Hello, friends, grab your
Bible and a friend and sit back
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as we explore
God's word together
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on this edition
of "House Calls."
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Welcome to another
edition of "House Calls."
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Thank you for taking
the time today to join us
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for another walk
through the word of God.
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And I'm happy that I
have my good friend here.
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We are in the
saddle together. Amen.
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Good to have you
here, John. Good to be here.
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You know we go back a ways,
we have family connections,
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we're like brothers,
that is we share the same name
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and we have the same passion
that is to share the word of God
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and this program
allows us to do that.
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As specifically as you tune
in to join us and so thank you.
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Get your Bibles, get
your pens, your family--
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And friends. And your friends.
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That's kind of a
new part of my program.
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I came up with
that, I don't know--
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number of programs ago
and it's just kind of stuck.
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And join us for
this next thoughtful hour
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through the word of God.
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The most important equipment
you need is your Bible,
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but we also want
you to open your hearts.
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And thank you
for all that you do
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for the network of 3ABN
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as well as for the
"House Calls" program.
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We meet people
sometimes on the road,
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and I know you do--
sometimes people say,
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"You're in my living room."
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And I say, "What
am I doing there?"
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He said, oh, in the
"House Calls" program,
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we look forward to that program.
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And John I've discovered
this, I was over in a--
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another country not
too long ago and they said,
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"Where's your
friend?" I said, "Who?"
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They said, "The
big, the tall guy,
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the one that's on
the program with you.
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Did you bring him with you?"
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"I didn't bring him with me,
he lives all the way out west."
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They said, "Say hello to him
when you see him the next time."
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All right. So a lot of--
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every age group
from young teenagers
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to people that are older
they watch "House Calls."
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They said, it's one of
their favorite program.
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Praise the Lord.
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And that's why
we enjoy doing that,
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but we're gonna
begin out topic today.
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But we're gonna start
with a word of prayer.
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And then we're gonna
begin with Bible questions
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and then we'll go into
the topic which is the church,
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a biblical view of what
the church is suppose to be.
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Have prayer first, John.
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Dear Father in
heaven, You are a mighty God,
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a wonderful God to
serve and we love You.
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We pray now for Your
presence to be here with us
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to talk about Your word,
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something we know that You hold
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even above Your name, Your word.
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And we pray that
Your spirit will guide us
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through Your
scriptures that You've given us
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for the topics for our questions
today, for the topic today.
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And Lord that we may
glorify You in all that happens.
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We pray in Jesus name, amen.
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Amen, amen, for those questions
that you're so concerned
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about we'd like
you to send those
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to the following e-mail address
that is housecalls@3abn.org.
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That's housecalls@3abn.org.
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And if you
don't have a computer,
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there are some people that
don't have computers still.
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You can send those to
the regular 3ABN address,
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House Calls, PO Box 220,
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West Frankford, Illinois 62896.
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That is 3ABN and then
subheading House Calls
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and we'll get those questions.
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But, John, we always like
to begin with Bible questions
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and what do you
have for me today?
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Well, I've got a
question from Debby in Florida
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and I'm gonna read this question
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because we have come to a point
I think in American society.
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And I know this is--
we're not unique to this.
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But things have
become so political
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that it is keeping us from
getting anything accomplished
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to really solve issues today.
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And I think often
we're more interested
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in winning an
argument rather than
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actually solving a
problem, solving an issue.
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And so this partisan politics
really has taken full stage
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and it's just sad to see that.
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And there's a little bit
of that coming into the church
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as well to a degree.
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You find liberal church members,
conservative church members
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and battling over
issues of lifestyle
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and this and that and
what's important in the gospel
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and what's not so important.
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Anyway, this
question I'm not saying
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it's suggestive of
Debby having this mindset,
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but a little bit might be
there in that she's saying,
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"How can people
vote as a democrat
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if they are Christians?" Wow.
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If you don't condone abortion
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and don't condone
same sex marriage,
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how can you vote
democrat? Very interesting.
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Now we at House Calls are not
endorsing any political side.
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We just don't go there.
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I've said repeatedly and
I've been asked this repeatedly,
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you know, so you
believe with this or that?
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I said you know
what, I vote the issues,
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I vote the issues,
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I look at the
character of the man or woman.
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And that's how I
vote, and I do vote.
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But I don't tow party lines.
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And I think we need to
very careful in doing that.
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Even in the Bible you
find within the church,
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party lines were being drawn,
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you had Paul
admonishing the people
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not to align
themselves under certain leaders
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as being oppose
to other leaders.
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And maybe you're pulling
that up here, I don't know.
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But anyway, as far
as Biblical mandate
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for what party we should vote?
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I don't find one. I
find issues in the Bible.
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Issues that I think that should
be important to Christians
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and I think to some
degree across both parties
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there are issues
that are biblical.
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And so we need to make
sure that we're thinking clearly
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on those things
and not necessarily
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aligning ourselves
for some of our pet issues
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or key issues involved.
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So like one of
them, a couple of them
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she mentions abortion
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and then she
mentions same sex marriage.
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And those are in your key
issues that as conservatives
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and you could say
more religio-conservatives.
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Not so much all of the GOP,
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but the religious
conservatives you find
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that the champion
issue, abortion, you know.
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We got to make sure
we're pro-life that was--
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that's the key
factor for someone
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stepping forward
in that platform.
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On same sex marriage,
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another one of those
things, very much so.
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Yet I don't necessarily believe
that if you go across the line,
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the party line to the
other side as democrats
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that you're finding people
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that are anti-life or
anti respect for people
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and the way
they live their life.
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Remember as a society,
I think one of the things
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that is a challenge to us, John,
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is, we have
repeated over and over again
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that America is
a Christian nation.
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That's not true.
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It wasn't a Christian nation
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and never has been a
Christian nation so to speak.
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It is a nation predominantly
of Christians. Right.
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So it's very and it's very core,
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its foundations are very
Judeo-Christian in its beliefs,
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in its systems
and its court systems
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and other things
in the way we think.
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But it doesn't make
us a Christian nation.
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And I think when
they say Christian nation,
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what their meaning is a nation
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that should enforce
Christianity and its beliefs.
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And that's usually what--
that's usually the resonating--
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That's what they're saying
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when they say a
Christian nation,
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but you know, really, our
nation is a nation of liberties,
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respecting the
right of free conscience.
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Allowing some within
the context of a moral frame
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to live and believe as
they wish. That's true.
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And this is what we uphold
the most not Christian values.
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So instead of getting
involved in enforcing politics
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or certain parts of
politics, we need to make sure
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that we're
enforcing the rights of people
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to think and act freely
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according to
their own conscience.
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And that would
include democrats,
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that would include republicans
and people across the board
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whether you--wherever
you're lined in the middle.
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And so I just want
to make that statement
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because I hear this and
I'm not necessarily meaning
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this to be a rebuke,
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but I do think sometimes
we get so involved in politics
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that we lose
sight of the real issue
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and that is love and respect
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for reach other
and their rights.
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We need to be able to
disagree yet still live together
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and not tear each
other apart by our words
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and how we sometimes
attack and what we're seeing
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in politics for
the most part today.
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You know, we know
that in our country in--
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I think and around the world,
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we sometimes get more concerned
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if we see things
that have already happened
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in the world around us,
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starting to
happen here in America.
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America is a
place where the thing
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that is most dear and
valuable to us is liberty,
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freedom of
religion, freedom from fear.
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And you look at
your bill of rights
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and these topics have
become a major focus in America
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over the last few
elections or I'd say,
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if you go back to the
beginning of the 1980s.
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And you have
various fractions in America
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and I want to be very vague here
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'cause I don't want
to make anybody feel
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that I'm
favoring one or the other.
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But I like the way
you said that as citizens
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and that the--
and the first thing
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of when you look at the
first platform in America
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are all those who
are here in this country
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that have access to
the rights and privileges.
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If they're citizens
then I shouldn't feel it
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my right to
prevent another citizen
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from exercising
his religious beliefs
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or her religious convictions
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because I would not want
the same to happen to me.
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So we have in this country,
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right now we have
religious freedom.
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But what's happening if
you look at the climates
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that are being developed,
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the word intolerance
is becoming a focal point.
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Are we intolerant of
people that don't believe
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and that don't practice
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and that don't
live like we live.
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And that's where we have
to be very, very careful.
00:10:06.46\00:10:08.68
So without talking
about political parties,
00:10:08.71\00:10:11.24
one of the statements
I like that Jesus made
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because you know, the disciples,
00:10:13.39\00:10:14.89
when Jesus came
they were somewhat--
00:10:14.92\00:10:19.89
they misunderstood the mission
of Christ in this respect.
00:10:19.92\00:10:23.15
They thought that He was going
to overthrow the government
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that was in place then
and then establish Israel.
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And even at the time just
before He ascended to heaven
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they say, will you at this time
restore the kingdom of Israel?
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They continue to wonder.
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Are you gonna get rid of
the ruling powers of Rome?
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And the statement I
like that Jesus made here
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and I'm gonna read it
for you, it's in John 8--18.
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Let me go ahead and go there,
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I want to give a few portions of
that just before our verse 36.
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John 18 and I'm
gonna read verse 36.
00:10:57.24\00:11:04.64
And let's start with that one,
00:11:04.67\00:11:09.44
"Jesus answered--"
well, let me just go ahead
00:11:09.47\00:11:11.04
and give the question.
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"Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew?
00:11:12.60\00:11:16.73
Your own nation
and the chief priests
00:11:16.76\00:11:19.97
have delivered You to me.
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What have You done?'
00:11:22.46\00:11:24.30
Jesus answered, 'My
kingdom is not of this world.
00:11:24.33\00:11:28.53
If My kingdom
were of this world,
00:11:28.56\00:11:30.31
My servants would fight,
00:11:30.34\00:11:32.39
so that I should not
be delivered to the Jews,
00:11:32.42\00:11:35.19
but now My kingdom
is not from here.'"
00:11:35.22\00:11:38.35
And then earlier in
the ministry of Christ
00:11:38.38\00:11:40.80
there was a
question about paying that
00:11:40.83\00:11:44.20
which is due to the government.
00:11:44.23\00:11:46.22
And the Lord sent
Peter to the ocean
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or to the river and He said,
00:11:49.53\00:11:51.64
you'll find a fish
with a coin in its mouth.
00:11:51.67\00:11:53.38
And he said, well,
who's face is on that?
00:11:53.41\00:11:55.48
He sees it, rendered to him
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what's his and
to God what's His.
00:11:56.91\00:11:59.12
In our own personal lives
00:11:59.15\00:12:01.24
we must uphold in our
convictions as Christians
00:12:01.27\00:12:04.49
those things that are
in harmony with Christian,
00:12:04.52\00:12:07.05
with the word of God.
