Welcome to the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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located in Rocklin, California.
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We are continuing our lesson
that we just actually started
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not that long ago,
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and if you do not have a copy
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and you would like
to study along with us,
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it's very simple,
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you just go to aftv.org,
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and you can
download the current lesson
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of the Sabbath School quarterly.
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And if you are somewhere
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and you are close
to an Adventist church,
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I encourage you to go visit
it, and you can get a hard copy.
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So before we
get into the lesson,
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I'm going to tell
you about our free offer.
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Every week, we
have a free offer,
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and we would
love to hear from you,
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so if you would like
this, please go and contact us.
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It is offer number 842 entitled,
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"Who Needs The Church."
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Great question.
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Number 842.
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This is a DVD by
Pastor Doug Batchelor,
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and for this you
can call 866-788-3966,
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or the easy way
is 866-Study-More.
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So that a DVD if you
would like to watch that.
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And also, we have
a digital download.
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So this one is super easy.
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You just have to get
out your phones and text.
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Text the code "SH096"
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to 40544.
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So "SH096" is what
you're going to text
00:02:03.85\00:02:07.96
to 40544,
00:02:07.99\00:02:10.83
and you will receive
your free digital download.
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So go ahead,
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contact your local
church for the quarterly,
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go online for our DVD,
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or get on your phone and text.
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There's so many different ways,
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and we would
love to hear from you.
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Before we get into our lesson
which will be brought to us
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by Pastor Shawn Brummund,
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we have music
like we do every week.
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But this week, it's special.
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We have special
guests joining us
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from the Pine Hills
Seventh-day Adventist School
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which is not very
far from our church
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right here in Rocklin,
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they're probably
20 minutes up Highway
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80 towards the
mountains, and they are here,
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their group is
called the Choraliers,
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and they will be singing
for us a song called, "Grace,"
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conducted by Jill Genobaga,
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and right now, they
will bring us our music.
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Amazing grace!
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How sweet the sound
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That saved a wretch
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A wretch like me
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I once was lost
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But now I'm found
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I was once blind
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But now I see
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'Twas grace that taught
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My heart to fear
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And I say grace
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My fears relieved
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How precious did
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That grace appear
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The hour when
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I first believed
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Through many dangers
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Toils and snares
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I have already
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Safely come
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'Tis grace hath brought
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Me safe thus far
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And surely
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Grace will lead me home
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I shall go home
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When we've been there
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Ten thousand years
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Bright shining as
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The sun
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We've no less days
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To sing God's praise
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Than since the day
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We'd first begun
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Than since the day
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We'd first
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Begun
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Before we get into our
program, into our lesson,
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let's bow our heads for prayer.
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Thank you, Father,
for this opportunity
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that we have to be
here today, here physically
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at the Granite
Bay Adventist Church,
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and as an extended
family all around the world,
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there are so many
who join us each week,
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and I know that you
know exactly who they are,
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and I just pray that
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You will be
with each one of them
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as we open up Your Word
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and we study together right now.
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Thank you so much for Your love,
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and Your protection,
and I know that right now,
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California is going
through some difficulties
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with these fires
throughout the state,
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and I just pray that
those who have been affected
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that You will please
just bring extra comfort
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and strengths to them right now
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as they figure out
where to go from here.
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And not just the
people here in California,
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but around the
world who are suffering.
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I pray that You will
just be very close right now.
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And as we open up Your
Word and we study together,
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please just fill our
hearts with Your Spirit
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and open up our
minds, in Jesus' name, amen.
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Good morning to
everyone that is here.
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It's good to be here.
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It's good to
continue to open God's Word
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as we continue to
come together week by week.
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And we've been looking
at a very important topic
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over the last two,
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almost two months now
or a month and a half,
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and we will be until the
end of this particular year
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which is, "Oneness in Christ."
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And this is no small topic.
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It's one of the great doctrines.
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In fact, if you were to
open up the book that we call
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the 28 fundamental beliefs
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of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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we recognize that this
Bible teaching is so important
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that it's one isolated
individual belief that we have
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because the Bible
talks so much about it.
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And so it's important for
us to be able to understand it.
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Amen?
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And so we're
looking at that here today,
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And so today's
lesson is entitled,
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"The Most Convincing Proof,"
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and that starts on page 72
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if you have your
lesson study with you,
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and so we have the
most convincing proof.
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Well, that's a pretty
cryptic title, isn't it?
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The most
convincing proof of what?
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The most convincing proof
of who or where or when or how?
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What does that mean?
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Well, we're
going to find that out.
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If you've read your
lesson study already,
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had you already
know the answer to that
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because it's found
in the lesson study.
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But we're going to be looking
at it here today as well.
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So today is kind of a
part two, if we could call it,
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from last week's study
because as we came together
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and studied last week
in lesson number eight,
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we've found that God has
given a very real driving force
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that draws us together in unity
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and that is to
come under the umbrella
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of like belief,
and like teaching.
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In other words, the
Bible has a number of
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what we call foundational
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or some might call
it fundamental beliefs,
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and so these are, kind
of, the bedrock, kind of,
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beliefs that set the stage
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for each and every
member of a church.
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Now with the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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as I just mentioned earlier,
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there's 28 fundamental
or foundational beliefs
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that we all hold in common.
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And when you hold so
much important information
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in common that naturally
draws us together, doesn't it?
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It gives us
something very important
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that's in common.
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Well, today is part two
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because not only is a
common message of truth,
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doctrine, as the Bible calls it,
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important to be
able to draw us together,
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but there is also something else
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that draws us together
in a very powerful way,
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and that is the second
powerful unifying force,
00:11:00.79\00:11:03.96
and in extension to
that, there's also another,
00:11:03.99\00:11:06.49
if you could
call it a subcategory
00:11:06.53\00:11:08.33
of a driving force
that draws us together,
00:11:08.36\00:11:10.63
we'll talk about
that today here as well.
00:11:10.67\00:11:13.74
But the second
foundational driving force
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that draws us together in unity
is a common experience, okay?
00:11:15.90\00:11:20.64
Last week, again, we
looked at a common belief,
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and today we're looking
at a common shared experience
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that God has intended for
us to be able to have together.
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What kind of experience is that?
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Well, it's an
experience that is empowered
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by the Holy Spirit.
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When one comes to
surrender before Christ,
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when one comes to confess
your sins, ask for cleansing,
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ask for God to be their
Lord, and we open up our hearts,
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God doesn't leave our
hearts empty, does He?
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He just floods right
in with His Holy Spirit,
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and we become born again,
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as Jesus had
taught the great Nicodemus
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late one night in
His meeting with him.
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And so it's very important
for us to understand that
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there is a very
strong driving force
00:12:03.55\00:12:05.95
that draws us
together and that is that
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we all share that
born again experience,
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what it's like to have
the Holy Spirit in your heart,
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and to be able
to find that power
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that God gives to us.
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And as we come to
experience that, of course,
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we come under the
sacrifice of Jesus.
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We come to the foot of the cross
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as we have one or more
hymns that have been sung
00:12:26.51\00:12:29.08
that draws us to
the foot of the cross
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where we find
that there is a savior,
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the Son of God
that has died for us,
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and that blood that He shed
is the blood that cleanses us.
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It's the
foundational hope of the gospel.
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It's the core of
our hope as Christians
00:12:45.76\00:12:48.46
that we might be
able to understand
00:12:48.50\00:12:50.37
and know that there is a
God that has died for us.
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And not only has He died for us,
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but He didn't stay
in the grave, did He?
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We also know that He
rose back to life again.
00:12:57.81\00:13:00.61
And so we also share that hope
00:13:00.64\00:13:02.04
on the second half of the gospel
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which is the resurrection,
00:13:03.35\00:13:05.01
and not only the resurrection
00:13:05.05\00:13:06.21
but then what Jesus
started to do for us
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after that
resurrection and that is become
00:13:08.58\00:13:10.35
our High Priest.
00:13:10.39\00:13:11.69
And so now we know 24/7
00:13:11.72\00:13:13.22
that we can come
before the Father
00:13:13.25\00:13:15.56
in the name of Jesus,
00:13:15.59\00:13:17.26
and under the
blood of His sacrifice,
00:13:17.29\00:13:19.43
and know that Jesus is
an interceder for you and I,
00:13:19.46\00:13:22.53
that He is
living, that He is working
00:13:22.56\00:13:24.43
for you and I in
heaven even right now.
00:13:24.47\00:13:28.64
So that's the great experience
and extension of the message
00:13:28.67\00:13:31.41
that God gives to us.
00:13:31.44\00:13:33.24
And so in summary of that truth
that I just shared with you,
00:13:33.27\00:13:37.18
it's very important to
understand that the message
00:13:37.21\00:13:39.71
that God has
given to us, the gospel,
00:13:39.75\00:13:42.15
the three angels' message,
00:13:42.18\00:13:43.72
the great prophecies
of Daniel and Revelation
00:13:43.75\00:13:45.92
and other things
that God has called us
00:13:45.95\00:13:48.12
to be able to proclaim,
00:13:48.16\00:13:49.19
all of that is
only half of the witness
00:13:49.22\00:13:51.49
that God has given to
us to give to the world.
00:13:51.53\00:13:54.10
So in other
words, when we stand up
00:13:54.13\00:13:55.66
before a television camera,
or we're before a live crowd
00:13:55.70\00:13:59.00
and we're sharing the message,
00:13:59.03\00:14:00.64
that is a real
part of the witness
00:14:00.67\00:14:02.30
that God has given to us
00:14:02.34\00:14:03.37
when we share
with our coworkers,
00:14:03.41\00:14:04.71
or fellow
students, or our neighbors,
00:14:04.74\00:14:06.94
and we start to
give Bible studies,
00:14:06.98\00:14:08.48
or share some literature, again,
00:14:08.51\00:14:10.61
that message is a real
and powerful first half
00:14:10.65\00:14:14.75
of the witness that
God gives us to the world.
00:14:14.78\00:14:18.62
Well, what's the second half?
00:14:18.65\00:14:21.56
The second half is
people looking at us,
00:14:21.59\00:14:25.63
and seeing Christ
played out in our experience,
00:14:25.66\00:14:30.27
in our words, in our
behavior, in our attitudes.
00:14:30.30\00:14:34.34
All of these different
things is the second half
00:14:34.37\00:14:36.50
of the witness God has for
us for the world, is it not?
00:14:36.54\00:14:39.31
And so people, when they
come to know as Christians
00:14:39.34\00:14:42.38
and they find that we
believe in the Son of God,
00:14:42.41\00:14:45.18
that we believe in the gospel,
00:14:45.21\00:14:46.28
that we believe in
the Bible and so on,
00:14:46.31\00:14:47.88
this is all very important,
but this is not everything.
00:14:47.92\00:14:53.42
God has called
us to be able to...
00:14:53.46\00:14:54.99
They start
watching you, don't they?
00:14:55.02\00:14:57.73
They start to see exactly
how do you treat your wife?
