The Bible tells us
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Hello and welcome to
our Sabbath School Panel
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We thank you for joining us
and we are praising the Lord
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for this opportunity to
study God's word with you.
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I would like to tell you that
we have a distinctive panel of
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participants today, students
of God's word. To my left is
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Sister Jill Morikone, Assistant
to the President, our President
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Danny Shelton, and we have
Pr. Tom Ferguson. He is one of
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the District pastors in the area
in Southern Illinois. How many
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churches do you pastor?
There are six in the District.
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Six in the district,
Praise the Lord. And to his left
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is Sister Shelley Quinn
our Program Development Manager
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and finally we have Sister
Molly Steenson, Vice President
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for 3ABN and General Manager for
3 Angels Broadcasting Network
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and they have been studying
and praying for God to use them
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during this study and I'm sure
you've been blessed in the past
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We'd like to hear from you.
If you've been blessed by these
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programs let us know. Send us
a note and let us know how this
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program has blessed you. As a
matter of fact if you have been
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blessed we encourage you to
tell other people to watch the
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Sabbath School Panel so
they also can be blessed.
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We are studying during this
quarter the 13 Sabbaths from
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April to June, this study
that is called Feed My Sheep
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A Study on 1 and 2 Peter and
if you do not have one, you can
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now go to the internet and get
one for free and to do that you
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must go to a website called
absg for Adult Bible Study
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Guide. absg.adventist.org. I'll
repeat that: absg.adventist.org
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and there you can download
this Sabbath School Quarterly
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and follow along and it will
be your very own because you
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downloaded it for yourself! And
so this of course is based on
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God's Word without which
no person should be without
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Amen. And we praise the
Lord that now you can even carry
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it with you wherever you
go and if you don't have it on
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your phone or tablet device
wherever you go, download your
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Bible because it's good to have
God's word with you all the time
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And so before we continue we'd
like to go to a prayer and we'd
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like to ask Pr. Tom Ferguson if
you'll lead us in prayer please
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Dear Heavenly Father thank you
for the opportunity to be here
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today. We thank you for this
lesson and we invite you to give
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us understanding through Your
Holy Spirit. We realize that You
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have inspired these words,
the authors. You are speaking to
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this generation through these
words and Lord may we hear Your
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voice clearly, individually and
corporately. May those on the
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Panel be anointed with
Your Spirit so that we speak the
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things that those that are
either viewing or listening
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need to hear and see. In
Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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Well we'd like to encourage
you to follow along with us
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We are studying during this hour
the lesson called Be Who You Are
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Be Who You Are. Now that maybe
an interesting title to you and
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I hope you will stay with
us to find out, We're gonna be
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studying about precious faith,
the love, the goal of every
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Christian virtue, be who
you are, shedding the tent and
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faith in the face of death.
During this hour we are going to
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look even into the righteousness
Righteousness in Jesus Christ
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what the power of God can do
for you. And so you also will
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hear like a ladder. A
ladder of Christian virtues and
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we encourage you to stay
by, As a matter of fact from the
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previous studies that I've
participated in I am blessed
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as I hear our Panel share.
So you will notice that they're
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sharing somethings that are not
in the Sabbath School Quarterly
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so they've gone beyond the
Sabbath School Quarterly to
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bring you a blessing. So
we encourage you to listen and
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even take notes if necessary.
And if you want to share a copy
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you can call 3ABN to get a copy
of this program to share with
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other people because I think
that they will also be blessed
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So let's move right
on to Sunday's lesson
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And Sunday's lesson has a
title called "A Precious Faith"
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So for this we go to the book
2 Peter, 2nd epistle of Peter
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chapter 1 and we are going to
read verses 1-4. And Sister Jill
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if you'll read that for us.
Simon Peter a bondservant and
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apostle of Jesus Christ to
those who have obtained like
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precious faith with us for
the righteousness of our God
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and Savior Jesus Christ. Grace
and peace be multiplied to you
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in the knowledge of God and
Jesus our Lord as His divine
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power has given to us all
things that pertain to life and
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godliness through the knowledge
of Him who called us by glory
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and virtue. By which have been
given to us exceedingly great
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and precious promises
that through these you may be
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partakers of the divine nature
having escaped the corruption
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that is in the
world through lust.
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Amen. Thank you very much.
And wow! You read these verses
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and taking them in you say
Praise God. amen. Praise God
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because they're just
full of information, really.
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We're gonna look at 2
Peter chapter 1 verses 1-20 and
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there are treasures of blessings
here. So we encourage you to
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stay be. So here in 2 Peter
1 we see some things that we
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need to understand. Simon Peter
is calling himself a servant
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and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
And now he mentions something
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to them who have precious faith
in other words faith that is of
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equal value, the same precious
faith and I like the word
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precious faith, like precious
faith which is a faith that
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every day helps us understand
that we are only passing through
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this earth. We are pilgrims,
strangers in this world because
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Jesus Christ has rescued us from
the corruption that is in this
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world through lust and we praise
the Lord for Jesus Christ. Now
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it says, with us through
the righteousness of God and our
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Savior Jesus Christ. And
so the only way, the only way
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we have salvation is through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
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And for this reason as we
look into the next verse we have
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these words, grace and peace be
multiplied unto you through the
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knowledge of God and of Jesus
our Lord. And when you think of
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grace, when you think of grace
what do you think of Sister Jill
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when you think
of the grace of God.
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To me without grace we don't
have salvation. By grace you are
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saved through faith and that
not of yourselves it is the gift
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of God. So I think of, I know
they say God's unmerited favor
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but to me grace gives
us salvation and then grace
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works in us to transform
us into the image of Jesus
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Amen, amen. And Sister Shelley
when it says here grace and
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peace be multiplied,
it's wonderful, multiplication
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so when you hear grace and
peace be multiplied to you, what
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does that bring to your
mind? You know I think the three
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greatest gifts of grace as
being Christ our Lord, the Holy
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Spirit and the Word. And as,
when you understand the gifts of
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grace you understand the effects
of grace as you said, so I think
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of it as God's divine assistance
and supernatural power to
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salvation. So the more we get
to know the Lord and the more
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we get the word in us, the more
we open our hearts to let the
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Holy Spirit fill us, then grace
is being multiplied. It's just
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grace upon grace and praise
God His grace abounds. Amen.
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And so as we consider God's
great amazing grace and there
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have been hymn after hymn
that talk about God's amazing
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grace and one of the
most famous is Amazing Grace
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because really, can you really
find words to describe God's
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amazing grace? And so grace
and peace be multiplied unto you
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and this is what we wish also
for you that are listening and
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watching this program, grace
and peace be multiplied unto you
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just as the apostle Peter
is saying grace and peace be
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multiplied unto you we also
say to you. How? It says here
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through the knowledge
of God and Jesus our Lord.
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And so we want to bring this
grace and peace unto you, and
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we hope that as you watch
3 Angels Broadcasting Network
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you will notice that we believe
that we are saved by grace
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the amazing grace of Jesus
Christ. By grace through faith
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And that not of ourselves,
it is the gift of God the Bible
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tells us in Ephesians 2
and verse 8, that's right
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in verse 8. Ephesians 2 verse
8 so we want to encourage you
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to continue studying God's Word
because it says here through the
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knowledge of God and how do
you get the knowledge of God,
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Pastor Tom Ferguson, pastor for
many years, how have you found
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that you get knowledge of God.
Well the number 1 place to get
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the knowledge of God is
right here, His Word and I also
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find that being around
others that know Him. You see it
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evidenced in their lives.
And gaining a knowledge of God
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is a life journey for everyone
of us and I also find that
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gaining a knowledge is asking
Him to reveal Himself to me in
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my personal prayer
life and devotional life.
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And I also, I find that when I
see people with different gifts
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in different roles in a
church I find a knowledge of God
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that I never saw anywhere else
That's good, that's right Amen.
