And we welcome you once
again to Pillars of Faith,
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a word for today
in today's world.
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We thank you for joining us
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for this third in a
series of very powerful
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and pointed
messages by our speaker,
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Pastor Kenny Shelton of
Behold the Lamb Ministries.
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My name is C.A. Murray.
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And it is my
privilege and pleasure
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to welcome you and to greet you
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in the name of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
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to yet another sitting
in this powerful series
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that Kenny is entitling
a Vessel for the Refiner.
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We talked about
that the other day.
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A vessel is
something that holds something.
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We are vessels of God
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and a refiner of
course is something
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that makes things smooth
and right for their usage,
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and so what a wonderful series.
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His first message was
holiness is not just a feeling,
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very, very pointed
and powerful messages,
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message rather, and
then filled with the spirit.
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We can indeed be blessed by
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and filled with
the Spirit of God.
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Tonight, this
message, shake off the dust.
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What a powerful,
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powerful theme and
idea to shake off the dust.
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That's a command,
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and I'm sure Pastor
Kenny will take us through
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each and every aspect
of this powerful message,
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shake off the dust.
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So we want you to get your
minds and your hearts ready
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for a blessing
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because the man of God is coming
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to speak to our
hearts into our souls
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and God has got
something very, very special
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that He wants to say
to you and for your life.
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We're going to have prayer
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and then we're going to
call out Pastor Kenny Shelton
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of Behold the Lamb Ministries,
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our friend to this pulpit
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and ask him to allow
God to use him once again
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to give us a message for
our hearts and for our souls.
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Shall we pray?
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Gracious Father,
how we praise You
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and thank You for your word.
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It is truly a
lamp unto our feet.
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It is truly a
light onto our path,
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and we walk in that light
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each and every day of our lives.
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Father God,
bless now your speaker,
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bless the one who has
been chosen to give us
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a word for the Lord
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and help us to be
hearers of that word
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and doers of that word.
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Enable us and bold
us to walk the walk,
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talk the talk,
and live the lives
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of those who are
saved for eternity.
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Please, dear God,
teach us this day,
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help us to know
what You'd have us to do
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and then give us strength
to do what we know to be right.
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Bless the speaker.
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Bless those in this house
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and around the
world who will hear.
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And we praise You and we
thank You in Jesus' name.
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Amen and Amen.
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And now Pastor Kenny Shelton,
the man of God, hear ye him.
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Praise the Lord. It's
good to be with you again.
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As been mentioned
here by Pastor CA,
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this is our
third meeting together.
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And of course we have
five. So Praise the Lord.
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This is an exciting subject,
you know, shaking off the dust.
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Is there ever a time that
in our Christian experience
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that we come to a
point to where we say
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we need to shake the
dust of our feet and move on?
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What does that really mean?
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Well, you know,
I find many times
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that we continue to
labor and labor and labor
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and there's no results
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and we do it for
years and year and year,
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a lot of time
with family and friends
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because we love them, we
want them in the kingdom,
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but what happens?
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We continue to work
but there are no results.
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And there comes a
time when, you know,
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that we need to move on
and continue pray for them,
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labor where we can,
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but we must
realize Jesus is coming
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and the fields
are ripe for harvest.
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So shake off the dust.
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We're going to talk about that
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and read a few
passages of scripture
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and we pray that's going
to be an inspiration to you.
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I want to kneel up
hear and have a pray.
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So I pray those
of you joining us
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and those who
are around the world
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that where you can that
you're going to kneel with me
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and we're going to
ask God's blessing,
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you know, we can't
present this message
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without the Holy Spirit, can we?
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Would you just pray with me?
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Some of you will
not be able to kneel,
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but that's all right.
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Let just pray.
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Our kind and
loving Heavenly Father,
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we approach your throne.
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We're very grateful and thankful
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for Your mercy
and for Your love.
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We're thankful for Calvary.
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We invite Thy Holy
Spirit and presence
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to take possession
of each and every one
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of your children today.
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We realize
there's an impossibility
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to understand
the spiritual things
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without the Spirit.
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We ask that You would
come in, around, through,
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among each and every one of
us that our ears, our hearts,
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our minds may be open
that we may have the feast
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that You would have us
to participate in today.
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The feast of Your
Word, to learn more about You
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and how to be
prepared for Your soon coming.
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We thank You for
each one who listens,
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each one who views, we
pray their need will me met
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and it will be in Jesus Christ.
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I ask for forgiveness,
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if any sin in my heart and
life that needs to not be there.
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I need to hear Your sweet voice
from the power of Thy Spirit.
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Take this mess that
I'm getting ready to make
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and we pray that You will
put it sweet into the ears
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of each and every
one of your children
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and I'm gonna thank
You in advance for it.
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In Jesus' name. Amen.
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How wonderful is it?
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Just so wonderful
to be able to pray.
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We come boldly, the Bible says,
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"We may come
boldly to the throne."
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So I pray that each
one of you, day by day,
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you're coming boldly
to the throne of God.
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You have that
right because of Jesus,
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not because of who you are,
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anything that you've
ever done or ever will do,
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but because of Jesus Christ.
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I'd like for you to
turn with me and some of you,
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you know,
pencil, paper, jot down.
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Some say, "Oh!
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You move so quickly, I
can't stay up with you."
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That's why you have a pencil
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and a paper and
write these things down.
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And then you go study
to make sure they are so.
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Don't believe
every pastor that gets up
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or every evangelist
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without
checking him by the Word.
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I always say
check it by the Word.
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It's very important
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because the enemy is
working very, very...
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I'm telling you,
he's working hard,
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he's not quitting
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because he knows Jesus is
ready to come to claim His own.
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In Luke 9, I want
to start with this,
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shake off the dust
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and see what this
is talking about here.
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In Luke 9,
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we're going to look
at verse 5, Luke 9:5.
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Now again, I'm
thankful to have the Word of God
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because when you
have the Word of God,
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we open the pages,
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we're promised to be a
blessing from the Spirit.
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And I believe that
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and I realize
this, and once again,
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spiritual things are
spiritually discerned.
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That's why many
people in the world,
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they want to
bicker, they want to fight,
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they want to
argue, they want to say,
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it says this but it
really doesn't mean this.
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You have to
have the Holy Spirit,
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invite the Holy Spirit.
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You have to be a
learner in the school of Christ.
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You have to be
willing to be taught
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by the Holy Spirit.
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I mean we never come to
Him and say we know everything.
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Oh, we don't know. We
never learn everything.
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Throughout eternity,
we'll still be learning.
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Notice what the
Bible says in Luke 9:5,
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and it's talking about
Jesus sends out the twelve.
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You remember, He prays for them,
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He sends them out
and tells them, you know,
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He's going to give
them what they need,
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to heal the sick, you know,
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and to go forward
preaching the Gospel,
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said, don't take
anything with you,
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just go by faith and
I'll meet all of your needs.
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But then notice, verse 5,
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"And whosoever
will not receive you
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when you go out of that city,
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shake off the
dust from your feet
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for a testimony against them."
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So evidently
there might come a time
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when we're presenting
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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People don't want to hear it.
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You know, you keep trying,
you try to give them studies,
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you're inviting them,
you want them to come,
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to want them to be
saved in God's kingdom,
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but they just don't want to.
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May be there comes a
time that we shake the dust.
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And we simply move on.
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Still love them,
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still want them in the
kingdom we talked about.
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"Shake off the
very dust of the feet."
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And when you're
talking about shake,
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the word here in the
Greek talking about stake,
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jostle it just a little
bit, shake it up a little bit,
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brush it off a
little bit and move on.
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Don't get
discouraged by it, just move on.
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Leave the work up
to the Holy Spirit.
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In fact, should we be
thinking along this line?
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Absolutely.
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The book of
Ephesians 6:11, the Bible says
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that we are to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
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Now notice this,
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I want to read a quote
here and then go back and say,
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"Okay, if are to stand
against the wiles of the devil,
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we need to know
what the wiles maybe are.
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Four Testimonies 180,
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I'm going to read this paragraph
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and then let's
dissect just a little bit here
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because remember, in this series
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we're preparing to what?
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To repopulate Heaven.
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And only those who
have become like Jesus
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will repopulate Heaven.
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And I realized
mature, I realized my growth.
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I'm talking about
perfection of character.
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I'm talking about righteousness
by faith to be like Him.
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Character development.
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This is all essential if
heaven is going to be our home.
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Notice this, 4 T 180, it says,
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"The Lord is fitting
a people for Heaven."
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Hallelujah. The
Lord is done what?
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He's fitting a
people for heaven.
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I don't know if you
ever, I've never went a tailor
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as it were and be
fitted for a suit.
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Many of you probably have.
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But you know, to
be fitted for it means
00:10:00.53\00:10:02.03
it's going to make it fit,
00:10:02.06\00:10:03.40
there's going to
be some alterations,
00:10:03.43\00:10:05.07
there may be some
changes that have to be made.
00:10:05.10\00:10:09.44
And God is fitting up a
people, he's sewing it up.
00:10:09.47\00:10:15.44
He's going to make it
fit because after all,
00:10:15.48\00:10:18.25
He wants you to have
His robe of righteousness
00:10:18.28\00:10:20.38
but He is fitting
up a people for heaven.
00:10:20.42\00:10:22.08
Notice this.
00:10:22.12\00:10:23.45
It goes into detail
the defects of character.
00:10:23.49\00:10:26.62
What are the
defects of character?
00:10:26.65\00:10:27.99
Oh, there might be many
but notice in this article,
00:10:28.02\00:10:31.89
it says, "The stubborn will.
00:10:31.93\00:10:34.20
The selfish idolatry, the
indulgence of faultfinding,
00:10:34.23\00:10:39.80
hatred, and contention
provoke the wrath of God
00:10:39.83\00:10:44.67
and must be put away
00:10:44.71\00:10:46.17
from the
commandment keeping people."
00:10:46.21\00:10:47.91
If you profess, if I profess
I am a commandment keeping...
00:10:47.94\00:10:52.31
By the grace of God,
I'm a commandment keeper,
00:10:52.35\00:10:54.78
then all these
things have to be put away.
00:10:54.82\00:10:56.95
How is that we can have
contention with one another
00:10:56.99\00:10:59.59
and be commandment keepers.
00:10:59.62\00:11:02.39
How is that I
can be a faultfinder.
00:11:02.42\00:11:04.53
Everything you go to
somebody finds fault,
00:11:04.56\00:11:06.23
faultfinder.
00:11:06.26\00:11:07.60
That's the old
devil, you know that.
00:11:07.63\00:11:09.90
May be a hatred or you
just don't like somebody.
00:11:09.93\00:11:12.17
You say, well,
I don't like them.
00:11:12.20\00:11:14.07
Oh no, we have
to love our enemies.
00:11:14.10\00:11:16.27
The Bible says, "Love
those who persecute you."
00:11:16.30\00:11:18.77
Do good to them is
what the Bible said.
00:11:18.81\00:11:20.84
Some time, we're just stubborn.
