Welcome to Faith
Chapel. My name is Steve Nelson.
00:00:30.74\00:00:33.03
Our message today is titled
00:00:33.51\00:00:34.82
"A New Heart and A New Life."
00:00:34.83\00:00:36.41
But before we begin let's
begin with a word of prayer.
00:00:37.11\00:00:39.57
My dear Father,
Lord, we thank you for the
00:00:40.48\00:00:42.71
opportunity we have
today of spending some
00:00:42.72\00:00:45.28
time in your word.
Lord, I just pray as we
00:00:45.29\00:00:48.24
go through the pages of
your word, that you will
00:00:48.69\00:00:51.50
show us Father,
your plan for our life.
00:00:51.94\00:00:54.06
That your spirit will
recreate us in your image
00:00:54.54\00:00:57.30
as we spend this time with you,
00:00:57.31\00:00:58.98
in Jesus name, amen.
00:00:59.24\00:01:00.76
There is an interesting
quote in Psalms 51:10-13.
00:01:02.63\00:01:07.88
The Bible tells
us: "Create in me
00:01:08.63\00:01:10.55
a clean heart, O God;
00:01:10.56\00:01:12.34
and renew a
right spirit within me.
00:01:12.66\00:01:14.89
Cast me not away
from thy presence;
00:01:16.01\00:01:17.83
and take not thy
Holy Spirit from me.
00:01:18.20\00:01:20.07
Restore unto me the
joy of thy salvation;
00:01:20.76\00:01:23.30
and uphold me
with thy free spirit.
00:01:23.78\00:01:26.26
Then I will teach
transgressors thy ways;
00:01:26.87\00:01:29.51
and sinners shall be
converted unto thee."
00:01:29.95\00:01:32.90
The Bible is telling us
that our greatest need is
00:01:34.48\00:01:36.63
for us to have a new
heart, a clean heart.
00:01:36.64\00:01:38.70
One that only
God can give to us.
00:01:39.29\00:01:41.30
It says that God
will be the one who will
00:01:41.64\00:01:43.68
renew within us a right spirit.
00:01:43.69\00:01:45.51
But David is pleading
here that God don't cast
00:01:45.87\00:01:49.28
me away from thy presence.
00:01:49.29\00:01:50.98
Take not thy
Holy Spirit from me.
00:01:50.99\00:01:53.14
There are many in
the Christian world today
00:01:54.74\00:01:56.15
who have trouble understanding
00:01:56.16\00:01:58.20
their true
relationship with God.
00:01:58.54\00:02:00.36
Often times we
don't see ourselves
00:02:00.86\00:02:02.80
the way that God sees
us. And I believe it's
00:02:02.81\00:02:04.75
important for us to
understand what is it
00:02:04.76\00:02:07.24
that God is looking
for within me today.
00:02:07.25\00:02:11.26
What is it God's
requiring from me,
00:02:11.49\00:02:13.32
in order for me to
be able to say it like
00:02:13.33\00:02:15.23
David, then I will
teach transgressors thy ways
00:02:15.24\00:02:18.63
and sinners will be
converted unto thee.
00:02:18.64\00:02:20.66
I believe that we
need to pray for revival.
00:02:21.89\00:02:24.29
I believe the most
desperate need of the
00:02:24.47\00:02:26.74
church today is
to pray for revival.
00:02:26.75\00:02:29.29
In Luke 11:13 we see this text.
00:02:29.88\00:02:32.07
It tells us "If ye
then, being evil, know how to
00:02:32.69\00:02:37.77
give good gifts
unto your children:
00:02:37.78\00:02:39.54
how much more shall
your heavenly Father
00:02:39.74\00:02:42.02
give the Holy Spirit
to them that ask him?"
00:02:42.03\00:02:45.12
What is the Bible saying here?
00:02:46.65\00:02:47.90
The Bible is
saying that you with
00:02:48.34\00:02:50.24
your selfish
motives, your bad habits,
00:02:50.25\00:02:52.09
your corrupt
thoughts, if you are able to do
00:02:52.10\00:02:54.47
what is right in
your own strength,
00:02:54.48\00:02:57.28
if you are being
as the Bible says;
00:02:58.53\00:03:00.42
evil are able to give
good gifts to your parents,
00:03:00.43\00:03:04.06
how much more is God willing
00:03:04.33\00:03:05.71
to give us the Holy Spirit.
00:03:05.72\00:03:07.76
God who is exceedingly,
abundantly greater in
00:03:08.44\00:03:10.93
love and
matchless gifts and we are,
00:03:10.94\00:03:13.20
He is able to give us
the greatest gift our soul
00:03:13.71\00:03:16.18
needs and that
is the Holy Spirit.
00:03:16.19\00:03:17.88
So what's the problem?
I believe our problem is
00:03:18.55\00:03:21.41
that we are not connected
to the source of power.
00:03:21.42\00:03:23.89
There is an
interesting quote in the book
00:03:24.82\00:03:26.12
Maranatha that
states it like this;
00:03:26.13\00:03:28.07
"All that Christ receive
from God we too may have.
00:03:28.27\00:03:32.00
Then ask and receive
with the persevering faith of
00:03:32.62\00:03:36.02
Jacob and the unyielding
persistence of Elijah.
00:03:36.03\00:03:39.21
Claim for yourself all
that God has promised."
00:03:39.49\00:03:42.91
What is the author telling us?
00:03:43.45\00:03:44.73
God, the author is
telling us that God
00:03:45.14\00:03:47.27
wants us to seek
diligently with the
00:03:47.28\00:03:50.59
persevering faith of Jacob.
