Hello friends grab
your Bible and a friend
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and sit back as
we explore God's word
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together on this
edition of House Calls.
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Welcome to another
House Calls program,
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my name is John
Lomacang and thank you
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for tuning in to the
place where we believe
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that Jesus Christ
is our foundation,
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He is our and the
Holy Spirit is the power
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that we trust in
every program to bring you
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Bible base truths,
and so thank you for
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tuning in. If you
record the program hit
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record now because
we're gonna continue
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on a topic that we
believe is of great
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importance,
it's all about faith,
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how do we increase
it, what to do with it.
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And as you know I
have fun being on this
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program with my
good friend John Stanton.
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Yes, another
program where by faith we go
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to the word of God,
who speaks to us and
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teaches us His
ways, and you know we had
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great exciting
opening, that's right to our
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study on faith. And
today we're gonna hit
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some more angles is
to how to increase that
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faith and draw
closer to God. It's always
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good to have you
here John. Thank you,
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good to be here.
Why don't you, I was
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gonna say let's
go ahead and go draw
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close to God first,
hey I like that, alright.
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Father in Heaven, we
are so thankful again
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to have to get
another opportunity to open
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the word and to
open our hearts to you
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as well. We pray
that as we do open our
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hearts that you
will come in by the power
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of your spirit to
teach us, to change us,
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to speak to us, to do
what is required so that
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we can have that
closeness that we so
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desire with you
and with your son
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Jesus Christ in
His name we pray, amen.
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And friends as you
know this program is
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made possible
because of your Bible
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questions and so if
you have any questions
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at all you want to
send those questions to
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our email address
housecalls@3abn.org
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that's housecalls@3abn.
org that's where we
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go to the internet,
download those questions
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and no matter
where you send them from
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on this entire globe,
we'll get your question
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and hopefully we'll
be able to get to it.
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But do keep in
mind there are lots of
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questions coming
in, and in the short
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time we have, we
try to get to two or
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three program. So,
be patient and if we
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answer your
question but it's not to your
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liking send us
another email, and we'll try
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out best to correct
that. But John is gonna
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begin today with our questions,
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and so John
what you have for us?
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Well, you know
sometimes we try to
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answer questions
that are similar,
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so we kind of group
four or five together
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because they are
actually similar questions,
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so we will try to
do that. This is not,
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this was unique
question, oh, I have.
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It comes from
Ian, and he says here
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Hebrews, in Hebrews 9:3 and 4,
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it suggest there
that in the most holy
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place not just the
Ark of the Covenant is
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there but also a
sensor. I always thought
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the Ark of the
Covenant was the only
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piece of furniture
there. And so let's
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take a look here
briefly at Hebrews.
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Hebrews chapter 9,
okay, and see what it
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does say about
the most holy place.
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Hebrews 9 and
verse 4, three and four,
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okay, three and
four okay. It says,
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and behind the
second veil, the part of the
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tabernacle which is
called the holiest of all,
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also known as the
most holy place, which had
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the golden sensor, and
the Ark of the Covenant
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overlaid on all
signs with gold, in which
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where the golden
pot that had the manna,
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Aaron's rod that
budded, in the tables of
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the covenant. So
within the Ark of the
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Covenant it had
those things the golden pot
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with manna,
Aaron's rod that budded,
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and the tables of
the covenant. But you
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write here mentioned
also we have a golden
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sensor. There is,
there is a little different,
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how do I explain this,
their emblems that belong
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that the Bible says
belong in the most holy
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place, and that
clearly we've already defined
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here the Ark of the
Covenant it's not the,
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the part of manna
Aaron's rod that budded
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and of course the
Ten Commandments that
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are in that. But
here we have the golden
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sensor which isn't
mentioned much prior to
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actually being an
emblem or something that
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is a, has a
symbolic teaching or whatever
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with regard to the
most holy place the sensor
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is the container
that holds the coals that
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burns, you know
things and lights fires and
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other things and
so the sensor is more
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described here or is
in there more describing
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what the priest or
high priest uses in his
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ministry, in
the most holy place,
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not something that
is meant to teach us
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something about you
know what is in there
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and as it's typical
of today's time in the
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most holy place in
Heaven above as to what
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is there which
we know down through
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time the part of
manna and Aaron's rod that
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budded would no
longer included in the
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Ark of the
Covenant, it was only the
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Ten Commandments.
So, but the sensor here
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as he mentioned
isn't something that is
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excluded in the Old
Testament or something
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that is not simply
mentioned, but it's not
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significant in what
God asked or asked the
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people to place in
the most holy place,
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but it's something
that the high priest uses
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in his ministry in
the most holy place.
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And we know that he
does a lot of things
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when he is there,
you know he is burning
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the incense, he is
offering the sacrifice in
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behalf of all the
people or Israel because
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it's cleansing time
from all the sins that have
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accumulated there
throughout the year.
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So that's the
reason that the sensor is
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mentioned here, he
is talking about the
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cleansing period or
cleansing work that the
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censer or that the
high priest is doing in his
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sacrifice, where he
uses the quotes from the
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sensor. That's
right, and you know when
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you do a study on
the sanctuary you will
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discover that each of
the pieces of furniture
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had a particular
function, but this one was
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not a stationary
piece, yeah. You know
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this is something
that's priest carried and
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there has been an
attempt to duplicate that,
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and in earthly priest
to that exist now that
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has somewhat
mimicked the priesthood of
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old in the Old
Testament. I don't want to point
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out any particular
church here but whenever
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you, whenever you
go to a place where
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there is a sensor
being use, and it's being
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swung back and
forth that's an attempt to
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duplicate what was
in the Old Testament
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which has passed
off the scene, right,
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and the sensor
there was coals that were
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taken from the
altar where the burned
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offering was, and
by symbol that coal was
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taken into most holy
place, and after entering
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the most holy place
the coals were placed with
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the coals on the
altar there. But whenever
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you have a
priesthood that is seeking to
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duplicate what was
only in a temporary
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priesthood that God established.
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It's not acceptable
to the Lord because now
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you find also the
most holy place is not a
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portable tabernacle
any longer nor is it in
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the stationary one on the earth.
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The most holy place
is in heaven, symbol
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of the work that
Christ is doing on our behalf.
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Even the incense
that rose from the altar
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of incense which was
right before the curtain
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that separated the
holy from the most holy,
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represents the
prayers of the saints rising
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today. So there is
no need now for an altar
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of burn offerings, and
altar of sin offerings,
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and altar of a place
where the labor was the
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abra, the
candelabra you find the symbol
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there of the seven
golden candlesticks once
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you get in Revelation,
Christ in the midst of
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his church the seven churches.
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All symbols are
pointing to the work that
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Christ would do. That
the sensor being carried
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by the high priest
not a stationary part of
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the most holy place,
I think that's a good
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way to put it, I can
say. And you find the
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sensor talked about
in Revelation where the
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sensor was
thrown down, down yeah,
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and so have, and
having a symbol there of
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the ending of a
particular phase in our
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judgment coming on
the heels of that when
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the sensor is
thrown down. But thank you
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for sharing that
with us John. We have
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another question
from gentleman here by
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the name of, what's
his name, his name is
00:08:08.33\00:08:12.33
Jun, you know I was,
don't tell me by that,
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but that was a kind
of a nickname I have
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when I was being
raised in New York.
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So anybody that
calls me Jun, Jun,
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I know they go way
back. What was your
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nickname maybe you
don't want to say it.
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I was Jun to some
actually because I am
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junior as well.
Okay, and that's they came
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from, it was a
derivative of junior,
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right. But, let me
read the question here
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because I know
sometimes people are
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very passionate
about their beliefs,
00:08:35.92\00:08:37.89
and this gentleman
covers the number of
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areas and I want to
do justice to his email,
00:08:39.53\00:08:44.21
and so I will go
ahead and read that.
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He says, I've
listened to you on and off on
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3ABN. I truly
feel you are born again
00:08:50.42\00:08:53.85
believer, but I
can't, but I can't understand
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why you would continue in the
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Seventh-day
Adventist. In other words,
00:08:59.16\00:09:00.95
why I am still be an
Adventist if I am born
00:09:01.66\00:09:03.02
again I guess. I
won't be able to hear you
00:09:03.03\00:09:07.93
answer on 3ABN so
if you would write I
00:09:07.94\00:09:11.37
would appreciated
this, since I'm gonna write
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that but I think this
question that comes up
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is a question that
could up in somebody else's
00:09:14.54\00:09:16.74
mind. Yeah it has,
with the challenges before.
00:09:16.75\00:09:19.77
I've heard of a
preacher giving the gospel in
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amazing clarity on
this preaches on 3ABN,
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I won't mention
his name, and I almost
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wonder why he is
not kicked off as he
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certainly does not
believe in works for
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salvation at all. And
John we don't believe in
00:09:35.42\00:09:37.72
works for salvation
at all. No we don't,
00:09:37.73\00:09:39.61
so if that's
something that's being
00:09:39.62\00:09:41.36
communicated let us
state and restate that
00:09:41.37\00:09:44.32
salvation is by
grace through faith.
00:09:44.33\00:09:46.82
I think in a program
just prior to this when
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we talked about
works, as evidence of our
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faith, right, not as a
replacement of our faith.
00:09:51.14\00:09:54.38
Also point this
whenever I've met an Adventist
00:09:55.60\00:09:57.87
on the streets or
they witness to me it is
00:09:57.88\00:10:00.35
always about
Sunday, that shouldn't be
00:10:00.36\00:10:02.86
the case and I
would say the word always
00:10:02.87\00:10:05.08
I think is probably
over use there because
00:10:05.09\00:10:07.02
when we talk to
people the entrance of our
00:10:07.03\00:10:09.94
conversation is
not about Sunday.
00:10:10.17\00:10:11.81
Can you imagine,
hello my name is John;
00:10:12.25\00:10:15.74
I like to talk
to you about Sunday,
00:10:15.75\00:10:17.10
that's not our
gospel. No, I don't even
00:10:17.94\00:10:19.78
know anybody in my
church that would open
00:10:19.79\00:10:21.98
up a witness like
that. No that's not our
00:10:21.99\00:10:24.41
gospel. I think that
maybe this person has
00:10:24.42\00:10:26.72
heard about Sunday
being talked about,
00:10:26.73\00:10:28.20
but let me
continue, I have never whether
00:10:28.57\00:10:32.92
I have Jesus in my
heart, it is never whether
00:10:32.93\00:10:36.47
I have Jesus in my
heart that's as we're
00:10:36.48\00:10:37.83
saying that was
talked about Sunday not
00:10:37.84\00:10:39.39
whether or not
Christ is in his heart.
00:10:39.40\00:10:40.74
There is no way, the
left wing is gonna take
00:10:41.79\00:10:44.65
over this country
and going to enforce a
00:10:44.66\00:10:47.03
Sunday Law. There
would be no Sunday Laws;
00:10:47.04\00:10:50.38
there would be no
forcing of Sunday Laws.
00:10:50.84\00:10:52.82
We maybe forced to
be faithful to our Lord
00:10:53.65\00:10:55.86
and Jesus Christ and
his ways of salvation,
00:10:56.21\00:11:00.30
but Sunday won't be an issue.
