The Bible tells us...
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is,
The Gospel of Galatians.
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Hello and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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This is our weekly walk
through the Word of God.
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And we are so glad
that you are able to join us
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and to be part of this
excursion through the Bible.
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Let me encourage you,
grab a pen, pencil, paper,
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fire up your
iPad, iPhone, Android,
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whatever you've
got to take notes on,
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because I'm sure
you will hear something
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that will be of interest
and that will send you studying
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into the Word of God.
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Should you want to
join us in this study,
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may I suggest that you go to...
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And you can get and download
a Sabbath School quarterly.
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We call it the quarterly because
it comes out four times a year.
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It covers three
months each quarter.
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And we are in the
third quarter just now.
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Or better yet, find a
local Adventist church.
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They will treat you
well, they will love you,
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and they will give you
a Sabbath School quarterly
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that you can use to join us.
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So we're having a
good time together.
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I am in the company of
the lady Shelley Quinn,
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Pastor John
Dinzey, Jill Morikone, and
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Pastor Tom from the...
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I know you do Marion church.
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You have several
others, do you not?
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- Several others,
yes. - Yeah, yeah.
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He's a busy man.
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And he has deigned to join us.
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Good looking
guy, praise the Lord.
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And good to have
you here with us.
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Great to be here.
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We are in the book of
Galatians, and have been there
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for a little while.
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Today's study focuses
on, Paul's Pastoral Appeal.
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And we get to take a look
again at this passionate book
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as written by Paul.
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And before we launch
out, Shelley would you
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as the Lord's
blessing upon our study today?
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Heavenly Father, we
come in the name of Jesus
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thanking You,
Father, for Your grace,
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thanking You for the
gifts of Jesus Christ,
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Your Holy Spirit, and Your Word.
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And we pray right now You
will send Your Holy Spirit
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to be our Teacher.
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Father, if we have preconceived
notions that are not correct,
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we ask in Jesus'
name that You will for us,
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for each person
that's joining us, Lord,
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just let Your
Spirit be our guide.
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And we ask in the
name of Jesus, Father, that
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we will come to understand
this most important message
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of salvation by faith
in Christ Jesus alone.
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In His holy name we pray, amen.
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Amen, amen, thank you
so very much, Shelley.
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Our memory text is
found in Galatians 4:12.
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It is a short one.
Let's read it together.
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"Friends, I beg
you, become as I am;
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for I also have
become as you are."
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The lesson takes pains to
note, as we have seen so far,
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that Paul did not, and
the lesson uses the term,
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mince words.
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Paul did not bite his tongue.
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There are any number of
adjectives, I guess, we could
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use for the strident
nature of Paul's writing here
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in the book of Galatians.
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As we have said
on previous programs,
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Paul had a very special
burden for this group of people
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because they were
his spiritual babies,
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they were his children.
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And like any parent who
has a love for his children
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and wants to see
them going well and right,
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Paul is writing to
them in no uncertain terms
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about the necessity of
surrendering to the Lord
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and accepting the work
of Christ in their lives
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and not going back into a works
oriented legalistic mindset.
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We're going to talk
about the dangers of legalism
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in a future sitting.
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But the lesson says, and
I agree so very, very much,
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lords and ladies, that what you
believe is very, very important.
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Because what you
believe determines how you act.
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It certainly determines
your relationship with God.
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And so Paul is
very, very solicitous
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of having these people
think right and believe right
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so that they act right,
and that they accept the
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freedom that has been granted
to them and given to them
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through Jesus Christ.
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Paul continues now his teaching.
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He changes, he nuances his
position just a little bit,
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but he again is
saying the same thing.
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He is begging
them, he is urging them,
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he is cajoling them, use
whatever word that you wish,
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to stay in the right path.
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And this is very,
very important to him.
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The bottom of
the lesson says this,
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I'm on the first page of
the Sabbath afternoon section,
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"Unlike the false teachers
who had no true interest
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in the Galatians, Paul
reveals the genuine concern,
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hope, and love of a good
shepherd for his wayward flock.
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He was not just
correcting theology;
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he was seeking to minister
to those whom he loved."
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That, of course, is part
of the pastoral function.
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You want the
theology to be right,
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you want the
mindset to be right.
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But also, you want them
to grow and to be stronger.
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So when you see error coming in,
you really want to cut that off
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because you don't want
your people going astray,
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you don't want
them making mistakes,
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you don't want
them thinking wrong,
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you don't want
them behaving wrong.
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And you don't want an
element to come in that
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will stunt their
growth in the Lord.
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And this is what
Paul is trying to redress
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in no uncertain terms.
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As we look at
Sunday, Paul is begging.
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What is interesting is
that there are three different
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words in the New
Testament that are all, sort of,
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translated, beseech or beg.
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But they have slightly different
nuanced, sort of, meanings.
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I want to run
through them quickly.
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"Beseech," is, parakaleó.
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"Parakaleó," is
almost like a pep talk.
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It's an
encouragement kind of thing.
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It's a, "Shelley, I've got
something to share with you."
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You know, you're correcting
something, but you don't
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put it in a negative term.
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You put it in a positive term.
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So it's like kind of a pep talk.
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"Let me share
something with you."
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You know, "Let
me encourage you,"
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is something that my
math teacher use to say.
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Because I hated math
and didn't do good at it.
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He'd say, they
called me, Clem, back then,
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"Clem, let me
encourage you," you know.
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Ha, ha, ha, ha...
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So this first word
is sort of like that.
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"I've got something I need to
say that's going to correct you,
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but I'm couching it
in encouraging terms."
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It's very, very positive.
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It means, to exhort,
to entreat, to implore.
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But there's this idea of, "Let
me encourage you to do this."
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We find that in Romans 12:1,
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"I beseech you,
therefore, brethren."
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"I encourage you, brethren."
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You know, "I'm not spanking
you, I'm encouraging you,
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to present your
bodies a living sacrifice."
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We also see that
in Hebrews 13:19, 22.
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Then the word that
we run into is, deomai,
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which means, to beg or petition.
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This is a little stronger.
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This is what Paul is doing here.
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This is, "I really
need you to do this."
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Because it's for your own good.
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We're getting a
little serious here.
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This is not smiley stuff.
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"I really need
you, I'm entreating you.
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Because what I'm asking you
to do is for your own good."
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So it's a little
stronger, a little more earnest.
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This can be
something with tears.
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Because there's a burden here
that is not just encouraging,
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not just sort of
a pat of the back.
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No, this is a little bit
stronger, a little bit deeper.
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And then there's a third
word, erotao, depending on
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how you want to pronounce it.
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This is, it can be
translated, interrogation.
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This is where I'm
going to just lay on you
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until you see my point.
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I'm going to
just interrogate you.
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I'm going to stay with
you until you understand
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the burden that I have for you.
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And in some sense, all
of these are kind of...
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Paul's got such a
strong burden for this church.
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He's got such a strong
desire that they do right
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and that they be right.
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Let me give you
some text for, erotao.
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And that's 1 Thessalonians
4:1, and 2 Thessalonians 2:1.
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Now what is interesting
about, deomai; to beg, petition,
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which is the word
that is used here,
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in 2 Corinthians 10:1-2
two different words are used.
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Deomai, used in one;
and in the very next verse,
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parakaleó, is used.
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So Paul here is, can I
say, pulling out all the stops.
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He really wants this fledgling
group, this nascent group
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of baby Christians,
to bite down on the fact
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that Christ has
given you something.
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Don't let go and go back,
but stay in this particular way.
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So he nuances now
his presentation to them.
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He, dare I say,
mixes his metaphors.
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He changes things
just a little bit.
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He moves from a
tough dad to a loving mom.
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You know?
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When you take
homiletics in school,
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they tell you, when
you're preaching and you have a
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point that you
want to impress upon
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your congregation, you
try to attack it from several
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different directions, you know.
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You say it, and then you
re-say it in a different way.
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Because half the people will
get it the first time you say it
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and maybe half will get it
the second time you say it.
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So hopefully you will
cover your whole audience.
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And most preachers know
that. They understand that.
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Say it again a different way
so that the other group gets it.
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Well this is what Paul
appears to be doing here.
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He was a tough dad
before, now he's the loving mom.
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He talks about working
with you and laboring with you.
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"I don't want my labor
with you to be in vain."
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Having first described
the Galatians as being formed
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in the womb, Paul now
speaks of the Galatians
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as if they were
expectant mothers themselves.
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So he changes up his
presentation just a little bit.
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Because he's trying to, as
it were, pull out all the stops
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to get them to
understand his burden.
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And he carries such a strong
burden for this fledgling group.
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"Through this
metaphor," the lesson tells me,
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"Paul describes what it
means to be a Christian,
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but individually and
collectively as a church.
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To be a follower of
Christ is more than just a
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profession of faith; it involves
a radical transformation
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into the likeness of Christ.
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Paul was 'not looking
for a few minor alterations
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in the Galatian church...'"
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He's looking for a
radical shift in their thinking
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and in their activity.
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Something that I saw in
last weeks lesson that I didn't
00:11:21.51\00:11:24.01
get a chance to mention, but
I thought was very interesting.
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It talks about child-like faith
is an ensign, or an emblem,
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or a sign of spiritual maturity.
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Interestingly enough.
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And spiritual maturity reveals
itself in child-like faith.
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There is this juxtaposition
of child-like faith
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and spiritual growth, spiritual
growth and child-like faith.
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- George Muller comes
to mind. - Yes, indeed.
00:11:47.57\00:11:50.64
Yeah, and this is what Paul is
trying to move this church into.
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That you're going
to have to trust...
00:11:55.91\00:11:57.45
Remember, this is
a nascent community.
00:11:57.48\00:12:00.72
This is a church
with heavy Jewish roots,
00:12:00.78\00:12:03.45
with a Gentile influx,
but this particular church
00:12:03.49\00:12:09.26
is coming from a
pagan background.
