¤ ¤
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Hello friends, welcome to
another Wednesday night Bible
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study here in Thompsonville at
the 3ABN worship center. I hope
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that you have your Bibles with
you and you invite your family
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members to sit down for the next
hour as we continue our study on
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How to Become A Christian. As
you know we've been discussing
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the topic of How to Live a
Spiritual Life in a Natural Body
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and that's what the Lord wants
each one of us to do. So, in the
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in the context of this spiritual
walk tonight we want to expand
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that. We've talked about how,
we've talked about justification
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we've talked about
sanctification, we've talked
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about glorification. We talked
about the flesh versus the
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spirit. But then let's go back
to the rudimentary, elementary
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beginning. How do you become
a Christian rather than just
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living that life, how do you
become one? So we're going to
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continue that study tonight. If
you'd like a copy of the lesson,
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you can go to this website,
ASF.3ABN.ORG and download a copy
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of that syllabus and then you
can follow along with us. That's
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ASF.3ABN.ORG. Don't put www,
you won't get to the website.
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But before we have our opening
song, we're going to have our
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opening prayer. Let's bow our
heads together. Our Father in
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heaven, we thank you Lord for
the opportunity. The study Your
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word never brings disappointment
It always brings joy to our
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hearts. Always brings strength
to our walk with you, strength
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to our mind. And so, tonight,
Lord, abide in our midst, direct
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our thoughts, speak to us
through your word and increase
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within us the desire not only
to know about Jesus, but to know
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Jesus. This is our prayer.
In Your name we pray, amen. Now
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we always sing our theme song
for those of you who are wanting
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to join us. Our theme song
is on the screen here. You won't
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be hearing the music play in
your home, but we're going to
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sing that here. It's become our
theme song, which is Victory in
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Jesus. Are we going to sing that
together. Let's all sing that
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song together. ¤ ¤
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¤I heard an old, old story
how the Savior came from glory¤
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¤How He gave His life on Calvary
to save a wretch like me¤
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¤I heard about His groaning
of His precious blood atoning¤
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¤Then I repented of my
sin and won the victory¤
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¤Oh, victory in
Jesus my Savior forever¤
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¤He sought me and bought
me with His redeeming blood¤
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¤He loved me e'er I knew
Him and all my love is due Him¤
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¤He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood¤
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¤I heard about a mansion
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
and the old redemption story¤
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¤And some sweet day I'll sing
up there the song of victory¤
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Key change.
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¤Oh victory in
Jesus my Savior forever¤
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¤He sought me and bought
me with his redeeming blood¤
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¤He loved me e'er I knew
Him and all my love is due Him¤
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¤He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood¤
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Amen? Beneath the cleansing
flood and that we know is
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baptism, say that with me. What
is it? Baptism. You know we've
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been studying this topic about
the great blessing that comes
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from knowing the Lord and the
great blessing that comes from
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being a Christian. You know
there are lots of things in the
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world to follow and each one
of them always highlights the
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benefits. Recently my wife and I
sat down. I don't know how many
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of you have ever been
tortured at a hour and a half
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presentation on people trying to
force you to buy a time share.
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How many of have been... They
sit down and man they just well
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you know you could be the
proud owner of a time share.
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Just costs you $650 a month
for the next 30 years and guess
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what? You'll be able to own
that two weeks a year. And I'm
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thinking that's a mortgage for
just two weeks a year for the
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next 30 years or 20 years or
however they work that out. And
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I thought to myself, Honey let's
endure. And they highlight well
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you'll be able to go to Paris
or you'll be able to go to the
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Bahamas or any resort you choose
and not only would you be paying
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a monthly fee but there's upkeep
which is about $50-$75 maybe
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$150 depending
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on where you choose your
location to be. So it would be
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about $750 a month for the next
30 years but at the end of that
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time you own it. And all you got
to do is ask the question well
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will I be able to sell it after
30 years and the answer is no.
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So you don't really own anything
And we sat down and were
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terribly tortured. They always
say well if you can endure for
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the next hour and a half
then we'll kind of give you a
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gift certificate or maybe
you get a $100 preloaded credit
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card. But they really make you
earn that money. But they always
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hold out the benefits. And I
want to tell you this; whenever
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you want to join a club or
whatever at the health spa,
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they'll tell you well this
is all the machines you have
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access to and then you join it
and you pay your $70 a month and
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you realize you can only go
twice a month and you realize
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there are really no benefits
that are lasting and enduring
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that bring continual
satisfaction. But the Christian
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life is different. The Christian
life is free courtesy of
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payments by Jesus Christ. Can
you all say amen to that? Now
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it's free for us but it cost
Him everything. The benefits, as
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someone said, are out of this
world. The benefits are out of
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this world. So when people ask
what do you sell? I say I sell
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health insurance and I sell
fire insurance and I sell life
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insurance. Fire insurance,
delivery from the fires of
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destruction. Life insurance,
by accepting Jesus we have life
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eternal and we surely do have
health insurance too. It's God's
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health plan that you might
have life and have it more what?
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abundantly. That's you'll
prosper and be in health even
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as your soul prospers. So
tonight what we're going to do,
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we're going to start on question
number 7. We covered the first
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six question. One of the things
we talked about is in becoming
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a Christian, first we have to
recognize that we have a need.
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We have to recognize that we
are sinners. All have sinned and
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fallen, what's the next word?
Short of the glory of God. None
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of us are able to make up
the difference between sinful
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humanity and a sinless God no
matter how many efforts we put
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forth, no matter how much
strength we put into trying to
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be good we will always
fall short because of the sinful
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flesh. Then the Bible says the
wages of sin is what? Death, but
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the gift of God is eternal life
So, we look at the wages of sin
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and because all of us have
sinned, the only thing that
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we're worthy of receiving
is payment, which is death. The
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wages of sin is death. That's
not something that I want. But
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then we also learned that the
mission of Jesus is something
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that my niece has not forgotten
though for the last 20 something
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years, about 20 or so years ago
we taught her this text when she
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was not even a teenager yet and
to this day, my wife texted her
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last week and my wife texted
Luke 19:10 what is it? And she
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texted back the Son of Man
is come to seek and to save that
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which is lost. Amen. That's the
mission of Jesus. He has come to
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seek and to save that which was
lost. And that which was lost
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comprises the entire world. He
didn't come to condemn us but he
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came to do what? To save
us because we were condemned
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already. It's like a person
being in prison. You don't go
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to prison to tell them they're
locked up; they already know
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that. He came to set us free.
Free from the power and the
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bondage of sin, free from the
penalty of sin which is death.
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but then there are other
benefits and one of the things
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that we have to begin by talking
about tonight is we're going to
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ask this question, which is
on the screen. First look at the
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title, How to Become a Christian
is our title that we're
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continuing tonight, How to
Become a Christian. But I'd like
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to begin with question number
7 tonight which begins, and it's
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on your syllabus, if you have
downloaded the copies, this is
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the question that we're going
to begin with right here. Number
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7 and it reads as follows:
What great blessing does baptism
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represent? What great blessing
does baptism represent? Go to
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Romans 6:4. We were talking
about that today as we recorded
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some of our programs, our
Bible programs. Now Romans 6:4:
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What great blessing does baptism
represent? All right are you all
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ready? Here we go, here's the
answer on the screen. By the way
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after each of these answers we
have actually, first time I've
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done this, we have an actual
written-out response that will
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go into the places where you
fill in the answers. Let's read
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the first one together. Are you
ready, here we go? Therefore we
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were what? Buried with Him
through baptism into death,
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that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of
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for the Father, even so we all
should what? We also should walk
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in the newness of
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life. So what is the benefit of
baptism? Somebody tell me what's
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the benefit of baptism? New life
Write this done. Here it is on
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the screen. We have a
what? New life in Christ.
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How many of us need a
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new life? Oh yeah, everybody
needs a new life. Right now
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there's a shortage of used cars
in the nation because a number
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of years ago the
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government had a program
that they offered to get many of
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the used cars off the
street to lower what they called
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emissions. Some people have had
cars for 30 years and emissions.
