The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.40
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says, "To
receive with meekness
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the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent to
present yourself approved to God
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is
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"Stewardship
Motives of the Heart."
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Hello and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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I'm Jill Morikone,
and we're delighted
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that you're taking
time to open up God's Word
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with us and study together.
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It's hard to believe
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we are almost at
the end of the quarter.
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We are on lesson number
12, we only have one more week.
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In our lesson this,
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this week is on the
habits of a steward,
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the habit of seeking God first,
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of looking for
the return of Jesus,
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of using our time wisely.
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I need to learn that,
of keeping a healthy mind,
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body and soul and the
habit of self-discipline.
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So if you don't
have a quarterly,
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you can go to the website,
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ABSG.Adventist.org
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that stands for
Adult Bible Study Guide
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dot Adventist dot org.
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And you can download the
lesson and follow along with us
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or you can always visit
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your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and get a copy.
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Right now I want to
introduce our wonderful panel
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that we have here.
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Sitting next to me...
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Sitting next to me,
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this is a
blessing, my husband, Greg.
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Good to be here.
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Good to have you here
and then Shelley Quinn,
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Mollie Steenson and
Pastor John Lomacang.
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And it's always a privilege
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to open up the Word of
God together and to share.
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Before we go any further,
let's open up with prayer.
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And, sweetheart,
would you pray for us?
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Sure. Yes, I'd be happy to.
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Father in Heaven Lord,
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what a privilege it
is to open Your word.
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And, Lord, we just ask
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for Your Holy
Spirit to be with us
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during this important study.
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And Lord, I just pray for those
that are viewing and listening,
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Lord that they would also
be in-tuned to Your Holy Spirit
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as You speak to
each one of us everyday.
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Lord again, we
thank You for Your word
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and we thank
You for Jesus Christ
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and in His name we pray, amen.
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Amen.
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We're talking about
the habits of a steward.
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So I looked up,
"What is a habit?"
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The dictionary says,
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"It's a routine of behavior
that's repeated regularly
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and tends to
occur subconsciously."
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So a habit is
something that's so ingrained,
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we're not even really
thinking about what we're doing.
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When the alarm
rings in the morning,
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you jump out of
bed or hit the snooze.
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That's a habit,
right? You're either...
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You hear that noise
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and I'm gonna hit the
snooze or I jump out of bed,
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either one is a habit
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and we become ingrained in that.
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Think about walking.
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When I stand up from this chair,
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I'm not gonna think,
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"Does the right foot go
first or the left foot?"
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In fact, I can't even tell you
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which foot I usually start with.
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We just know, the feet move,
the legs move, the arms move,
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it's a learned habit
that we have learned.
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What about if
someone yells at you?
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Now your natural inclination
or learned behavior, habit.
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Some people might cry,
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some people might get in
their face and yell back,
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some people might
sit back and listen.
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Either one of those responses
would be a learned habit.
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There's a quote in
the lesson on Sabbath.
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This is from fourth volume
of the Testimonies page, 452.
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It says
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"We shall be individually
for time and eternity
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what our habits make us.
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The lives of those
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who form right
habits and are faithful
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in their
performance of every duty
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would be as shining lights,
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shedding bright beams
upon the pathway of others."
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So we're gonna talk
today about some of the habits
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that we have to
develop as stewards of God.
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Let's read our memory text.
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We're in Psalms 119
verses 9 through 11.
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This has taken from
the New King James Version
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of the Bible.
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We'll read together here.
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"How can a young
man cleanse his way?
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By taking heed
according to Your word.
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With my whole
heart I have sought You,
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Oh, let me not wander
from Your commandments.
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Your word I have
hidden in my heart,
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that I might not
sin against You."
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On Sunday we look at the
habit of seeking God first,
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to seek God first.
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You know, if you think about
the development of a habit...
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Greg and I, we were in
Florida a couple years ago,
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we went to the Zoo.
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Now when you go to the zoo,
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my favorite place at
the zoo was the big cats.
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You have the
lions and the tigers,
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you have the leopards.
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This particular cage,
but it was a big cage,
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it was the leopard cage.
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Now he had a
lot of room to roam,
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even though I don't
like seeing them caged up,
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but he did have a
large cage for a zoo.
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But when Greg and I were there,
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he walked on one
side down this way,
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turned around and he came back,
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then he went down this way
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and he turned
around and he came back.
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The whole time we stood there.
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Down this way, he
turned around and he came back.
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Now the grass in his
cage was lush and green
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and beautiful
and the whole cage,
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except for where he was walking.
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There was no grass.
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And it was not just dirt packed,
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it was actually,
had formed a rut.
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It was a
depression in the ground.
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To me that's a habit.
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We do this, we come back.
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We do this...
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Whatever it is, it
can be a good habit,
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it can be a bad habit,
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but it's
something that's developed,
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it almost forms a rut
as it were in the mind.
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And so if we look at the concept
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of seeking God first,
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if you are not used
to seeking God first,
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we can develop a new habit.
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We can get out of that rut
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and begin walk
in a different way
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and pretty soon
the grass is gonna grow
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where the old rut used to be,
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and we can form a new rut
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that would be seeking God first
and that's the beautiful thing.
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God can enable us
to develop new habits.
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Let's look at Matthew 6:33.
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If you think of
seeking God first,
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this is the first
verse that comes to mind.
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Matthew 6:33.
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"Seek first the Kingdom
of God and His righteousness,
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and all these things
shall be added to you."
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In the Greek for seek it means,
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to seek, to search for
desire or strive after.
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We are to seek
or strive after God,
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first and
foremost above everything.
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I want to talk today in my time
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about four keys
to seeking God first
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or four keys to developing
a habit to seek God first.
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First would be in Matthew 22:37.
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This would be
love God supremely.
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Love God
supremely. Matthew 22...
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We're already in Matthew,
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just turned over
to a couple chapters.
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Matthew 22:37.
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Jesus said, "You
shall love the Lord your God
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with all your
heart, with all your soul,
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with all your mind."
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This is the first
and great commandment.
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We are to love God supremely.
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It talks about in here
three different parts of us.
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You could say that
we're to love God with.
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What does it say?
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Love God with our
heart, love God with our soul,
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love God with our mind.
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The word in the Greek for heart
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is used over 800
times in scripture.
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It's never referred
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to as the
literal heart that pumps.
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It's, in scripture it's
referred to as the center
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or the seat of
our spiritual life,
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heart, our mind, our
character as it were.
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Love God with your
character, your mind.
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We also love God with our
soul and that word in the Greek
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is similar to
our word psychology.
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And it means a
person's distinct identity
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or their personality.
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So we don't just love God
with our character as it were
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or the place where the
seed of our spiritual life is,
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we also love God
with just who we are.
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We all have a different
way, a different personality
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but we love God
in the midst of that.
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And then finally, the mind.
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And in the Greek that
means critical thinking,
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thorough reasoning,
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incorporate both
sides of a matter
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to reach a conclusion.
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So some people love
God emotionally, right?
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Just from the heart,
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but yet you put
critical thinking aside.
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Some people only
analyze and think about God
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but they neglect
the emotional side.
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But we have to love God
with everything we have,
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both the thinking, the
emotion, who we are as a person,
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everything combined.
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Number two.
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How do we develop this
habit of seeking God first?
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Don't allow
anything between you and God.
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Exodus 20:3, that commandment,
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"You shall have no
other gods before me."
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So this passage...
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You know, what's interesting?
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We don't pick our
days for a lesson,
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they are always assigned.
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And it seems like,
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I always get the
day that I most need.
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And when I think about this,
what gods do we put between...
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I'm saying
little "g," what gods,
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do we put between us and God?
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What about my time? And
I'm talking to myself here.
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Do I spend more time?
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What percentage of time do
I spend in the Word of God,
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in prayer with Jesus
verses doing something else,
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doing something
worldly pursuits,
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doing something
to please myself?
