Hello, friends,
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and welcome to another
Wednesday night bible study
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here in Thompsonville,
that's Thompsonville, Illinois,
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the 3ABN Worship Center.
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And thank you for tuning
in in our continual study.
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The overall theme
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is how to live a spiritual
life in a natural body.
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But tonight, we're
going to continue in a lesson,
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lesson number 11 on
Face the Challenges.
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Now each of us has
challenges on a daily basis.
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But what are the
most important challenges
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is really the question.
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And tonight, we're
going to answer that
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and continue to the
completion of our study
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that we began a
couple of weeks ago.
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So if you'd like
to get a copy of that
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go to this following website,
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don't put www,
type ASF.3abn.org,
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and download
lesson number 11 and 12
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because chances are
we'll get an opportunity
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to go to the new lesson tonight,
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which is How to Carry My Cross.
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We always talk about the cross,
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and sometimes, when
things in life don't go well
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we say, "Well, that's my cross."
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Really what is the cross
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that God has called us to carry?
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We're going to talk
about that tonight also.
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But get your Bibles, tune in,
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invite your
friends and family members
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to join us for the study.
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But before we do
anything, before we even sing,
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we invite the Lord's presence.
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So bow your heads as we pray.
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Our gracious Father in heaven,
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we thank You, Lord,
for the opportunity tonight
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to open Your Word.
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We also pray that
You'll open our hearts.
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We don't want to
just gain Bible knowledge,
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we want to gain the
strength and the desire
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to serve You, Lord, to
not only understand more,
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but to walk in the footsteps
that you place before us
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to reflect Your
goodness and Your glory
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and to
strengthen our relationship
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with You and with each other.
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So Lord, as we continue
in our discussion tonight
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about facing the challenges,
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may our hearts be calm,
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and may we listen to the
voice of your Holy Spirit.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Well, here at A Sharper Focus,
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we always sing our theme song
which is "Victory in Jesus."
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And those of you that know it,
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you'll hear the song
and just listening along.
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And if you know the song,
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you can join us
from where you are
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whether here in
the US or overseas.
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Let's sing the
song, "Victory in Jesus."
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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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Oh victory in Jesus
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My Savior forever
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He sought me and He 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
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I'll sing up there
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The song of victory
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Key change.
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Oh 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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What did He do?
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Can we say amen to that? Amen.
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Plunged us to victory
beneath that cleansing flood.
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That song is about baptism.
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What it really means
to not only join Christ
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in our walk with
Him through baptism,
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but join Him in His walk with us
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on a day-by-day basis.
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Now we're
continuing lesson number 11
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entitled Face the Challenges.
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And last week, we talked
about all of the scriptures
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that had to do with daily dying.
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Had to do with what?
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Daily dying.
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If we don't die daily, we
cannot live in Christ daily.
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One of the greatest challenges
we face on a day-by-day basis
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is putting ourselves to death
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so that Christ
could be the one reigning
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and living through us.
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Isn't that right?
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And so this entire topic
that we've been talking about
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how to live a spiritual life
in a natural body is, in fact,
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what each one of
us is called to do
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until the Lord
replaces this vile body
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and fashions it like
unto His glorious body.
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But now there's another aspect
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to the living of
the Christian life
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other than just dying daily.
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And this is the part that
oftentimes is not talked about
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when you hear sermons
about motivational Christianity,
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how to
strengthen your portfolio,
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seven highly
effective habits of Christians,
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what I call, icing Christianity.
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It doesn't have any substance,
doesn't have any meat to it.
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It's just milk
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and it never
translates to solid food.
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And there is a lot of that
kind of preaching nowadays.
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And so whenever a Christian
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is walking in his or her life
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and challenges or
trials come along,
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for those, as my good friend,
Dr. Ranko Stefanowicz said,
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"For those who
only have a cliche,
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'Oh, God is good all
the time, all the time.'"
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For those of us
who only have that,
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we have nothing
when trials come.
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And they are a
lot of people that,
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you know, as long
as prosperity is fine,
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and the bank account is well,
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and the car hasn't stopped,
and the kids are behaving,
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and our future looks good,
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and our stocks are performing
the way we expect them to,
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and the dog
hasn't bitten anybody,
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and my husband and our children
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and wife and our
children are doing fine.
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As long as all those
things are going well,
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a lot of people
say, "God is good."
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But when the rain clouds
come, and the storms come,
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and the diagnosis is not
good, and the doctor said,
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"He has nothing
more that he can do."
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When it seems like
no matter what you do,
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your marriage is
just not going to work,
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and your children are
following the wrong path,
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and you pray for them,
and you work with them,
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and they just don't seem
to make any kind of progress.
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When your money
is not in the bank
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and your lights get turned off.
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And your car breaks
down in the middle of highway
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when it's pouring rain.
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You got to have a whole lot more
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than God is good all the time
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because even though
God is good all the time,
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all the time life is not good.
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And so this is the
part of Christianity
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that's often the second
half of the book of Hebrews 11.
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We talk about faith, the
substance of things hoped
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for the evidence
of things not seen.
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People are fine,
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you know, the first
half of Hebrews is great.
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But when you get
to the second half
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and they talk
about being sawn asunder,
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tortured in prison,
thrown to the lions,
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torn apart in the
dens, those who suffered,
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and walked around in
goat skins and sheep skins,
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and were destitute.
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I like the Bible when it says
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"Of whom the
world was not worthy."
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This is the kind of Christianity
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we're talking about tonight,
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the kind of Christianity
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that is not the kind
that leaves out suffering
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because if you
don't have more than
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just 28 fundamental doctrines
and a really good song,
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you've got to
have some substance,
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you've got to
have some promises.
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And once again, I would say...
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I had the
privilege of doing a program
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with Dr. Ranko Stefanowicz,
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and he says, "A lot of times,
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one of our
greatest problems could be
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just our little
book of promises,"
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because oftentimes
we read the promises
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but we fail to
read was before it
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and what's after it.
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See, 'cause God
never promised us...
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Well, the song
says, "I beg your pardon.
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I never promised
you a rose garden
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along with the sunshine.
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There's got to be a
little rain sometime."
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And oftentimes, Christians
don't know about the rain.
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They sit in their mega
churches in their giga organs,
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in their lavish lifestyles,
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and everything
is going just well.
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But all of a sudden they
fade when difficulty comes.
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And so we want to
talk about how to stay
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because whether
you know it or not
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the road ahead of us
for the Christian church
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is a lot more
difficult than it is right now.
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And we're living in a time
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where we have to test
the fabric of our connection.
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I said this in...
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My wife reminded me
today, before the Lord comes,
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the devil is
going to test the reason
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why we are Christians.
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Why are you a Christian?
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And is that reason
strong enough to carry you
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through the difficulties
that are going to come?
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So we're going to
begin with a text.
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First our question
is question number 24.
00:10:14.71\00:10:17.15
We're going to begin tonight
talking about the suffering
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and then the most
beautiful part of the suffering.
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Question number 24.
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So if you have that lesson,
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we're continuing
on lesson number 11.
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Hopefully, we'll
transition to number 12.
00:10:29.49\00:10:31.63
But here's question number
24 tonight to begin our study.
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"When it seems difficult
to live the Christian life,
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why should we persevere?"
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I mean, what is
there for us to go on.
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What is there for
us to keep pushing?
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Why should we continue
to go beyond the difficulty?
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And the sad reality
is more people give up
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for lesser
things in Christianity
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than they do for
things in the world.
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I mean I want you
to think about that.
00:11:01.89\00:11:04.69
And we just are living
during the holiday season,
00:11:04.73\00:11:07.36
people will camp
out for three days
00:11:07.40\00:11:09.70
to buy a television
00:11:09.73\00:11:11.27
and won't come to
church on the warmest night.
00:11:11.30\00:11:17.87
But the day is coming
00:11:17.91\00:11:19.24
when people are
going to be camping out
00:11:19.27\00:11:20.61
to get in the church
00:11:20.64\00:11:21.98
but the church is
going to be closed.
00:11:22.01\00:11:24.11
People are going to
be camping out one day
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to hear the Word of God,
00:11:25.55\00:11:26.88
but Amos says,
"They will seek it
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and they won't find it."
00:11:28.28\00:11:29.72
So this is the
time to be camping out
00:11:29.75\00:11:31.39
for things that endure.
00:11:31.42\00:11:33.25
People will stand in the rain
00:11:33.29\00:11:35.22
and stand and hold
on to their partners
00:11:35.26\00:11:37.33
in their umbrellas
00:11:37.36\00:11:38.69
in a freezing
stadium of 25,000 people
00:11:38.73\00:11:41.43
just to see a
little oval pigskin ball
00:11:41.46\00:11:45.90
carried back
and forth on a field
00:11:45.93\00:11:47.50
with men wearing tight shorts,
00:11:47.54\00:11:50.31
kicking this
ball to a metal pole,
00:11:50.34\00:11:52.97
yelling for something that
has nothing to do with them.
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And they're
yelling that they won
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and they get not a single
dime when the game is over.
00:11:57.48\00:12:02.15
But they won't come
to study God's Word.
00:12:02.18\00:12:04.65
And the greatest challenge
00:12:04.69\00:12:06.02
is we are looking
at life the wrong side,
00:12:06.05\00:12:10.63
the inside out, the upside down.
00:12:10.66\00:12:13.53
So let's look at
what this text says,
00:12:13.56\00:12:15.16
"Why should we persevere
when difficulty comes?"
00:12:15.20\00:12:19.40
Romans 8:18.
00:12:19.43\00:12:20.84
And I'm sure you've
turned there already.
00:12:20.87\00:12:23.07
Okay, here it is on the screen.
00:12:23.10\00:12:25.97
"For I consider that
the," what's the next word,
00:12:26.01\00:12:30.48
"sufferings of this present time
00:12:30.51\00:12:32.61
are not worthy to be
compared with the glory
00:12:32.65\00:12:36.15
which shall be revealed in us."
00:12:36.18\00:12:39.19
So whatever you're
going through right now,
00:12:39.22\00:12:41.52
when you compare that...
00:12:41.56\00:12:42.96
And this is the
strange thing about this,
00:12:42.99\00:12:44.83
and I want you to catch this.
00:12:44.86\00:12:47.76
We are not going to be
able to compare the sufferings
00:12:47.80\00:12:50.20
of the present time
until the glory is revealed.
00:12:50.23\00:12:55.74
Now I want you get that.
00:12:55.77\00:12:57.11
This is really powerful.
00:12:57.14\00:12:58.51
You're not going to
be able to understand
00:12:58.54\00:13:00.78
how broke you were
until you get wealthy, right?
00:13:00.81\00:13:06.58
You will never know how
much money you didn't have
00:13:06.61\00:13:09.62
until you get a lot of money.
00:13:09.65\00:13:12.72
You'll never know how
terrible it was to be poor
00:13:12.75\00:13:16.29
until you get rich.
