My wife and I had
several gospel singing groups
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through the years
beginning with Maranatha Singers
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and then at
seminary Voices of Praise
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and then Abundant Life
Singers back in the 90s
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and I just love
harmony and instrumentation
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and it really is
like the harmonies
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that the love of Jesus
ought to set forth in our hearts
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and minds, isn't it.
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And tippling our
groups we would have nine
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and ten singers
stretched out here
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kind of they were with mikes
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and instrumentation
and our first album
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we released with Chapel Records
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was the album
Worship His Majesty.
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I still love the
music on some on that album.
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And then the second
release with did back in 94'
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"I Go to the Rock."
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And music is a lot of
fun, music is a beautiful thing
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and you know we're gonna
spend a lot of time in heaven
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doing a lot of
singing and praising.
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We truly are, aren't we?
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Well, here you
are Sabbath morning
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and we're going to get
right into the Word of God
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this morning but
you will remember
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this is number
three in the series
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the Revival series that we
are doing on Sabbath mornings
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during the course of
the Life Discoveries Series.
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And the first three Sabbaths
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have been
uniquely designed for you
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and beginning with next Sabbath
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as we invite our
guest from the community
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that have been coming.
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You will remember that
last week in our Revival
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we were looking at the wonderful
beautiful subject of Jesus.
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Jesus in His righteousness,
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Jesus in His
imputed righteousness
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that is when we
accept Jesus Christ by faith,
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His perfect life becomes ours.
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And God accepts us as
if we have never sinned.
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I tell you it doesn't
get any better than that.
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We call that justification
and we call that being accounted
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or considered righteous.
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And we also looked at the fact
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that the Bible teaches
that His righteousness,
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His life, His very
life is in imparted to us
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in the process
of the relationship
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as through the months and years
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of our
relationship in Jesus Christ
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we are becoming like Him.
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We're becoming like
the one that we loved,
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the one that abides in
us and we abide in Him.
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It is transformational
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the
relationship in Jesus Christ.
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And by the way I mentioned
something the other night
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I'd like to
mention this morning.
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When it comes to the Bible
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and relates to this whole
thing of Righteousness by Faith
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when it comes to the
Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy
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there are two major things
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that we have always see
if we take a good look at it.
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Number one, we are going to see
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that the standard is high.
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The standard of God's
righteousness is perfect.
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God demands
absolute perfection of us
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and how do we measure up
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to that
expectation on God's part,
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that perfection.
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What's the answer?
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Through the
righteousness of Jesus, right.
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It means the
perfect requirements
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that we find in the Bible
and the Spirit of Prophecy
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and by the way
some people never get
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beyond their requirements.
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They just kind of cringe
and they just kind of melt
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because how can
anybody ever measure up to it,
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nobody apart from Jesus Christ
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ever can
measure up to the things
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that God requires of us.
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But that which
He requires of us,
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he makes provision for
us through Jesus Christ
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and that's the
other great thing.
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The great power the love
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and grace that is
ours in Jesus Christ.
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And so as we study the
Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy
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as we see these two things,
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we must keep
them in sharp focus.
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Yes, high standard but His love,
His love is all sufficient.
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Jesus said it, My
grace is sufficient for you.
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Where sin abounds
grace does much more abounds,
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the standard is so high, it is.
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And it is impossible
for us to ever measure up
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other sides apart
from Jesus Christ.
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Can you say amen to that? Amen.
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And then I am gonna
take you to a text as we get
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and it's a
continuation of our study here
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on Righteousness by
Faith that we began last week.
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And the computer is
been a little bit slow
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but its Romans 3:28
where Paul says we are,
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"Justified by faith apart
from the works of the law."
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That is through our obedience,
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our attempt our
feeble attempt that would be
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because we have been
deeply effected by sin
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our feeble attempt
again to keep the law.
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And so we are justified,
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we are saved apart
from the words of the law.
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And the scriptures
are certainly clear
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that our salvation is
dependent on our faith
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not on our works
or our obedience.
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However, there is a relationship
between faith and obedience,
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absolutely there
is a relationship.
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In fact, Paul in writing
his second letter to Timothy,
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its in Timothy Chapter 3,
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he is speaking of the end times
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when he makes his observation
that there will be many
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who would have
the form of godliness
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but they would
deny the power thereof.
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And now my friend, the privilege
that we have in Jesus Christ
00:06:03.27\00:06:06.28
is not to just make
a confession of Jesus.
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Not just to have the doctrines,
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do you know have
that understanding
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proper
understanding that doctrines
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and teachings my
friend, its much more than that.
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It is experiencing the power
that is ours in Jesus Christ
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through His love and grace
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and through the
power of His word.
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And my friend, there is
no power apart from Jesus
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and His word, word and the grace
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that is freely
offered to each one of us.
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Indeed God's word indicates
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that there going
to be many last days
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before the coming of Jesus
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who are going to have an
empty form of Christianity,
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whose wives are a
denial of His saving power.
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In fact, Jesus spoke of it
Himself in Matthew Chapter 7
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and looking at verse 21
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where He said "Not
everyone who says to Me,
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'Lord, Lord,'
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will enter the
kingdom of heaven,
00:07:01.13\00:07:02.98
but he who does
the will of My Father
00:07:03.01\00:07:05.59
who is in heaven will enter."
00:07:05.62\00:07:08.24
Now I just read almost
3:28 where it says by the words
00:07:08.27\00:07:12.20
you know by the words of the law
00:07:12.23\00:07:13.48
no one is going to justified
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or saved and yet
Jesus said it here.
00:07:15.35\00:07:17.90
Not everybody
who says Lord, Lord,
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not every one who
makes a profession of Me
00:07:19.83\00:07:23.14
is going to be in
the kingdom of heaven.
00:07:23.17\00:07:25.35
But he who does now that
word "does" how we understand
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how we do is essential
to understanding of faith
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and our
relationship to Jesus Christ.
00:07:36.13\00:07:38.13
Would you not say
absolutely essential
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"But he who does
the will of My Father
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who is in heaven will enter."
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And my friend, the
gospel is proactive.
00:07:46.56\00:07:51.22
It is powerful.
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It is not experience passively
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in the Christian
believer's heart.
00:07:55.63\00:07:58.38
It is not a passive experience,
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its dynamic, it's also
subtle, often it's subtle.
00:08:00.90\00:08:07.22
And so again you know
Jesus talks about a profession,
00:08:07.25\00:08:10.81
a empty
profession without a living,
00:08:10.84\00:08:13.89
living powerful
experience in Jesus Christ.
00:08:13.92\00:08:18.20
And I think its pulled together,
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its pulled together
in the epistle of James
00:08:21.31\00:08:23.76
the letter written by James.
00:08:23.79\00:08:25.37
So I invite you
to take your Bibles
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and turn with me
to James Chapter 2,
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the New Testament page 178, 178
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as we look at James 2, James 2
00:08:33.79\00:08:38.11
and beginning with let's
see I think its verse 14.
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Let me get there
myself. Yes it is.
00:08:43.09\00:08:45.01
James Chapter 2 and
looking at verse 14.
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You will remember,
this is this fascinating
00:08:47.65\00:08:50.61
and for some probably
00:08:50.64\00:08:52.75
this course on the relationship
between faith and works,
00:08:52.78\00:08:59.36
and again you see the connection
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if you were with
us last night a last,
00:09:00.57\00:09:03.73
last Saturday morning
as we looked at the imputed
00:09:03.76\00:09:06.51
and the imparted
righteousness of Jesus.
00:09:06.54\00:09:09.62
I just wanted to look at
that a little bit more deeper
00:09:09.65\00:09:13.91
so that it's a
little clearer to us.
00:09:13.94\00:09:16.77
In James 2:14, James says,
"What use is it, my brethren,
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if someone says he has
faith but he has no works?"
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What use is it and what
is James trying to get out?
00:09:27.51\00:09:32.72
What's the point that he
is trying to get at here?
00:09:32.75\00:09:36.14
"What use is it, my brethren,
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if someone says he has
faith but he has no works?"
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I think that the
very least, we understand
00:09:41.58\00:09:45.97
as we begin to look at
this passage of scripture
00:09:46.00\00:09:47.97
that James is
making a, is establishing
00:09:48.00\00:09:52.78
or speaking of a relationship
between faith and works.
00:09:52.81\00:09:59.00
And the question what use is it,
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I think directly you know
James is getting at the point
00:10:01.58\00:10:05.47
that faith
without works is useless.
00:10:05.50\00:10:10.35
Faith and there's leaders
00:10:10.38\00:10:11.48
who are doing the
right thing is useless.
00:10:11.51\00:10:15.29
And then he asks the question
00:10:15.32\00:10:16.42
further can that faith save him?
00:10:16.45\00:10:19.13
What kind of faith?
Faith that doesn't work.
00:10:19.16\00:10:23.19
Faith that doesn't work,
can it save an individual
00:10:23.22\00:10:26.19
and what's the obvious
answer that James is getting?
00:10:26.22\00:10:28.87
That faith will not save anybody
00:10:28.90\00:10:31.53
because it's a
denial of the power
00:10:31.56\00:10:33.88
that is our work in us by
the means of faith, right.