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Very interesting, very
interesting insights from
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Pr. Tom Ferguson and I believe
that God has worked things out
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in such a way that as we study
God's word, different people
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are studying different things
and some understanding that
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you may get Sister Shelley,
Sister Molly and as we hear
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them sharing in this panel
you will notice that God has
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given to each of them a little
treasure, nuggets to share
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with us and so as we share
together we are drawn close
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to Christ. And this is really
the blessing that we have here
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through the knowledge of God
and so we all need the knowledge
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of God. It's amazing when
you consider God's amazing grace
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Sister Ellen G. White said
something that really all of us
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should come to the realization,
to think about the great and
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indescribable gift of God giving
His Son. This is something
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that we can study throughout
eternity and we will not be able
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to say, well I think we've
exhausted this theme, let's
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move on to another. This
is gonna be a theme that even
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angels desire to look into.
We have to move on to verse 3
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according as His divine power
has given unto us all things
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what kind of things? Things
that pertain unto life and
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godliness through the knowledge
of Him that has called us
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to glory and virtue. And in
other verses in the Scripture
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you will find He has
called us out of darkness
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and into His marvelous light.
And so I praise the Lord for
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that and I'd like to move into
verse 4 really quick because
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we have very little time. It
says whereby are given unto us
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and I like the wording,
exceeding great and precious
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promises that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine
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nature having escaped the
corruption that is in the world
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through lust. I'd like to
ask Sister Molly, have you found
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exceeding great and
precious promises in God's Word?
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Oh yes and Shelley's
written books on this subject.
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Holding on to God's promises
and proclaiming those promises
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and you know the Scripture will
speak to you when you're in a
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situation and you have God's
word in your heart and you hold
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on to those promises and you
can be in a difficult situation
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and the word will come forth
and you start just quoting that
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Scripture and holding on to
those promises and you see that
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God will move on your
behalf every time. Amen.
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So the Bible says they are
exceeding great and precious
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promises and I encourage you,
we can probably ask each one
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here and they can quote to you
one of their favorite promises
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and they know many promises
by memory. I know several
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promises by memory as well
but we encourage you to find
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in God's word precious promises
that to you, they minister to
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you. And at different times
in your life you find that maybe
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this promise will speak to you
maybe this promise will speak
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to you. One of the promises
that has really blessed me
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is Romans 8:28. And it says,
And we know that all things
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work together for what?
for good to them that love God
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to them that are called
according to His purpose
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And so as you're going through
life through life's difficulties
00:14:07.58\00:14:10.95
and problems you can take
assurance. You can rejoice in
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knowing that whatever difficulty
you're going through because
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when you get to the book
of James chapter 1, he says
00:14:17.89\00:14:20.12
count it all joy when you
what? face diverse tribulations
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and temptations and trials.
How? Because you have exceeding
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great and precious promises
in God's word, that all things
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will work together for your
good In here in this verse 4 is
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something, these things we have
talked about so far are able
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to help us so that we can
become partakers of the divine
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nature and this is why as
you continue to study you will
00:14:46.15\00:14:50.32
Sister Jill building up on these
Christian virtues as we become
00:14:50.35\00:14:54.52
partakers of the divine nature
and what is being partaker
00:14:54.59\00:14:58.73
of the divine nature? You
become like Jesus. You become
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like God and so in order
for this to happen in your life
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you must continue digging in
God's word, you must continue
00:15:06.33\00:15:10.21
coming to the Lord each and
every day and as you do this
00:15:10.24\00:15:13.41
you will grow in grace and
in the knowledge of our Lord and
00:15:13.44\00:15:16.14
Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
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Beautifully done Brother Johnny
Verse 4 builds into what I have
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which is Peter's ladder, the
Christian graces, the Christian
00:15:23.25\00:15:26.45
virtues that God wants to
work into our lives and I like
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verse 4 because through
the promises in the Word of God
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through the Word of God we are
transformed. We become partaker
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of His divine nature and as
a result of that transforming
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process, the graces that we
see here are manifested in our
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lives. You know philosophers
in the ancient world listed
00:15:48.31\00:15:51.38
different virtues. We know
in the Word of God Paul lists in
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Galatians 5, 9 fruit of the
Spirit. James talks about the
00:15:56.65\00:16:02.42
testing of your faith and then
he lists patience and wisdom
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grow as a result of that. In
Romans 5 we have through trial
00:16:06.33\00:16:11.67
we experience perseverance,
character, hope and then love.
00:16:11.70\00:16:15.60
Now this list of 8 virtues
is also called Peter's Ladder
00:16:15.64\00:16:19.24
growing in grace and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Savior
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Jesus Christ. So let's take,
I'll ask Molly, are you there
00:16:22.48\00:16:27.12
would you like to read
that for us? We're in 2 Peter
00:16:27.15\00:16:30.39
chapter 1 and why don't
you read verses 5-7 Molly
00:16:30.42\00:16:34.99
And besides this giving
all diligence add to your faith
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virtue and to virtue, knowledge
and to knowledge, temperance
00:16:41.40\00:16:44.93
and to temperance, patience
and to patience, Godliness
00:16:44.97\00:16:47.90
and to Godliness, brotherly
kindness, and to brotherly
00:16:47.94\00:16:51.17
kindness, charity or love. Yes
So we're going to take a quick
00:16:51.21\00:16:54.94
look at the 8 virtues, the 8
graces that are mentioned here
00:16:54.98\00:16:58.71
It starts out with faith.
Add to your faith, virtue. The
00:16:58.75\00:17:02.68
first virtue mentioned is faith.
This faith is belief, trust,
00:17:02.72\00:17:07.36
confidence. Faith is always
a gift from God. It is never
00:17:07.39\00:17:12.06
produced by myself or never
produced by people. However,
00:17:12.09\00:17:16.63
any gift once it is received
it becomes the possession of
00:17:16.67\00:17:20.47
the recipient. If Shelley were
to give me a gift for Christmas
00:17:20.50\00:17:23.94
now I possess that gift. It's
no longer Shelley's but it's
00:17:23.97\00:17:29.74
mine and I think when God gives
us the gift of faith, we know
00:17:29.78\00:17:33.31
to every man is given a measure
of faith. And when He gives us
00:17:33.35\00:17:37.69
that gift we now possess
it, as it were. Faith is given
00:17:37.75\00:17:44.79
to the redeemed. It is not a
virtue that we work up by any
00:17:44.83\00:17:48.53
human effort but it's a
gift of God. Faith is God's work
00:17:48.56\00:17:53.94
It comes as Christ
speaks His word in our hearts.
00:17:53.97\00:17:58.47
Romans 10:17, faith comes
by hearing and hearing by the
00:17:58.54\00:18:02.88
Word of God. How do we develop
faith? We receive and accept it
00:18:02.91\00:18:09.72
as a gift from God. Then
we exercise it and practice it
00:18:09.75\00:18:15.16
Like a muscle. When you first
start lifting weights it hurts
00:18:15.22\00:18:19.39
terribly but after a few days
you can lift the same weight
00:18:19.43\00:18:23.20
and it doesn't hurt as
bad because that muscle begins
00:18:23.23\00:18:26.50
to grow. Just like that,
God wants to grow and develop
00:18:26.53\00:18:31.07
as we exercise our faith,
as we spend time in the Word of
00:18:31.14\00:18:34.81
God our faith grows. As we
exercise and reach out by faith
00:18:34.84\00:18:40.02
it grows as well. And then
we reflect on what God has done
00:18:40.05\00:18:43.85
in our life in the past and
in that reflection, that grows
00:18:43.89\00:18:47.32
our faith. Wow, God answered
a prayer here. I saw what He did
00:18:47.36\00:18:51.29
in the past and that gives
me faith, confidence that He is
00:18:51.36\00:18:55.00
going to come through here.
The second virtue is actually
00:18:55.03\00:18:58.57
virtue. Add to your faith,
virtue. This word is used often
00:18:58.60\00:19:03.30
in Greek writings and it's
any virtuous course of thought
00:19:03.34\00:19:06.41
feeling or action. Moral vigor.
