Hello, friends,
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welcome to our
Wednesday night Bible study
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here at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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My name is John Lomacang.
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If you've tuned
in before, you know,
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you know that already,
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we thank you for taking
the time to tune in tonight
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to join us for
our continued study
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on "The Gifts of the Spirit."
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We're gonna have a theme song,
will tell you in just a moment
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where to get a
copy of the lesson.
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But before we do anything else,
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let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
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Loving Father in
heaven, we thank You, Lord,
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for Your Holy Spirit's guidance.
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We thank You for the power
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that will come from
the study of Your Word.
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We invite You, Lord to
be in this meeting tonight.
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And all those
who are joining us,
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unite us, through the work
and power of Your Holy Spirit
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we pray in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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If you'd like to get
a copy of the lesson,
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go to the following
website asf.3abn.org.
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That's asf.3abn.org,
download lesson number 41.
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We're finishing that tonight.
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And can we all say, amen.
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I mean, we've
been on this lesson.
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It's been a wonderful one.
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But we wanna go to another one.
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But the Holy
Spirit is a powerful topic
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that each one of us
needs to know about.
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And we encourage
you to download a copy
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and follow along with us.
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Tonight we're gonna
begin on question number 22.
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But before we do that,
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we're gonna sing our theme song
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which 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 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 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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Victory in Jesus.
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Tonight we are going
to continue on our topic,
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the Truth about,
the Gifts of the Spirit.
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Everyone likes gifts.
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I don't know of anyone
who doesn't like a gift.
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If you like a gift,
can I hear you say, amen?
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Amen.
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We all like gifts,
people look forward to gifts,
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Christmas gifts, birthday gifts,
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anniversary gifts, gifts, gifts.
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Just anytime we
can get anything new,
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we are always excited about it.
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Tonight I wanna ask
you to turn in your Bibles
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to 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
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We're gonna lay some foundation
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and when we
dive into the lesson,
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we're gonna begin our
lesson or question 22.
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But I want you to see
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and I'm gonna state
this to make it very obvious.
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The Holy Spirit
works in three ways.
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How many ways did I say?
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Three ways. Three ways.
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First, He works on us,
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then He works in us,
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then He works through us.
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Let's try that one more time.
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First time He
works where? On us.
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Then He works where? In us.
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Then He works through us.
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And it cannot be changed.
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You can't expect
the Spirit of God
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to work through you
before He has worked in you.
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And that will never happen
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before He works on you
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because He wants us to respond.
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Matter of fact, I'll share a
couple of verses in the Bible
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to show you all
three aspects of it.
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He works on us when we respond,
He works in us as evidence,
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then He works through us
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with the gifts that He
entrust to every one of us.
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He'll never work through us
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if we don't respond
to the first process.
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So one, two, three, what is it?
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One, two, three,
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all three
processes are very necessary.
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Now what I'm gonna show
you is the third process,
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1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
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And I'm gonna
begin with verse 4.
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1 Corinthians Chapter 12
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and we're gonna
look together at verse 4.
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All right?
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Notice what the Bible says,
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"Now there are
diversities of," what?
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Gifts. "Gifts,
but the same spirit."
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So when it says diversities
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it means there are all
kinds of different gifts.
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If you've gone
to any major store,
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people can walk out
with different gifts
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because they are what?
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Diversity. Diversities of gifts.
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There are
different kinds of gifts,
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big gifts, small gifts.
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And when you read the passages,
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what you're going
to discover is no gift
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is more
important than the other.
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Every gift is imperative.
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Every gift has a
place of importance.
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But let's look at verse 5.
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"There are
differences of ministries,
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but the," what? "The same Lord."
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"Diversities of
gifts, but the same spirit.
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Different kinds of
ministries, but the same Lord."
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Ministries and gifts
harmoniously working together.
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And verse 6,
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"And there are
diversities of activities,
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but it is the same," together,
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"God who works all in all."
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So God is working in the gifts,
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God is working
in the ministries,
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and God is
working in the activities.
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It is God who
works in you both to will
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and to do of His good pleasure.
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God is interwoven
through all of that,
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you cannot get Him out of it.
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But what I
wanna make very clear,
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is sometimes we
want certain gifts,
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you know,
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I've seen people ask
for certain types of gifts.
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What you're gonna
discover as we go on,
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is you can't even
ask for which gift.
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You can't even
ask for which gift,
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no more than I
know people have said,
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well, give me a Christmas
list or give me a birthday list,
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but you still don't know
what gifts you're gonna get.
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It goes on in verse 7.
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"But the
manifestation of the Spirit
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is given to each one for
the profit of," how many?
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All. "All."
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So whatever Norey gets,
or whatever Angela gets,
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or whatever Xenia
gets, or whatever Louis gets.
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It's not for
Louis, it's not for Xenia,
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not for my wife,
it's not for Norey,
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it's for who?
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All. All of us.
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The Lord never gives
you anything for yourself.
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The only thing the
Holy Spirit gives you
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that benefits you is what?
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Is what?
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Okay, salvation is
a personal benefit.
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But as I talked
about the three stages,
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which one is the only
one that benefits you?
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The Holy Spirit, the fruit.
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The fruit is an evidence
that Christ is in your life.
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But it's still, it's
while it's a benefit to you
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because you know what?
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You can have love. You
can be a person of joy.
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You cannot be a person of peace.
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You cannot have long suffering.
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You cannot be gentle.
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You cannot be meek.
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That's a humble heart.
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You cannot be long-suffering,
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you can't be any
of, love, joy, peace,
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long-suffering,
gentleness, meekness,
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and you surely
won't have patience.
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So all those
things are benefit to us.
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But it also
benefits people around us.
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But the gifts are never
given for your own benefit.
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The gifts are given so
that how many people benefit it?
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All. Everybody else.
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It goes on.
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Let's look at
some of those gifts.
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Verse 8,
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"For to one is
given the word of," what?
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"Wisdom through the Spirit,
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to another the word of knowledge
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through the same Spirit,
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to another faith,"
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verse 9, "by the same Spirit,
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to another the gifts of," what?
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"Healings by the same Spirit."
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You would think that
by now we will get it,
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but Paul is wanting
to make the point clear.
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Redundancy in scripture
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is to make the
point abundantly clear.
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Repeat, repeat.
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What do they say by repetition?
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It's the best,
it's the best teacher.
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Repetition.
Repetition is the best teacher.
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And it goes on in verse 10,
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"To another, the
working of miracles,
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to another," what?
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"Prophecy, to another," what?
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"Discerning of spirits,
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to another
different kinds of tongues,
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to another," what?
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"The interpretation of tongues."
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But look at verse 11,
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"But one and the same Spirit
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works all these things."
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And here's the key.
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The next word in my
Bible is, "Distributing,"
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what is word?
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Giving, distributing.
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So if you're
standing at a counter,
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somebody says, okay,
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I'm not gonna give
little Norey a chainsaw.
00:11:02.89\00:11:06.96
Because I don't think
she'll be successful with it.
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Now Louis I could
trust with a chainsaw
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if he's used one before.
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I'm not gonna give Jen a
gigantic 300-pound fire hose.
00:11:13.34\00:11:18.54
It'll be throwing
you all over the place.
00:11:18.57\00:11:20.28
I will look at,
the Spirit of God
00:11:20.31\00:11:21.74
looks at every one of us
and says, "I know what I have.
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I know what I have
equipped you to be able to use."
00:11:25.75\00:11:28.82
And He gives each one of
us according to what he knows.
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That's why it says,
00:11:31.69\00:11:33.02
distributing to each one
individually as He wills.
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So who wills it?
00:11:38.03\00:11:40.00
The Holy Spirit does.
00:11:40.03\00:11:41.46
The Holy Spirit
decides what gifts.
00:11:41.50\00:11:43.47
So when you, if you
go to a church that says,
00:11:43.50\00:11:46.10
you need the gift
of tongues as evidence
00:11:46.13\00:11:48.14
that you are born
again, that's not scriptural.
00:11:48.17\00:11:51.11
That's not in the Bible.
The Bible doesn't support that.
00:11:51.14\00:11:54.08
But now let's go on.
00:11:54.11\00:11:55.44
Let's ask some questions.
00:11:55.48\00:11:56.95
Turn the page to verse
00:11:56.98\00:12:02.48
number 27.
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1 Corinthians 12:27.
00:12:05.32\00:12:09.52
Okay.
00:12:09.56\00:12:12.76
And by the way, 1
Corinthians Chapter 12
00:12:12.79\00:12:15.26
is a prelude to Chapter 13.
00:12:15.30\00:12:18.63
When the Bible is
written, it's not written in,
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it's not broken up.
00:12:20.60\00:12:22.37
It's a continual.
00:12:22.40\00:12:23.81
So 1 Corinthians Chapter 12
is laying out all the gifts.
00:12:23.84\00:12:27.54
And then 1 Corinthians 13 says,
00:12:27.58\00:12:29.91
if you think that the gift
00:12:29.94\00:12:31.28
is gonna make the
difference without love,
00:12:31.31\00:12:34.18
not working.
00:12:34.22\00:12:35.88
No matter what gift you have,
if love is not a part of it,
00:12:35.92\00:12:38.05
it's of no value.
00:12:38.09\00:12:39.42
Look at verse 27.
00:12:39.45\00:12:41.96
It says, "Now you are the body
of Christ, and members," how?
00:12:41.99\00:12:45.69
Individually. "Individually.
00:12:45.73\00:12:48.03
And God has
appointed these in the church."
00:12:48.06\00:12:50.87
So when people ask,
00:12:50.90\00:12:52.23
do I need to be a
member of a church
00:12:52.27\00:12:53.84
and what's the answer?
00:12:53.87\00:12:55.20
Yes, everybody
needs to be involved.
00:12:55.24\00:12:57.94
You don't have a
car without a tyre
00:12:57.97\00:12:59.74
and well, it's possible.
00:12:59.77\00:13:02.78
But that tyre is not...
00:13:02.81\00:13:04.15
Not going anywhere.
00:13:04.18\00:13:05.51
That car is not going anywhere.
00:13:05.55\00:13:07.25
I saw a show once
00:13:07.28\00:13:08.62
where there was a
really beautiful Mercedes
00:13:08.65\00:13:10.39
and it was being auctioned
off for very, very low price.
00:13:10.42\00:13:12.92
And somebody said,
00:13:12.95\00:13:14.29
how could you sell
a Mercedes like that
00:13:14.32\00:13:15.66
for just like $2,000?
00:13:15.69\00:13:17.36
He said it
doesn't have an engine.
00:13:17.39\00:13:20.00
Doesn't have an engine?
There's nothing on the inside.
00:13:20.03\00:13:22.56
So we could look perfectly
capable on the outside.
00:13:22.60\00:13:24.77
But if there's
nothing on the inside,
00:13:24.80\00:13:26.63
it is of absolutely
no value whatsoever.
00:13:26.67\00:13:29.60
So you are the body of
Christ and members individually.
00:13:29.64\00:13:33.64
And look at verse 28.
