Hello
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and welcome to
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Exalting His Word.
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Today, we'll look
at what the Bible calls
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'useless religion'.
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Now, that's a provocative term
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isn't it?
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Stay tuned to learn
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how the slander that's been
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published about God
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has created an identity crisis
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for the people of the world.
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I'd like to explain
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where this theme text came from.
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It's Psalms 138:2
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and in that verse
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the Bible says that
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God exalts His name
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and His word above all things.
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And that He magnifies His word
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even above His name.
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Now, what does that mean?
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The bottom line is this...
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God exalts His word
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above all things.
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He has promoted His word to
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the highest rank of importance.
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He has positioned His word
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to the highest place of praise.
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God has empowered
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His word with more
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creative life force
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than anything else.
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The creative life force
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to accomplish all of His will.
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If God exalts His word
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above everything else,
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I think it's important that
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you and I do likewise!
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Don't you?
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It's time that
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we got our desires lined up
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with His desires.
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The people of God are
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suffering from
an identity crisis
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because we don't understand
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God's plan for our lives.
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Sinners don't realize
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how much they're worth to God.
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You and I are both sinners
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aren't we?
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Still we're very
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valuable to God.
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You are worth nothing less than
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the price He paid to redeem you
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with the
precious blood of Jesus.
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He wants you to accept
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His gift of salvation.
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A few people can believe that
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God not only wants to
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forgive us our sin but that
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He also wipes our
record clean of sins
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if we sincerely repent
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and confess them before Him.
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There's plenty of scripture
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to support this truth.
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I encourage you to look it up.
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You know,
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Christians suffer from
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the identity crisis too because
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we have little awareness of
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who we are in Christ.
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There are several causes for
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the identity
crisis for Christians.
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The first category of
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Christians suffer from
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mistaken identity because
of the shameful neglect of
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Bible study.
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The second
category of Christians
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are devoted to Bible study
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And yet they still walk in
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the darkness of
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mistaken identity because
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they can't quite wrap
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their minds around
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the wonderful promises of God
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and apply them personally.
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They want to believe but
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it seems too
incredibly wonderful
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to accept God's testimony.
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In James 1:22,24
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the Bible tells us that
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God's word gives us a vision.
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A reflection of our new nature.
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The nature of our
recreated beings of
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who we have become since
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we were included in Christ.
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Now, we're going to look at
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James 1 today but,
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we're gonna skip over for now
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verse 25 where He speaks of
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the hope found in abiding in
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the perfect law of liberty.
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When that law is
at work within us,
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James says we'll be blessed in
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the practice of God's word.
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But I want to reserve that
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for an upcoming program
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so we can spend plenty of time
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on this wonderful truth.
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It will really help us to
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overcome our identity crisis.
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Instead today,
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we're gonna begin in
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James 1:26 and 27.
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Here we find an
interesting contrast to
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the perfect law of liberty.
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Let me read what
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James 1:26 and 27 has to say...
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"If anyone among you
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"thinks he is religious
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"and does not bridal his tongue,
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"but deceives it's own heart,
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"this one's religion is useless.
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"Pure and undefiled religion
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before God the Father is this,
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"to visit orphans
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"and widows in their troubled
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"and to keep oneself
unspotted from the world."
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Useless religion...
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What a thought
provoking concept!
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If we study our Bibles
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we can find plenty examples of
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worthless religious practices.
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Is it possible that
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we could be regular church goers
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possibly even
ministers of the Gospel,
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teachers
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and still be practicing
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useless religion?
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This introduces a third category
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of professing Christians
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who suffer the identity crisis.
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The cause for
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their condition is chasing
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after the doctrines of men
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rather than the word of God.
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Look at what
Jesus says about this
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in Mark 7:13...
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[text on screen]
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Jesus said,
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if we followed commandments
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and the traditions of men,
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we make God's word of no effect.
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We've illegally
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emptied God's word of
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His lawful authority.
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Now, how do unlawful
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teachings of men develop?
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Let's look at the practices that
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cause unlawful
teachings to occur...
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[information on screen]
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In Mark 7:6,7
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Jesus said this...
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[text on screen]
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In vain do they worship me.
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Doctrines of men can be
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so wildly developed that
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they become useless religion!
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Now, I don't believe that
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walking in unknown error
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automatically qualifies us
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as worshiping in vain.
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If that were true...
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we'd all be in trouble!
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Because none of us have yet
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to receive all of God's truth!
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In fact, in Proverbs 4:18
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the Bible tells us that
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the path of the righteous
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will grow brighter and brighter
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until the coming of Jesus.
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In Psalms 119:130
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explains it's the
entrance of His word that
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brings increased
light and understanding.
