Our message tonight is entitled
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"A love that transforms."
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How many of you love Jesus?
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If you love Jesus let
me hear you say, amen.
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Amen.
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And why do you love Jesus?
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Because He loved us.
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That's what the
Bible says, right.
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In 1 John 4:19
it says "We love Him
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because He first loved us."
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And friends, when we
understand the love of Christ
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and the infinite
sacrifice He has made for us
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a change is gonna
take place in our hearts.
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We're gonna
respond by loving Him back
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because love awakens love.
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And when you say
that you love Jesus
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I believe that you are sincere,
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you mean that
with all your heart
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but let me tell friends, tonight
message is gonna put our love
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for Christ to the test.
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It's an unpopular message.
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As I mentioned it's
an uncomfortable message.
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But more than being
unpopular and uncomfortable
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it's a biblical message.
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Amen.
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And that's all that matters.
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You see whenever
we study God's word
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sometimes it hurts.
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Have you ever been
hurt by the truth before?
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Bible says that the word of God
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is sharper than
any two edged sword.
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It cuts both ways,
not only the hearers
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but also the presenter.
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And friends, tonight the
word of God might cut some of us
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because there are
something's perhaps in our lives
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that are not pleasing to God,
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something's that
are actually hindering
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or even hurting our
relationship with the Lord.
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And so God in his
infinite and mercy
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He takes the sword of
the spirit the word of God
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and He begins to do
heart surgery upon us,
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cutting away the cancer
of deception and the sins
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and habits and things
that distract us and hinder us
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in our journey to heaven.
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And so our love for Christ
is gonna be put to the test.
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But I believe
that our love of Jesus
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will pass the test
because of His love for us.
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Can you say, amen?
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And so I want us to friends,
that Jesus always and only
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brings rebuke and
correction because He loves.
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His love is a
love that transforms.
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In Revelation 3:19
as we lay the foundation
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Jesus said "As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasen,
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be zealous
therefore and do" what?
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"Repent."
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And this love that brings rebuke
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is also a call for repentance.
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Jesus said be
zealous therefore and repent.
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And friends, we're
gonna talk about this love
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that is not a cheap sentimental,
soppy Hollywood type of love
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but a deep powerful
love, a love that transforms.
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And a love that cause man
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and gives man the
gift of repentance.
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And friends, that word repent
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its very important
for our study tonight.
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That word repent in the Greek
language is the word metanoia
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which literally means to
change your way of thinking.
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What does it mean?
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Change your way of thinking.
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So when the Lord in His
love sends rebuke in correction
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in that is a call to repentance
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or a call to change
our way of thinking.
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And this is important friends,
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because the natural way
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that we think and
believe is the wrong way.
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So God wants to rewire
our brains you can say.
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Rewire the way that we think.
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And this is
important because friends,
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it's the mind the
frontal lobe the forehead
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is what you make your decisions.
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We learned before
that the mind produces
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our thoughts and
feelings, thoughts and feelings
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produce words and actions,
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words and
actions produce habits,
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habits form a character
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and character
determines your destiny.
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And God has a
beautiful destiny for us,
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a beautiful life for us
but it all starts with the mind
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with the way we
think and the way we feel
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and so salvation
begins to the mind.
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In fact notice what it
says in the Book of Isaiah 1:18.
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The Bible says "Come
now, and let us" do what?
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"Reason
together, says the Lord."
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What do you reason, my friends.
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You reason with your mind
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and so God is
designed to guide our reason.
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You see, the beautiful
thing about passage is God says
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come right now.
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Don't change
first and then come.
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Don't give this up
and stop doing this
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and then come to me.
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No, friends, the love of Christ
accepts us just as we are.
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Can you say, amen?
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Broken, messed up,
dirty, filthy with sin
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He will take us no matter
what condition we come to Him
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He will take us just as we are.
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But friends, it
doesn't stop there.
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The love of God
while it accepts us just
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as we are the love of God
will never leave us as we are.
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That love will have the power
to change our way of thinking,
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to rewire our belief system
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so that we can have
the right way of thinking
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which leads to the right
way of acting, the right habits,
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the right character
and the right destiny.
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Can you say, amen?
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You see a transformed mind
results in a transformed life.
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In fact, notice in
Romans 12:2 the Bible says
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"And be not
conformed to this world,
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but be ye" what's the word?
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"Transformed" how?
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"By the renewing of your mind."
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You see it all
starts in the mind
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a transformed life
begins with a transformed mind.
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Repentance turning away from sin
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and allowing the Lord to
change our way of thinking.
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It says "Be transformed
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by the renewing
of your mind, " why?
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"That you may
prove what is the good,
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and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God."
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Friends, the only way
we can do the will of God
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is if we first yield
our mind over to Jesus.
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It all starts with the
brain brother and sisters,
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the way we think.
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And so God has wanted to give
us a transformed experience.
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And by the way did you notice,
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if we want to be like the word
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all we have to do is conform.
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But if we want to
be like the Lord Jesus
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we can't just conform to Jesus
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we have to be
transformed into His likeness.
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Can you say, amen?
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Make no mistake
about it, friends.
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Christianity is not a
modification of behavior.
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Christianity is a
transformation of character
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that's the real deal.
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That's genuine Christianity
not a modification of behavior
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but a complete
transformation in character
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that begins in the mind as
we allow the Lord Jesus to guide
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the way that we reason and
the decisions that we make.
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And so tonight
what we are gonna do
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is study a group of
people in the Book of Revelation
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the final generation
who have experienced a love
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that has
transformed them completely.
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And we're gonna ask
the question who are they?
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How do they live and
what do they look like?
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This final
generation the 144,000,
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the spiritual
Israelites in the last days
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who are they and
how did they live?
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Oh friends, we
don't have to guess
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because the Bible
describes their characteristics.
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Please take your
Bible now and turn with me
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to the Book of
Revelation Chapter 7.
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It says, "And after
these things I saw four angels
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standing on the four
corners of the earth,
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holding the four
winds of the earth,
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that the wind should
not blow on the earth,
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nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
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And I saw another angel
ascending from the east,
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having the seal
of the living God,
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and he cried with a loud
voice to the four angels,
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to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea,
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saying, hurt not the
earth, neither the sea,
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nor the trees, till we have."
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Then what?
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"Sealed" who?
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The what?
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"Servants of our
God in their foreheads."
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Which shows that if we
are gonna have the seal of God
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we first must make a
decision to be a servant of God.
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Can you say, amen?
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And friends, if you are servant
that means you have a master.
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You see these who are sealed
and saved in the last days
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they have not only
accepted Jesus as their Savior
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but they have also accepted
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Jesus as their master
or the Lord of their lives.
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You see because
that's important in your life
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because everyone
wants to save you.
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Oh, we all want Jesus
as we all want to be saved
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but very few
people want a master.
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You know why, because naturally
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we want to be our own master.
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We want to live our lives
the way we want to live it.
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We want to be our own authority.
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We want a Savior.
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Yes, please save me Lord,
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but I don't want
you as my master.
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I don't want to do
what you say to do.
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But friends, if we
are gonna receive the seal
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Jesus must be our
Lord and our Savior.
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Can you say, Amen?
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Notice another characteristic
as we move on this evening.
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Revelation 14:4 tells us.
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"These are they which follow
the Lamb whithersoever He goes."
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They love to follow Jesus.
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What does it mean to
follow the Lamb whithersoever
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He goes in practical ways?
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In what kind of
ways? Practical ways.
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You see friends,
tonight's message is not
00:09:26.43\00:09:28.92
so much prophetic but
it's a practical message.
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This specific group of people
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they live a very
different type of lifestyle
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because God has
changed it from the inside out.
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They follow Jesus in all things
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in every single
aspect of their lives.
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In other words, they
don't compartmentalize
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God in one area of their lives
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and then they're in
control of the all other areas.
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No friends, they
follow Lamb where He goes
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in every single
area of their lives.
00:09:52.28\00:09:56.66
And friends, if you
won't follow the Lamb in heaven
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we need to follow
Him here in this world.
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Can you say, amen?
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And so if you want to follow
the Lamb wherever He goes.
00:10:01.61\00:10:05.22
Would you
please say, amen? Amen.
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Are you sure?
00:10:07.16\00:10:09.80
Amen. Amen.
00:10:09.83\00:10:11.31
Why because the Lamb
will never lead us astray.
00:10:11.34\00:10:14.68
He would never
lead us into a path
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to harm us or to hurt us.
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He will lead us through
the valley of shadow of death.
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He will lead us besides
still waters and green pastures.
00:10:20.92\00:10:25.68
You see, our God is a God
00:10:25.71\00:10:27.79
that has our best
interest in mind all the time
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and we can trust
Him in following Him
00:10:32.25\00:10:34.90
in every single
aspect of our lives.
00:10:34.93\00:10:37.19
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:10:37.22\00:10:38.30
And so I want you to notice
what the Lamb says in Luke 9:23.
00:10:38.33\00:10:43.04
Luke 9:23 Jesus said "If
any man will come after me,"
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or follow me "let him" do what?
00:10:47.75\00:10:50.91
"Deny himself, and take
up his cross" how often?
00:10:50.94\00:10:54.19
"Daily, and follow me."
00:10:54.22\00:10:56.38
Friends, if we want to
follow the Lamb wherever he goes
00:10:56.41\00:10:58.41
the Bible tells us that
00:10:58.44\00:10:59.47
it requires for us to
deny ourselves how often?
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Every single day.
00:11:02.64\00:11:06.21
The path to salvation in life
00:11:06.24\00:11:09.13
is a path of self
sacrifice and self denial.
00:11:09.16\00:11:13.05
We must take up our
cross every single day
00:11:13.08\00:11:15.71
and follow Jesus.
00:11:15.74\00:11:16.77
In other words,
one decision today
00:11:16.80\00:11:18.67
is not gonna cover
for tomorrow's decision.
00:11:18.70\00:11:20.96
Every day, day by day
we must make a decision
00:11:20.99\00:11:23.40
to follow the
Lord Jesus in every way
00:11:23.43\00:11:25.36
by taking up our cross and
going wherever He leads us.
00:11:25.39\00:11:28.53
And by the way friends,
when Jesus took up His cross
00:11:28.56\00:11:30.92
where did He go?
00:11:30.95\00:11:32.66
He took up His
cross and He went to die.
00:11:32.69\00:11:35.63
And if you want to
be the follower of Jesus
00:11:35.66\00:11:37.59
we have to do the same
thing, pick up our cross
00:11:37.62\00:11:39.95
and self and the carnal
sin for nature must die.
00:11:39.98\00:11:44.72
You see Christianity is
not a modification of behavior
00:11:44.75\00:11:49.04
it is a surrender of
your life to the Lord.
00:11:49.07\00:11:52.78
Can you say, amen?
00:11:52.81\00:11:54.35
And you have to
do this day by day.
00:11:54.38\00:11:57.24
And by the way
what is this cross
00:11:57.27\00:12:00.23
that Christ is
calling us to carry?
00:12:00.26\00:12:02.48
Whenever God's
will crosses our will
00:12:02.51\00:12:06.39
someone has to die.
00:12:06.42\00:12:08.21
Did you catch that?
00:12:08.24\00:12:09.64
Whenever the will of
God crosses your own will
00:12:09.67\00:12:12.97
someone would die,
it's either gonna be you
00:12:13.00\00:12:16.34
that self or
it's gonna be Christ.
00:12:16.37\00:12:19.70
Either you're
gonna follow your will
00:12:19.73\00:12:21.10
and you'll put
Jesus on the cross again
00:12:21.13\00:12:23.08
crucifying Him afresh
00:12:23.11\00:12:24.62
or you will say Jesus
you already died for me
00:12:24.65\00:12:26.83
I don't want You to
die make me self die
00:12:26.86\00:12:29.31
and may You live in my life,
in my heart, and in my mind.
00:12:29.34\00:12:33.10
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:12:33.13\00:12:34.25
This is what it means
to follow the Lamb, folks.
00:12:34.28\00:12:36.58
This is genuine Christianity
00:12:36.61\00:12:38.50
not just
something we do once a week
00:12:38.53\00:12:40.38
but something we do day by day.
00:12:40.41\00:12:42.36
In fact, notice what it
says in the Book of Luke 14:33.