00:13:33.68\00:13:36.64
"And God has
appointed these in the church,
00:13:36.68\00:13:40.42
first, apostles,
00:13:40.45\00:13:42.45
second, prophets, third," what?
00:13:42.48\00:13:45.99
"Teachers, after that miracles,
00:13:46.02\00:13:48.99
then the gifts of
healings," what else?
00:13:49.02\00:13:52.23
"Helps, administrations,
00:13:52.26\00:13:55.10
and varieties of tongues."
00:13:55.13\00:13:57.20
Which means
different kinds of languages?
00:13:57.23\00:14:00.00
I'm always amazed.
00:14:00.04\00:14:01.37
I think I may
have said this before,
00:14:01.40\00:14:02.74
but if I hadn't,
it fits right here.
00:14:02.77\00:14:04.41
I've never met...
00:14:04.44\00:14:05.77
I've never met a pastor
00:14:05.81\00:14:07.14
or I've never seen a
church teaching its members,
00:14:07.18\00:14:09.54
pray for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:14:09.58\00:14:11.45
so that you will
get the gifts of helps.
00:14:11.48\00:14:15.55
The church needs what?
00:14:15.58\00:14:16.92
Help.
00:14:16.95\00:14:18.29
Nobody says, oh, please
give me the gift of helps.
00:14:18.32\00:14:22.26
They want that uninvolved gift,
00:14:22.29\00:14:24.26
that gift that
makes them look like
00:14:24.29\00:14:25.63
they are really powerful
that nobody could explain.
00:14:25.66\00:14:28.40
So they go around babbling,
00:14:28.43\00:14:31.43
no sense whatsoever.
00:14:31.47\00:14:33.47
What about if somebody pray
for the gifts of anything else?
00:14:33.50\00:14:38.91
Administration, please give
me the gift of administration.
00:14:38.94\00:14:42.58
Nobody prays for that.
00:14:42.61\00:14:43.95
They want that
gift that's good enough
00:14:43.98\00:14:46.01
to confuse individuals.
00:14:46.05\00:14:47.98
But here's some
very important questions
00:14:48.02\00:14:49.58
that we're gonna
answer right now.
00:14:49.62\00:14:51.79
And I want you to
answer by the way,
00:14:51.82\00:14:53.19
I'm gonna ask you the questions
and I want you to answer.
00:14:53.22\00:14:55.02
Okay, you can
answer resoundingly.
00:14:55.06\00:14:56.66
Okay. Are you ready? Here we go.
00:14:56.69\00:14:58.89
"Are all apostles?" No.
00:14:58.93\00:15:01.60
Oh, no, that's not resounding.
00:15:01.63\00:15:03.93
Are you ready?
Let's try it again.
00:15:03.97\00:15:05.30
"Are all apostles?" No.
00:15:05.33\00:15:06.80
"Are all prophets?" No.
00:15:06.84\00:15:08.44
"Are all teachers?" No.
00:15:08.47\00:15:09.97
"Are all workers
of miracles?" No.
00:15:10.01\00:15:12.47
"Do all have the
gift of healings?"
00:15:12.51\00:15:14.04
No.
00:15:14.08\00:15:15.41
"Do all speak with tongues?" No.
00:15:15.44\00:15:17.21
"Do all interpret?" No.
00:15:17.25\00:15:19.18
You know, what
they said over and over?
00:15:19.21\00:15:20.55
No, no, no, no, no.
00:15:20.58\00:15:23.05
I'm glad I didn't ask for help.
00:15:23.08\00:15:27.69
But what is being said clearly
is the reason why they said no,
00:15:27.72\00:15:32.19
is because only
the Holy Spirit decides
00:15:32.23\00:15:34.93
who has what,
00:15:34.96\00:15:36.63
everyone
doesn't have every gift.
00:15:36.67\00:15:39.60
And no one
could ask for any gift
00:15:39.63\00:15:42.24
because the Holy
Spirit decides who gets what.
00:15:42.27\00:15:45.57
That's why verse 31 says this,
00:15:45.61\00:15:47.78
and this is powerful
because now Chapter 13
00:15:47.81\00:15:50.38
is gonna give the
more excellent way.
00:15:50.41\00:15:52.71
It says, "But earnestly
desire the," what kind of gifts?
00:15:52.75\00:15:56.12
"The best gifts.
00:15:56.15\00:15:57.49
And yet I show you," what?
00:15:57.52\00:15:59.12
"A more excellent way."
00:15:59.15\00:16:00.49
There's
something better than that.
00:16:00.52\00:16:02.49
So you can have all these gifts,
00:16:02.52\00:16:04.63
but something's missing.
00:16:04.66\00:16:06.26
If God's love is missing,
00:16:06.29\00:16:07.83
and all those
gifts are of absolutely,
00:16:07.86\00:16:11.03
how much value?
00:16:11.07\00:16:12.40
No value.
00:16:12.43\00:16:13.77
That's why it's important
as we go to question number 22,
00:16:13.80\00:16:15.70
tonight.
00:16:15.74\00:16:17.07
Question number
22, and here it is.
00:16:17.11\00:16:19.01
It says, "How can we know
00:16:19.04\00:16:21.91
that a prophet is being led
00:16:21.94\00:16:25.31
by the Spirit of God?"
00:16:25.35\00:16:28.18
Matthew 7:15-16.
00:16:28.22\00:16:31.35
How can we know
00:16:31.39\00:16:33.46
that a prophet is being
led by the Spirit of God?
00:16:33.49\00:16:38.46
Let's look at, Matthew 7:15-16.
00:16:38.49\00:16:41.93
And the Bible reads as follows.
00:16:41.96\00:16:45.20
Says, "Beware of,"
what kind of prophets?
00:16:45.23\00:16:47.60
"False prophets,
who come to you in,"
00:16:47.64\00:16:49.97
what kind of clothing?
00:16:50.01\00:16:51.94
"Sheep's clothing,"
00:16:51.97\00:16:53.94
they look very suspicious,
00:16:53.98\00:16:57.88
"But inwardly they
are," what kind of wolves?
00:16:57.91\00:17:00.82
"Ravenous wolves."
00:17:00.85\00:17:02.18
That means scary,
deadly, deadly wolves.
00:17:02.22\00:17:05.82
"You will know them,"
verse 16, "by their," what?
00:17:05.85\00:17:09.02
"You will know
them by their fruits."
00:17:09.06\00:17:10.93
So notice this,
this is important,
00:17:10.96\00:17:13.80
what are they not known by?
00:17:13.83\00:17:17.73
Okay.
00:17:17.77\00:17:19.10
What are they not known by?
00:17:19.13\00:17:20.47
You will know
them by their fruits.
00:17:23.51\00:17:25.04
What are they not known by?
00:17:25.07\00:17:28.91
Whoo!
00:17:28.94\00:17:30.35
If you know the
answer write me in.
00:17:30.38\00:17:32.71
What are they not known by?
00:17:32.75\00:17:34.38
I just gave you all
the answer before this.
00:17:34.42\00:17:37.59
What are they not identified by?
00:17:37.62\00:17:39.82
What did we just read in
1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
00:17:44.16\00:17:48.93
Okay, what are
they not known by?
00:17:48.96\00:17:50.30
The gifts.
00:17:50.33\00:17:51.67
They are not
known by their gifts.
00:17:51.70\00:17:53.74
They are known by their, what?
00:17:53.77\00:17:55.50
Fruits,
00:17:55.54\00:17:57.31
very important.
00:17:57.34\00:18:00.11
Very important.
00:18:00.14\00:18:02.58
We are not
identified by our gifts.
00:18:02.61\00:18:05.45
We are identified by our what?
00:18:05.48\00:18:07.85
Fruits.
00:18:07.88\00:18:09.22
By our fruits.
00:18:09.25\00:18:10.75
That's okay, Xenia.
00:18:10.79\00:18:12.12
We are identified by our fruits,
00:18:12.15\00:18:14.72
not by our gifts.
00:18:14.76\00:18:16.32
So the devil has created
this distraction by saying,
00:18:16.36\00:18:19.33
look for the gift of tongues
and then you'll know them.
00:18:19.36\00:18:22.60
The Lord says
look for the fruits.
00:18:22.63\00:18:25.53
Look for the fruits
00:18:25.57\00:18:27.54
'cause anybody
could duplicate stuff
00:18:27.57\00:18:29.24
but, you know, there's
one thing you can't duplicate.
00:18:29.27\00:18:31.41
You can't duplicate love,
00:18:31.44\00:18:33.68
joy, peace,
00:18:33.71\00:18:36.48
long-suffering, gentleness,
00:18:36.51\00:18:39.81
meekness, patience.
00:18:39.85\00:18:42.92
You can't.
00:18:42.95\00:18:44.85
You can't duplicate that.
00:18:44.89\00:18:46.96
Let's see why.
00:18:46.99\00:18:48.36
You're in Matthew, where?
00:18:48.39\00:18:50.23
Where are you? Matthew what?
00:18:50.26\00:18:51.99
Okay, let me go there with you.
00:18:52.03\00:18:53.60
Okay, look at Matthew 7.
00:18:53.63\00:18:56.53
And we just
read verse 15 and 16.
00:18:56.56\00:18:58.67
Now, we just read verse 15.
00:18:58.70\00:19:00.84
So the answer
is, how can we know
00:19:00.87\00:19:02.74
that a prophet is being
led by the Spirit of God?
00:19:02.77\00:19:05.47
What do we know
them by their what?
00:19:05.51\00:19:07.04
By their fruits,
not by their gifts.
00:19:07.08\00:19:09.28
Never by their gifts.
00:19:09.31\00:19:10.75
That's a dangerous thing
00:19:10.78\00:19:12.11
because people can
duplicate stuff and say,
00:19:12.15\00:19:13.48
hey, this church
is spirit filled why?
00:19:13.52\00:19:15.68
They all speak in tongues.
00:19:15.72\00:19:17.59
And by the way,
that kind of gift
00:19:17.62\00:19:19.45
is not a gift of confusion,
00:19:19.49\00:19:20.92
but a gift of communicating
the gospel to people
00:19:20.96\00:19:22.96
that don't understand
the gospel in your language.
00:19:22.99\00:19:26.36
That's why it's
called Pentecost.
00:19:26.39\00:19:28.66
On the day of
Pentecost, Acts Chapter 2,
00:19:28.70\00:19:31.40
the Galileans began
to speak in the languages
00:19:31.43\00:19:33.94
of all the people
gathered from around the world.
00:19:33.97\00:19:35.97
Read the story,
00:19:36.00\00:19:37.47
not confusion,
but clarification.
00:19:37.51\00:19:40.48
The gospel was
unconfused and it was clarified.
00:19:40.51\00:19:43.85
Now Matthew 7.
Is that what I said?
00:19:43.88\00:19:46.65
Look at verse 15.
00:19:46.68\00:19:48.18
That's why you
cannot duplicate this.
00:19:48.22\00:19:50.39
It cannot be done.
00:19:50.42\00:19:51.75
Here in Matthew 7:17.
00:19:51.79\00:19:55.12
All right, look what it says,
00:19:55.16\00:19:57.16
"Even so, every
good tree bears," what?