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It was emitting so much carbon
into the atmosphere so the
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government offered this program
about four or five year ago
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where if you turn your car
in they give you X amount of
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dollars maximum value of
the car and they would guarantee
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you'll be able to get from that
car a down payment to get a new
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car. So, right now there's a
shortage of used cars because
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what they did was the crushed
them all down to just about five
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by five feet, shipped them over
seas somewhere and they're going
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to turn that back into a new
car and return it back to us and
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sell it to us. But as a result
of that there is a shortage of
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new cars. So, we keep getting
this letter. Huh? Shortage of
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oh, used cars. Sorry. Did I say
new cars. My mistake. Thank you
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so much for listening. I
appreciate it. There is a
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shortage of used cars. So we
keep getting this letter in the
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mail. They want our car. They
said you know we realize that...
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here's what they say. You're
at the best place to get the
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maximum amount of benefits.
We need your car on our lot,
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because there's a shortage
of used cars. And they make it
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sound so good. But what that
really in essence translates to
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is four more years of car
payments. So it's not really
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free. It's a benefit to them
because you take care of your
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car, you keep it in good
condition, you turn it back over
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to them, they tweak it up, check
it all out and hike the price
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back up, give you little to
nothing for it, but they hike
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the price back up and sell it as
if it were new all over again.
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But in Christ, you really do get
a new life. Amen You don't get a
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refurbished life, you don't get
a life that's been tinkered and
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kind of you know glossed over
and you don't get a life that
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just has new tires on it. You
get a brand new life. And that
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new life is in Christ. Go with
me to II Corinthians chapter 5
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II Corinthians chapter 5 and
we're going to look together at
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verse 17. Just to let you know
what kind of life it is, what
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kind of life it is. Because
you know the thing that lures us
00:14:06.44\00:14:13.15
into buying new cars is truly
people are by nature, many of us
00:14:13.18\00:14:18.65
don't admit it, but we are by
nature gadgetarians. What's the
00:14:18.69\00:14:22.92
newest gadget? I mean what
else does the car have? So we're
00:14:22.96\00:14:26.86
asking for stuff that years ago
we really didn't need. We ask
00:14:26.90\00:14:30.87
questions. Does it have a backup
camera? What ever happened to
00:14:30.90\00:14:33.34
turn your head around? Remember
that, those days when they said,
00:14:33.37\00:14:37.51
and they still say don't rely on
the backup camera, turn around
00:14:37.54\00:14:41.64
and look behind you. Then we
have these with blue tooth. How
00:14:41.68\00:14:46.88
many of us needed a blue tooth
15 years ago to drive. Blue
00:14:46.92\00:14:50.45
tooth was a word that didn't
even exist probably 15 years
00:14:50.49\00:14:53.92
ago. Blue tooth meant you
just had an Italian icy. That's
00:14:53.96\00:14:57.46
it actually meant. But nowadays
it means something... So we get
00:14:57.49\00:15:01.10
all these gadgets. But when
you look at the life that Christ
00:15:01.13\00:15:05.43
offers to us, it's a life that
is far greater than we can ever
00:15:05.47\00:15:09.70
imagine because it has
nothing connected to this life.
00:15:09.74\00:15:12.91
Everything that we receive
is connected to Christ. Look at
00:15:12.94\00:15:17.58
what he says in verse 17 of
II Corinthians chapter 5. Notice
00:15:17.61\00:15:23.22
what it reads. Therefore if
anyone is where? In Christ, he
00:15:23.25\00:15:28.82
is a new creation. Old
things have what? Passed away.
00:15:28.86\00:15:34.63
Behold how many things?
All things have become new. All
00:15:34.66\00:15:40.34
things. So, the Christian life,
the benefit that comes with it
00:15:40.37\00:15:43.47
is how many things become new,
Janeck? All things. What are
00:15:43.51\00:15:46.57
they how many things, Jerry?
Everything. Years ago there was
00:15:46.61\00:15:50.48
a show, matter of fact,
there was a song, I remember her
00:15:50.51\00:15:55.38
name, in the back of my mind
I keep... Patty LaBelle and it
00:15:55.42\00:15:59.35
adopted on the Oprah Winfrey
program: Got a New Attitude.
00:15:59.39\00:16:02.92
You know when you get a new life
you also get a new attitude,
00:16:02.96\00:16:06.46
what do you think? Christians
should not have the same
00:16:06.49\00:16:10.37
attitude they had
before they were Christians.
00:16:10.40\00:16:13.03
But unfortunately there are many
people that become Christians
00:16:13.07\00:16:17.94
and they don't have a
transformation in their attitude
00:16:17.97\00:16:20.08
So, that's why the Bible says
okay you say you're a Christian
00:16:20.11\00:16:26.21
but what evidences do I have
that you are a Christian? We
00:16:26.25\00:16:30.75
ought to have a different
attitude in a number of areas.
00:16:30.79\00:16:33.76
And we're going to talk about
some of those things benefits
00:16:33.79\00:16:36.69
tonight. Where those attitude
changes are supposed to be seen.
00:16:36.73\00:16:38.66
And it's very interesting. This
lesson tonight, How to Become
00:16:38.69\00:16:40.60
a Christian, what are
the evidences that you are a
00:16:43.63\00:16:45.83
Christian. What changes are
taking place in your life and
00:16:45.87\00:16:48.67
how are they taking place
for the better? How can other
00:16:48.70\00:16:51.54
people know that you are
a Christian, not just your
00:16:51.57\00:16:54.31
profession saying I'm a
Christian. Because a lot of
00:16:54.34\00:16:57.05
people nowadays like the title,
but how do I know you're a
00:16:57.08\00:16:59.51
Christian? Or can I know that
you're a Christian without you
00:16:59.55\00:17:03.22
even saying it? This is so
vitally important. All right,
00:17:03.25\00:17:06.86
let's go to the next one, number
8. Number 8. Okay. How does the
00:17:06.92\00:17:12.46
new life change our standing
with God? How does the new life
00:17:12.49\00:17:18.63
change our standing
with God? John chapter 1 and
00:17:18.67\00:17:24.44
verse 12. Whenever you have
something new your standing is
00:17:24.47\00:17:28.21
changed. You got a new
suit, your standing is changed,
00:17:28.24\00:17:34.48
everybody knows ooh new suit
oh. Get a new car, oh new car.
00:17:34.52\00:17:40.06
Get a new house, ooh. You
movin' on up. So many different
00:17:40.09\00:17:45.59
responses. Am I true? You have
a new thing. You know, we get a
00:17:45.63\00:17:50.30
new wife. Uuh, Brother _
is happy now. Uuh. Sister Dee
00:17:50.37\00:17:53.87
says oh, they're smiling.
00:17:53.94\00:17:56.17
There's always a change. So new
things bring new blessings, but
00:17:56.20\00:18:02.24
how does the new life change our
standing with God? John 1:12,
00:18:02.28\00:18:08.22
let's read what the Bible says.
Okay, together. But as many as
00:18:08.25\00:18:14.19
received Him, to them He
gave the right (or the power) to
00:18:14.22\00:18:19.66
become what? Children of God to
those who believe in his name.
00:18:19.69\00:18:25.47
I like the word power. Power
sounds nice. Power and right
00:18:25.50\00:18:29.20
are synonymous in Greek, but
it's nice to know that the power
00:18:29.24\00:18:33.34
that you didn't have before you
now have as a child of God. And
00:18:33.38\00:18:37.48
where do you get that power?
Acts 1:8, the Bible says, But
00:18:37.51\00:18:41.02
you shall receive power after
that the Holy Ghost has come
00:18:41.05\00:18:44.45
upon you. The change of our
standing with God is now we are
00:18:44.49\00:18:49.16
the children of God. But I want
to emphasize something. It says
00:18:49.19\00:18:53.40
to them He gave the right or the
power to become children of God.
00:18:53.43\00:18:57.57
That's something vitally
important. I want to pay a
00:18:57.60\00:18:59.70
little attention to the word
power. You cannot become a child
00:18:59.73\00:19:05.24
of God on your own power. We are
incapable in and of ourselves
00:19:05.27\00:19:10.78
to put forth any power to
maintain the relationship that
00:19:10.81\00:19:16.58
we have between us and God. It's
just not human; it's very Divine
00:19:16.65\00:19:21.92
We become partakers of the
divine nature, that's were the
00:19:21.96\00:19:24.23
power comes from. So the power
that is at work in us is a work
00:19:24.26\00:19:29.13
that is done by God. Go with me
to the book of Philippians. What
00:19:29.16\00:19:34.00
book did I say. Philippians.
