Hello and welcome
to A Sharper Focus.
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We're coming to you live tonight
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from the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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And we are so excited
that you've joined us.
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Pastor John Lomacang
won't be with us tonight.
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He is celebrating
his 32nd anniversary.
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So he and Angie have gone away
for a little romantic getaway.
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I'm Shelley Quinn and tonight
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we're going to be talking about
something a little off topic.
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I believe you all have
been studying spiritual Babylon.
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But tonight what
we'll be talking about
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is a remedy for renewing
our relationship with God.
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You know, let's
start with prayer.
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I just really
feel a need for that.
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Heavenly Father, we
come in the name of Jesus.
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And, Lord, we come to thank You.
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We thank You for Your grace,
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we thank You for
the gift of salvation.
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We thank You, Father,
for the gift of Your Son,
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through whom all
of our blessings come.
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We thank You that
we've been blessed
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with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly realms.
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And we thank You, Father,
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for Your Holy
Spirit and Your Word.
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Tonight I pray, Father,
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that Lord just help me
to be surrendered to You,
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I pray that You
will speak through me.
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I pray, Father,
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that You will
send Your Holy Spirit
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to be our teacher.
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And You will
give us ears to hear
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what the Holy Spirit has to say.
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And, Father,
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that You will work
in us to do Your will.
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We love You, and we thank You,
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and we dedicate
this time to You, Father,
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in Jesus' name, amen.
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It's interesting.
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We've been doing a lot
of traveling, JD and I,
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and it's interesting to me
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how many discouraged Christians
there are in the church.
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And it occurred to me that,
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I mean, I suffer
from discouragement
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from time to time myself.
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I feel like I am failing God.
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And I don't always recognize
it as a spiritual attack.
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When we think about it,
what is Satan's objective?
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Satan wants to
thwart God's purposes
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in your life.
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He wants to deny God,
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the glory and the honor
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that is due Him
by our obedience.
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What Satan wants to do
is to draw us away from God.
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He wants to destroy us.
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And he does this
by stealing the truth.
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That's just the simple...
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Bottom line is
Satan is a truth stealer.
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There are many
Bible believing folk
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who are struggling with sin,
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many of them.
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You know, when you're
in that kind of struggle,
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it is proof positive
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that Satan is
trying to trip you up.
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Don't beat yourself up.
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When you stumble and
fall, get back up again.
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And if you
stumble and fall again,
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get back up again.
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But some people give up.
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They don't think...
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I've actually
heard Christians say,
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"I give up," and I
did when I was younger,
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because I didn't
understand the gospel.
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I thought it was up
to me to save myself.
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I didn't realize
it was God's work.
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Salvation is God's work.
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And we may give up on ourselves,
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but God doesn't.
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When we make a mistake,
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people may give up
on us but God doesn't.
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Micah knew this
and I want to read
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to you a scripture,
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it's one of my
favorite from Micah 7:8.
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And the way I remember this,
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seven is the
number of perfection.
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Eight is the
number of new beginnings.
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So Micah 7:8 is the
perfect new beginning,
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if you will.
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Micah 7:8 and
this is what he says,
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"Do not rejoice
over me, my enemy.
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When I fall, I will arise.
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When I sit in darkness,
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the Lord will be a light to me."
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God is the God
of new beginnings.
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And we need to
have absolute confidence
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that God is there for us,
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that He is for us,
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He's not against us.
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God's not trying to trip us up.
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He's not trying to catch
us in some kind of problem.
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God's there to bring
us out of those problems.
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So we need to have confidence
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that God is
always working for us.
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And that He can give us
the power for holy living.
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One of the things that...
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A favorite scripture
of mine is Romans 8:32.
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That if you think about
Paul, what Paul is saying is,
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if God who did not...
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He did not spare
His own Son for us.
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He sent Him to die
while we were yet sinners.
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And Paul says,
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"How much more will He do
now that we're His children.
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So this is something
that we have to remember.
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And if we remember this,
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the remedy for renewing
our relationship with God,
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there's four R's
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that we're
gonna look at tonight.
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Remember, repent,
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return, and rejoice.
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If you will turn to your
Bibles in Deuteronomy Chapter 4,
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Deuteronomy Chapter 4,
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this is a time
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when Moses is
addressing the people of Israel
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and he gives a
prophetic utterance.
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Deuteronomy Chapter 4,
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and we're going to
begin with verse 26.
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Here's what Moses says,
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"I call heaven and earth
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to witness against you this day,
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that you will soon
utterly perish from the land
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which you cross over
the Jordan to possess.
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You will not
prolong your days in it,
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but will be utterly destroyed."
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Oh, boy, this sounds like a
really good news, doesn't it?
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"The Lord will
scatter you among the peoples
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and you will be left in number,
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few in number among the nations
where the Lord will drive you."
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You know the Assyrians
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did take Israel
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and Judah captive in 733 BC,
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then the Babylonians
took them captive in 586 BC,
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then there was Greece and Rome,
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and other nations that have
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in one way or
another uprooted Israel.
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But Moses goes on in
verse 28 and he says,
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"And there you
will serve gods..."
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Little g, these
are manmade gods.
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"There you will serve
gods, the work of men's hands,
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wood and stone,
which neither see,
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nor hear, nor eat, nor smell."
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But here's where
the good news begins.
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Verse 29,
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"But from there you
will seek the Lord your God,
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and you will find
Him if you seek Him
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with all of your heart
and with all of your soul.
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When you are in distress,
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and all these
things come upon you
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in the latter days,
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when you turn to
the Lord your God
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and obey His voice."
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Now, let me stop
here and say this.
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The benefit of affliction
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is that it causes us
to remember our sins.
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And it causes us to
remember God's goodness.
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And then we are
motivated to repent,
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to return to God,
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and rejoice in
His new beginning.
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So let me read that again.
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"When you are in distress
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and all these
things come upon you
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in the latter days,
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when you turn to
the Lord your God
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and obey His voice,
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for the Lord your
God is a merciful God.
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He will not forsake you,
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nor destroy you,
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nor forget the
covenant of your fathers
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which He swore to them."
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Well, that's a
reason to rejoice, isn't it?
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So there's a pattern here.
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Remember, repent,
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return, and rejoice.
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What Moses is
really showing them here
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is that God would
forgive their sins
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which would be the
cause of their captivity.
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Because they were
destined for deliverance,
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remember that,
destined for deliverance.
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Now turn to Isaiah 44,
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Isaiah Chapter 44.
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And as you turn there,
I'm going to set up the story.
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In Isaiah Chapter 44
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it's speaking of making a god
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an idol from wood.
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From the same tree,
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some branches
were used for the fire,
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and then by chance,
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some were taken
in by man's folly.
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They created an
idol out of them.
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Man was making a
god out of something
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he could have thrown
into the fire and destroyed.
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He was
worshipping a piece of wood
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and looking to
that piece of wood
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to have the power to save him,
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doesn't that just...
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To me, it blows
my mind to even think
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that anyone could have
ever practiced such a thing.
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So He says in Isaiah 44:22, 23,
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"Remember these, the
folly of worshipping idols,
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O Jacob,
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and Israel, for
you are my servant.
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I have formed you.
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You are my servant."
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He's saying, "You belong to me.
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And so since you belong to me,
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follow my commands."
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"O Israel, you will
not be forgotten by me."
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Why?
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Because you are
destined for deliverance.
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He says in verse 22,
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"I have blotted out,
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like a thick cloud,
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your transgressions,
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and like a cloud
your sins return to me,
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for I have redeemed you."
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You know,
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just like a good strong
wind can wipe away the clouds,
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God wipes away
the cloud of our sin
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that separated us from Him,
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that the cloud that
obscured our vision of Him.
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And then He
says, "Sing, O heavens,
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for the Lord has done it.
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Shout, you lower
parts of the earth,
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break forth into
singing, you mountains,
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O forest, and every tree in it!
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For the Lord has redeemed Jacob
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and glorified him in Israel."
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Remember,
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He says, He
starts off with verse 44.
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"Remember your folly,
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remember your sins,
remember God's goodness.
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Repent, return to me, God says,
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for I have redeemed you."
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You know, I don't know
where this scripture is,
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I can't think of it right
now but there's one that says,
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return to Me and I
will return to you.
00:12:03.52\00:12:07.59
Draw near to God and
He will draw near to you.
00:12:07.62\00:12:10.93
And then here we
see the rejoicing,
00:12:10.96\00:12:13.76
as He's talking
about singing, O heavens,
00:12:13.80\00:12:17.17
because God has
forgiven their sins,
00:12:17.20\00:12:20.44
the sins that were the
cause of their captivity.
00:12:20.47\00:12:23.54
Why?
00:12:23.57\00:12:24.91
Because they were
destined for deliverance.
00:12:24.94\00:12:27.74
Now, the same
thing applies to us.
00:12:27.78\00:12:32.38
You are
destined for deliverance.
00:12:32.41\00:12:35.78
Isn't that exciting?
00:12:35.82\00:12:37.15
You who are at home
watching with us tonight,
00:12:37.19\00:12:40.32
you are
destined for deliverance.