00:12:07.08\00:12:08.45
And I want to
use the word of God
00:12:08.48\00:12:09.85
rather than the
phrase Christian values
00:12:09.88\00:12:11.95
because the
phrase Christian values
00:12:11.98\00:12:13.97
is not always
supportive of the word of God.
00:12:14.00\00:12:16.90
That's something that you
have to be very, very careful.
00:12:16.93\00:12:19.03
'Cause some
people could determine
00:12:19.06\00:12:20.43
what Christian
values are as compared to
00:12:20.46\00:12:22.96
determining what the
word of God has already said.
00:12:22.99\00:12:26.14
And our main focus is
what if the word of God says it
00:12:26.17\00:12:30.40
then we're gonna support that.
00:12:30.43\00:12:31.80
We don't necessarily
abide into predefined
00:12:31.83\00:12:34.60
or post biblical
definition of Christian values
00:12:34.63\00:12:38.68
if it doesn't have its
support in the scriptures.
00:12:38.71\00:12:42.10
That's the climate
in America now a day.
00:12:42.13\00:12:44.01
Should we love
everyone regardless
00:12:44.04\00:12:45.77
of what their convictions are?
00:12:45.80\00:12:47.27
That is a mark of a Christian.
00:12:47.30\00:12:49.64
Should we force them to
do what we don't support? No.
00:12:49.67\00:12:55.01
Anymore then they
would want to force us to do
00:12:55.04\00:12:56.99
what they don't support.
00:12:57.02\00:12:59.10
So its climate and we have
to be very delicate on this
00:12:59.13\00:13:03.00
because I don't
want to come across
00:13:03.03\00:13:04.40
as though we're
tying to tell people
00:13:04.43\00:13:05.80
what party to be a part of
in, what agenda to support.
00:13:05.83\00:13:08.54
But I tell you
this and I tell you this
00:13:08.57\00:13:11.37
and I'm gonna be
very clear about this one.
00:13:11.40\00:13:13.47
I know what this
whole climate in America now
00:13:13.50\00:13:15.24
and state by state there's
this issue of gay marriage.
00:13:15.27\00:13:18.75
And I think that's an oxymoron
00:13:18.78\00:13:20.46
because when the
Lord established marriage,
00:13:20.49\00:13:22.48
it was never man with
man or woman with woman.
00:13:22.51\00:13:25.50
And so if it ever
came down to the point
00:13:25.53\00:13:27.14
where you're forced to
have a marriage in a church
00:13:27.17\00:13:29.58
between two men or two women,
00:13:29.61\00:13:31.04
I would not perform
that kind of a wedding,
00:13:31.07\00:13:33.13
I'm just being
very candid about that.
00:13:33.16\00:13:35.50
And I would side
my religious freedom
00:13:35.53\00:13:38.65
as the foundation upon which
I would make that decision,
00:13:38.68\00:13:41.79
not so much your
political preferences
00:13:41.82\00:13:43.72
or your personal persuasion.
00:13:43.75\00:13:45.63
Your personal
persuasion should never conflict
00:13:45.66\00:13:50.46
enforce my religious convictions
to act we as to the things
00:13:50.49\00:13:53.99
that you feel more important
in my religious convictions.
00:13:54.02\00:13:56.81
So that's where I'm right now,
00:13:56.84\00:13:58.21
I don't want to say
too much more about that.
00:13:58.24\00:13:59.72
But we know where's it's headed.
00:13:59.75\00:14:01.43
We know exactly where it's--
00:14:01.46\00:14:02.83
That's one of thing
I was gonna say is that
00:14:02.86\00:14:04.23
we know were its headed
more morality in our society
00:14:04.26\00:14:07.35
is on its way down, not up.
00:14:07.38\00:14:10.42
As in the days of Noah,
00:14:10.45\00:14:11.94
Jesus said
right before He comes,
00:14:11.97\00:14:13.50
we'll return to
that kind of a thing
00:14:13.53\00:14:15.57
and I believe there was
all kinds of evidence there
00:14:15.60\00:14:17.49
that the morality
today is exactly like that.
00:14:17.52\00:14:20.09
So we're living in those
days but to then to begin
00:14:20.12\00:14:23.49
to enforce morality
through legislative means.
00:14:23.52\00:14:30.47
That is not
biblical either. Right.
00:14:30.50\00:14:32.42
Jesus did not use legislative
means to share His truth
00:14:32.45\00:14:38.09
and to expand
His kingdom on earth.
00:14:38.12\00:14:41.49
He expanded it through
00:14:41.52\00:14:42.89
the hearts and minds
of people individually.
00:14:42.92\00:14:45.64
One to one and then
the sharing of the gospel
00:14:45.67\00:14:47.93
goes out that way as well.
00:14:47.96\00:14:49.43
Never do we find
that He supports or pushes
00:14:49.46\00:14:52.74
any of His agenda items
through legislative means.
00:14:52.77\00:14:55.21
That's very good.
00:14:55.24\00:14:56.61
And we have to be
careful that we do not do that.
00:14:56.64\00:14:58.01
Matter of fact
one of the reasons
00:14:58.04\00:14:59.41
why that's
ridiculous because you can't--
00:14:59.44\00:15:01.37
you cannot get a carnal
heart to live a Christ like life
00:15:01.40\00:15:05.51
just because it's on paper.
00:15:05.54\00:15:07.38
And that's the
unfortunate thing.
00:15:07.41\00:15:08.92
And so people
right now in America,
00:15:08.95\00:15:11.96
this country is kind of
gone awry and I tell you,
00:15:11.99\00:15:16.33
I'm an American
citizen, I love the country.
00:15:16.36\00:15:19.27
Sometimes we get so,
we get to the place now,
00:15:19.30\00:15:21.63
we have this phrase,
political correctness.
00:15:21.66\00:15:24.69
Well, when political
correctness infringes
00:15:24.72\00:15:27.52
on scriptural correctness,
00:15:27.55\00:15:29.60
I take scriptural correctness
over political correctness.
00:15:29.63\00:15:32.76
Unfortunately, in
America we have another word,
00:15:32.79\00:15:34.70
don't offend--
another phrase don't offend.
00:15:34.73\00:15:37.12
Well, Paul the Apostle says,
00:15:37.15\00:15:38.52
"Have I become your enemy
because I tell you the truth"?
00:15:38.55\00:15:41.40
So when we start tiptoeing on--
00:15:41.43\00:15:42.99
through the tulips
and walking on egg shells
00:15:43.02\00:15:44.96
because our
religious convictions
00:15:44.99\00:15:46.36
may rub somebody in a wrong way.
00:15:46.39\00:15:48.38
We have to
understand that God has given us
00:15:48.41\00:15:51.03
a higher responsibility,
love your neighbor as yourself,
00:15:51.06\00:15:54.02
do good to those who hate you,
00:15:54.05\00:15:56.36
pray for those who
despitefully use you.
00:15:56.39\00:15:58.42
All these things are principles
that are important for us
00:15:58.45\00:16:02.29
and mandatory for us
as Christians to support,
00:16:02.32\00:16:05.20
but my first obligation
is to the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:16:05.23\00:16:08.58
I was sitting in the
home of a prime minister
00:16:08.61\00:16:11.16
in another country
and very powerful man,
00:16:11.19\00:16:14.90
prime minister in
the other countries
00:16:14.93\00:16:16.70
and some of the
countries of the islands.
00:16:16.73\00:16:18.48
The prime minister is the
president of that country.
00:16:18.51\00:16:21.53
As I sat down he said to me,
00:16:21.56\00:16:23.08
he asked me the
question why are you--
00:16:23.11\00:16:24.59
he said, why are you not afraid?
00:16:24.62\00:16:27.66
Why are you not nervous?
00:16:27.69\00:16:30.10
And he meant why I'm not
nervous to be in his presence?
00:16:30.13\00:16:33.18
And I thought
about it and I said,
00:16:33.21\00:16:34.76
well, you are a
man and I'm a man
00:16:34.79\00:16:39.74
and with all due
respect I have to answer
00:16:39.77\00:16:41.90
to an even higher
authority than you.
00:16:41.93\00:16:44.61
And he looked at me
really, really serious
00:16:44.64\00:16:46.47
for about 15 seconds
and he said, I like that.
00:16:46.50\00:16:52.67
And then what I
didn't know he invited me
00:16:52.70\00:16:54.98
to be in his home
here I was in the country.
00:16:55.01\00:16:57.29
And I got a message the
prime minister wants you
00:16:57.32\00:16:59.15
to come and have
audience with them,
00:16:59.18\00:17:00.55
that's the phrase that they use.
00:17:00.58\00:17:02.85
And I like what he said,
00:17:02.88\00:17:04.25
he said at the end
of day when I'm done
00:17:04.28\00:17:05.65
with all my
politicizing and traveling
00:17:05.68\00:17:07.48
and doing all the
government's functions.
00:17:07.51\00:17:09.50
When I come
home, I want to watch
00:17:09.53\00:17:12.43
things on
television that are uplifting.
00:17:12.46\00:17:14.94
And he said, I have a
choice to watch whatever I want,
00:17:14.97\00:17:17.44
but I watch 3ABN
and I've seen you before
00:17:17.47\00:17:20.98
so I appreciate what you said.
00:17:21.01\00:17:22.77
So that was a wonderful thing.
00:17:22.80\00:17:24.17
But you know, keep
this in mind Christians,
00:17:24.20\00:17:25.98
the kingdom that we are
supposed to be proponents of
00:17:26.01\00:17:28.61
and push the
kingdom as Jesus said,
00:17:28.64\00:17:30.88
His kingdom neither our
kingdom is of this world.
00:17:30.91\00:17:34.25
I have my
citizenship somewhere else,
00:17:34.28\00:17:37.47
so I'm not fighting
to reform the earth.
00:17:37.50\00:17:40.03
I'm getting ready
to get out of here.
00:17:40.06\00:17:42.23
And but while I'm
here I'm gonna live in love
00:17:42.26\00:17:45.20
and live in harmony
with all the principles
00:17:45.23\00:17:46.73
and laws of the land as long as
00:17:46.76\00:17:48.13
they don't
conflict with the Bible.
00:17:48.16\00:17:49.53
Yeah. Amen. You know what?
00:17:49.56\00:17:52.14
The question I have,
00:17:52.17\00:17:53.54
John, I know we
usually go back and forth
00:17:53.57\00:17:55.32
but it kind of dovetails off
of this whole thing. Do that.
00:17:55.35\00:17:57.90
And I'm wondering--
maybe I've read this one
00:17:57.93\00:17:59.30
and then we can share
the one that you've got here.
00:17:59.33\00:18:01.19
I don't think it will
take very long on this one
00:18:01.22\00:18:02.77
but this is from Don
from Frankford, Indiana.
00:18:02.80\00:18:08.65
And he says here,
you hear many people say
00:18:08.68\00:18:11.89
when things go
wrong, God is in control.
