Hello and welcome
to Wednesday night, A
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Sharper Focus.
Thank you for taking the
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time to tune in
and join us for a walk
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through the Bible.
Now, wherever you're
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joining us from,
it's time to get your
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Bibles and expect
the Lord to guide us in
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this study of our
greatest need. Now,
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we've been studying
this for a while because
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it's our greatest
need. Can we get an amen?
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[Amen.] When you
are talking about your
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greatest need, you
need to know what that
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need is and eyeing out
every particular. I'll let
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you know in just
a moment how to get
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a copy of the lesson,
and we'll sing our theme
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song in just a
moment, but before we do
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anything else,
we always begin with
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prayer. Bow your
heads with us. Loving Father
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in heaven, thank You
for the privilege and
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opportunity of
our opening Your Word.
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We know that You'll
guide our minds as we
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study. We pray that
Your Holy Spirit will
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also be our
Teacher. Bless the audience
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that's listening
and watching. May we not
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only learn, but may
we be given the strength
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and the desire,
Lord, to serve You with our
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whole heart. In
Jesus' name, amen. If you'd
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like a copy of
the lesson, go to this
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following website: ASF.3ABN.org
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and there, you'll
find lesson #39. We are
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going to be ending
lesson #39 and question
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#37, and after
this, we'll go to our next
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topic. Lesson
#39; what number? 39.
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Why don't we welcome
our audience with a hearty
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amen? Can we do that?
[Amen.] Here we are in southern
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Illinois, enjoying
the changing of the
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seasons. But wherever
you're joining us from,
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I hope your weather
is good. Tonight, we
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are going to begin
by singing our theme
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song. We always like
to sing our theme song,
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because our theme
song is the overreaching
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message of what
we've been studying for
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months-and
years! Our theme song is
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called "Victory
in Jesus." Let's sing
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that together.
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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 sin
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And won the victory
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Oh, 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!)
Oh, 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? [Amen.]
Victory in Jesus. Tonight's
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topic is the
truth about our greatest
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need. [Music
starts playing again] I
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guess they want
us to sing it again.
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[laughter] That
may take a little more
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time than I'm
willing to give right now,
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but we enjoy it.
You know, people have
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sent us emails,
asking for the music.
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A lady sent me an
email and she said, "Have you
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recorded that
song yet? If you record
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that song, I will buy
it." So, we appreciate
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your thoughtful
words for us. No, I haven't
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recorded it, but as I
see, everyone can have
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an opportunity of
singing that song,
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"Victory in Jesus"
together. I, tonight,
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want to lay some
foundation. We've
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been talking from
week to week about our
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greatest need.
Now, we've been talking
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about repentance
and conversion-not just
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baptism. I want to make
a point tonight, because
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there are many
people that desire to get
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baptized. Some people
do get baptized. Baptism
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is an external expression
of an inward commitment
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to Christ. Let's
repeat- baptism is an external
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expression of an
inward commitment to Christ.
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Baptism doesn't
change you. Baptism
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is a public
testimony that the Lord has
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come in and made
the change. I want you
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to open your Bibles
to Ezekiel chapter 37.
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We're going to
look at before, during,
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and after.
Before, during, and after,
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because there's a
picture in the Bible.
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Matter of fact,
this passage has received
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so much attention.
Ezekiel chapter 37.
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If you know where
Daniel is, go back
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one book to
Ezekiel. Ezekiel chapter 37.
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An amazing story.
Okay, here we are.
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I told you to turn
there and I'm looking
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at you turn... Now,
I am there. The vision
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of dry bones. Songs
have been sung about
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the knee bone is
connected to the...
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...whatever.
Whatever it's connected to.
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It's not connected
to the elbow; make sure.
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It eventually gets
there. But bones are
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connected to bones.
But here's- look at the
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question. Let's
look at this picture, and
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we're going to
dissect it together. Maybe not
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a good word because
it's already dissected.
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Dissected. Well,
look at Ezekiel 37:1 "The
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hand of the
Lord came upon me and
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brought me out in
the Spirit of the Lord
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and set me down in
the midst of the valley,
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and it was,"
together, "full of bones." Every
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church has bones in
it. We all have bones.
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But the question
is... gonna come up later.
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"Then He caused me
to pass by them all,
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all around. And
behold, there were very many
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in the open valley,
and indeed they were,"
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what? "Very
dry." Which means- it
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indicates that
these bones were dead for
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some time, because
bones, they dry out
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a natural process
of drying out. If you
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open up a
coffin, which, hopefully,
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none of us have
had the task to do, but
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if you open up a
coffin- and based
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on the date of
the person's death, or
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even if you don't
know when they died
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and you see a lot
of dust in the there
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and the bones are
like... You say they've
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been dead for...a
long time. The picture is
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presented here. Look
at the questions that
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are asked. This is
the question that's asked.
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I'm going to come back
to this story throughout
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the study
tonight, because in each
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juncture of the
story, another section of
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this question
that's presented to us is
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going to be
answered in this story. Here
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it is. "And He said
to me, 'Son of man-'"
00:09:04.01\00:09:07.98
let's read the next
four words together,
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"'can these bones
live?' So I answered, 'O Lord
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God, You know.'"
In other words, "Only
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You know!" When we
think of the picture
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that is being
presented here, this picture is
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not a one-sided
picture. It's not just talking
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about people that
don't know the Lord;
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it's also presenting a
picture of people that DID know
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the Lord. But
somewhere along the way, their
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experience died.
So whatever category
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you're in,
whether you don't know the
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Lord or whether
you knew the Lord and
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your experience
died, the question is asked
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the same. "Can
these dead bones live?"
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Who's the only One
that knows? Tell me.
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"O Lord God, You
know." Let's look at some
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of the parameters.
00:10:02.93\00:10:04.27
Go to question
#27. We're going to milk
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this story, because
you're going to see-
00:10:07.54\00:10:12.91
well, I'm going to
go back and refer to
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particular
portions of the story that
00:10:14.64\00:10:17.48
fit into the
context of the questions
00:10:17.58\00:10:20.12
we're going to
answer. Now, if we've gone
00:10:20.22\00:10:22.22
over some of
them, be patient with me
00:10:22.28\00:10:23.82
because I want to
bring this story into the
00:10:23.89\00:10:26.72
questions that
we may have covered
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already. Okay, question #27.
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What else?
Let's go to Acts 3:19.
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Let me ask you a
question. Does baptism
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change us? No. If
you're not changed
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prior to that-if
you've not invited the Lord
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to come in-you get
wet, you go blow-dry
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your hair, and you
go home the same way
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you got there.
That commitment has to
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be made ahead of
time. Baptism doesn't
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ch- and there
are some people that
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say, "I got to get
baptized! I got to get
00:11:01.89\00:11:03.22
baptized!" What we
need first is a changed
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life, and then
that baptism says, "I'm
00:11:04.86\00:11:08.50
ready for this
new journey." The new
00:11:08.56\00:11:10.83
journey starts.
You see, Jesus knew
00:11:10.87\00:11:13.54
His mission before
He was baptized. He
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didn't get
baptized to wash away His
00:11:16.10\00:11:17.54
sin, because He
was sinless. There's
00:11:17.64\00:11:20.18
a pattern you find
in scripture. That's
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also a custom in the
Jewish religious world
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(when I speak in
antiquity). Baptism
00:11:29.42\00:11:33.12
was something
that they entered into
00:11:33.19\00:11:35.32
prior to
beginning the work in the
00:11:35.39\00:11:38.03
priesthood. So in
the same way, Jesus
00:11:38.09\00:11:42.16
entered into
baptism before He began His
00:11:42.23\00:11:44.23
ministry. So what
makes us any different?
00:11:44.30\00:11:47.70
You cannot begin a
ministry with Christ
00:11:47.77\00:11:50.21
unless you enter
into baptism. Baptism is
00:11:50.31\00:11:54.01
something significantly
important. We're not
00:11:54.08\00:11:55.61
talking about it in
this particular topic;
00:11:55.71\00:11:57.15
let's go and
answer the question first,
00:11:57.25\00:11:58.85
and then I'll show
you how it fits. Here's
00:11:58.95\00:12:01.48
the answer. What else
besides repentance does
00:12:01.58\00:12:04.12
the Bible describe
for a changed life? Here
00:12:04.19\00:12:06.72
it is- let's read
this first one together.
00:12:06.82\00:12:08.66
So, when you know
that your past is blotted
00:12:21.67\00:12:25.87
out, when you know
that your record is
00:12:25.94\00:12:28.01
expunged, when you
know that your sentence
00:12:28.04\00:12:31.21
has been commuted,
you don't say, "Aw, man!
00:12:31.28\00:12:34.42
My sentence was
commuted." What do you do? Come
00:12:34.48\00:12:39.42
on. "My sentence
has been commuted! My
00:12:39.49\00:12:42.52
crime has been paid
for! My record has been
00:12:42.62\00:12:45.66
expunged." But the
conversion part, it
00:12:45.69\00:12:52.30
comes, "Repent and
be converted." So often,
00:12:52.43\00:12:56.60
people enter into a
relationship through
00:12:56.67\00:12:58.97
baptism, but
they don't repent of
00:12:59.07\00:13:01.04
anything, and
then therefore, if you
00:13:01.11\00:13:02.91
don't repent,
conversion doesn't happen.
00:13:02.98\00:13:04.85
Repentance is really
a change of direction.
00:13:04.98\00:13:08.42
The person is living
their lives, going to
00:13:08.52\00:13:11.52
the left or, in
the wrong direction (I
00:13:11.59\00:13:13.66
use the word
'left' because the Bible
00:13:13.69\00:13:15.02
always prescribes
Jesus on the right
00:13:15.06\00:13:16.39
hand of the
Father). But if anyone lives
00:13:16.42\00:13:18.69
their life going to
the left, and that's
00:13:18.79\00:13:20.56
the category the
goader on the left...and when
00:13:20.63\00:13:25.03
they accept
Christ, they don't continue
00:13:25.07\00:13:26.40
in the same direction.
Repent- they recognize
00:13:26.50\00:13:29.97
that they are going
in the wrong direction,
00:13:30.07\00:13:32.04
and that's where
studying God's Word comes in.