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If I do more for myself,
that's not seeking God first,
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that's seeking my own pleasure
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or my own
pursuits instead of God.
00:09:49.25\00:09:51.72
What about my talents?
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Are the skill and ability
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that God has
given to each one of us,
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do we put that for selfish means
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or selfish pursuits, or
are we seeking God first,
00:09:59.13\00:10:02.03
then we give everything
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we have to the service
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:10:03.43\00:10:07.27
What about the money
that God has entrusted to me?
00:10:07.30\00:10:10.71
Do I spend it on
spreading the gospel
00:10:10.74\00:10:12.74
or do I spend it
over here on myself?
00:10:12.77\00:10:15.84
What about the things I look
at and the things I listen to,
00:10:15.88\00:10:18.91
all of that?
00:10:18.95\00:10:20.28
This principle of
seeking God first comes
00:10:20.32\00:10:23.08
into every area of our lives.
00:10:23.12\00:10:27.99
Third, we act intentionally.
Third, we act intentionally.
00:10:28.02\00:10:33.50
Ephesians 5:15 and 16 says,
00:10:33.53\00:10:36.20
"See then that you
walk circumspectly."
00:10:36.23\00:10:40.54
The word in Greek for
circumspectfully means
00:10:40.57\00:10:42.67
carefully with exactness.
00:10:42.70\00:10:45.91
"Not as fools, but as
wise, Redeeming the time,
00:10:45.94\00:10:50.45
because the days are evil."
00:10:50.48\00:10:53.95
If I'm going to see
God first, sweetheart,
00:10:53.98\00:10:55.65
I need to act
intentionally about it.
00:10:55.68\00:10:58.42
If I just say
00:10:58.45\00:10:59.79
"Okay, I want to follow
God but I don't make a plan
00:10:59.82\00:11:01.82
and I don't have any sort
00:11:01.86\00:11:03.19
of specific intentions about it,
00:11:03.22\00:11:05.03
what's gonna happen?"
00:11:05.06\00:11:06.39
I'll probably do my own thing.
00:11:06.43\00:11:07.83
I'll do my own
way, I'll go my own,
00:11:07.86\00:11:10.20
instead of
making a specific plan
00:11:10.23\00:11:11.87
and it's a choice.
00:11:11.90\00:11:13.23
It is a choice.
00:11:13.27\00:11:14.60
So act intentionally for God
00:11:14.64\00:11:17.57
and to seek God
first and to put Him first.
00:11:17.61\00:11:19.84
And finally,
make God a priority.
00:11:19.87\00:11:22.28
And I think one of
the most important ways
00:11:22.31\00:11:24.28
we can do that,
00:11:24.31\00:11:25.65
is to spend early morning
time in prayer and Bible study.
00:11:25.68\00:11:30.59
I think in Psalms 119:147,
00:11:30.62\00:11:33.46
it says "I rise before
the dawning of the morning."
00:11:33.49\00:11:37.99
That means I get up early.
00:11:38.03\00:11:39.39
"And cry for help,
I hope in Your word."
00:11:39.43\00:11:45.23
You know, I used
to have this habit
00:11:45.27\00:11:47.64
and I have gotten
out of this habit,
00:11:47.67\00:11:49.47
so I want to
incorporate this habit again,
00:11:49.50\00:11:51.84
of asking God
before I go to bed,
00:11:51.87\00:11:55.18
to wake me up in the morning.
00:11:55.21\00:11:56.95
When He wants me to get
up and spend time with Him.
00:11:56.98\00:12:00.45
Now Greg and I do get up early
00:12:00.48\00:12:02.42
and we do have
our devotional time
00:12:02.45\00:12:04.15
every morning with God.
00:12:04.19\00:12:06.49
But I used to say
"God, will You wake me up?"
00:12:06.52\00:12:09.19
You know what
my days gonna face.
00:12:09.22\00:12:11.09
You know what's
going to be coming.
00:12:11.13\00:12:12.46
Well, You wake me up
when You want me to get up?
00:12:12.49\00:12:15.10
So you know how
much time tomorrow
00:12:15.13\00:12:17.20
I'm gonna need with You.
00:12:17.23\00:12:18.57
And I would pray
that before going to bed
00:12:18.60\00:12:20.20
and then the next
morning, God will wake me up.
00:12:20.24\00:12:23.20
And I remember one
time, the clock read 3:59.
00:12:23.24\00:12:28.44
And I thought,
"God, you're crazy.
00:12:28.48\00:12:31.81
You're crazy, 3:59?"
00:12:31.85\00:12:34.75
You know, we don't get
up to five, that's early,
00:12:34.78\00:12:37.82
that's too early,
I'm not getting up.
00:12:37.85\00:12:40.62
And I remember, I
turned over in bed
00:12:40.66\00:12:42.89
and I was wide awake
00:12:42.92\00:12:44.26
when God had woken me up
'cause when He wakes you up,
00:12:44.29\00:12:45.63
you're wide awake.
00:12:45.66\00:12:47.00
But I turned over in
bed, now I'm back to sleep,
00:12:47.03\00:12:48.83
the alarm rang at five
00:12:48.86\00:12:50.20
and I was super
groggy, got up, studied,
00:12:50.23\00:12:53.13
went into the day
00:12:53.17\00:12:54.50
and it was one
of those hard days.
00:12:54.54\00:12:57.27
And I felt God
say, "I knew that.
00:12:57.31\00:12:59.74
I wanted you to have
an extra hour with Me."
00:12:59.77\00:13:03.45
And so the next day, I said,
00:13:03.48\00:13:04.81
"God, please,
will you wake me up?"
00:13:04.85\00:13:06.31
And that day it wasn't
3:59, it was a different time.
00:13:06.35\00:13:09.02
But when He woke me
up, I spent that time.
00:13:09.05\00:13:12.55
And that's a beautiful habit
of getting early in the morning
00:13:12.59\00:13:15.16
and spending time with God.
00:13:15.19\00:13:16.86
And there are several
Bible examples of people
00:13:16.89\00:13:19.29
who got up early to
spend time with God,
00:13:19.33\00:13:21.16
I know we're almost out of time.
00:13:21.20\00:13:22.80
Greg, will you
take Genesis 19:27?
00:13:22.83\00:13:25.13
Shelley, Mark 1:35?
Mollie, Exodus 34:4?
00:13:25.17\00:13:30.04
And Pastor John,
00:13:30.07\00:13:31.61
Genesis 28:18?
00:13:31.64\00:13:36.61
So, Greg, you
have Genesis 19:27.
00:13:36.64\00:13:39.41
Now this is the
example of Abraham.
00:13:39.45\00:13:42.48
Genesis 19:27 says,
00:13:42.52\00:13:44.85
"And Abraham got up early
in the morning to the place
00:13:44.89\00:13:48.76
where he stood before the Lord."
00:13:48.79\00:13:50.83
So Abraham got up
early to spend time with God.
00:13:50.86\00:13:52.96
Amen. Shelley,
you have Mark 1:35?
00:13:52.99\00:13:55.56
Mark 1:35.
00:13:55.60\00:13:58.10
Now "In the morning
having risen a long way
00:13:58.13\00:14:00.74
before daylight, He
being Jesus went out
00:14:00.77\00:14:03.91
and departed to a solitary place
00:14:03.94\00:14:06.24
and there He prayed."
00:14:06.27\00:14:07.61
Jesus got up early
to spend time with God.
00:14:07.64\00:14:09.51
Mollie, you have Exodus 34:4?
00:14:09.54\00:14:12.25
"And he hewed two tables
of stone like unto the first,
00:14:12.28\00:14:15.95
and Moses rose up
early in the morning,
00:14:15.98\00:14:18.19
and went up unto Mount Sinai,
as the Lord had commanded him,
00:14:18.22\00:14:22.32
and took in his hand
the two tables of stone."
00:14:22.36\00:14:25.23
So Moses went up early
00:14:25.26\00:14:26.59
in the morning to
spend time with God
00:14:26.63\00:14:28.26
on the Mount Sinai.