00:14:57.76\00:15:01.26
You know, how do
you treat your husband?
00:15:01.30\00:15:03.93
How do you parent?
00:15:03.97\00:15:05.33
What do you do when you get
00:15:05.37\00:15:06.47
in financial
straits or, and such?
00:15:06.50\00:15:09.70
And so our neighbors are
watching us all the time.
00:15:09.74\00:15:12.71
And so, not only are
they watching us individually,
00:15:12.74\00:15:14.91
but then if we manage
to be able to get them
00:15:14.94\00:15:16.44
to church, what
are they watching?
00:15:16.48\00:15:18.71
They're not
just watching us now,
00:15:18.75\00:15:19.78
they're watching
all of you, aren't they?
00:15:19.81\00:15:21.82
And they're
looking around and saying,
00:15:21.85\00:15:22.85
"Well, what kind
of people are these?"
00:15:22.88\00:15:25.39
And so that's the
second half of the message.
00:15:25.42\00:15:28.22
Now as I was contemplating
this very important truth,
00:15:28.26\00:15:30.83
and the topic that
we're looking at on that,
00:15:30.86\00:15:34.00
there's very one
outstanding personal experience
00:15:34.00\00:15:36.16
that I just can't
help from sharing.
00:15:36.20\00:15:37.90
And so this is a very
powerful illustration.
00:15:37.93\00:15:41.30
My mother and
father-in-law, Denise's,
00:15:41.34\00:15:43.20
my wife's name is Denise,
00:15:43.24\00:15:44.41
and her mom and dad is
Gisela and Didier Sockle.
00:15:44.44\00:15:49.01
And as it turns out Didier
and Gisela were instrumental
00:15:49.04\00:15:53.82
in introducing both Denise and I
00:15:53.85\00:15:56.45
to the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:15:56.48\00:15:58.95
I'd never heard of
the Seventh-day Church
00:15:58.99\00:16:00.69
until I was
about 25 years of age
00:16:00.72\00:16:02.59
and my wife about the same.
00:16:02.62\00:16:04.76
And so Denise and I,
you know, some of you know,
00:16:04.79\00:16:08.83
and if you don't know now,
00:16:08.86\00:16:10.67
you know now that I was
born and raised in Canada
00:16:10.70\00:16:13.80
and so was my wife.
00:16:13.84\00:16:15.14
And so at the time,
we were living in Canada,
00:16:15.17\00:16:17.11
and Denise and I
were going to Toronto
00:16:17.14\00:16:20.64
which is the other
side of the country
00:16:20.68\00:16:21.74
where we were raised
00:16:21.78\00:16:22.78
and where our hometown
is, and we're going there
00:16:22.81\00:16:25.08
for Denise's university studies.
00:16:25.11\00:16:27.85
And during that three years
00:16:27.88\00:16:29.05
that we were taking
those studies in Toronto,
00:16:29.08\00:16:31.59
Denise's mom
and dad were invited
00:16:31.62\00:16:33.19
to a Seventh-day
Adventist Health Program.
00:16:33.22\00:16:36.39
Now again, they had never heard
00:16:36.42\00:16:38.33
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:16:38.36\00:16:40.93
But one of their
clients, their hairdressers,
00:16:40.96\00:16:43.47
and one of their
clients had invited them
00:16:43.50\00:16:45.97
to a health program
00:16:46.00\00:16:47.84
and that health
program was called CHIP.
00:16:47.87\00:16:49.97
Now some of you
know that acronym.
00:16:50.01\00:16:51.51
I've been involved in CHIP.
00:16:51.54\00:16:53.04
CHIP has been a very successful,
00:16:53.07\00:16:54.68
very helpful health program.
00:16:54.71\00:16:56.38
It's an acronym for Coronary
Health Improvement Project.
00:16:56.41\00:17:01.08
And that particular
program was just being pioneered
00:17:01.12\00:17:04.29
by Dr. Hans Diehl at the time.
00:17:04.32\00:17:05.65
And so he was
actually in B.C., Canada,
00:17:05.69\00:17:07.82
pioneering and
starting to live lecture
00:17:07.86\00:17:10.06
through this new
series that he was developing.
00:17:10.09\00:17:13.06
Well, as it turns out,
00:17:13.09\00:17:15.90
my mother-in-law
couldn't help but saying yes
00:17:15.93\00:17:19.03
because the client had told her,
00:17:19.07\00:17:20.24
"Listen, this
is a great program.
00:17:20.27\00:17:22.37
It's called eat
more and lose weight."
00:17:22.40\00:17:25.07
And so she said,
"How can I say no to that?
00:17:25.11\00:17:27.44
I've been trying
every diet under the sun.
00:17:27.48\00:17:29.38
I've got to go and try
this particular program."
00:17:29.41\00:17:31.58
And so she showed up,
00:17:31.61\00:17:32.91
and her husband
came with her, Didier,
00:17:32.95\00:17:34.82
and the two of them started
to just eat up everything,
00:17:34.85\00:17:38.85
no pun intended.
00:17:38.89\00:17:40.62
But they started to eat
up everything that Dr. Diehl
00:17:40.66\00:17:43.39
was sharing with them.
00:17:43.43\00:17:44.53
And then they
brought Gisela's mother
00:17:44.56\00:17:47.66
which is Denise's grandmother,
00:17:47.66\00:17:49.16
and Denise's grandmother
was in serious dire straits
00:17:49.20\00:17:52.37
with type 2 diabetes.
00:17:52.40\00:17:54.47
And she was quite obese,
her legs were going black,
00:17:54.50\00:17:58.47
and the doctor was saying,
00:17:58.51\00:17:59.64
"It's only a matter of months
before she loses her leg."
00:17:59.67\00:18:02.58
She's on high insulin every day.
00:18:02.61\00:18:05.38
And by the time they
got to the end the program
00:18:05.41\00:18:07.02
in couple of
three, four months after,
00:18:07.05\00:18:08.72
she was off insulin completely,
00:18:08.75\00:18:10.22
she'd lost 60 pounds,
and she'd saved her legs,
00:18:10.25\00:18:13.05
and now she is walking
half an hour every day.
00:18:13.09\00:18:15.62
And so this was a
very powerful experience.
00:18:15.66\00:18:18.53
And so Didier and Gisela
00:18:18.56\00:18:19.59
became Dr. Diehl's
greatest evangelists.
00:18:19.63\00:18:22.46
And they had a
stack of his books
00:18:22.50\00:18:24.17
in their hair
shop that they owned,
00:18:24.20\00:18:25.57
and they were just
selling those to their clients
00:18:25.60\00:18:27.87
all day long as they were coming
00:18:27.90\00:18:29.40
through their
shop and inviting them
00:18:29.44\00:18:32.17
to be able to come
to the program as well.
00:18:32.21\00:18:35.58
There's one outstanding thing.
00:18:35.61\00:18:36.68
At the same time,
just shortly after that,
00:18:36.71\00:18:38.41
Denise and I moved back
and we were staying with them
00:18:38.45\00:18:40.22
as we're being established
after Denise graduated.
00:18:40.25\00:18:42.92
We're staying with them
00:18:42.95\00:18:43.99
in our hometown of Kelowna, B.C.
00:18:44.02\00:18:45.99
And so we found there
00:18:46.02\00:18:48.09
that there was one key statement
00:18:48.12\00:18:50.63
that Gisela kept sharing
in concern to her experience
00:18:50.66\00:18:55.20
with the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:18:55.23\00:18:56.30
Now, as it turns out,
00:18:56.33\00:18:57.37
not only had she
gotten to a CHIP program,
00:18:57.40\00:18:59.60
but then that also
00:18:59.63\00:19:00.74
led into going to
Revelation seminar,
00:19:00.77\00:19:02.57
into a Prophecy seminar,
00:19:02.60\00:19:04.01
and so she had
also been well studied
00:19:04.04\00:19:06.31
and exposed to the
Bible truth and its message
00:19:06.34\00:19:09.08
of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church as well.
00:19:09.11\00:19:12.01
But there's one statement
that she kept repeating.
00:19:12.05\00:19:14.58
"Shawn, Denise,
there's something different
00:19:14.62\00:19:16.82
about these people."
00:19:16.85\00:19:18.99
There's just something
different about these people.
00:19:19.02\00:19:21.16
Now sometimes when we say that,
we get a little bit nervous,
00:19:21.19\00:19:23.89
and we think, "Well,
what do you mean by different?
00:19:23.93\00:19:25.39
You mean strange,
weird, you know, mean?
00:19:25.43\00:19:28.36
What is it that's
different about them?"
00:19:28.40\00:19:29.43
You know, when she said it,
00:19:29.46\00:19:30.50
she said it with
a smile in her face.
00:19:30.53\00:19:31.87
"There's just something
different about these people.
00:19:31.90\00:19:34.47
They're very special."
00:19:34.50\00:19:36.64
There's just something
different that she could see.
00:19:36.67\00:19:38.71
What was she seeing?
00:19:38.74\00:19:41.28
She was seeing that
there was a difference
00:19:41.31\00:19:43.04
between her fellowship
and time rubbing shoulders
00:19:43.08\00:19:45.88
with Seventh-day Adventists,
00:19:45.91\00:19:47.52
and rubbing shoulders
with people in the world,
00:19:47.55\00:19:49.52
or even with
some of the churches
00:19:49.55\00:19:50.59
that she had attended.
00:19:50.62\00:19:51.65
She was grown up Lutheran,
00:19:51.69\00:19:52.82
and even though there are
some beautiful Lutheran people,
00:19:52.85\00:19:55.86
she found that the
Seventh-day Adventists
00:19:55.89\00:19:57.56
had something extra special,
00:19:57.59\00:19:59.93
and she could
see that difference.
00:19:59.96\00:20:02.10
And that's what we're
looking at in our study here
00:20:02.13\00:20:04.53
this particular week
is that there is a witness
00:20:04.57\00:20:07.30
that God has called us
to be able to experience
00:20:07.34\00:20:11.41
and to share with those
00:20:11.44\00:20:13.38
who are observing
us and experiencing us.
00:20:13.41\00:20:16.75
And by the way,
that led to Denise and I
00:20:16.78\00:20:19.21
also learning about the message.
00:20:19.25\00:20:20.28
And in 1992, we had all
gone to a Prophecy seminar
00:20:20.32\00:20:22.92
and the four of us were baptized
00:20:22.95\00:20:25.05
and haven't looked back since.
00:20:25.09\00:20:27.42
And so God does powerful
things with the witness.
00:20:27.46\00:20:30.43
Was it the message
of the health program?
00:20:30.46\00:20:32.83
Yes, that
information was life changing.
00:20:32.86\00:20:35.36
Was it the message of the gospel
00:20:35.40\00:20:36.93
and the three angels' message?
00:20:36.97\00:20:38.60
Yes, that was a powerful thing.
00:20:38.63\00:20:40.67
But was it also
the witness of them
00:20:40.70\00:20:43.61
observing the difference
00:20:43.64\00:20:45.67
that they saw
between us and other people?
