Hello! Welcome to
our Wednesday night Bible
00:00:18.21\00:00:20.08
study here at the
3ABN Worship Center. Thank
00:00:20.18\00:00:22.52
you so much for
taking the time to tune in
00:00:22.62\00:00:24.32
as we walk
through the Word of God
00:00:24.39\00:00:26.49
together. We are
ready- can we say amen?
00:00:26.55\00:00:29.12
- [Amen.] - We
hope that you are ready
00:00:29.19\00:00:31.19
to walk through the
topic on conversion-
00:00:31.29\00:00:33.93
repentance and conversion.
So often, church membership
00:00:34.03\00:00:37.90
is talked about,
but very few times is
00:00:37.93\00:00:39.93
repentance and
conversion described.
00:00:40.04\00:00:42.67
So, tonight, as we
open the Word of God
00:00:42.74\00:00:44.77
together, we do
pray that you'll join us-
00:00:44.84\00:00:46.81
that you will ask
for the Spirit of God to
00:00:46.91\00:00:49.38
guide you. Before we
tell you how to get a
00:00:49.41\00:00:51.65
copy of the
lesson and follow along
00:00:51.71\00:00:53.65
with us, we'll
go ahead and ask for
00:00:53.68\00:00:55.28
the Lord's presence
to be with us. Bow your
00:00:55.35\00:00:58.35
heads with me. Loving
Father in heaven, thank
00:00:58.42\00:01:00.69
You for the beauty
of studying your Word,
00:01:00.76\00:01:04.39
we pray, Lord,
tonight as we open the
00:01:04.46\00:01:06.49
Bible that
You'll open our hearts.
00:01:06.59\00:01:09.40
This topic of conversion,
which is our greatest
00:01:10.30\00:01:12.63
need is
something, Lord, that we pray
00:01:12.73\00:01:15.94
for Your Holy
Spirit to impress upon our
00:01:15.97\00:01:17.57
hearts and minds.
Teach us, strengthen
00:01:17.61\00:01:20.28
us, and cause our
passion to serve you
00:01:20.34\00:01:22.88
to be something that
Your Spirit accomplishes
00:01:22.98\00:01:26.11
in our lives not
only tonight, but each
00:01:26.18\00:01:28.55
and every day. In
Jesus' Name we pray, amen.
00:01:28.65\00:01:32.65
Now, to get a
copy of the lesson, go
00:01:33.46\00:01:35.06
to this following
website. It's asf.3abn.org.
00:01:35.09\00:01:40.63
Download lesson #39
and you'll see- it should
00:01:40.70\00:01:44.17
go up to question
#37; that way, you'll know
00:01:44.23\00:01:46.87
you have the correct
lesson. That's lesson #39;
00:01:46.94\00:01:49.54
has up to 37
questions. That way, you'll know
00:01:49.57\00:01:52.87
you have- and at
that very same website,
00:01:52.94\00:01:55.21
you can look at
all the prior programs,
00:01:55.28\00:01:56.95
because sometimes
you may have tuned in
00:01:57.05\00:01:59.15
for the first
time and say, "Well,
00:01:59.21\00:02:00.62
they're up to
26. What happened to
00:02:00.72\00:02:02.65
1 to 25?" At that
very same website,
00:02:02.68\00:02:05.09
all the topics are
covered from lesson
00:02:05.12\00:02:08.69
#1 all the way to
39. We've been having
00:02:08.76\00:02:13.56
a wonderful
time- but before we do
00:02:13.63\00:02:14.96
anything else, we
always sing our theme
00:02:15.00\00:02:16.56
song. Don't we
know that? And what is
00:02:16.70\00:02:18.70
our theme song? It
is...Victory in Jesus.
00:02:18.73\00:02:21.54
Join us as we sing
our theme song together.
00:02:21.57\00:02:23.51
I heard an old, old story
00:02:31.85\00:02:35.38
How the Savior came from glory
00:02:35.45\00:02:39.02
How He gave His life on calvary
00:02:39.35\00:02:42.69
To save a wretch like me
00:02:43.02\00:02:46.49
I heard about His groaning
00:02:46.90\00:02:50.17
of His precious blood's atoning
00:02:50.70\00:02:54.04
then I repented of my sin
00:02:54.47\00:02:57.94
And won the victory
00:02:58.31\00:03:01.61
Oh, victory in Jesus
00:03:02.04\00:03:05.28
My Savior forever
00:03:05.31\00:03:09.18
He sought me and bought me
00:03:09.25\00:03:12.69
With His redeeming blood
00:03:12.75\00:03:16.09
He loved me e'er I knew Him
00:03:16.16\00:03:20.50
And all my love is due Him
00:03:20.56\00:03:24.30
He plunged me to victory
00:03:24.37\00:03:28.04
Beneath the cleansing flood
00:03:28.10\00:03:31.91
I heard about a mansion
00:03:31.94\00:03:35.78
He has built for me in glory
00:03:35.84\00:03:39.51
And I heard about
the streets of gold
00:03:39.58\00:03:43.02
Beyond the crystal sea
00:03:43.08\00:03:46.96
About the angels' singing
00:03:47.02\00:03:50.86
And the old redemption story
00:03:50.93\00:03:54.70
And some sweet
day, I'll sing up there
00:03:54.76\00:03:58.40
That song of
victory (Key change!)
00:03:58.47\00:04:01.90
Oh, victory in Jesus
00:04:02.50\00:04:06.01
My Savior forever
00:04:06.07\00:04:09.68
He sought me and bought me
00:04:09.78\00:04:13.28
With His redeeming blood
00:04:13.38\00:04:17.15
He loved me e'er I knew Him
00:04:17.22\00:04:20.99
And all my love is due Him
00:04:21.06\00:04:24.83
He plunged me to victory
00:04:24.89\00:04:28.60
Beneath the cleansing flood
00:04:28.66\00:04:32.37
He plunged me to victory
00:04:32.43\00:04:36.14
Beneath the cleansing flood
00:04:36.20\00:04:42.91
Amen? [Amen.]
Tonight, our topic is the truth
00:04:43.04\00:04:46.98
about our greatest
need. The truth about our
00:04:47.08\00:04:50.82
greatest need.
Now, oftentimes-just
00:04:50.89\00:04:54.16
laying some foundation
for the lesson-oftentimes,
00:04:54.22\00:04:56.56
people join
churches based on what they
00:04:57.76\00:05:01.46
have considered to
be truth in God's Word,
00:05:01.53\00:05:04.07
which is a good
thing. But the process of
00:05:04.17\00:05:07.84
joining a church,
the Bible says, "He that
00:05:07.90\00:05:10.71
believes and is
baptized will be saved," so
00:05:10.77\00:05:14.51
baptism is a
very essential part of
00:05:14.58\00:05:16.34
joining the church
or following Christ-
00:05:16.44\00:05:20.72
putting the old life to
death and then beginning
00:05:20.82\00:05:24.29
to walk in the
newness of life. You find that
00:05:24.35\00:05:25.95
in the book of
Romans chapter 6. But so
00:05:25.99\00:05:28.92
often, there's
a very big portion
00:05:28.96\00:05:31.89
that's missed when
it comes to becoming
00:05:32.03\00:05:34.83
a Christian. I'd
like to begin by pointing
00:05:34.90\00:05:37.17
out one of the
more familiar passages
00:05:37.20\00:05:39.40
in the Bible that
includes all- both
00:05:39.47\00:05:41.60
of these parameters. It
takes into consideration
00:05:41.70\00:05:44.31
where we used to
be and what we used to
00:05:44.41\00:05:47.08
do and if we make
a decision to make a
00:05:47.18\00:05:49.84
change, what happens
on the other side. Go
00:05:49.91\00:05:52.15
with me to 2
Chronicles 7 and verse 14.
00:05:52.21\00:05:55.48
2 Chronicles chapter 7,
and let us look together
00:05:55.52\00:05:59.72
at verse 14. A
very familiar passage.
00:05:59.79\00:06:01.99
This is- if you
look in the Bible, there
00:06:04.29\00:06:06.16
are many
passages that have if and
00:06:06.23\00:06:07.86
then. If and
then. These are what I
00:06:07.93\00:06:11.33
call conditional promises. What
00:06:11.40\00:06:13.54
are they called?
Conditional promises.
00:06:13.60\00:06:16.54
So, you say to
your kids, "If you get
00:06:16.60\00:06:18.94
a good grade,
then you'll be able to
00:06:19.04\00:06:20.91
use the car for
the weekend." "IF you
00:06:20.98\00:06:23.28
pass all your
classes, THEN you'll be able
00:06:23.31\00:06:25.01
to get that
particular thing that you want."
00:06:25.08\00:06:27.42
If and then. God
is the very same way.
00:06:27.48\00:06:29.45
There's an if and
there's a then. Now, since
00:06:29.52\00:06:31.42
we know the passage
very well, let's walk
00:06:31.49\00:06:33.39
through the before
and after. The Bible says,
00:06:33.46\00:06:36.66
together, "If My people who are
00:06:36.73\00:06:39.53
called by My name
will humble themselves,
00:06:39.63\00:06:43.47
then," first
thing, "pray, seek my
00:06:43.50\00:06:46.27
face," and do
what? "Turn from their
00:06:46.43\00:06:49.80
wicked ways." Notice
here's now the second
00:06:49.87\00:06:52.77
half. "Then, I will
hear from heaven and
00:06:52.84\00:06:55.94
will forgive their
sin and will heal their
00:06:56.01\00:06:59.61
land." Notice
what we're told to do.
00:06:59.71\00:07:01.82
Humble, pray, seek
His face, turn from
00:07:01.85\00:07:04.42
our wicked ways.
Humble, pray, seek HIS face-
00:07:04.49\00:07:08.56
not just His
hands-and turn from our wicked
00:07:09.59\00:07:12.86
ways. "Then, I will
hear from heaven, will
00:07:12.89\00:07:18.80
forgive their sin,
and heal their land." So,
00:07:18.90\00:07:21.60
it's safe to say
that if we don't humble
00:07:21.64\00:07:25.31
ourselves and
pray and seek His face
00:07:25.37\00:07:27.08
and turn from
our wicked ways, He
00:07:27.18\00:07:28.68
won't hear! He-
what it means when it
00:07:28.74\00:07:31.65
says He will
hear, that means He'll
00:07:31.71\00:07:33.08
listen to us. But
if we don't do what
00:07:33.11\00:07:36.22
God has called us to
do, then the conditions
00:07:36.25\00:07:38.42
not being met on
our side will not bring
00:07:38.49\00:07:41.22
with the promise
that He has on His side.