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If we're walking
in unknown error,
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it doesn't mean that
we are worshiping in vain.
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God is merciful!
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He looks at the
intent of our hearts!
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In fact 1 Samuel 16:7 says that
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the Lord does
not sees as man sees.
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For man just looks at
the outward appearance
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but the Lord look sat the heart!
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The name of the
church that we attend is not
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the basis for salvation!
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I believe the Bible teaches that
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many sincere seekers of God
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have received the gift of
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eternal life but they're still
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walking in unknown error.
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In fact,
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based on Revelation 18:4
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where the voice from heaven
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calls God's people
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out of spiritual Babylon.
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I believe God has His people
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in every denomination today.
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If you have your Bible,
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please turn to Revelation 18:1-5
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and let's look at that together!
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That's Revelation 18:1-5...
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"After these things
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"I saw another angel
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"coming down from heaven
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"having great authority.
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"And the earth was illuminated
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"with his glory.
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"And he cried madly
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"with a loud voice
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"saying...
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"Babylon the great is fallen
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"is fallen!
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"As has become
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"a dwelling place of demons!
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"A prison for every fowl spirit!
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"And a cage for every unclean
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"and hated bird!
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"For all the
nations have drunk of
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"the wine of the wrath
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"of her fornication.
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"The kings of the earth have
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"committed fornication with her
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"and the merchants of the earth
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"have become rich through
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"the abundance of her luxury.
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"And I heard another voice
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"speaking from heaven saying...
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"Come out of her my people.
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"Lest you share in her sins.
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"Lest you
receive of her plagues.
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"For her sins have reached
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"to the heaven
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"and God has
remembered her iniquity!"
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You know,
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the other voice of verse four is
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the voice of the Lamb of God,
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Jesus Christ.
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He says
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come out of her my people.
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Babylon in Revelation represents
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the religions that
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claim to worship God but
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follow unlawful
teachings of men.
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They don't walk in obedience
00:09:41.71\00:09:44.31
to God's word.
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It's the counterfeit
religious system that
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exalts man's opinion over
00:09:50.22\00:09:51.79
the word of God.
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Yet Jesus
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recognizes that there are
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good hearted sincere people
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who love Him
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and they belong to Him
00:10:00.76\00:10:02.06
and they're in these churches
00:10:02.10\00:10:03.43
walking in unknown error.
00:10:03.47\00:10:06.10
Still it's critical
00:10:06.13\00:10:08.20
to heed His call.
00:10:08.24\00:10:09.84
To come out of err.
00:10:09.87\00:10:11.31
We must study the
Bible for ourselves!
00:10:11.34\00:10:13.81
To see if what
we've been taught is truly
00:10:13.84\00:10:17.21
the Commandments of men.
00:10:17.25\00:10:20.12
Or if it's the word of God.
00:10:20.18\00:10:22.52
You know,
00:10:22.58\00:10:23.92
the best advise that
00:10:23.95\00:10:25.29
my mother ever
gave me was this...
00:10:25.32\00:10:26.92
She said,
00:10:26.99\00:10:28.32
"Shelley, don't believe
00:10:28.36\00:10:29.69
"something that you hear from
00:10:29.72\00:10:31.23
the pulpit just because
00:10:31.26\00:10:33.06
"a Pastor says so.
00:10:33.13\00:10:35.36
"You get into
00:10:35.40\00:10:36.87
"the word of God
00:10:36.90\00:10:38.23
"and study it out for yourself."
00:10:38.27\00:10:40.30
When I did follow her advice
00:10:40.34\00:10:41.80
finally at the Lord's leading
00:10:41.84\00:10:43.64
and prompting,
00:10:43.67\00:10:45.54
I found that
00:10:45.57\00:10:46.91
I had been
walking in and supporting
00:10:46.94\00:10:50.35
some very grievous errors.
00:10:50.38\00:10:52.25
Jesus said that
00:10:52.31\00:10:53.65
we could know who belongs to Him
00:10:53.68\00:10:56.92
by their fruit.
00:10:56.99\00:10:58.32
Fruit only comes
by spiritual union.
00:10:58.35\00:11:00.96
And, if we're grafted into Jesus
00:11:01.02\00:11:03.49
the fruit which
represents our actions,
00:11:03.56\00:11:06.70
will be of His spirit.
00:11:06.76\00:11:09.66
And, we still though
00:11:09.73\00:11:12.10
need to test every action,
00:11:12.13\00:11:15.14
every fruit,
00:11:15.17\00:11:16.50
to make sure we are not
00:11:16.54\00:11:18.17
being fooled.
00:11:18.21\00:11:19.57
The Bible tells us
00:11:19.61\00:11:20.94
to put everything to the test.