00:20:45.71\00:20:48.04
Yes, that was a key difference
00:20:48.08\00:20:50.98
and that kept
coming up to the surface.
00:20:51.01\00:20:52.71
"Shawn, there's something
different about those people."
00:20:52.75\00:20:57.72
It was funny
because then we became
00:20:57.75\00:20:59.12
one of those people.
00:20:59.15\00:21:02.02
And so for a number of
years afterwards, you know,
00:21:02.06\00:21:04.86
she'd been saying that for
so long that she would say,
00:21:04.89\00:21:06.80
you know, "Yes, there's
always something special
00:21:06.83\00:21:08.43
about those
people," and we'd remind her,
00:21:08.46\00:21:09.80
"Mom, you're one
of those people."
00:21:09.83\00:21:13.37
And she'd, "Yeah, that's right.
00:21:13.40\00:21:14.87
I'm one of those people."
00:21:14.90\00:21:16.50
Now some of you have had
the privilege of meeting them.
00:21:16.54\00:21:18.21
They came and visited last,
00:21:18.24\00:21:20.41
early spring around April there.
00:21:20.44\00:21:22.08
And so, I know some of you
00:21:22.11\00:21:23.38
had the
privilege of seeing them.
00:21:23.41\00:21:24.45
And the more
you get to know them
00:21:24.48\00:21:25.51
and the more you
rub shoulders with them,
00:21:25.55\00:21:27.08
you start to see
there is something different
00:21:27.12\00:21:29.45
about those people
00:21:29.48\00:21:31.15
because God is
shining through them
00:21:31.19\00:21:33.02
in a very
special and powerful way.
00:21:33.05\00:21:36.22
And so, thank you,
mom, thank you, dad,
00:21:36.26\00:21:37.73
for being such great
witnesses and shining for Jesus.
00:21:37.76\00:21:42.13
Amen.
00:21:42.16\00:21:44.93
Well, I invite
you to come to page 72
00:21:44.97\00:21:46.67
which is the opening of
our lesson study here today.
00:21:46.70\00:21:50.31
Page 72, and I just want to read
00:21:50.34\00:21:52.07
a quote as I kind
of left you hanging
00:21:52.11\00:21:54.31
with the title of
our message here today
00:21:54.34\00:21:56.61
which is, "The
Most Convincing Proof,"
00:21:56.64\00:21:59.81
and so we're going to go
to the bottom of page 72,
00:21:59.85\00:22:02.55
and read a quote there.
00:22:02.58\00:22:03.69
It's by my favorite author
outside of the Bible by far,
00:22:03.72\00:22:07.02
Ellen G. White,
00:22:07.06\00:22:08.86
and it's quoting
00:22:08.89\00:22:09.92
from the Seventh-day
Adventist's commentary
00:22:09.96\00:22:11.73
that collected a
statement from her.
00:22:11.76\00:22:13.26
It says, "Unity with Christ
establishes a bond of unity
00:22:13.29\00:22:17.40
with one another."
00:22:17.43\00:22:19.23
Unity with Christ establishes
a bond with one another.
00:22:19.27\00:22:22.77
In other words,
when we find ourselves
00:22:22.80\00:22:24.51
connecting with Christ,
00:22:24.54\00:22:26.47
there is a natural drawing power
00:22:26.51\00:22:30.65
that God gives to us
that binds us to one another.
00:22:30.68\00:22:33.25
When we find somebody...
00:22:33.28\00:22:34.55
You know, I was just
driving over in Vallejo
00:22:34.58\00:22:36.15
to pick something
up this week there.
00:22:36.18\00:22:38.79
And I got a really nice
sticker that I found on Amazon
00:22:38.82\00:22:42.19
which is a white sticker
which is the church logo.
00:22:42.22\00:22:45.63
And so I bought that,
00:22:45.66\00:22:46.70
and it's about four
or five inches high,
00:22:46.73\00:22:48.63
and I put that on the
back of my tinted window
00:22:48.66\00:22:50.37
in the back of my
car, and I thought,
00:22:50.40\00:22:52.63
"Hey, that's a great
way of telling other people,
00:22:52.67\00:22:54.17
hey, I'm a
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:22:54.20\00:22:55.34
I'm a Christian."
00:22:55.37\00:22:56.67
And so I was driving there,
and I pulled up to a light,
00:22:56.71\00:22:58.64
and I happened to
have my window down
00:22:58.67\00:22:59.91
and the guy next to me
said, "Hey, yo, brother,"
00:22:59.94\00:23:02.58
and I said, "Yeah, what is it?"
00:23:02.61\00:23:04.28
He goes, "So you're a
Seventh-day Adventist?"
00:23:04.31\00:23:06.38
And I said, "Yeah, yeah."
00:23:06.41\00:23:07.48
Well, the light turned
green, we had to keep going.
00:23:07.52\00:23:08.92
And he goes, "I am
too. Have a blessed day."
00:23:08.95\00:23:11.65
You know, and we
continued on down the street.
00:23:11.69\00:23:14.79
And did that make my day?
00:23:14.82\00:23:16.66
It did, didn't it?
00:23:16.69\00:23:17.73
And what was it
that got him excited?
00:23:17.76\00:23:20.00
Was it that I was driving
a car that he really liked?
00:23:20.03\00:23:22.80
The sticker.
00:23:22.83\00:23:23.87
It was the sticker,
and the sticker told him
00:23:23.90\00:23:25.57
that I was a fellow believer,
00:23:25.60\00:23:27.67
and so he got
excited about that,
00:23:27.70\00:23:29.87
and then I got
excited about that.
00:23:29.90\00:23:31.87
There was a drawing
power there, wasn't there?
00:23:31.91\00:23:34.14
We had a like experience,
00:23:34.18\00:23:35.68
we have a like
hope that we share
00:23:35.71\00:23:37.51
with one another, and
we were excited about that.
00:23:37.55\00:23:40.02
And I know many of you are
excited about that as well.
00:23:40.05\00:23:43.89
And so that's the drawing power.
00:23:43.92\00:23:45.05
I didn't finish the
statement yet, did I?
00:23:45.09\00:23:47.16
"Unity with Christ establishes
00:23:47.19\00:23:48.96
a bond of unity
with one another.
00:23:48.99\00:23:50.66
This unity is the most
convincing proof to the world,"
00:23:50.69\00:23:54.93
there it is, "the
most convincing proof
00:23:54.93\00:23:56.63
to the world that the
majesty and virtue of Christ
00:23:56.67\00:24:00.04
and of His power
to take away sin."
00:24:00.07\00:24:03.44
And so that's kind
of the subcategory,
00:24:03.47\00:24:05.54
the second driving
force of the witness
00:24:05.57\00:24:07.14
that God gives
to us, the message
00:24:07.18\00:24:09.18
but also then the
witness of our experience.
00:24:09.21\00:24:12.91
And part of that
witness of our experience
00:24:12.95\00:24:14.38
is that Christ then,
when we become born again,
00:24:14.42\00:24:16.95
He starts to take
away our sin, doesn't He?
00:24:16.99\00:24:19.49
Does He forgive us for our sin?
00:24:19.52\00:24:21.36
Yes, He does.
00:24:21.39\00:24:22.69
But when...
00:24:22.72\00:24:23.73
She's making that statement
00:24:23.76\00:24:24.83
that it is a
powerful proof of Christ
00:24:24.86\00:24:27.23
and His power to take away sin.
00:24:27.30\00:24:29.40
He's not just talking
about taking away the guilt,
00:24:29.43\00:24:31.20
but He's talking about
removing active sin in our life
00:24:31.23\00:24:34.70
in a real way.
00:24:34.74\00:24:36.44
Okay.
00:24:36.47\00:24:37.71
Now does that mean
that He starts to help us
00:24:37.74\00:24:39.54
to keep the Ten Commandments?
00:24:39.57\00:24:40.98
Yes.
00:24:41.01\00:24:42.04
So if I was a thief,
00:24:42.08\00:24:43.11
He starts to
help me to be honest,
00:24:43.14\00:24:44.31
and not take anything
that doesn't belong to me.
00:24:44.35\00:24:46.55
If I had an honesty problem,
00:24:46.58\00:24:47.65
He starts to
give me honest words
00:24:47.68\00:24:49.32
instead of dishonest words.
00:24:49.35\00:24:50.75
And so He starts
to take away that sin,
00:24:50.79\00:24:53.32
and that's a powerful
part of our experience
00:24:53.36\00:24:55.52
and witness to the world.
00:24:55.56\00:24:57.23
We're going to read
later a little bit as well
00:24:57.26\00:25:00.73
that it's not just
keeping the Ten Commandments,
00:25:00.76\00:25:02.70
but it's also
taking away malice.
00:25:02.73\00:25:04.93
It removes
revenge, it removes envy.
00:25:04.97\00:25:08.20
Have you ever experienced envy
from somebody else against you?
00:25:08.24\00:25:11.44
Maybe you've experienced
yourself toward someone else.
00:25:11.47\00:25:13.68
You know, God takes that away.
00:25:13.71\00:25:15.58
And does that make
our fellowship sweeter
00:25:15.61\00:25:18.11
when jealousy is
taken out of the picture?
00:25:18.15\00:25:20.02
Of course, it does, doesn't it?
00:25:20.05\00:25:21.58
Jealousy is a wicked thing
00:25:21.62\00:25:23.59
that really
destroys relationships.
00:25:23.62\00:25:26.05
And so when we have that
eliminated out of the factor,
00:25:26.09\00:25:28.82
it makes us more
bound and happier
00:25:28.86\00:25:31.09
with each other, isn't it?
00:25:31.13\00:25:32.16
Okay.
00:25:32.19\00:25:33.26
So we take away envy,
jealousy, bitterness, gossip,
00:25:33.29\00:25:36.33
and slandering.
00:25:36.36\00:25:38.17
All these things God takes away
as we give our hearts to Him
00:25:38.20\00:25:41.50
and we share
that life experience.
00:25:41.54\00:25:43.74
And so it's
important to understand
00:25:47.28\00:25:48.51
that church unity
is a spiritual gift
00:25:48.54\00:25:51.78
that comes from God.
00:25:51.81\00:25:53.48
Spiritual unity or church unity
is not something that we can,
00:25:53.52\00:25:58.99
kind of, materialize
00:25:59.02\00:26:01.12
or manifest in our own strength,
00:26:01.16\00:26:02.86
in our own wisdom,
in our own ability.
00:26:02.89\00:26:04.53
There's no special seminar
00:26:04.56\00:26:06.06
or formula that
we can come up with
00:26:06.09\00:26:07.93
outside of
connecting with Christ.
00:26:07.96\00:26:10.77
And so it's important for us
to understand that true unity
00:26:10.80\00:26:13.84
in the church is a
supernatural phenomenon.
00:26:13.87\00:26:17.44
The Holy Spirit
is at the foundation
00:26:17.47\00:26:19.91
of that unity.
