A great controversy
rages between good and evil
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.63
and humanity is
caught in the crossfire.
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Satan has crafted his most
cunning end-time deceptions,
00:00:05.83\00:00:09.00
but his plans
are doomed to fail.
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Get ready to
anchor your minds in truth
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as the Bible exposes his lies
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and prepares us for
our soon-coming Savior.
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And now live from
the Campus Hill Church
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of Seventh-day Adventists
in Loma Linda, California,
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we bring you this presentation
00:00:24.12\00:00:25.62
of the Great
Controversy End-time Deceptions.
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Good morning and
welcome to winter camp meeting.
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I have to tell you
in Southern California,
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it does not feel like winter.
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It's in the 70s,
there's beautiful sunshine.
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So if you're in a
state or a part of the world
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where you have a lot of snow,
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hopefully you
can feel the warmth
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that's here, weather
wise, but most importantly,
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we have the Holy Spirit here
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and the warmth of the people
that are here in our audience.
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Have you guys been
blessed already so far?
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Yeah. Amen.
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Hopefully you can
hear that at home.
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We have been blessed.
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We're looking forward
to another full day here.
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I get to introduce my wife
and what a blessing that is.
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She's the speaker this morning.
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And I know that this program
is going to be aired later on.
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But for right now,
today is Valentine's Day
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and I said, "Wow,
how fitting is that?
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I get to introduce my wife."
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We've been married
this year, 18 years.
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So, yeah, my wife I
know, I'm so blessed.
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Thank you very much.
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I'm so blessed to
have a wonderful wife.
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She loves the Lord.
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She is a student of the Word
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and I know many of you
watch the Sabbath School Panel.
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She puts her heart and soul
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along with all the
other panelists as well,
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but she loves the Word of God.
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Even this morning
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as she was
preparing for today's message,
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she was just
immersing herself in God's Word,
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and God has given her
tremendous gift of teaching.
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But not only that, I'm
blessed with a wonderful wife.
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She's a wonderful teammate.
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It's a blessing to
team up with her at 3ABN
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and being a part of the ministry
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is a tremendous blessing.
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Before she shares
the message today,
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which is entitled
Twisted Destruction,
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we have some wonderful
music by Stephanie Dawn
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entitled "He Who Dwells"
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and she'll be accompanied
by her stepfather, Dan Thorton.
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As we get started
let's open in prayer.
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Father in heaven, Lord,
we thank You for Your love.
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We thank You for
Your Holy Spirit.
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Thank You for the
power of Your Word
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that can change our lives.
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And in Jesus' name we pray.
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Amen. Amen.
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Thank you, Stephanie.
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Angels all around me
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Guide my footsteps as I stray
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Evil once around me
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Though their powers kept at bay
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And though terror
strikes By night time
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And the arrows fly by day
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Lord, You are my refuge
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I will trust in You and say
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He who dwells in the shelter
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Of the Most High
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Will abide in the
shadow Of the Almighty
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He who dwells in the shelter
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Of the Most High
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Will abide
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in the secret place of God
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Cover me with
feathers From your rings
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I'm hiding there
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Underneath the canopy of safety
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And of care
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And if once again
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I want to find my
foot Trapped in the snare
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Even though I can see no escape
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I'll still declare
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He who dwells in the
shelter Of the Most High
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Will abide in the
shadow Of the Almighty
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He who dwells in the
shelter Of the Most High
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Will abide In the
secret place of God
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Those who know and love Me
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I will rescue, says the Lord
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Favored and abundant life
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I'll give as My reward
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And when they're in trouble
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I will answer when they cry
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There I will see my glory
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For I'll raise them up on high
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Those who dwelled In
the shelter of the Most High
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Will abide in the
shadow Of the Almighty
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You who dwelled in the shelter
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Of the Most High
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Will abide in the secret place
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You'll abide In the secret place
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We'll abide in the secret place
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Of God
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Amen.
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Thank you so
much, Stephanie and Dan.
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Don't you love her voice? Yeah.
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The Lord has given
her an incredible gift.
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And I love to hear
them minister together.
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He who dwells
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in the secret
place of the Most High
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shall abide under the
shadow of the Almighty.
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Good morning.
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Good morning.
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That was a really nice
introduction from Greg.
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I just have to
tell you all right now.
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Very special to
have him introduce me,
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especially on Valentine's Day.
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Twisted Destruction.
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It's an interesting title.
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I did not pick it.
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But I like it.
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Can scripture be misunderstood?
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Can scripture be misapplied?
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Can scripture be misinterpreted?
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Can scripture be twisted?
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You all are quiet today.
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Can you make it say
what you want it to say?
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Yes.
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Can you twist
scripture to destroy yourself
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or the life of someone else?
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Yes.
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If you answer any of
those questions with a yes,
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we need to know how to
properly understand scripture.
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Would you say that's right? Yes.
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We need to know how
to interpret scripture.
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We need to know
what God intended for us
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when He wrote the Word of God.
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Turn with me to 2 Peter,
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this is our launching scripture.
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2 Peter Chapter 3.
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Now, you know,
Peter was in prison
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just before he is executed.
00:08:25.43\00:08:29.30
The Book of 2 Peter is
written probably AD 65.
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This is under the
persecution of Nero.
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And in AD 65 just
before he's going to his death,
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he writes the Book of 2 Peter.
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You can even get a sense of that
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when you read 2 Peter Chapter 1,
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because it's quite clear.
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He says, now this tent,
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this body is about
ready to be put off.
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He knows he's
about ready to die.
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We're in 2 Peter Chapter 3.
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It's really like
his last testament.
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It's a warning
against false teachers.
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It's a reminder of the
inspired authority of scripture,
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and exhortation to
purity of heart and of life.
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So, we're in 2 Peter 3:14-16.
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"Therefore, beloved,
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looking forward to these things,
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be diligent to be
found by Him in peace
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without spot and blameless.
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And consider that the
long suffering of our Lord is,"
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what's that word?
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"Salvation, as also
our beloved brother Paul,
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according to the
wisdom given to him
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has written to you,
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as also in all his epistles,
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speaking in
them of these things,
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and which are some
things hard to understand
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which untaught
and unstable people
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twist to their own destruction.
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As they do also the
rest of the scripture."
00:10:00.86\00:10:02.86
So, what is Peter saying here?
00:10:02.90\00:10:04.23
First of all, he's
saying the Apostle Paul
00:10:04.27\00:10:05.97
can sometimes be
hard to understand.
00:10:06.00\00:10:09.04
Yes. Is that true?
00:10:09.07\00:10:11.01
And then he goes on,
he says, untaught people,
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now in the Greek that
word is only used one time.
00:10:14.38\00:10:17.01
And it means
ignorant, unlearned.
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So ignorant,
unlearned, untaught people,
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unstable people, you
see the next word unstable?
00:10:25.22\00:10:28.99
And in Greek it literally means
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you don't have a
staff to lean on.
00:10:30.96\00:10:33.76
So, these are people
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who don't have
something to lean on,
00:10:35.16\00:10:37.57
something to anchor themselves
00:10:37.60\00:10:39.87
with untaught, unstable.
00:10:39.90\00:10:44.44
What do they do?
00:10:44.47\00:10:45.81
They take these things
that are hard to understand,
00:10:45.84\00:10:48.94
and they twist them
to their own destruction.
00:10:48.98\00:10:54.75
Now that word for
destruction means loss
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and eternal ruin.
00:10:57.89\00:11:00.96
And the word "twist,"
this is very fascinating,
00:11:00.99\00:11:04.19
the word "twist"
means torture, twist.
00:11:04.23\00:11:09.26
The noun form literally refers
to the instrument of torture.
00:11:09.30\00:11:13.17
So almost as if
the Medieval Ages,
00:11:13.20\00:11:15.30
what do they
call that, the rack,
00:11:15.34\00:11:17.17
where they would twist
people and torture people.
00:11:17.21\00:11:21.01
So, this means that
there are some passages
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that people who don't know,
people who don't understand,
00:11:23.55\00:11:29.45
read them, and they twist them.
00:11:29.48\00:11:34.09
And people's lives are lost
00:11:34.12\00:11:39.09
because of it.
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Father, we come
before You just now.
00:11:40.93\00:11:45.07
I ask for Your Holy Spirit,
00:11:45.10\00:11:49.10
that You would
hide me behind Jesus,
00:11:49.14\00:11:52.77
that Your Word would
go forward with power.
00:11:52.81\00:11:57.05
And You would
speak to us just now.
00:11:57.08\00:12:00.72
In Jesus' name.
00:12:00.75\00:12:02.48
Amen. Amen.
00:12:02.52\00:12:04.95
It was morning,
00:12:04.99\00:12:10.13
I was in a little
room, perfectly quiet.
00:12:10.16\00:12:14.93
All I could hear was
the beating of my heart.
00:12:14.96\00:12:19.13
My mom sat on the table
00:12:19.17\00:12:22.74
and one of those
little gowns you have to wear.
00:12:22.77\00:12:26.91
When you go to the doctor's,
you know those little gowns.
00:12:26.94\00:12:29.18
I hate those gowns.
00:12:29.21\00:12:31.11
She's sitting on the table,
one of those little gowns,
00:12:31.15\00:12:35.02
my dad is on
this side of the room,
00:12:35.05\00:12:36.95
arms folded across his
chest back against the wall.