00:13:16.32\00:13:18.96
And in the very same way,
00:13:18.99\00:13:20.46
this glory that is
going to be revealed in us,
00:13:20.50\00:13:24.10
this glory that is
going to never fade
00:13:24.13\00:13:25.67
the glory of Christ,
that is going to be complete,
00:13:25.70\00:13:29.64
that is going to
be at its best place
00:13:29.67\00:13:32.14
when we are made completely
in the image of Jesus.
00:13:32.17\00:13:35.18
Isn't that right?
00:13:35.21\00:13:36.54
So until that glory is
revealed completely in us,
00:13:36.58\00:13:40.35
we would not be able to look
back at the suffering and say,
00:13:40.38\00:13:42.48
"That was nothing compared
to what I have now," right?
00:13:42.52\00:13:46.99
But so often, we let
the suffering prevent us
00:13:47.02\00:13:49.96
from continuing in this
journey as God polishes us,
00:13:49.99\00:13:53.96
and chisels us,
and gets us ready,
00:13:54.00\00:13:57.00
ironing out the rough spots,
00:13:57.03\00:13:58.67
taking out the things
that shouldn't be there.
00:13:58.70\00:14:00.77
You know, when a person is
putting the sculptor together,
00:14:00.80\00:14:03.54
there's a lot of
chiseling that goes on.
00:14:03.57\00:14:05.94
But by the time that
thing makes it to the floor
00:14:05.97\00:14:08.21
and you stand there at
this beautiful sculpture.
00:14:08.24\00:14:11.01
And many of us do it,
00:14:11.05\00:14:12.38
you know what we do
when we see a marble sculpt,
00:14:12.41\00:14:13.75
you know what we do,
we just can't hesitate,
00:14:13.78\00:14:15.32
we just touch it
and run our fingers
00:14:15.35\00:14:16.95
along the finely smooth edges.
00:14:16.99\00:14:19.89
We have no idea how
long it took to get that way.
00:14:19.92\00:14:23.06
So in life, we face
things that are filing us down
00:14:23.09\00:14:26.36
until one day the smoother edges
00:14:26.39\00:14:29.70
will be so smooth
so much like Jesus
00:14:29.73\00:14:32.37
that we will
touch it trying to see
00:14:32.40\00:14:33.74
the residue of
our former condition
00:14:33.77\00:14:35.57
and we won't even
be able to find it.
00:14:35.60\00:14:39.31
But while we're
going through that process,
00:14:39.34\00:14:41.44
some of us are so put off
00:14:41.48\00:14:42.81
by the chiseling
that God allows us
00:14:42.84\00:14:44.21
to go through that
we're not going to endure
00:14:44.25\00:14:46.78
to see the glory revealed in us.
00:14:46.82\00:14:49.38
That's why this is
so vitally important.
00:14:49.42\00:14:51.05
You've got to
have an eye of faith
00:14:51.09\00:14:52.65
to look beyond the prisons,
00:14:52.69\00:14:54.82
like the Christians
during the Dark Ages.
00:14:54.86\00:14:56.86
And right now, you
know, there are those
00:14:56.89\00:14:59.09
who are willing to stand up
00:14:59.13\00:15:00.46
in the midst of a
burning fiery furnace
00:15:00.50\00:15:03.87
and give his or
her life for Jesus.
00:15:03.90\00:15:07.34
But nowadays, all the
temperature has to drop
00:15:07.37\00:15:09.10
a few degrees, and
it's enough for us.
00:15:09.14\00:15:12.37
It's amazing, the
suffering of this present time.
00:15:12.41\00:15:16.04
And what we're going through now
00:15:16.08\00:15:17.41
as a people is really nothing
00:15:17.45\00:15:19.11
in comparison to what
many of the Christians
00:15:19.15\00:15:21.18
of the Dark Ages went through.
00:15:21.22\00:15:22.58
We have basic things
that in the course of time,
00:15:22.62\00:15:24.79
you know, money will be
solved when our check comes,
00:15:24.82\00:15:27.62
whatever the situation
is, going to get fixed.
00:15:27.66\00:15:30.73
But the only real thing
that we must concern ourselves
00:15:30.76\00:15:33.19
with is continuing to persevere
00:15:33.23\00:15:35.43
so that the glory that God
intends to be revealed in us
00:15:35.46\00:15:38.77
comes through to completion.
00:15:38.80\00:15:41.00
So here's the answer.
00:15:41.04\00:15:42.87
"When it seems difficult
to live the Christian life,
00:15:42.90\00:15:44.97
why should we persevere?"
00:15:45.01\00:15:47.11
Why should we persevere?
00:15:47.14\00:15:51.58
Ah!
00:15:51.61\00:15:52.95
The revelation of
God's glory in us.
00:15:52.98\00:15:55.48
That's right.
00:15:55.52\00:15:57.39
I'm holding on for glory days.
00:15:57.42\00:15:59.85
And a lot of times,
00:15:59.89\00:16:01.22
people think of the
glory days are at the back.
00:16:01.26\00:16:02.59
No, the glory
days are ahead of us.
00:16:02.62\00:16:05.09
But I also want
to tell you that,
00:16:05.13\00:16:06.46
while we're on the journey,
00:16:06.49\00:16:07.83
there are a lot of
glory days even now.
00:16:07.86\00:16:09.86
The Lord gives us a
lot to rejoice about now.
00:16:09.90\00:16:11.87
He is not waiting all of it.
00:16:11.90\00:16:13.23
He's not waiting for all
of it to be in the future.
00:16:13.27\00:16:15.20
In other words, we
are not always suffering,
00:16:15.24\00:16:17.31
we are not always
going through hardship.
00:16:17.34\00:16:19.34
Every now and then,
00:16:19.37\00:16:20.71
God allows the
light of all the blessings
00:16:20.74\00:16:22.48
that are to come in its fullness
00:16:22.51\00:16:24.51
to just shine
through momentarily.
00:16:24.55\00:16:27.88
You know, even when
it rains in the clouds,
00:16:27.92\00:16:30.69
we know out here in the Midwest,
00:16:30.72\00:16:32.05
sometimes, when
storms are coming,
00:16:32.09\00:16:33.52
all those
clouds begin to gather.
00:16:33.56\00:16:34.89
Every now and then,
the clouds will just miss
00:16:34.92\00:16:37.79
and there's an opening,
and the sun shoots through
00:16:37.83\00:16:39.63
and then goes back.
00:16:39.66\00:16:41.00
That's why we have that saying
00:16:41.03\00:16:42.36
"Behind every cloud there is a,"
00:16:42.40\00:16:43.83
what, "silver lining."
00:16:43.87\00:16:46.33
The glory of God
is never diminished,
00:16:46.37\00:16:48.70
but the things of
life, the sufferings of life,
00:16:48.74\00:16:50.51
sometimes causes
that glory to be eclipsed
00:16:50.54\00:16:53.17
by suffering a difficulty.
00:16:53.21\00:16:54.78
So we have to endure
00:16:54.81\00:16:56.48
for the glory to
be revealed in us.
00:16:56.51\00:16:58.91
Number 25.
00:16:58.95\00:17:00.95
"What promise
does the Bible give
00:17:00.98\00:17:02.78
that focuses us away
from this suffering?"
00:17:02.82\00:17:08.12
You know, when
you think about that,
00:17:08.16\00:17:10.19
the suffering,
and I'll get to this.
00:17:10.23\00:17:11.93
The suffering is not the issue,
00:17:11.96\00:17:14.10
rejoicing and joy
is the real issue.
00:17:14.13\00:17:16.73
Go to 1 Peter 4.
00:17:16.77\00:17:20.04
Sorry, not 1 Peter 4.
00:17:20.07\00:17:21.40
Yeah, 1 Peter 4:12-13.
00:17:21.44\00:17:26.31
1 Peter 4:12-13.
00:17:26.34\00:17:30.05
What promise does the Bible give
00:17:30.08\00:17:32.65
that focuses us
away from the suffering?
00:17:32.68\00:17:36.55
If the sculpture could
say something it will be,
00:17:36.58\00:17:41.72
"Wait till he's done.
00:17:41.76\00:17:44.03
You just wait till he's done.
00:17:44.06\00:17:45.63
I don't look like much now
but you wait till he's done."
00:17:45.66\00:17:48.93
Can you imagine what a job it is
00:17:48.96\00:17:51.53
when the person
who is sitting there
00:17:51.57\00:17:53.40
at the pottery wheel
and his hands and muddy,
00:17:53.44\00:17:56.77
and it just seems like
mud is flying everywhere
00:17:56.81\00:17:59.27
and it looks like, "Why
would anybody want to do that?"
00:17:59.31\00:18:01.78
But when they finish that
00:18:01.81\00:18:03.14
and they bake it in
the furnace of affliction,
00:18:03.18\00:18:06.48
and it comes out,
after they paint that
00:18:06.51\00:18:09.22
and then all the color bakes in,
00:18:09.25\00:18:11.15
and it just sparkles,
00:18:11.19\00:18:12.52
and they put it on the
shelf and people say, "Wow."
00:18:12.55\00:18:16.39
And they don't realize
it just started out as mud.
00:18:16.42\00:18:20.46
Amen.
00:18:20.50\00:18:21.83
And the Lord knows that.
00:18:21.86\00:18:23.20
He knows our frame
that we are but dust.
00:18:23.23\00:18:27.74
We all start out that way.
00:18:27.77\00:18:29.64
But I tell you, in
the hand of the potter,
00:18:29.67\00:18:32.01
it's amazing what he
can do with just mud.
00:18:32.04\00:18:35.38
Wow. Look at the answer.
00:18:35.41\00:18:37.78
1 Peter 4:12-13.
00:18:37.81\00:18:41.42
"Beloved," let's read the
next three verses together,
00:18:41.45\00:18:45.25
"do not think..."
00:18:45.29\00:18:47.79
Okay. Okay.
00:18:47.82\00:18:49.16
Do not think, first of
all don't think so much
00:18:49.19\00:18:51.43
when difficulty comes.
00:18:51.46\00:18:52.99
And then the other thing is,
00:18:53.03\00:18:54.36
"don't think it strange
00:18:54.40\00:18:56.43
concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you,
00:18:56.46\00:19:01.00
as though some strange
thing happened to you."
00:19:01.04\00:19:05.97
What are the next two words?
00:19:06.01\00:19:08.04
"But rejoice to the extent
00:19:08.08\00:19:10.68
that you partake of
Christ's suffering,"
00:19:10.71\00:19:13.95
and here is the key,
00:19:13.98\00:19:15.32
"that when His
glory is revealed,
00:19:15.35\00:19:17.95
you may also be glad
with," what kind of joy,
00:19:17.99\00:19:20.86
"exceeding joy."
00:19:20.89\00:19:22.22
Have ever seen
people so excited?
00:19:22.26\00:19:23.59
My brother-in-law
Cliff, when he gets excited,
00:19:23.63\00:19:25.69
he always goes like this.
00:19:25.73\00:19:27.93
"Yeah."
