Well, what we have
for next is a great treat,
00:01:00.74\00:01:04.03
we got Melody Shelton
who is going to come out
00:01:04.04\00:01:06.24
and sing for us,
there she is, I'm looking at
00:01:06.25\00:01:09.54
Melody Shelton
Firestone she just
00:01:09.55\00:01:12.24
got there saying
Firestone, you just
00:01:12.25\00:01:14.92
got a brand new baby huh? Yes.
00:01:14.93\00:01:16.82
And you know what that's cutest
00:01:16.83\00:01:18.28
little baby, she's
born with a double chin now,
00:01:18.29\00:01:20.44
I tell you. She
looks just like her
00:01:20.45\00:01:23.04
Aunt Shelley. Okay,
and what are the songs
00:01:23.05\00:01:27.26
you're gonna sing.
"We Have Each Other"
00:01:27.27\00:01:29.15
is the first song.
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:01:29.16\00:01:31.32
See that woman over
there sitting in the pew
00:01:47.39\00:01:54.08
You think she's got it made
00:01:54.09\00:01:58.19
And her troubles they are few.
00:01:58.20\00:02:02.08
But you don't
know the life she's led
00:02:02.09\00:02:05.98
Oh the many tears she shed
00:02:05.99\00:02:09.69
If you knew what goes
on behind closed doors
00:02:09.70\00:02:17.21
Maybe you wouldn't
feel so alone anymore
00:02:17.22\00:02:25.59
for there are
others just like me and you
00:02:25.60\00:02:32.84
who need the love of Jesus
00:02:32.85\00:02:37.30
To help me make it through
00:02:37.31\00:02:41.85
And we can make a difference
00:02:41.86\00:02:46.31
by what we say and
do they are our sisters
00:02:46.32\00:02:53.52
and our brothers
Thank God we have
00:02:53.53\00:03:02.45
each other. See that couple
00:03:02.46\00:03:09.93
over there,
just across the aisle
00:03:09.94\00:03:15.92
their marriage
has ended and they've
00:03:15.93\00:03:20.25
known it for a while
I know that they live
00:03:20.26\00:03:25.71
problem free like
the perfect family
00:03:25.72\00:03:30.98
but things just
haven't turned out
00:03:30.99\00:03:34.27
like they planned
they really needed to know
00:03:34.28\00:03:40.90
there are those who understand
00:03:40.91\00:03:46.41
and they are others
just like me and you
00:03:46.42\00:03:53.89
who need the love of Jesus
00:03:53.90\00:03:58.72
To help them make it through
00:03:58.73\00:04:03.01
and we can make a difference
00:04:03.02\00:04:07.51
by what we say and
do they are our sisters
00:04:07.52\00:04:14.55
and our brothers
Thank God we have
00:04:14.56\00:04:23.07
each other. So many hurt
00:04:23.08\00:04:27.88
and pleading for searching
00:04:27.89\00:04:30.93
for their hearts
will they fill love to you
00:04:30.94\00:04:37.26
and know they're not alone
00:04:37.27\00:04:43.21
'Cause we have each other
00:04:44.99\00:04:50.02
and its up to me and you to show
00:04:50.03\00:04:54.68
the love of Jesus and help them
00:04:54.69\00:04:58.89
when you get to. And
we can make a difference
00:04:58.90\00:05:06.50
by what we say and
do they are our sisters
00:05:06.51\00:05:13.68
and our brothers
Thank God we have
00:05:13.69\00:05:22.13
each other. I thank
God we have each other.
00:05:22.14\00:05:38.61
This next song
is another song that
00:05:45.93\00:05:49.03
I co-wrote,
based on Jeremiah 29:11
00:05:49.04\00:05:52.24
it's called "I know the plans."
00:05:52.25\00:05:54.53
I know it may seem hopeless
00:06:09.66\00:06:13.77
The darkness
closes in You're tired
00:06:13.78\00:06:19.08
and you're weary As you look at
00:06:19.09\00:06:21.87
where you've been You can see
00:06:21.88\00:06:25.75
beyond the present
when you're looking
00:06:25.76\00:06:29.07
at the past. You thought things
00:06:29.08\00:06:32.68
would turnout differently then
00:06:32.69\00:06:35.18
you hear God say at
last I know the plans
00:06:35.19\00:06:41.57
I have for you
And they are plans
00:06:41.58\00:06:48.36
to prosper you To give you hope
00:06:48.37\00:06:55.16
and a future Lead
your life's journey
00:06:55.17\00:07:01.21
Follow me and I
will see you through
00:07:01.22\00:07:06.84
I know the plans I have for you
00:07:06.85\00:07:14.71
The rocks and cliffs
may leave some scares
00:07:18.69\00:07:22.13
You thought too deep to heal
00:07:22.14\00:07:25.31
You're desperate
and you're broken
00:07:25.32\00:07:28.79
And life seems all too real
00:07:28.80\00:07:32.51
The road may
take you on the path
00:07:32.52\00:07:36.04
That changes all your plans
00:07:36.05\00:07:39.67
But that's when God takes over
00:07:39.68\00:07:42.73
And says leave it in my hands
00:07:42.74\00:07:47.27
I know the plans I have for you
00:07:47.28\00:07:53.69
And they are
plans to prosper you
00:07:53.70\00:08:01.03
To give you hope and a future
00:08:01.04\00:08:05.90
Lead you on life's journey
00:08:05.91\00:08:09.27
Follow me and I
will see you through
00:08:09.28\00:08:15.21
I know the plans I have for you
00:08:15.22\00:08:22.06
And though your
dreams may have died
00:08:22.07\00:08:25.98
You're hurting
inside God has something
00:08:25.99\00:08:32.34
there for you And
he knows the plans
00:08:32.35\00:08:38.43
he has for you
And they are plans
00:08:38.44\00:08:45.35
to prosper you To give you hope
00:08:45.36\00:08:52.09
and a future Lead you on
00:08:52.10\00:08:56.26
life's journey Follow
him and he will see you
00:08:56.27\00:09:02.34
through. God knows
the plans he has for you.
00:09:02.35\00:09:12.61
Thank you so
much Melody Firestone.
00:09:25.94\00:09:29.93
Thank you. You know that's from
00:09:29.94\00:09:32.00
Jeremiah 29:11 and
the very next verse says
00:09:32.01\00:09:35.05
"then you will call
upon me and you will find me
00:09:35.06\00:09:38.56
when you seek me
with all of your heart"
00:09:38.57\00:09:40.10
when do we call upon
God when we recognize
00:09:40.11\00:09:43.27
that He has a plan for our lives
00:09:43.28\00:09:45.10
and it's better than
the one we're living.
00:09:45.11\00:09:46.81
So, our, now we, I
have the great pleasure of
00:09:46.82\00:09:51.26
introducing to you
our speaker for the hour
00:09:51.27\00:09:54.23
and his name is Ty
Gibson, he's not any
00:09:54.24\00:09:57.18
stranger to our 3ABN audience.
00:09:57.19\00:09:59.42
Ty is the co-director
of Light Bearers Ministry
00:09:59.43\00:10:04.16
they've moved from
Malo, Washington to Jasper,
00:10:04.17\00:10:06.67
Oregon. And Ty what
he and James Rafferty,
00:10:06.68\00:10:11.14
they're buddies, they
are brothers in Christ
00:10:11.15\00:10:14.14
and they worked
together as co-directors
00:10:14.15\00:10:15.92
for this ministry.
Their ministry is they print
00:10:15.93\00:10:18.77
between 20 to 40
million pieces of literature
00:10:18.78\00:10:21.65
every year and
ship it around the world
00:10:21.66\00:10:24.51
in 35 different
languages. But on top
00:10:24.52\00:10:28.16
of that both of them
are excellent Bible students
00:10:28.17\00:10:31.80
and excellent Bible teachers
00:10:31.81\00:10:33.49
and one of Ty's
focuses is he goes around
00:10:33.50\00:10:37.26
doing revival series
and camp meetings is,
00:10:37.27\00:10:39.84
Ty focuses on the
transforming power
00:10:39.85\00:10:43.32
of the love of
God. And I believe
00:10:43.33\00:10:46.20
that's what he's
gonna be talking to us
00:10:46.21\00:10:47.82
today about. Ty, we welcome you
00:10:47.83\00:10:50.31
and thank you so much for coming
00:10:50.32\00:10:52.58
to this camp meeting.
