Welcome to Faith
Chapel. I'm Dennis Smith,
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Pastor of the New
Haven, Connecticut,
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Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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Jesus gave a very
significant morning in
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Matthew chapter 7
concerning those living
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in the last days.
He spoke of individuals
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that were
apparently involved in some
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very powerful ministries.
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They told Jesus
that they had prophesied
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in His name, cast
out devils in His name
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and done many
wonderful works in His name.
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And then Jesus told
them I never knew you.
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In Matthew 25, Jesus
also gave a parable of
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Wise and Foolish Virgins.
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Both group
apparently felt they're ready
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for the coming
of Jesus, but to the
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Foolish Virgins he
said, I don't know you.
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Knowing Jesus is crucial
to our salvation into our
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salvation through
in these last days
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and making it
through the final crisis,
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that's our subject for today
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how do we know
Jesus? Let us pray.
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Our gracious Father,
I thank you that you've
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called us to know you
and Jesus Christ your Son.
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I thank you that
you've given us the gift
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to the Holy Spirit.
And I pray Father that
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through this message
today you'll open our
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understanding,
may we hear your word
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that we can know how
we're to enter into an
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intimate
relationship with Jesus,
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so that when He
comes, we will not hear the
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words I never knew
you, but we'll hear the
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words welcome my
children inherit the kingdom
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prepared for you
from the foundation
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of the world, in
Jesus name I pray, amen.
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Knowing Jesus will
determine whether or not
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we're prepared for the
final crisis and Christ
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second coming.
You see, our salvation
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and our
preparation for last day events
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is not a matter of what we know?
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Now, I'm a
Seventh-day Adventist Christian,
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and my denomination which I love
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very much and I, and I
believe the doctrines of,
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of my denomination,
I believe are true.
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I've had many years
to prove that to myself,
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but there is a danger
for our Seventh-day Adventist
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and any other Christians
who are similar in having
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strong doctrinal
focus in the denomination.
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And this is the danger
that if we're not careful
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we can find our
self depending on the
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doctrines that we
know as our security in our
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salvation and, and in
our sense of preparation
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for the final crisis
and Christ second coming.
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You see, I can be in
danger of thinking that
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well I know about
death, I know what happens
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when a person dies,
I know about the second
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coming of Jesus in
the manner of His coming.
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I know about the
Mark of the Beast,
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and what the
Mark of the Beast is?
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And the danger is, is
that I can begin thinking
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that my knowledge
of these doctrines
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will save me, they
won't. It is not what we know,
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but who we know.
Remember it was tithe
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paying, Sabbath
keeping, health reformers
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who crucified Jesus.
Now, the doctrines are good.
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I'm not against
the doctrines at all
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of my church. It's
important to understand
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them and if they
involve lifestyle changes
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that's important to
bring into our life,
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but those things
in and of themselves
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will not save us. It
is only by an intimate
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connection with Jesus
Christ through the baptist
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the Holy Spirit
that I get to know Him.
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And is only annoying
Him that I have security
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in being ready for the
final crisis and prepared
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for Christ second
coming. There is also a danger
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for those that
maybe involved in,
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in very active
ministries that seem to be very
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powerful ministries
in service for the Lord
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because as I
mentioned previously
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there were those
Jesus spoke of, who said,
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they would be
involved, they were involved
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in prophesying His
name, casting out devils
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in His name, doing
many wonderful works
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in His name and Jesus
said, I don't know you.
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So, again we may
have great knowledge
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of the doctrines. We
need to be very involved
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in ministry for
Jesus, but if we don't know
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Jesus neither of
those things will bring
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salvation to us.
Neither of those things
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will prepare us for
the final crisis and Christ
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second coming.
Jesus pointed this out in
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John chapter 17 and verse 3.
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"And this is life
eternal, that they might know
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thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ,
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whom thou hast sent."
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Knowing Jesus how do
we get to know Jesus?
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Well, there is
another confusion that
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we can have, we can
confuse knowing things
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about God with
knowing God. We can confuse
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with knowing, well
I know God is creator,
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I know the Father
and His Son Jesus Christ;
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I knew Jesus died
on the cross for me.
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We can know a lot
of things about God.
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And if we're not care
for this, okay I know God.
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No, we don't know God
but the things about God.
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God is a person.
And we only know God by
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getting to know
Him personally in an
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intimate way,
knowing things about God
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is not at all the
same as knowing God.
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We can also confuse
religion and going through
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the forms of
religion with knowing God.
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We can confuse, well I
know the Ten Commandments,
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so I keep the Ten
Commandments therefore
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I'm right with God or I
go to church every week.
