Hello, friends,
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and welcome to another
Wednesday night Bible study
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here at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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This is A Sharper Focus.
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We thank you for tuning in.
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We thank you for
inviting your friends
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and your family
members to join us
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for the next hour as
we continue our study on
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how to live the servant's life.
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And if we finish up
that lesson tonight,
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we'll transition into
how a servant worships.
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So invite your
family and friends,
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and if you are joining
us from one of churches,
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we welcome those of you
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who have gathered
together to study with us.
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If you like a copy of
the lesson, by the way,
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you can go to our website.
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The website is ASF.3ABN.org,
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and download
lesson number 15 and 16,
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that is 15 and 16.
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If you already
have 15, that's fine.
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But also at that website,
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you can see the
previous programs
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and access the previous lessons.
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But tonight, we're gonna ask
the Lord's presence to guide us
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as we unite around the
world and study of God's Word.
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Let's bow our heads together.
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Our gracious
Father in heaven, tonight,
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whenever we open Your Word,
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it's an opportunity
to walk into territory
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that is so deep and so broad
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that unless we are
aided by Your Holy Spirit,
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we seek to
understand that which is divine
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through that which is human.
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And, Lord, we know that
it is not possible for us
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to understand the mind of God.
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And so, Lord, tonight,
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send Your Holy Spirit to be
our teacher, to be our guide,
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and when we receive what
You have prepared for us,
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may we also receive
that spirit of desire
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to worship You and to serve You.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Now tonight, we'd like you
to join us on our theme song.
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It always appears on our screen,
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it's become a favorite.
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And there are some people
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that always wait
for the key change.
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I've actually had
emails where people have said,
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"Oh, I can't wait
till you say key change."
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I mean, in the whole song,
they wait for the key change.
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Well, tonight, we are
gonna have a key change.
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But hopefully,
we'll have more than that,
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we'll have a change of
heart and a change of life
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as we sing our theme
song "Victory in Jesus."
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I heard an old, old story
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How the Savior came from glory
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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To save a wretch like me
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I heard about His groaning
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Of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sins
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And won the victory
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me 'ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet
day, I'll sing up there
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The song of victory Key change.
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O victory in
Jesus 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 we say amen? Amen.
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That's about
baptism, the cleansing flood.
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But each of us
needs that cleansing flood
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on a day by day basis.
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Every morning of everyday,
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we need to recommit ourselves
to the cause of Christ,
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and then we can
get the power that
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we don't have in order
to live that servant's life.
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Ain't that right? Yes.
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When I sit down to put
these lessons together,
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something happens
when I open the Word of God
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and begin to study,
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it becomes more than just
trying to find the question,
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or trying to find a scripture,
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or trying to match the topic
with the verse in the Bible.
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It becomes a
discovery all over again
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of what the Lord requires of me.
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And so it's not just my position
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to teach you and
to share with you
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what the Lord requires of you
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but it's a constant
reminder to me, Robert,
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what the Lord requires of me,
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not just what the
Lord wants me to tell you
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or what the Lord
wants you to learn.
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But even as a
servant of the Lord,
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even as the
pastor for as many years
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as I have been able
to be in the Lord's work,
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He reminds me over and
over about my servant's life.
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He asks me the question,
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"Are you living
that servant life
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or are you just
teaching the servant's life?
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Are you having a
victorious walk with Me
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or are you just
encouraging other people
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to be victorious in
their walk with Christ?"
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And so I'm hoping that as
we get together and study,
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we're not just
gaining information
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but we're asking
ourselves the question,
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"Am I having the kind of
life I'm studying about?"
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And what I want to
encourage you to know is
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anytime we ask for the
power of Christ to come in,
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we will have the experience
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that Christ says
we are able to have.
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Ain't that right?
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Tonight, go with me
to a book in the Bible
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that's one of my
favorites and a text...
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I have a lot of favorite texts
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but this one always
reminds in an encompassing way
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of the power
that's available to us.
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Go with me to Galatians.
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What book did I say?
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Galatians. Galatians.
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And if you have your
pens, that's a good thing
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because I want you
to write this text down.
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This text has all
the components of before,
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during, and after.
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What we were not able to
do, what we are able to do,
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and how we're able to do that.
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Galatians is the book,
the chapter is chapter 2.
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What chapter? Two.
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And the verse is verse 20.
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So Galatians 2:20 talks about
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how do you become a servant.
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This verse
encapsulates all of it together
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because if in order for
us to be a servant of God,
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we have to cease to be
a servant of anything else
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or anyone else,
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we have to cease to be
a servant of ourselves.
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We have to serve the Lord
in the beauty of holiness.
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But how could we do that
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unless something has
happened in our lives,
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unless there's some
kind of transformation
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that has taken place,
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and this verse reminds
us of that transformation.
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We sing the song Victory in
Jesus, here is that victory.
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And I like us to read
this together if you can.
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It says, "I have been,"
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what is the next
word, "crucified."
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Let's not run past that.
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You know, we got
it, "with Christ."
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Let's first not
include "with Christ".
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The crucifixion that
the Lord wants to experience
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is the death of ourselves.
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Not just
crucifixion with Christ,
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but He wants us to be crucified
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and how frequently did Paul
say we need to be crucified?
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Daily. Daily.
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"I die daily."
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When we wake up in the morning,
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that crucifixion
is waiting for us
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at the foot of our bed,
right at the side of our bed
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as we slide out unless
we die to self that day,
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then self is going to
be living and thriving.
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And you know what happens
when self comes back to life,
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then the life that
God intends for us live
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begins to die quickly.
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And I don't know if
you've ever experienced that
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but it doesn't take long
if you go through the day
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without committing
yourself to Christ,
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it doesn't take
long for you to remember
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or to be aware of the
fact that, wait a minute,
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this is not who
God wants me to be.
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Have you ever had
those experiences?
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It doesn't take
long for that old man,
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and people talk
about the old man,
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and Paul talks about
the old man that died.
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As we gave our lives to Christ,
the old man was put to death.
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That was the crucifixion.
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But he stays around...
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And let me just make
something very clear.
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The old man stays
around, and let me quiz you.
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If you know the answer,
you can go to our website
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I just gave you
and text it to me
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or email it to me.
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How long does the
old man stay around?
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Somebody give me the answer.
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Huh?
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Okay.
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You said till we
die our natural death?
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Okay. Anyone else?
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Till we commit to
Christ? Okay, anyone else?
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Come on. Don't give me
too much dead time here.
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Huh? As long as we let him.
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As long as we let him? Okay.
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Let me go ahead and
remind you of the topic.
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How to live a
spiritual life in a...
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In a natural body.
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Why is the body
is still natural?
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It's in sin, right?
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The body is still
the resident place
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of all the reminders of sin.
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So that old man, if
you don't die daily,
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he's just waiting
to come back to life
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because you're
living in his house.
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You're living a spiritual
life, where, in a natural body.
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The body, as Paul talks about,
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this body is
spiritually put to death.
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But I like what Kim
said, that old man lives
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as long as we
are alive naturally.
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As long as this body is alive,
as long as you're breathing,
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that old man wants
to come back to life.
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We've got to keep this
old man under the submission
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and the restraint of a power
that's greater than our own.
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So when it says, "It
is no longer I who live,
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I have been
crucified with," who, friends?
00:11:02.19\00:11:04.19
With Christ.
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"With Christ."
00:11:05.59\00:11:06.93
Christ is the one that we
join in our day by day life.
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We join Him on the cross.
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"If anyone will be My disciples,
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He must take up his
cross daily and come after Me."
00:11:14.50\00:11:17.97
We must crucify the deeds
that are done in our bodies,
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the deeds of the flesh.
00:11:22.78\00:11:24.35
I've been crucified with Christ.
00:11:24.38\00:11:26.31
And thus, "it is
no longer who lives."
00:11:26.35\00:11:29.48
I who live, but Christ
who lives where, "in me,
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and the life which I
now live in the flesh, "
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that old man's
address, "I live by," what,
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"faith in the Son of God,
who loved me," and did what,
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"gave Himself for me."
00:11:43.73\00:11:46.63
That's why verse 21
is so vitally important.
00:11:46.67\00:11:49.47
You know, we're saved by, what?
00:11:49.50\00:11:52.01
We're saved by what?
We're saved by grace.
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When you read verse 21,
Paul adds in addition to that,
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and because of his desire,
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because of this
need to be crucified,
00:11:59.41\00:12:01.22
he says in verse 21,
"I do not set aside the,"
00:12:01.25\00:12:05.72
what of God?
00:12:05.75\00:12:07.46
If you set aside the
grace of God, what happens?
00:12:07.49\00:12:09.49
You cease to be walking
in that saving relationship
00:12:09.52\00:12:11.56
because it's only
by grace through faith
00:12:11.59\00:12:14.20
that the
salvation is an experience
00:12:14.23\00:12:16.10
on a day by day basis.
00:12:16.13\00:12:17.60
Now what I'm not saying is that,
00:12:17.63\00:12:19.00
you're saved and you're lost,
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and you're
saved and you're lost,
00:12:20.40\00:12:21.74
and you're
saved and you're lost,
00:12:21.77\00:12:23.10
I'm saying that that
saving experience will elude you
00:12:23.14\00:12:26.88
on a day by day basis.
00:12:26.91\00:12:28.24
You may have a
commitment to Christ,
00:12:28.28\00:12:31.08
you may have the
promise that you are walking
00:12:31.11\00:12:33.38
in a saving relationship,
00:12:33.42\00:12:34.75
but you won't have
the saving experience
00:12:34.78\00:12:36.72
if you don't allow yourself
to be put to death every day,
00:12:36.75\00:12:38.92
the deeds of your flesh,
the desires of your mind,
00:12:38.95\00:12:41.79
the actions of your own life.
00:12:41.82\00:12:43.19
If they're not put
to death every day,
00:12:43.22\00:12:44.96
you'll wake up in the morning
00:12:44.99\00:12:46.33
and you'll
waste your entire day.
00:12:46.36\00:12:49.23
Until finally somewhere
along the way, you'll realize,
00:12:49.26\00:12:51.27
"Wait a minute, I
didn't pray today.
00:12:51.30\00:12:53.74
Wait a minute, I
didn't even study today.
00:12:53.77\00:12:55.47
Wait a minute, I
didn't even ask Jesus
00:12:55.50\00:12:57.01
to come into my life today.
00:12:57.04\00:12:59.04
No wonder my day
is so messed up."
00:12:59.07\00:13:01.24
And so when we talk
about the servant's life,
00:13:01.28\00:13:02.94
I want you to keep in
mind that the only way
00:13:02.98\00:13:05.65
that this servant's
life could be effective
00:13:05.68\00:13:07.62
is if we commit
ourselves to Christ,
00:13:07.65\00:13:09.65
how many times a week?
00:13:09.68\00:13:12.05
Every moment of every day,
00:13:12.09\00:13:15.22
that's only way
it's going to happen
00:13:15.26\00:13:16.69
because the old
man is just waiting
00:13:16.73\00:13:18.49
to come back to life.
00:13:18.53\00:13:19.86
That's why tonight
our topic is entitled,
00:13:19.89\00:13:21.96
"How to live a Servant's Life."