Have you read through that
00:19:34.04\00:19:37.37
real fast it almost looks like
Philippines, right? Philippians,
00:19:37.41\00:19:43.11
it's so close. Philippians.
Galatians, Ephesians,
00:19:43.14\00:19:47.12
Philippians. Okay? Philippians
chapter 2, let's see this power,
00:19:47.15\00:19:54.82
and I want to read verse 13.
Philippians 2:13: And the Bible
00:19:54.86\00:20:00.20
reads as follows. Where does the
power come from? For it is God
00:20:00.23\00:20:06.30
who worketh where? In you, both
to will and to do of or for His
00:20:06.33\00:20:12.11
good pleasure. So who's at work
now? As children of God somebody
00:20:12.14\00:20:17.01
else is resident in you doing
the work. God is at work in us.
00:20:17.05\00:20:21.52
It's not us at work in us, but
if you read verse 12 by itself,
00:20:21.55\00:20:25.99
look at verse 12. Therefore
my beloved as you have always
00:20:26.02\00:20:31.16
obeyed, not in my presence only
but now much more in my absence
00:20:31.19\00:20:35.60
work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling. If you read
00:20:35.63\00:20:39.03
that verse by itself you would
need to say man I need to work
00:20:39.07\00:20:42.37
this thing out myself. But what
the Bible in essence is saying
00:20:42.40\00:20:46.47
you've got to come to grips with
the declaration you made. You've
00:20:46.51\00:20:50.55
got to be the one to embrace the
declaration you made. When it
00:20:50.58\00:20:55.32
says work out your own salvation
it also goes along with the text
00:20:55.35\00:21:00.39
the Bible says he that has this
hope in himself purifies himself
00:21:00.42\00:21:05.16
even as He is pure. That is you
start making pure choices. When
00:21:05.19\00:21:09.23
something's clean parents don't
say to the children clean the
00:21:09.26\00:21:13.90
house. They say what? Say it
again. They say keep it clean.
00:21:13.94\00:21:18.77
So if the Lord has cleaned
us up He says keep it clean. So,
00:21:18.81\00:21:23.58
we've got to make clean choices,
we've got to make right choices.
00:21:23.65\00:21:27.22
I think it's somehow
disheartening when we say to
00:21:27.25\00:21:31.82
Christians as a Christian you
have nothing to do. You've got
00:21:31.85\00:21:36.76
everything to do and what I mean
by that is sometimes people say
00:21:37.46\00:21:40.80
well yes it is God who works in
us both to will and to do of His
00:21:40.83\00:21:44.10
good pleasure. So we don't have
to work it out. God is working
00:21:44.53\00:21:48.04
it out within us. No, we've
got to make choices. Isaiah 1:18
00:21:48.07\00:21:52.97
says cease to do evil, learn
to do good. So we've got to make
00:21:53.01\00:21:56.38
conscientious choices not to
go in the direction that we were
00:21:56.41\00:21:59.61
going before as the Lord said in
Deuteronomy I put before you two
00:21:59.65\00:22:06.05
roads, life and blessings, death
and cursings. That's the way it
00:22:06.09\00:22:12.43
says it, but I'm just kind of
giving you one road here. On the
00:22:12.46\00:22:17.10
road on the left is what? Death
and cursings. On the road on the
00:22:17.17\00:22:21.77
right is life and blessings.
That's why I said it that way.
00:22:21.80\00:22:26.34
So, which road did he say,
choose life. You see. There are
00:22:26.37\00:22:31.65
only two categories, just and
unjust, filthy and holy, choose
00:22:31.68\00:22:36.82
holy, choose just. But you've
got to choose. Joshua 24:15:
00:22:36.85\00:22:41.16
Choose for yourselves this day
whom you will what? Serve. How
00:22:41.22\00:22:44.96
often is that choice made. Every
day. You got to wake up in the
00:22:44.99\00:22:48.80
morning. I die daily. Commit
your life to Christ and realize
00:22:48.83\00:22:52.10
that if you go through the day
without first committing your
00:22:52.13\00:22:55.34
life to Christ you're not going
to make choices that glorify
00:22:55.37\00:22:58.54
Him. Have you ever had
that experience. And then you
00:22:58.57\00:23:00.94
connected later on in the day
and said Ah man, I was so busy
00:23:00.98\00:23:05.78
this morning I forgot to pray.
I forgot to make a phone call.
00:23:05.81\00:23:10.95
I forgot to talk to my heavenly
Father and say this is not going
00:23:10.99\00:23:15.76
to be a long phone call but I
really need you today. Even if
00:23:15.79\00:23:20.46
it's not a long phone call He
wants to hear from us on a daily
00:23:20.50\00:23:25.10
basis. And when do we make that
phone call? A 1 o-clock in the
00:23:25.13\00:23:30.71
afternoon. When do we make
it? First thing in the morning.
00:23:30.74\00:23:36.21
That's right. Matthew 6:33. Seek
first the kingdom of God and His
00:23:36.24\00:23:40.82
righteousness and all these
things will be added unto you.
00:23:40.85\00:23:44.49
That's something that, and I'm
going to say this. Let me just
00:23:44.52\00:23:48.16
go ahead and give you
the answer here. The benefit:
00:23:48.19\00:23:51.33
How does the new life change
our standing with God? We become
00:23:51.39\00:23:54.53
children of the heavenly Father
is what you can put down but you
00:23:54.56\00:23:57.67
may have already put an answer
there which is fine. But as
00:23:57.70\00:24:02.37
people that are busy and it just
seems kind of strange but my
00:24:02.40\00:24:06.57
life is busier than it's ever
been. And somebody may say, but
00:24:06.64\00:24:11.68
you live in such a small
community. Don't fool yourself.
00:24:11.71\00:24:16.72
You know the axel of the bike
may seem like such a small place
00:24:16.75\00:24:19.99
but that's where all the
ball bearings are. And it's
00:24:20.02\00:24:23.43
responsible for things that's
going on in every direction. In
00:24:23.46\00:24:26.23
the very same way right here
in Thompsonville, it may be a
00:24:26.26\00:24:28.96
small town, West Frankfort's
the end of it, may be a small
00:24:29.03\00:24:33.34
community, but there's ever so
much activity going on here. If
00:24:33.37\00:24:35.97
I forget in the morning when I
wake up to commit my life to the
00:24:36.00\00:24:39.94
Lord, I've got enough activity
to keep me awake from the time
00:24:39.97\00:24:43.88
I get out of bed to the time
I fall back in bed at night. But
00:24:43.91\00:24:46.92
if I fail to commit myself
to the Lord, I'm just doing the
00:24:46.95\00:24:49.88
work of the Lord but I haven't
even talked to him today. You've
00:24:49.92\00:24:53.82
got to keep connected with our
God because He's not just our
00:24:53.86\00:24:58.23
God, He is our what's the last
word? He is our heavenly Father.
00:24:58.26\00:25:02.50
My wife talks to her mom almost
every day. She also talks to
00:25:02.56\00:25:06.97
her Father almost every day, her
heavenly Father every day. See
00:25:07.00\00:25:11.41
that's what you have to do,
every day. Hear from Him. And
00:25:11.44\00:25:14.54
even toward the evening
sometimes when your day slows
00:25:14.58\00:25:17.65
down, try your best not to allow
the last thing you heard to be
00:25:17.68\00:25:22.78
awful news on television. Try to
make it something good. Even if
00:25:22.82\00:25:28.12
you just read a proverb. Even if
you read a few verses in Psalms
00:25:28.16\00:25:32.89
or something in the Bible. Allow
those thoughts to be planted
00:25:32.93\00:25:37.37
there so when your eyes close
at night to sleep the last thing
00:25:37.40\00:25:41.80
you remember is something good
and then you can think on those
00:25:41.84\00:25:47.04
things. Philippians 4:8 Whatever
is lovely, honest, pure, of good
00:25:47.08\00:25:52.21
report think on these things.
That's how we are transformed.
00:25:52.25\00:25:55.62
Let's look at the next question,
question number 9 at the bottom
00:25:55.65\00:25:59.69
of page 1. What is the long-term
benefit of becoming children of
00:25:59.72\00:26:03.73
God? What is the long-term
benefit of becoming children of
00:26:03.76\00:26:08.36
God? All right. Long-term
benefit. You look at children.