00:10:33.91\00:10:40.07
There is a power
that is that work at us.
00:10:40.10\00:10:41.76
And on and again immediately
00:10:41.79\00:10:43.58
sometimes it is very subtle
00:10:43.61\00:10:45.79
but nevertheless, it is
powerful as we take a look at,
00:10:45.82\00:10:50.52
at faith and how
it works within us.
00:10:50.55\00:10:52.39
Let's move on to
verses 15 and 16.
00:10:52.42\00:10:55.60
James 2:15, 16.
00:10:55.63\00:10:59.46
where he says "If a brother
or sister is without clothing
00:10:59.49\00:11:02.95
and in need of daily food
and one of you says to them,
00:11:02.98\00:11:06.69
'Go in peace, be
warmed and be filled,'
00:11:06.72\00:11:09.05
and yet you do not give them
00:11:09.08\00:11:10.34
what is
necessary for their body,
00:11:10.37\00:11:12.10
what use is that?"
00:11:12.13\00:11:14.30
It is just fascinating to
me in the world of theology
00:11:14.33\00:11:17.50
when we talk
about faith and works
00:11:17.53\00:11:19.15
we really do get
just very philosophical
00:11:19.18\00:11:22.13
and very technical
and all the rest of it.
00:11:22.16\00:11:25.21
But when you look out
00:11:25.24\00:11:26.27
what James is
talking about here,
00:11:26.30\00:11:27.81
when he talks
about this illustration
00:11:27.84\00:11:30.08
in verses 15 and 16,
00:11:30.11\00:11:31.71
he is talking about something
that is very practical.
00:11:31.74\00:11:35.27
And every time
I read this verse,
00:11:35.30\00:11:37.96
I think about couple of
people that in my community
00:11:37.99\00:11:41.59
stand on the corner
of Sprague and Pines,
00:11:41.62\00:11:45.74
in tattered cloths with
a little cardboards sign
00:11:45.77\00:11:50.27
begging for money, and for food.
00:11:50.30\00:11:54.45
And if my wife
and I are in the car
00:11:54.48\00:11:57.20
and we're passing somebody
with one of those cars--
00:11:57.23\00:11:58.88
you probably don't have
this in Court Wallace do you?
00:11:58.91\00:12:00.82
You are a more, you do,
00:12:00.85\00:12:04.56
you wouldn't not
in Court Wallace.
00:12:04.59\00:12:06.13
This is, this is a, educated
00:12:06.16\00:12:08.51
I mean this is a
high class city isn't it.
00:12:08.54\00:12:12.54
That's what
they're told but anyway
00:12:12.57\00:12:14.50
and so my wife and I
are in this conversation
00:12:14.53\00:12:18.58
and I am saying to myself
00:12:18.61\00:12:20.82
is it that you're
gonna use it for drugs,
00:12:20.85\00:12:22.90
is it you're gonna use it
for alcohol, for his smokes.
00:12:22.93\00:12:26.92
And my wife is saying,
00:12:26.95\00:12:28.11
I don't know what
is he gonna use it for
00:12:28.14\00:12:30.04
but if he or she
is really in need
00:12:30.07\00:12:33.27
I am gonna them
five bucks or whatever.
00:12:33.30\00:12:36.22
And that's the tenderness
of my-- my wife's heart.
00:12:36.25\00:12:40.45
And I am working on it,
00:12:40.48\00:12:42.63
you know I am working on it.
00:12:42.66\00:12:44.75
The other day I
came across a woman that,
00:12:44.78\00:12:47.62
that was you know,
she was outside Wal-Mart
00:12:47.65\00:12:51.32
there in Spokane Valley and
I went into the parking lot.
00:12:51.35\00:12:55.43
I went right by her
00:12:55.46\00:12:56.99
and she said
single mother in need.
00:12:57.02\00:13:00.36
Young woman and I went in there,
00:13:00.39\00:13:02.42
she was all my
mind the whole time
00:13:02.45\00:13:03.88
I was in there
picking up a few things
00:13:03.91\00:13:05.58
and I came out
and I decided that
00:13:05.61\00:13:06.78
I am gonna do
something for that woman.
00:13:06.81\00:13:08.93
You know, what if there was my,
00:13:08.96\00:13:10.66
my daughter and
what if there was my son?
00:13:10.69\00:13:12.86
And they were
truly down and out,
00:13:12.89\00:13:15.46
hungry, didn't know where to go,
00:13:15.49\00:13:17.15
didn't know what to do
00:13:17.18\00:13:18.25
and so I came by opened
my window and gave her $5.
00:13:18.28\00:13:23.39
I mean that was a
pittance wasn't it.
00:13:23.42\00:13:26.07
So when we talk
about faith and works
00:13:26.10\00:13:27.73
we can be so very theological
00:13:27.76\00:13:29.50
but James is so very practical
00:13:29.53\00:13:32.33
and he is talking about
00:13:32.36\00:13:33.39
you can have all
the faith of the world.
00:13:33.42\00:13:35.13
You can pat somebody on the back
that really is in need and say
00:13:35.16\00:13:38.94
"you know, be a good courage,
00:13:38.97\00:13:40.81
go in peace, be
warned, be warmed, be feel up.
00:13:40.84\00:13:47.38
And then she don't
give them anything.
00:13:47.41\00:13:50.24
That wouldn't be
true of us will it?
00:13:50.27\00:13:53.09
No, faith is so practical.
00:13:53.12\00:13:56.02
Genuine faith, genuine faith
00:13:56.05\00:14:00.65
cannot be disassociated
from the life is what we find.
00:14:00.68\00:14:05.34
You can't
disassociate from the life.
00:14:05.37\00:14:08.42
Genuine faith will
always reveal itself
00:14:08.45\00:14:10.90
in loving concern for others.
00:14:10.93\00:14:14.12
I'll tell you
there have been battles
00:14:14.15\00:14:15.66
that have been fought
over in the Christian church
00:14:15.69\00:14:18.00
and in the
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:14:18.03\00:14:19.93
battles fought over
this matter of faith
00:14:19.96\00:14:22.09
and some of the coldest
00:14:22.12\00:14:23.27
and some of the
most cruel things
00:14:23.30\00:14:25.82
have been done and said
over this matter of faith.
00:14:25.85\00:14:30.48
And what constitutes faith,
00:14:30.51\00:14:32.57
you know what I am
talking about don't you
00:14:32.60\00:14:35.15
for hitting that,
00:14:35.18\00:14:36.67
you know the very
basis of the law is love.
00:14:36.70\00:14:40.05
We didn't have this
battles but it's about love.
00:14:40.08\00:14:44.20
Faith is about love,
it's about His loving us,
00:14:44.23\00:14:48.27
us loving Him,
and us loving others.
00:14:48.30\00:14:52.39
Because of Him faith really
cannot be genuine without it.
00:14:52.42\00:14:58.60
In fact in 1 John
3:17-19 and it says
00:14:58.63\00:15:04.89
"But whoever has
the world's goods,
00:15:04.92\00:15:07.44
and beholds his brother in need
00:15:07.47\00:15:09.54
and closes his
heart against him,
00:15:09.57\00:15:12.39
how does the love
of God abide in him?
00:15:12.42\00:15:15.40
Little children, let us not
love with word or with tongue,
00:15:15.43\00:15:19.02
but in deed and truth."
00:15:19.05\00:15:21.66
You know, my generation,
00:15:21.69\00:15:24.19
you know or my let me begin
with my parents generation.
00:15:24.22\00:15:27.89
I knew my parents loved me
00:15:27.92\00:15:29.48
but I never heard those words
00:15:29.51\00:15:30.83
until I was well--
well, into my adult years.
00:15:30.86\00:15:34.53
My parent's generation just
did not utter those words often.
00:15:34.56\00:15:41.63
But my generations
00:15:41.66\00:15:43.58
some of you are
part of my generation
00:15:43.61\00:15:45.64
my wife and I
are very expressive.
00:15:45.67\00:15:48.94
We, verbalize our
love often to our sons.
00:15:48.97\00:15:52.56
We have done that
since they were little kids.
00:15:52.59\00:15:54.66
And I still will often
put my arms around David
00:15:54.69\00:15:58.78
who is 27 and I'll
say" David, I love you."
00:15:58.81\00:16:01.22
And you know what he'll tell me
00:16:01.25\00:16:02.68
"I love you too dad."
00:16:02.71\00:16:04.82
And I will grab
my arms around Kevin
00:16:04.85\00:16:07.37
he got out the door
before I could do that
00:16:07.40\00:16:09.41
on Thursday night,
00:16:09.44\00:16:10.47
they came over for dinner
we had a family dinner together
00:16:10.50\00:16:13.58
and he was headed out
and I am not gonna see him
00:16:13.61\00:16:15.44
for at least ten to
ten days, two weeks.
00:16:15.47\00:16:19.06
And I was regretting that
00:16:19.09\00:16:21.56
I didn't rush
out there to the car
00:16:21.59\00:16:23.61
and put my arms
around Kevin and say
00:16:23.64\00:16:25.60
"Kevin, I love you, I love you."