00:19:57.19\00:20:01.40
"Good fruit, but a
bad tree bears," what?
00:20:01.43\00:20:03.90
"Bad fruit." Now watch this.
00:20:03.93\00:20:05.50
What kind of fruit
does a bad tree bear?
00:20:05.53\00:20:08.40
Okay, what kind of
fruit does a good tree bear?
00:20:08.44\00:20:11.27
Okay, so it's a
rhetorical question.
00:20:11.31\00:20:14.44
Here's the point. Can a
bad tree bear good fruit?
00:20:14.48\00:20:18.18
Can a good tree bear bad fruit?
00:20:18.21\00:20:21.18
It's not confusing.
It's a very simple question.
00:20:21.22\00:20:23.69
I'm not gonna
try to confuse you.
00:20:23.72\00:20:25.05
Can you get good
fruits off of a bad tree?
00:20:25.09\00:20:28.12
No.
00:20:28.16\00:20:29.49
Can you get bad
fruits off of a good tree?
00:20:29.52\00:20:32.19
No. They think I'm
trying to trick them.
00:20:32.23\00:20:34.00
I'm not.
00:20:34.03\00:20:35.80
I'm just asking a
straightforward question.
00:20:35.83\00:20:37.50
Okay.
00:20:37.53\00:20:38.87
So if somebody is exhibiting
00:20:38.90\00:20:41.70
bad not vibes,
00:20:41.74\00:20:45.17
but as you examine that tree,
00:20:45.21\00:20:47.41
you see nothing but bad things.
00:20:47.44\00:20:50.81
Are they
connected to the good vine?
00:20:50.85\00:20:54.28
No. No.
00:20:54.32\00:20:55.65
But if you see love,
joy, peace, long-suffering,
00:20:55.68\00:20:58.89
gentleness, meekness,
patience, you probably say
00:20:58.92\00:21:02.42
what tree are they connected to?
00:21:02.46\00:21:06.59
Let's go to John Chapter 15.
00:21:06.63\00:21:08.40
Okay.
00:21:15.77\00:21:17.11
John 15.
00:21:21.74\00:21:23.24
Okay.
00:21:23.28\00:21:24.61
John Chapter 15.
00:21:29.55\00:21:32.39
And I'm gonna read verse 1-4.
00:21:32.42\00:21:34.82
Jesus says and this is by,
00:21:34.86\00:21:37.13
by the way, this is
the relationship chapter.
00:21:37.16\00:21:39.26
Relationship that
believer to Jesus.
00:21:39.29\00:21:42.13
"I am the vine, My
Father is the vinedresser.
00:21:42.16\00:21:45.77
Every branch in Me
that does not bear," what?
00:21:45.80\00:21:49.34
"Fruit." What does He do?
00:21:49.37\00:21:51.04
"He takes away."
00:21:51.07\00:21:52.41
So now get this. So which one?
00:21:52.44\00:21:54.98
Did He say every tree
00:21:55.01\00:21:56.51
that does not bear
gifts are taken away?
00:21:56.54\00:21:58.55
No.
00:21:58.58\00:21:59.91
No, but it says, every
tree that does not bear what?
00:21:59.95\00:22:01.68
Fruit, in other words, I
don't have any uses for you.
00:22:01.72\00:22:04.95
So the fruit is the
most important evidence
00:22:04.99\00:22:08.22
that the Lord can use you
00:22:08.26\00:22:10.63
that you can be a
blessing in the work of God.
00:22:10.66\00:22:14.00
If you're displaying the fruits,
00:22:14.03\00:22:15.60
okay, I could trust
them with the gifts.
00:22:15.63\00:22:18.60
But if their
fruits are not there,
00:22:18.63\00:22:20.27
the Father does what?
00:22:20.30\00:22:21.64
Kick it. No, we
can't use that individual.
00:22:21.67\00:22:24.34
That's why He says in verse 2,
00:22:24.37\00:22:26.37
"Every branch in Me
that does not bear fruit
00:22:26.41\00:22:28.44
He takes away, and every branch
00:22:28.48\00:22:30.35
that bear fruits He," does what?
00:22:30.38\00:22:33.25
"Prunes, that it
may bear more fruit."
00:22:33.28\00:22:36.18
Now let me pause
and say something.
00:22:36.22\00:22:39.85
Okay, how many of
you like to be pruned?
00:22:39.89\00:22:42.96
What's another word for prune?
00:22:42.99\00:22:45.49
Come on.
00:22:45.53\00:22:46.86
What do you do when
you prune something?
00:22:46.90\00:22:48.23
Cut. You cut.
00:22:48.26\00:22:50.97
You cut it back.
00:22:51.00\00:22:52.33
Oh, I was very upset one day
00:22:52.37\00:22:55.10
when the trees in front of 3ABN.
00:22:55.14\00:22:57.47
Huh? Yeah, on 3ABN front.
00:22:57.51\00:23:00.11
When One day I drove to 3ABN
00:23:00.14\00:23:01.74
and I saw a lot
of trucks outside
00:23:01.78\00:23:04.41
with big saws
00:23:04.45\00:23:05.78
and I saw all
these beautiful branches
00:23:05.81\00:23:08.12
on the ground.
00:23:08.15\00:23:09.48
I was so upset.
00:23:09.52\00:23:10.85
I said Danny,
00:23:10.89\00:23:14.39
there's somebody out
here cutting up the trees.
00:23:14.42\00:23:16.52
They're all bald-headed.
00:23:16.56\00:23:18.99
No, he said,
that's okay. That's okay.
00:23:19.03\00:23:21.60
I said, did you know about that?
00:23:21.63\00:23:23.03
The trees were bare.
00:23:23.06\00:23:24.90
He said they all
look wonderful next year.
00:23:24.93\00:23:28.87
They got pruned.
00:23:28.90\00:23:30.24
How do they look now?
00:23:30.27\00:23:32.64
They're coming along.
00:23:32.67\00:23:34.88
Now, here's the point.
00:23:34.91\00:23:36.41
When the Lord
prunes us, He prunes us
00:23:36.44\00:23:39.85
because He wants to
bring the best out in us.
00:23:39.88\00:23:42.35
And then He takes
His time and He takes it,
00:23:42.38\00:23:45.59
you're not gonna
get to where you were
00:23:45.62\00:23:47.06
before that quickly overnight.
00:23:47.09\00:23:49.19
That's why the term tree
and fruit are all used there.
00:23:49.22\00:23:52.99
When He prunes us.
00:23:53.03\00:23:54.86
In the course of time,
00:23:54.90\00:23:56.46
you're gonna see the
growth in a person's life.
00:23:56.50\00:23:59.27
But sometimes
He has to prune us.
00:23:59.30\00:24:01.74
Matter of fact, He
didn't say sometimes
00:24:01.77\00:24:03.94
He has to prune us.
00:24:03.97\00:24:05.37
It didn't say sometimes
00:24:05.41\00:24:06.78
it says, "When you
bear fruit, He prunes you
00:24:06.81\00:24:10.78
that you may
bear," how many fruit?
00:24:10.81\00:24:13.58
"More fruit."
00:24:13.62\00:24:14.95
So sometimes He
got to cut us up.
00:24:14.98\00:24:16.42
Sometimes He has to make sure
00:24:16.45\00:24:17.79
all too much stuff
in that person's life.
00:24:17.82\00:24:19.92
Pruning time.
00:24:19.95\00:24:21.96
Oh, good. More fruit show up.
00:24:21.99\00:24:23.73
And I tell you,
let me ask a question.
00:24:23.76\00:24:26.86
Now, if you get a wide shot,
00:24:26.90\00:24:28.23
how many of you
like to be pruned?
00:24:28.26\00:24:31.57
It's a painful process.
00:24:31.60\00:24:33.87
But let me go on to verse 4.
00:24:33.90\00:24:36.34
This is the reason.
00:24:36.37\00:24:38.91
Verse 4 and 5.
00:24:38.94\00:24:41.14
"Abide in Me, and I in you.
00:24:41.18\00:24:44.38
As the branch
00:24:44.41\00:24:46.51
cannot bear fruit of itself,
00:24:46.55\00:24:50.35
unless it abides in the vine,
00:24:50.39\00:24:53.96
neither can you,
00:24:53.99\00:24:55.46
unless you abide in Me."
00:24:55.49\00:24:58.49
So we might have
a lot of good things
00:24:58.53\00:25:00.10
that we could do,
but that's not fruit,
00:25:00.13\00:25:02.73
those are gifts.
00:25:02.76\00:25:05.00
And verse 5.
00:25:05.03\00:25:07.00
Let's read that together.
00:25:07.04\00:25:08.37
"I am the vine,
you are the branches.
00:25:08.40\00:25:11.97
He who abides in Me,
and I in him bears," what?
00:25:12.01\00:25:15.21
"Much fruit, for
without Me you can do," what?
00:25:15.24\00:25:19.25
"Nothing."
00:25:19.28\00:25:20.62
And verse 6 is kind of a,
00:25:20.65\00:25:23.02
an ominous but very,
very necessary verse.
00:25:23.05\00:25:25.52
"If anyone does not abide in Me,
00:25:25.55\00:25:27.72
he is cast out as a
branch and his withered."
00:25:27.76\00:25:31.83
I have a lot of
those on my lawn right now.
00:25:31.86\00:25:34.43
"And they gather them
and throw them into the fire,
00:25:34.46\00:25:37.70
and they are burned."
00:25:37.73\00:25:39.07
Often I invite
one of the guys here
00:25:39.10\00:25:40.64
named Larry to come out.
00:25:40.67\00:25:42.00
He's a good, he
knows how to burn branches.
00:25:42.04\00:25:44.74
And he knows how to
keep it under control.
00:25:44.77\00:25:47.14
But when there's
nothing growing on them
00:25:47.18\00:25:49.48
when you see nothing but death,
00:25:49.51\00:25:51.21
he says I can use them.
00:25:51.25\00:25:54.22
Gather them off.
00:25:54.25\00:25:55.58
So that's why it's important
when you look for the person
00:25:55.62\00:25:57.59
that is saying that
they are prophet of God.
00:25:57.62\00:25:59.75
What do you know
them by? Don't know.
00:25:59.79\00:26:02.69
Don't make me do
this, it is already big,
00:26:02.72\00:26:04.79
you know them by their?
00:26:04.83\00:26:06.16
Fruits. By their fruits.
00:26:06.19\00:26:07.53
Let's go to number 23.
00:26:07.56\00:26:09.66
And by the way I
should have gone further.
00:26:09.70\00:26:12.10
It says, "Do men gather
grapes from thorn bushes
00:26:12.13\00:26:14.14
or figs from thistles?"
00:26:14.17\00:26:15.50
And the answer
is absolutely what?
00:26:15.54\00:26:17.04
Absolutely not.
00:26:17.07\00:26:18.47
Question number 23,
00:26:18.51\00:26:20.28
"What promise has
the Lord made to those
00:26:20.31\00:26:22.21
that follow his instructions?"
00:26:22.24\00:26:24.41
He made promises.
00:26:24.45\00:26:25.78
When we grab those promises,
when we embrace those promises.