00:11:00.65\00:11:02.55
Those Blue Laws or
whatever they are just
00:11:03.47\00:11:08.21
took back this is
really, let me just kind of
00:11:08.22\00:11:11.70
find of those Blue
Laws or whatever are just
00:11:11.71\00:11:14.74
those back then,
who wanted to have
00:11:14.75\00:11:17.93
morality back in our
society. They thought
00:11:17.94\00:11:20.85
that if people went
to church instead of
00:11:20.86\00:11:22.14
shopping, we might
have a more a moral
00:11:22.15\00:11:24.57
society. I
don't agree with that,
00:11:24.58\00:11:26.86
we can only be moral
by a change of heart.
00:11:27.53\00:11:29.81
Fully acceptable and
last part, also our Lord
00:11:30.52\00:11:35.09
never wants us as
believers to be comforted.
00:11:35.10\00:11:37.51
He pay for our
salvation and there is nothing
00:11:37.98\00:11:40.21
that we can do to get
ourselves into heaven.
00:11:40.22\00:11:41.93
And so he goes on
and on and on here but
00:11:42.71\00:11:44.42
the point the whole
just of it right from that
00:11:44.43\00:11:46.57
point it says I don't
believe that Sunday will
00:11:46.58\00:11:48.86
ever be an
issue. That Sunday, the
00:11:48.87\00:11:52.27
observance of Sunday
will ever been an issue.
00:11:52.28\00:11:54.04
Well, John if we
think about this,
00:11:54.57\00:11:56.31
let's put this in
the context of the
00:11:56.32\00:11:57.42
Commandments
because we know that this is
00:11:57.43\00:11:59.26
the issue steaming out
of the Ten Commandments
00:11:59.27\00:12:01.01
of God. In the
Christian base of our world
00:12:01.02\00:12:05.29
today, which of the
Commandments seems to
00:12:05.30\00:12:07.85
be more of a
contention than any other?
00:12:07.86\00:12:11.21
Well the only one
that is in disputed all or
00:12:11.40\00:12:14.15
disagreement is the
fourth. Okay which is?
00:12:14.16\00:12:16.56
The Sabbath Commandment. Okay,
00:12:17.09\00:12:18.63
which specifically
says remember the Sabbath
00:12:18.64\00:12:20.70
day to keep it holy,
and you will find that
00:12:20.71\00:12:23.38
they are not Christians
and I could say this I
00:12:23.39\00:12:25.77
think with the
candid heart and a clear one
00:12:25.78\00:12:27.95
they are not
Christians that say we want to
00:12:28.22\00:12:29.56
kill, lie, steal,
cheat, commit adultery,
00:12:29.57\00:12:31.62
be a false witness,
covet, dishonor our parents,
00:12:31.96\00:12:36.95
they are not
Christians out there that say
00:12:37.25\00:12:38.73
that yet the focal
point and sir thank you for
00:12:38.74\00:12:41.96
this email because
what I've seen in the email
00:12:41.97\00:12:44.55
is that Sunday is an
issue, it appears to be
00:12:44.56\00:12:47.52
an issue, because
somehow you feel that
00:12:47.53\00:12:50.76
either people have
made it an issue or that
00:12:51.14\00:12:54.51
we are saying that
this is going to be common
00:12:54.66\00:12:56.83
issue in the last
days. Well John if you look
00:12:56.84\00:12:59.64
at our nation I was
raised in the New York
00:12:59.65\00:13:01.98
City where just to
show you how Sunday is
00:13:01.99\00:13:04.45
issues in many
societies. In the state of
00:13:04.46\00:13:08.35
Illinois you can't
buy a car on Sundays.
00:13:08.36\00:13:11.23
When I was being
raised in New York City,
00:13:12.55\00:13:13.95
whether since we are not now,
00:13:13.96\00:13:15.49
you couldn't buy a
beer after until noon on
00:13:15.67\00:13:20.41
Sundays. There are
in many states Blue
00:13:20.42\00:13:23.67
Laws and these
Blue Laws all hinge on a
00:13:23.68\00:13:26.26
specific special
focus about how that local
00:13:26.27\00:13:30.34
Government or that
society wants to keep
00:13:30.35\00:13:33.56
Sunday honored
somehow up to either
00:13:33.57\00:13:36.57
maybe the malls
are open till noon,
00:13:36.58\00:13:38.52
we can sell beer
till noon or you can't buy
00:13:38.76\00:13:41.16
cars at all, or can't
buy cigarettes until noon,
00:13:41.17\00:13:44.41
each of those has a
particular bearing towards
00:13:44.62\00:13:46.75
how Sunday is
observed. And, just not to long
00:13:46.76\00:13:50.50
ago and this is
something that is not even
00:13:50.51\00:13:53.36
lambasting any
particular church,
00:13:53.37\00:13:54.86
but the Vatican
registered there,
00:13:55.16\00:13:56.72
there stands on
how in order to better
00:13:57.38\00:14:00.66
preserve our
environment everybody is
00:14:01.29\00:14:03.16
going green now. And one of the
00:14:03.17\00:14:06.09
suggestions is,
if we would all now
00:14:06.10\00:14:08.15
covetous on honoring
Sunday this will be one
00:14:08.26\00:14:11.62
way that society
could minimize travel on any
00:14:11.63\00:14:14.67
particular day of
the week. So Sunday is a
00:14:14.68\00:14:17.58
focal point through
our society has always
00:14:17.70\00:14:20.00
been, but the thing
that's a problem with that
00:14:20.01\00:14:22.94
where I see Sunday
becoming a focal point
00:14:23.02\00:14:24.77
is that the Bible
doesn't call Sunday a holy
00:14:24.78\00:14:27.91
day. What do you say about that?
00:14:27.92\00:14:30.37
Well, we are not
seeing a lot of Sunday
00:14:30.87\00:14:36.15
verses the Sabbath
issue, dispute and issues
00:14:36.16\00:14:38.80
right now, right.
You know clearly we
00:14:38.81\00:14:41.71
don't know, and I
don't think anybody
00:14:41.72\00:14:42.95
intentionally is
going to be trying to
00:14:42.96\00:14:47.36
institute a Sunday
Law or National Sunday
00:14:47.37\00:14:49.46
Law to bring about
persecution that's not
00:14:49.47\00:14:52.14
the intention.
But I think sometimes
00:14:52.15\00:14:57.13
Seventh-day
Adventist also are little bit,
00:14:58.58\00:15:01.23
we are so focused
on this National Sunday
00:15:03.40\00:15:05.53
Law perspective
that we almost put the
00:15:05.54\00:15:08.25
cart before the
horse, and here is what I
00:15:08.26\00:15:10.08
mean by that, that
often we say well there
00:15:10.09\00:15:13.16
is gonna be Sunday
Laws that come into play
00:15:13.17\00:15:15.94
John you know this
some point there will
00:15:15.95\00:15:18.12
be, right, but they
don't really focus or
00:15:18.13\00:15:21.34
look at the
precipitating factors that bring
00:15:21.35\00:15:24.27
that Sunday Law
issue to the forefront,
00:15:24.28\00:15:26.84
okay, okay and
that's really the focus we
00:15:27.24\00:15:29.84
talk about its
still fully will come in,
00:15:29.85\00:15:32.26
how legislatives
will get in the backrooms
00:15:32.57\00:15:34.56
and they will
create the Sunday Law you
00:15:34.57\00:15:36.11
know I don't prescribe
the conspiracy theories
00:15:36.12\00:15:38.41
with regard to the
Sunday Law, okay, I know
00:15:38.42\00:15:40.78
people talking about
it, people believe in it,
00:15:40.79\00:15:42.41
people you know
who support that but on
00:15:42.42\00:15:44.29
a grand scale not
happening. But here is
00:15:44.30\00:15:47.70
the issue in the last
days what we understand
00:15:47.71\00:15:51.61
from scripture is
that there is gonna be a
00:15:51.62\00:15:53.96
time of trouble. And
the time of the trouble
00:15:53.97\00:15:56.94
itself is going to
bring about persecution,
00:15:56.95\00:15:59.12
but in the midst of
the time of trouble the
00:16:00.20\00:16:02.61
Anti-Christ will
appear, that's right.
00:16:02.62\00:16:04.96
And the Anti-Christ
appearing on the scene
00:16:05.88\00:16:08.83
is the one that is
going to call for worship and
00:16:09.12\00:16:13.28
will establish or
will work through the kings
00:16:13.29\00:16:19.45
of the earth,
working the powers that be,
00:16:19.46\00:16:21.63
who the church
that it's, it's the main
00:16:21.91\00:16:23.89
power of the earth
at that time, all these
00:16:23.90\00:16:25.88
his coalition he will
work together to create a
00:16:26.17\00:16:30.56
prescription that
for his kind of worship,
00:16:30.77\00:16:33.01
and at that point the
Anti -Christ will be calling
00:16:33.89\00:16:36.62
for honoring a holy
day which here will be
00:16:36.63\00:16:39.75
Sunday at the
time. But this happens in
00:16:39.76\00:16:41.90
the midst of calamity
devastation this world
00:16:41.91\00:16:44.80
turned upside down. I
mean think about this,
00:16:44.81\00:16:47.53
you know 9/11 and this
is just on a local scale
00:16:49.12\00:16:51.37
in New York. People
of New York are running
00:16:51.38\00:16:53.42
around thinking it's
the end of the world.
00:16:53.43\00:16:55.65
I mean they don't
know what to expect,
00:16:56.47\00:16:57.99
and their church is
full after that you know
00:16:58.52\00:17:01.28
drawing close to
God thinking oh my
00:17:01.29\00:17:03.02
goodness and I
could have been, I could
00:17:03.03\00:17:04.19
have been dead. And,
that calamity brought
00:17:04.20\00:17:07.26
about a change in
people, but what they
00:17:07.27\00:17:09.28
did was they looked
for, they looked for a
00:17:09.29\00:17:11.76
way that they could
be delivered from that
00:17:11.77\00:17:14.84
calamity or
delivered from the end of the
00:17:14.85\00:17:17.89
world. I mean the
perspective was clear in
00:17:17.90\00:17:19.31
their mind; the
focus was clear draw near
00:17:19.32\00:17:21.38
to God. so when
calamity comes at the end
00:17:21.39\00:17:24.88
of time on a global
scale and there is no
00:17:24.89\00:17:27.75
solution that is
man made solution,
00:17:27.76\00:17:29.94
who do you think,
who do you think shows up
00:17:30.32\00:17:33.68
and says I am the
savior of the world,
00:17:33.69\00:17:37.19
I am here, none
other than Anti-Christ,
00:17:37.49\00:17:41.62
Satan himself. That's
right, that is very true.
00:17:41.78\00:17:44.20
And Satan
appears on the scenes to
00:17:44.21\00:17:45.51
personate Christ to
show or reveal that hey
00:17:45.52\00:17:48.36
I am Christ. People
will flock after him they
00:17:48.37\00:17:52.36
will see him as the
savior, they will see him
00:17:52.37\00:17:54.19
as the one who can
deliver them from all this
00:17:54.20\00:17:56.55
calamity, the things
that are happening that
00:17:56.56\00:17:57.99
can save them, and at
that point he will say,
00:17:58.00\00:18:02.10
he will make
worship an issue. And if you
00:18:03.23\00:18:06.95
don't believe he
will make worship an issue
00:18:06.96\00:18:08.49
just read
Revelation chapter 13. The word
00:18:09.32\00:18:11.87
worship is
throughout that chapter,
00:18:11.88\00:18:13.59
that's right. He will
command, he will force
00:18:13.60\00:18:16.40
worship, he will
cause people to worship him,
00:18:16.41\00:18:18.29
and who is being
caused to worship,
00:18:18.30\00:18:19.70
who are people
worshipping the dragon
00:18:19.92\00:18:22.46
right, that's right,
Satan himself that serpent
00:18:23.36\00:18:25.59
of old, we know clearly,
Satan is the Anti-Christ.