00:16:25.63\00:16:29.56
It's good to verbalize
ones love and affection
00:16:29.59\00:16:34.14
and we need to
verbalize our love and affection
00:16:34.17\00:16:36.97
for one another within a certain
context that's just fine.
00:16:37.00\00:16:40.71
But my friend, actions
do speak louder than words.
00:16:40.74\00:16:44.28
We got to back up
what we say with our lips
00:16:44.31\00:16:46.87
with what we do, love in action.
00:16:46.90\00:16:50.58
And that's what he
is talking about here.
00:16:50.61\00:16:52.88
Love in action.
00:16:52.91\00:16:54.50
Anyway I had privilege of,
00:16:54.53\00:16:55.75
privilege of being in
Kenya about six, seven years,
00:16:55.78\00:16:58.09
down there in
south western Kenya
00:16:58.12\00:17:00.83
not far from the beside country.
00:17:00.86\00:17:03.58
And it was a
fascinating experience.
00:17:03.61\00:17:05.78
I remember on
one Sabbath morning
00:17:05.81\00:17:07.51
we had 25,000 people
on the football field.
00:17:07.54\00:17:10.64
You know it's a
soccer field over there.
00:17:10.67\00:17:13.21
Football field that
they gathered together
00:17:13.24\00:17:15.84
in a congregation largest
group I had ever preached to
00:17:15.87\00:17:19.54
and I will tell
you they were workers.
00:17:19.57\00:17:21.63
We had some
pastors and lay workers
00:17:21.66\00:17:24.06
and let me tell you
00:17:24.09\00:17:25.55
they have
wonderful choirs in Kenya.
00:17:25.58\00:17:29.14
They are witnessing choirs,
00:17:29.17\00:17:31.75
they are not just you
know and they I could--
00:17:31.78\00:17:34.54
I gonna bring in clips one night
I have them on my computer.
00:17:34.57\00:17:36.88
Actually it's some
of the wonderful choirs
00:17:36.91\00:17:39.09
and how they come in singing.
00:17:39.12\00:17:41.65
But they would
come into a village,
00:17:41.68\00:17:43.54
they will go into a town
and they will go to the homes
00:17:43.57\00:17:46.81
and they are witnessing.
00:17:46.84\00:17:49.31
And then they will sing,
00:17:49.34\00:17:51.13
you know, they were
singing the meetings.
00:17:51.16\00:17:52.82
That's the kind of,
you know, I love that.
00:17:52.85\00:17:55.04
[ Singing in foreign language ]
00:17:55.07\00:18:00.04
So in the process
of being down in Kenya
00:19:00.53\00:19:02.79
we discovered 50%
of that population
00:19:02.82\00:19:05.36
some two million
in that part of Kenya
00:19:05.39\00:19:07.71
were gonna die because of AIDS.
00:19:07.74\00:19:09.28
It's just rampant and
through the pastor's wife,
00:19:09.31\00:19:14.56
who also was the pastor Silvia,
00:19:14.59\00:19:15.91
that's Silvia
bending over there.
00:19:15.94\00:19:18.24
Through Silvia I discovered that
00:19:18.27\00:19:20.31
she had established a
ministry with 300 widows
00:19:20.34\00:19:24.66
whose husbands
all had died of AIDS
00:19:24.69\00:19:26.66
and everyone last,
every last one them had AIDS.
00:19:26.69\00:19:30.81
And they were
living primitively,
00:19:30.84\00:19:33.04
they were living in
what we would typically think
00:19:33.07\00:19:35.84
of as an African
hut with a dirt floor
00:19:35.87\00:19:39.79
and we were in an
elevation and it got cold
00:19:39.82\00:19:43.21
they didn't have one blanket.
00:19:43.24\00:19:45.58
The Quite Hour
had given us $500.
00:19:45.61\00:19:48.32
James Zechariah said "Hey,
somebody gave us some money
00:19:48.35\00:19:51.25
here take this money and
use it for something good."
00:19:51.28\00:19:54.53
And so among the
things that we did was
00:19:54.56\00:19:57.39
we bought them all
blankets, 300 blankets.
00:19:57.42\00:20:01.59
We were-- buy out of Kisii town
00:20:01.62\00:20:04.14
which is a small,
it's a city actually.
00:20:04.17\00:20:06.77
Silvia is telling me we have
enough blankets for each one
00:20:06.80\00:20:11.96
which is really need here.
00:20:11.99\00:20:13.38
Thank you very much. Okay.
00:20:17.85\00:20:21.43
And we were able to give
them to each one of those women
00:20:21.46\00:20:24.22
we were able to
buy seven Chinese
00:20:24.25\00:20:26.50
finely made
Chinese sewing machines.
00:20:26.53\00:20:31.00
And we got material and thread
00:20:31.03\00:20:34.02
and because they
were just so poor
00:20:34.05\00:20:37.07
and we found they were several
00:20:37.10\00:20:38.26
that already were sew mistress
but they didn't have the tools.
00:20:38.29\00:20:41.31
We provided it,
00:20:41.34\00:20:42.46
and then we provided
somebody to teach them
00:20:42.49\00:20:44.61
how to sew and then we
made arrangements to rent a shop
00:20:44.64\00:20:50.77
where they could sell
the clothing they have made
00:20:50.80\00:20:54.97
because this was a big
item in that culture, clothing.
00:20:55.00\00:20:59.74
And so you see it's
just doing practical things
00:20:59.77\00:21:03.99
to meet the needs of others.
00:21:04.02\00:21:05.78
We could be so
caught up in our minds
00:21:05.81\00:21:07.42
doing our own thing
going on our own way
00:21:07.45\00:21:09.95
that we just kind
of blinders on its
00:21:09.98\00:21:11.79
as if we were just unconscious
that people have needs.
00:21:11.82\00:21:15.68
And my friend, there is needs
right here in the fellowship.
00:21:15.71\00:21:18.99
There are needs and some of
you have will never speak of,
00:21:19.02\00:21:21.87
something you just
want to hold close to you.
00:21:21.90\00:21:24.46
But
nevertheless, we all have needs
00:21:24.49\00:21:27.79
and that's part of the
reason why we have fellowship,
00:21:27.82\00:21:31.06
is in love to support
and to encourage others
00:21:31.09\00:21:35.90
and to meet the
needs of individuals.
00:21:35.93\00:21:39.23
So what would you
do if you had somebody
00:21:39.26\00:21:40.93
in your, in your congregation
00:21:40.96\00:21:43.06
who is going through the
awful financial situation
00:21:43.09\00:21:46.00
the housing market
who is on the verge
00:21:46.03\00:21:47.85
of losing their house.
00:21:47.88\00:21:49.62
We have this going
on in my home church
00:21:49.65\00:21:52.29
and you know not due to anything
00:21:52.32\00:21:54.55
that they had done
foolishly would we seek
00:21:54.58\00:22:00.23
to help somebody
out in that situation.
00:22:00.26\00:22:04.02
What are the limits?
00:22:04.05\00:22:05.61
You know,
everybody is on their own,
00:22:05.64\00:22:08.20
everybody has got to take care
of their own needs work it out.
00:22:08.23\00:22:12.81
Well, I think
there is something more
00:22:12.84\00:22:14.72
that we can do but you
see practical faith in Jesus
00:22:14.75\00:22:17.66
always reaches out to
touch the lives of others.
00:22:17.69\00:22:20.72
If our lives have
been touched by His love,
00:22:20.75\00:22:24.04
His love will touch the
lives of others through us.
00:22:24.07\00:22:27.25
We become the instruments,
we become the channels.
00:22:27.28\00:22:30.13
In James Chapter 2
and moving on to verse 17,
00:22:30.16\00:22:34.31
James 2:17 he
says "Even so faith,
00:22:34.34\00:22:38.36
if it has no works,
is dead being by itself."
00:22:38.39\00:22:43.45
Now think of the
import of this statement.
00:22:43.48\00:22:47.37
"Faith without works is dead."
00:22:47.40\00:22:52.55
And so I examine my own heart
00:22:52.58\00:22:54.55
what's the condition
of my spiritual life,
00:22:54.58\00:22:56.27
what's the condition of
my relationship to Jesus
00:22:56.30\00:22:58.40
and all that I profess
is my faith is the genuine
00:22:58.43\00:23:02.91
or could it be
possible to have dead faith?
00:23:02.94\00:23:06.57
You know that's, you
know just believing that.
00:23:06.60\00:23:10.78
You know not really experiencing
00:23:10.81\00:23:14.00
and its all about experiencing,
isn't it, it's experiential.
00:23:14.03\00:23:18.96
And so I ask you this morning
00:23:18.99\00:23:20.37
how is your faith
in Jesus this morning?
00:23:20.40\00:23:22.50
Is it thriving, is it growing,
is it affecting your life,
00:23:22.53\00:23:26.83
is it affecting my life
with the spirit of His love
00:23:26.86\00:23:30.10
and with His grace?
00:23:30.13\00:23:32.46
Does my life bear testimony
00:23:32.49\00:23:34.23
to the genuineness of
my profession of Jesus?
00:23:34.26\00:23:38.69
Does it?
00:23:38.72\00:23:40.55
You know, nobody else
can answer that for us.
