Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
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And we welcome you
to A Sharper Focus.
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Pastor John Lomacang
is still out of town,
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and I believe he's in Dubai
and will be back next week.
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But we're so glad that
we've had this opportunity
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just to spend a
little time together
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and to get into the
Bible a little deeper.
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This is our
Wednesday Night Service
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at the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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We're coming to you
from the 3ABN Worship Center.
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So thank you for joining
us whether you're tuning in
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by television,
by radio, internet,
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however you're
joining us, you're welcome.
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Tonight, we're going to
be continuing in our study
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on the joy of repentance.
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Now that sounds like an oxymoron
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but you can absolutely...
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Repentance brings us a renewed
relationship with the Lord,
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so that is why
repentance is so important
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and brings us true joy.
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We will be talking tonight.
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We went to the first
four steps of prior last week.
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So tonight, what we
will do is look at the fifth
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and most crucial
step to repentance.
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Let's begin with prayer.
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Father, we come
in the name of Jesus,
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thanking You for Your
Word, thanking you, Father,
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that Your Word sanctifies us,
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and we pray to be
sanctified by Your Word.
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Please get me out of the
way, I ask in the name of Jesus.
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You will send Your Holy
Spirit to be our teacher.
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And I pray, Father,
give us ears to hear
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what the Holy Spirit has to say.
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Amen.
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Now I have to warn you all.
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I've been awake since
3 o'clock this morning.
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So if I fall
asleep while I'm talking,
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you all just keep listening.
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Okay?
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But I think I was trying
to remember where we left off.
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I know we went
through four steps last week,
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and I'm trying to
remember where we left off,
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but let me just go back
and we'll review the four steps
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that we have looked at
about the joy of repentance.
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So often, people will say,
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"How can you talk
about joy in repentance?"
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In the same...
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It just sounds
like it's an oxymoron
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to say that
there's joy in repentance
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but truly there is
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because repentance is what
turns our hearts back to God.
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Now, do anybody
remember the first step?
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The first step in
the joy of repentance
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is to recognize our sin.
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When we recognize our sin,
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this actually should
make our hearts to rejoice.
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That means that the Holy Spirit
is convicting and convincing us
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of what's wrong in our lives.
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That's His job and it means
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we're tuning in to
what the Spirit says.
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So often in today's world,
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many of us in the world
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do not even
recognize sin as sin.
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There's people who are enjoying
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what they think is fun
and they don't see it as sin.
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So when the Holy
Spirit works on our hearts
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and we recognize our own
sin and our own sin debt,
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that's when we should rejoice.
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So that was the first step.
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Now following the
recognition of sin
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is godly sorrow.
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I'm not saying our
sin should make us happy,
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it's the recognition of
sin that should make us happy.
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But godly sorrow
leads to repentance,
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the Bible says,
that leads to salvation.
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So godly sorrow
is the second step.
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The third step,
does anybody remember
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what the third step was?
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Confession.
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Now this is such a wonderful,
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beautiful topic is
the confession of sin
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because confession
is the clearing house
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of our conscience.
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As we come before the
Lord, and we confess our sins,
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and usually, I find that
I'm doing this in weeping.
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You know, I'm talking about joy,
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happiness and joy
are two different things.
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Happiness is something
that circumstances can change.
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Joy is something
that's in our heart,
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that's deep, and it keeps...
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It's something that
comes from the Lord.
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So when you're
going before the Lord,
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confessing your sin,
what does 1 John 1:9 say?
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"If we confess our sins,
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He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
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and to cleanse us of
all unrighteousness."
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Then the fourth step was what?
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We can recognize our
sin, we can have godly sorrow,
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we can confess our sin,
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but the fourth
step is something that
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some people have a
difficult time doing.
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And that is
receiving God's forgiveness.
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We've got to open up our
heart and receive forgiveness
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and trust that
we've been forgiven.
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And that is a
step that will truly
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be life changing.
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Now let's go
back, I want to review,
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since we're reviewing the steps,
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we were using David
last week as our example,
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and Psalm 51 is
a beautiful psalm
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of repentance.
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But let's go to
1 Kings Chapter 14.
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I do want to review...
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I believe this is about
where we left off last week,
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and I should have checked.
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But 1 Kings 14, as
you're turning there,
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let me set this up.
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You will remember
when King Solomon died,
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he had a son named Rehoboam.
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And Rehoboam was one
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who made a
really tragic mistake.
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He went to his
father's counselors.
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When Israel came and Jeroboam
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and all of Israel
came before Rehoboam,
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and they said to him,
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"You know, your
father was harsh on us,
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would you reduce our taxes,
would you be a little bit,
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give us a little lighter burden,
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and we will serve you
faithfully if you do."
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So Rehoboam went to
his father's counselors
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who said, "This is wisdom.
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This is wise
because if you do this,
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the people will be
your loyal subjects."
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But you know what?
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Rehoboam went to
his young counselors,
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and they said, "Oh, no.
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You tell them, 'If
you think my father
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was difficult to deal with,
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I've got more
power in my little finger
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than my father had.
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I'm gonna double your burden.'"
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And when he said this,
he accepted this counsel,
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he tells it to the
people, and what happened?
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Jeroboam flees,
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he goes to the
northern part of Israel.
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And this is where
the tribes split up.
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Then you had the
ten tribes to the north
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and all you had to the
south was the two tribes,
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Judah and Benjamin.
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So Rehoboam is now over
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just a tiny
part of God's people,
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ruling over them.
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Jeroboam, God
actually chose Jeroboam,
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he opened the way of Jeroboam
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to be the king of
the northern kingdom.
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But you know what
happened with Jeroboam?
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He started taking
matters into his own hands,
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and he worried
that if the people
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because they were
separated from Jerusalem,
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if they went down to
Jerusalem for the annual feast,
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he worried that their
hearts would be turned
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and they would become
faithful to Rehoboam as a king.
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So in order to protect
his kingdom, what he did was,
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he had two golden calves made,
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and he appointed
priests of every class of people
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and he said,
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"Hear, O Israel,
here are your gods."
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So now, Jeroboam's son is sick.
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He tells his wife,
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"I want you to
go to the prophet."
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And the
prophet's name was Ahijah.
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I always have a
difficult time saying his name.
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But anyway, Ahijah is
correct but I always say Ahijah.
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But anyway, King Jeroboam
sends his wife in disguise
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to this prophet whose
eyesight is failing him
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to find out if his
son is going to live.
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But the Lord lets Jeroboam
know that this woman is coming
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and she is the
wife of King Jeroboam.
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So when he comes in,
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God gives Ahijah a message
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to give to the wife of Jeroboam.
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And this is what
it says, 1 Kings 14,
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let's look at verse 8.
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These are the words.
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Well, let's start with verse 7.
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Here is what the
Lord says to the prophet.
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"Go tell Jeroboam,
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'Thus says the
Lord God of Israel.'"
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Now here's God's words.
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"Because I exalted
you from among the people
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and made you ruler
over My people, Israel,
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and tore the kingdom away
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from the house of
David and gave it to you,
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and yet you have not
been as My servant David
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who kept My commandments
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and who followed Me
with all of his heart
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to do only what
was right in My eyes."
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Then He goes on to tell him,
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"Because you've
done all this evil,
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I'm gonna tear the
kingdom away from you."
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But we want to focus as
we did last week on verse 8.
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This is after David's death,
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how could God say
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that David kept all
of His commandments,
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that he did only what
was right in His eyes.
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We know that David was guilty
of adultery with Bathsheba,
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he was guilty of the
murder of Uriah, her husband.
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We know that David
broke, and what does James say?
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Break one,
break them all, right?
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So he was guilty of breaking
all of God's commandments
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but yet God speaks
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as if David were
always totally pure.
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And what we looked at last week
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was because when
Nathan went to him and said,
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"You're the man,
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you're the man I'm
talking about here.
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This is what God has said."
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We looked at Psalm 51
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which is the most
beautiful psalm of repentance.
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And David turned his heart
back to the Lord and he prayed
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and he said,
"Oh, cleanse me, Lord,
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wash me with hyssop
and I will be clean.
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Cleanse me, Father.
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And do not take Your
Spirit away from me."
00:11:40.70\00:11:43.87
What I believe
with all of my heart
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is that 1 Kings 14:8
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proves that God forgets
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what we ask Him to forgive.
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Isn't that beautiful?
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'Cause when He's
speaking of David,
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David has confessed
these sins before the Lord,
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and God has cleansed him.
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He has washed him and
made him whiter than snow.
00:12:06.02\00:12:09.19
And now when He speaks
of David, all He says is,
00:12:09.22\00:12:12.79
"He kept all of My commandments.
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He did only what
was right in My eyes."
00:12:14.60\00:12:17.33
What a beautiful
thing to think of!
00:12:17.37\00:12:19.50
And did we look last
week how man records this
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under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
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but turn to 1 Kings 15:5.
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This gives me
such great assurance
00:12:32.28\00:12:36.58
that the Bible
is the Word of God
00:12:36.62\00:12:38.95
because when
man was quoting God,
00:12:38.99\00:12:41.89
he said it
exactly like God said it.
