Music...
00:00:01.36\00:00:18.95
Hello Friends, and welcome
to another Wednesday night
00:00:18.98\00:00:21.58
Bible Study here in
Thompsonville, Illinois
00:00:21.62\00:00:25.09
at the 3ABN Worship Center.
00:00:25.12\00:00:26.76
We thank you for
taking the time to tune in
00:00:26.79\00:00:28.46
and we're going to
continue tonight in our topic,
00:00:28.49\00:00:31.69
"How to Live... "
00:00:31.73\00:00:33.23
let me... let me
check our local audience,
00:00:33.29\00:00:35.43
"How to Live a
Spiritual Life in a... "
00:00:35.46\00:00:37.27
Audience: Natural Body...
00:00:37.30\00:00:38.63
Pastor: In a natural body.
00:00:38.67\00:00:40.00
That's what we have to
do until the Lord comes
00:00:40.04\00:00:41.37
and changes our bodies
but thank you for tuning in.
00:00:41.40\00:00:44.84
If you'd like to
follow along with us tonight,
00:00:44.87\00:00:47.04
let me give you the
website very quickly.
00:00:47.08\00:00:49.24
Go to ASF.3abn. org
00:00:49.31\00:00:52.58
and download Lesson Number 14.
00:00:52.61\00:00:54.78
Now, some of you may
have already downloaded that
00:00:54.82\00:00:57.05
and you may say, "I
already have it... "
00:00:57.09\00:00:58.92
well, you have
Questions Number 1 to 9
00:00:58.95\00:01:00.76
but tonight there are 10 to 16
so if you want to follow along,
00:01:00.79\00:01:03.93
download Lesson Number
14, "The Empowered Life"
00:01:03.96\00:01:08.03
and you can
follow along with us.
00:01:08.06\00:01:10.70
Now, whatever you're
doing right now, take the time
00:01:10.73\00:01:13.20
because this is not just
a... this is not a sermon...
00:01:13.23\00:01:15.70
this is a Bible Study
00:01:15.74\00:01:17.11
so get your Bibles
and get your pens...
00:01:17.14\00:01:19.27
get a lesson and
follow along tonight
00:01:19.31\00:01:21.38
so you can find out how
to live that empowered life.
00:01:21.41\00:01:25.15
Now, we always
sing but before we sing,
00:01:25.18\00:01:27.38
we begin with prayer so
let's bow our heads together.
00:01:27.42\00:01:29.88
"Our heavenly Father,
00:01:29.92\00:01:31.39
we thank you for the opportunity
tonight to open your Word
00:01:31.42\00:01:34.66
and find in it a power
outside of ourselves...
00:01:34.69\00:01:38.29
beyond ourselves...
00:01:38.33\00:01:40.30
and Lord we begin tonight
by thanking you for that power
00:01:40.33\00:01:44.00
for without it we can
absolutely accomplish nothing
00:01:44.03\00:01:47.97
and so Lord, lead us tonight
00:01:48.00\00:01:49.94
not only to
understand intellectually,
00:01:49.97\00:01:52.14
but to connect to the
power that converts...
00:01:52.17\00:01:55.91
the power that transforms...
00:01:55.94\00:01:58.35
and also, that empowers us
to live that sanctified life,
00:01:58.38\00:02:03.05
we pray in Jesus' name, amen. "
00:02:03.08\00:02:05.65
Are you guys ready to sing?
00:02:05.69\00:02:07.92
Well, tonight we sing
the song, "Victory in Jesus"
00:02:07.96\00:02:11.19
it's our theme song by-the-way
00:02:11.23\00:02:12.86
and if you would like
to join us as we sing it,
00:02:12.89\00:02:16.23
you are welcome to do so,
let's sing the song tonight,
00:02:16.26\00:02:18.07
"Victory in Jesus. "
00:02:18.10\00:02:19.43
Music...
00:02:19.47\00:02:27.21
I heard an old, old story,
00:02:27.24\00:02:30.91
How the Savior came from glory,
00:02:30.95\00:02:34.55
How He gave His life on Calvary
00:02:34.58\00:02:38.19
To save a wretch like me;
00:02:38.22\00:02:42.02
I heard about His groaning,
00:02:42.06\00:02:45.73
of His precious blood's atoning
00:02:45.76\00:02:49.76
Then I repented of my sins;
00:02:49.80\00:02:53.77
And won the victory.
00:02:53.84\00:02:57.37
O victory in Jesus,
00:02:57.41\00:03:01.01
My Savior, forever.
00:03:01.04\00:03:04.58
He sought me and bought me
00:03:04.61\00:03:08.45
With His redeeming blood;
00:03:08.48\00:03:12.25
He loved me ere I knew Him,
00:03:12.29\00:03:16.06
And all my love is due Him,
00:03:16.09\00:03:19.79
He plunged me to victory,
00:03:19.83\00:03:23.60
Beneath the cleansing flood.
00:03:23.67\00:03:27.40
I heard about a mansion
00:03:27.44\00:03:31.07
He has built for me in glory.
00:03:31.11\00:03:34.88
And I heard about
the streets of gold
00:03:34.94\00:03:38.75
Beyond the crystal sea;
00:03:38.78\00:03:42.48
About the angels singing,
00:03:42.52\00:03:46.19
And the old redemption story,
00:03:46.22\00:03:49.82
And some sweet
day I'll sing up there
00:03:49.86\00:03:54.06
The song of victory.
00:03:54.10\00:03:57.70
O victory in Jesus,
00:03:57.73\00:04:01.44
My Savior, forever.
00:04:01.47\00:04:05.11
he sought me and bought me
00:04:05.14\00:04:08.94
With His redeeming blood,
00:04:08.98\00:04:12.75
He loved me ere I knew Him
00:04:12.78\00:04:16.48
And all my love is due Him,
00:04:16.52\00:04:20.26
He plunged me to victory,
00:04:20.29\00:04:24.06
Beneath the cleansing flood.
00:04:24.09\00:04:27.76
He plunged me to victory,
00:04:27.80\00:04:33.10
Beneath the cleansing flood.
00:04:33.13\00:04:37.84
Now, what do you say?
00:04:37.87\00:04:39.21
Audience: Amen.
00:04:39.24\00:04:40.58
Well, tonight as we
get into our lesson...
00:04:40.61\00:04:42.98
the lesson is
entitled, "The Empowered Life"
00:04:43.01\00:04:45.71
"How to Live the
Empowered Life. "
00:04:45.75\00:04:49.18
Now, power is a very
amazing resource to have.
00:04:49.22\00:04:54.12
We need power for everything.
00:04:54.16\00:04:56.52
Every device in your
house that has a plug or battery
00:04:56.56\00:05:00.73
needs some kind of
power to be able to function
00:05:00.76\00:05:04.83
and so, when we
think about power tonight,
00:05:04.87\00:05:07.20
I want you to think about
it in a practical sense...
00:05:07.24\00:05:09.90
in a sense that without
power we cannot operate.
00:05:09.94\00:05:13.17
As a matter of fact, our
modern society is probably
00:05:13.24\00:05:16.88
at one of its most crippling
stages in its existence
00:05:16.91\00:05:20.52
because now more than
ever before, we rely on what?
00:05:20.55\00:05:23.75
Or what word am I using tonight?
00:05:23.79\00:05:26.82
We rely on
power... without power...
00:05:26.86\00:05:31.79
if there was as
some scientists predict,
00:05:31.83\00:05:34.30
if there was ever a sun flare...
00:05:34.33\00:05:36.40
most of us will be in the
Dark Ages in a matter of seconds
00:05:36.43\00:05:40.04
because each of us needs power.
00:05:40.07\00:05:42.40
If the sun flare happened
in the 1700s... no problem...
00:05:42.47\00:05:45.41
just blow the
candle out and go to bed.
00:05:45.44\00:05:47.34
Audience: Laughter...
00:05:47.38\00:05:48.71
But now-a-days, it's quite a
bit more complicated than that
00:05:48.74\00:05:51.78
and with remote
devices and infra-red devices
00:05:51.81\00:05:55.45
and Bluetooth devices...
00:05:55.48\00:05:56.82
power resounds in
all manners and all forms
00:05:56.85\00:06:01.76
in our modern society today
00:06:01.79\00:06:03.26
but tonight, I want to
lead with the quotation...
00:06:03.29\00:06:05.73
it's not on the screen,
I want to share with you...
00:06:05.76\00:06:08.20
just so I don't
get you distracted,
00:06:08.23\00:06:09.56
it's from Abraham Lincoln
00:06:09.60\00:06:11.27
and I chose to... to
select this quotation
00:06:11.30\00:06:14.77
because it really
makes a lot of sense to me.
00:06:14.80\00:06:17.77
You've heard the one
before, "Power corrupts...
00:06:17.81\00:06:20.74
and absolute
power corrupts... " how?
00:06:20.78\00:06:23.04
"absolutely"
00:06:23.08\00:06:24.41
so, I didn't
want to use that one
00:06:24.45\00:06:25.78
because that's a one
that we've heard before
00:06:25.81\00:06:27.48
but this one... you
may have heard of it before
00:06:27.52\00:06:29.58
but hear it anyway.
00:06:29.62\00:06:31.22
"Nearly all men
can stand adversity,
00:06:31.25\00:06:35.29
but if you want to test a man's
character, give him power. "
00:06:35.32\00:06:39.83
Pause.
00:06:39.89\00:06:41.76
"Nearly all men
can stand adversity
00:06:41.80\00:06:43.97
but if you want to test a
man's character, give him power"
00:06:44.03\00:06:46.84
and then the other one comes in,
00:06:46.87\00:06:48.34
"If he can't handle
it, power corrupts...
00:06:48.37\00:06:50.41
and absolute
power corrupts... " how?
00:06:50.44\00:06:52.41
"Absolutely. "
00:06:52.47\00:06:54.08
People are tested
when power is connected
00:06:54.11\00:06:57.71
to whatever they want to do.
00:06:57.75\00:06:59.08
In fact, when
you read the Bible,
00:06:59.11\00:07:00.92
all throughout
the Old Testament,
00:07:00.95\00:07:02.98
I'd like to encourage
you to do a word study.
00:07:03.02\00:07:04.85
Just put in the word "Power"
00:07:04.92\00:07:06.35
it's a five-letter word
00:07:06.42\00:07:07.76
but when you
think of all the things
00:07:07.79\00:07:09.56
that God was able to
accomplish through His power,
00:07:09.59\00:07:12.63
when you think of all the things
that God was able to prevent
00:07:12.66\00:07:15.33
by His power,
00:07:15.36\00:07:16.70
when you think of all the
things that were done wrongly
00:07:16.73\00:07:19.47
and the abuse of power...
00:07:19.50\00:07:21.57
or things that were
not able to be accomplished
00:07:21.60\00:07:25.17
in the absence of power,
00:07:25.21\00:07:26.88
you begin to understand
that power is vitally important
00:07:26.91\00:07:29.48
but tonight,
00:07:29.51\00:07:30.85
the context in which
we're going to talk about power
00:07:30.88\00:07:32.31
is living the Christian life.
00:07:32.35\00:07:33.88
Is living... what?
00:07:33.92\00:07:35.42
Audience: Christian life.
Pastor: Living the Christian
00:07:35.45\00:07:36.79
life. Every one of us needs
power and the reason for that is
00:07:36.82\00:07:38.62
because we don't do
anything on our own strength.
00:07:38.65\00:07:42.72
The Bible says, "Without me... "
00:07:42.76\00:07:44.93
without Christ, we
can do... how much?
00:07:44.96\00:07:47.06
We can do absolutely nothing.
00:07:47.10\00:07:48.80
So, in order for us to live
this life that is not our life,
00:07:48.83\00:07:52.23
as a matter-of-fact, go with
me tonight to Galatians 2:20
00:07:52.27\00:07:55.60
I was going to go
to Question Number 6
00:07:55.64\00:07:57.44
but I want to begin with
Galatians 2 and verse 20.
00:07:57.47\00:08:00.41
Galatians 2 and verse 20, okay,
00:08:00.44\00:08:04.98
this text really spells it well
00:08:05.01\00:08:09.48
because the Christian life is
a life that begins with death.
00:08:09.52\00:08:15.09
It begins with... what? Death...
00:08:15.12\00:08:17.46
it begins with
not physical death
00:08:17.49\00:08:19.79
but it begins
with spiritual death.
