Hello and welcome to "Behold the Lamb" presents. 00:00:41.54\00:00:44.47 I'm Chris Shelton, your host. 00:00:44.50\00:00:45.91 And I would like to invite you to stay with us today 00:00:45.94\00:00:49.35 and view this first, 00:00:49.38\00:00:50.75 in the two part series of messages 00:00:50.78\00:00:52.45 that we have entitled simply "Drama." 00:00:52.48\00:00:55.48 Whether the term is used to represent 00:00:55.51\00:00:57.45 the daily stresses of life or theatrical drama, 00:00:57.48\00:01:00.86 most of us would agree that we need much less 00:01:00.89\00:01:04.07 of any type of drama in our lives, 00:01:04.10\00:01:06.38 as we are preparing for the kingdom of heaven. 00:01:06.41\00:01:09.43 Some drama can easily be escape, 00:01:09.46\00:01:12.30 while other types we simply just have to learn 00:01:12.33\00:01:15.49 the best way to deal with it. 00:01:15.52\00:01:17.48 And in a very real sense, 00:01:17.51\00:01:19.27 that's what our program is all about today. 00:01:19.30\00:01:21.94 Just how we should be dealing with drama. 00:01:21.97\00:01:25.21 Not that we're gonna deal with all the types of drama. 00:01:25.24\00:01:28.04 No, we're gonna take a deeper look at theatrical drama, 00:01:28.07\00:01:32.39 namely as it applies to being used in churches 00:01:32.42\00:01:35.86 and especially as it relates 00:01:35.89\00:01:37.59 to the use of fictional characters and situations. 00:01:37.62\00:01:40.98 For many of us the thought that 00:01:41.01\00:01:43.01 of God is having had anything to say about 00:01:43.04\00:01:46.00 the use of dramas seems highly unlikely. 00:01:46.03\00:01:48.66 But remember that old adage, 00:01:48.69\00:01:50.60 "There's nothing new under the sun." 00:01:50.63\00:01:53.47 Well, I believe that many will be surprised, 00:01:53.50\00:01:56.09 with the lessons we find in the Word of God, 00:01:56.12\00:01:58.52 as well as the Spirit of Prophecy 00:01:58.55\00:02:00.92 that have profound correlation with the use of drama. 00:02:00.95\00:02:04.58 And how it may affect us 00:02:04.61\00:02:06.24 in this life and the life to come. 00:02:06.27\00:02:08.54 It's sure to be a heavy duty study 00:02:08.57\00:02:10.89 that will touch very close to many families. 00:02:10.92\00:02:14.38 So please be in the spirit of prayer 00:02:14.41\00:02:16.35 and ask God for His leading 00:02:16.38\00:02:18.54 as we open up the word today on the use of drama. 00:02:18.57\00:02:22.54 But first, we are so blessed to visit the 3ABN Worship Center 00:02:22.57\00:02:26.54 and listen to a song entitled "I Will Follow You," 00:02:26.61\00:02:30.98 as sung by Brother Rudy Micelli. 00:02:31.01\00:02:33.95 Wherever ye may lead me 00:02:47.84\00:02:54.38 I want to follow you 00:02:54.41\00:03:00.70 Through the valley of the shadow 00:03:00.73\00:03:05.60 Or through the mountains' breathless view 00:03:05.63\00:03:12.52 If the crowds applaud my progress 00:03:12.55\00:03:18.37 Or if they never know my name 00:03:18.40\00:03:25.30 I will follow you just the same 00:03:25.33\00:03:33.30 If you lead me through the desert 00:03:36.79\00:03:43.70 When your voice seems far away 00:03:43.73\00:03:49.09 I will still believe you love me 00:03:49.12\00:03:54.28 I will listen and I will pray 00:03:54.31\00:04:00.77 For if the thousands thronged around me 00:04:00.80\00:04:05.99 Or if I am the critics toys 00:04:06.02\00:04:13.17 I will need to know 00:04:13.20\00:04:20.14 Your still small voice 00:04:20.17\00:04:25.43 Lord I want to be your servant 00:04:25.46\00:04:31.31 But I don't always know how 00:04:31.34\00:04:36.84 But you promised to be with me, Lord 00:04:36.87\00:04:42.74 I need you near me now 00:04:42.77\00:04:47.84 So let me see you in each moment 00:04:47.87\00:04:54.07 Day by day and week by week 00:04:54.10\00:05:02.07 And I will follow you 00:05:02.10\00:05:09.25 Wherever ye may lead 00:05:09.28\00:05:17.25 Lord, I will follow you 00:05:22.63\00:05:30.38 Wherever ye may lead 00:05:30.41\00:05:38.38 Thanks for joining us again here at "Behold the Lamb." 00:06:07.23\00:06:09.45 I know that you have got yourself setup 00:06:09.48\00:06:12.41 for maybe pencil, paper, Bible, everything together 00:06:12.44\00:06:15.83 because, of this most important subject. 00:06:15.86\00:06:18.96 And you'll notice when we go to the Word of God, 00:06:18.99\00:06:20.83 we always say, "It's an important subject." 00:06:20.86\00:06:23.33 Gonna be talking about 00:06:23.36\00:06:25.21 maybe some things that take place 00:06:25.24\00:06:27.23 in a lot of the churches, maybe even in your own. 00:06:27.26\00:06:30.55 And maybe you were not aware of this teaching 00:06:30.58\00:06:33.52 and of course, maybe you were aware of it. 00:06:33.55\00:06:35.50 And maybe you just need a-- I'm gonna be careful here, 00:06:35.53\00:06:38.13 a little bit of ammo to help you 00:06:38.16\00:06:40.65 to do what would be pleasing in the sight of the Lord. 00:06:40.68\00:06:43.92 We pray today, Holy Spirit will help us 00:06:43.95\00:06:46.98 as we present this subject of drama. 00:06:47.01\00:06:49.82 You know, what does that really mean drama? 00:06:49.85\00:06:51.66 Does is it really belong in the church? 00:06:51.69\00:06:54.00 Theatrics really belong in the church. 00:06:54.03\00:06:56.32 Acting and you know, maybe even puppetry. 00:06:56.35\00:06:59.93 We're gonna examine these subjects 00:06:59.96\00:07:01.50 based on the Word of God, Spirit of Prophecy. 00:07:01.53\00:07:05.01 Before we do, we always ask God to be with us. 00:07:05.04\00:07:08.21 And I'm gonna kneel and have prayer. 00:07:08.24\00:07:10.21 Maybe when you're at home, 00:07:10.24\00:07:11.63 you can say, "Oh, I'm gonna kneel along and pray." 00:07:11.66\00:07:13.51 We've had people that call and say, 00:07:13.54\00:07:14.96 "Oh, when you kneel and pray, 00:07:14.99\00:07:16.36 we kneel and pray right along with you." 00:07:16.39\00:07:17.95 But others, they hear on radio 00:07:17.98\00:07:19.35 or different things and they say, 00:07:19.38\00:07:20.75 "Well, you know, we're going down the road, 00:07:20.78\00:07:22.15 we just--we still have the attitude of prayer." 00:07:22.18\00:07:24.01 So praise God for that and we're thankful for you, 00:07:24.04\00:07:26.29 our viewer today. 00:07:26.32\00:07:27.69 And we know the Holy Spirit's gonna speak to your heart. 00:07:27.72\00:07:29.40 Let's pray. Shall we together? 00:07:29.43\00:07:32.22 Merciful God in heaven, 00:07:32.25\00:07:33.62 we thank You for the privilege of prayer. 00:07:33.65\00:07:35.43 Now we pray that Your Holy Spirit 00:07:35.46\00:07:37.51 will enlighten us to be people, 00:07:37.54\00:07:39.17 --truths that you have in store for Your people. 00:07:39.20\00:07:42.60 We pray that You'll take our attitudes here today. 00:07:42.63\00:07:45.83 And that You help us to realize that 00:07:45.86\00:07:48.85 being part of the family of God is such responsibility. 00:07:48.88\00:07:52.11 And we need Your Holy Spirit 00:07:52.14\00:07:53.86 to lead and guide us into all truth. 00:07:53.89\00:07:55.96 And as we study this subject many will say, 00:07:55.99\00:07:58.57 "Oh, it doesn't make any difference. 00:07:58.60\00:08:00.20 Oh, what difference does it make?" 00:08:00.23\00:08:01.60 Listen, every word that proceeds 00:08:01.63\00:08:03.98 out of the mouth of God makes a difference. 00:08:04.01\00:08:06.26 Lord, help us today to dissect, 00:08:06.29\00:08:08.82 rightly dividing the word of truth by Your Spirit. 00:08:08.85\00:08:11.83 Please help every ear, every eye. 00:08:11.86\00:08:13.94 And I pray for forgiveness of sin, 00:08:13.97\00:08:15.80 anything in my heart and life that needs not be there 00:08:15.83\00:08:18.35 that had communicate with all of us today 00:08:18.38\00:08:21.02 in Jesus name. Amen. 00:08:21.05\00:08:24.34 Again the subject is drama. 00:08:24.37\00:08:26.64 And so, yeah, and lot of people will carry 00:08:26.67\00:08:29.40 things way far to the extreme. 00:08:29.43\00:08:31.22 They say to the left and others to the right 00:08:31.25\00:08:32.96 and others will have the attitude, 00:08:32.99\00:08:34.59 it doesn't really matter. 00:08:34.62\00:08:36.40 Oh, my friend, if that's your attitude today, 00:08:36.43\00:08:38.77 our prayer today was for you. It's for all of us. 00:08:38.80\00:08:41.71 It does matter, what God's word says 00:08:41.74\00:08:45.05 and we need to follow it. 00:08:45.08\00:08:46.53 Never come to the point, regardless of how-- 00:08:46.56\00:08:49.33 maybe your church. 00:08:49.36\00:08:51.18 I'm speaking to everyone who will be listening 00:08:51.21\00:08:53.42 and viewing and, you know, hearing these words. 00:08:53.45\00:08:56.13 If some things going on in the church 00:08:56.16\00:08:58.42 and it's not biblical, then we need to find out, 00:08:58.45\00:09:02.39 you know, what God's word has to say. 00:09:02.42\00:09:04.11 And then say, "Oh, God help me to do the right thing." 00:09:04.14\00:09:07.36 Why else would Jesus say, 00:09:07.39\00:09:08.91 "Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?" 00:09:08.94\00:09:11.39 We can't afford to as it were, to deviate right to the left. 00:09:11.42\00:09:16.50 We go straight down the line by the Word of God, 00:09:16.53\00:09:18.68 the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:09:18.71\00:09:20.87 There was a saying 00:09:20.90\00:09:22.27 that I wrote down, I thought very interesting. 00:09:22.30\00:09:23.67 I just love to share it with you 00:09:23.70\00:09:25.10 and it kind of jarred me just a little bit. 00:09:25.13\00:09:26.64 And I thought, you know, I like this 00:09:26.67\00:09:28.59 because, we have a lot of people 00:09:28.62\00:09:30.05 when they say, "Well, it was an honest mistake." 00:09:30.08\00:09:34.13 I get that. Maybe you've made some. 00:09:34.16\00:09:36.78 I've sure made some. 00:09:36.81\00:09:38.85 I made some mistakes, some honest mistakes. 00:09:38.88\00:09:41.26 But listen to these lines, it says, 00:09:41.29\00:09:43.07 "When a man who is honestly mistaken." 00:09:43.10\00:09:46.72 So you take a man who is honestly mistaken. 