The Bible says for God
so loved the world, that
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he gave his only
begotten son that who so ever
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believes in him
should not perish, but have
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ever lasting life.
Today whether you're
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sitting right here
or viewing around the
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world. God has a
message for you today,
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undoubtedly someone
watching this telecast
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around the world, is
having maybe the worst
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day of their life.
And likely even right here
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someone sitting here
this day is struggling with
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the question is it
worth it, is life worth it, is
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following Jesus worth
it. Does Jesus really care?
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Does God really
exist? Today I stand here
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before you with
a message from God.
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And that message is,
there is a friend, who
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sticks closer than a
brother, and that friend
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is Jesus. Today, I
stand here before you with a
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message from God
and that message is,
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taste and see
that the Lord is good.
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And, today I stand
before you with a message,
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from God and that
message is follow the
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faithful and be a
finisher. You see friends
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life is not easy, but
there is a friend that
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sticks closer than a
brother, is not easy to
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believe in God, but
if you taste, you'll see
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the evidence that
the Lord is good and that
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he is alive and
well and working in your
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life. Brothers and
sisters, it maybe hard
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to sometimes
believe that Jesus is coming
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again, but if we
stick close to that friend
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Jesus, if we see
that he is good and if we
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follow him, if we
follow the faithful one Jesus
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Christ, we can be a finisher.
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I want to begin with a
word of prayer, please bow
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your heads with we as
we pray. Dear heavenly
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Father we come
before you, and we pray that
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as we're here
gathered together that your
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presence would be
with us. We pray that, we
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would not be here
worshiping in vain,
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but that the spirit
of God would come down,
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enlighten our minds,
give us understanding,
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humble our hearts, so
that we can leave here
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changed and we can live
more faithfully for you.
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We thank you for
your death on the cross.
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And, we pray that
Jesus when you come that we
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will be saved. In your name we
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pray, Amen. The message of this
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morning is titled,
follow the faithful,
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and be a finisher.
Follow the faithful and
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be a finisher.
Brothers and sisters,
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I believe more today
than I've ever believed
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before that Jesus
is coming again and the
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Bible urges us in
John chapter 14 that
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we should not allow
our hearts to be troubled.
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Well, why is it that
we should not allow our
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hearts to be troubled,
and I believe the reason
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that we should not allow
our hearts to be troubled is
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because of the multitude
of promises in the Bible that
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Jesus is coming again,
that he died to save us, so that
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we can be with him
in paradise forever.
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And, so we can comfort
ourselves with the fact
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that Jesus, like he
said in John chapter 14, let
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not your hearts be
troubled, believe in God,
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believe also in me.
In my Father's house are
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many mansions, if it
were not so, I would have
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told you, I go to prepare
a place for you, that when
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I come again,
I'll receive you unto
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myself that where I'm
there you may be also.
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You see, we don't
have to allow our hearts to
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be troubled, because
Jesus will come again.
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Jesus will come to
receive us onto himself.
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So that we can be with
him forever where he is now.
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Jesus is preparing
a mansion for each and
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everyone of us.
And, he wants us to
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occupy that with him
and, and because of that
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promise, because of the
numerous promises in the
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scriptures, we don't
have to be troubled by the
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trials of this life.
It's not easy, but we can
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comfort ourselves with
the hope that there is a
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better world, there
will be a better place,
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there will be a
better life when Jesus comes
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again and takes us
to be with him forever.
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This is our blessed
hope, and if we're to receive
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this blessed
hope, we must follow the
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faithful and be a
finisher. I want you to
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turn with me in
your Bibles right now
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to John, the actually
the First book of John,
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so that would be
right near the end of the
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Old Testament. John chapter 1.
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So, that's First
John it's a little letter
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written by the Apostle
John. John the Revelator
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as well as he was
known, and this is the first of
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three letters he
wrote. First John, chapter 1.
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And, we'll be
reading verse 9. First John,
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chapter 1 and verse 9,
and the Bible says, if we
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confess our sins, he
is faithful and just to
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forgive us our sins
and cleanse us from all
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unrighteousness.
I want to stop for a
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moment and just let
you know that the next few
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verses, we're
gonna be looking through.
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Are verses that all
include the keyword faithful.
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And, we're gonna
be looking out what it
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means, what does it
mean to be faithful and who
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is faithful and here
we see that Jesus is being
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described as
faithful. God is being described
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as faithful, and he is
faithful to take care of
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our sins, to forgive
us and cleanse us from
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all unrighteousness, and
often times the struggle,
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the major struggle in
the life that we've here on
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planet earth is the
fact that, that we allow the
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sins and the guilt of
life to weigh us down.
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And, we don't really
believe Jesus, when he
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says, if you confess
your sins, I will be faithful
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Jesus says, I will be
just, I will cleanse you,
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of the
unrighteousness of your heart.
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Jesus died on the cross
and if he died on the cross,
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why can't we believe
that he could forgive
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our sins, and
so someone might be
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struggling here
today, somebody watching this
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telecast might be
thinking to themselves,
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my sin is too great.
I messed up too badly,
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I've messed up too
much, I've gone too far,
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too long away from
God. And the message
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from the Bible today
for you, for each of us
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is that Jesus is
faithful. That Jesus is
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faithful and he will
forgive us of our sins
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no matter how
great, we just have to come
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to him in humility
confessing our sins,
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and he will forgive
us and cleanse us from
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those sins. And, so
we see here in First
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John 1:9, he is
faithful, who is he? God.
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God is faithful.
And, First Corinthians 5:9
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says, God is
faithful. And, Revelation 1:5
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lets actually turn to
this one, it's a beautiful
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promise. Revelation
1:5. And, in verse 5 of
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Revelation chapter 1,
the Bible describes Jesus
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as a witness, he was
the witness of the father,
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He came down to
planet earth, to witness the
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character, to demonstrate
the character of Jesus
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to all of the world, to
all of the Angels in the
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Universe. And, he did
a perfect job witnessing
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for Jesus and so in
Revelation 1:5, the Bible
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says that Jesus Christ
is the faithful witness, the
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firstborn of the dead,
and the ruler of the kings
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of the earth. Brothers
and sisters, Jesus was the
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perfect witness, more
than a perfect witness,
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he was a faithful
witness. We're talking
00:11:02.74\00:11:06.21
this morning about
following the faithful,
00:11:06.24\00:11:09.46
and if you want to, if
you want to make it abundantly
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clear to each
person here today and each
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person viewing this
broadcast, we could add
00:11:16.92\00:11:21.45
the word one.
Jesus is the faithful
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one, Jesus is the
faithful witness and so
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we've seen that Jesus
is faithful to forgive us
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of our sins, God is
faithful and Jesus is the
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faithful witness, but
we're going to look at
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one more reference in
Revelation chapter 20.
00:11:40.32\00:11:43.39
Revelation chapter actually 2.
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Revelation chapter 2 and
Verse 10, and here we're going
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to see that the word
faithful is used again,
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but it's used in a
different application or
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maybe more accurately
stated, it's applied to
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different,
someone other than Jesus.
00:11:59.76\00:12:03.21
Revelation 2:10,
applies the word faithful
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to someone other than
Jesus, let's see who it is.
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Revelation
2:10. Do not fear what
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you're about to
suffer. Behold the devil is
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about to throw some
of you into prison that
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you maybe tested and
for ten days you'll have
00:12:20.03\00:12:24.14
tribulation, and
then it says be faithful
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unto death and you'll
receive a crown of life.
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This is one of the most
beautiful promises in the
00:12:33.76\00:12:37.41
Bible delivered, the
promise that if we're
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faithful and if we
finish the good fight and if
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we've to die and are
willing to die that we'll
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receive the promise
of the eternal life,
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we will receive the
crown of the life that Jesus
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wants to give to
each and everyone of us.