00:14:28.30\00:14:29.63
And Pastor John,
you have Genesis 28:18?
00:14:29.66\00:14:32.10
"Then Jacob rose
early in the morning
00:14:32.13\00:14:33.84
and took the stone
that he had put at his head,
00:14:33.87\00:14:37.41
set it up as a pillar
and poured oil on top of it."
00:14:37.44\00:14:41.34
So he rose early in the morning,
00:14:41.38\00:14:43.51
Jacob did as well.
00:14:43.55\00:14:44.88
So we see many examples
00:14:44.91\00:14:46.25
of Bible
characters of rising early.
00:14:46.28\00:14:47.62
So God calls us
to seek Him first,
00:14:47.65\00:14:50.89
to love Him supremely,
00:14:50.92\00:14:52.25
don't allow anything
between yourself and God,
00:14:52.29\00:14:54.36
act intentionally
and make God a priority.
00:14:54.39\00:14:57.16
Amen. Amen.
00:14:57.19\00:14:58.73
Well said.
00:14:58.76\00:15:00.40
I have Monday,
00:15:00.43\00:15:01.76
the habit of looking
for the return of Jesus.
00:15:01.80\00:15:06.23
I have here always
be ready for his return.
00:15:06.27\00:15:10.01
You know, and a lot of
times some people can get weary.
00:15:10.04\00:15:12.14
They say, "Well, we don't
know when Jesus is gonna come.
00:15:12.17\00:15:15.31
I'm tired of waiting."
00:15:15.34\00:15:17.95
You know, New
York Times put out,
00:15:17.98\00:15:19.38
they printed an
article several years ago
00:15:19.41\00:15:21.65
and there was a
particular airport
00:15:21.68\00:15:23.02
that they mentioned
00:15:23.05\00:15:24.39
where they
received a lot of complaints
00:15:24.42\00:15:26.12
at baggage claim.
00:15:26.15\00:15:27.49
There was a
whole crowd of people
00:15:27.52\00:15:28.86
waiting for their baggage.
00:15:28.89\00:15:30.26
So they said, "Let's hire
some more baggage handlers."
00:15:30.29\00:15:33.43
So they hired
more baggage handlers
00:15:33.46\00:15:36.06
and guess what?
00:15:36.10\00:15:37.43
They cut down
the time by a minute.
00:15:37.47\00:15:39.13
So people didn't
have to wait as long,
00:15:39.17\00:15:41.60
but there were still just about
the same amount of complaints.
00:15:41.64\00:15:44.84
Yeah. Isn't that amazing?
00:15:44.87\00:15:46.21
So then the airport said,
"Oh, I know what, let's do."
00:15:46.24\00:15:49.41
Let's have
people instead of coming
00:15:49.44\00:15:51.15
into a terminal that's
close to baggage claim,
00:15:51.18\00:15:53.18
let's put them way down
yonder and have them walk."
00:15:53.21\00:15:57.05
So long story short.
00:15:57.09\00:15:58.72
People had to
walk six times longer
00:15:58.75\00:16:01.72
and were basically
arriving at the same time
00:16:01.76\00:16:03.83
the luggage was
coming through the carousel
00:16:03.86\00:16:06.36
and the complaints
went down to almost zero.
00:16:06.39\00:16:07.73
Isn't that funny?
00:16:07.76\00:16:09.10
So here people were
just walking, right?
00:16:09.13\00:16:10.47
They were, yeah, busy,
00:16:10.50\00:16:11.93
but yet they felt
like they weren't waiting
00:16:11.97\00:16:14.20
because they
were doing something.
00:16:14.24\00:16:16.04
In the same article,
they said, the elevators.
00:16:16.07\00:16:19.07
When elevators were invented
00:16:19.11\00:16:20.98
and they had high-rise buildings
00:16:21.01\00:16:23.14
that people were
complaining about the time
00:16:23.18\00:16:24.91
they had to wait
by the elevators.
00:16:24.95\00:16:26.61
So what did they do?
00:16:26.65\00:16:28.35
I hadn't noticed this before
but they said that they started
00:16:28.38\00:16:30.79
putting mirrors
by the elevators,
00:16:30.82\00:16:32.92
so people could
look at themselves.
00:16:32.95\00:16:34.29
You know, is my
hair I guess "Okay."
00:16:34.32\00:16:36.76
They said this that people
00:16:36.79\00:16:38.49
were actually
spying on other people,
00:16:38.53\00:16:39.93
actually there too,
00:16:39.96\00:16:41.30
like kind of look
in the mirror saying,
00:16:41.33\00:16:42.66
"Oh, wow, look at that person."
00:16:42.70\00:16:44.03
So like, kept them busy.
00:16:44.07\00:16:45.53
In the same article,
00:16:45.57\00:16:48.84
I guess you
could take that wrong.
00:16:48.87\00:16:50.21
Yeah, you shouldn't be spying up
00:16:50.24\00:16:51.57
people inappropriately.
00:16:51.61\00:16:52.94
But grocery stores, they said,
it's a $5.5 billion industry.
00:16:52.97\00:16:58.31
When they have the
gum, the candy, the tabloids
00:16:58.35\00:17:00.85
because again people didn't want
00:17:00.88\00:17:02.22
to just stand
there in the grocery line
00:17:02.25\00:17:04.19
waiting for the checker
to check out their groceries,
00:17:04.22\00:17:05.99
so they started putting
things there to keep people
00:17:06.02\00:17:08.32
temporarily
occupied buying more things.
00:17:08.36\00:17:11.13
And they also mentioned...
00:17:11.16\00:17:12.49
Now this was
interesting, they said,
00:17:12.53\00:17:13.86
that often times
00:17:13.90\00:17:15.23
if we're looking as
society at two lines,
00:17:15.26\00:17:17.90
one short and one is long.
00:17:17.93\00:17:20.17
We'll pick the shorter line
even though it's moving slower
00:17:20.20\00:17:23.97
and not pick the longer
line even if it's moving faster.
00:17:24.01\00:17:27.08
Isn't that amazing? Yeah.
00:17:27.11\00:17:28.44
It kind of funny
society and I'm part of society.
00:17:28.48\00:17:29.81
I know I don't like wait,
00:17:29.84\00:17:31.18
I become a little
impatient at times.
00:17:31.21\00:17:33.65
But we're looking for
the return of Jesus Christ
00:17:33.68\00:17:36.55
and we don't want to grow weary
00:17:36.58\00:17:38.65
in looking for Jesus Christ,
00:17:38.69\00:17:40.06
we want to
occupy until He comes.
00:17:40.09\00:17:42.42
Amen. So we
want to look at that.
00:17:42.46\00:17:43.79
Let's look at Luke Chapter 12
00:17:43.83\00:17:47.10
and this is kind
of a long passage,
00:17:47.13\00:17:48.46
so we won't read all of it.
00:17:48.50\00:17:50.20
But Luke Chapter 12,
starting with verse 35,
00:17:50.23\00:17:53.23
we'll just read
several of these verses.
00:17:53.27\00:17:55.80
Let's see, verse
35 of Luke 12 says,
00:17:55.84\00:17:58.57
"Let your loins be girded about,
00:17:58.61\00:18:00.98
and your lights burning,
00:18:01.01\00:18:02.94
and ye yourselves like unto
men that wait for their lord,
00:18:02.98\00:18:07.02
when He will
return from the wedding,
00:18:07.05\00:18:09.18
that when He comes and knocks,
00:18:09.22\00:18:11.69
they may open
unto Him immediately.
00:18:11.72\00:18:14.66
Blessed are those servants,
00:18:14.69\00:18:16.42
whom the Lord when He
comes shall find watching.
00:18:16.46\00:18:20.90
Verily I say unto you,
that he that girds himself,
00:18:20.93\00:18:24.30
and make them to
sit down to meat,
00:18:24.33\00:18:26.47
and will come
forth and serve them.