00:26:25.81\00:26:28.62
Then we see the benefits of it.
00:26:28.65\00:26:30.15
2 Chronicles
20:20. 2 Chronicles 20:20.
00:26:30.19\00:26:34.66
All right, here it is.
00:26:38.86\00:26:40.30
"So they rose
early in the morning
00:26:44.90\00:26:48.60
and went out into
the Wilderness of Tekoa,
00:26:48.64\00:26:52.11
and as they went out,
00:26:52.14\00:26:53.84
Jehoshaphat stood and said,
00:26:53.88\00:26:56.48
'Hear me, O Judah
00:26:56.51\00:26:58.81
and you
inhabitants of Jerusalem."
00:26:58.85\00:27:01.72
Here's what he said,
00:27:01.75\00:27:03.69
"Believe in the Lord your
God, and you shall be," what?
00:27:03.72\00:27:07.26
"You shall be established,
believe in His prophets,
00:27:07.29\00:27:11.33
and you shall," what?
00:27:11.36\00:27:12.69
"Prosper."
00:27:12.73\00:27:14.06
What promise has
the Lord made to those
00:27:14.10\00:27:15.43
that follow His instruction?
00:27:15.46\00:27:17.30
Two things.
00:27:17.33\00:27:19.03
You have
prosperity, believe in Lord,
00:27:19.07\00:27:20.74
you'll be established.
00:27:20.77\00:27:22.10
Believe in His
prophets you will what?
00:27:22.14\00:27:23.54
Prosper.
00:27:23.57\00:27:24.91
You can't separate
one from the other.
00:27:24.94\00:27:27.18
Prosperity and
establishment go hand in hand.
00:27:27.21\00:27:31.41
And by the way,
the word prosper there
00:27:31.45\00:27:34.25
doesn't mean prosperity
in the sense of financial,
00:27:34.28\00:27:38.69
you know, your backyard
00:27:38.72\00:27:40.06
with nothing
but gold bars in it.
00:27:40.09\00:27:41.62
That's not what it means.
00:27:41.66\00:27:43.46
Let me show you what it means.
Let's go to Psalm Chapter 1.
00:27:43.49\00:27:45.53
Because people, that
text has been often used
00:27:49.23\00:27:52.00
to forecast the
prosperity gospel,
00:27:52.03\00:27:54.67
which has twisted
people's understanding
00:27:54.70\00:27:56.20
of what that means.
00:27:56.24\00:27:57.67
All right.
00:27:57.71\00:27:59.24
Okay.
00:27:59.27\00:28:01.44
Wow, hmm.
00:28:01.48\00:28:03.45
Thank you, Lord Jesus,
00:28:03.48\00:28:04.81
you know, I was not even
thinking along these lines.
00:28:04.85\00:28:08.15
And as I mentioned that passage,
00:28:08.18\00:28:10.02
the Lord said,
00:28:10.05\00:28:12.95
explain it with this passage.
00:28:12.99\00:28:16.46
Psalm 1,
00:28:16.49\00:28:18.33
Blessed is the
man that who walks
00:28:18.36\00:28:20.56
not in the
counsel of the ungodly,
00:28:20.60\00:28:23.43
nor stands in the
path of way of sinners,
00:28:23.47\00:28:26.57
nor sits in the
seat of the scornful
00:28:26.60\00:28:30.21
but his delight is
in the law of the Lord.
00:28:30.24\00:28:34.21
And in His law he
meditates," how often?
00:28:34.24\00:28:36.98
"Day and night."
00:28:37.01\00:28:38.35
Now watch this, the
language is beautiful.
00:28:38.38\00:28:40.55
"He shall be like a tree
00:28:40.58\00:28:43.72
planted by the rivers of waters,
00:28:43.75\00:28:46.29
that brings forth
its fruit in it season,
00:28:46.32\00:28:49.39
whose leaf also
shall not wither,
00:28:49.42\00:28:51.99
and whatever he
does shall prosper."
00:28:52.03\00:28:56.83
That means when you work
for the Lord, when you are,
00:28:56.87\00:28:59.40
when you are
following in the way,
00:28:59.43\00:29:01.57
in the footsteps of the Lord,
00:29:01.60\00:29:03.00
he says,
00:29:03.04\00:29:05.54
and by the way,
00:29:05.57\00:29:06.91
when trees are by the water,
00:29:06.94\00:29:08.64
you don't have to water them.
00:29:08.68\00:29:12.41
Am I right?
00:29:12.45\00:29:14.42
When weeds are by the water,
00:29:14.45\00:29:16.08
you don't have to water them,
00:29:16.12\00:29:17.89
they just grow up.
00:29:17.92\00:29:19.25
But trees,
00:29:19.29\00:29:20.62
some of the
largest trees in the world
00:29:20.66\00:29:22.56
are sometimes their roots
00:29:22.59\00:29:24.59
when a tree is not too far from,
00:29:24.63\00:29:26.13
it's amazing how the
roots have this ability
00:29:26.16\00:29:29.56
God has given it to it.
00:29:29.60\00:29:31.13
When roots are down,
you know, what roots do?
00:29:31.17\00:29:34.00
They look for water.
00:29:34.04\00:29:35.37
Say it again.
They look for water.
00:29:35.40\00:29:36.74
They look for water.
00:29:36.77\00:29:38.11
They're like...
00:29:38.14\00:29:39.47
I found it.
00:29:43.45\00:29:44.78
That's why they're like,
00:29:44.81\00:29:46.15
like veins.
00:29:46.18\00:29:47.52
They're looking for water.
00:29:47.55\00:29:48.88
Because they know the only way
that they're gonna be sustained
00:29:48.92\00:29:51.09
is if they get some water.
00:29:51.12\00:29:53.59
Don't forget that,
00:29:53.62\00:29:54.96
Jesus said He's
the water of life,
00:29:54.99\00:29:56.32
the only way that
we can be sustained
00:29:56.36\00:29:57.79
and that's the
kind of prosperity.
00:29:57.83\00:29:59.93
You will be like a tree.
00:29:59.96\00:30:01.83
You'll bring forth your fruit
00:30:01.86\00:30:03.63
in its season.
00:30:03.67\00:30:05.00
Your leaves will not wither.
00:30:05.03\00:30:07.54
The other day...
00:30:07.57\00:30:11.04
It's so sad, you know,
00:30:11.07\00:30:12.41
when you buy
roses, they're so pretty.
00:30:12.44\00:30:14.38
But, you know,
what happens with roses.
00:30:14.41\00:30:17.45
They are nice the
first day you get them.
00:30:17.48\00:30:19.38
They're nice the second day.
00:30:19.41\00:30:21.58
They're
00:30:21.62\00:30:24.65
not so nice the third day.
00:30:24.69\00:30:27.46
The fourth day is like
00:30:27.49\00:30:29.42
somebody give them water.
00:30:29.46\00:30:32.16
And after a
while you can give them
00:30:32.19\00:30:33.53
all the water in the world.
00:30:33.56\00:30:35.16
They're just like,
00:30:35.20\00:30:36.53
you know, why?
00:30:39.70\00:30:41.04
Because they have been severed
00:30:41.07\00:30:43.04
from the vine.
00:30:43.07\00:30:44.71
There's nothing
flowing through them.
00:30:44.74\00:30:48.51
The sap is no longer there.
00:30:48.54\00:30:50.21
And it is amazing.
00:30:50.25\00:30:53.62
Now I give my wife flowers
00:30:53.65\00:30:56.45
and I gave her
some beautiful roses
00:30:56.48\00:30:59.65
but it's an amazing thing,
00:30:59.69\00:31:01.26
how there's a multi-million
or billion-dollar industry
00:31:01.29\00:31:05.29
that makes money off of
severing things from life.
00:31:05.33\00:31:11.33
But you can't do that,
00:31:11.37\00:31:12.70
a Christian cannot
be severed from Christ
00:31:12.73\00:31:15.30
and still have life.
00:31:15.34\00:31:16.87
You might look good for a while.
00:31:16.91\00:31:21.64
But after a while,
00:31:21.68\00:31:24.35
what happened to
him? What happened to her?
00:31:24.38\00:31:26.68
Severed.
00:31:26.72\00:31:28.48
And what happens after a while?
00:31:28.52\00:31:30.19
They die.
00:31:30.22\00:31:31.55
Say it again. They die.
00:31:31.59\00:31:32.92
They die.
00:31:32.95\00:31:34.29
Severed from Christ,
00:31:34.32\00:31:35.66
you cannot, it's not possible.
00:31:35.69\00:31:37.59
Because He says,
00:31:37.63\00:31:38.96
without Me you can do how much?
00:31:38.99\00:31:40.80
You can't do anything.
00:31:40.83\00:31:43.73
So prosperity and establishment
00:31:43.77\00:31:46.47
is where the Spirit of
God is working in our lives.
00:31:46.50\00:31:49.27
Let's go to the
next one, number 24.
00:31:49.30\00:31:51.67
Can't do anything
00:31:51.71\00:31:53.04
without the Spirit
of God in your life.
00:31:53.07\00:31:54.41
It's just not
possible. It doesn't work.
00:31:54.44\00:31:56.58
It will not work.
00:31:56.61\00:31:58.38
Because He's the vine
00:31:58.41\00:32:00.92
and we are the branches.
00:32:00.95\00:32:02.72
Okay, question number 24.
00:32:02.75\00:32:05.12
"How do we know
00:32:05.15\00:32:06.55
that the gift of
prophecy is still active?"
00:32:06.59\00:32:09.32
How do we know that
the gift of prophecy
00:32:09.36\00:32:11.09
is still active?
00:32:11.13\00:32:12.46
And there's a reason
I'm asking this question.
00:32:12.49\00:32:14.33
We'll see it as
we get closer down
00:32:14.36\00:32:15.76
to the lesson.
00:32:15.80\00:32:17.13
Because the gift of
prophecy is a very powerful gift
00:32:17.17\00:32:19.77
that the Lord is given.
00:32:19.80\00:32:22.37
When you read 1
Corinthians Chapter 14,
00:32:22.40\00:32:27.34
okay, let's just go there
and peek at it real quickly.
00:32:27.38\00:32:30.48
Okay, I'll do it right
after answer the question.
00:32:30.51\00:32:32.48
Right after we
answer the question.
00:32:32.51\00:32:33.92
How do we know that the gift
of prophecy is still active?
00:32:33.95\00:32:36.05
Let's go to 1 Corinthians 12:28.
00:32:36.08\00:32:39.49
All right.
00:32:39.52\00:32:41.06
Because remember, I was
telling you a moment ago
00:32:41.09\00:32:43.32
when we went
through the list of gifts.
00:32:43.36\00:32:46.63
We said okay,
the gifts are great,
00:32:46.66\00:32:48.50
but if the gifts are
not accompanied by love,
00:32:48.53\00:32:51.27
it's of no value.
00:32:51.30\00:32:52.63
And then 1
Corinthians Chapter 12,
00:32:52.67\00:32:54.14
ended by saying,
00:32:54.17\00:32:55.50
but earnestly
desire the best gifts.
00:32:55.54\00:32:58.94
Yet, I show you a
more excellent way.