00:12:42.39\00:12:45.96
Jesus said "So
likewise, whosoever he be of you
00:12:45.99\00:12:48.06
that forsakes not all
that he hath, he cannot be my."
00:12:48.09\00:12:54.69
And friends, the
disciples are follower of Jesus,
00:12:54.72\00:12:57.40
a follower of the Lamb.
00:12:57.43\00:12:59.27
And if want to be a
follower of the Lamb
00:12:59.30\00:13:01.19
the Bible tells
us Jesus speaking
00:13:01.22\00:13:03.08
that we must be
willing to forsake how much?
00:13:03.11\00:13:06.53
Not just some or
part of our lives
00:13:06.56\00:13:09.63
we must be willing to forsake
everything big and small.
00:13:09.66\00:13:13.21
You see, a full surrender
00:13:13.24\00:13:15.21
is the test of
true discipleship.
00:13:15.24\00:13:19.06
To know if you are
truly a disciple of Jesus
00:13:19.09\00:13:21.13
the question is does
Jesus have your whole heart?
00:13:21.16\00:13:24.26
He must be our all in all.
00:13:24.29\00:13:27.43
And friends,
this final generation
00:13:27.46\00:13:28.84
and the 144,000 those who
follow the Lamb wherever he goes
00:13:28.87\00:13:32.18
they had made a
complete surrender
00:13:32.21\00:13:33.90
of their lives to the Lord.
00:13:33.93\00:13:35.68
They have forsaken
all both big and small
00:13:35.71\00:13:38.45
and they have made
a lifestyle change.
00:13:38.48\00:13:41.06
Hey, what kind of
change? Lifestyle.
00:13:41.09\00:13:43.43
And why were they so willing
to make a lifestyle change?
00:13:43.46\00:13:49.20
Because, they
understand more than anyone else
00:13:49.23\00:13:52.17
that depth of the love of God
00:13:52.20\00:13:54.33
that cause Jesus to make
a lifestyle change for them.
00:13:54.36\00:14:01.41
Remember we love Him
because He first loved us
00:14:01.44\00:14:05.39
and we understand
that depth of His love
00:14:05.42\00:14:07.89
manifested in His sacrifice.
00:14:07.92\00:14:09.79
This is gonna result in
a response of a surrender
00:14:09.82\00:14:13.61
of our lives to Him.
00:14:13.64\00:14:15.21
You know, many times people say
00:14:15.24\00:14:16.53
oh, it's gonna be--it's gonna
be a big change following Jesus.
00:14:16.56\00:14:20.35
Man, it's gonna be a big change.
00:14:20.38\00:14:21.80
Well friends,
really is it a big change?
00:14:21.83\00:14:23.92
Let me tell you
what a big change is,
00:14:23.95\00:14:25.49
leaving heaven
and coming to earth
00:14:25.52\00:14:28.47
that was a big change, friends.
00:14:28.50\00:14:30.86
And friends when we
understand this love,
00:14:30.89\00:14:33.93
this infinite
sacrifice and when we see
00:14:33.96\00:14:37.66
just how much Jesus
gave and when we realize that
00:14:37.69\00:14:41.42
it wasn't a man
that gave His life
00:14:41.45\00:14:42.94
we recognize that it
was the creator Himself
00:14:42.97\00:14:46.92
that died on the cross.
00:14:46.95\00:14:50.12
We're not gonna want to
hold anything back from Him.
00:14:50.15\00:14:53.04
We're gonna--you see,
we're gonna surrender all.
00:14:53.07\00:14:55.23
You know why,
because what He gave for us
00:14:55.26\00:14:58.66
is nothing in
comparison what He is asking us
00:14:58.69\00:15:00.94
to give and surrender to Him.
00:15:00.97\00:15:03.82
Our surrender is a reflection
00:15:03.85\00:15:06.10
of our
understanding of His surrender.
00:15:06.13\00:15:08.70
If we think a very shallow--
if we have a shallow view
00:15:08.73\00:15:12.54
of the surrender
and sacrifice of Christ
00:15:12.57\00:15:14.33
then we're gonna surrender
just a little bit of our lives,
00:15:14.36\00:15:17.08
we're going to hold
something to ourselves.
00:15:17.11\00:15:19.21
But friends, when we
see just how much He gave
00:15:19.24\00:15:21.32
and then He gave all
how much are we gonna give?
00:15:21.35\00:15:24.67
We're gonna give all.
00:15:24.70\00:15:25.74
We are going to
make a lifestyle change
00:15:25.77\00:15:28.69
and we're not gonna
have an attitude saying,
00:15:28.72\00:15:30.21
oh, man, I am-- Lord,
I am giving You so much
00:15:30.24\00:15:31.87
oh, its such a big change.
00:15:31.90\00:15:33.15
No friends, we are gonna do
it so willingly and so happily
00:15:33.18\00:15:37.58
because of what Jesus
has already done for us.
00:15:37.61\00:15:39.74
Oh, friends,
keeping the Sabbath.
00:15:39.77\00:15:41.20
Oh, no problem Lord, no problem.
00:15:41.23\00:15:44.24
Changing the
place that I worship.
00:15:44.27\00:15:46.24
Oh, no problem,
that's not a big thing, Lord.
00:15:46.27\00:15:47.98
Changing my diet, oh
no easy in comparison
00:15:48.01\00:15:51.92
to what you've
already done for me, my Jesus.
00:15:51.95\00:15:54.37
Amen. Amen.
00:15:54.40\00:15:55.65
So friends, don't focus
on what you're giving up,
00:15:55.68\00:15:58.51
focus on what He has
already given up for you.
00:15:58.54\00:16:01.34
And as a nature of
result things are gonna fly off.
00:16:01.37\00:16:04.05
Things are gonna drop
from your life so quickly
00:16:04.08\00:16:06.71
and so easily, so the focus must
be not of what you have to do
00:16:06.74\00:16:10.68
but what in He has
already done for us.
00:16:10.71\00:16:13.47
And the Bible says, "We love
Him because He first loved us."
00:16:13.50\00:16:19.10
Oh, friends, I want
to have this experience
00:16:19.13\00:16:20.53
even deeper
tonight how about you.
00:16:20.56\00:16:23.14
And so God's end time Israelites
00:16:23.17\00:16:26.14
are gonna have a
lifestyle change.
00:16:26.17\00:16:28.60
They are gonna surrender
all both big and small.
00:16:28.63\00:16:32.21
They are not gonna
hold anything back.
00:16:32.24\00:16:34.54
In fact, notice how God
describes them in 1 Peter 2:9.
00:16:34.57\00:16:39.64
"But you are a
chosen generation,
00:16:39.67\00:16:42.04
a royal
priesthood, a holy nation."
00:16:42.07\00:16:45.71
What kind of
people? "A peculiar people."
00:16:45.74\00:16:48.56
"Peculiar people that
you should show forth"
00:16:48.59\00:16:52.25
not just speak forth
because talk is cheap.
00:16:52.28\00:16:56.08
"But that you should
show forth the praises of Him
00:16:56.11\00:16:58.94
who would called
you out of the darkness
00:16:58.97\00:17:01.14
and into His marvelous light."
00:17:01.17\00:17:04.94
And by the way friends,
you know when Peter said that
00:17:04.97\00:17:06.66
to the New Testament church
00:17:06.69\00:17:07.83
he was actually quoting
00:17:07.86\00:17:10.42
because these are
the words that God spoke
00:17:10.45\00:17:12.17
to the literal nation of Israel
when they came out of Egypt.
00:17:12.20\00:17:15.86
Now Peter applies it to
the New Testament church
00:17:15.89\00:17:17.55
why, because now we
are spiritual Israel.
00:17:17.58\00:17:19.49
Can you say, amen?
00:17:19.52\00:17:20.62
We are God's people
and so God is calling us
00:17:20.65\00:17:22.79
to be royal, to be holy,
00:17:22.82\00:17:25.07
to be chosen,
and to be peculiar.
00:17:25.10\00:17:27.72
And friends, that word
peculiar does not mean weird.
00:17:27.75\00:17:31.94
The word peculiar
listen it means different,
00:17:31.97\00:17:35.81
distinctive and distinguishable.
00:17:35.84\00:17:38.60
What does the
word peculiar mean?
00:17:38.63\00:17:41.57
In other words, when
people see the people of God
00:17:41.60\00:17:44.01
just by looking at them
and observing the way they live
00:17:44.04\00:17:48.05
they're gonna recognize
wow, this person is different.
00:17:48.08\00:17:52.54
I mean, this person
isn't like everyone else.
00:17:52.57\00:17:56.54
This person is peculiar
00:17:56.57\00:17:58.59
that's the
characteristic of God's people.
00:17:58.62\00:18:00.27
And friends,
that we need to ask--
00:18:00.30\00:18:01.33
we need to say this, we
need to ask the question.
00:18:01.36\00:18:04.48
If we are not
distinguishable from the world
00:18:04.51\00:18:07.07
then we have to ask
are we really God's people.
00:18:07.10\00:18:10.39
Did you guess that?
00:18:10.42\00:18:11.75
If we are not different and
distinguishable from the world
00:18:11.78\00:18:14.82
are we really God's people?
00:18:14.85\00:18:17.23
Because God's people
are gonna be different.
00:18:17.26\00:18:18.56
Can you say, amen?
00:18:18.59\00:18:19.62
Not just different
for different sake,
00:18:19.65\00:18:20.94
no, they are different
because they are like Jesus.
00:18:20.97\00:18:23.12
Amen.
00:18:23.15\00:18:24.18
I want to be like
Jesus how about you?
00:18:24.21\00:18:25.96
And so how can we be like Jesus?
00:18:25.99\00:18:27.58
Notice this practical
principle in 2 Corinthians 3:18
00:18:27.61\00:18:31.24
the Bible says "But
we all, with open face
00:18:31.27\00:18:34.17
beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord,
00:18:34.20\00:18:37.07
are changed into the same
image from glory to glory,
00:18:37.10\00:18:42.44
even as by the
Spirit of the Lord."
00:18:42.47\00:18:44.23
Here is a
universal principle friends,
00:18:44.26\00:18:46.40
that is the foundation
of our Bible study tonight
00:18:46.43\00:18:48.95
and that is simply this
that by beholding something
00:18:48.98\00:18:52.33
we will become
changed or transformed
00:18:52.36\00:18:56.40
into the same
image of whatever it is
00:18:56.43\00:19:00.87
that we are beholding.
00:19:00.90\00:19:02.31
In other words
whatever comes to our eyes,
00:19:02.34\00:19:04.49
our ears, and our
senses will affect the mind.
00:19:04.52\00:19:08.05
And you remember
the mind produces
00:19:08.08\00:19:09.54
your thoughts
and feeling, words,
00:19:09.57\00:19:10.78
actions, habits,
character, and destiny.
00:19:10.81\00:19:13.84
So that makes sense, right.
00:19:13.87\00:19:15.42
Whatever affects the
mind whatever you be hold,
00:19:15.45\00:19:17.25
whatever you think
about, whatever you look upon,
00:19:17.28\00:19:18.82
whatever you listen to
you're gonna be changed
00:19:18.85\00:19:21.32
into the very same image.
00:19:21.35\00:19:24.13
Our parents used to like the say
00:19:24.16\00:19:25.76
"birds of the same
feather flock together" Why?
00:19:25.79\00:19:28.95
Because you become whatever
you surround yourself with.
00:19:28.98\00:19:31.63
Isn't that right.
00:19:31.66\00:19:32.78
So a person that
watches violence all the time
00:19:32.81\00:19:35.79
is gonna become
a violent person.
00:19:35.82\00:19:38.54
Whatever, comes to your eyes.
00:19:38.57\00:19:40.31
Whatever you behold
that affects your mind
00:19:40.34\00:19:42.75
will determine the way
that you live your life.
00:19:42.78\00:19:46.24
The images of our
mind will reveal itself
00:19:46.27\00:19:50.35
in the lifestyle that we live
00:19:50.38\00:19:53.32
and for this reason we
need to be very careful
00:19:53.35\00:19:57.56
what we allow our eyes to watch.
00:19:57.59\00:19:59.78
Can you say, amen?
00:19:59.81\00:20:00.84
We need to be very careful,
00:20:00.87\00:20:01.94
we allow our ears to listen to.
