Guidance tonight.
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And we know that the Lord
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will never
disappoint us, isn't that right?
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And so as we pray then
we're gonna sing a song
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together and we're gonna began
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with a very interesting story.
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Let's bow our
heads and ask the God
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that we love and
serve to be with us tonight.
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Heavenly Father, thank you Lord,
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for the opportunity
of studying Your word.
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Thank You for
the topic in Christ.
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We know Lord that whenever
we call on Your Holy Spirit,
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He will guide us
and He will lead us.
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And tonight, we
need Your guidance
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and we need Your leading.
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Bless those who are tuning
in and make Your word clear,
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we pray in Jesus name, amen.
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Now we're gonna
sing a song tonight,
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it's gonna be on
the screen here locally
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but those of you who know it,
it's called "Victory in Jesus."
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And that's the only place
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that we can have
victory, isn't that right?
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So as you hear the song tonight,
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sing along with
me, "Victory in Jesus."
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The word will
appear on our screen.
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I heard an old, old story
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How the 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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The chorus. 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
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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. Now that is the truth
outside of the cleansing flood
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and the blood of Christ
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none of us can find
victory, isn't that true? Amen.
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Now tonight I want
to begin with a story,
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I have a letter by the way
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I'm gonna share with you
I have it on my iPad here.
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I'm excited when people respond,
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we have a Facebook
page, we have a Twitter page.
00:05:03.35\00:05:07.22
And we have an e-mail when you
go to our website asf.3abn.org.
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You can click on
either the Twitter
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or the Facebook page and
send your prayer request.
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And you can also send
your comments and somebody did.
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Matter of fact, that the
person's name is Catherine,
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if you're watching tonight
thank you for you comment
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that's
encouraging, it read as follows.
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"Dear Pastor
Lomacang, I just began watching
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'A Sharper Focus' study plan
and I really, really like it.
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I am new to the church
and want to be baptized soon."
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Isn't that
amazing, not baptized yet.
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"I greatly appreciate it.
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It is really helping me to
understand God's holy word,
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thank you, Catherine."
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And thank you Catherine for
that comment, there are others.
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But we don't want
to take all the time
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to go through just the comments,
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we want to thank those who
are tuning in and watching.
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And let me also encourage
you invite your friends,
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because this is the study not
necessarily about the Sabbath
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or the State of the
Dead or other doctrinal truth
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which will come in the future.
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But this is about
the most fundamental
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thing about Christianity,
how to live a victorious life?
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How to live a spiritual
life and what kind of body?
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In a natural body.
Everybody here knows that.
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But tonight I want
to begin with the story
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that's pretty interesting.
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You'll see this picture on
the screen right here locally.
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And how many you have
seen this picture before?
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Now somebody gave me a
gift, a little Russian doll
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and I want you
to see that picture
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as it appears on your screen,
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because this
illustrates a story very well.
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This little Russian
doll is in my office.
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The first time I saw one of
these, I wonder what it was.
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And somebody said, "Well,
things are not necessarily
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the way they appear to be."
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And I said, "What do you mean?
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It's just a--you know, cardboard
or wooden Russia doll."
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And they said, "No,
look on the inside."
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So I look on the
inside and I discovered
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it was not just one
but there was what? Two.
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So the next picture
should show you what's happening
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as we continue unfolding.
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There was another one on the
inside of that and when I open
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that one there was a
third one on the inside of that.
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And they said,
"Well keep going."
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And I opened it again
and there was a forth one
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on the inside of that.
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And they said, "Don't stop now."
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And I opened it one
more time and they said,
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"There's a fifth
one inside of that."
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And I thought to myself
you mean to tell me all that,
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all of that is inside
of that one structure.
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And they said, "Yes,
that's exactly how it is."
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And I thought about
that as I was thinking
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of the very
interesting way to illustrate
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what it means to be in Christ.
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Now you can't really tell
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what's on the inside of
that until you open it up.
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And when we think about our walk
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in our lives that are in Christ.
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Paul says in First Corinthians,
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actually Second
Corinthians 5:17,
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"If anyone is in
Christ, he is a new," what?
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Creature or creation.
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"Old things that passed
away, behold," How many things?
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"All things have become new."
00:08:02.14\00:08:04.38
I've to get used
to this microphone
00:08:04.39\00:08:05.79
because I'm from New
York, I talk with my hands.
00:08:05.80\00:08:08.21
And I feel like I'm handcuffed,
00:08:08.22\00:08:09.49
but I'll get used
to the microphone.
00:08:09.50\00:08:11.89
So as I thought about that,
I said, "Okay, how will people
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see us if we are in Christ?"
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And I thought about this doll.
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And this doll
illustrates how people see us,
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because as I
opened it the smaller doll
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look just like the bigger
doll and the next smaller doll
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look just like the next
size and they all look the same.
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And I thought
about that for a moment
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and it came to
me that when people,
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when we are in
Christ, people see Christ.
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We should look like Christ
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when we are living in
Christ, isn't that right?
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So what does that mean, do
we look like Christ physically?
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Obviously not every
one of us looks different.
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But when people look at us,
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they should see
the Christian virtues.
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As a matter of fact, when you
talk about living in the spirit.
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We're not talking
about somebody walking around
00:09:02.21\00:09:03.92
in a ghostly body or in a mist
00:09:03.93\00:09:07.11
or in something that
rises from hot tea kettle.
00:09:07.12\00:09:09.53
We're talking about
people that are reflecting
00:09:09.54\00:09:11.91
the characteristics
that are connected
00:09:11.92\00:09:14.13
to the spirit of Christ.
00:09:14.14\00:09:15.52
So let's ask what those are.
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The food of the spirit is what?
00:09:17.96\00:09:19.73
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
00:09:19.74\00:09:24.28
gentleness, meekness, patience.
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And Paul says again such
there is no law which means
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there's nothing preventing,
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there's nothing
preventing those qualities
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and those gifts from
showing up in our lives
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if we are truly
living in Christ.
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So when you think about living
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a spiritual life
in a natural body.
00:09:41.32\00:09:43.05
We still have the same body
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that we gonna have
until the Lord transforms us.
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But the victory that we can have
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is only as we are in Christ.
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Now I had a slide, I
was gonna show you next,
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but I want you to turn with me
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to the Book of Colossians.
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This is not the
question, but go to Colossians.
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This is in the New
Testament, look at that.
00:10:01.01\00:10:03.56
One turn and I went to
the Book of Colossians,
00:10:03.57\00:10:06.40
I didn't plan that,
but that's how it happens
00:10:06.41\00:10:08.53
sometime, Colossians 3:3.
00:10:08.54\00:10:12.15
Now in order to
become a Christian
00:10:12.16\00:10:14.74
what has to happen
with the old life, aha?
00:10:14.75\00:10:19.18
It has to die.
00:10:19.19\00:10:20.66
Okay, so now if
we plan on living,
00:10:20.67\00:10:26.52
if we plan on living
after the old life dies
00:10:26.53\00:10:32.72
where does the
new life come from?
00:10:32.73\00:10:34.60
Where does the
new life come from?
00:10:38.68\00:10:41.19
It comes from Christ.
00:10:41.20\00:10:43.36
Let's look at the
cemetery illustration,
00:10:43.37\00:10:45.28
because the Bible uses this
in Paul's writings quite a bit.
00:10:45.29\00:10:48.87
In Romans 5, 6, and 7, Paul
talks about death quite a bit.
00:10:48.88\00:10:53.67
Specifically in
Romans Chapter 6,
00:10:53.68\00:10:55.18
I'm gonna lay the foundation
before we read the text,
00:10:55.19\00:10:57.63
because when you read it,
people have misinterpreted
00:10:57.64\00:11:00.35
that text and given it a meaning
that is not really illustrated
00:11:00.36\00:11:03.87
by what Paul is saying
to the people of Colossians.
00:11:03.88\00:11:06.89
But when you go to a cemetery,
00:11:06.90\00:11:10.35
you often go because of what?
00:11:10.36\00:11:15.32
Somebody's died,
you're there for a funeral.
00:11:15.33\00:11:18.45
I'm gonna try to
pull it out of you.
00:11:18.46\00:11:19.74
You go to a cemetery because
you're there for a-- Funeral.
00:11:19.75\00:11:22.86
And that person that
has died is gonna be--
00:11:22.87\00:11:25.01
Buried. And when you leave
00:11:25.02\00:11:26.97
are they gonna go
home with you? No.
00:11:26.98\00:11:29.39
I hope they don't, never--I hope
they never go home with you.
00:11:29.40\00:11:33.94
But if they hope to
have life beyond the grave,
00:11:33.95\00:11:38.56
are those who
are dead in a grave
00:11:38.57\00:11:40.47
going to have
life beyond the grave?
00:11:40.48\00:11:42.74
How? How?
00:11:45.68\00:11:48.96
Okay, thank you,
in the resurrection.
00:11:48.97\00:11:51.77
So there--but now
in the resurrection
00:11:51.78\00:11:53.75
how are they
gonna have that life?
00:11:53.76\00:11:56.87
Through Christ.
Who's gonna give them life?
00:11:56.88\00:11:59.67
Okay, the Lord is going
to bring them back to life.
00:11:59.68\00:12:02.95
But when Paul talks about
death in the Book of Romans,
00:12:02.96\00:12:07.73
he talks about it
synonymous with baptism.
00:12:07.74\00:12:11.08
He talks about the man,
00:12:11.09\00:12:12.97
the old life being
put in the watery grave
00:12:12.98\00:12:16.53
being buried
with Christ in baptism
00:12:16.54\00:12:19.02
then coming forth to
walk in the newness of life.
00:12:19.03\00:12:22.88
Now let's put this
together correctly.
00:12:22.89\00:12:25.40
If we laid the old life
down and buried the old life
00:12:25.41\00:12:29.89
how are we going to be
able to live this new life?
00:12:29.90\00:12:33.60
Somebody tell me. In Christ.
00:12:33.61\00:12:38.50
It's not the hard question,
00:12:38.51\00:12:39.67
but I just want to get
the point very, very clear.
00:12:39.68\00:12:41.87
So when you read this text
00:12:41.88\00:12:44.48
think of it in a
context of the illustration
00:12:44.49\00:12:46.23
I just pointed out.
00:12:46.24\00:12:47.24
All of these dolls that were
smaller than the largest one
00:12:47.25\00:12:49.75
were on the inside, they were
there but you couldn't see them
00:12:49.76\00:12:53.43
because they were on the inside.
00:12:53.44\00:12:55.06
Look at this text
Colossians 3 and verse 3.
00:12:55.07\00:12:59.56
And it read as follows,
00:12:59.57\00:13:02.67
for--let's say the
first three words together,
00:13:02.68\00:13:05.93
"For you" what?
00:13:05.94\00:13:07.16
"For you died", let's stop
there, "and you life is" what?
00:13:07.17\00:13:12.37
"Hidden with
Christ," where? In God.
