Who was Jesus?
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He had compassion for
the weak and the hurting.
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He loved every person He met
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and taught them how to love.
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His great heart helped
all those who came near Him
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but most of all He was a friend.
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That was who He was.
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Now find out who He is.
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Hello friends and welcome
back to 3ABN Camp Meeting.
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If you've been following
you know that the Lord has
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prepared for you
message after message,
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presentation after presentation,
whether by music or by the word,
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with "Who is
Jesus? " as the question.
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And I pray that all that
has been done has answered
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that question
in a beautiful way.
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Tonight, thank you that you've
joined us on this beautiful
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Sabbath evening, we are expect-
ing the Lord to bless once again
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as Jill Morikone is
our speaker for tonight.
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Her message is
Christ in our Hearts.
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Friends, when you think
about where Christ should abide
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that is the best place.
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Now before I go any
further I want you to know that
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we have following this the Q&A.
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Pastor Kenny Shelton and
Jill Morikone are going to be
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answering YOUR questions.
If you'd like to send them in
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you can text your questions to:
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or you can e-mail them to:
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That's for the Q&A following
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but also register at:
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Jill is the
vice-president of 3ABN
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but more than all of that
she is a student of the Word,
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a woman of the Word,
and a godly woman I believe.
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And I know God is going to
bless, so please stay with us
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as Jill comes forth to prepare
the message and to present
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the message
Christ in your Hearts.
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Thank you so much Pastor John.
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We're not starting
with music this time because
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we're going to have that
as the appeal at the end.
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So stay tuned...
you will have that.
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I love the theme for
this entire Camp Meeting:
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"Who is Jesus? "
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Who is Jesus to you?
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He is our eternal God
and His government is love.
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He's the covenant Son;
He's our substitute and surety.
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He is our Redeemer.
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And as we just
heard from Pastor Kenny
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He is also our risen
Lord and our High Priest.
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Tonight's message is
Christ in our Hearts.
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We can know about
Him but we never met Him.
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We can proclaim the
doctrines and truths in His Word
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but have never been
changed in our own character
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or attitude or behavior.
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We can even teach who Jesus is
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and yet we never talked
with Him or walked with Him
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or experienced His love
and grace for ourselves.
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Tonight is really
practical Christianity.
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It's how to walk with Him.
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It is Christ in
us... the hope of glory.
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Before we open in prayer I
want to read our key scripture.
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We're going to talk about
this not only at the beginning
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but all the way
through this message.
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So open up your Bibles
to Ephesians chapter 3.
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We're going to spend a lot of
time in the book of Ephesians.
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Ephesians chapter 3.
This would be one of Paul's
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prison epistles...
meaning he's already in prison.
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He's already
facing the end of his life
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and he's penning these epistles,
reaching out in this case
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to the brethren around Ephesus
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down the stream
of time to you and I.
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There's an incredible
prayer in Ephesians chapter 1
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but we're not going there.
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We're going to Ephesians
ch. 3. This is the second prayer
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that Paul prays
for the believers.
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This is in Ephesians 3.
We pick it up in verse 14.
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"For this
reason... " What reason?
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The verse before tells us.
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They were worried;
they were discouraged
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because Paul was in prison.
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So because the
believers were worried about him
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and they were
discouraged he prayed. He said:
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"I bow my knees to the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
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from whom the whole
family in heaven and earth
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is named that He would grant you
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according to the
riches of His glory
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to be strengthened with might. "
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That word might is
dunamis in the Greek.
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It's miracle-working power.
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Power that comes from God above.
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"We would be strengthened
with might... " How?
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"through His
Spirit in the inner man.
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That Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith
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that you - being
rooted and grounded in love -
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may be able to
comprehend with all the saints
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what is the width and
length and depth and height
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to know the love of
Christ which passes knowledge
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that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. "
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Let's pray.
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Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus.
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I need You just now.
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I ask for the
outpouring of Your Holy Spirit.
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I pray, Father, that Your
Word which is already anointed
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would come alive.
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That Jesus would
be lifted up and seen.
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And Father, that we could
be encouraged and strengthened.
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That You can change
us and You can transform
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even me into the image of Jesus.
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And we thank you
in Jesus' name, Amen.
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I was 13 years old
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just at the cusp of adolescence.
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And I remember very distinctly
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I made a decision. I
wrote it actually in my journal
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and I said: "God, I don't
want anything to do with You. "
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"God, I'm done
with Christianity. "
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"I have read in the Word of
God where Jesus walked on water.
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I read that He raised the dead.
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I read where the lame
walked and the blind could see
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but, God, I haven't seen that.
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I haven't seen
anyone raised from the dead.
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I haven't seen any miracle
that You have performed today.
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Not only that, You
say in II Corinthians 5
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that if anyone's in
Christ they're a new creature.
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Old things have passed away
and all things have become new.
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But God, I have never
even seen a transformed life.
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When I look around me, all I
see are hypocritical Christians.
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I want nothing to do with You. "
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And so I made a
deliberate choice
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and I walked away from God.
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Six months of my
life went by like that
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and I don't know, it
could have been many more years
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like that but
something happened.
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My mom changed.
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My mom is a great mom
and she was a good mom, but
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she did not know Jesus.
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But when I reached 13
and I was in this wilderness
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time of walking away from God
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my mom began to
change because she met Jesus.
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And the change in
her life was so dramatic
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that I thought maybe there's
something to Christianity.
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Maybe what I read in the
Word of God actually is true.
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Maybe Jesus can change
peoples' hearts and lives.
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And so I read Psalm 34:8.
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You know that Psalm.
It says: "Taste and see
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that the Lord is
good. Blessed is everyone
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who trusts in Him. "
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And I read that and I
said: "OK, God, I will give You
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two weeks to
show Yourself to me. "
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And in those two
weeks I began to experience
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His grace and His
goodness and His power
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that I wanted to give
my heart and life to Him.
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And over the years I
have definitely experienced
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those times and
moments when I walked with Him
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and experienced Him
and knew Him as my Savior.
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And yet... I wish I could tell
you this was a long time ago...
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this was only last Friday.
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Last Friday a
situation arose at work
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and I responded out
of frustration and anger.
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In fact, someone walked in
the office and I said: "I am
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so frustrated right now! "
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And I sent a text
to someone else saying
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"I'm really frustrated. "
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And you know what
bothered me the most
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is that I was not
walking with Jesus as I should.
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That there were still
rough edges in my own character.
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Have you ever experienced that?
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You could say: "I'm a Christian;
I shouldn't feel this,
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I shouldn't do that.
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I shouldn't act in this way. "
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Have you ever gone from
preaching to a pity party?
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I think about
Elijah on Mount Carmel.
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What did he do? He
defied the prophets of Baal.
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He stood for the one true God.
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He said: "If the
Lord is God, follow Him...
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but if Baal, then follow him. "
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And then just that very night
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after he made this proclamation
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of allegiance
to the one true God
00:09:22.49\00:09:24.76
he ran from a woman
and hid in the wilderness.
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And what happened? He said:
"God, I'm the only one left
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here. " And God said:
"No, that's not right.
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There's 7,000 other people
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who have not bowed
the knee to Baal. "
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I think about Moses
interceding for God's people
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when God said: "I'm going
to blot out this people! "
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And Moses said: "Please God!
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Don't blot out this
people. Blot me out instead.
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God, remember
You are merciful. "
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And then just a
short while later
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he strikes the rock in anger.
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Have you ever thought:
"I'm a good enough Christian.
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I've accepted Jesus as my Savior
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I pay tithe. I've never murdered
anyone or stole from anyone.
00:10:04.73\00:10:09.37
I'm faithful to my spouse.
00:10:09.57\00:10:11.77
I honor the Sabbath Day. "
00:10:11.97\00:10:14.44
That reminds me of the
parable in Luke chapter 18:11.
00:10:14.64\00:10:18.45
We call it the parable of the
Pharisee and the Tax Collector
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or the Publican.
And the Bible says
00:10:21.48\00:10:23.82
the Pharisee stood and
prayed "thus with himself. "
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You notice it's with himself
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'cause I'm not even sure
that prayer's goin' up to God.
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He stood and prayed
"thus with himself. "
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"God, I thank you that
I am not like other men. "
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Have you ever
prayed a prayer like that?
00:10:39.33\00:10:41.04
Do you have
Christ in your heart?
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Are you Christ-like?
00:10:44.77\00:10:46.11
Have you ever held onto a
grudge or nursed bitterness
00:10:46.14\00:10:49.61
against someone else?
00:10:49.81\00:10:51.15
Have you ever
gossiped about someone else?
00:10:51.18\00:10:53.82
Have you ever lashed
out in anger or frustration?
00:10:54.02\00:10:56.85
Have you ever wished for
something that wasn't yours?
00:10:57.05\00:11:00.12
Have you ever
fostered an impure thought?
00:11:00.32\00:11:03.83
Have you ever reacted with
a critical judgmental spirit?
00:11:04.03\00:11:08.16
Have you ever indulged feelings
of your own self-importance?
00:11:08.56\00:11:12.33
If I'm being
transparent with you
00:11:13.23\00:11:15.30
I've done all of those things.
00:11:15.50\00:11:17.27
On the converse
side, do we love others?
00:11:17.67\00:11:22.18
Do we walk in peace with others?
00:11:22.38\00:11:25.25
Do we freely forgive?
Do we react in kindness?
00:11:25.45\00:11:28.78
Do we seek to encourage?
Do we stand for principle
00:11:28.98\00:11:32.75
no matter what?
00:11:32.95\00:11:34.29
In short: is Christ
residing in our hearts?
00:11:34.32\00:11:38.93
I've divided the message up to-
night into 3 different sections.
00:11:39.33\00:11:42.73
We're going to spend
the balance of our time
00:11:43.13\00:11:44.87
on the first two sections.
00:11:45.07\00:11:46.40
The first section is
purpose. This is the why.