00:19:27.96\00:19:29.30
He always does that.
00:19:29.33\00:19:30.67
I always know when he
is excited because he'd go.
00:19:30.70\00:19:32.57
I say, "What are
you happy about?"
00:19:32.60\00:19:33.94
He does this.
00:19:33.97\00:19:35.30
Everybody has their thing
they do when they get excited.
00:19:35.34\00:19:37.97
As a little kid,
when I got excited,
00:19:38.01\00:19:39.37
I ran all through the house.
00:19:39.41\00:19:42.34
You know, children...
00:19:42.38\00:19:43.75
You got to do
something when you're excited.
00:19:43.78\00:19:45.95
No, I've never seen
an excited person say,
00:19:45.98\00:19:49.48
"I'm excited."
00:19:49.52\00:19:51.79
You know, I've never seen that
00:19:51.82\00:19:53.15
because there's
always some indication
00:19:53.19\00:19:54.52
that what you
heard just a moment ago
00:19:54.56\00:19:56.42
that made you happy
is not, "I'm excited."
00:19:56.46\00:20:00.60
You know, you don't.
That's not the way you do it.
00:20:00.63\00:20:02.36
And I can guarantee you
00:20:02.40\00:20:03.73
that when the
glory of God is revealed,
00:20:03.77\00:20:05.47
notice this says, "That
you may also be glad with,"
00:20:05.50\00:20:08.20
what kind of
joy, "exceeding joy."
00:20:08.24\00:20:10.91
Heaven's not going to be quiet,
00:20:10.94\00:20:12.47
they are going to have
a prayer session par none.
00:20:12.51\00:20:16.88
They are going to
be so filled with joy
00:20:16.91\00:20:18.98
because they know
that the suffering down
00:20:19.01\00:20:20.92
here was temporary,
00:20:20.95\00:20:22.68
but the joy is eternal.
00:20:22.72\00:20:24.05
Amen?
00:20:24.09\00:20:25.42
So what promise
does the Bible give
00:20:25.45\00:20:26.92
that focuses us
away from the suffering.
00:20:26.96\00:20:29.92
The focus is not the suffering,
00:20:29.96\00:20:31.49
the focus is
rejoicing and exceeding joy.
00:20:31.53\00:20:36.30
That's what your
focus, that's the way.
00:20:36.33\00:20:37.87
Look for the rejoicing,
look for the exceeding joy.
00:20:37.90\00:20:41.54
That's what God
wants us to focus on
00:20:41.57\00:20:43.74
because you think about it,
00:20:43.77\00:20:46.37
it is not a whole
lot to rejoice about
00:20:46.41\00:20:48.14
when the furnace is
heated seven times hotter.
00:20:48.18\00:20:50.38
I do not
believe the Hebrew said,
00:20:50.41\00:20:51.75
"Oh, I'm so glad
00:20:51.78\00:20:53.11
they it heated it
seven times hotter."
00:20:53.15\00:20:54.48
I don't believe that.
00:20:54.52\00:20:55.85
I believe their faith in God
00:20:55.88\00:20:57.65
was what focused them
away from the suffering.
00:20:57.69\00:21:01.19
They said, "We're
not going to serve you,
00:21:01.22\00:21:02.56
but even if He doesn't
deliver us, that's okay.
00:21:02.59\00:21:06.63
We got this one."
00:21:06.66\00:21:08.03
I mean, really,
you think about that.
00:21:08.06\00:21:09.40
That furnace
heated seven times hotter.
00:21:09.43\00:21:12.67
It was to prevent them
from being freed from the fire.
00:21:12.70\00:21:17.21
It's an amazing thought.
00:21:17.24\00:21:18.94
But when you partake of the joy,
00:21:18.97\00:21:21.08
the suffering
means absolutely minimal.
00:21:21.11\00:21:24.35
I shouldn't say
absolutely nothing,
00:21:24.38\00:21:26.01
but the suffering is
minimal when you compare it
00:21:26.05\00:21:28.95
with what is
coming down the road.
00:21:28.98\00:21:30.95
Number 26.
00:21:30.99\00:21:32.42
Number 26.
00:21:32.45\00:21:33.99
"Speaking of Paul the Apostle,
00:21:34.02\00:21:36.59
what kind of life
was he to expect?"
00:21:36.62\00:21:40.20
What kind of
life was he to expect?
00:21:40.23\00:21:43.80
One of the things that I
teach in counseling is this.
00:21:43.83\00:21:47.40
One of the reasons
why people don't get
00:21:47.44\00:21:49.54
what they asked for...
00:21:49.57\00:21:52.27
Well, I just
gave you the answer.
00:21:52.31\00:21:55.98
People often expect something
that they don't ask for.
00:21:56.01\00:22:00.32
Well, Paul didn't have
to ask for what he got,
00:22:00.35\00:22:03.75
but what the Lord
was in essence saying is
00:22:03.79\00:22:05.65
"Paul, this is
what you need to expect.
00:22:05.69\00:22:08.79
If you're going to
be a follower of Mine,
00:22:08.82\00:22:10.69
you need to expect this."
00:22:10.73\00:22:14.00
Notice, Acts 9:15-16.
00:22:14.03\00:22:18.93
Acts 9:15-16.
00:22:18.97\00:22:24.34
Here it is.
00:22:24.37\00:22:26.17
"But the Lord said to
him, 'Go, for he is a,'"
00:22:26.21\00:22:30.31
what, "'chosen vessel of Mine
00:22:30.35\00:22:34.28
to bear My name
before Gentiles, kings,
00:22:34.32\00:22:39.22
and the children of Israel.'"
00:22:39.25\00:22:41.49
And here is the key.
00:22:41.52\00:22:43.19
"For I will show
him how many things he,"
00:22:43.22\00:22:46.26
what, "must suffer
for My name's sake."
00:22:46.29\00:22:51.50
When you read the promises
of the beatitudes in Matthew 5,
00:22:51.53\00:22:55.74
the Bible says...
00:22:55.77\00:22:57.11
Well, let's go there.
00:22:57.14\00:22:58.47
Don't want to just tell
you that. Let's look at it.
00:22:58.51\00:23:00.11
When you read the
beatitudes of one preacher,
00:23:00.14\00:23:03.65
I think it was years ago,
00:23:03.68\00:23:05.01
Robert Schuller called
it The-be-happy attitudes
00:23:05.05\00:23:08.12
because the word the
blessed also means happy.
00:23:08.15\00:23:11.82
Bless it.
00:23:11.85\00:23:13.19
But let's look at this.
00:23:13.22\00:23:14.82
All right, Matthew 5...
00:23:14.86\00:23:16.93
and starting with verse 10.
00:23:22.70\00:23:24.03
"Blessed are those
00:23:27.57\00:23:28.90
who are persecuted
for righteousness sake."
00:23:28.94\00:23:34.24
That's why the Lord
says, "For my name's sake."
00:23:34.28\00:23:36.75
He is righteous.
00:23:36.78\00:23:38.11
If you are
living a righteous life,
00:23:38.15\00:23:39.58
the world is not
going to like you.
00:23:39.61\00:23:41.92
If you are living out
of harmony with the world
00:23:41.95\00:23:43.49
and all you got to do is
look at the media nowadays.
00:23:43.52\00:23:45.35
Just recently, there
was something in the media
00:23:45.39\00:23:47.26
about a young man
who decided that the life
00:23:47.29\00:23:49.56
he was living is not the life
00:23:49.59\00:23:52.16
that is in
harmony with God's Word
00:23:52.19\00:23:53.60
now that God revealed His
Word in this truth to him.
00:23:53.63\00:23:57.30
And I was amazed that
although some commentators said,
00:23:57.33\00:24:01.60
"Well, he could have
been more 'diplomatic'
00:24:01.64\00:24:05.34
about how he felt."
00:24:05.37\00:24:07.61
Sometimes, sin
repulses you so much
00:24:07.64\00:24:09.58
that you don't have
time to be diplomatic.
00:24:09.61\00:24:11.98
All you have time do is say,
00:24:12.01\00:24:13.35
"I don't want to be
involved in that anymore.
00:24:13.38\00:24:14.98
I want to go in this direction."
00:24:15.02\00:24:17.52
And so he was so
repulsed by the life
00:24:17.55\00:24:19.02
he used to live
that he just said,
00:24:19.05\00:24:21.19
"Don't go down that road.
00:24:21.22\00:24:22.56
Don't fill your mind
with filth any longer."
00:24:22.59\00:24:25.33
And what happened?
00:24:25.36\00:24:26.70
Persecution arose,
but notice why it arose.
00:24:26.73\00:24:30.50
Look at that verse
again, Matthew 5:10.
00:24:30.53\00:24:32.87
"Blessed are
those who are persecuted
00:24:32.90\00:24:34.80
for righteousness' sake
00:24:34.84\00:24:37.34
for theirs is the
Kingdom of Heaven.
00:24:37.37\00:24:41.58
Blessed are you when they revile
00:24:41.61\00:24:43.95
and persecute you
00:24:43.98\00:24:45.71
and say all kinds of evil
00:24:45.75\00:24:47.45
against you
falsely for my sake."
00:24:47.48\00:24:50.12
Here it is again.
00:24:50.15\00:24:51.49
"For my name's
sake," at the end of Acts 9.
00:24:51.52\00:24:54.16
That's what's happening there.
00:24:54.19\00:24:55.62
It's happening
not because of you,
00:24:55.66\00:24:57.66
but because you
connected with somebody
00:24:57.69\00:24:59.03
that the world
just does not like.
00:24:59.06\00:25:00.40
The devil does not like Jesus.
00:25:00.43\00:25:01.80
Once you say that
you are a child of God,
00:25:01.83\00:25:03.93
the world says, "All right.
00:25:03.97\00:25:05.33
All right. All right.
00:25:05.37\00:25:06.74
You are our enemy."
00:25:06.77\00:25:09.87
Friendship of the
world is enmity with God.
00:25:09.90\00:25:13.31
The world does not like you
00:25:13.34\00:25:14.74
because you are
not of the world.
00:25:14.78\00:25:16.28
If we were of the
world, it would love its own.
00:25:16.31\00:25:18.38
But look at the very next verse.
00:25:18.41\00:25:20.88
Verse 12.
00:25:20.92\00:25:22.55
What are the two
words we see there?
00:25:22.58\00:25:23.99
Come on, say with
me, "Rejoice and be,"
00:25:24.02\00:25:26.39
what,
"exceedingly glad for great
00:25:26.42\00:25:30.86
is your reward in heaven
00:25:30.89\00:25:33.09
for so they
persecuted the prophets
00:25:33.13\00:25:35.66
which were before you."
00:25:35.70\00:25:37.80
When you read Philippians,
00:25:37.83\00:25:39.83
the verse that we
read a moment ago,
00:25:39.87\00:25:41.20
1 Peter 4:12-13,
00:25:41.24\00:25:42.67
you see those two
words there again,
00:25:42.70\00:25:44.87
rejoice and glad and joy.
