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Jean Ross: Good
morning, friends.
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We'd like to welcome all of you
to Sabbath School Study Hour,
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coming here from the
Amazing Facts offices in Granite
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Bay, California.
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I'd like to welcome those
joining us not only here in
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Northern California but
also across the country.
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And I know we have folks joining
us outside of North America, so
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a very warm welcome to you.
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We're studying our
lesson quarter, the new lesson
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quarterly, dealing with
the subject of education.
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That is the title of the lesson.
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Today, we're in lesson
number 3 and it's, "The Law as
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a Teacher."
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How does the
law of God teach us?
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But before we get to our study
this morning, Pastor Doug, let's
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start with a word of prayer.
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Dear Father, we thank You that
we're able to gather together
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and open up Your Word and study
a very important topic: the law
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that is our teacher to lead
us to Christ, to come to a clear
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understanding of
Your will for our lives.
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And so we do ask the Holy Spirit
to be with us here in the studio
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and be with those who are
watching wherever they are, for
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we ask this in
Jesus' name, amen.
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Doug Batchelor: Amen.
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Jean: Well, Pastor Doug, just
before we get into our study for
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today, which is lesson number 3,
we've got an exciting upcoming
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event that I think we
want to tell folks about.
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It starts October 23.
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Doug: Yes, and at the time of
this broadcast, it's only going
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to be about a week away and it's
a special evangelistic program,
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international prophecy program,
called "The Revelation Now."
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And you simply go to the
website, Revelation Now, you can
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find out how you can participate
in this soul-winning endeavor
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that's going to be broadcast
on AFTV, 3ABN, Amazing Facts
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Facebook, the Doug Batchelor
page, YouTube, Twitter, Birds in
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the Sky, I don't know, we're
going to use every viable method
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we know of to get
this program out there.
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And you can do
it in your church.
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Invite people to
your church or your home.
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There's lessons
online and it's all free.
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Your church can sign up
and be part of Revelation Now.
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We're going to be doing a full
20-part evangelistic program to
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bring people to Christ, and
I can't think of a better time
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with everything happening
in the world than right now.
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Jean: Absolutely, so just
simply go to revelationnow.com.
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You'll be able to sign up
and get notifications as to when
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we're going to be live and, as
Pastor Doug mentioned, it starts
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October 23 and this will be
a full Bible prophecy seminar.
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So I want to encourage you to
encourage your friends to tune
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in and, again,
just go to the website.
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We do have a free offer for
our study this morning that goes
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along with the topic and
it's entitled "Obedience.
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Is it Legalism?"
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"Is Obedience Legalism?"
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And if you'd like to receive a
free copy of this Amazing Facts
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Study Guide, the number
to call is 866-788-3966.
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That is 866-Study-More,
and ask for Offer number 706.
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You're also able to get a
digital download of the study by
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texting the code "SH041" to the
number "40544," and you'll be
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able to get a link as to how you
can read this on your phone or
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on your computer.
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So "Is Obedience Legalism?"
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It's part of our Amazing Facts
Study Guide series and it's a
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very important study there.
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Well, Pastor Doug, our title for
our lesson today is "The Law as
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a Teacher," and we have a memory
verse and our memory verse is
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probably well known to a lot of
our viewers: Deuteronomy chapter
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6, verse 5, and this is what it
says: "You shall love the Lord
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your God with all of your heart,
with all of your soul and with
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all of your strength."
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Now, of course, this verse
we find in the Old Testament in
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Deuteronomy chapter 6, but
this is also a verse that Jesus
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quotes when he was asked, "What
is the greatest commandment in
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the law?"
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And Jesus said, "There are two.
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The first is to love God with
all your heart, soul, and mind.
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The second, to love
your neighbor as yourself."
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Doug: Amen, we're going to be
talking now in this lesson about
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the themes of the law, grace,
the requirements of the law,
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some of the challenges of
the law, and we'd also like to
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invite those of you who
are watching if you have any
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questions, we're going to do
our best to take some of your
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live questions.
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So those of you who might be
watching our study right now on
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Facebook or YouTube, then you
can--I guess you can't do it on
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YouTube, but you
can text us on Facebook.
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They'll call out what those
questions are and we'll do our
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best to answer some
questions on the lesson live.
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So think about that now
and start sending them in.
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Jean: You can just, as Pastor
Doug mentioned, in you're on
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Facebook, just type it in
there in the comments section.
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We have a team of folks here who
are looking at the comments and
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we'll try and answer as
many of those as we can.
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Well, let's get into it then,
our study on Sabbath afternoon,
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the title for which is
"To Love and To Fear God."
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Doug: A lot of people
wonder, "What does that mean?
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Is that the kind of fear
or terror where you run from
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somebody, that you dread a
person, or what does it mean?
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Is it just respect?"
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Jean: Well, you know, I think
if you're, well, all of us, when
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you come to a knowledge of our
sin, and we realize that we need
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a Savior, there is a certain
degree of fear or perhaps even
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terror standing before God
in judgment, clothed in your own
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filthy garments and not
the righteousness of Jesus.
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There is a fear.
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But as we learn to see God's
love and grace, that fear moves
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into a holy
reverence and awe for God.
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The Bible talks about angels
that stand in the presence of
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God and they have six wings.
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With two, they cover their
feet; with two, they cover their
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faces; with two, they fly.
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And they constant
cry: "Holy, holy, holy."
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So just being in the presence of
God and witnessing His character
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and His glory and His
acts awakens an awe amongst
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the angels.
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How much more should God's glory
awaken an awe and a reverence
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amongst human beings?
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Doug: You know, there's a verse,
if you want to look at that.
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It's in Job 1:1.
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It tells us about a godly
man and his attitude about this.
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Do you want to read that?
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Jean: Job
chapter 1, verse 1, yes.
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It says: "There was a man in the
land of Uz whose name was Job,
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and this man was blameless
and upright," and then almost
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defines that for us.
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It says: "One who
feared God and shunned evil."
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So it's interesting how you have
blameless and upright connected
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with fearing God
and shunning evil.
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Doug: And the Bible says:
"The fear of the Lord is the
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beginning of wisdom."
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And, you know,
talking about education.
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Now, you know, for me, I think
probably one of the best ways to
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conceive this, Jesus said
when we talk to God to say, "Our
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Father," and yet we're also
told to fear God and give glory
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to Him.
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I remember when--and I'm sure
you had the same experience with
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your boys or all three
of your kids, actually.
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But I cut firewood and I'd take
the boys out cutting firewood
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and I used a, somewhere between
a 10- and a 16-pound maul
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depending on what kind of wood
it was and I remember the boys,
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I used to give them a little
Fisher-Price ax so they could
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pretend they were
helping me cut firewood.
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I'm talking about, like,
you know, four, three years
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old, whatever.
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And they'd go and
try and pick up my ax.
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They couldn't even pick it up.
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And so then they'd see me
pick it up and split wood and it
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would pop apart and they would
be in awe and they'd think, "My
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dad is the strongest man in
the world," as small as I am.
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But for them, there was, like, a
fear, "Wow, look at that power.
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I can't do that."
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And--but they weren't afraid to,
you know, tug on my sleeve and
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climb in my lap.
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And so, it wasn't a
fear where they ran from me.
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It was a love and an awe, and,
yeah, of course, that's a small
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example of the great
majesty of God and how he is an
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awesome God.
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The Bible says it is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of
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the living God, meaning in
judgment, but He's also a God
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that we love
and we can approach.
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Jean: You know, we do have some
questions that's coming in and
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one of the questions,
somewhat related to this.
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The question is: "Where in the
Bible would you find the place
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where Satan is
involved in healing someone?"
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And I guess the question is in
the last days the devil is going
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to perform signs and wonders and
even healing and do we know of
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any example in the Bible where
Satan would at least appear as
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though he healed someone?
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Doug: Well, you have a false
prophet in the book of Acts and
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it says he did many wonders.
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I don't know that it
specifically mentions that he
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healed, but we know that people
followed this person and, you
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know, one of the most common
counterfeit miracles that the
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false prophets would perform
is healing and so that was Simon
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that I think you read about,
is it Acts chapter 8, I believe.
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And we know Satan does miracles.
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You, of course, see that with
the Pharaoh and when they turn
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their rods into serpents but,
specifically healing, that's the
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only thing I can think of.
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Well, you can read in Revelation
it says: "This," or "Those
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three unclean spirits go forth
to deceive the kings of the
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earth with their miracles."
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Doesn't specifically say
miracles of healing but--
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Jean: And of course, Jesus did
say that there would be false
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christs, false prophets,
performing signs, and one of
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those signs, you'd assume, would
be miracles, trying to win over
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the support of the
masses on the earth.
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Another question relating to the
Ten Commandments, it says: "I've
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been discussing with a friend,"
and this person believes that
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the Ten--or the new covenant
abolishes the Ten Commandments.
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Why is it--and the question
is, "Why is it that so many
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Christians have a
misunderstanding of the role of
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the Ten Commandments as it
relates to the new covenant?"
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Doug: One word: Sabbath.
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People have no problem
with the Ten Commandments.
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I mean, I could go to
almost any evangelical, even
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dispensational, churches in
North America and I could preach
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on honor your parents
and they will say, "Amen."
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And I could preach on do
not worship idols, they'll say,
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"Amen," unless, well, there's
some orthodox Catholic churches,
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they might not like that.
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I could go and I could preach
about don't commit adultery,
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people would squirm but
they'd know it's true and they'd
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say, "Amen."
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And they have no problem
with the Commandments until you
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say, "Remember--"
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Actually, you could say,
"Remember the Sabbath day,"
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they'll say, "Amen," but then
you say, "The seventh day is the
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Sabbath," they go,
"We're not under the law.
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We're under grace."
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I mean, I've seen
it time and time again.
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I don't know, this one
church, I went to a particular
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Presbyterian church in a
small town, and I visited them.
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They had the Ten
Commandments on the wall.
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That same town, I did an
evangelistic meeting, and after
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preaching on the law and the
Sabbath, the pastor took the Ten
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Commandments down.
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He says, "We're
not under the law.
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We're under grace," and
everyone said, "Why'd you take
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them down?"
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Several of his members actually
joined our church 'cause he
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obviously didn't want the
Ten Commandments because of
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the Sabbath.
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Jean: So, it really boils down
to the Sabbath commandment which
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is a commandment that says:
"Remember," and it's a sign of
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our allegiance and our
connection with Christ.
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And we might even get into that
a little bit more of how the
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Sabbath or the Ten Commandments
in the whole teaches us that.
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So on the subject of fearing
God, Proverbs chapter 16, verse
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6, says: "By the fear of the
Lord, one departs from evil."
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So there is this reverence,
this awe, but there is a certain
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degree of fear, especially for
the evildoer, that we are going
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to stand before God in judgment.
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And that's Ecclesiastes chapter
8, verse 12, which says: "Though
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a sinner does evil a
hundred times and his days are
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prolonged, yet surely I know
that it will be well with those
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who fear God who
fear before Him."
00:12:05.02\00:12:09.12
Doug: And fearing God can also
mean you love Him and you fear
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to disappoint Him.
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And so, you know, that
would be--that would be the
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right approach.
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It's just when you think about
the consequences of your sin in
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disobedience, we should
be afraid of hurting God.
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I mean, you look at the cross
and you think about we ought to
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dread that, we ought to flee
from that because we don't want
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to hurt Him because we love Him.