00:18:26.50\00:18:28.74
And if He shall
come in the second watch,
00:18:28.77\00:18:30.54
or come in the third
watch and find them so,
00:18:30.57\00:18:33.01
blessed are those servants."
00:18:33.04\00:18:35.54
Let's skip down verse 40.
00:18:35.58\00:18:38.48
"Be ye therefore ready also,
00:18:38.51\00:18:41.42
for the Son of
man comes in an hour
00:18:41.45\00:18:43.75
when you think not."
00:18:43.79\00:18:45.95
And, boy, there are
so many great verses.
00:18:45.99\00:18:47.32
Verse 43 says,
00:18:47.36\00:18:48.69
"Blessed is that
servant, whom his Lord,
00:18:48.72\00:18:51.19
when He comes
shall find so doing."
00:18:51.23\00:18:55.56
And then all the
way down to verse 48,
00:18:55.60\00:18:58.13
it says, "But he that knew not
00:18:58.17\00:19:00.97
and did not commit
things worthy of stripes,
00:19:01.00\00:19:03.71
shall be beaten
with few stripes.
00:19:03.74\00:19:05.81
For unto
whomsoever much is given..."
00:19:05.84\00:19:09.08
This is pretty critical here.
00:19:09.11\00:19:10.45
"Of him shall much be required,
00:19:10.48\00:19:12.85
and to whom men
have committed much,
00:19:12.88\00:19:15.58
of him they will ask the more."
00:19:15.62\00:19:17.45
I want to just comment
00:19:17.49\00:19:18.82
a little bit on
some of these verses.
00:19:18.85\00:19:20.19
Verse 35, if
you go back to that,
00:19:20.22\00:19:21.66
that we just looked at.
00:19:21.69\00:19:23.02
"Lions girded
and lights burning."
00:19:23.06\00:19:25.49
It's not like, "Oh,
no, my light, my light.
00:19:25.53\00:19:28.13
Where is my fuel or my match?"
00:19:28.16\00:19:30.23
You know, to get it going. No.
00:19:30.27\00:19:31.60
Their light is
burning and they are ready,
00:19:31.63\00:19:34.30
they have their clothes
on, their loins are girded.
00:19:34.34\00:19:36.84
Verse 36 says what? I like this.
00:19:36.87\00:19:39.94
They opened the
door immediately.
00:19:39.97\00:19:41.98
It wasn't like, "Oh,
no, someone's at the door.
00:19:42.01\00:19:44.91
We need to get
ready." It's like, no.
00:19:44.95\00:19:46.48
They opened the
door immediately.
00:19:46.51\00:19:48.32
They were ready. The
servants were watching.
00:19:48.35\00:19:50.55
In verse 37, they were ready,
they were watching and looking.
00:19:50.59\00:19:53.96
Verse 40,
00:19:53.99\00:19:55.32
"Be ye therefore
ready" says in the verse.
00:19:55.36\00:19:58.39
Verse 43
00:19:58.43\00:19:59.86
"Blessed is the
servant whom his Lord
00:19:59.89\00:20:03.53
when He comes
will find so doing."
00:20:03.57\00:20:05.93
I have here, keep
busy with God's work.
00:20:05.97\00:20:11.07
And then, of course verse 48.
00:20:11.11\00:20:13.27
"Whomsoever much is given,
00:20:13.31\00:20:15.64
of him shall be much be required
00:20:15.68\00:20:18.78
and to whom men
have committed much,
00:20:18.81\00:20:21.12
of him they will ask the more."
00:20:21.15\00:20:23.18
I have written down.
00:20:23.22\00:20:24.59
Since we know
Jesus is coming soon,
00:20:24.62\00:20:27.19
our responsibility...
00:20:27.22\00:20:28.76
This is, in my
opinion, is much heavier.
00:20:28.79\00:20:30.93
I mean, the Bible is very clear
that Christ is coming soon.
00:20:30.96\00:20:35.13
This is from the lesson,
00:20:35.16\00:20:36.50
if you want to
look in your lesson.
00:20:36.53\00:20:37.87
It says,
"Faithful stewards carry out
00:20:37.90\00:20:39.53
their responsibilities
by watching and working
00:20:39.57\00:20:44.11
just as if their
master were present.
00:20:44.14\00:20:47.81
They live for the
future and faithfully work."
00:20:47.84\00:20:50.75
And I think that's really
key, they faithfully work.
00:20:50.78\00:20:53.45
What does it say? "Day-by-day."
00:20:53.48\00:20:56.58
It's a daily choice
and a daily process.
00:20:56.62\00:20:59.32
We're talking about
what do we do while we wait?
00:20:59.35\00:21:02.42
Luke 19, a couple of
chapters further on in Luke.
00:21:02.46\00:21:06.90
We were 12,
00:21:06.93\00:21:08.26
so Luke Chapter 19
and verse 13 says...
00:21:08.30\00:21:13.84
And it's the last part
00:21:13.87\00:21:15.20
I want to look at
but we'll start...
00:21:15.24\00:21:17.34
Yeah, yeah verse 13.
00:21:17.37\00:21:18.97
"And He called
his ten servants..."
00:21:19.01\00:21:20.88
This is a parable
that Jesus is talking
00:21:20.91\00:21:24.71
about here and says,
00:21:24.75\00:21:26.08
"And delivered them ten
pounds, and said unto them,
00:21:26.11\00:21:29.78
Occupy until I come."
00:21:29.82\00:21:32.22
Now the Greek word for Occupy
00:21:32.25\00:21:34.89
is to basically
keep yourself busy
00:21:34.92\00:21:38.29
or too busy oneself.
00:21:38.33\00:21:40.33
And I want to talk about
00:21:40.36\00:21:41.70
that just in the
next few minutes.
00:21:41.73\00:21:43.16
But I want to look
at, focus on the eternal.
00:21:43.20\00:21:46.43
You know, what
do we do as we wait?
00:21:46.47\00:21:48.70
We want to focus on the eternal.
00:21:48.74\00:21:50.34
And 2nd Corinthians 4:18.
00:21:50.37\00:21:54.11
My Bible is the
King James Version
00:21:54.14\00:21:55.64
but I actually wrote
down here from the NIV.
00:21:55.68\00:21:57.91
I liked what it said, but
2nd Corinthians 4:18 says,
00:21:57.95\00:22:00.88
"So we fix our eyes
00:22:00.92\00:22:02.88
not on what is seen
but on what is unseen."
00:22:02.92\00:22:07.76
It seems kind of
strange, doesn't it?
00:22:07.79\00:22:09.12
When you're looking at
something you can't see it,
00:22:09.16\00:22:10.86
quite seem to
make sense, does it?
00:22:10.89\00:22:12.23
But it says
00:22:12.26\00:22:13.60
"Since what is
seen is temporary."
00:22:13.63\00:22:15.36
That's where I think
00:22:15.40\00:22:16.73
we can get caught up
his things all around us
00:22:16.77\00:22:18.43
and what's going on
like our day-to-day lives,
00:22:18.47\00:22:20.34
we can get so caught up in that,
00:22:20.37\00:22:21.74
they were not thinking
about Christ soon return.
00:22:21.77\00:22:23.94
That's right. But
what is unseen is eternal.
00:22:23.97\00:22:27.28
"So we fix our eyes not on
00:22:27.31\00:22:28.64
what is seen but
on what is unseen,
00:22:28.68\00:22:30.58
since what is seen is temporary
but what is unseen is eternal."
00:22:30.61\00:22:35.82
I have some
Biblical examples of those
00:22:35.85\00:22:37.52
who focused on the eternal.
00:22:37.55\00:22:39.62
We have Abraham, Hebrews,
00:22:39.65\00:22:42.09
this all actually comes
from the Book of Hebrews.
00:22:42.12\00:22:44.13
It's kind of interesting.
00:22:44.16\00:22:45.49
Hebrews Chapter
11 verse 10 says,
00:22:45.53\00:22:47.63
"Abraham looked for..."
00:22:47.66\00:22:49.00
What?
