Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
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Do you know how the Holy
Spirit applies God's word
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as the launderer's
soap to sanctify us?
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Join us now to learn what
the bible says about this.
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Welcome to "The Grace Pipeline."
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This is a Bible study series
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that is based on a
book by the same title.
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And if you're following
along in your companion book,
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today we're going to continue
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our study on the
launderer's soap.
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We're beginning in
chapter 8, page 122.
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In previous programs, we
have studied how the Father,
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the Son, and the Holy
Spirit work to sanctify us,
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to set us apart from sin.
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Today, we will learn the
power of sanctifying grace
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that is ours also,
through the Scriptures
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applied to our daily lives
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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The secret to sanctification
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is to learn to live in
this power of surrender.
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Let me explain.
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One day when I was praying,
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I was wrestling with the Lord
like the patriarch Jacob had.
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And I cried out and
I said, "Please, Lord,
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show me how to walk in
surrender as Jesus walked.
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I will not let you
go unless you bless me
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with a changed character,
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cause me to follow
in Christ's footsteps."
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And instantly in my mind,
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I saw this gigantic
elephant and next to him
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was a tiny little
sugar ant, hardly visible.
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As I wondered what this meant,
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I suddenly heard the
still small voice of the Lord
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whisper a thought to my mind.
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And He said, "Shelley,
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the greatest
strength you can muster
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is like that of the
tiny ant, whereas My power
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is by comparison
like that of the elephant.
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Why would you want to walk
in your limited human strength
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when I make My
power available to you?
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When I ask you
to surrender, child,
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I'm asking you
to accept My power."
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Galatians 3:3
suddenly came to my mind
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where Paul asks-- he said,
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"You foolish, Galatians.
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Having begun in the Spirit,
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are you now being
made perfect by the flesh?"
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Yes, I had been so foolish
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trying my utmost
to walk with God.
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I had been drawing only
on my own sugar ant strength.
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It was like that tiny insect
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trying to roll a
boulder up a hill.
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But now I realize
each morning of my life,
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I face a
decision which determines
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whether I walk as a pitiful
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or a powerful
Christian that day.
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If I attempt to perfect my walk
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by the strength of my flesh
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I am to be
pitied as I limp along,
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hobbled by
self-destructive habits.
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But if I choose to walk
in the power of the Spirit,
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I can run the
race of faith with joy.
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To be yoked to
Christ is to be yoked
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to that elephantine
power of the Holy Spirit.
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So in your mind's eye,
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just get an image of
that for just a moment.
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A sugar ant
yoked to an elephant.
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Who's carrying the load?
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Can you see that tiny little ant
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with its tiny little
legs squirming about,
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demanding to be
released so that he could
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perform the task of
rolling the boulder on his own?
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How often have we
insisted on having our own way
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and reaped the
exhausting and empty results?
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It is not by might or power,
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but by the Spirit of the Lord
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that we can live
the life of a Christian.
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Our greatest human strength
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is comparable to that
of the little sugar ant.
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Only the sanctifying
power of the Holy Spirit
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will suffice unto salvation.
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Now as we consider what our
loving Lord has done for us,
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it should create in us a
thirst for righteousness.
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If we continually draw
from God's well of salvation,
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the living water
of the Holy Spirit
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will fulfill our need.
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And His sparkling
presence flowing through us
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will cleanse
away sin's influence.
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His revitalizing
power will live--
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help us to live a
life of righteousness
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as we daily choose to die
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to
self-interests and live for God.
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Isaiah spoke of God's
tender care for His people
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saying in Isaiah 63:9 that,
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"God lifted them up and carried
them all the days of old."
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You know, God's
method of salvation by grace
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remains the same
today as in the days of old.
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And obedience is
also still a factor.
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Romans 6, tells us that,
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"Obedience leads
to righteousness."
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When we are yoked with the Lord,
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our life of
obedience is not a struggle.
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Sanctifying grace
grants us a treasury of power,
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God's power to overcome
our rebellious tendencies
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and to walk in righteousness,
resulting in peace.
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Listen to the echo of God's love
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as He calls us to obedience
by grace in Isaiah 48:18.
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He says, "Oh, that you
had heeded My commandments.
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Then your peace would
have been like a river,
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and your righteousness
like the waves of the sea."