The unyielding persistence
00:03:50.60\00:03:53.94
of Elijah, to claim
for ourselves, the promises
00:03:53.95\00:03:57.12
the God has
within His word for us.
00:03:57.13\00:03:59.29
God wants us to come
to Him and to seek the
00:03:59.61\00:04:02.68
very thing that we
need, and that is a new heart.
00:04:02.69\00:04:05.19
In order to have a new heart,
00:04:06.82\00:04:08.11
I believe we need
to have a revival.
00:04:08.42\00:04:10.60
A revival is
something like this.
00:04:11.71\00:04:13.82
We are told that
we are no longer,
00:04:15.18\00:04:16.95
that we are pilgrims
and strangers on this earth.
00:04:17.47\00:04:19.88
But some of us
somehow believe that
00:04:20.90\00:04:22.43
we are on some sort of
vacation I believe from
00:04:22.86\00:04:24.71
heaven, that we've
been blessed with wonderful
00:04:24.72\00:04:25.69
that we've been
blessed with wonderful gifts of
00:04:25.89\00:04:27.54
truths and
knowledge from God's word.
00:04:27.55\00:04:29.64
Somehow all of these blessings,
00:04:30.99\00:04:32.94
we think they entitle
us, that we should enjoy
00:04:32.95\00:04:35.65
the pleasures of
this earth for a while.
00:04:35.66\00:04:37.82
But somehow we
are on vacation that,
00:04:38.22\00:04:40.27
but it is true
or have we forgotten
00:04:40.71\00:04:43.17
the hour of our visitation.
Matthew 5:8 says it like
00:04:43.37\00:04:47.36
"These people draw
nigh unto Me with their
00:04:48.29\00:04:50.08
mouth, And
honoreth Me with their lips,
00:04:50.09\00:04:52.26
But their heart is far from Me."
00:04:52.53\00:04:56.09
The Bible is telling
us that we can come to
00:04:56.56\00:04:58.38
God, we can worship
Him, we can spend time
00:04:58.39\00:05:00.30
with Him but even
though we may speak
00:05:00.31\00:05:03.09
these things with
our mouth or our hearts
00:05:03.10\00:05:05.51
not close and connected to God.
00:05:05.59\00:05:07.81
That is why our greatest need
00:05:09.32\00:05:10.72
is revival and for reformation.
00:05:10.73\00:05:12.50
We need the
outpouring, indwelling the
00:05:13.42\00:05:15.62
transforming power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:05:15.63\00:05:18.07
Zachariah 4:6 says;
" Not by Might Nor by
00:05:18.25\00:05:21.28
Power but by My Spirit
says the Lord of hosts."
00:05:21.29\00:05:24.85
God tells us to be
holy as He is holy,
00:05:25.41\00:05:27.63
but He is telling us,
we can't do it ourselves.
00:05:27.86\00:05:30.77
It is His spirit that
must work this transformation.
00:05:30.95\00:05:34.69
We can't change our hearts,
only He can do that for us.
00:05:35.07\00:05:38.59
There is nothing I
believe that Satan fears
00:05:40.58\00:05:42.68
more then we will clear
the path for Jesus to do
00:05:42.69\00:05:46.36
the work that He wants
to do then as we remove
00:05:46.37\00:05:49.35
the hindrances,
so the Holy Spirit
00:05:49.36\00:05:51.22
can work within our hearts.
00:05:51.42\00:05:52.66
God wants to pour
out His spirit on this
00:05:53.26\00:05:55.25
church, on this
world, and He is really
00:05:55.26\00:05:58.30
and He is able to do
it, but are we ready?
00:05:58.31\00:06:00.74
I believe there is
nothing that Satan fears more
00:06:01.91\00:06:03.96
then for us to get
ready, because he knows when
00:06:04.68\00:06:07.38
we do this, He knows
that when we get ready,
00:06:07.39\00:06:09.77
his time for
deceiving and destroying will
00:06:10.10\00:06:12.98
soon come to an end.
He knows that when the
00:06:12.99\00:06:15.43
church is ready, we
will do the works that God
00:06:15.44\00:06:17.85
has called us to do.
He knows that we will
00:06:17.86\00:06:20.13
work the works of Jesus,
00:06:20.14\00:06:21.70
if we have the faith of Jesus.
00:06:22.32\00:06:23.98
The Bible tells
us in Matthew 24:12;
00:06:24.59\00:06:26.91
"Because iniquity shall abound,
00:06:27.25\00:06:29.07
the love of
many shall wax cold."
00:06:29.75\00:06:31.88
Has you love for
Jesus waxed cold?
00:06:32.80\00:06:34.37
If so, you need to ask yourself,
00:06:35.52\00:06:37.06
is there
something in my life that is
00:06:37.39\00:06:39.08
separating me from Him?
00:06:39.09\00:06:40.47
God wants to
restore us into His image.
00:06:40.99\00:06:43.55
He wants to recreate
us. He wants to give us a
00:06:43.56\00:06:46.28
new heart but are we
doing what He's asked us to do?
00:06:46.29\00:06:49.82
And that is why we
are talking about this
00:06:50.60\00:06:52.36
message today "A new
heart and a new life."
00:06:52.37\00:06:54.94
A revival of true Godliness,
00:06:56.67\00:06:58.26
I believe is our
most urgent need.
00:06:58.27\00:07:00.17
Because with this,
with this work we will begin
00:07:00.71\00:07:03.93
to see the works that
God wants to do through us.
