The title of our sermon is
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"The Scriptures Are
Your Only Safeguard,"
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"The Scriptures Are
Your Only Safeguard."
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This article was taken
from the English language
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Thai daily
newspaper called the Nation.
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It was printed
on January 2, 2005
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and it talks about the
tsunami that hit in Asia.
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Knowledge of the ocean
and its currents passed down
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from generation to generation
of a group of Thai fishermen
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known as the Morgan sea gypsies.
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This knowledge has
saved an entire village
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from the Asian tsunami.
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By the time the killer
waves crashed over Thailand
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last Sunday the
entire 181 population
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of their fishing
village had fled to a temple
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in the mountains
of South Surin Island,
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English language Thai
daily The Nation reporting.
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"The elders told us that
if the water recedes fast
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it will reappear
in the same quantity
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in which it disappeared,"
65-year-old village chief
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Sarmao Kathalay told the paper.
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So while in some
places along the coast,
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Thais headed to
the beach when the sea
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drained out of the beaches,
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the first sign of the
impending tsunami to pick up
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fish left flapping on the sand,
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the gypsies headed for the
hills and not one of their,
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the people that were
from their village were lost,
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because they had
listened to the warning.
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Friend, how is it that you
and I can know whether or not
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we are listening
to the voice of God
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when we're studying the Bible.
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Or whether we're
listening to man's
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own interpretation of the Bible.
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There is a
significant difference between
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what God is saying
and how man interprets it.
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So how can we know
that what we are studying,
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the way that
we're understanding it,
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how can we know that, that
is what God is really saying?
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Today, we're going to
go over five principles
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that we can follow,
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five principles
that we can follow,
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so that we can know
without a shadow of a doubt
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that we are
listening to God's voice
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rather than the
interpretation of man.
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Turn with me to
Second Timothy Chapter 3,
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Second Timothy Chapter
3, it's in the "T" section
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of the New Testament,
Second Timothy Chapter 3.
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We'll begin reading in verse 1,
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the Bible says in Second
Timothy Chapter 3 verse 1,
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"This know also,
that in the last days
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perilous times shall come.
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For men shall be
lovers of their own selves,
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covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers,
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disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy,
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without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers,
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incontinent, fierce, despisers
of those that are good,
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traitors, heady, highminded."
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We're in verse 4.
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"Lovers of pleasure
more than lovers of God,
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having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof,
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from such turn away."
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Dear friend, how can we know
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whether we simply
have the form of godliness
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or whether we are truly
following the words of Jesus?
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Would you agree with me that
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it is a matter of life or death,
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whether or not we follow
what Jesus' actually says
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or whether we follow
what a man's interpretation
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is of what Jesus says?
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It's life and
death, if we're following
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a man's interpretation
and depending upon a man
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to do that for us,
then we are going to follow
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the wrong thing.
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Turn with me in your
Bibles to Proverbs, Proverbs 16.
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Jobs, Psalms, Proverbs,
we're going to Proverbs 16
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and verse, let me
just get here in verse 25.
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The Bible says in Proverbs
Chapter 16 and verse 25,
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"There is a way that
seems right unto a man,
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but the end thereof
are the ways of death."
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There is a way that
seems right to a man,
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a man maybe living his
life and saying to himself,
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you know, this is
right, this seems right to me
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but the Bible says there
are people that are doing this
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but the way that they're living
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is actually going to cause what?
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It's going to cause death.
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"There is a way that
seems right unto a man,
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but the end thereof
are the ways of death."
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So if something
seems right but it is wrong
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how do we know
whether it is right or wrong,
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if we are doing something
because the Bible says it,
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how do we know that
we are doing that because
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that's what the
Bible said rather than
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that's what our preacher said.
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So we're gonna talk
about five principles
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that will help us to know
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that we are
following what God says.
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Turn with me to Second
Timothy Chapter 4 and verse 3,
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we were just in
First Timothy a moment ago.
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Let's go to Second
Timothy Chapter 4 and verse 3,
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Second Timothy
Chapter 4 and verse 3.
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The Bible says this in
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Second Timothy
Chapter 4 and verse 3,
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"For the time will come
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when they will not
endure sound doctrine."
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The Bible is warning
us that the time will come
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when people who
professed to be Christians
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will not be able to listen
and follow sound doctrine.
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Now, today, those of us
that are watching at home,
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those of us that are
here, we're not those people.
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We're gonna make a
decision right here
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before the sermon even
begins and we're going to say,
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"Jesus, if Your word says
it and it is sound doctrine
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I want to follow
it and believe it."
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That's a decision
we're going to make,
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because God has
had us to be here today
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so that we could
make that decision,
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it's no mistake that we
have tuned into this channel
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or that we are in this room.
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"The time will
come and they will not
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endure sound doctrine,
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but after their own
lusts they shall heap
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unto themselves
teachers, having itching ears."
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Come on, teacher, teach me
things that I want to hear,
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don't make it
hard for me to listen.
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There was a group of
people that were listening
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to what Jesus was
saying in John Chapter 6
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and in John
Chapter 6 and verse 66.
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They thought Jesus,
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Jesus sayings
were too hard to hear,
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so these men turned and
walked no more with Jesus.
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Because what Jesus was
saying was too hard to hear
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but not so today,
dear Christian friend.
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We're going to find
out now how we can know
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that we are following God's word
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and not
cunningly devised fables.
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We're going to
learn how we know that
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we're following God's word,
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God's sound doctrine
rather than falsities.
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And the first way for us to know
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this is to study the Bible.
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Turn with me to Second Timothy,
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we're there, Second
Timothy Chapter 2 verse 15,
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Second Timothy
Chapter 2 and verse 15,
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the Bible says this, listen
closely dear Christian friend.
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"Study to show
thyself approved unto God,
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a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed,
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rightly dividing
the word of truth."
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The Bible says,
"Study to show yourself
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approved unto God, a
workman that does not
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need to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth."
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Verse 16, "But shun
profane and vain babblings,
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for they will
increase unto more ungodliness.
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And their word will
eat as doth a canker."
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Friends, the Bible
tells us to study the Bible
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to show
ourselves approved to God,
00:10:04.40\00:10:06.54
we should not study the Bible
to prove somebody else wrong.
00:10:06.55\00:10:12.32
We should study the Bible
to show ourselves approved
00:10:12.33\00:10:14.69
to God not to show off
our knowledge of scripture.
00:10:14.70\00:10:21.47
As we study our Bibles,
a sub-point under first,
00:10:21.48\00:10:25.47
our first point is
that we must study it
00:10:25.48\00:10:27.46
in order to understand it.
00:10:27.47\00:10:29.48
Is that we must study our Bibles
00:10:29.49\00:10:31.68
in the setting of prayer.
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Which reminds me, my
friend, that I did not pray
00:10:35.38\00:10:38.75
at the beginning of this sermon.
00:10:38.76\00:10:40.14
So let's do this right now.
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Father in heaven,
we are so thankful that
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we can study Your
word together as a group.
00:10:45.83\00:10:48.89
Whether we are here
or whether we're at home,
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Lord, we ask that You
would bless us with Your spirit.
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So that we can understand
You as You speak to us,
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in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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Now let's read from the Bible
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that we must study in
the setting of prayer.
00:11:03.16\00:11:05.01
Let's go to First
Corinthians Chapter 2,
00:11:05.02\00:11:08.38
First Corinthians is to
the left from where we are,
00:11:08.39\00:11:11.18
First Corinthians Chapter 2
and we are going to verse 14,
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First Corinthians
Chapter 2 and verse 14.
00:11:16.44\00:11:22.79
Let's start in verse 12,
00:11:25.36\00:11:27.45
First Corinthians
Chapter 2 and verse 12 says,
00:11:27.46\00:11:29.24
"Now we have received,
not the spirit of the world,
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but the spirit which is of God,
00:11:33.36\00:11:35.38
that we might know the things
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that are freely
given to us of God."
00:11:37.62\00:11:39.71
So why do we need the spirit,
so that we can know the things
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that are freely given
to us of God, verse 13,
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"Which things also we speak,
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not in the words
which man's wisdom teaches,
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but which the
Holy Ghost teacheth,
00:11:55.39\00:11:58.21
comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.