00:25:44.91\00:25:48.04
You see it there.
00:25:48.08\00:25:49.41
And so you've got to
look beyond the present moment
00:25:49.44\00:25:51.98
almost to say to
people in a righteous way,
00:25:52.01\00:25:55.48
"You just wait.
00:25:55.52\00:25:57.65
My time is coming.
00:25:57.69\00:25:59.52
All right?"
00:25:59.55\00:26:00.89
Prisoners of war,
what keeps them going on
00:26:00.92\00:26:03.53
because they believed that
00:26:03.56\00:26:04.89
somebody is
going to rescue them.
00:26:04.93\00:26:06.26
They know where
their citizenship is
00:26:06.29\00:26:08.33
and they say,
"They know we're here,
00:26:08.36\00:26:11.43
they know we're here."
00:26:11.47\00:26:12.80
When you think about the
road that Christians walk,
00:26:12.83\00:26:14.84
those who are in
the dens of lions,
00:26:14.87\00:26:16.54
those who are in
the arenas in Rome,
00:26:16.57\00:26:18.87
those who in the
future will be...
00:26:18.91\00:26:21.24
those who would have to
face difficulty and adversity,
00:26:21.28\00:26:23.88
even some of us.
00:26:23.91\00:26:26.38
We've got to be
comforted with the fact
00:26:26.41\00:26:28.12
that God knows we're here.
00:26:28.15\00:26:30.72
And our deliverance is coming.
00:26:30.75\00:26:32.45
That's why I like Isaiah 25:9.
00:26:32.49\00:26:34.76
"Lord, it shall
be said in that day,
00:26:34.79\00:26:36.59
Lo, this is our God,
00:26:36.62\00:26:39.73
we have waited for
Him, and He will save us.
00:26:39.76\00:26:42.73
This is the Lord,
00:26:42.76\00:26:44.47
we will be glad and
rejoice in His salvation."
00:26:44.50\00:26:47.24
There it is
again, rejoicing, glad.
00:26:47.27\00:26:50.07
You got to look
beyond the difficulty
00:26:50.11\00:26:52.71
because if you
allow the difficulty
00:26:52.74\00:26:54.18
to be the supreme focus,
00:26:54.21\00:26:55.91
it wouldn't take very much
to get you discouraged, right?
00:26:55.94\00:26:58.78
There is a whole lot of
stuff to get you discouraged.
00:26:58.81\00:27:01.65
Right now, they're
talking about the fiscal cliff.
00:27:01.68\00:27:03.35
The Lord has kept me
through every other cliff.
00:27:06.62\00:27:11.06
I'm going to put my
life in the Lord's hand.
00:27:11.09\00:27:12.49
What about you? Amen.
00:27:12.53\00:27:14.00
The Lord has kept us
through recession, oppression,
00:27:14.03\00:27:17.73
and the list goes
on, and on, and on.
00:27:17.77\00:27:19.73
For those who are Christians,
we don't have to worry about it
00:27:19.77\00:27:21.77
because the Lord says,
"Your bread shall be given you,
00:27:21.80\00:27:24.67
and your water shall be sure."
00:27:24.71\00:27:26.34
So if you're
hungry, you got some bread,
00:27:26.37\00:27:28.31
if you're thirsty,
you get some water, right?
00:27:28.34\00:27:30.38
You don't need a big backpack.
00:27:30.41\00:27:31.81
God will provide
all of our needs.
00:27:31.85\00:27:34.02
So the answer to number...
00:27:34.05\00:27:37.62
What was it? Number 26.
00:27:37.65\00:27:39.59
"Speaking of Paul the Apostle,
00:27:39.62\00:27:40.96
what kind of life
was he to expect?"
00:27:40.99\00:27:43.83
Life of suffering.
00:27:43.86\00:27:45.19
That's just a
lot of the Christian.
00:27:45.23\00:27:46.80
There are so many questions
00:27:46.83\00:27:48.16
that are not told about
the suffering that comes.
00:27:48.20\00:27:51.23
You know, we often think
00:27:51.27\00:27:52.60
the other person
causes suffering,
00:27:52.63\00:27:53.97
but in fact, if
you can see them,
00:27:54.00\00:27:55.40
they are not your enemy.
00:27:55.44\00:27:57.24
All right. Number 27.
00:27:57.27\00:27:59.07
We are moving right along.
00:27:59.11\00:28:00.48
I think we are doing well.
00:28:00.51\00:28:01.88
Praise the Lord for that.
00:28:01.91\00:28:03.65
Here it is, number 27.
00:28:03.68\00:28:05.78
"The Christian walk is one
of loss and gain, but how so?"
00:28:05.81\00:28:12.02
One of loss and
gain, but how so?
00:28:12.05\00:28:16.19
Go with me to Philippians 3.
00:28:16.22\00:28:18.69
Philippians 3.
00:28:18.73\00:28:22.40
And we're going
to look at verse 8.
00:28:22.43\00:28:26.03
Philippians 3:8.
00:28:26.07\00:28:28.37
Every time I look at
that word Philippians,
00:28:28.40\00:28:30.47
I think of Philippines
'cause it's just so close,
00:28:30.51\00:28:33.88
it's just so close.
00:28:33.91\00:28:35.84
So if you're joining
us from the Philippines,
00:28:35.88\00:28:37.98
that's a book that we can claim.
00:28:38.01\00:28:40.02
Okay.
00:28:40.05\00:28:42.65
Okay, here we are.
00:28:42.68\00:28:44.02
I'm going to have it
on the screen for you.
00:28:44.05\00:28:46.49
But I want to give you
some additional part of that.
00:28:46.52\00:28:48.52
Not just what we've read.
00:28:48.56\00:28:49.89
Okay.
00:28:49.92\00:28:51.26
Philippians 3:8.
00:28:51.29\00:28:53.29
Let's read verse 8 first.
00:28:53.33\00:28:55.70
Here it is on the screen.
00:28:55.73\00:28:57.27
It says, "Yet
indeed I also count,"
00:28:57.30\00:29:01.20
how many things,
00:29:01.24\00:29:02.67
"all things loss for the
excellence of the knowledge
00:29:02.70\00:29:07.58
of Christ Jesus my Lord,
00:29:07.61\00:29:09.88
for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things,
00:29:09.91\00:29:14.62
and count them as rubbish,"
00:29:14.65\00:29:16.75
and I like this,
"that I may gain," who?
00:29:16.79\00:29:20.69
See the world is
focusing on gaining what?
00:29:20.72\00:29:23.39
We have to focus on gaining who?
00:29:23.43\00:29:26.36
The world is
focused on gaining what?
00:29:26.39\00:29:29.73
I got stuff I want to sell.
00:29:29.76\00:29:31.53
And the longer I hold on
to it, the less value it has.
00:29:31.57\00:29:35.10
Isn't that true?
00:29:35.14\00:29:36.64
And we have Craig's
list, we have Angie's list,
00:29:36.67\00:29:38.94
we have whoever else's lists.
00:29:38.97\00:29:41.94
What are the other
lists that are out there?
00:29:41.98\00:29:44.21
eBay, we got all these lists.
00:29:44.25\00:29:46.35
And every time
you go on these lists,
00:29:46.38\00:29:48.28
they're selling used stuff
00:29:48.32\00:29:50.79
because people have so
much stuff in their houses.
00:29:50.82\00:29:53.56
As you look at
this, Paul is saying,
00:29:53.59\00:29:56.36
"I suffer the
loss of all things.
00:29:56.39\00:30:00.73
I'll give it all up as
long as I can gain Christ."
00:30:00.76\00:30:04.07
So here it is once again,
00:30:04.10\00:30:05.53
don't focus on the
things that we gain,
00:30:05.57\00:30:07.54
but focus on the
one that we gain.
00:30:07.57\00:30:11.41
I've never seen the Lord's face,
00:30:11.44\00:30:13.21
but I'm promised in
revelation that one day,
00:30:13.24\00:30:15.01
I will see His face.
00:30:15.04\00:30:16.54
And I tell you,
00:30:16.58\00:30:17.91
for one who likes astronomy
and every now and then,
00:30:17.95\00:30:19.55
I get off of my astronomy kick,
00:30:19.58\00:30:21.18
and I get on the Internet.
00:30:21.22\00:30:22.78
Cheri and I, I go through
all these space pictures,
00:30:22.82\00:30:25.22
I love the pictures of space.
00:30:25.25\00:30:27.29
You know, because
I've never been there.
00:30:27.32\00:30:29.22
Then I look at certain shapes,
00:30:29.26\00:30:30.79
you know, the
Horsehead Nebula and the...
00:30:30.83\00:30:32.89
I don't want to start now.
00:30:32.93\00:30:34.36
But some of them
look just awe-inspiring.
00:30:34.40\00:30:36.90
And I'd read the calculations,
00:30:36.93\00:30:38.77
Larry, of what
the scientists say,
00:30:38.80\00:30:40.14
what the astronomers say,
00:30:40.17\00:30:41.50
from the tip to that
part is 20 light years away.
00:30:41.54\00:30:45.87
And I'm thinking,
"Just that piece alone?
00:30:45.91\00:30:48.78
What about all
the stuff around it?"
00:30:48.81\00:30:50.15
And then they say
00:30:50.18\00:30:51.51
that there are
possibly billions of galaxies.
00:30:51.55\00:30:54.42
And I think,
"You know, I'm kind of
00:30:54.45\00:30:55.78
done with this galaxy.
00:30:55.82\00:30:57.15
I want to see a new one."
00:30:57.19\00:30:58.52
Anybody here who's...
00:30:58.55\00:30:59.89
I think I'm
going to need eternity.
00:30:59.92\00:31:01.26
If there are
billions of galaxies,
00:31:01.29\00:31:02.62
Larry, I need to
see more than this.
00:31:02.66\00:31:04.59
So I don't mind if I lose this
00:31:04.63\00:31:08.43
'cause I got so
much more to gain.
00:31:08.46\00:31:09.86
Amen.
00:31:09.90\00:31:11.23
We don't just gain Christ,
00:31:11.27\00:31:13.20
but we gain access to
everything that He owns.
00:31:13.23\00:31:17.57
That's why when we transition...
00:31:17.61\00:31:18.94
I can't wait to
get to the next lesson
00:31:18.97\00:31:20.31
because when we
transition into that,
00:31:20.34\00:31:21.68
it's powerful to see
what He was willing to give up
00:31:21.71\00:31:24.61
to make available to us.
00:31:24.65\00:31:27.82
I was just so
imbued by the study today,
00:31:27.85\00:31:29.92
I have two books
that I read continually
00:31:29.95\00:31:32.12
and I have them
both highlighted,
00:31:32.15\00:31:33.62
one is the Life of
Victory and His Cross and Mine,
00:31:33.66\00:31:37.66
both of them written by a man
by the name of Mead MacGuire.
00:31:37.69\00:31:41.00
That's the
foundation for much of my study.
00:31:41.03\00:31:43.00
Beautiful.