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It's powerful, it's
so powerful to see that
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God, our God, our
faithful Father so loved
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the world that he
sent, Jesus God, the son
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to be our faithful
example and if we will
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choose to follow
that faithful example unto
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death, we will
receive a crown of life.
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Brothers and
sisters, friends and family,
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viewers around the
world follow the faithful one,
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follow Jesus and be a
finisher, it's just that
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simple, you don't have
to come up with a new way
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to get to heaven,
you just have to follow
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Jesus, the one who is
already made it there,
00:14:06.31\00:14:10.17
the first born of
the dead as Revelation
00:14:10.20\00:14:13.84
chapter 2, chapter 1
sorry, and it's simple
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we just have to
follow Jesus in all things,
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he is our example in
every area of our life,
00:14:22.60\00:14:25.89
he is the faithful
one and if follow him, we
00:14:25.92\00:14:29.91
cannot help but be a
finisher because in his
00:14:29.94\00:14:33.56
strength we're made
perfect, the Bible says.
00:14:33.59\00:14:35.49
And I believe
more today and each and
00:14:35.52\00:14:38.75
everyday that we're
living the last days of
00:14:38.78\00:14:40.86
earth's history we've
already made this clear, how
00:14:40.89\00:14:43.22
strongly I believe
that, I believe that Jesus is
00:14:43.25\00:14:47.30
about to come, we're
in the brink of eternity.
00:14:47.33\00:14:51.19
And so now is the
time more than ever before
00:14:51.22\00:14:59.80
to more carefully,
more faithfully follow Jesus
00:14:59.83\00:15:04.81
and his example,
and so today we want to
00:15:04.84\00:15:10.86
take a look at, a
careful look, what did
00:15:10.89\00:15:14.16
I say? That's
right, a careful look.
00:15:14.19\00:15:16.27
We're gonna take a
careful look at the
00:15:16.30\00:15:21.95
example of Jesus and
at the special instruction
00:15:21.98\00:15:27.50
that Jesus gives to
the Apostle Paul for God's
00:15:27.53\00:15:31.96
last day people,
God's last day church.
00:15:31.99\00:15:35.54
How many of you here
today want to be one of
00:15:35.57\00:15:40.40
God's last day
people. I want to be a part of
00:15:40.43\00:15:46.09
one of God's last
day people, and I want to
00:15:46.12\00:15:49.26
be a part of
God's last day church.
00:15:49.29\00:15:52.67
And, so today we're gonna
look carefully at what the
00:15:52.70\00:15:59.16
faithful one Jesus
Christ had, we're gonna
00:15:59.19\00:16:02.60
look at four points, the
first two of those points
00:16:02.63\00:16:05.35
are questions. And
question number 1 is
00:16:05.38\00:16:07.12
what did the faithful
one have? What did Jesus
00:16:07.15\00:16:10.01
have that made him
and gave him the ability
00:16:10.04\00:16:12.78
to be a finisher. Let's look up,
00:16:12.81\00:16:17.90
Matthew chapter 3,
and we're not gonna
00:16:17.93\00:16:22.58
look up all of them, but
we're going to start with
00:16:22.61\00:16:24.03
Matthew chapter 3,
and I gonna go through a
00:16:24.06\00:16:25.91
quick list of
different examples of Jesus.
00:16:25.94\00:16:29.42
And, what he had
that allowed him to be a
00:16:29.45\00:16:32.38
finisher, so let's
turn in our Bibles to
00:16:32.41\00:16:34.50
Matthew, it's the first
book of the New Testament.
00:16:34.53\00:16:36.85
Matthew 3 and verse 16
and the Bible says, and when
00:16:36.88\00:16:41.23
Jesus was baptized,
immediately he went up
00:16:41.26\00:16:45.49
from the water and behold
the heavens were opened to
00:16:45.52\00:16:48.34
to him and he saw the
Spirit of God descending
00:16:48.37\00:16:50.66
like a dove and
coming and resting on him.
00:16:50.69\00:16:55.19
This is Jesus'
baptism and when he comes up
00:16:55.22\00:16:59.66
out of the water, we
see the spirit of God coming
00:16:59.69\00:17:01.56
and descending
on him like a dove.
00:17:01.59\00:17:02.95
I'm going to read a
bunch more references from
00:17:02.98\00:17:07.05
the Bible really
quickly, and I want you to pick
00:17:07.08\00:17:09.92
out a keyword.
Matthew chapter 4 in verse 1,
00:17:09.95\00:17:14.44
the Bible says, then
Jesus was led up of the
00:17:14.47\00:17:16.72
spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted
00:17:16.75\00:17:18.26
of the devil. Matthew
chapter 12 in verse 18,
00:17:18.29\00:17:21.03
I'll put my spirit upon him.
00:17:21.06\00:17:23.49
Luke chapter 1 and verse
80, and that's a last verse,
00:17:23.52\00:17:27.29
you probably didn't even
know, that there is 80 verses in
00:17:27.32\00:17:29.18
the first book and
the first chapter of Luke.
00:17:29.21\00:17:32.96
The Luke 1:80, and
the child grew and became
00:17:32.99\00:17:39.57
strong in spirit.
Luke 2:27, and he became
00:17:39.60\00:17:43.74
and he came by the
spirit into the temple.
00:17:43.77\00:17:46.72
Luke 4:14, and Jesus
returned in the power
00:17:46.75\00:17:51.09
of the spirit into
Galilee. Luke 4:18,
00:17:51.12\00:17:54.37
and the spirit of
Lord is upon me, we see
00:17:54.40\00:17:57.93
time-and-time again,
the keyword is spirit,
00:17:57.96\00:18:02.11
spirit, spirit,
spirit, spirit. The spirit of
00:18:02.14\00:18:06.80
God came upon Jesus
in the form of a dove.
00:18:06.83\00:18:09.22
The spirit of God led
Jesus into the wilderness,
00:18:09.25\00:18:11.44
the spirit of God was upon him.
00:18:11.47\00:18:13.47
He became strong in
the spirit, he came by the
00:18:13.50\00:18:18.66
spirit to the temple,
he had the power of the
00:18:18.69\00:18:22.53
spirit and the spirit
of the Lord was upon him,
00:18:22.56\00:18:25.71
it was because of
Jesus, our faithful example.
00:18:25.74\00:18:29.33
The one we're to
follow it was because Jesus
00:18:29.36\00:18:33.39
had the spirit, the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:18:33.42\00:18:36.59
in this life, that he
could be victorious in the
00:18:36.62\00:18:43.55
battle over sin.
Because he had the spirit
00:18:43.58\00:18:52.58
he could conquer
temptation, he could
00:18:52.61\00:18:55.81
go to the cross
without sinning and die a death
00:18:55.84\00:18:59.37
for us, so that we
could be saved, it's because
00:18:59.40\00:19:01.69
Jesus Christ had the
Holy Spirit in his life that
00:19:01.72\00:19:09.32
made all the difference,
all the difference in the
00:19:09.35\00:19:12.85
world. And, so brothers
and sisters, the Biblical
00:19:12.88\00:19:17.57
evidence is
clear. What did I say?
00:19:17.60\00:19:20.15
It's clear, that's
right. The Biblical evidence is
00:19:20.18\00:19:23.69
clear today that
Jesus Christ, the faithful
00:19:23.72\00:19:26.67
witness, who is to be
our example, in all of
00:19:26.70\00:19:29.96
things, he had the power
of the Holy Spirit in his
00:19:29.99\00:19:35.21
life and this enabled
him. And, what did I say?
00:19:35.24\00:19:38.69
That's right, it
enabled him, it gave him the
00:19:38.72\00:19:42.62
ability to be
the faithful one, the
00:19:42.65\00:19:46.42
faithful
finisher. You see, he had to
00:19:46.45\00:19:50.60
have the power of the
Holy Spirit in his life.
