Hello, friends, and welcome
to Wednesday night Bible study
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here at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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This is A Sharper Focus
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as you know we've been
walking through the Word of God
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on the topic, Our Greatest Need.
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And I think tonight we're
going to continue on that topic
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because our need continues.
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Thank you for
taking the time to tune in.
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In just a moment we'll tell you
how to get a copy of the lesson
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and how to follow us.
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But before we do anything,
we always invite the Lord
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to be with us through prayer.
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Let's bow our heads together.
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Loving Father in
heaven, thank You Lord
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for the
privilege and opportunity
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of opening Your Word,
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tonight open our
hearts and speak to us
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that Your purpose
for each one of us
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may be accomplished
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and that because of
the time we spent together
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that we will be that much
more dedicated to following,
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and serving
You, and knowing You,
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in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Now to get a copy of the lesson,
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go to the following
website ASF.3ABN.org.
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That's ASharperFocus.3ABN.org.
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Download lesson number 39.
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You might say they've been
on that lesson for 10 years.
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It may seem that way,
but we haven't very detailed
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vitally important lesson.
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And download lesson number 39.
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We're going to be continuing
from question number 24 on
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and we have 33 questions
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and I think that we're
going to start another lesson
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after this.
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But before we do that we
always sing our theme song,
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and what is our theme song?
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Victory in Jesus.
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By the way before we do
it, let's welcome our audience
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with a hearty
amen, can we do that?
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Amen.
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We already and I
hope you are too.
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Let's sing the song
together, Victory in Jesus.
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I heard an old, old story
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How the Savior came from glory
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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To save a wretch like me
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I heard about His groaning
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Of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sins
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And won the victory
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet
day I'll sing up there
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The song of victory
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Key change.
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Amen.
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Our topic tonight is,
let's say it together,
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Our Greatest
Need. Our Greatest Need.
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We've been
talking about repentance.
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We've been talking about,
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we began the topic on
talking about what is sin
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and we know sin
is the transgression
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of the law.
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Wherever the law
of God is broken,
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there is a transgressor or
if you could use the phrase
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when it comes to a person
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who stop for any
kind of infraction,
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the person is guilty.
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Now I've said this before,
but I think it fits right now.
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If a person is guilty,
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do they ask for
mercy or justice?
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Mercy. Ask for mercy.
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So the mercies of God
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has been extended
to all of humanity
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because all have sinned
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and fallen short
of the glory of God.
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Now mercy is not repentance.
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Mercy simply says,
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I'm going to let
you off this time
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as a police officer did
to me on several occasions.
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Confession is good for the soul,
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heart and the reputation.
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I remember going
through Indiana once.
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This was before I
was able to afford a GPS.
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So I had my
gigantic laptop in 2006.
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And thankfully at the
time we had a larger SUV,
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so I'm going downhill in Indiana
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and before I knew
it, I'm going downhill,
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there's a big 18
wheeler to my right,
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it's a big sharp curve,
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and as I get
around the curve, Ryan,
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I see a black
highway patrol car.
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And as soon as I
passed, his lights come on.
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And he comes behind
me, and he pulls me over,
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and he says,
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"Do you know how
fast you were going?"
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I was probably
going pretty fast.
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He said, "I clocked you at 87.
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License please."
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Which is, "Oh boy, how
much is this going to cost me
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or are they
going to let me drive,"
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because in some
places they can really throw
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the book at you and say,
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"Pull over,
you're going to jail.
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You're going to
pay before the judge
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beyond a certain speed limit."
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I was more than 20
miles over the speed limit.
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Don't tell
everybody in the world,
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this is just between you and me.
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And I said,
"I'll get my license,
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I'll get my
registration and insurance."
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And he came back and he
said, "Can I ask you a question?
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Why were you going so fast?"
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I said, "Honestly, I was
looking down on my laptop
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trying to follow directions
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because we were
driving to New York,
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trying to follow directions,
and I just didn't pay attention
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to how fast I was going."
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"License and registration."
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He went back to the
car, and he came back,
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and he casually leaned
on the window, and he said,
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"I tell you what.
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You slow down and
we'll just call it a evening,
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is that okay?"
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I was not about to
disagree with that arrangement.
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Amen.
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I said, "You
know, you get polite.
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Thank you, Officer."
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And he let me go.
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Was I guilty? Yes or no.
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Yes.
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What did he extent to me?
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Mercy.
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But now let's talk
about the rest of it.
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So did I peel away?
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Did I peel away?
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No, drove, I stayed
under the speed limit
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for some time.
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It was 65 or maybe 55, 58
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because you don't know
if they still tracking you.
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You kind of...
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And this is called
behavior modification,
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this is an example
here, behavior modification.
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You change your behavior
for a certain period of time,
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until you feel that,
oh, came out of the woodwork
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and no more police around.
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Was I converted, yes or no?
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No, 'cause I still
had speed in my mind
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as long as you don't get caught.
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And unfortunately,
that's how many of us are
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as Christians.
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We are caught as
transgressors of the law,
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the Lord extends mercy to us.
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We say, "Thank you, Jesus.
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Thank you, Officer."
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And we walk away ever so
humbly under the grace of God
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and His mercy.
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And we say, thank You, Lord,
forgave me of my transgression
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as the officer did of mine,
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but as time goes on
something gets into us again.
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And Paul says,
it's that nature of sin,
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and then it takes control of us
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because we
haven't been converted.
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So tonight, we're adding,
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I appeared to
repent to the officer,
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but really
about an hour later...
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And all of us have
been at one point or another
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guilty of speeding.
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Don't write emails
and tell me you haven't.
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But in the life
of the Christian,
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every one of us is
guilty of something.
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We talked about repentance,
repentance is vitally important
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as we talked about it.
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And so tonight
what I want to do is
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catapult us into
question number 24
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with a very important question.
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How can we tell
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when someone has
repented of past transgressions?
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How can we tell?
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Now is it up to us,
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is it imperative for us to know
if somebody else has repented.
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But would there be
evidence that they have.
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Let's see what the Bible says.
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Go to Matthew 3
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and we're going
to look at verse 8,
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"How can we know
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if somebody
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has repented of
past transgressions?"
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I don't know if it's
just the pastor's thing.
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I remember as
reading the text Matthew 3:8
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in the Bible says as follows.
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Let's read this one together
since it's the very first one,
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"Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance."
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Bear fruits
worthy of repentance.
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Now if you've
ever been a person,
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I think
everybody has eaten a fruit
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at one point or another.
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Everybody likes fruits.
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At least I think
most people like fruits
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depending on where you're from,
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you might like a certain
type of food that's different
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from what we
have here in America.
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But you can tell
where food is from
00:10:43.94\00:10:47.71
based on just what the fruit is.
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An orange comes
from what kind of tree.
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Orange tree.
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Apple comes from? Apple tree.
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Watermelon comes
from what kind of tree?
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Can you imagine
a watermelon tree?
00:10:58.45\00:11:01.56
Whatever the fruit
is, it's produced somehow
00:11:01.59\00:11:05.26
it comes from something.
00:11:05.29\00:11:06.63
So the point of the
matter is, whatever the fruit is
00:11:06.66\00:11:09.06
that it's seen in our
lives it comes from something.
00:11:09.10\00:11:13.60
And the only way you can tell
what kind of tree it comes from
00:11:13.64\00:11:17.11
is by the fruit.
00:11:17.14\00:11:18.47
Now let's go with
that thought very quickly
00:11:18.51\00:11:20.28
before we go to the second
part of question number 24.
00:11:20.31\00:11:23.21
Let's go to Matthew 7
00:11:23.24\00:11:24.88
and we're going to answer
verse 20 in just a moment.
00:11:24.91\00:11:27.42
But I want to show
you the rest of that text.
00:11:27.45\00:11:30.12
Matthew 7 before
we get to verse 20,
00:11:30.15\00:11:34.16
I want to lead
into it, all right.
00:11:34.19\00:11:39.19
The Bible says in verse 16,
00:11:39.23\00:11:42.90
"You will know
them by their fruits.
00:11:42.93\00:11:46.67
Do men gather
grapes from thorn bushes,
00:11:46.70\00:11:50.37
or figs from thistles?"
00:11:50.41\00:11:52.44
And the answer is no.
00:11:52.47\00:11:54.18
"Even so every,"
what kind of tree?
00:11:54.21\00:11:57.88
"Every good tree
bears good fruit,
00:11:57.91\00:12:01.62
but a bad tree bears" what?
00:12:01.65\00:12:04.19
"Bad fruit."
00:12:04.22\00:12:05.55
And here's the principle,
this is the principle,
00:12:05.59\00:12:07.02
this is the
reciprocal principle.
00:12:07.06\00:12:08.99
Verse 18.
00:12:09.02\00:12:10.73
"A good tree," what
is the very next word?
00:12:10.76\00:12:13.70
"Cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a bad tree bear" what?
00:12:13.73\00:12:18.10
"Good food."
00:12:18.13\00:12:19.47
So before we go to
the verse, the next verse,
00:12:19.50\00:12:21.04
you will know if
the fruit are bad,
00:12:21.07\00:12:24.07
what's the tree?
00:12:24.11\00:12:26.64
Bad.
00:12:26.68\00:12:28.01
If the fruit is
good, what's the tree?
00:12:28.04\00:12:30.08
Good.
00:12:30.11\00:12:31.45
So when you look at your
life you'll say, wait a minute,
00:12:31.48\00:12:34.12
and you have to add this in
John 15, don't go to it yet,
00:12:34.15\00:12:36.72
but I'm going to go
and make this very clear.
00:12:36.75\00:12:39.45
Sometimes we remain,
sometimes we connect to Christ,
00:12:39.49\00:12:43.56
and then in our own lives
by our behavior we disconnect
00:12:43.59\00:12:47.86
in the way to know
whether you are connected
00:12:47.90\00:12:50.67
is by your what?
00:12:50.70\00:12:52.30
By your fruit
because Jesus said,
00:12:52.33\00:12:54.04
I am the vine you are the what?
00:12:54.07\00:12:56.44
Branches.
00:12:56.47\00:12:57.81
So if we're connected
to Christ, but our fruit,
00:12:57.84\00:13:00.14
if we say we're
connected to Christ,
00:13:00.18\00:13:01.91
but our fruit shows
something different,
00:13:01.94\00:13:03.65
are we connected?
00:13:03.68\00:13:05.01
Yes or no. We're not.