00:12:41.92\00:12:44.76
Now under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit as man
00:12:44.79\00:12:47.83
is now recording the event,
00:12:47.86\00:12:49.96
here is how the
writer writes it.
00:12:50.00\00:12:52.07
He's not quoting God
now, but he says because...
00:12:52.10\00:12:54.94
1 Kings 15:5, he says,
00:12:54.97\00:12:57.61
"Because David did was
right in the eyes of the Lord
00:12:57.64\00:13:01.01
and had not turned aside
00:13:01.04\00:13:02.38
from anything
that He commanded him
00:13:02.41\00:13:04.15
all the days of his life,"
00:13:04.18\00:13:06.05
except in the matter
of Uriah the Hittite.
00:13:06.08\00:13:10.52
Now I believe the Holy Spirit
00:13:10.55\00:13:13.22
inspired this
writer to write this.
00:13:13.25\00:13:15.86
But the point is,
00:13:15.89\00:13:18.09
if man had written
00:13:18.13\00:13:21.50
1 Kings 14:8
00:13:21.53\00:13:24.97
to say that they
were quoting God,
00:13:25.00\00:13:26.77
they would have put in the words
00:13:26.80\00:13:30.07
except for the
matter of Uriah the Hittite.
00:13:30.11\00:13:33.61
So we have great hope
00:13:33.64\00:13:36.58
that when we have
recognized our sin,
00:13:36.61\00:13:38.91
when godly
sorrow seizes our heart,
00:13:38.95\00:13:41.48
when we confess our
sin before the Lord,
00:13:41.52\00:13:44.29
we can receive His forgiveness.
00:13:44.32\00:13:47.26
Turn to Micah.
00:13:47.29\00:13:49.32
We're going to look at Micah,
00:13:49.36\00:13:52.79
it's tucked in there
between Jonah and Nahum.
00:13:52.83\00:13:58.60
Micah, and we'll look at 7:7
00:13:58.63\00:14:04.44
through 9.
00:14:04.47\00:14:06.84
Micah 7:7 through 9.
00:14:06.88\00:14:12.38
And he says, "Therefore
I will look to the Lord,
00:14:12.41\00:14:17.15
I will wait for the
God of my salvation,
00:14:17.19\00:14:19.49
My God will hear me.
00:14:19.52\00:14:22.12
Do not rejoice
over me, my enemy.
00:14:22.16\00:14:26.06
When I fall, I will
arise, when I sit in darkness,
00:14:26.09\00:14:30.63
the Lord will be a light to me.
00:14:30.67\00:14:33.07
I will bear the
indignation of the Lord,
00:14:33.10\00:14:35.70
because I have
sinned against Him
00:14:35.74\00:14:39.04
until He pleads my case
00:14:39.07\00:14:42.91
and executes justice for me.
00:14:42.94\00:14:47.22
He will bring me
forth to the light,
00:14:47.25\00:14:49.65
I will see His righteousness."
00:14:49.68\00:14:52.25
When He pleads His case,
when God pleads His case,
00:14:52.29\00:14:57.63
Christ is your intercessor.
00:14:57.66\00:15:00.10
And the justice, He
brings forth justice.
00:15:00.13\00:15:03.26
He's not talking about
God's avenging justice,
00:15:03.30\00:15:06.97
he's talking about
God's paternal justice.
00:15:07.00\00:15:10.81
So what we have here
00:15:10.84\00:15:13.21
is that the conclusion of
these four steps of repentance,
00:15:13.24\00:15:16.75
God renders a verdict,
and here is the verdict.
00:15:16.78\00:15:21.22
He looks down on the sinner
who has confessed his sin.
00:15:21.25\00:15:25.15
And what God sees is
the blood of Jesus Christ
00:15:25.19\00:15:28.32
covering that sin.
00:15:28.36\00:15:29.86
And He says, "That
sinner is pardoned.
00:15:29.89\00:15:34.03
He is acquitted of his guilt."
00:15:34.06\00:15:37.53
What is the penalty for sin?
00:15:37.57\00:15:40.07
Death.
00:15:40.10\00:15:41.44
But He says, "No, no, no.
00:15:41.47\00:15:43.54
I have washed them and
made them whiter than snow.
00:15:43.57\00:15:47.28
I have applied
the blood of Jesus."
00:15:47.31\00:15:49.34
So He looks down,
00:15:49.38\00:15:50.71
and that's what it
means to be justified.
00:15:50.75\00:15:53.05
To be justified means
00:15:53.08\00:15:54.68
that God has
executed His justice
00:15:54.72\00:15:58.85
in your favor
00:15:58.89\00:16:00.42
that you are covered
with the blood of Jesus.
00:16:00.46\00:16:03.26
And now God looks at you,
you are acquitted of your sin.
00:16:03.29\00:16:07.96
It's just as if
you'd never sin before.
00:16:08.00\00:16:10.87
So this is how we are
made righteous by faith
00:16:10.90\00:16:16.81
in the imputed
righteousness of Jesus.
00:16:16.84\00:16:20.04
Now that word
imputed simply means
00:16:20.08\00:16:22.54
that Christ's perfect life,
00:16:22.58\00:16:25.31
His perfect obedience
is credited to our account.
00:16:25.35\00:16:29.42
So suddenly, where
we had such a sin debt,
00:16:29.45\00:16:33.79
Christ's
righteousness is credited,
00:16:33.82\00:16:36.69
it wipes out that sin
debt, we're justified.
00:16:36.73\00:16:40.03
Hallelujah!
00:16:40.06\00:16:41.40
But now,
underserved mercy is ours
00:16:41.43\00:16:44.57
but we must, in repentance,
go forward to the fifth step
00:16:44.60\00:16:49.44
because genuine
repentance doesn't happen
00:16:49.47\00:16:52.57
until the fifth step.
00:16:52.61\00:16:54.51
This is critical.
00:16:54.54\00:16:56.31
And the fifth step,
let's go through them again.
00:16:56.34\00:16:59.08
Number one, recognition of sin.
00:16:59.11\00:17:01.98
Number two, godly sorrow.
00:17:02.02\00:17:04.02
Number three,
confession of our sin.
00:17:04.05\00:17:07.72
Number four, we
receive God's forgiveness.
00:17:07.76\00:17:13.23
But the critical
step is the fifth step,
00:17:13.26\00:17:16.06
we change our conduct.
00:17:16.10\00:17:19.20
When this happens,
00:17:19.23\00:17:21.97
this is where transformation
00:17:22.00\00:17:24.67
and triumph are forged together.
00:17:24.71\00:17:28.08
God gives us the
power to change our conduct.
00:17:28.11\00:17:32.61
If we are heading
in the wrong direction
00:17:32.65\00:17:35.88
and when we're sinning,
00:17:35.92\00:17:37.25
we're heading in the
wrong direction, right?
00:17:37.29\00:17:39.19
Our sin separates us,
00:17:39.22\00:17:40.99
it creates a
barrier between us and God.
00:17:41.02\00:17:43.63
But as we are going
in the wrong direction,
00:17:43.66\00:17:46.43
and we go through these
first four steps of repentance,
00:17:46.46\00:17:50.07
then God grants us
repentance as a gift
00:17:50.10\00:17:54.64
and He causes us
to make a U-turn,
00:17:54.67\00:17:57.71
and now we're going
in the right direction
00:17:57.74\00:18:00.51
directly toward Him.
00:18:00.54\00:18:03.08
And this
represents sanctification,
00:18:03.11\00:18:07.28
the imparted
righteousness of Jesus.
00:18:07.32\00:18:10.39
As we open up our hearts
00:18:10.42\00:18:12.65
and by the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:18:12.69\00:18:14.82
Christ lives in our
heart through faith.
00:18:14.86\00:18:17.56
This process of
sanctification, as it begins,
00:18:17.59\00:18:22.03
it makes the
seduction of sin wither away.
00:18:22.06\00:18:26.94
Suddenly, sin
isn't as seductive to us.
00:18:26.97\00:18:30.21
With absolute confidence in
Christ's ability to save us,
00:18:30.24\00:18:35.34
we develop an unwavering
commitment to our Lord,
00:18:35.38\00:18:39.51
and there's no room
for compromise anymore.
00:18:39.55\00:18:42.28
So the process of
repentance is incomplete,
00:18:42.32\00:18:47.09
please hear me.
00:18:47.12\00:18:48.59
The process of
repentance is incomplete
00:18:48.62\00:18:51.96
unless we turn from self
00:18:51.99\00:18:54.60
and our selfish
ways back to God.
00:18:54.63\00:18:58.23
That is what is so imperative.
00:18:58.27\00:19:02.17
But this is not an act
00:19:02.20\00:19:03.54
that we can do
under our own power.
00:19:03.57\00:19:05.54
What does Jeremiah 13:23 said?
00:19:05.57\00:19:09.48
God says,
00:19:09.51\00:19:10.85
"You think you
can change your heart?
00:19:10.88\00:19:12.45
You can't
change yourself anymore
00:19:12.48\00:19:14.12
than an Ethiopian
can change his skin
00:19:14.15\00:19:15.98
or a leper his spots."
00:19:16.02\00:19:17.85
We cannot change our self.