00:12:36.99\00:12:40.86
I'm on this side of the room,
arms folded across my chest,
00:12:40.89\00:12:45.59
back against the wall.
00:12:45.63\00:12:47.76
Silence in the room.
00:12:47.80\00:12:50.70
We're waiting for
the doctor's verdict.
00:12:50.73\00:12:54.04
My mom had had health challenges
00:12:54.07\00:12:57.41
and we didn't
know what was wrong.
00:12:57.44\00:12:59.64
And we had had test
after test after test.
00:12:59.67\00:13:03.58
And now we're in the room
00:13:03.61\00:13:04.95
waiting for the doctor to
walk through that door and say,
00:13:04.98\00:13:08.62
"This is what's wrong with you."
00:13:08.65\00:13:10.45
And desperately in my mind
00:13:10.49\00:13:12.49
I tried to
remember that scripture.
00:13:12.52\00:13:14.46
What was the scripture
I was supposed to claim?
00:13:14.49\00:13:16.73
Oh, that was it.
00:13:16.76\00:13:18.09
Psalm 112:7.
00:13:18.13\00:13:21.43
"He shall not be
afraid of evil tidings.
00:13:21.46\00:13:26.27
His heart is fixed,
trusting in the Lord."
00:13:26.30\00:13:30.84
Now you see that is
what the scripture said.
00:13:30.87\00:13:33.17
But I had twisted the
scripture to my own destruction.
00:13:33.21\00:13:38.61
I'm sitting here,
this side of the wall,
00:13:38.65\00:13:40.68
arms across my chest thinking,
00:13:40.72\00:13:44.59
"As long as I keep
my heart fixed on God,
00:13:44.62\00:13:48.92
nothing bad's gonna happen."
00:13:48.96\00:13:50.93
Now is that what
the scripture said?
00:13:50.96\00:13:53.16
What did the scripture say?
00:13:53.19\00:13:55.23
He will be with you.
00:13:55.26\00:13:56.60
That's right, Bruce,
00:13:56.63\00:13:57.97
and you do not
have to be afraid.
00:13:58.00\00:14:02.20
That's what the scripture said.
00:14:02.24\00:14:03.97
But for whatever reason,
00:14:04.01\00:14:05.61
I thought the scripture meant
as long as my heart is fixed,
00:14:05.64\00:14:09.28
come on, Jill, fix your heart,
fix your heart, focus on Jesus,
00:14:09.31\00:14:12.88
nothing evil will happen.
00:14:12.91\00:14:15.22
Well, the doctor walked in
00:14:15.25\00:14:17.19
and the diagnosis
was not what we expected,
00:14:17.22\00:14:20.96
not what we wanted.
00:14:20.99\00:14:23.19
And I can still remember,
it's been over 20 years,
00:14:23.22\00:14:25.73
I still remember as
if it was yesterday.
00:14:25.76\00:14:28.10
My dad just closing his
eyes and I started to cry.
00:14:28.13\00:14:32.03
And I thought, "God,
what's wrong with you?
00:14:32.07\00:14:35.24
I claimed that promise
00:14:35.27\00:14:37.77
in Your Word."
00:14:37.81\00:14:39.14
But I didn't claim it correctly.
00:14:42.01\00:14:43.51
Is that right?
00:14:43.55\00:14:44.88
I did not even understand
what that promise said,
00:14:44.91\00:14:48.32
I twisted it to
my own destruction.
00:14:48.35\00:14:54.09
I want to give you today
00:14:54.12\00:14:55.46
if you watch
Sabbath School Panel,
00:14:55.49\00:14:56.83
you know I like lists.
00:14:56.86\00:14:59.23
So, you have lists today
if you have paper and pen,
00:14:59.26\00:15:02.66
four reasons why
people twist scripture.
00:15:02.70\00:15:07.57
Four reasons.
00:15:07.60\00:15:09.00
Now there's probably more,
00:15:09.04\00:15:10.37
but we're going to
start with these four.
00:15:10.41\00:15:11.74
Why do people twist scripture?
00:15:11.77\00:15:13.81
Number one, tradition.
00:15:13.84\00:15:17.75
It's what I've
always been taught.
00:15:17.78\00:15:20.48
That's all I know.
00:15:20.52\00:15:21.85
So I make application
based off of what I know.
00:15:21.88\00:15:25.69
Number two, self-justification.
00:15:25.72\00:15:30.99
I make the Bible say
what I want the Bible to say.
00:15:31.03\00:15:35.43
And you better listen to me.
00:15:35.46\00:15:37.83
I make the application
to suit my own needs,
00:15:37.87\00:15:42.54
my own beliefs,
00:15:42.57\00:15:44.97
or sometimes even
to hurt someone else.
00:15:45.01\00:15:48.88
Number three, complexity.
00:15:48.91\00:15:52.05
This could have been
what Peter referred to.
00:15:52.08\00:15:54.55
Some things in the Bible
are simply hard to understand.
00:15:54.58\00:15:59.12
And so, I just make
the best application
00:15:59.15\00:16:01.79
I know how to make.
00:16:01.82\00:16:03.73
Number four is fear.
00:16:03.76\00:16:06.63
It is hard sometimes
00:16:06.66\00:16:08.36
to reconcile
life with scripture.
00:16:08.40\00:16:12.80
And so, I just
make an application
00:16:12.83\00:16:17.24
the best way I can to
explain the unexplainable.
00:16:17.27\00:16:22.08
So let's go over the
four. What was the first one?
00:16:22.11\00:16:24.35
Tradition. Second one?
00:16:24.38\00:16:26.21
Self-justification. Good job.
00:16:26.25\00:16:27.95
Self-justification.
00:16:27.98\00:16:29.32
Third one, complexity.
00:16:29.35\00:16:31.35
And the fourth one. Fear.
00:16:31.39\00:16:32.79
Fear. Good.
00:16:32.82\00:16:34.16
Let's go back to tradition.
00:16:34.19\00:16:35.52
Number one.
00:16:35.56\00:16:36.89
We twist scripture
to our own destruction
00:16:36.93\00:16:40.16
because it's
what I've been taught.
00:16:40.20\00:16:42.73
This is all I know.
00:16:42.76\00:16:44.63
Tradition is difficult
00:16:44.67\00:16:46.00
because I bring my own
presuppositions to the table.
00:16:46.03\00:16:49.30
Now you might say
00:16:49.34\00:16:50.67
what in the world
is a presupposition?
00:16:50.71\00:16:53.38
It is a thing
assumed before any argument
00:16:53.41\00:16:58.31
or course of action.
00:16:58.35\00:17:00.22
In other words
00:17:00.25\00:17:01.78
we bring presuppositions
into everything in life.
00:17:01.82\00:17:05.52
They come from our
background, from our culture,
00:17:05.55\00:17:08.99
from the way we were raised
from the things we experience
00:17:09.02\00:17:12.66
or the things we
don't experience.
00:17:12.69\00:17:14.23
I just call it baggage.
00:17:14.26\00:17:15.63
Y'all have any baggage?
00:17:15.66\00:17:17.97
Oh, good, I feel better.
00:17:18.00\00:17:19.50
We bring presuppositions
into our relationships.
00:17:19.53\00:17:23.37
Have you ever done that?
00:17:23.41\00:17:24.91
You ever
brought a presupposition
00:17:24.94\00:17:26.37
into a relationship?
00:17:26.41\00:17:29.04
Wow.
00:17:29.08\00:17:30.41
My grandparents
had a great marriage.
00:17:30.45\00:17:35.32
My grandma died
probably 25 years ago.
00:17:35.35\00:17:37.92
But I remember as a
little girl going to their house
00:17:37.95\00:17:41.42
and grandma would get up early
00:17:41.46\00:17:43.99
and she always
put on a pretty dress.
00:17:44.03\00:17:46.56
Grandpa's still
sleeping in bed, okay?
00:17:46.59\00:17:48.93
She put on a pretty dress,
00:17:48.96\00:17:50.87
she would start
to make breakfast.
00:17:50.90\00:17:53.17
Then she would get
some nice orange juice.
00:17:53.20\00:17:56.24
And she would open up
the bedroom door and say,
00:17:56.27\00:17:58.67
"Sweetheart,
here's your orange juice."
00:17:58.71\00:18:01.38
She did that every day
for their entire married life.
00:18:01.41\00:18:04.98
She ironed the sheets.
00:18:05.01\00:18:08.75
Praise the Lord.
00:18:12.59\00:18:13.92
I'm just glad
to wash them, okay.
00:18:13.96\00:18:17.13
She ironed his undershirts.
00:18:17.16\00:18:23.03
So, she took
very good care of him,
00:18:23.06\00:18:26.03
that's what I'm trying to say.
00:18:26.07\00:18:28.04
She passed away,
my grandpa remarried.
00:18:28.07\00:18:30.74
Would you imagine he
brought a few presuppositions
00:18:30.77\00:18:33.48
into his new marriage?
00:18:33.51\00:18:36.88
"Well, my first wife
brought me orange juice in bed,
00:18:36.91\00:18:40.25
my first wife ironed my sheets
and she ironed my undershirts."
00:18:40.28\00:18:45.75
Presuppositions, we
bring them into relationships.
00:18:45.79\00:18:48.66
We bring them into
our understanding of God.
00:18:48.69\00:18:53.60
How my mom treated me,
00:18:53.63\00:18:55.26
how my dad treated me, we think,
00:18:55.30\00:18:57.83
"Oh, that's how God must
be, that's who He must be."