Faith leads to a changed life
00:19:06.44\00:19:13.15
One in which virtue is expressed
If we really possess the gift of
00:19:13.18\00:19:17.59
faith, I'm not going to stay
just living in my sin filled
00:19:17.62\00:19:21.59
life. That faith is going to
God's word, is going to work to
00:19:21.62\00:19:25.83
transform my life and
work in me His virtue.
00:19:25.86\00:19:28.60
The third virtue is knowledge.
Add to your faith, virtue to
00:19:28.63\00:19:32.70
virtue, knowledge. And the word
for knowledge in the Greek comes
00:19:32.73\00:19:37.31
kind of like you think of
a Gnostics, what they believe
00:19:37.34\00:19:40.21
cause it's actually gnosis,
it means knowledge, doctrine or
00:19:40.24\00:19:43.45
wisdom. It is something
gleaned from firsthand, personal
00:19:43.48\00:19:48.22
experience. Now the Gnostics
boasted of their own knowledge
00:19:48.25\00:19:51.99
that was not accurate.
We're not advocating that here
00:19:52.02\00:19:54.89
but it's something that would
be faith on firsthand experience
00:19:54.96\00:19:58.73
So when you and I have a first
hand experience with the Lord
00:19:58.76\00:20:04.43
Jesus Christ, I have something
to base that on and that will
00:20:04.47\00:20:09.34
in turn grow and develop. When
I experience Jesus, when I get
00:20:09.37\00:20:14.68
to know Him personally
that grows and develops that
00:20:14.74\00:20:17.45
knowledge. The 4th one is
self-control and if I'm honest
00:20:17.48\00:20:21.68
with you this is probably the
virtue that stresses me a little
00:20:21.72\00:20:26.19
bit the most but we'll see that
it's not our work here again
00:20:26.22\00:20:29.92
It's the work of the Lord
Jesus Christ working in us
00:20:29.96\00:20:33.43
The word proceeds out from
within oneself. not by one's
00:20:34.36\00:20:39.80
self-meaning that God is
the one who does the work in us
00:20:39.83\00:20:43.51
It can be accomplished
only by the power of the Lord
00:20:43.54\00:20:48.11
Self-control can be as simple
as saying no to a piece of
00:20:49.04\00:20:52.21
chocolate when I want a piece
of chocolate. Or, no I'm gonna
00:20:52.25\00:20:55.92
turn off the TV
and open up God's word.
00:20:55.95\00:20:59.29
It could be saying no to
a sensual or sexual desire
00:20:59.32\00:21:04.26
or it could be
walking in sobriety.
00:21:04.29\00:21:10.13
They did a marshmallow test they
call it. This was what early
00:21:10.17\00:21:14.07
1960s and I think they continued
some of these tests into the
00:21:14.10\00:21:18.17
early 1970s. A man by the name
of Walter Mischel and he did
00:21:18.24\00:21:22.94
the test and I'm sure you've
all heard of it with 5-year olds
00:21:22.98\00:21:25.78
Preschoolers, maybe 4, young
and they sat there and they
00:21:25.81\00:21:29.42
gave them a marshmallow, I
mean in front of them on the
00:21:29.45\00:21:33.36
table. And they told them
you can have this marshmallow
00:21:33.39\00:21:37.96
now but if you wait 15 minutes
you can get a second marshmallow
00:21:37.99\00:21:43.20
if you don't eat this
first marshmallow for 15 minutes
00:21:43.23\00:21:46.94
you can get a second marshmallow
And they followed these young
00:21:46.97\00:21:51.41
people. You know some of
them covered their eyes, some of
00:21:51.44\00:21:54.24
them turned around, some of
them kicked the table and some
00:21:54.28\00:21:58.05
of them stroked the marshmallow
just little things we do
00:21:58.08\00:22:02.95
internally to try to resist
the marshmallow and some of them
00:22:02.98\00:22:05.82
ate it right away. And they said
the children with the longest
00:22:05.85\00:22:09.19
resistance, they followed
them over the years. Now these
00:22:09.22\00:22:12.26
children are in their 50s, they
followed them and they said that
00:22:12.29\00:22:16.10
they had higher SAT scores out
of high school. Later in life
00:22:16.13\00:22:20.00
they earned more advanced
degrees, they dealt with less
00:22:20.04\00:22:23.10
stress, less drugs, they were
more successful. So how do I
00:22:23.14\00:22:27.54
develop self-control? It's not
Ok, I'm not going to reach out
00:22:27.58\00:22:31.75
for that marshmallow, I'm
going to grit my teeth. No.
00:22:31.78\00:22:34.42
True self control is not about
bringing ourselves under our own
00:22:34.45\00:22:38.49
control, it's about bringing
ourselves under the power and
00:22:38.52\00:22:41.76
anointing of Jesus Christ. The
battle between the self and the
00:22:41.79\00:22:45.43
spirit. We want to deny
ourselves and take up our cross
00:22:45.46\00:22:49.20
daily But it's not saying no in
my own power and strength. It's
00:22:49.23\00:22:53.30
submitting my will to
Jesus, being under His control
00:22:53.34\00:22:57.31
and letting Him work His control
in my life. He alone gives us
00:22:57.34\00:23:00.94
the strength and the victory.
He alone gets the glory.
00:23:00.98\00:23:04.21
The next virtue, to self-control
perseverance or endurance
00:23:04.25\00:23:09.08
To endure under the challenges
of life. We've discussed this in
00:23:09.12\00:23:12.45
previous lessons that
the Christians that Peter was
00:23:12.49\00:23:16.02
writing to were experiencing
persecution, severe trials
00:23:16.06\00:23:19.96
they were needed this grace
of endurance and I know today
00:23:20.00\00:23:24.43
we need the grace of endurance
as well. The next one is
00:23:24.47\00:23:27.37
Godliness. Godliness in a
pagan world the word here means
00:23:27.40\00:23:34.78
ethical behavior that
results in a belief in God
00:23:34.84\00:23:37.61
a god, small g, little g.
But as Christians in the New
00:23:37.65\00:23:43.22
Testament and you and I as
believers in Jesus, it carries
00:23:43.25\00:23:46.69
the concept of that behavior
that results in belief in one
00:23:46.72\00:23:50.06
true and only God. Next
we have brotherly kindness.
00:23:50.09\00:23:53.66
Philadelphia referring to that
brotherly love for Christian
00:23:54.76\00:23:58.00
brothers and sisters and finally
we have love. Charity as Molly
00:23:58.03\00:24:02.77
read it. Agape love. Seeking
the highest good of someone else
00:24:02.80\00:24:07.74
So what part do we play
in this ladder of grace?
00:24:07.78\00:24:10.88
We could be listening
and saying, I'm discouraged.
00:24:10.91\00:24:13.52
I don't possess faith,
nor virtue or knowledge
00:24:13.55\00:24:17.22
self-control. All we do is
come before the Lord Jesus. We
00:24:17.25\00:24:21.29
give Him ownership in our life.
We surrender to His control
00:24:21.32\00:24:27.03
to the control of the Holy
Spirit. We choose to abide in
00:24:27.03\00:24:30.30
Him. John chapter 15, as
the branch cannot bear fruit
00:24:30.33\00:24:33.94
unless it abides in the vine,
no more can you unless you abide
00:24:33.97\00:24:37.64
in Me. So we choose day by day
to remain connected to the vine
00:24:37.67\00:24:41.84
to Jesus. Let His life giving
sap and power flow into us
00:24:41.91\00:24:46.61
and work the graces here,
the virtues here in our lives
00:24:46.65\00:24:51.35
and finally we feed
the spirit the word of God
00:24:51.39\00:24:56.26
behold Jesus and we starve
the flesh. Shunning those things
00:24:56.29\00:25:01.76
that would pull us from Jesus
and spending time looking at
00:25:01.80\00:25:05.70
Jesus, beholding Him,
spending time in His word.