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The natural man
receiveth not the things
00:12:01.86\00:12:05.29
of the Spirit of God,
00:12:05.30\00:12:07.24
for they are
foolishness unto them,
00:12:07.25\00:12:10.20
neither can he know them,
00:12:10.21\00:12:14.17
because they are
spiritually discerned.
00:12:14.18\00:12:17.87
But he that is
spiritual judgeth all things,
00:12:17.88\00:12:20.21
yet he himself
is judged of no man.
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For who hath known
the mind of the Lord,
00:12:23.60\00:12:25.26
that he may instruct him?
00:12:25.27\00:12:27.41
But we have the mind of Christ."
00:12:27.42\00:12:29.37
Friends, note in verse 14
of First Corinthians Chapter 2,
00:12:29.38\00:12:32.60
it says that, "the natural man
00:12:32.61\00:12:34.22
does not receive
things that are spiritual."
00:12:34.23\00:12:38.40
So you and I must
ask for the Spirit of God
00:12:38.41\00:12:41.86
to help us understand things
00:12:41.87\00:12:44.06
that are only
spiritually discerned.
00:12:44.07\00:12:48.79
So we ask God when we pray
to help us understand his word.
00:12:48.80\00:12:57.46
That is the first way
that you and I can know that
00:12:57.47\00:13:00.57
we are hearing what God
says rather than what man says.
00:13:00.58\00:13:05.90
The second way that we can
make sure that we're listening
00:13:09.15\00:13:13.37
to what God says
rather than what man says
00:13:13.38\00:13:17.35
is to be willing to
follow divine instruction.
00:13:17.36\00:13:23.12
When God reveals light to you,
00:13:23.13\00:13:27.84
God expects, notice
that word that I use,
00:13:27.85\00:13:31.12
God expects you
to follow His word.
00:13:31.13\00:13:37.39
Now God does not force
any man to follow His word
00:13:37.40\00:13:42.33
but when God
reveals His truth to you,
00:13:42.34\00:13:44.29
He expects you to follow it.
00:13:44.30\00:13:47.56
That's the only reason
for revealing truth to people
00:13:47.57\00:13:50.21
and so that they can follow it.
00:13:50.22\00:13:54.02
Turn with me to John
Chapter 12 and verse 35,
00:13:54.03\00:13:57.48
that's to the
left from Corinthians,
00:13:57.49\00:14:00.57
John Chapter 12 and verse 35.
00:14:00.58\00:14:05.51
This is what Jesus says here in
00:14:05.52\00:14:06.78
John Chapter 12 and verse
35, let's read this together,
00:14:06.79\00:14:10.45
"Then Jesus said unto them,
00:14:10.46\00:14:12.56
Yet a little while
is the light with you.
00:14:12.57\00:14:16.80
Walk while you have the light,
lest darkness come upon you,
00:14:16.81\00:14:23.26
for he that walketh in darkness
00:14:23.27\00:14:25.13
knoweth not whither he goeth."
00:14:25.14\00:14:28.50
Verse 36, "While you have
light, believe in the light,
00:14:28.51\00:14:33.11
that ye may be the
children of the light."
00:14:33.12\00:14:37.43
Jesus says that we need to
walk while we have the light
00:14:37.44\00:14:42.49
or else what will happen?
00:14:42.50\00:14:44.06
Darkness will come upon us.
00:14:44.07\00:14:47.00
Friends, darkness is
living a life apart from Jesus
00:14:47.01\00:14:50.41
and His truth, so when
God reveals truth to us,
00:14:50.42\00:14:54.79
God expects us to follow it.
00:14:54.80\00:14:57.78
He doesn't hope
we're gonna follow it,
00:14:57.79\00:14:59.78
God expects us to follow it.
00:14:59.79\00:15:02.51
And as God reveals
truth to you, my friend,
00:15:02.52\00:15:05.45
you should make the
decision to follow that truth
00:15:05.46\00:15:09.05
or else darkness
will come upon you.
00:15:09.06\00:15:11.89
I was in Sheridan, Oregon
doing an evangelistic meeting
00:15:11.90\00:15:15.21
and there was a
lady who was struggling
00:15:15.22\00:15:17.90
with one of the
things that we have been
00:15:17.91\00:15:19.90
studying in our meetings.
00:15:19.91\00:15:22.61
And she said, "It
simply can't be true,
00:15:22.62\00:15:25.22
how can you be right
00:15:25.23\00:15:27.00
and the rest of
the world be wrong."
00:15:27.01\00:15:30.61
And we had applied
these five principles
00:15:30.62\00:15:32.83
that I'm teaching
to you, first of all,
00:15:32.84\00:15:34.43
to study and then at some point
00:15:34.44\00:15:35.97
of study is to
study the Bible in prayer
00:15:35.98\00:15:39.40
and to have the willingness
to follow divine instruction.
00:15:39.41\00:15:42.97
But when she saw
the truth of God's word,
00:15:42.98\00:15:46.22
she didn't want to follow
it because it was inconvenient.
00:15:46.23\00:15:52.39
Now, friends,
I've seen this happen
00:15:52.40\00:15:54.34
all over the United States,
00:15:54.35\00:15:56.62
I've seen this happen in Europe
00:15:56.63\00:15:58.78
when you preach the truth
00:15:58.79\00:16:00.58
some people don't
want to follow it.
00:16:00.59\00:16:03.89
And Jesus himself
when He was preaching there
00:16:03.90\00:16:06.35
in John Chapter 6,
Jesus himself came up
00:16:06.36\00:16:12.13
against some men that did
not want to follow His truth.
00:16:12.14\00:16:17.75
That's not us today, we
want to follow God's truth
00:16:17.76\00:16:21.24
and so while we have
the light my friends,
00:16:21.25\00:16:23.60
when God
reveals to us His truth,
00:16:23.61\00:16:25.75
then we follow it,
what do you say to that?
00:16:25.76\00:16:31.18
We must walk in the light
or darkness will come upon us.
00:16:31.19\00:16:36.56
So the first two principles
that we've gone over thus far,
00:16:36.57\00:16:39.80
number one, study the
Bible in a setting of prayer,
00:16:39.81\00:16:44.34
so that we can
understand spiritual things
00:16:44.35\00:16:46.72
because spiritual things
are spiritually discerned.
00:16:46.73\00:16:51.39
And we need to
ask the Spirit of God
00:16:51.40\00:16:53.70
to help us understand.
00:16:53.71\00:16:55.90
The second way to
understand the Bible
00:16:55.91\00:16:58.52
and to know that it is God
that is revealing truth to you
00:16:58.53\00:17:01.92
rather than man's interpretation
00:17:01.93\00:17:05.33
is to follow the light
that has already been revealed.
00:17:05.34\00:17:09.19
God is too merciful to
continue to reveal light
00:17:09.20\00:17:14.52
to someone that won't follow it.
00:17:14.53\00:17:19.17
Because when it comes to
the time of the judgment,
00:17:19.18\00:17:21.69
my friends, we will not
only pay for the things we knew
00:17:21.70\00:17:25.54
and did not do but we
will also give an account
00:17:25.55\00:17:30.95
for the things that we
have the opportunity to know
00:17:30.96\00:17:33.64
and did not know.
00:17:33.65\00:17:38.28
Always study the
Bible in a setting of prayer
00:17:38.29\00:17:41.43
and always have a willingness
to follow divine instruction.
00:17:41.44\00:17:46.49
The third thing that we
must do in order to know that,
00:17:46.50\00:17:50.38
it is God that is
speaking to us through His word
00:17:50.39\00:17:53.30
and not man's interpretation.
00:17:53.31\00:17:56.85
Is to know that the Bible
must harmonize with itself.
00:17:56.86\00:18:03.20
Now in this particular meeting
some people will say to me,
00:18:03.21\00:18:06.37
look at what the Bible says
00:18:06.38\00:18:07.58
in Revelation
Chapter 16 and verse 15,
00:18:07.59\00:18:10.01
so that's what we're
going to do now, let's go there.
00:18:10.02\00:18:12.51
Revelation the 16
Chapter and verse 15,
00:18:12.52\00:18:17.79
Revelation
Chapter 16 and verse 15,
00:18:17.80\00:18:20.54
Revelation is the
second easiest book
00:18:20.55\00:18:22.22
to find in the
Bible, it's at the very end,
00:18:22.23\00:18:24.59
Genesis is at the
first, it's the very beginning.