00:18:57.87\00:19:03.37
We bring them into our jobs.
00:19:03.41\00:19:04.77
This is how I did it
before at my old job,
00:19:04.81\00:19:06.64
why don't you do it
this way at the new job?
00:19:06.68\00:19:09.01
We bring them into our
study of the Word of God.
00:19:09.04\00:19:14.52
No one comes to study of
scripture with a blank mind.
00:19:14.55\00:19:18.65
We all bring our
understanding, our background,
00:19:18.69\00:19:23.16
our presupposition, you
know, the disciples did this.
00:19:23.19\00:19:26.73
If you think about Luke
24, that is the walk to Emmaus.
00:19:26.76\00:19:31.03
And remember, they knew Jesus,
they had experienced Jesus.
00:19:31.07\00:19:35.47
And remember
after He's crucified
00:19:35.50\00:19:37.51
and He was resurrected,
00:19:37.54\00:19:38.87
the disciples are walking
to Emmaus and what happened?
00:19:38.91\00:19:42.84
Jesus showed up,
00:19:42.88\00:19:44.65
and they did not
even know who He was.
00:19:44.68\00:19:48.12
You see, they
had a presupposition
00:19:48.15\00:19:51.19
that the Messiah would
come as a conquering King,
00:19:51.22\00:19:55.26
as our hero,
00:19:55.29\00:19:56.79
someone who would
break the Roman yoke.
00:19:56.83\00:19:59.93
And so, they
were not even prepared
00:19:59.96\00:20:03.03
for a Jesus who would
be the suffering servant.
00:20:03.06\00:20:07.50
How do we bring our traditions
or our presuppositions
00:20:07.54\00:20:11.14
into our own study
of the Word of God?
00:20:11.17\00:20:14.88
Many times, we hold tradition
00:20:14.91\00:20:18.85
over what the Bible says.
00:20:18.88\00:20:22.82
Sometimes we take one
scripture out of context
00:20:22.85\00:20:28.46
or in isolation from
the rest of the Bible,
00:20:28.49\00:20:31.56
and we say, "Oh, clearly,
00:20:31.59\00:20:32.93
this is what the
Word of God says."
00:20:32.96\00:20:34.73
You think about Revelation 1
00:20:34.76\00:20:37.53
talks about I was in the spirit,
00:20:37.57\00:20:39.03
John's writing, right?
00:20:39.07\00:20:40.40
I was in the
spirit on the Lord's day.
00:20:40.44\00:20:41.77
We take one
scripture and what do we say?
00:20:41.80\00:20:44.11
Oh, we need to go
to church on Sunday,
00:20:44.14\00:20:46.17
ignoring everything else
00:20:46.21\00:20:48.74
the Word of God has
to say about that topic.
00:20:48.78\00:20:53.01
We take one
scripture out of context.
00:20:53.05\00:20:56.79
What is the
solution for tradition?
00:20:56.82\00:20:59.12
We all have tradition.
00:20:59.15\00:21:00.49
We all have presuppositions,
00:21:00.52\00:21:02.16
we all come to our understanding
00:21:02.19\00:21:04.03
of the Word of God with
something from the past.
00:21:04.06\00:21:07.23
I think there's a
fourfold approach.
00:21:07.26\00:21:09.16
Turn with me to
the Book of Acts.
00:21:09.20\00:21:12.10
The Book of Acts, we're
going to Acts Chapter 8.
00:21:12.13\00:21:15.64
The first key is
that we approach scripture
00:21:15.67\00:21:19.27
with an open mind.
00:21:19.31\00:21:21.61
We all come
with a presupposition
00:21:21.64\00:21:24.28
or a tradition from the past,
00:21:24.31\00:21:26.31
but we approach
scripture with an open mind
00:21:26.35\00:21:30.49
or in Acts Chapter 8.
00:21:30.52\00:21:32.05
Now remember, the
church had a little difficulty
00:21:32.09\00:21:35.62
in the early Christian church,
00:21:35.66\00:21:37.79
because some of the
widows were neglected.
00:21:37.83\00:21:40.70
Do you remember that story?
00:21:40.73\00:21:42.06
And then in Acts
Chapter 6, they said,
00:21:42.10\00:21:44.17
"What are we going to do?
00:21:44.20\00:21:45.53
We are going to appoint deacons
who can serve in the church
00:21:45.57\00:21:50.31
and make sure that
everyone's needs are met."
00:21:50.34\00:21:54.91
Well, one of the
deacons his name was Philip,
00:21:54.94\00:21:58.21
we come to Acts Chapter 8.
00:21:58.25\00:22:00.22
And we see the angel of
the Lord telling Philip,
00:22:00.25\00:22:02.98
get up, go down to Gaza.
00:22:03.02\00:22:06.22
And so, he goes down
to Gaza and there is,
00:22:06.25\00:22:09.72
we call him the
Ethiopian eunuch, right?
00:22:09.76\00:22:13.29
And he was returning
00:22:13.33\00:22:15.00
from Jerusalem
riding in his chariot.
00:22:15.03\00:22:17.73
We pick up the
story in Acts 8:29.
00:22:17.77\00:22:22.20
"Then the Spirit said to Philip,
00:22:22.24\00:22:23.57
go near and
overtake this chariot.
00:22:23.61\00:22:26.11
So Philip ran to him
00:22:26.14\00:22:27.54
and hurt him
reading the prophet Isaiah,
00:22:27.58\00:22:30.11
and said, 'Do you
understand what you're reading?'
00:22:30.15\00:22:33.18
And he said, 'How can I,
unless someone guides me.'
00:22:33.21\00:22:38.25
And he asked Philip to
come up and sit with him.
00:22:38.29\00:22:40.99
The place in the Scripture
which he read was this.
00:22:41.02\00:22:43.66
'He was led as a
sheep to the slaughter
00:22:43.69\00:22:45.93
and as a lamb before
its shearer is dumb.'"
00:22:45.96\00:22:48.30
Where's that quoted from?
00:22:48.33\00:22:50.00
Isaiah 53, right,
the Messianic prophecy.
00:22:50.03\00:22:54.24
Down to verse 34.
00:22:54.27\00:22:55.60
"The eunuch
answered Philip and said,
00:22:55.64\00:22:56.97
'I ask you of whom
does the Prophet say this
00:22:57.01\00:22:59.81
if himself or
of some other man?'
00:22:59.84\00:23:02.41
Then Philip opened his mouth
and beginning at the scripture
00:23:02.44\00:23:06.38
preached Jesus to him."
00:23:06.41\00:23:09.68
You know what I see?
00:23:09.72\00:23:11.19
I see an open
heart and open mind
00:23:11.22\00:23:15.89
to set aside preconceived ideas
00:23:15.92\00:23:19.19
and to see what
God's Word really says.
00:23:19.23\00:23:23.00
The Ethiopian eunuch
could have easily said,
00:23:23.03\00:23:25.73
"Okay, I don't want to
hear what you have to say.
00:23:25.77\00:23:29.30
I read this and I wanted to say
what I think it ought to say."
00:23:29.34\00:23:32.37
I wanted to say
what tradition says.
00:23:32.41\00:23:35.68
The first key when we're trying
to break that bond of tradition
00:23:35.71\00:23:40.45
is to approach the study of
scripture with an open mind.
00:23:40.48\00:23:44.95
The second key is
to be willing to accept
00:23:44.99\00:23:48.82
what God's Word
says, above any tradition.
00:23:48.86\00:23:53.86
So first, we
just need an open mind
00:23:53.90\00:23:55.56
to read the Word of God.
00:23:55.60\00:23:56.93
Second, we need to
be willing to accept it.
00:23:56.97\00:24:00.34
To put into
practice what we read.
00:24:00.37\00:24:04.77
And we see the Ethiopian
eunuch does this, verse 36.
00:24:04.81\00:24:09.11
"Now as they went down the road,
00:24:09.14\00:24:10.65
they came to some water,
00:24:10.68\00:24:12.08
and the eunuch
said, 'See, here's water,
00:24:12.11\00:24:14.22
what hinders me
from being baptized?'
00:24:14.25\00:24:16.75
Then Philip said,
00:24:16.79\00:24:18.12
'If you believe with
all your heart, you may.'
00:24:18.15\00:24:19.85
And he answered and said,
00:24:19.89\00:24:21.22
'I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God.'"
00:24:21.26\00:24:26.63
So, the Ethiopian
eunuch accepted right away,
00:24:26.66\00:24:30.67
and he said, "I'm
ready to get baptized."
00:24:30.70\00:24:34.00
The third key is we seek
00:24:34.04\00:24:35.97
the Holy Spirit's
guidance and interpretation.
00:24:36.00\00:24:40.84
And John 16,
Jesus says, John 16:13.
00:24:40.88\00:24:45.05
"However, when He, the
spirit of truth, has come,
00:24:45.08\00:24:47.15
He will guide you
into..." just a few truths.
00:24:47.18\00:24:49.58
All. All truth.
00:24:49.62\00:24:51.39
You guys are listening. Good.
00:24:51.42\00:24:52.82
"He will guide
you into all truth
00:24:52.85\00:24:54.52
for He will not
speak on His own authority.
00:24:54.56\00:24:58.43
But whatsoever He hears
00:24:58.46\00:25:00.16
He will speak and He will
tell you of things to come."