00:09:46.75\00:09:50.21 When he hears the truth, notice what takes place. 00:09:50.24\00:09:54.84 "He will either quit being mistaken, 00:09:54.87\00:09:58.45 or he will cease to be honest." 00:09:58.48\00:10:01.56 Wow, interesting words. He has to do something. 00:10:01.59\00:10:05.29 The honest heart is going to change, 00:10:05.32\00:10:07.41 but the person who is not. 00:10:07.44\00:10:09.01 He just ceases to be honest. Wow. 00:10:09.04\00:10:11.90 You know, as a Christian we need to what? 00:10:11.93\00:10:13.57 Be honest, don't we? With the Word of God. 00:10:13.60\00:10:15.52 Take your Bible please and turn with me 00:10:15.55\00:10:17.51 because as we look up in Philippians 4:8, 00:10:17.54\00:10:21.78 talking about this drama, the theatrics and acting 00:10:21.81\00:10:24.87 and deception of every kind, puppetry. 00:10:24.90\00:10:28.94 You may say today, not important. 00:10:28.97\00:10:32.41 May I say to you before we read this passage, err. 00:10:32.44\00:10:36.06 Listen carefully, err rarely appears as it really is, 00:10:36.09\00:10:39.90 did you get that? 00:10:39.93\00:10:41.30 Err rarely appears as it really is. 00:10:41.33\00:10:45.95 It's when it's mingled with truth or it attaches. 00:10:45.98\00:10:51.06 Err, does what? Attaches itself to the truth. 00:10:51.09\00:10:54.60 Notice that it gains acceptance. So when err does what? 00:10:54.63\00:10:59.63 When it's mingled with truth, 00:10:59.66\00:11:01.56 when err attaches itself to the truth, 00:11:01.59\00:11:05.35 then it begins to be acceptable by many, many, many people. 00:11:05.38\00:11:09.74 Friend, don't let that fool you. 00:11:09.77\00:11:11.64 Notice what the Bible says in Philippians 4:8. 00:11:11.67\00:11:15.77 It says, "Finally, brethren." 00:11:15.80\00:11:17.17 I know this is familiar, 00:11:17.20\00:11:18.57 you know it, but listen carefully. 00:11:18.60\00:11:19.97 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are good, 00:11:20.00\00:11:22.92 'I heard someone' true, whatsoever things are honest, 00:11:22.95\00:11:27.01 whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure. 00:11:27.04\00:11:32.26 'Notice the words' Whatsoever things are lovely 00:11:32.29\00:11:35.29 and whatsoever things are of good report. 00:11:35.32\00:11:38.76 'And then it goes on to say,' if there be any virtue, 00:11:38.79\00:11:41.54 and if there be any praise, think on these things." 00:11:41.57\00:11:45.37 So the Bible, commissions us today 00:11:45.40\00:11:48.17 to think on those things that are just, 00:11:48.20\00:11:50.37 those things that are pure, those things that are lovely, 00:11:50.40\00:11:53.41 those things that are, what? That are good. 00:11:53.44\00:11:56.41 That's what the Bible commissions us to do today. 00:11:56.44\00:12:00.48 So as we think about this subject, 00:12:00.51\00:12:03.42 I want to approach it-- I'm not trying to offend anyone. 00:12:03.45\00:12:08.85 This maybe prominent where you are at. 00:12:08.88\00:12:11.81 We're doing this two part series 00:12:11.84\00:12:13.22 and there's a lot of material to cover 00:12:13.25\00:12:15.04 and my wife mentioned that 00:12:15.07\00:12:16.71 we were giving the outline of it. 00:12:16.74\00:12:18.63 And there's gonna be, you know, 20 some odd, 00:12:18.66\00:12:20.42 24, 25, real, I mean, just write down here. 00:12:20.45\00:12:23.47 Here's what it says. 00:12:23.50\00:12:24.87 This will help you to stay on target, 00:12:24.90\00:12:26.67 if you want to present this message 00:12:26.70\00:12:28.62 maybe to someone, in some church. 00:12:28.65\00:12:30.14 When someone says, "Oh, it doesn't matter." 00:12:30.17\00:12:33.15 Drama, theatrics. 00:12:33.18\00:12:35.62 Listen, I believe this from the very beginning of time. 00:12:35.65\00:12:39.58 This question has been on our hearts and on our minds. 00:12:39.61\00:12:43.39 And it's this, what method do we really use to evangelize? 00:12:43.42\00:12:48.98 What method should we use 00:12:49.01\00:12:50.49 to get the attention of the people, of children 00:12:50.52\00:12:54.28 and make a lasting impression? 00:12:54.31\00:12:57.03 Men, women, children just, you know, 00:12:57.06\00:12:58.69 so let's just makes an impression on their mind. 00:12:58.72\00:13:01.24 And so, all the things that we can use 00:13:01.27\00:13:03.25 or maybe things that we shouldn't use, 00:13:03.28\00:13:05.04 we want to reach people for Jesus. 00:13:05.07\00:13:08.26 So how do we do that? 00:13:08.29\00:13:10.76 Well, you know, we have to answer these questions 00:13:10.79\00:13:12.48 because we must be careful not to, 00:13:12.51\00:13:15.90 as we answer it, not to use human reasoning. 00:13:15.93\00:13:19.04 See, this gets in our way. It gets in my way. 00:13:19.07\00:13:21.52 I'd say, "Oh, God help me." 00:13:21.55\00:13:22.92 It gets in our way sometime because we want to do something. 00:13:22.95\00:13:26.19 We want to see this take place. 00:13:26.22\00:13:28.68 It's appealing maybe or, you know, 00:13:28.71\00:13:31.62 we like things that are going on. 00:13:31.65\00:13:34.86 So we really don't want to change it so, 00:13:34.89\00:13:36.92 but if we're looking for truth, what? 00:13:36.95\00:13:39.10 We can't rely upon our human reasoning. 00:13:39.13\00:13:41.39 We need to say, "Well, I like this here, 00:13:41.42\00:13:42.93 but now what does God say about it." 00:13:42.96\00:13:46.14 Got to remember, what does God's Word think? 00:13:46.17\00:13:48.71 What does God's Word say? 00:13:48.74\00:13:50.11 What does it tell us today? And you know what? 00:13:50.14\00:13:52.70 I found this out my answer, your answer today. 00:13:52.73\00:13:56.41 You know what, it maybe influenced 00:13:56.44\00:13:58.54 by the way you were raised. 00:13:58.57\00:14:01.12 What school that you went to? 00:14:01.15\00:14:03.58 What you like? What you don't like? 00:14:03.61\00:14:05.75 It can be an influence by your family and your friends. 00:14:05.78\00:14:10.49 And how they view things? 00:14:10.52\00:14:13.22 But it's interesting today. 00:14:13.25\00:14:14.63 It's not really so important how everybody views it, 00:14:14.66\00:14:18.44 but how does God's Word view this. 00:14:18.47\00:14:21.75 I heard some people say, "Oh, these Christians." 00:14:21.78\00:14:23.58 They'll say, "Well, you know, I'm kind on the-- 00:14:23.61\00:14:25.95 I'm on the liberal side." You ever heard this? 00:14:25.98\00:14:28.23 It's almost like bringing 00:14:28.26\00:14:29.63 politics into the church sometime. 00:14:29.66\00:14:31.57 Well, I'm on the liberal side. 00:14:31.60\00:14:32.98 Some are a little more on liberal side. 00:14:33.01\00:14:34.38 The other will say, "Well, now I'm more conservative." 00:14:34.41\00:14:37.46 Well, friend, think about what we're talking about. 00:14:37.49\00:14:39.44 Doesn't that sound political? It's not politics. 00:14:39.47\00:14:42.73 Let's leave politics outside the church wall, shall we? 00:14:42.76\00:14:47.07 All we need to realize is very simple today. 00:14:47.10\00:14:49.28 Now we're building on the platform, much information. 00:14:49.31\00:14:53.10 Don't get discouraged because when we deal with things 00:14:53.13\00:14:56.21 of drama and theatrics and all these different things, 00:14:56.24\00:14:59.22 we have to dwell upon God's Word and what is truth. 00:14:59.25\00:15:04.23 What is the truth of the issue? 00:15:04.26\00:15:07.47 And so we had to find out, 00:15:07.50\00:15:09.11 what God's word says about every issue. 00:15:09.14\00:15:11.28 Does it need to be all truthful 00:15:11.31\00:15:12.73 or can we deviate from the truth a little bit? 00:15:12.76\00:15:16.50 To make, you know, make an impression on someone. 00:15:16.53\00:15:18.76 Oh, no, absolutely not. 00:15:18.79\00:15:20.63 But we need simply again go to God's Word. 00:15:20.66\00:15:22.82 Now just, you know, just regardless of how we feel. 00:15:22.85\00:15:26.01 Regardless, of just what we want to accomplish 00:15:26.04\00:15:29.42 because I know this, there are many people in churches 00:15:29.45\00:15:33.11 that just want what's best for the church. 00:15:33.14\00:15:35.72 They want what's best for the cause of Christ. 00:15:35.75\00:15:38.70 And their intensions are wonderful. 00:15:38.73\00:15:40.56 They want to see things happen. They're interested in children. 00:15:40.59\00:15:43.94 They're interested in the adults. 00:15:43.97\00:15:45.34 And so this is not trying to criticize somebody's motive. 00:15:45.37\00:15:48.83 But, yet, we need to look deep within this subject matter. 00:15:48.86\00:15:52.68 Simple, truth is truth. 00:15:52.71\00:15:55.96 Right is what? Good. 00:15:55.99\00:15:57.79 Somebody said it, "Right is right." 00:15:57.82\00:16:00.46 Based upon the Word of God not based upon how you feel 00:16:00.49\00:16:04.10 or how I feel about it. 00:16:04.13\00:16:06.14 Now I'm really getting that so that we understand the issue. 00:16:06.17\00:16:09.05 Now you'd say, "What kind of brought about this study? 00:16:09.08\00:16:12.75 Well, maybe, you know, I believe that the Holy Spirit 00:16:12.78\00:16:15.88 brought about this study 00:16:15.91\00:16:17.58 because maybe we're abusing this subject. 00:16:17.61\00:16:21.55 Maybe we've let it go 00:16:21.58\00:16:23.17 and we were kind of afraid to approach, 00:16:23.20\00:16:26.12 you know, the issue 00:16:26.15\00:16:27.52 because it might cause division in the church. 00:16:27.55\00:16:29.33 And sometime we don't approach it 00:16:29.36\00:16:30.91 because we have no material in which to approach it with. 00:16:30.94\00:16:35.00 But kind of, in my own thinking here, 00:16:35.03\00:16:38.58 someone came up with a thought, 00:16:38.61\00:16:39.99 in order to make our church service better. 00:16:40.02\00:16:43.02 Oh, I like that. 00:16:43.05\00:16:44.42 Oh, my ears are open, in order to make it better, you see. 00:16:44.45\00:16:48.19 So people can learn to help our older people 00:16:48.22\00:16:52.07 and our young, our teens and our little children, 00:16:52.10\00:16:54.77 to help them understand to keep their attention spanned, 00:16:54.80\00:17:00.74 something needs to be done to do that, huh? 00:17:00.77\00:17:03.83 Oh, it can happen during the children story time 00:17:03.86\00:17:06.57 that you have or maybe in the children's class. 