00:07:41.29\00:07:44.09
Are you following?
He says if, then, the
00:07:44.23\00:07:47.76
conditions are
there. So often, people
00:07:47.80\00:07:50.23
accept the truth
about what the Bible
00:07:50.30\00:07:54.37
teaches about a
particular doctrine.
00:07:54.44\00:07:56.20
In our church
particularly- in the Seventh-Day
00:07:56.30\00:07:58.67
Adventist church-there
are 28 fundamentals,
00:07:58.77\00:08:00.94
and you really
can't argue with them
00:08:01.01\00:08:02.88
because they're
according to the Bible.
00:08:02.91\00:08:04.28
They are all in
harmony with the Bible. So,
00:08:04.38\00:08:06.11
when you come to
the conclusion that they
00:08:06.21\00:08:08.38
are all true and
you said, "Well, I want
00:08:08.48\00:08:10.65
to follow the truth
of God's Word; I want
00:08:10.75\00:08:13.32
to join your fellowship,"
the Bible says, "The
00:08:13.39\00:08:15.79
Lord added to the
church daily those who were
00:08:15.86\00:08:18.59
being saved." Well,
if you join just based
00:08:18.69\00:08:21.70
on the fact that
it's true and you don't
00:08:21.80\00:08:24.13
humble yourself,
pray, seek God's face, and
00:08:25.60\00:08:30.37
then turn from
your wicked ways, then
00:08:30.44\00:08:32.74
the latter part of
the text will not be our
00:08:32.81\00:08:34.94
experience. And
so, so many people are
00:08:34.98\00:08:37.51
joining, but they
are not being converted;
00:08:37.55\00:08:42.12
they're not
repenting of anything. They're
00:08:42.18\00:08:44.69
just coming in
as educated members
00:08:44.72\00:08:47.12
rather than
converted saints. Do you get it
00:08:47.16\00:08:52.26
now? Because we were
once sinners, but can
00:08:52.33\00:08:55.43
you be a sinner
after Jesus has changed
00:08:55.50\00:08:58.50
you? You're a saint!
Now, the word 'saint'
00:08:58.57\00:09:02.70
is often misused; we
think it means 'perfect.'
00:09:02.80\00:09:05.31
Does this mean
perfect? It means you are
00:09:05.41\00:09:08.28
no longer who
you were, but you are
00:09:08.38\00:09:11.05
now in Christ. If
anyone's in Christ,
00:09:11.15\00:09:13.18
he is a new
creation. Isn't that right?
00:09:13.25\00:09:15.18
2 Corinthians 5:17.
So, this new creation
00:09:15.25\00:09:17.99
takes over. If you
are a new creation-
00:09:18.09\00:09:20.39
follow
carefully-if you are a sinner
00:09:20.46\00:09:22.19
before Christ
and old things have
00:09:22.22\00:09:24.79
passed away, and
you are a new creation,
00:09:24.89\00:09:28.43
are you still a
sinner? You missed
00:09:28.53\00:09:32.97
the swing. You are
now a saint. If you
00:09:33.03\00:09:37.27
put that word in the
New Testament, 'saint,'
00:09:37.34\00:09:39.77
Paul over and
over and over and over
00:09:39.84\00:09:41.31
again said, "Greet
the saints that are in
00:09:41.41\00:09:44.65
Ephesus. Greet
the saints that are in
00:09:44.68\00:09:47.48
Rome." But the
word 'saint' has been
00:09:47.52\00:09:48.95
exalted in our day
and age to mean people
00:09:49.02\00:09:52.05
that have died and,
quote and quote, are
00:09:52.15\00:09:53.92
"now in heaven,"
which is not true,
00:09:53.99\00:09:55.56
and they're now
perfect and they're now looking
00:09:55.59\00:09:57.86
down on us, like
St. Peter, St. Paul,
00:09:57.89\00:09:59.86
all these kinds
of "saints" that the
00:09:59.89\00:10:02.36
Catholic Church has
canonized. That's not
00:10:02.46\00:10:04.63
what a saint is. When
you are in a relationship
00:10:04.70\00:10:08.20
with Jesus and the
old life has been buried
00:10:08.27\00:10:10.24
and you are now
a new creation, you
00:10:10.31\00:10:12.64
are a saint.
Amen somebody? [Amen.]
00:10:12.71\00:10:15.28
That means you
are growing every day,
00:10:15.68\00:10:17.75
growing in grace...
Hear what I'm saying.
00:10:17.81\00:10:20.62
You're not
growing INTO grace. You're
00:10:20.75\00:10:23.89
growing IN grace.
Plants don't grow INTO the pot.
00:10:23.99\00:10:29.19
They grow IN the
pot. Fish don't swim INTO
00:10:29.26\00:10:34.33
the sea; they swim
IN the sea. Christians
00:10:34.40\00:10:38.57
don't grow INTO
grace; they grow IN grace,
00:10:38.67\00:10:42.40
and in knowledge.
And so often, that's not
00:10:42.50\00:10:44.67
even pointed out.
So tonight, what we're
00:10:44.77\00:10:46.51
going to look at...
We're going to begin
00:10:46.57\00:10:48.28
with question #26
and we're going to see,
00:10:48.38\00:10:51.01
before we go to
the changed life, we're
00:10:51.05\00:10:52.95
going to see how
best can the experience
00:10:53.01\00:10:55.88
of repentance be
described. Let's just go
00:10:55.92\00:10:57.85
ahead and look
at question #26 real
00:10:57.89\00:10:59.75
quickly tonight.
00:10:59.82\00:11:01.16
And we're going
to look together at
00:11:14.17\00:11:15.60
the 23rd Psalm,
and then we're going to
00:11:19.17\00:11:23.45
look at verse 3.
Okay? I'm just going to
00:11:23.58\00:11:27.48
catch up with you.
Psalm 23 and verse 3.
00:11:27.58\00:11:32.45
This one is going
to be on the screen
00:11:32.49\00:11:33.82
for all of you who
are here, and since
00:11:33.86\00:11:35.22
it is our first
passage, I'd like us all to
00:11:35.29\00:11:37.29
read it together. Are you ready?
00:11:37.36\00:11:39.13
Here it is. The
Bible says, together,
00:11:39.19\00:11:41.86
So, how best can the
experience of repentance
00:11:51.84\00:11:54.64
be described?
What does He do to us?
00:11:54.74\00:11:56.54
He restores our
souls. He al- and then,
00:11:57.61\00:12:01.42
somebody else is
taking over. "He leads me in
00:12:01.48\00:12:05.45
the path of righteousness."
Now, that is huge,
00:12:05.52\00:12:08.72
because the
question that is often asked
00:12:08.82\00:12:12.49
after conversion
is, "Who's leading in
00:12:12.56\00:12:15.76
your life now?"
Who's leading? Right. Jesus
00:12:15.80\00:12:20.84
ought to be
leading. Day by day, we have
00:12:20.90\00:12:23.24
to choose Him as
our leader, because if
00:12:23.27\00:12:25.41
He's leading,
what path is He leading
00:12:25.51\00:12:27.48
us in? Path of righteousness.
00:12:27.51\00:12:29.98
If anybody else or anything else
00:12:30.08\00:12:31.65
leads you, it's
leading you in the
00:12:31.71\00:12:33.42
wrong direction.
Let's go to Romans 6:16
00:12:33.45\00:12:35.32
to add a component
to that. Romans 6:16.
00:12:35.42\00:12:38.05
Just show you.
It's a principle that
00:12:38.12\00:12:42.92
cannot be broken.
Romans 6:16. Okay,
00:12:43.02\00:12:49.26
I'm there. Almost
there. Here it is.
00:12:49.36\00:12:53.80
Ok, here we are.
Acts. And right after Acts
00:12:53.97\00:12:56.30
is Romans. Here we
are; great. Romans 6:16,
00:12:56.37\00:12:59.41
and I want you to pay
a particular attention
00:12:59.47\00:13:00.88
to the word
'leading.' Alright? Romans 6:16.
00:13:00.91\00:13:06.41
It says, "Do you
not know to whom you
00:13:12.49\00:13:16.09
present yourselves
slaves to obey, you
00:13:16.19\00:13:20.86
are that one
slave whom you obey?
00:13:20.93\00:13:25.07
Whether sin..."
What does that say? "Sin
00:13:25.20\00:13:29.70
leading to death or
obedience..." What else?
00:13:29.80\00:13:34.31
"Leading to
righteousness." Depending on the
00:13:34.38\00:13:37.91
translation- the New
King James version says,
00:13:37.98\00:13:39.35
"Sin leading to
death," or "Obedience leading
00:13:39.41\00:13:42.32
to righteousness."
Leading. Somebody's
00:13:42.38\00:13:45.42
gotta lead you
day by day. So, the
00:13:45.49\00:13:48.32
converted life, the
Christian's life-every
00:13:48.42\00:13:50.79
morning we wake up,
we have to choose a what?
00:13:50.89\00:13:53.90
A leader! You ever
play the game Follow
00:13:56.73\00:14:01.70
the...
[Leader.] Every morning we
00:14:01.74\00:14:04.41
wake up, we have
to choose a leader. If
00:14:04.47\00:14:06.64
you don't choose a
leader, you choose a
00:14:06.71\00:14:08.04
leader. Did you
hear that? If you
00:14:08.08\00:14:10.48
don't choose
the right leader, by
00:14:10.55\00:14:12.91
default you choose
the wrong leader, because-
00:14:12.95\00:14:14.92
and no choice is a
choice. When you only have
00:14:14.98\00:14:16.75
two choices and you
don't pick the right
00:14:16.79\00:14:18.39
one, which one did
you pick? The wrong
00:14:18.45\00:14:20.19
one. That's by
default. That's exactly what
00:14:20.26\00:14:21.92
happened. Right?
You say, "Okay, pick
00:14:21.99\00:14:25.53
one." "Uhh, I'm not
picking one." "You pick
00:14:25.63\00:14:29.03
one. Pick the right
one or the wrong one."
00:14:29.13\00:14:30.97
You've picked one of
them if you've chosen
00:14:31.03\00:14:32.83
not, and usually,
if you don't pick the
00:14:32.90\00:14:34.67
right one, you pick
the wrong one. So every
00:14:34.74\00:14:36.30
day, we have to
make a decision, because
00:14:36.37\00:14:38.07
here's the key:
not only does the Lord
00:14:38.17\00:14:39.94
restore our soul-
that's the immediate
00:14:40.01\00:14:41.88
justification-but
the leading part is the
00:14:41.94\00:14:45.61
sanctifying aspect
of our lives, which is
00:14:45.68\00:14:48.35
the growing part. He's
leading us in the paths
00:14:48.38\00:14:51.02
of righteousness.