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Jean: And, of course, this
message is relevant for us today
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because we have the first
angel's message which says:
00:12:36.69\00:12:39.32
"Fear God.
00:12:39.35\00:12:40.99
Give glory to Him.
00:12:41.02\00:12:42.82
The hour of His
judgment has come."
00:12:42.86\00:12:44.83
And it's connected or
it's--it has to do with the Ten
00:12:44.86\00:12:46.80
Commandments, of course,
it's worship the Creator which
00:12:46.83\00:12:49.10
reminds us of the Sabbath.
00:12:49.13\00:12:51.13
So fearing God is not an
"old-fashioned" idea; it's
00:12:51.17\00:12:53.13
really part of this last warning
message that God wants us to
00:12:53.17\00:12:56.14
take to the world.
00:12:56.17\00:12:58.04
Doug: Yup.
00:12:58.07\00:13:00.31
Now, there's a section here, and
you'll find this in your lesson.
00:13:00.34\00:13:02.48
If you look in Deuteronomy
chapter 31, verse 12 and verse
00:13:02.51\00:13:04.35
13, Moses is told: "Gather the
people together, men and women
00:13:04.38\00:13:08.65
and little ones, and the
stranger who is within your
00:13:08.68\00:13:11.22
gates, that they may hear and
that they may learn to fear the
00:13:11.25\00:13:14.82
Lord your God and carefully
observe all the words of this
00:13:14.86\00:13:18.86
law that their children who
have not known it might hear and
00:13:18.89\00:13:22.50
learn and fear."
00:13:22.53\00:13:24.80
Now, we're talking about
education, we're talking about
00:13:24.83\00:13:26.90
the law.
00:13:26.94\00:13:29.24
Notice the connection
between hearing it, learning it,
00:13:29.27\00:13:31.14
and fearing.
00:13:31.17\00:13:33.88
"And fear the Lord your God as
long as you live in the land you
00:13:33.91\00:13:36.38
cross the Jordan to possess."
00:13:36.41\00:13:39.18
You know, if part of education
is you teach your kids, "You do
00:13:39.21\00:13:41.32
not touch the stove when there's
a fire in it," and you're
00:13:41.35\00:13:44.42
letting them hear, you're
teaching them, and you want them
00:13:44.45\00:13:47.59
to fear because it'll hurt them.
00:13:47.62\00:13:50.23
And one of the things that, if
you live in a city, you've got
00:13:50.26\00:13:52.73
to teach your kids, you don't
step off the curb unless, you
00:13:52.76\00:13:56.53
know, you've trained them very
carefully about the light and
00:13:56.56\00:13:58.93
looking both ways and you want
to put the fear in them that it
00:13:58.97\00:14:01.80
hurts and it is unpleasant
to be run over, and they learn.
00:14:01.84\00:14:09.44
So it's a learning, hearing, and
a fearing that actually saves
00:14:09.48\00:14:13.31
their lives.
00:14:13.35\00:14:15.48
So it's not bad that
they learn those things.
00:14:15.52\00:14:17.82
Jean: Then we find in
Ecclesiastes 12, verse 13, it
00:14:17.85\00:14:20.16
says: "Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter.
00:14:20.19\00:14:22.29
Fear God and keep His
commandments for this is the
00:14:22.32\00:14:25.89
whole duty of man, for God shall
bring every work into judgment
00:14:25.93\00:14:28.86
with every secret thing,
whether it be good or whether it
00:14:28.90\00:14:32.30
be evil."
00:14:32.33\00:14:34.24
So, once again, we have fearing
God connected with keeping His
00:14:34.27\00:14:36.10
commandments, and
then the judgment.
00:14:36.14\00:14:38.77
And of course, this is
Ecclesiastes but we also find
00:14:38.81\00:14:41.18
that same thing in Revelation:
fearing God, give Him glory, the
00:14:41.21\00:14:44.75
hour of His judgment's come.
00:14:44.78\00:14:46.98
Doug: A little earlier in
Ecclesiastes, Solomon says, and
00:14:47.02\00:14:49.12
this is chapter 8, verse
12: "Though a sinner does evil a
00:14:49.15\00:14:52.39
hundred times and his days are
prolonged," you know, sometimes
00:14:52.42\00:14:56.59
it looks like, they're sinning
and they seem to be having a
00:14:56.62\00:14:59.03
good time, he says--Solomon
says, "Don't be deceived.
00:14:59.06\00:15:02.80
Though a sinner does evil a
hundred times and his days are
00:15:02.83\00:15:05.13
prolonged, yet I surely know
that it will be well with those
00:15:05.17\00:15:08.70
who fear God, who fear before
Him," meaning those who do not
00:15:08.74\00:15:13.04
sin, who turn from disobedience.
00:15:13.07\00:15:15.98
Now, of course,
everyone has sinned.
00:15:16.01\00:15:18.01
We've all broken the law,
but living--it's talking about
00:15:18.05\00:15:20.68
living a life of disobedience
and commandment breaking.
00:15:20.72\00:15:22.78
Jean: We do have a question,
Pastor Doug, that's come in and
00:15:22.82\00:15:25.32
this question is reference
to a New Testament verse.
00:15:25.35\00:15:29.02
Talks about a falling away that
occurs and the question is: "Has
00:15:29.06\00:15:33.03
this falling away begun?"
00:15:33.06\00:15:35.73
And it's a falling away amongst
those who are believers or in
00:15:35.76\00:15:38.57
the church.
00:15:38.60\00:15:40.77
"Has this falling away begun?"
00:15:40.80\00:15:42.77
Doug: And I think it's talking
about 2 Thessalonians where it
00:15:42.80\00:15:45.21
tells us that that
wicked one will sit.
00:15:45.24\00:15:47.31
It says that the Coming of the
Lord will not happen until there
00:15:47.34\00:15:49.68
come a falling away first and
the son of perdition is revealed
00:15:49.71\00:15:53.38
who sits in the temple of God
showing himself that he is god.
00:15:53.42\00:15:56.65
Jean: That's 2
Thessalonians 2:3.
00:15:56.69\00:15:59.15
Doug: Thank you, yes.
00:15:59.19\00:16:01.96
And this falling away is
something that Paul foretold
00:16:01.99\00:16:04.49
that the peer teachings that
Jesus gave the apostles, Paul
00:16:04.53\00:16:08.03
said, "After my departure I know
grievous wolves will come in,
00:16:08.06\00:16:10.97
not sparing the flock."
00:16:11.00\00:16:13.07
That's in Acts, I believe.
00:16:13.10\00:16:15.94
And that would come shortly
after the death of the apostles.
00:16:15.97\00:16:19.57
And it wasn't very long after
the death of the apostles and
00:16:19.61\00:16:22.14
the persecution during the
age of the church of Smyrna that
00:16:22.18\00:16:25.68
great compromise came in, and
the church fell from those peer
00:16:25.71\00:16:30.85
teachings of Christ.
00:16:30.89\00:16:32.82
So, yes, that
falling away, it came.
00:16:32.85\00:16:34.72
It's not talking about a fall in
the world; talking about a fall
00:16:34.76\00:16:36.96
in the church.
00:16:36.99\00:16:38.73
Jean: And, of course,
it's interesting to note that a
00:16:38.76\00:16:40.70
falling away is often associated
with a falling away from the
00:16:40.73\00:16:42.53
commandments of God.
00:16:42.56\00:16:44.63
During the Old Testament time
when the children of Israel fell
00:16:44.67\00:16:46.67
away, they would often
leave the commandments of God.
00:16:46.70\00:16:48.84
When there was revival in
the camp of Israel, they would
00:16:48.87\00:16:51.04
return to obedience
to God's commandments.
00:16:51.07\00:16:53.84
So you can't have a falling
away without setting aside the
00:16:53.88\00:16:56.75
Ten Commandments.
00:16:56.78\00:16:58.31
Doug: They
always go hand in hand.
00:16:58.35\00:16:59.75
Jean: And we see that even in
the Christian world today, the
00:16:59.78\00:17:01.72
setting aside of
the Ten Commandments.
00:17:01.75\00:17:03.32
Doug: It never says in
the Bible: "They fell away and
00:17:03.35\00:17:04.79
became very obedient."
00:17:04.82\00:17:07.02
It doesn't--those two
don't happen together.
00:17:07.06\00:17:09.59
And then we've got one
more verse here and you can
00:17:09.62\00:17:11.89
read that.
00:17:11.93\00:17:13.23
Micah 6, verse 8.
00:17:13.26\00:17:14.86
Jean: Yes, it is Micah 6:8.
00:17:14.93\00:17:16.50
It says: "He has shown you, O
man, what is good; and what does
00:17:16.53\00:17:18.40
the Lord require of you but to
do justly, to love mercy, and to
00:17:18.43\00:17:21.57
walk humbly with your God?"
00:17:21.60\00:17:24.57
Doug: Yeah, this is summarizing
what it means to live a life of
00:17:24.61\00:17:27.41
obedience and justice.
00:17:27.44\00:17:30.35
And it sort of encompasses it
that it's really out of love for
00:17:30.38\00:17:33.65
God and love for your neighbor,
which is what Jesus taught.
00:17:33.68\00:17:36.89
Jean: Our next day's lesson
is entitled, "A Witness Against
00:17:36.92\00:17:40.06
You," and we're talking about
the law here and folks have
00:17:40.09\00:17:42.56
often wondered, "How does
the law witness against us?
00:17:42.59\00:17:45.93
And how does that tie in with
our new covenant experience and
00:17:45.96\00:17:49.60
relationship with God?"
00:17:49.63\00:17:51.70
Colossians chapter 2, verse
14, it says, speaking about the
00:17:51.73\00:17:55.00
death of Christ, "Having
wiped out the handwriting of the
00:17:55.04\00:17:57.57
requirements that were against
us, which was contrary to us,
00:17:57.61\00:18:01.31
and he has taken it out of
the way, having nailed it to
00:18:01.34\00:18:04.58
the cross."
00:18:04.61\00:18:06.95
Now, sometimes, Pastor Doug,
we hear people say when we do
00:18:06.98\00:18:08.92
evangelism, "Oh, you
don't have to keep the Ten
00:18:08.95\00:18:10.72
Commandments anymore.
00:18:10.75\00:18:12.45
You don't have
to keep the Sabbath.
00:18:12.49\00:18:14.29
It's nailed to the cross."
00:18:14.32\00:18:16.06
It's a favorite phrase.
00:18:16.09\00:18:17.76
Now, what exactly is
Paul talking about here in
00:18:17.79\00:18:19.33
Colossians 2 when he's saying
something's nailed to the cross
00:18:19.36\00:18:20.73
and it has to do with writing?
00:18:20.76\00:18:22.60
I think the big clue
there is handwriting.
00:18:22.63\00:18:24.73
Doug: Right, yeah.
00:18:24.77\00:18:27.17
Well, first of all, all of
the law in a sense is a witness
00:18:27.20\00:18:30.27
against us in the judgment.
00:18:30.31\00:18:32.31
You know, the Bible says we will
be judged and I think this is
00:18:32.34\00:18:35.14
James 2:12: "So speak and do as
those who will be judged by the
00:18:35.18\00:18:37.95
law of liberty."
00:18:37.98\00:18:40.15
And in the prior
verses, he mentions two of the
00:18:40.18\00:18:42.22
Ten Commandments.