00:19:17.89\00:19:20.29
Turn to Acts Chapter 5,
00:19:20.32\00:19:24.26
because we will see
it's only by God's power
00:19:24.29\00:19:26.83
working mightily
within us that God enables us
00:19:26.86\00:19:31.93
to turn back to
Him and to do His will.
00:19:31.97\00:19:34.77
Repentance is a
gift of God's grace,
00:19:34.80\00:19:40.31
and that is what He
gives to the penancent.
00:19:40.34\00:19:43.08
Acts 5:31.
00:19:43.11\00:19:46.35
Acts 5:31, and the Bible says,
00:19:46.38\00:19:52.15
"Him," speaking of Jesus,
00:19:52.19\00:19:56.02
"God has exalted
to His right hand
00:19:56.06\00:19:59.23
to be Prince and Savior
00:19:59.26\00:20:01.96
to give repentance to Israel
00:20:02.00\00:20:06.57
and forgiveness of sins."
00:20:06.60\00:20:08.77
Your version may
say, to grant repentance.
00:20:08.80\00:20:12.34
Repentance is a gift from God.
00:20:12.37\00:20:16.61
Now here, I have
to ask you a question.
00:20:16.64\00:20:19.61
When you confess
your sins before the Lord,
00:20:19.65\00:20:23.25
do you ask Him to
give you repentance?
00:20:23.28\00:20:27.62
If you don't, I
want to encourage you
00:20:27.66\00:20:30.03
to begin doing that.
00:20:30.06\00:20:31.59
As you confess your sins
and receive His forgiveness.
00:20:31.63\00:20:36.60
Pray and ask God, "O Lord,
00:20:36.63\00:20:39.67
fill me afresh
with Your Holy Spirit.
00:20:39.70\00:20:41.97
Grant me the power.
00:20:42.00\00:20:44.27
Give me the gift of repentance.
00:20:44.31\00:20:46.04
Help me to turn back."
00:20:46.07\00:20:48.21
If you don't, you
know what happens?
00:20:48.24\00:20:50.18
We just keep
doing the same old sin
00:20:50.21\00:20:52.88
over and over and over again.
00:20:52.91\00:20:55.78
We're confessing the
same thing always to the Lord.
00:20:55.82\00:20:59.42
And we think,
"What's wrong with me, Lord?
00:20:59.45\00:21:02.16
You know, why
can't I get beyond this?"
00:21:02.19\00:21:04.59
It's because we have to pray
00:21:04.63\00:21:07.30
for God's power to turn around.
00:21:07.33\00:21:11.80
We have to ask
God for this gift.
00:21:11.83\00:21:13.94
Turn to Romans Chapter 8,
one of my favorite scriptures.
00:21:13.97\00:21:19.44
Romans Chapter 8,
00:21:19.47\00:21:22.51
and let's look
at verses 13 and 14.
00:21:22.54\00:21:26.41
Romans 8:13 and 14.
00:21:26.45\00:21:30.75
Paul is writing to the
Romans, and he says this.
00:21:30.79\00:21:35.46
"If you live
according to the flesh..."
00:21:35.49\00:21:37.96
What's gonna happen?
00:21:37.99\00:21:39.49
"You will die.
00:21:39.53\00:21:41.63
But if by the Spirit
00:21:41.66\00:21:45.73
you put to death
the deeds of the body,
00:21:45.77\00:21:48.40
you will live.
00:21:48.44\00:21:50.21
For as many as are
led by the Spirit of God,
00:21:50.24\00:21:52.97
these are the sons of God."
00:21:53.01\00:21:56.54
The Holy Spirit does
not operate in our lives
00:21:56.58\00:22:01.08
without our consent.
00:22:01.12\00:22:04.19
Do you realize that?
00:22:04.22\00:22:05.55
Do you see what
this scripture is saying?
00:22:05.59\00:22:07.26
If by the Spirit,
00:22:07.29\00:22:10.43
you put to death
the deeds of the flesh.
00:22:10.46\00:22:14.40
It takes a cooperative effort.
00:22:14.43\00:22:17.83
The Holy Spirit
is not going to work
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.53
without your consent
00:22:19.57\00:22:21.24
but when you're
praying and asking,
00:22:21.27\00:22:23.27
"God, I want to
change my conduct,
00:22:23.30\00:22:26.68
I want to turn back to you.
00:22:26.71\00:22:30.15
Grant me repentance, fill
me with Your Holy Spirit,"
00:22:30.18\00:22:33.85
then the Holy
Spirit is not gonna do
00:22:33.88\00:22:35.78
all of the work for
you, He works with you.
00:22:35.82\00:22:40.66
He empowers you to...
00:22:40.69\00:22:43.96
It's, "If by the Spirit,
00:22:43.99\00:22:46.09
you put to death
the deeds of the body,
00:22:46.13\00:22:50.10
you will live."
00:22:50.13\00:22:52.67
We work together
with the Holy Spirit
00:22:52.70\00:22:55.00
to accomplish this.
00:22:55.04\00:22:56.37
It's only by His power
that it's made possible.
00:22:56.40\00:23:00.04
And our sanctification,
00:23:00.08\00:23:02.61
this is our
progress in sanctification,
00:23:02.64\00:23:06.75
depends on our daily
commitment to cooperate
00:23:06.78\00:23:10.75
with the Holy Spirit.
00:23:10.79\00:23:12.72
So David was fully aware
00:23:12.75\00:23:16.06
that His absolute
dependence was upon God
00:23:16.09\00:23:19.89
because in Psalm 51:10,
00:23:19.93\00:23:22.00
we won't turn there right
now, this is still a review.
00:23:22.03\00:23:24.33
But he said,
"Create in me a clean heart,
00:23:24.37\00:23:26.87
O God, and renew a
steadfast spirit in me."
00:23:26.90\00:23:31.14
David knew he
couldn't do it on his own.
00:23:31.17\00:23:34.21
It is God, Paul told
the Philippians 2:13,
00:23:34.24\00:23:38.65
who works in you to
will and to do His good work.
00:23:38.68\00:23:44.59
First He changes your
will, lining it up with His.
00:23:44.62\00:23:48.49
He makes you desire His will.
00:23:48.52\00:23:52.29
Then He's not
gonna force you to act.
00:23:52.33\00:23:55.70
The way He works in you to
will and to do His good work
00:23:55.73\00:23:59.83
is, He, as that you
take a step of faith
00:23:59.87\00:24:02.60
and as you go forward,
00:24:02.64\00:24:05.14
the power of the
Holy Spirit shows up,
00:24:05.17\00:24:07.58
and He works in you
to do His good will.
00:24:07.61\00:24:11.75
So genuine repentance
results in us being yoked
00:24:11.78\00:24:17.15
to Christ's power.
00:24:17.19\00:24:19.09
When He said, "Come to
Me you who are heavy laden,
00:24:19.12\00:24:21.62
and I will give you rest.
00:24:21.66\00:24:23.16
Take my yoke upon you, "He said,
00:24:23.19\00:24:25.36
"Learn from Me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart."
00:24:25.39\00:24:29.33
The good thing is...
00:24:29.36\00:24:32.53
I love what
Matthew wrote in 12:20.
00:24:32.57\00:24:36.77
He said, "A bruised
reed He will not break,
00:24:36.81\00:24:40.94
and smoking flax
He will not quench."
00:24:40.98\00:24:43.95
If you feel battered,
00:24:43.98\00:24:46.01
if you feel
bruised by your mistakes,
00:24:46.05\00:24:49.05
come to Christ,
He will heal you.
00:24:49.08\00:24:51.99
If your first love,
passion for Christ is gone,
00:24:52.02\00:24:55.62
if you feel like the
wick of your spiritual lamp
00:24:55.66\00:24:58.46
is flickering
and it's smoldering
00:24:58.49\00:25:00.20
and about to go out,
00:25:00.23\00:25:01.73
come to Christ
00:25:01.76\00:25:03.10
and He will add the
oil of joy to your life
00:25:03.13\00:25:06.13
and your lamp will burn rightly.
00:25:06.17\00:25:09.37
So the five steps
are recognition of sin,
00:25:09.40\00:25:14.81
godly sorrow, confession,
receive God's forgiveness,
00:25:14.84\00:25:18.11
and change your conduct.
00:25:18.15\00:25:19.61
Turn to Acts 3:19,
we're going to see,
00:25:19.65\00:25:24.89
and I think I skipped
over all of those scriptures
00:25:24.92\00:25:27.32
I was going to share with you.
00:25:27.36\00:25:30.56
While you're turning to
Acts, let me run back here
00:25:30.59\00:25:33.13
'cause I think I
promised someone to give these.
00:25:33.16\00:25:36.90
When we're considering David,
00:25:36.93\00:25:39.53
we know God's not a
man that He can lie,
00:25:39.57\00:25:42.40
and the only
reason He could declare
00:25:42.44\00:25:44.21
David's absolute
innocence was that God forgets
00:25:44.24\00:25:47.31
the sin we ask Him to forgive.
00:25:47.34\00:25:49.48
Let me give you just
some scripture references
00:25:49.51\00:25:51.68
that you might want to jot down.
00:25:51.71\00:25:53.45
Isaiah 43:25,
Isaiah 43:25, God says,
00:25:53.48\00:25:58.19
"I, even I am He who blots out
00:25:58.22\00:26:00.99
and cancels your
transgressions for My own sake.