00:12:40.36\00:12:43.59
God wants to save all men.
00:12:43.63\00:12:47.16
That is His heart.
00:12:47.20\00:12:49.46
But when we think
about returning to Me,
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it's not always
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the prodigal son type story.
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I want to talk about some sins
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that cause
captivity for Christians.
00:13:01.44\00:13:05.61
Christians that haven't
walked away from the church,
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but they've
turned their face on God,
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these sins, let's look at them.
00:13:11.89\00:13:14.86
Manic activity,
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I can identify with this one.
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Manic activity,
00:13:20.50\00:13:22.46
I believe that
00:13:22.50\00:13:23.83
this is one of Satan's
00:13:23.87\00:13:26.63
most subtle strategies today,
00:13:26.67\00:13:29.54
even for people who are working,
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as many of us are in ministry,
00:13:33.27\00:13:36.44
we become so busy
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doing good things
00:13:40.62\00:13:42.62
that we forget the great
things and the great thing
00:13:42.65\00:13:46.45
is to stay
connected with our Lord.
00:13:46.49\00:13:49.49
So if you think of it
this way, busy, B-U-S-Y,
00:13:49.52\00:13:54.36
that's a perfect acronym
00:13:54.40\00:13:56.60
for bondage under Satan's yoke,
00:13:56.63\00:14:00.94
bondage under Satan's yoke.
00:14:00.97\00:14:03.34
And we become like the one,
00:14:03.37\00:14:07.28
when we're busy,
00:14:07.31\00:14:08.64
whatever the
activity is that's keeping you
00:14:08.68\00:14:11.41
from spending
quality time with the Lord.
00:14:11.45\00:14:14.82
We become like the one
00:14:14.85\00:14:17.29
in the Parable of
the Sower of the Seed,
00:14:17.32\00:14:20.39
that the seed
falls among the thorns
00:14:20.42\00:14:24.63
and they hear,
00:14:24.66\00:14:26.70
but the seed gets
choked out because of cares,
00:14:26.73\00:14:32.53
there's so many cares.
00:14:32.57\00:14:33.94
We have been so
busy at 3ABN recently,
00:14:33.97\00:14:39.04
it is so easy to stay
busy doing God's work.
00:14:39.07\00:14:44.28
But when we are like that,
00:14:44.31\00:14:46.92
God's word gets
choked out of our hearts.
00:14:46.95\00:14:51.05
So in the Parable of
the Sower and the Seed,
00:14:51.09\00:14:55.22
it was choked out by cares,
00:14:55.26\00:14:58.29
by riches and pleasures of life,
00:14:58.33\00:15:00.93
and no fruit was
ever brought to maturity.
00:15:00.96\00:15:04.27
So what we have to remember,
and it's something that
00:15:04.30\00:15:08.30
this is a scripture that
00:15:08.34\00:15:09.67
I try to make an affirmation
of on almost on a daily basis,
00:15:09.70\00:15:14.08
and that is to seek
first the kingdom of God.
00:15:14.11\00:15:18.65
And all these things
will be added to you.
00:15:18.68\00:15:22.08
You know, I've been really
busy on a special project.
00:15:22.12\00:15:24.95
I've been project manager.
00:15:24.99\00:15:26.55
It's a huge multi
departmental project.
00:15:26.59\00:15:30.29
It is so easy for me
00:15:30.33\00:15:33.13
because of all the stress
00:15:33.16\00:15:35.33
to get on a roll
and JD will tell you,
00:15:35.36\00:15:38.70
I'm a roller.
00:15:38.73\00:15:40.64
I'm as he says his race horse.
00:15:40.67\00:15:42.60
I get going and going
00:15:42.64\00:15:44.14
and sometimes,
even though I start off,
00:15:44.17\00:15:46.68
surrendering the
project to the Lord,
00:15:46.71\00:15:49.71
halfway through the day,
I forget who's in charge.
00:15:49.74\00:15:53.82
We can get so busy
that we ignore the Lord.
00:15:53.85\00:15:57.62
Sometimes we're in
search of our heavenly Father.
00:15:57.65\00:16:00.92
But we're busy
going in a direction
00:16:00.96\00:16:03.53
that is away from His presence.
00:16:03.56\00:16:04.96
Let me tell you a story.
00:16:04.99\00:16:06.73
When I was four years old,
00:16:06.76\00:16:08.96
I woke up one
morning, my daddy was gone.
00:16:09.00\00:16:12.90
My mother was still asleep.
00:16:12.93\00:16:15.14
I walked 20
blocks, a four year old.
00:16:15.17\00:16:19.31
I walked 20 blocks
00:16:19.34\00:16:22.01
to the place
00:16:22.04\00:16:23.45
where my father's business was.
00:16:23.48\00:16:26.82
Can you imagine a
four year old doing that?
00:16:26.85\00:16:29.55
I had a lot of
activity, didn't I?
00:16:29.58\00:16:32.05
for a little
four year old's legs
00:16:32.09\00:16:33.52
walking 20 blocks?
00:16:33.56\00:16:35.49
Now, I didn't know
it was his day off.
00:16:35.52\00:16:37.83
He wasn't there.
00:16:37.86\00:16:39.19
There was a lot of activity,
a lot of good intentions.
00:16:39.23\00:16:43.16
But I was going in
the wrong direction,
00:16:43.20\00:16:45.63
away from home.
00:16:45.67\00:16:47.10
And that's how it can be for us
00:16:47.14\00:16:48.70
when we get so busy
doing work for the Lord
00:16:48.74\00:16:52.87
or just with the cares of life
we can have a lot of activity,
00:16:52.91\00:16:57.81
but we're not
really seeking God's face.
00:16:57.85\00:17:02.58
And if there's one
thing that God wants...
00:17:02.62\00:17:06.29
He showed me this once,
00:17:06.32\00:17:08.19
when I was praying, it was like,
00:17:08.22\00:17:10.06
I was walking along this path
00:17:10.09\00:17:13.60
and it's the right path
00:17:13.63\00:17:16.10
but I'm looking
back over my shoulder
00:17:16.13\00:17:19.10
and the Lord so clearly,
00:17:19.13\00:17:22.04
by the still small voice,
00:17:22.07\00:17:24.44
the Holy Spirit
impressed upon my mind
00:17:24.47\00:17:27.91
turned to me, full faced.
00:17:27.94\00:17:31.88
God wants our attention.
00:17:31.91\00:17:34.52
He wants us to recognize
our dependence upon Him.
00:17:34.55\00:17:38.05
He wants us to seek Him first.
00:17:38.09\00:17:42.32
And then that will
help renew our relationship.
00:17:42.36\00:17:47.56
Another sin that will
take us captive as Christians
00:17:47.60\00:17:50.87
is the sin of self satisfaction.
00:17:50.90\00:17:54.97
That's the
Laodicean sin, isn't it?
00:17:55.00\00:17:57.41
The ones who think
00:17:57.44\00:17:58.77
they are rich
and needed nothing.
00:17:58.81\00:18:01.54
It is a spiritual
state of unconsciousness
00:18:01.58\00:18:05.85
and apathy if you will.
00:18:05.88\00:18:08.45
And we forget our
great dependence upon God,
00:18:08.48\00:18:12.55
it puts us in a
spiritual stupor.
00:18:12.59\00:18:15.96
It's...
00:18:15.99\00:18:17.73
Self satisfaction is like a mind
00:18:17.76\00:18:21.13
numbing narcotic of the devil.
00:18:21.16\00:18:24.93
And, you know, when you
think of self satisfaction,
00:18:24.97\00:18:27.67
it's not just the
people who become apathetic,
00:18:27.70\00:18:31.11
legalists,
00:18:31.14\00:18:32.47
that's self satisfaction.
00:18:32.51\00:18:34.31
If you really get into legalism,
00:18:34.34\00:18:36.88
if you're trying to
earn your own salvation,
00:18:36.91\00:18:42.12
you think it's up to you.
00:18:42.15\00:18:43.95
You've missed the
whole point of grace.
00:18:43.99\00:18:46.45
Paul told the Galatians,
00:18:46.49\00:18:48.19
if you're doing that
you have fallen from grace,
00:18:48.22\00:18:53.16
you've estranged
yourself from Christ.
00:18:53.19\00:18:56.16
So when people get off
on this legalistic approach,
00:18:56.20\00:19:01.10
that is one of self satisfaction
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.37
and then there is that
00:19:04.41\00:19:07.34
all foundational sin of pride.
00:19:07.38\00:19:12.31
Boy,
00:19:12.35\00:19:13.68
that's self
satisfaction, isn't it?
00:19:13.72\00:19:16.08
Pride, the one
who is so judgmental.
00:19:16.12\00:19:19.89
And you know
something that's interesting.
00:19:19.92\00:19:21.92
You can watch,
00:19:21.96\00:19:23.29
a prideful person will be quick
00:19:23.32\00:19:26.33
to show offence.
00:19:26.36\00:19:28.93
They are quickly
and easily offended.