00:18:42.25\00:18:44.49
So, you know, we're going to
be judged by the law of God, but
00:18:44.52\00:18:46.89
the law that was nailed to the
cross that was a witness against
00:18:46.92\00:18:49.99
us, Paul was more specifically
talking there about the law
00:18:50.03\00:18:53.53
contained in ordinances.
00:18:53.56\00:18:56.16
Now, you look in Deuteronomy
31, verse 26, and it tells us,
00:18:56.20\00:19:00.27
Pastor Ross, there's a
distinction there between the
00:19:00.30\00:19:02.94
Ten Commandments that were
in the ark and this other scroll
00:19:02.97\00:19:06.17
of handwriting.
00:19:06.21\00:19:08.61
You want to read that for us?
00:19:08.64\00:19:10.65
Jean: Yeah, Deuteronomy
chapter 31, verse 26.
00:19:10.68\00:19:12.95
This is God speaking to--or
Moses speaking the Word of God.
00:19:12.98\00:19:16.82
It says: "Take this book of the
law and put it on the side of
00:19:16.85\00:19:19.45
the ark of the covenant of the
Lord your God that it might be
00:19:19.49\00:19:22.59
there a witness against you."
00:19:22.62\00:19:25.76
So, Colossians 2:14 talks about
the handwritten requirements
00:19:25.79\00:19:29.16
that was against us.
00:19:29.20\00:19:31.23
Deuteronomy 31:26 talks about
the ceremonial law that was on
00:19:31.27\00:19:35.10
the side of the ark and it says,
specifically, was against you.
00:19:35.14\00:19:38.64
Doug: Yeah, it's interesting
that a very strong teaching in
00:19:38.67\00:19:41.88
the Hebrew law was that nobody
was to be condemned or punished
00:19:41.91\00:19:45.05
except in the mouth of
two or three witnesses.
00:19:45.08\00:19:47.62
And so within the ark of the
covenant you've got two tables
00:19:47.65\00:19:50.52
of stone, and it says, "written
on both sides," and there's that
00:19:50.55\00:19:55.22
dual nature there.
00:19:55.26\00:19:57.33
And now, you've also got in
the pocket on the outside of the
00:19:57.36\00:19:59.19
ark, you've got the laws of
the ordinances and some of the
00:19:59.23\00:20:02.80
ceremonial laws.
00:20:02.83\00:20:04.90
And when he, Moses, says, "This
will be a witness against you,"
00:20:04.93\00:20:07.20
it means that it is recorded
that you knew the will of God,
00:20:07.24\00:20:11.14
you're to read it to the people
and to teach them that it might
00:20:11.17\00:20:15.34
be a witness.
00:20:15.38\00:20:17.65
I think it says this here,
Deuteronomy 31, verse 19: "Now
00:20:17.68\00:20:20.58
therefore, write down this song
for yourselves and teach it to
00:20:20.62\00:20:24.19
the children of Israel.
00:20:24.22\00:20:26.69
Put it in their mouths that this
song might be a witness for me
00:20:26.72\00:20:29.12
against the children of Israel."
00:20:29.16\00:20:31.46
Now, why would he say that?
00:20:31.49\00:20:33.86
It means that whenever they sang
this Scripture song that dealt
00:20:33.90\00:20:35.96
with the commandments of God,
it was a witness that they knew
00:20:36.00\00:20:38.63
what God wanted.
00:20:38.67\00:20:41.17
It was part of His will.
00:20:41.20\00:20:43.37
"When I brought them into
the land flowing with milk and
00:20:43.41\00:20:45.57
honey, of which I swore to their
fathers, that they've eaten and
00:20:45.61\00:20:48.51
they've filled themselves
and they've grown fat, that they
00:20:48.54\00:20:51.61
will turn to other
gods and serve them.
00:20:51.65\00:20:54.18
And they'll provoke
Me and break My covenant.
00:20:54.22\00:20:56.45
Then it shall be when many evils
and troubles have come upon
00:20:56.48\00:20:58.65
them, that this song
will testify against them as
00:20:58.69\00:21:02.12
a witness."
00:21:02.16\00:21:04.46
They'll be singing the song,
going, "Oh, yeah, Moses said
00:21:04.49\00:21:06.66
this would happen."
00:21:06.70\00:21:08.96
"For it will not be forgotten
in their mouths and their
00:21:09.00\00:21:11.50
descendants for I know
the inclination and behavior
00:21:11.53\00:21:13.74
even today."
00:21:13.77\00:21:15.84
So it was also supposed to
be something of a protection for
00:21:15.87\00:21:17.87
them as they sang these
things to say, "We don't want to
00:21:17.91\00:21:20.54
backslide and forget our God."
00:21:20.58\00:21:23.08
Jean: And it's probably a good
time for us to ask a question
00:21:23.11\00:21:25.61
somebody texted in, one that we
do hear from time to time: "As
00:21:25.65\00:21:28.15
Christians that keep the
Sabbath, shouldn't we also keep
00:21:28.18\00:21:31.49
the sacred days of
the Old Testament?"
00:21:31.52\00:21:35.12
Doug: Well, that goes
along what we were just reading.
00:21:35.16\00:21:37.83
It says: "Having wiped out the
handwriting or ordinances that
00:21:37.86\00:21:41.03
was against us,
nailing it to the cross."
00:21:41.06\00:21:43.83
There's a big distinction
between the Sabbath of the Ten
00:21:43.87\00:21:47.90
Commandments and
these other laws.
00:21:47.94\00:21:50.47
The Sabbath of the Ten
Commandment was perfect and part
00:21:50.51\00:21:52.74
of God's plan before sin.
00:21:52.77\00:21:55.31
You have it right
there in Genesis chapter 2.
00:21:55.34\00:21:57.91
All of the other ceremonial
Sabbaths, they came after sin
00:21:57.95\00:22:00.88
and they were connected with
a sanctuary and services and the
00:22:00.92\00:22:03.82
Bible tells us that when the
veil was rent in the temple, the
00:22:03.85\00:22:09.26
type met the anti-type.
00:22:09.29\00:22:12.43
We don't need to
sacrifice lambs anymore.
00:22:12.46\00:22:14.83
We don't need to
keep the Passover anymore.
00:22:14.86\00:22:17.27
Christ is now our Passover
which is sacrificed for us.
00:22:17.30\00:22:20.34
And so these ceremonial
Sabbaths, we can still learn
00:22:20.37\00:22:22.74
from them but it would be really
silly to keep the shadow when we
00:22:22.77\00:22:26.98
now have the actual substance.
00:22:27.01\00:22:29.81
Jean: It's also interesting to
note that the Ten Commandments
00:22:29.84\00:22:32.41
Sabbath, you know, the
fourth Commandment, that was
00:22:32.45\00:22:34.68
established way back in Eden.
00:22:34.72\00:22:36.95
These other ceremonial Sabbaths
were added at later times in
00:22:36.99\00:22:39.02
Israel's history, depending on
some lesson that God wanted to
00:22:39.05\00:22:42.32
teach them.
00:22:42.36\00:22:44.36
Of course, the sacrificial
system was added after sin.
00:22:44.39\00:22:46.96
It was not originally in
the Garden of Eden, but the Ten
00:22:47.00\00:22:49.23
Commandments we find
right in the very beginning.
00:22:49.26\00:22:51.73
So the Ten Commandments is
on a separate plain, a different
00:22:51.77\00:22:54.27
level, than the rest of the
ceremonial Sabbaths and even the
00:22:54.30\00:22:57.14
sacrificial system that
came as a result of sin.
00:22:57.17\00:23:00.31
It's secondary.
00:23:00.34\00:23:02.31
The Ten
Commandments was there first.
00:23:02.34\00:23:04.31
Doug: That's right.
00:23:04.35\00:23:06.41
Jean: So, there is a clear
distinction between the two.
00:23:06.45\00:23:08.85
Then the next section that we
coming to here, talking about a
00:23:08.88\00:23:11.02
witness against you.
00:23:11.05\00:23:13.36
It kind of leads us into a
judgment scene and we find in
00:23:13.39\00:23:15.49
Daniel chapter 7, verse 10, a
very significant passage talking
00:23:15.52\00:23:17.99
about judgment.
00:23:18.03\00:23:20.23
It says: "A fiery stream issued
and came forth from before Him.
00:23:20.26\00:23:22.46
A thousand thousands ministered
to Him; ten thousand times ten
00:23:22.50\00:23:26.03
thousand stood before Him.
00:23:26.07\00:23:28.17
The court was seated,
and the books were opened."
00:23:28.20\00:23:30.67
So, here we appear, or at least
appears to be some kind of a
00:23:30.71\00:23:33.58
heavenly judgment
scene that's taking place.
00:23:33.61\00:23:36.04
God the Father is seated.
00:23:36.08\00:23:37.98
The books of record are open,
and people are wondering, "Well,
00:23:38.01\00:23:40.08
who's judged in this judgment
and when does this judgment
00:23:40.12\00:23:43.12
occur and how does
the law play into this?"
00:23:43.15\00:23:45.92
Doug: Yeah, well, when it talks
about that it may be a witness
00:23:45.95\00:23:49.26
against you, you know, Jesus
says in Matthew 12, and this is
00:23:49.29\00:23:53.19
verse 36: "But I say to you that
for every idle word that men
00:23:53.23\00:23:57.30
will speak, they will give
an account thereof in the day of
00:23:57.33\00:24:00.10
judgment, for by your words
you'll be justified and by your
00:24:00.14\00:24:03.27
words you'll be condemned."
00:24:03.30\00:24:05.84
Now, we know that God knows
everything but it seems like
00:24:05.87\00:24:07.91
this judgment, and it
says 10,000 times 10,000 are
00:24:07.94\00:24:10.15
around Him.
00:24:10.18\00:24:12.41
The Bible talks about the
holy angels and I'm sure there's
00:24:12.45\00:24:14.95
unfallen worlds, there's a
record that is kept and, of
00:24:14.98\00:24:20.16
course, God has a photographic
memory so He knows everything,
00:24:20.19\00:24:22.72
but I think beyond
that, it talks about the books
00:24:22.76\00:24:24.66
were opened.
00:24:24.69\00:24:26.70
I don't know if they're books
that are, you know, written
00:24:26.73\00:24:28.83
on sheepskin.
00:24:28.86\00:24:30.93
I doubt it.
00:24:30.97\00:24:33.10
But some kind of
book is kept in heaven.
00:24:33.13\00:24:35.20
I mean, look at how
we store things now.
00:24:35.24\00:24:37.54
We got servers that store,
oh, it's bigger than terabytes
00:24:37.57\00:24:39.84
and gigabytes.
00:24:39.87\00:24:43.35
They're, ha, they're ooglebites,
I don't know what they are, but
00:24:43.38\00:24:45.71
there's so much information
that Amazon and Google and these
00:24:45.75\00:24:47.68
different companies have stored,
they got warehouses out there in
00:24:47.72\00:24:49.95
the desert that are just filled
with ultra clean rooms that
00:24:49.98\00:24:55.02
store information.
00:24:55.06\00:24:57.69
Well, God has every thought that
was thought, every word that was
00:24:57.73\00:25:00.46
spoken, and they will rise up in
the judgment against us unless
00:25:00.50\00:25:04.20
they are covered by
the blood of the Lamb.
00:25:04.23\00:25:08.10
And so, it's giving us a picture
of this in Daniel chapter 7.