00:18:24.60\00:18:27.47
The Bible says
here in Revelation
00:18:27.48\00:18:28.68
Chapter 16 and verse 15,
00:18:28.69\00:18:30.40
Jesus is talking and Jesus says,
00:18:30.41\00:18:33.03
"Behold, I come as a thief.
00:18:33.04\00:18:36.86
Blessed is he that watcheth,
and keepeth his garments,
00:18:36.87\00:18:40.82
lest he walk naked,
and they see his shame."
00:18:40.83\00:18:43.94
Jesus, says right here in
00:18:43.95\00:18:45.37
Revelation
Chapter 16 and verse 15,
00:18:45.38\00:18:48.70
"Behold, I'm coming as a thief."
00:18:48.71\00:18:54.50
Now people will
say, look, there you go.
00:18:54.51\00:18:56.98
It's going to be a secret,
00:18:56.99\00:18:58.14
Jesus says, he's
coming as a thief.
00:18:58.15\00:19:00.09
And you know, if we
were to take just that verse,
00:19:00.10\00:19:02.87
we could say,
"Yeah, when Jesus comes,
00:19:02.88\00:19:05.01
he's going to come as a thief."
00:19:05.02\00:19:07.94
And nobody is going to
know it it will be a surprise.
00:19:07.95\00:19:12.61
Because the last
time I checked the thief
00:19:12.62\00:19:14.87
didn't call up and
say, "Hey, look I'm coming
00:19:14.88\00:19:17.03
over to your house at 3:43
AM and I'm going to robe you."
00:19:17.04\00:19:23.88
But is Jesus saying
here, when we look at the Bible
00:19:23.89\00:19:27.60
and we let the Bible
harmonize with itself,
00:19:27.61\00:19:30.51
is Jesus saying that He's
going to come like a thief,
00:19:30.52\00:19:36.89
it's going to be a secret.
00:19:36.90\00:19:39.31
Let's allow the Bible
to harmonize with itself
00:19:39.32\00:19:42.34
and see what Jesus means here in
00:19:42.35\00:19:44.21
Revelation 16 and verse 15.
00:19:44.22\00:19:47.16
So let's turn now to
Second Peter Chapter 3,
00:19:47.17\00:19:51.09
Second Peter is real close
to Revelation so don't turn far,
00:19:51.10\00:19:54.41
just backup a little
bit to the left, you see
00:19:54.42\00:19:56.22
how I'm turning my pages
here just ever so slowly.
00:19:56.23\00:19:59.16
We're gonna pass John,
00:19:59.17\00:20:00.19
then we're gonna
go to Peter here,
00:20:00.20\00:20:01.86
and we're looking at Second
Peter Chapter 3 and verse 10.
00:20:01.87\00:20:07.96
And this is the
way the Bible reads,
00:20:07.97\00:20:11.11
Second Peter Chapter 3 verse 10.
00:20:11.12\00:20:14.93
The Bible says,
"But the day of the Lord
00:20:14.94\00:20:17.89
will come as a
thief in the night."
00:20:17.90\00:20:20.11
There you have it,
the day of the Lord
00:20:20.12\00:20:21.81
is gonna come as a
thief in the night,
00:20:21.82\00:20:24.02
Jesus said in Revelation 16:15,
00:20:24.03\00:20:25.94
"Behold, I'm coming as
a thief," in Revelation.
00:20:25.95\00:20:28.94
Now we're back
here in Second Peter
00:20:28.95\00:20:29.98
Chapter 3 and verse 10,
00:20:29.99\00:20:31.52
"But the day of the Lord
00:20:31.53\00:20:32.50
will come as a
thief in the night,"
00:20:32.51\00:20:34.25
and then it
describes that night.
00:20:34.26\00:20:37.49
Look at what He says here,
00:20:37.50\00:20:39.27
"In the which the
heavens shall pass away
00:20:39.28\00:20:42.65
with a great noise," It
sounds sort of secretive,
00:20:42.66\00:20:45.33
doesn't it? Not
at all my friend.
00:20:45.34\00:20:49.01
"And the elements
shall melt with fervent heat,
00:20:49.02\00:20:51.50
the earth also and the works
00:20:51.51\00:20:53.14
that are therein
shall be burned up."
00:20:53.15\00:20:57.58
When we look at the Bible
00:20:57.59\00:20:59.14
and we allow the Bible
to harmonize with itself,
00:20:59.15\00:21:04.38
the Bible makes sense.
00:21:04.39\00:21:07.09
We could only
have one interpretation
00:21:07.10\00:21:09.40
of a particular
passage if we allow the Bible
00:21:09.41\00:21:12.54
to harmonize with itself.
00:21:12.55\00:21:15.25
God doesn't say, A, over
here about a certain topic,
00:21:15.26\00:21:19.08
and then say, B over
here about a certain topic
00:21:19.09\00:21:22.57
unless they can
harmonize with each other.
00:21:22.58\00:21:26.42
God does not change, His
truth is always the same,
00:21:26.43\00:21:30.94
although truth maybe
progressive in your life,
00:21:30.95\00:21:33.74
truth is truth when
it comes to the Bible.
00:21:33.75\00:21:38.84
The Bible must
harmonize with itself,
00:21:38.85\00:21:41.43
so we see in Revelation
16:15, Revelation 16:15,
00:21:41.44\00:21:45.80
tells us, "That the day of
the Lord comes as a thief."
00:21:45.81\00:21:49.55
Then we go to Peter,
00:21:49.56\00:21:51.51
Second Peter Chapter 3 verse 10
00:21:51.52\00:21:53.44
and the Bible tells
us, "That day of the Lord
00:21:53.45\00:21:55.93
comes as a thief in the night,"
00:21:55.94\00:21:57.50
and then it
describes that night, it says,
00:21:57.51\00:21:59.48
"In the which the
heavens will pass away,
00:21:59.49\00:22:02.38
the elements will
melt with fervent heat,
00:22:02.39\00:22:04.41
the earth and the works that are
00:22:04.42\00:22:05.54
therein will be burned up."
00:22:05.55\00:22:09.73
So we can't make
this thief in the night
00:22:09.74\00:22:13.10
be a secret coming.
00:22:13.11\00:22:17.05
Because when Jesus comes as
a thief according to the Bible
00:22:17.06\00:22:19.97
when it harmonizes with itself,
00:22:19.98\00:22:23.67
lots of loud crazy
things takes place.
00:22:23.68\00:22:26.40
Look now at First Thessalonians,
00:22:26.41\00:22:28.73
you're in Peter, just turn
again a little to the left,
00:22:28.74\00:22:31.63
you're gonna go
past James and Hebrews,
00:22:31.64\00:22:34.72
then you come to Titus,
then you're gonna be in Timothy
00:22:34.73\00:22:38.18
and we right here
in the "T" section
00:22:38.19\00:22:40.10
and First
Thessalonians Chapter 5.
00:22:40.11\00:22:43.19
Listen to what
the Bible says here,
00:22:43.20\00:22:46.15
First
Thessalonians Chapter 5 verse 1,
00:22:46.16\00:22:49.20
the Bible says,"
"But of the times
00:22:49.21\00:22:50.78
and the seasons, brethren,
00:22:50.79\00:22:53.07
ye have no need
that I write unto you.
00:22:53.08\00:22:56.18
For yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord
00:22:56.19\00:22:59.08
so comes or so cometh
as a thief in the night."
00:22:59.09\00:23:03.20
There we have it
again, thief in the night.
00:23:03.21\00:23:07.18
"For when they
shall say," verse 3,
00:23:07.19\00:23:09.60
"Peace and safety, then sudden
destruction cometh upon them,
00:23:09.61\00:23:13.83
as travail upon
a woman with child,
00:23:13.84\00:23:16.47
and they shall not escape.
00:23:16.48\00:23:19.68
So when the day of the Lord
comes as a thief in the night,
00:23:19.69\00:23:22.73
destruction will
come upon people.
00:23:22.74\00:23:26.18
Verse 4, "But you,
brethren, are not in darkness,
00:23:26.19\00:23:31.44
that that day should
overtake you as a thief."
