Hello, thank you
for taken the time
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to join us here
at A Sharper Focus.
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It's time to study our
Bibles here on Wednesday night
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at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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Thank you for tuning
in to continue our study
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on the "Gifts of the Spirit."
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And we know that
you have joined us
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to walk through the
Word of God with us.
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In just a moment, I'll tell you,
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where you can get
a copy of the lesson,
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and where you can follow us.
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But before we do anything else,
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we always like to
begin with prayer,
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so bow your heads with us.
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Loving Father in heaven,
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thank You so much for
Your Holy Spirit's guidance
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that we can count on tonight.
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We pray that
You'll speak to our hearts
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as we study Your Word.
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And we also ask
for the Holy Spirit
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not only to teach us,
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but to give us
wisdom and understanding,
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so that what we learn
we can apply to our hearts,
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and surely to our lives.
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We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
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Now the topic is the
"Gifts of the Spirit."
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For a copy of the lesson,
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go to the following
website asf.3abn.org.
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That's asf.3abn.org, and
download lesson number 41.
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And you may say we
already have done so.
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But we're going to start
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from question number 19 tonight,
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and then go on to
about question number 29.
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And so thank you for
taken the time to study with us.
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Now go to that website
once again, asf.3abn.org.
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Before we do anything else
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that we always
begin with our theme song,
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and our theme song
is Victory in Jesus.
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So join us as we
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 sin
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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
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I'll sing up there
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The song of victory
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Key change.
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Amen?
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Tonight we're going
to continue in our topic
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entitled the
Gifts of the Spirit.
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What is the title again?
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The Gifts of the Spirit.
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And we've been
talking about this
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from week to week,
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but tonight we're going to start
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with a different approach to it
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because before we
go on to the gifts,
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and how we can know the gifts
are active in the last days,
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we've been talking
about prophets quite a bit,
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prophets quite a bit.
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About a week and a half
ago, I listened to a new story.
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And two people were...
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This was here in
Southern Illinois.
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Two people were arrested
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for passing around
counterfeit $100 bills.
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And I thought,
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after a while you
got to kind of get smart,
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if all of sudden
every place you go,
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you know, you're
passing out counterfeit money,
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you know you're going
to get caught eventually.
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But I thought to
myself, counterfeit $100 bills.
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Could they have
counterfeited $100 bill
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if they were
not real $100 bills?
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And what's the answer?
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No, they could not have.
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There could be no counterfeit
where there is not a true.
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There can be no copy
where there is not an original.
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There can be no false
where there is not a true.
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And so when we
talk about prophets,
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it's really
important to understand that
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because they are false...
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This false money.
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And actually I
looked up the definition,
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this is pretty interesting
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when I was
talking about counterfeit.
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Listen to the
Wikipedia definition,
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it was pretty
interesting because
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I thought about in the sense of
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what we're
talking about tonight.
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And it says, "Counterfeit
money is imitation currency
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produced without
the legal sanction
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of the state or government."
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Now we just thought counterfeit
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meant a
horrible copy of the real
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or they almost got it
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but they messed up
and they got caught.
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But in fact, even if
it's an identical match,
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counterfeit is currency produced
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without the legal sanction
of the state or government.
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And so when I begin to
apply that to false prophets,
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prophets are
false when they exist
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without the
spiritual sanction of heaven.
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Well, heaven hasn't sent them.
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They have no commission from God
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to do what they've been doing.
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There is no sanction,
no divine sanction at all.
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So they could say,
"Hey, but I'm a prophet."
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But we could say, "But
heaven didn't send you."
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But this money has been used
to purchase items in the past,
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but the state did
not sanction that.
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It's not legal
currency, it's not legal tender.
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And if you look at the currency
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that you use probably
on a day by day basis,
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how many of you
ever took the time
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to read all that
little fine print on there?
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It has a legal tender.
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You'll find phrases
like that legal tender,
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and that means the
state sanctions it,
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the government is behind it.
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And then when
you go to the bank,
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checks have been forged.
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That's why we have the FDIC,
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the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation.
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Well, I think there's a...
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I think there's
an FDIC in heaven.
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We have...
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I mean, not the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation,
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if I could think of an acronym,
I'll come up in just a moment.
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But there is a
guarantee by heaven that...
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Heavenly Divinity
Insurance Corporation,
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okay, I could steal
it, I like that HDIC,
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Heavenly Divinity
Insurance Corporation.
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I could handle that one.
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And thank you for that, Brian.
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So there is a
guarantee by heaven
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that they are true
prophets among the false.
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As my good friend Doug Batchelor
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once said, he said,
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"Amidst all the broken
glass, there is a diamond.
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Amidst all the broken
glass, there is a diamond."
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And the question is,
will the broken glass
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or will the counterfeit diamonds
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endure the acid test.
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And you've heard
about the acid test.
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Acid doesn't even
affect the real diamond?
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Well, the key is we've
been laying down the foundation.
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And I like to begin with
question number 19 tonight
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because it really brings
out a very important point
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about how we can
know that the person
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that is being
used as a spokesperson
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is in fact authorized by God.
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Here's the question for tonight,
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question number 19.
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It says, "What
assurance does the Bible give us
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concerning a true prophet?"
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What assurance
does the Bible give us
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concerning a true prophet?
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There are many prophets today
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that are what I might
refer to a sleight of hand,
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sleight of hand.
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In other words,
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while they're
carrying out a dastardly deed
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with their left hand,
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they're picking your
pocket with their right hand.
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They have their
hands in your pockets.
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It's really about money.
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It's about
finding ways to use people
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to gain financial
blessings or as I would say,
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a fraudulent,
fraudulent blessings.
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But look at the
answer, Jeremiah 28:8, 9
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is where we find our answer.
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Very interesting, the
way the Bible unfolds it.
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Jeremiah is a true prophet
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unveiling, how the
false prophet works.
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But he says,
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"The prophets who
have been before me
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and before you of old
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prophesied
against many countries
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and great kingdoms of war,
and disaster, and pestilence."
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And he says, "As for the prophet
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who prophesied of peace,
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when the word of the
prophet comes to pass,
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the prophet will be known
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as one whom the
Lord has truly sent."
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What is in essence saying is,
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what did they
prophesied of war or of piece.
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If what they say happens,
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you'll know that that
person is sent from the Lord.
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But a few weeks ago,
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we looked
carefully in Deuteronomy 13
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because there are certain times
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like in the case of Nostradamus.
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You've heard Nostradamus before?
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Nostradamus is a prophet
during the 1700s, I believe,
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maybe I might be
wrong on my date,
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but right now
they escaped my mind.
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But Nostradamus was a man
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that put many predictions forth.
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And people looking at him
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as a prophet of
his day, they said,
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"Well, lot of his
predictions were 70% accurate
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or 69% of what he
said came to pass,
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but you had to do a whole lot
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to figure out in
somewhat of a numerology way
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or making connections
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that were really
gray and shady to say,
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'Well, that really did happen.'"
00:11:41.36\00:11:43.10
For example, he
might say, "You know,
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the dragon of the earth
blew fire out of its mouth."
00:11:46.27\00:11:50.07
And somebody would say,
00:11:50.11\00:11:51.47
"Well, he was talking
about a volcanic eruption."
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But he didn't say...
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Like the Bible says,
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"There'll be
earthquakes in various places."
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Well, when the
earthquake happens,
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you don't have to try to
figure out whether they said,
00:12:02.72\00:12:04.25
"Well the earth
is going to quake
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or the ground
is going to shift."
00:12:05.65\00:12:06.99
It was so correct
prophesied by the Bible,
00:12:07.02\00:12:09.99
happened exactly
as the Bible said.
00:12:10.03\00:12:12.66
Now what I want to ping off of
00:12:12.69\00:12:16.40
is 2 Kings 8:7-10,
00:12:16.43\00:12:19.90
because one of the things
00:12:19.93\00:12:21.27
that were warned
about by the Apostle Paul
00:12:21.30\00:12:24.27
is there will be,
in the last days people
00:12:24.31\00:12:26.88
prophesying peace and safety
00:12:26.91\00:12:29.08
when there really
is no peace and safety.
00:12:29.11\00:12:31.25
And sometimes the prophet of God
00:12:31.28\00:12:32.91
or the person that the
Lord chooses to speak for Him,
00:12:32.95\00:12:35.85
we're going to go
to 2 Kings Chapter 8.
00:12:35.88\00:12:37.95
My wife and I reading
through the Book of 2 Kings,
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phenomenal.
00:12:40.86\00:12:42.19
I mean, if you
really want to see the track
00:12:42.22\00:12:43.56
and the growth of
the children of Israel,
00:12:43.59\00:12:45.23
and the kings, and the
prophets that led them,
00:12:45.26\00:12:47.63
1 and 2 Kings,
and 1 and 2 Chronicles
00:12:47.66\00:12:50.97
will give you some solid history
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to see how the
children of Israel grew,
00:12:53.30\00:12:55.80
how Judah, the
wars that they faced,
00:12:55.84\00:12:59.11
the prophets that were true,
the prophets that were false,
00:12:59.14\00:13:02.04
the kings that were honest,
the kings that had apostatized.
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This was a very
interesting story
00:13:05.71\00:13:07.08
because it's about
Elijah and the king of Syria.
00:13:07.12\00:13:10.09
The king of Syria is Ben-Hadad.
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Ben-Hadad, first of all,
didn't like Elijah anyhow.
00:13:12.52\00:13:15.92
Because anytime
Elijah prophesied,
00:13:15.96\00:13:17.89
Elijah always said
what God wanted him to say.
00:13:17.93\00:13:20.60
And Ben-Hadad didn't like it.
00:13:20.63\00:13:23.06
And even in the case of Elijah,
00:13:23.10\00:13:25.20
when Elijah was alive,
00:13:25.23\00:13:26.57
the kings that went
against Israel, they said,
00:13:26.60\00:13:28.77
"How do they know
what we're saying?
00:13:28.80\00:13:32.07
Is there somebody
in our administration
00:13:32.11\00:13:34.41
leaking information?"
00:13:34.44\00:13:36.61
Does this sound familiar?
00:13:36.64\00:13:38.78
And they said, "No,
00:13:38.81\00:13:40.25
but there's a
prophet of God in Samaria,
00:13:40.28\00:13:44.35
who knows exactly
what you're saying
00:13:44.39\00:13:46.49
even while you're sleeping."
00:13:46.52\00:13:50.49
But in this
case, look at verse 7,
00:13:50.53\00:13:53.86
very interesting story.
00:13:53.90\00:13:56.50
"Then Elijah went to Damascus,
00:13:56.53\00:13:59.10
and Ben-Hadad,
king of Syria was sick.
00:13:59.13\00:14:04.64
And it was told him saying,
00:14:04.67\00:14:06.91
"The man of God has come here."
00:14:06.94\00:14:09.14
So in other words, he said,
00:14:09.18\00:14:10.51
there's a man of
God in the community.