00:32:58.97\00:33:01.24
And we're gonna
see that come back
00:33:01.28\00:33:02.81
'cause after Paul takes it,
00:33:02.84\00:33:04.41
after Paul takes a little turn,
00:33:04.45\00:33:06.18
to show us how
important it is for love
00:33:06.21\00:33:07.88
to be actively
involved in everything,
00:33:07.92\00:33:10.09
as the evidence that
you are connected to Christ.
00:33:10.12\00:33:12.55
Then he comes back,
00:33:12.59\00:33:14.09
he connects
Chapter 12 to Chapter 14,
00:33:14.12\00:33:17.13
by continuing the last verse
00:33:17.16\00:33:19.49
with the first
verse in Chapter 14,
00:33:19.53\00:33:21.33
but don't turn there
00:33:21.36\00:33:22.70
because we're
sneaking up on you.
00:33:22.73\00:33:24.90
Here's what the Bible says,
00:33:24.93\00:33:26.27
how do we know that the gift...?
00:33:26.30\00:33:27.64
How do we know that
the gift of prophecy
00:33:27.67\00:33:29.10
is still active?
00:33:29.14\00:33:30.47
The apostle says it this way,
00:33:30.51\00:33:31.84
"And God has
appointed these in the church:
00:33:31.87\00:33:35.04
first apostles,
00:33:35.08\00:33:37.75
second prophets,
00:33:37.78\00:33:39.41
third teachers,
00:33:39.45\00:33:40.78
after that miracles,
00:33:40.82\00:33:42.45
then gifts of healings, helps,
00:33:42.48\00:33:45.42
administrations," and what else?
00:33:45.45\00:33:47.22
"Varieties of tongues."
00:33:47.26\00:33:48.59
Do you see the word
prophecy in there anywhere?
00:33:48.62\00:33:50.93
Is it easy to see it?
00:33:50.96\00:33:52.43
Yeah.
00:33:52.46\00:33:53.80
So do we know
00:33:53.83\00:33:55.16
He put these in the church?
00:33:55.20\00:33:56.73
Where did He put these?
00:33:56.77\00:33:58.67
And the church was established
00:33:58.70\00:34:01.37
after Jesus ascended to heaven.
00:34:01.40\00:34:05.47
He established the church.
00:34:05.51\00:34:07.48
That's why you have
the church of Ephesus,
00:34:07.51\00:34:09.48
in the seven
churches, the church,
00:34:09.51\00:34:11.68
He sent the disciples out.
00:34:11.71\00:34:14.12
He sent the disciples out
and on the day of Pentecost,
00:34:14.15\00:34:17.29
thousands were added,
00:34:17.32\00:34:18.65
I think 3000
were added, then 5000.
00:34:18.69\00:34:21.42
And then the church clerk
said, multitudes were added,
00:34:21.46\00:34:24.69
and they were all
and the Bible says,
00:34:24.73\00:34:26.13
the Lord added
to the church daily
00:34:26.16\00:34:28.56
those who are being saved.
00:34:28.60\00:34:30.07
So when He got
the church together,
00:34:30.10\00:34:31.67
He had to have
functions in the church,
00:34:31.70\00:34:33.74
apostles,
prophets, teachers, miracles,
00:34:33.77\00:34:36.00
gifts of healings,
helps, administrations,
00:34:36.04\00:34:37.97
and varieties of tongues.
00:34:38.01\00:34:39.97
That means
varieties of languages.
00:34:40.01\00:34:41.81
And so our church right now
00:34:41.84\00:34:43.18
we have a work in
about 231 or 221 countries
00:34:43.21\00:34:47.25
of the world.
00:34:47.28\00:34:48.62
Would that be
considered varieties of tongues?
00:34:48.65\00:34:50.52
Of course.
00:34:50.55\00:34:51.89
But now, the difference
on the day of Pentecost was,
00:34:51.92\00:34:54.69
these men were
only from Galilee,
00:34:54.72\00:34:56.93
they could not speak
Parthian, Median, Elamite,
00:34:56.96\00:34:59.79
and Mesopotamia, and Egyptian,
00:34:59.83\00:35:01.96
and sorry they
couldn't speak Arabian.
00:35:02.00\00:35:03.80
So on the day of
Pentecost, Acts Chapter 2,
00:35:03.83\00:35:06.27
immediately the
Lord incorporated in them
00:35:06.30\00:35:10.91
a four-year degree
00:35:10.94\00:35:12.47
in language arts.
00:35:12.51\00:35:15.18
And can God do that?
00:35:15.21\00:35:17.25
And He did that through who?
00:35:17.28\00:35:19.48
The outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
00:35:19.51\00:35:22.25
So powerful was it
00:35:22.28\00:35:23.72
that the Bible described
it as cloven tongues of fire.
00:35:23.75\00:35:28.19
These men were
consumed by that power
00:35:28.22\00:35:30.59
and only then could
they have been gifted
00:35:30.63\00:35:33.56
with the accomplishments.
00:35:33.60\00:35:34.93
So the Lord gave prophets
00:35:34.96\00:35:37.70
and He put them in the church.
00:35:37.73\00:35:39.87
And the church does have that.
00:35:39.90\00:35:41.70
That gift is still active.
00:35:41.74\00:35:43.07
Now I told you,
00:35:43.10\00:35:44.44
we're gonna go to 1
Corinthians Chapter 12.
00:35:44.47\00:35:46.91
Look at verse 31.
00:35:46.94\00:35:48.94
1 Corinthians 12:31.
00:35:48.98\00:35:52.31
All right.
00:35:52.35\00:35:53.68
And look what the apostle says.
00:35:56.82\00:36:00.86
But earnestly desire
00:36:00.89\00:36:03.43
what kind of gifts?
00:36:03.46\00:36:04.89
Best gifts and yet I
show you a more excellent way.
00:36:04.93\00:36:07.60
Then he takes a
turn, a right turn,
00:36:07.63\00:36:09.50
couldn't be a left one
because He's talking about love
00:36:09.53\00:36:12.03
and talks about
the importance of love.
00:36:12.07\00:36:14.14
Everything fails
but love never fails.
00:36:14.17\00:36:17.14
Then look at
verse 1 of chapter 14.
00:36:17.17\00:36:19.37
He continues the thought
00:36:19.41\00:36:20.84
that he ended Chapter 12 with.
00:36:20.88\00:36:22.88
Notice Chapter 12,
00:36:22.91\00:36:24.25
"But earnestly
desire the best gifts."
00:36:24.28\00:36:25.61
Now Chapter 14 verse 1,
00:36:25.65\00:36:27.18
"Pursue love,"
get that in place,
00:36:27.22\00:36:29.82
"and desire,"
what kind of gifts?
00:36:29.85\00:36:32.05
"Spiritual gifts,
00:36:32.09\00:36:33.42
but especially
that you may," what?
00:36:33.46\00:36:36.22
"Prophesy."
00:36:36.26\00:36:37.59
Especially,
00:36:37.63\00:36:39.29
now watch this.
00:36:39.33\00:36:40.66
You got to get
this. Are you ready?
00:36:40.70\00:36:42.90
The devil would
say wait a minute.
00:36:42.93\00:36:44.83
He says something about prophecy
00:36:44.87\00:36:47.04
especially that you may prophesy
00:36:47.07\00:36:50.54
because that gift
pulls the curtain back
00:36:50.57\00:36:55.18
on what's coming up.
00:36:55.21\00:36:57.45
None of the other gifts
00:36:57.48\00:36:59.11
pulls back the
curtains on the future
00:36:59.15\00:37:02.22
except that gift.
00:37:02.25\00:37:06.92
So if you were the enemy,
00:37:06.96\00:37:09.12
you would say, huh,
00:37:09.16\00:37:11.19
he said, especially
00:37:11.23\00:37:13.26
that you may prophesy
00:37:13.29\00:37:14.66
and while the word prophesy
00:37:14.70\00:37:16.56
has a two prong meaning,
00:37:16.60\00:37:18.20
one preach
00:37:18.23\00:37:19.77
and then also proclaim,
00:37:19.80\00:37:21.80
or show,
00:37:21.84\00:37:23.27
or reveal,
00:37:23.30\00:37:24.84
the devil focus on
that particular gift.
00:37:24.87\00:37:27.38
Okay, we'll see
that in just a moment.
00:37:27.41\00:37:29.04
Make a little note of that.
00:37:29.08\00:37:30.41
Make a little note of that
00:37:30.45\00:37:31.78
because the devil
doesn't want that gift
00:37:31.81\00:37:33.15
to be active.
00:37:33.18\00:37:34.52
If that, if he could keep
that gift from being active,
00:37:34.55\00:37:37.05
then he could successfully
cause the church to be hindered
00:37:37.09\00:37:40.62
in being able to
effectively accomplish
00:37:40.66\00:37:43.06
your work that includes
00:37:43.09\00:37:45.03
the presence of prophets.
00:37:45.06\00:37:48.66
When you have
prophets, you have what else?
00:37:48.70\00:37:51.67
Prophecy.
00:37:51.70\00:37:53.03
When you have
prophets, you have what else?
00:37:53.07\00:37:55.04
Prophecy,
00:37:55.07\00:37:56.40
cannot have one
without the other
00:37:56.44\00:37:58.37
and the devil
never like prophets.
00:37:58.41\00:38:00.28
Matter of fact,
00:38:00.31\00:38:01.64
when you read the Book
of Acts Chapter 7 and 8,
00:38:01.68\00:38:03.75
when Peter was, when
Stephen was being stoned,
00:38:03.78\00:38:06.61
one statement he made,
00:38:06.65\00:38:08.35
which of the prophets
00:38:08.38\00:38:10.32
have you not
persecuted or stoned?
00:38:10.35\00:38:13.99
Why would the
devil stone prophets?
00:38:14.02\00:38:16.62
Because they always
kept the people of God ahead.
00:38:16.66\00:38:20.36
And then Amos 3:7,
00:38:20.40\00:38:22.16
"Surely the Lord
God will do nothing,
00:38:22.20\00:38:24.73
except He revealed His secrets
00:38:24.77\00:38:27.24
to His servants, the prophets."
00:38:27.27\00:38:29.54
So the devil
says, wait a minute,
00:38:29.57\00:38:30.94
they know something
that our team does not know.
00:38:30.97\00:38:35.64
Do you remember
the story of Elijah?
00:38:35.68\00:38:37.75
Elijah always knew
what the Syrians were doing.
00:38:37.78\00:38:40.78
And the Syrian
leader, king said,
00:38:40.82\00:38:44.45
"Which one of you guys
00:38:44.49\00:38:46.55
are telling the
secrets in our chambers?
00:38:46.59\00:38:49.16
Which one of you guys
are leaking all the secrets?"
00:38:49.19\00:38:51.59
And then it says, not us, lord.
00:38:51.63\00:38:53.86
But the prophet from Samaria,
00:38:57.93\00:38:59.87
he's the one doing it.
00:38:59.90\00:39:01.24
He even knows
what you think about
00:39:01.27\00:39:02.70
when you're in
your bed chambers.
