>>Bill: There is a
story told about an old man,
00:00:04.46\00:00:05.43
walking the beach at
dawn, who noticed a young man
00:00:05.43\00:00:06.96
ahead of him picking up
starfish and flinging them
00:00:06.96\00:00:09.76
into the sea. Catching
up with the youth, he asked
00:00:09.76\00:00:10.76
what he was doing.
The answer was that the
00:00:10.76\00:00:14.23
stranded starfish would
die if left in the morning
00:00:14.23\00:00:18.43
sun. 'But the beach
goes on for miles and miles,
00:00:18.43\00:00:19.43
and there are millions
of starfish,' countered the
00:00:19.43\00:00:25.06
man. 'How can your
effort make any difference?' The
00:00:25.06\00:00:30.56
young man looked at the
starfish in his hand and
00:00:30.56\00:00:31.56
then threw it to
safety in the waves. 'It makes
00:00:31.56\00:00:38.83
a difference to
this one,' he said."
00:00:38.83\00:00:46.16
>>ANNOUNCER: IT HAS
STOOD THE TEST OF TIME...
00:00:52.73\00:00:55.16
GOD'S BOOK, THE BIBLE.
00:00:55.43\00:00:58.50
STILL RELEVANT IN
TODAY'S COMPLEX WORLD.
00:00:58.76\00:01:03.03
IT IS WRITTEN . . .
00:01:03.36\00:01:05.80
SHARING MESSAGES OF
HOPE AROUND THE WORLD.
00:01:06.13\00:01:10.30
>>Bill: A church
secretary spent her vacation at
00:01:26.86\00:01:27.90
the beach. As she
sunned herself, a little boy
00:01:27.90\00:01:30.20
in his swimsuit approached
her and politely asked her
00:01:30.20\00:01:34.90
a series of questions.
00:01:34.90\00:01:35.40
"Miss, do you believe in
God?" The woman was taken
00:01:35.40\00:01:39.63
aback a little but said
she did. Then the little
00:01:39.63\00:01:40.63
boy asked, "Do you go
to church every week?" The
00:01:40.63\00:01:46.53
woman told the boy that
she went to church every
00:01:46.53\00:01:51.80
week and even worked
at the church. The little
00:01:51.80\00:01:52.80
boy persisted with his
interrogation and asked,
00:01:52.80\00:01:58.50
"Do you read your
Bible every day?" The woman
00:01:58.50\00:02:03.43
told the boy she read
her Bible every day. The boy
00:02:03.43\00:02:04.43
nodded his head, seeming
satisfied with her answers
00:02:04.43\00:02:09.03
and then he said: "It
that case, will you hold my
00:02:09.03\00:02:13.83
dollar for me while I
go for a swim?" Jesus said,
00:02:13.83\00:02:17.56
I want to welcome our
viewers to this weeks "It
00:02:32.76\00:02:33.76
Is Written" program. We
are continuing our study
00:02:33.76\00:02:36.23
of Galatians 5 and
verses 22 and 23 and we have
00:02:36.23\00:02:41.80
moved on this week to
faithfulness. And joining
00:02:41.80\00:02:42.80
me here on the
program today is a returning
00:02:42.80\00:02:48.70
guest, Dr. Mansfield
Edwards. Dr. Edwards thank
00:02:48.70\00:02:53.66
you for being with
us here. >>Dr. Edwards:
00:02:53.66\00:02:54.60
Thanks for having me.
00:02:54.60\00:02:56.73
>>Bill: And joining
us, I believe for the first
00:02:56.73\00:02:57.93
time, is Dr. Dan Linrud.
00:02:57.93\00:03:01.86
>> Dr. Linrud: Thank you.
00:03:01.86\00:03:02.40
>>Bill: Dr. Linrud,
thank you for being with us. >>
00:03:02.40\00:03:05.53
Dr. Linrud: Fantastic
to be here. >>Bill: Well
00:03:05.53\00:03:06.50
great. Well let's start
with you Dr. Linrud, tell
00:03:06.50\00:03:10.10
us a little bit about
yourself and where you
00:03:10.10\00:03:19.03
serve right now. >>Dr.
00:03:19.03\00:03:19.53
Linrud: Sure. I've been
a pastor for the past 25
00:03:19.53\00:03:20.90
years. Married for
that same amount of time
00:03:20.90\00:03:21.80
That's probably why I
was able to stay a pastor for
00:03:21.80\00:03:25.10
that many years...
>>Bill: (laughing) >>Dr. Linrud:
00:03:25.10\00:03:27.00
.and be faithful. And
right now I'm serving in
00:03:27.00\00:03:27.96
an administrative roll
for the Adventist Church
00:03:27.96\00:03:31.80
in Ontario. >>Bill:
Wonderful. We're grateful
00:03:31.80\00:03:33.40
that you're here.