So, in this path, what
00:14:51.05\00:14:55.06
are you going to
learn? What are you going to
00:14:55.12\00:14:56.62
continually learn?
If He's leading in the
00:14:56.69\00:14:58.69
paths of righteousness,
what are you going
00:14:58.76\00:15:00.96
to continually
learn? Tell me. It's not a
00:15:01.03\00:15:04.90
trick question. If
He's leading you in the
00:15:04.97\00:15:07.17
path of righteousness,
what are you going be
00:15:07.27\00:15:09.57
continually learning?
Righteousness. Exactly.
00:15:09.67\00:15:12.77
The opposite of righteousness,
somebody once said, is
00:15:12.81\00:15:15.98
wrongteousness.
[I was just getting
00:15:16.04\00:15:18.75
ready to say
that.] You were just
00:15:18.85\00:15:20.62
getting ready to say
that? It kind of fits.
00:15:20.65\00:15:23.12
So, you want Him
to lead you every day
00:15:23.15\00:15:25.49
in the path of
righteousness, but
00:15:25.52\00:15:27.39
here's the key-you
can't lead yourself in
00:15:27.42\00:15:29.22
that path. He's
gotta lead you. That's why
00:15:29.32\00:15:33.09
He said to the
disciples, "Follow
00:15:33.19\00:15:34.53
Me and I will make
you.." Forget the fishers of
00:15:34.60\00:15:38.07
men. You're not
fishermen. None of us
00:15:38.10\00:15:40.14
is fishermen.
But He will make us
00:15:40.20\00:15:41.64
that eventually,
but, "Follow Me and I will
00:15:41.70\00:15:43.71
make you..." If you
don't follow Him, He
00:15:43.81\00:15:45.17
won't make you! If
you're not following
00:15:45.21\00:15:48.34
Him, somebody's making you. And
00:15:48.41\00:15:50.08
according to Romans
6:16, the wrong one is
00:15:50.11\00:15:52.28
making you.
Somebody's leading you into
00:15:52.38\00:15:54.28
disobedience unto-
I mean, sin leading
00:15:54.32\00:15:59.45
to death. That right?
Now, go back to question
00:15:59.55\00:16:01.52
#26 and look at
the second part-part B.
00:16:01.59\00:16:04.76
Psalm 51:12. How
best can the experience
00:16:04.86\00:16:08.36
of repentance be
described? First of
00:16:08.40\00:16:11.60
all, it says, "He
restores my soul,"
00:16:11.63\00:16:14.04
but there's
something else He does. There's
00:16:14.10\00:16:16.44
something else He
does. Psalm 51:12. In the
00:16:16.54\00:16:20.44
interest of
time, I'm going to go
00:16:20.51\00:16:22.28
ahead and put it
on the screen. We
00:16:22.34\00:16:23.68
have time, but
I'm going to go ahead
00:16:23.71\00:16:25.05
and keep the pace
going very well. Psalm 51:12.
00:16:25.08\00:16:28.22
What is the first word?
00:16:28.32\00:16:29.65
Generous. Is there
ever a time when the
00:16:42.86\00:16:46.37
Holy Spirit is not
available through Christ?
00:16:46.43\00:16:48.47
Because what kind
of Spirit is there? A
00:16:48.54\00:16:51.84
generous. People
that are generous,
00:16:51.91\00:16:54.91
they always give
you more than you ask
00:16:55.84\00:16:58.01
for. But notice
in both cases, He
00:16:58.08\00:17:01.52
restores my soul,
and then He restores to
00:17:01.62\00:17:05.85
me the joy of my
salvation, and that
00:17:05.95\00:17:09.02
is something that
is often missed a lot
00:17:09.09\00:17:11.59
of times in our
walk with God. We don't
00:17:11.63\00:17:15.16
seek- I talked to
somebody just recently
00:17:15.20\00:17:18.10
who said, "The joy
in my walk is missing.
00:17:18.17\00:17:20.94
I need that joy to
be restored." Now, let's
00:17:21.80\00:17:24.11
go to Psalm 85 and
verse 4. Psalm 85:4-
00:17:24.17\00:17:28.08
we're in question
#26 and C. Psalm 85:4.
00:17:28.18\00:17:32.31
We're going to
follow this particular path.
00:17:32.41\00:17:35.35
Psalm 85:4. And
look at this again! Look
00:17:35.45\00:17:39.32
at this again. Are
you ready? Here it is.
00:17:39.39\00:17:42.26
Let's read it together.
00:17:42.36\00:17:44.16
In all these
passages, what word did you see
00:17:53.67\00:17:56.17
continuously?
'Restore.' He restores my soul,
00:17:56.24\00:17:59.17
He restores
salvation, and restores us. So,
00:17:59.24\00:18:03.01
we don't just want
Him to restore portions
00:18:03.08\00:18:05.05
of us; we want
Him to restore us. Am
00:18:05.15\00:18:07.72
I right? So,
that's one of the passages
00:18:07.78\00:18:10.25
where repentance
can be best described.
00:18:10.32\00:18:12.65
And, by the way,
if you're just joining
00:18:12.72\00:18:14.06
us for this topic,
we covered repentance
00:18:14.09\00:18:15.82
on #24, 23, 22, and
so on and so forth. We
00:18:15.89\00:18:20.03
talked about
repentance. Repentance is a
00:18:20.13\00:18:22.80
sorrow for sin and a
turning from it. Repeat
00:18:22.86\00:18:27.40
that with me. Repentance
is a sorrow for sin and
00:18:27.47\00:18:31.07
a turning from it-
going in the opposite
00:18:31.17\00:18:35.41
direction.
You've heard the phrase,
00:18:35.54\00:18:37.48
"If you're going in
the wrong direction,
00:18:37.55\00:18:38.88
God allows
U-turns." But now, let's go
00:18:38.91\00:18:41.72
another aspect of
it. The question #27-
00:18:41.75\00:18:45.65
let's look at
that together. Question
00:18:45.72\00:18:47.36
#27.
00:18:47.42\00:18:48.76
Not just
repentance. Acts 3:19. Let's go
00:19:03.57\00:19:08.04
there. Acts 3:19.
00:19:08.14\00:19:10.98
Okay. I'm going to
just- Lois, you have a nice,
00:19:17.85\00:19:21.62
boomy voice. You
think you can read
00:19:21.72\00:19:23.96
what's up on the
screen for us? Okay, here
00:19:24.06\00:19:26.36
it is. What is
the answer? Acts 3:19,
00:19:26.43\00:19:28.66
together.
00:19:28.73\00:19:30.37
Ok. Repent and be
what else? Converted.
00:19:41.71\00:19:45.11
Not just repent,
but be converted.
00:19:45.18\00:19:48.88
A lot of times,
we repent-... And
00:19:48.95\00:19:51.12
repentance is like
a guy standing before
00:19:51.15\00:19:53.05
the judge and said,
"I did it! I'm guilty."
00:19:53.09\00:19:55.79
But as soon as
he's out of the court
00:19:56.89\00:19:59.06
and a little time
passes, he's right back
00:19:59.13\00:20:01.86
to it again.
Repentance means, "I admit it."
00:20:01.93\00:20:08.57
Conversion means,
"I'm no longer even
00:20:08.64\00:20:10.91
living in that
avenue." Now, let me make
00:20:10.97\00:20:14.91
it really, really
clear. Conversion means
00:20:15.01\00:20:17.48
you're connected to
a different source of
00:20:17.58\00:20:19.48
power. I used the
example of when we
00:20:19.55\00:20:22.75
went to New Guinea
a number of years ago.
00:20:22.85\00:20:25.89
We took all this American sound
00:20:28.79\00:20:30.93
equipment, which
was designed back then
00:20:31.06\00:20:33.73
was not
multi-voltage. Back in the '80s,
00:20:33.80\00:20:35.76
everything was
like 120 here, 240 over
00:20:35.83\00:20:37.93
there. We took
all this- two- that
00:20:37.97\00:20:41.94
have tons of
equipment when I was in the
00:20:42.00\00:20:44.37
Heritage
Singers. Well, we took two
00:20:44.47\00:20:46.64
large converters
that were like 100
00:20:46.74\00:20:49.38
and something pounds
each, and in-concert,
00:20:49.41\00:20:52.28
outside, in the
rain, on stage, with all
00:20:52.31\00:20:57.75
these microphones.
There were no cordless
00:20:57.79\00:20:59.59
mics then-was
wired. We had to put tape
00:20:59.65\00:21:01.99
around the handles,
'cause we were continually
00:21:02.02\00:21:04.03
being shocked. So if
you look at the video,
00:21:04.06\00:21:07.50
we got tape around
the handle 'cause its
00:21:07.56\00:21:09.63
voltage. And then,
the audio guy, Greg Mace,
00:21:09.70\00:21:14.57
who is the guy
that runs sound for
00:21:14.67\00:21:17.21
Heritage still to
this very day, he said,
00:21:17.31\00:21:20.21
"Keep your eye
on the converter. If
00:21:20.24\00:21:22.84
it goes too high,
it'll blow up the equipment.
00:21:22.91\00:21:26.48
If it goes too
low, the equipment will
00:21:26.55\00:21:29.18
shut off." So, on this
end was the bass singer
00:21:29.25\00:21:32.85
looking at it. On
this end was another
00:21:32.92\00:21:34.66
person. There's a
big, huge dial like a
00:21:34.69\00:21:36.42
dial that you
open a safe deposit
00:21:36.46\00:21:39.13
box, a bank- big
old handle, and had
00:21:39.19\00:21:41.70
very fine
increments, so the voltage went
00:21:41.76\00:21:44.23
to 120.1.2.3.121. and
very minimum increments
00:21:44.30\00:21:50.81
because you're
dealing with current that
00:21:50.87\00:21:52.81
could literally-
if you turn it fast,
00:21:52.91\00:21:54.91
it'll blow the
equipment to smithereens and
00:21:54.98\00:21:56.61
there's just no
coming back. Here's my point.
00:21:56.68\00:22:00.72
We may have great
value, but unless we
00:22:01.75\00:22:04.99
are connected to
our source of power that
00:22:05.05\00:22:06.92
converts us, we are
of no value. Because the
00:22:06.99\00:22:11.56
Christian life
is entering into a
00:22:11.63\00:22:13.83
foreign
territory. The Christian life
00:22:13.90\00:22:18.10
is not natural. It's
spiritual. So, living a
00:22:18.17\00:22:23.24
natural life, living
a spiritual life in a
00:22:23.34\00:22:25.87
natural place, it
doesn't work unless there's
00:22:25.94\00:22:27.84
conversion.