00:20:01.97\00:20:04.80
We need to be very
careful where we allow our feet
00:20:04.83\00:20:07.02
to take us because remember
00:20:07.05\00:20:09.24
God wants to place
His seal on our foreheads
00:20:09.27\00:20:11.33
He wants us to repent to rewire,
00:20:11.36\00:20:13.94
to change our way of
thinking and in order to do this
00:20:13.97\00:20:17.19
we must behold Him in
order to become change
00:20:17.22\00:20:20.80
into that same image.
00:20:20.83\00:20:22.74
Are you with me, yes or no?
00:20:22.77\00:20:23.98
And so now with that foundation
I want us to take a look
00:20:24.01\00:20:26.35
at some practical's
principles in the Bible
00:20:26.38\00:20:29.48
that show us how we
can be a peculiar people,
00:20:29.51\00:20:33.32
God's end time Israelites.
00:20:33.35\00:20:34.96
How we can prepare our mind
00:20:34.99\00:20:37.09
to receive the
seal of the living God.
00:20:37.12\00:20:39.17
I want to notice friends,
God in his love and mercy
00:20:39.20\00:20:41.59
has given us some
practical warnings in His word
00:20:41.62\00:20:44.23
things that we should avoid.
00:20:44.26\00:20:45.49
Notice what he says
00:20:45.52\00:20:48.17
now we are gonna get practical.
00:20:48.20\00:20:49.36
Are you ready? Yes.
00:20:49.39\00:20:51.02
Are you sure? Yes.
00:20:51.05\00:20:52.39
All right, Psalms
101:3 the Bible says,
00:20:52.42\00:20:54.49
"I will set no wicked
thing before mine" what?
00:20:54.52\00:20:59.06
"Eyes."
00:20:59.09\00:21:00.12
And friends, and
fortunately in many households
00:21:00.15\00:21:03.17
across America and
even all over the world
00:21:03.20\00:21:05.76
there is
something in the living room
00:21:05.79\00:21:07.64
that just pours out
wickedness before our eyes
00:21:07.67\00:21:11.83
it's called the television sets.
00:21:11.86\00:21:15.33
And friends,
listen there is nothing
00:21:15.36\00:21:17.30
inherently evil with the screen.
00:21:17.33\00:21:19.13
We have screens up here
00:21:19.16\00:21:20.34
that are being used
for the glory of God.
00:21:20.37\00:21:22.62
Can you say, amen?
00:21:22.65\00:21:23.79
There is nothing
wrong with having a screen.
00:21:23.82\00:21:25.67
I have a screen
in my living room.
00:21:25.70\00:21:27.69
Nothing wrong with it
because friends, remember
00:21:27.72\00:21:29.85
the thing that is
wrong is what it reveals.
00:21:29.88\00:21:32.59
Things that pour out wickedness
00:21:32.62\00:21:34.56
and friends, you are
the one that controls it.
00:21:34.59\00:21:36.27
Isn't that right?
00:21:36.30\00:21:37.37
You are one that has the remote.
00:21:37.40\00:21:38.43
You are the one that
controls what comes through it.
00:21:38.46\00:21:40.37
We control, it right
or does it control us.
00:21:40.40\00:21:44.64
Are we really that
ones that are controlling it
00:21:44.67\00:21:46.74
or is that
thing controlling you?
00:21:46.77\00:21:49.55
We have to search our
hearts tonight, friends.
00:21:49.58\00:21:51.69
Especially when
Hollywood has no regard for God.
00:21:51.72\00:21:54.43
TV's creative community.
00:21:54.46\00:21:56.05
Over 93% don't attend church.
00:21:56.08\00:21:58.11
Over 95% think that
homosexuality is okay.
00:21:58.14\00:22:01.42
Over 84% think
that adultery is okay.
00:22:01.45\00:22:03.38
These are the ones
that are making the movies
00:22:03.41\00:22:05.42
and the programs on television.
00:22:05.45\00:22:07.07
They have no regard for God.
00:22:07.10\00:22:09.00
And therefore
their disregard for God
00:22:09.03\00:22:11.24
is demonstrated in the movies,
00:22:11.27\00:22:13.26
in the filth, in
the violence, in the sex
00:22:13.29\00:22:15.31
of the shows that
they are putting out.
00:22:15.34\00:22:17.06
And friends, if we are honest
00:22:17.09\00:22:18.20
there is hardly anything good
to watch on television today.
00:22:18.23\00:22:21.11
Would Jesus feel
comfortable watching the movie
00:22:21.14\00:22:23.56
that I am watching,
00:22:23.59\00:22:24.62
the television
show I am watching,
00:22:24.65\00:22:25.77
what I am looking
upon in the magazines
00:22:25.80\00:22:27.71
in the books
and on the internet?
00:22:27.74\00:22:29.53
Will Jesus be
entertained by this?
00:22:29.56\00:22:31.68
And friends, if this is not
something we can do with Jesus
00:22:31.71\00:22:34.17
then we have to chose
00:22:34.20\00:22:35.40
either we're gonna
have the presence of Jesus
00:22:35.43\00:22:37.65
or we are gonna
have whatever it is
00:22:37.68\00:22:39.04
that we are wanting to watch
00:22:39.07\00:22:40.13
and Jesus presence
is gonna have to leave.
00:22:40.16\00:22:43.06
And friends, I don't know you,
00:22:43.09\00:22:44.85
I want the
presence of Jesus, amen.
00:22:44.88\00:22:47.38
And so if you are
struggling with this friends,
00:22:47.41\00:22:49.04
just like I use
to struggle with this
00:22:49.07\00:22:51.14
and sometimes to do
if I don't catch myself
00:22:51.17\00:22:53.99
here is the prayer
that we need to pray.
00:22:54.02\00:22:55.62
Psalms 119:37
says "Turn mine eyes
00:22:55.65\00:22:59.09
away from beholding vanity,
and quicken me in Thy way."
00:22:59.12\00:23:04.68
So if you are struggling with it
00:23:04.71\00:23:05.74
God can give you
victory, friends.
00:23:05.77\00:23:07.34
And now back to the
question, do you love Jesus?
00:23:07.37\00:23:10.08
Are you sure? Amen.
00:23:12.24\00:23:13.84
Is Jesus more
important than Hawaii Five-0?
00:23:13.87\00:23:16.48
No. Oh, I hope so, amen.
00:23:16.51\00:23:19.55
Is He more important than MTV?
00:23:19.58\00:23:21.83
Is He more important than
all of these reality TV shows
00:23:21.86\00:23:24.31
and soap operas and
things that we watch?
00:23:24.34\00:23:26.26
Absolutely, yes.
00:23:26.29\00:23:27.32
Friends, we need
to get off the couch
00:23:27.35\00:23:29.14
and out of the house and
start living our own lives
00:23:29.17\00:23:32.87
instead of watching
others live their lives.
00:23:32.90\00:23:34.64
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:23:34.67\00:23:35.83
Instead of beholding man
we need to behold the Lamb
00:23:35.86\00:23:39.33
Lord Jesus Christ.
00:23:39.36\00:23:41.50
And friends, if
that's all right with you
00:23:41.53\00:23:43.49
would you please say, amen?
00:23:43.52\00:23:44.55
Amen.
00:23:44.58\00:23:45.61
And friends, are
you ready for more.
00:23:45.64\00:23:47.29
Oh some of you are
not ready for more.
00:23:47.32\00:23:49.40
If you are ready for more
let me hear you say, amen.
00:23:49.43\00:23:50.87
Amen.
00:23:50.90\00:23:51.93
Oh, friends, Jesus not
only warns us about the things
00:23:51.96\00:23:53.95
that come through our
eyes but also the things
00:23:53.98\00:23:55.64
that comes to our ears.
00:23:55.67\00:23:57.25
The Bible tells us in
the Book of Mark 4:24.
00:23:57.28\00:24:00.54
"Take heed what you hear."
00:24:00.57\00:24:03.68
Friends,
researchers are discovering
00:24:03.71\00:24:06.05
some interesting things
concerning the power of music.
00:24:06.08\00:24:08.58
They have shown that
music enters the brain
00:24:08.61\00:24:10.39
through the emotions
00:24:10.42\00:24:11.74
thus bypassing the
reasoning abilities.
00:24:11.77\00:24:14.71
And so you find
yourself singing something
00:24:14.74\00:24:16.79
that otherwise you
would never say it.
00:24:16.82\00:24:19.09
But because you're singing
it you don't even thinking about
00:24:19.12\00:24:21.14
what exactly you are saying.
00:24:21.17\00:24:22.62
It's bypassing
your reasoning powers,
00:24:22.65\00:24:25.09
the frontal lobe and
it comes to the emotions.
00:24:25.12\00:24:27.81
And the wrong types of
music and unbalanced music
00:24:27.84\00:24:30.45
and alter persons
pulse, breathe rate,
00:24:30.48\00:24:32.84
reflexes without a
person even realizing.
00:24:32.87\00:24:35.10
And syncopated dance
rhythms can alter person's mood
00:24:35.13\00:24:39.29
creating a mouth hypnosis.
00:24:39.32\00:24:41.46
And not only that but
the wrong types of music
00:24:41.49\00:24:43.47
it destroys the
frontal lobe of the brain.
00:24:43.50\00:24:46.10
Scientists have shown
00:24:46.13\00:24:47.30
that wrong types of
music destroys the frontal lobe
00:24:47.33\00:24:49.51
where God wants
to place His seal.
00:24:49.54\00:24:51.64
And so when it comes to
different types of music
00:24:51.67\00:24:53.72
we listen to we have to
put it to the biblical text
00:24:53.75\00:24:56.86
in the Book of Philippians 4:8
00:24:56.89\00:24:59.46
the Bible tells us
that this is the test
00:24:59.49\00:25:01.72
of what we watch and
the things we listen to.
00:25:01.75\00:25:04.54
Notice what it says
00:25:04.57\00:25:06.85
"Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true,
00:25:06.88\00:25:10.19
whatever things are
noble, whatever things are just,
00:25:10.22\00:25:13.64
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
00:25:13.67\00:25:16.89
whatever things
are of good report,
00:25:16.92\00:25:19.17
if there is any virtue
00:25:19.20\00:25:20.31
and if there is anything
praiseworthy, think on" what?
00:25:20.34\00:25:24.00
"These things."
00:25:24.03\00:25:25.06
God wants us to
put it to the test.
00:25:25.09\00:25:26.87
And so we have to consider
00:25:26.90\00:25:28.04
does this music
bring me closer to God
00:25:28.07\00:25:30.46
or does it mean make me want
to do the things of the world?
00:25:30.49\00:25:34.41
Would Jesus feel comfortable
listening to this type of music,
00:25:34.44\00:25:37.11
could He be entertained by it?
00:25:37.14\00:25:39.40
And if not friends,
then we have to make a choice
00:25:39.43\00:25:41.80
to put God first
in our life, amen.
00:25:41.83\00:25:44.21
It says think on
these things, and why,
00:25:44.24\00:25:46.20
because the Bible says
00:25:46.23\00:25:48.55
"For as he thinks in
his heart, so is he."
00:25:48.58\00:25:53.02
What you think is
who you are friends,
00:25:53.05\00:25:55.49
because your mind produces
your thoughts and feelings,
00:25:55.52\00:25:57.39
words and actions,
habits, character and destiny.
00:25:57.42\00:26:01.73
And so friends, if you
are sharing with the music
00:26:01.76\00:26:03.58
like I used to, I
had a huge CD collection
00:26:03.61\00:26:06.94
and when I first
was coming to the Lord
00:26:06.97\00:26:10.08
and I realized that
man, I had of all of this
00:26:10.11\00:26:11.98
and I spend a lot of
money and I love these
00:26:12.01\00:26:13.93
listening to
these types of music
00:26:13.96\00:26:15.21
but I realized that
these types of music
00:26:15.24\00:26:17.57
in Hawaii it wasn't
making me want to serve Jesus
00:26:17.60\00:26:20.69
it was making me
want to smoke weed.
00:26:20.72\00:26:22.84
And I have to make a choice.
00:26:22.87\00:26:25.26
This was not
helping my Christianity.