00:18:11.92\00:18:14.88
Does scripture
speak to that belief?
00:18:14.91\00:18:17.56
A few people I've heard
say, God is not in control.
00:18:17.59\00:18:20.50
One of them is doctor and
then he names somebody here.
00:18:20.53\00:18:23.89
I believe that God
will have the final say
00:18:23.92\00:18:26.14
and will bring about the
end of the world as we know it.
00:18:26.17\00:18:28.95
But I too don't believe it that
00:18:28.98\00:18:30.76
He is in control
of what happens now.
00:18:30.79\00:18:33.87
I believe He is sitting
back and permitting us humans
00:18:33.90\00:18:36.51
to run things down here.
00:18:36.54\00:18:38.10
Please I'd like
have your comments.
00:18:38.13\00:18:42.21
I'm gonna read a
text here from Hebrews 10
00:18:42.24\00:18:47.85
and then we can kind of
dovetail into some of the things
00:18:47.88\00:18:50.72
you're pulling up
there, John, but-- Okay.
00:18:50.75\00:18:52.22
Hebrews 10:12 speaking of
Christ now after the cross
00:18:52.25\00:19:00.22
and after ascending to heaven.
00:19:00.25\00:19:03.35
The writer of
Hebrews says here in verse 12
00:19:03.38\00:19:05.48
"But this Man--"
speaking of Jesus,
00:19:05.51\00:19:07.16
"After He had offered one
sacrifice for the sins forever"
00:19:07.19\00:19:12.72
that is our sins, "sat
down at the right hand of God
00:19:12.75\00:19:16.33
from that time
waiting till His enemies
00:19:16.36\00:19:19.13
are made His footstool."
00:19:19.16\00:19:22.37
And you wonder why
did I bring that verse up.
00:19:22.40\00:19:26.31
Jesus upon ascending
to heaven offered Himself
00:19:26.34\00:19:31.51
obviously on the
cross as a sacrifice for us,
00:19:31.54\00:19:33.57
now brings the
benefit of that sacrifice
00:19:33.60\00:19:37.46
to us by sitting on
the throne of His father,
00:19:37.49\00:19:40.47
next to His father
today until it says
00:19:40.50\00:19:42.71
His enemies are
made His footstool.
00:19:42.74\00:19:44.77
Now if you read the
Book of Acts 7:49 it says,
00:19:44.80\00:19:49.72
"Heaven is My throne
and earth is My footstool."
00:19:49.75\00:19:53.61
So the throne in heaven has
an extension to earth. Okay.
00:19:53.64\00:19:59.69
So when we read this text
00:19:59.72\00:20:01.44
we don't just think
of Christ on His throne,
00:20:01.47\00:20:04.07
we think of the
earth as an extension
00:20:04.10\00:20:06.55
of His throne
being His footstool.
00:20:06.58\00:20:09.72
And if that's the case
this verse from Hebrews 10 says,
00:20:09.75\00:20:14.13
that He's waiting until His
enemies are made His footstool.
00:20:14.16\00:20:17.39
In other words,
till He puts all things
00:20:17.42\00:20:19.34
under His feet which means,
00:20:19.37\00:20:20.92
He is active
right now in control
00:20:20.95\00:20:25.84
working about events to
put His enemies under His feet.
00:20:25.87\00:20:31.08
Sometimes it may not appear
but that's what He's doing.
00:20:31.11\00:20:34.20
Sometimes it appears
that Satan is winning,
00:20:34.23\00:20:36.07
many times it
appears as Satan is winning.
00:20:36.10\00:20:38.68
But I don't see
that Satan is winning,
00:20:38.71\00:20:40.66
I see Satan
knowing he has a short time
00:20:40.69\00:20:43.65
doing everything
he can to wreck havoc
00:20:43.68\00:20:46.00
because he knows God is winning
00:20:46.03\00:20:49.51
and that is a perspective there.
00:20:49.54\00:20:51.25
I think is
important for us to have
00:20:51.28\00:20:52.81
because although God
and Christ on His throne
00:20:52.84\00:20:56.76
allows bad things to happen
sometimes even to good people.
00:20:56.79\00:21:01.12
And more of these bad
things are happening today.
00:21:01.15\00:21:05.89
That even though
they may not be--
00:21:05.92\00:21:07.30
and I don't believe that
they are according to His will.
00:21:07.33\00:21:09.37
He doesn't want bad
things to happen to people,
00:21:09.40\00:21:12.39
but He is
allowing them to happen
00:21:12.42\00:21:14.91
because He is
working about events
00:21:14.94\00:21:16.89
to one day end all things,
all evil in favor of good.
00:21:16.92\00:21:21.47
And as this
gentleman we do agree on this
00:21:21.50\00:21:23.47
that He will bring an end to
the world as we know it today.
00:21:23.50\00:21:26.49
But I do believe that
He is still in control
00:21:26.52\00:21:29.30
of everything that happens today
00:21:29.33\00:21:30.70
because of the
virtue of the fact
00:21:30.73\00:21:32.10
that He is on the throne
and part of that throne room
00:21:32.13\00:21:34.51
is the footstool of the earth
00:21:34.54\00:21:35.99
which means He's
ruler of this earth.
00:21:36.02\00:21:38.29
You know the
example that you bring out
00:21:38.32\00:21:39.77
as far as God having the
final say of God in control,
00:21:39.80\00:21:43.83
God is never not been in control
00:21:43.86\00:21:45.67
that's the
beautiful thing about it.
00:21:45.70\00:21:47.07
But God is not a controlling
God that's the difference.
00:21:47.10\00:21:50.70
God is not a manipulative God.
00:21:50.73\00:21:52.21
God gives us the
freedom to make our decisions
00:21:52.24\00:21:54.15
and choices and
live to be accountable
00:21:54.18\00:21:58.65
to those who are in
positions of authority.
00:21:58.68\00:22:02.73
You know, the Bible says,
00:22:02.76\00:22:04.21
we should be
subject to the rulers that--
00:22:04.24\00:22:07.61
matter of fact the Bible says,
00:22:07.64\00:22:09.01
"Know those who labor
among you and are over you
00:22:09.04\00:22:12.43
and the Lord and admonish them.
00:22:12.46\00:22:14.42
So there's always those
who are in leadership positions
00:22:14.45\00:22:16.43
that we should
be responsible too,
00:22:16.46\00:22:18.43
but in the end
scenario Daniel 4:17,
00:22:18.46\00:22:21.92
this is a beautiful setting
in the story of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:22:21.95\00:22:24.47
Nebuchadnezzar was the one
that had this mighty kingdom
00:22:24.50\00:22:26.91
he had built and that
was the literal Babylon,
00:22:26.94\00:22:29.66
but we find at the end time
00:22:29.69\00:22:31.06
there's gonna be
a spiritual Babylon.
00:22:31.09\00:22:33.25
And people are so
concerned about the development
00:22:33.28\00:22:35.42
or the
collusion of this movement
00:22:35.45\00:22:37.90
that's happening
in the world today.
00:22:37.93\00:22:39.30
And as James Rafferty said
when he did the anchor series,
00:22:39.33\00:22:43.14
you cannot
actually identify Babylon
00:22:43.17\00:22:45.59
because it's so far
reaching in its scope
00:22:45.62\00:22:47.83
that there's so many
negative aspects to it,
00:22:47.86\00:22:50.02
so many components to it
that you cannot narrow it down
00:22:50.05\00:22:53.34
to just one
specific thing outside of it
00:22:53.37\00:22:56.28
being an antichrist's kingdom.
00:22:56.31\00:23:00.25
But the Lord made it
very clear with the way
00:23:00.28\00:23:02.40
that He dealt
with Nebuchadnezzar
00:23:02.43\00:23:04.22
that He in fact is in
charge of who is in leadership
00:23:04.25\00:23:07.07
and who's not in leadership.
00:23:07.10\00:23:08.55
Here's what he said and
by the way when I say this.
00:23:08.58\00:23:12.09
We're not saying that no
matter whether you vote or not,
00:23:12.12\00:23:16.59
it's really in
God's hand to decide
00:23:16.62\00:23:18.27
who's gonna be in there
00:23:18.30\00:23:19.67
because God gives us
the freedom to choose.
00:23:19.70\00:23:21.88
The perfect
example was Saul was king,
00:23:21.91\00:23:24.74
God didn't choose
him, the people chose him.
00:23:24.77\00:23:27.24
And he was king
in spite of the fact
00:23:27.27\00:23:28.64
that God didn't choose
him as the first choice.
00:23:28.67\00:23:31.64
And we know, I'm gonna go
to a question right after that.
00:23:31.67\00:23:34.22
In the case of these theocracies
where the king had all the power
00:23:34.25\00:23:37.89
and he simply said it
and that's how it was.
00:23:37.92\00:23:40.06
Notice what the Lord said,
00:23:40.09\00:23:41.46
even to those men in
the Book of Daniel 4:17.
00:23:41.49\00:23:45.54
And it says, "This decision
is by the decree of the watchers
00:23:45.57\00:23:48.94
and the sentence by
the word of the holy ones.
00:23:48.97\00:23:52.37
In order that
the living may know
00:23:52.40\00:23:55.13
that the Most High
rules in the kingdom of men,
00:23:55.16\00:24:00.18
God gives it to whomever He will
00:24:00.21\00:24:03.22
and sets over it
the lowest of men."
00:24:03.25\00:24:06.79
So in the nutshell when
it really boils down to it,
00:24:06.82\00:24:09.49
who's in charge
of-- who's in charge?
00:24:09.52\00:24:12.16
God allows and
sometimes we'll say,
00:24:12.19\00:24:15.39
why would God
allow somebody like that?
00:24:15.42\00:24:18.18
There's a phrase I
became acquainted with--
00:24:18.21\00:24:21.17
not too many years ago,
00:24:21.20\00:24:22.62
the phrase is
called the lesser evil.
00:24:22.65\00:24:25.73
And obviously it's in
contrast to the greater evil.
00:24:25.76\00:24:29.05
Now some people may
say, what does that mean
00:24:29.08\00:24:30.80
actually in the
context of the kingdoms of men?
00:24:30.83\00:24:34.22
Sometimes God will
allow the lesser evil.
00:24:34.25\00:24:36.87
Let me use the context.
00:24:36.90\00:24:38.27
Sometimes God
will allow the ruler
00:24:38.30\00:24:40.43
with the least
impacting agenda to reign
00:24:40.46\00:24:44.50
so that he prevent the leader
00:24:44.53\00:24:46.00
with the greater
impacting agenda to reign.
00:24:46.03\00:24:48.90
He holds the winds
back as Revelation 7--
00:24:48.93\00:24:51.95
Revelation 7 says, the
angels hold back the wind.
00:24:51.98\00:24:54.88
So God decides when
they're gonna be let loose.
