Our presentation
this morning is titled
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"The Single Secret to Succeeding
in the Christian Walk."
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Is there anyone
here this morning
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that wants to succeed
in the Christian walk?
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Amen. Okay.
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Then this
presentation is for you.
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I want to go on record of saying
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that the Christian
life is a wonderful life.
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I have been walking
this walk now for 10 years
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and I have no regrets.
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I love the Lord.
I love the truth.
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And by His grace I'm
growing daily to love Him more.
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Amen. Amen.
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One of the things
about the Christian walk
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that I so love and so appreciate
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is that it is the
Christian walk. Amen.
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Emphasis, there on walk.
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I have never yet
heard anyone referred
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to the Christian walk
as the Christian leap.
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Amen. Amen.
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Our presentation
is 'The Single Secret
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to Succeeding in
the Christian Walk."
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If I asked you to come up
here and give a demonstration
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of how far you could
jump or how far you could leap
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probably, some of you
the more athletic among us
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could jump may be
even 10 or 15 feet.
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Perhaps, even more but
you could walk much further.
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Even the most robust among us,
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even the most athletic among us
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could probably leap
over may be 15 to 20 feet
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but there're people that walk
for 100s even 1000s of miles.
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The Christian walk
is not something that
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takes place in one fell swoop.
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It is something that
takes place over time.
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You can cover vast distances
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walking, the Christian walk.
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I want you to know that
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even though I have been a
Christian now for 10 years,
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I don't think I
really learned the lesson
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that I want to
present to you today
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until about the last two.
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It's amazing--have you
ever had the experience
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where you know you're
walking with the Lord,
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you know you're
strong with Jesus
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and you want to
be more with Jesus
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and stronger with Him.
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But do you ever have
these epiphany moments,
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these eureka
moments where you realize
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that something so simple
and so basic has eluded you
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from much of your
Christian experience.
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Has anyone else
ever had that? No.
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I have been a Christian for
the better part of eight years
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and I stumbled upon this lesson
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I'm going to
share with you today
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and it has literally transformed
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the way walk with Jesus. Amen.
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Today, there will be not be
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three or four or five
or ten points to remember.
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There will be just one.
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And I'm going go
so far as to say that
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if you can remember and
internalize and inculcate
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and put this one simple truth
into your Christian experience
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it will change your life
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and you will be saved. Amen.
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Open your Bibles with me
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to the Book of
Luke, if you would.
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That's the third
book of the New Testament.
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Matthew, Mark, Luke.
We're going to Luke Chapter 5.
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Luke, what
chapter everyone? Luke 5.
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Luke Chapter 5, we're
talking about the Christian walk
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as opposed to
the Christian leap.
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We're talking about the face
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that you can cover vast
distances given sufficient time.
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In Luke 5, Jesus
tells three parables.
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How many parables,
everyone? Three parables.
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Three parables, we're
going to read all three of them
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but we're going to
hone in on the last.
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All of these parables have to do
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with the mingling
of the new and old.
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Luke 5 beginning in verse 36.
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"Then He spoke a
parable to them saying,
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'No one puts a piece
from a new garment.'"
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On what kind of a garment?
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"'On an old one,
otherwise the new makes a tear,
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and also the piece that
was taken out of the new
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does not match the
old.'" No one does that.
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Verse 37 "And no
one puts new wine into"
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what kind of
wineskins? Old wineskins.
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"Old wineskins,
or else the new wine
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will burst the
wineskins and will be spilled,
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and the
wineskins will be ruined.
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But new wine must be
put into new wineskins,
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and both are
preserved." And finally.
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Verse 39, "And no
one" I want you to notice
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that Jesus begins
all three parables,
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by telling us this is
something that no one does.
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He says, no one does this,
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no one does
this, no one does this.
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Jesus here is
appealing to our commonsense.
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In the first parable,
no one takes a new patch
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and puts it on an old garment
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because when
that new patch shrinks
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it will tear the garment.
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Jesus is concerned here
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about the inappropriate mingling
of the new with the old.
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And no man takes new wine
and puts it into old wineskins
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because of the
process of fermentation
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that takes place
in those wineskins
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the new wine can
burst the wineskins.
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And no one does
that, Jesus says.
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Again concerned about
the inappropriate mingling
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of the new and the old.
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And then verse 39.
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This is the parable that
we're really after this morning.
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Jesus says, "And no
one having drunk old wine
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immediately desires the new,
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for He says,
'The old is better.'"
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No one having drunk,
what kind of wine? Old wine.
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Old wine,
immediately desires the new.
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Because, he says,
"The old is better."
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Now Bible students I want to
ask you a question this morning.
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What is the
operative word in that verse?
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What is the word in verse 39,
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that the whole verse hinges on?
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Immediately.
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In fact, if you take
the word immediately out
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the verse actually
says the exact opposite
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of what Jesus is trying to say.
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In fact, let's
just do that together.
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Look at verse 39.
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"And no one
having drunk old wine,
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desires the new, for he
says, 'The old is better.'"
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That's the exact opposite
of what Jesus is trying to say.
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Jesus is not saying
that if you've drunk the old
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you never could like the new.
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What He is saying is,
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"It doesn't happen
immediately." Amen.
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That means then
that it would take time.
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It would take
what everyone? Time.
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It would take time.
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The transition from the old wine
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to the new wine would take time.
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Could someone who is
accustomed to the old wine,
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come to
appreciate and enjoy the new.
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Yes or no? Yes.
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Yeah, but it
doesn't happen immediately.
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Now this parable
here, these parables,
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the mingling of
the new and the old--
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and Jesus concerned with that
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actually have at
least two applications.
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The first application
understood by most scholars
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is that the new wine of
Jesus messianic identity
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could not fit into the
old wine of the Pharisees view
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of who the Messiah was.
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So Jesus comes on the scene
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and because of their expectation
of who the Messiah was
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and frankly what,
what the Jewish faith was
00:08:08.74\00:08:11.14
because Jesus was so
new, so radical and so fresh.
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They were going to have
to totally throw the old out
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in order to except the new.
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Are you with me, yes or no?
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So in one sense
this parable has to do
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with the transition in Judaism
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to the post messianic economy
from the pre-messianic economy.
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But that's not really what
we're going to talk about today.
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The second element
that this parable teaches
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is that there is a transition
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from the old life
to the new life. Amen.
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From the old
lifestyle and the old choices
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to the new
lifestyle and the new choices.
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Now when Jesus says in verse 39,
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"No one having drunk old wine,
immediately desires the new."
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The old wine was fermented wine.
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It was what everyone?
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Fermented wine. Fermented wine.
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It was alcoholic wine.
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And what Jesus is saying
here makes such a good sense.
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It appeals to our commonsense.
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If we would go to find
a man in downtown Detroit
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and who was drunk
there on the sidewalk,
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who is
inebriated there passed out.
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And we were to
rouse him from his stupor
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and sit him
upright and say, my friend,
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we have some good news for you.
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You've been drinking the
rotten stuff all these years.
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We've brought you
some ta-da Welch's.
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And here, what-what, what. Ah.
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And we were to pour
in nice cool fresh glass
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of Welch's grape juice
and he were to drink it.
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It is unlikely
that he would say, wow.
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Where did you get this?
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All the while I have been
drinking the rotten stuff.
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I've been
drinking the bad stuff,
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the old stuff and
now I find the new.
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His response would
likely be quite the opposite.
00:10:00.85\00:10:06.47
Now the question
is could that man
00:10:06.50\00:10:09.84
come to enjoy the Welch's? No.
00:10:09.87\00:10:13.74
Could he come to
load the old wine?
00:10:13.77\00:10:17.38
But what would it take? Time.
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It would take some
time. That is Jesus hope on.
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"No man having drunk old wine,
immediately desires the new."
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Because, he still
thinks the old is better.
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If it takes time but
it can still be done.
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This means that it
involves a process.
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It involves what everyone?
00:10:42.12\00:10:43.60
Process. A process.
00:10:43.63\00:10:44.78
So we're going to deduce--
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I think very
fairly, very legitimately,
00:10:46.51\00:10:49.52
very consistently from
this passage of scripture
00:10:49.55\00:10:52.05
that the transition from old
to the new involves a process
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but it can't be done. Yeah.
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Open your Bibles with me.
00:11:03.85\00:11:05.05
Keep your fingers here
in Luke. We'll stay there.
00:11:05.08\00:11:08.24
I want to show
you three passages
00:11:08.27\00:11:10.75
from the writings of Paul
00:11:10.78\00:11:13.04
that are central
passages in Paul's theology.
00:11:13.07\00:11:19.72
Now what I mean by that is
00:11:19.75\00:11:20.78
that these are not
obscure passages of scripture
00:11:20.81\00:11:23.79
that we're going to interpret
in some obscure, nebulous,
00:11:23.82\00:11:27.93
you know,
extremely, theological way.
00:11:27.96\00:11:30.72
We're going to
look at three passages
00:11:30.75\00:11:32.62
that are very
central to Paul's whole view.
00:11:32.65\00:11:35.85
His whole theology.
00:11:35.88\00:11:38.02
And the first is
in Romans Chapter 1.
00:11:38.05\00:11:39.41
In fact in some regards
this might be the best known
00:11:39.44\00:11:42.01
Pauline passage of all time.
00:11:42.04\00:11:45.35
Romans Chapter 1.
00:11:45.38\00:11:46.62
What chapter everyone? Romans 1.
00:11:46.65\00:11:49.02
Romans 1 and
notice with me verse 16.
00:11:49.05\00:11:54.54
In fact, if I started
this you'll probably finish it.
00:11:54.57\00:11:58.82
"For I am not ashamed."
00:11:58.85\00:12:03.14
See you know what?
00:12:03.17\00:12:05.00
This is not an obscure passage.