00:08:19.83\00:08:21.83
In other words, until
we die, as the Lord says,
00:08:21.86\00:08:25.40
"Except a grain of wheat
falls in the ground and dies,
00:08:25.43\00:08:29.17
it abides alone. "
00:08:29.20\00:08:31.07
The Christian life is a life is
a life that begins with death.
00:08:31.11\00:08:33.61
It begins with the
necessity of death,
00:08:33.64\00:08:36.68
that's what baptism symbolizes
00:08:36.71\00:08:38.78
death to the old life...
00:08:38.81\00:08:40.58
burial of the old life
00:08:40.62\00:08:42.32
and a resurrection to
walk in the newness of life,
00:08:42.35\00:08:44.89
now, here's question
before we read the text,
00:08:44.92\00:08:46.39
"If you're going to be
able to live after you die,
00:08:46.45\00:08:50.86
isn't it natural to conclude
00:08:50.89\00:08:53.03
that the life has to
come from somewhere else?"
00:08:53.06\00:08:54.83
Pause.
00:08:54.86\00:08:56.20
Right...
00:08:56.23\00:08:57.57
if you expect to
live after you die,
00:08:57.60\00:09:00.60
then the power to live again
has to come from somewhere else.
00:09:00.64\00:09:06.11
Right?
00:09:06.14\00:09:07.64
It can't come from you.
00:09:07.68\00:09:09.01
As a matter-of-fact,
I have a battery at home
00:09:09.04\00:09:10.38
when the winter comes,
00:09:10.41\00:09:11.75
I take the
battery out of one of...
00:09:11.78\00:09:13.11
one of my old cars
I have a car that's...
00:09:13.15\00:09:14.68
John knows that I've had it
since 1995... a Nissan Maxima
00:09:14.72\00:09:19.02
and it has its issues
00:09:19.05\00:09:21.19
but I don't leave the battery
in during the winter time
00:09:21.22\00:09:23.89
because cold weather
tends to kill a battery
00:09:23.93\00:09:25.83
and the battery is fairly new
00:09:25.86\00:09:27.33
but what I've discovered...
00:09:27.36\00:09:28.76
and this is something that
has a spiritual application too,
00:09:28.80\00:09:31.17
what I've discovered is...
00:09:31.20\00:09:32.53
if you don't keep a
battery continually charged,
00:09:32.57\00:09:35.30
it even dies...
00:09:35.34\00:09:37.21
and so, the same way
in the Christian life...
00:09:37.24\00:09:39.57
unless we have been
replenished every day,
00:09:39.61\00:09:41.44
that which we have will seep out
00:09:41.48\00:09:44.68
and because we're
not getting a re-charge
00:09:44.71\00:09:47.18
from a divine connection,
what we have will die.
00:09:47.22\00:09:50.39
There'll be no
activity and I always say,
00:09:50.45\00:09:52.55
"The most expensive
car won't go anywhere
00:09:52.59\00:09:54.69
without a $50 battery. "
00:09:54.72\00:09:56.36
Or whatever it
costs... all right...
00:09:56.39\00:09:59.66
without a
battery... even a Bentley...
00:09:59.69\00:10:02.90
give me a Toyota with a battery
00:10:02.93\00:10:05.07
over a Bentley
without a battery.
00:10:05.10\00:10:07.17
Am I right?
00:10:07.20\00:10:08.54
But look at the text,
Galatians 2 and verse 20
00:10:08.57\00:10:10.71
talking about dying...
00:10:10.74\00:10:13.48
talking about the
entrance into the Christian walk
00:10:13.54\00:10:17.08
and it talks about it
in the context of death
00:10:17.11\00:10:19.25
because when you go to
the cross, you will die.
00:10:19.31\00:10:21.42
Together... "I
have been... " what?
00:10:21.45\00:10:23.89
"crucified with Christ, it
is no longer I who... " what?
00:10:23.92\00:10:28.82
"lived... lives... but
Christ lives... " where?
00:10:28.86\00:10:31.86
"In me... " pause...
00:10:31.89\00:10:34.13
"and the life which I
now live in the... " what?
00:10:34.16\00:10:37.03
"flesh" what kind of flesh?
00:10:37.07\00:10:39.33
Pause.
00:10:39.37\00:10:40.94
What kind of flesh?
00:10:40.97\00:10:42.37
Mortal flesh...
00:10:42.40\00:10:43.77
the life that I now live in
the flesh as mortal flesh...
00:10:43.81\00:10:47.51
I live by faith in the
Son of God who did... what?
00:10:47.54\00:10:51.41
loved me and
gave Himself for me.
00:10:51.45\00:10:55.45
So, before we dive into
all the questions and answers,
00:10:55.48\00:10:57.59
let's conclude tonight
00:10:57.62\00:10:58.95
that if we don't have
life outside of ourselves,
00:10:58.99\00:11:00.86
we're not going to
be able to live the life
00:11:00.89\00:11:03.16
that Christ
intends for us to live.
00:11:03.19\00:11:05.39
In other words, Pastor,
00:11:05.46\00:11:06.80
we can't just say
we're Christians...
00:11:06.83\00:11:08.56
that power to live
that Christian life
00:11:08.60\00:11:10.40
has to come from Christ
00:11:10.43\00:11:11.83
because the Christian
is a follower of Christ.
00:11:11.87\00:11:15.10
A disciple is a
disciple of Christ.
00:11:15.14\00:11:17.87
A person who's
living the new life,
00:11:17.91\00:11:20.61
cannot live the new life
00:11:20.68\00:11:22.24
if that power doesn't
come from another source
00:11:22.31\00:11:25.21
and when we are in Christ,
2nd Corinthians 5 and verse 17,
00:11:25.25\00:11:29.12
"Old things have passed away
00:11:29.15\00:11:31.05
behold all things
have become... " what?
00:11:31.09\00:11:32.42
Audience: New.
00:11:32.45\00:11:33.79
So, we need new batteries
after we become Christians
00:11:33.82\00:11:36.46
because the "Adam
battery" has been taken out
00:11:36.49\00:11:39.53
and we've got to get the
"Jesus battery" on the inside,
00:11:39.56\00:11:42.16
am I right? Audience: Yes.
00:11:42.20\00:11:43.53
Okay now, let's go to
Question Number 6 for tonight,
00:11:43.57\00:11:45.20
Question Number 6,
00:11:45.23\00:11:46.57
this is how we get
the "Jesus battery. "
00:11:46.60\00:11:48.10
Question Number 6, here it is,
00:11:48.14\00:11:52.11
"After we commit
our lives to Jesus,
00:11:52.14\00:11:54.98
what gift does He impart to us?"
00:11:55.01\00:11:58.11
"What gift does
He impart to us?"
00:11:58.15\00:12:01.18
And for most of you,
you know the text already
00:12:01.22\00:12:04.49
but we're going to go there,
00:12:04.52\00:12:05.85
we're going to go to
Acts chapter 1 and verse 8
00:12:05.92\00:12:08.36
to find the
answer to the question.
00:12:08.39\00:12:10.69
"After we commit
our lives to Jesus,
00:12:10.73\00:12:13.70
what gift does He impart to us?"
00:12:13.73\00:12:16.67
All right...
00:12:16.70\00:12:18.20
Acts chapter 1 and verse 8
is where we'll find the answer.
00:12:18.23\00:12:21.00
Acts chapter 1 and verse 8,
00:12:21.04\00:12:23.00
okay, let's read
this first one together,
00:12:23.04\00:12:25.27
It's on the
screen, are you all ready?
00:12:25.31\00:12:27.81
Here we go, "But
you shall receive" what?
00:12:27.84\00:12:31.18
"power when the Holy
Spirit has... " what?
00:12:31.21\00:12:34.48
"come upon you
00:12:34.52\00:12:36.15
and you shall be
witnesses to me... " in where?
00:12:36.18\00:12:40.19
"Jerusalem and in
all Judea and Samaria,
00:12:40.22\00:12:44.59
and to the end of the earth. "
00:12:44.63\00:12:47.23
Or the ends of the
earth... so what do we...
00:12:47.26\00:12:49.53
what do we receive as a gift
00:12:49.56\00:12:51.50
after we commit
our lives to Christ?
00:12:51.53\00:12:54.14
Say it Gwen... power... right?
00:12:54.17\00:12:56.14
In other words,
we're submitting our...
00:12:56.17\00:12:59.57
and this is a kind of an
unusual way to look at that...
00:12:59.61\00:13:03.51
but if you're walking...
00:13:03.55\00:13:06.45
if you're aiming
to walk in Christ,
00:13:06.48\00:13:08.82
you've got to enter the
relationship with Christ
00:13:08.85\00:13:11.85
through a grave...
00:13:11.89\00:13:13.62
am I telling the truth?
00:13:13.66\00:13:16.69
you got to
enter that new life...
00:13:16.73\00:13:19.66
you got to enter
it through a grave...
00:13:19.69\00:13:21.76
we call it "the watery grave"
00:13:21.80\00:13:23.83
and whatever goes
down in the grave,
00:13:23.87\00:13:26.67
we hope... what? we
hope it stays down there
00:13:26.70\00:13:29.60
because if it comes
up, we're in trouble.
00:13:29.67\00:13:32.54
As a matter-of-fact
00:13:32.57\00:13:33.91
the only thing that comes
up from the watery grave...
00:13:33.94\00:13:36.14
let me just ask the question...
00:13:36.18\00:13:37.51
somebody tell me... what
comes up from the watery grave,
00:13:37.55\00:13:40.72
what survives the death...
00:13:40.78\00:13:42.85
what comes
up... what survives...
00:13:42.88\00:13:45.62
what doesn't change?
00:13:45.65\00:13:47.36
pause
00:13:47.39\00:13:50.46
aah... come on say
it... our mortality...
00:13:50.49\00:13:53.33
my friend is here
tonight, John Stanton,
00:13:53.36\00:13:56.16
by-the-way, for those
of you who watch 3ABN,
00:13:56.20\00:13:58.53
you know we do a
Bible Program together...
00:13:58.57\00:13:59.93
right... right... John: Right.
00:13:59.97\00:14:02.97
We do a Bible Program together
but now, he's in the audience,
00:14:03.00\00:14:05.64
pause
00:14:05.67\00:14:07.04
if he stood up here,
00:14:07.08\00:14:08.84
you'll see how really
ridiculously short I am
00:14:08.88\00:14:11.35
compared to
somebody who's 6... 10...
00:14:11.38\00:14:15.25
He always says, 6... 9-1/2
00:14:15.28\00:14:16.69
but he's never
barefoot when he comes to 3ABN
00:14:16.72\00:14:19.65
but good to have
you here tonight, John,
00:14:19.69\00:14:22.92
so, I'll tell
you... that life that...
00:14:22.96\00:14:26.09
the thing that survives the
grave is mortality... is what?
00:14:26.13\00:14:30.73
Mortality... it
survives the grave...
00:14:30.77\00:14:34.80
so... so when we come up,
00:14:34.84\00:14:37.31
we come up to walk
in the newness of life
00:14:37.34\00:14:39.51
but in that new walk, we
bring something old with us.
00:14:39.54\00:14:42.68
That's why power is
so vitally important.
00:14:42.71\00:14:45.75
The power that we get though
00:14:45.78\00:14:47.95
is not to empower us
to live like we used to...
00:14:47.98\00:14:50.79
go with me to Romans chapter 6,
00:14:50.82\00:14:52.62
it's not to empower us
to live like we used to...
00:14:52.65\00:14:56.69
and I tell you, this is
where the battle comes in,
00:14:56.73\00:15:00.70
Paul the apostle... when
you look at the book of Romans,
00:15:00.73\00:15:04.43
the book of Romans is a book
that will grab you by your ears
00:15:04.47\00:15:08.10
and it will be
very easy for me...
00:15:08.17\00:15:09.60
grab you by your ears
and speak into it and say,
00:15:09.64\00:15:13.21
"This is the life that
you must rely on me to live. "
00:15:13.24\00:15:17.51
Look at this...