00:39:02.74\00:39:05.11
"Where is he?"
00:39:05.14\00:39:06.54
He's in Samaria.
00:39:06.57\00:39:07.91
"Go, get him."
00:39:07.94\00:39:09.51
Worst thing
they could have done?
00:39:09.54\00:39:11.55
Elijah said, "Lord,
00:39:11.58\00:39:12.91
they can't really see very well.
00:39:12.95\00:39:14.52
They know where I am.
00:39:14.55\00:39:16.02
But you know where they are."
00:39:16.05\00:39:18.29
And then the
servant of the Lord,
00:39:18.32\00:39:19.82
Gehazi I think his
name was, he was so nervous.
00:39:19.85\00:39:22.09
He said, "At last
master, what shall we do?"
00:39:22.12\00:39:26.49
And the master said,
"Lord, open his eyes."
00:39:26.53\00:39:30.20
Because the prophet has eyesight
00:39:30.23\00:39:32.97
that no one else has.
00:39:33.00\00:39:34.64
And when the Lord
opened Gehazi's eyes,
00:39:34.67\00:39:36.57
he saw all around the mountain,
00:39:36.60\00:39:39.57
chariots of fire, radiating,
00:39:39.61\00:39:44.05
just radiating,
00:39:44.08\00:39:46.65
like a digital
army of destruction,
00:39:46.68\00:39:48.95
and the Syrians didn't see it,
00:39:48.98\00:39:50.52
and then he says, blind them.
00:39:50.55\00:39:52.89
And immediately
00:39:52.92\00:39:54.32
what good is an
army that cannot see?
00:39:54.36\00:39:56.69
Of no value.
00:39:56.73\00:39:58.06
But the devil was
upset with the prophets
00:39:58.09\00:39:59.46
and that's why
all through the ages,
00:39:59.49\00:40:01.26
he always comes after that gift.
00:40:01.30\00:40:03.60
That's why even
in the last days,
00:40:03.63\00:40:04.97
he's trying to discount
the action of this gift.
00:40:05.00\00:40:07.90
Because this gift
00:40:07.94\00:40:09.40
gives you a picture
00:40:09.44\00:40:11.41
that no one else can give
00:40:11.44\00:40:12.87
because the Lord does not reveal
00:40:12.91\00:40:14.34
His secrets to anybody
00:40:14.38\00:40:15.94
but His servants, the prophets.
00:40:15.98\00:40:19.65
Clear.
00:40:19.68\00:40:21.02
Let's go to the next one.
00:40:21.05\00:40:22.38
"Is the gift of prophecy
00:40:26.35\00:40:28.29
intended to replace the Bible?"
00:40:28.32\00:40:30.26
Right?
00:40:33.60\00:40:35.86
Okay, let's go back
to, let's look at that,
00:40:35.90\00:40:37.93
Ephesians 4:11.
00:40:37.97\00:40:40.77
Is the gift of prophecy
00:40:40.80\00:40:43.27
intended to replace the Bible?
00:40:43.30\00:40:47.58
Ephesians 4:11.
00:40:47.61\00:40:50.78
And look at what it says.
00:40:53.78\00:40:56.99
"And He Himself
gave some to be," what?
00:40:57.02\00:41:00.46
"Apostles," somewhat else,
00:41:00.49\00:41:02.62
"prophets," somewhat else,
00:41:02.66\00:41:04.29
"evangelists," somewhat else,
00:41:04.33\00:41:06.13
"pastors," somewhat else,
00:41:06.16\00:41:07.50
"teachers."
00:41:07.53\00:41:08.86
Notice, he really
equipped the church.
00:41:08.90\00:41:11.33
He gave apostles,
prophets, pastors, teachers,
00:41:11.37\00:41:14.14
all these administrators, helps.
00:41:14.17\00:41:16.10
And then now Paul continues,
00:41:16.14\00:41:17.87
he not only gave
apostles and prophets,
00:41:17.91\00:41:19.37
but evangelists,
pastors, teachers,
00:41:19.41\00:41:22.18
the church is fully equipped.
00:41:22.21\00:41:24.78
But now an evangelist
00:41:24.81\00:41:27.25
and a pastor,
00:41:27.28\00:41:28.65
they proclaim,
they teach God's Word.
00:41:28.68\00:41:31.49
Did He say He
only gave prophets?
00:41:31.52\00:41:33.66
No,
00:41:33.69\00:41:35.02
He gave some
00:41:35.06\00:41:36.89
to carry the gospel,
00:41:36.93\00:41:39.56
given insight
into what's coming up,
00:41:39.59\00:41:41.86
evangelist that
are raking them in,
00:41:41.90\00:41:46.43
calling on the sheep.
00:41:46.47\00:41:48.30
And then pastors,
00:41:48.34\00:41:50.71
then pastors,
00:41:50.74\00:41:52.27
He made sure that
somebody to shepherd them
00:41:52.31\00:41:54.44
to keep them there.
00:41:54.48\00:41:55.81
And then teachers,
00:41:55.84\00:41:57.31
there's some people
that have the tremendous gift
00:41:57.35\00:41:58.81
of teaching.
00:41:58.85\00:42:00.18
Well, there's some people that
have all three of these gifts.
00:42:00.22\00:42:01.88
Honestly,
00:42:01.92\00:42:03.25
I'm not bragging on
myself, but I love evangelism,
00:42:03.28\00:42:06.39
pastoring, and I love to teach.
00:42:06.42\00:42:08.86
Singing. Singing?
00:42:08.89\00:42:11.09
You know,
00:42:11.13\00:42:12.46
but as one dear
pastor said to me,
00:42:12.49\00:42:15.50
if God gives you another gift,
00:42:15.53\00:42:17.43
He doesn't
deactivate the others.
00:42:17.47\00:42:19.57
He makes you
responsible for all of them.
00:42:19.60\00:42:22.14
Boy, what a responsibility.
00:42:22.17\00:42:23.97
So He gave some,
let's put this down.
00:42:24.01\00:42:25.71
Is the gift of prophecy
intended to replace the Bible?
00:42:25.74\00:42:28.98
Put a two letter word.
00:42:29.01\00:42:31.45
No, not at all.
00:42:31.48\00:42:34.55
Na. Na, I like that.
00:42:34.58\00:42:35.92
NA, put NA, not applicable,
00:42:35.95\00:42:38.89
not at all.
00:42:38.92\00:42:40.26
But let's continue
because the very next one,
00:42:40.29\00:42:42.89
the very next
one brings this out.
00:42:42.92\00:42:46.73
Here it is.
00:42:46.76\00:42:48.10
"What is the purpose of all
00:42:48.13\00:42:49.46
of the gifts of
the Holy Spirit?"
00:42:49.50\00:42:51.57
What is the purpose?
00:42:51.60\00:42:53.67
Ephesians 4:12.
00:42:53.70\00:42:56.81
You already there,
00:42:56.84\00:42:58.17
Ephesians 4:12.
00:42:58.21\00:43:02.14
Here it is.
00:43:02.18\00:43:03.51
Let's read that together.
00:43:03.55\00:43:04.88
It's on the screen, it says,
00:43:04.91\00:43:06.25
"For the equipping of the saints
00:43:06.28\00:43:08.75
for the work of ministry,
00:43:08.78\00:43:10.95
for the edifying of
the body of Christ."
00:43:10.99\00:43:13.69
You know, what edify means?
00:43:13.72\00:43:15.76
Building up.
00:43:15.79\00:43:17.99
Building up.
00:43:18.03\00:43:19.49
That means the body
of Christ can be strong.
00:43:19.53\00:43:23.30
If the saints that are equipped,
00:43:23.33\00:43:26.47
now get involved in
the work of ministry,
00:43:26.50\00:43:30.37
see He doesn't
give all these gifts
00:43:30.41\00:43:32.04
for there to be
a sedentary church.
00:43:32.07\00:43:34.11
He gives all these
for the work of what?
00:43:34.14\00:43:36.85
For the work of what?
00:43:36.88\00:43:38.61
Okay, so what's the name?
00:43:38.65\00:43:39.98
What's the name of the
minister of this church?
00:43:40.02\00:43:43.59
Hmm?
00:43:43.62\00:43:45.75
What's the
minister's name of this church?
00:43:45.79\00:43:50.19
Say again,
00:43:50.23\00:43:51.69
oh, they were smarter.
00:43:51.73\00:43:54.10
Whatever your name is.
00:43:54.13\00:43:56.50
That's the name of the minister.
00:43:56.53\00:43:58.70
Every one of us
is called a minister.
00:43:58.73\00:44:00.80
I'm calling pastoral
ministry, evangelistic ministry,
00:44:00.84\00:44:04.01
teaching ministry,
00:44:04.04\00:44:05.37
you call for different ministry,
00:44:05.41\00:44:07.08
but everybody that
has been called of God.
00:44:07.11\00:44:09.68
Let's go to Ephesians 2.
00:44:09.71\00:44:11.98
Go back a few chapters.
00:44:12.01\00:44:14.72
Ephesians Chapter 2.
00:44:14.75\00:44:17.82
Here I am.
00:44:17.85\00:44:21.16
Okay.
00:44:21.19\00:44:23.36
Ephesians Chapter 2.
00:44:23.39\00:44:24.76
Here it is.
00:44:27.76\00:44:29.16
Verse 8,
00:44:29.20\00:44:30.53
"For by grace
00:44:30.57\00:44:31.90
are you saved through," what?
00:44:31.93\00:44:34.27
"Faith, and that
not of yourselves,
00:44:34.30\00:44:36.20
it is the gift of God."
00:44:36.24\00:44:38.81
Now notice when Paul was putting
00:44:38.84\00:44:40.18
all the gifts together.
00:44:40.21\00:44:42.18
The gift of God.
00:44:42.21\00:44:44.81
I want you to say this,
00:44:44.85\00:44:46.18
salvation is the gift of God,
00:44:46.21\00:44:48.48
not a gift of God but the gift.
00:44:48.52\00:44:52.35
Before you
recognize what gifts you have,
00:44:52.39\00:44:54.42
you get the gift.
00:44:54.46\00:44:56.52
Salvation is the
gift, like the Sabbath,
00:44:56.56\00:44:59.33
the seventh day is the Sabbath,
00:44:59.36\00:45:01.60
not a Sabbath?
00:45:01.63\00:45:02.96
It's talking
about the exclusiveness
00:45:03.00\00:45:04.67
of that gift.
00:45:04.70\00:45:06.03
Salvation is the gift of God.
00:45:06.07\00:45:09.54
And notice what
it says in verse 9,
00:45:09.57\00:45:11.67
"Not of works, "
00:45:11.71\00:45:13.48
you can't do anything to get it,
00:45:13.51\00:45:15.08
"lest anyone should boast."
00:45:15.11\00:45:17.08
But it didn't stop there.
00:45:17.11\00:45:18.45
We're talking about ministry.
00:45:18.48\00:45:19.81
The word right here in
Ephesians 4:12 is ministry.
00:45:19.85\00:45:22.15
And notice verse 10.