00:23:40.58\00:23:43.96
And then I am
gonna take you on James 2
00:23:43.99\00:23:45.97
and looking at
verse 18 where he says
00:23:46.00\00:23:48.74
"But someone may
well say, 'You have faith
00:23:48.77\00:23:52.12
and I have works show me
your faith without the works,
00:23:52.15\00:23:55.20
and I will show you
my faith by my works.'"
00:23:55.23\00:23:59.96
So now we begin
to see a correlation
00:23:59.99\00:24:01.67
that is my life
will bear a testimony
00:24:01.70\00:24:06.60
to who possesses the heart.
00:24:06.63\00:24:10.53
If self is in
throne it will be seen
00:24:10.56\00:24:16.08
in what I do and what I say.
00:24:16.11\00:24:19.66
If Christ is in throne it will,
00:24:19.69\00:24:24.13
you know, the life will
give testimony of His presence.
00:24:24.16\00:24:28.22
Will it not in some ways?
00:24:28.25\00:24:30.70
Now I am not perfect,
00:24:30.73\00:24:32.65
you know you're not perfect
we sometimes will stumble,
00:24:32.68\00:24:35.67
sometimes we may lose it.
00:24:35.70\00:24:37.45
May be we'll get
a little impatient
00:24:37.48\00:24:39.05
or may be a little bit
irritable on some mornings
00:24:39.08\00:24:42.91
but we are talking about
the tendency of our experience
00:24:42.94\00:24:46.43
in Jesus will
reveal itself in our lives.
00:24:46.46\00:24:49.78
This is a growing experience
00:24:49.81\00:24:52.02
and if I would say as
how many of you have attained
00:24:52.05\00:24:54.08
you have reached the fullness
00:24:54.11\00:24:55.54
what it means to
be just like Jesus
00:24:55.57\00:24:59.47
under every
circumstance of the life
00:24:59.50\00:25:01.74
and every situation of life.
00:25:01.77\00:25:03.87
And you know what
this hand goes down
00:25:03.90\00:25:06.51
along with the rest of you.
00:25:06.54\00:25:08.90
You know because we are growing
00:25:08.93\00:25:11.06
but that's the beauty of
what we have studied last night.
00:25:11.09\00:25:13.69
Where He is in the good times?
00:25:13.72\00:25:15.56
Where He is when things
are going wrong in our lives?
00:25:15.59\00:25:20.38
That's the
confidence and the assurance
00:25:20.41\00:25:22.59
that we have in Jesus Christ.
00:25:22.62\00:25:25.42
My oldest son David was
three months old when we,
00:25:25.45\00:25:28.82
we started this
work three months old.
00:25:28.85\00:25:31.96
And we are in the
Dakotas for two years
00:25:31.99\00:25:34.18
and then we were in
Montana for another two years.
00:25:34.21\00:25:36.74
We are in Montana we just
finished a series of meetings.
00:25:36.77\00:25:39.67
We were even
renting a home in Montana
00:25:39.70\00:25:42.01
which meant we were
living fulltime on the road
00:25:42.04\00:25:44.11
in a 40-foot fifth wheel trailer
00:25:44.14\00:25:46.31
which has its
challenges of itself
00:25:46.34\00:25:49.60
where you get
cabin fever on occasion
00:25:49.63\00:25:51.68
and so we are to finish
this series of meetings.
00:25:51.71\00:25:53.94
And we are pulling the trailer
00:25:53.97\00:25:55.69
heading back to
Bozeman, Montana,
00:25:55.72\00:25:57.90
to get a about nine day break
00:25:57.93\00:26:01.27
before the next
series of meetings.
00:26:01.30\00:26:03.00
We pulled into a service station
00:26:03.03\00:26:04.64
because I had a
1979, Ford truck,
00:26:04.67\00:26:08.69
460 horse, 4 barrel carburetor
00:26:08.72\00:26:13.15
and that thing just sucked
up the fuel, let me tell you.
00:26:13.18\00:26:17.47
So we often had to stop you
00:26:17.50\00:26:18.74
even though I have
two fuel tanks in it.
00:26:18.77\00:26:21.02
And so I was feeling
inept and I went in to pay up
00:26:21.05\00:26:23.92
and David I don't
know what's about kids
00:26:23.95\00:26:25.72
but if there is toys
anywhere in the store they just
00:26:25.75\00:26:29.05
and it's almost like
they make a beeline to it.
00:26:29.08\00:26:31.44
And he had found this
rack with these plastic
00:26:31.47\00:26:35.53
you know, these,
these plastic packages
00:26:35.56\00:26:39.44
with very simple toys in it.
00:26:39.47\00:26:41.25
And he had found this
train set and he looked at me,
00:26:41.28\00:26:46.01
3-years old, and he is saying
00:26:46.04\00:26:47.86
"daddy can you buy that for me."
00:26:47.89\00:26:50.10
And so I looked at it
00:26:50.13\00:26:51.40
and then we just
like couple of box
00:26:51.43\00:26:52.84
I bought it for him
00:26:52.87\00:26:54.65
and we were just not
very far from the hotel,
00:26:54.68\00:26:58.03
where we gonna stay in the motel
00:26:58.06\00:26:59.26
we are going to
stay for that night.
00:26:59.29\00:27:00.82
He could hardly wait
until we got settle in there.
00:27:00.85\00:27:03.79
We had to bring in the
suitcases and all rest of it.
00:27:03.82\00:27:06.35
They get settled in there
00:27:06.38\00:27:07.58
so you know his
daddy could help him
00:27:07.61\00:27:10.34
put together the toy train.
00:27:10.37\00:27:12.96
And so finally, I
mean, he was so anxious.
00:27:12.99\00:27:15.88
We sat at that roundtable
and we laid up the oval track.
00:27:15.91\00:27:19.75
It was very simple.
00:27:19.78\00:27:21.57
And put the engine on the track
00:27:21.60\00:27:24.06
and then a couple of
cars and then the caboose
00:27:24.09\00:27:25.85
that was meant to be
pulled around the track.
00:27:25.88\00:27:28.85
But you see when
we put it on the track
00:27:28.88\00:27:30.86
and we begin to pull
it, it always derailed.
00:27:30.89\00:27:33.22
We put it on and it again it
would derail, it kept derailing.
00:27:33.25\00:27:37.39
And that was frustrating.
00:27:37.42\00:27:38.49
It was frustrating for me
00:27:38.52\00:27:39.74
because he was
looking forward to it.
00:27:39.77\00:27:42.38
It was frustrating to him
00:27:42.41\00:27:43.81
because he was
looking forward to it.
00:27:43.84\00:27:46.78
And it was, it was frustrating.
00:27:46.81\00:27:51.98
And you know what we ended up,
00:27:52.01\00:27:53.04
what we ended up doing with it?
00:27:53.07\00:27:55.81
We tossed it. It didn't work.
00:27:55.84\00:27:59.64
It wasn't any good.
00:27:59.67\00:28:01.47
And so we just, we
ended up throwing it away.
00:28:01.50\00:28:06.02
Faith, genuine faith does work,
00:28:06.05\00:28:09.53
it does work.
00:28:09.56\00:28:11.63
That's what we find as
we study the Word of God.
00:28:11.66\00:28:15.15
Galatians 2:20 as we--
00:28:15.18\00:28:18.44
probably what the Bible teaches
about this matter of faith,
00:28:18.47\00:28:22.03
Galatians 2 and here it is
00:28:22.06\00:28:24.40
one of my favorite
passages of scripture
00:28:24.43\00:28:26.17
where he says, "I have
been crucified with Christ
00:28:26.20\00:28:30.02
and it is no longer I
who live, but Christ."
00:28:30.05\00:28:35.56
Christ what?
"Christ lives in me."
00:28:35.59\00:28:39.70
And that happens by faith.
00:28:39.73\00:28:42.29
"Christ lives in me and the life
which I now live in the flesh
00:28:42.32\00:28:45.77
I live by faith
in the Son of God,
00:28:45.80\00:28:48.31
who loved me and
gave Himself up for me."
00:28:48.34\00:28:52.22
Oh, my friend, if indeed by
faith Christ is living in you
00:28:52.25\00:28:55.44
and He is living in me
00:28:55.47\00:28:59.11
His life cannot
be hidden within.
00:28:59.14\00:29:02.93
If Christ is
living in you and me
00:29:02.96\00:29:04.72
His life will be
manifested through us.
00:29:04.75\00:29:09.25
He will be
manifested through us.
00:29:09.28\00:29:12.95
And I don't know about you
but I pray about this everyday.
00:29:12.98\00:29:16.34
I just pray Lord Jesus I take
of myself as a lump of clay.
00:29:16.37\00:29:19.73
I just saw that in Romania
several years, some years ago
00:29:19.76\00:29:23.59
a potter with clay
I've never seen that before.
00:29:23.62\00:29:26.18
And it's left the
impression on me ever since.
00:29:26.21\00:29:28.58
And I just see myself as a clay
00:29:28.61\00:29:31.20
I was praying that
about this morning.