00:13:22.00\00:13:25.87
Let's go to question number
18 as we continue in our study.
00:13:25.90\00:13:30.57
Going to question number 18.
00:13:30.61\00:13:32.27
This is a promise.
00:13:32.31\00:13:33.88
This is a promise
the Lord has made to us,
00:13:33.91\00:13:36.28
to those who serve Him.
00:13:36.31\00:13:39.38
What promise has the Lord
made to those that serve Him?
00:13:39.41\00:13:42.18
And by the way
00:13:42.22\00:13:43.55
if you don't
have the prior lesson,
00:13:43.59\00:13:45.65
we are finishing a
servant's life which is,
00:13:45.69\00:13:50.69
we're on question
number 18 of a servant's life.
00:13:50.73\00:13:53.76
If you've only
downloaded number 16,
00:13:53.80\00:13:56.00
then go to number 15
00:13:56.03\00:13:57.37
where we can
finish that one together.
00:13:57.40\00:13:59.43
Okay? Let's look at this.
00:13:59.47\00:14:02.70
What promise has the Lord
made to those that serve Him?
00:14:02.74\00:14:05.57
Go to Psalms 34:22.
00:14:05.61\00:14:10.05
Psalm 34:22.
00:14:10.08\00:14:13.95
You know,
somebody once said to me,
00:14:13.98\00:14:15.32
if you only read one
verse in Psalms, it's Psalm.
00:14:15.35\00:14:18.89
If you read more than
one verse, it's Psalms.
00:14:18.92\00:14:22.12
Right?
00:14:22.16\00:14:23.49
So it's Psalm.
00:14:23.53\00:14:24.86
Go to Psalm 34:22,
but it's in Psalms 34:22.
00:14:24.89\00:14:28.76
Notice what the Lord says
the promise He's made to us.
00:14:28.80\00:14:33.67
He says, "The Lord..."
00:14:33.70\00:14:35.20
Let's read this
first one together.
00:14:35.24\00:14:36.91
"The Lord redeems
the soul of His servants,
00:14:36.94\00:14:41.54
and none of those who
trust in Him shall be," what,
00:14:41.58\00:14:45.75
"shall be condemned."
00:14:45.78\00:14:47.15
If you trust in the
Lord, you won't be condemned.
00:14:47.18\00:14:50.09
Now let's break that down.
00:14:50.12\00:14:51.92
What does it
mean to be condemned?
00:14:51.95\00:14:53.29
Does it mean somebody is
going to be condemning you?
00:14:53.32\00:14:54.76
Does it mean you walk
around with a condemning feeling
00:14:54.79\00:14:56.69
or condemning spirit?
00:14:56.73\00:14:58.06
No, it means
that the life of sin
00:14:58.09\00:15:02.16
won't have power over you.
00:15:02.20\00:15:04.83
Therefore, you won't
come under condemnation.
00:15:04.87\00:15:08.87
If the life of sin
doesn't have power over you,
00:15:08.90\00:15:13.34
you can't come under
the law and feel condemned.
00:15:13.38\00:15:16.71
That's what Paul
meant when he says,
00:15:16.75\00:15:18.08
"We are no longer under the law,
00:15:18.11\00:15:20.22
but under grace."
00:15:20.25\00:15:21.58
In other words, we're no longer
00:15:21.62\00:15:22.95
under the
condemnation of the law.
00:15:22.98\00:15:24.32
So when we trust
in the Lord every day,
00:15:24.35\00:15:26.52
we don't come
under condemnation,
00:15:26.55\00:15:29.26
why, because who's the
one that's redeeming us?
00:15:29.29\00:15:32.49
We just read it.
00:15:32.53\00:15:33.86
Who's the one
that's redeeming us?
00:15:33.90\00:15:36.13
The Lord is redeeming us.
00:15:36.16\00:15:40.10
We sing that song, "Redeemed,
how I love to proclaim it!"
00:15:40.14\00:15:42.87
Well, the Lord is
the one redeeming us.
00:15:42.90\00:15:44.57
It's not the song we sing,
00:15:44.61\00:15:45.94
but it's the
Lord in whom we trust.
00:15:45.97\00:15:47.98
The Lord redeems
the soul of His servants
00:15:48.01\00:15:51.88
and none of those who
trust in Him shall be condemned.
00:15:51.91\00:15:57.42
Now, you know, when
you hear the phrase,
00:15:57.45\00:16:01.72
"Trust in Him", what
verse comes to your mind?
00:16:01.76\00:16:06.33
"Trust in Him." Trust the Lord.
00:16:06.36\00:16:08.40
Okay, what passage is that?
00:16:08.43\00:16:10.10
Proverbs 3:5-6.
00:16:10.13\00:16:11.47
Proverbs 3:5-6, let's go there.
00:16:11.50\00:16:13.47
A very important
lesson in that chapter.
00:16:13.50\00:16:17.07
Proverbs 3:5-6.
00:16:17.11\00:16:20.74
'Cause you said, well, look.
00:16:20.78\00:16:22.11
Okay, none of
those who trust in Him
00:16:22.14\00:16:23.48
shall be condemned
00:16:23.51\00:16:24.85
but then what level
of trust does He want,
00:16:24.88\00:16:27.82
is the question that
this brings to the forefront.
00:16:27.85\00:16:30.79
What level of
trust does He want?
00:16:30.82\00:16:33.59
Proverbs 3:5-6.
00:16:33.62\00:16:38.73
Okay?
00:16:38.76\00:16:40.10
Another one we
could all read by heart,
00:16:40.13\00:16:42.66
so why don't we just do that?
00:16:42.70\00:16:44.73
"Trust in the Lord
with all your heart,
00:16:44.77\00:16:50.41
and lean not on
your own understanding.
00:16:50.44\00:16:54.34
In all your
ways, acknowledge Him,"
00:16:54.38\00:16:58.11
and what will He do,
"He'll direct your paths."
00:16:58.15\00:17:01.68
Now,
00:17:01.72\00:17:04.42
how many of us don't
need God to direct us
00:17:04.45\00:17:06.59
on a day by day basis?
00:17:06.62\00:17:08.49
I mean, really!
00:17:08.52\00:17:09.92
If we walk in through
valleys and shadows of death
00:17:09.96\00:17:12.13
and trials, and
tribulations and temptations,
00:17:12.16\00:17:14.30
we've got to
have a reliable Lord,
00:17:14.33\00:17:16.50
the one in whom we
trust to guide our paths.
00:17:16.53\00:17:19.47
We cannot rely on
our own understanding.
00:17:19.50\00:17:21.90
That verse has been so repeated.
00:17:21.94\00:17:23.54
Sometimes we don't
allow it to sink in
00:17:23.57\00:17:26.54
what is actually being said,
00:17:26.57\00:17:27.98
"Trust in the Lord your
God with all your heart."
00:17:28.01\00:17:31.11
I saw someone...
00:17:31.15\00:17:33.88
Matter of fact, we
were in India recently.
00:17:33.92\00:17:35.95
And one of the things
00:17:35.98\00:17:37.32
I learned really
that impressed me
00:17:37.35\00:17:39.22
is we went to school in Bobbili,
00:17:39.25\00:17:41.96
and it's called a blind school.
00:17:41.99\00:17:44.16
And there's such a camaraderie
00:17:44.19\00:17:45.53
among the
students that are there
00:17:45.56\00:17:47.66
because they all realize
00:17:47.70\00:17:49.03
they're in the
same boat pretty much,
00:17:49.06\00:17:50.60
and that boat is they can't see,
00:17:50.63\00:17:52.77
but some of the
students can see partially.
00:17:52.80\00:17:57.57
And what happens is
00:17:57.61\00:17:59.44
for the students that
have the ability to see,
00:17:59.47\00:18:03.08
they become the keeper
or the steward of the kids
00:18:03.11\00:18:08.35
or the other
students that can't see.
00:18:08.38\00:18:10.72
And they gravitate to them.
00:18:10.75\00:18:13.39
And what I've discovered
is the wellbeing of that
00:18:13.42\00:18:16.62
that person that
cannot see at all
00:18:16.66\00:18:18.79
is in the hand of
the person who can see.
00:18:18.83\00:18:21.60
And I wonder to myself,
00:18:21.63\00:18:23.33
how much trust
00:18:23.37\00:18:24.70
does the
completely blind person have
00:18:24.73\00:18:27.57
in the person that can see?
00:18:27.60\00:18:29.37
How much trust do
you think they have?
00:18:29.40\00:18:32.97
Total trust.
00:18:33.01\00:18:34.61
They can't have
anything but total trust.
00:18:34.64\00:18:38.28
Now,
00:18:38.31\00:18:41.05
how much can't we see?
00:18:41.08\00:18:42.42
There's so much
that we cannot see,
00:18:45.19\00:18:46.69
there's so much
that we cannot perceive.
00:18:46.72\00:18:48.32
God does not see as we do,
God does not think as we do,
00:18:48.36\00:18:51.93
God's ways are
not like our ways,
00:18:51.96\00:18:53.50
His thoughts are
not like our thoughts.
00:18:53.53\00:18:55.10
So there's so much
that we cannot see.
00:18:55.13\00:18:56.77
And sometimes we wonder,
00:18:56.80\00:18:58.13
"Why would God
lead us down that path
00:18:58.17\00:18:59.73
when it seems to be
00:18:59.77\00:19:01.10
one of the most
undesired paths?"
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.41
Well, you know, God
sees beyond the present,
00:19:04.44\00:19:09.04
beyond the
present circumstances,
00:19:09.08\00:19:10.88
beyond the
difficulties we presently face.
00:19:10.91\00:19:13.15
And He knows that
every path He leads us down
00:19:13.18\00:19:15.78
if we trust Him
with all of our heart,
00:19:15.82\00:19:17.59
we'll come out of that journey
00:19:17.62\00:19:19.05
stronger than when we
went into that journey.
00:19:19.09\00:19:21.69
I've come to the
place, and my wife and I
00:19:21.72\00:19:23.49
can say this out
of a clear testimony.
00:19:23.53\00:19:25.96
We are where we are today
00:19:25.99\00:19:28.03
not because God has led us
00:19:28.06\00:19:29.40
from away from all the
trials and tribulations
00:19:29.43\00:19:32.13
but God has led us through
the trials and tribulations.
00:19:32.17\00:19:36.07
Amen?
00:19:36.10\00:19:37.44
I mean, if you're
Daniel, wouldn't you say,
00:19:37.47\00:19:38.81
"Lord, can't you leave me
away from the lion's den?"
00:19:38.84\00:19:42.31
But the Lord did what?
00:19:42.34\00:19:43.68
Led him, what,
through the lion's den.
00:19:43.71\00:19:47.12
I mean, they just heated
the furnace seven times hotter.
00:19:47.15\00:19:49.28
Can you lead us
away from the furnace?
00:19:49.32\00:19:52.22
But what did God do?
00:19:52.25\00:19:53.59
He led them,
what, in the furnace.
00:19:53.62\00:19:56.26
So you can't say,
Lord, I trust you.
00:19:56.29\00:19:58.86
How did I end up in
here? I trusted you.