Romans chapter 6,
00:15:17.55\00:15:21.12
all right... and I'm
going to look together
00:15:21.15\00:15:24.69
at verse 4 down to verse 7,
00:15:24.72\00:15:29.49
it says,
"Therefore, we were... "
00:15:29.52\00:15:32.89
and the next word, "buried
with Him through baptism. "
00:15:32.93\00:15:36.80
into what? "death
00:15:36.83\00:15:38.47
that just as Christ
was raised from the dead
00:15:38.50\00:15:42.47
by the glory of the Father,
00:15:42.50\00:15:43.91
even so we also
walk in the... " what?
00:15:43.94\00:15:46.34
Audience: Newness of life.
00:15:46.37\00:15:48.31
Pastor: "We also should
walk in the newness of life.
00:15:48.34\00:15:50.75
For if we have
been united together
00:15:50.78\00:15:53.35
in the likeness of His death,
00:15:53.38\00:15:55.32
certainly we shall be in the
likeness of His resurrection"
00:15:55.35\00:15:59.49
and how? Look at
the next verse, verse 6.
00:15:59.52\00:16:02.09
"Knowing this, that our
old man was crucified with Him,
00:16:02.12\00:16:09.56
that the body of sin
might be done away with,
00:16:09.60\00:16:12.33
that we should no
longer be... " what?
00:16:12.37\00:16:14.64
"slaves to sin. For he
who as died has been... "
00:16:14.67\00:16:18.94
what? "freed from sin. "
00:16:18.97\00:16:21.48
And I must add
verse... I must add verse 8...
00:16:21.51\00:16:23.98
"For if we died with Christ,
00:16:24.01\00:16:25.85
we believe that
we shall also" what?
00:16:25.88\00:16:28.55
"live with Christ. "
00:16:28.58\00:16:29.92
And this is not
just talking about
00:16:29.95\00:16:31.29
"live with Him in
the sweet by and by"
00:16:31.32\00:16:34.09
this is talking about
living with Christ... when?
00:16:34.16\00:16:36.06
Now... every
day... here and now...
00:16:36.09\00:16:38.19
that's the life
that He wants us...
00:16:38.23\00:16:39.79
He wants us to
live with Him now...
00:16:39.83\00:16:41.36
and I'll tell you what?
00:16:41.40\00:16:42.80
How much easier would it be
00:16:42.83\00:16:44.20
if Jesus would just show
up at our house in the morning
00:16:44.23\00:16:46.43
and say, "Hey,
Brother Dick, good morning,
00:16:46.47\00:16:48.50
good to have you here,
00:16:48.57\00:16:49.90
hey, why don't you live
your... live your day with me?"
00:16:49.94\00:16:52.07
How many of us
would really like that?
00:16:52.11\00:16:54.44
Wouldn't that be nice?
00:16:54.48\00:16:55.81
If we had a visible...
He's in the car talking with us
00:16:55.94\00:16:58.51
about the glories
that shall be hereafter
00:16:58.55\00:17:00.52
and when He is with us
when the temptation comes,
00:17:00.58\00:17:02.58
He says, "Hey,
remember, ah... don't do that"
00:17:02.85\00:17:05.75
I mean, I...
wouldn't that be amazing?
00:17:05.79\00:17:08.76
Audience: Yes.
00:17:08.79\00:17:10.13
Well, what we don't
know is He is with us...
00:17:10.16\00:17:12.36
He says, "I'll never
leave you nor forsake you"
00:17:12.39\00:17:14.76
but when you walk that...
when you walk that faith walk,
00:17:14.80\00:17:17.17
when you're
living that faith walk...
00:17:17.20\00:17:18.93
you are in the
presence of Christ
00:17:19.00\00:17:20.74
how often during the day?
00:17:20.77\00:17:22.14
Audience: Continuously.
Pastor: Continuously,
00:17:22.20\00:17:23.94
so in the
morning, we've got to...
00:17:24.01\00:17:25.77
we've got to put
this picture in our mind,
00:17:25.81\00:17:29.08
when we wake up in the morning,
00:17:29.11\00:17:30.45
the Lord is right there
00:17:30.48\00:17:31.81
and He says,
"Good morning, Marlena,
00:17:31.85\00:17:33.18
how was your rest?"
00:17:33.21\00:17:35.02
Audience: Laughing.
00:17:35.05\00:17:36.75
"Good morning who...?"
00:17:36.79\00:17:38.42
"Good morning, Marlena... "
00:17:38.45\00:17:40.82
"Good morning
Cynthia, how's it going?"
00:17:40.86\00:17:43.53
"Ahh... I was
tossing and turning... "
00:17:43.56\00:17:45.99
"Don't worry about it,
00:17:46.03\00:17:47.36
My mercies are
new every morning. "
00:17:47.40\00:17:49.56
"Good morning Dave, how is it?"
00:17:49.76\00:17:52.70
"Man, I had some bad dreams. "
00:17:52.73\00:17:54.07
"Don't worry about
it, it's a new day. "
00:17:54.10\00:17:55.44
Wouldn't it be nice
00:17:55.47\00:17:56.81
if we had that kind of
connection in the morning?
00:17:56.84\00:17:58.64
Well, you know what? You can...
00:17:58.67\00:18:00.01
Audience: Amen.
00:18:00.04\00:18:01.38
If you keep your
Bible by your bed,
00:18:01.41\00:18:02.74
the Lord will talk to you
in the morning, wouldn't He?
00:18:02.78\00:18:04.98
You got to have the
power nearby because...
00:18:05.01\00:18:09.18
I got to tell you this story...
00:18:09.22\00:18:10.62
my wife and I replaced
our ceiling lamp in our home,
00:18:10.65\00:18:13.32
we did some refurbishing...
00:18:13.36\00:18:14.96
we had a fan that
didn't work at all
00:18:14.99\00:18:16.83
and so she said,
"Well, if you get a new one...
00:18:16.86\00:18:19.69
don't spend a lot on it
but I want one with a remote. "
00:18:19.76\00:18:22.66
Audience: Laughter.
00:18:22.70\00:18:24.03
And Greg,
yesterday... was it today?
00:18:24.07\00:18:28.20
it was today...
00:18:28.24\00:18:29.87
we woke up this morning...
00:18:29.90\00:18:33.58
you know when you wake up
you're just lying there...
00:18:33.61\00:18:36.11
but you haven't
gotten out of the bed yet
00:18:36.14\00:18:39.55
and the light came on...
00:18:39.58\00:18:40.98
and I thought she turned it on
00:18:41.02\00:18:42.65
and she thought I turned it on
00:18:42.68\00:18:44.29
and I said, "Why did
you turn the light on?"
00:18:44.32\00:18:46.62
She said, "Why did
you turn the light on?"
00:18:46.65\00:18:48.89
and I'm looking on my dresser
00:18:48.92\00:18:50.33
and I have the remote on
my side but I haven't moved.
00:18:50.36\00:18:52.99
I'm thinking, "You
didn't turn it on?"
00:18:53.06\00:18:54.60
"No... " I didn't
turn it on either,
00:18:54.63\00:18:56.36
and I want to think
pure thoughts and so I said,
00:18:56.40\00:18:58.93
"Maybe God turned it on. "
00:18:58.97\00:19:00.67
See, because in the morning
00:19:00.70\00:19:02.34
there's a light available
when you wake up, right?
00:19:02.37\00:19:04.27
And the light is in His Word.
00:19:04.31\00:19:05.94
I didn't give any life to that
because some people will say,
00:19:05.97\00:19:08.84
"Well, Honey, if
you didn't turn it on,
00:19:08.88\00:19:10.21
then what's in our house?"
00:19:10.25\00:19:11.58
See, I don't want to
go down that dark road...
00:19:11.61\00:19:13.35
I said, "Maybe
the Lord turned it on
00:19:13.38\00:19:15.52
to wake us up this morning. "
00:19:15.55\00:19:16.89
Because I don't
believe in all that stuff,
00:19:16.92\00:19:18.25
we know there's
evil in the world
00:19:18.29\00:19:19.62
but I don't give
any light to that
00:19:19.65\00:19:20.99
and so, when you think
about the text we just read,
00:19:21.02\00:19:22.72
when we come into
that walk with Christ,
00:19:22.76\00:19:24.89
the reason why
we need that light
00:19:24.93\00:19:26.59
or that power as He
says we will receive,
00:19:26.63\00:19:28.36
is because we don't have
the power that we used to have.
00:19:28.40\00:19:30.97
As long as that
old man stays dead...
00:19:31.00\00:19:33.54
as long as we make
sure he has died...
00:19:33.57\00:19:36.07
pause...
00:19:36.10\00:19:37.44
we're going to need the power
from somewhere else, right?
00:19:37.47\00:19:40.44
So, what answer do you
put there... Number 6...
00:19:40.48\00:19:42.84
"After we commit
our lives to Jesus,
00:19:42.88\00:19:44.38
what gift does He impart to us?"
00:19:44.41\00:19:45.81
Put the word there...
what? Power... p-o-w-e-r
00:19:45.85\00:19:49.28
Dunamis... from which
we get the word... what?
00:19:49.35\00:19:52.75
Dynamite... very powerful...
00:19:52.79\00:19:55.72
Question Number 7...
00:19:55.76\00:19:57.59
Question Number 7,
00:19:57.63\00:19:59.39
"What is one of the benefits of
the power of the Holy Spirit?"
00:19:59.43\00:20:05.43
Romans 15 and verse
13... one of the benefits.
00:20:05.50\00:20:08.04
now there are... there
are many, many benefits
00:20:08.07\00:20:10.61
but I want to tell you this,
00:20:10.64\00:20:12.07
it's important not to
connect yourself to Christ
00:20:12.11\00:20:14.38
for the materialistic benefits
00:20:14.41\00:20:16.14
because if you
connect yourself to Christ
00:20:16.18\00:20:18.11
for the materialistic benefits,
00:20:18.15\00:20:19.48
then we find ourselves becoming
people that want to horde...
00:20:19.51\00:20:22.72
want to keep Christ like a
Bank Account or an ATM Machine.
00:20:22.75\00:20:26.62
All those things are transient,
all those things are temporary
00:20:26.65\00:20:30.46
the power that He
wants to entrust to us
00:20:30.49\00:20:33.46
is far abounding...
far greater in benefits
00:20:33.50\00:20:36.43
than temporary
things that we can buy
00:20:36.46\00:20:37.87
because you know what?
00:20:37.90\00:20:39.23
I don't know if any
of you experienced this
00:20:39.27\00:20:40.60
but I have a lot of gadgets
00:20:40.64\00:20:41.97
and when I first bought
some of these gadgets...
00:20:42.00\00:20:44.31
I mean I had gadgets...
00:20:44.34\00:20:45.67
I can't wait till
spring to have a yard sale
00:20:45.71\00:20:47.54
because hopefully my junk will
be somebody else's treasure.
00:20:47.58\00:20:50.68
Am I right?
00:20:50.71\00:20:52.05
And how we get
excited about our gadgets...
00:20:52.08\00:20:54.12
as time goes on... that
thing that thrilled our hearts
00:20:54.15\00:20:58.25
not just takes up space
and becomes non-functional
00:20:58.29\00:21:02.32
but when you get
the power from Christ,
00:21:02.36\00:21:04.96
it's never non-functional.
00:21:04.99\00:21:06.33
so look at one of the benefits.
00:21:06.36\00:21:07.70
Romans 15 verse 13... and
the Bible reads as follows.
00:21:07.73\00:21:10.50
"Now may the God of hope...
" what are the next two words?
00:21:10.57\00:21:16.81
"fill you...
00:21:16.84\00:21:18.34
with all joy and
peace in believing,
00:21:18.37\00:21:22.74
that you may
abound in hope" how?
00:21:22.81\00:21:26.88
by the power of
the Holy Spirit. "
00:21:26.92\00:21:29.78
Now I want you
not to run past that
00:21:29.82\00:21:32.62
because what that's
in essence saying to us
00:21:32.65\00:21:35.09
is... without the
power of the Holy Spirit,
00:21:35.12\00:21:37.53
we can't even have hope.
00:21:37.56\00:21:38.89
Have you seen
people that are hopeless?
00:21:38.93\00:21:41.46
Do they look powerful?
00:21:41.50\00:21:42.96
People that are hopeless...
they are bent over...
00:21:43.00\00:21:46.33
their countenance changes...
they look lethargic...
00:21:46.37\00:21:49.70
pause
00:21:49.74\00:21:51.24
am I right?
00:21:51.27\00:21:52.97
you never see a
person, "Hey, I am hopeless!"