00:31:43.03\00:31:44.37
It's just
wonderfully illustrated,
00:31:44.40\00:31:46.33
a wonderful Bible text
helping us to understand
00:31:46.37\00:31:48.24
as simply as we can the beauty
of the righteousness of Jesus
00:31:48.27\00:31:52.67
and what He was
willing to do to tie us
00:31:52.71\00:31:55.31
in to the plan of salvation.
00:31:55.34\00:31:57.48
I almost went
running ahead of myself,
00:31:57.51\00:31:58.85
so I got to stop my mind.
00:31:58.88\00:32:00.25
All right.
00:32:00.28\00:32:01.62
But here's the key
to question number 27.
00:32:01.65\00:32:05.25
The Christians walk is one
of loss and gain, but how so?
00:32:05.29\00:32:08.99
Be willing to lose all things
as long as you gain Christ.
00:32:09.02\00:32:13.43
Give it all up for Christ.
00:32:13.46\00:32:14.80
You want to put that answer.
00:32:14.83\00:32:16.16
Give it all up for Christ.
00:32:16.20\00:32:19.50
Wow.
00:32:19.53\00:32:20.87
Number 28, here we are.
00:32:24.54\00:32:27.54
"According to the Bible,
00:32:27.58\00:32:29.54
what is the main
source of the suffering?"
00:32:29.58\00:32:33.75
According to the Bible,
00:32:33.78\00:32:35.18
what is the main
source of the suffering?
00:32:35.22\00:32:39.35
This is something that we
have to come face to face with
00:32:39.39\00:32:42.12
because sometimes,
things occur in our lives
00:32:42.16\00:32:46.56
that could have been avoided,
00:32:46.59\00:32:48.83
but because we
had a different drive
00:32:48.86\00:32:51.63
than what God wanted us to have,
00:32:51.67\00:32:53.30
we went on a road that
we shouldn't have gone down
00:32:53.34\00:32:55.94
and we end up
suffering for something
00:32:55.97\00:32:57.31
that we could have avoided.
00:32:57.34\00:32:59.07
Notice this, very
important, all right?
00:32:59.11\00:33:01.48
Hebrews 2:8 is
where our answer is found.
00:33:01.51\00:33:04.18
Hebrews 2:8.
00:33:04.21\00:33:09.38
According to the Bible,
00:33:09.42\00:33:10.75
what is the main
source of the suffering?
00:33:10.79\00:33:12.42
Here is the answer.
00:33:12.45\00:33:14.92
"For in that He Himself
has done," what, "suffered..."
00:33:14.96\00:33:19.63
And what's the source?
00:33:19.66\00:33:22.70
Hope. Did not put on the screen.
00:33:22.73\00:33:24.43
Hebrews 2:8.
00:33:24.47\00:33:28.30
Okay, well, let me go there.
00:33:28.34\00:33:30.01
Let's go to James 1:12-15.
00:33:30.04\00:33:33.64
I thought I had that.
00:33:33.68\00:33:35.01
That was the
text I want to read.
00:33:35.04\00:33:37.58
Eighteen.
00:33:37.61\00:33:38.95
Did I miss a one there?
00:33:38.98\00:33:41.52
I missed the one. Go to 18.
00:33:41.55\00:33:43.35
Thank you, ladies and gentleman.
00:33:43.39\00:33:45.75
Hebrews 2:18.
00:33:45.79\00:33:48.39
Okay.
00:33:48.42\00:33:49.96
That's beautiful.
00:33:49.99\00:33:51.33
Good thing you have your Bible.
00:33:51.36\00:33:52.69
You'd be in no man's land.
00:33:52.73\00:33:54.50
Here we are, Hebrews 2:18.
00:33:54.53\00:34:01.37
Okay, here we are.
00:34:01.40\00:34:02.94
"For in that He
Himself has done," what,
00:34:02.97\00:34:06.47
"suffered being," how, "tempted.
00:34:06.51\00:34:09.98
He is able to do," what,
"aid those who are tempted."
00:34:10.01\00:34:15.68
So what is the main
source of our suffering?
00:34:15.72\00:34:19.19
What's the main
source of our suffering?
00:34:19.22\00:34:20.56
Temptation.
James brings this out.
00:34:20.59\00:34:24.06
He expands on the
fact that that's the reason
00:34:24.09\00:34:27.23
why many of us sometimes suffer.
00:34:27.26\00:34:29.30
We suffer because we
yield to the temptation.
00:34:29.33\00:34:32.70
I tell you, each
of us has a story
00:34:32.73\00:34:34.80
to tell about the suffering
that we could have avoided.
00:34:34.84\00:34:37.41
And I could open up the doors,
00:34:37.44\00:34:39.24
the gates to say
about all the things
00:34:39.27\00:34:41.21
I could have avoided by
not yielding to the temptation.
00:34:41.24\00:34:45.08
Christ, His suffering
was not based on the fact
00:34:45.11\00:34:51.49
that He yielded
to the temptation.
00:34:51.52\00:34:54.52
We're going to transition
00:34:54.56\00:34:55.89
in just a moment to that very...
00:34:55.92\00:34:57.56
Why did He suffer?
00:34:57.59\00:34:58.96
If the reason for much of
our suffering is temptation,
00:34:58.99\00:35:01.63
why did Jesus suffer?
00:35:01.66\00:35:04.07
We're going to see
that in just a moment, okay?
00:35:04.10\00:35:06.17
But let's put that down.
00:35:06.20\00:35:07.74
According to the Bible,
00:35:07.77\00:35:09.10
what is the main
source of suffering?
00:35:09.14\00:35:10.47
Hebrews 2:18.
00:35:10.51\00:35:12.07
The main source of it is what?
00:35:12.11\00:35:14.34
Temptation. Go
with me to James 1.
00:35:14.38\00:35:18.71
James 1. Here we are.
00:35:18.75\00:35:23.39
That's the very next book.
00:35:23.42\00:35:25.95
James 1:12-15.
00:35:25.99\00:35:28.86
Well, so much
writing in my Bible,
00:35:33.19\00:35:34.60
I have to look at it
carefully to see through it.
00:35:34.63\00:35:36.20
Okay, there it is.
00:35:36.23\00:35:38.03
James 1:12,
starting with verse 12.
00:35:38.07\00:35:42.10
And it reads as follows.
00:35:42.14\00:35:44.74
"Blessed is the
man who endures,"
00:35:44.77\00:35:46.81
what, "temptation,
00:35:46.84\00:35:49.04
for when he has been proved,
00:35:49.08\00:35:50.51
or when he is tried,
00:35:50.55\00:35:52.21
he will receive
the crown of life
00:35:52.25\00:35:55.38
which the Lord
has promised to those
00:35:55.42\00:35:57.49
who to do," what, "love Him."
00:35:57.52\00:35:59.32
So if you endure temptation,
00:35:59.35\00:36:01.06
what does it mean
to endure temptation?
00:36:01.09\00:36:03.36
It means don't allow the
temptation to pull you in.
00:36:03.39\00:36:05.73
It means don't allow
the gripping of the moment
00:36:05.76\00:36:09.56
because there is no
such thing as a temptation
00:36:09.60\00:36:13.00
that we must yield to.
00:36:13.03\00:36:15.97
It gets difficult.
00:36:16.00\00:36:17.34
The longer you stand
there, the longer you say now,
00:36:17.37\00:36:20.31
"Should I yield or
should I not yield?"
00:36:20.34\00:36:23.04
The longer you stand
there, the more you consider it.
00:36:23.08\00:36:24.98
You've got to do one
of those Elijah moves,
00:36:25.01\00:36:26.48
you've got to run.
00:36:26.51\00:36:29.82
You've got to do it,
Joseph, you've got to run.
00:36:29.85\00:36:32.35
And you can't look behind you.
00:36:32.39\00:36:34.56
You've got to run.
00:36:34.59\00:36:36.12
But it continues.
00:36:36.16\00:36:38.63
Most important
factor right here,
00:36:38.66\00:36:40.70
"Let no one say,"
00:36:40.73\00:36:42.06
verse 13, "when he is
tempted, 'I am tempted by God,'
00:36:42.10\00:36:45.97
for God cannot
be tempted by evil
00:36:46.00\00:36:48.70
nor does He
himself tempt anyone."
00:36:48.74\00:36:52.37
Be very careful when you say,
00:36:52.41\00:36:53.74
"Well, I guess God
was just testing me."
00:36:53.78\00:36:55.58
No, He doesn't.
00:36:55.61\00:36:56.95
Here's the reason why
we consider it as a test.
00:36:56.98\00:36:59.68
Hebrews 2:14,
00:36:59.71\00:37:01.05
"But each one is tempted
00:37:01.08\00:37:03.55
when he is drawn away
00:37:03.59\00:37:04.99
by his own lust or
desires and enticed.
00:37:05.02\00:37:10.16
Then when desire has conceived,
it gives birth to," what,
00:37:10.19\00:37:14.76
"sin and sin,
00:37:14.80\00:37:17.00
when it is full
grown, brings forth death."
00:37:17.03\00:37:21.80
You know, you got to
see weeds full grown,
00:37:21.84\00:37:27.11
you got to
understand that whatever we sow,
00:37:27.14\00:37:29.58
we're going to reap.
00:37:29.61\00:37:31.85
We got to understand
that where there are roots,
00:37:31.88\00:37:34.32
there is
eventually going to be fruits.
00:37:34.35\00:37:36.99
And I heard this
recently or I say recently
00:37:37.02\00:37:40.36
because I've lost track of time,
00:37:40.39\00:37:43.19
but I remember saying
once that when a person says,
00:37:43.22\00:37:49.36
"You don't just
end up where you end up
00:37:49.40\00:37:52.97
and not know how you got there
00:37:53.00\00:37:55.80
because every
destination has a beginning."
00:37:55.84\00:37:59.47
So for you to end
up somewhere and say,
00:37:59.51\00:38:01.94
"I don't know how I got here,"
00:38:01.98\00:38:03.31
you are either sleepwalking
00:38:03.35\00:38:04.91
or you're unconscious,
or you're in a coma.
00:38:04.95\00:38:08.58
But for most of us, we
don't end up where we end up
00:38:08.62\00:38:11.45
and did not know
how we got there.
00:38:11.49\00:38:13.49
What the real issue is,
we end up where we end up
00:38:13.52\00:38:16.06
and we're embarrassed
00:38:16.09\00:38:17.69
that we're caught
that we got there.
00:38:17.73\00:38:21.03
You follow what
I'm saying, Pastor Jim?
00:38:21.06\00:38:22.83
So we get to where we are
00:38:22.86\00:38:24.20
and we say to
people when we get caught,
00:38:24.23\00:38:26.47
"I don't know how it happened."
00:38:26.50\00:38:30.11
A fruit shows up
long after the root.
00:38:30.14\00:38:34.11
So when the text
says, "Each one is tempted
00:38:34.14\00:38:37.18
when he is drawn away by
his own desire and enticed."