00:26:25.29\00:26:28.52
And so I didn't give it away
00:26:28.55\00:26:29.58
for somebody else
to corrupt their mind
00:26:29.61\00:26:30.96
I threw it in the
garbage by God's grace.
00:26:30.99\00:26:33.87
And God gave me the victory
and then He began to teach me
00:26:33.90\00:26:37.35
to sing a brand new song.
00:26:37.38\00:26:38.42
Amen.
00:26:38.45\00:26:39.48
Notice what happens
when Jesus reins in the heart
00:26:39.51\00:26:41.73
in Psalms 40:3 the Bible says
00:26:41.76\00:26:44.39
"And He hath put a
new song in my mouth,
00:26:44.42\00:26:47.56
even praise unto our God."
00:26:47.59\00:26:49.01
You see, God wants to teach
us to sing a brand new song
00:26:49.04\00:26:52.92
that comes from
our brand new heart.
00:26:52.95\00:26:54.56
And by the way
144,000 the final generation
00:26:54.59\00:26:57.16
they sing this new song.
00:26:57.19\00:26:58.22
Notice Revelation 14:3
00:26:58.25\00:26:59.85
"And they sung as it were a
new song before the throne."
00:26:59.88\00:27:03.62
Friends, I want
to sing that new song
00:27:03.65\00:27:04.79
before the throne how about you?
00:27:04.82\00:27:06.13
But before we can sing it
up there before the throne
00:27:06.16\00:27:08.61
we must learn to sing
it right now in this world.
00:27:08.64\00:27:12.47
We need to let Jesus be
our salvation and our song.
00:27:12.50\00:27:16.97
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:27:17.00\00:27:18.24
And friends, let me remind you
00:27:18.27\00:27:19.76
God has not taken away
things we like just because
00:27:19.79\00:27:22.46
He is only trying
to take away the things
00:27:22.49\00:27:24.66
that are not
helping us heaven way,
00:27:24.69\00:27:26.68
the things that are harming and
hurting us and distracting us.
00:27:26.71\00:27:29.98
But He does it only to give us
something far better in replace.
00:27:30.01\00:27:34.25
He never takes away something
00:27:34.28\00:27:35.92
without giving us something
far better in place of it.
00:27:35.95\00:27:38.75
And I can testify
that by experience.
00:27:38.78\00:27:41.52
I told you I
threw away all of music
00:27:41.55\00:27:43.24
and I had nothing to listen to.
00:27:43.27\00:27:45.19
But friends, God replaced it
with some good, sound, solid,
00:27:45.22\00:27:48.92
biblical, sacred,
sweet, heavenly music.
00:27:48.95\00:27:53.30
And it got so good friends,
that I have been blessed
00:27:53.33\00:27:57.01
to be able to work with
my very favorite music group
00:27:57.04\00:28:00.75
in the whole world, the
Revelation of Hope Singers.
00:28:00.78\00:28:03.94
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:28:03.97\00:28:05.21
And I can consider these.
00:28:05.24\00:28:06.86
Brothers and
sisters, my personal friends,
00:28:06.89\00:28:08.65
you see God took
away all the worldly music
00:28:08.68\00:28:10.95
but He gave me some friends
that make sweet heavenly music.
00:28:10.98\00:28:15.91
And so if you are
struggling with this tonight
00:28:15.94\00:28:17.34
God can give you victory.
00:28:17.37\00:28:18.76
And I will back to the
question, do you love Jesus?
00:28:18.79\00:28:22.14
If so let me hear you say, amen.
00:28:22.17\00:28:23.31
Amen.
00:28:23.34\00:28:24.37
Is Jesus more important to you
00:28:24.40\00:28:27.13
than the music of this world?
00:28:27.16\00:28:29.74
Friends, we need to make Jesus
00:28:29.77\00:28:31.90
our salvation and our song.
00:28:31.93\00:28:34.10
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:28:34.13\00:28:35.61
We need to make sure
that the idea of music
00:28:35.64\00:28:38.42
is cast down and we
let Jesus be our true song
00:28:38.45\00:28:42.41
and to allow Him to
teach us to sing the new song
00:28:42.44\00:28:45.78
in preparation for heaven.
00:28:45.81\00:28:47.36
Amen.
00:28:47.39\00:28:48.66
And friends are
you ready for more?
00:28:48.69\00:28:49.82
Yes. Praise the Lord.
00:28:49.85\00:28:52.70
It's the Lord has
more for us than I, amen.
00:28:52.73\00:28:54.50
Amen.
00:28:54.53\00:28:55.56
Be careful what you watch,
be careful what you listen to,
00:28:55.59\00:28:59.30
be careful where
you lie your feet to go.
00:28:59.33\00:29:01.30
But notice what else God
warns us of in these last days.
00:29:01.33\00:29:06.00
In first John
2:15, 16 the Bible says
00:29:06.03\00:29:09.69
"Love not the world,
00:29:09.72\00:29:12.46
neither the things
that are in the world.
00:29:12.49\00:29:15.85
If any man love the world,
00:29:15.88\00:29:17.18
the love of the
Father is not in him.
00:29:17.21\00:29:19.20
For all that is in the world,
00:29:19.23\00:29:20.84
" then it describes
three specific things notice "
00:29:20.87\00:29:23.27
The lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes,
00:29:23.30\00:29:26.67
and the pride of
life, is not of the Father,
00:29:26.70\00:29:29.25
but of the world."
00:29:29.28\00:29:30.60
Notice three specific
things God want us off
00:29:30.63\00:29:33.15
the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes,
00:29:33.18\00:29:35.38
and the pride of life.
00:29:35.41\00:29:36.44
These are the three
deadly sins of the world.
00:29:36.47\00:29:39.31
And friends, how can we guard
against these three deadly sins?
00:29:39.34\00:29:43.66
I want you to notice
how Christians can guard
00:29:43.69\00:29:45.24
against the lust of the flesh,
the eyes and the part of life.
00:29:45.27\00:29:47.51
God in the New Testament
gives us a practical principle
00:29:47.54\00:29:50.64
that calls us to
be peculiar people.
00:29:50.67\00:29:52.64
Notice what it says in
1 Timothy 2:9 it tells us
00:29:52.67\00:29:57.33
"That we are to adorn ourselves"
in what kind of a apparel?
00:29:57.36\00:30:01.77
"In modest apparel."
00:30:01.80\00:30:03.70
Friends, did you know
we need to glorify God
00:30:03.73\00:30:06.58
in the way that
we appear outwardly.
00:30:06.61\00:30:09.19
Yes friends, God has claims upon
our appearance as Christians
00:30:09.22\00:30:12.30
even though our society and
the world is totally against
00:30:12.33\00:30:16.31
the biblical
principle of modesty.
00:30:16.34\00:30:18.25
And let me tell you friend's,
one person said like this.
00:30:18.28\00:30:20.95
Modesty is not
trying to hide yourself
00:30:20.98\00:30:23.85
but modesty is revealing
your dignity to the world.
00:30:23.88\00:30:26.50
Amen.
00:30:26.53\00:30:27.56
It's showing that
you respect yourself
00:30:27.59\00:30:30.02
and that you respect others
00:30:30.05\00:30:31.83
and you do it by
covering the things
00:30:31.86\00:30:34.42
that excite the
brain into carnality.
00:30:34.45\00:30:37.70
In fact, the world
is totally against this.
00:30:37.73\00:30:39.54
I want you to notice
what one New York professor,
00:30:39.57\00:30:42.45
one professor at New York's
Parsons School of Design said
00:30:42.48\00:30:46.25
in describing the
world she said that
00:30:46.28\00:30:48.09
"Nothing is kept
private. It reflects society.
00:30:48.12\00:30:50.72
No one has any reserve anymore.
00:30:50.75\00:30:52.53
It's all about
"showing" what? "Everything."
00:30:52.56\00:30:55.13
That's how our society is.
00:30:55.16\00:30:57.32
You see Hollywood in the world
00:30:57.35\00:30:58.48
are not looking for
ways to cover up the flesh
00:30:58.51\00:31:01.74
but they are looking for ways to
uncover and to reveal the flesh.
00:31:01.77\00:31:07.15
And friends, as
we behold Hollywood
00:31:07.18\00:31:09.00
in the dress of the world
00:31:09.03\00:31:10.45
we as Christians
become desensitized by it
00:31:10.48\00:31:13.24
and as the
result what do you have,
00:31:13.27\00:31:14.65
you have dresses in the church
00:31:14.68\00:31:17.62
getting higher
and higher and higher
00:31:17.65\00:31:20.59
and blouses tighter
and tighter and tighter.
00:31:20.62\00:31:23.65
Oh, friends, God
does not want us to dress
00:31:23.68\00:31:25.50
in order to raise
the blood pressure
00:31:25.53\00:31:27.31
of the opposite sex, amen.
00:31:27.34\00:31:31.58
He does not want us
to dress in such a way
00:31:31.61\00:31:35.08
that we are attracting
attention to body parts.
00:31:35.11\00:31:38.96
Amen. Amen.
00:31:38.99\00:31:40.67
This is not extreme
friends, this is common sense.
00:31:40.70\00:31:44.56
And friends, listen
sisters, oh my beloved sisters,
00:31:44.59\00:31:49.91
you need to help us brothers out
00:31:49.94\00:31:54.59
by covering up the flesh
00:31:54.62\00:31:57.15
because you see the
way the male brain works
00:31:57.18\00:32:00.17
is that the male
brain is excited,
00:32:00.20\00:32:02.38
easily excited by
the things that we see
00:32:02.41\00:32:05.58
and the Bible says you
are your brother's keeper.
00:32:05.61\00:32:08.11
You see ladies, you can help us
get to heaven a whole lot easier
00:32:08.14\00:32:12.86
by being modest in your apparel.
00:32:12.89\00:32:16.31
Can you say amen, brothers?
00:32:16.34\00:32:17.68
Amen. Amen.
00:32:17.71\00:32:20.74
And brothers we need
to help our sisters out.
00:32:20.77\00:32:24.46
Amen, sisters. Amen.
00:32:24.49\00:32:25.94
And how do we help
the sisters out brothers,
00:32:25.97\00:32:28.13
by treating them
with dignity and respect,
00:32:28.16\00:32:32.38
looking upon our
sisters as daughters of God,
00:32:32.41\00:32:35.29
children of the
king, princesses,
00:32:35.32\00:32:38.16
not an object to
fulfill our lust.
00:32:38.19\00:32:42.53
We need to help
each other out, amen.
00:32:42.56\00:32:44.42
Oh friends, do you
still love the Lord Jesus.
00:32:44.45\00:32:46.18
Yes.
00:32:46.21\00:32:47.24
Not extreme right
very practical stuff.
00:32:47.27\00:32:49.76
God is wanting us to be peculiar
00:32:49.79\00:32:51.80
means that our dress
ought to be different
00:32:51.83\00:32:54.34
than from the dress of
Hollywood and the world.
00:32:54.37\00:32:57.88
And if we are
looking like the world
00:32:57.91\00:32:58.94
we have to ask, are we really
God's peculiar people or not?
00:32:58.97\00:33:02.74
Now friends, listen,
many people have asked
00:33:02.77\00:33:05.72
on the subject
of dress and adore.
00:33:05.75\00:33:07.34
And many people have
wondered what about--
00:33:07.37\00:33:09.14
what does the Bible
have to say about jewelry.
00:33:09.17\00:33:11.08
Well, what is-- is
there anything wrong
00:33:11.11\00:33:12.68
with wearing jewelry?
00:33:12.71\00:33:14.29
Oh, friends, that
depends on who you ask.
00:33:14.32\00:33:16.47
We are not concerned with
your opinions of a man, amen.
00:33:16.50\00:33:20.54
Friends, listen, when it
comes jewelry in the Bible
00:33:20.57\00:33:23.80
the Bible is
clear that God's people
00:33:23.83\00:33:25.41
should not be
wearing jewelry at all.
00:33:25.44\00:33:27.65
And listen, if you are
wearing jewelry tonight
00:33:27.68\00:33:29.33
please don't be embarrassed.
00:33:29.36\00:33:32.33
Don't be embarrassed
because God judges us
00:33:32.36\00:33:34.78
based upon the knowledge we have
00:33:34.81\00:33:37.92
and the
opportunities He has given us.