00:23:31.45\00:23:37.09
Friends, those of
you that study the Bible
00:23:37.10\00:23:39.60
in a setting of
prayer, those of you
00:23:39.61\00:23:42.17
that study the Bible
with a mind and a heart
00:23:42.18\00:23:44.74
that is willing to do
what God reveals to you,
00:23:44.75\00:23:51.45
you will not be in darkness.
00:23:51.46\00:23:53.69
That day will not
overtake you as a thief.
00:23:53.70\00:24:00.51
Verse 5, "You are all
the children of light,
00:24:00.52\00:24:04.74
and the children of the
day, we're not of the night,
00:24:04.75\00:24:08.20
nor of darkness.
00:24:08.21\00:24:10.44
Therefore let us
not sleep, as others do,
00:24:10.45\00:24:13.91
but let us watch and be sober."
00:24:13.92\00:24:17.78
Friends, we can watch
for the day of the Lord
00:24:17.79\00:24:20.66
that comes so
suddenly to some people
00:24:20.67\00:24:24.24
that it seems like
it's a thief coming
00:24:24.25\00:24:26.35
and just robbing them.
00:24:26.36\00:24:28.80
But for those that are
watching and are ready,
00:24:28.81\00:24:31.73
the day of the Lord
does not come as a thief
00:24:31.74\00:24:34.00
because you are not in darkness
00:24:34.01\00:24:36.88
but you walk in the
light, the light of God's truth.
00:24:36.89\00:24:43.20
The Bible must
harmonize with itself,
00:24:43.21\00:24:48.12
that's point three.
00:24:48.13\00:24:49.15
So point one,
always study the Bible
00:24:49.16\00:24:51.66
in a setting of prayer.
00:24:51.67\00:24:53.65
Point number two,
always have a willingness
00:24:53.66\00:24:57.92
to follow divine instruction.
00:24:57.93\00:25:01.80
And point number three,
00:25:01.81\00:25:03.26
the Bible must
harmonize with itself.
00:25:03.27\00:25:07.11
We cannot isolate a
text or a verse and say,
00:25:07.12\00:25:10.82
this is all God has
to say about this topic.
00:25:10.83\00:25:15.86
Number four, the
fourth reason of the five,
00:25:15.87\00:25:20.14
the fourth way that we
can know that we are hearing
00:25:20.15\00:25:22.73
what God has to say rather than
00:25:22.74\00:25:24.78
what man's interpretation is.
00:25:24.79\00:25:28.23
Is that the Bible
must be interpreted
00:25:28.24\00:25:32.03
according to the
rest of scripture.
00:25:32.04\00:25:35.37
The Bible must be interpreted
00:25:35.38\00:25:37.04
according to the
rest of scripture.
00:25:37.05\00:25:40.08
Let's look at this,
let's turn in our Bibles
00:25:40.09\00:25:42.70
to Luke the 23rd
Chapter, you're in Thessalonians
00:25:42.71\00:25:46.23
so just turn to
the left in your Bibles
00:25:46.24\00:25:48.22
to Luke Chapter 23.
00:25:48.23\00:25:51.11
Luke Chapter 23 and verse 43,
00:25:51.12\00:25:57.07
Luke Chapter 23 and verse
43, the Bible reads like this,
00:25:57.08\00:26:04.07
Jesus says to Him,
Jesus is talking to the thief
00:26:04.08\00:26:06.63
on the cross and
Jesus says to this young man
00:26:06.64\00:26:09.38
on this cross "Verily, verily,
or verily I say unto thee,
00:26:09.39\00:26:14.71
To day shalt thou be
with me in paradise."
00:26:14.72\00:26:19.96
Now friends, we've
taken one text in the Bible
00:26:19.97\00:26:23.80
and this is what it
says, "Verily I say unto thee,
00:26:23.81\00:26:29.31
today shalt thou be
with me in paradise."
00:26:29.32\00:26:36.74
If we were to allow
that text to stand by itself,
00:26:36.75\00:26:40.45
we could say beyond
the shadow of a doubt
00:26:40.46\00:26:45.21
that Jesus was
gonna take that young man
00:26:45.22\00:26:46.99
to paradise that day.
00:26:47.00\00:26:50.68
If that's the text we
had there was no other
00:26:50.69\00:26:52.98
like given on the topic
that's what we could say.
00:26:52.99\00:26:56.67
But remember,
friend, if we want to hear
00:26:56.68\00:26:58.48
God speaking to us,
00:26:58.49\00:27:00.28
we must allow the
Bible to interpret itself.
00:27:00.29\00:27:06.00
Now Jesus told
this young man here
00:27:06.01\00:27:07.61
in Luke Chapter 23 and verse 43,
00:27:07.62\00:27:11.89
"Today shalt thou be
with me where? In paradise.
00:27:11.90\00:27:17.56
Today shalt thou be
with me in paradise."
00:27:17.57\00:27:22.93
Well, friends,
what is in paradise?
00:27:22.94\00:27:27.45
Let's look at
Revelation Chapter 2,
00:27:27.46\00:27:29.88
you're in Luke,
turn to the right
00:27:29.89\00:27:31.40
we're going to Revelation
Chapter 2 and verse 7,
00:27:31.41\00:27:37.30
this is the way the Bible reads
00:27:37.31\00:27:38.64
in Revelation
Chapter 2 and verse 7.
00:27:38.65\00:27:42.11
The Bible says,
"He that hath an ear,
00:27:42.12\00:27:45.79
let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches,
00:27:45.80\00:27:49.36
To him that
overcometh will I give to eat
00:27:49.37\00:27:52.39
of the tree of life,
00:27:52.40\00:27:55.56
which is in the midst
of the paradise of God."
00:27:55.57\00:28:00.73
So Jesus tells this
thief in Luke 23:43,
00:28:00.74\00:28:04.01
"That today shalt thou
be with me in paradise."
00:28:04.02\00:28:08.89
Then we find out here in
Revelation Chapter 2 verse 7,
00:28:08.90\00:28:12.08
allowing scripture
to interpret itself
00:28:12.09\00:28:15.15
that in paradise we
find the tree of life.
00:28:15.16\00:28:21.97
Now what else is
there in paradise
00:28:21.98\00:28:26.46
besides the tree of
life, what else is there?
00:28:26.47\00:28:31.44
Let's go to
Revelation 22, Revelation 22,
00:28:31.45\00:28:39.59
just turn 20
Chapters to the right there.
00:28:39.60\00:28:46.23
Revelation 22, the
word of God reads like this,
00:28:46.24\00:28:50.99
Revelation 22 and
verse 1, "And he showed me
00:28:51.00\00:28:54.62
a pure river of water
of life, clear as crystal,
00:28:54.63\00:29:00.78
proceeding out of the
throne of God and of the Lamb."
00:29:00.79\00:29:07.76
Verse 2, "In the
midst of the street of it,
00:29:07.77\00:29:11.45
and on either side of the river,
00:29:11.46\00:29:14.56
was there the tree of life."
00:29:14.57\00:29:18.72
So the tree of life is
on either side of this river
00:29:18.73\00:29:24.09
that flows from
the throne of God.
00:29:24.10\00:29:30.08
The tree of life is on
either side of this river
00:29:30.09\00:29:33.77
that flows from
the throne of God,
00:29:33.78\00:29:37.88
do you see this in the Bible?
00:29:37.89\00:29:40.75
The tree of life is on
either side of the river of life
00:29:40.76\00:29:43.99
that flows from
the throne of God.
00:29:44.00\00:29:48.33
So Jesus tells this thief
that's hanging on the cross
00:29:48.34\00:29:51.93
beside Jesus, He says,
"Verily I say unto thee,
00:29:51.94\00:29:56.53
Today shalt thou be
with me in paradise."
00:29:56.54\00:29:59.83
Paradise is where
the tree of life is,
00:29:59.84\00:30:02.88
the tree of life is
where the throne of God is.
00:30:02.89\00:30:07.48
Now again if we
just take Luke 23:43,
00:30:07.49\00:30:11.84
we must assume that Jesus
went to paradise that day.
00:30:11.85\00:30:17.11
We must assume that Jesus went
00:30:20.10\00:30:22.68
to where the tree
of life was that day.
