Hello, friends, and welcome
to another A Sharper Focus,
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Wednesday night Bible study here
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in Thompsonville, Illinois.
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Thank you for tuning in.
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I hope you have your Bibles,
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your pens, your
family, and your friends
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to join us for the next hour
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when we get
into the Word of God.
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Our overall theme
is continuing to be
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how to live a spiritual
life in a natural body.
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That's what God
has called us to do
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until we get a new body,
that's when the Lord comes.
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And so tonight, we're
going to talk about the secret,
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the power from the Word
of God, the Holy Spirit,
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and the forces of
heaven that makes a difference
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in living that spiritual life
in this mortal, natural body.
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But we're going to
continue on our topic tonight,
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the transformed life.
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And if we get far
enough and finish that lesson,
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we're going to talk
about the empowered life.
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To be transformed is not enough,
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you got to have
power for that transformer
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to continue to go forward.
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And so before we go any further
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and have our
opening song tonight,
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if you like a
copy of the lesson,
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here is the
website that you can go to.
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Don't put www,
go to ASF.3ABN.org,
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and download lesson 13
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which is the one
we're finalizing tonight.
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And if we get further enough,
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you want to
have lesson number 14
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which is the empowered life.
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Thirteen, the transformed
life and 14, the empowered life.
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And if you missed
the former broadcast,
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you can also get a
chance at that same website
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to view the prior broadcast
and then catch up with us.
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But let's pray tonight
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and ask the Lord
to continue with us.
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Let's bow our heads.
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Heavenly Father, we thank You
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that tonight we can
call on the name of the Lord,
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we can invite the power
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and presence of Your Holy Spirit
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to be here,
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and we can
claim the promise that
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He, the Spirit of
truth, will lead us,
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and guide us into all truth.
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And so, Lord,
tonight, come near to us,
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open our hearts, and our minds,
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and our
understanding of Your Word.
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Give us not only
intellectual knowledge,
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but give us the power to live
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according to the power
that is found in Your Word.
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We pray in
Jesus' name, amen. Amen.
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Now, you know, we
all sing our theme song,
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it's on the screen here
for those of us who are local.
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If you know the story
which is the Victory in Jesus,
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you can sing along with
us from wherever you are.
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Let's sing the song tonight.
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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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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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Key change.
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Can you say amen to that?
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Amen. Wow.
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Well, tonight, we're talking
about the transformed life.
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Say that with me, the
what? Transformed life.
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And that transformed
life can be encapsulated
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in the scripture, in the Bible.
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Go with me there
to 2 Corinthians.
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What book did I
say? 2 Corinthians.
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We have a couple of spaces here,
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if you want to fill in.
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2 Corinthians,
this single scripture,
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singular scripture encapsulates
the transformed life.
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2 Corinthians 5:17.
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2 Corinthians 5:17.
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Now if you
think about the titles
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transformed life
and empowered life,
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you have to keep in mind that...
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I got my degree in electronics.
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And transformers
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and power supplies
were very significant.
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Now a transformer
has absolutely no value
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unless there's a power supply.
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You follow me carefully?
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So if there's no power,
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then there could
be no transformation.
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The transformer
does absolutely nothing
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unless there's
power that's present.
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Now you have
step-up transformers
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and you have
step-down transformers.
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Now if you go
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to some of the
power lines in town,
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we have phase one,
phase two, phase three power.
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I think that's my
knowledge goes that far.
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And if you try to
plug a little shaver
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into a three phase power
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without a step down transformer,
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what's going to happen?
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You going to get
fried, not just the razor,
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but you're going to get fried.
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Some don't, if you plug
it into one side of the plug.
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Well, yeah.
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But, you know,
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we're not getting
technical like you are, Glen.
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Glen is also, has got
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a lot of
background in that area too.
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But the fact of the matter is,
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there needs to be a
stepping down of the power
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in order for those things,
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those devices that
take 6 volts, 12 volts,
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and whatever
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the power recommendation may be.
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And when you think
about the almighty God,
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thankfully there is
a step down transformer
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between Him and us
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because the Bible says
our God is a consuming fire.
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So unless there is
something to temper the power
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that the almighty has,
then each of us will fry.
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That's why,
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living this spiritual
life in a natural body
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or a mortal body
is an amazing thing.
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Because the spiritual
life is from a power source
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far beyond our
ability to understand,
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far beyond our ability to
even connect to one to one.
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That's why, when
you find in the Bible,
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we'll read the
scripture in just a moment.
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That's why, when
you find in the Bible
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when Moses asked for the Lord
to give him a glimpse of Him,
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He says, "Are you sure?"
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And I'm paraphrasing.
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He says now,
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"Okay, if this
is going to be done
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with no detriment to you,
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you go ahead and hide
in the cleft of the rock,
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and when I pass
by, you just peek.
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Don't look too long
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because that
power is so potent."
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Even just that little
glimpse when Moses came down
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from the mountain,
what had to happen?
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They had to put
Venetian blinds over their face.
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Not really.
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Just they had to put
an apron over his face
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because the power was so great.
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The veil
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that kept the glory
of God from blinding
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those who were not
in the presence of God.
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And so you find
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that when we talk
about the transformed life,
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the reason why the
next topic follows this one
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in a perfect sequence
is because in order for us
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to have a transformed life,
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we've got to
connect to the power.
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We've got to
connect to the what?
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To the power.
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You just can't
have a transformer,
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you can't buy...
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Matter of fact,
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a whole house
filled with transformers
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is of no value
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unless there is a power
source present, all right?
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But now let's read
this text together,
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the transformed
text, the transformed life.
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2 Corinthians 5:17.
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And notice what it says.
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It says, "Therefore,
if anyone is," where?
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"In Christ," he is a
what? "New creation."
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That means life is transformed.
How transformed is it?
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Together, "Old
things," have what?
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"Passed away.
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Behold all
things have become new."
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Notice, old things
are placed by all things.
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All things replace old things.
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All new things
replace all old things.
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The transformed life is
a life of transformation.
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So tonight, our title
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"how to live a transformed life"
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is so vitally
important to our topic tonight.
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So let's begin by
going to question number 16
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because there is a
way that we can know
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that we are connected
to that transformed life.
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And sometimes,
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when we go from
lesson to lesson,
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sometimes a Bible verse
may show up more than once.
00:10:01.93\00:10:05.70
And while the
content of the Bible verse
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is not going to change,
I've used the same verse
00:10:07.70\00:10:09.97
for different
application, right?
00:10:10.01\00:10:11.81
So if you see it more than
once in our upcoming lesson,
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I've used it to pull
something extra out of that text
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proving the
power of inspiration.
00:10:17.98\00:10:19.78
Okay, question
number 16, here it is.
00:10:19.81\00:10:22.72
How do we know
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that we are following
God's transformation plan?
00:10:24.12\00:10:28.09
How do we know
that we are following
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God's transformation plan?
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Question number
16, go to John 15:7.
00:10:33.66\00:10:37.70
John 15:7 is where
the answer is found,
00:10:37.73\00:10:41.80
the transformation plan.
00:10:41.84\00:10:44.67
I remember the school
that I attended in New York
00:10:44.71\00:10:48.08
to learn about...
00:10:48.11\00:10:50.01
One kid came to the
class and the professor asked,
00:10:50.05\00:10:54.08
he says, "Why are you here?"
00:10:54.12\00:10:55.68
And he said, "I want to learn
how to work with electricity."
00:10:55.72\00:10:58.75
And being a
novice just starting out,
00:10:58.79\00:11:01.49
he says, "I hope you
don't play with electricity
00:11:01.52\00:11:04.09
because it will kill you."
00:11:04.13\00:11:05.86
So you cannot...
00:11:05.89\00:11:07.50
You have to understand
00:11:07.53\00:11:08.86
the properties of
the transformed life.
00:11:08.90\00:11:10.47
We have to understand
where our authority ends
00:11:10.50\00:11:14.40
and where God's
authority begins, right?
00:11:14.44\00:11:18.34
And I say that
because a lot of times,
00:11:18.37\00:11:21.64
we cannot think in the same
way that a little small shaver
00:11:21.68\00:11:26.88
doesn't have the
ability to harness the power
00:11:26.92\00:11:29.28
that's in the
phase-three voltage
00:11:29.32\00:11:31.19
unless it stepped down.
00:11:31.22\00:11:32.55
You can't just
connect them too directly
00:11:32.59\00:11:34.12
and expect them to be no
damage to the smaller device.
00:11:34.16\00:11:38.19
In the very same way,
00:11:38.23\00:11:39.56
we have to acknowledge the power
00:11:39.59\00:11:40.93
that's resident in
Christ in order for us
00:11:40.96\00:11:43.16
to have a respectable
relationship with Him.
00:11:43.20\00:11:45.87
Never think that
God is our equal,
00:11:45.90\00:11:47.80
He will always be our superior.
00:11:47.84\00:11:49.74
Amen? Amen.
00:11:49.77\00:11:51.11
Look at the answer, John 15:7.
00:11:51.14\00:11:54.74
How do we know
that we are following
00:11:54.78\00:11:56.21
God's transformation plan?
00:11:56.24\00:11:58.91
Here it is on the screen,
let's read this one together.
00:11:58.95\00:12:01.25
He says, "If you do," what?
00:12:01.28\00:12:03.59
"Abide in Me, and
My words abide in you,
00:12:03.62\00:12:08.22
you will ask what
you desire, and," what?
00:12:08.26\00:12:11.43
"It shall be done for you."
00:12:11.46\00:12:14.00
Sometimes people have
taken that text and said,
00:12:14.03\00:12:15.76
"Okay, well, I'm
abiding in God's word.
00:12:15.80\00:12:17.33
So I'm going to
pray for a boat."
00:12:17.37\00:12:19.10
That's not what that is about.
00:12:19.13\00:12:20.80
God is not giving you boats
unless you're on an island.
00:12:20.84\00:12:24.74
And I say that
because God understands
00:12:24.77\00:12:26.21
each of our needs.
00:12:26.24\00:12:28.54
Case in point, when we
live in Orlando, Florida
00:12:28.58\00:12:31.35
and my wife and I had an
old Toyota Corona, 1976 JR,
00:12:31.38\00:12:36.12
and it was dying
slowly, it got to the point
00:12:36.15\00:12:38.62
where it was just
really falling apart.
00:12:38.65\00:12:41.42
And we were
trying our best to do
00:12:41.46\00:12:42.79
all kinds of things
to keep it together.
00:12:42.82\00:12:45.06
And we never knew
00:12:45.09\00:12:46.43
where we were going to be living
00:12:46.46\00:12:47.80
about a year and a half
later or almost two years later,
00:12:47.83\00:12:50.57
and we bought a Toyota 4Runner
00:12:50.60\00:12:51.93
which is a
four-wheel-drive vehicle.
00:12:51.97\00:12:53.30
And you don't need
00:12:53.34\00:12:54.67
a four-wheel drive
vehicle in Orlando, Florida.
00:12:54.70\00:12:57.11
Why? Major
reason, tell me somebody.
00:12:57.14\00:13:00.04
No snow, no hills.
00:13:00.08\00:13:01.88
The highest point
in Florida is 400 feet
00:13:01.91\00:13:04.65
and I haven't found it yet.