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Therefore I know God
and I'm right with God.
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Those things and
themselves again are not
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necessarily an
indication we know God.
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If we know God, yes
we'll be keeping God's
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Ten Commandments by His grace.
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And if we know God,
yes we'll wanting in a,
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we'll be wanting
to get into fellowship
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with fellow believers.
And, and going to church
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another activities where
the Lord's word is taught,
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but those things in
and of themselves are not
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necessarily
evidence that we know God.
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Jesus taught that
there would be many in the
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last days that would
be professing His name.
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In fact, in Matthew
chapter 7 verse 21 to 23
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we read. "Not every
one that says unto me,
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Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
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kingdom of heaven;
but he that does the will
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of my Father which is in heaven.
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Many will say to me
in that day, Lord, Lord,
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have we not
prophesied in thy name?
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And in thy name
have cast out devils?
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And in thy name have
done many wonderful works?
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And then will I
profess unto them,
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I never knew
you, depart from me,
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ye that work iniquity."
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Here we see very
clearly that Jesus tells us
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in the last days
there would be many,
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many professing His
name. Many will say,
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Lord, Lord and
they've don't this,
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and they've done
that, and they believe this,
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and they believe
that, but the tragic words
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I never knew you.
Jesus also spoke along
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these lines in the
parable of the Wise and
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Foolish Virgins in
Matthew 25 in reading
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in verses 1 through 4.
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"Then shall the
kingdom of heaven be likened
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unto ten virgins,
which took their lamps,
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and went forth to
meet the bridegroom.
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And five of them were wise,
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and five were foolish.
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They that were
foolish took their lamps,
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and took no oil with them.
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But the wise took oil in their
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vessels with their lamps."
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What we find here
is that when Jesus
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described the Wise
and Foolish Virgins,
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this is talking about
again the professed people
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of God just before
Jesus comes 'cause as we read
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on through the parable
it talks about the coming
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of the
bridegroom. And we find here
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there are two groups,
the Wise Virgins brought
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extra oil, the
Foolish Virgins did not.
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And then the Bible
a symbol of oil is the
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Holy Spirit. And
what we find here the
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Wise Virgins had the in
filling of the Holy Spirit.
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They would allow the
spirit to manifest himself
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in their life.
They understood and had
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experienced the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
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And Jesus was living
His life out through them.
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The Foolish Virgins did
not have that experience.
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Now, it's
interesting to know the
00:09:11.89\00:09:13.60
Wise and Foolish
Virgins they both had the lamps,
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they both look very
similar, if you're to look
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at the external
obedience and lifestyle
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of the Wise and
the Foolish Virgins
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you couldn't see a difference,
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they both look the
same, but there was a very,
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very significant
difference because when Jesus
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comes back He made a
significant statement
00:09:33.33\00:09:35.10
to the Foolish Virgins.
00:09:35.11\00:09:36.13
In Matthew chapter 25 verse 12.
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"But he answered and said,
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Verily I say unto
you, I know you not."
00:09:42.42\00:09:45.94
A very similar
statement made to those that
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had been professing
His name and involved
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in many different
ministries for him.
00:09:51.27\00:09:52.53
I don't know you. So,
again it confirms the fact
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that knowing Jesus is
at the very heart of our
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relationship with
God. God is a person and
00:10:00.33\00:10:03.83
our relationship must
be an intimate personal
00:10:03.84\00:10:06.42
relationship with Him,
not simply had knowledge
00:10:06.43\00:10:08.57
about Him, not simply
being active in ministry
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for Him because
our ministry for God
00:10:12.14\00:10:15.44
can become a
substitute for our relationship
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with God. Our
knowledge of God and things
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about God and the
doctrines in God's word
00:10:21.71\00:10:24.25
can be a
substitute for really knowing
00:10:24.79\00:10:28.06
Jesus Christ as
our personal Savior.
00:10:28.07\00:10:30.49
In Christ Object
Lessons page 411,
00:10:31.22\00:10:33.55
Ellen White writes
about the Foolish Virgins.
00:10:33.56\00:10:35.35
"The class represented
by the foolish virgins
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are not hypocrites.
They have a regard for
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the truth, they
have advocated the truth,
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they are attracted
to those who believe
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the truth; but they
have not yielded themselves
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to the Holy Spirit's working.
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The class represented
by the foolish virgins
00:10:52.13\00:10:54.80
have been content
with a superficial work.
00:10:54.81\00:10:58.84
They do not know God.