00:19:58.89\00:20:02.10
And so many of us
don't know that those moments
00:20:02.13\00:20:06.94
of when our lives are
heating up are moments
00:20:06.97\00:20:10.34
that will be greater
than the smallest blessing.
00:20:10.37\00:20:13.34
We don't understand
that in those moments,
00:20:13.38\00:20:15.58
sometimes God is refining us.
00:20:15.61\00:20:18.85
There were times in
our lives where you said,
00:20:18.88\00:20:20.42
"Lord, this is not the time
00:20:20.45\00:20:22.92
we need to have
this kind of trial.
00:20:22.95\00:20:24.29
Not now!"
00:20:24.32\00:20:27.22
And the Lord
allowed the trial to come.
00:20:27.26\00:20:29.62
And as Maya Angelou said,
00:20:29.66\00:20:31.79
I was watching Oprah
a number of years ago,
00:20:31.83\00:20:34.90
and she's a very
wise lady, she's a poet.
00:20:34.93\00:20:37.03
And Oprah asked
her the question,
00:20:37.07\00:20:39.23
"What have you learned
00:20:39.27\00:20:40.77
in all the
years of your trials?"
00:20:40.80\00:20:42.77
And something she
said, I never forgot it.
00:20:42.80\00:20:44.77
She said, "If God
allows a trial to come,
00:20:44.81\00:20:48.74
what's on the other side
of it is a whole lot better
00:20:48.78\00:20:50.81
than what's on this side of it."
00:20:50.85\00:20:53.65
He would not
allow a trial to come
00:20:53.68\00:20:56.02
if what's on the other
side of that is not better
00:20:56.05\00:20:58.82
than what's on
this side of the trial.
00:20:58.85\00:21:01.26
You see?
00:21:01.29\00:21:02.62
So the servant
has to be at the place
00:21:02.66\00:21:04.33
where he completely
or she completely trusts.
00:21:04.36\00:21:07.43
"Okay, Father,
00:21:07.46\00:21:08.86
I don't know what this
lion's den is all about,
00:21:08.90\00:21:11.63
but I'll go in it
because You want me to.
00:21:11.67\00:21:15.00
I don't know what this furnace
is all about, whatever it is,
00:21:15.04\00:21:18.14
please make it clear to me."
00:21:18.17\00:21:19.84
And God sometimes
reveals Himself in the fire.
00:21:19.87\00:21:22.94
So let's not always say,
00:21:22.98\00:21:24.31
"Lord, deliver
me from the trial."
00:21:24.35\00:21:25.71
As one person says,
00:21:25.75\00:21:27.52
"Don't ask God to
deliver you from your burdens,
00:21:27.55\00:21:29.82
pray for God to give
you a stronger back."
00:21:29.85\00:21:32.65
See, the servant's life,
00:21:32.69\00:21:34.12
He redeems the
soul of His servants.
00:21:34.16\00:21:36.66
And none of
those who trust in Him
00:21:36.69\00:21:38.03
shall be condemned.
00:21:38.06\00:21:39.39
So what's the answer?
00:21:39.43\00:21:40.76
What promise has the Lord
made to those that serve Him?
00:21:40.80\00:21:42.46
He is your Redeemer.
00:21:42.50\00:21:44.93
He's your Redeemer.
00:21:44.97\00:21:48.37
Kinsman redeemer,
that's exactly who He is,
00:21:48.40\00:21:53.78
all right?
00:21:53.81\00:21:56.21
And look at number 19.
00:21:56.24\00:21:58.71
Number 19.
00:21:58.75\00:22:00.08
And this is also beautiful,
wonderful question here
00:22:00.12\00:22:03.12
because sometimes we
wonder whether or not
00:22:03.15\00:22:04.52
God is going to let
us know what's going on.
00:22:04.55\00:22:06.72
And I've given this an
expanded understanding.
00:22:06.76\00:22:09.76
How has the Lord
shown favor to His servants?
00:22:09.79\00:22:14.10
How has the Lord
shown favor to His servants?
00:22:14.13\00:22:17.40
Question number 19. Amos 3:7.
00:22:17.43\00:22:20.54
I know you've read
this passage before,
00:22:20.57\00:22:22.00
but sometimes you read
it in a different context.
00:22:22.04\00:22:24.37
You may have read
this in a prophecy seminar,
00:22:24.41\00:22:26.47
but its
understanding is far greater
00:22:26.51\00:22:27.88
than just prophecy.
00:22:27.91\00:22:29.28
Okay, notice what the Lord says.
00:22:29.31\00:22:31.48
All right.
00:22:31.51\00:22:33.42
Amos 3:7.
00:22:33.45\00:22:35.65
Are we all there?
00:22:35.68\00:22:38.55
Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos.
00:22:38.59\00:22:43.49
Find Daniel,
Daniel is after Ezekiel.
00:22:43.53\00:22:47.03
Okay?
00:22:47.06\00:22:48.40
Get that
gigantic book of Ezekiel
00:22:48.43\00:22:49.76
and start your track.
00:22:49.80\00:22:51.13
Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Hosea.
00:22:51.17\00:22:54.40
Daniel, Hosea...
00:22:54.44\00:22:57.34
Daniel.
00:22:57.37\00:22:58.71
I'm getting myself confused.
Let's stop right there.
00:22:58.74\00:23:01.54
I said it right the first time.
00:23:01.58\00:23:03.48
See what happens
00:23:03.51\00:23:04.85
when you guys
start confusing me?
00:23:04.88\00:23:06.21
Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos.
00:23:09.32\00:23:11.45
Thank you.
00:23:11.49\00:23:12.82
Okay, I'm back on track.
00:23:12.85\00:23:14.19
Amos 3:7.
00:23:14.22\00:23:15.56
Here's what it says.
00:23:15.59\00:23:16.93
And the question is
how has the Lord shown
00:23:16.96\00:23:18.76
favorite to His servants?
00:23:18.79\00:23:20.40
I want you to stop and
read this verse with me.
00:23:20.43\00:23:22.73
But I want to have everybody
emphasize the first word.
00:23:22.76\00:23:26.07
What's the first word?
00:23:26.10\00:23:27.44
Together, "Surely the
Lord God does nothing,
00:23:27.47\00:23:32.24
unless He reveals," what,
00:23:32.27\00:23:34.88
"His secrets to His
servants the prophets."
00:23:34.91\00:23:40.25
You see, one of the reasons
00:23:40.28\00:23:42.72
why it's so
important to be a servant,
00:23:42.75\00:23:44.85
a faithful servant
is there things that
00:23:44.89\00:23:47.39
God will reveal to us
00:23:47.42\00:23:48.76
that He wouldn't
reveal to someone else.
00:23:48.79\00:23:51.56
You know, when the
Lord spoke parables,
00:23:51.59\00:23:54.63
He only explained those
parables to His disciples
00:23:54.66\00:23:56.80
when the multitudes were away.
00:23:56.83\00:23:59.37
They met with Him privately.
00:23:59.40\00:24:00.74
You read that in
Matthew 24, Mark 13.
00:24:00.77\00:24:04.27
You read that there.
00:24:04.31\00:24:05.64
He met with His
disciples privately.
00:24:05.67\00:24:07.91
And they said, "Lord, tell
us when shall these things..."
00:24:07.94\00:24:11.01
What's the meaning of this?
00:24:11.05\00:24:12.38
What does this mean?
00:24:12.41\00:24:13.75
And the Lord spoke to
the multitudes in parables
00:24:13.78\00:24:15.82
that seeing they will not see
00:24:15.85\00:24:17.85
and hearing they will
not be able to understand.
00:24:17.89\00:24:20.56
And so when
people read the Bible
00:24:20.59\00:24:22.62
that are not servants of God,
00:24:22.66\00:24:24.46
it can be a book
that's extremely confusing.
00:24:24.49\00:24:27.80
That's why it's so important
to be a faithful servant
00:24:27.83\00:24:30.30
because a
faithful servant of God
00:24:30.33\00:24:31.83
will be able to say to a person
00:24:31.87\00:24:33.20
that's not
familiar with the Bible
00:24:33.23\00:24:34.70
as Philip
00:24:34.74\00:24:39.47
said to the Ethiopian eunuch.
00:24:39.51\00:24:42.38
He said, "Do you
understand what you're reading?"
00:24:42.41\00:24:45.45
And the Ethiopian eunuch said,
00:24:45.48\00:24:46.82
"Well, could you
explain it to me?"
00:24:46.85\00:24:49.42
And he climbed in the
chariot and began to explain
00:24:49.45\00:24:51.79
to the Ethiopian
eunuch what he was reading,
00:24:51.82\00:24:55.86
and he explained to
him, what book, remember?
00:24:55.89\00:24:58.59
Isaiah.
00:24:58.63\00:24:59.96
He explained to him
from the book of Isaiah.
00:25:00.00\00:25:01.86
The reason I
remember that story very well,
00:25:01.90\00:25:03.97
I sometimes say,
00:25:04.00\00:25:05.33
"Was it Stephen
or was it Philip?"
00:25:05.37\00:25:06.70
I remember that
because Philip means
00:25:06.74\00:25:08.14
a lover of horses in the
Greek, means a lover of horses.
00:25:08.17\00:25:12.54
So Lord sent him out in a desert
00:25:12.57\00:25:14.48
to have a
one-on-one evangelistic series,
00:25:14.51\00:25:16.58
and Philip who loved
horses saw a royal steed,
00:25:16.61\00:25:20.08
and the Spirit of God
allowed him to catch up to that
00:25:20.12\00:25:22.28
that one who took the
gospel back to Ethiopia
00:25:22.32\00:25:25.09
and outside of the
nation of the Jews,
00:25:25.12\00:25:27.06
the Sabbath has been
kept secondly as long
00:25:27.09\00:25:30.56
in the nation of Ethiopia
00:25:30.59\00:25:32.36
as compared to
how long the Sabbath
00:25:32.39\00:25:34.50
has been kept among the Jews.
00:25:34.53\00:25:36.43
And so you see here,
00:25:36.46\00:25:37.80
what's the reason
for being faithful?
00:25:37.83\00:25:39.33
Because God reveals to us
00:25:39.37\00:25:41.20
things that
others don't understand.
00:25:41.24\00:25:43.14
And if you are
allowing God to reveal to you
00:25:43.17\00:25:45.31
because of your
faithfulness to Him,
00:25:45.34\00:25:47.24
you'll be able to
sit down with somebody
00:25:47.28\00:25:48.71
who doesn't understand the Bible
00:25:48.74\00:25:50.31
and be able to
unfold it with them
00:25:50.35\00:25:52.65
and give them an
understanding of something
00:25:52.68\00:25:54.58
that is not clear to them.
00:25:54.62\00:25:55.98
But it only comes
as we are servants
00:25:56.02\00:25:59.05
of the Most High God
00:25:59.09\00:26:00.42
because this didn't say
He reveals it to anybody,
00:26:00.46\00:26:03.99
He reveals His
secrets to His servants.
00:26:04.03\00:26:08.30
So when we serve the Lord,
00:26:08.33\00:26:09.90
there's an upper hand we have
00:26:09.93\00:26:12.57
compared to those
that don't serve the Lord.