00:25:00.20\00:25:04.57
And the fourth
key is to just study,
00:25:04.60\00:25:07.40
study the Word of God.
00:25:07.44\00:25:09.60
Think about the Bereans.
00:25:09.64\00:25:11.07
Acts 16:11.
00:25:11.11\00:25:14.18
What does Paul say? Or
I guess Luke was writing.
00:25:14.21\00:25:16.95
These were more fair minded
than those in Thessalonica.
00:25:16.98\00:25:21.52
He's speaking of the Bereans.
00:25:21.55\00:25:23.15
And that they received
the Word with all readiness.
00:25:23.18\00:25:26.79
And they searched
the scriptures daily,
00:25:26.82\00:25:30.26
whether these things were so.
00:25:30.29\00:25:33.83
So the first way
we can twist scripture
00:25:33.86\00:25:37.87
to our own
destruction is tradition.
00:25:37.90\00:25:40.84
Do you remember
what the second way was?
00:25:40.87\00:25:42.30
Self-justification.
Yes, self-justification.
00:25:42.34\00:25:47.28
We say, the Word of God
says what I want it to say.
00:25:47.31\00:25:51.01
And you better listen to me.
00:25:51.05\00:25:52.91
We say the Word of
God needs to be applied
00:25:52.95\00:25:55.78
to suit my own needs
00:25:55.82\00:25:57.65
and my own beliefs.
00:25:57.69\00:26:01.92
Now I want to be careful,
00:26:01.96\00:26:03.43
I prayed very special
about this this morning.
00:26:03.46\00:26:06.06
And how I share
this particular topic,
00:26:06.09\00:26:08.56
self-justification,
00:26:08.60\00:26:10.17
because it is the
attitude of a Pharisee.
00:26:10.20\00:26:14.54
Self-justification
consists of condemnation
00:26:14.57\00:26:18.21
toward other people
00:26:18.24\00:26:19.87
and self-righteousness
toward myself.
00:26:19.91\00:26:24.18
In other words, I
esteem myself really highly.
00:26:24.21\00:26:27.12
And yet I judge other people.
00:26:27.15\00:26:29.88
Think about examples
of self-justification,
00:26:29.92\00:26:32.15
it started in the garden, right?
00:26:32.19\00:26:33.69
When Adam took up the
fruit and ate, what happened?
00:26:33.72\00:26:37.03
When God came in and said,
"Why are you eating this fruit?
00:26:37.06\00:26:39.63
I told you not to do that."
00:26:39.66\00:26:41.06
And what did he say?
00:26:41.10\00:26:42.96
"The woman you made
for me, she did," right?
00:26:43.00\00:26:47.94
And what did Eve say?
00:26:47.97\00:26:49.74
"The serpent you created,"
00:26:49.77\00:26:52.37
seeking to justify their sin.
00:26:52.41\00:26:56.31
Think about Aaron
00:26:56.34\00:26:57.68
when the golden
calf experience happened
00:26:57.71\00:27:00.58
when Moses had
gone up to the Mount.
00:27:00.62\00:27:02.48
And the golden calf
experience happened.
00:27:02.52\00:27:04.35
What did he say?
00:27:04.39\00:27:05.72
"The people made me do it."
00:27:05.75\00:27:09.26
The incompetent man doesn't say,
00:27:09.29\00:27:11.99
"I'm dumb and
shouldn't have this job.
00:27:12.03\00:27:13.86
I'm not doing a good job."
00:27:13.90\00:27:15.23
What does he say?
00:27:15.26\00:27:16.60
"Why are other
people so hard on me?
00:27:16.63\00:27:18.90
They don't
understand my circumstances."
00:27:18.93\00:27:22.30
The sexually
immoral person doesn't say,
00:27:22.34\00:27:25.41
"I'm morally impure."
00:27:25.44\00:27:27.18
What do they say?
00:27:27.21\00:27:28.61
"I just want to be loved."
00:27:28.64\00:27:30.85
The scribes and Pharisees
of Jesus' day didn't say,
00:27:30.88\00:27:34.85
"We're killing an
innocent man, the Son of God."
00:27:34.88\00:27:39.25
They said, "This man
is committing blasphemy,
00:27:39.29\00:27:42.96
He is stirring up the people,
00:27:42.99\00:27:45.13
He's worthy of death,"
00:27:45.16\00:27:47.60
all seeking to
justify themselves.
00:27:47.63\00:27:53.27
People who are self-righteous
00:27:53.30\00:27:54.64
or engaged in self-justification
00:27:54.67\00:27:57.51
rarely make us
want to be like them.
00:27:57.54\00:28:00.81
Is that true?
00:28:00.84\00:28:02.18
You ever want to be
like a person like that?
00:28:02.21\00:28:04.51
Here's some signs for those
00:28:04.55\00:28:06.88
who engage in
self-justification.
00:28:06.92\00:28:09.35
First sign is that people
00:28:09.38\00:28:11.35
who engage in this use scripture
00:28:11.39\00:28:14.36
to manipulate people.
00:28:14.39\00:28:17.56
Have you ever seen that?
00:28:17.59\00:28:19.13
Think about Ephesians Chapter 5,
00:28:19.16\00:28:20.80
what is Ephesians Chapter 5?
00:28:20.83\00:28:22.16
It talks about the
role of husbands and wives
00:28:22.20\00:28:25.37
in a marriage relationship.
00:28:25.40\00:28:27.97
Woman, the wife, to
submit to her husband,
00:28:28.00\00:28:31.51
the husband to love his wife.
00:28:31.54\00:28:33.78
And yet some
people take that scripture
00:28:33.81\00:28:36.95
and say that
abuse is acceptable.
00:28:36.98\00:28:39.28
That's an example
of taking scripture
00:28:39.31\00:28:42.08
and twisting it
to manipulate people.
00:28:42.12\00:28:47.06
Another example is when we say,
00:28:47.09\00:28:50.33
"God told me"
00:28:50.36\00:28:53.19
and really we're just justifying
00:28:53.23\00:28:55.20
our own behavior.
00:28:55.23\00:28:57.27
Some people say,
"My season is over,"
00:28:57.30\00:29:01.20
when in reality,
00:29:01.24\00:29:02.57
they just want to
leave that ministry
00:29:02.60\00:29:03.97
because they're not
recognized as they want to be
00:29:04.01\00:29:07.98
or they're not
celebrated as they want to be.
00:29:08.01\00:29:11.58
Some people say,
"I'll pray about it"
00:29:11.61\00:29:15.48
when they have no
intention of praying at all.
00:29:15.52\00:29:19.65
Think about James.
00:29:19.69\00:29:21.02
James is kind of a heavy book.
00:29:21.06\00:29:22.39
You ever read the book of James?
00:29:22.42\00:29:24.06
It's kind of heavy.
00:29:24.09\00:29:25.43
We get to James 2:15, 17.
00:29:25.46\00:29:28.80
And James says, "If a
brother, sister is naked
00:29:28.83\00:29:31.73
and destitute of daily food,
00:29:31.77\00:29:34.57
and one of you says to them,
00:29:34.60\00:29:36.07
'Depart in peace,
be warmed and filled,'
00:29:36.10\00:29:39.17
but you do not
give them the things
00:29:39.21\00:29:41.78
that are needed for the body.
00:29:41.81\00:29:44.25
What does it profit?
00:29:44.28\00:29:47.32
Thus also faith by itself,
00:29:47.35\00:29:48.95
if it does not
have works is dead."
00:29:48.98\00:29:52.09
That's like telling someone
00:29:52.12\00:29:53.46
who desperately needs something,
00:29:53.49\00:29:56.02
"I'll pray for you,"
00:29:56.06\00:29:57.79
when you're really not
going to do anything about it.
00:29:57.83\00:30:01.03
Another sign of people
00:30:01.06\00:30:02.40
who are engaged in
self-justification,
00:30:02.43\00:30:05.20
they seek to minister to others
00:30:05.23\00:30:07.97
while neglecting
their own family.
00:30:08.00\00:30:11.71
Matthew 6:33,
what's the Word of God say?
00:30:11.74\00:30:14.41
"Seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness
00:30:14.44\00:30:19.25
and all these things
shall be added unto you."
00:30:19.28\00:30:24.32
And some people say,
00:30:24.35\00:30:25.69
"I need to put
ministry above family
00:30:25.72\00:30:30.53
or ministry above
my own relationship
00:30:30.56\00:30:35.03
with Jesus."
00:30:35.06\00:30:36.87
Another sign is to
legalistically use scripture
00:30:36.90\00:30:41.47
to appear righteous
before other people.
00:30:41.50\00:30:44.94
I had someone come up to me
and experience once and said,
00:30:44.97\00:30:47.31
"You know, Jill,
00:30:47.34\00:30:48.68
have you followed
Matthew 18 and its principle?"
00:30:48.71\00:30:52.38
And I knew instantly
there was nothing godly
00:30:52.41\00:30:55.65
about that question
00:30:55.68\00:30:57.39
because Matthew 18 is a
very biblical principle,
00:30:57.42\00:31:01.96
and we're supposed to do that.
00:31:01.99\00:31:04.33
But if you say that scripture
00:31:04.36\00:31:06.59
in the sense of
seeking to manipulate
00:31:06.63\00:31:09.80
or control someone else,
that's not such a good thing.