00:45:22.18\00:45:24.45
"For we are His workmanship,"
00:45:24.49\00:45:27.49
meaning He molded us,
00:45:27.52\00:45:28.86
He put us together,
00:45:28.89\00:45:30.23
"created in
Christ Jesus for," what?
00:45:30.26\00:45:32.89
"For good works,
00:45:32.93\00:45:34.26
which God prepared beforehand
00:45:34.30\00:45:36.97
that we should walk in them."
00:45:37.00\00:45:38.70
You know, when a
company puts out,
00:45:38.73\00:45:40.67
when they put their
company on the internet,
00:45:40.70\00:45:42.90
whether it's LinkedIn
00:45:42.94\00:45:44.27
or whether, whatever
the website might be,
00:45:44.31\00:45:46.37
they say, okay, we
have this position,
00:45:46.41\00:45:48.28
this position, this
position, this position,
00:45:48.31\00:45:50.41
and they start
interviewing people.
00:45:50.45\00:45:52.38
Now,
00:45:52.41\00:45:53.75
do they interview
people and then they say,
00:45:53.78\00:45:55.12
you know what, now
00:45:55.15\00:45:56.48
we got to find
something for you to do, Louis,
00:45:56.52\00:45:57.85
we like you.
00:45:57.89\00:45:59.22
We don't have
anything for you to do.
00:45:59.25\00:46:00.59
No,
00:46:00.62\00:46:01.96
what kind of
company would that be?
00:46:01.99\00:46:03.53
Can you imagine all
these people get hired?
00:46:03.56\00:46:05.76
And they said, well,
you get paid twice a month.
00:46:05.79\00:46:08.93
However,
00:46:08.96\00:46:10.30
we have nothing for you to do.
00:46:10.33\00:46:13.54
So Mom, I found a job.
00:46:13.57\00:46:15.87
What do you do?
00:46:15.90\00:46:17.24
I just get paid.
00:46:17.27\00:46:19.01
I mean, really think about it.
00:46:19.04\00:46:21.01
Wouldn't that be ridiculous?
00:46:21.04\00:46:22.38
So what do you do?
00:46:22.41\00:46:24.45
I just get a
check every two weeks.
00:46:24.48\00:46:26.68
But what do you do?
00:46:26.72\00:46:29.15
Nothing.
00:46:29.18\00:46:31.49
Now while we're laughing,
00:46:31.52\00:46:32.85
I'm coming from somewhere.
00:46:32.89\00:46:34.92
Salvation.
00:46:34.96\00:46:37.63
Yes, the Lord doesn't save us.
00:46:37.66\00:46:40.40
He doesn't save us
to give us a check,
00:46:40.43\00:46:42.96
He saves us to work.
00:46:43.00\00:46:45.97
Amen. Amen.
00:46:46.00\00:46:47.34
So when I hear people say,
00:46:47.37\00:46:48.70
when I hear Christian say,
00:46:48.74\00:46:50.11
I'm taking a year off.
00:46:50.14\00:46:51.97
Don't tell me that.
00:46:52.01\00:46:53.98
Tell God that.
00:46:54.01\00:46:56.11
This year what
would the Lord say?
00:46:56.14\00:46:58.31
Well, this year,
you're not getting paid.
00:46:58.35\00:47:00.85
I'm taking back my oxygen.
00:47:00.88\00:47:03.69
I'm taking it back my sun.
00:47:03.72\00:47:05.95
I'm taking it back my rain.
00:47:05.99\00:47:07.86
I'm not giving you health.
00:47:07.89\00:47:09.32
Why would I give you that?
00:47:09.36\00:47:10.69
You don't want to work?
00:47:10.73\00:47:13.43
Right? Would it be ridiculous?
00:47:13.46\00:47:16.43
We have a school
send your kids here.
00:47:16.46\00:47:18.30
Are there any teachers? No.
00:47:18.33\00:47:22.30
So we have people coming in.
00:47:22.34\00:47:24.37
And if the people of
God are ready to work,
00:47:24.41\00:47:29.68
we're borrowing God's air,
00:47:29.71\00:47:31.95
we're borrowing His air.
00:47:31.98\00:47:35.58
And we are saying,
00:47:35.62\00:47:37.69
I'm gonna relax this year.
00:47:37.72\00:47:39.72
What if He comes this year?
00:47:39.75\00:47:42.32
That's why Matthew says,
00:47:42.36\00:47:45.83
"Blessed is a servant.
00:47:45.86\00:47:48.96
Whom when the Lord
comes, He finds him doing."
00:47:49.00\00:47:52.30
And as the old
Negro spiritual was,
00:47:52.33\00:47:54.24
I keep so busy
working for my Jesus
00:47:54.27\00:47:56.27
that I ain't got time to die.
00:47:56.30\00:47:58.24
We're not saved by
works, but we are saved, what?
00:47:58.27\00:48:01.41
For works,
00:48:01.44\00:48:02.84
we're saved by
grace unto good works?
00:48:02.88\00:48:05.85
The Lord never and I would,
00:48:05.88\00:48:07.48
it be sad when somebody comes.
00:48:07.52\00:48:09.32
And this has been an
issue throughout the whole...
00:48:09.35\00:48:12.32
One of the reasons why the
Lord chose the 12 disciples
00:48:12.35\00:48:14.79
is because the
nation that He had gifted
00:48:14.82\00:48:17.39
for 2000-3000 years
00:48:17.43\00:48:19.06
wasn't doing anything.
00:48:19.09\00:48:21.46
And there were people waiting.
00:48:21.50\00:48:23.30
There were people
waiting to be drawn in,
00:48:23.33\00:48:26.07
but they had nobody to do it.
00:48:26.10\00:48:29.87
Let's go to Acts
Chapter 13 very quickly.
00:48:29.90\00:48:34.08
Yes, Cornelius was waiting.
00:48:34.11\00:48:36.71
Peter had an issue.
00:48:36.75\00:48:38.08
He didn't like the Gentiles.
00:48:38.11\00:48:39.71
He was a Jew.
00:48:39.75\00:48:41.08
He was taught that the
Jews and the other nations
00:48:41.12\00:48:42.95
have no dealings.
00:48:42.98\00:48:44.32
So the Lord had to
break down Peter's prejudice
00:48:44.35\00:48:46.89
to send him to
Cornelius who was a Gentile.
00:48:46.92\00:48:49.26
Then they were saved,
00:48:49.29\00:48:50.63
whole household was saved.
00:48:50.66\00:48:52.03
His family and
friends were saved.
00:48:52.06\00:48:53.40
They were all baptized
00:48:53.43\00:48:55.26
and they became a
part of the ministry.
00:48:55.30\00:48:56.63
What did I do say turn?
00:48:56.67\00:48:58.77
Acts Chapter 13, look at this.
00:48:58.80\00:49:01.50
When you look at
the theme in the Bible,
00:49:01.54\00:49:03.24
the theme in the
Bible is not just salvation.
00:49:03.27\00:49:05.24
The theme in the Bible
is salvation for something,
00:49:05.27\00:49:07.84
not just salvation for nothing.
00:49:07.88\00:49:10.85
Paul and Barnabas are preaching.
00:49:10.88\00:49:12.85
And let's read verse 47.
00:49:12.88\00:49:17.39
Verse 46
00:49:17.42\00:49:18.75
because the Jews got upset
when the Gentiles came around
00:49:18.79\00:49:20.86
and heard the message,
00:49:20.89\00:49:22.22
they got really upset.
00:49:22.26\00:49:23.59
Verse 46 of Acts 13.
00:49:23.63\00:49:25.23
"Then Paul and
Barnabas grew bold and said,
00:49:25.26\00:49:27.36
it was necessary
that the Word of God
00:49:27.40\00:49:29.13
should be spoken to you," when?
00:49:29.16\00:49:30.87
"First but
since you reject it, "
00:49:30.90\00:49:34.20
the very word that God
gave, "they rejected it,
00:49:34.24\00:49:36.84
and they judge
themselves unworthy of," what?
00:49:36.87\00:49:39.37
"Everlasting life,
behold, we turn to the," what?
00:49:39.41\00:49:42.54
"Gentiles.
00:49:42.58\00:49:43.91
For so the Lord
has commanded us.
00:49:43.95\00:49:45.35
'I have set you to be
a light to the Gentiles,
00:49:45.38\00:49:48.05
that you should be for salvation
00:49:48.08\00:49:50.95
to the ends of the earth.'
00:49:50.99\00:49:52.32
Now when the
Gentiles heard this,
00:49:52.35\00:49:53.69
they were glad and
glorified the word of Lord.
00:49:53.72\00:49:56.46
And as many as
had been appointed
00:49:56.49\00:49:58.53
to eternal life, " what?
00:49:58.56\00:49:59.93
"Believed."
00:49:59.96\00:50:01.30
And what went forth?
00:50:01.33\00:50:03.60
"And the word of the Lord
00:50:03.63\00:50:05.67
was being spread
throughout," what?
00:50:05.70\00:50:08.27
"All the region."
00:50:08.30\00:50:10.24
So God had to get
some workers to do that.
00:50:10.27\00:50:12.94
And when He tried to
get the Gentiles involved,
00:50:12.97\00:50:14.84
the Jews said, "No, no, no, no,
00:50:14.88\00:50:16.71
we don't want
them to be involved."
00:50:16.75\00:50:18.31
And Paul says, okay,
since you don't want it,
00:50:18.35\00:50:20.45
forget it,
we're turning to them.
00:50:20.48\00:50:22.08
The Lord is not
looking for special people.
00:50:22.12\00:50:24.15
He's looking for people
00:50:24.19\00:50:25.52
that He want to do
special things through.
00:50:25.55\00:50:28.46
And you can't do it
00:50:28.49\00:50:29.82
unless the Lord is
involved in your life.
00:50:29.86\00:50:31.49
Okay, let's look
at a couple of things
00:50:31.53\00:50:32.99
before we wind up here.
00:50:33.03\00:50:35.53
Okay, let's go to
question number 27.
00:50:35.56\00:50:39.03
Question number 27.
00:50:39.07\00:50:40.40
So what is the
purpose of the gifts?
00:50:40.44\00:50:42.20
For the work of the ministry.
00:50:42.24\00:50:44.21
That's question number 26.
00:50:44.24\00:50:46.71
Number 27.
00:50:46.74\00:50:49.61
"What would a
true prophets' attitude
00:50:49.64\00:50:51.98
toward the Bible be?"
00:50:52.01\00:50:54.42
What would a true
prophets' attitude
00:50:54.45\00:50:55.95
toward the Bible be?
00:50:55.98\00:50:58.02
Proverbs Chapter 30.
00:50:58.05\00:51:00.99
Proverbs 30:5-6.
00:51:01.02\00:51:05.16
Let's look at that.
00:51:05.19\00:51:08.50
It's amazing to me
00:51:08.53\00:51:09.86
nowadays how many people claim
to have the gifts of prophecy?
00:51:09.90\00:51:12.57
But when you
talk about the Bible,
00:51:12.60\00:51:13.94
they don't want to hear it.
00:51:13.97\00:51:15.97
Really?
00:51:16.00\00:51:17.67
So what kind of
attitude is that?