And Dr. Edwards, you're a
00:03:33.40\00:03:34.36
returning guest but
for the benefits of viewers
00:03:34.36\00:03:37.70
who weren't here last
time you were with us, just
00:03:37.70\00:03:39.90
give us a brief bio on
yourself. >>Dr. Edwards:
00:03:39.90\00:03:40.86
Sure. Thank you. I am
born in Jamaica and came
00:03:40.86\00:03:45.83
to Canada in 1999,
served in the Quebec Conference,
00:03:45.83\00:03:50.06
that's in Montreal
where I pastored for some 3 ½
00:03:50.06\00:03:51.06
years and then to Ontario.
00:03:51.06\00:03:58.16
Wonderful Ontario, in
2002 and have been here loving
00:03:58.16\00:03:59.33
it since. I'm currently
serving as the President
00:03:59.33\00:04:04.60
for the Ontario Conference
of Seventh-Day Adventists
00:04:04.60\00:04:09.30
which is the Adventist
Churches, administrative
00:04:09.30\00:04:10.26
responsibility for all
this province of Ontario.
00:04:10.26\00:04:14.13
>>Bill: Well, thank you
and we appreciate you two
00:04:14.13\00:04:21.03
accepting our invitation.
00:04:21.03\00:04:21.70
>>Dr. Edwards: Good.
00:04:21.70\00:04:22.13
>>Bill: We're talking
about the Fruit of the
00:04:22.13\00:04:25.70
Spirit and we've made
our way down to faithfulness.
00:04:25.70\00:04:28.80
And I'm going to
suggest for a number
00:04:28.80\00:04:29.66
of our viewers - I mean
faithfulness is not a word
00:04:29.66\00:04:33.96
that is commonly used,
that is commonly used in
00:04:33.96\00:04:36.23
our language anymore
and I'm not sure a lot of
00:04:36.23\00:04:37.20
people understand what
it, what faithfulness means.
00:04:37.20\00:04:41.13
Maybe we need to
start with a definition of
00:04:41.13\00:04:47.90
faithfulness. What is
faithfulness? What is Paul
00:04:47.90\00:04:48.93
referring to here
that this is one, you know,
00:04:48.93\00:04:55.00
one of the nine fruits,
you know, elements of this
00:04:55.00\00:04:59.13
Fruit of the Spirit?
What is faithfulness? >>Dr.
00:04:59.13\00:05:00.20
Linrud: Well I, well
the dictionary, Bill, says
00:05:00.20\00:05:03.83
that faithfulness is
to follow through with a
00:05:03.83\00:05:06.80
commitment regardless
of difficulty. And I think
00:05:06.80\00:05:07.80
that's a good
definition but I think,
00:05:07.80\00:05:13.80
Biblically, if you
look at a definition for
00:05:13.80\00:05:18.20
faithfulness you
could probably say that
00:05:18.20\00:05:19.16
faithfulness is
love hanging on. In other
00:05:19.16\00:05:22.00
words, regardless of
how difficult things are,
00:05:22.00\00:05:26.60
regardless of the
challenges that confront
00:05:26.60\00:05:27.46
you in the commitments
that you've made, that
00:05:27.46\00:05:31.50
faithfulness is
hanging on through that love
00:05:31.50\00:05:36.60
commitment. >>Bill: So
even when everything is
00:05:36.60\00:05:37.60
tell you you need to
cut loose, you're going
00:05:37.60\00:05:41.60
to cling, you know,
an element of persistence
00:05:41.60\00:05:47.26
then in faithfulness.
00:05:47.26\00:05:47.90
Now this faithfulness
is Paul referring here to
00:05:47.90\00:05:53.13
faithfulness to a
person, to, you know, a concept,
00:05:53.13\00:05:54.13
a theory. I mean
what, faithfulness to whom?
00:05:54.13\00:06:04.16
To what? >>Dr. Edwards:
You're right. Paul speaks
00:06:04.16\00:06:07.80
about faithfulness
in different contexts.
00:06:07.80\00:06:08.83
In one, he speaks
of faithfulness as
00:06:08.83\00:06:12.90
a commitment to God
Commitment to God. He
00:06:12.90\00:06:20.60
speaks also about
faithfulness in terms of a
00:06:20.60\00:06:21.53
relationship, one with
the other, faithfulness to
00:06:21.53\00:06:25.76
each other. And then he
speaks to faithfulness as
00:06:25.76\00:06:29.43
it relates to a cause.
00:06:29.43\00:06:29.93
So from these three
perspectives, it's always
00:06:29.93\00:06:36.53
clear that this
faithfulness, as it is
00:06:36.53\00:06:37.40
discussed by Paul in
all his writings, is outside
00:06:37.40\00:06:41.70
of oneself. It is not
focused on oneself. It is
00:06:41.70\00:06:49.63
not egocentric. It
is a faithfulness that's
00:06:49.63\00:06:50.63
focused either on God,
on others, or a cause. And
00:06:50.63\00:06:54.96
that is wonderful.