This is not an unknown passage.
00:12:05.03\00:12:08.56
This is not an unusual passage.
00:12:08.59\00:12:10.05
Now why are you
bringing that point out, David?
00:12:10.08\00:12:11.43
The point is this.
00:12:11.46\00:12:12.49
We're going to show
that central to Pauls
00:12:12.52\00:12:14.85
understanding of the gospel
00:12:14.88\00:12:16.42
was that it involved
this idea of a process.
00:12:16.45\00:12:20.75
So Paul says, "I'm not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ."
00:12:20.78\00:12:25.68
Can someone say, amen? Amen.
00:12:25.71\00:12:28.14
"For it's the power
of God unto salvation
00:12:28.17\00:12:30.33
for everyone who believes."
00:12:30.36\00:12:31.67
Can someone say, amen? Amen.
00:12:31.70\00:12:33.33
"For the Jew and
also for the Greek.
00:12:33.36\00:12:35.61
For there in is the
righteousness of God revealed
00:12:35.64\00:12:38.72
from faith to faith,
00:12:38.75\00:12:40.56
as it is written the just
shall live by faith. " Amen.
00:12:40.59\00:12:45.68
One of the central passages
of the protestant reformation.
00:12:45.71\00:12:49.37
But I want you to notice
something very interesting now
00:12:49.40\00:12:51.33
in verse 17.
00:12:51.36\00:12:54.51
Paul inserts this
phrase "from faith to faith."
00:12:54.54\00:13:00.42
He has told you that
this marvelous salvation,
00:13:00.45\00:13:03.82
this marvelous
gospel is by faith.
00:13:03.85\00:13:06.00
I'm not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ
00:13:06.03\00:13:07.29
for it is the power
of God unto salvation
00:13:07.32\00:13:08.96
to all who believe.
00:13:08.99\00:13:10.73
But then he says, it
happens from faith to faith.
00:13:10.76\00:13:14.59
Now Bible students,
English speaking peoples,
00:13:14.62\00:13:18.88
let me ask you a question.
00:13:18.91\00:13:19.94
What function does the phrase
00:13:19.97\00:13:23.79
"from faith to faith"
serve in this passage?
00:13:23.82\00:13:29.88
What does it mean?
00:13:29.91\00:13:30.94
Why does he say
"from faith to faith"
00:13:30.97\00:13:32.88
as it is written
to just live by faith?
00:13:32.91\00:13:34.32
What is the phrase
"from faith to faith" mean?
00:13:34.35\00:13:38.04
What you think it might mean?
00:13:38.07\00:13:39.10
It involves a process.
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.01
What he is saying is
00:13:45.04\00:13:46.74
that salvation is
communicated to us
00:13:46.77\00:13:48.85
from one level of faith,
to the next level of faith,
00:13:48.88\00:13:52.65
to the next level of faith.
00:13:52.68\00:13:54.00
In fact, the idea
that's been connoted here,
00:13:54.03\00:13:56.53
Paul could just
as easily have said,
00:13:56.56\00:13:57.94
if space would have
allowed "From faith to faith,
00:13:57.97\00:14:00.86
to faith, to faith, to faith."
00:14:00.89\00:14:03.34
Salvation is always
from beginning to end
00:14:03.37\00:14:05.64
and right through
the middle sections
00:14:05.67\00:14:07.16
always by faith but it
still involves a process.
00:14:07.19\00:14:10.46
What did Jesus say?
00:14:14.83\00:14:16.98
"No man having drunk old wine."
00:14:17.01\00:14:19.57
What was that
word? What was that word?
00:14:19.60\00:14:21.68
"Immediately desires the new."
00:14:21.71\00:14:24.41
He has still persuaded
that the old is better.
00:14:24.44\00:14:27.50
Jesus here speaks of
a process of transition
00:14:27.53\00:14:30.34
from the old to the new.
00:14:30.37\00:14:31.90
Paul here says, that
we're saved by faith.
00:14:31.93\00:14:34.57
But it's always
"from faith to faith."
00:14:34.60\00:14:39.75
Notice with me
the second passage,
00:14:39.78\00:14:40.84
2 Corinthians.
00:14:40.87\00:14:41.90
You're there in
Romans the next book would be
00:14:41.93\00:14:43.33
1 Corinthians
followed by 2 Corinthians 3:18,
00:14:43.36\00:14:49.66
another central passage
00:14:49.69\00:14:51.89
to Paul's whole
view of the gospel.
00:14:51.92\00:14:54.47
Well known passage.
00:14:54.50\00:14:58.51
Many of you no
doubt have committed
00:14:58.54\00:14:59.79
this very passage to memory.
00:14:59.82\00:15:03.10
And here again we
find a little phrase.
00:15:03.13\00:15:05.75
That is inserted right
into the guts of the passage
00:15:05.78\00:15:09.62
that make the passage
accessible to those of us
00:15:09.65\00:15:13.52
who are walking
the Christian walk.
00:15:13.55\00:15:17.23
Verse 18 says.
00:15:17.26\00:15:18.29
"But we all, with unveiled face,
00:15:18.32\00:15:20.49
beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord,
00:15:20.52\00:15:25.79
are being" what's the
next word? Transformed.
00:15:25.82\00:15:28.59
"Transformed or
changed into the same image
00:15:28.62\00:15:32.34
from glory to glory just
as by the spirit of the Lord."
00:15:32.37\00:15:37.99
Paul here envisions a transition
00:15:38.02\00:15:40.47
from the
character that you are in
00:15:40.50\00:15:42.80
transforming into the character
likeness of Jesus Christ.
00:15:42.83\00:15:47.22
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:15:47.25\00:15:48.80
That's why we call
ourselves Christians.
00:15:48.83\00:15:50.81
We are followers of the Christ.
00:15:50.84\00:15:52.71
But he inserts that phrase there
00:15:52.74\00:15:54.62
"from glory to glory."
00:15:54.65\00:15:58.59
Now question, what
function does the phrase
00:15:58.62\00:16:01.71
from glory to glory
serve in this verse?
00:16:01.74\00:16:06.20
To communicate a
process, that's exactly right.
00:16:06.23\00:16:08.26
It does not take
place in one fell swoop.
00:16:08.29\00:16:10.74
It takes place
through a process.
00:16:10.77\00:16:12.59
It takes place through time.
00:16:12.62\00:16:13.88
So that we advance
00:16:13.91\00:16:14.94
from one level of glory
to the next level of glory.
00:16:14.97\00:16:17.77
Always reflecting--
never having our own glory
00:16:17.80\00:16:20.20
but reflecting more
and more still fully,
00:16:20.23\00:16:22.44
the righteousness of Christ
from glory to glory to glory
00:16:22.47\00:16:25.86
from one level of Christian
00:16:25.89\00:16:27.44
character
development and advancement,
00:16:27.47\00:16:29.18
to the next, to
the next, to the next.
00:16:29.21\00:16:31.42
It's a process.
00:16:31.45\00:16:35.36
Are you with
me, yes or no? Amen.
00:16:35.39\00:16:39.62
Now look at the next one.
00:16:39.65\00:16:40.68
We're right
there in 2 Corinthians.
00:16:40.71\00:16:41.87
Stay in 2 Corinthians
00:16:41.90\00:16:43.02
look in chapter 4
and verse 16, with me.
00:16:43.05\00:16:46.41
2 Corinthians 4:16.
00:16:46.44\00:16:50.23
2 Corinthians 4:16.
00:16:50.26\00:16:54.90
"Therefore we do
not lose hearts."
00:16:54.93\00:17:02.03
Amen. Amen.
00:17:02.06\00:17:03.59
Don't loose heart.
00:17:03.62\00:17:05.66
Don't throw in the towel.
00:17:05.69\00:17:06.72
Don't give up faith.
00:17:06.75\00:17:09.04
He says, "Therefore
we do not loose heart."
00:17:09.07\00:17:12.95
He continues, "Even
though our outward man
00:17:12.98\00:17:16.38
is perishing our physical
material body is perishing
00:17:16.41\00:17:21.69
yet the inward
man the spiritual man
00:17:21.72\00:17:24.42
is being renewed
day by day." Amen.
00:17:24.45\00:17:30.26
The root word renewed.
00:17:30.29\00:17:31.66
What's the root
word of renewed? New.
00:17:31.69\00:17:35.53
So even though the outward man
00:17:35.56\00:17:36.78
might be
perishing in Paul's case,
00:17:36.81\00:17:38.28
in the context he is
talking about persecution.
00:17:38.31\00:17:40.29
Even though the outward
man might be falling apart.
00:17:40.32\00:17:42.45
That doesn't just
happen with persecution
00:17:42.48\00:17:43.79
by the way it happens with age.
00:17:43.82\00:17:45.97
Getting older, getting greyer.
00:17:50.29\00:17:53.65
They get calls to
go to week of prayers
00:17:53.68\00:17:55.66
and you show up and you
look at all of these kids
00:17:55.69\00:17:59.31
who couldn't
possibly be in high school
00:17:59.34\00:18:04.23
and yet they are.
And you're saying.
00:18:04.26\00:18:05.74
Wow, they look so much
younger than when I was.
00:18:05.77\00:18:07.78
It's just that
you're getting older.
00:18:07.81\00:18:12.56
Even though the
outward man is ageing.
00:18:12.59\00:18:14.52
The outward man is
perishing day by day.
00:18:14.55\00:18:16.86
The inward man--
the spiritual man
00:18:16.89\00:18:19.20
is being made new. Amen.
00:18:19.23\00:18:22.16
But how was he being made new?
00:18:22.19\00:18:25.15
Day by day
00:18:25.18\00:18:27.80
but let me think about
these three phrases here.
00:18:27.83\00:18:29.65
Central to Paul's
understanding of the gospel.