00:26:01.02\00:26:06.03
And I will not
remember your sins."
00:26:06.06\00:26:10.63
You know, for
God's own peace of mind,
00:26:10.67\00:26:15.50
He doesn't.
00:26:15.54\00:26:17.87
When we come back to Him
00:26:17.91\00:26:19.71
and we keep
confessing the same thing,
00:26:19.74\00:26:21.44
it's like He's saying,
00:26:21.48\00:26:22.98
"Why are you
talking about this?"
00:26:23.01\00:26:24.98
He puts it out of His mind.
00:26:25.01\00:26:26.85
It's not like us.
00:26:26.88\00:26:28.25
Have you ever noticed that,
00:26:28.28\00:26:30.39
if someone sins against
you and really wounds you,
00:26:30.42\00:26:33.69
have you ever
noticed that you can pray
00:26:33.72\00:26:36.06
and you can get to that
point of forgiving them,
00:26:36.09\00:26:38.89
and all of a sudden,
everything is going along fine,
00:26:38.93\00:26:41.60
you're doing well.
00:26:41.63\00:26:42.96
But the next time they
do a similar sin to you,
00:26:43.00\00:26:46.20
what happens?
00:26:46.23\00:26:48.57
Does not all the
pain from the past
00:26:48.60\00:26:52.24
rear its ugly
head and come forward?
00:26:52.27\00:26:54.51
And it's like you
have to forgive them
00:26:54.54\00:26:56.28
all over again for the past.
00:26:56.31\00:26:59.21
That's not the way God operates.
00:26:59.25\00:27:01.62
Isn't that wonderful?
00:27:01.65\00:27:03.28
He says in Isaiah 44:22,
again just jot this down.
00:27:03.32\00:27:07.69
Isaiah 44:22,
00:27:07.72\00:27:09.62
"I have blotted
out like a thick cloud
00:27:09.66\00:27:13.29
your
transgressions and like a cloud,
00:27:13.33\00:27:16.73
your sins returned to me
for I have redeemed you."
00:27:16.77\00:27:21.64
And I love what
the New Testament says
00:27:21.67\00:27:24.37
in Hebrews 8:10 through 12.
00:27:24.41\00:27:27.54
He says, "This is the covenant,
00:27:27.58\00:27:29.71
I will put My
laws in their minds,
00:27:29.74\00:27:31.68
write them on their
hearts, I will be their God,
00:27:31.71\00:27:34.42
they shall be My people.
00:27:34.45\00:27:36.25
Their sins and
their lawless deeds
00:27:36.28\00:27:39.12
I will remember no more."
00:27:39.15\00:27:42.32
So when we confess our sins
in sincere hearted repentance,
00:27:42.36\00:27:47.33
God applies the blood
of Jesus to those sins
00:27:47.36\00:27:51.07
and as far He is concerned,
00:27:51.10\00:27:53.44
when He looks over here
at Shelley Quinn's record,
00:27:53.47\00:27:57.27
He sees the blood of Jesus here,
00:27:57.31\00:27:59.84
the blood of Jesus there,
00:27:59.87\00:28:01.61
the blood of Jesus here
that has blotted out my sin.
00:28:01.64\00:28:05.08
Hallelujah.
00:28:05.11\00:28:06.88
I love this.
00:28:06.92\00:28:08.52
Now Acts 3:19,
you should be there,
00:28:08.55\00:28:11.69
Acts 3:19.
00:28:11.72\00:28:17.16
Acts 3:19.
00:28:19.59\00:28:24.17
I just missed my mouth,
I was taking a sip of water
00:28:24.20\00:28:26.77
and I gave myself a little bath.
00:28:26.80\00:28:31.64
Here's what Acts 3:19 says,
00:28:31.67\00:28:36.54
"Repent therefore
and be converted."
00:28:36.58\00:28:41.45
To be converted
means to be given life.
00:28:41.48\00:28:45.42
"Repent and be converted,
00:28:45.45\00:28:48.86
that your sins may be..." What?
00:28:48.89\00:28:51.49
"Blotted out,
00:28:51.53\00:28:53.36
so that times of
refreshing may come
00:28:53.40\00:28:58.17
from the presence of the Lord."
00:28:58.20\00:29:03.07
You know, now the Old King James
00:29:03.10\00:29:05.04
version says, when
times of refreshing
00:29:05.07\00:29:08.04
comes from the Lord.
00:29:08.08\00:29:09.41
That's not correct.
00:29:09.44\00:29:10.78
What the
scripture is saying here,
00:29:10.81\00:29:14.15
and it was corrected
in the New King James is,
00:29:14.18\00:29:17.32
"Repent and be converted,
00:29:17.35\00:29:19.99
so that your sins
may be blotted out,
00:29:20.02\00:29:23.59
so that you may
receive times of refreshing
00:29:23.63\00:29:26.83
from the Lord."
00:29:26.86\00:29:28.23
How many of you have
ever been burdened with sin
00:29:28.26\00:29:31.23
and you're feeling down,
00:29:31.27\00:29:33.27
even to the
point what Satan does
00:29:33.30\00:29:35.70
is, he tries to
make us feel so condemned
00:29:35.74\00:29:38.74
that we feel ashamed
to come to our father.
00:29:38.77\00:29:41.91
Have you ever been at that point
00:29:41.94\00:29:43.88
where it's kind of like,
00:29:43.91\00:29:45.25
something is
going on in your life
00:29:45.28\00:29:47.35
and you just feel such shame
that you begin to avoid God?
00:29:47.38\00:29:52.69
There are people who've actually
00:29:52.72\00:29:54.06
turned their
backs on God for a while
00:29:54.09\00:29:55.62
because of guilt and shame.
00:29:55.66\00:29:57.16
It's not godly
sorrow, it's a worldly sorrow.
00:29:57.19\00:30:01.20
And what happens
then is when they finally,
00:30:01.23\00:30:06.37
when the Holy
Spirit has chased them down
00:30:06.40\00:30:08.80
and they finally say unco,
00:30:08.84\00:30:11.34
and they confess
their sins before the Lord,
00:30:11.37\00:30:14.91
the times of refreshing
00:30:14.94\00:30:16.64
that come from the
presence of the Lord
00:30:16.68\00:30:18.95
is just almost overwhelming.
00:30:18.98\00:30:21.52
We've seen it
here at our own church.
00:30:21.55\00:30:23.79
We've had people who've come in
by watching 3ABN on television,
00:30:23.82\00:30:27.69
or listening on the radio,
00:30:27.72\00:30:29.32
people who have been
converted from alcoholism,
00:30:29.36\00:30:32.29
from drug addiction,
from all kinds of sin.
00:30:32.33\00:30:36.33
And we see people...
00:30:36.36\00:30:38.23
I don't even want
to talk about my past
00:30:38.27\00:30:40.94
and I'm sure you've got
things in your past as well
00:30:40.97\00:30:43.94
that you just assumed
not talk about your BC days,
00:30:43.97\00:30:46.98
Before Christ,
but what happens is
00:30:47.01\00:30:51.15
when God gets a hold of you,
00:30:51.18\00:30:54.35
He gives you these
times of refreshing
00:30:54.38\00:30:56.48
and your heart is lifted.
00:30:56.52\00:30:59.29
He said in Isaiah 30:15,
00:30:59.32\00:31:01.66
"In returning to
Me and resting in Me,
00:31:01.69\00:31:04.49
you shall be saved.
00:31:04.53\00:31:05.86
In quietness and
in trusting confidence
00:31:05.89\00:31:08.60
shall be your strength."
00:31:08.63\00:31:10.47
So repentance gives us
confidence before the Lord
00:31:10.50\00:31:14.80
and it ensures us
00:31:14.84\00:31:17.11
that He has the
power to save us.
00:31:17.14\00:31:20.51
It brings rest to our
weary souls, doesn't it?
00:31:20.54\00:31:24.61
You know, I
marveled at God's mercy
00:31:24.65\00:31:27.12
and how He has
mingled it with grace.
00:31:27.15\00:31:31.12
So as we plead to be
washed from our wrongdoing,
00:31:31.15\00:31:34.82
the blood of Jesus Christ
cleanses us of our confess sins
00:31:34.86\00:31:38.59
and God grants us forgiveness,
00:31:38.63\00:31:42.20
a gift that is
precious beyond all price.
00:31:42.23\00:31:44.97
So we should
receive it with joy.
00:31:45.00\00:31:47.80
I want to share with
you, those are the five steps.
00:31:47.84\00:31:51.87
And I've been thinking,
00:31:51.91\00:31:53.91
what could I share with you
00:31:53.94\00:31:55.28
to fill up the
rest of this hour.
00:31:55.31\00:31:59.25
What occurred to me was this.
00:31:59.28\00:32:02.45
Why is it that we can go through
00:32:02.48\00:32:05.05
these five steps of repentance?
00:32:05.09\00:32:07.16
We can turn back to the Lord.
00:32:07.19\00:32:09.62
And then as we're going along,
00:32:09.66\00:32:11.66
suddenly one day,
we realize, "Whoops!
00:32:11.69\00:32:15.00
I'm not turned
full face to the Lord."