00:11:46.70\00:11:49.94
It's more the theological
underpinning for the message.
00:11:50.14\00:11:52.77
The middle section is process.
00:11:53.17\00:11:55.31
This is the how. It's practical.
00:11:55.51\00:11:58.11
And the final section is
promise. This is the hope
00:11:58.31\00:12:03.08
that we have as Christians.
00:12:03.28\00:12:04.92
So the purpose. This is
why. What's the purpose?
00:12:05.12\00:12:08.02
When Christ dwells in our hearts
what does that accomplish?
00:12:08.22\00:12:12.79
Then the process: how.
00:12:12.99\00:12:15.10
How does Christ
dwell in our hearts?
00:12:15.30\00:12:18.93
And finally the
promise. This is the promises
00:12:19.13\00:12:21.50
we have in the Word of God...
00:12:21.70\00:12:23.94
the hope that we
have as Christians.
00:12:24.14\00:12:26.17
So let's look at the purpose.
00:12:26.37\00:12:27.71
This is the
theological underpinning.
00:12:27.91\00:12:29.71
This is the what.
What is the purpose
00:12:30.11\00:12:32.35
for Christ to dwell in
your heart and in mine?
00:12:32.55\00:12:35.22
What does it accomplish?
00:12:35.42\00:12:36.75
We're going back to Ephesians.
00:12:36.95\00:12:38.29
I told you we're going
to spend a lot of time here.
00:12:38.45\00:12:40.06
Ephesians 3 verse 14.
00:12:40.26\00:12:42.82
"For this reason...
" We already read this.
00:12:43.02\00:12:44.36
"For this reason...
" We know this reason.
00:12:44.56\00:12:46.06
Because Paul is in
prison and because the believers
00:12:46.46\00:12:50.50
are worried about him.
00:12:50.70\00:12:52.03
"For this reason I bow my
knees to the Father of our Lord
00:12:52.37\00:12:55.90
Jesus Christ, from whom the
whole family in heaven and earth
00:12:56.10\00:12:59.54
is named, that He would
grant you according to the
00:12:59.74\00:13:02.81
riches of His glory to be
strengthened with might... "
00:13:03.01\00:13:05.68
that's dunamis,
miracle-working power,
00:13:05.88\00:13:07.82
"through His
Spirit in the inner man
00:13:08.02\00:13:10.52
that Christ Jesus may
dwell in your hearts by faith. "
00:13:10.72\00:13:13.09
Let's stop right
there. That word dwell
00:13:13.29\00:13:15.42
comes from two Greek words.
00:13:15.62\00:13:17.13
It's a combination or a
synthesis of both words.
00:13:17.33\00:13:19.76
koto and oikeo.
00:13:19.96\00:13:21.80
Now we see the word
oikeo often in the Greek
00:13:22.00\00:13:24.97
and it means to reside.
Like you're going to take
00:13:25.17\00:13:27.30
up residence... you're
going to live somewhere.
00:13:27.50\00:13:29.24
But in this case oikeo:
00:13:29.44\00:13:32.57
it's the
combination of koto and oikeo
00:13:32.77\00:13:35.11
and it means to
house permanently.
00:13:35.31\00:13:38.41
Literally: to settle down
as a permanent residence...
00:13:38.61\00:13:43.49
to reside.
00:13:43.69\00:13:45.02
So Christ doesn't want to
just move in and then He moves
00:13:45.89\00:13:48.72
out somewhere
else. He doesn't want to
00:13:48.92\00:13:50.79
be a passing guest and
He stays for a night or two
00:13:50.99\00:13:54.40
or ten or twenty or even a year.
00:13:54.60\00:13:56.73
He wants to live in
our hearts permanently
00:13:57.13\00:14:01.17
by the power of the
Holy Spirit through faith.
00:14:01.37\00:14:04.31
"That you, being
rooted and grounded in love,
00:14:04.51\00:14:07.51
may be able to
comprehend with all the saints
00:14:07.71\00:14:09.54
what is the width and
length and depth and height
00:14:09.74\00:14:13.88
and to know the love of
Christ which passes knowledge
00:14:14.08\00:14:17.69
that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. "
00:14:17.89\00:14:21.09
What happens when
Christ dwells in our hearts
00:14:21.49\00:14:25.09
through faith?
00:14:25.29\00:14:26.70
Spurgeon compares
it to Jacob's ladder
00:14:26.90\00:14:29.50
meaning each rung
is a growth in grace.
00:14:29.70\00:14:33.84
What happens when He dwells
in our hearts through faith?
00:14:34.04\00:14:36.54
Number one: it roots
and grounds us in love.
00:14:36.74\00:14:39.41
Number two: it enables us
to speak to each other in love.
00:14:39.61\00:14:43.85
Number three: it
enables us to understand
00:14:44.05\00:14:46.28
the surpassing love of Christ.
00:14:46.48\00:14:48.68
And number four: it
enables us to be filled
00:14:49.08\00:14:51.45
with all the fullness of God.
00:14:51.65\00:14:53.49
So let's go back & unpack that.
00:14:53.69\00:14:55.09
When Christ resides in
our hearts through faith -
00:14:55.29\00:14:58.46
when He takes up permanent
residence - what happens?
00:14:58.66\00:15:00.93
It roots and grounds us in love.
00:15:01.33\00:15:04.50
We just read that
in Ephesians 3:17.
00:15:04.90\00:15:07.34
"That Christ may dwell... " or
take up permanent residence...
00:15:07.54\00:15:11.24
"in your hearts through faith
00:15:11.44\00:15:12.97
that you be rooted
and grounded in love. "
00:15:13.17\00:15:16.48
Now you notice there's two
metaphors that Paul uses here.
00:15:16.68\00:15:20.12
The first is rooted, which would
be an agricultural metaphor.
00:15:20.32\00:15:22.82
The second is grounded,
which would be probably
00:15:23.02\00:15:25.55
an architectural metaphor.
00:15:25.75\00:15:27.89
That we would be
"rooted. " That word means
00:15:28.09\00:15:31.39
in Greek to become stable.
00:15:31.59\00:15:33.66
To firmly establish.
That would be rooted.
00:15:33.86\00:15:37.17
This is the
agricultural analogy.
00:15:37.37\00:15:39.20
A tree is a
living, growing organism.
00:15:39.40\00:15:42.90
The Christian life -
our life as Christians -
00:15:43.10\00:15:46.47
is a living, growing
relationship with Christ.
00:15:46.68\00:15:51.08
You know, in Galatians
chapter 5 we learn about
00:15:51.48\00:15:53.52
the fruit of the Spirit.
And the 1st fruit is what?
00:15:53.72\00:15:55.82
"The fruit of
the Spirit is love. "
00:15:56.02\00:15:58.02
You see, if you
walk in the Spirit
00:15:58.22\00:16:01.12
love will be
manifest in the life.
00:16:01.32\00:16:04.49
But conversely on the other side
00:16:04.69\00:16:07.20
if we don't demonstrate
love toward God and others,
00:16:08.16\00:16:11.30
we're not walking in the Spirit.
00:16:11.50\00:16:13.44
At best we're
just a babe in Christ
00:16:13.64\00:16:16.97
and He hasn't yet
really fully taken up residence
00:16:17.17\00:16:20.04
in our heart. At worst,
we're not a Christian at all.
00:16:20.24\00:16:24.71
What about the grounded analogy?
00:16:25.35\00:16:27.22
We have the agricultural
one: being rooted in love.
00:16:27.42\00:16:31.12
But we're also to
be grounded in love.
00:16:31.32\00:16:34.29
That word means to lay the
foundation of or to settle.
00:16:34.49\00:16:37.33
So it's talking about
like building a foundation.
00:16:37.53\00:16:40.16
We're to be
grounded in knowledge... yes!
00:16:40.36\00:16:42.56
But we're also to be
grounded in grace and in love.
00:16:42.76\00:16:47.40
It reminds me of
II Peter 3 verse 18.
00:16:47.60\00:16:50.71
Peter tells the
believers: "But grow in grace
00:16:50.91\00:16:54.68
and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. "
00:16:54.88\00:16:59.25
Grow in the grace AND
knowledge of our Lord and Savior
00:16:59.45\00:17:03.82
Jesus Christ.
Grace? It leads to growth.
00:17:04.02\00:17:07.72
But what type of
growth? We are to grow in grace,
00:17:07.92\00:17:11.29
in love, and in knowledge.
00:17:11.49\00:17:14.26
I don't know if
you've ever met Christians
00:17:14.66\00:17:16.00
who... they only grow in
love. Have you noticed that?
00:17:16.20\00:17:18.30
They say: "It's all about grace.
00:17:19.00\00:17:20.57
I don't have to worry
about anything and I clearly
00:17:20.77\00:17:23.94
don't need to keep
any of the Commandments
00:17:24.14\00:17:25.97
'cause everything was
done for me at the cross
00:17:26.17\00:17:28.51
and I can just relax
and it's all about grace. "
00:17:28.71\00:17:31.45
It is about love
AND it is about grace
00:17:31.85\00:17:34.25
'cause we are saved
by grace through faith.
00:17:34.45\00:17:36.99
At the same time, we're
not just to grow in grace.
00:17:37.19\00:17:40.46
We're not just to grow in love.
00:17:40.66\00:17:42.72
We are to grow in knowledge.
00:17:42.92\00:17:45.93
But then on this side
there are some Christians
00:17:46.13\00:17:49.40
they only grow in knowledge.
00:17:49.60\00:17:50.93
All they do is study.
00:17:50.97\00:17:52.50
All they do is say:
"I'm going to learn something
00:17:52.70\00:17:55.40
in the Word of God so I
can beat you over the head
00:17:55.60\00:17:57.74
with it. " They become educated
00:17:57.94\00:18:00.84
but they're educated infidels.
00:18:01.24\00:18:03.21
In other words they
know things intellectually
00:18:03.41\00:18:06.35
but they never met Jesus.