00:18:29.68\00:18:31.60
I mean these are
not obscure passages.
00:18:31.63\00:18:33.27
These are central Pauline text.
00:18:33.30\00:18:35.26
He says, "from faith to faith,
00:18:35.29\00:18:36.97
from glory to
glory, day by day."
00:18:37.00\00:18:39.32
Paul is saying that gospel
00:18:39.35\00:18:41.22
of righteousness
by faith in Christ
00:18:41.25\00:18:44.21
is communicated
in a process. Amen.
00:18:44.24\00:18:49.06
Communicated in what everyone?
00:18:49.09\00:18:50.87
Process. Process.
00:18:50.90\00:18:51.93
Now I have
purposefully awarded the word
00:18:51.96\00:18:54.30
up to this point sanctification.
00:18:54.33\00:18:58.15
Because sometimes when we
introduce theological jargon,
00:18:58.18\00:19:01.23
theological vernacular--
00:19:01.26\00:19:03.43
we actually muddy the waters
rather than clarifying them.
00:19:03.46\00:19:08.88
The process of
sanctification is little more
00:19:08.91\00:19:11.20
than the process of growing
to be more like God. Amen.
00:19:11.23\00:19:17.87
And no one jumps
from being a sinner
00:19:17.90\00:19:20.80
to being like
Jesus in one fell swoop.
00:19:20.83\00:19:24.22
It takes time.
00:19:24.25\00:19:25.93
It involves a process. Amen.
00:19:25.96\00:19:31.45
Ellen White understood this.
00:19:31.48\00:19:34.55
That should not
be a surprise to us
00:19:34.58\00:19:37.31
since what Ellen White said
as a true prophet of the Lord
00:19:37.34\00:19:40.72
would be consistent
with what Paul said.
00:19:40.75\00:19:42.57
Can someone say, amen?
00:19:42.60\00:19:44.23
There is no contradiction here.
00:19:44.26\00:19:45.79
There is no
contradistinction here.
00:19:45.82\00:19:47.81
They agree-- and
I'll give you three
00:19:47.84\00:19:52.44
very short
sentences to that affect.
00:19:52.47\00:19:55.52
Its three very
short statements--
00:19:55.55\00:19:57.19
statements that
affect. Listen, to this.
00:19:57.22\00:19:58.62
The faith I live by-- page 116.
00:19:58.65\00:20:02.51
"There is no such thing as
instantaneous sanctification."
00:20:02.54\00:20:09.44
There is no such thing as what?
00:20:09.47\00:20:12.22
Instantaneous sanctification,
00:20:12.25\00:20:13.90
true
sanctification is a daily work--
00:20:13.93\00:20:15.74
lasting as long,
as life shall last.
00:20:15.77\00:20:18.08
Amen. Question.
00:20:18.11\00:20:19.33
Is there such a
thing as sanctification?
00:20:19.36\00:20:21.42
Yes. Yes.
00:20:21.45\00:20:22.48
But there is no, such thing
as instantaneous sanctification.
00:20:22.51\00:20:30.26
It's a daily work continuing
as long as life shall last.
00:20:30.29\00:20:34.44
Day by day, from faith to
faith, from glory to glory.
00:20:34.47\00:20:41.23
Third selected
Messages page 193,
00:20:41.26\00:20:44.65
"You do not at one
bound reach perfection,
00:20:44.68\00:20:50.72
sanctification is
the work of a lifetime."
00:20:50.75\00:20:54.32
Now, she uses
the word bound here.
00:20:54.35\00:20:56.01
You do not in
one-bound reach perfection.
00:20:56.04\00:20:58.64
What's another word for bound?
00:20:58.67\00:20:59.70
What's she is saying
here? Yeah, in one-leap.
00:20:59.73\00:21:02.43
She is making the very
same point that we're making.
00:21:02.46\00:21:04.12
It's a Christian walk,
not the Christian leap.
00:21:04.15\00:21:07.93
She says, "You
do not in one-bound,
00:21:07.96\00:21:09.83
in one-fell-swoop,
reach perfection."
00:21:09.86\00:21:13.80
Sanctification is
the work of a lifetime.
00:21:13.83\00:21:17.84
Sanctification growing
into the likeness of God,
00:21:17.87\00:21:20.44
growing into the
character likeness of Jesus
00:21:20.47\00:21:23.15
is the work of a lifetime.
00:21:23.18\00:21:26.34
And finally, Third
Selected Messages, 202.
00:21:26.37\00:21:29.51
"Sanctification is the
progressive work of a lifetime."
00:21:29.54\00:21:34.51
It's the
progressive work of a lifetime.
00:21:34.54\00:21:38.83
In other words, we should be
making progress in this process.
00:21:38.86\00:21:46.62
Now I want to ask you a question
00:21:46.65\00:21:48.22
and do not feel
00:21:48.25\00:21:50.23
that you have to agree
with me on this at all.
00:21:50.26\00:21:53.28
But I'm genuinely interested.
00:21:53.31\00:21:56.40
If my experience
is anything at all
00:21:56.43\00:21:58.93
like your
experience in this regard.
00:21:58.96\00:22:02.18
When I first became a
Christian ten years ago,
00:22:02.21\00:22:06.32
I recognized immediately
00:22:06.35\00:22:07.72
that there were
certain lifestyle practices
00:22:07.75\00:22:09.67
that I was
enjoying and accustomed to
00:22:09.70\00:22:11.76
and participating in that I
was going to have to leave off
00:22:11.79\00:22:15.06
in my transition to
the new life with Christ.
00:22:15.09\00:22:17.23
Are you with me, yes or no?
00:22:17.26\00:22:18.58
Okay and by the way that goes
00:22:18.61\00:22:20.16
for those of you who
were raised in the church
00:22:20.19\00:22:21.77
and who weren't
raised in the church
00:22:21.80\00:22:23.18
because we all have
to come to conversion.
00:22:23.21\00:22:25.32
God has no grandchildren
only children. Amen.
00:22:25.35\00:22:29.20
So you recognize that there
is a transition process here
00:22:29.23\00:22:32.09
where you are going from
unconverted to converted,
00:22:32.12\00:22:35.86
from no faith to faith,
from the old to the new.
00:22:35.89\00:22:38.80
Now in my personal experience
00:22:38.83\00:22:40.79
and I'm not trying to
force you into my mold.
00:22:40.82\00:22:42.40
But just tell me if
you resonate with this
00:22:42.43\00:22:44.51
and be honest with me
here, be honest with the Lord.
00:22:44.54\00:22:46.77
There were things in my life
00:22:46.80\00:22:48.06
that God took away
from me immediately. Amen.
00:22:48.09\00:22:53.12
The first was my
language. I swore like a sailor.
00:22:53.15\00:23:00.75
In fact, my swearing
was so bad and so consistent
00:23:00.78\00:23:05.63
that it was
proverbial among my friends
00:23:05.66\00:23:08.36
who themselves
swore like sailors.
00:23:08.39\00:23:12.90
Every other word was a cussword.
00:23:12.93\00:23:16.31
And even as an
unconverted person
00:23:16.34\00:23:18.20
I use to think to myself
this sounds unintelligence.
00:23:18.23\00:23:23.64
I didn't even like
the way it sounded.
00:23:23.67\00:23:25.24
It sounded so stupid,
it sounded so foolish,
00:23:25.27\00:23:28.45
it sounded so ignorant.
00:23:28.48\00:23:29.79
And so with no
other religious motivation
00:23:29.82\00:23:33.42
or any other such thing
the only motivation being
00:23:33.45\00:23:35.31
I just didn't want to
sound like an ignorant person.
00:23:35.34\00:23:38.57
I tried to quit
swearing many, many times.
00:23:38.60\00:23:44.02
Sometimes, it would
last for about an hour
00:23:44.05\00:23:48.10
and sometimes it
would last for maybe a day
00:23:48.13\00:23:51.56
but just it was like you know
00:23:51.59\00:23:53.04
you have a
screensaver on your computer.
00:23:53.07\00:23:55.62
Right, you have a screensaver
on your computer and if you're,
00:23:55.65\00:23:57.56
you're typing away the
screensaver doesn't come up.
00:23:57.59\00:23:59.47
But the moment that
you go to do something else
00:23:59.50\00:24:01.85
and you come back
00:24:01.88\00:24:02.91
the screensaver reverts
back to the default mode.
00:24:02.94\00:24:06.94
Right, if I was
thinking I'm not going to swear.
00:24:06.97\00:24:09.40
I'm not going swear.
I'm not going to swear.
00:24:09.43\00:24:11.87
I'm not going to swear.
00:24:11.90\00:24:13.05
I'm not going to swear
00:24:13.08\00:24:14.11
and then I would see
one of my friends and say,
00:24:14.14\00:24:15.37
"Hey Travis, how are
you doing?" And a beep.
00:24:15.40\00:24:17.78
Oh, the moment I would stop,
00:24:17.81\00:24:19.97
the moment I would
stop actively thinking
00:24:20.00\00:24:21.94
I'm not going to
swear. I'm not going to swear.
00:24:21.97\00:24:23.81
I will not swear.
I wasn't anything.
00:24:23.84\00:24:25.34
I'm just not going to swear.
00:24:25.37\00:24:26.99
But the moment then I
wasn't paying attention
00:24:27.02\00:24:29.31
my computer would just reset
00:24:29.34\00:24:30.58
to the default mode and I got--
00:24:30.61\00:24:34.90
And I wanted to stop.
00:24:34.93\00:24:37.89
I hated the way it sounded
00:24:37.92\00:24:39.13
and I thought it was something
00:24:39.16\00:24:40.58
that I should just be able to do
00:24:40.61\00:24:42.20
and I never could stop.
00:24:42.23\00:24:46.79
In June 6, 1996, I was baptized.
