Participants: Dennis Smith
Series Code: FC
Program Code: FC000294
|
00:31 Welcome to Faith Chapel. I'm Dennis Smith,
00:34 Pastor of the New Haven, Connecticut, 00:36 Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:38 Jesus gave a very significant morning in 00:42 Matthew chapter 7 concerning those living 00:44 in the last days. He spoke of individuals 00:47 that were apparently involved in some 00:49 very powerful ministries. 00:52 They told Jesus that they had prophesied 00:54 in His name, cast out devils in His name 00:56 and done many wonderful works in His name. 00:59 And then Jesus told them I never knew you. 01:04 In Matthew 25, Jesus also gave a parable of 01:07 Wise and Foolish Virgins. 01:10 Both group apparently felt they're ready 01:12 for the coming of Jesus, but to the 01:15 Foolish Virgins he said, I don't know you. 01:20 Knowing Jesus is crucial to our salvation into our 01:26 salvation through in these last days 01:27 and making it through the final crisis, 01:30 that's our subject for today 01:32 how do we know Jesus? Let us pray. 01:37 Our gracious Father, I thank you that you've 01:40 called us to know you and Jesus Christ your Son. 01:46 I thank you that you've given us the gift 01:48 to the Holy Spirit. And I pray Father that 01:51 through this message today you'll open our 01:55 understanding, may we hear your word 01:59 that we can know how we're to enter into an 02:02 intimate relationship with Jesus, 02:05 so that when He comes, we will not hear the 02:07 words I never knew you, but we'll hear the 02:10 words welcome my children inherit the kingdom 02:14 prepared for you from the foundation 02:16 of the world, in Jesus name I pray, amen. 02:23 Knowing Jesus will determine whether or not 02:27 we're prepared for the final crisis and Christ 02:31 second coming. You see, our salvation 02:36 and our preparation for last day events 02:39 is not a matter of what we know? 02:42 Now, I'm a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, 02:45 and my denomination which I love 02:47 very much and I, and I believe the doctrines of, 02:50 of my denomination, I believe are true. 02:53 I've had many years to prove that to myself, 02:55 but there is a danger for our Seventh-day Adventist 02:58 and any other Christians who are similar in having 03:02 strong doctrinal focus in the denomination. 03:05 And this is the danger that if we're not careful 03:08 we can find our self depending on the 03:11 doctrines that we know as our security in our 03:15 salvation and, and in our sense of preparation 03:18 for the final crisis and Christ second coming. 03:21 You see, I can be in danger of thinking that 03:26 well I know about death, I know what happens 03:29 when a person dies, I know about the second 03:32 coming of Jesus in the manner of His coming. 03:35 I know about the Mark of the Beast, 03:36 and what the Mark of the Beast is? 03:38 And the danger is, is that I can begin thinking 03:41 that my knowledge of these doctrines 03:43 will save me, they won't. It is not what we know, 03:48 but who we know. Remember it was tithe 03:52 paying, Sabbath keeping, health reformers 03:54 who crucified Jesus. Now, the doctrines are good. 03:58 I'm not against the doctrines at all 04:00 of my church. It's important to understand 04:03 them and if they involve lifestyle changes 04:05 that's important to bring into our life, 04:07 but those things in and of themselves 04:08 will not save us. It is only by an intimate 04:12 connection with Jesus Christ through the baptist 04:16 the Holy Spirit that I get to know Him. 04:19 And is only annoying Him that I have security 04:23 in being ready for the final crisis and prepared 04:27 for Christ second coming. There is also a danger 04:30 for those that maybe involved in, 04:32 in very active ministries that seem to be very 04:35 powerful ministries in service for the Lord 04:38 because as I mentioned previously 04:41 there were those Jesus spoke of, who said, 04:43 they would be involved, they were involved 04:46 in prophesying His name, casting out devils 04:48 in His name, doing many wonderful works 04:49 in His name and Jesus said, I don't know you. 04:53 So, again we may have great knowledge 04:55 of the doctrines. We need to be very involved 04:58 in ministry for Jesus, but if we don't know 05:01 Jesus neither of those things will bring 05:04 salvation to us. Neither of those things 05:07 will prepare us for the final crisis and Christ 05:10 second coming. Jesus pointed this out in 05:14 John chapter 17 and verse 3. 