Right? So, when Dr. Luke
00:22:27.88\00:22:32.31
wrote this, this
is what Peter preached
00:22:32.41\00:22:34.75
on the day of
Pentecost. "Repent therefore and
00:22:34.82\00:22:37.02
be," what? "converted."
What's the benefit of
00:22:37.12\00:22:39.95
being converted? What
did he say? What's the
00:22:39.99\00:22:42.06
benefit? "That
your sins may be blotted
00:22:42.16\00:22:44.76
out." Amen? [Amen.]
Blotted out. Not absorbed,
00:22:44.79\00:22:50.43
but blotted out.
That's huge! Have you
00:22:50.50\00:22:53.34
seen a blotter
before? That's the kind of
00:22:53.37\00:22:55.07
terminology they
used then. They literally-
00:22:55.10\00:22:57.97
if ink spilled,
because they wrote things not
00:22:58.04\00:23:00.64
like us today-not
with pens, but if it
00:23:00.74\00:23:02.94
spilled...a huge
stain. They had blotters
00:23:03.04\00:23:06.11
that would absorb
anything that spilled.
00:23:06.18\00:23:09.28
When our sins are
spilling out into our
00:23:09.35\00:23:12.82
lives and we repent
and are converted, the Lord
00:23:12.89\00:23:16.06
blots them out.
Amen? [Amen.] So did you
00:23:16.12\00:23:18.59
write that down? What
else besides repentance
00:23:18.69\00:23:20.70
does the Bible
prescribe as for a changed life?
00:23:20.76\00:23:23.30
What's the word? 'Conversion.'
00:23:23.37\00:23:25.30
Very important.
Let's go now to Matthew
00:23:28.10\00:23:32.01
28... Sorry, question 28.
00:23:32.07\00:23:36.31
Matthew chapter 18.
There's question 28.
00:23:39.35\00:23:43.79
Let's look at
that. Matthew 18:3.
00:23:58.80\00:24:02.70
What's the first
word? [Assuredly.]
00:24:05.97\00:24:08.74
That's with
certainty. "Assuredly I say to
00:24:08.81\00:24:10.85
you, unless you
are," what else? "converted
00:24:10.98\00:24:14.52
and become as
little children, you will
00:24:14.58\00:24:19.45
by no means enter
the kingdom of heaven."
00:24:19.65\00:24:22.19
Now, I talked
about this in a private
00:24:22.29\00:24:23.73
program, but I
wanted to begin today to
00:24:23.79\00:24:25.19
reiterate this
because I found this
00:24:25.26\00:24:26.80
to be
fascinating. Why would the Lord
00:24:26.86\00:24:29.26
use little children?
Well, little children-
00:24:29.36\00:24:31.83
in some sense, they try
to prevent the children from
00:24:31.87\00:24:36.27
coming to Jesus.
Remember that? Suffer the
00:24:36.30\00:24:39.47
little children.
That means, allow the
00:24:39.61\00:24:41.61
little children to
come to Me." The King
00:24:41.68\00:24:43.38
James version
says, "Suffer the little
00:24:43.45\00:24:44.78
children to come to
Me." We don't talk that
00:24:44.81\00:24:46.31
way anymore. Suffer
the kids to come to me.
00:24:46.35\00:24:48.58
But we say, "Allow
the children to come to
00:24:48.65\00:24:51.05
Me and do not
prevent them for of such is
00:24:51.12\00:24:53.69
the kingdom of
heaven." Why little children?
00:24:53.76\00:24:55.59
Because when you
are converted and you
00:24:55.66\00:24:58.49
become as a little
child- I'll use the
00:24:58.59\00:25:01.16
illustration.
When children- little
00:25:01.20\00:25:03.93
children- now,
notice it says, "Become
00:25:04.00\00:25:07.00
as a," what kind
of child? "Little."
00:25:07.10\00:25:09.80
This is huge.
Not just the child,
00:25:09.90\00:25:12.51
but a little
child. Little children,
00:25:12.54\00:25:15.98
when they play and they have an
00:25:16.04\00:25:18.71
owie- our teacher
knows. When they have
00:25:18.78\00:25:23.08
little incidents
that they get all
00:25:23.12\00:25:25.62
upset, you say, "What's wrong?"
00:25:25.65\00:25:27.56
"He took my
pencil." "Did you take his
00:25:27.62\00:25:30.73
pencil?"
"Yeah." "Why?" "'Cause I
00:25:30.83\00:25:32.46
wanted it." And then
he said, "Apologize."
00:25:32.53\00:25:36.10
"I'm sorry, Mikey."
"Okay, I accept your
00:25:36.16\00:25:39.73
apology," and they
run off and they go
00:25:39.77\00:25:41.40
play right away!
It's like, that's it!
00:25:41.50\00:25:43.84
But adults? When
we have owies, "I'm
00:25:43.91\00:25:49.28
not talkin' to
him. He's not talkin'
00:25:49.34\00:25:51.71
to me. I don't
care. I don't-... Walk up
00:25:51.78\00:25:54.88
that aisle; I'll
walk up this aisle."
00:25:54.95\00:25:56.69
Conversion brings into
us, we have to have the
00:25:56.79\00:26:00.02
heart of a
child. [Amen.] Because
00:26:00.12\00:26:02.56
the heart of a
child- they may get hurt
00:26:02.62\00:26:05.29
quickly, and I've
often seen- we don't
00:26:05.39\00:26:07.00
have children, but
I've seen children.
00:26:07.06\00:26:08.40
When they fall and
they get that hurt,
00:26:08.43\00:26:10.37
you know what
they do? They look to
00:26:10.47\00:26:11.80
the parent right
away to see how critical
00:26:11.83\00:26:13.44
that fall was.
If the parent says,
00:26:13.47\00:26:15.14
"Aw, you'll be
okay," they'll get up and
00:26:15.20\00:26:16.71
run; but if the
parent says, "Are you
00:26:16.74\00:26:18.24
alright!?" You
know, they go into crisis
00:26:18.31\00:26:20.88
mode! They start
screaming, they're crying, their
00:26:20.94\00:26:23.35
head's off... When
we fall and we look
00:26:23.45\00:26:25.95
to our heavenly
Father, you know what you're
00:26:26.01\00:26:27.35
going to find? A
compassionate heavenly
00:26:27.38\00:26:28.85
Father that'll say,
"I can handle that."
00:26:28.92\00:26:31.72
Amen? [Amen.] So,
what happens here-
00:26:31.79\00:26:34.32
the heart of a
child keeps looking to the
00:26:34.39\00:26:36.79
parent. The heart
of a child-the little
00:26:36.86\00:26:38.69
child-looks to the
one in the position
00:26:38.73\00:26:41.03
of authority. And
the heart of a child
00:26:41.10\00:26:44.23
does not hold
onto ills. The heart of
00:26:44.33\00:26:48.20
a child lets it
go and they go play
00:26:48.27\00:26:51.51
again. Something
that we could learn from
00:26:51.64\00:26:55.91
children, because
the Lord said... How bad
00:26:55.98\00:26:59.51
is this? How
important is it? What's the
00:26:59.61\00:27:02.78
latter part? Say it
with me. "You will by,"
00:27:02.85\00:27:04.75
what? "no means
enter the kingdom
00:27:04.79\00:27:09.19
of heaven." You
might be converted, but if
00:27:09.29\00:27:11.26
you don't become like
a little child... That's
00:27:11.36\00:27:14.00
really sad. So, in
heaven, are we going
00:27:14.10\00:27:16.30
to all be little
children? Do yourself
00:27:16.36\00:27:18.60
an assignment. Just
try this out. One day,
00:27:18.73\00:27:21.24
look at the
writings of the apostle John.
00:27:21.30\00:27:24.11
You'll see him- he'll
say, "My little children,
00:27:24.21\00:27:27.38
I write to you,"
or, "You have no need
00:27:27.44\00:27:31.25
that I should write
to you, little children."
00:27:31.28\00:27:33.55
You'll find that
phrase often through the
00:27:33.62\00:27:35.38
Word of God. "Little
children." Because he's
00:27:35.45\00:27:37.35
been talking to
those of us who have been
00:27:37.39\00:27:38.72
born again. And
when you are born again,
00:27:38.75\00:27:40.62
you are what? A
little child. Amen? Let's
00:27:40.69\00:27:45.39
go to number- so
write the answer down.
00:27:45.46\00:27:47.66
What was the answer
for #28? How important
00:27:47.76\00:27:51.27
is the need for conversion? Say,
00:27:51.33\00:27:56.71
how important?
Very. Let's put a bigger
00:27:56.81\00:27:59.81
word than 'very-'
imperative. Absolutely
00:27:59.91\00:28:03.45
necessary.
[Assuredly.] Thank you, Brian.
00:28:03.51\00:28:07.62
Assuredly! I
like that. Assuredly.
00:28:07.68\00:28:10.12
#29.
00:28:10.19\00:28:11.62
#29.
00:28:11.72\00:28:14.46
"Is imperative" is one word- I
00:28:38.31\00:28:39.71
made it one word.
Just say, "isimperative."
00:28:39.75\00:28:42.82
Little space there,
but it's okay. You'll
00:28:43.75\00:28:46.15
survive. Psalm
19:7. Let's see if we can
00:28:46.22\00:28:53.33
get there. Let's
see who I could pick on,
00:28:53.40\00:28:54.96
'cause we have
little microphones in here
00:28:55.03\00:28:56.60
and I know those
are active. Let me get
00:28:56.67\00:28:58.17
somebody to read
that. ...But I need somebody
00:28:58.23\00:29:01.54
with a big voice.
Who has a big voice?
00:29:01.60\00:29:04.27
Okay, great.
Brian, do you have a big
00:29:05.11\00:29:07.38
voice? [Big
enough.] Go for it. Here it
00:29:07.41\00:29:10.45
is on the screen.
00:29:10.51\00:29:11.85
The law of the
Lord is what? Perfect.
00:29:22.76\00:29:25.43
What is it doing?
Converting the soul.
00:29:25.49\00:29:30.73
Now, you could
easily illustrate that to a
00:29:30.83\00:29:37.54
train being on the
tracks. Some people
00:29:37.67\00:29:42.41
claim this- I've
heard people say, "I'm free
00:29:42.48\00:29:44.45
now; I'm free in
Jesus." Uh, well,
00:29:44.51\00:29:47.85
don't take that too
far. You're free from
00:29:47.98\00:29:51.65
the penalty of sin,
but you're not free to
00:29:51.82\00:29:55.56
do what you want
anymore than a train
00:29:55.62\00:29:58.03
is free from the
tracks and is going anywhere.