00:11:20.98\00:11:22.31
To see if the
outward appearance that
00:11:22.34\00:11:26.28
we see is really
what's happening.
00:11:26.31\00:11:29.22
I want you to stay tuned.
00:11:29.28\00:11:30.62
We're going to take
00:11:30.69\00:11:32.35
a quick break
00:11:32.42\00:11:33.76
but we're gonna come
back in just a moment
00:11:33.79\00:11:35.42
and I'll tell you how
00:11:35.49\00:11:36.83
the outward appearance of fruit
00:11:36.86\00:11:38.39
actually fooled me!
00:11:38.46\00:11:40.26
If this dynamic series is making
00:11:42.20\00:11:43.57
a difference in your life,
00:11:43.60\00:11:44.93
then you should know
00:11:44.97\00:11:46.30
about a special study guide
00:11:46.33\00:11:47.67
written by Shelley Quinn.
00:11:47.70\00:11:49.04
Exalting His Word with
00:11:49.07\00:11:50.41
Life Affirmations From Scripture
00:11:50.44\00:11:51.77
is an in depth
study of the word of God.
00:11:51.81\00:11:53.14
Please send
your love gifts to...
00:11:56.31\00:11:58.35
Let me tell you
00:12:12.69\00:12:14.30
what happened to me
00:12:14.36\00:12:15.66
while visiting a
friend's home recently.
00:12:15.70\00:12:17.83
I had skipped lunch
00:12:17.87\00:12:19.20
and my empty
stomach was growling!
00:12:19.23\00:12:20.80
And I spotted a bowl of fruit
00:12:20.84\00:12:23.14
on her table.
00:12:23.17\00:12:24.51
And, my mouth began to water!
00:12:24.54\00:12:25.87
So I asked her permission
00:12:25.91\00:12:27.51
and I grabbed one for a snack.
00:12:27.54\00:12:29.48
(They were apples.)
00:12:29.51\00:12:31.18
And, although it looked
00:12:31.25\00:12:32.78
very authentic.
00:12:32.85\00:12:34.22
As authentic as the real thing,
00:12:34.28\00:12:35.82
it had a strange feeling
00:12:35.88\00:12:37.52
when I picked it up.
00:12:37.59\00:12:38.92
So, examining it more carefully
00:12:38.95\00:12:40.49
and hearing my
friend's laughter,
00:12:40.56\00:12:42.69
I realized
00:12:42.76\00:12:45.16
A fruit that was
appealing to the eye
00:12:45.23\00:12:48.26
but artificial.
00:12:48.30\00:12:49.76
Likewise there
are practices that
00:12:49.80\00:12:52.63
might appeal to our senses
00:12:52.67\00:12:54.50
as fruit of the spirit
00:12:54.54\00:12:55.90
but we must examine everything
00:12:55.94\00:12:58.44
in the light of His word
00:12:58.47\00:13:00.24
to see if they stand
00:13:00.28\00:13:02.34
the test of truth.
00:13:02.38\00:13:04.81
What then is useless religion?
00:13:04.85\00:13:08.45
Well as we've already discussed,
00:13:08.52\00:13:10.69
any religious practice that
00:13:10.75\00:13:12.09
doesn't line up
with God's commandments
00:13:12.12\00:13:14.52
and council
00:13:14.59\00:13:15.92
is useless.
00:13:15.96\00:13:17.29
Still another
useless practice is
00:13:17.33\00:13:19.96
if our religious observance
00:13:20.00\00:13:21.73
is merely external.
00:13:21.76\00:13:23.30
Consider the
lives of the Pharisees
00:13:23.33\00:13:25.70
and we can see that
00:13:25.73\00:13:27.20
they based everything
00:13:27.24\00:13:29.00
on self performance
00:13:29.04\00:13:31.17
and they did not recognize
00:13:31.21\00:13:32.97
the need for a personal Savior
00:13:33.01\00:13:36.11
and developing
00:13:36.18\00:13:37.51
a living relationship
00:13:37.55\00:13:38.91
with a perfect Savior.
00:13:38.98\00:13:40.82
We can't work our way to heaven!
00:13:40.88\00:13:43.05
We are saved by grace.
00:13:43.12\00:13:45.55
We become children of God
00:13:45.62\00:13:47.89
only by relationship.
00:13:47.96\00:13:49.89
And only His children will enter
00:13:49.96\00:13:52.19
the New Jerusalem that
00:13:52.26\00:13:53.96
the Bible speaks of
00:13:54.00\00:13:55.70
in Revelation 21.