That's why it is a Fruit of the
00:06:54.96\00:06:59.33
Spirit. Because a
work of the flesh is always
00:06:59.33\00:07:00.36
focused on oneself
but this has got to be
00:07:00.36\00:07:06.06
something that will
come about, not by natural
00:07:06.06\00:07:09.93
inclination, it is got
to be the work of God in us
00:07:09.93\00:07:11.06
>>Bill: This is
definitely something lacking in
00:07:11.06\00:07:18.13
our.>>Dr. Edwards:
Oh yeah. >>Bill:.in our
00:07:18.13\00:07:20.76
society today and
maybe even in some of our
00:07:20.76\00:07:21.73
churches today. This is
something that, you know,
00:07:21.73\00:07:25.80
we see this as pastors
all the time. Folks, when
00:07:25.80\00:07:30.06
things get, you know,
whether it's in a marriage
00:07:30.06\00:07:31.10
or on a job or, you know,
things get a little tough,
00:07:31.10\00:07:35.66
people are bailing out.
00:07:35.66\00:07:36.16
We almost, you know,
we've almost created a lack of
00:07:36.16\00:07:39.50
tolerance for a level of
discomfort, right? As soon
00:07:39.50\00:07:45.13
as things, we're bailing,
we're bailing out, we're
00:07:45.13\00:07:46.13
jumping out, we're
moving on to something else. But
00:07:46.13\00:07:48.76
this is a characteristic
that needs to be developed
00:07:48.76\00:07:52.00
in us through the work of
the Spirit. >>Dr. Edwards:
00:07:52.00\00:07:53.06
That's right. >>Dr.
00:07:53.06\00:07:56.53
Linrud: I think that
we see in Jesus, modelled,
00:07:56.53\00:07:57.56
what Dr. Edwards was
talking about. Especially
00:07:57.56\00:08:02.10
I think of Matthew,
chapter 16, verse 21,
00:08:02.10\00:08:09.13
where Jesus is
demonstrating the ultimate
00:08:09.13\00:08:10.03
in faithfulness and
he's completely outside of
00:08:10.03\00:08:15.30
himself in the sense
that he's not going to serve
00:08:15.30\00:08:19.06
himself. He says to the
disciples there, he says,
00:08:19.06\00:08:20.10
'I know what will
happen when I go to Jerusalem.
00:08:20.10\00:08:24.43
I'll be arrested, I'll
be beaten, I'll be crucified
00:08:24.43\00:08:30.53
but I'm going to go
anyway.' And then Peter,
00:08:30.53\00:08:31.46
of course, who has such a
struggle with faithfulness
00:08:31.46\00:08:36.70
and I think more of us
relate to Peter than we
00:08:36.70\00:08:39.63
relate to Jesus in the
way Jesus is in this subject
00:08:39.63\00:08:40.76
You know, Peter says,
'No, no, no. You can't go'.
00:08:40.76\00:08:46.03
>>Bill: Over my dead
body, yeah. >>Dr. Linrud: And
00:08:46.03\00:08:48.66
instead Jesus says,
'Get behind me, Satan', not
00:08:48.66\00:08:49.63
Peter. He recognizes that
the root of unfaithfulness
00:08:49.63\00:08:56.83
is sin and the author
of sin, Satan. And so he
00:08:56.83\00:09:02.80
tells Peter, 'Get behind
me'. And because Jesus has
00:09:02.80\00:09:03.83
been struggling with this
temptation from Satan, all
00:09:03.83\00:09:10.50
throughout his life and
ministry, that you can't
00:09:10.50\00:09:17.60
do this. You can't go
there. You can't complete
00:09:17.60\00:09:18.60
the mission that you've
been given. You can't be
00:09:18.60\00:09:20.80
faithful. Jesus says, 'I
will be faithful'. >>Bill:
00:09:20.80\00:09:26.93
It's incredible, isn't it?
00:09:26.93\00:09:27.50
>>Dr. Edwards: If I may
add. >>Bill: Absolutely.
00:09:27.50\00:09:31.20
>>Dr. Edwards: What
I think drives because
00:09:31.20\00:09:32.13
concurring with
Daniel, the point here made by
00:09:32.13\00:09:36.10
Dan, is, you know, there
is this passion that Jesus
00:09:36.10\00:09:40.86
had to maintain his
faithfulness but that was
00:09:40.86\00:09:41.83
driven by who he is
which is love. And for me, it's
00:09:41.83\00:09:48.03
most significant that
love is the first of the
00:09:48.03\00:09:52.70
attributes or
the ingredients that
00:09:52.70\00:09:53.63
constitute this Fruit
of the Spirit. I think all
00:09:53.63\00:09:57.53
these flow from love.
One cannot be faithful to God
00:09:57.53\00:10:03.93
unless one loves God.
00:10:03.93\00:10:04.43
One will not be faithful
to his fellow man except
00:10:04.43\00:10:10.36
driven by that love. One
will not have that except
00:10:10.36\00:10:11.46
the engine is love.
And I think H. D. MacDonald
00:10:11.46\00:10:16.63
expresses it very well.
He said, "This Fruit of the
00:10:16.63\00:10:21.16
Spirit hangs on the stem
of love". >>Bill: Oh, wow.