00:21:53.01\00:21:56.68
Audience: Laughter.
00:21:56.71\00:21:58.05
Do you ever see that?
00:21:58.08\00:21:59.41
You never see that.
00:21:59.45\00:22:00.78
People that are hopeless...
there is a power drain,
00:22:00.82\00:22:02.78
it starts showing
up... "Are you okay?"
00:22:02.82\00:22:05.65
"I'm fine... "
00:22:05.69\00:22:07.62
"You're all
right... did you get rest?"
00:22:07.66\00:22:10.56
"Yeah. "
00:22:10.59\00:22:11.93
And then, they
have this commercial
00:22:11.96\00:22:14.93
that always talks about...
I hope I get it right...
00:22:14.96\00:22:17.47
Newnesta...
00:22:17.53\00:22:18.87
I don't know if
I'm right or not but
00:22:18.90\00:22:20.47
don't... don't
quote me on that...
00:22:20.54\00:22:22.20
but it talks about people who
deal with... you know, they...
00:22:22.24\00:22:24.77
they're just like going
through the battles of life...
00:22:24.81\00:22:27.21
and they need a... a boost
00:22:27.24\00:22:30.38
and then, when
they get that boost
00:22:30.41\00:22:32.75
which in some
cases is very necessary,
00:22:32.78\00:22:34.45
it connects them
now to a spiritual power
00:22:34.48\00:22:37.75
that keeps the power going
00:22:37.79\00:22:40.36
and so the Lord's
in essence saying here,
00:22:40.39\00:22:42.82
you look at that... "all
joy and peace in believing"
00:22:42.86\00:22:46.73
believing is the
thing that connects you...
00:22:46.76\00:22:49.33
that belief in a
God who you cannot see
00:22:49.36\00:22:51.83
connects you to the power source
that's readily available to us.
00:22:51.90\00:22:57.07
"that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit"
00:22:57.11\00:23:01.98
so here is the answer...
00:23:02.01\00:23:03.35
what is one of the benefits
of the power of the Holy Spirit?
00:23:03.38\00:23:06.85
What would you put?
00:23:06.88\00:23:08.22
pause...
00:23:08.25\00:23:09.68
Greg: Boost... boost...
00:23:09.72\00:23:11.49
Pastor: Ah... you
got to pick one Bob...
00:23:11.52\00:23:13.49
let's... you can
put as many as you like
00:23:13.52\00:23:15.46
but there are
many answers there,
00:23:15.49\00:23:17.03
but... but the one
that I want to get...
00:23:17.06\00:23:18.73
"you may abound in hope"
00:23:18.76\00:23:20.56
that's what I want to give you,
00:23:20.60\00:23:21.93
the one that you
benefit from is hope...
00:23:21.96\00:23:24.57
people need hope...
00:23:24.63\00:23:27.20
they have joy and peace...
we've heard that a lot...
00:23:27.24\00:23:30.61
but hope... that
you may abound in hope
00:23:30.64\00:23:33.01
is what I want
to focus on tonight.
00:23:33.04\00:23:35.31
One of the benefits is hope...
we all need hope in our lives.
00:23:35.34\00:23:39.11
as a matter of
fact, when hope dies...
00:23:39.15\00:23:40.65
no matter what you have,
00:23:40.68\00:23:44.09
it just doesn't
make any sense anymore.
00:23:44.15\00:23:45.62
You lose interest in the
very things in your house...
00:23:45.65\00:23:47.92
you could look at
your television...
00:23:47.96\00:23:50.16
you don't turn it on...
00:23:50.23\00:23:51.56
the radio is turned
off... the curtains are shut...
00:23:51.59\00:23:53.56
you don't really want to eat
00:23:53.60\00:23:55.86
because you've lost hope,
00:23:55.90\00:23:57.73
but if you have hope,
00:23:57.80\00:23:59.57
joy and peace is going
to accompany that, right?
00:23:59.60\00:24:03.87
Number 8... Number 8...
00:24:03.91\00:24:06.88
"How does Paul the apostle
describe his transformation?"
00:24:06.94\00:24:13.48
How does he
describe his transformation?
00:24:13.52\00:24:17.22
Ephesians 3 and
verse... let me check...
00:24:17.25\00:24:20.96
I have 7 and I have 17...
00:24:20.99\00:24:22.96
I want to make
sure that I am correct,
00:24:22.99\00:24:25.69
Ephesians 3
00:24:25.73\00:24:27.93
pause
00:24:27.96\00:24:30.80
and we're going
to look at verse 7...
00:24:30.83\00:24:34.70
ignore your
lesson, cross out the 1...
00:24:34.74\00:24:38.61
it's Ephesians 3 and verse 7,
00:24:38.64\00:24:40.38
I have it correct on the
screen, Ephesians 3 and verse 1,
00:24:40.41\00:24:44.25
all right...
00:24:44.28\00:24:45.75
okay, the question is,
00:24:45.78\00:24:47.28
"How does Paul the apostle
describe his transformation?"
00:24:47.32\00:24:50.99
And by-the-way, as
you read the answer
00:24:51.02\00:24:52.72
it is also our transformation.
00:24:52.75\00:24:54.76
All right, here it is.
00:24:54.79\00:24:56.32
The answer is here...
00:24:56.36\00:24:57.89
Ephesians 3 and verse 7,
00:24:57.96\00:24:59.66
he speaks of which...
00:24:59.69\00:25:01.36
"Of which I became a minister
00:25:01.40\00:25:06.77
according to the
gift of the grace of God
00:25:06.80\00:25:10.24
given to me by the
effective working of.. " who?
00:25:10.27\00:25:15.68
"His power. "
00:25:15.74\00:25:17.08
I want you to get this
because to be a minister...
00:25:17.11\00:25:19.71
and by-the-way, let
me just say something,
00:25:19.75\00:25:21.08
every one of us is a minister,
can you say, "Amen" to that?
00:25:21.12\00:25:23.39
Audience: Amen.
00:25:23.45\00:25:24.79
People say, "Well,
is the minister here?"
00:25:24.82\00:25:26.55
I... well if you're here
and you're a Christian...
00:25:26.59\00:25:30.76
the minister is here.
00:25:30.79\00:25:32.13
Each one of us is ministers
00:25:32.16\00:25:33.50
we've got to get
that in our reality...
00:25:33.53\00:25:35.33
we've got to connect to that,
00:25:35.36\00:25:36.70
each one of us is
called to be a minister.
00:25:36.73\00:25:38.07
Pause.
00:25:38.10\00:25:39.83
But we cannot be ministers
without the power of God
00:25:39.87\00:25:44.74
and Paul was such a minister,
that's why he was able to say,
00:25:44.77\00:25:48.54
"Man! this power
of God is effective. "
00:25:48.58\00:25:50.98
He used the phrase,
00:25:51.01\00:25:52.58
"The effective
working of His power. "
00:25:52.61\00:25:56.55
I have a... I have
a battery charger...
00:25:56.58\00:25:59.95
anybody has a battery...
00:25:59.99\00:26:01.32
anybody have battery chargers?
00:26:01.36\00:26:02.69
Okay, you don't
really have to have one,
00:26:02.72\00:26:04.79
but you notice how much you
need it when something dies.
00:26:04.83\00:26:08.93
So, I have a battery charger
00:26:08.96\00:26:10.87
and in specifics...
00:26:10.90\00:26:12.70
the one I'm talking
about is a car-battery charger,
00:26:12.73\00:26:15.14
so when the season comes up,
I have to charge my lawnmower,
00:26:15.17\00:26:18.01
charge my car battery...
and you set on that thing,
00:26:18.04\00:26:21.58
you just plug... analyze...
00:26:21.61\00:26:23.45
you set with the
"analyze" button, Cathy,
00:26:23.48\00:26:25.31
it sits here and
analyzes the battery
00:26:25.38\00:26:27.42
and determines how
much power it needs.
00:26:27.45\00:26:29.48
Now, every day, not all of us...
00:26:29.52\00:26:32.85
need the same amount of
power to get our day going
00:26:32.89\00:26:37.23
but whatever power we need
is made available through whom?
00:26:37.26\00:26:44.23
through Jesus Christ.
00:26:44.27\00:26:46.33
So, Bob may be farther ahead
00:26:46.40\00:26:51.24
than some others in
their Christian walk
00:26:51.27\00:26:53.11
and some may be
brand-new Christians
00:26:53.14\00:26:55.44
just trying to get going
00:26:55.48\00:26:56.88
and Bob is on a good
stride in his walk with Christ,
00:26:56.91\00:27:00.12
so... but the
power that he needs
00:27:00.15\00:27:02.35
and the power that you need
00:27:02.38\00:27:04.02
is going to come from the
same source... the same power...
00:27:04.05\00:27:06.79
and God doesn't measure it...
00:27:06.82\00:27:08.26
there's no
measurement of his power,
00:27:08.29\00:27:10.53
but what he does and I
want to make this clear,
00:27:10.56\00:27:12.49
God... between us and God,
00:27:12.53\00:27:14.90
there's something I call
a "step-down transformer"
00:27:14.93\00:27:17.23
have you ever seen that before?
00:27:17.27\00:27:18.67
Because if God connected
Himself directly to us,
00:27:18.70\00:27:21.47
we'll go up in smoke...
00:27:21.50\00:27:22.84
am I right?
00:27:22.87\00:27:24.21
Our God is a consuming fire
00:27:24.24\00:27:27.24
as I did, whenever we go to
Australia, I finally learned...
00:27:27.28\00:27:31.41
Janice, I finally learned...
00:27:31.45\00:27:33.95
so, when I go to
Australia, I don't take my...
00:27:33.98\00:27:37.12
my shaver that I use,
00:27:37.15\00:27:39.19
you know that
little shaver that you
00:27:39.22\00:27:40.56
kind of edge out
your mustache and your...
00:27:40.59\00:27:42.09
I've... I've blown two of them
00:27:42.12\00:27:44.23
and I thought, "Oh, maybe my...
00:27:44.26\00:27:46.26
maybe my converter
wasn't strong enough. "
00:27:46.29\00:27:48.46
I had one of those
240 to 120 converters
00:27:48.50\00:27:50.63
but still was not enough
00:27:50.67\00:27:52.00
because the power in
Australia is amazing...
00:27:52.03\00:27:53.70
burned out two...
00:27:53.74\00:27:55.07
so, what I do now, so I
take a battery-powered one
00:27:55.10\00:27:57.51
right, and then I bought a...
00:27:57.54\00:28:00.48
purchased a blow dryer so
when I go over to Australia,
00:28:00.51\00:28:02.84
I don't take my
American blow dryer...
00:28:02.88\00:28:04.48
for whatever reason,
00:28:04.51\00:28:05.85
our appliances are
not made well enough
00:28:05.88\00:28:07.52
to handle the
power in Australia.
00:28:07.55\00:28:10.12
Australia is a lot
more powerful than us...
00:28:10.15\00:28:12.95
in some senses they
are but here's the point,
00:28:12.99\00:28:15.76
without that transformation...
without that transformer between
00:28:15.82\00:28:19.06
that's why the
lesson before this
00:28:19.09\00:28:20.56
was "The Transformed Life. "
00:28:20.60\00:28:22.16
There has to be a transformation
before there's an empowerment.
00:28:22.20\00:28:25.90
The Lord knows exactly what kind
of transformation is necessary
00:28:25.93\00:28:29.44
for us to be able to
connect to that power.
00:28:29.47\00:28:31.64
So, the answer you put here is,
00:28:31.67\00:28:33.44
"How does Paul the Apostle
describe his transformation?
00:28:33.48\00:28:35.98
Effective
working of His power...
00:28:36.01\00:28:40.42
effective working of
His power, all right...
00:28:40.45\00:28:44.02
and by-the-way,
00:28:44.05\00:28:46.05
you could put many of the
components of the Scripture,
00:28:46.09\00:28:49.12
you can also say the
gift of the grace of God,
00:28:49.16\00:28:51.89
but what I want to
focus on because of the topic,
00:28:51.93\00:28:54.26
"The Empowered Life"
00:28:54.30\00:28:55.63
is the effective
working of His power.
00:28:55.66\00:28:58.37
So, here is what I want
to emphasize even further,
00:28:58.43\00:29:00.70
when you wake up in
the morning and you think,
00:29:00.74\00:29:02.94
"Well, am I going to be
able to get the power I need?"