Their service degenerates
00:10:59.40\00:11:04.12
into a form." That's
put quite clearly it's sad,
00:11:04.13\00:11:09.91
the Foolish Virgins
have all the knowledge,
00:11:10.67\00:11:13.76
are involved in ministry,
they like to fellowship
00:11:14.50\00:11:17.10
with God's people,
but yet they do not have
00:11:17.11\00:11:20.05
the deep workings of the
Holy Spirit in their life.
00:11:20.06\00:11:22.69
And so, their
obedience to God is a formal
00:11:23.05\00:11:26.45
obedience, not an
obedience from the heart.
00:11:26.46\00:11:29.62
Only those who
know God intimately
00:11:29.97\00:11:32.08
and have Jesus
living in them fully through
00:11:32.09\00:11:34.34
the baptist the Holy
Spirit only they will
00:11:34.35\00:11:37.16
have the obedience
from the heart motivated
00:11:37.17\00:11:40.73
and manifested through
them by the Holy Spirit
00:11:41.16\00:11:43.94
through Jesus
Christ living within them.
00:11:43.95\00:11:46.02
The Wise Virgins
on the other hand,
00:11:46.81\00:11:48.64
they are filled with
the spirit, they are filled
00:11:48.96\00:11:51.59
with the presence
of Jesus and Jesus is
00:11:51.60\00:11:54.00
manifesting
Himself in and through them
00:11:54.01\00:11:56.02
in their lives.
In Second Corinthians
00:11:56.47\00:11:59.20
chapter 3 verse 3, we
read about these Virgins
00:11:59.21\00:12:02.46
and their experience.
"For as much as you are
00:12:02.47\00:12:05.98
manifestly declared to
be the epistle of Christ,
00:12:05.99\00:12:08.89
ministered by us,
written not with ink,
00:12:09.72\00:12:12.65
but with the
Spirit of the living God;
00:12:13.03\00:12:15.61
not in tables of
stone, but in fleshy
00:12:17.19\00:12:19.99
tables of the heart."
00:12:20.14\00:12:21.61
That scripture gives us
a very clear description
00:12:23.20\00:12:27.13
of the experience
of those who receive
00:12:27.57\00:12:31.19
the Holy Spirit in
fullness in their life.
00:12:31.20\00:12:33.27
What begins happening
is that God's law begins
00:12:33.62\00:12:36.88
be written on their
heart. It's interesting Paul
00:12:36.89\00:12:39.76
does used the phrase there were,
00:12:39.77\00:12:41.91
were written on
our hearts by the
00:12:41.92\00:12:45.20
spirit of God. It's
interesting parallel
00:12:45.21\00:12:48.24
when you look
at the given of the
00:12:48.25\00:12:49.32
Ten Commandments originally.
00:12:49.33\00:12:51.09
The Ten Commandments
were written on stone
00:12:51.49\00:12:53.29
Paul eludes to that there.
00:12:53.30\00:12:54.73
They were written on the stone
00:12:55.08\00:12:56.25
by the finger of God.
And it's very significant
00:12:56.26\00:13:00.93
when you look at Jesus ministry,
00:13:00.94\00:13:02.49
when you compare
a couple of Gospels,
00:13:02.87\00:13:04.54
in one place He says,
00:13:04.55\00:13:06.18
that I with the spirit
of God cast out the devil.
00:13:06.19\00:13:11.29
And then in a
parallel scripture in another
00:13:12.17\00:13:15.46
Gospel He says, I
with the finger of God
00:13:15.47\00:13:18.12
cast out devils. So,
Jesus equates the spirit
00:13:18.62\00:13:22.80
of God with the finger of God.
00:13:22.81\00:13:24.44
So, what we find here in this,
00:13:24.82\00:13:26.52
in the Old
Testament about the love God
00:13:26.53\00:13:29.29
be on written on
tables of stone by the finger
00:13:29.30\00:13:30.94
of God that
actually was the Holy Spirit.
00:13:30.95\00:13:33.48
The Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit
00:13:34.22\00:13:36.01
was there. And the
Holy Spirit was writing
00:13:36.79\00:13:40.42
the Ten Commandments
on the tables of stone.
00:13:40.43\00:13:43.69
And it's that same
Holy Spirit, when we receive
00:13:44.31\00:13:46.82
the baptism Holy Spirit
and we allow him to come
00:13:46.83\00:13:49.00
into our life and
start changing us.
00:13:49.01\00:13:50.51
And this is the
promise of the New Covenant.