00:29:58.09\00:30:00.73
Some people say,
"I'm free! I've been set
00:30:00.86\00:30:03.00
free." You've been
set free from the PENALTY
00:30:03.06\00:30:05.80
of sin, but you need
Jesus- sorry. WE need
00:30:05.87\00:30:08.64
Jesus, how often?
Every moment of every
00:30:08.74\00:30:10.87
day. And, the
transcript that guides us is the
00:30:10.94\00:30:16.64
law of the Lord that
is what? Perfect. Now,
00:30:16.71\00:30:19.91
I was raised in New
York City and I know
00:30:19.98\00:30:21.88
what a subway
is. Anybody not know
00:30:21.98\00:30:23.45
what a subway is? A subway is an
00:30:23.49\00:30:25.65
underground
train, and you might be
00:30:25.72\00:30:27.06
watching from someplace
in the world where they
00:30:27.09\00:30:28.42
have no subways.
Like in New Guinea, there
00:30:28.46\00:30:30.99
are no subways. In
the Caribbean, there
00:30:31.09\00:30:34.13
are no subways; you
can't dig holes under
00:30:34.20\00:30:35.66
the ground. In
Puerto Rico, there are no
00:30:35.70\00:30:38.17
subways. But they
have underground subways!
00:30:38.23\00:30:42.30
You could hear
trains coming. Where I got
00:30:43.61\00:30:46.17
on the train-where
we got on the train,
00:30:46.24\00:30:47.58
Franklin Avenue-there
are 4 tracks: two local;
00:30:47.61\00:30:50.85
two express. You
hear something coming, but
00:30:50.88\00:30:53.42
you don't know.
What amazes me is you're
00:30:53.48\00:30:55.38
flying through the
tunnel. Trains are-
00:30:55.45\00:30:58.25
it seemed to be
about a foot apart at
00:30:58.29\00:31:00.52
high rates of
speed. Just...whoosh.
00:31:00.56\00:31:03.59
You know why it's
safe? Because they're
00:31:03.63\00:31:06.09
on the tracks.
Here's my point: if you try
00:31:06.19\00:31:09.40
to live your
Christian life without the law
00:31:09.50\00:31:11.30
of God, it's like a
train off the tracks.
00:31:11.37\00:31:14.24
There's nothing
guiding you. You may be free,
00:31:15.10\00:31:18.81
but you're not
going anywhere OR, more
00:31:18.87\00:31:21.88
deadly than that,
you are in line for a
00:31:21.94\00:31:24.51
severe collision.
In other words, your
00:31:24.58\00:31:29.12
life is being
derailed and you're saying
00:31:29.18\00:31:30.95
you're free. But
if you live by the law
00:31:31.02\00:31:33.79
of God, which can
only be done by the
00:31:33.86\00:31:35.82
indwelling Spirit-am
I right? Then you are
00:31:35.89\00:31:38.76
being converted.
You're being what? Converted.
00:31:38.83\00:31:41.56
Converting the
soul. And conversion- how
00:31:41.63\00:31:44.13
long does it take
to convert somebody?
00:31:44.20\00:31:46.00
Huh? We are
justified instantly, but we are
00:31:47.14\00:31:52.27
being converted
every day. Every day.
00:31:52.34\00:31:55.68
Conversion is a work.
I think it's Philippians
00:31:55.74\00:31:58.95
1:6-you might check
that-"He who has begun
00:31:59.01\00:32:01.12
a good work in
you will complete it."
00:32:01.22\00:32:03.18
All right? So,
what transcript of life
00:32:03.25\00:32:06.79
is imperative?
What is? What is it?
00:32:06.86\00:32:08.52
The law of the
Lord. The Commandments of
00:32:08.62\00:32:11.79
God. Now, look
at this. Let's go to
00:32:11.89\00:32:16.60
question #30. I like
the pace we're moving
00:32:16.67\00:32:19.77
at tonight. We might
get to 37. But if not,
00:32:19.83\00:32:22.04
that's okay.
Question #30, and here it is.
00:32:22.10\00:32:28.74
'Cause a lot of
times, when we baptize
00:32:38.19\00:32:40.09
people, "I
baptize you in the name of
00:32:40.16\00:32:42.29
the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,"
00:32:42.36\00:32:43.99
"Are you excited?"
"Lord, Holy Spirit,
00:32:44.06\00:32:46.83
come into this
person's life," but there are
00:32:46.93\00:32:49.36
some very important
things that we have to
00:32:49.43\00:32:51.10
understand. What
actually happens?
00:32:51.17\00:32:52.53
What does the Lord
decide to do for us?
00:32:52.60\00:32:54.80
What promise has
He made to help us in
00:32:54.87\00:32:58.87
this experience of
conversion? In what
00:32:58.97\00:33:05.28
way does the Bible
describe the transaction
00:33:05.38\00:33:07.85
of conversion? Let's
look at this. Ezekiel
00:33:07.92\00:33:10.52
36:26. This is
beautiful. The Lord says of us,
00:33:10.59\00:33:18.89
Stone and flesh.
Which one is harder?
00:33:36.85\00:33:39.11
[Stone.] Stone!
00:33:39.21\00:33:41.05
This is important.
We've got to really
00:33:43.45\00:33:45.55
be careful, and little
indicators in our lives
00:33:45.62\00:33:48.12
will tell us when we
need to be calibrated.
00:33:48.19\00:33:52.29
You know the word
calibrated? You know
00:33:53.16\00:33:54.96
what calibration is?
People into electronics..
00:33:55.00\00:33:58.13
I remember we used
to do that. We used to
00:33:58.20\00:34:01.30
work in- you hear the sound,
00:34:01.37\00:34:03.37
[hums rising and
descending pitch]
00:34:03.44\00:34:08.44
A certain sound,
you know you're right at
00:34:08.51\00:34:09.84
the right
frequency. When you tune up
00:34:09.88\00:34:12.98
a guitar, you
could hear [hums again].
00:34:13.01\00:34:16.82
Tune a piano -
calibration. The whole aspect.
00:34:16.85\00:34:19.15
The Lord is
calibrating our lives in harmony
00:34:19.19\00:34:22.12
with His will.
Calibrating our lives
00:34:22.26\00:34:24.56
in harmony with His
purpose. Calibrating
00:34:24.63\00:34:27.00
our lives in harmony
with His law. But what's
00:34:27.06\00:34:29.30
happening? How's
He doing that? He's
00:34:29.40\00:34:31.23
putting a new
heart and a new spirit
00:34:31.33\00:34:32.67
within us. The
spirit that the Lord wants
00:34:32.73\00:34:34.77
us to have is what
kind of spirit? Somebody
00:34:34.87\00:34:38.07
tell me. What kind
of spirit does the Lord
00:34:38.17\00:34:40.08
want us to have?
[New spirit. Holy Spirit.]
00:34:40.11\00:34:44.68
Holy Spirit. Yes.
Now, the Holy Spirit-
00:34:45.15\00:34:49.22
the presence of
the Holy Spirit- how do
00:34:49.28\00:34:51.29
you know when somebody has the
00:34:51.35\00:34:52.69
Holy Spirit?
00:34:52.72\00:34:54.12
Not a trick
question. I don't want to trick
00:34:58.69\00:35:00.30
you guys tonight.
It's not a trick question.
00:35:00.36\00:35:02.56
Say it again? [They
have the fruit of the
00:35:04.20\00:35:05.73
Spirit.] They have
the fruit of the Spirit!
00:35:05.83\00:35:08.87
The fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace,
00:35:09.64\00:35:14.01
longsuffering,
gentleness, meekness,
00:35:14.08\00:35:17.08
patience. And the
apostle Paul says,
00:35:17.15\00:35:19.78
"Against such,
there is no law." Meaning,
00:35:19.85\00:35:22.12
there is no limit. In
other words, you could
00:35:22.22\00:35:24.89
be a person with 10
million pounds of love.
00:35:24.92\00:35:28.62
Great! Get 10 million
1! The more loving you
00:35:28.72\00:35:32.43
can be- there is no
limit. Amen? [Amen.]
00:35:32.46\00:35:35.13
Joy. Have you ever
met a person and say,
00:35:35.20\00:35:37.17
"You know, you are
too happy. You're too
00:35:37.20\00:35:39.13
joyful." Have you
ever heard somebody?
00:35:39.23\00:35:40.94
"You need to be
less joyful." No! If you
00:35:41.04\00:35:44.44
have the fruit of
the Spirit, you will be
00:35:44.51\00:35:45.87
what? Joyful!
"Joyful, joyful-" don't just
00:35:45.94\00:35:49.11
sing it; be it.
Love, joy- what else?
00:35:49.18\00:35:51.85
Peace. Do you
know anybody that needs
00:35:51.95\00:35:53.28
peace? Yes! When
the Spirit is not there-
00:35:53.31\00:35:56.82
because here's the
key. The promise the Lord
00:35:56.89\00:35:59.42
makes in Isaiah,
it says, "He will keep
00:35:59.49\00:36:02.09
him in," what kind
of peace? "Perfect peace
00:36:02.16\00:36:05.53
whose mind has
stayed on Thee because he
00:36:05.63\00:36:08.76
trusted in Thee."
We try to find peace
00:36:08.83\00:36:10.90
over there, either
in other people, other
00:36:10.97\00:36:13.94
circumstances,
other things, and we're
00:36:14.04\00:36:16.64
not focusing on
Him. He will keep us in
00:36:16.71\00:36:18.87
perfect peace if
our minds are stayed on
00:36:18.94\00:36:20.48
Him. Like a dad will
say to the kids. Like
00:36:20.54\00:36:26.25
the little girl that
was in the thunderstorm
00:36:26.31\00:36:27.85
and the lights
went out. Immediately,
00:36:27.88\00:36:32.99
she didn't see her
dad and it was dark.
00:36:33.09\00:36:36.36
When I was
raised- OK. When I was a
00:36:36.42\00:36:40.83
little boy, I used
to be afraid of thunder.
00:36:40.93\00:36:42.30
Okay, you got out
of the way. But I'm not
00:36:42.43\00:36:44.43
afraid of thunder;
I like thunder now.
00:36:44.50\00:36:46.13
...But I just don't like
Southern Illinois thunder.