00:13:05.05\00:13:06.38
You can't say you're an
apple and you're connected
00:13:06.41\00:13:07.75
to an orange
tree and vice versa.
00:13:07.78\00:13:09.88
So you'll know
them by their fruits.
00:13:09.92\00:13:11.65
So look at verse
20, "Therefore..."
00:13:11.69\00:13:15.69
Let me bring it on the screen.
00:13:15.72\00:13:17.39
"Therefore, by their," what?
"Fruits you will know them."
00:13:17.43\00:13:22.96
Now some people have
said, so write down the answer
00:13:23.00\00:13:25.73
to number 24,
00:13:25.77\00:13:27.10
"How can we tell
00:13:27.14\00:13:28.47
when someone has
repented of past transgressions,
00:13:28.50\00:13:30.71
how can you tell?"
00:13:30.74\00:13:33.38
What's another word for
fruit in the Christian life?
00:13:33.41\00:13:36.44
Behavior, character.
00:13:36.48\00:13:38.55
What you see
00:13:38.58\00:13:40.25
and we can only
gauge a person's heart
00:13:40.28\00:13:43.28
by what we see.
00:13:43.32\00:13:45.02
We can't say, I don't
know what they're thinking
00:13:45.05\00:13:47.46
because some
people have taken it
00:13:47.49\00:13:48.82
to the next level, they say,
00:13:48.86\00:13:50.39
well, they may, they
may not be doing that,
00:13:50.43\00:13:54.36
but what's going
on in their minds.
00:13:54.40\00:13:56.06
Well, the only way we'll
know what's going on in the vine
00:13:56.10\00:13:58.90
is we look at
the tree, the fruit.
00:13:58.93\00:14:01.80
The only way we know
00:14:01.84\00:14:03.17
what's happening
in the apple tree
00:14:03.20\00:14:05.07
inside of the whole
trunk and the root system,
00:14:05.11\00:14:09.11
if we look at the fruit.
00:14:09.14\00:14:12.18
Nobody has...
00:14:12.21\00:14:13.55
Well, I don't know this to
be the fact, but I haven't,
00:14:13.58\00:14:16.45
I've never gone to an apple tree
00:14:16.48\00:14:18.09
and try to open
up the trunk of it
00:14:18.12\00:14:19.45
to see what's
going on in the inside,
00:14:19.49\00:14:21.56
but I've looked at the what?
00:14:21.59\00:14:22.92
Fruit.
00:14:22.96\00:14:24.29
So it's not important for
you to know what's going on
00:14:24.33\00:14:25.66
in the inside
of a person's life,
00:14:25.69\00:14:27.03
it's important that
you examine the fruit.
00:14:27.06\00:14:29.56
When you look at the fruit,
then you'll be able to tell
00:14:29.60\00:14:32.33
where the person is connected,
00:14:32.37\00:14:33.80
by their fruits
you will know them.
00:14:33.84\00:14:35.20
So how will you know?
00:14:35.24\00:14:37.11
Their behaviors have changed.
00:14:37.14\00:14:41.28
A person that
says, "I have repented, "
00:14:41.31\00:14:44.58
but continue the same behavior
really has not repented.
00:14:44.61\00:14:50.55
You get it?
00:14:50.59\00:14:51.92
Let's go to number
25, by their fruit,
00:14:51.95\00:14:54.62
check out how they live.
00:14:54.66\00:14:55.99
Listen to how they speak
00:14:56.02\00:14:57.36
because the Bible
makes it very clear
00:14:57.39\00:14:59.16
out of the
abundance of the heart
00:14:59.19\00:15:00.76
the mouth will speak.
00:15:00.80\00:15:02.60
You can tell by a
person's behavior,
00:15:02.63\00:15:04.67
by their tone of
voice, by their actions
00:15:04.70\00:15:07.10
whether or not they
have been converted.
00:15:07.14\00:15:10.57
Question number 25.
00:15:10.61\00:15:12.44
Now this part of the lesson
I've been longing to get to
00:15:12.47\00:15:15.68
because it shows
a particular track.
00:15:15.71\00:15:18.45
Let me go back and
establish the track in some way.
00:15:18.48\00:15:21.22
Okay, let's go back.
00:15:21.25\00:15:23.35
Does God have a law? Yes or no?
00:15:23.39\00:15:24.72
Yes.
00:15:24.75\00:15:26.09
When the law is
violated, what is that?
00:15:26.12\00:15:27.59
Sin, right?
00:15:27.62\00:15:28.96
How many of us have sinned?
00:15:28.99\00:15:30.33
All. Okay.
00:15:30.36\00:15:31.69
Now, if we confess
our sin, is He faithful
00:15:31.73\00:15:35.00
and just to
forgive us, yes or no?
00:15:35.03\00:15:37.23
Forgiveness
doesn't mean you repent.
00:15:37.27\00:15:40.40
It simply means you confess,
but doesn't mean you repent it.
00:15:40.44\00:15:45.11
Does saying
sorry mean you repent?
00:15:45.14\00:15:47.14
No.
00:15:47.18\00:15:48.51
It depends on
what kind of sorrow.
00:15:48.54\00:15:51.78
And I'll bring
that up in just a moment
00:15:51.81\00:15:53.68
because we talked about sorrow,
00:15:53.72\00:15:56.38
but there is a godly
sorrow that leads to repentance.
00:15:56.42\00:16:01.99
And then after that godly sorrow
00:16:02.02\00:16:05.36
that leads to repentance,
00:16:05.39\00:16:07.06
something else comes after that
00:16:07.10\00:16:08.46
which I'm not going
to jump the gun to go to.
00:16:08.50\00:16:10.30
But let's answer
question number 25.
00:16:10.33\00:16:13.67
What does repentance lead to?
00:16:13.70\00:16:16.91
Acts 11:18, I think
most of you are there.
00:16:16.94\00:16:20.28
What does repentance lead to?
00:16:20.31\00:16:22.18
Let's look at Acts 11:18.
00:16:22.21\00:16:24.65
This is what the
Bible says to us.
00:16:24.68\00:16:27.02
"When they heard these
things they became," what?
00:16:27.05\00:16:31.15
"Silent, and they
glorified God saying,
00:16:31.19\00:16:35.22
'Then God has also
granted to the Gentiles," what?
00:16:35.26\00:16:41.13
"Repentance to life.'"
00:16:41.16\00:16:44.80
So repentance now in
order for you to go beyond
00:16:44.83\00:16:47.84
just forgiveness and confessing
that you have done wrong,
00:16:47.87\00:16:53.34
in order for the doors of life
to open, you have to repent.
00:16:53.38\00:16:58.88
The doors of life will not
be opened to a person that says,
00:16:58.91\00:17:01.88
"I'm sorry, I did it."
00:17:01.92\00:17:06.55
Repentance to life.
00:17:06.59\00:17:09.12
That's where the
doors begin to open.
00:17:09.16\00:17:11.96
But let's go to the next one.
00:17:11.99\00:17:13.70
Let's go to the next one.
00:17:13.73\00:17:15.06
The door's open.
00:17:17.80\00:17:21.70
The door's open
when a person repents
00:17:21.74\00:17:25.04
because it leads in
the proper direction,
00:17:25.07\00:17:28.28
you'll find out in a moment.
00:17:28.31\00:17:29.78
Ezekiel 33:19.
00:17:29.81\00:17:31.91
I'm thinking of a text here.
00:17:35.72\00:17:37.05
Yes. Okay.
00:17:42.46\00:17:45.76
And we're in Ezekiel 33:19.
00:17:45.79\00:17:47.86
Are we, yes or no? Yes.
00:17:47.90\00:17:49.70
Okay, let's look at this one.
00:17:49.73\00:17:51.07
What does repentance lead to?
00:17:51.10\00:17:53.07
Repentance, "But
when the wicked,"
00:17:53.10\00:17:55.90
what is the very next word?
00:17:55.94\00:17:58.07
"Turns from his wickedness
00:17:58.11\00:18:01.01
and does what is
lawful and right,"
00:18:01.04\00:18:04.28
together, "he shall
live because of it."
00:18:04.31\00:18:08.32
Another word in this
passage, what word do you think
00:18:08.35\00:18:11.89
reflects
conversion or repentance.
00:18:11.92\00:18:14.06
What word you
think reflects that?
00:18:14.09\00:18:16.22
What word do you see there?
00:18:16.26\00:18:18.43
Turn. Turn.
00:18:18.46\00:18:21.16
You know, you've
heard it a 1000 times,
00:18:21.20\00:18:23.47
but it fits right here.
00:18:23.50\00:18:25.73
If you're going in
the wrong direction,
00:18:25.77\00:18:27.17
God allows you turns.
00:18:27.20\00:18:30.11
Turn. Turn.
00:18:30.14\00:18:32.41
And in Ezekiel 33:19,
00:18:32.44\00:18:34.74
the Lord was continuing
to appeal to the Israelites,
00:18:34.78\00:18:37.15
turn, turn.
00:18:37.18\00:18:39.95
And even that
passage or the prayer
00:18:39.98\00:18:42.52
we know so very well,
00:18:42.55\00:18:44.42
"If My people who
are called by My name
00:18:44.45\00:18:49.26
will humble themselves
and pray and seek My face,
00:18:49.29\00:18:54.00
and turn from
their wicked ways."
00:18:54.03\00:18:57.93
Then get the
notice, did you hear that?
00:18:57.97\00:19:02.20
Then did you know that?
00:19:02.24\00:19:04.87
Okay, everybody on
television said, "Amen."
00:19:04.91\00:19:07.71
Then...
00:19:07.74\00:19:09.08
Amen.
00:19:09.11\00:19:10.45
Let's go to 1 Chronicles.
00:19:10.48\00:19:11.81
And sometimes you might wonder,
00:19:19.15\00:19:21.66
2 Chronicles
7:14. 2 Chronicles 7:14.
00:19:21.69\00:19:24.93
Okay, there it is.
00:19:24.96\00:19:26.29
Sometimes you might wonder, why
00:19:26.33\00:19:28.56
it seems like
your prayers are going
00:19:28.60\00:19:29.93
no higher than the ceiling.
00:19:29.96\00:19:32.93
Here's a prayer blocker.
00:19:32.97\00:19:35.14
By the way we
went to Ezekiel 33:19,
00:19:35.17\00:19:37.61
our call for the
next one in just a moment.