00:13:04.68\00:13:06.55
I keep thinking,
that's a control tower.
00:13:06.58\00:13:08.95
But the Lord knew,
00:13:08.98\00:13:11.49
He allowed us to
get this Toyota 4Runner,
00:13:11.52\00:13:13.52
He allowed us to
qualify for a loan
00:13:13.56\00:13:15.09
to get a Toyota 4Runner
00:13:15.12\00:13:16.69
when we couldn't
qualify for a loan to get a bed.
00:13:16.73\00:13:21.23
Amen?
00:13:21.26\00:13:22.60
Lord, please get us the
loan to get some furniture.
00:13:22.63\00:13:25.73
No.
00:13:25.77\00:13:27.54
Lord, please get us a
loan to get a Toyota 4Runner.
00:13:27.57\00:13:30.51
Yes. You know why?
00:13:30.54\00:13:32.07
Because He knew,
00:13:32.11\00:13:33.44
two years down the
road when we were asked
00:13:33.48\00:13:35.08
by the Northern
California Conference,
00:13:35.11\00:13:36.68
after we moved there,
00:13:36.71\00:13:41.55
what kind of
church would you like?
00:13:41.58\00:13:42.92
I said, "It really
doesn't matter to me."
00:13:42.95\00:13:44.29
And so we went to
interview at this church
00:13:44.32\00:13:45.65
and one of the first
things the member said is,
00:13:45.69\00:13:47.56
"I hope you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle."
00:13:47.59\00:13:49.76
And God knew that
two years earlier.
00:13:49.79\00:13:51.36
Can you say amen? Amen.
00:13:51.39\00:13:52.73
So God will supply your
need, not always your want.
00:13:52.76\00:13:58.23
Every now and then,
00:13:58.27\00:13:59.60
a want would slide through there
00:13:59.63\00:14:00.97
and the Lord will
bless that and honor that.
00:14:01.00\00:14:02.97
But for the most part,
God wants to provide our need.
00:14:03.00\00:14:05.57
And the greatest need we have
00:14:05.61\00:14:07.34
according to this text is
abiding not only in Christ,
00:14:07.38\00:14:11.08
but abiding in what?
00:14:11.11\00:14:13.21
Abiding in His Word
where the power is resident.
00:14:13.25\00:14:16.69
You'll see this come up
again in the next lesson.
00:14:16.72\00:14:18.62
So here's the answer.
00:14:18.65\00:14:19.99
How do we know
that we are following
00:14:20.02\00:14:21.36
God's transformation plan?
00:14:21.39\00:14:22.72
Two things, we
are abiding in who?
00:14:22.76\00:14:28.76
We are abiding in who? Christ.
00:14:28.80\00:14:32.13
Say it again, Jerry. Christ.
00:14:32.17\00:14:33.50
We're abiding in
Christ first and foremost,
00:14:33.54\00:14:36.60
and then we are
abiding in His Word.
00:14:36.64\00:14:40.34
And this is His Word
00:14:40.38\00:14:42.11
which means we're
spending time in His Word.
00:14:42.14\00:14:44.45
When you abide, the word abide
00:14:44.48\00:14:46.31
is different than
the word stop by, right?
00:14:46.35\00:14:50.35
Stop by, I'm going
to stop by your house.
00:14:50.39\00:14:51.72
That's different.
00:14:51.75\00:14:53.09
But if somebody says,
00:14:53.12\00:14:54.46
"I'm coming to
abide at your house,"
00:14:54.49\00:14:56.56
they don't really mean live.
00:14:56.59\00:14:58.49
When we abide in
Christ, we live in Christ.
00:14:58.53\00:15:01.50
That text we just
read a moment ago,
00:15:01.53\00:15:03.03
2 Corinthians 5:17,
00:15:03.06\00:15:04.83
could adequately
be read this way.
00:15:04.87\00:15:07.37
"If anyone abides in
Christ, He is a new creation."
00:15:07.40\00:15:11.47
See?
00:15:11.51\00:15:12.84
So what I want you to get,
00:15:12.87\00:15:14.21
it's not just saying
that we are in Christ
00:15:14.24\00:15:15.58
that makes us new creations,
00:15:15.61\00:15:17.08
but it's staying in Christ
that makes us new creations.
00:15:17.11\00:15:21.62
Not just abiding,
00:15:21.65\00:15:22.98
not just stopping
by as some people say,
00:15:23.02\00:15:24.89
"I want to give
my life to the Lord,
00:15:24.92\00:15:26.96
but I don't want to
be a member of a church."
00:15:26.99\00:15:30.96
You know, I want
to play for the 49ers,
00:15:30.99\00:15:32.33
but not in the actual game.
00:15:32.36\00:15:34.70
I want the uniform,
00:15:34.73\00:15:36.06
but I don't want to
get down on the field.
00:15:36.10\00:15:37.93
So the key is
first abiding in Christ,
00:15:37.97\00:15:39.73
and secondly
abiding in His Word.
00:15:39.77\00:15:41.70
So write that
down for number 16,
00:15:41.74\00:15:43.74
how do we know we're following
God's transformation plan?
00:15:43.77\00:15:46.98
We are abiding in Christ
and we also are abiding, how?
00:15:47.01\00:15:51.88
In His Word.
00:15:51.91\00:15:54.55
When you wake up
in the morning...
00:15:54.58\00:15:57.79
By the way, since we've
gotten this new program,
00:15:57.82\00:16:00.59
it's available for PCs and Macs.
00:16:00.62\00:16:02.32
So I'm not pushing
any particular platform.
00:16:02.36\00:16:04.46
But there's a
program called Bible.is.
00:16:04.49\00:16:07.43
And every night my wife listens,
00:16:07.46\00:16:09.56
she puts it on.
00:16:09.60\00:16:10.93
And last night, she
listened to like 11 chapters.
00:16:10.97\00:16:13.54
She listened to
seven of them consciously
00:16:13.57\00:16:15.50
and four of them unconsciously.
00:16:15.54\00:16:18.87
Because there she was,
00:16:18.91\00:16:20.24
I heard the Bible
reading, Leviticus 11.
00:16:20.28\00:16:24.15
She heard seven of them.
00:16:28.35\00:16:30.19
And I'm thinking...
00:16:30.22\00:16:31.59
You know, how it is, guys.
00:16:31.62\00:16:32.95
If you turn it
off, she'll wake up.
00:16:32.99\00:16:34.36
So I just left it on,
00:16:34.39\00:16:35.72
and she's snoring
while it's reading.
00:16:35.76\00:16:37.69
And I heard all 10 chapters
00:16:37.73\00:16:39.13
and she heard seven
of them consciously.
00:16:39.16\00:16:42.06
But that's what it means.
00:16:42.10\00:16:43.43
What happens is...
00:16:43.47\00:16:44.80
Let me just make it real.
00:16:44.83\00:16:46.17
You've got to make your
home, the place you dwell,
00:16:46.20\00:16:48.87
a place where
God's Word is welcome.
00:16:48.90\00:16:52.17
Not periodically, but
make it a frequent visit.
00:16:52.21\00:16:56.51
And if it's frequent,
it's no longer a visit,
00:16:56.54\00:16:59.28
it's abiding in.
00:16:59.31\00:17:01.25
Morning, you wake
up in the morning,
00:17:01.28\00:17:02.78
even if you are in a hurry,
00:17:02.82\00:17:04.95
open the Bible,
"Lord, talk to me."
00:17:04.99\00:17:07.19
I said, "Lord," and I
turn to a Bible text today,
00:17:07.22\00:17:10.49
"Lord, allow me
today, use me today,
00:17:10.53\00:17:13.56
give me words to
encourage someone today."
00:17:13.60\00:17:15.90
And I'll be amazed.
00:17:15.93\00:17:17.43
Day to day goes by
00:17:17.47\00:17:18.80
and the Lord brings to me
00:17:18.83\00:17:20.50
people that need
to be encouraged.
00:17:20.54\00:17:22.34
And then He gives me the words.
00:17:22.37\00:17:23.71
And I prayed
today a specific prayer
00:17:23.74\00:17:25.17
and that prayer was answered.
00:17:25.21\00:17:26.54
You don't even know it.
00:17:26.57\00:17:27.91
But I prayed, "Lord,
send someone to me today
00:17:27.94\00:17:29.41
that I could talk
to about Your Word."
00:17:29.44\00:17:31.18
And I got a phone call today
00:17:31.21\00:17:32.55
and I'll introduce you
a couple in just a moment.
00:17:32.58\00:17:34.65
But I tell you, it's
amazing how God works.
00:17:34.68\00:17:38.02
But the Word of
God has to be a place
00:17:38.05\00:17:39.82
that we are so frequently there,
00:17:39.85\00:17:42.82
it's like a restaurant.
00:17:42.86\00:17:44.19
When people go to
the same restaurant
00:17:44.23\00:17:45.66
over and over
again, what happens?
00:17:45.69\00:17:47.30
The patrons know
you by your name.
00:17:47.33\00:17:50.40
"Hey, have a seat. Go
wherever you want to go.
00:17:50.43\00:17:53.54
Sit wherever you want.
Yeah, you know the rules."
00:17:53.57\00:17:56.10
And then they get to the place
where they shake your hand,
00:17:56.14\00:17:57.57
and they spent
time and talk with you.
00:17:57.61\00:17:59.37
That's what we have to have.
00:17:59.41\00:18:00.74
When the Word of God is a
regular part of our lives,
00:18:00.78\00:18:04.68
it shouldn't feel
like you open your Bible
00:18:04.71\00:18:06.38
and it's a major event.
00:18:06.41\00:18:08.68
What is today?
Just a regular day.
00:18:08.72\00:18:11.32
Well, why is your Bible open?
You should never feel that way.
00:18:11.35\00:18:14.46
It should not be like
a Christmas celebration,
00:18:14.49\00:18:16.86
or Easter, or some kind of,
00:18:16.89\00:18:18.89
"I'm only studying my
Sabbath school lesson.
00:18:18.93\00:18:20.86
Oh, I'm just getting
ready for a particular,
00:18:20.90\00:18:23.47
you know, test."
00:18:23.50\00:18:24.83
It should be so
frequent that our Bible says,
00:18:24.87\00:18:27.14
"Hey, good to see you today.
00:18:27.17\00:18:29.54
Good to see you
tonight. Have the Word of God."
00:18:29.57\00:18:31.84
And by the way,
00:18:31.87\00:18:33.21
I suggest for
that to be a reality
00:18:33.24\00:18:34.71
in your experience,
keep it close by your bed.
00:18:34.74\00:18:39.08
The reason I say that,
we have a library of Bibles
00:18:39.11\00:18:41.45
that belong to people
00:18:41.48\00:18:42.82
that don't know
their Bibles are here,
00:18:42.85\00:18:45.29
in our lost and found.
00:18:45.32\00:18:47.66
I don't know how they do it,
but some people leave church,
00:18:47.69\00:18:51.53
and they forget their Bibles,
00:18:51.56\00:18:53.03
and they don't come
back next week and ask,
00:18:53.06\00:18:54.96
"Did you find my Bible?"