00:11:20.88\00:11:23.75
We can't be stubborn
00:11:23.78\00:11:25.11
and entering
the portals of glory
00:11:25.15\00:11:26.85
or have idols, we can't do that.
00:11:26.88\00:11:28.78
So these things
have to be put away,
00:11:28.82\00:11:30.69
the article goes on,
notice another line here.
00:11:30.72\00:11:33.12
"Those living in the sins,
00:11:33.15\00:11:35.49
" these sins we have
been talking about, "
00:11:35.52\00:11:37.09
are deceived and
blinded by the wiles of Satan.
00:11:37.13\00:11:42.73
Is it possible, the
so-called commandment
00:11:42.76\00:11:45.37
keeping people of
God can be deceived
00:11:45.40\00:11:47.97
by the wiles of the devil?
00:11:48.00\00:11:49.97
You say, no, it can't be
because I know the scripture.
00:11:50.01\00:11:52.17
Is it possible?
00:11:52.21\00:11:53.54
Do we have that stubborn will,
00:11:53.58\00:11:54.91
we're fault finding and
in our hatred and contention?
00:11:54.94\00:11:57.78
Are we always
fussing and arguing?
00:11:57.81\00:12:00.95
The wiles of the devil
is very, very interesting
00:12:00.98\00:12:03.28
because we just
mentioned Ephesians 6:11,
00:12:03.32\00:12:05.85
we're to stand against
the wiles of the devil.
00:12:05.89\00:12:10.73
And that simply means
here the method of the enemy.
00:12:10.76\00:12:14.56
That means the
trickery of the enemy.
00:12:14.60\00:12:18.03
Or hear the
wiles would be anything
00:12:18.07\00:12:20.64
that would come
between God and man.
00:12:20.67\00:12:23.74
Hope that makes sense.
00:12:23.77\00:12:25.17
Anything that would come
00:12:25.21\00:12:26.68
between God and man
is a wile of the devil.
00:12:26.71\00:12:31.51
It's his method to separate.
00:12:31.55\00:12:34.62
So sometimes, believe it or not,
00:12:34.65\00:12:36.18
brothers and sisters,
00:12:36.22\00:12:38.12
there can be or
must be a separation,
00:12:38.15\00:12:41.42
maybe even a division of
those who want to follow Christ
00:12:41.46\00:12:44.89
and those who
refuse to follow Christ.
00:12:44.93\00:12:48.36
A very interesting thought,
00:12:48.40\00:12:50.30
I believe this is a
very important subject.
00:12:50.33\00:12:54.70
And not enough can really be
said, preached, talked about.
00:12:54.74\00:12:59.41
I believe our salvation
depends upon our accepting.
00:12:59.44\00:13:03.01
Notice the two things
we've been talking about
00:13:03.04\00:13:05.05
over and over is the early rain
00:13:05.08\00:13:07.15
and the latter rain
with its conditions.
00:13:07.18\00:13:12.42
How interesting?
00:13:12.45\00:13:13.79
Because receiving the early rain
00:13:13.82\00:13:15.16
and the latter rain
does have conditions.
00:13:15.19\00:13:17.46
It's not just, okay, I
want it, somebody give it to me.
00:13:17.49\00:13:20.80
There are
conditions to receiving it.
00:13:20.83\00:13:23.57
And then we've
come to this point,
00:13:23.60\00:13:25.23
we talked about
it, previous lesson.
00:13:25.27\00:13:27.44
Only those who are
living up to the light
00:13:27.47\00:13:30.67
that they have will
receive greater light.
00:13:30.71\00:13:34.21
Now let that soak into
your, may I say your noodle,
00:13:34.24\00:13:38.11
into your mind.
00:13:38.15\00:13:39.61
Only those who are
living up to the light
00:13:39.65\00:13:42.38
that they have that the
Holy Spirit has given them
00:13:42.42\00:13:45.02
will receive greater light.
00:13:45.05\00:13:47.42
Does anyone need greater light?
00:13:47.46\00:13:49.02
Absolutely.
00:13:49.06\00:13:50.69
Well, the enemy knows that too
00:13:50.73\00:13:52.06
so he sends along the
counterfeit many times
00:13:52.09\00:13:54.86
and somebody will come
to me and say, "Oh, oh!
00:13:54.90\00:13:56.67
I have some new light here."
00:13:56.70\00:13:59.23
And they might
give you the old message
00:13:59.27\00:14:01.64
that's always
been but new to them.
00:14:01.67\00:14:03.30
That's beautiful, it's all right
00:14:03.34\00:14:04.67
as long as it
harmonizes with scripture.
00:14:04.71\00:14:06.54
But you know, I can just,
my mind, think about that,
00:14:06.57\00:14:09.24
you know, we're going
along the pathway toward heaven.
00:14:09.28\00:14:11.75
There is a light that's
shining on that pathway.
00:14:11.78\00:14:14.85
And as you're
going along that way,
00:14:14.88\00:14:16.69
the enemy likes to get
as close to you as he can.
00:14:16.72\00:14:20.06
Does that makes sense?
00:14:20.09\00:14:21.42
He has his own little
light, he has a flash light.
00:14:21.46\00:14:24.46
And he puts it real
close to the real McCoy.
00:14:24.49\00:14:27.66
And pretty soon,
if you're not careful,
00:14:27.70\00:14:29.26
all of a sudden
that you are going off
00:14:29.30\00:14:31.93
into, what, the enemy's
light and you're calling it,
00:14:31.97\00:14:35.27
"Oh, this is new truth."
00:14:35.30\00:14:38.27
It must
harmonize with scripture.
00:14:38.31\00:14:41.24
In this moment that we are in,
we must realize that not a peg
00:14:41.28\00:14:45.91
or pin can be removed
from our foundation principles,
00:14:45.95\00:14:48.98
the pillars of faith.
00:14:49.02\00:14:51.42
And yet, people are
trying to remove them.
00:14:51.45\00:14:53.96
They're trying to
replace them, to change them,
00:14:53.99\00:14:57.33
to make it more
convenient for the day and hour,
00:14:57.36\00:15:00.40
the year that we live in.
00:15:00.43\00:15:02.06
Truth does not
change. We've got to get back.
00:15:02.10\00:15:06.53
Heaven is just
around the corner,
00:15:06.57\00:15:08.44
my brothers and sisters.
00:15:08.47\00:15:10.81
Light, we need that
light of Jesus Christ.
00:15:10.84\00:15:15.51
John 13, the bible
simply says in verse 35,
00:15:15.54\00:15:18.81
John 12:35 says,
"We walk in the light,
00:15:18.85\00:15:23.25
lest darkness come upon you."
00:15:23.28\00:15:25.25
So when the light is shining,
we must walk in that light,
00:15:25.29\00:15:28.36
if we don't, darkness will come.
00:15:28.39\00:15:30.79
The enemy is right
there, he hates light.
00:15:30.83\00:15:33.19
He likes to work in the dark,
00:15:33.23\00:15:34.56
so you can't really
tell what's going on.
00:15:34.60\00:15:38.40
Another little book I
love, the Nine Testimonies 182,
00:15:38.43\00:15:41.84
and I might just mention
00:15:41.87\00:15:43.71
that it's all made
difficult in this sense.
00:15:43.74\00:15:46.78
There is so much
information on the subjects
00:15:46.81\00:15:50.51
that we're talking about
here, it's mind-boggling.
00:15:50.55\00:15:53.45
Well, I didn't know
there's that much information.
00:15:53.48\00:15:55.42
Mind boggling and so,
you have to sort through
00:15:55.45\00:15:58.29
and try to pick
out some little gems
00:15:58.32\00:16:00.46
that might help to encourage you
00:16:00.49\00:16:02.26
and encourage me
along my walk toward heaven.
00:16:02.29\00:16:06.39
Nine Testimonies, 182 says this.
00:16:06.43\00:16:08.86
"The Lord brings
his erring children."
00:16:08.90\00:16:11.47
Notice what he does.
00:16:11.50\00:16:13.34
You say, well,
I'm going to one test,
00:16:13.37\00:16:14.94
one trial, same
like the same thing
00:16:14.97\00:16:17.37
is coming up over and over.
00:16:17.41\00:16:19.34
Is there a reason for that?
00:16:19.37\00:16:21.44
Might there be a reason
00:16:21.48\00:16:23.14
why God allows
some of the same tests
00:16:23.18\00:16:25.85
to come back, maybe in
a little different way,
00:16:25.88\00:16:29.65
God knows what He's doing
and who He's dealing with.
00:16:29.68\00:16:32.65
But notice the Lord
bring his erring children
00:16:32.69\00:16:35.39
over the same
ground again and again.
00:16:35.42\00:16:39.09
But notice, but if
they continually fail
00:16:39.13\00:16:42.40
to heed the
admonition of His Spirit,
00:16:42.43\00:16:45.93
if they fail to
reform on every point
00:16:45.97\00:16:50.07
where they have erred,
00:16:50.11\00:16:51.64
he will finally leave
them to their own weakness.
00:16:51.67\00:16:56.38
There comes a time
00:16:56.41\00:16:57.75
as the spirit continues to bring
00:16:57.78\00:16:59.51
the truth to us,
continues to lead people to us,
00:16:59.55\00:17:02.38
to help us to gain the
victory to know what truth is,
00:17:02.42\00:17:06.15
there comes a time.
00:17:06.19\00:17:08.69
If we will not accept
that, if we fail, notice this,
00:17:08.72\00:17:12.43
the Word says, if
we fail to reform,
00:17:12.46\00:17:15.33
if we fail to change our life,
00:17:15.36\00:17:18.03
notice this on every
part were we have erred,
00:17:18.07\00:17:21.17
finally the
spirit then leaves us.
00:17:21.20\00:17:23.67
Let me tell you, my
brothers and sisters,
00:17:23.71\00:17:25.04
the Spirit of
Living God leaves you,
00:17:25.07\00:17:27.24
I can tell you who's going
to take control immediately,
00:17:27.28\00:17:29.38
it is the Devil.
00:17:29.41\00:17:32.35
I want that to be clear,
00:17:32.38\00:17:33.72
I don't want there to
be any question about it.
00:17:33.75\00:17:35.58
There is no question about
it. You serve one or the other.
00:17:35.62\00:17:38.25
You serve God or
you serve the Enemy.
00:17:38.29\00:17:40.19
Well, you say,
well, I'm not a Christian.
00:17:40.22\00:17:41.82
Let me just be bold,
I'm not trying to judge.
00:17:41.86\00:17:44.46
The Bible is clear.
00:17:44.49\00:17:47.80
Jesus said, he who is
not with me is against me.
00:17:47.83\00:17:52.53
It becomes very clear,
00:17:52.57\00:17:53.90
you're with one
leader or the other,
00:17:53.94\00:17:55.27
not both of them
at the same time.
00:17:55.30\00:17:56.71
We need to keep
this in our thinking.
00:17:56.74\00:17:59.87
Another book I love,
00:17:59.91\00:18:01.24
The Great Controversy, page 614.