00:19:50.63\00:19:52.66
And because Jesus
recognized, because he
00:19:52.69\00:19:57.98
recognized so clear,
how hard the battle was,
00:19:58.01\00:20:01.54
and how important
and critical, it was for
00:20:01.57\00:20:06.66
him to have the power of
the Holy Spirit before Jesus
00:20:06.69\00:20:09.73
left. Before he was
resurrected and went
00:20:09.76\00:20:15.08
to heaven. He gave
his believers, he gave the
00:20:15.11\00:20:18.82
disciples, the
twelve Apostle, he gave them
00:20:18.85\00:20:21.32
the promise of the Holy
Spirit. He gave them the
00:20:21.35\00:20:27.11
comforter, because he
knew that's what he needed
00:20:27.14\00:20:29.96
and that if his
disciples down through the ages,
00:20:29.99\00:20:33.73
and if his church in
the last days was to be
00:20:33.76\00:20:36.63
faithful that they
would need the Holy Spirit
00:20:36.66\00:20:39.98
power working in their
lives. And, so let's turn
00:20:40.01\00:20:43.89
and look at that promise,
it's a beautiful promise.
00:20:43.92\00:20:47.77
John, the Gospel of
John. Matthew Mark, Luke,
00:20:48.19\00:20:51.56
and John, the fourth
book of the New Testament
00:20:51.59\00:20:54.50
John chapter 16, and in
John chapter 16, we will
00:20:54.53\00:21:00.31
this promise of the
Holy Spirit, given to
00:21:00.34\00:21:05.01
God's disciples
down through the ages.
00:21:05.04\00:21:08.62
John chapter 16 and
we'll read verse 7 and
00:21:08.65\00:21:13.75
then we'll skip
down to 13 through 15.
00:21:13.78\00:21:15.59
Beginning in verse
17. John chapter 16.
00:21:15.62\00:21:17.58
Nevertheless I tell you
the truth, it is to your
00:21:17.61\00:21:21.39
advantage that I go
away for if I do not
00:21:21.42\00:21:23.47
go away, so who's
talking here. Jesus, Jesus is
00:21:23.50\00:21:26.48
saying, it's to your
benefit that I go away,
00:21:26.51\00:21:29.45
it's to your
advantage that I leave and go to
00:21:29.48\00:21:33.53
heaven. Well, why
Jesus, why would it be to our
00:21:33.56\00:21:40.06
benefit that you leave.
Let's see what the Bible
00:21:40.09\00:21:45.06
says, for if I do
not go away, verse 7 the
00:21:45.09\00:21:50.40
helper will not come to
you, but if I go, I will
00:21:50.43\00:21:54.52
send him to you and when
he comes, he will convict
00:21:54.55\00:21:59.53
to the world of sin
and righteousness and
00:21:59.56\00:22:01.75
judgment skipping
down to verse 13. When the
00:22:01.78\00:22:05.57
spirit of truth
comes, he will guide you into
00:22:05.60\00:22:07.72
all truth. You see,
it's interesting, there is
00:22:07.75\00:22:10.22
Jesus said in the Bible,
once to the disciples, he said,
00:22:10.25\00:22:12.04
I wish, I could tell
you more, but I can't tell
00:22:12.07\00:22:14.10
you, no, I can't
tell you more now because
00:22:14.13\00:22:16.34
you can't handle it.
And, so it was critical
00:22:16.37\00:22:20.62
that the spirit of God,
the Holy Spirit, the helper,
00:22:20.65\00:22:23.46
our comforter
would come, dwell in our
00:22:23.49\00:22:28.92
hearts and lead us
into all truth. And, it goes
00:22:28.95\00:22:34.53
to say, for he will
not speak of his own
00:22:34.56\00:22:36.25
authority, but whatever
he hears, he will speak and
00:22:36.28\00:22:39.07
he will declare to
you the things that are
00:22:39.10\00:22:41.36
to come, it's
powerful. It's so powerful.
00:22:41.39\00:22:45.94
You see, if Jesus
didn't leave, he cannot send
00:22:45.97\00:22:51.45
his Holy Spirit to
be in all places at all
00:22:51.48\00:22:53.85
times with all
believers, who all struggle.
00:22:53.88\00:22:56.70
We could, if it was
not for the Holy Spirit,
00:22:56.73\00:23:00.51
we could not have
the promise of Matthew,
00:23:00.54\00:23:02.15
with the great
commission, where the
00:23:02.18\00:23:06.41
Bible says, I will give
you all power, we could not
00:23:06.44\00:23:11.97
all have all power, if
you wasn't for the work
00:23:12.00\00:23:14.26
of the Holy Spirit.
And, so we see that was
00:23:14.29\00:23:19.81
very important, it was
very important to Jesus
00:23:19.84\00:23:22.91
that he have the
spirit in his life.
00:23:22.94\00:23:25.23
And, it's very important
to the followers of Jesus
00:23:25.26\00:23:28.37
that we have the
spirit of God in our lives and
00:23:28.40\00:23:33.53
so the first of the four
points, that we're looking
00:23:33.56\00:23:37.27
at this morning.
Are one, what did the
00:23:37.30\00:23:42.82
faithful one have,
what did Jesus have
00:23:42.85\00:23:45.01
that can make him
faithful, and we've
00:23:45.04\00:23:47.84
seen that Jesus had
the spirit, the Holy Spirit
00:23:47.87\00:23:52.38
power working in
his life. So, now the
00:23:52.41\00:23:55.18
question, the next
logical question, it's a simple
00:23:55.21\00:23:57.64
question. Is how did
he get the spirit in the
00:23:57.67\00:24:02.30
first place, how did
Jesus get the Holy Spirit
00:24:02.33\00:24:06.38
in the first place?
Let's turn in our Bibles,
00:24:06.41\00:24:11.59
to Luke chapter 2,
Matthew, Mark, Luke.
00:24:11.62\00:24:16.54
Luke chapter 2 and
I'm read from verse 40
00:24:16.57\00:24:25.64
and then we'll
skip down to verse 52.
00:24:25.67\00:24:27.71
Luke chapter 2 and verse 40,
the Bible says, and the child
00:24:27.74\00:24:35.84
grew and became
strong in spirit, filled with
00:24:35.87\00:24:38.74
wisdom and the
grace of God was upon him.
00:24:38.77\00:24:41.95
Says that Jesus grew,
that's the child, that's
00:24:41.98\00:24:46.40
being talked about.
Jesus grew and became
00:24:46.43\00:24:48.83
strong in spirit, it's
says that, he was filled
00:24:48.86\00:24:52.87
with wisdom. The
grace of God was upon him.
00:24:52.90\00:24:55.81
You see, Jesus
became strong in spirit and
00:24:55.84\00:25:02.42
filled with wisdom
because the grace and
00:25:02.45\00:25:04.76
the favor of God was
upon him and the reason
00:25:04.79\00:25:09.96
that Jesus had the
favor of God was because
00:25:09.99\00:25:15.52
Jesus followed his
father's four fold plan
00:25:15.55\00:25:23.30
for growth, this is
powerful. And, this is
00:25:23.33\00:25:27.28
what verse 52
says, Luke 2:52, and the
00:25:27.31\00:25:30.78
Bible says, and
Jesus increased in wisdom
00:25:30.81\00:25:34.82
and in stature, and in
favor with God and man,
00:25:34.85\00:25:40.72
this is powerful, there's
four areas of development
00:25:40.75\00:25:43.68
that happened in the
life of Jesus that ultimately
00:25:43.71\00:25:49.63
allowed him to have the
favor of God in his life.