00:24:54.91\00:24:57.74
God let's us know when
He's going to allow the powers
00:24:57.77\00:25:01.24
that are being restrained
00:25:01.27\00:25:03.44
to finally have
control of the impenitent,
00:25:03.47\00:25:05.57
those who choose not to
be in harmony with His word.
00:25:05.60\00:25:08.69
So I'm not fearful
of who's in leadership
00:25:08.72\00:25:12.91
or as I've often said in sermons
00:25:12.94\00:25:14.62
I'm not concerned
about the White House.
00:25:14.65\00:25:16.87
My eyes are on the
right house, you see.
00:25:16.90\00:25:20.67
I'm sitting and putting my place
00:25:20.70\00:25:22.95
and all of my faith and
trust in the God of Heaven.
00:25:22.98\00:25:26.49
Not so much also in
the powers of the earth.
00:25:26.52\00:25:29.28
My question is really short,
but I'll go head and read it
00:25:29.31\00:25:33.30
and answer it
really quickly here.
00:25:33.33\00:25:35.82
Good day, that may means
00:25:35.85\00:25:37.94
this person is from
Australia, I don't know.
00:25:37.97\00:25:41.76
This question can be answered
00:25:41.79\00:25:43.19
by either pastoral
staff of House Calls.
00:25:43.22\00:25:47.46
There is a lot of
negative criticism
00:25:47.49\00:25:50.23
of the pastor in our church.
00:25:50.26\00:25:52.38
I won the negativity
00:25:52.41\00:25:55.65
as often in his face
and in front of others,
00:25:55.68\00:25:58.92
especially at
meetings and behind his back.
00:25:58.95\00:26:01.55
He is the younger pastor
starting out with two churches.
00:26:01.58\00:26:05.33
And I would not want
him to become discouraged.
00:26:05.36\00:26:08.50
He is very humble and truly
desirous of serving the Lord.
00:26:08.53\00:26:12.54
Our church is
small, so this does in fact
00:26:12.57\00:26:15.66
have a significant
impact on the congregation.
00:26:15.69\00:26:18.99
My questions are the following,
00:26:19.02\00:26:22.26
what does the Bible say
about this specific topic,
00:26:22.29\00:26:25.34
touch not my anointed?
00:26:25.37\00:26:28.24
They said it seems to
indicate physical harm
00:26:28.27\00:26:30.58
and the other one
is what can those of us
00:26:30.61\00:26:32.76
who do not agree
with the negativity do
00:26:32.79\00:26:35.14
to support our pastor?
00:26:35.17\00:26:36.96
Continue, we continue
to pray for him of course.
00:26:36.99\00:26:41.36
Any suggestions? Well, let
me first read the passages.
00:26:41.39\00:26:44.78
"This passage of
touch not the Lord anointed
00:26:44.81\00:26:46.80
and do my prophet no harm
or touch not my anointed."
00:26:46.83\00:26:50.25
1 Chronicles 16:22
00:26:50.28\00:26:54.23
was used as in reference
to Saul when he was sleeping,
00:26:54.26\00:26:58.81
David could have
easily taken vengeance on him.
00:26:58.84\00:27:02.10
But David said it's not my job,
00:27:02.13\00:27:05.20
but the Lord--
the Lord anoints him,
00:27:05.23\00:27:08.13
the Lord will take care of him.
00:27:08.16\00:27:10.70
It is not my job
to do harm to those
00:27:10.73\00:27:12.53
who God calls into leadership.
00:27:12.56\00:27:14.25
Now those who are
called into leadership
00:27:14.28\00:27:15.98
and I'm using our
church as an example
00:27:16.01\00:27:17.61
because I'm a
pastor and so is John.
00:27:17.64\00:27:19.53
And John, by the way is
in the conference office.
00:27:19.56\00:27:21.55
There is a level
of accountability
00:27:21.58\00:27:24.45
and there are stair steps
00:27:24.48\00:27:25.85
that each church has
in place as a process.
00:27:25.88\00:27:29.20
If there are negative
things being done to the pastor
00:27:29.23\00:27:32.61
by church members
or by the church board
00:27:32.64\00:27:34.62
for that matter,
these are matters
00:27:34.65\00:27:38.15
that should be
addressed at the church board
00:27:38.18\00:27:40.54
if no
satisfaction is received there,
00:27:40.57\00:27:42.78
you go to the
church in business session
00:27:42.81\00:27:45.61
where a larger number of
the actual members are there
00:27:45.64\00:27:49.38
to voice their
position and opinion.
00:27:49.41\00:27:51.92
If there is no satisfaction then
bring in a conference leader.
00:27:51.95\00:27:55.45
But no, at no point
do the church members
00:27:55.48\00:27:58.04
have the right to--
as was said in this,
00:27:58.07\00:28:01.41
in this question or
e-mail to be negative
00:28:01.44\00:28:06.37
about the pastor to disrespect
him, to criticize him.
00:28:06.40\00:28:10.07
That is not acceptable
because we call into question
00:28:10.10\00:28:12.92
their
Christianity, you see. So--
00:28:12.95\00:28:16.47
First you don't want to
venture on to God's ground.
00:28:16.50\00:28:18.80
God's the one that
anointed him for work.
00:28:18.83\00:28:22.25
Ordained, I don't know
if he's ordained or not
00:28:22.28\00:28:24.40
but he's definitely
even if he's not on the way
00:28:24.43\00:28:27.12
to being ordained
at some point here.
00:28:27.15\00:28:29.64
You're trying to
intervene to do the work of God
00:28:29.67\00:28:32.64
to determine
whether or not this guy
00:28:32.67\00:28:34.04
is supposed to
be a pastor or not.
00:28:34.07\00:28:35.44
God has called him or God is not
00:28:35.47\00:28:37.65
but it's up to God to
determine what his court says.
00:28:37.68\00:28:40.27
'Cause I know
him we were all there
00:28:40.30\00:28:41.72
we were young pastors
at one particular point,
00:28:41.75\00:28:43.79
we were all starting out.
00:28:43.82\00:28:45.43
And the one we started
out those who are godly
00:28:45.46\00:28:49.04
would be in a supportive role
00:28:49.07\00:28:51.15
but also give the
pastor room to grow.
00:28:51.18\00:28:53.73
And I think he need
to get some room to grow
00:28:53.76\00:28:55.55
and if there's any
council that needs to done,
00:28:55.58\00:28:57.52
it should be done
in a building sense.
00:28:57.55\00:29:00.23
If he's making
decisions that are not wise
00:29:00.26\00:29:03.04
that's why you
have a board of elders,
00:29:03.07\00:29:04.53
that's why you
have a church board,
00:29:04.56\00:29:06.01
that's why you have deacons.
00:29:06.04\00:29:07.41
But don't have them in
position to hurt the pastor
00:29:07.44\00:29:10.64
but they all as
the Bible points out.
00:29:10.67\00:29:13.94
As Moses'
father-in-law... Jethro.
00:29:13.97\00:29:21.45
Let these people
of responsibility,
00:29:21.48\00:29:23.81
men who are
spiritual, ladies and women
00:29:23.84\00:29:27.13
who are spiritual be in
the capacity of supporting
00:29:27.16\00:29:30.35
and guidance but
not this context,
00:29:30.38\00:29:33.19
so what can you do?
00:29:33.22\00:29:35.34
You can go to the
church board first,
00:29:35.37\00:29:37.25
go to church business session
00:29:37.28\00:29:38.75
and prayerfully work alongside
to help the pastor grow,
00:29:38.78\00:29:42.20
not to find ways
of creating a mutiny
00:29:42.23\00:29:45.49
on the voting and
getting rid of him.
00:29:45.52\00:29:47.65
Okay, and so if you
don't agree with certain things
00:29:47.68\00:29:50.96
just mention those things
if he has a teachable spirit.
00:29:50.99\00:29:55.10
Do with love and respect. Yeah.
00:29:55.13\00:29:56.66
Do it always out of respect
00:29:56.69\00:29:58.14
because love your
neighbor as yourself
00:29:58.17\00:30:00.54
does apply to even
those who are church members
00:30:00.57\00:30:03.28
in positions of
responsibility. That's right.
00:30:03.31\00:30:06.02
Well, thank you for your
questions and comments today.
00:30:06.05\00:30:07.72
If you have any more of those,
00:30:07.75\00:30:10.12
you can send those
questions and comments
00:30:10.15\00:30:11.70
to housecalls@3abn.org.
That's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:30:11.73\00:30:16.62
And hopefully we are answering
00:30:16.65\00:30:18.75
your questions
in a favorable idea.
00:30:18.78\00:30:20.90
If not send those again and
say "you answered this part,
00:30:20.93\00:30:23.80
but I still have a question
about the second portion."
00:30:23.83\00:30:26.21
We do appreciate all
that you do for the program.
00:30:26.24\00:30:28.71
Now, John, we began on
the topic of the church,
00:30:28.74\00:30:31.49
a biblical-- that's one
of those big words for me,
00:30:31.52\00:30:34.24
a biblical view, I'd
rather say a scriptural view.
00:30:34.27\00:30:37.47
It's easier for me to
say, because, you know,
00:30:37.50\00:30:39.80
I got this-- that word
biblical and millennium.
00:30:39.83\00:30:44.05
You know, you got to--
00:30:44.08\00:30:45.45
years ago when I was in New York
City with Pastor Doug Bachelor.
00:30:45.48\00:30:48.58
And I was supposed to
be the-- well, I was the--
00:30:48.61\00:30:51.62
the person welcoming
the television audience.
00:30:51.65\00:30:53.95
I was supposed to say "welcome
to Millennium of Prophecy."
00:30:53.98\00:30:56.24
And I said, Doug, that word
millennium is a tongue twister.
00:30:56.27\00:30:59.58
I got to find another way
00:30:59.61\00:31:01.46
of pronouncing it
or annunciating it.
00:31:01.49\00:31:03.61
And so I came up with
Millennium of Prophecy.
00:31:03.64\00:31:06.94
And I made it
through all 27 programs.
00:31:06.97\00:31:09.99
Millennium. So I
got to go biblical.
00:31:10.02\00:31:13.49
I was there at
one of those. Okay.
00:31:13.52\00:31:15.06
In New York I was
there. In New York City.
00:31:15.09\00:31:16.46
Yeah. That's
right, that's right.
00:31:16.49\00:31:17.86
So take us into our topic today.
00:31:17.89\00:31:19.57
We're talking about the
church, a biblical view.
00:31:19.60\00:31:23.86
What is God's design or
desire when He setup His church?
00:31:23.89\00:31:30.77
What did He have in mind,
00:31:30.80\00:31:32.34
what role would the
church leaders play,
00:31:32.37\00:31:35.23
would the members
play and we've already
00:31:35.26\00:31:36.70
covered one--
part one of this topic.