00:32:15.03\00:32:19.17
Does anybody ever
found that in their own lives
00:32:19.20\00:32:22.47
where God may be...
00:32:22.50\00:32:23.84
He teaches you something
and you're running in that
00:32:23.87\00:32:26.54
teaching for a while
and it's exciting to you,
00:32:26.57\00:32:29.64
and you're on fire for the Lord.
00:32:29.68\00:32:31.48
And the next thing you know,
00:32:31.51\00:32:32.85
you wake up and
it's kind of like,
00:32:32.88\00:32:34.22
"I'm not applying
this anymore in my life."
00:32:34.25\00:32:37.19
Has that ever happened to anyone
00:32:37.22\00:32:38.55
besides me in this crowd?
00:32:38.59\00:32:41.42
You know, I was praying one day.
00:32:41.46\00:32:45.26
This was in the year 2000.
00:32:45.29\00:32:47.43
And I was claiming 1
Corinthians 6:17 that says,
00:32:47.46\00:32:53.00
"If we are in Christ Jesus,
00:32:53.03\00:32:55.47
we are one
spirit with the Lord."
00:32:55.50\00:32:59.44
And so I was using
that as an affirmation,
00:32:59.47\00:33:01.98
praying it back to the Lord.
00:33:02.01\00:33:03.35
And I said, "Oh,
Father, I'm so glad
00:33:03.38\00:33:06.38
that You have
placed me in Christ.
00:33:06.41\00:33:10.52
I'm so glad to be in Christ.
00:33:10.55\00:33:12.05
I'm so glad that I'm
one spirit with you."
00:33:12.09\00:33:15.82
Now Romans 4:17 says
that God calls things
00:33:15.86\00:33:18.19
that are not as
though they already were.
00:33:18.23\00:33:20.73
He gives life to the
dead and calls things.
00:33:20.76\00:33:22.90
I knew I was calling things
00:33:22.93\00:33:25.00
that were not as
if they already were
00:33:25.03\00:33:27.90
because I knew I didn't...
00:33:27.94\00:33:29.80
I thought, "Lord...
00:33:29.84\00:33:31.27
And we don't want go by feelings
00:33:31.31\00:33:32.64
but I didn't feel
one in spirit with him.
00:33:32.67\00:33:35.98
I'm saying, "Lord,
what's wrong with me?
00:33:36.01\00:33:38.25
How can You show me something?
00:33:38.28\00:33:40.08
And how can I just be
running in this teaching
00:33:40.12\00:33:44.82
and then suddenly wake
up one day and realize,
00:33:44.85\00:33:48.52
'When did I stop doing this?'"
00:33:48.56\00:33:52.59
And as I am praying and
weeping before the Lord,
00:33:52.63\00:33:56.56
I said, "Lord,
what's wrong with me?"
00:33:56.60\00:34:01.27
The still small
voice of the Lord
00:34:01.30\00:34:03.44
impressed this
thought upon my mind,
00:34:03.47\00:34:05.94
"I will soon show you
00:34:05.97\00:34:09.01
the wall of resistance
00:34:09.04\00:34:12.38
that you are hitting."
00:34:12.41\00:34:14.38
I want you to know,
00:34:14.42\00:34:15.75
I got so excited
because those words,
00:34:15.78\00:34:18.42
wall of resistance,
it made sense to me.
00:34:18.45\00:34:22.52
That's how I felt, I felt
like I was running the race
00:34:22.56\00:34:27.23
and suddenly, I hit the wall.
00:34:27.26\00:34:30.40
And it was
something that, you know,
00:34:30.43\00:34:32.80
it's kind of
three steps forward,
00:34:32.83\00:34:34.40
two steps back.
00:34:34.44\00:34:36.60
So now, I am
praying, God has told me.
00:34:36.64\00:34:40.04
He's gonna show me
the wall of resistance.
00:34:40.08\00:34:43.95
And now one day, I am
praying two weeks later.
00:34:43.98\00:34:48.32
And I was praying
2 Corinthians 3:18.
00:34:48.35\00:34:51.62
Let's look at 2
Corinthians 3:18,
00:34:51.65\00:34:54.32
such a precious promise.
00:34:54.36\00:34:57.36
And as I was praying this,
00:34:57.39\00:34:59.59
I'm claiming it as my own.
00:35:03.60\00:35:07.30
And I am saying,
"Thank you, Father,
00:35:07.34\00:35:11.64
that You've taken
the veil from my face
00:35:11.67\00:35:13.61
and I am
beholding as in a mirror
00:35:13.64\00:35:16.48
the glory of the Lord,
00:35:16.51\00:35:18.25
and I'm being
transformed into the same image
00:35:18.28\00:35:22.02
from glory to glory
00:35:22.05\00:35:24.72
just as by the
Spirit of the Lord."
00:35:24.75\00:35:27.49
Do you know what
that scripture is saying?
00:35:27.52\00:35:30.06
The scripture is saying
that as we follow Christ,
00:35:30.09\00:35:33.63
as we behold as in a
mirror, here's the mirror.
00:35:33.66\00:35:37.70
If you want to know who
you are in Christ Jesus,
00:35:37.73\00:35:40.97
here's your mirror.
00:35:41.00\00:35:42.94
You look in here to
find out your true identity.
00:35:42.97\00:35:48.91
You're not who
you think you are,
00:35:48.94\00:35:51.11
you're not who other
people think you are.
00:35:51.15\00:35:53.18
You are who God says you are.
00:35:53.21\00:35:56.42
And so you look into this mirror
00:35:56.45\00:35:58.69
and you begin as
you're seeing the glory
00:35:58.72\00:36:02.09
or the character of God.
00:36:02.12\00:36:04.36
The Holy Spirit takes you
00:36:04.39\00:36:07.23
from one level of His
character to the next.
00:36:07.26\00:36:11.47
So I am praying this
and just thanking God,
00:36:11.50\00:36:15.14
"Oh, thank you, Lord
00:36:15.17\00:36:16.50
that You're doing
this alone again."
00:36:16.54\00:36:19.21
I'm weeping, and
I'm not a weepy woman,
00:36:19.24\00:36:22.51
except in the
presence of the Lord.
00:36:22.54\00:36:25.01
And I'm before
the Lord and I said,
00:36:25.05\00:36:26.65
"Father, I don't feel like,
00:36:26.68\00:36:29.35
I don't see that I'm
going from glory to glory.
00:36:29.38\00:36:33.46
Help me, Lord.
00:36:33.49\00:36:34.82
You said You were gonna show me
00:36:34.86\00:36:36.62
what this wall
of resistance was."
00:36:36.66\00:36:39.43
And suddenly,
there is this picture
00:36:39.46\00:36:42.63
that God put in my mind.
00:36:42.66\00:36:44.83
And I see myself,
and there's a staircase,
00:36:44.87\00:36:49.07
and they're huge.
00:36:49.10\00:36:50.44
I mean, huge steps
like 60-feet high steps.
00:36:50.47\00:36:56.21
And then they're long,
and then you come to the next,
00:36:56.24\00:36:59.15
really tall step, and then long,
00:36:59.18\00:37:02.08
and up to the next.
00:37:02.12\00:37:03.45
And it's going all the
way up into the clouds.
00:37:03.49\00:37:06.25
And I see myself,
00:37:06.29\00:37:08.02
I'm about a third of
the way up the staircase.
00:37:08.06\00:37:10.36
And I'm running along,
running along, looking back.
00:37:10.39\00:37:14.73
And all of a sudden, wham!
00:37:14.76\00:37:17.57
I hit the wall,
00:37:17.60\00:37:19.90
and the wall was
actually the step.
00:37:19.93\00:37:22.47
I mean, I'm six feet tall,
00:37:22.50\00:37:24.07
but this is like
way over my head.
00:37:24.11\00:37:27.04
And I said, "Lord,
what is this wall?"
00:37:27.08\00:37:32.58
And you know what He said to me?
00:37:32.61\00:37:34.58
You know what I'm saying
00:37:34.62\00:37:35.95
when I say this
still small voice.
00:37:35.98\00:37:37.32
How many of you know that
you know that God has impressed
00:37:37.35\00:37:39.75
His thoughts upon your mind
00:37:39.79\00:37:41.46
by the power of the Holy Spirit?
00:37:41.49\00:37:43.56
And He said to me,
00:37:43.59\00:37:45.13
"The wall of
resistance that you're hitting
00:37:45.16\00:37:48.20
is the wall of
self preservation."
00:37:48.23\00:37:52.73
Did you get that?
00:37:52.77\00:37:54.57
The wall of
resistance you are hitting
00:37:54.60\00:37:57.94
is the wall of
self preservation.
00:37:57.97\00:38:01.98
We can only be
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:38:02.01\00:38:07.12
to the degree we
are emptied of self.
00:38:07.15\00:38:12.22
And so that is
why it is so important
00:38:12.25\00:38:16.09
that after we have
confessed our sins,
00:38:16.12\00:38:19.46
after we receive
God's forgiveness,
00:38:19.49\00:38:21.90
after He has
granted us repentance
00:38:21.93\00:38:25.43
and changed our conduct,
00:38:25.47\00:38:27.47
we must walk
00:38:27.50\00:38:29.60
and surrender to God day by day.