00:18:55.00\00:18:57.37
So if you don't have a
Bible, we could send you one.
00:18:57.40\00:19:01.30
Please don't
call at the same time.
00:19:01.34\00:19:03.87
Number 17, make
the study of God's Word
00:19:03.91\00:19:07.01
a regular exercise in your life.
00:19:07.04\00:19:09.78
Number 17, here it is.
00:19:09.81\00:19:12.58
What is the special
sign connected to those
00:19:12.61\00:19:15.68
that abide in God's Word?
00:19:15.72\00:19:18.22
What is that special
sign connected to those
00:19:18.25\00:19:22.29
that abide in God's Word?
00:19:22.32\00:19:24.56
We're going to go to
John 8:31. John 8:31.
00:19:24.59\00:19:29.83
This is a particular sign.
00:19:29.86\00:19:31.83
Some people say,
00:19:31.87\00:19:34.80
"I used to buy a lot
of computer magazines,
00:19:34.84\00:19:39.17
I don't anymore,
00:19:39.21\00:19:40.54
because when I was
cleaning up the basement,
00:19:40.58\00:19:42.74
Brother Dick, I
pulled out a pile
00:19:42.78\00:19:45.91
of Photoshop magazines
and InDesign magazines.
00:19:45.95\00:19:50.09
You know what I did?
00:19:50.12\00:19:51.59
I added up the amounts
on each of those magazines."
00:19:51.62\00:19:53.69
I said, "Man, I spent that
much in one year on a magazine."
00:19:53.72\00:19:57.73
And so what I did now,
00:19:57.76\00:19:59.09
I took
advantage of the Internet.
00:19:59.13\00:20:00.46
Go ahead and view them for free.
00:20:00.50\00:20:02.20
At least, get as
much of the article
00:20:02.23\00:20:03.57
as you can
00:20:03.60\00:20:04.93
without having to
throw off $5 every time
00:20:04.97\00:20:06.50
or sometimes $6.95.
00:20:06.53\00:20:08.50
And how long does it take
us to go through a magazine?
00:20:08.54\00:20:11.31
Most of us who are connoisseurs
of whatever magazine we like,
00:20:11.34\00:20:13.88
we go through it really quickly,
00:20:13.91\00:20:15.24
and lay it down,
00:20:15.28\00:20:16.61
and there is
$6.95 down the drain.
00:20:16.64\00:20:18.18
So I decide to
become more economical
00:20:18.21\00:20:20.02
and decided not to do that.
00:20:20.05\00:20:21.48
But the point is,
00:20:21.52\00:20:23.15
if you continuing to
read computer magazines,
00:20:23.18\00:20:26.02
people could come to
you and ask you a question
00:20:26.05\00:20:27.89
just like that
and you pretty much
00:20:27.92\00:20:29.29
have an answer, right?
00:20:29.32\00:20:31.96
And so somebody
00:20:31.99\00:20:33.33
may even
categorize you and they say,
00:20:33.36\00:20:35.26
"You are a computer...
00:20:35.30\00:20:38.63
Come on. Say it, Larry. Geek.
00:20:38.67\00:20:40.94
I like that other one
better, computer whiz.
00:20:40.97\00:20:42.54
That's really
nice, computer whiz.
00:20:42.57\00:20:44.54
That sounds nicer, but geek.
00:20:44.57\00:20:47.11
Ask him, he is the
computer geek around here.
00:20:47.14\00:20:49.04
And a lot of guys at
3ABN have that label.
00:20:49.08\00:20:52.48
I'm going to say, I
dodge it every now and then
00:20:52.51\00:20:53.85
because I just call
myself a gadgetarion.
00:20:53.88\00:20:57.05
However, there is a
title linked to those
00:20:57.09\00:21:00.56
that are connected to
abiding in God's Word.
00:21:00.59\00:21:03.32
Here it is, in John 8:31. Okay.
00:21:03.36\00:21:07.33
"Then Jesus said to
those Jews who believed Him.
00:21:07.36\00:21:11.57
He said, 'If you
abide in My Word,
00:21:11.60\00:21:16.50
you are My disciples indeed.'"
00:21:16.54\00:21:21.68
John Chapter 8 was
a very amazing passage
00:21:21.71\00:21:24.45
because Jesus was
confronted by Jews
00:21:24.48\00:21:28.25
who had been so far
removed from Abraham
00:21:28.28\00:21:31.19
that they never
considered themselves
00:21:31.22\00:21:32.62
to ever be
descendants of slaves.
00:21:32.65\00:21:35.66
They said, "We've
never been in slavery."
00:21:35.69\00:21:37.56
And Jesus made it
very, very clear to them.
00:21:37.59\00:21:39.56
As a matter of fact,
if you look at John 8:32,
00:21:39.59\00:21:43.10
look what at He
says there in John 8:32.
00:21:43.13\00:21:45.67
This is not in the lesson,
00:21:45.70\00:21:47.04
but right along
the train of thought.
00:21:47.07\00:21:49.14
He says, "And you
shall know the," what?
00:21:49.17\00:21:51.67
"Truth. And the
truth shall," what?
00:21:51.71\00:21:54.68
"Make..."
00:21:54.71\00:21:56.04
Does anybody have the
word "set" in their Bible?
00:21:56.08\00:21:58.98
Set.
00:21:59.01\00:22:00.35
See, some translations
say set, some say make.
00:22:00.38\00:22:03.05
I tell you the
difference in the Greek word.
00:22:03.08\00:22:04.45
The Greek word actually
is suggesting the word make.
00:22:04.49\00:22:07.26
Let me tell you why
that's so significant.
00:22:07.29\00:22:09.22
When a prisoner is set free
00:22:09.26\00:22:15.96
unless he's made
free in his head,
00:22:16.00\00:22:19.17
he's going to end up back there.
00:22:19.20\00:22:21.17
So the whole
context of being set free
00:22:21.20\00:22:25.91
or being made or being
free is being made free.
00:22:25.94\00:22:30.88
God doesn't want us to go
back to where we were before.
00:22:30.91\00:22:33.52
And so that's why,
00:22:33.55\00:22:34.88
the key significant
point of this verse is truth.
00:22:34.92\00:22:37.85
If you know the
truth, the truth shall, what?
00:22:37.89\00:22:40.89
Make you free.
00:22:40.92\00:22:42.26
It's in the context of
those who could be on trial,
00:22:42.29\00:22:46.16
those who were enslaved.
00:22:46.19\00:22:47.96
And Jesus made it clear,
00:22:48.00\00:22:49.33
"Well, if you
really abide in My Word,
00:22:49.36\00:22:52.30
you will be made free."
00:22:52.33\00:22:53.77
And He repeats
that again in verse 33.
00:22:53.80\00:22:56.34
And you know the conversation
goes on and on and on,
00:22:56.37\00:22:58.61
because they're tallying
back and forth with Christ.
00:22:58.64\00:23:01.34
So here's the
answer to number 17.
00:23:01.38\00:23:03.41
What is the special
sign connected to those
00:23:03.45\00:23:05.18
that abide in God's
Word, they are, what?
00:23:05.21\00:23:08.62
They are His disciples.
00:23:08.65\00:23:11.39
Write that word,
they are His disciples.
00:23:11.42\00:23:16.26
We. Yeah, we.
00:23:16.29\00:23:18.93
We. Thank you. That's
right, make it personal.
00:23:18.96\00:23:23.20
I am His disciple.
00:23:23.23\00:23:25.33
The Disciples of Christ.
00:23:29.40\00:23:30.74
We have some that came in.
00:23:30.77\00:23:32.11
Could someone help out
and get a couple of lessons
00:23:32.14\00:23:33.68
in the back for me, Larry?
00:23:33.71\00:23:35.14
Since you're a floor manager,
00:23:35.18\00:23:36.51
you can move
around real quickly.
00:23:36.54\00:23:37.91
All right.
00:23:37.95\00:23:39.28
Let's go on to
question number 18,
00:23:39.31\00:23:40.95
question number 18.
00:23:40.98\00:23:43.45
Okay.
00:23:43.49\00:23:44.82
Wow.
00:23:48.59\00:23:50.53
This one is important.
And let me tell you why.
00:23:50.56\00:23:53.66
As I read the question...
00:23:53.70\00:23:55.23
Before I read the question,
I want to just set the stage.
00:23:55.26\00:23:58.83
A lot of times, people say...
00:23:58.87\00:24:02.57
Let me narrow it
down the people say.
00:24:02.60\00:24:05.44
Sometimes,
you'll meet a Christian
00:24:05.47\00:24:07.54
and that person would say...
00:24:07.58\00:24:09.28
"I believe in the Word of God."
00:24:13.31\00:24:16.18
And then I would
follow that up by saying,
00:24:16.22\00:24:19.19
"Would you like to
study it together?"
00:24:19.22\00:24:21.69
And they say, "No."
00:24:21.72\00:24:24.23
As somebody once recently
said, "I know, you and I,
00:24:24.26\00:24:31.13
we have a different philosophy."
00:24:31.17\00:24:33.77
I'm
communicating someone's story.
00:24:33.80\00:24:36.47
"I know we both love the Lord,
00:24:36.50\00:24:37.84
but we have a
different philosophy
00:24:37.87\00:24:39.21
about His Word.
00:24:39.24\00:24:40.58
So let's not talk Bible."
00:24:40.61\00:24:41.94
And I thought to myself,
00:24:41.98\00:24:43.31
since when did philosophy enter
into the study of God's Word?
00:24:43.35\00:24:47.22
It's not about philosophy
00:24:47.25\00:24:48.58
because the Bible
talks about philosophy
00:24:48.62\00:24:50.22
in vain deceit.
00:24:50.25\00:24:52.19
See?
00:24:52.22\00:24:53.56
So the Bible does
not support philosophy
00:24:53.59\00:24:55.96
above the Word of God.
00:24:55.99\00:24:57.59
If we both read
the same Word of God,
00:24:57.63\00:25:01.33
then we can both come
to the same conclusion,
00:25:01.36\00:25:03.50
if we do what this
text is going to suggest.
00:25:03.53\00:25:06.27
So how does the Bible describe
00:25:06.30\00:25:07.70
the mind of one
being transformed?
00:25:07.74\00:25:10.31
Here is the answer.
Acts 17:11, Acts 17:11.
00:25:10.34\00:25:17.05
And it reads as follows,
"These were more," what?
00:25:17.08\00:25:21.62
"Fair-minded than
those in Thessalonica,
00:25:21.65\00:25:25.89
in that they," did what?
00:25:25.92\00:25:28.22
"Received the word
with," what? "All readiness."
00:25:28.26\00:25:32.53
You know what that means?
00:25:32.56\00:25:33.90
I'll read it
and come back to it.
00:25:33.93\00:25:35.26
"And they," did what else?
00:25:35.30\00:25:36.63
"Searched the
Scriptures," weekly?
00:25:36.67\00:25:39.17
Daily. Monthly?
00:25:39.20\00:25:40.67
Daily. Yearly?
00:25:40.70\00:25:42.07
Daily. Come on, together.
00:25:42.10\00:25:43.44
How did they do
it, they did it what?
00:25:43.47\00:25:44.81
"Daily to find out
whether these things were so."