00:13:50.52\00:13:52.04
The Holy Spirit will
come into our life and began
00:13:52.52\00:13:55.55
writing the law on our heart,
00:13:55.56\00:13:57.54
the Holy Spirit
in that sense is the
00:13:59.08\00:14:01.09
finger of God,
writing the law of God not
00:14:01.10\00:14:03.92
this time on tables of
stone, but on the fleshly
00:14:03.93\00:14:07.17
tables of the heart
that is the experience
00:14:07.18\00:14:10.58
of the Wise Virgins.
The law of God has been
00:14:11.11\00:14:14.78
written in their
heart. They're obeying God
00:14:14.79\00:14:17.26
from the heart.
The Foolish Virgins
00:14:17.27\00:14:19.67
on the other hand,
they've not received
00:14:19.68\00:14:22.54
the fullness of the
spirit in their life that
00:14:22.55\00:14:24.67
make still have the
same external obedience,
00:14:24.68\00:14:27.05
but it's not
obedience motivated by the
00:14:27.46\00:14:30.08
law being written in the
heart by the Holy Spirit.
00:14:30.09\00:14:32.33
Instead it's a form of
religion, obeying because
00:14:32.76\00:14:37.59
the law says
obey. Ellen White in
00:14:37.60\00:14:40.90
Desire of Ages page
668 makes a very pointed
00:14:40.91\00:14:43.90
statement about this.
00:14:43.91\00:14:44.88
"All true obedience
comes from the heart.
00:14:46.33\00:14:49.51
It was heart work with Christ.
00:14:51.09\00:14:52.81
And if we consent, He
will so identify Himself
00:14:53.62\00:14:57.73
with our thoughts and
aims, so blend our hearts
00:14:57.74\00:15:01.57
and minds into
conformity to His will,
00:15:01.96\00:15:04.73
that when obeying Him
we shall be but carrying
00:15:05.40\00:15:08.92
out our own impulses.
00:15:08.93\00:15:10.85
The will,
refined and sanctified,
00:15:11.64\00:15:13.99
will find its
highest delight in doing
00:15:14.00\00:15:16.45
His service. When
we know God as it is
00:15:16.46\00:15:21.11
our privilege to know Him,
00:15:21.12\00:15:22.46
our life will be a
life of continual obedience.
00:15:23.24\00:15:27.17
Through an appreciation
of the character of Christ,
00:15:28.43\00:15:30.77
through communion with God,
00:15:31.75\00:15:33.15
sin will become hateful to us."
00:15:33.96\00:15:35.83
That statement
is so significant.
00:15:37.65\00:15:40.04
We're told here that if
we allow the Holy Spirit
00:15:41.23\00:15:43.66
to come into our life,
the Holy Spirit will write
00:15:43.67\00:15:47.18
the law in our
heart so significantly
00:15:47.19\00:15:51.38
and it'll be such a
reality in our life that
00:15:51.39\00:15:54.41
in due time and
this is the process.
00:15:55.02\00:15:57.33
In due time as we
continue to yield to the
00:15:58.39\00:16:00.97
Holy Spirit's promptings
and we continue to deny
00:16:00.98\00:16:03.64
the flesh and the sinful nature.
00:16:03.65\00:16:05.64
And that continues
to get suppressed more
00:16:05.65\00:16:07.82
and more in our
life. And we keep yielding
00:16:07.83\00:16:09.97
to God's spirit
prompting us; we keep choosing
00:16:09.98\00:16:12.56
to serve God under the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:16:12.57\00:16:14.75
We make the choice;
the Holy Spirit gives
00:16:16.17\00:16:19.09
the power. As we
continue to do that Jesus says,
00:16:19.10\00:16:22.04
our life will be
life will become a life of
00:16:22.05\00:16:24.56
continual
obedience, a life like Jesus.
00:16:24.57\00:16:29.26
And remember those
ready to meet Jesus
00:16:29.74\00:16:31.51
will be just like Jesus.
00:16:31.85\00:16:32.86
If we allow the Holy
Spirit to do the work
00:16:36.78\00:16:38.68
in our life sin will
become hateful to us.
00:16:38.69\00:16:42.33
We won't want
anything to do with it.
00:16:43.32\00:16:45.73
That is the high
calling that God has given us.
00:16:46.58\00:16:48.77
And that is the
calling God has given to
00:16:48.78\00:16:51.59
His people today to
come out of Laodicea,
00:16:51.60\00:16:54.06
receive the
baptize the Holy Spirit.
00:16:54.60\00:16:56.22
Let the law start
being written on our hearts
00:16:56.23\00:16:58.69
by the Holy Spirit.