00:30:22.69\00:30:27.51
We must assume
that Jesus went to where
00:30:27.52\00:30:31.18
the throne of His
Father was that day.
00:30:31.19\00:30:36.71
We must assume that because
if Jesus went to paradise
00:30:36.72\00:30:39.89
that day and to the thief
to paradise with him that day
00:30:39.90\00:30:44.10
he must have been in paradise
00:30:44.11\00:30:46.04
which is define is
where the tree of life is,
00:30:46.05\00:30:48.13
which is define is
where the throne of God is.
00:30:48.14\00:30:52.09
But look at what
Jesus says some other,
00:30:52.10\00:30:56.27
in John Chapter 20,
turn back to the left
00:30:56.28\00:31:01.35
to John Chapter 20,
Matthew, Mark, Luke,
00:31:01.36\00:31:05.45
John Chapter 20
00:31:05.46\00:31:12.20
and verse 13.
00:31:12.21\00:31:20.85
Some angels are speaking
here, "They say unto a woman,
00:31:20.86\00:31:23.56
why are you
weeping? She saith unto them,
00:31:23.57\00:31:26.86
Because they have
taken away my Lord,
00:31:26.87\00:31:28.36
and I know not
where they have laid him."
00:31:28.37\00:31:31.91
Verse 14, "And
when she had said thus,
00:31:31.92\00:31:35.24
she turned herself back,
and she saw Jesus standing,
00:31:35.25\00:31:39.94
not knowing that it was Jesus.
00:31:39.95\00:31:43.60
Then Jesus answered
her, Woman, why weepest thou?
00:31:43.61\00:31:51.03
Whom seekest thou?
00:31:51.04\00:31:53.91
She, supposing him to be
the gardener, saith unto him,
00:31:53.92\00:31:59.57
Sir, if you
have borne him hence,
00:31:59.58\00:32:03.77
tell me where you have laid him
00:32:03.78\00:32:06.39
and I will take him away.
00:32:06.40\00:32:10.97
Jesus saith unto her, Mary."
00:32:10.98\00:32:18.18
Jesus says to her, Mary,
00:32:18.19\00:32:24.36
immediately she
knows that it is Jesus.
00:32:24.37\00:32:29.85
He must have had a very
special way of saying Mary
00:32:29.86\00:32:34.05
and it must have
arrested her attention
00:32:34.06\00:32:36.02
because initially he said woman.
00:32:36.03\00:32:38.78
The angel said,
"woman, why are you weeping?"
00:32:38.79\00:32:41.51
Jesus said, "Why are you?
00:32:41.52\00:32:43.12
Why are you weeping and
who do you seek in verse 15.
00:32:43.13\00:32:48.86
Then Jesus
calls her by her name,
00:32:48.87\00:32:51.85
she turned herself,
verse 16, and saith unto him,
00:32:51.86\00:32:54.28
Rabboni, which is to say Master.
00:32:54.29\00:32:59.07
Verse 17, listen
closely Bible student,
00:32:59.08\00:33:06.02
listen closely, Jesus says
to Mary on resurrection day,
00:33:06.03\00:33:13.26
on resurrection
day, "Jesus says to her,
00:33:13.27\00:33:16.88
Touch me not," that
means don't keep me here,
00:33:16.89\00:33:19.99
do not detained me,
00:33:20.00\00:33:22.26
"For I am not yet
ascended to my Father"
00:33:22.27\00:33:28.22
Wait a minute does
that mean Jesus is a liar?
00:33:28.23\00:33:34.93
Did Jesus lie, did Jesus
lie to the thief on the cross?
00:33:34.94\00:33:43.18
Because right here
Jesus is saying to Mary,
00:33:43.19\00:33:48.75
I haven't
ascended to the Father yet.
00:33:48.76\00:33:54.62
"But go, He
says, to my brethren,
00:33:54.63\00:33:56.38
and say unto them, I
ascend unto my Father,
00:33:56.39\00:34:00.36
and your Father, and
to my God, and your God."
00:34:00.37\00:34:05.69
Jesus tells the
thief in Luke 23:43,
00:34:05.70\00:34:09.28
"Verily I say unto you,
00:34:09.29\00:34:11.32
Today you shall be
with me in paradise."
00:34:11.33\00:34:15.60
Jesus is simply
saying to this man
00:34:15.61\00:34:18.15
that when I'm in paradise
that you will be there with me.
00:34:18.16\00:34:22.39
It's the very same promise
that He gave to his followers
00:34:22.40\00:34:26.31
in John Chapter 14,
00:34:26.32\00:34:28.74
"Let not your heart be troubled,
00:34:28.75\00:34:30.25
ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
00:34:30.26\00:34:32.45
In my Father's
house are many mansions,
00:34:32.46\00:34:34.58
if it were not so,
I would have told you.
00:34:34.59\00:34:36.30
I go to prepare a place for you.
00:34:36.31\00:34:38.36
And if I go and
prepare a place for you,
00:34:38.37\00:34:40.34
I will come again and
receive you unto myself,
00:34:40.35\00:34:43.70
that where I am
there you may be also."
00:34:43.71\00:34:47.12
Jesus didn't go to paradise
the day He was crucified.
00:34:47.13\00:34:52.66
Because paradise, excuse me,
00:34:52.67\00:34:54.68
paradise is where
the tree of life is
00:34:54.69\00:34:58.14
and the tree of life is
where the throne of God is
00:34:58.15\00:35:00.82
and Jesus says that I have
not yet ascended to My Father,
00:35:00.83\00:35:04.36
I've not yet ascended
to My God and to your God.
00:35:04.37\00:35:08.82
Friends, when we take
the Bible in its entirety
00:35:08.83\00:35:12.69
and we allow the scriptures
to interpret themselves
00:35:12.70\00:35:16.64
we can know for
a fact that we are
00:35:16.65\00:35:20.85
not listening to
man's interpretation.
00:35:20.86\00:35:23.19
Now some of you are
saying to yourself right now,
00:35:23.20\00:35:26.73
I have never
heard that in my life,
00:35:26.74\00:35:31.60
Jesus didn't go to
heaven when He died,
00:35:31.61\00:35:34.85
I've never heard that.
00:35:34.86\00:35:36.87
My pastor, my Bible
mentor, my Bible teacher,
00:35:36.88\00:35:41.30
my Sunday school
teacher has always told me that
00:35:41.31\00:35:47.50
Luke 24, 23:43 meant that Jesus
00:35:47.51\00:35:51.64
went to heaven when He died.
00:35:51.65\00:35:54.16
But when we look at scripture
00:35:54.17\00:35:56.83
and we allow
scripture to interpret itself,
00:35:56.84\00:36:01.24
we see that Jesus
did not go to paradise
00:36:01.25\00:36:05.10
the day that He died.
00:36:05.11\00:36:06.94
Because paradise is
where the tree of life is,
00:36:06.95\00:36:09.65
the tree of life is
where the throne of God is.
00:36:09.66\00:36:11.95
And in John Chapter
20, Jesus tells Mary,
00:36:11.96\00:36:14.28
"Don't detain me, Mary,
00:36:14.29\00:36:15.75
because I haven't yet
ascended to My Father."
00:36:15.76\00:36:20.87
Now it's also quite interesting,
00:36:20.88\00:36:22.95
let's go to the book
of Matthew, Matthew 20,
00:36:22.96\00:36:27.10
let me find it here,
Matthew 28 and verse 9.
00:36:27.11\00:36:34.42
Matthew 28 and verse 9,
go ahead and turn there,
00:36:34.43\00:36:38.14
Matthew 28 and verse 9.
00:36:38.15\00:36:40.82
The Bible says, "And as they
went to tell his disciples,"
00:36:40.83\00:36:43.89
This is resurrection morning,
00:36:43.90\00:36:46.11
"As they went to tell
his disciples, behold,
00:36:46.12\00:36:48.12
Jesus met them,
saying, all hail, hey you all.
00:36:48.13\00:36:52.94
And they came and
held him by the feet,
00:36:52.95\00:36:57.47
and worshiped him."
00:36:57.48\00:37:01.57
In John Chapter
20, Jesus tells Mary,
00:37:01.58\00:37:04.53
"Don't touch me
because I haven't gone
00:37:04.54\00:37:05.86
to the Father yet."
