Hello friends, grab
your Bible and a friend
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and sit back as we
explore God's word together
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on this edition
of "House Calls."
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Well, hello and welcome to
another edition of "House Calls"
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as they would say
in the real world.
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But you know what, I have
a secret to share with you,
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don't tell anybody
I'm not here by myself.
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Got this big guy
sitting over here next to me,
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who has even borrowed my name.
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We share something in common.
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How you're doing, John?
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We do, we do.
Good to see you, John.
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The east coast and
the west coast has been--
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see I'm a native New Yorker,
he's a native Californian.
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We have the
entire nation wrapped up
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in this one
program from east to west.
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So get your
family members together,
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this is gonna
be a great program.
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What are we gonna
continue with today, John?
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Just tell us kind
of give us a preview.
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We're talking about
the work of the Spirit
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in the members of the church.
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Okay, that's
right. Is it important?
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Absolutely. Okay. Wow.
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And so you know,
what we do in this program
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before we get to our
Bible questions and comments,
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we always like to thank you.
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But get your Bibles together,
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invite your family
members to sit down.
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Or if you are watching
this on Wednesday night,
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hey, welcome to the
prayer meeting group.
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Or if you are
watching this at home
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with a lot of
people in your home,
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hey, thank you
for choosing to do so.
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But make sure
you have your Bibles,
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a pen if necessary
to take down some notes.
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And in just a moment
we will give you an email
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where you can send
your questions and comments.
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But before we do anything
else, we always have prayer.
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John, would you
pray for us? Let's pray.
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Gracious Father in heaven,
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we again come before Your throne
here seeking Your presence.
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We invite Your
spirit to be here with us,
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not only to work in our hearts
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but Lord through our minds
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to bring out Your
word in its clarity.
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And especially what Your will is
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for Your church
here during this day,
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where You've
given us a work to do.
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But we know we've been promised
that Jesus is coming soon
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and we believe that.
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But Lord, we-- may we
be about Your business,
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as Your people
here in these days.
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And may we understand
that will all the more clearly.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen. Thank you, John.
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And by the way
before we get our questions,
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if you have any
questions or comments
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you like to send to
us, you can send them
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to the following
email, housecalls@3abn.org.
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That's housecalls@3abn.org.
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And try to make them less
condensed as you possibly can.
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Some people send
questions which are in fact
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maybe their final will
and testament, it's so long.
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We won't be able to
answer those questions
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and if you send us
too much it overwhelms us
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and then we kind
of overlook that.
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If we have to sort it too
much to find the question,
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it makes it difficult for us.
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So try not to
send us your opinion,
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if you do short and
then to the question.
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John, what is our
question for today?
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The first one you have.
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Yeah, this first
question is from Alison. Okay.
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And she lives in the
Caribbean and she says,
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she had a question that came up
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recently in a
Sabbath school discussion.
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And so she's wondering if
may be we could help with it.
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She says here that
they were discussing
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the issue of forgiveness. Okay.
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And the point was
made that there was no room
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for restoration in the
process of forgiveness. Okay.
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By this they meant that
if someone has done you wrong
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and you've forgiven
them that word is base--
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that is basically the end of
it that you've forgiven them.
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One person said that
when Adam and Eve sin
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in the Garden of Eden
although God forgave them,
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He did not restore them
to their original position.
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So there is no biblical teaching
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to support the notion of
restoring a brother or sister.
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And so anyway she is saying,
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I'd really
appreciate your comments
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and your help
on this. All right.
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You know, maybe the more
appropriate word I would say
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that's part of the
forgiveness process
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may not be
restoration in its fullness,
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but is reconciliation.
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And they are similar
words in that restoring somebody
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can also mean that
you've reconciled with them.
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In other words you restore them
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into a position of
relationship with somebody.
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So if there's been a fall
out among two individuals,
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harsh words were said.
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Then they come
to the realization
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that one of them
or maybe both of them
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had been in the wrong.
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They might forgive each other
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and then the
relationship would be restored.
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What you call typically
that process of restoration
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there in that
context is reconciliation.
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And the Bible is full of
forgiveness and reconciliation.
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So if we're saying that
restoration cannot take place
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and we include reconciliation
that would be unbiblical.
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Because the biblical
view of reconciliation is that
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when God forgives us,
He does reconcile with us.
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And in Christ we
are made a child of God,
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we are adopted
back into the family.
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And in that
respect He restores us
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to the family of
God, right? It's true.
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But full
restoration cannot take place
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and won't take place
until the very end of time
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when Jesus comes
again, gives us new bodies,
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transforms us
into perfect beings
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and we are fully restored.
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And then
eventually after 1000 years,
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restored on this
earth with a new creation,
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the earth created a new.
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So full restoration
will take place eventually.
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So you would say the
restoration is a part
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of the biblical
model of forgiveness.
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It's just at the
end of it. It's true.
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But along the
process there is a restoring,
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a restoring of relationships,
a restoring of many things
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which is more of the
context of reconciliation.
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It begins right at
the moment of forgiveness.
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John, I like-- one
professor once said
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that forgiveness can be a very
challenging topic to understand.
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But he explained it this way.
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He said, let's say I
set a forgiveness ball
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here on the table.
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In other words there is
dispute between you and I
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which we never
had a dispute. Right.
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And we may have
disagreed on things,
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but we don't dispute ever,
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but let say we did
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and I wanted to forgive you.
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I would take forgiveness
and put it on the table.
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And that is me forgiving you
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regardless of how
you respond to that.
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Reconciliation may
take place when you pick up
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the forgiveness ball
and take it and accept it.
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I got you, it's a good one.
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And then we become
friends in the full context
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of how we always were. Right.
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Many times that doesn't happen,
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but it doesn't mean
that we are called by God
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to put down the ball.
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In other words to
forgive somebody else,
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regardless of whether
or not they pick it up.
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And in the same way, Jesus
has done that at the cross.
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He has offered
forgiveness to all mankind.
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Only some have picked it up.
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Only some have
received that forgiveness.
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Other than that it was
kind of an elementary analogy
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but kind of a good picture,
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an interesting
picture of forgiveness here.
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And that full
restoration may not take place
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but forgiveness is
required by God's people.
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God said very clearly,
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"If you do not
forgive as I've forgiven,
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then I won't
forgive you." That's right.
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And so
forgiveness is a requirement
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in the Christian life.
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It is part of who we
become of forgiving people
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when God changes our life.
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Full restoration may not
take place until the very end
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but in some elements of
it there is a restoration
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that does occur and I consider
that more of a reconciliation
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that occurs when
forgiveness is offered.
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So anyway that's
what I have to say
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about at least that topic,
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maybe you have a few
things you like to wane on it.
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Forgiveness is
something we always want
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people to do for us,
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but not something we
always willing to do for others.
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It's really, it's a sad thing
but at sometimes when we astray,
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we'll say to
people, please forgive us.
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But sometimes we are not
as quick to forgive others.
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And I like that as you
were closing up that thought,
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John, you made it very clear.
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Forgiveness is reciprocal,
think of a revolving door
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as you go into a store.
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You go into forgiveness
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but also
forgiveness brings you out,
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brings you into a
relationship it allows--
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in other words if I'm
using the analogy correctly
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forgiveness goes both ways.
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If you want
somebody to forgive you,
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then you must be
willing to forgive someone.
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If you are not
willing to extend forgiveness,
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then it's quite honoree to
require somebody to forgive you.
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And then the other thing
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you have to keep in
mind about forgiveness.
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If you forgive
someone don't demand
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that they forgive you,
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because you
cannot activate that.
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You see, I have told
in counseling to people
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I said, well, you need to
forgive your wife All right.
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But she did some
wrong things to me too.
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So I got a phone call
one day and a lady said,
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you know, my
husband came home today
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and ask me to
forgive him and I did.
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I mean he came home
and apologized to me
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and but then he demanded me
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to apologize to
him. He demanded.
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And the problem
started all over again. Yeah.
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Because it's not about
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forgiving me or
me forgiving him,
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it's about him being in control.
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So let's not use
forgiveness as a control to.
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Okay, I've forgiven you now,
are you going to forgive me?
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I got time, you know.
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Let's be very, let's
be very Christian about it
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because forgiveness is
something that is activated
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by the presence of
God in a person's life.
00:10:00.28\00:10:03.15
If the presence of God
is not in a person's life,
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then the forgiveness may be like
00:10:07.10\00:10:08.98
a single drop of
rain on a thirsty soul.
00:10:09.01\00:10:12.65
It really wouldn't do anything,
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but just run right off your skin
00:10:14.43\00:10:16.99
not even given
time to be absorbed.
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So make sure that if you forgive
00:10:20.97\00:10:24.19
you do so out of a loving heart.
00:10:24.22\00:10:25.93
Not, and get this, not
expecting anything in return
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'cause it doesn't
always come back to you.
00:10:32.25\00:10:34.13
That's why when John said,
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he put the ball
down I could see that.
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See I'm not
gonna look at the ball
00:10:37.22\00:10:38.59
on the table
differently from now on.
00:10:38.62\00:10:41.03
If I see a ball on the
table I'm gonna think of,
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okay, I put
forgiveness on the table,
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but now you got to pick it up.
00:10:45.50\00:10:47.05
And that's a very good
analogy, thank you for that.
00:10:47.08\00:10:50.89
Well, we have a question here
that may take about an hour,
00:10:50.92\00:10:54.85
but I won't make it that long.
00:10:54.88\00:10:57.21
What does the
four beasts represent
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that Daniel
dreamed of in Daniel 7.
00:11:00.37\00:11:04.61
Thank you, Ronal, sent
from your BlackBerry. Okay.
00:11:04.64\00:11:10.97
And BlackBerry is
a device nowadays.
00:11:11.00\00:11:13.92
Used to be a fruit,
but now it's a device.
00:11:13.95\00:11:16.93
Daniel 7.
00:11:16.96\00:11:18.33
Now what I like to do
00:11:18.36\00:11:19.73
I'd like to open up
Daniel 7 with a caveat of that.
00:11:19.76\00:11:24.84
What's talked about in Daniel 7
00:11:24.87\00:11:26.92
was first
introduced in Daniel 2.
00:11:26.95\00:11:30.30
So go with me to Daniel 2,
00:11:30.33\00:11:32.46
then we're gonna get a
chance to go to Daniel 7.
00:11:32.49\00:11:34.79
And we're gonna see
how God prophecy sometimes
00:11:34.82\00:11:38.32
is say define,
00:11:38.35\00:11:43.30
re-say build, define.
00:11:43.33\00:11:46.28
So let's look first at Daniel 2.
00:11:46.31\00:11:49.43
I'm not gonna read
the whole of Daniel 2,
00:11:49.46\00:11:51.86
I'm just gonna simply summarize
00:11:51.89\00:11:53.63
the first part of
Daniel 2 by saying,
00:11:53.66\00:11:56.11
Nebuchadnezzar, the
king of Babylon had a dream.