So, the our obedience
00:16:58.70\00:17:01.37
becomes internal obedience and
00:17:01.38\00:17:04.37
not external,
because the Foolish Virgins
00:17:04.38\00:17:06.60
has the external obedience,
00:17:06.61\00:17:08.13
the form of
religion, but not obedience
00:17:08.42\00:17:11.32
from the heart. The
Wise Virgins have the
00:17:11.33\00:17:14.30
internal obedience, the
obedience from the heart
00:17:14.31\00:17:16.85
motivated by the Holy
Spirit writing the law
00:17:16.86\00:17:19.10
on their heart.
Let me illustrate this,
00:17:19.11\00:17:23.45
you might be
want to, what do you
00:17:23.46\00:17:24.71
mean internal,
external obedience?
00:17:24.72\00:17:26.23
Well, here's an
example. Lets say my father
00:17:26.56\00:17:30.87
dies and I go to my
good friend and I say,
00:17:30.88\00:17:33.96
you know John
my, my, my dad died
00:17:34.36\00:17:37.51
and I'm his son,
do you think I should
00:17:37.52\00:17:40.55
I mourn is death?
Well, we talk it over
00:17:40.56\00:17:43.32
and John says, well
you know, Dennis you,
00:17:43.33\00:17:45.55
you are his son
and he is your father.
00:17:45.56\00:17:47.37
I think you
should mourn his death.
00:17:47.38\00:17:48.44
So, I think about
night, and so I go home
00:17:49.01\00:17:50.72
and I mourn. Let me ask you,
00:17:50.73\00:17:52.58
is that real mourning?
00:17:52.59\00:17:53.78
No, that's a form of mourning.
00:17:54.60\00:17:57.37
I mourning because
I'm supposed to mourn
00:17:57.38\00:17:59.95
because I'm the son
and he is the father
00:18:00.30\00:18:02.49
and he died and I'm
suppose to mourn is death,
00:18:02.50\00:18:04.53
that's external
mourning, external obedience.
00:18:05.09\00:18:09.58
You see, true obedience from the
00:18:10.01\00:18:11.34
heart I couldn't held but mourn,
00:18:11.35\00:18:12.70
if I have a
relationship with my father
00:18:13.01\00:18:15.01
and he dies I
cannot help but mourn,
00:18:15.32\00:18:18.40
it'll happen, it
happens from within,
00:18:18.41\00:18:20.85
deep within. And
it's manifested without,
00:18:20.86\00:18:23.11
that's the
difference between internal
00:18:23.89\00:18:25.92
and external
obedience. You see, external
00:18:26.37\00:18:29.62
obedience is one
obeys because the law says,
00:18:29.63\00:18:32.36
obey. It's a
legalistic obedience.
00:18:32.37\00:18:36.29
And it's an obedience
that keeps record by the way.
00:18:37.57\00:18:39.61
Those that have
external obedience can very
00:18:41.74\00:18:44.08
clearly and they're
very at depth at listing
00:18:44.43\00:18:48.10
their obedience.
They know all about their
00:18:48.54\00:18:51.63
obedience and they
know all about the you know,
00:18:51.64\00:18:53.93
what's happened in the past and,
00:18:53.94\00:18:55.68
and by the way
they keep an eye on your
00:18:55.69\00:18:57.31
obedience too. And they'll let
00:18:57.32\00:18:59.24
you know about it,
they keep a record.
00:18:59.25\00:19:01.41
But those that have
obedience from the heart
00:19:02.16\00:19:04.31
it happens, it's
kind of like here in
00:19:04.97\00:19:08.22
Matthew again, when
Jesus talked about the sheep
00:19:08.23\00:19:10.67
and the goats and
He says, you know,
00:19:10.68\00:19:12.45
I was hungry you
fed me, I was in,
00:19:12.46\00:19:14.22
in prison you visit
me, and you listed a number
00:19:14.23\00:19:16.23
of things and those
that were saved said,
00:19:16.24\00:19:18.03
when did we do that.
00:19:18.04\00:19:19.22
They weren't
awar of the obedience.
00:19:21.18\00:19:22.50
You said, of course
you did it to one of the
00:19:23.01\00:19:24.74
least things and
my brother did to me.
00:19:24.75\00:19:25.98
You see, internal
obedience happens,
00:19:26.53\00:19:29.45
it happens. How can I
know if the law is being
00:19:30.75\00:19:34.54
written on my heart then?
00:19:34.55\00:19:35.52
And that I'm
having internal obedience.