00:31:36.73\00:31:39.86
And what we've
really concluded here
00:31:39.89\00:31:41.55
through various
scriptures are that God
00:31:41.58\00:31:44.34
from the very
beginning chose His people
00:31:44.37\00:31:46.46
to be a kingdom
of priest. Right.
00:31:46.49\00:31:48.99
There is priesthood that
we're all active in ministry.
00:31:49.02\00:31:51.73
We find in the New
Testament church now
00:31:51.76\00:31:53.94
that kingdom of priests coming
back to the original design
00:31:53.97\00:31:57.33
and that God gives
each one of them gifts
00:31:57.36\00:31:59.25
that they should use in
the ministry of the church.
00:31:59.28\00:32:03.41
And I believe even in
the context of evangelism
00:32:03.44\00:32:05.39
as they ministered to
those in the community
00:32:05.42\00:32:07.19
as well they're
trying to use those gifts.
00:32:07.22\00:32:09.30
And so what we find is
that members aren't spectators,
00:32:09.33\00:32:15.08
members are on the
frontlines in active ministry.
00:32:15.11\00:32:18.60
And if they're not
being active ministers,
00:32:18.63\00:32:21.54
using their gifts
that they're not actually
00:32:21.57\00:32:24.18
fulfilling their calling
which is the great commission
00:32:24.21\00:32:26.92
which extends to all
members of the church.
00:32:26.95\00:32:30.41
Does-- is God accepting of that?
00:32:30.44\00:32:33.63
Because today we
think that it's okay,
00:32:33.66\00:32:37.42
but as we read the
message to Laodicea,
00:32:37.45\00:32:39.29
we find that the
problem with Laodicea, John,
00:32:39.32\00:32:42.98
is not their doctrine. No.
00:32:43.01\00:32:46.13
The problem with
Laodicea is their works.
00:32:46.16\00:32:50.42
And when we're
talking about ministry
00:32:50.45\00:32:52.11
we're talking about works.
00:32:52.14\00:32:54.07
You know, John, you
and I had a conversation
00:32:54.10\00:32:55.55
just recently in regard
to little bit of this topic
00:32:55.58\00:32:59.25
and, you know,
we become so careful
00:32:59.28\00:33:04.75
about making sure
we're not perceived
00:33:04.78\00:33:06.15
as a works based
Christian church.
00:33:06.18\00:33:10.26
That we've almost
ignored the need to maintain
00:33:10.29\00:33:14.35
good works in the
words of Paul. Right.
00:33:14.38\00:33:16.59
"Stir up love and
good works." Right.
00:33:16.62\00:33:20.16
So we're called, we're
encourage to do good works
00:33:20.19\00:33:23.57
and those works are the
works of ministry. That's right.
00:33:23.60\00:33:27.05
Yet today we seem to be content
00:33:27.08\00:33:29.06
to sit back in the
church not doing works,
00:33:29.09\00:33:31.09
not engaging in
our work of, you know,
00:33:31.12\00:33:34.30
using our spiritual
gifts that God has given us
00:33:34.33\00:33:36.94
through the Holy Spirit
and think that that's okay.
00:33:36.97\00:33:40.31
But it's really
not, God wants to use us
00:33:40.34\00:33:42.69
to finish the work of spreading
00:33:42.72\00:33:44.47
the everlasting
gospel to the world
00:33:44.50\00:33:46.71
and we do that through
the gifts He has given us.
00:33:46.74\00:33:49.05
And by getting off
the pew and getting out
00:33:49.08\00:33:52.53
into the community and
working and serving Christ.
00:33:52.56\00:33:56.67
That's why we are
saved by grace through faith
00:33:56.70\00:34:00.92
and it is a gift
of God not of works--
00:34:00.95\00:34:05.46
No works on our part
can lead to our salvation.
00:34:05.49\00:34:08.41
The work has
been done by Christ.
00:34:08.44\00:34:10.04
Praise God for that.
That's the good news.
00:34:10.07\00:34:12.49
But if you only read
verse 8 and 9 of Ephesians 2
00:34:12.52\00:34:17.67
then you fall
short of the context,
00:34:17.70\00:34:19.82
because verse 10
mentions the word works
00:34:19.85\00:34:24.61
in the capacity in which
we're talking about today.
00:34:24.64\00:34:28.04
Verse 8 of
Ephesians 2 "For by grace
00:34:28.07\00:34:30.38
you have been
saved through faith
00:34:30.41\00:34:33.14
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God."
00:34:33.17\00:34:36.04
And verse 9 simply says
00:34:36.07\00:34:37.44
"Not of works, lest
any man should boast."
00:34:37.47\00:34:40.27
All right, "lest
anyone should boast."
00:34:40.30\00:34:42.04
But verse 10 is the verse
that we're talking about today.
00:34:42.07\00:34:45.12
"For we are his workmanship,
00:34:45.15\00:34:47.45
created in Christ
Jesus for good works,
00:34:47.48\00:34:52.41
which God prepared beforehand
00:34:52.44\00:34:55.46
that we should walk in them."
00:34:55.49\00:34:57.45
So let's put that
together as a company.
00:34:57.48\00:34:59.48
See John sets up a company,
he has specific departments,
00:34:59.51\00:35:02.75
the next thing he
does, as he puts an ad
00:35:02.78\00:35:05.31
in a newspaper for this
kind of skilled workers.
00:35:05.34\00:35:08.63
He has a job prepared beforehand
00:35:08.66\00:35:11.65
when he hires them then they
start walking in that capacity.
00:35:11.68\00:35:15.01
So when we read
the spiritual gifts,
00:35:15.04\00:35:16.69
when we read Romans
12, 1 Corinthians 12,
00:35:16.72\00:35:21.33
Ephesians, we begin
to see the positions.
00:35:21.36\00:35:25.77
So God doesn't call us to be
on the outside of the company
00:35:25.80\00:35:29.91
but He says, "If
you're working for me
00:35:29.94\00:35:31.79
there's not a
company that I know off."
00:35:31.82\00:35:34.60
They employs you
not to work. Okay.
00:35:34.63\00:35:39.19
But there's not a
company I know of,
00:35:39.22\00:35:41.55
that would let you work
and tell they employ you.
00:35:41.58\00:35:44.59
Okay, very good, very good.
00:35:44.62\00:35:46.26
And that's the
thing, that's why the works
00:35:46.29\00:35:48.11
don't come on the before
conversion part of the equation,
00:35:48.14\00:35:51.99
it's after the
conversion part of the equation.
00:35:52.02\00:35:55.23
Once we receive Christ
we can do that by works
00:35:55.26\00:35:57.93
it's by the grace of God,
it's by faith and trust in Him,
00:35:57.96\00:36:01.56
then He gives us
works to do. Okay.
00:36:01.59\00:36:04.52
But to sit back and
say, "Up, don't have to work,
00:36:04.55\00:36:07.01
don't have to do anything."
00:36:07.04\00:36:08.82
You're missing the entire
other side of the equation
00:36:08.85\00:36:11.63
and this is where the
Book of James comes in.
00:36:11.66\00:36:14.12
James talks about,
"How faith without works is,
00:36:14.15\00:36:17.65
what John? Dead.
00:36:17.68\00:36:19.05
Dead. Being alone.
00:36:19.08\00:36:20.68
If you don't have
corresponding works
00:36:20.71\00:36:23.55
with your proclamation
declaration of faith in Christ
00:36:23.58\00:36:27.60
then you are a dead Christian.
00:36:27.63\00:36:30.07
Now it's good to be
a dead to our flesh,
00:36:30.10\00:36:32.89
you know, Christian,
00:36:32.92\00:36:34.43
but it's not good
to be a dead Christian.
00:36:34.46\00:36:36.62
It means, you are not
living at all for Christ
00:36:36.65\00:36:38.98
and that does not
honor and glorify God.
00:36:39.01\00:36:42.38
As a matter of fact, John,
00:36:42.41\00:36:43.78
when Jesus comes back
00:36:43.81\00:36:45.63
not only is the deceleration
of Matthew 25 there.
00:36:45.66\00:36:48.01
A lot of people
say, well, Matthew 25,
00:36:48.04\00:36:50.19
"I was hungry, thirsty,
naked, imprisoned, sick."
00:36:50.22\00:36:53.19
And all those things and as
much you have done to the least
00:36:53.22\00:36:55.45
and these you
have done it to me,
00:36:55.48\00:36:56.85
that's not the only measurement,
00:36:56.88\00:36:58.25
that's a part
of the measurement.
00:36:58.28\00:36:59.65
The measurement also
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14,
00:36:59.68\00:37:03.12
"I fear God and
keep his commandments
00:37:03.15\00:37:04.55
for this is the
whole duty of man.
00:37:04.58\00:37:06.46
For God will bring
every work into judgment,
00:37:06.49\00:37:08.72
with every secret
thing, whether it could be good
00:37:08.75\00:37:10.21
or whether it could be evil."
00:37:10.24\00:37:11.61
But also
Revelation 22:12, "And behold,
00:37:11.64\00:37:14.95
I am coming quickly,
and My reward is with Me,
00:37:14.98\00:37:18.11
to give to everyone
according to his work."
00:37:18.14\00:37:22.05
So when you see that
we are not saved by work,
00:37:22.08\00:37:24.87
we are saved for work.
00:37:24.90\00:37:27.43
Did you get it? That's right.
00:37:27.46\00:37:28.83
The employ doesn't pay
you because of the work
00:37:28.86\00:37:30.48
you've done prior
to Him hiring you,
00:37:30.51\00:37:32.52
He pays you for the work
you done after He hires you.
00:37:32.55\00:37:36.72
Good point. You see.
00:37:36.75\00:37:38.12
So lot of people say
well-- and that's why,
00:37:38.15\00:37:39.61
when you look at this and works
by itself are not sufficient.
00:37:39.64\00:37:42.81
Because many will
say, "Lord, Lord."
00:37:42.84\00:37:44.29
Matthew 7: 21-23,
"Haven't we cast out
00:37:44.32\00:37:47.04
demons done many
wonderful works in Thy name.
00:37:47.07\00:37:50.18
Then I will profess unto them,
00:37:50.21\00:37:51.58
I never knew you depart from
me, you workers of iniquity.
00:37:51.61\00:37:53.72
Got to have faith and works.
00:37:53.75\00:37:55.29
That's right, faith
and work goes together.
00:37:55.32\00:37:57.15
James you brought
this out and I want to go
00:37:57.18\00:37:58.83
to the Book of
James 2 because, you know,
00:37:58.86\00:38:01.43
the church today
to a large degree
00:38:01.46\00:38:03.98
and we cannot divorce
the fact that the message
00:38:04.01\00:38:06.20
of the Seventh Church applies
to this age in which we live.
00:38:06.23\00:38:09.38
People may say,
"Well, how do you know that?"