00:29:31.23\00:29:33.48
Oh Jesus, like You
where a potter would
00:29:33.51\00:29:36.32
put his hands to clay
00:29:36.35\00:29:37.69
put Your hands to this
heart and to this mind.
00:29:37.72\00:29:42.06
Mold me and fashion
me into Your likeness
00:29:42.09\00:29:47.25
because I think all of
us are in this together
00:29:47.28\00:29:49.79
we want to have
the Spirit of Jesus.
00:29:49.82\00:29:54.36
Not just the profession of it
00:29:54.39\00:29:56.44
we want the genuine
article of the Spirit of Jesus
00:29:56.47\00:30:00.77
to become more like Jesus.
00:30:00.80\00:30:02.76
His tenderness, His
compassion, His gentleness
00:30:02.79\00:30:07.46
and how we relate to others
00:30:07.49\00:30:09.00
beginning in our home
00:30:09.03\00:30:10.40
that's the first
place where it begins.
00:30:10.43\00:30:13.17
Beginning in my marriage,
beginning with my children,
00:30:13.20\00:30:17.36
beginning with my friends,
includes some of my friends,
00:30:17.39\00:30:20.05
including the fellowship
with the great diversity
00:30:20.08\00:30:23.58
that is usually
present among most churches,
00:30:23.61\00:30:27.95
learning of lot not just
those who are just like me,
00:30:27.98\00:30:30.85
but those who may
be are not like me
00:30:30.88\00:30:32.76
in temperament or whatever.
00:30:32.79\00:30:35.87
It's about loving
and accepting and caring
00:30:35.90\00:30:38.84
for and caring for those
who are outside of the walls.
00:30:38.87\00:30:42.17
I assume that's
part of the reason
00:30:42.20\00:30:43.65
why you wanted to do a series
of meetings more than you--
00:30:43.68\00:30:46.33
the fact that he has money
sitting in the bank account
00:30:46.36\00:30:48.73
you need to do
something with it.
00:30:48.76\00:30:51.56
There are people out there
00:30:51.59\00:30:52.91
you have, you care about them.
00:30:52.94\00:30:56.67
You want to reach them.
00:30:56.70\00:30:57.73
You want to do it effectively.
00:30:57.76\00:30:59.58
I know that you want
to do this effectively
00:30:59.61\00:31:02.36
as you possibly can.
00:31:02.39\00:31:03.77
On Colossians 1:27
00:31:03.80\00:31:06.42
where Paul says
"To whom God willed
00:31:06.45\00:31:08.73
to make known what is the riches
00:31:08.76\00:31:10.40
of the glory of this mystery."
00:31:10.43\00:31:12.63
And my friend, it is mysterious
00:31:12.66\00:31:16.17
this spiritual
process because it you know
00:31:16.20\00:31:19.04
at this process of
becoming like Jesus,
00:31:19.07\00:31:21.58
the Holy Spirit
working in our hearts.
00:31:21.61\00:31:25.71
"The riches of the
glory of this mystery,
00:31:25.74\00:31:27.75
which is Christ in you,
00:31:27.78\00:31:31.28
the hope of glory."
00:31:31.31\00:31:35.46
It's a thing of beauty.
00:31:35.49\00:31:37.98
It's powerful.
00:31:38.01\00:31:39.48
And my friend,
if Christ is in us
00:31:39.51\00:31:42.24
He will be in what we do.
00:31:42.27\00:31:45.22
Jesus will be in what we say.
00:31:45.25\00:31:48.47
He will, won't He?
00:31:48.50\00:31:50.95
Again we can't just disassociate
a genuine faith from the life.
00:31:50.98\00:31:57.10
And that's why the imputed
00:31:57.13\00:31:58.72
and important
righteousness of Jesus
00:31:58.75\00:32:00.54
is vital to
understand and to experience
00:32:00.57\00:32:03.37
this process of
becoming like him
00:32:03.40\00:32:07.59
which is again
something wonderful,
00:32:07.62\00:32:10.27
something that is great.
00:32:10.30\00:32:11.90
Taking you on,
00:32:11.93\00:32:12.96
because I have little
more I want to share with you.
00:32:12.99\00:32:16.80
I want to take you to John 15:5
00:32:16.83\00:32:22.10
and you know this text well
00:32:22.13\00:32:23.26
where Jesus said
"Abide in Me and I in you."
00:32:23.29\00:32:26.90
And again my friend, if
Jesus is abiding in the heart
00:32:26.93\00:32:30.20
the life will give the
evidence of His presence.
00:32:30.23\00:32:34.23
It will, there is a correlation
00:32:34.26\00:32:36.87
and my friend,
if what we profess
00:32:36.90\00:32:39.50
is disassociated from our lives
00:32:39.53\00:32:42.62
what we do out there.
00:32:42.65\00:32:44.01
How we are living
how we are interacting.
00:32:44.04\00:32:47.64
If it's not to direct us--
00:32:47.67\00:32:48.82
if there is disassociation
00:32:48.85\00:32:51.77
then my friend,
something has gone wrong.
00:32:51.80\00:32:55.53
There's an integration
that takes place by faith
00:32:55.56\00:33:00.14
in our relationship to Jesus
00:33:00.17\00:33:02.17
and integration
between what we profess
00:33:02.20\00:33:05.43
and what we live.
00:33:05.46\00:33:08.53
And that's part of the problem
00:33:08.56\00:33:09.65
with extremeness
of that we have seen
00:33:09.68\00:33:11.50
in this whole subject
of Righteousness by Faith
00:33:11.53\00:33:13.66
because some have been
00:33:13.69\00:33:14.82
so legalistic in this
whole thing of the faith
00:33:14.85\00:33:17.63
and so legalistic
over this whole thing
00:33:17.66\00:33:19.72
of Righteousness by Faith.
00:33:19.75\00:33:21.60
This whole thing,
this whole idea works
00:33:21.63\00:33:24.54
and what we do and how we live
00:33:24.57\00:33:26.71
comes under suspicion.
00:33:26.74\00:33:29.48
It almost seems to
have a taint of legalism
00:33:29.51\00:33:32.07
to suggest that we do matters.
00:33:32.10\00:33:36.70
But it does matter
because it is reflective
00:33:36.73\00:33:40.03
of what is in the
heart or better yet.
00:33:40.06\00:33:43.18
Who is in the heart?
00:33:43.21\00:33:47.67
And there will be disharmony,
00:33:47.70\00:33:51.81
there will be
disharmony between the two.
00:33:51.84\00:33:53.91
And Steps to Christ, page 57,
00:33:53.94\00:33:55.90
we have this statement
it says "While we cannot"
00:33:55.93\00:33:57.90
look at this its
right there in the Bible
00:33:57.93\00:34:00.57
it's certainly biblical.
00:34:00.60\00:34:02.16
It says "While we
cannot do anything
00:34:02.19\00:34:04.42
to change our hearts
or to bring ourselves
00:34:04.45\00:34:06.72
into harmony with God."
00:34:06.75\00:34:08.55
And all of us
because of our own experience
00:34:08.58\00:34:11.00
with sin would say, amen.
00:34:11.03\00:34:13.98
I can't do it, you can't do it.
00:34:14.01\00:34:16.27
It can't change-- may
want something better,
00:34:16.30\00:34:18.62
may long for something better,
00:34:18.65\00:34:19.97
so it says in Roman 7.
00:34:20.00\00:34:21.46
I may have the
desire to do what is right.
00:34:21.49\00:34:23.84
But the doing is
not present within me.
00:34:23.87\00:34:27.08
It's not because we're
soul in the bondage to sin.
00:34:27.11\00:34:30.87
Okay so "While we cannot do
anything to change our hearts
00:34:30.90\00:34:33.64
or to bring
ourselves into harmony with God
00:34:33.67\00:34:36.22
while we must not
trust at all to ourselves
00:34:36.25\00:34:39.47
or our good works."
00:34:39.50\00:34:41.04
We must not, we
cannot, we dare not.
00:34:41.07\00:34:46.99
"Our lives" it goes
on to say "will reveal."
00:34:47.02\00:34:49.96
Our lives will reveal this,
00:34:49.99\00:34:52.35
"Whether the grace of
God is dwelling within us."
00:34:52.38\00:34:59.65
See there is this,
this thing about grace
00:34:59.68\00:35:02.06
that often is overlooked.
00:35:02.09\00:35:03.12
Grace is the
American favor of God grace is
00:35:03.15\00:35:06.32
but grace also it
involves the power of God.
00:35:06.35\00:35:11.56
That's often overlooked
00:35:11.59\00:35:12.94
when we come under grace
the power that's transforming.
00:35:12.97\00:35:16.09
2 Corinthians 12
00:35:16.12\00:35:17.89
where Jesus said to Paul
"My grace is sufficient for you,
00:35:17.92\00:35:21.54
for my strength is
made perfected in weakness."
00:35:21.57\00:35:25.33
And there we see the correlation
00:35:25.36\00:35:26.64
between grace and the
perfecting of His power
00:35:26.67\00:35:29.76
and strength within us.
00:35:29.79\00:35:31.72
And this is the
privilege we have.