Wow! Thank you Shelley.
00:10:52.59\00:10:55.18
Good morning, good morning,
00:10:55.19\00:10:56.71
and happy
Sabbath, happy Sabbath,
00:10:56.72\00:10:58.52
are you doing good
this morning? Amen!
00:10:58.53\00:11:00.31
I have to tell you
as we get started that
00:11:00.32\00:11:02.98
my daughter Amber looks
a lot like me her daddy,
00:11:02.99\00:11:07.85
I mean a lot like
me. Now before you go
00:11:07.86\00:11:12.31
feeling sorry for the
poor girl I want you to
00:11:12.32\00:11:15.83
exercise your
imagination, look at
00:11:15.84\00:11:18.24
these features
and imagine this face
00:11:18.25\00:11:21.75
in the female
version what do you imagining
00:11:21.76\00:11:27.31
not bad huh? I want
to tell you that Amber
00:11:27.32\00:11:31.50
is the beautiful
female version of me,
00:11:31.51\00:11:35.23
the features are
softer, smaller, a little more
00:11:35.24\00:11:39.08
roundish and I have
a number of times as
00:11:39.09\00:11:43.39
this little girl
was growing up I have
00:11:43.40\00:11:45.24
endeavored to
apologize to her for looking
00:11:45.25\00:11:48.11
so much like me,
but it doesn't seem
00:11:48.12\00:11:50.39
to bother her. One
time we were traveling
00:11:50.40\00:11:52.87
internationally
and we were going to an
00:11:52.88\00:11:56.62
Eastern-European
country and we got stopped at
00:11:56.63\00:11:58.89
customs and this was
at a time when a lot of
00:11:58.90\00:12:01.94
children were being
abducted and sold on
00:12:01.95\00:12:05.33
the black market
all over the world
00:12:05.34\00:12:06.72
and so you can
imagine that they were being
00:12:06.73\00:12:08.51
very careful,
especially men traveling with
00:12:08.52\00:12:11.64
young girls and
the customs officer
00:12:11.65\00:12:14.49
stopped us and she
looked straight past me
00:12:14.50\00:12:16.83
into Amber's eyes
and she said tell me
00:12:16.84\00:12:19.83
who is this man to
you, and Amber was a little
00:12:19.84\00:12:23.75
nervous and she
looked up to her daddy
00:12:23.76\00:12:25.54
and the custom
officer said, no you answer
00:12:25.55\00:12:29.49
the question and
Amber said, a matter of fact
00:12:29.50\00:12:32.35
she said well he is my dad,
00:12:32.36\00:12:33.68
and the customs
officer said I don't think so,
00:12:33.69\00:12:40.09
your too old and he's too young,
00:12:40.10\00:12:44.97
that's what she
said and then Amber and I
00:12:44.98\00:12:48.20
without even
speaking to one another,
00:12:48.21\00:12:50.39
we got the same
idea just flashed
00:12:50.40\00:12:53.02
into our minds
and I looked at her
00:12:53.03\00:12:55.84
she looked at me
and I gave a nod,
00:12:55.85\00:12:57.52
we knew what to do
and we flashed a twin
00:12:57.53\00:13:00.88
profile for the
customs officer and I said,
00:13:00.89\00:13:06.97
hey customs officer,
look really carefully
00:13:06.98\00:13:09.37
at our face especially the nose
00:13:09.38\00:13:11.18
and she smiled and she
said you are definitely
00:13:11.19\00:13:15.46
related and she passed us on.
00:13:15.47\00:13:18.60
It was that
simple, shortly after that
00:13:19.83\00:13:22.99
Amber and I were
back home and I was
00:13:23.00\00:13:26.91
hanging out in her
room and lying there
00:13:26.92\00:13:29.90
on her bed just
looking around at all
00:13:29.91\00:13:31.80
the new stuff she
had hung on her wall
00:13:31.81\00:13:33.50
she had decorated
her room and I wanted to
00:13:33.51\00:13:35.79
just check out
her decorating job,
00:13:35.80\00:13:38.11
but I noticed that
she had hung a framed
00:13:38.12\00:13:41.01
picture of her dad on her wall
00:13:41.02\00:13:43.76
when I was 13 years
old. She had found this
00:13:43.77\00:13:46.52
photo somewhere in the house.
00:13:46.53\00:13:48.56
Clean shaven, long blonde
00:13:48.57\00:13:51.78
Southern California surfer hair,
00:13:51.79\00:13:53.75
13 years old.
And it was hung there
00:13:53.76\00:13:57.60
and I looked at that
photo and I said Amber,
00:13:57.61\00:13:59.88
have you noticed, I
mean have you really notice
00:13:59.89\00:14:04.31
how much like me
you look and she said
00:14:04.32\00:14:08.05
yeah dad, I've
noticed and I said sweetie,
00:14:08.06\00:14:11.21
I'm sorry, but
I want you to know
00:14:11.22\00:14:15.59
you are so pretty and
she said something to me
00:14:15.60\00:14:21.16
that just lifted my
daddy heart that I will
00:14:21.17\00:14:25.44
never forget, my
little girl looked at me
00:14:25.45\00:14:27.91
and she said, dad I
like looking like you
00:14:27.92\00:14:30.96
and I left
Amber's room and I got to
00:14:32.64\00:14:35.17
thinking wow, I think that's the
00:14:35.18\00:14:40.02
kind of thing, if
God could hear anything
00:14:40.03\00:14:42.99
from you and me
that's what God would like to
00:14:43.00\00:14:46.48
hear from you and me.
Father, we like looking
00:14:46.49\00:14:51.19
like you and Father we
know we're not like you,
00:14:51.20\00:14:55.81
but we sure want to be. Amen.
00:14:55.82\00:14:59.66
We long to
reflect your character,
00:14:59.67\00:15:02.97
your image to this
world that is enveloped
00:15:02.98\00:15:06.73
in darkness and
doesn't know you,
00:15:06.74\00:15:08.57
daddy we want to look
like you, but right here
00:15:08.58\00:15:13.01
we are faced with a
very serious problem,
00:15:13.02\00:15:15.83
because while we
may want to be like God
00:15:16.57\00:15:21.50
we know we are not
like Him as we ought to be.
00:15:21.51\00:15:27.26
The Bible says, all
have sinned and come short
00:15:27.27\00:15:31.14
to the glory of God.
But longing to be like
00:15:31.15\00:15:36.88
our Father
posses the significant
00:15:36.89\00:15:40.58
practical problem
of how. What is the
00:15:40.59\00:15:45.08
practical problem
we're faced with? How?
00:15:45.09\00:15:48.56
How are we, fallen human beings,
00:15:49.86\00:15:53.89
mere finite human
beings, how are we
00:15:53.90\00:15:58.02
to become more like our Father
00:15:58.03\00:16:00.40
and reflect His
image? I want to share
00:16:00.41\00:16:03.57
with you this
morning what I regard to be
00:16:03.58\00:16:06.50
the secret of
spiritual empowerment,
00:16:06.51\00:16:12.76
T H E, the one and
only singular solitaire
00:16:12.77\00:16:22.47
secret of spiritual empowerment.
00:16:22.48\00:16:26.20
I don't have a list
for you of options to chose
00:16:26.21\00:16:30.39
what my work for you,
what I do have for you
00:16:30.40\00:16:34.29
is one solitaire
secret that will open
00:16:34.30\00:16:39.91
before you, open
before me a spiritual journey
00:16:39.92\00:16:45.37
that will cause us to
gradually be transformed
00:16:45.38\00:16:52.04
into the image of
God from glory to glory
00:16:52.05\00:16:56.48
from one stage of
character development
00:16:56.49\00:16:59.20
to the next. Do you
want to know that secret?