00:26:12.60\00:26:14.87
Some people buy
the Bible and read it
00:26:14.90\00:26:16.24
as a book of
literature, or book of poetry,
00:26:16.27\00:26:19.64
or for information, or
to argue with Christians,
00:26:19.67\00:26:24.08
but they'll never
get the understanding
00:26:24.11\00:26:25.45
that spiritual if
they are not servants
00:26:25.48\00:26:27.38
of the Most High God.
00:26:27.42\00:26:28.75
So what's the
promise that God has made?
00:26:28.78\00:26:30.82
How does He show favor?
00:26:30.85\00:26:33.36
He reveals His
secrets to His servants.
00:26:33.39\00:26:35.96
He gives us an insight
that others don't have.
00:26:35.99\00:26:40.26
All right?
00:26:40.30\00:26:41.80
You want to put that one
down for question number 19.
00:26:41.83\00:26:46.74
I know you're counting.
00:26:46.77\00:26:48.10
You're saying, "Okay,
we just have two more."
00:26:48.14\00:26:50.17
Actually, we have
12 more or 11 more
00:26:50.21\00:26:54.21
or 12 more, 11 more.
00:26:54.24\00:26:59.18
I'll get it
together sooner or later.
00:26:59.21\00:27:01.65
Moving right along
to question number 20,
00:27:01.68\00:27:04.32
question number 20.
00:27:04.35\00:27:07.52
Here it is.
00:27:07.56\00:27:09.92
What is the best commendation
00:27:09.96\00:27:11.56
a servant of God will receive?
00:27:11.59\00:27:16.30
Is it the crown of life?
00:27:16.33\00:27:18.33
How many want a crown of life?
00:27:18.37\00:27:20.60
We all want a crown of life.
00:27:20.64\00:27:24.11
But this question
is intended to weed out
00:27:24.14\00:27:26.21
just the crown of life.
00:27:26.24\00:27:27.74
What is the best commendation
a servant of God will reveal?
00:27:27.78\00:27:30.55
Matthew 25:21.
00:27:30.58\00:27:33.42
Matthew 25:21.
00:27:33.45\00:27:35.18
And the
importance of this passage
00:27:44.19\00:27:46.76
cannot be overemphasized
00:27:46.80\00:27:48.13
because
sometimes people get weary.
00:27:48.16\00:27:51.50
You know, it's not an
easy job serving the Lord.
00:27:51.53\00:27:53.77
He never said it would be easy.
00:27:53.80\00:27:55.27
Matter of fact, the Lord Himself
00:27:55.30\00:27:56.74
went through persecution,
the apostles, the disciples,
00:27:56.77\00:27:59.67
everyone that serve the
Lord goes through persecution,
00:27:59.71\00:28:02.44
everyone that
serves the Lord has trials.
00:28:02.48\00:28:05.21
It comes to every one of us,
00:28:05.25\00:28:06.78
why, because we are
pilgrims of a foreign land
00:28:06.82\00:28:10.55
in enemy's territory.
00:28:10.59\00:28:11.99
So we are going
to have tribulation,
00:28:12.02\00:28:14.06
He said we're going to have it.
00:28:14.09\00:28:16.09
But the reason why we
should not become weary
00:28:16.12\00:28:20.00
is because this battle
is not an eternal battle.
00:28:20.03\00:28:24.33
The results are eternal
and that's eternal victory.
00:28:24.37\00:28:29.67
Amen? Amen.
00:28:29.70\00:28:31.04
So we have to hold on
00:28:31.07\00:28:32.61
while the
battle is winding down.
00:28:32.64\00:28:35.01
And I'll say, "I am so tired."
00:28:35.04\00:28:38.31
I think of this
battle that comes to my mind.
00:28:38.35\00:28:41.95
Maybe some of you
who are military people,
00:28:41.98\00:28:43.59
there was a hill.
00:28:43.62\00:28:45.42
It was during one of
those wars against the Japanese.
00:28:45.45\00:28:51.26
Was it Iwo Jima,
where they were fighting,
00:28:51.29\00:28:55.10
trying to gain access to
hill and soldiers were dying
00:28:55.13\00:28:58.30
by the numbers,
00:28:58.33\00:29:00.90
but they kept storming the hill
00:29:00.94\00:29:03.14
until they finally took it over.
00:29:03.17\00:29:04.94
Now I thought to myself,
00:29:04.97\00:29:06.31
"Man, as soldiers of the cross,
00:29:06.34\00:29:08.14
has those who are
on the battlefield
00:29:08.18\00:29:09.71
for the Lord.
00:29:09.74\00:29:11.11
We've got to stay in the battle.
00:29:11.15\00:29:13.55
We've got to hang in there
00:29:13.58\00:29:14.92
because the victory
has already been won.
00:29:14.95\00:29:17.19
Soon the war is
going to be over."
00:29:17.22\00:29:19.69
So here's the best
commendation we can all receive.
00:29:19.72\00:29:23.02
Matthew 25:21, and here it is.
00:29:23.06\00:29:27.46
"His Lord said to
him," what did he say,
00:29:27.50\00:29:30.67
"Well done, thou
good and faithful servant.
00:29:30.70\00:29:35.24
You were faithful
over," a what, "a few things.
00:29:35.27\00:29:40.01
I will make you
ruler over many things."
00:29:40.04\00:29:44.18
And I like this part.
00:29:44.21\00:29:45.58
"Enter into the
joy of your Lord."
00:29:45.61\00:29:51.19
Into the joy of your Lord.
00:29:51.22\00:29:54.22
You know, there's a lot
of joy also, not just trials,
00:29:54.26\00:29:58.43
there's a lot of
joy in serving the Lord.
00:29:58.46\00:30:00.60
And you'll find that
if you endure the trials.
00:30:00.63\00:30:03.26
But you can't let the
trials rob you of the joy
00:30:03.30\00:30:05.60
of serving the Lord.
00:30:05.63\00:30:06.97
I don't want to
paint the servant's life
00:30:07.00\00:30:08.34
as one that's just,
"Oh, it's so horrible."
00:30:08.37\00:30:10.74
I mean, what will make you sing
00:30:10.77\00:30:14.54
and praise God at
midnight in prison
00:30:14.58\00:30:16.44
if you were not filled with joy?
00:30:16.48\00:30:19.15
Really!
00:30:19.18\00:30:20.95
What would give you
the boldness to preach
00:30:20.98\00:30:23.39
in spite of the fact
that your head maybe cut off,
00:30:23.42\00:30:26.72
and you're standing
before the powers that be,
00:30:26.76\00:30:29.09
what will give you the boldness
00:30:29.12\00:30:30.46
because, you know, that
00:30:30.49\00:30:31.83
that's not the last chapter
in the book of the servant,
00:30:31.86\00:30:34.56
there's a better
chapter to be written,
00:30:34.60\00:30:36.13
that's joy for evermore.
00:30:36.16\00:30:38.63
That's joy for,
how long, evermore.
00:30:38.67\00:30:40.74
So when it says,
00:30:40.77\00:30:42.10
enter into the joy of your Lord,
00:30:42.14\00:30:43.47
think of the New Jerusalem
as entering into that joy,
00:30:43.51\00:30:46.64
that eternal joy.
00:30:46.68\00:30:48.58
And I tell you, I can't wait.
00:30:48.61\00:30:50.38
I've read about the city,
00:30:50.41\00:30:52.48
I've taught people
about this wonderful city.
00:30:52.51\00:30:54.72
Every now and then,
00:30:54.75\00:30:56.08
you've got to visit
revelation all over again
00:30:56.12\00:30:57.85
to remember that
that's your home,
00:30:57.89\00:31:00.06
that's the
blueprint right there.
00:31:00.09\00:31:01.99
That's where
you're going to live.
00:31:02.02\00:31:03.63
Amen? Amen.
00:31:03.66\00:31:04.99
So when you get
tired of this world
00:31:05.03\00:31:07.03
and all the things
that you hear in the news,
00:31:07.06\00:31:09.53
it just gets more
depressing as the days go on
00:31:09.56\00:31:11.30
because the devil is cut
loose like a roaring lion
00:31:11.33\00:31:14.60
seeking whom he may devour.
00:31:14.64\00:31:16.30
But every now and
then, if you feel homesick,
00:31:16.34\00:31:18.81
remember like Abraham said,
00:31:18.84\00:31:20.81
"I'm looking for a
city which has foundations
00:31:20.84\00:31:23.75
whose builder and maker is God."
00:31:23.78\00:31:27.48
And then Jesus made a promise,
00:31:27.52\00:31:29.05
"I'm going but I'll be
back so that where I am there
00:31:29.08\00:31:31.95
you may be also.
00:31:31.99\00:31:33.32
I'm going to get
your mansion ready
00:31:33.36\00:31:34.69
so that where I am
there you may be also.
00:31:34.72\00:31:37.33
So hold on," He tells the
person sitting next to you,
00:31:37.36\00:31:39.66
"Hold on."
00:31:39.69\00:31:41.40
Oh, no, if you tell
me hold on like that,
00:31:41.43\00:31:42.90
I wouldn't want
to hold on. Hold on!
00:31:42.93\00:31:45.57
Can you imagine,
you're over the cliff
00:31:45.60\00:31:46.94
and you say, "Hold on"?
00:31:46.97\00:31:50.14
Tell him like you mean it.
00:31:50.17\00:31:51.51
Tell him, "Hold on." Hold on.
00:31:51.54\00:31:54.18
Yeah, hold on.
00:31:54.21\00:31:56.01
Paramedics are on the way.
00:31:56.04\00:31:58.71
Now hold on,
Jesus is on the way.
00:31:58.75\00:32:01.15
Amen?
00:32:01.18\00:32:02.52
Oh, I tell you 'cause we
got to encourage one another.
00:32:02.55\00:32:04.89
We're in this thing together.
00:32:04.92\00:32:06.32
We don't suffer by ourselves.
00:32:06.35\00:32:08.32
We're not going to
rejoice by ourselves,
00:32:08.36\00:32:11.26
we're going to rejoice together.
00:32:11.29\00:32:14.06
"Enter into the
joy of your Lord."
00:32:14.10\00:32:15.90
Can you imagine, I don't know
00:32:15.93\00:32:17.27
where you're going
to stand in that line
00:32:17.30\00:32:18.63
because I'm sure that
there's going to be somebody
00:32:18.67\00:32:20.54
because this is
gonna be a long line.
00:32:20.57\00:32:22.47
Let's just go to
heaven for a brief moment.
00:32:22.50\00:32:24.07
It's gonna be a long line.
00:32:24.11\00:32:26.61
And not everybody's going
to enter at the same time.
00:32:26.64\00:32:29.58
They may enter
in alphabetically.
00:32:29.61\00:32:31.41
I'm way back in the Ls.
00:32:31.45\00:32:34.65
But then again, we are
going to get a new name.
00:32:34.68\00:32:36.18
Ain't that right?
00:32:36.22\00:32:37.55
If you give me a new
name, Lord, give me one
00:32:37.59\00:32:39.19
that ends with the letter A
00:32:39.22\00:32:42.06
'cause can you imagine,
you hear the saints says,
00:32:42.09\00:32:43.93
"They each walkthrough..."