00:11:56.14\00:12:00.93
He dreamed of gold, silver,
bronze or brass and then iron,
00:12:00.96\00:12:06.55
then an image with toes of
iron and clay mixed together.
00:12:06.58\00:12:11.62
And then when Daniel was called
00:12:11.65\00:12:13.72
to give the
interpretation of the dream,
00:12:13.75\00:12:16.77
he began by reading in Daniel.
00:12:16.80\00:12:22.93
He didn't begin
by reading in Daniel,
00:12:22.96\00:12:24.33
but what's written in Daniel 2
00:12:24.36\00:12:26.23
is how Daniel began
as he addressed the king.
00:12:26.26\00:12:29.06
Look at Daniel 2:31.
00:12:29.09\00:12:33.71
He speaks to Nebuchadnezzar
because he said to them,
00:12:33.74\00:12:36.47
there's a God in
heaven who makes this known
00:12:36.50\00:12:38.58
and up until this point none
of Nebuchadnezzar's prophets
00:12:38.61\00:12:41.87
and soothsayers
and fortunetellers
00:12:41.90\00:12:44.74
could even tell
Nebuchadnezzar what he dreamt,
00:12:44.77\00:12:47.43
let alone what it meant.
00:12:47.46\00:12:49.28
But in verse 28, Daniel begins,
00:12:49.31\00:12:52.84
"But there is a God in
heaven who reveals secrets,
00:12:52.87\00:12:55.08
and He has made known
to King Nebuchadnezzar
00:12:55.11\00:12:57.97
what will be in the latter days.
00:12:58.00\00:12:59.71
Your dream, and the
visions of your head
00:12:59.74\00:13:02.19
upon your bed, were these."
00:13:02.22\00:13:03.78
And he went ahead
and-- go down to verse 32.
00:13:03.81\00:13:07.86
"This image was of fine gold,
its chest and arms in silver,
00:13:07.89\00:13:12.16
its belly and thighs of
bronze, its legs of iron,
00:13:12.19\00:13:15.21
its feet partly of
iron and partly of clay."
00:13:15.24\00:13:18.03
And so he begins to describe
this image very carefully
00:13:18.06\00:13:20.77
and he goes to verse 38
00:13:20.80\00:13:22.18
and at the end of verse 38,
00:13:22.21\00:13:24.64
he says to Nebuchadnezzar,
"You are this head of gold."
00:13:24.67\00:13:29.64
So right away if Nebuchadnezzar
represents the head of gold
00:13:29.67\00:13:33.71
and Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom
is the kingdom of Babylon,
00:13:33.74\00:13:36.69
then this head
of gold represents
00:13:36.72\00:13:38.09
the kingdom of Babylon.
00:13:38.12\00:13:40.12
So now the reason why
this is so widely important
00:13:40.15\00:13:42.22
because you're
gonna go to Revelation
00:13:42.25\00:13:43.75
and you're gonna see
whenever it talks about Babylon,
00:13:43.78\00:13:46.21
it talks about the
woman representing Babylon
00:13:46.24\00:13:48.43
having the
golden cup in her hand.
00:13:48.46\00:13:51.08
So right away
where did that come from?
00:13:51.11\00:13:53.59
It was not just an image
given to John the revelator,
00:13:53.62\00:13:56.37
but it was established
in the Book of Daniel.
00:13:56.40\00:14:00.19
God first gave that
00:14:00.22\00:14:01.86
and he talks about
that in the Book of Ezekiel.
00:14:01.89\00:14:04.06
Babylon was a golden
cup in the hand of God.
00:14:04.09\00:14:07.10
So gold and
Babylon are synonymous.
00:14:07.13\00:14:10.09
But now let's go to Daniel 7
00:14:10.12\00:14:12.16
and see what else is synonymous
about this kingdom of Babylon.
00:14:12.19\00:14:16.15
And now this is during
the reign of Belshazzar.
00:14:16.18\00:14:21.84
And Belshazzar is the
grandson of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:14:21.87\00:14:27.41
It often makes it
appears though he is the son,
00:14:27.44\00:14:30.84
but he is the grandson.
00:14:30.87\00:14:32.82
In the first year,
Belshazzar, king of Babylon,
00:14:32.85\00:14:35.61
Daniel now has the dream.
00:14:35.64\00:14:37.81
Now the reason for the dream
00:14:37.84\00:14:39.33
is God once
again gives the vision,
00:14:39.36\00:14:41.78
gives the interpretation.
00:14:41.81\00:14:43.18
Now He gives Daniel the vision
00:14:43.21\00:14:44.76
and He gives
the reinterpretation
00:14:44.79\00:14:46.74
or the further expansion
of what Daniel had already
00:14:46.77\00:14:50.37
told Nebuchadnezzar
about Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
00:14:50.40\00:14:53.18
So let's look at
Daniel 7:4, or verse 3.
00:14:53.21\00:14:57.18
"And four great
beasts came up from the sea,
00:14:57.21\00:15:00.09
each different from the other.
00:15:00.12\00:15:02.73
The first was like a lion."
00:15:02.76\00:15:04.42
Verse 5. "The
second like a bear."
00:15:04.45\00:15:06.49
Verse 6, "And there
was another like a leopard
00:15:06.52\00:15:11.38
with four heads and four wings."
00:15:11.41\00:15:16.81
The second was like a
bear with ribs in his mouth.
00:15:16.84\00:15:19.51
The first one like a
lion that had eagle's wings.
00:15:19.54\00:15:22.21
And then verse 7, "After
this I saw in the night visions,
00:15:22.24\00:15:25.73
and behold a fourth beast
00:15:25.76\00:15:27.13
dreadful and
terrible, exceedingly strong.
00:15:27.16\00:15:29.49
It had huge iron teeth it was
devouring, breaking in pieces,
00:15:29.52\00:15:35.27
and trampling the
residue with its feet."
00:15:35.30\00:15:39.03
But it says something here,
00:15:39.06\00:15:41.13
"It was different from all
the beasts that were before it,
00:15:41.16\00:15:45.34
and it had ten horns."
00:15:45.37\00:15:47.22
So you find
John, I mean Daniel now
00:15:47.25\00:15:50.69
let's make the
connections, gold, lion.
00:15:50.72\00:15:55.72
After the kingdom of Babylon,
00:15:55.75\00:15:59.03
you've got to ask
yourself the question,
00:15:59.06\00:16:00.49
what kingdom came next?
00:16:00.52\00:16:03.04
Well, let's look at
Daniel 6 and we will see,
00:16:03.07\00:16:08.03
we will see exactly
what happened in Daniel 6.
00:16:08.06\00:16:12.45
Well, Daniel 6 is the continuing
00:16:12.48\00:16:15.81
the end of the
reign of Belshazzar.
00:16:15.84\00:16:18.06
In Daniel 5:30, "That
very night Belshazzar,
00:16:18.09\00:16:22.36
king of the
Chaldeans was slain."
00:16:22.39\00:16:25.78
Daniel 5:30.
00:16:25.81\00:16:27.48
"And Darius the Mede
received the kingdom,
00:16:27.51\00:16:30.86
being about 62 years old."
00:16:30.89\00:16:33.40
So what happened, right
after the Babylonian kingdom,
00:16:33.43\00:16:36.91
you had the
kingdom of the Medes.
00:16:36.94\00:16:40.42
But this kingdom was a
kingdom that was diverse.
00:16:40.45\00:16:44.07
Look at Daniel 6:8, okay.
00:16:44.10\00:16:50.37
"Now, O king,
establish the decree,
00:16:50.40\00:16:53.27
sign the writing so
that it cannot be changed,
00:16:53.30\00:16:55.71
according to the law of
the Medes and the Persians."
00:16:55.74\00:16:59.26
So you see Daniel--
while Darius the Mede began,
00:16:59.29\00:17:03.63
you had Cyrus the Persian.
00:17:03.66\00:17:05.45
And this is also
talked about in Daniel 8.
00:17:05.48\00:17:08.15
This was talked about as
the kingdom with two horns,
00:17:08.18\00:17:11.29
one came up first, but
the one that came up second
00:17:11.32\00:17:13.66
was greater than the
one that came up first.
00:17:13.69\00:17:15.63
So now we have
established two things.
00:17:15.66\00:17:17.45
We have Babylon,
then we have Medo-Persia.
00:17:17.48\00:17:21.93
But then there's
gonna be another one
00:17:21.96\00:17:23.44
because the third one
that Daniel dreamed off
00:17:23.47\00:17:25.73
was the kingdom of bronze.
00:17:25.76\00:17:27.69
And then in Daniel 7
00:17:27.72\00:17:29.23
this kingdom was
referred to in Daniel 7
00:17:29.26\00:17:32.42
as a kingdom
with-- like a leopard
00:17:32.45\00:17:37.54
and on its back had
four wings of a bird.
00:17:37.57\00:17:40.51
Also had four heads
dominion was given to it.
00:17:40.54\00:17:43.93
So now we find
out, well, who is this?
00:17:43.96\00:17:46.48
Well, when you begin
to see what kingdom came
00:17:46.51\00:17:49.01
after the kingdom of
the Medes and the Persians,
00:17:49.04\00:17:53.83
you find that there is a
kingdom that came after that,
00:17:53.86\00:17:56.92
that in prophecy it's referred
to as the kingdom of Greece.
00:17:56.95\00:18:00.11
And we know that king
to be Alexander the great.
00:18:00.14\00:18:02.98
Now why is the four heads
and four wings talk about there,
00:18:03.01\00:18:05.38
because when Alexander died
00:18:05.41\00:18:07.58
four generals
took over the kingdoms
00:18:07.61\00:18:10.54
that were under
Alexander's control.
00:18:10.57\00:18:13.00
And I have those names,
00:18:13.03\00:18:14.40
Cassander, Lysimachus,
Ptolemy and Seleucus.
00:18:14.43\00:18:18.51
So that's where the four
heads and four wings come in.
00:18:18.54\00:18:21.26
But then you
have the last kingdom
00:18:21.29\00:18:23.27
and I'll spend a little
bit more time on this one
00:18:23.30\00:18:25.02
because the kingdom that came
right after the Grecian empire
00:18:25.05\00:18:29.08
was the kingdom of Rome,
00:18:29.11\00:18:31.07
this iron,
powerful, dominant kingdom.
00:18:31.10\00:18:35.01
And by the way, but I
don't want to spend time now
00:18:35.04\00:18:39.28
to talk about this
because these programs
00:18:39.31\00:18:41.91
I don't want to add
a time frame to them.
00:18:41.94\00:18:44.02
But let's look at
something very important here.