00:16:59.21\00:17:02.37
Oh I can't tell you
yet, because it's a secret.
00:17:02.38\00:17:06.77
So we're going to
open it by increments.
00:17:07.76\00:17:10.24
We're going to
open it piece by piece,
00:17:10.25\00:17:13.06
so it really sinks
in, makes an indelible
00:17:13.07\00:17:16.07
impression upon
us. So we are looking
00:17:16.08\00:17:18.97
now in the
scriptures for the secret of
00:17:18.98\00:17:23.93
spiritual
empowerment, this is the secret
00:17:23.94\00:17:27.71
by which we may
gain every victory in our
00:17:28.33\00:17:32.28
lives and
without which, no victory
00:17:32.29\00:17:35.93
may be gained. Now
in order to come at
00:17:35.94\00:17:38.66
this subject I
want you to note with me
00:17:38.67\00:17:42.22
that in
scripture there are three
00:17:42.23\00:17:45.65
kinds of power, how
many kinds of power,
00:17:45.66\00:17:49.14
three, three kinds
of power that I want to
00:17:49.15\00:17:51.49
draw your attention
to. Now the first of this
00:17:51.50\00:17:54.73
trilogy of powers
is miraculous power,
00:17:54.74\00:17:59.61
what kind?
Miraculous, now miraculous power
00:17:59.62\00:18:03.78
is that power by
which God either suspends
00:18:04.59\00:18:08.93
or bypasses the
laws of nature to cause
00:18:08.94\00:18:13.11
something to occur
that is completely outside
00:18:13.12\00:18:17.31
of the realm of
human involvement.
00:18:17.32\00:18:20.34
We just stand back in amazement
00:18:20.35\00:18:22.71
and we say wow
praise the Lord amen.
00:18:22.72\00:18:25.46
Look at what
God has done without
00:18:25.47\00:18:29.39
my involvement or participation
00:18:29.40\00:18:31.97
miraculous power
occurs when God suspense
00:18:31.98\00:18:35.64
or bypasses the laws of nature.
00:18:35.65\00:18:37.61
Now by the way,
there is no such thing
00:18:37.62\00:18:40.32
as a miracle from
God's perspective,
00:18:40.33\00:18:42.90
nothing ever
happens that's supernatural
00:18:43.45\00:18:46.51
for God everything
is natural for Him.
00:18:46.52\00:18:48.58
Are you with me?
God does whatever
00:18:48.59\00:18:51.68
he wants to do and
there are no obstacles
00:18:51.69\00:18:54.74
and He never taps into a power
00:18:54.75\00:18:57.39
that supersedes
Him. He never draws
00:18:57.40\00:19:00.34
upon an
external source of power.
00:19:00.35\00:19:03.02
Are you with me?
Amen. So God does
00:19:03.03\00:19:06.56
what God does and
from our point of view
00:19:06.57\00:19:10.26
we say that's a
miracle, its supernatural to us,
00:19:10.27\00:19:13.70
it's natural to Him.
Now there are many examples
00:19:13.71\00:19:17.88
of supernatural
power or miraculous power
00:19:17.89\00:19:22.08
in the Bible. In
Exodus 9 and verse 16,
00:19:22.09\00:19:25.27
we read these words
God speaking to Moses said,
00:19:25.28\00:19:29.07
but indeed for this
purpose Moses I have
00:19:29.08\00:19:34.83
raised you up that I
may show my power in you
00:19:34.84\00:19:41.70
and that my name maybe declared
00:19:41.71\00:19:45.10
in all the earth.
Now the context of this
00:19:45.11\00:19:47.87
scripture, when God
says Moses I've raised up to
00:19:47.88\00:19:50.89
show my power
in you, the context
00:19:50.90\00:19:53.60
here are the plagues
that came upon Egypt,
00:19:53.61\00:19:56.88
Moses went to
Pharaoh and said God has a
00:19:57.35\00:19:59.89
message for you
Pharaoh, let my people go.
00:19:59.90\00:20:04.08
And he repeated
refused and so God through
00:20:04.09\00:20:07.38
Moses performed a
series of miracles.
00:20:07.39\00:20:12.08
Supernatural events
that got Pharaoh's attention,
00:20:12.09\00:20:15.39
but his heart never
softened he continued
00:20:15.40\00:20:19.49
to be defiant even
when he let the people go.
00:20:19.50\00:20:23.00
Moses then went
into the wilderness
00:20:23.94\00:20:26.44
with the people he
tapped the waters of the
00:20:26.45\00:20:28.55
Red Sea with his staff
and the water's parted,
00:20:28.56\00:20:31.55
a miracle
occurred. But please note,
00:20:31.56\00:20:35.77
Moses could not
with that same staff tap
00:20:35.78\00:20:40.69
the sea of people
that he was leading through
00:20:40.70\00:20:43.32
the wilderness and
get them to co-operate.
00:20:43.33\00:20:45.60
They were a stiff-necked
and rebellious people
00:20:45.61\00:20:49.82
and the staff that
could perform the miracle
00:20:49.83\00:20:52.92
of parting the sea
could not perform a miracle
00:20:52.93\00:20:57.95
to change the
deep inner interior of
00:20:57.96\00:21:01.79
human hearts, that
lies within the realm
00:21:01.80\00:21:06.06
of the secret power
we're about to discover.
00:21:06.07\00:21:09.46
So there's the power
of miracle in scripture,
00:21:09.47\00:21:12.72
when Peter walked
on water God obviously
00:21:12.73\00:21:15.84
suspended the law of
gravity and Peter walked
00:21:15.85\00:21:20.67
on water. Natural
for God, supernatural
00:21:20.68\00:21:24.50
for Peter, and
yet, Peter's heart
00:21:24.51\00:21:28.97
could not be similarly suspended
00:21:28.98\00:21:32.90
by miraculous
power, it was a longer,
00:21:32.91\00:21:37.13
more tedious relational
process that Jesus moved
00:21:37.14\00:21:42.08
through with Peter
to change his heart,
00:21:42.09\00:21:45.02
are you with me so far? So while
00:21:45.03\00:21:48.70
miraculous power has
its place and its use,
00:21:48.71\00:21:53.11
miraculous power is
outside of the preview
00:21:54.16\00:21:59.15
of changing the human heart.
00:21:59.16\00:22:03.75
I experienced miraculous
power a number of times
00:22:03.76\00:22:07.91
in my life. I
remember Esther from Mexico
00:22:07.92\00:22:11.43
who came to visit
family in the United States of
00:22:11.44\00:22:14.23
America and she was
a 26 year old highly
00:22:14.24\00:22:18.99
educated young physician
and she was an atheist.
00:22:19.00\00:22:23.38
And her relatives
were friends of mine,
00:22:23.39\00:22:25.77
brought her to
introduce her to me,
00:22:25.78\00:22:28.09
so we could change her.
So we could convert her.
00:22:28.10\00:22:34.49
They wanted me to
give her Bible studies
00:22:34.50\00:22:36.79
and they were
hoping that this would have
00:22:36.80\00:22:38.44
its effect upon
her. Esther and I became
00:22:38.45\00:22:40.82
friends through
this series of days
00:22:40.83\00:22:42.59
that we studied
the Bible together.
00:22:42.60\00:22:44.28
Pretty good
friends, but she didn't speak
00:22:44.29\00:22:46.68
any English and I
didn't speak any Spanish
00:22:46.69\00:22:49.24
except for what I
had learned at Taco Bell.
00:22:49.25\00:22:50.94
Taco, burrito,
tostada, that's it.
00:22:50.95\00:22:52.94
So her cousin
Warne was our continual
00:22:53.76\00:22:57.23
translator, the go
between, and I would
00:22:57.24\00:22:59.83
give Bible studies
through Warne to Esther
00:22:59.84\00:23:02.23
and she kept smiling
and she would say things
00:23:02.24\00:23:04.54
you are my
friend through Warne the
00:23:04.55\00:23:06.46
translator, you are
my friend, I like you
00:23:06.47\00:23:08.56
but I don't believe
anything you're saying.
