Hello and welcome
to another edition
00:00:35.16\00:00:36.90
of the Sabbath
School Study Hour.
00:00:36.93\00:00:38.47
We are glad that you have chosen
00:00:38.50\00:00:40.50
to be able to
spend some time with us
00:00:40.54\00:00:42.57
here over the next hour
00:00:42.60\00:00:44.14
as we look at our favorite topic
00:00:44.17\00:00:46.31
of the favorite book
that you could ever study
00:00:46.34\00:00:47.98
which is the Holy Bible.
00:00:48.01\00:00:49.61
And so we are
welcoming each and every person
00:00:49.64\00:00:52.28
that is watching on
the various networks.
00:00:52.31\00:00:53.98
Many people are
watching online even right now
00:00:54.02\00:00:56.18
and in the future, as well
as we have many online members
00:00:56.22\00:00:59.42
that are also
watching us here today.
00:00:59.45\00:01:01.26
And so welcome to
each and every one of you.
00:01:01.29\00:01:02.86
We have many
friends that are joining us,
00:01:02.89\00:01:04.49
some of us for
the very first time.
00:01:04.53\00:01:06.49
We are thankful
for each and every one.
00:01:06.53\00:01:08.43
We are always thankful for
our local church group here
00:01:08.46\00:01:11.13
in the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:01:11.17\00:01:14.30
And good to see
your smiling faces.
00:01:14.34\00:01:16.37
Good morning to you all.
00:01:16.40\00:01:18.01
And I look forward to our study
00:01:18.04\00:01:19.97
as we continue to
worship here this morning.
00:01:20.01\00:01:23.51
Before we do that, though,
00:01:23.55\00:01:24.55
we want to make a special offer
00:01:24.58\00:01:26.28
to each and every
person that is watching.
00:01:26.31\00:01:28.08
It's a very
powerful little booklet
00:01:28.12\00:01:30.32
written by Doug Batchelor.
00:01:30.35\00:01:31.85
And it's entitled,
"Teach Us to Pray."
00:01:31.89\00:01:35.96
Many people are
asking the question,
00:01:35.99\00:01:37.56
as the first disciples of Jesus
00:01:37.59\00:01:39.06
had asked Jesus Himself,
00:01:39.09\00:01:41.10
"Lord, how can we pray
or how should we pray?"
00:01:41.13\00:01:45.20
You just need to
dial into the number
00:01:45.23\00:01:47.00
which is 1-866-788-3966.
00:01:47.04\00:01:51.41
You can see it on
your screen even now.
00:01:51.44\00:01:53.21
And that free
offer is number 717.
00:01:53.24\00:01:56.14
And so when you call in,
00:01:56.18\00:01:57.65
it's easier to
ask for the number 717
00:01:57.68\00:02:00.05
than even the
title of the book itself,
00:02:00.08\00:02:01.68
but the title of the
book is "Teach Us to Pray,"
00:02:01.72\00:02:04.79
and 1-866-788-3966.
00:02:04.82\00:02:08.36
Now, we live in a digital age.
00:02:08.39\00:02:10.03
And so we also have
a digital copy of that,
00:02:10.06\00:02:11.96
you can even
download that on your phone.
00:02:11.99\00:02:14.36
All you have to do
is get on your phone
00:02:14.40\00:02:16.23
and text, the code "SH065."
00:02:16.26\00:02:19.93
And you want to text
that to the number 40544.
00:02:19.97\00:02:25.04
And again, you can also
see that available online
00:02:25.07\00:02:27.94
with the web address
00:02:27.98\00:02:29.48
that is on the bottom of
the screen there as well.
00:02:29.51\00:02:33.15
For some of you,
you might be interested
00:02:33.18\00:02:35.02
in getting a copy of
the digital quarterly study
00:02:35.05\00:02:38.55
that we've been
looking at from week to week
00:02:38.59\00:02:40.66
this particular
quarter of this year.
00:02:40.69\00:02:44.46
We're looking at the
topic of family seasons
00:02:44.49\00:02:46.96
or seasons of the family.
00:02:47.00\00:02:49.33
And so very
important, very practical,
00:02:49.36\00:02:51.40
but also very spiritual
topic that we're looking at.
00:02:51.43\00:02:54.27
And you can just
simply go to lesson.aftv.org.
00:02:54.30\00:02:58.97
Again that's lesson.aftv.org.
00:02:59.01\00:03:03.35
And you can download yourself
a free digital copy of that.
00:03:03.38\00:03:08.05
We have a very
special group of young people
00:03:08.08\00:03:11.39
that are gonna be
leading us in song for this,
00:03:11.42\00:03:13.76
one of my favorite classics
which is "Amazing Grace."
00:03:13.79\00:03:16.96
And then we'll open with prayer
and get in with our study.
00:03:16.99\00:03:19.59
Again, thank you for joining us.
00:03:19.63\00:03:21.10
Our song would
be "Amazing Grace"
00:03:27.47\00:03:29.04
and we'll be singing
00:03:29.07\00:03:30.27
verses one, two and five.
00:03:30.31\00:03:31.64
Thank you for singing.
00:05:27.69\00:05:29.06
Want to invite you
to join me in prayer.
00:05:36.36\00:05:38.23
God in heaven, I
want to thank You so much
00:05:38.27\00:05:39.87
for the opportunity
to be able to study.
00:05:39.90\00:05:42.44
Want to thank You so much
00:05:42.47\00:05:43.51
for our church
and the opportunity
00:05:43.54\00:05:47.24
that You give to
us to come together
00:05:47.28\00:05:49.34
to be able to worship
You, and to open Your Bible,
00:05:49.38\00:05:51.25
and to look at
these important topics
00:05:51.28\00:05:53.21
that make a difference
in our day to day lives,
00:05:53.25\00:05:55.22
in our homes, in our marriages,
00:05:55.25\00:05:57.82
in our families.
00:05:57.85\00:05:59.52
And, God, as we look
at this important topic
00:05:59.55\00:06:01.42
on family unity,
00:06:01.46\00:06:02.72
want to pray God
that You will give us
00:06:02.76\00:06:04.13
an extra measure of Your wisdom,
00:06:04.16\00:06:06.23
that Your
Spirit will speak to us
00:06:06.26\00:06:07.76
and that You will help
us to put in our pocket
00:06:07.83\00:06:10.73
and take away what You know
00:06:10.77\00:06:12.70
that we need to
be able to take away
00:06:12.73\00:06:14.14
and apply in our own marriages,
00:06:14.17\00:06:15.67
in our own homes,
00:06:15.70\00:06:17.27
that we might
have more happiness,
00:06:17.31\00:06:18.84
more joy that we
might be able to glorify You
00:06:18.87\00:06:21.34
and be a better witness.
00:06:21.38\00:06:23.04
And so, God, we
want to pray these things
00:06:23.08\00:06:24.58
in Christ's name, amen.
00:06:24.61\00:06:27.98
Today, we're
looking at a very practical,
00:06:28.02\00:06:29.45
very important topic,
00:06:29.48\00:06:30.82
which is unity
00:06:30.85\00:06:33.66
within the family.
00:06:33.69\00:06:35.09
And unity within the family
00:06:35.12\00:06:37.46
is not something that
we can take for granted,
00:06:37.49\00:06:39.39
is it?
00:06:39.43\00:06:40.96
Some of us are
saying, "No, not at all."
00:06:41.00\00:06:43.06
And some of us are saying
and nodding their heads "No,"
00:06:43.10\00:06:45.63
because we know by experience
00:06:45.67\00:06:48.67
that we can't
take it for granted
00:06:48.70\00:06:50.14
because I know
00:06:50.17\00:06:51.17
that there's more
than one person here today
00:06:51.21\00:06:52.77
that is watching
this particular program
00:06:52.81\00:06:55.38
that has experienced disunity
00:06:55.41\00:06:58.18
within the family.
00:06:58.21\00:07:00.05
Some of us are
sitting here watching
00:07:00.08\00:07:01.95
that are no longer
with their former wives
00:07:01.98\00:07:04.05
or former husbands.
00:07:04.09\00:07:05.42
Some of us are
estranged from our parents
00:07:05.45\00:07:07.72
or from our
children in different ways.
00:07:07.76\00:07:10.46
And some of us
might be together,
00:07:10.49\00:07:12.23
but we find ourselves
knocking heads more often
00:07:12.26\00:07:14.30
than we find ourselves hugging.
00:07:14.30\00:07:17.07
And so this is a
very needful topic.
00:07:17.10\00:07:21.10
This is a very
practical and spiritual topic
00:07:21.14\00:07:23.14
that is very important for us.
00:07:23.17\00:07:24.44
And so let's get into it.
00:07:24.47\00:07:25.87
There's lots of good counsel
00:07:25.91\00:07:27.11
that the Bible
gives to us on this
00:07:27.14\00:07:28.84
and starting with
the memory text itself.
00:07:28.88\00:07:30.71
And so let's go
00:07:30.75\00:07:32.11
to the opening
chapter or page, I should say,
00:07:32.15\00:07:36.25
on page 56,
00:07:36.28\00:07:38.32
Keys to Family Unity.
00:07:38.35\00:07:40.32
And so we have a quote there
00:07:40.36\00:07:42.76
from Christ Himself,
00:07:42.79\00:07:44.06
as He's praying and
He's praying to His father.
00:07:44.09\00:07:45.79
This is the context.
00:07:45.83\00:07:46.83
He's talking to
His Father out loud.
00:07:46.86\00:07:48.86
He's within
earshot of His disciples
00:07:48.90\00:07:50.70
and He says this,
00:07:50.73\00:07:52.90
"That they all may be
00:07:52.93\00:07:54.80
one as You,
00:07:54.84\00:07:56.81
Father are in Me and I knew
00:07:56.84\00:07:58.97
that they also may be
00:07:59.01\00:08:01.41
one in us
00:08:01.44\00:08:03.58
that the world may believe
00:08:03.61\00:08:05.78
that You sent Me."
00:08:05.81\00:08:06.88
And so one of
the great requests,
00:08:06.92\00:08:08.32
by the way, this
is the last prayer
00:08:08.35\00:08:09.92
that Jesus prayed
with His disciples
00:08:09.95\00:08:11.69
before He was arrested, mocked,
00:08:11.72\00:08:13.82
trialed and then crucified.
00:08:13.86\00:08:16.56
And so this is no small prayer.
00:08:16.59\00:08:18.79
This is the last
prayer that Jesus lifts up.
00:08:18.83\00:08:21.00
And one of the great themes,
00:08:21.03\00:08:22.60
one of the great requests
00:08:22.63\00:08:23.67
that He brings
in for His Father.
00:08:23.70\00:08:25.53
And that the
disciples were hearing,
00:08:25.57\00:08:27.60
was that, let them be one,
00:08:27.64\00:08:29.94
even as we are one.
00:08:29.97\00:08:31.51
And so Jesus wants
us to be one big family,
00:08:31.54\00:08:33.58
doesn't He?
00:08:33.61\00:08:34.61
Jesus wants us to have unity.
00:08:34.64\00:08:36.64
And that's important.
00:08:36.68\00:08:37.71
That's a whole topic on its own.
00:08:37.75\00:08:39.01
And that's another
whole week's study.
00:08:39.05\00:08:41.25
That's very
important for us to look at.
00:08:41.28\00:08:42.75
I believe that we looked at that
00:08:42.78\00:08:43.79
just in recent months.
00:08:43.82\00:08:46.12
But today, we're
gonna apply that in the home
00:08:46.15\00:08:48.42
because that same request,
00:08:48.46\00:08:49.89
that same principle
00:08:49.92\00:08:51.49
must start in the home
00:08:51.53\00:08:52.63
because if it
doesn't start in the home,
00:08:52.66\00:08:54.00
it's very hard for us
to transplant ourselves
00:08:54.00\00:08:55.90
and bring that into
the church family as well.
00:08:55.93\00:08:58.93
And so as Paul himself said,
00:08:58.97\00:09:01.84
concerning elder,
"Do not choose an elder
00:09:01.87\00:09:03.57
that cannot
rule his family well.
00:09:03.61\00:09:05.57
For if he cannot
rule his family well,
00:09:05.61\00:09:07.11
how can he rule the church?"
00:09:07.14\00:09:09.14
You know and, of
course, rule mean, been in lead,
00:09:09.18\00:09:11.31
lead the church.
00:09:11.35\00:09:12.38
How can you lead by example,
00:09:12.41\00:09:14.15
if he doesn't have unity
00:09:14.18\00:09:15.92
within his own home?
00:09:15.95\00:09:18.62
And so that's
important for us to understand.
00:09:18.65\00:09:21.29
Now one of the things I
always like to do with words
00:09:21.32\00:09:23.26
when I'm studying a topic
00:09:23.29\00:09:24.69
is really stop and
park at one of those words
00:09:24.73\00:09:27.66
and, of course, the
key word here today is
00:09:27.66\00:09:30.40
unity, unity.
00:09:30.43\00:09:32.53
How many people
here have ever ridden
00:09:32.57\00:09:34.77
or can ride a unicycle?