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God's commandments
embody the essence of His grace,
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for He empowers us to do
all that He requires of us.
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The apostle Paul clearly
identified the Holy Spirit
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as a sustaining
grace of sanctification,
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pointing to Him as our only hope
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to overcome the carnal mind.
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In Romans 8:7-10, Paul wrote,
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"The carnal mind
is enmity against God,
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for it is not subject to
the law of God, nor can it be.
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So then those who are in
the flesh cannot please God.
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But you are not in the
flesh but in the Spirit,
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if indeed the Spirit
of God dwells in you.
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Now if anyone does not have
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the Spirit of
Christ, He is not His.
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And if Christ is in you,
the body is dead because of sin,
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but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness."
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We need to pray
for the Holy Spirit.
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You're most likely
familiar with Luke 11:9
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where Jesus asks
us or instructs us
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to "Ask, to seek, and to knock."
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Now in the
original Greek language,
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these are linear verbs.
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They just keep going in a
straight line without end.
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So that Luke 11:9
is better translated,
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ask and keep on asking
and it shall be given to you.
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Seek and keep on
seeking and you shall find.
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Knock and keep on knocking
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and the door
shall be opened to you.
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And then a few verses later,
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Jesus tells us
what we are to ask for,
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saying in Luke 11:13,
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"How much more will
your heavenly Father
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give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask,"
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and continue to ask Him.
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Who can receive the Spirit?
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Acts 5:32 tells us
something interesting.
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It says, "We are His
witnesses to these things,
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and so also is the Holy Spirit
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whom God has given
to those who obey Him."
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You see, when we walk in
Spirit empowered obedience,
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God makes grace
abound by giving us
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a greater measure of His Spirit.
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Let me offer this
illustration to explain.
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If you took a gallon
jar and you filled it
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with extremely muddied water,
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then you poured out a
fourth of its contents
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and you added
sparkling water to replace that.
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You would be left with
a less muddied mixture.
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If you again poured
out a fourth of the mixture
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and added more sparkling water,
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the contents would
become still clear.
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And through
repetition of this process,
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you would eventually achieve
a container of pure water.
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In like manner,
only to the degree
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that we're emptied of self,
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can we be
filled with the Spirit.
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His inward work of grace
will change our outward walk.
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There's only one man
who has walked this earth
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possessing the Spirit without
measure and that was Jesus.
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In John 3:34, Bible says,
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"For since He whom God
sent speaks the words of God,"
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proclaims God's own message.
00:09:35.37\00:09:37.61
"God does not give him
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His Spirit
sparingly or by measure.
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But boundless is the
gift God makes of His Spirit."
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Christ was filled with
the fullness of the Spirit
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because He walked
in perfect obedience.
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And out of His fullness
we receive grace upon grace,
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one spiritual blessing
heaped on top of another,
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as we walk in
obedience to His truths.
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You know, John
1:1-4 and then verse 14,
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the Apostle writes, "In
the beginning was the Word
00:10:11.17\00:10:14.14
and the Word was with
God and the Word was God.
00:10:14.14\00:10:18.08
And all things
were made through Him.
00:10:18.08\00:10:20.98
In Him was life and that
life was the light of men.
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And the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us,
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and we beheld His glory,
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the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,
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full of grace and truth."
00:10:35.56\00:10:39.67
According to
rabbinical tradition,
00:10:39.67\00:10:43.10
light was a
name for the Messiah,
00:10:43.10\00:10:45.94
for light dwells with Him.
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In John 8:12, Jesus--
00:10:47.88\00:10:51.38
He's at the ceremony of lights
00:10:51.38\00:10:53.25
on the first day of the
Feast of the Tabernacles.
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And He stood in the
temple court and He cried out,
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"I am the light of the world.
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He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness
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but will have
the light of life."
00:11:06.36\00:11:09.13
It is fitting
that the word light
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is also symbolic for
the written word of God.
00:11:11.47\00:11:15.04
For it emanates from the living
00:11:15.04\00:11:17.34
Lord Jesus
Christ and brings life.
00:11:17.34\00:11:20.48
Psalm 119:105 says, "God's
word is a lamp to our feet
00:11:20.48\00:11:25.98
and a light to our path."