00:24:46.82\00:24:49.40
I gave my heart to
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:24:53.23\00:24:58.74
Confessed that
the death that He died
00:24:58.77\00:25:00.50
was the death I
deserved in the life
00:25:00.53\00:25:02.17
that I need in order
to get me access to God
00:25:02.20\00:25:04.62
is the life that he lived.
00:25:04.65\00:25:05.94
And so I put my
faith in a Savior
00:25:05.97\00:25:08.11
and from that
moment to the present
00:25:08.14\00:25:11.42
nearly ten years or
more than ten years now
00:25:11.45\00:25:14.04
I have sworn exactly one time.
00:25:14.07\00:25:18.86
Now the amazing
thing about it is,
00:25:18.89\00:25:20.34
is that I didn't
even think to myself
00:25:20.37\00:25:22.62
as I came out of
the baptistery there
00:25:22.65\00:25:24.17
now I'm a Christian.
I cannot swear anymore.
00:25:24.20\00:25:26.22
I'm not going to
swear. I'm not going to swear.
00:25:26.25\00:25:28.24
I'm not going to
swear. It was gone.
00:25:28.27\00:25:30.61
It was as though God
reached into my experience
00:25:34.74\00:25:37.00
and he said, you know,
00:25:37.03\00:25:38.06
this is a
little repugnant to me.
00:25:38.09\00:25:39.85
I don't like
the way this sounds.
00:25:39.88\00:25:41.28
Let me take that
one. And it was gone.
00:25:41.31\00:25:46.67
It was just gone. Amen.
00:25:46.70\00:25:51.30
Two years after I was baptized,
00:25:51.33\00:25:53.24
I was rock climbing
00:25:53.27\00:25:54.74
in the Black
Hills of South Dakota
00:25:54.77\00:25:56.09
and I was, oh, I don't know
00:25:56.12\00:25:57.15
may be 15 or 20 feet
up this particular boulder
00:25:57.18\00:26:00.54
and I was climbing
with my friend Greg Parker,
00:26:00.57\00:26:02.97
who was a not a
Christian still to this day
00:26:03.00\00:26:04.89
as far as I know he
was not a Christian.
00:26:04.92\00:26:06.14
We're rock climbing together
and he knew I was a Christian
00:26:06.17\00:26:08.03
and all of my before
Christian friends were a little,
00:26:08.06\00:26:11.28
you know, leery of me.
00:26:11.31\00:26:12.83
You know, David has been
brainwashed that whole thing.
00:26:12.86\00:26:14.88
You know, they were
little uncomfortable.
00:26:14.91\00:26:15.94
But we still went
rock climbing together
00:26:15.97\00:26:17.22
and I was rock
climbing with him.
00:26:17.25\00:26:18.57
And I went up and I
grabbed to this hold.
00:26:18.60\00:26:20.49
We were just warming
up, beautiful sunshiny day,
00:26:20.52\00:26:22.53
nice fall day just like this.
00:26:22.56\00:26:24.22
Grabbed this little hold
and as I begin to weight to hold
00:26:24.25\00:26:26.79
the hold breaks off in my hand
00:26:26.82\00:26:29.95
and I go
hurdling through the air.
00:26:29.98\00:26:32.82
Right, just
hurdling through the air.
00:26:32.85\00:26:34.75
And I said "oh bleep."
00:26:34.78\00:26:41.31
And I was in the air long enough
00:26:41.34\00:26:43.26
to think to myself
I hope I don't die.
00:26:43.29\00:26:50.39
Because I would not want that
00:26:50.42\00:26:51.50
to be the last
thing I ever said.
00:26:51.53\00:26:58.08
I hit the
ground sort of tumbled,
00:26:58.11\00:27:00.18
rolled went
immediately around the bolder
00:27:00.21\00:27:02.39
and I said Greg,
I'm sorry for that.
00:27:02.42\00:27:05.04
I don't swear
anymore. I'm a Christian.
00:27:05.07\00:27:06.83
And I'm sorry.
00:27:06.86\00:27:08.17
And he just looked to me like.
00:27:08.20\00:27:12.53
You're crazy.
00:27:12.56\00:27:14.13
Right that was it that was it.
00:27:14.16\00:27:17.13
The Lord took it from me.
00:27:17.16\00:27:20.07
He washed my mouth out
00:27:20.10\00:27:21.70
with the soap
of the Holy Spirit.
00:27:21.73\00:27:23.17
It was God. I
didn't think about it.
00:27:23.20\00:27:27.23
I didn't have to
work at it. It was God.
00:27:27.26\00:27:31.89
I wish I could
report to you to today men
00:27:31.92\00:27:36.73
that every struggle in
my life has been like that.
00:27:36.76\00:27:42.18
I wish I could
standup here today
00:27:42.21\00:27:43.92
and tell you
that they were gone.
00:27:43.95\00:27:46.91
And in the last ten
years I have sinned once.
00:27:46.94\00:27:50.25
And I just told you about it.
00:27:50.28\00:27:54.96
Now you tell me, can you
resonate with this at all.
00:27:54.99\00:27:57.14
I mean in your
conversion experience
00:27:57.17\00:27:59.04
did you have something's
00:27:59.07\00:28:00.10
that God just took
from you very quickly,
00:28:00.13\00:28:01.65
very easily
almost without efforts.
00:28:01.68\00:28:03.92
And other things that dogged you
00:28:03.95\00:28:05.76
and haunted you
and disturbed you
00:28:05.79\00:28:07.99
perhaps even to this day.
00:28:08.02\00:28:09.18
Can you resonate
with that, yes or no? Yes.
00:28:09.21\00:28:11.48
It's a process.
00:28:11.51\00:28:15.82
If you find that you
were involved in a process
00:28:15.85\00:28:20.58
of growing to
be more like Christ
00:28:20.61\00:28:22.97
you should not be
discouraged with that
00:28:23.00\00:28:24.98
you should be encouraged
00:28:25.01\00:28:26.36
you're doing the
right thing. Amen.
00:28:26.39\00:28:28.31
I hear people
say, I'm struggling
00:28:32.42\00:28:34.85
in my Christian experience.
00:28:34.88\00:28:38.51
As if that's a negative thing.
00:28:38.54\00:28:43.02
Oh, I'm-- how are doing?
00:28:43.05\00:28:44.36
I'm struggling.
00:28:44.39\00:28:46.43
You're struggling. With what?
00:28:46.46\00:28:47.90
Well, with just
issues, sin, struggling.
00:28:47.93\00:28:50.95
Beloved, let me
tell you something.
00:28:50.98\00:28:52.01
Let's pretend
we're going canoeing.
00:28:52.04\00:28:54.15
We're gonna canoeing together.
00:28:54.18\00:28:55.91
And we're out canoeing
00:28:55.94\00:28:58.40
and we can see
one of two things.
00:28:58.43\00:29:00.27
We can have
option A or option B.
00:29:00.30\00:29:02.07
I will paint them for you here
00:29:02.10\00:29:03.13
and you decide
which one you like to see.
00:29:03.16\00:29:04.63
Option A, we're out
canoeing here in beautiful,
00:29:04.66\00:29:07.68
Michigan, Northern Michigan
and its beautiful fall day.
00:29:07.71\00:29:11.06
As we go-- we are canoeing
00:29:11.09\00:29:12.23
and we look out
just on the horizon there
00:29:12.26\00:29:13.85
but perhaps there a lake
of foggy beautiful misty lake
00:29:13.88\00:29:16.28
and we see this--
00:29:16.31\00:29:17.39
Someone is, someone is drowning.
00:29:22.20\00:29:25.99
That's option A.
00:29:26.02\00:29:27.70
Okay, option B, same scenario.
00:29:27.73\00:29:30.10
We're canoeing it is beautiful,
we're looking at the colors.
00:29:30.13\00:29:33.91
Oh, listen for the
loon. Oh, yeah, yeah.
00:29:33.94\00:29:36.64
And that all
the sudden we hear--
00:29:36.67\00:29:40.67
And what was that?
00:29:40.70\00:29:41.81
And we look and to our horror
00:29:41.84\00:29:44.34
and amazement
there is a dead body.
00:29:44.37\00:29:49.01
Just ruined the whole afternoon
bumped right up against us.
00:29:49.04\00:29:54.97
What's that? Right.
00:29:55.00\00:29:58.54
Now here is my
question. Option A or B?
00:29:58.57\00:30:02.96
You can see we're all canoeing
what do you want to see?
00:30:02.99\00:30:05.38
You want to see A or B? A.
00:30:05.41\00:30:08.79
Why do you want to see
A? There's still a chance.
00:30:08.82\00:30:14.14
Because there's
still a chance. Amen.
00:30:14.17\00:30:18.20
Beloved, never forget
this as long as you live,
00:30:18.23\00:30:20.37
the struggle itself
is a sign of life. Amen.
00:30:20.40\00:30:27.77
The struggle
itself is a sign of life.
00:30:27.80\00:30:31.93
I never struggled with my sin,
00:30:31.96\00:30:34.62
as sin while I was a sinner.
00:30:34.65\00:30:38.45
Sinners don't struggle with sin.
00:30:38.48\00:30:41.09
Unrepentant sinner's sin
00:30:41.12\00:30:42.55
and they don't
struggle with it, they love it.
00:30:42.58\00:30:46.81
Any formers sinners
here want resonate with that?
00:30:46.84\00:30:48.79
Yeah. Amen.
00:30:48.82\00:30:50.07
Hey, you didn't go home
and as an unrepentant sinner,
00:30:50.10\00:30:52.93
you didn't go home and
said, oh I have done again.
00:30:52.96\00:30:54.58
You in a moment say,
when can I do it again?
00:30:54.61\00:30:59.20
You know, something
fascinating happened
00:30:59.23\00:31:00.50
in my Christian experience.