00:13:55.73\00:13:58.77
What about those who think
00:13:58.80\00:14:00.40
they're in relationship
00:14:00.44\00:14:01.94
with the Lord?
00:14:01.97\00:14:03.30
Does the potential exist
00:14:03.34\00:14:04.67
to be deceived
about eternal security?
00:14:04.71\00:14:07.91
What does Jesus say?
00:14:07.94\00:14:09.28
Let's look at Matthew 7:21-23.
00:14:09.31\00:14:16.35
[text on screen]
00:14:16.42\00:14:18.39
Now please note
00:14:46.11\00:14:47.45
the two
patterns of behavior that
00:14:47.48\00:14:48.88
Christ is contrasting
in that previous text.
00:14:48.95\00:14:53.12
He says that the one who does
00:14:53.19\00:14:55.76
the will of my Father
00:14:55.82\00:14:57.26
will enter the
kingdom of heaven.
00:14:57.33\00:14:59.49
But He rejects those
00:14:59.56\00:15:01.23
who practice lawlessness.
00:15:01.26\00:15:04.17
You know
00:15:04.20\00:15:05.53
unfortunately some Bibles
00:15:05.57\00:15:07.47
translate that word
00:15:07.50\00:15:09.54
"lawlessness" as evil.
00:15:09.57\00:15:10.91
And that makes me wonder...
00:15:10.94\00:15:12.91
...if the ones who receive
00:15:12.94\00:15:15.04
Christ's stinging
indictment when He says
00:15:15.11\00:15:17.45
"I never knew you".
00:15:17.48\00:15:18.91
Do you think that they thought
00:15:18.95\00:15:20.75
they were practicing
00:15:20.82\00:15:23.05
evil in His name?
00:15:23.12\00:15:24.45
Other translations choose
00:15:24.49\00:15:25.82
the word in equity which is
00:15:25.85\00:15:27.19
the synonym for lawlessness.
00:15:27.22\00:15:28.56
The most accurate
00:15:28.59\00:15:29.92
and easiest translation to
00:15:29.96\00:15:31.66
understand of the Greek text
00:15:31.69\00:15:33.56
is the term "lawlessness".
00:15:33.60\00:15:35.83
According to the Bible
00:15:35.86\00:15:37.80
in I John 3:4
00:15:37.83\00:15:39.37
the definition of
sin is lawlessness.
00:15:39.40\00:15:42.64
[definition on screen]
00:15:42.67\00:15:45.04
And let's just look at this!
00:15:51.61\00:15:53.72
I John 3:4 says that.
00:15:53.78\00:15:55.68
[text on screen]
00:15:55.75\00:15:57.79
Those who will hear
00:16:06.23\00:16:10.33
and say to the Lord
00:16:10.37\00:16:12.00
"Lord, Lord have we not made
00:16:12.03\00:16:13.47
"many wonders in your name?"
00:16:13.50\00:16:15.50
Evidently
00:16:15.54\00:16:16.87
they had no
genuine love for God.
00:16:16.91\00:16:18.24
Jesus said that if
00:16:18.27\00:16:19.61
we loved Him we would
00:16:19.64\00:16:20.98
keep His commandments.
00:16:21.01\00:16:22.54
This group who broke
00:16:22.58\00:16:23.91
His
commandments while professing
00:16:23.95\00:16:25.61
to know Him is defined
00:16:25.68\00:16:27.65
as liars by the Bible.
00:16:27.72\00:16:29.05
You can look it
up in I John 2:3,4.
00:16:29.08\00:16:32.65
Let me read that to you!
00:16:32.72\00:16:34.72
That's I John 2:3,4
00:16:35.39\00:16:38.43
and that says,
00:16:38.49\00:16:43.97
"Now by this we know that
00:16:44.03\00:16:46.30
"we know Him if
00:16:46.33\00:16:49.40
"we keep His commandments.
00:16:49.44\00:16:52.44
"He who says I know Him.
00:16:52.47\00:16:55.41
(I know Jesus)
00:16:55.48\00:16:56.81
"and does not
keep His commandments
00:16:56.85\00:16:59.58
"is a liar."
00:16:59.65\00:17:01.05
That's what the Bible says!
00:17:01.08\00:17:03.05
"And, the truth
00:17:03.12\00:17:04.95
"is not in Him."
00:17:05.02\00:17:07.19
That's I John 2:3,4.
00:17:07.26\00:17:11.26
Christ rejects this group
00:17:11.33\00:17:13.46
because they had not been
00:17:13.53\00:17:15.16
born again of His Spirit
00:17:15.20\00:17:16.73
living in union with Him.
00:17:16.77\00:17:18.70
By His power.
00:17:18.73\00:17:20.07
Doing the will of His Father.