00:19:28.96\00:19:32.23
One time in the shower again,
when I say the Lord said to me,
00:19:32.27\00:19:36.30
I'm talking about the
still small voice of the Lord,
00:19:36.34\00:19:39.44
the Holy Spirit impressing
a thought upon my mind.
00:19:39.47\00:19:42.78
And I had taken
offense at something
00:19:42.81\00:19:46.18
and I was in the shower,
00:19:46.21\00:19:47.85
and I'm praying,
00:19:47.88\00:19:49.28
I mean, I pray wherever I am.
00:19:49.32\00:19:50.89
So I'm praying to the
Lord and washing my hair,
00:19:50.92\00:19:53.46
you know, and I
usually, it's funny sometimes
00:19:53.49\00:19:56.16
I'm going, Oh, Lord, wash
me thoroughly and completely,
00:19:56.19\00:19:58.59
you know, praying
the prayer of Psalm 41
00:19:58.63\00:20:01.66
as I'm taking a shower
00:20:01.70\00:20:03.33
but, here I am, and I'm praying,
00:20:03.37\00:20:05.63
and then I'm saying, "Lord,
00:20:05.67\00:20:07.20
You've got to put
those people in their place."
00:20:07.24\00:20:09.10
Nah-nah, nah-nah, you know,
00:20:09.14\00:20:10.47
because I was offended at
what someone had done to me.
00:20:10.51\00:20:13.61
And you know what
the Holy Spirit impressed
00:20:13.64\00:20:16.01
upon my mind.
00:20:16.04\00:20:18.41
This being offended
is the sin of pride.
00:20:18.45\00:20:23.65
The spirit of offense
is the spirit of pride.
00:20:23.69\00:20:28.06
And you think
about that for a minute.
00:20:28.09\00:20:30.79
It is your pride.
00:20:30.83\00:20:32.79
Its pride that rises up
00:20:32.83\00:20:34.73
when we think
somebody has overlooked us,
00:20:34.76\00:20:37.60
or somebody said
the wrong thing to us,
00:20:37.63\00:20:39.97
and we get offended.
00:20:40.00\00:20:41.37
That's nothing but pride.
00:20:41.40\00:20:43.54
And pride is the
spirit of antichrist.
00:20:43.57\00:20:46.37
So we've got to
forget about this stuff.
00:20:46.41\00:20:49.78
It reminds me in what
Jesus said in Luke 18.
00:20:49.81\00:20:53.45
When He's
talking about the two men
00:20:53.48\00:20:54.98
who went to the temple to pray,
00:20:55.02\00:20:56.89
there was the
Pharisee and the tax collector
00:20:56.92\00:20:59.75
and the Pharisee practically
beating on his chest,
00:20:59.79\00:21:02.32
is saying,
00:21:02.36\00:21:03.69
"Oh Lord, I thank You
that I'm not like other men,
00:21:03.73\00:21:06.19
and I'm not like
this tax collector.
00:21:06.23\00:21:08.66
Oh, Lord, I fast twice a week,
00:21:08.70\00:21:12.17
Lord, I give 10% of everything,
00:21:12.20\00:21:15.74
I tithe everything.
00:21:15.77\00:21:17.84
But then on the
back, in the back
00:21:17.87\00:21:21.51
there is the tax collector,
00:21:21.54\00:21:24.21
and he won't even
raise his eyes to heaven.
00:21:24.25\00:21:27.45
And he's beating
his chest, not in pride,
00:21:27.48\00:21:31.49
but he's beating his
chest because he is mourning.
00:21:31.52\00:21:36.69
He's upset with
himself and he says,
00:21:36.73\00:21:39.19
"Oh, Lord, be
merciful to me, a sinner."
00:21:39.23\00:21:44.47
And what did Jesus say?
00:21:44.50\00:21:46.33
He said this.
00:21:46.37\00:21:47.80
"I tell you, this man,
00:21:47.84\00:21:50.41
the tax collector,
went down to his house
00:21:50.44\00:21:53.48
justified rather
than the other one.
00:21:53.51\00:21:56.24
For everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled
00:21:56.28\00:22:00.02
and he who humbles
himself will be exalted."
00:22:00.05\00:22:03.89
Pure devotion to
God is not legalism.
00:22:03.92\00:22:08.06
Pure devotion to God is love.
00:22:08.09\00:22:11.83
That's what's important.
00:22:11.86\00:22:13.60
God wants our
hearts more than anything.
00:22:13.63\00:22:17.63
And a heart that is
animated by love for God
00:22:17.67\00:22:21.07
willingly walks in His ways.
00:22:21.10\00:22:25.84
There's also the sin
of taking God for granted.
00:22:25.87\00:22:31.11
That's when we've lost
our true passion for the Lord.
00:22:31.15\00:22:35.62
My college
roommate married a rancher.
00:22:35.65\00:22:40.06
And she told me...
00:22:40.09\00:22:42.39
I think they'd been
married about a year
00:22:42.42\00:22:44.13
so her husband rose
very early in the morning,
00:22:44.16\00:22:48.20
he was out
tending to the cattle,
00:22:48.23\00:22:50.47
and she said,
00:22:50.50\00:22:51.83
often he wouldn't
even come in for lunch.
00:22:51.87\00:22:54.37
And she's home all alone,
00:22:54.40\00:22:56.24
this big ranch
00:22:56.27\00:22:57.61
and I mean when I say big ranch,
00:22:57.64\00:22:59.14
they were hundreds
of miles from anyone,
00:22:59.17\00:23:03.35
hundreds of miles
away from anything.
00:23:03.38\00:23:06.21
She used to drive several
hours just to go shopping.
00:23:06.25\00:23:09.85
And so,
00:23:09.88\00:23:11.95
she said that he
would come in at night,
00:23:11.99\00:23:15.22
and he would be tired.
00:23:15.26\00:23:17.66
And he didn't feel
like talking to her.
00:23:17.69\00:23:20.60
And she said,
he turned on the TV
00:23:20.63\00:23:22.70
and they'd sit
there side by side,
00:23:22.73\00:23:25.07
he'd grunt occasionally
00:23:25.10\00:23:27.67
and she said,
00:23:27.70\00:23:29.04
"I never was lonelier in my life
00:23:29.07\00:23:33.64
than when he was in the room."
00:23:33.68\00:23:37.41
She said, "It was
lonely enough during the day.
00:23:37.45\00:23:41.08
But when my husband came home,
00:23:41.12\00:23:43.99
and didn't even
acknowledge my presence,
00:23:44.02\00:23:47.02
just grunted, was
busy with other things."
00:23:47.06\00:23:50.33
She says, "I've never
been lonelier in my life."
00:23:50.36\00:23:54.90
Let me ask you.
00:23:54.93\00:23:56.53
How do you think God feels
00:23:56.56\00:24:00.44
when we don't
acknowledge His presence,
00:24:00.47\00:24:04.94
when we sit back,
00:24:04.97\00:24:06.71
turn on something
to entertain our self,
00:24:06.74\00:24:09.14
don't spend time in
His Word or in prayer.
00:24:09.18\00:24:11.81
This is a sin of
taking God for granted.
00:24:11.85\00:24:17.32
He is always present with us.
00:24:17.35\00:24:20.22
And some of us
don't speak to him
00:24:20.26\00:24:22.69
unless we've got an urgent need.
00:24:22.72\00:24:25.83
Jesus said in Revelation 2:1-7,
00:24:25.86\00:24:30.00
He's talking to the
angel of the church of Ephesus,
00:24:30.03\00:24:34.74
write this,
00:24:34.77\00:24:36.10
He's talking
about the lost passion
00:24:36.14\00:24:37.97
for His presence.
00:24:38.01\00:24:39.44
These things, it says,
00:24:39.47\00:24:41.01
"He who holds the seven
stars in his right hand,
00:24:41.04\00:24:44.28
who walks in the midst of
the seven golden lampstands.
00:24:44.31\00:24:50.32
I know your works,
your labor, your patience,
00:24:50.35\00:24:54.22
and that you cannot
bear those who are evil.
00:24:54.26\00:24:57.43
And you have tested those
00:24:57.46\00:24:59.13
who say they are
apostles and are not
00:24:59.16\00:25:01.66
and have found them liars.
00:25:01.70\00:25:03.70
And you have
persevered and have patience,
00:25:03.73\00:25:07.54
and have
labored for my namesake,
00:25:07.57\00:25:10.91
and have not become weary."
00:25:10.94\00:25:12.91
Wow.
00:25:12.94\00:25:14.28
That describes most of
us in this room, doesn't it?
00:25:14.31\00:25:18.78
Then He says, "Nevertheless,
I have this against you.
00:25:18.81\00:25:22.95
You have left your first love."
00:25:22.98\00:25:27.76
That is when we get
so busy doing good things
00:25:27.79\00:25:31.83
and forget the greater thing.
00:25:31.86\00:25:35.76
Then He says in verse 5,
00:25:35.80\00:25:38.07
"Remember therefore
00:25:38.10\00:25:42.54
from where you have fallen,
00:25:42.57\00:25:44.31
repent and do the first works."
00:25:44.34\00:25:47.11
Do you remember
your first works?