00:14:10.55\00:14:13.52
"And the king said
to Hazael," verse 8,
00:14:13.55\00:14:17.65
"Take a present in your hand
and go to meet the man of God,
00:14:17.69\00:14:22.42
and inquire of the
Lord by him, saying,
00:14:22.46\00:14:25.96
'Shall I recover
from my disease?'"
00:14:25.99\00:14:28.36
In other words, "Am I
going to overcome this?"
00:14:28.40\00:14:30.90
And verse 9, "So
has he went to meet him
00:14:30.93\00:14:34.40
and took a present with him
00:14:34.44\00:14:36.17
of every good
thing of Damascus."
00:14:36.20\00:14:39.64
Look at what he
took, 40 camel loads.
00:14:39.67\00:14:43.04
Man, he went to
buy a good answer,
00:14:43.08\00:14:45.75
40 camel loads.
00:14:45.78\00:14:48.45
And he came and
stood before him and said,
00:14:48.48\00:14:51.29
"Your son,
Ben-Hadad, king of Syria
00:14:51.32\00:14:53.62
has sent me to you saying,
00:14:53.66\00:14:56.16
'Shall I recover
from this disease?'"
00:14:56.19\00:14:58.49
And verse 10 is
somewhat about...
00:14:58.53\00:15:03.26
My wife and I smiled,
00:15:03.30\00:15:04.63
in other words, when we read it.
00:15:04.67\00:15:06.00
Verse 10, "And
Elijah said to him,
00:15:06.03\00:15:07.90
'Go say to him, 'You
shall certainly recover.'
00:15:07.94\00:15:10.77
However, the Lord has shown me
00:15:10.81\00:15:13.71
that he will really die.'"
00:15:13.74\00:15:16.34
You could tell
them what you want,
00:15:16.38\00:15:18.51
but the Lord told
me something different.
00:15:18.55\00:15:20.95
And so the
reason I used this verse
00:15:20.98\00:15:23.79
is that it's funny.
00:15:23.82\00:15:25.15
And when you
read the rest of it,
00:15:25.19\00:15:26.52
Ben-Hadad is so upset,
00:15:26.55\00:15:28.09
he takes a towel,
00:15:28.12\00:15:29.52
fills it with
water, and drowns himself.
00:15:29.56\00:15:32.53
Puts it over his
face, and he drowns himself.
00:15:32.56\00:15:34.23
He said, "I'm
going to die anyway,
00:15:34.26\00:15:35.60
I might just end this."
00:15:35.63\00:15:36.97
Because he doesn't want
to die by the hand of God,
00:15:37.00\00:15:39.53
so he takes his own life.
00:15:39.57\00:15:41.04
And when you look at that,
00:15:41.07\00:15:42.40
there were many kings
that went against Israel.
00:15:42.44\00:15:44.54
And although they
wanted good news...
00:15:44.57\00:15:46.94
I forgot, in 1
Kings, we were reading one,
00:15:46.98\00:15:48.84
and there was another
king that was so angry,
00:15:48.88\00:15:51.01
so upset that
00:15:51.05\00:15:53.82
they went and
surrounded the house of Elijah
00:15:53.85\00:15:57.19
and demanded Elijah to come out
00:15:57.22\00:16:00.39
because they were
going to take care of him.
00:16:00.42\00:16:03.12
And Elijah said,
"Lord, blind them."
00:16:03.16\00:16:06.06
And the Lord blinded them.
00:16:06.09\00:16:07.83
So the part of
the bottom line here
00:16:07.86\00:16:09.63
is God's
prophets always have God
00:16:09.66\00:16:13.94
on his or her side
00:16:13.97\00:16:15.94
because there were
also female prophetesses
00:16:15.97\00:16:18.64
spoken of in the Bible.
00:16:18.67\00:16:20.24
So the assurance is
when a prophet speaks,
00:16:20.28\00:16:22.58
and it comes to pass,
not 80%, not even 90%,
00:16:22.61\00:16:26.92
but when what has
been said comes to pass,
00:16:26.95\00:16:28.95
you'll know that that person
has truly been sent of God.
00:16:28.98\00:16:32.25
What assurance
does the Bible give us
00:16:32.29\00:16:33.96
according to a true prophet?
00:16:33.99\00:16:35.72
The answer is their
sayings come to pass.
00:16:35.76\00:16:39.89
Let's go to question number 20,
00:16:39.93\00:16:43.10
question number 20.
00:16:43.13\00:16:46.23
Here it is.
00:16:46.27\00:16:49.74
How can we know
00:16:49.77\00:16:52.01
that the prophet is
connected to the true God?
00:16:52.04\00:16:56.31
How can we know
00:16:56.34\00:16:58.21
that the prophet is
connected to the true God?
00:16:58.25\00:17:02.38
Lots of prophets nowadays,
you could buy a prophet.
00:17:02.42\00:17:06.32
You could buy prophets course,
00:17:06.35\00:17:08.82
you know, you could
go to prophet school,
00:17:08.86\00:17:12.23
yeah, and learn how to prophesy
00:17:12.26\00:17:15.53
or you could just
make a whole lot of noise
00:17:15.56\00:17:17.83
and tell somebody
the Lord spoke to you,
00:17:17.87\00:17:20.24
and they'll believe it.
00:17:20.27\00:17:21.60
What did He say?
00:17:24.87\00:17:26.21
God sent me a message for you,
00:17:26.24\00:17:27.58
nobody could tell
what that person said,
00:17:27.61\00:17:30.08
but they said they
were in the spirit.
00:17:30.11\00:17:32.61
Listen to what the Bible says.
00:17:32.65\00:17:34.62
1 John Chapter 4,
00:17:34.65\00:17:36.92
and we're going to
look at verses 2, 3,
00:17:36.95\00:17:40.02
and here's what
the Bible tells us.
00:17:40.06\00:17:42.22
By this you know
the Spirit of God:
00:17:42.26\00:17:47.56
Every spirit that confesses
00:17:47.60\00:17:51.13
that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh..."
00:17:51.17\00:17:54.27
What?
00:17:54.30\00:17:55.64
"Is of God, and every
spirit that does not confess
00:17:55.67\00:17:59.67
that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh
00:17:59.71\00:18:02.64
is not of God."
00:18:02.68\00:18:05.48
Now watch this.
00:18:05.51\00:18:07.58
Look at this in verse 3,
00:18:07.62\00:18:10.89
"And this is the
spirit of the..."
00:18:10.92\00:18:13.62
What?
00:18:13.66\00:18:14.99
"Antichrist,
00:18:15.02\00:18:16.42
which you have heard was coming,
00:18:16.46\00:18:19.19
and is now
already in the world."
00:18:19.23\00:18:21.96
And let me add some
qualifications to this
00:18:22.00\00:18:23.70
or qualifiers to this.
00:18:23.73\00:18:26.20
Do you think the
devil knows that text?
00:18:26.23\00:18:28.20
Somebody tell me, yes or no?
00:18:28.24\00:18:30.01
Of course, so he said, "Okay,
now to really deceive somebody,
00:18:30.04\00:18:33.24
all I've got to do is say,
00:18:33.27\00:18:36.95
'I believe in the Christ.'"
00:18:36.98\00:18:40.02
Am I right? That's all.
00:18:40.05\00:18:42.32
If that's all
it takes for people
00:18:42.35\00:18:43.69
to believe what
I'm about to say,
00:18:43.72\00:18:45.29
I will be glad to say,
I believe in the Christ.
00:18:45.32\00:18:48.62
That's why 2 Corinthians
Chapter 11 warns us that
00:18:48.66\00:18:52.96
"Because a
person sounds the role
00:18:52.99\00:18:55.96
or looks the role,
00:18:56.00\00:18:57.33
doesn't mean they are
the one that God has chosen."
00:18:57.37\00:19:00.54
So Satan has converted,
00:19:00.57\00:19:01.90
he'll change into
any kind of camouflage.
00:19:01.94\00:19:04.64
He's the chameleon.
00:19:04.67\00:19:06.54
He'll take on
anything that's around him
00:19:06.57\00:19:09.41
in order to
accomplish his design.
00:19:09.44\00:19:11.81
I may have shown
you the passage before,
00:19:11.85\00:19:13.25
but it comes to
my mind right now.
00:19:13.28\00:19:15.35
Go with me to 2 Corinthians.
00:19:15.38\00:19:18.05
It comes to me right now.
00:19:18.09\00:19:20.46
And I believe it's chapter 11.
00:19:20.49\00:19:24.76
I'll get there,
and I'll tell you.
00:19:24.79\00:19:26.49
That's right, you cannot.
00:19:30.10\00:19:33.67
2 Corinthians Chapter 11.
00:19:33.70\00:19:35.24
Now there are other texts,
we talked about that earlier,
00:19:38.27\00:19:40.81
what one of
those is 1 John 2:3, 4
00:19:40.84\00:19:43.21
where it says, "He
who says, I know Him
00:19:43.24\00:19:45.15
and does not
keep His commandments
00:19:45.18\00:19:46.51
is a liar, and the
truth is not in him."
00:19:46.55\00:19:48.32
But look at
this, and by the way,
00:19:48.35\00:19:49.92
this is an
example of how Satan says,
00:19:49.95\00:19:52.02
"Okay, well, what
role do I have to take on
00:19:52.05\00:19:54.19
in order for
people to listen to me?"
00:19:54.22\00:19:55.79
Here's what the Bible
says in 2 Corinthians 11:13,
00:19:55.82\00:19:59.69
speaking of those who
will appear as apostles,
00:19:59.73\00:20:03.53
it says, "For such
a false apostles..."
00:20:03.57\00:20:06.53
What kind of apostles?
00:20:06.57\00:20:08.47
False apostles,
00:20:08.50\00:20:09.94
"deceitful
workers," look at that,
00:20:09.97\00:20:13.58
"transforming themselves."
00:20:13.61\00:20:15.78
Look at the three
qualifiers, false apostles,
00:20:15.81\00:20:18.38
deceitful workers,
00:20:18.41\00:20:19.91
transforming themselves
into apostles of Christ.
00:20:19.95\00:20:24.82
Is that a tough thing?
00:20:24.85\00:20:26.19
Look at verse 14.
00:20:26.22\00:20:27.79
"And no wonder,"
or the King James,
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.92
and no marvel,
"for Satan himself,
00:20:29.96\00:20:33.66
transforms himself
into an angel of light."
00:20:33.70\00:20:37.87
Notice what's happening there?
00:20:37.90\00:20:39.87
See, the Bible
says, "Be not conformed,
00:20:39.90\00:20:41.87
but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind."
00:20:41.90\00:20:45.04
So Satan says,
00:20:45.07\00:20:46.41
"Oh, is it transformation
that you're looking for?
00:20:46.44\00:20:49.08
So I'll transform
my false apostles,
00:20:49.11\00:20:52.11
and make them look
like real apostles.