05:18 "And this is life eternal, that they might know 05:21 thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, 05:24 whom thou hast sent." 05:30 Knowing Jesus how do we get to know Jesus? 05:34 Well, there is another confusion that 05:35 we can have, we can confuse knowing things 05:39 about God with knowing God. We can confuse 05:44 with knowing, well I know God is creator, 05:45 I know the Father and His Son Jesus Christ; 05:48 I knew Jesus died on the cross for me. 05:50 We can know a lot of things about God. 05:52 And if we're not care for this, okay I know God. 05:54 No, we don't know God but the things about God. 05:57 God is a person. And we only know God by 06:01 getting to know Him personally in an 06:02 intimate way, knowing things about God 06:05 is not at all the same as knowing God. 06:08 We can also confuse religion and going through 06:13 the forms of religion with knowing God. 06:16 We can confuse, well I know the Ten Commandments, 06:18 so I keep the Ten Commandments therefore 06:20 I'm right with God or I go to church every week. 06:23 Therefore I know God and I'm right with God. 06:26 Those things and themselves again are not 06:28 necessarily an indication we know God. 06:31 If we know God, yes we'll be keeping God's 06:33 Ten Commandments by His grace. 06:35 And if we know God, yes we'll wanting in a, 06:38 we'll be wanting to get into fellowship 06:40 with fellow believers. And, and going to church 06:43 another activities where the Lord's word is taught, 06:46 but those things in and of themselves are not 06:49 necessarily evidence that we know God. 06:54 Jesus taught that there would be many in the 06:59 last days that would be professing His name. 07:02 In fact, in Matthew chapter 7 verse 21 to 23 07:06 we read. "Not every one that says unto me, 07:09 Lord, Lord, shall enter into the 07:11 kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will 07:14 of my Father which is in heaven. 07:16 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, 07:19 have we not prophesied in thy name? 07:22 And in thy name have cast out devils? 07:24 And in thy name have done many wonderful works? 07:26 And then will I profess unto them, 07:28 I never knew you, depart from me, 07:30 ye that work iniquity." 07:32 Here we see very clearly that Jesus tells us 07:35 in the last days there would be many, 07:36 many professing His name. Many will say, 07:40 Lord, Lord and they've don't this, 07:41 and they've done that, and they believe this, 07:43 and they believe that, but the tragic words 07:46 I never knew you. Jesus also spoke along 07:49 these lines in the parable of the Wise and 07:52 Foolish Virgins in Matthew 25 in reading 07:54 in verses 1 through 4. 07:58 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened 08:00 unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, 08:03 and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 08:06 And five of them were wise, 08:08 and five were foolish. 08:11 They that were foolish took their lamps, 08:13 and took no oil with them. 08:16 But the wise took oil in their 08:18 vessels with their lamps." 08:23 What we find here is that when Jesus 08:25 described the Wise and Foolish Virgins, 08:28 this is talking about again the professed people 08:32 of God just before Jesus comes 'cause as we read 08:35 on through the parable it talks about the coming 08:37 of the bridegroom. And we find here 08:39 there are two groups, the Wise Virgins brought 08:44 extra oil, the Foolish Virgins did not. 08:47 And then the Bible a symbol of oil is the 08:50 Holy Spirit. And what we find here the 08:53 Wise Virgins had the in filling of the Holy Spirit. 08:56 They would allow the spirit to manifest himself 08:59 in their life. They understood and had 09:02 experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 09:04 And Jesus was living His life out through them. 09:07 The Foolish Virgins did not have that experience. 09:11 Now, it's interesting to know the 09:13 Wise and Foolish Virgins they both had the lamps, 09:17 they both look very similar, if you're to look 09:19 at the external obedience and lifestyle 09:23 of the Wise and the Foolish Virgins 09:25 you couldn't see a difference, 09:26 they both look the same, but there was a very, 09:30 very significant difference because when Jesus 09:33 comes back He made a significant statement 09:35 to the Foolish Virgins. 09:36 In Matthew chapter 25 verse 12. 