00:26:08.40\00:26:12.93
That's a word that we sometimes
run past, but children are for
00:26:12.97\00:26:16.97
the most part happy. There
was a survey done, a study done
00:26:17.01\00:26:20.94
actually, about between children
and adults. And what this study
00:26:20.98\00:26:23.21
was about is at what age do we
stop becoming happy? And start
00:26:23.24\00:26:29.98
becoming more and more serious.
Now I don't want to mix this up
00:26:30.02\00:26:36.73
with Paul says we put away
childish things. That was not
00:26:36.76\00:26:41.13
what the study was about. The
study was that in society they
00:26:41.16\00:26:44.73
said people are much sadder than
children. And they've asked the
00:26:44.77\00:26:48.30
question at what point and
so the general study was saying
00:26:48.34\00:26:51.87
that when people hit about 26,
27 years old, they tend to get
00:26:51.91\00:26:56.78
more sad. They forget how to be
to be happy. They forget how to
00:26:56.81\00:27:01.28
smile. So when it says that
we should become children of God
00:27:01.32\00:27:05.69
you know the beatitudes are
really the happy... I like the
00:27:05.75\00:27:09.89
way that one preacher said
it. These are the "be happy"
00:27:09.92\00:27:14.06
attitudes. The Bible says
blessed is the word there also
00:27:14.10\00:27:19.83
in the Greek, happy. So
there are five or seven be-happy
00:27:19.87\00:27:25.51
attitudes. Happy is, happy is,
happy is and then even when it
00:27:25.54\00:27:30.45
comes to communion happy are you
if you do these things. But so
00:27:30.48\00:27:35.32
often Christians think,
and this is the sad reality of
00:27:35.35\00:27:38.09
Christianity, some Christians
walk around like they're ready
00:27:38.12\00:27:43.32
for their grave. They have on
their grave clothing. They have
00:27:43.36\00:27:49.83
grave attitude. It's way beyond
solemn, it's sour. You know it's
00:27:49.86\00:27:54.47
one thing to be solemn but it's
something else altogether to be
00:27:54.50\00:27:59.11
sour. And even Ellen White
talks about putting beauty, and
00:27:59.14\00:28:05.25
putting beauty, the loveliness
of Christ into your Christianity
00:28:05.28\00:28:09.72
Look that up. But it's not
giddy. Huh? Exactly. It's sane.
00:28:09.75\00:28:15.59
it's beauty. Let the beauty
of Christ show forth. Jesus'
00:28:15.62\00:28:21.40
children were attracted to Him.
They loved to be in His presence
00:28:21.43\00:28:25.07
Do you think he walked around.
Get away from me. The disciples
00:28:25.10\00:28:28.70
were that way. And Jesus
said wait a minute. Allow the
00:28:28.74\00:28:32.41
children to come to me and
don't forbid them for of such is
00:28:32.47\00:28:36.68
the kingdom of heaven. So look
at the answer in Matthew 18:3
00:28:36.71\00:28:40.25
to the question what is the
long-term benefit of becoming
00:28:40.28\00:28:45.82
children of God. Here it is.
Here it is. And said (that is
00:28:45.85\00:28:51.69
Jesus) assuredly I say to
you unless you are converted and
00:28:51.73\00:28:57.40
become as little children,
you will by no means enter the
00:28:57.43\00:29:02.50
what? Kingdom of heaven.
Now when we say the long-term
00:29:02.54\00:29:07.74
benefit is entering the kingdom
of heaven. But look at the
00:29:07.78\00:29:12.88
prerequisites to that. You have
to be converted and you have to
00:29:12.91\00:29:15.78
become like a what? A little
child. Now tell me some of the
00:29:15.82\00:29:20.16
characteristics of little
children. Huh? Innocent. What
00:29:20.19\00:29:24.49
else? Trusting. What else? Blind
faith. You know you put a child
00:29:24.53\00:29:29.66
you put a one-year-old on the
tall dresser and you say jump.
00:29:29.70\00:29:34.87
They'll jump. You put a
Christian up there and say jump.
00:29:34.90\00:29:40.04
What I mean by that is
they don't trust as much.
00:29:40.08\00:29:43.85
When we fail to trust, what
happens to our relationship with
00:29:43.88\00:29:49.58
Christ. The opposite of trust is
what? Huh? I know that's really
00:29:49.62\00:29:56.02
easy. You just add the word dis
to it. Huh? Doubt. Exactly. The
00:29:56.06\00:30:01.90
opposite of trust is doubt.
You say Lord and then we go oh I
00:30:01.93\00:30:06.97
hope He can do it. We start
doubting. But James talks about
00:30:07.00\00:30:11.51
those who doubt. Go to the book
of James. I want to get this
00:30:11.54\00:30:15.51
attitude. So the answer to this
you want to put down here is we
00:30:15.54\00:30:19.91
qualify as future residents
in our heavenly home. We qualify
00:30:19.95\00:30:24.29
as future residents in
our heavenly home. But there's
00:30:24.32\00:30:27.76
something else. I want you to
see this. The opposite of trust
00:30:27.79\00:30:32.43
is doubt. We've got to have
trust and faith and you know all
00:30:32.46\00:30:36.87
the texts. If you are a Bible
student all of a sudden your
00:30:36.90\00:30:41.00
mind should be flooded with
those verses. Proverbs 3:5, 6.
00:30:41.04\00:30:44.81
Which you all know. If I begin
you could end it with me. Trust
00:30:44.84\00:30:49.64
in the Lord your God with what?
All your heart and lean not on
00:30:49.68\00:30:54.52
your own understanding.
In all your ways what?
00:30:54.55\00:30:57.55
Acknowledge Him and He
00:30:57.59\00:30:59.12
will do what? Direct your paths.
Trust in Him with how much of
00:30:59.15\00:31:02.32
your heart? All your heart.
Love the Lord with how much of
00:31:02.36\00:31:05.29
your heart? All your heart.
Do you think that if you were
00:31:05.36\00:31:08.63
loving God with all your heart
and trusting Him with all your
00:31:08.66\00:31:12.00
heart you'll be a person that
doubts. My wife and I, we've
00:31:12.03\00:31:14.97
said this so many times together
We've said, We have so much
00:31:15.00\00:31:18.77
history in experiences with
Jesus that we have very little
00:31:18.81\00:31:22.41
room for doubt and we have
learned that what we ask Him for
00:31:22.44\00:31:26.92
it may not come at the moment
we ask but it's like one of
00:31:26.95\00:31:31.35
those doors at Walmart. You know
they open when you get close to
00:31:31.39\00:31:35.92
them, right? Now can you imagine
somebody 25 feet away from the
00:31:35.96\00:31:39.53
store who says I'm not going
in because the doors won't open.
00:31:39.56\00:31:43.13
What would the Lord say? What
did he say to the Israelites?
00:31:43.16\00:31:47.70
Go forward. If you go forward
in faith when you get to the
00:31:47.74\00:31:51.71
point of your need God will open
the door. But so many people
00:31:51.74\00:31:55.04
want God to respond before they
get to the point of their need.
00:31:55.08\00:31:59.28
Here's the answer here. James
chapter 1. Look at how it really
00:31:59.31\00:32:08.26
speaks to us. I'm going to read
verse 2 and then down to verse
00:32:08.32\00:32:14.80
8. All right. It puts it in
beautiful perspective here about
00:32:14.83\00:32:19.83
the faith that we should have in
our walk with Christ, about how
00:32:19.87\00:32:24.51
that trust, how that trust like
a little child, little children.
00:32:24.54\00:32:29.14
I remember some children
growing up and the parent would
00:32:29.18\00:32:33.28
say, you know homes
unfortunately that were split.
00:32:33.31\00:32:36.28
In our family we have an
experience like that where a
00:32:36.32\00:32:40.36
family member grew up in a
divided home. The father wasn't
00:32:40.39\00:32:43.83
in the home and he'd say to her,
well I need to be very candid,
00:32:43.86\00:32:47.63
my niece, growing up. Her father
would say hey I'm coming over on
00:32:47.66\00:32:50.03
Christmas day to take you out.
Never showed up. What happens?