00:31:09.83\00:31:14.34
Self-justification
or self-righteousnes
00:31:14.37\00:31:17.01
is characterized by hypocrisy.
00:31:17.04\00:31:20.18
Romans 2:1, if
you read Romans 1,
00:31:20.21\00:31:23.81
it's all about the
sins of the Gentiles, right?
00:31:23.85\00:31:26.31
And it talks
about the immorality
00:31:26.35\00:31:29.18
and the sins they're engaged in.
00:31:29.22\00:31:31.02
And the Jews
probably felt pretty good
00:31:31.05\00:31:32.52
when they read Paul's writings
00:31:32.55\00:31:34.26
because they thought,
"Oh, we got it together."
00:31:34.29\00:31:36.02
And yes, the
Gentiles have a lot of issues
00:31:36.06\00:31:38.63
but we get to Romans 2:1.
00:31:38.66\00:31:41.83
The Word of God says,
00:31:41.86\00:31:43.20
"Therefore you are inexcusable,
00:31:43.23\00:31:45.10
O man, whoever
you are, who judge
00:31:45.13\00:31:48.74
for in whatever
you judge another
00:31:48.77\00:31:50.44
you condemn yourself,
00:31:50.47\00:31:53.74
for you who judge
practice the same things."
00:31:53.78\00:31:58.45
Self-justification is
characterized by hypocrisy.
00:31:58.48\00:32:01.38
It is characterized by pride.
00:32:01.42\00:32:04.92
James 4:6, "He gives more grace.
00:32:04.95\00:32:08.02
Therefore, He says,
'God resists the proud,
00:32:08.06\00:32:11.19
but gives grace to the humble.'"
00:32:11.23\00:32:15.10
I remember having
a disagreement once
00:32:15.13\00:32:16.56
with someone that I worked with,
00:32:16.60\00:32:18.53
and I knew I was right.
00:32:18.57\00:32:21.74
I'm just telling
y'all right now, okay?
00:32:21.77\00:32:23.34
It's just us
here discussing this,
00:32:23.37\00:32:24.91
there's nobody else
listening, I'm glad.
00:32:24.94\00:32:27.08
So, we, I knew I was
right and I really knew that.
00:32:27.11\00:32:31.71
And yet the Lord said,
00:32:31.75\00:32:33.82
do you love how
He works with you?
00:32:33.85\00:32:35.82
He said, "Jilly,
00:32:35.85\00:32:37.65
don't you think
you could apologize?"
00:32:37.69\00:32:39.35
And I'm like, "For what?
00:32:39.39\00:32:41.42
You know I was right in this."
00:32:41.46\00:32:43.79
He said, "You have
pride in your heart.
00:32:43.83\00:32:47.20
You need to repent of that."
00:32:47.23\00:32:51.63
Pride leads to a lot of issues.
00:32:51.67\00:32:55.94
And so, Praise the Lord.
00:32:55.97\00:32:57.31
I said, "God, please
thank You for showing me,
00:32:57.34\00:32:59.57
would You please
changed my heart."
00:32:59.61\00:33:01.44
And I went back
and asked forgiveness.
00:33:01.48\00:33:06.35
And God worked to
mend that, I'm so grateful.
00:33:06.38\00:33:09.32
Self-justification is
characterized by hypocrisy.
00:33:09.35\00:33:12.09
Self-justification is
characterized by pride.
00:33:12.12\00:33:15.19
Self-justification
is characterized
00:33:15.22\00:33:17.23
by a spirit of judgment.
00:33:17.26\00:33:21.06
Think about Sermon on
the Mount, Matthew 5:6, 7.
00:33:21.10\00:33:24.80
In Matthew 7, He says,
00:33:24.83\00:33:26.37
"Judge not that
you be not judged."
00:33:26.40\00:33:29.80
What's the solution
for self-justification?
00:33:29.84\00:33:33.74
God never shows us
something in our heart
00:33:33.78\00:33:35.74
without showing us a way out.
00:33:35.78\00:33:38.98
First is to be quiet and listen.
00:33:39.01\00:33:41.88
You ever notice when
someone talks to you,
00:33:41.92\00:33:44.49
and they're trying
to tell you something?
00:33:44.52\00:33:46.69
What's your first defense?
00:33:46.72\00:33:48.06
"Oh, well, I did it
this way because of this.
00:33:48.09\00:33:50.29
Well, this is why
we made this decision.
00:33:50.33\00:33:52.19
Well, this is..."
that's all self-justification.
00:33:52.23\00:33:56.46
Be quiet and listen.
00:33:56.50\00:33:58.43
In Job Chapter 40,
you think about Job.
00:33:58.47\00:34:02.04
He was a righteous man
who had been through so much.
00:34:02.07\00:34:05.17
We get to the end of
the Book of Job, Job 40:1-4.
00:34:05.21\00:34:09.98
And it says, "Moreover,
00:34:10.01\00:34:11.35
the Lord answered Job, and said,
00:34:11.38\00:34:13.11
'Shall the one who contends
with the Almighty rebuke him?
00:34:13.15\00:34:16.95
He who rebukes
God, let him answer it.'
00:34:16.99\00:34:19.49
Then Job answered the Lord
and said, 'Behold, I am vile,
00:34:19.52\00:34:23.36
what shall I answer you?
00:34:23.39\00:34:25.06
I lay my hand over my mouth.'"
00:34:25.09\00:34:28.60
So that's a good solution.
00:34:28.63\00:34:30.20
When you're tempted
to self-justify yourself,
00:34:30.23\00:34:34.80
first step is just, I
would say it on live TV,
00:34:34.84\00:34:37.84
maybe we shouldn't just close
your mouth, that's more proper.
00:34:37.87\00:34:40.54
Close your mouth.
00:34:40.58\00:34:42.11
Be quiet and listen.
00:34:42.14\00:34:45.58
Number two, accept
counsel and correction.
00:34:45.61\00:34:50.85
Be willing to accept
counsel and correction.
00:34:50.89\00:34:55.09
Proverbs 1:5 says,
00:34:55.12\00:34:56.62
"A wise man will
hear and increase learning
00:34:56.66\00:35:00.16
and a man of understanding
will attain wise counsel."
00:35:00.20\00:35:04.40
I remember I got a
letter once at my desk
00:35:04.43\00:35:08.47
and it had kind of cursive
handwriting feminine looking,
00:35:08.50\00:35:11.87
you know, you can
tell if it's a man or woman
00:35:11.91\00:35:13.51
by the handwriting?
00:35:13.54\00:35:14.88
Not always, usually.
00:35:14.91\00:35:16.41
This one looked feminine.
00:35:16.44\00:35:17.78
And I opened it up
00:35:17.81\00:35:19.15
and there was eight
pages inside, handwritten.
00:35:19.18\00:35:22.38
And I thought,
"Oh, this is great!"
00:35:22.42\00:35:24.19
And I started to read
00:35:24.22\00:35:25.55
and the first page
had an issue in my life
00:35:25.59\00:35:29.52
that she saw and thought,
00:35:29.56\00:35:31.29
you know,
needed some addressing.
00:35:31.33\00:35:33.60
And the second page had
another issue in my life.
00:35:33.63\00:35:36.73
And the third page had
another and the fourth.
00:35:36.77\00:35:40.24
So I got to the
end, and I thought, "Boy,
00:35:40.27\00:35:42.20
I'm sorry I even
opened it," you know?
00:35:42.24\00:35:44.17
So I folded it up,
00:35:44.21\00:35:45.54
and I put it
back in and I thought,
00:35:45.57\00:35:47.28
"Well, what am I supposed
to do with this right now?"
00:35:47.31\00:35:50.58
So I just stuffed it.
00:35:50.61\00:35:53.65
That's not the best
thing to do with it,
00:35:53.68\00:35:55.05
but that's what I did.
00:35:55.08\00:35:56.42
I stuffed it and I
didn't really talk about it,
00:35:56.45\00:35:59.49
just kept it in there.
00:35:59.52\00:36:01.42
A day went by, a
week, maybe even a month.
00:36:01.46\00:36:05.16
And I was just in my devotions
reading the Book of Romans.
00:36:05.19\00:36:08.40
This is how God works.
00:36:08.43\00:36:09.76
I just happened
to be in Romans 15:5,
00:36:09.80\00:36:13.27
and it says, I was
reading in the morning,
00:36:13.30\00:36:15.47
"Now may the God of
patience and comfort grant you
00:36:15.50\00:36:19.74
to be like-minded
toward one another."
00:36:19.77\00:36:23.71
"Therefore receive one another,
just as I have received you."
00:36:23.75\00:36:28.35
And the Lord Jesus spoke
to me in that moment and said,
00:36:28.38\00:36:30.89
"You have not
received your sister."
00:36:30.92\00:36:32.65
And He said, "I
want you to accept
00:36:36.32\00:36:39.09
that counseling
correction that she sent you."
00:36:39.13\00:36:43.13
And so I went back to
the eight-page letter again
00:36:43.16\00:36:45.50
and I began to read
and I prayed this time,
00:36:45.53\00:36:48.27
"God, where can I grow?
00:36:48.30\00:36:50.91
God, what can I
learn from this?"
00:36:50.94\00:36:52.84
And you know what I found?
00:36:52.87\00:36:54.21
There was quite a
bit I could learn,
00:36:54.24\00:36:56.04
quite a bit that
I could grow from.