00:25:44.84\00:25:49.11
Okay. So let's
answer the question.
00:25:49.14\00:25:50.95
How does the Bible describe
00:25:50.98\00:25:52.31
the mind of one
being transformed?
00:25:52.35\00:25:54.35
Two things they did.
00:25:54.38\00:25:57.29
They received the
Word with all readiness.
00:25:57.32\00:26:01.19
According to the Word,
00:26:01.22\00:26:02.56
"They received the
Word with all readiness."
00:26:02.59\00:26:05.56
They were ready
to receive the Word.
00:26:05.59\00:26:08.00
You've got to be
ready to receive the Word.
00:26:08.03\00:26:10.13
If you're not ready,
it's like being a backup,
00:26:10.17\00:26:13.17
it's like being a
catcher in a baseball game.
00:26:13.20\00:26:15.30
If the pitcher
throws you the ball
00:26:15.34\00:26:16.67
and you're not
ready, you'll know it.
00:26:16.71\00:26:20.71
Am I right? How
would you know it?
00:26:20.74\00:26:24.65
You get hit, 90 miles
an hour, 85 miles an hour.
00:26:24.68\00:26:29.68
Exactly.
00:26:29.72\00:26:31.05
That's why they
wear those face masks
00:26:31.09\00:26:32.42
for all those
catchers that are not ready
00:26:32.45\00:26:35.12
or for whatever.
00:26:35.16\00:26:36.49
I remember playing baseball,
00:26:36.52\00:26:37.86
and most of the
guys in the neighborhood
00:26:37.89\00:26:40.30
didn't want to be the catcher.
00:26:40.33\00:26:41.86
And so when we
finally bought a mask
00:26:41.90\00:26:45.10
because we want to be
catchers without a mask,
00:26:45.13\00:26:46.74
and you know,
that's what you call
00:26:46.77\00:26:48.14
in neighborhood.
00:26:48.17\00:26:49.50
And we had all the kind of hits
and they're hitting everything.
00:26:49.54\00:26:50.87
But when we got the mask,
00:26:50.91\00:26:52.27
more people want
to be the catcher.
00:26:52.31\00:26:54.74
But the key is here,
00:26:54.78\00:26:56.11
receiving the
Word of God with, what?
00:26:56.14\00:26:57.85
All readiness.
00:26:57.88\00:26:59.21
And not only that,
what else did they do?
00:26:59.25\00:27:01.72
They search the
scriptures how often?
00:27:01.75\00:27:04.05
Daily.
00:27:04.09\00:27:05.42
You know what's
happening in our society today?
00:27:05.45\00:27:07.56
And this is something
00:27:07.59\00:27:08.92
that didn't
happen in Bible times.
00:27:08.96\00:27:11.86
You know what it is?
00:27:11.89\00:27:13.33
The Thessalonicans
00:27:13.36\00:27:14.70
didn't go to the local
Christian bookstore and say,
00:27:14.73\00:27:16.80
"I need to buy this book
that was recently written by...
00:27:16.83\00:27:20.40
I don't want to mention names.
00:27:20.44\00:27:21.77
I want to be respectful."
00:27:21.80\00:27:23.20
Because in every book,
you can get something good.
00:27:23.24\00:27:24.94
These books are not all bad.
00:27:24.97\00:27:26.54
But what's happening
in our world today is,
00:27:26.57\00:27:28.68
we're reading what people say
00:27:28.71\00:27:30.48
about the Bible
rather than the Bible itself.
00:27:30.51\00:27:35.42
And so depending on the window
from which they are peering out
00:27:35.45\00:27:39.25
because there are so
many schools of thought
00:27:39.29\00:27:43.86
as to what a
specific scripture says,
00:27:43.89\00:27:46.36
that that person will
give this interpretation,
00:27:46.39\00:27:48.36
and that interpretation,
and this interpretation.
00:27:48.40\00:27:50.70
They may be from this
seminary, or that university,
00:27:50.73\00:27:53.77
or this college.
00:27:53.80\00:27:55.14
They may have that many degrees,
00:27:55.17\00:27:56.50
and this many
years of experience,
00:27:56.54\00:27:58.51
and taught many
classes that way.
00:27:58.54\00:28:00.01
But what happens is,
00:28:00.04\00:28:01.38
if you go right
to the Bible itself,
00:28:01.41\00:28:06.21
then you get the
Word of God full force,
00:28:06.25\00:28:10.59
not diluted but
fully concentrated.
00:28:10.62\00:28:13.19
And so when you
search the scriptures,
00:28:13.22\00:28:15.09
how frequently?
00:28:15.12\00:28:16.56
Daily, you are exposing yourself
00:28:16.59\00:28:18.96
to something that
will transform you daily.
00:28:18.99\00:28:22.16
And then it
makes your mind ready.
00:28:22.20\00:28:24.13
Sometimes people are depressed
and they say "Well, ah man!
00:28:24.17\00:28:27.00
You know, I really
am having a hard time."
00:28:27.04\00:28:28.70
Write the answers down
00:28:28.74\00:28:30.07
as I share this
example with you.
00:28:30.11\00:28:31.67
How does the Bible
00:28:31.71\00:28:33.14
describe the mind of
one being transformed?
00:28:33.17\00:28:36.41
How does it describe that?
00:28:36.44\00:28:38.11
They have a ready mind
00:28:38.15\00:28:40.48
and they searched
the scriptures daily.
00:28:40.52\00:28:43.22
Their minds are
ready. I'm ready.
00:28:43.25\00:28:45.92
They're kind of leaning
forward in the Bible study.
00:28:45.95\00:28:49.29
They're leaning forward
when the preacher is preaching.
00:28:49.32\00:28:51.73
They're leaning forward
00:28:51.76\00:28:53.09
when the Word of
God is going forth.
00:28:53.13\00:28:55.56
They're not like...
00:28:55.60\00:28:56.93
That's not a ready mind.
00:29:01.20\00:29:03.77
When the Word of
God is going forward
00:29:03.81\00:29:05.14
and somebody is there.
00:29:05.17\00:29:06.88
That's why the Bible says to us,
00:29:06.91\00:29:08.24
we should not for...
00:29:08.28\00:29:09.61
Go with me to Hebrews Chapter 7.
00:29:09.64\00:29:13.62
My wife knows
exactly where I'm going.
00:29:13.65\00:29:15.38
Yes, I do. Right?
00:29:15.42\00:29:18.75
Hebrews Chapter 7.
00:29:18.79\00:29:20.16
And let me see right here.
00:29:34.84\00:29:39.37
Let me look it up
here in just a moment.
00:29:45.21\00:29:46.58
I'll get back to you.
00:29:46.61\00:29:47.95
But the text I'm looking for,
00:29:47.98\00:29:49.32
maybe some of you could
help me as I'm looking at this.
00:29:49.35\00:29:51.59
"Forsake not the
assembling of ourselves together
00:29:51.62\00:29:56.76
as the manner of some is,
as the manner of some is."
00:29:56.79\00:29:59.36
There are some
00:29:59.39\00:30:00.73
that when Bible
study is going forward,
00:30:00.76\00:30:02.36
you know what happens?
00:30:02.40\00:30:05.73
I can't say
that about any of you
00:30:05.77\00:30:07.10
that are here
tonight by the way.
00:30:07.14\00:30:08.70
When Bible
studies are going forward,
00:30:08.74\00:30:11.14
what happens?
00:30:11.17\00:30:12.74
Those whose minds are not ready
for the study, what happens?
00:30:12.77\00:30:16.68
Somebody tell me what
happens. What happens?
00:30:16.71\00:30:21.55
They forsake the
assembling together.
00:30:21.58\00:30:24.92
And so therefore,
00:30:24.95\00:30:26.29
when the Word of
God is going forward,
00:30:26.32\00:30:27.66
and their minds are not ready,
00:30:27.69\00:30:29.29
and they don't want
to search the scriptures,
00:30:29.32\00:30:31.53
they absent themselves
from the study of God's Word.
00:30:31.56\00:30:35.00
So in the Book of Hebrews,
we'll find it in just a moment.
00:30:35.03\00:30:36.87
Verse 27.
00:30:36.90\00:30:38.53
Is it not Hebrews 10?
00:30:38.57\00:30:40.74
Ten.
00:30:40.77\00:30:42.57
Okay.
00:30:42.60\00:30:45.04
Somebody gave me the answer.
00:30:45.07\00:30:46.47
Where was it?
10:25. I know it was 25.
00:30:46.51\00:30:52.31
"Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves," how?
00:30:52.35\00:30:56.52
Together, Hebrews 10:25.
00:30:56.55\00:30:58.29
"Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together
00:30:58.32\00:31:01.19
as is the manner of some,
00:31:01.22\00:31:04.36
but exhorting one
another," and what?
00:31:04.39\00:31:07.86
"So much the more
as you see the," what?
00:31:07.90\00:31:09.96
"The day approaching."
00:31:10.00\00:31:11.33
In other words,
00:31:11.37\00:31:12.70
the closer the
coming of Christ gets,
00:31:12.73\00:31:14.17
the more we should
spend time together
00:31:14.20\00:31:16.57
in the study of God's Word.
00:31:16.60\00:31:18.34
Isn't that right?
00:31:18.37\00:31:19.71
So in other words,
00:31:19.74\00:31:21.14
if you know the exam
is coming as a student,
00:31:21.18\00:31:23.35
let's put that in a
contemporary setting.
00:31:23.38\00:31:25.05
If you know the
exam is coming in a week,
00:31:25.08\00:31:27.15
do you spend less time in
study or more time in study?
00:31:27.18\00:31:29.92
More time in study. Okay.
00:31:29.95\00:31:31.29
If it applies to
the regular world,
00:31:31.32\00:31:32.65
it should apply also
to the spiritual world.
00:31:32.69\00:31:34.26
Spend more time together.
00:31:34.29\00:31:36.16
And what we used
to have in school was,
00:31:36.19\00:31:38.43
we had study groups.
00:31:38.46\00:31:39.79
So what some of
the students would say,
00:31:39.83\00:31:41.53
"Okay, anybody has a
final in literature next week?"
00:31:41.56\00:31:44.33
All the kids will say,
00:31:44.37\00:31:45.70
"Let's get together
tonight after class,
00:31:45.73\00:31:47.44
and we'll all study literature."
00:31:47.47\00:31:49.34
And they all
glean off of each other.
00:31:49.37\00:31:51.34
That's what the study of
the Word of God is all about.
00:31:51.37\00:31:53.07
When you get
together in a group setting,
00:31:53.11\00:31:56.01
you're able to
glean from somebody else,
00:31:56.04\00:31:59.01
what they're
learning about the same topic.
00:31:59.05\00:32:00.45
And oftentimes,
00:32:00.48\00:32:01.82
you'll learn
something from their perspective
00:32:01.85\00:32:03.18
that you didn't see,
00:32:03.22\00:32:04.55
but on the very
same topic, all right?
00:32:04.59\00:32:06.86
So the answer to number 18.
00:32:06.89\00:32:11.19
I think we already
gave you the answer, right?
00:32:11.23\00:32:13.29
Let's go to the next
one, question number 19.
00:32:13.33\00:32:18.17
We're moving at a
good pace tonight.