00:18:44.05\00:18:46.13
This fourth kingdom
represented a kingdom
00:18:46.16\00:18:48.84
that existed throughout
all of the New Testament.
00:18:48.87\00:18:53.54
A kingdom that
existed through the reign,
00:18:53.57\00:18:56.47
through the
earthly ministry of Christ.
00:18:56.50\00:18:58.68
A kingdom that existed
00:18:58.71\00:19:00.08
through the
ministry of the disciples
00:19:00.11\00:19:01.94
and the apostles
of the New Testament
00:19:01.97\00:19:03.83
and a kingdom that
is still existing today.
00:19:03.86\00:19:06.54
Now, John, tell us just
to change the voice tone
00:19:06.57\00:19:10.32
what is that kingdom?
00:19:10.35\00:19:11.72
Well, each kingdom that
succeeded that came after--
00:19:11.75\00:19:17.91
actually that came
after from Babylon on
00:19:17.94\00:19:20.00
was the one that conquered it.
00:19:20.03\00:19:22.07
So you have Medes and
Persians conquered Babylon.
00:19:22.10\00:19:24.34
You had the Greece
00:19:24.37\00:19:25.74
that conquered the
Medes and Persians.
00:19:25.77\00:19:27.25
Both actually
identified in Daniel 8,
00:19:27.28\00:19:30.34
specifically by
name. That's right.
00:19:30.37\00:19:32.53
What's not identified by
name is the fourth beast.
00:19:32.56\00:19:37.20
But if we follow
the same principles
00:19:37.23\00:19:38.95
as who conquered
the one before it,
00:19:38.98\00:19:41.69
then we have to ask who
conquered Greece? Right.
00:19:41.72\00:19:45.29
And the nation that conquered
Greece was Rome. That's right.
00:19:45.32\00:19:48.14
And the connection there,
00:19:48.17\00:19:49.54
very quickly I'll
turn it back to you.
00:19:49.57\00:19:51.27
The connection there
that we find in both visions,
00:19:51.30\00:19:54.00
Nebuchadnezzar's
visions and Daniel's vision,
00:19:54.03\00:19:56.92
Nebuchadnezzar talks about
the image having legs of iron.
00:19:56.95\00:20:02.10
And Daniel in Daniel
7 talks about this image
00:20:02.13\00:20:05.07
having huge iron
teeth, iron, iron. Right.
00:20:05.10\00:20:10.77
So the same kingdoms
that are being talked about,
00:20:10.80\00:20:13.04
the same kingdom
that's been talked about.
00:20:13.07\00:20:15.22
And if you look at
any historical reference,
00:20:15.25\00:20:18.51
Rome was known
as the iron kingdom,
00:20:18.54\00:20:21.15
not as valuable as Babylon.
00:20:21.18\00:20:22.65
Gold and iron is
not the same in value.
00:20:22.68\00:20:24.83
You don't have iron being sold,
00:20:24.86\00:20:27.55
people not
trading and buying iron
00:20:27.58\00:20:29.53
and trying to store up iron,
you know, buy things with iron.
00:20:29.56\00:20:32.84
But gold is lot more valuable.
00:20:32.87\00:20:35.29
So here's the key,
depreciating in value
00:20:35.32\00:20:39.01
but increasing in strength.
00:20:39.04\00:20:41.24
Iron, right now we exist,
00:20:41.27\00:20:43.08
we are existing under
the iron kingdom of Rome.
00:20:43.11\00:20:46.65
And this
kingdom, the Bible says,
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.68
will trample the
residue of its feet.
00:20:48.71\00:20:51.55
In other words all of humanity
00:20:51.58\00:20:53.69
is one day going
to be under the reign,
00:20:53.72\00:20:57.83
under the power,
under the influence
00:20:57.86\00:21:01.18
of this final
and fourth kingdom,
00:21:01.21\00:21:03.22
the kingdom of Rome.
00:21:03.25\00:21:05.07
So in a nutshell that's
what Daniel 7 primarily is.
00:21:05.10\00:21:08.06
And it says that a
little horn grew up amongst that
00:21:08.09\00:21:11.62
along with other horns.
00:21:11.65\00:21:14.40
There were 10 horns originally
00:21:14.43\00:21:15.80
but a little horn came out
there became most prominent,
00:21:15.83\00:21:18.54
uprooted three
horns and basically ruled
00:21:18.57\00:21:21.77
the rest of those
kingdoms represented by horns
00:21:21.80\00:21:25.11
and drove this fourth beast
down to the very end of time.
00:21:25.14\00:21:29.63
So we have the fourth
beast existing today, Rome
00:21:29.66\00:21:33.92
but it's in the form
of this little horn power
00:21:33.95\00:21:36.20
which is religious and
political at the same time
00:21:36.23\00:21:39.94
which is why its
different than the other beasts.
00:21:39.97\00:21:41.99
So if you read
through here you will see that
00:21:42.02\00:21:44.84
it was a long period of
time that this fourth beast
00:21:44.87\00:21:48.12
and a little horn
existed and was in power,
00:21:48.15\00:21:52.43
because you find
it all the way down
00:21:52.46\00:21:54.24
to the end of
Daniel essentially.
00:21:54.27\00:21:57.13
That's right.
00:21:57.16\00:21:58.53
And you have to admit today
that the in the kingdom of Rome
00:21:58.56\00:22:03.50
and we don't often refer to Rome
00:22:03.53\00:22:05.22
in proper like
Rome as a kingdom.
00:22:05.25\00:22:08.20
But in Rome there's
a kingdom within Rome.
00:22:08.23\00:22:12.21
This Vatican City,
00:22:12.24\00:22:13.70
it's a kingdom
within a fourth kingdom.
00:22:13.73\00:22:16.86
So and the little
mouth speaking great things
00:22:16.89\00:22:19.97
represents the head of
the Vatican the pope himself.
00:22:20.00\00:22:24.04
So that power going from
Pagan Rome to Papal Rome.
00:22:24.07\00:22:27.65
So today we have Papal Rome
00:22:27.68\00:22:29.87
or as it would be
referred to as the holy sea.
00:22:29.90\00:22:32.78
But the holy sea
is seen in the world
00:22:32.81\00:22:34.18
as political on one side
and religious on the other.
00:22:34.21\00:22:37.68
As is the case,
governments and leaders
00:22:37.71\00:22:40.24
of all nations around the world
00:22:40.27\00:22:41.64
acknowledged his
political powers,
00:22:41.67\00:22:43.94
but at the very same
time it's a religious power.
00:22:43.97\00:22:47.35
And that's why
when the Bible says,
00:22:47.38\00:22:48.75
it shall be
different from all the others,
00:22:48.78\00:22:50.79
it is very
different from all the others.
00:22:50.82\00:22:52.82
While there were
religious elements in Babylon
00:22:52.85\00:22:55.54
because worship was
something that Nebuchadnezzar
00:22:55.57\00:22:57.66
was seeking to
enforce upon its population.
00:22:57.69\00:23:00.43
It was not a religious kingdom.
00:23:00.46\00:23:02.56
It was not one that had parlayed
religion and politics together.
00:23:02.59\00:23:06.84
But in the kingdom of Rome,
00:23:06.87\00:23:08.52
religion and politics
are on equal footing. Yeah.
00:23:08.55\00:23:11.83
So anyway, one more--you
have one more question? Yeah.
00:23:11.86\00:23:14.69
This one comes from Coleen.
00:23:14.72\00:23:17.21
And she says I wonder if
you could perhaps explain this.
00:23:17.24\00:23:19.64
We know that the
Ark of the Covenant
00:23:19.67\00:23:22.01
was kept in the holy of
holies, the most holy place
00:23:22.04\00:23:25.43
in the temple until
the exile of the Babylon.
00:23:25.46\00:23:28.97
Also that the temple was rebuilt
00:23:29.00\00:23:31.07
when they returned
after 70 years in Jerusalem.
00:23:31.10\00:23:34.52
Was anything else then
placed in the holiest place?
00:23:34.55\00:23:37.74
Because they hid
the Ark of the Covenant
00:23:37.77\00:23:40.70
before Babylon's captured
and they did not put that
00:23:40.73\00:23:45.74
ark back into the
temple that was rebuilt.
00:23:45.77\00:23:49.52
So was there
anything else put there?
00:23:49.55\00:23:52.14
Also did the priest still
00:23:52.17\00:23:54.22
enter there on
the Day of Atonement?
00:23:54.25\00:23:56.77
Was God's presence still
there without the original ark
00:23:56.80\00:23:59.48
containing the Ten Commandments?
00:23:59.51\00:24:01.30
So let's answer
those questions first.
00:24:01.33\00:24:03.36
Some of them we don't
have an explicit statement,
00:24:03.39\00:24:05.36
what we have are
old testaments by.
00:24:05.39\00:24:10.50
And I'm not
saying the Old Testament,
00:24:10.53\00:24:11.90
I'm saying their old books
00:24:11.93\00:24:13.95
that were written by
those back in the day,
00:24:13.98\00:24:16.58
in fact I think you go
back to what it is Josephus.
00:24:16.61\00:24:18.89
Josephus, historian.
00:24:18.92\00:24:20.29
Who was a historian
00:24:20.32\00:24:21.76
and he has some
commentary on this as well.
00:24:21.79\00:24:25.39
You have also some
non-canon Jewish writings.
00:24:25.42\00:24:29.39
Non-canon to, its Christians
that is Jewish writings
00:24:29.42\00:24:31.55
that talk about things
00:24:31.58\00:24:32.95
and where could
the temple be today.
00:24:32.98\00:24:34.35
I mean the Ark of
the Covenant be today.
00:24:34.38\00:24:37.01
But none of them
really expressly says
00:24:37.04\00:24:39.91
here is what was in
the second apartment
00:24:39.94\00:24:42.00
during the time of Jesus.
00:24:42.03\00:24:44.30
So we don't know.
00:24:44.33\00:24:46.16
We can say that God's glory,
the Shekinah Glory wasn't there
00:24:46.19\00:24:50.36
because it dwell between the
ark and the ark wasn't there.
00:24:50.39\00:24:53.89
Furthermore Jesus
00:24:53.92\00:24:56.88
was the Shekinah
Glory of the Old Testament.
00:24:56.91\00:24:59.19
He's there now in person,
00:24:59.22\00:25:00.74
He's the Son of
Man and the Son of God.
00:25:00.77\00:25:03.36
So He's the express
image of His person,
00:25:03.39\00:25:06.42
what is that the
Colossians. Yeah.
00:25:06.45\00:25:08.63
And that's--actually
Hebrews, Hebrews 1:3,
00:25:08.66\00:25:13.57
"Who being the
brightness of His glory
00:25:13.60\00:25:15.91
and the express
image of His person."