00:09:34.80\00:09:37.31
Raise your hand. Okay.
00:09:37.34\00:09:39.34
All right, we have one.
00:09:39.37\00:09:41.08
Any others?
00:09:41.11\00:09:42.38
Okay, we have
one unicycle rider.
00:09:42.41\00:09:44.61
All right.
00:09:44.65\00:09:45.65
I was curious when I
was preparing this message,
00:09:45.68\00:09:47.88
you know, in this
study is that how many...
00:09:47.92\00:09:49.75
You know, that's great.
00:09:49.78\00:09:51.52
By the way,
that's a great talent.
00:09:51.55\00:09:53.19
I've always admired
people that can ride a unicycle.
00:09:53.22\00:09:55.32
Why did they call it a unicycle?
00:09:55.36\00:09:58.26
Because uni means one,
00:09:58.29\00:10:00.46
and cycle, of course,
means bicycle, doesn't it?
00:10:00.50\00:10:02.66
So it's a cycle with one wheel.
00:10:02.70\00:10:05.33
So very difficult talent.
00:10:05.37\00:10:06.90
A very difficult
skill to be able to master
00:10:06.94\00:10:09.67
and balance and such.
00:10:09.70\00:10:11.91
So uni means one, doesn't it?
00:10:11.94\00:10:14.18
And today we're
looking at the key word,
00:10:14.21\00:10:16.04
which is unity.
00:10:16.08\00:10:18.11
And so uni is the very
core of that word, isn't it?
00:10:18.15\00:10:21.32
And, of course, uni means one.
00:10:21.35\00:10:23.92
"Lord, I pray
that they may be one,"
00:10:23.95\00:10:26.65
Jesus said to His Father
00:10:26.69\00:10:27.99
even as we are one.
00:10:28.02\00:10:30.93
Now, unity in the family
00:10:30.96\00:10:32.93
is something that we all desire,
00:10:32.96\00:10:34.20
is it not?
00:10:34.20\00:10:35.23
How many here don't desire,
00:10:35.26\00:10:36.43
don't care if they
have unity in the family.
00:10:36.46\00:10:39.00
All right, it's
hard to find a hand
00:10:39.03\00:10:40.27
that will go up
with that, won't you?
00:10:40.30\00:10:41.80
Now, all of us want it
00:10:41.84\00:10:43.27
just like we want many things.
00:10:43.30\00:10:44.57
We want happiness, we
want joy, we want prosperity,
00:10:44.61\00:10:47.14
we want all these things.
00:10:47.18\00:10:48.18
But sometimes,
00:10:48.21\00:10:49.21
we're not willing to
deal with the obstacles
00:10:49.24\00:10:50.51
that are before us.
00:10:50.55\00:10:51.58
We're not willing
to even acknowledge
00:10:51.61\00:10:52.81
some of the
obstacles that are before us.
00:10:52.85\00:10:54.28
They get in the way
00:10:54.32\00:10:56.12
of being able to achieve
00:10:56.15\00:10:57.09
some of those
different experiences in life.
00:10:57.12\00:10:59.45
Now, one of the
biggest obstacles
00:10:59.49\00:11:00.99
that we have in the home,
00:11:01.02\00:11:02.62
concerning unity
within the family
00:11:02.66\00:11:04.43
is called sin.
00:11:04.46\00:11:08.33
Okay, where does sin come from?
00:11:08.36\00:11:12.97
Where does sin come from?
00:11:13.00\00:11:14.97
Well, sin comes
from our sinfulness.
00:11:15.00\00:11:18.97
Okay, it comes from,
00:11:19.01\00:11:20.11
what some people
call our fallen nature.
00:11:20.14\00:11:23.38
And so there's an
obstacle before us,
00:11:23.41\00:11:26.05
there's an obstacle
00:11:26.08\00:11:27.12
that can get in the
way of family unity,
00:11:27.15\00:11:29.75
unless we come to the solution.
00:11:29.78\00:11:31.02
And that's why I'm glad
that there's Monday's lesson
00:11:31.05\00:11:32.92
because Monday's lesson
is the most important lesson
00:11:32.95\00:11:35.52
for the whole week study.
00:11:35.56\00:11:36.59
And so we're gonna park here
00:11:36.62\00:11:37.89
for just a little bit
00:11:37.93\00:11:38.96
because if we don't
have this down right,
00:11:38.99\00:11:40.96
we'll never achieve the unity
00:11:41.00\00:11:42.53
that God wants us
to have in our family.
00:11:42.56\00:11:44.63
And so that obstacle is there,
00:11:44.67\00:11:47.47
that old man is there.
00:11:47.50\00:11:49.80
Maybe it's not even an old man.
00:11:49.84\00:11:51.11
For some of us
that might be watching
00:11:51.14\00:11:52.44
or some of us
that are here today,
00:11:52.47\00:11:53.98
we may be saying,
"Well, I'm not even sure,
00:11:54.01\00:11:55.94
I'm a new man or woman yet."
00:11:55.98\00:11:58.68
But nevertheless, that old
man as we call it as Christians,
00:11:58.71\00:12:02.35
which is our sinful nature,
00:12:02.38\00:12:04.15
our fallen nature,
00:12:04.19\00:12:05.52
there's a bent within us
00:12:05.55\00:12:06.72
that we're born with.
00:12:06.76\00:12:07.79
That is a obstacle of life
00:12:07.82\00:12:09.82
that we have to
be able to make sure
00:12:09.86\00:12:11.33
that we overcome
00:12:11.36\00:12:12.36
and there's only way,
00:12:12.39\00:12:13.43
only one way to
overcome that obstacle.
00:12:13.46\00:12:15.86
There's only one way to
overcome that sinfulness
00:12:15.90\00:12:18.80
and experience family unity
00:12:18.83\00:12:20.34
and that is
having the living Christ.
00:12:20.37\00:12:22.80
Having the living Christ
00:12:22.84\00:12:23.91
at the very center of our home,
00:12:23.94\00:12:26.37
having Christ at
the center of our heart,
00:12:26.41\00:12:28.54
having Him as the focus
00:12:28.58\00:12:29.94
not only as one family member,
00:12:29.98\00:12:33.35
but in the ideal
00:12:33.38\00:12:34.42
to have full
unity with the family,
00:12:34.45\00:12:36.38
within a family
unit, within the home,
00:12:36.42\00:12:38.02
it's for all of us to
have our focus on Christ.
00:12:38.05\00:12:41.09
Christ needs to be
00:12:41.12\00:12:42.82
at the center of the home.
00:12:42.86\00:12:45.13
Every time I think of
this particular topic,
00:12:45.16\00:12:47.30
the words of Joshua echo
00:12:47.30\00:12:49.30
through the
centuries back to me.
00:12:49.33\00:12:51.20
And, of course, we
come to Joshua 24:15.
00:12:51.23\00:12:54.70
As he speaks
before all of Israel,
00:12:54.74\00:12:56.81
he is the replacement
and the successor of Moses.
00:12:56.84\00:13:00.48
He is the great
leader of Israel.
00:13:00.51\00:13:03.01
And, of course,
00:13:03.04\00:13:04.15
he's a very deep
and spiritual man.
00:13:04.18\00:13:06.75
And as they were about
to enter the Promised Land,
00:13:06.78\00:13:08.68
as they were
about to take the houses
00:13:08.72\00:13:10.12
that they had not built
and start to live in them,
00:13:10.15\00:13:12.12
the vineyards that
they had not planted
00:13:12.15\00:13:13.72
and start to enjoy
the fruits of them.
00:13:13.76\00:13:15.26
As they start to
enjoy all these gifts
00:13:15.29\00:13:17.73
that God is going to bring them
00:13:17.76\00:13:18.93
in the land of milk
flowing with milk and honey,
00:13:18.96\00:13:21.30
the Promised Land.
00:13:21.33\00:13:23.10
Joshua knew
00:13:23.13\00:13:24.20
that there was only one solution
00:13:24.23\00:13:25.93
and the solution was not
who has the best vineyard.
00:13:25.97\00:13:28.87
The solution was not
00:13:28.90\00:13:29.94
who could pick the nicest house.
00:13:29.97\00:13:32.61
No, Joshua knew
00:13:32.64\00:13:34.08
that the most important solution
00:13:34.11\00:13:36.38
and the most
important ingredient
00:13:36.41\00:13:38.78
that each Israelite
family must have was Christ
00:13:38.81\00:13:41.18
at the center of their home.
00:13:41.22\00:13:43.35
And Joshua was no dummy.
00:13:43.39\00:13:44.65
He had been spending,
00:13:44.69\00:13:45.79
while he's been
spending over 40 years now
00:13:45.82\00:13:47.72
with this
particular people group.
00:13:47.76\00:13:49.89
And he knew them very well.
00:13:49.92\00:13:51.43
And he understood
that not every one of them
00:13:51.46\00:13:54.10
was making good choices.
00:13:54.13\00:13:55.46
Not every one of them
00:13:55.50\00:13:56.53
was choosing
Christ in their home,
00:13:56.56\00:13:57.97
in their
marriage, in their families,
00:13:58.00\00:13:59.23
in their lives.
00:13:59.27\00:14:00.70
And so he says that,
00:14:00.74\00:14:01.84
"If it seems evil to
you to serve the Lord,
00:14:01.87\00:14:03.54
choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve,
00:14:03.57\00:14:06.71
whether the gods
which your fathers served
00:14:06.74\00:14:08.71
that were on the
other side of the river,
00:14:08.74\00:14:11.48
or the gods of the Amorites,
00:14:11.51\00:14:13.55
in whose land you dwell."
00:14:13.58\00:14:15.25
But he says, "As
for me and my house,
00:14:15.28\00:14:17.09
we will serve the
Lord," Joshua says,
00:14:17.12\00:14:20.99
"As for me and my house,
00:14:21.02\00:14:22.96
we will serve the Lord."
00:14:22.99\00:14:25.93
Now, this particular statement
00:14:25.96\00:14:27.30
is one of the
most famous statements
00:14:27.30\00:14:28.60
for Christians.
00:14:28.63\00:14:29.70
Some of us have it on
a plaque in our house.
00:14:29.73\00:14:31.57
We have it
00:14:31.60\00:14:32.67
in couple of places in our house
00:14:32.70\00:14:34.50
that remind us and
tell all our guests
00:14:34.54\00:14:36.54
that we have made a
decision to serve the Lord
00:14:36.57\00:14:38.87
that He is number one,
00:14:38.91\00:14:39.87
He is the focus of
this particular household.
00:14:39.91\00:14:43.24
Now, sometimes
we can get confused
00:14:43.28\00:14:45.08
when we read
some of the statements
00:14:45.11\00:14:46.45
and there's dozens of them
00:14:46.48\00:14:47.52
and the Bible
writings that we read
00:14:47.55\00:14:49.92
that where the
Bible writers will record
00:14:49.95\00:14:53.09
and refer to a
family as a house.
00:14:53.12\00:14:56.36
And typically,
while all the time
00:14:56.39\00:14:58.26
when we say house, it always
means a physical building.
00:14:58.29\00:15:01.06
But dozens of times
00:15:01.10\00:15:02.20
the Bible writers refer to house
00:15:02.23\00:15:03.90
and used it
synonymous with family.
00:15:03.93\00:15:07.40
And this particular statement
of Joshua helps unpack that
00:15:07.44\00:15:10.31
and define that for
us just a little bit
00:15:10.34\00:15:11.91
because he says, as
for me and my house,
00:15:11.94\00:15:13.68
he doesn't say it
will serve the Lord,
00:15:13.71\00:15:16.21
but now he moves
00:15:16.24\00:15:17.65
into what he really
understood house to be
00:15:17.68\00:15:19.75
which is the
dwellers of the house,
00:15:19.78\00:15:22.35
which is the family, the people,
00:15:22.38\00:15:24.09
we will serve the Lord.
00:15:24.12\00:15:27.86
And so house
means family members.
00:15:27.89\00:15:29.42
Today we will say household,
00:15:29.46\00:15:31.76
everyone in the household.
00:15:31.79\00:15:35.40
Now Joshua understood
00:15:35.43\00:15:36.43
that we all need
to make a choice.
00:15:36.46\00:15:38.40
We all need to
either choose to serve
00:15:38.43\00:15:40.54
or to not serve the Almighty.
00:15:40.57\00:15:43.04
This is the choice
00:15:43.07\00:15:45.94
that Joshua clearly
brought before the Israelites,
00:15:45.97\00:15:48.18
before they went
into the Promised Land.
00:15:48.21\00:15:51.45
Now notice the
choice is presented
00:15:51.48\00:15:53.08
to serve God
00:15:53.11\00:15:54.52
or not to serve God,
00:15:54.55\00:15:56.45
not just to believe in God.
00:15:56.48\00:15:58.49
Now some of us I believe
00:15:58.52\00:15:59.52
make the
mistake of thinking that
00:15:59.55\00:16:01.06
as long as I believe in God,
00:16:01.09\00:16:03.02
and I acknowledge
Him every blue moon,
00:16:03.06\00:16:05.36
why, I'm good with God.