00:32:50.07\00:32:55.20
chiseling, chiseling, chiseling
chiseling, chiseling and as a
00:32:55.27\00:33:00.38
child what happens you learn not
to trust. You lose confidence
00:33:00.41\00:33:04.81
because you build up and then
you get let down. You build up
00:33:04.85\00:33:08.78
and you get let down. And what
happens is the reason why it's
00:33:08.82\00:33:12.22
so important to use the words
heavenly Father is because you
00:33:12.25\00:33:15.62
see the words. He's not going to
build us up and then what? Let
00:33:15.69\00:33:19.03
us down. So He wants us to
approach Him with this child
00:33:19.09\00:33:22.76
like faith that over and over
and over again in our experience
00:33:22.80\00:33:26.23
we're going to see that He never
lets us down. So look at this.
00:33:26.27\00:33:29.50
When these difficulties come
notice what he says in verse 2
00:33:29.54\00:33:33.17
in James chapter 1. My brethren
count it all joy when you fall
00:33:33.21\00:33:37.71
into various trials. How many of
you have a joy party when trials
00:33:37.78\00:33:42.85
come? I haven't gotten there yet
Excuse me. I always praise the
00:33:42.88\00:33:47.12
Lord after the trials. I pray
when they're coming and I pray
00:33:47.16\00:33:51.19
even afterwards, but the only
joy I have is I know that He's
00:33:51.23\00:33:55.40
with me in them. Verse 3 Knowing
that the testing of your faith
00:33:55.43\00:34:00.80
produces what? Produces patience
but let patience have it's
00:34:00.84\00:34:06.27
perfect work that you may be
mature, or perfect, and complete
00:34:06.31\00:34:11.41
lacking what? Nothing. If any
one of you lack wisdom, let him
00:34:11.45\00:34:16.25
ask of God who gives to all
liberally and without reproach
00:34:16.28\00:34:20.99
and it will be given to him. But
let him ask how? In faith, that
00:34:21.02\00:34:27.00
means trust Me, with no doubting
for he who doubts is like a wave
00:34:27.03\00:34:32.93
of the sea driven and tossed by
the wind. For let not that man
00:34:32.97\00:34:37.11
suppose he will receive anything
from the Lord. Why? He is a
00:34:37.14\00:34:41.81
double-minded man, unstable
what? In all his ways. He's
00:34:41.84\00:34:46.45
unstable in all his ways. When
a person is unstable in one area
00:34:46.48\00:34:50.32
and unstable in another area,
the Bible says he's unstable in
00:34:50.35\00:34:54.46
how many of his ways? All his
ways. But if we're stable in our
00:34:54.49\00:34:58.29
trust towards God, if we're
stable in our faith towards God,
00:34:58.33\00:35:02.53
if we're stable in believing God
then we begin to establish on
00:35:02.56\00:35:07.14
the foundation with someone who
never lets us down. So do you
00:35:07.17\00:35:11.51
trust everybody. How many of you
trust everybody? How many of you
00:35:11.54\00:35:16.44
trust the Lord? See. You really
can't trust everybody. Somebody
00:35:16.48\00:35:21.52
once said to me, trust is earned
respect is earned. But with God
00:35:21.55\00:35:28.52
respect is given. Ah, and that
is the point. Because you know,
00:35:28.56\00:35:35.13
huh? We say we have faith in
God was the question, why don't
00:35:35.16\00:35:39.23
we trust Him? Why
don't we trust Him always?
00:35:39.27\00:35:41.77
Because we don't seek first His
kingdom. One of the issues is if
00:35:41.80\00:35:46.11
you don't have a relationship
with someone and you have to
00:35:46.14\00:35:48.84
trust them just at difficult
times and you have not had an
00:35:48.88\00:35:51.98
experience with them at all
times. Let me give a classic
00:35:52.01\00:35:55.42
example. One of the reasons I
can trust my wife is because I
00:35:55.45\00:35:58.75
have been with her in good times
and bad times. So when bad times
00:35:58.82\00:36:01.82
come I don't have to wonder
if I can trust her because I've
00:36:01.86\00:36:04.93
trusted her in good times. When
you have a relationship with
00:36:04.96\00:36:08.20
somebody in good times when the
bad times come you don't have to
00:36:08.23\00:36:12.13
worry. You have no reason to
doubt because when a persons is
00:36:12.17\00:36:16.00
consistent all the time then you
know that that consistency is
00:36:16.04\00:36:20.41
going to carry through. If God
is the same yesterday, today and
00:36:20.44\00:36:24.45
forever at what point will He
cease to be consistent? At what
00:36:24.51\00:36:29.02
point? At no point because He's
the same yesterday, today and
00:36:29.05\00:36:33.12
forever. But the lack of trust
comes with us because we're not
00:36:33.15\00:36:36.29
trusting in Him with all of
our heart. What's the problem in
00:36:36.32\00:36:39.43
the verse. The heart is divided.
It's double-minded. You want to
00:36:39.49\00:36:46.17
make a comment. Okay. All right.
But I say one of the issues why
00:36:46.20\00:36:51.41
there is so much lack of faith
and so little trust is because
00:36:51.44\00:36:56.61
we wait till the difficulties
come before we trust God.
00:36:56.64\00:37:01.22
September 12 was a great example
in 2001. Everybody asked where
00:37:01.25\00:37:05.62
was God? He's the same place He
was on September 10, right? He
00:37:05.65\00:37:09.86
hadn't moved. It's just that
people were so used to ignoring
00:37:09.89\00:37:13.60
God that in the moment of their
difficulty they were calling on
00:37:13.63\00:37:17.23
someone they hadn't called
on before and they were not sure
00:37:17.27\00:37:21.47
that they would get an answer.
If you call on God before the
00:37:21.50\00:37:26.17
day of trouble, you can call on
God in the day of trouble and he
00:37:26.21\00:37:30.75
will hear you. All right. Where
are we now? Question number 10?
00:37:30.78\00:37:36.42
Turn the page to the top of the
next one. Question number 10.
00:37:36.48\00:37:44.03
Okay. Oh, this is a deep one
right here. Question 10. To grow
00:37:44.09\00:37:51.07
as a Christian what must we be
willing to do? What must we be
00:37:51.10\00:37:56.10
willing to do? Now. Okay. How
many of you turned to John 3:30?
00:37:56.14\00:38:01.18
If you have don't read it yet.
Don't turn there yet. Don't turn
00:38:01.24\00:38:06.75
there yet. If you already turned
there, don't look at it yet.
00:38:06.78\00:38:10.69
Okay. Try not to look at it.
This is one of those questions
00:38:10.72\00:38:14.56
that always, not always, I've
tested it before. It falls into
00:38:14.59\00:38:18.86
the category of all these things
we've got to do. But I learned a
00:38:18.89\00:38:23.26
valuable lesson when this verse
today. If we are willing to be
00:38:23.30\00:38:27.67
Christians, if we are to grow
as Christians, what must we be
00:38:27.70\00:38:32.27
willing to do? This is a huge
one. So when we read it, we're
00:38:32.31\00:38:36.44
going to read it in the context
which it is, and when we read it
00:38:36.48\00:38:40.62
we're going to know who it's
about, but it also applies to
00:38:40.65\00:38:44.62
us. All right. Now let's go
ahead and read it. John 3:30
00:38:44.65\00:38:48.62
You all there already? Okay.
What part of the verse am I
00:38:48.66\00:38:52.56
going to give you. John 3:30.
It's a long verse. Let's read it
00:38:52.59\00:38:56.43
together. It's on the screen.
Are you ready? Let's read it
00:38:56.46\00:39:00.20
together. He must what? Increase
but I must what? Decrease. Now
00:39:00.24\00:39:06.74
why is that a huge text? Huh?
00:39:06.78\00:39:13.01
It's hard because what
in essence is being said?
00:39:13.05\00:39:15.45
We've got to forget self
and put Christ first. We've got
00:39:16.58\00:39:23.96
to get out of... Okay. I don't
know if I want to do that. Well
00:39:23.99\00:39:30.27
it's no longer about you.
Go with me to John chapter 20.
00:39:30.30\00:39:34.27
It's no longer about us,
no longer about us. John the
00:39:34.30\00:39:39.87
Baptist knew and what a...