00:38:09.41\00:38:11.05
Well, we
believe, we're convinced
00:38:11.08\00:38:14.69
that we're living in
the last age of the church
00:38:14.72\00:38:16.92
and there's no more
church after Laodicean Church.
00:38:16.95\00:38:19.57
There's no more church militant.
00:38:19.60\00:38:21.68
After that it's gonna be
the church triumphant, okay.
00:38:21.71\00:38:25.24
What that means is,
there will be no more battle.
00:38:25.27\00:38:27.59
That phrase
sounds kind of unusual.
00:38:27.62\00:38:29.60
People say, "What do you
mean the church militant?"
00:38:29.63\00:38:31.27
Well, the church
right now is involved
00:38:31.30\00:38:32.99
in the final
throws of the final battle
00:38:33.02\00:38:35.22
which will culminate
through the battle of Armageddon
00:38:35.25\00:38:37.52
and then the church triumphant,
00:38:37.55\00:38:39.74
victorious, no more battles.
00:38:39.77\00:38:42.15
But the Book of James, John,
00:38:42.18\00:38:45.11
we're gonna look
at that, all right.
00:38:45.14\00:38:47.35
Here I am. I did assume--
00:38:47.38\00:38:49.57
I assume you're
going to Chapter 2.
00:38:49.60\00:38:51.23
I'm going to Chapter 2.
00:38:51.26\00:38:53.05
Okay, Chapter 2, "My brethren,"
00:38:53.08\00:38:54.96
I'm gonna go ahead
and go down to verse 14,
00:38:54.99\00:38:57.35
start there, all right.
00:38:57.38\00:38:59.96
"What does it
profit, my brethren,
00:38:59.99\00:39:01.45
if someone says he has
faith but does not have works?
00:39:01.48\00:39:04.91
Can faith save him?"
00:39:04.94\00:39:06.82
All right, let's just
stop there for brief moment
00:39:06.85\00:39:08.74
and make a few comments on that.
00:39:08.77\00:39:10.74
Some people usually
when they meet you they say,
00:39:10.77\00:39:12.46
"What faith are you of?"
00:39:12.49\00:39:16.20
Instead of
saying our denomination,
00:39:16.23\00:39:17.92
you know, what should we say?
00:39:17.95\00:39:19.32
We are of the faith of Jesus.
00:39:19.35\00:39:21.75
And the reason I say that
is because the faith of Jesus,
00:39:21.78\00:39:25.06
Jesus said, "I have come
to do the will of My father."
00:39:25.09\00:39:31.91
And when He was leaving He said,
00:39:31.94\00:39:33.91
"Greater works
then these will you do
00:39:33.94\00:39:38.02
because I go to My Father."
00:39:38.05\00:39:39.75
What did Jesus come to do?
00:39:39.78\00:39:41.28
He came to accomplish
the work of salvation.
00:39:41.31\00:39:44.84
And when He left, He gave
the church the very same work,
00:39:44.87\00:39:48.17
the work of salvation,
we become ambassadors.
00:39:48.20\00:39:51.50
But if you go on further,
let's look at some of these
00:39:51.53\00:39:54.50
and the examples are used here
in a very, very powerful way.
00:39:54.53\00:39:57.83
I'm gonna ask to work
our way up to verse 19,
00:39:57.86\00:40:00.27
because it's an
interesting point.
00:40:00.30\00:40:01.83
I did a sermon, I don't
want to talk about it right now
00:40:01.86\00:40:04.13
but there are
various kinds of faith.
00:40:04.16\00:40:06.33
The one I-- couple of examples
00:40:06.36\00:40:08.47
I brought out, John,
is marginalize faith.
00:40:08.50\00:40:12.51
A marginalize
faith is without power.
00:40:12.54\00:40:16.31
It is the string
in your parachute
00:40:16.34\00:40:20.04
that is connected to nothing.
00:40:20.07\00:40:22.84
And it has a handle that seems
reliable until it's pulled.
00:40:22.87\00:40:28.40
So that's the kind of
faith that, I have faith,
00:40:28.43\00:40:31.28
but when trials come
you fall apart, all right.
00:40:31.31\00:40:34.31
That's not, that's
not what the Bible--
00:40:34.34\00:40:35.90
Then there's the
neutralize faith.
00:40:35.93\00:40:38.81
It is a gray faith.
It is a lukewarm faith.
00:40:38.84\00:40:41.35
It is a blurry faith.
00:40:41.38\00:40:43.01
It requires us to take
no stand on either side.
00:40:43.04\00:40:46.55
We just say we
have faith, all right.
00:40:46.58\00:40:48.69
We say we
believe. We say we believe.
00:40:48.72\00:40:50.84
And marginalized
and neutralized faith,
00:40:50.87\00:40:52.79
no power, no commitment.
00:40:52.82\00:40:54.65
But the faith that
James is gonna talk about here
00:40:54.68\00:40:56.75
and I want you to walk
through those next verses for us
00:40:56.78\00:40:59.06
and take us down to verse 19.
00:40:59.09\00:41:01.69
Okay, look at the
examples James 2: 14,
00:41:01.72\00:41:05.25
and what was
introduced right here.
00:41:05.28\00:41:07.29
If you don't have works
can faith save a person?
00:41:07.32\00:41:10.55
Look at this example.
00:41:10.58\00:41:11.95
I want to start with
verse 17 here-- Go for that.
00:41:11.98\00:41:13.95
"Thus also faith by itself,
00:41:13.98\00:41:15.83
if it does not
have works, is dead.
00:41:15.86\00:41:19.21
But someone will say,
00:41:19.24\00:41:20.61
'You have faith,
and I have works.'
00:41:20.64\00:41:22.60
Show me your faith
without your works,
00:41:22.63\00:41:24.82
and I will show you
my faith by my works.
00:41:24.85\00:41:28.46
You believe that there
is one God. You do well.
00:41:28.49\00:41:32.33
Even the demons
believe-- and tremble!
00:41:32.36\00:41:35.25
But do you want to
know, O foolish man,
00:41:35.28\00:41:40.18
that faith without
works is dead?" powerful.
00:41:40.21\00:41:44.91
The phrase there and I
just kind of introduce now--
00:41:44.94\00:41:47.72
what I was gonna
talk about a moment ago,
00:41:47.75\00:41:49.12
I did a sermon called
"The Faith of Demons."
00:41:49.15\00:41:52.47
This passage verse 19 is huge,
00:41:52.50\00:41:55.90
when it comes to the
rebuke of inactive Christians.
00:41:55.93\00:41:59.73
And part of the responsibility
lie in the lap of the pastors,
00:41:59.76\00:42:03.49
the evangelists, the teachers,
00:42:03.52\00:42:04.98
that have not prepared
the membership for work.
00:42:05.01\00:42:07.70
But you find here
the faith of demons,
00:42:07.73\00:42:10.51
what is so
significant about putting demons
00:42:10.54\00:42:13.32
in the middle of
this beautiful analogy
00:42:13.35\00:42:15.62
about faith and works,
the demons are introduced.
00:42:15.65\00:42:19.26
Now this statement
here it says to me,
00:42:19.29\00:42:22.57
the demons here have
more faith than some of us.
00:42:22.60\00:42:29.00
The reason for
this is verse 19 says,
00:42:29.03\00:42:31.91
"Even the demons believe,"
00:42:31.94\00:42:34.26
and what happens as the
result of their conviction.
00:42:34.29\00:42:36.50
They tremble. They tremble.
00:42:36.53\00:42:38.05
They are so convicted.
00:42:38.08\00:42:39.45
Matter of fact, there
are no atheist demons.
00:42:39.48\00:42:43.07
They all know that God exists.
They all know that Jesus exists.
00:42:43.10\00:42:47.86
They all know that.
00:42:47.89\00:42:49.26
Remember the person who wanted
to purchase the power of God
00:42:49.29\00:42:51.97
in the New Testament
and he wanted the power
00:42:52.00\00:42:55.07
that he saw worked out
in the life of the apostles
00:42:55.10\00:42:58.67
and then when he
tried to use that power
00:42:58.70\00:43:00.90
without being in
Christ, the demon says,
00:43:00.93\00:43:04.72
Jesus we know
and Paul we know but,
00:43:04.75\00:43:06.86
who are you?
00:43:06.89\00:43:08.26
And the demon striped him naked
00:43:08.29\00:43:10.14
and he ran for his
life into the streets.
00:43:10.17\00:43:12.58
A terrible thing.
00:43:12.61\00:43:13.98
The demons are so
convinced of the power of God,
00:43:14.01\00:43:17.83
that there's no
question in their community.
00:43:17.86\00:43:19.88
But what is being said
here, if you look at verse 20,
00:43:19.91\00:43:23.11
"But do you want to
know, O foolish man,
00:43:23.14\00:43:25.98
that faith
without works is dead?"
00:43:26.01\00:43:28.08
So, John, now take us
back to this phrase because
00:43:28.11\00:43:30.88
what the demons--
the use of the demons
00:43:30.91\00:43:34.40
in this passage is
simply saying to us is,
00:43:34.43\00:43:36.96
you can say you believe.
00:43:36.99\00:43:39.10
So somebody asked
what are your beliefs?
00:43:39.13\00:43:40.81
And we mentioned
our 28 fundamentals
00:43:40.84\00:43:43.01
or our statement of faith
00:43:43.04\00:43:44.41
whatever denomination
we are connected to.
00:43:44.44\00:43:46.64
The demon say, "Hey,
00:43:46.67\00:43:48.37
we have a
statement of faith also,
00:43:48.40\00:43:50.57
matter of fact ours--
we're so convicted by ours,
00:43:50.60\00:43:52.84
it makes us tremble."
00:43:52.87\00:43:54.24
That we even know the
truth little better than you do.
00:43:54.27\00:43:57.24
It makes us--we are convicted,
but we are not converted. Yeah.
00:43:57.27\00:44:02.84
Okay. Big difference.
00:44:02.87\00:44:04.24
The difference, when
a person is converted,
00:44:04.27\00:44:06.61
Jesus said to Peter,
"When you are converted
00:44:06.64\00:44:09.90
strengthen the brethren."
00:44:09.93\00:44:11.37
The church is weak because
so many people are convicted,
00:44:11.40\00:44:15.45
faith of demons
but not converted.
00:44:15.48\00:44:17.93
They are not
active in carrying forth
00:44:17.96\00:44:19.95
the very thing that they
claim to be proponents of.
00:44:19.98\00:44:22.45
You know, the amazing thing
here too is, verse 20. Okay.
00:44:22.48\00:44:25.56
Asked the question,
but do you want to know?
00:44:25.59\00:44:29.68
I'm not sure many of our
members really want to know.
00:44:29.71\00:44:35.57
Because we are content
with just knowing our doctrine,
00:44:35.60\00:44:42.16
knowing our truths and
we are very uncomfortable
00:44:42.19\00:44:46.08
with getting out
of that knowledge zone
00:44:46.11\00:44:48.78
into the zone of
experience and works.