00:29:02.97\00:29:05.51
If you read your Bible you will.
00:29:05.54\00:29:07.84
If you pray you will
00:29:07.88\00:29:09.84
and if it doesn't come
quickly, go back to your Bible
00:29:09.88\00:29:12.98
and pray again
00:29:13.01\00:29:14.35
because I tell you,
00:29:14.38\00:29:15.72
you cannot spend an effective
amount of time in your Bible
00:29:15.75\00:29:18.72
and walk away lethargic and weak
00:29:18.75\00:29:21.36
as you did when you
first opened your Bible.
00:29:21.39\00:29:23.83
Really, because there's
no other book on the earth
00:29:23.86\00:29:26.80
that's a living book.
00:29:26.83\00:29:28.43
If you can see the Bible...
if you can look at the Bible,
00:29:28.46\00:29:31.13
you don't see
it but there's a...
00:29:31.17\00:29:33.44
there's an invisible connection
between the words in here
00:29:33.47\00:29:37.77
and our heavenly Father.
00:29:37.81\00:29:39.14
Right? The mind... the heart...
00:29:39.17\00:29:43.55
but, the living
Word... "the Word became flesh"
00:29:43.58\00:29:51.19
the living Word...
00:29:51.25\00:29:52.75
this is the only book that
you can read the same statement
00:29:52.79\00:29:55.46
over and over and over again
00:29:55.49\00:29:57.13
and all of a sudden,
one day, it makes sense.
00:29:57.16\00:29:59.76
Like... we were... we
were... we had a Bible Program
00:29:59.79\00:30:02.10
that we were working on
the other day, John and I...
00:30:02.13\00:30:04.40
and we were talking about,
00:30:04.43\00:30:05.83
"If you love me,
keep my commandments. "
00:30:05.87\00:30:08.30
And all of a
sudden it dawned on us,
00:30:08.34\00:30:10.74
that it's not just an act
of keeping the commandments,
00:30:10.77\00:30:14.08
but we are finally at the
place where the Lord feels safe
00:30:14.11\00:30:17.35
to entrust His
commandments to us,
00:30:17.41\00:30:18.91
so He says to us, "Okay,
now that you're converted
00:30:18.95\00:30:21.35
I can give you my commandments
because now you can keep them. "
00:30:21.38\00:30:25.59
Did you get that?
00:30:25.62\00:30:27.36
Now that you're converted,
I can give you my commandments
00:30:27.39\00:30:30.83
because now you'll keep
them, you won't throw them away.
00:30:30.86\00:30:34.26
So, folk that are
not converted He won't...
00:30:34.30\00:30:36.83
He won't entrust them to
him... to that individual...
00:30:36.87\00:30:40.07
because they won't keep them...
00:30:40.10\00:30:41.44
and when you hear people say,
00:30:41.47\00:30:42.80
"We can't keep the
commandments of God"
00:30:42.84\00:30:44.17
well, He won't... He
won't entrust them to you
00:30:44.21\00:30:46.01
but you will be
responsible for them
00:30:46.07\00:30:48.04
because even though He
doesn't physically extend
00:30:48.08\00:30:50.81
tables of stone,
00:30:50.85\00:30:52.31
where are they
located? Come on...
00:30:52.35\00:30:54.02
mind and heart.
00:30:54.08\00:30:56.48
So, when you say, "We
can't keep the commandments"
00:30:56.52\00:30:59.09
it's like you got a
power source in your head
00:30:59.12\00:31:01.32
that you don't even understand
00:31:01.36\00:31:03.43
is vital to
your daily existence.
00:31:03.49\00:31:05.63
"If you love me... keep it... "
00:31:05.66\00:31:07.73
I don't want to
say too much about that
00:31:07.76\00:31:09.23
because I may be developing...
developing a sermon...
00:31:09.26\00:31:11.43
so John also will be developing
a sermon on that revelation
00:31:11.47\00:31:15.20
and it was so amazing... we
almost spoke simultaneously,
00:31:15.24\00:31:18.91
we said, "What a revelation!"
00:31:18.97\00:31:20.38
And we said, "Wow!
that was a divine moment"
00:31:20.41\00:31:23.41
but it's one of those things,
00:31:23.45\00:31:25.48
only the Bible
has that kind of power
00:31:25.51\00:31:27.22
but you'll never
know it unless you read it
00:31:27.28\00:31:29.42
so, I'm suggesting here today,
00:31:29.45\00:31:30.99
if your life is a life
that is devoid of power,
00:31:31.02\00:31:34.39
I would strongly
suggest... I can guarantee you
00:31:34.42\00:31:37.69
a person that does not
spend time studying God's Word
00:31:37.73\00:31:41.33
will be a person that is
missing out on the power of God.
00:31:41.36\00:31:44.90
Really it is...
00:31:44.93\00:31:47.10
because the Bible also refers
to the Word of God as bread.
00:31:47.14\00:31:49.90
"Man shall not
live by bread alone"
00:31:49.94\00:31:53.38
what happened in the journey
of the children of Israel,
00:31:53.41\00:31:56.11
every morning they
had manna from heaven.
00:31:56.14\00:31:58.88
You've ever heard of that
phrase at camp meetings...
00:31:58.91\00:32:00.82
when they get up
at 6:30 in the morning
00:32:00.85\00:32:03.75
what do they call
it? "Early morning manna"
00:32:03.79\00:32:06.65
because the Word of God is there
00:32:06.69\00:32:09.56
and by-the-way, you cannot
get early-morning manna at noon.
00:32:09.59\00:32:13.80
Audience: Laughter... Amen.
00:32:13.83\00:32:15.70
Right?
00:32:15.73\00:32:17.50
You can't make up at noon
for the Bible Study you missed
00:32:17.53\00:32:20.24
when you woke up in the morning.
00:32:20.27\00:32:21.60
If you don't get
some of this in there,
00:32:21.64\00:32:23.87
you may get all your cereal,
00:32:23.91\00:32:25.91
you may get your seven vitamins,
00:32:25.94\00:32:27.84
you may get your medication,
00:32:27.88\00:32:29.68
you may get all the things
you need in the physical world
00:32:29.74\00:32:32.85
but without the
spiritual institution,
00:32:32.88\00:32:35.35
without the spiritual injection,
00:32:35.38\00:32:37.89
you'll be a healthy sinner
00:32:37.95\00:32:40.42
am I right?
00:32:40.46\00:32:42.26
Empowered to do nothing.
00:32:42.29\00:32:44.13
Let's go to Question Number 9,
00:32:44.16\00:32:47.83
Question number 9,
00:32:47.86\00:32:50.33
here it is, "What
was the driving passion
00:32:50.37\00:32:56.10
in the life of
the Apostle Paul?"
00:32:56.14\00:32:59.47
What was the driving passion
in the life of the Apostle Paul?
00:32:59.51\00:33:04.35
You know what? If
you don't have a passion
00:33:04.38\00:33:06.18
get one...
00:33:06.21\00:33:07.95
did you hear what I said?
00:33:07.98\00:33:10.65
and make sure that
passion is divinely led.
00:33:10.69\00:33:13.89
Can you say, "Amen" to that?
00:33:13.92\00:33:15.26
Because passion is a bad thing
when it's not divinely led.
00:33:15.29\00:33:19.49
It could destroy
your life really quickly.
00:33:19.53\00:33:22.03
Everyone has a passion
00:33:22.06\00:33:24.17
but not everyone
has a passion for good.
00:33:24.20\00:33:27.34
Every one of us has a passion...
something drives every one of
00:33:27.37\00:33:31.11
us. If that's not the case,
then you are barely existing.
00:33:31.14\00:33:36.85
If you don't have any hope
when you wake up in the morning,
00:33:36.88\00:33:39.35
if nothing thrills you
to wake up in the morning,
00:33:39.41\00:33:41.65
if there's nothing waiting
for you on the other side
00:33:41.68\00:33:43.89
of your daily resurrection,
00:33:43.92\00:33:46.05
then, what a boring life,
that's why some people say,
00:33:46.09\00:33:51.59
"If you're going to do this for
the rest of your life, Janeck,
00:33:51.63\00:33:55.33
at least do
something that you enjoy. "
00:33:55.36\00:33:57.10
Am I right?
00:33:57.13\00:33:58.47
Some people go to work and
they walk through the doors
00:33:58.50\00:34:02.84
and they're saying
to themselves everyday,
00:34:02.87\00:34:04.97
"What am I doing here?"
00:34:05.04\00:34:07.48
Pause.
00:34:07.51\00:34:10.01
And to those people I
say, "Quick, find a passion,
00:34:10.05\00:34:13.45
go to the Virgin Islands
and stay there for a month
00:34:13.48\00:34:16.85
and pray. "
00:34:16.89\00:34:18.89
Isn't that a
great place to pray?
00:34:18.95\00:34:21.12
Get some sun on your face
00:34:21.16\00:34:23.83
lie on the beach...
get your toes wet...
00:34:23.86\00:34:26.19
and say, "Lord, give me a
passion or take my life. "
00:34:26.23\00:34:30.03
No, don't pray that one...
00:34:30.07\00:34:31.87
but give me a
passion to live my life
00:34:31.90\00:34:34.50
and as Martin
Luther King Jr. said,
00:34:34.54\00:34:37.11
pause
00:34:37.14\00:34:39.17
"Those who will not
die for what they believe
00:34:39.21\00:34:42.28
are not fit to live. "
00:34:42.34\00:34:43.95
So if you don't have something
that you're willing to...
00:34:43.98\00:34:47.62
to invest yourself in,
00:34:47.65\00:34:49.78
then your life is
just a daily existence
00:34:49.82\00:34:52.29
and how boring 24
hours a day can be
00:34:52.35\00:34:54.76
and by-the-way, even if
you go to the other extreme,
00:34:54.79\00:34:57.69
there are some
people that don't have a job
00:34:57.73\00:35:00.10
and... some people think it's
a blessing, they use the System
00:35:00.13\00:35:03.37
I know a guy
that didn't have a job
00:35:03.40\00:35:05.33
and he just waited for
that monthly check to come
00:35:05.37\00:35:09.47
from Social Services
and he was excited about it
00:35:09.50\00:35:13.54
and he had a motorcycle
00:35:13.58\00:35:15.04
and if he wasn't
on his motorcycle,
00:35:15.11\00:35:16.48
he was playing
video games all day long
00:35:16.51\00:35:18.38
if he wasn't playing video
games and on his motorcycle,
00:35:18.41\00:35:20.62
he was just walking
down the streets aimlessly
00:35:20.65\00:35:22.78
and I thought to
myself, "What a boring life!"
00:35:22.82\00:35:24.95
See, God has
never intended for us
00:35:24.99\00:35:26.65
to live our
lives unto ourselves,
00:35:26.72\00:35:28.32
when we read that
text a few moments ago
00:35:28.36\00:35:30.09
that talks about a minister,
00:35:30.13\00:35:31.46
if our lives are not lived
for the benefit of someone else,
00:35:31.49\00:35:34.40
then our lives are meaningless
00:35:34.43\00:35:36.33
and the Lord
never calls a Christian
00:35:36.36\00:35:38.33
to live a meaningless life
00:35:38.37\00:35:39.73
and the Lord
never calls a Christian
00:35:39.77\00:35:42.90
to live life unto
himself or herself.
00:35:42.94\00:35:46.04
It's always for the edification
and benefit of somebody else.
00:35:46.07\00:35:50.18
Let's look at the driving
passion of Paul the Apostle
00:35:50.21\00:35:52.75
Philippines 3 and verse 10,
00:35:52.78\00:35:54.65
you already turned there right?
00:35:54.68\00:35:56.02
And some of you
already read it but here it is,
00:35:56.05\00:35:57.62
I like this, he
says, "That I may know Him
00:35:57.65\00:36:03.22
and the... " what?
00:36:03.26\00:36:04.63
power of His resurrection,
00:36:04.66\00:36:07.23
and the
fellowship of His sufferings,
00:36:07.26\00:36:10.13
being... " what?
00:36:10.17\00:36:11.50
"conformed to His death. "
00:36:11.53\00:36:14.20
The passion that drove Paul...