John chapter 21, chapter 21. I
00:39:39.91\00:39:45.38
said John chapter 20 but I mean
John chapter 21. We have to be
00:39:45.41\00:39:48.82
willing to decrease and the
answer I give is much longer
00:39:48.85\00:39:54.22
than the text we read. But here
it is: We must live to satisfy
00:39:54.26\00:40:01.26
ourselves less and satisfy
Christ what? More. We must live
00:40:01.30\00:40:07.87
to satisfy ourselves less and
satisfy Christ more. Now. Let's
00:40:07.90\00:40:12.77
look at why. This is a very
wonderful passage here in John
00:40:12.81\00:40:17.75
chapter 21. This conversation
is between Jesus and Peter. And
00:40:17.78\00:40:22.05
you've all heard the text, you
have all heard the conversation
00:40:22.08\00:40:26.55
Peter do you love me? What was
the Lord's response. He says aah
00:40:26.59\00:40:30.19
and then what does the Lord
respond when he said yes I love
00:40:30.23\00:40:33.83
you Lord. What did He say to
Peter? Feed my sheep. And then
00:40:33.90\00:40:37.90
He said Peter do you love Me?
Yes. Peter do you love Me? He
00:40:37.93\00:40:41.27
asked over and over again and
some of you know the context.
00:40:41.30\00:40:45.17
When He first asked Peter do you
love me? He asked Peter do you
00:40:45.21\00:40:49.01
agape Me? Do you love me
unconditionally. And Peter said
00:40:49.04\00:40:52.78
Lord I Phileo You, I love
You like a brother. Then he said
00:40:52.81\00:40:56.82
Peter do you agape me? Peter
says Lord I Phileo. I don't love
00:40:56.89\00:41:00.82
you unconditionally, I love you
like a brother. The Lord wanted
00:41:00.86\00:41:04.79
Peter to love Him
unconditionally but
00:41:04.83\00:41:07.36
Peter was just a the place where
he loved Him like a brother. And
00:41:07.40\00:41:11.70
so, finally the Lord says, Peter
if you Phileo me then feed my
00:41:11.73\00:41:15.64
sheep. If you love me just like
a brother, then feed my sheep.
00:41:15.67\00:41:18.84
He was not yet at the place
and that was an honest response.
00:41:18.87\00:41:21.74
So, a lot of people wonder
why does he keep asking the same
00:41:21.78\00:41:25.21
question? Because he was
trying to get Peter to see that
00:41:25.25\00:41:28.08
unconditional love is what I
need from you. And many of you
00:41:28.12\00:41:33.15
know it wasn't long after this
that Peter did what? Denied his
00:41:33.19\00:41:37.19
Lord. He was at that brotherly
love place, he was not yet at
00:41:37.23\00:41:40.30
that unconditional place
and that's why the Lord later on
00:41:40.33\00:41:44.33
told him in Matthew, when
you're converted strengthen the
00:41:44.37\00:41:48.34
brethren. But notice
the condition here of how we
00:41:48.37\00:41:49.97
satisfy ourselves less and
satisfy Christ more. Verse 18:
00:41:50.01\00:41:55.84
Most assuredly I say to you
when you were younger you girded
00:41:55.88\00:42:01.48
yourself and walked where
you wished. That was satisfying
00:42:01.52\00:42:05.85
yourself. Verse 18: You girded
yourself and walked where you
00:42:05.89\00:42:10.46
wished. But when you are old you
will stretch out your hand and
00:42:10.49\00:42:15.63
another will gird you and carry
you where you do not wish. How
00:42:15.66\00:42:20.40
do you end up there? How do you
end up there? How do you end up
00:42:20.44\00:42:25.24
where you don't want to go?
You deny yourself, take up your
00:42:25.27\00:42:31.61
cross and do what? Follow
Christ That's why we say He must
00:42:31.65\00:42:36.89
increase but I must decrease.
That's a daily battle is it not?
00:42:36.92\00:42:41.16
Because you don't forget what
you used to do, you don't forget
00:42:41.19\00:42:44.53
the things that you like to do.
You don't forget the things that
00:42:44.56\00:42:47.76
bring you the most pleasure. And
to be very candid with you, it's
00:42:47.80\00:42:50.97
a lot easier to go the route
of ease. That's why rivers are
00:42:51.00\00:42:54.14
crooked. Matter of fact,
the reason why they are crooked
00:42:54.17\00:42:57.24
is they follow the path of least
resistance. When the Lord says
00:42:57.27\00:43:01.88
to walk a straight line, it's
not always an easy path. But it
00:43:01.91\00:43:06.18
is a path. As we used to say in
geometry, the shortest distance
00:43:06.21\00:43:09.98
between two points is a what?
A straight line. If you want to
00:43:10.02\00:43:13.42
have a great relationship with
Christ and get close to Him very
00:43:13.46\00:43:16.59
quickly, walk that straight line
If you want to make your journey
00:43:16.62\00:43:19.73
long like a river, follow
the path of least resistance and
00:43:19.76\00:43:23.30
you'll have a very crooked
life. But it all comes down to
00:43:23.33\00:43:27.57
satisfying ourselves less and
satisfying Jesus more. And even
00:43:27.60\00:43:30.77
Jesus said that. Let's go to the
next one. I don't want to jump
00:43:30.81\00:43:33.94
ahead of myself because
the questions become even more
00:43:33.98\00:43:38.11
pointed as we go on. Very
important. Question number 11.
00:43:38.15\00:43:42.42
Question number 11. How do we
know that we are living to the
00:43:42.45\00:43:46.29
glory of God? How do we know
that? How do we know that we are
00:43:46.35\00:43:50.43
living to the glory of God? If
anybody should know, we should
00:43:50.46\00:43:55.76
know, right? Psalm 40:8. Huh?
Say that again. If you love me,
00:43:55.80\00:44:00.54
keep my commandments. Yes that's
very significantly a part of it.
00:44:00.57\00:44:05.27
But I want to take it to the
next level, because love is one
00:44:05.31\00:44:10.35
thing, but there's a word that
even enhances love. Ps. 40:8
00:44:10.38\00:44:17.39
Psalm 40:8 and here's the
answer. Are you all there? Okay.
00:44:17.42\00:44:23.19
What's the second word, let's
read it together: I delight to
00:44:23.22\00:44:28.66
do your will, O my God, and Your
law is within my heart. Okay.
00:44:28.70\00:44:32.43
Let's not pay a ton of attention
to the second half even though
00:44:32.47\00:44:36.17
that's very true and very
vitally important. The answer to
00:44:36.20\00:44:40.21
the question, how do we know
that we are living to the glory
00:44:40.24\00:44:44.88
of God? is we get to the point
where we what? Delight to do
00:44:44.91\00:44:48.95
His will. Now there are husbands
that love their wives but do
00:44:48.98\00:44:52.62
they delight to make them happy?
Big difference altogether. Some
00:44:52.65\00:44:57.86
guys, I love my wife, I give her
everything she needs. Okay. But
00:44:57.89\00:45:03.10
exactly, that's the point.
You may have a love relationship
00:45:03.13\00:45:07.04
based on certain conditions,
but do you delight to spend time
00:45:07.07\00:45:11.27
with her? Do you delight to take
her places? Do you delight to
00:45:11.31\00:45:15.14
have conversation with her?
Do you delight to just say, guys
00:45:15.18\00:45:18.45
you guys can go and hang out
I'm spending the evening with my
00:45:18.48\00:45:21.48
wife. Aja with your wife. Come
and hang out with us. Nah man
00:45:21.52\00:45:25.39
I enjoy being with my wife. You
delight. You see the Christian
00:45:25.45\00:45:29.29
life is when we delight to
do God's will, when God's will
00:45:29.32\00:45:33.26
brings us great joy, then we
know that we are living to the
00:45:33.29\00:45:37.07
glory of God. Not just if you
love me keep my commandments.