00:32:43.96\00:32:46.29
That's right.
Maybe He'll move my line.
00:32:46.33\00:32:48.90
But can you imagine
as the saints are walking
00:32:48.93\00:32:50.97
through the gates
into the New Jerusalem,
00:32:51.00\00:32:53.13
you hear this explosion of
joy and praise as they enter in
00:32:53.17\00:32:57.77
through the gates into the city.
00:32:57.81\00:33:00.18
As they walk
past the pearly gate
00:33:00.21\00:33:02.18
and they realize, "I'm in."
00:33:02.21\00:33:06.35
Come on,
somebody to help me out.
00:33:06.38\00:33:07.72
I'm in. I'm in.
00:33:07.75\00:33:10.55
And you say to your
friend, "Could you pinch me?
00:33:10.59\00:33:13.56
I'm in.
00:33:13.59\00:33:14.96
See, we got to dream that way
00:33:14.99\00:33:17.26
because it's not a
dream, it's a reality.
00:33:17.29\00:33:19.46
I'm paying down on my mansion.
00:33:19.49\00:33:22.33
When we give...
00:33:22.36\00:33:23.80
And when we give
like the Lord says,
00:33:23.83\00:33:26.27
when we store up
treasure in heaven,
00:33:26.30\00:33:27.87
where moth and rust
does not corrupt them,
00:33:27.90\00:33:30.17
where thieves
cannot break into steel,
00:33:30.21\00:33:32.57
we've got some
to look forward to.
00:33:32.61\00:33:34.58
So I'm looking forward
to the day when I get in,
00:33:34.61\00:33:36.75
I know my wife and I
00:33:36.78\00:33:38.11
are going to be
in the line together,
00:33:38.15\00:33:39.48
she's an Angela so
she may get in before me.
00:33:39.51\00:33:41.85
She may say,
"John, it's great in here.
00:33:41.88\00:33:45.59
Move up, Honey."
00:33:45.62\00:33:47.79
I am looking
forward to that day.
00:33:47.82\00:33:49.26
So when I read text like
this, I'm envisioning that.
00:33:49.29\00:33:53.70
"Enter into the
joy of your Lord."
00:33:53.73\00:33:56.73
And don't let
the joy just be there
00:33:56.77\00:33:59.10
because you'll discover
in the very next lesson.
00:33:59.13\00:34:00.94
I need to get to it in a hurry.
00:34:00.97\00:34:02.30
You'll just go,
00:34:02.34\00:34:03.67
"There's a whole
lot of joy down here."
00:34:03.71\00:34:05.04
Amen?
00:34:05.07\00:34:06.41
The servant's life
is joyful down here.
00:34:06.44\00:34:07.78
Matter of fact, people say,
00:34:07.81\00:34:09.14
why does it seem like
00:34:09.18\00:34:10.51
the sinner
enjoys his life so much?
00:34:10.55\00:34:11.88
Oh, no, no, no, no.
00:34:11.91\00:34:13.25
The way of the
transgressor is hard.
00:34:13.28\00:34:16.89
It looks easy,
00:34:16.92\00:34:18.65
but you don't see the
other side of the picture.
00:34:18.69\00:34:21.12
You know, when you
see these commercials,
00:34:21.16\00:34:22.49
and everybody's, you know,
00:34:22.52\00:34:23.93
the beer commercials,
and the alcohol commercials,
00:34:23.96\00:34:26.83
and they have all the nightlife,
00:34:26.86\00:34:28.86
and they're
walking off their jets,
00:34:28.90\00:34:30.70
or standing in front
of their massive mansions
00:34:30.73\00:34:33.44
or getting out of
their 150,000-dollar car,
00:34:33.47\00:34:35.50
nothing wrong with having car
00:34:35.54\00:34:36.87
if you could
afford it like that.
00:34:36.91\00:34:38.24
That's not my issue.
00:34:38.27\00:34:39.61
But they make it look
like the highlife is just
00:34:39.64\00:34:41.48
the way you want to go.
00:34:41.51\00:34:42.84
And at the end the
commercial, "Bud Light!"
00:34:42.88\00:34:46.01
I'm thinking, "Oh, really?"
00:34:46.05\00:34:47.62
Was that all about a beer can?
00:34:47.65\00:34:51.35
Is that what
gets me to that stage?
00:34:51.39\00:34:53.36
Well, I've been out there.
00:34:53.39\00:34:54.72
I know that does not
get you to that stage.
00:34:54.76\00:34:57.99
And in years ago,
00:34:58.03\00:34:59.36
when they had the
smoking commercials,
00:34:59.39\00:35:01.70
nowadays they
show you the truth,
00:35:01.73\00:35:03.37
the trachea and the people
who are battling with cancer.
00:35:03.40\00:35:07.84
The real joy as the song said,
00:35:07.87\00:35:10.71
we got to
resurrect this song saints.
00:35:10.74\00:35:12.51
If you want joy,
real joy, wonderful joy,
00:35:12.54\00:35:18.11
what does it say?
00:35:18.15\00:35:19.48
Let Jesus come into your hearts.
00:35:19.51\00:35:21.48
Remember that
song, Brother Dick?
00:35:21.52\00:35:22.85
That was an old
evangelist song, right, Pastor?
00:35:22.88\00:35:25.65
If you want joy
00:35:25.69\00:35:28.29
Real joy, wonderful joy
00:35:28.32\00:35:31.63
Let Jesus come into your heart
00:35:31.66\00:35:36.56
Didn't mean to sing
but I'm in joy right now.
00:35:36.60\00:35:39.53
That's what you
got to do sometimes.
00:35:39.57\00:35:40.90
You got to sing away.
00:35:40.94\00:35:42.27
And the devil will say,
00:35:42.30\00:35:43.64
"Oh, guys,
let's go on next door.
00:35:43.67\00:35:45.01
I don't want to hear this."
00:35:45.04\00:35:46.51
Right?
00:35:46.54\00:35:47.88
If the clouds are
trying to shut you in, sing,
00:35:47.91\00:35:52.61
and the devil will leave
because the Lord inhabits,
00:35:52.65\00:35:55.98
what, the praises of His people.
00:35:56.02\00:35:58.85
Well, that was a
long answer, wasn't it?
00:35:58.89\00:36:01.09
That's number 21, is it?
00:36:01.12\00:36:02.59
Number 20. Okay.
00:36:02.62\00:36:04.29
What is the best commendation
a servant of God will receive?
00:36:04.33\00:36:07.20
Well done! Well done!
00:36:07.23\00:36:09.90
Good job. Good job.
00:36:09.93\00:36:13.40
Praise the Lord
for that commendation.
00:36:13.44\00:36:16.30
Somebody is going to hear
that, it might as well be me.
00:36:16.34\00:36:19.61
What do you say?
00:36:19.64\00:36:21.54
Somebody is going to hear,
well done, and might as well...
00:36:21.58\00:36:23.78
When you go home tonight,
say, "It might as well be me."
00:36:23.81\00:36:27.05
Somebody's going to be
saved, it might as well, right,
00:36:27.08\00:36:29.58
might as well be me.
00:36:29.62\00:36:31.22
Somebody's going to sit down
at that dinner table in heaven,
00:36:31.25\00:36:34.52
it might as well be me.
00:36:34.56\00:36:37.79
Kind of preach a sermon
called it might as well be me.
00:36:37.83\00:36:41.10
That'd be coming down the road.
00:36:41.13\00:36:43.30
Question number 21.
00:36:43.33\00:36:44.83
Let's stop preaching
and get to teaching again.
00:36:44.87\00:36:47.24
Question number 21, here it is.
00:36:47.27\00:36:49.74
What will those that serve God
here have to look forward to?
00:36:49.77\00:36:55.11
What will those that serve God
here have to look forward to?
00:36:55.14\00:36:58.91
Oh, this is the beautiful one.
00:36:58.95\00:37:01.58
If you serve God here,
00:37:01.62\00:37:02.95
what do you have
to look forward to?
00:37:02.98\00:37:04.32
Sometimes people say...
00:37:04.35\00:37:05.95
When my wife is
planning vacation,
00:37:05.99\00:37:08.06
you know, she
goes on the websites
00:37:08.09\00:37:09.59
and she looks at
all the amenities,
00:37:09.62\00:37:11.89
and she would say, "Oh,
can you imagine, Sandals."
00:37:11.93\00:37:17.20
When we go to Sandals in Jamaica
00:37:17.23\00:37:18.57
or on St. Lucia, "Oh,
00:37:18.60\00:37:20.70
Sandals, white beaches."
00:37:20.74\00:37:23.77
So how much it's going to cost?
00:37:23.81\00:37:25.57
"Well, I was just dreaming."
00:37:25.61\00:37:29.41
And you got to dream sometimes,
00:37:29.44\00:37:31.61
you got to get
away in your mind.
00:37:31.65\00:37:34.28
You cannot let your surroundings
00:37:34.32\00:37:36.18
become your prison.
00:37:36.22\00:37:37.65
You got to close your
eyes sometimes and say,
00:37:37.69\00:37:41.19
"I could see that cloud
about the size of man's hand.
00:37:41.22\00:37:45.73
I could hear the
flapping of the angel's wings.
00:37:45.76\00:37:49.50
I could hear the trumpet,
00:37:49.53\00:37:51.07
and I could hear
my name being called."
00:37:51.10\00:37:54.07
You got to get
away in your head.
00:37:54.10\00:37:57.01
People say, "Are you okay?"
00:37:57.04\00:37:59.27
"No, I'm all right."
00:37:59.31\00:38:00.71
That's why the
prophets that were envisioned,
00:38:00.74\00:38:03.38
they enjoy being envisioned
00:38:03.41\00:38:05.31
because they
were somewhere else.
00:38:05.35\00:38:07.58
They were not down here
in this dark and cruel world.
00:38:07.62\00:38:10.69
So what do we
have to look forward to
00:38:10.72\00:38:12.19
if we serve the Lord down here?
00:38:12.22\00:38:13.72
Revelation 22:3.
00:38:13.76\00:38:15.86
Revelation 22:3.
00:38:15.89\00:38:17.79
This is what we
have to look forward to
00:38:17.83\00:38:19.79
as we serve God down here.
00:38:19.83\00:38:21.76
Are you ready?
00:38:21.80\00:38:23.37
I want us to read this together.
00:38:23.40\00:38:25.80
We got to make a
down payment on this.
00:38:25.83\00:38:27.54
By the way, God
has already done,
00:38:27.57\00:38:28.90
so together,
00:38:28.94\00:38:30.31
"And there shall
be no more curse,
00:38:30.34\00:38:33.48
but the throne of God and
of the Lamb shall be in it,
00:38:33.51\00:38:38.98
and His servants
shall," do what, "serve Him."
00:38:39.01\00:38:43.18
There shall be no more curse.
00:38:43.22\00:38:45.62
Ever since the entrance of sin,
00:38:45.65\00:38:47.39
everything on
this planet was cursed,
00:38:47.42\00:38:49.46
the trees, the fish of the sea,
the animals, the vegetables,
00:38:49.49\00:38:53.93
the fruits,
everything has been diminished
00:38:53.96\00:38:57.47
because of the curse of sin.