00:18:25.60\00:18:28.27
And so, as people
are committed to worship
00:18:29.30\00:18:31.50
what do you think is
the center of our worship
00:18:31.71\00:18:33.45
today even, what's
a focal point a day,
00:18:33.46\00:18:35.42
the focal point is
a day, that's right.
00:18:35.43\00:18:37.42
The question is at
that time do you go back,
00:18:38.25\00:18:40.18
as you go back to
the Fourth Commandment,
00:18:40.19\00:18:41.46
the God says, He
says, that they should
00:18:41.47\00:18:44.57
worship him on the
seventh-day of the week,
00:18:44.58\00:18:47.31
but we know that
Satan chooses another day.
00:18:47.32\00:18:51.29
And he has been
working on this day John,
00:18:52.21\00:18:54.71
this is something
we are not ignorant of,
00:18:55.07\00:18:57.86
the deception run so
much deeper than that
00:18:58.87\00:19:01.38
we really
comprehend. Matter of fact,
00:19:01.39\00:19:02.97
in Christianity
today January 2007 issue go
00:19:02.98\00:19:07.06
and get a copy of
that or even go in the
00:19:07.07\00:19:08.44
internet and look it
up, it's a very particular
00:19:08.45\00:19:10.70
article about
Blue Laws in America.
00:19:10.71\00:19:12.70
How in the 1800's
the 13 the early 1800's
00:19:12.71\00:19:17.47
not too long after
the declaration of the
00:19:17.48\00:19:20.00
independence the
states that were, a part
00:19:20.01\00:19:23.25
of the 13 states, you
had a flag with 13 stars,
00:19:23.26\00:19:28.19
the 13 states and
everyone one of those
00:19:28.59\00:19:30.33
states they were
Blue Laws and all were
00:19:30.34\00:19:32.45
in favor of some kind
of religious observance
00:19:32.46\00:19:37.34
of Sunday, either
keeping people from like
00:19:37.35\00:19:40.55
I mentioned before
drinking or smoking and
00:19:40.56\00:19:43.29
then even 1961 the
Supreme Court of the
00:19:43.30\00:19:46.30
United States
upheld Blue Laws in certain
00:19:46.31\00:19:49.37
states that said
people are morel likely to
00:19:49.38\00:19:52.93
be more moral if
Sunday is honored as a holy
00:19:52.94\00:19:55.89
day, and it was
upheld in 1961 by the Supreme
00:19:55.90\00:19:59.18
Court of America.
These, they were not repealed
00:19:59.19\00:20:01.81
but not long after
that because it impacted
00:20:01.82\00:20:04.36
such economy in
some states, 30 states
00:20:04.51\00:20:07.50
had repealed their
Blue Laws. In other words
00:20:07.91\00:20:10.17
they took them out
of effect but they did
00:20:10.18\00:20:12.15
not take them of
their books. That's right,
00:20:12.16\00:20:14.00
they are still on
the books, because it
00:20:14.01\00:20:15.11
became a
significant economic impact,
00:20:15.12\00:20:17.12
I mean we can't sell
this, we can't sell that,
00:20:17.13\00:20:19.07
we can even in California,
I live in California,
00:20:19.08\00:20:21.61
you are in California,
I lived in California from
00:20:21.62\00:20:23.48
18 years.
California is very much of very
00:20:23.49\00:20:27.13
secular society and
you could anything anytime.
00:20:27.65\00:20:31.14
A New York is same
where you could do anything
00:20:31.44\00:20:33.08
anytime it's, but
there is still when Sunday
00:20:33.09\00:20:35.45
comes around and
just look at this wherever
00:20:35.46\00:20:37.54
you live especially
here in the United Sates
00:20:37.55\00:20:39.86
when Sunday comes
around there is a tone set
00:20:40.06\00:20:42.91
on Sunday morning
no matter where you
00:20:43.50\00:20:45.04
go traffic is very,
very light. Now compare
00:20:45.05\00:20:48.50
that to traffic on
Saturday morning, traffic
00:20:48.51\00:20:51.52
is the heaviest of the
week, if that's the day
00:20:51.53\00:20:54.28
that God is established
from the very beginning
00:20:54.29\00:20:56.81
that's the day
that Jesus honored,
00:20:56.99\00:20:58.47
that's the day that
His disciples honored,
00:20:58.78\00:21:00.57
but listen to this
Bible verse and we've got
00:21:00.75\00:21:03.05
to ask ourselves a
question in light of
00:21:03.06\00:21:04.88
listening to this Bible
verse what particular part
00:21:04.89\00:21:08.01
could cause the
dragon to be as angry as he
00:21:09.47\00:21:11.46
will be? Listen to
this Revelation 12:17 and
00:21:11.47\00:21:15.49
the dragon was wroth
that is angry with the
00:21:15.50\00:21:17.70
woman, the dragon is
Satan Revelation 12:9,
00:21:17.71\00:21:20.34
the woman
represents the church and went
00:21:20.53\00:21:22.93
to make war with
the remnant of her seed,
00:21:22.94\00:21:26.26
those who are left of
her following which keep
00:21:26.27\00:21:29.55
the Commandments
of God, and have the
00:21:29.56\00:21:31.57
testimony of Jesus
Christ. What particular
00:21:31.58\00:21:35.03
thing can Satan be
possibly angry with in the
00:21:35.04\00:21:38.23
Ten Commandments?
Now the moral issues are
00:21:38.24\00:21:40.60
all outline there, but
the great dividing line as
00:21:40.61\00:21:43.16
you said wonderfully
outline is the day of
00:21:43.17\00:21:45.08
worship. Now often,
worship is the issue,
00:21:45.09\00:21:47.10
worship is the issue,
and it comes down to a
00:21:47.11\00:21:49.45
day and now
when you look at the,
00:21:49.46\00:21:51.16
when you look at the
things that were suggested
00:21:51.17\00:21:52.98
somehow to save in
our economically challenge
00:21:53.26\00:21:56.09
the society, and in
our nation particularly cut
00:21:56.10\00:21:59.13
back on the consummation
of fuel and resources
00:21:59.14\00:22:02.63
and let's go more
green, and we could do that
00:22:02.80\00:22:05.02
better if we all
covetous on one day together,
00:22:05.03\00:22:07.62
yeah. You know, and
just to add little more to
00:22:07.63\00:22:12.88
what we are talking
about here. You know we've
00:22:12.89\00:22:15.10
talked about and I've
asked congregations as
00:22:15.11\00:22:17.18
I go around to preach
or teach or whatever one
00:22:17.19\00:22:20.04
of the questions I
ask when I give a seminar
00:22:20.05\00:22:21.94
is what is the next
big event in prophetic
00:22:21.95\00:22:26.32
history as we, as
we go down the timeline
00:22:26.33\00:22:28.74
toward the end of
time? What is the next big
00:22:28.75\00:22:30.18
major event, I am
betting a hundred,
00:22:30.19\00:22:32.70
now it won't be
because I am saying this on
00:22:32.71\00:22:34.31
air, but I am
betting a hundred percent the
00:22:34.32\00:22:36.11
answer has been in
Adventist congregations
00:22:36.12\00:22:37.80
is National Sunday
Law. Right most people say
00:22:37.81\00:22:39.91
that, most people say
that, but that's not it.
00:22:39.92\00:22:42.33
The next big event
is the beginning of the
00:22:43.39\00:22:45.51
calamity the time of
trouble, that's right,
00:22:45.52\00:22:47.56
because it's the time
of trouble that brings us
00:22:47.57\00:22:49.58
face to face with
pursuing God and needing
00:22:49.71\00:22:52.14
a savior that brings
about is the last greatest
00:22:52.15\00:22:55.36
deception the
delusion of personating Christ,
00:22:55.37\00:22:58.03
Satan personating
Christ and saying I am
00:22:58.04\00:22:59.82
here to save you
from all this calamity,
00:22:59.83\00:23:01.75
and that's when the
Sunday Law is going to
00:23:01.91\00:23:04.40
come into affect. He
calls for it, he pushes it,
00:23:04.41\00:23:07.84
he drives it, he is
the one, he is behind
00:23:07.85\00:23:09.51
everything. You
know, and he is hiding
00:23:09.52\00:23:11.82
behind the smoke
tree, oh it's gonna be the
00:23:11.83\00:23:13.50
Government, it's
gonna be all this kind of
00:23:13.51\00:23:14.74
stuff, you know what
he is in a call forth,
00:23:14.75\00:23:16.47
and if we don't think
persecution will happen
00:23:16.48\00:23:18.61
when that happens
just wait till God's people
00:23:19.61\00:23:22.08
stand up at that
time point to who others
00:23:22.09\00:23:24.45
believe is Christ and
say that's not Jesus that's
00:23:24.61\00:23:27.27
Satan. Oh, that's very
good, it tells about how
00:23:27.28\00:23:30.68
fast people the
Christian world would turn
00:23:30.69\00:23:32.42
against that group
that calls at the way it is
00:23:32.43\00:23:35.59
and says that's not
Christ that's Satan,
00:23:35.60\00:23:37.33
and he is performing
miracles, he is healing
00:23:38.24\00:23:40.40
people, he is blessing
children, he is speaking
00:23:40.41\00:23:43.37
the word of God, and
they just know is Jesus
00:23:43.38\00:23:45.95
and we say that's
not Jesus Christ, that is
00:23:45.96\00:23:48.21
Satan himself, he
is personating Christ.
00:23:48.22\00:23:50.43
You want to talk
about persecution.
00:23:51.10\00:23:52.43
Oh, when you starts
saying that someone who
00:23:53.03\00:23:55.03
looks like Christ is
not Christ or someone,
00:23:55.04\00:23:57.07
who didn't believe
to be Christ. And who,
00:23:57.08\00:23:58.28
someone who comes
with all the answers
00:23:58.29\00:24:00.40
that is supposed
answers at a time of
00:24:00.79\00:24:02.76
calamity and great
distress and men's heart
00:24:02.77\00:24:04.62
failing them for fear
and the nations are in
00:24:04.63\00:24:07.54
anguish and perplexity
at the roaring and the
00:24:07.55\00:24:10.23
tossing of the seas.