00:51:17.71\00:51:20.41
Look at Proverbs 30:5-6.
00:51:20.44\00:51:25.21
"Every word of
God is," what? "Pure.
00:51:25.25\00:51:28.45
He is a shield to
those who," do what?
00:51:28.48\00:51:31.99
"Put their trust in Him.
00:51:32.02\00:51:34.42
Do not," what?
00:51:34.46\00:51:36.02
"Add to His words,
lest He rebuke you,
00:51:36.06\00:51:39.19
and you be found a," what?
00:51:39.23\00:51:40.56
"Liar."
00:51:40.60\00:51:41.93
Now the question was,
00:51:41.96\00:51:44.40
what should the
true prophets' attitude
00:51:44.43\00:51:45.77
toward the Bible be?
00:51:45.80\00:51:47.40
What?
00:51:47.44\00:51:49.27
What should the
Word of God is pure?
00:51:49.30\00:51:52.87
Don't add to it.
00:51:52.91\00:51:54.84
Don't add to His words.
00:51:54.88\00:51:57.38
Don't say God said
when He didn't say.
00:51:57.41\00:52:00.65
Don't add to it.
00:52:00.68\00:52:02.18
And today we have
people that add to it.
00:52:02.22\00:52:04.59
We have people
that take away from it.
00:52:04.62\00:52:07.09
Matter of fact, go to
Revelation Chapter 12.
00:52:07.12\00:52:09.92
Revelation Chapter 22.
00:52:09.96\00:52:11.46
Okay...
00:52:18.23\00:52:19.57
okay.
00:52:22.67\00:52:24.01
Oh, yes.
00:52:24.04\00:52:25.87
Okay. Hmm.
00:52:25.91\00:52:27.74
Revelation 22:19,
00:52:27.78\00:52:30.25
Revelation 22:18-19.
00:52:30.28\00:52:32.95
All right.
00:52:32.98\00:52:34.82
It's amazing how the
Lord connects these things
00:52:34.85\00:52:36.52
and it's not even on my notes.
00:52:36.55\00:52:38.35
Thank you, Lord.
00:52:38.39\00:52:39.89
"For," John says,
00:52:39.92\00:52:41.96
"For I testify to everyone
00:52:41.99\00:52:44.09
who hears the word of
the prophecy of this book."
00:52:44.13\00:52:48.20
Look at this.
00:52:48.23\00:52:49.56
"If anyone adds
to these things,"
00:52:49.60\00:52:52.10
notice what He said,
00:52:52.13\00:52:53.47
do not add to His word.
00:52:53.50\00:52:54.87
"If anyone adds to these things,
00:52:54.90\00:52:57.77
God will add to him the plagues
00:52:57.81\00:53:01.28
that are written in this book.
00:53:01.31\00:53:02.98
If anyone takes away
00:53:03.01\00:53:05.01
from the words of the
book of this prophecy,
00:53:05.05\00:53:07.15
God shall take away his
part from the Book of Life,
00:53:07.18\00:53:10.42
from the holy
city, and from the things
00:53:10.45\00:53:12.05
which are written in this book."
00:53:12.09\00:53:13.42
Is God serious?
00:53:13.46\00:53:15.86
So when people
start taking stuff out,
00:53:15.89\00:53:18.93
false doctrines
have been created
00:53:18.96\00:53:20.63
by people taking stuff out,
00:53:20.66\00:53:22.56
or adding stuff
that God never said.
00:53:22.60\00:53:24.70
One of the famous ones
to be absent from the body
00:53:24.73\00:53:27.90
is to be present with the Lord.
00:53:27.94\00:53:29.27
That's not in the scriptures.
00:53:29.30\00:53:31.34
Paul said I would rather,
00:53:31.37\00:53:33.84
but they cut out
all that said before,
00:53:33.88\00:53:35.51
all that said after
00:53:35.54\00:53:36.88
and create this big O
high mountain of confusion
00:53:36.91\00:53:39.18
that nobody can get over.
00:53:39.21\00:53:40.65
And every
funeral, false prophecy,
00:53:40.68\00:53:42.75
they're in heaven now.
00:53:42.78\00:53:44.25
They're with the Lord.
00:53:44.29\00:53:46.86
You can't prove that
with the entire scriptures.
00:53:46.89\00:53:49.76
But you can cut
little pieces out
00:53:49.79\00:53:52.09
and have a one piece puzzle.
00:53:52.13\00:53:56.33
Would you like to give me
a, give you a one piece puzzle?
00:53:56.36\00:53:58.97
How long would it
take to put together
00:53:59.00\00:54:00.34
one piece puzzle?
00:54:00.37\00:54:03.81
Tell me what the picture is?
00:54:03.84\00:54:05.17
I have no idea.
00:54:05.21\00:54:06.54
That's it.
00:54:06.57\00:54:07.91
These one piece
puzzle preachers,
00:54:07.94\00:54:10.38
one piece they give you
to be absent from the body
00:54:10.41\00:54:12.81
is to be present with the Lord,
00:54:12.85\00:54:14.22
and people are confused.
00:54:14.25\00:54:15.75
What does the
Bible say about death?
00:54:15.78\00:54:17.12
I have no idea because
you only got one piece,
00:54:17.15\00:54:18.92
but put the
whole thing together.
00:54:18.95\00:54:20.86
The dead know, not anything.
00:54:20.89\00:54:22.56
They're waiting for
the second resurrection.
00:54:22.59\00:54:24.49
When the trumpet sounds,
00:54:24.53\00:54:25.86
the dead in
Christ will rise first,
00:54:25.89\00:54:27.23
the living know
that they shall die.
00:54:27.26\00:54:29.33
You know, the
first resurrection,
00:54:29.36\00:54:30.90
all this stuff is left out,
00:54:30.93\00:54:32.57
and they get one
piece to the puzzle.
00:54:32.60\00:54:34.37
Because the false
prophet took something away
00:54:34.40\00:54:37.17
and added something
that wasn't even there.
00:54:37.21\00:54:39.74
Be careful not to do
that. Let's go quickly.
00:54:39.77\00:54:41.98
Let's see if we can get,
what else we can get in here.
00:54:42.01\00:54:43.58
We have about a
little bit of time left.
00:54:43.61\00:54:46.65
So what's the true
prophets attitude you can...
00:54:46.68\00:54:49.58
Matter of fact, you can
add, don't add anything,
00:54:49.62\00:54:52.05
don't take away anything.
00:54:52.09\00:54:53.49
And you can put
under question number 27,
00:54:53.52\00:54:55.59
Revelation 22:18-19.
00:54:55.62\00:54:58.86
Here's another one.
00:54:58.89\00:55:00.23
Question number 28.
00:55:03.10\00:55:05.50
"How does prophecy fit
00:55:05.53\00:55:07.47
into the scenario
of the last days?"
00:55:07.50\00:55:09.74
How does prophecy fit
00:55:09.77\00:55:11.11
into the
scenario of the last days?
00:55:11.14\00:55:13.21
Acts 2:17-18.
00:55:13.24\00:55:16.11
Here it is, here it is.
00:55:16.14\00:55:20.25
Dr. Luke writes,
00:55:20.28\00:55:21.62
"And it shall come to
pass in the, " what days?
00:55:21.65\00:55:23.95
"Last days, saith God,
00:55:23.99\00:55:26.05
I will pour out
My Spirit upon, "
00:55:26.09\00:55:29.06
how much flesh?
00:55:29.09\00:55:30.46
"All flesh,
00:55:30.49\00:55:31.83
your sons and your
daughters shall," what?
00:55:31.86\00:55:34.26
"Prophesy,
00:55:34.30\00:55:36.36
your young men
shall see visions,
00:55:36.40\00:55:38.93
and your old men
shall dream dreams."
00:55:38.97\00:55:43.10
I'm at the age where I'm between
00:55:43.14\00:55:44.47
visions and dreams.
00:55:44.51\00:55:47.11
"And on my servants
and on my handmaidens
00:55:47.14\00:55:50.91
I will pour out in those days
00:55:50.95\00:55:53.18
my spirit and
they shall," do what?
00:55:53.21\00:55:55.25
"Prophesy."
00:55:55.28\00:55:56.62
The Lord is
giving visions, dreams,
00:55:56.65\00:55:58.39
and prophecy in the last days.
00:55:58.42\00:56:00.16
But He will
never give you anything
00:56:00.19\00:56:03.12
that lead you
away from His Word.
00:56:03.16\00:56:06.90
Amen, Tracy.
00:56:06.93\00:56:08.26
He'll never give you anything
00:56:08.30\00:56:09.63
that lead you
away from His Word.
00:56:09.66\00:56:11.57
So let's go to the
last one very quickly.
00:56:11.60\00:56:13.90
tells us that the
Spirit of Prophecy
00:56:17.54\00:56:19.84
is an indicator of God's Church.
00:56:19.87\00:56:21.74
How can we identify
God's Last Day Church?
00:56:21.78\00:56:25.21
I'm gonna go right,
Revelation Chapter 12.
00:56:25.25\00:56:28.35
Revelation 12:6,
00:56:28.38\00:56:31.15
actually, what I'm going to do,
00:56:31.19\00:56:32.59
instead of
shooting through this one,
00:56:32.62\00:56:34.66
this is really important
00:56:34.69\00:56:36.19
because these were ABCD and E.
00:56:36.22\00:56:38.99
These are very,
very, very, very important.
00:56:39.03\00:56:42.60
You can't rock it through these.
00:56:42.63\00:56:44.87
So what have we
discovered tonight?
00:56:44.90\00:56:46.30
What we've discovered?
We've discovered what?
00:56:46.33\00:56:48.30
Is the gift of
prophecy still active?
00:56:48.34\00:56:52.07
Does God know you by
your gifts or by your fruits?
00:56:52.11\00:56:54.88
He knows us by our fruits.
00:56:54.91\00:56:58.68
The gift of prophecy is a gift
00:56:58.71\00:57:01.08
that was referred to by
the Apostle Paul as what?
00:57:01.12\00:57:04.75
Special,
00:57:04.79\00:57:06.25
especially,
00:57:06.29\00:57:08.19
desire the gift
that you may prophesy,
00:57:08.22\00:57:11.03
communicate.
00:57:11.06\00:57:12.69
On how many
people did the Lord say
00:57:12.73\00:57:14.66
He will pour out His
Spirit in the Last Days?
00:57:14.70\00:57:17.90
That means all who have
given their lives to Him.
00:57:17.93\00:57:21.10
He would not give His secrets
00:57:21.14\00:57:22.50
to those who are
not His servants,
00:57:22.54\00:57:23.97
but for those
who are in His will,
00:57:24.01\00:57:26.07
He will pour out His Spirit.
00:57:26.11\00:57:28.61
So when we talk about
the gifts of the Spirit,
00:57:28.64\00:57:31.28
it's clear in the scriptures,
but if it's not clear yet,
00:57:31.31\00:57:33.62
keep studying
God's Word, for one day
00:57:33.65\00:57:35.48
it'll come into A Sharper Focus.
00:57:35.52\00:57:37.72
God bless you.
00:57:37.75\00:57:39.09