00:19:37.64\00:19:39.24
But I want to insert
this in the middle of it
00:19:39.27\00:19:41.41
because this passage,
00:19:41.44\00:19:42.94
the passage we
often use for prayer,
00:19:42.98\00:19:44.98
the passage we often use
for prayer has a lot to do with
00:19:45.01\00:19:48.38
whether or not
we do the very thing
00:19:48.42\00:19:52.95
that activates
God listening to you,
00:19:52.99\00:19:56.26
in other words
saying, "You're serious, "
00:19:56.29\00:19:58.99
is included in this passage.
00:19:59.03\00:20:01.03
Look at it again.
00:20:01.06\00:20:02.40
"If My people,"
2 Chronicles 7:14
00:20:02.43\00:20:05.27
"who are called by
My name will do," what?
00:20:05.30\00:20:08.90
"Humble themselves."
00:20:08.94\00:20:10.71
"You have to be humble,
and pray, and seek My faith."
00:20:10.74\00:20:15.81
And what is the next word?
00:20:15.84\00:20:17.45
"Turn from their wicked ways."
00:20:17.48\00:20:20.85
You have the if and
now comes the blessing,
00:20:20.88\00:20:23.55
"Then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin,
00:20:23.59\00:20:27.76
and do," what?
00:20:27.79\00:20:29.12
"Heal their land."
00:20:29.16\00:20:32.09
Notice what happens
for the sin to be forgiven
00:20:32.13\00:20:34.43
in the land to be healed
00:20:34.46\00:20:35.83
and for God to hear from heaven.
00:20:35.86\00:20:38.13
They got to turn.
00:20:38.17\00:20:39.50
What word did I
just say, everybody?
00:20:39.53\00:20:41.24
They've got to turn.
00:20:41.27\00:20:42.80
You can't keep going
in the same direction,
00:20:42.84\00:20:44.97
you cannot peel away
from the high patrolmen,
00:20:45.01\00:20:49.58
"See, officer,
thanks for letting me go."
00:20:49.61\00:20:52.45
This guy is nuts,
get him off the road.
00:20:52.48\00:20:56.69
He's not really repentant.
00:20:56.72\00:20:58.65
He's taken my grace for granted.
00:20:58.69\00:21:01.62
He has just spurned my mercy,
arrest him, he's dangerous,
00:21:01.66\00:21:07.03
he shouldn't be on the highway
00:21:07.06\00:21:09.23
'cause he
really hasn't repented,
00:21:09.26\00:21:10.70
he just said sorry and
went, and you know I...
00:21:10.73\00:21:15.17
That's why whenever I
have been pulled over before,
00:21:15.20\00:21:19.41
I drive away ever so
humbly, humble themselves.
00:21:19.44\00:21:24.35
"You say everything
perfectly?" "Yes, officer."
00:21:24.38\00:21:27.62
"Were you speeding?"
00:21:27.65\00:21:30.05
"Yes."
00:21:30.09\00:21:32.75
That's not a moment to joke
00:21:32.79\00:21:34.62
because especially
in the world today,
00:21:34.66\00:21:36.56
am I right?
00:21:36.59\00:21:37.93
There's a different world today,
00:21:37.96\00:21:39.29
quite a different world today.
00:21:39.33\00:21:41.73
But when you turn
00:21:41.76\00:21:44.33
and then not only when you turn,
00:21:44.37\00:21:46.74
but I want to go and emphasize,
00:21:46.77\00:21:48.20
when you do what
is lawful and right,
00:21:48.24\00:21:52.64
you have to now be
aligned with God's law again.
00:21:52.67\00:21:56.11
You've got to live a right life.
00:21:56.14\00:21:59.21
And when you look at
the lives of the kings,
00:21:59.25\00:22:00.82
when you look at
the lives of those
00:22:00.85\00:22:02.18
who had been blessed by God,
00:22:02.22\00:22:03.55
the Bible says
they did what was right
00:22:03.59\00:22:07.52
in the sight of the Lord.
00:22:07.56\00:22:10.93
They didn't care whether or not
anybody else was around or not,
00:22:10.96\00:22:13.40
they did what was right
in the sight of the Lord.
00:22:13.43\00:22:16.93
When you do what's right
in the sight of the Lord,
00:22:16.97\00:22:19.03
then you're doing what's right.
00:22:19.07\00:22:22.30
Amen.
00:22:22.34\00:22:24.87
The eyes of the Lord roam
to and fro through the earth
00:22:24.91\00:22:27.51
to show Himself strong
00:22:27.54\00:22:28.91
in behalf of those
whose heart is loyal to Him.
00:22:28.94\00:22:32.58
He'll show Himself strong
if your heart is loyal to Him,
00:22:32.61\00:22:34.82
but He's looking.
00:22:34.85\00:22:37.35
Let's look at the next text.
00:22:37.39\00:22:38.72
Ezekiel 18:28, here it is.
00:22:38.75\00:22:44.09
Ezekiel 18:28.
00:22:44.13\00:22:45.76
The Bible says, "Because..."
00:22:45.79\00:22:47.66
This is now the sinner,
"Because he considers, "
00:22:47.70\00:22:50.57
he thinks about it,
"and turns away from, "
00:22:50.60\00:22:53.40
how many of his transgressions?
00:22:53.44\00:22:55.57
"All the transgressions
which he committed, "
00:22:55.60\00:22:58.97
what does the Bible say,
look at the promise of God,
00:22:59.01\00:23:01.58
"he shall surely
live he shall not die."
00:23:01.61\00:23:05.31
Amen.
00:23:05.35\00:23:06.85
I mean that's encouraging
news when he considers.
00:23:06.88\00:23:11.49
You know the word there
considers in the Hebrew,
00:23:11.52\00:23:13.25
when he considers,
when he stops and thinks.
00:23:13.29\00:23:16.06
When he says,
00:23:16.09\00:23:19.03
like David said,
00:23:19.06\00:23:21.46
"My sin is ever before
me, " he thought about it.
00:23:21.50\00:23:25.23
He thought about
what he had done.
00:23:25.27\00:23:27.17
He didn't just say, "Well, okay,
00:23:27.20\00:23:28.54
yeah, I did it, forgive me."
00:23:28.57\00:23:30.51
He didn't, he was not
light hearted about it,
00:23:30.54\00:23:32.91
he thought about
it, "What did I do?
00:23:32.94\00:23:35.21
Did I do that?"
00:23:35.24\00:23:37.28
And he repented and he turned
from all his transgressions,
00:23:37.31\00:23:41.08
and then the Bible
says, "He shall surely live,
00:23:41.12\00:23:43.62
he shall not die."
00:23:43.65\00:23:44.99
That's a praise God right there.
00:23:45.02\00:23:46.72
He shall surely
live, He shall not die.
00:23:46.76\00:23:50.19
You know when you
think about God's mercy,
00:23:50.23\00:23:52.49
God could have...
00:23:52.53\00:23:53.86
And I need to say,
00:23:53.90\00:23:55.23
God could have
gotten rid of him.
00:23:55.26\00:23:57.57
Let me make it personal.
00:23:57.60\00:23:58.93
God could have gotten
rid of me a long time ago.
00:23:58.97\00:24:02.27
Anybody else feel the same?
00:24:02.30\00:24:05.11
God could have gotten
rid of any one of us a long,
00:24:05.14\00:24:08.18
long time ago.
00:24:08.21\00:24:10.08
But thank God
00:24:10.11\00:24:13.78
that His rope of mercy
00:24:13.82\00:24:15.42
is a lot longer than ours,
00:24:15.45\00:24:20.59
because some
people say, "No, no, no."
00:24:20.62\00:24:22.26
Okay, now, like
Peter tried to be nice
00:24:22.29\00:24:26.46
how many times shall
we forgive our brother?
00:24:26.49\00:24:31.50
Seven times.
00:24:31.53\00:24:32.87
Oh, he said, "No?"
00:24:32.90\00:24:34.24
Seventy times seven.
00:24:34.27\00:24:37.27
And you know what the
key is to that passages,
00:24:37.31\00:24:39.77
if he repents
forgive him, if he sins,
00:24:39.81\00:24:43.55
if you repent forgive him,
00:24:43.58\00:24:45.28
that was the
key to that passage.
00:24:45.31\00:24:46.98
if he repents, forgive him.
00:24:47.02\00:24:48.88
Somebody might say,
00:24:51.95\00:24:53.29
"Well, how do you
know he repented?"
00:24:53.32\00:24:54.66
Let's go to 1 Corinthians.
00:24:58.39\00:24:59.73
You guys looked at
me like you were hungry.
00:25:02.43\00:25:05.37
2 Corinthians.
00:25:05.40\00:25:08.80
I can't give you the
answer, let the Bible speak.
00:25:08.84\00:25:13.34
2 Corinthians.
00:25:13.38\00:25:15.44
This was in one of
our past questions,
00:25:15.48\00:25:18.75
but it fits right here again.
00:25:18.78\00:25:20.68
2 Corinthians
7. 2 Corinthians 7.
00:25:20.72\00:25:26.52
One of the reasons why
this topic is so important
00:25:26.55\00:25:28.92
is because it's so easy
as Christians to get locked
00:25:28.96\00:25:31.63
into Christian activity
without really considering
00:25:31.66\00:25:34.56
what kind of life we live.
00:25:34.60\00:25:36.80
We could do our daily
does in our Bible study
00:25:36.83\00:25:38.63
our devotion, we could
00:25:38.67\00:25:40.14
come to church, sing our songs,
00:25:40.17\00:25:42.57
study our Sabbath school lesson,
00:25:42.60\00:25:44.24
and we can go around
like a dispenser machine,
00:25:44.27\00:25:47.58
put a chord in and
Christianity comes out,
00:25:47.61\00:25:49.11
put another chord and a
Christian song comes out,
00:25:49.14\00:25:51.05
put another chord
00:25:51.08\00:25:52.41
and your Sabbath
school lesson comes out.
00:25:52.45\00:25:53.78
It's in there,
we show up at church
00:25:53.82\00:25:55.15
because we have to be
as the Sabbath is true,
00:25:55.18\00:25:56.65
we don't want to
violate the Sabbath,
00:25:56.69\00:25:58.02
we want to be here and
honor the Fourth Commandment,
00:25:58.05\00:26:00.06
and we do all the things
00:26:00.09\00:26:01.42
that are in our
dispenser machine.
00:26:01.46\00:26:02.79
But sometimes tradition
can become the roadblock
00:26:07.06\00:26:10.03
to conversion.
00:26:10.07\00:26:12.03
Sometimes habits can
be so ingrained in us
00:26:12.07\00:26:16.47
that we are involved
in many wonderful works.