00:20:52.15\00:20:54.22
I'll transform myself,
00:20:54.25\00:20:56.18
and make myself look
like an angel of light."
00:20:56.22\00:20:59.09
He said, "If that's what
you want, transformation?
00:20:59.12\00:21:00.99
I could do that too."
00:21:01.02\00:21:02.36
And you have, I
think, years ago,
00:21:02.39\00:21:04.46
movie came out
called The Transformers.
00:21:04.49\00:21:07.00
What they look like,
00:21:07.03\00:21:08.36
and what they become is
something altogether different,
00:21:08.40\00:21:11.10
but it goes on.
00:21:11.13\00:21:13.30
Verse 15, "Therefore
00:21:13.34\00:21:14.77
it is no great
thing if his ministers..."
00:21:14.80\00:21:18.27
What's that word again?
00:21:18.31\00:21:20.08
"If his ministers
also," third time,
00:21:20.11\00:21:23.18
"transform themselves
00:21:23.21\00:21:25.58
into ministers of righteousness,
00:21:25.61\00:21:28.08
whose end will be
according to their works."
00:21:28.12\00:21:32.09
So there'll be saying
what you may want to hear.
00:21:32.12\00:21:36.02
And there are people
today as the Bible says,
00:21:36.06\00:21:38.19
look at another one.
00:21:38.23\00:21:39.56
Here's why that kind
of deception will work.
00:21:39.59\00:21:42.80
Go with me to 2 Timothy.
00:21:42.83\00:21:47.70
Here's why that
kind of deception
00:21:47.74\00:21:49.07
will work so well.
00:21:49.10\00:21:51.44
Okay,
00:21:51.47\00:21:53.44
2 Timothy Chapter 4,
00:21:53.48\00:21:56.14
2 Timothy Chapter 4.
00:21:56.18\00:21:57.51
The reason why
that kind of deception
00:21:57.55\00:21:58.88
will be so
effective, 2 Timothy Chapter 4.
00:21:58.91\00:22:01.12
Look at this.
00:22:01.15\00:22:02.92
And we're going
to look at verse 2.
00:22:02.95\00:22:05.15
This is the reason
why that kind of deception
00:22:05.19\00:22:06.82
works so easily.
00:22:06.86\00:22:09.42
We are told in
verse 2, "Preach the word,
00:22:09.46\00:22:12.76
be ready in season
or instant in season,
00:22:12.79\00:22:15.30
and out of season,
00:22:15.33\00:22:16.97
convince or reprove, rebuke,
00:22:17.00\00:22:19.97
exhort with all long suffering
and teaching or doctrine,"
00:22:20.00\00:22:23.77
if you have the
King James Version.
00:22:23.81\00:22:25.34
And here's the key verse,
00:22:25.37\00:22:27.44
"For the time will come
when they will not endure,"
00:22:27.48\00:22:31.21
come on
together, "sound doctrine."
00:22:31.25\00:22:35.62
In other words people
don't want today, people don't.
00:22:35.65\00:22:38.95
You could say, "We're
going to have a seminar
00:22:38.99\00:22:41.16
on the truth."
00:22:41.19\00:22:45.33
Okay, you made my point.
00:22:45.36\00:22:48.23
Nobody's coming.
00:22:48.26\00:22:49.83
We're going to have a
miracle service tonight.
00:22:49.86\00:22:52.23
Parking lot, jam packed
traffic at a standstill,
00:22:52.27\00:22:56.17
people want a pill,
00:22:56.20\00:22:57.57
a quick fix, not
a change of life,
00:22:57.61\00:23:01.18
not a change of belief
system, they want a quick fix.
00:23:01.21\00:23:05.38
That's why when the
Pharisees said to Jesus,
00:23:05.41\00:23:07.88
show us a
miracle, He said, "A wicked
00:23:07.92\00:23:10.75
and adulterous
generation seeks after a sign."
00:23:10.79\00:23:15.86
I'm the Christ, why
would you need a miracle?
00:23:15.89\00:23:17.53
I'm right here.
00:23:17.56\00:23:18.93
But it goes on further.
00:23:18.96\00:23:20.60
They will not
endure sound doctrine,
00:23:20.63\00:23:22.50
and look at what happens.
00:23:22.53\00:23:23.87
These ministers
of unrighteousness,
00:23:23.90\00:23:25.67
look at what they do.
00:23:25.70\00:23:27.74
But according to
their own desires
00:23:27.77\00:23:30.04
because they have itching ears,
00:23:30.07\00:23:32.57
they will heap up
for themselves teachers.
00:23:32.61\00:23:36.21
These apostles that
transformed themselves
00:23:36.24\00:23:39.31
will have converts
00:23:39.35\00:23:40.68
because that's what
people are looking for.
00:23:40.72\00:23:42.82
People that don't
tell them the truth,
00:23:42.85\00:23:45.02
and tell them
what they want to hear.
00:23:45.05\00:23:46.42
And you know the
word itching ears mean?
00:23:46.45\00:23:48.42
It's like
you're going like this,
00:23:48.46\00:23:50.09
and somebody said,
"I'll give you a cue tip."
00:23:50.13\00:23:53.19
So you don't want to
hear it, I'll give you,
00:23:53.23\00:23:54.80
I'll tickle your ears.
00:23:54.83\00:23:57.33
Another one, another
way that the Bible says is,
00:23:57.37\00:24:00.47
old wives tales or fables.
00:24:00.50\00:24:03.10
And it says in verse 4,
00:24:03.14\00:24:05.07
"And they will turn away
their ears from the truth,
00:24:05.11\00:24:09.94
and be turned aside to fables."
00:24:09.98\00:24:14.88
In verse 5, it's beautiful.
00:24:14.92\00:24:16.38
But you, in other
words, don't you go that way.
00:24:16.42\00:24:19.79
Be watchful in all things.
00:24:19.82\00:24:22.99
"Endure affliction,
00:24:23.02\00:24:25.19
do the work of an evangelist,
00:24:25.23\00:24:28.30
fulfill, or make full
proof of your ministry."
00:24:28.33\00:24:31.30
In other words,
while everybody's going
00:24:31.33\00:24:32.67
in the wrong direction,
00:24:32.70\00:24:34.04
want to hear
this, want to hear that,
00:24:34.07\00:24:35.40
don't want to hear
the truth, he said,
00:24:35.44\00:24:36.77
"But don't let that
happen to you, Timothy.
00:24:36.81\00:24:39.04
You do what you're called to do,
00:24:39.07\00:24:40.91
preach the word."
00:24:40.94\00:24:42.54
Say that together
with me, preach the word.
00:24:42.58\00:24:45.85
Stand on that because that's
the only unshakable foundation.
00:24:45.88\00:24:49.42
When a man is
dealing with the Word of God,
00:24:49.45\00:24:51.25
you can't shake him.
00:24:51.29\00:24:52.92
I was talking
to a minister once.
00:24:52.95\00:24:54.46
Before I go to
question number 21,
00:24:54.49\00:24:55.82
I was talking to a minister once
00:24:55.86\00:24:57.19
on the topic of the Godhead.
00:24:57.23\00:24:59.63
And he was a minister of
a different denomination.
00:24:59.66\00:25:03.13
And the person that
invited me to be on the panel
00:25:03.16\00:25:05.23
was a minister
00:25:05.27\00:25:09.74
who used to be
00:25:09.77\00:25:11.11
a member of that person
in a different denomination.
00:25:11.14\00:25:13.34
And then all of a
sudden I'm talking to him,
00:25:16.34\00:25:20.35
and I kept saying, well,
the Bible says, the Bible says,
00:25:20.38\00:25:23.28
the Bible says...
00:25:23.32\00:25:24.65
Every question, the
Bible says, the Bible says.
00:25:24.69\00:25:26.55
He says, "Would you
stop saying the Bible says,
00:25:26.59\00:25:29.46
and just give me your answer?"
00:25:29.49\00:25:32.89
I said, "Sir, what I say
has no authority at all."
00:25:32.93\00:25:35.53
But what the Bible
says has all the authority.
00:25:35.56\00:25:38.13
"He didn't want
to hear the Bible."
00:25:38.17\00:25:39.50
Would you stop saying the
Bible says, the Bible says,
00:25:39.53\00:25:41.54
and just go ahead and
tell me what the answer is,
00:25:41.57\00:25:43.17
so give me your answer.
00:25:43.20\00:25:45.27
I have no answer
outside of the Word of God.
00:25:45.31\00:25:47.28
Can I get an amen?
00:25:47.31\00:25:48.94
There's no answer
outside of God's Word.
00:25:48.98\00:25:51.08
But false prophets will tell you
00:25:51.11\00:25:52.48
what you want to hear, and
that's what Paul is saying.
00:25:52.51\00:25:54.48
"In the last
days," He said, "Timothy,
00:25:54.52\00:25:56.28
people are going
to have itching ears."
00:25:56.32\00:25:57.65
In other words
they're going to say,
00:25:57.69\00:25:59.95
"The seventh
day is the Sabbath."
00:25:59.99\00:26:02.06
What?
00:26:02.09\00:26:03.43
The seventh day is the Sabbath.
00:26:03.46\00:26:05.36
What?
00:26:05.39\00:26:06.73
I want to hear that.
00:26:06.76\00:26:10.00
And I tell you,
it's changing rapidly.
00:26:10.03\00:26:12.10
I don't want to go
into wrong direction here,
00:26:12.13\00:26:13.74
it's changing rapidly.
00:26:13.77\00:26:16.00
Look, look, go to
question about 21.
00:26:16.04\00:26:18.04
So it's the
answer, how can we know
00:26:18.07\00:26:19.41
the prophet is connected to God,
00:26:19.44\00:26:20.78
to the true God?
00:26:20.81\00:26:22.14
Try that spirit.
00:26:22.18\00:26:23.55
See whether they are of God.
00:26:23.58\00:26:25.25
Test the spirits
because the Spirit of God,
00:26:25.28\00:26:28.15
and here's a
very important point.
00:26:28.18\00:26:29.55
The Spirit of God
will never lead you
00:26:29.58\00:26:32.25
to believe what the
Bible doesn't teach.
00:26:32.29\00:26:36.73
It will never lead you to...
00:26:36.76\00:26:38.09
If it's not in the
Bible, and somebody says,
00:26:38.13\00:26:39.86
the Holy Spirit told
me that's not the truth.
00:26:39.89\00:26:44.17
Okay, you asked for the text.
00:26:44.20\00:26:45.67
Let's go to John Chapter 13.
00:26:45.70\00:26:47.94
I'm looking at your
faces, and you're saying,
00:26:47.97\00:26:49.64
"I need a Bible verse."
00:26:49.67\00:26:53.38
You know, sometimes,
00:26:53.41\00:26:55.74
what they say a
picture's worth 1,000 words.
00:26:55.78\00:26:58.78
I just got 5,000 words.
