Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
00:00:01.40\00:00:02.77
Have you ever reached
a turning point of faith?
00:00:02.80\00:00:05.04
Join us now on
"The Grace Pipeline"
00:00:05.07\00:00:06.65
to see what the
Bible has to say about it.
00:00:06.68\00:00:09.40
Welcome to "The Grace Pipeline."
00:00:32.08\00:00:34.07
A series of Bible studies
00:00:34.10\00:00:36.72
that focuses on the
overriding theme of God's grace
00:00:36.75\00:00:40.24
from Genesis to Revelation.
00:00:40.27\00:00:42.63
All things come to us from
our heavenly Father of love
00:00:42.66\00:00:46.24
through His pipeline of grace.
00:00:46.27\00:00:49.52
And since it is by faith that we
tap into this heavenly pipeline,
00:00:49.55\00:00:53.59
we have spent
our last two programs
00:00:53.62\00:00:56.22
broadening our understanding
of faith's definition.
00:00:56.25\00:00:59.90
Today, we will consider
00:00:59.93\00:01:02.04
two great faith
stories from the New Testament.
00:01:02.07\00:01:05.19
One that even
surprised the Lord Jesus Christ
00:01:05.22\00:01:08.73
and another who
made the right turn
00:01:08.76\00:01:11.51
when he reached the
turning point of faith.
00:01:11.54\00:01:14.49
If you're following along
in the series companion book
00:01:14.52\00:01:17.30
also titled 'The Grace Pipeline'
00:01:17.33\00:01:19.57
we're beginning from chapter 10.
00:01:19.60\00:01:21.50
As I share the Bible account
00:01:21.53\00:01:23.55
that has amazed me
since I was a young girl
00:01:23.58\00:01:27.07
about the one incident of faith
00:01:27.10\00:01:29.54
that caused the
Lord of glory to marvel.
00:01:29.57\00:01:32.97
Reviewing this event will enrich
our understanding of faith.
00:01:33.00\00:01:37.72
Matthew and Luke
both recorded this story
00:01:37.75\00:01:40.70
with emphasis on
different aspects.
00:01:40.73\00:01:43.29
Matthew summarizes
omitting the mention of people
00:01:43.32\00:01:46.86
who are speaking
on behalf of another.
00:01:46.89\00:01:49.42
But he includes Christ's
warning to the Jewish nation.
00:01:49.45\00:01:52.67
Luke on the other hand,
addresses a different audience
00:01:52.70\00:01:55.93
and provides a
more detailed report
00:01:55.96\00:01:58.82
but omits the
concluding warning.
00:01:58.85\00:02:01.09
I will borrow from
the parallel accounts
00:02:01.12\00:02:04.39
found in Mathew 8 and Luke 7
00:02:04.42\00:02:07.37
to tell my amplified version of
the story, drawing on scripture
00:02:07.40\00:02:11.94
and personal interpretation
of historical implications.
00:02:11.97\00:02:16.62
My account of the
story of the centurion
00:02:16.65\00:02:19.38
and his slave goes like this.
00:02:19.41\00:02:22.78
Drenched with sweat and
growing weaker by the moment
00:02:22.81\00:02:26.26
a centurion's servant
lie paralyzed on his pallet.
00:02:26.29\00:02:30.29
He writhed in torment for days.
00:02:30.32\00:02:32.81
He could not lift his limbs.
00:02:32.84\00:02:35.23
His life energy
was slowly draining.
00:02:35.26\00:02:38.02
So returning home, his
master learned of his condition
00:02:38.05\00:02:42.29
and entered into the
room to survey the situation.
00:02:42.32\00:02:45.89
Without doubt death was
hovering over his dear servant,
00:02:45.92\00:02:49.95
silently waiting
to steal him away.
00:02:49.98\00:02:52.75
There was only one hope.
00:02:52.78\00:02:54.45
The Roman centurion had
heard reports of Christ miracles
00:02:54.48\00:02:59.46
and he was convinced
00:02:59.49\00:03:01.09
that Christ was God's
representative on earth.
00:03:01.12\00:03:04.23
Immediately, he sent word
00:03:04.26\00:03:05.94
to the elders of
the local synagogue
00:03:05.97\00:03:08.10
and requested they
act as his ambassadors
00:03:08.13\00:03:11.57
to ask Christ to
come and heal the servant.
00:03:11.60\00:03:14.78
The elders received the request,
00:03:14.81\00:03:17.19
instantly dropped
what they were doing
00:03:17.22\00:03:19.06
and they set out to find Jesus.
00:03:19.09\00:03:21.52
The centurion was
a gentlemen Gentile.
00:03:21.55\00:03:25.18
He loved the Jewish nation.