00:31:00.53\00:31:01.61
My struggle with sin began
00:31:01.64\00:31:03.23
when my life with
Jesus began. Amen.
00:31:03.26\00:31:08.16
So someone says to
me, oh, I'm struggling.
00:31:08.19\00:31:11.07
As if that's a negative thing.
You better praise the Lord.
00:31:11.10\00:31:13.39
You're struggling. Amen.
00:31:13.42\00:31:16.26
There is something
in you that is fighting
00:31:16.29\00:31:18.84
and wrestling against that
old cantankerous human nature.
00:31:18.87\00:31:22.91
Some sins God
takes from us immediately
00:31:28.67\00:31:30.90
and others take time.
00:31:30.93\00:31:33.06
It involves a process,
it's called the Christian walk.
00:31:33.09\00:31:37.72
No man having drunk old wine
immediately desires the new.
00:31:37.75\00:31:41.17
He still thinks
the old is better.
00:31:41.20\00:31:42.54
You can come to love the new
00:31:42.57\00:31:44.74
but it's going to take sometime.
00:31:44.77\00:31:46.07
It is highly likely.
00:31:50.10\00:31:52.48
No no, no, no it is inevitable
00:31:52.51\00:31:57.67
that in this Christian
walk you're going to fall.
00:31:57.70\00:32:04.43
You're going to
fall and stumble.
00:32:04.46\00:32:07.57
Do you hear what I'm saying"
00:32:07.60\00:32:09.48
You're walking, you're upright.
00:32:09.51\00:32:11.75
You're bi-pedaled creature.
00:32:11.78\00:32:13.65
You're an upright creature.
00:32:13.68\00:32:15.77
You're going to fall.
00:32:15.80\00:32:17.50
I mean how many
people in this room
00:32:17.53\00:32:18.99
have never fallen
walking physically.
00:32:19.02\00:32:20.56
You've never fall.
Well, give me a break.
00:32:20.59\00:32:21.90
Every one of us has fall.
00:32:21.93\00:32:23.16
The reason that you fall
is that you were standing up.
00:32:23.19\00:32:30.45
Keep your mind
raftered on that one.
00:32:30.48\00:32:32.87
You can't fall if
you weren't standing.
00:32:32.90\00:32:37.42
Amen. Amen.
00:32:37.45\00:32:39.22
And half the guys are like what.
00:32:39.25\00:32:45.64
Let me give you a
Bible text for this.
00:32:45.67\00:32:47.13
Come with me to
the Book of Proverbs.
00:32:47.16\00:32:48.45
Proverbs Chapter 24.
00:32:48.48\00:32:51.33
Proverbs Chapter
24 and here we find
00:32:51.36\00:32:52.89
a passage of scripture
00:32:52.92\00:32:54.91
that is frankly a
little scary to many
00:32:54.94\00:32:59.55
but very encouraging to others.
00:32:59.58\00:33:02.76
Proverbs Chapter 24 and
we're going to verse 16.
00:33:02.79\00:33:05.12
What verse everyone?
Verse 16, Proverbs 24:16.
00:33:05.15\00:33:11.80
Proverbs 24:16, I
want you all to be there.
00:33:11.83\00:33:14.60
I hear those pages
turning you got to see this.
00:33:14.63\00:33:19.33
Proverbs 24:16, it says,
00:33:19.36\00:33:22.48
"For a just man
falleth seven times,
00:33:22.51\00:33:28.11
and rises up again
00:33:28.14\00:33:31.84
but the wicked
shall fall by calamity."
00:33:31.87\00:33:36.29
The just man falls
00:33:36.32\00:33:37.70
how many times
according to that verse?
00:33:37.73\00:33:39.83
The just man falls seven times.
00:33:39.86\00:33:41.04
You know, in the Bible I
don't have to tell you this
00:33:41.07\00:33:42.82
that seven is not necessarily
an actual chronological figure.
00:33:42.85\00:33:46.49
What it saying is,
seven is the number
00:33:46.52\00:33:49.39
that means perfection.
He is good at falling.
00:33:49.42\00:33:51.81
A just man falls seven times
00:33:59.05\00:34:00.91
but notice with me
that in this passage
00:34:00.94\00:34:04.02
there is also an
another man that falls.
00:34:04.05\00:34:07.60
Both the righteous
and the wicked fall.
00:34:07.63\00:34:12.49
Who falls more?
00:34:12.52\00:34:15.03
According to the
verse, according to the verse,
00:34:15.06\00:34:16.24
who falls more, who falls more.
00:34:16.27\00:34:17.72
Righteous. Yeah, the righteous.
00:34:17.75\00:34:18.79
Do you know why he falls more?
00:34:18.82\00:34:21.36
Because he keeps
getting up. Amen.
00:34:21.39\00:34:25.01
The righteous man falls more
00:34:29.49\00:34:30.82
because he keeps
getting up, beloved. Amen.
00:34:30.85\00:34:32.78
That makes some
people uncomfortable.
00:34:37.49\00:34:38.82
They say, did he just say that
00:34:38.85\00:34:39.96
the righteous fall
more than the sinner. Yeah.
00:34:39.99\00:34:43.98
Because the sinner falls
down and stays there. Amen.
00:34:44.01\00:34:48.35
He doesn't' continue to fall
because he doesn't get back up.
00:34:48.38\00:34:51.04
The just man falls seven times.
00:34:51.07\00:34:52.44
The reason he falls seven times,
00:34:52.47\00:34:53.71
he keeps getting back up. Amen.
00:34:53.74\00:34:57.77
I would like to ask
the question this way.
00:34:57.80\00:34:59.39
Think of this. There
are two scenarios here.
00:34:59.42\00:35:01.47
We have got Peter here
00:35:01.50\00:35:02.86
and we have got
Judas Iscariot here.
00:35:02.89\00:35:04.68
Both of whom denied their
Lord in those critical hours.
00:35:04.71\00:35:07.74
Both of whom said that
00:35:07.77\00:35:10.33
they denied their
Lord Jesus, both of them.
00:35:10.36\00:35:12.81
Now I want you beginning there
in the Garden of Gethsemane,
00:35:12.84\00:35:15.20
experience the
hours just before that.
00:35:15.23\00:35:16.99
Here is Peter, here is
Judas and from that time--
00:35:17.02\00:35:21.90
if we were to plot the number
of times that Judas would fall
00:35:21.93\00:35:26.32
and that Peter would fall
00:35:26.35\00:35:27.60
over the course of
the rest of their lives
00:35:27.63\00:35:30.51
who would fall more?
00:35:30.54\00:35:31.76
Peter. Peter by far.
00:35:31.79\00:35:34.45
Because Judas fell once
and never got back up. Amen.
00:35:34.48\00:35:37.17
Peter at the rest of his
life to make a fool of himself
00:35:42.07\00:35:46.32
and to learn and to grow
00:35:46.35\00:35:49.75
and grow more into the
lightness of Christ, falling
00:35:49.78\00:35:52.76
and then
getting back up always--
00:35:52.79\00:35:54.56
getting back up
for Jesus. Praise God.
00:35:54.59\00:35:59.81
The difference between
the righteous and the wicked
00:35:59.84\00:36:01.87
is not that the
righteous doesn't fall.
00:36:01.90\00:36:06.46
But that he
keeps getting up. Amen.
00:36:06.49\00:36:11.77
The single secret to
succeeding in the Christian walk
00:36:11.80\00:36:14.84
three words that
can change your life
00:36:14.87\00:36:17.67
and save you for eternity,
00:36:17.70\00:36:19.58
"Keep getting up." Amen.
00:36:19.61\00:36:24.96
Now say it
together. Keep getting up.
00:36:24.99\00:36:32.88
One day Peter is
feeling very magnanimous
00:36:32.91\00:36:34.66
and he said to Jesus, "Jesus
if someone sinned against me,
00:36:34.69\00:36:37.84
seven times I
would forgive him."
00:36:37.87\00:36:39.37
And Jesus said
"you're just getting started
00:36:39.40\00:36:40.92
how about seventy times, seven."
00:36:40.95\00:36:43.35
That's 490, beloved.
00:36:43.38\00:36:44.89
And now there is no question
that this is a direct elusion
00:36:44.92\00:36:46.67
to the prophecy of Daniel 9
but Jesus points still remains.
00:36:46.70\00:36:50.88
The question I like to ask
00:36:50.91\00:36:52.07
is if Jesus
expected Peter sinful,
00:36:52.10\00:36:54.98
fallen Peter to be
able to forgive 490 times
00:36:55.01\00:36:58.68
in a single day for an
infraction against his person
00:36:58.71\00:37:01.51
how much more will
our God forgive us?
00:37:01.54\00:37:05.92
Who is better,
Peter or God? God.
00:37:05.95\00:37:08.90
Who is more
merciful? Who is more gracious?
00:37:08.93\00:37:11.50
If God expected Peter
490 times in a single day
00:37:11.53\00:37:14.61
then, God would
forgive you even more.
00:37:14.64\00:37:21.75
You know, there is one
time that you won't be forgiven.
00:37:21.78\00:37:27.45
It's the time you
don't ask to be forgiven.
00:37:27.48\00:37:32.10
I cannot tell you,
beloved, bearing my soul to you,
00:37:32.13\00:37:34.68
bearing my heart to you
as a minister and as a man.
00:37:34.71\00:37:40.75
How many times I have
gone down into my basement?
00:37:40.78\00:37:43.95
That's why I have my devotions.
00:37:43.98\00:37:45.01
You should have a
place where you meet Jesus.
00:37:45.04\00:37:48.07
Have a place, a special place.
00:37:48.10\00:37:51.40
Mine is in the
corner of our basement
00:37:51.43\00:37:53.02
and I go down there
00:37:53.05\00:37:54.47
and I need to meet with my Lord.