00:22:49.03\00:22:50.37
"An Eternal City."
00:22:50.40\00:22:52.43
Paul who I believe
wrote the Book of Hebrews,
00:22:52.47\00:22:54.67
in Chapter 10 verse 25, says
"Looked for Christ's return."
00:22:54.70\00:23:00.08
Jesus mentioned, is
mentioned in Hebrews 12:2.
00:23:00.11\00:23:03.45
It says, "He endured
the cross because of..."
00:23:03.48\00:23:05.31
What?
00:23:05.35\00:23:06.68
"The joy that
was set before him."
00:23:06.72\00:23:09.75
That's correct.
00:23:09.78\00:23:11.12
Moses, Hebrews Chapter 12 verses
00:23:11.15\00:23:13.59
24 through 26 says,
00:23:13.62\00:23:15.99
"He endured by faith.
00:23:16.02\00:23:18.76
He had respect
00:23:18.79\00:23:20.63
unto the
recompense of the reward."
00:23:20.66\00:23:23.87
So how do I busy myself
or I keep myself occupied
00:23:23.90\00:23:27.67
while waiting for Christ return?
00:23:27.70\00:23:29.04
But at the same time,
00:23:29.07\00:23:30.41
we remain
focused on the eternal.
00:23:30.44\00:23:32.27
Let's look at
Titus. Titus Chapter 2.
00:23:32.31\00:23:39.21
Should be just be four Hebrews.
00:23:39.25\00:23:41.95
You have Titus,
Philemon and Hebrews.
00:23:41.98\00:23:43.49
Yeah.
00:23:43.52\00:23:45.05
Titus Chapter 2 verses...
00:23:45.09\00:23:48.19
Let's go 11 through 13.
00:23:48.22\00:23:51.26
"For the grace of God
00:23:51.29\00:23:52.63
that bring salvation
has appeared to all men."
00:23:52.66\00:23:56.67
That's right, Pastor.
00:23:56.70\00:23:58.03
"Teaching us that,
00:23:58.07\00:23:59.40
denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts,
00:23:59.43\00:24:03.41
we should live soberly."
00:24:03.44\00:24:05.21
This is how we
should live, "soberly,
00:24:05.24\00:24:07.98
righteously and godly
in this present world."
00:24:08.01\00:24:10.55
Verse 13, "Looking
for that blessed hope,"
00:24:10.58\00:24:14.48
Christ soon return,
00:24:14.52\00:24:16.15
"And the glorious appearing
00:24:16.18\00:24:17.79
of the great God our
Savior Jesus Christ."
00:24:17.82\00:24:22.36
From the Lesson I like this.
00:24:22.39\00:24:23.73
"Instead of peeking..."
00:24:23.76\00:24:25.79
I like that description.
00:24:25.83\00:24:27.16
"Instead of peeking now
00:24:27.20\00:24:28.53
and then and
casually glancing at prophecy,
00:24:28.56\00:24:31.43
we need to
continuously look, watch,
00:24:31.47\00:24:35.07
and do, always being
aware of the eternity
00:24:35.10\00:24:38.34
that awaits us
when Christ returns."
00:24:38.37\00:24:41.58
So be ready at anytime.
00:24:41.61\00:24:42.94
Matthew 24:44,
"Therefore be ye also ready,
00:24:42.98\00:24:46.01
for in such an hour as he
think not the Son of man comes."
00:24:46.05\00:24:49.65
So do we look for the
return of Jesus Christ?
00:24:49.68\00:24:51.52
Yes, we do. How do we do it?
00:24:51.55\00:24:53.19
We occupy our time
00:24:53.22\00:24:55.19
by, of course, doing
our day-to-day duties.
00:24:55.22\00:24:56.93
We don't want to be
just off, you know...
00:24:56.96\00:25:00.16
You know, we
need to be practical
00:25:00.20\00:25:01.53
but at the same time,
00:25:01.56\00:25:02.90
we need to always remember
that Christ can come quickly,
00:25:02.93\00:25:05.57
because we don't
know when our life may end
00:25:05.60\00:25:07.57
in a moment's notice,
00:25:07.60\00:25:08.94
we want to always be
ready for His return.
00:25:08.97\00:25:11.37
Amen and amen. Well done, Greg.
00:25:11.41\00:25:14.04
Well, so we're looking
at the habits of a steward
00:25:14.08\00:25:17.25
to seek God first,
00:25:17.28\00:25:19.31
to be looking and
thinking about His soon return.
00:25:19.35\00:25:23.99
And my day is Tuesday
and it is use time wisely.
00:25:24.02\00:25:30.16
Let's look at Job.
00:25:30.19\00:25:33.13
And we'll look at
Chapter 8 and verse 9.
00:25:33.16\00:25:35.50
The easy way, if you
don't know where Job is,
00:25:35.53\00:25:38.57
it's right before Psalms.
00:25:38.60\00:25:39.93
And the way you
can think of this is,
00:25:39.97\00:25:42.17
how appropriate
that after Job here came
00:25:42.20\00:25:45.97
those beautiful Psalms, right?
00:25:46.01\00:25:47.41
So it's right before Psalms.
00:25:47.44\00:25:49.41
And Job 8:9 says
00:25:49.44\00:25:51.48
"For we were born
yesterday and know nothing,
00:25:51.51\00:25:57.72
it's because our days
on earth are a shadow."
00:25:57.75\00:26:01.26
In the quarterly,
00:26:01.29\00:26:02.62
it says, you can stop a clock
but not the movement of time.
00:26:02.66\00:26:06.59
Time does not wait.
00:26:06.63\00:26:08.86
It keeps moving forward
00:26:08.90\00:26:10.23
even if we stand
still and do nothing.
00:26:10.27\00:26:13.13
So life is
short, life is fleeting.
00:26:13.17\00:26:16.50
It's like a vanishing shadow.
00:26:16.54\00:26:18.17
Let's look at how
precious our time is.
00:26:18.21\00:26:21.54
James 4:14,
00:26:21.58\00:26:22.91
would you take
that please, Jill?
00:26:22.94\00:26:24.28
Absolutely.
00:26:24.31\00:26:25.65
And, Greg, will you
take Psalms 90 and verse 10?
00:26:25.68\00:26:30.02
And then, let's see,
Mollie, 90 and verse 12.
00:26:30.05\00:26:33.86
And Pastor,
Psalms 39:4 and 5. Okay.
00:26:33.89\00:26:37.09
So let's look
Jill at James 4:14.
00:26:37.13\00:26:40.16
"Whereas you do not know
what will happen tomorrow.
00:26:40.20\00:26:42.46
For what is your life?
00:26:42.50\00:26:43.83
It is even a vapor that
appears for a little time
00:26:43.87\00:26:46.13
and then vanishes away."
00:26:46.17\00:26:47.94
So tomorrow is
uncertain. That's right.
00:26:47.97\00:26:51.87
The time is so brief.
00:26:51.91\00:26:53.38
We can not arrogantly predict
00:26:53.41\00:26:57.61
what is going to
be happening tomorrow.
00:26:57.65\00:26:59.71
Life is fragile, is it not?
00:26:59.75\00:27:01.85
A catastrophe,
00:27:01.88\00:27:03.22
an accident can happen in our...
00:27:03.25\00:27:05.99
He's saying that,
our life is like a vapor,
00:27:06.02\00:27:10.43
it's like a
little puff of smoke,
00:27:10.46\00:27:12.69
that's here and then it's gone.
00:27:12.73\00:27:14.96
So no matter how long we
live, when you think about this,
00:27:15.00\00:27:18.30
I don't care if
you live to be 110,
00:27:18.33\00:27:20.67
when you think about
the line of eternity,
00:27:20.70\00:27:24.41
the continuum of eternity,
00:27:24.44\00:27:26.71
the whole history of the world
00:27:26.74\00:27:28.58
will be this
little tiny pinprick
00:27:28.61\00:27:31.61
on that line and our life,
00:27:31.65\00:27:33.78
the time that we
spend on this earth
00:27:33.82\00:27:35.95
is insignificant
compared to eternity.