00:25:47.14\00:25:49.08
Do you remember
00:25:49.11\00:25:50.45
when you first
fell in love with Jesus,
00:25:50.48\00:25:52.95
you couldn't get
enough of His word.
00:25:52.98\00:25:55.18
You were excited to
spend time in prayer with Him.
00:25:55.22\00:25:58.25
You were out talking
about Him all of the time.
00:25:58.29\00:26:01.19
He's saying, "Repent
and do the first works,
00:26:01.22\00:26:04.46
or else I will
come to you quickly
00:26:04.49\00:26:06.26
and remove your
lampstand from its place
00:26:06.29\00:26:08.30
unless you repent.
00:26:08.33\00:26:11.17
But this you have,
00:26:11.20\00:26:12.53
that you hate the
deeds of the Nicolaitans,
00:26:12.57\00:26:14.57
which I also hate.
00:26:14.60\00:26:16.27
He who has an ear, let him hear
00:26:16.30\00:26:18.51
what the Spirit
says to the churches.
00:26:18.54\00:26:21.61
To him who overcomes,
00:26:21.64\00:26:23.31
I will give to eat
from the tree of life
00:26:23.35\00:26:27.12
which is in the
midst of paradise of God."
00:26:27.15\00:26:32.09
So, being taken captive by sin,
00:26:32.12\00:26:37.73
and being in need
of returning to God
00:26:37.76\00:26:41.93
is not always
like the prodigal son.
00:26:41.96\00:26:46.13
It can be the sin of apathy.
00:26:46.17\00:26:48.24
It can be the sin of legalism.
00:26:48.27\00:26:50.24
It can be the sin of
taking God for granted,
00:26:50.27\00:26:54.98
or the sin of pride.
00:26:55.01\00:26:57.65
Any sin,
00:26:57.68\00:26:59.01
however slight it may seem to us
00:26:59.05\00:27:01.12
separates us from God.
00:27:01.15\00:27:02.95
You don't have to turn
there but just listen to this.
00:27:02.98\00:27:05.55
Isaiah 59:2,
00:27:05.59\00:27:07.42
"Your iniquities
have separated you
00:27:07.46\00:27:10.13
from your God,
00:27:10.16\00:27:11.59
and your sins have
hidden his face from you,
00:27:11.63\00:27:15.63
so that He will not hear."
00:27:15.66\00:27:17.83
So what's the answer?
00:27:17.87\00:27:19.83
What are our four R's?
00:27:19.87\00:27:22.24
Remember, repent,
00:27:22.27\00:27:25.97
return, and rejoice.
00:27:26.01\00:27:30.18
Let me read this to
you, please don't turn there,
00:27:30.21\00:27:32.58
'cause I want to read it to you
00:27:32.61\00:27:33.95
so that you can
hear it with your ears.
00:27:33.98\00:27:36.85
I want to add a
few things to this,
00:27:36.89\00:27:39.85
very familiar scripture.
00:27:39.89\00:27:43.19
Jeremiah 29:11-14.
00:27:43.22\00:27:46.53
God says, "For I
know the thoughts
00:27:46.56\00:27:48.30
that I think
toward you, says the Lord,
00:27:48.33\00:27:50.27
thoughts of
peace and not of evil,
00:27:50.30\00:27:52.60
to give you a
future and a hope."
00:27:52.63\00:27:56.84
Uh-huh.
00:27:56.87\00:27:58.34
When you remember this,
00:27:58.37\00:28:01.84
verse 12 now,
00:28:01.88\00:28:03.31
"Then you will call upon me
00:28:03.35\00:28:06.35
and go and pray to me."
00:28:06.38\00:28:08.28
He's saying, you will repent.
00:28:08.32\00:28:10.55
And you know, even
repentance is a gift.
00:28:10.59\00:28:13.02
Repentance is up to us.
00:28:13.05\00:28:15.22
Repentance, Acts 5:31,
00:28:15.26\00:28:18.03
says that
repentance is granted by God.
00:28:18.06\00:28:22.43
So what we need to do
when we remember our sins
00:28:22.46\00:28:25.97
and remember how good God is,
00:28:26.00\00:28:28.74
we need to go to Him
confess our sins and say,
00:28:28.77\00:28:31.41
"Oh, Lord, give me
the power to repent.
00:28:31.44\00:28:35.21
Turn me around, Lord,
00:28:35.24\00:28:37.65
I want to return to you."
00:28:37.68\00:28:40.12
So He says, "Then
you will call upon me
00:28:40.15\00:28:42.78
and go and pray to Me,
00:28:42.82\00:28:44.69
you'll repent and I
will listen to you."
00:28:44.72\00:28:49.69
And the devil
00:28:49.72\00:28:53.13
is trying to get our
thoughts off of this,
00:28:53.16\00:28:56.77
"Then you will call upon
Me and go and pray to Me.
00:28:56.80\00:28:59.50
You will repent and
I will listen to you
00:28:59.53\00:29:02.10
and you will
seek Me and find Me."
00:29:02.14\00:29:05.57
In other words,
you're gonna return to Me.
00:29:05.61\00:29:07.94
When you search for Me
with all of your heart."
00:29:07.98\00:29:12.28
When you have a
passion for His presence,
00:29:12.31\00:29:15.68
He says, "I will be
found by you says the Lord,
00:29:15.72\00:29:18.65
and I will bring you
back from captivity."
00:29:18.69\00:29:24.03
That's a reason
to rejoice, isn't it?
00:29:24.06\00:29:26.49
You are
destined for deliverance.
00:29:26.53\00:29:30.40
There is a pattern.
00:29:30.43\00:29:31.77
Remember, repent,
00:29:31.80\00:29:34.50
return, and rejoice.
00:29:34.54\00:29:37.97
God will forgive your sins
00:29:38.01\00:29:39.97
that caused you
to go into captivity.
00:29:40.01\00:29:43.48
Hallelujah.
00:29:43.51\00:29:45.01
God will level a
path for our feet
00:29:45.05\00:29:48.22
because of His mercy,
00:29:48.25\00:29:49.62
and because He has
destined you for deliverance.
00:29:49.65\00:29:53.92
So how do we put this pattern,
00:29:53.96\00:29:57.76
this four R pattern,
00:29:57.79\00:30:00.06
remember, repent,
00:30:00.10\00:30:03.13
return, and rejoice.
00:30:03.16\00:30:04.57
How do we put that
into practice in our lives?
00:30:04.60\00:30:08.27
Hosea 10:12 says this,
00:30:08.30\00:30:10.24
"Sow for
yourselves righteousness,
00:30:10.27\00:30:13.07
reap in mercy,
00:30:13.11\00:30:14.44
break up your fallow ground
00:30:14.48\00:30:16.81
for it is time to seek the Lord
00:30:16.85\00:30:21.12
until He comes
00:30:21.15\00:30:22.68
and reigns
righteousness on you."
00:30:22.72\00:30:27.72
When we start seeking God,
00:30:27.76\00:30:30.46
as the Psalmist
wrote in Psalm 63.
00:30:30.49\00:30:34.96
He says, "Oh
God, you are my God,
00:30:35.00\00:30:37.27
earnestly while I seek you,
00:30:37.30\00:30:39.67
my inner self thirsts for you,
00:30:39.70\00:30:42.44
my flesh longs for you in a dry
00:30:42.47\00:30:46.41
and weary land
where no water is.
00:30:46.44\00:30:49.54
So I've looked upon
you in the sanctuary,
00:30:49.58\00:30:53.62
to see your power and your glory
00:30:53.65\00:30:56.89
because your love
is better than life.
00:30:56.92\00:31:01.49
My lips shall praise you."
00:31:01.52\00:31:03.39
Do you realize that
God's love is better than life?
00:31:03.43\00:31:08.33
God's love is better than life.
00:31:08.36\00:31:11.30
Boy, if we really remember that,
00:31:11.33\00:31:14.84
that's part of the
remembering, isn't it?
00:31:14.87\00:31:16.50
If we would remember
00:31:16.54\00:31:18.47
that God's love
is better than life,
00:31:18.51\00:31:20.98
we would want to
spend that time with Him.
00:31:21.01\00:31:24.11
"Because your love
is better than life,
00:31:24.15\00:31:26.41
my lips shall praise You.
00:31:26.45\00:31:28.28
So will I bless
You while I live:
00:31:28.32\00:31:31.29
I will lift up my
hands in your name."
00:31:31.32\00:31:35.52
God's cause,
00:31:35.56\00:31:38.43
His purpose for your life
00:31:38.46\00:31:40.90
is crippled in your life
00:31:40.93\00:31:45.17
because of lack
00:31:45.20\00:31:47.04
of personal passionate prayer.
00:31:47.07\00:31:52.21
Personal passionate prayer,
00:31:52.24\00:31:54.61
our lack of passionate prayer
00:31:54.64\00:31:57.48
is because of our lack
of knowledge of His Word.
00:31:57.51\00:32:02.55
You know, how does faith come?
00:32:02.58\00:32:04.35
Faith comes by hearing
00:32:04.39\00:32:06.65
and hearing by the Word of God.
