Hello friends, and welcome
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to our Wednesday
night Bible study here
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at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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We thank you so much for
taking the time to tune in
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as we study the
Word of God together.
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And all you need is a
Bible, and we're going to pray
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in just a moment to
ask the Lord to guide us.
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And we'll let you know
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where to get the
copy of the lesson.
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But tonight we're
beginning a new lesson
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called Living in Victory.
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And we'll tell
you in just a moment
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how to get a copy of that.
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But at the website I'll
give you after our prayer,
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you'll find all
the resources there,
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the lessons
that are in the past,
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the lessons that are
coming up from this point on,
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and also our
videos, which you can share
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with your
friends and your family.
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Now before we sing
our theme song tonight,
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we'd like to invite you
to bow your heads with us
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as we go to the Lord in prayer.
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Loving Father in heaven,
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thank You so much
for the opportunity
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of studying Your word.
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Your word is the
lamp unto our feet
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and a light unto our paths.
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And we do pray tonight
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as we study
this important topic,
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"How to win?
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How to be victorious in Christ?"
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That You'll guide
us with Your presence.
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And we thank You,
in Jesus' name, amen.
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The website to go
to is ASF.3ABN.org.
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That is A
Sharper Focus.3ABN.org,
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and download lesson number 40.
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What number did I say? Forty.
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Lesson number 40.
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And you'll be able
to walk along with us
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through the topic
of the study tonight.
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Now, we don't usually
get to all our questions.
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Come on in.
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We don't usually get
to all of our questions,
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but we thank you for
taking the time to walk with us.
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We always sing our theme song.
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And our theme song
is Victory in Jesus.
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Let's sing that song 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 sins
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And won the victory
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet
day I'll sing up there
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The song of victory
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Key change.
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Amen? Yes.
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Victory in Jesus.
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To win is the only thing.
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If you are involved
in any kind of sport,
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and I'm not
speaking about competition,
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but any kind of
sport, there's a saying that
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people that are not involved
in sports often use, they say,
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"It's not whether you
win or lose, it is..."
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what?
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"How you play the game."
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Obviously, they are
not involved in sports
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because people that are
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professionally
involved in any kind of sport,
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whether
basketball, baseball, football,
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hockey, running,
cycling, whatever it is,
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unless they do it for
a hobby or for health,
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no one wants to
lose, am I right?
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But in the Christian life,
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it is whether you win or lose.
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And it is also
how you live the life.
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It is whether you win or
lose, but more specifically,
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it's how you live the life.
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And how you live the life
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determines
whether you win or lose,
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vitally important focus.
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I want to start with
something that many of us
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may not think of.
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And the topic by the
way is Living in Victory,
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what is that together?
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Living in Victory.
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Something that
we all want to do,
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but how you do it is
the important question.
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How do you live in victory?
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We'll find out a little tonight.
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But let me start
with a couple of examples
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that I think
really are important.
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Go with me to Hebrews 12.
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I did some
research earlier today.
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I'm not a runner,
I play basketball,
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and with all the
injuries that I sustained,
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I should be getting paid.
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But I really don't get paid,
it's just for exercise for me.
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Didn't play yesterday
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'cause I wanted to
just feel good today.
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But Hebrews 12, and
I'm going to set this up
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with a particular story.
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Now whenever I choose
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basketball shoes or sneakers,
as they call them in New York.
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I try to choose
the lightest pair
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because I want
to be able to have
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the least amount
of pull on my knee,
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the quickest
movement on the court,
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and the least strain on
my foot when I'm playing.
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I discovered something also,
and I did this, I looked up,
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I asked on Google a
particular question,
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"What is the
lightest running shoe
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that Olympians use?"
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And I heard about one.
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Let me bring this
up on my iPad here.
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I heard about one
called the Vibram Five Finger.
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The Vibram Five Finger,
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it's a shoe that
has been designed
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to most closely simulate
having nothing on your feet.
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It literally has
an independent slip
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for each of your toes.
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And those who are
professional athletes,
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they often get them made
specifically for their feet.
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In other words,
if I go to the store
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and buy a pair
that has five toes
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while they use a
model maybe or dummy
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to just estimate,
this is where my toes go.
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But people that are
into professional running,
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they get a mold
made to fit their feet
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so when they're running,
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it's like they have
nothing on it at all.
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And I wondered, what
is the shoe like that way?
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And in some cases, it's
between 4 and 5.1 ounces,
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and some of those could
go as little as 3.5 ounces.
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Now I don't know if you
know what 3.5 ounces is,
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but for something
to be on your foot
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to give you the
support to run a race.
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So when you put it in your hand,
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it's like there's nothing there,
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3.5 to 5.1 ounces,
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need not tell you
how much that costs.
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But the reason
why this is important,
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there's a lesson
here is because the runner
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is focusing on winning the race.
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Is focusing on what?
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Winning the race.
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Not just running
on a casual basis
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when he's chosen to
represent his country
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or she's chosen,
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they're not out there for
casual good afternoon nap,
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they're out there to run.
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Am I right, Brian?
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They want to win.
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They may be in a
large, and they got there
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by doing what this text is
going to admonish us to do.
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Look at Hebrews 12,
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Hebrews 12:1, 2.
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The
illustration that is put here
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by the writer of Hebrews
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is very much in
the Olympic mindset.
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He says in verse
1, "Therefore we also,
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since we are
surrounded by so," what?
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"So great a cloud of witnesses,"
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that's the Olympic
stadium, when they are running,
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everybody is watching.
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Today the whole
world is watching.
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And in reality,
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when the Christian is
living his or her life,
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all the holy
angels are watching.
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There's a great
cloud of witnesses,
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but it goes on and it says,
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"Let us lay aside,
together, every weight,
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and the sin which so
easily ensnares or besets us,"
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and look at the word
now, "and let us do," what?
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"Run with endurance
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the race that is set before us."
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Do you know what the
word endurance means?
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Be fit, because you
got to finish this race.
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The Christian journey
is not a walk in the park,
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it is a race.
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And it's not
necessarily given to the swift,
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but as you look
at the word here,
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endurance as the
Bible says in Matthew 24,
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"He that endures to the
end, the same shall be," what?
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"Same shall be saved."
00:10:08.57\00:10:09.90
So endurance and
laying aside every weight
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and being conscious
that when you're running,
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there are witnesses.
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So when you're
living the Christian life,
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somebody is watching.
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And because you
know someone's watching,
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your holy angel, the Lord,
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the heavenly
universe is watching.
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You know, you don't
just run with endurance
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and lay aside every weight,
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but there's
something else you have to do,
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you have to focus your mind.
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Look at verse 2,
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where should you be looking,
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together, "Looking unto
Jesus, the author and finisher."
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In other words,
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the starting line
and the finishing line.
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Your faith began,
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it will take you
to the finishing line,
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"The author and
finisher of our faith,
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who for the joy that
was set before Him," pause.
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What joy is set
before the runner?
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What is it called?
00:11:00.59\00:11:02.76
The physical
runner, what is it called?
00:11:02.79\00:11:06.03
The finish line.
00:11:06.06\00:11:08.50
When they go
across the finish...
00:11:08.53\00:11:09.86
When they win what they do?
00:11:09.90\00:11:12.03
The joy that is set before them.
00:11:12.07\00:11:14.57
When we get to heaven,
we're going to go like this,
00:11:14.60\00:11:16.97
right?
00:11:17.01\00:11:18.34
The joy that is set before us.
00:11:18.37\00:11:20.48
But you've got to focus.
00:11:20.51\00:11:22.11
And oftentimes we fail to
win because where we're looking.
00:11:22.14\00:11:26.88
Runners don't look
behind them, runners don't care
00:11:26.92\00:11:30.55
who's to the
left, they make glance
00:11:30.59\00:11:32.49
but all that's an infinitesimal
small amount of time
00:11:32.52\00:11:35.92
because they're
looking at the finish line,
00:11:35.96\00:11:37.69
they're looking unto
the finisher of that race.
00:11:37.73\00:11:41.56
We got to keep our eyes
on Jesus to finish the race,
00:11:41.60\00:11:44.67
am I right?
00:11:44.70\00:11:46.17
But notice what it
says, "Who endured the cross,
00:11:46.20\00:11:49.04
it's not an easy race.
00:11:49.07\00:11:51.91
Despising the shame..."
00:11:51.94\00:11:53.61
There are people in the audience
00:11:53.64\00:11:54.98
that don't want you to win,
00:11:55.01\00:11:57.55
it's the hecklers.
00:11:57.58\00:11:59.18
"And has sat
down at the right hand
00:11:59.21\00:12:01.08
of the throne of God."
00:12:01.12\00:12:02.95
And then it says in verse 3,
00:12:02.98\00:12:04.45
"For considering him
who endured such hostility
00:12:04.49\00:12:08.06
from sinners against himself,
00:12:08.09\00:12:10.19
lest you become weary and
discouraged in your soul."
00:12:10.23\00:12:14.30
You have not yet
resisted to bloodshed
00:12:14.33\00:12:18.77
striving against sin.
00:12:18.80\00:12:20.44
I learned some
amazing stories about runners.
00:12:20.47\00:12:23.30
Some of them
get blisters, right?
00:12:23.34\00:12:26.24
They fall
sometimes, they get injured,
00:12:26.27\00:12:30.55
but they get up.
00:12:30.58\00:12:32.31
How was that?
00:12:32.35\00:12:35.12
Socks and shoes,
they wear the lightest,
00:12:35.15\00:12:37.29
and some of them
don't wear any at all
00:12:37.32\00:12:38.65
with some kind of simulation
of a sock and the shoe
00:12:38.69\00:12:41.02
just to keep the moisture down,
00:12:41.06\00:12:42.62
but they know that
00:12:42.66\00:12:43.99
getting ready for
this amazing race,
00:12:44.03\00:12:45.99
they don't concern themselves
00:12:46.03\00:12:48.10
with the things
that happen to them,
00:12:48.13\00:12:50.53
they are just
equipping themselves
00:12:50.57\00:12:52.30
for the winning of the race.
00:12:52.33\00:12:54.14
Let us lay aside every weight
00:12:54.17\00:12:56.64
and the sin that
so easily besets us
00:12:56.67\00:13:00.24
because when the race is over,
00:13:00.28\00:13:02.54
they're going to
reflect the medal
00:13:02.58\00:13:04.95
that represents the country
that they're connected to.
00:13:04.98\00:13:07.75
What is it called?
They want which one?
00:13:07.78\00:13:09.75
Which one did they want?
00:13:09.78\00:13:12.35
The gold, silver, and bronze.
00:13:12.39\00:13:15.26
Fourth place,
there is no wooden medal.
00:13:15.29\00:13:19.39
Gold, silver or bronze,
they got to focus themselves.
00:13:19.43\00:13:22.90
And so when we think about this,
00:13:22.93\00:13:25.33
I didn't look his name up,
00:13:25.37\00:13:26.70
but in the back of my mind
00:13:26.74\00:13:28.24
it keeps coming in
and out one of the most...