00:36:46.90\00:36:49.24
[laughter]
'Cause it brings with it
00:36:49.34\00:36:51.74
sometimes
tornados- and when they have
00:36:51.81\00:36:54.38
tornado warnings and
they say, "Seek shelter
00:36:54.44\00:36:57.55
now," and it's nighttime
and it's thu- you can't
00:36:57.61\00:37:00.55
see anything out
here. You all know what
00:37:00.62\00:37:01.95
I'm talking
about? If you're in the
00:37:01.98\00:37:03.32
Caribbean, ignore
us. ...Where was I
00:37:03.35\00:37:07.76
going with that?
[laughter] [Shelter.] Okay, the
00:37:07.86\00:37:11.89
shelter. So, I
used to- Momma, when
00:37:11.99\00:37:15.40
she was raising
me, I used to run to
00:37:15.50\00:37:17.17
Momma and grab her,
and she says, "Okay,
00:37:17.20\00:37:19.83
I'm here," and I
would always feel safe
00:37:19.90\00:37:22.60
because she's
there. When we run to the
00:37:22.70\00:37:25.51
Lord, in that
moment, we find that He is
00:37:25.57\00:37:28.91
our ever-present
help in time of need.
00:37:29.04\00:37:32.15
When we focus on
the only One that can
00:37:32.21\00:37:34.55
deliver us in our
times of storm, what do we
00:37:34.65\00:37:38.05
have? Peace.
"Daddy, I can't see you."
00:37:38.09\00:37:41.62
"But I'm here."
And he reached out
00:37:42.52\00:37:44.93
and touched the
shoulder of his little daughter.
00:37:44.99\00:37:46.73
"Daddy, I can't see
you." "But I'm here."
00:37:46.83\00:37:48.66
And so the beauty
of the Lord is when we
00:37:49.43\00:37:51.00
focus- when we focus,
the Lord is changing us
00:37:51.07\00:37:54.80
every day. The new
heart- and the word
00:37:54.87\00:37:57.97
heart is interchangeable.
New heart also means
00:37:58.01\00:38:02.21
what else? New
mind. Because I know one
00:38:02.31\00:38:05.31
of the reasons
they have the polygraph
00:38:05.35\00:38:07.25
tests nowadays
is because what the
00:38:07.32\00:38:09.38
mind is thinking,
the heart is reacting to
00:38:09.48\00:38:11.12
and they both work
in tandem to the way
00:38:11.15\00:38:16.26
you feel. Boy,
nobody says, "I mind you."
00:38:16.32\00:38:20.36
We say, "I heart
you." Which means what?
00:38:20.43\00:38:22.63
"I love you." So, we don't go...
00:38:22.70\00:38:25.27
"What is he
saying?" No, but if you go...
00:38:29.27\00:38:32.81
There you go.
[laughter] You get the message!
00:38:32.87\00:38:36.38
See? But in
reality, in the Bible, heart
00:38:36.48\00:38:39.38
and mind are interchangeable!
Right? The Lord wants
00:38:39.45\00:38:43.18
to be in our
hearts. Now, when He gives
00:38:43.28\00:38:46.09
you a new heart,
what's in that heart? Go
00:38:46.15\00:38:48.42
with me to Hebrews
chapter 10. What is
00:38:48.46\00:38:51.33
in that heart?
00:38:51.36\00:38:52.69
[The law.] That's right; you
00:38:56.33\00:38:59.17
know exactly where
we're going. Hebrews
00:38:59.20\00:39:01.17
chapter 10:16. Hebrews 10:16.
00:39:01.20\00:39:07.34
To say that the
Lord has given us a new
00:39:08.54\00:39:10.28
heart and to ignore
His law is a contradiction.
00:39:10.38\00:39:16.32
It's a contradiction.
Because notice, "I
00:39:16.45\00:39:22.09
will give you a new
heart." Look at Hebrews 10:16.
00:39:22.16\00:39:24.99
He says, "'This is
the covenant. I will make
00:39:25.09\00:39:29.76
with them after
those days,' says the Lord.
00:39:29.83\00:39:35.67
'I will put My
laws into their hearts
00:39:35.74\00:39:40.54
and in their minds,
I will write them.'"
00:39:40.61\00:39:43.28
Interchangeable.
It's here and it's here.
00:39:43.35\00:39:46.38
He puts it in both
places, so we can't
00:39:47.22\00:39:49.28
say, "Well, it's
not in my mind." It's
00:39:49.35\00:39:52.59
in your mind AND
heart. It's in both places.
00:39:52.65\00:39:54.82
So, when He puts
that new heart in us, He
00:39:54.89\00:39:57.16
also installs in us
a new rail system to
00:39:57.23\00:40:00.03
keep us in line. And
honestly, nobody would
00:40:00.13\00:40:03.37
argue. The only time
we're afraid of trains
00:40:03.43\00:40:06.30
is if they're off
the track. Somebody once
00:40:06.37\00:40:09.87
said, "I don't
like stop signs. I've
00:40:09.90\00:40:11.74
discovered that
stop signs are not really
00:40:11.81\00:40:14.41
stop signs;
they're go signs," because
00:40:14.48\00:40:17.58
if you get to an
intersection and-
00:40:17.65\00:40:19.05
sorry; stoplights.
Comparison but not-
00:40:19.11\00:40:23.12
if you get to an
intersection in a
00:40:23.22\00:40:24.79
city and the
stoplights are not working,
00:40:24.85\00:40:26.22
nobody's moving. But
if it's working, there's
00:40:26.29\00:40:29.46
motion. The law of
God is the go light,
00:40:29.52\00:40:34.06
but it gives you continual
direction in our lives.
00:40:34.16\00:40:37.00
It tells us when to
go; it tells us when
00:40:37.07\00:40:39.20
to stop. Amen? So,
in what way does the
00:40:39.27\00:40:43.47
Bible describe the
transaction of conversion?
00:40:43.54\00:40:45.44
He gives us a what?
New heart and a what
00:40:45.54\00:40:48.24
else? New spirit,
and He gives us a what
00:40:48.31\00:40:51.18
kind of heart? [Heart
of flesh.] Heart of flesh.
00:40:51.25\00:40:54.62
That means it's
pliable. It's not- when you
00:40:54.68\00:40:59.42
say to somebody-
you ever say, "It's
00:40:59.52\00:41:01.46
written in stone"?
What does that mean? Say
00:41:01.56\00:41:04.79
it again? Unchangeable.
Non-negotiable. But
00:41:04.86\00:41:10.10
when it's set,
it's written in flesh.
00:41:10.17\00:41:12.43
It's latitude.
That's why I'm so glad the
00:41:13.60\00:41:16.14
Lord writes His
law on stone, but He
00:41:16.27\00:41:20.01
writes our sin
in the dust. Amen?
00:41:20.08\00:41:24.38
Writes our sin in
the dust; writes His law
00:41:24.45\00:41:27.52
in stone. Look at
these quotes. I don't
00:41:27.58\00:41:29.52
normally do this,
but I wanted to do this.
00:41:29.62\00:41:31.05
This is really important. From a
00:41:31.15\00:41:33.19
book Evangelism- I
don't normally have
00:41:33.25\00:41:35.46
that- very
rarely would you see me
00:41:35.52\00:41:36.86
with a quotation, but I
thought this was beautiful
00:41:36.89\00:41:38.33
to have. It says,
00:41:38.39\00:41:40.33
Going on.
00:42:00.25\00:42:01.58
So a lot of
times, people say, "Hey,
00:42:15.03\00:42:16.70
I'm a member of
the Adventist church."
00:42:16.77\00:42:18.17
What does that mean?
"Well, the doctrines are
00:42:18.87\00:42:23.14
true; I'm finally
in the light now. I
00:42:23.20\00:42:24.94
understand;
everything is now clear..."
00:42:25.01\00:42:26.34
What does that
mean? Are you changed?
00:42:26.37\00:42:28.88
Changing churches
and changing hearts
00:42:28.98\00:42:32.88
is not the same thing. The Lord
00:42:32.98\00:42:34.95
wants us to be in
the truth, He wants
00:42:35.05\00:42:36.79
us to walk in the
truth, but He wants our
00:42:36.89\00:42:38.59
hearts to also be
new. Am I right? Wow.
00:42:38.69\00:42:43.93
Let's go to #32. And
you guys are so wise,
00:42:44.06\00:42:49.40
you already
know the answer here.
00:42:49.50\00:42:51.03
You want to put
that little "as" there.
00:43:07.65\00:43:10.99
I was probably on
the phone with Lois and
00:43:11.75\00:43:14.32
forgot to put an
's' there. [laughter]
00:43:14.39\00:43:17.33
I gotta blame
somebody. Don't worry- I got a
00:43:17.39\00:43:19.59
new heart. It
wasn't Lois' fault. It was
00:43:19.66\00:43:21.53
mine. 2 Corinthians
5:17, a very familiar
00:43:21.60\00:43:25.93
passage. What
percentage of character change
00:43:26.03\00:43:28.90
qualifies as
converted? All right. I want us
00:43:29.00\00:43:33.17
all to read this
one together. Very
00:43:33.27\00:43:35.34
important one.
There's not a passage in the
00:43:35.41\00:43:37.65
Bible that's not
important, but this is a staple
00:43:37.71\00:43:39.51
in the topic. Together...
00:43:39.58\00:43:41.58
What's another word
for the phrase "passed
00:43:57.63\00:43:59.43
away"? Have you
seen in the Bible-
00:43:59.50\00:44:02.24
[Dead.] That's
right. If you say, "He
00:44:02.30\00:44:06.37
passed away," that
means he's what? Dead.
00:44:06.47\00:44:10.08
And he's going to be
what? Buried-hopefully,
00:44:10.21\00:44:12.35
because people
cremate, they sprinkle, they
00:44:12.41\00:44:18.29
do all kinds of
strange things. Old things-
00:44:18.35\00:44:22.32
yes! We were
reading that this morning,
00:44:22.36\00:44:24.69
actually, in our
devotions! One of my favorite
00:44:24.79\00:44:28.23
devotional
people- Oswald Chambers.
00:44:28.30\00:44:30.87
He says, "We have to be ready as
00:44:30.97\00:44:34.77
Christians to sign
our death certificate."
00:44:34.84\00:44:38.17
He said, "Not enough
Christians have signed
00:44:38.24\00:44:42.01
their death certificate.
They've become Christians
00:44:42.08\00:44:45.65
but they have not
died to anything," and it's
00:44:45.71\00:44:48.65
like, woo. That
was really powerful.