00:13:32.14\00:13:34.71
God's Word points
out the direction your
00:13:34.78\00:13:37.01
life is headed. It
reveals whether or not you're
00:13:37.05\00:13:40.12
going in the wrong
direction. It says, "You
00:13:40.18\00:13:41.88
are going in the
wrong direction. You need to
00:13:41.92\00:13:43.89
make a change." But
let me make a point-
00:13:43.95\00:13:45.89
making the change
without committing
00:13:45.95\00:13:49.12
your life to
Christ is like putting old
00:13:49.19\00:13:51.59
wine- it's like
putting new wine in old
00:13:51.69\00:13:54.70
wine skins. Now,
we don't know what
00:13:54.80\00:13:56.77
that is because we
don't drink wine (most of us
00:13:56.80\00:13:59.13
don't)... I just wanted to see
00:13:59.23\00:14:02.97
if you would
respond. None of us do! Amen?
00:14:03.04\00:14:05.51
[laughter] None of
us drink wine. Grape
00:14:05.57\00:14:09.41
juice, yes. Fruit
of the vine. But we
00:14:09.48\00:14:13.95
don't drink
wine. But the Bible's
00:14:14.02\00:14:15.85
analogy is if
you put new wine in
00:14:15.92\00:14:18.39
old wineskins,
what happens is the
00:14:18.45\00:14:19.79
wineskins, after a
while, they become hard.
00:14:19.85\00:14:22.29
By continually putting wine, the
00:14:22.36\00:14:24.83
leather of the
skin starts to absorb
00:14:24.89\00:14:26.80
immediately. The
ingredients are in the
00:14:26.86\00:14:30.80
fruit. When it's empty, it dries
00:14:30.87\00:14:33.37
out. Put more
in, it absorbs more,
00:14:33.44\00:14:36.71
it dries. And
after a while, you could
00:14:36.77\00:14:38.41
tap onto the
leather that was supple in
00:14:38.44\00:14:40.91
the very beginning,
but all of a sudden,
00:14:40.98\00:14:42.31
it's really,
really hard. Well, what's
00:14:42.34\00:14:44.55
happening is,
every time they put new
00:14:44.58\00:14:46.95
wine in that, in
the matter of a day,
00:14:47.02\00:14:49.98
the wine starts a
natural process of
00:14:50.05\00:14:52.45
fermentation. So
it's expanding the skin
00:14:53.32\00:14:56.46
even more. When
something new comes into
00:14:56.49\00:15:00.43
your life, the
Lord wants to expand
00:15:00.46\00:15:02.06
your horizon,
expand your understanding.
00:15:02.10\00:15:05.17
But if He tries to
expand your understanding
00:15:05.23\00:15:07.37
and you haven't
changed, you're gonna bust!
00:15:07.44\00:15:10.17
You can't contain
it. Don't put new wine
00:15:10.24\00:15:14.54
in old wineskins.
New wineskins happen
00:15:14.58\00:15:18.95
in the person's
life who has repented
00:15:19.01\00:15:20.88
and is converted,
not just baptized. Amen?
00:15:20.92\00:15:24.92
So write that
down. What else besides
00:15:24.95\00:15:26.32
repentance does the
Bible prescribe for a
00:15:26.39\00:15:28.32
changed life?
What it is - converted.
00:15:28.39\00:15:31.89
Repent and be
converted. Go to Luke 9:23.
00:15:31.99\00:15:34.56
Keep Ezekiel there
because we're going
00:15:36.06\00:15:37.93
to see some components
in there. Go to Luke 9:23;
00:15:38.03\00:15:40.87
let me just show you.
Couple of things here.
00:15:40.94\00:15:44.21
Luke 9:23. It's
important when you're thinking
00:15:44.27\00:15:51.68
about committing
your life to Christ
00:15:51.71\00:15:53.65
and then following
that commitment in baptism
00:15:53.72\00:15:55.78
that you do the right
thing. And what do you
00:15:56.72\00:16:00.19
do that's right?
Let's look at Luke 9:23.
00:16:00.26\00:16:02.56
9:23. "He said to
them all, if anyone
00:16:03.83\00:16:10.23
desires to come after
me, let him do," what?
00:16:10.30\00:16:14.37
"Deny himself and
take up his cross,"
00:16:15.20\00:16:18.91
how often? "Daily,"
and do what? "Follow
00:16:18.97\00:16:22.54
Me." Have you ever
had to deny yourself
00:16:22.58\00:16:24.08
of something? We
have a health team;
00:16:24.15\00:16:27.05
they do blood pressure
checks and blood checks
00:16:27.12\00:16:29.48
on Wednesday nights.
My wife got hers done
00:16:29.52\00:16:31.75
tonight. I'm not
going to tell the world what
00:16:31.79\00:16:33.69
her sugar level
is, but some denial is
00:16:33.76\00:16:40.96
on the way.
[laughter] Love you, honey! You
00:16:41.06\00:16:46.67
know, I say to her,
"The reason why your
00:16:46.70\00:16:48.24
sugar's so high
is because you hugged
00:16:48.30\00:16:49.64
me before we came
to church." And that's
00:16:49.67\00:16:51.51
probably why we-
she's sweet and I'm
00:16:51.61\00:16:53.71
very sweet...
Anyway. A little laughter
00:16:53.78\00:16:57.75
is not bad.
[laughs] So I said, "Honey,
00:16:57.78\00:17:01.28
if we're going to
church, you're going to get
00:17:01.38\00:17:02.72
your blood
checked. Do not hug me or
00:17:02.75\00:17:04.42
kiss me; your
blood pressure's gonna go
00:17:04.45\00:17:05.79
up!" Or your sugar
levels... Where did
00:17:05.82\00:17:09.92
that come from. I
have no idea. Forgive
00:17:09.96\00:17:12.16
me... But let
us get to the place
00:17:12.19\00:17:17.93
where when we know
what is not good for
00:17:18.00\00:17:19.80
us spiritually...
Let's go to the next
00:17:19.87\00:17:23.57
levels. Physically...
Appetite, entertainment,
00:17:23.61\00:17:32.41
way of life...
What happens is the body
00:17:33.35\00:17:36.62
and the mind get used
to a certain way of life.
00:17:36.69\00:17:39.89
Just imagine a
person doing something for
00:17:39.95\00:17:42.36
10 years, 11
years, 12 years, in their
00:17:42.42\00:17:45.49
adult years and
they're now maybe in their
00:17:45.53\00:17:47.86
20s or 30s or
40s, and they've lived
00:17:47.90\00:17:49.76
a certain way all
the time, and they got
00:17:49.83\00:17:51.37
baptized and they
say, "I'm so excited!
00:17:51.43\00:17:53.27
I just got
baptized." But that means he
00:17:53.34\00:17:56.07
just made a
U-turn. The journey begins
00:17:56.14\00:17:58.41
in the right
direction now. And a lot of
00:17:58.47\00:18:01.71
the things that
you passed on the way
00:18:01.74\00:18:03.65
going the wrong
way, you pass on the way
00:18:03.71\00:18:05.95
going the right
way. But that's why it's
00:18:06.01\00:18:08.38
called, "Deny yourself,"
because you're going to
00:18:08.45\00:18:09.98
pass it. "Deny
yourself" says, "I see it, but
00:18:10.05\00:18:14.49
I'm not getting
off." [inhales repeatedly]
00:18:14.56\00:18:18.76
"I smell it, but
I'm not eating it."
00:18:18.86\00:18:20.70
"Should I go to
that show-... No, I'm
00:18:23.20\00:18:25.03
not going." Deny
yourself. Denial is
00:18:25.10\00:18:28.50
not a natural
thing. How does it happen?
00:18:28.54\00:18:33.48
How often should
we deny ourselves?
00:18:34.31\00:18:36.08
[Daily.] Go to 1
Corinthians 15:31.
00:18:36.14\00:18:42.48
1 Corinthians-
did I say 15? Yeah.
00:18:47.86\00:18:50.53
15:31. Okay.
00:18:53.40\00:18:55.60
Look at 1
Corinthians 15:31. It says, "I
00:19:00.47\00:19:05.87
affirm by the
boasting in you, which I have
00:19:05.97\00:19:09.21
in Christ Jesus
our Lord..." What are
00:19:09.28\00:19:11.88
the next three
words? "I die...daily." So
00:19:11.95\00:19:16.58
this whole thing
about repenting and being
00:19:16.69\00:19:18.95
converted... The
conversion happens
00:19:18.99\00:19:21.69
gradually! It doesn't
happen in one decision.
00:19:21.76\00:19:24.13
Right? Have you ever
rejoiced? Say you say,
00:19:24.76\00:19:27.00
"Okay, I stuck to my
plan today." It could
00:19:27.10\00:19:29.96
be diet, it could
be a project you have,
00:19:30.03\00:19:33.37
it could be
building a project, it could
00:19:33.44\00:19:35.60
be writing a book...
It could be anything,
00:19:35.64\00:19:38.97
but you said, "I
wrote it all down
00:19:39.01\00:19:41.01
and I got it
done today." And you
00:19:41.08\00:19:42.91
feel really,
really good. You get up
00:19:42.98\00:19:44.58
the next day with
the commendation of the
00:19:44.65\00:19:46.45
last day on our
shoulder and you feel really,
00:19:46.51\00:19:48.88
really good, and
you say, "What time is
00:19:48.95\00:19:52.15
it?" And you
realize you are not on
00:19:52.25\00:19:55.56
schedule to
accomplish what you did the day
00:19:55.62\00:19:57.79
before. So, this
whole denial process,
00:19:57.86\00:20:00.70
this whole
process of repentance and
00:20:00.73\00:20:03.16
daily conversion
and dying to self-daily
00:20:03.20\00:20:05.83
starts in the
morning. Starts when? [In the
00:20:06.20\00:20:09.77
morning.] You
gotta get some spiritual
00:20:09.87\00:20:11.91
food in your mind
in the morning, because
00:20:11.94\00:20:14.48
we cannot be
converted with natural things.