00:13:28.27\00:13:31.34
One of the American
athletes, Olympic athletes
00:13:31.37\00:13:33.34
that have the most
medals, I think he's a swimmer.
00:13:33.38\00:13:37.68
Michael Phelps.
00:13:37.71\00:13:39.05
Michael Phelps, he's
got nothing but medals,
00:13:39.08\00:13:42.12
gold medals.
00:13:42.15\00:13:43.89
And so whenever he smiles,
he's gold from ear to ear.
00:13:43.92\00:13:47.99
He's proud of the
country he represented
00:13:48.02\00:13:51.49
because he did his best.
00:13:51.53\00:13:52.86
He ran, he trained,
and the Christian life
00:13:52.89\00:13:56.30
is very much like
the life of an athlete,
00:13:56.33\00:13:59.67
you've got to train,
you've got to eat right,
00:13:59.70\00:14:01.90
you've got to focus,
00:14:01.94\00:14:03.27
you've got to read
the proper materials,
00:14:03.30\00:14:05.17
you have to condition yourself,
you don't wait till a week
00:14:05.21\00:14:07.68
before Olympics and
start running and saying,
00:14:07.71\00:14:09.88
"What are you doing?"
00:14:09.91\00:14:11.25
"I'm getting in...
00:14:11.28\00:14:12.61
I'm getting in
shape for the Olympics."
00:14:12.65\00:14:15.02
You do that how many days?
00:14:15.05\00:14:17.62
The athlete live
the life how many days?
00:14:17.65\00:14:20.96
Every day, that person remembers
00:14:20.99\00:14:22.86
that he or she is the athlete
00:14:22.89\00:14:25.26
and they're ready to run
that race with endurance.
00:14:25.29\00:14:28.80
And it's important
00:14:28.83\00:14:30.17
because when those
medals starts shining
00:14:30.20\00:14:32.13
and your country starts,
00:14:32.17\00:14:33.50
everybody in your country
is saying, "Michael, Michael."
00:14:33.54\00:14:36.77
You know, all of
a sudden, it's like,
00:14:36.81\00:14:38.14
"Wow, you remember
00:14:38.17\00:14:39.51
that the great cloud
of witnesses in the homes,
00:14:39.54\00:14:42.48
in the cars, in the businesses,
00:14:42.51\00:14:44.35
in the banks or the
insurance companies,
00:14:44.38\00:14:46.68
the sponsors,
the sports companies,
00:14:46.72\00:14:48.45
the sneaker manufacturers,
00:14:48.48\00:14:49.95
everybody's looking for somebody
00:14:49.98\00:14:51.59
that they could say,
00:14:51.62\00:14:52.95
"He represents us."
00:14:52.99\00:14:55.72
That's what Jesus did.
00:14:55.76\00:14:57.26
He ran the race to represent us.
00:14:57.29\00:15:00.00
When we look and
we train with Him...
00:15:00.03\00:15:01.86
One more thing,
00:15:01.90\00:15:03.23
when we look and
we train with Him,
00:15:03.26\00:15:05.00
we will be fit to run the race.
00:15:05.03\00:15:07.70
And so every runner
has a trainer, am I right?
00:15:07.74\00:15:12.31
Look at 1 John 1:7,
let's look at our trainer.
00:15:12.34\00:15:16.58
Every runner has a trainer.
00:15:16.61\00:15:21.22
Laying some foundation
before we dive into it.
00:15:21.25\00:15:24.59
Now chances are we might
not do 14 questions tonight.
00:15:24.62\00:15:29.09
The chances are high
00:15:29.12\00:15:30.83
that we probably
won't get through it.
00:15:30.86\00:15:32.53
I also looked up something else,
00:15:32.56\00:15:33.90
I like to learn new things.
00:15:33.93\00:15:35.90
I have a little
laser on my pointer.
00:15:35.93\00:15:39.57
Not very necessary, but
at this point of my hand
00:15:39.60\00:15:41.70
has a laser on it,
00:15:41.74\00:15:43.07
and I don't want to blind
the guys in the control room
00:15:43.10\00:15:44.61
they might say, "What was that?"
00:15:44.64\00:15:46.21
But there's a
green laser in this
00:15:46.24\00:15:47.68
and I asked the question earlier
00:15:47.71\00:15:49.04
to one of our
technicians here at 3ABN,
00:15:49.08\00:15:51.85
"How does a laser work?"
00:15:51.88\00:15:53.21
And I came to find
out that the laser,
00:15:53.25\00:15:55.15
that's not what it is,
00:15:55.18\00:15:56.52
it's an acronym
for light amplified
00:15:56.55\00:16:00.66
by simulated
emission of radiation,
00:16:00.69\00:16:03.76
that's an acronym,
light amplified, L.A,
00:16:03.79\00:16:07.03
simulated, S, E,
emission, R, radiation.
00:16:07.06\00:16:10.97
And what it says is
because of the protons
00:16:11.00\00:16:14.07
and the amplification
in the way that it works
00:16:14.10\00:16:17.84
is the waves that are
in here to create a laser,
00:16:17.87\00:16:20.78
a single light, is when
it goes from the lower state
00:16:20.81\00:16:23.95
to a higher
state, it moves together.
00:16:23.98\00:16:29.12
Whereas in ordinary light,
00:16:29.15\00:16:30.59
they move in
opposite directions,
00:16:30.62\00:16:32.75
therefore their
waves get wider and wider
00:16:32.79\00:16:35.06
apart the further
that light shines.
00:16:35.09\00:16:38.19
If we move with Jesus,
00:16:38.23\00:16:42.90
He's the laser that when we go
00:16:42.93\00:16:44.70
from a lower
state to a higher state,
00:16:44.73\00:16:48.44
we stay in step with Christ.
00:16:48.47\00:16:50.61
Look at 1 John
1:7, look at that.
00:16:50.64\00:16:54.31
1 John 1:7, and
this is the laser,
00:16:54.34\00:16:57.45
we are in... And
the laser never loses...
00:16:57.48\00:16:59.91
There are many waves
00:16:59.95\00:17:01.28
but they never lose
step with the other one
00:17:01.32\00:17:03.79
from a lower
state to a higher state.
00:17:03.82\00:17:05.49
1 John 1:7, but the Bible
says, "But if we do," what?
00:17:05.52\00:17:09.39
"Walk in the light as He," what?
00:17:09.42\00:17:11.46
"Is in the light,"
notice what happens.
00:17:11.49\00:17:13.40
"We have," what?
00:17:13.43\00:17:14.76
"Fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ,
00:17:14.80\00:17:17.63
His Son, does," what?
00:17:17.67\00:17:19.10
"Cleanses us from all sin."
00:17:19.13\00:17:21.60
But we have to
walk in the light.
00:17:21.64\00:17:23.67
When He goes from
one state to the next,
00:17:23.71\00:17:26.17
we have to move with Him.
00:17:26.21\00:17:28.21
And therefore our
relationship stays pointed.
00:17:28.24\00:17:30.55
It doesn't go apart like
a regular light beam does
00:17:30.58\00:17:33.78
in the distance
of the reflection,
00:17:33.82\00:17:35.75
it doesn't move
away from its source,
00:17:35.78\00:17:37.79
it stays together no matter
how far that beam is reflected.
00:17:37.82\00:17:43.16
So tonight we're
talking about reflecting.
00:17:43.19\00:17:44.99
Let's go to our first question.
00:17:45.03\00:17:47.50
Reflecting Christ
and walking with Him.
00:17:47.53\00:17:49.93
Question number one.
00:17:49.96\00:17:52.03
Who are we called to reflect?
00:17:52.07\00:17:55.24
Now we know the answer.
00:17:55.27\00:17:57.07
But let's go and
see what the Bible says,
00:17:57.11\00:17:59.07
Ephesians 4:13,
00:17:59.11\00:18:01.84
"Who are we called to reflect?"
00:18:01.88\00:18:05.65
All right,
00:18:05.68\00:18:07.02
since it is our first
scripture for the night
00:18:07.05\00:18:08.42
and it's on the screen,
00:18:08.45\00:18:09.78
I'd like us all
to read it together,
00:18:09.82\00:18:11.15
our home
audience, and those watching
00:18:11.19\00:18:12.82
would surely appreciate it.
00:18:12.85\00:18:14.19
Are you ready?
00:18:14.22\00:18:15.56
Let's read the
one on the screen.
00:18:15.59\00:18:16.93
It says, "Till we all
come to the unity of the faith
00:18:16.96\00:18:20.86
and of the
knowledge of the Son of God,
00:18:20.90\00:18:23.37
to a perfect man,
00:18:23.40\00:18:25.53
to the measure of the stature
of the fullness of," what?
00:18:25.57\00:18:29.74
"Christ."
00:18:29.77\00:18:31.11
Notice where their unity.
00:18:31.14\00:18:32.74
Who are we called
to reflect by the way?
00:18:32.77\00:18:34.11
Who is the...
00:18:34.14\00:18:35.48
What's the answer?
00:18:35.51\00:18:36.85
Christ, we're
called to reflect Christ,
00:18:36.88\00:18:38.21
but it's done in unity.
00:18:38.25\00:18:40.58
As we are one with Christ,
we become one with each other,
00:18:40.62\00:18:43.95
till we all come to the unity.
00:18:43.99\00:18:46.02
It's a lockstep.
00:18:46.05\00:18:47.39
We go from one state
to the next together.
00:18:47.42\00:18:49.89
If that person is
walking in the light,
00:18:49.92\00:18:51.83
and I am walking in the light,
00:18:51.86\00:18:53.50
and you're walking in the light,
00:18:53.53\00:18:54.96
and Yannick is
walking in the light,
00:18:55.00\00:18:56.46
as we move, we move in
the same state together,
00:18:56.50\00:18:59.67
and Jesus who is
the guiding light,
00:18:59.70\00:19:02.47
we never lose step with Him.
00:19:02.50\00:19:04.84
We have to walk in the
light as He is in the light.
00:19:04.87\00:19:07.88
And what that's saying is
not in the general vicinity,
00:19:07.91\00:19:10.71
but we walk with
Him, we walk with Him,
00:19:10.75\00:19:13.58
like the road to
Emmaus, they walked with Him.
00:19:13.62\00:19:18.12
And when you walk in
with the light, where are you?
00:19:18.15\00:19:21.12
You're in the light.
00:19:21.16\00:19:22.62
You're never in the dark.
00:19:22.66\00:19:23.99
So who are we called to reflect?
00:19:24.03\00:19:25.36
We are called reflect who?
00:19:25.39\00:19:26.80
We are called to reflect Christ.
00:19:26.83\00:19:30.63
Because of that, let's
go to question number two.
00:19:30.67\00:19:34.87
Question number two.
00:19:34.90\00:19:37.87
What is Satan determined
00:19:37.91\00:19:40.31
to keep us from revealing?