00:27:35.98\00:27:40.16
So what do we need to
do? Reassess our priorities.
00:27:40.19\00:27:44.39
Seek first the Kingdom of God,
00:27:44.43\00:27:46.76
make certain that
we're looking for,
00:27:46.80\00:27:49.20
the return of Christ.
00:27:49.23\00:27:50.57
Work diligently
to do God's will.
00:27:50.60\00:27:53.20
All right. Psalms 90:10.
00:27:53.23\00:27:55.57
Psalms 90:10 says,
00:27:55.60\00:27:56.94
"The days of our years
are threescore years and ten,
00:27:56.97\00:28:01.64
and if by reason of strength
they be fourscore years,
00:28:01.68\00:28:05.08
yet is their
strength, labor and sorrow,
00:28:05.11\00:28:07.92
for it is soon cut
off and we fly away."
00:28:07.95\00:28:10.59
So basically,
what this is saying is,
00:28:10.62\00:28:13.36
70 to 80 years
00:28:13.39\00:28:14.72
is the average
lifespan of most people.
00:28:14.76\00:28:17.13
And when we live beyond that,
00:28:17.16\00:28:18.93
there's little room to
boast because you become...
00:28:18.96\00:28:22.53
I mean, as we grow
older, we become more decrepit.
00:28:22.56\00:28:26.80
So there's
sorrow, there's labor.
00:28:26.84\00:28:29.50
So life even for the
Godly, there's blessings,
00:28:29.54\00:28:33.17
but there's adversities
00:28:33.21\00:28:34.54
because a life
without trials would lead us
00:28:34.58\00:28:37.38
to be too independent
of God, is what I think.
00:28:37.41\00:28:40.35
Mollie, Psalms 90:12.
00:28:40.38\00:28:42.85
"So teach us to number our days,
00:28:42.88\00:28:45.29
that we may apply
our hearts unto wisdom."
00:28:45.32\00:28:49.42
Teach us to number our days.
00:28:49.46\00:28:51.13
We need to weigh
and value each day
00:28:51.16\00:28:56.00
and use our time wisely.
00:28:56.03\00:28:57.83
Take into account
how brief life is.
00:28:57.87\00:29:00.77
The Lord once
spoke this into my heart.
00:29:00.80\00:29:05.27
He was teaching me
not to waste my life
00:29:05.31\00:29:07.71
but to invest my
life for eternity
00:29:07.74\00:29:10.05
and how He taught
me was by saying this.
00:29:10.08\00:29:13.48
"Time is life.
00:29:13.52\00:29:16.45
How you invest your time
is how you invest your life."
00:29:16.48\00:29:20.56
And I thought that
that was so amazing.
00:29:20.59\00:29:23.39
Psalms 39 verses 4 and 5.
00:29:23.43\00:29:27.90
"The Lord, make
me to know my end..."
00:29:27.93\00:29:30.57
"Lord, make me to know my end
00:29:30.60\00:29:32.77
and what is the
measure of my days,
00:29:32.80\00:29:35.67
that I may know how frail I am.
00:29:35.70\00:29:38.77
Indeed you have made
my days as handbreadths
00:29:38.81\00:29:42.98
and my age is as
nothing before you.
00:29:43.01\00:29:46.05
Certainly every man at
his best state is but vapor.
00:29:46.08\00:29:50.85
Selah."
00:29:50.89\00:29:52.22
Her best state,
00:29:52.25\00:29:53.59
were nothing more
than a puff of air.
00:29:53.62\00:29:55.52
I mean, no matter
how long that we live.
00:29:55.56\00:29:58.83
So earth...
00:29:58.86\00:30:00.90
I mean, our earthly life
will definitely come to an end,
00:30:00.93\00:30:04.10
should we not be
alive when Jesus returns.
00:30:04.13\00:30:06.94
But what we have to
think about here is that,
00:30:06.97\00:30:10.01
as time marches on
and we go to our grave,
00:30:10.04\00:30:12.97
the human accomplishments
00:30:13.01\00:30:14.54
that we've made
begin to fade away,
00:30:14.58\00:30:16.48
unless it's been something
for the glory of God, right?
00:30:16.51\00:30:19.61
That's right. So
here's some thoughts.
00:30:19.65\00:30:23.15
Time is limited.
It's un-renewable.
00:30:23.18\00:30:26.52
We need to be good
stewards of our time.
00:30:26.55\00:30:29.52
Time is a gift that
God has given to us.
00:30:29.56\00:30:32.83
So I think of myself.
00:30:32.86\00:30:34.66
JD will always tell me,
00:30:34.70\00:30:36.03
you're the most
productive person I know.
00:30:36.06\00:30:39.37
My schedule stays with...
00:30:39.40\00:30:41.40
As soon as I meet one
deadline, I've got the next one,
00:30:41.44\00:30:44.37
then the next
one, then the next one.
00:30:44.41\00:30:46.31
I'm not using my time wisely.
00:30:46.34\00:30:49.84
I may be getting
the most out of my time
00:30:49.88\00:30:52.61
but that doesn't mean
I'm using my time wisely.
00:30:52.65\00:30:55.15
We need to know,
00:30:55.18\00:30:56.89
you know, Jesus told
His disciples come aside
00:30:56.92\00:31:00.09
and rest for a while.
00:31:00.12\00:31:01.46
We can run
ourselves into the ground
00:31:01.49\00:31:04.06
even doing the work of the Lord.
00:31:04.09\00:31:06.23
And so the Lord,
00:31:06.26\00:31:07.60
as I was
looking at this thinking
00:31:07.63\00:31:09.30
I'm pretty good
at how I used my time
00:31:09.33\00:31:11.23
because I'm producing,
00:31:11.27\00:31:12.60
producing, producing,
that's not what God wants.
00:31:12.63\00:31:16.17
Listen to this from
Christ's Object Lessons.
00:31:16.20\00:31:19.54
"Our time belongs to
God, every moment is His.
00:31:19.57\00:31:22.28
And we are under the
most solemn obligation
00:31:22.31\00:31:25.58
to improve it to His glory.
00:31:25.61\00:31:27.38
Of no talent he has given,
00:31:27.42\00:31:29.55
will He require
more strict account
00:31:29.58\00:31:31.82
than of our time?"
00:31:31.85\00:31:33.79
The most strict account
00:31:33.82\00:31:35.46
that God is going to
demand and accounting for,
00:31:35.49\00:31:39.13
is how we used our time.
00:31:39.16\00:31:41.26
"The value of time
is beyond computation.
00:31:41.30\00:31:44.20
Christ regarded
every moment is precious
00:31:44.23\00:31:47.50
and it is thus that
we should regard it.
00:31:47.54\00:31:49.80
Life is too short
to be trifled away.
00:31:49.84\00:31:52.27
We have but a
few days of probation
00:31:52.31\00:31:53.98
in which to
prepare for eternity,
00:31:54.01\00:31:55.88
no time to waste,
00:31:55.91\00:31:57.25
no time to devote
to selfish pleasure,
00:31:57.28\00:31:59.51
no time for the
indulgence of sin."
00:31:59.55\00:32:01.98
But what we do have time for?
00:32:02.02\00:32:03.82
God has set aside,
00:32:03.85\00:32:05.19
a templing time
every seventh day.
00:32:05.22\00:32:08.02
He made certain that that time
00:32:08.06\00:32:11.16
would be a time that
we will spend with Him
00:32:11.19\00:32:13.43
and with our family.
00:32:13.46\00:32:15.03
You know, you
sometimes see pastors
00:32:15.06\00:32:17.50
who put the work of the church
00:32:17.53\00:32:20.50
before their
family, that's wrong.
00:32:20.54\00:32:22.84
You're investing
your time in a wrong way.
00:32:22.87\00:32:25.74
We need to prioritize God first,
00:32:25.77\00:32:28.14
then family and then the work.