00:32:18.20\00:32:20.14
I appreciate all of you.
00:32:20.17\00:32:22.04
See how important it
is to have your own Bible.
00:32:22.07\00:32:25.64
There are certain
verses in the Bible
00:32:25.67\00:32:27.01
that jump out at me.
00:32:27.04\00:32:28.38
I was thinking
Hebrews 7:25, Daniel 7:25.
00:32:28.41\00:32:31.01
And that's where my
mind went right away.
00:32:31.05\00:32:32.38
But that was Hebrews 10:25.
00:32:32.41\00:32:35.52
Okay, question number 19.
00:32:35.55\00:32:38.42
What role does searching
00:32:38.45\00:32:41.26
the Bible fulfill
in our transformation?
00:32:41.29\00:32:45.49
What role does
00:32:45.53\00:32:47.23
searching the Bible
fulfill in our transformation?
00:32:47.26\00:32:52.50
Matter of fact, if you
think about it this way,
00:32:52.53\00:32:54.17
if you only had one book
to leave your house with...
00:32:54.20\00:32:57.21
If somebody says,
"You only have one book.
00:32:57.24\00:32:59.24
You can only leave
your house with one book,"
00:32:59.27\00:33:01.18
what book should it be?
00:33:01.21\00:33:02.84
It should be the
Bible. That's right.
00:33:02.88\00:33:04.98
I once...
00:33:05.01\00:33:06.61
As you're turning to John 17:17
00:33:06.65\00:33:08.52
and all of you pretty
much know the answer already.
00:33:08.55\00:33:10.69
But wait till I get there.
00:33:10.72\00:33:12.42
I remember being in
the Heritage Singers
00:33:12.45\00:33:13.86
and we gave a concert,
00:33:13.89\00:33:16.36
Sunday afternoon
concert at a church.
00:33:16.39\00:33:19.63
And we always had
worship before the concert.
00:33:19.66\00:33:21.23
And sometimes,
00:33:21.26\00:33:22.60
another group
member will do worship.
00:33:22.63\00:33:23.97
But that particular day,
00:33:24.00\00:33:25.33
I was the one doing the thought.
00:33:25.37\00:33:27.04
And as we were driving
away, as we got on the bus,
00:33:27.07\00:33:30.51
Heather, and the
church was all locked up.
00:33:30.54\00:33:33.24
As the bus was
pulling away, I said, "Stop.
00:33:33.27\00:33:37.31
I left my Bible in the church."
00:33:37.35\00:33:40.32
And I went and
tried all the doors.
00:33:40.35\00:33:43.28
And every door was locked.
00:33:43.32\00:33:46.22
And I was miserable.
00:33:46.25\00:33:48.39
I mean, the bus was driving away
00:33:48.42\00:33:49.76
and we were in a
different state altogether.
00:33:49.79\00:33:52.69
And we had gone
to so many churches.
00:33:52.73\00:33:54.63
I think, five to
six concerts a week.
00:33:54.66\00:33:59.03
And I was miserable.
00:33:59.07\00:34:00.40
And we went all the
way back to Placerville.
00:34:00.44\00:34:02.87
And people said...
00:34:02.90\00:34:05.37
This is in
California, they said,
00:34:05.41\00:34:07.74
"John is really quiet."
00:34:07.78\00:34:09.11
Somebody said,
"Because He lost his Bible."
00:34:09.14\00:34:11.61
I mean, I felt like I just...
00:34:11.65\00:34:13.01
All the energy had
been taken out of me.
00:34:13.05\00:34:15.68
And when my Bible came by
Federal Express, he said...
00:34:15.72\00:34:18.42
Everybody started clapping,
"John's got his Bible back.
00:34:18.45\00:34:20.52
Now we can talk to him." I
mean, I felt so disconnected.
00:34:20.56\00:34:23.96
I felt so discombobulated
00:34:23.99\00:34:25.79
because the book
that you spent time with,
00:34:25.83\00:34:28.23
it was like losing a part of me.
00:34:28.26\00:34:31.63
And this is what happened
00:34:31.67\00:34:33.90
when I spent time
in the Word of God.
00:34:33.94\00:34:36.04
So what role does
searching the Bible
00:34:36.07\00:34:37.67
fulfill in our transformation?
00:34:37.71\00:34:39.51
This is a short one,
let's read this together.
00:34:39.54\00:34:41.58
Together,
"Sanctify them by Your truth.
00:34:41.61\00:34:45.31
Your word is," what? "Truth."
You know what sanctify means?
00:34:45.35\00:34:48.75
Powerful word.
00:34:48.78\00:34:50.12
Because the focus has
been to us truth, truth.
00:34:50.15\00:34:52.99
But let's see what
this is actually saying.
00:34:53.02\00:34:56.02
The truth sanctifies you.
00:34:56.06\00:34:58.39
You know what the
word sanctify mean?
00:34:58.43\00:34:59.79
It doesn't just mean
made holy. Say it again, Kim.
00:34:59.83\00:35:03.30
It sets you apart from a person
00:35:03.33\00:35:04.80
who just wants to meander
in the maze of mediocrity
00:35:04.83\00:35:08.00
and wants to have an anchor
00:35:08.04\00:35:09.37
and a foundation
in the Word of God.
00:35:09.40\00:35:11.67
So when you are anchored,
00:35:11.71\00:35:14.28
all of a sudden,
you're set apart.
00:35:14.31\00:35:16.95
That's like being
chosen out of a great line up.
00:35:16.98\00:35:19.61
And basically, the
knowledge you have,
00:35:19.65\00:35:22.15
the relationship you
have, the connection you have
00:35:22.18\00:35:25.05
to the Word of
God sanctifies you.
00:35:25.09\00:35:27.36
It sets you apart
from the regular Christian,
00:35:27.39\00:35:29.42
from the regular person.
00:35:29.46\00:35:30.79
So just to say
00:35:30.83\00:35:32.16
you are a
Christian is not enough.
00:35:32.19\00:35:35.36
But studying the Word of
God, understanding the truth,
00:35:35.40\00:35:38.87
then something happens.
00:35:38.90\00:35:40.30
You become
sanctified, you're set apart.
00:35:40.34\00:35:43.24
I remember many Bible
studies I've had with people
00:35:43.27\00:35:45.41
and some people
would say, like...
00:35:45.44\00:35:49.28
This has
happened more than once.
00:35:49.31\00:35:51.15
I met a person that...
00:35:51.18\00:35:53.68
And I get excited
about Bible studies.
00:35:53.72\00:35:55.35
Sometimes, I'm in a
Bible study and I say things
00:35:55.38\00:35:57.79
that I wish I recorded
00:35:57.82\00:35:59.25
because the
Holy Spirit comes on,
00:35:59.29\00:36:01.16
it just flows
through the person's mind,
00:36:01.19\00:36:03.12
flows through my mind.
00:36:03.16\00:36:04.49
And I think,
"Man, that was amazing,
00:36:04.53\00:36:05.86
I should have taped that."
00:36:05.89\00:36:07.40
But I didn't
because it wasn't me,
00:36:07.43\00:36:08.76
it was the Spirit of God.
00:36:08.80\00:36:10.53
But the promise
the Lord has made is,
00:36:10.57\00:36:12.53
if you study the Word
of God when you need it,
00:36:12.57\00:36:15.84
He's going to bring it
back to your remembrance.
00:36:15.87\00:36:18.61
So studying God's Word
00:36:18.64\00:36:19.97
is not just for
the searching of truth,
00:36:20.01\00:36:21.68
but it's like
filling up a hard drive
00:36:21.71\00:36:23.85
with information, it's
there when you need it.
00:36:23.88\00:36:27.32
And have ever looked...?
00:36:27.35\00:36:28.68
How many of you have
more than one computer,
00:36:28.72\00:36:30.05
let me see your hands.
00:36:30.09\00:36:31.42
Have you ever
search one computer
00:36:31.45\00:36:32.85
only to find out that
what you're looking for
00:36:32.89\00:36:34.22
is on the other computer?
00:36:34.26\00:36:36.42
That's why they
have this new thing
00:36:36.46\00:36:37.79
nowadays called the Cloud.
00:36:37.83\00:36:39.16
Have you heard about that?
00:36:39.19\00:36:40.53
A lot of companies
00:36:40.56\00:36:41.90
have things now
called the Cloud.
00:36:41.93\00:36:43.26
Apple came out with
the word called the Cloud
00:36:43.30\00:36:46.27
which means whatever
you put on your iPhone
00:36:46.30\00:36:48.77
shows up on your iPad,
00:36:48.80\00:36:50.61
and shows up on your iMac.
00:36:50.64\00:36:53.54
And they say, "Where is
it?" "It's in the cloud."
00:36:53.58\00:36:58.15
And until I know
where the cloud is,
00:36:58.18\00:36:59.95
I'm not connected
00:36:59.98\00:37:01.85
'cause the cloud
really is a singular place
00:37:01.88\00:37:03.92
where they store
all your information.
00:37:03.95\00:37:05.89
And I'm thinking, "You
mean, all of my contacts,
00:37:05.92\00:37:11.96
all of my important documents?"
00:37:11.99\00:37:14.30
They said, "Yeah, it's stored.
00:37:14.33\00:37:15.66
Just in case your
house catches on fire,
00:37:15.70\00:37:17.80
it's going to be in the cloud."
00:37:17.83\00:37:20.54
The only thing I'm
looking for in the cloud
00:37:20.57\00:37:22.04
is seeing Jesus
come in the cloud.
00:37:22.07\00:37:24.87
Because I'm a little leery
00:37:24.91\00:37:26.24
about all my
information being out there and,
00:37:26.27\00:37:27.94
"Where's the cloud?
00:37:27.98\00:37:29.31
Can I call the
cloud? Just call the cloud."
00:37:29.34\00:37:33.45
But the Word of
God sanctifies you,
00:37:33.48\00:37:35.92
sets you apart.
00:37:35.95\00:37:37.29
David didn't say,
00:37:37.32\00:37:38.65
store the Word
of God in the cloud.
00:37:38.69\00:37:40.02
He said store,
where? In your mind.
00:37:40.06\00:37:42.06
"Thy Word have I hid in my heart
00:37:42.09\00:37:44.99
that I might not
sin against Thee."
00:37:45.03\00:37:46.70
And I would suggest to you
00:37:46.73\00:37:48.06
that more
people will be stronger
00:37:48.10\00:37:49.43
in their walk with Christ
00:37:49.46\00:37:51.07
if they had more of
the Word of God hidden
00:37:51.10\00:37:53.54
in their minds
and in their hearts.
00:37:53.57\00:37:55.14
The difference between
just putting it in your mind
00:37:55.17\00:37:56.67
as you've
remembered intellectually,
00:37:56.71\00:37:58.97
but when it
becomes special to you,
00:37:59.01\00:38:00.71
it's in that heart.
00:38:00.74\00:38:02.24
When you read the Word of God
00:38:02.28\00:38:03.61
and it just thrills your
soul, it's in your heart.
00:38:03.65\00:38:07.98
When you've read the same story
over and over, and this time,
00:38:08.02\00:38:10.42
you see something new
in it, it's in your heart.