00:16:05.39\00:16:08.23
But that's not a
saving relationship with God.
00:16:08.26\00:16:11.03
A saved relationship with God
00:16:11.07\00:16:12.70
is one who chooses to serve God.
00:16:12.73\00:16:16.84
There's a big difference
between believing in God
00:16:16.87\00:16:19.94
and serving God.
00:16:19.97\00:16:22.04
We need to
believe in Him to be sure,
00:16:22.08\00:16:23.75
but we also need to
transfer our heart and our mind
00:16:23.78\00:16:25.88
over to choosing to serve Him.
00:16:25.91\00:16:27.72
And that's what Joshua was doing
00:16:27.75\00:16:29.02
before the
Israelites, wasn't he?
00:16:29.05\00:16:30.82
He knew that they
all believed in God,
00:16:30.85\00:16:32.45
they saw the miracles,
00:16:32.49\00:16:33.69
they saw the supernatural
power in hand of God
00:16:33.72\00:16:35.99
but that's not enough.
00:16:36.02\00:16:37.53
To believe in His existence
00:16:37.56\00:16:38.83
then believe that
He was guiding them
00:16:38.86\00:16:40.30
was not enough though.
00:16:40.33\00:16:41.30
They need to make the decision
00:16:41.33\00:16:42.96
to serve God,
00:16:43.00\00:16:45.43
to serve God.
00:16:45.47\00:16:48.44
So often, we want God
to do all the serving.
00:16:48.47\00:16:51.74
We want it all to
come our direction.
00:16:51.77\00:16:53.71
We make that
mistake of believing
00:16:53.74\00:16:55.04
that it's kind of a
one way relationship
00:16:55.08\00:16:56.81
and all the
serving should come my way.
00:16:56.85\00:16:59.61
But that's not really
what the Bible presents.
00:16:59.65\00:17:02.22
But the Bible
presents in saying,
00:17:02.25\00:17:03.42
"Hey, the real solution is,
yes, God wants to serve you."
00:17:03.45\00:17:06.69
He does want to bless you
00:17:06.72\00:17:09.12
and give you things
00:17:09.16\00:17:10.23
and help you in
things and so on.
00:17:10.26\00:17:12.16
But we need to be
able to make it reciprocal,
00:17:12.19\00:17:14.30
don't we?
00:17:14.36\00:17:15.30
We need to be able to
come to the Lord and say,
00:17:15.33\00:17:17.10
"Lord, I have
chosen to serve You.
00:17:17.13\00:17:20.44
And, Lord, I submit to
You each and every morning
00:17:20.47\00:17:23.87
as my King of
kings and Lord of lords.
00:17:23.91\00:17:26.47
And what is it that
You want me to do today?
00:17:26.51\00:17:28.54
What do You want
me to do this month,
00:17:28.58\00:17:29.68
this year, this decade?
00:17:29.71\00:17:32.25
Father, wherever You guide me
00:17:32.28\00:17:33.42
that where it's
where I will go."
00:17:33.45\00:17:35.35
That's where God wants us to be.
00:17:35.38\00:17:36.72
That's what it means to
have a Christ centered life.
00:17:36.75\00:17:40.02
That's what it means
to be able to have Christ
00:17:40.06\00:17:41.79
at the center of our house
00:17:41.82\00:17:43.09
when we have a family
that is full of people,
00:17:43.12\00:17:46.66
a house that is full of people,
00:17:46.70\00:17:48.50
a loving family
00:17:48.53\00:17:49.56
that is focused on serving
00:17:49.60\00:17:52.03
and worshiping the Lord.
00:17:52.07\00:17:56.34
In Matthew 11:19, Jesus makes
00:17:56.37\00:17:58.91
one of the most
favorite imitations
00:17:58.94\00:18:01.01
that I've ever
read in all the Bible.
00:18:01.04\00:18:03.45
It says, "Take my yoke upon me,
00:18:03.48\00:18:05.85
and learn from me,
00:18:05.88\00:18:08.72
for I am gentle
and lowly in heart
00:18:08.75\00:18:10.35
and you shall find
rest for your souls."
00:18:10.39\00:18:15.12
Now in the imitation
00:18:15.16\00:18:16.19
to the beginning
there, Jesus says,
00:18:16.22\00:18:17.76
"Take my yoke upon
me and learn from me."
00:18:17.79\00:18:22.33
And so Jesus here
makes it very clear
00:18:22.36\00:18:24.17
that to be a disciple,
every disciple of Jesus,
00:18:24.20\00:18:26.43
every true disciple of Jesus
00:18:26.47\00:18:28.54
counts him or
herself as a student.
00:18:28.57\00:18:31.34
A student at the feet of Christ,
00:18:31.37\00:18:33.14
one that is
open to His counsels,
00:18:33.17\00:18:35.01
open to His directions,
00:18:35.04\00:18:36.75
open to His requests
00:18:36.78\00:18:38.55
for you to serve Him
00:18:38.58\00:18:39.95
in this life.
00:18:39.98\00:18:43.25
I want to make a
call to all husbands,
00:18:43.28\00:18:45.09
all dads that are here,
00:18:45.12\00:18:46.39
all that are watching,
all husbands, all dads.
00:18:46.42\00:18:49.16
God has called you
00:18:49.19\00:18:50.49
and He's given you a
first and highest responsibility
00:18:50.53\00:18:53.43
within your home.
00:18:53.46\00:18:54.76
For the well
being of your family,
00:18:54.83\00:18:56.83
and that starts with
the spiritual well being
00:18:56.87\00:18:59.33
of your family.
00:18:59.37\00:19:01.54
God has given us
as dads and husbands
00:19:01.57\00:19:03.61
a very important responsibility.
00:19:03.64\00:19:06.68
And I fear and I have observed
00:19:06.71\00:19:08.91
and I know it breaks heart,
00:19:08.94\00:19:10.05
God's heart each and every day
00:19:10.08\00:19:12.05
is that this country is
full of husbands and dads
00:19:12.08\00:19:15.92
that are
defaulting that responsibility
00:19:15.95\00:19:18.62
over to the wife,
00:19:18.65\00:19:19.72
defaulting and
moving that position
00:19:19.75\00:19:22.06
over to the mom.
00:19:22.09\00:19:24.13
Now the mom has a
role and it to be sure.
00:19:24.16\00:19:26.49
She's not free of
responsibility for it.
00:19:26.53\00:19:28.56
But the father is the one
that is the head of the family.
00:19:28.60\00:19:31.47
He's the one that God has said,
00:19:31.50\00:19:32.53
"Listen, I'm
coming to you first.
00:19:32.57\00:19:33.77
I'm holding you
accountable first."
00:19:33.80\00:19:36.60
Are you the
spiritual leader of your home?
00:19:36.64\00:19:40.61
Are you the one that makes sure
00:19:40.64\00:19:41.98
that your daughters, your sons
00:19:42.01\00:19:45.11
that are still in the home
00:19:45.15\00:19:46.25
that they're having a
worshipful spiritual experience
00:19:46.28\00:19:49.92
with the Lord?
00:19:49.95\00:19:51.15
Are you guiding
them and encouraging them
00:19:51.19\00:19:52.79
in a devotional life?
00:19:52.82\00:19:53.92
Are you praying with them
every meal and every Sabbath,
00:19:53.96\00:19:56.56
and as the sun goes down
00:19:56.59\00:19:58.63
and different
opportunities that you have,
00:19:58.66\00:20:00.66
and different struggles
00:20:00.70\00:20:01.76
and needs and goals
that you have as a family?
00:20:01.80\00:20:05.27
That's what God calls
you to do as a husband,
00:20:05.30\00:20:08.14
as a dad.
00:20:08.17\00:20:10.77
And that's why we have Joshua,
00:20:10.81\00:20:12.27
who was the one
that was speaking.
00:20:12.31\00:20:14.21
He was not only
the leader of Israel,
00:20:14.24\00:20:15.84
but he was a husband.
00:20:15.88\00:20:17.18
He was not only a
husband, but he was a...?
00:20:17.21\00:20:19.35
He was a dad.
00:20:19.38\00:20:20.68
And so he says, Listen,
as a husband and as a dad,
00:20:20.72\00:20:22.78
I don't know what
you're gonna choose,
00:20:22.82\00:20:23.85
choose you this day.
00:20:23.89\00:20:25.09
But I'm telling you here today
that for me and my household,
00:20:25.12\00:20:27.89
I'm gonna make sure
that we choose the Lord.
00:20:27.92\00:20:31.16
Now, of course,
a husband and a dad
00:20:31.19\00:20:32.46
can't force his
faith on his wife,
00:20:32.49\00:20:34.73
he can't enforce it
upon their children.
00:20:34.73\00:20:38.93
You know, that would be opposed
to the very nature of God.
00:20:38.97\00:20:41.24
God can't force us.
00:20:41.27\00:20:42.27
He says, "Behold, I
stand at the door and I knock
00:20:42.30\00:20:44.77
and then if
anyone opens the door,
00:20:44.81\00:20:46.07
I will come in and dine with him
00:20:46.11\00:20:47.24
and he with Me,
and so it's up to us."
00:20:47.28\00:20:49.84
But as husbands
00:20:49.88\00:20:51.08
we need to use
all of our influence,
00:20:51.11\00:20:53.31
all of our power
as much as possible,
00:20:53.35\00:20:56.48
without forcing the will
00:20:56.52\00:20:58.62
to be able to lead our children
00:20:58.65\00:20:59.79
to the foot of the cross.
00:20:59.82\00:21:01.72
To lead our children
to the foot of Jesus,
00:21:01.76\00:21:04.46
that's what Jesus wants.
00:21:04.49\00:21:05.89
That's the key solution.
00:21:05.93\00:21:09.23
The key solution to
having family unity,
00:21:09.26\00:21:11.70
it is the very
foundation, it's the bedrock.
00:21:11.73\00:21:16.10
When we come
back to Joshua again,
00:21:16.14\00:21:17.44
we find that Joshua
was a great man of prayer.
00:21:17.47\00:21:20.88
It was not
unusual for his family
00:21:20.91\00:21:22.68
to see him on his knees,
00:21:22.71\00:21:24.75
because Joshua spent
substantial time on his knees,
00:21:24.78\00:21:28.62
praying for his family,
00:21:28.65\00:21:30.62
praying for his nation,
00:21:30.65\00:21:33.25
praying for the blessings
00:21:33.29\00:21:35.26
that God wanted to
bring among God's people
00:21:35.29\00:21:37.43
in Israel and such.
00:21:37.46\00:21:39.66
You know, there's an
old saying that is repeated
00:21:39.69\00:21:41.40
many time among
Christian circles.
00:21:41.43\00:21:42.86
"A family that prays together...
00:21:42.90\00:21:45.53
Stays together. That's right.
00:21:45.57\00:21:47.47
A family that prays
together stays together.
00:21:47.50\00:21:49.74
Now this needs to be
more than a platitude.
00:21:49.77\00:21:51.44
Of course, it needs to
be a motto that we live by.
00:21:51.47\00:21:54.04
It needs to be a living reality
00:21:54.08\00:21:56.08
that that we
experience as a family.
00:21:56.11\00:21:58.31
Well, how do we unpack that?
00:22:02.05\00:22:03.12
How do we unpack the
solution in some practical ways
00:22:03.15\00:22:05.02
within the home?
00:22:05.05\00:22:06.05
Well, God doesn't leave
us without some counsel.
00:22:06.09\00:22:08.22
He doesn't leave us
without some definitions
00:22:08.26\00:22:10.26
of how to apply
that spirit filled life.
00:22:10.29\00:22:13.40
Certainly, the
Holy Spirit guides us
00:22:13.43\00:22:15.63
and leads our
minds and our hearts
00:22:15.66\00:22:17.13
in different
ways and convicts us
00:22:17.17\00:22:18.97
when we're going wrong
00:22:19.00\00:22:20.84
and encourages us
when we're going right.
00:22:20.87\00:22:22.80
But God gives us the Word.
00:22:22.84\00:22:24.74
He gives us hundreds of verses
00:22:24.77\00:22:25.91
that help unpack that
00:22:25.94\00:22:27.41
and give us some
clarification as well.
00:22:27.44\00:22:29.48
And so, one of
my favorite passages
00:22:29.51\00:22:31.28
of the lesson study brings
us to is Ephesians Chapter 4.
00:22:31.31\00:22:34.52
And so I'm gonna
invite us all to turn there
00:22:34.55\00:22:36.25
because we're gonna look
at a longer passage there.
00:22:36.28\00:22:40.39
Ephesians Chapter 4,
00:22:40.42\00:22:41.79
and we're gonna
start with verse 17.
00:22:41.82\00:22:45.99
Ephesians 4:17,
00:22:46.03\00:22:52.73
and we're gonna
read right through
00:22:52.77\00:22:53.80
to the end of the chapter.
00:22:53.84\00:22:55.60
And so you just
follow along in your minds
00:22:55.64\00:22:58.54
as we continue on
00:22:58.57\00:22:59.87
and I'll stop and make
a comment here and there.