00:33:37.95\00:33:40.83
And did you know
friends, about 60 years
00:33:40.86\00:33:42.52
every single church
thought what I am about to share
00:33:42.55\00:33:44.90
from God's word tonight
but all the time what happen is
00:33:44.93\00:33:48.01
man began to compromise and
watered down the word of God
00:33:48.04\00:33:51.82
and thus this truth about
wearing superfluous adornments
00:33:51.85\00:33:55.14
is a largely forgotten truth.
00:33:55.17\00:33:57.10
And so friends,
listen, it's not your fault
00:33:57.13\00:33:58.50
that many preachers
are free to preach it.
00:33:58.53\00:34:01.10
And to be honest as I mentioned
00:34:01.13\00:34:02.35
it is very uncomfortable
for me to share these things.
00:34:02.38\00:34:04.73
You know why, because
friends, I want you to like me.
00:34:04.76\00:34:09.52
I want you to like me, I
want to have a good time,
00:34:09.55\00:34:11.47
and be friends and I
don't want to offend anyone.
00:34:11.50\00:34:14.39
But friends, more
than being liked by man
00:34:14.42\00:34:16.24
I want to be faithful to God.
00:34:16.27\00:34:17.35
Amen. Amen.
00:34:17.38\00:34:18.53
And so friends, please put
aside your personal feelings
00:34:18.56\00:34:21.58
and your personal thoughts
and let's look objectively
00:34:21.61\00:34:25.02
to see what the
New Testament teaching
00:34:25.05\00:34:26.73
is concerning the
wearing of jewelry.
00:34:26.76\00:34:28.62
Notice what it
says in 1 Peter 2:9.
00:34:28.65\00:34:31.85
The Bible tells us
"In like manner also,
00:34:31.88\00:34:33.48
that women adorn themselves"
in what kind of apparel?
00:34:33.51\00:34:35.97
"Modest apparel."
00:34:36.00\00:34:37.03
Then it continues
and gives specifics.
00:34:37.06\00:34:39.15
"Not with broided hair or
gold or pearls or costly array."
00:34:39.18\00:34:43.40
Friends, the Bible is warning us
00:34:43.43\00:34:44.98
against the
wearing of gold, pearls
00:34:45.01\00:34:46.78
and different
types of adornments.
00:34:46.81\00:34:48.98
And by the way when
it says broided hair
00:34:49.01\00:34:50.95
it doesn't mean you
can't braid you hair, you can,
00:34:50.98\00:34:53.05
but the broidery of
the hair that was practiced
00:34:53.08\00:34:55.25
in these times is that
they weave gold and chains
00:34:55.28\00:34:57.58
and all kinds of
things to accentuate the hair
00:34:57.61\00:35:00.15
and its that practice
of the wearing of jewelry
00:35:00.18\00:35:03.03
and these types of things that
the Bible is warning us against.
00:35:03.06\00:35:06.15
And the reason why is because
the God is trying to protect us
00:35:06.18\00:35:08.93
from the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes,
00:35:08.96\00:35:11.53
and the pride of life.
00:35:11.56\00:35:13.09
And friends,
when you study history
00:35:13.12\00:35:14.77
you will find that
the wearing of jewelry
00:35:14.80\00:35:16.63
was a hedonistic practice.
00:35:16.66\00:35:19.01
Nowhere in the Bible
does God say to wear the cross
00:35:19.04\00:35:21.78
He says to pick up
the cross and bare it.
00:35:21.81\00:35:23.97
Not wear it but bear the
cross. Can you say, amen?
00:35:24.00\00:35:26.96
And so please
don't feel embarrassed
00:35:26.99\00:35:28.42
or personally
attacked by this subject.
00:35:28.45\00:35:30.80
I want you to know it
has nothing to do with you.
00:35:30.83\00:35:32.67
I present this message in
every single seminar I do.
00:35:32.70\00:35:35.51
So it's nothing
personal, friends.
00:35:35.54\00:35:36.99
I am not doing it to try to
pick on somebody, absolutely not
00:35:37.02\00:35:39.26
just have an open mind.
00:35:39.29\00:35:40.32
Let's see what God's
word has to say, amen.
00:35:40.35\00:35:42.41
Notice what it
says in Genesis 35:2, 4
00:35:42.44\00:35:45.19
talking about God's
people the Israelites.
00:35:45.22\00:35:47.12
"Then Jacob said
unto his household,
00:35:47.15\00:35:48.86
and to all that were
with him, Put away the" what?
00:35:48.89\00:35:51.82
"Strange god's
that are among you
00:35:51.85\00:35:53.75
and be clean and
change your garments."
00:35:53.78\00:35:55.62
This was the house of Jacob
God's people the Israelites
00:35:55.65\00:35:59.17
and God says, I want you to take
00:35:59.20\00:36:00.72
to put away all
the strange god's
00:36:00.75\00:36:02.58
that you have in your household.
00:36:02.61\00:36:04.18
What were these
strange God's that they have?
00:36:04.21\00:36:06.36
Notice in verse 4
"And they gave unto Jacob
00:36:06.39\00:36:08.65
all the strange gods
which were in their hand,
00:36:08.68\00:36:11.97
and all their" what?
00:36:12.00\00:36:13.45
"Their earrings
which were in their ears."
00:36:13.48\00:36:15.41
Notice friends, in this verse
00:36:15.44\00:36:17.24
the wearing of
earrings or jewelry
00:36:17.27\00:36:19.73
was connected with idolatry.
00:36:19.76\00:36:23.29
You see the wearing
of superfluous adornments
00:36:23.32\00:36:25.13
was a
characteristic of the heathen
00:36:25.16\00:36:27.61
never of God's people.
00:36:27.64\00:36:29.64
In fact, notice in
the Book of Judges 8:4
00:36:29.67\00:36:33.78
the Bible says,
00:36:33.81\00:36:34.92
"And they had golden earrings,
because they were" what?
00:36:34.95\00:36:39.22
"Ishmaelite."
00:36:39.25\00:36:40.28
And so we find
that the Ishmaelite
00:36:40.31\00:36:42.15
in this passage
were characterized
00:36:42.18\00:36:44.14
and described
as wearing earrings
00:36:44.17\00:36:45.85
because they were Ishmaelite.
00:36:45.88\00:36:47.07
Well, friends, God is calling
us to be spiritual Israelites.
00:36:47.10\00:36:51.78
And remember during the
time of their Egyptian bondage
00:36:51.81\00:36:54.53
when God set them free
00:36:54.56\00:36:55.63
they were wearing
all of these things
00:36:55.66\00:36:57.12
when they came out of Egypt
00:36:57.15\00:36:58.50
because they learned it
00:36:58.53\00:36:59.80
from the
practices of the Egyptians.
00:36:59.83\00:37:02.07
And so God set them free
00:37:02.10\00:37:03.45
and now He was taking
them to the promise land
00:37:03.48\00:37:06.40
and on their way
to the promise land
00:37:06.43\00:37:08.40
guess what they did with
these superfluous adornments.
00:37:08.43\00:37:10.99
They took it off and
they made a golden calf
00:37:11.02\00:37:13.57
and they began to
worship the gods of goat.
00:37:13.60\00:37:17.15
You see, the
wearing of these things
00:37:17.18\00:37:19.02
let them
eventually into false worship.
00:37:19.05\00:37:22.22
It was the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes,
00:37:22.25\00:37:24.21
and the pride of life.
00:37:24.24\00:37:25.50
It was a pagan practice.
00:37:25.53\00:37:27.40
In Exodus 33:5, 6 it says
"Now take off your ornaments,
00:37:27.43\00:37:31.43
that I may know
what to do with you.
00:37:31.46\00:37:32.91
So the children of Israel
00:37:32.94\00:37:33.97
stripped themselves of
their ornaments by Mount Horeb."
00:37:34.00\00:37:37.11
That was God
brothers and sisters,
00:37:37.14\00:37:38.44
brothers and
sisters, He was speaking
00:37:38.47\00:37:39.66
He said to His people
take off your ornaments.
00:37:39.69\00:37:42.44
And friends, the
apostle Paul applies this to us.
00:37:42.47\00:37:45.29
1 Corinthians 10:6 tells us,
00:37:45.32\00:37:47.34
"Now these things
became our, what?"
00:37:47.37\00:37:49.93
"Examples, to the
intent that we should not lust
00:37:49.96\00:37:53.81
after evil things
as they also lusted."
00:37:53.84\00:37:56.20
Just as God took
His children of Israel
00:37:56.23\00:37:57.89
out of the Egyptian bondage
00:37:57.92\00:37:59.24
He wants to set us free
from the bondage of sin.
00:37:59.27\00:38:01.48
And just as He brought
them though the wilderness
00:38:01.51\00:38:03.34
intending to take
them to the promised land
00:38:03.37\00:38:05.46
right now we are in the
wilderness of this world
00:38:05.49\00:38:08.16
and God is wanting to
take us to the heavenly Canaan,
00:38:08.19\00:38:10.85
the heavenly promised land.
00:38:10.88\00:38:11.94
Can you say, amen?
00:38:11.97\00:38:13.12
And while we are in the
wilderness of this world
00:38:13.15\00:38:15.24
that devil has some traps for us
00:38:15.27\00:38:17.46
and one of the traps of
the Israelites back then
00:38:17.49\00:38:19.54
was the wearing of
superfluous adornments
00:38:19.57\00:38:21.58
that led to idolatry
and so in the same way
00:38:21.61\00:38:24.96
this is a trap of Satan
00:38:24.99\00:38:27.40
for many of God's
people in these last days.
00:38:27.43\00:38:29.95
And I want you to notice
00:38:29.98\00:38:31.01
how the Bible describes
it in Hosea 2:13 it says
00:38:31.04\00:38:35.08
"She decked herself with
her earrings and her jewels,
00:38:35.11\00:38:38.77
and went after other
lovers and did" what?
00:38:38.80\00:38:42.78
"Forgot Me, says the Lord."
00:38:42.81\00:38:45.21
I want you to
notice God people forgot
00:38:45.24\00:38:47.15
the true beauty
that comes from within.
00:38:47.18\00:38:49.76
They saw the attributing
beauties to the things
00:38:49.79\00:38:51.38
that were thought and
they forgot the Lord their God.
00:38:51.41\00:38:53.67
It led to apostasy
and rebel it against God.
00:38:53.70\00:38:56.46
In fact, notice
another one in Isaiah 3:9
00:38:56.49\00:38:59.70
talking about God's
people who fell into apostasy.
00:38:59.73\00:39:02.25
It says and "The
look on their countenance"
00:39:02.28\00:39:04.89
look on their what?
00:39:04.92\00:39:07.11
Countenance witnesses not
for them, but "against them
00:39:07.14\00:39:10.40
and they declared their sin
as Sodom, they hide it not."
00:39:10.43\00:39:12.93
So there was something
00:39:12.96\00:39:13.99
on the outward
countenance of God's people
00:39:14.02\00:39:17.13
that was a witness
not for but against Him.
00:39:17.16\00:39:19.24
Well, what exactly was
upon their countenance?
00:39:19.27\00:39:22.00
It was the wearing of
the superfluous adornments.
00:39:22.03\00:39:23.94
Notice in the
context in verses 18-24,
00:39:23.97\00:39:27.59
the Bible thinks
it's a list of the things
00:39:27.62\00:39:29.94
that were on the
countenance of the God's people
00:39:29.97\00:39:31.94
that caused them to
be proud and forget God.
00:39:31.97\00:39:34.60
Notice what it says
00:39:34.63\00:39:35.66
"In that day the
Lord will take away
00:39:35.69\00:39:36.92
the bravery of their tinkling
ornaments about their feet,
00:39:36.95\00:39:39.60
the chains, and the
bracelets, and the mufflers,
00:39:39.63\00:39:42.12
and the bonnets, and
the ornaments of the legs
00:39:42.15\00:39:44.35
and the earrings, the
rings, and the nose jewels,
00:39:44.38\00:39:48.51
and the
changeable suits of apparel,
00:39:48.54\00:39:50.15
and it shall come to pass
that instead of sweet smell
00:39:50.18\00:39:52.53
there shall be a stench,
and instead of a girdle a rent,
00:39:52.56\00:39:55.99
and instead of
well set hair baldness,
00:39:56.02\00:39:58.13
and burning instead of" what?