00:19:35.74\00:19:37.83
Well, let's
take another example;
00:19:39.12\00:19:40.34
say I'm watching
the television program.
00:19:40.35\00:19:41.92
And let say it's a
very, very good story line
00:19:42.90\00:19:44.96
and as I watch
that program I'm really
00:19:45.80\00:19:47.69
enjoying the program you know
00:19:47.70\00:19:48.67
there's murder on it,
there is adultery on it,
00:19:48.68\00:19:51.51
there is lying on it,
but it's a good story line
00:19:52.67\00:19:55.58
and I'm having a
little tension here now.
00:19:55.59\00:19:57.22
You know, I really
like to keep watching it,
00:19:57.23\00:19:58.56
but now there's some
of that stuff on I know
00:19:58.57\00:20:00.60
I shouldn't be
watching as a Christian.
00:20:00.61\00:20:02.07
So, I have a struggle
should I, should I not,
00:20:02.08\00:20:04.04
if that's what
going on that's external.
00:20:05.38\00:20:08.89
Sometimes I may
turn it off, sometimes
00:20:09.59\00:20:11.50
I may not. You see,
the struggle I'm having
00:20:11.51\00:20:14.21
is external I see
and I know externally
00:20:14.22\00:20:17.16
in my mind, well I
shouldn't be watching
00:20:17.17\00:20:18.91
adultery and I
shouldn't be watching murder,
00:20:18.92\00:20:20.72
and I shouldn't
be watching lying.
00:20:21.01\00:20:22.15
And so, I make
choose to turn it off.
00:20:23.39\00:20:24.67
Now, that's the Foolish Virgin.
00:20:25.01\00:20:26.86
The Wise Virgin
on the other hand,
00:20:27.45\00:20:29.09
they'll turn it off,
but they turned it off
00:20:29.43\00:20:30.99
for different
reason. They'll turn it off
00:20:31.00\00:20:32.55
because they're
repulsed by what they see.
00:20:32.56\00:20:34.59
When they see sin
acted out before them
00:20:35.49\00:20:37.60
because the laws on
their heart they don't like it,
00:20:37.61\00:20:39.70
they don't
anything to do with it;
00:20:39.71\00:20:40.89
it's a natural response to it.
00:20:41.14\00:20:42.90
And so, they will
choose to turn it off.
00:20:44.22\00:20:46.58
Now, they can always
choose to watch and resist
00:20:46.59\00:20:48.57
'cause they're
still the sinful nature,
00:20:48.58\00:20:49.82
but they have the
desire in the heart,
00:20:51.16\00:20:52.96
why do they
repulse? Because Jesus is
00:20:53.19\00:20:55.12
living in him
through the baptism
00:20:55.13\00:20:56.42
of the Holy
Spirit. They are developing
00:20:56.43\00:20:58.67
the likes of Jesus and
the desires that Jesus has.
00:20:58.68\00:21:01.22
They love the things He loves;
00:21:01.87\00:21:03.46
they hate the
things that He hates.
00:21:03.47\00:21:04.60
And so, Jesus living
with in them is manifesting
00:21:05.19\00:21:08.04
himself through them.
And so, started living
00:21:08.05\00:21:10.57
a life in obedience to
Jesus 'cause it's Jesus
00:21:10.58\00:21:12.63
in them through the
Holy Spirit manifesting
00:21:12.64\00:21:14.33
their life. And
that's why Ellen White said
00:21:14.34\00:21:16.44
in that previous
quote; their life becomes
00:21:16.45\00:21:19.25
a life of continual obedience.
00:21:19.26\00:21:21.44
They're becoming
more and more like Jesus.
00:21:22.77\00:21:24.77
And that is the high
calling God is giving
00:21:25.66\00:21:28.27
to you and me and every
Christian living this day.
00:21:28.28\00:21:31.32
Ellen White
describes the contrast of the
00:21:32.48\00:21:34.88
Foolish Virgins
in Review and Herald
00:21:34.89\00:21:36.99
August 19, 1890. "The
name 'foolish' virgins
00:21:37.00\00:21:42.60
represents the
character of those who have
00:21:42.61\00:21:46.81
not the genuine
heart-work wrought
00:21:47.18\00:21:50.15
by the Spirit of
God. The coming of Christ
00:21:50.16\00:21:53.52
does not change
the foolish virgins
00:21:53.53\00:21:56.15
into wise ones.
The state of the church
00:21:56.37\00:21:59.49
represented by
the foolish virgins,
00:21:59.50\00:22:01.80
is also spoken of as
the Laodicea condition."