00:26:19.94\00:26:21.38
And that's why it's important
when we find that our unity
00:26:21.41\00:26:23.75
is being threatened
00:26:23.78\00:26:24.81
that we find ourselves
more time on our knees, why?
00:26:24.85\00:26:28.25
Because it's only on our knees
asking for the Holy Spirit,
00:26:28.28\00:26:31.69
to soften our
hearts, to guide our minds,
00:26:31.72\00:26:35.06
and to help us to understand
00:26:35.09\00:26:36.76
where that unity
might be threatened
00:26:36.79\00:26:38.49
and how God would
have us do our part
00:26:38.53\00:26:41.50
to be able to
contribute to a better unity
00:26:41.53\00:26:43.60
within the church.
00:26:43.63\00:26:45.47
And so it's
very important for us
00:26:45.50\00:26:47.24
to understand that unity
is a spiritual gift from God,
00:26:47.27\00:26:50.51
just like the
other spiritual gifts
00:26:50.54\00:26:51.64
are given to us as well.
00:26:51.67\00:26:55.14
Well, we're going
to open our Bibles
00:26:55.18\00:26:56.21
here to 1 John 1:7,
00:26:56.24\00:26:59.48
and we're going
to have a volunteer
00:26:59.51\00:27:04.55
read that for us.
00:27:04.59\00:27:06.15
We're going near to
the end of the Bible.
00:27:06.19\00:27:08.86
1 John 1:7, we find
a very powerful verse
00:27:08.89\00:27:13.36
that not only shares the gospel
00:27:13.40\00:27:14.56
as we talked about
that draws us together,
00:27:14.60\00:27:16.16
but also the light of God.
00:27:16.20\00:27:18.73
1 John 1:7, who
is our volunteer?
00:27:18.77\00:27:21.10
Thank you, Hafdis.
00:27:21.14\00:27:22.77
1 John 1:7.
00:27:22.80\00:27:24.84
"But if we walk in the
light as He is in the light,
00:27:24.87\00:27:28.21
we have
fellowship with one another,
00:27:28.24\00:27:30.71
and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us
00:27:30.75\00:27:34.12
from all sin."
00:27:34.15\00:27:35.98
Okay. Thank you.
00:27:36.02\00:27:37.42
Okay.
00:27:37.45\00:27:38.52
So very powerful
text that brings us
00:27:38.55\00:27:42.12
to a very important question,
and the text is telling us
00:27:42.16\00:27:45.99
that if we walk in the
light as He is in the light,
00:27:46.03\00:27:48.50
then we have
something very special.
00:27:48.53\00:27:50.13
We have fellowship with who?
00:27:50.17\00:27:53.34
Well, we have
fellowship with Christ,
00:27:53.37\00:27:54.84
that's what other verses say.
00:27:54.87\00:27:55.90
But in this case,
it doesn't say that
00:27:55.94\00:27:57.11
we have fellowship with Christ,
00:27:57.14\00:27:58.31
but it says we have
fellowship with one another.
00:27:58.34\00:28:01.68
And so walking in that
light again, and so again,
00:28:01.71\00:28:04.55
not only having
our sins forgiven
00:28:04.58\00:28:06.48
and believing in the message,
00:28:06.51\00:28:07.48
but then also finding
that elimination of sin
00:28:07.52\00:28:10.99
in our life that makes us
much more lovable, and amiable,
00:28:11.02\00:28:14.36
and much better
people to get along with
00:28:14.39\00:28:16.42
and enjoy each
other much more, why?
00:28:16.46\00:28:17.99
Because now we're
replacing sin with love,
00:28:18.03\00:28:21.10
and with righteousness,
and truth, aren't we?
00:28:21.13\00:28:23.67
And so that's the beautiful,
00:28:23.70\00:28:25.37
powerful witness
that God has for us.
00:28:25.40\00:28:28.40
Now there's a
very important question
00:28:28.44\00:28:29.77
that we need to ask
ourselves at this juncture.
00:28:29.80\00:28:33.31
And this particular question
is one that has been asked
00:28:33.34\00:28:37.81
by many Christians,
and most of the time
00:28:37.85\00:28:40.05
they get the answer right,
00:28:40.08\00:28:41.08
and it's in line with the Bible.
00:28:41.12\00:28:42.32
But sometimes as a
pastor, over the years,
00:28:42.35\00:28:44.32
you are exposed to a
number of different theologies
00:28:44.35\00:28:47.82
and conclusions that aren't
so in line with the Bible,
00:28:47.86\00:28:51.13
and this is one of those.
00:28:51.16\00:28:54.50
And so what is the question?
00:28:54.56\00:28:55.83
When we find ourselves
as spirit filled believers,
00:28:55.86\00:29:00.07
does this mean
that all our works
00:29:00.10\00:29:01.50
and attitudes
of the flesh easily
00:29:01.54\00:29:03.30
and naturally
disappear without any effort?
00:29:03.34\00:29:05.71
Okay.
00:29:05.74\00:29:07.08
In other words, once we
come to surrender with Christ,
00:29:07.11\00:29:09.48
we confess our sins,
00:29:09.51\00:29:10.98
we ask for the
Holy Spirit in our life,
00:29:11.01\00:29:12.41
we become born again.
00:29:12.45\00:29:13.48
Does that mean that all
sins and attitudes and faults
00:29:13.52\00:29:17.22
in our character just
kind of fall to the wayside,
00:29:17.25\00:29:18.85
they just fall on the floor,
00:29:18.89\00:29:20.32
and we just walk in
the perfection of Christ
00:29:20.36\00:29:22.09
from that time forward?
00:29:22.12\00:29:25.06
No, some of your
smile doesn't say, you know,
00:29:25.09\00:29:27.60
some of you have been Christians
00:29:27.60\00:29:28.63
for more than a day.
00:29:28.66\00:29:30.33
And so because of that,
you've experienced that,
00:29:30.37\00:29:34.00
you know, not everything
disappears right away.
00:29:34.04\00:29:36.24
Now I don't
undermine the fact that,
00:29:36.27\00:29:37.67
and I know this by
personal experience,
00:29:37.71\00:29:39.14
when I was 21 years old,
00:29:39.17\00:29:40.71
that summer I
started to turn 21.
00:29:40.74\00:29:42.88
The Holy Spirit flooded
into my life as he has with you
00:29:42.91\00:29:46.05
when you opened
your heart to him,
00:29:46.08\00:29:47.58
and I started to experience
00:29:47.62\00:29:50.45
an elimination of sin in my life
00:29:50.49\00:29:51.82
that was just fantastic.
00:29:51.85\00:29:53.59
It was powerful
and it was a witness.
00:29:53.62\00:29:55.96
You know, even my mother,
00:29:55.99\00:29:57.03
who is still not a
full believer today,
00:29:57.06\00:29:59.16
you know, she confessed
to me about a year later.
00:29:59.19\00:30:01.20
She said, "Shawn, you
know, I have to confess.
00:30:01.23\00:30:02.66
There's something
very different about you.
00:30:02.70\00:30:05.07
You've changed."
00:30:05.10\00:30:06.30
And she didn't
give me the details,
00:30:06.33\00:30:08.10
but we both knew what
she was talking about,
00:30:08.14\00:30:10.04
you know?
00:30:10.07\00:30:11.11
Suddenly, I
wasn't self-centered.
00:30:11.14\00:30:13.21
Suddenly, all that
arrogance and vanity
00:30:13.24\00:30:15.91
and all these different things
00:30:15.94\00:30:17.01
that sin had cultivated
in my life had disappeared.
00:30:17.05\00:30:20.15
And so God had
made me new indeed.
00:30:20.18\00:30:22.82
"All things had become new."
00:30:22.85\00:30:25.12
And so that statement
in the Bible is very true.
00:30:25.15\00:30:28.62
But the fact of
the matter is that
00:30:28.66\00:30:30.39
not everything disappeared
during that first year.
00:30:30.43\00:30:34.10
And some of our sinful
weaknesses and attitudes,
00:30:34.10\00:30:37.27
we started to
discover after baptism,
00:30:37.30\00:30:38.97
they don't want to vacate quite
as fast as some of the others,
00:30:39.00\00:30:43.34
and they don't go away quite
as easy as some of the others.
00:30:43.37\00:30:48.51
And so we come
back to the question.
00:30:48.54\00:30:49.91
This brings us to a
very important question.
00:30:49.94\00:30:51.91
When we find ourselves
a spirit filled believers,
00:30:51.95\00:30:53.72
does this mean that all works
00:30:53.75\00:30:54.78
and attitudes
of our flesh easily
00:30:54.82\00:30:56.32
and naturally
disappear without any effort?
00:30:56.35\00:30:58.79
Well, no, not at all.
00:30:58.82\00:31:00.59
Did the scriptures tell us this?
00:31:00.62\00:31:03.06
Well, as it turns out,
when you go to the Bible,
00:31:03.09\00:31:04.96
there is just lots and lots...
00:31:04.99\00:31:06.59
In fact, the Bible is
loaded with hundreds of verses
00:31:06.63\00:31:10.57
instructing us
in God's holy ways.
00:31:10.60\00:31:15.24
Now, friends, the Bible
would be only half the size
00:31:15.27\00:31:17.91
if we removed all the scriptures
00:31:17.94\00:31:19.64
that tell us God's ways
00:31:19.67\00:31:21.24
and how He wants us
to live as Christians.
00:31:21.28\00:31:23.81
Now if everything just
kind of happened naturally,
00:31:23.85\00:31:26.18
why would He bother
putting half of the verses
00:31:26.21\00:31:28.95
that are found in the
Bible telling us how to live?
00:31:28.98\00:31:31.22
If we just live
naturally and easily
00:31:31.25\00:31:33.49
and without any effort,
00:31:33.52\00:31:35.02
we wouldn't need
half the Bible, would we?
00:31:35.06\00:31:36.86
Okay.
00:31:36.89\00:31:37.89
Is there Bible
instruction that tells us
00:31:37.93\00:31:40.80
how God wants us to live
after we become born again,
00:31:40.83\00:31:44.27
after we're baptized?
00:31:44.30\00:31:45.93
Sure, there is, isn't there?
00:31:45.97\00:31:46.97
Okay.
00:31:47.00\00:31:48.04
That's why we
keep coming back to it.
00:31:48.07\00:31:49.90
That's why we
keep coming back to it.
00:31:49.94\00:31:52.34
We wouldn't need
all that instruction
00:31:52.37\00:31:54.54
if it came easily.
00:31:54.58\00:31:56.44
Well, the first example,
00:31:56.48\00:31:57.58
let's look at a
couple of Bible examples
00:31:57.61\00:31:58.88
before that.
00:31:58.91\00:32:00.55
One of the most obvious
ones is Exodus Chapter 20,
00:32:00.58\00:32:02.85
we have the Ten Commandments.