00:17:06.60\00:17:09.05 So we can use something to keep their attention 00:17:09.08\00:17:11.13 because their little attention goes from here to here to here. 00:17:11.16\00:17:13.22 So, you know, people have the right motives. 00:17:13.25\00:17:15.58 Oh, we need to do something to help them. 00:17:15.61\00:17:17.97 And, you know, it will help our classes 00:17:18.00\00:17:19.76 and it may help the church 00:17:19.79\00:17:21.16 and it will help to grow and maybe more people will come. 00:17:21.19\00:17:23.77 Although, all those things sound good, 00:17:23.80\00:17:25.41 but, hey, praise God. Let's think about the issue. 00:17:25.44\00:17:28.59 There are those who suggested this. 00:17:28.62\00:17:31.82 They suggested that we use certain things. 00:17:31.85\00:17:34.81 Now remember, they just wanted to what? 00:17:34.84\00:17:37.85 Come on, good. They just wanted to help. 00:17:37.88\00:17:39.85 They just wanted to make things better. 00:17:39.88\00:17:41.90 And you know the difficult thing is 00:17:41.93\00:17:43.43 when you have somebody that's honest 00:17:43.46\00:17:45.01 and hard and they're trying to do the very best, 00:17:45.04\00:17:47.79 you know, for the church 00:17:47.82\00:17:49.19 and for the growth of the ministry and evangelism. 00:17:49.22\00:17:51.36 It's very difficult to take a positional stance on it, 00:17:51.39\00:17:54.31 if maybe it's in the wrong direction. 00:17:54.34\00:17:55.93 Oh, it just, you know, 00:17:55.96\00:17:57.56 tries your relationship with God. 00:17:57.59\00:17:59.10 Are you gonna be honest with God? 00:17:59.13\00:18:00.91 Do you have that kind of relationship with God 00:18:00.94\00:18:02.70 and with your fellowman that you're willing to stand 00:18:02.73\00:18:04.74 for truth or the heaven's fall? 00:18:04.77\00:18:08.85 But when we're confronted with these issues, 00:18:08.88\00:18:11.12 it's kind of, interesting. 00:18:11.15\00:18:12.78 We need to do something here. 00:18:12.81\00:18:14.18 We need to think in terms of, not is it acceptable to people, 00:18:14.21\00:18:19.93 but is it approved of heaven. 00:18:19.96\00:18:22.15 In other words, does heaven approve it? 00:18:22.18\00:18:23.90 It may sound good and all other thing. 00:18:23.93\00:18:25.86 And I see a lot of things in government. 00:18:25.89\00:18:27.36 I see a lot of things in church activities. 00:18:27.39\00:18:29.33 That they'll say, "Oh, this is gonna be good, this is--" 00:18:29.36\00:18:31.11 You need to look at all the issues that surround this. 00:18:31.14\00:18:34.70 Will it be good? 00:18:34.73\00:18:36.10 If it is, it's gonna be approved of heaven. 00:18:36.13\00:18:37.66 Is it now? Of course. 00:18:37.69\00:18:40.12 And as we begin to examine these things 00:18:40.15\00:18:42.17 and maybe it's taking place in your church today. 00:18:42.20\00:18:45.00 You realiz now not only, oh, boy, 00:18:45.03\00:18:48.20 not only do you have to deal with the issue of, 00:18:48.23\00:18:50.99 is it right or wrong? Does heaven approve of it? 00:18:51.02\00:18:54.01 But now you have to deal 00:18:54.04\00:18:55.57 with people's feelings and people's emotions. 00:18:55.60\00:18:59.39 And none of us want to be offensive or hurt someone. 00:18:59.42\00:19:03.56 Two issues will crop up, when we do this. 00:19:03.59\00:19:06.88 We'll be challenged with, what does God's word say? 00:19:06.91\00:19:12.93 Or do we want the approval of God 00:19:12.96\00:19:15.06 or do we want the approval of man? 00:19:15.09\00:19:18.26 Now every issue will come to that. 00:19:18.29\00:19:21.36 Or we can take number two. 00:19:21.39\00:19:23.14 We can say, "Well, you know, I really don't want 00:19:23.17\00:19:24.85 to offend my brother or my sister. 00:19:24.88\00:19:27.35 I don't want to hurt their feelings, 00:19:27.38\00:19:28.75 oh, we love them too much. We may lose them. 00:19:28.78\00:19:33.33 They may leave." Or if what? 00:19:33.36\00:19:35.64 Oh, if they don't maybe get their way. 00:19:35.67\00:19:39.77 Now remember we're trying-- 00:19:39.80\00:19:41.19 we're establishing, is it approved of heaven or not? 00:19:41.22\00:19:45.29 But feelings are involved and they really shouldn't be. 00:19:45.32\00:19:48.08 It should be issue, if it's right and wrong. 00:19:48.11\00:19:51.82 Well, we're gonna lose some people, it might be one. 00:19:51.85\00:19:53.79 You might lose six, eight, ten, whatever over the issue. 00:19:53.82\00:19:56.00 But you know what? Truth is still truth. 00:19:56.03\00:19:58.03 And God challenges in His word to take a stand. 00:19:58.06\00:20:01.05 In fact, here's what God's word said 00:20:01.08\00:20:02.87 in the Book of Deuteronomy. 00:20:02.90\00:20:04.27 Have your Bible, mark things down. 00:20:04.30\00:20:05.67 Because as we begin to establish, 00:20:05.70\00:20:07.19 we're beginning to build and we'll repeat over and over 00:20:07.22\00:20:09.57 about truthfulness and honesty and what's acceptable of heaven 00:20:09.60\00:20:13.14 and not popular opinion. 00:20:13.17\00:20:16.21 Deuteronomy 11:26-28, let me read those for you. 00:20:16.24\00:20:21.73 Bible says, "Behold, I set before you this day 00:20:21.76\00:20:25.87 a blessing and a curse." 00:20:25.90\00:20:27.67 Oh, it's familiar, but how powerful that it is. 00:20:27.70\00:20:31.66 God says, "I set before you," that's you, this me, 00:20:31.69\00:20:35.35 "a blessing or a curse." Here's the blessing. 00:20:35.38\00:20:39.25 "The blessing is if you obey," praise God. 00:20:39.28\00:20:42.42 Verse 28 says, "A curse, if you will not obey." 00:20:42.45\00:20:46.42 So we're dealing with issues 00:20:46.45\00:20:48.11 that are bigger than feelings and emotions 00:20:48.14\00:20:50.45 and what the majority might want. 00:20:50.48\00:20:53.23 What are we really dealing with? 00:20:53.26\00:20:56.11 Aren't we dealing with what God's word says here? 00:20:56.14\00:20:59.23 "A blessing or a curse." 00:20:59.26\00:21:01.19 There maybe many churches today that are cursed. Why? 00:21:01.22\00:21:04.94 Because we're not willing to follow what God has said. 00:21:04.97\00:21:08.56 I've said this time and time again. 00:21:08.59\00:21:10.46 Let me do it again. God means business. 00:21:10.49\00:21:14.12 What He says, He means business. His Word, it's not word in it. 00:21:14.15\00:21:17.90 The inspired word is just not something 00:21:17.93\00:21:19.58 that's just put down to occupy your time. 00:21:19.61\00:21:21.63 God means business with us. 00:21:21.66\00:21:24.21 Even if you might say today, 00:21:24.24\00:21:26.48 here's what some people have said. 00:21:26.51\00:21:27.88 Now bless your heart. 00:21:27.91\00:21:29.28 You might say, "Oh, that's just a little thing, 00:21:29.31\00:21:31.46 it doesn't matter." Really? 00:21:31.49\00:21:33.78 You know my opinion on this 00:21:33.81\00:21:35.48 and you can throw it out if you want to. 00:21:35.51\00:21:37.19 But there'll probably be more people 00:21:37.22\00:21:39.01 that will miss out on heaven because of their--be careful. 00:21:39.04\00:21:42.05 I don't believe there's such thing, as a little thing. 00:21:42.08\00:21:43.69 But what they've termed little things 00:21:43.72\00:21:46.07 than the big issues of life. 00:21:46.10\00:21:48.66 Not so much if what we've done, but what we, what? Fail to do. 00:21:48.69\00:21:53.64 These are very, very important points 00:21:53.67\00:21:56.05 that we need to look at today. 00:21:56.08\00:21:58.60 And so as we're looking at these passages 00:21:58.63\00:22:01.12 there's a blessing, the Bible said "And there is a curse." 00:22:01.15\00:22:03.96 You choose what you want. 00:22:03.99\00:22:05.43 And then the Bible goes on to say this listen, 00:22:05.46\00:22:07.39 Proverbs 3:33. Come on. 00:22:07.42\00:22:10.41 Let's setup this platform good, solid, unmovable. 00:22:10.44\00:22:14.96 It said the curse. 00:22:14.99\00:22:16.74 So we have to realize today, 00:22:16.77\00:22:18.14 there is curses and there are blessings. 00:22:18.17\00:22:20.24 God blesses or He doesn't, 00:22:20.27\00:22:21.64 if He doesn't bless then, we're cursed, aren't we? Sure. 00:22:21.67\00:22:24.50 "The curse of God is in the house of the wicked." 00:22:24.53\00:22:28.30 Now look up that word, if you will do that? 00:22:28.33\00:22:30.94 In the Hebrews, it's very interesting. 00:22:30.97\00:22:33.36 The curse of God is upon the house of the wicked. 00:22:33.39\00:22:36.31 Listen or the man that did wrong. Wow. 00:22:36.34\00:22:43.03 Knowingly did wrong, the curse of God is upon him. 00:22:43.06\00:22:47.90 Passage goes on to say, but thank God. 00:22:47.93\00:22:51.23 "But he blesses the habitation of the just." 00:22:51.26\00:22:55.02 What an interesting word? 00:22:55.05\00:22:56.71 Now again, we're establishing truth and right, in every area 00:22:56.74\00:23:00.14 connected with God's movement of His last day people. 00:23:00.17\00:23:03.77 How closely do we resemble the world 00:23:03.80\00:23:05.59 or how closely do we resemble heaven? 00:23:05.62\00:23:08.99 Right now we need to pray, kids, pray. 00:23:09.02\00:23:12.39 Bible is very, very clear. 00:23:12.42\00:23:13.90 The habitation, He said, He will bless. 00:23:13.93\00:23:16.29 You know what habitation really means? 00:23:16.32\00:23:18.48 God said He blesses the just. 00:23:18.51\00:23:20.78 The habitation means this, listen carefully. 00:23:20.81\00:23:22.87 It means He's gonna bless your home. 00:23:22.90\00:23:25.54 He's gonna bless your family. He's gonna bless the church. 00:23:25.57\00:23:30.27 He's even blessing the animals, 00:23:30.30\00:23:33.15 the flocks, the cattle, the crops. 00:23:33.18\00:23:36.18 God's gonna bless everything that your hand find to do. 00:23:36.21\00:23:39.93 What a blessing that is. 00:23:39.96\00:23:41.65 All He wants us to do 00:23:41.68\00:23:43.05 He said He blesses those that are being just, 00:23:43.08\00:23:45.18 those that are doing the right thing. 