00:44:48.68\00:44:50.95
Ok, I already
closed it. That was really-
00:44:51.02\00:44:53.22
so he says, "When
you wake up every day,
00:44:53.29\00:44:54.82
be willing to sign
your death certificate,
00:44:54.89\00:44:57.56
because old
things have died. Behold,
00:44:57.66\00:45:01.13
all things have
become new." I tell you-
00:45:01.20\00:45:03.73
this is not just a
single application,
00:45:03.77\00:45:07.04
but a what? Daily
application. Because
00:45:07.10\00:45:10.74
at no point- and
here's the reason
00:45:10.81\00:45:12.31
why. Here's the
very important reason
00:45:12.37\00:45:14.74
why. Practice
makes... [perfect.] Ah, that's
00:45:14.81\00:45:19.61
incorrect. I just
threw that at you.
00:45:19.68\00:45:21.78
Practice does
not make perfect. Do
00:45:21.92\00:45:24.52
you know of any doctor- this is-
00:45:24.55\00:45:26.79
I kind of got it this
way. Doctors practice for
00:45:26.86\00:45:31.09
their whole career.
If you go to a doctor
00:45:31.19\00:45:35.53
that's not
practicing, run for your life.
00:45:35.60\00:45:38.03
Right? Because
information is continually
00:45:38.13\00:45:40.94
being updated and
new techniques are coming
00:45:41.00\00:45:43.27
to the forefront.
A pilot- as long as a
00:45:43.34\00:45:45.74
pilot flies, he
always has a checklist. If
00:45:45.84\00:45:49.74
you find two pilots
without a checklist,
00:45:49.84\00:45:52.35
don't get on
that plane. There's a
00:45:52.45\00:45:55.28
continual process
in our lives, and the
00:45:55.38\00:45:57.89
continual process is
a day-by-day process.
00:45:57.99\00:46:00.59
So, here's the point.
If a Christian doesn't
00:46:00.66\00:46:03.49
have a daily
process in his or her life
00:46:03.56\00:46:06.19
that keeps the old
dead and the new alive,
00:46:07.40\00:46:11.43
then the old will be
alive and the new will
00:46:11.53\00:46:15.60
die. Because there's
one thing we all have
00:46:15.67\00:46:19.41
that's going to be
hanging around until
00:46:19.47\00:46:22.08
it's finally
gone. And what is it?
00:46:22.14\00:46:24.98
Huh? [Leaving self
behind.] It's actually
00:46:28.45\00:46:31.39
our storage system.
Do you know that our
00:46:31.45\00:46:35.12
storage system-which
is our brain-now, we
00:46:35.19\00:46:37.79
are unlearning old
things, but there are
00:46:37.86\00:46:40.86
some things- how
many of you can remember
00:46:41.06\00:46:42.73
stuff like, when you
were a kid? Sometimes,
00:46:42.76\00:46:45.93
you know,
childhood memories come back.
00:46:45.97\00:46:47.90
Depends on how far
back it is. Sometimes
00:46:48.80\00:46:50.24
you'll see
something- "Ah, that reminds me
00:46:50.31\00:46:52.24
of such and such!"
We have things that
00:46:52.34\00:46:54.74
we've practiced in our
past that sometimes, as
00:46:54.78\00:46:58.21
the old life, if
we don't daily put the
00:46:58.31\00:47:01.58
old man to death in
our practices, in our
00:47:01.68\00:47:05.95
thoughts, in our
desires, in our attitudes,
00:47:06.05\00:47:09.09
then he's waiting
at the front door.
00:47:09.22\00:47:11.43
He's waiting at
the foot of the bed if
00:47:11.53\00:47:13.93
we don't put him
to death right away.
00:47:14.03\00:47:15.63
That's why- I
think it was Simon Sinek
00:47:15.66\00:47:18.40
who said this. I don't
know if he's a Christian
00:47:18.43\00:47:20.34
or not, but he
said, "In an age with so
00:47:20.37\00:47:22.44
much technology, we
should put our phones
00:47:22.47\00:47:24.54
in the other
room." And I would add to
00:47:24.57\00:47:27.48
that, put our Bibles
right next to our bed.
00:47:27.51\00:47:29.31
Because we wake
up in the morning and
00:47:29.38\00:47:31.11
the first thing we
do is what? "What's the
00:47:31.18\00:47:33.18
weather?" "Who texted
me?" "I heard a message."
00:47:33.25\00:47:38.35
And during the
night, some people don't
00:47:38.42\00:47:39.75
silence their
phones. A few nights, we've
00:47:39.79\00:47:42.36
had that issue. I like
my room completely dark,
00:47:42.42\00:47:47.00
and sometimes, my
wife, when we go to sleep,
00:47:47.10\00:47:49.53
she has her phone
face-up and somebody
00:47:49.56\00:47:51.57
would text during
the night and her iPhone
00:47:51.67\00:47:53.97
will brighten up
the whole ceiling and
00:47:54.04\00:47:57.01
all of a sudden,
it's like a plane landing.
00:47:57.07\00:47:58.41
And I say, "Would you
please turn your phone
00:47:58.44\00:48:02.01
over or turn it off?"
Some people sleep with
00:48:02.11\00:48:06.05
it right there,
and then some people
00:48:06.15\00:48:08.15
leave it on and
you hear, "Ding!" and
00:48:08.22\00:48:09.82
they wake up.
"Honey, what time is it?"
00:48:09.88\00:48:11.55
Now, my wife doesn't
do that- praise the Lord.
00:48:11.62\00:48:13.22
But some people
live that way. What if
00:48:13.32\00:48:15.29
we woke up during
the night and read our
00:48:15.39\00:48:17.49
Bibles? What if you
couldn't sleep and you're
00:48:17.56\00:48:20.90
reading your
Bible? [You can't; it's
00:48:20.96\00:48:24.90
pitch dark.] Ah,
we have a light right
00:48:24.97\00:48:27.24
above our head. Two
variables so we could
00:48:27.27\00:48:29.80
grab it instead of
looking for switches
00:48:29.90\00:48:31.27
on the wall, just
grab and read our Bible.
00:48:31.34\00:48:33.27
Here is the key-
so guide your life,
00:48:33.34\00:48:36.58
so organize your
life that in case of
00:48:36.61\00:48:39.15
an emergency- I was
raised- my dad taught
00:48:39.21\00:48:42.05
me this when I
was being raised and
00:48:42.18\00:48:43.59
I said this last
night. "Can't go to bed
00:48:43.62\00:48:45.82
without knowing
where my flashlight is!"
00:48:45.85\00:48:48.09
I don't ever go to bed
without knowing where my
00:48:49.22\00:48:52.39
flashlight is.
Dan, are you the same?
00:48:52.43\00:48:54.50
I would think you
are 'cause you're a
00:48:54.56\00:48:56.43
techie like I am.
But don't go to bed
00:48:56.46\00:48:59.80
without knowing
where your Bible is. It's
00:49:01.94\00:49:04.81
right by our bed
because every night,
00:49:04.87\00:49:06.88
we read it before we
go to bed. You've got
00:49:07.71\00:49:11.31
to plan your life
to have a spiritual,
00:49:11.35\00:49:13.75
successful life
every day. Amen? [Amen.]
00:49:13.85\00:49:16.45
You gotta plan it
purposefully so that
00:49:16.52\00:49:18.25
the old things stay
dead and the new things
00:49:18.39\00:49:21.42
keep staying new
every day. One of the
00:49:21.52\00:49:24.23
dangers, and the
Lord talked about this
00:49:24.33\00:49:25.89
to the church of
Ephesus- the church of Ephesus
00:49:25.96\00:49:28.13
had a new awakening.
The church of Ephesus
00:49:28.20\00:49:30.47
was the period
when the church just was
00:49:30.57\00:49:32.67
burgeoning. It was
exploding. And as the
00:49:32.73\00:49:36.07
disciples began to
die off, the rebuke that
00:49:36.14\00:49:40.51
the Lord had for
the church of Ephesus
00:49:40.61\00:49:41.94
is they lost their
first love. So, you
00:49:41.98\00:49:45.15
got to, every day, you
got to keep your love alive
00:49:45.21\00:49:47.65
in Christ. Amen?
Let's look at the
00:49:47.72\00:49:50.39
next one. What
number am I up to? [33.]
00:49:50.45\00:49:52.75
33. Okay. Another component that
00:49:52.82\00:49:57.46
keeps- this is
another thing that- this is
00:49:57.53\00:50:04.60
another very important question.
00:50:04.70\00:50:06.03
This is a- I'm
including this text
00:50:10.94\00:50:13.61
for a special
reason, and you might not
00:50:13.71\00:50:15.98
see the word 'conversion'
in it, but I'll tell you
00:50:16.08\00:50:18.51
the reason why I've
chosen it. All right,
00:50:18.58\00:50:21.25
Ephesians 2:10.
Now, we like Ephesians 2
00:50:21.35\00:50:23.55
verse 8 and 9
because the Bible says, "For
00:50:23.65\00:50:25.65
by grace are you
saved through faith
00:50:25.75\00:50:27.56
and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God-
00:50:27.66\00:50:30.63
not of works lest
any man should boast."
00:50:30.73\00:50:32.39
We like that.
But verse 10 is also
00:50:32.49\00:50:34.66
included; we cannot
forget that. And here
00:50:34.73\00:50:36.83
it is. The Bible says...
00:50:36.87\00:50:38.30
I likened this to
a person being hired.
00:50:52.51\00:50:54.72
I likened this
to a person being-
00:50:55.48\00:50:57.05
by the way, we are
created in Christ Jesus.
00:50:57.12\00:50:58.92
That's the truth,
right? But I likened this to
00:50:58.99\00:51:02.19
a person being
hired by a company. The
00:51:02.22\00:51:04.76
person being hired
by the company says
00:51:04.86\00:51:06.59
to the employer,
"This is all I'm going to do
00:51:06.70\00:51:10.37
for your
company." The employer says,
00:51:10.43\00:51:12.67
"Excuse me?" "I got
the job, right? But this
00:51:13.37\00:51:16.77
is all I'm going to
do for your company."
00:51:16.84\00:51:19.07
The employer
says, "But there's a job
00:51:19.24\00:51:21.48
description that
we've hired you to fulfill."
00:51:21.54\00:51:24.51
And you say,
"Well, let me see the job
00:51:24.65\00:51:26.01
description." And
so, watch this. I'm
00:51:26.08\00:51:28.52
going to be
cynical intentionally.
00:51:28.58\00:51:30.62
"Okay, I'll come to
church, but I'm not coming to
00:51:30.69\00:51:34.26
Sabbath school."