00:37:54.50\00:37:56.78
And sometimes I can't wait
00:37:56.81\00:37:58.11
to get downstairs
and meet with Jesus.
00:37:58.14\00:37:59.56
In other times
00:37:59.59\00:38:00.62
I got to walk down
those stairs a little slower.
00:38:04.04\00:38:07.28
I know I have let the Lord down
00:38:07.31\00:38:08.49
and know I have let myself down.
00:38:08.52\00:38:10.51
And I'll get down
and I will have Bible.
00:38:10.54\00:38:12.32
I like to kneel on
a chair and my Bible
00:38:12.35\00:38:14.24
and my devotional
Bible, sitting right there
00:38:14.27\00:38:16.29
and I cannot tell you, beloved,
00:38:16.32\00:38:17.85
how many times
with trembling hand
00:38:17.88\00:38:22.38
and a trembling heart
I have fallen to my knees
00:38:22.41\00:38:25.61
and opened up the word.
00:38:25.64\00:38:28.78
Hoping, praying
00:38:28.81\00:38:34.35
that that verse is still there.
00:38:34.38\00:38:37.50
And I opened it
up. And there it is.
00:38:37.53\00:38:43.23
1 John 1:9.
00:38:43.26\00:38:46.52
It's never gone
from verse 8 to 10.
00:38:46.55\00:38:48.45
It's always-- every
time I've opened this
00:38:48.48\00:38:50.07
it's always been there.
00:38:50.10\00:38:53.59
And I read it again and it says.
00:38:53.62\00:38:54.86
"If we confess our
sins, he is faithful
00:38:54.89\00:38:59.38
and just to forgive our sins
00:38:59.41\00:39:01.19
and cleanses of
all unrighteousness."
00:39:01.22\00:39:04.24
The verse is still
there, beloved. Amen.
00:39:04.27\00:39:08.28
And if it's still in there.
It means it's still true. Yeah.
00:39:08.31\00:39:12.04
Now I lift my
heart and my hands to God
00:39:16.50\00:39:18.47
and I say, oh, God.
This here it is. I fell."
00:39:18.50\00:39:23.66
I fell again.
00:39:23.69\00:39:26.73
Vomited allover
myself. Made a fool of me.
00:39:26.76\00:39:29.42
Let myself down. Let you down.
00:39:29.45\00:39:30.93
Oh, Lord I fell again
00:39:30.96\00:39:32.88
but the verse says that
you will forgive me. Amen.
00:39:32.91\00:39:36.39
And Jesus says, "Get up.
00:39:42.26\00:39:50.10
Get up and stand in
confidence in my grace
00:39:50.13\00:39:55.40
let's try that one again." Amen.
00:39:55.43\00:40:01.44
Now I walk with
Jesus through another day.
00:40:01.47\00:40:03.77
By His grace may be just may be
00:40:03.80\00:40:05.58
I don't make fool out of myself.
00:40:05.61\00:40:08.12
And all I have to bow down
00:40:08.15\00:40:09.18
the next morning
on my knees and say,
00:40:09.21\00:40:10.53
"Thank you Jesus that
you'd got me through that day.
00:40:10.56\00:40:13.16
And even though
I know I did things
00:40:13.19\00:40:14.52
I shouldn't have done.
00:40:14.55\00:40:16.03
Lord, you got me through
00:40:16.06\00:40:17.16
without making a
huge fool of myself."
00:40:17.19\00:40:19.04
And by the grace of God,
00:40:19.07\00:40:21.42
I'm walking and
walking and walking
00:40:21.45\00:40:24.44
and if I fall
again, heaven forbid.
00:40:24.47\00:40:26.92
I'm going to
keep getting up. Amen.
00:40:26.95\00:40:31.10
Beloved that's the
trick. You keep getting up.
00:40:31.13\00:40:34.50
And if you keep
spending time with Jesus,
00:40:34.53\00:40:38.38
He will do something
supernatural, beloved.
00:40:38.41\00:40:40.58
He will do something for you
00:40:40.61\00:40:41.69
that you could
never do for yourself.
00:40:41.72\00:40:43.29
He will create within you
00:40:43.32\00:40:44.49
a supernatural
repugnancy for sin.
00:40:44.52\00:40:48.29
Don't try to manufacture that.
00:40:48.32\00:40:50.95
Your nature love sin.
00:40:50.98\00:40:53.00
If you go into your bedrooms,
00:40:53.03\00:40:54.32
I'm going to hate
sin whether it kills me.
00:40:54.35\00:40:56.06
You cannot
manufacture a hatred for sin.
00:40:56.09\00:40:59.05
God puts a hatred
for sin into your heart.
00:40:59.08\00:41:01.24
That's Genesis 3:15,
00:41:01.27\00:41:03.32
"He will put enmity
between the serpent and you."
00:41:03.35\00:41:06.18
It's God given. Amen.
00:41:06.21\00:41:08.61
And if you keep getting up
00:41:08.64\00:41:09.71
and you keep coming to the Lord
00:41:09.74\00:41:11.32
the distances
between those feelings,
00:41:11.35\00:41:15.90
the distances between
those fallings will increase
00:41:15.93\00:41:19.79
because God will give you
a supernatural repugnancy for
00:41:19.82\00:41:23.23
and a hatred for sin. Amen.
00:41:23.26\00:41:27.61
As long as you keep getting up,
00:41:27.64\00:41:29.39
keep getting up.
00:41:33.43\00:41:38.93
Dust yourself off.
00:41:38.96\00:41:40.43
Trust in your Savior
00:41:40.46\00:41:43.04
and keep walking the walk.
00:41:43.07\00:41:48.48
In closing, Steps to
Christ-- marvelous book.
00:41:48.51\00:41:53.77
I want to think you
about the title of that book.
00:41:53.80\00:41:55.77
The leap to Christ.
00:41:59.71\00:42:01.25
Steps to Christ.
00:42:06.35\00:42:09.90
I'm reading on page 64
00:42:09.93\00:42:11.17
and I'm going ask
you to raise your hand
00:42:11.20\00:42:12.97
at each interval here
if this applies to you.
00:42:13.00\00:42:17.37
"There are those who have known
the pardoning love of Christ."
00:42:17.40\00:42:21.20
Anyone here known the
partnering of love Christ?
00:42:21.23\00:42:26.28
"Who really desire
to be children of God."
00:42:26.31\00:42:29.37
Anyone here who really
desire to be child of God?
00:42:29.40\00:42:33.70
"Who realize their
character is imperfect
00:42:33.73\00:42:36.49
their life faulty."
00:42:41.65\00:42:44.39
Now listen to this one.
00:42:48.45\00:42:50.29
You don't have to
raise your hand here
00:42:50.32\00:42:51.35
if you don't want.
00:42:51.38\00:42:53.24
But tell me if the devil
doesn't pull this one on you.
00:42:53.27\00:42:56.62
And they are ready to doubt
00:42:56.65\00:42:58.12
whether their hearts have ever
00:42:58.15\00:43:00.21
been renewed by the Holy Spirit.
00:43:00.24\00:43:03.50
Devil ever
tried that one on you.
00:43:03.53\00:43:06.09
It works great
for everybody else
00:43:06.12\00:43:07.39
too bad if don't work for you.
00:43:07.42\00:43:10.29
In fact may be it has
never worked for you--
00:43:10.32\00:43:13.92
may be you've never.
00:43:13.95\00:43:15.97
What was the very first thing
that Satan said to Jesus there?
00:43:16.00\00:43:18.88
He said if you're the Son of God
00:43:18.91\00:43:21.48
in the highly unlikely event
that you were the Son of God.
00:43:21.51\00:43:26.41
Don't tell me
that Satan doesn't try
00:43:26.44\00:43:27.79
that very same thing on you
00:43:27.82\00:43:29.32
if you were a Christian come on.
00:43:29.35\00:43:33.24
"There are those who have known
the pardoning love of Christ.
00:43:33.27\00:43:35.20
Who really desire
to be children of God.
00:43:35.23\00:43:38.01
Who realized that
their character is imperfect
00:43:38.04\00:43:39.69
and their life is
faulty and they're to doubt
00:43:39.72\00:43:41.38
whether their
hearts have ever been
00:43:41.41\00:43:42.46
renewed by the Holy Spirit.
00:43:42.49\00:43:45.98
To such I would say."
00:43:46.01\00:43:50.43
And beloved, to me this
is not the pastoral counsel
00:43:50.46\00:43:52.73
of a Max Lucado
or a Philip Yancey.
00:43:52.76\00:43:54.92
When I read the
writings of Ellen White,
00:43:54.95\00:43:56.47
I'm hearing the voice
of God to my soul. Amen.
00:43:56.50\00:44:00.84
To such I would say do
not drawback in despair. Amen.
00:44:00.87\00:44:07.64
I'm so glad she says,
do not drawback in despair
00:44:07.67\00:44:09.52
because that's the very
thing I'm intended to do
00:44:09.55\00:44:10.96
when I've known it.
00:44:10.99\00:44:13.38
I think she knew that. Amen.
00:44:13.41\00:44:16.85
Then she says these words
precious words, golden words.
00:44:16.88\00:44:22.90
"We shall often have to bow down
00:44:22.93\00:44:25.63
and weep at the feet of Jesus
00:44:25.66\00:44:27.76
because of our
shortcomings and mistakes
00:44:27.79\00:44:31.84
but we are not to
be discouraged." Amen.
00:44:31.87\00:44:34.99
We shall often have to bow down
00:44:35.02\00:44:36.50
and weep at the feet of Jesus
00:44:36.53\00:44:37.57
because of our
shortcomings and mistakes.
00:44:37.60\00:44:39.07
We shall often
have to bow, hallelujah.