00:13:12.38\00:13:16.72
So now when you
think about this,
00:13:16.73\00:13:17.94
Paul is not talking
about the physical death,
00:13:17.95\00:13:21.06
he's talking about
the spiritual death,
00:13:21.07\00:13:23.51
because when
you go further down,
00:13:23.52\00:13:25.31
let me put on my glasses.
00:13:25.32\00:13:27.46
When you go further
down he begins to talk about
00:13:27.47\00:13:30.47
how this transformation
is gonna take place.
00:13:30.48\00:13:32.58
Look at verse 4,
it says, "When Christ,
00:13:32.59\00:13:34.52
who is your life appears,
00:13:34.53\00:13:35.93
then you also will
appear with Him in glory.
00:13:35.94\00:13:38.79
Therefore, put to
death your members
00:13:38.80\00:13:41.87
which are on the earth
00:13:41.88\00:13:43.38
and he talks about
them, "fornication,
00:13:43.39\00:13:45.33
uncleanness,
passion, evil desire,
00:13:45.34\00:13:49.41
and covetousness,
which is idolatry."
00:13:49.42\00:13:52.25
And so go to verse 8,
"But now you must put off,
00:13:52.26\00:13:56.23
you must also put off all
these, anger, wrath, malice,
00:13:56.24\00:14:01.85
blasphemy, filthy
language out of your mouth."
00:14:01.86\00:14:05.27
Now so when we die, when
that old life is put to death,
00:14:05.28\00:14:08.27
these are the things
that should be put to death.
00:14:08.28\00:14:11.22
Come on
somebody say, amen. Amen.
00:14:11.23\00:14:12.95
So if these things survives
and you hear these things
00:14:12.96\00:14:16.31
coming out of the
mouth of the person
00:14:16.32\00:14:17.49
came to be alive in Christ,
00:14:17.50\00:14:19.74
then wait a minute
something hasn't died.
00:14:19.75\00:14:22.57
Or that person is
still living in the old life
00:14:22.58\00:14:25.78
or that old man
has moved back in.
00:14:25.79\00:14:28.93
This is really important,
00:14:28.94\00:14:30.05
because you know, you talk
about, "Well, I am a Christian."
00:14:30.06\00:14:32.47
Somebody told me a story I think
I won't mention particularly.
00:14:32.48\00:14:35.50
But somebody told me a story
00:14:35.51\00:14:36.68
how they had gone to a church
00:14:36.69\00:14:37.95
and they had been
invited for the preacher
00:14:37.96\00:14:41.72
to put his hand on
them and they said,
00:14:41.73\00:14:43.30
"It's not gonna work."
But he put his hand on them
00:14:43.31\00:14:44.71
and they were so to
speak 'slain in the spirit.'
00:14:44.72\00:14:47.25
And they didn't believe
it, but some kind of force
00:14:47.26\00:14:49.51
came over them and
knocked them off their feet.
00:14:49.52\00:14:51.95
But when they
woke up, they said,
00:14:51.96\00:14:53.29
"Now was that experience
what people told me being slain
00:14:53.30\00:14:57.89
in a spirit or being or the
Holy Spirit coming down on me."
00:14:57.90\00:15:01.09
He thought to
himself that's exactly
00:15:01.10\00:15:02.75
what that must
have been, because
00:15:02.76\00:15:04.29
it's never happen to me before.
00:15:04.30\00:15:05.97
But he went
outside the church building
00:15:05.98\00:15:08.51
and he said he
noticed other people
00:15:08.52\00:15:09.83
that had been so to
speak 'slain in the spirit'
00:15:09.84\00:15:12.91
and they were
cursing, they were smoking,
00:15:12.92\00:15:18.09
they were talking
about filthy topics
00:15:18.10\00:15:21.10
and talking about fornication
and he said, "Wait a minute."
00:15:21.11\00:15:26.03
So what happen to
me, he says, "Because
00:15:26.04\00:15:27.98
I came out of there
having the same desires
00:15:27.99\00:15:31.44
as I had before
that experience."
00:15:31.45\00:15:33.76
So therefore he concluded
00:15:33.77\00:15:35.05
that what had
happened to him was not really
00:15:35.06\00:15:37.08
the Holy Spirit, but
it was some kind of spirit
00:15:37.09\00:15:39.99
that he opened himself up to.
00:15:40.00\00:15:41.52
And the reason
this topic is so vitally
00:15:41.53\00:15:43.32
important is because if
we're really dead in Christ
00:15:43.33\00:15:46.48
these things that Paul
talked about in Colossians
00:15:46.49\00:15:49.09
need to be left in the grave.
00:15:49.10\00:15:52.17
And then we come forth to
walk in the newness of life.
00:15:52.18\00:15:55.68
Now let's go to see
what the newness of life is.
00:15:55.69\00:15:58.07
I want to get
these in comparison.
00:15:58.08\00:15:59.85
Go with me now, let me
turn there very quickly
00:15:59.86\00:16:03.22
and I'll tell you
exactly what page.
00:16:03.23\00:16:06.21
Okay, almost there.
00:16:06.22\00:16:09.66
Here I am Galatians
Chapter 5, Galatians Chapter 5,
00:16:09.67\00:16:14.07
laying some
foundation, we don't want to run
00:16:14.08\00:16:17.20
to the question right
away, but lay some foundation.
00:16:17.21\00:16:19.21
If you have your Bibles,
go to Galatians chapter 5,
00:16:19.22\00:16:21.90
what book did I say?
00:16:21.91\00:16:23.68
Chapter 5. Okay, here we are,
you're gonna see once again.
00:16:23.69\00:16:30.75
When you come forth, you
come forth in a different walk,
00:16:30.76\00:16:34.61
walk in the newness of life.
00:16:34.62\00:16:36.93
That newness of life
brings about a change in the way
00:16:36.94\00:16:40.54
the person lives
and this illustration
00:16:40.55\00:16:43.63
that we used in
these Bible texts
00:16:43.64\00:16:45.51
are more than illustrations,
these are sighting
00:16:45.52\00:16:48.43
the evidences of a person
that's now living in Christ.
00:16:48.44\00:16:51.39
Now let's look
at the comparisons.
00:16:51.40\00:16:52.97
All right, let's start with
verse 22, Galatians 5 verse 22.
00:16:52.98\00:16:57.97
Now what's the
first word in verse 22?
00:16:57.98\00:17:00.80
Okay, the word 'But'
is used to transition
00:17:00.81\00:17:04.43
from something that was opposite
00:17:04.44\00:17:06.59
to it in the verses before that.
00:17:06.60\00:17:08.78
Before we read this
"The fruit of the Spirit
00:17:08.79\00:17:10.81
or the food of the spirit,"
let's start with verse 19.
00:17:10.82\00:17:15.00
Verse 19, "Now the
works of the flesh are evident
00:17:15.01\00:17:20.73
or are these" which
are, look at the list
00:17:20.74\00:17:24.78
"Adultery, fornication."
00:17:24.79\00:17:27.86
And I am reading from
the New King James version,
00:17:27.87\00:17:29.70
"uncleanness, lasciviousness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
00:17:29.71\00:17:36.82
contentions,
jealousies, outburst of wrath,
00:17:36.83\00:17:41.70
selfish ambition,
dissension, heresies."
00:17:41.71\00:17:44.88
You almost want to stop
Paul and say, "Enough already."
00:17:44.89\00:17:47.36
But he's gonna keep going.
00:17:47.37\00:17:48.75
Look at verse 21,
"Envy, murders, drunkenness,
00:17:48.76\00:17:53.60
revelries, and the like of
which I tell you beforehand,
00:17:53.61\00:17:57.01
just as I also
told you in time past,
00:17:57.02\00:17:59.45
that those who practice
such things will not" what?
00:17:59.46\00:18:03.09
"Inherit the kingdom of God."
00:18:03.10\00:18:04.45
So all those
things from verse 19 to 21
00:18:04.46\00:18:06.66
including Colossians 3,
all those things have to die.
00:18:06.67\00:18:11.22
In order for us to
survive this new life
00:18:11.23\00:18:13.34
those things have to die.
00:18:13.35\00:18:14.66
But let me ask you a question,
00:18:14.67\00:18:16.00
how many of you have experienced
00:18:16.01\00:18:19.89
the old life attempting
to come back to life in new?
00:18:19.90\00:18:24.35
Come on somebody
raise their hand,
00:18:24.36\00:18:26.46
because as long as
you're in the flesh,
00:18:26.47\00:18:28.42
as long as you still
have this mortal body,
00:18:28.43\00:18:30.47
there's a battle that's gonna
be confronting you every day
00:18:30.48\00:18:33.03
that's why Paul says, "In
order for me to live in Christ
00:18:33.04\00:18:35.90
how often do I have to die?"
00:18:35.91\00:18:37.64
Every single day. We've got a--
00:18:37.65\00:18:39.30
because the battles
are going to come to you.
00:18:39.31\00:18:41.37
You don't even have
to go to the battles,
00:18:41.38\00:18:43.15
they sometimes come to you.
00:18:43.16\00:18:45.16
You show up at work the battle
is there, you come to church
00:18:45.17\00:18:47.95
the battle is
there, it's in your family.
00:18:47.96\00:18:50.54
It sometimes
brought on by your children
00:18:50.55\00:18:52.93
or maybe your spouse or
people that you run into.
00:18:52.94\00:18:55.53
And if we don't put to
death the deeds of the flesh
00:18:55.54\00:18:59.40
they're gonna come
back to the surface.
00:18:59.41\00:19:02.17
Let's go, now look at the
other--the opposite of that,
00:19:02.18\00:19:05.11
"But the fruit of the
spirit is love, joy, peace,
00:19:05.12\00:19:07.49
longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness,
00:19:07.50\00:19:10.16
gentleness, self-control,
against such there is no law."
00:19:10.17\00:19:13.64
In verse 24 and this is the key.
00:19:13.65\00:19:16.28
"And those who are
Christ have done" what?
00:19:16.29\00:19:20.59
"Crucified the flesh with
its passions and desires."
00:19:20.60\00:19:24.58
And here's the
transition, "If we do" what?
00:19:24.59\00:19:27.81
"Live in the Spirit,
let us also" do what?
00:19:27.82\00:19:30.31
"Walk in the Spirit."
00:19:30.32\00:19:33.37
Which now gives
us the foundation
00:19:33.38\00:19:35.06
to go to question number eight.
00:19:35.07\00:19:38.18
Our topic tonight is
'How to live in Christ?'
00:19:38.19\00:19:43.45
Question number eight
will appear on the screen.
00:19:43.46\00:19:46.41
If you have your
papers you can fill that in.
00:19:46.42\00:19:48.88
Now here's the question,
"How will we know if someone
00:19:48.89\00:19:53.42
who claims to be
in Christ really is?"