00:25:15.94\00:25:18.93
And so you find and
this is something else
00:25:18.96\00:25:21.89
as I continue to
consider the whole aspect,
00:25:21.92\00:25:25.57
one of the
aspects of the services
00:25:25.60\00:25:30.82
that continue there,
00:25:30.85\00:25:33.05
even in the time of
the ministry of Jesus
00:25:33.08\00:25:37.58
when His
crucifixion was about to,
00:25:37.61\00:25:41.86
was about to occur,
00:25:41.89\00:25:44.13
the priests were about
to take the life of a lamb.
00:25:44.16\00:25:48.29
Symbolizing they had a
temple still established
00:25:48.32\00:25:52.28
in which
sacrifices were carried out.
00:25:52.31\00:25:56.64
Thereby meaning they
still had a high priest.
00:25:56.67\00:25:59.55
So but what was
so widely important
00:25:59.58\00:26:02.80
and I'm getting back
down to the Shekinah Glory,
00:26:02.83\00:26:05.74
because one of the ways
that the children of Israel
00:26:05.77\00:26:07.91
knew that God was
in their presence,
00:26:07.94\00:26:10.18
is His glory was radiating
above the most holy place.
00:26:10.21\00:26:14.97
Whenever they saw
the glory of God there,
00:26:15.00\00:26:16.94
they knew that God in
the cloud had descended
00:26:16.97\00:26:20.47
and His presence was there.
00:26:20.50\00:26:23.43
But what was the
purpose of the coming of Christ?
00:26:23.46\00:26:27.34
You find
something very important
00:26:27.37\00:26:29.20
to tie this two together.
00:26:29.23\00:26:31.12
Matthew 1:23, it says,
"Call his name Immanuel"
00:26:31.15\00:26:35.53
which is
translated, "God with us."
00:26:35.56\00:26:37.99
So he asked the question.
00:26:38.02\00:26:39.74
Is God in the--
00:26:39.77\00:26:41.14
is God reflecting His
presence among the people
00:26:41.17\00:26:43.17
in the Shekinah
Glory in the temple
00:26:43.20\00:26:45.99
or is God's presence
expressed among the people
00:26:46.02\00:26:49.14
through the person of Christ.
00:26:49.17\00:26:51.70
And I would say
that the image of
00:26:51.73\00:26:54.64
or the presence of
God is now expressed
00:26:54.67\00:26:56.59
and set up in a
building made with hands,
00:26:56.62\00:26:59.86
it's now expressed
in the person of His son
00:26:59.89\00:27:02.86
who has come as
Colossians 2:9 says,
00:27:02.89\00:27:06.07
"For in Him dwells all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily."
00:27:06.10\00:27:11.00
So for those who
are still involved
00:27:11.03\00:27:13.20
in the temple services
00:27:13.23\00:27:14.76
were missing the
very point that, hey,
00:27:14.79\00:27:16.91
the glory of God is right
here in the person of His son.
00:27:16.94\00:27:21.40
And they rejected that glory
00:27:21.43\00:27:23.10
that was to be displayed
in the person of His son.
00:27:23.13\00:27:26.48
The last part of
this question says.
00:27:26.51\00:27:28.73
Did the Levites regularly washed
00:27:28.76\00:27:30.37
the curtain
between the two sections,
00:27:30.40\00:27:32.25
refers to two apartments
00:27:32.28\00:27:34.54
where the blood of
the sacrificed animals
00:27:34.57\00:27:36.28
was continuingly sprinkled,
00:27:36.31\00:27:38.13
because it must
have been a bit heavy.
00:27:38.16\00:27:40.11
Well, Coleen is right here
00:27:40.14\00:27:44.12
and I found in one of
the extra biblical writings
00:27:44.15\00:27:48.50
that Jewish
writings it says here that
00:27:48.53\00:27:50.77
when the second
temple was built.
00:27:50.80\00:27:52.40
This is after the
captivity in Babylon,
00:27:52.43\00:27:56.91
that overtime it
became very unclean
00:27:56.94\00:28:02.36
and needed to be washed.
00:28:02.39\00:28:03.76
And it says 300
priests were needed for the job
00:28:03.79\00:28:07.25
to take down the temple
veil, wash it and bring it back
00:28:07.28\00:28:11.25
after it's been dried
and putting it back up again.
00:28:11.28\00:28:13.98
So of course--again this
is extra biblical material,
00:28:14.01\00:28:17.88
it's not here
but we can say that
00:28:17.91\00:28:20.10
yes, they did
probably washed that there
00:28:20.13\00:28:22.09
and it took 300
priests just to take it down
00:28:22.12\00:28:25.19
and move it to
be able to wash it.
00:28:25.22\00:28:27.91
Anyway I hope that
helps a little bit.
00:28:27.94\00:28:29.79
It doesn't
provide absolute answers
00:28:29.82\00:28:31.86
that are all from God's word,
00:28:31.89\00:28:33.80
but I think it is pretty--
00:28:33.83\00:28:36.05
good indication
of what happened.
00:28:36.08\00:28:38.00
That's why when you
think about all these washings,
00:28:38.03\00:28:41.42
these washings that
were some, in some case,
00:28:41.45\00:28:43.95
not speaking
about the temple curtain
00:28:43.98\00:28:45.45
but washings
that were ceremonial.
00:28:45.48\00:28:47.81
You find that how does
the Lord prepare His church?
00:28:47.84\00:28:52.08
By the washing of the word.
00:28:52.11\00:28:54.65
So if you could
add to that component
00:28:54.68\00:28:56.92
washings still happens today.
00:28:56.95\00:28:59.03
The people of God
are not only cleansed
00:28:59.06\00:29:00.54
by the blood of Christ,
all this is temple language.
00:29:00.57\00:29:04.06
Not only cleanse
by the blood of Christ
00:29:04.09\00:29:05.84
and the sins been
forgiven by His shed blood.
00:29:05.87\00:29:09.08
But the church is also washed,
washed by the water of the word.
00:29:09.11\00:29:14.56
See, washed, washing
of water by the word.
00:29:14.59\00:29:18.34
Ephesians 5:26 that's
how we are cleansed today,
00:29:18.37\00:29:22.06
that's how the
church is cleansed.
00:29:22.09\00:29:23.67
And so as you
study the word of God,
00:29:23.70\00:29:25.79
there is a continual cleansing
00:29:25.82\00:29:27.44
that is taking
place in your life
00:29:27.47\00:29:29.46
because the word of God
00:29:29.49\00:29:30.99
or even though it
is the bread of life,
00:29:31.02\00:29:33.77
it is also the water of life
00:29:33.80\00:29:36.32
continuing to
wash and purify us.
00:29:36.35\00:29:39.24
And so that's a beautiful,
that's a beautiful analogy
00:29:39.27\00:29:41.86
when you think
about how the Lord has--
00:29:41.89\00:29:46.11
in the word built in not
just the receiving of knowledge,
00:29:46.14\00:29:50.75
but the cleansing
of the body temple
00:29:50.78\00:29:54.42
as was the case in
the earthly temple.
00:29:54.45\00:29:57.45
Lot of comparisons
there, but when you understand
00:29:57.48\00:30:00.03
the sanctuary services,
00:30:00.06\00:30:01.51
it jumps out
even more carefully.
00:30:01.54\00:30:03.90
Well, thank you
for your questions
00:30:03.93\00:30:05.40
and your comments
00:30:05.43\00:30:06.80
and if you like to send
any more questions to us,
00:30:06.83\00:30:08.96
even to clarify something
we have asked or talked about.
00:30:08.99\00:30:12.17
Send them to
housecalls@3abn.org.
00:30:12.20\00:30:15.68
That's housecalls@3abn.org
and we thank you very much.
00:30:15.71\00:30:20.70
Now John, we've got about
little less than 30 minutes,
00:30:20.73\00:30:24.38
so let's continue
on our topic today
00:30:24.41\00:30:27.01
and I like you to
open the can there for us.
00:30:27.04\00:30:30.43
It's a good can by the
way, not a can of worm.
00:30:30.46\00:30:33.24
Let's-- very good topic
00:30:33.27\00:30:35.13
and let me just-- I
just told you open up.
00:30:35.16\00:30:37.67
Let me just say
something as you do so.
00:30:37.70\00:30:40.11
One of the reasons
why this is important
00:30:40.14\00:30:42.55
in the capacity of the
work that you are participating
00:30:42.58\00:30:45.42
is because you are
involved in the evangelism
00:30:45.45\00:30:48.50
and personal
ministries, am I right? Yes.
00:30:48.53\00:30:50.80
Let me just say
that without stumble,
00:30:50.83\00:30:52.20
evangelism and
personal ministries
00:30:52.23\00:30:53.90
in the Upper
Columbia Conference.
00:30:53.93\00:30:55.86
And one of the challenges
that the church faces,
00:30:55.89\00:31:00.60
no matter where it's located
00:31:00.63\00:31:02.60
is activating its members
to be involved in the ministry,
00:31:02.63\00:31:07.07
but a lot of members think that
00:31:07.10\00:31:08.47
the minister is the one who's
involved in ministry. Right.
00:31:08.50\00:31:12.76
Or the pastor,
so to speak. Yeah.
00:31:12.79\00:31:14.94
Not realizing
that there are roles
00:31:14.97\00:31:16.91
that God
established in scripture
00:31:16.94\00:31:19.16
for the equipping of the saints.
00:31:19.19\00:31:21.11
So now let's get back to this
00:31:21.14\00:31:23.07
and talk about
some of the aspects
00:31:23.10\00:31:24.47
of why we feel that ministry
00:31:24.50\00:31:27.45
is so widely important
for the individual Christian.
00:31:27.48\00:31:31.80
Well, you know,
the original plan
00:31:31.83\00:31:33.86
and especially when you
look at the Book of Acts,
00:31:33.89\00:31:36.37
you find that it
wasn't just pastors
00:31:36.40\00:31:39.00
that were going
around staying in churches
00:31:39.03\00:31:42.12
and helping to
lead out in churches.
00:31:42.15\00:31:43.69
The elders were
appointed for that,
00:31:43.72\00:31:45.41
the deacons were
to help with that.
00:31:45.44\00:31:48.06
There were definitely
some church leadership
00:31:48.09\00:31:52.66
established to provide
oversight for local churches.
00:31:52.69\00:31:56.17
But it wasn't necessary
supposed to be just the pastor.
00:31:56.20\00:31:58.85
Right. Or even a pastor.
00:31:58.88\00:32:01.31
But pastors also
identified in Ephesians 4,
00:32:01.34\00:32:07.53
we will read again.
00:32:07.56\00:32:09.64
Apostles, pastors, evangelists
00:32:09.67\00:32:13.85
and prophets are the
ones identified there,
00:32:13.88\00:32:17.54
but they were ones constantly
on the move. That's true.