00:07:03.94\00:07:06.93
But this can only
be done through prayer
00:07:07.27\00:07:09.65
and confession
and forsaking of sin.
00:07:10.03\00:07:12.09
It's not a matter
of understanding some
00:07:13.13\00:07:14.98
truths, it's not a
matter of just understanding
00:07:14.99\00:07:17.68
what the Bible says
about being a Christian.
00:07:17.69\00:07:19.71
We have to have this
life assimilated into us.
00:07:20.01\00:07:23.52
We need to become like Jesus.
00:07:23.53\00:07:26.39
It's not until we
reflect Jesus, not until we are
00:07:27.46\00:07:31.34
showing to the
world the love of Christ.
00:07:32.22\00:07:34.53
We will then be able
to give the light to the
00:07:34.94\00:07:36.95
world that He has
called us to give.
00:07:36.96\00:07:39.43
He wants to work for the world,
00:07:40.61\00:07:41.81
He wants to revive the world,
00:07:41.82\00:07:43.47
He wants to draw the
world to Him but does
00:07:43.48\00:07:46.44
the world see Him in
us? Does the world see
00:07:46.45\00:07:49.64
the reflection
of Christ when they
00:07:49.65\00:07:51.01
look at you and they look at me?
00:07:51.02\00:07:52.60
Or do they see something else.
00:07:53.15\00:07:54.58
It was a revival that
prompted the early rain.
00:07:56.34\00:07:58.76
It was a revival
that brought the disciples
00:07:59.75\00:08:01.62
together in unity
and I believe that same
00:08:01.63\00:08:04.18
revival the Bible tells
us it's going to happen.
00:08:04.19\00:08:06.52
Here are the very
closing work of time
00:08:07.02\00:08:08.70
and I believe that time is soon.
00:08:08.96\00:08:10.39
That revival will
also be a greater,
00:08:11.73\00:08:13.62
in greater
proportions then what happened
00:08:14.08\00:08:16.49
in the early church.
00:08:16.50\00:08:17.65
Why do I say
greater proportions?
00:08:18.38\00:08:20.40
Because Romans
tells us in Romans 5;
00:08:20.73\00:08:22.69
"where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound."
00:08:23.05\00:08:26.36
It's not hard to look
around the world today
00:08:26.76\00:08:28.35
and see that sin is abounding.
00:08:28.36\00:08:30.05
It's not hard if you look around
00:08:30.28\00:08:31.73
and you see the problems.
00:08:31.74\00:08:32.98
It's not the same
world that used to be when
00:08:33.39\00:08:35.90
your grandparents,
my grandparents grew up.
00:08:35.91\00:08:37.89
It's not the same
place. I'm not saying that the
00:08:38.26\00:08:40.48
world was right then
but the world today is
00:08:40.49\00:08:43.82
fast approaching the
boundaries of God's grace.
00:08:43.83\00:08:47.59
Because, like
Sodom and Gomorrah,
00:08:47.91\00:08:49.45
we are fast coming to an
end, and soon, very soon,
00:08:49.81\00:08:53.24
God is going to visit
us with His judgments.
00:08:53.57\00:08:55.87
But, how do we
change our hearts?
00:08:59.17\00:09:00.93
How is that I can
do the works of Christ?
00:09:01.44\00:09:04.18
How is that I can be
what Jesus wants me to be?
00:09:04.19\00:09:06.85
Jeremiah 29:13
says it like this;
00:09:07.75\00:09:10.15
"And you shall
seek me and find me,
00:09:10.97\00:09:13.38
when you search for
me with all your heart."
00:09:14.61\00:09:17.66
You see our part
is to seek Christ.
00:09:19.18\00:09:21.82
He is telling us that
we need to seek Him but
00:09:22.39\00:09:24.87
He's promising us
that when we seek Him we
00:09:24.88\00:09:27.81
will find Him but
only, only when we search
00:09:27.82\00:09:31.45
for Him with all our hearts.
00:09:31.46\00:09:33.30
This is what a revival is about.
00:09:34.28\00:09:35.88
This is what the latter
rain experience will be about.
00:09:35.89\00:09:38.46
God's people will be together,
00:09:38.47\00:09:40.43
seeking to know God's will,
00:09:41.12\00:09:42.92
seeking to empty
themselves of themselves
00:09:42.93\00:09:45.50
and seeking to be
filled with Jesus.
00:09:45.76\00:09:47.99
But how does
this process happen?
00:09:49.44\00:09:50.88
Here in the Southern
states, we watch a very
00:09:51.87\00:09:54.86
interesting process
take place each year.
00:09:54.87\00:09:58.71
If you go out in the
spring time you will see
00:09:59.66\00:10:01.71
the farmers plowing
their fields and they
00:10:01.72\00:10:03.66
will be tilling
their fields and in a few
00:10:03.67\00:10:05.34
weeks later you'll
see, as the fields are
00:10:05.35\00:10:09.63
tilled and crops are growing.
00:10:09.64\00:10:11.64
You will see little
shoots start to grow up.
00:10:11.65\00:10:13.38
Out here in the
Midwest, they don't
00:10:14.97\00:10:17.82
have to irrigate the
crops because the rain
00:10:17.83\00:10:19.88
comes and as the rain
comes, it gives the life
00:10:23.22\00:10:24.19
giving water that
makes the seed grow and
00:10:24.20\00:10:26.11
nourishes it through the soil
00:10:26.12\00:10:27.62
and it grows up
into a healthy plant.