00:22:59.91\00:23:02.54
Verse 17, it says,
00:23:02.58\00:23:03.61
" This I say, therefore,
and testify in the Lord,
00:23:03.65\00:23:06.65
that you should no longer walk
00:23:06.68\00:23:07.92
as the rest of the Gentiles,
00:23:07.95\00:23:09.25
" speaking of unbelievers,
00:23:09.28\00:23:11.09
"walk, in the
futility of their mind,
00:23:11.12\00:23:13.39
having their
understanding darkened,
00:23:13.42\00:23:15.36
being alienated
from the life of God,
00:23:15.39\00:23:17.56
because of the
ignorance that is in them,
00:23:17.59\00:23:19.76
because of the
blindness of their heart,
00:23:19.79\00:23:21.86
who, being past feeling,
00:23:21.90\00:23:24.03
have given
themselves over to lewdness,
00:23:24.07\00:23:25.87
to work all
uncleanness with greediness."
00:23:25.90\00:23:28.20
And so he's pointing
them to this contrast.
00:23:28.24\00:23:31.91
Paul is painting this contrast
00:23:31.94\00:23:34.68
between the unbelieving life
00:23:34.71\00:23:37.05
and attitudes and lifestyle
00:23:37.08\00:23:38.48
and that of a
believer of the church,
00:23:38.51\00:23:41.12
and many of them
00:23:41.15\00:23:42.18
had previously
been experiencing that.
00:23:42.22\00:23:44.45
By the way, I was one of them.
00:23:44.49\00:23:45.72
If some of you
have heard my testimony.
00:23:45.75\00:23:48.22
You know, I was
so deep into myself.
00:23:48.26\00:23:50.16
I was so entrenched
in me, myself and I.
00:23:50.19\00:23:53.53
And I was so full of myself,
00:23:53.56\00:23:56.36
and so full of
sin in my lifestyle
00:23:56.40\00:23:58.37
that I was beyond feeling.
00:23:58.40\00:24:00.27
I was distressed
because I was so past feeling
00:24:00.30\00:24:03.71
as it says in verse 19.
00:24:03.74\00:24:05.47
But in verse 20, it says,
00:24:05.51\00:24:06.51
"But you have not
so learned Christ,
00:24:06.54\00:24:09.11
if indeed you have heard Him
and have been taught by Him."
00:24:09.14\00:24:12.55
There it is,
every disciple of Jesus
00:24:12.58\00:24:14.22
counts themselves a student.
00:24:14.25\00:24:17.35
Take my yoke upon
me and learn from me.
00:24:17.39\00:24:19.45
"If indeed you have heard
Him and have been taught by Him,
00:24:22.49\00:24:25.96
as the truth is in Jesus."
00:24:25.99\00:24:29.90
And so to be taught,
00:24:29.93\00:24:30.93
and Jesus has to
be taught in the truth
00:24:30.97\00:24:32.97
as it is found in Jesus.
00:24:33.00\00:24:34.97
and I can't help but just stop
00:24:35.00\00:24:36.24
and make it a bit of a
comment in regards to that
00:24:36.27\00:24:38.47
because there's too popular,
00:24:38.51\00:24:41.84
there's a trend,
there's a conclusion
00:24:41.88\00:24:44.91
that is too popular
00:24:44.95\00:24:48.05
within modern Christianity,
00:24:48.08\00:24:49.45
and that is that we
are moving more and more
00:24:49.48\00:24:51.59
shifting in a
direction that is saying that,
00:24:51.62\00:24:54.12
you know, it's
not really the truth
00:24:54.16\00:24:55.86
as it is found in the
Bible that's most important,
00:24:55.89\00:24:57.86
but as long as we all accept
00:24:57.89\00:24:59.33
and believe in
the name of Jesus,
00:24:59.36\00:25:00.83
in the person of Jesus.
00:25:00.86\00:25:02.93
And, friends, it's important
to believe in the person,
00:25:02.96\00:25:04.73
in the name of Christ, amen?
00:25:04.77\00:25:06.84
But God has called us
to much more than that.
00:25:06.87\00:25:08.87
Jesus says, "I am the
way, the life, and the truth.
00:25:08.90\00:25:11.87
No one can come to the
Father except through Me."
00:25:11.91\00:25:14.04
And so, friends,
Jesus Himself is the truth.
00:25:14.08\00:25:16.04
And we find dozens of comments,
00:25:16.08\00:25:17.35
just like Paul's
writing here that,
00:25:17.38\00:25:19.05
that it's important as
a Christian to understand
00:25:19.08\00:25:21.05
that there is great
depth, and importance,
00:25:21.08\00:25:23.69
and vitality
00:25:23.72\00:25:25.35
that comes from
immersing yourself
00:25:25.39\00:25:27.89
and being taught
at the feet of Jesus.
00:25:27.92\00:25:29.72
And if you want to be
taught at the feet of Jesus,
00:25:29.76\00:25:31.36
you got to come to this Bible,
00:25:31.39\00:25:32.83
you got to come to this Word.
00:25:32.86\00:25:35.36
God gives us that clarification.
00:25:35.40\00:25:38.03
Jesus made it very clear
00:25:38.07\00:25:39.47
that truth is paramount.
00:25:39.50\00:25:41.97
And yet it is kind of
being swept under the rug
00:25:42.00\00:25:44.74
in modern Christianity today.
00:25:44.77\00:25:46.21
Verse 22, "That you may put off,
00:25:46.24\00:25:48.21
concerning your former conduct,
00:25:48.24\00:25:50.18
the old man which grows corrupt
00:25:50.21\00:25:51.75
according to
the deceitful lusts,
00:25:51.78\00:25:53.15
and be renewed in
the spirit of your mind."
00:25:53.18\00:25:56.69
Now, it's starting to describe
the born again experience,
00:25:56.72\00:25:59.85
the Holy Spirit
either comes into your life,
00:25:59.89\00:26:01.59
later in life as you
make a decision from Him,
00:26:01.62\00:26:04.19
for Him or as you
make a decision daily,
00:26:04.23\00:26:06.49
as you've been
raised in the faith
00:26:06.53\00:26:08.10
and continue to make
that choice day by day.
00:26:08.13\00:26:11.43
Either way, friends,
there is a renewing of the mind
00:26:11.47\00:26:15.34
that daily takes place
00:26:15.37\00:26:17.27
when we worship and we
serve and commit to Him.
00:26:17.31\00:26:20.88
In verse 22, it says,
00:26:20.91\00:26:22.08
"To be renewed in
the spirit of your mind
00:26:22.11\00:26:25.05
that you put on the new man
00:26:25.08\00:26:26.92
which was
created according to God,
00:26:26.95\00:26:29.22
in true righteousness,
00:26:29.25\00:26:31.19
and holiness."
00:26:31.22\00:26:33.42
So God calls us daily
to put on the new man,
00:26:33.46\00:26:36.49
to say, "Lord, help me to
live in the spiritual experience
00:26:36.52\00:26:40.73
that You want me to
have with Your Holy Spirit,
00:26:40.76\00:26:42.60
Your very
presence within my heart,
00:26:42.63\00:26:44.77
within my life, within my mind.
00:26:44.80\00:26:47.57
That's why it says,
00:26:47.60\00:26:48.64
"Be renewed in the
spirit of your mind."
00:26:48.67\00:26:52.21
And then he starts to
make some practical examples.
00:26:52.24\00:26:54.24
Okay, Paul, you're telling us
00:26:54.28\00:26:55.81
the before
conversion experience,
00:26:55.84\00:26:58.25
you're telling us the
daily conversion experience
00:26:58.28\00:27:00.35
that you want us to
choose each and every morning
00:27:00.38\00:27:02.32
as we go through our
lives and through our days.
00:27:02.35\00:27:05.12
But what does that look like?
00:27:05.15\00:27:06.72
How does the
rubber hit the road?
00:27:06.76\00:27:08.09
And so, God and Paul
00:27:08.12\00:27:09.86
doesn't leave us
without some answers.
00:27:09.89\00:27:11.36
He starts to
paint that for us a bit.
00:27:11.39\00:27:13.06
In verse 25, it says,
"Therefore," in other words,
00:27:13.09\00:27:15.70
therefore, in
light of that conversion,
00:27:15.73\00:27:19.13
that God offers us,
00:27:19.17\00:27:20.97
"putting away line,
'Let each of you speak truth
00:27:21.00\00:27:23.20
with his neighbor, '
00:27:23.24\00:27:24.31
for we are
members of one another.'"
00:27:24.34\00:27:26.81
So if we were in
the habit of lying
00:27:26.84\00:27:28.88
before we came to Christ,
00:27:28.91\00:27:29.94
God changes our hearts
00:27:29.98\00:27:31.08
and now He helps us not to lie.
00:27:31.11\00:27:34.38
In verse 26, it says,
"Be angry, but do not sin.
00:27:34.42\00:27:37.45
Do not let the sun
go down on your wrath,
00:27:37.49\00:27:39.55
nor give place to the devil."
00:27:39.59\00:27:41.19
And so he tells us to be
very careful with our anger.
00:27:41.22\00:27:43.56
Now, angry is not all...
00:27:43.59\00:27:44.59
Anger is not always sinful.
00:27:44.63\00:27:46.33
Jesus is on
record of being angry.
00:27:46.36\00:27:49.40
So having that
emotion is not wrong.
00:27:49.43\00:27:51.13
It's when we let it
start to get out of control.
00:27:51.17\00:27:54.00
When we lose our self control,
then we can get in trouble
00:27:54.04\00:27:56.47
and the devil can find
that place in our heart.
00:27:56.50\00:27:59.17
Verse 28, "Let him who
stole, steal no longer,
00:27:59.21\00:28:02.44
but rather let him
labor, working with his hands,
00:28:02.48\00:28:04.91
what is good, that
he may have something
00:28:04.95\00:28:06.82
to give him who has need."
00:28:06.85\00:28:08.12
And so here,
00:28:08.15\00:28:09.18
Paul is saying,
going from a thief,
00:28:09.22\00:28:10.99
to not being a thief,
but even further than that.
00:28:11.02\00:28:13.12
Now, instead of taking
things that don't belong to you,
00:28:13.15\00:28:15.02
now you're taking
things that belong to you
00:28:15.06\00:28:16.46
and giving it to others.
00:28:16.49\00:28:18.26
And so he's saying,
00:28:18.29\00:28:19.29
you want to take a complete 180,
00:28:19.33\00:28:21.60
if you're a thief.
00:28:21.63\00:28:23.77
"Let no corrupt word
proceed out of your mouth,
00:28:23.80\00:28:26.23
but what is good for
necessary edification
00:28:26.27\00:28:28.34
that it may impart
grace to its hearers."
00:28:28.37\00:28:31.01
Friends, too
often over the years,
00:28:31.04\00:28:32.74
you know, I've overheard
different church members
00:28:32.77\00:28:35.28
that thought that the
pastor was out of earshot.
00:28:35.31\00:28:37.98
And I hear some words
00:28:41.78\00:28:42.82
that I've never
heard them say before,
00:28:42.85\00:28:44.02
words that they know
00:28:44.05\00:28:45.09
a Christian
shouldn't really be speaking.
00:28:45.12\00:28:47.89
And it reveals to me
00:28:47.92\00:28:51.46
that even church members,
00:28:51.49\00:28:53.09
even church goers
00:28:53.13\00:28:54.13
within the
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:28:54.20\00:28:55.40
doesn't mean that
you've allowed God
00:28:55.43\00:28:57.40
to cleanse your
heart in regards to this.
00:28:57.43\00:29:00.14
When it says,
let no corrupt word
00:29:00.17\00:29:01.70
come out of your
mouth, friends, you can go out
00:29:01.74\00:29:03.14
and ask any
unbeliever on the street,
00:29:03.17\00:29:04.41
what is a corrupt word?
00:29:04.44\00:29:05.47
And you know, what's a bad word,
00:29:05.51\00:29:06.91
a foul word
00:29:06.94\00:29:08.48
and they'll give you a list.
00:29:08.51\00:29:12.08
Okay.
00:29:12.11\00:29:13.11
They know it
well and we know well,
00:29:13.15\00:29:14.82
we know, maybe I
hope we don't know well,
00:29:14.85\00:29:16.45
but we know
what those words are.
00:29:16.48\00:29:18.65
And so even unbelievers
00:29:18.69\00:29:20.26
can tell you
what foul words are,
00:29:20.29\00:29:22.49
what ones aren't.
00:29:22.52\00:29:24.63
That's why they
kind of, most of them,
00:29:24.66\00:29:26.26
at least they should, you know,
00:29:26.29\00:29:27.73
they believe they
should is to watch your mouth
00:29:27.76\00:29:29.60
when you're
around little children.
00:29:29.63\00:29:30.70
Don't say those words,
00:29:30.73\00:29:31.73
don't say those corrupt words
00:29:31.77\00:29:32.80
when you're
around little children.
00:29:32.83\00:29:35.14
But God says even
00:29:35.17\00:29:36.20
when you're not
around little children,
00:29:36.24\00:29:37.74
you shouldn't be
using those words.