00:17:20.10\00:17:25.74
the Bible clearly teaches
00:17:25.77\00:17:27.11
they would have obeyed.
00:17:27.14\00:17:28.48
If you have your Bible
00:17:28.51\00:17:29.84
let's turn to the book of I John
00:17:29.88\00:17:32.21
for just two of
00:17:32.28\00:17:34.02
many examples of this.
00:17:34.08\00:17:35.55
And you might wanna make a note.
00:17:35.62\00:17:37.82
In I John 2:29
00:17:37.89\00:17:40.49
the Bible says
00:17:40.56\00:17:41.89
"If you know
that He is righteous,
00:17:41.92\00:17:44.33
"you know that everyone
00:17:44.39\00:17:46.13
"who practices righteousness
00:17:46.19\00:17:49.30
"is born of Him. "
00:17:49.33\00:17:50.97
Righteousness is doing things
00:17:51.00\00:17:52.90
according to God's
00:17:52.93\00:17:54.47
right way of doing things.
00:17:54.50\00:17:56.57
And in I John 3:4-10
00:17:56.60\00:17:59.17
says this,
00:17:59.21\00:18:00.71
"Whoever commits sin
00:18:00.74\00:18:02.24
"also commits lawlessness
00:18:02.28\00:18:03.61
"and sin is lawlessness
00:18:03.65\00:18:04.98
"And you know
that He was manifested
00:18:05.01\00:18:07.85
-(that's Christ)
00:18:07.92\00:18:09.25
"to take away our sins
00:18:09.28\00:18:10.65
"and in Him there is no sin.
00:18:10.72\00:18:12.12
"Little children
let no one deceive you.
00:18:12.19\00:18:15.42
"He who practices righteousness
00:18:15.49\00:18:19.46
"Just and he is righteous.
00:18:19.53\00:18:21.70
"He who sins,
00:18:21.76\00:18:23.10
"is of the devil."
00:18:23.13\00:18:24.47
(...Now remember,
00:18:24.50\00:18:25.83
(...sin is lawlessness!)
00:18:25.87\00:18:27.20
For the Devil has sinned
00:18:27.24\00:18:28.57
from the beginning.
00:18:28.60\00:18:29.94
For this purpose
00:18:29.97\00:18:31.31
the Son of God
was manifested that
00:18:31.34\00:18:32.67
He might destroy
00:18:32.71\00:18:34.04
the works of the devil.
00:18:34.08\00:18:35.41
Whoever has been born of Him
00:18:35.44\00:18:37.55
does not sin.
00:18:37.61\00:18:38.95
For His seed remains in Him
00:18:38.98\00:18:40.95
and He can not sin because
00:18:41.02\00:18:43.32
He has been born of God.
00:18:43.39\00:18:45.95
In this,
00:18:46.02\00:18:47.36
the children of God
00:18:47.39\00:18:48.72
and the children of
00:18:48.76\00:18:50.09
the Devil are manifest.
00:18:50.13\00:18:51.73
Listen...
00:18:51.79\00:18:53.13
"Who ever does not
00:18:53.16\00:18:54.46
"practice righteousness
00:18:54.50\00:18:57.60
"Nor is He who
00:18:57.63\00:18:58.97
"does not love His brother."
00:18:59.00\00:19:01.07
Now, this doesn't mean that
00:19:01.10\00:19:02.84
the children of God
00:19:02.87\00:19:04.47
are without sin.
00:19:04.51\00:19:05.84
But that our love motivates us
00:19:05.87\00:19:08.08
to please our Lord.
00:19:08.11\00:19:10.38
His spirit working within us
00:19:10.41\00:19:13.25
empowers us
00:19:13.28\00:19:14.62
to walk in obedience
00:19:14.65\00:19:16.12
and keeps us from walking
00:19:16.18\00:19:17.65
in the practice of disobedience.
00:19:17.72\00:19:20.79
We are quick to recognize
00:19:20.86\00:19:22.89
when we're not
pleasing our Lord.
00:19:22.96\00:19:25.13
And we're even
quicker to repent.
00:19:25.19\00:19:28.33
And nothing can separate us from
00:19:28.36\00:19:31.43
the love that Christ has for us.
00:19:31.47\00:19:35.60
Our loving Savior will not
00:19:35.64\00:19:38.01
reject a child of His.
00:19:38.04\00:19:40.14
On the contrary...
00:19:40.18\00:19:41.54
One of my
favorite Bible promises
00:19:41.61\00:19:43.55
is Hebrew 7:25
00:19:43.61\00:19:45.75
And that says...