09:40 "But he answered and said, 09:42 Verily I say unto you, I know you not." 09:47 A very similar statement made to those that 09:49 had been professing His name and involved 09:51 in many different ministries for him. 09:53 I don't know you. So, again it confirms the fact 09:57 that knowing Jesus is at the very heart of our 10:00 relationship with God. God is a person and 10:03 our relationship must be an intimate personal 10:06 relationship with Him, not simply had knowledge 10:08 about Him, not simply being active in ministry 10:12 for Him because our ministry for God 10:15 can become a substitute for our relationship 10:18 with God. Our knowledge of God and things 10:21 about God and the doctrines in God's word 10:24 can be a substitute for really knowing 10:28 Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. 10:31 In Christ Object Lessons page 411, 10:33 Ellen White writes about the Foolish Virgins. 10:36 "The class represented by the foolish virgins 10:38 are not hypocrites. They have a regard for 10:41 the truth, they have advocated the truth, 10:44 they are attracted to those who believe 10:46 the truth; but they have not yielded themselves 10:49 to the Holy Spirit's working. 10:52 The class represented by the foolish virgins 10:54 have been content with a superficial work. 10:59 They do not know God. Their service degenerates 11:04 into a form." That's put quite clearly it's sad, 11:10 the Foolish Virgins have all the knowledge, 11:14 are involved in ministry, they like to fellowship 11:17 with God's people, but yet they do not have 11:20 the deep workings of the Holy Spirit in their life. 11:23 And so, their obedience to God is a formal 11:26 obedience, not an obedience from the heart. 11:29 Only those who know God intimately 11:32 and have Jesus living in them fully through 11:34 the baptist the Holy Spirit only they will 11:37 have the obedience from the heart motivated 11:41 and manifested through them by the Holy Spirit 11:43 through Jesus Christ living within them. 11:46 The Wise Virgins on the other hand, 11:48 they are filled with the spirit, they are filled 11:51 with the presence of Jesus and Jesus is 11:54 manifesting Himself in and through them 11:56 in their lives. In Second Corinthians 11:59 chapter 3 verse 3, we read about these Virgins 12:02 and their experience. "For as much as you are 12:06 manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, 12:09 ministered by us, written not with ink, 12:13 but with the Spirit of the living God; 12:17 not in tables of stone, but in fleshy 12:20 tables of the heart." 12:23 That scripture gives us a very clear description 12:27 of the experience of those who receive 12:31 the Holy Spirit in fullness in their life. 12:33 What begins happening is that God's law begins 12:36 be written on their heart. It's interesting Paul 12:39 does used the phrase there were, 12:41 were written on our hearts by the 12:45 spirit of God. It's interesting parallel 12:48 when you look at the given of the 12:49 Ten Commandments originally. 12:51 The Ten Commandments were written on stone 12:53 Paul eludes to that there. 12:55 They were written on the stone 12:56 by the finger of God. And it's very significant 13:00 when you look at Jesus ministry, 13:02 when you compare a couple of Gospels, 13:04 in one place He says, 13:06 that I with the spirit of God cast out the devil. 13:12 And then in a parallel scripture in another 13:15 Gospel He says, I with the finger of God 13:18 cast out devils. So, Jesus equates the spirit 13:22 of God with the finger of God. 13:24 So, what we find here in this, 13:26 in the Old Testament about the love God 13:29 be on written on tables of stone by the finger 13:30 of God that actually was the Holy Spirit. 13:34 The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 13:36 was there. And the Holy Spirit was writing 13:40 the Ten Commandments on the tables of stone. 13:44 And it's that same Holy Spirit, when we receive 13:46 the baptism Holy Spirit and we allow him to come 13:49 into our life and start changing us. 13:50 And this is the promise of the New Covenant. 13:52 The Holy Spirit will come into our life and began 13:55 writing the law on our heart, 13:59 the Holy Spirit in that sense is the 14:01 finger of God, writing the law of God not 14:03 this time on tables of stone, but on the fleshly 14:07 tables of the heart that is the experience 14:11 of the Wise Virgins. The law of God has been 14:14 written in their heart. They're obeying God 14:17 from the heart. The Foolish Virgins 14:19 on the other hand, they've not received 14:22 the fullness of the spirit in their life that 14:24 make still have the same external obedience, 14:27 but it's not obedience motivated by the 14:30 law being written in the heart by the Holy Spirit. 