00:11:25.98\00:11:27.88
And in a world that is shrouded
with the darkness of sin,
00:11:27.88\00:11:32.49
we need the light
of life to guide us
00:11:32.49\00:11:36.49
to the narrow gate of salvation.
00:11:36.49\00:11:39.23
The power of sanctifying
grace is ours through Scripture.
00:11:39.23\00:11:44.07
When the light of His
word operates in our heart,
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it separates us
from the darkness of sin.
00:11:48.00\00:11:51.27
In other words,
Scripture sanctifies us
00:11:51.27\00:11:54.91
just as Jesus
prayed in John 17:17.
00:11:54.91\00:11:59.21
He said, "Sanctify
them by Your truth.
00:11:59.21\00:12:03.15
Your word is truth."
00:12:03.15\00:12:06.59
There in the
garden of Gethsemane
00:12:06.59\00:12:08.99
with His eyes lifted to heaven
00:12:08.99\00:12:11.29
and His
disciples surrounding Him,
00:12:11.29\00:12:13.80
Christ prayed that
all of His followers
00:12:13.80\00:12:17.33
would be
sanctified by God's word.
00:12:17.33\00:12:20.34
He knew the word was a
living and active force.
00:12:20.34\00:12:24.17
He had sspoken the world
00:12:24.17\00:12:26.07
into existence by
His power filled word.
00:12:26.07\00:12:30.18
Christ alone understood
the coming event of Calvary
00:12:30.18\00:12:34.08
and His sacrifice
would open the way
00:12:34.08\00:12:36.52
to restore our
relationship with the Father.
00:12:36.52\00:12:40.16
But He knew the
work of salvation
00:12:40.16\00:12:42.39
would continue beyond the cross.
00:12:42.39\00:12:45.89
Remnants of our
old carnal nature
00:12:45.89\00:12:48.56
remain after the
new birth experience,
00:12:48.56\00:12:51.27
so Christ knew we
would need greater power
00:12:51.27\00:12:54.27
to renew our minds
and be rid of bad habits.
00:12:54.27\00:12:58.77
Christ was aware that only
00:12:58.77\00:13:01.44
the transforming
power of God's truth
00:13:01.44\00:13:04.05
could complete His
work of sanctification
00:13:04.05\00:13:06.88
to liberate us
from sin's bondage.
00:13:06.88\00:13:09.55
He said in John 8:31-32,
00:13:09.55\00:13:12.59
"If you abide in My word,
you are My disciples indeed.
00:13:12.59\00:13:16.99
And then you
shall know the truth,
00:13:16.99\00:13:19.23
and the truth
shall make you free."
00:13:19.23\00:13:21.56
Paul wrote to Timothy
in 2 Timothy 3:15-17 that,
00:13:21.56\00:13:25.80
"The Holy
Scriptures are able to make us
00:13:25.80\00:13:29.60
wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus."
00:13:29.60\00:13:34.38
He confirmed
that, "All Scripture
00:13:34.38\00:13:36.68
is given by inspiration of God
00:13:36.68\00:13:40.22
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction,
00:13:40.22\00:13:44.59
for instruction in righteousness
00:13:44.59\00:13:46.86
that the
Christian may be complete
00:13:46.86\00:13:49.42
and thoroughly
equipped in every good work."
00:13:49.42\00:13:52.39
Paul also wrote in 1
Corinthians 2:16 that,
00:13:52.39\00:13:57.63
"We have the mind of Christ."
00:13:57.63\00:14:01.67
What a gift the God
inspired Scriptures are to us.
00:14:01.67\00:14:06.41
They equip us with divine power
00:14:06.41\00:14:09.04
for salvation
through Christ our wisdom.
00:14:09.04\00:14:12.81
He gave us His word
that we may know His mind.
00:14:12.81\00:14:17.09
So the more we saturate
our minds with Scripture,
00:14:17.09\00:14:20.39
the more we will
operate with the mind of Christ.
00:14:20.39\00:14:23.96
If we meet the condition,
00:14:23.96\00:14:25.93
the promise of James 1:21 is
ours and here's what it says,
00:14:25.93\00:14:31.77
"Therefore lay
aside all filthiness
00:14:31.77\00:14:34.97
and overflow of wickedness,
00:14:34.97\00:14:37.07
and receive with
meekness the implanted word,
00:14:37.07\00:14:41.38
which is able to
save your souls."