00:26:58.81\00:27:02.15
John Chapter 13,
00:27:02.18\00:27:03.95
John Chapter
16, John Chapter 16,
00:27:03.99\00:27:07.92
"The Spirit of God..."
00:27:07.96\00:27:09.29
And this is one of the problems
that happen in the world today.
00:27:09.32\00:27:11.19
A lot of people say, I
know what the Bible says,
00:27:11.23\00:27:13.19
but the Holy Spirit told me.
00:27:13.23\00:27:15.30
Well, if it's not in
harmony with the Bible,
00:27:15.33\00:27:16.70
the Holy Spirit
did not tell you that.
00:27:16.73\00:27:19.23
Look at John 16:13,
00:27:19.27\00:27:21.60
the Bible says,
"However, when He,
00:27:21.64\00:27:23.57
the Spirit of truth has come,
00:27:23.61\00:27:26.54
He will guide you into,"
00:27:26.57\00:27:28.74
how much truth?
00:27:28.78\00:27:30.15
"All truth,
00:27:30.18\00:27:32.75
for He will not speak
on his own authority."
00:27:32.78\00:27:37.79
You know what that
means? "Look at this.
00:27:37.82\00:27:40.02
"But whatever He
hears, He will speak,
00:27:40.06\00:27:42.69
and He will tell
you things to come."
00:27:42.72\00:27:44.19
Now get this, He's not
going to speak independently,
00:27:44.23\00:27:48.70
He's going to
speak whatever He hears.
00:27:48.73\00:27:51.20
He's not going to say
anything that's in contrast
00:27:51.23\00:27:56.00
to what Jesus said.
00:27:56.04\00:27:57.61
And Jesus never
said anything in conflict
00:27:57.64\00:28:01.24
with what His Father said.
00:28:01.28\00:28:02.84
Am I right?
00:28:02.88\00:28:04.21
He said, I, my own
self can do nothing,
00:28:04.25\00:28:06.35
I do the will of
the Father that sent Me.
00:28:06.38\00:28:08.48
And Holy Spirit says,
00:28:08.52\00:28:09.85
and the Holy Spirit now says,
00:28:09.88\00:28:12.59
the Bible says or Jesus
says about the Holy Spirit,
00:28:12.62\00:28:14.92
"He will not speak
on His own authority,
00:28:14.96\00:28:17.23
but whatever He
hears, He will speak.
00:28:17.26\00:28:20.03
And He will tell
you things to come."
00:28:20.06\00:28:22.26
And look at verse 14,
00:28:22.30\00:28:23.67
a powerful verse about
how the Holy Spirit works.
00:28:23.70\00:28:26.94
Because today, the Holy Spirit
00:28:26.97\00:28:28.60
is the one
that's being glorified.
00:28:28.64\00:28:30.71
When in fact, look at verse 14,
00:28:30.74\00:28:33.21
"He will glorify
me," that Jesus saying,
00:28:33.24\00:28:36.34
"The Holy
Spirit will glorify Me,
00:28:36.38\00:28:38.61
He will take of what is
Mine and declare it to you."
00:28:38.65\00:28:44.99
That's the work
of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:45.02\00:28:47.29
Whatever Jesus
has already declared,
00:28:47.32\00:28:49.79
the Holy Spirit is going
to continue to reiterate that.
00:28:49.82\00:28:53.19
That's why Jesus said,
"It's necessary that I go,
00:28:53.23\00:28:55.66
if I don't go, the
Holy Spirit will not come.
00:28:55.70\00:28:58.37
When He comes, He will
abide with you always."
00:28:58.40\00:29:01.40
And when He
says, I'll be with you
00:29:01.44\00:29:02.77
to the end of the age,
00:29:02.80\00:29:04.14
He will be with us through
the indwelling Holy Spirit.
00:29:04.17\00:29:06.88
And Jesus made it
very clear, even verse 15.
00:29:06.91\00:29:09.58
Notice how Jesus brings
all three together, Himself,
00:29:09.61\00:29:12.58
the Holy Spirit,
and His heavenly Father.
00:29:12.61\00:29:14.85
"All things that
the Father has are..."
00:29:14.88\00:29:17.95
What?
00:29:17.99\00:29:19.32
"Are mine, therefore, I said,
00:29:19.35\00:29:21.92
He will take of Mine
and declare it to you."
00:29:21.96\00:29:25.06
Notice in that one verse,
He brought the Father, the Son,
00:29:25.09\00:29:27.66
and the Holy Spirit together.
00:29:27.70\00:29:29.66
Holy Spirit's going
to take what I give Him,
00:29:29.70\00:29:31.83
but where did I get it?
00:29:31.87\00:29:33.20
I got it from the Father,
passing it down the line.
00:29:33.23\00:29:36.17
So if the Father
says, honor My commandments,
00:29:36.20\00:29:39.71
Jesus says
honor My commandments,
00:29:39.74\00:29:41.91
what's the Holy
Spirit's going to say?
00:29:41.94\00:29:43.85
Honor My commandments.
00:29:43.88\00:29:45.65
Declaring it all
the way down the line
00:29:45.68\00:29:47.42
is vitally
important to understand
00:29:47.45\00:29:49.75
that when a person says
00:29:49.78\00:29:51.22
he or she is a
prophet or prophetess,
00:29:51.25\00:29:53.49
they must be in harmony
00:29:53.52\00:29:55.39
with the revealed
written Word of God
00:29:55.42\00:29:58.86
because there's
something nowadays
00:29:58.89\00:30:00.23
that exist called rhema word,
00:30:00.26\00:30:02.76
rhema word.
00:30:02.80\00:30:04.13
People will say, "Well, I
got a word from the Lord."
00:30:04.17\00:30:06.47
In the middle of this, they say,
00:30:06.50\00:30:07.84
"I just got a
word from the Lord."
00:30:07.87\00:30:09.20
And they'll say
stuff, and you say, "Wow,
00:30:09.24\00:30:10.61
he just said he got
a word from the Lord,
00:30:10.64\00:30:12.41
so he must have got
a word from the Lord."
00:30:12.44\00:30:14.41
But you have no
scripture reference for it.
00:30:14.44\00:30:16.21
And I've heard a
lot of people say,
00:30:16.24\00:30:18.45
"The Lord just
gave me a word for you."
00:30:18.48\00:30:21.08
But it's not in
harmony with God's Word,
00:30:21.12\00:30:24.49
and they're not using Bible.
00:30:24.52\00:30:26.22
But it sounds good
00:30:26.25\00:30:27.59
only because of
who it's coming from.
00:30:27.62\00:30:31.09
But remember the
text in 2 Corinthians 11,
00:30:31.13\00:30:34.03
"For His ministers
also transform themselves
00:30:34.06\00:30:36.63
into ministers of righteousness
00:30:36.67\00:30:38.50
whose end will be
according to their works."
00:30:38.53\00:30:41.27
Be very careful.
00:30:41.30\00:30:43.20
Now we're going to transition
to a very interesting part
00:30:43.24\00:30:45.37
because we must
understand how God...
00:30:45.41\00:30:48.74
What happened to prophets
00:30:48.78\00:30:50.61
when God was
communicating with them?
00:30:50.65\00:30:53.68
Various ways, the prophets
experienced certain things.
00:30:53.72\00:30:57.25
What happened to them
when God was communicating?
00:30:57.29\00:31:01.02
Excuse me,
question 21, here it is.
00:31:01.06\00:31:04.99
When prophets are in vision
00:31:05.03\00:31:07.00
what is connected
to their experience?
00:31:07.03\00:31:11.20
Daniel Chapter 10,
if we go to Daniel,
00:31:11.23\00:31:14.77
what prophet you think
we're going to talk about?
00:31:14.80\00:31:17.77
Daniel, that's right.
00:31:17.81\00:31:19.67
Daniel Chapter 10,
00:31:19.71\00:31:21.38
and we're going
to peek at verse 16.
00:31:21.41\00:31:25.11
Daniel is a very
interesting passage
00:31:25.15\00:31:27.78
because in Daniel 10...
00:31:27.82\00:31:32.45
Daniel is the chapter
where as Daniel is praying,
00:31:32.49\00:31:37.36
he's going
through great struggles,
00:31:37.39\00:31:39.79
great struggle to
get his prayer through.
00:31:39.83\00:31:42.26
But the Lord is speaking to him.
00:31:42.30\00:31:45.27
Daniel 10:17,
00:31:45.30\00:31:51.27
actually, am I going
to just give you verse 17.
00:31:51.31\00:31:54.61
I'm going to give you 16 and 17,
00:31:54.64\00:31:57.35
16 and 17, all right.
00:31:57.38\00:32:00.35
Ignore the
syllabus, but it's 16 and 17.
00:32:00.38\00:32:02.68
Here it is,
starting at verse 16,
00:32:02.72\00:32:06.09
"And suddenly,
00:32:06.12\00:32:08.49
one having the
likeness of the sons of men
00:32:08.52\00:32:11.59
touched my lips..."
00:32:11.63\00:32:14.26
That means an angel shows up.
00:32:14.30\00:32:17.50
"Then I opened
my mouth and spoke,
00:32:17.53\00:32:19.97
saying to him
who stood before me,
00:32:20.00\00:32:24.07
'My lord...'"
00:32:24.11\00:32:25.44
Notice little L, not large L.
00:32:25.47\00:32:28.08
"Because of the vision
00:32:28.11\00:32:30.41
my sorrows have overwhelmed me,
00:32:30.45\00:32:35.28
and I have..." What?
00:32:35.32\00:32:37.52
"Retained..." What happened?
00:32:37.55\00:32:39.55
"No strength.
00:32:39.59\00:32:42.12
For how can this
servant of my lord
00:32:42.16\00:32:45.16
talk with you, my lord?
00:32:45.19\00:32:47.10
As for me..." What?
00:32:47.13\00:32:49.83
"No strength remains in me now,
00:32:49.86\00:32:53.50
nor is any..." What?
00:32:53.54\00:32:55.37
"Breath left in me.'"
00:32:55.40\00:32:59.01
He was at a point
where his physical attributes
00:32:59.04\00:33:01.78
seem to fail,
00:33:01.81\00:33:03.98
but his spiritual
attributes were sharp
00:33:04.01\00:33:07.72
because the Lord is
communicating with him.
00:33:07.75\00:33:10.19
In other words, you
might pick up his hand
00:33:10.22\00:33:14.02
and it seems to be...
00:33:14.06\00:33:16.73
But he seems to be
numb, seems to be in a trance.
00:33:16.76\00:33:19.59
But in fact, that's a
point of communicating,
00:33:19.63\00:33:22.03
the Lord is communicating.