00:32:28.18\00:32:30.78
And I'm speaking to
myself, I'm not a pastor,
00:32:30.81\00:32:33.08
but I'm speaking to myself
00:32:33.11\00:32:34.72
because there's so many times
00:32:34.75\00:32:36.52
that I let projects
come above the priority.
00:32:36.55\00:32:40.99
I mean, I let them be a priority
00:32:41.02\00:32:42.76
over spending time
with my own husband
00:32:42.79\00:32:44.79
and so I'm
talking to myself here.
00:32:44.83\00:32:47.70
Ephesians 5:16. Oh, excuse me.
00:32:47.73\00:32:50.40
Ephesians 5:15-16.
Boy, time just rushes away.
00:32:50.43\00:32:55.87
He says, Paul
writes to the Ephesians
00:32:55.90\00:32:59.31
and considering
the brevity of time.
00:32:59.34\00:33:01.81
He says, "See then that
you walked circumspectly,
00:33:01.84\00:33:05.91
not as fools but as wise,
00:33:05.95\00:33:08.12
redeeming the time
because the days are evil."
00:33:08.15\00:33:12.05
There's many words in the
Bible that are used for time
00:33:12.09\00:33:15.42
and it can be a day or an
hour, or an season, or an age,
00:33:15.46\00:33:18.89
but the most important word
is the word that is used here,
00:33:18.93\00:33:23.63
which is Kairos, K-A-I-R-O-S.
00:33:23.67\00:33:27.70
If you contrast that to
one of the words kronos.
00:33:27.74\00:33:30.51
Kronos is
talking about chronology,
00:33:30.54\00:33:33.98
things happening
one right after another,
00:33:34.01\00:33:36.44
you know, the
chronology of time.
00:33:36.48\00:33:38.81
But this word Kairos
means, it is a special time,
00:33:38.85\00:33:43.42
it is a time that is
especially significant
00:33:43.45\00:33:47.42
for special purpose.
00:33:47.46\00:33:48.82
Like when it said,
00:33:48.86\00:33:50.19
when his time had
come speaking of Jesus,
00:33:50.23\00:33:52.63
it's a special time.
00:33:52.66\00:33:54.00
So He's saying,
00:33:54.03\00:33:55.36
we are to redeem
this special time.
00:33:55.40\00:33:57.80
And I think that
what He's saying is,
00:33:57.83\00:33:59.93
we need to look around.
00:33:59.97\00:34:01.30
We need to give
prayerful attention
00:34:01.34\00:34:03.00
to what our circumstances
00:34:03.04\00:34:04.81
are and make the
most of every opportunity
00:34:04.84\00:34:07.98
that God gives us.
00:34:08.01\00:34:09.91
You might be in Walmart,
00:34:09.94\00:34:11.78
you might see someone in Walmart
00:34:11.81\00:34:13.72
that God just impress
00:34:13.75\00:34:15.75
upon you to go
pray with that person,
00:34:15.78\00:34:17.65
go pray with him
00:34:17.69\00:34:19.02
if he impresses that upon you.
00:34:19.05\00:34:21.46
To redeem the time
00:34:21.49\00:34:22.82
and make the most
of every opportunity,
00:34:22.86\00:34:25.93
the price is self-denial.
00:34:25.96\00:34:28.13
That's what it
cost to redeem the time.
00:34:28.16\00:34:30.77
And we have to
be ready to do that.
00:34:30.80\00:34:34.30
Time, it's not
neutral. It can...
00:34:34.34\00:34:36.94
If it's not being used for good,
00:34:36.97\00:34:38.81
it can be used for
evil and we certainly know
00:34:38.84\00:34:41.01
that the days are evil.
00:34:41.04\00:34:42.51
But we can redeem our
time from evil and use wisdom,
00:34:42.54\00:34:49.32
use care when we are considering
00:34:49.35\00:34:53.22
how we will spend
this most precious resource
00:34:53.25\00:34:56.56
that God has given to us.
00:34:56.59\00:34:58.53
Amen and amen. Wow, very good.
00:34:58.56\00:35:00.23
You know, we just
must not be short sighted.
00:35:00.26\00:35:03.50
This isn't all
there is. That's right.
00:35:03.53\00:35:05.90
It's what we do
00:35:05.93\00:35:07.27
with this short
time that we have,
00:35:07.30\00:35:10.04
that determines
our very eternity.
00:35:10.07\00:35:12.41
Amen. We must redeem our time.
00:35:12.44\00:35:14.84
Well, I have Wednesday.
00:35:14.88\00:35:17.25
And Wednesday is habit,
00:35:17.28\00:35:20.38
keeping a healthy
mind, body and soul.
00:35:20.42\00:35:25.05
Should have been mine.
00:35:25.09\00:35:27.82
You know, we were
originally created perfect.
00:35:27.86\00:35:31.89
Were we not?
00:35:31.93\00:35:33.26
Originally in the garden
where Adam and Eve, perfect?
00:35:33.29\00:35:36.73
They were perfect, mentally,
00:35:36.77\00:35:39.13
physically, spiritually, mind,
00:35:39.17\00:35:42.07
body and soul.
00:35:42.10\00:35:44.24
Sin ruined that.
00:35:44.27\00:35:47.04
Now we know it
was a spiritual fall.
00:35:47.08\00:35:49.34
Was there not?
00:35:49.38\00:35:50.71
They were walking in the
cool of the day with the Lord
00:35:50.75\00:35:53.68
and then they
were hiding themselves.
00:35:53.72\00:35:55.92
There was a
spiritual disconnect.
00:35:55.95\00:35:59.62
But do you know
physically and mentally,
00:35:59.65\00:36:04.69
we fail, humanity fail as well.
00:36:04.73\00:36:08.73
And now, there's good news.
00:36:08.76\00:36:12.87
And the good news is
that among other things,
00:36:12.90\00:36:17.21
God is in the
process of restoring
00:36:17.24\00:36:22.18
what we were meant to
be in the first place.
00:36:22.21\00:36:25.21
Now that's good
news. That is good news.
00:36:25.25\00:36:27.02
I want us to turn to
Acts, the 3rd Chapter.
00:36:27.05\00:36:31.05
We're going to look
at verses 19 through 21.
00:36:31.09\00:36:35.29
Acts Chapter 3:19-21.
00:36:35.32\00:36:39.63
This scripture
says, "Repent, therefore,
00:36:39.66\00:36:42.13
and be converted
00:36:42.16\00:36:43.77
that your sins
maybe blotted out,
00:36:43.80\00:36:46.70
so that the times of refreshing
00:36:46.74\00:36:49.14
may come from the
presence of the Lord.
00:36:49.17\00:36:53.41
And that he may
sinned, Jesus Christ,
00:36:53.44\00:36:57.11
who was preached to you
00:36:57.15\00:36:58.48
before whom
heaven must receive."
00:36:58.51\00:37:01.98
Now let's look at
that word receive.
00:37:02.02\00:37:04.42
That word receives
means to retain or keep,
00:37:04.45\00:37:10.03
whom the heavens must keep.
00:37:10.06\00:37:13.80
But there's until,
until is a time space word.
00:37:13.83\00:37:17.67
Heaven is going to keep Jesus,
00:37:17.70\00:37:20.40
retain Him until the times
00:37:20.44\00:37:24.11
of restoration of all things.
00:37:24.14\00:37:27.21
How many things are
going to be restored?
00:37:27.24\00:37:29.68
All things which God
has spoken by the mouth
00:37:29.71\00:37:32.98
of all His holy
prophets since the world began.
00:37:33.01\00:37:37.15
We are in a process
00:37:37.19\00:37:39.22
and it's called a
restoration process,
00:37:39.25\00:37:44.03
mind, body and
thank the Lord, soul,
00:37:44.06\00:37:48.70
mentally,
physically and spiritually.
00:37:48.73\00:37:51.30
Now total restoration.
00:37:51.33\00:37:54.97
Jill, if you have...