00:32:02.88\00:32:04.55
If we kept the Ten
Commandments naturally,
00:32:04.59\00:32:06.19
we wouldn't need the Ten
Commandments in the Bible,
00:32:06.22\00:32:07.99
would we?
00:32:08.02\00:32:09.06
But we have them there, why?
00:32:09.09\00:32:10.03
Because God is there
not only to instruct us
00:32:10.06\00:32:12.23
when we first are baptized
and want to walk with Him,
00:32:12.26\00:32:14.73
but He keeps reminding us
00:32:14.73\00:32:15.86
as we come back to
those Ten Commandments.
00:32:15.90\00:32:18.43
And so that's important as well.
00:32:18.47\00:32:20.64
What about the Love Chapter?
00:32:20.67\00:32:22.84
1 Corinthians, Chapter 13,
we find the key verses there
00:32:22.87\00:32:25.67
that describe true
love in verses 4 through 6.
00:32:25.71\00:32:30.15
Now this is not a small passage
00:32:30.18\00:32:33.01
and these are very
important verses, why?
00:32:33.05\00:32:35.68
Because Jesus said, "The
two greatest commandments
00:32:35.72\00:32:37.95
in the Bible is to
love the Lord, your God,
00:32:37.99\00:32:40.69
with all your heart,
your soul, and your mind,
00:32:40.72\00:32:41.92
and to love your
neighbor as yourself."
00:32:41.96\00:32:44.86
Okay.
00:32:44.89\00:32:45.89
Now that love is expressed
00:32:45.93\00:32:47.13
through the Ten
Commandments as well.
00:32:47.13\00:32:48.50
The first four
is in relationship
00:32:48.53\00:32:50.47
to our love
relationship with God
00:32:50.50\00:32:51.93
and the last six is
regarding our love relationship
00:32:51.97\00:32:54.70
with each other as human beings.
00:32:54.74\00:32:56.54
But is that the
end of the story?
00:32:56.57\00:32:57.97
No.
00:32:58.01\00:32:59.01
And Jesus says that we
shall love our neighbor,
00:32:59.04\00:33:00.98
the second greatest
commandment in all the Bible.
00:33:01.01\00:33:03.18
He also gave us the Love Chapter
00:33:03.21\00:33:04.75
in verses 4 to 6 in verse 13
00:33:04.78\00:33:07.22
to tell us more
about what love is.
00:33:07.25\00:33:10.32
He tells us that love
suffers long and is kind.
00:33:10.35\00:33:13.99
Love does not envy,
okay, that's jealousy again.
00:33:14.02\00:33:17.59
Love does not parade itself.
00:33:17.63\00:33:19.33
What does that
mean, parade itself?
00:33:19.36\00:33:22.26
Okay, somebody said to
show off, okay, to brag.
00:33:22.30\00:33:25.77
If you're to love your neighbor,
00:33:25.80\00:33:28.00
you're not going to
brag to your neighbor,
00:33:28.04\00:33:29.27
you're not going to show off.
00:33:29.30\00:33:31.44
Love is not puffed up.
00:33:31.47\00:33:32.97
That's arrogance, and
vanity, and self-centeredness.
00:33:33.01\00:33:36.34
Love does not behave rudely.
00:33:36.38\00:33:39.15
So every time we behave
rudely to another human being,
00:33:39.18\00:33:41.98
we've broken the
second greatest commandment
00:33:42.02\00:33:44.42
in the Bible.
00:33:44.45\00:33:47.29
Have you ever
confessed at the end of the day?
00:33:47.32\00:33:48.96
Lord, forgive me
for being rude today
00:33:48.99\00:33:52.49
for breaking the
second greatest commandment
00:33:52.53\00:33:54.30
in the Bible.
00:33:54.36\00:33:57.70
Love does not seek its own.
00:33:57.73\00:33:59.40
In other words,
it's not selfishness,
00:33:59.43\00:34:00.70
not self-centered.
00:34:00.74\00:34:02.74
Love is not
provoked. There is another one.
00:34:02.77\00:34:05.27
Lord, please forgive
me for being provoked
00:34:05.31\00:34:06.98
on the road today.
00:34:07.01\00:34:08.94
I was coming down the I-80,
00:34:08.98\00:34:10.51
and well, you
know what happened.
00:34:10.55\00:34:12.31
I don't want to go
over the details again,
00:34:12.35\00:34:13.68
but Lord, I was provoked today.
00:34:13.72\00:34:15.35
Please forgive me for breaking
00:34:15.38\00:34:17.99
Your second
greatest commandment.
00:34:18.02\00:34:20.29
Love thinks no evil.
00:34:20.32\00:34:21.86
It does not rejoice in iniquity
but rejoices in the truth.
00:34:21.89\00:34:27.50
Romans 13:1, and
then also verses 6 and 7.
00:34:27.56\00:34:30.97
It says, "Let
every soul be subject
00:34:31.00\00:34:32.40
to the governing authorities.
00:34:32.43\00:34:34.54
For because of this,
you'll also pay taxes."
00:34:34.57\00:34:37.07
Now, I've met more than
a couple of church members
00:34:37.11\00:34:38.84
that don't like the
government, and not so convinced
00:34:38.87\00:34:41.21
that they should obey
and submit to the government.
00:34:41.24\00:34:43.81
I've also met
some church members
00:34:43.85\00:34:45.01
that are not always convinced
00:34:45.05\00:34:46.08
that they
should pay their taxes.
00:34:46.11\00:34:47.92
Okay.
00:34:47.95\00:34:49.02
In other words,
00:34:49.05\00:34:50.12
that part
doesn't come naturally,
00:34:50.15\00:34:51.82
we have to surrender
and make a prayerful effort
00:34:51.85\00:34:55.12
to be able to obey God in
concern to paying our taxes
00:34:55.16\00:34:59.19
even if we don't like it.
00:34:59.23\00:35:01.36
God calls us to do it.
00:35:01.40\00:35:03.30
Yeah.
00:35:03.33\00:35:05.20
"Paying taxes, for
they are God's ministers
00:35:05.23\00:35:06.74
attending
continually to this very thing.
00:35:06.77\00:35:08.80
Render therefore
to all their due:
00:35:08.84\00:35:10.64
taxes to whom taxes are due,
00:35:10.67\00:35:12.17
customs to
customs, fear to whom fear,
00:35:12.21\00:35:14.24
and honor to whom honor."
00:35:14.28\00:35:15.51
We are to honor
our political leaders
00:35:15.54\00:35:18.28
even if we don't like them.
00:35:18.31\00:35:19.38
We may not agree with everything
00:35:19.41\00:35:20.88
that they're doing,
or that they believe in,
00:35:20.92\00:35:22.62
or that they're pushing for.
00:35:22.65\00:35:23.59
We still are called
to honor them, aren't we?
00:35:23.62\00:35:27.02
We're still called to
give the due customs as well.
00:35:27.06\00:35:32.59
Ephesians 4:25-32.
00:35:32.63\00:35:37.23
It says,
"Therefore, putting away lying,
00:35:37.27\00:35:39.77
'Let each of you speak
truth with his neighbor,'
00:35:39.80\00:35:42.90
for we are
members of one another.
00:35:42.94\00:35:45.14
'Be angry, and do not sin.'"
00:35:45.17\00:35:46.51
Now this is Paul
speaking to church members.
00:35:46.54\00:35:50.05
"And do not sin.
00:35:50.08\00:35:51.15
Do not let the sun
go down on your wrath."
00:35:51.18\00:35:53.05
In other words, make sure that
you get a hold of your temper.
00:35:53.08\00:35:57.12
"Do not give place to the devil.
00:35:57.15\00:35:58.95
Let him who
stole steal no longer,
00:35:58.99\00:36:01.92
but rather let him labor,
00:36:01.96\00:36:03.32
working with his
hands what is good,
00:36:03.36\00:36:04.83
that he may have something
to give to him who has need."
00:36:04.86\00:36:07.66
And so in other words,
00:36:07.66\00:36:08.73
the Bible here is instructing
a believing ex-thief,
00:36:08.76\00:36:13.00
and he's saying, "Listen,
rather than steal any more,
00:36:13.03\00:36:15.87
you need to do the opposite.
00:36:15.90\00:36:17.07
You need to
turn it right upside.
00:36:17.11\00:36:18.47
Turn your life
completely upside down.
00:36:18.51\00:36:20.11
Rather than taking
what doesn't belong to you
00:36:20.14\00:36:21.88
for your benefit,
00:36:21.91\00:36:22.91
now go out and
make a honest living
00:36:22.94\00:36:25.05
with good, hard,
productive labor,
00:36:25.08\00:36:27.32
and then take those proceeds
00:36:27.35\00:36:28.68
to not only feed
yourself and your family,
00:36:28.72\00:36:30.02
now, to give to
those who have a need.
00:36:30.05\00:36:31.79
So rather than
taking from people,
00:36:31.82\00:36:33.79
now you go out and give."
00:36:33.82\00:36:35.52
It's a beautiful
picture, isn't it?
00:36:35.56\00:36:38.13
And so there are those
within the Ephesians' church
00:36:38.16\00:36:41.86
that were listening
and saying, "You know what?
00:36:41.90\00:36:43.57
I need to do that."
00:36:43.60\00:36:45.13
"Let no corrupt word
proceed out of your mouth."
00:36:45.17\00:36:49.27
Now there is a good counsel.
00:36:49.30\00:36:51.24
You know, as a pastor,
sometimes we're in the room
00:36:51.27\00:36:53.48
and some church members
don't realize it at first,
00:36:53.51\00:36:57.88
and they're
sharing in a conversation
00:36:57.91\00:37:00.18
with somebody else on the
phone or another church member,
00:37:00.22\00:37:02.92
and they're using some language
that I know they wouldn't use
00:37:02.95\00:37:05.12
if they knew I was in the room.
00:37:05.15\00:37:08.82
You know, God calls us to let
00:37:08.86\00:37:10.53
no corrupt word
proceed from our mouth.
00:37:10.56\00:37:12.59
In other words, God
is saying, "Listen,"
00:37:12.63\00:37:14.86
one of the
beautiful and powerful things
00:37:14.93\00:37:16.93
that come with being born
again as a believer is that
00:37:16.97\00:37:19.87
you start to eliminate
some of your vocabulary.
00:37:19.90\00:37:23.97
And there are certain
words they used to use
00:37:24.01\00:37:26.01
that you don't use anymore.
00:37:26.04\00:37:27.98
And so God is
instructing us in these things.
00:37:28.01\00:37:31.28
And sometimes, that
doesn't disappear right away.
00:37:31.31\00:37:34.68
You know, I've
had church members
00:37:34.72\00:37:35.72
that have been sincere
Christians for many years,
00:37:35.75\00:37:37.59
and they'll say to me,
"You know, the other day,
00:37:37.62\00:37:39.09
it slipped out, you know?"
00:37:39.12\00:37:41.09
Again, "Somebody
provoked me on the road,
00:37:41.12\00:37:43.56
and I said something
that I shouldn't have,
00:37:43.59\00:37:45.36
and so I had to confess."