The world is gonna be an
00:24:10.24\00:24:12.72
agitation in such a
way that Satan that's
00:24:12.73\00:24:14.80
why Matthew 24
says and we know we are
00:24:14.81\00:24:17.01
going off in the
different direction here but
00:24:17.02\00:24:18.74
the answer is the
focal point is gonna all
00:24:19.42\00:24:21.76
narrow down, how
could we, how could we
00:24:21.77\00:24:24.58
avert what is being
what is happening in our
00:24:24.59\00:24:27.89
world, that's right,
because when you are in
00:24:27.90\00:24:29.47
anguish and
perplexity, that means we want
00:24:29.71\00:24:33.27
an answer to this,
and John the reason why I
00:24:33.28\00:24:36.44
believe that this
text is so powerful about
00:24:36.45\00:24:38.15
the Commandments
of God, and the day of
00:24:38.16\00:24:40.04
worship becoming the
focal point is why will we
00:24:40.05\00:24:42.91
be hated of all
nations for Jesus' sake,
00:24:42.92\00:24:46.82
is because we are
honoring what the Lord
00:24:47.16\00:24:49.35
says and that's why
Revelation 14 verse 6 and
00:24:49.51\00:24:53.23
7 says: Fear God and
give glory to him for the
00:24:53.24\00:24:57.68
hour of his judgment
has come and worship him
00:24:57.69\00:25:00.85
who made the heavens
and the earth and the
00:25:01.14\00:25:02.50
season the fountains
of waters. That means
00:25:02.51\00:25:04.68
go back to the
worshipping the creator
00:25:04.69\00:25:06.30
and this
impersonator would say but I am
00:25:06.80\00:25:09.72
the creator. And the
reason why we know it's
00:25:09.73\00:25:12.40
not Jesus, what's
the one single reason why
00:25:12.41\00:25:14.38
we know it won't be
Jesus. Well Jesus won't
00:25:14.39\00:25:17.77
touch the earth, there
you go, and at his coming
00:25:17.78\00:25:20.69
every eye will see
him, that's right, those two
00:25:21.15\00:25:22.68
things. We won't get
CN reports in ABC and
00:25:22.69\00:25:25.06
NBC reports it won't
be Jesus is here now in
00:25:25.07\00:25:28.04
London. And that's
what Jesus says if people
00:25:28.05\00:25:30.20
tell you I am here don't
believe it, that's right.
00:25:30.32\00:25:33.20
So, friends if you do
your research I appreciate
00:25:33.74\00:25:36.55
your question and is
filled with passion but I
00:25:36.56\00:25:39.16
want your passion
also to be very well
00:25:39.17\00:25:41.54
informed passion,
because our world is
00:25:41.55\00:25:44.08
pulling this
together faster than you can
00:25:44.24\00:25:46.26
believe. Once again I
reiterate this January
00:25:46.27\00:25:49.58
2007 Christianity
today, the issue about Blue
00:25:49.59\00:25:53.14
Laws, and you will see
how significant and how
00:25:53.15\00:25:56.56
talked about they
are still here in America
00:25:56.57\00:25:58.83
and the issue John
is how do we get back
00:25:59.17\00:26:01.16
to a moral society?
Right, it was not too many
00:26:01.17\00:26:03.70
years ago, about
three years ago where the
00:26:03.71\00:26:05.80
Christian Coalition
got together and started
00:26:05.81\00:26:07.83
pushing to get the
Ten Commandments back
00:26:07.84\00:26:09.94
into society. What
big issue was the Ten
00:26:09.95\00:26:12.75
Commandment
focused around. We need to
00:26:12.76\00:26:15.06
re-honor the day of
worship. What major issue
00:26:15.07\00:26:18.07
do the Vatican's say,
we need to be stronger
00:26:18.08\00:26:20.37
on. We need to get
back to honoring Sunday the
00:26:20.38\00:26:23.88
way we used to, yeah.
See this is the issue.
00:26:23.89\00:26:26.76
We only see if faintly
now, but it will become
00:26:26.77\00:26:28.94
much more of a focal
point. And it comes to
00:26:28.95\00:26:31.04
the forefront like
you said during calamity.
00:26:31.05\00:26:32.80
Anyway we have
some, we have a topic to
00:26:33.48\00:26:35.47
go to today, and if
you have any questions
00:26:35.48\00:26:37.98
about what we
talked about today you can
00:26:37.99\00:26:39.29
send those questions
to housecalls@3abn.org
00:26:39.30\00:26:42.81
that's housecalls@
3abn.org and we will
00:26:42.82\00:26:46.82
download those
questions, and the persons
00:26:46.83\00:26:49.72
who want to be
responded to by email
00:26:49.73\00:26:51.42
we'll do so, and
those of you wanna be
00:26:51.43\00:26:53.67
responded to
publicly we will do so also.
00:26:53.68\00:26:56.36
Thank you very much. Now John,
00:26:56.62\00:26:58.64
let's talk about I
like to use this phrase
00:26:59.00\00:27:01.40
Dr. Frederick Price
has a program called Ever
00:27:02.88\00:27:04.96
Increasing Faith,
that's not what we are
00:27:04.97\00:27:06.80
talking about, not
taking his line, but as
00:27:06.81\00:27:09.33
Christians our faith
should be ever increasing.
00:27:09.34\00:27:12.77
Take us into our
program. Yeah we talked
00:27:13.38\00:27:15.10
last time about how
you need to start with
00:27:15.11\00:27:17.77
the measure of faith
that you've been given.
00:27:17.78\00:27:19.47
And that is to
acknowledge not only God's
00:27:20.18\00:27:22.42
existence, but the
God wants a personal
00:27:22.43\00:27:24.64
relationship with
you. Opening up your heart
00:27:24.65\00:27:26.84
to him and saying
okay Lord where do we go
00:27:26.85\00:27:28.38
from here, how
do we go with you?
00:27:28.39\00:27:29.79
I am willing to do
what which you are calling
00:27:29.80\00:27:32.02
me to do in this
life. And so as we open up
00:27:32.03\00:27:34.33
to God his existence,
but also living a life
00:27:34.34\00:27:36.95
with him, then our
faith that we've been
00:27:36.96\00:27:39.18
given that measure
we've been given begins
00:27:39.19\00:27:41.53
to grow and increase
and you know Paul talks
00:27:41.54\00:27:44.36
about you know
initially that when you become
00:27:44.37\00:27:47.12
a Christian you are
like a baby. You know
00:27:47.13\00:27:50.35
trying to get you
know you are drinking the
00:27:50.73\00:27:52.69
milk the easy stuff.
You know the stuff that's
00:27:52.70\00:27:56.67
necessary for baby
growth, you know the
00:27:57.95\00:27:59.87
milk. But then that
comes to a point where you
00:27:59.88\00:28:02.78
need to start eating
on the meat you now the
00:28:02.79\00:28:05.01
meat of the word,
the hefty food. And there
00:28:05.02\00:28:08.33
is a text here,
and if I could find it,
00:28:08.34\00:28:11.12
I get myself in
trouble sometimes which one is
00:28:12.52\00:28:14.34
it, it's in Hebrews,
okay, it talks about here
00:28:14.35\00:28:17.18
we go. Chapter 6
beginning of chapter 6
00:28:17.19\00:28:20.94
verse 1, okay.
Therefore leaving the discussion
00:28:20.95\00:28:23.64
of the elementary
principles of Christ,
00:28:24.09\00:28:26.38
let us go on to
profession and that profession
00:28:26.73\00:28:29.42
that were there is
maturity, a growing faith,
00:28:29.43\00:28:31.62
okay. Not laying
again the foundation of
00:28:31.87\00:28:35.17
repentance from
dead works; and a faith
00:28:35.18\00:28:37.12
towards God, of the
doctrine of baptisms,
00:28:37.13\00:28:39.50
and laying on of
hands, of resurrection of the
00:28:39.51\00:28:41.10
dead, and of eternal
judgment and this we will
00:28:41.11\00:28:43.78
do, if God permits, for
it is impossible for those
00:28:43.79\00:28:47.61
who were once
enlightened, and tasted
00:28:47.85\00:28:49.35
of the heavenly gift,
to have become partakers
00:28:49.36\00:28:51.16
of the Holy Spirit,
then he goes to talk about
00:28:51.17\00:28:53.65
if they fall away
to renew them again,
00:28:53.66\00:28:55.21
but where he is going
here is that you've got
00:28:55.70\00:28:57.52
transition them from
those elementary things
00:28:57.53\00:28:59.71
into the deep meat
of the word. The deeper
00:28:59.72\00:29:02.45
stuff and that's
where you begin to increase
00:29:02.46\00:29:04.74
your faith you said in
the last program I think
00:29:04.75\00:29:06.57
we're gonna talk
about this a bit this time.
00:29:06.58\00:29:08.28
Is that one of the
ways we increase our
00:29:08.82\00:29:10.37
faith is to dive
in to the word of God,
00:29:10.38\00:29:13.64
not just
snorkeling and you know about
00:29:14.25\00:29:16.71
snorkeling, oh I love
it, not just snorkeling but
00:29:16.72\00:29:19.10
deep sea diving and
you know you we start
00:29:19.11\00:29:21.27
off with snorkeling,
you know that's where
00:29:21.28\00:29:22.65
you get yourself
comfortable with the
00:29:22.66\00:29:23.98
water. But then
eventually you start to
00:29:23.99\00:29:26.31
look down, you say I
want to go explore that
00:29:26.32\00:29:28.09
down there, and
what do you do, you put
00:29:28.10\00:29:30.27
on the tank or maybe
you, your breath begins
00:29:30.28\00:29:34.27
to become a little
stronger and you can go
00:29:34.28\00:29:35.81
down little further
and you are snorkeling or
00:29:35.82\00:29:37.41
whatever but you
start to go deeper and
00:29:37.42\00:29:39.99
that's what we
need to do is we want to
00:29:40.00\00:29:41.46
increase our
faith and grow with God.
00:29:41.47\00:29:43.72
And you know you
have to find some place
00:29:44.92\00:29:47.02
that you increase, I
think that parents would
00:29:47.03\00:29:50.01
be pretty perturb at
their children if they
00:29:50.02\00:29:52.40
didn't go past to
first grade level when they
00:29:52.41\00:29:54.28
are starting, or
second grade level,
00:29:54.29\00:29:56.55
or third grade
level and then they are in
00:29:56.56\00:29:58.58
college now or they
are in the 9th grade but
00:29:58.59\00:30:01.70
they are reading
like a 3rd grader, yeah.
00:30:01.71\00:30:03.73
But there are some
Christians who are let
00:30:04.42\00:30:07.92
me use the
comparison here. You'd be really
00:30:07.93\00:30:10.80
questioning a kid
that's a 15 years old if
00:30:11.97\00:30:14.74
you came home one
day and they are in a
00:30:14.75\00:30:17.30
crib throwing these
little toys up, drinking
00:30:17.31\00:30:19.84
from the milk bottle,
yeah drinking from the
00:30:19.85\00:30:21.28
milk bottle you'll
say have you lost it.
00:30:21.29\00:30:24.43
I mean that's a, look
at the picture here they
00:30:25.19\00:30:27.35
are in the crib
that you, that you put up
00:30:27.36\00:30:30.03
many years ago they
reconstructed that in
00:30:30.04\00:30:32.36
their room and they
are in the crib and they
00:30:32.37\00:30:34.52
are playing with all
their toys and they are
00:30:34.53\00:30:35.76
shaking these
little, and you look at that,
00:30:35.77\00:30:38.84
are you nuts, have you lost it.
00:30:38.91\00:30:40.32
But there are many
Christians that are
00:30:41.15\00:30:42.55
babes still because
their faith is not increasing,
00:30:42.81\00:30:46.96
because they are not
spending time in God's
00:30:47.25\00:30:49.62
word. And the way
you know that John is
00:30:49.63\00:30:52.72
the same indications
that a baby would have
00:30:52.73\00:30:54.67
to, has an indication.
When a baby has a crisis,
00:30:54.68\00:30:57.67
what does a baby
do? A baby cries.