00:19:40.34\00:19:44.98
What is Satan determined
00:19:45.01\00:19:47.32
to keep us from revealing?
00:19:47.35\00:19:51.29
2 Corinthians 4:3, 4.
00:19:51.32\00:19:56.79
Okay,
00:19:56.83\00:19:59.36
and here's the answer.
00:19:59.39\00:20:01.46
And the Bible says,
00:20:01.50\00:20:02.83
"But even if our
gospel is veiled or hidden,
00:20:02.86\00:20:07.40
it is veiled to
those who are," what?
00:20:07.44\00:20:10.01
"Perishing, whose minds the
god of this age has done," what?
00:20:10.04\00:20:15.81
"Blinded, who do not believe."
00:20:15.84\00:20:17.78
Let me pause there for a moment.
00:20:17.81\00:20:19.38
If a person is blind,
you don't put him in a race
00:20:19.41\00:20:24.55
'cause they don't
know where they're going.
00:20:24.59\00:20:27.06
Before we enter
the race with Christ,
00:20:27.09\00:20:29.12
one of the first things He does,
00:20:29.16\00:20:30.83
He restores our sight.
00:20:30.86\00:20:32.69
He opens the eyes of the blind.
00:20:32.73\00:20:35.16
It's not possible to
reflect the glory of God.
00:20:35.20\00:20:37.77
And notice why
He keeps us blind?
00:20:37.80\00:20:40.17
Look at the next as it goes on.
00:20:40.20\00:20:43.34
"Whose mind the God
of the sage has blinded,
00:20:43.37\00:20:45.74
who do not
believe lest the," what?
00:20:45.77\00:20:49.38
"The light of the
gospel of the glory of Christ,
00:20:49.41\00:20:53.72
who is the image of
God should shine on them."
00:20:53.75\00:20:58.19
What is Satan determined
to keep us from reflecting?
00:20:58.22\00:21:02.92
The glory of Christ,
00:21:02.96\00:21:05.63
the glory of Christ.
00:21:05.66\00:21:09.03
And as you get
closer to the end,
00:21:09.06\00:21:11.33
when you look at the
three angels' messages,
00:21:11.37\00:21:13.40
you know, you find
there's an angel flying
00:21:13.44\00:21:15.57
in the midst of
heaven, and in Revelation 18,
00:21:15.60\00:21:17.51
the Bible says,
00:21:17.54\00:21:18.87
"The earth was
illuminated with His glory."
00:21:18.91\00:21:22.18
You also find Isaiah 60,
00:21:22.21\00:21:24.38
"Arise, shine for
your light has come,
00:21:24.41\00:21:26.61
and the glory of the
Lord has risen on you."
00:21:26.65\00:21:29.38
The Christian life is
really not one that...
00:21:29.42\00:21:32.05
See people...
00:21:32.09\00:21:33.76
I want to put
this in right context.
00:21:33.79\00:21:35.12
People would rather
see your Christianity
00:21:35.16\00:21:38.23
than you tell them
that you're a Christian.
00:21:38.26\00:21:40.20
They'll say,
00:21:40.23\00:21:41.56
"Wow, there's something
different about his life,
00:21:41.60\00:21:43.06
there's something
different about her life,
00:21:43.10\00:21:45.03
there's
something about her that...
00:21:45.07\00:21:47.04
I think she's a Christian.
00:21:47.07\00:21:48.57
And remember the
wood, Allen, in LA
00:21:48.60\00:21:51.17
or I think a few years ago,
00:21:51.21\00:21:52.54
we went down the
Northern California,
00:21:52.57\00:21:55.04
or Southern California...
00:21:55.08\00:21:56.61
I forgot what we
were doing down there,
00:21:56.64\00:21:57.98
but we were going
to someone's house
00:21:58.01\00:21:59.35
for Thanksgiving,
00:21:59.38\00:22:00.75
and we couldn't
find where we're going.
00:22:00.78\00:22:03.39
And if you
remember, let me know,
00:22:03.42\00:22:05.42
but we stopped in a restaurant,
00:22:05.45\00:22:09.02
very few restaurants
are open on Thanksgiving,
00:22:09.06\00:22:11.73
but this one was,
00:22:11.76\00:22:13.09
we were trying
to ask directions.
00:22:13.13\00:22:14.76
And we didn't have a
GPS at that particular time,
00:22:14.80\00:22:17.03
so it must have
been a while ago.
00:22:17.07\00:22:18.97
But we walked in the
restaurant to get directions,
00:22:19.00\00:22:22.27
and when we were coming out,
there was a gentleman going in.
00:22:22.30\00:22:25.61
And along the way
he paused, he said,
00:22:25.64\00:22:29.74
"Are you guys Christians?"
00:22:29.78\00:22:32.45
And I said, "Yeah."
00:22:32.48\00:22:35.28
He said, "I can tell."
00:22:35.32\00:22:37.92
We didn't say anything
to this guy, we didn't know,
00:22:37.95\00:22:40.99
he was on the way
in to the restaurant.
00:22:41.02\00:22:44.03
We were, had just
stopped to get directions,
00:22:44.06\00:22:46.43
and in that short
period of time, what happened?
00:22:46.46\00:22:51.87
In that short span of
time, he saw something
00:22:51.90\00:22:55.90
that said to him,
"They're Christians."
00:22:55.94\00:22:59.14
And, you know,
that's a humbling experience
00:22:59.17\00:23:02.01
to know that in the
little throes of life,
00:23:02.04\00:23:06.08
and just in the
passing moments of life,
00:23:06.11\00:23:08.48
people can look at you and see
00:23:08.52\00:23:10.42
that there's something
different in your life.
00:23:10.45\00:23:12.82
There's something
that's making a difference,
00:23:12.85\00:23:14.52
but the reason why the
devil doesn't want us to...
00:23:14.56\00:23:18.03
The reason why
he doesn't want us
00:23:18.06\00:23:19.69
to reflect the glory of God
00:23:19.73\00:23:21.40
is because he doesn't want
God to get any credit, any glory
00:23:21.43\00:23:25.83
for the transformation
and the change in our lives.
00:23:25.87\00:23:29.10
Who doesn't want to be changed?
00:23:29.14\00:23:32.14
I'm glad you didn't answer.
00:23:32.17\00:23:33.58
Who wants to be changed?
00:23:33.61\00:23:34.94
Amen? Amen.
00:23:34.98\00:23:36.31
We all want to
reflect God's glory.
00:23:36.34\00:23:37.98
But the devil tries to
do things to keep our...
00:23:38.01\00:23:41.22
He tries to blind us
00:23:41.25\00:23:44.05
so that we cannot
see the glory of God,
00:23:44.09\00:23:46.96
and then if we can't
see the glory of God,
00:23:46.99\00:23:49.32
we don't believe,
and if we don't believe,
00:23:49.36\00:23:51.46
we can't reflect
00:23:51.49\00:23:52.83
what we don't even
have any reference to.
00:23:52.86\00:23:55.13
So he tries to blind us.
00:23:55.16\00:23:56.50
That's why it's
so vitally important
00:23:56.53\00:23:58.30
in the simple things of
life like your entertainment.
00:23:58.33\00:24:01.70
You have to make sure
that your entertainment
00:24:01.74\00:24:03.07
doesn't blind
you from the gospel
00:24:03.10\00:24:04.67
because the
world doesn't give us
00:24:04.71\00:24:06.68
what we need to learn
more about the gospel,
00:24:06.71\00:24:09.18
it pulls us away from
it, the prince of this world.
00:24:09.21\00:24:12.45
Let's go on,
00:24:12.48\00:24:13.82
so what does Satan determine
to keep us from reflecting?
00:24:13.85\00:24:16.25
What's the answer?
00:24:16.28\00:24:17.62
The glory, the glory
or also the image of God,
00:24:17.65\00:24:22.62
the glory of Christ.
00:24:22.66\00:24:24.19
He's determined to keep us
00:24:24.23\00:24:25.79
from allowing Jesus to
be revealed in our lives.
00:24:25.83\00:24:28.73
Okay, another
question, very simple one,
00:24:28.76\00:24:30.37
but I think it's to the point
00:24:30.40\00:24:31.80
and it lays our
foundation even further.
00:24:31.83\00:24:34.27
Question number three.
00:24:34.30\00:24:36.20
How do we obtain
the image of God?
00:24:36.24\00:24:40.71
Let's go to the beginning.
00:24:40.74\00:24:43.14
Let's go to the
beginning, Genesis 1:26,
00:24:43.18\00:24:46.08
look at that together.
00:24:46.11\00:24:47.55
Had any of you ever said,
00:24:50.55\00:24:52.45
"You look like somebody I know."
00:24:52.49\00:24:55.16
Ever had that experience?
00:24:55.19\00:24:57.03
Or have they have said,
00:24:57.06\00:24:58.39
"You know, I could
tell who your children are.
00:24:58.43\00:25:01.63
They look just like you.
00:25:01.66\00:25:03.00
Is that your son?"
00:25:03.03\00:25:04.53
What did they
see? What do they see?
00:25:04.57\00:25:07.90
They see the image.
They say, "You've got...
00:25:07.94\00:25:10.27
My wife did that
actually a couple days ago.
00:25:10.31\00:25:12.41
Today, I think you told me.
00:25:12.44\00:25:13.88
She said, "I looked
at your dad's picture,
00:25:13.91\00:25:15.71
you have your dad's nose.
00:25:15.74\00:25:18.51
And we were talking about that
00:25:18.55\00:25:19.88
because we had a
chance to meet someone
00:25:19.91\00:25:21.52
that we were talking
about our, where we came from,
00:25:21.55\00:25:23.99
and, you know, kids like to...
00:25:24.02\00:25:26.42
What they say, who...
00:25:26.45\00:25:28.16
I don't know who had...
00:25:28.19\00:25:29.52
I mean, I have my mother's ears.
00:25:29.56\00:25:31.79
But I have my dad's nose.
00:25:31.83\00:25:33.40
Hello.
00:25:33.43\00:25:35.53
And it's a family trait.
00:25:35.56\00:25:36.90
If you ever want to pick
my family out of a crowd,
00:25:36.93\00:25:39.57
just have them go like
this, and you'll know exactly
00:25:39.60\00:25:42.17
who I'm related
to, is that right?
00:25:42.20\00:25:43.54
Isn't it?
00:25:43.57\00:25:44.91
It's a fingerprint or
an ear print in our family.
00:25:44.94\00:25:48.04
But the image that we
reflect lets everyone know
00:25:48.08\00:25:52.88
who we are related to.
00:25:52.91\00:25:55.45
Look at Genesis
126, the image reflect
00:25:55.48\00:25:59.62
reveals our point
of origin, our family.