00:32:06.69\00:32:10.36
So, faith comes
00:32:10.39\00:32:13.93
as we have knowledge
of what His Word says.
00:32:13.96\00:32:18.83
The more promises
00:32:18.87\00:32:20.94
that you are ingesting
00:32:20.97\00:32:24.11
the more promises of God,
00:32:24.14\00:32:26.57
the more knowledge
you have of His Word.
00:32:26.61\00:32:29.58
The more faith,
little word little faith,
00:32:29.61\00:32:32.28
lot of word, big faith.
00:32:32.31\00:32:35.22
And when we have big faith,
00:32:35.25\00:32:38.32
we will become
passionate in our prayer time.
00:32:38.35\00:32:44.33
Prayer is the
divine flame of faith.
00:32:44.36\00:32:48.73
But God's promises
00:32:48.76\00:32:50.83
are the fuel for that flame.
00:32:50.87\00:32:54.00
It takes a lot of
discipline and energy
00:32:54.04\00:32:56.34
to pray as we should.
00:32:56.37\00:32:57.71
It's like exercising.
00:32:57.74\00:33:00.54
And we need to take
this a little more serious.
00:33:00.58\00:33:04.28
A lot of us are good at
sending up little prayers.
00:33:04.31\00:33:09.55
And I'll tell you that...
00:33:09.58\00:33:11.52
This thought
once occurred to me,
00:33:11.55\00:33:13.02
little prayers are
not much more than sap
00:33:13.05\00:33:16.59
for our
conscience most of the time.
00:33:16.62\00:33:19.83
It makes us feel
good about ourselves.
00:33:19.86\00:33:22.50
But passionate personal prayer
will open once again to us
00:33:22.53\00:33:28.40
the treasure of divine grace.
00:33:28.44\00:33:30.87
Think about Jesus.
00:33:30.91\00:33:32.47
He prayed all night,
00:33:32.51\00:33:35.38
He prayed with
strong crying tears.
00:33:35.41\00:33:38.71
And the men who reflected
the character of Christ
00:33:38.75\00:33:41.65
were great prayer warriors.
00:33:41.68\00:33:43.55
There was Jacob,
00:33:43.59\00:33:45.05
he wrestled and he
prevailed with God.
00:33:45.09\00:33:48.49
And let me tell you something,
00:33:48.52\00:33:49.92
Jacob's victory of faith
could not have been gained
00:33:49.96\00:33:54.53
without that all
night prevailing.
00:33:54.56\00:33:58.13
The reason he gained the victory
00:33:58.17\00:34:01.17
is because he spent the
night wrestling with God.
00:34:01.20\00:34:05.67
Think about Elijah,
00:34:05.71\00:34:07.64
the effective
fervent prayers of Elijah
00:34:07.68\00:34:11.75
caused the drought,
relieved the drought.
00:34:11.78\00:34:14.45
Think about David and Daniel,
00:34:14.48\00:34:16.89
who prayed three times a day.
00:34:16.92\00:34:19.92
And it wasn't just
thank you for breakfast.
00:34:19.95\00:34:23.66
Bless this food for lunch
and bless this food for dinner.
00:34:23.69\00:34:27.20
These were passionate prayers.
00:34:27.23\00:34:30.73
Think about Paul
00:34:30.77\00:34:32.13
who prayed
continuously without ceasing.
00:34:32.17\00:34:35.50
And it was just the
earnest effort of his soul.
00:34:35.54\00:34:39.91
And Martin Luther, who said,
00:34:39.94\00:34:42.71
"If I should neglect prayer,
00:34:42.74\00:34:44.41
but a single day,
00:34:44.45\00:34:46.61
I should lose a great
deal of the fire of faith."
00:34:46.65\00:34:52.12
I love that quote.
00:34:52.15\00:34:54.49
Public prayers generally
should be short and condensed.
00:34:54.52\00:34:59.73
There's nothing
worse than public prayer
00:34:59.76\00:35:02.00
that is going on and on
and on because people began to,
00:35:02.03\00:35:05.67
you know, we had the
attention span of hummingbirds
00:35:05.70\00:35:09.04
when we're all
together, I think.
00:35:09.07\00:35:11.11
And if somebody is going
in a lengthy public prayer,
00:35:11.14\00:35:15.51
it's easy for us to start
thinking about something else,
00:35:15.54\00:35:18.38
because we're
not really engaged.
00:35:18.41\00:35:20.72
And a lot of our private prayers
00:35:20.75\00:35:23.02
are often short,
00:35:23.05\00:35:24.39
just because we're constrained
by circumstances, right?
00:35:24.42\00:35:28.26
I mean, Paul didn't go
into a great long prayer
00:35:28.29\00:35:32.33
when he found himself sinking.
00:35:32.36\00:35:34.66
He basically
said, "Save me Lord."
00:35:34.70\00:35:38.33
So, those are understandable.
00:35:38.37\00:35:43.41
But if we really want to renew
our relationship with the Lord,
00:35:43.44\00:35:47.21
what we need to do
is spend quality time
00:35:47.24\00:35:51.95
and the amount
of time is essential
00:35:51.98\00:35:55.82
to what we're going
to achieve and receive.
00:35:55.85\00:36:00.26
And the main thing we
achieve is in knowing God.
00:36:00.29\00:36:04.36
You know, Jesus
said, "This is eternal life
00:36:04.39\00:36:07.36
that you would know Him
00:36:07.40\00:36:10.80
and the one whom He has sent."
00:36:10.83\00:36:12.83
And we get to know
God in our prayer time.
00:36:12.87\00:36:16.71
And I always make this
word part of my prayer time.
00:36:16.74\00:36:19.74
I let God speak to me as well.
00:36:19.77\00:36:23.11
So He says...
00:36:23.14\00:36:25.61
Excuse me.
00:36:25.65\00:36:26.98
Much time spent with God
00:36:31.55\00:36:34.69
is the secret of
all successful praying.
00:36:34.72\00:36:38.46
It's a secret of
getting to know Him intimately,
00:36:38.49\00:36:41.50
and actually having
some influence on Him.
00:36:41.53\00:36:46.23
When we think
00:36:46.27\00:36:48.44
or when we spend a
lot of time with God,
00:36:48.47\00:36:51.57
our prayer
becomes a mighty force,
00:36:51.61\00:36:55.84
a mighty force.
00:36:55.88\00:36:58.15
And as I said,
00:36:58.18\00:36:59.75
Jacob would not
have gained the victory
00:36:59.78\00:37:02.02
if he hadn't
prevailed all night with God.
00:37:02.05\00:37:04.75
But the efficacy of
our shorter prayers,
00:37:04.79\00:37:08.72
how efficient are short
00:37:08.76\00:37:10.59
and effective our
short prayers are depends on
00:37:10.63\00:37:14.66
if we've had a life,
00:37:14.70\00:37:17.17
a prayer life of
those longer prayers.
00:37:17.20\00:37:19.87
Does that make sense?
00:37:19.90\00:37:21.30
If we are ones
who have prevailed,
00:37:21.34\00:37:24.54
and the reason Paul
could prevail with the Lord,
00:37:24.57\00:37:27.54
by saying "Save me, Lord"
00:37:27.58\00:37:29.18
is because he'd spent
so much time with God.
00:37:29.21\00:37:31.85
We want to spend that time
00:37:31.88\00:37:34.95
and realize that
casual, hasty prayers
00:37:34.98\00:37:38.45
don't release the
manifold gifts of God.
00:37:38.49\00:37:41.62
He yields to the one
who is persistent in faith,
00:37:41.66\00:37:46.06
and that's the one He declares
00:37:46.09\00:37:48.70
and bestows His blessings on.
00:37:48.73\00:37:52.23
Christ was our example in
this as well as all things.
00:37:52.27\00:37:57.27
He spent many nights in prayer.
00:37:57.31\00:38:00.14
It was His custom to pray much.
00:38:00.18\00:38:02.88
He had long sessions of prayer.
00:38:02.91\00:38:05.35
Paul prayed day and night.
00:38:05.38\00:38:07.28
And it took Daniel
00:38:07.32\00:38:10.42
a lot of time
for Daniel's prayers,
00:38:10.45\00:38:12.25
three times a day.
00:38:12.29\00:38:13.62
So while we know that
00:38:13.66\00:38:16.59
we don't have specific accounts
of how long they prayed,
00:38:16.62\00:38:20.43
we do know that the
indication in the scripture
00:38:20.46\00:38:23.26
is that they
consumed much time in prayer.
00:38:23.30\00:38:26.94
And we need to
do that ourselves.
00:38:26.97\00:38:29.50
God wants us to return
to Him with our whole heart.
00:38:29.54\00:38:34.71
In Jeremiah 24:7, He says,
00:38:34.74\00:38:36.91
"I will give them
a heart to know Me
00:38:36.95\00:38:39.05
that I am the Lord and
they shall be My people,
00:38:39.08\00:38:42.58
and I will be their God,
00:38:42.62\00:38:44.65
for they shall return to Me
00:38:44.69\00:38:47.69
with their whole heart."