14:32 Instead it's a form of religion, obeying because 14:37 the law says obey. Ellen White in 14:40 Desire of Ages page 668 makes a very pointed 14:43 statement about this. 14:46 "All true obedience comes from the heart. 14:51 It was heart work with Christ. 14:53 And if we consent, He will so identify Himself 14:57 with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts 15:01 and minds into conformity to His will, 15:05 that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying 15:08 out our own impulses. 15:11 The will, refined and sanctified, 15:14 will find its highest delight in doing 15:16 His service. When we know God as it is 15:21 our privilege to know Him, 15:23 our life will be a life of continual obedience. 15:28 Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, 15:31 through communion with God, 15:33 sin will become hateful to us." 15:37 That statement is so significant. 15:41 We're told here that if we allow the Holy Spirit 15:43 to come into our life, the Holy Spirit will write 15:47 the law in our heart so significantly 15:51 and it'll be such a reality in our life that 15:55 in due time and this is the process. 15:58 In due time as we continue to yield to the 16:01 Holy Spirit's promptings and we continue to deny 16:03 the flesh and the sinful nature. 16:05 And that continues to get suppressed more 16:07 and more in our life. And we keep yielding 16:10 to God's spirit prompting us; we keep choosing 16:12 to serve God under the power of the Holy Spirit. 16:16 We make the choice; the Holy Spirit gives 16:19 the power. As we continue to do that Jesus says, 16:22 our life will be life will become a life of 16:24 continual obedience, a life like Jesus. 16:29 And remember those ready to meet Jesus 16:31 will be just like Jesus. 16:36 If we allow the Holy Spirit to do the work 16:38 in our life sin will become hateful to us. 16:43 We won't want anything to do with it. 16:46 That is the high calling that God has given us. 16:48 And that is the calling God has given to 16:51 His people today to come out of Laodicea, 16:54 receive the baptize the Holy Spirit. 16:56 Let the law start being written on our hearts 16:58 by the Holy Spirit. So, the our obedience 17:01 becomes internal obedience and 17:04 not external, because the Foolish Virgins 17:06 has the external obedience, 17:08 the form of religion, but not obedience 17:11 from the heart. The Wise Virgins have the 17:14 internal obedience, the obedience from the heart 17:16 motivated by the Holy Spirit writing the law 17:19 on their heart. Let me illustrate this, 17:23 you might be want to, what do you 17:24 mean internal, external obedience? 17:26 Well, here's an example. Lets say my father 17:30 dies and I go to my good friend and I say, 17:34 you know John my, my, my dad died 17:37 and I'm his son, do you think I should 17:40 I mourn is death? Well, we talk it over 17:43 and John says, well you know, Dennis you, 17:45 you are his son and he is your father. 17:47 I think you should mourn his death. 17:49 So, I think about night, and so I go home 17:50 and I mourn. Let me ask you, 17:52 is that real mourning? 17:54 No, that's a form of mourning. 17:57 I mourning because I'm supposed to mourn 18:00 because I'm the son and he is the father 18:02 and he died and I'm suppose to mourn is death, 18:05 that's external mourning, external obedience. 18:10 You see, true obedience from the 18:11 heart I couldn't held but mourn, 18:13 if I have a relationship with my father 18:15 and he dies I cannot help but mourn, 18:18 it'll happen, it happens from within, 18:20 deep within. And it's manifested without, 18:23 that's the difference between internal 18:26 and external obedience. You see, external 18:29 obedience is one obeys because the law says, 18:32 obey. It's a legalistic obedience. 18:37 And it's an obedience that keeps record by the way. 18:41 Those that have external obedience can very 18:44 clearly and they're very at depth at listing 18:48 their obedience. They know all about their 18:51 obedience and they know all about the you know, 18:53 what's happened in the past and, 18:55 and by the way they keep an eye on your 18:57 obedience too. And they'll let 18:59 you know about it, they keep a record. 