00:19:53.43\00:19:58.20
How will we know
if someone who claims
00:19:58.21\00:20:00.61
to be in Christ really is?
00:20:00.62\00:20:04.16
All right, First John
Chapter 3 and verse 24.
00:20:04.17\00:20:11.16
First John
Chapter 3 and verse 24.
00:20:11.17\00:20:15.08
Okay, I know you're
waiting for the answer,
00:20:15.09\00:20:17.12
so I might as
well give it to you.
00:20:17.13\00:20:19.23
All right, are you ready?
00:20:19.24\00:20:22.10
Here we go, "Now he
who keeps His" what?
00:20:22.11\00:20:29.56
"Commandments abides
in Him, and He in him.
00:20:29.57\00:20:35.67
And by this we know
that He abides" how?
00:20:35.68\00:20:40.72
"In us, by the spirit
whom he had given us."
00:20:40.73\00:20:45.20
Now let me break this down.
00:20:45.21\00:20:46.26
First of all the first
part you want to put down
00:20:46.27\00:20:47.89
there is how will
we know that person
00:20:47.90\00:20:50.15
live by the
commandments of Christ,
00:20:50.16\00:20:51.75
that person live by
commandments of Christ.
00:20:51.76\00:20:54.13
But there's another portion in
here that may seem to be foggy,
00:20:54.14\00:20:57.47
because you see on
the fourth line it says
00:20:57.48\00:21:00.49
"And by his we know
that He abides in us,"
00:21:00.50\00:21:03.25
now that's not the capital 'US'
00:21:03.26\00:21:06.39
That mean he's not talking
about abiding just in Christ,
00:21:06.40\00:21:09.35
that's the context of the verse.
00:21:09.36\00:21:11.26
But there's an
abiding here that this text
00:21:11.27\00:21:14.75
talks about that
doesn't naturally happen.
00:21:14.76\00:21:17.27
Let me explain what this means.
00:21:17.28\00:21:19.43
Well not Paul,
but John the apostle,
00:21:19.44\00:21:21.61
what he's talking
about here is do you know
00:21:21.62\00:21:23.95
or how many of you have heard
00:21:23.96\00:21:25.21
of Christians
abiding in each other?
00:21:25.22\00:21:29.92
Now follow this very carefully.
00:21:29.93\00:21:32.93
If you go to First John
1 verse 9, the Bible says,
00:21:32.94\00:21:37.05
"If we confess
our sins, he is" what?
00:21:37.06\00:21:39.80
"Faithful and just to do" what?
00:21:39.81\00:21:41.42
"Forgive of our sins
and cleans us from" what?
00:21:41.43\00:21:43.66
"All unrighteousness."
But then it also says
00:21:43.67\00:21:46.54
"if we walk in the light,
00:21:46.55\00:21:48.03
as he is in the light, we
have fellowship with" who?
00:21:48.04\00:21:52.06
"One another, and the
blood of Jesus, his Son,
00:21:52.07\00:21:56.19
cleanses us from" how much sin?
00:21:56.20\00:21:58.14
"All sin." The
fellowship that we desired
00:21:58.15\00:22:01.87
to have cannot be had
unless we abide in Christ.
00:22:01.88\00:22:06.00
When we're obedient to
what Christ has outlined
00:22:06.01\00:22:09.66
as following him only
then can we have a fellowship
00:22:09.67\00:22:13.18
that is referred to in
this scripture as abiding in us.
00:22:13.19\00:22:16.39
Because John the apostle
is talking about how important
00:22:16.40\00:22:18.69
it is for
Christians to abide together?
00:22:18.70\00:22:21.52
How important it is for
Christians to experience unity?
00:22:21.53\00:22:24.29
But he could not have
that unity, he is saying,
00:22:24.30\00:22:26.41
"It's not possible if we're not
obedient to commandments of God.
00:22:26.42\00:22:30.90
And the last part, "If
we're not lead by the spirit
00:22:30.91\00:22:33.95
whom he gives us."
00:22:33.96\00:22:35.22
So the spirit of
Christ, the last part,
00:22:35.23\00:22:37.34
you want to put how will we know
00:22:37.35\00:22:38.99
if someone who claims
to be a Christian really is
00:22:39.00\00:22:41.29
or claims to be
in Christ really is?
00:22:41.30\00:22:43.11
He's keeping the
commandments of God
00:22:43.12\00:22:44.54
and trusting in the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:22:44.55\00:22:48.60
Only then can you
have what we hope to have
00:22:48.61\00:22:51.83
that's an abiding
relationship in each other.
00:22:51.84\00:22:55.31
Now is fellowship the
same as the friendship?
00:22:55.32\00:22:58.70
Yes or no.
00:22:58.71\00:23:02.30
Is fellowship the same as
the camaraderie? Yes or no.
00:23:02.31\00:23:05.98
What's the difference between
a fellowship and friendship?
00:23:05.99\00:23:11.42
Somebody said,
"Relationship," what else?
00:23:11.43\00:23:15.76
Okay, unity I believe,
okay that's pretty good.
00:23:15.77\00:23:17.85
Okay, okay I could handle that.
00:23:25.92\00:23:28.84
The difference between
fellowship and friendship.
00:23:28.85\00:23:32.86
Let me ask, let me
break it down even more,
00:23:32.87\00:23:34.21
I want you to get
this I'm teaching tonight.
00:23:34.22\00:23:36.58
Do you have friends? How
many of you have friends?
00:23:36.59\00:23:39.36
Do you have friends
that are not in the church?
00:23:39.37\00:23:41.38
Okay, now let me just
ask the question again,
00:23:41.39\00:23:43.49
what's the difference between
friendship and fellowship?
00:23:43.50\00:23:50.23
Say it again.
00:23:50.24\00:23:51.72
Okay, now I'm
gonna expand on that.
00:23:51.73\00:23:55.14
You could be
friends with anybody,
00:23:55.15\00:23:57.53
you can be friend with the guy
that works at the grocery store
00:23:57.54\00:23:59.85
or the person who fix your car,
the guy that you met on the bus,
00:23:59.86\00:24:03.47
the person that's
not yet a Christian
00:24:03.48\00:24:05.33
who's still living
in a world, you say,
00:24:05.34\00:24:06.68
"Oh, he's a good friend
but I'm praying for him."
00:24:06.69\00:24:09.48
The difference between
friendship and--friendship
00:24:09.49\00:24:11.59
is you can have that
with anybody, fellowship
00:24:11.60\00:24:13.87
is something you can only
have with like Christians,
00:24:13.88\00:24:17.73
with those who are in Christ.
00:24:17.74\00:24:20.00
That word fellowship is broader
00:24:20.01\00:24:22.10
than the
English word fellowship,
00:24:22.11\00:24:23.13
its 'koinonia'
which simply means
00:24:23.14\00:24:25.14
in the broader
experience 'oneness in Christ.'
00:24:25.15\00:24:28.97
You can't have oneness
in Christ with a person
00:24:28.98\00:24:31.16
that's not living for Christ.
00:24:31.17\00:24:33.13
But when you're
living for Christ
00:24:33.14\00:24:34.68
then the oneness
happens, you're following?
00:24:34.69\00:24:38.01
So what's the difference between
friendship and fellowship?
00:24:38.02\00:24:42.26
Christ or living in Christ.
00:24:42.27\00:24:44.61
If you're living in Christ
and he's living in Christ,
00:24:44.62\00:24:47.66
we have fellowship with one and
other, because the text says,
00:24:47.67\00:24:50.34
"If we walk in the light--
if we, that's collectively,
00:24:50.35\00:24:53.68
walk in the light as
Christ is in the light
00:24:53.69\00:24:56.31
then we do have
fellowship with one and other.
00:24:56.32\00:24:59.87
So what do you have
to have for fellowship?
00:24:59.88\00:25:04.40
A relationship with Christ.
00:25:04.41\00:25:06.62
And what's the second one?
00:25:06.63\00:25:07.67
I said it three times already.
00:25:07.68\00:25:13.41
Christ living in us.
Okay, by the Holy Spirit.
00:25:13.42\00:25:16.71
You dancing around the circle.
00:25:16.72\00:25:18.97
Could I-shall I say it one
more time you will catch it?
00:25:22.47\00:25:25.39
If we walk in the
light, if we walk in the light
00:25:25.40\00:25:29.98
what do we have to do?
00:25:29.99\00:25:31.43
Walk in the light
because what fellowship
00:25:31.44\00:25:34.84
does darkness have with light?
00:25:34.85\00:25:38.94
Are you coming
along with me now?
00:25:38.95\00:25:40.86
We claimed to have fellowship.
00:25:40.87\00:25:42.38
You can't have fellowship
with those who live in darkness.
00:25:42.39\00:25:44.89
You can have a friendship
00:25:44.90\00:25:46.23
but I tell you what be
careful because friendships
00:25:46.24\00:25:48.73
with those who live in darkness
00:25:48.74\00:25:50.26
can pull those who
want to have fellowship
00:25:50.27\00:25:52.54
back into just friendship.
00:25:52.55\00:25:54.35
A lot of people go to church
who want to have friendship,
00:25:54.36\00:25:56.52
but Jesus didn't establish
the church for friendship,
00:25:56.53\00:25:58.86
He establish the
church for fellowship.
00:25:58.87\00:26:01.83
You got to walk in the spirit.
00:26:01.84\00:26:03.17
You got to walk in the light.
00:26:03.18\00:26:05.99
Can two walk together
except they be agreed, no.
00:26:06.00\00:26:10.23
I don't want to keep
doing this because my ears
00:26:10.24\00:26:11.58
already large enough.
00:26:11.59\00:26:13.41
But can we walk together
unless we be agreed, no.
00:26:13.42\00:26:16.42
So you got to walk in the light
00:26:16.43\00:26:18.11
and you got to
walk in the spirit
00:26:18.12\00:26:19.81
and you got to live in
Christ, did you get that?
00:26:19.82\00:26:23.46
Okay, so there's a difference
00:26:23.47\00:26:24.48
between friendship and
fellowship, is there not?
00:26:24.49\00:26:26.80
Yes. Okay, let's go
to the next question.
00:26:26.81\00:26:28.79
Well I have to
pull that one out,
00:26:28.80\00:26:29.82
that's like pulling out
a-- pulling out a root canal.
00:26:29.83\00:26:33.24
Okay, here we go.
00:26:33.25\00:26:34.89
Number nine, "What
level of importance
00:26:34.90\00:26:38.56
does the Bible
place on being in Christ?"
00:26:38.57\00:26:41.06
I hope you can see
those little Russian dolls
00:26:41.07\00:26:43.49
in your head
because we all in there.
00:26:43.50\00:26:46.65
And when God looks at that doll,
00:26:46.66\00:26:50.02
which is his son,
we're hidden in Christ.
00:26:50.03\00:26:54.50
We are all in Christ and
we bear the image of the son
00:26:54.51\00:26:57.91
only as we are in
Him, did you get that?