00:38:47.72\00:38:50.99
Turn to Joel Chapter 2.
00:38:51.03\00:38:52.36
I'll show you one
more of these remembering,
00:38:52.39\00:38:54.86
repenting,
returning, and rejoicing.
00:38:54.90\00:38:58.30
I was doing a word study
the other day on 1 Peter 2:9,
00:38:58.33\00:39:02.44
where it talks about
we are a chosen people,
00:39:02.47\00:39:05.57
a holy nation, a
royal priesthood,
00:39:05.61\00:39:08.94
a peculiar people.
00:39:08.98\00:39:11.81
Did you know when we read that,
00:39:11.85\00:39:15.48
peculiar people, we think of...
00:39:15.52\00:39:18.32
What do you think of
when you think of peculiar?
00:39:18.35\00:39:21.32
Weird, odd,
00:39:21.36\00:39:23.76
strange,
00:39:23.79\00:39:25.79
well, there are a lot of
peculiar Christians out there
00:39:25.83\00:39:29.20
that might fit that definition.
00:39:29.23\00:39:31.80
But in the Greek,
00:39:31.83\00:39:33.54
the word that is translated
00:39:33.57\00:39:36.20
as peculiar
means to make around.
00:39:36.24\00:39:41.04
In other words,
00:39:41.08\00:39:42.41
it indicates that
God as our Creator
00:39:42.44\00:39:46.08
put a circle around us,
00:39:46.11\00:39:48.72
indicating His ownership of us.
00:39:48.75\00:39:51.75
It's a precious term.
00:39:51.79\00:39:53.96
It's precious, when
you think about that.
00:39:53.99\00:39:57.09
And He wants us
to remember that.
00:39:57.13\00:39:59.93
Look at Joel 2:12,
00:39:59.96\00:40:03.43
I mean, Joel 2:12.
00:40:03.47\00:40:06.87
He says, "Now therefore,"
00:40:06.90\00:40:09.80
this is the Lord speaking.
00:40:09.84\00:40:11.77
"Now therefore,"
remembering your sin
00:40:11.81\00:40:14.61
is what He's been talking about,
00:40:14.64\00:40:15.98
"says the Lord,
00:40:16.01\00:40:17.35
'Turn to me with all your heart
00:40:17.38\00:40:19.15
with fasting, with weeping
00:40:19.18\00:40:21.18
and with mourning.
00:40:21.22\00:40:23.35
So rend your heart
and not your garments.'
00:40:23.39\00:40:27.22
" Well, that was
a Jewish tradition
00:40:27.26\00:40:32.09
was when they were mourning,
00:40:32.13\00:40:34.06
they would rip their garments
00:40:34.10\00:40:36.46
and God's
saying, forget the show.
00:40:36.50\00:40:39.43
I'm not interested
in your external things.
00:40:39.47\00:40:41.90
"Rend your heart
and not your garments."
00:40:41.94\00:40:45.21
In other words,
repent sincerely.
00:40:45.24\00:40:49.61
Then He says,
"Return to the Lord your God,
00:40:49.64\00:40:53.48
return to Me,
00:40:53.52\00:40:55.45
for He is gracious and merciful,
00:40:55.48\00:40:57.85
slow to anger and
of great kindness,
00:40:57.89\00:41:01.16
and He relents
00:41:01.19\00:41:03.32
from doing harm."
00:41:03.36\00:41:05.43
That's the reason to rejoice.
00:41:05.46\00:41:07.83
Isn't it amazing
00:41:07.86\00:41:09.50
how Satan can make us
have so much condemnation?
00:41:09.53\00:41:14.90
As I said earlier,
00:41:14.94\00:41:16.27
we think when we
have stumbled and fallen
00:41:16.30\00:41:18.87
or we're not living up to par,
00:41:18.91\00:41:21.44
whatever the standard is
that we're trying to live up to,
00:41:21.48\00:41:24.91
we feel as if, "Oh,
Lord, how can you bear me?"
00:41:24.95\00:41:29.15
And sometimes
people get so overridden
00:41:29.18\00:41:32.79
with condemnation,
00:41:32.82\00:41:35.32
that it's just like Satan,
00:41:35.36\00:41:37.66
you know, and
I've used this before,
00:41:37.69\00:41:39.86
and I can't help it.
00:41:39.89\00:41:41.23
This is just to
me a good visual.
00:41:41.26\00:41:43.77
It's like Satan would
hand you, Laura, a baton.
00:41:43.80\00:41:48.00
And he'd say, "Here,
00:41:48.04\00:41:49.84
here's my baton
of condemnation."
00:41:49.87\00:41:52.51
And we take it and we go,
00:41:52.54\00:41:54.98
boing, boing, boing,
00:41:55.01\00:41:57.65
we're hitting
ourselves over the head.
00:41:57.68\00:42:00.15
See, God,
00:42:00.18\00:42:02.52
the Holy Spirit
brings us to godly sorrow.
00:42:02.55\00:42:06.35
He brings us to that point
00:42:06.39\00:42:08.52
of recognizing
there's that emptiness,
00:42:08.56\00:42:11.79
that missing of God,
00:42:11.83\00:42:13.46
and we're sorry
that we've hurt God.
00:42:13.50\00:42:15.96
But that condemnation
00:42:16.00\00:42:18.63
that would try to
keep us away from God,
00:42:18.67\00:42:22.04
the only reason people
get discouraged and give up
00:42:22.07\00:42:26.01
and we have people
who leave the church even.
00:42:26.04\00:42:29.01
The reason they get
discouraged and give up
00:42:29.04\00:42:31.75
is 'cause they
aren't remembering
00:42:31.78\00:42:35.32
the goodness of God, the gospel.
00:42:35.35\00:42:38.79
The good news is
00:42:38.82\00:42:41.29
that salvation
belongs to the Lord.
00:42:41.32\00:42:44.43
The good news is,
00:42:44.46\00:42:46.39
His plan is for you to be 100%
00:42:46.43\00:42:50.47
dependent upon Him.
00:42:50.50\00:42:53.23
He doesn't ask you to do
this in your own strength.
00:42:53.27\00:42:56.20
He says, "My grace
is sufficient for you.
00:42:56.24\00:42:59.77
My power is made
perfect in your weakness.
00:42:59.81\00:43:02.98
I'm the one who's
going to work in you to will
00:43:03.01\00:43:05.35
and to do my good pleasure.
00:43:05.38\00:43:07.35
I'm the one who
will preserve you
00:43:07.38\00:43:09.35
and keep you
blameless at My coming."
00:43:09.38\00:43:13.36
Hallelujah.
00:43:13.39\00:43:15.42
God's plan has...
00:43:15.46\00:43:18.93
The devil has stolen the truth
00:43:18.96\00:43:22.73
from the plan of salvation.
00:43:22.76\00:43:26.23
You know, for
some people, it's like,
00:43:26.27\00:43:28.34
you say a sinner's prayer
and once saved always saved.
00:43:28.37\00:43:31.54
That's a lie.
00:43:31.57\00:43:32.94
He's stolen the truth.
00:43:32.97\00:43:36.71
If any Christian can say
that obedience is not important,
00:43:36.75\00:43:41.15
you're misinformed.
00:43:41.18\00:43:42.52
Satan has beguiled you.
00:43:42.55\00:43:46.15
Satan has deceived you.
00:43:46.19\00:43:49.16
Obedience is important.
00:43:49.19\00:43:51.13
Obedience is the
pathway to God's blessings.
00:43:51.16\00:43:54.50
Hebrews 5:9, says that
00:43:54.53\00:43:56.00
Jesus Christ became the
author of eternal salvation
00:43:56.03\00:44:00.20
for all those who obey.
00:44:00.24\00:44:03.34
But obedience isn't
something we do to be saved,
00:44:03.37\00:44:07.24
obedience is something
we do because we are saved.
00:44:07.28\00:44:11.35
And it is when our
heart is filled with love,
00:44:11.38\00:44:17.19
then we can't help
00:44:17.22\00:44:19.75
but want to please
our heavenly Father.
00:44:19.79\00:44:22.59
And we will walk
in that obedience.
00:44:22.62\00:44:25.59
Let me read James 4,
00:44:33.64\00:44:35.44
and I'm going to James 4:5-8,
00:44:35.47\00:44:38.81
James 4:5-8,
00:44:38.84\00:44:42.91
James writes, "Do you think
that the scripture says in vain
00:44:42.94\00:44:45.88
'The Spirit who dwells
in us yearns jealously?'
00:44:45.91\00:44:50.79
But He gives more grace.
00:44:50.82\00:44:53.46
Therefore, He says
'God resists the proud
00:44:53.49\00:44:55.69
but gives grace to the humble.'
00:44:55.72\00:44:57.46
Therefore submit to God,
00:44:57.49\00:45:00.10
resist the devil.'
00:45:00.13\00:45:02.36
" What does the
devil want to do?
00:45:02.40\00:45:03.93
He wants to thwart
God's purpose in your life.
00:45:03.97\00:45:06.97
He wants to rob God of the glory
00:45:07.00\00:45:09.54
and the honor that is due
Him through our obedience.