00:10:27.82\00:10:30.18
It's interesting to
note though that it's only in
00:10:31.26\00:10:34.06
the latter part of the year,
00:10:34.07\00:10:35.36
the rains that come,
the latter rain as it were,
00:10:35.65\00:10:38.60
that come in the
latter part of year.
00:10:38.61\00:10:40.28
Take the plant and it
gives it what it needs to
00:10:40.65\00:10:43.85
finally grow and for the
grain to finally produce.
00:10:43.86\00:10:47.82
It's the same way
with the Christian life.
00:10:49.74\00:10:51.42
Unless we are
receiving daily of God's word
00:10:52.01\00:10:55.02
and daily receiving the
influences of the Spirit,
00:10:55.24\00:10:57.91
when it come time for the latter
00:10:58.42\00:11:00.25
rain to fall we won't be ready.
00:11:00.26\00:11:01.72
God is telling us
that we need to receive
00:11:02.53\00:11:04.76
His word within our
hearts, not only in our
00:11:04.95\00:11:07.33
hearts, we need to
allow it to change and
00:11:07.34\00:11:09.20
transform us. If
the plant does not allow
00:11:09.21\00:11:12.34
the, does not have
enough water to grow.
00:11:12.35\00:11:14.59
It's not going to grow
to where it can have grain.
00:11:15.02\00:11:17.44
You and I need to grow in our
00:11:17.77\00:11:19.33
spiritual walk with
Christ. If we are not to the
00:11:19.34\00:11:22.16
point where He has
been able to transform us,
00:11:22.17\00:11:24.82
we will not be to
the place where we can
00:11:25.04\00:11:26.73
receive the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:11:26.74\00:11:29.39
and finally be changed
into the image of Christ.
00:11:29.80\00:11:32.01
We are told that as the
dew and the rain are given,
00:11:34.94\00:11:37.52
first to cause the seed
to germinate and then to
00:11:38.03\00:11:40.82
ripen the harvest, so
the Holy Spirit is given to
00:11:40.83\00:11:44.32
carry forward from
one stage to another,
00:11:44.33\00:11:46.92
the process of spiritual growth.
00:11:47.25\00:11:49.12
It's much like what
we just talked about with
00:11:49.45\00:11:51.36
the grain and the harvest
here in the Southern states.
00:11:51.37\00:11:53.85
The ripening of the
grain represents the
00:11:53.86\00:11:55.82
completion of the work
of God's grace and the soul.
00:11:55.83\00:11:59.14
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:11:59.69\00:12:01.30
the moral image of God is to be
00:12:01.54\00:12:03.11
perfected in the
character. We are to be wholly
00:12:03.12\00:12:06.95
transformed into
the likeliness of Christ
00:12:06.96\00:12:10.80
To be wholly transformed in the
00:12:11.83\00:12:12.84
likeness of
Christ is the work that
00:12:12.85\00:12:14.41
God wants to do
in your life today.
00:12:14.42\00:12:16.11
He wants to change
you. He wants to make you,
00:12:17.04\00:12:19.74
mold you, shape you
into the image of His son.
00:12:20.06\00:12:23.12
But unless the early
showers have done their
00:12:23.91\00:12:26.12
work, unless we've
received of the early rain,
00:12:26.13\00:12:28.91
when the latter
rain comes we will
00:12:28.92\00:12:30.62
not be able to receive
it. A plant that is not
00:12:30.63\00:12:32.90
grown and fully
matured, will do it no
00:12:32.91\00:12:35.27
good to receive the
latter rain, because the
00:12:35.28\00:12:38.06
grain will not be
able to be ripened.
00:12:38.07\00:12:39.98
What we need
today is the early rain
00:12:40.31\00:12:43.84
I call the revival
rain. It is now that we need
00:12:43.85\00:12:48.12
to receive this revival
rain in order for us to be
00:12:48.13\00:12:51.54
able to receive the
latter rain when it comes.
00:12:51.55\00:12:54.21
But what would
this revival do for us?
00:12:56.35\00:12:58.18
I believe that it will
bring unity and it will
00:12:58.19\00:13:05.33
change us, as we
put on the armor of
00:13:05.34\00:13:07.49
Christ we will become like Him.
00:13:07.50\00:13:10.36
But not until we do
this, not until we receive
00:13:10.83\00:13:13.13
from Him and put on His armor,
00:13:13.14\00:13:14.34
well, we will be able
to stand in the battle
00:13:14.62\00:13:16.62
that is soon to take
place. You see, it was after
00:13:16.73\00:13:19.53
that the disciples
were perfectly unified,
00:13:19.54\00:13:21.56
it was after that they
were no longer striving
00:13:21.77\00:13:23.72
to see who is gonna be first,
00:13:23.73\00:13:25.18
it was after they
had finally decided that
00:13:25.43\00:13:27.67
Jesus Christ was
everything to them,
00:13:27.97\00:13:30.06
that the Holy Spirit
was able to be poured out.
00:13:30.07\00:13:32.22
But I believe
sometimes we've gotten
00:13:34.60\00:13:36.40
the carpet for the
horse. Sometimes we realize
00:13:36.41\00:13:39.86
that we need to
spread the gospel,
00:13:39.87\00:13:41.28
but we've lost the
power that we really need to
00:13:41.49\00:13:44.49
be plugged into the source,
00:13:44.50\00:13:46.15
to be able to do
the works of Christ.
00:13:46.31\00:13:48.16
Is it possible
that we are just idling
00:13:49.61\00:13:51.37
through the great
gospel commission?