00:18:06.55\00:18:08.08
They're not growing
in grace and in love.
00:18:08.28\00:18:10.89
So that combination of
being rooted and grounded
00:18:11.09\00:18:14.52
in love and growing
in grace AND knowledge
00:18:14.72\00:18:18.53
combined together.
00:18:18.73\00:18:20.53
We're to be rooted;
we're to be grounded in love.
00:18:20.73\00:18:24.43
Now whose love is that?
00:18:24.63\00:18:25.97
Clearly it's Christ's love.
00:18:26.20\00:18:27.70
You think about Romans 5:8.
00:18:27.90\00:18:29.40
God... He
demonstrated His own love for us
00:18:29.80\00:18:32.41
in that while we
were yet sinners...
00:18:32.61\00:18:35.18
That word in Greek yet
means still, yet, even now.
00:18:35.38\00:18:39.68
While we were still
in sin. While we wallowed
00:18:39.88\00:18:43.42
in our own "junk, "
Christ... He died for us.
00:18:43.62\00:18:47.62
But it's not just Christ's love
00:18:48.02\00:18:50.63
that we are
rooted and grounded in.
00:18:50.83\00:18:52.36
It's also our love for others.
00:18:52.76\00:18:55.86
John 13:35 says: "By this
00:18:56.06\00:18:59.07
all will know that
you are My disciples:
00:18:59.27\00:19:02.04
if you have love
for one another. "
00:19:02.24\00:19:06.37
So the first purpose of
Christ abiding in our hearts
00:19:06.78\00:19:11.21
is that it roots
and grounds us in love.
00:19:11.41\00:19:13.18
And what happens? What
is the outgrowth of that?
00:19:13.38\00:19:15.65
Turn over one chapter
to Ephesians chapter 4.
00:19:16.05\00:19:18.35
Ephesians 4. We'll
pick it up in verse 14 & 15.
00:19:19.02\00:19:22.66
"That we... " you and I...
"should no longer be children
00:19:23.06\00:19:26.29
tossed to and
fro and carried about
00:19:26.49\00:19:29.73
with every wind of doctrine
by the trickery of men. "
00:19:29.93\00:19:32.83
So let's stop a minute.
Did you notice they sound
00:19:33.03\00:19:35.04
grounded? They
sound rooted, do they not?
00:19:35.24\00:19:38.97
They're no
longer tossed to and fro
00:19:39.17\00:19:41.78
but they are
grounded. Why's that?
00:19:41.98\00:19:44.95
Because I believe that
the experience in Ephesians 3
00:19:45.35\00:19:48.25
has already taken
place in the believer's heart
00:19:48.45\00:19:51.05
by the time we
get to Ephesians 4.
00:19:51.25\00:19:52.69
That Christ dwells in
their hearts through faith
00:19:52.89\00:19:55.82
and then they are
rooted and grounded in love.
00:19:56.02\00:19:58.83
The outgrowing of being
rooted and grounded in love
00:19:59.03\00:20:02.56
is what? That we're not
going to be tossed about
00:20:02.76\00:20:05.47
by every wind of doctrine...
by the trickery of men
00:20:05.67\00:20:08.60
and the cunning craftiness
of deceitful plotting.
00:20:08.80\00:20:11.77
But speaking the truth in
love may grow up in all things
00:20:11.97\00:20:16.95
into Him who is the
head... even Christ.
00:20:17.15\00:20:20.92
So when you and I are
rooted and grounded in love
00:20:21.12\00:20:24.15
what happens?
We're not tossed about by
00:20:24.35\00:20:26.65
every wind of doctrine. But
also we learn to speak the truth
00:20:26.86\00:20:30.56
in love. I received an e-mail...
00:20:30.76\00:20:34.70
Actually I did not.
The e-mail came in to 3ABN
00:20:34.90\00:20:38.70
and it was actually to
someone else at 3ABN...
00:20:38.90\00:20:43.14
one of our managers.
And they sent me a text
00:20:43.34\00:20:45.27
and they said: "Jill,
I just got this e-mail
00:20:45.47\00:20:48.54
and it's actually directed
for you and it's meant for you
00:20:48.74\00:20:51.38
but I'm not sure I
should send it to you. "
00:20:51.58\00:20:55.55
And I said: "Well,
what do you mean? "
00:20:55.95\00:20:57.49
And they said: "Well,
it's a little strong, Jill. "
00:20:57.89\00:21:01.26
And I said: "It's OK... " be-
cause everything that comes in -
00:21:01.66\00:21:05.26
the correspondence,
the e-mails, the letters -
00:21:05.46\00:21:08.16
is important because
we want to respond to
00:21:08.36\00:21:10.93
because our 3ABN
family is important.
00:21:11.13\00:21:13.27
And so she said: "OK,
it's coming your way but
00:21:13.67\00:21:17.14
I just want to
apologize ahead of time. "
00:21:17.34\00:21:19.31
And I thought: "Oh, this
must be kind of strong. "
00:21:19.51\00:21:21.34
Because we pass e-mails all the
time and say: "Would you answer
00:21:21.54\00:21:24.35
this? " Would you handle this? "
We don't even think about that.
00:21:24.55\00:21:26.78
And so this e-mail begins
this way. I'm going to read you
00:21:27.68\00:21:30.62
the first two sentences.
00:21:30.82\00:21:32.15
"What a disappointment that
Jill or should I say Jezebel is.
00:21:32.85\00:21:37.06
I can't stand to
hear God's Word coming out
00:21:38.06\00:21:41.16
of her Jezebel face. "
00:21:41.36\00:21:42.86
And I read that and I said:
00:21:44.10\00:21:47.24
"Ooh! I wish I
hadn't read that! "
00:21:48.30\00:21:51.74
And then I went to God
00:21:53.14\00:21:55.78
and He reminded me
00:21:56.91\00:21:59.11
that we don't control
what other people say to us.
00:21:59.31\00:22:01.48
We don't control what
other people say about us
00:22:01.88\00:22:04.62
but I can control how I
respond to other people.
00:22:05.65\00:22:10.96
You see, we are called
to speak the truth in love.
00:22:11.16\00:22:16.60
Yes, sometimes we need to
share something that could be
00:22:16.80\00:22:19.07
strong but it needs to
be always spoken in love.
00:22:19.27\00:22:23.81
And God said: "Jill, I
want you as My daughter
00:22:24.01\00:22:27.44
to make sure you are always kind
00:22:27.64\00:22:29.98
in the words you
use with other people. "
00:22:30.18\00:22:33.25
So what is the purpose of
Christ dwelling in our hearts
00:22:33.45\00:22:37.62
through faith? What happens?
We are rooted and grounded
00:22:37.82\00:22:42.69
in love. We learn to be kind.
00:22:42.89\00:22:45.09
We learn to speak the
truth in love with our brothers
00:22:45.29\00:22:49.70
and sisters. Number
three: it enables us
00:22:49.90\00:22:53.44
to lay hold of the
surpassing love of Christ.
00:22:53.64\00:22:58.17
Let's read verses 18 and
19 of Ephesians chapter 3.
00:22:58.57\00:23:01.61
"That we may be able to compre-
held with all the saints... "
00:23:02.01\00:23:05.98
There's two words I want
you to watch in this passage.
00:23:06.18\00:23:08.25
We're looking at comprehend
and all... those two words.
00:23:08.45\00:23:11.52
"That you may be
able to comprehend
00:23:11.92\00:23:13.59
with all the saints
what is the width and length
00:23:13.79\00:23:16.26
and depth and height.
To know the love of Christ
00:23:16.46\00:23:19.43
which passes knowledge. "
00:23:19.63\00:23:21.26
That word comprehend in
Greek doesn't mean understand.
00:23:21.46\00:23:24.43
It means to lay
hold of or to seize.
00:23:24.63\00:23:28.90
You and I need to lay hold of -
00:23:29.10\00:23:30.44
reach out and seize -
a proper understanding
00:23:30.61\00:23:35.04
of the love of Christ.
00:23:35.24\00:23:36.98
You know, it takes
love to understand love.
00:23:37.18\00:23:39.95
We can only catch
a glimpse of His love
00:23:40.58\00:23:43.25
if we experience His love.
00:23:43.45\00:23:45.25
He needs to dwell
in our hearts by faith
00:23:45.65\00:23:47.66
in order for that to happen.
00:23:47.86\00:23:49.36
We need to experience His
love to be rooted and grounded
00:23:49.56\00:23:52.23
in love for us to
even be able to reach out
00:23:52.43\00:23:55.33
and lay hold and
grasp and comprehend
00:23:55.53\00:23:58.43
the incredible love of God.
00:23:58.63\00:24:01.60
You know, when I was
in college I remember
00:24:01.80\00:24:03.91
a girlfriend and I we
heard a lot of sermons
00:24:04.11\00:24:06.68
on the justice of God
and we heard a lot of sermons
00:24:06.88\00:24:09.31
on the law of God. And this
is incredible and it's powerful.
00:24:09.51\00:24:13.08
But I remember missing
sermons on the love of God.
00:24:13.28\00:24:17.75
And my girlfriend was
a little braver than I
00:24:18.89\00:24:21.16
and she went up to one of
the deans at school and said:
00:24:21.36\00:24:24.13
"Ah, do you think we could hear
a sermon on the love of God?
00:24:24.33\00:24:27.56
We would really
like to hear that. "
00:24:27.76\00:24:29.26
And the person said: "Oh,
honey, we're past that now.
00:24:29.46\00:24:33.03
That's the milk of the Word;
00:24:33.23\00:24:34.57
we're on to the
meat of the Word. "
00:24:34.64\00:24:36.81
I want to tell you tonight
that you and I will NEVER
00:24:37.01\00:24:39.97
fully be able to
comprehend, to lay hold of,
00:24:40.18\00:24:43.31
to seize, to understand
00:24:43.51\00:24:45.68
the depth of our Father's love.