00:33:22.06\00:33:23.53
But on the other side,
you had, in some cases,
00:33:23.57\00:33:25.77
you had the opposite,
completely opposite experience
00:33:25.80\00:33:28.90
when the person
seen extremely strong,
00:33:28.94\00:33:32.01
but you couldn't get a breath,
00:33:32.04\00:33:34.24
you couldn't feel
any kind of sign of life,
00:33:34.28\00:33:38.41
and then a short while later,
that person is fully conscious,
00:33:38.45\00:33:43.12
God communicating with him.
00:33:43.15\00:33:44.59
And Daniel was
one, who in Daniel 10,
00:33:44.62\00:33:48.82
matter of fact from
Daniel 8 to Daniel 10,
00:33:48.86\00:33:51.26
he had many
experiences when he was faint,
00:33:51.29\00:33:53.96
and when he was weak,
00:33:54.00\00:33:55.33
and there was no
breath left in him.
00:33:55.36\00:33:57.47
One of the signs of the way
00:33:57.50\00:33:58.83
that the Lord communicated
through the prophet.
00:33:58.87\00:34:01.20
So write that down.
00:34:01.24\00:34:02.57
When prophets are in vision,
00:34:02.60\00:34:04.14
what is connected
to their experience?
00:34:04.17\00:34:06.11
Sometimes they are weak.
00:34:06.14\00:34:07.58
Sometimes they
are not breathing,
00:34:07.61\00:34:09.48
no breath left in them.
00:34:09.51\00:34:10.85
That means it has a
dual application here
00:34:10.88\00:34:13.28
because it means in one sense
00:34:13.31\00:34:17.15
what has happened to
me has flabbergasted me,
00:34:17.19\00:34:19.79
just taken my breath
away, and the other aspect,
00:34:19.82\00:34:22.36
it means I'm as a dead
person, I am not breathing.
00:34:22.39\00:34:26.73
But I'm in fact still alive.
00:34:26.76\00:34:29.63
Let's look at
question number 22,
00:34:29.66\00:34:32.53
question number 22.
00:34:32.57\00:34:35.10
Moving at a good pace
tonight, I feel good about that.
00:34:35.14\00:34:40.24
How can we know that a prophet
00:34:40.28\00:34:44.65
is being led by
the Spirit of God?
00:34:44.68\00:34:49.48
How can we know?
00:34:49.52\00:34:50.95
Let's go to Matthew 7:15-16,
00:34:50.99\00:34:54.72
Matthew 7:15-16,
00:34:54.76\00:35:00.26
how can we know?
00:35:00.30\00:35:05.07
Isn't it nice that
we're turning to the Bible
00:35:05.10\00:35:06.53
for our answers?
00:35:06.57\00:35:08.50
That's the place
where the Bible...
00:35:08.54\00:35:09.87
That's what the place is
where we find our answers,
00:35:09.90\00:35:12.44
in the Bible.
00:35:12.47\00:35:13.81
The best place to
get some is in the Bible.
00:35:13.84\00:35:16.75
Matthew 7:15,
we read as follows.
00:35:16.78\00:35:22.02
"Beware of..."
00:35:22.05\00:35:23.49
Say with me, "false prophets..."
00:35:23.52\00:35:26.86
Once again, how
can they be true?
00:35:26.89\00:35:28.99
How can they be false
prophets if there's no true?
00:35:29.02\00:35:31.63
"Who come to you
in..." What kind of clothing?
00:35:31.66\00:35:34.40
"Sheep's clothing."
00:35:34.43\00:35:35.76
Why would they
use sheep's clothing?
00:35:35.80\00:35:37.13
Because they're
trying to mimic the shepherd.
00:35:37.17\00:35:40.07
"But inwardly they
are ravenous wolves.
00:35:40.10\00:35:43.97
You will know
them by their..." What?
00:35:44.01\00:35:47.28
By their fruits?
00:35:47.31\00:35:49.78
Do men gather
grapes from thorn bushes,
00:35:49.81\00:35:54.28
or figs from thistles?
00:35:54.32\00:35:56.38
And what's the answer?
00:35:56.42\00:35:57.75
No, you don't.
00:35:57.79\00:35:59.79
Regardless of how they
look, examine the life,
00:35:59.82\00:36:04.83
examine the life.
00:36:04.86\00:36:06.96
Inwardly they
are ravenous wolves.
00:36:07.00\00:36:09.96
I don't want to be too
specific in my application,
00:36:10.00\00:36:14.60
but I remember years
ago, we were involved,
00:36:14.64\00:36:17.07
not involved as
far as employment,
00:36:17.11\00:36:19.24
but we were involved
00:36:19.27\00:36:20.84
in television
years ago, years ago,
00:36:20.88\00:36:22.34
I was invited to be
00:36:22.38\00:36:23.71
in different
television programs.
00:36:23.75\00:36:25.61
And before
people went on the air,
00:36:25.65\00:36:30.62
and after they went on the air,
00:36:30.65\00:36:32.22
it was like two different people
00:36:32.25\00:36:34.46
all together.
00:36:34.49\00:36:36.46
The meanest, the
most unchristian things
00:36:36.49\00:36:40.46
were being said to the
workers surrounding them,
00:36:40.50\00:36:44.33
walking into the
studio firing people
00:36:44.37\00:36:46.30
because they
popped in the wrong spot,
00:36:46.33\00:36:49.10
you know, and
employees getting upset
00:36:49.14\00:36:53.21
with people on pins and needles.
00:36:53.24\00:36:54.98
Look out here they come,
00:36:55.01\00:36:56.38
and I'm thinking of some
very famous Christian leaders
00:36:56.41\00:37:00.55
that were on
television years ago,
00:37:00.58\00:37:02.18
you know, they're deceased now
00:37:02.22\00:37:03.59
and they're not Adventist
to be candid about that.
00:37:03.62\00:37:06.49
But people would say,
00:37:06.52\00:37:08.59
"I see, is it like
that all the times?"
00:37:08.62\00:37:09.96
Say, "Oh, people get
fired here all the time
00:37:09.99\00:37:12.69
because we don't ever know
00:37:12.73\00:37:14.06
what spirit
they're going to be in
00:37:14.10\00:37:15.43
when they come to work."
00:37:15.46\00:37:16.83
But if you've been around here,
3ABN at all, you could see,
00:37:16.87\00:37:19.43
it's quite a different spirit,
different spirit all together.
00:37:19.47\00:37:22.24
Praise God for that.
00:37:22.27\00:37:23.74
And what makes a difference is,
00:37:23.77\00:37:25.24
who are you on the
set and off the set.
00:37:25.27\00:37:28.54
Who are you in the
pulpit, out of the pulpit?
00:37:28.58\00:37:32.05
Do men gather
grapes from thorn bushes?
00:37:32.08\00:37:36.35
No, or figs from thistles? No.
00:37:36.38\00:37:39.25
In other words,
you're not going to get
00:37:39.29\00:37:40.62
figs from thistles,
00:37:40.66\00:37:41.99
you're going to get
your finger pricked.
00:37:42.02\00:37:44.99
And it's vitally
important to know
00:37:45.03\00:37:46.90
that we have to be where,
00:37:46.93\00:37:48.26
especially in this
day and age nowadays.
00:37:48.30\00:37:49.63
Right now, it's
unfortunate but, you know,
00:37:49.66\00:37:52.40
there's a big
meeting, Pope Francis has gone,
00:37:52.43\00:37:55.14
undergone a huge
meeting for these years,
00:37:55.17\00:37:57.41
20, 30 years of sexual scandals
00:37:57.44\00:38:01.44
facing the
Roman Catholic Church.
00:38:01.48\00:38:05.28
Thousands, it's
just an amazing exhibit,
00:38:05.31\00:38:08.15
exhibition of
what was happening.
00:38:08.18\00:38:10.39
And so you ask
yourself the question.
00:38:10.42\00:38:13.36
Beware of those who come
to you in sheep's clothing.
00:38:13.39\00:38:16.66
Be careful because inwardly
00:38:16.69\00:38:18.56
there's a different motive
altogether, ravenous wolves.
00:38:18.59\00:38:21.53
So what would the
answer be for number 22?
00:38:21.56\00:38:24.27
What would the answer be?
00:38:24.30\00:38:26.03
Check out
00:38:26.07\00:38:27.40
what's at the end
of their branches,
00:38:27.44\00:38:29.77
fruits.
00:38:29.80\00:38:32.91
What should we look for?
00:38:32.94\00:38:34.98
Because it says,
00:38:35.01\00:38:36.34
"You'll know
them by their fruits."
00:38:36.38\00:38:38.31
In other words,
it doesn't just mean
00:38:38.35\00:38:39.78
the fruit of the Spirit,
00:38:39.81\00:38:41.58
it means look at their life.
00:38:41.62\00:38:43.89
Look at what's happening,
not just what they're saying,
00:38:43.92\00:38:47.56
very important, very important.
00:38:47.59\00:38:50.43
Look at what's happening,
not just what they're saying.
00:38:50.46\00:38:53.73
Let's go to
another very important one,
00:38:53.76\00:38:56.97
another very important question.
00:38:57.00\00:38:58.67
Question number 23.
00:38:58.70\00:39:01.20
Now what you'll
find as you look at
00:39:01.24\00:39:03.04
question number 23
00:39:03.07\00:39:04.41
is the Old Testament
and the New Testament,
00:39:04.44\00:39:07.04
it's the same God.
00:39:07.08\00:39:08.41
Can I get an amen?
00:39:08.44\00:39:10.08
From Genesis to Revelation,
there's only one God.
00:39:10.11\00:39:13.52
From Genesis to Revelation,
there's only one Jesus.
00:39:13.55\00:39:16.65
In the Old Testament,
00:39:16.69\00:39:18.02
He was called the angel
of the Lord or the Lord.
00:39:18.05\00:39:21.56
But His name was
Jesus at His condescension,
00:39:21.59\00:39:27.23
when He came into
the world through Mary,
00:39:27.26\00:39:29.26
called His name Jesus.
00:39:29.30\00:39:31.40
But then also at the same time,
00:39:31.43\00:39:32.97
they said call
His name Immanuel,
00:39:33.00\00:39:35.64
meaning God with us.
00:39:35.67\00:39:37.44
So depending on
the role He's in.
00:39:37.47\00:39:39.47
As some people may say,
00:39:39.51\00:39:41.04
"He is our savior
00:39:41.08\00:39:42.78
when it comes to
the issue of salvation.
00:39:42.81\00:39:44.81
But He is our Lord
00:39:44.85\00:39:46.28
when it comes to the
issue of how we live our lives."
00:39:46.31\00:39:49.12
Lord from the Greek
word that we get landlord.
00:39:49.15\00:39:52.52
In other words,
the person in charge.
00:39:52.55\00:39:54.76
Now if you are a tenant,
00:39:54.79\00:39:57.76
you don't make
changes to your apartment
00:39:57.79\00:39:59.23
without
permission from the landlord.
00:39:59.26\00:40:02.03
Any changes you
make without permission
00:40:02.06\00:40:03.57
from the landlord
could result in an eviction
00:40:03.60\00:40:06.07
or being put out or heavy fines,
00:40:06.10\00:40:08.24
whatever the case may be.