00:29:37.77\00:29:39.81
And so one of the
things that God wants to do
00:29:39.84\00:29:41.11
to with our hearts is
clean up our vocabulary.
00:29:41.14\00:29:45.45
And so He gives us
that important counsel.
00:29:45.48\00:29:47.95
Born again Christians
will not use those words.
00:29:47.98\00:29:49.88
In verse 30, it says,
00:29:49.92\00:29:50.92
"And do not grieve
the Holy Spirit of God,
00:29:50.95\00:29:53.62
by whom you were sealed
00:29:53.66\00:29:55.66
for the day of redemption."
00:29:55.69\00:29:57.19
And so don't resist
the work of the Holy Spirit
00:29:57.23\00:30:00.20
as he wants to
clean up your language,
00:30:00.23\00:30:01.53
he wants to
clean up your honesty
00:30:01.56\00:30:03.20
or your dishonesty,
00:30:03.23\00:30:04.57
he wants to
clean up your thievery.
00:30:04.60\00:30:06.57
Verse 31, "Let all bitterness,"
00:30:06.60\00:30:08.10
and now this is where we
really need to listen carefully
00:30:08.14\00:30:10.77
because this is
important and concerns to home
00:30:10.81\00:30:13.81
and home life and family unity.
00:30:13.84\00:30:16.24
Verse 31, it says,
"Let all bitterness,
00:30:16.28\00:30:17.95
wrath, anger, clamor,"
00:30:17.98\00:30:20.22
that's loud quarreling
00:30:20.25\00:30:21.72
and I had to look at the margin,
00:30:21.75\00:30:23.15
you know, what dos clamor mean.
00:30:23.18\00:30:24.95
And so the marginal
reference told me that means...
00:30:24.99\00:30:28.36
Scholars tell me that
means loud quarreling.
00:30:28.39\00:30:31.99
Shouting in the home.
00:30:32.03\00:30:33.53
Have you ever experienced it?
00:30:33.56\00:30:34.73
"Let all bitterness, wrath,
anger, clamor, loud shouting
00:30:38.17\00:30:42.04
and fighting and evil
speaking be put away from you,
00:30:42.07\00:30:46.54
with all malice."
00:30:46.57\00:30:48.88
How much more blessed
and how much more joy filled
00:30:48.91\00:30:51.21
would our homes be
00:30:51.25\00:30:52.38
if we were able to eliminate
this completely and always.
00:30:52.41\00:30:56.35
Now, friends, we
have a merciful Christ.
00:30:56.38\00:30:57.99
There's a Christ
that is in heaven
00:30:58.02\00:30:59.62
that tells us
that this is a standard
00:30:59.65\00:31:01.66
that He gives to us,
00:31:01.69\00:31:03.12
and He knows that we're growing
00:31:03.16\00:31:04.53
and understanding that standard
00:31:04.56\00:31:06.39
and sometimes
our spiritual life,
00:31:06.43\00:31:08.23
our devotional life
will get a little bit slack,
00:31:08.26\00:31:11.23
and the old man kind of comes in
00:31:11.27\00:31:13.90
and we find ourselves
00:31:13.94\00:31:15.47
shouting in our
house, speaking evil things,
00:31:15.50\00:31:18.01
quarreling, fighting
00:31:18.04\00:31:19.84
against those in
whom we have vowed to love
00:31:19.87\00:31:22.18
and are called to love
closer than anybody else.
00:31:22.21\00:31:25.38
It's hard to have a family,
it's hard to find a family,
00:31:25.41\00:31:27.62
hard to find a couple
00:31:27.65\00:31:29.65
that isn't guilty of
these different things
00:31:29.68\00:31:31.45
at different ways
in different times.
00:31:31.49\00:31:33.79
But God has called us
to put these things away
00:31:33.82\00:31:35.46
when we find
ourselves falling short,
00:31:35.49\00:31:36.93
we need to get on our knees.
00:31:36.96\00:31:38.73
We need to pray
that God will forgive us
00:31:38.76\00:31:40.36
and help us to be better people.
00:31:40.40\00:31:41.63
To beat the verse 32,
00:31:41.66\00:31:42.73
because in contrast,
00:31:42.76\00:31:43.80
verse 32, God says that,
00:31:43.83\00:31:45.20
"Instead we should
be kind to one another.
00:31:45.23\00:31:49.74
We should be tenderhearted,
00:31:49.77\00:31:51.54
forgiving one another,
00:31:51.57\00:31:52.97
even as God in
Christ forgave you."
00:31:53.01\00:31:56.08
Now part of that forgiveness
is when we find our husband
00:31:56.11\00:31:59.01
or wife shouting at us.
00:31:59.05\00:32:02.85
And we need and they regret it.
00:32:02.88\00:32:06.76
They resent that
they had said it.
00:32:06.79\00:32:08.12
They're sorry for it,
they're repentful for it.
00:32:08.16\00:32:11.33
And we need to
be able to be quick
00:32:11.36\00:32:12.73
to forgive our spouses,
00:32:12.76\00:32:14.50
quick to forgive
our children as well.
00:32:14.56\00:32:17.03
And not hold that against them
00:32:17.07\00:32:19.13
and continue to give
each other opportunity
00:32:19.17\00:32:22.24
to be more kind,
00:32:22.27\00:32:23.64
to have more opportunities,
to be more tenderhearted.
00:32:23.67\00:32:26.64
And so this is the great passage
00:32:26.68\00:32:27.94
that we find in Ephesians
00:32:27.98\00:32:29.91
that gives us some
real practical changes
00:32:29.94\00:32:34.92
that God wants to
bring into the home,
00:32:34.95\00:32:36.38
into the family life.
00:32:36.42\00:32:37.45
And what He wants
in the family life
00:32:37.49\00:32:39.15
and what He tells us
that we need to resist
00:32:39.19\00:32:42.09
in the family life as well.
00:32:42.12\00:32:46.46
I'd like to bring us to page 57.
00:32:46.49\00:32:50.03
In page 57, we
find here a quote,
00:32:50.07\00:32:54.54
and it comes from
one of my favorite books.
00:32:54.57\00:32:56.57
It's entitled the
"Adventist Home" page 179.
00:32:56.60\00:32:58.87
And so the quote is
near the bottom there
00:32:58.91\00:33:00.48
in the second last paragraph
00:33:00.51\00:33:03.95
of the page.
00:33:03.98\00:33:04.98
And it says, "The
closer we come to Christ,
00:33:05.01\00:33:07.45
the nearer we
shall be to one another."
00:33:07.48\00:33:10.05
The closer that
we come to Christ,
00:33:10.09\00:33:12.35
the nearer that we
will be to one another.
00:33:12.39\00:33:14.79
And so, I just want to invite us
00:33:14.82\00:33:16.06
to be able to kind of
picture that a little bit,
00:33:16.09\00:33:17.83
you know, it's like,
00:33:17.86\00:33:19.16
you know, if Jesus is up here,
00:33:19.19\00:33:21.43
and dad is here and mom is here
00:33:21.46\00:33:24.37
and Sal is here
and John is here.
00:33:24.40\00:33:26.70
And we're all focusing
and coming closer to Christ
00:33:26.74\00:33:29.57
and the line is
connected between us and Christ,
00:33:29.60\00:33:32.11
and the closer we come to Him,
00:33:32.14\00:33:34.21
the closer those lines
00:33:34.24\00:33:35.41
like a spoke in a
wheel come together,
00:33:35.44\00:33:37.01
don't they?
00:33:37.05\00:33:39.05
That is the number one solution.
00:33:39.08\00:33:40.68
The number one solutions
for couples and families
00:33:40.72\00:33:42.78
that are presently
threatened with separation,
00:33:42.82\00:33:45.82
it is the number one
solutions for those who already
00:33:45.85\00:33:48.12
experienced
separation of their hearts,
00:33:48.16\00:33:49.79
some of them in
their physical being.
00:33:49.82\00:33:52.43
Many times a family
or a couple needs revival
00:33:52.46\00:33:54.76
and reformation
more than anything else.
00:33:54.83\00:33:57.83
More than anything else.
00:33:57.87\00:33:59.57
You know, all the
marriage and counseling books
00:33:59.60\00:34:01.67
that you can find
in all the shelves,
00:34:01.70\00:34:03.91
all the
therapists and all the hours
00:34:03.94\00:34:05.44
that you can
spend them with them,
00:34:05.47\00:34:06.74
all will come up largely empty,
00:34:06.78\00:34:09.48
if Christ is not the number
one part of your solution.
00:34:09.51\00:34:14.22
So often we're looking
at everything in anything
00:34:14.25\00:34:16.52
but the real thing.
00:34:16.55\00:34:17.85
And we need to
be able to remember
00:34:17.89\00:34:19.19
that it's Christ first.
00:34:19.22\00:34:21.39
Does marriage therapy help?
00:34:21.42\00:34:22.69
Yes, it can, it help.
00:34:22.72\00:34:23.76
Good Christian
marriage therapist
00:34:23.79\00:34:26.13
is sometimes part of
that needful solution
00:34:26.16\00:34:28.43
that God is leading you into.
00:34:28.46\00:34:32.23
You know, and some,
00:34:32.27\00:34:33.30
there are some good
Christian marriage books.
00:34:33.34\00:34:36.50
Some of us as pastors
might have a word or two
00:34:36.54\00:34:38.21
that we might be
able to share with you
00:34:38.24\00:34:40.14
to be able to help you through
00:34:40.18\00:34:42.11
some of those troublesome waters
00:34:42.14\00:34:43.51
and bring harmony back.
00:34:43.55\00:34:45.11
But, friends,
notice how I said it always
00:34:45.15\00:34:47.62
should be Christian ideally,
00:34:47.65\00:34:49.72
because all of it
then is pointing us
00:34:49.75\00:34:51.99
to the ultimate solution,
00:34:52.02\00:34:53.76
which is the ultimate
teacher, Jesus Christ.
00:34:53.79\00:34:55.99
Every true disciple is
a student of Jesus Christ,
00:34:56.02\00:35:00.76
and this is no exception.
00:35:00.80\00:35:03.87
Well, another key ingredient
00:35:03.90\00:35:05.00
that this week's quarterly
points us to is, for unity,
00:35:05.03\00:35:08.74
of course, is
defined most comprehensively
00:35:08.77\00:35:10.74
in 1 Corinthians,
00:35:10.77\00:35:12.41
and 1 Corinthians Chapter 13.
00:35:12.44\00:35:14.41
Many Christians refer
to as the love chapter,
00:35:14.44\00:35:17.01
and rightly so
00:35:17.05\00:35:18.08
because it is the
most comprehensive,
00:35:18.11\00:35:19.61
extensive definition of love
00:35:19.65\00:35:21.15
that we can find
in all the Bible.
00:35:21.18\00:35:23.28
And so I have a
volunteer that has kindly agreed
00:35:23.32\00:35:25.72
to read 4-8 for
us here this morning.
00:35:25.75\00:35:30.59
"Love suffers long and is kind.
00:35:30.63\00:35:33.66
Love does not envy.
00:35:33.70\00:35:35.63
Love does not parade
itself, is not puffed up.
00:35:35.66\00:35:39.53
Does not behave rudely,
00:35:39.57\00:35:41.44
does not seek its own,
00:35:41.47\00:35:42.90
is not provoked,
00:35:42.94\00:35:44.44
thinks no evil.
00:35:44.47\00:35:46.54
Does not rejoice in iniquity,
00:35:46.57\00:35:48.41
but rejoices in the truth.
00:35:48.44\00:35:51.08
Bears all things,
00:35:51.11\00:35:52.78
believes all things,
00:35:52.81\00:35:54.68
hopes all things,
00:35:54.72\00:35:56.25
endures all things.
00:35:56.28\00:35:59.19
Love never fails.
00:35:59.22\00:36:00.89
But whether
there are prophecies,
00:36:00.92\00:36:02.69
they will fail,
00:36:02.72\00:36:03.86
whether there are tongues,
00:36:03.89\00:36:05.23
they will cease,
00:36:05.26\00:36:06.53
whether there is knowledge,
00:36:06.56\00:36:07.93
it will vanish away."
00:36:07.96\00:36:10.33
Okay, thank you.
00:36:10.37\00:36:11.77
Thank you for that, Michael.
00:36:11.80\00:36:13.30
So here we have one of the most
beautiful inspiring passages
00:36:13.34\00:36:16.94
that we can ever
find it in all scripture.
00:36:16.97\00:36:19.24
And how much more
unity and love and joy
00:36:19.27\00:36:20.98
would we have in the home,
00:36:21.01\00:36:22.18
if we were able to live by this
00:36:22.21\00:36:23.71
as the standard
00:36:23.75\00:36:25.11
within our marriages,
00:36:25.15\00:36:27.02
within our families.
00:36:27.05\00:36:29.55
This is the great
standard that God brings to us
00:36:29.58\00:36:31.89
and calls us to live by.