00:38:37.21\00:38:42.72
So by the time
a thing becomes...
00:38:42.75\00:38:44.69
By the time the fruit shows up,
00:38:44.72\00:38:46.42
the roots were
planted a long time ago.
00:38:46.45\00:38:48.52
And Ellen White says,
00:38:48.56\00:38:49.92
"Long before there is
a fruit, there's a root."
00:38:49.96\00:38:52.86
So be very, very careful
00:38:52.89\00:38:55.60
with the kind of
roots you put down
00:38:55.63\00:38:57.90
because the roots you
put down will produce fruit.
00:38:57.93\00:39:03.24
Remember that.
00:39:03.27\00:39:05.21
Let's go to the next one.
00:39:05.24\00:39:07.64
According to the Bible,
00:39:07.68\00:39:09.01
what's the main
source of suffering?
00:39:09.04\00:39:10.38
Temptation.
00:39:10.41\00:39:11.75
Endure it, stand
firm in the face of it.
00:39:11.78\00:39:15.22
Number 29.
00:39:15.25\00:39:16.75
"How does the Bible reveal
that suffering is not optional?"
00:39:16.79\00:39:21.86
This is an amazing thing
00:39:21.89\00:39:23.46
because, you know, you either
suffer for not doing wrong
00:39:23.49\00:39:25.69
or you suffer for doing wrong.
00:39:25.73\00:39:27.63
It's like kind of
a two-edged sword.
00:39:27.66\00:39:29.76
It's going to come
one way or the other.
00:39:29.80\00:39:32.37
But I rather fall
into the hand of the God
00:39:32.40\00:39:34.07
who pulls me
through the suffering
00:39:34.10\00:39:36.37
of not doing wrong,
00:39:36.40\00:39:38.27
then having to be
dragged through the suffering
00:39:38.31\00:39:40.81
of having done wrong.
00:39:40.84\00:39:43.35
Two sides.
00:39:43.38\00:39:44.85
We're going to go to
the book of 2 Timothy 3:12.
00:39:44.88\00:39:50.22
How does the Bible reveal
that suffering is not optional?
00:39:50.25\00:39:53.96
It's not optional.
00:39:53.99\00:39:55.49
Here it is.
00:39:55.52\00:39:58.43
"Yes, and all who
desire to live," how,
00:39:58.46\00:40:02.00
"Godly in Christ
Jesus will," what,
00:40:02.03\00:40:04.73
"suffer persecution."
00:40:04.77\00:40:07.17
Jesus said it so wonderfully,
I believe in John 16,
00:40:07.20\00:40:09.47
He says, "If they do
this to a green tree..."
00:40:09.50\00:40:13.41
What will they do to a
tree that does not bear fruit?
00:40:13.44\00:40:17.08
If this happens to Christ
who never did anything wrong,
00:40:17.11\00:40:20.95
if temptation and
trial comes to the person
00:40:20.98\00:40:24.19
who is never fallen prey to sin,
00:40:24.22\00:40:27.49
why is it so unusual for us
to experience the same thing?
00:40:27.52\00:40:31.63
If we desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus,
00:40:31.66\00:40:33.60
the Bible says,
eventually as Pastor CA said,
00:40:33.63\00:40:36.97
"Have you suffered before?"
00:40:37.00\00:40:38.73
And some people said,
"No." He said, "It's coming."
00:40:38.77\00:40:41.57
That's a fact of the matter.
00:40:41.60\00:40:42.94
If it hasn't
arrived, it's on the way.
00:40:42.97\00:40:45.97
All that desire to live godly...
00:40:46.01\00:40:48.41
I like the way
that King James says it,
00:40:48.44\00:40:49.84
"All who live
godly in Christ Jesus
00:40:49.88\00:40:51.98
shall suffer persecution."
00:40:52.01\00:40:53.75
Not just the desire,
but if you live godly,
00:40:53.78\00:40:55.58
it's going to come.
00:40:55.62\00:40:56.95
It came for Christ
and it will come for us.
00:40:56.99\00:40:59.42
But now look at 1 Peter.
00:40:59.45\00:41:01.62
1 Peter 3:17. 1 Peter 3:17.
00:41:01.66\00:41:06.33
Continuing in the study.
00:41:06.36\00:41:07.70
You got to decide which
suffering is most appropriate
00:41:12.90\00:41:15.74
for Christ's sake or
for your own evil doing.
00:41:15.77\00:41:19.81
1 Peter 3:17.
00:41:19.84\00:41:22.31
"For it is
better," what's that word?
00:41:22.34\00:41:26.61
Say that again
it is what, better,
00:41:26.65\00:41:29.35
"If it is the will of God...
00:41:29.38\00:41:34.32
For it is better, if
it is the will of God
00:41:34.36\00:41:37.13
to suffer for doing good
than for doing," what, "evil."
00:41:37.16\00:41:41.90
Now which one do you
think is the will of God,
00:41:41.93\00:41:44.70
suffering for doing good
or suffering for doing evil?
00:41:44.73\00:41:48.87
For doing good
because the Lord knew
00:41:48.90\00:41:51.21
that Christ will
go through suffering.
00:41:51.24\00:41:53.07
Christ knew that He
would go through suffering.
00:41:53.11\00:41:55.41
But He suffered for doing good
00:41:55.44\00:41:58.05
rather than for
doing, what, evil.
00:41:58.08\00:42:00.42
So...
00:42:00.45\00:42:01.78
to do right will
bring some suffering,
00:42:05.79\00:42:08.99
but it's a lot
better than doing wrong.
00:42:09.02\00:42:12.73
Go to 2 Timothy 2:12,
just turn over a few pages.
00:42:12.76\00:42:17.20
Look at that, one
turn and I'm there.
00:42:17.23\00:42:20.04
One turn and I was there.
00:42:20.07\00:42:24.04
2 Timothy 2:12.
00:42:24.07\00:42:27.78
Just want to pull
that little verse out.
00:42:27.81\00:42:29.51
He is speaking to the elect.
00:42:29.54\00:42:32.28
And by the way, I want
to include verse 10 in this.
00:42:32.31\00:42:37.85
Whenever you see
the word therefore...
00:42:37.89\00:42:40.76
there is a whole preface
that is established before that.
00:42:44.53\00:42:46.86
But I want to give you the time
00:42:46.90\00:42:48.23
to read the
therefore and earlier.
00:42:48.26\00:42:50.20
I'm going to read Timothy 2:12.
00:42:50.23\00:42:53.03
And it reads as
follows, "If we do," what,
00:42:53.07\00:42:56.00
"endure, we shall also
do," what, "reign with Him."
00:42:56.04\00:43:02.98
I saw the Olympics,
00:43:03.01\00:43:04.61
I think most of
the world saw it,
00:43:04.65\00:43:06.28
not too many months ago.
00:43:06.31\00:43:08.42
And I've never been
invited to the Olympics,
00:43:08.45\00:43:12.85
I don't know why.
00:43:12.89\00:43:15.92
Not as a participant that is,
00:43:15.96\00:43:17.33
I could go if I want
to just be a spectator.
00:43:17.36\00:43:21.86
And those ladies and men
that get out on the field,
00:43:21.90\00:43:25.07
they run their
hearts out and they sweat.
00:43:25.10\00:43:27.60
And sometimes, the moment
they cross the finish line,
00:43:27.64\00:43:30.04
it seems like some of them
just want to fall to the ground
00:43:30.07\00:43:32.84
out of sheer exhaustion.
00:43:32.87\00:43:34.21
But do you know
why they run so hard?
00:43:34.24\00:43:37.01
Because they're
looking at the podium,
00:43:37.05\00:43:39.11
they're looking at the glory,
00:43:39.15\00:43:41.02
they're looking
at the representation
00:43:41.05\00:43:42.42
of their country,
00:43:42.45\00:43:43.82
they're looking at all
the fans that are there,
00:43:43.85\00:43:46.09
the great cloud of
witnesses that are saying,
00:43:46.12\00:43:48.82
"You can do it.
You can endure. Go on.
00:43:48.86\00:43:51.49
Maybe pain your legs now,
00:43:51.53\00:43:52.93
but it's nothing
compared to the medal
00:43:52.96\00:43:54.63
you're going to get when
you stand on the podium."
00:43:54.66\00:43:56.87
Christians ought to have
00:43:56.90\00:43:58.23
somewhat of the
same kind of attitude.
00:43:58.27\00:44:00.84
It may be difficult
in the day-by-day battle.
00:44:00.87\00:44:03.14
It may be difficult
in the day-by-day life.
00:44:03.17\00:44:05.61
But look at the podium.
00:44:05.64\00:44:07.01
When you stand there
on that glorious day,
00:44:07.04\00:44:09.41
and the Father
mentions your name,
00:44:09.44\00:44:13.58
and you come forward,
00:44:13.62\00:44:14.95
and He places a crown
of victory on your head
00:44:14.98\00:44:18.39
which really belongs to Him.
00:44:18.42\00:44:20.46
See, He wins the victory
and He gives us the crown.
00:44:20.49\00:44:22.66
Isn't that right?
Isn't that wonderful?
00:44:22.69\00:44:24.19
He wins the victory,
but He gives us the crown.
00:44:24.23\00:44:27.30
So if we endure...
00:44:27.33\00:44:28.73
It says, "If we endure, we
shall also reign with Him."
00:44:28.76\00:44:33.10
And it's a whole lot more
enduring than a gold medal,
00:44:33.13\00:44:36.10
or a silver medal,
00:44:36.14\00:44:37.47
or a bronze
medal from the Olympics
00:44:37.51\00:44:38.97
because when the
next Olympic comes around,
00:44:39.01\00:44:40.71
somebody is going
to break that record.
00:44:40.74\00:44:42.84
But nobody is
going to take my name
00:44:42.88\00:44:44.21
out of the Book of Life.
00:44:44.25\00:44:45.58
I'm looking forward to
my crown, what about you?
00:44:45.61\00:44:47.22
So here it is.
00:44:47.25\00:44:48.58
How does the Bible reveal
that suffering is not optional?
00:44:48.62\00:44:50.45
It's going to happen.
00:44:50.49\00:44:51.82
You're going to
either suffer for good
00:44:51.85\00:44:53.29
or you're going
to suffer for evil.
00:44:53.32\00:44:55.22
It's better to
suffer for the will of God
00:44:55.26\00:44:57.43
and for doing good
00:44:57.46\00:44:58.79
because it brings a reward,
00:44:58.83\00:45:00.16
a lasting reward rather
than suffering for evil.
00:45:00.20\00:45:04.27
And number 30.
00:45:04.30\00:45:06.00
Wow, number 30.
00:45:06.03\00:45:08.27
The last one before our
transition into question
00:45:08.30\00:45:10.47
on lesson number 12.
00:45:10.51\00:45:13.88
"Why is it that
Christians face suffering
00:45:13.91\00:45:17.31
even when they live right?"
00:45:17.35\00:45:22.62
Why is it that
Christians face suffering
00:45:22.65\00:45:25.45
even when they live right?