00:45:37.10\00:45:40.30
Those are commands, you have to
keep that period. A command is
00:45:40.34\00:45:43.64
one thing. If you're in the army
you may know all the commands
00:45:43.67\00:45:46.78
but if you're the guy that
always volunteers for what other
00:45:46.81\00:45:49.91
people don't want to do, the
general or the captain or the
00:45:49.94\00:45:53.78
sergeant will say wow what a
nice soldier He's so delightful
00:45:53.82\00:45:58.02
even though though he's life is
on the line he does it without
00:45:58.05\00:46:01.69
complaining, delight. When
you delight to do God's will you
00:46:01.72\00:46:05.33
want to do God's happily. And if
you could describe a delightful
00:46:05.36\00:46:09.60
person, a person that's
delightful, you'll be glad to
00:46:09.63\00:46:12.50
ask them to do things. You know,
as a Pastor, I'm so glad when I
00:46:12.53\00:46:15.30
have a delightful church member.
You're not afraid to call them.
00:46:15.37\00:46:20.08
How you doing brother. I am
doing just so good today. You're
00:46:20.14\00:46:24.81
not afraid to ask her to
do something. Sister, I'm in a
00:46:24.85\00:46:27.78
pickle right now. Could
00:46:27.82\00:46:29.15
you copy something for me?
You're not going to get that.
00:46:29.18\00:46:32.05
She'll say sure pastor what
do you need help with? That's a
00:46:32.09\00:46:36.76
delightful spirit. Jesus was
delightful. He wasn't just the
00:46:36.79\00:46:41.43
Lord, He was delightful.
Children don't just run to
00:46:41.46\00:46:44.60
people because
they're commandment keepers.
00:46:44.63\00:46:46.30
There must be a reason why
children were attracted to the
00:46:46.33\00:46:49.57
presence of Jesus. There's
a reason. When a person is
00:46:49.60\00:46:52.74
delightful it makes the work
of God so much easier. You know
00:46:52.77\00:46:55.81
what a delightful Christian
also is? A person who can handle
00:46:55.84\00:47:00.28
a change in plans. Now I know
what we said we were going to
00:47:00.32\00:47:04.25
do but we've had a change of
plans. A Christian that's not
00:47:04.29\00:47:08.12
delightful here's their response
Forget it, you just wrecked my
00:47:08.16\00:47:12.69
whole evening. And we have some
of those. Oh yeah we do. We have
00:47:12.73\00:47:16.50
some of those. Well you know we
said we were leaving at 7:00 but
00:47:16.53\00:47:19.60
but it's going to be 7:30. You
mean I could have been home a
00:47:19.63\00:47:23.44
half hour more. Oh pastor really
give me a break. You got to
00:47:23.47\00:47:27.24
be willing to be flexible. Amen
somebody? So this thing called
00:47:27.28\00:47:31.75
Christianity requires changes in
plan. Jesus had changes in plan.
00:47:31.81\00:47:36.18
Jesus sometimes changed His plan
because He was hey wait a minute
00:47:36.22\00:47:40.19
right now is not good that I go
through Samaria. They're waiting
00:47:40.22\00:47:44.19
for me there. So he said to
the disciples let's go this way
00:47:44.23\00:47:48.16
instead. All right Lord. Instead
of Peter saying Lord I mean
00:47:48.20\00:47:51.80
really. Delightful to do God's
will. It's something so many
00:47:51.83\00:47:55.77
Christians need. Delightful.
If we were delightful can you
00:47:55.80\00:47:59.04
imagine we all say well
this Sabbath afternoon we're all
00:47:59.07\00:48:02.28
going to pass out flyers in the
00:48:02.31\00:48:05.58
community, or pass out tracts
in the community and the whole
00:48:05.61\00:48:11.05
church says Oh, we're so excited
to go. Delightful. Wednesday
00:48:11.12\00:48:15.49
night prayer meeting guy, Pastor
I'll be there at 6:30. I can't
00:48:15.52\00:48:20.93
wait. Delightful. Anyway, I
think you get the point. If you
00:48:20.96\00:48:25.87
can't get that delight down
here don't think your delightful
00:48:25.93\00:48:29.94
spiritual things are going to
increase when you get to heaven.
00:48:29.97\00:48:33.61
You got to get that delight
down here. You got to be happy
00:48:33.64\00:48:36.78
to do God's will down here.
You're not going to just get
00:48:36.81\00:48:39.85
into heaven, hey I'm willing
to do God's will now. On earth
00:48:39.88\00:48:42.35
I wasn't willing to do it,
but I'm willing to do it now. No
00:48:42.38\00:48:45.42
you're not going to get there
if you're not delightful to do
00:48:45.45\00:48:48.89
His will down here. That's why
David said, I delight to do your
00:48:48.92\00:48:52.33
will, O my God, and your Law
is within my heart. Do have a
00:48:52.36\00:48:55.76
component to that is when
you delight to do God's will you
00:48:55.80\00:48:59.47
would not reject his Law. There
are many Christians that say
00:48:59.50\00:49:02.94
they're delightful to do God's
will but don't tell me anything
00:49:02.97\00:49:06.84
about his law. That's the other
component. So the answer is
00:49:06.88\00:49:10.45
we enjoy living according
to God's will. We enjoy living
00:49:10.48\00:49:14.52
according to God's will. Not
just doing God's will but our
00:49:14.55\00:49:19.45
lives. We enjoy living according
will. In other words, we do
00:49:19.49\00:49:23.66
those things that please the
Lord. Now I don't think we're
00:49:23.73\00:49:27.96
going to get down to 21 but
hey that's why we have another
00:49:28.00\00:49:31.63
program. But's let's go to
question number 12, question
00:49:31.67\00:49:35.27
number 12. All right, here it is
and by the way, if you haven't
00:49:35.30\00:49:40.64
caught it yet, we're talking
about things that happen in our
00:49:40.68\00:49:45.08
lives as Christians. We're not
talking about just accepting 28
00:49:45.11\00:49:49.52
fundamentals and getting
baptized, getting a position in
00:49:49.55\00:49:52.72
church. We're talking about the
practicalities of a Christian.
00:49:52.75\00:49:55.12
We're talking about how to
become a Christian, not how to
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just become a Christian and join
a church but all the parameters
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and all the characteristics that
go along with what a Christian
00:50:01.00\00:50:04.10
really is. All right, that's
what we're talking about. Here's
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the next question. What is the
evidence that will others that
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you are a Christian? What is the
evidence that will tell others
00:50:10.27\00:50:14.01
that you are a Christian? You
don't need to buy a T-shirt, I'm
00:50:14.04\00:50:17.88
a Christian. That's not what I'm
talking about. I'm a Christian.
00:50:17.91\00:50:22.78
You shouldn't have to do that.
I would blow my own horn but I
00:50:22.82\00:50:27.06
don't want to do that. But let
me tell you the story. We were
00:50:27.09\00:50:30.79
in a hospital in California
once and I just never get this
00:50:30.83\00:50:34.66
experience and I went to get
a blood test, whatever the case
00:50:34.70\00:50:38.93
may be, and when I got in line
to go to the next department,
00:50:38.97\00:50:43.00
I got up to the counter after
waiting a long time and they
00:50:43.04\00:50:47.01
said did you bring your results
with you? Oh, left it upstairs.
00:50:47.04\00:50:51.15
Well when you go get it just
come right to the front of the
00:50:51.18\00:50:55.65
line. Isn't that nice? Don't
have to get back in that line.
00:50:55.68\00:50:59.12
So, I went up a couple flights,
my wife waited downstairs for
00:50:59.15\00:51:02.46
me. She got to talking to some
of the nurses that were there.
00:51:02.49\00:51:06.36
Actually I needed the paper work
to get the blood test and she
00:51:06.39\00:51:10.23
was already by, what do
they call those people, the
00:51:10.27\00:51:12.50
phlebotomist. Anyhow came
back down and as I got off the
00:51:12.53\00:51:17.61
elevator, two ladies jumped in
front of me. And I just kind of
00:51:17.64\00:51:23.31
says... I didn't go... I just
stood right behind them there
00:51:23.35\00:51:28.48
and waited. One lady went, then
the other one. This I went to
00:51:28.52\00:51:33.92
the counter. And when I got back
to get my blood drawn the lady
00:51:33.96\00:51:39.69
asked my wife, is your husband
a Christian? And she told me
00:51:39.73\00:51:44.73
that afterward. Because see they
said we told him just to come
00:51:44.77\00:51:48.27
to the front of the line and he
waited for those two ladies to
00:51:48.30\00:51:51.77
get their blood drawn first.