00:23:45.21\00:23:47.46 And then a curse goes upon those who do the wrong things. 00:23:47.49\00:23:50.20 So it's very imperative, in the church 00:23:50.23\00:23:51.89 that were doing the right things. 00:23:51.92\00:23:54.57 Came across this in letter 35 written in 1843, 00:23:54.60\00:23:57.78 this is very interesting. 00:23:57.81\00:23:59.18 1893, sorry, notice, it says, 00:23:59.21\00:24:01.93 "When you have sought to know His will--" 00:24:01.96\00:24:04.29 When there's so many praying. I hear this all the time. 00:24:04.32\00:24:06.59 "We want to know God's will." 00:24:06.62\00:24:08.60 "When you have sought to know God's will, 00:24:08.63\00:24:11.83 your part in the operation with God 00:24:11.86\00:24:15.28 is to believe that you will be led 00:24:15.31\00:24:17.85 and guided and blessed in the doing of His will." 00:24:17.88\00:24:22.78 We need to be, what? Seeking the will of God. 00:24:22.81\00:24:26.94 I wonder, if any of you, are ever seeking, 00:24:26.97\00:24:28.41 really have been seeking the will of God. 00:24:28.44\00:24:31.54 How does that take place? 00:24:31.57\00:24:33.15 When something new crops up in the church 00:24:33.18\00:24:35.19 and we want to say, is it right, is it wrong, 00:24:35.22\00:24:37.16 shall we go this direction, shall we not go--? 00:24:37.19\00:24:39.12 Seek God's will. Pray about it. 00:24:39.15\00:24:44.11 A little book called "Mount of Blessing", 00:24:44.14\00:24:45.61 just a beautiful little book, 00:24:45.64\00:24:47.01 page 52 says, this talking about the will. 00:24:47.04\00:24:49.72 It says, "By venturing to disregard the will of God." 00:24:49.75\00:24:54.07 Come on, this fits in, 00:24:54.10\00:24:55.47 some of you are saying, "Oh, boy." 00:24:55.50\00:24:56.87 Well, no, listen, "By venturing to disregard 00:24:56.90\00:25:00.17 the will of God in one point." 00:25:00.20\00:25:05.29 Notice, "Our parents opened 00:25:05.32\00:25:08.64 the floodgates of woe upon," what? 00:25:08.67\00:25:12.59 "The world." By what? 00:25:12.62\00:25:16.82 Disregarding in just one point, a floodgate was open and what? 00:25:16.85\00:25:22.28 It's down to us, even today. 00:25:22.31\00:25:25.30 "Every individual who follows this example 00:25:25.33\00:25:28.73 will reap a similar result." 00:25:28.76\00:25:32.03 So does one point, huh? 00:25:32.06\00:25:34.43 One point make a difference, you better believe it. 00:25:34.46\00:25:36.99 Mount of Blessings 51 goes on, 00:25:37.02\00:25:38.73 "It is not the greatness of the act of disobedience." 00:25:38.76\00:25:41.90 See some of you say, 00:25:41.93\00:25:43.30 "Oh, it's just a little thing, it really doesn't matter. 00:25:43.33\00:25:44.89 It entertains the children, entertains the adult. 00:25:44.92\00:25:47.30 We're not coming to church to be entertained. 00:25:47.33\00:25:49.91 You might be, but I don't believe that. 00:25:49.94\00:25:53.14 You see, to be entertained. We're coming to what? 00:25:53.17\00:25:55.87 Close connection with Jesus Christ, 00:25:55.90\00:25:57.61 to have better relationship with Him, 00:25:57.64\00:25:59.30 learn the direction, the will of God, 00:25:59.33\00:26:00.98 in our hearts, in our life to be activated, right. 00:26:01.01\00:26:03.94 To be energized, to go out and do, what? 00:26:03.97\00:26:06.52 Evangelism some work for Jesus. Get our lives right with Him. 00:26:06.55\00:26:11.64 So it's not the greatness of the act of disobedience. 00:26:11.67\00:26:14.92 Some people prioritize, oh, this is bad. 00:26:14.95\00:26:17.16 One of this is not so bad. This is big. This is little. 00:26:17.19\00:26:19.58 "It's not the greatness 00:26:19.61\00:26:21.04 of the act of disobedience that constitutes sin." 00:26:21.07\00:26:24.28 Listen, "but the fact of the variance 00:26:24.31\00:26:28.09 from God's expressed will 00:26:28.12\00:26:29.93 in the least particular." So, to what? 00:26:29.96\00:26:33.01 Just to get away in the least 00:26:33.04\00:26:34.95 particular from the will of God or the truth of God. 00:26:34.98\00:26:38.45 He makes it known to us, you see, becomes sin. 00:26:38.48\00:26:42.48 Wow, that's pretty heavy duty. 00:26:42.51\00:26:44.65 Little books, people need-- we need to be reading it, 00:26:44.68\00:26:47.29 Parents, you need grandparents it's called child guidance. 00:26:47.32\00:26:50.05 Page 293 says this, talking about education. 00:26:50.08\00:26:53.70 A couple of people say education. 00:26:53.73\00:26:55.10 We need this. We need that in the world. 00:26:55.13\00:26:56.50 Listen, "The first great lesson in all education 00:26:56.53\00:26:59.33 is to know and understand the will of God." 00:26:59.36\00:27:03.22 The will of God, what God's will 00:27:03.25\00:27:04.78 is for the church for you and each of our lives. 00:27:04.81\00:27:07.34 "We should bring into every day of our life 00:27:07.37\00:27:12.13 the effort to gain this knowledge." 00:27:12.16\00:27:14.55 Every day of our life, huh? 00:27:14.58\00:27:19.20 That we need to bring this into-- 00:27:19.23\00:27:21.14 God, what is Your will for me, 00:27:21.17\00:27:23.13 for the church and in this particular situation 00:27:23.16\00:27:26.20 we're talking about drama and, you know, maybe acting 00:27:26.23\00:27:29.24 and theatrics, you know, lot of these different things? 00:27:29.27\00:27:33.40 So how can I quit and go say, okay, let's get-- 00:27:33.43\00:27:35.55 Oh, how can I bring my will, 00:27:35.58\00:27:37.79 you see, together with God's will? 00:27:37.82\00:27:40.11 This is important, since we're talking about the will here. 00:27:40.14\00:27:43.67 5 Testimonies 5:15 says this, 00:27:43.70\00:27:46.75 "We need to drink daily from the fountain of truth, 00:27:46.78\00:27:51.80 that you may understand the secret, 00:27:51.83\00:27:54.53 the pleasure and the joy of the Lord." 00:27:54.56\00:27:57.74 Oh, friend, have you been drinking everyday? 00:27:57.77\00:28:00.29 See, if you're drinking every day 00:28:00.32\00:28:02.63 from that fountain of truth, when issues confront the church, 00:28:02.66\00:28:06.71 you're going to automatically know about, what? 00:28:06.74\00:28:09.36 The power of the Holy Spirit that it's right or it's wrong. 00:28:09.39\00:28:13.17 You may not have all the information, 00:28:13.20\00:28:15.57 you see, at hand, 00:28:15.60\00:28:16.97 but the Holy Spirit reveals to you, 00:28:17.00\00:28:19.20 this is not what we should be doing in God's house. 00:28:19.23\00:28:21.38 This is not what God has called us into this movement, 00:28:21.41\00:28:24.26 when it's all about. 00:28:24.29\00:28:25.66 Now remember, when a man 00:28:25.69\00:28:27.06 who is honestly mistaken what is it? 00:28:27.09\00:28:28.97 He hears the truth. 00:28:29.00\00:28:30.37 He will either quit being what? 00:28:30.40\00:28:31.78 Mistaken or he'll cease to be honest. 00:28:31.81\00:28:36.57 Repeat it, so that we get 00:28:36.60\00:28:37.97 what we're talking about here at today. 00:28:38.00\00:28:39.58 Now think about it with me. 00:28:39.61\00:28:40.98 So do we really want God's blessing on our church? 00:28:41.01\00:28:44.49 Do we really want God to come down 00:28:44.52\00:28:46.65 and to dwell with us? 00:28:46.68\00:28:48.53 And remember it's regardless of how many vote for it 00:28:48.56\00:28:53.01 or, how many vote against it. 00:28:53.04\00:28:55.61 Is it right in the word of God certain things? 00:28:55.64\00:28:59.49 I had a pastor one time. 00:28:59.52\00:29:01.30 He told me, he said, "You know, 00:29:01.33\00:29:02.86 we're talking about certain issue 00:29:02.89\00:29:04.43 that was kind of touchy." 00:29:04.46\00:29:06.60 He said to me, "Well, 00:29:06.63\00:29:08.90 how many people would be for it, if I did this 00:29:08.93\00:29:11.87 and how many people would be against it?" 00:29:11.90\00:29:16.89 I was almost shocked, by the question. 00:29:16.92\00:29:19.55 How many--I said this is not a popularity contest. 00:29:19.58\00:29:23.63 It's not how many would be for you. 00:29:23.66\00:29:25.28 It's...what is right based upon God's word. 00:29:25.31\00:29:29.09 Not, how many are gonna love you for it, 00:29:29.12\00:29:30.49 how many are gonna hate it? 00:29:30.52\00:29:31.89 And then if you got the majority, 00:29:31.92\00:29:33.29 you'll say we'll we do it anyway. 00:29:33.32\00:29:34.69 Oh, no, come on, now. 00:29:34.72\00:29:37.17 How many of us are willing to follow 00:29:37.20\00:29:38.75 the principles of truth and righteousness? 00:29:38.78\00:29:42.51 Now back to this question, let's get in, remember. 00:29:42.54\00:29:45.18 This is only one of the many things 00:29:45.21\00:29:47.42 that this subject covers, 00:29:47.45\00:29:49.11 but the question we should use today 00:29:49.14\00:29:51.93 dealing with drama and theatrics 00:29:51.96\00:29:54.03 and, you know, all this kind of puppetry. 00:29:54.06\00:29:57.49 Should these things be used in our services? 00:29:57.52\00:30:02.24 Or should they may be put, 00:30:02.27\00:30:03.64 you know, as they would have think outside these walls. 00:30:03.67\00:30:07.09 Let's let God's word just speak. 00:30:07.12\00:30:10.30 And again, it may not be what you want today. 00:30:10.33\00:30:12.23 And you maybe heavily involved with it, 00:30:12.26\00:30:13.63 but maybe you didn't know. 00:30:13.66\00:30:15.03 And as you get information, you're gonna want to make 00:30:15.06\00:30:17.14 the right decision, aren't you? 00:30:17.17\00:30:19.59 Not that we like it? 00:30:19.62\00:30:20.99 And it's popular and the people love it 00:30:21.02\00:30:22.39 and they love me for doing it, look out, huh. 00:30:22.42\00:30:28.24 Acts 17:11, here's what the Bible says. 00:30:28.27\00:30:32.18 If you really want to know the truth, 00:30:32.21\00:30:34.21 we must do this. 00:30:34.24\00:30:35.61 It says we have to "Receive the word of God 00:30:35.64\00:30:37.98 with all readiness of," what? Good. 00:30:38.01\00:30:40.49 "All readiness of mind searched the scriptures daily, 00:30:40.52\00:30:43.80 whether these things be so." 00:30:43.83\00:30:46.55 It's simple, but many don't do these things. 