00:26:57.92\00:27:00.24
All those dolls look
just like the big one.
00:27:00.25\00:27:02.68
We look like our big
brother Christ Jesus.
00:27:02.69\00:27:04.93
Colossians 1
verse 27 is the answer.
00:27:04.94\00:27:07.53
What level of
importance does the Bible
00:27:07.54\00:27:09.01
place on being in Christ?
00:27:09.02\00:27:10.09
Here is the answer,
Colossians 1 verse 27.
00:27:10.10\00:27:14.12
Okay, it says,
"To them God willed
00:27:14.13\00:27:17.81
to make known what are
the riches of the glory
00:27:17.82\00:27:23.36
of this mystery
among the Gentiles,
00:27:23.37\00:27:27.55
which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory."
00:27:27.56\00:27:32.06
Okay, what level of importance
00:27:32.07\00:27:33.66
does the Bible
place on being in Christ?
00:27:33.67\00:27:36.42
You tell me the answer.
00:27:36.43\00:27:38.60
I remember we had a
theological professor,
00:27:38.61\00:27:41.64
actually Dr. Bill
Evers, as I could say the name.
00:27:41.65\00:27:44.71
He is a very well known man.
00:27:44.72\00:27:46.29
And we had a pastor's conference
00:27:46.30\00:27:48.42
and he was standing in front
00:27:48.43\00:27:49.61
and when he
opened his briefcase,
00:27:49.62\00:27:51.11
he took out a big
gigantic pot spoon.
00:27:51.12\00:27:54.50
And he laid it on the
desk and he held it up he said.
00:27:54.51\00:27:57.33
"I am not gonna be using this,
I am not spoon feeding you."
00:27:57.34\00:28:00.93
You've got to
give me the answers.
00:28:00.94\00:28:02.51
So if I had a pot spoon,
it will be laying on the desk,
00:28:02.52\00:28:05.16
I want you to
give me the answers.
00:28:05.17\00:28:06.82
What level of
importance does this text,
00:28:06.83\00:28:09.77
let us know is
placed on being in Christ?
00:28:09.78\00:28:13.20
What level of importance?
00:28:13.21\00:28:16.97
How important is
it to be in Christ?
00:28:16.98\00:28:19.84
Okay, that's a good answer.
00:28:19.85\00:28:20.97
But according to this text,
00:28:20.98\00:28:23.02
how important if
we were not in Christ,
00:28:23.03\00:28:26.50
what will we not have?
00:28:26.51\00:28:29.11
Okay, say it again, Karen.
00:28:29.12\00:28:31.26
We will not have
the hope of glory.
00:28:31.27\00:28:35.23
We will not have
the hope of glory.
00:28:35.24\00:28:37.20
So is that important?
00:28:37.21\00:28:39.71
What glory does this mean?
00:28:39.72\00:28:41.17
This is
twofold, this is twofold.
00:28:41.18\00:28:44.24
Go with me to Isaiah 60.
00:28:44.25\00:28:46.22
We will not have the hope of
glory, because a lot of times
00:28:46.23\00:28:48.35
we read that text and we
only apply one thing to that.
00:28:48.36\00:28:50.92
We apply the hope
of being in heaven,
00:28:50.93\00:28:53.77
but it is broader than
that, it's broader than that.
00:28:53.78\00:28:57.22
We're turning to
what book now? Isaiah.
00:28:57.23\00:29:01.63
It's broader than the
hope of glory as in heaven.
00:29:01.64\00:29:07.17
Something else that can happen.
00:29:07.18\00:29:11.72
Did I say Isaiah Chapter 60?
00:29:11.73\00:29:13.78
Yes, I think I did but
I know Isaiah Chapter 60
00:29:13.79\00:29:16.75
is where we
headed. All right, okay.
00:29:16.76\00:29:22.91
The hope of glory.
00:29:22.92\00:29:26.44
I hope from this day forth,
00:29:26.45\00:29:27.45
you see the hope of
glory in a different light
00:29:27.46\00:29:29.26
or in an additional light.
00:29:29.27\00:29:30.97
Because it's not
just the hope of heaven,
00:29:30.98\00:29:32.89
all of us wants
that, everyone one of us
00:29:32.90\00:29:34.79
want to have the hope of heaven,
00:29:34.80\00:29:36.45
everyone one of us want to have
the hope of living eternally,
00:29:36.46\00:29:39.10
but there is
something else that God wants us
00:29:39.11\00:29:40.95
to experience other
than just being in heaven.
00:29:40.96\00:29:45.29
Real Christianity
is first lived on earth
00:29:45.30\00:29:48.89
before it's lived in heaven.
00:29:48.90\00:29:51.10
Now it will be a lot
easy to be a Christian
00:29:51.11\00:29:53.88
if we're all in
heaven right away
00:29:53.89\00:29:55.15
after we got
baptized, wouldn't it?
00:29:55.16\00:29:57.76
But real Christianity
is first lived on earth.
00:29:57.77\00:30:00.09
This is the training ground.
00:30:00.10\00:30:01.54
This is the get ready ground.
00:30:01.55\00:30:04.88
What more does it impart to us?
00:30:04.89\00:30:08.62
This hope of glory,
look at Isaiah Chapter 60.
00:30:08.63\00:30:12.43
All right, and
starting with verse 1,
00:30:12.44\00:30:14.50
"Arise, shine, for
your light has come,
00:30:14.51\00:30:18.27
and the glory of
the Lord" is what?
00:30:18.28\00:30:22.60
"Risen upon you,
for behold the darkness
00:30:22.61\00:30:25.47
shall cover the earth and deep
or gross darkness the people,
00:30:25.48\00:30:28.83
but the Lord will
arise over you and his" what?
00:30:28.84\00:30:33.22
"Glory will be seen upon you."
00:30:33.23\00:30:34.96
My brothers and my sisters,
it's not just the hope of glory
00:30:34.97\00:30:37.89
but what does the world need?
00:30:37.90\00:30:40.50
They need to see His
glory risen on His people.
00:30:40.51\00:30:45.30
That quotation in
the Book of Evangelism,
00:30:45.31\00:30:47.55
you may not have it but
the last message of mercy
00:30:47.56\00:30:51.45
to be given to the world is
a revelation of the character
00:30:51.46\00:30:55.50
of God's love as
revealed in his people.
00:30:55.51\00:30:59.53
Okay, now get
this, the revelation
00:30:59.54\00:31:01.97
of the character of God's
love as revealed in His people.
00:31:01.98\00:31:05.30
If somebody says,
"I am a Christian,"
00:31:05.31\00:31:07.68
the fruit that we talked about
00:31:07.69\00:31:09.16
in Galatians 5
should be visible,
00:31:09.17\00:31:12.74
the glory of God
should be visible.
00:31:12.75\00:31:15.35
But the glory of God is not
just hallelujah, thank you Jesus
00:31:15.36\00:31:19.16
and the songs we sing, but
it's the life we live outside
00:31:19.17\00:31:22.18
of the sanctuary
where those songs are sung.
00:31:22.19\00:31:25.04
So when you're in
the midst of the battle,
00:31:25.05\00:31:27.77
somebody need to be
able to look at you and say,
00:31:27.78\00:31:31.00
"There's something
about--there's something
00:31:31.01\00:31:33.24
about her that
just doesn't give in
00:31:33.25\00:31:38.11
to the circumstances
that surround her."
00:31:38.12\00:31:40.16
Can I tell you a personal story?
00:31:40.17\00:31:42.46
My wife and I
were in San Francisco
00:31:42.47\00:31:43.98
at one of the hospital, I
was there getting a checkup.
00:31:43.99\00:31:46.05
And as I walk, I
was in this long line.
00:31:46.06\00:31:49.38
Finally got to
the front of the desk,
00:31:49.39\00:31:50.79
you know how long
lines are in hospitals.
00:31:50.80\00:31:52.33
You've to take all
your results to the counter.
00:31:52.34\00:31:54.37
And I've got to the counter
00:31:54.38\00:31:55.43
and they said, "Do
you have this, have this?"
00:31:55.44\00:31:57.16
And they asked me for
one thing I didn't have.
00:31:57.17\00:31:58.81
And they said, "Did
you bring that with you?"
00:31:58.82\00:32:00.59
And I said, they said,
00:32:00.60\00:32:02.13
"You have to go back
up to the fifth floor."
00:32:02.14\00:32:03.74
Now I've been on
line like 20 minutes.
00:32:03.75\00:32:06.13
"Go back up to the fifth floor
00:32:06.14\00:32:07.83
and when you get it, just
come to the front of the line."
00:32:07.84\00:32:10.90
Well, I got there as
quickly as I could, went up
00:32:10.91\00:32:13.14
to the fifth floor, got the
paperwork that I was to get.
00:32:13.15\00:32:16.05
And as I was running
to the front of the line
00:32:16.06\00:32:18.84
three ladies ran in front of me.
00:32:18.85\00:32:24.22
Don't answer the question.
00:32:24.23\00:32:26.65
How many of you would
want to say, "Excuse me."
00:32:26.66\00:32:30.52
they told me to come
to the front of the line,
00:32:30.53\00:32:33.27
that's the human side, right?
00:32:33.28\00:32:35.20
Three ladies ran in
front of me and I thought,
00:32:35.21\00:32:38.30
"Okay, she told me I could
come to the front of the line,
00:32:38.31\00:32:40.61
so I could
actually with her authority
00:32:40.62\00:32:42.62
get this thing
taken care of right away."
00:32:42.63\00:32:43.99
I can say, "The lady told me
to come to the front of the line
00:32:44.00\00:32:46.70
so could you please move."
00:32:46.71\00:32:50.13
I just stood there.
00:32:50.14\00:32:53.68
And I already have been
in line for a long time.
00:32:53.69\00:32:56.12
First lady went, second
lady went, third lady went,
00:32:56.13\00:33:02.23
and I finally
got to the counter.
00:33:02.24\00:33:04.05
And my wife is in back
talking to some of the nurses
00:33:04.06\00:33:06.73
and they said, "Is
your husband a Christian?"
00:33:06.74\00:33:12.93
They said, "Because normal
people wouldn't go for that."
00:33:12.94\00:33:16.58
That's what I'm talking about.
00:33:19.12\00:33:20.71
Now I'm not using
just me, but I hope
00:33:20.72\00:33:22.57
that some of you in situations
where you can loose your mind
00:33:22.58\00:33:26.37
or give somebody a
piece of your mind,
00:33:26.38\00:33:28.76
or tell them what you have
the authority to tell them.
00:33:28.77\00:33:31.39
I hope that you understand
that is in those moments
00:33:31.40\00:33:34.07
that the glory of the
Lord wants to be risen on you.
00:33:34.08\00:33:38.59
That the dark earth
needs to see the glory of God
00:33:38.60\00:33:43.75
seen upon you and the glory
of Lord will be seen on you.