00:24:45.88\00:24:48.48
This is a subject that we
can dwell on for all eternity
00:24:48.68\00:24:52.25
and never fully understand
00:24:52.65\00:24:54.32
and never fully grasp
and never fully comprehend.
00:24:54.52\00:24:57.93
Remember that passage I
said there were two words
00:24:58.33\00:25:00.70
we're going to look
at? The first is comprehend
00:25:00.90\00:25:02.66
meaning we're
supposed to actively reach out,
00:25:02.86\00:25:05.33
lay hold of, and
grasp an understanding
00:25:05.53\00:25:08.97
of the love of God.
00:25:09.17\00:25:10.61
The second was the word all.
00:25:11.01\00:25:12.34
We may be able to comprehend
with "all the saints. "
00:25:13.14\00:25:16.38
Why didn't he just say
that we need to understand?
00:25:16.58\00:25:19.75
It's important. We
individually need to understand
00:25:19.95\00:25:22.78
the love of God. Why did
he say we need to understand
00:25:22.98\00:25:26.05
with all the saints? Because
I believe that comprehending
00:25:26.25\00:25:29.62
Christ's love... it
happens in community.
00:25:29.82\00:25:32.76
We understand Christ's love more
00:25:33.26\00:25:36.03
when it's demonstrated to us.
00:25:36.23\00:25:39.13
Was there ever a time in your
life when you deserved justice
00:25:39.77\00:25:42.44
and yet someone
extended to you grace?
00:25:42.84\00:25:45.74
Was there ever a time
when you deserved condemnation
00:25:46.24\00:25:49.04
and yet someone
extended to you forgiveness?
00:25:49.24\00:25:53.31
Was there ever a time
when you needed to vent
00:25:53.82\00:25:55.88
or just share something
difficult that you were
00:25:56.08\00:25:57.85
going through and
someone else listened and cared?
00:25:58.05\00:26:01.92
Comprehending -
understanding the love of God -
00:26:02.66\00:26:05.79
takes place best in community.
00:26:05.99\00:26:08.90
'Cause when you extend
grace when I deserve justice
00:26:09.10\00:26:13.40
that shows me just a
picture of the love of our God.
00:26:13.60\00:26:18.17
Now in that passage we
read it said we reach out,
00:26:19.07\00:26:22.64
we actively lay hold of
and seize and comprehend
00:26:22.84\00:26:25.48
God's love in
community with all the saints.
00:26:25.68\00:26:29.68
But remember the direction
that the love's supposed to go?
00:26:29.88\00:26:32.99
It was the width and the length
00:26:33.19\00:26:35.36
and the depth and the height.
00:26:35.56\00:26:38.86
The width: God's
love is for every people:
00:26:39.06\00:26:41.83
of every nation,
tongue, tribe, and people.
00:26:42.03\00:26:44.33
It's to extend the
length from eternity past
00:26:44.53\00:26:47.64
through eternity
future forever and ever.
00:26:47.84\00:26:50.51
It reaches down
from heaven to you and I
00:26:50.91\00:26:53.81
caught in the slave
market of sin and pulls us up.
00:26:54.01\00:26:58.68
And in fact, it pulls
us up from where we are now
00:26:59.08\00:27:02.08
to be seated with
Christ - there's the height -
00:27:02.28\00:27:05.19
in heavenly places.
00:27:05.39\00:27:07.16
Number four:
what is the purpose?
00:27:07.99\00:27:11.13
When Christ dwells in our hearts
through faith what happens?
00:27:11.33\00:27:13.86
Number four: it enables us to
be filled with all the fullness
00:27:14.06\00:27:17.93
of God. That's
in Ephesians 3:19.
00:27:18.13\00:27:20.70
The word fullness in
Greek actually means completion.
00:27:21.10\00:27:23.74
It's the same
word in Romans 13:10
00:27:23.94\00:27:26.68
where Paul tells the believers
"love is the fulfilling
00:27:26.88\00:27:29.84
of the law... "
meaning love is the completion
00:27:30.05\00:27:33.31
of the law. It's the same
word in Galatians 4 verse 4
00:27:33.52\00:27:37.02
where Paul says again:
"when the fullness or completion
00:27:37.42\00:27:41.92
of time had come
God sent forth His Son
00:27:42.12\00:27:44.83
born of a woman,
born under the law. "
00:27:45.03\00:27:47.13
Jesus came when it
was the right time.
00:27:47.33\00:27:49.33
He came on schedule; He came
when the time was completed.
00:27:49.53\00:27:53.20
So if you and I are to
be filled with the fullness
00:27:53.40\00:27:56.14
or the completion of God
00:27:56.34\00:27:59.01
as our capacity to
receive Him, to understand Him,
00:27:59.21\00:28:02.58
to know Him, to love Him grows
00:28:02.78\00:28:04.65
we are filled again and again
00:28:04.85\00:28:07.32
to capacity... up to completion.
00:28:07.52\00:28:11.02
What happens when Christ
dwells in our hearts through
00:28:11.62\00:28:13.76
faith? It roots
and grounds us in love.
00:28:13.96\00:28:16.46
It enables us to
speak the truth in love.
00:28:16.66\00:28:19.09
It enables us to reach
out and grasp and understand
00:28:19.29\00:28:22.96
and comprehend the
surpassing love of Christ.
00:28:23.16\00:28:25.60
It enables us to be filled
with all the fullness of God.
00:28:25.80\00:28:29.37
Let's look at the second
part of our message tonight.
00:28:29.77\00:28:32.64
This is the process.
We looked at the purpose.
00:28:32.84\00:28:34.84
Now let's look at the process.
This is the practical aspect.
00:28:35.04\00:28:37.75
How? You might say:
"Well that's all well and good
00:28:37.98\00:28:40.32
but I have no idea how is
Christ to dwell in my heart. "
00:28:40.52\00:28:43.62
How is this achieved in
the life of a Christian?
00:28:43.82\00:28:46.99
"That God would grant us
00:28:50.93\00:28:52.26
according to the
riches of His glory
00:28:52.43\00:28:54.23
to be
strengthened with might... "
00:28:54.43\00:28:55.93
that's the dunamis...
miracle working power...
00:28:56.13\00:28:58.23
"through His
Spirit in the inner man. "
00:28:58.43\00:29:00.90
"That Christ may dwell...
" permanent residence...
00:29:01.10\00:29:04.67
"in our hearts through faith. "
00:29:04.87\00:29:06.34
So how does Christ
dwell in our hearts?
00:29:06.54\00:29:08.94
So I would submit to
you there are five keys
00:29:09.14\00:29:11.88
for Christ
dwelling in our hearts.
00:29:12.08\00:29:13.82
We'll give them and then
we'll go back and unpack them.
00:29:14.02\00:29:15.78
Key number one:
acknowledge our inability
00:29:15.98\00:29:19.49
to change ourselves.
Acknowledge your inability
00:29:19.69\00:29:22.26
to change yourself.
Number two: choose your Master.
00:29:22.46\00:29:26.19
Number three:
accept Him by faith.
00:29:26.39\00:29:29.90
Number four: ask
for the Holy Spirit.
00:29:30.30\00:29:34.50
And finally number five: allow
Him access into your heart.
00:29:34.90\00:29:40.14
Let's look at number one:
acknowledge your inability
00:29:40.34\00:29:43.04
to change yourself.
00:29:43.24\00:29:44.58
"All our righteousness
is as filthy rags. "
00:29:47.95\00:29:52.35
I remember my
nephew when he was two
00:29:52.55\00:29:54.89
throwing one of those temper
tantrums. You've seen kids
00:29:55.09\00:29:58.29
in the grocery aisle, you
know, when mom and dad are
00:29:58.49\00:30:00.83
checking out at the supermarket
00:30:01.03\00:30:02.36
and there's all the
candy and what do they say?
00:30:02.50\00:30:04.73
"I want this" and "give me this"
00:30:04.93\00:30:06.27
and "I want this. "
And if mom and dad say "no"
00:30:06.30\00:30:08.00
sometimes they can have a melt-
down in the middle of the store.
00:30:08.20\00:30:10.41
I know I've seen some.
00:30:10.61\00:30:12.21
And so I remember my
nephew having this meltdown:
00:30:12.41\00:30:15.11
arms and legs flailing
and face red from crying,
00:30:15.31\00:30:18.95
tear running down his face.
00:30:19.15\00:30:20.72
And yet in the midst of all this
00:30:20.92\00:30:22.95
him crying out:
"Jesus, help me be good. "
00:30:23.15\00:30:26.62
"Jesus, help me be good. "
00:30:26.82\00:30:29.59
Why is that?
Because even a child
00:30:29.79\00:30:31.83
understands that our
righteousness is filthy rags.
00:30:32.03\00:30:37.23
There's nothing we
can do in and of ourselves
00:30:37.43\00:30:40.90
in order to merit favor, in
order to become a better person,
00:30:41.10\00:30:46.61
in order to be a godly
person that somehow can be
00:30:46.81\00:30:50.41
accepted by God. No!
00:30:50.61\00:30:52.11
Our righteousness
is as filthy rags.
00:30:52.31\00:30:54.62
The Ethiopian surely can't
change the color of his skin
00:30:55.32\00:30:57.99
and the leopard surely
cannot change his spotted coat
00:30:58.19\00:31:00.96
coat into something different.
00:31:01.16\00:31:02.66
The Bible says:
"Then may you also do good
00:31:02.86\00:31:05.39
who are
accustomed to doing evil. "
00:31:05.59\00:31:07.86
So the first key is
just to acknowledge that
00:31:08.06\00:31:09.83
you can't fix yourself.
00:31:10.03\00:31:11.37
Second key: choose your Master.
00:31:11.47\00:31:13.84
Turn with me to
the book of Romans.