00:36:14.24\00:36:16.97
he says, "that I may know
the power of His resurrection. "
00:36:17.01\00:36:19.87
when Jesus came forth
from the grave and said,
00:36:19.91\00:36:22.74
"All power is given unto Me"
00:36:22.78\00:36:25.38
it didn't really
make a whole lot of sense
00:36:25.41\00:36:28.72
to those who
tried to prevent Him
00:36:28.78\00:36:30.15
but just to give you
an amplified understanding
00:36:30.19\00:36:33.02
of the power,
00:36:33.05\00:36:34.39
no matter how
many Roman Centurions
00:36:34.42\00:36:36.26
they tried to
guard that tomb with,
00:36:36.29\00:36:38.29
there was not
enough Roman Centurions
00:36:38.33\00:36:40.23
to keep Jesus from
coming forth from the grave.
00:36:40.26\00:36:42.03
Right?
00:36:42.06\00:36:43.90
I mean, even if
all Rome... huh...
00:36:43.93\00:36:47.94
just... can you imagine
angels came by and said,
00:36:47.97\00:36:52.11
"Roll away the stone"
00:36:52.14\00:36:55.38
and by-the-way if the...
Jesus could have done it.
00:36:55.41\00:36:57.68
He said I have
power to lay down My life
00:36:57.71\00:37:01.12
and I have power to
do... what? Take it again.
00:37:01.15\00:37:03.59
But there was not
enough power in all of Rome...
00:37:03.62\00:37:06.02
there was not enough power in
all of the kingdom of darkness
00:37:06.05\00:37:08.22
to prevent Jesus
coming forth from that grave
00:37:08.29\00:37:11.56
that's why when He came
forth... and I tell you...
00:37:11.59\00:37:13.83
we won't understand
the power of this statement
00:37:13.86\00:37:16.06
or the
implications of the statement
00:37:16.10\00:37:18.77
until we see the
world re-created.
00:37:18.80\00:37:21.44
I want to be there,
what about you Pastor?
00:37:21.47\00:37:23.37
I want to see what the
Bible meant when it said,
00:37:23.41\00:37:28.61
"By the Word of the
Lord were the heavens made. "
00:37:28.64\00:37:33.35
Audience: Amen.
00:37:33.38\00:37:34.72
"And all the host of them
by the breath of His mouth. "
00:37:34.75\00:37:37.02
"He spake and it was done,
00:37:37.05\00:37:39.72
He commanded
and it stood fast. "
00:37:39.75\00:37:42.19
And then you go on top of that,
00:37:42.22\00:37:44.59
He has so much power, He
knows all the stars by name.
00:37:44.63\00:37:46.90
Pause.
00:37:46.93\00:37:49.56
Don't think on that too long...
00:37:49.60\00:37:53.70
but Paul was allowed
00:37:53.74\00:37:55.30
and each one of us
is, by-the-way, allowed
00:37:55.37\00:37:57.67
to have the...
00:37:57.71\00:38:00.04
to understand and know
the powers of His resurrection
00:38:00.08\00:38:02.08
the fellowship of His suffering
00:38:02.11\00:38:04.51
as we are being
conformed to His death
00:38:04.55\00:38:07.32
being conformed to His death
00:38:07.38\00:38:09.38
because it is by
entering that death
00:38:09.42\00:38:11.62
that we now are available...
00:38:11.65\00:38:13.86
that the power of God
is now made available to us
00:38:13.89\00:38:16.62
so, we put the answer
down for Question Number 9,
00:38:16.66\00:38:19.33
what was the driving passion
in the life of the Apostle Paul?
00:38:19.36\00:38:23.47
he wanted to know Christ and
the power of His resurrection,
00:38:23.50\00:38:27.24
he wanted to know Him and
the power of His resurrection.
00:38:27.27\00:38:30.94
And by-the-way, you
don't just want to have power
00:38:30.97\00:38:33.84
because power without a personal
relationship with Christ
00:38:33.88\00:38:37.05
is useless...
00:38:37.08\00:38:38.65
what do you need
power for? To do what?
00:38:38.71\00:38:41.38
Pause.
00:38:41.42\00:38:43.69
To live the empowered life
00:38:43.75\00:38:46.12
and that empowered life
is to give you a relationship
00:38:46.15\00:38:49.29
one with another...
that relationship with Christ
00:38:49.32\00:38:52.39
and I tell you,
one of the things
00:38:52.43\00:38:53.93
we have to prevent
against is getting too busy
00:38:53.96\00:38:56.10
because the busy life could
drain the essential elements
00:38:56.13\00:39:01.34
from the empowered life...
00:39:01.37\00:39:02.77
we can sometimes get
so busy working for God
00:39:02.80\00:39:05.27
that we don't
get connected to God.
00:39:05.34\00:39:08.14
See...
00:39:08.18\00:39:10.15
as a worker...
00:39:10.18\00:39:13.28
sometimes... I heard
a story about a worker
00:39:13.31\00:39:14.65
that was packing the shelves...
packing the shelves...
00:39:14.68\00:39:16.18
he kept getting a call...
00:39:16.25\00:39:18.22
"Come to... come
to Human Resources
00:39:18.25\00:39:21.76
come to Human Resources"
00:39:21.82\00:39:23.22
and he's busy
packing the shelves...
00:39:23.26\00:39:25.59
he's busy packing
the shelves and he..
00:39:25.63\00:39:27.90
the announcement,
"Come to Human Resources...
00:39:27.93\00:39:30.07
come to Human Resources... "
00:39:30.10\00:39:31.57
and the
announcement goes out again,
00:39:31.60\00:39:33.30
he says, "Wait,
I'm packing the shelves
00:39:33.34\00:39:34.97
and I get paid by how many
boxes I put on the shelves"
00:39:35.00\00:39:37.74
and the announcement
again, "Come to Human Resources,
00:39:37.77\00:39:40.48
come to Human Resources... "
00:39:40.51\00:39:41.84
and what he didn't know
00:39:41.88\00:39:43.21
was the boss was so
impressed by his work
00:39:43.24\00:39:45.31
that he was going
to give him a bonus.
00:39:45.38\00:39:47.75
Here he is working his head off
00:39:47.78\00:39:50.52
and there's a gift waiting
for him in Human Resources
00:39:50.55\00:39:53.59
and on that day,
00:39:53.62\00:39:55.56
it wasn't dependent on how many
boxes he put on the shelves,
00:39:55.59\00:39:57.99
sometimes, God wants to
empower us and give us a gift
00:39:58.03\00:40:01.50
and we're
working... so busy for Him
00:40:01.53\00:40:04.20
that we don't stop
and listen to the voice,
00:40:04.23\00:40:06.84
"Come to Divine Resources...
00:40:06.87\00:40:09.20
come to Divine Resources...
there's a gift waiting for you,
00:40:09.24\00:40:12.24
come... "
00:40:12.27\00:40:13.61
so don't ever get
too busy for Christ
00:40:13.64\00:40:15.18
that we forget to respond
to the voice of Christ, amen.
00:40:15.21\00:40:19.38
Knowing Him and the
power of His resurrection...
00:40:19.41\00:40:22.18
now, let's go to Number 10.
00:40:22.22\00:40:24.39
Number 10... okay...
00:40:24.45\00:40:29.66
"How does Paul
describe the essence
00:40:29.69\00:40:33.43
of the Gospel?"
00:40:33.46\00:40:35.26
How does Paul describe
the essence of the Gospel?
00:40:35.30\00:40:38.27
You know, when
somebody asks you,
00:40:38.30\00:40:40.70
"Okay, what's the
essence of the gospel?"
00:40:40.74\00:40:42.34
Well, we know who the
focal point of the gospel is
00:40:42.37\00:40:45.91
and the focal point
of the gospel is Christ
00:40:45.94\00:40:48.38
but when you use
the word "Essence"
00:40:48.41\00:40:51.48
I could use another
word in the sense...
00:40:51.51\00:40:55.32
well, if I use the other
word, I'm going to give it away.
00:40:55.35\00:40:57.35
so let's read the...
read the Scripture...
00:40:57.39\00:40:59.05
we're going to go to
Romans chapter 1 and verse 16
00:40:59.09\00:41:01.16
talking about the
essence of the gospel
00:41:01.19\00:41:03.32
in other words...
let me think of...
00:41:03.36\00:41:05.43
let's think of the essence in
some sense like the spark plug.
00:41:05.46\00:41:07.96
You know we say, "Well,
what's wrong with the car?"
00:41:08.03\00:41:10.70
And I remember when I
rebuilt my car years ago
00:41:10.73\00:41:14.10
in Orlando,
Florida and I put the...
00:41:14.14\00:41:16.60
put everything back...
00:41:16.64\00:41:18.97
I had never
rebuilt an engine before,
00:41:19.04\00:41:20.51
finally rebuilt this engine...
00:41:20.54\00:41:22.24
put all the Piston
Rings back finally...
00:41:22.28\00:41:29.62
and by-the-way,
when I did this...
00:41:29.65\00:41:31.12
having never
done it before, David,
00:41:31.15\00:41:32.55
when I took that
engine apart, I was terrified
00:41:32.59\00:41:35.69
so what I did is...
everything that I took out,
00:41:35.72\00:41:38.73
I put a piece of white
tape around it and numbered it.
00:41:38.79\00:41:42.10
Number 15 on this tape...
00:41:42.13\00:41:44.37
and where it came
from, I wrote, Number 15.
00:41:44.40\00:41:47.04
So it was like putting
a puzzle back together,
00:41:47.07\00:41:49.60
you see, Number 15
goes to Number 15...
00:41:49.64\00:41:51.77
I think I've
told you this story...
00:41:51.81\00:41:53.91
when I was done, I
had two extra screws left.
00:41:53.94\00:41:55.54
Pause...
00:41:55.58\00:41:58.45
and what happened was...
speaking about the power...
00:41:58.48\00:42:02.75
I put everything back together
but I forgot to align...
00:42:02.78\00:42:07.02
you know those line-up marks
00:42:07.06\00:42:08.72
they say you've got to
line up top-dead center
00:42:08.79\00:42:11.69
and you got to make sure that
all that stuff is correct...
00:42:11.73\00:42:14.60
Audience: Timing marks...
00:42:14.63\00:42:15.96
Pastor: The timing marks...
00:42:16.00\00:42:17.33
I was off by
just a little degree
00:42:17.37\00:42:19.43
and no matter how many
times I tried to get... brrr...
00:42:19.50\00:42:22.87
brrr... and I
discovered years later
00:42:22.90\00:42:27.68
that that's how it is sometimes
if we're not aligned with Christ
00:42:27.71\00:42:31.91
you can try your best...
your efforts may be ever so pure
00:42:31.95\00:42:35.45
but unless you are
aligned with Christ,
00:42:35.48\00:42:37.45
the power keeps evading you.
00:42:37.49\00:42:39.15
So in the morning, we have
to align ourselves with Christ,
00:42:39.19\00:42:41.52
you know, "Lord, take my
life for I cannot give it...
00:42:41.56\00:42:44.99
empower me... for I
have no power of my own"
00:42:45.03\00:42:49.10
Ellen White has a
beautiful prayer about that...
00:42:49.13\00:42:50.57
dedicating ourselves
to Christ every day...
00:42:50.60\00:42:52.63
make that the
first work of the day...
00:42:52.67\00:42:54.64
but what was the
essence of the gospel
00:42:54.67\00:42:56.60
according to the Apostle Paul?
00:42:56.64\00:42:58.81
Here it is,
Romans 1 and verse 16,
00:42:58.84\00:43:01.04
look at what he says,
00:43:01.08\00:43:02.41
"For I am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ"
00:43:02.44\00:43:07.52
for it is the what?
"power of God to salvation
00:43:07.55\00:43:12.99
for everyone who... " does what?
00:43:13.02\00:43:15.02
"believes, for the Jew
first and also for the Greek. "
00:43:15.09\00:43:19.83
So, what was the
essence of the gospel?
00:43:19.86\00:43:22.53
the essence of
the gospel, huh...
00:43:22.56\00:43:25.23
the power of God...
00:43:25.30\00:43:27.44
the power of God to salvation,
00:43:27.47\00:43:31.17
the essence of the gospel is
the power of God to salvation.
00:43:31.21\00:43:34.41
We got to think
about that in the sense...
00:43:34.44\00:43:36.58
what... what leads me...
and by-the-way, let me just...