00:40:08.27\00:40:09.60
In the very same way,
00:40:09.64\00:40:11.01
Jesus is not just
the one who saves us,
00:40:11.04\00:40:13.64
but He is the Lord,
00:40:13.68\00:40:15.01
that we should
follow His examples,
00:40:15.04\00:40:16.95
we should follow
His instructions.
00:40:16.98\00:40:18.61
And that's why He said in
Luke, "Why call Me Lord, Lord,
00:40:18.65\00:40:22.48
and do not do the
things which I say."
00:40:22.52\00:40:25.25
It's easy to say, I'm
saved, but what are you doing?
00:40:25.29\00:40:28.59
How you living?
00:40:28.62\00:40:29.96
That's where the Lordship
comes in, very important.
00:40:29.99\00:40:32.89
And where are we now?
00:40:32.93\00:40:34.26
Question number 23.
00:40:34.30\00:40:35.63
Here's the question.
00:40:35.66\00:40:37.00
What promise has the Lord made
00:40:37.03\00:40:38.37
to those that
follow his instructions?
00:40:38.40\00:40:42.24
Really important
council to Judah,
00:40:42.27\00:40:44.74
and this comes
from 2 Chronicles 20:20.
00:40:44.77\00:40:48.11
2 Chronicles
20:20, beautiful passage.
00:40:48.14\00:40:52.41
We're told in 2
Chronicles 20:20,
00:40:55.42\00:40:58.49
"So they rose
early in the morning
00:40:58.52\00:41:01.89
and went out into
the Wilderness of Tekoa,
00:41:01.92\00:41:05.59
and as they went out,
Jehoshaphat stood and said..."
00:41:05.63\00:41:10.87
Here's what he said,
00:41:10.90\00:41:12.40
"Hear me, O Judah
00:41:12.43\00:41:15.30
and you
inhabitants of Jerusalem..."
00:41:15.34\00:41:19.64
Let's read this together,
"Believe in the Lord, your God,
00:41:19.67\00:41:24.38
and you shall be..." What?
00:41:24.41\00:41:25.91
"Established,
believe in his prophets,
00:41:25.95\00:41:29.72
and you shall..." What?
00:41:29.75\00:41:31.09
"Prosper.'"
00:41:31.12\00:41:32.45
Notice and that's
where Lord comes in here,
00:41:32.49\00:41:34.79
believe in the Lord, your
God, you'll be established.
00:41:34.82\00:41:38.43
Believe in His
prophets, you shall what?
00:41:38.46\00:41:40.96
Prosper.
00:41:41.00\00:41:42.33
So what is, the Lord's
word is for establishing us,
00:41:42.36\00:41:47.40
but we get prosperity
when we follow the words
00:41:47.44\00:41:51.94
that the Lord has
given to His manservant
00:41:51.97\00:41:55.44
or His maidservant,
prophets, prophetess,
00:41:55.48\00:41:58.81
and all throughout
00:41:58.85\00:42:00.18
the existence of
Judah and Israel,
00:42:00.22\00:42:02.45
the Lord spoke to
them through prophets.
00:42:02.48\00:42:04.55
Now, from Malachi to Matthew,
00:42:04.59\00:42:06.45
the voice was silent
00:42:06.49\00:42:08.29
because the
Israelites were in captivity,
00:42:08.32\00:42:10.53
they were in
rebellion, the voice was silent.
00:42:10.56\00:42:12.69
When they were in
Babylon, the voice was silent.
00:42:12.73\00:42:15.20
When they went into captivity,
00:42:15.23\00:42:16.56
the voice of the
prophets were silent.
00:42:16.60\00:42:18.60
But between Malachi and Matthew,
00:42:18.63\00:42:20.40
the voice was silent.
00:42:20.44\00:42:21.77
That's why the
Lord said in Malachi,
00:42:21.80\00:42:23.84
"Behold, I will send Elijah
00:42:23.87\00:42:25.34
before the great and
dreadful day of the Lord."
00:42:25.37\00:42:27.84
And when Jesus came,
00:42:27.88\00:42:29.71
people saw John
the Baptist preaching,
00:42:29.74\00:42:31.41
and they said,
"Who is that guy?"
00:42:31.45\00:42:33.68
And Jesus said, "What
did you go out to see?"
00:42:33.72\00:42:36.32
And they began to describe him,
and they said, "Is he Elijah?"
00:42:36.35\00:42:39.95
And Jesus says,
"He's greater than Elijah."
00:42:39.99\00:42:42.62
But He said, "If
you hear his message,
00:42:42.66\00:42:44.86
he is the Elijah
that is to come."
00:42:44.89\00:42:47.43
So the silence of the
voice of God from Malachi,
00:42:47.46\00:42:50.27
but then when Jesus
came, John the Baptist,
00:42:50.30\00:42:52.93
His cousin, who was
six months older than Him,
00:42:52.97\00:42:55.44
can you fathom that?
00:42:55.47\00:42:57.54
Jesus, who is from eternity,
00:42:57.57\00:42:59.17
has a cousin who
is six months older
00:42:59.21\00:43:01.04
in the human sense.
00:43:01.08\00:43:02.44
His cousin preached His...
00:43:02.48\00:43:04.55
He was the forerunner of
Christ proclaiming His coming.
00:43:04.58\00:43:07.98
And Jesus said, "If
you hear his message,
00:43:08.02\00:43:10.25
he is the Elijah
that is to come."
00:43:10.29\00:43:12.89
And so many people think
that when the Bible says,
00:43:12.92\00:43:15.02
Elijah the
prophet is going to come,
00:43:15.06\00:43:16.93
that somehow Elijah
in the physical form
00:43:16.96\00:43:18.83
is going to come.
00:43:18.86\00:43:20.20
No, it's the message of
Elijah, the message of Elijah,
00:43:20.23\00:43:23.93
the message that
Elijah took to King Ahab was,
00:43:23.97\00:43:27.67
"I am not the one
00:43:27.70\00:43:29.04
that's causing
trouble in Israel, but you are
00:43:29.07\00:43:31.31
because you have forsaken
the commandments of the Lord."
00:43:31.34\00:43:34.31
Anytime, anybody forsakes
the commandments of the Lord,
00:43:34.34\00:43:37.48
that person is not
a true prophet of God.
00:43:37.51\00:43:40.08
Amen?
00:43:40.12\00:43:41.45
I want you to see
that very quickly.
00:43:41.48\00:43:42.82
Now write the answer down.
00:43:42.85\00:43:44.19
What promise has
the Lord made to those
00:43:44.22\00:43:45.79
that follow his instructions?
00:43:45.82\00:43:47.59
Believe in the
Lord, He'll establish you,
00:43:47.62\00:43:49.92
believe in His
prophets, you shall prosper.
00:43:49.96\00:43:51.83
But I want to give
you a clear indicator
00:43:51.86\00:43:54.10
of how you can know
00:43:54.13\00:43:55.46
that person is a prophet of God.
00:43:55.50\00:43:57.87
I talked about
it, I alluded to it.
00:43:57.90\00:43:59.83
I made reference to it.
00:43:59.87\00:44:01.20
But let's go ahead
and see it very quickly,
00:44:01.24\00:44:02.57
doesn't hurt to see it.
00:44:02.60\00:44:04.11
And as you know, if
we don't cover tonight,
00:44:04.14\00:44:07.51
we will cover it
in our next program.
00:44:07.54\00:44:11.31
I always begin
with the good intentions
00:44:11.35\00:44:13.21
of doing the whole thing
00:44:13.25\00:44:15.25
and come to discover
the Bible is bigger than me.
00:44:15.28\00:44:18.75
Look at 1 John
Chapter 2, 1 John Chapter 2,
00:44:18.79\00:44:22.56
and we're going to
look at verse 3 and 4.
00:44:22.59\00:44:25.33
Find the answers in God's Word
because anybody could say today
00:44:25.36\00:44:28.60
that they are prophet.
00:44:28.63\00:44:29.96
Anybody could say
that, but here's the test.
00:44:30.00\00:44:33.54
Here is a very valid test.
00:44:33.57\00:44:37.14
Here's a very valid test.
00:44:37.17\00:44:39.47
1 John Chapter 2
beginning with verse 3.
00:44:39.51\00:44:43.28
Because the prophet is one
that says, "I know the Lord."
00:44:43.31\00:44:45.78
Am I correct?
00:44:45.81\00:44:47.15
They say they know the Lord,
but look what the Bible says.
00:44:47.18\00:44:50.19
1 John 2:3,
00:44:50.22\00:44:53.05
"Now by this we
know that we know Him,
00:44:53.09\00:44:55.96
if we keep his..." What?
00:44:55.99\00:44:58.36
"If we keep His commandments."
00:44:58.39\00:45:00.23
But this is a
powerful verse, verse 4.
00:45:00.26\00:45:03.16
"He who says I know Him,
00:45:03.20\00:45:06.43
and does not
keep His commandments
00:45:06.47\00:45:09.67
is a liar, and
the truth is..." What?
00:45:09.70\00:45:12.21
"Not in him."
00:45:12.24\00:45:13.68
A very important
test, listen very carefully,
00:45:13.71\00:45:16.85
because there are a
lot of preachers today
00:45:16.88\00:45:18.21
that say they are from the Lord,
00:45:18.25\00:45:19.81
ask this, this is a test.
00:45:19.85\00:45:21.78
Do you honor
God's Ten Commandments?
00:45:21.82\00:45:27.16
Well...
00:45:27.19\00:45:31.03
Well, you get some cases nine
00:45:31.06\00:45:33.23
because they
exclude the Sabbath,
00:45:33.26\00:45:34.60
they think that
somehow that's an optional one.
00:45:34.63\00:45:37.53
And it's amazing
that's the only one that says,
00:45:37.57\00:45:39.00
"Remember."
00:45:39.03\00:45:41.00
But so many
preachers make that optional,
00:45:41.04\00:45:42.70
"Well, that
doesn't really mean you."
00:45:42.74\00:45:44.34
Then they say
that was for the Jews,
00:45:44.37\00:45:45.94
it was nailed to the cross,
00:45:45.97\00:45:47.31
it was done away
with, it was fulfilled.
00:45:47.34\00:45:49.81
All the excuses
when Jesus simply says,
00:45:49.84\00:45:52.35
"If you love Me,
finish it with Me,
00:45:52.38\00:45:54.38
if you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:45:54.42\00:45:55.95
John, 14:15.
00:45:55.98\00:45:58.45
So if a person says,
"I'm a preacher of the Lord,
00:45:58.49\00:46:01.29
I'm a servant of the
Lord, I'm a spokesperson of God,
00:46:01.32\00:46:04.03
I'm a prophet of God,
ask him or her this question,
00:46:04.06\00:46:07.26
do you honor the
Ten Commandments?