00:38:57.50\00:39:00.10
But in heaven,
ladies that love flowers,
00:39:00.14\00:39:03.91
you wait, you're
going to see roses,
00:39:03.94\00:39:07.48
you're going to see
the beauty of perfection.
00:39:07.51\00:39:11.65
In the New Earth,
00:39:11.68\00:39:13.42
we're going to see
the beauty of perfection.
00:39:13.45\00:39:16.72
We're not going to be fearful
of anything in the new earth
00:39:16.75\00:39:19.35
because there'll be no
more death, no more sin.
00:39:19.39\00:39:22.12
There'll be no more
curse for the throne of God
00:39:22.16\00:39:24.36
and of the Lamb will be in it.
00:39:24.39\00:39:26.03
And what are we
going to be able to do?
00:39:26.06\00:39:27.43
We're going to be
able to serve the Lord.
00:39:27.46\00:39:30.17
So if we're going to
serve the Lord in eternity,
00:39:30.20\00:39:32.83
shouldn't we get started now?
00:39:32.87\00:39:35.24
Right, Mark?
00:39:35.27\00:39:36.60
If that's what
I'm going to do...
00:39:36.64\00:39:37.97
If that's what I'm
going to be doing in eternity,
00:39:38.01\00:39:40.28
I need to get
started doing it now.
00:39:40.31\00:39:42.98
I need to learn how
to serve the Lord now.
00:39:43.01\00:39:46.01
Not just come to church service,
00:39:46.05\00:39:48.48
but to serve the Lord
on a day by day basis,
00:39:48.52\00:39:51.82
asking God to guide
us and to direct us.
00:39:51.85\00:39:55.32
All right, that
was question number 21.
00:39:55.36\00:39:57.93
Now let's go to our new lesson.
00:39:57.96\00:40:00.00
Our new lesson for tonight,
00:40:00.03\00:40:02.00
after you have
the servant's life,
00:40:02.03\00:40:04.03
boy, then the
next thing you have is
00:40:04.07\00:40:06.57
The Servant's
Worship, The Servant's Worship.
00:40:06.60\00:40:11.17
Wow!
00:40:11.21\00:40:12.54
Do you know
00:40:12.57\00:40:14.74
that the highest thing
00:40:14.78\00:40:19.05
that we can give to God
00:40:19.08\00:40:21.15
is our worship?
00:40:21.18\00:40:25.45
If that were not
the highest thing,
00:40:25.49\00:40:27.32
then the devil
wouldn't desire it.
00:40:27.36\00:40:29.79
He wants to take from God
that which is due to Him alone.
00:40:29.82\00:40:35.16
When the Lord had a battle
00:40:35.20\00:40:36.53
with the devil
in the wilderness,
00:40:36.56\00:40:38.03
He said, "You shall
worship the Lord your God,
00:40:38.07\00:40:41.07
in Him only shall you serve."
00:40:41.10\00:40:43.81
I want you to notice that.
00:40:43.84\00:40:45.17
He connected serve and
worship in the same passage.
00:40:45.21\00:40:49.44
You shall worship
the Lord your God,
00:40:49.48\00:40:50.81
In Him only shall you serve.
00:40:50.85\00:40:53.11
So the reason why we're
going from service to worship
00:40:53.15\00:40:56.69
is because that's how
the Lord connected it.
00:40:56.72\00:40:59.39
"If you serve to Me
then you must worship Me."
00:40:59.42\00:41:03.29
And Lord says, "The
only one that you must serve
00:41:03.32\00:41:05.76
and the only one
00:41:05.79\00:41:07.13
that you must
worship is the Lord."
00:41:07.16\00:41:08.83
Get the hands, get
thee behind me as it were.
00:41:08.86\00:41:13.37
So the servant's
worship, the highest thing
00:41:13.40\00:41:16.10
that we can offer
to the Lord is worship.
00:41:16.14\00:41:19.11
Now the first
passage we're going to go to
00:41:19.14\00:41:22.28
or the first
question is as follows,
00:41:22.31\00:41:24.71
but I want to just caution you
00:41:24.75\00:41:26.31
because when we
go to this verse,
00:41:26.35\00:41:28.18
I want you to pay
particular attention
00:41:28.22\00:41:29.78
to the way the
question is phrased.
00:41:29.82\00:41:31.79
And I want you to pay attention
to a particular word there.
00:41:31.82\00:41:34.26
Each of you has question
number one of lesson number 16.
00:41:34.29\00:41:37.53
And by the way, if
you don't have that yet,
00:41:37.56\00:41:39.39
you can go to our
website ASF.3ABN.org,
00:41:39.43\00:41:43.50
ASF.3ABN.org and
download that lesson number 16,
00:41:43.53\00:41:48.20
that is, by the way
if you just tuned in.
00:41:48.24\00:41:51.24
But here's the question.
00:41:51.27\00:41:53.61
What is the,
what's the next word,
00:41:53.64\00:41:57.95
on the screen.
00:41:57.98\00:41:59.31
What is the only way
that God can be worshipped?
00:41:59.35\00:42:04.82
Now this is really important
because all over the world,
00:42:04.85\00:42:09.46
in every particular
movement on the planet,
00:42:14.00\00:42:17.40
there's a claim
to be worshiping God.
00:42:17.43\00:42:20.74
But the reason why the
question is phrased this way
00:42:20.77\00:42:22.74
is because when
I read the Bible,
00:42:22.77\00:42:24.71
it begins to narrow down
00:42:24.74\00:42:26.07
the kind of
worship that God requires.
00:42:26.11\00:42:30.18
God does not
need worship in music.
00:42:30.21\00:42:32.18
God does not
need worship in dance.
00:42:32.21\00:42:34.02
God does not
need worship in drama.
00:42:34.05\00:42:37.12
God does not need
worship in shouting.
00:42:37.15\00:42:40.19
All those things are part
of worship in some places.
00:42:40.22\00:42:44.66
But the kind of
worship that God is asking
00:42:44.69\00:42:47.16
is found in John 4:23 and 24.
00:42:47.20\00:42:51.53
What is the only way
that God can be worshiped?
00:42:51.57\00:42:56.87
All right, here it is.
00:42:56.91\00:42:59.07
You ready for it?
00:42:59.11\00:43:00.58
Most of you have
already turned there.
00:43:00.61\00:43:01.94
Thank you for that.
00:43:01.98\00:43:03.31
But here's the answer.
00:43:03.35\00:43:05.58
The Lord says,
"But the hour is coming,
00:43:05.61\00:43:08.15
and now is, when the,"
what kind of worshiper,
00:43:08.18\00:43:12.82
"when the true worshipers
00:43:12.85\00:43:16.83
will worship the
Father," two ways,
00:43:16.86\00:43:19.19
in what, "spirit
and," in what, "truth,
00:43:19.23\00:43:22.63
for the Father is
seeking such to worship Him."
00:43:22.66\00:43:27.34
What is God looking
for? Let's finish the text.
00:43:27.37\00:43:29.97
"God is Spirit, and
those who worship Him
00:43:30.01\00:43:33.17
might worship Him..."
00:43:33.21\00:43:36.54
what's the word?
00:43:36.58\00:43:38.21
It's not might, it's not could.
00:43:38.25\00:43:41.48
"Those who
worship Him," together,
00:43:41.52\00:43:44.25
"must worship in,"
what, "spirit and truth."
00:43:44.29\00:43:49.26
Spirit and truth.
00:43:49.29\00:43:50.93
One of the
preachers I heard once said,
00:43:50.96\00:43:53.63
"Too much spirit, you blow up.
00:43:53.66\00:43:56.33
Too much truth, you dry up.
00:43:56.36\00:43:59.20
But if you combine
them together, you grow up."
00:43:59.23\00:44:03.24
I thought that was really good
00:44:03.27\00:44:04.81
because there's some
people who spent all their time,
00:44:04.84\00:44:06.17
"What's the truth, what's
the truth, what's the truth?"
00:44:06.21\00:44:07.58
There's others, "I
don't need the truth,
00:44:07.61\00:44:08.94
I need to see the spirit.
00:44:08.98\00:44:10.71
Too much spirit, you blow up.
00:44:10.75\00:44:12.08
Too much truth, you dry.
00:44:12.11\00:44:13.45
But you combine them
together, you grow up.
00:44:13.48\00:44:16.55
God is saying, "I'm
looking for worshipers."
00:44:16.58\00:44:19.09
And I want you to look
at that text in particular
00:44:19.12\00:44:20.89
because He says
what kind of worshipers
00:44:20.92\00:44:22.86
is He looking for?
00:44:22.89\00:44:24.69
What kind of worshipers, Robert?
00:44:24.73\00:44:26.39
True.
00:44:26.43\00:44:27.76
He's not just
looking for worshipers
00:44:27.80\00:44:29.13
because so many
people desire to worship God.
00:44:29.16\00:44:32.70
But what they do is
they design worship.
00:44:32.73\00:44:34.80
And he said,
00:44:34.84\00:44:36.17
"God, is this how you
want me to worship you?"
00:44:36.20\00:44:37.54
Or more specifically,
00:44:37.57\00:44:38.91
this is how I'm
going to worship You.
00:44:38.94\00:44:40.51
And God said, "That's fine."
00:44:40.54\00:44:42.18
Remember, in the very beginning,
00:44:42.21\00:44:43.88
two kinds of
worshipers were established,
00:44:43.91\00:44:45.45
isn't that right, Pastor?
00:44:45.48\00:44:47.45
What were their names?
00:44:47.48\00:44:48.88
Cain and Abel.
00:44:48.92\00:44:51.79
One brought to God,
both brought an offering,
00:44:51.82\00:44:56.56
but only one
brought a sacrifice.
00:44:56.59\00:45:00.10
If your worship
is not a sacrifice,
00:45:00.13\00:45:04.40
then God is not going
to accept the offering.
00:45:04.43\00:45:08.34
If the worship
that we give to God
00:45:08.37\00:45:10.14
does not require a sacrifice,
He says of us we must...
00:45:10.17\00:45:15.28
Well, let's go to Romans 12.
00:45:15.31\00:45:18.21
Okay, Romans 12.
00:45:18.25\00:45:19.75
There it is.
00:45:22.22\00:45:25.65
Romans 12.
00:45:25.69\00:45:27.82
We're looking
together at verse 1.
00:45:27.86\00:45:32.49
All right?
00:45:32.53\00:45:35.16
Sacrifice, these
are worship texts.
00:45:35.20\00:45:38.07
Romans 12:1 is a worship text.
00:45:38.10\00:45:43.20
God wants to be worshiped,
and He's telling us how
00:45:43.24\00:45:46.98
because the body is
used for all kinds of things.
00:45:47.01\00:45:49.94
And unfortunately,
00:45:49.98\00:45:51.95
not everything
that it's used for
00:45:51.98\00:45:54.48
is acceptable to the Lord.
00:45:54.52\00:45:56.99
He says in Romans 12:1,
"I beseech you therefore,
00:45:57.02\00:45:59.79
brethren, by the mercies of God,
00:45:59.82\00:46:02.02
that you present your, " what,
00:46:02.06\00:46:04.29
"bodies a," what
kind of sacrifice,
00:46:04.33\00:46:06.63
"living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable to God,
00:46:06.66\00:46:11.17
which is your,"
what, "reasonable service."