00:43:36.61\00:43:39.18
let me amplify...
amplify this a little further
00:43:39.21\00:43:41.45
because we say,
00:43:41.48\00:43:42.88
"Okay, the power
of God to salvation. "
00:43:42.95\00:43:44.29
You got to look at this in
the context of justification,
00:43:44.32\00:43:46.76
sanctification
and glorification.
00:43:46.79\00:43:49.22
In other words, you are saved...
00:43:49.26\00:43:51.63
you're being saved...
and you will be saved.
00:43:51.66\00:43:55.26
What propels you forward...
00:43:55.30\00:43:57.83
the power of God to salvation
00:43:57.87\00:44:00.37
keeps you moving towards
the perfect image of Christ.
00:44:00.40\00:44:04.47
You don't just get
justified and stay there
00:44:04.51\00:44:06.94
you get... you get justified...
00:44:06.98\00:44:09.28
daily you are
being sanctified...
00:44:09.31\00:44:11.58
by what? The power
of God for salvation
00:44:11.61\00:44:15.35
and then,
finally at the very end
00:44:15.38\00:44:16.89
you are what? Glorified...
00:44:16.95\00:44:18.42
the power of God to salvation...
00:44:18.45\00:44:20.69
in other words, this
sounds really strange
00:44:20.76\00:44:22.69
but don't
misunderstand what I'm saying.
00:44:22.72\00:44:25.03
Every day we're
becoming more and more...
00:44:25.06\00:44:27.30
at least we should...
00:44:27.33\00:44:28.66
be becoming more and more
00:44:28.70\00:44:30.20
like the image of
Jesus, am I right?
00:44:30.23\00:44:31.97
We should be because
we're not standing still
00:44:32.00\00:44:34.74
the Christian life
is not a static life
00:44:34.77\00:44:37.24
you begin some
place but you got a goal.
00:44:37.27\00:44:39.67
Paul says, "I've pressed
more the goal of the prize
00:44:39.71\00:44:43.35
for the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus. "
00:44:43.38\00:44:45.35
So, if you're standing still...
00:44:45.38\00:44:46.72
if you're content with
just being justified...
00:44:46.75\00:44:48.75
it's a measly existence.
00:44:48.78\00:44:51.22
Every day I want to be stronger
than the day before, right?
00:44:51.25\00:44:54.36
and surely if I've been
a Christian for 15 years,
00:44:54.39\00:44:56.79
I should be well on my way
00:44:56.83\00:44:59.23
to becoming more
like Christ 15 years later
00:44:59.26\00:45:02.26
struggling with less
things 15 years later
00:45:02.30\00:45:05.27
than I was, 15 years earlier.
00:45:05.30\00:45:06.90
That's how you know.
00:45:06.94\00:45:08.64
I remember once...
somebody once said,
00:45:08.67\00:45:11.51
"If the things
that you used to do
00:45:11.54\00:45:14.34
begin showing up in your life,
00:45:14.38\00:45:15.94
you're going backward...
00:45:15.98\00:45:18.18
can I tell you a story?
00:45:18.21\00:45:20.12
Pause...
00:45:20.15\00:45:21.72
Because you guys
didn't get that that quickly.
00:45:21.75\00:45:23.99
We left Texas on
our way to California
00:45:24.02\00:45:27.82
when we were moving out
there for the first time,
00:45:27.89\00:45:29.99
we stopped in Texas
00:45:30.03\00:45:31.89
because you can't drive
through Texas in one day.
00:45:31.93\00:45:34.16
It's 880 miles from end to end
00:45:34.20\00:45:36.56
unless you have
nothing else to do,
00:45:36.60\00:45:39.20
so we stopped mid-way in Texas
00:45:39.23\00:45:41.90
got up in the morning
00:45:41.94\00:45:43.34
with our trailer
00:45:43.37\00:45:46.31
pulling ourselves on
the way to California.
00:45:46.34\00:45:50.35
Fifteen minutes into
the drive, Angie said,
00:45:50.38\00:45:54.32
"Wow, that
restaurant looked familiar"
00:45:54.35\00:45:57.52
I said, "Well,
Honey, this is Highway 10,
00:45:57.55\00:46:00.66
there are probably many of them.
00:46:00.72\00:46:02.82
"That hotel looked familiar. "
00:46:02.86\00:46:04.89
Well, maybe
it's part of a chain"
00:46:04.93\00:46:07.93
I was in denial for 25 minutes
00:46:07.96\00:46:10.90
what I didn't know
and I... I learned then...
00:46:10.93\00:46:13.47
I didn't learn...
00:46:13.54\00:46:14.87
I learned this
because that was not...
00:46:14.90\00:46:16.64
that was
probably our second time
00:46:16.67\00:46:18.54
but I didn't catch...
00:46:18.57\00:46:19.97
see what you don't know
is if the mile markers...
00:46:20.01\00:46:22.71
I learned this... if the
mile markers are going up,
00:46:22.74\00:46:25.41
which direction are you moving?
00:46:25.45\00:46:26.82
Huh?
00:46:26.85\00:46:29.58
East...
00:46:29.62\00:46:32.32
if the mile
markers are going down,
00:46:32.35\00:46:34.26
what direction
you're going? West.
00:46:34.29\00:46:36.16
The mile markers were going
up and I didn't realize it,
00:46:36.19\00:46:40.20
I had been going in the
wrong direction for 25 minutes.
00:46:40.23\00:46:44.20
Thus... thus the story...
00:46:44.23\00:46:47.64
if the things
that you used to do
00:46:47.67\00:46:49.90
start showing up
in your life again...
00:46:49.94\00:46:52.57
you're going in
the wrong direction.
00:46:52.61\00:46:55.28
All right... so
when you're justified,
00:46:55.31\00:46:57.91
you're being sanctified...
00:46:57.95\00:46:59.28
you have to pray that the
things that you used to do
00:46:59.31\00:47:00.68
or struggle with... are not
showing up in your life again
00:47:00.72\00:47:02.68
because that's an indication
00:47:02.72\00:47:04.09
you're going in the wrong
direction and you know what?
00:47:04.12\00:47:06.05
It happens sometimes
ever so imperceptibly
00:47:06.09\00:47:08.96
and sometimes it happens
when you're completely honest
00:47:08.99\00:47:11.96
because you think you're
going in the wrong direction
00:47:11.99\00:47:14.96
thus the phrase,
00:47:15.00\00:47:16.56
"There's a way that
seems right unto a man
00:47:16.63\00:47:18.63
but in the end thereof is
the way of... " what? "death. "
00:47:18.67\00:47:21.70
I think that's
Proverbs 16:25 or Psalms...
00:47:21.77\00:47:25.57
check it out for me somebody,
don't quote me on that one
00:47:25.61\00:47:27.84
but I know it's in the
Bible more than once, all right.
00:47:27.88\00:47:31.01
So, the answer here is
according to Question Number 10,
00:47:31.05\00:47:34.12
"How does Paul the apostle
00:47:34.18\00:47:35.52
describe the
essence of the gospel?"
00:47:35.55\00:47:38.22
The power of God to salvation...
00:47:38.25\00:47:40.89
the power of God to salvation.
00:47:40.92\00:47:43.49
All right, look at
Number 11, Number 11...
00:47:43.53\00:47:47.50
here we are...
00:47:47.53\00:47:49.06
Number 11...
00:47:49.10\00:47:50.53
ready Enoria, check
this out, Number 11,
00:47:50.57\00:47:52.50
pause
00:47:52.53\00:47:54.50
"What does the Bible describe
as the 'Message of the Cross?'"
00:47:54.54\00:47:58.87
What does the Bible describe
as the "Message of the Cross?"
00:47:58.91\00:48:03.24
pause
00:48:03.28\00:48:05.55
What does the Bible describe
as the "Message of the Cross?"
00:48:05.61\00:48:07.62
Go to 1st Corinthians
chapter 1 and verse 18,
00:48:07.65\00:48:10.59
the message of the cross...
00:48:10.62\00:48:12.15
Audience: That verse
is in Proverbs 16:25.
00:48:12.19\00:48:15.52
Okay, praise the
Lord, it's Proverbs 16:25...
00:48:15.56\00:48:18.83
that's what came
to my mind, all right.
00:48:18.86\00:48:21.50
What does the Bible describe
as the message of the cross?
00:48:21.56\00:48:26.84
Now, let me tell
you, when we... when we...
00:48:26.87\00:48:29.10
when we go to this answer,
00:48:29.14\00:48:30.47
let me tell you why this
answer is so vitally important,
00:48:30.51\00:48:32.57
this is not just to
give you information,
00:48:32.61\00:48:34.71
but if somebody says to you,
00:48:34.74\00:48:36.38
well, let me just put
this in a... in a testimony,
00:48:36.41\00:48:40.12
there's nothing that is a
better testimony or evidence
00:48:40.15\00:48:43.85
that there is a
power outside of ourselves
00:48:43.89\00:48:46.86
than a changed life.
00:48:46.89\00:48:48.59
Than a... what kind of life?
00:48:48.62\00:48:50.39
Audience: Changed life.
00:48:50.43\00:48:51.93
Somebody said, "Okay, how
do you know that God exists?"
00:48:51.96\00:48:54.53
Say to the people that
knew you, "Look at me...
00:48:54.56\00:48:58.27
I mean, really, we
hung out together right?
00:48:58.30\00:49:01.97
We partied together, didn't we?
00:49:02.00\00:49:04.31
We drank together, didn't we?
00:49:04.34\00:49:06.41
We smoked together, didn't we?
00:49:06.44\00:49:08.44
We robbed stores
together, didn't we?
00:49:08.48\00:49:10.65
We were criminals
together, didn't we?"
00:49:10.68\00:49:12.81
Okay now, what
could you possibly
00:49:12.85\00:49:14.55
attribute the change to?
00:49:14.58\00:49:15.92
Pause...
00:49:15.95\00:49:19.32
Not to anything on our part
00:49:19.35\00:49:21.26
because human nature cannot
bring that kind of change.
00:49:21.29\00:49:23.49
Right?
00:49:23.53\00:49:24.86
So, look at this,
the message of the cross,
00:49:24.89\00:49:26.80
in other words, when you speak
to somebody about the cross,
00:49:26.83\00:49:29.36
you got to have something
that they desire to have
00:49:29.40\00:49:32.37
and will be encompassed
in the life that you live,
00:49:32.43\00:49:35.30
notice what Paul says here
00:49:35.37\00:49:36.71
in 1st
Corinthians 1 and verse 18
00:49:36.74\00:49:38.64
he says, "For the message
of the cross... " is what?
00:49:38.67\00:49:42.04
"foolishness to
those who are perishing,
00:49:42.11\00:49:46.28
but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God. "
00:49:46.31\00:49:54.22
So, what is the
message of the cross?
00:49:54.26\00:49:56.69
The message of the
cross is the power of God.
00:49:56.73\00:50:01.00
At the cross... at the cross
where I first saw the light
00:50:01.03\00:50:05.80
and the burdens of
my heart rolled away...
00:50:05.83\00:50:07.47
at the cross the power
was being made available to us
00:50:07.50\00:50:11.31
but Jesus had to die that death
to take us to the cross with Him
00:50:11.34\00:50:15.71
then bury us in that
watery grave with Him
00:50:15.74\00:50:18.55
that we can come
forth from the grave
00:50:18.58\00:50:21.25
and experience the power of God
00:50:21.28\00:50:23.45
so when you say, "Well, what
is the message of the cross?"
00:50:23.49\00:50:27.09
In a nutshell, the message of
the cross is the power of God.
00:50:27.12\00:50:30.73
Pause.
00:50:30.76\00:50:32.09
Now for people that are
being lost, it's foolishness,
00:50:32.13\00:50:34.00
they say, "What do you
mean the message of the cross?"
00:50:34.03\00:50:36.16
But when you... when you
commit yourself to Christ,
00:50:36.20\00:50:38.73
all of a sudden, that
which appeared to be foolish
00:50:38.77\00:50:41.27
when you were in...
walking in the flesh,
00:50:41.30\00:50:43.51
is now a joy to those
who are now walking in the...
00:50:43.54\00:50:48.44
to walking in the...
walking in the Spirit.
00:50:48.48\00:50:52.21
It now makes sense to those
who are walking in the Spirit.