00:44:48.81\00:44:51.08
One of the
challenges here I think is,
00:44:54.94\00:44:56.66
you know, we talk
about sanctification
00:44:56.69\00:44:58.31
living the
sanctified life. Right.
00:44:58.34\00:45:00.30
We did a program
recently on the justified life.
00:45:00.33\00:45:02.07
Now we're talking
about the sanctified life
00:45:02.10\00:45:04.08
and what that looks like
00:45:04.11\00:45:05.77
and
sanctification for much of us
00:45:05.80\00:45:09.23
is according to a
strict limitation,
00:45:09.26\00:45:13.19
a strict adherence to
probably just John 17:17,
00:45:13.22\00:45:16.12
"Now sanctify
them by your truth,
00:45:16.15\00:45:17.52
your word is truth."
00:45:17.55\00:45:18.99
But that's as far as
they go being sanctified.
00:45:19.02\00:45:22.96
Sanctification is a process
00:45:22.99\00:45:25.29
of experiencing
God in different ways.
00:45:25.32\00:45:28.75
He grows us through
trials, struggles, battles,
00:45:28.78\00:45:31.88
they are His tools.
00:45:31.91\00:45:34.39
For
strengthening us and helping us
00:45:34.42\00:45:35.97
understand what it
means to hold on to God
00:45:36.00\00:45:38.65
when all looks hopeless.
00:45:38.68\00:45:42.32
The challenge is
submitting our self
00:45:42.35\00:45:45.07
to experience an
uncomfortableness
00:45:45.10\00:45:47.31
of getting out of our zone
00:45:47.34\00:45:49.59
that we're used to our life
00:45:49.62\00:45:50.99
as we know it
into the community.
00:45:51.02\00:45:54.91
And I think there's a
basic things that we're not,
00:45:54.94\00:45:57.20
just-- we're not good at.
00:45:57.23\00:46:00.00
Socializing.
00:46:00.03\00:46:01.74
How often our
social events in church
00:46:01.77\00:46:04.43
they're evangelistic in nature?
00:46:04.46\00:46:07.33
Making new friendships.
00:46:07.36\00:46:09.60
Making friends with
people who aren't of our faith.
00:46:09.63\00:46:12.67
I have been in churches
before, I said, how may of you
00:46:12.71\00:46:15.08
have interacted outside of
work because most of them work
00:46:15.11\00:46:19.18
with non-Adventist or
non--even nonbelievers.
00:46:19.21\00:46:23.57
Outside of work, how many of you
00:46:23.60\00:46:25.13
have had social
connections and interactions,
00:46:25.16\00:46:28.38
friendships made
and if contacted them
00:46:28.41\00:46:31.01
this last week to
month, very few hands go up.
00:46:31.04\00:46:35.85
We don't step out to
mingle with our community
00:46:35.88\00:46:39.00
and perform works that God
has given us to do beforehand,
00:46:39.03\00:46:43.19
so that people can see
00:46:43.22\00:46:44.59
the gospel of God
in a transformed life.
00:46:44.62\00:46:46.89
Our testimony, that's another
way of sharing the gospel.
00:46:46.92\00:46:50.02
We may not be a preacher,
00:46:50.05\00:46:51.55
but we got
something to say about
00:46:51.58\00:46:52.95
what Christ has
done for us, don't we?
00:46:52.98\00:46:54.74
And everyone has
a functioning arm
00:46:54.77\00:46:56.14
they could just say--
00:46:56.17\00:46:57.54
here's something
I would like to read
00:46:57.57\00:46:58.94
when you plant
the seed of truth.
00:46:58.97\00:47:01.45
And we all have
a different gifts,
00:47:01.48\00:47:02.85
so we're all not given the
gift of prophecy or the gift,
00:47:02.88\00:47:07.30
you know,
preaching and teaching.
00:47:07.33\00:47:09.22
But we all have
some gift that we can use
00:47:09.25\00:47:11.26
that God has given us
for reaching our neighbor.
00:47:11.29\00:47:15.60
I think its one of the last arts
00:47:15.63\00:47:17.39
that we're loosing so
much in today's society
00:47:17.42\00:47:19.43
which has become
so technology based.
00:47:19.46\00:47:21.86
I mean, you have
friends, young people today.
00:47:21.89\00:47:24.90
You know, I'm sure
you've seen this before,
00:47:24.93\00:47:27.39
they are sitting
next to each other
00:47:27.42\00:47:29.00
and they're right there to talk
but they are texting each other.
00:47:29.03\00:47:31.59
Yeah, that
happened in my office,
00:47:31.62\00:47:32.99
two kids one turned to
the other one and said,
00:47:33.02\00:47:34.79
"Did you get that?"
and I'm looking at this
00:47:34.82\00:47:37.07
and they said, "I got it."
00:47:37.10\00:47:39.28
I had to ask, "Get what?"
"The text I just sent her."
00:47:39.31\00:47:42.91
I said, "She is right there."
00:47:42.94\00:47:45.25
Why didn't you just
talk to her? Say something.
00:47:45.28\00:47:48.04
They are texting back and forth
00:47:48.07\00:47:49.44
and they are like
shoulder to shoulder.
00:47:49.47\00:47:52.28
Let me hit to home
more on this with Adventist
00:47:52.31\00:47:55.91
as in our evangelistic meetings.
00:47:55.94\00:47:57.65
When we say evangelism,
we are typically thinking
00:47:57.68\00:48:00.08
most of us the public meeting,
the public evangelism meeting.
00:48:00.11\00:48:05.54
We have developed
00:48:05.57\00:48:07.08
such a disconnected
way of inviting people
00:48:07.11\00:48:09.61
to an evangelistic meeting.
00:48:09.64\00:48:11.69
We--as long as we
get enough money together
00:48:11.72\00:48:13.95
we can mail enough brochures out
00:48:13.98\00:48:16.35
to get may be
enough people to a meeting
00:48:16.38\00:48:18.87
to hear what we have to present.
00:48:18.90\00:48:21.37
And we appeal to
only those on the level--
00:48:21.40\00:48:24.02
on the
intellectual level that way.
00:48:24.05\00:48:26.28
We're not appealing to
those through friendships,
00:48:26.31\00:48:28.57
the need to connect with people,
00:48:28.60\00:48:30.42
and other ways that people
need to be introduced to Christ.
00:48:30.45\00:48:35.63
We've got to step
out of this disconnected
00:48:35.66\00:48:38.66
cold formal way
of inviting people
00:48:38.69\00:48:41.09
into hearing our
faith to sharing our faith
00:48:41.12\00:48:46.32
as an individual, one to one.
00:48:46.35\00:48:48.50
Over and over
again we're counseled.
00:48:48.53\00:48:50.39
Christ had great regard
for the one to one audience.
00:48:50.42\00:48:55.20
That's right. That's right.
00:48:55.23\00:48:57.50
He met with him,
showed His sympathy for them.
00:48:57.53\00:49:00.37
Found a need met that need,
00:49:00.40\00:49:03.21
concerned showed
honest concern for them
00:49:03.24\00:49:06.16
and then last thing
He said, "Follow Me."
00:49:06.19\00:49:09.31
That was the last
thing He asked of them,
00:49:09.34\00:49:10.93
but he met them where they were
00:49:10.96\00:49:13.88
and we had to
learn to do that today
00:49:13.91\00:49:15.39
or we're gonna be at the church
that God designed us to be.
00:49:15.42\00:49:18.20
Matter of fact I
make the statement
00:49:18.23\00:49:19.60
the household of
faith will be confirmed
00:49:19.63\00:49:21.25
by the household of works,
00:49:21.28\00:49:24.50
because faith
without works is dead.
00:49:24.53\00:49:26.08
And what James is
in essence saying here
00:49:26.11\00:49:27.84
"if this is a household of faith
00:49:27.87\00:49:29.96
it should be a
household of works."
00:49:29.99\00:49:32.17
And the only way we transition
00:49:32.20\00:49:33.57
from the household of
faith to household of works
00:49:33.60\00:49:35.36
is to get beyond the
faith of demons. Right.
00:49:35.39\00:49:37.48
Oh, because the
demons were intellectually
00:49:37.51\00:49:39.95
and theologically correct.
00:49:39.98\00:49:41.83
They had a faith that
didn't transform them,
00:49:41.86\00:49:43.61
it did not produce godly works
00:49:43.64\00:49:45.36
and it conflicted
with their profession.
00:49:45.39\00:49:49.74
Now they said "we believe"
but they did absolutely nothing,
00:49:49.77\00:49:53.86
because God was
not at working them.
00:49:53.89\00:49:56.16
"For it is God who works in
00:49:56.19\00:49:58.82
you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure."
00:49:58.85\00:50:01.02
So God was not at work in
the lives of these demons,
00:50:01.05\00:50:04.50
but they had a faith
and they believed in Him.
00:50:04.53\00:50:06.19
So therefore when you
think about the functionality
00:50:06.22\00:50:08.98
of the church nowadays, if
this is a household of faith,
00:50:09.01\00:50:13.49
it should be a
household of works
00:50:13.52\00:50:15.35
or in essence as I said
it, the household of faith
00:50:15.38\00:50:18.79
will be confirmed by
the household of works.
00:50:18.82\00:50:22.37
And, John, this
ideology of busyness
00:50:22.40\00:50:26.44
is something that today.
00:50:26.47\00:50:29.29
The world-- now we have jobs
most people I know are working
00:50:29.32\00:50:33.04
gainfully and polite and
I know many people will say
00:50:33.07\00:50:35.81
"well, the unemployment
is really high" that's true.
00:50:35.84\00:50:38.80
But, you know,
what's even higher
00:50:38.83\00:50:41.63
than the
unemployment in the world?
00:50:41.66\00:50:43.45
Unemployment in the church.
00:50:43.48\00:50:46.10
The statistics of
those, the percentage of people
00:50:46.13\00:50:48.73
that are not working in church
00:50:48.76\00:50:50.64
is far greater than
the percentage of people
00:50:50.67\00:50:53.81
that are not
working in the church.
00:50:53.84\00:50:56.78
But if the levels were changed,
00:50:56.81\00:50:59.91
if there were more
people working in the church
00:50:59.94\00:51:02.12
then there are
people working in the world.
00:51:02.15\00:51:04.35
Then we would have less plight,
00:51:04.38\00:51:06.30
less discouragement,
less of a broken society
00:51:06.33\00:51:10.48
because the church
will be busy at its craft
00:51:10.51\00:51:13.72
carrying the
gospel to the world.
00:51:13.75\00:51:16.14
But for the most part
00:51:16.17\00:51:17.54
its unemployment
is high in the church.