00:25:49.66\00:25:57.11
It's says, he grew in
wisdom, he increased in
00:25:57.14\00:26:02.58
wisdom. Wisdom
means intellect, it means
00:26:02.61\00:26:05.43
knowledge. Jesus
grew intellectually, it
00:26:05.46\00:26:10.21
says he grew in
stature that means physically
00:26:10.24\00:26:12.17
Jesus grew in
physical strength, then it says
00:26:12.20\00:26:18.86
he grew in favor
with God and man, you see
00:26:18.89\00:26:23.88
Jesus grew spiritually
and Jesus grew socially
00:26:23.91\00:26:29.52
in favor with God
spiritually and in favor
00:26:29.55\00:26:32.42
with man socially.
And, we're gonna see
00:26:32.45\00:26:34.55
how important this is,
near the end of today's
00:26:34.58\00:26:39.66
the message. So,
the four things once
00:26:39.69\00:26:43.29
again, our wisdom, stature,
favor with God, favor with
00:26:43.32\00:26:45.41
man, that was intellectual
growth, physical growth,
00:26:45.44\00:26:48.79
spiritual growth,
social growth, and I want to
00:26:48.82\00:26:52.96
take a little bit of
time right here to explain
00:26:52.99\00:26:55.68
the importance of
this and why this made the
00:26:55.71\00:26:58.45
difference in the
life of Jesus. You see one
00:26:58.48\00:27:01.74
of the greatest
challenges, one of the
00:27:01.77\00:27:03.96
greatest struggles in
the Christian journey, in the
00:27:03.99\00:27:08.21
experience of the
Christian is the, the
00:27:08.24\00:27:11.68
struggle of surrendering
everything to Jesus,
00:27:11.71\00:27:15.16
every part of our
being, every part of our life,
00:27:15.19\00:27:19.28
how is it that we
surrender that, it's a
00:27:19.31\00:27:24.62
difficult thing to
do, but we must to do it,
00:27:24.65\00:27:26.62
and these four
areas, but what if we could
00:27:26.65\00:27:30.87
surrender these
four areas of our life to
00:27:30.90\00:27:33.62
Jesus, we could have
the full power of the
00:27:33.65\00:27:41.00
Holy Spirit working in
our lives, you see it's
00:27:41.03\00:27:45.86
very important, now we
surrender our minds, our
00:27:45.89\00:27:49.83
intellect to God.
You see because, if we
00:27:49.86\00:27:54.87
do not surrender our
minds to God then we will
00:27:54.90\00:28:00.95
think that we're
smart, we can do everything
00:28:00.98\00:28:04.39
on our own, we
can go through life,
00:28:04.42\00:28:08.61
provide for ourselves,
be smart enough to figure
00:28:08.64\00:28:11.66
out, how to over
come any obstacle in life.
00:28:11.69\00:28:14.54
So, we must surrender
our minds, our intellect,
00:28:14.57\00:28:20.80
our wisdom to God,
because the Bible says
00:28:20.83\00:28:24.90
there is a way
that seems right unto
00:28:24.93\00:28:27.66
a man, but in the
end it leads to death,
00:28:27.69\00:28:29.81
the wisdom of the
world does not leave to
00:28:33.38\00:28:34.78
salvation, but it
leads to death and
00:28:34.81\00:28:37.06
destruction, and so we
must surrender our minds to
00:28:37.09\00:28:42.49
God. Number 2, we
must surrender our physical
00:28:42.52\00:28:45.01
bodies, our strength
to God because you see,
00:28:45.04\00:28:47.34
it is easy, especially
for men to have the idea
00:28:47.37\00:28:52.90
that hey, I'm
strong enough, I'm big
00:28:52.93\00:28:54.52
enough, I'm fast
enough to conquer the problems
00:28:54.55\00:28:58.13
in my life, to take
care of myself, to protect
00:28:58.16\00:29:01.32
myself, we've to
surrender that part of
00:29:01.35\00:29:05.53
our physical
bodies to God. And, then
00:29:05.56\00:29:12.15
spiritually we've
to surrender to God
00:29:12.18\00:29:16.59
spiritually because,
if we do not surrender
00:29:16.62\00:29:19.46
to God spiritually then
we'll be serving another
00:29:19.49\00:29:25.59
God, a liturgy God of
this world as the Bible
00:29:25.62\00:29:28.64
says. So, we must
surrender our minds
00:29:28.67\00:29:33.63
spiritually to God and
lastly, socially we must
00:29:33.66\00:29:39.22
this part of our
life fully and completely
00:29:39.25\00:29:42.08
to God socially.
Because you see, if
00:29:42.11\00:29:49.70
we do not surrender
the social part of our life
00:29:49.73\00:29:52.34
to God, where we
interact with other people
00:29:52.37\00:29:54.99
we will never, I repeat
we will never come to love
00:29:55.02\00:30:00.04
people, we will always
be at odds with people,
00:30:00.07\00:30:04.25
we will never feel
the burden to go out and
00:30:04.28\00:30:06.89
win souls, and to
seek and save the lost.
00:30:06.92\00:30:10.70
We have to surrender
our lives socially, socially
00:30:10.73\00:30:17.79
to God. And I
wanna point something out
00:30:17.82\00:30:23.46
very important, notice
I've been talking about
00:30:23.49\00:30:27.09
surrender, not balance
because often we think,
00:30:27.12\00:30:30.68
often we think to
ourselves, well hey, if I've
00:30:30.71\00:30:35.68
these four
components in my life, one, two,
00:30:35.71\00:30:37.63
three, four, then
I'm a balanced person.
00:30:37.66\00:30:42.06
A balanced person,
and balanced people are
00:30:42.09\00:30:49.16
supposed to be alright,
they're supposed to have things
00:30:49.19\00:30:51.43
together, but you see
if you've got these four
00:30:51.46\00:30:54.79
components and
you're balancing them in
00:30:54.82\00:30:56.63
your life 25%, 25%.,
25%, 25% that adds up to
00:30:56.66\00:31:01.03
a 100%, you think
you're doing good, you're
00:31:01.06\00:31:02.69
balancing everything
out. Notice in each of those
00:31:02.72\00:31:07.49
areas they are still a
full 75% that is uncounted
00:31:07.52\00:31:14.99
for, and the reason this
is important to point out
00:31:15.02\00:31:19.32
is because often times
we think that if we spend
00:31:19.35\00:31:28.24
that 25% or that
time in Church, then we're
00:31:28.27\00:31:30.77
doing our spiritual
part, but God wants us to be
00:31:30.80\00:31:33.89
spiritual people all
the time, often times we
00:31:33.92\00:31:38.05
think, if, if we're
nice and we put on that
00:31:38.08\00:31:40.69
smile and we're social
and friendly out in public,
00:31:40.72\00:31:42.74
that's good enough,
but when we come home
00:31:42.77\00:31:45.07
we can let our guard
down and we can be a little
00:31:45.10\00:31:48.29
rough with our spouse
or with our brother or
00:31:48.32\00:31:51.86
our sister, and sometimes
we think that, that if we
00:31:51.89\00:32:00.38
serve God with our minds
intellectually at least a
00:32:00.41\00:32:03.23
little bit of the
time and we use the rest
00:32:03.26\00:32:04.69
to make money and,
and wealth and popularity.