00:33:43.76\00:33:48.26
That's why they said of Jesus,
"Never man spoke as this man."
00:33:48.27\00:33:51.34
Because it's not
just what He said
00:33:51.35\00:33:52.65
but how he lived to
back up what He said.
00:33:52.66\00:33:55.73
People don't care
what Christian say,
00:33:55.74\00:33:57.04
but how do we live
to backup what we say.
00:33:57.05\00:33:59.42
This whole thing
about being in Christ
00:33:59.43\00:34:00.60
is a whole lot more
than just the songs we sing,
00:34:00.61\00:34:04.73
the doctrines we hold.
00:34:04.74\00:34:06.34
That's why this text
is so vitally important,
00:34:06.35\00:34:07.93
the hope of glory.
00:34:07.94\00:34:09.08
And so remember this not
just the hope of eternal glory,
00:34:09.09\00:34:12.27
but the hope of the glory
of Christ being revealed in us.
00:34:12.28\00:34:14.78
So, on your
paper next to that one,
00:34:14.79\00:34:16.61
on your paper next to Colossians
1:17 write down Isaiah 60.
00:34:16.62\00:34:21.49
All right, verse
1 down to verse 3.
00:34:21.50\00:34:25.57
I left verse 3 for this
portion as I lay the foundation.
00:34:25.58\00:34:28.59
You know, what
happens when the glory
00:34:28.60\00:34:29.90
of God is risen on you?
00:34:29.91\00:34:31.76
Verse 3 begins to happen.
00:34:31.77\00:34:33.93
Verse 3 will never happen.
00:34:33.94\00:34:35.67
Verse 3 will never
be an experience to you
00:34:35.68\00:34:37.88
unless the glory of God
00:34:37.89\00:34:38.98
is being seen in
your life day by day.
00:34:38.99\00:34:41.15
Look at verse 3 in Isaiah 60,
00:34:41.16\00:34:43.64
"The Gentiles, the sinners
00:34:43.65\00:34:48.81
shall come to" whose light?
00:34:48.82\00:34:53.47
"Your light, and the kings
00:34:53.48\00:34:55.90
to the brightness
of" whose shining?
00:34:55.91\00:34:57.95
"Or your
shining or your rising."
00:34:57.96\00:34:59.99
Didn't Jesus say? I
thing it's Matthew 5:17,
00:35:00.00\00:35:02.22
"Let your light
so shine before men,
00:35:02.23\00:35:06.21
that they may see your
good works, and" do what?
00:35:06.22\00:35:09.07
"Glorify your
Father which is in heaven."
00:35:09.08\00:35:11.39
So here is the
practical application of that.
00:35:11.40\00:35:13.58
Unless you're in a
situation where your glory,
00:35:13.59\00:35:15.50
where the glory of
God is being tested,
00:35:15.51\00:35:17.84
darkness will overtake that
00:35:17.85\00:35:19.57
if you don't
understand that at that moment.
00:35:19.58\00:35:21.78
This is where you
have to say, "Lord,
00:35:21.79\00:35:23.59
let your glory
be seen in my life."
00:35:23.60\00:35:25.90
That's the practical
application of Christianity.
00:35:25.91\00:35:28.55
Because there're a lot of
people that claim Christianity,
00:35:28.56\00:35:30.19
but lot of people
that--just frankly.
00:35:30.20\00:35:33.42
I tell you what, as a
pastor of the number of years.
00:35:33.43\00:35:37.49
One of the hardest things to do
is to preach to a congregation
00:35:37.50\00:35:40.59
that you know really well
and try to get them to put away
00:35:40.60\00:35:44.08
their anger and their
hostility towards one and other.
00:35:44.09\00:35:47.26
One of the greatest
battles that pastors
00:35:47.27\00:35:48.83
have is saying to
their congregation
00:35:48.84\00:35:51.54
that a member he
knows of has something
00:35:51.55\00:35:54.05
against another member.
00:35:54.06\00:35:55.77
The hardest thing to
say, "You need to settle
00:35:55.78\00:35:57.58
that with sister so and
so or brother so and so."
00:35:57.59\00:36:00.22
And they say,
"Pastor, now you know better."
00:36:00.23\00:36:03.86
No, no, that's not an excuse
00:36:03.87\00:36:06.32
because as long as
we nurture division
00:36:06.33\00:36:08.16
the glory of God will
never be revealed upon us
00:36:08.17\00:36:10.75
and there'll never be a
conversion because people
00:36:10.76\00:36:13.50
won't see by your life that
Christ is really abiding in you.
00:36:13.51\00:36:17.20
I've heard people say,
somebody one said to me,
00:36:17.21\00:36:19.06
"One of the
reasons why"--and I always
00:36:19.07\00:36:21.13
this to them when they do this.
00:36:21.14\00:36:22.46
"These is one of the
reasons why I don't really
00:36:22.47\00:36:23.83
want to became a Christian is
because I see so many hypocrites
00:36:23.84\00:36:26.74
that say they're Christians."
00:36:26.75\00:36:28.54
And I said please do me a favor,
don't look at the hypocrites,
00:36:28.55\00:36:30.83
look at those who are
really living for Jesus, right?
00:36:30.84\00:36:32.71
Amen. That's the difference.
00:36:32.72\00:36:34.91
When the glory of Christ
has being revealed in you
00:36:34.92\00:36:36.80
then people would
say, "Wait a minute,
00:36:36.81\00:36:38.03
what is there about Jerry."
00:36:38.04\00:36:41.06
What is there about David?"
00:36:41.07\00:36:43.00
I can go through
the names of all of you,
00:36:43.01\00:36:44.66
what is there about Linda that--
00:36:44.67\00:36:46.60
there's something different
00:36:46.61\00:36:47.83
I know that on the
normal circumstances
00:36:47.84\00:36:50.07
I let him have it,
but she just stood there.
00:36:50.08\00:36:54.00
Let's go to the
next question, number 10.
00:36:54.01\00:36:56.18
We're gonna get
through these, I promise you.
00:36:56.19\00:36:58.80
"More than being "In Christ",
00:36:58.81\00:37:02.12
"More than being "In Christ",
00:37:02.13\00:37:04.38
what must we continue?
00:37:04.39\00:37:07.14
Okay, John 15:4, John 15:4.
00:37:07.15\00:37:12.99
I always look at this and
say, we only have 10 questions
00:37:15.46\00:37:17.95
and I think,
"We'll get through that."
00:37:17.96\00:37:19.70
But man, it gets it's
deeper than I think it is.
00:37:19.71\00:37:22.98
The Bible is like
a bottomless well,
00:37:22.99\00:37:27.68
filled with rich
water from the word of God.
00:37:27.69\00:37:30.11
The answer is John
15, for more than being
00:37:30.12\00:37:32.18
"In Christ",
what must we continue?
00:37:32.19\00:37:34.46
Here's the answer.
00:37:34.47\00:37:35.87
Let's read this together,
"Abide in me, and I in you.
00:37:35.88\00:37:40.75
As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, unless it" does what?
00:37:40.76\00:37:45.67
"Abides in the vine, neither
can you, unless you" do what?
00:37:45.68\00:37:49.92
"Abide in me." I must follow
this up with the question.
00:37:49.93\00:37:53.61
How often does the world
crowd itself in where you hardly
00:37:53.62\00:37:57.53
get time to
really abide in the word
00:37:57.54\00:38:01.93
so that you can abide in Christ?
00:38:01.94\00:38:04.21
You know, for
those of us who live
00:38:04.22\00:38:06.39
in this busy
metropolis called Thompsonville.
00:38:06.40\00:38:11.57
People that
live in New York City
00:38:11.58\00:38:12.75
or in San Francisco or
Los Angles or overseas,
00:38:12.76\00:38:15.01
they may say, "Man, I wish I was
in a town of only 600 people,
00:38:15.02\00:38:17.80
I'll be able to
have all the time
00:38:17.81\00:38:19.10
in the world to study my Bible.
00:38:19.11\00:38:20.95
Those of who live
here know that's not true,
00:38:20.96\00:38:22.88
isn't that right? Amen.
00:38:22.89\00:38:24.83
Because you can't just
say, "I'll have more time,
00:38:24.84\00:38:27.09
you got to make time." Amen.
00:38:27.10\00:38:29.87
You got to--some people I
know and I always wondered
00:38:29.88\00:38:32.12
why they do this but
I'm coming to find out why.
00:38:32.13\00:38:34.61
We have some members
that go to bed at 8 O'clock,
00:38:34.62\00:38:38.09
as a New Yorker it's impossible
00:38:38.10\00:38:41.35
to go to bed at 8
O'clock. I can't do it.
00:38:41.36\00:38:43.55
Because they say, "Pastor."
00:38:43.56\00:38:44.56
I said, "What
time do you get up?"
00:38:44.57\00:38:46.46
4, 4:30. I'm just
turning over to be cooked
00:38:46.47\00:38:49.62
on the other side of 4:30.
00:38:49.63\00:38:51.67
You know, what
I'm talking about?
00:38:51.68\00:38:52.83
I'm just being flipped over.
00:38:52.84\00:38:54.62
I'm on the second side
of the pan cake at 4:30
00:38:54.63\00:38:57.24
but some people are
up and you know what?
00:38:57.25\00:38:58.99
I have to
learn, I guess somehow.
00:38:59.00\00:39:00.76
My wife is trying to
get me to bed by 10 O'clock,
00:39:00.77\00:39:02.46
that's hard for me too.
00:39:02.47\00:39:04.44
She often say, "You
know, whenever you go away off
00:39:04.45\00:39:06.38
or you on the road somewhere
I go to bed at 9 O'clock."
00:39:06.39\00:39:09.96
So I am the one
that keeps her up late.
00:39:09.97\00:39:11.91
But the things that I
learned from those people
00:39:11.92\00:39:15.46
that go to bet at 8 O'clock
is they get up at 4 O'clock
00:39:15.47\00:39:18.12
and spend an hour in the Bible.
00:39:18.13\00:39:21.09
And they go out like solders in
the midst of this battlefield.
00:39:21.10\00:39:25.71
And so for those of
us who get up later,
00:39:25.72\00:39:28.34
we got to chisel out that time.
00:39:28.35\00:39:30.75
We've got to not turn
that cell phone on until
00:39:30.76\00:39:33.51
we get into with the Lord.
00:39:33.52\00:39:35.49
We've got to find a
way to get the ammunition
00:39:35.50\00:39:38.45
we need, because I tell
you what? Here's the reality
00:39:38.46\00:39:41.28
if you get up at 4 O'clock
or you get up at 8 O'clock
00:39:41.29\00:39:43.26
or you get up at 9 O'clock
00:39:43.27\00:39:44.32
you're gonna
still have breakfast.
00:39:44.33\00:39:45.96
And Ellen White tells us
that "Studying the word of God
00:39:45.97\00:39:48.49
is more important
than our physical food."