00:12:09.29\00:12:11.09
So you've got these Judaizers
coming in really trying to
00:12:11.16\00:12:15.00
dump a lot of stuff on them
that they are not spiritually
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prepared for and mentally
they're not prepared for.
00:12:18.83\00:12:21.24
It's just alien to them.
00:12:21.27\00:12:22.60
And they're trying to
be pushed back into this.
00:12:22.64\00:12:24.91
And Paul is trying to say, "Stay
in this way that you're going.
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This is the way."
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And you see this burden
throughout the New Testament.
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The book of Hebrews
says the same thing,
00:12:32.71\00:12:34.32
"Christ is the real deal.
00:12:34.35\00:12:35.85
Christ is what you want.
00:12:35.88\00:12:37.42
Christ is what you need.
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Stay in this way."
00:12:38.99\00:12:40.32
And this is the same
burden that we have here
00:12:40.36\00:12:42.12
in the book of Galatians.
00:12:42.16\00:12:43.49
This is his baby.
00:12:44.23\00:12:45.99
He wants his baby to
live, to grow, and to thrive.
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And he knows that Jesus
is the answer to what they,
00:12:49.30\00:12:52.50
to the things that they need.
00:12:53.27\00:12:54.80
And now he is trying
to tell them, "I beg you,
00:12:54.84\00:12:57.87
I beseech you,
please don't go back.
00:12:57.91\00:13:01.01
Keep going forward.
00:13:01.14\00:13:02.61
Because Jesus
Christ is that way."
00:13:02.64\00:13:04.35
Amen, amen.
00:13:04.38\00:13:05.71
You know, the lesson for Monday
is, The Challenge to Become.
00:13:05.75\00:13:11.69
And there is
the juxtaposition...
00:13:11.95\00:13:14.46
We're going to look at
some of Paul's other writings,
00:13:14.49\00:13:18.83
other epistles.
00:13:18.93\00:13:20.80
But there is, we're
looking at the juxtaposition
00:13:21.06\00:13:24.03
of becoming or imitating.
00:13:24.07\00:13:28.04
And it's interesting to
me, the problem at the church
00:13:28.10\00:13:33.04
of Galatia, it wasn't
like the problem at Corinth
00:13:33.07\00:13:36.31
where it was about
sinful behavior, and this.
00:13:36.48\00:13:39.85
The problem was that
suddenly their emphasis
00:13:40.05\00:13:44.29
had been changed from
salvation in Christ alone
00:13:44.35\00:13:50.26
to where they were beginning
to focus on behavior again
00:13:50.63\00:13:57.13
because of these
Judaizers coming in.
00:13:57.17\00:13:59.27
And you know, I think
we all have the challenge
00:13:59.50\00:14:04.07
before us to become rather than
to worry about our behavior.
00:14:04.37\00:14:09.21
So Galatians 4:12,
I have the "A" part,
00:14:09.28\00:14:13.52
the first part of the scripture.
00:14:13.55\00:14:14.88
Brother Johnny
has the second part.
00:14:14.92\00:14:16.65
But he's
simply, he says to them,
00:14:17.19\00:14:20.49
"Brethren, I urge
you to become like me..."
00:14:20.59\00:14:26.29
Well now, let's look at
some other places where we can
00:14:26.49\00:14:30.37
see that what he was
urging was a little different.
00:14:30.40\00:14:32.73
Let's look at 1 Corinthians 11.
00:14:32.77\00:14:41.21
And Jill, if you've got
that, would you read verse 1?
00:14:42.04\00:14:47.05
1 Corinthians 11:1
00:14:47.08\00:14:50.15
"Imitate me, just as
I also imitate Christ."
00:14:50.19\00:14:54.39
So here it's not,
"Become like me;" it's imitate.
00:14:54.42\00:14:59.89
He is talking
about behavior really.
00:14:59.93\00:15:02.16
He's saying, you know...
00:15:02.26\00:15:03.67
Because the
Corinthians have a lot of
00:15:03.70\00:15:05.60
ungodly behavior going on.
00:15:05.63\00:15:07.54
- Their problem was
behavior. - It was ethical.
00:15:07.60\00:15:09.70
There was
unethical things going on.
00:15:09.74\00:15:12.87
So he writes to them
and he says, "Hey, Christ is
00:15:13.01\00:15:16.41
the ultimate example.
00:15:16.44\00:15:17.98
I'm imitating Christ.
00:15:18.08\00:15:19.91
Now I'm asking
that you imitate me."
00:15:19.95\00:15:23.28
And it's interesting,
because here he's summing up
00:15:23.32\00:15:25.62
the section that he's just
talked on of religious liberty.
00:15:25.65\00:15:29.29
And what he does is, he
is setting forth this example
00:15:29.49\00:15:33.56
of Christ's
sacrifice and His divine love,
00:15:33.60\00:15:37.60
saying that, "All of you
should be behaving like this.
00:15:37.67\00:15:41.24
Behave like me in so far as
I behave like Jesus Christ."
00:15:41.27\00:15:45.21
So there's something that...
00:15:45.57\00:15:48.94
Once again I
just want to say this.
00:15:49.34\00:15:50.98
You know, the devil doesn't
care which side of the boat
00:15:51.35\00:15:56.35
we fall out of.
00:15:56.38\00:15:57.72
We can fall out of
the boat into legalism,
00:15:57.79\00:16:01.32
as was happening here, or
we can fall out of the boat
00:16:01.36\00:16:05.56
into license,
thinking that by grace we don't
00:16:05.86\00:16:09.16
have to worry about obedience,
00:16:09.20\00:16:10.53
we don't have to
worry about anything.
00:16:10.57\00:16:12.03
That's not true.
Christ is our example.
00:16:12.07\00:16:14.24
Paul did everything he
could to behave as Christ.
00:16:14.44\00:16:17.34
And he is telling these
Corinthians, "Hey, watch me.
00:16:17.54\00:16:22.28
Because I'm imitating Christ.
00:16:22.34\00:16:23.71
You do what I do."
00:16:23.75\00:16:25.08
So now let's look
at Philippians 3:7.
00:16:25.35\00:16:31.49
And Johnny, I'll let you read
that one please, if you want to.
00:16:32.05\00:16:35.86
Go to Philippians 3:7.
00:16:35.92\00:16:42.03
Because when he is
writing to the Philippians,
00:16:42.73\00:16:45.57
it's still this
idea of imitating.
00:16:46.23\00:16:50.51
Philippians 3:7, "But
what things were gain to me..."
00:16:51.07\00:16:54.44
I'm sorry, 3:17.
00:16:54.48\00:16:55.81
- 3:17, okay. Let me
see. - I'm sorry, my bad.
00:16:55.88\00:16:58.41
- It makes a
difference. - It does.
00:16:58.88\00:17:01.28
"Brethren, be followers
together of me, and mark them
00:17:01.35\00:17:04.82
which walk so as ye
have us for an ensample."
00:17:04.89\00:17:08.46
So my version, the
New King James, says
00:17:08.56\00:17:13.09
"Join in following my example."
00:17:13.26\00:17:16.87
He says, "Note the way we walk.
00:17:17.50\00:17:20.90
You've got us for a pattern."
00:17:20.94\00:17:22.54
So once again, he's
addressing behavior.
00:17:22.57\00:17:25.27
Because he's saying, "Hey,
Jesus Christ is my first love.
00:17:25.31\00:17:29.68
I'm going out proclaiming this."
00:17:29.71\00:17:31.85
But now he's saying,
"Keep on imitating my behavior."
00:17:31.95\00:17:36.45
Now let's look at
2 Thessalonians 3.
00:17:36.62\00:17:43.59
C.A., you want to read this one?
00:17:43.89\00:17:45.53
2 Thessalonians 3, we'll
look at verses 7 through 9.
00:17:45.56\00:17:50.13
While you're finding
that let me just say,
00:17:50.17\00:17:52.13
in Thessalonica there were
some very misguided Christians,
00:17:52.23\00:17:55.77
just a few Christians,
who suddenly were teaching
00:17:55.80\00:17:58.74
"Jesus is coming any day."
00:17:58.77\00:18:01.54
And they quit working.
00:18:01.84\00:18:04.01
They quit their jobs.
00:18:04.18\00:18:05.85
They were just
waiting on the Lord.
00:18:05.88\00:18:07.65
So here's what Paul is
telling the Thessalonians.
00:18:07.68\00:18:11.19
2 Thessalonians 3:7
00:18:11.55\00:18:13.29
"For you yourselves know
how you ought to follow us,
00:18:13.32\00:18:18.09
for we were not
disorderly among you;
00:18:18.39\00:18:21.76
nor did we eat
anyone's bread free of charge,
00:18:21.86\00:18:26.30
but worked with labor
and toil night and day,
00:18:26.33\00:18:29.77
that we might not be
a burden to any of you,"
00:18:29.80\00:18:32.84
verse 9, "not because
we do not have authority,
00:18:32.87\00:18:37.48
but to make ourselves an example
of how you should follow us."
00:18:37.68\00:18:42.58
So once again, it's
following. "Follow us."
00:18:42.65\00:18:45.55
And you know, Paul had
the right to have the church
00:18:45.62\00:18:50.46
support his
evangelism and his teaching.
00:18:50.49\00:18:53.33
I mean, the Bible teaches this.
00:18:53.50\00:18:55.00
That's strictly biblical.
00:18:55.03\00:18:57.40
But when he went in
there and he found these people
00:18:57.50\00:18:59.90
who weren't
working and the church was
00:19:00.17\00:19:02.17
having to support them...
00:19:02.20\00:19:03.61
And my mother always
said, "Idle hands are the
00:19:03.71\00:19:06.88
devil's workshop."