00:35:31.75\00:35:33.77
You know, I have been
talking about the fact
00:35:33.80\00:35:35.26
that we need to,
00:35:35.29\00:35:37.13
you know, we can have
00:35:37.16\00:35:38.74
this first love
experience with Jesus.
00:35:38.77\00:35:43.82
That vibrant love in
Jesus that some of us
00:35:43.85\00:35:46.64
you know may be
we've got in a little bit
00:35:46.67\00:35:49.46
this is like a couple of just
been living together too long.
00:35:49.49\00:35:54.00
You know, may be they're
sleeping in two different rooms.
00:35:54.03\00:35:57.41
And I heard of this couple
they couldn't afford the divorce
00:35:57.44\00:36:02.10
so he occupied
the main floor well,
00:36:02.13\00:36:04.70
she occupied and it
was a really nice house
00:36:04.73\00:36:06.58
she occupied the
lower level that was hers,
00:36:06.61\00:36:09.46
that was her too and
the two were never to meet.
00:36:09.49\00:36:13.78
You know, they had
the same household address
00:36:13.81\00:36:18.79
that to the casual
observer they seem to be married
00:36:18.82\00:36:22.69
and all that but
they weren't really.
00:36:22.72\00:36:24.74
They were going
through the motions of it.
00:36:24.77\00:36:27.59
And my friend, if we have been
00:36:27.62\00:36:29.40
going through the motions of it
00:36:29.43\00:36:32.39
then we have not been
experiencing the tremendous joy
00:36:32.42\00:36:37.06
and the tremendous power
00:36:37.09\00:36:39.06
that comes from a
vibrant relationship in Jesus.
00:36:39.09\00:36:43.22
And it's a growth thing
00:36:43.25\00:36:45.21
and my friend, just the
trust the Lord to do it.
00:36:45.24\00:36:47.01
You can't manufacture
it I can't manufacture it
00:36:47.04\00:36:50.45
but it comes as we
yield to give ourselves
00:36:50.48\00:36:52.75
to the one that we love.
00:36:52.78\00:36:53.81
As we yield ourselves
00:36:53.84\00:36:55.07
then we begin to
experience in a deeper level
00:36:55.10\00:36:59.63
what I am talking
about this morning.
00:36:59.66\00:37:03.59
Okay, and then I must take you
00:37:03.62\00:37:07.15
on to Selected
Messages, book 1, page 397
00:37:07.18\00:37:11.50
"Genuine faith will be
manifested in good works
00:37:11.53\00:37:17.03
for good works are
the fruits of faith."
00:37:17.06\00:37:21.48
And I think all of us
would agree with that.
00:37:21.51\00:37:23.29
"As God works"
now there is a reason
00:37:23.32\00:37:26.01
why I am sharing with you.
00:37:26.04\00:37:27.28
Now notice the dynamic
00:37:27.31\00:37:28.53
the spiritual
dynamic that's taking place.
00:37:28.56\00:37:30.55
"As God works in the heart,
00:37:30.58\00:37:33.21
and man
surrenders his will to God."
00:37:33.24\00:37:35.47
That's all yielding to Him.
00:37:35.50\00:37:37.56
"And cooperates with God."
00:37:37.59\00:37:39.37
That's our part isn't it--
00:37:39.40\00:37:41.34
that's really
all that we could do.
00:37:41.37\00:37:43.62
Yield ourselves and
to cooperate with God.
00:37:43.65\00:37:46.79
"He works out."
00:37:46.82\00:37:48.45
That is man, women
00:37:48.48\00:37:50.46
and we're using
in generic sense.
00:37:50.49\00:37:52.36
"He works out in
the life" by faith
00:37:52.39\00:37:56.32
"where God works
in by the Holy Spirit,
00:37:56.35\00:38:00.58
and there is harmony
between the purpose of the heart
00:38:00.61\00:38:03.35
and the practice of the life."
00:38:03.38\00:38:05.84
And so that's our part by faith
00:38:05.87\00:38:08.28
we are working out
by the grace of Jesus,
00:38:08.31\00:38:11.88
by the grace of Jesus,
00:38:11.91\00:38:12.95
we are working out of our lives
00:38:12.98\00:38:14.90
that which God is
working into our lives.
00:38:14.93\00:38:20.23
It's a beautiful statement.
00:38:20.26\00:38:21.97
And really it puts it so well.
00:38:22.00\00:38:23.33
Spurgeon it this way
00:38:23.36\00:38:24.76
"Faith and
obedience are bound up
00:38:24.79\00:38:26.61
in the same bundle.
00:38:26.64\00:38:27.95
He that obeys God trusts God
00:38:27.98\00:38:30.09
and he that
trusts God obeys God.
00:38:30.12\00:38:32.30
He that is without
faith is without works
00:38:32.33\00:38:35.58
and he that is without
works is without faith."
00:38:35.61\00:38:39.67
Well he really got
hold of that one, didn't he?
00:38:39.70\00:38:43.41
You see in the world of theology
00:38:43.44\00:38:45.71
when we talk
about faith of works,
00:38:45.74\00:38:47.07
we want to break things down,
faith is here, works is here.
00:38:47.10\00:38:51.89
We talk about one or the other
00:38:51.92\00:38:53.64
and sometimes we
talk about them together
00:38:53.67\00:38:55.72
but in reality
they are in separable.
00:38:55.75\00:38:59.84
Without faith
works are legalism.
00:39:02.76\00:39:07.82
Faith without works,
well we have read it dead,
00:39:07.85\00:39:12.48
its impractical,
it's just a profession.
00:39:12.51\00:39:15.93
In fact, this
from the Interpreters
00:39:18.76\00:39:20.57
One-Volume Commentary,
page 920, I love this one.
00:39:20.60\00:39:24.25
Where it says "Faith
and works are two sides
00:39:24.28\00:39:27.05
of the same reality."
00:39:27.08\00:39:29.17
The same reality.
00:39:29.20\00:39:31.70
"Faith is the
inner side of the action,
00:39:31.73\00:39:34.63
works are the
outward expression of faith."
00:39:34.66\00:39:39.88
So they are not separate,
00:39:39.91\00:39:41.87
one is the inner side and one
is the outer expression of it,
00:39:41.90\00:39:46.25
you see that.
00:39:46.28\00:39:48.85
And so one will
follow the other,
00:39:48.88\00:39:51.63
that is works will follow
the faith is what we find.
00:39:51.66\00:39:55.10
Take a look at James 2:19.
00:39:55.13\00:40:00.00
James 2:19, and as
we continue on here
00:40:00.03\00:40:04.96
where James says "You
believe that God is one.
00:40:04.99\00:40:08.72
You do well, the devils
also believe, and shudder."
00:40:08.75\00:40:12.05
Do the devils really believe?
00:40:12.08\00:40:13.24
Do the demons, do those
fallen angels really believe?
00:40:13.27\00:40:15.57
Of course they do.
They once inhabited heaven.
00:40:15.60\00:40:19.48
They once stood in
the presence of God.
00:40:19.51\00:40:21.00
They once were singing
those praise before God
00:40:21.03\00:40:23.38
the Father the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
00:40:23.41\00:40:27.49
But then they
rebelled, they rebelled.
00:40:27.52\00:40:31.55
Yes, they
believed that their works--
00:40:31.58\00:40:35.47
we know something
about their works don't we.
00:40:35.50\00:40:37.60
Their works, their testimony
that it is not really faith.
00:40:37.63\00:40:44.37
So we really should
talk about that for a moment.
00:40:44.40\00:40:46.48
It's not just believing,
believing at least a doctrines
00:40:46.51\00:40:52.14
though the
teachings are important
00:40:52.17\00:40:53.86
because they are
relevant to who Jesus is.
00:40:53.89\00:40:56.19
It's a content
to the relationship,
00:40:56.22\00:40:58.32
the teachings are
content to the relationship.
00:40:58.35\00:41:01.24
That is more than just
the intellectual belief
00:41:01.27\00:41:04.90
it is an engagement of
the heart with Jesus Christ.
00:41:04.93\00:41:09.54
It's not just
believing intellectual
00:41:09.57\00:41:11.31
it's an engagement of
the heart with Jesus Christ.
00:41:11.34\00:41:14.39
It is being
connected to Jesus Christ.
00:41:14.42\00:41:17.81
It is faith and other
word for faith is love.
00:41:17.84\00:41:20.72
It is a commitment of love.
00:41:20.75\00:41:22.31
A commitment of
love on God's part to us
00:41:22.34\00:41:25.27
and a response of
love in commitment to Him.
00:41:25.30\00:41:30.82
So there is faith has
love and it has commitment.
00:41:30.85\00:41:35.36
I asked you, was
it the last weekend
00:41:35.39\00:41:37.43
any of you know
something about a committed
00:41:37.46\00:41:40.07
or in a committed relationship?
00:41:40.10\00:41:42.99
Well, you know
something the dynamics
00:41:43.02\00:41:45.37
just on a human side of it.
00:41:45.40\00:41:47.78
But that really
is just a reflection
00:41:47.81\00:41:50.86
of the deeper experience
that we have the privilege
00:41:50.89\00:41:54.15
of knowing in Jesus Christ.