00:38:29.64\00:38:33.01
I mean, this is critical.
00:38:33.04\00:38:35.11
Otherwise, what we end up
doing is just the same old sin
00:38:35.14\00:38:39.11
over and over and over again.
00:38:39.15\00:38:43.39
So now, God is showing me.
00:38:43.42\00:38:49.32
I said, "How do I
get over this wall?"
00:38:49.36\00:38:52.16
There's only one way.
00:38:52.19\00:38:53.53
When He reaches down
with His righteous right hand,
00:38:53.56\00:38:58.80
and as David said, by my
God, I leap over the wall.
00:38:58.83\00:39:03.51
It's God who has to bring you up
00:39:03.54\00:39:05.57
to that next place.
00:39:05.61\00:39:07.11
It just requires surrender.
00:39:07.14\00:39:09.78
And I'm saying, "Lord,
I don't understand this."
00:39:09.81\00:39:14.22
And He gave me another
little picture in my mind,
00:39:14.25\00:39:17.62
and this picture was this
tiny, tiny, little sugar ant.
00:39:17.65\00:39:22.59
Next to the sugar ant
was this huge elephant,
00:39:22.62\00:39:26.33
millions of times bigger
00:39:26.36\00:39:27.70
than the teensy
weensy little sugar ant.
00:39:27.73\00:39:30.57
And here's what the Spirit
of the Lord spoken to my mind.
00:39:30.60\00:39:34.37
He said, "Shelley,
your greatest strength,
00:39:34.40\00:39:38.24
your greatest human strength
is like this of the sugar ant
00:39:38.27\00:39:44.15
in comparison to
Mine would be like
00:39:44.18\00:39:47.42
the elephants to the sugar ant.
00:39:47.45\00:39:49.78
Why would you try to
live your Christian life
00:39:49.82\00:39:55.16
by your own strength
00:39:55.19\00:39:56.93
when I ask you
to draw in My power
00:39:56.96\00:40:00.70
because My grace
is sufficient for you,
00:40:00.73\00:40:04.03
My power is made
perfect in your weakness."
00:40:04.07\00:40:08.34
You remember what Paul
told to Galatians in 3:3.
00:40:08.37\00:40:12.17
He said, "You foolish Galatians,
00:40:12.21\00:40:14.44
having begun in the
Spirit are you now trying
00:40:14.48\00:40:17.05
to perfect your
walk in the flesh?"
00:40:17.08\00:40:19.51
Yeah, they were.
00:40:19.55\00:40:22.22
They were wanting to go
back and earn their way.
00:40:22.25\00:40:24.72
How many times
have I tried to perfect
00:40:24.75\00:40:28.29
my walk with
Christ in the flesh?
00:40:28.32\00:40:30.03
How many times
have I tried and failed
00:40:30.06\00:40:32.29
because it's impossible,
00:40:32.33\00:40:34.06
you cannot perfect
your walk in the flesh.
00:40:34.10\00:40:37.27
We've begun with the Spirit,
00:40:37.30\00:40:38.97
we must
continue with the Spirit.
00:40:39.00\00:40:41.60
So now what is surrender?
00:40:41.64\00:40:45.77
How do we surrender?
00:40:45.81\00:40:48.51
You know, every
time I talk about this,
00:40:48.54\00:40:51.01
I have a whole
teaching on surrender.
00:40:51.05\00:40:53.55
And it's interesting as
we go to various churches.
00:40:53.58\00:40:57.09
If I ask the men,
00:40:57.12\00:40:58.95
what does surrender mean to you?
00:40:58.99\00:41:01.62
Most men say,
00:41:01.66\00:41:02.99
"Well, it means
we have to give up.
00:41:03.02\00:41:06.53
You know, we've lost.
00:41:06.56\00:41:08.20
We got to give up," right?
00:41:08.23\00:41:10.47
And women often will say,
00:41:10.50\00:41:13.13
"It means somebody
is gonna control me.
00:41:13.17\00:41:15.07
It doesn't have a very
positive association in our mind
00:41:15.10\00:41:20.64
when we use the word surrender.
00:41:20.68\00:41:22.68
But when we surrender to God,
it is the most beautiful thing,
00:41:22.71\00:41:26.58
it is a thing of
power because that's where
00:41:26.61\00:41:30.12
when we're that
tiny, little ant,
00:41:30.15\00:41:32.39
that now He is
going to yoke us to Him
00:41:32.42\00:41:37.13
and He...
00:41:37.16\00:41:38.69
If you see a
little, tiny sugar ant
00:41:38.73\00:41:40.90
yoke to an elephant,
00:41:40.93\00:41:42.80
and they're going down the road.
00:41:42.83\00:41:45.07
Here's the sugar
ant, here's the elephant,
00:41:45.10\00:41:46.74
who's carrying the load?
00:41:46.77\00:41:50.51
The elephant.
00:41:50.54\00:41:51.87
That's what it's like
when we're surrendered to God.
00:41:51.91\00:41:54.94
It's his power, He helps us.
00:41:54.98\00:41:58.08
So how do we surrender?
00:41:58.11\00:42:00.25
Luke 22:42 is one
of the best beginnings.
00:42:00.28\00:42:04.12
Why don't you
turn there right now?
00:42:04.15\00:42:05.72
Luke 22:42.
00:42:05.75\00:42:08.62
Luke 22:42,
00:42:12.16\00:42:17.23
Jesus is in the
Garden of Gethsemane.
00:42:17.27\00:42:22.44
The Son of God,
00:42:22.47\00:42:25.87
God our savior
cloaked His divinity,
00:42:25.91\00:42:29.78
cloaked with
humanity, the Son of Man,
00:42:29.81\00:42:33.01
now He is coming to that point
00:42:33.05\00:42:37.09
where He is about to face
the humiliation of the death
00:42:37.12\00:42:42.66
on a cross,
00:42:42.69\00:42:44.03
but He is also about to
suffer the second death for us
00:42:44.06\00:42:49.63
that Revelation talks about,
00:42:49.66\00:42:52.03
that death that is
beyond just a physical death,
00:42:52.07\00:42:56.34
that could mean
He's gone forever.
00:42:56.37\00:42:59.27
And just the idea
of being separated
00:42:59.31\00:43:01.58
from His Father
is overwhelming Him.
00:43:01.61\00:43:03.51
So He is in the
Garden of Gethsemane,
00:43:03.55\00:43:06.92
and I didn't turn there
but I know the scripture.
00:43:06.95\00:43:08.85
Luke 22:42, in the
Garden of Gethsemane,
00:43:08.88\00:43:12.85
He is pleading with the Lord.
00:43:12.89\00:43:17.06
He's wanting to be
delivered from this hour.
00:43:17.09\00:43:19.16
He says, "Lord, if
possible, take this cup from Me
00:43:19.19\00:43:23.83
that I don't have to drink
this cup of the second death,
00:43:23.87\00:43:28.30
that I don't have
to go through this."
00:43:28.34\00:43:30.31
But then Luke 22:42, He says,
00:43:30.34\00:43:33.64
"Father, not My
will, but Yours be done."
00:43:33.68\00:43:39.01
That is the beginning
point for us when we surrender.
00:43:39.05\00:43:43.08
We have to go
before the Lord and say,
00:43:43.12\00:43:45.59
"Lord, not my will
but Yours be done."
00:43:45.62\00:43:50.06
And as we do that, if
we would do this every day,
00:43:50.09\00:43:54.53
wake up and say, "Lord,
00:43:54.56\00:43:57.40
not my will but Yours
be done in my life today.
00:43:57.43\00:44:00.80
Help me, Lord, to
walk and surrender to You."
00:44:00.84\00:44:05.57
The next scripture
would be Luke 9:23.
00:44:05.61\00:44:11.31
Luke 9:23,
00:44:11.35\00:44:13.95
Jesus is speaking here.
00:44:17.65\00:44:19.39
And He's talking
with His disciples
00:44:22.49\00:44:26.23
and He said to them all,
00:44:26.26\00:44:29.33
"If anyone
desires to come after Me,
00:44:29.36\00:44:33.87
let him deny himself
00:44:33.90\00:44:37.97
and take up his cross..."
00:44:38.01\00:44:40.78
How often?
00:44:40.81\00:44:42.58
"Daily and follow Me."
00:44:42.61\00:44:47.95
Take up your cross
daily and follow Him.
00:44:47.98\00:44:51.25
What does it mean
to take up your cross?
00:44:51.29\00:44:53.19
Have you ever
heard somebody say,
00:44:53.22\00:44:54.59
"Oh, we've all got
our cross to bear?"
00:44:54.62\00:44:57.36
You know, bless her heart,
00:44:57.39\00:44:59.19
she's that no good man
left her, just penniless.
00:44:59.23\00:45:03.47
And she's got all
those little kids and...
00:45:03.50\00:45:06.84
But we've all got
our cross to bear.
00:45:06.87\00:45:09.94
That's not what Jesus
is talking about here.
00:45:09.97\00:45:12.07
That is a very
imperfect application
00:45:12.11\00:45:15.01
of what He's talking about.