00:19:45.81\00:19:47.15
..."He is also able
00:19:47.18\00:19:48.85
to say to the uttermost,
00:19:48.92\00:19:51.19
those who come to Him,
00:19:51.25\00:19:52.95
or to God through Him,
00:19:53.02\00:19:54.86
since He (Christ) always lives
00:19:54.92\00:19:58.83
to make intercession for them.
00:19:58.89\00:20:01.46
To overcome useless religion
00:20:01.53\00:20:04.43
we must always
seek a balanced teaching
00:20:04.47\00:20:08.34
from God's word.
00:20:08.37\00:20:09.94
For example,
00:20:09.97\00:20:11.31
the Bible clearly teaches,
00:20:11.34\00:20:12.67
we're made righteous
00:20:12.71\00:20:14.04
by faith in Christ.
00:20:14.08\00:20:15.51
In fact,
00:20:15.58\00:20:16.91
righteousness by faith is
00:20:16.95\00:20:18.28
the only kind of righteousness
00:20:18.31\00:20:19.65
that there is!
00:20:19.68\00:20:21.02
Though this is true...
00:20:21.05\00:20:22.38
... the Bible also says,
00:20:22.42\00:20:23.89
that when we've received
00:20:23.95\00:20:25.99
the righteousness of Christ
00:20:26.05\00:20:27.79
in our hearts
00:20:27.86\00:20:29.19
we'll be empowered
00:20:29.22\00:20:30.56
to practice righteousness.
00:20:30.59\00:20:33.23
We're not trying
00:20:33.26\00:20:34.73
to earn salvation.
00:20:34.73\00:20:36.50
The desire
00:20:36.53\00:20:37.87
and the power
00:20:37.90\00:20:39.23
to follow God's teaching
00:20:39.27\00:20:40.60
flows naturally from
00:20:40.64\00:20:41.97
our born again hearts.
00:20:42.00\00:20:43.97
Salvation is a gift from God.
00:20:44.01\00:20:47.41
We are saved by grace
00:20:47.44\00:20:50.05
through faith in Christ.
00:20:50.08\00:20:51.75
There is absolutely nothing that
00:20:51.78\00:20:54.15
we can do to save ourselves.
00:20:54.18\00:20:56.15
But that doesn't release us
00:20:56.22\00:20:57.89
from obedience.
00:20:57.95\00:20:59.29
The Holy Spirit empowers us
00:20:59.32\00:21:02.36
to walk in obedience
00:21:02.42\00:21:03.76
to God's truth.
00:21:03.83\00:21:05.26
Obedience is the pathway
00:21:05.29\00:21:07.20
to His blessings
00:21:07.23\00:21:09.26
and it is also,
00:21:09.33\00:21:11.30
the highest expression of
00:21:11.33\00:21:12.87
worship for God.
00:21:12.90\00:21:14.70
Christ is the source of
00:21:14.74\00:21:17.51
eternal salvation
00:21:17.54\00:21:19.04
for all those who
00:21:19.07\00:21:20.58
walk in obedience to Him.
00:21:20.61\00:21:22.61
This is not my opinion!
00:21:22.64\00:21:24.28
I have it on
00:21:24.31\00:21:25.65
the authority of God's word.
00:21:25.68\00:21:27.75
Listen to what the Bible says
00:21:27.82\00:21:29.88
in Hebrews 5:9...
00:21:29.95\00:21:31.52
[text on screen]
00:21:31.59\00:21:33.22
God's people are suffering
00:21:39.23\00:21:40.93
from an identity crisis.
00:21:40.96\00:21:42.93
The symptoms vary
00:21:43.00\00:21:44.33
and they might
be mental anguish,
00:21:44.37\00:21:46.37
lukewarm indifference or
00:21:46.40\00:21:48.74
stony cold hearts.
00:21:48.77\00:21:50.47
The identity crisis is
00:21:50.51\00:21:52.21
the greatest problem in
00:21:52.24\00:21:53.74
the Christian community today.
00:21:53.78\00:21:55.74
Now, that's a bold statement!
00:21:55.78\00:21:57.38
It causes me to pause
00:21:57.41\00:21:58.78
and think maybe that
00:21:58.85\00:22:00.25
I should water it down with
00:22:00.28\00:22:01.68
some little qualifier.
00:22:01.75\00:22:03.28
Like ONE of the
greatest problems
00:22:03.35\00:22:05.75
or in my opinion.
00:22:05.82\00:22:07.52
Why is it so great a problem?
00:22:07.59\00:22:10.63
Human reasoning demands
00:22:10.69\00:22:12.56
the answer.