00:26:16.50\00:26:21.28
Mathew 7:21-23 and
the Lord is saying,
00:26:21.31\00:26:24.11
"I don't even know who you are."
00:26:24.15\00:26:26.11
Let's look at how can we know.
00:26:26.15\00:26:27.62
This is beautiful.
00:26:27.65\00:26:28.98
2 Corinthians 7:9, are we there?
00:26:29.02\00:26:32.32
Nine and 10.
00:26:32.35\00:26:33.69
Look at this.
00:26:33.72\00:26:35.06
"And Paul the Apostle,"
00:26:35.09\00:26:36.66
speaking to the
Corinthians he had to ingrain
00:26:36.69\00:26:40.46
in this multicultural church
that had so many traditions,
00:26:40.50\00:26:44.40
so many beliefs,
so many practices
00:26:44.43\00:26:46.07
that were intermingled
00:26:46.10\00:26:47.44
in their traditional background.
00:26:47.47\00:26:48.90
He had to help them understand
the difference between
00:26:48.94\00:26:51.27
salvation,
repentance, redemption.
00:26:51.31\00:26:54.44
It was a constant challenge
to the Corinthian experience.
00:26:54.48\00:26:58.31
So now look at verse 9,
he says, "Now I rejoice,
00:26:58.35\00:27:03.15
not that you were made sorry,
00:27:03.18\00:27:06.15
because a lot of
people could be sorry,
00:27:06.19\00:27:08.29
but that your
sorrow led to," what?
00:27:08.32\00:27:11.39
Come on, say it, led to what?
00:27:11.43\00:27:13.09
"Repentance, for you
were made sorrow in a," what?
00:27:13.13\00:27:17.43
"Godly manner, and
look at the blessing
00:27:17.47\00:27:21.44
that you might suffer a
loss from us and nothing."
00:27:21.47\00:27:24.81
See when a person repents,
see God can pull the rug
00:27:24.84\00:27:28.21
from under us at any moment.
00:27:28.24\00:27:31.21
But when a person repents,
the Lord restores and puts back
00:27:31.25\00:27:35.02
what they could have lost
00:27:35.05\00:27:36.38
and they suffer
loss and nothing,
00:27:36.42\00:27:38.02
but look at verse 10.
00:27:38.05\00:27:39.72
Look at verse 10
00:27:39.75\00:27:41.09
which fits into
where we're headed."
00:27:41.12\00:27:42.89
For godly
sorrow produces," what?
00:27:42.92\00:27:45.89
"Repentance, leading to," what?
00:27:45.93\00:27:48.13
"Salvation, not to be
regretted when you really repent
00:27:48.16\00:27:52.70
and salvation
is restored to you,
00:27:52.73\00:27:55.44
you don't regret that."
00:27:55.47\00:27:57.97
But the sorrow of
the world produces death.
00:27:58.01\00:28:00.61
The difference between
the sorrow of the world
00:28:00.64\00:28:03.24
and the sorrow of the Christian
00:28:03.28\00:28:04.61
is the difference between Judas.
00:28:04.65\00:28:07.62
Well, Judas
actually never repented.
00:28:07.65\00:28:10.52
But he threw the
money back like to say,
00:28:10.55\00:28:13.25
"I didn't want to do that."
00:28:13.29\00:28:15.42
And the repentance of Peter.
00:28:15.46\00:28:18.39
And Peter, the Lord
said, "When you are converted,
00:28:18.43\00:28:23.10
strengthen the brethren."
00:28:23.13\00:28:24.83
Peter didn't just
repent, but he was converted.
00:28:24.87\00:28:28.80
He was what?
00:28:28.84\00:28:30.17
Converted.
00:28:30.21\00:28:31.54
Okay, now let's go to the...
00:28:31.57\00:28:32.91
Where we're number 26?
00:28:32.94\00:28:34.81
Number 26, let's go there.
00:28:34.84\00:28:36.71
Repentance, so often
00:28:36.75\00:28:40.98
we become acclimated
to a community of worship
00:28:41.02\00:28:43.92
because we like what they teach,
00:28:43.95\00:28:45.29
we want to check out
and see whether or not
00:28:45.32\00:28:46.65
it's in
accordance with the Bible,
00:28:46.69\00:28:48.02
and when it's in
accordance with the Bible,
00:28:48.06\00:28:49.39
we say great,
everything you've told me,
00:28:49.42\00:28:51.46
I could find it in Scripture,
it's true, I cannot refute it,
00:28:51.49\00:28:54.73
and then we become academically
acclimated to religion
00:28:54.76\00:28:58.13
rather than
converted and repentant.
00:28:58.17\00:29:01.10
We join a church.
00:29:01.14\00:29:02.90
But the problem with that
is if we're not converted,
00:29:02.94\00:29:07.58
then we haven't put down roots.
00:29:07.61\00:29:10.55
Because if you
don't put down roots,
00:29:10.58\00:29:12.41
you don't get fruits.
00:29:12.45\00:29:13.78
Am I right?
00:29:13.82\00:29:16.02
How can you put forth
fruits worthy of repentance
00:29:16.05\00:29:18.82
unless you put down roots?
00:29:18.85\00:29:21.99
If you don't have any roots,
you'll never have any fruits.
00:29:22.02\00:29:24.93
And so a lot of people
are members of a congregation
00:29:24.96\00:29:28.50
until something
better comes along
00:29:28.53\00:29:30.87
or until something comes along
00:29:30.90\00:29:34.70
and blows them away
in a particular trial
00:29:34.74\00:29:37.01
or the cares of this life,
00:29:37.04\00:29:38.47
and because the
Bible says in Matthew 13
00:29:38.51\00:29:40.08
because they have no
roots, they cannot endure.
00:29:40.11\00:29:44.91
But if you have roots,
00:29:44.95\00:29:47.35
or more specifically if
you have a foundation...
00:29:47.38\00:29:50.59
The roots is Christ,
the foundation is Christ.
00:29:50.62\00:29:53.22
If you've got roots,
00:29:53.25\00:29:55.96
then the wind is going to
blow, your tree might bend,
00:29:55.99\00:29:58.33
but when the weather's
passed, you'll still be there.
00:29:58.36\00:30:02.16
And that's why you
cannot gauge your salvation
00:30:02.20\00:30:04.90
based on whether you feel
good, or whether you feel bad,
00:30:04.93\00:30:06.90
or whether somebody
did something to you,
00:30:06.94\00:30:08.27
or whether they
didn't do it to you
00:30:08.30\00:30:09.67
because we have
to endure many trials
00:30:09.70\00:30:12.01
before we make
it to the kingdom.
00:30:12.04\00:30:13.38
Isn't that right?
00:30:13.41\00:30:14.74
We will go
through much tribulation.
00:30:14.78\00:30:17.98
Number 26, here's the question.
00:30:18.01\00:30:20.22
How best can the experience
of repentance be described?
00:30:20.25\00:30:24.05
How best
00:30:24.09\00:30:25.42
can the experience of
repentance be described?
00:30:25.45\00:30:29.02
Oh, this is beautiful.
00:30:29.06\00:30:32.53
Because, remember,
we just read leading...
00:30:32.56\00:30:36.70
I'll touch that passage again,
00:30:36.73\00:30:39.57
"For godly sorrow produces
00:30:39.60\00:30:41.00
repentance leading to salvation"
00:30:41.04\00:30:43.10
that was 2 Corinthians 7:10,
but look at the answer here.
00:30:43.14\00:30:47.01
Psalm 23:3,
00:30:47.04\00:30:48.64
how best can the experience
of repentance be described?
00:30:48.68\00:30:52.75
Look at what the psalmist says.
00:30:52.78\00:30:56.48
This is so beautiful.
00:30:56.52\00:30:59.62
"He" together "restores my soul,
00:30:59.65\00:31:04.53
He leads me in paths
of righteousness for" who?
00:31:04.56\00:31:10.03
"His name's sake."
00:31:10.07\00:31:11.80
Somebody else is leading.
00:31:11.83\00:31:13.47
What I want to point out
and I've said this before
00:31:13.50\00:31:15.54
and it fits right here.
00:31:15.57\00:31:17.67
We are being led by someone.
00:31:17.71\00:31:19.71
We are never
behind the steering wheel.
00:31:22.74\00:31:26.38
We yield to one
drive or the other.
00:31:26.41\00:31:28.68
We are never
behind the steering wheel.
00:31:31.19\00:31:33.56
Sometimes we
think we're behind...
00:31:33.59\00:31:35.62
I've heard people
say, "This is my life.
00:31:35.66\00:31:39.23
I'm going to do
what I want to do."
00:31:39.26\00:31:40.60
No, you just yield
to a different driver.
00:31:40.63\00:31:43.87
We are never in charge.
00:31:43.90\00:31:45.23
Romans 6:16, let's
look at this verse,
00:31:45.27\00:31:48.47
we are never in charge.
00:31:48.50\00:31:49.87
When the Lord is in
charge, He's restoring us,
00:31:49.90\00:31:53.14
He's leading us in
the path of righteousness.
00:31:53.17\00:31:55.71
Somebody is always leading.
00:31:55.74\00:31:57.48
Let's look at
Romans 6:16 very quickly.
00:31:57.51\00:31:59.75
Somebody is always leading.
00:31:59.78\00:32:03.49
I have over the last
year the Lord has given me
00:32:03.52\00:32:06.65
three passages in
the Bible that I believe
00:32:06.69\00:32:08.69
can be the crux
of every experience.
00:32:08.72\00:32:11.49
Roman 6:16 is one,
00:32:11.53\00:32:12.93
Roman 7:17 and Galatians 2:20.
00:32:12.96\00:32:15.23
Those are the three passages
that will entirely experience
00:32:15.26\00:32:18.87
that will entirely
cover the full expanse
00:32:18.90\00:32:21.00
of whether or not
00:32:21.04\00:32:22.37
you're going to
be a solid Christian.
00:32:22.40\00:32:23.74
It will show you who's leading
00:32:23.77\00:32:25.11
and what the end
results are going to be.
00:32:25.14\00:32:26.51
Look at Romans 6:16,
00:32:26.54\00:32:28.01
and we're going to be building
on the word He leads me,
00:32:28.04\00:32:30.68
He does what?
00:32:30.71\00:32:32.41
He leads me. Now
let's see how it happens.
00:32:32.45\00:32:34.52
Let's see how
the leading happens.
00:32:34.55\00:32:36.52
Romans 6:16.