00:18:01.28\00:18:03.88
It says this.
00:18:03.91\00:18:05.25
And of course, we
realize in the book of Genesis.
00:18:05.28\00:18:06.61
We realize the Bible
indicates in principle
00:18:06.65\00:18:09.52
that if we
reject the Holy Spirit,
00:18:09.55\00:18:12.95
it will be
withdrawn as it was withdrawn,
00:18:12.99\00:18:15.16
the flood and so on.
00:18:15.19\00:18:16.52
And just notice this.
00:18:16.56\00:18:18.53
"The spirit of God
persistently resisted
00:18:18.56\00:18:21.83
has been at last withdrawn."
00:18:21.86\00:18:24.40
So there's comes a
time in earth's history
00:18:24.43\00:18:26.17
because man no
longer wants to listen.
00:18:26.20\00:18:28.90
He no longer wants
to reform his life.
00:18:28.94\00:18:30.77
We no longer want to
hear revival and reformation.
00:18:30.81\00:18:33.54
We don't want to hear about
00:18:33.58\00:18:34.91
we need to make a
change in our life.
00:18:34.94\00:18:36.28
Most people are
happy where they're at.
00:18:36.31\00:18:39.75
See, I'm not going
to be happy in this life
00:18:39.78\00:18:41.65
regardless of how good you say
00:18:41.68\00:18:43.02
or how nice things are
until heaven is my home.
00:18:43.05\00:18:47.76
I'm just passing through.
00:18:47.79\00:18:49.92
There's something inside
00:18:49.96\00:18:51.29
and I pray that's inside of you.
00:18:51.33\00:18:53.19
There's something inside,
00:18:53.23\00:18:54.70
there's that longing inside
00:18:54.73\00:18:57.40
for a place you could
say that you've never been.
00:18:57.43\00:19:01.80
Is there a longing
inside that no matter how good,
00:19:01.84\00:19:04.44
how nice things
seem to be right now,
00:19:04.47\00:19:06.61
it is only temporary.
00:19:06.64\00:19:09.38
Everything changes
00:19:09.41\00:19:10.91
but yet there's still
a longing for something,
00:19:10.95\00:19:13.52
a place that you've never
been that you've never seen.
00:19:13.55\00:19:16.28
By faith, you're
looking for heaven,
00:19:16.32\00:19:17.99
it's that longing that God,
00:19:18.02\00:19:19.45
I think, through
the Spirit puts in.
00:19:19.49\00:19:21.86
We won't be happy
till we've reached home.
00:19:21.89\00:19:25.56
That Spirit is going
to be gradually withdrawn
00:19:25.59\00:19:28.83
and man then becomes,
what, nothing but demons.
00:19:28.86\00:19:32.60
Now Jesus gave the instructions
00:19:32.63\00:19:34.94
that we read about there
and also in Mathew 10:14.
00:19:34.97\00:19:40.04
And he says it
like this in Mathew,
00:19:40.08\00:19:42.21
"Whosoever
shall not receive you,
00:19:42.24\00:19:44.51
nor hear your words
00:19:44.55\00:19:46.88
when ye depart out
of that house or city,
00:19:46.92\00:19:49.88
shake off the
dust of your feet."
00:19:49.92\00:19:53.32
Interestingly, we you
think about shake off the dust,
00:19:53.36\00:19:55.32
what is the dust?
00:19:55.36\00:19:57.43
Ecclesiastes 3:20 says,
00:19:57.46\00:19:59.06
"All are of the dust
and all return to the dust."
00:19:59.09\00:20:03.06
So it pertains to
what? It must pertain to man.
00:20:03.10\00:20:07.74
We're made out of
dust, when we die,
00:20:07.77\00:20:09.44
we return to the dust.
00:20:09.47\00:20:10.84
And so dust and particles
00:20:10.87\00:20:12.91
or maybe what man
is associated with,
00:20:12.94\00:20:15.71
we need to shake
something off here.
00:20:15.74\00:20:17.41
Let's notice what it
says here, dust, earth, clay.
00:20:17.45\00:20:22.98
Genesis 2:7 talks
about we're made of dust.
00:20:23.02\00:20:26.69
So Jesus says in Matthew
10:14 shake off the white wash.
00:20:26.72\00:20:31.66
Interesting, shake
off the loose dirt,
00:20:31.69\00:20:34.50
brush it off.
00:20:34.53\00:20:36.30
And notice this,
the rubbish of man.
00:20:36.33\00:20:39.70
It's time we shake
off the rubbish of man,
00:20:39.73\00:20:43.00
man's
traditions, man's thinking,
00:20:43.04\00:20:44.94
I think it seems like,
00:20:44.97\00:20:46.34
it ought to,
should be, shake it off.
00:20:46.37\00:20:49.01
Go back to the Word of God,
00:20:49.04\00:20:50.38
what does God say on this issue.
00:20:50.41\00:20:54.15
Time will come once again
that we will not hear and obey,
00:20:54.18\00:20:59.65
He's going to leave us.
00:20:59.69\00:21:01.62
Wow, we cannot always just war
00:21:01.66\00:21:05.76
against the Spirit of God
or the message that God brings.
00:21:05.79\00:21:10.70
Jesus says, you know, I didn't
come to come to bring peace
00:21:10.73\00:21:13.20
but a sword.
00:21:13.23\00:21:14.57
I thought that it
is very interesting
00:21:14.60\00:21:15.94
as I was growing up.
00:21:15.97\00:21:17.31
I didn't quite understand it
00:21:17.34\00:21:18.67
nor will I
understand it all now.
00:21:18.71\00:21:20.88
He said, I didn't
come to bring peace.
00:21:20.91\00:21:22.84
He's the peace maker.
There is no peace without Him.
00:21:22.88\00:21:25.75
But He said, He
didn't come to bring peace,
00:21:25.78\00:21:27.15
what was He talking about?
00:21:27.18\00:21:28.78
But a sword.
00:21:28.82\00:21:30.15
A division would come
00:21:30.19\00:21:31.52
because some would
choose to follow him,
00:21:31.55\00:21:33.32
others would
choose not to follow him,
00:21:33.36\00:21:34.99
and there is
contention, there is division,
00:21:35.02\00:21:36.62
there is separation.
00:21:36.66\00:21:38.59
You ever find that you maybe
have more contact with people
00:21:38.63\00:21:41.63
who kind of think like you think
00:21:41.66\00:21:43.37
or maybe even
believe like you believe?
00:21:43.40\00:21:46.74
Interesting.
00:21:46.77\00:21:49.97
God said, there'll be division,
there will be separation,
00:21:50.01\00:21:53.58
there's a
shaking that's going on.
00:21:53.61\00:21:57.41
Are we living up
to every ray of light
00:21:57.45\00:21:59.51
that God has given us
00:21:59.55\00:22:00.88
so that our
characters can be that we can be
00:22:00.92\00:22:02.92
what Jesus wants to
take back to heaven with Him.
00:22:02.95\00:22:06.55
Are we living up to that light?
00:22:06.59\00:22:08.19
John 12:35, 36 says,
00:22:08.22\00:22:10.29
walk in the light
while you have the light.
00:22:10.33\00:22:14.23
A book that I read
often is Testimonies
00:22:14.26\00:22:16.00
to Minister page 5 or
7, it makes a statement.
00:22:16.03\00:22:18.30
Notice this.
00:22:18.33\00:22:19.67
"There must be no
neglect of the grace,
00:22:19.70\00:22:22.90
represented by the former rain."
00:22:22.94\00:22:25.27
Now some of you are not familiar
00:22:25.31\00:22:26.78
maybe with former rain,
00:22:26.81\00:22:28.31
but we're talking
about here the former rain.
00:22:28.34\00:22:30.95
You come to Jesus, you
know, you're convicted,
00:22:30.98\00:22:33.65
Holy Spirit convicts you.
00:22:33.68\00:22:35.02
We come to Jesus,
we confess our sins,
00:22:35.05\00:22:37.15
He's faithful and just
to forgive us for our sins.
00:22:37.19\00:22:39.89
Filled with the Holy
Spirit is what it is.
00:22:39.92\00:22:42.62
We're supposed to be
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:22:42.66\00:22:44.99
The old man is supposed to die,
00:22:45.03\00:22:46.49
a new man is
supposed to come up,
00:22:46.53\00:22:47.96
old things are passed away,
00:22:48.00\00:22:49.33
behold all things
become new, sins are gone,
00:22:49.36\00:22:52.33
they're buried to
gain victory over sin,
00:22:52.37\00:22:55.37
even in the former rain.
00:22:55.40\00:22:57.24
Notice.
00:22:57.27\00:22:59.81
This article goes on, it says,
00:22:59.84\00:23:01.41
only those who are living up
00:23:01.44\00:23:03.41
to what we've been talking about
00:23:03.45\00:23:04.91
up to the light they have
will receive greater light.
00:23:04.95\00:23:08.98
And then it says,
unless we are daily,
00:23:09.02\00:23:12.15
daily advancing,
00:23:12.19\00:23:13.96
unless every day
that we are advancing
00:23:13.99\00:23:16.76
in cause of Christ,
00:23:16.79\00:23:18.13
advancing in knowledge
and wisdom and strength,
00:23:18.16\00:23:20.23
advancing and growing
in the cause of Christ,
00:23:20.26\00:23:22.90
notice this, "In
the exemplifications,
00:23:22.93\00:23:26.10
" that means showing by example.
00:23:26.13\00:23:28.64
It's coming out in your
life, wherever you are at,
00:23:28.67\00:23:30.71
who ever you are talking
to, they no longer see you
00:23:30.74\00:23:33.04
but they see
Christ who lives within.
00:23:33.07\00:23:37.05
Isn't that sad,
many times people,
00:23:37.08\00:23:38.58
we call ourselves Christian
and we have this long old face.
00:23:38.61\00:23:41.95
Lord, have mercy.
00:23:41.98\00:23:43.49
We have this
disposition that you almost,
00:23:43.52\00:23:46.25
you don't want to be around.
00:23:46.29\00:23:48.02
You have these
cold, hurtful words.
00:23:48.06\00:23:50.53
That cannot be Christ within.
00:23:50.56\00:23:52.56
Surely there's no
one here like that.
00:23:52.59\00:23:56.03
I don't want to be like that.
00:23:56.06\00:23:59.53
I want to have the
Spirit of the living God,
00:23:59.57\00:24:01.50
you see, living inside of me.
00:24:01.54\00:24:03.20
Remember, if you are the only
representative of Jesus Christ
00:24:03.24\00:24:07.34
that there is on this
earth, you are the only one,
00:24:07.38\00:24:09.54
would you draw people to Jesus?
00:24:09.58\00:24:13.68
Wow.
00:24:13.72\00:24:16.18
And you are the
only, as it were,
00:24:16.22\00:24:17.89
Jesus that some people will see.
00:24:17.92\00:24:21.12
You call yourself a Christian?
00:24:21.16\00:24:23.02
Does it turn him
on, at it were, to Jesus
00:24:23.06\00:24:25.29
or does it turn him off.