00:23:08.57\00:23:10.18
And then just before
she had to go back to Mexico
00:23:11.47\00:23:15.09
there was a camp
meeting that I was just speak at
00:23:15.10\00:23:17.12
and I invited the
family and Esther along
00:23:17.13\00:23:19.36
and they came and I
said Esther this message
00:23:19.37\00:23:22.22
is for you.
Please be there with your
00:23:22.23\00:23:25.80
translator cousin
Warne on the front row
00:23:25.81\00:23:28.05
and he can whisper
the message to you.
00:23:28.06\00:23:30.38
As I rose to speak
that Sabbath morning
00:23:30.39\00:23:33.59
I saw Esther but
I didn't see Warne
00:23:34.35\00:23:36.59
and I began to get
nervous and I thought
00:23:37.32\00:23:39.18
this message is for
her. This is my last chance,
00:23:39.19\00:23:44.46
where is Warne?
But I had no choice
00:23:44.47\00:23:48.15
I had to go with the schedule.
00:23:48.16\00:23:49.50
There is time on the
clock and I delivered
00:23:49.51\00:23:52.56
the message,
occasionally I glanced
00:23:52.57\00:23:54.24
down and I saw that
she nodded a few times
00:23:54.25\00:23:57.11
and I thought wow
her English is getting
00:23:57.12\00:23:58.51
better in just a few
days. Finally at the end
00:23:58.52\00:24:02.35
of the message
after the prayer, amen.
00:24:02.36\00:24:05.35
Here comes
wondering Warne he had been
00:24:05.36\00:24:08.13
all over the camp
grounds, but he wasn't
00:24:08.14\00:24:11.01
where he was supposed to be.
00:24:11.02\00:24:12.24
I said dude where were you,
00:24:12.25\00:24:13.71
this is your
cousin she needed you,
00:24:13.72\00:24:15.79
you were supposed to translate
00:24:15.80\00:24:17.79
and she was
frantically trying to get
00:24:17.80\00:24:20.69
my attention
through Warne trying to say
00:24:20.70\00:24:22.73
something I said
Warne she is very upset
00:24:22.74\00:24:24.85
at you. And she said no, no, no
00:24:24.86\00:24:28.20
and she spoke
through Warne and she said
00:24:28.21\00:24:30.37
tell Ty that I
understood everything
00:24:30.38\00:24:34.91
he said in my
own language, I said
00:24:34.92\00:24:38.75
your lying that
didn't happen. She said no,
00:24:38.76\00:24:43.15
it did happen and
her eyes began to tear up
00:24:43.16\00:24:46.11
and I said tell me what I said.
00:24:47.18\00:24:49.14
And she explained the message
00:24:50.01\00:24:53.81
and I was overwhelmed
then we got on our knees
00:24:53.82\00:24:56.48
and we prayed and she
gave her heart to Lord.
00:24:56.49\00:24:59.35
Esther went back to
Mexico and three months
00:24:59.36\00:25:02.40
later died of a
disease that was latent
00:25:02.41\00:25:07.37
in her body that she
didn't even know about
00:25:07.38\00:25:10.49
during our visits. God
just in the nick of time
00:25:10.50\00:25:14.24
performed that
miracle, but listen
00:25:14.25\00:25:15.90
very carefully now,
the miracle was merely
00:25:15.91\00:25:19.36
the catalyst for the
message to get into her
00:25:19.37\00:25:23.50
heart, the
miracle itself was not the
00:25:23.51\00:25:28.17
transforming
power on the inside.
00:25:28.18\00:25:30.72
Miracles have
their place but listen,
00:25:31.45\00:25:34.04
you would never go
to your knees at the end
00:25:34.05\00:25:37.95
of a day and say
Lord I had a bad day,
00:25:37.96\00:25:40.76
I lost my
temper, my mind wandered
00:25:40.77\00:25:42.87
where it ought not God
I need victory in my life.
00:25:42.88\00:25:46.78
Lord, please I'm
gonna go to sleep tonight
00:25:46.79\00:25:49.83
and while I'm asleep
I want you to perform
00:25:49.84\00:25:52.04
a miracle, turn
some screws in my head,
00:25:52.05\00:25:55.85
rewire it, do
something while I'm sleeping
00:25:56.64\00:26:00.23
and how many of you
would expect to wake up
00:26:00.24\00:26:02.89
the next morning
perfect, perfectly happy
00:26:02.90\00:26:07.34
and holy and
cuddly and kind and nice,
00:26:07.35\00:26:10.21
never to struggle
with temptation again,
00:26:10.22\00:26:12.41
never to have to
employ your will again
00:26:12.42\00:26:15.38
in the battle with
sin? How many of you would
00:26:15.39\00:26:17.86
expect God to turn
those screws in your head
00:26:17.87\00:26:20.97
and by a miracle
bypass your will to make
00:26:20.98\00:26:24.25
you perfect?
Nobody would expect that
00:26:24.26\00:26:27.23
kind of result and the
reason why it's because
00:26:27.24\00:26:30.02
we intuitively
know from our reading of
00:26:30.03\00:26:33.18
scripture, we may not
be able to quote chapter
00:26:33.19\00:26:35.78
and verse but we know we've read
00:26:35.79\00:26:37.25
enough to know that
God is up to something
00:26:37.26\00:26:40.67
deeper than merely controlling,
00:26:40.68\00:26:42.90
modifying or
somehow governing outward
00:26:42.91\00:26:46.65
appearances. We
know that God is trying
00:26:46.66\00:26:49.85
to get deep on the
inside of us to bring
00:26:49.86\00:26:53.64
about lasting
change that arises from a
00:26:53.65\00:26:58.37
personal
voluntary yielding to God
00:26:58.38\00:27:02.54
we know that,
so we wouldn't pray
00:27:02.55\00:27:04.97
that kind of
prayer and we certainly
00:27:04.98\00:27:06.41
wouldn't expect such a
miracle to be performed.
00:27:06.42\00:27:09.27
So there is miraculous power
00:27:10.03\00:27:11.74
and it has its
place. But then there is
00:27:12.46\00:27:16.08
the second kind of
power I named it that is
00:27:16.09\00:27:19.32
authoritative power
the power of just raw
00:27:19.33\00:27:22.84
authority. For
example, in Ecclesiastes,
00:27:22.85\00:27:27.01
chapter 8 and
verse 4 Solomon says,
00:27:27.02\00:27:30.81
where the word of a
King is there is power
00:27:30.82\00:27:35.54
and who can say to
him, what are you doing?
00:27:35.55\00:27:39.02
Do you get the
jist here? Solomon says,
00:27:40.01\00:27:43.94
there is a kind of
power that is invested in
00:27:43.95\00:27:47.92
position and rank
right, where the word of a
00:27:47.93\00:27:52.19
King is there is
power and who can say
00:27:52.20\00:27:54.35
to the King, what are you doing?
00:27:54.36\00:27:56.71
The King's word
is the authoritative
00:27:56.72\00:28:00.30
bottom line in
the kingdom, where the
00:28:00.31\00:28:02.75
word of the King
is there is power,
00:28:02.76\00:28:05.75
please notice in
Luke, excuse me Psalm 66
00:28:05.76\00:28:09.66
and verse 3, through
the greatness of your power
00:28:09.67\00:28:14.42
God your enemies will submit
00:28:14.43\00:28:17.90
themselves to you.
Your enemies will what?
00:28:17.91\00:28:22.25
Submit, submit
themselves to you.