00:36:56.08\00:36:58.71
So the solution for the
spirit of self-justification
00:36:58.75\00:37:02.05
were quiet and listen,
00:37:02.08\00:37:05.05
we learned to accept
counsel and correction.
00:37:05.09\00:37:09.02
Number three,
don't twist scripture
00:37:09.06\00:37:14.00
to justify yourself
00:37:14.03\00:37:16.23
or your understanding
of the Word of God.
00:37:16.26\00:37:19.73
Turn with me to Galatians.
00:37:19.77\00:37:21.40
Galatians Chapter 3.
00:37:21.44\00:37:23.91
Paul was discussing something
00:37:23.94\00:37:25.87
specifically in
the book of Galatians
00:37:25.91\00:37:28.54
regarding the
issue of circumcision.
00:37:28.58\00:37:32.11
The Gentile
believers became Christians
00:37:32.15\00:37:35.58
and the Jews said,
"Uh-uh, you're not good, yet.
00:37:35.62\00:37:38.39
You have to be circumcised,
00:37:38.42\00:37:40.76
and then we'll accept you
00:37:40.79\00:37:42.12
in the
Brotherhood of Christians."
00:37:42.16\00:37:44.73
And Paul said,
00:37:44.76\00:37:46.09
"No, we are saved
by grace through faith.
00:37:46.13\00:37:50.33
Circumcision doesn't
have anything to do with it."
00:37:50.37\00:37:54.04
Now we read that
today and we say,
00:37:54.07\00:37:55.57
"Okay, well, we
don't, that's not a practice
00:37:55.60\00:37:57.97
that we need to come
into a church today."
00:37:58.01\00:38:00.54
But the issue is the same.
00:38:00.58\00:38:03.11
If we're saved by
grace through faith,
00:38:03.14\00:38:06.95
then that means I don't
have to add on to something
00:38:06.98\00:38:10.15
in order to be saved.
00:38:10.19\00:38:11.92
That's what they were addressing
00:38:11.95\00:38:13.29
in the Galatian Church.
00:38:13.32\00:38:14.66
We're in Galatians 3:1-3.
00:38:14.69\00:38:18.06
Paul says, "O
foolish Galatians!"
00:38:18.09\00:38:20.63
Now the word "foolish"
means stupid in the Greek.
00:38:20.66\00:38:23.93
He's pretty strong.
00:38:23.97\00:38:25.30
"O stupid, mindless Galatians!
00:38:25.33\00:38:29.24
Who has bewitched you
00:38:29.27\00:38:30.67
that you should
not obey the truth,
00:38:30.71\00:38:33.17
before whose eyes Jesus
Christ was clearly portrayed
00:38:33.21\00:38:35.71
among you as crucified?
00:38:35.74\00:38:37.38
This only I want
to learn from you.
00:38:37.41\00:38:39.51
Do you receive the
Spirit by the works of the law
00:38:39.55\00:38:42.15
or by the hearing of faith?
00:38:42.18\00:38:43.85
Are you so foolish
having begun in the spirit?
00:38:43.89\00:38:47.39
Are you now made
perfect in the flesh?"
00:38:47.42\00:38:51.23
He gets even
stronger in Galatians 5.
00:38:51.26\00:38:53.43
Galatians 5:4, every
time I read this scripture,
00:38:53.46\00:38:58.17
it really gets me.
00:38:58.20\00:39:00.24
He says, "You
have become estranged
00:39:00.27\00:39:04.77
from Christ."
00:39:04.81\00:39:06.94
Did you read that?
00:39:06.98\00:39:08.48
"You have become
estranged from Christ,
00:39:08.51\00:39:13.31
you who attempt to
be justified by the law,
00:39:13.35\00:39:17.72
you have fallen from grace."
00:39:17.75\00:39:20.89
See the Galatians
had twisted scripture
00:39:20.92\00:39:23.53
to justify their
own understanding
00:39:23.56\00:39:27.40
of the Word of God.
00:39:27.43\00:39:29.80
Now I want to be very clear
00:39:29.83\00:39:31.47
that God asks for obedience.
00:39:31.50\00:39:37.37
That's not what I'm saying here.
00:39:37.41\00:39:39.77
But the obedience is by grace.
00:39:39.81\00:39:43.48
God is the one who works in us
00:39:43.51\00:39:46.51
both to will and to
do of His good pleasure
00:39:46.55\00:39:51.35
and our salvation is
by the blood of Jesus.
00:39:51.39\00:39:55.39
Amen.
00:39:55.42\00:39:56.93
Twisted destruction.
00:39:56.96\00:39:58.29
We talked about tradition.
00:39:58.33\00:40:00.00
Twisted destruction,
00:40:00.03\00:40:01.36
we talked about
self-justification.
00:40:01.40\00:40:03.83
Number three, do
remember number three?
00:40:03.87\00:40:06.07
Complexity.
00:40:06.10\00:40:07.70
Sometimes we can
twist scripture simply
00:40:07.74\00:40:10.84
because it is
hard to understand.
00:40:10.87\00:40:14.58
We just make the
very best application
00:40:14.61\00:40:16.91
we know how to.
00:40:16.95\00:40:18.28
What are complicated scriptures?
00:40:18.31\00:40:20.02
Well, that really
depends on your education,
00:40:20.05\00:40:22.35
on your own interpretation,
00:40:22.38\00:40:24.32
on your own presuppositions
00:40:24.35\00:40:26.69
and your
tradition from the past.
00:40:26.72\00:40:29.32
We could say some of
these complicated scriptures
00:40:29.36\00:40:31.59
if we're within the
Seventh-day Adventist community
00:40:31.63\00:40:34.20
might be Colossians
2 on the feast days,
00:40:34.23\00:40:36.10
the new moons and the Sabbath.
00:40:36.13\00:40:37.87
Might be Revelation 8
and 9 on the seven trumpets,
00:40:37.90\00:40:40.94
might be Daniel 11 on
the identity of the king
00:40:40.97\00:40:44.21
of the north and the south.
00:40:44.24\00:40:46.74
Or it could be something
00:40:46.78\00:40:48.11
as simple as
reading Romans Chapter 9.
00:40:48.14\00:40:50.91
And it says, Paul says,
00:40:50.95\00:40:52.61
"Jacob I have
loved yet Esau, I hated."
00:40:52.65\00:40:56.38
So if you read
that at face value,
00:40:56.42\00:40:58.15
you could say, "Wait a minute,
00:40:58.19\00:40:59.52
he loved one and
didn't love the other?"
00:40:59.55\00:41:02.02
These are some of the scriptures
00:41:02.06\00:41:03.83
that require
proper interpretation.
00:41:03.86\00:41:08.53
Let's look at seven keys
to interpreting scripture.
00:41:08.56\00:41:13.80
Key number one,
intention determines meaning.
00:41:13.84\00:41:19.11
If I were to write a
letter to Grandma Tina,
00:41:19.14\00:41:20.84
who's sitting on the
front row right here,
00:41:20.88\00:41:22.78
would the letter
when she reads it,
00:41:22.81\00:41:25.55
does the letter mean
00:41:25.58\00:41:26.92
what I intended the
letter to mean when I wrote it?
00:41:26.95\00:41:30.15
Or does it mean what she gets
out of it when she reads it?
00:41:30.19\00:41:33.52
It is really both.
00:41:37.13\00:41:38.46
That's kind of a trick question.
00:41:38.49\00:41:40.70
But when you
study the Word of God,
00:41:40.73\00:41:42.60
the interpretation must be based
00:41:42.63\00:41:44.87
on the author's
intention of meaning,
00:41:44.90\00:41:48.14
not on the
reader's understanding.
00:41:48.17\00:41:52.07
The text can't mean
what it was never meant.
00:41:52.11\00:41:56.04
Unless you learn the intended
meaning of the text writer,
00:41:56.08\00:42:00.02
you can't properly
understand the Word of God.
00:42:00.05\00:42:02.82
So, number one,
intention determines meaning.
00:42:02.85\00:42:06.19
Number two,
context determines meaning.
00:42:06.22\00:42:10.53
Interpretation must be done
00:42:10.56\00:42:12.19
based on the
context of the passage.
00:42:12.23\00:42:15.96
You think about that
story that people always tell,
00:42:16.00\00:42:18.40
this man woke up in the morning
00:42:18.43\00:42:19.77
and his habit of
studying the Word of God
00:42:19.80\00:42:21.40
was opening up and
wherever the Bible fell,
00:42:21.44\00:42:23.30
that was his word for the day.
00:42:23.34\00:42:25.21
So we opened up the Word of God,
00:42:25.24\00:42:26.61
and it fell open and
he read in Matthew 27
00:42:26.64\00:42:28.74
and Judas went out
and hanged himself.
00:42:28.78\00:42:31.91
And he thought, "Surely, God,
00:42:31.95\00:42:33.28
that is not your
word for me today."
00:42:33.31\00:42:35.05
So he closed the Bible
and he opened it up again,
00:42:35.08\00:42:37.22
and it fell open to Luke 10.
00:42:37.25\00:42:38.92
And the Bible said,
"Go, thou, and do likewise."
00:42:38.95\00:42:42.99
And he thought, "Surely, God,
00:42:43.02\00:42:44.36
that is not your
word for me today."
00:42:44.39\00:42:46.33
So he tried it a third time.
00:42:46.36\00:42:48.46
And he opened up to John
Chapter 13, where it says,
00:42:48.50\00:42:51.23
"What thou doest, do quickly."