00:30:46.58\00:30:49.09 They won't search the scriptures. 00:30:49.12\00:30:50.65 They want to have a popularity contest. 00:30:50.68\00:30:53.79 The Great Controversy 202 makes this statement here. 00:30:53.82\00:30:56.47 Listen, "One wrong act, one wrong belief, 00:30:56.50\00:31:03.78 prepares the way for another one." 00:31:03.81\00:31:07.36 Did you get it? 00:31:07.39\00:31:08.90 So you say it doesn't matter, 00:31:08.93\00:31:10.52 but if it's wrong based upon God's word. 00:31:10.55\00:31:13.72 It prepares a way for us, accepting what? 00:31:13.75\00:31:16.74 Good, another one. 00:31:16.77\00:31:18.45 That's why the enemy doesn't just beat you to death 00:31:18.48\00:31:20.91 with all these things at once. 00:31:20.94\00:31:22.31 What does he do? 00:31:22.34\00:31:24.00 He leads you on a step at a time. 00:31:24.03\00:31:25.87 You know, where he learned that? 00:31:25.90\00:31:27.27 From scripture, where Jesus said, 00:31:27.30\00:31:28.70 you know, it's a step at a time. 00:31:28.73\00:31:30.11 The right way to do it and the enemy is gonna take it. 00:31:30.14\00:31:32.10 And he'd say, Okay, 00:31:32.13\00:31:33.50 I'm gonna lead you a step at a time too, 00:31:33.53\00:31:34.90 but I'm gonna lead you away from the cross of Calvary. 00:31:34.93\00:31:37.08 I'm gonna lead you against the teachings of Jesus Christ 00:31:37.11\00:31:39.87 and what is truth?" Interesting. 00:31:39.90\00:31:42.93 So we must be on guard 00:31:42.96\00:31:44.80 as the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 2:11 00:31:44.83\00:31:47.60 tells us, listen, we're on guard. 00:31:47.63\00:31:49.30 Why am I on guard? 00:31:49.33\00:31:50.70 Oh, somebody pray. 00:31:50.73\00:31:52.10 Why should we need to be on guard? 00:31:52.13\00:31:53.78 The Bible says, "Lest Satan should 00:31:53.81\00:31:56.26 get an advantage over us. 00:31:56.29\00:32:00.77 We need not be ignorant or not ignorant of his devices." 00:32:00.80\00:32:04.50 So we need to be well aware 00:32:04.53\00:32:05.98 of our enemy, you see. 00:32:06.01\00:32:08.08 Now look at that thought, 00:32:08.11\00:32:09.48 I don't want him to take an advantage, huh. 00:32:09.51\00:32:13.05 What does that really mean? 00:32:13.08\00:32:16.28 So that the enemy does not defraud us, did you get it? 00:32:16.31\00:32:21.78 So that the enemy does not take--listen carefully, 00:32:21.81\00:32:24.38 greater advantage of me. 00:32:24.41\00:32:28.82 The enemy is trying to take advantage of you today 00:32:28.85\00:32:31.34 and you probably have pretty good idea 00:32:31.37\00:32:32.74 of how he's taking the advantage of you 00:32:32.77\00:32:34.32 and you're allowing him to do that. 00:32:34.35\00:32:36.31 Do not do that. Ask God for help. 00:32:36.34\00:32:38.77 Counsels the teachers, very interesting, 00:32:38.80\00:32:40.24 148, makes this comment. 00:32:40.27\00:32:42.23 It says, "At home and in the school," 00:32:42.26\00:32:44.76 come on, we're starting to look at principle. 00:32:44.79\00:32:46.84 We're gonna talk about principle. 00:32:46.87\00:32:48.24 We're gonna talk about all these issues right here. 00:32:48.27\00:32:50.35 But first, we're establishing 00:32:50.38\00:32:51.75 is the importance of truth and following God's word, 00:32:51.78\00:32:54.51 how we make decisions against not what is popular, no. 00:32:54.54\00:32:58.11 "At home and in the school, by precept," and what? Good. 00:32:58.14\00:33:02.43 "Example, the children and the youth 00:33:02.46\00:33:05.13 should be taught to be truthful, unselfish and industrious." 00:33:05.16\00:33:10.87 So we see they need to be taught to do things to work. 00:33:10.90\00:33:13.19 They need to be truthful. 00:33:13.22\00:33:14.76 They need to be unselfish and where is this taught? 00:33:14.79\00:33:17.49 In the home. 00:33:17.52\00:33:18.89 You talk about taught to be truthful, 00:33:18.92\00:33:20.38 what does that mean? 00:33:20.41\00:33:21.78 When it's convenient or, you know, 00:33:21.81\00:33:23.50 when it's not convenient? 00:33:23.53\00:33:24.90 You shade it just a little bit? 00:33:24.93\00:33:26.30 No, we're talking about the truth, 00:33:26.33\00:33:27.85 the whole truth and what? 00:33:27.88\00:33:29.25 They say nothing, but the truth. 00:33:29.28\00:33:32.50 Proverbs 16:6 just really-- just a one-liner, 00:33:32.53\00:33:36.37 just can really hit hard here. 00:33:36.40\00:33:37.96 It says, "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged." 00:33:37.99\00:33:43.35 Iniquity, right-wrong doing sin 00:33:43.38\00:33:45.04 is purged out because of, what? 00:33:45.07\00:33:46.73 Thank God for mercy and thank God for truth. 00:33:46.76\00:33:50.34 And it's much better, dear friends, 00:33:50.37\00:33:51.74 even if you get in trouble is to tell the truth. 00:33:51.77\00:33:54.43 Tell the truth. Get the issue out. 00:33:54.46\00:33:56.14 Ask God to help you. 00:33:56.17\00:33:57.54 You know confess that thing and move on. 00:33:57.57\00:33:59.10 And God will bless and will not be a curse. 00:33:59.13\00:34:03.09 So it's clear, our decisions 00:34:03.12\00:34:04.49 must be based on the Word of God. 00:34:04.52\00:34:07.04 And I'm gonna call this here. 00:34:07.07\00:34:08.72 We're gonna talk about religious principles 00:34:08.75\00:34:13.16 because I'm seeing sometime people go to them 00:34:13.19\00:34:16.57 and looking for subjects like this. 00:34:16.60\00:34:19.85 And it's very interesting. 00:34:19.88\00:34:21.25 What they do is they say, 00:34:21.28\00:34:22.65 "Well, I can't just find that one specific word here. 00:34:22.68\00:34:25.07 So, you know, it must not be in here. 00:34:25.10\00:34:26.72 So it must be okay to kind of, do what we want to do. 00:34:26.75\00:34:28.78 Oh, no, dear friends. 00:34:28.81\00:34:30.79 It's time to really get down 00:34:30.82\00:34:32.19 and really study the Word of God. 00:34:32.22\00:34:34.53 When we talk about religious principles 00:34:34.56\00:34:36.88 and this is what we're talking about. 00:34:36.91\00:34:38.88 Religious principles-- they are fundamental truths, 00:34:38.91\00:34:44.20 fundamental truths which other truths are based. 00:34:44.23\00:34:49.08 So you have a main truth 00:34:49.11\00:34:50.84 and you have a lot of other truths 00:34:50.87\00:34:53.15 that are based upon this main truth that hang from it. 00:34:53.18\00:34:57.40 Okay, so that's how we need to be studying. 00:34:57.43\00:34:59.77 And in fact the 2 Testimonies 325 says, 00:34:59.80\00:35:04.15 "The actions of men should be regulated by principle." 00:35:04.18\00:35:10.03 Does that make sense? 00:35:10.06\00:35:11.43 The actions of men should be regulated by, what? 00:35:11.46\00:35:14.95 By principles. And someone said, 00:35:14.98\00:35:16.75 "Well, I don't know what principles are?" 00:35:16.78\00:35:19.90 Listen, let's just get some example here 00:35:19.93\00:35:21.92 and make it clear therefore. 00:35:21.95\00:35:23.32 We're going to use-- we're gonna say, lying. 00:35:23.35\00:35:25.61 Someone's telling a lie. 00:35:25.64\00:35:27.68 Now you've met people who'd rather--Hmm, be careful. 00:35:27.71\00:35:30.33 Tell a lie than tell the truth. 00:35:30.36\00:35:31.73 They'd already don't know what the truth is 00:35:31.76\00:35:33.62 because they've exaggerated 00:35:33.65\00:35:35.02 and told some many lies, they don't know. 00:35:35.05\00:35:36.42 Now remember a fundamental truth-- 00:35:36.45\00:35:38.81 we're looking at a fundamental truth here. 00:35:38.84\00:35:40.30 There's gonna be other things that are hanging from it. 00:35:40.33\00:35:41.96 Truths to hang from it. 00:35:41.99\00:35:43.55 We know Exodus 20:16, 00:35:43.58\00:35:46.58 "Thou shall not bear," what? Good. 00:35:46.61\00:35:49.29 It's one of the commandments. 00:35:49.32\00:35:50.69 False witness. 00:35:50.72\00:35:52.93 And so I present to you and let's think about it. 00:35:52.96\00:35:56.15 How many ways can a person tell a lie? 00:35:56.18\00:36:01.21 Did you see the fundamental truth there's up, what? 00:36:01.24\00:36:03.41 "Thou shall not bear false witness." 00:36:03.44\00:36:04.87 We're not supposed to lie. 00:36:04.90\00:36:07.54 But then hanging from that, you see, 00:36:07.57\00:36:09.66 the Bible may not go into every detail of that, 00:36:09.69\00:36:12.48 but through that-- right, 00:36:12.51\00:36:13.88 so what does that all cover? 00:36:13.91\00:36:15.51 The fundamental truth is what? Shall not lie. 00:36:15.54\00:36:18.82 Now this principle, we're looking at truths 00:36:18.85\00:36:21.97 and we're looking that are based, 00:36:22.00\00:36:24.15 you know, based upon these things 00:36:24.18\00:36:26.36 and they can be identified, we need to look at it. 00:36:26.39\00:36:28.52 It's a lie if. 00:36:28.55\00:36:30.51 Let's say, someone asked you a question. 00:36:30.54\00:36:32.50 Someone asked you a question 00:36:32.53\00:36:33.90 that you really--you don't want really tell them the answer 00:36:33.93\00:36:37.65 or you want them to believe a certain thing 00:36:37.68\00:36:40.39 because you heard something, you thing it's right. 00:36:40.42\00:36:42.68 You don't want really repeat that. 00:36:42.71\00:36:44.83 And so you put yourself in a position 00:36:44.86\00:36:46.79 when they ask you this, you know, 00:36:46.82\00:36:48.71 what the truth is saying is saying of that words 00:36:48.74\00:36:50.40 you just--you don't give an answer. 00:36:50.43\00:36:52.47 You just-- they'll tell you 00:36:52.50\00:36:55.34 all about it and you don't say anything. 00:36:55.37\00:36:57.00 You don't say, yes, or, no. 00:36:57.03\00:36:58.40 You just go, hmm. 00:36:58.43\00:37:00.30 Can a person lie with just a nod of their head? 00:37:00.33\00:37:03.99 I've seen people who wouldn't say it, 00:37:04.02\00:37:05.39 when they are confronted with a question. 