00:32:36.55\00:32:38.45
Do you not know that to
whom you present yourselves
00:32:38.49\00:32:41.82
slaves to obey,
00:32:41.86\00:32:45.46
"you are that one
slave whom you obey,
00:32:45.49\00:32:49.96
whether of sin," what?
00:32:50.00\00:32:53.40
"Leading to death
or of obedience," what?
00:32:53.44\00:32:56.24
"Leading to righteousness."
00:32:56.27\00:32:58.24
Somebody is leading.
00:32:58.27\00:33:00.78
When you yield to Christ,
00:33:00.81\00:33:02.84
it's obedience
leading to righteousness.
00:33:02.88\00:33:05.95
When you yield to sin,
00:33:05.98\00:33:08.38
it's
disobedience leading to death.
00:33:08.42\00:33:10.99
Somebody is always leading.
00:33:11.02\00:33:14.19
Matter of fact to
prove it's not you,
00:33:14.22\00:33:15.66
go to one more passage,
00:33:15.69\00:33:17.33
Romans 7:17.
00:33:17.36\00:33:19.76
These inserts are
right, very important.
00:33:19.79\00:33:21.86
And I thought to myself,
00:33:21.90\00:33:23.23
I'll be able to get
through all this tonight.
00:33:23.26\00:33:24.60
I might or might not,
00:33:24.63\00:33:25.97
but that's what the
next program is all about.
00:33:26.00\00:33:28.00
Let's try to move
on very carefully.
00:33:28.04\00:33:29.40
So why...
00:33:29.44\00:33:30.77
Is somebody always
leading, yes or no?
00:33:30.81\00:33:32.31
Yes.
00:33:32.34\00:33:33.68
You just yield one
direction or the other.
00:33:33.71\00:33:35.51
You go on this
plane or that plane,
00:33:35.54\00:33:37.78
but you never go into
the cockpit, all right.
00:33:37.81\00:33:41.52
They always say
before the plane leaves,
00:33:41.55\00:33:43.55
if your next
destination is not St Louis,
00:33:43.59\00:33:46.45
this is a good time
to get off the plane.
00:33:46.49\00:33:48.22
And whatever your destination
00:33:51.23\00:33:52.56
they checked
for the last moment,
00:33:52.59\00:33:53.93
that's why they look
at your ticket to see.
00:33:53.96\00:33:55.30
Look at Romans 7:17.
00:33:55.33\00:33:56.90
Somebody is always in charge.
00:33:56.93\00:34:00.30
Let's see what happens
when evil is coming out
00:34:00.34\00:34:02.84
what's in charge.
00:34:02.87\00:34:05.31
But now it is no
longer I, say those words,
00:34:05.34\00:34:08.61
"It is no longer I."
00:34:08.64\00:34:10.75
One more time,
"It is no longer I."
00:34:10.78\00:34:14.48
So who is it?
00:34:14.52\00:34:16.18
Not I.
00:34:16.22\00:34:17.55
Once you yield, it is
no longer you who do it.
00:34:17.59\00:34:21.82
But who's in charge?
00:34:21.86\00:34:23.22
But sin that dwells in me.
00:34:23.26\00:34:25.89
Once you yield and
Jesus is not the one leading,
00:34:25.93\00:34:30.93
your soul is not
going to be restored,
00:34:30.97\00:34:33.20
you will not be led
into paths of righteousness.
00:34:33.23\00:34:35.87
What's the opposite of
paths of righteousness?
00:34:35.90\00:34:38.14
Paths of what?
00:34:38.17\00:34:39.51
Unrighteousness.
00:34:39.54\00:34:41.41
And that's a daily choice.
00:34:41.44\00:34:43.31
That's a daily choice.
00:34:43.35\00:34:44.68
Your conversation,
your habits, your practices,
00:34:44.71\00:34:46.68
that's a daily choice.
00:34:46.72\00:34:48.05
This by the way is
Christianity one-on-one.
00:34:48.08\00:34:52.95
More important than prophecy
00:34:52.99\00:34:55.06
'cause you can understand
prophecy and still be lost.
00:34:55.09\00:34:58.53
You got to find out
every day who's leading.
00:34:58.56\00:35:00.36
If He's leading,
He's restoring you.
00:35:00.40\00:35:03.13
But if He's not leading,
00:35:03.16\00:35:04.50
you're being led in
paths of unrighteousness.
00:35:04.53\00:35:08.10
And I want to say it very...
00:35:08.14\00:35:09.47
I want to jar you
not for His name sake,
00:35:09.50\00:35:13.64
but for His name sake.
00:35:13.68\00:35:16.68
You're standing behind His name
00:35:16.71\00:35:20.32
rather than being
covered by His name.
00:35:20.35\00:35:23.25
Now our last one.
00:35:26.99\00:35:29.49
Our last one, Galatians 2:20.
00:35:29.52\00:35:31.56
Remember it is no longer I,
but when you yield to Christ,
00:35:31.59\00:35:35.36
come on hurry
up, Galatians 2:20.
00:35:35.40\00:35:37.57
Galatians 2:20.
00:35:37.60\00:35:38.93
See, Yannick is already there.
00:35:41.20\00:35:43.54
Yannick is already
there. Yannick is already there.
00:35:43.57\00:35:48.64
Here it is, Galatians 2:20.
00:35:48.68\00:35:51.48
Look at what happens
when you yield to Christ.
00:35:51.51\00:35:53.55
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
00:35:53.58\00:35:56.65
Galatians 2:20,
00:35:56.69\00:35:58.02
"I have been
crucified with Christ."
00:35:58.05\00:35:59.82
I have been what?
00:35:59.85\00:36:01.19
Crucified with Christ.
00:36:01.22\00:36:02.56
And here it is again
the same exact order.
00:36:02.59\00:36:05.06
It is no longer
I. It is no longer I.
00:36:05.09\00:36:09.76
Is it amazing that it's
exactly the same as Romans 7:17,
00:36:09.80\00:36:14.00
it is no longer I.
00:36:14.04\00:36:16.24
In Romans 7:17,
it is no longer I,
00:36:16.27\00:36:18.64
who do it, in Galatians 2:20,
00:36:18.67\00:36:21.11
it is no longer I who live.
00:36:21.14\00:36:24.71
Let's go on.
00:36:24.75\00:36:26.08
But Christ
00:36:26.11\00:36:29.52
lives in me.
00:36:29.55\00:36:31.32
In Romans 7:17.
00:36:31.35\00:36:33.09
But sin dwells in me.
00:36:33.12\00:36:35.66
Is it amazing
how the Apostle Paul
00:36:35.69\00:36:39.23
has by inspiration
lined up those two passages,
00:36:39.26\00:36:43.30
in sin it is no
longer I who do it,
00:36:43.33\00:36:46.00
sin is
completely taking control,
00:36:46.03\00:36:47.70
but sin that dwells in me,
but when we yield to Christ,
00:36:47.74\00:36:51.54
it is no longer I who live, why?
00:36:51.57\00:36:53.31
Because you've been crucified.
00:36:53.34\00:36:54.78
How can a dead man do anything?
00:36:54.81\00:36:57.15
It is no longer I who live,
but Christ who lives in me.
00:36:57.18\00:37:00.75
And so now all of a sudden
righteousness start showing up.
00:37:00.78\00:37:04.62
Let me ask you a question.
00:37:04.65\00:37:05.99
If the Lord is leading
where else will He lead you
00:37:06.02\00:37:08.12
except righteousness?
00:37:08.16\00:37:10.83
Nowhere else.
00:37:10.86\00:37:12.19
Look at the rest of the passage.
00:37:12.23\00:37:13.86
And now all of a sudden,
00:37:13.90\00:37:15.66
the old character
has been put to death
00:37:15.70\00:37:17.70
and notice what it says.
00:37:17.73\00:37:19.07
And the life which I now live.
00:37:19.10\00:37:22.30
It's amazing how
you get the credit,
00:37:22.34\00:37:23.94
the life which I now live,
00:37:23.97\00:37:27.04
I live by faith
in the Son of God
00:37:27.08\00:37:30.38
who loved me and did what?
00:37:30.41\00:37:32.35
Gave Himself for me.
00:37:32.38\00:37:34.32
And I just want to add
verse 21 because we often,
00:37:34.35\00:37:37.35
it kind of gets
left out by default.
00:37:37.39\00:37:40.02
"I do not set
aside the grace of God,
00:37:40.06\00:37:42.42
for if righteousness
comes through the law,
00:37:42.46\00:37:45.39
then Christ died in vain."
00:37:45.43\00:37:46.96
That means, if
I can kill a lamb,
00:37:47.00\00:37:49.03
or do a sacrifice,
00:37:49.06\00:37:50.40
or burnt offering
to make me righteous."
00:37:50.43\00:37:52.57
This is not speaking.
00:37:52.60\00:37:53.94
And by the way
righteousness doesn't come
00:37:53.97\00:37:56.14
through the commandments,
the Ten Commandments,
00:37:56.17\00:37:58.24
nor the ceremonial law.
00:37:58.27\00:37:59.81
Righteousness
comes through Christ.
00:37:59.84\00:38:02.31
The ceremonial law was
to lead us to understand
00:38:02.34\00:38:04.35
that Christ would
be the lamb sacrifice.
00:38:04.38\00:38:06.48
The Ten Commandments law
00:38:06.51\00:38:07.85
was the parameters
of our relationship
00:38:07.88\00:38:09.32
between God and man,
00:38:09.35\00:38:10.69
but neither one
of those can save us.
00:38:10.72\00:38:12.59
If the law could save
us, we wouldn't need Christ.
00:38:12.62\00:38:14.82
Am I right?
00:38:14.86\00:38:16.32
But the law shows
us that we need Christ.
00:38:16.36\00:38:19.79
And then after we accept Christ,
00:38:19.83\00:38:22.23
the law like a speed limit
00:38:22.26\00:38:23.80
after the police let me go says,
00:38:23.83\00:38:27.20
"You don't want to meet me again
00:38:27.24\00:38:30.37
on the bad circumstances."
00:38:30.41\00:38:33.27
Right?
00:38:33.31\00:38:34.64
We want to keep it right,
00:38:34.68\00:38:36.01
keep it real between
us and the police officer.
00:38:36.04\00:38:37.58
In other words, we
don't want to meet Christ,
00:38:37.61\00:38:40.18
we want to meet Him in peace.
00:38:40.22\00:38:41.75
Isn't that, right?
00:38:41.78\00:38:43.12
And that's why the law is there.