19:02 But those that have obedience from the heart 19:04 it happens, it's kind of like here in 19:08 Matthew again, when Jesus talked about the sheep 19:10 and the goats and He says, you know, 19:12 I was hungry you fed me, I was in, 19:14 in prison you visit me, and you listed a number 19:16 of things and those that were saved said, 19:18 when did we do that. 19:21 They weren't awar of the obedience. 19:23 You said, of course you did it to one of the 19:24 least things and my brother did to me. 19:26 You see, internal obedience happens, 19:30 it happens. How can I know if the law is being 19:34 written on my heart then? 19:35 And that I'm having internal obedience. 19:39 Well, let's take another example; 19:40 say I'm watching the television program. 19:42 And let say it's a very, very good story line 19:45 and as I watch that program I'm really 19:47 enjoying the program you know 19:48 there's murder on it, there is adultery on it, 19:52 there is lying on it, but it's a good story line 19:55 and I'm having a little tension here now. 19:57 You know, I really like to keep watching it, 19:58 but now there's some of that stuff on I know 20:00 I shouldn't be watching as a Christian. 20:02 So, I have a struggle should I, should I not, 20:05 if that's what going on that's external. 20:09 Sometimes I may turn it off, sometimes 20:11 I may not. You see, the struggle I'm having 20:14 is external I see and I know externally 20:17 in my mind, well I shouldn't be watching 20:18 adultery and I shouldn't be watching murder, 20:21 and I shouldn't be watching lying. 20:23 And so, I make choose to turn it off. 20:25 Now, that's the Foolish Virgin. 20:27 The Wise Virgin on the other hand, 20:29 they'll turn it off, but they turned it off 20:31 for different reason. They'll turn it off 20:32 because they're repulsed by what they see. 20:35 When they see sin acted out before them 20:37 because the laws on their heart they don't like it, 20:39 they don't anything to do with it; 20:41 it's a natural response to it. 20:44 And so, they will choose to turn it off. 20:46 Now, they can always choose to watch and resist 20:48 'cause they're still the sinful nature, 20:51 but they have the desire in the heart, 20:53 why do they repulse? Because Jesus is 20:55 living in him through the baptism 20:56 of the Holy Spirit. They are developing 20:58 the likes of Jesus and the desires that Jesus has. 21:01 They love the things He loves; 21:03 they hate the things that He hates. 21:05 And so, Jesus living with in them is manifesting 21:08 himself through them. And so, started living 21:10 a life in obedience to Jesus 'cause it's Jesus 21:12 in them through the Holy Spirit manifesting 21:14 their life. And that's why Ellen White said 21:16 in that previous quote; their life becomes 21:19 a life of continual obedience. 21:22 They're becoming more and more like Jesus. 21:25 And that is the high calling God is giving 21:28 to you and me and every Christian living this day. 21:32 Ellen White describes the contrast of the 21:34 Foolish Virgins in Review and Herald 21:37 August 19, 1890. "The name 'foolish' virgins 21:42 represents the character of those who have 21:47 not the genuine heart-work wrought 21:50 by the Spirit of God. The coming of Christ 21:53 does not change the foolish virgins 21:56 into wise ones. The state of the church 21:59 represented by the foolish virgins, 22:02 is also spoken of as the Laodicea condition." 22:09 Very significant statement. 22:12 The Foolish Virgins do not have the work of 22:16 the Holy Spirit in their heart. 22:19 The Foolish Virgins also describe the 22:23 Laodicean Church. So, I guess you could say 22:27 in one sense we're all foolish, but yet God 22:31 now is calling that last generation to come out 22:35 of Laodicea to become Wise Virgins, 22:39 to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 22:41 So, the Holy Spirit can begin writing the law 22:43 on our heart. And we know in the last days 22:46 God's law will an issue, a significant issue. 22:49 And only if the law is in our heart will we be 22:51 able to successfully remain faithful to God. 22:54 It is only through the baptism of the 22:55 Holy Spirit that we will be prepared for 22:58 the final crisis. In Letter 15 1899 to a 23:03 Dr. Berk, Ellen White wrote, 23:07 "Nothing but the baptism of the Holy Spirit 23:09 can bring up the church to its right position, 23:12 and prepare the people of God for the fast 23:15 approaching conflict." 