00:14:41.38\00:14:46.25
As you read the Scriptures,
00:14:46.25\00:14:48.28
pray that God will
sanctify you by His word.
00:14:48.28\00:14:51.95
The word planted and
rooted in your heart,
00:14:51.95\00:14:55.06
mysteriously grows
with this divine cause
00:14:55.06\00:14:58.89
of cleansing us of sin
00:14:58.89\00:15:00.96
and recreating Christ'
righteous character in us.
00:15:00.96\00:15:04.97
Jesus compared this
process to planting seed
00:15:04.97\00:15:08.50
in good ground that sprouts
00:15:08.50\00:15:11.61
and it grows to yield
a hundred fold return.
00:15:11.61\00:15:15.54
Our work is to plant
the word, God's word.
00:15:15.54\00:15:20.15
And then God's work is to
give the increase of growth.
00:15:20.15\00:15:24.59
The divine affects of the word
00:15:24.59\00:15:26.86
begin to work
over a period of time
00:15:26.86\00:15:29.06
without our conscious awareness.
00:15:29.06\00:15:31.43
We plant a promise of God
00:15:31.43\00:15:33.53
that one day as
Christ said in Mark 4-28,
00:15:33.53\00:15:36.50
"It yields a crop by itself,
first the blade, then the head,
00:15:36.50\00:15:41.77
and then the full
grain in the head."
00:15:41.77\00:15:44.07
First our thoughts are changed,
00:15:44.07\00:15:46.37
then our actions,
and finally our habits.
00:15:46.37\00:15:51.48
Scripture points out our sins
00:15:51.48\00:15:54.18
and the pledge of God's
sure promise is to change us,
00:15:54.18\00:15:58.75
correcting our misguided path
00:15:58.75\00:16:00.79
by revealing the better
way of His righteousness.
00:16:00.79\00:16:04.29
Our personal
application of the word
00:16:04.29\00:16:07.20
causes it to be
rooted in our heart.
00:16:07.20\00:16:09.23
And it springs
forth under the operation
00:16:09.23\00:16:12.00
of God's sanctifying
power to set us apart from sin.
00:16:12.00\00:16:16.67
Christ loved the church
and gave Himself for her.
00:16:16.67\00:16:19.14
Paul said in Ephesians 5:25-27,
00:16:19.14\00:16:24.15
"That He might
sanctify and cleanse her
00:16:24.15\00:16:27.08
with the washing
of water by the word,
00:16:27.08\00:16:30.82
so that He could present
her without spot or wrinkle,
00:16:30.82\00:16:34.76
making her holy
and without blemish."
00:16:34.76\00:16:37.59
This process of God's
work and sanctification
00:16:37.59\00:16:41.43
is expressed in
Malachi 3:2 where it says.
00:16:41.43\00:16:46.57
"He is like a refiner's
fire and like lauderer's soap."
00:16:46.57\00:16:53.44
Scripture is the
launderer's soap.
00:16:53.44\00:16:57.11
The living water
of the Holy Spirit
00:16:57.11\00:17:00.08
works to help us
comprehend God's spiritual words
00:17:00.08\00:17:03.89
and to put the word
into daily practice.
00:17:03.89\00:17:07.39
He applies Scripture to
scrub away the soil of sin.
00:17:07.39\00:17:11.76
Then He flows through us
00:17:11.76\00:17:13.43
to achieve a
purifying and spotless rinse
00:17:13.43\00:17:17.37
that we may be
rid of sin's residue.
00:17:17.37\00:17:20.47
And as these two divine
agents of grace work in harmony
00:17:20.47\00:17:24.87
to empower our actions of faith,
00:17:24.87\00:17:28.08
we develop the mind of Christ.
00:17:28.08\00:17:30.78
And we learn what to do as
2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us,
00:17:30.78\00:17:36.42
"That we learn to
take every thought captive
00:17:36.42\00:17:39.35
and make it obedient to Christ."
00:17:39.35\00:17:42.82
We become one with Him in
thought, purpose, and action.
00:17:42.82\00:17:48.10
This is where James
tells us in 1:22 that--he says,
00:17:48.10\00:17:52.50
"But be doers of the word,
00:17:52.50\00:17:55.57
not just hearers
only, deceiving yourself."