00:37:05.42\00:37:06.79 They just go, huh, wow. 00:37:06.82\00:37:10.22 Automatically you begin to do, what? 00:37:10.25\00:37:11.79 Draw your own conclusions and we can lie by just sign. 00:37:11.82\00:37:16.12 We can lie by just nodding our head, 00:37:16.15\00:37:19.45 humping our shoulders and check this. 00:37:19.48\00:37:23.22 I've seen people do this. 00:37:23.25\00:37:24.62 You've asked them something, they don't to tell you. 00:37:24.65\00:37:26.42 Probably, they don't even know the answer, 00:37:26.45\00:37:28.46 but they want you to believe a certain thing. 00:37:28.49\00:37:30.43 They look at you in the face. 00:37:30.46\00:37:31.83 Come on, somebody get with me. 00:37:31.86\00:37:33.23 And they do like this with their eyes, they go. 00:37:33.26\00:37:36.31 I call it rolling. I don't know if they rolled or not, 00:37:36.34\00:37:38.04 but you know what I'm talking. 00:37:38.07\00:37:39.44 They're kind of, they go. 00:37:39.47\00:37:41.93 And automatically, "Oh, yeah, 00:37:41.96\00:37:43.45 what I was just talking about must be the truth." 00:37:43.48\00:37:45.38 You lied because you rolled your eyes, huh. 00:37:45.41\00:37:49.15 Now you say to me, well, wait a minute. 00:37:49.18\00:37:51.32 I haven't found and maybe you will and if somebody does, 00:37:51.35\00:37:53.86 I'm sure I'll hear about it. 00:37:53.89\00:37:55.33 I've never found in the Bible, by rolling your eyes is a sin. 00:37:55.36\00:38:01.08 So now you're getting, what we're talking about here? 00:38:01.11\00:38:04.88 You roll your eyes when certain question is asked. 00:38:04.91\00:38:08.82 But, you know, you're not saying a word, 00:38:08.85\00:38:10.89 you just roll your eyes, but you lied about that person. 00:38:10.92\00:38:15.60 Now, now what we're looking for is what? 00:38:15.63\00:38:19.23 Truth. We have to find out what truth is. 00:38:19.26\00:38:22.67 And that's why we're examining it, 00:38:24.34\00:38:26.25 like we are today. 00:38:26.28\00:38:28.91 So when you look for a truth on a certain subject--listen to me, 00:38:28.94\00:38:32.49 the Bible may not give you that certain, what? 00:38:32.52\00:38:36.01 That certain word. 00:38:36.04\00:38:37.53 I've heard people say, when it comes to puppets. 00:38:37.56\00:38:39.35 "Oh, well, that puppet, we looked it all up, 00:38:39.38\00:38:41.50 there's nothing that said anything about--" 00:38:41.53\00:38:42.90 Listen, we just talked about here, 00:38:42.93\00:38:44.56 how many different ways we can lie. 00:38:44.59\00:38:47.33 So it may not give you that word, 00:38:47.36\00:38:49.90 you're looking for, but Bible truths 00:38:49.93\00:38:52.28 can be found for every topic that you want to examine. 00:38:52.31\00:38:56.82 You can go in and they will be--listen, 00:38:56.85\00:38:59.95 they're going to be attached to religious principle 00:38:59.98\00:39:03.30 or fundamental truths of God's word. 00:39:03.33\00:39:06.15 They're attached. 00:39:06.18\00:39:07.55 They're hanging from that, which the first thing was what? 00:39:07.58\00:39:09.76 "Don't bear false witness." Don't lie. 00:39:09.79\00:39:12.06 And all these other things the way it just-- 00:39:12.09\00:39:13.54 So it's still wrong, isn't it? 00:39:13.57\00:39:15.24 Second Selected Messages 343 says this, 00:39:15.27\00:39:18.65 listen carefully please to these words. 00:39:18.68\00:39:21.63 It's simple, always act from principle. 00:39:21.66\00:39:26.88 How many times we do it? Just once in a while. 00:39:26.91\00:39:29.28 Always act from principle. 00:39:29.31\00:39:31.40 Other words not how you feel, not have emotional, 00:39:31.43\00:39:33.78 or I'm having a bad day, 00:39:33.81\00:39:35.52 but you act from principle, right? 00:39:35.55\00:39:38.22 It's taken inside of you. It's a part of you. 00:39:38.25\00:39:41.61 Not from feelings, right? 00:39:41.64\00:39:43.01 Not from emotions, but from principle. 00:39:43.04\00:39:45.95 In that little book, I tried to read a lot about 00:39:45.98\00:39:47.76 in those Testimonies to Ministers, page 17. 00:39:47.79\00:39:51.62 It says talking about the church. 00:39:51.65\00:39:53.48 Now again the church has to take positional stances on things 00:39:53.51\00:39:56.93 that come within, it's walls. 00:39:56.96\00:39:59.86 And sometime in local and then of course, 00:39:59.89\00:40:01.98 it can go away around the world. 00:40:02.01\00:40:03.53 But listen, when some issues come in the church is firmly 00:40:03.56\00:40:08.46 and decidedly to hold her principles, how? 00:40:08.49\00:40:12.68 Notice that firmly and decidedly to hold up her principle 00:40:12.71\00:40:16.98 before the whole heavenly universe and the world. 00:40:17.01\00:40:21.21 That's pretty good. 00:40:21.24\00:40:23.00 Friend, do you have any principles in your church? 00:40:23.03\00:40:26.78 Are you really operating from principle? Wow. 00:40:26.81\00:40:31.27 Are you a principled individual? 00:40:33.45\00:40:36.89 Or in this situation we're gathering the fragments. 00:40:39.49\00:40:44.30 You remember that, Jesus talked about 00:40:44.33\00:40:45.70 gather little pieces of fishes left over. 00:40:45.73\00:40:48.35 Still fish or just a few and when held majority of it. 00:40:48.38\00:40:51.16 But we go, we gather these fragments 00:40:51.19\00:40:53.22 or I call him--listen, pieces of what? Good. 00:40:53.25\00:40:56.09 Pieces of truth. 00:40:56.12\00:40:57.68 And we put them together and we can say that we must learn 00:40:57.71\00:41:01.89 and we must be controlled by principle. 00:41:01.92\00:41:05.14 And you know this is very interesting. 00:41:09.26\00:41:11.49 When we're governed by religious principles, 00:41:11.52\00:41:15.26 the dangers of committing great errors are very small. 00:41:15.29\00:41:19.93 When we're, what? 00:41:19.96\00:41:21.33 When we're governed by-- Come on, help me. 00:41:21.36\00:41:22.73 Come on. When we're governed by principles 00:41:22.76\00:41:24.59 that are deep seated in our heart, our mind, and truth 00:41:24.62\00:41:26.71 that we know what is right, very little chance, you see? 00:41:26.74\00:41:31.14 That we're going to be deceived and commit great errors. 00:41:31.17\00:41:34.07 It's small because what? 00:41:34.10\00:41:35.65 Because we're not doing from emotion, 00:41:35.68\00:41:37.30 we're not all so upset that we can't think properly, 00:41:37.33\00:41:39.55 we make rash decisions. 00:41:39.58\00:41:40.95 No, we're basing it on, what? 00:41:40.98\00:41:42.51 What God has said in His Word? 00:41:42.54\00:41:46.86 Do we realize today, my brothers and sisters, 00:41:46.89\00:41:48.89 every, every act of our life we must consider it well? 00:41:48.92\00:41:56.22 Every act must be considered, why? 00:41:56.25\00:42:00.05 Because we might affect 00:42:00.08\00:42:02.40 or we might injure our brother and our sister 00:42:02.43\00:42:06.20 and it may lead someone away from Christ. 00:42:06.23\00:42:08.39 Did--oh, please did you get that? 00:42:08.42\00:42:10.30 Every act, every word, everything we do as a Christian 00:42:10.33\00:42:15.12 must be considered because you know what? 00:42:15.15\00:42:18.27 Some people are going to-- they're gonna say, 00:42:18.30\00:42:20.04 "Oh, I've seen or I heard and oh, 00:42:20.07\00:42:23.65 they may not like the decision. 00:42:23.68\00:42:25.05 But the church comes onto, 00:42:25.08\00:42:26.57 you know, to follow the Word of God 00:42:26.60\00:42:28.56 and they're gonna get their feelings hurt 00:42:28.59\00:42:29.96 and they're going to leave." 00:42:29.99\00:42:32.27 Oh, every act. 00:42:34.84\00:42:38.66 My friend, do you want to follow Jesus today? 00:42:38.69\00:42:41.50 Do I want to follow Jesus today? 00:42:41.53\00:42:43.19 Do I want to honor God? 00:42:43.22\00:42:44.93 Do I want to be faithful to His word? 00:42:44.96\00:42:47.33 Do I want to stand by principles? 00:42:47.36\00:42:50.10 Listen, principles that will live through the eternal ages. 00:42:50.13\00:42:55.82 See, my life must be governed by principles, 00:42:55.85\00:42:58.59 the truth of God's word that will endure for eternity, 00:42:58.62\00:43:02.08 not just here or, any--just a given time. 00:43:02.11\00:43:05.02 Principle is a principle. 00:43:05.05\00:43:06.42 Solid truth, the Word of God. 00:43:06.45\00:43:08.46 And so as I read in Four Testimonies 538, it says, 00:43:11.30\00:43:14.64 "We can never swerve from principle in the least thing." 00:43:14.67\00:43:19.16 Come on, you've got to build with me on this. 00:43:19.19\00:43:21.47 It gets heavier as we go. 00:43:21.50\00:43:24.40 That's why we chose to do a couple of parts 00:43:24.43\00:43:26.06 and that's why, you know, 00:43:26.09\00:43:27.46 did a little summary that we want to give out at the end, 00:43:27.49\00:43:28.91 that people still having a hard time with it, 00:43:28.94\00:43:30.97 that you can over all these principles of God's word. 00:43:31.00\00:43:35.14 You have to call for that. You have to call. 00:43:35.17\00:43:38.54 We're not to swerve from principle 00:43:38.57\00:43:40.09 in the very least of anything. 00:43:40.12\00:43:41.95 So if it's questionable we need not do it. 00:43:41.98\00:43:46.19 And I've to tell you. Be honest with you. 00:43:46.22\00:43:47.59 You're looking for truth. 00:43:47.62\00:43:48.99 I don't find that's so ever really questionable. 00:43:49.02\00:43:50.86 They say, it's black and it's white. 00:43:50.89\00:43:52.26 Its right, it's wrong. 00:43:52.29\00:43:53.66 God's word will make that clear to us. Never. 00:43:53.69\00:43:58.41 Let me give you the example maybe of, 00:43:58.44\00:44:00.56 we're talking about here of some principles. 00:44:00.59\00:44:03.16 How did Daniel and his companions-- 00:44:03.19\00:44:06.17 You remember, when they were taken into captivity 00:44:06.20\00:44:08.26 and they were challenged to say, 00:44:08.29\00:44:09.75 we're gonna feed you all this good food, you know. 00:44:09.78\00:44:12.76 What was their response? 00:44:12.79\00:44:14.16 You remember that they were challenged 00:44:14.19\00:44:15.56 on the appetite, very interesting. 00:44:15.59\00:44:19.76 But they knew this and you need to know it 00:44:19.79\00:44:22.27 and I need to know it too. 00:44:22.30\00:44:24.22 That a single instance of departure from principle, 00:44:24.25\00:44:29.54 truth or right will weaken their sins 00:44:29.57\00:44:33.40 of right and abhorrence of wrong. 