00:46:07.30\00:46:09.36
And on the
authority of God's Word,
00:46:09.40\00:46:11.17
if they say,
"Well, I'm not sure.
00:46:11.20\00:46:15.60
Well, well, it
depends on what you mean.
00:46:15.64\00:46:17.54
Well, it's just for the Jews."
00:46:17.57\00:46:18.91
No, do only Jews die?
00:46:18.94\00:46:20.74
Somebody tell me?
00:46:20.78\00:46:24.01
Are only Jews the ones...
00:46:24.05\00:46:25.58
Are the Jews the only ones
that could be guilty of murder?
00:46:25.61\00:46:28.48
Yes or no?
00:46:28.52\00:46:29.92
No, are only the Jews the ones
00:46:29.95\00:46:31.52
that could be
guilty of adultery?
00:46:31.55\00:46:32.89
Yes or no? No.
00:46:32.92\00:46:35.06
Are the Jews the only
ones that have been given
00:46:35.09\00:46:36.83
the commission to honor
their fathers and their mothers,
00:46:36.86\00:46:38.39
and if you're not a Jew,
00:46:38.43\00:46:39.76
you could dishonor your parents?
00:46:39.79\00:46:41.13
No, absolutely not.
00:46:41.16\00:46:43.40
So when you think about that,
00:46:43.43\00:46:44.93
if honor your
father and your mother,
00:46:44.97\00:46:46.70
"Thou shalt not
kill, thou shalt not steal,
00:46:46.74\00:46:49.00
thou shalt not commit adultery,
00:46:49.04\00:46:50.37
thou shalt not
bear false witness,
00:46:50.41\00:46:51.74
thou shalt not covet."
00:46:51.77\00:46:53.11
And then, "I'm the
one that brought you
00:46:53.14\00:46:54.54
out of the land of
Egypt by the house of bondage.
00:46:54.58\00:46:56.28
You shall have no
other gods before me."
00:46:56.31\00:46:57.95
So is that saying that
because you're not a Jew,
00:46:57.98\00:47:00.22
you can have any god you want?
00:47:00.25\00:47:02.18
No, all Ten Commandments
apply to the same Lord.
00:47:02.22\00:47:06.65
And if we are
creations of the Most High, God,
00:47:06.69\00:47:09.09
which all of us are,
then it applies to us, right?
00:47:09.12\00:47:14.46
Very important,
00:47:14.50\00:47:15.83
believe in the
Lord, He establishes you,
00:47:15.86\00:47:17.67
believe in His
prophets, you will prosper.
00:47:17.70\00:47:19.60
But you cannot prosper
00:47:19.63\00:47:21.20
under a person
claiming to be a prophet
00:47:21.24\00:47:23.67
that doesn't honor
the commandments of God.
00:47:23.71\00:47:26.14
Don't forget that,
00:47:26.17\00:47:27.51
that's the key to
not being deceived.
00:47:27.54\00:47:28.88
Can I give you one more?
00:47:28.91\00:47:30.68
'Cause it says in Isaiah 8:20,
00:47:30.71\00:47:32.91
I'm going to show you
that the Old and New Testament
00:47:32.95\00:47:34.75
are not in conflict
'cause some people say,
00:47:34.78\00:47:37.09
I'm a New Testament Christian.
00:47:37.12\00:47:38.62
Oh, that means you've missed,
you know, 5/6th of the Bible,
00:47:38.65\00:47:43.53
most of the books
are in the Old Testament.
00:47:43.56\00:47:45.79
And if you're just the
New Testament Christian,
00:47:45.83\00:47:47.76
then the question is
00:47:47.80\00:47:49.13
do you still believe in creation
00:47:49.16\00:47:50.50
because the creation story
is in the Old Testament, right?
00:47:50.53\00:47:55.77
I hope you're a
full testament Christian.
00:47:55.80\00:47:59.17
Because the apostles
used the Old Testament.
00:47:59.21\00:48:03.01
None of the New Testament
writers had the New Testament.
00:48:03.04\00:48:07.55
Did you get that?
00:48:07.58\00:48:09.18
James, John, Matthew,
they all, Paul, Barnabas,
00:48:09.22\00:48:12.65
they didn't
have a New Testament,
00:48:12.69\00:48:14.52
their writings
became the New Testament.
00:48:14.56\00:48:17.76
They used the Old Testament.
00:48:17.79\00:48:20.73
Isaiah 8:20, and so did Jesus.
00:48:20.76\00:48:24.03
If the Old Testament's
good enough for Jesus,
00:48:24.07\00:48:26.20
it's good enough for me.
00:48:26.23\00:48:28.20
And the Bible is
not old versus new.
00:48:28.24\00:48:30.97
It's old covenant
versus new covenant.
00:48:31.01\00:48:34.51
But in the new covenant,
00:48:34.54\00:48:35.88
the commandments of
God are still there.
00:48:35.91\00:48:37.48
Okay, Isaiah 8:16,
stop with that one.
00:48:37.51\00:48:40.45
One of the very few
places in the Old Testament
00:48:40.48\00:48:42.28
where you find
the word disciples.
00:48:42.32\00:48:45.32
Isaiah 8:16 says,
"Bind up the..." What?
00:48:45.35\00:48:49.99
"Testimony, seal the
law among My disciples."
00:48:50.03\00:48:55.50
In the Old
Testament law and disciples,
00:48:55.53\00:48:58.20
testimony, law, and disciples.
00:48:58.23\00:49:00.74
Law, testimony, disciples, I
want you to see that cadence.
00:49:00.77\00:49:04.17
Now look at verse 20,
00:49:04.21\00:49:06.34
"To the law and
to the testimony,
00:49:06.37\00:49:09.34
if they do not speak
according to this word,
00:49:09.38\00:49:12.21
it is because
there is..." How much?
00:49:12.25\00:49:15.28
"No light in them."
00:49:15.32\00:49:18.95
No light in them.
00:49:18.99\00:49:20.59
Don't go in the
tunnel with them, it's dark.
00:49:20.62\00:49:24.99
No light in them.
00:49:25.03\00:49:26.39
And you know what that means?
00:49:26.43\00:49:28.16
That means they may give
you a little bit of tint of hues
00:49:28.20\00:49:32.30
of scriptures to
get your attention
00:49:32.33\00:49:34.97
and then lead
you down a dark road.
00:49:35.00\00:49:37.44
No light in them.
00:49:37.47\00:49:38.87
And that's, I want
you to see something
00:49:38.91\00:49:40.58
because the law
and the testimony,
00:49:40.61\00:49:43.58
what are they?
00:49:43.61\00:49:44.95
The law and the what? Testimony.
00:49:44.98\00:49:46.92
Now get this now,
I want to make this,
00:49:46.95\00:49:48.88
the lesson kind of
took a different turn here,
00:49:48.92\00:49:50.35
but I want to make
this very clear for tonight.
00:49:50.39\00:49:55.22
If you...
00:49:55.26\00:49:56.59
Let me allude to you.
00:49:56.62\00:49:57.96
I'm not even going to
give any kind of alluded to me
00:49:57.99\00:49:59.46
if I were or if you are,
00:49:59.49\00:50:01.16
but the devil
because he knows that,
00:50:01.20\00:50:04.67
he knows what
Isaiah the Prophet said,
00:50:04.70\00:50:06.94
he knows what the
Apostle John said.
00:50:06.97\00:50:10.41
So who do you
think he's upset with?
00:50:10.44\00:50:15.38
Those that keep the
law and the testimony.
00:50:15.41\00:50:19.51
Let's look at
this, Revelation 12:17,
00:50:19.55\00:50:22.05
a very familiar passage,
00:50:22.08\00:50:23.69
but the Lord is telling me
00:50:23.72\00:50:25.05
that I think I need
to connect this with you.
00:50:25.09\00:50:27.72
And when I say the
Lord is telling me,
00:50:27.76\00:50:29.22
He's not giving me
messages through my ear,
00:50:29.26\00:50:31.46
but the Word of God
is clicking together.
00:50:31.49\00:50:34.23
When the Word of God
is clicking together,
00:50:34.26\00:50:36.13
we must honor that.
00:50:36.16\00:50:37.63
Here it is, the
very, the very, very things
00:50:37.67\00:50:40.87
that Isaiah the
Prophet warned against,
00:50:40.90\00:50:43.51
the various indicators
that John the Apostle said,
00:50:43.54\00:50:46.84
"Look for," are the very
things that make Satan angry.
00:50:46.88\00:50:50.28
Now here's the question
before we read the verse.
00:50:50.31\00:50:52.05
Revelation 12:17,
before we read the verse,
00:50:52.08\00:50:55.32
here's the point.
00:50:55.35\00:50:56.69
And I want you to
answer me verbally.
00:50:56.72\00:50:58.39
If you do something
that makes the devil angry,
00:50:58.42\00:51:02.02
are you doing what's right?
00:51:02.06\00:51:04.23
Yes.
00:51:04.26\00:51:05.59
If you do something
that makes a devil happy,
00:51:05.63\00:51:07.90
are you doing something wrong?
00:51:07.93\00:51:09.70
Yes.
00:51:09.73\00:51:11.07
Okay, now let's see
what makes him angry.
00:51:11.10\00:51:14.97
Revelation
12:17, Revelation 12:17,
00:51:15.00\00:51:19.34
by the way, verse
17, "And the dragon,"
00:51:19.37\00:51:21.81
according to
verse 9 of Revelation,
00:51:21.84\00:51:23.38
"the dragon is Satan,
the Devil, serpent of old."
00:51:23.41\00:51:26.58
"And the dragon was
enraged with the woman..."
00:51:26.61\00:51:29.92
Or the dragon was
angry with the woman.
00:51:29.95\00:51:32.99
"And went to make war
with the rest of her offspring
00:51:33.02\00:51:36.93
or the remnant of her seed..."
00:51:36.96\00:51:38.29
Depending on the
translation you have,
00:51:38.33\00:51:40.46
but here's what's identical,
00:51:40.50\00:51:42.83
"Who keep the
commandments of God,
00:51:42.86\00:51:44.73
and have the..." What?
00:51:44.77\00:51:46.27
"Testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:51:46.30\00:51:48.37
Notice, Isaiah
said, "If they don't speak
00:51:48.40\00:51:50.51
according to the law
and testimony, be careful.
00:51:50.54\00:51:52.97
John said the same
thing, he, who says,
00:51:53.01\00:51:56.08
"I know Him, does not keep
His commandments is a liar,
00:51:56.11\00:51:57.98
and the truth is not in him."
00:51:58.01\00:51:59.35
Look out for that.
00:51:59.38\00:52:00.72
He who says, I know Him,
and does look out for that.
00:52:00.75\00:52:02.55
And then Revelation says,
00:52:02.58\00:52:03.99
the devil is mad if you
keep the commandments of God
00:52:04.02\00:52:06.35
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:52:06.39\00:52:08.86
Now, the
testimony of Jesus Christ
00:52:08.89\00:52:11.73
connects us right
back to our lesson.