00:28:23.03\00:28:26.31
According to Philippians
chapter 2 you remember,
00:28:26.32\00:28:32.28
let this mind be in
you, which is also in
00:28:33.10\00:28:36.07
Christ Jesus, who
being in very nature of God
00:28:36.08\00:28:39.73
thought it not
something to be grasped,
00:28:39.74\00:28:42.73
to be equal with
God but made himself
00:28:42.74\00:28:44.40
of no reputation,
taking upon Him the form of
00:28:44.41\00:28:46.96
a servant, was made
in the likeness of man
00:28:46.97\00:28:50.09
and being found in
appearance as a man
00:28:50.10\00:28:52.34
he humbled himself and He became
00:28:52.35\00:28:54.08
obedient unto
death, even the death
00:28:54.09\00:28:56.64
of the cross where
for God has also highly
00:28:56.65\00:29:00.87
exalted Him and given Him a name
00:29:00.88\00:29:03.99
which is above every
name, that at the name
00:29:04.00\00:29:06.27
of Jesus every knee should bow
00:29:06.28\00:29:09.32
and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ
00:29:09.33\00:29:11.32
is Lord to the
glory of God the Father.
00:29:11.33\00:29:13.31
What kind of
power do we see here,
00:29:13.32\00:29:15.06
we see a power that is
brought to our attention
00:29:15.07\00:29:18.08
here in Psalm 66. By
your power the greatness
00:29:18.09\00:29:23.96
of your power God your
enemies even will submit
00:29:23.97\00:29:26.76
to you. Every knee
will bow, the devil
00:29:26.77\00:29:30.12
and all his unholy
host will get on their knees
00:29:30.13\00:29:33.70
when all of a sudden
done and confess that
00:29:33.71\00:29:35.77
Jesus Christ is
Lord to the glory of God
00:29:35.78\00:29:37.76
the father, even
your enemies will submit
00:29:37.77\00:29:40.86
to you finally God
but listen very carefully,
00:29:40.87\00:29:43.38
James said yes
the devils do believe
00:29:44.47\00:29:46.87
and they tremble
at what they believe.
00:29:46.88\00:29:49.05
Question, are the
devils transformed
00:29:50.25\00:29:53.77
for all their believing?
When the devil himself
00:29:54.18\00:29:57.63
is on his knees
when all of a sudden done
00:29:57.64\00:30:00.72
confessing the
truth of the matter,
00:30:00.73\00:30:03.07
is he changed
by that confession?
00:30:03.08\00:30:07.79
No, because
authority is like miraculous
00:30:08.90\00:30:13.55
power, authoritative
power is a kind of power
00:30:13.56\00:30:15.94
that does not bring
about internal change.
00:30:16.46\00:30:21.04
Authority has its
place, God spoke the world into
00:30:21.53\00:30:24.87
existence and
matter itself obeyed.
00:30:24.88\00:30:28.91
Do you remember when
Jesus sent out the twelve
00:30:29.75\00:30:32.88
and then he sent out the
70 and he said I give you
00:30:32.89\00:30:36.31
authority and power
over all the demonic host
00:30:37.45\00:30:43.78
and they came rushing
back at one point and said
00:30:43.79\00:30:45.99
even the demons obey
us. Yet the demons obeyed
00:30:46.00\00:30:51.66
but the demons
were not transformed.
00:30:52.33\00:30:55.78
They simply yielded to
the raw authority of God.
00:30:56.89\00:31:01.36
God is powerful in
an authoritative sense,
00:31:01.37\00:31:04.43
I mean He is an
enormous, majestic, incredible
00:31:04.88\00:31:09.47
creator God omnipotent,
omnipresent, omniscient,
00:31:09.48\00:31:13.86
omnibenevolent, God
is the most incredible
00:31:13.87\00:31:19.22
source of
authority in the universe.
00:31:20.19\00:31:22.63
He speaks and things
happen, that's why Jesus
00:31:22.64\00:31:25.58
had to be very
specific when He raised Lazarus
00:31:25.59\00:31:28.17
from the tomb, he
didn't just say come forth,
00:31:28.18\00:31:29.85
he said Lazarus come
forth. If Jesus would have
00:31:29.86\00:31:33.72
just said come forth,
all that are in the graves
00:31:33.73\00:31:38.74
would have come
forth and been resurrected,
00:31:38.75\00:31:41.00
no, no, no just
Lazarus right now
00:31:41.01\00:31:43.19
and Lazarus came forth.
There is an authority that
00:31:44.13\00:31:48.06
God has and authority
has its place but listen
00:31:48.07\00:31:51.55
very carefully now.
The authoritative power of
00:31:51.56\00:31:55.88
God, he employees for
those purposes to which
00:31:55.89\00:32:00.79
it lends itself to
get done what God wants to
00:32:00.80\00:32:03.13
done with authority.
But there is something God
00:32:03.14\00:32:06.38
does not want to
achieve by sheer rank,
00:32:06.76\00:32:10.12
position, and
authority, yes there is.
00:32:10.96\00:32:15.11
For example, let me
illustrate if I were to
00:32:15.56\00:32:18.19
pull revolver from my
pocket right now it is
00:32:18.20\00:32:22.20
in a sense an
implement of power,
00:32:22.21\00:32:24.69
but is this in
implement of power with
00:32:25.32\00:32:28.55
which I could only
manipulate your behavior,
00:32:28.56\00:32:32.15
right? If I point the
gun out and I say stand up
00:32:32.97\00:32:36.87
right now what would
you do? You'd stand up
00:32:37.24\00:32:39.96
most of you except
for the ones with good
00:32:39.97\00:32:42.34
strong German
Lineage you would press
00:32:42.35\00:32:44.44
the point a little
bit, but the rest of you,
00:32:44.45\00:32:46.37
you would stand
up and sit down now,
00:32:46.38\00:32:50.50
what would you do?
You would sit down,
00:32:50.51\00:32:52.56
stand on your
head, you'd try right.
00:32:52.99\00:32:56.65
Now, you just
agreed with me to a very
00:32:58.63\00:33:02.53
basic human
reality. You agreed that
00:33:02.54\00:33:06.42
within implement
of authority, power,
00:33:06.43\00:33:08.99
force manipulation
that I could manipulate
00:33:09.00\00:33:12.74
your behavior
stand up, sit down,
00:33:12.75\00:33:14.24
stand on your head,
make me a fettucini,
00:33:14.25\00:33:15.70
I'll spread it
with baby asparagus and
00:33:15.71\00:33:17.08
and focaccia bread.
Now, right, I could get
00:33:17.09\00:33:20.65
you to do things
behaviorally with a gun
00:33:20.66\00:33:26.21
in my hand but what
if in the next breath
00:33:26.22\00:33:28.31
stand up sit down
what if in the next breath
00:33:28.78\00:33:31.17
I said love me
right now, be my friend
00:33:31.18\00:33:37.81
my best friend in
fact, I want you right now
00:33:38.21\00:33:41.57
to feel loyalty and
trust for me, feel it now,
00:33:42.61\00:33:47.01
would you feel it? No.
No, actually you'd feel
00:33:49.25\00:33:52.60
the opposite
because you know don't you,
00:33:53.44\00:33:58.57
if you stop and think
about it you know that
00:33:58.58\00:34:02.34
force and love are
mutually exclusive.
00:34:03.09\00:34:10.22
You know that
manipulation through externally
00:34:11.16\00:34:15.53
imposed authority,
you know that manipulation
00:34:15.54\00:34:19.27
cannot produce
trust or love or loyalty,
00:34:20.49\00:34:27.37
don't you know that yes you do.
00:34:28.44\00:34:30.20
And so, that's why
young men do not propose to
00:34:30.82\00:34:36.09
young women with
revolvers, right?
00:34:36.10\00:34:39.12
If you think about it,
it looks like a full proof
00:34:39.13\00:34:41.66
method to get your
bride right. You will marry me
00:34:41.67\00:34:44.99
won't you, but listen
that implement of force
00:34:45.00\00:34:51.48
is not suited to the
aim of the suitor toward his
00:34:52.60\00:34:59.05
potential bride is it.
Because he is not aiming
00:34:59.06\00:35:03.34
for mere outward
compliance, is he?