00:25:05.73\00:25:08.97
Amen, praise the Lord.
00:25:09.00\00:25:10.94
Thank you for sharing that,
you know I, as you were talking
00:25:11.94\00:25:14.14
I was thinking wherever there's
a new convert they might have
00:25:14.18\00:25:17.98
been really into big sin, I mean
their life might've been a real
00:25:18.01\00:25:21.85
mess and then they find the
Lord. And they say you know what
00:25:21.88\00:25:25.42
I used to swear all the
time and I no longer swear.
00:25:25.45\00:25:29.09
They'll say I used to drink
and the Lord took that away
00:25:29.12\00:25:33.06
just like that and the list goes
on of things where people have
00:25:33.09\00:25:36.67
victory as they're converted.
And I notice that and they're
00:25:36.70\00:25:41.07
even on fire to work for
the Lord and it seems like every
00:25:41.10\00:25:43.64
thing that this series is
instructing they're actually
00:25:43.67\00:25:46.44
experiencing. But after
two or three or four years,
00:25:46.47\00:25:51.31
there tends to be, because you
notice to the Lord just keeps
00:25:51.35\00:25:55.02
taking things away, keeps
taking things away but after
00:25:55.05\00:25:58.39
a while I think as
Christians we have a thermostat
00:25:58.42\00:26:02.72
we realize that everyone around
us is here, they're struggling
00:26:02.76\00:26:06.90
we're struggling and
no one's going anywhere
00:26:06.93\00:26:10.03
So the call for today is be
who you are. So the question
00:26:10.07\00:26:14.94
is who are we? So let's
go to 2 Corinthians chapter 5
00:26:14.97\00:26:20.44
Because I really believe that
if the church can break through
00:26:23.78\00:26:27.78
this barrier that tends to
be there in our Christian growth
00:26:27.82\00:26:31.99
where we have to remind
our selves "It is Christ in you
00:26:32.02\00:26:36.12
that does this". 2 Corinthians
5:17. Therefore if anyone is in
00:26:36.16\00:26:43.70
Christ he's a new creation. Old
things have what? passed away
00:26:43.73\00:26:49.57
passed away, behold all things
become new. So this is the
00:26:49.60\00:26:54.34
calling that we have is if we're
in Christ we are a new creation
00:26:54.38\00:26:57.61
because we're actually
re-created by Him through His
00:26:57.65\00:27:01.28
Spirit. And that is an
experience that is not just for
00:27:01.32\00:27:05.19
the beginning of your
journey, it is to be a life long
00:27:05.22\00:27:08.26
experience as we go
through the sanctifying process
00:27:08.29\00:27:10.63
but then let's turn
to Ephesians chapter 3
00:27:10.66\00:27:15.56
Ephesians the 3rd chapter
00:27:15.60\00:27:18.73
and there's verses 14-19 that
I'm going to be looking at here
00:27:23.81\00:27:27.08
Ephesians 3 beginning with verse
14. For this reason I bow my
00:27:30.55\00:27:34.18
knees to the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ from whom the whole
00:27:34.22\00:27:37.45
family in heaven and earth
is named. I think that is really
00:27:37.49\00:27:41.12
something because when God
is through redeeming humanity,
00:27:41.16\00:27:45.39
all of creation will be in
His name. And He would grant you
00:27:45.43\00:27:49.86
according to the riches of
His glory to be strengthened
00:27:49.90\00:27:52.83
with the might through
His Spirit in the inner man
00:27:52.87\00:27:56.74
that Christ may dwell in
your hearts, how? through faith
00:27:56.77\00:28:01.78
that you being rooted and
grounded in love, which is God
00:28:01.81\00:28:05.95
right? may be able to comprehend
with all the saints what is the
00:28:06.01\00:28:10.95
width, the length, the depth,
the height to know the love of
00:28:10.99\00:28:14.72
Christ which passes knowledge
and what is the purpose? that
00:28:14.76\00:28:18.79
you may be filled with
all the fullness of God. Amen
00:28:18.83\00:28:23.10
Just think about that. Being
filled with the fullness of God
00:28:23.13\00:28:26.43
Whenever I see a new convert
they may be brand new in their
00:28:26.47\00:28:29.50
journey but they're
filled with the fullness of God.
00:28:29.54\00:28:31.84
And that is an experience that
God wants us to continue to have
00:28:32.81\00:28:35.94
throughout our journey. Not
something we think about in the
00:28:36.01\00:28:38.81
past. And I really believe
that we go through this process
00:28:38.88\00:28:42.82
of hanging on to things
that are of the flesh and not
00:28:42.85\00:28:48.82
surrendering those things
and as a result our growth is
00:28:48.89\00:28:52.56
stagnated. Let's continue as
we look at Colossians, actually
00:28:52.59\00:28:58.87
let's not turn there. Colossians
1:27, Christ in you is the hope
00:28:58.90\00:29:04.11
of glory. That is how we have
this victory, that's how we have
00:29:04.14\00:29:07.28
journey that Jill so eloquently
unpacked. But I'm gonna share
00:29:07.31\00:29:11.88
something that I was impressed
to go to as I was doing my study
00:29:11.91\00:29:14.85
and I thought you ever have
something that you really don't
00:29:14.88\00:29:17.89
wanna share? does it
make anyone feel good?
00:29:17.92\00:29:20.79
but at the same time you realize
the Holy Spirit's saying this is
00:29:21.22\00:29:24.33
what I want you to share. And
it's actually out of Christ's
00:29:24.36\00:29:28.00
Object Lessons, page 330.
It says, In each true hearted
00:29:28.03\00:29:33.17
endeavor to work out His plan,
that's God's plan, God chooses
00:29:33.20\00:29:36.97
His agents not because they're
perfect but because through
00:29:37.01\00:29:41.38
a connection with Him they may
gain perfection, completeness
00:29:41.41\00:29:45.38
and be like, remember full
of God, the fullness of God
00:29:45.45\00:29:48.65
and you know if you think
about it, that is His goal.
00:29:48.72\00:29:52.82
Is that all of His
creation is filled with Him.
00:29:52.85\00:29:56.62
With His
presence, and His Power.
00:29:56.66\00:29:58.86
God will accept only those
who are determined to aim high
00:29:58.93\00:30:02.83
He places every human agent
under the obligation to do his
00:30:05.00\00:30:08.64
best, uh oh salvation by works?
is that what we're talking about
00:30:08.70\00:30:12.51
here? moral perfection
is required of all. Hmm
00:30:12.57\00:30:16.95
Really what it is, is we're
playing with sin. We're playing
00:30:17.71\00:30:20.35
with self and pretending that
we're filled with the fullness
00:30:20.38\00:30:24.89
of God. Never should we lower
the standard of righteousness
00:30:24.92\00:30:28.96
in order to accommodate
inherited or cultivated
00:30:29.02\00:30:31.26
tendencies to wrong doing.
We need to understand that
00:30:31.29\00:30:34.73
imperfection of character
is sin All righteous attributes
00:30:34.73\00:30:42.10
of character dwell in God
as a perfect harmonious whole,
00:30:42.17\00:30:45.54
and everyone who receives
Christ as a personal Savior is
00:30:45.57\00:30:48.51
privileged to possess these
attributes. I'm gonna share
00:30:48.54\00:30:52.48
a little bit here from another
paragraph then I'm through
00:30:52.51\00:30:55.08
with this. A noble character
is earned by individual effort
00:30:55.15\00:30:59.42
through the merits and grace
of Christ. God gives the talent
00:30:59.45\00:31:03.46
the power of mind,
we form the character.
00:31:03.49\00:31:07.23
And it's the only thing
we're taking to heaven, is our
00:31:07.30\00:31:09.80
character. It is formed,
how? by hard, stern battles with
00:31:09.83\00:31:15.20
self. Self. That is my battle.