00:13:51.38\00:13:53.31
Is it possible
that somehow we are
00:13:53.82\00:13:55.43
waiting for
someone else to do the job?
00:13:55.44\00:13:57.19
Maybe you are thinking
your pastor will do this job.
00:13:57.20\00:13:59.19
Maybe you're
waiting for the church to do
00:13:59.20\00:14:00.66
this, but God is
calling you to do this work.
00:14:00.67\00:14:03.76
God is asking you to be able to
00:14:04.21\00:14:06.23
allow Him to
transform your heart.
00:14:06.24\00:14:08.48
He is asking you to
get on your knees today
00:14:08.65\00:14:10.56
and to pray and seek for His
00:14:10.85\00:14:13.05
transforming power in your life.
00:14:13.06\00:14:14.85
Second Corinthians
3:18 says it like this;
00:14:16.58\00:14:19.54
"But we all, with open
face, beholding as in a
00:14:21.56\00:14:24.53
glass, the glory of
the Lord are changed into
00:14:24.54\00:14:27.29
the same image,
from glory to glory,
00:14:27.30\00:14:29.73
even as by the
Spirit of the Lord."
00:14:30.02\00:14:32.73
What is happening here?
00:14:34.31\00:14:35.28
The Bible is telling us
that we look into a glass
00:14:35.59\00:14:38.72
and as we into this
glass we are changed.
00:14:39.34\00:14:42.18
Why is this? Because as
we look into this glass,
00:14:42.19\00:14:44.73
we are beholding
Jesus Christ and it's
00:14:44.74\00:14:47.23
impossible to
behold Jesus Christ
00:14:47.24\00:14:49.48
and not to become
changed. No one whoever beheld
00:14:49.49\00:14:52.68
Christ was ever the same again.
00:14:52.69\00:14:54.49
But this isn't something that
00:14:54.79\00:14:55.83
you can only do just
once. It's the process that you
00:14:55.84\00:14:58.49
need to do day by
day, hour by hour,
00:14:58.50\00:15:01.79
moment by moment
you need to keep Christ
00:15:01.80\00:15:04.25
in the center of your thoughts
00:15:05.06\00:15:06.78
and allow Him to
control your will.
00:15:07.14\00:15:10.23
You see it's the
transformation that He
00:15:12.14\00:15:14.46
wants to do that will fit us
00:15:14.47\00:15:16.45
and prepare us
for the latter rain.
00:15:16.69\00:15:19.77
A number of years
ago, my wife and I had a
00:15:20.87\00:15:23.91
little planter box
outside of our house.
00:15:23.92\00:15:25.93
Every year we
would plant pretty little
00:15:27.36\00:15:29.41
flowers and every
spring as the flower
00:15:29.42\00:15:32.20
would come, the
plants would come and grow,
00:15:32.27\00:15:34.54
we would watch them bloom.
00:15:34.55\00:15:35.62
People would
drive by and comment oh,
00:15:37.18\00:15:38.68
I just love
those beautiful flowers
00:15:38.69\00:15:40.25
in front of your
house. Well, one year we got
00:15:40.26\00:15:42.87
too busy and in the spring time
00:15:42.88\00:15:44.61
we didn't plant
flowers that year.
00:15:44.62\00:15:46.50
And it wasn't long
before all of a sudden,
00:15:47.24\00:15:49.02
little shoots started to pop-up.
00:15:49.03\00:15:50.57
We were kind of
surprised because we
00:15:51.01\00:15:52.32
didn't plant flowers but
yet here shoots popping up.
00:15:52.33\00:15:55.48
Well, didn't take us
long before we realize
00:15:56.05\00:15:58.03
that these shoots were not
00:15:58.04\00:16:00.01
the product of their ancestors.
00:16:00.02\00:16:01.54
While we were
sleeping, while we were
00:16:02.94\00:16:04.65
not doing what God had
asked just to do in our
00:16:05.00\00:16:08.50
spiritual life,
weeds can grow up.
00:16:08.51\00:16:11.15
Just like in our
planter box, weeds had grown up.
00:16:11.69\00:16:14.85
You see it's what
you plant and what you
00:16:15.45\00:16:17.31
nourish that's what will grow.
00:16:18.14\00:16:19.95
If you stop feeding
yourself on the word of God,
00:16:20.41\00:16:23.47
if you stop taking
time to seek Him and to ask
00:16:23.48\00:16:27.84
Him to change you and
to transform your life
00:16:27.85\00:16:30.14
soon you will find out
that something else has
00:16:30.15\00:16:33.27
taken the place.
It's not a hard thing,
00:16:33.28\00:16:35.65
it happens very
easily. You can just one day
00:16:35.66\00:16:39.31
neglect to pray, one
day neglect to take the time
00:16:39.32\00:16:43.83
to study Him in
the morning and pretty
00:16:43.84\00:16:46.01
soon, the next day
it's much easier because
00:16:46.02\00:16:48.68
you have
forgotten what it was like.
00:16:48.69\00:16:50.67
It's a difficult
task, but God is calling us
00:16:52.44\00:16:55.46
to do this work in our lives.
00:16:55.79\00:16:57.20
I believe it's also
very important for us to
00:17:01.61\00:17:03.31
guard the kind
of food that we eat.
00:17:03.32\00:17:05.78
I don't know about
you but I'm very picky
00:17:05.79\00:17:07.27
about the type
of food that I eat.