00:45:15.04\00:45:17.01
When Jesus told His disciples
00:45:17.05\00:45:18.81
you've got to
pick up your cross,
00:45:18.85\00:45:20.18
they knew exactly what He meant.
00:45:20.22\00:45:23.12
To pick up the
cross in that day and age
00:45:23.15\00:45:26.19
meant that you're
about to be crucified.
00:45:26.22\00:45:29.12
You're about to die.
00:45:29.16\00:45:30.69
Jesus is saying
to His disciples,
00:45:30.73\00:45:33.56
"If you want to come after Me,
00:45:33.60\00:45:38.10
you've got to pick
up your cross every day.
00:45:38.13\00:45:40.17
You've got to die
to self day by day."
00:45:40.20\00:45:45.47
And the reason
it's a day-by-day thing
00:45:45.51\00:45:47.91
is because I guarantee you
00:45:47.94\00:45:50.01
that old flesh wants
to rear its ugly head.
00:45:50.05\00:45:53.68
It just doesn't
stay down, does it?
00:45:53.72\00:45:55.62
But remember what
we read in Romans 8:13,
00:45:55.65\00:45:59.42
you cannot crucify your own...
00:45:59.45\00:46:01.29
If you pick up you flesh,
00:46:01.32\00:46:02.66
you can't do this killing of
your fleshly deeds by yourself.
00:46:02.69\00:46:08.10
It's if by the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:46:08.13\00:46:11.47
you put to death
the deeds of the body.
00:46:11.50\00:46:13.87
So you need a co-executioner.
00:46:13.90\00:46:15.94
He's got to be the one
who's working with you.
00:46:15.97\00:46:19.37
So you pick up your cross daily.
00:46:19.41\00:46:22.61
As Paul said, "I die
daily, brothers, I mean it.
00:46:22.64\00:46:25.81
You know, I'm crucified to
the world and the world to me."
00:46:25.85\00:46:29.45
This is an
important step of surrender.
00:46:29.48\00:46:36.16
Now if you have gone through
00:46:36.19\00:46:42.13
this of praying that God will,
00:46:42.16\00:46:44.90
not His will but yours be
done, let me die to self today,
00:46:44.93\00:46:49.37
but you forget to
do this next step,
00:46:49.40\00:46:52.37
you're gonna be like the
Galatians trying to perfect
00:46:52.41\00:46:55.64
your own walk with
Christ by your power.
00:46:55.68\00:46:59.38
The next step is Luke 11:9.
00:46:59.41\00:47:06.29
Luke 11:9...
00:47:06.32\00:47:10.96
When Jesus is talking
00:47:14.36\00:47:20.37
to His disciples,
00:47:20.40\00:47:22.30
He says in Luke 11:9,
00:47:22.34\00:47:26.34
"Ask, and it
will be given to you,
00:47:26.37\00:47:29.61
seek, and you shall find,
00:47:29.64\00:47:32.85
knock, and the door
shall be opened to you."
00:47:32.88\00:47:37.29
This shows you a progression,
a progression of determination.
00:47:37.32\00:47:42.36
You're asking, you're
seeking and you're knocking.
00:47:42.39\00:47:46.26
And in the Greek,
these words, these verbs,
00:47:46.29\00:47:49.76
ask, seek, and knock
00:47:49.80\00:47:52.20
are all linear verbs.
00:47:52.23\00:47:53.97
They're all in the
present perfect tense.
00:47:54.00\00:47:55.97
And what it means is,
00:47:56.00\00:47:57.84
and the more accurate
translation of this verse is,
00:47:57.87\00:48:01.24
Jesus said,
00:48:01.28\00:48:03.28
"If anyone asks
and keeps on asking,
00:48:03.31\00:48:08.28
he will receive.
00:48:08.32\00:48:09.85
If anyone seeks
and keeps on seeking,
00:48:09.88\00:48:14.06
he will find.
00:48:14.09\00:48:15.42
And if anyone knocks
and keeps on knocking,
00:48:15.46\00:48:18.66
the door will be opened to him."
00:48:18.69\00:48:21.30
So look down at verse 13,
00:48:21.33\00:48:25.17
what is He telling
us we should ask for.
00:48:25.20\00:48:29.27
In verse 13, He
essentially says,
00:48:29.30\00:48:32.47
and I may be
paraphrasing just a little,
00:48:32.51\00:48:35.34
but essentially
what Jesus is saying is,
00:48:35.38\00:48:40.62
"If you being evil
00:48:40.65\00:48:42.85
know how to give good
gifts to your children,
00:48:42.88\00:48:47.59
how much more will
the heavenly Father
00:48:47.62\00:48:51.89
give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask..."
00:48:51.93\00:48:58.60
And again the linear
verb, "And keep on asking?"
00:48:58.63\00:49:03.87
We don't just ask once,
00:49:03.91\00:49:07.58
and it's not like God is saying
00:49:07.61\00:49:09.01
you've to beg Him
for the Holy Spirit
00:49:09.04\00:49:11.38
that He is not
going to give you.
00:49:11.41\00:49:13.18
You ask,
00:49:13.21\00:49:14.98
but if you quench the
Spirit during the day,
00:49:15.02\00:49:18.05
you ask again.
00:49:18.09\00:49:20.26
And the next
morning, you get up and say,
00:49:20.29\00:49:23.12
"Father, not my will but
Yours be done today, Oh Lord."
00:49:23.16\00:49:29.20
One day, I was
so bold as to say,
00:49:29.23\00:49:31.10
as I'm praying to the Lord,
00:49:31.13\00:49:33.00
"Oh, Lord, I am
willing to do Your will."
00:49:33.03\00:49:36.77
You know what I heard?
00:49:36.81\00:49:38.14
"No, you're not."
00:49:38.17\00:49:39.81
And I thought...
00:49:39.84\00:49:41.18
Who do you think that
was, the devil or God?
00:49:41.21\00:49:44.28
I'm telling you,
it's God. You know why?
00:49:44.31\00:49:47.12
The Holy Spirit was
speaking not audibly
00:49:47.15\00:49:50.92
but He was
speaking into my mind,
00:49:50.95\00:49:52.85
pressing this
thought upon my mind.
00:49:52.89\00:49:54.62
If I was willing
to do God's will,
00:49:54.66\00:49:56.26
I'd be doing it.
00:49:56.29\00:49:57.76
And so when He said,
00:49:57.79\00:49:59.76
"No, you're not," I said,
00:49:59.79\00:50:02.36
"Oh, Lord, I'm
willing to be made willing."
00:50:02.40\00:50:05.07
And He said,
"That's all I ask of you."
00:50:05.10\00:50:07.37
See, we can't even
change our will on our own.
00:50:07.40\00:50:11.21
Philippians 2:13,
00:50:11.24\00:50:12.84
"God works in us to will
and to do His good pleasure."
00:50:12.87\00:50:18.08
So we have to come
before the Lord and say,
00:50:18.11\00:50:21.62
"Lord, I'm willing to be made
willing to do Your will today.
00:50:21.65\00:50:26.96
Help me, Father, by Your
power to pick up my cross."
00:50:26.99\00:50:33.13
And then...
00:50:33.16\00:50:35.16
And the idea of
picking up the cross
00:50:35.20\00:50:36.87
is to die to your
selfishness, your own self ways.
00:50:36.90\00:50:41.24
Then as you ask to be
filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:50:41.27\00:50:45.04
day by day, moment by moment,
00:50:45.07\00:50:47.34
God is eager to
give His Spirit to you.
00:50:47.38\00:50:50.71
The only reason
that we have to ask again
00:50:50.75\00:50:53.18
is 'cause we grieve the
Spirit, we resist the Spirit,
00:50:53.21\00:50:55.98
we quench the Spirit.
00:50:56.02\00:50:57.49
We also need to be
reminded, I believe, totally.
00:50:57.52\00:51:01.19
Every day, I need to be reminded
00:51:01.22\00:51:03.29
how dependent I am upon God.
00:51:03.32\00:51:06.63
Have you ever experienced this?
00:51:06.66\00:51:11.00
I am...
00:51:11.03\00:51:15.14
Most of us are here
in full-time ministry.
00:51:15.17\00:51:19.97
Have you ever gotten up some day
00:51:20.01\00:51:21.48
where you're
just kind of rushing
00:51:21.51\00:51:23.08
and maybe you don't
do your morning worship
00:51:23.11\00:51:27.52
and you get to work?
00:51:27.55\00:51:28.88
And we always...
00:51:28.92\00:51:30.25
The beauty of working at 3ABN
00:51:30.29\00:51:31.62
is we always start off
with a morning devotional.
00:51:31.65\00:51:33.89
We have our time to
study together, to pray.
00:51:33.92\00:51:38.53
And so you've got something,
you've got an appetizer,
00:51:38.56\00:51:43.33
I'll put it that way, right?
00:51:43.37\00:51:45.60
It's not a full meal,
00:51:45.63\00:51:46.97
we don't have
time for the full meal
00:51:47.00\00:51:48.34
every morning at work.
00:51:48.37\00:51:49.70
But we've got the appetizer.
00:51:49.74\00:51:51.57
So then, you go on
about your business
00:51:51.61\00:51:54.58
and you fall into this
hectic pace that we all keep.