00:17:55.57\00:17:59.67
You know, James explains
that as we look into the word,
00:17:59.67\00:18:04.31
we see a reflection of
our unappealing natural self.
00:18:04.31\00:18:09.32
Yet through the
pledge of God's promises,
00:18:09.32\00:18:12.22
we see also the
reflection of the new creation,
00:18:12.22\00:18:16.89
the new creature
that we are in Christ.
00:18:16.89\00:18:19.59
Now if we walk away
from the mirror of the word
00:18:19.59\00:18:22.80
without putting it into practice
00:18:22.80\00:18:25.03
we have our
newly recreated image,
00:18:25.03\00:18:28.54
we just forget about
it and there's no change
00:18:28.54\00:18:31.54
that takes place
in our character.
00:18:31.54\00:18:33.88
If we disregard the Scriptures,
00:18:33.88\00:18:36.41
our spiritual
growth is retarded.
00:18:36.41\00:18:39.65
That's why Christ
asked in Luke 6:46.
00:18:39.65\00:18:44.59
He says, "Why do you
call Me 'Lord, Lord,'
00:18:44.59\00:18:47.96
and do not
practice what I tell you?"
00:18:47.96\00:18:50.79
And then He said in Luke 11:28,
00:18:50.79\00:18:53.66
"Blessed are those
who hear the word of God
00:18:53.66\00:18:57.27
and obey and practice."
00:18:57.27\00:19:00.67
May God help us
appreciate His word
00:19:00.67\00:19:04.41
as a great
preservative from evil
00:19:04.41\00:19:07.51
and an even
greater force for change
00:19:07.51\00:19:09.88
as we accept it by faith.
00:19:09.88\00:19:12.71
Faith without actions is dead.
00:19:12.71\00:19:15.25
But God
promises to bless the one
00:19:15.25\00:19:18.55
who puts His word into practice.
00:19:18.55\00:19:20.62
And we can put into practice
00:19:20.62\00:19:22.82
what we behold from the
bible and be transformed.
00:19:22.82\00:19:26.76
Let me read you from 2
Corinthians 3:18 and it says,
00:19:26.76\00:19:32.13
"And all of us, as
with unveiled face,
00:19:32.13\00:19:35.97
because we continued to behold
00:19:35.97\00:19:38.37
in the Word of God as in
a mirror the glory of God,
00:19:38.37\00:19:42.74
are constantly
being transfigured,"
00:19:42.74\00:19:45.21
or transformed,
"into His very own image
00:19:45.21\00:19:49.18
in ever increasing splendor
00:19:49.18\00:19:51.92
and from one degree
of glory to another,
00:19:51.92\00:19:54.82
for this comes from the
Lord Who is the Spirit."
00:19:54.82\00:19:59.59
What does this
Scripture tell us?
00:19:59.59\00:20:01.96
It tells us that we
become what we behold.
00:20:01.96\00:20:05.67
And as we behold the character
of Christ in the word of God,
00:20:05.67\00:20:10.87
the Holy Spirit applies
00:20:10.87\00:20:12.94
the transforming
power of Scripture
00:20:12.94\00:20:15.31
in the work of sanctification.
00:20:15.31\00:20:17.78
Step by step, He works with
us to develop our character,
00:20:17.78\00:20:22.92
taking us from one
level of Christ's glory
00:20:22.92\00:20:26.86
or His character
to the next level.
00:20:26.86\00:20:29.99
The renewal of our
mind fulfills our destiny
00:20:29.99\00:20:33.96
to be conformed to
the image of Jesus.
00:20:33.96\00:20:36.56
Let me show you
another powerful promise.
00:20:36.56\00:20:38.93
This is 2 Peter 1:3-4, one
of my favorites and it reads,
00:20:38.93\00:20:45.81
"His divine
power has given to us
00:20:45.81\00:20:49.28
all things that
pertain to life and godliness,
00:20:49.28\00:20:53.72
through the knowledge of Him
00:20:53.72\00:20:55.82
who called us by
glory and virtue, by which,"
00:20:55.82\00:20:59.85
by His glory and
virtue, "have been given to us
00:20:59.85\00:21:03.93
exceedingly great
and precious promises
00:21:03.93\00:21:08.06
so that through
these," through these promises,
00:21:08.06\00:21:12.23
"you may be
partakers of the divine nature,
00:21:12.23\00:21:15.50
having escaped the corruption
00:21:15.50\00:21:18.14
that is in the
world through lust."