You think about Christ sweating
00:31:15.27\00:31:21.54
great drops of sweat, blood.
What was He agonizing against?
00:31:21.58\00:31:27.88
Taking on the sin of the world
but it was operating in self
00:31:28.65\00:31:33.19
instead of taking on those
sins He was looking at the cost,
00:31:34.09\00:31:38.76
counting the cost and
the struggle, that commitment
00:31:38.79\00:31:44.40
that the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit have had throughout
00:31:44.43\00:31:46.97
eternity was the
struggle of His lifetime.
00:31:47.00\00:31:50.11
Conflict after conflict
must be waged against hereditary
00:31:50.14\00:31:53.54
tendencies. We shall have
to criticize ourselves closely
00:31:53.58\00:31:57.75
and not allow one unfavorable
trait to remain uncorrected
00:31:57.78\00:32:01.58
Ouch! Ouch! Could I add, yeah
go for it. I just want to say
00:32:02.18\00:32:07.09
because to me it ties your
lesson with hers and that is
00:32:07.12\00:32:12.26
It says may the Lord make you
so God's doing the work, yeah
00:32:15.70\00:32:19.37
abound in love, which is
that ladder leading to that love
00:32:19.40\00:32:23.71
to one another and to all so
that, the purpose of that, He
00:32:23.74\00:32:28.18
can establish your hearts
blameless in holiness before
00:32:28.21\00:32:32.65
our God and Father at the
coming of our Lord and Savior
00:32:32.68\00:32:35.02
Jesus Christ. So it's that
surrender to God, letting Him
00:32:35.05\00:32:39.32
put His love in your heart
and He is the one that helps us
00:32:39.39\00:32:44.03
overcome all these things. Too
often I've seen people actually
00:32:44.06\00:32:47.76
look to others for their litmus
test as to what is God calling
00:32:47.76\00:32:52.83
them to instead of looking
to Him and as a result they are
00:32:52.87\00:32:57.81
stagnant in their growth. And
we must strive against inherited
00:32:57.84\00:33:02.41
and cultivated tendencies that
self has in us. I want us to go
00:33:02.44\00:33:06.48
go to 2 Corinthians 3:18
00:33:06.51\00:33:09.95
Jill would you be so
kind as to read that? Sure.
00:33:19.03\00:33:20.60
But we all with unveiled face
beholding as in a mirror the
00:33:20.63\00:33:24.47
glory of the Lord are being
transformed into the same image
00:33:24.50\00:33:28.04
from glory to glory just
as by the Spirit of the Lord.
00:33:28.07\00:33:31.74
So it is by beholding Him, that
is my hope, that is my, that is
00:33:31.77\00:33:36.78
my work to behold Him and what's
happening is He's transforming
00:33:36.81\00:33:43.92
my character. He
reveals what needs to change
00:33:43.95\00:33:47.12
and He gives me the power over
that. So these inherited and
00:33:47.16\00:33:52.89
cultivated tendencies, too often
people hang on to them and think
00:33:52.93\00:33:57.27
they're on a journey with God
but they've left Him a long time
00:33:57.30\00:33:59.67
ago. They're playing
church. I would like us to go to
00:33:59.70\00:34:03.44
1 John chapter 3
00:34:07.11\00:34:08.44
You know as we're turning here
I was just thinking I hadn't
00:34:09.04\00:34:11.15
seen someone, I went to my
father's funeral several years
00:34:11.18\00:34:14.65
back but I hadn't seen someone
for 20 years and the first thing
00:34:14.68\00:34:18.65
he said to me when he saw
me is, what happened to you?
00:34:18.69\00:34:22.22
And I thought,
Yeah! What happened to me?
00:34:23.36\00:34:27.23
It's Christ in you. The
transformation is something
00:34:27.30\00:34:30.50
There's another thing
too. He does this work in us.
00:34:30.53\00:34:38.11
Beloved now we are children
of God and it has not yet been
00:34:38.14\00:34:42.21
revealed what we shall be. But
we know that when He is revealed
00:34:42.24\00:34:45.91
we shall be like Him.
He's doing this work, we don't
00:34:45.98\00:34:50.19
even know where we're supposed
to go. He knows where to take us
00:34:50.22\00:34:54.19
For we shall see Him as He is
and everyone who has this hope
00:34:54.22\00:34:57.53
in him purifies
himself just as He is pure.
00:34:57.56\00:35:01.36
So as we have the hope of
Christ in our hearts there's a
00:35:01.96\00:35:04.80
purifying process that takes
place but we must, if we're
00:35:04.83\00:35:08.90
hanging on to sin we must
address it and surrender it
00:35:08.97\00:35:12.04
as we behold Him and
He gives us the victory.
00:35:12.07\00:35:14.68
Very well presented, thank you.
00:35:16.41\00:35:18.31
Well I have Wednesday's Shedding
The Tent, and this is gonna be
00:35:18.35\00:35:23.12
fun because there are
people who misunderstand this
00:35:23.15\00:35:26.99
So let's turn to 2 Peter chapter
1 and we're gonna begin with
00:35:27.02\00:35:32.16
verse 13. 2 Peter 1:13. And
Peter says, Yes I think it is
00:35:32.19\00:35:41.44
right as long as I am in this
tent to stir you up by reminding
00:35:41.47\00:35:46.44
you knowing that shortly I must
put off my tent just as our Lord
00:35:46.47\00:35:52.75
Jesus Christ showed me.
First of all I just wanted to
00:35:52.78\00:35:56.02
comment, in verse 12 he's
telling them that you know he
00:35:56.05\00:35:59.39
knows that they are established
in present truth he says
00:35:59.42\00:36:02.72
but now he feels this obligation
to constantly, his solemn duty
00:36:02.76\00:36:09.20
to constantly stir them up.
Literally that means to rouse
00:36:09.23\00:36:14.30
them from sleep by stimulating
their future hope of entrance
00:36:14.34\00:36:19.31
into the kingdom of God. So but
what is he talking about this
00:36:19.34\00:36:24.48
tent. This tent is our human
body. This is our temporary
00:36:24.51\00:36:30.69
dwelling place. In John 1:14
where it says the Word became
00:36:30.72\00:36:35.86
flesh and He dwelt among
us. He's talking about Jesus.
00:36:35.89\00:36:39.66
In the beginning was the Word,
the Word became flesh, the Word
00:36:39.73\00:36:43.06
dwelt among us. That word is
tabernacled or pitched his tent
00:36:43.10\00:36:50.11
So what he's saying, it's about
time for me to put off this tent
00:36:50.14\00:36:54.64
Peter is feeling the urgency of
his soon death, he was martyred
00:36:54.68\00:37:00.42
in about AD68 I believe it
is. And you know tradition says
00:37:00.45\00:37:05.92
that he was crucified upside
down. He actually asked for that
00:37:05.99\00:37:10.56
because he didn't feel
worthy to die as Jesus died.
00:37:10.59\00:37:14.73
But now turn to John
chapter 5 we'll look at verse 28
00:37:14.76\00:37:18.80
When the New Testament is
talking about death it does so
00:37:18.83\00:37:24.31
in the terms of resurrection,
not in terms of immortality
00:37:24.34\00:37:29.58
of the soul, that is
so important. So John 5:28
00:37:29.64\00:37:34.82
Jesus is speaking. We're
gonna read verses 28 and 29.