00:25:08.14\00:25:12.47
Jean: Now, this judgment that we
find in Daniel 7, this rising up
00:25:12.51\00:25:15.58
as you say, against us or
contrary to us, this occurs even
00:25:15.61\00:25:20.68
before Jesus comes.
00:25:20.72\00:25:23.25
This is sort--we call it the
pre-advent judgment and I think
00:25:23.28\00:25:26.42
you're going to be preaching on
that a little later today but a
00:25:26.45\00:25:29.22
special type of judgment that
occurs before the Second Coming
00:25:29.26\00:25:31.89
and then, of course, we have a
judgment that takes place during
00:25:31.93\00:25:34.56
the 1000 years, a
judgment for the wicked.
00:25:34.60\00:25:37.17
But this is to kind of see those
who are professing faith in God,
00:25:37.20\00:25:40.70
are they genuine
in their commitment.
00:25:40.74\00:25:43.10
Are they loyal?
00:25:43.14\00:25:45.31
Doug: If--when the Lord comes,
we know it says that he is
00:25:45.34\00:25:47.58
dispensing
rewards when He comes.
00:25:47.61\00:25:50.21
It should stand to reason that
some investigation must take
00:25:50.25\00:25:53.11
place before He comes 'cause
when He comes one group goes up
00:25:53.15\00:25:56.69
and one is destroyed by
the brightness of His Coming.
00:25:56.72\00:25:59.35
So does He do all that rewarding
and then say, "All right, let's
00:25:59.39\00:26:04.06
open the books"?
00:26:04.09\00:26:05.99
Or there must be some books
being opened before He comes.
00:26:06.03\00:26:08.56
And I think that's
what you're talking about.
00:26:08.60\00:26:12.77
Jean: And then our next verse
on here, Revelation chapter 20,
00:26:12.80\00:26:15.14
verse 12, talks about a judgment
that occurs at the end of the
00:26:15.17\00:26:18.11
1000 years and this is what it
says, Revelation 20:12: "And I
00:26:18.14\00:26:20.81
saw the dead, small and great,
standing before God and the
00:26:20.84\00:26:23.45
books were opened.
00:26:23.48\00:26:25.68
Another book was opened which is
the book of life, and the dead
00:26:25.71\00:26:27.85
were judged according to their
works by the things that were
00:26:27.88\00:26:30.02
written in the books."
00:26:30.05\00:26:32.05
So we have one judgment in
Daniel chapter 7, the judgment
00:26:32.09\00:26:34.12
of those whose names are
written in the book of life.
00:26:34.16\00:26:36.76
And then we have a judgment at
the end of Revelation chapter 20
00:26:36.79\00:26:39.19
of those whose names were
not found written in the book
00:26:39.23\00:26:41.86
of life.
00:26:41.90\00:26:43.90
So two different judgments
that we find here in the
00:26:43.93\00:26:45.87
New Testament.
00:26:45.90\00:26:47.87
Doug: And you notice
that it's really talking about
00:26:47.90\00:26:49.84
different books.
00:26:49.87\00:26:51.77
It says, "The book of life,"
which is singular, and then it
00:26:51.81\00:26:53.91
says, "they were judged out of
those things that were written
00:26:53.94\00:26:55.81
in the books," which is plural.
00:26:55.84\00:26:57.95
And so, evidently, there's a
few books that are being used.
00:26:57.98\00:27:01.28
You get the book of life.
00:27:01.32\00:27:03.32
The Bible talks about
a book of remembrance.
00:27:03.35\00:27:05.42
Is that Malachi?
00:27:05.45\00:27:07.82
Jean: Mm-hm.
00:27:07.86\00:27:09.86
Doug: And so, yeah,
everything is written down.
00:27:09.89\00:27:12.06
Somehow, God's
got it all recorded.
00:27:12.09\00:27:14.10
Jean: You know, we have a
question that's come in, Pastor
00:27:14.13\00:27:16.23
Doug, and it's an
important question.
00:27:16.26\00:27:18.40
It says: "How do you give
practically your heart fully
00:27:18.43\00:27:20.67
to God?"
00:27:20.70\00:27:23.54
Doug: Well, I think that you
can make a conscious decision.
00:27:23.57\00:27:27.51
You know, there's a great
statement in that book, "Steps
00:27:27.54\00:27:30.08
to Christ," and it talks about
we sometimes don't appreciate
00:27:30.11\00:27:33.21
the power of the will that God
has given to people, and that we
00:27:33.25\00:27:37.02
can make a choice.
00:27:37.05\00:27:39.15
Even if we're weak, we can say,
"All right, Lord, I may not feel
00:27:39.19\00:27:41.79
like it, I might be afraid,
there might be part of me that
00:27:41.82\00:27:45.23
doesn't want to, but by Your
grace I am choosing to be Yours.
00:27:45.26\00:27:49.66
Will You take my heart?"
00:27:49.70\00:27:51.93
And you actually give the Holy
Spirit permission to move into
00:27:51.97\00:27:54.04
your mind and then begin to
change your affections when you
00:27:54.07\00:27:56.50
surrender your will to God by
saying, "Lord, I am choosing to
00:27:56.54\00:27:59.67
believe in You.
00:27:59.71\00:28:01.64
I want to give You my heart."
00:28:01.68\00:28:03.75
It's not--it's not an
emotional feeling of ecstasy.
00:28:03.78\00:28:06.75
Now, conversion, some
people have emotional feelings.
00:28:06.78\00:28:09.38
That may not be wrong but
choosing to give God your heart,
00:28:09.42\00:28:12.75
I think, is a
conscious, rational decision.
00:28:12.79\00:28:15.49
That's where Jesus said, "What
profit is it if you gain the
00:28:15.52\00:28:17.86
whole world and lose your soul?"
00:28:17.89\00:28:19.96
You know, you're an
accountant, you don't make
00:28:20.00\00:28:22.10
emotional decisions.
00:28:22.13\00:28:24.23
You look at the profit and
you want to make the profit.
00:28:24.27\00:28:26.57
You don't want the loss.
00:28:26.60\00:28:28.47
And so you make the
reasonable decision.
00:28:28.50\00:28:30.14
Jesus is saying, "Choose.
00:28:30.17\00:28:32.34
Use your will to say, 'Lord,
I don't want to lose everything.
00:28:32.37\00:28:34.91
I want eternal life.'"
00:28:34.94\00:28:37.48
And so, once you make that
decision, and you give yourself
00:28:37.51\00:28:41.42
to Him, it's a
prayer you can pray.
00:28:41.45\00:28:44.19
Say, "Lord, I'm
choosing right now."
00:28:44.22\00:28:46.19
Don't say,
"Well, how do I feel?"
00:28:46.22\00:28:48.12
You make the decision and then
feelings may follow as the Holy
00:28:48.16\00:28:51.16
Spirit comes but you
make a conscious choice.
00:28:51.19\00:28:55.03
Jean: And I think this choice of
surrendering ourselves to God is
00:28:55.06\00:28:57.37
not just a
once-in-a-lifetime experience.
00:28:57.40\00:29:00.44
There might be a specific point
we can point back at and say,
00:29:00.47\00:29:02.50
"That's when I surrendered my
life to Christ," but the apostle
00:29:02.54\00:29:05.74
Paul tells us it's
the day-by-day experience.
00:29:05.77\00:29:08.38
He says, "I die daily."
00:29:08.41\00:29:09.98
Doug: Several times a day.
00:29:10.01\00:29:11.31
Jean: So, we shouldn't
get discouraged, right.
00:29:11.35\00:29:12.88
The devil comes and tempts
us and then we think, "I didn't
00:29:12.91\00:29:14.48
give my life to Christ.
00:29:14.52\00:29:15.88
Why am I being tempted?"
00:29:15.92\00:29:17.35
No, just surrender
right then and there.
00:29:17.39\00:29:19.05
It's a day-by-day
surrendering to Christ.
00:29:19.09\00:29:20.69
Doug: And every time you
are tempted, you're reminding
00:29:20.72\00:29:22.32
yourself, "No, I can't do that.
00:29:22.36\00:29:23.73
I made a choice."
00:29:23.76\00:29:25.33
Jean: That's right.
00:29:25.36\00:29:26.73
Well, moving on with our lesson
then, the next section that we
00:29:26.76\00:29:28.46
have deals with "That You May
Prosper," and, well, there's a
00:29:28.50\00:29:32.57
number of lessons that
we can learn here from the
00:29:32.60\00:29:35.37
Old Testament.
00:29:35.40\00:29:37.54
Deuteronomy chapter 5, verse 29,
that says: "Oh, that they had
00:29:37.57\00:29:39.77
such a heart in them that they
would fear Me and always keep
00:29:39.81\00:29:42.34
all My commandments, that it
might be well for them and with
00:29:42.38\00:29:46.31
their children forever!"
00:29:46.35\00:29:48.65
Now, there's an interesting
story that leads into
00:29:48.68\00:29:50.82
this verse.
00:29:50.85\00:29:52.95
God had just given the Ten
Commandments to the children
00:29:52.99\00:29:55.12
of Israel.
00:29:55.16\00:29:56.96
The children of Israel had
responded and said, "Everything
00:29:56.99\00:29:58.79
that You have said, we will do."
00:29:58.83\00:30:00.73
And then God speaking to Moses
says, "Oh, that there was a
00:30:00.76\00:30:02.83
heart within them
that they'd love Me."
00:30:02.86\00:30:05.20
So, the children of Israel,
their initial response is, "Oh,
00:30:05.23\00:30:08.47
Ten Commandments, no
problem, we can do that."
00:30:08.50\00:30:11.01
But they didn't realize that
true obedience comes from the
00:30:11.04\00:30:13.07
heart, and God was saying, "Oh,
I wish there was a heart within
00:30:13.11\00:30:16.01
them that they would love
Me and fear Me and keep My
00:30:16.04\00:30:18.25
commandments, that it
might be good for them."
00:30:18.28\00:30:20.95
God wants to bless us, and in
blessing us, he wants us to keep
00:30:20.98\00:30:24.52
His commandments.
00:30:24.55\00:30:27.02
Doug: Yeah, and that's
also a good segue from that last
00:30:27.06\00:30:29.42
question: we can choose
consciously but then the motive
00:30:29.46\00:30:33.23
needs to ultimately be love.
00:30:33.26\00:30:35.63
When you first come to the Lord,
you may not feel love, but as
00:30:35.66\00:30:39.30
you look at the cross and you
see what Jesus did for you, the
00:30:39.33\00:30:43.51
Bible says the goodness of God
leads us to repentance, so we
00:30:43.54\00:30:47.64
look at his goodness
and it evokes repentance.
00:30:47.68\00:30:50.55
And then the promise in
the Bible is we love Him, why?
00:30:50.58\00:30:54.08
Because He first loved us.
00:30:54.12\00:30:56.52
So we look at the love of God
and, you know, Jesus said, "If
00:30:56.55\00:31:00.12
you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:31:00.16\00:31:03.12
And so we learn
what pleases the Lord.
00:31:03.16\00:31:05.96
When we love Him, we
don't want to hurt Him.
00:31:05.99\00:31:08.20
Jean: Mm-hm, Pastor Doug, we
have a question that's come in
00:31:08.23\00:31:11.03
and it's a little different than
this particular day's lesson but
00:31:11.07\00:31:14.20
it is an interesting question.