00:45:25.49\00:45:27.39
Who said that?
00:45:30.56\00:45:32.49
Very good point.
00:45:32.53\00:45:34.06
But some people
often say, "Why me?"
00:45:34.10\00:45:38.10
And the question is really what?
00:45:38.13\00:45:39.47
"Why not me?"
00:45:39.50\00:45:40.94
See, why me? Why not me?
00:45:40.97\00:45:43.20
Why not me? Here's the answer.
00:45:43.24\00:45:45.94
Why is it that
Christians face suffering
00:45:45.97\00:45:47.38
even when they live right?
00:45:47.41\00:45:50.55
Okay.
00:45:50.58\00:45:52.11
And we're going to
look at Philippians 1:29.
00:45:52.15\00:45:57.99
This is an amazing text.
00:45:58.02\00:45:59.45
I read this before,
00:45:59.49\00:46:00.82
but in the
context of the question,
00:46:00.86\00:46:02.42
it jumps out at me and says,
00:46:02.46\00:46:03.79
"Okay, stop trying to avoid it."
00:46:03.83\00:46:06.13
Listen to this, "For to you,
00:46:06.16\00:46:09.16
it has been granted
on behalf of Christ,
00:46:09.20\00:46:12.87
not only to do,"
what, "believe in Him,
00:46:12.90\00:46:16.10
but also to," do
what, "suffer for His sake."
00:46:16.14\00:46:21.11
It's like
joining in the military.
00:46:21.14\00:46:22.74
How many have been
in the military before?
00:46:22.78\00:46:25.51
If you've been in a battle,
it's like joining a battle,
00:46:25.55\00:46:28.18
getting into the army, Larry,
and say, "I want to come home."
00:46:28.22\00:46:31.29
"Why?" "They're shooting at me.
00:46:31.32\00:46:34.62
It's not fair."
00:46:34.66\00:46:35.99
And the general will say,
"It has been granted to you
00:46:36.02\00:46:39.69
on behalf of the United States
00:46:39.73\00:46:41.36
that you suffer
for your country.
00:46:41.40\00:46:43.87
That's why you are in battle."
00:46:43.90\00:46:45.83
Are we in a war?
00:46:45.87\00:46:47.84
Is it going to be
some bullets flying?
00:46:47.87\00:46:49.74
A whole lot more than that,
00:46:49.77\00:46:51.54
but that's the lot that we have.
00:46:51.57\00:46:53.51
We are soldiers in
the army of Christ.
00:46:53.54\00:46:55.74
Paul says, "Endure
hardship as a good soldier."
00:46:55.78\00:47:00.72
So here's the answer.
00:47:00.75\00:47:02.65
It's our lot.
00:47:02.68\00:47:04.45
It has been granted to us.
00:47:04.49\00:47:06.15
If you're going
to reign with Christ,
00:47:06.19\00:47:07.69
you got to go
through the valley.
00:47:07.72\00:47:09.39
I think David has put
it together so wonderfully
00:47:09.42\00:47:12.29
in Psalms 23.
00:47:12.33\00:47:14.56
Once you say, "The
Lord is my Shepherd,"
00:47:14.60\00:47:16.60
everything he says after that,
00:47:16.63\00:47:19.60
belongs to your experience,
00:47:19.63\00:47:21.40
including the valley
of the shadow of death,
00:47:21.44\00:47:24.11
including prepare
a table before you
00:47:24.14\00:47:25.57
in the presence of your enemies.
00:47:25.61\00:47:27.58
But also, you have the still
waters and the green pastures.
00:47:27.61\00:47:30.71
But the end result of
that entire journey...
00:47:30.75\00:47:32.78
Once you can say,
"The Lord is my Shepherd,"
00:47:32.81\00:47:34.75
you're going to go
through all those experiences
00:47:34.78\00:47:36.42
and the end result is what?
00:47:36.45\00:47:40.06
For how long? Isn't it worth it?
00:47:40.09\00:47:42.16
Yes.
00:47:42.19\00:47:43.53
I mean, if the
Lord is my shepherd,
00:47:43.56\00:47:44.89
I know where I'm headed.
00:47:44.93\00:47:46.26
If I got to go
through the storm, the rain,
00:47:46.29\00:47:47.63
the clouds, the ice, the snow,
00:47:47.66\00:47:49.63
the lack, the deprivation,
00:47:49.66\00:47:51.60
long as I make it to the house,
that's all that really matters
00:47:51.63\00:47:56.37
'cause, you know,
that we do the same thing.
00:47:56.40\00:47:58.14
We sometimes, when
Thanksgiving comes around...
00:47:58.17\00:48:00.48
We've had a very
mild Thanksgiving
00:48:00.51\00:48:02.28
here in the Midwest.
00:48:02.31\00:48:03.65
When we were in Florida,
00:48:03.68\00:48:05.01
we had even
better one down there.
00:48:05.05\00:48:06.48
But there are some people,
when the seasons come around,
00:48:06.51\00:48:08.58
sometimes, it gets really snowy,
00:48:08.62\00:48:10.15
and freezing rain,
00:48:10.19\00:48:11.52
and the day before Thanksgiving,
00:48:11.55\00:48:12.89
it just gets all in climate
00:48:12.92\00:48:14.86
and traffic is bumper to bumper,
00:48:14.89\00:48:17.93
and people will
get out on the highway
00:48:17.96\00:48:19.46
and endure a
hardship for a turkey.
00:48:19.49\00:48:21.90
And the only thing
they're thinking of is
00:48:26.17\00:48:28.00
"Corn bread, cranberry sauce."
00:48:28.04\00:48:31.81
They're thinking of food.
00:48:31.84\00:48:33.17
They go through all that to eat.
00:48:33.21\00:48:36.08
If they could go
through all that to eat,
00:48:36.11\00:48:38.15
I can go through all of
this for Jesus, what do you say?
00:48:38.18\00:48:41.42
I mean, the heaviest
travel day of the year.
00:48:41.45\00:48:45.69
Now I know, it's
more than just food,
00:48:45.72\00:48:47.56
we want a
fellowship with our family
00:48:47.59\00:48:48.92
and get together and thank God
00:48:48.96\00:48:50.29
for all the good He's done.
00:48:50.33\00:48:51.66
I know that's a big part of it.
00:48:51.69\00:48:53.06
But you're not
going to somebody's house
00:48:53.09\00:48:54.43
just to thank God
for what He's done
00:48:54.46\00:48:55.80
without some food, right?
00:48:55.83\00:48:57.97
That's the apex of thanksgiving.
00:48:58.00\00:49:00.10
We're going to
have the Thanksgiving
00:49:00.14\00:49:01.47
and God has got
some food waiting for us.
00:49:01.50\00:49:03.20
So I don't mind going
through the difficulties
00:49:03.24\00:49:04.67
as long as I end up
00:49:04.71\00:49:06.04
in the house of
the Lord for how long?
00:49:06.07\00:49:08.51
Forever.
00:49:08.54\00:49:10.11
Now that ends question
number 30 and lesson 11.
00:49:10.15\00:49:15.92
Now we're going to transition
for the next few moments
00:49:15.95\00:49:18.25
into lesson number
12, which is entitled,
00:49:18.29\00:49:21.09
How to Carry My Cross.
00:49:21.12\00:49:24.53
How to Carry My Cross?
00:49:24.56\00:49:25.93
You should have a copy of that.
00:49:25.96\00:49:27.56
And if you haven't
received a copy of that,
00:49:27.60\00:49:30.57
go to the website ASF.3abn.org,
00:49:30.60\00:49:34.44
and you'll be able
to get a copy of that.
00:49:34.47\00:49:36.94
You know what's
exciting about this lesson?
00:49:36.97\00:49:38.71
My wife and I had been
to Africa a couple of times.
00:49:38.74\00:49:42.24
We went to...
00:49:42.28\00:49:43.81
The first time, we went
to Zambia with Maranatha
00:49:43.85\00:49:47.95
to build churches
and schools there,
00:49:47.98\00:49:50.72
or churches more
so the first time,
00:49:50.75\00:49:52.45
second time, we went to
build schools in Zimbabwe.
00:49:52.49\00:49:56.49
And there is a bridge
00:49:56.52\00:50:00.26
between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
00:50:00.30\00:50:04.30
And that region of
the world, they call it,
00:50:04.33\00:50:07.30
it's called no man's land
because when you leave Zambia,
00:50:07.34\00:50:12.37
you have to cross the bridge
which is over Victoria Falls.
00:50:12.41\00:50:17.15
And as long as
you're on that bridge,
00:50:17.18\00:50:18.61
you are in neither country.
00:50:18.65\00:50:20.32
You're not in Zambia
and you're not in Zimbabwe.
00:50:20.35\00:50:22.88
As long as
you're on that bridge,
00:50:22.92\00:50:24.25
you are nowhere.
00:50:24.29\00:50:25.62
You are nowhere.
00:50:25.65\00:50:26.99
You are on earth
but you're nowhere.
00:50:27.02\00:50:29.46
You got to make
it to the other side.
00:50:29.49\00:50:30.83
Now I want you to get this
00:50:30.86\00:50:32.19
very, very carefully
'cause this lesson is powerful.
00:50:32.23\00:50:34.13
We're not going
to finish it tonight
00:50:34.16\00:50:35.50
but I want to lay the foundation
00:50:35.53\00:50:36.87
so that you can go
home and you brink at her.
00:50:36.90\00:50:41.00
A person from Zambia,
00:50:41.04\00:50:43.14
a Zambian can leave
Zambia on his way to Zimbabwe.
00:50:43.17\00:50:49.11
And he's in no man's land.
00:50:49.14\00:50:50.71
But while he's in no man's land,
00:50:50.75\00:50:52.51
he still has his identity,
00:50:52.55\00:50:54.18
he is still a
person from Zimbabwe.
00:50:54.22\00:50:56.62
And I hope I'm saying
it correctly, Zimbabwean.
00:50:56.65\00:50:58.69
I hope that's
the way they say it.
00:50:58.72\00:51:01.72
A person from Zimbabwe
00:51:01.76\00:51:04.09
could leave
Zimbabwe on his way to Zambia
00:51:04.13\00:51:08.16
and he's in no man's land,
but he still has his identity.
00:51:08.20\00:51:11.27
He's a Zimbabwean,
still has his classification.
00:51:11.30\00:51:18.21
He was from Zambia,
he is from Zimbabwe,
00:51:18.24\00:51:21.34
but they're now both nowhere,
00:51:21.38\00:51:23.81
yet they are both still
connected to their countries.
00:51:23.85\00:51:27.95
So if they meet on the bridge,
they meet in no man's land.
00:51:27.98\00:51:32.89
And they can't say
00:51:32.92\00:51:35.59
that they are
connected to that place
00:51:35.62\00:51:37.06
because according to
the geological demographics,
00:51:37.09\00:51:42.06
it's nowhere.
00:51:42.10\00:51:44.13
It's nowhere. It's
neither of the countries.