00:51:51.81\00:51:53.14
He could have easily said Ma'am
You need to wait because I have
00:51:53.17\00:52:00.78
waited 20 minutes in line
and you jumped ahead of me.
00:52:00.82\00:52:02.58
That's what our
00:52:02.62\00:52:05.42
human side wants to say,
right? You're not getting in
00:52:05.45\00:52:08.06
that plane first.
00:52:08.09\00:52:09.42
That's like Southwest
Airlines. Not good. It's kind of
00:52:09.46\00:52:12.63
if you get that seat first you
got it. See. But the point of
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the matter is, it's good
for people to recognize that you
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are a Christian. We were down in
Southern California once and we
00:52:20.10\00:52:23.84
were trying to find somebody's
house address and we stopped at
00:52:23.91\00:52:27.61
Marie Calendars. That's a
restaurant in California, it's
00:52:27.64\00:52:29.41
not here. As we walked out of
the restaurant together, we were
00:52:29.44\00:52:33.05
walking toward the car and this
man who we never met before, he
00:52:33.08\00:52:37.25
walked to my wife and I and said
Are you guys Adventists? Now we
00:52:37.29\00:52:41.12
We're not on television yet. We
we're not in the public eye so
00:52:41.16\00:52:45.39
there's nobody recognizing us
from any 3ABN. But are you guys
00:52:45.43\00:52:49.76
Adventists? He said I could tell
And so this is the testimony.
00:52:49.80\00:52:54.47
People as you live your life
in the community your profession
00:52:54.50\00:52:58.97
should be a constant witness
to those who are around. You
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shouldn't have to go to the
store and say Uh-huh, reading
00:53:04.81\00:53:10.55
questionable material. I walked
into Walmart the other day and
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a guy I never met in my life
before says, watch you all the
00:53:14.89\00:53:18.66
time. He wasn't a member of
our church. But you have to keep
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this in mind, the Bible says
we are surrounded by so great a
00:53:22.03\00:53:26.13
cloud of witnesses and for that
reason what manner of person
00:53:26.17\00:53:29.57
should you be? You never know
when people are watching you.
00:53:29.60\00:53:33.11
So, here's the answer. How do
we know, what evidence, what is
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the evidence that would tell
others that we are Christian?
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Look at it, I John 3:14, you
guys are already there aren't
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you. Okay, here it is. Let's
read on the screen. It says:
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We know that we have passed from
death to life, because we do
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what? Love the brethren. He who
does not love his brother abides
00:53:51.23\00:53:55.06
what? In death. There should be
a love and this shouldn't just
00:53:55.13\00:54:00.44
be for people that are lovable.
God loves the unlovable. Notice
00:54:00.47\00:54:06.07
it didn't say we pass from death
to life because we tolerate the
00:54:06.11\00:54:11.68
brethren. Because we love
the brethren. Now I want to make
00:54:11.71\00:54:14.68
this broad. Jesus loved
everybody, but he didn't like
00:54:14.72\00:54:19.05
what some people did. There's a
difference. You can dislike what
00:54:19.12\00:54:23.22
a person does, but you still
have to love that individual.
00:54:23.26\00:54:26.56
That's where we get the phrase
Jesus hates the sin but does
00:54:26.59\00:54:30.03
what? Loves the sinner. When I'm
saying like what a person does
00:54:30.07\00:54:33.50
but we say you know Jerry
sometimes ahh, you drive me nuts
00:54:33.54\00:54:38.77
but I love you. I'm just saying
that. I can smile with Jerry
00:54:38.81\00:54:44.01
because we have a good
relationship like that. You can
00:54:44.05\00:54:47.15
that to some people sometimes
Ohh sisters you just make my
00:54:47.18\00:54:50.29
tooth hurt but I love
you. You got to keep that love
00:54:50.32\00:54:54.02
relationship going because if
you lose that you lose the very
00:54:54.06\00:54:58.43
thing that's an identifying
mark. By this shall all men
00:54:58.46\00:55:02.00
know that you are my disciples
by your love for one another.
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And then I John 4:8- He that
loveth not knoweth not God for
00:55:05.60\00:55:09.47
God is love. That's got to
be a characteristic that is so
00:55:09.50\00:55:12.84
prevalent in our lives. So if
you don't love people, go home
00:55:12.87\00:55:17.18
and say Lord I got a list of
people here that I don't love.
00:55:17.21\00:55:21.35
Teach me how to love them. Don't
publish that list. Don't share
00:55:21.38\00:55:24.49
that list with other church
members. I don't love so and so,
00:55:24.52\00:55:28.16
how do you feel about her? Let
that be between just you and God
00:55:28.19\00:55:31.79
and when God activates love in
your life the people that don't
00:55:31.83\00:55:35.50
like that person will see you
loving that person and say since
00:55:35.53\00:55:39.23
when you and such and such
got along. You know what. God's
00:55:39.27\00:55:43.24
working on me just like he's
working on her. One person once
00:55:43.27\00:55:47.38
said if a person seems to be
cantankerous and every now and
00:55:47.41\00:55:51.45
then God shines through, praise
God for that moment because he's
00:55:51.48\00:55:56.02
still working on them. Everyone
of us is a work in progress.
00:55:56.05\00:56:00.59
So, let's not say ah man, poor
God's got a lot of work to do on
00:56:00.62\00:56:04.56
that person. God's got a lot of
work to do on you. And when you
00:56:04.59\00:56:07.83
get to heaven, you'll thank God
that He made the commitment that
00:56:07.86\00:56:11.30
He who has begun a good work
will what? Complete it. And the
00:56:11.33\00:56:14.84
answer is here very carefully,
they will see the love of God in
00:56:14.87\00:56:18.01
us. They'll see it in us. You
don't have to always go around
00:56:18.07\00:56:21.64
and say I love everybody. I kind
of get nervous when people are
00:56:21.68\00:56:25.11
walking around I love everybody.
I just love everybody. Somebody
00:56:25.15\00:56:28.52
get a padded room for him,
he loves everybody. Because
00:56:28.55\00:56:32.09
sometimes that's not as deep
as the person wants it to sound.
00:56:32.12\00:56:36.19
Right. Show it. Don't announce
it. Let it become an example by
00:56:36.22\00:56:40.26
the way you live. Let's
get one more in there, okay?
00:56:40.30\00:56:46.60
I Corinthians 13. Oh beautiful.
And you'll discover really what
00:56:46.63\00:56:50.04
love is. Doesn't boast, is
not proud, is not puffed up, it
00:56:50.11\00:56:54.44
doesn't even rejoice in evil,
but rejoices in good. Doesn't
00:56:54.48\00:56:59.28
show itself unseemingly. It
doesn't say good for you. Some
00:56:59.31\00:57:02.82
people are quick to say you
finally got what you deserve.
00:57:02.88\00:57:06.15
You know, we do that to each
other. I'm not going to go to
00:57:06.19\00:57:09.22
another text. I want to
just wind this one up. Here's my
00:57:09.26\00:57:12.56
point today. The Christian
life is a life that must have
00:57:12.59\00:57:15.83
evidences and these evidences
are not must to be seen between
00:57:15.86\00:57:19.03
God and us, but He wants us to
be lights in the world. He wants
00:57:19.07\00:57:23.00
us to be what? Lights in the
world. A candle that is lit is
00:57:23.04\00:57:26.84
not intended to be put under a
bushel. A city that is built and
00:57:26.88\00:57:30.88
put on a hill is not intended
to be hidden. A Christian whose
00:57:30.91\00:57:34.25
life has been ignited by the
power and the light of the Holy
00:57:34.28\00:57:37.49
Spirit must shine. And that's
why the Lord says in Matthew
00:57:37.52\00:57:40.82
let your light so shine before
men that they may see your good
00:57:40.86\00:57:44.53
works and do what? Glorify. You
know, I'll be glorified. I would
00:57:44.56\00:57:48.16
say Lord have mercy, if you
could do that for them, that's
00:57:48.23\00:57:50.90
the kind of God I need to do
this for my life. So, friends
00:57:50.93\00:57:53.64
here at A Sharper Focus we
believe that if you love the
00:57:53.67\00:57:56.27
Lord what you don't understand
one day will come into a sharper
00:57:56.30\00:57:59.74
focus. God bless
you. Let us pray.
00:57:59.77\00:58:02.58
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