00:44:33.43\00:44:38.00 Did some of you get that? 00:44:38.03\00:44:40.87 Daniel, right? That they're Hebrews. 00:44:40.90\00:44:43.16 They knew when they're offered the king's meat 00:44:43.19\00:44:45.14 that just one deviation, you see. 00:44:45.17\00:44:48.47 Just one departure from a principle 00:44:48.50\00:44:51.60 will begin to weaken their sins of what is right. 00:44:51.63\00:44:54.97 See, some of us don't realize. 00:44:55.00\00:44:56.37 We thing we can just do wrong and do wrong 00:44:56.40\00:44:59.83 and do wrong and it just really not affecting us. 00:44:59.86\00:45:02.46 You know, why? 00:45:02.49\00:45:03.86 It's because every time we do our spiritual senses 00:45:03.89\00:45:06.14 are numbed more and more and more. 00:45:06.17\00:45:08.40 And we think that it's okay and nothing's really happening. 00:45:08.43\00:45:11.59 It's obvious to others, 00:45:11.62\00:45:12.99 but to you it is a cloud over you. 00:45:13.02\00:45:14.69 Lord, help us to see not one single departure from the truth. 00:45:16.85\00:45:24.85 If we do that we're setting our self up. 00:45:24.88\00:45:28.97 And pretty soon wrong won't seem so bad anymore. Wow. 00:45:29.00\00:45:35.16 If there's ever any question on your mind to what is right? 00:45:37.57\00:45:42.13 Let me just--and I'm sure you've got this, 00:45:42.16\00:45:44.92 but please just listen. 00:45:44.95\00:45:46.32 There's any time in your life, 00:45:46.35\00:45:48.13 you're going through situations where you say, 00:45:48.16\00:45:49.98 I'm not really sure if what is right. 00:45:50.01\00:45:53.82 Here's the simple answer, always, always, always, 00:45:53.85\00:45:56.81 it never changes. 00:45:56.84\00:45:58.21 Look to, who? Good. 00:45:58.24\00:45:59.88 You look to Jesus. 00:45:59.91\00:46:02.09 You spend some time with Jesus. 00:46:02.12\00:46:05.09 He's going to guide you. 00:46:05.12\00:46:07.64 Now this next thing I'm going to say, 00:46:07.67\00:46:09.04 I want you to pay close attention, right? 00:46:09.07\00:46:10.86 And pay close attention. 00:46:10.89\00:46:13.20 We need to bring every plan 00:46:13.23\00:46:17.29 that's in church capacity, that's in our human life, 00:46:17.32\00:46:19.87 "Every plan that we have to the Lord, 00:46:19.90\00:46:23.22 to see if He approves of it." 00:46:23.25\00:46:27.31 Got that little quote from the book 00:46:27.34\00:46:28.71 called "Life Sketches" 447. 00:46:28.74\00:46:31.08 No excuse for us. 00:46:31.11\00:46:32.85 Every plan we have we want to change something up, 00:46:32.88\00:46:35.24 do something different in our own lives 00:46:35.27\00:46:37.40 and in our homes and in our churches. 00:46:37.43\00:46:39.09 We need to bring it before God to see if He approves. 00:46:39.12\00:46:42.06 It makes sense, doesn't it? 00:46:42.09\00:46:43.63 Oh, I want God's blessing, don't you? 00:46:43.66\00:46:47.49 Let's just quickly look at another 00:46:47.52\00:46:48.89 fundamental truth and principle. 00:46:48.92\00:46:51.31 I think that will help us today. 00:46:51.34\00:46:54.22 How does God look at deception? Wow. 00:46:54.25\00:46:57.38 How does God look at deception? 00:46:57.41\00:47:00.42 And I'm talking about deception in every form 00:47:00.45\00:47:03.08 because it's rampant in the world that we live in. 00:47:03.11\00:47:05.35 It's difficult to know what's not-- 00:47:05.38\00:47:07.64 there's not some kind of deception going on 00:47:07.67\00:47:09.71 and we're apprehensive about it 00:47:09.74\00:47:11.27 because somebody's deceiving somebody else, 00:47:11.30\00:47:13.57 somebody is leading somebody else in a different direction. 00:47:13.60\00:47:15.92 We're raised on these types of things. 00:47:15.95\00:47:17.93 Somebody's selling something. 00:47:17.96\00:47:19.33 They're not telling you the truth about it. 00:47:19.36\00:47:20.73 You're buying something. 00:47:20.76\00:47:22.13 You're not sure what you're buying. 00:47:22.16\00:47:23.53 There's deception of every kind. 00:47:23.56\00:47:24.93 Listen, that book I told you about 00:47:24.96\00:47:26.33 Testimonies to Ministers, page 274 says this. 00:47:26.36\00:47:29.08 "The Lord hates all deception." 00:47:29.11\00:47:32.84 Oh, please listen. 00:47:32.87\00:47:34.24 This is saying the stage 00:47:34.27\00:47:36.70 in our last 8 or 9 minutes that we have. 00:47:36.73\00:47:38.20 Listen, setting the stage for what we're talking about, 00:47:38.23\00:47:40.76 part 2 be powerful. 00:47:40.79\00:47:44.34 God hates what? 00:47:44.37\00:47:46.14 All forms. Good. 00:47:46.17\00:47:47.75 Oh, He hates all deception. 00:47:47.78\00:47:50.38 He hates secrecy, and guile. 00:47:50.41\00:47:53.16 "This is Satan's work. 00:47:53.19\00:47:56.72 The work of God is open and frank." 00:47:56.75\00:48:00.44 God's work is open. The devil's is not. 00:48:00.47\00:48:04.74 Any kind of deception, so are we doing something 00:48:04.77\00:48:07.80 maybe in the church, that's deceiving somebody 00:48:07.83\00:48:10.52 where they be 6 months or 60. 00:48:10.55\00:48:14.16 Is there something that we're deceiving them? 00:48:14.19\00:48:16.19 You know, the little minds, 00:48:16.22\00:48:17.59 they have a hard time to try to decide 00:48:17.62\00:48:19.57 for what you might be able to. 00:48:19.60\00:48:21.41 They may think that something is real, 00:48:23.48\00:48:25.15 when it is really not. 00:48:25.18\00:48:26.55 And we're talking about we can't be what? 00:48:26.58\00:48:27.95 We must be truthful in the very least of everything, truthful. 00:48:27.98\00:48:33.14 We can't get after where' it's gonna deceive or be a deception. 00:48:33.17\00:48:38.80 Beautiful book "Patriarchs and Prophets" 00:48:38.83\00:48:40.35 page 338 says this. 00:48:40.38\00:48:43.01 This is what we're getting at deception. 00:48:43.04\00:48:47.21 "It was by deception that the devil seduced the angels." 00:48:47.24\00:48:53.43 What was it by? It was by deception. 00:48:53.46\00:48:57.18 Making something appear that's really not. 00:48:57.21\00:49:00.54 How did the enemy deceive those holy angels of God? 00:49:00.57\00:49:03.24 By deception. What did he do? 00:49:03.27\00:49:05.83 He disguised himself. 00:49:05.86\00:49:08.99 He mixes truth with error. 00:49:09.02\00:49:11.98 The most dangerous falsehoods 00:49:12.01\00:49:14.61 are those that are mingled with truth. 00:49:14.64\00:49:17.18 You remember the point we made at the beginning. 00:49:17.21\00:49:19.24 What are the most dangerous errs you think? 00:49:19.27\00:49:21.89 What are the falsehoods? 00:49:21.92\00:49:23.51 The ones that are mingled with the truth. 00:49:23.54\00:49:25.69 How did the devil seduce the angels of heaven? 00:49:25.72\00:49:28.95 He used a disguise. He made something. 00:49:28.98\00:49:33.35 You see that appeared-- 00:49:33.38\00:49:34.94 well, this is not really the way that it is. 00:49:34.97\00:49:38.24 It appeared differently than it was. 00:49:38.27\00:49:40.54 Deception, a disguise. 00:49:40.57\00:49:45.82 Now listen to this please. 00:49:45.85\00:49:47.56 This goes on in Patriarchs and Prophets page 53. 00:49:47.59\00:49:52.43 Talking about the enemy, 00:49:52.46\00:49:53.83 "In order to accomplish his work unperceived." 00:49:53.86\00:49:56.83 In other words, to be able to accomplish 00:49:56.86\00:49:58.53 his work where no one could understand or you know. 00:49:58.56\00:50:01.78 "Satan chose to employ as his medium," 00:50:01.81\00:50:07.62 his goal between what? 00:50:07.65\00:50:09.43 "The serpent." Oh, in order to what? 00:50:09.46\00:50:13.86 Deceive mankind, the devil chose to use 00:50:13.89\00:50:17.02 a medium or a goal between what? 00:50:17.05\00:50:20.11 To push all of his stuff out there, 00:50:20.14\00:50:23.05 that he wanted out. 00:50:23.08\00:50:24.45 His lies and everything else, now think about that. 00:50:24.48\00:50:27.43 "A disguise that was well adapted 00:50:27.46\00:50:30.20 for his purpose of deception." 00:50:30.23\00:50:31.94 Now I bring to you and submit this to you 00:50:31.97\00:50:34.69 that you have-- just talking about 00:50:34.72\00:50:37.23 puppets say for instance. 00:50:37.26\00:50:39.38 That you have a man or a woman that has what? 00:50:39.41\00:50:42.45 That has the message they're going to give, 00:50:42.48\00:50:44.68 but they use something, what? 00:50:44.71\00:50:48.03 They use something in between 00:50:48.06\00:50:49.57 that you call it a puppet between what? 00:50:49.60\00:50:51.34 Them and the child. 00:50:51.37\00:50:53.84 So that puppet then becomes what? 00:50:53.87\00:50:55.89 Their medium of what? 00:50:55.92\00:50:58.50 Talking to that child that little baby 1, 2, 3 years old 00:50:58.53\00:51:01.88 really believes that what there's 00:51:01.91\00:51:04.07 coming from that puppet is--it's doing it. 00:51:04.10\00:51:06.40 Wouldn't that be a lie? 00:51:06.43\00:51:07.80 Wouldn't that be a deception? 00:51:07.83\00:51:09.96 Don't say, oh, it's just a little thing. 00:51:09.99\00:51:11.36 No, it's not. The devil, what? 00:51:11.39\00:51:13.19 He would stand here as the enemy and he chose what? 00:51:13.22\00:51:15.70 The serpent to get to mankind, a medium. 00:51:15.73\00:51:21.03 You know the devil understands medium well, 00:51:21.06\00:51:22.62 but as a Christian we need to understand too. 00:51:22.65\00:51:24.29 There's one mediator between God and man, who is that? 00:51:24.32\00:51:26.83 That's Jesus Christ. 00:51:26.86\00:51:28.52 Everything else is false. 00:51:28.55\00:51:30.34 Well, why we're custom to that? 00:51:30.37\00:51:32.82 When there's a battle going on where union and non-union, 00:51:32.85\00:51:35.15 you bring in a mediator. 00:51:35.18\00:51:36.78 Get somebody that's been honest and been impartial and 00:51:36.81\00:51:39.33 they do the talking for the other parties 00:51:39.36\00:51:40.94 because they can't get along. 00:51:40.97\00:51:42.34 But here, we're talking about here-- 00:51:42.37\00:51:43.88 we're talking about deceptions of the enemy, 00:51:43.91\00:51:46.14 the way that he hoodwinked mankind and sin developed by. 00:51:46.17\00:51:49.57 We're talking about this medium. 