00:39:48.50\00:39:50.95
Because when you're in
the midst of indigestion
00:39:50.96\00:39:53.64
that's when the
battle is going to come,
00:39:53.65\00:39:55.68
and if you don't have
something more than that food
00:39:55.69\00:39:57.63
that's about to disappear.
00:39:57.64\00:40:00.31
The bread of life
if it's not in there
00:40:00.32\00:40:02.57
you're not gonna have any
strength and you will be tested.
00:40:02.58\00:40:05.90
And I tell you there are
two people waiting for you
00:40:05.91\00:40:07.47
when you wake up,
the devil and you.
00:40:07.48\00:40:11.18
And often times, the
devil don't have to do much,
00:40:11.19\00:40:13.65
because the longer we stay from,
00:40:13.66\00:40:15.32
the longer we stay
away from the bread of life
00:40:15.33\00:40:17.66
ingesting the
bread of life the weaker,
00:40:17.67\00:40:19.43
the weaker we get
and by four or five days
00:40:19.44\00:40:23.27
the devil don't
even have to visit us.
00:40:23.28\00:40:24.62
We self destruct, am I
telling the truth? Yes.
00:40:24.63\00:40:28.17
Well, you get busy,
you could self destruct.
00:40:28.18\00:40:30.41
You could be busy
doing the Lord's work
00:40:30.42\00:40:32.54
and not even crack
the pages of the Bible
00:40:32.55\00:40:35.05
because you're doing God's work,
00:40:35.06\00:40:37.43
that's where that
Matthew 7 verse 21 to 23
00:40:37.44\00:40:39.99
many will say, "Lord,
Lord, I've never been in you.
00:40:40.00\00:40:44.05
I'm doing your work but I
don't even know who you are."
00:40:44.06\00:40:49.15
Let's go the next
one, so what's the answer?
00:40:49.16\00:40:51.27
More than being "In
Christ", what must we do?
00:40:51.28\00:40:53.54
Let's say
together, "Abide in Him"
00:40:53.55\00:40:55.47
and if you don't abide
in Him what can you do?
00:40:55.48\00:40:58.90
The fruit won't show up,
00:40:58.91\00:41:02.25
the fruit won't show up.
00:41:02.26\00:41:05.13
Colossians 5 verse 22.
00:41:05.14\00:41:06.58
That's where the fruit
of the spirit is located.
00:41:06.59\00:41:09.28
But if you're not abiding in
Christ that love, joy, peace,
00:41:09.29\00:41:11.74
longsuffering, gentleness
00:41:11.75\00:41:12.81
is not gonna show
up, it's just not.
00:41:12.82\00:41:17.11
Disconnected from the
vine, no fruit is gonna show up.
00:41:17.12\00:41:20.45
Number 11, let's go on.
00:41:20.46\00:41:22.29
"What does the Bible instruct us
to do about our spiritual life?"
00:41:22.30\00:41:26.18
About our spiritual life.
00:41:26.19\00:41:27.71
Yes, there's
something we have to do.
00:41:27.72\00:41:30.49
Okay, you guys are
gonna like this one
00:41:30.50\00:41:32.93
and when you read
it don't look around
00:41:32.94\00:41:35.10
because this gonna
tell you where to look.
00:41:35.11\00:41:38.18
Are you ready, I
got to go to this one,
00:41:38.19\00:41:39.60
I'm gonna move on real fast.
00:41:39.61\00:41:40.87
Here it is, Second
Corinthians-- oh did I--oh here.
00:41:40.88\00:41:45.74
Let me go there--okay,
did I go ahead of myself,
00:41:45.75\00:41:48.15
did I miss a text?
00:41:48.16\00:41:51.68
Did I just pass number 11?
00:41:51.69\00:41:53.42
Okay, well, let's go to it here,
00:41:53.43\00:41:55.76
I have two texts, all right.
00:41:55.77\00:41:58.29
Second
Corinthians, go in your Bible,
00:41:58.30\00:42:00.07
I forgot to put that slide there
00:42:00.08\00:42:01.65
but we have Bibles, don't we?
00:42:01.66\00:42:03.39
Let's go there.
Second Corinthians 13:5
00:42:03.40\00:42:06.84
and it reads as follows,
what are the first two words?
00:42:06.85\00:42:09.89
Examine who? Yourself.
00:42:09.90\00:42:12.28
Get near the mirror in
the morning and instead
00:42:12.29\00:42:13.62
of just brushing your
teeth and combing your hair,
00:42:13.63\00:42:15.87
get your spiritual
mirrors. Get your, what?
00:42:15.88\00:42:19.35
Your spiritual mirrors out.
00:42:19.36\00:42:21.55
What does the Bible instruct
us to do about ourselves?
00:42:21.56\00:42:23.88
Examine ourselves.
00:42:23.89\00:42:26.31
Examine ourselves to see whether
or not we are in the faith.
00:42:26.32\00:42:32.05
It goes further,
what's the next two words?
00:42:32.06\00:42:35.59
Test yourselves.
00:42:35.60\00:42:37.06
Examine yourselves
and test yourselves.
00:42:37.07\00:42:39.92
And then it goes on to
say, "Do you not know yourselves
00:42:39.93\00:42:44.02
that Jesus Christ is in you
unless, indeed" you are what?
00:42:44.03\00:42:48.35
"Disqualified." You know what
that word 'disqualified' means?
00:42:48.36\00:42:53.60
Let me use a story.
00:42:53.61\00:42:54.63
If you pick up a
glass and you have guests
00:42:54.64\00:42:57.26
and there's a little ant in that
glass, is that glass qualified
00:42:57.27\00:43:02.08
for you to give your
guests some to drink?
00:43:02.09\00:43:04.61
That's my point.
00:43:04.62\00:43:05.79
If there's anything in your
life that shouldn't be there,
00:43:05.80\00:43:08.52
the Lore is saying,
"Check out what's on the inside,
00:43:08.53\00:43:11.33
test yourselves,
examine yourselves.
00:43:11.34\00:43:15.03
Because if we're
not examining ourselves,
00:43:15.04\00:43:16.90
if we're spending our time
examining just everybody else,
00:43:16.91\00:43:20.13
then we remain disqualified.
00:43:20.14\00:43:22.06
We have to examine ourselves.
00:43:22.07\00:43:23.75
Just kind of like,
just before you go out,
00:43:23.76\00:43:25.33
people that like to
dress up, you know they.
00:43:25.34\00:43:30.67
I have this habit of
straightening people's ties.
00:43:30.68\00:43:33.36
And good suit, and I go.
00:43:33.37\00:43:38.71
But sometimes you go
out, I saw a commercial
00:43:38.72\00:43:40.66
long time ago there was,
00:43:40.67\00:43:41.91
it was really funny
there was a executive,
00:43:41.92\00:43:43.56
cooperative executive,
he was about to meet people
00:43:43.57\00:43:45.16
that were coming to the company.
00:43:45.17\00:43:46.85
And as he was
walking on the hallway,
00:43:46.86\00:43:47.98
they straighten his collar,
they pull up his pant like--
00:43:47.99\00:43:50.64
do you all
remember that commercial.
00:43:50.65\00:43:52.34
And he's walking, they
straight his tie just before
00:43:52.35\00:43:54.45
he met the guest, just
before he met the other client
00:43:54.46\00:43:56.60
tell at you, and he smiled
00:43:56.61\00:43:58.09
and there was a big
old broccoli right there.
00:43:58.10\00:44:01.17
You know, why? Because
he didn't examine himself.
00:44:01.18\00:44:04.41
Fool could only
see curtains things.
00:44:04.42\00:44:05.80
But if you're
examining yourselves
00:44:05.81\00:44:07.13
you know where to look.
00:44:07.14\00:44:08.72
Those things will show up if
you don't examine yourselves.
00:44:08.73\00:44:10.97
And it's embracing, that's
why I always say to my friends,
00:44:10.98\00:44:13.77
if you're my friend,
what do I say, "honey?"
00:44:13.78\00:44:16.77
You'd tell me if there's
something in my teeth. Yes.
00:44:16.78\00:44:19.31
See, and you know what?
00:44:19.32\00:44:21.23
That's why Jesus
said in Ecclesiastes,
00:44:21.24\00:44:23.44
"Faithful are the
wounds of a friend,
00:44:23.45\00:44:26.52
but the kisses of an
enemy are deceitful."
00:44:26.53\00:44:29.31
You see brothers
and sisters your friends
00:44:29.32\00:44:30.72
that are close to you, you
can tell your real condition,
00:44:30.73\00:44:32.73
they will say,
"Honey, you need Jesus,
00:44:32.74\00:44:35.43
you need to read your Bible."
00:44:35.44\00:44:37.34
You need to not just have
that Bible under your arm.
00:44:37.35\00:44:39.61
It needs to be in your heart.
00:44:39.62\00:44:41.79
And sometimes it hurts,
00:44:41.80\00:44:43.22
but faithful are
the wounds of a friend,
00:44:43.23\00:44:45.16
that's why Jesus
said to his disciples,
00:44:45.17\00:44:47.13
"I'm not gonna--you
will no longer call me Lord,
00:44:47.14\00:44:50.03
but we're just gonna
call each other friends."
00:44:50.04\00:44:52.56
And that was the fellowship,
the koinonia that they have
00:44:52.57\00:44:54.94
because Christ
was abiding in them.
00:44:54.95\00:44:56.60
Let me go to the next one.
00:44:56.61\00:44:57.63
So what do we do, examine
ourselves and do what else?
00:44:57.64\00:45:00.56
Test ourselves. If we don't
do that we're disqualified.
00:45:00.57\00:45:03.83
Question number 12.
Let me go to question 12.
00:45:03.84\00:45:06.89
You know what? I have a
text but I didn't change,
00:45:06.90\00:45:09.45
that's what I-- I had the text
00:45:09.46\00:45:10.78
but I didn't
change the reference.
00:45:10.79\00:45:12.72
I had the right
text, but I didn't change
00:45:12.73\00:45:14.12
the reference, okay.
Let's move on beyond that.
00:45:14.13\00:45:16.43
Now question number
12, question number 12.
00:45:16.44\00:45:20.23
"How does Christian life
change our standing with God?"
00:45:20.24\00:45:25.54
"How does Christian life
change our standing with God?"
00:45:25.55\00:45:32.14
I would've put the word 'the'
but it didn't have enough space
00:45:32.15\00:45:34.15
but let's go on and this
is now Romans 8. Romans 8.
00:45:34.16\00:45:40.89
Okay, here it is.
00:45:40.90\00:45:42.82
How does it change
our standing with God?
00:45:42.83\00:45:45.61
I like this one. I
mean I like them all,
00:45:45.62\00:45:47.98
but this one is
really encouraging,
00:45:47.99\00:45:49.83
"There is
therefore now no," what?
00:45:49.84\00:45:52.83
"Condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus."