00:22:02.52\00:22:06.69
Very significant statement.
00:22:09.04\00:22:10.18
The Foolish Virgins
do not have the work of
00:22:12.88\00:22:16.34
the Holy Spirit in their heart.
00:22:16.35\00:22:17.37
The Foolish
Virgins also describe the
00:22:19.36\00:22:23.23
Laodicean Church.
So, I guess you could say
00:22:23.24\00:22:27.06
in one sense we're
all foolish, but yet God
00:22:27.07\00:22:31.44
now is calling that
last generation to come out
00:22:31.45\00:22:35.21
of Laodicea to
become Wise Virgins,
00:22:35.22\00:22:37.66
to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:22:39.17\00:22:40.37
So, the Holy Spirit
can begin writing the law
00:22:41.59\00:22:43.44
on our heart. And we
know in the last days
00:22:43.45\00:22:46.29
God's law will an
issue, a significant issue.
00:22:46.30\00:22:48.80
And only if the law is
in our heart will we be
00:22:49.32\00:22:51.64
able to successfully
remain faithful to God.
00:22:51.65\00:22:53.60
It is only
through the baptism of the
00:22:54.53\00:22:55.91
Holy Spirit that we
will be prepared for
00:22:55.92\00:22:58.45
the final crisis.
In Letter 15 1899 to a
00:22:58.46\00:23:03.42
Dr. Berk, Ellen White wrote,
00:23:03.43\00:23:05.28
"Nothing but the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:23:07.51\00:23:09.75
can bring up the
church to its right position,
00:23:09.76\00:23:12.17
and prepare the
people of God for the fast
00:23:12.67\00:23:15.24
approaching conflict."
00:23:15.25\00:23:17.15
That's the only answer
folks, there is no other,
00:23:19.78\00:23:22.59
there is no other
option, there is no
00:23:24.29\00:23:25.95
multiple choice. It
is only as we understand
00:23:26.02\00:23:29.23
and experience the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:23:29.24\00:23:31.10
that we will have
that extra oil that will be
00:23:32.71\00:23:35.48
coming out of
Laodicea will be start becoming
00:23:35.49\00:23:38.90
like Jesus, having
the law of God written
00:23:38.91\00:23:41.17
in our heart. And
our obedience will become
00:23:41.18\00:23:44.18
obedience from the
heart that is what God
00:23:44.19\00:23:47.59
is calling us to. And
that's why I'm convinced
00:23:47.60\00:23:50.17
the coming of
Jesus is very soon 'cause
00:23:50.18\00:23:52.67
I see God taking this
message on the baptism
00:23:52.68\00:23:55.44
Holy Spirit to His
people around the world,
00:23:55.45\00:23:57.78
He is calling them
out, it's our choice whether
00:23:58.10\00:24:01.13
or not we choose to
respond to the message
00:24:01.14\00:24:03.64
and receive the in
filling of God's spirit.
00:24:03.65\00:24:05.11
A living connection
with Jesus will result
00:24:06.61\00:24:09.08
from daily seeking the
baptism of Holy Spirit.
00:24:09.44\00:24:11.81
In Review and
Herald, April 5, 1892
00:24:12.55\00:24:15.54
Ellen White wrote,
"We must have a living
00:24:16.27\00:24:18.99
connection with
God. We must be clothed
00:24:19.00\00:24:22.18
with power from on
high by the baptism of the
00:24:22.19\00:24:26.20
Holy Spirit, that we
may reach a higher standard;
00:24:26.21\00:24:29.92
for there is help
for us in no other way."
00:24:30.61\00:24:33.72
I cannot emphasize
to you strong enough,
00:24:35.49\00:24:37.77
I cannot appeal to
you with enough passion,
00:24:39.28\00:24:42.29
it is essential,
there is no other option,
00:24:43.51\00:24:46.19
there is no other
way. The baptism of the
00:24:46.20\00:24:48.33
Holy Spirit is the
only means we have to
00:24:48.34\00:24:51.34
have that living
connection with God.
00:24:51.35\00:24:52.99
It is the only
means we have to have that
00:24:53.73\00:24:56.14
obedience from the
heart and to serve our
00:24:56.15\00:24:58.63
Lord faithfully through the end.
00:24:58.64\00:25:00.22
It is urgent, it is necessary.
00:25:01.07\00:25:03.10
The baptism of the
Holy Spirit prepares us
00:25:04.26\00:25:06.25
for that final crisis
and, and brings in our lives
00:25:06.26\00:25:09.69
the experience
of the Wise Virgins.