00:38:10.45\00:38:14.26
It's like a very
well made dessert
00:38:14.29\00:38:17.09
that you request.
00:38:17.13\00:38:20.06
Number 20, number 20.
00:38:20.10\00:38:24.07
Why is the Word of God
00:38:24.10\00:38:25.43
the safest
measurement of transformation?
00:38:25.47\00:38:30.71
Why is the Word of God
00:38:30.74\00:38:32.27
the safest
measurement of transformation?
00:38:32.31\00:38:36.31
And the reason this
is significant here is
00:38:36.34\00:38:38.25
because we are
living in the age of...
00:38:38.28\00:38:43.22
I don't even know, I
think I've lost count.
00:38:43.25\00:38:45.09
I knew at one point,
00:38:45.12\00:38:46.45
how many different
Bible translations there were.
00:38:46.49\00:38:49.19
But they're not just
different Bible translations,
00:38:49.22\00:38:51.79
but then you have some Bibles
00:38:51.83\00:38:54.60
that are not
necessarily in harmony
00:38:54.63\00:38:56.83
with the
original Greek and Hebrew,
00:38:56.87\00:38:59.23
that are sometimes a paraphrase.
00:38:59.27\00:39:01.90
Then you also have
Bibles that are not inspired.
00:39:01.94\00:39:05.27
I don't want to be
too insensitive here.
00:39:05.31\00:39:07.71
But you have like
a translation called
00:39:07.74\00:39:09.78
the New World translation
00:39:09.81\00:39:11.68
which is specific to a
particular denomination.
00:39:11.71\00:39:14.12
Then you have the Book of Mormon
00:39:14.15\00:39:15.48
which is specific to a
particular denomination.
00:39:15.52\00:39:18.19
But they all claim inspiration.
00:39:18.22\00:39:20.82
And see, what happens
now, so you asked the question,
00:39:20.86\00:39:22.69
"Well, which
inspired Bible should I read?"
00:39:22.72\00:39:25.96
And what happens is,
00:39:25.99\00:39:27.33
if you have too many
points of measurement,
00:39:27.36\00:39:29.86
then something could
occur that God never intended.
00:39:29.90\00:39:33.23
Stay with the canon.
00:39:33.27\00:39:34.60
Stay with the what? The canon.
00:39:34.64\00:39:36.94
When it's native to specifically
00:39:36.97\00:39:39.57
a total denomination
and not open to others,
00:39:39.61\00:39:43.65
then the question should be,
00:39:43.68\00:39:45.51
"Does it measure up
to the Word of God?"
00:39:45.55\00:39:47.68
Okay, here's the
answer. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.
00:39:47.72\00:39:51.52
Be careful because we're
living in this day and age,
00:39:51.55\00:39:54.09
we've got to make up our minds,
00:39:54.12\00:39:55.46
this is the day and
age in which we're living.
00:39:55.49\00:39:57.56
"For such are," what?
00:39:57.59\00:39:59.79
"False apostles,"
what kind of workers?
00:39:59.83\00:40:02.40
"Deceitful workers,
00:40:02.43\00:40:03.83
transforming themselves
into apostles of Christ.
00:40:03.87\00:40:08.80
And no wonder!"
00:40:08.84\00:40:10.17
Or no marvelous as the
King James Version says,
00:40:10.21\00:40:12.34
"For Satan himself does," what?
00:40:12.37\00:40:15.54
"Transforms himself
into an angel of light.
00:40:15.58\00:40:21.08
Therefore it is no
great thing if His," what?
00:40:21.12\00:40:25.52
"Ministers also
00:40:25.55\00:40:26.92
transform
themselves into," what?
00:40:26.96\00:40:29.62
"Ministers of righteousness,
00:40:29.66\00:40:32.03
whose end will be
according to their works."
00:40:32.06\00:40:36.50
Wow.
00:40:36.53\00:40:37.87
I mean, that's a heavy scripture
00:40:37.90\00:40:39.23
because it's
accusatory to some degree.
00:40:39.27\00:40:40.84
Now good thing,
I didn't write it
00:40:40.87\00:40:42.20
because somebody
would have an issue with me.
00:40:42.24\00:40:44.64
"How could you say that, John?"
00:40:44.67\00:40:46.01
I'm glad it's
inspired by God's Word.
00:40:46.04\00:40:47.68
Amen? What is being said?
00:40:47.71\00:40:50.01
There are angels that
are not angels of light.
00:40:50.05\00:40:53.38
There are ministers
00:40:53.42\00:40:54.75
that are not
ministers of righteousness.
00:40:54.78\00:40:57.49
And who is behind it? Satan.
00:40:57.52\00:41:01.42
And the Bible says
that in Matthew 24,
00:41:01.46\00:41:02.92
the Bible talks
about that very carefully.
00:41:02.96\00:41:05.09
"Many false christs
00:41:05.13\00:41:06.46
and many false
prophets will arise
00:41:06.49\00:41:08.26
and will deceive many."
00:41:08.30\00:41:11.40
So be very careful.
00:41:11.43\00:41:12.77
So when somebody is in
a Bible study with you,
00:41:12.80\00:41:16.10
instead of saying,
"What do you think about?"
00:41:16.14\00:41:19.47
And they want a
question answered from you.
00:41:19.51\00:41:21.71
Instead of giving
them your opinion,
00:41:21.74\00:41:23.08
give them, what?
00:41:23.11\00:41:24.45
Tell me.
00:41:24.48\00:41:25.81
Give them a
"thus saith the Lord."
00:41:25.85\00:41:28.65
I actually got a minister
frustrated with me once.
00:41:28.68\00:41:32.12
He said to me,
00:41:32.15\00:41:33.66
"Why can't you just
tell me what you think?"
00:41:33.69\00:41:37.36
I said, "Because what
I think doesn't matter."
00:41:37.39\00:41:39.29
Right?
00:41:39.33\00:41:40.66
If our doctrinal base
was based on what I think,
00:41:40.70\00:41:43.53
then we could
00:41:43.57\00:41:44.90
have Larry McLucas
University of thinkers.
00:41:44.93\00:41:48.47
Right? Right.
00:41:48.50\00:41:51.67
You got to think
according to what...
00:41:51.71\00:41:53.48
Let your thoughts be governed
and guided by the Word of God.
00:41:53.51\00:41:58.15
That's the safest place.
00:41:58.18\00:41:59.51
When you're planting in
your mind the Word of God,
00:41:59.55\00:42:01.98
it's like each of us
following the same course
00:42:02.02\00:42:06.25
as each of us in a caravan.
00:42:06.29\00:42:08.76
I like to think
of the Christian life
00:42:08.79\00:42:10.13
not in such a uniform
way, but in this sense,
00:42:10.16\00:42:12.29
not that we're
all identically alike.
00:42:12.33\00:42:14.43
But if you're
following the Word of God,
00:42:14.46\00:42:15.86
if each of you is
following the Word of God,
00:42:15.90\00:42:18.00
you are like a train that passes
00:42:18.03\00:42:20.54
through what's
freckled with 200 cars.
00:42:20.57\00:42:25.07
He's connected to
him, connected to her,
00:42:25.11\00:42:27.84
we're all connected.
00:42:27.88\00:42:29.44
The Word of God
keeps us all, what?
00:42:29.48\00:42:31.11
Connected.
00:42:31.15\00:42:33.18
But if somebody
else is connected
00:42:33.21\00:42:34.58
to a different book,
00:42:34.62\00:42:35.98
somebody else is connected
to a different philosophy,
00:42:36.02\00:42:37.75
somebody else says,
00:42:37.79\00:42:39.12
"Well, that's not
the way I see it."
00:42:39.15\00:42:40.49
And all of a sudden, you
have a train that's coming
00:42:40.52\00:42:42.22
through with one car each.
00:42:42.26\00:42:44.79
Is that all the train?
00:42:44.83\00:42:46.19
"No, there is
another one coming."
00:42:46.23\00:42:48.10
"How many cars?" "One."
And you say, "What's going on?"
00:42:48.13\00:42:50.43
Disconnected trains
00:42:50.47\00:42:52.93
are like
disconnected Christians,
00:42:52.97\00:42:55.40
all claiming to have
00:42:55.44\00:42:56.81
the same faith in the same book,
00:42:56.84\00:42:59.34
but not connected
00:42:59.37\00:43:00.71
because somehow
people have been artfully
00:43:00.74\00:43:04.75
able to lead people away
from the study of God's Word
00:43:04.78\00:43:08.82
because they're not
following the principles
00:43:08.85\00:43:11.05
established in the
study of God's Word,
00:43:11.09\00:43:13.66
right.
00:43:13.69\00:43:15.02
So be careful where you
get your information from.
00:43:15.06\00:43:17.63
Because it's really
well put together nowadays.
00:43:17.66\00:43:20.23
What's out there is
very well put together.
00:43:20.26\00:43:22.50
But if it's not
from the Word of God,
00:43:22.53\00:43:24.83
be very leery.
00:43:24.87\00:43:27.67
All right. Number 21.
00:43:27.70\00:43:30.01
We are actually going to
get to the second one tonight.
00:43:30.04\00:43:32.54
So the answer for number 20,
00:43:32.57\00:43:34.24
why is the Word of God
00:43:34.28\00:43:35.61
the safest
measurement of transformation?
00:43:35.64\00:43:38.88
Okay, you won't be deceived.
00:43:38.91\00:43:41.65
You can't be deceived.
00:43:41.68\00:43:46.29
You can't be deceived
00:43:46.32\00:43:48.72
if you demand a
"thus saith the Lord."
00:43:48.76\00:43:52.33
I watched a program once.
00:43:57.93\00:43:59.63
Matter of fact,
00:43:59.67\00:44:01.00
Pastor Doug
Batchelor was on this program,
00:44:01.04\00:44:02.37
they were
interviewing different pastors
00:44:02.40\00:44:03.77
around the world
about end time events.
00:44:03.81\00:44:07.61
It was on PBS.
00:44:07.64\00:44:09.68
And it was on another
channel a few years ago.
00:44:09.71\00:44:14.42
And one of the subject matters
that were being discussed,
00:44:14.45\00:44:17.85
about three or four
pastors reading the Word of God,
00:44:17.89\00:44:21.86
and reading something
00:44:21.89\00:44:23.22
that the Apostle
Paul says in Romans 1.
00:44:23.26\00:44:24.59
I'm not going to get
specific about it right now.
00:44:24.63\00:44:27.06
But they said the
reason why Paul wrote that
00:44:27.10\00:44:28.76
is because Paul had
a problem with women.
00:44:28.80\00:44:32.57
And I thought, "He did?"
00:44:32.60\00:44:36.44
Not in the sense of promiscuity.
00:44:36.47\00:44:38.97
But they were saying that,
00:44:39.01\00:44:40.38
"Well, Paul
didn't really like women
00:44:40.41\00:44:42.11
so that's why he wrote that.
00:44:42.14\00:44:43.48
So he had an
issue with that gender.
00:44:43.51\00:44:45.71
So it was only
conditional to the time,
00:44:45.75\00:44:47.68
but it does not apply today."
00:44:47.72\00:44:49.05
And I'm thinking,
00:44:49.08\00:44:50.59
"How much else of
the Bible is that way."