00:37:45.39\00:37:47.00
How did they know that it
was wrong when it happened?
00:37:47.03\00:37:50.23
Well, there was
conviction from the Holy Spirit,
00:37:50.27\00:37:52.30
but that
conviction was much strong
00:37:52.33\00:37:54.87
because of the fact that
they had read the instruction
00:37:54.90\00:37:57.31
where God had several
times in the Bible told us that
00:37:57.34\00:37:59.91
we should have clean language.
00:37:59.94\00:38:03.21
And so it's that instruction
that's important for us
00:38:03.24\00:38:05.88
to understand
00:38:05.91\00:38:07.12
and how valuable it is.
00:38:07.15\00:38:12.29
Before we read the rest
of this particular passage,
00:38:12.32\00:38:14.29
I'm thinking of
Proverbs, and once...
00:38:14.32\00:38:16.99
I've read through
Proverbs many times,
00:38:17.03\00:38:18.59
but we were studying it
through our midweek study once,
00:38:18.63\00:38:20.66
verse by verse.
00:38:20.70\00:38:22.33
And as we're going
through the Proverbs,
00:38:22.36\00:38:23.70
as you go through the
first several chapters,
00:38:23.73\00:38:25.20
you'll see there that God says
over and over and over again,
00:38:25.23\00:38:27.77
"Do not get
caught up in adultery.
00:38:27.80\00:38:29.64
Do not lust after one
another and do not, you know,
00:38:29.67\00:38:31.61
watch out, and
stay your distance
00:38:31.64\00:38:32.81
from seductress woman or
seductress men and so on,
00:38:32.84\00:38:36.58
seducing men
and seducing women."
00:38:36.61\00:38:38.95
You know, but He doesn't say
once or twice or three times,
00:38:38.98\00:38:41.92
He says it like
these many times.
00:38:41.95\00:38:46.02
You know, did we understand
it the first three times?
00:38:46.05\00:38:48.66
Yes.
00:38:48.69\00:38:49.92
Then why does
He say it 12 times?
00:38:49.96\00:38:52.63
Well, because He knows that
00:38:52.66\00:38:53.70
we're slow at hearing sometimes,
00:38:53.73\00:38:55.00
and that He knows how important
00:38:55.03\00:38:56.26
that instruction is.
00:38:56.30\00:38:57.77
God has been watching
us for many centuries,
00:38:57.80\00:38:59.77
and He know how easily
we can fall into adultery.
00:38:59.80\00:39:03.30
Does adultery
happen today in America?
00:39:03.34\00:39:06.41
Sure it does, doesn't it? Okay.
00:39:06.44\00:39:07.98
Adultery is a rampant problem
00:39:08.01\00:39:09.28
that we have in
our society today.
00:39:09.31\00:39:11.28
And the church is
not exempt from that.
00:39:11.31\00:39:12.81
Now the rate is much lower
fortunately within the church,
00:39:12.85\00:39:15.18
but being a
Christian doesn't mean that
00:39:15.22\00:39:17.25
you're
automatically immune to that.
00:39:17.29\00:39:18.79
And so God
repeats it dozens of times
00:39:18.82\00:39:21.06
throughout the Bible
to protect our marriage,
00:39:21.09\00:39:23.53
and to protect our relationship
with each other, and with God.
00:39:23.56\00:39:26.59
And so He gives us
that important instruction.
00:39:26.63\00:39:31.83
Yes. Where were we? Verse 29.
00:39:31.87\00:39:33.30
"Let no corrupt word
proceed from your mouth,
00:39:33.34\00:39:34.80
but what is good for
necessary edification,
00:39:34.84\00:39:37.34
that it may impart
grace to the hearers.
00:39:37.37\00:39:39.17
Do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God,
00:39:39.21\00:39:41.38
by whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption.
00:39:41.41\00:39:43.51
Let all bitterness,
wrath, anger, clamor,
00:39:43.55\00:39:49.02
evil speaking be put away
from you, with all malice.
00:39:49.05\00:39:53.36
And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted,
00:39:53.39\00:39:56.56
forgiving one another,
00:39:56.59\00:39:58.09
even as God in
Christ forgave you."
00:39:58.13\00:40:02.96
Is that very clear
obvious instruction?
00:40:03.00\00:40:06.63
Sure it is, isn't it? Okay.
00:40:06.67\00:40:08.57
So as a Christian,
00:40:08.60\00:40:09.77
we can walk through
life and not even realize,
00:40:09.80\00:40:11.47
"Hey, wait a minute,
you mean, God doesn't...
00:40:11.51\00:40:12.81
You know, if we don't
come to this instruction,
00:40:12.84\00:40:14.61
we might not even understand
that God wants to take
00:40:14.64\00:40:16.91
all malice out of our
heart or bitterness and so on."
00:40:16.95\00:40:20.68
And so these
things He gives to us,
00:40:20.72\00:40:23.42
and if He knew He didn't have
to have it instructed to us,
00:40:23.45\00:40:26.15
He wouldn't have
put it in the Bible.
00:40:26.19\00:40:27.99
And so the very fact
that we find it repeated
00:40:28.02\00:40:29.76
over and over and
the Bible tells us that
00:40:29.79\00:40:31.19
He knows how often
that we need to hear it,
00:40:31.23\00:40:33.80
and we need to be
instructed more than once
00:40:33.83\00:40:36.70
through our experience.
00:40:36.73\00:40:39.87
And so all of
this reveals something
00:40:39.90\00:40:41.27
very, very important in
response to the question
00:40:41.30\00:40:43.27
that I proposed,
00:40:43.30\00:40:44.67
and that is that God knows
that it is important for us
00:40:44.71\00:40:47.91
to cooperate
with His instruction
00:40:47.94\00:40:51.21
through
prayerful conscious effort.
00:40:51.25\00:40:54.98
It's a decision that
we need to make daily.
00:40:55.02\00:40:57.75
When we get up in the morning,
God is calling us to daily ask
00:40:57.79\00:41:00.22
for the baptism
of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:00.26\00:41:02.16
"Fill me with the Holy
Spirit that I might not be left
00:41:02.19\00:41:04.89
in walking without you today,
00:41:04.93\00:41:07.23
and then also deciding
that I'm going to surrender
00:41:07.30\00:41:10.17
and obey You today.
00:41:10.20\00:41:11.80
I'm giving You my
decided obedience,
00:41:11.83\00:41:14.94
my conscious obedience.
00:41:14.97\00:41:16.77
I'm going to
cooperate with You."
00:41:16.81\00:41:18.34
And sometimes, obeying God
00:41:18.37\00:41:20.54
as a born again
believer is not easy.
00:41:20.58\00:41:22.01
Sometimes you
don't want to obey Him.
00:41:22.04\00:41:25.75
But God is saying,
listen, even in times
00:41:25.78\00:41:27.35
when you don't want to obey Him,
00:41:27.38\00:41:29.65
you're going to
decide to obey Him anyway.
00:41:29.68\00:41:32.12
And that's part
00:41:32.15\00:41:33.15
of the Christian
growth experience,
00:41:33.19\00:41:34.76
and part of that
also is confessing
00:41:34.79\00:41:36.99
when we fall short.
00:41:37.03\00:41:38.36
And then what do we do?
00:41:38.39\00:41:39.83
We pray for
forgiveness of the sins,
00:41:39.86\00:41:42.83
but what else do we pray for?
00:41:42.86\00:41:45.60
We pray for the victory
over that sin, don't we?
00:41:45.63\00:41:48.07
And so we say,
00:41:48.10\00:41:49.14
"Lord, not only
forgive me for that sin,
00:41:49.17\00:41:50.51
but please give
me better victory
00:41:50.54\00:41:52.54
over this particular weakness
in my life in the future."
00:41:52.57\00:41:55.94
And that's the kind of
prayers that God is looking for.
00:41:55.98\00:41:58.41
And I fear that
we're not bringing
00:41:58.45\00:42:00.12
those prayers to Him
as often as we should.
00:42:00.15\00:42:02.48
This should be a
daily experience,
00:42:02.52\00:42:05.09
you know, Lord,
help me, give me victory
00:42:05.12\00:42:06.99
over these different faults
in my character and in my life.
00:42:07.02\00:42:11.53
Well, come with me to
one of my favorite verses.
00:42:11.56\00:42:13.23
It's in the same
neighborhood as 1 John,
00:42:13.26\00:42:15.20
it's 1 Peter which
is just one book back.
00:42:15.23\00:42:18.10
1 Peter 1:22.
00:42:21.07\00:42:24.87
1 Peter 1:22.
00:42:24.91\00:42:27.68
In verse 22, it says,
"Since you have purified
00:42:32.38\00:42:34.68
your souls in obeying
the truth through the Spirit
00:42:34.72\00:42:38.75
in sincere love
of the brethren."
00:42:38.79\00:42:40.79
And so there again you
have that full picture there.
00:42:40.82\00:42:44.26
You have purified your
souls in obeying the truth,
00:42:44.29\00:42:46.39
make it a cited
obedience and surrendered to God
00:42:46.43\00:42:49.03
through the help
of the Holy Spirit.
00:42:49.06\00:42:50.77
Of course, we never want
to find ourselves doing it
00:42:50.80\00:42:52.60
by ourselves.
00:42:52.63\00:42:53.74
So the first
thing we ask every day
00:42:53.77\00:42:55.27
is for the Holy Spirit,
00:42:55.30\00:42:56.94
and then we ask for Him
to give us victory over sin,
00:42:56.97\00:43:00.41
and make a
decision for obedience.
00:43:00.44\00:43:04.08
Yeah.
00:43:04.11\00:43:05.38
We get ourselves in big trouble
for not doing it in the Spirit.
00:43:05.41\00:43:08.22
"In sincere
love of the brethren,
00:43:08.25\00:43:09.75
love one another lackadaisically
00:43:09.78\00:43:14.52
with a pure heart."
00:43:14.56\00:43:17.46
Is that what it says? No.
00:43:17.49\00:43:19.36
It says, "Love one
and one another fervently
00:43:19.39\00:43:21.83
with a pure heart."
00:43:21.86\00:43:23.03
And so how much
love should God see
00:43:23.06\00:43:24.80
with one another
as fellow believers?
00:43:24.83\00:43:27.44
Fervent love for one another.
00:43:27.47\00:43:29.84
And so I love that.
00:43:29.87\00:43:30.97
I just love that
verse because many times
00:43:31.01\00:43:32.77
it says that we
should love each other,
00:43:32.81\00:43:33.98
but here Paul has
got us inspired...
00:43:34.01\00:43:36.08
Peter, I should say to
put in there fervently.
00:43:36.11\00:43:38.61
What as powerful, powerful
adjective to be able to add
00:43:38.65\00:43:42.98
to that action of
love that God has for us.
