07.58
is our righteousness today.
00:53:07.62\00:53:09.22
The Lord is still
our righteousness.
00:53:09.25\00:53:12.02
Isn't that right?
00:53:12.05\00:53:13.39
So when you ask the question,
how does the Bible show
00:53:13.42\00:53:16.26
that the Lord has
always been our hope?
00:53:16.29\00:53:17.79
He's our righteousness.
00:53:17.83\00:53:19.19
The same God that Noah found
00:53:19.23\00:53:21.00
grace in the eyes of a--
and that's the other thing.
00:53:21.03\00:53:22.86
People say, well,
you find the grace of God
00:53:22.90\00:53:24.87
in the New Testament,
00:53:24.90\00:53:26.23
but you don't find
it in the Old Testament.
00:53:26.27\00:53:28.54
For by grace are
you saved through faith?
00:53:28.57\00:53:31.64
Everyone has always
been saved by grace.
00:53:31.67\00:53:36.21
You cannot be
saved by keeping the law
00:53:36.24\00:53:37.75
because as I began
the program by saying is
00:53:37.78\00:53:40.12
you look at the law of
God, in the stark reality is,
00:53:40.15\00:53:43.12
that's the standard and
here is the human flesh.
00:53:43.15\00:53:45.89
That's the standard
by which I'll be judged
00:53:45.92\00:53:48.19
and here is my
human inabilities.
00:53:48.22\00:53:50.96
In other words,
there's all the weights
00:53:50.99\00:53:54.36
and I'm only 115 pounds
and I want to be Mr. Universe.
00:53:54.40\00:54:00.00
Well, can't do it.
00:54:00.04\00:54:01.80
You got to call on
somebody greater than yourself.
00:54:01.84\00:54:04.11
Call on Lord Jesus Christ.
00:54:04.14\00:54:06.17
"Thus, whosoever shall
call on the name of the Lord
00:54:06.21\00:54:10.61
shall be saved."
00:54:10.65\00:54:12.81
That's not just eternally,
00:54:12.85\00:54:14.52
but that's at the
moment that you need Him.
00:54:14.55\00:54:18.29
What's the next question?
00:54:18.32\00:54:19.65
So the answer is the
Lord our righteousness still.
00:54:19.69\00:54:21.76
Question number 14.
00:54:21.79\00:54:23.26
Let's see where we are here.
00:54:23.29\00:54:24.63
"In what way do we acknowledge
00:54:24.66\00:54:26.56
that God is
molding our character?"
00:54:26.59\00:54:31.53
In what way do we acknowledge
00:54:31.57\00:54:33.20
that God is
molding our character?
00:54:33.23\00:54:36.44
Character is some,
it's a strange instrument.
00:54:36.47\00:54:40.64
As you go to Philippians 2:13,
00:54:40.68\00:54:42.74
those of you who are theological
00:54:42.78\00:54:44.11
know what that reads.
00:54:44.15\00:54:45.48
But character is a
strange instrument.
00:54:45.51\00:54:46.95
You know why I say that?
00:54:46.98\00:54:49.28
Because character is
like a ball of putty.
00:54:49.32\00:54:55.02
Any of you who
used to play with putty?
00:54:55.06\00:54:57.19
Remember the putty
that used to be able to,
00:54:57.23\00:54:59.13
if you use putty and
you stick it on a newspaper
00:54:59.16\00:55:01.00
and take off the,
00:55:01.03\00:55:02.36
whatever is printed on
the newspaper, remember that?
00:55:02.40\00:55:03.73
Silly putty, remember that?
00:55:03.77\00:55:05.80
Silly putty was,
well, the fun about it is
00:55:05.83\00:55:08.34
everybody could make something
different out of Silly putty
00:55:08.37\00:55:11.17
or putty in general.
00:55:11.21\00:55:12.54
But it always came in a ball.
00:55:12.57\00:55:15.24
And it never looked like
what it eventually became.
00:55:15.28\00:55:18.35
It always became what
the person who molded it,
00:55:18.38\00:55:22.25
desired to make out of it.
00:55:22.28\00:55:24.49
Here is the
beauty of our character.
00:55:24.52\00:55:26.22
Jesus is molding us.
00:55:26.25\00:55:28.29
Now this is not disrespectful
but when we come to Jesus,
00:55:28.32\00:55:31.99
we're like Silly putty, right?
00:55:32.03\00:55:35.70
Very silly and we're
just a ball of confusion.
00:55:35.73\00:55:39.80
But Jesus takes us in His
hands and then He molds us.
00:55:39.83\00:55:42.14
Look at how the text says it.