00:37:34.85\00:37:38.15
And Jesus said, do not marvel
at this for the hour is coming
00:37:38.19\00:37:43.63
in which all who are in
their graves will hear His voice
00:37:43.66\00:37:48.73
and come forth. Those who have
done good to the resurrection of
00:37:48.76\00:37:54.50
life and those who have
done evil to the resurrection of
00:37:54.54\00:37:59.14
condemnation. And if you look
at, we don't have time to go
00:37:59.17\00:38:03.58
there today but if you study in
Revelation it talks about these
00:38:03.61\00:38:06.65
two different resurrections that
are actually a 1000 years apart
00:38:06.68\00:38:11.45
In the Bible, in 1 Timothy 6:15
and 16, the Bible teaches that
00:38:11.49\00:38:18.86
only God is immortal. Let me
read this to you. In 1 Tim 15
00:38:18.89\00:38:25.70
Paul says, which He
will manifest in His own time
00:38:25.73\00:38:28.64
He who is the blessed and only
Potentate, the King of Kings and
00:38:28.67\00:38:35.51
Lord of Lords who alone
has immortality, dwelling in
00:38:35.54\00:38:40.95
inapproachable light,
whom no man has seen or can see
00:38:40.98\00:38:45.75
to whom be honor and
everlasting power, amen.
00:38:45.82\00:38:51.36
I grew up believing, I was
taught that man had an immortal
00:38:51.39\00:38:56.77
soul and that when you died
you went straight to heaven.
00:38:56.80\00:39:01.20
So I come on this Scripture and
say what do you mean? Only God
00:39:01.24\00:39:06.47
has immortality. What
does Jesus mean, all who are in
00:39:06.54\00:39:10.01
their graves will hear His
voice and then as I researched
00:39:10.05\00:39:16.15
what I had learned is that the
doctrine of the immortal soul
00:39:16.18\00:39:20.52
was introduced into the church
by a pagan philosopher who had
00:39:20.56\00:39:25.96
converted to Christianity.
His name was Tertullian, he was
00:39:25.99\00:39:29.13
from Tunisia, he had been
a student of Plato who was a
00:39:29.20\00:39:33.17
student of Socrates. Socrates
is the one who came up with
00:39:33.20\00:39:35.67
this idea of an immortal
soul. Well what happened when he
00:39:35.74\00:39:39.51
became a, when Tertullian
became a Christian? He became
00:39:39.54\00:39:43.08
an ecclesiastical writer
and now he introduces this whole
00:39:43.11\00:39:46.98
idea of the doctrine of
immortality which led to the
00:39:47.02\00:39:51.39
eternal burning hell as an
unending torment. So, I mean
00:39:51.42\00:39:56.49
just from the one incorrect
belief it's just got a domino
00:39:56.56\00:40:00.80
effect on what it has done
for so many different people
00:40:00.83\00:40:05.43
but in the first 175 years
of the church, the early church
00:40:05.47\00:40:10.44
fathers always said there's
only two paths. There's the
00:40:10.47\00:40:14.11
path of eternal life or
the path of eternal death.
00:40:14.14\00:40:17.31
So it wasn't until after
Tertullian's writings became
00:40:17.35\00:40:21.02
popularized that people
even started accepting this.
00:40:21.05\00:40:24.12
But our quarterly had an
interesting paragraph that says
00:40:24.15\00:40:27.99
1956 Oscar Colman wrote a short
study called Immortality of the
00:40:28.02\00:40:34.20
soul or resurrection of the dead
the witness of the New Testament
00:40:34.23\00:40:37.00
He argued that the concept
of the resurrection is quite
00:40:37.03\00:40:41.27
incompatible with the
concept of the immortal soul.
00:40:41.30\00:40:45.61
Wouldn't you agree with that?
I mean why do we need to be
00:40:45.64\00:40:48.54
have a resurrection if
we're already up in heaven?
00:40:48.58\00:40:51.05
Furthermore, he said, the New
Testament lies squarely on the
00:40:51.08\00:40:54.42
side of the resurrection of the
dead. And then he's quoting this
00:40:54.45\00:40:58.22
author, Oscar Colman, "no
other publication of mine, Oscar
00:40:58.25\00:41:03.56
Colman later wrote, has provoked
such enthusiasm or such violent
00:41:03.59\00:41:09.66
hostility." I'm going
to try something on the air
00:41:09.73\00:41:13.87
turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 5
00:41:13.90\00:41:17.81
If we're talking about putting
off the tent, people will
00:41:17.84\00:41:22.91
and anytime you talk
about you know the idea of dying
00:41:22.94\00:41:26.48
and going straight to heaven,
where people usually take me
00:41:26.51\00:41:29.25
to is 1 Corinthians chapter 15
and we're going to look at what
00:41:29.28\00:41:34.49
Paul implies happens
when we die. 1 Corinthians 15
00:41:34.52\00:41:38.86
we're going to, we don't have
exactly 12-57 but we're going
00:41:38.89\00:41:44.73
to look at and I jumped
ahead but anyway, we're going to
00:41:44.77\00:41:49.64
look at what Paul says,
let's just read verse 17 and 18
00:41:49.67\00:41:53.11
If Christ is not risen your
faith is futile, you are still
00:41:55.18\00:41:59.95
in your sins. Then also
those who have fallen asleep in
00:42:00.05\00:42:05.92
Christ have perished. Through
out the Bible it says fallen
00:42:05.95\00:42:09.49
asleep, falling asleep, sleeping
that's the state of death
00:42:09.52\00:42:13.40
Then he says in verse 22, for
as in Adam all die even so in
00:42:13.46\00:42:18.30
Christ all shall be made alive
but each one in his own order
00:42:18.33\00:42:23.14
Christ was made alive
first, He was the first fruits
00:42:23.17\00:42:27.01
afterwards those who are
Christ's win at His coming
00:42:27.04\00:42:31.95
it's at His second coming.
And then he says in verse 51
00:42:31.98\00:42:35.18
Behold I tell you a
mystery, we shall not all sleep
00:42:35.22\00:42:38.55
but we shall all be changed
in a moment, in the twinkling
00:42:38.59\00:42:41.62
of an eye, when? at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet shall
00:42:41.66\00:42:46.96
sound, the dead will be raised
incorruptible and we shall be
00:42:47.00\00:42:49.40
changed. For this corruption
must put on incorruption
00:42:49.46\00:42:53.13
and this corruptible
must put on immortality
00:42:53.17\00:42:56.71
So I mean he's mortal he says
He's saying again we're mortal
00:42:56.74\00:43:00.94
we must put on immortality at
the last trumpet. So when this
00:43:00.98\00:43:07.65
corruptible has put on
incorruption and the mortal has
00:43:07.68\00:43:09.72
put on immortality then shall
be brought to pass the saying
00:43:09.75\00:43:14.16
that is written that death
is swallowed up in victory. Now
00:43:14.19\00:43:16.89
2 Corinthians chapter 5 is
my challenge and I have a very
00:43:17.53\00:43:20.86
short time to do it. So I've
got to go there, this is what
00:43:20.90\00:43:24.10
I was referring to, people
always, when you're talking
00:43:24.13\00:43:27.77
about putting off the tent,
here's where they'll take you
00:43:27.80\00:43:30.04
2 Corinthians 5, we'll look at
verses 1-8. Paul describes here
00:43:30.11\00:43:37.68
3 conditions of mankind. And if
you just read it superficially
00:43:37.71\00:43:43.99
you'll miss it and you'll think
that when you're absent from
00:43:44.02\00:43:47.19
the body you're present
with the Lord, immediately.
00:43:47.22\00:43:49.66
But let's look at this because
there's three conditions.
00:43:49.72\00:43:52.59
Now I want you to watch for them
One is that you're clothed with
00:43:52.63\00:43:55.50
the earthly house or tent.
The 2nd condition is that you're
00:43:55.53\00:43:59.07
naked on unclothed and the
3rd condition is to be further
00:43:59.10\00:44:03.04
clothed with the house
that's been fashioned in heaven
00:44:03.07\00:44:05.67
in a glorious body like
Christ. So let's read this
00:44:05.71\00:44:09.04
2 Corinthians 5:1, For we
know that if our earthly house,
00:44:10.35\00:44:14.35
this tent-what condition is that
that's your first one, you're in
00:44:14.38\00:44:17.39
the body, is destroyed we have
a building from God that's the
00:44:17.42\00:44:23.12
final, the 3rd condition.