00:43:43.02\00:43:44.95
And so there should
be a very fervent love
00:43:44.99\00:43:47.76
that we have for one another.
00:43:47.79\00:43:48.92
When people see
us, they should say,
00:43:48.96\00:43:50.23
"There's just something
different about those people.
00:43:50.26\00:43:53.16
There's something special.
00:43:53.19\00:43:54.56
They have this
fervent love for one another."
00:43:54.60\00:43:57.57
All right.
00:43:57.60\00:43:58.67
We're going to run out of
time if we don't get to our
00:43:58.70\00:44:00.97
second volunteer here.
00:44:01.00\00:44:02.00
Ephesians 1:7.
00:44:02.04\00:44:06.07
We're going to go to Ephesians
00:44:06.11\00:44:07.61
Chapter 1,
00:44:10.91\00:44:11.85
and we're going to
read verses 7 through 10.
00:44:11.88\00:44:14.98
Ephesians 1:7-10.
00:44:15.02\00:44:20.49
Ephesians 1:7-10.
00:44:20.52\00:44:23.09
"In Him we have
redemption through His blood,
00:44:23.12\00:44:25.69
the forgiveness of sins,
00:44:25.73\00:44:27.10
according to the
riches of His grace
00:44:27.13\00:44:29.76
which He made
to abound toward us
00:44:29.80\00:44:31.80
in all wisdom and prudence,
00:44:31.83\00:44:34.10
having made known to us
the mystery of His will,
00:44:34.14\00:44:37.11
according to His good pleasure
which He purposed in Himself,
00:44:37.14\00:44:41.48
that in the dispensation
of the fullness of the things
00:44:41.51\00:44:45.61
He might gather together
in one all things in Christ,
00:44:45.65\00:44:48.65
both which are in heaven
00:44:48.68\00:44:50.45
and which are on earth, in Him."
00:44:50.49\00:44:53.52
Okay. Thank you.
00:44:53.56\00:44:55.66
So here we have a very powerful,
00:44:55.69\00:44:57.43
very deep passage here
where Paul is reflecting
00:44:57.46\00:44:59.69
on the greatest act of love
00:44:59.73\00:45:02.80
that God has
given to the planet,
00:45:02.83\00:45:04.47
and not only to the planet,
but as we read in verse 10,
00:45:04.50\00:45:06.77
and we'll expand
on that in a moment,
00:45:06.80\00:45:08.67
to the whole universe
of intelligent beings.
00:45:08.70\00:45:12.04
And so when Jesus had purposed
00:45:12.07\00:45:14.34
and then went
through with that plan
00:45:14.38\00:45:16.41
and died on that cross,
00:45:16.44\00:45:19.38
there is a
powerful gospel and message,
00:45:19.41\00:45:21.78
a foundational truth
that draws us together
00:45:21.82\00:45:24.29
as Christians.
00:45:24.32\00:45:25.42
It is the great hope
that God gives to us,
00:45:25.45\00:45:27.22
that voluntary cross.
00:45:27.26\00:45:29.52
That is not only
00:45:29.56\00:45:30.59
the foundational
truth of the gospel,
00:45:30.63\00:45:32.06
but it's the
ultimate vindication
00:45:32.09\00:45:33.43
of God's true character.
00:45:33.46\00:45:35.63
When Jesus died on that cross,
00:45:35.66\00:45:37.40
it was the last elimination
of any nagging thoughts
00:45:37.43\00:45:40.14
or doubts or questions
00:45:40.17\00:45:41.24
that were in the
minds of any angels
00:45:41.27\00:45:43.71
in all of heaven
and all the universe
00:45:43.74\00:45:46.01
because they saw there,
the true character of Satan
00:45:46.04\00:45:48.88
being revealed for its fullness
and in the fruit of the pathway
00:45:48.91\00:45:52.05
that he had chose in
rebellion, but it also revealed
00:45:52.08\00:45:54.72
the great truth of the
heart of who God really is,
00:45:54.75\00:45:59.32
that God indeed has
the best interest of us
00:45:59.35\00:46:02.12
in mind at all times,
00:46:02.16\00:46:04.16
not just most of
the time, all time.
00:46:04.19\00:46:05.96
And because of that,
00:46:05.99\00:46:07.03
we can believe
everything that God says.
00:46:07.03\00:46:10.50
Anything that God tells you
and I, we can trust implicitly,
00:46:10.53\00:46:13.87
and know that He has our
best interest in mind, why?
00:46:13.90\00:46:17.04
Because He was willing to
go to the ends of the universe
00:46:17.07\00:46:19.34
and do anything He
needed to be able to save us.
00:46:19.37\00:46:22.28
That's how much He loves us,
00:46:22.31\00:46:24.38
including a horrible,
terrible death on the cross.
00:46:24.41\00:46:29.02
And so this is the great hope.
00:46:29.05\00:46:31.32
You know, what
reflects on Genesis Chapter 3
00:46:31.35\00:46:33.09
where we have that
historical conversation
00:46:33.12\00:46:35.69
between the
serpent who has been used
00:46:35.72\00:46:38.09
by Satan and that of Eve.
00:46:38.13\00:46:40.10
And as they were talking,
you know, the serpent started,
00:46:40.13\00:46:42.20
"Has God truly said that
you shall not eat of every tree
00:46:42.23\00:46:44.60
of the garden?"
00:46:44.63\00:46:46.37
And then she rightly, you know,
00:46:46.40\00:46:47.87
reflects upon God's
orders, and says, "No.
00:46:47.90\00:46:49.57
God has warned us, and
told us that we can eat of
00:46:49.60\00:46:51.57
all the trees of the
garden except just the one,
00:46:51.61\00:46:53.94
the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil."
00:46:53.98\00:46:56.81
And then he went on, the
serpent responded and said,
00:46:56.85\00:46:58.85
"Well, you will not surely die,
00:46:58.88\00:47:01.72
and not only that but
God is holding back on you.
00:47:01.75\00:47:03.62
You can't trust
everything that God...
00:47:03.65\00:47:05.45
God doesn't have your
best interest in mind fully.
00:47:05.49\00:47:07.79
He's holding back on you.
00:47:07.82\00:47:09.02
He doesn't want you to
be like gods and be like me
00:47:09.06\00:47:11.26
and have freedom and
liberty to be able to have
00:47:11.29\00:47:13.26
the knowledge of
good as well as evil."
00:47:13.29\00:47:16.73
And that same...
00:47:16.77\00:47:18.13
By the way, that
same conversation
00:47:18.17\00:47:20.30
was also started in heaven
00:47:20.34\00:47:22.44
as the great rebellion
of Lucifer started in heaven
00:47:22.47\00:47:25.07
even before it
came to the earth.
00:47:25.11\00:47:26.78
We find that in
Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28,
00:47:26.81\00:47:29.34
Revelation, Chapter 12.
00:47:29.38\00:47:30.91
Opens the windows for us
and helps us to be able to see
00:47:30.95\00:47:33.68
that that rebellion
actually began in heaven.
00:47:33.72\00:47:35.38
And so the very same
words that Lucifer had won
00:47:35.42\00:47:38.65
a third of the angels
in heaven into rebellion
00:47:38.69\00:47:40.72
with was the same
words that he shared
00:47:40.76\00:47:42.52
with our first
mother and father.
00:47:42.56\00:47:44.93
And so we need to be
able to draw away from that
00:47:44.96\00:47:47.66
and come to the
cross and know that
00:47:47.66\00:47:49.60
when we come to this great truth
00:47:49.63\00:47:50.97
of God's great love for us
00:47:51.00\00:47:52.50
and His sacrifice
that we can trust Him
00:47:52.53\00:47:55.64
implicitly as His
citizens of His kingdom.
00:47:55.67\00:47:59.07
By the way, the Bible
tells us that God has citizens
00:47:59.11\00:48:01.34
not only on earth,
00:48:01.38\00:48:02.34
but He also has citizens
in His kingdom in heaven.
00:48:02.38\00:48:05.78
Millions upon billions of angels
00:48:05.81\00:48:09.02
are also part of
His great kingdom.
00:48:09.05\00:48:12.55
And what I like about verse
10 is that it's the great end
00:48:12.59\00:48:15.82
to the great controversy.
00:48:15.86\00:48:17.26
This great battle
between good and evil,
00:48:17.29\00:48:19.46
this war that is taking place
between Christ and His angels,
00:48:19.49\00:48:23.16
and between
Satan and his angels,
00:48:23.20\00:48:25.40
which are also
called demons, by the way.
00:48:25.43\00:48:28.54
And so there's this great
warfare that's taking place.
00:48:28.57\00:48:30.81
But verse 10 tells us,
00:48:30.84\00:48:32.21
"That through the dispensation
of the fullness of times
00:48:32.24\00:48:34.71
He might gather
together in one..."
00:48:34.74\00:48:36.54
And how many?
00:48:36.58\00:48:38.01
"In one all things in Christ,
00:48:38.05\00:48:40.18
both which are in heaven
00:48:40.22\00:48:41.88
and which are on earth, in Him."
00:48:41.92\00:48:43.35
And so Christ's death on
the cross did not only win
00:48:43.39\00:48:45.82
a great and powerful
unity among us as believers,
00:48:45.85\00:48:49.39
but it also won an eternal unity
00:48:49.42\00:48:51.93
amongst the
angels of heaven as well,
00:48:51.96\00:48:54.60
those who are in heaven.
00:48:54.63\00:48:55.83
And so the cross is
where Jesus won the battle.
00:48:55.86\00:49:00.30
This is where the
battle was finally won.
00:49:00.34\00:49:01.84
Now He's letting some
of the things play out
00:49:01.87\00:49:03.51
that we might be able
to learn our lesson in,
00:49:03.54\00:49:05.51
and know that
indeed the cross of Christ,
00:49:05.54\00:49:07.88
and the character of
God is worth trusting,
00:49:07.91\00:49:10.65
and can be trusted implicitly,
00:49:10.68\00:49:13.11
and the words of Satan really
00:49:13.15\00:49:15.88
are not the better pathway.
00:49:15.92\00:49:19.35
And so in page 75,
00:49:19.39\00:49:22.99
we'll close with
that because I see that
00:49:23.02\00:49:24.69
we're coming to a
close in regards to our time.
00:49:24.73\00:49:27.56
And so let's go to page 75.
00:49:27.60\00:49:29.30
And I'm going to read a quote
again from Ellen White here,
00:49:33.70\00:49:38.77
and this comes from The
Signs of the Times, 1902.
00:49:38.81\00:49:41.64
It says, "What Christ
was in His life on this earth
00:49:41.68\00:49:45.41
that every Christian is to be."
00:49:45.45\00:49:47.55
In other words, the
way that Christ lived
00:49:47.58\00:49:49.15
is the way that we are to live.
00:49:49.18\00:49:51.25
"He is our example not
only in a spotless purity
00:49:51.29\00:49:56.46
but in patience,
in His gentleness,
00:49:56.49\00:50:01.00
and in His winsome disposition."