00:24:25.33\00:24:27.80
I've heard some people say...
00:24:27.83\00:24:29.83
This person has been going
to church all of their life
00:24:29.86\00:24:32.23
and I'm as good a
Christian as they are.
00:24:32.27\00:24:35.57
How sad?
00:24:35.60\00:24:37.27
Shouldn't there be a difference,
00:24:37.31\00:24:40.84
should there not be?
00:24:40.88\00:24:43.21
We need Christian virtues.
00:24:43.24\00:24:46.31
Now why are we talking
about Christian virtues?
00:24:46.35\00:24:48.18
Because these Christian
virtues must be inside of us
00:24:48.22\00:24:50.69
and being inside living in us,
00:24:50.72\00:24:53.25
developing in us will help us
to have the character of Jesus.
00:24:53.29\00:24:57.26
Jesus had these characteristics.
00:24:57.29\00:24:59.26
And I know, many
people say, you know,
00:24:59.29\00:25:00.73
we get tired here and
about being like Jesus.
00:25:00.76\00:25:03.60
Why was it? Question.
00:25:03.63\00:25:07.20
Why did Jesus come down here?
00:25:07.24\00:25:12.27
Why did He come down here?
00:25:12.31\00:25:13.64
Why did He assume flesh of man?
00:25:13.68\00:25:20.28
Sinful flesh, not
that He did any sin.
00:25:20.32\00:25:24.85
Why did He come down here?
00:25:24.89\00:25:26.22
Was it not because
there was a war in heaven,
00:25:26.25\00:25:28.96
it was because of
what was going on,
00:25:28.99\00:25:30.33
satan was challenging
the government of God,
00:25:30.36\00:25:32.83
no one can obey the law of God.
00:25:32.86\00:25:34.73
No one can be perfect.
00:25:34.76\00:25:37.07
No one can do the
right thing all the time.
00:25:37.10\00:25:40.74
Even the angel of
Heaven, we can't do all this.
00:25:40.77\00:25:42.60
He's telling you
the truth on this thing.
00:25:42.64\00:25:44.44
Jesus came down to show
us that in full humanity,
00:25:44.47\00:25:49.04
empty of self,
filled with the Father,
00:25:49.08\00:25:51.75
that man by the
grace, and power,
00:25:51.78\00:25:54.02
and strength of God
could live the victorious life.
00:25:54.05\00:25:56.82
If not, why did He
go through what He did?
00:25:56.85\00:26:00.89
He has shown us
that man is capable
00:26:00.92\00:26:06.09
through the power of the Spirit,
00:26:06.13\00:26:07.93
through the grace of God.
00:26:07.96\00:26:12.43
But why come down
and go through all that
00:26:12.47\00:26:14.17
if it doesn't matter?
00:26:14.20\00:26:17.97
I want to call them
active Christian virtues.
00:26:18.01\00:26:21.68
You might say, well,
they're not an important,
00:26:21.71\00:26:23.31
oh, they're so important
00:26:23.35\00:26:24.68
because they
will change your life.
00:26:24.71\00:26:26.68
And if you feel like you
will change of life today,
00:26:26.72\00:26:29.45
if you want some
changes to develop,
00:26:29.48\00:26:30.99
you've read this
many times before
00:26:31.02\00:26:33.12
but let's just kind of put
it in perspective, shall we?
00:26:33.15\00:26:36.42
If you have your
Bible, turn to 2 Peter,
00:26:36.46\00:26:38.59
we're reading
chapter 1, several verses.
00:26:38.63\00:26:43.00
I'll refer to
them as we go down,
00:26:43.03\00:26:45.70
then you can read
them a little bit later.
00:26:45.73\00:26:48.14
Because we realize
these Christian virtues
00:26:48.17\00:26:50.77
and they are
active Christian virtues
00:26:50.81\00:26:54.78
because we realize
00:26:54.81\00:26:56.31
that God wants to put His
seal of approval on you and me
00:26:56.34\00:27:00.28
and we must have that
before heaven can be our home.
00:27:00.32\00:27:04.19
We must have the
seal of the living God.
00:27:04.22\00:27:08.59
But I want to
make this statement,
00:27:08.62\00:27:09.96
it was real big.
00:27:09.99\00:27:11.66
Only here in these last days
00:27:11.69\00:27:14.26
of those who will received
the seal of the living God
00:27:14.30\00:27:18.57
must by His grace and
His strength and His power,
00:27:18.60\00:27:22.87
keep all the commandments.
00:27:22.90\00:27:25.14
I'm not trying to be ugly.
00:27:25.17\00:27:26.51
If you've never seen
or never heard it before,
00:27:26.54\00:27:28.38
I want you to think about it
00:27:28.41\00:27:31.51
because we're
dealing with the sin issue.
00:27:31.55\00:27:34.52
The commandments
are the only 10 things
00:27:34.55\00:27:36.22
that point out
what sin is, right?
00:27:36.25\00:27:38.45
Sin is a
transgression of God's law.
00:27:38.49\00:27:41.72
So we're dealing
with the issue here
00:27:41.76\00:27:43.09
that should be clear
but it's not clear to many.
00:27:43.12\00:27:47.33
And it includes
the fourth commandment.
00:27:47.36\00:27:49.23
Remember the Sabbath day,
certainly to keep it holy.
00:27:49.26\00:27:52.43
That contains the seal of God.
00:27:52.47\00:27:55.54
Sabbath is sign,
Ezekiel 31 tells us.
00:27:55.57\00:27:59.87
The seal, we must be sealed.
00:27:59.91\00:28:01.41
The living righteous receives
00:28:01.44\00:28:03.55
the seal prior to
the close of probation.
00:28:03.58\00:28:06.88
We're almost there.
00:28:06.92\00:28:08.25
I hear the doors swinging shut.
00:28:08.28\00:28:11.52
I sense that is closing
up rather quickly right now.
00:28:11.55\00:28:14.82
The events in the world,
00:28:14.86\00:28:16.19
things that are happening
in almost every nation,
00:28:16.22\00:28:17.99
someone said the other day,
00:28:18.03\00:28:19.36
almost every nation has
war or the threat of war,
00:28:19.39\00:28:22.33
something is going
on, some kind of disaster,
00:28:22.36\00:28:24.87
some kind of a nuclear
something is going to go on,
00:28:24.90\00:28:27.04
there's going to be an exchange
00:28:27.07\00:28:28.40
and every body is going
to be involved, look out.
00:28:28.44\00:28:31.51
Probation's door is closing.
How do you stand with God?
00:28:31.54\00:28:34.88
Living righteous receive
what the seal of God prior to,
00:28:39.85\00:28:42.85
what, the close of probation
that receive it during, what,
00:28:42.88\00:28:45.55
the latter rain, just
before the time of trouble.
00:28:45.59\00:28:52.29
Well, Jesus is our high
priest in the most holy place
00:28:52.33\00:28:55.56
is blotting out our sins.
00:28:55.60\00:28:57.40
We're living in
the Day of Atonement.
00:28:57.43\00:29:02.14
Jesus has moved from the
holy from the most holy place,
00:29:02.17\00:29:04.77
standing before the
Ark at the Covenant.
00:29:04.81\00:29:06.44
We know that 10 commandment law,
00:29:06.47\00:29:07.81
what's He doing?
00:29:07.84\00:29:09.18
He's pleading our cases.
00:29:09.21\00:29:11.38
Praise God for that,
mercy. To be like Jesus.
00:29:11.41\00:29:15.02
I read this article
and it thrilled my heart.
00:29:15.05\00:29:17.05
It challenges me.
00:29:17.09\00:29:18.92
I'm not up here saying,
00:29:18.95\00:29:20.29
Oh, I've got
everything all under control.
00:29:20.32\00:29:21.86
I pray daily that God
will help me to be like Him.
00:29:21.89\00:29:26.36
And when I'm not like Him,
00:29:26.39\00:29:30.87
take my eyes off
of Him for a second,
00:29:30.90\00:29:32.33
the Holy Spirit reminds me,
00:29:32.37\00:29:35.77
you're part of the
family of God, Kenny,
00:29:35.80\00:29:37.61
you need to act like it,
all places and all times.
00:29:37.64\00:29:42.41
Review an Herald article in
April 24th, written in 1900.
00:29:42.44\00:29:48.12
Please listen to this, 1900.
00:29:48.15\00:29:50.25
It is our privilege.
00:29:50.29\00:29:52.62
"It is our privilege to be
partakers of divine nature."
00:29:52.65\00:29:57.06
See we think, we look at,
00:29:57.09\00:29:58.46
Jesus was fully,
what, come on, church,
00:29:58.49\00:30:00.60
He was fully divine
and He was fully human.
00:30:00.63\00:30:03.80
It blows our mind.
00:30:03.83\00:30:06.13
He kept the two
completely separate.
00:30:06.17\00:30:09.47
He didn't fudge
over. Fully human.
00:30:09.50\00:30:16.21
We have that privilege today,
00:30:16.24\00:30:19.31
our privilege to
partake of the divine nature.
00:30:19.35\00:30:23.99
Notice, then we can
be cleansed of our sin.
00:30:24.02\00:30:28.29
We can't do it in the flesh,
00:30:28.32\00:30:30.46
the spirit of flesh wars
against the things of God.
00:30:30.49\00:30:33.86
I need a change,
you need a change.
00:30:33.90\00:30:35.83
You say, well, I have
never given my heart to...
00:30:35.86\00:30:38.00
You need to.
00:30:38.03\00:30:40.24
The flesh will not
inherit the kingdom of God.
00:30:40.27\00:30:43.51
We need to make that
change, give our life to him.
00:30:43.54\00:30:47.44
When we partake of
that divine nature,
00:30:47.48\00:30:50.15
when we ask Him to come in
00:30:50.18\00:30:51.51
and take control of
our heart and our life,
00:30:51.55\00:30:53.55
then we can be
cleansed from all sin.
00:30:53.58\00:30:55.62
Notice this, and all
defects of character.
00:30:55.65\00:30:57.95
How many?
00:30:57.99\00:30:59.45
Oh, well, I've
had these forever.
00:30:59.49\00:31:00.82
Somebody said,
"Well, I have fowl-mouth,
00:31:00.86\00:31:02.59
I've cussed all my life.
00:31:02.62\00:31:04.46
You know, I've ran
out in the north forty
00:31:04.49\00:31:05.86
and scream cuss
words all the time
00:31:05.89\00:31:07.50
and I'm a Christian, but I guess
00:31:07.53\00:31:08.86
that's the way it's going to be,
00:31:08.90\00:31:10.23
he'll take me anyway."
00:31:10.27\00:31:11.60
I doubt it.
00:31:11.63\00:31:14.10
Oh, I know, you don't
want to hear it like that.
00:31:14.14\00:31:15.77
I challenge you with that.
00:31:15.80\00:31:18.37
The dirty
thoughts, the dirty mouth,
00:31:18.41\00:31:20.28
the dirty
tongue will not inherit
00:31:20.31\00:31:22.08
the kingdom of God.