00:51:54.61\00:51:59.31
You know, I jokingly said that
00:51:59.35\00:52:03.45
I have been operating like
a humming bird on steroids,
00:52:03.49\00:52:07.76
practically this entire year.
00:52:07.79\00:52:10.26
And it's really
not a joke, I am...
00:52:10.29\00:52:12.49
You know, I realized that
00:52:12.53\00:52:13.86
I'm working
throughout most of my day,
00:52:13.90\00:52:17.53
there's an adrenaline rush
00:52:17.57\00:52:18.93
because it's push, push,
drive, drive, go, go, go.
00:52:18.97\00:52:22.20
If I don't go through
00:52:22.24\00:52:23.67
the process of
surrender at home,
00:52:23.71\00:52:27.38
if I am not totally
cognizant, what I have found is,
00:52:27.41\00:52:31.38
I'm not praying as
much during the day.
00:52:31.41\00:52:33.95
I'm beginning to
rely on my own power,
00:52:33.98\00:52:36.38
on my own abilities.
00:52:36.42\00:52:38.22
Anybody ever
been there, done that?
00:52:38.25\00:52:40.92
And you come to
the end of the day,
00:52:40.96\00:52:42.96
you've been working for the Lord
00:52:42.99\00:52:45.66
without really working
with the Lord in cooperation.
00:52:45.69\00:52:52.20
And it makes for a
tiring day, doesn't it?
00:52:52.23\00:52:56.00
Now one thing I
appreciate about JD.
00:52:56.04\00:52:59.37
When JD went to work in
the pastoral department,
00:52:59.41\00:53:02.84
something that he
recognized was this.
00:53:02.88\00:53:06.38
"Who am I to
answer these questions
00:53:06.41\00:53:09.38
of these precious viewers,
00:53:09.42\00:53:12.29
the people who
watch and listen to 3ABN,
00:53:12.32\00:53:15.02
and call in with
such pain in their hearts,
00:53:15.06\00:53:18.59
such problems?"
00:53:18.63\00:53:20.73
And he recognized
00:53:20.76\00:53:23.37
that he needed the power
of the Holy Spirit to pray.
00:53:23.40\00:53:28.14
You know, Paul told us
00:53:28.17\00:53:29.80
that the Holy
Spirit has been given to us
00:53:29.84\00:53:33.88
as our prayer
partner, has He not?
00:53:33.91\00:53:35.98
He is the one
00:53:36.01\00:53:37.45
that we don't know how
we should pray as we ought,
00:53:37.48\00:53:40.92
but we're given the Holy Spirit.
00:53:40.95\00:53:43.42
So JD spends his day
on every call, I believe,
00:53:43.45\00:53:47.52
am I correct, JD?
00:53:47.56\00:53:49.09
On every call,
he tells the caller,
00:53:49.12\00:53:53.93
"I'm going to
invite the Holy Spirit
00:53:53.96\00:53:57.33
to pray with us,
to lead us in prayer."
00:53:57.37\00:54:00.74
We can't even
pray right on our own.
00:54:00.77\00:54:04.17
And you know, we
get to where we feel.
00:54:04.21\00:54:06.54
I mean, JD will...
00:54:06.57\00:54:07.91
Sometimes when
we're driving home,
00:54:07.94\00:54:09.54
we always talk about the
day, we share what's going on.
00:54:09.58\00:54:12.41
And I'll say,
00:54:12.45\00:54:13.78
"Did you have any really
good calls today, honey?"
00:54:13.82\00:54:16.28
And he'll say,
00:54:16.32\00:54:17.65
"Oh, the most
amazing thing happened."
00:54:17.69\00:54:19.65
And he starts telling
me the story and he'd say,
00:54:19.69\00:54:21.99
"And suddenly, I was
saying this and this,"
00:54:22.02\00:54:24.79
and he said, "I don't
know where it came from."
00:54:24.83\00:54:27.03
Well, he said,
"Well, yes, I do."
00:54:27.06\00:54:28.63
He said, "The Lord
just poured it into me,
00:54:28.66\00:54:31.57
and I was able to share
00:54:31.60\00:54:33.94
and God brought
healing in his wings."
00:54:33.97\00:54:37.07
See, we can't do anything.
00:54:37.11\00:54:40.31
What did Jesus say in John 15:5,
00:54:40.34\00:54:43.04
"Apart from Me, you
can do nothing, nada."
00:54:43.08\00:54:49.52
And our job is to learn
00:54:49.55\00:54:53.62
that God's plan of
salvation is so simple.
00:54:53.66\00:54:56.79
It is one that we
would recognize our sin,
00:54:56.83\00:55:01.86
that we would feel godly sorrow,
00:55:01.90\00:55:04.33
allow the Holy Spirit to bring
godly sorrow into our hearts
00:55:04.37\00:55:08.87
that we would
confess our sins before Him,
00:55:08.90\00:55:12.94
and then
receive His forgiveness,
00:55:12.97\00:55:15.44
and ask Him to
grant us repentance.
00:55:15.48\00:55:17.91
Then as He grants us repentance,
00:55:17.95\00:55:20.68
He turns us in
the right direction.
00:55:20.72\00:55:23.12
Then all He's
asking is day by day,
00:55:23.15\00:55:25.85
get up and say,
"Lord, help me to surrender."
00:55:25.89\00:55:30.16
You know what Ellen White wrote?
00:55:30.19\00:55:32.26
She said, "Lord, take my
heart, for I can't give it."
00:55:32.29\00:55:37.17
We have to ask God,
"Help us to surrender.
00:55:37.20\00:55:40.07
So I'm willing to
do Your will, Lord.
00:55:40.10\00:55:43.00
I need You."
00:55:43.04\00:55:44.61
I mean, I find myself
saying this throughout the day,
00:55:44.64\00:55:47.98
I'll say, "Lord,
I need You so much.
00:55:48.01\00:55:50.71
I can't do anything good,
00:55:50.75\00:55:53.48
anything of
eternal value on my own.
00:55:53.52\00:55:56.62
I need You, Lord."
00:55:56.65\00:55:58.69
And He's so anxious to show up.
00:55:58.72\00:56:01.82
And then we pray, and then
you know, the beauty of it is,
00:56:01.86\00:56:04.73
as we open our hearts to God,
00:56:04.76\00:56:07.30
He pours His
love into our hearts
00:56:07.33\00:56:09.26
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:56:09.30\00:56:11.43
And that's how He
perfects us in love.
00:56:11.47\00:56:15.60
We've got just one more minute.
00:56:15.64\00:56:16.97
Let's turn to 1
Thessalonians Chapter 3,
00:56:17.01\00:56:20.98
1 Thessalonians 3.
00:56:21.01\00:56:25.61
And I know that...
00:56:25.65\00:56:27.68
I guess you all know too.
00:56:27.72\00:56:29.45
I seem to work this scripture
into almost any message
00:56:29.48\00:56:32.85
that I'm giving lately.
00:56:32.89\00:56:34.39
This has become
00:56:34.42\00:56:37.79
probably one of my most
favorite texts in the Bible.
00:56:37.83\00:56:43.06
I have many favorite texts
00:56:43.10\00:56:44.43
but this one is
right at the top.
00:56:44.47\00:56:46.94
1 Thessalonians Chapter 3,
00:56:46.97\00:56:49.77
we're gonna begin with verse 12.
00:56:49.80\00:56:52.54
And Paul is writing and he says,
00:56:52.57\00:56:54.94
"May the Lord make you increase
00:56:54.98\00:56:59.41
and abound in love to
one another and to all,
00:56:59.45\00:57:02.82
just as we do to you."
00:57:02.85\00:57:04.35
Who's doing the work here?
00:57:04.39\00:57:05.85
It's God.
00:57:05.89\00:57:07.62
But what is the
purpose of this work?
00:57:07.66\00:57:10.76
Why is Paul praying and saying,
00:57:10.79\00:57:12.43
"Let God pour out
His love into you,
00:57:12.46\00:57:15.10
may He cause you to
increase and abound"?
00:57:15.13\00:57:17.53
He said, "So that He
may establish your hearts
00:57:17.57\00:57:22.20
blameless in holiness
00:57:22.24\00:57:24.87
before our Lord and Father,
00:57:24.91\00:57:27.14
God and Father at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
00:57:27.18\00:57:30.31
with all His saints."
00:57:30.35\00:57:31.95
As we surrender
to His power and ask,
00:57:31.98\00:57:35.25
"Lord, fill me afresh
with Your Holy Spirit,"
00:57:35.28\00:57:38.39
He pours the
essence of His character,
00:57:38.42\00:57:42.02
His love into our hearts.
00:57:42.06\00:57:44.89
And then He empowers us.
00:57:44.93\00:57:47.16
As I said, the
seduction of sin withers away,
00:57:47.20\00:57:51.10
we don't want it anymore.
00:57:51.13\00:57:52.80
All we want is Him.
00:57:52.83\00:57:54.67
Thank you so
much for joining us.
00:57:54.70\00:57:56.64
Our prayer is
that God blesses you
00:57:56.67\00:57:59.04
and multiplies His
mercy love and grace to you.
00:57:59.07\00:58:02.14
Good night.
00:58:02.18\00:58:03.51