A house not made with hands
00:44:23.16\00:44:27.56
eternal in the heavens. For
in this we groan, in our current
00:44:27.60\00:44:31.37
earnestly desiring to be clothed
with our habitation which is
00:44:31.40\00:44:35.90
from heaven-again this is
referencing that 3rd condition
00:44:35.97\00:44:39.64
the final, ultimate goal. If
indeed having been clothed, we
00:44:39.67\00:44:44.95
shall not be found naked.
Now that's the second condition
00:44:44.98\00:44:50.05
in the middle, you're clothed
you're found naked or you're
00:44:50.09\00:44:53.79
clothed with further on high.
For we who are in this tent
00:44:53.86\00:44:57.86
the current condition in
your body, groan being burdened
00:44:57.89\00:45:01.50
not because we want to be
unclothed, what's that? The
00:45:01.53\00:45:05.43
2nd condition, you're naked,
but further clothed-that's the
00:45:05.47\00:45:10.21
3rd condition. That mortality
maybe swallowed up by life
00:45:10.27\00:45:14.98
So Paul is saying you
can either be in your body
00:45:15.01\00:45:17.31
you can be naked without
the body which is the death
00:45:17.35\00:45:20.52
state of death, or after you're
resurrected you're gonna have
00:45:20.55\00:45:24.89
this glorious body. He
says, now He who has prepared us
00:45:24.92\00:45:28.36
for this very thing is God
who has also given us the Spirit
00:45:28.39\00:45:31.13
as a guarantee so we're always
confident knowing that what
00:45:31.16\00:45:34.13
while we're at home in
this body (first condition)
00:45:34.20\00:45:36.73
we're absent from the Lord.
For we walk by faith not by
00:45:36.80\00:45:40.97
sight. We are confident,
yes well pleased rather to be
00:45:41.00\00:45:46.64
absent from the body and
he's saying I have absolute
00:45:46.71\00:45:49.98
confidence that I'm going
to be present with the Lord
00:45:50.01\00:45:53.25
and get that 3rd
condition. Amen and amen.
00:45:53.28\00:45:56.42
Well on Thursday we look
at faith in the face of death.
00:45:57.55\00:46:01.69
And we find that Peter is aware
that he is facing imminent death
00:46:01.72\00:46:09.50
Now our whole subject matter
for lesson 9 is, Be Who You Are
00:46:09.53\00:46:15.34
And I just look at the apostle
Peter. Jill, in light of what
00:46:15.37\00:46:20.24
you taught and Pr. Tom,
in light of what you taught
00:46:20.31\00:46:23.28
has there been a change
in Peter? Has Peter stood up
00:46:23.31\00:46:28.15
and is he who he
should be? Be Who You Are
00:46:28.18\00:46:33.02
We as Christians are
called to a high standard.
00:46:33.09\00:46:37.09
We are to be what God
has called us to be and Peter
00:46:37.13\00:46:41.26
is such a great inspiration
an example for all of us
00:46:41.30\00:46:45.87
So I'm in 2 Peter chapter 1. We
are going to look at verse 12-15
00:46:45.90\00:46:53.58
Again, Peter has been
made aware, we're gonna look at
00:46:53.61\00:46:57.28
that Scripture by the Lord
Jesus Christ Himself that he
00:46:57.31\00:47:01.58
is about to die. And so we're
going to see what's in his heart
00:47:01.62\00:47:07.62
because what he's doing now is
writing a letter that contains
00:47:07.66\00:47:14.00
his last message or his last
testament to those believers
00:47:14.03\00:47:19.23
that he's writing to, thank
goodness we all get the benefit
00:47:19.27\00:47:22.54
of this. So we're in 2
Peter chapter 1, verses 12-15.
00:47:22.57\00:47:30.45
For this reason I will not be
negligent to remind you always
00:47:30.48\00:47:35.42
of these things though you
know and are established in the
00:47:35.45\00:47:40.49
present truth. So he's saying to
those he's writing to, you are
00:47:40.52\00:47:45.46
established in present
truth. But it's important to me
00:47:45.49\00:47:48.70
I will not be negligent to write
to you, to give you something
00:47:48.73\00:47:53.90
to hold on to. Verse 13, Yes
I think it is right as long as I
00:47:53.94\00:47:59.21
am in this tent, that tent
which Shelley was talking about
00:47:59.24\00:48:02.44
this tent, as long as I'm alive
here with you to stir you up
00:48:02.48\00:48:07.95
by reminding you, knowing that
shortly I must do what? Put off
00:48:07.98\00:48:13.66
my tent. When you put off your
tent honey, you ain't no more
00:48:13.69\00:48:17.79
you put off your tent, he
knew that he was about to die
00:48:17.83\00:48:21.83
Just as our Lord Jesus Christ
showed me. Moreover I will be
00:48:21.86\00:48:27.77
careful to ensure that you will
always have a reminder of these
00:48:27.80\00:48:33.54
things after my decease. So
he's saying I'm gonna give you
00:48:33.58\00:48:38.35
something that will always be,
even after I die I'm going to
00:48:38.38\00:48:43.45
give you something that will
always remind you. It's vitally
00:48:43.49\00:48:47.12
important to Peter that these
believers and for you and me
00:48:47.16\00:48:51.53
who are currently established
in present truth to continue to
00:48:51.56\00:48:56.10
hold fast to these truths. Hence
he tells them the purpose of
00:48:56.13\00:49:00.14
his letter. Now the purpose of
his letter that the Lord Jesus
00:49:00.17\00:49:03.51
Christ has shown him that he
will die shortly and to ensure
00:49:03.54\00:49:08.91
that they always have a reminder
of these truths even after his
00:49:08.94\00:49:13.92
death he's giving them something
that in this case will last
00:49:13.98\00:49:20.62
forever. Will this word last
forever, I almost want to tell
00:49:20.66\00:49:25.73
you to turn to Psalm 119:89
but it's such a short Scripture
00:49:25.76\00:49:30.77
what I'm going to tell
you is memorize this Scripture
00:49:30.80\00:49:34.14
Forever O Lord Your Word
is settled in the Heavenlies
00:49:36.97\00:49:44.01
That word "settled", I
shared this once before - NATSAP
00:49:44.05\00:49:49.72
Greek word, it means to be
established as a fortress or
00:49:49.75\00:49:54.36
a garrison. God's word
is settled in the Heavenlies
00:49:54.39\00:49:57.96
So Peter is saying I'm going
to give you something that's
00:49:57.99\00:50:01.43
gonna last forever so that you
will continue to be established
00:50:01.46\00:50:06.27
in present truth. And Shelley,
nothing in Peter's language
00:50:06.33\00:50:11.34
in any way indicated that
he was going to, his soul was
00:50:11.37\00:50:17.75
going to survive. He made it
very clear that once he is no
00:50:17.78\00:50:23.79
longer alive that he would not
be with them. So he had to do
00:50:23.82\00:50:29.49
something on this side of death
He in no way claimed immortality
00:50:29.52\00:50:35.40
He was doing something now
that would be there for them
00:50:35.43\00:50:40.50
and he passed away. Now there
is another example in God's Word
00:50:40.54\00:50:45.91
about someone that knew
that they were about to die
00:50:45.94\00:50:51.15
And I wanted to share that
message with you. I want you
00:50:51.18\00:50:54.88
to go John 13. John chapter 13
00:50:54.92\00:50:59.25
and we're going to
look at verses 33-35.
00:51:00.59\00:51:05.89
John 13. Now this is written
in red, so who do you think I'm
00:51:07.30\00:51:11.07
about to share with you? Jesus.