00:20:14.54\00:20:16.51
Natural things
will leave you in a
00:20:16.58\00:20:18.05
natural condition, but
spiritual things will put
00:20:18.15\00:20:20.22
you in a
spiritual condition. I said
00:20:20.28\00:20:22.15
to somebody once who
was having a difficult
00:20:22.25\00:20:23.69
time reading
their Bibles- I said,
00:20:23.72\00:20:25.32
"Read your Bible
because you have to,
00:20:25.39\00:20:27.32
and then you'll get
to the place that you
00:20:27.46\00:20:29.39
read it because
you WANT to." I had a
00:20:29.42\00:20:31.76
lady in one of our
meetings, she said,
00:20:31.79\00:20:33.13
"I HATED reading
my Bible, but since
00:20:33.16\00:20:35.16
these meetings
began, I started reading
00:20:35.20\00:20:37.53
it after you
did the topic on the
00:20:37.63\00:20:39.03
book that breeds."
She said, "You know
00:20:39.13\00:20:41.00
what? I'm starting
to love it again." When
00:20:41.04\00:20:43.81
you start to condition
your mind- and it comes
00:20:43.91\00:20:46.27
to foods, it comes
to changing the diet, it
00:20:46.31\00:20:49.01
comes to- didn't mean
to point to you, Luis.
00:20:49.08\00:20:50.75
It comes to
anything you do! Any time
00:20:50.78\00:20:53.62
you do something that
you haven't done before,
00:20:53.65\00:20:55.65
repetition starts
to create a habit.
00:20:55.72\00:20:58.19
A habit starts to
create a character.
00:20:58.29\00:21:00.59
A character
starts to determine a
00:21:00.69\00:21:02.19
destiny. An
action creates a...habit.
00:21:02.22\00:21:06.26
Habit creates a character, and
00:21:06.29\00:21:08.63
character
determines a destiny. So you
00:21:08.70\00:21:10.47
have to do that
daily denial. Am I
00:21:10.50\00:21:12.20
right? Let's go
to the very next one.
00:21:12.23\00:21:14.24
We're going to see
some of these things,
00:21:14.34\00:21:16.94
but I'm not going
to go back to Ezekiel
00:21:16.97\00:21:18.31
yet. Question #28.
00:21:18.34\00:21:20.38
I'm not going to
spend a ton of time
00:21:25.75\00:21:27.08
on this one because
we did cover it before,
00:21:27.12\00:21:28.92
but I'm just going
to go ahead and touch
00:21:29.02\00:21:30.62
it and keep going.
How important is the need
00:21:30.69\00:21:33.19
for a converted life?
Look at this. And this-
00:21:33.25\00:21:36.46
I talked about
this in the context of a
00:21:36.52\00:21:38.43
different way last
time, but I'm going to add
00:21:38.53\00:21:41.16
a different bend to
it this time. Alright?
00:21:41.23\00:21:44.67
Here's Matthew
18:3. The Bible says,
00:21:44.73\00:21:47.60
Now, we talked
about different aspects of
00:21:57.25\00:21:59.41
little children.
They forget quickly,
00:21:59.48\00:22:01.08
they forgive quickly
and all that... But you
00:22:01.12\00:22:03.08
know, the best time
to teach a person is
00:22:03.18\00:22:04.52
when they are
young. The best time to
00:22:04.55\00:22:09.72
create new habits in
your life is when your
00:22:09.76\00:22:11.59
Christian experience
is new. When it's what?
00:22:11.66\00:22:14.96
New. Because
sometimes, people get baptized-
00:22:15.00\00:22:17.93
I've seen this
happen, I think, in each one
00:22:18.00\00:22:21.57
of our lives and
maybe somebody listening
00:22:21.67\00:22:23.30
and watching. Each
one of our lives, we
00:22:23.34\00:22:25.04
start out, we get
excited- I remember
00:22:25.07\00:22:27.71
the story of a
pastor who- in his church,
00:22:27.74\00:22:29.54
there was a lady
that was so excited every
00:22:29.58\00:22:31.18
week. She was SO
excited every week.
00:22:31.21\00:22:33.15
"Amen" for everything.
She was always happy,
00:22:33.18\00:22:35.92
always positive.
And the members who
00:22:35.95\00:22:39.15
had already settled
in- old wineskins-said,
00:22:39.22\00:22:42.76
"Give her time. She's always
00:22:42.86\00:22:45.06
saying positive
things. Give her time." So
00:22:45.13\00:22:47.40
one of the members,
just not content with
00:22:47.50\00:22:49.43
the "give her time"
statement, they tried
00:22:49.50\00:22:50.87
to get her to say
something negative.
00:22:50.90\00:22:52.23
"What could you
say positive about the
00:22:52.27\00:22:54.60
devil?" "Huh?" She
said, "He sure is busy!"
00:22:54.67\00:22:59.84
[laughter] She
wouldn't say anything negative
00:22:59.91\00:23:04.45
about anybody-even
the devil! "He sure
00:23:04.51\00:23:06.61
is busy!" Are
you? That's a bright-
00:23:06.72\00:23:11.19
that's a good
attitude, right? It's really
00:23:11.25\00:23:13.39
good to see the positive side of
00:23:13.49\00:23:14.82
everything. But
the point of the matter
00:23:14.86\00:23:16.62
is, don't- when
a person is happy
00:23:16.73\00:23:18.69
in Jesus, don't
try to quench their
00:23:18.76\00:23:21.46
spirit. We ought to
be joyful! Sometimes,
00:23:21.53\00:23:25.40
people who I
call- an Adventist could
00:23:25.47\00:23:29.74
become a
Sadventist if they forget the
00:23:29.80\00:23:32.74
message. If you
think you've heard it so
00:23:32.77\00:23:35.24
many times, it
becomes, "Oh, I've heard that.
00:23:35.28\00:23:37.15
The second coming,
yeah, I heard about
00:23:37.25\00:23:38.58
that before. Whatever, yeah,
00:23:38.61\00:23:40.42
I know. Three angels'
messages, yeah, whatever."
00:23:40.52\00:23:42.45
And you become a
Sadventist and you
00:23:42.55\00:23:44.52
lose your joy! And
somebody else comes
00:23:44.59\00:23:47.72
in and says, "I've
never heard the three
00:23:47.79\00:23:50.23
angels' message!" And
they're excited and you
00:23:50.29\00:23:52.16
say, "Yeah, well,
I've heard it before."
00:23:52.26\00:23:54.03
And you kind of
pour water on their joy.
00:23:54.16\00:23:56.56
In order- when
you know that Jesus is
00:23:56.67\00:23:59.03
soon to come and you've
been given the privilege
00:23:59.13\00:24:01.74
to be a part of that
reunion or that union
00:24:01.80\00:24:04.27
with Christ, that
ought to bring you daily joy!
00:24:04.31\00:24:06.88
Amen? So, we have
to teach- and this is
00:24:06.94\00:24:10.21
the reason I'm adding
a different bend to this
00:24:10.25\00:24:12.85
rather than
about forgiveness and
00:24:12.91\00:24:14.62
forgetting the
past is the best time to
00:24:14.65\00:24:16.42
establish habits in
your life is when your
00:24:16.45\00:24:19.25
experience with
Christ is new. Now, for those
00:24:19.29\00:24:22.09
of you that have
said, "But I've been
00:24:22.16\00:24:23.59
Christian for x
amount of years!" Here's
00:24:23.63\00:24:25.99
a good
opportunity. God's mercies are
00:24:26.06\00:24:29.63
new every
morning, so make today the
00:24:29.70\00:24:33.37
first day of the
rest of your life.
00:24:33.44\00:24:35.70
Even if you fail
terribly! Go to bed
00:24:35.74\00:24:38.47
tonight, confess
that thing, give it to the
00:24:38.54\00:24:41.91
Lord, and get up in
the morning and say,
00:24:41.98\00:24:44.31
"Good morning,
self! Today, you and I are
00:24:44.41\00:24:48.12
going to read the
Bible! 'Cause I know if you
00:24:48.22\00:24:50.79
get out of this
bed-" talk to yourself.
00:24:50.89\00:24:52.39
"'Cause I know if
you get out of this bed
00:24:52.45\00:24:53.86
and take me with
you and we don't read
00:24:54.56\00:24:56.49
the Bible, we gonna
do some terrible things!"
00:24:56.52\00:24:58.29
Am I right? Have
you been there before?
00:24:58.33\00:25:01.63
I mean, this is not
an unusual scenario.
00:25:01.76\00:25:04.27
But if you say,
"You know what, I cannot
00:25:04.33\00:25:05.67
get out of the bed
because I remember the
00:25:05.70\00:25:07.34
commitment I made.
Lord, talk to me this
00:25:07.50\00:25:12.07
morning." And when
you open God's Word-
00:25:12.14\00:25:14.58
and even when you
end your day! Sometimes
00:25:14.64\00:25:17.21
we end our day with
news, what just happened-
00:25:17.28\00:25:19.75
a car crash, taxes
are going up, there's
00:25:19.81\00:25:23.02
a new issue in the
White House... If you
00:25:23.08\00:25:26.45
end your day with
Jesus in your mind, you know
00:25:26.62\00:25:30.93
what you have,
Nori? The Bible says, "He
00:25:30.99\00:25:32.96
will keep you in
perfect peace whose
00:25:33.03\00:25:35.40
mind is stayed on
Him." And you have sweet
00:25:35.50\00:25:38.33
sleep if you
don't go to bed with the
00:25:38.40\00:25:40.04
world on your
shoulder. So my wife and I-
00:25:40.10\00:25:42.47
if she's tired, I
read; if I'm tired,
00:25:42.50\00:25:44.34
she reads.
Sometimes, we kind of say...
00:25:44.37\00:25:46.71
"Let's read
something before we go to bed."
00:25:48.08\00:25:50.38
Just do it. And sometimes, like
00:25:50.45\00:25:53.55
last night, I did
that and she said,
00:25:53.65\00:25:54.98
"Yeah, I need
something." I need something.
00:25:55.02\00:25:57.72
'Cause you get
exhausted sometimes.
00:25:57.82\00:26:00.79
Don't lose that daily
opportunity to connect
00:26:00.86\00:26:04.03
with Christ. Amen?
Let's look at another
00:26:04.09\00:26:06.70
one. Go to #29. So
when you write that
00:26:06.76\00:26:08.60
down (how
important is the need for a
00:26:08.66\00:26:11.97
converted life), if
you're not converted,
00:26:12.03\00:26:14.17
you won't enter
the kingdom of heaven.