"Uhh, yeah; I'll decide
00:51:34.32\00:51:39.29
whether or not Wednesday night
00:51:39.39\00:51:40.73
prayer meeting's
going to be a part of my
00:51:40.76\00:51:42.10
exercise. I'm not
sure about that. I know
00:51:42.13\00:51:43.50
it's in the job
description." You
00:51:43.57\00:51:44.90
said, "Don't
forsake the assembling of
00:51:44.97\00:51:46.30
ourselves together,
but I gotta think about
00:51:46.33\00:51:47.67
that one. "Share
my faith? Uh, I don't
00:51:47.70\00:51:51.64
know about that
one. Hmm. Give me some
00:51:51.71\00:51:54.61
time to think about
that one." When you look
00:51:54.68\00:51:57.35
at this passage,
it says before the
00:51:57.45\00:51:59.51
Lord shows us, He
had work for us to do.
00:51:59.65\00:52:03.99
"Created in Christ
Jesus for good works which
00:52:04.09\00:52:08.69
God prepared
beforehand that we should walk
00:52:08.76\00:52:13.83
in them. Here's my
point- so important
00:52:13.90\00:52:17.23
on conversion.
People that are not actively
00:52:17.27\00:52:19.47
involved in the
mission of their church in
00:52:19.53\00:52:22.00
some capacity is
not being converted.
00:52:22.07\00:52:25.81
'Cause it's gonna get
old. You can only sit at
00:52:25.91\00:52:30.05
the bus station long
enough. After a while,
00:52:30.11\00:52:33.05
it gets boring
that you're waiting.
00:52:33.15\00:52:34.88
"What are you
doing?" "I'm waiting for the
00:52:34.98\00:52:36.42
bus." "I'm waiting
for Jesus to come."
00:52:36.48\00:52:39.42
What are you doin'?
"I'm waiting for Jesus
00:52:39.52\00:52:43.93
to come."
There's a reason why the
00:52:43.99\00:52:46.56
Lord says,
"Blessed is the servant whom
00:52:46.63\00:52:48.96
the master when he
comes finds so doing."
00:52:49.03\00:52:51.90
And as the old
negro spiritual, "Keep so
00:52:51.93\00:52:55.17
busy working for
Jesus, ain't got time
00:52:55.24\00:52:57.41
to die." So many
people are not doing
00:52:57.51\00:53:00.28
anything for the
Lord, so after a while,
00:53:00.34\00:53:03.31
their new birth
gets stale. It starts to
00:53:03.41\00:53:07.15
dry up, 'cause I'm
not connected to the
00:53:07.25\00:53:09.62
mission at all.
Let's try to apply that to
00:53:09.68\00:53:11.49
other aspects of
life. Let's just say, you
00:53:11.55\00:53:13.86
work at the
hospital, or you work for an
00:53:13.92\00:53:15.36
airline, or you
work- wherever you work!
00:53:15.39\00:53:17.06
And you go to
work every day and you
00:53:17.13\00:53:19.26
sit down. "What are
you doin'?" "I'm waiting
00:53:19.33\00:53:22.40
for payday." "You're
waiting for...payday?"
00:53:22.50\00:53:27.90
That's why- you
know, somebody once
00:53:28.84\00:53:30.77
said, "People
stop looking for work
00:53:30.84\00:53:32.17
when they find a
job." And the same thing is
00:53:32.21\00:53:35.54
true with many
churches! People stop looking
00:53:35.61\00:53:37.41
for work when
they find a church! But
00:53:37.51\00:53:40.12
God didn't call
us to be members;
00:53:40.22\00:53:43.59
he called us to be
workmen! The workmen
00:53:43.69\00:53:48.42
that needeth not
to be ashamed rightly
00:53:48.49\00:53:51.16
dividing the word
of truth. But so many
00:53:51.26\00:53:53.66
people have nothing
they're connected to,
00:53:53.73\00:53:55.83
so they get
excited about joining, they
00:53:55.93\00:53:57.83
get baptized,
they're happy, but when they
00:53:57.97\00:54:00.77
don't get connection
to a mission, some aspect
00:54:00.87\00:54:03.94
of the growth of the
church, they will die.
00:54:04.04\00:54:07.48
They will die,
because you know what? The
00:54:07.54\00:54:11.11
most exciting event-
if you're just waiting
00:54:11.18\00:54:15.02
for the event to
start, after a while,
00:54:15.08\00:54:16.75
it just gets
boring. And like a cat, and
00:54:16.85\00:54:20.92
like a dog, we
become nothing more than an
00:54:21.02\00:54:24.23
exalted animal,
meaning, "I'm waiting to get
00:54:24.33\00:54:27.83
fed, waiting for
you to take me out,
00:54:27.90\00:54:29.83
waiting for you to
give me a bath, waiting
00:54:29.90\00:54:31.73
for you to walk
me..." That's what an animal
00:54:31.83\00:54:34.54
does-they wait.
They wait for their food,
00:54:34.60\00:54:37.44
they wait for
their water, they wait to
00:54:37.51\00:54:38.84
be petted, they
wait till you come home,
00:54:38.87\00:54:40.41
they wait till
you leave. Christians
00:54:40.48\00:54:42.94
ought to be
active. Amen? [Amen.]
00:54:43.01\00:54:44.98
Created in
Christ- which God prepared
00:54:45.08\00:54:48.52
beforehand that we
should walk in... And
00:54:48.62\00:54:51.45
my encouragement is,
find a way-... I always
00:54:51.52\00:54:54.99
say to people-
and I was talking with
00:54:55.06\00:54:56.39
somebody this week
that was saying, "I
00:54:56.42\00:54:58.06
don't know what
happened but I just don't feel
00:54:58.13\00:54:59.46
that joy
anymore." You can't find joy
00:54:59.53\00:55:02.83
in something you're
not doing. Right? You'll
00:55:02.93\00:55:07.04
never- "Well, I
can't remember the Bible
00:55:07.14\00:55:09.90
passages." Well,
how will you remember
00:55:09.97\00:55:12.27
the Bible passages
if you're not reading
00:55:12.37\00:55:14.54
the Bible? And don't
just read it; share it!
00:55:14.61\00:55:18.11
You remember what
you share. Right? That's
00:55:18.21\00:55:21.82
why teachers are so
good; they're telling
00:55:21.92\00:55:23.55
young kids every
day! Math, social studies,
00:55:23.65\00:55:27.16
science- and the
longer they do it,
00:55:27.26\00:55:29.59
they become like
these walking libraries of
00:55:29.69\00:55:31.76
numbers and
statistics and figures- keep
00:55:31.86\00:55:34.16
doing it for a number
of years, Jody. You'll
00:55:34.23\00:55:35.83
be like a professor just
by default because you're
00:55:35.90\00:55:38.90
sharing it every
single day! What you don't
00:55:38.97\00:55:41.57
use, you will...lose.
That's what happened
00:55:41.64\00:55:45.21
with the guy with
the one talent. He buried
00:55:45.27\00:55:47.24
it. Did nothing
with it and nothing came
00:55:47.31\00:55:51.38
out of it. Let's try
to get one more here.
00:55:51.45\00:55:53.28
So, get connected
to some mission. Do
00:55:53.42\00:55:55.88
something, because
I don't care how good
00:55:55.98\00:55:57.45
your church is and how
truthful what they teach
00:55:57.55\00:56:00.06
is; if you're not
involved, you're gonna
00:56:00.12\00:56:03.46
die! You are going to
die, because conversion
00:56:03.49\00:56:07.80
requires activity.
Not working to be saved,
00:56:07.86\00:56:11.47
but working
because you are in a saving
00:56:11.53\00:56:13.84
relationship.
Okay... #34. Let's try to
00:56:13.94\00:56:17.81
get one more in here.
00:56:17.87\00:56:19.21
I think this is the
last one we're going
00:56:23.78\00:56:25.45
to get. Let's try
to plug this right
00:56:25.55\00:56:26.88
away. Colossians
3:5-7- let me go ahead and
00:56:26.92\00:56:29.15
read it. In the interest
of the clock, here it is.
00:56:29.18\00:56:32.12
"Therefore," the
apostle Paul, "put to death
00:56:32.22\00:56:36.83
your members." That
is, not the church members.
00:56:36.93\00:56:41.20
[laughter] I'm going to clarify.
00:56:41.30\00:56:43.50
That means the
things that happened in your
00:56:43.53\00:56:45.17
life- the things
that are controlling you.
00:56:45.23\00:56:47.07
Notice the challenges...
00:56:50.67\00:56:52.17
That's where you
used to walk. But to not
00:57:12.13\00:57:14.46
go there again-
put them to death. Do
00:57:14.53\00:57:17.83
what? Put 'em to
death. How do you put them
00:57:17.93\00:57:20.77
to death? I'm going
to ask the question-
00:57:20.84\00:57:22.40
how do you put
them to death? Somebody
00:57:22.44\00:57:24.61
tell me. [Conversion.
Surrender.] How often
00:57:24.67\00:57:32.41
do you put them to
death? [Daily.] When you
00:57:32.51\00:57:35.78
put them to death,
you put them to death by
00:57:35.85\00:57:38.02
when you wake up in
the morning, "Father,
00:57:38.05\00:57:39.55
I commit my
life into your hands;
00:57:40.36\00:57:42.82
I cannot keep myself."
And don't just verbally
00:57:42.86\00:57:46.09
commit your life
into the Lord's hands;
00:57:46.19\00:57:47.90
do it by activity.
Read His Word, get it in
00:57:47.96\00:57:50.57
there because the
Word of God is like food.
00:57:50.67\00:57:52.80
It's like what?
Food. And Paul in Ephesians
00:57:52.87\00:57:55.80
says, "The Word of
God effectively works
00:57:55.90\00:57:58.21
in those who
believe." Meaning, if it's the
00:57:58.27\00:58:00.38
bread of life, can
you get nourishment from
00:58:00.44\00:58:02.91
bread you don't
eat? No! Can you get your
00:58:02.98\00:58:05.25
thirst quenched from
water you don't drink?
00:58:05.31\00:58:08.12
No. But those
who hunger and thirst
00:58:08.18\00:58:10.49
after righteousness-
what's the promise?-
00:58:10.59\00:58:12.79
will be filled.
We're going to continue-
00:58:12.85\00:58:16.26
we have 3 more
questions in the next program,
00:58:16.36\00:58:18.19
but let me tell you,
friends. We sure need
00:58:18.26\00:58:20.00
to believe that
the Lord has a desire
00:58:20.10\00:58:22.43
for each one of
us- not only to repent-
00:58:22.46\00:58:24.27
but to be
converted. And if it doesn't
00:58:24.30\00:58:26.20
make sense, keep
studying. One day, it
00:58:26.27\00:58:28.07
will come into a sharper focus.
00:58:28.14\00:58:29.97
God bless you.
00:58:30.04\00:58:31.77