00:41:54.18\00:41:55.55
Verse 20, "But are
you willing to recognize,
00:41:55.58\00:41:58.11
you foolish fellow, that
faith without works is" is what?
00:41:58.14\00:42:05.80
Verse 20, right? "Is useless?"
00:42:05.83\00:42:07.99
Its dead and
then it fascinates me
00:42:08.02\00:42:10.71
as you continue on.
00:42:10.74\00:42:12.07
As he is talking
about fathom words
00:42:12.10\00:42:14.25
that he refers
to an Old Testament
00:42:14.28\00:42:16.68
illustration of
what he is talking about.
00:42:16.71\00:42:18.44
Take a look at verse 22.
00:42:18.47\00:42:20.22
"You see" he says you
see, that-- well just a minute.
00:42:20.25\00:42:26.54
Verse 21, I was in 22, verse 21.
00:42:26.57\00:42:29.44
"Was not Abraham our
father justified by works
00:42:29.47\00:42:33.65
when he offered up
Isaac his son on the altar?"
00:42:33.68\00:42:37.02
Just a minute does
that bother anybody,
00:42:37.05\00:42:39.73
justified by works?
00:42:39.76\00:42:40.85
We just read in Romans 3:28
00:42:40.88\00:42:43.48
and there is a reason
why I began with that text.
00:42:43.51\00:42:46.37
That no one is justified
by the words of the law
00:42:46.40\00:42:49.25
but here it saying and
it's in the New Testament
00:42:49.28\00:42:52.53
that Abraham was
justified by his works.
00:42:52.56\00:42:58.15
That's problematic
and he is talking about
00:42:58.18\00:43:02.42
when he offered up
his son on the altar.
00:43:02.45\00:43:05.77
So it's referring
to Old Testament story
00:43:05.80\00:43:07.58
that most of us
probably are familiar with.
00:43:07.61\00:43:09.65
You know that story don't you?
00:43:09.68\00:43:12.14
You know Abraham,
00:43:12.17\00:43:13.23
I mean, he was
required of bring himself
00:43:13.26\00:43:14.98
of everything that he knew
00:43:15.01\00:43:16.23
from the
culture and the society.
00:43:16.26\00:43:17.78
There Mesopotamia and God says,
00:43:17.81\00:43:20.11
I am going to take
you to if I way place
00:43:20.14\00:43:21.94
I am gonna give it to
you and your inhabitants
00:43:21.97\00:43:24.04
and by the way
that's gonna be like
00:43:24.07\00:43:25.51
the sands on a seashore.
00:43:25.54\00:43:28.89
Look at up in the
heavens they're gonna be
00:43:28.92\00:43:30.31
like the stars
unnumbered you are descendant.
00:43:30.34\00:43:33.32
Nations are gonna
come forth from you.
00:43:33.35\00:43:36.14
And you're going to have a son.
00:43:36.17\00:43:38.92
He was the son of promise.
00:43:38.95\00:43:44.47
Years begin to
click by one by one.
00:43:44.50\00:43:47.88
Decades began to go by no son.
00:43:47.91\00:43:51.02
They're getting
older, you know the story
00:43:51.05\00:43:53.17
and, and you
know finally Sara said
00:43:53.20\00:43:56.37
"you know want
to take my handmade
00:43:56.40\00:43:59.41
and you would have a son
and it would be fulfilled."
00:43:59.44\00:44:04.23
And so Ishmael was
born and that God said no
00:44:04.26\00:44:08.75
he has not any
part of the inheritance
00:44:08.78\00:44:11.50
that I'm promised.
00:44:11.53\00:44:13.76
It was hard but
Ishmael had to leave.
00:44:13.79\00:44:16.33
You know so they tried
a couple of different ways
00:44:16.36\00:44:18.64
to try to fulfill that
which God had promised.
00:44:18.67\00:44:21.83
By the way that's legalism.
00:44:21.86\00:44:25.48
That was legalistic
00:44:25.51\00:44:26.72
because they were
not depending upon God
00:44:26.75\00:44:28.71
to fulfill what
he said he would do.
00:44:28.74\00:44:32.81
Okay, so Abraham
knew-- so after many years--
00:44:32.84\00:44:37.01
I mean they're
hundred what a 100-years old.
00:44:37.04\00:44:40.57
They are told Sarah
is going to conceive
00:44:40.60\00:44:43.66
and you're gonna have a
son about a year from now.
00:44:43.69\00:44:46.42
And Sarah is in her tent just
laughing herself to that almost,
00:44:46.45\00:44:52.24
how could it be.
00:44:52.27\00:44:54.20
She says "our bodies are dead.
And we are old it just can't be.
00:44:54.23\00:45:00.02
In my old age I
am gonna be a mother.
00:45:00.05\00:45:03.66
It just won't
happen." But it did happen.
00:45:03.69\00:45:06.57
And let me tell you they
treasure that boy of promise.
00:45:06.60\00:45:10.94
They loved him. Didn't they?
00:45:10.97\00:45:12.63
They just loved him.
00:45:12.66\00:45:14.31
Isaac, they waited so long
and God had fulfilled his word
00:45:14.34\00:45:19.44
as He had
promised, all of their hopes
00:45:19.47\00:45:22.44
where the present and
the future were wrapped up
00:45:22.47\00:45:24.50
in that boy that they loved.
00:45:24.53\00:45:28.67
So I move forward
about some 20-years
00:45:28.70\00:45:30.28
or whatever it was
from that point forward
00:45:30.31\00:45:32.52
and Abraham has
his dream in his path.
00:45:32.55\00:45:35.02
And God comes to him and says
00:45:35.05\00:45:36.69
"I want you to
take the son of yours.
00:45:36.72\00:45:39.57
I want to see if
you really do love me.
00:45:39.60\00:45:41.79
And I want you to take him
00:45:41.82\00:45:42.90
and I want you
to sacrifice him."
00:45:42.93\00:45:46.52
Now remember,
00:45:46.55\00:45:47.58
Abraham had the
sentiment relationship with God
00:45:47.61\00:45:50.16
and he knew
when God was speaking
00:45:50.19\00:45:52.30
He could have said
"oh this could be God
00:45:52.33\00:45:55.15
but did I eat last night."
00:45:55.18\00:45:57.07
And so case
introgression, what it is.
00:45:57.10\00:46:00.06
Then no, no how do we know.
00:46:00.09\00:46:01.94
Now here is the question
00:46:01.97\00:46:03.30
how do we know
that Abraham had faith?
00:46:03.33\00:46:06.31
Well, we know from
the biblical record
00:46:06.34\00:46:07.51
he didn't sleep
in the next morning
00:46:07.54\00:46:08.71
he got up extra early
00:46:08.74\00:46:10.40
that's how we
know that he had faith.
00:46:10.43\00:46:12.76
How do we know
that Abraham had faith?
00:46:12.79\00:46:15.13
He went over stood
one of his servants
00:46:15.16\00:46:17.20
he said "We'll be called
sacrifice prepared the animals,
00:46:17.23\00:46:21.42
prepare we have
got a journey to take."
00:46:21.45\00:46:23.40
He was instructed that
he was to go to Mt. Moriah
00:46:23.43\00:46:25.61
that was gonna
be ending up to be
00:46:25.64\00:46:27.31
a three days
journey as it played out.
00:46:27.34\00:46:30.24
How do we know
that Abraham had faith?
00:46:30.27\00:46:34.19
Abraham can you imagine
this went over to where his son
00:46:34.22\00:46:39.61
was yet sleeping.
00:46:39.64\00:46:41.61
And he stirred him,
he said "Isaac, wake up.
00:46:41.64\00:46:46.27
God has called us to sacrifice."
00:46:46.30\00:46:50.13
How do we know
that Abraham had faith?
00:46:50.16\00:46:52.98
For the next three
days can you imagine
00:46:53.01\00:46:55.72
what was on Abraham's heart?
00:46:55.75\00:46:57.86
For the next three days
00:46:57.89\00:47:00.23
they were traveling
through the wilderness.
00:47:00.26\00:47:02.95
Every step was a step of faith.
00:47:02.98\00:47:07.43
How do we know
that Abraham had faith?
00:47:07.46\00:47:11.47
Son and father climb to
the heights of Mt. Moriah
00:47:11.50\00:47:16.20
and there Abraham
lays his son upon the altar
00:47:16.23\00:47:21.48
and after those good byes,
00:47:21.51\00:47:25.58
he raises his hand with a knife
00:47:25.61\00:47:29.98
and only then the God step in
00:47:30.01\00:47:34.11
and He said "do
not harm the child
00:47:34.14\00:47:37.32
for now I know
that you love Me."
00:47:37.35\00:47:40.63
Right?
00:47:40.66\00:47:42.31
Now I know that
you have faith in Me.
00:47:42.34\00:47:44.37
And now did He know it.
00:47:44.40\00:47:46.37
His actions showed it right.
00:47:46.40\00:47:50.83
And by the way now--
this was not just a task
00:47:50.86\00:47:54.43
this was to be a
Revelation to Abraham
00:47:54.46\00:47:57.01
and to Isaac was there a
sacrifice on that occasion.
00:47:57.04\00:48:01.59
What did they find
over in the thicket
00:48:01.62\00:48:03.25
caught in the thicket, a ram?