00:36:31.92\00:36:33.92
You know, I really
appreciate the exercise
00:36:33.96\00:36:36.96
that this particular
week's study had guided us into,
00:36:36.99\00:36:39.63
and it
challenged us and it said,
00:36:39.66\00:36:41.10
I want you to try just
going through that passage,
00:36:41.13\00:36:43.40
and every time you
come to the word love,
00:36:43.43\00:36:44.90
you replace it with
your own personal name.
00:36:44.93\00:36:48.37
And what a great
practice, you know.
00:36:48.40\00:36:50.47
And so instead
in verse 4, it says,
00:36:50.51\00:36:51.97
"Love suffers long and is kind.
00:36:52.01\00:36:53.91
Love does not envy."
00:36:53.94\00:36:54.98
You can say, Shawn suffers long
00:36:55.01\00:36:57.01
and is kind
00:36:57.05\00:36:58.18
and Shawn does not envy
00:36:58.21\00:36:59.55
and Shawn does not parade itself
00:36:59.58\00:37:01.25
and is not puffed up
and does not behave rudely
00:37:01.28\00:37:04.09
and so on and so forth.
00:37:04.12\00:37:05.45
And so, friends,
00:37:05.49\00:37:06.82
what a great way
to personalize this.
00:37:06.86\00:37:08.86
And wow!
00:37:08.89\00:37:10.23
Talk about
challenging the heart.
00:37:10.26\00:37:12.56
You know, can you read that
00:37:12.59\00:37:13.76
and honestly say that
reflects your experience.
00:37:13.80\00:37:17.73
You know this is a
great test to help us
00:37:17.77\00:37:19.60
how much of a
loving person am I.
00:37:19.63\00:37:22.94
And if you can honestly
put your name in all that
00:37:22.97\00:37:24.94
and say, you
know, for the most part
00:37:24.97\00:37:28.04
or for the whole part, you know,
00:37:28.08\00:37:29.31
this reflects
the person that I am.
00:37:29.34\00:37:31.18
This is how I make
my way through the day.
00:37:31.21\00:37:33.52
What a great way to test
00:37:33.55\00:37:34.58
how loving of a
person we really are.
00:37:34.62\00:37:37.35
How close are we to the standard
00:37:37.39\00:37:38.65
that God has set before us.
00:37:38.69\00:37:41.09
You know, one of
my favorite passages
00:37:41.12\00:37:42.66
or statements in the Bible,
00:37:42.69\00:37:44.03
it's one of the most
important theological statements
00:37:44.06\00:37:46.16
by far in all the
Bible is three words,
00:37:46.19\00:37:48.13
God is love many of
your are saying with me,
00:37:48.16\00:37:52.40
and I'm sure that you agree
00:37:52.43\00:37:55.04
that is one of the
most important statements
00:37:55.07\00:37:56.94
in all the Bible.
00:37:56.97\00:37:59.27
But the second test
and the second statement
00:37:59.31\00:38:01.14
that we can say is,
00:38:01.18\00:38:02.68
am I love
00:38:02.71\00:38:06.01
because if God is love
00:38:06.05\00:38:07.28
and God has
called us to be like God,
00:38:07.32\00:38:09.85
we should also
be able to say that
00:38:09.88\00:38:11.95
I am love.
00:38:11.99\00:38:13.89
Can you say that about yourself?
00:38:13.92\00:38:17.06
In the standard
of the definition
00:38:17.09\00:38:18.29
that God has given to you,
00:38:18.33\00:38:20.23
can you say that I am love,
00:38:20.26\00:38:22.20
just like God is love?
00:38:22.23\00:38:23.73
That's where God
wants to bring us.
00:38:23.77\00:38:25.53
That's where God wants us to be.
00:38:25.57\00:38:27.14
That's where we find
unity and harmony and joy
00:38:27.17\00:38:29.47
within the home and
within our marriages,
00:38:29.50\00:38:31.64
and so we should be able to say.
00:38:31.67\00:38:33.31
If we can't say
it at this point,
00:38:33.34\00:38:34.84
we should be on our knees
after this lesson and saying,
00:38:34.88\00:38:38.35
"God, help me to be
able to put my name in there.
00:38:38.38\00:38:41.42
And to be able to be loved
00:38:41.45\00:38:42.55
just like you were love
00:38:42.58\00:38:43.72
that I may be a godly person."
00:38:43.75\00:38:47.42
Well, let's go to
the top of page 58
00:38:47.46\00:38:49.19
because I find one of
my favorite encouragements
00:38:49.22\00:38:51.73
there in
counsels on that subject.
00:38:51.76\00:38:53.46
And certainly it
points us in the direction
00:38:53.50\00:38:55.40
that we need to go.
00:38:55.43\00:38:57.80
And that's on page 58.
00:38:57.83\00:39:00.27
On tip-top of page 58, we
find 1 Thessalonians 3:12,
00:39:00.30\00:39:06.71
and it says, "May the
Lord make your love increase
00:39:06.74\00:39:10.61
and overflow for each other,
00:39:10.65\00:39:13.18
and for everyone else."
00:39:13.21\00:39:15.75
Kind of reminds me of
a statement Jesus says,
00:39:15.78\00:39:17.32
"Love your
neighbor as yourself."
00:39:17.35\00:39:19.59
And somebody in the crowd
say, "Well, who's our neighbor?
00:39:19.62\00:39:23.39
And Jesus says,
"Everyone," look next to you.
00:39:23.43\00:39:25.79
What's the
person that behind you,
00:39:25.83\00:39:27.03
beside you, in
front of you, behind you,
00:39:27.03\00:39:29.10
they're all your neighbors.
00:39:29.13\00:39:31.27
Every time you
see a human being,
00:39:31.30\00:39:32.83
that's your
neighbor, Jesus said.
00:39:32.87\00:39:35.00
And so here we find
Paul saying the same thing,
00:39:35.04\00:39:36.84
overflow for each other as
believers but for everyone,
00:39:36.87\00:39:39.71
for everyone else.
00:39:39.74\00:39:40.81
God has given us
a love in our hearts
00:39:40.84\00:39:42.88
that should apply to everyone.
00:39:42.91\00:39:44.78
1 Thessalonians 3:12.
00:39:44.81\00:39:48.25
You know, love
is my favorite word
00:39:48.28\00:39:49.58
in all the Bible.
00:39:49.62\00:39:50.62
And I think it's
God's favorite word as well.
00:39:50.65\00:39:53.36
If you go to
the Conflict series,
00:39:53.39\00:39:55.19
which is, you
know, a number of series
00:39:55.22\00:39:57.46
of commentation
written by Ellen White.
00:39:57.49\00:40:00.13
You go to the very first book
00:40:00.16\00:40:01.33
and it traces human history,
00:40:01.36\00:40:02.66
all the way from the creation
00:40:02.70\00:40:04.27
to the second coming and beyond.
00:40:04.30\00:40:06.57
And when you come to
the very first three words,
00:40:06.60\00:40:09.34
it says, "God is love."
00:40:09.37\00:40:11.24
That's how it opens up
00:40:11.27\00:40:12.24
that greatest of all
commentaries, I believe.
00:40:12.27\00:40:15.94
And then you come to
the very last three words
00:40:15.98\00:40:18.05
at the end of the
Great Controversy,
00:40:18.08\00:40:19.75
and the same
three words are there.
00:40:19.78\00:40:21.95
"God is love."
00:40:21.98\00:40:23.18
The word love appears
504 times in the Bible.
00:40:27.72\00:40:32.03
Does that make it important?
00:40:32.06\00:40:33.29
Yes. Sure, it does.
00:40:33.33\00:40:34.36
It makes it vital.
00:40:34.36\00:40:35.40
Now some of us think,
00:40:35.43\00:40:36.56
"Well, almost all of those
must be in the New Testament."
00:40:36.60\00:40:38.43
And I have to confess
before I looked at the research
00:40:38.47\00:40:40.14
to look at the stats, I thought
00:40:40.17\00:40:41.14
probably the bulk of
them is in the New Testament.
00:40:41.17\00:40:42.87
That's not true.
00:40:42.90\00:40:43.91
If you're
looking at round numbers,
00:40:43.94\00:40:45.17
half are in the Old Testament,
00:40:45.21\00:40:46.81
and half are in the new.
00:40:46.84\00:40:48.81
Okay.
00:40:48.84\00:40:49.88
The Old Testament
covenant was based on love
00:40:49.91\00:40:51.61
just as much as the new covenant
00:40:51.65\00:40:53.38
is based on love.
00:40:53.42\00:40:54.95
And sometimes as Christians
00:40:54.98\00:40:56.02
we've been deceived
in believing otherwise.
00:40:56.05\00:40:58.05
Another all fine
time favorite that I have
00:40:58.09\00:41:00.12
in concerning to encouraging us
00:41:00.16\00:41:01.69
in this subject
in love is 1 Peter,
00:41:01.72\00:41:03.79
and so Paul not
only spoke about it,
00:41:03.83\00:41:06.56
but Peter also
speaks to the church.
00:41:06.59\00:41:09.66
1 Peter Chapter 1,
00:41:09.70\00:41:13.77
and we're gonna
look at verse 22.
00:41:13.80\00:41:17.94
1 Peter 1:22.
00:41:17.97\00:41:19.71
And again we have a volunteer
00:41:19.74\00:41:21.04
that is going to read
that for us, thank you.
00:41:21.08\00:41:24.65
"Seeing you have
purified your souls
00:41:24.68\00:41:27.12
in obeying the truth
00:41:27.15\00:41:29.02
through the Spirit
00:41:29.05\00:41:30.62
unto unfeigned
love of the brethren,
00:41:30.65\00:41:34.72
see that ye love one another
00:41:34.76\00:41:36.83
with a pure heart fervently."
00:41:36.86\00:41:39.96
Okay, thank you.
00:41:40.00\00:41:40.96
So there it is. See
that you love one another.
00:41:40.96\00:41:43.57
And how much should
we love one another?
00:41:43.60\00:41:45.60
I love that adjective,
00:41:45.63\00:41:46.94
with a pure heart and fervently.
00:41:46.97\00:41:51.67
I love that.
00:41:51.71\00:41:52.71
That's a good
strong adjective, isn't it?
00:41:52.74\00:41:55.38
You know,
00:41:55.41\00:41:56.34
and so God doesn't
say just love each other,
00:41:56.38\00:41:58.28
you know, like assiduously,
00:41:58.31\00:42:00.98
you know, kind of,
00:42:01.02\00:42:02.08
you know, no, he says, I
want you to love each other
00:42:02.12\00:42:04.19
fervently.
00:42:04.22\00:42:05.39
The world should be able to
see a love among My believers.
00:42:05.42\00:42:08.06
My Children that is
different and higher in standard
00:42:08.09\00:42:11.39
than the love that we find
00:42:11.43\00:42:12.46
in any other people
group around the world.
00:42:12.49\00:42:14.23
And it starts
with the Christian home
00:42:14.30\00:42:16.90
and then expands
into the Christian family
00:42:16.93\00:42:18.83
of the church as well.
00:42:18.87\00:42:20.14
And so I love
these particular verses.
00:42:20.17\00:42:22.80
Now, can God's
love be fully expressed
00:42:22.84\00:42:24.61
from our natural hearts?
00:42:24.64\00:42:27.08
We're kind of coming back
to the beginning of our lesson.
00:42:27.11\00:42:29.64
Can God's love be expressed
through our natural hearts?
00:42:29.68\00:42:33.18
No!
00:42:33.21\00:42:34.42
No, it can't. No, not at all.
00:42:34.45\00:42:35.82
That's why it
says in Proverbs 28:26,
00:42:35.85\00:42:38.89
"He who trusts in
his own heart is a fool."
00:42:38.92\00:42:43.02
Okay, so the Bible
makes it very clear
00:42:43.06\00:42:44.79
that we don't want to
be fooled into trusted
00:42:44.83\00:42:46.83
into our own natural hearts.
00:42:46.86\00:42:48.33
Jeremiah put it this way,
00:42:48.36\00:42:49.40
he says, "Our hearts
are desperately wicked,
00:42:49.43\00:42:51.47
and who can know it?"
00:42:51.50\00:42:53.20
And so we have to be careful
not to trust our own hearts.
00:42:53.23\00:42:55.60
You know, Disney
World is not right.
00:42:55.64\00:43:00.21
Okay.
00:43:00.24\00:43:01.44
They have all kinds of movies
that are trying to convince us
00:43:01.48\00:43:03.21
that we should
trust in our own heart.
00:43:03.24\00:43:04.71
Follow your heart.
00:43:04.75\00:43:05.75
No!
00:43:05.78\00:43:07.45
No, we need to
be able to ask God
00:43:07.48\00:43:08.75
to fill our
hearts with His love,
00:43:08.78\00:43:11.39
that God's mind
might be ours, you know.
00:43:11.42\00:43:13.99
Let this mind be in you
which is also in Christ Jesus.
00:43:14.02\00:43:19.19
This is the important solution
that God is pointing us to.
00:43:19.23\00:43:21.70
You know, too often as couples
00:43:21.73\00:43:23.03
and I'm talking
about married couples,
00:43:23.06\00:43:24.87
or those who are coming together
00:43:24.90\00:43:27.00
and considering marriage
00:43:27.04\00:43:28.27
and they're
exclusive one to another,
00:43:28.30\00:43:30.14
too many couples fall in love,
00:43:30.17\00:43:31.91
but they fall in love apart
from Christ in their hearts.