00:26:14.24\00:26:15.77
Day by day
conversion- and I want to tell
00:26:15.87\00:26:18.41
you something. A
habit is not difficult
00:26:18.44\00:26:21.61
to establish.
But it first has to
00:26:21.68\00:26:25.05
happen by
principle before it happens
00:26:25.11\00:26:27.35
naturally.
Somebody said, "Every time I
00:26:27.45\00:26:31.49
see you, you have
your Bible." "I forgot
00:26:31.55\00:26:33.69
I had it with
me." Because the first
00:26:33.79\00:26:36.42
time you took it,
it was like, "Hope
00:26:36.52\00:26:38.33
nobody sees it." But after like,
00:26:38.39\00:26:41.50
four months, it's
like, I don't care
00:26:41.56\00:26:44.60
who sees it! Yeah,
take it- in the train
00:26:44.63\00:26:49.20
to New York
City, I had my Bible on
00:26:49.30\00:26:50.74
the way to work in
Wall Street, read my
00:26:50.81\00:26:52.47
Bible. I've had
people in my church say,
00:26:52.57\00:26:56.58
"You read your
Bible on the train?" I'm
00:26:56.64\00:26:59.05
thinkin', people
are listening to their
00:26:59.11\00:27:00.88
music on the
train, somebody else is
00:27:00.98\00:27:02.32
cussin' on the
train, somebody else is
00:27:02.35\00:27:04.09
arguing "Get out of
my way" on the train,
00:27:04.12\00:27:06.35
why don't I keep
my mind on the Lord?
00:27:06.42\00:27:08.32
And I noticed when I
did that, my mind was stayed
00:27:08.36\00:27:11.26
on the Lord and I
found wonderful peace.
00:27:11.33\00:27:14.23
Let's look at the
transcript of life.
00:27:15.20\00:27:16.87
The transcript-
we're going to go a little
00:27:16.93\00:27:18.37
more quickly
now. The transcript of
00:27:18.43\00:27:19.87
life. Question #29.
00:27:19.90\00:27:22.07
Alright? Psalm
19:7. I'm going to hit
00:27:32.28\00:27:35.95
this one and
move on pretty quickly
00:27:36.05\00:27:37.39
'cause I'm going
to take you back to
00:27:37.42\00:27:39.09
Ezekiel. Let me
just keep going a
00:27:39.22\00:27:41.06
little further. Let
me keep going a little
00:27:41.12\00:27:43.22
further. Alright?
Let's look at that.
00:27:43.32\00:27:45.29
Psalm 19:7. So it
was amazing to me when
00:27:45.33\00:27:50.03
somebody says,
"God's law was changed/
00:27:50.10\00:27:52.07
nailed to the
cross." This text doesn't
00:27:52.10\00:27:54.20
even indicate any
desire or need to get
00:27:54.27\00:27:56.50
rid of it. Look
at Psalm 19:7. Here's
00:27:56.60\00:27:59.61
what the Bible
says. Let's read this one
00:27:59.67\00:28:01.71
together. Are you
ready? Here we go.
00:28:01.78\00:28:03.38
The law of the
Lord is what? Perfect.
00:28:14.06\00:28:16.42
If you follow
what's perfect, you'll
00:28:16.52\00:28:21.33
eventually learn
how to live within the
00:28:21.36\00:28:24.53
lines. Do you remember when you
00:28:24.63\00:28:27.27
first learned how to
color? Any kids here?
00:28:27.34\00:28:30.94
Nana? Know how
to color? Different
00:28:32.01\00:28:35.24
color coloring
book? Yeah, maybe not.
00:28:35.31\00:28:38.28
But we all used to be children!
00:28:38.41\00:28:40.62
Do you remember
that? Long before grey
00:28:40.68\00:28:42.82
hair. But I remember
my first coloring book.
00:28:42.88\00:28:46.42
...To say I remember
my first coloring book
00:28:50.43\00:28:51.76
is like, very
sketchy, 'cause it was not
00:28:51.79\00:28:54.10
yesterday. But I
think I'm not- I don't think
00:28:54.13\00:28:58.73
I'm different from
other kids, but have you
00:28:58.80\00:29:00.64
ever seen a little
kid get their first
00:29:00.70\00:29:02.04
coloring book? What do they do?
00:29:02.07\00:29:05.57
[laughter] No, no; his face
00:29:05.64\00:29:08.98
is not blue. [more laughter]
00:29:09.04\00:29:10.71
"No, no! Don't
use- no, no. His hands
00:29:10.75\00:29:13.72
are not green.
His hand and his face
00:29:13.75\00:29:15.65
are the same
color," and you're looking
00:29:15.72\00:29:17.29
at them. The OCD
person who's stressin'
00:29:17.35\00:29:23.99
over the kid with
a coloring book- the
00:29:24.03\00:29:26.06
other spouse says,
"It's his coloring book!
00:29:26.09\00:29:28.66
Let him do what he
wants." And as time
00:29:28.73\00:29:31.53
goes on, they
notice the lines. And then
00:29:31.63\00:29:35.57
after a while,
you say, "You did that
00:29:35.60\00:29:38.91
yourself?" "Yeah, I
did that." "Did anybody
00:29:39.01\00:29:41.34
show you?" "No."
When you follow God's
00:29:41.41\00:29:46.61
law, He'll keep
us in the lines. Our
00:29:46.68\00:29:51.95
lives won't be
like this. He'll start
00:29:52.05\00:29:54.69
changing us. Like
those pictures years
00:29:54.76\00:29:57.26
ago-one other
example- remember years ago,
00:29:57.33\00:29:59.49
you didn't know
what the picture was but
00:29:59.53\00:30:00.93
you just followed the
numbers? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
00:30:01.00\00:30:04.33
6, 7, 8, 9...
Dots, right? Follow the
00:30:04.40\00:30:08.30
dots. Now all you
guys are going to go home
00:30:08.40\00:30:10.61
and download a dot
picture off the internet.
00:30:10.67\00:30:12.51
[laughter] But
remember the dots? And then you
00:30:12.57\00:30:14.94
say, "Wow, it's
an eagle!" You can
00:30:15.01\00:30:17.41
never tell. If you
follow the line that
00:30:17.45\00:30:19.78
God establishes,
your life's picture
00:30:19.85\00:30:22.05
begins to develop
more beautifully than
00:30:22.08\00:30:24.19
you imagined.
Converting the soul one dot
00:30:24.22\00:30:27.66
at a time. But
you can't do it if you
00:30:27.69\00:30:30.59
go outside the
lines! So the law of God
00:30:30.66\00:30:33.19
is not a bad thing
because it keeps us
00:30:33.26\00:30:35.93
within the lines-
converting the soul.
00:30:36.00\00:30:39.23
Go ahead to the next one. So,
00:30:39.30\00:30:41.17
write that down-
converting the soul.
00:30:41.24\00:30:43.34
Now, we're going
to peak back into
00:30:43.41\00:30:44.91
Ezekiel. Here we are.
Let's read the question
00:30:44.97\00:30:47.94
and then we're going
to go back to Ezekiel.
00:30:48.01\00:30:49.44
Okay?
00:30:49.51\00:30:51.35
Okay, we're going to
dive into Ezekiel really
00:30:55.65\00:30:58.12
quickly here, and
we're going to answer
00:30:58.19\00:31:00.62
the question
first. But Ezekiel 36.
00:31:00.69\00:31:03.43
Ezekiel 36 is where
the answer's going to
00:31:03.53\00:31:07.20
be found. Ezekiel
36:26. All right, here it is.
00:31:07.26\00:31:12.63
We're back in
Ezekiel now. Before
00:31:12.70\00:31:15.34
you put the
answer on the screen for
00:31:15.40\00:31:17.34
our audience, I want
to go ahead and dive into
00:31:17.41\00:31:19.14
the story some,
because you remember the last
00:31:19.21\00:31:20.64
question we asked-
or the last question
00:31:20.68\00:31:23.08
asked was, "Can these dead bones
00:31:23.14\00:31:26.21
live?" And the
answer was- who's the only
00:31:26.28\00:31:28.55
One that knows? Only God knows!
00:31:28.58\00:31:31.29
But now, let's look at
this. This is an amazing-
00:31:31.35\00:31:34.62
I began to see this
in the context of the
00:31:35.59\00:31:39.16
entire gospel,
because what's the
00:31:39.23\00:31:41.13
first thing that
happens to get these
00:31:41.16\00:31:44.03
bones back to
life? Look at verse 4.
00:31:44.13\00:31:46.30
"Again, he said to me,
'Prophesy-'" Ezekiel 37
00:31:46.37\00:31:51.04
is where I am,
sorry. Ezekiel 37. Go to
00:31:51.14\00:31:55.68
Ezekiel 37. We'll
go to 36 and get the
00:31:55.74\00:31:57.68
picture here.
Alright? But Ezekiel 37. I want
00:31:57.78\00:32:01.28
you to see the
value of dry bones. Thank
00:32:01.38\00:32:03.12
you, honey.
"Again, he said to me,
00:32:03.18\00:32:06.92
'Prophesy to
these bones and say to
00:32:07.02\00:32:09.59
them, "Oh, dry
bones, hear the,"'" what?
00:32:09.66\00:32:13.80
"'"The word of the
Lord."'" One of the-
00:32:13.90\00:32:16.77
the word
'prophesy' here is not just,
00:32:16.83\00:32:19.83
"Oh, I have a
prophecy to give to you." The
00:32:19.90\00:32:22.17
word here really
is, "Preach to these
00:32:22.24\00:32:24.61
bones." And what
do you say to the
00:32:24.67\00:32:26.91
bones? "Listen to
God's Word!" I know what
00:32:26.98\00:32:32.45
Ezekiel feels like.
Some Sabbath morning-
00:32:32.55\00:32:35.65
and I know this is
not always the case,
00:32:35.72\00:32:38.09
but- some Sabbath
mornings, when the
00:32:38.15\00:32:40.36
preacher is ready
to prophesy, "The bones
00:32:40.42\00:32:42.32
are really dry." And
you say, "Unbelievable.