00:37:05.87\00:37:07.32
It was on resurrection morning
when Jesus went to the Father
00:37:07.33\00:37:13.19
and then Jesus came back
down and the people here in
00:37:13.20\00:37:18.34
Matthew Chapter 28 are
able to hold him by the feet
00:37:18.35\00:37:21.62
and worship him
without Jesus saying,
00:37:21.63\00:37:24.43
"Do not detain me?"
00:37:24.44\00:37:28.58
Friend, when we let
the Bible interpret itself,
00:37:28.59\00:37:31.54
there is no
mistaking that we will indeed
00:37:31.55\00:37:35.50
hear the very voice of God.
00:37:35.51\00:37:43.77
I don't know for you friend,
00:37:43.78\00:37:45.73
but for me it is
comforting to know
00:37:45.74\00:37:49.20
that the Bible is
its own interpreter.
00:37:49.21\00:37:54.22
I don't have to wonder and guess
00:37:54.23\00:37:56.73
and base my life just on what
other people have taught me.
00:37:56.74\00:38:02.28
I can go to the Bible
and I can compare passage
00:38:02.29\00:38:05.30
with passage
and I can understand
00:38:05.31\00:38:09.74
God's truth for myself.
00:38:09.75\00:38:15.16
Since God does not change
His truth does not change,
00:38:15.17\00:38:18.83
since Jesus Christ
is the same yesterday,
00:38:18.84\00:38:21.67
today, and forever.
00:38:21.68\00:38:23.89
His truth is the same,
yesterday, today, and forever.
00:38:23.90\00:38:29.81
Friend, we can know that
we are following God's word
00:38:29.82\00:38:32.55
and not man's interpretation.
00:38:32.56\00:38:34.89
When we study the
Bible in a setting of prayer,
00:38:34.90\00:38:39.29
when we ask God's spirit to
give us spiritual disarmament.
00:38:39.30\00:38:45.55
We can know that we
are following God's word
00:38:45.56\00:38:47.72
and not man's interpretation,
00:38:47.73\00:38:50.20
when we have a willingness
to follow divine instruction,
00:38:50.21\00:38:53.38
when we walk in the
light while we have the light.
00:38:53.39\00:39:01.63
We can know that we
are following God's word
00:39:01.64\00:39:03.80
and not man's
own interpretation.
00:39:03.81\00:39:07.94
When we allow the Bible
to harmonize with itself
00:39:07.95\00:39:11.13
and we don't
take a text from here
00:39:11.14\00:39:13.26
and make it into a doctrine.
00:39:13.27\00:39:17.19
We can know that we
are following God's word
00:39:17.20\00:39:19.21
and not man's own interpretation
00:39:19.22\00:39:21.25
of the scripture.
00:39:21.26\00:39:23.96
When we allow the word
of God to interpret itself,
00:39:23.97\00:39:27.98
do you have a
question about the word of God,
00:39:27.99\00:39:30.31
asks the word of
God for the answer.
00:39:30.32\00:39:32.94
The fifth way that we can know
00:39:39.64\00:39:42.39
that we are following God's word
00:39:42.40\00:39:44.60
rather than the word of man,
00:39:44.61\00:39:49.09
is to let the
Bible interpret itself
00:39:49.10\00:39:54.54
from one passage to another.
00:39:54.55\00:40:00.24
That seems to go also and
support very well our point 4,
00:40:00.25\00:40:04.74
it must be interpreted according
to the rest of scripture.
00:40:04.75\00:40:07.76
Turn to Isaiah 28 and verse 10,
00:40:07.77\00:40:11.69
Isaiah is another easy book
to find in the Old Testament.
00:40:11.70\00:40:15.48
We're going to Isaiah
Chapter 28 and verse 10,
00:40:15.49\00:40:21.40
this is how we
study the Bible to know
00:40:21.41\00:40:24.41
that we're getting
God's word and not man's word.
00:40:24.42\00:40:28.30
The Bible says in
Isaiah 28 and verse 10,
00:40:28.31\00:40:31.18
"For precept
must be upon precept,
00:40:31.19\00:40:35.34
"precept upon
precept, line upon line,
00:40:35.35\00:40:39.01
"line upon line, here a
little, and there a little."
00:40:39.02\00:40:45.54
"For with stammering lips
00:40:45.55\00:40:46.76
and another tongue will
he speak to this people."
00:40:46.77\00:40:50.64
Friends, if we are going to
00:40:50.65\00:40:52.70
understand God's
word we must take text
00:40:52.71\00:40:56.00
from this book
and from this book
00:40:56.01\00:40:58.23
and from this book and show
that they link to each other,
00:40:58.24\00:41:01.73
not to make up our own teaching
00:41:01.74\00:41:05.66
but so that we can understand
what God is trying to teach us.
00:41:05.67\00:41:11.84
God teaches us through
the power of His Holy Spirit,
00:41:11.85\00:41:17.69
it's the reason that we
do not know the scripture,
00:41:17.70\00:41:20.29
it's the reason that we err
in scriptural interpretation
00:41:20.30\00:41:23.94
is because we do not apply
00:41:23.95\00:41:26.06
the principles
of interpretation.
00:41:26.07\00:41:30.25
If the author is not
here to verbally say,
00:41:30.26\00:41:32.98
hey look this is what I meant,
00:41:32.99\00:41:35.96
then you take
that authors writings
00:41:35.97\00:41:38.53
and you read them and
you compare one writing
00:41:38.54\00:41:41.16
with another in order to give
the author's own interpretation
00:41:41.17\00:41:45.20
of what the author wrote.
00:41:45.21\00:41:48.37
We do this with
other books don't we?
00:41:48.38\00:41:52.63
We read one book from one person
00:41:52.64\00:41:54.36
and we read another book from
that same person and we say,
00:41:54.37\00:41:56.97
oh, this is what they
meant when they wrote this
00:41:56.98\00:41:59.32
over in the other book.
00:41:59.33\00:42:01.57
We do this on a
consistent basis,
00:42:01.58\00:42:04.42
the Bible must interpret itself,
00:42:04.43\00:42:07.20
the Bible must be
interpreted according to
00:42:07.21\00:42:09.05
the rest of scripture.
00:42:09.06\00:42:10.78
The Bible must
harmonize with itself,
00:42:10.79\00:42:13.54
we must have a willingness
to follow divine instruction
00:42:13.55\00:42:17.24
and we must
always study the Bible
00:42:17.25\00:42:19.57
in the setting of prayer.
00:42:19.58\00:42:21.43
Because spiritual things
are spiritually discerned,
00:42:21.44\00:42:24.93
this is the only
way that we can know
00:42:24.94\00:42:30.27
that we are following God's word
and not man's interpretation.
00:42:30.28\00:42:35.58
A very good friend
of mine, Mark Howard,
00:42:35.59\00:42:37.54
when I first converted,
when I first gave my heart,
00:42:37.55\00:42:40.59
my life to Jesus and
threw away the world.
00:42:40.60\00:42:43.70
I came, I came to Mark,
00:42:43.71\00:42:45.35
who was also my
pastor, then I said, Mark,
00:42:45.36\00:42:48.19
"Look at this flyer I got
from work isn't this nice?"
00:42:48.20\00:42:51.63
Somebody at work
had give me a flyer
00:42:51.64\00:42:53.68
that had some
spiritual things on it,
00:42:53.69\00:42:55.62
had some texts quoted on there.
00:42:55.63\00:42:57.67
And I said,
"Don't you like this?"
00:42:57.68\00:42:58.98
And he began to read it
and he said, well, Moore,
00:42:58.99\00:43:03.20
that's what he called me,
00:43:03.21\00:43:04.18
didn't ever called
me Scotty or Scott,
00:43:04.19\00:43:05.71
he said, "Moore, what do
you mean, you like this?"
00:43:05.72\00:43:09.78
And he began to show me,
how, what that pamphlet said
00:43:09.79\00:43:14.42
had been taken
completely out of the context
00:43:14.43\00:43:17.00
of the scripture it was in.
00:43:17.01\00:43:19.78
And used, they used that text
00:43:19.79\00:43:21.93
to show something
completely different
00:43:21.94\00:43:24.08
from what the
original author meant.