00:19:07.18\00:19:08.51
So suddenly these
people were becoming meddlers.
00:19:08.54\00:19:12.48
They were meddling into
other people's business.
00:19:12.51\00:19:14.85
So Paul goes in and
he sets them an example
00:19:14.88\00:19:17.19
that is basically, "If
you want to eat, work."
00:19:17.22\00:19:20.52
But he's saying, "Follow me."
00:19:21.12\00:19:23.32
So now let's look at Acts 26.
00:19:23.59\00:19:27.23
Because here these three
that we've just looked at;
00:19:28.00\00:19:30.97
to the church at Corinth,
to the church at Philippi,
00:19:31.00\00:19:33.80
and to the
church at Thessalonica,
00:19:34.00\00:19:36.50
he's saying, "Imitate
me. Keep on imitating me.
00:19:36.64\00:19:40.04
Follow my example,
follow my pattern."
00:19:40.08\00:19:42.84
But now in Acts 26,
we'll look at verse 28.
00:19:43.28\00:19:48.02
What is happening here,
Paul is sharing his testimony.
00:19:48.05\00:19:51.39
I have stood in the
place where he stood in Israel
00:19:51.42\00:19:57.23
where he is sharing his
testimony before Festus.
00:19:57.26\00:20:01.56
Now Festus, he was not a Jew.
00:20:01.60\00:20:07.17
He wasn't
accustomed to Jewish thinking,
00:20:07.20\00:20:09.97
he wasn't accustomed to
the Old Testament Scriptures.
00:20:10.01\00:20:13.91
So Festus obviously believed
that, "Hey Paul, you're a
00:20:14.14\00:20:17.95
pretty intelligent man."
00:20:18.01\00:20:20.32
But then Festus is
saying, "All of your studying,
00:20:20.42\00:20:23.82
all of your knowledge,
has driven you insane."
00:20:23.85\00:20:26.89
And so Paul is
arguing, "I'm not insane."
00:20:27.09\00:20:29.79
You know? So he
appeals to Agrippa.
00:20:30.73\00:20:33.80
Because Agrippa was an
expert in Jewish affairs.
00:20:33.90\00:20:39.00
So when Agrippa comes in,
Paul is going to remind him,
00:20:39.03\00:20:44.57
he says, "I know you
believe in the prophets."
00:20:44.64\00:20:46.98
And he's reminding him of
the death and the resurrection
00:20:47.01\00:20:49.81
of Jesus Christ.
00:20:49.84\00:20:51.18
And I think Agrippa,
his reaction tells us
00:20:51.38\00:20:54.75
maybe he was
embarrassed in front of Festus.
00:20:54.78\00:20:57.09
So let's look at Acts 26:28-29.
00:20:57.12\00:21:00.86
"Then Agrippa said to Paul,"
00:21:01.29\00:21:03.46
as Paul is giving him
this impassioned appeal,
00:21:03.49\00:21:06.03
he says to Paul,
"You almost persuade me
00:21:07.50\00:21:11.30
to become a Christian."
00:21:11.33\00:21:12.67
And Paul says to him, and
I can just hear the passion
00:21:13.57\00:21:18.04
in his voice, "I would
to God that not only you,
00:21:18.07\00:21:23.71
but also all who hear
me today, might become..."
00:21:23.81\00:21:29.45
See the word? Become.
00:21:30.19\00:21:32.25
"...both almost and
altogether such as I am,
00:21:32.85\00:21:37.06
except for these chains."
00:21:37.09\00:21:39.26
If Paul could speak
to you personally today,
00:21:39.39\00:21:41.90
and I am speaking
to you personally,
00:21:41.93\00:21:43.73
Paul is saying, "I
would to God that you would
00:21:44.20\00:21:47.94
become just as I am."
00:21:47.97\00:21:50.47
Saved by grace, justified
by faith in Christ Jesus alone.
00:21:50.64\00:21:56.48
Become a Christian, follow God.
00:21:56.54\00:21:59.51
And he just
didn't want, you know...
00:21:59.61\00:22:01.88
Because Paul was standing
there as a prisoner in chains.
00:22:01.92\00:22:04.95
So here is the word, "become."
00:22:05.22\00:22:08.49
This is about your identity.
00:22:09.06\00:22:11.46
So now back to Galatians 4:12.
00:22:11.76\00:22:14.56
Let's just read that again.
00:22:16.30\00:22:18.20
Paul is saying, "Brethren, I
urge you to become like me..."
00:22:20.57\00:22:27.74
This is an urgent appeal.
00:22:27.78\00:22:29.78
In the Greek it's,
keep on becoming as I am.
00:22:29.88\00:22:34.32
Paul laid aside his pedigrees,
he laid aside all of his
00:22:34.52\00:22:38.59
privileges, and all
the prejudices of Judaism
00:22:38.62\00:22:43.63
to become like Christ.
00:22:44.16\00:22:45.89
And now he's telling
them, become like me.
00:22:45.93\00:22:48.46
He learned that through
his personal obedience...
00:22:48.70\00:22:51.83
I mean, he gave up on
personal righteousness.
00:22:51.87\00:22:54.84
He's depending on
Jesus Christ alone now.
00:22:54.90\00:22:57.64
And so Paul here is
not talking about being...
00:22:57.67\00:23:02.28
Or he is talking
about being, not acting.
00:23:02.91\00:23:06.95
He's talking about
being, not behavior.
00:23:07.02\00:23:09.78
So when Paul, his concern
was, suddenly these people
00:23:09.98\00:23:15.36
had lost their
liberty in Christ.
00:23:15.39\00:23:17.79
They were going to a
law-centered religion.
00:23:17.83\00:23:21.76
And I just have...
Oh I don't have time.
00:23:21.80\00:23:23.80
Paul was the
Pharisee of Pharisees,
00:23:24.00\00:23:26.77
but he says, he talks
about all that he had,
00:23:26.87\00:23:30.34
and he says, "I count
all things but as lost
00:23:30.37\00:23:35.04
for the sake of Christ Jesus."
00:23:35.08\00:23:36.68
So in Paul's ledger,
Christ's righteousness
00:23:36.71\00:23:42.18
was the only thing
in the positive column
00:23:42.22\00:23:45.82
of Paul's ledger.
00:23:46.09\00:23:48.52
Amen, well done.
00:23:48.56\00:23:49.89
Before we go to Johnny,
just two things occur to me
00:23:49.96\00:23:52.36
that I want to just touch on.
00:23:52.59\00:23:54.03
I am so glad that the lesson,
and you brought this out,
00:23:54.23\00:23:56.63
put 1 Corinthians 11:1 first,
because there are many who say,
00:23:56.83\00:24:02.24
"Be like me, be
like me, be like me."
00:24:02.27\00:24:04.71
Because they want
people to be like them.
00:24:05.17\00:24:06.84
But Paul says, "Be like
me as I am like Christ."
00:24:07.01\00:24:10.38
And that's very, very important.
00:24:10.75\00:24:12.21
And then he says, "Become,
become, become, become."
00:24:12.25\00:24:14.98
I am so glad
that John 1:12 says,
00:24:15.48\00:24:18.09
"To those who are in Christ,
you have the power to become."
00:24:18.25\00:24:21.06
So there is power to be
what Paul is asking you to be.
00:24:21.09\00:24:24.89
And that power comes
through Jesus Christ.
00:24:24.93\00:24:26.63
We have the right,
we have the authority,
00:24:26.66\00:24:28.23
to become what Paul has
asked us indeed to become.
00:24:28.43\00:24:31.80
Johnny.
00:24:31.83\00:24:33.20
I think I can sum up my
part by saying, I concur.
00:24:33.23\00:24:36.37
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha...
00:24:36.40\00:24:37.74
Very good. Praise the Lord.
00:24:39.77\00:24:41.21
And so Tuesday says, "I
Have Become as You Are,"
00:24:41.64\00:24:44.88
which is a continuation of
what Shelley was bringing out.
00:24:44.91\00:24:48.15
And once again, we
go to Galatians 4:12.
00:24:48.65\00:24:52.12
Reading that again.
00:24:52.35\00:24:53.72
"Brethren, I
beseech you, be as I am;
00:24:54.09\00:24:56.32
for I am as ye are: ye
have not injured me at all."
00:24:56.39\00:24:59.49
So it may be confusing to
some people at first glance,
00:24:59.79\00:25:03.00
because, you know, you
say, "Well why do you want us
00:25:03.06\00:25:05.80
become as you are
if you are as we are?"
00:25:05.83\00:25:07.80
And this is, what
helps us to understand this,
00:25:08.27\00:25:10.74
and reiterating, is that Paul is
working to convert the Gentiles.
00:25:10.77\00:25:20.62
So Paul, being a Jew, was
living as a Gentile in the sense
00:25:20.88\00:25:25.62
that he was not doing
all the circumcision things.
00:25:25.85\00:25:29.39
Well he was circumcised
the eighth day, as he says.
00:25:29.42\00:25:32.36
So he is saying,
"I identify with you."
00:25:33.23\00:25:36.30
And so what helps us to go
into Paul's thinking in this
00:25:36.87\00:25:41.37
is to go to 1 Corinthians
9, the lesson brings out,
00:25:41.67\00:25:45.31
1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
00:25:45.34\00:25:48.61
And I'd like to ask Pastor Tom
if you would help us read those.
00:25:48.91\00:25:52.65
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
00:25:52.68\00:25:57.02
When you're
ready, you may begin.