00:51:17.57\00:51:20.88
And is it any wonder why
God speaks of the last church
00:51:20.91\00:51:24.31
as being Laodicean. Right.
00:51:24.34\00:51:26.03
Its works are
neither cold or hot,
00:51:26.06\00:51:28.41
its issue is
works not its theology.
00:51:28.44\00:51:32.56
Powerful, you know, I
think what we're encouraging
00:51:32.59\00:51:34.94
here's what we're saying
to you as a church member.
00:51:34.97\00:51:38.27
We're saying that
whether your pastor
00:51:38.30\00:51:41.71
has caught this
vision of what God's church
00:51:41.74\00:51:44.11
is to be this
Biblical vision or not,
00:51:44.14\00:51:49.09
go to him or her and
say, the Bible tells me
00:51:49.12\00:51:54.07
that I'm supposed
to be busy in ministry.
00:51:54.10\00:51:56.19
Can you help me
find out what I can do?
00:51:56.22\00:51:59.79
Can you equip
me? Can you train me?
00:51:59.82\00:52:01.53
Can you give me some tools
00:52:01.56\00:52:03.56
that I can use to find
something to do for Jesus
00:52:03.59\00:52:06.79
in my daily life and in
this work of the church?
00:52:06.82\00:52:10.75
What instead I'm hearing today
00:52:10.78\00:52:12.34
during
nominating committee time,
00:52:12.37\00:52:15.25
is call after call no, no,
00:52:15.28\00:52:16.92
I've decided
I've done that enough,
00:52:16.95\00:52:18.75
I'm gonna let
someone else do that. Yeah.
00:52:18.78\00:52:21.38
Oh, no I'm too
burned out on that,
00:52:21.41\00:52:22.78
I'm not gonna do that anymore.
00:52:22.81\00:52:25.06
Or no I don't know I just,
I'm not comfortable with that.
00:52:25.09\00:52:28.25
Now, I'm not saying
that we do a great job
00:52:28.28\00:52:30.64
as committees matching up people
with their spiritual gifts.
00:52:30.67\00:52:33.57
We don't do a good job of that.
00:52:33.60\00:52:35.36
We just kind of
figure out names oh,
00:52:35.39\00:52:36.91
well, maybe we try
this person in this role,
00:52:36.94\00:52:39.36
that we
shouldn't do that either.
00:52:39.39\00:52:41.11
But as far as
members responding,
00:52:41.14\00:52:42.69
where is the Spirit
00:52:42.72\00:52:44.09
of I'm willing to
work for the Lord?
00:52:44.12\00:52:46.02
Lord where are you putting me?
00:52:46.05\00:52:47.98
Is it possible that
God through that committee
00:52:48.01\00:52:49.77
is asking someone to get
involved in an area of ministry?
00:52:49.80\00:52:52.78
And you're not
saying no to the committee
00:52:52.81\00:52:54.18
you're saying no to
God. Right, that's true.
00:52:54.21\00:52:58.05
I've--we have said
that for a number of years
00:52:58.08\00:53:01.99
in the position of leaders.
00:53:02.02\00:53:04.29
That's why when you read
verse 24 of James Chapter 2
00:53:04.32\00:53:06.66
this is something that's so
elementary yet is so ignored,
00:53:06.69\00:53:10.50
because we say well--
00:53:10.54\00:53:11.91
we were talking
about justification
00:53:11.94\00:53:13.50
remember justification?
00:53:13.53\00:53:15.42
Look at the
statement of justification,
00:53:15.45\00:53:17.59
because we're saved by grace
through faith in Christ alone,
00:53:17.62\00:53:20.46
but justification has an
element that we often ignore.
00:53:20.49\00:53:23.35
Look at it in verse 24.
00:53:23.38\00:53:24.92
"You see then a man
is justified" by what?
00:53:24.95\00:53:28.87
Works.
00:53:28.90\00:53:30.27
"And not by faith only."
00:53:30.30\00:53:33.47
Justified by
works and not by faith.
00:53:33.50\00:53:35.58
And the context
is verse 22. Yes.
00:53:35.61\00:53:37.89
We didn't read 22
go ahead and read 22,
00:53:37.92\00:53:39.84
'cause that's the
context of that statement there.
00:53:39.87\00:53:41.65
"Do you see that faith was
working together with his work
00:53:41.68\00:53:45.33
and by works
faith was made perfect."
00:53:45.36\00:53:48.82
And, you know,
they often say well,
00:53:48.85\00:53:50.32
you show me your
faith without your works
00:53:50.35\00:53:51.92
and I'll show you
my faith by my works.
00:53:51.95\00:53:54.75
You cannot say, I have
job and never leave the house.
00:53:54.78\00:53:58.75
Where do you work?
00:53:58.78\00:54:01.60
If you don't work from home--
I'm talking about in essence
00:54:01.63\00:54:05.48
where the text in the
Book of Proverbs comes forth
00:54:05.51\00:54:07.76
the lazy man says
"There is lion in the street
00:54:07.79\00:54:11.24
and if I go out
he will devour me."
00:54:11.27\00:54:13.94
And there's some people that
are more fearful of the lion
00:54:13.97\00:54:17.31
that Satan is identified
as being roaring lion,
00:54:17.34\00:54:21.15
seeking whom he may devour
and so what do we do instead.
00:54:21.18\00:54:24.07
We sit back and let
Satan go from home to home
00:54:24.10\00:54:26.30
and devour people who
never hear about Jesus.
00:54:26.33\00:54:29.33
And we're not
willing to go home to home
00:54:29.36\00:54:30.73
to do the same work to
introduce them to Jesus.
00:54:30.76\00:54:33.71
Right, we have to be more
fearful of them being lost.
00:54:33.74\00:54:37.47
That's why verse
25 brings this in
00:54:37.50\00:54:40.26
and when I preach
the sermon I said,
00:54:40.29\00:54:42.21
man, James ends
his faith in works
00:54:42.24\00:54:44.90
comparison with the twist.
00:54:44.93\00:54:46.76
Some would
prefer to forget Rahab
00:54:46.79\00:54:48.64
because of her lay activities.
00:54:48.67\00:54:50.50
But there was a message
00:54:50.53\00:54:51.90
how could Rahab be
compare to Abraham?
00:54:51.93\00:54:53.95
Rehab was a harlot.
00:54:53.98\00:54:55.93
But notice, how who we are
00:54:55.96\00:54:59.11
is less of the
focus it is who God is
00:54:59.14\00:55:02.00
that is more of the focus.
00:55:02.03\00:55:03.40
Abraham, a man,
a child of the day,
00:55:03.43\00:55:05.79
Rahab a woman of the night.
00:55:05.82\00:55:07.58
Abraham was highly
esteem, Rehab was despised.
00:55:07.61\00:55:10.72
Abraham was noted for piety,
00:55:10.79\00:55:12.88
Rahab was
labeled for immorality.
00:55:12.91\00:55:15.26
Abraham knew God
years before his test,
00:55:15.29\00:55:18.29
Rahab accepted God
shortly before her test.
00:55:18.32\00:55:21.94
And so what happen both of them
were justified by their works,
00:55:21.97\00:55:25.67
isn't that amazing?
00:55:25.70\00:55:27.11
A harlot, no matter who
you are if God calls you,
00:55:27.14\00:55:32.39
He requires of you at
work that confirms your faith.
00:55:32.42\00:55:36.54
And look what he
says in verse 25 of her
00:55:36.57\00:55:38.64
"Likewise was not Rahab
00:55:38.67\00:55:40.58
the harlot also
justified by works,
00:55:40.61\00:55:43.29
when she
received the messengers,
00:55:43.32\00:55:45.22
and sent them out another way?"
00:55:45.25\00:55:48.81
So is there
anybody in the church?
00:55:48.84\00:55:50.66
Let's go all the way
from the very polished
00:55:50.69\00:55:52.52
third generation
Christian Adventist
00:55:52.55\00:55:55.13
to the person who'd just
got over drugs and alcohol,
00:55:55.16\00:55:57.39
just this be harlot and
came and joined the church.
00:55:57.42\00:55:59.65
Is there any
different level of involvement
00:55:59.69\00:56:02.74
when you look across the
board or are we all ministers?
00:56:02.77\00:56:06.23
We're all to be
involved in some way.
00:56:06.26\00:56:09.55
It truly is--I said it
before one church that asked me.
00:56:09.58\00:56:15.28
"What do you have as a
vision for this church?"
00:56:15.31\00:56:16.86
And I said, my response
was something that it affected,
00:56:16.89\00:56:19.32
every one of us
here has something to do
00:56:19.35\00:56:22.07
for the
Lord--some work to do. Right.
00:56:22.10\00:56:24.67
My job is to help
you all get to work.
00:56:24.70\00:56:28.83
And that's a little
uncomfortable for some,
00:56:28.86\00:56:30.41
because we struggle with
a discomfort in ministry,
00:56:30.44\00:56:35.71
we're not--ministry
and finding our gift
00:56:35.74\00:56:39.48
and using that takes practice.
00:56:39.51\00:56:42.44
Equipping and training
00:56:42.47\00:56:43.84
takes a concerted
effort of practicing.
00:56:43.87\00:56:46.09
We've read the
text in Romans 12:1
00:56:46.12\00:56:49.28
about our spiritual sacrifices,
00:56:49.31\00:56:51.00
giving our bodies as
a spiritual sacrifice.
00:56:51.03\00:56:54.13
Let me say that word
that reasonable service,
00:56:54.16\00:56:56.72
the word reasonable
is an act of the will,
00:56:56.75\00:56:59.50
is the act of the mind.
00:56:59.53\00:57:00.90
We have to say,
I'm uncomfortable,
00:57:00.93\00:57:02.38
but, you know what.
00:57:02.41\00:57:03.78
I decide I'm gonna
step out of my comfort zone,
00:57:03.81\00:57:05.95
I'm gonna give
myself in service to Christ
00:57:05.98\00:57:07.86
even if it is uncomfortable.
00:57:07.89\00:57:09.91
Pastor help me do that,
Lord, help me do that, He will.
00:57:09.94\00:57:12.37
That's right, and, you know,
00:57:12.40\00:57:13.77
we talk about lot
of doctrinal topics,
00:57:13.80\00:57:15.27
but, you know, one of the
weaknesses of the church today
00:57:15.30\00:57:17.49
is we have inactive
faith and James says,
00:57:17.52\00:57:20.04
"For as the body
without the Spirit is dead,
00:57:20.07\00:57:22.25
so faith without works is dead."
00:57:22.28\00:57:24.46
The Lord has called
you not just to save you,
00:57:24.49\00:57:26.33
but He's called you
to participate with Him
00:57:26.36\00:57:29.20
in this final work of
gathering souls for the kingdom.
00:57:29.23\00:57:32.10
God bless you and join
Him today in that work. Amen.
00:57:32.13\00:57:35.68