00:25:59.65\00:26:05.39
Speaking of the
creation of humanity,
00:26:05.43\00:26:08.76
"Then God said,
00:26:08.80\00:26:11.23
'Let Us make man
in," together, "Our image,
00:26:11.27\00:26:16.34
according to Our
likeness, let him have dominion
00:26:16.37\00:26:21.21
over the fish of the sea,
over the birds of the air,
00:26:21.24\00:26:25.98
and over the
cattle, over all the earth,
00:26:26.01\00:26:29.15
and over every
creeping thing that," what?
00:26:29.18\00:26:31.49
"Creeps on the earth."
00:26:31.52\00:26:32.85
So in whose image are we made?
00:26:32.89\00:26:36.56
Now... That wasn't a...
00:26:36.59\00:26:38.19
I didn't mean to
trick you that quickly.
00:26:38.23\00:26:40.50
I didn't mean to do that.
00:26:40.53\00:26:42.36
In whose image was
humanity made in the beginning?
00:26:42.40\00:26:47.54
In the image of God.
00:26:47.57\00:26:49.60
But I must put this
in the context of today.
00:26:49.64\00:26:52.84
Is everyone in the world today
reflecting the image of God?
00:26:52.87\00:26:56.68
No, because something
happened along the way
00:26:56.71\00:27:00.28
that distorted the image.
00:27:00.32\00:27:02.42
I'm not a
photographer, but I know
00:27:02.45\00:27:03.79
at least something called focus,
00:27:03.82\00:27:05.25
that's why we call this
program A Sharper Focus.
00:27:05.29\00:27:07.92
And I always and look
for this at the very end,
00:27:07.96\00:27:11.13
I'll say if it
doesn't make sense,
00:27:11.16\00:27:13.19
continue studying,
00:27:13.23\00:27:14.56
one day it will come
into A Sharper Focus.
00:27:14.60\00:27:18.03
And so what happens is,
when our lives are out of focus
00:27:18.07\00:27:21.14
with God like a picture.
00:27:21.17\00:27:23.97
Have you ever seen a
picture out of focus?
00:27:24.01\00:27:26.01
The one thing you
can't do with a picture
00:27:26.04\00:27:28.61
that was originally out of focus
00:27:28.64\00:27:30.91
is put it in focus.
00:27:30.95\00:27:33.18
If it is in focus,
you could unfocus it,
00:27:33.21\00:27:36.65
but you can't focus the
picture that's out of focus
00:27:36.69\00:27:40.09
because it's a locked image.
00:27:40.12\00:27:42.19
But if it is
clear, you can blur it.
00:27:42.22\00:27:45.26
But you cannot put a
blur picture in focus.
00:27:45.29\00:27:47.66
You could do your best to
try to make out the features,
00:27:47.70\00:27:50.27
but you cannot put a
blurred image in focus.
00:27:50.30\00:27:53.67
That's the
beautiful thing about Christ.
00:27:53.70\00:27:56.54
He took a blurred image
00:27:56.57\00:28:01.11
and brought it into
focus to reveal Himself.
00:28:01.14\00:28:04.95
Amen, somebody? Amen.
00:28:04.98\00:28:06.51
'Cause you
can't... There's no...
00:28:06.55\00:28:07.88
I don't know of
any photographic,
00:28:07.92\00:28:10.32
I may be ignorant in
this particular area,
00:28:10.35\00:28:12.59
but I don't know of
any photographic tools
00:28:12.62\00:28:15.66
that will take a blurry picture,
00:28:15.69\00:28:17.16
now they might try to magnify it
00:28:17.19\00:28:19.03
and do some technical things,
00:28:19.06\00:28:20.83
but you cannot
take a blurry picture
00:28:20.86\00:28:22.43
and bring it into sharp focus.
00:28:22.46\00:28:24.07
But the Lord
took blurry humanity,
00:28:24.10\00:28:27.17
and applied His character,
and when people look at us,
00:28:27.20\00:28:30.74
they say, "Are you a Christian?
00:28:30.77\00:28:34.38
You look like your Father."
00:28:34.41\00:28:35.74
Amen.
00:28:35.78\00:28:37.15
That image was given
to us in the beginning,
00:28:37.18\00:28:38.91
but now look at
this text one more time
00:28:38.95\00:28:40.85
because when God
gave us His image,
00:28:40.88\00:28:43.32
going back briefly
here, He gave us dominion.
00:28:43.35\00:28:47.22
Man had
authority over everything
00:28:47.26\00:28:49.96
that was created.
00:28:49.99\00:28:52.89
But since Satan
wanted to rule the world,
00:28:52.93\00:28:56.97
and this is where the
great controversy began,
00:28:57.00\00:28:58.97
let me just
develop this very quickly.
00:28:59.00\00:29:02.50
When God created
the world, He gave Adam
00:29:02.54\00:29:05.11
dominion over
the fish of the sea,
00:29:05.14\00:29:06.47
the birds of the
air, or the cattle,
00:29:06.51\00:29:07.84
over every creeping thing.
00:29:07.88\00:29:09.21
In other words, Adam was
able to command all of creation.
00:29:09.24\00:29:12.68
But when sin entered the
world, he lost his dominion.
00:29:12.71\00:29:17.25
Somebody else took the path,
00:29:17.29\00:29:19.92
somebody else took
the captain's chair,
00:29:19.95\00:29:22.12
who was his name?
00:29:22.16\00:29:23.76
Satan.
00:29:23.79\00:29:25.26
Satan took the captain
chair and even up to the point
00:29:25.29\00:29:28.80
where Jesus
came, matter of fact,
00:29:28.83\00:29:30.67
Paul even talked
about the god of this world.
00:29:30.70\00:29:35.10
And then Jesus says,
00:29:35.14\00:29:36.47
"The prince of
this world has come,
00:29:36.50\00:29:38.27
and he has nothing in Me."
00:29:38.31\00:29:39.84
So even up to the time
of Christ, Jesus recognized,
00:29:39.87\00:29:42.91
I've got to restore man
to the position and the image
00:29:42.94\00:29:48.25
that had been lost
for nearly 4,000 years.
00:29:48.28\00:29:52.62
So that's why this topic is
all about living in victory.
00:29:52.65\00:29:56.56
How does God restore that image?
00:29:56.59\00:29:59.06
And not only in His day and age
00:29:59.09\00:30:03.00
when He was on
earth and in ministry,
00:30:03.03\00:30:05.77
but He wants all of us
00:30:05.80\00:30:07.54
to continue to
reflect His image.
00:30:07.57\00:30:09.67
That's why this lesson
is so vitally important.
00:30:09.70\00:30:11.87
We could talk about the
Sabbath or other things,
00:30:11.91\00:30:13.24
but having the image of
God and reflecting His glory
00:30:13.27\00:30:16.54
is the first and
highest priority.
00:30:16.58\00:30:18.81
Look at the next one.
00:30:18.85\00:30:20.18
So where did we
get the image from?
00:30:20.22\00:30:24.75
We obtained
that by being created
00:30:24.79\00:30:27.29
in the image of God.
00:30:27.32\00:30:28.66
That's what God originally did,
00:30:28.69\00:30:31.23
He created man to reflect
Him all through the earth,
00:30:31.26\00:30:35.06
He created man
00:30:35.10\00:30:36.43
to reflect Him
all through the earth.
00:30:36.46\00:30:40.54
And I tell you
today, if you look at...
00:30:40.57\00:30:42.87
Oh, matter of fact, I think,
I was having a conversation,
00:30:42.90\00:30:46.47
I think Angie and I were having
a conversation with somebody,
00:30:46.51\00:30:48.84
and we're from a large
city, I won't mention the city
00:30:48.88\00:30:50.51
because some of the people
that are from my city say,
00:30:50.55\00:30:52.21
"You're always
down in our city."
00:30:52.25\00:30:54.32
Okay, I'm from New
York, I love New York.
00:30:54.35\00:30:59.22
Just like God loves New York,
00:30:59.25\00:31:01.09
but I'm glad I
live in the country.
00:31:01.12\00:31:03.46
But you can go to
some cities in the world,
00:31:03.49\00:31:06.26
whether New York or Chicago
or LA or Detroit or Miami
00:31:06.29\00:31:11.27
and, you know, you could look
at people's faces and see sin.
00:31:11.30\00:31:16.81
You kind of see it.
00:31:16.84\00:31:19.47
Not that we're
judging anyone and saying,
00:31:19.51\00:31:20.91
"Oh, there's a
sinner, there's a saint,
00:31:20.94\00:31:22.34
there's a
sinner, there's a saint."
00:31:22.38\00:31:23.95
But you could see
what sin has done.
00:31:23.98\00:31:25.65
It has marred the image of God.
00:31:25.68\00:31:27.95
And the deeper in
sin that a person gets,
00:31:27.98\00:31:30.49
the more sin seems to distort.
00:31:30.52\00:31:32.69
And when you look at
examples in scripture,
00:31:32.72\00:31:34.06
you find all the places
where Jesus set someone free,
00:31:34.09\00:31:37.33
something about them was marred,
00:31:37.36\00:31:39.26
either they couldn't
see, or they were blind,
00:31:39.29\00:31:41.80
or they were lame,
or they were hauled,
00:31:41.83\00:31:44.67
or they were demon possessed.
00:31:44.70\00:31:46.43
Something about
them was affected
00:31:46.47\00:31:48.10
physically and mentally.
00:31:48.14\00:31:49.80
When Jesus restored
them like He did Naaman,
00:31:49.84\00:31:52.01
He restored him to the
point where his flesh was like
00:31:52.04\00:31:54.11
the flesh of a babe.
00:31:54.14\00:31:55.54
The restoration
process is we are always better
00:31:55.58\00:31:58.05
after Christ than we are before.
00:31:58.08\00:31:59.81
Amen? Amen.
00:31:59.85\00:32:01.18
Now look at
question number four,
00:32:01.22\00:32:03.02
let's try to move on.
00:32:03.05\00:32:04.72
Question number four.
00:32:04.75\00:32:06.65
How has the image of God
been changed by man's fall?
00:32:06.69\00:32:12.23
How has the image of God
been changed by man's fall?
00:32:12.26\00:32:15.83
A very short passage
which we all know very well,
00:32:15.86\00:32:19.17
Romans 3:23, Romans 3:23,
00:32:19.20\00:32:25.17
to the point.
00:32:25.21\00:32:31.05
And this is why the Lord
came to the entire world,
00:32:31.08\00:32:36.48
"For," how many?
00:32:36.52\00:32:38.59
"All have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God."
00:32:38.62\00:32:44.49
Now let's put this back
in the athletes' corner.
00:32:44.53\00:32:47.56
Can you imagine
God, He is moving,
00:32:47.60\00:32:51.33
I mean he is booking,
I mean, what's that guy?
00:32:51.37\00:32:55.30
He's bolt, he's bolting.
00:32:55.34\00:32:58.77
You know, like somebody
once who ran against Usain Bolt,
00:32:58.81\00:33:02.11
they said, "How fast is he?"
00:33:02.14\00:33:04.28
And the guy said, "Fast."