00:25:57.09\00:25:59.19
"For though I am free from
all men, I have made myself
00:25:59.29\00:26:03.36
a servant to all,
that I might win the more;
00:26:03.43\00:26:06.29
and to the Jews I became as
a Jew, that I might win Jews;
00:26:06.86\00:26:09.80
to those who are under
the law, as under the law,
00:26:09.86\00:26:11.97
that I might win
those who are under the law;
00:26:12.17\00:26:14.20
and to those who are
without law, as without law,
00:26:14.54\00:26:18.64
(not being
without law toward God,
00:26:18.71\00:26:20.38
but under law toward Christ),
00:26:20.41\00:26:22.21
that I might win those
who are without law..."
00:26:22.48\00:26:25.28
- Through 23? - Yes.
00:26:25.35\00:26:27.22
"...to the weak I became as
weak, that I might win the weak.
00:26:27.25\00:26:30.62
I have become all
things to all men,
00:26:30.69\00:26:32.82
that I might by
all means save some.
00:26:32.85\00:26:35.26
"Now..."
00:26:35.76\00:26:37.09
- Yes. - Oh.
00:26:37.23\00:26:38.56
- Thank you very much. - Okay.
00:26:38.63\00:26:39.96
So we have here that
Paul, Paul is not saying that
00:26:40.40\00:26:43.73
he was putting on an act.
00:26:44.13\00:26:45.47
He was saying that he
tried to identify with people's
00:26:45.53\00:26:48.30
situation in
order to reach them.
00:26:48.80\00:26:52.47
He was not putting
on a costume, let's say.
00:26:53.51\00:26:56.18
He really wanted
to help the people.
00:26:56.41\00:26:58.71
And as I was thinking about
this, it helped me to see that
00:26:58.75\00:27:03.55
Christ did something similar.
00:27:03.62\00:27:05.62
We have His critics saying,
"He's over there eating with
00:27:06.76\00:27:10.83
the publicans and the sinners."
00:27:10.86\00:27:12.63
And, "He's talking
to a harlot," you know.
00:27:12.83\00:27:15.36
They criticized Him for this.
00:27:15.40\00:27:16.93
But Jesus tried to
reach people where they were,
00:27:17.30\00:27:21.80
but not to leave
them as they were.
00:27:21.84\00:27:23.94
He tried to lead
them to a better life;
00:27:24.47\00:27:27.41
the life in Christ.
00:27:27.61\00:27:29.08
So I see here that Paul is
doing what Jesus did in a sense.
00:27:29.14\00:27:36.58
The lesson brings
out something interesting
00:27:37.32\00:27:39.25
concerning Paul.
00:27:39.29\00:27:40.62
And that is that he did
something that today has
00:27:40.66\00:27:43.39
become known as
contextualization.
00:27:43.46\00:27:45.89
Pastor C.A...
00:27:45.93\00:27:47.30
It sounds like a
C.A. word, doesn't it?
00:27:48.13\00:27:49.46
It does, doesn't it?
00:27:49.53\00:27:50.87
Ha, ha, ha, ha...
00:27:50.90\00:27:52.23
In other words, you try
to bring the gospel to people
00:27:52.27\00:27:59.57
in a way that will be
easier for them to understand,
00:27:59.61\00:28:02.48
and they can say,
"I understand that."
00:28:02.51\00:28:05.91
And you see Jesus, as
He's talking, He uses things
00:28:06.01\00:28:09.42
to help people
understand the great lessons
00:28:09.45\00:28:12.75
He was trying to teach.
00:28:12.79\00:28:14.12
You may remember the
parable of the sower.
00:28:14.29\00:28:16.22
The sower went out to sow.
00:28:16.66\00:28:18.03
And some seeds
fell by the wayside.
00:28:18.06\00:28:20.10
And there they were,
the people that worked
00:28:20.43\00:28:22.13
with that type of setting,
planting seeds, they say,
00:28:22.16\00:28:25.83
"Oh man, I
understand what He's saying."
00:28:26.10\00:28:28.17
So Paul used contextualization
to reach people.
00:28:28.47\00:28:32.74
And so when he says, "I
have become as you are,"
00:28:32.84\00:28:36.81
one of the individuals
that wrote about this,
00:28:37.51\00:28:40.32
a man named Timothy George,
00:28:40.38\00:28:41.75
and the lesson brings
his name out, he says,
00:28:41.78\00:28:43.55
"Paul was a pioneer in what
we call today contextualization,
00:28:43.59\00:28:47.56
the need to communicate
the gospel in such a way
00:28:47.62\00:28:50.53
that it speaks to the
total context of the people
00:28:50.73\00:28:53.40
to whom it is addressed."
00:28:53.46\00:28:54.76
And so you don't
change the gospel.
00:28:54.96\00:28:57.27
The gospel remains the same,
the message remains the same.
00:28:57.37\00:29:00.34
But you help the
people understand it
00:29:00.80\00:29:03.74
in a language
that they understand.
00:29:04.21\00:29:07.34
So when you go to some
remote area where they...
00:29:07.38\00:29:13.01
- Vietnam. - Vietnam, let's say.
00:29:14.28\00:29:16.42
...you have to see what they
do in order to reach them...
00:29:16.45\00:29:20.72
...better, to help
them understand it.
00:29:22.52\00:29:24.39
And one of the things that
helps me to understand it also
00:29:24.43\00:29:30.67
is something I read years ago.
00:29:30.70\00:29:32.07
I don't even remember
who quoted it or for what.
00:29:32.10\00:29:34.14
But it says Isaiah 1:18.
00:29:34.17\00:29:36.37
What does it say?
00:29:36.64\00:29:37.97
It says, "Come now,
let us reason together.
00:29:38.37\00:29:41.11
Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow."
00:29:41.18\00:29:45.88
So when they were
translating that scripture
00:29:46.11\00:29:49.65
for a people that lived in an
area that had never seen snow,
00:29:49.72\00:29:53.66
if you say, "Though your sins...
they will be as white as snow."
00:29:54.36\00:29:57.06
"Snow? What is snow?"
00:29:57.13\00:29:59.03
So in order to help them
understand, the missionary,
00:29:59.43\00:30:02.30
let's say, he said,
"Though your sins be as scarlet,
00:30:02.36\00:30:04.53
they shall be as white
as the skin of a coconut."
00:30:04.57\00:30:07.67
"Ohhh."
00:30:07.70\00:30:09.24
They understood it because
when you open the coconut,
00:30:09.44\00:30:11.81
inside it's all white.
00:30:11.97\00:30:13.71
There's not even a stain there.
00:30:13.74\00:30:15.34
It's all white.
00:30:15.38\00:30:16.78
And they could understand that.
00:30:16.98\00:30:18.65
So this is really
what Paul was trying to say
00:30:18.71\00:30:21.05
and what Paul was trying to do.
00:30:21.08\00:30:22.92
So here we see that
Paul used things to help them
00:30:23.18\00:30:28.19
understand the gospel.
00:30:28.22\00:30:29.56
Really Tuesday's lesson
is to me, I say, well this is
00:30:29.59\00:30:35.03
kind of a short study.
00:30:35.06\00:30:36.77
But let's go to Galatians 2.
00:30:37.13\00:30:40.40
In Galatians 2 is another
scripture that is brought out
00:30:40.70\00:30:44.71
for this part.
00:30:44.74\00:30:46.07
And sister Jill, if you have
it could you read it for us?
00:30:46.54\00:30:49.11
Galatians 2, what verse?
00:30:49.14\00:30:50.61
11 through 14.
00:30:50.65\00:30:51.98
"Now when Peter
had come to Antioch,
00:30:52.38\00:30:54.78
I withstood him to his face,
because he was to be blamed;
00:30:54.82\00:30:59.25
for before certain
men came from James,
00:30:59.32\00:31:02.29
he would eat with the
Gentiles; but when they came,
00:31:02.36\00:31:05.16
he withdrew and
separated himself,
00:31:05.19\00:31:07.86
fearing those who
were of the circumcision.
00:31:07.96\00:31:10.73
And the rest of the Jews also
played the hypocrite with him,
00:31:10.83\00:31:14.30
so that even
Barnabas was carried away
00:31:14.40\00:31:16.67
with their hypocrisy."
00:31:16.71\00:31:18.34
Keep going?
00:31:19.34\00:31:20.68
Verse 14, to verse 14.
00:31:20.74\00:31:22.11
"But when I saw that
they were not straightforward
00:31:22.14\00:31:23.81
about the truth of the gospel,
I said to Peter before them all,
00:31:23.85\00:31:26.82
'If you, being a Jew,
live in the manner of Gentiles
00:31:26.98\00:31:30.09
and not as the Jews,
why do you compel Gentiles
00:31:30.12\00:31:33.46
to live as Jews?'"
00:31:33.49\00:31:35.02
Thank you very much.
00:31:35.06\00:31:36.39
And so we see here that
Paul was being as they were,
00:31:36.42\00:31:42.23
but also he was saying he walked
in the truth of the gospel.
00:31:42.60\00:31:46.07
Because he says to
Peter, "Why are you not walking
00:31:46.10\00:31:49.04
according to the
truth of the gospel?"
00:31:49.07\00:31:51.04
So when you bring the
gospel to other people,
00:31:51.11\00:31:53.51
you don't change the gospel,
you don't water down the gospel.
00:31:53.58\00:31:56.18
You present the
gospel in a language and in a
00:31:56.21\00:32:00.78
contextualization that is
easy for them to understand.
00:32:00.82\00:32:04.59
So to me, it is a
powerful, powerful method,
00:32:04.62\00:32:09.02
if you want to call it a method,
but this is the way we can
00:32:09.09\00:32:12.36
reach certain
people where they are.
00:32:12.39\00:32:14.73
You don't change the gospel,
you don't lower the gospel.
00:32:14.76\00:32:19.10
The gospel remains
true, remains powerful,
00:32:19.17\00:32:21.97
but people understand it better.
00:32:22.07\00:32:23.74
Amen. Well done, brother Johnny.
00:32:23.81\00:32:26.01
On Wednesday we
look at, Then and Now.