00:51:49.60\00:51:52.32 John 8:32 says, "You shall know the truth 00:51:52.35\00:51:56.20 and the truth shall" What? 00:51:56.23\00:51:58.13 Good, "make you free." 00:51:58.16\00:52:01.19 So now, how do we approach the drama? 00:52:01.22\00:52:05.24 How do we--and the deception of drama and theatrics 00:52:05.27\00:52:09.52 and acting, mock drama, puppetry. 00:52:09.55\00:52:15.11 All of these things that we see cropping up all the time 00:52:15.14\00:52:17.57 and you know what, we've grown so accustomed 00:52:17.60\00:52:20.67 because we are TV addicts. 00:52:20.70\00:52:25.74 Did you get it? 00:52:25.77\00:52:27.92 TV addicts and all of this stuff seems to be normal. 00:52:27.95\00:52:32.04 People acting out and things, you know. 00:52:32.07\00:52:35.33 So how do we approach this? 00:52:35.36\00:52:36.73 First, let's say in a couple of minutes 00:52:36.76\00:52:38.64 we got--we'll start to define here 00:52:38.67\00:52:40.44 and really get in some heavy duty stuff. 00:52:40.47\00:52:42.72 What is drama? 00:52:42.75\00:52:45.32 Let's look at it. First, what's drama? 00:52:45.35\00:52:47.10 Drama is a play, let's keep it simple. 00:52:47.13\00:52:50.45 It's written for the performance of an actor, interesting. 00:52:50.48\00:52:56.54 So listen, when a person 00:52:56.57\00:52:59.08 or an actor acts out the play, acts out the drama, 00:52:59.11\00:53:03.58 the script or what? 00:53:03.61\00:53:05.46 Or the story, then it becomes theatrical. 00:53:05.49\00:53:08.91 Did you get it? 00:53:08.94\00:53:10.58 The drama, because how it's written, 00:53:10.61\00:53:12.90 how it's written up, it's a play written 00:53:12.93\00:53:14.80 before an actor somebody pretending to be something else 00:53:14.83\00:53:17.81 and when it is put on script and people begin to act it out, 00:53:17.84\00:53:20.32 it becomes theatrical. 00:53:20.35\00:53:22.42 Wow, kind of interesting. 00:53:22.45\00:53:24.76 Did you know this? 00:53:24.79\00:53:26.22 Did you know that the drama and theatrics 00:53:26.25\00:53:29.42 were really originated? 00:53:29.45\00:53:31.08 You know where it came from? 00:53:31.11\00:53:32.84 It came from paganism. 00:53:32.87\00:53:36.01 The pagans would get together and they would act out dramas 00:53:36.04\00:53:39.80 and skits and stories to appease their gods. 00:53:39.83\00:53:45.58 Yeah, interesting. 00:53:45.61\00:53:47.58 Where is the roots of this thing? 00:53:47.61\00:53:49.00 What does it do to us as a people? 00:53:49.03\00:53:52.97 Did you know that? I think it would. 00:53:53.00\00:53:55.79 Lord, have mercy on us. 00:53:55.82\00:53:59.02 And I hear a lot about-- oh, there's certain time 00:53:59.05\00:54:01.40 of the year you hear a lot about-- 00:54:01.43\00:54:03.41 Oscars or who's the best actor? 00:54:03.44\00:54:06.21 What's the best performance? 00:54:06.24\00:54:08.50 So who's the best pretender? 00:54:08.53\00:54:10.22 Maybe the best liar, the best deceiver. 00:54:10.25\00:54:12.96 Don't say words like that, but who's the best actor? 00:54:12.99\00:54:15.51 Let me submit this to you. 00:54:15.54\00:54:16.94 May I do this here as signs of "Time "article in 518--1882 00:54:16.97\00:54:22.91 this was written, notice this. 00:54:22.94\00:54:24.47 It says, "Satan is the master actor." 00:54:24.50\00:54:29.90 Wow. He's the master deceiver. 00:54:29.93\00:54:33.47 He's the master pretender. 00:54:33.50\00:54:36.03 He's the master in make-believe 00:54:36.06\00:54:38.88 or make something appear that's really not. 00:54:38.91\00:54:42.41 Is that the way a Christian should operate 00:54:42.44\00:54:44.53 in any form of deceiving someone? 00:54:44.56\00:54:47.92 Making someone believe, 00:54:47.95\00:54:49.32 something that's not really true. Wow. 00:54:49.35\00:54:52.59 May God help us to see the importance of this? 00:54:52.62\00:54:55.43 I think probably since we're right there, 00:54:57.58\00:54:59.60 it's time just to talk to you for just for a moment 00:54:59.63\00:55:01.69 before we have prayer and just to remind you, 00:55:01.72\00:55:03.75 this is the first of two parts of drama. 00:55:03.78\00:55:07.08 And how we will get into-- how God thinks about it? 00:55:07.11\00:55:11.05 How Jesus thinks about it? 00:55:11.08\00:55:12.62 How we're to do as Christians and it really gets heavy duty 00:55:12.65\00:55:15.48 and about theatrics and drama in the church and puppetry. 00:55:15.51\00:55:19.44 You won't want to miss that. 00:55:19.47\00:55:22.23 And you want it, you call in and make sure you get that, 00:55:22.26\00:55:24.24 the little review that we have, 00:55:24.27\00:55:25.70 on the subject that we're talking about. 00:55:25.73\00:55:27.16 But right now, I want to pray with you 00:55:27.19\00:55:28.56 and then have a moment to speak to you, when we get done. 00:55:28.59\00:55:30.45 Let's pray. This is heavy duty stuff 00:55:30.48\00:55:31.92 that God will open our hearts and minds. 00:55:31.95\00:55:33.62 Let's close with prayer, shall we? 00:55:33.65\00:55:35.02 Father in Heaven, we thank You for Your precious word. 00:55:35.05\00:55:37.40 We thank You, Lord in heaven, 00:55:37.43\00:55:38.80 that You can open our hearts and our minds 00:55:38.83\00:55:40.75 in regards to what we've been involved with. 00:55:40.78\00:55:42.27 You can help to straighten us right into the straight 00:55:42.30\00:55:44.71 and narrow by Your word and Your truth. 00:55:44.74\00:55:46.54 Thank you for those who watch, 00:55:46.57\00:55:47.94 for those who listen and for those who hear, 00:55:47.97\00:55:49.49 I pray for the Holy Spirit 00:55:49.52\00:55:50.89 working upon their hearts and their minds 00:55:50.92\00:55:52.29 and they're saying, "Oh, Lord, I didn't know this before, 00:55:52.32\00:55:53.97 but now that I'm learning, God, help me to do the right thing. 00:55:54.00\00:55:57.04 Bless we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. 00:55:57.07\00:56:00.02 Again we understand that--you folks, 00:56:02.06\00:56:04.15 you love the truth and you want to hear the truth, 00:56:04.18\00:56:06.39 you're writing us and you're calling us and you're telling us 00:56:06.42\00:56:08.49 and you're asking for these DVD's and things 00:56:08.52\00:56:10.98 and books that we can, you know, be shipped to your home. 00:56:11.01\00:56:13.18 Keep it up. Keep your cards and your letters 00:56:13.21\00:56:15.00 and the only way we can bring these programs is what? 00:56:15.03\00:56:17.41 By your love and by your support. 00:56:17.44\00:56:19.44 So please be praying for us. 00:56:19.47\00:56:21.11 We're gonna be praying for you. 00:56:21.14\00:56:22.51 And remember you don't want to miss. 00:56:22.54\00:56:24.19 You don't to miss the second part of the drama. 00:56:24.22\00:56:26.76 Until then may God bless you and we'll see you next time. 00:56:26.79\00:56:30.01 Hello, again. 00:56:31.75\00:56:33.24 The more we dissect the Word of God, 00:56:33.27\00:56:35.89 the more clearly we see how the enemy of souls 00:56:35.92\00:56:39.10 has left no stone unturned to deceive God's people 00:56:39.13\00:56:43.49 and to keep us all in a confused state of mind. 00:56:43.52\00:56:46.61 This way, it is more difficult for us 00:56:46.64\00:56:49.29 to discern right from wrong. 00:56:49.32\00:56:51.36 And through his many deceptive uses of drama, 00:56:51.39\00:56:55.08 we have literally been reprogrammed 00:56:55.11\00:56:57.67 to accept the wrong behaviors as good or even right. 00:56:57.70\00:57:01.57 We're finding more and more that the Bible is no longer 00:57:01.60\00:57:04.96 the moral guide for even professed Christians 00:57:04.99\00:57:08.28 simply because it doesn't teach 00:57:08.31\00:57:10.04 what they have been conditioned to accept as correct behavior. 00:57:10.07\00:57:14.21 What a sad state of affairs that we are living in, friends. 00:57:14.24\00:57:18.51 We're pushing God and His Spirit 00:57:18.54\00:57:20.67 further and further away from us. 00:57:20.70\00:57:22.58 Well, proclaiming at the same time to worship Him. 00:57:22.61\00:57:25.80 Indeed, we have a form of godliness, 00:57:25.83\00:57:28.76 but no true spiritual godly power. 00:57:28.79\00:57:32.02 Friends, this message is one 00:57:32.05\00:57:33.56 that calls for decisions to be made. 00:57:33.59\00:57:36.01 And it is our prayer that you make the right biblical decision 00:57:36.04\00:57:39.75 for your family and for your house of worship. 00:57:39.78\00:57:42.83 And should you wish to hold on to this information 00:57:42.86\00:57:45.83 and always have it available for you to share or to study again. 00:57:45.86\00:57:50.01 We're offering this two part series entitled "Drama," 00:57:50.04\00:57:53.66 to you for a love gift of just $15 or more. 00:57:53.69\00:57:57.21 And don't forget to ask for the free outline of quotes 00:57:57.24\00:58:00.16 that Pastor Kenny is providing, 00:58:00.19\00:58:02.21 so that you may always have them at your fingertips when needed. 00:58:02.24\00:58:05.59 And please remember, always remember 00:58:05.62\00:58:07.93 that your love gifts and your prayerful support 00:58:07.96\00:58:10.43 enables us here at "Behold the Lamb Ministries" 00:58:10.46\00:58:13.78 to keep moving forward and sharing this gospel of truth, 00:58:13.81\00:58:17.92 this good news to the world. 00:58:17.95\00:58:20.25 Therefore your love gift is very valuable to us as well. 00:58:20.28\00:58:24.83 So give us a call here in the United States 00:58:24.86\00:58:27.15 at area code 618-942-5044, 00:58:27.18\00:58:32.45 That's Central Standard Time 00:58:32.48\00:58:34.39 or write us at Behold the Lamb Ministries 00:58:34.42\00:58:36.71 PO Box 2030, Herrin, Illinois 62948. 00:58:36.74\00:58:41.47 You may also email us 00:58:41.50\00:58:43.21 at beholdthelambministries @yahoo.com. 00:58:43.24\00:58:47.79 And as always order on our website 00:58:47.82\00:58:50.40 at www.beholdthelambministries.com. 00:58:50.43\00:58:55.34 Until next time, friends, may our precious, 00:58:55.37\00:58:58.17 precious Lord, continue to richly bless you and yours. 00:58:58.20\00:59:02.85