00:32:17.57\00:32:20.50
Constantly on the
move doing training
00:32:20.53\00:32:22.52
and teaching and preaching
and helping the members
00:32:22.55\00:32:25.38
find the ministry
which would include then
00:32:25.41\00:32:28.03
elders, deacons and
those that were involved
00:32:28.06\00:32:29.97
in the work of the church.
00:32:30.00\00:32:31.69
The ones doing ministry
according to that passage
00:32:31.72\00:32:33.94
Ephesians 4 is the
members. That's right.
00:32:33.97\00:32:37.70
It's not that the
leaders weren't doing ministry,
00:32:37.73\00:32:40.03
but their
ministry wasn't focused
00:32:40.06\00:32:42.27
on the local communities.
00:32:42.30\00:32:44.04
Their ministry was a
constantly moving ministry
00:32:44.07\00:32:48.17
that would help to equip
and train those in many areas.
00:32:48.20\00:32:50.82
And we've gotten away
from that to a great degree.
00:32:50.85\00:32:55.00
And not just one
specific church has done that,
00:32:55.03\00:32:57.07
but in Christianity in general
has basically set up pastors
00:32:57.10\00:33:00.37
as the head of the church
and people looked at the pastor
00:33:00.40\00:33:02.83
rather than the elders
as ministry goes on there
00:33:02.86\00:33:05.75
and they often become
the spectators from the crowd
00:33:05.78\00:33:10.77
rather than the
ones actively involved.
00:33:10.80\00:33:12.52
Now I'm not saying
that's the case in all cases
00:33:12.55\00:33:14.16
and if you are part of a church
00:33:14.19\00:33:15.88
where the members
are all doing ministry,
00:33:15.91\00:33:18.04
praise God for that.
00:33:18.07\00:33:19.44
That is God's original intent
when He established His church.
00:33:19.47\00:33:22.82
But for those who haven't,
for those who feel like,
00:33:22.85\00:33:26.17
you know, I've been, I've been--
00:33:26.20\00:33:28.20
I've accepted Jesus as my Savior
00:33:28.23\00:33:30.02
but I've never really
gotten involved in the work.
00:33:30.05\00:33:32.63
The biblical model is
00:33:32.66\00:33:34.98
that God has called you to get
involved in ministry some way
00:33:35.01\00:33:39.49
and that ministry happens
after you've been transformed
00:33:39.52\00:33:42.39
by the fruit of the Spirit
00:33:42.42\00:33:43.92
and had been given a
Christ like character,
00:33:43.95\00:33:46.64
then you are giving a ministry
through the gifts of the Spirit.
00:33:46.67\00:33:49.71
Two different things
that come from the Spirit.
00:33:49.74\00:33:51.75
The second one is the gifts
of the Spirit to then go forward
00:33:51.78\00:33:54.66
and to do the work of
God and that is ministry
00:33:54.69\00:33:57.81
just as much as it is
for anybody else doing it.
00:33:57.84\00:34:00.97
Once statistic
that jumps out of me,
00:34:01.00\00:34:02.62
John, in research
00:34:02.65\00:34:05.70
and I'm not gonna speak
specifically of any church
00:34:05.73\00:34:09.83
although the Adventist
church is very much similar
00:34:09.86\00:34:11.81
to every other
church in this respect.
00:34:11.84\00:34:14.31
And that is this,
00:34:14.34\00:34:16.14
upwards of 80% to
85% of our membership
00:34:16.17\00:34:21.47
and members anywhere
have never personally
00:34:21.50\00:34:24.30
been involved
in bringing someone
00:34:24.33\00:34:26.44
to know Jesus and to baptism.
00:34:26.47\00:34:29.91
That's a sobering number,
00:34:29.94\00:34:32.16
80% to 85% have
never been involved
00:34:32.19\00:34:36.49
in winning somebody to
Christ and seeing them baptized.
00:34:36.52\00:34:40.51
Wow. That's huge.
00:34:40.54\00:34:41.91
Which would
include Bible studies
00:34:41.94\00:34:43.31
and other things that happened.
00:34:43.34\00:34:44.77
There's something
wrong with that picture
00:34:44.80\00:34:46.88
when the charge of God is
00:34:46.91\00:34:49.47
an instruction given to
all members of the church
00:34:49.50\00:34:52.98
to go there for preach, teach,
baptize, right? That's right.
00:34:53.01\00:34:58.54
That I could read
from one statement here
00:34:58.57\00:35:00.51
from Desire of Ages,
8:22, "The Savior's commission
00:35:00.54\00:35:03.34
to the disciples includes all
believers to the end of time."
00:35:03.37\00:35:07.49
Not just the disciples.
00:35:07.52\00:35:08.95
And you know,
there's a wonderful story
00:35:08.98\00:35:11.01
in the Bible in
the Book of Acts 6.
00:35:11.04\00:35:13.23
I want to go there
with you to look at this
00:35:13.26\00:35:15.71
because this is showing you
exactly the very same thing.
00:35:15.74\00:35:18.68
If the members feel--and members
don't necessary say this,
00:35:18.71\00:35:23.04
I don't want to
indict anybody by saying
00:35:23.07\00:35:25.68
making this blanket statement
that members think this way.
00:35:25.71\00:35:28.70
But in some places the hesitancy
00:35:28.73\00:35:31.83
could be because
of the perception
00:35:31.86\00:35:33.64
brought out in
this particular story.
00:35:33.67\00:35:35.90
In Acts 6:1 it
says, "Now in those days,
00:35:35.93\00:35:41.43
when the number of the
disciples was multiplying,
00:35:41.46\00:35:45.91
there arose a complaint against
the Hebrews by the Hellenists
00:35:45.94\00:35:50.05
because their
widows were neglected
00:35:50.08\00:35:52.18
in the daily distribution.
00:35:52.21\00:35:55.37
Then the twelve summoned
the multitude of the disciples
00:35:55.40\00:35:59.51
and said, 'It is not desirable
00:35:59.54\00:36:02.82
that we should leave the
Word of God and serve tables.
00:36:02.85\00:36:06.48
Therefore, brethren,
seek out from among you
00:36:06.51\00:36:09.56
seven men of good reputation,
00:36:09.59\00:36:11.91
full of the Holy
Spirit and wisdom,
00:36:11.94\00:36:14.00
whom we may
appoint over this business,
00:36:14.03\00:36:17.22
but we will give
ourselves continually to prayer
00:36:17.25\00:36:20.97
and to the
ministry of the word.'"
00:36:21.00\00:36:24.20
Notice what kind of
ministry is talked about there.
00:36:24.23\00:36:26.68
First of all, he's
looking for leaders,
00:36:26.71\00:36:28.27
he's looking for
people to put in charge.
00:36:28.30\00:36:30.71
And then he says we are involved
in the ministry of prayer
00:36:30.74\00:36:34.01
in prayer and the
ministry of the word.
00:36:34.04\00:36:36.11
Now, John, this
sounds really strange
00:36:36.14\00:36:38.14
but if I said to my members,
00:36:38.17\00:36:41.09
my job is just to pray
00:36:41.12\00:36:44.16
and to be involved in
the ministry of the word.
00:36:44.19\00:36:47.35
They will say, well, then
who's gonna visit so and so?
00:36:47.38\00:36:50.94
Well, who is
gonna visit so and so?
00:36:50.97\00:36:55.88
And I say what about you?
00:36:55.91\00:37:01.50
But I'm not paid for that.
00:37:01.53\00:37:04.26
See the ministry that
God calls Christians to
00:37:04.29\00:37:08.10
is not salary ministry,
00:37:08.13\00:37:11.06
but the ministry
of ambassadorship,
00:37:11.09\00:37:13.45
we are ambassadors.
00:37:13.48\00:37:15.70
That's a beautiful
word used in the Bible,
00:37:15.73\00:37:19.19
you are an
ambassador, I'm an ambassador.
00:37:19.22\00:37:21.34
The people sitting
in the congregation
00:37:21.37\00:37:24.05
they all are ambassadors.
00:37:24.08\00:37:25.66
Ambassadors of what?
Of the heavenly kingdom.
00:37:25.69\00:37:30.11
So wherever they go
00:37:30.14\00:37:31.51
they represent the
kingdom of God in life,
00:37:31.54\00:37:33.15
in work, in practice and
teaching and reaching out.
00:37:33.18\00:37:35.85
So this whole point of ministry,
00:37:35.88\00:37:38.20
what we're talking about here is
00:37:38.23\00:37:39.94
God has called us
to be ambassadors.
00:37:39.97\00:37:42.66
And so if a person receives
the title of ambassador,
00:37:42.69\00:37:46.42
but doesn't
function as an ambassador.
00:37:46.45\00:37:49.00
Is he or she an ambassador?
00:37:49.03\00:37:52.76
And the answer is
actually ineffective ambassador.
00:37:52.79\00:37:57.10
But an ambassador
nevertheless, supposed to be.
00:37:57.13\00:37:59.43
But must be accountable
for his or her ambassadorship.
00:37:59.46\00:38:03.14
What have you become?
00:38:03.17\00:38:04.58
Why are you in the position
but necessarily not functioning?
00:38:04.61\00:38:08.83
And this is why Ephesians
talks about the need to train,
00:38:08.86\00:38:12.24
the need to equip,
00:38:12.27\00:38:13.64
the need to
furnish the membership
00:38:13.67\00:38:15.86
with the knowledge of
what their call is all about
00:38:15.89\00:38:18.20
and how that call
should be carried out.
00:38:18.23\00:38:22.73
There is a parable. All right.
00:38:22.76\00:38:25.40
In Matthew 25 that speaks
00:38:25.43\00:38:27.20
exactly about the
gifts of the Spirit.
00:38:27.23\00:38:30.63
Now remember in the
last program part one,
00:38:30.66\00:38:32.34
we talked about fruit and gifts.
00:38:32.37\00:38:34.21
The two things that
come from the Spirit
00:38:34.24\00:38:37.25
as we pray and ask Jesus
to pour out the Spirit on us.
00:38:37.28\00:38:40.71
As John, we have been doing,
praying for revival. Right.
00:38:40.74\00:38:45.32
I think sometimes
we pray for revival
00:38:45.35\00:38:46.82
and don't know what to expect.
00:38:46.85\00:38:48.66
But here is what
you should expect
00:38:48.69\00:38:50.06
when you pray
for revival. Right.
00:38:50.09\00:38:52.00
Transform characters
00:38:52.03\00:38:53.40
because the fruit
becomes prominent in the life
00:38:53.43\00:38:56.41
which is the Christ likeness
00:38:56.44\00:38:58.24
about the
Christian life that we have.
00:38:58.27\00:39:01.19
But also the work of
the gifts of the Spirit,
00:39:01.22\00:39:04.65
the work of ministry
begins to exponentially grow
00:39:04.68\00:39:07.28
as a result of the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
00:39:07.31\00:39:09.93
That's right.