00:17:07.74\00:17:09.15
I want to go to a
restaurant where I see
00:17:09.90\00:17:11.96
that the people in
the restaurant are wearing
00:17:11.97\00:17:13.99
gloves, because I
know if they're wearing
00:17:14.00\00:17:15.54
gloves that their hands
at least are going to be
00:17:15.55\00:17:17.64
insulated, if they
haven't washed them.
00:17:17.79\00:17:19.68
The food will at least be safe.
00:17:19.90\00:17:21.97
Not only that, but I
also want to know that the
00:17:22.30\00:17:25.01
type of the ingredients
that they use are good
00:17:25.02\00:17:28.02
ingredients,
wholesome ingredients.
00:17:28.03\00:17:29.74
I don't want food that
is been spoiled or gone bad.
00:17:30.00\00:17:33.23
And it's the same way
in our spiritual life.
00:17:33.24\00:17:35.11
If we do not take
the time to pray and ask
00:17:35.86\00:17:39.18
God for the right
type of food, we can easily
00:17:39.19\00:17:42.29
start to simulate
things that aren't good for us.
00:17:42.30\00:17:44.73
And pretty soon
before we know it,
00:17:44.90\00:17:46.84
we develop an
appetite for things that maybe
00:17:47.02\00:17:49.57
aren't right for us,
that aren't wholesome for us,
00:17:49.58\00:17:51.63
but we think they're okay.
00:17:51.64\00:17:52.96
Because we haven't
come to Him and said
00:17:53.46\00:17:55.38
Lord show me what it is
you would have me to read.
00:17:55.39\00:17:59.43
What it is you
would have me to hear,
00:17:59.44\00:18:01.28
to listen, to think about.
Father, teach me your way.
00:18:01.45\00:18:05.25
We can only do this, if
you keep our focus on Him.
00:18:06.74\00:18:10.32
Again from the
little book Maranatha,
00:18:10.84\00:18:12.58
there is a very
interesting quote in page 86,
00:18:12.81\00:18:14.85
it says it like this;
"The Holy Spirit will take
00:18:14.86\00:18:17.87
the things of God
and show them to you.
00:18:17.88\00:18:20.16
Christ will lead you to
the threshold of the Infinite.
00:18:21.05\00:18:23.83
You may behold the
glory beyond the veil,
00:18:24.60\00:18:26.98
and reveal to men the
sufficiency of Him who
00:18:27.62\00:18:30.77
ever liveth to make
intercession for us."
00:18:30.78\00:18:34.24
What's happening here?
The author is telling us
00:18:35.47\00:18:38.12
that Jesus
wants to pull back the
00:18:38.13\00:18:40.16
curtain as it
were, pull back the veil.
00:18:40.17\00:18:42.20
He wants to give us an
undimmed view of His glory.
00:18:42.21\00:18:46.03
He wants us to
see Him and all of
00:18:46.59\00:18:49.27
his fullness because we do this.
00:18:49.28\00:18:51.79
We like Moses will be changed.
00:18:52.70\00:18:54.44
The Moses came
down from the mountain.
00:18:54.74\00:18:56.57
was, had to veil his
face because the glory of
00:18:56.89\00:19:00.12
God had shown upon
Him. The people could not
00:19:00.13\00:19:05.24
look upon Him from that glory.
00:19:05.25\00:19:07.13
It's the same way with
us. The more time that we
00:19:08.05\00:19:10.26
spend with Jesus,
the more it will be seen
00:19:10.27\00:19:14.73
and known that we are like Him.
00:19:14.74\00:19:17.05
If you want the
world to be changed,
00:19:17.62\00:19:19.30
it's not a
matter of what you say,
00:19:19.50\00:19:21.09
but it's also
matter of what you do.
00:19:21.28\00:19:23.35
Many professed to
believe the Jesus can save us.
00:19:24.46\00:19:26.84
We believe that He
can save us from our sins.
00:19:27.15\00:19:29.07
We actually sing
song "Jesus saves,
00:19:29.08\00:19:31.48
Jesus saves," But
do you really believe,
00:19:31.49\00:19:34.14
do you really believe
that He can take a life
00:19:34.15\00:19:37.00
that is sin, sick and
totally change His behavior.
00:19:37.47\00:19:41.60
Or do you believe
it's just a choice?
00:19:43.73\00:19:45.16
I believe it's a
choice to trust in God,
00:19:46.68\00:19:48.34
but I don't believe that you
00:19:48.35\00:19:49.32
and I have the power to do this.
00:19:49.33\00:19:50.83
I believe the man's
wisdom can lead us into
00:19:51.59\00:19:54.04
a lot of truth and knowledge,
00:19:54.05\00:19:55.87
but only God can
change the sin, sick, soul.
00:19:55.88\00:20:00.15
It's an important
question for us to
00:20:02.93\00:20:04.12
think about because
unless there is a true
00:20:04.13\00:20:07.89
change, the revival
will not take place.
00:20:07.90\00:20:11.86
What do I mean by this?
You see it's possible for
00:20:12.56\00:20:16.14
us to have revival and
still not have reformation.
00:20:16.15\00:20:20.40
A revival without
reformation means nothing.
00:20:22.28\00:20:24.53
You see it's like
many times you will see
00:20:25.12\00:20:27.68
people who will go to
great lengths to change
00:20:27.69\00:20:30.28
their clothes in
order that they look
00:20:30.29\00:20:32.01
appropriate maybe in church.
00:20:32.14\00:20:33.71
They will do many
things, they'll change
00:20:34.02\00:20:35.83
their diet, they
will change the music they
00:20:35.84\00:20:38.04
listen to, will do all
the external things just to
00:20:38.05\00:20:41.21
show often, just to
show that they're Christians.