00:10:21.16\00:10:22.20
>>Dr. Edwards: So, stem
is the love that hangs this.
00:10:22.20\00:10:27.96
You know, I go back to
the agricultural reference
00:10:27.96\00:10:32.60
here. You know, growing
up in the islands and you
00:10:32.60\00:10:33.63
know, having fruit
trees so close you can almost
00:10:33.63\00:10:37.60
stretch through your
window to pick fruit, it
00:10:37.60\00:10:41.56
is so significant,
John 15, to me that Jesus is
00:10:41.56\00:10:42.60
saying, 'I am the vine.
00:10:42.60\00:10:48.80
You are a branch. And I
expect your branch to bear
00:10:48.80\00:10:49.86
fruit and I'll help
you bear fruit but you've
00:10:49.86\00:10:54.06
got to maintain that
connection'. And if that
00:10:54.06\00:10:56.80
stem is love then, yes, I
can understand what is the
00:10:56.80\00:10:57.86
engine that really
drives faithfulness. It must
00:10:57.86\00:11:04.53
begin with love.
>>Bill: Maintain that connection
00:11:04.53\00:11:09.16
to Jesus Christ. As a
result of that connection
00:11:09.16\00:11:10.16
these things begin
to manifest themselves.
00:11:10.16\00:11:18.36
>>Dr. Edwards: That's
right. >>Bill: How is that
00:11:18.36\00:11:20.30
connection maintained?
00:11:20.30\00:11:20.80
I mean, because everything
in our world is driving us
00:11:20.80\00:11:23.93
away from, you know, from
Jesus Christ. In fact, our
00:11:23.93\00:11:25.00
world is telling us
that, no, faithfulness -
00:11:25.00\00:11:29.96
whatever happened to
your word is your bond? You
00:11:29.96\00:11:33.70
know. So how do I maintain
that connection with Jesus
00:11:33.70\00:11:34.80
Christ? >>Dr. Linrud:
Well, first of all, it
00:11:34.80\00:11:39.43
begins with faithfulness.
00:11:39.43\00:11:39.93
(laughter) It's kind of
a cyclical thing.>>Bill:
00:11:39.93\00:11:42.63
Yes. >>Dr. Linrud:.in a
sense because you have to
00:11:42.63\00:11:47.23
be faithful in
spending time with Jesus in the
00:11:47.23\00:11:48.23
same way that, in the
same way that I maintain
00:11:48.23\00:11:54.33
faithfulness to my wife.
00:11:54.33\00:11:54.80
I maintain faithfulness
to my wife by maintaining
00:11:54.80\00:11:59.83
that relationship.
00:11:59.83\00:12:00.30
How do I maintain
the relationship? By
00:12:00.30\00:12:03.56
being faithful to
her, in relating with her,
00:12:03.56\00:12:07.80
spending time talking
with her, taking her on a date,
00:12:07.80\00:12:08.90
you know, all of those
things that build up the
00:12:08.90\00:12:12.73
relationship and I
think that we have to do the
00:12:12.73\00:12:14.76
same thing with Jesus.
You know, my wife would tell
00:12:14.76\00:12:15.80
me that faithfulness
isn't just demonstrated
00:12:15.80\00:12:20.23
in the things I do, it's
demonstrated in the things
00:12:20.23\00:12:23.93
I don't do. And she
would say that faithfulness
00:12:23.93\00:12:25.06
isn't just demonstrated
in the things that I do in
00:12:25.06\00:12:30.00
response to what she's
wanting but rather, it's
00:12:30.00\00:12:34.66
also demonstrated in
me, in me anticipating what
00:12:34.66\00:12:35.66
she would enjoy and
doing that which she would,
00:12:35.66\00:12:43.13
which I believe that
would be a blessing to her. So,
00:12:43.13\00:12:48.06
I think it's the same
with the Lord. We have
00:12:48.06\00:12:49.03
to, just, not always be
waiting on Him to prompt
00:12:49.03\00:12:53.56
us but rather constantly
ourselves be seeking to
00:12:53.56\00:12:56.66
build that relationship
with Him as well. >>Bill:
00:12:56.66\00:12:57.70
You know, for some
folks, I think it almost sounds
00:12:57.70\00:13:01.53
cliché, this idea of
spending time in Bible
00:13:01.53\00:13:05.40
study. We offer the
Bible study guides, you know,
00:13:05.40\00:13:06.43
all the time here.
And it's not just to, so
00:13:06.43\00:13:10.60
folks gain an intellectual
understanding of scripture
00:13:10.60\00:13:16.23
but it's because we
believe that as you spend
00:13:16.23\00:13:17.20
time in the study of this
book here, this Holy book,
00:13:17.20\00:13:22.16
things begin to change
in your life. >>Dr. Linrud:
00:13:22.16\00:13:27.50
Yeah. >>Bill: It is
miraculous. >>Dr. Linrud:
00:13:27.50\00:13:28.46
That's right. >>Bill:
And if you've experience it,
00:13:28.46\00:13:31.03
you know it. I mean, if,
you know, a viewer that's
00:13:31.03\00:13:35.36
just hearing it they're
saying, 'How can that be?