00:50:01.03\00:50:04.23
Isn't that fascinating?
00:50:04.27\00:50:05.90
And so she points
out, she is inspired by God
00:50:05.93\00:50:07.80
to tell us that not
only are we to imitate
00:50:07.84\00:50:10.34
and emulate His
perfect moral purity,
00:50:10.37\00:50:13.84
but also we are to remember
that we are to be like Jesus
00:50:13.88\00:50:16.38
in His patience, His gentleness,
00:50:16.41\00:50:18.55
His winsomeness of disposition.
00:50:18.58\00:50:21.45
And so God has a
character development in us
00:50:21.48\00:50:24.55
that includes
the Ten Commandments
00:50:24.59\00:50:25.79
but it also involves
00:50:25.82\00:50:27.49
some of these
different attitudes
00:50:27.52\00:50:29.09
and character
traits that God wants us
00:50:29.12\00:50:31.63
to have just like Jesus as well.
00:50:31.66\00:50:35.70
Well, there is
a few other things
00:50:35.73\00:50:36.83
that we want to look at here,
00:50:36.87\00:50:38.03
but unfortunately
we're out of time.
00:50:38.07\00:50:41.00
But God continues to bless us,
00:50:41.04\00:50:43.14
and give us unity
as we come together,
00:50:43.17\00:50:45.01
and as we give that
second powerful witness
00:50:45.04\00:50:47.81
to the world,
00:50:47.84\00:50:48.88
and that is the experience
and character of Christ
00:50:48.91\00:50:51.21
working through us.
00:50:51.25\00:50:53.01
God bless you.
00:50:53.05\00:50:54.25
Thank you for joining us here
on Sabbath School Study Hour.
00:50:54.28\00:50:56.82
We look forward to
having you join us next week
00:50:56.85\00:50:58.89
and we wish you a blessed week.
00:50:58.92\00:51:00.49
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00:51:32.59\00:51:35.89
Hello, friends.
00:51:44.97\00:51:46.13
We all know a
marathon is one of the longest
00:51:46.17\00:51:48.04
and hardest
races a person can run.
00:51:48.07\00:51:50.51
But did you hear
about the ultramarathon
00:51:50.54\00:51:52.74
they used to have in Australia?
00:51:52.77\00:51:54.81
It was 544 miles
from Melbourne to Sydney.
00:51:54.84\00:51:58.61
It attracted as many as
150 world class athletes.
00:51:58.65\00:52:02.58
But then something happened
that no one would ever forget.
00:52:02.62\00:52:05.12
In 1983, a 61-year-old
potato farmer named Cliff Young
00:52:05.15\00:52:10.13
decided to enter the race.
00:52:10.16\00:52:11.86
People were very amused
00:52:11.89\00:52:12.83
because he had on
rubber galoshes over his boots.
00:52:12.86\00:52:16.10
And when the race began
and all the runners took off,
00:52:16.13\00:52:19.00
sure enough, old
Cliff was left behind
00:52:19.03\00:52:21.20
shuffling along very slowly,
00:52:21.24\00:52:23.44
but he was
shuffling very persistently.
00:52:23.47\00:52:26.07
Normally, during
this seven-day race,
00:52:26.11\00:52:28.31
the runners would go
about 18 hours running
00:52:28.34\00:52:30.98
and then they'd
sleep for six hours.
00:52:31.01\00:52:32.98
But nobody ever told Cliff that.
00:52:33.01\00:52:35.32
When the other runners stopped
to rest during the night,
00:52:35.35\00:52:37.95
Cliff just kept on running.
00:52:37.99\00:52:39.95
Some people were afraid
00:52:39.99\00:52:40.92
old Cliff was going
to have a heart attack,
00:52:40.96\00:52:42.99
and they were
asking the race organizers
00:52:43.02\00:52:44.66
to show mercy and
stop the crazy old man.
00:52:44.69\00:52:47.10
But he would have none of it.
00:52:47.13\00:52:48.63
Each day, he was
gaining on the pack
00:52:48.66\00:52:51.23
because when they were sleeping,
00:52:51.27\00:52:52.63
he was plodding along.
00:52:52.67\00:52:54.87
During the last
night of the race,
00:52:54.90\00:52:56.50
Cliff passed all of
these world class athletes.
00:52:56.54\00:53:00.21
Not only was Cliff able
to run that 544 mile race
00:53:00.24\00:53:03.68
without dying,
00:53:03.71\00:53:04.95
he won beating
all the other racers
00:53:04.98\00:53:07.22
by nine hours,
breaking the record,
00:53:07.25\00:53:09.32
and becoming a
national hero in process.
00:53:09.35\00:53:12.19
What's really
amazing is when they told him
00:53:12.22\00:53:13.86
that he had won
the $10,000 prize,
00:53:13.89\00:53:16.22
he looked confused and said
00:53:16.26\00:53:17.46
he didn't know
there was a prize,
00:53:17.49\00:53:19.03
and he decided to share
it with the other runners.
00:53:19.06\00:53:21.86
When asked how he was
able to run all night long,
00:53:21.90\00:53:24.67
Cliff respond that
he grew up on a farm
00:53:24.70\00:53:26.53
where they had about
2,000 herd of cattle,
00:53:26.57\00:53:28.67
and because he
couldn't afford horses,
00:53:28.70\00:53:30.27
he used to have to
round them up on foot
00:53:30.31\00:53:32.14
sometimes running two
and three days nonstop.
00:53:32.17\00:53:34.81
So throughout the race,
00:53:34.84\00:53:36.34
he just imagined he
was chasing after the cows
00:53:36.38\00:53:38.58
and trying to outrun a storm.
00:53:38.61\00:53:41.18
Old Cliff's secret
was to keep on running
00:53:41.22\00:53:43.39
while others were sleeping.
00:53:43.42\00:53:45.32
You know, the Bible tells us
00:53:45.35\00:53:46.39
that the race
00:53:46.42\00:53:47.49
is not necessarily to the swift,
00:53:47.52\00:53:49.69
something like Aesop's parable
of the tortoise and the hare.
00:53:49.72\00:53:52.96
The tortoise just
kept on plodding along.
00:53:52.99\00:53:55.56
That's why Jesus
tells us in Matthew 24:13,
00:53:55.60\00:53:58.53
"He that endures unto the
end, the same will be saved."
00:53:58.57\00:54:02.17
Now you might slip
and fall during the race.
00:54:02.20\00:54:04.64
You might even get
off to a bad start.
00:54:04.67\00:54:06.71
But in the
Christian race that we run,
00:54:06.74\00:54:08.74
the main thing is
you want to finish well.
00:54:08.78\00:54:11.05
Keep on running,
friends, and don't give up.
00:54:11.08\00:54:13.68
The heavens were parted for him.
00:55:03.93\00:55:05.40
The Holy Spirit came down.
00:55:05.43\00:55:06.67
This is what God
wants you to experience.
00:55:06.70\00:55:09.27
You come to Christ,
your sins are washed away,
00:55:09.30\00:55:12.14
you become a new creature.
00:55:12.17\00:55:13.68
It's a land of beginning again,
00:55:13.71\00:55:15.38
and how many of you
wish you can restart.
00:55:15.41\00:55:19.25
"For I was hungry
00:55:19.28\00:55:20.95
and you gave me
something to eat,
00:55:20.98\00:55:23.82
in as much you shall do it
to one of the least of these,
00:55:23.85\00:55:26.99
My brethren, you did it to Me."
00:55:27.02\00:55:29.39
Have you ever heard
the expression before,
00:55:55.85\00:55:57.89
they eat like a bird,
00:55:57.92\00:55:59.15
talking about somebody
that has a minuscule appetite?
00:55:59.19\00:56:02.49
Well, you might want to
think twice the next time
00:56:02.52\00:56:04.26
you use that expression.
00:56:04.29\00:56:05.79
For example,
take the humming bird.
00:56:05.83\00:56:08.50
In order for it to maintain
its incredible metabolism,
00:56:08.53\00:56:11.60
it has to eat about 50%
of its body weight every day.
00:56:11.63\00:56:15.94
To put that in perspective,
00:56:15.97\00:56:17.34
if a 100 pound woman was
to eat like a humming bird,
00:56:17.37\00:56:20.64
she would have to eat
50 pounds of sugar a day
00:56:20.68\00:56:23.24
just to maintain her
body weight, imagine that.
00:56:23.28\00:56:26.45
Maybe you don't
want to imagine that.
00:56:26.48\00:56:29.08
Or perhaps you want to
consider this another way.
00:56:29.12\00:56:31.45
The humming bird
typically consumes
00:56:31.49\00:56:33.19
between four to
seven calories a day,
00:56:33.22\00:56:35.49
on the other hand a human
about 3,500 calories a day.
00:56:35.52\00:56:39.56
But if you were to eat
like a bird, a humming bird,
00:56:39.59\00:56:42.10
you'd have to eat over
150,000 calories a day.
00:56:42.13\00:56:47.97
Oh, that's like
a man of 170 pounds
00:56:48.00\00:56:49.94
that would be
eating 3,000 Oreo cookies.
00:56:49.97\00:56:53.98
Under normal conditions,
00:56:54.01\00:56:55.34
a humming bird needs to
eat every five or ten minutes.
00:56:55.38\00:56:58.08
But there is actually
one time during the year,
00:56:58.11\00:57:00.15
the humming bird will eat
00:57:00.18\00:57:01.25
its entire body
weight every day.
00:57:01.28\00:57:04.42
You see once a year
00:57:04.45\00:57:05.75
they make this
migration 500 miles
00:57:05.79\00:57:08.36
across the Gulf of Mexico
00:57:08.39\00:57:09.92
from Texas to the
Yucatan Peninsula.
00:57:09.96\00:57:13.83
In order to do that,
00:57:13.86\00:57:15.20
the humming
bird feasts on nectar
00:57:15.23\00:57:17.20
and gorges themselves
00:57:17.23\00:57:18.53
on this nectar for about a week,
00:57:18.57\00:57:20.87
doubling their body weight.
00:57:20.90\00:57:22.77
That's the only way they
can store enough calories
00:57:22.80\00:57:24.91
to help them with their
70 wing beats per second
00:57:24.94\00:57:28.61
or roughly 4 million
wing beats on that journey.
00:57:28.64\00:57:32.45
You know, in the
same way, friends,
00:57:32.48\00:57:33.55
as we near the end of time,
00:57:33.58\00:57:35.12
we need to be
feasting and gorging ourselves
00:57:35.15\00:57:37.49
on the nectar of God's Word.
00:57:37.52\00:57:39.39
We've got to be able to
have that strength to get us
00:57:39.42\00:57:41.29
through the times of
trouble that are ahead.
00:57:41.32\00:57:43.66
So when it comes to the Bible
and your personal devotions,
00:57:43.69\00:57:46.36
if you're going
to eat like a bird,
00:57:46.39\00:57:48.16
eat like a humming bird.
00:57:48.20\00:57:49.63