00:03:25.21\00:03:27.17
And he had proven
to be their friend.
00:03:27.20\00:03:29.83
They had hoped to
make him a proselyte.
00:03:29.86\00:03:31.91
Although, he had
yet to be circumcised,
00:03:31.94\00:03:34.73
he had accepted the
tenets of their religion.
00:03:34.76\00:03:37.57
And he generously
provided the funds
00:03:37.60\00:03:40.03
to build the local synagogue.
00:03:40.06\00:03:41.90
He deserved their help.
00:03:41.93\00:03:44.25
His favorite servant was
dreadfully ill and ready to die.
00:03:44.28\00:03:50.14
Time was short. They hurried.
00:03:50.17\00:03:53.09
Walking in swift
strides the elders spotted Jesus
00:03:53.12\00:03:56.25
coming down the
road with His disciples.
00:03:56.28\00:03:58.43
And a throng of
people were accompanying Him.
00:03:58.46\00:04:01.29
Christ had just concluded
His sermon on the mount
00:04:01.32\00:04:04.09
and he was
returning to Capernaum.
00:04:04.12\00:04:06.22
The people who
followed had been amazed
00:04:06.25\00:04:09.12
by the authority
with which He spoke.
00:04:09.15\00:04:11.52
He set a higher
standard of righteousness
00:04:11.55\00:04:13.86
than the scribes and the
Pharisees taught or practiced.
00:04:13.89\00:04:17.17
And He stirred an
emotion in their hearts
00:04:17.20\00:04:19.71
to hear more of His sayings.
00:04:19.74\00:04:21.83
The delegation of elders
00:04:21.86\00:04:23.56
sprinted toward
Christ and His entourage.
00:04:23.59\00:04:26.54
Breathlessly but zealously
00:04:26.57\00:04:28.50
they spoke on
behalf of the centurion.
00:04:28.53\00:04:31.12
Sharing His
message they urged Jesus
00:04:31.15\00:04:34.06
to go to this Gentile's home.
00:04:34.09\00:04:37.18
I can only imagine
how the disciple's eyes
00:04:37.21\00:04:40.45
darted from one to another
wondering what Jesus would do.
00:04:40.48\00:04:44.59
In their culture it
was socially unacceptable
00:04:44.62\00:04:47.56
for a Jew to enter
the home of a Gentile.
00:04:47.59\00:04:50.56
Now although held no such
prejudice, He was sensitive
00:04:50.59\00:04:55.25
to avoid offending
His nation when possible.
00:04:55.28\00:04:58.42
On the other hand,
00:04:58.45\00:04:59.86
Jews where under the authority
of the Roman government
00:04:59.89\00:05:02.27
and required to submit
to their officer's commands.
00:05:02.30\00:05:06.18
So this message
from the dear centurion
00:05:06.21\00:05:09.65
was worded more as
a heartfelt request,
00:05:09.68\00:05:14.22
one that the compassionate
Christ could not refuse.
00:05:14.25\00:05:18.62
Jesus said, "I
will come and heal him."
00:05:18.65\00:05:22.74
Christ went with them
00:05:22.77\00:05:24.32
and the crowd of Jewish
believers followed in curiosity.
00:05:24.35\00:05:28.43
As they neared the house,
00:05:28.46\00:05:30.02
the centurion
glanced out the window
00:05:30.05\00:05:32.51
and he saw the
group approaching.
00:05:32.54\00:05:34.40
And he realized that
he was placing the Lord
00:05:34.43\00:05:37.02
in a position that
could bring contempt upon Him
00:05:37.05\00:05:40.57
for entering a Gentile's home.
00:05:40.60\00:05:43.32
Because he was uncircumcised
00:05:43.35\00:05:45.83
the centurion was not
even permitted to participate
00:05:45.86\00:05:48.90
in the synagogue services.
00:05:48.93\00:05:51.01
How he thought
could he consider himself
00:05:51.04\00:05:54.03
worthy to have this
great man under his roof.
00:05:54.06\00:05:58.24
He hastened his friends
00:05:58.27\00:06:00.65
and he sent them out the door
00:06:00.68\00:06:02.24
to deliver a message
to Jesus to turn back.
00:06:02.27\00:06:06.17
Recognizing though the humble
heart of the Roman centurion
00:06:06.20\00:06:10.40
Jesus continued to walk.
00:06:10.43\00:06:12.46
And as He advanced the
centurion rushed out meet Him.
00:06:12.49\00:06:17.07
And according, to Luke 7:6-8,
this is what he said to Jesus.
00:06:17.10\00:06:23.39
"Lord, do not trouble Yourself,
00:06:23.42\00:06:26.08
for I am not worthy that
You should enter under my roof.