00:42:51.27\00:42:53.70
Now, is that what God
intended for him in the Word?
00:42:53.74\00:42:58.01
No.
00:42:58.04\00:42:59.37
Because context
determines meaning.
00:42:59.41\00:43:02.54
You don't read one
scripture and think you know
00:43:02.58\00:43:05.65
what the entire
passage is all about.
00:43:05.68\00:43:08.58
Number three,
understanding literal versus
00:43:08.62\00:43:12.05
symbolic interpretation
determines meaning.
00:43:12.09\00:43:16.19
In other words, doing,
interpret a particular passage
00:43:16.22\00:43:19.79
literally or symbolically.
00:43:19.83\00:43:24.00
We interpret the Bible literally
00:43:24.03\00:43:25.50
when it can be
taken at face value.
00:43:25.53\00:43:27.80
Literal interpretation means
00:43:27.84\00:43:29.27
that the biblical
text is to be interpreted
00:43:29.30\00:43:31.81
according to its plain meaning
00:43:31.84\00:43:33.74
conveyed by the
grammatical construction
00:43:33.78\00:43:35.71
and historical context.
00:43:35.74\00:43:37.35
Martin Luther believed this,
00:43:37.38\00:43:39.05
John Calvin believed
literal interpretation
00:43:39.08\00:43:42.08
of the Word of God,
00:43:42.12\00:43:43.45
but there's other places
that are figurative or symbolic
00:43:43.49\00:43:48.09
and we have to know the
difference between the two.
00:43:48.12\00:43:51.26
Number four, the
genre of biblical literature
00:43:51.29\00:43:55.03
determines meaning.
00:43:55.06\00:43:57.70
The Bible contains many
different types of literature,
00:43:57.73\00:43:59.67
does it not?
00:43:59.70\00:44:01.04
So you get the
beginning, the first five books,
00:44:01.07\00:44:02.87
Genesis to Deuteronomy
are the books of the law.
00:44:02.90\00:44:06.37
Then we have the
12 books of history
00:44:06.41\00:44:08.28
from Joshua to Nehemiah,
00:44:08.31\00:44:09.91
five books of wisdom and poetry.
00:44:09.94\00:44:12.88
Then 17 books of
prophecy from Isaiah to Malachi.
00:44:12.91\00:44:17.15
Four books of the Gospel,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
00:44:17.19\00:44:19.92
a book of history with Acts.
00:44:19.95\00:44:21.89
And then 21 epistles.
00:44:21.92\00:44:24.96
And then we close
with the book of prophecy.
00:44:24.99\00:44:26.83
So understanding the
genre of biblical literature
00:44:26.86\00:44:30.07
makes a difference too.
00:44:30.10\00:44:31.43
Number five, other
scriptures determine meaning.
00:44:31.47\00:44:34.70
In other words, you
look at one scripture
00:44:34.74\00:44:37.51
and you read another
scripture and you compare them.
00:44:37.54\00:44:42.21
Isaiah 28:10.
00:44:42.24\00:44:43.58
"For precept
must be upon precept,
00:44:43.61\00:44:45.71
precept upon precept,
00:44:45.75\00:44:47.18
line upon line, line upon line,"
00:44:47.22\00:44:49.48
we interpret scripture by
looking at other scriptures.
00:44:49.52\00:44:54.36
Number six, the interpretation
versus application
00:44:54.39\00:44:59.46
determines meaning.
00:44:59.49\00:45:02.03
Remember the story,
Jesus with His disciples
00:45:02.06\00:45:04.50
and they watched all
these highfalutin men come
00:45:04.53\00:45:07.34
and toss a
measly coin, remember,
00:45:07.37\00:45:10.64
or something into
the temple treasury?
00:45:10.67\00:45:12.84
And then the widow
came with two mites
00:45:12.87\00:45:16.14
and she tossed that in.
00:45:16.18\00:45:17.51
Now what is our
interpretation for today?
00:45:17.55\00:45:20.18
That we're supposed to
give two mites in church?
00:45:20.22\00:45:21.78
No.
00:45:21.82\00:45:23.15
It's supposed, we are
supposed to give sacrificially.
00:45:23.18\00:45:27.96
Amen.
00:45:27.99\00:45:29.59
We twist scripture by
the traditions that we hold.
00:45:29.62\00:45:33.06
We twist scripture when
we try to justify ourselves.
00:45:33.09\00:45:38.00
We twist scripture, sometimes
00:45:38.03\00:45:40.70
because there are
some complicated passages
00:45:40.74\00:45:43.14
in the Word of God
and we need to understand
00:45:43.17\00:45:45.11
a proper
interpretation of scripture.
00:45:45.14\00:45:48.21
Finally, number four,
00:45:48.24\00:45:49.58
we twist
scripture because of fear.
00:45:49.61\00:45:53.75
Now, you might say,
00:45:53.78\00:45:55.12
"What in the world do
you mean by that, Jill?"
00:45:55.15\00:45:57.19
It can be hard to reconcile life
00:45:57.22\00:46:00.82
sometimes with scripture.
00:46:00.86\00:46:02.92
How do you
explain the unexplainable?
00:46:02.96\00:46:06.70
I'll give you an
example of what I mean.
00:46:06.73\00:46:09.10
Someone in your
church, in your family,
00:46:09.13\00:46:12.43
in your community is
diagnosed with cancer.
00:46:12.47\00:46:15.90
What do you do?
00:46:15.94\00:46:17.94
James 5, what does it say?
00:46:17.97\00:46:20.64
"The prayer of
faith will save the sick
00:46:20.68\00:46:23.81
and the Lord will raise him up."
00:46:23.85\00:46:26.51
Call the elders,
have an anointing.
00:46:26.55\00:46:30.42
But what if they're not healed?
00:46:30.45\00:46:36.79
Has someone ever
come to you and said,
00:46:36.83\00:46:40.80
"If you only had more faith,
00:46:40.83\00:46:44.00
you would have been healed."
00:46:44.03\00:46:47.90
My mom, I started telling you
00:46:47.94\00:46:49.80
about her chronic
medical condition, she has MS.
00:46:49.84\00:46:53.04
And you would not
believe the number of people
00:46:53.07\00:46:55.64
who tell her, "If
you only had faith,
00:46:55.68\00:46:57.91
God would heal you."
00:46:57.95\00:47:00.08
That is an example
00:47:00.12\00:47:01.72
of twisting
scripture to destruction.
00:47:01.75\00:47:07.12
Now is that purposeful? No.
00:47:07.16\00:47:09.22
It's because of fear.
00:47:09.26\00:47:11.13
Because of lack
of understanding,
00:47:11.16\00:47:13.53
how do we even
explain the unexplainable?
00:47:13.56\00:47:16.97
What about this scripture?
00:47:17.00\00:47:18.33
Psalm 37, "Delight
yourself in the Lord,
00:47:18.37\00:47:21.80
and He will give you
the desire of your heart."
00:47:21.84\00:47:27.21
So what if you don't get
the desire of your heart?
00:47:27.24\00:47:28.91
What does that mean?
00:47:28.94\00:47:30.28
Have you not delighted enough?
00:47:30.31\00:47:35.28
Psalm 127:3 says,
00:47:35.32\00:47:36.79
"Children are a
heritage of the Lord
00:47:36.82\00:47:38.69
and the fruit of
the womb is His reward."
00:47:38.72\00:47:41.82
And I remember
someone coming up to me once
00:47:41.86\00:47:43.76
and said, "Well, God knew, Jill,
00:47:43.79\00:47:45.59
you wouldn't make good parents.
00:47:45.63\00:47:47.96
That's why He
withheld children from you."
00:47:48.00\00:47:51.23
That's an example
of twisting scripture
00:47:51.27\00:47:56.94
to your own destruction.
00:47:56.97\00:47:59.54
So what's the solution
if you're engaged in fear?
00:47:59.57\00:48:02.51
This is a difficult subject
and we could take a long time
00:48:02.54\00:48:05.51
which I don't have.
00:48:05.55\00:48:07.38
But I think the first
thing is don't be afraid
00:48:07.42\00:48:10.49
of claiming Bible promises.
00:48:10.52\00:48:13.69
Amen.
00:48:13.72\00:48:16.06
2 Corinthians 1:20,
00:48:16.09\00:48:17.53
all of His promises are
yes and amen in Christ Jesus.
00:48:17.56\00:48:22.76
Romans 4:17, "God who
gives life to the dead,
00:48:22.80\00:48:26.17
and calls those things
00:48:26.20\00:48:27.54
that are not as
though they already were."
00:48:27.57\00:48:30.07
We know God's
promises are yes and amen.
00:48:30.11\00:48:32.67
We know every time He says,
"I can give you a new heart,"
00:48:32.71\00:48:36.64
He's gonna do it.
00:48:36.68\00:48:38.01
Every time He says, "I
can break your addiction,"
00:48:38.05\00:48:39.91
He's gonna do it.
00:48:39.95\00:48:41.28
Every time He says,
"I can set you free,"
00:48:41.32\00:48:43.92
He's going to do it, because
that's what our God does.
00:48:43.95\00:48:48.16
In the midst of
that there are times
00:48:48.19\00:48:53.13
when we live in
the Great Controversy
00:48:53.16\00:48:57.07
and things happen
in this world of sin
00:48:57.10\00:49:02.30
not because of
Christ but because of sin.