00:43:31.94\00:43:35.41
Christ hasn't come
into their hearts yet.
00:43:35.44\00:43:36.88
They haven't
chosen to serve the Lord.
00:43:36.91\00:43:40.25
And then they believe
00:43:40.28\00:43:41.32
that all those
wonderful feelings
00:43:41.35\00:43:42.72
that they're experiencing
00:43:42.75\00:43:43.79
will carry them
through the years
00:43:43.82\00:43:45.12
that are ahead.
00:43:45.15\00:43:46.42
That will hold them together
00:43:46.45\00:43:47.62
in that same
wonderful experience.
00:43:47.66\00:43:50.03
But what's really
happening is this,
00:43:50.06\00:43:52.49
is that all those
wonderful hormones
00:43:52.53\00:43:54.13
that God has created us
00:43:54.20\00:43:55.20
with are being
released within our system,
00:43:55.23\00:43:57.70
you know, and the
novelty of this fresh romance
00:43:57.73\00:44:00.90
that has kind of
embedded in our lives
00:44:00.94\00:44:02.47
and that we're experiencing
00:44:02.50\00:44:04.17
and making all
those extra efforts
00:44:04.21\00:44:05.81
that you naturally make to
be as attractive as possible
00:44:05.84\00:44:09.01
to the other person.
00:44:09.04\00:44:10.61
You believe in, are
tricked into believing
00:44:10.65\00:44:12.38
that that's just
going to carry on for years
00:44:12.41\00:44:14.48
to come afterwards.
00:44:14.52\00:44:16.52
But does it carry on for
years to come afterwards?
00:44:16.55\00:44:19.15
No, the novelty disappears,
00:44:19.19\00:44:21.39
the hormones go back to normal.
00:44:21.42\00:44:23.96
And we don't try quite as hard
00:44:23.99\00:44:25.56
as we did in the
first weeks or months
00:44:25.59\00:44:27.13
that we're together, do we?
00:44:27.13\00:44:29.16
Okay.
00:44:29.20\00:44:30.20
And that's where the love of God
00:44:30.23\00:44:31.60
comes into play.
00:44:31.63\00:44:36.64
The deep abiding love
of Christ is the only way
00:44:36.67\00:44:39.61
that we can really allow
that love to be able to last
00:44:39.64\00:44:42.94
through the
years and the decades
00:44:42.98\00:44:44.48
that God wants us
00:44:44.51\00:44:45.48
to be able to come
together and stay together.
00:44:45.51\00:44:47.82
A love that lasts
00:44:47.85\00:44:48.85
and draws you
closer and closer together
00:44:48.88\00:44:50.55
can only come from the
love of God in the heart.
00:44:50.59\00:44:54.06
And that is so
important for us to understand.
00:44:54.09\00:44:57.63
Well, we're gonna
turn to Romans 5:5.
00:44:57.66\00:45:02.70
And so I invite you
if you have your Bibles
00:45:02.73\00:45:04.20
or phones and tablets
00:45:04.23\00:45:07.27
to go to Romans.
00:45:07.30\00:45:10.64
We're gonna go 5:5.
00:45:10.67\00:45:14.48
And we have another volunteer
00:45:14.51\00:45:16.04
that is going to read
that for us this morning.
00:45:16.08\00:45:19.71
"And hope maketh not ashamed,
00:45:19.75\00:45:22.52
because the love of God
00:45:22.55\00:45:24.22
is shed abroad in our hearts
00:45:24.25\00:45:26.52
by the Holy Ghost
00:45:26.55\00:45:27.82
which is given unto us."
00:45:27.86\00:45:30.86
Okay, so there's
that key word again,
00:45:30.89\00:45:32.66
the key word is love.
00:45:32.69\00:45:35.70
Hope does not disappoint
because the love of God
00:45:35.73\00:45:38.17
has been poured
into our hearts by who?
00:45:38.20\00:45:41.04
By the Holy Spirit.
00:45:41.07\00:45:42.34
And again, it's
pointing us to the fact
00:45:42.37\00:45:43.87
that it's not a love
00:45:43.91\00:45:44.91
that we can find
in our natural hearts.
00:45:44.94\00:45:47.18
It's not a love that we
can muster in of ourselves.
00:45:47.21\00:45:49.58
It's not
something that we can find
00:45:49.61\00:45:51.58
from the ages of
past and kind of,
00:45:51.61\00:45:54.28
you know,
discover the God within us.
00:45:54.32\00:45:55.85
No, there's so
many different ways
00:45:55.88\00:45:57.32
that the world tells
us that we can find love,
00:45:57.35\00:45:59.02
but there's only
one true abiding love
00:45:59.05\00:46:01.06
that is deep and lasting
00:46:01.09\00:46:02.76
and will bring it
through the decades ahead,
00:46:02.79\00:46:04.33
and that's the love of Christ.
00:46:04.36\00:46:06.80
Responding to the
great invitation of Joshua,
00:46:06.83\00:46:09.73
the great spiritual
leader of ages of old
00:46:09.76\00:46:13.34
that says, "Choose you
this day whom you will serve.
00:46:13.37\00:46:15.90
As for me and my house,
we will serve the Lord."
00:46:15.94\00:46:18.34
Well, Tuesday's lesson
00:46:21.98\00:46:23.61
has a quote at
the top of the page.
00:46:23.65\00:46:25.58
And I just want to share
00:46:25.61\00:46:26.95
that, we're close to
wrapping up our lesson here.
00:46:26.98\00:46:30.95
And so I don't
want to miss that.
00:46:30.99\00:46:32.45
At the top of the
page on Tuesday's lesson
00:46:32.49\00:46:36.99
and, of course, it's
talking about selfishness
00:46:37.03\00:46:39.03
as a family destroyer.
00:46:39.06\00:46:40.43
It says, "Pride and selfishness,
00:46:40.46\00:46:42.76
if pride and
selfishness were laid aside
00:46:42.80\00:46:45.00
five minutes would
remove most difficulties."
00:46:45.03\00:46:48.60
Wow!
00:46:48.64\00:46:50.57
How many difficulties do we find
00:46:50.61\00:46:52.14
that carry on week
after week, month after month
00:46:52.17\00:46:54.48
within the church at times,
00:46:54.51\00:46:56.44
within our marriage,
00:46:56.48\00:46:58.28
within our families?
00:46:58.31\00:47:01.18
And here we have
this great statement,
00:47:01.22\00:47:02.48
it says, "Pride and
selfishness were laid aside
00:47:02.52\00:47:04.95
five minutes would remove
most of those difficulties."
00:47:04.99\00:47:07.36
And so the
details of the difficulty
00:47:07.39\00:47:10.19
is not really the difficulty.
00:47:10.23\00:47:12.66
The difficulty
is the two enemies
00:47:12.69\00:47:14.40
that he is pointed out here,
which is pride and selfishness,
00:47:14.46\00:47:18.93
pride and selfishness.
00:47:18.97\00:47:20.37
And so, God is
telling us to recognize
00:47:20.40\00:47:22.30
that these are our enemies,
00:47:22.34\00:47:23.97
and it comes from birth.
00:47:24.01\00:47:25.61
It's something that is innate
within our own natural hearts.
00:47:25.64\00:47:29.71
That's why the
King David himself
00:47:29.74\00:47:31.25
cried out in Psalm 51:5,
00:47:31.28\00:47:33.11
he says, "Behold, I was
brought forth in iniquity,
00:47:33.15\00:47:36.28
and in sin did my
mother conceived me."
00:47:36.32\00:47:38.95
And so David here is
confessing and crying out
00:47:38.99\00:47:41.12
this great truth and obstacle
00:47:41.16\00:47:42.79
that we deal with for
the rest of our lives.
00:47:42.82\00:47:44.46
And that is that we are
born with a bent to sin,
00:47:44.49\00:47:47.93
a love for iniquity
in our natural hearts.
00:47:47.96\00:47:50.17
And that's why it's
so important to ask God
00:47:50.20\00:47:51.83
to fill our hearts every day
00:47:51.87\00:47:53.17
that He might help us to
be a new person each day,
00:47:53.20\00:47:56.30
that He might help
us to overcome that,
00:47:56.34\00:47:58.94
that He might be help
us to push our selfishness
00:47:58.97\00:48:01.24
and pride aside
00:48:01.28\00:48:03.18
and recognize them as enemies,
00:48:03.21\00:48:04.85
and pride and selfishness
is the opposite of God's love.
00:48:04.88\00:48:08.98
So God tells us
to push things aside.
00:48:09.02\00:48:13.22
That's where God found me.
00:48:13.25\00:48:14.56
You know, you go to a funeral.
00:48:14.59\00:48:16.76
And sadly as pastors,
00:48:16.79\00:48:18.43
of course, we're exposed
to more funerals than you are.
00:48:18.46\00:48:22.30
And one of the things
that breaks our heart,
00:48:22.33\00:48:24.50
it doesn't
happen in every funeral,
00:48:24.53\00:48:25.67
but too many,
00:48:25.70\00:48:27.17
you know, funerals
can be nasty occasions.
00:48:27.20\00:48:31.34
And the reason why is
00:48:31.37\00:48:32.51
because, you know, funerals
are one of the classic places
00:48:32.54\00:48:35.74
where the
selfishness of the heart
00:48:35.78\00:48:37.58
really reveals itself.
00:48:37.61\00:48:39.21
You know, the mask
is kind of pulled away.
00:48:39.25\00:48:40.72
The facade is harder to carry
00:48:40.75\00:48:42.72
because when you find a family
00:48:42.75\00:48:44.45
that is arguing
and fighting over
00:48:44.49\00:48:45.92
who's gonna get
mom special silverware,
00:48:45.95\00:48:49.36
more than they are
stopping and reminiscing
00:48:49.39\00:48:51.33
and sharing the sweet memories
that they've had with her.
00:48:51.36\00:48:53.43
You know, that
there's a problem.
00:48:53.46\00:48:55.40
You know, that
they're being operating
00:48:55.43\00:48:57.23
their MO is
their natural hearts.
00:48:57.27\00:49:01.34
Selfishness is a real
part of their existence,
00:49:01.37\00:49:03.64
but God doesn't want it
that way in our lives, does He?
00:49:03.67\00:49:06.71
No, He wants us to
lead a life of selflessness
00:49:06.74\00:49:11.21
as the quarterly
points out for us.
00:49:11.25\00:49:13.58
Christ, of course,
is the ultimate example.
00:49:13.62\00:49:16.45
You know, Jesus led a
perfect life of selflessness.
00:49:16.48\00:49:20.79
And God calls us to
be able to do the same.
00:49:20.82\00:49:22.99
This is also, of course,
00:49:23.02\00:49:24.03
found under the
umbrella of love.
00:49:24.06\00:49:28.60
And so we're gonna
close with our volunteer
00:49:28.63\00:49:30.30
here reading in
Philippians 2:3-5,
00:49:30.33\00:49:34.94
and Dan, if you
could kindly read that.
00:49:34.97\00:49:37.31
Philippians 2:3-5.
00:49:37.34\00:49:40.78
"Let nothing be done
00:49:40.81\00:49:41.88
through selfish
ambition or conceit,
00:49:41.91\00:49:44.95
but in the loneliness of mind,
00:49:44.98\00:49:47.12
let each esteem the
others better than himself.
00:49:47.15\00:49:51.29
Let each of you look out
00:49:51.32\00:49:53.12
not only for your own interests,
00:49:53.15\00:49:55.19
but also for the
interests of others.
00:49:55.22\00:49:57.83
Let this mind be in you,
00:49:57.86\00:50:00.00
which was also in Christ Jesus."
00:50:00.03\00:50:03.47
How much time do you
spend at the feet of Jesus
00:50:03.50\00:50:05.43
fighting against
whatever selfishness
00:50:05.47\00:50:07.20
that you have in your life?
00:50:07.24\00:50:10.07
When you recognize
and God is convicting you
00:50:10.11\00:50:12.17
and saying, you know,
00:50:12.21\00:50:13.91
the reason that you're
thinking and acting this way
00:50:13.94\00:50:15.71
is because you
know, you're selfish.
00:50:15.74\00:50:18.91
Friends, that should be a
flag, that should be a cue,
00:50:18.95\00:50:21.48
I need to spend time on my knees
00:50:21.52\00:50:22.98
and I need to get on my
knees as soon as possible.
00:50:23.02\00:50:25.99
And submit myself first to God.
00:50:26.02\00:50:27.82
And then as we just
read in the counsel,
00:50:27.86\00:50:29.52
we can count each other,
00:50:29.56\00:50:31.59
others outside of us
more important than ourselves.
00:50:31.63\00:50:35.06
And that doesn't
matter what position you are.
00:50:35.10\00:50:37.67
It doesn't matter if you're
the President of United States
00:50:37.70\00:50:39.50
or whether you're a janitor
at the local school here.
00:50:39.53\00:50:41.90
Friends, it is the same thing.