00:46:11.20\00:46:14.44
And now he says,
00:46:14.47\00:46:15.80
which is your
spiritual act of worship.
00:46:15.84\00:46:19.47
And that only
happens when you choose
00:46:19.51\00:46:21.51
not to be
conformed to the world,
00:46:21.54\00:46:23.78
but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind.
00:46:23.81\00:46:27.45
Verse 2, "That you may
prove what is that good
00:46:27.48\00:46:30.99
and acceptable and
perfect will of God."
00:46:31.02\00:46:34.52
When that happens,
a person is humbled,
00:46:34.56\00:46:36.93
he doesn't think
00:46:36.96\00:46:38.29
more of himself
than he ought to.
00:46:38.33\00:46:39.66
You see, if you
just read verse 1 and 2,
00:46:39.69\00:46:41.40
you say, "Well, great,"
00:46:41.43\00:46:43.00
because the only one
that should be exalted
00:46:43.03\00:46:44.77
is God and not us.
00:46:44.80\00:46:47.97
And unfortunately,
00:46:48.00\00:46:49.34
I've been in worship
services where the person
00:46:49.37\00:46:51.37
that's upfront is being
exalted and not the Lord.
00:46:51.41\00:46:55.34
But the kind of worship
that God requires exalts Him
00:46:55.38\00:46:58.61
and not the worshiper.
00:46:58.65\00:46:59.98
Amen?
00:47:00.02\00:47:01.35
So we got to be really
careful when we give to God,
00:47:01.38\00:47:04.12
when we give back to
God what he's given to us,
00:47:04.15\00:47:06.45
make sure that it
does not glorify us
00:47:06.49\00:47:08.22
because God is the one that...
00:47:08.26\00:47:09.82
He's the only
one worthy of glory,
00:47:09.86\00:47:11.53
He's the only one
worthy of praise, not us.
00:47:11.56\00:47:14.36
So put the answer down.
00:47:14.40\00:47:15.73
What is the only way
that God can be worshiped?
00:47:15.76\00:47:17.53
And the answer is,
how, in spirit and in truth.
00:47:17.57\00:47:21.74
That's a very strange concept
nowadays in a world that says,
00:47:21.77\00:47:25.67
"What is truth?"
00:47:25.71\00:47:27.81
Yeah, really.
00:47:27.84\00:47:29.18
You talk about truth nowadays,
00:47:29.21\00:47:30.55
I got a phone call from a
lady today that I never met.
00:47:30.58\00:47:33.55
She watches House Calls,
she's a fairly new Christian,
00:47:33.58\00:47:37.45
a fairly new Adventist,
00:47:37.49\00:47:39.32
and she's in a situation where
00:47:39.35\00:47:43.93
her son is having to read a book
00:47:43.96\00:47:45.29
about somebody
dying and going to heaven.
00:47:45.33\00:47:48.16
And she doesn't believe that.
00:47:48.20\00:47:49.90
And it just...
00:47:49.93\00:47:51.43
The Lord...
00:47:51.47\00:47:52.80
She was saying,
I was trying to...
00:47:52.83\00:47:54.20
I was tossed the
best to who to call,
00:47:54.24\00:47:56.71
whether to call
Doug Batchelor or you.
00:47:56.74\00:48:00.44
And Lord
impressed me to call you.
00:48:00.48\00:48:02.04
She said, 'cause
I watch House Calls,
00:48:02.08\00:48:03.91
I watch A Sharper
Focus, I watch 3ABN,
00:48:03.95\00:48:09.02
listen to your sermons.
00:48:09.05\00:48:10.39
Lord impressed me to call you
00:48:10.42\00:48:11.75
because I don't know
how to deal with the topic.
00:48:11.79\00:48:13.76
I don't want my
son reading books
00:48:13.79\00:48:15.12
that are being
assigned him about a kid
00:48:15.16\00:48:17.49
that has an experience
that he went to heaven.
00:48:17.53\00:48:19.96
And I know that's not
supported by the Bible.
00:48:20.00\00:48:21.66
How do I handle that?
00:48:21.70\00:48:23.37
And let me use this
in a tongue in cheek way.
00:48:23.40\00:48:25.63
It just so happened.
00:48:25.67\00:48:27.80
Does it just so happened?
00:48:27.84\00:48:29.57
It never just so happened.
00:48:29.60\00:48:31.91
Months ago,
00:48:31.94\00:48:33.27
when I was broken
on a funeral service,
00:48:33.31\00:48:35.41
God impressed me to put together
00:48:35.44\00:48:37.11
a nine-page paper on
what the Bible teaches,
00:48:37.15\00:48:41.12
specifically about
what happens when you die,
00:48:41.15\00:48:43.45
about the fact that man
does not have an immortal soul,
00:48:43.49\00:48:46.15
about the
resurrection, all the specifics
00:48:46.19\00:48:48.76
that she needed
that information for.
00:48:48.79\00:48:51.13
She said, "I
know what it teaches.
00:48:51.16\00:48:52.59
But I'm still such
a novice in the Word.
00:48:52.63\00:48:54.66
I don't know how
to communicate it
00:48:54.70\00:48:56.03
and I don't know all
the Bible texts to that
00:48:56.06\00:48:57.47
connect together."
00:48:57.50\00:48:59.83
And I want my son to accept...
00:48:59.87\00:49:01.67
I want to be able
to share the truth
00:49:01.70\00:49:06.41
with my son's instructors.
00:49:06.44\00:49:08.28
But I need to
understand the truth
00:49:08.31\00:49:10.05
in order to be able to share it.
00:49:10.08\00:49:13.11
And I said,
"It's amazing you asked
00:49:13.15\00:49:15.52
because I have
a paper right now.
00:49:15.55\00:49:17.29
I could email it
to you right away."
00:49:17.32\00:49:18.79
And I sent it to her right away.
00:49:18.82\00:49:20.16
She was even a novice in email,
00:49:20.19\00:49:21.69
but if you're
watching the program,
00:49:21.72\00:49:23.06
I know that God is going to use
00:49:23.09\00:49:24.66
what He's allowed you to receive
00:49:24.69\00:49:26.90
what is from His
word to be able to lead
00:49:26.93\00:49:29.70
those who are not
clear on the topic
00:49:29.73\00:49:31.73
to an understanding of
the truth of God's Word.
00:49:31.77\00:49:33.80
We must desire not
to just worship God,
00:49:33.84\00:49:36.10
we must desire to worship
God in spirit and in, what,
00:49:36.14\00:49:38.94
in truth.
00:49:38.97\00:49:40.31
Why in spirit? Go
with me to John 16.
00:49:40.34\00:49:43.01
Why in spirit?
00:49:43.04\00:49:44.38
We know what the truth is.
00:49:44.41\00:49:46.58
As many, many years ago,
you got to be a little older
00:49:46.61\00:49:49.52
to remember that.
00:49:49.55\00:49:50.89
Years ago, there was a time...
00:49:50.92\00:49:53.69
I mean, for those...
00:49:53.72\00:49:55.06
I see a couple of
people that I know
00:49:55.09\00:49:56.56
may understand this statement.
00:49:56.59\00:49:58.13
Years ago, there was an officer.
00:49:58.16\00:50:01.33
Years ago,
00:50:01.36\00:50:02.70
on television
Officer Joe Friday.
00:50:02.73\00:50:04.53
And he would say,
"Just the facts, ma'am,
00:50:04.57\00:50:07.14
just the facts."
00:50:07.17\00:50:09.27
'Cause nowadays,
00:50:09.30\00:50:11.04
it seems like the
facts don't matter.
00:50:11.07\00:50:14.94
Right?
00:50:14.98\00:50:16.38
Just the facts.
00:50:16.41\00:50:17.75
What's the fact?
00:50:17.78\00:50:19.11
People don't die
and go to heaven.
00:50:19.15\00:50:21.02
People often hear that is like,
00:50:21.05\00:50:22.45
we're not going to go to heaven.
00:50:22.48\00:50:23.95
I said, "That's
not what I'm saying.
00:50:23.99\00:50:25.35
We're going to all go together.
00:50:25.39\00:50:26.72
It's going to be a bus outing.
00:50:26.76\00:50:29.52
We're gonna all
go on the same plane,
00:50:29.56\00:50:32.83
United Airlines."
00:50:32.86\00:50:35.33
We're going together. Amen?
00:50:35.36\00:50:38.10
See, we're going together.
00:50:38.13\00:50:39.47
But some folk,
when they fly away,
00:50:39.50\00:50:41.00
they sing a song,
"I'll fly away when I die."
00:50:41.04\00:50:43.77
You can sing that song,
but you ain't going anywhere.
00:50:43.81\00:50:46.14
And nowadays, they
have this new phrase,
00:50:46.17\00:50:48.04
"Home going service".
00:50:48.08\00:50:50.15
You ever hear that?
00:50:50.18\00:50:51.51
"Well, we have a
home going service."
00:50:51.55\00:50:52.88
Yeah, you're going home,
you read the book of Job,
00:50:52.91\00:50:54.35
he says, "If I wait,
the grave will be my house."
00:50:54.38\00:50:56.99
That's where you go,
and you're going that home.
00:50:57.02\00:50:58.85
You ain't going to that home.
00:50:58.89\00:51:00.82
You can't go to that home
until you put on immortality.
00:51:00.86\00:51:03.63
And that does not
happen until the last trumpet.
00:51:03.66\00:51:08.03
But anyway,
that's another topic.
00:51:08.06\00:51:09.56
After we finish
this series, by the way,
00:51:09.60\00:51:11.70
on how to live a
spiritual life and natural body,
00:51:11.73\00:51:13.74
we're going to go through
00:51:13.77\00:51:15.10
some of the most
difficult doctrinal issues.
00:51:15.14\00:51:17.11
Amen?
00:51:17.14\00:51:18.47
We're going to tackle
those topics like the Sabbath,
00:51:18.51\00:51:20.71
and the state of the dead,
00:51:20.74\00:51:22.08
and hell, is it
burning forever and ever?
00:51:22.11\00:51:23.95
All those topics
that are controversial,
00:51:23.98\00:51:26.92
we're not going to
go through all of those.
00:51:26.95\00:51:29.12
And the reason why...
00:51:29.15\00:51:30.49
What did I tell you to turn?
00:51:30.52\00:51:31.85
John.
00:51:31.89\00:51:33.22
Why am I in the index?
00:51:33.25\00:51:34.89
I'm thinking,
00:51:34.92\00:51:36.26
"Why am I in the index
in the middle of the Bible?"
00:51:36.29\00:51:39.39
Why the Spirit?
00:51:39.43\00:51:40.76
'Cause this is what
the spirit promises to do.
00:51:40.80\00:51:43.06
John 16:13, didn't tell you
where but I tell you what book.
00:51:43.10\00:51:46.77
John 16:13.
00:51:46.80\00:51:48.77
Notice what happens.
00:51:48.80\00:51:50.14
When you're
worshiping God in the spirit,
00:51:50.17\00:51:51.54
here's what you get.