00:31:22.11\00:31:24.75
Bible says, nothing evil,
00:31:24.78\00:31:26.11
nothing bad is going to
enter the kingdom of God.
00:31:26.15\00:31:30.59
Think with me, all
defects of character,
00:31:30.62\00:31:33.86
we, here it goes, come on.
00:31:33.89\00:31:36.49
We not retain one
sinful propensity.
00:31:36.52\00:31:40.70
Did you notice that?
00:31:40.73\00:31:42.33
We need not retain,
not one sinful propensity.
00:31:42.36\00:31:48.07
Why? Because we've given
everything to Jesus Christ.
00:31:48.10\00:31:52.27
How wonderful that is?
00:31:52.31\00:31:53.88
We pray for divine
strength and grace.
00:31:53.91\00:31:57.55
We really feel the Spirit of God
00:31:57.58\00:32:00.05
and ready to
receive that latter rain
00:32:00.08\00:32:01.75
as it's poured out.
00:32:01.78\00:32:03.12
Are we living up to everything
that we know or it there a time
00:32:03.15\00:32:05.49
we find people
that just don't want to
00:32:05.52\00:32:07.09
and they are feeding
us lies of the devil.
00:32:07.12\00:32:10.56
Maybe time to shake off the dust
00:32:10.59\00:32:12.63
and let's move on in the light
00:32:12.66\00:32:15.26
that God is
shining on our pathway.
00:32:15.30\00:32:19.73
At least to me, it's clear.
00:32:19.77\00:32:22.10
It's very clear, we're
talking about pillars of faith.
00:32:22.14\00:32:24.84
Praise God.
00:32:24.87\00:32:26.21
It gives me
spiritual goose bumps
00:32:26.24\00:32:28.38
when I think about
the pillars of faith.
00:32:28.41\00:32:30.78
The pillars of the Word of God.
00:32:30.81\00:32:33.08
The pillar, I think about it
00:32:33.11\00:32:34.45
as a builder doing construction.
00:32:34.48\00:32:39.39
The pillars has to be firm,
00:32:39.42\00:32:42.29
you see, it's to be
steadfast, it's immovable.
00:32:42.32\00:32:46.63
The rain can't hurt it,
00:32:46.66\00:32:48.00
you know, and
the winds can't hurt.
00:32:48.03\00:32:50.10
We're to build upon that
rock which is Jesus Christ.
00:32:50.13\00:32:54.80
It seems to be so
clear in order for me.
00:32:54.84\00:32:58.97
Oh, Lord, have mercy on my soul.
00:32:59.01\00:33:01.04
In order for me
to be like Jesus,
00:33:01.08\00:33:05.08
I must receive these graces.
00:33:05.11\00:33:09.62
So I'm going to
put myself out there
00:33:09.65\00:33:11.12
and you can deal
with me if you want to.
00:33:11.15\00:33:13.15
I hope, maybe by faith,
you'll put yourself out there
00:33:13.19\00:33:15.59
and just see, maybe if
you need some of these graces.
00:33:15.62\00:33:17.79
After all, the Bible
does say that we need them.
00:33:17.83\00:33:22.86
If the Bible says we
need them, then we need them.
00:33:22.90\00:33:26.03
Don't bicker and fight about it.
00:33:26.07\00:33:27.87
Notice, I want to
call them enabling graces.
00:33:27.90\00:33:33.91
I need these graces
that empower each of us
00:33:33.94\00:33:37.91
to be overcomers
from the corruption
00:33:37.95\00:33:40.88
that is in this
world through lust.
00:33:40.92\00:33:42.98
You read that in 2
Peter 1:4. I'm sure you have.
00:33:43.02\00:33:46.89
I need these graces
when temptation comes.
00:33:46.92\00:33:50.03
I need these
graces, enabling graces,
00:33:50.06\00:33:54.30
to give me victory in my life.
00:33:54.33\00:33:57.73
You say, well, I'm
not sure what they are.
00:33:57.77\00:34:01.10
You remember the
disciples, what a mess,
00:34:01.14\00:34:04.94
what a mess they
were to begin with?
00:34:04.97\00:34:06.94
Wow.
00:34:06.98\00:34:08.31
But it was by this
transforming agency of grace
00:34:08.34\00:34:12.55
that we're talking about here
00:34:12.58\00:34:15.02
that change these characters
into the image of God.
00:34:15.05\00:34:21.12
It was
reproduced in the disciples.
00:34:21.16\00:34:24.23
Jesus was reproduced
00:34:24.26\00:34:26.03
in the disciples
as an end-result.
00:34:26.06\00:34:28.36
It was these
virtuous enabling graces.
00:34:28.40\00:34:33.03
Now do we think
that we need them?
00:34:33.07\00:34:35.04
Oh, what a change
took place for them.
00:34:35.07\00:34:36.94
It can take place
for you and me too.
00:34:36.97\00:34:39.67
The Bible says in 2 Peter
1:5, it says, "All diligence."
00:34:39.71\00:34:44.35
What is it talking about,
00:34:44.38\00:34:45.71
we need diligence
to be an overcomer?
00:34:45.75\00:34:47.22
Do I need diligence?
00:34:47.25\00:34:49.92
It says daily diligence
or add to your character,
00:34:49.95\00:34:53.29
the graces that
will make you strong
00:34:53.32\00:34:55.92
to resist the devil.
00:34:55.96\00:34:58.03
We must resist the devil.
00:34:58.06\00:35:00.70
Temptation, church,
temptation must be met
00:35:00.73\00:35:05.10
and resisted by
the grace of God.
00:35:05.13\00:35:07.37
Temptation must be what?
00:35:07.40\00:35:09.10
Oh, you better believe it,
00:35:09.14\00:35:10.81
it is to be met and
it is to be resisted.
00:35:10.84\00:35:13.74
And notice, with each
victory, what happens?
00:35:13.78\00:35:16.51
We gain more strength to
resist the next temptation.
00:35:16.54\00:35:21.82
If we fall
short... Oh, church, please,
00:35:21.85\00:35:25.29
If we fall short
00:35:25.32\00:35:26.82
and the temptation
overcomes us, we get weaker.
00:35:26.86\00:35:28.52
Does that make sense?
00:35:28.56\00:35:29.89
We get weaker, weaker,
00:35:29.92\00:35:31.86
but by the grace of God
in these virtues of grace
00:35:31.89\00:35:35.86
enabling us to gain the victory,
00:35:35.90\00:35:37.57
we become stronger
each and every time.
00:35:37.60\00:35:40.17
You take a little
weight in your arm
00:35:40.20\00:35:41.74
and you give it a little...
00:35:41.77\00:35:43.61
One or two today,
00:35:43.64\00:35:44.97
three or four
tomorrow, five or six...
00:35:45.01\00:35:46.34
You automatically
become stronger and stronger.
00:35:46.37\00:35:51.18
It works the
same way spiritually.
00:35:51.21\00:35:53.21
Notice, so the Bible
is talking about virtues,
00:35:53.25\00:35:55.98
let's quickly,
notice, it says faith.
00:35:56.02\00:35:58.75
Talks about faith,
00:35:58.79\00:36:00.59
it talks about
virtue, knowledge,
00:36:00.62\00:36:02.86
temperance, the Bible says,
00:36:02.89\00:36:04.39
patience and godliness
and kindness and charity.
00:36:04.43\00:36:09.43
2 Peter 1:9, says add this.
00:36:09.46\00:36:11.63
Notice this, "But he
that lacketh these is blind."
00:36:11.67\00:36:15.07
Okay, automatically,
00:36:15.10\00:36:16.44
you say, well, I don't
know if I need all these, not.
00:36:16.47\00:36:18.31
If you lack
these, if I lack these,
00:36:18.34\00:36:20.48
automatically I am blind.
00:36:20.51\00:36:22.98
2 Peter 1:9 says, "I
don't want to be blind."
00:36:23.01\00:36:26.75
Let's dissect them
just quickly as we can.
00:36:26.78\00:36:29.28
Let's take a few of them
because we're on our road
00:36:29.32\00:36:32.12
by the grace of
God to perfection.
00:36:32.15\00:36:34.42
After all, Christ is
in the most holy place.
00:36:34.46\00:36:37.13
Right, sin has been
taken out of our life or what.
00:36:37.16\00:36:41.16
It's going to stay with us.
00:36:41.20\00:36:45.13
Think about it.
00:36:45.17\00:36:46.50
What an awesome thought.
00:36:46.53\00:36:47.87
Names are coming
up in the judgment.
00:36:47.90\00:36:51.14
What an awesome time.
00:36:51.17\00:36:53.81
I don't want to lack these,
I want to make heaven my home
00:36:53.84\00:36:56.34
so I don't want to be blind
00:36:56.38\00:36:58.78
and I need to take my journey
00:36:58.81\00:37:00.25
toward living the
life of perfection,
00:37:00.28\00:37:02.82
which you find in
the most holy place
00:37:02.85\00:37:05.55
to be like Jesus.
00:37:05.59\00:37:08.66
First, it talks about,
after a person receives faith
00:37:08.69\00:37:12.03
that we just talked
about just a little bit,
00:37:12.06\00:37:13.73
faith of the gospel
00:37:13.76\00:37:15.36
that changes your
heart and changes your life.
00:37:15.40\00:37:17.93
Then we seek to add
00:37:17.97\00:37:20.54
virtuous principles to our life,
00:37:20.57\00:37:22.87
so faith then would
it not be the first step
00:37:22.90\00:37:26.57
in this ladder toward heaven?
00:37:26.61\00:37:28.24
Okay, I'm on the
ladder, here I go.
00:37:28.28\00:37:30.01
Come on, come, step high.
00:37:30.05\00:37:32.88
Don't try to jump up
four or five rungs up there,
00:37:32.91\00:37:35.72
take the first step on
the ladder toward heaven.
00:37:35.75\00:37:39.59
Interesting, who is the ladder?
00:37:39.62\00:37:41.52
Certainly, it's
Jesus Christ, isn't it?
00:37:41.56\00:37:43.86
And it must reach the earth
and it must touch the heaven.
00:37:43.89\00:37:49.06
How wonderful.
00:37:49.10\00:37:50.43
Our step, we can't
please God without faith.
00:37:50.47\00:37:54.84
You know what the Bible says?
00:37:54.87\00:37:56.77
Hebrews 11:6, "Without faith,
00:37:56.81\00:37:58.94
it's impossible to please God."
00:37:58.97\00:38:04.15
We must believe that He is,
00:38:04.18\00:38:06.08
you got people
in the world today
00:38:06.11\00:38:07.45
that don't believe
that God even exists,
00:38:07.48\00:38:08.82
that Christ exists.
00:38:08.85\00:38:11.65
We need to get back to the Word.
00:38:11.69\00:38:13.92
See, we can't stop
here because the Bible says,
00:38:13.96\00:38:15.62
we are to...
00:38:15.66\00:38:16.99
Notice this. We are to add.