00:32:04.72\00:32:07.05
Well, that's okay, no
it's not okay beloved,
00:32:07.08\00:32:10.05
it's not okay, we
have to surrender each and
00:32:10.08\00:32:15.51
every part to God and
that brings glory to him,
00:32:15.54\00:32:19.92
and that will gain
his favor and because of
00:32:19.95\00:32:22.99
that the spirit of
God will fill our lives,
00:32:23.02\00:32:26.00
because we've
surrendered 100% to him in every
00:32:26.03\00:32:31.97
major component and
so Jesus grew and became
00:32:32.00\00:32:37.78
strong in the
spirit because he had these
00:32:37.81\00:32:41.33
four areas covered,
and it's not gonna be
00:32:41.36\00:32:46.00
easy to surrender these
four areas, but we have to
00:32:46.03\00:32:48.32
especially number 3
and 4, which is spiritual
00:32:48.35\00:32:52.80
and social, and we're
going to talk about this
00:32:52.83\00:32:55.40
a little bit more, at
the end of the message, and
00:32:55.43\00:32:59.45
so today, we've
seen already a powerful
00:32:59.48\00:33:03.60
model, a powerful
example of what the
00:33:03.63\00:33:07.22
follower of Jesus
needs, the follower of Jesus
00:33:07.25\00:33:10.06
needs the Holy
Spirit power in their life.
00:33:10.09\00:33:11.78
Well, how do they get
it? How do we have what
00:33:11.81\00:33:14.56
the faithful example
had, our faithful witness
00:33:14.59\00:33:16.75
Jesus Christ, we get
it by doing what he did.
00:33:16.78\00:33:19.35
Grow in wisdom, in
stature and favor with God and
00:33:19.38\00:33:23.83
man. And the reason that
these message is critical
00:33:23.86\00:33:27.58
for God's last day
people, for God's last
00:33:27.61\00:33:30.64
day church, is
because Jesus knew, God knew,
00:33:30.67\00:33:34.66
that his last day
church would struggle with this
00:33:34.69\00:33:38.49
very thing, this very
thing of being faithful,
00:33:38.52\00:33:43.05
this very thing of
being finished, of finishing,
00:33:43.08\00:33:47.99
because without
the spirit we cannot be
00:33:48.02\00:33:51.79
faithful, without the
spirit we cannot finish.
00:33:51.82\00:33:53.61
And, so God instructed
his servant Paul, in First
00:33:53.64\00:34:01.77
Thessalonians chapter
1, he instructed him with
00:34:01.80\00:34:08.42
some special instructions
of how we can make sure
00:34:08.45\00:34:13.99
that we have the
spirit of God in our lives,
00:34:14.02\00:34:17.49
turn in your Bibles
to First Thessalonians
00:34:17.52\00:34:20.66
chapter 5, and
so if you're in the
00:34:20.69\00:34:25.22
New Testament, you'll
look past Acts and past
00:34:25.25\00:34:29.55
Romans and past all
the small little epistles,
00:34:29.58\00:34:32.75
past Corinthians,
Colossians and then
00:34:32.78\00:34:37.03
you'll find Thessalonians,
First Thessalonians
00:34:37.06\00:34:38.15
chapter 5, and
we're gonna read a large
00:34:38.18\00:34:42.99
section of passage
here, but we're gonna begin
00:34:43.02\00:34:45.13
with verse 19, because
it's a very interesting
00:34:45.16\00:34:48.33
verse. First
Thessalonians chapter 1
00:34:48.36\00:34:52.47
chapter 5 and verse 19,
the Bible says, do not quench
00:34:52.50\00:34:58.16
the spirit, some
versions say, quench not
00:34:58.19\00:35:00.58
the spirit, very
interesting, very
00:35:00.61\00:35:06.22
interesting if you
read verse 1 of chapter 5,
00:35:06.25\00:35:10.31
the Bible says, now
concerning the times
00:35:10.34\00:35:12.20
and the seasons brethren, you've
00:35:12.23\00:35:13.47
no need, to have
anything written you
00:35:13.50\00:35:15.68
for you yourselves
are fully aware that the
00:35:15.71\00:35:17.94
day of the lord will come
like a thief in the night,
00:35:17.97\00:35:19.74
Jesus is talking to
the last day church,
00:35:19.77\00:35:22.91
of course, he is
writing to Thessalonica, and he
00:35:22.95\00:35:25.34
had a message for
them, but he has a message
00:35:25.37\00:35:27.59
for us today
because we're living in the
00:35:27.62\00:35:29.76
final days of earth's
history, and so he says,
00:35:29.80\00:35:32.39
brethren, you know,
you know, that Jesus
00:35:32.43\00:35:37.16
is coming soon,
you know that he is
00:35:37.19\00:35:39.14
gonna come like a thief in
the night when nobody knows,
00:35:39.18\00:35:40.95
and nobody is aware,
I don't need to write to
00:35:40.99\00:35:44.11
you about these
things, but there is something
00:35:44.14\00:35:47.23
important that I
need to write to you,
00:35:47.26\00:35:48.84
and near the end, we see
that very, very important
00:35:48.87\00:35:53.62
element and that's
don't quench the spirit,
00:35:53.65\00:35:56.10
don't quench the
spirit, you need the
00:35:56.13\00:36:01.69
spirit to be
faithful, you need the spirit
00:36:01.73\00:36:07.10
to be a
finisher, and so now let's
00:36:07.13\00:36:14.09
read the context
alright. Let's read the context
00:36:14.13\00:36:17.23
around it, and we're gonna
see something very powerful,
00:36:17.27\00:36:19.49
alright, so we're
gonna be begin reading in
00:36:19.53\00:36:22.77
verse 12, so First
Thessalonians 5:12,
00:36:22.81\00:36:27.72
and just before you
read, I just want to say
00:36:27.76\00:36:32.54
that it appears and
is compelling to me that
00:36:32.58\00:36:39.00
God's last day church
is in risk of quenching
00:36:39.03\00:36:43.57
the spirit,
otherwise Paul would have had
00:36:43.60\00:36:48.12
no need of writing
about it, and so we've a
00:36:48.15\00:36:52.60
special message that we
need to embrace, so that
00:36:52.63\00:36:58.64
we do not quench
the spirit. Let's read
00:36:58.68\00:37:01.38
verse 12, we ask
you brothers to respect
00:37:01.42\00:37:04.48
those who labor
among you, and are over you
00:37:04.52\00:37:07.55
in the Lord and
admonish you and to
00:37:07.59\00:37:10.23
esteem them very
highly in love because
00:37:10.27\00:37:12.85
of their work, be at
peace among yourselves.
00:37:12.88\00:37:15.63
I want to make two
important distinctions
00:37:15.67\00:37:18.35
right now, the important
distinctions are, in this
00:37:18.39\00:37:22.90
passage of scripture
from First Thessalonians
00:37:22.94\00:37:25.58
chapter 5, I mean
chapter 5:12 all the
00:37:25.62\00:37:29.62
way to verse 22, there
is two large groups being
00:37:29.66\00:37:35.73
addressed, and a more
accurate way of saying would
00:37:35.77\00:37:41.81
be two areas of
responsibility have been
00:37:41.85\00:37:46.06
given to God's last day people.
00:37:46.09\00:37:49.16
And that is one,
we've responsibility to one
00:37:49.19\00:37:52.71
another and two, we've
a responsibility to God.
00:37:52.75\00:37:55.41
We're gonna look at
these in details right now.