00:51:44.17\00:51:46.40
You're on your way to
one, you're leaving the other.
00:51:46.43\00:51:49.27
When you think
about what Jesus has done,
00:51:49.30\00:51:51.14
and this lesson is going
00:51:51.17\00:51:52.51
to really bring
it out beautifully.
00:51:52.54\00:51:55.51
There was a meeting
place called the Cross.
00:51:55.54\00:52:01.32
In the eyes of the demographics
of what I just laid out,
00:52:01.35\00:52:05.59
it's no man's land.
00:52:05.62\00:52:08.12
It's between earth and heaven.
00:52:08.16\00:52:10.79
When John says, "And if I
be lifted up from the earth,
00:52:10.83\00:52:16.56
I will draw all
men unto Myself."
00:52:16.60\00:52:19.77
Jesus was lifted
up from the earth,
00:52:19.80\00:52:22.70
but He wasn't in heaven yet.
00:52:22.74\00:52:24.41
He was not on the earth.
00:52:24.44\00:52:25.77
He was not on terra firma.
00:52:25.81\00:52:27.54
He was lifted up from the earth,
00:52:27.58\00:52:29.44
made to hang on a
cross, no man's land.
00:52:29.48\00:52:33.08
Now I want you to get this.
00:52:33.11\00:52:34.45
Did He lose His
citizenship classification
00:52:34.48\00:52:39.59
while He was
hanging on the cross?
00:52:39.62\00:52:42.02
Yes or no. No.
00:52:42.06\00:52:43.83
So was He still
the Son of God? Yes.
00:52:43.86\00:52:46.06
Even on the cross? Yes.
00:52:46.09\00:52:47.83
Was He in heaven? No.
00:52:47.86\00:52:49.56
Was He on the earth? No.
00:52:49.60\00:52:51.03
He was on the cross.
00:52:51.07\00:52:52.53
He was in
proverbially no man's land.
00:52:52.57\00:52:55.24
He was still the Son of God.
00:52:55.27\00:52:58.27
What you're going to
discover in this lesson
00:52:58.31\00:53:01.64
is that the experience
that we have as Christians
00:53:01.68\00:53:06.85
is an
experience brought together
00:53:06.88\00:53:08.52
by the proverbial
Cross called no man's land.
00:53:08.55\00:53:13.46
Neither of us lose
our classification,
00:53:13.49\00:53:15.79
both of us
maintain our classification,
00:53:15.82\00:53:18.33
yet when we meet
there... an amazingly...
00:53:18.36\00:53:22.00
I'm going to even use the word.
00:53:22.03\00:53:23.37
Ellen White
sometimes to express something
00:53:23.40\00:53:24.97
that's so glorious,
00:53:25.00\00:53:26.33
you can't find the words for it,
00:53:26.37\00:53:27.70
she says, "It was
terribly wonderful."
00:53:27.74\00:53:30.61
You can't think of
terribly wonderful.
00:53:30.64\00:53:32.41
But wonderful is not enough,
it was terribly glorious.
00:53:32.44\00:53:36.75
We met in a place
00:53:36.78\00:53:39.21
that didn't belong to the person
00:53:39.25\00:53:41.65
that we met there.
00:53:41.68\00:53:43.18
Now I want you to get this.
00:53:43.22\00:53:46.59
Did the cross belong to Jesus?
00:53:46.62\00:53:49.46
Yes or no.
00:53:49.49\00:53:52.16
I'm not going to answer
you. I want you to tell me.
00:53:52.19\00:53:55.66
Did the cross upon which
Jesus died belong to Jesus?
00:53:55.70\00:54:00.47
No.
00:54:00.50\00:54:02.50
Okay.
00:54:02.54\00:54:04.94
Glad to hear that.
00:54:04.97\00:54:06.31
Who did that cross belong to?
00:54:06.34\00:54:08.81
It belonged to us.
00:54:08.84\00:54:10.18
So the question is
why did He go out there?
00:54:10.21\00:54:12.51
Why was He willing
to go up on that cross?
00:54:12.55\00:54:16.72
Let me go back
to my illustration.
00:54:16.75\00:54:18.25
You see this...
00:54:18.29\00:54:19.62
I got to laid this
down because you'll miss
00:54:19.65\00:54:21.19
the whole beauty
of this entire...
00:54:21.22\00:54:22.66
If I spend just the next
few moments setting this up,
00:54:22.69\00:54:24.86
you'll see the beauty of this.
00:54:24.89\00:54:26.49
Jesus was willing to
leave everything behind
00:54:26.53\00:54:31.03
to meet us in no man's land.
00:54:31.07\00:54:34.20
As citizens of the
earth and a citizen of heaven,
00:54:34.24\00:54:37.61
He met us in the bridge
between Zimbabwe and Zambia,
00:54:37.64\00:54:40.91
and said, "I'm from heaven.
00:54:40.94\00:54:42.28
Where are you from?"
00:54:42.31\00:54:43.65
"I'm from earth."
00:54:43.68\00:54:45.01
"Hey, why don't you come with me
00:54:45.05\00:54:46.38
and you can be from
Zimbabwe and come to Zambia.
00:54:46.41\00:54:51.85
But the most beautiful thing
00:54:51.89\00:54:53.22
is you can be from
Zambia and come to Zimbabwe."
00:54:53.25\00:54:55.89
Now get this.
00:54:55.92\00:54:57.26
He can be from heaven
and come to come to earth.
00:54:57.29\00:55:00.80
That's something
He is able to do.
00:55:00.83\00:55:03.13
But until we meet
Him in no man's land,
00:55:03.16\00:55:05.20
we can't go
from earth to heaven.
00:55:05.23\00:55:08.07
And my point is this,
00:55:08.10\00:55:09.44
the cross is the
great meeting place
00:55:09.47\00:55:11.77
that's so misunderstood.
00:55:11.81\00:55:14.44
When we say phrases like,
00:55:14.48\00:55:16.14
"I believe in
the old rugged cross.
00:55:16.18\00:55:18.05
I will cling to
the old rugged cross.
00:55:18.08\00:55:20.35
I'm going to carry my
cross for Christ's sake.
00:55:20.38\00:55:22.48
This is my cross I must bear."
00:55:22.52\00:55:24.75
Oh, my brother and sisters,
00:55:24.79\00:55:26.12
after you go through
these first nine questions,
00:55:26.15\00:55:27.69
which we won't get
through all tonight,
00:55:27.72\00:55:29.39
you're going to discover,
00:55:29.42\00:55:30.76
the cross is so
much more beautiful
00:55:30.79\00:55:32.13
than we actually give it
the classification to be.
00:55:32.16\00:55:35.83
As I was studying
this, I had to stop and...
00:55:35.86\00:55:39.83
And I've been
preaching for 25 years.
00:55:39.87\00:55:41.20
I had to stop.
00:55:41.24\00:55:42.57
Pastor Jim and say," Wow!
00:55:42.60\00:55:44.97
I hadn't thought
about it that way."
00:55:45.01\00:55:47.41
He was very much the Son of God
00:55:47.44\00:55:50.01
when He went and
came into no man...
00:55:50.05\00:55:52.08
When He crossed the border,
00:55:52.11\00:55:55.98
when He crossed
the point of no return,
00:55:56.02\00:55:59.75
He met us at no man's land.
00:55:59.79\00:56:02.49
So He can meet us
and take us to a place
00:56:02.52\00:56:04.03
that we've never been.
00:56:04.06\00:56:05.43
We have to leave our country.
00:56:05.46\00:56:06.80
And when we leave our country,
00:56:06.83\00:56:08.16
we have the same classification,
00:56:08.20\00:56:09.76
sinners meet savior at a place
00:56:09.80\00:56:13.00
that really
belongs to us, the cross,
00:56:13.03\00:56:15.10
and takes us to a
place that we've never been.
00:56:15.14\00:56:18.01
So when you think
about carrying this cross...
00:56:18.04\00:56:20.44
As you study this tonight,
00:56:20.48\00:56:21.81
and I think, I'll try to
do maybe one or two questions
00:56:21.84\00:56:24.21
just to whet your appetite.
00:56:24.25\00:56:25.58
Let's go to question number one
00:56:25.61\00:56:26.95
just to see we can
get it here tonight.
00:56:26.98\00:56:28.32
Question number one.
00:56:28.35\00:56:29.95
All right, here it is.
00:56:29.98\00:56:31.32
"What condition
does Jesus attach
00:56:31.35\00:56:33.05
to being a follower of Christ?"
00:56:33.09\00:56:37.33
Matthew 10:38.
00:56:37.36\00:56:39.53
Matthew 10:38. Here it is.
00:56:39.56\00:56:42.13
Are you all ready to read that?
00:56:42.16\00:56:43.77
Since it's on the screen,
I'll move a little faster.
00:56:43.80\00:56:46.00
Matthew 10:38 reads as follows.
00:56:46.03\00:56:49.70
Let's read this together.
00:56:49.74\00:56:51.44
"And he who does not do," what,
00:56:51.47\00:56:54.21
"take His cross and
follow after me is," what,
00:56:54.24\00:56:58.68
"not worthy of me."
00:56:58.71\00:57:01.18
I want you to think on
that until the next week
00:57:01.22\00:57:03.25
because one thing
you'll discover in the Bible,
00:57:03.28\00:57:05.69
there were those
who said to Jesus,
00:57:05.72\00:57:07.66
"That is your cross,"
00:57:07.69\00:57:09.02
but Jesus never
said, "That's My cross."
00:57:09.06\00:57:13.19
Jesus never
claimed the cross is His.
00:57:13.23\00:57:15.96
People said that's His cross.
00:57:16.00\00:57:20.20
But what did Jesus say?
00:57:20.24\00:57:21.84
He who does not take
His cross, it's your cross.
00:57:21.87\00:57:27.04
It ain't mine?
00:57:27.08\00:57:28.51
So the question is why
was I willing to hang on
00:57:28.54\00:57:31.05
to something that
didn't belong to me?
00:57:31.08\00:57:32.48
You will find out next week.
00:57:32.51\00:57:34.38
Why was He willing to
cross the border of beauty,
00:57:34.42\00:57:38.82
of perfection, of
eternity, of sinlessness
00:57:38.85\00:57:43.46
and meet us at the
cross called no man's land?
00:57:43.49\00:57:47.86
Because He wanted
to invite us someplace
00:57:47.90\00:57:49.50
that we have never been.
00:57:49.53\00:57:51.17
He wanted to get us
ready for a process that,
00:57:51.20\00:57:53.77
soon and very soon,
we're going to understand
00:57:53.80\00:57:56.37
the great beauty of it.
00:57:56.40\00:57:57.74
So, friends, if it
doesn't make sense now,
00:57:57.77\00:57:59.64
continue studying God's Word.
00:57:59.67\00:58:01.01
And one day, it will
become a sharper focus.
00:58:01.04\00:58:04.28
God bless you.
00:58:04.31\00:58:05.65