00:38:17.03\00:38:18.36
So let's let the
Bible do the speaking.
00:38:18.39\00:38:20.53
Now we've come to grips
with I need these virtues
00:38:20.56\00:38:24.33
in order to help me
to gain the victory,
00:38:24.37\00:38:27.07
live the victorious life.
00:38:27.10\00:38:30.04
And so I'm going to have to
add to my faith, it says virtue,
00:38:30.07\00:38:33.84
excellence is what
that means, or you know,
00:38:33.88\00:38:36.54
it becomes the foundation.
00:38:36.58\00:38:39.38
I need a good strong foundation.
00:38:39.41\00:38:41.55
1 Peter 2:5 says, "We
are to be lively stones."
00:38:41.58\00:38:45.35
We're to be on a
good spiritual foundation.
00:38:45.39\00:38:49.92
It's where the house rests,
00:38:49.96\00:38:51.79
the spiritual house
rests on a good foundation.
00:38:51.83\00:38:54.03
Many of us
today, bless your heart,
00:38:54.06\00:38:55.50
your foundation is not...
00:38:55.53\00:38:56.87
You're house is
not on good foundation.
00:38:56.90\00:38:59.33
It's shaky. Back and forth.
00:38:59.37\00:39:02.60
Somebody comes up
and has a good argument,
00:39:02.64\00:39:04.17
all of a sudden
you're going this way.
00:39:04.21\00:39:05.54
Somebody else says,
did you hear about it,
00:39:05.57\00:39:07.01
then we're going over here,
00:39:07.04\00:39:08.38
we've got to
settle into the truth,
00:39:08.41\00:39:11.48
God can't seal up
people, prepare them,
00:39:11.51\00:39:14.05
keep them for heaven unless
we're settling into the truth.
00:39:14.08\00:39:19.69
Wow.
00:39:19.72\00:39:23.22
As we accept
these Christian virtues,
00:39:23.26\00:39:28.43
Christ's virtues,
00:39:28.46\00:39:31.10
as they blend into my character,
00:39:31.13\00:39:34.44
it then becomes as
nature, think about it,
00:39:34.47\00:39:37.11
obedience becomes
natural as breathing.
00:39:37.14\00:39:41.24
I'm gonna have to fight
it. This is going to be a mess.
00:39:41.28\00:39:44.01
You don't talk to yourself,
00:39:44.05\00:39:45.68
take the next
breath, I need to breathe.
00:39:45.71\00:39:50.35
Sometimes people tell us
we need to slow down a little.
00:39:50.39\00:39:54.29
Take the next breath.
00:39:54.32\00:39:56.06
Obedience becomes
natural as breathing.
00:39:56.09\00:40:00.13
Now there will
be a lot of people
00:40:00.16\00:40:01.50
who try to make
excuses, they'll say,
00:40:01.53\00:40:02.86
"Well, I didn't
have the knowledge,
00:40:02.90\00:40:04.27
I didn't have the
spiritual knowledge.
00:40:04.30\00:40:05.63
I didn't really
have the understanding."
00:40:05.67\00:40:07.34
Let me just say it
to you right quick,
00:40:07.37\00:40:08.70
my brother, my
sister, you are in trouble.
00:40:08.74\00:40:12.34
Let me explain it
to you a little bit,
00:40:12.37\00:40:13.71
you're in trouble.
00:40:13.74\00:40:15.08
You say, "Well, I don't
have that spiritual knowledge
00:40:15.11\00:40:16.44
and that understanding."
00:40:16.48\00:40:17.81
Because the Bible
said, add to you...
00:40:17.85\00:40:19.81
talking about faith
and then add to your virtue
00:40:19.85\00:40:22.48
and add to virtue, knowledge,
is what the Bible said.
00:40:22.52\00:40:26.19
We were to gain
all the knowledge
00:40:26.22\00:40:28.39
we possibly can,
Church, are we listening?
00:40:28.42\00:40:31.46
We are to gain all
the spiritual knowledge
00:40:31.49\00:40:34.26
that we can that's available.
00:40:34.30\00:40:37.00
That's why what the Bible said,
00:40:37.03\00:40:38.50
"Study to show thy
self approved unto God,
00:40:38.53\00:40:41.40
" have you read
that 2 Timothy 2:15,
00:40:41.44\00:40:43.20
oh, I know you have.
00:40:43.24\00:40:44.57
Study to show yourself approved
unto God and don't be ashamed.
00:40:44.61\00:40:48.84
Some people are gonna
be ashamed in the judgment.
00:40:48.88\00:40:51.91
I believe this in the last days
00:40:51.95\00:40:53.48
God is going to
work out of the ordinary,
00:40:53.52\00:40:56.12
God chooses whom he will,
he puts them in a position,
00:40:56.15\00:40:59.09
he uses them, they just,
"Lord, I hear you speaking.
00:40:59.12\00:41:04.69
Your servant hears,
what would you have me to do?
00:41:04.73\00:41:07.86
Where would you have me to go?
00:41:07.90\00:41:11.37
He's going to use,
listen carefully, ordinary,
00:41:11.40\00:41:14.37
as it were, men,
women, and children
00:41:14.40\00:41:16.71
to get this
message unto all the world.
00:41:16.74\00:41:19.47
He's going to use
those who will respond
00:41:19.51\00:41:21.74
to the Holy Spirit.
00:41:21.78\00:41:23.85
God will use anyone
that wants to be used.
00:41:23.88\00:41:28.88
Well, I don't
have the knowledge.
00:41:28.92\00:41:30.25
The Bible simply said,
James 1:5, you remember,
00:41:30.29\00:41:32.75
"If any of you lack what?
00:41:32.79\00:41:34.12
Good.
00:41:34.16\00:41:35.49
If any of you lack wisdom,
00:41:35.52\00:41:36.86
you ask and God will
give it to you liberally
00:41:36.89\00:41:38.53
and unbraided.
00:41:38.56\00:41:39.89
God wants you to
have the knowledge,
00:41:39.93\00:41:41.76
the knowledge of
Him, spiritual knowledge.
00:41:41.80\00:41:43.26
Why?
00:41:43.30\00:41:44.63
Because He knows if
we don't and I don't,
00:41:44.67\00:41:46.23
the enemy will defeat
us, we will be defeated,
00:41:46.27\00:41:49.94
heaven won't be our home.
00:41:49.97\00:41:51.31
This is a whole
ballgame for the enemy.
00:41:51.34\00:41:53.38
He doesn't want you there
00:41:53.41\00:41:54.74
and he's doing
everything in his power
00:41:54.78\00:41:56.11
to make sure you're not.
00:41:56.14\00:41:57.48
And let me tell you,
00:41:57.51\00:41:58.85
heaven has done
everything to make sure you are.
00:41:58.88\00:42:02.35
There is nothing more
00:42:02.38\00:42:05.55
as the end result that
heaven could do for you or me
00:42:05.59\00:42:08.16
to make sure that we're there.
00:42:08.19\00:42:10.16
But you have to choose.
00:42:10.19\00:42:12.49
Make sure you
make that choice today,
00:42:12.53\00:42:15.16
Bible says, in Psalms 111:10,
00:42:15.20\00:42:19.00
you know this is
said, "The fear of the Lord,
00:42:19.03\00:42:21.20
is the beginning of wisdom."
00:42:21.24\00:42:24.31
It says, "A good understanding
have they that do His..."
00:42:24.34\00:42:28.11
"A good understanding are
they that do His commandments,
00:42:28.14\00:42:30.65
" So if we're not
doing by the grace of God,
00:42:30.68\00:42:32.61
living out those commandments.
00:42:32.65\00:42:33.98
We really don't have
a real good wisdom then
00:42:34.02\00:42:36.72
or a good understanding,
00:42:36.75\00:42:38.15
interesting with
this, a good understanding.
00:42:38.19\00:42:40.59
Interesting when
you look at that word,
00:42:40.62\00:42:42.36
a good understanding means,
"Oh, boy, a good success."
00:42:42.39\00:42:47.56
In order to have a good
spiritual success and wisdom,
00:42:47.60\00:42:53.74
it's fear of the Lord,
00:42:53.77\00:42:55.10
but too bad today
that we live in a world
00:42:55.14\00:42:57.81
where you can't
seem to have the fear
00:42:57.84\00:42:59.54
which is reverence and respect.
00:42:59.57\00:43:01.51
Young people have no
respect for the older people,
00:43:01.54\00:43:03.95
church people have no respect
for the pastor and the leader
00:43:03.98\00:43:06.05
and probably in some
cases, it may be rightfully so.
00:43:06.08\00:43:09.98
No respect for mom and dad,
00:43:10.02\00:43:11.35
no respect for this or
that in the world today,
00:43:11.39\00:43:12.82
we've lost that.
00:43:12.85\00:43:14.19
And certainly there's
no respect and no reverence
00:43:14.22\00:43:15.79
for the God who
sits upon the throne
00:43:15.82\00:43:17.56
that rules this universe.
00:43:17.59\00:43:18.96
How sad? Wisdom.
00:43:18.99\00:43:21.10
The beginning here is
to recognize that he is
00:43:21.13\00:43:23.93
and that what he can
accomplish in you and in me.
00:43:23.97\00:43:28.00
After all, did not Jesus
use the unlearned fisherman?
00:43:28.04\00:43:33.34
How wonderful, the
unlearned fisherman,
00:43:33.38\00:43:36.38
He took them and He
began to teach them.
00:43:36.41\00:43:40.15
Now notice, they
begin to change...
00:43:40.18\00:43:42.68
This is very important.
00:43:42.72\00:43:44.29
The unlearned,
almost, be careful, heathen,
00:43:44.32\00:43:50.29
disciples that He chose
00:43:50.33\00:43:52.63
began to change
as they had contact.
00:43:52.66\00:43:57.33
Contact with who? With Jesus.
00:43:57.37\00:44:02.17
They were weak and
vacillating, they became able,
00:44:02.20\00:44:05.17
they became efficient.
00:44:05.21\00:44:06.54
They became
powerful witness for Him,
00:44:06.57\00:44:09.18
contact then is
needed with Jesus.
00:44:09.21\00:44:13.18
Not done. We don't have
the contact that we needed.
00:44:13.21\00:44:16.08
Bible goes ahead and
says quickly, it says,
00:44:16.12\00:44:18.15
add again, add to
knowledge, temperance.
00:44:18.19\00:44:21.92
This is the...
00:44:21.96\00:44:23.29
One, two, three, third step
on the ladder to perfection.
00:44:23.32\00:44:29.26
1 Corinthians 9:25, says,
00:44:29.30\00:44:30.87
"Every man that striveth
for the mastery is tempered..."
00:44:30.90\00:44:34.64
In how many things, church?
00:44:34.67\00:44:36.24
Good. "All things."
00:44:36.27\00:44:38.47
Does all mean all in the Bible?
00:44:38.51\00:44:39.91
Absolutely, it
does. All means all.
00:44:39.94\00:44:43.48
If you're
striving for the master,
00:44:43.51\00:44:44.85
you're striving to win the
race for heaven to be your home.