00:35:03.35\00:35:06.43
He is not looking for
a slave. He is looking
00:35:06.96\00:35:10.69
for a best friend
and life long lover,
00:35:10.70\00:35:14.84
that's what he is
looking for. And the only way
00:35:15.20\00:35:18.69
that you get a best friend
and a life long lover is to
00:35:19.47\00:35:25.34
put the pistol away
and go through the longer
00:35:25.35\00:35:30.51
relational process of
proving yourself worthy
00:35:30.52\00:35:35.65
of her affection, of
her trust, of her loyalty,
00:35:36.29\00:35:40.57
of her love. So if you
stop and think about it
00:35:40.58\00:35:45.01
you know as well as I
do that while miraculous
00:35:45.02\00:35:48.75
power has its place and
while authoritative power
00:35:48.76\00:35:53.62
has its place to
get done certain things
00:35:54.08\00:35:57.11
in the universe,
neither of these sources of
00:35:57.12\00:36:02.08
power are sufficient to
the ultimate aim that God
00:36:02.09\00:36:06.62
has in mind for you
and me, because God again
00:36:06.63\00:36:10.44
is not looking to
make machines or computers
00:36:10.72\00:36:13.52
out of us, or he would
just download information,
00:36:13.53\00:36:16.57
if he wanted to do it
that way he could download
00:36:17.39\00:36:20.12
a worship program and
we would just stand in his
00:36:20.13\00:36:23.18
presence saying
holy, holy, holy, holy,
00:36:23.19\00:36:25.94
holy because the
program would dictate
00:36:25.95\00:36:28.65
and that program he
could write in such a way
00:36:31.19\00:36:33.75
that at a certain
time each day we get on our
00:36:33.76\00:36:36.86
knees before Him. He
could even program us to say
00:36:36.87\00:36:40.26
we love you but would
we, because when the program
00:36:40.67\00:36:46.21
says say you love Him
who is doing the speaking
00:36:46.69\00:36:51.18
really? The one who
did the programming,
00:36:51.19\00:36:54.53
God is saying I love
God but me well in fact
00:36:55.07\00:37:00.26
there is no me, there
is no personal individual
00:37:00.27\00:37:03.67
autonomous identity.
I'm a machine, a shell,
00:37:03.68\00:37:08.06
a nothing, but God
didn't make us as machines
00:37:08.87\00:37:12.26
God didn't make
us either as slaves.
00:37:12.99\00:37:15.30
He didn't say I'm
going to put the whip to your
00:37:16.29\00:37:18.66
back so if you know
what's good for you,
00:37:18.67\00:37:22.96
this is my universe, I'm
God you're not, and I call
00:37:23.47\00:37:27.58
the shots around
here basic arrangement,
00:37:27.59\00:37:29.79
you do what I say or
else what would we do?
00:37:29.80\00:37:34.03
We do what He says or what else.
00:37:34.49\00:37:37.22
But would we love
Him, would we trust Him,
00:37:39.53\00:37:43.77
would there be a
deep personal voluntary
00:37:45.16\00:37:49.58
sense of loyalty in
our hearts toward Him.
00:37:49.59\00:37:51.53
No, in fact, deep
on the inside secretly
00:37:51.54\00:37:56.02
we would be His enemies,
all slaves are the enemy
00:37:56.03\00:38:01.17
of the enslaver even
while going through the
00:38:02.18\00:38:05.79
motions outwardly to do
what they're told, right.
00:38:05.80\00:38:09.53
So God is aiming
for something more,
00:38:10.25\00:38:12.64
something
higher, something deeper,
00:38:13.00\00:38:15.44
something incredible.
What is God aiming for,
00:38:15.82\00:38:19.55
Jesus touched upon
it, in one of the most
00:38:20.08\00:38:22.81
profound statements
He ever made while He was
00:38:22.82\00:38:24.91
on this earth in
John 15:15 He said to
00:38:24.92\00:38:27.63
His disciples no
longer do I call you servants,
00:38:27.64\00:38:31.83
because the servant
does not know what his master
00:38:33.01\00:38:36.79
is doing but I God
almighty in human flesh
00:38:36.80\00:38:42.15
I have called you
friends, because everything
00:38:43.75\00:38:47.72
the Father has told Me
I've made known to you.
00:38:47.73\00:38:49.95
In other words
Jesus says, I don't want a
00:38:50.70\00:38:53.71
slave-master
relationship with you I want a
00:38:53.72\00:38:57.11
friendship with you I
want a relationship with you
00:38:57.12\00:39:02.37
that is governed not
by the externally imposed
00:39:02.38\00:39:07.57
authority that I
could impose on you,
00:39:07.58\00:39:10.06
I mean after all I am
God and if I was simply
00:39:10.07\00:39:13.86
seeking to get
something done outwardly
00:39:13.87\00:39:16.82
I could make you go
through the motions,
00:39:17.61\00:39:21.39
but no, no, no
Jesus says I want you
00:39:22.45\00:39:25.21
to be my friends.
And that was the highest
00:39:25.22\00:39:29.94
compliment that God
paid anyone in scripture,
00:39:29.95\00:39:31.80
he said of Moses,
Moses is my friend,
00:39:31.81\00:39:34.82
he said of Abraham,
Abraham is my friend,
00:39:34.83\00:39:38.58
he said of David, David
is a man after my own heart
00:39:38.59\00:39:43.02
that is to say David
has a heart like mine,
00:39:43.41\00:39:46.89
we resonate with one
another I like the way
00:39:47.36\00:39:50.42
David thinks and
feels, David is a man
00:39:50.43\00:39:54.67
after my own
heart. You know friends,
00:39:55.57\00:39:58.17
this brings us to
the third kind of power,
00:39:58.95\00:40:02.56
the secret source of
spiritual empowerment
00:40:02.57\00:40:07.18
and transformation by
which all victories may be
00:40:07.19\00:40:09.85
gained and without
which not one victory
00:40:09.86\00:40:12.96
may be gained. We are
now positioned by contrast
00:40:13.45\00:40:19.37
to see this third kind
of power, I say by contrast
00:40:20.18\00:40:24.52
because we have noted
the benefits and the short
00:40:24.53\00:40:28.28
comings of
miraculous power. We have noted
00:40:28.29\00:40:30.93
the benefits and short
comings of authoritative
00:40:31.40\00:40:35.73
power, so what is
this third kind of power
00:40:35.74\00:40:40.07
I introduce it to you with
00:40:40.08\00:40:41.97
first Corinthians
chapter 1 and verse 18,
00:40:41.98\00:40:43.87
turn there and look
very carefully for the word
00:40:43.88\00:40:47.10
power and you will
notice a usage of the word
00:40:47.11\00:40:51.06
power that is
absolutely astounding.
00:40:51.07\00:40:54.00
Notice here in First
Corinthians chapter 1
00:40:54.53\00:40:57.35
and verse 18, what
word are you looking for
00:40:57.57\00:41:00.89
by the way?
Power, power, here it is
00:41:00.90\00:41:03.85
First Corinthians chapter
1 and verse 18, Paul says,
00:41:03.86\00:41:07.69
for the message of
the cross is foolishness
00:41:08.05\00:41:14.40
to those who are
perishing but, listen carefully,
00:41:15.23\00:41:19.24
to us who are being
saved it is the power of God.
00:41:19.77\00:41:26.19
What is the power
of God in this verse?
00:41:26.76\00:41:29.40
The message of the
cross is the power of God
00:41:30.16\00:41:36.31
according to Paul. Now
what kind of power is this,
00:41:36.32\00:41:39.97
is it miraculous
power? Well in fact we don't
00:41:39.98\00:41:44.54
witness any miracles
occurring at the cross
00:41:44.55\00:41:47.07
really not in the true
classical sense and you
00:41:47.08\00:41:50.38
could say that the
conversion of the people
00:41:50.39\00:41:52.70
on the cross was a
miracle from a human prospective
00:41:52.71\00:41:55.46
we might look at that
my conversion was a miracle
00:41:55.47\00:41:57.89
if you want to look at
it that way but in the true
00:41:57.90\00:42:00.61
concrete Biblical
sense of God suspending
00:42:01.09\00:42:05.39
some kind of forces
around me to make me
00:42:06.31\00:42:10.24
something I don't
really want to be, no,
00:42:10.25\00:42:13.56
they said if you're
the son of God come down
00:42:14.52\00:42:17.74
and save yourself.