00:39:09.96\00:39:11.33
So we should be able to
see more Christ likeness
00:39:11.36\00:39:13.72
and more people getting involved
00:39:13.75\00:39:16.00
in the prayer that Christ
said that we should pray for,
00:39:16.03\00:39:18.69
pray for laborers to
work in the field, right.
00:39:18.72\00:39:21.81
We should see more
laborers, more workers for God.
00:39:21.84\00:39:24.59
But notice this in
Matthew 25, this parable.
00:39:24.62\00:39:30.09
And it's about the
talents and gifts are talents,
00:39:30.12\00:39:34.15
amen. It's true.
00:39:34.18\00:39:35.89
And so here's what it says
00:39:35.92\00:39:37.29
and we don't have
time to read all of that.
00:39:37.32\00:39:39.09
But essentially, "The
kingdom of heaven--" verse 14,
00:39:39.12\00:39:42.33
"Is like a man
traveling to a far country,
00:39:42.36\00:39:44.06
who called his own servants
00:39:44.09\00:39:45.46
and delivered
his goods to them."
00:39:45.49\00:39:48.00
In other words Jesus
traveling to a far country,
00:39:48.03\00:39:50.92
this earth getting His disciples
together and giving them, what?
00:39:50.95\00:39:55.17
Giving them goods,
00:39:55.20\00:39:57.02
so that they can
serve their servants,
00:39:57.05\00:39:59.13
serve Him, right?
00:39:59.16\00:40:01.29
And to one he gave five talents,
00:40:01.32\00:40:03.14
to another two and another one.
00:40:03.17\00:40:05.24
So there's three individuals
that he gave, talents to.
00:40:05.27\00:40:08.31
It says at least in this story,
00:40:08.34\00:40:09.80
five, two
talents and one talent.
00:40:09.83\00:40:12.43
Well, the one that had five
00:40:12.46\00:40:13.83
was faithful in
using those five talents
00:40:13.86\00:40:15.77
and he was given five more.
00:40:15.80\00:40:18.06
The one that was
two was also faithful
00:40:18.09\00:40:19.88
in using their two
talents and was given more.
00:40:19.91\00:40:21.76
Now these are spiritual gifts.
00:40:21.79\00:40:23.19
These are the
gifts given to them
00:40:23.22\00:40:24.78
for the work of ministry
in serving God's kingdom.
00:40:24.81\00:40:29.30
But the one that had
one talent was not faithful.
00:40:29.33\00:40:33.09
That he went and
buried in the ground
00:40:33.12\00:40:35.62
so when Jesus came back he said,
00:40:35.65\00:40:37.02
well, I know you're harsh man
00:40:37.05\00:40:38.42
and you're very judgmental man,
00:40:38.45\00:40:39.82
so I just wanted to make
sure that it was taken care of.
00:40:39.85\00:40:41.64
I put it in the
ground and here you go.
00:40:41.67\00:40:43.70
Right. I want to make
sure that I kept it for you.
00:40:43.73\00:40:46.23
And what's the response?
00:40:46.26\00:40:47.81
Unfaithful.
00:40:47.84\00:40:49.37
Yeah, you wicked and
unfaithful or slothful servant.
00:40:49.40\00:40:54.49
And I find that
interesting slothful, lazy.
00:40:54.52\00:40:57.83
That means unwilling to work.
00:40:57.86\00:41:00.55
Do we have members that say,
00:41:00.58\00:41:03.87
I don't really
have much to offer
00:41:03.90\00:41:05.31
I don't have many
talents, what can I do?
00:41:05.34\00:41:08.02
They aren't using their gifts,
00:41:08.05\00:41:09.74
their talents that God
is given them in ministry.
00:41:09.77\00:41:12.27
You know, what so
pertinent about that story
00:41:12.30\00:41:13.79
and I think that
you may have caught that
00:41:13.82\00:41:15.19
while John was reading that.
00:41:15.22\00:41:16.93
The one that only had
one thing to do didn't do it.
00:41:16.96\00:41:20.70
The one that had the ability
to do one thing, one gift,
00:41:20.73\00:41:24.42
didn't exercise it and was
accountable for that one gift,
00:41:24.45\00:41:28.52
but then also lost the blessing
of even holding on to that gift.
00:41:28.55\00:41:33.46
And that's why
the Bible talks about,
00:41:33.49\00:41:34.86
if we have something and we
don't use it, we'll lose it.
00:41:35.11\00:41:37.76
That's the case.
00:41:37.79\00:41:39.16
You lose things
that you don't use.
00:41:39.19\00:41:40.56
You know, what also
jumped out of me at this John,
00:41:40.59\00:41:41.96
the one that had the one talent,
00:41:41.99\00:41:43.44
the talent was taken from him
00:41:43.47\00:41:44.84
and it was given to
the one that had the most.
00:41:44.87\00:41:46.39
That's right.
00:41:46.42\00:41:47.79
The one that was
using the most talents.
00:41:47.82\00:41:49.57
We have within the
church those who are blessed
00:41:49.60\00:41:52.48
who are preachers,
who are evangelists,
00:41:52.51\00:41:55.49
who are able to win hearts
00:41:55.52\00:41:56.89
and are out there working
diligently and faithfully.
00:41:56.92\00:42:00.00
And then we have on
the other end of spectrum,
00:42:00.03\00:42:02.50
people that just
aren't doing much of anything.
00:42:02.53\00:42:04.89
Why not in the
middle, why don't we all share
00:42:04.92\00:42:07.47
and work together
unified in God's work
00:42:07.50\00:42:10.49
and all of us doing our part,
00:42:10.52\00:42:11.91
so the one
doesn't have to do so much
00:42:11.94\00:42:14.38
and the one is doing nothing
can do a little bit of the work,
00:42:14.41\00:42:17.23
so that we all do it together
in hasting God's return.
00:42:17.26\00:42:21.07
Looking for and hastening
00:42:21.10\00:42:22.78
for the return of the
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:42:22.81\00:42:27.43
All of us can be
involved in that work.
00:42:27.46\00:42:29.07
And so this is
God's will for us.
00:42:29.10\00:42:32.63
And the other thing you have
to keep in mind Romans 11:29,
00:42:32.66\00:42:35.95
this is something that's
really kind of tap on the back.
00:42:35.98\00:42:39.83
"The gifts and the
calling of God are irrevocable."
00:42:39.86\00:42:44.35
In other words,
He is not gonna say,
00:42:44.38\00:42:45.75
well, I've given
John, the gift to preach,
00:42:45.78\00:42:48.55
ah, I'll take it back.
00:42:48.58\00:42:50.78
No.
00:42:50.81\00:42:52.18
Because you have
the gift to preach
00:42:52.21\00:42:53.67
and He's not taken it back,
00:42:53.70\00:42:55.37
He's in essence saying, you
are accountable for that gift.
00:42:55.40\00:42:58.61
You're steward of these gifts.
00:42:58.64\00:43:00.01
So somebody
can't, nobody could say,
00:43:00.04\00:43:01.98
well, I don't preach anymore.
00:43:02.01\00:43:06.04
Well, God didn't take it back,
00:43:06.07\00:43:07.44
so who chose to not exercise
the gift that God has given.
00:43:07.47\00:43:12.32
The person who had the
gift chose not to exercise.
00:43:12.35\00:43:14.39
And this 80% to 85% that's not
involved in the work can't say,
00:43:14.42\00:43:19.06
well, there's nothing I can do.
00:43:19.09\00:43:20.46
God's holding us accountable
00:43:20.49\00:43:21.86
to use the one gift
He has given us to do.
00:43:21.89\00:43:23.58
He said, I
haven't taken it back,
00:43:23.61\00:43:24.98
so for you to say that
you don't really do anything
00:43:25.01\00:43:29.49
or you're not
actively involved in the work
00:43:29.52\00:43:31.77
is to indict yourself
00:43:31.80\00:43:33.17
because it goes
on in Romans 11:26,
00:43:33.20\00:43:36.48
it says, Romans
12 sorry in verse 6.
00:43:36.51\00:43:40.80
You know, I'm
going to Romans 12,
00:43:40.83\00:43:42.21
if you want to hold
it just a little bit,
00:43:42.24\00:43:43.70
because this is where we
kind of need to transition to
00:43:43.73\00:43:46.71
is being the will of God.
00:43:46.74\00:43:48.11
But I do want to say this,
00:43:48.14\00:43:49.51
right now just
recently, probably some churches
00:43:49.54\00:43:52.06
have gone through the
nominating community process.
00:43:52.09\00:43:53.94
Yeah, we're actually--
00:43:53.97\00:43:55.34
And it's like
pulling teeth to get someone
00:43:55.37\00:43:57.96
to step up to do
a ministry. Yeah.
00:43:57.99\00:44:00.22
Well, I don't know, I
just didn't that too much.
00:44:00.25\00:44:01.85
My schedule doesn't--
00:44:01.88\00:44:03.25
They don't see
it the biblical way,
00:44:03.28\00:44:04.92
the ministry that-- the
community is giving them
00:44:04.95\00:44:07.69
to do or asking them to do,
00:44:07.72\00:44:09.35
may not be the one
God called them to do,
00:44:09.38\00:44:11.73
but instead of saying,
no, I'm not gonna do that
00:44:11.76\00:44:13.92
why don't you say, I'm willing
to do something else though.
00:44:13.95\00:44:17.27
Rarely do I hear
well, you know what,
00:44:17.30\00:44:18.67
I just don't feel
like I'm equipped for that.
00:44:18.70\00:44:20.84
What else can I do?
00:44:20.87\00:44:22.85
It's usually, I
don't want to do anything.
00:44:22.88\00:44:25.66
That's the problem.
00:44:25.69\00:44:27.06
Well, I don't know, I just
gonna take a break this year.
00:44:27.09\00:44:29.07
Take a break from
ministry? It's irrevocable.
00:44:29.10\00:44:32.30
You got to use
that talent somewhere.
00:44:32.33\00:44:34.58
The thing that we don't
do to man, we do to God.
00:44:34.61\00:44:38.27
There are some people that
have been working for 30 years
00:44:38.30\00:44:40.22
or maybe not 30
00:44:40.25\00:44:41.62
but probably some
people work for 25, 15 years.
00:44:41.65\00:44:45.98
And then they say to their boss,
00:44:46.01\00:44:48.29
you know what, I'm
taking this year off
00:44:48.32\00:44:50.79
as I've been doing the same
thing for the last 15 years.
00:44:50.82\00:44:53.76
I'm taking this whole year off,
00:44:53.79\00:44:56.09
I'll be back same
time next year fully.
00:44:56.12\00:44:59.97
But what I like you to
do during that whole year,
00:45:00.00\00:45:02.20
you still give me a salary.