00:37:55.44\00:37:59.30
So, verses 12 and 13,
we already see, that we've
00:37:59.33\00:38:03.16
been asked to
respect those who labor
00:38:03.19\00:38:05.27
among us. Paul is writing, he is
00:38:05.31\00:38:09.20
saying hey, we've setup
in Thessalonica, leaders
00:38:09.23\00:38:14.09
in the church,
elders, ministers, we've setup
00:38:14.13\00:38:19.05
people to take care of
the flock, respect them,
00:38:19.08\00:38:23.97
respect those who
are working among you,
00:38:24.01\00:38:26.58
admonish them, encourage
them, those who oversee
00:38:26.62\00:38:31.95
churches, those who
do the work of God, as
00:38:31.98\00:38:34.52
Evangelists, as
pastors, as teachers, they need
00:38:34.55\00:38:39.56
encouragement,
they're humans just like
00:38:39.59\00:38:41.78
anyone of us here today,
00:38:41.81\00:38:43.91
just like anyone watching this
00:38:43.94\00:38:47.31
broadcast, we all need
encouragement including
00:38:47.34\00:38:50.29
those leading God's
church. Verse 13 and
00:38:50.33\00:38:58.79
esteem them very
highly in love, they need our
00:38:58.82\00:39:01.78
love because of their
work, be at peace among
00:39:01.82\00:39:04.74
yourselves. You
see, if we've the
00:39:04.78\00:39:06.49
appropriate respect
towards those in the
00:39:06.52\00:39:09.12
church, those
overseeing the church, if the
00:39:09.15\00:39:11.71
dynamic is right,
the inter-personal
00:39:11.75\00:39:13.84
relationships, we
can be at peace as a body
00:39:13.87\00:39:19.03
of Christ. Amen.
It goes on to say,
00:39:19.07\00:39:23.04
and we urge you
brothers admonish the idle,
00:39:23.07\00:39:25.95
encourage the faint
hearted, help the weak,
00:39:25.99\00:39:29.17
be patient with
them all, see that no one
00:39:29.21\00:39:32.63
repays evil for
evil, but always seek to do
00:39:32.66\00:39:36.05
good to one
another and to everyone.
00:39:36.09\00:39:38.99
So, there it shifts,
he is still talking about
00:39:39.03\00:39:42.46
responsibility to
people, responsibility to those
00:39:42.49\00:39:45.89
in the church,
responsibility to those,
00:39:45.92\00:39:47.97
who oversee the church.
And, those in the church,
00:39:48.01\00:39:54.57
the members if you
will, those who are weak
00:39:54.61\00:39:58.80
members, faint
hearted, struggling, who are
00:39:58.83\00:40:02.18
going through trials
and troubles, we need to
00:40:02.21\00:40:05.52
encourage them, we
need to encourage our
00:40:05.55\00:40:07.39
brothers and
sisters, that's why the Bible
00:40:07.43\00:40:11.37
says, we are our
brother's keeper, and then in
00:40:11.40\00:40:15.27
verse 16, we see a shift
and an important one at that,
00:40:15.31\00:40:18.54
the Bible says,
rejoice always, pray without
00:40:18.58\00:40:21.72
ceasing, give thanks
in all of circumstances
00:40:21.75\00:40:24.83
for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you,
00:40:24.86\00:40:27.54
then it goes on to
say in verse 19, do not
00:40:27.57\00:40:29.54
quench your spirit, do
not despise his prophecies,
00:40:29.58\00:40:32.16
but test everything,
hold fast to that which is
00:40:32.19\00:40:35.24
good, and abstain from
every form of evil, from
00:40:35.27\00:40:39.28
verses 16 to 22, we
see seven short commands
00:40:39.31\00:40:43.24
and Paul was saying, if
you do these things, if you
00:40:43.28\00:40:47.53
obey these commands,
you'll be doing your faithful
00:40:47.57\00:40:51.79
part, you'll be
being responsible to Jesus,
00:40:51.82\00:40:57.64
to God, and if
ultimately I'm over simplifying
00:40:57.68\00:41:03.46
this, I'm gonna
break the details down
00:41:03.49\00:41:04.95
in a minute, but, but if
you do these seven things
00:41:04.99\00:41:08.11
you'll be responsible,
you'll be a responsible
00:41:08.14\00:41:11.57
member of God's body
and you will not quench
00:41:11.60\00:41:14.99
the spirit. And,
it's interesting,
00:41:15.03\00:41:17.24
verse 19, do not
quench the spirit or
00:41:17.27\00:41:19.42
quench not the spirit
in the Old King James,
00:41:19.45\00:41:21.52
that's in the middle of
a list of seven commands,
00:41:21.56\00:41:25.57
seven short
commands, and it's important
00:41:25.61\00:41:30.83
to note that because
that's the part, that is lost.
00:41:30.86\00:41:35.12
If we do not obey
these commands, if we're
00:41:35.15\00:41:37.80
not responsible to God,
if we're not responsible
00:41:37.84\00:41:40.37
to the people, we
work with, the people, we,
00:41:40.40\00:41:43.62
we fellowship with,
we'll quench the spirit.
00:41:43.66\00:41:47.19
And, if we quench the
spirit, we've quenched the
00:41:47.23\00:41:50.98
only thing that God
has given to us, in order
00:41:51.02\00:41:54.74
to be faithful. In order to be a
00:41:54.77\00:41:59.44
finisher, and so it's a
very, very, interesting,
00:41:59.48\00:42:05.47
actually I'm gonna
back up for a minute,
00:42:05.51\00:42:07.65
let's look at each
one very carefully, very
00:42:07.69\00:42:09.80
quickly. Verse
16, rejoice always,
00:42:09.83\00:42:16.40
there is an important
principle in rejoicing
00:42:16.43\00:42:20.96
always, and that
is people who rejoice
00:42:21.00\00:42:23.57
always, they have
that hope, they realize,
00:42:23.61\00:42:27.63
hey, in all things
whether good or bad,
00:42:27.66\00:42:30.57
they work to the
glory of God, we must
00:42:30.61\00:42:33.44
rejoice always, that
encourages the spirits
00:42:33.48\00:42:36.89
to work in our life,
people who are gloomy,
00:42:36.92\00:42:39.98
people who are
complaining, in fact the
00:42:40.01\00:42:42.54
Bible refers to
complaining as a sin,
00:42:42.57\00:42:46.35
people who have
a bad attitude, the
00:42:46.38\00:42:50.09
spirit can't bless
them, the spirit can't work in
00:42:50.13\00:42:52.50
them, so the Bible
says, rejoice always, it says
00:42:52.54\00:42:54.88
pray without
ceasing, I think that's self
00:42:54.91\00:42:58.11
explanatory, we need
to pray always, never give
00:42:58.15\00:43:02.30
up as someone
said, pray, pray without
00:43:02.33\00:43:04.28
ceasing doesn't
mean to be on your knees
00:43:04.31\00:43:06.22
24/7 pleading,
oh! God just help me
00:43:06.26\00:43:08.51
and you're just, you
know, making vain repetitions
00:43:08.54\00:43:11.88
towards God, no, no
pray without ceasing
00:43:11.92\00:43:14.31
means don't give up,
if you have a request, if
00:43:14.35\00:43:16.56
you have a loved when you're
praying for, and you know,
00:43:16.59\00:43:17.75
that they are gonna be
lost, if they don't come
00:43:17.78\00:43:20.48
to the Lord, don't
give up, don't cease
00:43:20.51\00:43:24.05
praying for them,
powerful. Verse 18,
00:43:24.08\00:43:27.85
gives thanks in all
circumstances, that's
00:43:27.89\00:43:31.06
powerful, we have
to, even in the trials of
00:43:31.09\00:43:34.71
life give thanks. For
this is the will of God,
00:43:34.74\00:43:38.33
of Christ Jesus for
you. Verse 19, do not
00:43:38.36\00:43:42.03
quench the spirit,
and I have to point
00:43:42.06\00:43:45.00
something out
very important here,
00:43:45.04\00:43:47.91
and very interesting.