00:44:44.88\00:44:49.68
We must be
temperate in all things.
00:44:49.72\00:44:51.35
This is very important.
The devil is out to do what?
00:44:51.39\00:44:53.56
He's out to take the mind
00:44:53.59\00:44:54.92
and he's doing it
in almost everything
00:44:54.96\00:44:56.49
that's out there
in the world today,
00:44:56.52\00:44:58.29
we need to be aware
00:44:58.33\00:44:59.66
of what he's doing
and how he's doing it.
00:44:59.69\00:45:01.76
The things that we eat,
the thing that we look at,
00:45:01.80\00:45:03.30
the things that we do,
the devil is there working,
00:45:03.33\00:45:05.77
trying to take
and steal your mind.
00:45:05.80\00:45:09.74
We have entered
this gospel race.
00:45:09.77\00:45:13.78
And since we have
entered this gospel race,
00:45:13.81\00:45:16.28
then we must, the Bible says,
00:45:16.31\00:45:18.18
refrain from indulgence
that war against the soul.
00:45:18.21\00:45:24.19
Any indulgence,
anything we take in,
00:45:24.22\00:45:27.16
in any direction that
affects the mind or the body,
00:45:27.19\00:45:32.59
that wars against my soul,
00:45:32.63\00:45:34.43
we must be
willing to give to God.
00:45:34.46\00:45:37.93
We must keep strict
guard over our bodies,
00:45:37.97\00:45:43.10
over our
passions and our appetites
00:45:43.14\00:45:45.51
and our pride, our propensities,
00:45:45.54\00:45:50.68
natural and cultivated.
00:45:50.71\00:45:53.55
We need help that talking
about physical, mentally,
00:45:53.58\00:45:56.58
and moral powers,
00:45:56.62\00:45:58.52
they must be kept in
the best possible condition
00:45:58.55\00:46:02.16
that we may be victorious.
00:46:02.19\00:46:03.66
People are not victorious today
because the mind is diseased.
00:46:03.69\00:46:09.10
It's diseased by so many
different things of the senses
00:46:09.13\00:46:11.93
that God has given
us, what we're taking in.
00:46:11.97\00:46:14.77
1 Corinthians 9:27 says,
00:46:14.80\00:46:17.17
Paul said, "I keep under my body
00:46:17.21\00:46:20.58
and I bring it into subjection."
00:46:20.61\00:46:23.88
He knew the steps toward heaven.
00:46:23.91\00:46:26.65
He wanted to follow those steps.
00:46:26.68\00:46:29.85
I keep, by the grace of
God, I say, Oh, I can't control.
00:46:29.88\00:46:33.72
Holy Spirit can
help you control it.
00:46:33.76\00:46:35.39
You can't control anything,
I can't control anything,
00:46:35.42\00:46:38.09
but the spirit of
the Living God sure can.
00:46:38.13\00:46:41.26
And I think about, you say,
well, Kenny, be careful now,
00:46:41.30\00:46:43.63
you're gonna start
meddling a little bit here.
00:46:43.67\00:46:45.40
Yeah, I'm going
to get real personal,
00:46:45.43\00:46:47.14
meddle just a little bit
00:46:47.17\00:46:48.50
because part of the series
is being ready to meet Jesus
00:46:48.54\00:46:52.37
and it's talking about
perfection of character.
00:46:52.41\00:46:54.51
And let me tell
you, if our diet,
00:46:54.54\00:46:56.85
are we're talking
exercise, keeping our bodies,
00:46:56.88\00:46:58.91
our body temple the
way God would have it,
00:46:58.95\00:47:02.02
heaven will not be our home.
00:47:02.05\00:47:03.39
Let me just
read you a few things
00:47:03.42\00:47:04.75
if you don't
mind, Desire of Ages,
00:47:04.79\00:47:06.39
122 says this, "Our only hope,
" when I read this, I said,
00:47:06.42\00:47:10.39
what's this,
what's this, what's this?
00:47:10.43\00:47:13.26
My only hope, I
want to know what it is.
00:47:13.29\00:47:15.16
"My only hope of eternal
life is to bring the appetites
00:47:15.20\00:47:19.27
and passions induce
objection to the will of God."
00:47:19.30\00:47:24.54
Can't do it all
my own. Oh, wait.
00:47:24.57\00:47:26.27
Boy, it tastes
good. I look good.
00:47:26.31\00:47:28.38
Are you still with me?
00:47:28.41\00:47:31.65
We need the mind of Christ.
00:47:31.68\00:47:33.01
We need my only
hope of eternal life.
00:47:33.05\00:47:35.68
There has to be some changes.
00:47:35.72\00:47:37.35
We may have to go to
the icebox and the cabinets
00:47:37.39\00:47:40.26
and I know it can be overdone.
00:47:40.29\00:47:41.86
We had a person who used
to visit church years ago,
00:47:41.89\00:47:43.96
and every time they go
in, they go into the kitchen,
00:47:43.99\00:47:45.83
they start
opening the cabinet doors
00:47:45.86\00:47:47.60
and start reading labels.
00:47:47.63\00:47:48.96
I told them one
day, get out of there.
00:47:49.00\00:47:50.60
You know what I'm talking about.
00:47:54.04\00:47:56.47
There's a time and
there's certainly a place.
00:47:56.50\00:48:00.04
This is important.
00:48:00.08\00:48:01.41
"Our hope of eternal life." Why?
00:48:01.44\00:48:03.21
Because the
devil can clog the mind
00:48:03.24\00:48:05.01
that we cannot make
an intelligent decision
00:48:05.05\00:48:07.05
for Jesus,
00:48:07.08\00:48:08.52
a little book that
I like to read called,
00:48:08.55\00:48:10.32
Counsels on Diets and Foods,
00:48:10.35\00:48:12.85
page 55 says,
notice this, "God cannot,
00:48:12.89\00:48:16.36
" this is either truth or not,
00:48:16.39\00:48:17.79
people bless your
hearts, bless my heart,
00:48:17.83\00:48:20.23
I'm either a believer in
Spirit of prophecy or I'm not,
00:48:20.26\00:48:22.56
identifying mark
or God's last days.
00:48:22.60\00:48:24.10
Church, I'm not ashamed of it.
I love it. I thank God for it.
00:48:24.13\00:48:27.00
It helps poor,
my poor little mind,
00:48:27.04\00:48:28.74
helps to
comprehend eternal things.
00:48:28.77\00:48:31.34
God knew I needed this
help. Do you need this help?
00:48:31.37\00:48:34.08
Don't reject that which God
00:48:34.11\00:48:35.78
has put for us to be a blessing.
00:48:35.81\00:48:38.48
It makes it clear.
00:48:38.51\00:48:41.55
God cannot let...
00:48:41.58\00:48:42.92
Church, God cannot
let the Holy Spirit
00:48:42.95\00:48:45.32
rest upon those who knowingly
in feeble mind and body...
00:48:45.35\00:48:50.19
What?
00:48:50.23\00:48:51.56
The Holy Spirit
cannot rest upon...
00:48:51.59\00:48:54.66
I cannot have the Holy Spirit
the way I need the Holy Spirit
00:48:54.70\00:48:57.27
to gain these victories
00:48:57.30\00:48:58.63
if I knowingly am in
enfeebling my body and my mind,
00:48:58.67\00:49:02.90
taking things in it to
alter it, to change it,
00:49:02.94\00:49:05.81
can't think properly,
can't make the right choices,
00:49:05.84\00:49:07.94
can't make the right decisions.
00:49:07.98\00:49:09.74
Wow, a little book, Counsels
to Parents and Teachers,
00:49:09.78\00:49:13.42
295, listen carefully.
00:49:13.45\00:49:16.55
"He who remains
in sinful ignorance
00:49:16.58\00:49:20.66
of the laws of life and health,
00:49:20.69\00:49:24.66
who willfully violate
these laws, sin against God."
00:49:24.69\00:49:30.37
We all agree. Most
church members agree.
00:49:30.40\00:49:32.93
Our body is the temple.
00:49:32.97\00:49:37.57
We have to balance
what I'm talking about.
00:49:37.61\00:49:39.34
Some people can't balance it.
00:49:39.37\00:49:41.08
They're like this when
it comes to certain things
00:49:41.11\00:49:43.18
in the health and love.
00:49:43.21\00:49:44.55
I want to balance it
with the word of God.
00:49:44.58\00:49:46.08
What God
approves of is good to me.
00:49:46.11\00:49:47.78
What God
disapproves is disapproved.
00:49:47.82\00:49:50.55
I hope that makes sense.
It's nothing to argue about.
00:49:50.59\00:49:52.22
Yeah, but I liked it.
00:49:52.25\00:49:55.09
Maybe he might
have said that too.
00:49:55.12\00:49:59.29
The world was lost,
the human race was lost,
00:49:59.33\00:50:02.33
because of appetite of choice.
00:50:02.36\00:50:04.77
Thank God, Jesus
came to win it back.
00:50:04.80\00:50:09.14
So we cannot remain in
ignorance of these laws.
00:50:09.17\00:50:13.34
We sin against God,
Three Testimonies 489,
00:50:13.38\00:50:16.75
says this,
00:50:16.78\00:50:18.11
"Our eternal
destiny depends upon
00:50:18.15\00:50:21.02
strict temperate habits."
00:50:21.05\00:50:25.09
I still need some correcting.
00:50:25.12\00:50:27.62
Go by some of these
places, some of these bakeries
00:50:27.66\00:50:29.86
I'm walking along
the street down there
00:50:29.89\00:50:31.23
and you smell
all that good stuff
00:50:31.26\00:50:32.93
coming from the bakery,
00:50:32.96\00:50:34.63
start think about,
"Well, that smells good.
00:50:34.66\00:50:37.00
Well, I'll bet it even
taste a little bit better."
00:50:37.03\00:50:39.40
You better put your
tennis shoes on and run.
00:50:39.43\00:50:42.40
Bible does say, "Be
tempered in all things,
00:50:42.44\00:50:44.64
" so I'm not going
as far some people do.
00:50:44.67\00:50:47.28
If you take one,
buy this or that,
00:50:47.31\00:50:49.24
you're hell-bound.
00:50:49.28\00:50:50.65
I like to balance
it up but I realize...
00:50:50.68\00:50:52.35
Is it affecting?
00:50:52.38\00:50:54.48
We have to be very careful.
00:50:54.52\00:50:58.82
Wow.
00:50:58.85\00:51:00.19
Diet, this even gets
a little bit stronger
00:51:00.22\00:51:01.79
and I don't mind doing it
00:51:01.82\00:51:03.16
because you want
to be prepared for it.
00:51:03.19\00:51:04.53
I do too.
00:51:04.56\00:51:05.89
And remember, we
can't gain the victory.
00:51:05.93\00:51:07.40
We can't be
victorious in this life
00:51:07.43\00:51:09.16
if our mind is disease.
00:51:09.20\00:51:10.60
We just can't.