00:06:26.11\00:06:29.80
Therefore I did not even think
myself worthy to come to You.
00:06:29.83\00:06:33.40
But say the word, and
my servant will be healed.
00:06:33.43\00:06:38.69
For I also am a man
placed under authority,
00:06:38.72\00:06:42.00
having soldiers under me.
00:06:42.03\00:06:44.11
And I say to one,
'Go,' and he goes,
00:06:44.14\00:06:47.28
and to another,
'Come,' and he comes,
00:06:47.31\00:06:50.15
and to my servant, 'Do
this,' and he does it."
00:06:50.18\00:06:54.11
This military man understood
the authority of a command.
00:06:55.88\00:07:00.78
He carried out the
orders of his superiors
00:07:00.81\00:07:03.60
and he expected
those under his charge
00:07:03.63\00:07:05.79
to execute the word of
his instructions instantly.
00:07:05.82\00:07:09.82
Believing that Christ was
the commander of the universe
00:07:09.85\00:07:14.08
and carried heaven's
authority over illness,
00:07:14.11\00:07:17.40
he made a comparison between
Christ's position and his own.
00:07:17.43\00:07:22.28
The centurion was convinced,
00:07:22.31\00:07:24.27
Christ could just speak
the word and it would be done.
00:07:24.30\00:07:29.53
Hearing these things,
00:07:29.56\00:07:31.22
Jesus marveled at the
magnitude of his faith.
00:07:31.25\00:07:35.64
The Lord's heart overflowed
with the joy of acceptance
00:07:35.67\00:07:39.51
and genuine astonishment.
00:07:39.54\00:07:41.83
This man had not
heard Him teach personally.
00:07:41.86\00:07:45.73
He had not witnessed any of
the miracles He had performed.
00:07:45.76\00:07:49.63
The Roman
soldier had only received
00:07:49.66\00:07:52.65
secondhand reports of
His teachings and His works.
00:07:52.68\00:07:56.97
Still the centurion believed
00:07:57.00\00:07:59.05
what most of the
Jews who'd been privileged
00:07:59.08\00:08:01.47
by personal contact
with Christ had not believed.
00:08:01.50\00:08:06.06
And the Lord who
measures a man's greatness
00:08:06.09\00:08:09.34
by the measure of His
faith turned around to the crowd
00:08:09.37\00:08:12.90
that followed Him
and He spoke these words
00:08:12.93\00:08:16.33
from Mathew 8:10-13, saying,
00:08:16.36\00:08:21.12
"Assuredly, I say to you,
00:08:21.15\00:08:23.35
I have not found such
great faith, not even in Israel.
00:08:23.38\00:08:28.18
And I say to you that many
will come from east and west,
00:08:28.21\00:08:32.33
and will sit down with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
00:08:32.36\00:08:34.83
in the kingdom of heaven.
00:08:34.86\00:08:36.62
But the sons of the kingdom will
be cast out into outer darkness.
00:08:36.65\00:08:41.44
There will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
00:08:41.47\00:08:44.29
Then Jesus said
to the centurion,
00:08:44.32\00:08:46.85
'Go your way and
as you have believed,
00:08:46.88\00:08:51.35
so let it be done for you.'
00:08:51.38\00:08:53.78
And his servant was
healed that same hour."
00:08:53.81\00:09:00.54
Christ rewarded the Roman
soldier with His approval.
00:09:00.57\00:09:05.19
And the centurion's faith
released the grace of a miracle.
00:09:05.22\00:09:10.13
His servant was healed.
00:09:10.16\00:09:11.87
This he was assured without even
seeing the evidence for himself.
00:09:11.90\00:09:16.87
His heart welled with
gratitude for the Lord.
00:09:16.90\00:09:20.02
And at the nearby home
00:09:20.05\00:09:21.72
the servant felt a
stream of energy flood his body
00:09:21.75\00:09:24.94
and he opened his eyes.
00:09:24.97\00:09:26.67
He stood to his feet
with restored strength
00:09:26.70\00:09:30.19
but could not comprehend
00:09:30.22\00:09:32.05
the amazing
reversal of his condition.
00:09:32.08\00:09:35.20
So the committee that the
centurion had sent his friends,
00:09:35.23\00:09:39.18
who'd gone to Jesus,
00:09:39.21\00:09:40.58
they hurried back
to verify the healing.
00:09:40.61\00:09:43.32
And entering the room
00:09:43.35\00:09:44.72
they discovered the man looking
vibrant and feeling hungry.
00:09:44.75\00:09:49.09
The miracle had occurred
00:09:49.12\00:09:51.44
without Christ being present
at the moment of healing.