00:22:12.59\00:22:13.93
Unless we recognize
00:22:13.96\00:22:15.83
what this barrier is
00:22:15.86\00:22:18.73
and what it is
00:22:18.77\00:22:20.84
it will continue
00:22:20.87\00:22:22.27
to block our advancement.
00:22:22.30\00:22:24.44
The root of the problem
00:22:24.47\00:22:26.07
is IGNORANCE.
00:22:26.11\00:22:28.38
Not knowing God's word
00:22:28.41\00:22:31.28
or, what I call...
00:22:31.35\00:22:33.58
IGNORE-ance.
00:22:33.62\00:22:34.95
In other words
00:22:34.98\00:22:36.32
IGNORING.
00:22:36.35\00:22:37.69
Knowing but
neglecting God's word.
00:22:37.72\00:22:39.05
If we don't know God's plan.
00:22:39.12\00:22:41.49
If we don't understand
00:22:41.56\00:22:43.26
who we have become when
00:22:43.32\00:22:45.46
we're included in Christ
00:22:45.53\00:22:46.96
this prevents us from
00:22:47.03\00:22:48.63
walking in the grace of God.
00:22:48.70\00:22:50.67
It repels the heavenly
00:22:50.70\00:22:52.67
love, light, life and power.
00:22:52.70\00:22:56.47
The kingdom of God is not
00:22:56.50\00:22:57.97
a matter of talking the talk.
00:22:58.01\00:23:00.21
But it's the power to walk in
00:23:00.24\00:23:02.61
the footsteps of Christ
00:23:02.64\00:23:04.95
along the path of life.
00:23:05.01\00:23:07.78
Still I had to ask.
00:23:07.85\00:23:10.15
Lord am I making
00:23:10.22\00:23:12.19
an overstatement
00:23:12.25\00:23:13.72
when I say that this IS
00:23:13.79\00:23:15.12
the greatest
problem in the church?
00:23:15.19\00:23:17.66
You know, it's funny
00:23:17.69\00:23:19.26
how we can know something
00:23:19.29\00:23:20.63
and not realize that we know.
00:23:20.70\00:23:23.13
In fact,
00:23:23.16\00:23:24.50
God had given me the answer
00:23:24.53\00:23:26.53
before I even asked.
00:23:26.57\00:23:27.90
We discussed it
a few programs ago
00:23:27.94\00:23:29.90
and if, if you were with us
00:23:29.94\00:23:33.38
you are going
to understand this.
00:23:33.41\00:23:35.28
Remember when we talked about
00:23:35.31\00:23:37.51
the children of...
00:23:37.58\00:23:40.88
The Israelites as they were
00:23:40.95\00:23:42.32
brought out of the desert
00:23:42.38\00:23:43.72
and God delivered
them from bondage but
00:23:43.75\00:23:46.35
they wouldn't accept
00:23:46.42\00:23:48.09
God's plan for their lives.
00:23:48.16\00:23:50.73
He promised them
00:23:50.79\00:23:52.13
the Promise Land!!
00:23:52.16\00:23:53.93
They wouldn't appreciate
00:23:53.96\00:23:56.43
who they were as
00:23:56.50\00:23:57.83
His chosen people!
00:23:57.87\00:23:59.20
Their crisis of identity
00:23:59.23\00:24:00.64
kept them from entering
00:24:00.67\00:24:02.00
into the promises of God.
00:24:02.04\00:24:03.37
And they had to wonder around
00:24:03.41\00:24:04.74
in the desert.
00:24:04.77\00:24:07.08
Doubt and disbelief in His word
00:24:07.11\00:24:10.35
kept them from entering
00:24:10.38\00:24:12.25
into His divine promises.
00:24:12.31\00:24:15.45
Do we want
00:24:15.52\00:24:17.22
to repeat their mistake?
00:24:17.29\00:24:20.06
Please,
00:24:20.12\00:24:23.43
understand that
00:24:23.49\00:24:24.83
we can praise God because
00:24:24.86\00:24:27.23
there is a way
00:24:27.30\00:24:28.60
to overcome the identity crisis!
00:24:28.63\00:24:30.60
We'll find it by
knowing the scriptures!
00:24:30.63\00:24:33.94
And experiencing
00:24:33.97\00:24:35.80
the power of God that is
00:24:35.84\00:24:37.17
available to us.
00:24:37.21\00:24:38.57
We must understand
00:24:38.61\00:24:39.94
God's plan for our lives.
00:24:39.97\00:24:41.91
We must learn
00:24:41.98\00:24:44.01
who we are in Christ.
00:24:44.05\00:24:45.38
Then motivated by love
00:24:45.41\00:24:46.75
and empowered by God
00:24:46.78\00:24:48.45
His commandments become a joy
00:24:48.52\00:24:51.22
to follow as part
of His loving plan.