00:50:41.94\00:50:44.31
All of us count each other
00:50:44.34\00:50:46.37
more important than ourselves.
00:50:46.41\00:50:48.34
That's the place that
Christ wants us to be.
00:50:48.38\00:50:50.15
That's the
opposite of selflessness.
00:50:50.18\00:50:52.01
That's the
epitome of selflessness.
00:50:52.05\00:50:55.32
And so as we
close, we quote with...
00:50:55.35\00:50:57.32
I want to quote Paul
himself at the end of his life,
00:50:57.35\00:50:59.59
he says, "I have
fought the good fight.
00:50:59.62\00:51:03.83
I have finished the race."
00:51:03.86\00:51:06.49
And so Paul here
reflecting upon his life,
00:51:06.53\00:51:08.16
understood that
00:51:08.20\00:51:09.23
the Christian
life involves fighting.
00:51:09.26\00:51:11.83
Now, it's not the fighting
00:51:11.87\00:51:12.90
that we too often
experience in our homes
00:51:12.93\00:51:14.84
between husband and wives.
00:51:14.87\00:51:17.51
No, he's talking
about the fighting
00:51:17.54\00:51:18.77
against the devil,
00:51:18.81\00:51:19.81
fighting against selfishness,
00:51:19.84\00:51:21.11
fighting against pride,
00:51:21.14\00:51:23.01
fighting against sinfulness.
00:51:23.04\00:51:24.38
This is the fight
that he's talking about.
00:51:24.41\00:51:28.42
So I want to encourage
you to fight the good fight.
00:51:28.45\00:51:30.99
Well, thank you
so much for everyone
00:51:31.02\00:51:32.85
that has been watching
this particular program.
00:51:32.89\00:51:34.89
We are so glad that
you have come to join us.
00:51:34.92\00:51:37.03
We trust that it
has been something
00:51:37.06\00:51:38.23
that has been
helpful for your family life,
00:51:38.26\00:51:40.60
either as a married couple today
00:51:40.63\00:51:41.96
or a future married couple.
00:51:42.00\00:51:43.33
And those who
have children and such,
00:51:43.37\00:51:44.80
don't forget to take advantage
of the free offer that we have,
00:51:44.83\00:51:47.87
which is a little booklet
entitled "Teach Us to Pray,"
00:51:47.90\00:51:50.41
by Pastor Doug Batchelor.
00:51:50.44\00:51:52.04
And it's free offer number 717.
00:51:52.07\00:51:54.28
And you can see the number
00:51:54.31\00:51:55.31
that you can dial on the screen.
00:51:55.34\00:51:57.68
Simply dial that number
00:51:57.71\00:51:58.71
and we'll be happy
to send that to you,
00:51:58.75\00:52:00.22
if you're in the United States
or one of the territories.
00:52:00.25\00:52:03.39
And again, there's
also a digital copy
00:52:03.42\00:52:05.02
available for your phone
00:52:05.05\00:52:06.52
and you can see
that information as well
00:52:06.55\00:52:08.92
on the screen here today.
00:52:08.96\00:52:10.03
God bless you.
00:52:10.06\00:52:11.03
We love you and we
look forward to seeing you
00:52:11.06\00:52:12.29
in next week lesson.
00:52:12.33\00:52:14.63
Don't forget to request
00:52:14.66\00:52:15.73
today's life
changing free resource.
00:52:15.76\00:52:18.20
Not only can you receive
this free gift in the mail,
00:52:18.23\00:52:20.40
you can download a digital
copy straight to your computer
00:52:20.44\00:52:23.00
or mobile device.
00:52:23.04\00:52:24.24
To get your digital
copy of today's free gift,
00:52:24.27\00:52:26.98
simply text the
keyword on your screen to 40544
00:52:27.01\00:52:31.05
or visit the web
address shown on your screen.
00:52:31.08\00:52:33.82
And be sure to select
00:52:33.85\00:52:34.98
a digital download
option on the request page.
00:52:35.02\00:52:37.55
It's now easier than ever
00:52:37.59\00:52:39.05
for you to study God's
Word with Amazing Facts
00:52:39.09\00:52:42.09
wherever and whenever you want
00:52:42.12\00:52:44.03
and most important,
to share it with others.
00:52:44.06\00:52:46.56
Amazing Facts changed lives.
00:52:51.47\00:52:54.24
I was born into a
family of criminals.
00:52:58.94\00:53:01.71
When I got older
00:53:01.74\00:53:02.78
and I started
breaking the rules,
00:53:02.81\00:53:04.65
no one ever taught me
about, Thou shalt not steal.
00:53:04.68\00:53:07.25
Thou shalt not lie.
00:53:07.28\00:53:08.48
Thou shalt not commit
adultery, anything like that.
00:53:08.52\00:53:11.72
When I became a runaway at 14,
00:53:11.75\00:53:15.02
I was just a
wild and lost child.
00:53:15.06\00:53:18.56
I had somebody tell me,
00:53:18.59\00:53:19.59
"Hey, you wanna earn some money
00:53:19.63\00:53:21.26
cleaning this guy's kitchen."
00:53:21.30\00:53:22.83
So I went to this house
on a different side of town
00:53:22.86\00:53:25.20
than I was used to.
00:53:25.23\00:53:26.37
Someone kept
giving me alcoholic drinks
00:53:26.40\00:53:29.67
and being 115
pounds and 14 years old,
00:53:29.70\00:53:32.77
it really didn't take much time
00:53:32.81\00:53:34.31
before I was so inebriated
00:53:34.34\00:53:36.18
that I had no control over
00:53:36.21\00:53:38.48
what was going on around me.
00:53:38.51\00:53:40.25
He took me to another location,
00:53:40.28\00:53:42.48
another town.
00:53:42.52\00:53:43.92
And I was put in isolation.
00:53:43.95\00:53:45.75
I would come out to be abused
00:53:45.79\00:53:47.36
between three and
eight times a day.
00:53:47.39\00:53:48.76
I was degraded.
00:53:48.79\00:53:49.82
I was humiliated,
00:53:49.86\00:53:51.66
that had no
value as a human being.
00:53:51.69\00:53:54.03
And I learned very quickly
00:53:54.10\00:53:56.36
that what I felt
and what I thought,
00:53:56.40\00:53:58.30
and how this made me feel
00:53:58.33\00:53:59.90
did not matter to him at all.
00:53:59.93\00:54:01.74
If I even
thought about not doing
00:54:01.77\00:54:05.47
what he wanted me to do,
00:54:05.51\00:54:07.54
I would have a gun to my head
00:54:07.58\00:54:10.08
and knife to my throat.
00:54:10.11\00:54:12.98
There was one time in particular
00:54:13.01\00:54:14.92
where he had been
tormenting me psychologically.
00:54:14.95\00:54:20.32
And one day he said, "Oh,
you'll never kill yourself.
00:54:20.36\00:54:23.26
You'll never do it."
00:54:23.29\00:54:25.26
And almost defiantly, I
was like, "Yes, I will."
00:54:25.29\00:54:28.66
And he handed me
a handful of pills
00:54:28.70\00:54:30.90
and I took them.
00:54:30.93\00:54:32.00
While I was overdosing,
00:54:32.03\00:54:33.13
and I had been
overdosing all night,
00:54:33.17\00:54:35.64
I cried out to a God
that I didn't even believe in.
00:54:35.67\00:54:38.64
And at that very moment
00:54:38.67\00:54:40.04
in the most powerful way
00:54:40.08\00:54:41.98
God shown His light on me.
00:54:42.01\00:54:44.25
And He gave me peace of mind,
00:54:44.28\00:54:46.01
like I never had.
00:54:46.05\00:54:47.95
And He let me know
right then and there
00:54:47.98\00:54:49.75
while I was on
that bathroom floor,
00:54:49.78\00:54:51.29
that He was real
and then He was love.
00:54:51.32\00:54:54.26
And that I did not
know how at that time,
00:54:54.29\00:54:56.16
but He was going to help me.
00:54:56.19\00:54:57.93
A little less than a year later,
00:54:57.96\00:54:59.93
I became pregnant at 15.
00:54:59.96\00:55:02.26
I loved my son
with my whole heart.
00:55:02.30\00:55:04.43
He also became something
00:55:04.47\00:55:05.93
that my abuser
could use against me
00:55:05.97\00:55:07.87
in order to pump
more fear and coercion.
00:55:07.90\00:55:13.21
I had finally got
away from my abuser.
00:55:13.24\00:55:16.54
And I'd finally
built up a support system
00:55:16.58\00:55:18.48
to help me stay on the move
00:55:18.51\00:55:19.85
and stay on the run.
00:55:19.88\00:55:21.52
And I was at my
grandmother's house
00:55:21.55\00:55:23.28
and on my son's
third birthday...
00:55:23.32\00:55:25.02
he took my son
00:55:30.06\00:55:31.19
and when I called the police
00:55:31.23\00:55:32.23
and said, "My son's
just been kidnapped."
00:55:32.26\00:55:34.00
They said, "He's the father.
We can't do anything about it."
00:55:34.03\00:55:37.27
After my son was gone,
00:55:37.30\00:55:39.27
I lost my mind.
00:55:39.30\00:55:40.47
I started doing drugs.
00:55:40.50\00:55:41.90
And within a month and a half,
00:55:41.94\00:55:43.37
I robbed a convenience store.
00:55:43.41\00:55:45.54
So I was sentenced to 70 months,
00:55:45.57\00:55:48.44
5 years, 10 months in prison.
00:55:48.48\00:55:50.81
And it was the best
thing that ever happened to me.
00:55:50.85\00:55:55.68
I started attending the
church services in prison,
00:55:55.72\00:55:58.85
seven days a week,
00:55:58.89\00:56:00.39
it blew my mind.
00:56:00.42\00:56:02.09
I was hooked.
00:56:02.12\00:56:03.43
And then we went through,
00:56:03.46\00:56:05.46
it was Millennium
of Prophecy and NET '99
00:56:05.49\00:56:09.23
that just solidified my faith
00:56:09.26\00:56:12.40
in such a powerful way.
00:56:12.43\00:56:14.07
And I knew God,
that God was leading me.
00:56:14.10\00:56:17.04
Even the guards there commented
00:56:17.07\00:56:18.67
on how much I had changed
00:56:18.71\00:56:21.41
since I started doing
the studies on Amazing Facts.
00:56:21.44\00:56:25.35
I was so excited
about what I was learning
00:56:25.38\00:56:27.32
that I was
coming back from there
00:56:27.35\00:56:29.52
and trying to convert my
heart into criminal friends
00:56:29.55\00:56:33.42
with the Storacles of Prophecy.
00:56:33.46\00:56:34.99
Every question I ever had,
00:56:35.02\00:56:36.99
every worry, everything
that I ever wondered about,
00:56:37.03\00:56:41.43
the Bible answered everything,
00:56:41.46\00:56:42.96
and it was so clear
00:56:43.00\00:56:44.37
and so easy to understand.
00:56:44.40\00:56:46.84
It's been 11 years
00:56:46.87\00:56:47.97
since I've been out of prison.
00:56:48.00\00:56:49.50
I am married to an
amazing wonderful man,
00:56:49.54\00:56:52.57
my first
non-abusive relationship
00:56:52.61\00:56:54.41
in my whole entire life.
00:56:54.44\00:56:55.94
Before we got married,
00:56:55.98\00:56:57.18
we watched the Millennium
of Prophecy series together.
00:56:57.21\00:57:00.58
And it was just such a blessing
00:57:00.62\00:57:03.69
to be able to see him learn
00:57:03.72\00:57:06.09
and see him grow.
00:57:06.12\00:57:07.96
And I felt like my
life now is just a gift
00:57:07.99\00:57:10.93
that every single
thing that happened to me
00:57:10.96\00:57:12.83
bad in the past
00:57:12.86\00:57:14.13
is nothing compared to
the joy, and the happiness,
00:57:14.20\00:57:18.23
and the
stability that I have now.
00:57:18.27\00:57:20.64
My name is Christine VanOrder,
and my life has been changed
00:57:20.67\00:57:24.14
by Jesus Christ
and Amazing Facts.
00:57:24.17\00:57:26.74
Let's face it,
00:57:36.82\00:57:37.85
it's not always easy
to understand everything
00:57:37.89\00:57:40.16
you read in the Bible.
00:57:40.19\00:57:41.72
With over 700,000
words contained in 66 books,
00:57:41.76\00:57:45.43
the Bible can
generate a lot of questions.
00:57:45.46\00:57:48.00
To get biblical
straightforward answers,
00:57:48.03\00:57:50.30
call into Bible Answers Live,
00:57:50.33\00:57:52.13
a live nationwide
call-in radio program
00:57:52.17\00:57:54.87
where you can talk
to Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:57:54.90\00:57:57.14
and ask him your most
difficult Bible questions.
00:57:57.17\00:57:59.74
For times and
stations in your area
00:57:59.77\00:58:02.01
or to listen to answers online,
00:58:02.04\00:58:03.81
visit bal.amazingfacts.org.
00:58:03.85\00:58:07.38