00:33:04.31\00:33:06.55
Well, that's relative.
00:33:06.58\00:33:08.02
Because a car is fast, a
jet is fast, a bullet's fast,
00:33:08.05\00:33:11.19
a plane is fast.
00:33:11.22\00:33:12.55
How fast is he? Fast.
00:33:12.59\00:33:15.09
You'll only understand
the definition of that
00:33:15.12\00:33:16.62
when you run against him.
00:33:16.66\00:33:20.36
But what if Usain
Bolt ran his heart out
00:33:20.40\00:33:23.40
and right short
of the finish line,
00:33:23.43\00:33:26.70
he just stopped.
00:33:26.74\00:33:28.57
Everybody's cheering,
00:33:28.60\00:33:29.94
"We're going to
win, we're going to win,"
00:33:29.97\00:33:31.31
he just stops.
00:33:31.34\00:33:32.67
And all the other
runners run by him.
00:33:32.71\00:33:34.61
Would there be an
outcry in the audience?
00:33:34.64\00:33:36.34
Come on.
00:33:36.38\00:33:37.75
Would Jamaica be upset?
00:33:37.78\00:33:40.98
What wrong with him?
00:33:41.02\00:33:42.48
That was my West
Indian, excuse me.
00:33:42.52\00:33:45.55
You know, they would go,
they go West Indian ballistic.
00:33:45.59\00:33:48.69
What is wrong with him?
00:33:48.72\00:33:50.23
He just stopped
short of the finish line.
00:33:50.26\00:33:54.96
The whole country
would feel let down.
00:33:55.00\00:33:58.57
Do you know that without Christ
00:33:58.60\00:34:02.30
that reflects our lives?
00:34:02.34\00:34:04.54
We run as hard as we can
00:34:04.57\00:34:07.41
and we get to the finish
line and we can't cross it,
00:34:07.44\00:34:10.98
for all have
sinned and done what?
00:34:11.01\00:34:13.05
Fall short.
00:34:13.08\00:34:14.98
They can't say, "Oh, I...
00:34:15.02\00:34:17.02
Okay, put your hands down.
00:34:17.05\00:34:19.99
I want to...
00:34:20.02\00:34:21.36
But I can't claim the victory."
00:34:21.39\00:34:22.92
All have run a race
00:34:22.96\00:34:25.46
that they have
become painfully aware.
00:34:25.49\00:34:27.60
"I know I have."
00:34:27.63\00:34:28.96
If the camera turned around,
00:34:32.00\00:34:33.34
you see everybody
with their hands down.
00:34:33.37\00:34:35.74
I know I have.
00:34:35.77\00:34:38.11
We have fallen short
at points in our lives
00:34:38.14\00:34:42.68
of reflecting the glory of God.
00:34:42.71\00:34:45.35
And we want to go like
this and say, "Victory."
00:34:45.38\00:34:48.92
We tried in our own efforts,
00:34:48.95\00:34:50.72
and we've come
to the finish line,
00:34:50.75\00:34:52.19
and the sign says, "Stop.
00:34:52.22\00:34:54.69
You cannot cross it
00:34:54.72\00:34:56.16
because you don't
have what it takes
00:34:56.19\00:34:57.89
to cross that line."
00:34:57.93\00:35:01.73
Wow,
00:35:01.76\00:35:03.93
so...
00:35:03.97\00:35:05.30
I'm trying to kind
of go ahead of myself,
00:35:05.33\00:35:06.67
but I'm gonna
give you a preview.
00:35:06.70\00:35:08.04
Along comes Jesus
to a planet of losers,
00:35:08.07\00:35:11.77
and decides,
00:35:11.81\00:35:14.08
I got the best sneakers,
00:35:14.11\00:35:18.08
I am ready to run
against him, where is he?
00:35:18.11\00:35:20.52
And Satan is saying, "I
was waiting for this match.
00:35:20.55\00:35:23.75
I have been waiting
4,000 years to take you on.
00:35:23.79\00:35:29.06
So he dogs the tracks of
Jesus to see how he's training.
00:35:29.09\00:35:34.30
And then he finds Jesus
in His morning devotions
00:35:34.33\00:35:36.46
talking to His Father.
00:35:36.50\00:35:39.57
There he sees Jesus
00:35:39.60\00:35:40.94
at the moments
of great temptation
00:35:40.97\00:35:42.44
not losing His mind.
00:35:42.47\00:35:44.97
There he sees Jesus
when He's even identified
00:35:45.01\00:35:47.81
as an
illegitimate child, He says,
00:35:47.84\00:35:51.65
"I'm about My
Father's business."
00:35:51.68\00:35:54.95
He looks at His
life in every particular,
00:35:54.98\00:35:57.49
trying to find a way that
when they get to the race,
00:35:57.52\00:36:01.46
he is going to beat Him.
00:36:01.49\00:36:04.79
And every point of his life,
he's like, can't find a way.
00:36:04.83\00:36:11.17
And Jesus being aware of it
says to His Father in heaven,
00:36:11.20\00:36:15.27
"The prince of
this world has come,
00:36:15.30\00:36:17.87
but he has nothing in Me.
00:36:17.91\00:36:19.94
He cannot break
My training routine."
00:36:19.97\00:36:23.91
When we are with
our Father every day,
00:36:23.95\00:36:25.41
the devil can't
break our training routine,
00:36:25.45\00:36:27.25
we have victory, am I right?
00:36:27.28\00:36:28.92
So that's what happens.
00:36:28.95\00:36:30.29
But until you get there,
look at how incapable we are.
00:36:30.32\00:36:33.72
Go to the very next one.
00:36:33.76\00:36:35.36
The answer to number four,
"What has made us incapable?"
00:36:35.39\00:36:39.19
We have all fallen short.
00:36:39.23\00:36:41.50
Question number
four, the routine of Jesus.
00:36:41.53\00:36:43.70
That's why routines are
so important in your life.
00:36:43.73\00:36:45.87
To be victorious, you
have to have a routine.
00:36:45.90\00:36:48.04
You cannot be an
athlete without a routine.
00:36:48.07\00:36:50.54
You cannot be a
pilot without a checklist.
00:36:50.57\00:36:53.21
Everything in life requires
some kind of accountability.
00:36:53.24\00:36:56.44
If you have a Christian
life with no accountability,
00:36:56.48\00:36:58.85
with nothing that gauges
whether or not you're growing,
00:36:58.88\00:37:01.82
then you're not
really a Christian.
00:37:01.85\00:37:04.22
You're floating,
you're meandering.
00:37:04.25\00:37:07.32
And the maze of mediocrity
00:37:07.36\00:37:09.29
will not take you to
the place of victory.
00:37:09.32\00:37:11.63
Let's go to
question number five.
00:37:11.66\00:37:13.23
What power has
sin inserted over man?
00:37:13.26\00:37:17.37
What power has
sin inserted over man?
00:37:17.40\00:37:22.50
When we look at the incapable...
00:37:22.54\00:37:23.97
When we run that race
00:37:24.01\00:37:25.34
and we get to the
finish line and we stop,
00:37:25.37\00:37:28.08
somebody might
say, "Why did you stop?"
00:37:28.11\00:37:30.38
And you'll say,
"I didn't want to."
00:37:30.41\00:37:32.91
But what happens...
00:37:32.95\00:37:34.32
See a lot of people
don't understand this part,
00:37:34.35\00:37:35.75
this is very powerful.
00:37:35.78\00:37:37.12
When you're running the race,
and you get to the finish line,
00:37:37.15\00:37:39.92
and you stop,
somebody might say,
00:37:39.95\00:37:42.12
"Why did you stop?"
00:37:42.16\00:37:44.06
And based on this text,
you'll say, "I didn't stop."
00:37:44.09\00:37:48.20
Let's read the text together.
00:37:48.23\00:37:49.90
"I didn't stop."
00:37:49.93\00:37:51.87
Look at the text, Romans
7:17, "But now," together,
00:37:51.90\00:37:56.17
"it is no longer I who do
it, but sin that dwells in me."
00:37:56.20\00:38:02.11
Sin says, "I'm not
letting you cross that line."
00:38:02.14\00:38:04.98
And you're running,
00:38:05.01\00:38:06.35
and it's almost
like the tether of sin,
00:38:06.38\00:38:07.72
you're running,
it pulls you back.
00:38:07.75\00:38:09.98
Sin says, "You thought
you were crossing the line,
00:38:10.02\00:38:12.02
didn't you?
00:38:12.05\00:38:13.39
I've got the rope."
00:38:13.42\00:38:15.12
He's in control.
00:38:15.16\00:38:16.49
What many of us
don't know is sin is...
00:38:16.52\00:38:18.09
First, sin is first
and enslaving power,
00:38:18.13\00:38:21.66
then it is a controlling power.
00:38:21.70\00:38:24.57
It first ties you,
and then it tethers you,
00:38:24.60\00:38:28.20
and determines
how far you can go.
00:38:28.24\00:38:30.11
When sin gets a hold of
us, we want to do one thing,
00:38:33.21\00:38:38.28
but we come to
the sad realization
00:38:38.31\00:38:41.12
as Paul did in Romans 7:17,
00:38:41.15\00:38:43.69
I want to cross
that finish line,
00:38:43.72\00:38:45.12
but I'm not the
one who decides that.
00:38:45.15\00:38:47.26
It is no longer I who do
it, but sin that dwells in me.
00:38:47.29\00:38:50.56
So while the audiences
yell, "Cross the line."
00:38:50.59\00:38:53.40
You're yelling
back, "I didn't stop,
00:38:53.43\00:38:56.00
sin stopped me."
00:38:56.03\00:38:58.30
And that's why
we need Jesus, amen?
00:38:58.33\00:38:59.67
Amen.
00:38:59.70\00:39:01.04
Because He comes to break
the connection that stops us,
00:39:01.07\00:39:04.04
all of us will fall
short without Christ.
00:39:04.07\00:39:07.74
The reason why I
went back to this topic
00:39:07.78\00:39:09.88
is because I believe that
00:39:09.91\00:39:13.05
understanding how to win,
how to be victorious daily
00:39:13.08\00:39:18.65
is more important
than anything else.
00:39:18.69\00:39:21.89
If you can't be victorious,
all the Sabbath, the diet,
00:39:21.92\00:39:25.79
how to dress,
what songs you sing,
00:39:25.83\00:39:29.16
it all doesn't matter.
00:39:29.20\00:39:31.00
You could be
a... You could be a...
00:39:31.03\00:39:32.37
You could be a...
00:39:32.40\00:39:33.74
You could be a prisoner
00:39:33.77\00:39:35.10
with a really
wonderful curriculum,
00:39:35.14\00:39:38.61
but you're behind bars.
00:39:38.64\00:39:42.08
No experience of victory.
00:39:42.11\00:39:44.38
But Jesus comes
to break the hold.
00:39:44.41\00:39:47.52
So let's answer the question.
00:39:47.55\00:39:50.25
What power has
sin inserted over man?