00:43:24.09\00:43:27.48
It was
disconcerting to me to know
00:43:27.49\00:43:29.75
that there were people
that would actually do that,
00:43:29.76\00:43:33.41
they would twist
and rest the scriptures
00:43:33.42\00:43:36.04
to their own destruction.
00:43:36.05\00:43:41.81
The Bible tells us in
John Chapter 14 and verse 26,
00:43:41.82\00:43:45.78
that the Holy
Spirit will teach us.
00:43:45.79\00:43:47.45
Let's look at that.
00:43:47.46\00:43:48.59
Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John Chapter 14 and verse 26.
00:43:48.60\00:43:54.73
The Bible says in
John Chapter 14 verse 26,
00:43:54.74\00:43:59.43
"But the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost,
00:43:59.44\00:44:03.21
"whom the Father
will send in my name,
00:44:03.22\00:44:05.30
"he shall teach you all things,
00:44:05.31\00:44:09.96
"and bring all
things to your remembrance,
00:44:09.97\00:44:13.08
whatsoever I
have said unto you."
00:44:13.09\00:44:15.68
"Friends, the Spirit
of God cannot help us
00:44:15.69\00:44:18.76
remember what we
have not studied.
00:44:18.77\00:44:23.19
We must be studying our Bible
so that when the time comes
00:44:23.20\00:44:27.31
the Spirit of God can give
us something right to the point
00:44:27.32\00:44:30.10
to tell concerning the
way in which God has led us.
00:44:30.11\00:44:32.81
The Bible tells us in
Isaiah Chapter 30 and verse 21,
00:44:38.40\00:44:44.68
Isaiah Chapter 30
verse 21, the Bible says,
00:44:44.69\00:44:47.24
"And your ears will hear
a word behind you, saying,
00:44:47.25\00:44:52.26
This is the way, walk ye in it."
00:44:52.27\00:44:57.36
Remember, our second principle
00:44:57.37\00:44:59.46
was to have a willingness
to follow divine instruction,
00:44:59.47\00:45:03.62
Jesus himself
said, that we should walk
00:45:03.63\00:45:06.35
while we have the light,
lest darkness comes upon us.
00:45:06.36\00:45:10.54
We should walk while we
have the light of God's truth
00:45:10.55\00:45:12.81
in our understanding or we
will forever be in darkness.
00:45:12.82\00:45:20.10
"Thine ears shall
hear a word behind thee,
00:45:20.11\00:45:22.55
saying, This is the
way, walk you in it,
00:45:22.56\00:45:27.11
when ye turn to the right hand,
and when you turn to the left."
00:45:27.12\00:45:32.22
There are consequences
for understanding God's word
00:45:39.35\00:45:47.05
and not following God's word.
00:45:47.06\00:45:49.12
Turn with me to
Hebrews Chapter 10,
00:45:52.46\00:45:55.98
Hebrews is in the New Testament
just passed the "t" section.
00:45:55.99\00:46:00.37
Hebrews Chapter 10 and
verse 29, the Bible says here
00:46:00.38\00:46:08.59
in Hebrews
Chapter 10 and verse 29,
00:46:08.60\00:46:11.63
"Of how much sorer
punishment, suppose ye,
00:46:11.64\00:46:16.71
"shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden
00:46:16.72\00:46:19.92
"under foot the Son
of God, and hath counted
00:46:19.93\00:46:24.11
"the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified,
00:46:24.12\00:46:26.24
"an unholy thing,
and hath done despite
00:46:26.25\00:46:28.71
unto the Spirit of grace?"
00:46:28.72\00:46:33.19
Friends, the Bible
is telling us right here
00:46:33.20\00:46:35.11
in Hebrews
Chapter 10 and verse 29
00:46:35.12\00:46:39.28
that we trod
under for the Son of God
00:46:39.29\00:46:42.60
when we don't follow His truth,
and the punishment for that
00:46:42.61\00:46:48.64
is going to be that our
punishment is all the worse.
00:46:48.65\00:46:55.13
Now I'm not trying
to coerce and pursue,
00:46:55.14\00:46:57.94
I'm not trying to
coerce you or scare you
00:46:57.95\00:46:59.87
into believing the truth.
00:46:59.88\00:47:02.92
But when we see the
truth and we do not walk in it,
00:47:02.93\00:47:05.77
we will not be in paradise
with Jesus and that thief.
00:47:05.78\00:47:10.97
When we disobey,
reject and utterly ignore
00:47:18.92\00:47:21.57
God's word on even one
point however minor it may seem,
00:47:21.58\00:47:26.50
we have trodden
under foot the Son of God,
00:47:26.51\00:47:29.24
the very word
that was made flesh.
00:47:29.25\00:47:33.36
And had done despite,
disgrace unto his spirit.
00:47:33.37\00:47:40.83
My wife and I lived in Oregon,
00:47:40.84\00:47:44.49
they'd say that in the
particular part of Oregon
00:47:44.50\00:47:46.73
that we lived in that
there is rarely ever any snow.
00:47:46.74\00:47:50.30
We lived in a place
just South of Beaverton
00:47:50.31\00:47:53.41
called Gaston, Oregon.
00:47:53.42\00:47:56.94
And there in Gaston,
Oregon in order to get down
00:47:56.95\00:47:59.34
into where we lived,
you could either go around
00:47:59.35\00:48:02.08
Bald Peak Mountain or
you could go up and down it.
00:48:02.09\00:48:07.44
Well, it had started to
rain, the rain had frozen
00:48:07.45\00:48:11.40
and the, the snow
would begin to fall.
00:48:11.41\00:48:15.34
And so the road going up
the mountain was quite slippery.
00:48:15.35\00:48:20.71
It was quite amazing, I'm, I'm
a little boy at heart, you know.
00:48:20.72\00:48:24.47
And so here we are going up this
mountain and the whole time,
00:48:24.48\00:48:27.40
my friends, my
wife is telling me,
00:48:27.41\00:48:29.03
please Scott turned
around, please turned around.
00:48:29.04\00:48:31.16
I'm praying that
you're gonna turned around
00:48:31.17\00:48:32.87
and go around the
mountain, please turned around
00:48:32.88\00:48:35.11
and go around the mountain.
00:48:35.12\00:48:36.09
And I'm just, I'm just
living up this little boy,
00:48:36.10\00:48:38.47
moment in my heart,
here I am on this very
00:48:38.48\00:48:40.49
slippery road in my
two wheel drive truck,
00:48:40.50\00:48:43.52
and I'm trying to
make it up this mountain,
00:48:43.53\00:48:46.27
and I'm going up
sideways, you know, my.
00:48:46.28\00:48:49.05
I'm going this way
but my tires are over here
00:48:49.06\00:48:51.44
and my steering
wheels turn like this
00:48:51.45\00:48:53.18
and I'm going up to mountain
just sideways, I'm loving it.
00:48:53.19\00:48:56.02
My wife is begging me,
please Scott, turn around.
00:48:56.03\00:48:58.87
And in the back of my
mind, I hear this voice,
00:48:58.88\00:49:03.28
"Scott, turn around."
00:49:03.29\00:49:09.16
But I'm too busy
caught up in the moment,
00:49:09.17\00:49:15.80
and I tell
myself, I can make it.
00:49:15.81\00:49:19.24
I look over my wife,
who's crying by this point,
00:49:19.25\00:49:21.76
I'm a terrible man,
I've admitted it and asked
00:49:21.77\00:49:23.60
her for
forgiveness for this. I said,
00:49:23.61\00:49:25.94
"Sweetheart, we're
gonna be all right."
00:49:25.95\00:49:29.55
My friends, we made it
to the top of the mountain,
00:49:29.56\00:49:34.27
home was at the
bottom of the mountain.
00:49:34.28\00:49:41.61
My wife said to me,
00:49:41.62\00:49:44.60
"Scott, please don't
go down this mountain."
00:49:44.61\00:49:51.96
And I hear this
very, very loud voice
00:49:51.97\00:49:55.94
in the back of my mind it says,
00:49:55.95\00:49:57.99
"Scott, don't go
down this mountain."
00:49:58.00\00:50:05.32
By now it's
probably 11 O'clock at night
00:50:05.33\00:50:11.54
and I started down the mountain.
00:50:11.55\00:50:15.75
Three inches at a
time, roll three slide four,
00:50:15.76\00:50:21.29
roll three put on the
brakes, slide four, roll three,
00:50:21.30\00:50:26.11
put on the brakes, slide four.