00:51:51.57\00:51:52.91
You get what
other people don't get.
00:51:52.94\00:51:55.54
And they don't get it
00:51:55.58\00:51:56.91
because they don't
submit to the Holy Spirit.
00:51:56.95\00:51:59.21
Here's what it says in verse 13,
00:51:59.25\00:52:00.85
"However," or "how be it, "
00:52:00.88\00:52:02.48
as the King James Version says,
00:52:02.52\00:52:04.15
"when He, the
Spirit of truth has come,
00:52:04.19\00:52:07.79
He will," do
what, "guide you into,"
00:52:07.82\00:52:11.26
what, notice spirit and truth
00:52:11.29\00:52:14.80
in the same verse which says,
00:52:14.83\00:52:18.43
you cannot say you're
being led by the spirit
00:52:18.47\00:52:22.14
if you don't want the truth.
00:52:22.17\00:52:26.31
Is that a false accusation?
00:52:26.34\00:52:28.34
The Spirit of God is leading me,
00:52:28.38\00:52:29.94
but I don't want the truth.
00:52:29.98\00:52:31.68
Is that an indictment
against the Holy Spirit?
00:52:31.71\00:52:34.52
So the Holy Spirit
makes an exception to Hannah.
00:52:34.55\00:52:36.99
Hannah, I'm gonna
lead you, but just for you,
00:52:37.02\00:52:39.89
I'm not going to
give you any truth,
00:52:39.92\00:52:41.39
just going to
give you a journey.
00:52:41.42\00:52:43.96
And that's what
happened nowadays.
00:52:43.99\00:52:45.33
Christianity is being
boiled down to an experience,
00:52:45.36\00:52:48.16
and the truth is being omitted.
00:52:48.20\00:52:49.63
But that's not would have
been, that's not how it ends.
00:52:49.66\00:52:51.77
He says, "He will
guide you into all truth,
00:52:51.80\00:52:54.94
for He will not
speak on His own authority,
00:52:54.97\00:52:57.84
but whatever He
hears He will speak.
00:52:57.87\00:53:00.34
And He will tell
you things to come."
00:53:00.38\00:53:02.48
You know what,
tell you things to come
00:53:02.51\00:53:04.01
is a parallel to Amos 3:7,
00:53:04.05\00:53:06.65
the servants of
God will be shown,
00:53:06.68\00:53:09.22
God will reveal to
them and His secrets
00:53:09.25\00:53:11.15
through the Holy Spirit.
00:53:11.19\00:53:12.52
He'll show us
things that are to come.
00:53:12.55\00:53:15.02
But you cannot have that benefit
00:53:15.06\00:53:17.66
if you're not willing
to be led by the spirit
00:53:17.69\00:53:20.93
into the truth of God's Word.
00:53:20.96\00:53:22.73
Do yourself a favor, and
just get yourself an index.
00:53:22.76\00:53:26.94
I used to travel around
when I was in Heritage Singers.
00:53:26.97\00:53:29.20
We didn't have
laptops back then with,
00:53:29.24\00:53:31.24
you know, those
quick concordances,
00:53:31.27\00:53:33.07
and you can
just type in the word
00:53:33.11\00:53:34.44
and it just pops up like that.
00:53:34.48\00:53:36.18
I had a thick strong
concordance in mylocker.
00:53:36.21\00:53:40.68
I still have it?
00:53:40.72\00:53:42.12
I had a thick strong concordance
00:53:42.15\00:53:43.75
in my locker in the bus,
00:53:43.79\00:53:45.12
and I used to travel
with the Heritage Singers.
00:53:45.15\00:53:47.16
And I remember once
00:53:47.19\00:53:48.52
I had a topic, I
was discussing...
00:53:48.56\00:53:50.63
Somebody was
discussing a topic with me
00:53:50.66\00:53:52.76
while the rest of
the group was sleeping.
00:53:52.79\00:53:54.76
There I was with my
thick strong concordance
00:53:54.80\00:53:59.77
going through every line,
looking for a particular word.
00:53:59.80\00:54:04.37
And by the Sabbath afternoon,
I handwrote all these.
00:54:04.41\00:54:10.01
And I still have
it in my file at home.
00:54:10.05\00:54:11.51
I saw it last week,
00:54:11.55\00:54:12.88
that's why it's back in my mind.
00:54:12.91\00:54:14.25
I handwrote all that the Bible
00:54:14.28\00:54:15.82
said about the
commandments of God.
00:54:15.85\00:54:19.59
But nowadays, you can
type in the word commandments
00:54:19.62\00:54:21.32
and it pops up.
00:54:21.36\00:54:22.69
So do yourself a
favor, type in the word truth,
00:54:22.72\00:54:24.86
and you'll be
startled about what you see
00:54:24.89\00:54:27.50
how relevant the truth is.
00:54:27.53\00:54:28.86
Matter of fact, one
more text I want to give you.
00:54:28.90\00:54:30.93
Go with me to the
book of Thessalonians.
00:54:30.97\00:54:34.70
Okay.
00:54:34.74\00:54:36.07
Here I am.
00:54:38.67\00:54:40.71
2 Thessalonians.
00:54:40.74\00:54:44.31
Show you how important truth is.
00:54:44.35\00:54:45.95
Some people say,
"It doesn't matter
00:54:45.98\00:54:47.32
what the truth is as
long as I serve God."
00:54:47.35\00:54:49.75
As the kid used to say
00:54:49.78\00:54:51.12
when I was growing up, "Nuh-uh."
00:54:51.15\00:54:53.66
Remember that, "Nah-uh"?
00:54:53.69\00:54:55.56
Little kids, "Nuh-uh."
00:54:55.59\00:54:56.93
No, no.
00:54:56.96\00:54:58.29
You got a...
00:54:58.33\00:54:59.66
God is a
particular God, is He not?
00:54:59.69\00:55:01.03
You don't just throw
God leftovers and say,
00:55:01.06\00:55:03.37
"Well, I hope you like this."
00:55:03.40\00:55:05.10
It doesn't
matter how I worship you
00:55:05.13\00:55:06.47
as long as I worship you.
00:55:06.50\00:55:07.84
No!
00:55:07.87\00:55:09.20
You can't say that to your boss.
00:55:09.24\00:55:10.57
Doesn't matter if
I do the job right
00:55:10.61\00:55:12.24
as long as I do the job.
00:55:12.27\00:55:13.81
No! God is an awesome God.
00:55:13.84\00:55:16.11
Here's what it says about truth.
00:55:16.14\00:55:18.01
In verse...
00:55:18.05\00:55:19.38
2 Thessalonians 2,
that's where I'm going.
00:55:19.41\00:55:22.32
Here's what it says.
00:55:22.35\00:55:24.09
In verse 10, I'm
just going to shorten it.
00:55:24.12\00:55:26.72
"And with all
unrighteous deception, "
00:55:26.76\00:55:29.32
or as the King
James Version says,
00:55:29.36\00:55:30.69
"all deceivableness
of unrighteousness
00:55:30.73\00:55:34.26
among those who perish,
00:55:34.30\00:55:35.83
because they did not
receive the love of the truth,
00:55:35.86\00:55:40.40
that they might be saved."
00:55:40.44\00:55:41.77
It's not just the truth,
but you got to love the truth.
00:55:41.80\00:55:46.17
And what happens in
verse 11, "And for this reason,
00:55:46.21\00:55:49.44
God will send
them strong delusion,
00:55:49.48\00:55:51.81
that they should
believe the lie," the opposite,
00:55:51.85\00:55:55.52
"that they all may be condemned
who did not believe the truth
00:55:55.55\00:55:59.05
but had pleasure in,"
what, "unrighteousness."
00:55:59.09\00:56:02.76
It's either a lie
or it's the truth.
00:56:02.79\00:56:04.89
There are no middle ground.
00:56:04.93\00:56:06.36
And so as we
continue in this study
00:56:06.39\00:56:09.30
of how to live a spiritual
life in the natural body,
00:56:09.33\00:56:14.20
or specifically in this
case, the servant's worship,
00:56:14.24\00:56:17.71
we have to keep in
mind, God is a particular God.
00:56:17.74\00:56:20.71
What we give to God
is vitally important.
00:56:20.74\00:56:24.21
Let's look at question
number two very quickly.
00:56:24.25\00:56:26.28
Question number two, last one.
00:56:26.31\00:56:28.52
Psalms 29:2.
00:56:28.55\00:56:30.69
Here's the question.
00:56:30.72\00:56:32.45
Let me go back.
00:56:32.49\00:56:33.82
How are we
instructed to worship the Lord?
00:56:33.86\00:56:35.99
How are we
instructed to worship the Lord?
00:56:36.02\00:56:41.66
Psalms 29:2.
00:56:41.70\00:56:43.60
You ready for it?
00:56:43.63\00:56:45.33
This is beautiful.
00:56:45.37\00:56:47.00
This is wonderful.
00:56:47.04\00:56:49.07
This is beautiful.
00:56:49.10\00:56:51.47
One day, we're going
to really experience this,
00:56:51.51\00:56:53.64
looking forward to it.
00:56:53.68\00:56:55.38
And the Bible says,
let's read this one together
00:56:55.41\00:56:57.41
as we wind up our topic tonight.
00:56:57.45\00:56:59.21
It's on the screen.
00:56:59.25\00:57:00.85
Ready?
00:57:00.88\00:57:02.22
"Give unto the Lord the,"
what, "glory due his name,
00:57:02.25\00:57:07.22
worship the Lord in the,"
what, "beauty of holiness."
00:57:07.26\00:57:12.23
What is the
three angels' message?
00:57:12.26\00:57:14.53
"Fear God and give glory to Him
00:57:14.56\00:57:16.83
for the hour of
His judgment has come,"
00:57:16.87\00:57:18.63
and do what, "worship Him
00:57:18.67\00:57:20.77
that made the heavens
and the earth, and the seas,
00:57:20.80\00:57:23.71
and the fountains of waters."
00:57:23.74\00:57:25.37
This is the time that
God is seeking true worship,
00:57:25.41\00:57:29.81
not just manmade worship,
00:57:29.84\00:57:32.18
not just the worship
that I'm comfortable with,
00:57:32.21\00:57:34.48
not just the worship
that fits into my schedule,
00:57:34.52\00:57:36.99
or into my
theology, or into those things
00:57:37.02\00:57:39.52
that are convenient to me.
00:57:39.55\00:57:40.99
God wants us to worship
Him in the beauty of holiness.
00:57:41.02\00:57:46.16
And when you
think about holiness,
00:57:46.19\00:57:48.10
holiness has a
requirement to it.
00:57:48.13\00:57:50.10
God requires everything
00:57:50.13\00:57:52.17
that His Word
has revealed to us.
00:57:52.20\00:57:53.60
And so, friends, as
you worship the Lord,
00:57:53.64\00:57:55.97
as you desire to give Him
the glory that's due his name,
00:57:56.00\00:57:59.47
keep following Him.
00:57:59.51\00:58:00.84
And one day, what
does not make sense
00:58:00.88\00:58:02.54
will come into a sharper focus.
00:58:02.58\00:58:04.98
God bless you.
00:58:05.01\00:58:06.35