00:39:50.29\00:39:54.66
Write this down, it's
not obvious in the text.
00:39:54.69\00:39:57.43
Control.
00:39:57.46\00:40:00.10
Control, sin is
first an enslaving power,
00:40:00.13\00:40:05.60
then it is the
controlling power.
00:40:05.63\00:40:10.04
It first
enslaves, then it controls.
00:40:10.07\00:40:14.34
Matter of fact,
can I give it to you?
00:40:18.88\00:40:21.08
Go with me to Romans 6:16.
00:40:21.12\00:40:24.85
My wife knows where we're going.
00:40:24.89\00:40:27.09
Romans 6:16, let's go ahead
00:40:27.12\00:40:28.72
and, let's go ahead
and confirm this point.
00:40:28.76\00:40:32.09
Romans 7:17, but Romans
6:16, it's not on the screen,
00:40:32.13\00:40:36.26
but it's in your Bibles.
00:40:36.30\00:40:37.63
Let's look at the
enslaving aspect of it,
00:40:37.67\00:40:39.33
then the
controlling aspect of it.
00:40:39.37\00:40:40.84
"Do you not know," Romans 6:16,
00:40:45.64\00:40:48.54
"Do you not know
to whom you," what?
00:40:48.58\00:40:52.51
"Present
yourselves slaves to obey,
00:40:52.55\00:40:56.69
you are that one
slave whom you obey
00:40:56.72\00:41:00.32
whether of," what?
00:41:00.36\00:41:01.69
"Sin leading to
death or obedience
00:41:01.72\00:41:04.29
leading to righteousness."
00:41:04.33\00:41:05.99
What do you find
in both categories?
00:41:06.03\00:41:07.46
Leading.
00:41:07.50\00:41:08.96
Somebody's leading.
00:41:09.00\00:41:10.67
When you yield,
somebody else is leading.
00:41:10.70\00:41:14.04
You're no longer
in the driver's seat.
00:41:14.07\00:41:15.90
When you yield to sin,
sin is leading to death.
00:41:15.94\00:41:19.91
When you yield to obedience
or through obedience you yield,
00:41:19.94\00:41:23.81
obedience is
leading to righteousness.
00:41:23.85\00:41:26.18
In both cases, it is
not us who is in control.
00:41:26.21\00:41:29.45
In both cases, all
you've got to do is decide
00:41:29.48\00:41:32.12
who you want to have in charge.
00:41:32.15\00:41:34.56
When you yield,
do you not know...
00:41:34.59\00:41:36.46
And so the Apostle
Paul says here, he says,
00:41:36.49\00:41:38.89
"Don't you know how this works?"
00:41:38.93\00:41:40.70
He said, "Don't you
know how this works?
00:41:40.73\00:41:42.30
Where are you going to yield?"
00:41:42.33\00:41:43.67
And I've learned something
very significantly here.
00:41:43.70\00:41:46.74
In this yielding,
00:41:46.77\00:41:48.10
in this whole
aspect of yielding,
00:41:48.14\00:41:50.97
there is no third category.
00:41:51.01\00:41:52.47
Is there a third category?
00:41:52.51\00:41:54.11
There's no third category.
00:41:54.14\00:41:55.74
Either you're yielding
from sin that leads to death
00:41:55.78\00:41:59.21
or obedience that leads to what?
00:41:59.25\00:42:01.28
Righteousness.
00:42:01.32\00:42:02.65
There's no third category.
00:42:02.68\00:42:04.02
So you might be thinking, "Well,
00:42:04.05\00:42:05.39
I'm not in either
category, I'm not a Christian.
00:42:05.42\00:42:07.09
I'm sorry, you're
in the first category
00:42:07.12\00:42:09.46
if you're not a Christian
00:42:09.49\00:42:10.89
'cause sin is
leading in that one,
00:42:10.93\00:42:12.76
and then until
you yield to Christ,
00:42:12.79\00:42:14.66
you're not obedient
leading to righteousness.
00:42:14.70\00:42:18.63
It's amazing.
00:42:18.67\00:42:20.00
You put that
down as an extra text
00:42:20.04\00:42:21.80
by number five.
00:42:21.84\00:42:23.27
Now...
00:42:23.30\00:42:24.64
But now let's go
to the other side
00:42:24.67\00:42:26.07
because remember,
I'm talking about effort.
00:42:26.11\00:42:28.01
I'm talking about what?
00:42:28.04\00:42:29.51
Effort. What's that word?
00:42:29.54\00:42:31.61
Effort.
00:42:31.65\00:42:32.98
Effort is...
00:42:33.01\00:42:34.42
Effort always leads us to fail
00:42:34.45\00:42:37.12
when the effort is
based on our abilities.
00:42:37.15\00:42:40.26
But now when Christ comes in,
00:42:40.29\00:42:41.89
I want you to
notice question number six.
00:42:41.92\00:42:44.66
When Christ comes in, how...
00:42:44.69\00:42:47.46
Here it is, question number six.
00:42:47.50\00:42:48.96
When Christ comes in,
00:42:49.00\00:42:50.77
how difficult is it
to reflect His glory?
00:42:50.80\00:42:55.27
When Christ comes
in, how difficult it is
00:42:55.30\00:42:58.61
to reflect His glory?
00:42:58.64\00:42:59.97
You'll find this word
used by Matthew and by Paul
00:43:00.01\00:43:04.01
quite a bit.
00:43:04.05\00:43:05.41
If you just use that, if
you just put up that one word,
00:43:05.45\00:43:07.82
you'll discover
it in Matthew 5:16,
00:43:07.85\00:43:10.05
let us look at
the text together.
00:43:10.09\00:43:12.82
What's the first word?
00:43:12.85\00:43:14.72
What is it together?
00:43:14.76\00:43:16.09
Let your light
so shine before men,
00:43:16.12\00:43:20.96
that they may see your," what?
00:43:21.00\00:43:22.73
"Good words and
glorify your Father in heaven."
00:43:22.76\00:43:27.54
What's the first word?
00:43:27.57\00:43:28.90
Let.
00:43:28.94\00:43:31.04
Let's illustrate let.
00:43:31.07\00:43:34.04
Ready?
00:43:34.08\00:43:37.61
This is let.
00:43:37.65\00:43:40.18
What am I doing?
00:43:40.22\00:43:41.55
Nothing.
00:43:41.58\00:43:42.92
Let.
00:43:42.95\00:43:44.42
Do I look happy?
00:43:44.45\00:43:45.92
I'm going to let my light shine.
00:43:45.95\00:43:47.82
Amen. Anybody got a mirror?
00:43:47.86\00:43:53.56
Well, that's good,
00:43:53.60\00:43:55.13
we don't think of
ourselves that way.
00:43:55.16\00:43:57.67
But if you look in the mirror,
00:43:57.70\00:44:00.17
can you see a reflection?
00:44:00.20\00:44:02.70
What are you doing
to see a reflection?
00:44:02.74\00:44:04.71
Nothing, just
letting the mirror work.
00:44:04.74\00:44:08.08
When you shine a light,
00:44:08.11\00:44:10.01
is the flashlight
shaken in your hand
00:44:10.05\00:44:11.61
and fighting to
get the light out?
00:44:11.65\00:44:13.28
And what's it doing?
00:44:13.31\00:44:14.65
Letting.
00:44:14.68\00:44:16.12
You see the beauty of...
00:44:16.15\00:44:17.49
When Christ
comes in, He takes us
00:44:17.52\00:44:19.59
from T-R-Y-U-M-P-H, T-R-Y,
00:44:19.62\00:44:24.86
that's try to T-R-I-U-M-P-H.
00:44:24.89\00:44:29.56
The Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit.
00:44:29.60\00:44:32.23
He takes us from trying to win
00:44:32.27\00:44:35.04
to giving all the triumph
00:44:35.07\00:44:38.84
to the powers of heaven.
00:44:38.87\00:44:41.08
From trying to triumph.
00:44:41.11\00:44:44.41
And so when the Bible
says, when Jesus says,
00:44:44.45\00:44:46.78
"Let your light
so shine before men,"
00:44:46.82\00:44:48.88
He was speaking...
00:44:48.92\00:44:50.39
He was laying
out the beatitudes,
00:44:50.42\00:44:52.82
and some writers call
it the be-happy attitude
00:44:52.85\00:44:55.76
because when you live in
harmony with the beatitudes,
00:44:55.79\00:44:57.96
you begin to understand
that Jesus and the beatitudes
00:44:57.99\00:45:00.86
were outlining principles.
00:45:00.90\00:45:03.43
Look at it very quickly.
00:45:03.47\00:45:04.80
You're in Matthew 5, right?
00:45:04.83\00:45:06.50
Let me just show you
something here real quickly.
00:45:06.53\00:45:09.50
He was outlining the
characteristical traits
00:45:09.54\00:45:13.04
that are
synonymous with a person
00:45:13.07\00:45:15.48
who is a Christian.
00:45:15.51\00:45:17.68
He was outlining the
characteristical traits
00:45:17.71\00:45:20.62
to a person who is a Christian.
00:45:20.65\00:45:24.45
Notice what He says,
00:45:24.49\00:45:25.82
I'm going to just
start with verse 1
00:45:25.85\00:45:27.19
and just go very quickly.
00:45:27.22\00:45:28.76
"And seeing the multitudes,
He went up on a mountain,"
00:45:28.79\00:45:31.49
Matthew 5:1, "And
when He was seated,
00:45:31.53\00:45:34.83
His disciples came to Him,
00:45:34.86\00:45:36.97
then He opened His
mouth and taught them."
00:45:37.00\00:45:39.23
Whenever Jesus
sat, He was teaching,
00:45:39.27\00:45:40.94
when He stood
up, He was preaching,
00:45:40.97\00:45:42.47
you'll notice
that in the scriptures.
00:45:42.50\00:45:44.01
What did He say in verse 3?
00:45:44.04\00:45:45.37
"Blessed are the," what?
00:45:45.41\00:45:46.74
"Poor in spirit, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven."
00:45:46.78\00:45:48.94
It's not people that
are financially poor,
00:45:48.98\00:45:51.08
but he's talking
about humble spirit,
00:45:51.11\00:45:53.31
a person that's
not proud and boastful.
00:45:53.35\00:45:56.05
Also, "Blessed
are those who mourn
00:45:56.08\00:45:57.65
for they shall be comforted."
00:45:57.69\00:45:59.02
You know what that means?
00:45:59.05\00:46:00.56
The word mourn
there doesn't mean,
00:46:00.59\00:46:01.92
"Oh, I'm always
sad, the word there mean,
00:46:01.96\00:46:04.46
the mourning there
means they have a desire
00:46:04.49\00:46:06.76
and a longing with something
that the world cannot give.
00:46:06.80\00:46:10.37
They have a desire
and longing for something
00:46:10.40\00:46:11.83
the world cannot give.