00:21:18.14\00:21:21.24
Wow, I love this promise.
00:21:21.24\00:21:23.28
He's saying by the
glory and virtue of God
00:21:23.28\00:21:25.75
and through His
divine power of grace,
00:21:25.75\00:21:29.48
we've been given
marvelous promises
00:21:29.48\00:21:32.09
of all He will accomplish
according to His perfect will,
00:21:32.09\00:21:36.09
if we grant Him permission.
00:21:36.09\00:21:39.16
And we become
partakers of His divine nature
00:21:39.16\00:21:43.50
through His
promises, through the word.
00:21:43.50\00:21:46.27
2 Corinthians
1:20 tells us that,
00:21:46.27\00:21:49.00
"All of God's
promises are ours,"
00:21:49.00\00:21:51.71
if we abide in Christ.
00:21:51.71\00:21:54.44
So through a personal faith
application of these promises
00:21:54.44\00:21:58.91
that contain the
power of God unto salvation
00:21:58.91\00:22:02.48
we share in His
divine character.
00:22:02.48\00:22:05.89
Further, the
sustaining power of His Spirit
00:22:05.89\00:22:09.72
and His word
protects us from evil.
00:22:09.72\00:22:13.26
What a promise.
00:22:13.26\00:22:15.10
You know, the Lord
provides everything necessary
00:22:15.10\00:22:18.90
for the
development of our godliness.
00:22:18.90\00:22:21.67
His work of sanctification
is our assurance of salvation.
00:22:21.67\00:22:27.18
God does His promised part
and the apostle Peter tells--
00:22:27.18\00:22:33.55
continues this passage to tell--
00:22:33.55\00:22:35.98
explain to us that
we must do our work,
00:22:35.98\00:22:39.02
our part in the
work of sanctification.
00:22:39.02\00:22:41.56
Let's read that 2 Peter
1:5-9, continuing he says,
00:22:41.56\00:22:46.63
"But also for this very reason,"
00:22:46.63\00:22:48.86
because God's
provided everything to us."
00:22:48.86\00:22:51.47
He says, "Giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue,
00:22:51.47\00:22:56.17
knowledge, self control,
perseverance, godliness,
00:22:56.17\00:23:00.08
brotherly kindness and love.
00:23:00.08\00:23:02.51
For if these things
are yours and abound
00:23:02.51\00:23:06.78
you will be neither
barren nor unfruitful
00:23:06.78\00:23:10.89
in the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:23:10.89\00:23:14.32
For he who lacks these things
00:23:14.32\00:23:16.93
is shortsighted,
even to blindness,
00:23:16.93\00:23:20.80
and has forgotten that he
was cleansed from his old sins.
00:23:20.80\00:23:25.83
Therefore, be even more diligent
00:23:25.83\00:23:29.67
to make your call
and election sure."
00:23:29.67\00:23:33.74
He uses "diligence' twice
in this Scripture passage.
00:23:33.74\00:23:37.55
And here Peter is reinforcing
00:23:37.55\00:23:40.22
God's principle of
required obedience,
00:23:40.22\00:23:43.85
warning that whoever forgets
00:23:43.85\00:23:46.45
the cost of grace,
the agony of Calvary
00:23:46.45\00:23:50.26
by which we were
justified from our past sins,
00:23:50.26\00:23:53.50
whoever forgets the
cost of grace is blinded
00:23:53.50\00:23:57.03
to the needful
work of sanctification.
00:23:57.03\00:24:01.10
He concluded his
letter with a description
00:24:01.10\00:24:05.17
of the fiery
destruction of this world
00:24:05.17\00:24:08.38
and with a
promise of the new earth
00:24:08.38\00:24:11.68
in which righteousness dwells.
00:24:11.68\00:24:14.08
He ends with this admonition
00:24:14.08\00:24:17.09
in 2 Peter 3:14, 17 and 18,
00:24:17.09\00:24:23.02
"Therefore, beloved,
looking forward to these things,
00:24:23.02\00:24:27.60
be diligent to be
found by Him in peace,
00:24:27.60\00:24:32.57
without spot and blameless,
00:24:32.57\00:24:35.40
beware lest you also fall
from your own steadfasteness,
00:24:35.40\00:24:39.81
being led away with
the error of the wicked,
00:24:39.81\00:24:43.51
but grow in the
grace and knowledge
00:24:43.51\00:24:47.08
of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ."