00:09:51.47\00:09:56.33
Now, in the meantime,
00:09:56.36\00:09:58.48
I wonder what the Jews
who were pressed in around
00:09:58.51\00:10:01.85
Jesus where
thinking of the precept
00:10:01.88\00:10:03.71
that He had just revealed.
00:10:03.74\00:10:05.62
Surely, their
minds were spinning.
00:10:05.65\00:10:07.72
They commonly
referred to themselves as kings
00:10:07.75\00:10:10.56
or sons--excuse me,
sons of the kingdom,
00:10:10.59\00:10:14.02
believing that
their heritage gave them
00:10:14.05\00:10:16.03
a natural right to
all of God's privileges.
00:10:16.06\00:10:19.86
Why would Christ suggest
00:10:19.89\00:10:22.08
that they would be
cast out into outer darkness
00:10:22.11\00:10:26.13
These Jews recognized
00:10:26.16\00:10:27.53
Jesus obvious
approval of the centurion.
00:10:27.56\00:10:31.24
They surely wondered if
he referred to the Gentiles
00:10:31.27\00:10:33.90
when He said, "many
will come from east and west
00:10:33.93\00:10:37.38
to sit with
patriarchs in God's kingdom."
00:10:37.41\00:10:40.57
Did they realize he meant only
00:10:40.60\00:10:42.64
the spiritual children
of God will be in heaven,
00:10:42.67\00:10:45.55
whereas the natural
children of Jewish linage
00:10:45.58\00:10:48.60
would be excluded
unless they were born again?
00:10:48.63\00:10:52.93
Christ words condemned those
00:10:52.96\00:10:56.27
who did not have personal
and active faith in Him.
00:10:56.30\00:11:00.99
And He repeated the same
symbolic language of destruction
00:11:01.02\00:11:04.92
in a parable
recorded in Mathew 22.
00:11:04.95\00:11:08.79
There we find Him sharing
the illustration of a king
00:11:08.82\00:11:13.76
who had arranged a
marriage for his son.
00:11:13.79\00:11:17.33
Many of the privileged
00:11:17.36\00:11:18.73
on the king's guest
list refused the invitation.
00:11:18.76\00:11:22.19
But the monarch found others
to come to the marriage feast.
00:11:22.22\00:11:26.24
And at the wedding supper,
00:11:26.27\00:11:28.21
the king noticed a
man seated at the table
00:11:28.24\00:11:31.09
who was not wearing the
appropriate wedding garment
00:11:31.12\00:11:34.91
which is symbolic of
Christ's robe of righteousness.
00:11:34.94\00:11:39.10
Christ said in the parable,
00:11:39.13\00:11:40.81
the man was seized and
cast into outer darkness
00:11:40.84\00:11:44.84
where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
00:11:44.87\00:11:48.65
This symbolism represented
the final destruction of those
00:11:48.68\00:11:53.68
who would not repent and
receive His righteousness.
00:11:53.71\00:11:58.11
The Lord concluded the parable
with this word to the wise
00:11:58.14\00:12:02.19
that's found in Mathew 22:14.
00:12:02.22\00:12:05.05
He said, "Many are
called but few are chosen."
00:12:05.08\00:12:10.54
In the centurion's account
and the wedding parable, as now,
00:12:10.57\00:12:14.90
Christ cautions all who
think they've gained entrance
00:12:14.93\00:12:18.49
into the kingdom of
heaven to examine their lives
00:12:18.52\00:12:22.44
and see if they
are in the faith.
00:12:22.47\00:12:25.62
Inspired by God,
Paul repeats the warning.
00:12:25.65\00:12:30.33
In 2 Corinthians 13:5 saying,
00:12:30.36\00:12:35.97
"Examine yourselves as to
whether you are in the faith.
00:12:36.00\00:12:40.36
Test yourselves.
00:12:40.39\00:12:41.93
Do you not know yourselves
that Jesus Christ is in you
00:12:41.96\00:12:45.88
unless indeed you
are disqualified?"
00:12:45.91\00:12:48.93
Likewise, we all
need to test ourselves,
00:12:50.98\00:12:54.98
to examine our lives
and see if Christ is in us
00:12:55.01\00:12:58.51
and to see that we're in Him
00:12:58.54\00:13:00.48
so that we will
not be disqualified.
00:13:00.51\00:13:03.75
Traumatic events lead the way
to turning points in our life.
00:13:03.78\00:13:08.95
When an emergency, a
tragedy or catastrophe strikes
00:13:08.98\00:13:13.04
we commonly experience a
personal identity crisis.
00:13:13.07\00:13:17.30
The root of the
problem can be physical,
00:13:17.33\00:13:19.91
financial,
relational or spiritual.
00:13:19.94\00:13:23.41
But whatever the
cause are circumstances
00:13:23.44\00:13:26.26
can create
emotional and mental turmoil.