00:32:42.42\00:32:45.99
Look at that
valley." [laughter] "Can these
00:32:46.03\00:32:48.73
dead bones live?
Wake up!" But you
00:32:48.76\00:32:51.83
can't wake them
up! They are like, "We
00:32:51.93\00:32:55.04
are very dry." But the
first part of conversion
00:32:55.10\00:33:00.31
is, they've got
to hear the Word of
00:33:00.38\00:33:01.84
the Lord! They
gotta do what? Hear the
00:33:01.94\00:33:03.71
Word of the Lord. You
cannot have life without
00:33:03.78\00:33:08.45
the Word of the Lord!
You can't find it anyplace
00:33:08.52\00:33:11.95
else beside the
Word of the Lord.
00:33:12.05\00:33:14.62
Going on- and look
what happens. "'Thus,'
00:33:14.66\00:33:17.73
says the Lord to
these bones, 'Surely,
00:33:17.79\00:33:20.13
I will cause
breath to enter into you
00:33:20.23\00:33:24.03
and you shall
live.'" Where would the
00:33:24.07\00:33:26.10
life that we
need come from? Where
00:33:26.20\00:33:28.74
would it come
from? From the Lord! See,
00:33:28.80\00:33:32.74
the Lord's Word is
the living power. It's
00:33:32.81\00:33:37.65
giving us
direction. But the Lord says,
00:33:37.68\00:33:39.71
"You need more
than just the Word; you
00:33:39.81\00:33:41.85
need the Holy
Spirit." That's why He says
00:33:41.92\00:33:44.49
here, "I will surely
cause breath to enter
00:33:44.55\00:33:48.86
into you, and
you shall live." But
00:33:48.96\00:33:52.26
then, now, he
begins to go to the next
00:33:52.36\00:33:53.90
level. Notice the picture coming
00:33:53.96\00:33:55.70
together. Then verse
6! "I will put sinew on
00:33:55.73\00:33:59.67
you and bring
flesh upon you, cover you
00:33:59.83\00:34:04.04
with skin, and put
breath in you." And
00:34:04.11\00:34:07.84
what will happen?
"You shall live. Then,
00:34:07.91\00:34:12.41
you shall know
that I am the Lord." The
00:34:12.45\00:34:14.35
process. You
have to allow the Lord
00:34:14.42\00:34:16.48
to do it.
That's why Paul says in
00:34:16.52\00:34:18.49
2 Corinthians 5:17,
"If anyone is in Christ,
00:34:18.59\00:34:23.02
he is a new creation;
all things have passed
00:34:23.12\00:34:24.96
away. Behold, all
things will become
00:34:25.03\00:34:26.96
new." All
things HAVE become new.
00:34:27.03\00:34:29.80
If anyone is in
Christ- the whole in-Christ
00:34:29.83\00:34:32.97
motif- nothing
could happen. No changes
00:34:33.07\00:34:34.90
could take place
in our lives outside
00:34:34.97\00:34:36.50
of Christ-NO
changes. We may make an
00:34:36.57\00:34:40.21
attempt, but if
the Word of God is not
00:34:40.28\00:34:42.01
there, if you're not
praying for the daily
00:34:42.08\00:34:43.51
in-dwelling of the Holy
Spirit, it's not going to
00:34:43.55\00:34:46.48
happen, because the
Lord is the only One
00:34:46.55\00:34:48.78
that can give us
breath, sinew, muscle,
00:34:48.82\00:34:51.25
skin, and cause us
to live. The rest of the
00:34:51.35\00:34:55.59
story, we'll go to
that in just a moment;
00:34:55.66\00:34:57.33
but let's get the
answer to this question.
00:34:57.39\00:34:59.29
It's on the screen.
Let's read it together,
00:34:59.39\00:35:01.06
what the Lord
promised to do in response to
00:35:01.16\00:35:03.57
the question. "In
what way does the Bible
00:35:03.63\00:35:07.20
describe the transaction
of conversion?" Let's
00:35:07.27\00:35:09.64
read it together.
00:35:09.70\00:35:11.21
That means, people
that have been hard...
00:35:22.62\00:35:24.85
hard, mean...
Yeah, bitter, no joy-
00:35:26.12\00:35:34.66
that's why it's not
good. Even when you're
00:35:34.76\00:35:36.63
a Christian, a
bad advertisement is a
00:35:36.70\00:35:39.23
mean Christian.
"Where you goin'?" "I'm goin'
00:35:39.33\00:35:43.07
to church." [grunts]
00:35:43.17\00:35:49.24
I've seen some
people that come to church
00:35:49.31\00:35:51.71
wholly angry,
and they think it's a
00:35:51.75\00:35:55.15
good thing. They
call it, 'righteous
00:35:55.22\00:35:57.49
indignation.' I call
it a bad spirit, because
00:35:57.59\00:36:00.62
there should be joy.
The fruit of the Spirit
00:36:00.69\00:36:03.12
is love, joy.
You should never say,
00:36:03.22\00:36:07.93
"Oh, don't talk to
him." And we should never
00:36:08.00\00:36:10.70
make excuses for people that- in
00:36:10.77\00:36:12.73
so many
congregations, people say, "Well
00:36:12.80\00:36:15.00
that's just how he
is." That's a sad reality,
00:36:15.04\00:36:18.37
because people that
don't know Jesus will
00:36:18.47\00:36:20.31
come in and look
for an example of Jesus,
00:36:20.38\00:36:23.14
and they'll run
into brother...[grunt]
00:36:23.21\00:36:26.45
"And that's how he is. He just-
00:36:26.48\00:36:29.32
he's always that
way. That's him!" And when
00:36:29.38\00:36:31.65
he dies, at the
funeral, they'll say, "He was
00:36:31.75\00:36:33.19
such a nice guy!" [laughter]
00:36:33.25\00:36:36.96
Right? You know?
"He was so patient,"
00:36:37.79\00:36:40.33
no- he MADE
patience. [more laughter] So
00:36:40.40\00:36:44.57
you gotta live
right. Don't lie at people's
00:36:44.63\00:36:46.27
funerals!
[laughter] [Thank you!] Live
00:36:46.37\00:36:48.54
right. I know some
people that are just-
00:36:48.60\00:36:52.64
you know, we want
to give them a good
00:36:52.71\00:36:54.61
send-off, but
they're only going to the
00:36:54.68\00:36:57.01
cemetery. 'Send-off,'
that's not a good word.
00:36:57.08\00:37:00.32
The point I'm
trying to make- it's okay
00:37:03.75\00:37:06.29
to smile, but the
point I'm trying to make
00:37:06.35\00:37:07.69
is, only when the
Lord puts His Spirit
00:37:07.72\00:37:10.26
in you can you
be a joyful person.
00:37:10.33\00:37:11.66
Right?
Christianity doesn't make you
00:37:11.73\00:37:14.86
sour. Some people
think you gotta be
00:37:14.93\00:37:16.46
sad and all bent
over and wear black all
00:37:16.53\00:37:19.80
the time. It's
like... "It's a joyful, sunny
00:37:19.83\00:37:26.01
day!" "What color
you wearin' today?"
00:37:26.11\00:37:28.41
"Black."
[laughter] I'm trying to stay
00:37:28.51\00:37:35.15
serious. Stop
it. [more laughter]
00:37:35.22\00:37:39.82
Pray for a new
spirit. Amen, somebody!
00:37:39.89\00:37:41.92
[Amen!] Because if
you want a new walk in
00:37:41.99\00:37:44.86
Christ, you have to
have the right attitude!
00:37:44.89\00:37:46.86
Attitude makes a
difference. You know
00:37:48.23\00:37:50.13
what I mean by
that? You go to the store
00:37:50.20\00:37:51.53
and there are
people that don't even know
00:37:51.57\00:37:52.90
Christ and they say,
"Hey, good to see you!
00:37:52.93\00:37:54.77
How was your day?"
[Yes!] And you say...
00:37:54.84\00:37:57.84
[mouth gapes]
00:37:57.91\00:38:00.78
I'm not lettin'
them come to my church.
00:38:00.84\00:38:02.54
[laughter] 'Cause
they gonna kill this
00:38:02.61\00:38:04.41
joy!" And I
believe this statement-
00:38:04.45\00:38:07.92
I believe
inspiration tells- I'll find the
00:38:08.02\00:38:10.29
quote. But one of
the reasons why the Lord
00:38:10.32\00:38:12.35
doesn't some people
to join certain churches
00:38:12.42\00:38:14.42
is because they
would not find them there!
00:38:14.52\00:38:17.93
The valley is so
dry and they resist any
00:38:18.03\00:38:21.33
new birth! I- I was about to
00:38:21.43\00:38:24.43
testify, but I'm
not going to do it. And
00:38:24.50\00:38:26.13
it's not about my
church; praise God for that.
00:38:26.20\00:38:27.90
Not talking about
this church at all.
00:38:28.00\00:38:29.34
We've had some
experiences in the
00:38:29.37\00:38:31.34
past where you're
trying to do new things,
00:38:31.41\00:38:33.38
and- here's how you
know when a place is
00:38:33.48\00:38:36.75
dead or near
death. This is the phrase
00:38:36.78\00:38:39.35
you hear. "We
always do it that way."
00:38:39.41\00:38:43.15
"We've never done
that before." And then
00:38:44.05\00:38:50.06
they get
nostalgic. "I remember when
00:38:50.13\00:38:52.13
this church used to be full."
00:38:52.19\00:38:54.46
"When was the last
evangelistic series
00:38:58.23\00:38:59.57
you had?" "...40 years ago."
00:38:59.60\00:39:03.67
But these are
signs of people that are
00:39:05.51\00:39:08.24
dying. When you
start getting nostalgic
00:39:08.34\00:39:10.15
and you don't have
any forward-looking
00:39:10.21\00:39:12.65
vision of what
you can be and you
00:39:12.71\00:39:14.72
only look back at
what you were, and when
00:39:14.78\00:39:17.02
your joys are
behind you, you're dying.
00:39:17.09\00:39:18.99
We should have
joy every day. Amen?
00:39:19.05\00:39:21.96
The only way
that can happen is if
00:39:22.02\00:39:24.03
you allow the
Lord to put that Spirit
00:39:24.13\00:39:25.53
in you. Look at this quotation.