00:45:09.57\00:45:12.71
He wants to
separate you from God.
00:45:12.74\00:45:17.18
He wants to destroy you.
00:45:17.21\00:45:19.81
Don't let him do that.
00:45:19.85\00:45:21.28
"Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you.
00:45:21.32\00:45:25.22
Draw near to God, and
He will draw near to you.
00:45:25.25\00:45:29.72
Cleanse your hands you
sinners and purify your hearts,
00:45:29.76\00:45:34.16
you double-minded."
00:45:34.20\00:45:37.33
You know, when he talks about,
00:45:37.37\00:45:41.17
"Draw near to God, and
He will draw near to you."
00:45:41.20\00:45:45.07
Let me tell you
another wandering story.
00:45:45.11\00:45:48.31
My mother must have
had plenty of occasions
00:45:48.34\00:45:51.21
to nearly have a heart attack
00:45:51.25\00:45:52.88
over some of my
escapades as a tiny child.
00:45:52.91\00:45:56.25
I was two years old
00:45:56.28\00:45:58.02
and I was playing
across the street.
00:45:58.05\00:46:00.12
She thought the people across
the street were watching me.
00:46:00.16\00:46:03.46
She went over to
get me around lunchtime.
00:46:03.49\00:46:06.49
And she said,
"Well, where's Shelley?"
00:46:06.53\00:46:10.80
"Well, I don't know,
00:46:10.83\00:46:12.23
I think she was here
just a few minutes ago."
00:46:12.27\00:46:15.30
I was gone.
00:46:15.34\00:46:16.67
Well, my mother was frantic.
00:46:16.71\00:46:18.04
We live in California.
00:46:18.07\00:46:19.41
We lived near a very busy
four lane divided highway.
00:46:19.44\00:46:23.68
So my mother is
running for this highway.
00:46:23.71\00:46:28.02
I'm two years old.
00:46:28.05\00:46:30.32
I have made it across two lanes
00:46:30.35\00:46:35.12
of this divided highway.
00:46:35.16\00:46:37.23
I am standing in the median,
00:46:37.26\00:46:40.40
and my mother haulers
00:46:40.43\00:46:42.46
"Shelley" and I
turn around to her
00:46:42.50\00:46:46.53
and I step out into the street.
00:46:46.57\00:46:49.94
I take one step to her
00:46:49.97\00:46:51.71
and I'll tell you my mother said
00:46:51.74\00:46:53.58
she flew across that highway.
00:46:53.61\00:46:58.41
That's the way God is.
00:46:58.45\00:47:01.48
When we're in danger,
00:47:01.52\00:47:04.12
if we will turn to Him
00:47:04.15\00:47:06.62
and take one step,
00:47:06.65\00:47:09.92
draw near to God, He will...
00:47:09.96\00:47:12.86
You take one step,
00:47:12.89\00:47:14.23
He will run to meet you
00:47:14.26\00:47:17.90
with open arms,
00:47:17.93\00:47:21.94
just like the prodigal son.
00:47:21.97\00:47:23.51
One of my favorite scriptures
00:47:26.51\00:47:29.48
is this.
00:47:29.51\00:47:32.68
Isaiah 30:15 says,
00:47:32.71\00:47:37.72
"For thus says the Lord God,
00:47:37.75\00:47:39.95
the Holy One of Israel,
00:47:39.99\00:47:42.42
in returning to God.
00:47:42.46\00:47:46.46
'In returning and rest,
00:47:46.49\00:47:48.90
you shall be saved,
00:47:48.93\00:47:51.23
in quietness and confidence
00:47:51.27\00:47:54.37
shall be your strength.'"
00:47:54.40\00:47:56.97
In returning and rest,
00:47:57.01\00:47:59.37
you shall be saved.
00:47:59.41\00:48:01.51
When we turn to God,
00:48:01.54\00:48:02.94
when we change our
hearts and our lives,
00:48:02.98\00:48:05.48
and we rest in
total dependence upon Him.
00:48:05.51\00:48:10.45
"You shall be saved
00:48:10.49\00:48:12.32
in quietness and confidence
00:48:12.35\00:48:15.49
shall be your strength."
00:48:15.52\00:48:18.13
So let's review what
we've learned tonight.
00:48:18.16\00:48:22.73
What is Satan's objective?
00:48:22.76\00:48:25.77
To thwart God's
plan for your life.
00:48:25.80\00:48:30.04
He wants to interrupt that.
00:48:30.07\00:48:32.17
He wants to deny God,
00:48:32.21\00:48:35.04
the glory
00:48:35.08\00:48:37.28
and the accolades the
honor that's due to Him
00:48:37.31\00:48:41.58
by us showing obedience.
00:48:41.62\00:48:43.39
Satan doesn't
like it when we obey.
00:48:43.42\00:48:45.85
He wants to draw
us away from God.
00:48:45.89\00:48:48.79
And just like we
learned when we were in Africa,
00:48:48.82\00:48:52.53
spoke over in Africa
00:48:52.56\00:48:53.90
a couple years
ago for a camp meeting
00:48:53.93\00:48:57.23
and we learned that the lion,
00:48:57.27\00:49:00.90
you know, what is Satan,
00:49:00.94\00:49:02.27
like a roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour.
00:49:02.30\00:49:05.77
You know, how
they get their prey,
00:49:05.81\00:49:09.31
they separate one from the herd.
00:49:09.34\00:49:13.18
When they can get one
separated from the herd,
00:49:13.21\00:49:16.58
that's when the
lions can take them down.
00:49:16.62\00:49:20.72
So, you know, this
is what Satan does.
00:49:20.76\00:49:24.03
He tries to
separate you from church,
00:49:24.06\00:49:27.73
he tries to separate you
from Christian fellowship.
00:49:27.76\00:49:30.70
He tries to get
you out in the North 40
00:49:30.73\00:49:33.90
so he can take you down.
00:49:33.94\00:49:35.97
And the way he does this,
00:49:36.00\00:49:38.21
is that he steals the truth.
00:49:38.24\00:49:41.48
So it is so important for us
00:49:41.51\00:49:44.41
to understand that God's plan
00:49:44.45\00:49:47.42
is that we would remember
00:49:47.45\00:49:51.12
that He is the
God of new beginnings,
00:49:51.15\00:49:53.96
that we would remember
that He is the one who says,
00:49:53.99\00:49:57.66
"I have loved you
with an everlasting love.
00:49:57.69\00:50:00.66
And with cords of
love, I have drawn you."
00:50:00.70\00:50:05.23
We've got to remember who God is
00:50:05.27\00:50:08.67
and remember who we are.
00:50:08.70\00:50:10.24
What a privilege it is
00:50:10.27\00:50:12.04
to be a child of God.
00:50:12.07\00:50:14.98
And we have to remember if
you turn to 1 Thessalonians,
00:50:15.01\00:50:19.75
1 Thessalonians chapter 5,
00:50:19.78\00:50:25.32
we have to remember that
00:50:25.35\00:50:29.09
all we need to do
00:50:29.12\00:50:31.49
in our Christian life
00:50:31.53\00:50:34.20
is when we remember is to say,
00:50:34.23\00:50:37.50
"Lord, please give
me the power to repent,"
00:50:37.53\00:50:41.80
confess your sins,
00:50:41.84\00:50:43.64
ask him for the power to repent,
00:50:43.67\00:50:46.41
and then take
that step toward Him,
00:50:46.44\00:50:49.38
He'll come running to
you as you return to Him,
00:50:49.41\00:50:53.38
He will return to you
00:50:53.42\00:50:55.75
and you can rejoice
00:50:55.78\00:50:58.32
in this
wonderful precious promise.
00:50:58.35\00:51:01.96
Listen to this,
00:51:01.99\00:51:05.89
1 Thessalonians 5:23.
00:51:05.93\00:51:11.33
"Now may the
God of peace himself
00:51:11.37\00:51:15.74
sanctify you..."
00:51:15.77\00:51:17.11
Who's doing the work here?
00:51:17.14\00:51:19.31
God is doing the work.
00:51:19.34\00:51:22.01
God is the one who sent...
00:51:22.04\00:51:23.58
What does it
mean to sanctify us?
00:51:23.61\00:51:26.48
To sanctify us...
00:51:26.51\00:51:28.08
Did you know it's
a synonym with holy,
00:51:28.12\00:51:30.72
sanctify and
holiness are the same...
00:51:30.75\00:51:33.19
Sanctification and
holiness are the same thing.
00:51:33.22\00:51:36.06
And that gets us all
in a Twitter, doesn't it?
00:51:36.09\00:51:39.46
When we talk about, you know,
00:51:39.49\00:51:41.83
I just am so amazed at
how some pastors can say,
00:51:41.86\00:51:45.60
quote the scripture,
00:51:45.63\00:51:47.27
"That God said, 'Be
holy, for I am holy.'"
00:51:47.30\00:51:50.37
And they make it sound so scary.
00:51:50.41\00:51:53.21
See, God, holiness
is the lack of sin.
00:51:53.24\00:51:58.18
God is separated from sin.