00:44:39.10\00:44:45.01
If you're bowing down and
weeping at the feet of Jesus
00:44:45.04\00:44:46.77
because of your
shortcomings and mistakes
00:44:46.80\00:44:48.50
you are in the process. Amen.
00:44:48.53\00:44:52.33
I heard a preacher one
time an Adventist preacher.
00:44:52.36\00:44:54.92
I won't tell his name it doesn't
matter what his name was.
00:44:54.95\00:44:56.66
I heard a preacher say.
00:44:56.69\00:44:57.72
Yeah, but in this
verse and this paragraph
00:44:57.75\00:45:00.19
she doesn't say sins.
00:45:00.22\00:45:03.23
She says
"shortcomings and mistakes."
00:45:03.26\00:45:06.51
We shall often have to bow down
and weep at the feet of Jesus
00:45:06.54\00:45:08.45
because of our
shortcomings and mistakes.
00:45:08.48\00:45:09.53
She didn't say, sins.
00:45:09.56\00:45:13.60
I thought to myself I wondered
what that would look like.
00:45:13.63\00:45:16.94
So I thought of a couple
of shortcomings and mistake.
00:45:16.97\00:45:19.20
I'd like to bring your attention
00:45:19.23\00:45:20.26
and like to imagine your
wife invites me over for potluck
00:45:20.29\00:45:23.19
and my family is coming over.
00:45:23.22\00:45:24.64
And your wife is
cooking marvelous meal
00:45:24.67\00:45:26.23
anything but haystacks.
00:45:26.26\00:45:28.00
And we are
sitting in the kitchen
00:45:28.03\00:45:30.68
and we are
talking and we're enjoying
00:45:30.71\00:45:33.21
one and another's company.
00:45:33.24\00:45:34.36
And as we are
enjoying one and others company
00:45:34.39\00:45:36.17
you're wife has
cooked us marvelous meal
00:45:36.20\00:45:37.99
and yet the aroma begins to
whooped into the living room
00:45:38.02\00:45:43.11
where we're
sitting and conversing.
00:45:43.14\00:45:44.81
It is the aroma of burnt tofu.
00:45:44.84\00:45:48.11
Your wife has burnt lunch.
00:45:53.87\00:45:59.13
Question. Is that a mistake?
00:45:59.16\00:46:02.77
Yes or no, is
that a mistake? Yes.
00:46:02.80\00:46:04.56
Is it a mistake
to burn the meal?
00:46:04.59\00:46:07.02
Yeah, but it is highly
unlikely that she bows down
00:46:07.05\00:46:10.11
and weeps at the feet of
Jesus for burning that tofu.
00:46:10.14\00:46:13.87
We shall often have to
bow down and weep of Jesus.
00:46:19.99\00:46:22.28
Look at our shortcomings
and mistakes, our shortcomings.
00:46:22.31\00:46:24.63
Man, I want you
to imagine with me
00:46:24.66\00:46:26.23
that you've got a dog.
00:46:26.26\00:46:29.40
I just got two dogs last
night. I'm baby sitting them.
00:46:29.43\00:46:31.45
Two huge German Shepherds,
00:46:31.48\00:46:33.69
sure to be at my
house last night.
00:46:33.72\00:46:36.93
That's why I'm crabby today.
00:46:36.96\00:46:38.02
I didn't get much sleep.
00:46:38.05\00:46:39.23
Just barking, barking, barking.
00:46:42.87\00:46:44.17
It was more like--
00:46:44.20\00:46:46.30
but just pretend for a
moment that you've a dog
00:46:46.33\00:46:48.56
and you're
really happy about it.
00:46:48.59\00:46:50.17
And don't get me wrong
I'm happy about these dogs
00:46:50.20\00:46:51.94
it's just a whole new
transition for me, okay.
00:46:51.97\00:46:54.72
And you're going
to build a doghouse.
00:46:54.75\00:46:58.84
And so you go to doghouse.com
00:46:58.87\00:47:03.17
and you download the PDF.
00:47:03.20\00:47:06.83
And you go and you cut
the boards measure them up.
00:47:06.86\00:47:10.75
Four boards, 3' 1" 1/4.
00:47:10.78\00:47:13.85
Yep, there it is.
00:47:13.88\00:47:15.35
One, cut, second.
00:47:15.38\00:47:18.71
Board, 3' 1" 1/4 and the third.
00:47:18.74\00:47:22.16
3' 1" 1/4. So I to
get the fourth out.
00:47:22.19\00:47:27.27
Ubiquity cell phone,
hello what can I do for you.
00:47:27.30\00:47:29.60
And you're talking on the phone.
00:47:29.63\00:47:31.75
You get off the
phone you go back
00:47:31.78\00:47:32.87
you measure up
your board. You cut it.
00:47:32.90\00:47:34.62
You go to assemble the doghouse.
00:47:34.65\00:47:38.70
And you're
putting together the--
00:47:38.73\00:47:41.50
you're putting it together,
00:47:41.53\00:47:44.49
and you've put your
first board in 3' 1" 1/4,
00:47:44.52\00:47:46.49
you've put your
second board in 3' 1" 1/4,
00:47:46.52\00:47:48.13
you put your
third board in 3' 1" 1/4
00:47:48.16\00:47:49.93
and put your fourth
board in and it looks short.
00:47:49.96\00:47:55.84
So you measure it.
00:47:55.87\00:47:57.23
Three foot and a
quarter you forgot the one.
00:47:57.26\00:48:02.09
Beloved, would
that be a shortcoming?
00:48:02.12\00:48:04.69
Will that be a shortcoming? Yes.
00:48:12.25\00:48:14.89
Do you think you would bow down
00:48:14.92\00:48:16.40
and weep at the
feet of Jesus over that?
00:48:16.43\00:48:19.19
Likely, you just
go cut another board.
00:48:19.22\00:48:22.56
When she says "We
shall often have to bow down
00:48:22.59\00:48:24.25
and weep at the feet of Jesus
00:48:24.28\00:48:25.31
because of our
shortcomings and mistakes."
00:48:25.34\00:48:26.54
Of course, she is
talking about sins.
00:48:26.57\00:48:32.24
Notice what she says
00:48:32.27\00:48:35.25
but we are not to be discouraged
00:48:35.28\00:48:40.01
even if we are
overcome by the enemy.
00:48:40.04\00:48:43.71
I suppose that it doesn't
hurt to read the context.
00:48:43.74\00:48:47.27
Overcome by the enemy
that sounds like a sin to be.
00:48:47.30\00:48:52.57
I want you to
listen to these words men
00:48:52.60\00:48:54.19
as the voice of God
to your souls today.
00:48:54.22\00:48:59.62
Even if you've been overcome
by the enemy listen to this,
00:48:59.65\00:49:03.65
"We are not cast off." Amen.
00:49:03.68\00:49:10.45
Praise the name of Jesus.
00:49:10.48\00:49:14.66
"We are not cast off."
00:49:14.69\00:49:17.90
She goes on, "Not
forsaken and rejected of God."
00:49:17.93\00:49:25.14
Tell me how you feel
when you've left yourself down
00:49:25.17\00:49:27.62
when you've done that very thing
00:49:27.65\00:49:28.89
that you said you
wouldn't do again.
00:49:28.92\00:49:30.61
You've fallen, you've sinned,
you've made a fool of yourself,
00:49:30.64\00:49:32.96
you've vomited allover yourself
00:49:32.99\00:49:34.70
and it's a great
big humiliating mess.
00:49:34.73\00:49:36.79
How do you feel? I'll
tell you how will feel.
00:49:36.82\00:49:39.83
You're
discouraged. You're despairing.
00:49:39.86\00:49:41.68
You feel cast off.
00:49:41.71\00:49:42.95
You feel forsaken
and rejected of God.
00:49:42.98\00:49:45.28
And isn't that
fascinating that she says
00:49:45.31\00:49:47.11
"That is exactly
what you're not."
00:49:47.14\00:49:49.89
Not forsaken,
not rejected of God
00:49:55.59\00:49:57.47
and then she says, one word.
00:49:57.50\00:50:01.72
She says, no.
00:50:01.75\00:50:06.95
No, semicolon
it's a whole sentence.
00:50:06.98\00:50:12.47
She says, no.
00:50:12.50\00:50:15.91
I guess that's
her way of saying that
00:50:15.94\00:50:17.36
that's not what happens.
00:50:17.39\00:50:18.82
"Christ is at
the right hand of God
00:50:23.58\00:50:25.57
who also makes
intercession for us.
00:50:25.60\00:50:29.49
Said the beloved, John,
00:50:29.52\00:50:30.59
'These things
are right unto you,
00:50:30.62\00:50:31.82
that you sin not.
00:50:31.85\00:50:33.03
And heaven forbid in
the highly unlikely event
00:50:33.06\00:50:35.13
that you do sin.
00:50:35.16\00:50:36.38
We have an advocate
00:50:36.41\00:50:38.75
with the Father Jesus
Christ, the righteous.'"
00:50:38.78\00:50:43.07
Hallelujah, keep
getting up. Amen.
00:50:43.10\00:50:47.80
Two appeals this morning man.
00:50:52.84\00:50:54.30
As a man here today,
there are men here today
00:50:57.59\00:51:03.31
who have struggled
with the same thing
00:51:03.34\00:51:10.57
or may be a new thing
and this thing it got you.
00:51:10.60\00:51:18.33
And you've tried to shake it off
00:51:18.36\00:51:19.59
but it got you
again and you shook it off
00:51:19.62\00:51:21.70
and it got you again.
00:51:21.73\00:51:25.19
And the thought dawned on you.