00:32:26.24\00:32:30.31
Let's turn back to Galatians
4, the next verse right after
00:32:30.35\00:32:33.48
what you read there, and
what Shelley had as well.
00:32:33.52\00:32:36.35
When Paul first went to Galatia,
he was not feeling the best.
00:32:36.55\00:32:41.52
He had some health challenges.
00:32:42.46\00:32:43.93
Physical infirmity, is
the way he refers to it.
00:32:43.96\00:32:46.63
So let's look at Galatians 4:13.
00:32:46.66\00:32:50.20
"You know that
because of physical infirmity
00:32:50.80\00:32:54.17
I preached the
gospel to you at the first."
00:32:54.20\00:32:57.77
In the NIV it says, "It
was because of an illness
00:32:57.84\00:33:01.11
that I first
preached the gospel to you."
00:33:01.31\00:33:04.28
New Living Translation says,
"Surely you remember that I was
00:33:04.31\00:33:08.02
sick when I first
brought you the good news."
00:33:08.05\00:33:11.49
It talks about this infirmity
of the flesh that he had.
00:33:11.52\00:33:15.46
Now I know that there's
some discussion, we could say,
00:33:15.49\00:33:18.43
regarding what was
Paul's infirmity of the flesh.
00:33:18.46\00:33:21.26
And growing up, I was
always taught that probably
00:33:21.30\00:33:25.33
it was something to do
with a condition with his eyes.
00:33:25.43\00:33:28.00
On the road to Damascus,
remember when Jesus appeared
00:33:29.50\00:33:33.61
to him, and then after
that time he had like scales,
00:33:33.64\00:33:36.81
he was blind, and then
the scales came off his eyes
00:33:36.85\00:33:39.31
when Ananias prayed for him.
00:33:39.35\00:33:40.88
And I don't know if
something from that point on
00:33:40.95\00:33:43.45
he struggled or not.
00:33:43.49\00:33:44.95
The lesson brought out
a brand new concept to me
00:33:45.55\00:33:48.52
that possibly he could
have contracted malaria.
00:33:48.56\00:33:51.83
Now we know Galatia was
a little higher elevation.
00:33:52.29\00:33:56.63
And I guess if you have malaria,
the higher elevations would
00:33:56.67\00:33:59.30
maybe help you to feel better.
00:33:59.33\00:34:00.87
So whatever the issue
was, we know that he had
00:34:01.10\00:34:04.37
an infirmity of the flesh.
00:34:04.41\00:34:06.17
And at the same time the
Galatians treated him well.
00:34:06.68\00:34:12.31
It says in verse 14, "And
my trial which was in my flesh
00:34:13.01\00:34:17.32
you did not despise or
reject, but you received me
00:34:17.52\00:34:22.42
as an angel of God,
even as Christ Jesus."
00:34:22.46\00:34:26.59
Now to you and
to me, we would say,
00:34:26.63\00:34:28.73
"Well why would they
despise him if he had an issue?"
00:34:28.76\00:34:31.57
But the Jewish people believed,
and I think even sometimes today
00:34:31.63\00:34:35.24
maybe we still
carry this belief forward,
00:34:35.27\00:34:38.21
that a physical issue is a
sign of divine displeasure.
00:34:38.94\00:34:44.51
You think about John 9.
00:34:45.05\00:34:47.98
Remember, the man
who was born blind.
00:34:48.08\00:34:50.39
And Jesus, His
disciples came to Him and said,
00:34:50.42\00:34:54.62
"Did this man sin
or was it his parents?
00:34:54.66\00:34:58.43
Why is he
suffering with blindness?
00:34:58.76\00:35:01.80
He must have
done something wrong."
00:35:01.83\00:35:04.10
And I know that we think
that's in the Jewish mentality,
00:35:05.17\00:35:08.50
but people say that today.
00:35:08.54\00:35:09.87
I have a friend with MS.
00:35:09.90\00:35:11.77
And people many times
have come to her and say,
00:35:12.24\00:35:16.01
"If you had more faith,
00:35:16.11\00:35:17.91
this affliction
would not rest upon you."
00:35:18.31\00:35:21.12
"If you dealt with
this in a better fashion,
00:35:21.22\00:35:24.02
you would not be
dealing with this."
00:35:24.05\00:35:27.39
So not only did the Jews
believe that, but sometimes
00:35:27.42\00:35:30.56
we put that on
people here as if it were a
00:35:30.59\00:35:32.79
sign of divine displeasure.
00:35:32.86\00:35:34.36
But Jesus said,
the man didn't sin
00:35:34.56\00:35:37.20
and neither was it his parents.
00:35:37.23\00:35:39.10
It was that God
could be glorified,
00:35:39.17\00:35:43.71
that Jesus could
be glorified in this.
00:35:43.74\00:35:46.11
They call that the Deuteronomic,
00:35:46.74\00:35:48.98
am I saying
that right, teaching.
00:35:49.01\00:35:50.95
There is
biblical basis for that.
00:35:51.81\00:35:54.62
You know, the law
of blessing and cursing
00:35:54.65\00:35:56.85
from Deuteronomy 27 and 28,
that obedience brings blessings
00:35:56.89\00:36:01.12
and that
disobedience brings curses.
00:36:01.22\00:36:03.99
Galatians 6:9
talks about it as well.
00:36:04.03\00:36:06.09
What you seap...
00:36:06.16\00:36:07.50
What you sow,
you shall also reap.
00:36:07.50\00:36:11.00
That's a
combination of sow and reap.
00:36:11.07\00:36:12.87
What you sow,
you shall also reap.
00:36:12.90\00:36:15.24
However, at the same time,
it does not necessarily mean...
00:36:15.40\00:36:21.88
We know that there is
the law of consequences
00:36:22.11\00:36:24.38
and there is the law
of sowing and reaping.
00:36:24.45\00:36:26.05
But at the same time that is
not necessarily always the case.
00:36:26.08\00:36:30.49
As we see in the
example of John 9,
00:36:30.52\00:36:34.49
the man who was born blind.
00:36:34.56\00:36:35.89
Or Job, the example of Job.
00:36:35.96\00:36:38.46
It was for a lesson
before the universe.
00:36:38.53\00:36:40.96
So what does Paul do
with this affliction?
00:36:41.00\00:36:43.47
Let's read one more verse,
00:36:43.50\00:36:44.83
and then I want to
go to another scripture.
00:36:44.90\00:36:46.23
Verse 15, he says, "What then
was the blessing you enjoyed?
00:36:46.94\00:36:50.51
For I bear you witness that,
if possible, you would have
00:36:50.61\00:36:54.08
plucked out your own
eyes and given them to me."
00:36:54.11\00:36:58.48
They would have...
00:36:58.81\00:37:00.22
Now some people say that
this was a figure of speech,
00:37:00.25\00:37:03.22
it's a well-known
figure of speech at that time.
00:37:03.65\00:37:06.39
Just saying that they had
sacrificial love toward him.
00:37:06.42\00:37:10.19
Or it could indicate that,
literally, if they could have
00:37:10.23\00:37:12.63
given him better eyesight or
could have helped with his eyes
00:37:12.66\00:37:15.53
they would have done that.
00:37:15.56\00:37:16.90
Let's look at what Paul did
with this thorn in the flesh
00:37:16.93\00:37:19.83
or this affliction
that he struggled with.
00:37:19.87\00:37:21.47
Let's go to 2 Corinthians.
00:37:21.50\00:37:22.84
2 Corinthians 12
00:37:23.71\00:37:26.11
- And Shelley, do you
have that? - Absolutely.
00:37:28.84\00:37:31.05
2 Corinthians 12, let's
read 7-10, the whole section.
00:37:31.08\00:37:35.35
"And lest I should be exalted
above measure by the abundance
00:37:39.25\00:37:43.02
of the revelations, a thorn
in the flesh was given to me,
00:37:43.06\00:37:47.60
a messenger of
Satan to buffet me,
00:37:47.66\00:37:51.23
lest I be exalted above measure.
00:37:51.27\00:37:53.64
Concerning this thing
I pleaded with the Lord
00:37:53.94\00:37:56.37
three times that it
might depart from me.
00:37:56.40\00:37:58.87
And He said to me, 'My
grace is sufficient for you,
00:37:59.24\00:38:04.51
for My strength is
made perfect in weakness.'
00:38:04.71\00:38:08.65
Therefore most gladly I will
rather boast in my infirmities,
00:38:08.88\00:38:14.89
that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
00:38:14.92\00:38:17.89
Therefore I take pleasure
in infirmities, in reproaches,
00:38:18.26\00:38:21.73
in needs, in persecutions,
in distress, for Christ's sake.
00:38:21.80\00:38:26.00
For when I am
weak, then I am strong."
00:38:26.20\00:38:30.44
- Amen. - Amen.
00:38:30.47\00:38:31.81
He besought the Lord three times
that He would take this away.
00:38:31.87\00:38:36.21
And it reminds me of Jesus
in the garden of Gethsemane
00:38:36.24\00:38:39.48
coming before the Father,
prostrate on the ground, saying,
00:38:39.58\00:38:43.15
"Father, if it's possible,
please is there any other way?"
00:38:43.18\00:38:47.02
His soul, His natural humanity,
shrank from the sacrifice.
00:38:47.06\00:38:51.89
But at the same time, He said,
"Nevertheless, not as I will,
00:38:51.99\00:38:55.36
but as Thou wilt."
00:38:55.43\00:38:56.90
And so Paul here
says God spoke to him,
00:38:56.93\00:39:00.37
"My grace is sufficient for you.
00:39:00.40\00:39:03.84
My strength, My power," dunamis,
"is made perfect in weakness."
00:39:03.87\00:39:10.11
And he will gladly
boast in his infirmity,
00:39:10.95\00:39:13.58
that the power of
Christ may rest upon him.