00:13:26.29\00:13:30.22
How humans handle our
crisis depends largely
00:13:30.25\00:13:33.72
on our degree of faith in God.
00:13:33.75\00:13:36.16
In many instances unbelievers
are brought to their knees
00:13:36.19\00:13:40.38
by fiery trials and they
look up for the first time
00:13:40.41\00:13:44.36
turning their
eyes to the living God.
00:13:44.39\00:13:47.22
And as He reaches
down with a soothing touch
00:13:47.25\00:13:50.24
to relieve
their blazing anguish,
00:13:50.27\00:13:53.03
a trust is born
within their hearts
00:13:53.06\00:13:55.98
that generates the
development of active faith.
00:13:56.01\00:14:00.05
So drawing on
God's power of grace
00:14:00.08\00:14:02.52
they climb out of the fiery pit.
00:14:02.55\00:14:05.72
But in sharp contrast are
the instances of believers
00:14:05.75\00:14:10.00
whose experience of
faith could be compared
00:14:10.03\00:14:12.55
to the balancing act of
sitting on a two legged stool.
00:14:12.58\00:14:17.48
Their faith constantly wavers
00:14:17.51\00:14:20.02
and it requires propping
up by positive circumstances.
00:14:20.05\00:14:24.49
So when the
scorching trial comes,
00:14:24.52\00:14:27.22
weakening one of the wobbly
legs that supports our faith,
00:14:27.25\00:14:30.89
they turn away from God and turn
00:14:30.92\00:14:35.06
and fall and stumble
into the smoldering ashes.
00:14:35.09\00:14:39.28
Now finally, there
are those devout believers
00:14:39.31\00:14:43.00
who endure the testing of
their genuine faith amidst
00:14:43.03\00:14:46.26
the fiery trial and such
testing produces patience
00:14:46.29\00:14:51.70
that perfects their character.
00:14:51.73\00:14:54.11
Grieved by their
circumstances they turn to God
00:14:54.14\00:14:57.77
in total trust with
minds focused on Him
00:14:57.80\00:15:01.79
rather than their problem
00:15:01.82\00:15:03.54
and they walk in His
promised perfect peace.
00:15:03.57\00:15:09.24
Christ serves as their
heat resistant crucible
00:15:09.27\00:15:13.93
and they emerge from the
fire with faith as pure as gold.
00:15:13.96\00:15:19.03
The very
religious Saul of Tarsus,
00:15:19.06\00:15:22.17
who became the apostle Paul,
00:15:22.20\00:15:24.60
experienced the
turning point of faith
00:15:24.63\00:15:28.09
in his life and his career
00:15:28.12\00:15:30.25
when he had an
encounter with Christ
00:15:30.28\00:15:32.95
that produced genuine faith
and it reversed his direction.
00:15:32.98\00:15:37.71
He vividly
describes his conversion
00:15:37.74\00:15:40.84
to King Agrippa in Acts 26:9-23.
00:15:40.87\00:15:47.12
Paul shares how
his former great ego
00:15:47.15\00:15:51.55
and his devout sense of
duty caused him to be hostile
00:15:51.58\00:15:55.33
toward the name of Jesus
of Nazareth and His followers.
00:15:55.36\00:15:58.95
This Pharisee
of Pharisees served
00:15:58.98\00:16:01.96
as the official
persecutor of the saints
00:16:01.99\00:16:04.74
under the authority and the
commission of the Sanhedrin.
00:16:04.77\00:16:09.33
His religious ambitions
caused him to carry out
00:16:09.36\00:16:12.61
a ruthless
campaign to rid the world
00:16:12.64\00:16:15.64
of what he considered heresy.
00:16:15.67\00:16:18.03
One day, traveling at high
noon on the road to Damascus,
00:16:18.06\00:16:21.71
he was confronted by Christ.
00:16:21.74\00:16:24.27
A supernatural blinding light,
00:16:24.30\00:16:26.86
brighter than the
sun shined around him.
00:16:26.89\00:16:29.94
And he fell to the
ground and he heard a voice
00:16:29.97\00:16:33.54
that said as
recorded in Acts 26:14-16,
00:16:33.57\00:16:39.79
"Saul, Saul, why
are you persecuting Me?
00:16:39.82\00:16:43.84
It is hard for you to
kick against the goads.
00:16:43.87\00:16:45.99
I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting.
00:16:46.02\00:16:48.92
But rise and stand on your feet
00:16:48.95\00:16:51.45
for I have appeared
to you for this purpose
00:16:51.48\00:16:54.44
to make you a minister and
a witness both of the things
00:16:54.47\00:16:58.72
which you have
seen and of the things
00:16:58.75\00:17:01.42
which I will yet reveal to you."