00:31:14.24\00:31:16.40
The question comes from
Revelation chapter 19, verse 16,
00:31:16.44\00:31:20.18
and it's--here's the verse.
00:31:20.21\00:31:22.61
It says: "And He has on His robe
and on His thigh a name written:
00:31:22.64\00:31:25.41
King of kings
and Lord of lords."
00:31:25.45\00:31:27.92
Now, somebody says, "I'm
trying to explain this verse for
00:31:27.95\00:31:30.42
a while.
00:31:30.45\00:31:32.49
Some have even said
this is a type of tattoo.
00:31:32.52\00:31:34.96
How do we understand this that
on His robe and on His thigh a
00:31:34.99\00:31:37.66
name is written: 'King of kings
and Lord of lords,'" speaking
00:31:37.69\00:31:40.26
of Jesus?
00:31:40.30\00:31:42.46
Doug: Right, well, first, it's
a good idea to remember that
00:31:42.50\00:31:44.67
there's a lot of
symbols in this passage.
00:31:44.70\00:31:46.70
Jesus, of course, is seen with
a sword coming out of His mouth.
00:31:46.74\00:31:48.64
Let's hope that's just a symbol
and that we're not going to see
00:31:48.67\00:31:51.54
Him walking around with a
sword coming out of His head
00:31:51.57\00:31:54.28
in heaven.
00:31:54.31\00:31:56.61
And riding on a white horse was
a symbol in the Bible of purity,
00:31:56.64\00:32:01.22
conquering, victory.
00:32:01.25\00:32:04.15
Having the Word of God written
on His thigh, a thigh which is
00:32:04.19\00:32:06.92
considered the strongest muscle,
in the Bible, and the strength
00:32:06.96\00:32:10.23
of the gospel
is the Word of God.
00:32:10.26\00:32:12.86
So it's--there's a lot
of Bible symbolism there.
00:32:12.89\00:32:15.36
Jean: And I think the biggest
muscle for, you know, even
00:32:15.40\00:32:18.33
today, but of course, with
the Old Testament, the strongest
00:32:18.37\00:32:21.07
muscle was the thigh.
00:32:21.10\00:32:23.34
And often was connected
with royalty or rulership,
00:32:23.37\00:32:25.81
symbolizing strength and power.
00:32:25.84\00:32:28.94
So here in Revelation chapter
19, Jesus is pictured as coming
00:32:28.98\00:32:31.38
as a King coming to rule with
strength and power and thus the
00:32:31.41\00:32:36.05
name, King of
kings and Lord of lords.
00:32:36.08\00:32:38.42
So it's a symbol of strength
and power, which is important.
00:32:38.45\00:32:41.26
Doug: Interesting, there's a
story in the Bible when Abraham
00:32:41.29\00:32:43.89
sends Eliezer to pick a wife
for Isaac, he tells Eliezer, his
00:32:43.93\00:32:48.50
servant, "Put your hand under my
thigh," and so it was a symbol
00:32:48.53\00:32:52.50
of the strength and it's
connected with a covenant, yeah.
00:32:52.53\00:32:56.37
Jean: Absolutely, all right,
then moving on with the subject
00:32:56.40\00:32:59.17
of "That You Might Prosper,"
we're talking about the Ten
00:32:59.21\00:33:01.71
Commandments and the law of God.
00:33:01.74\00:33:04.48
Psalm 1:1-3 is a well-known
passage, beautiful psalm, and it
00:33:04.51\00:33:08.15
says: "Blessed is the man who
walks not in the counsel of the
00:33:08.18\00:33:11.05
ungodly, nor stands in the path
of sinners, nor sits in the seat
00:33:11.09\00:33:15.86
of the scornful; but his delight
is in the law of the Lord, and
00:33:15.89\00:33:19.96
in His law he
meditates day and night.
00:33:20.00\00:33:22.83
He shall be like a tree planted
by the rivers of water, that
00:33:22.86\00:33:25.83
bring forth its fruit in its
season, whose leaf also shall
00:33:25.87\00:33:28.97
not wither; and whatsoever
does he shall prosper."
00:33:29.00\00:33:33.14
So there's a promise: those
who are faithful in obedience to
00:33:33.17\00:33:35.91
God, that says
they're going to prosper.
00:33:35.94\00:33:38.21
Now, some might look at that and
think, "Well, if I keep God's
00:33:38.25\00:33:41.18
commandments now, it
doesn't seem as though I'm going
00:33:41.22\00:33:43.75
to prosper.
00:33:43.79\00:33:45.65
Maybe I'm going to lose
my job if I choose to keep
00:33:45.69\00:33:47.49
the Sabbath."
00:33:47.52\00:33:49.49
So how do we explain that verse
with the experience that people
00:33:49.52\00:33:51.29
are facing now?
00:33:51.33\00:33:53.19
Doug: Yeah,
that's a good question.
00:33:53.23\00:33:55.03
Actually, I think the next
section talks about the toils
00:33:55.06\00:33:56.73
of law-keepers.
00:33:56.77\00:33:58.43
Sometimes they do struggle
and--but it's really saying in
00:33:58.47\00:34:00.30
the big picture
they will be blessed.
00:34:00.34\00:34:02.24
Now, if you stand back, you look
at the life of Abraham, it says:
00:34:02.27\00:34:05.77
"Abraham kept My laws, My
statutes, My commandments."
00:34:05.81\00:34:08.98
I think that's Genesis 25.
00:34:09.01\00:34:11.58
And Abraham had struggles.
00:34:11.61\00:34:13.68
There were times of famine.
00:34:13.72\00:34:15.92
He had some
problems in the household.
00:34:15.95\00:34:17.89
But if you look back at the
panorama of his life, it was one
00:34:17.92\00:34:19.75
of great
prosperity and blessing.
00:34:19.79\00:34:22.76
And you can see that with Job.
00:34:22.79\00:34:25.03
Job is doubly blessed after his
trials, but he still struggled.
00:34:25.06\00:34:27.86
But, you know, God promises to
bless His people and that's why,
00:34:27.86\00:34:30.63
you know, Solomon said, "I know
even though you might seem like
00:34:30.67\00:34:35.67
a sinner is prospering, I know
in the long run it is not well
00:34:35.70\00:34:39.97
with the wicked but it will
be well with the righteous."
00:34:40.01\00:34:43.18
And if you look in, let me see
here, 2 Chronicles 31 and this
00:34:43.21\00:34:48.32
is verse 20: "Thus Hezekiah did
throughout all of Judah, and he
00:34:48.35\00:34:54.32
did what was good and right and
true before the Lord his God.
00:34:54.36\00:34:58.49
And in every work that he began
in the service of the house of
00:34:58.53\00:35:01.36
God, in the law and in the
commandment, to seek his God, he
00:35:01.40\00:35:05.40
did it with all his might.
00:35:05.43\00:35:07.84
So he prospered."
00:35:07.87\00:35:09.97
And so God, so often when you
read about the kings, it says
00:35:10.01\00:35:12.37
"He did not walk in the ways of
the Lord," and he had wars and
00:35:12.41\00:35:15.28
there was problems and
the kingdom diminished.
00:35:15.31\00:35:18.38
But whenever they had a king
that obeyed, the kingdom ended
00:35:18.41\00:35:21.28
up expanding and God
blessed and strengthened them.
00:35:21.32\00:35:25.19
Whenever they worshiped
idols, they turned away and they
00:35:25.22\00:35:27.86
struggled and it went backwards.
00:35:27.89\00:35:30.06
So, as a--it doesn't mean
they didn't have good days and
00:35:30.09\00:35:32.33
bad days.
00:35:32.36\00:35:34.30
And that's the way it
is with the righteous, too.
00:35:34.36\00:35:36.06
You're going to have good days
and bad days but, in the long
00:35:36.10\00:35:38.03
run, you'll obey if you prosper.
00:35:38.07\00:35:40.04
Sin brings problems.
00:35:40.07\00:35:41.94
Jean: Mm-hm, yeah, absolutely.
00:35:41.97\00:35:43.81
Pastor Doug, here's a
question that somebody has.
00:35:43.84\00:35:45.67
They just sent it in.
00:35:45.71\00:35:47.48
It's a good question.
00:35:47.51\00:35:49.24
They say, "According to 2
Kings 2:3-9, Elijah was taken to
00:35:49.28\00:35:50.98
heaven but then Jesus in John
chapter 3, verse 13, seems to
00:35:51.01\00:35:52.71
indicate that no
one was taken to heaven.
00:35:52.75\00:35:56.35
Can you explain
these two verses?"
00:35:56.38\00:35:58.62
John 3:13.
00:35:58.65\00:36:00.86
Doug: Yeah, that's where Christ
said, "No man has ascended
00:36:00.89\00:36:02.62
to heaven."
00:36:02.66\00:36:04.49
He's talking not
just about ascending.
00:36:04.53\00:36:06.49
He's talking about no man has
gone up and come back down again
00:36:06.53\00:36:08.36
to give us information.
00:36:08.40\00:36:10.47
Elijah did ascend.
00:36:10.50\00:36:12.07
He appeared to Christ but Elijah
did not go to heaven, then come
00:36:12.10\00:36:13.80
back down and
start talking to us.
00:36:13.84\00:36:16.00
The one who has brought
heaven to earth is Christ.
00:36:16.04\00:36:18.04
Jean: Right, and he
came to reveal truth.
00:36:18.07\00:36:19.94
Doug: Right, he's the only one.
00:36:19.97\00:36:21.74
Jean: No one else has
been sent from heaven to do so.
00:36:21.78\00:36:23.45
Doug: Came from the presence
of the Father to do that.
00:36:23.48\00:36:25.38
Jean: Another question that
somebody has while we're on that
00:36:25.41\00:36:27.68
same subject.
00:36:27.72\00:36:29.38
The question is: "After Jesus
rose from the dead, did He go to
00:36:29.42\00:36:31.22
heaven after meeting with Mary
and then come back down and meet
00:36:31.25\00:36:34.52
with the disciples when He told
Thomas to touch Him and see that
00:36:34.56\00:36:38.43
it's Him?"
00:36:38.46\00:36:40.30
Doug: Yeah, we believe that when
Mary saw Jesus at the tomb, of
00:36:40.33\00:36:42.83
course, Christ Himself, He says,
"Do not touch Me or cling to
00:36:42.86\00:36:45.80
Me," is the actual--she
fell at His feet to grab Him.
00:36:45.83\00:36:48.90
He said, "Don't cling to Me."
00:36:48.94\00:36:50.84
I think King James
says: "Don't touch Me."
00:36:50.87\00:36:52.64
That makes it sound like "You're
dirty," but didn't mean that.
00:36:52.67\00:36:54.48
He meant, "Don't detain Me
because I've not yet ascended to
00:36:54.51\00:36:58.75
My Father."
00:36:58.78\00:37:00.68
So, she found Jesus right after
the Resurrection, before He'd
00:37:00.72\00:37:02.75
even ascended to the Father.
00:37:02.78\00:37:04.82
"But go to My brethren and
say, 'I ascend to My Father and
00:37:04.85\00:37:08.09
Your Father.'"
00:37:08.12\00:37:10.06
So after Mary saw
Him, He then ascended.
00:37:10.09\00:37:12.06
His sacrifice--He went
right before the Father.
00:37:12.09\00:37:15.30
His sacrifice was
declared accepted.