00:45:02.23\00:45:03.60
I want all my benefits, I want
my health insurance coverage,
00:45:03.63\00:45:09.58
I don't want anybody to
mess with anything at my desk,
00:45:09.61\00:45:12.11
I want to make
sure that everything
00:45:12.14\00:45:13.51
that I have now
will be there for me
00:45:13.54\00:45:15.61
and continue in the benefits
of every area financially both
00:45:15.64\00:45:18.96
and health wise,
throughout the entire year.
00:45:18.99\00:45:21.97
Can you imagine such a thing?
00:45:22.00\00:45:24.08
And as I'm saying
this, people saying,
00:45:24.11\00:45:26.79
you're gonna
find a job like that.
00:45:26.82\00:45:28.45
Yeah, it's called Christianity.
00:45:28.48\00:45:30.79
They want
benefits all year long.
00:45:30.82\00:45:33.15
They want the benefit
of worship and fellowship,
00:45:33.18\00:45:36.56
they want life protection,
they want God's protection,
00:45:36.59\00:45:39.78
they want to have God
furnish all the things
00:45:39.81\00:45:41.95
He promises to their
family and bless their children,
00:45:41.98\00:45:44.49
but they wanted to
do absolutely nothing
00:45:44.52\00:45:47.10
to advance the kingdom of God
00:45:47.13\00:45:49.31
and they're
expecting all the benefits
00:45:49.34\00:45:51.97
to be bestowed upon them.
00:45:52.00\00:45:53.52
And there are two kinds of
ministries to point out here
00:45:53.55\00:45:55.44
within these gifts realm.
00:45:55.47\00:45:57.12
Ministry for the church which
is done with other Christians
00:45:57.15\00:46:00.60
and ministry individually
which is what you can do
00:46:00.63\00:46:03.97
in your everyday
work for your co-workers,
00:46:04.00\00:46:06.70
whether your
friends, maybe family,
00:46:06.73\00:46:09.11
in your social life
whatever that may be,
00:46:09.14\00:46:11.20
those are the two kinds
of ways that we minister.
00:46:11.23\00:46:13.94
So when the church
comes calling for you
00:46:13.97\00:46:15.71
to do ministry
instead of, may be saying,
00:46:15.74\00:46:18.02
well, I don't
know if I'm really,
00:46:18.05\00:46:19.68
I don't want to do that.
00:46:19.71\00:46:21.08
Say, I'm not
sure that's my gift,
00:46:21.11\00:46:24.07
but I'm willing to do something.
00:46:24.10\00:46:25.47
Here's what my gift is,
00:46:25.50\00:46:26.87
can you find
something else for me to do.
00:46:26.90\00:46:28.27
I've never known a pastor or
an elder or church leadership
00:46:28.30\00:46:32.13
that had said to
someone when they say,
00:46:32.16\00:46:33.97
I want to do
something for Jesus, no. No.
00:46:34.00\00:46:38.19
And God doesn't say no. Right.
00:46:38.22\00:46:41.38
On this subject, John, of gifts,
00:46:41.41\00:46:45.58
you just mentioned it
from Romans 11:29. Okay.
00:46:45.61\00:46:48.96
He continues that topic
in 12 and look at verse 1.
00:46:48.99\00:46:51.95
All right. I'm
going there right now.
00:46:51.98\00:46:54.01
"I beseech you
therefore, brethren,"
00:46:54.04\00:46:55.81
in other words
Paul is pleading, right?
00:46:55.84\00:46:59.41
That word,
beseech is I beg of you,
00:46:59.44\00:47:01.76
I plead with you, brethren.
00:47:01.79\00:47:04.66
"By the mercies of
God," he is so merciful to us
00:47:04.69\00:47:07.82
"That you present your bodies a
living sacrifice." That's right.
00:47:07.85\00:47:12.55
"Holy, acceptable to God,
00:47:12.58\00:47:14.17
which is your
reasonable service."
00:47:14.20\00:47:16.92
In other words, this
is the way you serve God,
00:47:16.95\00:47:19.31
to present your body to Him
and say, I am here to serve.
00:47:19.34\00:47:24.28
"And do not be
conformed to this world,"
00:47:24.31\00:47:26.42
Verse 2, "But be transformed
by the renewing of your mind."
00:47:26.45\00:47:29.49
In other words it's
got to start here first.
00:47:29.52\00:47:30.92
You got to make a conscious
decision. That's right.
00:47:30.95\00:47:33.15
Now the interesting thing about
that word "reasonable service,"
00:47:33.18\00:47:35.27
John, I did some
more study on this.
00:47:35.30\00:47:36.91
It's a reasonable service,
what it's really saying there
00:47:36.94\00:47:39.98
it's an act of the will.
00:47:40.01\00:47:42.77
It's a decision reason out in
the mind that God has saved me,
00:47:42.80\00:47:46.77
I must serve Him. That's right.
00:47:46.80\00:47:49.15
That's why it's a
reasonable service,
00:47:49.18\00:47:50.89
it's stepping forward and
saying, I am going to serve
00:47:50.92\00:47:52.71
because I've reason that
it's the right thing to do
00:47:52.74\00:47:56.32
because of what you
have done for me, Lord. Yeah.
00:47:56.35\00:47:59.13
And do--don't be--of course,
we've talked about transform
00:47:59.16\00:48:01.58
by the renewing of
your mind that you may prove
00:48:01.61\00:48:04.55
what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
00:48:04.58\00:48:08.38
Someone might
ask, Well, I don't know
00:48:08.41\00:48:09.78
what the will of
God is for my life.
00:48:09.81\00:48:11.18
You know, I can give you
an answer in simple terms
00:48:11.21\00:48:13.29
along these lines, this context.
00:48:13.32\00:48:16.40
The will of God is
that you serve Him,
00:48:16.43\00:48:19.03
in whatever capacity that is,
00:48:19.06\00:48:20.63
whatever gift He has given you
00:48:20.66\00:48:22.03
that you use those
gifts to serve Him.
00:48:22.06\00:48:25.16
That is His will for you and
you prove it by giving yourself,
00:48:25.19\00:48:30.22
your body as a living
sacrifice and agreeing to go on
00:48:30.25\00:48:33.61
that mission for
God and be used by Him.
00:48:33.64\00:48:37.27
The interesting thing
about this passage is,
00:48:37.30\00:48:39.13
then you move into a subject
about everyone being dealt
00:48:39.16\00:48:44.27
with the measure of faith.
00:48:44.30\00:48:45.67
Verse 3, "Many
members but all one body."
00:48:45.70\00:48:48.34
Verse 4, "The church"
and then look at verse 6,
00:48:48.37\00:48:51.64
"Having then gifts
differing according to the grace
00:48:51.67\00:48:55.34
that is given to
us, let us use them."
00:48:55.37\00:48:59.82
This whole topic,
John, of Romans 12:1-2
00:48:59.85\00:49:03.57
about offering our bodies,
it's a reasonable service,
00:49:03.60\00:49:06.46
it's a thing we should do,
00:49:06.49\00:49:07.86
it's the will of God is
all about spiritual gifts.
00:49:07.89\00:49:11.04
That's right.
00:49:11.07\00:49:12.98
And we've got people
in the church that say,
00:49:13.01\00:49:14.96
"Praise God" and we should say
00:49:14.99\00:49:16.85
this that God has saved me
00:49:16.88\00:49:18.25
and He has changed me
and He has made me new.
00:49:18.28\00:49:20.43
But now let's move to the
other side of the equation,
00:49:20.46\00:49:22.21
the balance of
the gospel which is,
00:49:22.24\00:49:23.66
Lord, now what do
you want me to do?
00:49:23.69\00:49:25.48
Oh, here's the
text, John, I was--
00:49:25.51\00:49:27.63
the Lord impressed me,
came back to my mind. Please.
00:49:27.66\00:49:30.75
Romans, sorry, Psalms 116:12,
00:49:30.78\00:49:36.41
"What shall I render to the Lord
00:49:36.44\00:49:38.69
for all His benefits toward me?"
00:49:38.72\00:49:42.29
That is huge. Yes.
00:49:42.32\00:49:44.06
If somebody says,
you're gonna have full dental,
00:49:44.09\00:49:46.33
you're gonna have
full medical coverage,
00:49:46.36\00:49:48.18
all your rents going to be paid,
00:49:48.21\00:49:49.61
all your travel
expenses covered.
00:49:49.64\00:49:51.55
You don't have to
worry about your light bill,
00:49:51.58\00:49:52.95
your gas bill, your phone bill,
00:49:52.98\00:49:54.35
we'll pay your car insurance
00:49:54.38\00:49:55.75
and we'll cover
all of your fuel.
00:49:55.78\00:49:57.54
We'll have your education
for your children covered
00:49:57.57\00:50:00.00
and I tell you what I am
going to be building your home
00:50:00.03\00:50:02.25
so that when this life is done,
00:50:02.28\00:50:03.97
you'll have a
home, completely paid for
00:50:04.00\00:50:06.34
and it's going to
be better than the home
00:50:06.37\00:50:07.74
you even have down here.
00:50:07.77\00:50:09.14
I'll protect
you when you travel.
00:50:09.17\00:50:10.54
I am going to
provide all your need
00:50:10.57\00:50:11.94
according to my wealth
and my riches in glory.
00:50:11.97\00:50:13.92
Okay, stop. What?
00:50:13.95\00:50:16.15
Shall I render to you Lord
for all your benefits toward me?
00:50:16.18\00:50:19.47
What can I do? I
got to do something.
00:50:19.50\00:50:21.96
If somebody came
up to you and gave you
00:50:21.99\00:50:23.40
a check for a million
dollars and you accepted it,
00:50:23.43\00:50:28.08
you will say, is there anything,
00:50:28.11\00:50:29.67
is there anything if you
ever want me to do anything
00:50:29.70\00:50:34.10
just give me a call.
00:50:34.13\00:50:35.74
Don't we say
that, John? Yes we do.
00:50:35.77\00:50:37.14
But the Lord who gave
His only begotten Son,
00:50:37.17\00:50:41.95
the Lord who sent
His Son to die for us,
00:50:41.98\00:50:44.91
God the Father who
gave His Son to die for us
00:50:44.94\00:50:48.30
that we might
have everlasting life.
00:50:48.33\00:50:51.03
Do we even say, what
shall I render to the Lord
00:50:51.06\00:50:54.40
for all His benefits toward me?
00:50:54.43\00:50:55.82
What can I do Father?
00:50:55.85\00:50:57.22
What can I do to show
you that I really appreciate
00:50:57.25\00:50:59.36
what you've done for me?
00:50:59.39\00:51:01.66
The problem today, John,
in the finishing of the work
00:51:01.69\00:51:05.57
is not the harvest.
00:51:05.60\00:51:07.14
It's not the
difficult opposition out there.