00:38:43.15\00:38:44.49
Keep the parameters.
00:38:44.52\00:38:45.85
And by the way He's the
one that works it out in us.
00:38:45.89\00:38:47.62
Go back to question
number 26 and the second part.
00:38:47.66\00:38:50.63
We went to 23 Psalm,
00:38:50.66\00:38:52.36
how best can the experience
of repentance be described?
00:38:52.39\00:38:55.10
Look at Psalm 51:12.
00:38:55.13\00:38:56.90
Psalm 51:12, first of
all He restores and notice
00:38:56.93\00:39:02.20
what He does.
00:39:02.24\00:39:03.64
Psalm 51:12.
00:39:03.67\00:39:05.01
Here's what the
Bible says, David asks,
00:39:05.04\00:39:07.41
"Restore to me the," what?
00:39:07.44\00:39:10.68
"Joy of Your salvation,
00:39:10.71\00:39:12.78
and uphold me by Your generous
00:39:12.81\00:39:15.68
or righteous Spirit."
00:39:15.72\00:39:17.59
Restore to me the
joy of your salvation.
00:39:17.62\00:39:20.19
I always wonder
00:39:20.22\00:39:23.89
when I see a Christian
00:39:23.93\00:39:26.39
that just can never
be happy about anything.
00:39:26.43\00:39:29.43
I always wonder
where are they focusing.
00:39:29.46\00:39:32.43
How could a worldly
and be so elated at times?
00:39:32.47\00:39:36.40
And a person that's
connected to Christ,
00:39:36.44\00:39:38.14
I mean, let's just
put the picture together.
00:39:38.17\00:39:40.28
They are on the plane
00:39:40.31\00:39:43.38
that Jesus bought the ticket
for them to get a seat to,
00:39:43.41\00:39:47.05
the next stop is heaven.
00:39:47.08\00:39:49.42
They don't have to
worry about food, amenities,
00:39:49.45\00:39:53.69
when it's turbulent Jesus said,
"That's okay, I'm the pilot."
00:39:53.72\00:39:56.56
Amen.
00:39:56.59\00:39:58.09
They can go to
the worst windstorm,
00:39:58.13\00:39:59.93
the worst wind shear,
00:39:59.96\00:40:01.56
He said, "Just stay on
board and when we land,
00:40:01.60\00:40:04.97
we'll be in glory."
00:40:05.00\00:40:08.90
And they're
looking out the window,
00:40:08.94\00:40:10.34
"I don't like it on here."
00:40:10.37\00:40:13.21
Where else you're going to go?
00:40:13.24\00:40:15.14
Peter made it very clear.
00:40:15.18\00:40:16.54
The Lord said, "Peter,
00:40:16.58\00:40:17.91
are you also going to leave Me?"
00:40:17.95\00:40:19.28
Peter said, "Where am I going?
00:40:19.31\00:40:20.65
This is the only
flight that's going to heaven.
00:40:20.68\00:40:22.58
I'm not getting off."
00:40:22.62\00:40:23.95
Amen.
00:40:23.99\00:40:25.32
Restore to me the, what?
00:40:25.35\00:40:26.69
Joy.
00:40:26.72\00:40:28.06
If we really understood
what God has gifted us with,
00:40:28.09\00:40:30.96
if we really understood
what Jesus has done for us,
00:40:30.99\00:40:33.56
there will be joy.
00:40:33.60\00:40:35.30
Because there is a joy
00:40:35.33\00:40:36.67
that the world cannot give to us
00:40:36.70\00:40:38.20
and the world
can't take it away.
00:40:38.23\00:40:41.37
That's right.
00:40:41.40\00:40:42.74
Cannot give it to
us, cannot take it away.
00:40:42.77\00:40:44.24
And then who is upholding us,
00:40:44.27\00:40:46.21
He restores us and
He upholds me by Your...
00:40:46.24\00:40:50.48
The word there is capitalized
by His generous Spirit.
00:40:50.51\00:40:53.21
Dan?
00:40:53.25\00:40:54.58
That will be the longest flight
any of us will have ever taken.
00:40:54.62\00:40:57.89
That's right.
00:40:57.92\00:40:59.62
Did you hear that?
00:40:59.65\00:41:00.99
That would be the longest flight
00:41:01.02\00:41:02.36
any of us would have ever taken,
00:41:02.39\00:41:03.73
but I tell you what?
00:41:03.76\00:41:05.09
No fuel on earth
could get us there.
00:41:05.13\00:41:07.86
Only by the
righteousness of Jesus.
00:41:07.90\00:41:09.66
Praise the Lord.
00:41:09.70\00:41:11.03
Thank you for that comment, Dan.
00:41:11.07\00:41:12.80
And we're not getting off,
00:41:12.83\00:41:14.74
I'm not getting
off in turbulence.
00:41:14.77\00:41:17.21
Here's another one, Psalm 85:4.
00:41:17.24\00:41:21.08
And by the way
the answers will be,
00:41:21.11\00:41:23.78
He leads me in the
path of righteousness,
00:41:23.81\00:41:26.65
He restores our joy
and then not only that,
00:41:26.68\00:41:30.55
Psalm 85:4.
00:41:30.59\00:41:32.95
Look at this,
00:41:32.99\00:41:34.32
"Restore us, O
God of our salvation,
00:41:34.36\00:41:38.63
and cause Your anger
toward us to do," what?
00:41:38.66\00:41:42.40
"Cease."
00:41:42.43\00:41:43.77
Oh, God's anger
doesn't last but for a moment.
00:41:43.80\00:41:48.87
But His favor lasts a lifetime.
00:41:48.90\00:41:52.97
Okay.
00:41:53.01\00:41:54.34
I heard you guys say amen.
00:41:54.38\00:41:55.71
I did hear somebody
in Australia say amen.
00:41:55.74\00:41:58.61
I didn't hear it here,
00:41:58.65\00:42:00.45
His anger last
for about a moment,
00:42:00.48\00:42:02.22
but His favor
last for a lifetime.
00:42:02.25\00:42:03.59
Amen.
00:42:03.62\00:42:04.95
That's huge. That's huge.
00:42:04.99\00:42:08.99
Are you still angry with me?
00:42:09.02\00:42:10.53
And Lord says, "Over what?
00:42:10.56\00:42:12.86
I forgave you of that.
And I threw it into the sea
00:42:12.89\00:42:16.50
and I put out a
no fishing sign."
00:42:16.53\00:42:18.47
Amen.
00:42:18.50\00:42:20.10
Isn't that wonderful?
00:42:20.14\00:42:21.67
He forgives us
and He restores us.
00:42:21.70\00:42:23.74
Beautiful, praise God for that.
00:42:23.77\00:42:25.81
But now we...
00:42:25.84\00:42:27.18
That's repentance now.
00:42:27.21\00:42:29.14
But now let's
go to a conversion.
00:42:29.18\00:42:31.91
Conversion.
00:42:31.95\00:42:33.72
Conversion. Where we going?
00:42:33.75\00:42:35.98
Conversion.
00:42:36.02\00:42:37.35
Question number 27.
00:42:37.39\00:42:38.72
He restores us
and His anger ceases.
00:42:38.75\00:42:42.86
Getting people angry
with us isn't a big deal,
00:42:42.89\00:42:45.19
but getting God angry
with you is a serious issue.
00:42:45.23\00:42:49.76
It's a very serious issue.
00:42:49.80\00:42:51.13
And the devil spends all
his time trying to get us
00:42:53.74\00:42:55.84
to do something
to get God's anger
00:42:55.87\00:42:58.17
rekindled against us.
00:42:58.21\00:43:00.31
Well, here's the
question number 27,
00:43:00.34\00:43:04.31
"What else besides
repentance does the Bible
00:43:04.35\00:43:08.48
prescribe for a changed life?"
00:43:08.52\00:43:11.72
What else besides
repentance does the Bible
00:43:11.75\00:43:15.72
prescribe for a changed life?
00:43:15.76\00:43:21.03
We're going to go to a passage
that we visited a long time ago
00:43:21.06\00:43:25.40
because it had two parts
to it, it had two parts to it.
00:43:25.43\00:43:29.10
Acts 3:19.
00:43:29.14\00:43:31.84
And by the way this passage
00:43:31.87\00:43:36.04
is proclaimed by
00:43:36.08\00:43:41.35
an apostle who
knows what it means.
00:43:41.38\00:43:46.72
All right, this is
Peter's second sermon
00:43:46.76\00:43:52.39
after he experienced
what he talked about.
00:43:52.43\00:43:56.10
Here it is.
00:43:56.13\00:43:58.70
Peter said,
"Repent therefore and be"
00:43:58.73\00:44:02.37
together "converted
00:44:02.40\00:44:05.61
that your sins
may be blotted out,
00:44:05.64\00:44:08.48
so that times of
refreshing may come
00:44:08.51\00:44:11.31
from the presence of the Lord."
00:44:11.35\00:44:12.98
Now let me show you
how important it is,
00:44:13.01\00:44:14.78
how important conversion is.
00:44:14.82\00:44:16.62
Let's go back
to the chart again.
00:44:16.65\00:44:18.12
We have the law of
God, we have sinned.
00:44:18.15\00:44:20.32
How many of us have sinned?
00:44:20.36\00:44:21.72
All of us have sinned.
00:44:21.76\00:44:23.09
Now when you sin, you often say,
00:44:23.12\00:44:25.06
I'm sorry or then
you go to the next level,
00:44:25.09\00:44:27.16
you confess and is
God faithful and just?
00:44:27.20\00:44:30.10
What does He do?
00:44:30.13\00:44:31.47
Forgive you, but you
haven't repented yet.
00:44:31.50\00:44:34.54
If you repent,
00:44:34.57\00:44:35.90
then the door of
salvation is opening for you.
00:44:35.94\00:44:38.57
Repentance is the first step,
00:44:38.61\00:44:40.88
but the sin is still there.
00:44:40.91\00:44:43.95
Did you get that?
00:44:43.98\00:44:47.95
But when you're converted
something happens to the sin.
00:44:47.98\00:44:53.66
Look at the text again.
00:44:53.69\00:44:55.99
"Repent
therefore and be," what?"
00:44:56.02\00:44:58.43
Converted that
your sins may be," what?
00:44:58.46\00:45:03.30
"Blotted out."
00:45:03.33\00:45:06.20
Repentance,
00:45:06.23\00:45:08.20
then conversion.
00:45:08.24\00:45:10.21
When the conversion comes in...