00:37:15.33\00:37:18.97
He sat down at the right hand
of God enthroned, received the
00:37:19.00\00:37:22.00
kingdom, so to speak, and
he kind of ransomed this world.
00:37:22.04\00:37:25.94
And then He came back down
again and--that Sunday night.
00:37:25.97\00:37:29.81
Then He says, "All hail," and
they held Him by the feet and
00:37:29.84\00:37:33.38
worshiped Him.
00:37:33.42\00:37:35.22
So for Mary, He
says, "I'm not ascended.
00:37:35.25\00:37:37.15
Don't cling to Me."
00:37:37.19\00:37:38.79
After He comes back again, He
says, "All hail, you can worship
00:37:38.82\00:37:40.42
Me," which, by the way, is
another good evidence that Jesus
00:37:40.46\00:37:42.22
is God 'cause we're
only supposed to worship God.
00:37:42.26\00:37:44.56
Jean: Right, it's kind of
interesting that Jesus wasn't
00:37:44.59\00:37:47.66
encouraging worship until He got
the word from His Father that
00:37:47.66\00:37:52.27
His sacrifice was enough.
00:37:52.30\00:37:54.44
I mean, He had by faith believed
His sacrifice would be enough,
00:37:54.47\00:37:56.81
but he hadn't yet officially
received the word from His
00:37:56.84\00:37:59.51
Father and that was always
very important to Christ: the
00:37:59.54\00:38:02.74
salvation of mankind.
00:38:02.78\00:38:05.45
Pastor Doug, before we move
on to the next section that we
00:38:05.48\00:38:07.75
have, "Toils and Struggles of
Keeping the Law," just one other
00:38:07.78\00:38:10.72
thought here and that is the
law as a teacher leading us to
00:38:10.75\00:38:14.09
Christ, Psalm 19, verse 7 says:
"The law of the Lord is perfect,
00:38:14.12\00:38:19.79
converting the soul and the
testimony of the Lord is sure,
00:38:19.83\00:38:23.57
making wise the simple."
00:38:23.60\00:38:25.63
So, in the New Testament the law
is referred to as a teacher or a
00:38:25.67\00:38:27.84
tutor to lead us to Christ.
00:38:27.87\00:38:30.41
So when we see ourselves
reflected in the law of God, we
00:38:30.44\00:38:33.41
realize our need of a Savior
because we see our Sin, that is
00:38:33.44\00:38:36.71
to guide us or
point us to Jesus.
00:38:36.75\00:38:39.28
The law in and of itself can't
save, but the law teaches us or
00:38:39.31\00:38:42.08
leads us to Jesus who can save.
00:38:42.12\00:38:44.79
Doug: Yeah, and at the end
of that verse there, it says in
00:38:44.82\00:38:47.36
verse 11: "And in keeping of
them, there's also warning and
00:38:47.39\00:38:51.79
great reward.
00:38:51.83\00:38:54.00
It talks about the prosperity
and so, it's instructing, it's
00:38:54.00\00:38:57.33
warning, and there's great
reward and prosperity, so to
00:38:57.37\00:39:02.50
speak, in keeping them.
00:39:02.54\00:39:04.44
Jean: The next section that
we have is the toils and the
00:39:04.47\00:39:06.84
struggles of law-keepers
and we touched on this a
00:39:06.88\00:39:09.44
little earlier.
00:39:09.48\00:39:11.55
1 John chapter 5, verse 3 says:
"For this is the love of God
00:39:11.58\00:39:13.55
that we keep His commandments
and that His commandments are
00:39:13.58\00:39:16.05
not burdensome."
00:39:16.08\00:39:18.05
Now, being a commandment-keeping
Christian in a world that is
00:39:18.09\00:39:20.56
filled with sin, it's
going against the flow.
00:39:20.59\00:39:23.56
It's swimming
upstream, so to speak.
00:39:23.59\00:39:25.83
And there are
going to be oppositions.
00:39:25.86\00:39:27.76
There were oppositions to
Daniel, to Shadrach, Meshach,
00:39:27.83\00:39:30.37
and Abednego who
wanted to keep God's law, keep
00:39:30.40\00:39:32.87
the commandments.
00:39:32.90\00:39:34.77
They ended up going
into the fiery furnace.
00:39:34.80\00:39:36.77
Daniel ended up in the lion's
den and yet God delivered them
00:39:36.81\00:39:38.77
out of those trials.
00:39:38.81\00:39:40.81
So, even if we do face
oppositions and trials, it's a
00:39:40.84\00:39:43.81
lot better to face those trials
with Christ than to face trials
00:39:43.85\00:39:48.02
and difficulties as those
who are setting aside God's law.
00:39:48.05\00:39:51.69
Doug: Yeah, and there are
toils for law-keepers in keeping
00:39:51.72\00:39:55.76
the law.
00:39:55.79\00:39:57.79
You know, we--Paul describes
that condition where he said,
00:39:57.83\00:40:00.66
"I'm struggling to do what
God wants me to do, but my flesh
00:40:00.70\00:40:06.47
really wants to
do something else.
00:40:06.50\00:40:08.64
And who will
deliver me from this?"
00:40:08.67\00:40:10.77
And it says, of course, in
chapter 8 of Romans, he says,
00:40:10.81\00:40:13.24
"And thank God through Christ
that we're delivered from that
00:40:13.27\00:40:16.64
miserable condition where you're
not thoroughly converted and
00:40:16.68\00:40:20.02
you're trying to be
saved by your law-keeping."
00:40:20.05\00:40:22.92
And I think in the book, "Steps
to Christ," it says: "Anyone who
00:40:22.95\00:40:26.29
is trying to secure their
salvation by obedience in the
00:40:26.32\00:40:30.03
law is
attempting--it's a drudgery.
00:40:30.06\00:40:32.19
Jean: Yeah, impossibility.
00:40:32.23\00:40:34.30
Doug: Attempting an
impossibility and it's drudgery,
00:40:34.36\00:40:36.36
that's right.
00:40:36.40\00:40:37.97
So, we--there's toils in
trying to find salvation through
00:40:38.00\00:40:40.57
keeping the law because
you're going about it wrong.
00:40:40.60\00:40:43.17
Now, if we're trying to keep the
law for the wrong reason, should
00:40:43.20\00:40:47.14
we still try and keep the law?
00:40:47.18\00:40:49.34
Jean: I think it's better
to keep the law than not keep
00:40:49.38\00:40:51.18
the law.
00:40:51.21\00:40:53.05
Doug: Yeah.
00:40:53.08\00:40:54.75
Jean: A child might not fully
understand why his parent says,
00:40:54.78\00:40:56.89
you know, "Don't chase
your ball into the road.
00:40:56.92\00:40:58.52
You've got to
stop at the sidewalk."
00:40:58.55\00:41:00.32
They might not understand all
the details but the parent does
00:41:00.36\00:41:02.36
and it's better for
the child if they do.
00:41:02.39\00:41:04.79
"Don't touch that hot stove."
00:41:04.83\00:41:06.83
They might not understand how
burning works but in obedience
00:41:06.86\00:41:09.96
to their parents, they
save themselves a lot of pain.
00:41:10.00\00:41:12.40
Doug: Yeah, exactly.
00:41:12.43\00:41:14.57
And you look at the blessings
that God promises for those that
00:41:14.60\00:41:17.24
obey Him.
00:41:17.27\00:41:19.04
If you look, for instance, in
John chapter 14, verse 15, Jesus
00:41:19.07\00:41:22.18
said--now, we know this
part, "If you love Me, keep
00:41:22.21\00:41:25.21
My commandments."
00:41:25.25\00:41:26.88
Now read verse 16: "And I will
pray the Father and He will give
00:41:26.92\00:41:30.09
you another helper that He
may abide with you forever, the
00:41:30.12\00:41:33.52
spirit of truth."
00:41:33.56\00:41:35.69
And so it almost makes it
sound like that one of the
00:41:35.72\00:41:38.79
prerequisites to being
Spirit-filled, it's a power of
00:41:38.83\00:41:42.30
God, is to be
surrendered to obey.
00:41:42.33\00:41:45.73
That's why, I think, Peter says
in Acts 5:32: "And we are His
00:41:45.77\00:41:49.47
witnesses to these things.
00:41:49.50\00:41:51.84
So also is the Holy Spirit
whom God has given to those that
00:41:51.87\00:41:56.41
obey Him."
00:41:56.44\00:41:58.38
And so, you know, to be
Spirit-filled, I think we need
00:41:58.41\00:42:02.38
to be surrendered
and willing to obey.
00:42:02.42\00:42:04.69
Jean: And that becomes
very significant as we look in
00:42:04.72\00:42:06.69
end-time events in Revelation.
00:42:06.72\00:42:09.46
God has a group of people that
are described as keeping His
00:42:09.49\00:42:12.53
commandments and having the
testimony of Jesus: Revelation
00:42:12.56\00:42:15.26
chapter 12, verse 17.
00:42:15.30\00:42:17.27
We find the same thing or
a similar thing in Revelation
00:42:17.30\00:42:19.70
14:12 that says: "Here are they
who keep the commandments of God
00:42:19.73\00:42:22.37
and have the patience
or the faith of Jesus."
00:42:22.40\00:42:25.51
So two characteristics or three
characteristics of God's people
00:42:25.54\00:42:29.11
in the last days: they keep
his commandments, they have the
00:42:29.14\00:42:31.71
testimony of Jesus which is
the spirit of prophecy, and they
00:42:31.75\00:42:34.35
have the faith of Jesus.
00:42:34.38\00:42:36.45
Keeping God's commandments and
having the faith of Jesus goes
00:42:36.48\00:42:38.69
hand in hand.
00:42:38.72\00:42:40.89
You can't have
one without the other.
00:42:40.92\00:42:42.62
Those who are trying to keep the
commandments without faith in
00:42:42.66\00:42:44.46
Jesus, you'd refer
to that as legalism.
00:42:44.49\00:42:47.96
So, in order for us to keep
God's commandments, we do need
00:42:47.96\00:42:51.30
to have the Spirit of Christ
working in our hearts and lives.
00:42:51.33\00:42:53.77
And that comes
through the surrender of self.
00:42:53.80\00:42:56.54
Doug: Absolutely, so even though
God promises blessings on those
00:42:56.57\00:43:01.78
who obey, sometimes there
are trials that come to even
00:43:01.81\00:43:05.55
the obedient.
00:43:05.58\00:43:07.32
You know, Jesus said, "In the
world you'll have tribulation
00:43:07.35\00:43:09.88
but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world."
00:43:09.92\00:43:12.45
And then Paul kind of outlines
some of his trials, and Paul was
00:43:12.49\00:43:15.52
surrendered to the Lord.
00:43:15.56\00:43:17.63
In 2 Corinthians 11:23:
"Are they ministers of Christ?
00:43:17.66\00:43:21.13
I speak as a fool--I am more:
in labors more abundant, in
00:43:21.16\00:43:24.87
stripes," that means being
whipped, "above measure, in
00:43:24.90\00:43:28.34
prisons more frequently, in
deaths often," facing death.
00:43:28.37\00:43:32.11
"From the Jews five times I
received 40 stripes minus 1,"
00:43:32.14\00:43:36.85
that's hard to comprehend.
00:43:36.88\00:43:38.88
"Three times I was beaten with
rods; once I was stoned; three
00:43:38.91\00:43:42.58
times I was shipwrecked; a
night and a day I have been in
00:43:42.62\00:43:46.09
the deep."