00:48:03.28\00:48:07.42
And they sacrificed that ram.
00:48:07.45\00:48:09.21
What did the ram
prefigure or symbolize?
00:48:09.24\00:48:13.38
The sacrifice of Jesus.
00:48:13.41\00:48:15.03
And so there was a
substitution that was provided
00:48:15.06\00:48:19.80
on the top of the
heights of that mountain
00:48:19.83\00:48:22.69
which gave Abraham
and Isaac deeper insights
00:48:22.72\00:48:25.75
into the substitution
that God would offer
00:48:25.78\00:48:29.09
on their behalf
or their salvation.
00:48:29.12\00:48:32.68
And by the way we would know
00:48:32.71\00:48:35.17
this mountain by
a different name.
00:48:35.20\00:48:37.38
I am gonna bring it up here.
00:48:37.41\00:48:41.30
Gonna bring it up here
because Mt. Moriah is Mt. Zion.
00:48:41.33\00:48:48.98
And the mount
somewhere else it says
00:48:49.01\00:48:50.23
under the dome of
rock there is a rock there
00:48:50.26\00:48:53.22
under the dome of the
rock is the very place
00:48:53.25\00:48:56.25
where this story took
place with Abraham and Isaac.
00:48:56.28\00:49:00.35
Think of it.
00:49:00.38\00:49:02.55
At the very place
that God would give up
00:49:02.58\00:49:06.08
His son for the life
of the world is the place
00:49:06.11\00:49:10.94
that He brought
Abraham to offer up his son.
00:49:10.97\00:49:16.43
And I say it in doing
so in acting out his faith
00:49:16.46\00:49:21.75
he gained a greater
insight into God's love
00:49:21.78\00:49:25.66
and the plan of salvation.
00:49:25.69\00:49:27.35
He knew what it was gonna cost
00:49:27.38\00:49:29.05
God the Father to
give up His only Son
00:49:29.08\00:49:34.49
in a way that He
would never have known
00:49:34.52\00:49:37.45
if He had not had experienced it
00:49:37.48\00:49:40.96
when He had been
called to give up His own Son.
00:49:40.99\00:49:44.79
In Old Testament story of faith
00:49:44.82\00:49:46.74
and how faith
works and my friend,
00:49:46.77\00:49:48.99
we too will be
blessed as by faith
00:49:49.02\00:49:53.32
we are willing to act
00:49:53.35\00:49:55.87
in accordance with
the will of God we will.
00:49:55.90\00:50:02.18
James 2:22
00:50:02.21\00:50:04.95
we finish up with
these last two verses,
00:50:04.98\00:50:07.83
"You see that faith
was working with his works,
00:50:07.86\00:50:12.09
and as a result of the
works, faith was perfected."
00:50:12.12\00:50:15.31
My friend, when
you're being tried
00:50:15.34\00:50:17.55
and you're not sure
that you can hold on
00:50:17.58\00:50:19.29
that you can you know
persevere through in faith
00:50:19.32\00:50:23.45
just keep praying,
just keep trusting God
00:50:23.48\00:50:26.72
just keep paying on by faith.
00:50:26.75\00:50:29.23
And let me tell you,
00:50:29.26\00:50:30.29
you will come out the
other side strengthened
00:50:30.32\00:50:32.65
in you faith in Jesus.
00:50:32.68\00:50:35.01
You'll have the deeper
experience in Him than you had.
00:50:35.04\00:50:38.74
If you just simply just
threw up your hands and say
00:50:38.77\00:50:41.14
"you know, works
so matter anyway.
00:50:41.17\00:50:43.99
Its all legalism."
00:50:44.02\00:50:45.46
No it's not necessarily,
00:50:45.49\00:50:48.32
its opportunities
for us to grow in faith.
00:50:48.35\00:50:54.72
You know, I have
this in life experiences
00:50:54.75\00:50:57.01
and I you know may be
shouldn't refer to in publicly
00:50:57.04\00:50:59.79
but my family
was wrenched apart,
00:50:59.82\00:51:01.47
my birth family
over this issue of money.
00:51:01.50\00:51:05.60
One family member who taught
to they ought to get it all.
00:51:05.63\00:51:09.12
And had sued my dad's
estate after his death
00:51:09.15\00:51:13.51
to get out his money and
sued my mother for her money
00:51:13.54\00:51:16.92
and went after my
sister and I, over money.
00:51:16.95\00:51:23.85
That was pretty
tough, it was hard.
00:51:23.88\00:51:27.32
You know, have somebody
in the family with such hate
00:51:27.35\00:51:31.86
and you know just I just have
never seen especially in family
00:51:31.89\00:51:35.81
that it should be such
hate and such determination
00:51:35.84\00:51:38.81
to destroy with
such intensive anger.
00:51:38.84\00:51:42.93
And you know I have
been around in the world.
00:51:42.96\00:51:45.10
I have been around in people.
00:51:45.13\00:51:46.16
I just had never seen something
00:51:46.19\00:51:47.39
as intensive and as venomous.
00:51:47.42\00:51:52.19
And as I showed you other night
00:51:52.22\00:51:54.51
that the other
one thing I could do,
00:51:54.54\00:51:56.01
I put on my mirror
00:51:56.04\00:51:58.27
in my master
bathroom several texts.
00:51:58.30\00:52:01.52
They've posted by
the way on the website.
00:52:01.55\00:52:05.98
A several texts and
often I would read those texts
00:52:06.01\00:52:09.93
and I would say "well, Jesus,
00:52:09.96\00:52:11.62
I am gonna trust
You no matter what."
00:52:11.65\00:52:15.71
It took about two
years unravel the whole thing
00:52:15.74\00:52:18.78
but by His grace it was.
00:52:18.81\00:52:21.77
And my friend, having
gone through hard times
00:52:21.80\00:52:25.03
trusting in Jesus
strengthens our faith
00:52:25.06\00:52:29.01
for the future, it does.
00:52:29.04\00:52:31.92
Alas and did my Savior bleed
00:52:31.95\00:52:39.09
And did my Sovereign die?
00:52:39.12\00:52:46.26
Would He devote that sacred head
00:52:46.29\00:52:53.91
For such a worm as I?
00:52:53.94\00:53:00.22
Was it for
crimes that I have done
00:53:05.54\00:53:13.03
He groaned upon the tree?
00:53:13.06\00:53:20.63
Amazing pity!
00:53:20.66\00:53:24.88
Grace unknown!
00:53:24.91\00:53:28.22
And love beyond degree!
00:53:28.25\00:53:35.36
At the cross, at the cross
00:53:35.39\00:53:39.07
Where I first saw the light
00:53:39.10\00:53:42.91
And the burden of
my heart rolled away
00:53:42.94\00:53:50.55
It was there by faith
00:53:50.58\00:53:54.36
I received my sight
00:53:54.39\00:53:58.07
And now I am happy all the day
00:53:58.10\00:54:04.29
But drops of
grief can never repay
00:54:09.54\00:54:17.36
The debt of love I owe
00:54:17.39\00:54:23.65
Here, Lord,
00:54:25.02\00:54:27.46
I give myself away
00:54:27.49\00:54:33.12
It is all that I can do
00:54:33.15\00:54:40.33
At the cross, at the cross
00:54:40.36\00:54:43.76
Where I first saw the light
00:54:43.79\00:54:47.72
And the burden of
my heart rolled away
00:54:47.75\00:54:54.29
It was there by faith
00:54:54.32\00:54:59.09
I received my sight
00:54:59.12\00:55:02.67
And now
00:55:06.69\00:55:09.74
I am happy all the day
00:55:09.77\00:55:17.03
Let's pray.
00:55:26.69\00:55:28.17
Father in heaven,
how grateful we are
00:55:28.20\00:55:31.75
that You are who You are
and who You say that You are.
00:55:31.78\00:55:36.38
That You are God
00:55:36.41\00:55:38.29
the all powerful one
omnipotent, almighty.
00:55:38.32\00:55:43.77
Ruler,
sovereign of this universe
00:55:43.80\00:55:47.08
but You are also
as You are declared
00:55:47.11\00:55:49.54
You are a God of love,
00:55:49.57\00:55:51.81
of compassion, of
mercy and gentleness.
00:55:51.84\00:55:56.50
And this morning we are humbled
00:55:56.53\00:55:59.76
that You would
consider us of any importance
00:55:59.79\00:56:05.82
that You would love us,
that You would value us,
00:56:05.85\00:56:09.05
that You would seek
us that we would matter.
00:56:09.08\00:56:13.16
And Lord, we
just want to respond
00:56:13.19\00:56:15.21
and give our very selves to You.
00:56:15.24\00:56:17.49
We invite You to
come into our hearts
00:56:17.52\00:56:19.90
to abide in us to posses us
to live out Your life in us.
00:56:19.93\00:56:25.05
Oh Lord Jesus,
00:56:25.08\00:56:26.74
fuel us to the
fullness of the measure
00:56:26.77\00:56:28.94
of the glory that is Yours
00:56:28.97\00:56:31.04
is our prayer in
Jesus name, Amen.
00:56:31.07\00:56:34.16