00:39:25.59\00:39:27.23
This quotation
is very important;
00:39:27.36\00:39:29.50
look at this.
00:39:29.56\00:39:30.90
[Amen.] What are
you? I pray that you say,
00:40:01.46\00:40:05.70
"I'm a Christian
Seventh-Day Adventist."
00:40:05.77\00:40:08.57
Not, "I'm a
Baptist. I'm a Presbyterian.
00:40:09.90\00:40:12.24
I'm a Methodist.
I'm a Presby-..." What
00:40:12.31\00:40:15.24
does that mean?
Do you know Jesus?
00:40:15.28\00:40:18.25
If you don't
know Him, your life is
00:40:18.31\00:40:20.45
going to be dried
up. You're going to blow
00:40:20.52\00:40:22.42
away. First thing:
when you know Jesus
00:40:22.48\00:40:26.65
and then you ask
for the Holy Spirit to
00:40:26.72\00:40:29.02
come into your
life, then you know that
00:40:29.09\00:40:30.69
the power of God
is going to come back
00:40:30.76\00:40:32.13
into your life.
Alright? But if that doesn't
00:40:32.19\00:40:34.40
happen, then you
know that your life
00:40:34.46\00:40:38.57
has moved in
the wrong direction.
00:40:38.63\00:40:40.14
You know that your
life has moved in the
00:40:40.24\00:40:42.47
wrong direction. But if
it does happen, then you
00:40:42.54\00:40:45.84
know things are
going to be just fine. All
00:40:45.91\00:40:48.14
right? Okay. Let's
go to the next question,
00:40:48.24\00:40:52.15
#32.
00:40:52.21\00:40:54.72
What percentage
of character change
00:41:02.46\00:41:04.06
qualifies us as converted?
00:41:04.16\00:41:07.50
Here it is. 2
Corinthians 5:17. Let's go ahead
00:41:20.54\00:41:25.05
and move on.
We're going to kind of
00:41:25.11\00:41:26.45
pick it up now.
Pick it up now. I like
00:41:26.48\00:41:29.58
this passage
because this is completely
00:41:29.68\00:41:31.29
inclusive. It
doesn't leave anybody out.
00:41:31.39\00:41:33.22
"Therefore, if-"
what's the next word? "Anyone
00:41:33.32\00:41:37.49
is in Christ." It
doesn't really matter.
00:41:37.59\00:41:39.53
"He is a new
creation." What's passed away?
00:41:39.63\00:41:42.56
"Old things have passed
away; behold, all things
00:41:42.66\00:41:46.63
have become new."
Whenever I read this
00:41:46.70\00:41:49.90
passage, it makes
me want to inventory my
00:41:50.01\00:41:53.14
life. You know
what inventory is? Go
00:41:53.24\00:41:57.81
through the
closet. You know, like we
00:41:57.88\00:41:59.95
go through the
closet. If you've been married
00:42:00.02\00:42:01.68
as long as my wife
and I have... We have
00:42:01.78\00:42:03.28
clothes...that we
need to get rid of.
00:42:03.35\00:42:08.69
Anybody? No
testimonies, but- if you're at
00:42:09.69\00:42:12.59
home, raise your
hand; I'll probably
00:42:12.66\00:42:14.00
see it. If you
haven't worn it in a year,
00:42:14.03\00:42:17.10
two years, 3 years,
5 years... If it SMELLS
00:42:17.17\00:42:24.71
like you haven't
worn it in 5 years...get
00:42:24.77\00:42:27.51
rid of it.
[Amen.] 'Cause so many of
00:42:27.58\00:42:31.18
us have stuff in
our lives that shouldn't
00:42:31.21\00:42:32.68
even be there. But
you know we do- just
00:42:32.71\00:42:35.25
like old habits, we
say, "I would throw out
00:42:35.32\00:42:38.72
that shirt but I
might wear it one
00:42:38.75\00:42:40.09
day." And in the
very same way, we
00:42:40.12\00:42:43.22
fall in love with
our way of life, so we
00:42:43.29\00:42:46.19
keep the
paraphernalia of our old life
00:42:46.26\00:42:49.16
around us just
in case we want to
00:42:49.23\00:42:51.83
revisit it. Nobody
here is saying amen.
00:42:51.87\00:42:57.31
[laughter] Because
this is true. So, we
00:42:57.34\00:43:00.21
have to inventory
our lives. Like the guy
00:43:00.28\00:43:03.38
that smokes- get
rid of the lighter
00:43:03.45\00:43:06.11
and the cigarette
and the ashtray, and the
00:43:06.15\00:43:09.55
pack under the
seat in the car, or the
00:43:09.62\00:43:11.59
one hidden in the
toilet roll in the bathroom.
00:43:11.65\00:43:15.06
[laughs] They're
everywhere! I had
00:43:15.12\00:43:18.73
a guy that used to
drink once, and he-
00:43:18.83\00:43:23.37
the Lord visited
him and converted him
00:43:23.43\00:43:25.47
before his wife
knew it. He invited me to
00:43:25.50\00:43:27.30
his house. He'd
wake up during the night
00:43:27.37\00:43:29.87
and he'd see
his- the bed is empty.
00:43:29.94\00:43:31.77
He'd wonder
where his wife was, and
00:43:31.81\00:43:33.14
he'd peak in the
living room and he'd see
00:43:33.17\00:43:34.51
his wife praying for
him during the night.
00:43:34.54\00:43:36.08
And one day, he
called me over because his
00:43:37.01\00:43:38.55
wife, a few years
before, said, "Please
00:43:38.61\00:43:40.62
do not leave
our church until you
00:43:40.68\00:43:42.12
baptize my
husband." And I made altar
00:43:42.18\00:43:44.39
call after altar
call, the year after year
00:43:44.45\00:43:45.99
after year after
year, and he was still there
00:43:46.02\00:43:47.79
and one day, he invited me over.
00:43:47.86\00:43:49.39
I said, "Are
you doing okay?" and
00:43:49.42\00:43:51.39
he said, "Yeah,
I'm going to be late
00:43:51.46\00:43:53.86
for work today
intentionally, but
00:43:53.90\00:43:55.23
yesterday, I
couldn't find my keys and
00:43:55.26\00:43:57.83
I was really upset
until after I found
00:43:57.93\00:43:59.70
my keys and
realized when I was on my
00:43:59.77\00:44:01.50
way to work, that if
I had left when I did,
00:44:01.57\00:44:03.61
I would have
been in a terrible car
00:44:03.67\00:44:05.01
accident. I
realized my wife's prayers
00:44:05.04\00:44:08.38
were being
answered. He said, "I've been
00:44:08.44\00:44:11.08
making some
changes in my life out of
00:44:11.15\00:44:14.58
conviction." He
said, "See that wall bar
00:44:14.65\00:44:18.99
right there? Turn it around. My
00:44:19.05\00:44:21.66
wife does not
know I got rid of every
00:44:21.72\00:44:23.22
bottle of alcohol
in this house 'cause
00:44:23.32\00:44:26.66
I never move it.
She thinks they're still
00:44:26.73\00:44:28.26
back there. I
didn't tell her yet. I'm
00:44:28.33\00:44:30.57
letting you know.
And, by the way, I
00:44:30.67\00:44:32.83
want to be
baptized. I know the message,
00:44:32.93\00:44:36.07
been coming for
a number of years,
00:44:36.14\00:44:37.81
but I'm ready now,
'cause I inventoried
00:44:37.91\00:44:40.74
my life and I
realize I can't go forward-
00:44:40.81\00:44:42.78
I can't keep the
past in my house."
00:44:42.84\00:44:45.71
I think it was a few
Sabbaths before we left
00:44:45.75\00:44:48.05
that church or a
few months before we
00:44:48.12\00:44:49.45
left that church,
and he was baptized.
00:44:49.48\00:44:50.85
His wife said, "Until
my husband is baptized,
00:44:50.95\00:44:55.56
I ain't havin' no kids with him.
00:44:55.66\00:44:58.39
I'm not having a child with him
00:45:00.13\00:45:02.20
till he's baptized
'cause I'm not having
00:45:02.26\00:45:04.73
him raise that kid
the way he livin'."
00:45:04.80\00:45:07.70
They had a child
after he got baptized.
00:45:07.77\00:45:10.84
And that kid is a
blessing in the church!
00:45:10.91\00:45:13.38
If you see that
young man preach- little
00:45:13.48\00:45:15.64
boy, preaching;
little kid, singing,
00:45:15.71\00:45:17.71
leading-I'm
thinking, "Boy!" She said,
00:45:17.78\00:45:20.95
"Pastor," (and
this is kind of nice).
00:45:21.05\00:45:23.25
She said when I announced that I
00:45:23.32\00:45:24.75
was leaving, it
was a sad thing- you
00:45:24.85\00:45:26.22
know? Remember
the church? She said,
00:45:26.25\00:45:27.92
"I give you
permission. You can leave now,
00:45:27.99\00:45:29.56
'cause my husband's
baptized." Beautiful
00:45:29.62\00:45:33.36
to see people's
lives change! But you gotta
00:45:33.40\00:45:36.03
inventory. Is
there anything old still
00:45:36.10\00:45:38.10
hanging around?
Because if you have
00:45:38.17\00:45:40.60
it around in case
of an emergency, one
00:45:40.67\00:45:43.51
day, when you fail
to die to self, you're
00:45:43.54\00:45:46.54
going to be... [whistles]
00:45:46.61\00:45:55.08
You're going to be
walking in direction
00:45:55.68\00:45:57.02
of old things
because you had them hanging
00:45:57.05\00:46:00.06
around. Yeah,
"oldies but goodies;" yeah.
00:46:00.09\00:46:04.19
Walmart, they try
to- and be careful
00:46:04.26\00:46:06.03
when you go to
the store! Am I right?