00:43:46.12\00:43:47.92
You don't want to
cruise with Paul, do you?
00:43:47.96\00:43:50.03
Three times shipwrecked.
00:43:50.06\00:43:52.23
"In journeys often, in perils of
water, in perils of robbers, in
00:43:52.26\00:43:54.10
perils of my own countrymen,
in perils of the Gentiles, in
00:43:54.10\00:43:57.87
perils in the city, in perils in
the wilderness, in perils in the
00:43:57.90\00:44:01.37
sea, in perils among false
brethren; in weariness and toil,
00:44:01.40\00:44:05.37
in sleeplessness often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings
00:44:05.41\00:44:08.91
often, in cold
and nakedness," wow.
00:44:08.94\00:44:13.58
You read that and you
say, "Would you like to be
00:44:13.62\00:44:15.48
a Christian?
00:44:15.52\00:44:17.79
No, that's not that
way for every Christian but
00:44:17.82\00:44:19.32
some Christians.
00:44:19.35\00:44:20.79
You know, Paul, out preaching
the gospel, he was a real target
00:44:20.82\00:44:22.39
for the devil.
00:44:22.42\00:44:24.06
He had an obedient
life but he also had toils.
00:44:24.09\00:44:27.73
Jean: And Paul goes on to say:
"And we are more than conquerors
00:44:27.76\00:44:30.50
in Him that loved us."
00:44:30.53\00:44:32.33
So, yeah, despite the challenges
that he had, he recognized that
00:44:32.37\00:44:34.74
the reward is far greater.
00:44:34.77\00:44:37.44
Doug: And he said, "Rejoice
in the Lord always and, again I
00:44:37.47\00:44:40.04
say, rejoice.
00:44:40.08\00:44:41.78
And I've learned in whatever
state I'm in, to be content,"
00:44:41.81\00:44:44.01
and Paul had a peace and he had
a joy in spite of the trials.
00:44:44.05\00:44:50.12
Jean: Yeah, we
do have a question.
00:44:50.15\00:44:52.52
Someone's asking us about Isaiah
66:23 that says: "In the earth
00:44:52.55\00:44:56.49
made new, the believers or the
saved will go and worship from
00:44:56.52\00:45:00.93
one Sabbath to another
and from one moon to another."
00:45:00.96\00:45:04.17
They're wondering about
this new moon to another.
00:45:04.20\00:45:07.44
What is that all about?
00:45:07.47\00:45:10.14
Doug: Well, first of all,
they separated their months by
00:45:10.17\00:45:12.11
the moon.
00:45:12.14\00:45:14.21
And the Bible tells us that,
of course, the new moon was
00:45:14.24\00:45:17.58
a Sabbath.
00:45:17.61\00:45:19.35
Now, we don't learn about
the new moon Sabbaths being kept
00:45:19.38\00:45:22.02
until after sin.
00:45:22.05\00:45:25.55
You know, it's not part of
the original Ten Commandments.
00:45:25.59\00:45:30.19
It doesn't say anything
about the new moon Sabbaths.
00:45:30.23\00:45:32.86
You don't hear anything about
the apostles keeping the new
00:45:32.89\00:45:35.56
moon Sabbaths.
00:45:35.60\00:45:37.77
And I've got a theory and I
can't prove this, but I believe
00:45:37.80\00:45:41.04
that in heaven when things are
restored, you know, right now,
00:45:41.07\00:45:43.97
the earth since the flood
or something happened where our
00:45:44.01\00:45:46.51
atmosphere changed, there's very
cold, uninhabitable parts of the
00:45:46.54\00:45:51.11
climate--world now that are
freezing, others are burning
00:45:51.15\00:45:53.75
hot, that we've got
wild swings in the seasons.
00:45:53.78\00:45:57.22
I think that when things are
restored in the new heaven and
00:45:57.25\00:46:00.72
the new earth, that you're going
to find that there's a new moon
00:46:00.76\00:46:03.83
every 28 days, instead of
it being slightly off that now.
00:46:03.86\00:46:07.76
And that every new moon will
also be a seventh day of the
00:46:07.76\00:46:12.20
week 'cause you've
got 7 times 4 is 28.
00:46:12.23\00:46:15.70
So it'll all line up then,
so every new moon that you're
00:46:15.74\00:46:18.57
keeping in heaven is
also the seventh-day Sabbath.
00:46:18.61\00:46:21.04
Jean: Right, somebody else
mentioned--I like the idea that
00:46:21.08\00:46:23.65
there's 12 different types
of fruit on the tree of life and
00:46:23.68\00:46:27.92
perhaps from one month
to another you go to the New
00:46:27.95\00:46:30.89
Jerusalem to try out the
new fruit for that month.
00:46:30.92\00:46:33.59
So there's a big gathering, a
big harvest, that occurs once a
00:46:33.62\00:46:35.82
month where people go and eat
the new fruit from the tree of
00:46:35.86\00:46:39.69
life, so
interesting thought there.
00:46:39.73\00:46:41.36
In our last little bit here,
we always want to finish up with
00:46:41.40\00:46:45.33
Jesus, our example when it
comes to obedience to the law.
00:46:45.37\00:46:48.77
John 13:15, it says: "For I have
given you an example," the words
00:46:48.80\00:46:53.88
of Christ, "that you
should do as I have done."
00:46:53.91\00:46:56.68
Of course, we know that Jesus
kept His Father's commandments.
00:46:56.71\00:46:59.08
Doug: Yeah, and
that's so important.
00:46:59.11\00:47:01.08
It seems like such a simple
basic truth but I meet people
00:47:01.12\00:47:02.95
all the time and they say,
"Well, Christ came and lived a
00:47:02.98\00:47:05.02
holy life, so we don't have to."
00:47:05.05\00:47:07.09
And I go, "Whoa,
that's not Christianity.
00:47:07.12\00:47:09.16
Christianity
means you follow Christ.
00:47:09.19\00:47:11.19
He said, 'I came to
give you an example.'"
00:47:11.23\00:47:13.66
He not only came to live a
perfect life, to cover our sins,
00:47:13.70\00:47:16.77
but then through the Holy Spirit
and sanctification, it's not
00:47:16.80\00:47:20.30
just justification, after we're
justified, we then want to walk
00:47:20.34\00:47:24.37
in a newness of life, and,
by the way, that's--you look at
00:47:24.41\00:47:28.64
1 John 2:6: "He who says he
abides in Him ought himself also
00:47:28.68\00:47:34.15
to walk just as He walked."
00:47:34.18\00:47:36.89
I mean, that's as
plain as it can be.
00:47:36.92\00:47:38.89
He wants us to follow
the example of Christ.
00:47:38.92\00:47:41.46
And then also you find one like
that, if you want to read it, in
00:47:41.49\00:47:44.09
1 Peter 2, verse 21.
00:47:44.13\00:47:46.83
Jean: It says this: "For to you,
you were called, because Christ
00:47:46.86\00:47:49.80
also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that you should
00:47:49.83\00:47:53.34
follow in His steps: 'Who
committed no sin, nor was deceit
00:47:53.37\00:47:57.04
found in His mouth.'"
00:47:57.07\00:47:59.01
So that's pretty
clear, Pastor Doug.
00:47:59.04\00:48:00.91
It says: "Christ
has left us an example.
00:48:00.94\00:48:02.68
We should follow in His steps.
00:48:02.71\00:48:04.48
He committed no sin.
00:48:04.51\00:48:06.11
There was no
deceit in His mouth."
00:48:06.15\00:48:07.92
It's clear as to what God's goal
and what our purpose is, that is
00:48:07.95\00:48:10.29
to follow the example of Jesus.
00:48:10.32\00:48:12.29
Doug: Yeah, that
we walk in His steps.
00:48:12.32\00:48:14.26
A Christian is a
follower of Christ.
00:48:14.29\00:48:16.22
And hopefully, friends, you're
learning, you know, what an
00:48:16.26\00:48:18.59
important lesson we have in the
law of God and, to me, I think
00:48:18.63\00:48:23.00
this is one of the most
important truths: the law of God
00:48:23.03\00:48:26.33
is an expression of
the character of God.
00:48:26.37\00:48:28.64
So when you look at the
law of God, it is not at odds
00:48:28.67\00:48:30.74
with Jesus.
00:48:30.77\00:48:32.77
It was written by Jesus.
00:48:32.81\00:48:34.51
Keep in mind, all things that
were made, were made by Him.
00:48:34.54\00:48:36.51
I believe that Christ was there,
just as He was writing in the
00:48:36.54\00:48:39.75
dust of the temple floor, He was
writing on those stones that He
00:48:39.78\00:48:42.48
gave to Israel.
00:48:42.52\00:48:44.72
It's His will and it says: "I
love to do Thy will; Thy law is
00:48:44.75\00:48:48.42
within my heart."
00:48:48.46\00:48:50.59
And that's what real conversion
is about: having the law of God
00:48:50.63\00:48:52.69
in your heart.
00:48:52.73\00:48:54.56
Jean: Like to remind our friends
who are watching that we do have
00:48:54.56\00:48:56.40
our free offer.
00:48:56.43\00:48:58.27
It's entitled, "Is
Obedience Legalism?"
00:48:58.30\00:49:00.30
And we'll be happy to send
this out to anyone who calls
00:49:00.34\00:49:01.90
and asks.
00:49:01.94\00:49:03.37
The number is 866-788-3966
and you want to ask for offer
00:49:03.41\00:49:06.47
number 706.
00:49:06.51\00:49:08.81
You can also text the code
"SH041" to the number "40544,"
00:49:08.84\00:49:15.02
and you'll be able to get
a digital copy of our lesson,
00:49:15.05\00:49:18.55
talking about "Is
Obedience Legalism?"
00:49:18.59\00:49:22.02
Well, Pastor Doug, before we
finish up our program, just want
00:49:22.06\00:49:24.79
to remind our friends about
our upcoming evangelistic online
00:49:24.83\00:49:27.96
series entitled
"Revelation Now."
00:49:27.96\00:49:32.03
Doug: Go to the
website, friends.
00:49:32.07\00:49:34.00
You'll be blessed.
00:49:34.04\00:49:35.94
Sign up, revelationnow.com.
00:49:35.97\00:49:38.21
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's life-changing
00:49:38.24\00:49:41.58
free resource.
00:49:41.61\00:49:43.51
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:49:43.55\00:49:45.51
download a digital copy
straight to your computer or
00:49:45.55\00:49:48.15
mobile device.
00:49:48.18\00:49:50.02
To get your digital copy of
today's free gift, simply text
00:49:50.05\00:49:52.35
the keyword on your screen to
40544 or visit the web address
00:49:52.39\00:49:56.99
shown on your screen and be sure
to select the digital download
00:49:57.03\00:50:00.76
option on the request page.
00:50:00.80\00:50:02.90
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:50:02.93\00:50:05.67
Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want.
00:50:05.70\00:50:08.87
And most important,
to share it with others.
00:50:08.90\00:50:12.17
announcer: The
statistics are grim.
00:50:14.61\00:50:16.41
Millions have been infected
by coronavirus, thousands
00:50:16.44\00:50:18.68
have died.
00:50:18.71\00:50:20.58
Race riots have broken out on
streets, political tensions are
00:50:20.62\00:50:22.72
at an all-time high.