00:45:52.84\00:45:55.88
But the reason why the
second part of this text
00:45:55.89\00:45:58.87
is so vitally important,
00:45:58.88\00:46:00.11
because there's
something you have to do.
00:46:00.12\00:46:01.55
"Who do not walk
according to the flesh,
00:46:01.56\00:46:03.95
but according to the Spirit."
00:46:03.96\00:46:05.68
There are two
roads in the morning
00:46:05.69\00:46:06.89
you got to decide, flesh on
the left spirit on the right.
00:46:06.90\00:46:11.76
If you don't read your Bible,
00:46:11.77\00:46:12.78
you're gonna make the
flesh turn, you know why?
00:46:12.79\00:46:14.50
Because the flesh
road is gonna lineup
00:46:14.51\00:46:17.20
with your fleshy desires.
00:46:17.21\00:46:20.09
But to get the right
directions you got to pull out
00:46:20.10\00:46:22.38
a spiritual map and say,
"Okay, if I rely on my mind
00:46:22.39\00:46:27.83
and my heart which is
deceitful above all things
00:46:27.84\00:46:29.67
and desperately wicked,
00:46:29.68\00:46:30.92
it's gonna go to
the flesh journey.
00:46:30.93\00:46:32.88
But if I open the word of God,
00:46:32.89\00:46:33.95
it's gonna say, "A
right turn, right turn."
00:46:33.96\00:46:38.68
And this text says,
"There's no condemnation,"
00:46:38.69\00:46:40.52
but what do you have to do?
00:46:40.53\00:46:41.55
"You got to walk not
according to the flesh,
00:46:41.56\00:46:43.87
but according to the" what?
00:46:43.88\00:46:45.57
According to the spirit,"
00:46:45.58\00:46:47.53
the self examination
everyday, the word of God.
00:46:47.54\00:46:49.92
And you know what?
00:46:49.93\00:46:51.35
When my wife and I get
together and read our Bibles,
00:46:51.36\00:46:53.37
you know sometimes we have
to fight through the feeling.
00:46:53.38\00:46:56.81
You know I'm talking
about fight thought he feeling,
00:46:56.82\00:46:58.80
because you
don't always feel like
00:46:58.81\00:46:59.97
you want to read your
Bible, am I telling the truth?
00:46:59.98\00:47:03.21
You don't have the feeling,
it's not like somebody sits
00:47:03.22\00:47:05.72
on a nice hot sandwich in
front of you and you could say,
00:47:05.73\00:47:08.83
"Oh, you know, I
can't wait to taste it."
00:47:08.84\00:47:10.47
It's not like Thanksgiving
where you can't wait,
00:47:10.48\00:47:13.01
when is the food gonna be ready?
00:47:13.02\00:47:14.37
In three hours and you're dying.
00:47:14.38\00:47:16.61
But when you
open the word of God,
00:47:16.62\00:47:18.90
when you open the
word of God sometimes,
00:47:18.91\00:47:21.17
and you know why that happens?
00:47:21.18\00:47:22.22
Let me just be very real with
you, the reason why it's hard
00:47:22.23\00:47:24.96
in this day and age to
just naturally open the Bible
00:47:24.97\00:47:28.00
and read it is because
we live in an instant world,
00:47:28.01\00:47:31.38
we live in nano-seconds society.
00:47:31.39\00:47:33.23
We press our cell phone.
00:47:33.24\00:47:34.68
We want to get
the newest cell phone,
00:47:34.69\00:47:35.84
because it's
faster than the other one.
00:47:35.85\00:47:37.57
How many
mega-hertz is that computer?
00:47:37.58\00:47:38.87
Well it's--we want to
get the faster processor,
00:47:38.88\00:47:41.74
we want to get
the faster video card,
00:47:41.75\00:47:43.36
we want to get
the faster mega-hertz
00:47:43.37\00:47:45.58
but I tell you
everything is fast
00:47:45.59\00:47:47.15
but the word of God
is not a speed book.
00:47:47.16\00:47:50.68
It's a book that you
have to sit down and digest.
00:47:50.69\00:47:53.54
You got to eat that loaf slowly,
00:47:53.55\00:47:56.55
ingest it, chew
it up and digest it.
00:47:56.56\00:48:00.24
For those who want it instantly,
you won't really get it.
00:48:00.25\00:48:02.35
But I tell you
when we fight past
00:48:02.36\00:48:03.73
the feeling it gets to the place
where we have to stop ourselves.
00:48:03.74\00:48:07.60
Because
sometimes we want to read
00:48:07.61\00:48:08.73
the whole book at one sitting.
00:48:08.74\00:48:10.50
It gets so good.
What am I saying?
00:48:10.51\00:48:12.59
You have to taste and
see that the Lord is good.
00:48:12.60\00:48:16.33
The practical
application of Christianity
00:48:16.34\00:48:18.86
is not just singing the songs,
going to Christian places,
00:48:18.87\00:48:22.91
Christian fellowship.
00:48:22.92\00:48:24.52
The basic element
is the word of God
00:48:24.53\00:48:26.50
abiding in our lives everyday
then we will know how to walk.
00:48:26.51\00:48:31.06
Then the flesh
won't have preeminence
00:48:31.07\00:48:33.21
and then we
won't feel condemned.
00:48:33.22\00:48:35.99
Take it in reverse,
walking on the spirit
00:48:36.00\00:48:38.21
the flesh will
not have preeminence
00:48:38.22\00:48:40.06
and then we
won't feel condemned.
00:48:40.07\00:48:42.97
Now the N.I.V. at--
that's one of the reasons
00:48:42.98\00:48:44.98
this particular
text in the N.I.V,
00:48:44.99\00:48:46.63
they take out the second part
00:48:46.64\00:48:47.89
which I don't really like.
00:48:47.90\00:48:49.31
"Who do not walk
according to the flesh
00:48:49.32\00:48:50.72
but according to the Spirit",
00:48:50.73\00:48:51.75
that's been omitted completely.
00:48:51.76\00:48:54.21
Which almost says,
"Doesn't really matter
00:48:54.22\00:48:55.84
how you walk
there's no condemnation."
00:48:55.85\00:48:57.68
Brethren that it does
matter how you walk, am I right?
00:48:57.69\00:49:00.11
Amen. It matters how you walk,
00:49:00.12\00:49:01.42
now once saved always saved.
00:49:01.43\00:49:02.59
That almost denotes "the
once saved always saved."
00:49:02.60\00:49:04.58
You're not condemned
00:49:04.59\00:49:06.32
but how you walk in
is the real question.
00:49:06.33\00:49:08.68
Now what number are we up to?
00:49:08.69\00:49:09.94
Number 13. We have about
eight minutes, we can do it.
00:49:09.95\00:49:14.47
If you guys don't slow me down.
00:49:14.48\00:49:17.52
"What is one of the residual
benefits of being in Christ?"
00:49:17.53\00:49:22.11
"What is one of the residual
benefits of being in Christ?"
00:49:22.12\00:49:24.02
Here it is, number 13.
00:49:24.03\00:49:27.85
And we're gonna
go to John Chapter 16
00:49:27.86\00:49:31.03
and we're gonna
look at verse 33.
00:49:31.04\00:49:32.92
One of the residual, and
that word residual is probably
00:49:32.93\00:49:36.12
not the best word because it
almost sounds like a residue.
00:49:36.13\00:49:38.75
What I'm actually saying,
"What are one of the benefits."
00:49:38.76\00:49:42.58
Residual mean there's a lot
of benefits, here's one of them.
00:49:42.59\00:49:45.02
Let's look at the answer.
00:49:45.03\00:49:46.16
John 16:33, here's
what the Bible says,
00:49:46.17\00:49:50.10
"These things I
have spoken to you,
00:49:50.11\00:49:51.98
that in Me you may have" what?
00:49:51.99\00:49:54.36
"Peace." Oh I tell you,
they're looking for world peace
00:49:54.37\00:49:57.07
but we can have
individual peace.
00:49:57.08\00:49:58.78
"In the world
you will have" what?
00:49:58.79\00:50:00.96
"Tribulation," don't look
for the peace in the world,
00:50:00.97\00:50:03.12
look for peace in
Jesus. "But be of" what?
00:50:03.13\00:50:05.71
"Good cheer, I have" done what?
00:50:05.72\00:50:07.48
"Overcome the world."
00:50:07.49\00:50:08.71
One of the residual
benefits is--say it, "Peace."
00:50:08.72\00:50:14.56
We want no tribulation, God say,
00:50:14.57\00:50:16.70
"You're gonna get that."
00:50:16.71\00:50:18.56
Denial, you're
gonna be in lion's den,
00:50:18.57\00:50:21.03
you are gonna be in lion's den.
00:50:21.04\00:50:23.24
But Lord why? "You
gonna be in lion's den
00:50:23.25\00:50:25.97
but I gonna be in
there with you." Amen? Amen.
00:50:25.98\00:50:28.16
So somebody said, "Don't pray
for God to remove the trial,
00:50:28.17\00:50:31.10
pray for Him to give you a
strong back to bear the burden."
00:50:31.11\00:50:34.38
"Hebrews, you're
gonna be in the fire."
00:50:34.39\00:50:36.61
In that furnace?
00:50:36.62\00:50:37.69
You mean the one
that heat at 70--
00:50:37.70\00:50:38.81
"You're gonna be in it, but I'm
gonna be in it with you." Amen?
00:50:38.82\00:50:42.06
You will have tribulation,
don't pray for the tribulation
00:50:42.07\00:50:45.54
to be removed all the
time because what happens
00:50:45.55\00:50:47.72
is if you are a soldier,
you got to expect the battle.
00:50:47.73\00:50:50.81
Can you imagine? I
just been trained six weeks,
00:50:50.82\00:50:53.08
I'm going now over to Vietnam.
00:50:53.09\00:50:55.13
And somebody said, "Why
you're going to Vietnam?"
00:50:55.14\00:50:56.57
Well, that's where
the war used to be.
00:50:56.58\00:51:00.69
And I didn't get a
chance to go in 60s
00:51:00.70\00:51:02.49
but I'm going now, I
asked to be transferred
00:51:02.50\00:51:04.42
last week to Vietnam.
00:51:04.43\00:51:05.97
There's no war in Vietnam but
I just want to say I was there.
00:51:05.98\00:51:09.01
You know what I'm saying?
00:51:09.02\00:51:10.10
Some of us want to live
in a warless environment
00:51:10.11\00:51:13.05
so we can prove the
strength of our Christianity.
00:51:13.06\00:51:15.25
It is in the
environment of tribulation
00:51:15.26\00:51:17.14
that your Christianity
is affirmed, is validated.
00:51:17.15\00:51:23.74
Daniel really is a Christian.
00:51:23.75\00:51:25.96
Because see--I'm gonna
go, he could deliver me
00:51:25.97\00:51:30.14
but even if he doesn't.
00:51:30.15\00:51:31.68
What am I saying?