00:31:14.04\00:31:15.57
I love the book of
Romans. Romans chapter 6
00:31:15.77\00:31:18.34
is this entire chapter on
death to the old life of sin
00:31:18.54\00:31:23.24
and it's this
analogy of baptism.
00:31:23.45\00:31:26.11
The burial in the watery grave:
this is that death to the old
00:31:26.31\00:31:29.45
man or woman -
the old life of sin -
00:31:29.65\00:31:31.89
and then the resurrection
to newness of life...
00:31:32.09\00:31:35.92
to life with Jesus.
00:31:36.12\00:31:37.79
So in Romans 6:16 Paul says:
00:31:38.79\00:31:41.66
"Do you not know that to
whom you present yourselves
00:31:41.86\00:31:44.63
slaves to obey you
are that one's slave
00:31:44.83\00:31:48.17
whom you obey?
00:31:48.37\00:31:49.70
Whether of sin leading to death
00:31:49.87\00:31:52.31
or of obedience
leading to righteousness. "
00:31:52.51\00:31:56.44
Do you get that?
There's a fork in the road.
00:31:56.64\00:31:59.28
Not just one fork
and we're good for life.
00:31:59.48\00:32:01.98
There's a fork every day.
And if I'm being honest with you
00:32:02.18\00:32:04.82
I've got forks... I
was going to say every hour
00:32:05.02\00:32:09.12
but it happens
more often than that...
00:32:09.32\00:32:10.69
probably every minute,
every 5 minutes there's a fork.
00:32:10.89\00:32:13.33
Right? And we make a
choice who we're going to serve.
00:32:13.53\00:32:18.13
Now you may say: "Oh, I'm
choosing Jesus this morning. "
00:32:18.33\00:32:20.87
But every day we need to
make a conscious decision
00:32:21.07\00:32:24.17
and choice when we
wake up: "Yes, God,
00:32:24.37\00:32:26.07
I'm Yours today. " "Yes, God,
I want to give You my life. "
00:32:26.27\00:32:29.78
"Yes, God, I want
to serve You today. "
00:32:30.18\00:32:33.42
Choose your Master;
choose who will rule over you.
00:32:33.62\00:32:37.72
Number three:
accept Him by faith.
00:32:37.92\00:32:41.09
Remember? In our verse in
Ephesians 3:17 it says what?
00:32:41.29\00:32:44.03
"That Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith. "
00:32:44.23\00:32:47.40
How does He dwell? How
does He take up residence
00:32:48.33\00:32:51.37
in our hearts?
It's through faith.
00:32:51.57\00:32:54.40
When you can't feel
God with your feelings
00:32:55.44\00:32:59.17
you feel Him with your faith.
00:32:59.37\00:33:02.34
We're not saved by how we feel.
00:33:03.21\00:33:04.88
We're saved by
the blood of Jesus.
00:33:05.08\00:33:07.78
We're not
forgiven by how we feel.
00:33:07.98\00:33:09.62
We are forgiven
by the Word of God.
00:33:09.82\00:33:12.45
He doesn't dwell in
our hearts by feeling
00:33:12.65\00:33:14.42
or if we think
He's residing there.
00:33:14.62\00:33:16.22
He dwells in
our hearts by faith.
00:33:16.42\00:33:19.39
You know, I John 1:9 says what?
00:33:19.93\00:33:22.93
"If we confess our
sins, He's faithful and just
00:33:23.13\00:33:24.97
to forgive us and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness. "
00:33:25.17\00:33:29.57
So we're not
forgiven if we FEEL forgiven.
00:33:29.97\00:33:32.57
We're not forgiven
based on what WE think.
00:33:32.77\00:33:35.68
We're forgiven
because God's Word says
00:33:35.88\00:33:38.05
if you ask He forgives.
00:33:38.25\00:33:39.95
He cleanses and
He will sanctify.
00:33:40.15\00:33:42.92
Romans 3:24 talks about
us being justified by faith.
00:33:43.12\00:33:48.32
We're not justified
because we think we're justified
00:33:48.52\00:33:51.69
or if we FEEL justified.
00:33:51.89\00:33:53.36
It's because God's Word
says that we are justified
00:33:53.56\00:33:56.60
by the blood of Jesus.
00:33:56.80\00:33:58.13
"By grace you have been saved
00:33:59.53\00:34:01.27
through faith... " We're
not saved by how we feel.
00:34:01.47\00:34:04.31
We are saved because
God's Word says it's true
00:34:04.67\00:34:07.14
and we reach out
and claim that by faith.
00:34:07.34\00:34:11.15
You see, God stands back
of every promise He has made.
00:34:11.35\00:34:14.58
Number four: We ask for
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:34:14.98\00:34:18.95
Back to Ephesians 3:16. "
That He... " that's God...
00:34:19.85\00:34:22.72
"would grant you according
to the riches of His glory
00:34:22.92\00:34:26.26
to be strengthened
with might... " How?
00:34:26.46\00:34:28.46
"through His Spirit in the
inner man that Christ may dwell
00:34:28.66\00:34:32.80
in your hearts through faith. "
Did you notice the whole Godhead
00:34:33.00\00:34:34.90
is present? "That
God... " That's how it begins.
00:34:35.10\00:34:37.71
And then we're
strengthened through the Spirit
00:34:37.91\00:34:41.84
and then Christ
dwells in our hearts.
00:34:42.04\00:34:45.45
Ask for the gift
of the Holy Spirit.
00:34:46.28\00:34:48.62
You know the battle
in Romans chapter 7?
00:34:48.82\00:34:50.52
If you've ever read
Romans 7 it's a paradox.
00:34:50.72\00:34:53.05
Paul says what?
"The things I want to do
00:34:53.25\00:34:56.32
I don't do. And
the things I hate
00:34:56.52\00:34:59.66
those are things I do. "
00:34:59.86\00:35:01.30
It's like waking up
in the morning and saying
00:35:01.50\00:35:02.93
"Oh but I really... I'm
going to resist this temptation.
00:35:03.13\00:35:05.43
I'm not goin to do that today. "
00:35:05.63\00:35:06.97
And then you give in to that.
This is the life of me and you.
00:35:07.00\00:35:12.44
This is the life of us
trying in our own strength.
00:35:12.64\00:35:17.25
In fact, in Romans 7:24 it says:
00:35:17.65\00:35:19.95
"O wretched man that I am!
00:35:20.15\00:35:21.65
Who can deliver me
from this body of death? "
00:35:21.85\00:35:24.62
I'm so thankful that the Word
of God does not end in Romans 7.
00:35:24.82\00:35:27.49
I'm so thankful
that there's hope.
00:35:27.69\00:35:30.29
We get to the next chapter:
Romans chapter 8 verse 1.
00:35:30.49\00:35:35.56
Enter the Holy Spirit.
00:35:35.76\00:35:37.63
"There is
therefore now no condemnation
00:35:37.83\00:35:40.97
to those who are
in Christ Jesus. "
00:35:41.17\00:35:42.90
Now some people stop
there and they say: "OK,
00:35:43.10\00:35:44.74
I'm in Christ...
there's no condemnation. "
00:35:44.94\00:35:46.27
But the verse
doesn't stop there.
00:35:46.37\00:35:47.71
"There's no condemnation to
those who are in Christ Jesus
00:35:47.74\00:35:50.65
who do not walk
according to the flesh
00:35:50.85\00:35:53.82
but according to the Spirit. "
00:35:54.02\00:35:56.55
You see what the difference is?
00:35:56.75\00:35:58.09
The difference is the
Holy Spirit in the life
00:35:58.15\00:36:01.09
of the believer.
00:36:01.59\00:36:02.92
The Holy Spirit is
what makes the difference.
00:36:03.06\00:36:05.99
We go from Romans 7 saying "Oh
wretched man or woman that I am!
00:36:06.19\00:36:10.40
Who can deliver me
from this body of death? "
00:36:10.60\00:36:12.63
"God, I want to serve
You but I'm not serving You
00:36:12.83\00:36:15.04
and the things I'm doing I
know I shouldn't be doing. "
00:36:15.24\00:36:17.67
That's a mess! But we
get to Romans 8 verse 1:
00:36:18.57\00:36:21.84
"There's no condemnation to
those who are in Christ Jesus
00:36:22.68\00:36:25.78
who walk not
according to the flesh
00:36:25.98\00:36:28.52
but according to the Spirit. "
00:36:28.72\00:36:30.05
Jump down to verse
11... Romans 8 verse 11.
00:36:30.12\00:36:32.19
"If the Spirit of Him who
raised Jesus from the dead
00:36:32.39\00:36:35.72
dwells in you, He who
raised Christ from the dead
00:36:35.92\00:36:38.39
will also give life
to your mortal bodies
00:36:38.59\00:36:41.00
through His Spirit
which dwells in you. "
00:36:41.20\00:36:45.67
You see, it's the
Spirit that gives life.
00:36:45.87\00:36:47.57
It's the Spirit
that gives victory.
00:36:47.77\00:36:49.90
Luke 11 verse 9 says:
"So I say to you 'Ask... ' "
00:36:50.11\00:36:52.91
In the Greek it means
ask and keep on asking.
00:36:53.11\00:36:55.54
"I say to you: seek
and keep on seeking.
00:36:55.74\00:36:58.61
I say to you: knock
and keep on knocking. "
00:36:58.81\00:37:02.25
And what are we asking
for? What are we seeking for?
00:37:02.45\00:37:04.45
Who are we knocking for?
00:37:04.65\00:37:06.62
Verse 13 tells us:
00:37:06.82\00:37:09.02
"If you then being evil
know how to give good gifts
00:37:09.22\00:37:11.73
to your children, how much more
00:37:11.93\00:37:14.03
will your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit
00:37:14.23\00:37:17.37
to those who simply ask. "
00:37:17.57\00:37:20.24
Key number 5: The
final key is to allow Him
00:37:20.64\00:37:23.77
access into your heart.