00:51:58.21\00:52:01.02
Holiness is wrapped up in love,
00:52:01.05\00:52:03.39
for God is love.
00:52:03.42\00:52:05.22
So what God is saying is,
00:52:05.25\00:52:07.69
I'm going to make
you holy, for I am holy.
00:52:07.72\00:52:10.89
And when you are one with Me,
00:52:10.93\00:52:13.90
this is what's going to happen.
00:52:13.93\00:52:15.90
So He says, "I am the God
00:52:15.93\00:52:17.93
who will
sanctify you completely.
00:52:17.97\00:52:22.37
And may your whole
spirit, soul and body
00:52:22.40\00:52:26.54
be preserved blameless
00:52:26.57\00:52:29.31
at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:52:29.34\00:52:32.35
How many of you
want to be blameless
00:52:32.38\00:52:34.95
at the coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ?
00:52:34.98\00:52:38.55
Well, that can
make somebody scared
00:52:38.59\00:52:40.29
if you stop right there.
00:52:40.32\00:52:42.79
Oh, you mean I've
got to be blameless
00:52:42.82\00:52:44.79
at the coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:52:44.83\00:52:46.66
Lord, "I'm not blameless.
00:52:46.70\00:52:49.20
I'm remembering my sins,
Lord, I'm not blameless."
00:52:49.23\00:52:53.00
Look at the next scripture.
00:52:53.03\00:52:55.70
"He who calls you is faithful,
00:52:55.74\00:52:59.67
who will also do it."
00:52:59.71\00:53:02.51
Hallelujah.
00:53:02.54\00:53:04.31
He will do it.
00:53:04.35\00:53:06.58
It's God who's going to keep us.
00:53:06.61\00:53:09.58
And let's look at Hebrews,
00:53:09.62\00:53:12.65
Hebrews Chapter 13.
00:53:12.69\00:53:16.52
Oops, going the wrong direction.
00:53:16.56\00:53:18.76
I'm always amazed.
00:53:18.79\00:53:21.36
I can tell you
where something is,
00:53:21.40\00:53:23.00
till you get up
and you're talking
00:53:23.03\00:53:24.37
and turning at the same time
00:53:24.40\00:53:25.73
and then you can surely end
up going in the wrong direction.
00:53:25.77\00:53:29.54
Look at Hebrews 13:20,
00:53:32.67\00:53:37.51
Hebrews 13:20,
00:53:41.08\00:53:43.52
"Now may the God of peace,"
00:53:43.55\00:53:46.12
Jehovah Shalom,
00:53:46.15\00:53:48.46
"May the God of
peace who brought up
00:53:48.49\00:53:50.83
our Lord Jesus from the dead,
00:53:50.86\00:53:53.40
that great
shepherd of the sheep,
00:53:53.43\00:53:55.76
through the blood of
the everlasting covenant,
00:53:55.80\00:53:58.93
may this God make you complete
00:53:58.97\00:54:03.24
in every good work
00:54:03.27\00:54:05.07
to do His will,
00:54:05.11\00:54:06.88
working in you,
00:54:06.91\00:54:08.54
what is well
pleasing in His sight,
00:54:08.58\00:54:10.18
through Jesus Christ,
00:54:10.21\00:54:12.18
to whom be the
glory forever and ever."
00:54:12.21\00:54:16.22
So who's gonna
make you complete?
00:54:16.25\00:54:18.59
God.
00:54:18.62\00:54:19.95
Well, this is a
scripture to hold on to.
00:54:19.99\00:54:22.66
This is a scripture
when you are feeling
00:54:22.69\00:54:25.89
that you are down and out,
00:54:25.93\00:54:28.46
down in the mouth,
poor pitiful Christian.
00:54:28.50\00:54:33.54
Remember this scripture
and pray it back to God, say,
00:54:33.57\00:54:37.54
"Lord, I thank You
00:54:37.57\00:54:39.77
that You are the one
who's going to make me complete
00:54:39.81\00:54:42.68
in every good
work to do Your will,
00:54:42.71\00:54:45.78
that You're the
one who's working in me
00:54:45.81\00:54:48.12
what is well
pleasing in Your sight."
00:54:48.15\00:54:50.45
All you have to
do as a Christian,
00:54:50.49\00:54:54.46
what God calls
you to do as His child
00:54:54.49\00:54:57.43
is to be totally
dependent upon Him,
00:54:57.46\00:55:00.23
to surrender.
00:55:00.26\00:55:01.96
And don't get discouraged
00:55:02.00\00:55:04.97
when you fall,
00:55:05.00\00:55:06.74
remember Micah 7:8,
00:55:06.77\00:55:10.07
"Do not rejoice
over Me, My enemy.
00:55:10.11\00:55:12.44
When I fall, I shall arise,
00:55:12.47\00:55:15.08
when I sit in darkness,
00:55:15.11\00:55:16.68
the Lord will be a light to me."
00:55:16.71\00:55:19.45
He wants to be a light
to you at home as well.
00:55:19.48\00:55:23.15
And I hope that
these words tonight,
00:55:23.18\00:55:25.15
the simple
presentation have helped you
00:55:25.19\00:55:30.03
to recognize maybe a need
00:55:30.06\00:55:33.53
to renew your relationship,
00:55:33.56\00:55:35.46
or I hope that it has calmed you
00:55:35.50\00:55:37.57
if you already
recognize that need,
00:55:37.60\00:55:40.04
but you didn't know what to do.
00:55:40.07\00:55:43.20
There's four R's.
00:55:43.24\00:55:45.41
This is the remedy four R's.
00:55:45.44\00:55:47.51
Remember, remember your sins,
00:55:47.54\00:55:50.21
but remember
the goodness of God.
00:55:50.25\00:55:52.15
Remember His true plan
00:55:52.18\00:55:54.35
that He's the one that's
gonna do the work in you.
00:55:54.38\00:55:57.52
Repent, the way to repent
is simply to confess your sins
00:55:57.55\00:56:01.42
before the Lord
00:56:01.46\00:56:02.79
and ask Him to
grant you the power.
00:56:02.82\00:56:05.39
Grant me repentance, Lord,
00:56:05.43\00:56:06.93
help me to turn
around, return to Him,
00:56:06.96\00:56:09.66
you take that one step
00:56:09.70\00:56:12.03
and just like I did
as a little two year old,
00:56:12.07\00:56:15.00
my mother said she
felt like she had wings
00:56:15.04\00:56:17.67
flying across there to get me.
00:56:17.71\00:56:19.67
That's the way God
is, He will run to you.
00:56:19.71\00:56:23.45
And then when you
have returned to Him,
00:56:23.48\00:56:26.78
there's every reason
in the world to rejoice.
00:56:26.82\00:56:31.25
I love
00:56:31.29\00:56:33.32
how the Lord treats
each and every one of us
00:56:33.36\00:56:38.79
as if we were the
only person on earth
00:56:38.83\00:56:44.03
as if we were His only child.
00:56:44.07\00:56:46.30
Let's pray.
00:56:46.33\00:56:47.67
Heavenly Father, we
come in the name of Jesus,
00:56:47.70\00:56:50.24
thanking You for this short time
00:56:50.27\00:56:52.41
that we've had together.
00:56:52.44\00:56:54.04
Lord, I pray for
someone at home who is,
00:56:54.08\00:56:58.31
has been hitting
themselves over the head
00:56:58.35\00:57:00.55
with that baton of condemnation,
00:57:00.58\00:57:02.68
I pray in the name of Jesus
00:57:02.72\00:57:04.19
that You will
help them to recognize
00:57:04.22\00:57:06.72
there's a way back to You
00:57:06.76\00:57:08.09
that You are
anxious to receive them.
00:57:08.12\00:57:10.56
And, Father, I thank You
00:57:10.59\00:57:12.26
that You have said that
You would blot out our sins,
00:57:12.29\00:57:15.80
and like a thick cloud, Lord,
00:57:15.83\00:57:18.17
You would blot them away
00:57:18.20\00:57:20.47
and make us whiter than snow.
00:57:20.50\00:57:22.30
We thank You,
Father, for Your grace,
00:57:22.34\00:57:24.34
for Your Son, Jesus Christ,
00:57:24.37\00:57:26.34
for the gift of the Holy
Spirit and for Your word,
00:57:26.37\00:57:30.01
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:57:30.05\00:57:32.38
Thank you so much for joining us
00:57:32.41\00:57:34.25
and next week,
00:57:34.28\00:57:35.62
Pastor John
Lomacang will be returning
00:57:35.65\00:57:38.55
to continue the
study on A Sharper Focus,
00:57:38.59\00:57:42.09
coming to you live from
Thompsonville, Illinois.
00:57:42.12\00:57:46.26
We're so glad that
you joined us tonight
00:57:46.29\00:57:48.56
and our prayer is that
00:57:48.60\00:57:50.80
our God will
bless you abundantly
00:57:50.83\00:57:53.44
beyond what you
could ever think or ask.
00:57:53.47\00:57:56.74
He is faithful
and He will do it.
00:57:56.77\00:58:00.14
Goodbye.
00:58:00.18\00:58:01.51