00:39:13.62\00:39:16.79
Sometimes a, "no," is a, "yes."
00:39:17.45\00:39:21.56
If that makes any sense.
00:39:21.86\00:39:23.19
When we're praying
and we receive a, "no,"
00:39:23.22\00:39:25.96
it might mean
that it's God's, "yes."
00:39:26.46\00:39:29.13
That it is God's will for
some reason in this situation.
00:39:29.20\00:39:33.80
The lesson asks,
what would be the reason
00:39:33.84\00:39:36.34
for God allowing Paul to suffer?
00:39:36.37\00:39:38.61
How could he
minister to other people
00:39:38.64\00:39:40.71
when he's still struggling?
00:39:40.74\00:39:42.08
So I know this is, we
could take a whole hour on this,
00:39:42.11\00:39:45.15
but just in a couple of moments
I want to give three reasons
00:39:45.18\00:39:48.15
why God allows suffering.
00:39:48.22\00:39:51.12
First, for the
perfection of my character.
00:39:51.49\00:39:53.76
And we'll look at scriptures.
00:39:53.79\00:39:55.16
Second, for the
revealing of His character.
00:39:55.19\00:39:58.43
And third, simply
because of the world of sin.
00:39:58.63\00:40:00.96
Let's look at, for the
perfecting of my character.
00:40:01.00\00:40:03.16
Romans 3
00:40:03.30\00:40:05.53
We'll look at a
couple of scriptures.
00:40:06.53\00:40:07.90
Pastor Tom, could
you get Romans chapter 5?
00:40:07.94\00:40:10.21
I'm sorry, not 3. Chapter 5.
00:40:10.24\00:40:11.94
Brother Johnny,
could you get 1 Peter 1?
00:40:12.37\00:40:15.04
And Pastor C.A.,
could you get Hebrews 12?
00:40:15.78\00:40:18.28
- 1 Peter 1:1? - 1 Peter 1:6-7.
00:40:19.15\00:40:22.18
We're in Romans 5:3-5.
00:40:22.25\00:40:25.69
We're looking at why
does God allow suffering?
00:40:25.75\00:40:27.99
For the
perfecting of my character.
00:40:28.19\00:40:29.82
Let's look at the perfecting
that takes place here.
00:40:29.86\00:40:32.16
"And not only that, but we
also glory in tribulations,
00:40:32.69\00:40:36.23
knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance;
00:40:36.43\00:40:38.77
and perseverance,
character; and character, hope.
00:40:38.83\00:40:41.40
Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God
00:40:41.64\00:40:45.07
has been poured out in
our hearts by the Holy Spirit
00:40:45.11\00:40:48.54
who was given to us."
00:40:48.58\00:40:49.91
So the suffering, or the
tribulation in this case,
00:40:50.05\00:40:53.38
produces in us
perseverance, but character.
00:40:53.42\00:40:56.89
The character of Jesus.
00:40:56.99\00:40:59.25
- Hope and love.
- The refiners fire.
00:40:59.35\00:41:01.79
And speaking of fire,
it reminds me of your text.
00:41:01.82\00:41:04.19
1 Peter 1:6-7 talks
about the fiery trial.
00:41:04.23\00:41:08.90
"Wherein ye greatly rejoice,
though now for a season,
00:41:09.23\00:41:12.50
if need be, ye are in heaviness
through manifold temptations:
00:41:12.60\00:41:18.41
That the trial of your
faith, being much more precious
00:41:18.51\00:41:21.48
than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire,
00:41:21.54\00:41:25.41
might be found unto
praise and honour and glory
00:41:25.65\00:41:28.78
at the appearing
of Jesus Christ."
00:41:28.82\00:41:31.02
Yes, the trial of our faith,
the tribulation, the suffering
00:41:31.05\00:41:35.32
that we go through refines us
00:41:35.36\00:41:38.06
and makes us more
into the image of Jesus.
00:41:38.29\00:41:40.06
And Pastor C.A.,
you have Hebrews 12,
00:41:40.10\00:41:42.80
I think it's verse 11.
00:41:42.83\00:41:44.37
Yeah, it occurred to me
there are three separate verses
00:41:44.40\00:41:47.54
that sort of
repeat that same thought.
00:41:47.57\00:41:49.24
And I have it
underlined in my Bible.
00:41:49.44\00:41:50.77
"Now no chastening seems
to be joyful for the present,
00:41:50.81\00:41:54.18
but painful; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the
00:41:54.51\00:41:59.18
peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have
00:41:59.25\00:42:02.78
been trained by it."
00:42:02.82\00:42:04.52
So even though in the
midst of it, it's painful,
00:42:04.75\00:42:07.42
it yields the
fruit of righteousness
00:42:08.09\00:42:09.99
to those who have
been trained by it.
00:42:10.03\00:42:11.39
So suffering
perfects my character,
00:42:11.43\00:42:13.46
suffering
reveals God's character.
00:42:13.50\00:42:15.90
We mentioned in John 9
how the man was born blind
00:42:16.20\00:42:20.07
so that the glory of
God could be revealed
00:42:20.10\00:42:24.07
in the healing of his eyes.
00:42:24.11\00:42:26.11
Also in Job, we see
the character of God
00:42:26.14\00:42:29.08
being on trial, as it were.
00:42:29.11\00:42:30.65
A mini great controversy
being worked out there.
00:42:30.85\00:42:34.15
And then third,
because of a world of sin.
00:42:34.18\00:42:37.52
That's another reason
that suffering exists.
00:42:37.55\00:42:40.09
We know 2 Timothy
3:12, we won't turn there,
00:42:40.12\00:42:42.66
but it says, "All who
live godly in Christ Jesus
00:42:42.69\00:42:46.16
shall suffer persecution."
00:42:46.56\00:42:48.86
I want to leave you
with one final scripture.
00:42:48.90\00:42:50.77
Romans 8:28, "We know
that all things work together
00:42:50.90\00:42:56.64
for good to those who love God,
00:42:56.71\00:42:59.04
to those who are the called
according to His purpose."
00:42:59.07\00:43:02.28
So I believe, in Paul's
life his thorn in the flesh,
00:43:02.31\00:43:05.38
whatever it is, God used
it to work together for good.
00:43:05.41\00:43:09.55
And in your life, and in
mine, God can use the things
00:43:09.62\00:43:12.69
we experience for His glory
and to work together for good.
00:43:12.72\00:43:16.86
Amen.
00:43:17.13\00:43:18.53
Wow, you know, just
recently the Illinois conference
00:43:18.63\00:43:21.30
chose a new president to
replace our outgoing president.
00:43:21.50\00:43:25.93
And one of the things the
union president, Elder Livesay,
00:43:26.33\00:43:29.40
said was that when you
end up in that position
00:43:29.44\00:43:34.04
it can easily go to your head.
00:43:34.58\00:43:36.18
And it's important
for you to stay humble
00:43:37.08\00:43:40.12
all the way through that.
00:43:40.15\00:43:41.48
And these thorns in the
flesh that you're describing
00:43:41.72\00:43:44.75
are a way that sometimes
God, He needs us to stay humble
00:43:44.79\00:43:47.69
in order for Him to
work in and through us.
00:43:47.72\00:43:49.82
And for the apostle
Paul, the cleric that he was,
00:43:50.03\00:43:53.19
with all the success that
he saw, you know, the Lord
00:43:54.10\00:43:57.73
knew what He was doing in
refining his character that way.
00:43:57.77\00:44:00.50
I'd like for us to open our
Bibles and turn to Galatians 1
00:44:00.70\00:44:05.41
just to get a glimpse of what
we started this quarter with,
00:44:06.37\00:44:09.98
a text, the greeting.
00:44:10.05\00:44:12.48
Because I want us to remind
ourselves of what it was exactly
00:44:12.58\00:44:15.35
Paul was dealing with.
00:44:15.38\00:44:16.99
You know, when you see
him writing the other letters
00:44:17.19\00:44:20.26
to the churches, he
had joyful experiences
00:44:20.29\00:44:24.39
that he was just, what
can I say, boasting about
00:44:24.43\00:44:27.76
or just appreciative of.
00:44:27.76\00:44:29.83
But here we find
him, in verse 6, he says,
00:44:29.86\00:44:32.33
"I marvel that you
are turning away so soon,"
00:44:32.37\00:44:36.30
from Jesus.
00:44:36.87\00:44:38.21
"...so soon from Him who called
you in the grace of Christ,
00:44:38.47\00:44:43.68
to a different
gospel, which is not another;
00:44:43.71\00:44:46.48
but there are some
who trouble you and want
00:44:46.58\00:44:48.72
to pervert the
gospel of Christ."
00:44:48.82\00:44:51.32
I believe the enemy is working
overtime trying to pervert
00:44:52.09\00:44:55.72
the gospel of
Christ in the church.
00:44:55.76\00:44:58.36
It is a constant
warfare to get us off track.
00:44:58.73\00:45:04.83
And you know, something
that I didn't prepare the panel
00:45:04.87\00:45:07.94
that I was going to say, that
I've heard outside of 3ABN...
00:45:07.97\00:45:11.31
So what is he going
to say next time, right?
00:45:11.34\00:45:13.71
What is he
going to do next time?
00:45:13.91\00:45:15.38
And you know, one
thing, 3ABN is known as a
00:45:16.04\00:45:18.95
conservative ministry.
00:45:19.01\00:45:21.18
And I've also
heard, salvation by works
00:45:21.38\00:45:25.22
is another thing I've heard.
00:45:25.32\00:45:26.65
And one thing that
everyone here, this camera,
00:45:26.72\00:45:29.12
should know from hearing
this panel week after week:
00:45:29.62\00:45:32.96
it's not salvation by works.
00:45:33.26\00:45:34.83
It's salvation by
grace through faith alone.