I believe there is a
00:43:47.94\00:43:52.07
two fold purpose, as
to why the Bible makes it
00:43:52.10\00:43:55.87
clear and has a short
command, do not quench
00:43:55.90\00:44:01.42
the spirit and that is
because one, we need the
00:44:01.46\00:44:06.33
spirit to be a
finisher, and number two, the
00:44:06.36\00:44:11.11
spirit, the Holy
Spirit power has, wants to
00:44:11.15\00:44:15.86
work in the lives
of each of us and he
00:44:15.90\00:44:17.95
wants to give us
gifts to use to finish this
00:44:17.99\00:44:20.75
work more than
ever before and that
00:44:20.78\00:44:24.48
includes the gift
of prophecy, but many
00:44:24.51\00:44:28.14
people in the last
days and even in our days
00:44:28.17\00:44:31.67
have become scared
of the gift of prophecy
00:44:31.70\00:44:35.04
we think it a weird
thing, we think it a
00:44:35.08\00:44:38.13
scary thing, Oh!
God could be talking
00:44:38.16\00:44:41.15
so directly to someone.
Yeah, that's true brother,
00:44:41.18\00:44:45.48
that's true sister.
And, that's why it says,
00:44:45.51\00:44:49.77
do not despise
prophecies, if we despise
00:44:49.81\00:44:53.22
prophecies, we're
quenching the work of
00:44:53.25\00:44:56.59
God in someone's life
and if someone is receiving a
00:44:56.63\00:45:00.45
prophecy, a message
from God for the church, and
00:45:00.48\00:45:03.79
we don't respect that,
we're harming ourselves,
00:45:03.82\00:45:07.09
we're quenching the
spirit in our lives.
00:45:07.12\00:45:09.08
So, it says do not
quench the spirit because we
00:45:09.11\00:45:12.54
need the spirit to be
victorious. And, we need
00:45:12.57\00:45:15.92
the prophecies, we need
the prophecies, so it says do
00:45:15.96\00:45:21.27
not despise prophecies,
but test everything, hold
00:45:21.31\00:45:25.37
fast to that is good,
I didn't say just accept
00:45:25.41\00:45:28.77
any old prophecy,
there is lots of imposters.
00:45:28.80\00:45:32.13
The Bible says, in
the last days, false
00:45:32.16\00:45:33.75
prophets and false Christ
will abound, I'm not saying
00:45:33.79\00:45:36.65
trust anything you
hear, but I'm saying accept
00:45:36.68\00:45:41.53
that last day prophecies,
true ones will exist and so
00:45:41.56\00:45:47.72
test them, test those
to see which are true and
00:45:47.76\00:45:52.56
hold fast to what is
good, that's powerful, reject,
00:45:52.60\00:45:57.37
reject the false, but
hold fast, don't let go
00:45:57.40\00:46:01.68
because you need it,
if God gives a prophecy
00:46:01.72\00:46:05.96
in the last day,
for God's last day
00:46:06.00\00:46:08.00
church, it's
something you need brothers
00:46:08.04\00:46:11.86
and sisters, because
without it you may be
00:46:11.90\00:46:15.65
deceived and then it is
says, abstain from every
00:46:15.69\00:46:22.07
form of evil, and I
like the way that this
00:46:22.10\00:46:25.91
version translated,
abstain from every form
00:46:25.95\00:46:30.63
of evil. Some
versions make it seem as, well
00:46:30.67\00:46:34.33
abstain from the
thoughts of evil, but, no, no,
00:46:34.36\00:46:37.20
no, no, no, no, no,
no, we got to abstain from
00:46:37.23\00:46:39.85
the form of the evil,
the things that are evil
00:46:39.89\00:46:43.06
because God has a
powerful work in our lives
00:46:43.09\00:46:46.23
to do, he wants to
sanctify us and that
00:46:46.26\00:46:49.68
means giving up the
foolishness of this world,
00:46:49.71\00:46:52.33
that means giving up the
toys and the entertainment
00:46:52.36\00:46:57.58
and the pleasures
that this world provides in
00:46:57.61\00:47:02.63
order to, in
order to cause us to be
00:47:02.67\00:47:06.82
lackadaisical, in order to
cause us to be comfortable.
00:47:06.86\00:47:10.98
And the Bible said,
if we are to read the
00:47:11.02\00:47:13.87
whole passage of
John, First Thessalonians
00:47:13.91\00:47:16.28
Chapter 5, we see
that we're not to be
00:47:16.32\00:47:18.63
lackadaisical, we're
not to be sleeping like the
00:47:18.66\00:47:20.95
people in this world, we
must be sober minded, we must
00:47:20.98\00:47:23.94
be awake, we must be
children of the day, we
00:47:23.97\00:47:26.14
must be children of
light, we're not children of
00:47:26.18\00:47:29.30
darkness who sleep and
get drunk with the passions
00:47:29.34\00:47:32.42
and the pleasures and
the different toys and
00:47:32.46\00:47:37.92
temptations of this
life, and so it's very, very
00:47:37.96\00:47:43.39
important that we
abstain from every form
00:47:43.42\00:47:45.61
of evil, and so now we
look carefully at verses
00:47:45.64\00:47:51.22
First Thessalonians
chapter 5:12-15, we
00:47:51.26\00:47:54.18
need, we have a
responsibility to people
00:47:54.22\00:47:57.07
isn't that interesting,
we've a responsibility
00:47:57.10\00:48:00.39
to our fellow man,
to our fellow brethren,
00:48:00.42\00:48:04.68
our fellow sistren,
that's why Jesus sought to
00:48:04.72\00:48:08.94
have favor with
man. We have a social
00:48:08.97\00:48:12.32
responsibility and
then the last few verses
00:48:12.36\00:48:16.77
16-22, our responsibility
to God that is how
00:48:16.80\00:48:21.18
we seek favor
with God. Our spiritual
00:48:21.22\00:48:29.56
responsibility and
so here we see a social
00:48:29.60\00:48:32.79
responsibility in
First Thessalonians 5, we see
00:48:32.83\00:48:35.50
a spiritual responsibility, our
00:48:35.53\00:48:37.60
social responsibility
are to those in the body
00:48:37.63\00:48:40.67
of Christ, those who
are members of the body,
00:48:40.70\00:48:43.55
those who are leading
the body, and we have a
00:48:43.59\00:48:46.40
responsibility to
God, whose body it is.
00:48:46.44\00:48:54.51
And, so if, if we
follow the exhortation
00:48:54.54\00:48:59.95
of Paul in First
Thessalonians 5, we will
00:48:59.98\00:49:04.58
be very careful to
make sure that we do not
00:49:04.62\00:49:09.66
exclude the last
three points of Jesus', of
00:49:09.69\00:49:13.66
God's four fold plan
for receiving the favor
00:49:13.70\00:49:17.59
and the spirit of the
God in our lives, and that's
00:49:17.63\00:49:19.69
intellectual,
physical, spiritual and social,
00:49:19.72\00:49:23.22
it's pretty easy to
nail the physical and the
00:49:23.25\00:49:25.83
intellectual because
we don't have to worry
00:49:25.86\00:49:27.88
about anybody else,
we're taking care of
00:49:27.92\00:49:29.87
ourselves, but the
last two are more difficult
00:49:29.91\00:49:33.63
and Paul recognizes
this, and in his last
00:49:33.66\00:49:36.68
message or in his
first letter, but at the end
00:49:36.72\00:49:40.04
of his first
letter to the church of
00:49:40.07\00:49:43.78
Thessalonica he
says, don't neglect your
00:49:43.81\00:49:46.72
responsibility to
people, don't neglect your
00:49:46.75\00:49:49.06
responsibility to God,
because these things will
00:49:49.09\00:49:51.44
quench the work and
the spirit of God that you
00:49:51.48\00:49:53.79
need in your life,
that you desperately
00:49:53.83\00:49:57.03
need in your
life. I want to read a
00:49:57.06\00:50:00.20
powerful quotation to
you, it's just one sentence
00:50:00.23\00:50:04.15
where someone
once said, one of the
00:50:04.18\00:50:06.94
strongest
evidences, the strongest what?