00:30:57.94\00:31:01.23
Yeah. A baby cries
profusely when he has
00:31:01.24\00:31:03.69
a crisis, when she
has a crisis because they
00:31:03.70\00:31:05.90
can't do anything
about it. But when a person
00:31:05.91\00:31:08.45
is older and well
matured they tend to use
00:31:08.46\00:31:13.05
more discretion to
approach the crisis by,
00:31:13.06\00:31:15.60
okay how we could
avert, how could we take
00:31:15.61\00:31:18.34
this issue, how
could we handle that need.
00:31:18.35\00:31:20.54
Project reason. And
they based that on a plan.
00:31:20.55\00:31:23.82
Now those who know
God's word they could
00:31:24.40\00:31:26.46
take the plan that
God has in his word and
00:31:26.71\00:31:29.38
begin to outline the
road of life that they
00:31:29.39\00:31:31.11
follow rather than
saying when a crisis comes
00:31:31.12\00:31:33.79
what do I do,
what's gonna happen,
00:31:34.13\00:31:36.53
where do I fall, and
they fall apart because
00:31:36.54\00:31:38.73
the foundation is not there.
00:31:38.74\00:31:39.97
Destroy another
parallel, you know the other
00:31:39.98\00:31:41.32
thing that baby's
do is when they were in
00:31:41.33\00:31:43.50
trouble they run
to mommy and daddy.
00:31:43.51\00:31:45.28
And they look for
mommy and daddy be guide
00:31:46.52\00:31:48.05
direct everything
they do. They want mom and
00:31:48.06\00:31:50.27
dad and make the
decisions for them.
00:31:50.28\00:31:51.60
And you know what
mom and dad should.
00:31:51.86\00:31:53.32
And that's what you
know pastors afford,
00:31:54.97\00:31:57.08
under shepherds
afford how to guide the
00:31:57.33\00:31:58.84
flock as you bring
someone in the baptism
00:31:58.85\00:32:01.15
you are baptize
them but you are not done
00:32:01.16\00:32:02.47
as a pastor. No
that's a, you do shepherd;
00:32:02.48\00:32:04.21
you help to lead them
and help them to grow.
00:32:04.22\00:32:06.08
But at some point
you expect them to maybe
00:32:06.70\00:32:08.49
be able to teach
others and use their gifts
00:32:08.50\00:32:10.72
to be able to
minister to others and at some
00:32:10.73\00:32:12.98
point as a baby you
get to appoint or you
00:32:12.99\00:32:14.80
want them to
become part of society to
00:32:14.81\00:32:18.11
become active in
society and to do things that
00:32:18.12\00:32:20.18
are important for the
benefit of their brothers
00:32:20.19\00:32:22.99
and sisters and
their neighbors and others.
00:32:23.00\00:32:24.91
And so, you know
that's what an increasing
00:32:26.14\00:32:30.34
faith is or a
maturity in our faith is, it's
00:32:30.35\00:32:33.85
getting into the
God's word its letting, it's
00:32:34.47\00:32:37.14
thinking for
yourself, it's not just asking
00:32:37.28\00:32:39.64
your pastor you
finally now have the tools,
00:32:39.65\00:32:41.61
you've been
equipped you know how to
00:32:41.62\00:32:42.79
study, you begin
the studying, you begin
00:32:42.80\00:32:44.65
to think for
yourself. I can't tell you how
00:32:44.66\00:32:46.81
many times John
that you know as I've
00:32:46.82\00:32:49.49
dialog with Christians
and we started studying
00:32:49.50\00:32:53.30
the word of God how
they get lost very quickly.
00:32:53.31\00:32:56.06
You know this may
sound harsh but if you
00:32:56.98\00:33:00.52
are still wondering
where Bible chapters are,
00:33:00.53\00:33:03.44
after how many
years, where books are,
00:33:04.08\00:33:05.50
after ten years of in
the faith you are still
00:33:05.51\00:33:07.88
a baby Christian.
That's right. If I still say
00:33:07.89\00:33:10.13
the book of Daniel
and you don't know quite
00:33:10.14\00:33:14.68
where to go and
you believe in God,
00:33:14.69\00:33:16.83
you profess faith in
God, you are still a baby.
00:33:16.84\00:33:18.60
God doesn't want
us to stay babies,
00:33:19.53\00:33:20.86
he wants us to
move forward and become
00:33:20.87\00:33:23.51
grown up, mature in
Christ. What about those
00:33:24.08\00:33:26.24
who don't take their
Bibles to church when
00:33:26.25\00:33:28.31
they go? I mean,
would say that there is a
00:33:28.32\00:33:31.61
corrosion of their
faith, or an erosion of
00:33:31.62\00:33:33.82
their faith? We
need to be relying on our
00:33:33.83\00:33:36.76
Bible on the word of
God for everything we do
00:33:36.77\00:33:40.80
and especially if
someone is gonna preach the
00:33:40.81\00:33:42.25
word, the Bereans,
okay. They search the
00:33:42.26\00:33:47.19
scriptures daily,
deceive the things and I'll
00:33:47.20\00:33:49.23
add this that they
were being told by the
00:33:49.24\00:33:51.34
apostles or by the
people or so. So if I'm in
00:33:51.35\00:33:56.18
church and I've got
someone preaching to me
00:33:56.19\00:33:59.50
and I'm listening and
I'm appreciating what they
00:33:59.69\00:34:01.83
are saying and I just
sit here and I just accept
00:34:01.84\00:34:04.34
everything that they
say and I don't check it
00:34:04.35\00:34:06.13
according to the word
I'm opened potentially
00:34:06.14\00:34:09.28
to era. Deception,
but if I study and I just
00:34:09.29\00:34:14.03
take the cording text
and I go through and I,
00:34:14.04\00:34:16.35
yeah that's true
okay there we go and then
00:34:16.36\00:34:17.94
I go home and I
open the word and I study
00:34:17.95\00:34:19.55
some more. That's
how I confirm or accept
00:34:19.56\00:34:22.83
or reject what someone
has said and Christians
00:34:23.59\00:34:25.99
today aren't doing
that. No. they are content
00:34:26.00\00:34:29.30
with what their
parents had believed,
00:34:29.31\00:34:30.96
what their pastors
telling them and even as
00:34:30.97\00:34:34.37
I studied the Bible
or some I find that many
00:34:34.38\00:34:36.80
say well I'm
gonna ask my pastor.
00:34:36.81\00:34:38.43
And I wonder when is
it the people receive
00:34:39.44\00:34:41.51
the word for what it
says and accept it for
00:34:41.52\00:34:43.40
what it says and
follow it. Can you imagine
00:34:43.41\00:34:45.43
John if you buy a car
with the GPS in it, that's
00:34:45.44\00:34:47.93
a Global
Positioning System, nowadays
00:34:47.94\00:34:50.16
we call them
navigational or navs in the car
00:34:50.17\00:34:53.05
and more and more
vehicles that having those,
00:34:53.37\00:34:55.26
can you imagine the
nav is saying go this way,
00:34:55.39\00:34:57.70
go that way and you
pull over it and you call
00:34:57.71\00:35:00.18
the persons whose
house you are going to
00:35:00.19\00:35:01.61
now my navigation
system says go right,
00:35:01.88\00:35:03.87
should I go right? And
you question everything
00:35:04.09\00:35:06.29
the navigation
system says. Now what I like
00:35:06.30\00:35:09.12
in there's a new
future, with some navigation
00:35:09.13\00:35:12.85
system they say
you are entering into
00:35:12.86\00:35:15.55
unverified areas we
have, we recently purchased
00:35:15.56\00:35:20.29
a car and our
Honda, it has that, you are
00:35:20.30\00:35:22.27
entering to,
entering into unverified areas
00:35:22.28\00:35:25.92
proceed with
caution make a left turn if
00:35:26.44\00:35:29.51
possible make a turn
if possible, whenever you
00:35:29.52\00:35:32.63
enter into topics
that are unverified,
00:35:32.64\00:35:35.86
you've got to
proceed with caution, yeah.
00:35:36.84\00:35:39.17
But you could never
proceed with caution
00:35:39.34\00:35:40.99
if you don't
have the Bible. Right.
00:35:41.00\00:35:42.86
You'll proceed with
out caution and the reason
00:35:43.26\00:35:45.48
why and I wanted
why would they put that
00:35:45.49\00:35:47.02
and because it's kind
of, it's a burp in your
00:35:47.03\00:35:49.05
directions but the
reason why they did this
00:35:49.06\00:35:51.16
because some
people have been trusting
00:35:51.17\00:35:53.48
the navigation system
so without reservation
00:35:53.49\00:35:56.54
that they been
driving into lakes and they
00:35:56.55\00:35:58.90
were making right
turns in the people's yards,
00:35:58.91\00:36:01.03
or ending up a dead
end roads because those
00:36:01.71\00:36:03.98
roads were not
verified. Well, friends they are
00:36:03.99\00:36:06.47
unverified roads in the
Christian life that will
00:36:06.48\00:36:09.61
become more
verified and more confidently
00:36:09.62\00:36:12.17
established if we use
the word of God as our
00:36:12.18\00:36:15.32
base. I'm gonna read
this text and, go ahead,
00:36:15.33\00:36:17.31
you wanna
registered in that one John,
00:36:17.32\00:36:18.50
you go ahead and
read that and then I'll
00:36:18.51\00:36:20.02
come to that.
Okay. Luke 17 verse 5,
00:36:20.03\00:36:23.66
listen to what the
Apostles said and by the
00:36:23.67\00:36:26.07
way one of the
reasons why maps are updated
00:36:26.08\00:36:28.96
as often as they are
is because more roads
00:36:28.97\00:36:31.28
are added year by
year, more residences are
00:36:31.29\00:36:33.61
built. I think you were
moved it was a time that
00:36:33.62\00:36:35.82
your address wasn't
on the map, but pretty
00:36:35.83\00:36:39.34
much there's now.
Yeah. Verified roads now.
00:36:39.35\00:36:42.20
Here it is Luke
17:5, And the Apostles said
00:36:42.59\00:36:46.84
to the Lord, Increase
our faith. So our faith
00:36:46.85\00:36:51.07
is to be increase and
he said, if you have the
00:36:51.08\00:36:52.49
faith as faith of a
mustard seed, you can say
00:36:52.50\00:36:54.81
to the mulberry
tree, 'Be pulled up by the
00:36:54.82\00:36:57.20
roots and be planted
in the sea,' and it would
00:36:57.21\00:36:59.56
obey. The other
place he says, you can say
00:36:59.57\00:37:02.19
that mountains be
removed and they will
00:37:02.20\00:37:03.41
be removed out
of the way. So small
00:37:03.42\00:37:05.40
circumstances and
large circumstances could be
00:37:05.41\00:37:08.13
dealt with if we have
faith. We need to live
00:37:08.14\00:37:10.24
according to every
word that proceeds out
00:37:10.25\00:37:12.83
of the mouth of
God. Matthew 4:4,
00:37:12.84\00:37:16.06
that's right, so very
important and the reason
00:37:16.07\00:37:19.16
what we're talking
about this as well and
00:37:19.17\00:37:21.80
the studying of the
word to increase our
00:37:21.81\00:37:23.94
faith, because it's
absolutely critical.