00:50:22.75\00:50:24.99
Does the Bible have anything to
say about the times in which we
00:50:25.02\00:50:28.02
are living?
00:50:28.06\00:50:30.03
Doug: Hi, friends, this
is Pastor Doug Batchelor.
00:50:30.06\00:50:32.46
Many people are wondering if
the world's about to implode.
00:50:32.49\00:50:35.60
Some are fearful that global
events point to a coming crisis
00:50:35.63\00:50:38.80
unlike anything
we've ever witnessed.
00:50:38.83\00:50:41.87
Did you know the Bible book of
Revelation actually speaks about
00:50:41.90\00:50:45.14
the days in
which we're living now?
00:50:45.17\00:50:47.81
And it contains a message of
hope, if we would only listen.
00:50:47.84\00:50:51.81
That's why I'd like to
invite you to "Revelation Now!
00:50:51.85\00:50:55.58
Decoding the Bible's
Greatest Prophecies."
00:50:55.62\00:50:58.39
In this multi-part series, I'll
be sharing relevant truths for
00:50:58.42\00:51:02.02
our time from the
last book in the Bible.
00:51:02.06\00:51:04.89
announcer: Coming October 23.
00:51:04.93\00:51:07.36
To learn more,
visit revelationnow.com.
00:51:07.40\00:51:11.17
¤¤¤
00:51:11.20\00:51:14.14
announcer: Amazing
Facts Changed Lives.
00:51:17.64\00:51:23.55
Steve Johnson: I was
heading south on Interstate 5.
00:51:28.22\00:51:30.52
This commercial come on KFBK
radio about a Revelation seminar
00:51:30.55\00:51:35.36
by Amazing Facts.
00:51:35.39\00:51:37.43
I began--my chest
began to tighten up.
00:51:37.46\00:51:39.83
I began sweating profusely.
00:51:39.86\00:51:42.13
I had difficulty in breathing.
00:51:42.16\00:51:44.70
There were this big rest area
here and at this time I pulled
00:51:44.73\00:51:47.87
into there.
00:51:47.90\00:51:49.54
I thought, "Well, maybe
I'm having a heart attack."
00:51:49.57\00:51:51.57
I got out of my truck, walked
into the men's restroom there
00:51:51.61\00:51:54.78
and put cold water on my face.
00:51:54.81\00:51:57.28
And then
finally, things subsided.
00:51:57.31\00:51:59.35
A week later, again, I heard
this Amazing Facts commercial
00:51:59.38\00:52:02.55
come on the radio.
00:52:02.58\00:52:04.55
In fact, the meetings were
going to start that very night.
00:52:04.59\00:52:06.62
This--and again, immediately,
I had these same symptoms.
00:52:06.65\00:52:09.62
I thought, "You
know, this isn't my heart.
00:52:09.66\00:52:12.03
I have to go to that meeting."
00:52:12.06\00:52:14.30
And as I was going down to
Sacramento, I decided to park
00:52:14.30\00:52:16.73
and go inside.
00:52:16.77\00:52:18.90
Well, I got in and walked into
the furthermost rear seat they
00:52:18.93\00:52:23.87
had in the pew there.
00:52:23.91\00:52:26.27
And this particular evangelist,
his name was Kim Karen, it was
00:52:26.31\00:52:32.68
like taking one layer
off at a time of an onion.
00:52:32.71\00:52:36.65
He laid it out so perfectly
that we could all understand it.
00:52:36.69\00:52:39.65
And I was really motivated.
00:52:39.69\00:52:41.52
I couldn't believe it.
00:52:41.56\00:52:43.29
Well, I finished.
00:52:43.32\00:52:44.93
I didn't miss a meeting.
00:52:44.96\00:52:46.59
In fact, on the fifth night,
they had an altar call and my
00:52:46.63\00:52:48.60
knees stood right up and I
walked forward and I gave my
00:52:48.63\00:52:51.33
heart to Jesus Christ.
00:52:51.37\00:52:53.57
I've learned throughout this
whole thing that when you leave
00:52:53.60\00:52:58.11
the devil's territory he gets
pretty active in causing a lot
00:52:58.14\00:53:01.78
of problems.
00:53:01.81\00:53:04.11
Well, I had the evangelists come
out and they had prayer with me
00:53:04.15\00:53:07.65
about my business.
00:53:07.68\00:53:09.38
I would find a sick business and
make it well and then market it.
00:53:09.42\00:53:13.82
I finally ended up with a
business that I really enjoyed.
00:53:13.86\00:53:17.43
It was one that was building
equestrian centers and they said
00:53:17.46\00:53:21.70
to me, "Steve," he said, "you
know, if you're going to really
00:53:21.73\00:53:24.20
keep the Sabbath, you've got to
shut your doors on the Sabbath."
00:53:24.23\00:53:27.54
Well, I did and so I sold
the business to my brother.
00:53:27.57\00:53:31.41
Took me 22 years to build
that business and he lost it in
00:53:31.44\00:53:35.08
33 months.
00:53:35.11\00:53:37.61
My son who was my business
partner, I'd been giving him 10%
00:53:37.65\00:53:40.65
of the business every year.
00:53:40.68\00:53:43.05
He thought I'd just
fallen off the bridge.
00:53:43.08\00:53:46.02
My son didn't talk
to me for 5 1/2 years.
00:53:46.05\00:53:50.19
And then a few other things
happened so I had an ex-employee
00:53:50.23\00:53:53.66
living in my guest house.
00:53:53.70\00:53:55.66
He kind of watched after our
place and he said, "Steve," he
00:53:55.70\00:53:59.10
said, "there's an Allied moving
van backed up to your front door
00:53:59.13\00:54:02.94
in your home."
00:54:02.97\00:54:04.84
I said, "You're kidding."
00:54:04.87\00:54:06.54
I said, "What do you mean?"
00:54:06.57\00:54:08.34
He said, "They're moving
everything out of your house
00:54:08.38\00:54:09.91
into this truck and your wife
is out there supervising them."
00:54:09.94\00:54:13.68
And when I went home and opened
the front door, my voice echoed
00:54:13.72\00:54:16.25
in that house.
00:54:16.28\00:54:17.99
There wasn't any
furniture left anywhere.
00:54:18.02\00:54:19.75
There was one bed
left in the house.
00:54:19.79\00:54:22.26
I knew my wife was upset because
of my coming to this church, but
00:54:22.29\00:54:25.49
I had no idea that she
would move out like this.
00:54:25.53\00:54:29.96
That was a total shock to me.
00:54:30.00\00:54:32.23
It was some time that I locked
myself in the bedroom and I
00:54:32.27\00:54:34.90
began reading the Bible.
00:54:34.94\00:54:37.11
It's been about a half a year,
just every night, getting home
00:54:37.14\00:54:40.18
and I would study.
00:54:40.21\00:54:43.24
It allowed me to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:54:43.28\00:54:46.75
Well, to make a long story
short, I met Crystal and she
00:54:46.78\00:54:50.55
was a godly woman.
00:54:50.59\00:54:52.85
That was the
Lord's doing, not mine.
00:54:52.89\00:54:55.32
And He was just there to let
me know that "I'm with you all
00:54:55.36\00:54:57.83
the way.
00:54:57.86\00:54:59.59
Even though you're going to have
some trials and you're going to
00:54:59.63\00:55:01.43
have some hardships, I want you
to know that I'll be with you."
00:55:01.46\00:55:04.73
Because, no matter what
I do now, He is my leader.
00:55:04.77\00:55:09.47
He's the leader of my marriage,
He's the leader of everything in
00:55:09.50\00:55:12.04
my life today.
00:55:12.07\00:55:14.04
That one meeting with the
Amazing Facts seminar changed my
00:55:14.08\00:55:16.44
entire life and, to this
day, I'm still on fire for God.
00:55:16.48\00:55:21.82
I'm still
witnessing to my neighbors.
00:55:21.85\00:55:23.89
My name is Steve Johnson and
it's because of you that Amazing
00:55:23.92\00:55:26.89
Facts has changed my life.
00:55:26.92\00:55:30.33
¤¤¤
00:55:30.36\00:55:36.46
Doug: Have you ever heard
the expression before, "They eat
00:55:53.65\00:55:55.68
like a bird," talking
about somebody that has a
00:55:55.72\00:55:57.82
minuscule appetite.
00:55:57.85\00:55:59.89
Well, you might want to
think twice next time you use
00:55:59.92\00:56:01.89
that expression.
00:56:01.92\00:56:03.76
For example,
take the hummingbird.
00:56:03.79\00:56:05.96
In order for it to maintain its
incredible metabolism, it has to
00:56:05.99\00:56:09.23
eat about 50% of its
bodyweight every day.
00:56:09.26\00:56:12.97
To put that in perspective, if a
100-pound woman was to eat like
00:56:13.00\00:56:16.87
a hummingbird, she would have
to eat 50 pounds of sugar a day
00:56:16.91\00:56:20.81
just to maintain her bodyweight.
00:56:20.84\00:56:23.21
Imagine that.
00:56:23.24\00:56:25.15
Maybe you don't
want to imagine that.
00:56:25.18\00:56:27.45
Or perhaps you want to
consider this another way.
00:56:27.48\00:56:29.42
The hummingbird typically
consumes between 4 to 7 calories
00:56:29.45\00:56:32.02
a day.
00:56:32.05\00:56:33.79
On the other hand, a human,
about 3500 calories a day.
00:56:33.82\00:56:36.79
But if you were to eat like a
bird, a hummingbird, you'd have
00:56:36.83\00:56:39.73
to eat over
150,000 calories a day.
00:56:39.76\00:56:44.10
That's like a man, 170 pounds,
that would be eating 3000
00:56:44.13\00:56:48.74
Oreo cookies.
00:56:48.77\00:56:51.57
Under normal conditions, a
hummingbird needs to eat every
00:56:51.61\00:56:54.21
five or ten minutes, but there's
actually one time during the
00:56:54.24\00:56:57.35
year the hummingbird will eat
its entire bodyweight every day.
00:56:57.38\00:57:01.15
You see, once a year, they
make this migration of 500 miles
00:57:01.18\00:57:05.39
across the Gulf of Mexico from
Texas to the Yucatan Peninsula.
00:57:05.42\00:57:10.29
In order to do that, the
hummingbird feasts on nectar and
00:57:10.33\00:57:14.46
gorges themselves on this nectar
for about a week, doubling
00:57:14.50\00:57:18.50
their bodyweight.
00:57:18.53\00:57:20.70
That's the only way they can
store enough calories to help
00:57:20.74\00:57:22.70
them with their 70 wing beats
per second, or roughly 4 million
00:57:22.74\00:57:26.54
wing beats on that journey.
00:57:26.57\00:57:29.81
You know, in the same way,
friends, as we near the end of
00:57:29.84\00:57:32.01
time, we need to be feasting and
gorging ourselves on the nectar
00:57:32.05\00:57:34.92
of God's Word.
00:57:34.95\00:57:37.02
We've got to be able to have
that strength to get us through
00:57:37.05\00:57:39.22
the times of
trouble that are ahead.
00:57:39.25\00:57:41.26
So when it comes to the Bible
and your personal devotions,
00:57:41.29\00:57:43.73
if you're going to eat like
a bird, eat like a hummingbird.
00:57:43.76\00:57:47.50
¤¤¤
00:57:47.56\00:57:56.64