00:39:58.16\00:40:00.15
"Beauty."
00:40:00.18\00:40:01.21
You see these things
did not bring true beauty.
00:40:01.24\00:40:03.95
It calls God's beauty
to become haughty and proud
00:40:03.98\00:40:06.47
it was the proud of life.
00:40:06.50\00:40:07.87
And so it
brought instead of beauty
00:40:07.90\00:40:09.50
it brought a stench, a
rent, boldness and burning.
00:40:09.53\00:40:12.34
You see what
God's people were doing
00:40:12.37\00:40:13.79
they were trying to supplement
00:40:13.82\00:40:16.03
the glory of God
for the glory of goat.
00:40:16.06\00:40:20.19
They were trying to
supplement the glory of God.
00:40:20.22\00:40:22.18
It was a counterfeit
to cover up the emptiness
00:40:22.21\00:40:25.87
and the
insecurities of their lives
00:40:25.90\00:40:29.17
because God was missing.
00:40:29.20\00:40:30.25
They had rejected Him.
00:40:30.28\00:40:31.43
So to cover up their
emptiness and their insecurities
00:40:31.46\00:40:33.73
they tried to cover
themselves up with these things
00:40:33.76\00:40:36.05
that caused them
to feel important,
00:40:36.08\00:40:37.72
that caused them to
feel valuable and beautiful.
00:40:37.75\00:40:40.54
They forgot
where true beauty is.
00:40:40.57\00:40:42.08
Friends, don't ever
forget that true beauty
00:40:42.11\00:40:44.04
is not something
that is put on without
00:40:44.07\00:40:45.74
true beauty is
something that comes from within
00:40:45.77\00:40:47.75
as we let the Lord
live in our hearts.
00:40:47.78\00:40:49.30
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:40:49.33\00:40:50.54
Beauty isn't defined
by what you look like
00:40:50.57\00:40:54.56
well, by who you
are and whose you are.
00:40:54.59\00:40:59.49
You are son and daughter of God.
00:40:59.52\00:41:02.52
That's what makes you beautiful.
00:41:02.55\00:41:03.65
And you belong
to the king friends,
00:41:03.68\00:41:06.03
that is what makes you beautiful
00:41:06.06\00:41:07.76
it doesn't matter
what you see in the mirror
00:41:07.79\00:41:09.37
what God sees is the
beautiful child of the king.
00:41:09.40\00:41:12.58
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:41:12.61\00:41:13.71
And so we should not
fall into this trap of Satan.
00:41:13.74\00:41:16.34
In fact notice God is the
one that makes us beautiful.
00:41:16.37\00:41:18.54
In the Book of
Psalms 149:4 it says
00:41:18.57\00:41:20.88
"For the Lord takes
pleasure in His people,
00:41:20.91\00:41:24.20
and He will beautify
the humble with" what?
00:41:24.23\00:41:27.76
"Salvation."
00:41:27.79\00:41:28.82
Friends, God does
not want to beautify us
00:41:28.85\00:41:30.10
with gold and
jewels and precious stones
00:41:30.13\00:41:31.78
and in modest dress
He wants to beautify us
00:41:31.81\00:41:34.37
with humility and
His eternal salvation.
00:41:34.40\00:41:38.44
That's the beauty of the Lord
00:41:38.47\00:41:39.87
and how many of
you want that tonight.
00:41:39.90\00:41:41.24
If so would you
please say, amen.
00:41:41.27\00:41:42.32
Amen.
00:41:42.35\00:41:43.38
Salvation on the
inside is what makes us
00:41:43.41\00:41:45.51
beautiful on the outside
00:41:45.54\00:41:46.89
and so we see
very clearly friends,
00:41:46.92\00:41:48.23
that God does
not want us to wear
00:41:48.26\00:41:49.80
vain and superfluous adornments
they are not necessary.
00:41:49.83\00:41:52.99
And some of you
might be wondering
00:41:53.02\00:41:54.20
well, what about
the wedding band?
00:41:54.23\00:41:55.94
I mean, because the
wedding band isn't vain
00:41:55.97\00:41:57.91
because it has a purpose.
00:41:57.94\00:41:59.11
It shows that you are
married and that you are taken,
00:41:59.14\00:42:01.51
just like a watch.
00:42:01.54\00:42:02.87
It has a purpose its
purpose is to tell the time.
00:42:02.90\00:42:06.22
And so what
about the wedding band,
00:42:06.25\00:42:07.47
does this fall
into the same category?
00:42:07.50\00:42:09.54
Well, friends, many of you
have noticed that I don't--
00:42:09.57\00:42:11.82
My wife and I we
don't wear wedding bands.
00:42:11.85\00:42:14.22
And before I give
you the reason why
00:42:14.25\00:42:16.09
I have to tell you that
this is a very sensitive issue
00:42:16.12\00:42:18.84
even in my church and I
want you to remember this
00:42:18.87\00:42:22.25
it does not matter
what others are doing
00:42:22.28\00:42:24.74
and it does not matters
what other are not doing.
00:42:24.77\00:42:28.07
God s not giving us each
other as an example to follow.
00:42:28.10\00:42:31.70
He is giving us
the Son of God Jesus
00:42:31.73\00:42:34.15
as our perfect example.
00:42:34.18\00:42:35.79
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:42:35.82\00:42:36.85
And so God does not
want us to look around
00:42:36.88\00:42:38.20
and begin judging people
00:42:38.23\00:42:39.46
He wants us to look
within to search our hearts
00:42:39.49\00:42:42.05
and search His word
00:42:42.08\00:42:43.29
and allow the
Holy Spirit to lead us
00:42:43.32\00:42:45.28
when it comes to the particular
item of the wedding band.
00:42:45.31\00:42:49.55
And friends, let me just
tell you why I don't wear it.
00:42:49.58\00:42:52.17
The reason why my wife and I
00:42:52.20\00:42:53.45
have chose not
wear a wedding band
00:42:53.48\00:42:54.78
is because as we study the Bible
00:42:54.81\00:42:56.70
the Bible doesn't make any
distinction between any rings.
00:42:56.73\00:42:59.93
In fact, if you study the
history of the wedding band
00:42:59.96\00:43:02.74
you will find that
it comes from paganism.
00:43:02.77\00:43:04.78
I want you to
notice what history says.
00:43:04.81\00:43:06.51
"We are told by
Eusebius that Constantine,
00:43:06.54\00:43:08.94
in order to recommend the
new religion to the heathen,
00:43:08.97\00:43:11.66
transferred into it
all the outward" what?
00:43:11.69\00:43:15.07
"Ornaments to which
they had been accustomed
00:43:15.10\00:43:16.88
in their own religion."
00:43:16.91\00:43:18.15
But what were
these pagan ornaments
00:43:18.18\00:43:19.70
that were
brought into the church?
00:43:19.73\00:43:21.09
It continues
"The use of temples,
00:43:21.12\00:43:23.38
those dedicated
to particular saints,
00:43:23.41\00:43:25.38
incense and
candles and holy water,
00:43:25.41\00:43:27.48
processions, the
ring in the marriage,
00:43:27.51\00:43:30.60
turning to the east,
images at a latter date,
00:43:30.63\00:43:33.05
all are of pagan origin
00:43:33.08\00:43:34.74
and sanctified by their
adoption into the church."
00:43:34.77\00:43:38.76
Friends, history makes it clear
00:43:38.79\00:43:40.48
that the wedding band
was a sign of paganism.
00:43:40.51\00:43:42.48
It was a sign of ownership
00:43:42.51\00:43:43.95
but is also a
sign of the son God
00:43:43.98\00:43:46.08
that the circular band of gold
was a symbol of the Sun God.
00:43:46.11\00:43:50.26
Now friends,
listen I know that today
00:43:50.29\00:43:51.59
we don't associate the
Sun God with the wedding ring.
00:43:51.62\00:43:53.21
I know that I acknowledge it.
00:43:53.24\00:43:55.36
Now it's used for
protection isn't it,
00:43:55.39\00:43:57.93
to let other people
know that you're taking.
00:43:57.96\00:44:00.36
But friends, think
about it in our twisted world
00:44:00.39\00:44:04.19
it's not long a safe
method of protection.
00:44:04.22\00:44:08.01
You see, the greatest protection
00:44:08.04\00:44:10.38
to let others know
that you are married
00:44:10.41\00:44:12.79
is modesty in you
demeanor and in your character.
00:44:12.82\00:44:16.03
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:44:16.06\00:44:17.09
That's the greatest
protection is the way you live.
00:44:17.12\00:44:19.14
Not something around your finger
because in our twisted world
00:44:19.17\00:44:21.89
people don't even-- many people
don't even acknowledge it.
00:44:21.92\00:44:25.04
They don't regard it at all.
00:44:25.07\00:44:26.96
And friends, it's
easier to take it off too.
00:44:26.99\00:44:29.58
But friends, if you are modest
in your demeanor and character
00:44:29.61\00:44:31.50
and if you
really love your spouse
00:44:31.53\00:44:32.69
that's not something
you're gonna take off.
00:44:32.72\00:44:33.89
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:44:33.92\00:44:35.08
Now friends,
listen very carefully
00:44:35.11\00:44:36.65
I do understand
that in some countries
00:44:36.68\00:44:39.19
the wedding band is
a cultural necessity
00:44:39.22\00:44:41.94
and people will miss
judge you if you don't have it.
00:44:41.97\00:44:44.17
They will think you're losing
just trying to fool around.
00:44:44.20\00:44:46.78
And so in that
context, listen in that context
00:44:46.81\00:44:49.26
you are absolutely free to
follow your own convictions
00:44:49.29\00:44:52.52
as the Holy Spirit leads you
00:44:52.55\00:44:53.70
when it comes to
the wedding band.
00:44:53.73\00:44:55.65
In that context
00:44:55.68\00:44:57.08
you could make
your own decision.
00:44:57.11\00:44:58.96
But friends, listen
carefully wearing a wedding band
00:44:58.99\00:45:01.51
does not make you more married
00:45:01.54\00:45:03.42
and not wearing one does
not make you less married.
00:45:03.45\00:45:06.36
What makes you married?
00:45:06.39\00:45:08.03
Your love and your
commitment to your spouse.
00:45:08.06\00:45:10.64
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:45:10.67\00:45:11.73
And if you feel like
you need an outward symbol
00:45:11.76\00:45:13.90
to show others
and for a protection
00:45:13.93\00:45:15.63
as that's
between you and the Lord.
00:45:15.66\00:45:17.57
But as I studied and
pray this God convicted me
00:45:17.60\00:45:19.53
that I will need a band of gold
00:45:19.57\00:45:21.03
to tell others that I'm married
00:45:21.06\00:45:22.47
I have chosen to let
my life tell the world
00:45:22.50\00:45:26.33
that I am happily married.
00:45:26.36\00:45:29.58
Amen.
00:45:29.61\00:45:30.97
And if people ask
me, are you married?
00:45:31.00\00:45:32.77
I don't say yeah, I'm married.
00:45:32.80\00:45:35.98
No, I am happily married, amen.
00:45:36.01\00:45:40.47
I am happily taken.
00:45:40.50\00:45:43.38
I belong to my wife
and she belongs to me
00:45:43.41\00:45:47.10
and no one is to come between
that sacred relationship.
00:45:47.13\00:45:49.63
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:45:49.66\00:45:50.69
That's the
greatest protection, folks.
00:45:50.72\00:45:52.26
You see the beauty of my
inward commitment to my wife
00:45:52.29\00:45:55.53
outshines any
sparkle of gold, amen.
00:45:55.56\00:45:59.19
Now friends, this
is my encouragement
00:45:59.22\00:46:00.35
on this sensitive issue.
00:46:00.38\00:46:02.23
Number one, you
should never do something
00:46:02.26\00:46:05.58
and you should
never not do something
00:46:05.61\00:46:07.67
because others are
doing it or not doing it.
00:46:07.70\00:46:10.50
Number two, don't
look around for an example.
00:46:10.53\00:46:12.44
Look above and look
into the word of God,
00:46:12.47\00:46:14.52
and let the Holy Spirit lead you
00:46:14.55\00:46:16.55
and allow God to lead you
00:46:16.58\00:46:17.96
and we also need
give people a room
00:46:17.99\00:46:20.87
to follow their own
personal convictions
00:46:20.90\00:46:23.20
and to grow in their experience.