00:37:23.95\00:37:26.13
If you are not a
reader, and let me tell you
00:37:27.56\00:37:29.01
this story I hated
reading. I didn't like
00:37:29.02\00:37:31.98
reading books.
When I was young I think
00:37:31.99\00:37:34.61
when I got out of
high school, no when I got
00:37:34.62\00:37:37.65
out of college I
said look back I had read
00:37:37.66\00:37:40.72
one book other
than my textbooks and my
00:37:40.73\00:37:43.13
study books, right.
One just regular book.
00:37:43.14\00:37:45.12
I wasn't a Christian
at the time so I didn't
00:37:46.00\00:37:47.14
read the Bible and
didn't read all that kind
00:37:47.15\00:37:48.16
of stuff, one book
was interesting to me.
00:37:48.17\00:37:50.35
And I wondered,
Lord how am I gonna
00:37:51.89\00:37:54.55
learn about you if
I don't read Your word
00:37:54.56\00:37:56.51
and I didn't enjoy
reading. God changed that.
00:37:56.52\00:37:59.62
Praise the Lord. And
I think it was a similar
00:37:59.95\00:38:01.06
experience to
probably something that you
00:38:01.07\00:38:02.51
had too, because
we both talk about how
00:38:02.52\00:38:04.53
reading the great
controversy was provided
00:38:04.54\00:38:06.77
the impetus the
change, the re-direction or
00:38:07.22\00:38:10.03
re-focus in our life,
that book changed our lives.
00:38:10.04\00:38:12.67
And to read 700 and
something pages of a
00:38:13.31\00:38:16.97
book after not being
a reader, that's God,
00:38:16.98\00:38:19.75
that's not me. Oh
that's a transition that
00:38:20.29\00:38:21.94
only God could make.
And so but we're talking
00:38:21.95\00:38:24.77
about these things
in this day because we
00:38:24.78\00:38:26.89
need to be able read
and enjoy reading and
00:38:26.90\00:38:29.07
studying God's word.
Here's what 2nd Timothy
00:38:29.08\00:38:31.89
says chapter 4 verse
3, okay let's go there
00:38:31.90\00:38:35.11
2nd Timothy 4
verse 3, okay go ahead.
00:38:35.26\00:38:37.89
In fact I'll start
with verse 1 just give a
00:38:38.14\00:38:40.33
context, I charge
you therefore before God
00:38:40.34\00:38:43.52
and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will judge
00:38:43.53\00:38:45.72
the living and the
dead at His appearing and
00:38:45.73\00:38:47.51
His kingdom. So
context here God is coming to
00:38:47.52\00:38:50.45
judge, let's go on
verse 2, Preach the word!
00:38:50.46\00:38:54.41
Paul tells
Timothy, Preach the word!
00:38:54.42\00:38:56.88
Be ready in
season and out of season.
00:38:56.89\00:38:58.88
Convince, rebuke,
exhort, with all longsuffering
00:38:59.29\00:39:02.55
and teaching in
another words this is so
00:39:02.56\00:39:04.12
essential, this is so
important to your ministry
00:39:04.13\00:39:06.05
Timothy to the
church. Verse 3, For the time
00:39:06.44\00:39:10.87
will come when they
will not endure sound
00:39:10.88\00:39:13.38
doctrine, but
according to their own desires,
00:39:13.39\00:39:16.67
because they have itching ears,
00:39:16.89\00:39:18.13
they will heap up
for themselves teachers;
00:39:18.14\00:39:20.13
and they will turn
their ears away from the
00:39:21.04\00:39:22.87
truth, and be
turned aside to fables.
00:39:22.88\00:39:24.79
But you be watchful
in all things, endure
00:39:25.21\00:39:27.38
afflictions, do the
work of an evangelist,
00:39:27.39\00:39:29.34
fulfill your ministry.
And so we've got people
00:39:29.53\00:39:33.53
who are turning
aside in today in what I
00:39:33.54\00:39:36.93
believe with all my
heart the last days of
00:39:36.94\00:39:38.95
earth's history,
they are turning aside to
00:39:38.96\00:39:42.13
believe fables.
Fables are things that aren't
00:39:42.14\00:39:44.95
true. Well that
sound pleasant to, and that
00:39:44.96\00:39:48.24
sound pleasant. They
issue ears, that means
00:39:48.25\00:39:50.37
your ears want to
hear something they are
00:39:50.65\00:39:51.96
being tickled, right.
Okay, you are enjoying
00:39:51.97\00:39:54.68
which you are
hearing because they are
00:39:54.69\00:39:55.66
pleasing. And you
what sometimes the word
00:39:55.67\00:39:57.56
of God isn't
pleasing in fact Jesus said,
00:39:57.57\00:39:59.81
the word says it's
sharper than any two
00:40:00.57\00:40:02.45
edged sword, so it
does cut. And when we
00:40:02.46\00:40:05.70
are cut some Christians
just say, oh no, no, no
00:40:05.71\00:40:08.73
I'm gonna retreat,
I wanna hear something
00:40:08.74\00:40:10.12
that's more
pleasant. You know you have
00:40:10.13\00:40:11.61
two things in
society happening nowadays
00:40:11.62\00:40:13.10
I'm so glad you
brought that up because we
00:40:13.11\00:40:14.63
have this
generational problem nowadays.
00:40:14.64\00:40:17.03
Churches are dealing
with issues that are to a
00:40:17.53\00:40:20.04
great extent
really, really good issues.
00:40:20.05\00:40:22.22
I mean the social
ills of our society we have
00:40:22.58\00:40:25.39
this thing called a
social gospel nowadays
00:40:25.40\00:40:27.72
where you go to
church's endeavored deal
00:40:28.03\00:40:30.12
anywhere with
women's issues or you know
00:40:30.13\00:40:32.62
like not labeling just
particular issues a bad
00:40:32.63\00:40:36.90
book or anything
but you know the people
00:40:36.91\00:40:38.52
write books on how
women could break free
00:40:38.53\00:40:40.40
from the bondage of
abusive relationships
00:40:40.41\00:40:42.67
something very
important, or how people could
00:40:42.90\00:40:44.95
have stronger
financial futures something very
00:40:44.96\00:40:47.03
important. But when
you look at the ancillary
00:40:47.04\00:40:51.04
things, so was a
peripheral things or the
00:40:51.05\00:40:53.79
bottom-line is
what about my ultimate
00:40:53.80\00:40:56.10
destination, is my
ultimate goal just to be
00:40:56.11\00:40:58.54
wealthy, is it just to
have a great functioning
00:40:59.89\00:41:03.86
relationship or is it
to worship God, is is to
00:41:03.87\00:41:08.72
prepare for
heaven, is to get ready for
00:41:09.00\00:41:11.99
eternity and those
of the things that are
00:41:12.39\00:41:14.41
being left out, is
it to understand the
00:41:14.42\00:41:16.26
demoralization of
society and to abstain from
00:41:16.62\00:41:19.96
the things that
will cause me to fall the
00:41:19.97\00:41:22.36
things of the world.
When you look at that
00:41:22.37\00:41:24.19
the Bible is making
it very, very clear that
00:41:24.20\00:41:26.99
when we get to the
point where the story
00:41:27.00\00:41:28.96
sounds so good that
they tickle or fancy as the
00:41:28.97\00:41:32.13
Bible says, they
tickle our ears. People will
00:41:32.14\00:41:34.74
rather hear that
then here the word of God
00:41:34.75\00:41:37.84
being straight and
being taught as it is in fact
00:41:37.85\00:41:41.18
in scripture. And
so what will they do,
00:41:41.19\00:41:43.18
they will turn their
ears away from the truth
00:41:43.92\00:41:46.20
and they will be
turned aside the fables are
00:41:47.07\00:41:49.65
get heed to fables.
The devil first in foremost
00:41:49.66\00:41:55.50
is a deceiver, is a
liar and he is a deceiver.
00:41:55.51\00:41:58.05
It began way
back with the angels,
00:41:58.06\00:41:59.99
it came to the
garden, it's continued to on
00:42:00.62\00:42:02.73
through time, do
we honestly think that
00:42:02.74\00:42:05.17
just because we're
in church that somehow
00:42:05.18\00:42:07.63
we're not being
deceived. Do we think that
00:42:07.64\00:42:09.96
is not possible?
The same not Satan isn't
00:42:09.97\00:42:13.06
there at times?
Think about this, I mean,
00:42:13.07\00:42:18.62
the overwhelming
teaching today is if you
00:42:19.58\00:42:23.16
are in church and you
proclaim your faith in
00:42:23.17\00:42:24.98
God you are fine,
you are saved, you don't
00:42:24.99\00:42:27.30
have a thing to worry
about. As if the devil
00:42:27.31\00:42:30.31
isn't trying to do a
work in the church. Oh where
00:42:30.32\00:42:33.37
would he go other
than the church to really
00:42:33.38\00:42:35.03
deceive the world?
I mean he doesn't care
00:42:35.04\00:42:36.53
about the wicked,
he doesn't care about
00:42:36.54\00:42:38.61
what's going on in
wickedness outside of the
00:42:38.62\00:42:41.15
church, he wants he
is attacking the church,
00:42:41.16\00:42:42.86
you read that text
before. He is making the
00:42:42.87\00:42:45.21
war, he is taking, he
is worrying about there's
00:42:45.22\00:42:48.35
another text
seeking whom he may devour,
00:42:48.36\00:42:50.73
but he is coming
after the church that's he
00:42:51.00\00:42:52.93
was going after. So
just 'cause you in church
00:42:52.94\00:42:55.14
doesn't mean you are
immune to Satan's attack.
00:42:55.15\00:42:56.99
Satan is coming
after the church, so more
00:42:57.34\00:43:01.28
than ever now if we
wanna increase our faith
00:43:01.29\00:43:03.39
let's make sure that
what we believe is verifiable,
00:43:03.40\00:43:06.61
you know term
verifiable, verifiable by God's
00:43:07.64\00:43:11.12
word. And make sure
that the study of God's
00:43:11.13\00:43:13.91
word is the
foundation of your hope and your
00:43:13.92\00:43:15.82
faith and your
trust and your food.
00:43:15.83\00:43:17.90
Amos 8 and verse 11
says behold the days
00:43:18.91\00:43:20.91
of coming; it says
the Lord that I will send
00:43:20.92\00:43:23.50
a famine on the land.
Not a famine of bread,
00:43:23.51\00:43:26.28
not a thirst for
water but of the hearing of
00:43:26.29\00:43:29.29
the words of the
Lord. The Lord is an essence
00:43:29.30\00:43:31.80
saying, he said he's
gonna send this famine.
00:43:31.81\00:43:34.00
Now John I've seen
teachers do this and you
00:43:34.10\00:43:36.35
could appreciate
this as someone who,
00:43:36.36\00:43:38.52
well we could all
appreciate this sometimes
00:43:39.27\00:43:41.02
a teacher would say
we are having an open
00:43:41.03\00:43:42.79
book text and
students would say oh I'm so
00:43:42.80\00:43:47.39
excited but sometimes
a teacher would say put
00:43:47.40\00:43:49.96
away your
workbooks, put away your home
00:43:49.97\00:43:52.05
book, put away
your textbook, all books
00:43:52.06\00:43:54.25
closed this is a
closed book exam, now what
00:43:54.26\00:43:57.63
happens then John to
the students that haven't
00:43:57.64\00:43:59.33
studied? Oh they are
in trouble. I remember
00:43:59.34\00:44:02.10
I used to come to,
we had one teacher that
00:44:02.11\00:44:03.81
just always got us
this way you never,
00:44:03.82\00:44:06.59
you learned after a
while but you go into,
00:44:06.60\00:44:08.36
come into class
and you had a study,
00:44:08.37\00:44:10.39
a reading assignment
than I before, he'd say
00:44:10.40\00:44:12.56
surprised quiz.