00:45:34.83\00:45:37.53
And that there is a
work that is produced
00:45:38.00\00:45:42.44
in Christ in each
one of His believers.
00:45:42.54\00:45:44.91
So I want to say
that I see it first hand.
00:45:45.14\00:45:48.91
And I really appreciate
the message that you are
00:45:48.98\00:45:54.72
sending around the world,
the unadulterated message.
00:45:54.75\00:45:57.69
Now, I want us to
go to Galatians 4.
00:45:58.02\00:46:00.62
Galatians 4:16
00:46:06.03\00:46:09.53
"Have I
therefore become your enemy
00:46:11.13\00:46:13.87
because I tell you the truth?"
00:46:13.90\00:46:15.40
You know, I think about it,
they had been so indoctrinated
00:46:15.44\00:46:18.37
by Judaism, they had
lost sight of Christ,
00:46:18.41\00:46:22.31
we can all do this,
they got into a works program
00:46:22.38\00:46:25.05
that was a combination,
as we mentioned earlier
00:46:25.08\00:46:27.15
in another lesson, of
Judaism and their previous ways.
00:46:27.18\00:46:30.69
The special days,
the non-special days,
00:46:30.72\00:46:33.62
some months were not celebrated.
00:46:33.69\00:46:36.46
All these old ways
they had fallen back into
00:46:37.23\00:46:39.63
because they had stopped basking
in the presence of Christ.
00:46:39.66\00:46:43.60
So as a result of that,
Paul comes back and he sees
00:46:44.27\00:46:47.74
the condition of the church,
and he says, "Wait a minute.
00:46:48.07\00:46:50.44
Now I'm your enemy
because I'm sharing the truth?"
00:46:50.71\00:46:53.17
Well what is the
truth that he's sharing?
00:46:53.21\00:46:54.98
We've gone here,
but I want to go back.
00:46:55.08\00:46:56.75
Let's go to Galatians 2:5.
00:46:56.78\00:47:00.82
Galatians 2:5
00:47:01.98\00:47:03.72
"...to whom we did
not yield submission..."
00:47:04.79\00:47:06.42
By the way, this is talking
about the brethren coming in.
00:47:06.49\00:47:09.46
And that happens
today, does it not?
00:47:09.56\00:47:11.69
It still is
happening in my district.
00:47:11.79\00:47:13.96
Someone slipping
in doing their thing,
00:47:14.03\00:47:17.20
trying to get
people into bondage,
00:47:17.30\00:47:20.84
trying to get them into bondage.
00:47:20.87\00:47:22.20
And verse 5 says, "...to
whom we did not yield submission
00:47:22.77\00:47:26.07
even for an hour, that
the truth of the gospel
00:47:26.14\00:47:29.74
might continue with you."
00:47:29.78\00:47:31.35
The truth of the gospel.
00:47:31.58\00:47:33.11
The good news of
salvation through Christ.
00:47:33.15\00:47:35.05
Then verse 14 says, "But
when I saw that they were not
00:47:35.08\00:47:38.25
straightforward about
the truth of the gospel,
00:47:38.29\00:47:40.26
I said to Peter before
them all, 'If you, being a Jew,
00:47:40.29\00:47:43.66
live in the manner of
Gentiles and not as the Jews,
00:47:43.73\00:47:45.86
why do you compel
Gentiles to live as Jews?'"
00:47:46.06\00:47:48.23
You know, I think the
saddest thing would be,
00:47:48.33\00:47:50.67
if we were free in
Christ and we try to,
00:47:50.73\00:47:52.43
it's actually impossible,
to be sharing a witness
00:47:52.93\00:47:55.34
to someone and
having them be in bondage.
00:47:55.37\00:47:57.71
You know, we want them
in bondage while we're free.
00:47:58.27\00:48:00.31
But what I discovered is
that Peter was struggling
00:48:00.68\00:48:04.95
in his own conversion,
and Paul is bringing that out
00:48:04.98\00:48:07.68
for all of us to learn from.
00:48:07.72\00:48:09.25
You know, John 3:19,
"...men loved darkness
00:48:09.45\00:48:12.49
rather than light..."
00:48:12.52\00:48:14.46
We love darkness.
00:48:14.82\00:48:16.19
You know something else?
00:48:16.22\00:48:17.56
All theological
truth is grounded in Jesus.
00:48:17.59\00:48:21.73
"You search the Scriptures,
for in them you think
00:48:22.63\00:48:24.30
you have eternal life; but these
are they which testify of Me."
00:48:24.33\00:48:27.74
So Jesus is the way,
the truth, and the life.
00:48:28.17\00:48:30.41
He is the Word made flesh.
00:48:30.47\00:48:32.61
He is all that the seven
annual feasts, and sabbaths,
00:48:33.07\00:48:36.04
and Purim, and Hanukkah,
which were not ordained by God
00:48:36.08\00:48:39.08
but the Jews also instituted.
00:48:39.11\00:48:41.78
They were celebrated.
00:48:41.82\00:48:43.18
And they all pointed to
their Savior, Jesus Christ.
00:48:43.25\00:48:46.82
Let's turn to Galatians 4, we're
going to look at verses 17-20.
00:48:47.02\00:48:52.26
"They zealously court
you," these are those Judaizers,
00:48:55.26\00:48:58.80
"but for no good; yes,
they want to exclude you,
00:48:59.00\00:49:03.64
that you may be
zealous for them."
00:49:03.71\00:49:05.11
Exclude you where?
00:49:05.14\00:49:06.98
In experiencing the good news,
in experiencing the gospel.
00:49:07.48\00:49:11.15
Why? "So that you
may be zealous for them."
00:49:11.48\00:49:13.68
They want a follower.
00:49:13.72\00:49:15.05
They don't want you
to be following Christ,
00:49:15.08\00:49:16.42
they want you to
be following them.
00:49:16.45\00:49:17.85
And verse 18, "It is good to be
zealous for a good thing always,
00:49:18.19\00:49:22.66
and not only when I
am present with you.
00:49:22.72\00:49:24.96
My little children, for
whom I labor in birth again
00:49:25.19\00:49:28.06
until Christ is formed in
you, I would like to be present
00:49:28.10\00:49:31.27
with you now and
to change my tone;
00:49:31.30\00:49:34.10
for I have doubts about you."
00:49:34.20\00:49:36.27
Wow!
00:49:36.94\00:49:38.27
He's still concerned they're
not going to pull out of this.
00:49:38.31\00:49:41.51
That somehow these Judaizers who
were there on a regular basis
00:49:41.54\00:49:46.28
will have their
way with the church.
00:49:46.35\00:49:48.62
And you know, what
I think about Paul,
00:49:49.08\00:49:53.09
what he is trying to do is
actually found in verse 19.
00:49:53.12\00:49:55.89
Verse 19, "My little children,
for whom I labor in birth again
00:49:56.19\00:49:59.66
until Christ is
formed in you..."
00:49:59.73\00:50:01.13
What is that saying?
00:50:01.50\00:50:02.86
To me, when I
read that I'm thinking,
00:50:03.26\00:50:05.00
you need to be reborn.
00:50:06.20\00:50:07.77
You need to be born again.
00:50:08.24\00:50:09.57
You need that experience.
You lost your first love.
00:50:09.60\00:50:12.04
You must gain that back.
00:50:12.37\00:50:13.78
Too often Christians
lose their first love.
00:50:14.21\00:50:17.28
And too often this text
speaks to our own hearts,
00:50:17.81\00:50:21.12
that Christ needs
to be rebirthed in us.
00:50:21.15\00:50:23.89
And it's for the same reasons
that's going on in Galatia.
00:50:23.92\00:50:26.55
We have been
prey to another gospel
00:50:26.86\00:50:29.72
that isn't a gospel at all.
00:50:29.76\00:50:31.09
And so we must hang
on to Jesus in faith.
00:50:31.69\00:50:34.83
We must not
allow that to happen.
00:50:34.83\00:50:36.63
So he is telling
them he wants this...
00:50:37.13\00:50:39.53
As it was mentioned before,
it's more like a motherly
00:50:39.73\00:50:43.17
approach to it.
00:50:43.47\00:50:44.81
But he wants to see
Christ born in the church.
00:50:44.84\00:50:47.88
Now it also talks about
speaking the love in truth.
00:50:48.21\00:50:51.61
You know, how is it that
we speak the love in truth?
00:50:52.51\00:50:58.02
Why is that so important?
Let's go to Ephesians 4.
00:50:58.05\00:51:00.52
The love in truth
or the truth in love?
00:51:01.06\00:51:03.43
- Oh, speak the
truth in love. - Okay.
00:51:04.23\00:51:05.76
I said that
backwards. More than once.
00:51:05.79\00:51:07.30
Well it's not such
a bad thing, though.
00:51:07.30\00:51:09.06
More than once I
said that backwards.
00:51:09.10\00:51:11.40
Let's go to Ephesians 4:15.
00:51:11.43\00:51:13.40
And we need to
speak the truth in love...
00:51:15.80\00:51:17.94
There we go.
00:51:17.97\00:51:19.31
...that we "may grow
up in all things into Him
00:51:19.51\00:51:23.41
who is the head: Christ."
00:51:23.45\00:51:25.48
See, sometimes when we
see someone that is erring,
00:51:25.75\00:51:28.18
we feel that we need
to show them the truth.
00:51:28.82\00:51:32.39
We need to give them the truth.
00:51:32.49\00:51:33.82
We need to straighten them out.
00:51:33.86\00:51:35.19
Right, and if
it's not done in love,
00:51:35.22\00:51:38.39
what happens here is they
don't grow, and neither do we.
00:51:38.79\00:51:41.63
And the reason why we
need to share it in love...