00:37:23.97\00:37:27.94
I don't know about you
00:37:28.84\00:37:30.68
but sometimes I hold the
places of my heart from God.
00:37:31.08\00:37:35.52
I say: "Yes, I
want You to reside. "
00:37:35.72\00:37:37.49
"Yes, I want you
to live inside but
00:37:37.69\00:37:39.05
there's certain places I don't
want You to have access to. "
00:37:39.25\00:37:42.39
"There's certain things
I want to hide from You. "
00:37:42.79\00:37:45.29
"There's certain things
I don't want to give up. "
00:37:45.49\00:37:49.73
You see surrender is
simply two things I believe:
00:37:49.93\00:37:53.40
first we say yes to Jesus.
00:37:53.80\00:37:55.87
Second we crucify the flesh.
00:37:56.50\00:37:59.41
You know, every time we
face a fork in the road,
00:37:59.61\00:38:01.31
every time we're
faced with a decision
00:38:01.51\00:38:02.98
we can say: "Yes, Jesus,
I want to do it Your way"
00:38:03.18\00:38:05.88
or "No, I'm goin' my own way. "
00:38:06.08\00:38:07.42
And when we do it His way
00:38:07.52\00:38:09.38
often there comes this
crucifying of the flesh
00:38:09.58\00:38:13.09
combined with
that. Romans 8:13 says:
00:38:13.29\00:38:15.86
"If you live according to
the flesh you're gonna die
00:38:16.06\00:38:18.13
but if by the Spirit you put
to death the deeds of the body
00:38:18.33\00:38:22.60
you will live. " You know
Galatians 5 talks about this
00:38:22.80\00:38:25.80
tug-of-war: this
battle between the flesh
00:38:26.00\00:38:29.07
and the Spirit.
Galatians 5:17 says:
00:38:29.27\00:38:31.87
"The flesh... it
lusts against the Spirit
00:38:32.07\00:38:33.94
and the Spirit... it
lusts against the flesh.
00:38:34.14\00:38:36.98
and these are
contrary to one another
00:38:37.18\00:38:40.48
so that you do not do
the things that you wish. "
00:38:40.68\00:38:44.45
This sounds like
Romans 7 all over again.
00:38:44.65\00:38:46.99
You know, I have a
little rope here. When I was...
00:38:47.72\00:38:49.82
my first year out of college
student teaching, just brand new
00:38:50.03\00:38:52.89
and we had a
field day with the kids.
00:38:53.09\00:38:56.03
And this one time
we played a tug-of-war.
00:38:56.23\00:38:57.97
And I don't know if you've ever
been involved in tug-of-war...
00:38:58.17\00:39:00.00
There was a big guy
on campus. He was tall;
00:39:00.20\00:39:04.07
he was broad; he was large.
00:39:04.27\00:39:07.04
And he got at the end of
the rope and he wrapped it
00:39:07.44\00:39:11.18
around his waist like so, and he
was the "anchor" they called him
00:39:11.38\00:39:15.42
at the end of the one
side of the tug-of-war.
00:39:15.62\00:39:17.32
Now unfortunately I did
not choose the right side.
00:39:17.52\00:39:20.12
I chose the other side.
00:39:20.32\00:39:21.86
So I was over here
and I still remember...
00:39:22.06\00:39:24.73
You know how you do tug-of-war?
You pull back; you pull this way
00:39:24.93\00:39:27.96
you pull back. And I
still remember being dragged
00:39:28.16\00:39:31.00
in the mud
across the line this way
00:39:31.20\00:39:33.50
because the guy had
the anchor around his waist
00:39:33.70\00:39:36.91
and we didn't stand
any match for him...
00:39:37.11\00:39:38.54
we just went on that side.
00:39:38.74\00:39:40.61
This reminds me of
this tug-of-war: the flesh
00:39:40.81\00:39:43.91
that lusts against the Spirit
00:39:44.11\00:39:45.55
and the Spirit
lusts against the flesh.
00:39:45.75\00:39:48.38
We see just a bit later
in Galatians 5 the gift of
00:39:49.25\00:39:53.46
the fruit of the Spirit. And
then we see in Galatians 5:24
00:39:53.66\00:39:57.29
these words:
"Those who are Christ's
00:39:57.49\00:40:00.43
have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires. "
00:40:00.63\00:40:05.43
Did you catch that? See
surrender is saying "Yes"
00:40:05.63\00:40:08.00
to Jesus. It is...
but it also involves
00:40:08.20\00:40:11.04
crucifying the flesh.
You know, when I think about
00:40:11.24\00:40:14.08
Christ in our hearts it
reminds me of a sign in the
00:40:14.28\00:40:16.98
entryway to an English
castle and it reads like this:
00:40:17.18\00:40:20.22
It is the duty of the host
to make the guest feel at home.
00:40:20.98\00:40:24.59
It is the duty of the guest
to remember that they are not.
00:40:24.99\00:40:28.49
You know the first part
it's the duty of the host
00:40:28.69\00:40:31.83
to make the guest feel at home.
00:40:32.03\00:40:34.23
That applies to us.
00:40:34.63\00:40:35.96
We need to make Christ
feel at home in our hearts.
00:40:36.13\00:40:41.00
But the second part,
the part about the guest
00:40:41.40\00:40:43.64
remembering that
they're not at home
00:40:43.84\00:40:45.97
that doesn't apply to Christ at
all because He is not a guest.
00:40:46.17\00:40:49.58
He is the
rightful owner of my heart
00:40:49.78\00:40:52.91
because He's
purchased me with His blood.
00:40:53.11\00:40:55.25
I love this little book.
It's a tiny book but it has
00:40:56.12\00:40:58.65
a powerful message in it.
00:40:58.85\00:41:00.19
It's called My
Heart - Christ's Home.
00:41:00.22\00:41:01.89
It's written by
Robert Boyd Munger.
00:41:02.09\00:41:04.16
And he quotes in
the very beginning
00:41:04.56\00:41:05.96
from Ephesians
chapter 3 verse 17.
00:41:06.16\00:41:08.13
"That Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith. "
00:41:09.00\00:41:11.50
But he quotes it from
the Weymouth translation.
00:41:11.70\00:41:14.14
I'm not sure I
pronounced that correctly.
00:41:14.34\00:41:15.67
It says: "That
Christ may settle down
00:41:15.77\00:41:18.57
and be at home in your
hearts through faith. "
00:41:18.77\00:41:23.31
The book compares the rooms that
you and I would have in our home
00:41:24.08\00:41:27.12
dining room,
bedroom, living room, study -
00:41:27.32\00:41:32.22
all the regular
rooms we have in our home
00:41:32.42\00:41:34.26
and compares them
to areas of our life
00:41:34.46\00:41:38.46
that Christ wants to have
access to if He's going to
00:41:38.66\00:41:42.56
settle down and take up
residence in our hearts.
00:41:42.76\00:41:46.10
He starts with the library.
00:41:46.30\00:41:48.10
I don't know if Christ has
ever entered the library of your
00:41:48.30\00:41:51.11
heart? This would be
the study of the mind.
00:41:51.31\00:41:53.88
But I know in my life
maybe there are some books,
00:41:54.28\00:41:56.85
maybe there are some movies,
maybe there are some magazines
00:41:57.05\00:42:00.65
that you wish He
wasn't looking at.
00:42:00.85\00:42:02.32
You wish Jesus didn't
know that you had in your home.
00:42:02.52\00:42:04.72
And yet He says:
"I can replace that.
00:42:05.45\00:42:08.99
I want to put My Word in
the study hall of your mind
00:42:09.19\00:42:13.43
and I want to hang a
picture of Jesus right there
00:42:13.63\00:42:17.07
front and center. "
II Corinthians 3:18 says:
00:42:17.27\00:42:19.63
"We all with open face
00:42:19.83\00:42:21.17
beholding as in a
glass the glory of our Lord
00:42:21.20\00:42:24.01
are changed... "
How? "into the same image
00:42:24.21\00:42:26.31
from glory to glory. "
We are changed by beholding.
00:42:26.51\00:42:30.35
What you look at, what you study
00:42:30.55\00:42:33.15
that changes
you into that image.
00:42:33.35\00:42:35.68
So hang a picture of Christ
front and center in the mind.
00:42:35.88\00:42:39.45
The next room
is the dining room:
00:42:39.85\00:42:41.42
the room of
appetites and desires.
00:42:41.62\00:42:44.19
Many times we serve up money;
we serve up academic degrees;
00:42:44.39\00:42:47.70
we serve up fame;
we serve up stocks;
00:42:47.90\00:42:50.03
we serve up pride and ego.
00:42:50.23\00:42:51.83
And yet Jesus said
when He walked this earth
00:42:52.03\00:42:54.14
"My food is to do the
will of Him who sent Me. "
00:42:54.34\00:42:57.97
The living room is set
apart of course for that time
00:42:58.74\00:43:01.41
in the morning when
Jesus wants to meet with me.
00:43:01.61\00:43:04.18
And yet some
mornings I rush out the door
00:43:04.38\00:43:06.41
'cause I'm in a hurry
and I say: "I don't have time
00:43:06.61\00:43:08.68
to meet with You" and
yet He's still sitting there.
00:43:08.88\00:43:10.79
The fire is burning;
He says: "I'm ready...
00:43:10.99\00:43:13.49
waiting for our time together. "
00:43:13.69\00:43:16.76
We can go to the work room
or the restroom or the bedroom
00:43:16.96\00:43:19.49
and they all have
their analogies and meanings.
00:43:19.69\00:43:21.43
But my favorite part
about this little book
00:43:21.83\00:43:23.87
is the hall closet.
00:43:24.27\00:43:25.77
You see, one day Jesus
got home and I had asked Him
00:43:26.53\00:43:29.07
into my heart and I
had given Him access
00:43:29.27\00:43:31.84
to all these different rooms.