00:13:35.36\00:13:36.50
But that's exactly what
begins to happen, isn't it
00:13:36.50\00:13:39.40
Pastor? >>Dr. Edwards: It
is. And the word of God is
00:13:39.40\00:13:41.93
so vital as you've said.
00:13:41.93\00:13:42.43
When we read God's
word, we will see all the
00:13:42.43\00:13:48.13
models. We will see models
of faithfulness and models
00:13:48.13\00:13:49.23
of unfaithfulness and
how that all ended. You
00:13:49.23\00:13:54.40
know, the Bible is clear.
00:13:54.40\00:13:54.90
It was written for
our admonission upon who
00:13:54.90\00:13:58.83
the ends of the world
are come. So, all of this was
00:13:58.83\00:14:03.50
intentionally given by
God to guide us. The learned
00:14:03.50\00:14:04.66
behaviour is a
significant thing for us and in
00:14:04.66\00:14:09.63
choosing what we model
And not just from people
00:14:09.63\00:14:15.46
we observe but those we
read about. When you think
00:14:15.46\00:14:16.53
about faithfulness I,
when one reads God's word and
00:14:16.53\00:14:19.83
reads about the three
Hebrew boys.>>Bill: Yes.
00:14:19.83\00:14:26.73
>>Dr. Edwards: Young
people can identify and
00:14:26.73\00:14:27.80
understand, even youth
can be faithful. These three
00:14:27.80\00:14:31.30
Hebrew boys, you know,
I, there is a phrase, 'Yet
00:14:31.30\00:14:37.43
will I'. They said, now
listen, our God is able to
00:14:37.43\00:14:38.60
deliver us from this
fiery furnace but if not that's
00:14:38.60\00:14:43.63
faithfulness. If God
chooses not to deliver us,
00:14:43.63\00:14:49.40
we will still trust Him.
00:14:49.40\00:14:50.00
That 'but, if not' is
parallel to Job's 'yet
00:14:50.00\00:14:54.90
will I'. When he says,
"Though He slay, me yet
00:14:54.90\00:14:55.90
will I serve Him,
I'll trust Him" because
00:14:55.90\00:14:59.40
God is to be trusted.
00:14:59.40\00:14:59.86
God is faithful and my
faithfulness ought to be
00:14:59.86\00:15:06.06
reciprocated. It ought
to be reciprocated because
00:15:06.06\00:15:11.00
we're growing into God.
00:15:11.00\00:15:11.53
Branch to vine. Yet
will I. But it not. And there
00:15:11.53\00:15:20.43
was a time when I had to
try to engrain this in my
00:15:20.43\00:15:21.43
own philosophy of life.
00:15:21.43\00:15:25.10
Challenges would come,
tests would come. I will
00:15:25.10\00:15:26.06
draw on, yet will I. But
if not. And this scripture
00:15:26.06\00:15:33.76
is so pregnant with
these many examples of
00:15:33.76\00:15:39.50
individuals who are
faithful and how God
00:15:39.50\00:15:40.50
endorsed that with his
blessings. Job's latter
00:15:40.50\00:15:45.30
days, the Bible said,
were greater than his former.
00:15:45.30\00:15:50.06
And those former days
were so wonderful but God
00:15:50.06\00:15:51.06
honoured, regarded, and
rewarded the faithfulness.
00:15:51.06\00:15:55.26
>>Bill: Yeah. You know
what, I'll tell you, since
00:15:55.26\00:16:02.06
I've been preparing
for this study I, you know,
00:16:02.06\00:16:03.10
I've been reading over
these, I've been praying
00:16:03.10\00:16:07.63
over these, and I
asked myself on faithfulness,
00:16:07.63\00:16:11.20
you know, I have, you
know, a pretty good life
00:16:11.20\00:16:12.16
I have two healthy
kids and a wife who loves
00:16:12.16\00:16:16.16
me, yet, I have the
opportunity sometimes of
00:16:16.16\00:16:22.63
interviewing folks.
00:16:22.63\00:16:23.20
The other day I was
interviewing one of the
00:16:23.20\00:16:24.90
Harmony singers,
remember that group that used to
00:16:24.90\00:16:26.06
sing with us, Eddie
Aruda and Eddie was diagnosed a
00:16:26.06\00:16:31.73
while back with a
terminal brain cancer, a brain
00:16:31.73\00:16:36.60
tumor, malignant
brain tumor, very aggressive
00:16:36.60\00:16:37.56
and, you know, Eddie's
been faithful to God. And
00:16:37.56\00:16:39.33
I often ask myself,
boy, it's easy for me to say
00:16:39.33\00:16:46.56
I'd be faithful when I'm
sitting here right now and
00:16:46.56\00:16:47.60
things are comfortable
but if I had the diagnosis
00:16:47.60\00:16:52.63
that Eddie had I want
to believe that I would
00:16:52.63\00:16:58.93
remain faithful and not
be discouraged. But I'll tell
00:16:58.93\00:17:00.10
you, it's something
that I've prayed a lot about,
00:17:00.10\00:17:05.63
you know? >>Dr.