I'm gonna trust Him.
00:51:31.69\00:51:34.41
The residual benefit
is 'peace in Christ.'
00:51:34.42\00:51:38.75
Number 14, let's
see if we could do it.
00:51:38.76\00:51:41.98
"How does abiding in
Christ impact our prayer life?"
00:51:41.99\00:51:48.13
Oh man. You're ready?
00:51:48.14\00:51:52.71
I'm just gonna go to it,
I'm just gonna try to move
00:51:52.72\00:51:54.41
as fast as I can, because I
know you can keep up with me.
00:51:54.42\00:51:57.02
"If you abide in Me,
and My words abide in you,
00:51:57.03\00:52:02.64
you will ask what
you desire, and" what?
00:52:02.65\00:52:05.69
"It shall be" what? "Done."
00:52:05.70\00:52:08.10
You know what's the
worst thing is to kneel down
00:52:08.11\00:52:10.57
before the God
we serve and wonder
00:52:10.58\00:52:13.58
whether or not He's
gonna answer our prayer.
00:52:13.59\00:52:17.49
Now if you pick
something on the menu
00:52:17.50\00:52:19.28
in a restaurant you go to, are
you gonna picked up by saying,
00:52:19.29\00:52:23.85
"I know it's on the
menu but do you have it?"
00:52:23.86\00:52:27.21
You know, they will
say, "Is that on the menu?"
00:52:27.22\00:52:29.70
One of those, you
know, cantankerous way,
00:52:29.71\00:52:32.09
'is it on the menu?'
Well then we have it.
00:52:32.10\00:52:35.21
Is it in God's word?
00:52:35.22\00:52:37.16
Come on, is it
in God's word? Amen.
00:52:37.17\00:52:38.90
Then we have it, that's
what you got to believe.
00:52:38.91\00:52:41.76
If it's not in
God's word don't ask for,
00:52:41.77\00:52:43.62
but if it's in
there you have it,
00:52:43.63\00:52:46.13
that's what this will be--
00:52:46.14\00:52:47.15
"If you abide in Me
and My words abide in you,
00:52:47.16\00:52:51.21
you will ask what
you desire and" what?
00:52:51.22\00:52:54.55
"It shall be done for you."
00:52:54.56\00:53:00.93
You will never open God's word
00:53:00.94\00:53:02.20
and you'll never say
to you, "I'm out of that."
00:53:02.21\00:53:04.83
That's what He was saying.
00:53:04.84\00:53:05.85
Sometimes they say,
"They're out of that."
00:53:05.86\00:53:07.19
Yeah, sometimes they
get--we would try to get--
00:53:07.20\00:53:09.28
anyway no more time for
stories just keep moving on.
00:53:09.29\00:53:11.85
Abide in the word and
you'll never get to the point
00:53:11.86\00:53:13.68
where God says,
"Oh, talk to me next week
00:53:13.69\00:53:17.14
we're getting our fresh supply."
00:53:17.15\00:53:19.45
He will supply all of
our need according to what?
00:53:19.46\00:53:21.69
His riches in glory.
00:53:21.70\00:53:23.25
I tell you how
deep is God's riches.
00:53:23.26\00:53:25.48
Number 15, moving by along.
00:53:25.49\00:53:27.71
"To what extent do Christians
00:53:27.72\00:53:29.16
have access to blessings?"
00:53:29.17\00:53:32.31
It's all about--we
read a lot about in Christ,
00:53:32.32\00:53:34.39
"To what extent do Christians
have access to blessings?"
00:53:34.40\00:53:37.00
Ephesians 1, Ephesians 1
and verse 3 and here it is.
00:53:37.01\00:53:43.89
"Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:53:43.90\00:53:47.66
who has blessed us with
most spiritual blessing."
00:53:47.67\00:53:54.13
Oh, don't slow me down.
"Who has blessed us with" what?
00:53:54.14\00:53:57.93
"Every spiritual blessing in
the heavenly places of Christ."
00:53:57.94\00:54:04.50
Is heaven huge?
Is big enough for me?
00:54:04.51\00:54:09.77
Can you imagine, what's
in the storehouse of God?
00:54:09.78\00:54:12.84
When you read that
book, Malachi, and He says,
00:54:12.85\00:54:15.08
"I will open for you
the windows of heaven
00:54:15.09\00:54:17.28
and pour you out a blessing,
00:54:17.29\00:54:19.68
that there shall not be
room enough to receive it."
00:54:19.69\00:54:21.36
We've got to believe that
there are blessings in heaven.
00:54:21.37\00:54:24.63
As I heard the story
once, I can't remember
00:54:24.64\00:54:26.92
if it's an
illustration of something
00:54:26.93\00:54:28.26
Ellen White said,
but it fits right here.
00:54:28.27\00:54:30.45
I got to get
clarification on this.
00:54:30.46\00:54:32.83
But the point was
many will get to heaven
00:54:32.84\00:54:35.54
and notice all these blessings
that were never claimed.
00:54:35.55\00:54:42.26
Because we think of God
sometimes as He's out of stock,
00:54:42.27\00:54:45.28
God is never out of stock.
00:54:45.29\00:54:46.34
Every spiritual blessing,
but you have to remember
00:54:46.35\00:54:48.30
where it comes from,
where does it comes from?
00:54:48.31\00:54:50.54
In heavenly places.
00:54:50.55\00:54:51.83
Don't look for it
always from somebody else
00:54:51.84\00:54:54.86
or from an earthly source.
00:54:54.87\00:54:56.27
If you put your
request before God,
00:54:56.28\00:54:58.14
He will open the windows of
heaven and give you the blessing
00:54:58.15\00:55:00.51
you need according to
your ability to receive it.
00:55:00.52\00:55:05.15
He'll never give
you more than you need
00:55:05.16\00:55:07.58
and He'll never give
you things to overwhelm you
00:55:07.59\00:55:09.68
and push you out of His will.
00:55:09.69\00:55:11.77
All right, number 16,
2 minutes and 49 seconds
00:55:11.78\00:55:16.28
but we could do it.
00:55:16.29\00:55:17.41
I'm not gonna rush if I
have to wait till the next time,
00:55:17.42\00:55:19.32
to save the
rest of them, I will.
00:55:19.33\00:55:21.80
"When facing battles and
challenges how do we conquer?"
00:55:21.81\00:55:25.87
"When facing battles and
challenges how do we conquer?"
00:55:25.88\00:55:29.15
And here is the
answer my brethren.
00:55:29.16\00:55:31.07
Second
Corinthians 2 and verse 14,
00:55:31.08\00:55:33.69
"Now thanks be to God who
always leads us in triumph" how?
00:55:33.70\00:55:38.32
"In Christ, and through
us diffuses the fragrance
00:55:38.33\00:55:42.83
of His knowledge
in" what? "Every place."
00:55:42.84\00:55:45.69
You know, when
we trust in Christ,
00:55:45.70\00:55:47.06
we even smell
good to other people.
00:55:47.07\00:55:48.97
The fragrance, I
remember Pastor C.A.
00:55:51.15\00:55:53.48
once preached a
sermon, "How do you smell?"
00:55:53.49\00:55:55.65
And I said, "What?
What does he talking about?
00:55:55.66\00:55:59.36
How do we smell?"
00:55:59.37\00:56:00.43
He's talking about
when Christ is in your life,
00:56:00.44\00:56:02.03
we diffuse the fragrance.
00:56:02.04\00:56:03.77
You know what? Because
Christ is the rose of sharing.
00:56:03.78\00:56:07.55
People ought to--you
ought to have a fragrance
00:56:07.56\00:56:09.59
of Christ in your life,
amen? Amen. That's what happens.
00:56:09.60\00:56:13.31
We diffuse. You
know what diffuse means?
00:56:13.32\00:56:15.36
It's like you
open a perfume bottle
00:56:15.37\00:56:17.24
and sprinkle it everywhere.
00:56:17.25\00:56:19.38
The fragrance fills the room
00:56:19.39\00:56:20.52
and that
fragrance is in fact Christ.
00:56:20.53\00:56:22.24
Number 17, "What is
the greatest benefit
00:56:22.25\00:56:24.92
that comes from
being in Christ?"
00:56:24.93\00:56:27.59
I know you want
to know this one.
00:56:27.60\00:56:29.78
First John 5:11, we could do it.
00:56:29.79\00:56:33.32
First John 5:11, here it
is, "And this is the testimony
00:56:33.33\00:56:39.28
that God has given us eternal
life, and this life in is" what?
00:56:39.29\00:56:44.23
"In His Son." The greatest
blessing is what my brothers?
00:56:44.24\00:56:47.55
Eternal life. But it's
not outside, it's in His Son.
00:56:47.56\00:56:51.64
My ending quotation, here it
is, "What does being in Christ
00:56:51.65\00:56:55.66
confronts us with
on a daily basis?"
00:56:55.67\00:56:58.05
We must realize that we are
in the school, Christ school
00:56:58.06\00:57:01.27
not to learn how we
may esteem ourselves,
00:57:01.28\00:57:03.95
how we shall conduct ourselves
so as to receive honor of men
00:57:03.96\00:57:07.83
but how we may cherish
the meekness of Christ.
00:57:07.84\00:57:10.61
Self and selfishness
will be ever stirring,
00:57:10.62\00:57:13.96
striving for the mastery.
00:57:13.97\00:57:15.47
It is a fight we
must have with ourselves
00:57:15.48\00:57:18.06
that self shall
not have the victory,
00:57:18.07\00:57:20.48
through Christ you may triumph,
00:57:20.49\00:57:22.56
through Christ you may conquer.
00:57:22.57\00:57:25.25
Can you say,
amen' to that. Amen.
00:57:25.26\00:57:27.06
Brothers and sisters
this was a rapid fire,
00:57:27.07\00:57:29.21
you got the answers.
00:57:29.22\00:57:30.24
Now take the time
to savor that meal.
00:57:30.25\00:57:33.39
Can we have
victory in Christ? Amen.
00:57:33.40\00:57:36.02
Can we have our
prayers answered? Amen.
00:57:36.03\00:57:37.91
Can we have daily strength to
face the battles of life? Amen.
00:57:37.92\00:57:42.08
Do we want it? Yes.
00:57:42.09\00:57:43.81
So how can we
live a victorious life?
00:57:43.82\00:57:46.31
In Christ, if
any man is in Christ,
00:57:46.32\00:57:48.87
friends he is a new creation.
00:57:48.88\00:57:50.63
We will continue our
track studying the word of God.
00:57:50.64\00:57:53.53
But let me
encourage you in this respect,
00:57:53.54\00:57:55.46
live your life in Christ,
00:57:55.47\00:57:56.90
in the moments of
trials and discouragement,
00:57:56.91\00:57:59.17
Christ will be there and
He will be your strength.
00:57:59.18\00:58:02.14
God bless you until we
see you again. Let's pray.
00:58:02.15\00:58:06.04