23:19 That's the only answer folks, there is no other, 23:24 there is no other option, there is no 23:26 multiple choice. It is only as we understand 23:29 and experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit 23:32 that we will have that extra oil that will be 23:35 coming out of Laodicea will be start becoming 23:38 like Jesus, having the law of God written 23:41 in our heart. And our obedience will become 23:44 obedience from the heart that is what God 23:47 is calling us to. And that's why I'm convinced 23:50 the coming of Jesus is very soon 'cause 23:52 I see God taking this message on the baptism 23:55 Holy Spirit to His people around the world, 23:58 He is calling them out, it's our choice whether 24:01 or not we choose to respond to the message 24:03 and receive the in filling of God's spirit. 24:06 A living connection with Jesus will result 24:09 from daily seeking the baptism of Holy Spirit. 24:12 In Review and Herald, April 5, 1892 24:16 Ellen White wrote, "We must have a living 24:19 connection with God. We must be clothed 24:22 with power from on high by the baptism of the 24:26 Holy Spirit, that we may reach a higher standard; 24:30 for there is help for us in no other way." 24:35 I cannot emphasize to you strong enough, 24:39 I cannot appeal to you with enough passion, 24:43 it is essential, there is no other option, 24:46 there is no other way. The baptism of the 24:48 Holy Spirit is the only means we have to 24:51 have that living connection with God. 24:53 It is the only means we have to have that 24:56 obedience from the heart and to serve our 24:58 Lord faithfully through the end. 25:01 It is urgent, it is necessary. 25:04 The baptism of the Holy Spirit prepares us 25:06 for that final crisis and, and brings in our lives 25:09 the experience of the Wise Virgins. 25:11 Ellen White describes those Wise Virgins in 25:14 Six Testimonies page 86, 25:20 "Impress upon all the necessity of the 25:22 baptism of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification 25:25 of the members of the church, so that they will 25:26 be living, growing, fruit-bearing trees 25:28 of the Lord planting." 25:31 These words described the experience of 25:34 the Wise Virgins, they will be experiencing 25:37 sanctification, they will be living, growing, 25:40 fruit-bearing trees of the Lord's planting. 25:45 When we experience the in filling 25:48 baptism of the Holy Spirit changes start 25:51 happening within us, the law of God is written 25:54 in our heart, we come to the point that 25:56 we hate sin. And those who are living 25:59 when Jesus comes, we would rather die 26:03 then hurt their Lord. You notice I didn't say 26:06 they rather die then sin. The Foolish Virgins, 26:11 when they sin and they make a mistakes, 26:13 oh! I sinned, I shouldn't have done that, 26:15 that might keep me out of heaven, 26:16 that might make me not ready for Jesus coming. 26:18 The focus is on the act because the Lord says, 26:21 don't do it. Where the Wise Virgins, 26:25 when they sin they're broken hearted because 26:27 they hurt the Lord, they let the Lord down? 26:31 And that's why in Psalm 51, David said, 26:32 in his Prayer of Repentance. Again thee, 26:34 the only God have I sinned. You see the, 26:38 those that are being filled with the 26:40 Holy Spirit, their relationship with Jesus 26:41 becoming very close, very personal, 26:44 very intimate. And those living when Jesus comes, 26:49 when they're faced with the temptations 26:51 and the trials and the pressures going on them? 26:53 The reason they can stand, is that they love 26:57 their Lord with all their heart. 26:59 They have come to the place in their live, 27:01 if they're struggling with the temptation of sin 27:04 and as they're praying to their God, 27:05 they're willing to say Lord let me die, 27:07 if tonight, if I'm gonna dishonor you tomorrow. 27:11 The relationship with God is that intimate 27:13 and that meaningful to them. 27:15 And in the end they'll be faithful to God 27:18 because they're filled with the Holy Spirit. 27:21 They'd love the Holy Spirit to write the law 27:23 in their heart. They're obeying God because 27:26 they want to obey Him, not because they have 27:29 to obey Him. They woul rather die then dishonor 27:35 their Lord through disobedience to Him. 27:38 That's how close and how meaningful their 27:41 relationship is with Jesus Christ. 27:44 That is the experience that God is calling 27:47 each of us too, He is calling you too. 27:49 And I pray that you'll say, yes to His call 27:52 in your life today to be filled with His spirit. |
Revised 2014-12-17