Linrud: Well, you know Bill, I
00:17:05.63\00:17:13.46
think the faithfulness,
I think we can worry about
00:17:13.46\00:17:14.46
those, sorts of, what if
questions but God doesn't
00:17:14.46\00:17:18.80
call us to relate to
those questions, He calls us to
00:17:18.80\00:17:25.60
relate to the right nows.
00:17:25.60\00:17:26.13
And I think, you know, as
we remember that these are
00:17:26.13\00:17:29.76
Fruits of the
Spirit and faithfulness is
00:17:29.76\00:17:30.76
contextualized here
in Galatians as a Fruit
00:17:30.76\00:17:35.60
of the Holy Spirit. It's
not my fruit, it's not my
00:17:35.60\00:17:39.86
strength, it's not
my reaction or Bill's
00:17:39.86\00:17:40.90
reaction.>>Bill: Right.
00:17:40.90\00:17:44.23
Yes. >>Dr. Linrud:.or Dr.
00:17:44.23\00:17:44.76
Edward's reaction to a
circumstances situation.
00:17:44.76\00:17:47.26
It is instead, as I order
my life after Christ, as I
00:17:47.26\00:17:48.33
focus my life on the
Holy Spirit and the leading of
00:17:48.33\00:17:54.03
the Spirit in my life
and upon his word, then that
00:17:54.03\00:17:58.66
faithfulness that needs
to be called upon in those
00:17:58.66\00:17:59.73
circumstances will
rise up in us. And I don't
00:17:59.73\00:18:06.43
think most people would
tell you, who experience
00:18:06.43\00:18:11.43
faithfulness in the
midst of great difficulty that,
00:18:11.43\00:18:12.46
you know, five years
before that they would
00:18:12.46\00:18:17.90
have imagined themselves
being able to be faithful
00:18:17.90\00:18:20.83
in that circumstance.
00:18:20.83\00:18:21.33
They'd say, well, I hope
I could. But in that moment,
00:18:21.33\00:18:24.60
in that right now, the
Holy Spirit brings that up
00:18:24.60\00:18:25.63
as a Fruit. And that's
the beauty of the context of
00:18:25.63\00:18:30.06
this. It is a Fruit of
the Spirit. >>Bill: Because we
00:18:30.06\00:18:33.60
know how Job's story
ended but as Job was going
00:18:33.60\00:18:34.60
through it he didn't
know how it was going to end.
00:18:34.60\00:18:42.13
>>Dr. Edwards: No but
he held on day by day.
00:18:42.13\00:18:43.60
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:18:43.60\00:18:44.03
Edwards: And we need not
fear because God knows the
00:18:44.03\00:18:49.00
stage of the maturity
of our Fruit. He knows
00:18:49.00\00:18:49.96
where we are. And He
has promised us He'll never
00:18:49.96\00:18:56.90
suffer us to be tempted
or tested more than we are
00:18:56.90\00:19:00.60
able to bear. And so, God
is faithful in that regard
00:19:00.60\00:19:01.80
also. And so I need not
fear. You know, I watched
00:19:01.80\00:19:08.36
my mother die and
there, from the moment she was
00:19:08.36\00:19:15.76
diagnosed with cancer I
started to be anxious for
00:19:15.76\00:19:16.80
her, concerned about
how she would handle that.
00:19:16.80\00:19:22.26
And I learned so much
from that experience. Just
00:19:22.26\00:19:27.26
being there with her,
accompanying her through
00:19:27.26\00:19:28.23
this challenging
moment and my mother, she was
00:19:28.23\00:19:33.06
just singing in her
last moments, those songs of
00:19:33.06\00:19:37.93
hope and faith more
than ever before. She was so
00:19:37.93\00:19:38.93
pleasant, she was just
rejoicing in the Lord and
00:19:38.93\00:19:44.40
she got to a place
where she could no longer sing
00:19:44.40\00:19:48.60
and she just started
humming.>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
00:19:48.60\00:19:49.60
Edwards:.the songs and
squeezing my hand. And I
00:19:49.60\00:19:54.36
said I could just
sense God, God escorting her
00:19:54.36\00:19:58.90
through this valley
she was going through. God
00:19:58.90\00:20:00.06
is faithful. And
that's a thing I need not fear
00:20:00.06\00:20:05.63
about my life because I
know God is faithful. He's
00:20:05.63\00:20:12.10
faithful. And He
knows where my Fruit is. The
00:20:12.10\00:20:13.06
thing about Fruit, you
know, I, you know, again,
00:20:13.06\00:20:17.36
you know, from my
tropical experience, fruits are
00:20:17.36\00:20:20.93
hand-picked. And
it's different from the
00:20:20.93\00:20:21.83
combines reaping
over there in Alberta
00:20:21.83\00:20:26.83
or wherever. Fruits are
always hand-picked. Where
00:20:26.83\00:20:32.36
I live in Whitby,
we're close to the apple
00:20:32.36\00:20:33.30
orchards and I notice
these are hand-picked.