Question, could He have?
00:42:17.75\00:42:20.01
Yeah, He could have
come down and laid them
00:42:20.66\00:42:23.40
all waste, but he
didn't use that miraculous
00:42:23.41\00:42:28.45
power to deliver
Himself, He stayed there by a
00:42:28.46\00:42:33.08
different kind of
power. There was a different
00:42:33.09\00:42:36.27
kind of power that
held Jesus captive to the
00:42:36.28\00:42:40.80
cross, a willing
captive. He said in John 10
00:42:40.81\00:42:45.46
no one takes My life
from Me, I just want you
00:42:45.47\00:42:48.04
to know that upfront
He says you think that you
00:42:48.05\00:42:50.90
about to kill Me and
indeed you are in your
00:42:50.91\00:42:55.40
motives and in
your actions you will be
00:42:55.41\00:42:57.35
guilty, but no man
really takes my life
00:42:57.36\00:43:01.80
from Me, I lay
it down of Myself.
00:43:01.81\00:43:05.96
Jesus didn't go to
the cross with His back
00:43:06.20\00:43:09.54
against a wall with no
way out, as the song says
00:43:09.55\00:43:12.57
he could have called
ten thousand angels at
00:43:12.58\00:43:16.05
any point in the
process and delivered Himself
00:43:16.06\00:43:18.33
and abandoned you
and me. But a different
00:43:18.34\00:43:21.55
kind of power held Him
there. A different kind of
00:43:21.56\00:43:24.37
power was operating
in Jesus at the cross,
00:43:24.38\00:43:28.36
so Paul says the
message of the cross is
00:43:28.37\00:43:33.11
the power of God.
Now let's flush this out
00:43:33.46\00:43:36.95
a little bit, what kind
of power is Paul talking
00:43:36.96\00:43:39.43
about here it's
not miraculous power,
00:43:39.44\00:43:41.82
it's not authoritative
power, we don't see
00:43:41.83\00:43:44.13
at the cross Jesus
pulling rank, position.
00:43:44.14\00:43:47.36
What kind of power do
we witness at the cross?
00:43:48.54\00:43:50.60
Think of John 12:32 to
begin with. I want you to
00:43:50.61\00:43:54.54
notice a very key word
here, Jesus said of the
00:43:54.55\00:43:58.94
cross and I, if I be
lifted up from the earth,
00:43:58.95\00:44:02.77
referring to what
event the cross, right?
00:44:02.78\00:44:05.97
I, if I be lifted
up from the earth will
00:44:06.43\00:44:09.05
and what's the word?
Draw all people to myself
00:44:09.06\00:44:13.56
the operative word is drawn.
00:44:13.57\00:44:16.21
What is it mean to be drawn?
00:44:16.22\00:44:18.29
This word shows up
again in a similar kind of
00:44:19.33\00:44:22.23
context in Jeremiah
31:3 you remember what
00:44:22.24\00:44:27.08
the Lord said there?
Jeremiah says the Lord
00:44:27.09\00:44:31.00
has appeared to be of
old, saying I have loved you,
00:44:31.01\00:44:35.11
I have what,
loved, loved you within
00:44:35.12\00:44:38.08
everlasting love.
Therefore, with loving
00:44:38.09\00:44:42.56
kindness I have drawn
you, there's the word again.
00:44:42.57\00:44:45.98
God is operating
for our salvation,
00:44:47.20\00:44:51.51
for our transformation
with a different kind of power,
00:44:51.94\00:44:56.61
a power that draws
rather than pushes,
00:44:57.92\00:45:01.33
a power that
attracts rather than forces
00:45:01.75\00:45:06.85
because I love you God
says therefore with love
00:45:07.59\00:45:12.77
I will draw you, I, if I
be lifted up will draw you.
00:45:12.78\00:45:17.80
What is the word
draw give me a synonym
00:45:17.81\00:45:19.69
for the word draw.
To pull, to attract.
00:45:19.70\00:45:25.42
Jesus says in
essence I am going to present
00:45:26.15\00:45:28.56
before you
something very attractive.
00:45:28.57\00:45:32.21
But you look at
the cross and is it
00:45:33.53\00:45:34.95
really all that
attractive? Torn flesh,
00:45:34.96\00:45:37.63
blood flowing freely,
He's broken what's the power,
00:45:39.38\00:45:47.72
what's the attraction,
well you've got to look
00:45:47.73\00:45:49.72
past the torn flesh
to what's going on in his
00:45:49.73\00:45:54.56
heart and in his
mind as he focuses on you,
00:45:54.57\00:45:57.73
why is he torn,
bruised and bleeding?
00:45:57.74\00:46:03.05
What is the motive
that is actuating his heart
00:46:03.45\00:46:06.72
what has driven Him
to such radical extreme
00:46:07.71\00:46:12.75
measures on our
behalf? What is this power?
00:46:12.76\00:46:16.83
According to Jesus
it is a drawing power
00:46:17.57\00:46:21.43
and now we come to
Second Corinthians chapter 5,
00:46:21.44\00:46:24.96
where the Apostle
Paul names this power
00:46:26.13\00:46:28.69
explicitly, notice
this in Second Corinthians
00:46:28.70\00:46:31.82
chapter 5 verses 14
and 15 do not miss this
00:46:32.27\00:46:37.52
scriptures it is
so amazing what Paul
00:46:37.53\00:46:40.92
introduces us to here
chapter 5 verse 14 notice,
00:46:40.93\00:46:44.51
speaking of the cross,
Paul says the love of Christ,
00:46:45.65\00:46:52.07
what does your
version say, does what
00:46:52.08\00:46:54.23
constraineth us
that's the King James Version
00:46:54.24\00:46:56.73
lets go with that for a
minute the love of Christ
00:46:56.74\00:46:59.02
constraineth us what is
it mean to be constrained
00:46:59.03\00:47:02.67
we'll think of it this
way what does it mean to be
00:47:02.68\00:47:04.48
restrained? To be
restrained means to be
00:47:04.49\00:47:07.42
held back, what does
it mean to be constrained?
00:47:07.43\00:47:10.66
To be propelled by
version renders for example
00:47:10.67\00:47:15.69
the love of Christ
arches me on that's how
00:47:16.27\00:47:19.46
it renders. In the New
King James Version uses
00:47:19.47\00:47:24.03
the word compels the
love of Christ compels us.
00:47:24.04\00:47:29.23
Now notice this
carefully what is the compelling
00:47:29.56\00:47:33.60
force in this tags what
is the power this operating
00:47:33.61\00:47:36.91
in this tag, the love of Christ.
00:47:36.92\00:47:39.67
Now notice carefully,
the love of Christ compels
00:47:39.68\00:47:42.80
us because we thus
what, judge, that is we
00:47:42.81\00:47:47.76
discern that if one
diet for all then all died,
00:47:47.77\00:47:53.38
and then he died for
all so that those who live
00:47:53.39\00:47:56.66
I mean verse 15 now,
should know longer live
00:47:56.67\00:47:59.50
for who, for
themselves but for him who died
00:47:59.51\00:48:03.12
for them and rose
again read that scripture
00:48:03.13\00:48:04.84
again later on today
and you will notice that
00:48:04.85\00:48:07.15
Paul basically says
that the love of Christ
00:48:07.16\00:48:10.41
is the power by
which God gains in us
00:48:10.42\00:48:13.74
the most
foundational victory of all.
00:48:14.16\00:48:16.68
The victory from
which springs all
00:48:17.07\00:48:18.83
other victories. He
says the love of Christ
00:48:18.84\00:48:21.42
compels us to cease
living for ourselves
00:48:21.43\00:48:27.73
but rather for Him
who died for us and
00:48:27.74\00:48:30.51
rose again that is to
say when we look to the
00:48:30.52\00:48:33.80
Cross of Calvary we
discern in Him, we see
00:48:33.81\00:48:38.80
in Him, a love that
begins to operate in our
00:48:38.81\00:48:44.36
hearts to produce
a responsive love.