00:25:09.70\00:25:11.60
Ellen White
describes those Wise Virgins in
00:25:11.61\00:25:14.28
Six Testimonies page 86,
00:25:14.75\00:25:17.96
"Impress upon all
the necessity of the
00:25:20.34\00:25:22.39
baptism of the Holy
Spirit, the sanctification
00:25:22.40\00:25:25.04
of the members of the
church, so that they will
00:25:25.05\00:25:26.86
be living,
growing, fruit-bearing trees
00:25:26.87\00:25:28.94
of the Lord planting."
00:25:28.95\00:25:29.92
These words
described the experience of
00:25:31.40\00:25:34.29
the Wise Virgins,
they will be experiencing
00:25:34.30\00:25:37.63
sanctification, they
will be living, growing,
00:25:37.65\00:25:40.93
fruit-bearing trees
of the Lord's planting.
00:25:40.94\00:25:43.96
When we
experience the in filling
00:25:45.77\00:25:48.67
baptism of the Holy
Spirit changes start
00:25:48.68\00:25:51.78
happening within us,
the law of God is written
00:25:51.79\00:25:54.67
in our heart, we
come to the point that
00:25:54.68\00:25:56.68
we hate sin. And
those who are living
00:25:56.69\00:25:59.11
when Jesus comes,
we would rather die
00:25:59.12\00:26:02.44
then hurt their Lord.
You notice I didn't say
00:26:03.25\00:26:06.52
they rather die then
sin. The Foolish Virgins,
00:26:06.53\00:26:11.35
when they sin and
they make a mistakes,
00:26:11.79\00:26:13.59
oh! I sinned, I
shouldn't have done that,
00:26:13.60\00:26:15.03
that might keep
me out of heaven,
00:26:15.46\00:26:16.76
that might make me not
ready for Jesus coming.
00:26:16.77\00:26:18.50
The focus is on the
act because the Lord says,
00:26:18.86\00:26:21.75
don't do it.
Where the Wise Virgins,
00:26:21.76\00:26:25.26
when they sin they're
broken hearted because
00:26:25.27\00:26:27.63
they hurt the Lord,
they let the Lord down?
00:26:27.64\00:26:30.44
And that's why in
Psalm 51, David said,
00:26:31.09\00:26:32.95
in his Prayer of
Repentance. Again thee,
00:26:32.96\00:26:34.75
the only God have I
sinned. You see the,
00:26:34.76\00:26:38.56
those that are
being filled with the
00:26:38.95\00:26:40.00
Holy Spirit, their
relationship with Jesus
00:26:40.01\00:26:41.67
becoming very
close, very personal,
00:26:41.68\00:26:43.97
very intimate. And
those living when Jesus comes,
00:26:43.98\00:26:48.80
when they're faced
with the temptations
00:26:49.94\00:26:51.75
and the trials and the
pressures going on them?
00:26:51.76\00:26:53.65
The reason they can
stand, is that they love
00:26:53.99\00:26:57.31
their Lord with all their heart.
00:26:57.64\00:26:59.26
They have come to
the place in their live,
00:26:59.67\00:27:01.61
if they're struggling
with the temptation of sin
00:27:01.62\00:27:03.91
and as they're
praying to their God,
00:27:04.21\00:27:05.70
they're willing to
say Lord let me die,
00:27:05.71\00:27:07.41
if tonight, if I'm
gonna dishonor you tomorrow.
00:27:07.42\00:27:09.82
The relationship
with God is that intimate
00:27:11.54\00:27:13.75
and that meaningful to them.
00:27:13.76\00:27:15.22
And in the end
they'll be faithful to God
00:27:15.93\00:27:18.17
because they're
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:27:18.60\00:27:20.59
They'd love the Holy
Spirit to write the law
00:27:21.97\00:27:23.79
in their heart.
They're obeying God because
00:27:23.80\00:27:26.71
they want to obey
Him, not because they have
00:27:26.72\00:27:29.28
to obey Him. They woul
rather die then dishonor
00:27:29.29\00:27:35.54
their Lord through
disobedience to Him.
00:27:35.55\00:27:38.47
That's how close
and how meaningful their
00:27:38.96\00:27:41.16
relationship is
with Jesus Christ.
00:27:41.17\00:27:43.12
That is the
experience that God is calling
00:27:44.31\00:27:47.10
each of us too, He
is calling you too.
00:27:47.46\00:27:49.28
And I pray that
you'll say, yes to His call
00:27:49.90\00:27:52.71
in your life today to
be filled with His spirit.
00:27:52.72\00:27:54.80