00:51:42.20\00:51:44.90
Which is something, I cannot
produce a love for someone
00:51:44.93\00:51:47.90
that is like the
love God wants me to have.
00:51:47.94\00:51:50.71
He has to be
producing that in me.
00:51:50.74\00:51:52.41
So He must be the
one that I love with all
00:51:52.81\00:51:55.58
my heart, mind, and soul first.
00:51:55.61\00:51:57.28
But then when I share
that truth in His love,
00:51:57.35\00:52:00.75
it will have a converting
effect, not only in the person
00:52:00.95\00:52:03.28
that I am talking
to, but on myself.
00:52:03.32\00:52:05.89
It has a way to
sanctify me when I do that.
00:52:06.29\00:52:10.96
God is not going to
leave us where we are.
00:52:11.63\00:52:13.40
You know, what I
really love about ministry
00:52:13.50\00:52:16.03
is that when you're blessing
other, you're always blessed.
00:52:16.06\00:52:18.13
- Amen. - Oh, absolutely.
00:52:18.17\00:52:19.50
And you're not only
blessed, but you're being
00:52:19.57\00:52:20.97
converted thereby.
00:52:21.00\00:52:22.54
You are actually experiencing
the things that you knew
00:52:23.17\00:52:26.64
in theory and had faith in.
00:52:26.71\00:52:28.34
You heard, you
read, you had faith in it,
00:52:28.38\00:52:30.31
then you have it
as an experience.
00:52:30.38\00:52:31.91
And it changes our character.
00:52:31.95\00:52:33.65
Do you realize,
God changes character.
00:52:33.85\00:52:37.32
He is into
character transformation.
00:52:37.82\00:52:39.32
Otherwise we're
stuck with who we are.
00:52:39.79\00:52:42.49
Because character develops in
the first five to seven years.
00:52:42.52\00:52:45.03
Everything else is built on it.
00:52:45.06\00:52:46.43
But He'll take
that and transform it
00:52:46.46\00:52:48.26
into His own likeness.
00:52:48.30\00:52:49.66
And Paul's concern
was that those who had
00:52:49.80\00:52:53.23
experienced conversion,
they had become victims
00:52:53.27\00:52:56.40
to the Judaizers and
lost that first love.
00:52:56.44\00:52:59.87
So when you and I
see someone erring,
00:53:00.14\00:53:02.24
it's important for us to
have that same compassion.
00:53:02.28\00:53:05.55
God will give you that
compassion for the erring one
00:53:05.75\00:53:08.45
so that we can be an instrument
that He's bringing them back
00:53:09.18\00:53:12.22
through us, as well as
being converted thereby,
00:53:12.85\00:53:16.02
both the
recipient and the ourselves.
00:53:16.26\00:53:18.49
Amen. Well said, well said.
00:53:18.53\00:53:20.23
If someone would look
up for me Hebrews 6:6.
00:53:20.43\00:53:23.57
There are a few
things I want to touch on
00:53:24.43\00:53:27.34
in summary and in closing.
00:53:27.37\00:53:29.24
We get a picture of the
Galatian church as good people
00:53:30.51\00:53:33.78
going bad, but they are
being purposely led astray
00:53:33.81\00:53:37.38
by people who are trying to
put on them something that is
00:53:37.45\00:53:40.12
going to turn them
away from the direction that
00:53:40.15\00:53:42.92
Paul would have them to go.
00:53:42.95\00:53:44.75
If you think the
language in Galatians is strong,
00:53:46.65\00:53:50.33
look at Hebrews 6:6.
00:53:50.63\00:53:52.23
Who want to read that for me?
00:53:53.06\00:53:54.46
- I'll go ahead and read
it. - Okay, Pastor Ferguson.
00:53:55.83\00:53:57.87
"...if they fall away, to
renew them again to repentance,
00:53:58.10\00:54:01.60
since they crucify again
for themselves the Son of God,
00:54:01.94\00:54:04.67
and put Him to an open shame."
00:54:04.71\00:54:06.57
Yeah, that's pretty strong.
00:54:06.78\00:54:08.78
That's pretty strong.
00:54:09.48\00:54:10.85
Paul talks about having tasted
of the goodness of the Lord,
00:54:11.81\00:54:14.02
having experienced
that, and then going back into
00:54:14.12\00:54:17.72
your old ways.
00:54:17.75\00:54:19.19
That's what he
fears for this church.
00:54:19.69\00:54:21.92
They've tasted, they've
felt, they've experienced.
00:54:21.96\00:54:24.59
And now they're receding
back into their old ways.
00:54:24.69\00:54:28.63
And of course, the back-end
of that is that we crucify
00:54:28.66\00:54:33.17
Christ afresh and
put Him to open shame.
00:54:33.23\00:54:35.44
And Paul doesn't want that for
his church or for his people.
00:54:36.34\00:54:41.11
The idea of suffering,
making us more like the Lord;
00:54:41.51\00:54:45.41
right after the
1888 General Conference
00:54:45.45\00:54:48.15
the brethren shipped
Ellen White off to Australia.
00:54:48.18\00:54:50.85
And when she said, "I
don't really have a call
00:54:51.49\00:54:53.86
from the Lord to do this.
00:54:53.92\00:54:55.26
I'm being sent, and I'm going
to be obedient, but I don't..."
00:54:55.29\00:54:57.96
No.
00:54:57.99\00:54:59.33
So you spend months
and months on the sea.
00:54:59.36\00:55:01.20
And then when she got there,
she said, "I suffered for the
00:55:01.23\00:55:03.20
next ninety days the
worst suffering of my life."
00:55:03.30\00:55:06.20
"I'm in a place that I don't
know that I should be here,
00:55:06.50\00:55:08.90
I don't really know
what I'm doing here,
00:55:09.07\00:55:11.04
and now I'm
suffering like never before."
00:55:11.71\00:55:14.68
And yet she says, "It
was during those seasons
00:55:14.71\00:55:17.61
when I was as close to
God as ever in my life."
00:55:17.95\00:55:21.32
So there is a place
for suffering for the Lord.
00:55:21.52\00:55:26.22
And there is something
that suffering works in us
00:55:26.32\00:55:28.96
that perhaps only
suffering can work in us.
00:55:29.22\00:55:32.53
And if accepted right, it does
bring us closer to the Lord.
00:55:32.56\00:55:37.60
In the last part of the lesson,
the lesson says something
00:55:38.00\00:55:40.37
that is very important.
00:55:40.40\00:55:42.37
"An important lesson for every
minister of Christ to learn
00:55:42.57\00:55:46.71
is that of adapting his
labors to the condition of
00:55:46.91\00:55:51.55
those whom he seeks to benefit."
00:55:51.58\00:55:53.88
That's why when you're getting
ready to go on an extended
00:55:53.98\00:55:56.52
mission trip, they put
you in mission school first
00:55:56.55\00:55:59.12
and tell you, "Don't go in
and make immediate changes.
00:55:59.15\00:56:02.59
Don't go in and try to
Americanize your people.
00:56:02.62\00:56:05.89
Contextualize the gospel
so that the people that you're
00:56:05.93\00:56:09.40
trying to give the
gospel to can understand it
00:56:09.43\00:56:12.33
and can accept it."
00:56:12.53\00:56:14.07
But the American way of
the gospel is not the gospel.
00:56:14.17\00:56:18.17
The gospel is the gospel.
00:56:18.21\00:56:19.91
So you want to put it in
a wineskin that is amenable
00:56:20.11\00:56:23.88
to those that
you are dealing with.
00:56:23.91\00:56:25.65
And that's one of the things
Paul was trying to do here.
00:56:25.68\00:56:27.85
He is
contextualizing his message
00:56:27.88\00:56:31.15
so that the
Galatians can take it.
00:56:31.35\00:56:32.75
When I was playing
basketball in college,
00:56:32.79\00:56:34.62
I noticed that the basketball
coach taught each player
00:56:34.66\00:56:38.09
a little differently, he treated
them a little differently.
00:56:38.26\00:56:40.76
Some players he
was kind of rough on.
00:56:40.83\00:56:42.66
Others he was kind of kinder on.
00:56:42.93\00:56:45.07
Because he was trying
to get the best out of
00:56:45.10\00:56:46.94
that particular player.
00:56:46.97\00:56:48.30
So he changed his presentation
to meet that particular player.
00:56:48.34\00:56:52.84
Some he was kind of rough on.
00:56:54.28\00:56:55.61
His language was
a little strident.
00:56:55.64\00:56:57.95
Praise the Lord he was
never that way with me.
00:56:58.45\00:57:00.38
And I saw that right away.
00:57:00.42\00:57:01.75
He didn't curse at me
and use all the kind of stuff
00:57:01.78\00:57:03.69
that he did with other people.
00:57:03.75\00:57:05.35
And this is what
Paul is trying to do.
00:57:05.39\00:57:07.02
"These people
need a pat on the back,
00:57:07.12\00:57:09.32
or a little something different,
let me give them that,
00:57:09.42\00:57:12.66
let me show them that,
let me be that for them,
00:57:12.69\00:57:15.43
so that they can accept the
gospel and return to the way
00:57:15.53\00:57:18.47
that I would have them to go."
00:57:18.50\00:57:20.34
Lords and ladies,
thank you so very much.
00:57:21.30\00:57:23.10
Shelley Quinn, John Dinzey,
00:57:23.14\00:57:25.11
Jill Morikone,
Pastor Tom Ferguson.
00:57:25.37\00:57:27.18
Thank you so much
for being with us.
00:57:27.21\00:57:29.38
And thank you for
joining us on this,
00:57:29.41\00:57:32.75
our Sabbath
school study together.
00:57:32.85\00:57:34.32
We'll be together again soon,
and we'll look to see you then.
00:57:34.42\00:57:37.29
God bless you. Good night.
00:57:37.32\00:57:39.02