00:46:11.87\00:46:13.20
So they're not looking
for joy from the world,
00:46:13.23\00:46:16.47
their minds are
fixed on eternal joys.
00:46:16.50\00:46:19.47
It goes on to
number five, or verse 5.
00:46:19.51\00:46:22.21
"Blessed are the
meek," not the weak, the meek,
00:46:22.24\00:46:26.65
"for they shall
inherit the earth."
00:46:26.68\00:46:28.02
Meek are people
00:46:28.05\00:46:29.38
that are not
filled with themselves.
00:46:29.42\00:46:31.32
"Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
00:46:31.35\00:46:34.06
for they shall be" what?
00:46:34.09\00:46:35.46
"Filled."
00:46:35.49\00:46:36.83
That's the desire.
00:46:36.86\00:46:38.19
What is your
thirst on a daily basis?
00:46:38.23\00:46:39.96
"Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy."
00:46:40.00\00:46:43.00
Remember that, but
for the grace of God,
00:46:43.03\00:46:45.10
you could be in the scenario
that other people are in,
00:46:45.13\00:46:47.70
be merciful.
00:46:47.74\00:46:49.07
When you're
merciful, you get mercy.
00:46:49.10\00:46:51.57
Number eight,
"Blessed are the," what?
00:46:51.61\00:46:53.61
"Pure in heart
for they shall," what?
00:46:53.64\00:46:55.01
"See God."
00:46:55.04\00:46:56.38
You know it doesn't
says pure in the words
00:46:56.41\00:46:58.41
because anybody
can say pure things,
00:46:58.45\00:47:00.12
but what's
happening in your heart?
00:47:00.15\00:47:02.15
What's going on in the heart
00:47:02.18\00:47:03.52
is really where
the stand is going to,
00:47:03.55\00:47:04.89
is where you can determine,
00:47:04.92\00:47:06.25
where you stand on that
podium of the final victory.
00:47:06.29\00:47:10.83
That's right from the
abundance of the heart.
00:47:10.86\00:47:12.23
Thank you,
honey, the mouth speaks.
00:47:12.26\00:47:13.60
What's in the heart is
going to come out of the mouth.
00:47:13.63\00:47:15.60
Number nine or verse 9,
"Blessed are the peacemakers
00:47:15.63\00:47:18.83
for they shall be called," what?
00:47:18.87\00:47:20.40
"Sons of God, children of God."
00:47:20.44\00:47:22.60
Some people don't want peace,
00:47:22.64\00:47:24.97
but when you seek
peace and pursue peace,
00:47:25.01\00:47:27.51
we recently did
a program on peace
00:47:27.54\00:47:29.84
for one of our family worships.
00:47:29.88\00:47:32.68
And then it says in verse 10,
00:47:32.71\00:47:34.08
"Blessed are
those who are," what?
00:47:34.12\00:47:36.02
"Persecuted for
righteousness' sake
00:47:36.05\00:47:39.05
for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven."
00:47:39.09\00:47:41.59
These are all the things
00:47:41.62\00:47:42.96
that the
Christian will go through.
00:47:42.99\00:47:44.39
These are the characteristical
traits of the person
00:47:44.43\00:47:46.46
who's outlining his
life or her life in ready,
00:47:46.49\00:47:49.26
in preparation for eternity,
00:47:49.30\00:47:50.93
and it goes on down to
verse 16, which is read,
00:47:50.97\00:47:54.14
you can read the others
together in your own time,
00:47:54.17\00:47:56.14
but it says, "Let
your light so shine."
00:47:56.17\00:47:57.87
In other words, when your life
00:47:57.91\00:47:59.24
is in harmony with God,
00:47:59.27\00:48:00.98
it's clear who you
are associated with.
00:48:01.01\00:48:04.65
You're letting His
light as He says clearly
00:48:04.68\00:48:07.65
that He is the
light of the world,
00:48:07.68\00:48:09.05
but when He's not here, we
are the light of the world,
00:48:09.08\00:48:12.22
right?
00:48:12.25\00:48:13.72
Any evidence that
person, if anybody ever argues
00:48:13.76\00:48:16.32
whether or not Jesus is
real, the greatest testimony,
00:48:16.36\00:48:20.30
I think, Pastor Mark
Finley once said this.
00:48:20.33\00:48:22.60
He had a motorcyclist,
not a motorcyclist,
00:48:22.63\00:48:25.23
but a guy that
was a motorcyclist,
00:48:25.27\00:48:27.90
yeah, a cyclist,
he had a motorcycle,
00:48:27.94\00:48:30.31
big, tall, tough, strong,
built guy, just muscle bound.
00:48:30.34\00:48:35.41
Did you ever see those
guys, they have nothing,
00:48:35.44\00:48:37.21
muscle upon
muscle, and leather jacket,
00:48:37.25\00:48:39.08
they look like, they
could just blow bubbles
00:48:39.11\00:48:41.15
with your heart,
I mean, just strong.
00:48:41.18\00:48:44.02
And he was standing
next to Pastor Mark Finley,
00:48:44.05\00:48:46.05
I'm sharing your story, Mark.
00:48:46.09\00:48:47.56
It's a really great story.
00:48:47.59\00:48:49.36
And a guy came and was
telling Pastor Mark Finley off
00:48:49.39\00:48:53.70
because he
didn't believe in God,
00:48:53.73\00:48:55.96
and the guy
standing next to Mark Finley,
00:48:56.00\00:48:57.37
who had not too
long ago been converted,
00:48:57.40\00:49:00.94
he said, "What
evidence can you give me
00:49:00.97\00:49:02.30
that God is real?"
00:49:02.34\00:49:04.21
And the
motorcyclist guy looked like
00:49:04.24\00:49:06.37
he could blow
bubbles with your heart.
00:49:06.41\00:49:08.38
He said, "If God wasn't real,
00:49:08.41\00:49:10.88
right now I'd
rip your head off."
00:49:10.91\00:49:15.18
So it sort of changed his life.
00:49:15.22\00:49:17.72
Even the exterior that didn't
look like it associated...
00:49:17.75\00:49:20.66
So I'm not just
speaking about exteriors,
00:49:20.69\00:49:23.12
I'm speaking about
people whose hearts, and minds,
00:49:23.16\00:49:25.23
and lives have been transformed.
00:49:25.26\00:49:26.93
Sometimes we only judge
a person by the exterior.
00:49:26.96\00:49:30.47
Man looks at the
outward appearance,
00:49:30.50\00:49:31.83
God looks at the heart.
00:49:31.87\00:49:34.30
God looks at the heart.
Let's go to the next one.
00:49:34.34\00:49:36.91
Number seven, number seven,
00:49:36.94\00:49:39.41
I don't think
we'll get seven more done
00:49:39.44\00:49:41.04
in eight minutes, but let's try.
00:49:41.08\00:49:43.18
Number seven.
00:49:43.21\00:49:45.35
What is the source of the
light that shines through us?
00:49:45.38\00:49:51.89
We know the answer, but
let's let the Bible speak.
00:49:51.92\00:49:54.72
I always like
when the Bible speaks.
00:49:54.76\00:49:56.19
John 8:12, John 8:12,
00:49:56.22\00:50:00.70
we read in the
beatitudes where he says,
00:50:00.73\00:50:02.20
"You are the
light of the world."
00:50:02.23\00:50:03.57
But John 8:12 is
where we find the answer.
00:50:03.60\00:50:08.44
And the scripture
opens our eyes in this sense.
00:50:08.47\00:50:13.91
"Then Jesus spoke
to them again, saying,"
00:50:13.94\00:50:16.78
let's read
those next five words,
00:50:16.81\00:50:18.75
"I am the light" four words.
00:50:18.78\00:50:21.82
I am the light of the world.
00:50:21.85\00:50:24.82
"He who," and this is powerful,
"He who follows me shall not,"
00:50:24.85\00:50:28.42
what?
00:50:28.46\00:50:29.79
"Shall not walk in darkness,
but have the light of life."
00:50:29.82\00:50:34.03
The laser, as we are rising,
00:50:34.06\00:50:36.56
as He is rising,
we're rising with Him,
00:50:36.60\00:50:38.53
as He's ebbing,
we're ebbing with Him.
00:50:38.57\00:50:40.87
When you walk in the
light, if you walk with Him,
00:50:40.90\00:50:43.44
you will not walk
in darkness, you can't.
00:50:43.47\00:50:47.91
Because when you
walk in the light,
00:50:47.94\00:50:49.28
as He is in the light,
you'll have that fellowship.
00:50:49.31\00:50:51.95
So very quickly,
00:50:51.98\00:50:54.78
what is the source of the
light that shines through us?
00:50:54.82\00:50:57.95
What is the source? Jesus is.
00:50:57.99\00:51:00.69
Not what, but who is the source?
00:51:00.72\00:51:04.13
Very important, I'm building,
00:51:04.16\00:51:05.59
and then I'm
going to take a turn
00:51:05.63\00:51:06.96
in just a few more questions,
00:51:07.00\00:51:08.33
and come back to a
very significant issue.
00:51:08.36\00:51:10.37
So I want to
use our time wisely.
00:51:10.40\00:51:12.43
The source is Jesus,
00:51:12.47\00:51:14.17
that means we don't
have any light on our own.
00:51:14.20\00:51:17.91
Amen?
00:51:17.94\00:51:19.27
We don't own the light,
but we just simply reflect.
00:51:19.31\00:51:22.04
We are like refracted mirrors.
00:51:22.08\00:51:26.05
My wife and I are
little amateur astronomers.
00:51:26.08\00:51:29.02
We want to buy a telescope.
00:51:29.05\00:51:30.55
And we were learning
00:51:30.59\00:51:31.92
the difference between a direct,
00:51:31.95\00:51:33.42
I'm using the word refractive,
00:51:33.46\00:51:35.09
you know, where
you look that way,
00:51:35.12\00:51:37.46
but you actually see that way
00:51:37.49\00:51:39.86
or then the ones that look down,
00:51:39.89\00:51:41.26
and so we're learning.
00:51:41.30\00:51:43.00
You know, what
looks like a good,
00:51:43.03\00:51:44.80
so we ran into a guy
in New York at B&H Photo.
00:51:44.83\00:51:48.44
And he had a white gloves
00:51:48.47\00:51:49.97
because he was in
the telescope department.
00:51:50.01\00:51:52.37
He says, "Never..."
00:51:52.41\00:51:54.04
He was saying, "Never ever touch
00:51:54.08\00:51:58.38
the mirrors of a
telescope with your fingers.
00:51:58.41\00:52:02.78
The oils will
start to corrode it."
00:52:02.82\00:52:05.65
And he's giving us a lesson,
and we're saying to each other,
00:52:05.69\00:52:08.89
"Hurry up, hurry
up, but he said, okay,
00:52:08.92\00:52:13.33
which one of these
thing do you think is good?
00:52:13.36\00:52:15.30
And we pointed at one
that look elaborated, he said,
00:52:15.33\00:52:17.43
"That's a piece of junk."