00:45:10.24\00:45:14.21
When the conversion
comes, the Lord say, okay, now,
00:45:14.24\00:45:19.31
your sin will be blotted out.
00:45:19.35\00:45:22.05
It's one thing
and when you study
00:45:22.08\00:45:23.42
the sanctuary
services, it was huge.
00:45:23.45\00:45:25.35
In sanctuary services,
00:45:25.39\00:45:26.72
there was
sacrifices made every day.
00:45:26.76\00:45:28.09
But the sins were transferred,
00:45:28.12\00:45:29.59
but once a year the
sins were blotted out.
00:45:29.62\00:45:32.19
When the Day of
Atonement services convened,
00:45:32.23\00:45:34.73
at the end of that day,
00:45:34.76\00:45:36.10
everyone who had confessed
their sins and repented,
00:45:36.13\00:45:38.90
their sin was blotted out.
00:45:38.93\00:45:40.70
And they were
guiltless before the Lord.
00:45:40.74\00:45:43.44
They were not the
same that they were before,
00:45:43.47\00:45:45.41
conversion took place.
00:45:45.44\00:45:46.81
But if they only repented
00:45:50.15\00:45:52.35
and didn't provide
provision for their sins
00:45:52.38\00:45:56.75
to be removed,
00:45:56.79\00:45:59.05
they were not converted
and their sin remained.
00:45:59.09\00:46:02.76
Conversion is a powerful thing.
00:46:02.79\00:46:05.19
Conversion is...
00:46:05.23\00:46:08.56
I don't want to give a hint.
00:46:08.60\00:46:10.17
Conversion...
00:46:15.07\00:46:17.37
I'm gonna let
the rest of it today.
00:46:17.41\00:46:18.74
I don't want to give a hint
'cause I'm planning a message.
00:46:18.77\00:46:22.58
But conversion is huge.
00:46:22.61\00:46:26.61
It is the step that says,
"Yes, you didn't just repent,
00:46:26.65\00:46:31.72
but you have taken a
different direction."
00:46:31.75\00:46:34.99
And when you look at the
word conversion, you might say,
00:46:35.02\00:46:36.93
"Well, if I typed the
word converted in the Bible,
00:46:36.96\00:46:39.53
you'll only find
about four references
00:46:39.56\00:46:41.70
or five references.
00:46:41.73\00:46:44.43
But what you'll find in
the Hebrew and the Greek
00:46:44.47\00:46:46.53
are other words turn, turn
that they should turn and live,
00:46:46.57\00:46:52.31
conversion, repentances,
00:46:52.34\00:46:54.38
a deepening sorrow for that sin,
00:46:54.41\00:46:56.75
that repentance,
that godly sorrow
00:46:56.78\00:46:59.45
that leads to repentance
00:46:59.48\00:47:00.82
and repentance
lead to salvation,
00:47:00.85\00:47:02.35
it opens the door to salvation.
00:47:02.38\00:47:04.45
And then the conversion
comes from that changed heart
00:47:04.49\00:47:07.72
and that changed life.
00:47:07.76\00:47:09.09
Acts 3:19.
00:47:09.12\00:47:10.49
So the question is
what else beside repentance
00:47:10.53\00:47:13.73
does the Bible
prescribe for a changed life?
00:47:13.76\00:47:16.03
What does it prescribe?
What's the word there?
00:47:16.06\00:47:18.90
Write it down, what is it?
00:47:18.93\00:47:21.20
Conversion.
00:47:21.24\00:47:22.57
Got to be converted.
00:47:22.60\00:47:23.94
And, you know, I'm
going to ask a question,
00:47:26.07\00:47:29.11
be careful how you answer it.
00:47:29.14\00:47:32.48
Was Jesus ever converted?
00:47:32.51\00:47:34.02
No.
00:47:37.99\00:47:40.46
Yes or no? No.
00:47:40.49\00:47:42.22
I'm glad you guys are
awake because He didn't sin.
00:47:42.26\00:47:44.99
Amen. Amen.
00:47:45.03\00:47:46.39
Okay, so I won't even
take it any further than that.
00:47:46.43\00:47:49.73
That's why His
righteousness is imputed to us.
00:47:49.76\00:47:52.30
He didn't need to be
converted, He never sinned.
00:47:52.33\00:47:54.90
He took our sin.
00:47:54.94\00:47:57.47
But He was not a sinner.
00:47:57.51\00:47:59.61
He bore our sin, but
He didn't become a sinner,
00:47:59.64\00:48:04.78
He became sin.
00:48:04.81\00:48:06.21
Now this is huge.
00:48:06.25\00:48:07.68
He didn't become a
sinner, He became sin.
00:48:07.72\00:48:09.95
That's right.
00:48:09.98\00:48:11.32
He didn't become a
sinner, He became sin.
00:48:11.35\00:48:13.42
That means He took on
the very nature of Adam,
00:48:13.46\00:48:16.62
that fallen character,
took it to the cross as it were,
00:48:16.66\00:48:21.76
hung up there with
it as it were, died,
00:48:21.80\00:48:26.23
and left it in the
tomb, and came out glorified.
00:48:26.27\00:48:30.04
Amen.
00:48:30.07\00:48:31.41
He didn't become a
sinner, He became sin for us.
00:48:31.44\00:48:34.34
He took on that fallen nature,
00:48:34.38\00:48:37.11
but that fallen
nature never made Him fall.
00:48:37.15\00:48:42.18
That's huge.
00:48:42.22\00:48:43.55
I mean, if I
look back at my book
00:48:43.59\00:48:46.42
or how many times I felt.
00:48:46.45\00:48:47.79
Come on, let's look at
our book when we go home.
00:48:47.82\00:48:49.22
How many times have I
fallen since I've been born.
00:48:49.26\00:48:52.43
I'd be counting like
one, two, three, four...
00:48:52.46\00:48:57.80
I can't come out
until I'm done counting,
00:48:57.83\00:48:59.83
I have weeks to go.
00:48:59.87\00:49:01.60
But He never fell.
00:49:01.64\00:49:05.54
Praise God.
00:49:05.57\00:49:07.38
He never fell.
00:49:07.41\00:49:09.58
Never fell.
00:49:09.61\00:49:10.95
Had He fallen in thought,
or action, or word, or deed,
00:49:10.98\00:49:13.31
we would be, this Bible
study wouldn't be necessary
00:49:13.35\00:49:17.22
'cause we won't
be going anywhere.
00:49:17.25\00:49:19.32
The devil will have is...
00:49:19.35\00:49:21.16
Anyway, let's not
even think about that.
00:49:21.19\00:49:23.06
Let's just rejoice
that He never fell.
00:49:23.09\00:49:24.76
Praise God for that.
00:49:24.79\00:49:26.36
So conversion is what is,
00:49:26.39\00:49:29.10
beside repentance
there needs to be conversion.
00:49:29.13\00:49:31.83
I have not heard and I'm just...
00:49:31.87\00:49:37.34
I wish I could turn on TV
and hear these TV preachers
00:49:37.37\00:49:41.24
that are talking about,
"It's your time, it's your day,
00:49:41.28\00:49:44.08
see that you just
you're going to blossom into
00:49:44.11\00:49:46.25
a thousand blessings,
00:49:46.28\00:49:47.78
you're going to
be like a butterfly
00:49:47.82\00:49:49.22
and your wings going to be open,
00:49:49.25\00:49:50.59
and your ship is coming in."
00:49:50.62\00:49:53.62
Jesus is not bringing ships in,
00:49:53.66\00:49:55.82
He wants to
bring His character in.
00:49:55.86\00:49:59.33
But so many people are
looking for ships to come in
00:49:59.36\00:50:01.00
that they never send out.
00:50:01.03\00:50:04.53
"Conversion,"
00:50:04.57\00:50:05.90
without that you could do
all the work that you want to,
00:50:05.93\00:50:08.60
but Jesus will
say, "I never knew you."
00:50:08.64\00:50:10.81
Look at number 28.
00:50:10.84\00:50:12.64
We're moving right
along, I think we might
00:50:12.67\00:50:14.58
be blessed tonight if we
get any farther than that.
00:50:14.61\00:50:16.51
Number 28.
00:50:16.54\00:50:17.88
Here's the question,
00:50:17.91\00:50:19.25
"How important is the
need for a converted life?"
00:50:19.28\00:50:24.92
How important is the
need for a converted life?
00:50:24.95\00:50:28.99
Now we answer with a question,
00:50:29.02\00:50:30.56
well, the answer
a very important.
00:50:30.59\00:50:32.69
But let's see what
Matthew 18:3 tells us tonight.
00:50:32.73\00:50:37.03
Matthew 18:3.
00:50:37.07\00:50:39.37
Go in there.
00:50:39.40\00:50:40.74
Turn in there.
00:50:40.77\00:50:42.10
Matthew 18:3.
00:50:42.14\00:50:43.67
Okay, the Word of the
Lord tells us the following.
00:50:48.44\00:50:52.18
"Assuredly, or surely, or
most assuredly I say to you,
00:50:55.22\00:51:00.46
for certain I say to
you, unless you are," what?
00:51:00.49\00:51:04.63
"Converted and become as," what?
00:51:04.66\00:51:07.26
"Little children,
you will by no means
00:51:07.30\00:51:13.23
enter the kingdom of heaven."
00:51:13.27\00:51:16.07
Is that a left hook?
00:51:16.10\00:51:17.51
Like he said
where are you going?
00:51:22.04\00:51:25.25
Yannick, where are you going?
00:51:25.28\00:51:26.78
Ronnie, where are you going?
00:51:26.82\00:51:28.88
Pastor John,
where are you going?
00:51:28.92\00:51:30.49
You better be converted.
00:51:30.52\00:51:31.85
Because you
ain't getting in here.
00:51:35.99\00:51:38.96
We are not getting in
doing what the devil did
00:51:38.99\00:51:42.43
to get kicked out.
00:51:42.46\00:51:44.23
Am I right
00:51:44.27\00:51:45.67
You're not going,
00:51:45.70\00:51:47.04
there is no little corner where
the lights are going to be dark
00:51:47.07\00:51:50.47
and the music is
going to be hopping.
00:51:50.51\00:51:52.77
There's no corner where our
vice is going to be practiced.
00:51:52.81\00:51:55.88
And you know why He says
and become as little children
00:51:55.91\00:51:59.28
I looked at that today
and my mind just thought,
00:51:59.31\00:52:02.55
"Lord, I want to be
like a little child,"
00:52:02.58\00:52:05.75
because you know what?