00:51:07.17\00:51:10.35
We often look at that.
00:51:10.38\00:51:12.05
The issue is with workers.
00:51:12.08\00:51:15.54
Jesus said in Matthew 9:36,
"But when he saw the multitudes,
00:51:15.57\00:51:19.74
He was moved with
compassion for them,
00:51:19.77\00:51:21.26
because they were
weary and scattered,
00:51:21.29\00:51:23.57
like sheep having no shepherd."
00:51:23.60\00:51:25.36
Verse 36. "Then he
said to his disciples,
00:51:25.39\00:51:27.80
'The harvest truly is plentiful
but the labors are few.
00:51:27.83\00:51:32.99
Therefore pray the
Lord of the harvest,
00:51:33.02\00:51:35.46
to send out labors
into his harvest.'"
00:51:35.49\00:51:39.46
Pray for more
workers. That's right.
00:51:39.49\00:51:42.15
The reason the gospel
is not finishing is not--
00:51:42.18\00:51:44.94
we're not able
to finish the work
00:51:44.97\00:51:46.34
because we don't
have enough laborers.
00:51:46.37\00:51:48.57
We are not taking
serious the accountability
00:51:48.60\00:51:50.79
we have to God and
the talents given to us
00:51:50.82\00:51:53.28
to return to Him service
and to work for His kingdom.
00:51:53.31\00:51:56.62
Notice 10:1, Matthew 10:1.
00:51:56.65\00:51:59.41
What is Jesus doing in response
to their encouraging them
00:51:59.44\00:52:01.98
to pray for laborers?
00:52:02.01\00:52:04.36
It says, "And when he had called
his twelve disciples to Him,
00:52:04.39\00:52:07.17
He gave them power."
00:52:07.20\00:52:11.05
What did He do? He gave
them power. That's right.
00:52:11.08\00:52:13.78
If you say, I just-- I can't
do anything, pray for power.
00:52:13.81\00:52:18.20
Pray for strength from God.
00:52:18.23\00:52:19.95
This is the
response, the biblical response
00:52:19.98\00:52:22.22
to needing more laborers.
00:52:22.25\00:52:24.12
Come to Jesus and Jesus
will give you the power to--
00:52:24.15\00:52:29.55
over unclean
spirits, to cast them out,
00:52:29.58\00:52:32.30
to heal all kinds of sickness
and all kinds of disease.
00:52:32.33\00:52:35.56
Essentially what Jesus
is saying is all authority
00:52:35.59\00:52:38.12
has been given to Me, I
now give you that power,
00:52:38.15\00:52:41.36
that authority to go forwardand
make disciples of all people,
00:52:41.39\00:52:44.86
of all nations and baptize them,
00:52:44.89\00:52:46.30
preach and teach and
fulfill the commission
00:52:46.33\00:52:48.57
I've given to you to do.
00:52:48.60\00:52:50.57
It seems pretty to the point
00:52:50.60\00:52:54.69
but I think what's happening
is the human heart here. Yes.
00:52:54.72\00:52:57.93
The issue is the human heart.
00:52:57.96\00:53:00.58
When the Bible
says, "Unthankful"
00:53:00.61\00:53:04.20
we always think that
it means unthankful toward
00:53:04.23\00:53:06.76
mom and dad and
aunty and uncle and friends
00:53:06.79\00:53:10.36
that gave you,
you know, a apple pie
00:53:10.39\00:53:13.12
or somebody
brought you a Corvette,
00:53:13.15\00:53:14.74
but it's also
unthankful towards God. Yeah.
00:53:14.77\00:53:17.25
Unthankful, unholy.
00:53:17.28\00:53:19.84
They are not
saying, God has done so much
00:53:19.87\00:53:22.23
and we forget that
Revelation 22:11 which says--
00:53:22.26\00:53:26.50
well,
Revelation 22:12 that says,
00:53:26.53\00:53:28.56
"Behold, I come quickly,
and My reward is with Me,
00:53:28.59\00:53:30.97
to give to everyone
according as his work shall be."
00:53:31.00\00:53:33.38
Proverbs 24:29 says,
00:53:33.41\00:53:37.46
"I will render to the
man according to his work."
00:53:37.49\00:53:41.84
Do not say, "I will do to
him just as he has done to me,
00:53:41.87\00:53:46.73
but I will render to the
man according to his work."
00:53:46.76\00:53:49.91
So when the Lord returns
00:53:49.94\00:53:53.62
and by the way He
will return sooner
00:53:53.65\00:53:56.92
if there are more
workers doing the work.
00:53:56.95\00:53:59.78
How fast will the
harvest be gathered in,
00:53:59.81\00:54:04.06
only as fast as the people
00:54:04.09\00:54:06.12
that are involved
in the work of harvest.
00:54:06.15\00:54:09.30
You see, I know, New York City,
00:54:09.33\00:54:10.70
John, whenever New Year's
Eve came by there in Time Square
00:54:10.73\00:54:16.54
it seems like the
entire sanitation department
00:54:16.57\00:54:19.12
of the city of
New York was there.
00:54:19.15\00:54:21.21
And you look at all that
confetti and all those balloons
00:54:21.24\00:54:23.90
and all the paraphernalia
all over the ground
00:54:23.93\00:54:26.79
and while the program has ended
00:54:26.82\00:54:28.90
and people or the million
of people have gone home,
00:54:28.93\00:54:31.99
you wake up and you go out there
00:54:32.02\00:54:33.63
the next morning you
think how on the earth
00:54:33.66\00:54:37.17
did they get rid of
all this stuff so quickly.
00:54:37.20\00:54:39.75
Because the laborers
were not few, they were many.
00:54:39.78\00:54:43.19
In the world we've
got military laborers,
00:54:43.22\00:54:45.78
we've got social laborers,
00:54:45.81\00:54:47.69
we've got
laborers in the workplace
00:54:47.72\00:54:49.73
and we talk about the
unemployment rate going down.
00:54:49.76\00:54:52.83
Well, I tell you what,
00:54:52.86\00:54:54.23
unemployment is
higher in God's church
00:54:54.26\00:54:55.86
than any place
else on the earth.
00:54:55.89\00:54:57.68
And you don't need
a new pastor or labor
00:54:57.71\00:54:59.36
or you don't need
a new this or that.
00:54:59.39\00:55:00.80
You need to just step forward
and say, I will be a laborer.
00:55:00.83\00:55:04.16
What did Isaiah says
when the Lord talked about--
00:55:04.19\00:55:06.27
"Here am I, send me."
00:55:06.30\00:55:08.66
Here I am. He didn't say,
"Isaiah, would you go for me?"
00:55:08.69\00:55:11.43
Because you know,
sometimes you feel obligated
00:55:11.46\00:55:13.01
when Lord says,
"John, will you go for me?"
00:55:13.04\00:55:17.15
Okay, I'll go. Yeah, sure.
00:55:17.18\00:55:19.41
Look at the context
there is Lord was saying,
00:55:19.44\00:55:21.32
I need somebody. Right.
00:55:21.35\00:55:22.72
And Isaiah said, "I
am here, send me." Right.
00:55:22.75\00:55:26.08
The Lord is
saying, I need somebody
00:55:26.11\00:55:27.48
why don't you say, send me.
00:55:27.51\00:55:29.31
Right, two words that
will change your life.
00:55:29.34\00:55:31.15
And in your talk--
and I like what you said.
00:55:31.18\00:55:33.01
This is the issue of the heart
00:55:33.04\00:55:34.41
because I at times
don't feel like ministry.
00:55:34.44\00:55:38.42
We are right with you sometimes
and we need to cry to God
00:55:38.45\00:55:42.46
as David did as well
create in me a clean heart
00:55:42.49\00:55:45.79
oh God and renew a right
spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.
00:55:45.82\00:55:49.61
We need to pray that prayer.
00:55:49.64\00:55:51.58
Listen to this, this
is an amazing testimony.
00:55:51.61\00:55:56.85
The Christian has desire,
when he is changed by God.
00:55:56.88\00:56:01.65
A desire to live for--
no desire to live for self,
00:56:01.68\00:56:05.03
he delights to
consecrate all that he has
00:56:05.06\00:56:07.55
and is to the Master's service.
00:56:07.58\00:56:09.50
He is moved by
inexpressible win,
00:56:09.53\00:56:11.75
a desire to win souls to Jesus.
00:56:11.78\00:56:14.43
And listen to this, those
who have nothing of this desire
00:56:14.46\00:56:17.74
might be better concerned
for their own salvation,
00:56:17.77\00:56:20.07
let them pray for
the spirit of service.
00:56:20.10\00:56:24.13
Pray for the spirit of service.
00:56:24.16\00:56:25.53
When I read that I
said, you know what,
00:56:25.56\00:56:28.03
I need more of
the spirit of service.
00:56:28.06\00:56:31.03
I don't have the
desire to win souls
00:56:31.06\00:56:34.01
like God wants me to.
00:56:34.04\00:56:36.86
At times, yes, it's
wonderful in the moment
00:56:36.89\00:56:39.21
when you are doing ministry,
00:56:39.24\00:56:40.61
but there are times
where we all struggle.
00:56:40.64\00:56:43.01
Lord, I pray for
the spirit of service,
00:56:43.04\00:56:45.21
change my heart and make me new,
00:56:45.24\00:56:47.36
so I can love people
like you love people.
00:56:47.39\00:56:51.61
That is the quandary
00:56:51.64\00:56:53.39
that the church finds
itself in nowadays, John.
00:56:53.42\00:56:55.55
So since this topic has
been something you introduced.
00:56:55.58\00:57:00.10
Give me a few more words
before I close the program up.
00:57:00.13\00:57:01.98
What do we do?
00:57:02.01\00:57:03.38
You know, I'd say our churches
don't need a new program.
00:57:03.41\00:57:05.79
They don't need a new method.
00:57:05.82\00:57:07.19
They don't need new
this or that or any pastor.
00:57:07.22\00:57:08.81
What they need
is a new heart. Wow.
00:57:08.84\00:57:10.74
And they need a new desire
for service and step forward
00:57:10.77\00:57:13.68
to answer God's
call for laborers.
00:57:13.71\00:57:16.03
We can all be part
of this finishing work.
00:57:16.06\00:57:19.14
Well, friends, as you can see
we surely do believe in the call
00:57:19.17\00:57:22.06
that God has
placed upon our lives.
00:57:22.09\00:57:24.23
And so when the
call of God comes to you,
00:57:24.26\00:57:26.65
we encourage
you to respond to it
00:57:26.68\00:57:28.91
because this is the one
thing that will transform you.
00:57:28.94\00:57:31.62
So if it comes today, we
ask you to respond to it.
00:57:31.65\00:57:35.58
God bless you.
00:57:35.61\00:57:36.98