00:20:41.22\00:20:45.12
But does that mean
that they're a Christian?
00:20:45.45\00:20:46.82
Think about it for a moment.
00:20:48.30\00:20:49.43
Unless the Holy
Spirit is one that's changing
00:20:49.89\00:20:52.88
your desires, it's
you that's doing the work.
00:20:52.89\00:20:56.29
If you are the one
who is doing the works
00:20:57.28\00:21:00.38
within you, you
are not reflecting
00:21:00.39\00:21:03.24
the image of
Christ. You are reflecting
00:21:03.25\00:21:05.42
your own image, oh you
can deceive people. Many do.
00:21:05.43\00:21:09.51
Often times they look at someone
00:21:09.77\00:21:10.84
and say wow! Look at their life.
00:21:10.85\00:21:12.83
They must be a good Christian,
00:21:12.99\00:21:14.42
it's not for us
to know the heart.
00:21:15.52\00:21:16.67
But in time, sometimes a
fruit doesn't bear the taste.
00:21:17.70\00:21:21.37
Sometimes the fruit has shown
00:21:22.07\00:21:23.51
that the outward adorning,
the outward change as it
00:21:23.88\00:21:26.46
were is not
reflective of a new heart.
00:21:26.47\00:21:30.24
Titus 3 verse 5
says it like this;
00:21:31.15\00:21:34.70
"Not by works of
righteousness which we
00:21:36.10\00:21:38.46
have done, but
according to his mercy
00:21:38.47\00:21:41.55
he saved us, by the
washing of regeneration,
00:21:42.00\00:21:45.11
and by renewing
of the Holy Ghost."
00:21:45.40\00:21:48.13
You see it's not the
works of righteousness
00:21:49.02\00:21:50.98
that you and I can
do. It's the works of
00:21:50.99\00:21:53.14
righteous that Christ
does within us that changes us.
00:21:53.15\00:21:57.06
And this is why I
believe that revival
00:21:58.05\00:22:00.79
has to be tied with reformation.
00:22:01.58\00:22:03.78
A revival has to come first.
00:22:04.94\00:22:06.59
Revival, we are told
signifies a renewal of
00:22:07.15\00:22:10.15
the spiritual
life. A quickening of the
00:22:10.16\00:22:12.78
powers of the
mind and a resurrection
00:22:12.79\00:22:15.12
from the spiritual death.
This is what revival does.
00:22:15.13\00:22:17.48
It brings to our
senses, to our minds a
00:22:17.73\00:22:19.60
realization that
we need to change.
00:22:19.61\00:22:21.47
It causes to
realize that we stand
00:22:21.79\00:22:24.06
before God
unrighteous. That in our own
00:22:24.07\00:22:27.76
righteousness we
only have filthy rags,
00:22:27.77\00:22:29.80
that we need something more,
00:22:29.91\00:22:31.61
that we need the
righteousness of Christ.
00:22:31.62\00:22:33.94
But in order for
that change to happen,
00:22:37.59\00:22:39.68
something else
has to take place.
00:22:40.03\00:22:41.57
It's more than
just realizing the need.
00:22:41.84\00:22:43.61
Now you have to allow
the spirit to change you.
00:22:44.46\00:22:47.28
Isaiah 55 verse 6
says it like this;
00:22:48.20\00:22:50.60
"Seek ye the Lord
while he may be found,
00:22:51.92\00:22:54.17
call on Him while he is near."
00:22:54.83\00:22:57.05
God is telling us
that we need to seek Him
00:22:58.19\00:23:00.52
while He is to
be found, to call on
00:23:01.23\00:23:03.12
Him while He is
near. When we do this,
00:23:03.13\00:23:05.85
this is the first
step, because in seeking Him
00:23:06.40\00:23:09.25
we now come to
the place where we are
00:23:09.64\00:23:11.96
willing to allow Him to change
00:23:11.97\00:23:13.90
and transform our
life. God wants to do this
00:23:13.91\00:23:17.33
work through you, but
you have to be willing
00:23:17.34\00:23:20.57
to allow Him to do
it through and in you.
00:23:20.99\00:23:24.03
Second Chronicles
7:14 says it like this;
00:23:25.33\00:23:28.29
"If my people, which
are called by my name,
00:23:29.76\00:23:33.29
shall humble
themselves and pray,
00:23:34.35\00:23:36.08
and seek my face, and
turn from their wicked
00:23:36.47\00:23:39.40
ways; then will
I hear from heaven,
00:23:39.41\00:23:41.93
and forgive their
sin, and heal their land."
00:23:42.31\00:23:45.75
God is saying
that if we come to Him
00:23:47.71\00:23:49.53
and we seek His
face and we humble
00:23:51.16\00:23:52.84
ourselves before Him
that He will heal us,
00:23:52.85\00:23:55.79
that He will change
us. And this is where the
00:23:55.80\00:23:58.67
reformation comes into place.
00:23:58.68\00:24:00.39
This is where God will
take now and restore us
00:24:00.74\00:24:04.01
into the image of
Christ. Revival awakens our
00:24:04.27\00:24:06.82
need. Reformation changes
us into the image of Christ.
00:24:06.83\00:24:10.78
It is the reformation
that we so desperately need.
00:24:11.10\00:24:13.95
Isaiah 55 says it
like this; "Let the wicked
00:24:13.96\00:24:17.69
forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his
00:24:17.70\00:24:21.51
thoughts: and let
him return unto the Lord,
00:24:21.52\00:24:23.91
and he will have
mercy upon him; and to our
00:24:24.23\00:24:26.55
God, for he will
abundantly pardon."