00:17:01.45\00:17:05.32
In His message to
the misguided Saul,
00:17:05.35\00:17:09.29
Christ used a proverb common
to the culture of the day.
00:17:09.32\00:17:13.00
To kick against the goads.
00:17:13.03\00:17:15.67
The goads, pictured an ox's leg
00:17:15.70\00:17:18.66
being pricked by
a sharp iron goad
00:17:18.69\00:17:21.28
that was carried in
the hand of the ploughman
00:17:21.31\00:17:23.82
and it was used
to gain the attention
00:17:23.85\00:17:25.96
of the slow moving
creature to quicken his pace.
00:17:25.99\00:17:29.84
But when the ox
kicked against it,
00:17:29.87\00:17:31.93
the wound would
become more severe.
00:17:31.96\00:17:34.28
Christ words suggest
the Holy Spirit had been
00:17:34.31\00:17:37.40
trying to reach
the heart of Saul
00:17:37.43\00:17:40.07
but the religious zealot
had repeatedly resisted Him.
00:17:40.10\00:17:44.46
Let you and I also be mindful
00:17:44.49\00:17:47.55
not to sin against the
Spirit by resisting Him.
00:17:47.58\00:17:51.60
Anyway, as the
Lord continued to speak,
00:17:51.63\00:17:54.16
He let the legalistic Saul know
00:17:54.19\00:17:56.73
he was sending
him to minister to,
00:17:56.76\00:17:59.06
of all people, the Gentiles.
00:17:59.09\00:18:02.01
What was His
purpose for sending him?
00:18:02.04\00:18:04.67
Christ reveals
that in Acts 26:18.
00:18:04.70\00:18:07.61
He says, I am sending you
00:18:07.64\00:18:09.01
"to open their eyes to turn
them from darkness to light,
00:18:09.04\00:18:12.11
from the power of Satan to God,
00:18:12.14\00:18:15.08
that they may
receive forgiveness of sins
00:18:15.11\00:18:18.65
and an inheritance among those
00:18:18.68\00:18:21.05
who are
sanctified by faith in me."
00:18:21.08\00:18:26.40
Faith has sanctifying power.
00:18:26.43\00:18:30.03
The power to set us
apart for God's purposes,
00:18:30.06\00:18:33.57
turning us away from
sin and making us holy.
00:18:33.60\00:18:38.16
Saul had reached the point
of a spiritual identity crisis.
00:18:38.19\00:18:43.68
With his massive ego,
00:18:43.71\00:18:45.82
he could have turned to God
00:18:45.85\00:18:47.22
becoming only devoted
to the cause of Christ.
00:18:47.25\00:18:50.99
But Saul's
turn-around changed him to Paul
00:18:51.02\00:18:54.21
who was devoted to
the person of Christ.
00:18:54.24\00:18:58.05
Responding to his Savior,
00:18:58.08\00:18:59.98
he was separated that
day to the living God.
00:19:00.01\00:19:03.73
The profound relationship
that he developed with the Lord
00:19:03.76\00:19:08.24
was like that of
a child to a father,
00:19:08.27\00:19:11.21
one of absolute dependence
upon God and His grace.
00:19:11.24\00:19:15.94
So as Paul's beliefs changed,
Paul's faith was purified
00:19:15.97\00:19:21.56
and his character
was miraculously morphed
00:19:21.59\00:19:25.85
producing a
total transformation.
00:19:25.88\00:19:29.44
Paul was obedient
to the heavenly vision
00:19:31.08\00:19:35.37
and putting faith into action.
00:19:35.40\00:19:37.68
Acts 26:20 says
00:19:37.71\00:19:39.34
that he went about
teaching all who would listen,
00:19:39.37\00:19:42.73
to repent and turn to God
00:19:42.76\00:19:44.84
and to do works
befitting repentance.
00:19:44.87\00:19:48.71
Now this message
did not refer to works
00:19:48.74\00:19:51.50
that attain righteousness.
00:19:51.53\00:19:53.35
For Paul taught that
result was impossible.
00:19:53.38\00:19:56.53
He referred to the
righteousness of Christ
00:19:56.56\00:19:59.79
which results in
putting faith into action.
00:19:59.82\00:20:03.49
Paul suffered greatly
for the cause of Christ.
00:20:03.52\00:20:07.14
And he said in Acts 20:24,
00:20:07.17\00:20:11.15
"But none of
these things move me,
00:20:11.18\00:20:14.16
nor do I count my
life dear to myself
00:20:14.19\00:20:16.99
so that I may
finish my race with joy
00:20:17.02\00:20:21.13
and the ministry which
I received from the Lord,
00:20:21.16\00:20:23.28
to testify to the
gospel of the grace of God."