00:46:23.23\00:46:26.58
And finally God does not
call us to be fruit inspectors
00:46:26.61\00:46:31.13
He has called us
to be fruit barriers.
00:46:31.16\00:46:32.71
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:46:32.74\00:46:33.92
And so that's my encouragement
on this sensitive topic
00:46:33.95\00:46:36.44
on the wedding ring because
unlike other forms of jewelry
00:46:36.47\00:46:40.02
that one does have
so what of a purpose
00:46:40.05\00:46:41.82
and so that one is some
of the different category
00:46:41.85\00:46:43.94
you allow the Lord to lead you.
00:46:43.97\00:46:45.38
And friends, God is
patience and He grows us
00:46:45.41\00:46:49.65
into a deeper and
deeper understating
00:46:49.68\00:46:52.17
of his perfect
will for our lives.
00:46:52.20\00:46:53.59
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:46:53.62\00:46:54.65
Now friends, I want you
to notice as we continue,
00:46:54.68\00:46:56.98
some people have asked
while we're on this topic
00:46:57.01\00:46:58.97
some people will ask
well, what about tattoos.
00:46:59.00\00:47:01.74
How much is too much?
00:47:01.77\00:47:03.60
Is it okay to get a
tattoo of Jesus on the back
00:47:03.63\00:47:06.66
or a tribal tattoo on the arm?
00:47:06.69\00:47:08.92
Is that okay?
00:47:08.95\00:47:09.98
I mean its
cultural and as of Jesus,
00:47:10.01\00:47:11.77
I mean, when I am on
the beach I can witness
00:47:11.80\00:47:13.51
and you know people
see Jesus on my back?
00:47:13.54\00:47:16.18
Is this something
that God want us to have?
00:47:16.21\00:47:18.76
Is this
permissible in the eyes of God?
00:47:18.79\00:47:20.24
Well, friends, listen if
you have a tattoo tonight
00:47:20.27\00:47:23.22
you shouldn't be embarrassed
unless it's on you face.
00:47:23.25\00:47:29.27
I so leave it too much,
friends, may be too much.
00:47:29.30\00:47:33.37
Now friends, if you
have a tattoo tonight
00:47:33.40\00:47:34.99
nothing you can do about it.
00:47:35.02\00:47:36.22
It's not gonna wash
off isn't that right.
00:47:36.25\00:47:38.18
So the past is past but
friends, I want you to notice
00:47:38.21\00:47:40.09
what God's says for the future.
00:47:40.12\00:47:41.52
Notice the biblical principles.
00:47:41.55\00:47:42.90
In 1 Corinthians
3:16, 17 it says,
00:47:42.93\00:47:45.61
"Know ye not that ye
are the temple of God,
00:47:45.64\00:47:47.81
and that the Spirit
of God dwells in you?
00:47:47.84\00:47:50.14
If any man defile
the temple of God,
00:47:50.17\00:47:52.92
him shall God destroy,
for the temple of God is holy,
00:47:52.95\00:47:56.00
which temple ye are."
00:47:56.03\00:47:57.70
The Bible says that our body
doesn't belong to us friends,
00:47:57.73\00:48:00.63
its God's holy temple.
00:48:00.66\00:48:03.31
Now how would you feel
someone came into this church,
00:48:03.34\00:48:05.28
this temple and started
graffiting on the walls?
00:48:05.31\00:48:07.76
Will that acceptable yes or no?
00:48:07.79\00:48:09.74
Of course not.
00:48:09.77\00:48:10.80
And how do you think-- feel--
00:48:10.83\00:48:11.89
how do you think
the Holy Spirit feels
00:48:11.92\00:48:13.57
when we graffiti on
his temple our body.
00:48:13.60\00:48:16.68
But some people
rationalize and they say
00:48:16.71\00:48:18.34
but we're the temple of God
00:48:18.37\00:48:19.40
therefore we
should deck ourselves out
00:48:19.43\00:48:21.67
and make the temple
of God so beautiful.
00:48:21.70\00:48:24.49
But friends, I
want you to consider
00:48:24.52\00:48:25.55
the Old Testament temple of God.
00:48:25.58\00:48:27.47
There is nothing gold on
the outside of the temple.
00:48:27.50\00:48:29.88
Do you realize that?
00:48:29.91\00:48:31.20
There is no
designs on the outside,
00:48:31.23\00:48:33.69
it was just skin.
00:48:33.72\00:48:35.19
That's what the temple was.
The outward it was badger skin.
00:48:35.22\00:48:37.90
It was just skin on the outside.
00:48:37.93\00:48:40.44
But friends, was there gold?
00:48:40.47\00:48:42.37
Where is the
gold? On the inside.
00:48:42.40\00:48:45.80
The wallpaper was solid gold.
00:48:45.83\00:48:48.65
Every article, furniture
on the inside of the temple
00:48:48.68\00:48:51.62
was of gold,
brothers and sisters.
00:48:51.65\00:48:53.41
Where does God want to go to be?
00:48:53.44\00:48:55.12
Not hanging on the outside
He wants it to be on the inside.
00:48:55.15\00:48:58.37
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:48:58.40\00:48:59.80
We are the temple
of God, it's the beauty
00:48:59.83\00:49:01.93
that shines form within and
is reflected on the outside.
00:49:01.96\00:49:05.07
In fact, I want you notice
00:49:05.10\00:49:06.13
how strongly
God feels about this
00:49:06.16\00:49:07.66
in Leviticus
19:28 the Bible says,
00:49:07.69\00:49:10.70
"You shall not make
any cutting in your flesh"
00:49:10.73\00:49:14.12
no piercing
friends "for the dead,
00:49:14.15\00:49:16.95
nor tattoo any marks
on you, I am the Lord."
00:49:16.98\00:49:23.23
And if that's clear
would you please say, amen.
00:49:23.26\00:49:26.77
And why does God say this?
00:49:26.80\00:49:27.90
Because He doesn't want
us to look like the world
00:49:27.93\00:49:30.26
He wants us to be
different and distinguishable.
00:49:30.29\00:49:32.69
If you have a
tattoo don't worry about it
00:49:32.72\00:49:34.00
that's the past
let the past be past
00:49:34.03\00:49:35.80
but this is for the future.
00:49:35.83\00:49:36.86
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:49:36.89\00:49:37.92
God judges based upon
the knowledge that we have.
00:49:37.95\00:49:40.45
And so some people say though
00:49:40.48\00:49:41.57
if God does not
want us to have tattoos
00:49:41.60\00:49:44.07
then what about make up?
00:49:44.10\00:49:49.08
Friends, listen, if
you have makeup tonight,
00:49:49.11\00:49:52.08
if you have makeup tonight
you shouldn't be embarrassed
00:49:52.11\00:49:55.05
unless you are a man.
00:49:55.08\00:49:56.11
In most cases a man
should not wear makeup, amen.
00:50:01.32\00:50:05.73
Now listen ladies, listen
I wouldn't say much about it
00:50:05.76\00:50:08.94
but there are few scriptures
00:50:08.97\00:50:11.54
that I want to
share with you tonight.
00:50:11.57\00:50:12.84
Notice what the Bible says
Jeremiah 4:30 the Bible says,
00:50:12.87\00:50:17.18
"What are you
doing O devastated one?
00:50:17.21\00:50:20.06
Why dress yourself in scarlet
and put on jewels of gold?
00:50:20.09\00:50:23.77
Why shade your eyes with paint?
00:50:23.80\00:50:26.91
You adorn yourself in vain."
00:50:26.94\00:50:31.57
Friends why does
this say it's vain
00:50:31.60\00:50:33.81
because ladies,
listen you're beautiful
00:50:33.84\00:50:37.26
just the way God made you.
00:50:37.29\00:50:41.20
You don't have to
try and do something
00:50:41.23\00:50:44.30
to make yourself feel secure.
00:50:44.33\00:50:45.87
Friends, Jesus is our security.
00:50:45.90\00:50:47.93
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:50:47.96\00:50:50.44
Whenever you read the Bible
00:50:50.47\00:50:52.14
when you read about
the painting of the face
00:50:52.17\00:50:54.19
it was always associated
with the enemies of the God.
00:50:54.22\00:50:57.31
In fact, it was
first introduced by Jezebel
00:50:57.34\00:51:00.61
which was the
heathen of priestess.
00:51:00.64\00:51:04.31
She painted up her
face in 2 Kings 9:30
00:51:04.34\00:51:07.04
in order to lure
the prophets of God
00:51:07.07\00:51:09.65
into committing
fornication and adultery.
00:51:09.68\00:51:12.65
You see friends, we
don't want to follow
00:51:12.68\00:51:13.95
the example of the Jezebel.
00:51:13.98\00:51:15.06
Could you say, amen? Amen.
00:51:15.09\00:51:16.24
So don't let the world and
Hollywood define what beauty is
00:51:16.27\00:51:20.11
let the word of God
00:51:20.14\00:51:21.77
define for you
what true beauty is.
00:51:21.80\00:51:24.49
Could you say, amen? Amen.
00:51:24.52\00:51:25.55
The principle is this, if
the barn needs to be painted
00:51:25.58\00:51:27.94
paint the barn but avoid
the colors that are immodest.
00:51:27.97\00:51:32.08
Are you with me, sisters?
00:51:32.11\00:51:34.00
And by the way, you know,
I was attracted to my wife
00:51:34.03\00:51:37.53
not because of
any thing she had on.
00:51:37.56\00:51:39.71
I was attracted to her because
of the beauty of Jesus inside
00:51:39.74\00:51:43.02
and the natural beauty
00:51:43.05\00:51:44.08
that was
reflecting on the outside.
00:51:44.11\00:51:46.06
And when we got
married on our wedding day,
00:51:46.09\00:51:48.08
I mean, that's a
special day right?
00:51:48.11\00:51:50.54
She was encouraged to make up
00:51:50.57\00:51:54.50
but friends, she decided to go
all natural on the wedding day.
00:51:54.53\00:51:59.09
And she was beautiful then and
she is still beautiful today.
00:51:59.12\00:52:02.31
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:52:02.34\00:52:03.45
Ladies, ladies, listen
you want to attract a brother
00:52:03.48\00:52:06.40
that loves you not
for what you look like
00:52:06.43\00:52:08.93
but for who you
are in character.
00:52:08.96\00:52:11.37
And here is the reason
why, listen, because in 20 years
00:52:11.40\00:52:15.29
you are not gonna look the same.
00:52:15.32\00:52:18.90
And so you want
you want a brother
00:52:18.93\00:52:20.10
that was gonna love you
not for so much what you like
00:52:20.13\00:52:22.34
but for who you are and
when things begin to change
00:52:22.37\00:52:25.32
the love will endeavor forever.
00:52:25.35\00:52:26.88
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:52:26.91\00:52:28.23
Now friends, I
want you to notice
00:52:28.26\00:52:29.64
you still love Jesus, right.
00:52:29.67\00:52:30.77
Amen. Amen, all right.
00:52:30.80\00:52:32.46
In the Bible there
is only one ornament
00:52:32.49\00:52:33.98
that God calls us to wear.
00:52:34.01\00:52:35.04
Notice what it
says in 1 Peter 3:3, 4
00:52:35.07\00:52:38.00
"Whose adorning let it
not be that outward adorning
00:52:38.03\00:52:40.28
of plaiting the hair,
and of wearing of gold,
00:52:40.31\00:52:42.61
or putting on of apparel,
00:52:42.64\00:52:44.15
but let it be the
hidden man of the heart,
00:52:44.18\00:52:46.96
in that which
is not corruptible,
00:52:46.99\00:52:48.88
even the ornament of
a meek and quiet spirit,
00:52:48.91\00:52:52.69
which is in the sight
of God of great price."
00:52:52.72\00:52:54.75
That's the only ornament
00:52:54.78\00:52:55.81
God says put on a
meek and quite spirit.
00:52:55.84\00:52:58.04
Friends, the ring
and the particle sun
00:52:58.07\00:52:59.81
that was the symbol,
brothers and sisters.