00:24:26.56\00:24:29.46
What is God is telling
us? He is telling us that
00:24:31.46\00:24:34.19
if we seek Him, if
we forsake the path that
00:24:34.20\00:24:38.03
we've been on, if we
are willing to turn around
00:24:38.04\00:24:40.54
that He will
changes, He will pardon us,
00:24:41.12\00:24:43.24
but only that, God
wants to transform us.
00:24:43.47\00:24:46.40
Forgiveness is always guaranteed
00:24:47.35\00:24:49.18
when we seek God.
But God wants to do
00:24:49.19\00:24:52.00
more for us than
that. He wants to change us.
00:24:52.01\00:24:54.87
He wants to transform us
into the image of His Son.
00:24:54.97\00:24:57.76
It doesn't happen quickly.
It's not a hurried prayer.
00:25:00.70\00:25:03.77
It 's not just a
quick in the morning;
00:25:03.78\00:25:06.35
thank you God for
this day, be with me,
00:25:06.36\00:25:08.57
keep me safe.
It's a matter of daily
00:25:08.58\00:25:10.80
seeking God to hear His
voice and to know His will.
00:25:10.81\00:25:14.68
But you see it also
there is interesting thing to
00:25:16.11\00:25:19.14
realize, there's
hindrances to our revival.
00:25:19.15\00:25:20.94
Not long ago, my
wife and I took a trip.
00:25:21.61\00:25:23.39
And on this trip
we were coming back
00:25:23.56\00:25:26.23
home and as we came
back home we looked at
00:25:26.24\00:25:28.57
the map, we planned
our route, but as we got
00:25:28.58\00:25:32.18
down the road, we realized
00:25:32.19\00:25:33.77
that we were no
longer going home.
00:25:34.23\00:25:36.91
We stop, we had to
pull over, we looked at the
00:25:38.02\00:25:40.06
map again, we
realized where a road had
00:25:40.07\00:25:42.09
actually made a gentle
turn we had gone straight.
00:25:42.10\00:25:44.89
And this can happen in
our spiritual life as well.
00:25:45.80\00:25:47.75
Sometimes we
don't realize, we become
00:25:48.13\00:25:50.21
disconnected from
God and before we know it
00:25:50.22\00:25:52.74
we are down the
road, away from Him
00:25:52.75\00:25:55.01
and we are no
longer walking with Him.
00:25:55.85\00:25:57.71
What do we have to do?
00:25:59.49\00:26:00.46
We had to stop and
we had to turn around.
00:26:01.46\00:26:03.84
In order to get
back on the right path,
00:26:04.57\00:26:06.48
we had to stop and
we had to turn around.
00:26:06.69\00:26:08.95
The Bible tells us that
what will happen to us is this.
00:26:10.02\00:26:14.51
Isaiah 30:21 says it like this;
00:26:15.94\00:26:18.17
"Whether you turn to
the right or to the left,
00:26:20.92\00:26:23.32
your ears will
hear a voice behind you,
00:26:23.74\00:26:25.75
saying, This is the
way; walk ye in it."
00:26:25.76\00:26:28.83
What do we have do?
When we pulled off to
00:26:31.05\00:26:32.77
the side of the road,
we had to turn around.
00:26:32.78\00:26:34.98
God is telling you
when you get off the path,
00:26:35.35\00:26:38.32
there is only one path
at least we turn to life,
00:26:38.33\00:26:40.28
but if you get up to the left,
00:26:40.29\00:26:41.66
we get up to the
right. God is telling you,
00:26:41.67\00:26:44.31
you will hear a
voice behind you saying,
00:26:44.63\00:26:46.43
this is the way, walk you in it.
00:26:46.89\00:26:49.34
God wants us to
be on the right path,
00:26:50.14\00:26:52.61
but He knows that often times
00:26:53.09\00:26:55.01
we find it
difficult to hear His voice.
00:26:55.43\00:26:57.60
But unless we've
spend the time with Him
00:26:58.17\00:27:00.18
we won't know when we've
gotten off the wrong path.
00:27:00.43\00:27:03.19
In politics,
there is the right-wing
00:27:04.59\00:27:06.61
in the left ring parties.
The left is described as
00:27:06.62\00:27:10.45
progressive, the
right is conservative.
00:27:10.46\00:27:12.28
But reality is, if
you get off on either
00:27:12.63\00:27:14.66
side you are in the
ditch. There is only one path
00:27:14.67\00:27:17.76
for you to be on,
and that's the path
00:27:17.77\00:27:19.38
that God has called
you. Revelation 3:20 says it
00:27:19.39\00:27:22.37
like this; "Behold,
I stand at the door,
00:27:22.38\00:27:25.26
and knock: if any
man hear my voice,
00:27:25.27\00:27:27.89
and open the door,
I will come in to him,
00:27:27.90\00:27:30.20
and sup with
him and he with me."
00:27:30.21\00:27:32.77
God is telling you
that He is standing at the
00:27:34.17\00:27:36.69
door of your
heart. He is knocking.
00:27:36.70\00:27:38.94
He wants to come in.
He's asking you please
00:27:39.70\00:27:43.03
open up the door of your heart.
00:27:43.04\00:27:44.91
If you've gotten off the
path, listen to the voice.
00:27:45.49\00:27:48.38
Let Him change you,
let Him turn you around
00:27:48.92\00:27:51.39
today and set you
on the path again.
00:27:51.40\00:27:53.96