00:46:06.09\00:46:08.60
I'm kind of getting
practical today with
00:46:08.66\00:46:10.00
you. Be careful
when you go to the store,
00:46:10.03\00:46:11.50
because you go to
the store- and those of
00:46:11.57\00:46:13.70
you from the Elvis
era... The Top 100 Hits of Elvis
00:46:13.74\00:46:19.37
Presley. "For 3
easy payments of $19.95,
00:46:19.44\00:46:23.04
you'll get all of
Elvis' Blue Suede Shoes,
00:46:23.11\00:46:24.91
his Green Suede
Shoes..." You walk through the
00:46:24.98\00:46:27.68
store and you hear that
song... [plays air guitar]
00:46:27.72\00:46:31.19
And you thought, "I remember
where I was when we first
00:46:31.25\00:46:35.46
heard it. Honey,
let's just get that for
00:46:35.56\00:46:36.89
old time's sake."
And before you know
00:46:36.93\00:46:38.46
it, you're not
reading the Sabbath School
00:46:38.53\00:46:39.96
lesson, you hear
Elvis echoing off all
00:46:40.03\00:46:42.76
the walls in the
house... Resist the
00:46:42.80\00:46:47.20
devil and he will
flee from you. Even when
00:46:47.27\00:46:49.94
you're in the car
and you're going to
00:46:50.01\00:46:53.54
the station on the
way to your favorite
00:46:53.61\00:46:55.44
station 95.9, 3ABN
radio... [laughter] FM.
00:46:55.51\00:47:01.62
And you stop at
98.6 and you... "Whoa."
00:47:01.68\00:47:07.96
[more laughter] And you realize
00:47:07.99\00:47:10.16
you stayed there a
little longer than you
00:47:10.26\00:47:11.63
need to. You know
what I've discovered?
00:47:11.73\00:47:13.73
This is true-
I'm talking about the
00:47:13.80\00:47:15.13
practical things
of life. You go to
00:47:15.16\00:47:16.87
work and you work at a
Christian organization,
00:47:16.97\00:47:18.93
but you hear
yourself humming songs that
00:47:19.00\00:47:20.74
don't belong there!
And usually, the thing
00:47:20.80\00:47:23.61
that you did last
before you left the
00:47:23.67\00:47:25.17
house is what
stays with you during the
00:47:25.24\00:47:26.88
day. Have you noticed
that? If the last song
00:47:26.98\00:47:30.08
you heard before you
left the house was...
00:47:30.15\00:47:32.21
...whatever it is.
I don't even know the
00:47:32.25\00:47:33.68
new songs nowadays.
00:47:33.72\00:47:35.05
Fly Me to the Moon?
Is that what you said?
00:47:37.95\00:47:39.69
[Fly Me to the Moon.]
That's a Frank Sinatra!
00:47:39.79\00:47:42.72
Are you that old?
[laughter] But anyway,
00:47:42.76\00:47:45.46
whatever it is, whether it's Fly
00:47:46.39\00:47:47.76
Me to the Moon or
There's a Thin Line
00:47:47.83\00:47:49.23
Between Love and
Hate or whatever the song
00:47:49.26\00:47:51.30
is. "It's your
thing, whatever it is..."
00:47:51.43\00:47:54.20
Having been a
former disc jockey, I have
00:47:55.10\00:47:57.77
to institute more
prevention, because
00:47:57.84\00:48:01.61
all I did was play
music! Whatever your
00:48:01.68\00:48:03.91
former addiction
was, you gotta institute
00:48:03.95\00:48:07.88
more... You gotta
say, "Lord, I need
00:48:07.95\00:48:10.52
an extra push to
turn this channel."
00:48:10.59\00:48:12.85
And when you do
it, your spirit says,
00:48:15.56\00:48:19.03
"That's a good
thing. Don't feel bad about
00:48:19.09\00:48:21.23
it." Deny
yourself. Take up your cross
00:48:21.26\00:48:24.53
and deny yourself.
The reason why it's
00:48:24.60\00:48:27.44
important is
because the Lord is getting
00:48:27.47\00:48:29.40
us ready for
something. The Lord is getting
00:48:29.47\00:48:31.57
us ready for
something. Let's go to the next
00:48:31.61\00:48:33.14
one. Let's see
what He's getting us
00:48:33.17\00:48:34.51
ready for. The
answer was old things. What
00:48:34.54\00:48:37.68
percentage of the
character qualifies
00:48:37.71\00:48:39.05
us as converted?
ALL the old things
00:48:39.08\00:48:42.08
have passed away.
If it hasn't passed
00:48:42.15\00:48:43.72
away, if it's
still around your house
00:48:43.82\00:48:45.42
and if you can
hear it or you know it's
00:48:45.52\00:48:47.82
in there, get it
out. 33. 33; look at this.
00:48:47.89\00:48:53.76
Woo! This is a
different twist, here.
00:49:01.00\00:49:03.71
Ephesians 2:10. How
does complete conversion
00:49:03.81\00:49:06.74
take place? Now,
I'll qualify this
00:49:06.81\00:49:13.38
because I don't
want you to think that
00:49:13.42\00:49:14.75
work changes
you. Okay? I want to
00:49:14.78\00:49:18.95
make that clear. But
let's look at Ephesians
00:49:18.99\00:49:20.56
2:10. Here it is.
00:49:20.59\00:49:22.06
That's why I
highlighted that; we are created
00:49:27.36\00:49:30.03
in Him. But what
are we created in Him
00:49:30.07\00:49:32.47
for? For what? Good works, which
00:49:32.50\00:49:35.77
God prepared
beforehand that we should walk
00:49:35.84\00:49:38.91
in them." Okay-
how does complete
00:49:38.94\00:49:42.24
conversion take
place? We are created in
00:49:42.31\00:49:44.88
Christ Jesus.
That's what I highlighted.
00:49:44.95\00:49:46.55
But when you are
created in Christ
00:49:46.61\00:49:48.18
Jesus, you don't
get created- nobody
00:49:48.22\00:49:51.32
creates a car to
stay in the show room.
00:49:51.35\00:49:54.49
Nobody creates a
plane to stay in the
00:49:54.59\00:49:57.49
hanger. And the
Lord does not create
00:49:57.56\00:49:59.79
a Christian to
stay in the pew. [Amen.]
00:49:59.86\00:50:02.73
Everybody has a
work to do! And the sad
00:50:04.17\00:50:11.27
reality- somebody
once said, "The best
00:50:11.34\00:50:14.38
way for a brand
new airplane to die is
00:50:14.44\00:50:16.54
not to fly it. The
best way for a car to die
00:50:16.61\00:50:21.32
is not to drive
it." Now you see why the
00:50:21.38\00:50:25.55
Lord, when He
gave that young man one
00:50:25.59\00:50:27.62
talent and he hid
it... That's why the Lord
00:50:27.69\00:50:30.23
was so angry. He
said, "But I only have one."
00:50:30.29\00:50:32.29
He said, "If you
had just planted it, it
00:50:32.33\00:50:35.33
would've
multiplied." Something would've
00:50:35.40\00:50:37.03
come good out of it.
The seed that does not
00:50:37.10\00:50:38.83
fall onto the
ground and die can never
00:50:38.87\00:50:41.30
produce a
harvest. Can never produce
00:50:41.37\00:50:44.97
a harvest. Can
NEVER produce a harvest.
00:50:45.04\00:50:47.94
Okay? So, let's
write this down. How does
00:50:47.98\00:50:50.45
complete
conversion take place? Instead
00:50:50.51\00:50:52.85
of the word
'works,' "created in Christ
00:50:52.91\00:50:54.85
Jesus." That's how
it happens. Created
00:50:54.92\00:50:57.25
in Christ Jesus.
But when you are created
00:50:57.32\00:50:59.09
IN Christ Jesus, the
work is going to take
00:50:59.15\00:51:01.56
place in your
life. Satan finds work
00:51:01.62\00:51:03.69
for idle hands to
do. Is that true? [Yes.]
00:51:03.73\00:51:07.30
Yeah. He said,
"What happened to you?"
00:51:07.36\00:51:08.90
"I haven't been working lately."
00:51:08.96\00:51:10.73
"Have you been
looking for work?" "Naw, I've
00:51:10.80\00:51:13.07
been just taking
a break between the
00:51:13.13\00:51:14.57
last job and this
one." "Have you LOOKED
00:51:14.64\00:51:16.91
for a job?" "Well,
I'm going to do that."
00:51:16.97\00:51:18.77
"Have you put any
applications out?"
00:51:18.81\00:51:20.71
"Well, a few,"
which really means no.
00:51:20.74\00:51:24.38
"You gettin'
social security?" "Well,
00:51:26.98\00:51:28.38
I know how much I'm
going to get." "Well,
00:51:28.45\00:51:30.39
have you filed
the paperwork?" "No."
00:51:30.45\00:51:32.55
"Are you getting an
appointment?" "Well,
00:51:32.59\00:51:33.96
not yet." "Why?"
"I know how much I'm
00:51:34.06\00:51:36.19
going to get, but
I just haven't done
00:51:36.26\00:51:37.69
the paperwork." Some people
00:51:37.76\00:51:39.26
are waiting for
things to happen in their
00:51:39.33\00:51:40.66
lives and they're
not producing any action.
00:51:40.70\00:51:42.73
The best way to get
nothin' is DO nothin'.
00:51:42.76\00:51:46.03
For every action-
this is the reciprocal law.
00:51:46.10\00:51:50.47
For every action,
there is an equal and
00:51:50.54\00:51:52.01
opposite
reaction. If you do nothing
00:51:52.07\00:51:54.11
and expect something,
it's not going to happen!
00:51:54.18\00:51:56.21
God does not make
Christians workers
00:51:56.28\00:51:58.58
that don't want to
be actively involved
00:51:58.61\00:52:00.42
in the mission.
Makes a difference. Makes
00:52:00.48\00:52:06.09
a difference. Makes
a difference. Look at
00:52:06.19\00:52:09.59
the next
question. Look at som- this
00:52:09.66\00:52:11.26
is really
amazing. That's why- this
00:52:11.33\00:52:13.90
next one is so powerful.
00:52:13.96\00:52:15.33
Here it is- question #34.
00:52:17.57\00:52:18.90
Let's go to
Colossians 3:5-7. This could
00:52:22.84\00:52:28.54
be in the
category of denial, also.