Now just as Peter, knowing he
00:51:11.10\00:51:18.27
was about to die shared a
message with those believers
00:51:18.31\00:51:22.34
that he wanted to be, and
that would be for us too that he
00:51:22.38\00:51:26.48
wanted to ensure that they
would continue to be established
00:51:26.51\00:51:29.62
in present truth. Just before
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
00:51:29.65\00:51:34.02
went to the cross He was with
His apostles and He shared a
00:51:34.06\00:51:38.36
message with them. And it would
seem to me that this would be a
00:51:38.39\00:51:43.30
mighty important lesson Pr.
Tom a message that He wanted to
00:51:43.33\00:51:47.37
share with them because knowing
that His time was short I'm sure
00:51:47.40\00:51:52.61
to Him, He was sharing the
most vital and important thing
00:51:52.64\00:51:57.11
Look at this. John 13 verse
33 Little children yet a little
00:51:57.18\00:52:03.79
while I am with you, knowing
that it was just a little while.
00:52:03.82\00:52:07.66
You shall seek me and as I said
unto the Jews whither I go you
00:52:07.69\00:52:12.89
cannot come. So now I say
to you a new commandment I give
00:52:12.93\00:52:18.97
unto you. He's giving them
a new commandment. One time we
00:52:19.00\00:52:22.94
had a pastor here, Dwight Nelson
He did camp meeting with us
00:52:22.97\00:52:28.51
and the title that he gave
this was the 11th commandment
00:52:28.54\00:52:32.95
Jesus said a new commandment
I give unto you that you love
00:52:32.98\00:52:38.22
one another as I have loved you
that you also love one another
00:52:38.25\00:52:43.06
By this shall all men know
you are my disciples if you have
00:52:43.09\00:52:48.20
love one for another. And I
was thinking about this in the
00:52:48.23\00:52:51.80
context of what Peter has
done here. Did he love these
00:52:51.83\00:52:55.20
believers? Amen. Oh Pr.
Tom, he had grown in all these
00:52:55.24\00:52:59.54
virtues that Jill was talking
about. Peter who at the very
00:52:59.57\00:53:04.48
beginning, remember how he
was when, he rebuked the Lord
00:53:04.51\00:53:09.28
did he not? He was impetuous
he was quick to cut off the ear
00:53:09.32\00:53:15.69
of the Roman soldier.
Peter! But oh look at him now
00:53:15.72\00:53:19.73
he has grown so much.
00:53:20.63\00:53:25.03
In the light of the fact
that Peter says the Lord Himself
00:53:25.07\00:53:28.47
had shown him that he would
die shortly, he shows no fear
00:53:28.50\00:53:33.38
no worry, no foreboding, but
rather his concern is for the
00:53:33.41\00:53:39.78
well-being of those whom he's
leaving behind. That same love
00:53:39.81\00:53:45.05
that Jesus was saying we must
have one for another, that was
00:53:45.09\00:53:49.79
in Peter's heart. He had love
for those that he was sharing
00:53:49.82\00:53:53.80
with and he had love for us
those that would read it because
00:53:53.83\00:53:58.87
that word was forever. He wants
them to be established and he
00:53:58.90\00:54:04.24
admonishes them in faith. Now
again, Peter knew that he was
00:54:04.27\00:54:09.51
gonna die. I'm not going to turn
to that Scripture but let me
00:54:09.54\00:54:12.65
tell you where that Scripture
is It's John 21:18. So read that
00:54:12.68\00:54:17.62
Scripture and what I want
you to see is that we are to be
00:54:17.65\00:54:23.26
who we are, are we not? That
was your topic. Be who you are
00:54:23.32\00:54:27.86
And what Peter did was he
practiced what he preached
00:54:27.86\00:54:32.53
and I think that what we need
to do, this growth that we have
00:54:32.57\00:54:37.07
in us, this word that we
are learning, these virtues that
00:54:37.11\00:54:40.74
are coming to us as we study
God's word, we just need to
00:54:40.78\00:54:45.35
practice what we preach. We
need to be who we are. Now I
00:54:45.38\00:54:48.88
want you to read this. Shelley
you alluded to it, but I want
00:54:48.92\00:54:52.19
you to read this concerning
Peter, that Sister White wrote
00:54:52.22\00:54:55.62
Peter as a Jew and a foreigner
was condemned to be scourged
00:54:55.66\00:55:00.16
and crucified. In prospect of
this fearful death the apostle
00:55:00.23\00:55:04.33
remembered his great sin in
denying Jesus in the hour of his
00:55:04.37\00:55:08.97
trial. Once so unready to
acknowledge the cross, he now
00:55:09.00\00:55:14.14
counted it a joy to yield up
his life for the gospel, feeling
00:55:14.18\00:55:18.68
only that for him who had denied
the Lord, to die in the same
00:55:18.71\00:55:22.75
manner as his master died was
too great an honor. As a last
00:55:22.78\00:55:27.79
favor he entreated his
executioners that he might be
00:55:27.82\00:55:32.06
nailed to the cross with
his head downward. The request
00:55:32.09\00:55:35.63
was granted and in this manner
Christ so died the great apostle
00:55:35.66\00:55:42.40
Peter, that's how he died. He
is such an inspiration. Such a
00:55:42.44\00:55:46.84
great example for us. We
should be who we are. Amen.
00:55:46.91\00:55:52.61
Amen. Praise the Lord. It's
marvelous to read First Peter
00:55:52.65\00:55:56.85
and Second Peter. There are
so many wonderful things there
00:55:56.92\00:55:59.75
and as Peter is instructing
us we see that he has learned
00:55:59.79\00:56:04.66
many things from Jesus Christ
and he continued to follow
00:56:04.69\00:56:07.66
Jesus Christ until the very
end of his life. Molly you were
00:56:07.76\00:56:11.83
talking about Peter as he knew
his death was coming he remained
00:56:11.87\00:56:18.71
faithful. He remained
faithful until the very end.
00:56:18.74\00:56:21.91
Now it's very interesting
that as he was about to die
00:56:21.94\00:56:27.25
he's encouraging other people.
What did Jesus do when He was
00:56:27.28\00:56:32.89
about to die. He said to them
Let not your heart be troubled
00:56:32.92\00:56:36.99
And so as we look at Peter
what inspires you about the
00:56:37.93\00:56:41.40
life of Peter,
would anyone like to say?
00:56:41.43\00:56:43.26
I like the transforming grace
and power of God. You see what
00:56:44.90\00:56:48.87
Peter was and what he became
under the anointing of the
00:56:48.90\00:56:52.64
Holy Spirit. Amen. When I think
of Peter I think of Stephen who
00:56:52.67\00:56:56.75
was stoned saying don't hold
this against them, he had the
00:56:56.78\00:57:01.48
same forgiveness that Christ
had for humanity. When I read
00:57:01.52\00:57:05.49
the epistles of Peter I realize,
Wow God will complete that
00:57:05.52\00:57:10.06
work if we hang on to Him
in faith. It is the journey
00:57:10.09\00:57:13.86
that we all need to be on
and experience what a joy,
00:57:13.93\00:57:18.30
experience the peace and the
victory that Peter experienced.
00:57:18.33\00:57:22.07
Amen. And we see Peter here
that he's instructing us. He's
00:57:22.10\00:57:26.44
letting us know that to
study God's word, to be faithful
00:57:26.47\00:57:31.41
he says go from one step to
another as you come close to
00:57:31.45\00:57:35.25
Christ and as Pr. Tom said that
we behold, this is something
00:57:35.28\00:57:41.39
we must do every day. Behold
the glory of the Lord. Behold
00:57:41.42\00:57:45.29
the character of the Lord
as revealed in His word and we
00:57:45.33\00:57:48.86
all can, as it says, be all that
we can be through Jesus Christ
00:57:48.90\00:57:53.34
and we are blessed to know
that it is by grace that we are
00:57:53.37\00:57:57.37
saved, it is not of
ourselves it is the gift of God.
00:57:57.41\00:57:59.94
I encourage you to give
your heart to Jesus Christ today
00:58:00.04\00:58:02.74
We will see you next
time on Sabbath School Panel
00:58:02.78\00:58:05.05