You know and he throw
00:44:13.77\00:44:17.03
quizzes and quizzes
were worth points and if
00:44:17.04\00:44:19.49
you didn't read and
study than I before you
00:44:19.50\00:44:21.47
flunk the quiz and
that hardship. But you
00:44:21.48\00:44:23.82
know how much more
when God comes to judge
00:44:23.83\00:44:26.69
the earth and he says
quiz I mean will we able
00:44:26.70\00:44:31.73
to say we studied the
manual, we studied the
00:44:31.74\00:44:34.29
word and we're
following what you've asked
00:44:34.30\00:44:37.35
us to follow because
I'll tell you what there
00:44:37.36\00:44:39.78
won't be excuses
at that time. He won't
00:44:39.79\00:44:42.40
have excuses, he
couldn't possibly.
00:44:42.41\00:44:44.73
So but anyway, let's
stay with our topic here
00:44:45.32\00:44:48.39
increasing faith, so the
word of God is essential,
00:44:48.40\00:44:51.07
it's critical.
Studying and following the word
00:44:51.08\00:44:54.49
of God to
increasing our faith. Matter of
00:44:54.50\00:44:56.29
fact, Romans 10:17,
you wanna right this down
00:44:56.30\00:44:58.76
very powerful text but
right along the line of
00:44:58.77\00:45:01.23
this very topic of
higher faith gets increased
00:45:01.24\00:45:03.66
so then faith comes
by hearing and hearing by
00:45:04.12\00:45:10.30
the word of God.
The point that Paul is
00:45:10.31\00:45:13.62
making here says the
more you read the word
00:45:13.63\00:45:16.54
of God the more you wanna hear.
00:45:16.55\00:45:18.53
But if you don't hear
the word, if you don't
00:45:19.71\00:45:21.33
read the word of
God it would not enhance
00:45:21.34\00:45:23.40
your hearing. Prime
example is the magazine
00:45:23.41\00:45:27.37
that you read the
most will determine which
00:45:27.38\00:45:32.04
person you listen to
the most. If a person is
00:45:32.05\00:45:34.19
a Microsoft convert,
every time Bill Gates has
00:45:34.20\00:45:38.26
a convention or Bill
Gates is gonna disrobe
00:45:38.27\00:45:40.75
something that's
coming out new or Bill Gates
00:45:40.76\00:45:43.18
is gonna announce
the release of a new
00:45:43.19\00:45:45.01
operating system, they
will go by their magazine,
00:45:45.02\00:45:47.38
they will make sure
they see news report,
00:45:47.39\00:45:48.84
they will download
it on the Internet,
00:45:48.85\00:45:50.19
they will spend
lot of time getting the
00:45:50.20\00:45:51.81
information. If
Steve Jobs, if you are Mac
00:45:51.82\00:45:54.57
person, Steve Jobs says
hey a new Mac, that is a
00:45:54.58\00:45:57.89
Macintosh computer
has been unveiled today,
00:45:57.90\00:46:00.25
people want that
article and so the point of
00:46:00.54\00:46:02.57
the matter is the
reason why you are so
00:46:02.58\00:46:05.01
desirous of hearing
what each of these persons
00:46:05.02\00:46:07.55
has to say is that
you have trained your ears
00:46:07.56\00:46:10.49
to be a follower of
those individuals by listening
00:46:11.03\00:46:15.26
to everything they
have to say about what
00:46:15.69\00:46:17.98
they are doing.
You've trained your ears,
00:46:17.99\00:46:19.78
faith comes by
hearing but they say I mean
00:46:20.08\00:46:22.64
you read all their
materials hearing by
00:46:22.65\00:46:25.23
reading their word.
Yeah. In the springboard off
00:46:25.24\00:46:28.08
of that too, Peter
also in 2nd Peter chapter
00:46:28.09\00:46:31.69
1 verses 3 and 4
says, that His divine power
00:46:31.70\00:46:35.62
has given to us all
things that pertain to life
00:46:35.63\00:46:38.73
and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him
00:46:38.74\00:46:41.27
who called us by
glory and virtue, by which
00:46:41.28\00:46:44.82
have been given to
us exceedingly great and
00:46:45.20\00:46:48.54
precious what?
Promises, Promises, that
00:46:48.55\00:46:52.07
through these you
may be partakers of the
00:46:52.25\00:46:54.32
divine nature, having
escaped the corruption
00:46:54.33\00:46:57.25
that is in the
world through lust.
00:46:57.26\00:46:58.72
So when we chew
on the word, when we
00:46:59.02\00:47:01.02
chew on the word,
when we accept and claim
00:47:01.03\00:47:03.97
his promises, when
you hold his promises,
00:47:03.98\00:47:07.17
Lord you promised
this and I accept that you
00:47:07.18\00:47:10.73
partake of his divine
nature, you raise above
00:47:10.74\00:47:14.73
your own humanity to
partake or to feed off
00:47:14.74\00:47:18.99
of the divine
nature of God, the power of
00:47:19.00\00:47:20.84
God to become
stronger and to live for God.
00:47:20.85\00:47:24.25
See so power comes to
us not just by praying
00:47:24.89\00:47:27.37
O Lord give me your
Holy Spirit, although
00:47:27.38\00:47:28.89
that is important.
Right. The power also comes
00:47:28.90\00:47:31.52
through, Lord give
me your spirit and teach
00:47:31.94\00:47:33.50
me your word and
may I by claiming your
00:47:33.51\00:47:36.92
promises and living
by your promises make
00:47:36.93\00:47:39.58
me stronger. You
know John one of the
00:47:39.59\00:47:41.42
evidences and you may
have seen this friends,
00:47:41.43\00:47:43.14
one of the evidences
is of the fact that word
00:47:43.15\00:47:45.02
of God is less and
less appreciated is because
00:47:45.03\00:47:47.42
somebody was sit
down with the Bible each
00:47:47.43\00:47:49.08
person has a
Bible and we would show
00:47:49.09\00:47:51.01
somebody something in
the Bible and you know
00:47:51.02\00:47:52.46
what they would say
well the Lord hasn't
00:47:52.47\00:47:54.27
convinced me of
that yet, oh yeah,
00:47:54.28\00:47:55.98
I offered many times.
Or well I'll wait till the
00:47:55.99\00:47:59.52
Lord impresses
that upon my heart.
00:47:59.53\00:48:02.02
Oh! I don't have
the feeling in my bosom,
00:48:02.28\00:48:04.58
the burning in my
bosom that confirms this
00:48:04.88\00:48:06.76
true. Oh! yeah. Well I
know what you say that's
00:48:06.77\00:48:09.79
your interpretations
so and I've seen people
00:48:09.80\00:48:12.15
struggle with that
because their minds have
00:48:12.36\00:48:14.38
been so
conditioned by teachers having
00:48:14.39\00:48:16.31
itching ears by fables
that don't line up with
00:48:16.39\00:48:19.89
what God's word says
and they will say I'll wait
00:48:19.90\00:48:23.47
until the Holy
Spirit reveals that to me.
00:48:24.12\00:48:26.73
well you know do the
same thing with directions,
00:48:27.01\00:48:29.00
sit at the intersection
says, you know I don't
00:48:29.42\00:48:31.43
feel that that's the
right way to go or I'll wait
00:48:31.44\00:48:33.88
till the Lord impresses
me to make a right turn
00:48:33.89\00:48:36.59
or well I've never gone
that way before so I got
00:48:36.81\00:48:39.80
to call my pastor
and ask me if that's way
00:48:39.81\00:48:41.68
to go. You got a
map in your hand,
00:48:41.69\00:48:43.96
trust the map and
the map will never lead
00:48:44.89\00:48:48.00
you wrong and that's
even true about God's
00:48:48.01\00:48:50.48
word more than the
map. Thou shalt not
00:48:50.49\00:48:52.64
murder. Thou shalt
not commit adultery.
00:48:52.65\00:48:54.70
Thou shalt not steal.
God hasn't convicted me
00:48:54.71\00:48:59.47
of that yet. Can you
imagine? These are ten
00:48:59.48\00:49:03.77
suggestions not
ten demands, yeah.
00:49:03.78\00:49:07.10
Now let's go to this
'cause we've deal with
00:49:07.92\00:49:10.11
this issue all the
time. The seventh-day is
00:49:10.12\00:49:12.72
the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God. But God
00:49:12.73\00:49:17.68
hasn't convicted
me of that yet. I but,
00:49:17.69\00:49:23.25
I mean everybody
else is gonna on the
00:49:23.26\00:49:24.55
first day. Even how
could all those be wrong,
00:49:24.56\00:49:27.54
how could be all be
wrong? How could all
00:49:27.55\00:49:30.49
Jews be wrong about
Jesus at the time they
00:49:30.50\00:49:33.46
crucified him. So
this is simple question,
00:49:33.47\00:49:36.85
don't cop out by
saying well God just hasn't
00:49:37.44\00:49:39.94
convicted me of yet
or I haven't felt that
00:49:39.95\00:49:41.66
feeling because
sometimes it cuts
00:49:41.89\00:49:43.85
sometimes it's not
what you want to hear but
00:49:44.29\00:49:46.95
God is still, it's
still true. And they wonder
00:49:46.96\00:49:50.23
about the response
and this is something
00:49:50.24\00:49:51.64
amazing friends to
wonder what kind of
00:49:51.65\00:49:53.66
response would
you get from God use
00:49:53.67\00:49:56.13
those very same
lines on the next college
00:49:56.14\00:49:58.19
exam you get and
say to your teacher I
00:49:58.20\00:50:01.08
know what you say
the answers but I'm not
00:50:01.09\00:50:03.01
convinced of that
yet, well I'm I don't feel
00:50:03.02\00:50:05.71
that that's correct
answer you feel that
00:50:05.72\00:50:07.52
course you'll be
put out, you waste your
00:50:07.53\00:50:08.98
money, your waste
your time, you waste
00:50:08.99\00:50:10.20
your energy but
even more than that what
00:50:10.21\00:50:11.97
hinges on the word of
God is the fact that we
00:50:11.98\00:50:14.78
don't get to what
God intense for us to
00:50:15.23\00:50:18.96
become, to faith
him by now. Does it the
00:50:18.97\00:50:20.01
way that seems
right to a man? Oh it's
00:50:20.02\00:50:22.03
another one. I
don't remember the exact
00:50:22.04\00:50:23.46
text reference I
don't know if you do it now.
00:50:23.47\00:50:25.10
There is a way that
seemeth right unto a
00:50:25.11\00:50:26.08
man but in the end
thereof is the way of
00:50:26.09\00:50:28.67
death, that's in
proverbs. Yeah it's in Proverbs,
00:50:28.68\00:50:30.53
I just wanna show
which one it is. But yeah,
00:50:30.54\00:50:32.21
I mean so, so don't
trust your feelings either
00:50:32.22\00:50:34.69
let us talk about
that for just a minute.