00:52:17.47\00:52:18.83
"This," and he
knew it very well,
00:52:18.87\00:52:22.04
and he told us about
how it reflects light.
00:52:22.07\00:52:24.04
And I thought,
"Wow, what a lesson."
00:52:24.07\00:52:25.67
He says, "If you live in a place
00:52:25.71\00:52:27.04
that's dark at night,
this is what you want to get."
00:52:27.08\00:52:29.04
So my wife and I said,
00:52:29.08\00:52:30.41
"We live in a
place as dark at night,
00:52:30.45\00:52:31.85
and we want to learn more about
00:52:31.88\00:52:33.21
where the light really is.
00:52:33.25\00:52:34.98
The light that
exists in the heavens
00:52:35.02\00:52:36.72
always declare the glory of God.
00:52:36.75\00:52:41.42
Number eight, let's look
at the question very quickly,
00:52:41.46\00:52:43.73
and here it is.
00:52:43.76\00:52:45.66
How does the
transaction of accepting Jesus
00:52:45.69\00:52:50.23
change our standing?
00:52:50.27\00:52:53.54
How does the transaction
00:52:53.57\00:52:55.00
of accepting Jesus
change our standing?
00:52:55.04\00:52:59.07
Because, you know
what, the reality of it is
00:52:59.11\00:53:00.98
I know many people
that don't want to be
00:53:01.01\00:53:02.88
who they always have been.
00:53:02.91\00:53:06.21
And sometimes it takes longer
for some people to admit that
00:53:06.25\00:53:08.58
they say, "I am tired
of being who I had been."
00:53:08.62\00:53:11.95
And when they were
younger and vibrant
00:53:11.99\00:53:13.92
and life seemed to
be going their way,
00:53:13.96\00:53:15.29
they didn't want to hear it,
00:53:15.32\00:53:16.66
but now life is
beginning to catch up,
00:53:16.69\00:53:18.16
and the routine is
starting to get old,
00:53:18.19\00:53:20.16
and everything in
life is so predictable,
00:53:20.20\00:53:22.43
and they're starting
to say, "I don't want to,
00:53:22.46\00:53:24.53
I'm just at the point
where I have more time
00:53:24.57\00:53:26.53
behind me than ahead of
me, I want something new."
00:53:26.57\00:53:29.77
When you accept Christ
and the transaction is made,
00:53:29.80\00:53:32.97
notice how wonderful
your standing is altered.
00:53:33.01\00:53:38.01
1 Peter 2:9, what
happens these people
00:53:38.05\00:53:41.68
that could not
see right from wrong,
00:53:41.72\00:53:44.69
what happens
00:53:44.72\00:53:46.05
when Jesus pulls us
into the heavenly family?
00:53:46.09\00:53:49.36
The Bible says,
"But you are a," what?
00:53:49.39\00:53:51.59
"Chosen
generation," What else are we?
00:53:51.63\00:53:54.76
"A royal priesthood,"
and what else are we?
00:53:54.80\00:53:58.87
"A holy nation, His
own special people."
00:53:58.90\00:54:04.27
And look at what
he calls us to do,
00:54:04.31\00:54:06.11
"That you may
proclaim the praises of Him
00:54:06.14\00:54:10.18
who called you out of
darkness into His," what?
00:54:10.21\00:54:13.35
"Marvelous light.
00:54:13.38\00:54:14.75
The King James Version
says, "That you may show forth."
00:54:14.78\00:54:18.29
I like that
sometimes, you may show forth.
00:54:18.32\00:54:20.79
How are people going to see Him?
00:54:20.82\00:54:22.39
You are showing it in
your life, how you live.
00:54:22.42\00:54:26.19
Not only proclaiming
it as the writer here
00:54:26.23\00:54:30.83
in the New King James Version.
00:54:30.87\00:54:32.20
The word "proclaim" is
often an audible thing,
00:54:32.23\00:54:34.54
but one that you may show forth.
00:54:34.57\00:54:36.91
How do you do it?
By the way you live.
00:54:36.94\00:54:39.17
And I tell you, if
you think it's easy,
00:54:39.21\00:54:42.01
if you think it's easy,
00:54:42.04\00:54:47.78
well, let me just
say this, "It's not easy,
00:54:47.82\00:54:49.25
so don't ever lower your guards.
00:54:49.28\00:54:52.15
Because when you
think you've got it,
00:54:52.19\00:54:54.82
the devil studying you to
find a way to trip you up.
00:54:54.86\00:54:58.83
Be sober, be vigilant
00:54:58.86\00:55:00.20
because your
adversary the devil walks around
00:55:00.23\00:55:02.03
like a roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour.
00:55:02.06\00:55:06.23
So how does the
transaction of accepting Christ
00:55:06.27\00:55:09.47
change our standing?
00:55:09.50\00:55:11.14
If I could add
anything there, we are royal.
00:55:11.17\00:55:14.11
Say that with me, we are, what?
00:55:14.14\00:55:15.64
Royal.
00:55:15.68\00:55:17.01
The royal family
recently had a new child.
00:55:17.05\00:55:21.58
And I tell you,
I'm going to say this,
00:55:21.62\00:55:24.85
I'm going to say
this with a smile,
00:55:24.89\00:55:26.86
"As that child gets older,
00:55:26.89\00:55:28.22
they're going to
have a royal pain."
00:55:28.26\00:55:31.76
'Cause all
children are born in sin.
00:55:31.79\00:55:33.26
Come on, help me out somebody.
00:55:33.29\00:55:34.63
Amen.
00:55:34.66\00:55:36.00
You've got to train that child.
00:55:36.03\00:55:37.60
I don't care what kind of
royalty they are born into,
00:55:37.63\00:55:40.74
until they are born into Christ,
00:55:40.77\00:55:42.64
they'll be a royal pain.
00:55:42.67\00:55:45.37
That's the human nature.
00:55:45.41\00:55:47.14
You can be born
00:55:47.18\00:55:48.51
with the heritage of 15
generations into royalty,
00:55:48.54\00:55:51.88
but unless you're born
into the royalty of Christ,
00:55:51.91\00:55:54.42
you are royal pain.
00:55:54.45\00:55:56.32
I say that not
in an insulting way,
00:55:56.35\00:55:58.35
but that's the
reality, am I right?
00:55:58.39\00:56:00.22
All children, I was one.
00:56:00.26\00:56:03.32
And I had some royal
pain incidences as an adult,
00:56:03.36\00:56:06.63
so I know this is true.
00:56:06.66\00:56:08.30
Am I telling the truth, Cindy?
00:56:08.33\00:56:09.83
It all happens, we all
have our royal pain moments.
00:56:09.86\00:56:12.67
But praise be to God,
00:56:12.70\00:56:14.64
He hasn't finished
the work in us yet.
00:56:14.67\00:56:16.94
He's working on us
00:56:16.97\00:56:18.31
until one day we'll be
able to reflect His glory.
00:56:18.34\00:56:20.58
Now this is a good one,
00:56:20.61\00:56:21.94
and we're getting
close to our time,
00:56:21.98\00:56:23.51
and I may spend a
little time on number nine
00:56:23.55\00:56:25.31
because this is powerful.
00:56:25.35\00:56:26.68
We talked about Romans 7:17,
00:56:26.72\00:56:28.38
now let's see
the opposite of that.
00:56:28.42\00:56:29.85
And here's the question.
00:56:29.88\00:56:31.35
What makes the difference
00:56:31.39\00:56:33.86
in being able to
reflect God's glory?
00:56:33.89\00:56:38.66
I was going to put
the word "Glory" there,
00:56:38.69\00:56:40.90
but I was in hurry, God's glory,
00:56:40.93\00:56:42.70
that's the word I'm
going to include there.
00:56:42.73\00:56:44.40
What makes the
difference in being able
00:56:44.43\00:56:45.77
to reflect God's glory?
00:56:45.80\00:56:47.74
Let's go now to Galatians 2:20,
00:56:47.77\00:56:52.34
now remember when
we read Romans 7:17,
00:56:52.37\00:56:54.71
remember I talked about
he fell short of the line,
00:56:54.74\00:56:57.85
when he fell
short of the stop line,
00:56:57.88\00:56:59.58
and somebody yell,
"Why did you do that?"
00:56:59.61\00:57:00.95
He said, "I didn't
do it, sin did it."
00:57:00.98\00:57:03.92
But now let's look
at the flipside of that.
00:57:03.95\00:57:05.45
Galatians 2:20,
"I have been," what?
00:57:05.49\00:57:09.22
"Crucified with Christ,
it is no longer I who live,
00:57:09.26\00:57:14.26
but Christ lives in Me,
00:57:14.30\00:57:16.67
and the life which I
now live in the flesh
00:57:16.70\00:57:20.17
I live by faith
in the Son of God,
00:57:20.20\00:57:22.67
who loved me and
gave Himself for me."
00:57:22.70\00:57:25.51
Amen.
00:57:25.54\00:57:27.01
Who's doing it?
00:57:27.04\00:57:28.68
It is no longer I.
00:57:28.71\00:57:32.11
It's no longer I,
00:57:32.15\00:57:33.48
in the same way that
you didn't stop yourself,
00:57:33.52\00:57:36.05
but sin stopped you.
00:57:36.08\00:57:38.12
Now somebody said,
00:57:38.15\00:57:39.49
"How did you
cross the finish line?"
00:57:39.52\00:57:41.82
I didn't do it,
it's no longer me,
00:57:41.86\00:57:45.09
but Christ in me that pulled
me across the finish line.
00:57:45.13\00:57:49.60
Amen, somebody?
00:57:49.63\00:57:51.20
In both cases, you'll
discover in the yielding to sin,
00:57:51.23\00:57:55.70
sin will stop you.
00:57:55.74\00:57:57.31
And ultimately, death.
00:57:57.34\00:57:58.87
And yielding in
obedience to righteousness,
00:57:58.91\00:58:01.64
Jesus will enable you,
00:58:01.68\00:58:03.38
and you will experience the joy,
00:58:03.41\00:58:05.11
and you won't give
yourself any credit,
00:58:05.15\00:58:07.35
you won't glory in it,
00:58:07.38\00:58:08.72
you'll simply say, "It's not me,
00:58:08.75\00:58:11.99
but Christ lives in me."
00:58:12.02\00:58:14.02
When Christ is living in us,
00:58:14.06\00:58:15.72
the capabilities
of reflecting Him
00:58:15.76\00:58:17.73
will be present.
00:58:17.76\00:58:19.09
And you won't take the credit,
it's Christ who lives in me.
00:58:19.13\00:58:23.57
So, friends, as I said earlier,
00:58:23.60\00:58:25.60
if it doesn't make
sense, keep studying,
00:58:25.63\00:58:27.67
one day it will come
into A Sharper Focus.
00:58:27.70\00:58:30.94
God bless you.
00:58:30.97\00:58:32.31