00:55:42.17\00:55:43.51
Look at how the text says it.
00:55:43.54\00:55:45.64
"For it is God."
00:55:45.67\00:55:47.01
For it is who, friends? God.
00:55:47.04\00:55:48.74
"Who works" where?
00:55:48.78\00:55:50.11
"In you, get this,
"both to will and to do"
00:55:50.15\00:55:55.72
of or "for His good pleasure."
00:55:55.75\00:55:58.35
Get what this text is saying.
00:55:58.39\00:55:59.85
It says, God is the one
who works in you, first of all,
00:55:59.89\00:56:01.76
to even give you the desire
00:56:01.79\00:56:04.06
and then He gives you the power.
00:56:04.09\00:56:05.49
Now isn't that, I mean, that's
what more can you ask for?
00:56:05.53\00:56:10.83
If you allow
the Lord to come in,
00:56:10.87\00:56:12.40
when you eat the
word of God day by day
00:56:12.43\00:56:14.30
because it's the bread of life
00:56:14.34\00:56:15.67
and I want to just develop this.
00:56:15.70\00:56:17.04
The word of God is
like the bread of life.
00:56:17.07\00:56:19.37
When you eat the
bread of life daily,
00:56:19.41\00:56:21.58
you know what happens?
00:56:21.61\00:56:23.55
Paul speaks to the
Ephesians and he says,
00:56:23.58\00:56:27.85
the word of God
works effectively in those
00:56:27.88\00:56:31.02
who believe it.
00:56:31.05\00:56:32.39
It's like the yeast in bread.
00:56:32.42\00:56:34.82
It works effectively when
it's inserted into the bread.
00:56:34.86\00:56:38.16
In the very same
way, when the word of God
00:56:38.19\00:56:39.76
is inserted into our
minds and in our lives,
00:56:39.79\00:56:42.40
there's something
there that God can work with.
00:56:42.43\00:56:44.40
Follow me, really.
00:56:44.43\00:56:45.77
There's something
there that God can work with
00:56:45.80\00:56:47.14
but He can't work
with what's not there.
00:56:47.17\00:56:50.14
If you put it in there,
00:56:50.17\00:56:52.47
it's like if you put
the batteries in a remote,
00:56:52.51\00:56:55.34
then the remote can work.
00:56:55.38\00:56:56.91
If you put the Word
of God in your mind,
00:56:56.95\00:57:00.35
David the psalmist says,
00:57:00.38\00:57:01.72
"Thy word have I hid in my heart
00:57:01.75\00:57:03.08
that I might not
sin against thee."
00:57:03.12\00:57:04.82
He was taken the
effective living Word of God
00:57:04.85\00:57:07.06
into his life.
00:57:07.09\00:57:08.42
He wasn't taken
something that was arbitrary.
00:57:08.46\00:57:10.23
The only relief he got
from the temptations around him
00:57:10.26\00:57:14.83
was from the Word of God.
00:57:14.86\00:57:16.26
And Jesus in his
moment of temptation,
00:57:16.30\00:57:18.30
it was the word of God.
00:57:18.33\00:57:19.70
If Jesus needed the Word
of God to overcome temptation,
00:57:19.73\00:57:22.84
how much do we need it?
00:57:22.87\00:57:25.71
He said to the
devil, "It is written."
00:57:25.74\00:57:29.78
Let me wind up this
broadcast by saying,
00:57:29.81\00:57:32.28
you know, a lot of
what we said tonight,
00:57:32.31\00:57:34.42
the majority of it
can be accomplished
00:57:34.45\00:57:36.72
if we simply take the
Word of God into our lives
00:57:36.75\00:57:38.95
every day.
00:57:38.99\00:57:40.46
It's written here but
we wanted written where?
00:57:40.49\00:57:44.86
Here.
00:57:44.89\00:57:46.23
That's what you do
with the law of God.
00:57:46.26\00:57:47.60
He put in our minds,
He wrote it on our hearts
00:57:47.63\00:57:50.67
and now when we put
the Word of God in there
00:57:50.70\00:57:52.23
and He
activates the Word of God,
00:57:52.27\00:57:54.04
the power comes out.
00:57:54.07\00:57:55.40
So, friends, if
you submit yourself
00:57:55.44\00:57:57.21
to the molding
influence of Christ,
00:57:57.24\00:57:59.61
you will see His righteousness
in a sharper focus.
00:57:59.64\00:58:02.98
God bless you
until we see you again.
00:58:03.01\00:58:05.35
Let's pray.
00:58:05.38\00:58:06.72