00:52:28.61\00:52:31.01
It's in the
category of denial, also, but
00:52:31.95\00:52:33.75
let's read it
together. Here it is. I want
00:52:33.85\00:52:35.58
you to walk with me
through it. I'm going
00:52:35.65\00:52:36.99
to have it on the
screen, and those of
00:52:37.02\00:52:38.35
you that are
watching, you can look along
00:52:38.39\00:52:39.72
with me. Here it
is. Notice this phrases,
00:52:39.75\00:52:42.19
"Therefore-" what
are the next three
00:52:42.26\00:52:44.46
words? "Put to death
your members-" it's not
00:52:44.53\00:52:48.53
church members;
these are your faculties.
00:52:48.56\00:52:52.93
These are the way
you think, the things you
00:52:53.00\00:52:55.24
do with your
hand, what do you with
00:52:55.30\00:52:56.64
your mouth, what
you do with your body,
00:52:56.71\00:52:58.54
the things you
practice... "Put to death your
00:52:58.64\00:53:02.34
members!" Don't do
that. "Which are on the
00:53:02.41\00:53:05.88
earth," which are these! Look!
00:53:05.95\00:53:07.55
"Fornication, uncleanness,
passion, evil desire, and
00:53:07.62\00:53:13.46
covetousness, which
is idolatry. Because of
00:53:13.56\00:53:16.76
these things, the
wrath of God is coming
00:53:16.86\00:53:18.99
upon the sons
of disobedience, in
00:53:19.09\00:53:21.20
which you yourselves
once walked..." Amen.
00:53:21.30\00:53:25.10
"When you lived in
them." If you're still
00:53:27.24\00:53:31.94
walking that way,
you're not denying
00:53:32.04\00:53:34.18
yourself. And the
more you don't deny
00:53:34.28\00:53:36.81
yourself, the easier
it becomes not even to
00:53:36.91\00:53:39.01
want to. When
you don't create an
00:53:39.11\00:53:42.08
action to do right,
you know what you do?
00:53:42.15\00:53:43.92
You're not neutral;
you create an action
00:53:43.99\00:53:46.19
to do wrong.
There's not right, wrong,
00:53:46.25\00:53:50.36
and neutral. There's
only wrong and right!
00:53:50.43\00:53:55.00
Nobody is a yellow
line in the highway
00:53:55.06\00:53:57.40
of Christianity.
The yellow line means
00:53:57.47\00:54:00.47
absolutely nothing.
So you have the right
00:54:00.54\00:54:03.64
and you have the wrong.
If you're not practicing
00:54:03.71\00:54:05.24
right, what are
you doing by default?
00:54:05.31\00:54:07.48
Practicing wrong.
If you're not feeding
00:54:07.51\00:54:09.24
yourself good
things, what are you feeding
00:54:09.31\00:54:11.81
yourself? Bad
things. If you're not eating
00:54:11.88\00:54:14.92
good stuff- you may
not be eating anything
00:54:15.02\00:54:18.25
at all- but if you're
not eating good things,
00:54:18.32\00:54:20.16
you'll not get
good nourishment. You
00:54:20.22\00:54:22.46
get no nourishment
at all which, in fact,
00:54:22.52\00:54:24.49
will be a
negative impact on your
00:54:24.56\00:54:26.36
body. And when
the body is not well,
00:54:26.39\00:54:28.56
the mind is not
well. There are some people
00:54:29.66\00:54:32.40
that binge on
television. "Have you eaten?"
00:54:32.47\00:54:35.00
"No, I'm on my 6th
series of..." Whatever.
00:54:35.04\00:54:41.08
Some people record
their shows and they
00:54:41.14\00:54:44.01
stay in the house
all weekend in bed and
00:54:44.08\00:54:46.45
watch it, from
Friday to Sunday. "Whatever
00:54:46.51\00:54:51.59
happened to so-and-so?"
"Oh, they're catching
00:54:51.65\00:54:53.42
up on their
stories." Or they tape all
00:54:53.46\00:54:57.89
of their sitcoms
and they'll be watching
00:54:57.96\00:55:00.83
it. I heard a
horrible story that's happened
00:55:00.90\00:55:03.77
in Japan; true
story. In Japan, there are
00:55:03.83\00:55:07.97
video arcades where
the gamers-you know,
00:55:08.04\00:55:11.67
gamers- gamers
are drug addicts. In
00:55:11.74\00:55:14.44
this particular
arcade- I don't know if they
00:55:14.51\00:55:18.05
sell them there or
if it's a practice,
00:55:18.11\00:55:19.71
but I heard the
story that some of the
00:55:19.78\00:55:21.38
gamers wear diapers.
These are young kids.
00:55:21.45\00:55:23.92
They wear diapers
because they don't
00:55:23.99\00:55:26.02
get up to use
the bathroom! Because
00:55:26.09\00:55:27.99
they're connecting
to the internet network,
00:55:28.02\00:55:30.23
and so they're playing these war
00:55:30.29\00:55:31.63
games and they're
on like- they have 6
00:55:31.66\00:55:33.80
guys in their
war brigade, and each
00:55:33.86\00:55:35.93
one of them is a
particular- so, if
00:55:36.00\00:55:37.73
you're being
attacked in the war in the
00:55:37.77\00:55:39.83
virtual world in
whatever game you're
00:55:39.90\00:55:43.27
in, if you're not
playin', then your
00:55:43.30\00:55:45.37
platoon could get
killed. So, a guy's
00:55:45.44\00:55:47.38
fighting with a
guy that's living in
00:55:47.48\00:55:48.81
Seattle, another one
living in Orlando, another
00:55:48.84\00:55:50.48
one living in South
America, and they're
00:55:50.55\00:55:52.15
all in the same
team and they're all
00:55:52.21\00:55:53.55
together... If
you stop to go to the
00:55:53.58\00:55:55.72
bathroom, your team
could get killed and
00:55:55.78\00:55:57.29
they think so
real in their mind...
00:55:57.32\00:55:59.09
There was a guy that died in his
00:55:59.95\00:56:01.36
seat and they
found him after two days!
00:56:01.49\00:56:04.03
19 years old! He
was dead for two days.
00:56:04.59\00:56:08.23
There were so
many stations in this
00:56:08.30\00:56:09.93
arcade. They
were in private rooms
00:56:09.96\00:56:11.50
where they do
virtual networking. Two
00:56:11.57\00:56:16.20
days he was dead at his station!
00:56:16.30\00:56:18.67
Found him two
days later. Young man,
00:56:18.74\00:56:22.81
died... And there
are some kids that've had
00:56:22.84\00:56:29.78
heart attacks
because the body has been
00:56:29.88\00:56:32.52
held up so long,
they're playing for
00:56:32.59\00:56:34.02
24 and 28 and
30 hours-they don't
00:56:34.06\00:56:36.36
move-and these
places, as long as they're
00:56:36.42\00:56:39.23
getting paid,
they don't really care.
00:56:39.29\00:56:41.16
They bring you
your drinks, "You want
00:56:41.23\00:56:42.66
your soda? You
want your pizza?" They
00:56:42.73\00:56:44.07
bring it to you,
you sit right there, and
00:56:44.10\00:56:45.43
they're surrounded
by all the accoutrements
00:56:45.47\00:56:46.80
of their
addiction, which is not drugs,
00:56:46.84\00:56:48.50
but electronics,
and they die. A virtual
00:56:48.60\00:56:54.11
death leads to a
literal death. And
00:56:54.18\00:56:58.01
that's why I'm
saying we have to be really
00:56:58.05\00:56:59.38
careful, 'cause this
is the day and age of
00:56:59.41\00:57:01.45
electronic drug
abuse. The world is stitched
00:57:01.55\00:57:05.62
in it. Electronic
drug abuse. That's
00:57:05.69\00:57:08.32
why I'm using it,
because, "Put away-
00:57:08.39\00:57:10.53
put to death
your members." If you
00:57:10.59\00:57:12.49
are a video
addict or a movie addict,
00:57:12.56\00:57:16.46
you could- there
are some people that
00:57:16.53\00:57:18.13
have like, 9,000
channels! They got
00:57:18.20\00:57:21.97
the top package of
everything! "Did you
00:57:22.04\00:57:25.51
see-" and that's
all that- when you meet
00:57:25.57\00:57:27.38
them- "Did you see?
Did you see? Did you
00:57:27.41\00:57:28.91
see?" "No."
"Well, you ought to see
00:57:28.98\00:57:31.35
that!" "See
what?" "Well, the latest-
00:57:31.41\00:57:34.25
I got tickets for
it. My family's going
00:57:34.32\00:57:35.65
this weekend."
"Aren't you a Christian?"
00:57:35.68\00:57:38.05
"Yeah, but, you
know, this is really
00:57:38.12\00:57:39.45
a good show." [laughter]
00:57:39.49\00:57:43.29
And they go to
church and they fall asleep
00:57:43.32\00:57:45.09
because they have
not nurtured a spiritual
00:57:45.19\00:57:46.76
life. They've not
nurtured a spiritual
00:57:46.86\00:57:48.90
life. We're talking
about putting to death
00:57:48.96\00:57:50.80
that old life, and
I've been very practical
00:57:50.90\00:57:53.13
tonight in a lot of
other areas, because
00:57:53.23\00:57:54.74
I know that
everybody has somebody in their
00:57:54.84\00:57:57.77
family, or you may
even be that person,
00:57:57.84\00:58:00.34
that's struggling
with something that is
00:58:00.41\00:58:02.14
really killing
you. We're hoping that,
00:58:02.18\00:58:05.01
by God's grace,
you could be delivered,
00:58:05.05\00:58:06.48
because the Lord
wants us to live a
00:58:06.55\00:58:08.08
spiritual life in
a natural body. He
00:58:08.18\00:58:09.95
wants us to
experience that new life, but
00:58:10.02\00:58:13.12
you can't live a
new life without the old
00:58:13.19\00:58:16.76
life being put to death. So, as
00:58:16.83\00:58:19.19
you keep studying the
Word of God, remember,
00:58:19.29\00:58:21.66
it's going to make
sense. It's going to
00:58:21.73\00:58:23.06
come into fruition,
but I tell you, friends-
00:58:23.10\00:58:25.13
if it hasn't
made sense yet, keep
00:58:25.20\00:58:27.27
on studying. One
day, it'll come into a
00:58:27.30\00:58:29.34
sharper focus.
00:58:29.40\00:58:31.67