00:44:50.62\00:44:53.99
And I was amazed.
00:44:54.02\00:44:55.36
And there was a
survey that went out
00:44:55.39\00:44:56.79
that was done by a
theological university,
00:44:56.83\00:44:59.69
I won't give the name of that.
00:44:59.73\00:45:01.13
I have to be really sensitive
being on television now.
00:45:01.16\00:45:03.33
But they said,
00:45:03.37\00:45:04.70
"Out of the ministers
that were interviewed,
00:45:04.73\00:45:06.07
12 percent of them believed
00:45:06.10\00:45:08.34
in the literal
second coming of Christ.
00:45:08.37\00:45:12.47
But only seven percent of them
00:45:12.51\00:45:13.84
believe that heaven
was a literal place."
00:45:13.88\00:45:16.75
Seven percent.
00:45:16.78\00:45:18.61
If you only had
100 people interviewed,
00:45:18.65\00:45:20.35
that 7 out of 100
00:45:20.38\00:45:21.78
believing that
heaven is a literal place.
00:45:21.82\00:45:24.59
Out of the 12 that
believe the second coming
00:45:24.62\00:45:26.39
was a literal event,
00:45:26.42\00:45:28.39
some of them believe
that it was a spiritual event.
00:45:28.42\00:45:30.89
In other words, Christ
can come into your heart
00:45:30.93\00:45:34.53
or and others believe
00:45:34.56\00:45:35.90
that Christ was
already here, arrived in 1916.
00:45:35.93\00:45:40.94
So you have to be
very, very careful
00:45:40.97\00:45:42.34
when you try to find the place
that that thought was born,
00:45:42.37\00:45:45.17
you don't find it in God's Word.
00:45:45.21\00:45:48.54
All right.
00:45:48.58\00:45:49.91
Now let's go on
before we transition
00:45:49.94\00:45:52.51
from the transformed
to the empowered life.
00:45:52.55\00:45:55.95
Question number 21, here it is.
00:45:55.98\00:45:59.29
What is the end result of
living a transformed life?
00:45:59.32\00:46:03.16
This fits right into our topic
00:46:03.19\00:46:04.53
about how to
live a spiritual life
00:46:04.56\00:46:06.23
in a natural body.
00:46:06.26\00:46:07.96
What is the end result of
living a transformed life?
00:46:08.00\00:46:11.93
Philippians 3:20
00:46:11.97\00:46:17.31
and 21.
00:46:17.34\00:46:20.78
Philippians 3:20 and 21.
00:46:20.81\00:46:27.32
All right, here is what it reads
00:46:27.35\00:46:29.32
or how it reads.
00:46:29.35\00:46:31.15
"For our," what?
00:46:31.19\00:46:33.76
"Citizenship is in heaven,
00:46:33.79\00:46:36.79
from which we also
eagerly wait for the Savior,
00:46:36.83\00:46:41.70
the Lord Jesus, who
will," what is the next word?
00:46:41.73\00:46:45.43
"Transform our lowly
body that it may be confirmed
00:46:45.47\00:46:52.21
to his glorious body,
00:46:52.24\00:46:54.81
according to the working
00:46:54.84\00:46:57.01
by which He is
able even to subdue,"
00:46:57.05\00:47:00.42
how many things?
00:47:00.45\00:47:02.15
"All things to Himself."
00:47:02.18\00:47:05.89
"By which He is able to
subdue all things to Himself."
00:47:05.92\00:47:11.86
So this transformed life,
00:47:11.89\00:47:14.36
the last thing that's
going to be transformed
00:47:14.40\00:47:16.50
by a person whose
mind is transformed
00:47:16.53\00:47:20.00
and whose life is transformed.
00:47:20.04\00:47:22.77
What's going to be the
last piece transformed?
00:47:22.80\00:47:25.84
Come on, say
together. The what? The body.
00:47:25.87\00:47:29.34
So until then, we've got to live
00:47:29.38\00:47:31.75
a spiritual life in
what kind of a body?
00:47:31.78\00:47:33.75
A natural body
00:47:33.78\00:47:35.85
because the transformation
hasn't taken place yet.
00:47:35.88\00:47:38.39
This transformation,
00:47:38.42\00:47:39.75
the final
transformation is going to be,
00:47:39.79\00:47:41.42
the Lord is going to
change our vile bodies,
00:47:41.46\00:47:44.76
this mortal body
that it may be fashioned
00:47:44.79\00:47:47.00
like unto His glorious body,
00:47:47.03\00:47:49.46
conformed to His
glory of glorious body
00:47:49.50\00:47:52.50
according to the work
in by which He is able
00:47:52.53\00:47:55.64
even to subdue
all things to Himself.
00:47:55.67\00:47:58.71
God is the great gravitational
pull of all humanity.
00:47:58.74\00:48:01.84
He pulls all of us to Himself.
00:48:01.88\00:48:04.35
All of those who
are being transformed
00:48:04.38\00:48:06.08
by Christ will be gathered.
00:48:06.11\00:48:07.78
In another word
here for the word
00:48:07.82\00:48:10.79
even able to subdue all things,
00:48:10.82\00:48:15.62
all evil things come to an end.
00:48:15.66\00:48:17.96
All good things are
set for ever eternity,
00:48:17.99\00:48:23.37
existing without
end, subduing all things,
00:48:23.40\00:48:26.57
subduing evil,
00:48:26.60\00:48:29.24
eradicating evil.
00:48:29.27\00:48:32.31
And then good begins
to reign for ever more.
00:48:32.34\00:48:35.08
"Able to subdue
all things to Himself."
00:48:35.11\00:48:39.91
So now let me ask the question,
00:48:39.95\00:48:41.28
how many of you
are looking forward
00:48:41.32\00:48:42.65
to the transformed body?
00:48:42.68\00:48:46.79
Any particular reason why?
00:48:46.82\00:48:48.59
I guess we could take
that for the rest of the night.
00:48:48.62\00:48:50.43
I know, you don't have to worry
00:48:54.90\00:48:56.23
about your knees anymore, right?
00:48:56.26\00:48:58.47
We don't have to
worry about each of us
00:48:58.50\00:48:59.93
as being patched up as
best we could down here
00:48:59.97\00:49:02.70
but when the Lord comes
back, all that stuff we had,
00:49:02.74\00:49:04.87
all the, you know,
the extra glass eye
00:49:04.91\00:49:06.81
that we had to put
in, or the new knees,
00:49:06.84\00:49:09.71
or the hearing
aid, or whatever we got,
00:49:09.74\00:49:12.11
the plate in our head,
00:49:12.15\00:49:13.92
all that stuff would be subdued.
00:49:13.95\00:49:19.22
And that's right.
Jerry recently lost his wife.
00:49:19.25\00:49:22.62
And Dick lost
your wife last year.
00:49:22.66\00:49:24.99
That's right.
00:49:25.03\00:49:26.36
What reunions are
they going to be, right?
00:49:26.39\00:49:28.16
When the Lord
transforms our lowly bodies
00:49:28.20\00:49:31.23
that maybe...
00:49:31.27\00:49:32.60
Hey, I want to
tell you this, Jerry,
00:49:32.63\00:49:33.97
your wife is going
to look a lot prettier
00:49:34.00\00:49:35.34
than when you married her.
00:49:35.37\00:49:37.21
So hold on.
00:49:37.24\00:49:39.97
He is too, he said.
00:49:40.01\00:49:41.94
You're going to
look more handsome.
00:49:41.98\00:49:43.31
More handsome.
Yeah, there you go.
00:49:43.35\00:49:45.25
But he's going
look prettier you said?
00:49:45.28\00:49:49.85
He's going to
look more handsome.
00:49:49.88\00:49:51.49
The beauty of it is,
friends, here is the key.
00:49:51.52\00:49:52.89
And I want to wind this up
00:49:52.92\00:49:54.26
as we transition
into the empowered life.
00:49:54.29\00:49:57.49
If we're not being
transformed day by day
00:49:57.53\00:50:00.56
and empowered day by day,
00:50:00.60\00:50:03.16
if we're not being
transformed day by day,
00:50:03.20\00:50:05.27
then there's really
nothing that we're planning for
00:50:05.30\00:50:09.07
because we almost have arrived
00:50:09.10\00:50:10.44
to the place of being content.
00:50:10.47\00:50:12.27
A life that is not content
with the way the world is,
00:50:12.31\00:50:16.38
is a life that is planning
for that final transformation.
00:50:16.41\00:50:19.88
And the only thing
that's going to remain...
00:50:19.91\00:50:21.75
This sounds really amazing.
Go with me to Revelation 22.
00:50:21.78\00:50:25.92
There's something
that's going to remain.
00:50:25.95\00:50:29.32
That's why this study
is so vitally important
00:50:29.36\00:50:33.09
because you just
can't wait to the very end.
00:50:33.13\00:50:35.00
I know some people that...
00:50:35.03\00:50:37.37
Well, this sounds really sad,
00:50:37.40\00:50:38.73
but I know some
Christians that say,
00:50:38.77\00:50:40.70
"Well, it doesn't really
matter what I do to my body
00:50:40.74\00:50:42.20
because I'm going to
get a new one anyway."
00:50:42.24\00:50:45.17
It's not that simple.
00:50:45.21\00:50:46.91
You can't abuse this body
00:50:46.94\00:50:48.28
just because you're
going to get another one.
00:50:48.31\00:50:50.41
Because we have
to give an account
00:50:50.45\00:50:51.78
as to how we handle the body
that the Lord has given to us.
00:50:51.81\00:50:55.48
But Revelation 22:11,
00:50:55.52\00:50:57.59
the reason why
this is so important
00:50:57.62\00:50:58.95
to get ready for
the transformed life
00:50:58.99\00:51:00.62
or that final transformation is,
00:51:00.66\00:51:02.72
there is something that
is happening day by day.
00:51:02.76\00:51:05.96
Okay? Look at verse 11.
"He who is unjust," what?
00:51:05.99\00:51:10.67
"Let him be unjust still,
00:51:10.70\00:51:12.97
he who is filthy
let him be, " what?
00:51:13.00\00:51:15.04
"Filthy still,
00:51:15.07\00:51:16.54
he who is
righteous let him be," what?
00:51:16.57\00:51:18.71
"Righteous still,
00:51:18.74\00:51:20.21
he who is holy
let him be," what?
00:51:20.24\00:51:22.91
"Holy still."
00:51:22.94\00:51:24.28
And Jesus said to His disciples,
00:51:24.31\00:51:26.45
"Be ye therefore holy
00:51:26.48\00:51:29.25
as your Father
in Heaven is holy."
00:51:29.28\00:51:31.45
The transformed life means,
every day we are desiring,
00:51:31.49\00:51:36.22
and by the power of
Christ living a holier life.
00:51:36.26\00:51:40.33
We're living a
more righteous life.
00:51:40.36\00:51:44.40
Now am I saying, Robert,
00:51:44.43\00:51:46.37
that we becoming
more righteous every day
00:51:46.40\00:51:48.44
because you can't be
more righteous than Christ?
00:51:48.47\00:51:50.91
But what in
essence is being said is,
00:51:50.94\00:51:52.94
we are becoming more
like Christ day by day.