00:20:23.31\00:20:27.49
Christ's most enthusiastic
evangelism of grace,
00:20:27.52\00:20:31.57
His most ordained ambassador
for righteousness by faith
00:20:31.60\00:20:36.02
was also his greatest
preacher on sanctification.
00:20:36.05\00:20:39.81
The character transformation
that all of us need.
00:20:39.84\00:20:44.55
Paul experienced
God's supernatural work
00:20:44.58\00:20:48.04
in his own life attributing
00:20:48.07\00:20:50.44
his sanctification to
grace and active faith.
00:20:50.47\00:20:55.72
And Paul's great
boast of grace is written
00:20:55.75\00:20:59.69
in 1 Corinthians
15:10 where he says,
00:20:59.72\00:21:03.19
"But by the grace
of God I am what I am,
00:21:03.22\00:21:07.33
and His grace
toward me was not in vain,
00:21:07.36\00:21:11.18
but I labored more
abundantly than they all,
00:21:11.21\00:21:14.38
yet not I, but the grace
of God which was with me."
00:21:14.41\00:21:20.96
Paul listed the armor of God
that Christians should put on
00:21:20.99\00:21:25.24
to fight against evil
forces in this dark world.
00:21:25.27\00:21:29.45
And he presented
truth, righteousness and faith
00:21:29.48\00:21:33.34
as three
powerfully protective pieces.
00:21:33.37\00:21:36.84
Saying in Ephesians 6:14 and 16,
00:21:36.87\00:21:41.01
"Stand therefore, having
girded your waist with truth,
00:21:41.04\00:21:45.84
having put on the breastplate
of righteousness, above all,
00:21:45.87\00:21:49.69
taking the shield of faith with
which you will be able to quench
00:21:49.72\00:21:54.24
all the fiery
darts of the wicked one."
00:21:54.27\00:21:58.43
Now in another
letter to the churches
00:21:58.46\00:22:01.02
he depicts the armor
of faith differently.
00:22:01.05\00:22:03.62
He writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:8
00:22:03.65\00:22:06.91
"Let us who are
of the day be sober,
00:22:06.94\00:22:10.17
putting on the
breastplate of faith and love
00:22:10.20\00:22:13.98
and as a helmet
the hope of salvation."
00:22:14.01\00:22:18.41
Paul's first message describes
how faith in God's character,
00:22:18.44\00:22:23.99
His word and His
ability to perform His promises
00:22:24.02\00:22:28.33
shields us against the
attacks of the wicked one.
00:22:28.36\00:22:32.22
But how do we
understand his dual illustration
00:22:32.25\00:22:36.83
of the
breastplate of righteousness
00:22:36.86\00:22:38.91
as being interchangeable
00:22:38.94\00:22:41.04
with the
breastplate of faith and love?
00:22:41.07\00:22:44.66
Actually, it is
easily explained.
00:22:44.69\00:22:48.36
Faith is the instrument by which
00:22:48.39\00:22:51.55
we attained
Christ righteousness,
00:22:51.58\00:22:54.08
resulting in our
reception by faith
00:22:54.11\00:22:57.39
of the indwelling Holy Spirit
00:22:57.42\00:22:59.75
who pours out God's
love into our hearts.
00:22:59.78\00:23:04.40
The attributes of righteousness,
faith, and love are inseparable
00:23:04.43\00:23:10.37
and they are God's
armor to protect our hearts.
00:23:10.40\00:23:14.36
By faith we're
flooded with grace,
00:23:14.39\00:23:16.88
purifying and
cleansing us of sin.
00:23:16.91\00:23:20.07
Paul writes in Romans 1:16-17
00:23:20.10\00:23:25.19
"For I am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ,
00:23:25.22\00:23:29.62
for it is the power
of God unto salvation
00:23:29.65\00:23:33.31
for everyone who believes,
00:23:33.34\00:23:35.58
for in it the
righteousness of God is revealed
00:23:35.61\00:23:39.33
from faith to faith.
00:23:39.36\00:23:41.17
As it is written, 'the
just shall live by faith.'"
00:23:41.20\00:23:46.26
You know, when Paul learnt
00:23:46.29\00:23:48.36
the truth of Christ
death and resurrection
00:23:48.39\00:23:51.15
and he experienced the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:23:51.18\00:23:55.15
then he gave his life to God
00:23:55.18\00:23:58.26
and became God's
evangelist of grace.
00:23:58.29\00:24:01.85
The good news of salvation,
00:24:01.88\00:24:04.15
Paul explains in
Romans 4:16, is that,
00:24:04.18\00:24:08.03
"It is of faith that it
might be according to grace."