00:52:59.84\00:53:01.68
You see in the
Book of Ezekiel 16
00:53:01.71\00:53:04.84
you see the woman adorn
with different types of things
00:53:04.87\00:53:08.45
that those were symbols it was
not meant to be taken literal.
00:53:08.48\00:53:12.13
It represents the
ornament of grace,
00:53:12.16\00:53:14.27
the chain of peace
00:53:14.30\00:53:16.14
that the Book of
Proverbs talks about.
00:53:16.17\00:53:18.21
You see the ornament
that God wants us to have
00:53:18.24\00:53:20.37
is the ornament of a
Christ like character
00:53:20.40\00:53:23.69
and that's what I want.
00:53:23.72\00:53:24.75
How about you?
00:53:24.78\00:53:25.83
And Bible tells us
00:53:25.86\00:53:28.42
that "The Lord
sees not as a man sees,
00:53:28.45\00:53:30.68
for the man looks upon
the outward appearance,
00:53:30.71\00:53:32.80
but Lord looks on the" what?
00:53:32.83\00:53:35.21
"On the heart."
00:53:35.24\00:53:36.27
God sees our heart
friends, but does this mean
00:53:36.30\00:53:38.21
that He does not
care about our appearance.
00:53:38.24\00:53:40.87
It does not mean that, friends.
00:53:40.90\00:53:42.03
Yes, Jesus will
take us just as we are
00:53:42.06\00:53:44.56
but He is not
gonna leave us as we are.
00:53:44.59\00:53:46.50
What this verse
is saying is that
00:53:46.53\00:53:47.71
the heart is more important
than the outward appearance.
00:53:47.74\00:53:49.95
Yes, but listen when
God truly has the heart
00:53:49.98\00:53:54.00
it will be seen in a
change of appearance.
00:53:54.03\00:53:56.52
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:53:56.55\00:53:57.81
And I have
experienced this personally.
00:53:57.84\00:53:59.55
Friends, when I was in the word
00:53:59.58\00:54:00.61
I use to wear baggy cloths,
00:54:00.64\00:54:02.23
I use to wear T-shirt
with the face of Bob Marley
00:54:02.26\00:54:05.03
on my chest and marijuana.
00:54:05.06\00:54:07.16
But friends, you won't catch
me wearing those things anymore
00:54:07.19\00:54:09.44
why because I live
and server Jesus now.
00:54:09.47\00:54:13.61
He's made a change in
even my outward appearance.
00:54:13.64\00:54:17.47
A few more
points before we close.
00:54:17.50\00:54:19.34
In Revelation it
describes two types of women
00:54:19.37\00:54:21.60
representing two
types of churches.
00:54:21.63\00:54:23.41
One woman the pure bride
is hold with natural light,
00:54:23.44\00:54:25.98
the sun, moon and stars.
00:54:26.01\00:54:27.48
The other one is
decked that with gold
00:54:27.51\00:54:28.75
and jewels and precious stones.
00:54:28.78\00:54:29.84
She's dressed in modesty.
00:54:29.87\00:54:31.14
The Bible calls
her a harlot woman
00:54:31.17\00:54:33.13
on apostate church.
00:54:33.16\00:54:34.36
Friends, which one do
you want to be a part of?
00:54:34.39\00:54:37.10
God wants us to be
clothed with the natural light
00:54:37.13\00:54:40.30
of His beautiful character.
00:54:40.33\00:54:41.61
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:54:41.64\00:54:42.67
But some of you
might be thinking
00:54:42.70\00:54:43.73
but it's just a little thing
why you talking about this?
00:54:43.76\00:54:47.55
It's just a little
thing we are talking about--
00:54:47.58\00:54:49.11
I mean, I came here
to hear about prophecy
00:54:49.14\00:54:51.16
and you are talking
about these things, why?
00:54:51.19\00:54:53.16
Oh friends, does God
care about the little things?
00:54:53.19\00:54:58.28
Absolutely.
00:54:58.31\00:55:00.49
Do you love the Lord Jesus?
00:55:00.52\00:55:03.59
And so, friends, our
love is gonna be demonstrated,
00:55:03.62\00:55:05.79
not just in the big things
but also the little things.
00:55:05.82\00:55:09.53
I want you to notice
00:55:09.56\00:55:10.59
what the Bible
tells us in Luke 16:10.
00:55:10.62\00:55:13.93
Jesus said, "He who is
faithful in that which is least
00:55:13.96\00:55:17.21
shall be faithful also in much,
00:55:17.24\00:55:20.03
and he that is
unjust in the least
00:55:20.06\00:55:21.31
is unjust also in much."
00:55:21.34\00:55:23.11
You see, friends,
according to God's word,
00:55:23.14\00:55:24.54
the little things make a
big difference in God's eyes.
00:55:24.57\00:55:27.47
And some people
ask, well, these things
00:55:27.50\00:55:28.71
cause me to be lost.
00:55:28.74\00:55:30.54
Well, I'll be lost if I
continue doing these things.
00:55:30.57\00:55:32.31
Well, friends, listen,
anything we love more than God
00:55:32.34\00:55:34.66
will cause us to be lost.
00:55:34.69\00:55:36.75
It doesn't matter, big or small.
00:55:36.78\00:55:38.88
Anything that we do not
surrender to the Lord Jesus
00:55:38.91\00:55:41.41
will cause us to be lost.
00:55:41.44\00:55:42.47
You see, friends,
listen, biting the fruit
00:55:42.50\00:55:45.32
was a small thing, wasn't it?
00:55:45.35\00:55:46.74
I mean, its just a little bite
00:55:46.77\00:55:49.04
but that one little thing
made a world of a difference.
00:55:49.07\00:55:52.45
That one little
thing caused man to be lost
00:55:52.48\00:55:55.78
and an innocent
land to have to die.
00:55:55.81\00:55:58.30
God cares about
the little things.
00:55:58.33\00:56:00.36
And it's in the little things
that we show our love for God.
00:56:00.39\00:56:02.08
Notice what it
says in Ephesians 5:22,
00:56:02.11\00:56:04.31
"For the fruit of the
Spirit is--" Excuse me.
00:56:04.34\00:56:07.20
"For the fruit of the
Spirit consists in all goodness
00:56:07.23\00:56:09.49
and righteousness and truth,
trying to learn what is" what?
00:56:09.52\00:56:14.34
"Pleasing to the Lord."
00:56:14.37\00:56:15.40
So, friends, if we have
the fruit of the spirit,
00:56:15.43\00:56:17.78
we're gonna try to
learn what is pleasing to God.
00:56:17.81\00:56:20.12
Not just the big things,
but even the small things.
00:56:20.15\00:56:23.30
Now friends, I
want you to notice
00:56:23.33\00:56:24.45
when God created
Lucifer, Bible tells us
00:56:24.48\00:56:27.38
that every precious
stone was his covering.
00:56:27.41\00:56:30.81
And Lucifer forgot that
God was the source of beauty.
00:56:30.84\00:56:34.20
And remember what caused
him to fall, it was pride.
00:56:34.23\00:56:37.66
He got caught up
in his own beauty,
00:56:37.69\00:56:39.41
his own glory, his own self.
00:56:39.44\00:56:42.21
And then when God made man,
00:56:42.24\00:56:43.63
he did not cover man with
gold and jewels and stone.
00:56:43.66\00:56:46.37
You read Genesis Chapter 2,
00:56:46.40\00:56:47.70
God through the
gold on the ground,
00:56:47.73\00:56:50.67
but He clothed man
with His own glory,
00:56:50.70\00:56:52.84
the glory of God.
00:56:52.87\00:56:54.25
And one day when
we get to heaven,
00:56:54.28\00:56:56.21
God is gonna
place a golden crown
00:56:56.24\00:56:58.31
upon our brow, a
clown of glittering stars.
00:56:58.34\00:57:01.10
And friends, there's
nothing wrong with wearing gold
00:57:01.13\00:57:03.13
as long as God is the
one that puts it on you.
00:57:03.16\00:57:05.04
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:57:05.07\00:57:06.15
What's happening is,
00:57:06.18\00:57:07.21
many people instead of waiting
for God to put it on them,
00:57:07.24\00:57:09.54
they're jumping it down
00:57:09.57\00:57:10.60
and they're
putting it on themselves.
00:57:10.63\00:57:13.15
You see, friends, when God--
when we wait up on the Lord,
00:57:13.18\00:57:15.26
what God is wanting to do
right now in the wilderness,
00:57:15.29\00:57:17.52
He wants to crown us
with His glory and His honor.
00:57:17.55\00:57:21.95
And in heaven, He will
then be able to trust us
00:57:21.98\00:57:24.31
to wear golden,
glittering crown.
00:57:24.34\00:57:26.17
Why because
we've already crowned
00:57:26.20\00:57:27.90
with the glory of his
humility and his character.
00:57:27.93\00:57:31.29
And it's save to
wear it in heaven.
00:57:31.32\00:57:32.70
Why because, there's
no problem with pride
00:57:32.73\00:57:34.62
and there is no
tempter to tempt us
00:57:34.65\00:57:37.00
with the lust of the flesh,
the eyes in the pride of life.
00:57:37.03\00:57:39.37
But right now in the
wilderness, well, we can--
00:57:39.40\00:57:41.79
Well, these things can
be stumbling blocks to us.
00:57:41.82\00:57:44.38
God is calling us to
lay these things aside
00:57:44.41\00:57:47.58
to let self desire die,
00:57:47.61\00:57:50.97
to surrender everything
that will cause us to reflect
00:57:51.00\00:57:53.38
and look like the word,
00:57:53.41\00:57:54.44
everything that we
draw attention to ourselves,
00:57:54.47\00:57:57.33
and this does not mean
that we're gonna look like bumps
00:57:57.36\00:57:59.93
it means we're
gonna look like Jesus.
00:57:59.96\00:58:02.61
Amen.
00:58:02.64\00:58:03.74
And friends, Jesus
is our prime example.
00:58:03.77\00:58:06.18
And when Jesus
came into this world,
00:58:06.21\00:58:08.49
there is nothing blinging
on his appearance, right?
00:58:08.52\00:58:12.75
The most beautiful
being in the universe,
00:58:12.78\00:58:14.47
there is nothing,
there is no, nothing to--
00:58:14.50\00:58:16.40
outwardly that
attracted men to aside.
00:58:16.43\00:58:18.91
It was the
beauty of his character
00:58:18.94\00:58:20.48
that drove the
masses to His side.
00:58:20.51\00:58:23.92
It was the love
that shown from within.
00:58:23.95\00:58:25.31
But He is our example.
00:58:25.34\00:58:26.37
You know, He wore, He
wore a seamless garments.
00:58:26.40\00:58:29.78
And friends,
that seamless garment,
00:58:29.81\00:58:31.37
it was quality.
00:58:31.40\00:58:32.73
It was what? Quality.
00:58:32.76\00:58:34.13
But it was an extravagant.
That's the principle, friends.
00:58:34.16\00:58:36.89
God wants us to
have quality things,
00:58:36.92\00:58:38.99
but to avoid the extravagance,
the supra fillings the vain.
00:58:39.02\00:58:43.82
And as Christians, I want--
00:58:43.85\00:58:46.33
God is calling us
to follow His example.
00:58:46.36\00:58:48.65
I want to look like
Jesus, how about you?
00:58:48.68\00:58:50.73
And so as we close tonight,
do you still love Jesus?
00:58:50.76\00:58:52.69
Yeah.
00:58:52.72\00:58:53.75
Is Jesus more important to you
00:58:53.78\00:58:55.99
than the things of this world?
00:58:56.02\00:58:57.35
Yes or no? Yes.
00:58:57.38\00:58:58.45
Will you be a part of
His end time Israelites?
00:58:58.48\00:59:00.46
Will you follow the
land wherever He leads?
00:59:00.49\00:59:02.43
Will you-- Are you
willing to pray Lord,
00:59:02.46\00:59:04.39
not my will, by
thy will be done?
00:59:04.42\00:59:07.03
Are you willing to surrender
all to him, big and small?
00:59:07.06\00:59:10.35
If so, let me
hear you say, amen.
00:59:10.38\00:59:11.64
Amen.
00:59:11.67\00:59:12.70
Jesus was willing for
you. Are you willing for Him?
00:59:12.73\00:59:15.58