00:51:52.97\00:51:56.85
So right now, we're
in the middle of painting
00:51:56.88\00:52:01.38
and putting in new floors.
00:52:01.42\00:52:02.75
I want to tell you,
00:52:02.78\00:52:04.12
it really is a
transformation process.
00:52:04.15\00:52:06.59
You know, when you got
to take out all the carpet,
00:52:06.62\00:52:09.02
take out this at our
home, take the padding out,
00:52:09.06\00:52:12.79
all the prep work, Larry,
plugging up all the holes,
00:52:12.83\00:52:17.80
making sure you have
the right paint color,
00:52:17.83\00:52:21.20
taping around the window
00:52:21.24\00:52:22.57
so the paint
doesn't get everywhere.
00:52:22.60\00:52:23.94
It's all in my head right now.
00:52:23.97\00:52:25.54
And somebody said,
00:52:25.57\00:52:27.81
"When you're
done, I want to see it."
00:52:27.84\00:52:31.95
That's the transformed life.
00:52:31.98\00:52:33.31
When the Lord finally
changes these lowly bodies
00:52:33.35\00:52:36.25
that is fashioned like
unto His glorious perfect body.
00:52:36.28\00:52:41.12
When the transformation happens,
00:52:41.16\00:52:43.93
I want to see it.
00:52:43.96\00:52:45.39
Amen? Amen.
00:52:45.43\00:52:46.76
It's going to be far greater
00:52:46.80\00:52:48.13
than any of us can ever imagine,
00:52:48.16\00:52:50.73
far more lovely
00:52:50.77\00:52:52.60
than any of us can ever imagine.
00:52:52.63\00:52:55.47
But you don't have to wait
00:52:55.50\00:52:56.84
till then for the transformation
00:52:56.87\00:52:59.24
to take place.
00:52:59.27\00:53:00.61
You are being transformed
by the renewing of your mind.
00:53:00.64\00:53:04.18
You are being
transformed by the what?
00:53:04.21\00:53:06.48
Renewing of your mind.
00:53:06.51\00:53:08.18
So you don't go
from a horrible, evil,
00:53:08.22\00:53:11.45
desperate person today to
a perfectly righteous saint
00:53:11.49\00:53:15.76
when Jesus comes.
00:53:15.79\00:53:17.19
Those thoughts
have to be cleaned out.
00:53:17.23\00:53:18.83
The reason I read this text
00:53:18.86\00:53:20.30
is because what's
being talked about here
00:53:20.33\00:53:22.30
is the person
that has been saved,
00:53:22.33\00:53:24.90
the person who is in
00:53:24.93\00:53:26.27
a saving
relationship with Christ
00:53:26.30\00:53:27.64
has taken the time
00:53:27.67\00:53:29.80
to develop the mind
of a person that's holy,
00:53:29.84\00:53:33.17
the life of a
person that's holy.
00:53:33.21\00:53:35.24
They have pushed out
the filth that was there.
00:53:35.28\00:53:38.21
They have pushed
out all those things
00:53:38.25\00:53:40.25
that were unjust
00:53:40.28\00:53:42.48
and put the things
that were righteous
00:53:42.52\00:53:44.85
and the things
that were holy there.
00:53:44.89\00:53:47.89
That's the responsibility
that the Lord has given to us.
00:53:47.92\00:53:51.53
Now let me ask you the question,
00:53:51.56\00:53:52.99
which category
does that fit into,
00:53:53.03\00:53:55.10
justification, glorification,
or sanctification?
00:53:55.13\00:54:01.60
Come on, don't be
afraid. Sanctification
00:54:01.64\00:54:03.64
Sanctification.
00:54:03.67\00:54:05.01
Sanctification is
the day by day, by day,
00:54:05.04\00:54:06.88
by day process of
growing to be more like Christ.
00:54:06.91\00:54:10.28
But some churches
teach, once saved always saved.
00:54:10.31\00:54:12.41
"I'm saved, I'm
going to go to heaven
00:54:15.55\00:54:17.19
whether I want to go or not."
00:54:17.22\00:54:19.05
That's not the case. It's
a life you live every day.
00:54:19.09\00:54:21.96
You've got to be
transformed every day,
00:54:21.99\00:54:24.46
that
transformation is happening,
00:54:24.49\00:54:26.19
God is making us
more and more like Him.
00:54:26.23\00:54:29.16
And you see such
in the scriptures,
00:54:29.20\00:54:30.93
those who work for Christ,
00:54:30.97\00:54:32.30
many of them had
to be transformed.
00:54:32.33\00:54:35.70
You think about Peter.
00:54:35.74\00:54:38.17
Even up to the time of
the crucifixion of Christ,
00:54:38.21\00:54:42.31
Peter still
needed to be transformed.
00:54:42.34\00:54:45.01
Matter of fact, go
with me to John 21.
00:54:45.05\00:54:46.98
I want to dive
into the new lesson,
00:54:47.02\00:54:48.35
but I'm kind of
guarding the time
00:54:48.38\00:54:49.78
because I don't want
to break open a new can
00:54:49.82\00:54:51.39
and not be able to even feed you
00:54:51.42\00:54:52.75
any of it.
00:54:52.79\00:54:54.82
That's kind of
what I'm going to do.
00:54:54.86\00:54:56.19
So I'm going to
use the time here
00:54:56.22\00:54:57.56
to show you a couple of examples
00:54:57.59\00:54:58.93
in the scripture
00:54:58.96\00:55:00.30
that the Lord talked
about very carefully.
00:55:00.33\00:55:01.66
John.
00:55:01.70\00:55:03.20
Here we are.
00:55:03.23\00:55:06.23
And by the way,
00:55:06.27\00:55:07.60
whenever the Lord
is transforming us,
00:55:07.64\00:55:09.20
don't be concerned
about those around us
00:55:09.24\00:55:11.14
that He's working at a
different pace than us.
00:55:11.17\00:55:13.64
That's the reason I'm
sharing this with you.
00:55:13.68\00:55:15.44
All right? Okay.
00:55:15.48\00:55:18.58
John Chapter 21.
00:55:18.61\00:55:21.32
So John 21:15. Look at this.
00:55:21.35\00:55:26.55
This is the
dialogue between Christ,
00:55:26.59\00:55:30.96
and Peter, and John.
00:55:30.99\00:55:34.50
"So when they
had eaten breakfast,
00:55:34.53\00:55:36.67
Jesus said to Simon
Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah,
00:55:36.70\00:55:39.97
do you love Me more than these?
00:55:40.00\00:55:42.80
He said to
Him," what did he say?
00:55:42.84\00:55:45.24
"Yes, Lord, you know I love you.
00:55:45.27\00:55:48.71
You know I love you.'"
He said to him," do what?
00:55:48.74\00:55:52.01
"Feed My lambs."
00:55:52.05\00:55:54.05
He said to Him
again a second time.
00:55:54.08\00:55:56.79
'Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love Me?'
00:55:56.82\00:56:00.76
He said to Him,
00:56:00.79\00:56:02.46
'Yes, Lord, you
know that I," what?
00:56:02.49\00:56:05.46
"Love you." He
said to him," what?
00:56:05.49\00:56:08.13
"Feed My sheep or
tend to my sheep.'"
00:56:08.16\00:56:10.63
Then verse 17.
00:56:10.67\00:56:12.00
"He said to him the third time,
00:56:12.03\00:56:14.74
'Simon, son of Jonah,
00:56:14.77\00:56:17.71
do you love Me?'
00:56:17.74\00:56:19.74
Peter was grieved
00:56:19.77\00:56:21.11
because He asked
him the third time,
00:56:21.14\00:56:24.41
'Do you love Me?'
00:56:24.45\00:56:25.78
And he said to Him,
'Lord, You know all things.
00:56:25.81\00:56:29.18
I mean You really do.
You know that I love You.'
00:56:29.22\00:56:31.85
Jesus said to him,"
what? "Feed My sheep.'"
00:56:31.89\00:56:34.86
Now let me give
you an understanding.
00:56:34.89\00:56:36.22
Some of you may know
00:56:36.26\00:56:37.59
what this dialogue is all about.
00:56:37.63\00:56:38.96
When Jesus ask him
00:56:38.99\00:56:40.33
the first time,
"Do you love me?"
00:56:40.36\00:56:41.70
He said, in the
Greek, "Do you agape?"
00:56:41.73\00:56:43.06
Say that word, agape.
00:56:43.10\00:56:44.47
"Do you love me
without condition?"
00:56:44.50\00:56:46.20
Our love for Christ...
00:56:46.23\00:56:47.84
His love for us
is unconditional.
00:56:47.87\00:56:49.64
But not everyone is at the place
00:56:49.67\00:56:51.11
where they love other
people unconditionally.
00:56:51.14\00:56:54.01
And this story is
evidence of that, he first said,
00:56:54.04\00:56:56.44
"Do you agape me" was
the phrase first Greek word
00:56:56.48\00:56:59.38
that the Lord used.
00:56:59.41\00:57:00.75
And Peter said,
"Lord, you know I love You.
00:57:00.78\00:57:02.45
I philia you. I
love You like a brother."
00:57:02.48\00:57:05.55
Then He asked him again,
"Do you agape me, Peter?"
00:57:05.59\00:57:08.49
And he said, "Lord,
you know I philia you.
00:57:08.52\00:57:10.96
I love you like a brother.
00:57:10.99\00:57:12.33
I don't love you
unconditionally yet."
00:57:12.36\00:57:14.20
And then he said, "Okay."
00:57:14.23\00:57:15.56
Third time, "Okay,
Peter, if you philia Me,
00:57:15.60\00:57:17.97
if you love Me like a
brother, let's start there,
00:57:18.00\00:57:20.74
then go ahead
and feed my sheep."
00:57:20.77\00:57:23.41
And so the key is,
not every one of us
00:57:23.44\00:57:25.27
is at the place where
Christ wants us to be.
00:57:25.31\00:57:27.18
Not every one of us loves
00:57:27.21\00:57:28.54
the other
person unconditionally.
00:57:28.58\00:57:31.01
The transformed life takes you
00:57:31.05\00:57:32.78
from the natural
way of loving somebody
00:57:32.81\00:57:35.08
to the divine way
of loving somebody.
00:57:35.12\00:57:37.89
And it can only be done
by the study of God's Word.
00:57:37.92\00:57:41.22
The transformed life takes you
00:57:41.26\00:57:42.82
from the mundane
human limitations
00:57:42.86\00:57:45.79
to the spiritual side
00:57:45.83\00:57:47.16
that really doesn't
have any limitations.
00:57:47.20\00:57:49.50
And we know the
story, what happened?
00:57:49.53\00:57:51.27
Peter eventually was converted
00:57:51.30\00:57:53.74
and he was able to
strengthen the brethren.
00:57:53.77\00:57:55.50
So those of you are
studying the Word of God,
00:57:55.54\00:57:57.31
keep this in
mind, keep trusting God
00:57:57.34\00:57:59.97
and that
transformed life will become
00:58:00.01\00:58:01.74
a life of your experience.
00:58:01.78\00:58:03.48
God bless you.
00:58:03.51\00:58:05.41