00:49:02.34\00:49:04.24
Don't be afraid of
claiming Bible promises.
00:49:08.34\00:49:10.28
Don't be afraid of an
answer you don't like.
00:49:10.31\00:49:15.42
You know, I think
there's four answers to prayer.
00:49:15.45\00:49:17.99
Number one, "No, I
love you too much."
00:49:18.02\00:49:23.02
Now how could love even be a no?
00:49:23.06\00:49:24.83
Of course it can.
00:49:24.86\00:49:26.19
If you're a
parent, you know that,
00:49:26.23\00:49:27.56
your child reaches out to
the stove and goes to touch.
00:49:27.60\00:49:29.20
What would you
say? "Don't touch!"
00:49:29.23\00:49:30.80
Is that because you
don't love your child?
00:49:30.83\00:49:32.17
No!
00:49:32.20\00:49:33.54
Love is a no because
you don't want them hurt
00:49:33.57\00:49:39.04
or you're
trying to protect them.
00:49:39.07\00:49:42.51
First answer is "No,
I love you too much."
00:49:42.54\00:49:44.38
Second answer is "No, not yet."
00:49:44.41\00:49:46.68
That means we're
in a waiting time
00:49:46.72\00:49:48.78
for whatever the purpose is.
00:49:48.82\00:49:50.65
Next one is, "Yes, I
thought you'd never ask."
00:49:50.69\00:49:54.22
I think God is waiting
for us to call upon Him.
00:49:54.26\00:49:59.39
He's waiting for us to ask.
00:49:59.43\00:50:02.13
And finally,
"Yes, and so much more."
00:50:02.16\00:50:06.67
Solutions for fear,
00:50:06.70\00:50:08.04
don't be afraid of
claiming Bible promises,
00:50:08.07\00:50:09.40
don't be afraid of an
answer you don't like,
00:50:09.44\00:50:11.57
don't be afraid of
the Great Controversy.
00:50:11.61\00:50:15.91
Think about the Book of Job.
00:50:15.94\00:50:17.41
If you look at Job Chapter 1,
00:50:17.45\00:50:19.91
what do we see in Job Chapter 1?
00:50:19.95\00:50:22.18
We see Satan coming
before God and saying what?
00:50:22.22\00:50:27.92
God says, "Have you
considered my servant Job?
00:50:27.96\00:50:30.73
He's pure, he's
upright, he's holy."
00:50:30.76\00:50:34.53
And Satan says,
"Yeah, that's just because
00:50:34.56\00:50:36.03
you gave him a
good ride," right?
00:50:36.06\00:50:38.33
That is a picture.
00:50:38.37\00:50:39.70
I love that God
gave us that in the Bible
00:50:39.73\00:50:41.87
because we see a picture
00:50:41.90\00:50:43.47
of the Great
Controversy at work,
00:50:43.51\00:50:46.61
that battle
between good and evil.
00:50:46.64\00:50:49.88
We see that this life
00:50:49.91\00:50:51.95
is not all there is.
00:50:51.98\00:50:55.98
Do we serve God
because He's Santa Claus,
00:50:56.02\00:50:57.99
giving us what we want?
00:50:58.02\00:50:59.85
Or do we serve Him
because we love Him
00:50:59.89\00:51:04.26
because He is our father?
00:51:04.29\00:51:07.70
Amen.
00:51:07.73\00:51:10.97
She was a
beautiful girl, blond hair,
00:51:11.00\00:51:16.14
peaches and cream
complexion, gorgeous skin,
00:51:16.17\00:51:20.28
even white teeth.
00:51:20.31\00:51:22.28
She was an
upperclassman in Academy.
00:51:22.31\00:51:24.71
I'll call her Grace.
00:51:24.75\00:51:28.72
I was, my first
job out of college,
00:51:28.75\00:51:31.65
22 years old, teacher.
00:51:31.69\00:51:34.86
I didn't know what I
was doing in the least.
00:51:34.89\00:51:39.46
And so, I just was busy,
00:51:39.49\00:51:42.96
caught up in the whirlwind
of teaching for the first time.
00:51:43.00\00:51:47.67
I neglected to ask
her about her heart
00:51:47.70\00:51:51.67
to see how she was doing.
00:51:51.71\00:51:53.31
She had it all together.
00:51:53.34\00:51:55.08
She looked beautiful,
she seemed fine to me.
00:51:55.11\00:51:58.31
Several months
later, we went on a retreat.
00:51:58.35\00:52:01.88
And she said, "Miss
Jill, can I talk to you?"
00:52:01.92\00:52:03.99
And I said, "Yeah, sure."
00:52:04.02\00:52:06.49
She looked up at me
00:52:06.52\00:52:08.46
and I was really startled
by the pain in her eyes.
00:52:08.49\00:52:11.86
Had it been there, I
never noticed it before.
00:52:11.89\00:52:15.66
And I said, "Yeah,
let's sit down over here,"
00:52:15.70\00:52:17.40
and we sat down.
00:52:17.43\00:52:19.23
She had a sweatshirt on
and all of a sudden that hit me
00:52:19.27\00:52:21.64
that I'd never seen her
in her short sleeve shirt.
00:52:21.67\00:52:24.61
She always wore long sleeve.
00:52:24.64\00:52:26.84
And she pulled up her shirt
00:52:30.01\00:52:32.35
and I saw on her arm written
00:52:32.38\00:52:35.35
from the forearm to the hand.
00:52:35.38\00:52:39.95
Criss cross,
00:52:43.02\00:52:47.86
her arm cut
00:52:47.90\00:52:54.47
and my eyes filled with tears
00:52:54.50\00:52:55.87
and I said, "Grace,
you've been cutting.
00:52:55.90\00:52:57.67
I didn't know."
00:52:57.71\00:52:59.61
And she turned her
arm just a little more
00:52:59.64\00:53:03.55
and they weren't just
random slashes in her skin.
00:53:03.58\00:53:07.32
She'd cut herself
to spell two words.
00:53:07.35\00:53:11.65
"Help me."
00:53:11.69\00:53:13.56
And I thought of the months
I had been busy and occupied
00:53:16.79\00:53:22.63
and had not taken time
00:53:22.66\00:53:25.13
to see the pain in
this beautiful girl.
00:53:25.17\00:53:29.67
Who Satan
00:53:29.70\00:53:32.74
or her upbringing,
00:53:32.77\00:53:35.88
or some baggage
and presupposition
00:53:35.91\00:53:40.98
or some misunderstanding
00:53:41.02\00:53:43.79
or misinterpretation
of the Word of God
00:53:43.82\00:53:47.36
had put pain in her heart.
00:53:47.39\00:53:51.16
She came from a background
00:53:51.19\00:53:52.73
that had turned her
00:53:52.76\00:53:57.40
into what she was.
00:53:57.43\00:54:01.50
I don't know, in your
heart and in your life,
00:54:01.54\00:54:06.07
if Satan has engaged
00:54:06.11\00:54:09.41
in some twisted destruction,
00:54:09.44\00:54:12.58
maybe it's in your life,
maybe it's in your kids' lives
00:54:12.61\00:54:17.52
or the lives of
someone in your family.
00:54:17.55\00:54:22.76
Maybe there's twisting,
00:54:22.79\00:54:24.13
Satan has told you
lies that aren't even true.
00:54:24.16\00:54:28.66
Maybe he's twisted something
00:54:28.70\00:54:30.30
when you opened
up the Word of God
00:54:30.33\00:54:32.73
and, and read and he twisted it.
00:54:32.77\00:54:36.57
You know what he says to us?
00:54:36.60\00:54:38.37
"Taste and see
that the Lord is good."
00:54:38.41\00:54:42.84
God wants to
reveal Himself to you.
00:54:42.88\00:54:47.62
God wants to take
the lies of the enemy
00:54:47.65\00:54:50.92
that have been
twisted in our own minds
00:54:50.95\00:54:53.72
and processed in our own hearts
and He wants to untangle them.
00:54:53.76\00:54:59.29
Amen.
00:54:59.33\00:55:01.46
And He wants to set us free.
00:55:01.50\00:55:04.47
Do you want to be
set free from those lies,
00:55:04.50\00:55:07.54
from that twisting?
00:55:07.57\00:55:09.47
Whether it is tradition
that we've held on to something
00:55:09.50\00:55:12.87
from the past,
00:55:12.91\00:55:14.28
whether it is an
experience in your life
00:55:14.31\00:55:16.28
of self-justification,
somehow twisting that,
00:55:16.31\00:55:21.15
whether it is simply
complexity or fear in your life.
00:55:21.18\00:55:26.22
God says, I
want to set you free.
00:55:26.25\00:55:29.59
God, we come
before You right now
00:55:29.62\00:55:31.53
because You are our Father.
00:55:31.56\00:55:37.17
And we love You.
00:55:37.20\00:55:39.10
Thank You that while
we were still sinners,
00:55:39.13\00:55:43.37
You died for us.
00:55:43.41\00:55:45.34
Father, would You set us free
00:55:45.37\00:55:48.74
just now?
00:55:48.78\00:55:51.88
Untangle what's been twisted.
00:55:51.91\00:55:55.78
Thank You that You have promised
00:55:55.82\00:55:58.35
whoever the Son sets
free will be free, indeed.
00:55:58.39\00:56:02.72
And we ask this in
the precious name...
00:56:02.76\00:56:04.86