00:50:26.12\00:50:27.74
And I hear my wife audibly pray,
00:50:27.75\00:50:31.76
"Dear Lord, put us in a
ditch, put us in a ditch.
00:50:31.77\00:50:40.04
Roll three and
slide into a ditch.
00:50:43.92\00:50:49.38
We didn't make it home
that night until 12:30.
00:50:49.39\00:50:54.20
We had a new born
baby with us, friends, now,
00:50:54.21\00:50:57.49
I know, you're thinking
yourself, this man is crazy,
00:50:57.50\00:51:00.22
he's just off his rock or
he should listen to his wife,
00:51:00.23\00:51:02.59
he should listen to
that voice that's behind him,
00:51:02.60\00:51:04.67
but think about at yourself
how often has God spoken to you?
00:51:04.68\00:51:13.19
And you haven't listened?
00:51:13.20\00:51:17.26
Now praise God, my family and
I are here to tell you about it,
00:51:17.27\00:51:20.86
to say that, "Hey,
we made it though this."
00:51:20.87\00:51:25.94
But that's not
always going to be the case.
00:51:25.95\00:51:29.63
When God, when we know that
we have applied the principles
00:51:29.64\00:51:32.41
and God speaks to
us though His word
00:51:32.42\00:51:35.95
and it's coming
directly from His word,
00:51:35.96\00:51:38.07
it's not man's interpretation,
it's not man's twist
00:51:38.08\00:51:41.08
to what God is
saying when that happens?
00:51:41.09\00:51:45.85
And we hear that voice,
we must walk in his word
00:51:45.86\00:51:52.09
or we run the risk of
never hearing the voice again.
00:51:52.10\00:51:58.47
When we study God's word in
light of these five principles,
00:52:05.81\00:52:09.22
we will follow God's word.
00:52:09.23\00:52:13.10
I said at the beginning
of this sermon that I believe
00:52:13.11\00:52:15.08
that you are a
person that will follow
00:52:15.09\00:52:17.67
the divine light
that God reveals to you.
00:52:17.68\00:52:21.11
It's no mistake
that we're tuned in here,
00:52:21.12\00:52:23.40
it's no mistake that
we're here in this auditorium,
00:52:23.41\00:52:25.67
God wanted us to
hear this message,
00:52:25.68\00:52:27.19
so that we could be sure
00:52:27.20\00:52:29.17
that we were understanding
the truth of God's word.
00:52:29.18\00:52:35.38
When me study God's word
with these five principles,
00:52:35.39\00:52:38.31
our eyes will be illuminated,
00:52:38.32\00:52:41.61
when we study God's word
with these five principles
00:52:41.62\00:52:44.15
we will see wonderful
things out of the Bible.
00:52:44.16\00:52:48.07
When we study God's word
with these five principles
00:52:48.08\00:52:51.27
in mind this world
will not be our home.
00:52:51.28\00:52:56.34
Someone told me one time,
00:52:56.35\00:52:57.95
"If the world fits,
then you are the wrong size."
00:52:57.96\00:53:04.16
Think about that, if
you are so comfortable
00:53:04.17\00:53:06.61
here in this world, friends,
then you are the wrong size.
00:53:06.62\00:53:12.12
So maybe you're
asking yourself right now,
00:53:12.13\00:53:17.82
am I the wrong size.
00:53:17.83\00:53:22.96
It is time, dear Christian
friend and fellow Bible student,
00:53:22.97\00:53:26.59
that we pour our lives
into the study of God's word.
00:53:26.60\00:53:31.76
The study of
God's word will wake us
00:53:37.68\00:53:39.88
up from our deadness in sin.
00:53:39.89\00:53:42.92
Turn with me to
Ephesians Chapter 5,
00:53:42.93\00:53:45.59
you're in Hebrews, turn
to the left to Ephesians,
00:53:45.60\00:53:49.52
Ephesians, Galatians, Ephesians,
00:53:49.53\00:53:51.31
Galatians is
right after Corinthians.
00:53:51.32\00:53:53.94
Ephesians
Chapter 5 and verse 14,
00:53:53.95\00:53:59.84
the Bible says here in Ephesians
Chapter 5 and verse 14,
00:53:59.85\00:54:02.79
"Wherefore he saith,"
let's go to back to verse 13,
00:54:02.80\00:54:07.61
"But all things
that are reproved
00:54:07.62\00:54:09.31
"are made manifest by the light,
00:54:09.32\00:54:11.69
"for whatsoever doth
make manifest is light.
00:54:11.70\00:54:16.56
"Wherefore he saith,
Awake thou that sleepest,
00:54:16.57\00:54:20.35
and arise from the dead and
Christ shall give thee light."
00:54:20.36\00:54:26.59
When the light of the
Bible lumens our life,
00:54:26.60\00:54:29.04
it gives us a new life.
00:54:29.05\00:54:31.11
God's word will
wake us up from the dead,
00:54:31.12\00:54:33.59
no matter what
our past has been,
00:54:33.60\00:54:35.65
God's word will
always make our future
00:54:35.66\00:54:38.13
new and bright
because of the light
00:54:38.14\00:54:40.13
that shines in us
through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
00:54:40.14\00:54:44.68
God's word gives us
the necessary instructions
00:54:44.69\00:54:47.65
for staying alive during
the tsunami of the end of time.
00:54:47.66\00:54:54.35
If we listen and we
follow, we will live.
00:54:54.36\00:54:58.99
Friend, will you
search God's word?
00:55:04.42\00:55:08.63
Applying these
principles so that you can spend
00:55:08.64\00:55:13.79
an eternity with your Lord.
00:55:13.80\00:55:15.93
Friend, will you
take these five principles
00:55:19.95\00:55:24.43
and seek deep
into the word of God
00:55:24.44\00:55:27.44
so that He can
reveal His truth to you.
00:55:27.45\00:55:31.12
Friends, will you give
your life to Jesus today?
00:55:38.26\00:55:44.10
The Bible tells us that
today is the day of salvation,
00:55:44.11\00:55:48.00
we are never
guaranteed tomorrow,
00:55:48.01\00:55:49.94
what would keep you today.
00:55:49.95\00:55:52.64
Martin Luther in a
letter to the elector,
00:55:57.04\00:55:58.99
after stating his
purpose to leave Wittenberg,
00:55:59.00\00:56:01.78
Luther said, "Be it
known to your Highness
00:56:01.79\00:56:04.07
"that I am going to
Wittenberg under a protection
00:56:04.08\00:56:06.52
"far higher than
those that of the electors.
00:56:06.53\00:56:10.39
"I think not of soliciting
your Highness's support,
00:56:10.40\00:56:12.75
and far from
desiring your protection,
00:56:12.76\00:56:14.86
I would rather protect you.
00:56:14.87\00:56:18.93
If I knew that your highness
could or would protect me,
00:56:18.94\00:56:21.67
I would not go to
Wittenberg at all.
00:56:21.68\00:56:24.26
There is no sword that
can further this cause.
00:56:24.27\00:56:26.25
God alone must do everything,
00:56:26.26\00:56:28.34
without the help
or concurrence of man.
00:56:28.35\00:56:31.07
He who has the greatest faith is
he who is most able to protect.
00:56:31.08\00:56:35.43
" Martin Luther
believed in the word of God,
00:56:35.44\00:56:38.47
he believed it to be truth,
he studied it in the light
00:56:38.48\00:56:41.66
of the five
principles, will you?
00:56:41.67\00:56:44.07
You've felt, you have
felt the Spirit of God
00:56:49.18\00:56:51.30
speaking to your heart even now.
00:56:51.31\00:56:58.58
And you're making a commitment
in your heart right now
00:56:58.62\00:57:00.84
to say to Jesus, "I
want these principles to
00:57:00.85\00:57:03.69
apply the next
time I open my Bible."
00:57:03.70\00:57:07.18
If that's you, dear friends,
you just raise your hand,
00:57:07.19\00:57:10.13
whether you're at home
00:57:10.14\00:57:11.65
or whether you're
here in this auditorium.
00:57:11.66\00:57:14.44
God sees those
hands, praise God.
00:57:14.45\00:57:16.88