00:50:52.25\00:50:54.98
For those who are walking
in the flesh, it's foolishness
00:50:55.02\00:50:58.55
because people that have money,
they say, "Money is power. "
00:50:58.59\00:51:01.92
Other people say,
"Knowledge is power"
00:51:01.96\00:51:04.53
so what do they do?
00:51:04.59\00:51:05.93
They get degree
after degree after degree
00:51:05.96\00:51:07.66
because they think
power is intellectual
00:51:07.70\00:51:09.43
there are other
people who have bank accounts
00:51:09.46\00:51:11.80
and they have multiple
millions and some billions
00:51:11.83\00:51:14.17
because they say
that money is power
00:51:14.20\00:51:17.67
but I say, the
gospel is power, right?
00:51:17.71\00:51:21.14
It is the only... it is
the only transforming grace,
00:51:21.18\00:51:24.68
it is the only transforming
experience that we will have
00:51:24.71\00:51:28.15
because money...
it transforms people
00:51:28.18\00:51:30.35
but not
necessarily for eternal life.
00:51:30.39\00:51:32.49
Right?
00:51:32.52\00:51:33.86
Intellectual
stimulation transforms people
00:51:33.89\00:51:37.76
but not
necessarily for eternal life.
00:51:37.79\00:51:39.89
There are going to be
some very intellectual...
00:51:39.96\00:51:41.63
very wealthy people
that are going to be lost
00:51:41.66\00:51:43.26
because they rely on
their riches and their intellect
00:51:43.30\00:51:47.10
rather than the power of
God which is to salvation
00:51:47.14\00:51:50.84
so Paul says, "Man! it's not
foolishness to me any longer,
00:51:50.91\00:51:54.61
it's the message of the cross. "
00:51:54.64\00:51:57.15
Go with me to Romans chapter
1, we... I think we read that...
00:51:57.18\00:52:01.35
yeah, we read that already,
it was Question Number 10
00:52:01.38\00:52:04.29
or was it Question
Number 10, let me go back
00:52:04.32\00:52:07.79
I want to make sure that...
00:52:07.82\00:52:09.16
Audience: It was Romans 1:16.
00:52:09.19\00:52:10.53
Okay, let's go to
Romans chapter 1, all right,
00:52:10.56\00:52:13.50
pause...
00:52:13.53\00:52:20.34
more pause
00:52:20.37\00:52:25.24
okay, we read Romans 1
verse 16 but I want to...
00:52:25.27\00:52:30.45
I want to read verse
17, I did not include that,
00:52:30.48\00:52:34.32
it's a very important
verse to include in the...
00:52:34.35\00:52:38.15
in the...
00:52:38.19\00:52:41.89
in the gamut of understanding
this very carefully
00:52:41.92\00:52:43.99
because he says in verse 16,
00:52:44.03\00:52:47.20
"For I am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ:
00:52:47.26\00:52:50.03
for it is the
power of God to salvation
00:52:50.07\00:52:52.60
for everyone who believes"
00:52:52.63\00:52:54.10
and when you go back to that
and you begin to see this...
00:52:54.14\00:52:56.64
it goes... it goes
back and makes sense,
00:52:56.67\00:52:59.44
it is the power
of God to salvation
00:52:59.47\00:53:01.54
and then we just read,
00:53:01.58\00:53:02.91
it is the message of the
cross is the power of God...
00:53:02.94\00:53:06.51
not just the power of God
00:53:06.55\00:53:07.92
but the power
of God to salvation
00:53:07.95\00:53:09.28
and notice verse 17,
"For in it... for in it...
00:53:09.32\00:53:13.72
the righteousness
of God is... " what?
00:53:13.76\00:53:17.76
"revealed... " from
what? "Faith to faith
00:53:17.79\00:53:21.60
therefore, the just shall
live by... " how? "Faith... "
00:53:21.63\00:53:26.10
that faith walk is
what makes available to us
00:53:26.13\00:53:28.27
the power of God
00:53:28.30\00:53:29.64
because you can't see it
00:53:29.67\00:53:31.24
but you can experience
it if you connect yourself
00:53:31.27\00:53:34.81
in that daily
relationship with Christ.
00:53:34.84\00:53:37.05
You can know it's there
00:53:37.08\00:53:38.81
if you connect yourself in a
daily relationship with Christ
00:53:38.85\00:53:41.48
and for those of us
who sometimes get busier
00:53:41.52\00:53:44.79
than we need to be,
00:53:44.85\00:53:46.19
it's imperative
that we slow down
00:53:46.22\00:53:49.12
and connect
ourselves to the only source
00:53:49.16\00:53:51.69
that will keep us
going beyond our activity.
00:53:51.73\00:53:54.20
When the evening comes,
00:53:54.26\00:53:55.76
I'm going to miss
my wife for this...
00:53:55.80\00:53:58.20
and now I've got to
download it for myself
00:53:58.23\00:54:00.54
because every evening...
00:54:00.57\00:54:01.90
my wife is now
visiting her mom in Florida,
00:54:01.94\00:54:04.81
every evening we...
this is no commercial
00:54:04.84\00:54:07.68
but for those of you that have
Androids or iPhones or iPads,
00:54:07.71\00:54:14.12
no matter what system you're on,
00:54:14.15\00:54:15.85
there's a beautiful
App called Bible. is
00:54:15.88\00:54:19.12
you can get it for free
00:54:19.15\00:54:21.12
whether you have
an Android device
00:54:21.16\00:54:22.79
or whether you
have an Apple device
00:54:22.82\00:54:24.46
and what we do every night
00:54:24.49\00:54:25.96
is we listen to
the Bible together.
00:54:25.99\00:54:29.10
We're now in the
book of Deuteronomy
00:54:29.13\00:54:32.10
and we made
this kind of contract
00:54:32.13\00:54:35.00
so while you're away,
don't listen to the...
00:54:35.07\00:54:37.97
keep up with me...
don't go too far ahead of me,
00:54:38.01\00:54:40.88
let me know how many
chapters you listened to tonight
00:54:40.91\00:54:43.04
so, we could stay
together in pace...
00:54:43.08\00:54:44.91
you know why
that's so important?
00:54:44.95\00:54:46.72
Because sometimes,
at the end of our day
00:54:46.75\00:54:48.82
we could be exhausted.
00:54:48.85\00:54:50.19
Anybody get exhausted?
00:54:50.22\00:54:51.55
At the end of the day,
do you really want to...
00:54:51.59\00:54:54.42
I mean, let's get real...
00:54:54.46\00:54:55.86
how many of you want to get
into a concentrated Bible Study
00:54:55.89\00:54:58.26
late at night?
00:54:58.29\00:54:59.63
Now, I want to confess here,
00:54:59.66\00:55:02.06
sometimes, when
we're reading the Bible...
00:55:02.13\00:55:03.73
I could be tired but my
wife... or I would read a text
00:55:03.77\00:55:07.37
and that's two more hours for me
00:55:07.40\00:55:09.40
because while
she's falling asleep,
00:55:09.44\00:55:11.27
she'd say, "John,
turn the light off"
00:55:11.31\00:55:13.07
I'd say, "Well, Honey,
I just found something,
00:55:13.11\00:55:14.81
I can't let it
go, I've got to... "
00:55:14.84\00:55:16.51
and I stay up about
an hour and a half more
00:55:16.54\00:55:18.48
writing all the things
that God reveals in my heart
00:55:18.51\00:55:21.18
but on the human side of that,
00:55:21.22\00:55:23.22
on the frail side of that,
00:55:23.25\00:55:24.59
sometimes we're
exhausted at night.
00:55:24.62\00:55:26.35
My good friend, Doug Batchelor,
00:55:26.39\00:55:27.79
he still does
this to this very day,
00:55:27.82\00:55:29.92
When we were on
the road back then
00:55:29.96\00:55:31.99
when they had cassette tapes
00:55:32.03\00:55:33.90
he said... we'd pray together
00:55:33.93\00:55:35.76
and then, he'd put on
this little cassette tape
00:55:35.80\00:55:39.17
with... Scourby...
what's this guy's name?
00:55:39.20\00:55:42.34
Audience: Alexander Scourby...
00:55:42.40\00:55:44.67
Alexander
Scourby... "Matthew chapter 5"
00:55:44.71\00:55:48.74
and while we're falling asleep,
00:55:48.78\00:55:50.85
we'd hear him reading
the Bible in the background.
00:55:50.91\00:55:53.28
Now what's so
wonderful about that?
00:55:53.31\00:55:55.48
Isn't it
wonderful to fill your mind
00:55:55.52\00:55:58.05
with things that
you can meditate on
00:55:58.09\00:56:00.59
even while you're sleeping
00:56:00.62\00:56:01.96
and you wake up in
the morning, you say,
00:56:01.99\00:56:03.43
"I don't know who said it
00:56:03.46\00:56:04.89
but I think there's a verse
in Matthew... I remember that. "
00:56:04.93\00:56:07.00
The last voice you
heard was the Word...
00:56:07.03\00:56:09.80
the last... the
last connection you had
00:56:09.83\00:56:12.53
was the power of God's
Word before you went to bed,
00:56:12.57\00:56:14.97
but you know, so
many of us go to bed
00:56:15.00\00:56:17.11
and the last thing
we saw was the news
00:56:17.14\00:56:19.17
or the last thing we
read was a magazine...
00:56:19.21\00:56:21.84
or the last thing we heard
00:56:21.91\00:56:23.88
was a terrible bit
of news on television
00:56:23.91\00:56:28.05
or we saw a show that
got our blood so agitated
00:56:28.08\00:56:30.45
that we can't
sleep for another hour
00:56:30.49\00:56:32.35
and one psychologist said,
00:56:32.39\00:56:35.12
"You should not
have the television on
00:56:35.16\00:56:38.29
on things that
are highly exciting
00:56:38.33\00:56:41.46
two hours before you go to bed"
00:56:41.53\00:56:44.50
because you can't
00:56:44.53\00:56:46.27
the body has to slow itself down
00:56:46.33\00:56:49.17
and get into the
cadence and the rhythm
00:56:49.20\00:56:50.91
for you to get a
good night's rest.
00:56:50.97\00:56:52.64
So...
00:56:52.67\00:56:54.21
Audience: Bible... what?
00:56:54.24\00:56:55.58
Pastor: Bible. is
00:56:55.61\00:56:56.95
Bible. is
00:56:56.98\00:57:00.35
okay, we just did
Question Number 11, right?
00:57:00.42\00:57:02.68
I'm not going to go on to
question number 12 tonight
00:57:02.75\00:57:05.19
but I'll just read it for you
00:57:05.25\00:57:07.22
so we can have a
lead-in for the next one.
00:57:07.26\00:57:09.02
All right...
I'll I have a lead-in
00:57:09.09\00:57:11.26
so that when we
continue this study next week,
00:57:11.29\00:57:14.00
you could see that
we've laid the foundation
00:57:14.03\00:57:16.67
through Question Number 12.
00:57:16.73\00:57:18.37
So, tonight, let me
ask you the question,
00:57:18.40\00:57:20.40
is there any doubt in your mind
00:57:20.44\00:57:22.17
that we are all in need of
a power outside of ourselves,
00:57:22.20\00:57:25.01
yes or no? Audience: Yes.
00:57:25.07\00:57:26.81
And the power is from where?
00:57:26.88\00:57:28.58
The power is from Christ.
00:57:28.64\00:57:30.91
"I am the vine,
you are the branches,
00:57:30.95\00:57:34.92
if you abide in
me, you can bear fruit
00:57:34.95\00:57:38.02
for without me,
you can do... how much?
00:57:38.05\00:57:41.12
You can do absolutely nothing
00:57:41.16\00:57:43.22
and so, Friends,
here at A Sharper Focus
00:57:43.26\00:57:45.23
and here at 3ABN
00:57:45.26\00:57:46.59
our commitment is to
the study of God's Word...
00:57:46.63\00:57:49.33
to the empowerment
that is found in God's Word
00:57:49.36\00:57:52.30
and we encourage you to study
00:57:52.33\00:57:54.04
and understand what
God has in store for you
00:57:54.07\00:57:56.67
and when you
continually study God's Word,
00:57:56.71\00:57:59.24
one day... what is not clear
will come into a sharper focus.
00:57:59.27\00:58:02.94
God bless you.
00:58:02.98\00:58:04.31