00:24:51.29\00:24:54.32
Because of our faith in Christ
00:24:54.39\00:24:56.99
and His conquering power
00:24:57.06\00:24:58.49
at work within us
00:24:58.56\00:25:00.20
we become victorious over
00:25:00.23\00:25:02.23
the polluted ways of
00:25:02.26\00:25:03.60
the world's system.
00:25:03.63\00:25:04.97
That's a promise
that we should look at
00:25:05.00\00:25:07.17
from I John 5:3,5
00:25:07.20\00:25:11.41
[text on screen]
00:25:11.44\00:25:13.48
God is drawing us closer to Him
00:25:38.60\00:25:42.17
and away from useless religion.
00:25:42.20\00:25:45.34
You know,
00:25:45.37\00:25:46.71
if we're walking in the dark,
00:25:46.74\00:25:48.08
we can't find our way.
00:25:48.11\00:25:50.21
We can't see our reflection of
00:25:50.28\00:25:53.78
our new image.
00:25:53.85\00:25:55.18
Our loving Savior is calling us
00:25:55.22\00:25:57.29
out of darkness
00:25:57.35\00:25:58.69
and into the Land of Promise.
00:25:58.72\00:26:01.12
He will turn
all of our obstacles
00:26:01.19\00:26:04.86
into stepping stones
00:26:04.93\00:26:07.03
as we follow the light
00:26:07.10\00:26:09.03
of His word!
00:26:09.06\00:26:10.83
Well,
00:26:10.87\00:26:12.77
once again,
00:26:12.80\00:26:14.14
our time is almost gone.
00:26:14.17\00:26:16.44
I hope that you're beginning
00:26:16.47\00:26:18.61
to see what a problem
00:26:18.64\00:26:21.04
the identity crisis is
00:26:21.08\00:26:22.84
in the church.
00:26:22.88\00:26:24.21
In fact, I'll tell you
00:26:24.25\00:26:26.05
as I've gone
from church to church
00:26:26.11\00:26:28.58
in many different denominations,
00:26:28.65\00:26:30.82
and as I've
ministered to people,
00:26:30.89\00:26:33.89
I find that
00:26:33.96\00:26:36.42
I really don't know that
00:26:36.49\00:26:38.06
any of us understand
00:26:38.09\00:26:39.56
who we are in Christ.
00:26:39.59\00:26:40.96
I think that we're all suffering
00:26:40.96\00:26:43.16
from an identity crisis
00:26:43.23\00:26:44.67
to some extent.
00:26:44.70\00:26:46.23
And I hope that
00:26:46.27\00:26:47.84
you'll tune in next week
00:26:47.87\00:26:49.77
when we begin to look at
00:26:49.80\00:26:53.51
what the Bible says.
00:26:53.54\00:26:55.41
As to how we can over come
00:26:55.44\00:26:58.48
our identity crisis.
00:26:58.51\00:27:00.25
I wanna say just
00:27:00.32\00:27:01.72
a quick word of prayer with you.
00:27:01.78\00:27:03.79
Heavenly Father
00:27:03.85\00:27:05.19
I ask in the name of Jesus that
00:27:05.22\00:27:07.36
you will help us
to acknowledge that
00:27:07.42\00:27:10.59
we know little about you.
00:27:10.66\00:27:13.93
And Lord,
00:27:14.00\00:27:15.30
we're coming to you
00:27:15.33\00:27:16.80
in sincerity
00:27:16.87\00:27:18.20
with love in our hearts
00:27:18.23\00:27:19.57
asking that you would teach us
00:27:19.60\00:27:21.70
who you are
00:27:21.74\00:27:23.07
and who we are in you.
00:27:23.10\00:27:24.51
In Jesus name, amen.
00:27:24.54\00:27:27.14
May God multiply
00:27:27.18\00:27:28.51
His mercy, love
00:27:28.54\00:27:29.94
and grace to you
00:27:29.98\00:27:31.31
and watch over His word
00:27:31.35\00:27:32.68
to perform it in your life
00:27:32.71\00:27:34.05
as you cooperate with Him.
00:27:34.12\00:27:36.99
I'm praying that you will spend
00:27:37.05\00:27:40.09
more of your time
00:27:40.16\00:27:41.79
making that
00:27:41.86\00:27:43.56
which is most important to Him,
00:27:43.63\00:27:46.26
your Savior
00:27:46.29\00:27:47.60
the very thing that
00:27:47.66\00:27:49.03
is also most important to you.
00:27:49.06\00:27:52.57
And we know what that is...
00:27:52.60\00:27:54.77
... Exalting His Word.
00:27:54.80\00:27:58.44