00:51:10.63\00:51:13.60
You ever had friends and
family who has Alzheimer's
00:51:13.64\00:51:17.81
and has something
that affects the brain?
00:51:17.84\00:51:19.91
It just breaks your heart.
00:51:19.94\00:51:22.54
Maybe your mother,
maybe your dad, your brother,
00:51:22.58\00:51:24.71
they don't they
don't know who you are.
00:51:24.75\00:51:26.18
They can't make a
good diligent decision
00:51:26.21\00:51:28.28
because, not saying
things they've done personally,
00:51:28.32\00:51:30.65
I'm just saying they
can't make a good choice
00:51:30.69\00:51:32.65
or decision anymore.
00:51:32.69\00:51:34.29
Well, your brain is healthy.
00:51:34.32\00:51:35.66
Please, Two Testimonies,
400, notice how powerful,
00:51:35.69\00:51:39.93
"It is impossible for
those who indulge the appetite
00:51:39.96\00:51:44.63
to attain to
Christian perfection."
00:51:44.67\00:51:49.00
I took another beating.
00:51:49.04\00:51:51.17
It's all right Lord
says, He loves those, you know,
00:51:51.21\00:51:53.84
we chastise those who He loves.
00:51:53.88\00:51:56.95
But we're talking about
Christian perfection here,
00:51:56.98\00:51:59.11
are we not?
00:51:59.15\00:52:00.48
But it's impossible,
either is truth or it's not,
00:52:00.52\00:52:03.35
who indulge the appetite.
00:52:03.39\00:52:04.85
We go so far that it
affects us physically,
00:52:04.89\00:52:08.49
spiritually, mentally,
and it does the whole body.
00:52:08.52\00:52:11.76
Look, the world knows
this better than some of us.
00:52:11.79\00:52:15.83
The world has had to do
00:52:15.86\00:52:17.77
what we have
neglected to do and to live.
00:52:17.80\00:52:21.77
They tell about what we eat
00:52:21.80\00:52:23.14
and what we
take into our bodies,
00:52:23.17\00:52:24.51
how it affects us,
00:52:24.54\00:52:28.01
what's healthy for us,
how it effects our mind,
00:52:28.04\00:52:31.15
what we take in, what we
eat, it affects our choices.
00:52:31.18\00:52:35.35
Three Testimonies, 492 says,
00:52:35.38\00:52:37.29
"Those who are
slaves to appetite
00:52:37.32\00:52:40.49
will fail in
perfecting Christian character.
00:52:40.52\00:52:44.73
Did you get that?
00:52:44.76\00:52:46.46
If you are a slave to appetite,
you just can't say, "No."
00:52:46.49\00:52:52.80
We're going to fail
perfecting Christian character
00:52:52.83\00:52:56.60
and heaven will not be our home.
00:52:56.64\00:52:58.44
Can we just put it out
close, let's put it out there.
00:52:58.47\00:53:01.04
Word is clear.
00:53:01.08\00:53:03.18
Indulgence of appetite, I know,
we can go on and on and on,
00:53:03.21\00:53:06.01
time's running
out, we can't do that.
00:53:06.05\00:53:07.38
But let me tell you.
00:53:07.42\00:53:08.75
Indulgence of
appetite, perverted appetite,
00:53:08.78\00:53:11.19
one that's not under
the control of the Spirit
00:53:11.22\00:53:12.85
of the living God,
00:53:12.89\00:53:14.22
the body becomes
enfeebled by the wrong diet,
00:53:14.26\00:53:17.89
what we take in.
00:53:17.93\00:53:19.26
Our brain becomes
cloudy and clogged,
00:53:19.29\00:53:22.30
our conscience becomes numb,
00:53:22.33\00:53:26.20
our digestive
organs become weak,
00:53:26.23\00:53:29.74
our body becomes diseased.
00:53:29.77\00:53:34.14
It causes injury to our self,
00:53:34.18\00:53:37.41
our judgment becomes
confused, the mind...
00:53:37.45\00:53:40.75
Notice this, mind becomes...
00:53:40.78\00:53:43.85
The mind becomes
controlled by satan.
00:53:43.89\00:53:47.82
Why? Because you
get warded off anymore.
00:53:47.86\00:53:50.03
Faith comes by hearing,
hearing by the word of God.
00:53:50.06\00:53:51.56
We're not putting it there.
00:53:51.59\00:53:52.93
We don't understand,
our judgment is confused.
00:53:52.96\00:53:54.53
Satan takes over the
mind. That's what he wants.
00:53:54.56\00:53:59.30
You know what happens?
Sin appears less sinful.
00:53:59.33\00:54:04.14
I want this to make
sense. We do all this.
00:54:04.17\00:54:06.57
We can say we're
doers. Doesn't make sense.
00:54:06.61\00:54:09.48
Does it make sense what
decisions we want to make.
00:54:09.51\00:54:12.58
Remember the...
00:54:16.28\00:54:17.62
Oh, there's much more.
00:54:17.65\00:54:18.99
I'm not going to keep going on,
00:54:19.02\00:54:20.36
but I want you to
study this issue out.
00:54:20.39\00:54:22.66
God is leading
and guiding people,
00:54:22.69\00:54:26.56
peculiar people,
different people,
00:54:26.59\00:54:29.93
He's leading them out.
00:54:29.96\00:54:32.03
They're not going
to be like the world.
00:54:32.07\00:54:33.44
They're not going
to talk like the world.
00:54:33.47\00:54:34.80
They're not going to
wear what the world wears.
00:54:34.84\00:54:37.17
They're not going
even think like the world,
00:54:37.21\00:54:38.74
they're not going
eat like the world.
00:54:38.77\00:54:40.31
They're not gonna put
all the things on that
00:54:40.34\00:54:41.68
the world puts on,
00:54:41.71\00:54:43.04
but some people
are still doing it,
00:54:43.08\00:54:44.41
but you know what?
00:54:44.45\00:54:45.78
The Bible has
never sanctioned it.
00:54:45.81\00:54:47.15
A group of people might say
00:54:47.18\00:54:48.52
it's all right to
wear certain things
00:54:48.55\00:54:49.88
but the Bible doesn't say it.
00:54:49.92\00:54:51.82
Who are you
going to line up with?
00:54:51.85\00:54:54.42
Well, my husband
wants this, wife want this.
00:54:54.46\00:54:56.59
So what?
00:54:56.62\00:54:59.13
We don't always
get what we want.
00:54:59.16\00:55:00.50
What does God say in His word?
00:55:00.53\00:55:03.16
This is what we
have to come back to
00:55:03.20\00:55:04.53
if we want
heaven to be our home.
00:55:04.57\00:55:08.10
Many are simply
killing themselves today.
00:55:08.14\00:55:11.77
We don't want to do
that, we don't want.
00:55:11.81\00:55:13.81
We want to be like Jesus.
00:55:13.84\00:55:15.94
We may come time,
00:55:15.98\00:55:17.31
we're going to have to
shake the dust off our feet,
00:55:17.35\00:55:18.78
we're going to
have to find new friends
00:55:18.81\00:55:20.42
or we're going to
have to be hanging out,
00:55:20.45\00:55:21.92
as it were, in a different place
00:55:21.95\00:55:23.28
that's reading the
Bible and studying scripture.
00:55:23.32\00:55:25.79
We can make no excuses
in this hour that we live.
00:55:28.89\00:55:33.73
We need to know our self,
we need to know our condition,
00:55:33.76\00:55:36.16
and we need to do
some self-examination,
00:55:36.20\00:55:38.00
there's no doubt in my mind.
00:55:38.03\00:55:42.40
There's so much more material,
00:55:42.44\00:55:43.77
we'll not have time to
go into that right now.
00:55:43.81\00:55:47.71
Someone asked you,
what would be your answer?
00:55:47.74\00:55:50.01
How by the grace of God
can I obtain a godly character?
00:55:50.05\00:55:56.92
How can I be like Jesus?
00:55:56.95\00:56:00.92
After all, Jesus came down here,
00:56:00.96\00:56:02.46
emptied himself of
self, filled with the Father,
00:56:02.49\00:56:04.43
He came to show us
what the Father's like,
00:56:04.46\00:56:06.59
what heaven is like.
00:56:06.63\00:56:08.43
We plan on
repopulating, don't we, heaven?
00:56:08.46\00:56:12.07
What's so wrong
with looking at and say,
00:56:12.10\00:56:15.44
"All things are
possible through Jesus Christ."
00:56:15.47\00:56:18.11
What's so wrong to saying,
"I need to be like Jesus."
00:56:18.14\00:56:21.38
Everybody says it,
00:56:21.41\00:56:22.74
but when it goes
about to accomplish it,
00:56:22.78\00:56:25.01
to follow what the Bible says
about these Christian virtues
00:56:25.05\00:56:27.72
and graces that
enable us to become like Him,
00:56:27.75\00:56:30.52
we want to
throw some of them out
00:56:30.55\00:56:31.92
because we're not
willing to deny self.
00:56:31.95\00:56:35.86
My brothers and
sisters, I want to pray for you,
00:56:35.89\00:56:37.73
pray for myself as well,
00:56:37.76\00:56:39.09
I'm going to kneel down
here and have closing prayer.
00:56:39.13\00:56:41.26
Please pray with me
that you make the decision.
00:56:41.30\00:56:43.47
Don't let this be so difficult
00:56:43.50\00:56:45.27
and say, "Oh, this is horrible."
00:56:45.30\00:56:46.90
Give it to Jesus.
He'll make it simple for you.
00:56:46.94\00:56:49.17
Let's pray shall we.
00:56:49.20\00:56:51.11
Merciful Father
in heaven, again,
00:56:51.14\00:56:52.47
we thank You for
the power of prayer.
00:56:52.51\00:56:54.38
We thank You that it
moves the arm of God by faith.
00:56:54.41\00:56:57.38
We're thankful for the decision,
00:56:57.41\00:56:58.75
the choices that
have been made right now
00:56:58.78\00:57:01.22
for the conviction
that You have brought upon
00:57:01.25\00:57:03.02
those who are honest in heart.
00:57:03.05\00:57:04.52
They'll be others
who will rise up against
00:57:04.55\00:57:06.19
and they want to
stone the messenger
00:57:06.22\00:57:08.49
and want to get
rid of the message,
00:57:08.52\00:57:09.86
but, Lord, I
pray Your Holy Spirit
00:57:09.89\00:57:11.23
will continue to
lead, guide, and direct.
00:57:11.26\00:57:12.59
And thank You for the decision
to continue to lead and guide
00:57:12.63\00:57:14.73
in Jesus' name we
pray and for His sake.
00:57:14.76\00:57:17.03
Amen.
00:57:17.07\00:57:18.73
It's always good to
spend time with you.
00:57:18.77\00:57:20.14
We're going to come back
again for our fourth part
00:57:20.17\00:57:23.00
and you won't want to miss that.
00:57:23.04\00:57:24.77
God loves you. We love you.
00:57:24.81\00:57:26.14
We look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:57:26.17\00:57:28.04