00:24:08.06\00:24:13.31
The cause of
salvation is God's grace
00:24:13.34\00:24:17.65
and it becomes ours
00:24:17.68\00:24:19.40
when we tap into His
grace pipeline by faith
00:24:19.43\00:24:22.68
and accept God's three
greatest gifts of grace.
00:24:22.71\00:24:26.72
Jesus Christ, the Holy
Spirit, and the scriptures.
00:24:26.75\00:24:31.63
The righteousness of
God is from faith to faith.
00:24:31.66\00:24:36.06
Righteousness is a gift
of God accessed by faith.
00:24:36.09\00:24:41.22
It begins and ends with faith.
00:24:41.25\00:24:46.36
Our relationship with
Christ gains us access by grace
00:24:46.39\00:24:53.08
or access to grace by faith.
00:24:53.11\00:24:55.95
Paul assures us of
this in Romans 5:1 and 2
00:24:55.98\00:25:01.09
where he says, "Therefore,
having been justified by faith,
00:25:01.12\00:25:06.11
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:25:06.14\00:25:11.26
through whom also we have
access by faith into this grace
00:25:11.29\00:25:16.56
in which we stand and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God."
00:25:16.59\00:25:23.18
Faith is the faucet.
00:25:23.21\00:25:25.23
This is how we tap into grace
00:25:25.26\00:25:28.09
and we desperately
need to develop our faith.
00:25:28.12\00:25:31.61
The afflictions and the
tribulations of life on earth
00:25:31.64\00:25:35.19
caused by the controversy
between good and evil
00:25:35.22\00:25:38.52
will increase dramatically
00:25:38.55\00:25:40.46
as the time of Christ's
second coming draws near
00:25:40.49\00:25:43.97
and we already see it.
To face these situations,
00:25:44.00\00:25:48.37
we are going to
need a flourishing faith,
00:25:48.40\00:25:51.37
a faith that will gain
us the victory won in Jesus.
00:25:51.40\00:25:55.98
We have reached a turning
point. Which way will we go?
00:25:56.01\00:26:00.54
I want to say a
quick prayer with you.
00:26:00.57\00:26:03.13
And I want you
please to join us next time
00:26:03.16\00:26:06.50
because we're going to discuss
00:26:06.53\00:26:08.83
how you can take seven steps
to develop victorious faith.
00:26:08.86\00:26:14.47
But right now let's
go to the Lord in prayer
00:26:14.50\00:26:18.02
and ask him to help us
grow in grace, to grow in faith.
00:26:18.05\00:26:24.57
Father, we come
in the name of Jesus
00:26:24.60\00:26:26.85
approaching you
boldly as Your children,
00:26:26.88\00:26:29.72
coming before
Your throne of grace.
00:26:29.75\00:26:32.38
And, Father, I lift my
brothers and my sisters
00:26:32.41\00:26:34.67
before You and myself as well.
00:26:34.70\00:26:37.18
We have come, Lord, to ask us--
to ask You to help us, Lord,
00:26:37.21\00:26:44.42
increase our faith.
00:26:44.45\00:26:45.82
We believe, help
Thou our unbelief.
00:26:45.85\00:26:48.92
I pray in Jesus' name, Father,
00:26:48.95\00:26:51.36
that you will give us
an unquenchable desire
00:26:51.39\00:26:54.57
for Your inexhaustible word.
00:26:54.60\00:26:56.88
And I pray the word
will be planted in our heart
00:26:56.91\00:26:59.19
and by the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:26:59.22\00:27:01.46
faith will spring into action.
00:27:01.49\00:27:04.57
Lord, I ask
this in Christ's name
00:27:04.60\00:27:08.46
and we receive it
in Christ's name. Amen.
00:27:08.49\00:27:12.91
Join us next time on
"The Grace Pipeline,"
00:27:12.94\00:27:17.60
as we see the different--
seven different steps
00:27:17.63\00:27:22.27
that can help us
gain victorious faith,
00:27:22.30\00:27:26.91
faith that will
flourish in any circumstance
00:27:26.94\00:27:31.48
and faith that
will change your life.
00:27:31.51\00:27:34.78
We want to be
like the centurion.
00:27:34.81\00:27:36.99
We want to be like Paul.
00:27:37.02\00:27:39.38
We want to be able to say
00:27:39.41\00:27:41.36
"Lord, You have spoken the word
00:27:41.39\00:27:44.57
and we know it's
going to be done.
00:27:44.60\00:27:46.94
Lord, You've called to
me and I will turn to You
00:27:46.97\00:27:51.92
and be devoted
to Your purposes."
00:27:51.95\00:27:54.81
Until then, we pray
that you grow in grace
00:27:54.84\00:27:58.16
and in the knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:27:58.19\00:28:00.90