00:43:32.04\00:43:33.78
And I said: "Yes, I
want You to reside. "
00:43:33.98\00:43:35.84
"Yes, I want You
to live in my heart. "
00:43:36.04\00:43:37.45
And yet in my hall
closet there were some things
00:43:38.45\00:43:40.75
I didn't want
Jesus to know about
00:43:40.95\00:43:42.42
and I kept them from Him.
00:43:42.62\00:43:45.79
And one day Jesus
walked in the door
00:43:46.19\00:43:48.39
and He said: "There's
a bad smell in here. "
00:43:48.59\00:43:50.33
And I said: "Oh, no, please,
don't go to the hall closet.
00:43:50.73\00:43:52.89
Please... I don't
want... " "Something's dead...
00:43:53.09\00:43:56.16
I can smell it.
" He said: "Please,
00:43:56.36\00:44:00.60
give Me access to the
hall closet. I will clean it. "
00:44:00.80\00:44:05.04
And I said: "No. "
00:44:06.11\00:44:07.48
I don't know if you've ever
experienced walking with Jesus
00:44:07.88\00:44:11.85
and what it's like to
turn your back on Him?
00:44:12.25\00:44:14.25
What it's like to turn
around and say: "OK, God,
00:44:14.65\00:44:16.89
I don't want You in my heart.
I don't need you in my heart;
00:44:17.09\00:44:18.95
I'm gonna do
things my own way. "
00:44:19.15\00:44:20.49
It's a horrible experience.
00:44:21.42\00:44:23.36
And so I said: "God, I
want to give You access
00:44:23.56\00:44:26.36
into the hall closet but
I cannot even take it out
00:44:26.56\00:44:30.20
'cause it's too strong and
it's rooted in there too deeply
00:44:30.40\00:44:34.04
and God, I
can't get rid of it. "
00:44:34.24\00:44:35.60
And He said: "It's OK.
" Says: "Give Me the key
00:44:35.80\00:44:38.91
and I will clean
it out for you. "
00:44:39.11\00:44:41.54
And He cleaned it out.
00:44:41.94\00:44:43.31
What a feeling of
freedom and relief!
00:44:43.51\00:44:47.18
And then I
discovered that I was too busy.
00:44:47.38\00:44:49.25
I would clean in the dining
room and then the living room
00:44:49.45\00:44:51.39
would get dirty. And I would
dust there and then the bedroom
00:44:51.59\00:44:53.42
needed vacuuming
and I could not keep up
00:44:53.62\00:44:56.19
and yet Jesus
was still the guest.
00:44:56.39\00:44:57.73
And I said: "Why don't
You do with the entire house -
00:44:57.86\00:45:01.36
with my entire life - what
You did with the hall closet? "
00:45:01.56\00:45:04.27
"Lord, You've been the
guest and I was always the host.
00:45:04.90\00:45:07.20
From now on You're the owner
00:45:07.40\00:45:09.47
AND the Master and I... I
will simply be the servant. "
00:45:09.67\00:45:14.18
How does Christ
dwell in our hearts?
00:45:14.74\00:45:16.44
We acknowledge our
inability to change ourselves.
00:45:16.64\00:45:19.38
We choose who our Master is.
00:45:19.58\00:45:22.02
We accept Him by faith.
00:45:22.22\00:45:24.39
We ask for the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:45:24.59\00:45:27.62
We allow Him
access to your heart.
00:45:27.82\00:45:31.76
Our final
section is the promise.
00:45:32.53\00:45:34.73
Christ promises in His Word...
00:45:35.56\00:45:37.90
What does He promise to you?
00:45:38.10\00:45:39.43
When you read the Word of God
00:45:39.63\00:45:42.20
what promises has
He extended to you?
00:45:42.40\00:45:46.17
Who is Jesus to you?
00:45:46.68\00:45:48.28
When I read the Word of
God this is what I discover:
00:45:48.78\00:45:52.05
"I will love you forever. "
00:45:52.25\00:45:55.58
This is God talking to us.
00:45:55.78\00:45:57.49
"I will draw
you in repentance. "
00:45:57.69\00:46:00.79
"I will forgive your sins
and remember them no more. "
00:46:01.19\00:46:03.93
"I will redeem
you by My blood. "
00:46:04.33\00:46:06.96
"I will redeem you
from the curse of the law. "
00:46:07.16\00:46:09.66
"I will redeem you from
the penalty of your sins. "
00:46:09.86\00:46:12.83
"I will redeem you from
the power of the grave. "
00:46:13.03\00:46:15.77
"I will destroy the
works of the devil. "
00:46:15.97\00:46:18.31
"I will destroy
your fear of death. "
00:46:18.51\00:46:21.18
"I will bring you out
of the kingdom of darkness
00:46:21.38\00:46:23.48
into the kingdom
of God's dear Son. "
00:46:23.68\00:46:26.11
"I will justify
you by My blood. "
00:46:26.51\00:46:28.75
"I will establish
My covenant with you. "
00:46:28.95\00:46:31.59
"I will give you eternal life. "
00:46:31.79\00:46:33.89
"I will anoint
you with My Spirit. "
00:46:34.09\00:46:35.72
"I will be your Father. "
00:46:35.92\00:46:37.66
"I will be your Advocate. "
00:46:37.89\00:46:39.23
"I will be your Mediator;
I will be your Intercessor. "
00:46:39.29\00:46:42.63
"I will be your Light. "
"I will be your Shepherd. "
00:46:42.83\00:46:45.13
"I will give you a new
heart... a heart of flesh. "
00:46:45.33\00:46:47.87
"I will write My
law in your heart. "
00:46:48.07\00:46:50.97
"I will bestow
on you My grace. "
00:46:51.17\00:46:53.68
"I will give you My victory; I
will sanctify you completely. "
00:46:53.88\00:46:57.48
"I will make you
righteous and holy. "
00:46:57.68\00:46:59.68
"I will give you
an abundant life. "
00:46:59.88\00:47:01.82
"I will enable
you to walk in love. "
00:47:02.02\00:47:03.99
"I will grant you My peace. "
00:47:04.19\00:47:05.99
"I will BE your peace. "
00:47:06.19\00:47:08.52
"I will remove your fear. "
00:47:08.72\00:47:10.16
"I will fill you with My joy. "
00:47:10.36\00:47:12.96
"I will give you grace
when you need it most. "
00:47:13.46\00:47:15.70
"I will hear and
answer your prayers. "
00:47:15.90\00:47:18.03
"I will give you
an inheritance. "
00:47:18.43\00:47:20.44
"I will come again and
bring you home with Me. "
00:47:21.30\00:47:23.37
"I will give you
something to talk about. "
00:47:24.27\00:47:27.08
"Let the redeemed
of the Lord say so. "
00:47:27.48\00:47:29.91
"I will dwell in your
hearts through faith. "
00:47:30.68\00:47:35.08
Do you love God like that?
00:47:35.88\00:47:37.39
Could you trust a God like that?
00:47:37.59\00:47:40.06
Could you give Him access
to those places in your heart
00:47:40.26\00:47:43.79
that you always hold back
00:47:43.99\00:47:45.46
that you never want
anybody else to see?
00:47:45.66\00:47:47.80
That you don't want
anybody else to know about?
00:47:48.56\00:47:50.53
"I pray that from His glorious
unlimited resources... "
00:47:51.47\00:47:56.64
This is the New Living trans-
lation of Ephesians 3:16-17:
00:47:56.84\00:48:01.18
' I pray from His
glorious unlimited resources
00:48:01.58\00:48:04.95
He will empower
you with inner strength
00:48:05.15\00:48:09.32
through His Holy Spirit.
00:48:09.52\00:48:10.85
Then Christ will make
His home in your hearts
00:48:10.95\00:48:14.36
as you trust in Him.
00:48:14.56\00:48:16.42
Your roots will go
down deep into God's love.
00:48:16.62\00:48:21.00
and keep you strong. "
00:48:21.20\00:48:22.63
Every time my
sister has a new baby
00:48:23.53\00:48:26.20
I always go to her house
in North Carolina for a visit.
00:48:26.40\00:48:29.60
Now it's been years
since she had a new baby
00:48:30.21\00:48:32.14
'cause she's got 4 sons
and they're growing very well.
00:48:32.34\00:48:34.28
But I remember when
she had the littlest one.
00:48:34.68\00:48:37.58
He was just a newborn,
and I flew to North Carolina
00:48:37.78\00:48:40.12
and said: "Let's
spend some time together. "
00:48:40.32\00:48:42.55
And I watched the three
older boys. At this time
00:48:42.75\00:48:45.45
they were 2, 4, and 6.
00:48:45.65\00:48:48.56
So I would watch them
so she'd have some rest
00:48:48.96\00:48:51.33
with the little baby.
00:48:51.53\00:48:52.86
Their favorite game at
that time was hide and seek.
00:48:54.33\00:48:57.13
And I used to love hide and seek
& I would count in the kitchen.
00:48:57.93\00:49:01.04
And you know how
you play hide and seek?
00:49:01.24\00:49:02.57
One, two, three... and I could
hear the little stockinged feet
00:49:02.60\00:49:06.04
as they
scampered away to go hide.
00:49:06.24\00:49:07.88
Four, five, six...
00:49:08.28\00:49:10.31
The baby cried. I
could hear my sister
00:49:10.51\00:49:13.42
in the room as she soothed
him and tried to quiet him.
00:49:13.62\00:49:16.89
Seven, eight, nine...
00:49:17.69\00:49:19.02
And all of a sudden
I'd hear a little voice
00:49:19.09\00:49:20.76
from somewhere in the
house: "Ca-wab here. "
00:49:20.96\00:49:23.79
You see, Caleb was only two.
00:49:24.19\00:49:26.19
He did not know that
the object of hide and seek
00:49:26.59\00:49:29.63
is to remain hidden
and he would call out
00:49:30.03\00:49:34.10
from wherever he
was supposedly hiding.