00:51:25.22\00:51:29.14
In the thick of the
battle the thought dawned on you
00:51:29.17\00:51:32.39
as you were
overridden with guilt
00:51:32.42\00:51:34.16
as you were overridden
00:51:34.19\00:51:35.22
with the sense of
your unworthiness,
00:51:35.25\00:51:36.56
the thought dawned on
you that it might be easier
00:51:36.59\00:51:39.64
to just stop doing
the religion thing.
00:51:39.67\00:51:43.71
It appears as
though religion is working
00:51:47.97\00:51:49.44
for other people in the church
00:51:49.47\00:51:51.17
but surely this thing
that is chasing you around
00:51:51.20\00:51:53.59
is not chasing the
other holy saints around.
00:51:53.62\00:51:56.44
And the thought came
into your mind that may be,
00:51:56.47\00:51:59.25
may be you should
just throw in the towel.
00:51:59.28\00:52:03.57
You fell down and
the thought came to you.
00:52:03.60\00:52:05.77
You know, it might be
easier to just stay down.
00:52:05.80\00:52:07.96
And today God has spoken to you
00:52:14.84\00:52:16.77
and you have heard
the voice of Jesus,
00:52:20.12\00:52:22.77
through His Holy Spirit
saying to you personally.
00:52:22.80\00:52:26.30
Mark, John,
Luke, Jerry, Patrick,
00:52:26.33\00:52:31.03
Ron, Louis, keep getting up.
00:52:31.06\00:52:37.86
And today you want to say
00:52:37.89\00:52:39.35
responding to this first appeal,
00:52:39.38\00:52:41.56
Lord Jesus I was
tempted to throw in the towel
00:52:41.59\00:52:44.11
but hallelujah
today You rescued me
00:52:44.14\00:52:46.45
and by You're grace I
will get up again. Amen.
00:52:46.48\00:52:50.39
So somebody that
wants to stand at their feet
00:52:50.42\00:52:51.77
and say that applies to me.
00:52:51.80\00:52:54.16
So someone wants to
stand at their feet,
00:52:54.19\00:52:55.44
God bless you my techniques.
00:52:55.47\00:52:58.30
Who wants to rise at
their feet and that's me.
00:52:58.33\00:53:05.63
Second appeal,
00:53:05.66\00:53:08.54
Jesus said "No
man having old wine
00:53:08.57\00:53:10.31
immediately desires the new."
00:53:10.34\00:53:11.56
Because he says
"the old is better."
00:53:11.59\00:53:13.36
I'm one of those
old fashioned preachers
00:53:17.15\00:53:18.68
that believes
that you really can
00:53:18.71\00:53:23.77
get the victory over sin.
00:53:23.80\00:53:27.14
If I didn't believed
that I wouldn't be a preacher.
00:53:27.17\00:53:31.96
God doesn't just forgive us
00:53:31.99\00:53:33.04
to allow us to
wallowing our vomit.
00:53:33.07\00:53:35.04
God has a plan for your life
00:53:35.07\00:53:36.45
and that plan is holiness. Amen.
00:53:36.48\00:53:42.18
We're not going to be sinning
in heaven, beloved, amen.
00:53:42.21\00:53:46.82
And you have got
some old wine in you life.
00:53:46.85\00:53:51.49
I want you to get your
mind on a specific thing.
00:53:51.52\00:53:53.69
Something in your
life may be that that God
00:53:57.61\00:54:01.43
has been putting the
finger of the Holy Spirit on
00:54:01.46\00:54:04.70
and then saying but
what about this one.
00:54:04.73\00:54:08.36
This is something
you've wrestled through
00:54:08.39\00:54:09.69
and you've been through
and you were almost past it.
00:54:09.72\00:54:12.39
But may be you went back to
00:54:12.42\00:54:13.62
and then you were
almost done with it
00:54:13.65\00:54:14.98
and then may be
you went back to it.
00:54:15.01\00:54:16.53
You've got some old
wine in your experience.
00:54:16.56\00:54:19.38
I want to ask you a
question here today.
00:54:19.41\00:54:21.37
Men, what does it look like
00:54:21.40\00:54:26.10
for you to take that
specific thing whatever it is?
00:54:26.13\00:54:29.48
What does it look like
for you to take that thing
00:54:29.51\00:54:33.64
and bring it here to
the altar and leave it here?
00:54:33.67\00:54:40.56
What does it look like
00:54:40.59\00:54:41.62
for Jesus to take that
thing away from you today?
00:54:41.65\00:54:47.69
You believe Jesus
can do that? Amen.
00:54:47.72\00:54:51.12
Is there a man here today
00:54:51.15\00:54:52.18
who says I have some
old wine? I know what it is.
00:54:52.21\00:54:56.61
The Lord has told me what it is
00:54:56.64\00:54:58.02
and by His grace
00:54:58.05\00:55:01.37
I want to leave this
one here in the Great Lakes
00:55:01.40\00:55:03.41
Adventist Academy gymnasium
00:55:03.44\00:55:05.29
and when I drive back to Mio,
00:55:05.32\00:55:06.95
when I drive back to Gladwin,
00:55:06.98\00:55:08.53
when I drive back to
Sterling Heights or Warren,
00:55:08.56\00:55:10.51
when I drive back to the UP,
00:55:10.54\00:55:12.09
that thing is
still gonna be here.
00:55:12.12\00:55:13.96
This one is not
going to follow me home
00:55:13.99\00:55:15.07
by the grace of God.
00:55:15.10\00:55:16.13
I need to leave some new
wine here in this gymnasium.
00:55:16.16\00:55:20.31
Some old wine. Who
has got some old wine?
00:55:20.34\00:55:23.48
Come right here and
just leave it right here.
00:55:23.51\00:55:26.15
You bring that
old wine right here.
00:55:26.18\00:55:28.72
Come all the way and
if you have some old wine
00:55:28.75\00:55:30.28
some specific thing,
00:55:30.31\00:55:32.62
bring it right
here to the front.
00:55:32.65\00:55:33.68
Let's leave it here.
00:55:33.71\00:55:38.02
Come on man plenty of
room, push to the front.
00:55:38.05\00:55:42.73
Everybody's got to
get their stuff up here.
00:55:42.76\00:55:44.27
So let's bring it up here.
00:55:44.30\00:55:45.38
What does it look like
for you to leave it here?
00:55:45.41\00:55:47.45
I want to emphasize here
00:56:03.41\00:56:04.44
that this is not
just a general appeal
00:56:04.47\00:56:09.24
but this is the spirit of
God speaking to you saying
00:56:09.27\00:56:11.94
there is that
thing that, that thing.
00:56:11.97\00:56:16.95
And that thing we're
going to bring it here
00:56:16.98\00:56:19.74
and by the grace of God
we're going to leave it here.
00:56:23.72\00:56:26.04
Let us pray together.
00:56:29.64\00:56:30.67
Father, in heaven you're God
00:56:30.70\00:56:32.38
we're sinners in
need of a Savior.
00:56:36.26\00:56:38.49
We confess that we have fallen
00:56:42.68\00:56:44.72
short of the glory of God.
00:56:44.75\00:56:50.13
At the same time we confess
00:56:50.16\00:56:51.58
that Jesus is the expressed
image of the glory of God.
00:56:51.61\00:56:58.54
And we're
putting our faith in Him,
00:56:58.57\00:57:02.57
Him who is mighty to save.
00:57:02.60\00:57:05.92
Father, we confess that
00:57:05.95\00:57:07.54
we have some old
wine in our lives.
00:57:10.95\00:57:13.31
Those who of us who come forward
00:57:13.34\00:57:14.62
and we want to leave it here.
00:57:14.65\00:57:16.30
Father, we don't
believe for a moment
00:57:19.80\00:57:21.00
that we can shake this
thing off by our grace,
00:57:21.03\00:57:23.11
by our power and by our strength
00:57:23.14\00:57:24.59
but by your grace we believe
00:57:24.62\00:57:26.38
that today miracle of
miracles, glory of glories
00:57:26.41\00:57:30.47
that we could
leave it here, Father.
00:57:30.50\00:57:32.72
So, Father, we come to You
00:57:39.73\00:57:42.06
presenting ourselves as sinners.
00:57:42.09\00:57:49.39
But not just
any ordinary sinners
00:57:49.42\00:57:53.81
as sinners redeemed by
the sacrifice of Christ.
00:57:53.84\00:57:59.34
As sinners who are
tired of being sinners.
00:57:59.37\00:58:04.00
As sinners who
long to be saints.
00:58:04.03\00:58:08.05
Father we don't know
how You're going to get us
00:58:12.82\00:58:14.40
from A to B, from here to heaven
00:58:14.43\00:58:21.44
but we believe Your word
00:58:21.47\00:58:25.37
that if we keep getting up
00:58:25.40\00:58:29.23
You will complete the
work that you have began.
00:58:29.26\00:58:34.97
And the mighty
00:58:41.19\00:58:43.91
powerful saving name of Jesus.
00:58:43.94\00:58:49.29
That all of God's
man say, amen. Amen.
00:58:49.32\00:58:52.71
And men, I talk to
you real quick here.
00:58:52.74\00:58:56.85
We have covenant
commitment with the Lord.
00:58:56.88\00:59:00.23
God has been honored today.
00:59:00.26\00:59:04.32
But if you go home and you fall
00:59:04.35\00:59:09.19
and into your utter amazement
00:59:09.22\00:59:10.58
this thing that
you've just left right there,
00:59:10.61\00:59:12.62
followed you home.
Please encourage me.
00:59:12.65\00:59:17.37
What you're gonna do. Amen.
00:59:17.40\00:59:20.12
Keep getting up.
00:59:20.15\00:59:22.05
Give the brothers standing
next to you some courage.
00:59:22.08\00:59:24.75
Tell them that
Jesus is coming soon
00:59:24.78\00:59:26.09
and you want to see
Him on the sea of glass.
00:59:26.12\00:59:28.25