00:50:34.81\00:50:36.36
You know we
shouldn't increase try to have
00:50:36.64\00:50:39.93
our faith increase
by just trusting in the
00:50:39.94\00:50:41.80
direction that were
heading that it feels
00:50:41.81\00:50:43.81
right, 'cause
remember we are born morally
00:50:43.82\00:50:46.70
deprived, sinful to
the core, in fact we can't
00:50:46.71\00:50:50.35
even comprehend
the death of our own
00:50:50.36\00:50:52.86
wickedness. So what
is Jeremiah 17:9, right?
00:50:52.87\00:50:56.83
We don't even
comprehend; we can't
00:50:57.19\00:50:58.31
even know it,
right. So how can we trust
00:50:58.32\00:51:00.64
our feelings? So
don't trust your feelings
00:51:00.65\00:51:03.47
about things, trust
the word of God what it
00:51:03.48\00:51:05.48
says not what the way you feel.
00:51:05.49\00:51:07.88
So you know if and
that's why I always get
00:51:08.29\00:51:11.27
kind of, you know I
struggle with someone
00:51:11.28\00:51:13.72
saying why just it
doesn't feel right,
00:51:13.73\00:51:15.42
you get to be
careful with that, be careful
00:51:16.18\00:51:17.97
with that as well.
And the text you've talked
00:51:17.98\00:51:21.19
about is in Proverbs
14:12 and then Proverbs
00:51:21.20\00:51:24.37
16:25 there is a way
that seems right to a
00:51:24.38\00:51:28.14
man but its end
is the way of death.
00:51:28.15\00:51:31.13
It seems right and
so be careful if it just
00:51:31.57\00:51:34.46
seems right, well
and then the other thing
00:51:34.63\00:51:37.12
is John well this is
good enough for me I mean
00:51:37.13\00:51:38.92
why do I have to
go through all that,
00:51:39.63\00:51:41.05
why do I have to
honor all that, this is good
00:51:41.06\00:51:42.64
enough for me. I
don't think that God would
00:51:42.65\00:51:45.08
have given us
such beautiful word;
00:51:45.09\00:51:46.99
such inspired writing
if just settling for the
00:51:47.67\00:51:51.53
minimum is good
enough for us. There's
00:51:51.90\00:51:55.27
another text here I
wanna turn to, it is in
00:51:55.28\00:51:59.16
Matthew, do you
have one that you wanna
00:51:59.48\00:52:01.39
go to John? It's a
Matthew I'm thinking of,
00:52:01.40\00:52:05.37
no you go ahead.
Matthew chapter 26
00:52:05.75\00:52:09.32
verse 39, this is
a text that shows the
00:52:09.69\00:52:12.84
difference between
preference and the Lord's
00:52:12.85\00:52:17.46
will, because lots of
people say, well what is
00:52:17.47\00:52:20.12
the Lord's will for
my life? What does this
00:52:20.13\00:52:23.14
have to do with your
faith? Matthew 26 and
00:52:23.15\00:52:25.90
verse 29 and listen to
this and the Bible says,
00:52:25.91\00:52:30.29
He went a little
farther and fell on His face,
00:52:32.50\00:52:35.38
and prayed, saying,
that is Jesus, if you want
00:52:35.39\00:52:37.62
to find out who that
is look at verse 36 that's
00:52:37.63\00:52:39.74
Jesus, saying, O My
Father, if it is possible,
00:52:39.75\00:52:45.32
let this cup pass from
Me; here is this type of
00:52:45.33\00:52:49.37
faith friends,
nevertheless, not as I
00:52:49.38\00:52:52.54
will but as You will.
So the word of God may not
00:52:52.55\00:52:55.58
necessarily say
what do you want to say
00:52:55.59\00:52:56.93
but you have to say
Lord I know what I want
00:52:56.94\00:52:58.66
to do but let it not
be my will, let it be your
00:52:58.67\00:53:01.60
will, let it not be my
word, let it be your word.
00:53:01.61\00:53:03.75
Yeah. you know even
Jesus when he was tempted,
00:53:03.76\00:53:07.49
you know the
temptations were I'm sure now
00:53:08.96\00:53:11.89
I once said the
word appealing but the
00:53:11.90\00:53:14.05
temptations were
just that, temptations and
00:53:14.06\00:53:17.33
he could have begin
to think about him and
00:53:17.34\00:53:20.07
really you know
chew on him and begin to
00:53:20.08\00:53:22.44
you know contemplate
them but instead where
00:53:22.45\00:53:25.33
did he go first
initially, every time he was
00:53:25.34\00:53:27.41
tempted, it is
written, it is written, it is
00:53:27.42\00:53:30.02
written, it is
written. So we don't have as an
00:53:30.03\00:53:34.06
example of Christ we
don't have Jesus delaying
00:53:34.07\00:53:36.17
it all with a
temptation. He doesn't even toy
00:53:36.18\00:53:38.84
with it. He follows
what the word of God says.
00:53:38.85\00:53:42.44
And I'll tell you if I
had practiced that more
00:53:42.98\00:53:47.77
in my life I wouldn't
have had all the hardship
00:53:47.78\00:53:50.39
that I have had over
the years. If I just follow
00:53:50.40\00:53:53.30
the word of God and
say you know I'm not
00:53:53.31\00:53:54.76
doing that, I'm gonna
follow what God's word
00:53:54.77\00:53:56.83
says but you know
what we're sinful. And God
00:53:56.84\00:53:59.55
does forgive us, and
so we shouldn't get down
00:53:59.56\00:54:01.57
on ourselves for
that because we are in the
00:54:01.68\00:54:04.05
middle of a very
difficult struggle, a battle.
00:54:04.06\00:54:06.35
But if we continue to
live by faith and want to
00:54:07.81\00:54:10.55
have that increased
faith and live according to
00:54:10.63\00:54:13.00
God's will for us, we
always be turning right
00:54:13.30\00:54:15.84
to the word and God's
will and following through.
00:54:15.85\00:54:19.37
Why is faith so
important and I'm opposing this
00:54:20.67\00:54:24.76
question kind of almost,
kind of a semi-rhetorical
00:54:24.77\00:54:28.15
way 'cause I'm gonna
answer it but the reason
00:54:28.16\00:54:30.37
why faith is so widely
important is that in order
00:54:30.38\00:54:34.82
to, to be an over-
comer not just a living
00:54:34.83\00:54:37.58
Christian, there are
people that focus on the
00:54:37.59\00:54:39.59
living the Christian
life but there are those that
00:54:39.60\00:54:41.75
focus on not just
playing the game of football
00:54:41.76\00:54:43.73
but they are those
who focus on winning.
00:54:43.74\00:54:45.33
This is not just a
race that we run but Paul
00:54:46.09\00:54:48.75
said I fought a good
fight I finished my course
00:54:48.76\00:54:50.44
I kept the faith,
fought a good fight finished my
00:54:50.45\00:54:54.00
course I kept the
faith. He kept the faith,
00:54:54.01\00:54:56.82
he held on to it. The
Bible says contend for
00:54:57.05\00:54:59.33
the faith that was
once delivered to you,
00:54:59.34\00:55:01.20
you got to contend
because your faith will be
00:55:01.48\00:55:02.96
eroded, why is this
so widely important?
00:55:02.97\00:55:05.20
1st John 5 and verse
4, and what so ever is
00:55:05.45\00:55:08.65
born of God
overcomes the world and this is
00:55:08.66\00:55:11.92
the victory that has
overcome the world our
00:55:11.93\00:55:15.20
faith. You know the
world will say you are a
00:55:15.21\00:55:18.32
Christian it doesn't
matter, doesn't, Jesus is
00:55:18.33\00:55:20.94
not coming back all
that stuff you've been doing
00:55:20.95\00:55:22.88
is of no value. All you
got to hold on to is John
00:55:22.89\00:55:26.19
your faith, your
faith, your faith, your faith.
00:55:26.20\00:55:28.91
That's right, your
faith. And as the world
00:55:28.92\00:55:31.03
gets tougher as
struggles just in challenges
00:55:31.04\00:55:34.59
just coming from
everywhere the only way
00:55:34.60\00:55:37.59
you can hold on is
if your faith has been
00:55:37.60\00:55:39.83
strengthened and if
you put that faith and
00:55:39.84\00:55:41.66
trust in Jesus
Christ, He is our rock.
00:55:41.67\00:55:44.66
He is our fortress. He
is our deliverer, in Him
00:55:44.98\00:55:48.58
I will trust, that's
right. And we've got to put
00:55:48.59\00:55:50.92
our trust and our
confidence in Christ.
00:55:50.93\00:55:52.62
Though he slay me
I will trust in Him.
00:55:53.25\00:55:55.99
So we've got,
sometimes when it just doesn't
00:55:56.49\00:56:00.21
look like you know
what it looks like,
00:56:00.22\00:56:03.22
it doesn't look
like we're gonna make it.
00:56:03.23\00:56:04.80
Or it doesn't look
like, it's even the right way
00:56:05.00\00:56:07.76
to go when more are
against us than those
00:56:07.77\00:56:11.21
that are for us we
can still say with God we
00:56:11.22\00:56:13.65
are trusting in the
Lord, and trusting in this
00:56:13.66\00:56:15.07
word and trusting
that he strengthened my
00:56:15.08\00:56:17.65
faith, He is only author
He is the finisher of our
00:56:17.66\00:56:20.39
faith, He will finish
our faith and get us through.
00:56:20.40\00:56:22.57
That's right. And yes
it takes on, we've talked
00:56:22.95\00:56:25.53
about that He will
author it and He will finish it
00:56:25.54\00:56:28.13
as well. Looking
into Jesus the author and
00:56:28.14\00:56:29.93
finisher of our faith,
wanted all boils down to
00:56:29.94\00:56:32.53
it, we will get to
the controversies and
00:56:32.54\00:56:34.98
challenges of our
age, there's going to be a
00:56:34.99\00:56:37.46
patience that's going
to be severely tested.
00:56:37.47\00:56:40.54
And revelations
14:12 says here is the
00:56:41.21\00:56:43.54
patience of the
saints, here are they that keep
00:56:43.55\00:56:47.30
the commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus,
00:56:47.31\00:56:51.36
behold on to that
they are obedient and they
00:56:51.92\00:56:55.16
are trusting, they
have both of those,
00:56:55.17\00:56:57.30
that's right.
Obedient has been labeled a lot
00:56:57.31\00:57:00.83
of things or
obedience, yeah. But obedience
00:57:00.84\00:57:04.59
as in the sermon I
just preached obedience
00:57:04.60\00:57:07.14
is nothing more than
seeking to glorify God in
00:57:07.57\00:57:09.94
all that we do.
That's right. And if we look
00:57:09.95\00:57:12.17
it that way we can
take that label of legalism
00:57:12.18\00:57:15.18
out, that's right and
begin to put God at the
00:57:15.19\00:57:17.47
focus of everything
we do. That's right,
00:57:17.48\00:57:19.28
so friends keep on
trusting the Lord but
00:57:19.29\00:57:20.98
don't lay your faith
become a subject of attack
00:57:20.99\00:57:23.32
but your faith
established on God's word
00:57:23.86\00:57:25.81
and His promise
carry you through and begin
00:57:25.82\00:57:27.90
that work with
Christ in faith unshakable
00:57:27.91\00:57:30.12
faith begin that walk today.
00:57:30.13\00:57:32.09