00:49:34.30\00:49:36.81
Now I would always ignore him
00:49:37.21\00:49:39.17
and I would go to the
living room. "Maybe Caleb's
00:49:39.37\00:49:42.61
behind the chair? "
00:49:42.81\00:49:44.15
No Caleb. "Maybe Caleb's
over here behind the door? "
00:49:44.18\00:49:48.25
No Caleb.
00:49:48.65\00:49:49.98
Then I would hear
again: "Ca-wab here. "
00:49:50.02\00:49:53.49
And I would ignore him
and go in the bathroom.
00:49:53.69\00:49:57.39
"Maybe Caleb's
hiding in the shower? "
00:49:57.59\00:50:00.03
And you'd pull back the
shower curtain. No Caleb.
00:50:00.23\00:50:03.37
"Maybe Caleb's by
the washing machine? "
00:50:03.57\00:50:05.67
No Caleb.
00:50:06.07\00:50:07.40
Then I'd go in the
bedroom and there he was:
00:50:07.60\00:50:09.80
head underneath the bed
00:50:10.11\00:50:12.47
arms and torso and legs
sprawled out in plain view
00:50:12.67\00:50:18.61
in the middle of the room.
00:50:18.81\00:50:20.15
And I would ignore him again.
"Maybe Caleb's in the closet? "
00:50:20.75\00:50:24.19
And then I could hear
giggles from underneath the bed
00:50:24.55\00:50:27.16
'cause he was so
proud of his hiding place...
00:50:27.36\00:50:29.32
so proud of the
fact that Auntie Jill
00:50:29.72\00:50:32.03
she couldn't find him.
00:50:32.23\00:50:33.56
And then I exhausted
all the places I could look
00:50:33.60\00:50:36.00
and I pounced on
him under the bed.
00:50:36.20\00:50:37.77
"There's Caleb! He's here
right underneath the bed! "
00:50:37.97\00:50:40.87
And he would come out
all happy that it had taken
00:50:41.27\00:50:43.91
such a long time
for me to find him.
00:50:44.11\00:50:45.74
And as he toddled off
I sat back and I thought
00:50:46.57\00:50:51.61
how often I
surrendered my all to Jesus
00:50:51.81\00:50:54.42
little realizing that
the greater part of my heart
00:50:54.82\00:50:57.89
was still unconverted.
Full of undiscovered sins
00:50:58.09\00:51:02.29
sticking out in
the middle of the room.
00:51:02.49\00:51:05.79
And yet Jesus had never
scolded me - not once, not ever.
00:51:06.19\00:51:10.70
He'd never said:
"There's a whole mess of you
00:51:11.10\00:51:13.03
lying out here in full view.
00:51:13.23\00:51:14.57
Don't you think you can
realize that and grow up? "
00:51:14.97\00:51:16.87
Instead He showed me my heart
00:51:17.57\00:51:19.71
as I made a choice:
"Yes, Jesus, I want You as
00:51:19.91\00:51:22.38
my Master. Yes, Jesus,
I want to follow You. "
00:51:22.58\00:51:25.61
He showed me
every day another piece.
00:51:26.01\00:51:29.02
There was jealousy and I
didn't even know it was there.
00:51:29.65\00:51:32.59
There was fear...
and I didn't want that.
00:51:33.22\00:51:36.26
There was pride and it had
taken root and was reseeding
00:51:36.99\00:51:41.26
itself with amazing rapidity.
00:51:41.56\00:51:43.23
And I said: "God,
would You take it? "
00:51:43.43\00:51:45.73
There was bitterness that
lurked just beneath the surface
00:51:46.33\00:51:49.87
and I dug myself
thinking I could get rid of it
00:51:50.07\00:51:53.04
and yet I couldn't... I
was powerless to control it.
00:51:53.81\00:51:56.78
And in
desperation I turned to Him
00:51:57.55\00:51:59.81
and said: "Please,
God, would You take the key
00:52:00.02\00:52:03.45
and would You
take this from me? "
00:52:03.65\00:52:05.65
You see, the
freedom that we have
00:52:06.29\00:52:10.19
as sons and daughters of God -
00:52:10.39\00:52:12.96
the freedom from sin's fetters -
00:52:13.16\00:52:15.76
the freedom from addiction,
the freedom from the sins that
00:52:15.96\00:52:19.50
so easily beset us.
00:52:19.70\00:52:22.14
"No more in
chains of sin I repine...
00:52:22.80\00:52:26.07
Jesus, the glorious emancipator
00:52:26.27\00:52:29.71
now and forever
He shall be mine! "
00:52:29.91\00:52:33.88
Listen as they sing.
00:52:34.28\00:52:36.55
Once I was bound by
00:52:43.39\00:52:46.90
sin's galling fetters.
00:52:47.10\00:52:50.20
Chained like a slave, I
00:52:50.40\00:52:53.64
struggled in vain.
00:52:53.84\00:52:56.77
But I received
00:52:56.97\00:52:59.47
a glorious freedom
00:52:59.67\00:53:03.81
when Jesus broke
00:53:04.05\00:53:06.35
my fetters in twain.
00:53:06.55\00:53:10.65
Glorious freedom!
00:53:10.85\00:53:14.22
Wonderful freedom!
00:53:14.42\00:53:17.56
No more in
chains of sin I repine!
00:53:17.76\00:53:23.73
Jesus, the glorious
00:53:24.33\00:53:27.50
emancipator
00:53:27.70\00:53:30.97
now and forever
00:53:31.17\00:53:34.24
He shall be mine!
00:53:34.44\00:53:39.31
Freedom from fear with
00:53:43.22\00:53:46.39
all of its torments;
00:53:46.59\00:53:49.82
freedom from care with
00:53:50.03\00:53:53.19
all of its pain.
00:53:53.40\00:53:56.26
Freedom in Christ, my
00:53:56.67\00:53:59.97
blessed Redeemer
00:54:00.17\00:54:03.34
He who has rent my
00:54:03.54\00:54:06.64
fetters in twain!
00:54:06.84\00:54:10.05
Glorious freedom!
00:54:10.25\00:54:13.48
Wonderful freedom!
00:54:13.68\00:54:16.82
No more in
chains of sin I repine.
00:54:17.02\00:54:22.96
Jesus, the glorious
00:54:23.69\00:54:26.86
emancipator
00:54:27.06\00:54:30.23
now and forever
00:54:30.43\00:54:33.74
He shall be mine!
00:54:33.94\00:54:37.31
Glorious freedom!
00:54:37.51\00:54:40.48
Wonderful freedom!
00:54:40.68\00:54:43.98
No more in
chains of sin I repine!
00:54:44.18\00:54:50.12
Jesus, the glorious
00:54:50.79\00:54:53.96
emancipator
00:54:54.16\00:54:57.33
now and forever...
00:54:57.53\00:55:00.66
now and forever...
00:55:00.86\00:55:04.17
now and forever
00:55:04.33\00:55:07.67
He shall
00:55:07.87\00:55:11.87
be mine!
00:55:12.07\00:55:16.88
Amen! Thank you so
much Pastor Ryan and Tim.
00:55:19.81\00:55:22.78
Aren't you grateful
that now and forever
00:55:22.98\00:55:26.32
we belong to Him?
00:55:26.82\00:55:28.49
I don't know where you
are in your walk with God
00:55:28.69\00:55:32.26
but if you've never
opened up your heart to Him
00:55:32.46\00:55:34.70
now's the time to do so.
00:55:34.90\00:55:36.46
He says: "Today if
you will hear My voice
00:55:36.67\00:55:39.70
do not harden your hearts
00:55:39.90\00:55:41.57
but make a choice and say 'Yes,
God, would You come in? ' "
00:55:41.77\00:55:44.37
"Yes, God, would You abide? "
00:55:44.57\00:55:46.88
Maybe you've walked
with Jesus for years
00:55:47.08\00:55:49.34
and you experienced like
I experienced just last week
00:55:49.94\00:55:53.65
that there's something
going on in your heart...
00:55:53.85\00:55:56.85
something that
He wants to dig out.
00:55:57.05\00:55:59.69
Something that He wants to take.
00:55:59.89\00:56:02.29
Something that He
wants to free you from.
00:56:02.49\00:56:05.63
Open up your heart
and say: "Yes, God,
00:56:06.59\00:56:09.73
I want You to clean me.
00:56:09.93\00:56:12.63
I want You to change me
00:56:12.83\00:56:15.27
by the power of Your Spirit,
00:56:15.47\00:56:18.11
by the power of
the indwelling Christ
00:56:18.31\00:56:21.94
in our hearts.
00:56:22.34\00:56:24.65
Let's do that just now.
00:56:25.48\00:56:26.92
Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus.
00:56:27.12\00:56:29.32
We are so grateful that You
want to dwell in our hearts.
00:56:29.72\00:56:32.99
Grateful that Jesus
saves us by His blood
00:56:33.19\00:56:37.13
but that You
don't leave us there.
00:56:37.33\00:56:38.79
That You want to transform us
00:56:38.99\00:56:42.26
by the power of Your Spirit
and the indwelling Savior.
00:56:42.46\00:56:46.94
And I ask that You
would take us just now.
00:56:47.14\00:56:50.24
Make us Your children
00:56:50.64\00:56:52.31
transformed into the
image of God's dear Son.
00:56:52.51\00:56:57.21
And I ask this in the
precious and holy name of Jesus,
00:56:57.61\00:57:00.72
Amen.
00:57:01.38\00:57:02.72
His body was broken
00:57:04.82\00:57:07.02
so that we could live, giving
us the gift of eternal life.
00:57:07.99\00:57:11.96
He pursues us relentlessly
with an everlasting love.
00:57:13.70\00:57:17.80
Regardless of our
failures and mistakes
00:57:18.93\00:57:21.77
the One who
loves us like no other:
00:57:22.70\00:57:25.71
this is who Jesus IS.
00:57:26.78\00:57:29.94