00:52:05.79\00:52:07.12
When I read that,
the commentary says,
00:52:07.16\00:52:09.06
"Children keeps no
record of wrongs done to them."
00:52:09.09\00:52:13.40
Little kids, you know,
they get on the playground
00:52:16.30\00:52:18.53
they do stupid things.
00:52:18.57\00:52:19.90
You say, "Say sorry.
00:52:19.93\00:52:21.34
Okay, let's go play."
00:52:21.37\00:52:22.70
And they run like they go
00:52:22.74\00:52:24.07
and dive in the
dirt together again.
00:52:24.11\00:52:27.41
As long as you don't
make a big deal out of it,
00:52:27.44\00:52:28.81
they're not gonna
make a big deal out of it.
00:52:28.84\00:52:30.21
You know, he hit
me, he hit me too.
00:52:30.25\00:52:32.55
"Say sorry."
00:52:32.58\00:52:33.92
I'll use, I'm
sorry let's go play.
00:52:33.95\00:52:36.42
Well, adults like, I
ain't talking to her.
00:52:36.45\00:52:39.65
I will not talk to you
for the rest of your life.
00:52:39.69\00:52:43.56
You know why?
00:52:43.59\00:52:44.93
'Cause we are in the way.
00:52:44.96\00:52:47.10
Am I right?
00:52:47.13\00:52:48.46
And then we say unto you,
00:52:48.50\00:52:49.90
I'm never gonna forget
00:52:49.93\00:52:51.27
what you did 20
years ago like, uh-huh.
00:52:51.30\00:52:55.60
And then your
name get mentioned,
00:52:55.64\00:52:57.37
they say I can tell
you some stuff about him
00:52:57.41\00:53:01.11
or her, or them, or that church.
00:53:01.14\00:53:04.81
But the Lord, children
keep no records of wrong deeds
00:53:04.85\00:53:10.09
done to them.
00:53:10.12\00:53:13.76
Become like little children.
00:53:13.79\00:53:15.79
And the other thing you say to,
an adult say, "Let's go, kids."
00:53:15.82\00:53:20.20
"Okay, we're coming."
00:53:20.23\00:53:21.66
Jesus said, "Follow me."
00:53:21.70\00:53:23.03
You say, "Why?"
00:53:23.06\00:53:25.93
Jesus say, "Come unto me all you
00:53:25.97\00:53:27.47
who are weary and heavy laden."
00:53:27.50\00:53:28.90
And adults say, "What
do I have to give up?"
00:53:28.94\00:53:31.54
Kids say, "I'm coming."
00:53:31.57\00:53:34.11
We've got all these conditions
and what we don't know
00:53:34.14\00:53:37.18
is the best is yet to come.
00:53:37.21\00:53:39.78
And the Lord said,
00:53:39.81\00:53:41.45
"You don't even
know where you're going,
00:53:41.48\00:53:42.82
all you need to know
00:53:42.85\00:53:44.19
is you ain't seen
nothing yet, right?"
00:53:44.22\00:53:48.02
So when I read
that, I said, like,
00:53:48.06\00:53:49.89
become as little children,
00:53:49.92\00:53:51.26
and then if you don't
become, see conversion is okay,
00:53:51.29\00:53:55.43
but He didn't say it,
going out like hardheaded adults
00:53:55.46\00:53:58.43
become as little children.
00:53:58.47\00:53:59.80
The little children part
00:53:59.83\00:54:01.17
is as important
as the converted part
00:54:01.20\00:54:03.54
because if you
don't be converted
00:54:03.57\00:54:05.57
and become as little
children, you ain't getting in.
00:54:05.61\00:54:10.05
I heard a man once in court.
00:54:10.08\00:54:12.41
I said the story
before, now it fits.
00:54:12.45\00:54:15.58
The woman that was
on trial killed his wife
00:54:15.62\00:54:20.46
I don't
remember all the details,
00:54:20.49\00:54:22.36
but in the court the gentleman
00:54:22.39\00:54:24.86
while the woman
was being sentence.
00:54:24.89\00:54:27.86
You know family
members could stand up
00:54:27.90\00:54:29.23
and say something,
00:54:29.26\00:54:30.60
and he turned to the
lady who is being sentenced,
00:54:30.63\00:54:32.00
and he said to her, "I
can't wait till you die
00:54:32.03\00:54:37.61
and go to heaven so my wife
can settle the score with you.
00:54:37.64\00:54:41.14
She's waiting for you."
00:54:44.11\00:54:46.82
There will be no
fights in heaven.
00:54:46.85\00:54:48.38
Children, that's why
you've got to train up children
00:54:51.02\00:54:55.42
in the way they should go.
00:54:55.46\00:54:56.79
Let them know that,
"Yes, forgiveness is possible."
00:55:00.00\00:55:03.77
Okay, he took your ice
cream, give him your ice cream."
00:55:03.80\00:55:08.90
It's no big deal.
00:55:08.94\00:55:10.27
You ever see children fall,
00:55:10.31\00:55:11.64
they look at you to see
if you gonna make a big deal,
00:55:11.67\00:55:13.17
if you don't they
just go like nobody.
00:55:13.21\00:55:14.98
But if you say, "Are you hurt?"
00:55:15.01\00:55:16.34
They will be...
00:55:16.38\00:55:18.95
Isn't that right?
00:55:18.98\00:55:21.32
We make more deals
out of stuff than kids do.
00:55:21.35\00:55:24.52
Oh, you just tell, like
they will cry for hours,
00:55:24.55\00:55:26.99
but if you say, "No, it's okay,"
00:55:27.02\00:55:29.09
and they go on you know.
00:55:29.12\00:55:31.99
Become like little children.
00:55:32.03\00:55:33.36
Amen.
00:55:33.40\00:55:34.73
What would happen to a
church if we could become like
00:55:34.76\00:55:36.80
little children
walking in on Sabbath morning,
00:55:36.83\00:55:39.83
hi, sister so and so,
00:55:39.87\00:55:41.30
good to see you,
brother, so and so.
00:55:41.34\00:55:43.14
No, keeping no
records of a past wrong.
00:55:43.17\00:55:46.61
That's huge.
00:55:46.64\00:55:47.98
That text, put
that in your fourth
00:55:48.01\00:55:49.64
of my favorite text.
00:55:49.68\00:55:51.41
And let's see if we
can get one more in here.
00:55:51.45\00:55:53.62
Let's see if we get
one more. Number 29.
00:55:53.65\00:55:55.32
Number 29.
00:55:55.35\00:55:56.69
Become converted and
become like little children.
00:55:56.72\00:56:00.12
Wow, that's a
powerful statement.
00:56:00.16\00:56:02.22
And Jesus said it by
the way, not the apostles.
00:56:02.26\00:56:06.13
Question number 29.
00:56:06.16\00:56:07.50
Here's a question,
00:56:07.53\00:56:08.86
"What transcript of life
is imperative for a person
00:56:08.90\00:56:13.44
claiming conversion?"
00:56:13.47\00:56:15.37
Is imperative,
looks like it's one word,
00:56:15.40\00:56:16.74
but is imperative for a
person claiming conversion?
00:56:16.77\00:56:20.68
Let's look at Psalm 19:7.
00:56:20.71\00:56:23.24
Psalm 19:7.
00:56:23.28\00:56:25.01
We're going to
go there right away
00:56:25.05\00:56:27.12
and since this is going to be
our last passage for the night,
00:56:27.15\00:56:29.78
I'd like us all
to read it together.
00:56:29.82\00:56:31.15
It's on the screen.
00:56:31.19\00:56:32.52
The Bible says, "The
law of the Lord is, what?
00:56:32.55\00:56:35.52
"Perfect."
00:56:35.56\00:56:36.89
Don't ever let your
pastor tell you otherwise,
00:56:36.93\00:56:39.89
"Converting the," what?
00:56:39.93\00:56:41.60
"Soul, The testimony
of the Lord is," what?
00:56:41.63\00:56:44.50
"Sure making," what?
00:56:44.53\00:56:46.20
"Wise the simple."
00:56:46.23\00:56:48.27
If you're in a
church, I heard just recently
00:56:48.30\00:56:51.07
and I don't want to
glorify this too much,
00:56:51.11\00:56:53.84
but very familiar
speaker in the Christian world
00:56:53.88\00:56:57.58
named Creflo Dollar said,
00:56:57.61\00:56:59.08
"The devil's trying to
get you to keep the law
00:56:59.11\00:57:00.98
and if he can get you
to keep the law, you sin."
00:57:01.02\00:57:03.69
"The devil is trying
to get you to keep the law
00:57:06.45\00:57:07.89
because he knows if
you can keep the law
00:57:07.92\00:57:09.39
you will sin."
00:57:09.42\00:57:10.76
And I thought, what?
00:57:10.79\00:57:12.13
And Jesus said, "If you love Me,
00:57:12.16\00:57:13.50
keep My commandments.
00:57:13.53\00:57:14.86
Here are they that keep
the commandments of God."
00:57:14.90\00:57:16.93
Open wide the gate so the nation
00:57:16.97\00:57:19.70
that keepeth the
law may enter in.
00:57:19.73\00:57:23.61
You cannot say you're
converted and this is the point
00:57:23.64\00:57:26.51
that I'm going
to wind up tonight.
00:57:26.54\00:57:27.88
You cannot say you are converted
00:57:27.91\00:57:29.24
and live out of
harmony with God's law.
00:57:29.28\00:57:31.71
You cannot.
00:57:31.75\00:57:33.42
You cannot say
that your experience
00:57:33.45\00:57:36.69
in the grace of
the police officer
00:57:36.72\00:57:38.75
and you drive away
kicking up sand and dust
00:57:38.79\00:57:41.42
as you pull away from the curb.
00:57:41.46\00:57:43.66
You cannot really say that.
00:57:43.69\00:57:45.29
You cannot say, you continue
00:57:45.33\00:57:46.66
in the same
violation of God's law
00:57:46.70\00:57:49.03
if you say you have
been converted, you cannot.
00:57:49.06\00:57:52.10
You have to live in
harmony with the law of God
00:57:52.13\00:57:54.14
and you'll become,
00:57:54.17\00:57:55.50
His testimony will be
sure and you will be made wise.
00:57:55.54\00:57:58.84
Keep studying, friends,
if it doesn't make sense,
00:57:58.87\00:58:00.91
one day it will come
into A Sharper Focus.
00:58:00.94\00:58:04.28
Let us pray.
00:58:04.31\00:58:05.65