00:52:11.76\00:52:14.23
Go to Revelation 19:10,
00:52:14.26\00:52:16.67
Revelation 19:10
00:52:16.70\00:52:18.57
because the testimony of Jesus,
00:52:18.60\00:52:20.54
these two, not one or the other,
00:52:20.57\00:52:23.57
but these two
components qualify you
00:52:23.61\00:52:28.48
to receive the
Spirit of Prophecy.
00:52:28.51\00:52:33.78
Watch this,
Revelation 19:10, here it is.
00:52:33.82\00:52:39.69
John speaking,
00:52:39.72\00:52:42.46
"And I fell at His
feet to worship Him,
00:52:42.49\00:52:44.49
but He said to me, 'See
that you do not do that.
00:52:44.53\00:52:48.23
I am your fellow
servant, and of your brethren,
00:52:48.26\00:52:51.87
who have the..." What?
00:52:51.90\00:52:53.57
"Testimony of Jesus.'"
00:52:53.60\00:52:55.07
What did he say?
00:52:55.10\00:52:56.44
Worship God, and get this,
00:52:56.47\00:52:58.24
for the testimony
of Jesus is the what?
00:52:58.27\00:53:01.54
Spirit of Prophecy.
00:53:01.58\00:53:05.11
When the Spirit of
God is working in you,
00:53:05.15\00:53:07.82
when you are communicating
the testimony of Jesus,
00:53:07.85\00:53:10.82
that makes the devil angry
00:53:10.85\00:53:13.59
because the spirit is
prophesying through you.
00:53:13.62\00:53:16.89
And what is
prophesying is the Word of God.
00:53:16.93\00:53:19.33
Paul even says in 1
Corinthians Chapter 14, he says,
00:53:19.36\00:53:22.86
"I wish you had all
the gifts that I had,
00:53:22.90\00:53:25.67
but desire the best
gift that you may prophesy."
00:53:25.70\00:53:30.11
That you may prophesy.
00:53:30.14\00:53:31.51
The word there
prophesize is proclaim.
00:53:31.54\00:53:33.84
Not speak in tongues
which in today's language
00:53:33.88\00:53:36.51
is a confusion,
00:53:36.54\00:53:38.08
is not interpretable
00:53:38.11\00:53:40.12
because it's not a
language of a nation
00:53:40.15\00:53:41.82
that exists
according to Acts Chapter 2.
00:53:41.85\00:53:43.85
"On the day of Pentecost,
00:53:43.89\00:53:45.22
everybody spoken language
from where they were born."
00:53:45.25\00:53:48.09
But today, it's
confusion at its height.
00:53:48.12\00:53:51.59
Now, let's go to 1
Corinthians Chapter...
00:53:51.63\00:53:53.56
Let's see if we can
get a few more in here.
00:53:53.60\00:53:55.50
Question number
24, question number 24.
00:53:55.53\00:53:59.27
How do we know that
the gift of prophecy
00:53:59.30\00:54:02.27
is still active today?
00:54:02.30\00:54:04.87
How do we know?
00:54:04.91\00:54:06.94
When the Lord established
the New Testament church,
00:54:06.98\00:54:09.24
He made a very particular
point to make sure that
00:54:09.28\00:54:12.38
what happened
among His people of old
00:54:12.41\00:54:14.85
will continue
because here's the key.
00:54:14.88\00:54:17.39
The same work He gave
to the children of Israel
00:54:17.42\00:54:20.12
that they forfeited,
that their leaders forfeited,
00:54:20.16\00:54:23.16
He continued that work.
00:54:23.19\00:54:24.76
He says, "I want this
project to be completed,
00:54:24.79\00:54:27.20
and that's carry the
gospel to the world."
00:54:27.23\00:54:29.80
But to do that,
He had to equip them.
00:54:29.83\00:54:32.00
Here it is in 1
Corinthians 12:28,
00:54:32.03\00:54:35.54
"And God has appointed
these in the church..."
00:54:35.57\00:54:39.87
These in the what?
00:54:39.91\00:54:41.44
"In the church, first
apostles, second prophets,
00:54:41.48\00:54:47.25
third teachers,
after that miracles,
00:54:47.28\00:54:52.22
then..." What else?
00:54:52.25\00:54:53.59
"Gifts of healings,
helps, administrations..."
00:54:53.62\00:54:57.99
And get this, "A
varieties of tongues."
00:54:58.03\00:55:02.30
When you look at that
word there in the Greek,
00:55:02.33\00:55:04.83
varieties of languages.
00:55:04.87\00:55:06.87
And that's why
the Apostle Paul says,
00:55:06.90\00:55:08.77
"I speak in more
languages than all of you guys."
00:55:08.80\00:55:11.77
He wasn't meaning I
made more confusing sounds
00:55:11.81\00:55:14.28
in all of you, he
was a very educated man.
00:55:14.31\00:55:16.85
He said, "I speak
with more languages
00:55:16.88\00:55:18.51
than all of you."
00:55:18.55\00:55:19.88
That was the gift
the Lord gave him,
00:55:19.91\00:55:21.25
that's why he was able to travel
00:55:21.28\00:55:22.62
to so many countries
00:55:22.65\00:55:23.99
because he
spoke in the languages
00:55:24.02\00:55:25.42
of those countries.
00:55:25.45\00:55:26.79
But on the day of Pentecost,
00:55:26.82\00:55:28.16
the Galileans that only
spoke in that native tongue
00:55:28.19\00:55:31.59
were given the
gift of other languages,
00:55:31.63\00:55:34.23
so they were able
to communicate to those
00:55:34.26\00:55:36.20
from Arabia, from
the Medes, the Parthians,
00:55:36.23\00:55:42.17
Elamites, all the
different nations,
00:55:42.20\00:55:43.84
the Arabs,
00:55:43.87\00:55:45.21
they spoke the
language of all those nations.
00:55:45.24\00:55:47.58
And Peter on the
day of Pentecost,
00:55:47.61\00:55:49.41
who was a Galilean,
00:55:49.44\00:55:51.15
they from all
these different nations
00:55:51.18\00:55:53.28
around the world said in Acts 2,
00:55:53.31\00:55:55.22
"We hear him
speak in our own tongue,
00:55:55.25\00:55:59.49
where we were born."
00:55:59.52\00:56:01.32
So today people are told,
00:56:01.36\00:56:06.03
"If you sound like
you're in gibberish,
00:56:06.06\00:56:08.56
the Spirit of God
is involved in that."
00:56:08.60\00:56:11.10
No, God is not the
author of confusion.
00:56:11.13\00:56:14.40
What did we say?
00:56:14.44\00:56:16.10
He's not the
author of confusion.
00:56:16.14\00:56:17.71
If what is
happening is confusing
00:56:17.74\00:56:19.57
and you can't understand it,
00:56:19.61\00:56:20.94
don't relegate it to
somebody to interpret that
00:56:20.98\00:56:23.51
when it's not
measurable by the Word of God.
00:56:23.55\00:56:26.51
Let me say that again.
00:56:26.55\00:56:27.88
It's always to be measured
by the Word of God, right?
00:56:27.92\00:56:32.29
Not some independent person.
00:56:32.32\00:56:34.09
So here you find clearly
00:56:34.12\00:56:35.82
the Lord says in
1 Corinthians 12:28,
00:56:35.86\00:56:38.79
hey, prophets are
still going to be there.
00:56:38.83\00:56:42.06
With our world
being a worldwide work,
00:56:42.10\00:56:44.10
we just came back
from Cali, Colombia.
00:56:44.13\00:56:46.77
I had an
interpreter there. You know why?
00:56:46.80\00:56:49.04
Because I didn't have the
gift of variety of tongues,
00:56:49.07\00:56:51.67
but now I'm learning Spanish.
00:56:51.71\00:56:53.54
I mean, I could
say a more words now
00:56:53.58\00:56:55.51
that I went there,
00:56:55.54\00:56:57.08
but the Lord did not give
me the gift of interpretation
00:56:57.11\00:56:59.65
or the gift of tongues
because I had an interpreter.
00:56:59.68\00:57:04.79
But I had my sermon
title, it was Agua Caliente.
00:57:04.82\00:57:09.52
Come on say with, what is that?
00:57:09.56\00:57:11.26
Hot water.
00:57:11.29\00:57:12.96
And I preached that sermon,
00:57:12.99\00:57:15.03
the pastor came
to me and he said,
00:57:15.06\00:57:16.43
what's the sermon
title? I said, Agua Caliente.
00:57:16.46\00:57:18.93
He said, "Hot water, is
that really a sermon title?
00:57:18.97\00:57:23.27
Hot water?
00:57:23.30\00:57:24.64
I said, "That's
the sermon title,
00:57:24.67\00:57:26.01
Agua Caliente,
water, Caliente, hot.
00:57:26.04\00:57:29.28
See I just spoke in
a different language,
00:57:29.31\00:57:31.41
but it's not a
gift from the Spirit,
00:57:31.45\00:57:33.05
it's a learned language.
00:57:33.08\00:57:35.15
We're going to go
into some deeper aspects
00:57:35.18\00:57:37.09
because we're going
to see that not only
00:57:37.12\00:57:39.45
is the gift of
prophecy still active
00:57:39.49\00:57:42.12
in the last day church,
00:57:42.16\00:57:43.49
the Holy Spirit is still
doing the work through us
00:57:43.53\00:57:47.46
that the Lord had
commissioned Him to do.
00:57:47.50\00:57:49.96
And He says, in the last days
00:57:50.00\00:57:52.07
I will pour out My
Spirit on all flesh.
00:57:52.10\00:57:55.70
And one of the gifts
that makes the devil angry,
00:57:55.74\00:57:58.77
and here's why
the gift of prophecy
00:57:58.81\00:58:00.61
is so important.
00:58:00.64\00:58:02.11
The gift of prophecy
tells you what's going to happen
00:58:02.14\00:58:05.75
before it does,
00:58:05.78\00:58:07.35
and the devil
doesn't want us to know,
00:58:07.38\00:58:09.72
what's going to
happen before it does.
00:58:09.75\00:58:11.55
He wants to sneak up on
us and catch us by surprise.
00:58:11.59\00:58:14.12
But Amos 3:7, the Lord says,
00:58:14.16\00:58:16.19
"Surely the Lord,
God, will do nothing,
00:58:16.22\00:58:18.56
unless He revealed His
secrets to His servants,
00:58:18.59\00:58:21.56
the prophets."
00:58:21.60\00:58:22.93
Friends, keep
studying God's Word
00:58:22.96\00:58:24.30
because we are sure that
if it doesn't make sense,
00:58:24.33\00:58:27.00
one day, it will
come into A Sharper Focus.
00:58:27.04\00:58:30.04
God bless you.
00:58:30.07\00:58:31.44