00:24:47.08\00:24:51.45
If you desire an abiding
and connected relationship
00:24:51.45\00:24:55.99
with Jesus
Christ, the living Word,
00:24:55.99\00:24:59.16
develop an abiding relationship
00:24:59.16\00:25:02.23
with the bible,
the written word.
00:25:02.23\00:25:05.27
This action is
vital to grow in grace.
00:25:05.27\00:25:09.84
The sanctifying
power of Scripture
00:25:09.84\00:25:12.91
will affect a moral influence
on your heart and your habits.
00:25:12.91\00:25:17.58
His word works to
restore His image,
00:25:17.58\00:25:22.02
to restore His mind
and His character in you.
00:25:22.02\00:25:26.79
The ultimate
perfection of your character
00:25:26.79\00:25:29.92
comes by the gift
of the Holy Scriptures,
00:25:29.92\00:25:33.46
as the power of the Holy Spirit
00:25:33.46\00:25:36.06
strengthens you to
put them into practice.
00:25:36.06\00:25:39.63
Let me read for you
from Hebrews 10:35 and 36,
00:25:39.63\00:25:46.54
which says, "Therefore do
not cast away your confidence,
00:25:46.54\00:25:52.48
which has great reward.
00:25:52.48\00:25:54.82
For you have need of endurance,
00:25:54.82\00:25:57.22
so that after you
have done the will of God,
00:25:57.22\00:26:00.92
you may receive the promise."
00:26:00.92\00:26:05.06
God's love is unconditional,
00:26:05.06\00:26:07.86
but He sets
parameters around His promises.
00:26:07.86\00:26:11.37
First, we must be in Christ
00:26:11.37\00:26:14.00
to be given His
promised blessings.
00:26:14.00\00:26:16.74
This means we are obliged
to surrender our will to God
00:26:16.74\00:26:21.78
and allow Jesus to
live in our hearts by faith
00:26:21.78\00:26:25.88
through the
infilling of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:25.88\00:26:29.08
Secondly, we receive God's
promises through faith alone
00:26:29.08\00:26:34.06
which we will further
consider in our next program.
00:26:34.06\00:26:38.59
Finally, we must
be-- walk in obedience.
00:26:38.59\00:26:43.77
Obedience to
God's will to receive
00:26:43.77\00:26:46.60
His promise of eternal life.
00:26:46.60\00:26:49.27
Readiness to obey
shows we are living
00:26:49.27\00:26:53.14
in a right relationship
with our heavenly Father.
00:26:53.14\00:26:56.68
As we comply
with God's conditions
00:26:56.68\00:26:59.68
becoming sanctification seekers.
00:26:59.68\00:27:03.39
We can be confident.
00:27:03.39\00:27:05.35
He will be faithful in carrying
out His part of the agreement.
00:27:05.35\00:27:10.93
Sanctification
seekers pursue holiness
00:27:10.93\00:27:15.30
by surrendering to the
power of the indwelling Spirit,
00:27:15.30\00:27:19.77
in His love and in His pity.
00:27:19.77\00:27:22.97
Just as He did
in the days of old,
00:27:22.97\00:27:25.17
He will lift us up and
carry us on to victory.
00:27:25.17\00:27:29.41
Sanctification
seekers pursue holiness
00:27:29.41\00:27:32.88
by engaging in
regular bible study
00:27:32.88\00:27:35.98
to become skilled in
the word of righteousness.
00:27:35.98\00:27:39.52
And as the Spirit
applies the launderer's soap,
00:27:39.52\00:27:43.19
the transforming power of
His word will sanctify us.
00:27:43.19\00:27:47.60
That's God's promise.
00:27:47.60\00:27:49.40
Join us next time, as we
begin our study on faith.
00:27:49.40\00:27:52.47
And until then,
our prayer is that
00:27:52.47\00:27:54.97
you will grow in
grace and in the knowledge
00:27:54.97\00:27:57.81
of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
00:27:57.81\00:28:00.21