00:50:06.98\00:50:10.66
Evidences, that's
right. One of the strongest
00:50:10.69\00:50:14.46
evidences of true
conversion is love to God
00:50:14.49\00:50:18.23
and to man. Isn't that powerful?
00:50:18.26\00:50:21.74
That's dynamite, one
of the strongest evidences
00:50:21.78\00:50:26.53
that you brother, you
sister are a true follower,
00:50:26.56\00:50:31.28
a truly converted
disciple of Jesus,
00:50:31.31\00:50:35.38
is that you love
God and you love man,
00:50:35.42\00:50:39.45
you're being
responsible socially
00:50:39.49\00:50:43.60
and you're being
responsible spiritually
00:50:43.64\00:50:45.69
and you surrendering
both of these areas of your
00:50:45.72\00:50:48.18
life to God. And, something very
00:50:48.21\00:50:54.94
important to point
out is that when it says
00:50:54.98\00:50:58.14
do not quench to the
spirit, the word quench
00:50:58.18\00:51:03.73
means to put out, it
means to, to extinguish,
00:51:03.77\00:51:08.99
and someone once
said, and that someone was
00:51:09.02\00:51:14.17
General William Booth,
and he said, the tendency
00:51:14.21\00:51:20.57
of fire is to go out,
the tendency of fire is
00:51:20.61\00:51:26.94
to go out. Brothers and sisters,
00:51:26.97\00:51:28.58
if we're not responsible,
if we do not take careful
00:51:28.61\00:51:30.80
measures to be
responsible, we will not
00:51:30.83\00:51:36.45
be spiritually sound, we
will not be socially sound
00:51:36.48\00:51:39.50
and the spirit will be
quenched. You see, fire
00:51:39.53\00:51:45.94
can be quenched by
simple neglect and the
00:51:45.98\00:51:49.89
Holy Spirit fire
is needed not only as
00:51:49.92\00:51:53.76
a source of power for
us to be finishers in the
00:51:53.80\00:51:57.46
last days, but as a safe
guard of purity, if we're
00:51:57.49\00:52:01.12
gonna remain pure
through these last
00:52:01.15\00:52:03.24
days, if we're
gonna have the power to be
00:52:03.27\00:52:05.72
a finisher in these
last days, we need the
00:52:05.75\00:52:08.17
spirit and so we
must not neglect it.
00:52:08.20\00:52:10.59
We must not neglect
it. So, I want to read the
00:52:11.88\00:52:16.99
last closing verses of
First Thessalonians 5 and
00:52:17.03\00:52:22.10
that will finish
our message for today.
00:52:22.14\00:52:24.85
First Thessalonians
5:23, and may, this is so
00:52:24.88\00:52:30.25
powerful, this is
so powerful. Verse 23,
00:52:30.29\00:52:36.55
and now may the God of
peace himself, sanctify
00:52:36.59\00:52:40.33
you completely, we
talked earlier about the
00:52:40.36\00:52:45.58
four full heuristic
areas of a person's life.
00:52:45.61\00:52:50.79
And, Jesus wants
that in us, he wants to
00:52:50.83\00:52:54.06
sanctify us completely
and may your whole spirit and
00:52:54.10\00:52:57.02
soul and body be kept
blameless at the coming
00:52:57.06\00:53:02.20
of our Lord Jesus
Christ. See Paul's prayer for
00:53:02.24\00:53:07.35
the believers in
Thessalonica and Paul's
00:53:07.38\00:53:13.06
prayer for the believers
down through the centuries
00:53:13.09\00:53:14.69
and especially at
the very end of time,
00:53:14.73\00:53:18.13
is that we will be
sanctified completely
00:53:18.17\00:53:22.75
and kept
blameless until Jesus comes.
00:53:22.79\00:53:27.30
And, then verse 24 is
powerful. The Bible says
00:53:27.34\00:53:34.13
he who calls you is
faithful, what word did it
00:53:34.17\00:53:40.93
just say, he who
calls you is faithful.
00:53:40.96\00:53:45.71
He will surely do
it, that is so powerful,
00:53:45.75\00:53:50.46
we today must
follow the faithful one
00:53:50.49\00:53:54.53
and be a
finisher, and it is only in
00:53:54.57\00:53:58.54
following Jesus that
we will be able to finish
00:53:58.57\00:54:03.39
and be faithful.
And, then the promise
00:54:03.43\00:54:08.50
will be to us. He
who is faithful unto
00:54:08.53\00:54:12.37
death will
receive a crown of life.
00:54:12.40\00:54:16.20
Beloved, as we
close, I want each
00:54:16.70\00:54:20.23
of you to think, you
might be watching this
00:54:20.27\00:54:23.71
broadcast around the
world, who knows where
00:54:23.74\00:54:26.61
in the world, North
America, South America,
00:54:26.64\00:54:29.48
Asia, Africa,
India, who knows where?
00:54:29.51\00:54:33.05
And for those of us
here today, we must ask
00:54:36.21\00:54:41.21
ourselves the
question, are we following
00:54:41.25\00:54:45.44
faithfully? Are we
quenching the spirit?
00:54:45.47\00:54:49.62
Are we're going to
be finishers. Faithful
00:54:50.62\00:54:55.56
finishers, when Jesus
comes in the clouds of
00:54:55.60\00:54:59.76
glory. And, so as we
kneel and close with prayer
00:54:59.79\00:55:04.29
and I invite you to
kneel with me. I invite those
00:55:04.33\00:55:08.79
who are in their
homes watching, just, just
00:55:08.83\00:55:11.78
kneel down, pray that
God will come into your
00:55:11.82\00:55:14.83
life, that the spirit
will bless you more than
00:55:14.86\00:55:17.84
you've seen before,
and pray with me that
00:55:17.88\00:55:24.89
we can be
faithful. Let's bow our heads
00:55:24.92\00:55:31.90
and pray. Dear heavenly Father,
00:55:31.93\00:55:37.02
we want to follow
the faithful one today,
00:55:37.52\00:55:41.23
and we want to be
finishers. Lord Jesus
00:55:41.73\00:55:48.96
I believe you're
coming soon. I believe you're
00:55:49.00\00:55:54.29
coming sooner than we
even first believed and
00:55:54.32\00:55:59.58
Jesus help us to be
faithful, help us to
00:55:59.61\00:56:02.36
follow you, the
faithful one, more closely today
00:56:02.39\00:56:06.01
then we've ever done
before, help us not to
00:56:06.04\00:56:09.81
quench the spirit of
the God in our lives because
00:56:09.84\00:56:12.03
that is what Jesus
had, that is what enabled
00:56:12.07\00:56:16.64
Jesus to be
faithful, help us not to quench
00:56:16.68\00:56:21.18
the spirit, help us to
be faithful like Jesus and
00:56:21.22\00:56:26.82
to finish the good
fight, to finish the race and
00:56:26.86\00:56:32.43
receive the prize
because the Bible says,
00:56:32.47\00:56:36.84
he who is faithful
unto death will receive
00:56:36.88\00:56:42.61
the crown of life.
So, Jesus we can't do
00:56:42.65\00:56:46.58
this on our own, we
cannot be finishers on
00:56:46.62\00:56:49.67
our own, but you're
the faithful one, First
00:56:49.71\00:56:52.84
Corinthians says,
First Thessalonians says,
00:56:52.87\00:56:56.37
you're the
faithful one who will do the
00:56:56.41\00:56:59.08
good work in us
that we cannot do on our
00:56:59.12\00:57:01.68
own, send your
Holy Spirit to do that
00:57:01.72\00:57:05.40
work in our lives,
today Father and let
00:57:05.43\00:57:09.08
us be one of the many people
00:57:09.12\00:57:12.67
who will enter your kingdom.
00:57:12.70\00:57:16.22