00:20:33.30\00:20:38.86
God has His hand on us.
He knows where are Fruit is.
00:20:38.86\00:20:45.03
He knows the state of our
maturity and He's faithful
00:20:45.03\00:20:46.10
enough to handle that
with care. We just need to
00:20:46.10\00:20:50.76
trust Him. Trust Him.
00:20:50.76\00:20:51.23
>>Bill: Well put. Dr.
00:20:51.23\00:20:55.36
Linrud we have about
three minutes. If there some
00:20:55.36\00:20:56.50
closing thoughts that
you have, that you'd like to
00:20:56.50\00:21:05.06
share with our viewers,
I'd like to give you that
00:21:05.06\00:21:06.60
opportunity now. >>Dr.
00:21:06.60\00:21:07.10
Linrud: Sure. Yeah,
you know, I came across a
00:21:07.10\00:21:11.03
greeting card, a
statement in a card, and
00:21:11.03\00:21:11.93
the greeting card said,
'I can't promise you forever
00:21:11.93\00:21:17.30
but I can promise you
today'. >>Dr. Edwards:
00:21:17.30\00:21:21.86
Amen. >>Dr. Linrud: And
in our culture you would, you
00:21:21.86\00:21:22.96
would have the lighting,
the right lighting come in
00:21:22.96\00:21:25.03
and the music would
start to play just right, 'I
00:21:25.03\00:21:27.43
can't promise you
forever but I can promise you
00:21:27.43\00:21:28.43
today'. And it sounds
so good. In fact it almost
00:21:28.43\00:21:31.73
sounds right. But
that's the faithfulness. We see
00:21:31.73\00:21:39.66
the Fruits of that kind
of philosophy playing out
00:21:39.66\00:21:40.80
in the news every day.
00:21:40.80\00:21:45.26
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:21:45.26\00:21:45.70
Linrud: We see another
announcement of another
00:21:45.70\00:21:47.33
Governor or Congressman
or actor or athlete who has
00:21:47.33\00:21:48.36
been unfaithful.
Pastors, God forbid, who've been
00:21:48.36\00:21:57.50
unfaithful. >>Dr.
Edwards: Yeah. >>Dr. Linrud:
00:21:57.50\00:22:02.10
Clergy. And, you
know, in reality we have to
00:22:02.10\00:22:03.06
contrast what is our
human nature and what is our
00:22:03.06\00:22:08.76
faithfulness with
God's faithfulness. Psalm 105
00:22:08.76\00:22:11.90
says, "The Lord is
good and His love endures
00:22:11.90\00:22:12.83
forever. His faithfulness
continues through all
00:22:12.83\00:22:19.56
generations". I'd
just, kind of, like to end my
00:22:19.56\00:22:25.56
thoughts with God's
faithfulness. Because
00:22:25.56\00:22:26.50
it isn't this other
faithfulness of the flesh
00:22:26.50\00:22:29.36
that we see marketed in
our world that we need to
00:22:29.36\00:22:36.00
grasp hold of. It is the
faithfulness of this God,
00:22:36.00\00:22:37.10
whose faithfulness endures
forever, who produces that
00:22:37.10\00:22:40.03
Fruit in us when we
focus our light on Him. >>Bill:
00:22:40.03\00:22:45.93
Well, gentlemen, I
want to thank you for your
00:22:45.93\00:22:47.06
insights on faithfulness
today. >>Dr. Edwards:
00:22:47.06\00:22:50.23
Thanks for having us.
00:22:50.23\00:22:50.70
>>Bill: You're welcome.
00:22:50.70\00:22:52.10
You know, in that
classic Dr. Seuss book, 'Horton
00:22:52.10\00:22:53.13
Hears a Who', one
day Horton, the elephant,
00:22:53.13\00:22:58.53
hears a cry. It was a
cry for help. It was coming
00:22:58.53\00:23:03.06
from a speck of dust.
Even though he can't see anyone
00:23:03.06\00:23:04.16
on the speck he decides
to help it and as it turns
00:23:04.16\00:23:08.30
out the speck of dust is
home to the Who's who live
00:23:08.30\00:23:13.06
in their city of Whoville.
00:23:13.06\00:23:13.63
Horton agrees to help
and protect the Who's and
00:23:13.63\00:23:18.30
their home but this
gives him nothing but torment
00:23:18.30\00:23:19.46
from his neighbours
who refuse to believe that
00:23:19.46\00:23:24.43
anything can survive on
that speck. Still Horton
00:23:24.43\00:23:28.76
stands by the motto
that, 'After all, a person
00:23:28.76\00:23:29.73
is a person no matter
how small'. That's his
00:23:29.73\00:23:36.60
motto, that's his code.