00:48:44.37\00:48:47.42
So Paul says, the
love of Christ causes us
00:48:47.77\00:48:54.13
to stop living for
who? For self and to begin
00:48:54.53\00:48:57.79
living for Him. There
is a voluntary action here;
00:48:57.80\00:49:01.22
this is an internal
victory that's being gained.
00:49:01.67\00:49:04.73
Notice Ephesians
chapter 3 and now it will
00:49:05.45\00:49:08.00
become abundantly
clear what the gospel
00:49:08.01\00:49:10.89
is pointing us to,
Ephesians chapter 3,
00:49:10.90\00:49:13.77
this incredible
prayer of the Apostle Paul
00:49:14.72\00:49:17.17
starting with verse 14
for this cause for this
00:49:17.53\00:49:20.61
reason I bow my knees
under the father of our
00:49:20.62\00:49:23.43
lord Jesus Christ,
from whom the whole family
00:49:23.44\00:49:26.28
in heaven and earth
is named that he would
00:49:26.29\00:49:29.45
grant you here is
the prayer that he would
00:49:29.46\00:49:31.64
grant you verse 16
according the riches
00:49:31.65\00:49:35.10
of his glory to be what
strengthened, that's our
00:49:35.11\00:49:40.16
consideration this
morning, power to be
00:49:40.17\00:49:42.87
strengthened with
might by his spirit in the
00:49:42.88\00:49:46.69
inner man, the inner
person, where is this
00:49:46.70\00:49:49.66
strength
occurring? In the inner man.
00:49:49.67\00:49:52.72
This isn't a miracle
being externally imposed
00:49:52.73\00:49:55.93
this is not authority
being externally imposed
00:49:55.94\00:49:59.37
this is a strengthening
on the inside Paul says
00:49:59.80\00:50:03.81
in the inner man. Now watch this
00:50:03.82\00:50:06.67
notice the
source of this strength,
00:50:06.68\00:50:10.12
this power, verse 17 that Christ
00:50:10.13\00:50:12.32
may dwell in your
hearts through faith
00:50:12.33\00:50:15.34
that you being
rooted and grounded in love,
00:50:15.35\00:50:21.68
may be able and what's the word
00:50:21.69\00:50:24.23
he uses now to
comprehend with all
00:50:24.24\00:50:28.25
sense what is
the width and length
00:50:28.26\00:50:30.32
and depth and height
God's love is dimensional,
00:50:30.33\00:50:33.58
it has no bottom, it has no cap,
00:50:33.59\00:50:35.41
it has no edges God's love is a
00:50:35.42\00:50:38.37
multidimensional
beautiful character
00:50:38.38\00:50:42.17
that we can
behold for all eternity
00:50:42.18\00:50:44.75
and never exhausted that you may
00:50:44.76\00:50:47.61
comprehend the love
of Christ which passes
00:50:47.62\00:50:50.28
knowledge it's
beyond us to ever exhausted
00:50:50.29\00:50:54.73
or fully
comprehended, but we can
00:50:54.74\00:50:57.09
comprehend God's
love to the degree
00:50:57.10\00:51:00.14
that it which passes knowledge.
00:51:00.15\00:51:01.52
So Paul goes on and he says
00:51:01.53\00:51:03.46
verse 19 to know
the love of Christ
00:51:03.47\00:51:07.20
which passes
knowledge, now watch this
00:51:07.21\00:51:09.13
that you maybe filled with all
00:51:09.14\00:51:11.54
the fullness of
God. How is it that
00:51:11.55\00:51:14.68
we are filled with
all the fullness of God
00:51:14.69\00:51:17.29
according to Paul,
through a comprehension
00:51:17.30\00:51:21.42
of the love of God? The most
00:51:21.43\00:51:25.88
basic law of human
nature all of us are governed
00:51:25.89\00:51:29.78
by without
exception is what we may call
00:51:29.79\00:51:33.37
the law of
beholding by beholding
00:51:33.38\00:51:37.62
we become change drive from
00:51:37.63\00:51:40.68
Second
Corinthians 3:18, but listen
00:51:40.69\00:51:43.08
we can state this
law in another way
00:51:43.09\00:51:45.48
and that is to say
that there is operating
00:51:45.49\00:51:49.22
in human nature
what we may refer to as
00:51:49.23\00:51:52.38
the law of proportional effect.
00:51:52.39\00:51:54.88
And it says this, the degree to
00:51:55.71\00:51:58.94
which we comprehend
and accept God's love
00:51:58.95\00:52:02.25
for us is the
degree to which we in turn
00:52:02.26\00:52:05.25
will lover him
love. Love be gets love,
00:52:05.26\00:52:10.50
I love this
statement in Desire of Ages
00:52:10.51\00:52:12.43
that says love
gives birth to love.
00:52:12.44\00:52:17.79
Now Paul goes on
and he says here,
00:52:17.80\00:52:20.81
at the closure of
his prayer verse 20
00:52:20.82\00:52:24.52
now unto Him who is
able to do exceeding,
00:52:24.53\00:52:27.00
abundantly above all
that we could ever ask
00:52:27.01\00:52:29.83
or think and what's
the last part there?
00:52:29.84\00:52:32.74
According to the
power which works where?
00:52:32.75\00:52:37.06
In us, and according to context
00:52:37.07\00:52:40.45
what is this
power that works in us?
00:52:40.46\00:52:45.31
It is the love of
Christ and how does that love,
00:52:45.32\00:52:51.03
that powerful love
find access to the inner man
00:52:51.04\00:52:54.66
through the medium
through the channel
00:52:54.67\00:52:56.78
of
comprehension. You want to know
00:52:56.79\00:52:59.46
the secret; you
want to know the secret
00:52:59.47\00:53:01.75
of spiritual
empowerment you want to know the
00:53:01.76\00:53:04.13
secret of victory.
I'll tell it to you
00:53:04.14\00:53:07.12
right now that love
infused becomes love
00:53:07.13\00:53:14.26
defused that in fact
love of God on the inside
00:53:14.27\00:53:20.48
shows up on the
outside. The more deeply
00:53:20.49\00:53:24.33
we comprehend God's love for us
00:53:24.34\00:53:26.28
or made able empowered to love
00:53:26.29\00:53:29.79
all others and God.
Paul in Galatians chapter 5
00:53:29.80\00:53:36.11
does something very
interesting that you will
00:53:36.12\00:53:39.03
never want to forget.
00:53:39.04\00:53:40.51
Paul says in
Galatians 5 verses 5
00:53:40.52\00:53:43.36
and 6 that we wait for
the hope of righteousness
00:53:43.37\00:53:45.88
by faith, for in Jesus Christ
00:53:45.89\00:53:48.67
now their
circumcision avails anything
00:53:48.68\00:53:51.20
nor uncircumcision,
no outward form will
00:53:51.21\00:53:54.05
avail in this
matter, but verse six
00:53:54.06\00:53:57.30
what does avail,
faith which works by love.
00:53:57.31\00:54:03.93
Now the reason
this verse is so crucial
00:54:03.94\00:54:06.49
is because the
word works in the Greek
00:54:06.50\00:54:09.30
is the word
energei from which we get
00:54:09.31\00:54:12.87
the English word
energy. Paul literally says
00:54:12.88\00:54:17.44
that faith is energized by love.
00:54:17.45\00:54:22.48
Faith is made operable by love.
00:54:22.49\00:54:25.27
Faith is awakened
to action by God's love
00:54:25.28\00:54:30.74
taking up
residence in our hearts.
00:54:30.75\00:54:34.14
And so I close
with the words of John
00:54:34.21\00:54:38.43
in First John chapter
3 here is what we need
00:54:38.44\00:54:43.60
to do, behold what
manner of love the father
00:54:43.61\00:54:48.33
has bestowed upon us that
00:54:48.34\00:54:49.65
we should be call
the children of God.
00:54:49.66\00:54:51.69