00:23:36.60\00:23:37.10
Through many trials
and tribulations Horton
00:23:37.10\00:23:42.10
perseveres saying, 'I
meant what I said and I
00:23:42.10\00:23:46.93
said what I meant. An
elephant's faithful 100%'
00:23:46.93\00:23:47.93
That's the faithfulness.
00:23:47.93\00:23:53.36
Consistently doing
what is right even when it
00:23:53.36\00:23:54.36
is difficult or when
it appears we might fail.
00:23:54.36\00:24:02.20
Faithfulness is
simply doing what is right
00:24:02.20\00:24:07.80
because it is right. Dr.
00:24:07.80\00:24:08.30
Edwards would you pray
with us. >>Dr. Edwards:
00:24:08.30\00:24:12.53
Sure. Let us pray.
Father in Heaven, thank you
00:24:12.53\00:24:13.60
so much for this
lesson today. This privilege
00:24:13.60\00:24:20.03
of reflecting on
this powerful word,
00:24:20.03\00:24:23.60
faithfulness. In this
age in which soap operas
00:24:23.60\00:24:24.56
glamourize unfaithfulness
we thank you that you are
00:24:24.56\00:24:30.10
faithful. And that you
are determined to work in us
00:24:30.10\00:24:38.90
through your Spirit
to help to be faithful to
00:24:38.90\00:24:39.86
you, to others, and
to your cause. Bless us
00:24:39.86\00:24:46.63
now in Jesus' name.
00:24:46.63\00:24:47.06
Amen. >>Bill: Amen.
00:24:47.06\00:24:53.56
>>Bill: You know,
earlier in today's program
00:25:08.93\00:25:09.86
we talked about
the importance of this
00:25:09.86\00:25:11.53
walk with Jesus, this
relationship with Jesus.
00:25:11.53\00:25:14.40
Dr. Linrud talked about
how important it is to get
00:25:14.40\00:25:15.46
to know Him. One of
the great ways of doing
00:25:15.46\00:25:19.03
that is by the study
of scripture. If you're
00:25:19.03\00:25:22.06
watching today and you'd
like to begin a course of
00:25:22.06\00:25:23.06
study, the Discover
Bible Study Guides are a great
00:25:23.06\00:25:27.23
way to do that. We'd
love to send you those lessons
00:25:27.23\00:25:31.03
free of charge. Here is
the information you need
00:25:31.03\00:25:32.03
to get your first copy.
00:25:32.03\00:25:36.50
>>Bill: Well I want to
thank Dr. Edwards and Dr.
00:26:25.16\00:26:26.16
Linrud for being with us.
00:26:26.16\00:26:29.33
I appreciate your insights
and the practical nature
00:26:29.33\00:26:30.36
of our discussion today
I think has been helpful to
00:26:30.36\00:26:35.33
many of our viewers. >>Dr.
00:26:35.33\00:26:35.86
Edwards: Thank you. >>Dr.
00:26:35.86\00:26:39.16
Linrud: My pleasure.
00:26:39.16\00:26:39.63
>>Bill: I want to thank
our faithful viewers that
00:26:39.63\00:26:41.73
tune in each and every
week. We appreciate you
00:26:41.73\00:26:42.73
spending this half hour
with us week after week. I
00:26:42.73\00:26:45.93
want to remind you that
we will be making available
00:26:45.93\00:26:49.56
all of these messages on
a special DVD that we will
00:26:49.56\00:26:50.60
be offering at the end of
this series for a donation
00:26:50.60\00:26:57.16
of $40.00. That
donation goes a long way to keep
00:26:57.16\00:27:01.80
this ministry alive
and keep us on the air. You
00:27:01.80\00:27:02.83
can pre-order
your DVD today by going
00:27:02.83\00:27:07.56
on our website which is
itiswrittencanada.ca. On
00:27:07.56\00:27:12.86
that same website you can
send a prayer request. The
00:27:12.86\00:27:13.93
staff gets together
every morning at our office for
00:27:13.93\00:27:18.66
prayer and we will pray
over those requests. You
00:27:18.66\00:27:21.66
can send your commentary
on the program and you can
00:27:21.66\00:27:22.70
even find out where the
It Is Written team may be
00:27:22.70\00:27:27.23
appearing anywhere across
this great nation of ours.
00:27:27.23\00:27:31.26
You can watch this
program and all of the programs
00:27:31.26\00:27:32.33
on our YouTube
channel, youtube.com/iiwcanada
00:27:32.33\00:27:36.10
and you can follow us on
Twitter. Well, our prayer
00:27:36.10\00:27:42.53
is that the good Lord
will allow us the privilege
00:27:42.53\00:27:43.56
of being back again next
week. And I hope you will
00:27:43.56\00:27:47.63
take the time to join
us Until then, remember, it
00:27:47.63\00:27:52.00
is written; man shall not
live by bread alone but by
00:27:52.00\00:27:53.06
every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:27:53.06\00:28:01.56
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
00:28:02.96\00:28:04.20