00:37:55.00\00:37:56.54
Let's say you've
got antique chest
00:37:56.57\00:38:01.08
and you're going to restore it.
00:38:01.11\00:38:03.58
What does that mean?
What does restoration mean?
00:38:03.61\00:38:06.98
Bring it back to
its original quality.
00:38:07.02\00:38:09.28
She said that perfectly.
00:38:09.32\00:38:11.32
Bring it back to
its original condition.
00:38:11.35\00:38:16.19
So this restoration process
00:38:16.22\00:38:18.79
that we are in is to
bring us back to, what?
00:38:18.83\00:38:22.43
To our original condition.
00:38:22.46\00:38:25.23
Now what was our
original condition?
00:38:25.27\00:38:28.04
That would be Genesis 1:31,
00:38:28.07\00:38:30.91
you don't have to turn to that
00:38:30.94\00:38:32.81
because most people
know this scripture.
00:38:32.84\00:38:35.98
"Then God saw
everything that He had made,
00:38:36.01\00:38:40.55
indeed it was very good."
00:38:40.58\00:38:44.85
Saw the evening and the morning,
00:38:44.89\00:38:46.22
were the sixth day."
00:38:46.25\00:38:47.72
God had created
everything and it was very good.
00:38:47.76\00:38:53.66
Christ worked tirelessly
00:38:53.70\00:38:57.07
while He was here
to lift humanity up
00:38:57.10\00:39:00.60
in all areas of our lives,
00:39:00.64\00:39:03.04
spiritually,
mentally and physically,
00:39:03.07\00:39:06.61
mind, body and soul.
00:39:06.64\00:39:09.74
So that, Acts 10:38,
00:39:09.78\00:39:12.15
you can turn to
that if you want to.
00:39:12.18\00:39:14.12
Acts 10:38.
00:39:14.15\00:39:16.79
The scripture tells us
00:39:16.82\00:39:20.16
how God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth
00:39:20.19\00:39:24.49
with the Holy
Spirit and with power
00:39:24.53\00:39:27.73
who went about doing good
00:39:27.76\00:39:30.67
and healing all
who were oppressed
00:39:30.70\00:39:33.03
by the devil,
for God was with him.
00:39:33.07\00:39:35.90
We were created perfect.
00:39:35.94\00:39:40.74
Adam and Eve were perfect.
00:39:40.78\00:39:43.18
Then there was the fall
and we fail in all areas,
00:39:43.21\00:39:47.22
mind, body and soul, mentally,
physically, spiritually,
00:39:47.25\00:39:51.75
there was a fall.
00:39:51.79\00:39:53.12
Christ in His coming...
00:39:53.15\00:39:55.22
What He...
00:39:55.26\00:39:56.59
He spend his time
doing, was ministering
00:39:56.62\00:40:00.80
and lifting
humanity up spiritually,
00:40:00.83\00:40:05.30
mentally and physically.
00:40:05.33\00:40:07.74
Everywhere Jesus went,
00:40:07.77\00:40:09.97
people were
healed, were they not?
00:40:10.01\00:40:12.97
Jesus went about doing good
00:40:13.01\00:40:14.94
and healing all that
were oppressed of the devil.
00:40:14.98\00:40:18.71
Now I want us to
turn to Isaiah Chapter 53.
00:40:18.75\00:40:22.92
Isaiah 53:5.
00:40:22.95\00:40:25.89
You know what Isaiah tells us?
00:40:25.92\00:40:28.62
That, what was
accomplished for us
00:40:28.66\00:40:32.46
at the crucifixion of Christ...
00:40:32.49\00:40:34.93
Isaiah tells us
what Christ accomplished,
00:40:34.96\00:40:39.03
roam out for us at Calvary.
00:40:39.07\00:40:42.04
Isaiah 53:5,
00:40:42.07\00:40:45.27
"But He was wounded for our..."
00:40:45.31\00:40:47.68
Transgression.
00:40:47.71\00:40:49.04
What are
transgressions? Our sins.
00:40:49.08\00:40:51.21
Sins.
00:40:51.25\00:40:53.11
He was wounded to
heal us spiritually.
00:40:53.15\00:40:57.99
"He was bruised
for our iniquities."
00:40:58.02\00:41:00.72
What are
iniquities? Cherished sins.
00:41:00.76\00:41:03.49
Cherished sins. Immorality.
00:41:03.53\00:41:06.56
"The chastisement of
our peace was upon Him."
00:41:06.59\00:41:10.87
What is the
chastisement of our peace?
00:41:10.90\00:41:13.37
That would mean our
mental wellbeing was upon Him,
00:41:13.40\00:41:18.24
and by His stripes we
are healed physically.
00:41:18.27\00:41:23.24
So there we see at the cross,
00:41:23.28\00:41:25.51
where all three
areas taken care of,
00:41:25.55\00:41:30.02
spiritually,
mentally and physically.
00:41:30.05\00:41:33.29
It was accomplished at Calvary.
00:41:33.32\00:41:36.12
It's so important to Christ
00:41:36.16\00:41:39.59
that we are healed
in all three areas,
00:41:39.63\00:41:43.00
all three areas.
00:41:43.03\00:41:44.57
He died to
accomplish this for us.
00:41:44.60\00:41:48.94
Thus, here is the
teaching that we have today,
00:41:48.97\00:41:52.47
habits of a good steward
00:41:52.51\00:41:54.68
and its habits for us
to form in all three areas.
00:41:54.71\00:41:58.71
If it was so
important to Christ,
00:41:58.75\00:42:00.98
shouldn't it be important to us?
00:42:01.02\00:42:02.95
It was important enough to Him
00:42:02.98\00:42:05.15
that He would lay down His life,
00:42:05.19\00:42:07.66
then we need to form habits
00:42:07.69\00:42:10.06
as good stewards
to develop areas,
00:42:10.09\00:42:14.10
mind, body and soul
00:42:14.13\00:42:16.90
that would promote
a healthy lifestyle.
00:42:16.93\00:42:19.57
Jill, I loved
what you called it,
00:42:19.60\00:42:22.00
natural inclinations.
00:42:22.04\00:42:24.04
Natural habit is a
natural inclination,
00:42:24.07\00:42:27.94
a natural
inclination for us to be healthy
00:42:27.98\00:42:32.81
and for us to
have good mental acuity
00:42:32.85\00:42:35.52
and spiritually strong.
00:42:35.55\00:42:38.55
For a new behavior
to become automatically,
00:42:38.59\00:42:41.39
it takes about 66 days
00:42:41.42\00:42:45.39
and for the new
behavior to become a habit,
00:42:45.43\00:42:48.43
can vary widely depending
on the behavior of the person
00:42:48.46\00:42:51.63
in the circumstance.
00:42:51.67\00:42:53.00
So what I wanted to do
was be able to tell you,
00:42:53.03\00:42:55.47
if you will do this for 66 days,
00:42:55.50\00:42:58.61
then you're going to
develop a new behavior,
00:42:58.64\00:43:02.18
but a new behavior
must then become a habit.
00:43:02.21\00:43:05.41
And I wanted to say,
00:43:05.45\00:43:06.78
"No, 10 more days
and you got your habit."
00:43:06.82\00:43:08.95
But it's not that cut and dried.
00:43:08.98\00:43:11.45
It depends on what the thing is.
00:43:11.49\00:43:13.66
But here is what I
want us to look at.
00:43:13.69\00:43:16.22
For us to have new
behaviors for our minds,
00:43:16.26\00:43:19.63
that would be Philippians 4:8.
00:43:19.66\00:43:21.73
As a matter of fact, Jill,
00:43:21.76\00:43:23.10
I want you to
read Philippians 4:8.
00:43:23.13\00:43:26.74
Shelley, will you
read Proverbs 14:30?
00:43:26.77\00:43:31.01
And, Pastor John,
00:43:31.04\00:43:32.61
if you will read
3rd John 1 and 2?
00:43:32.64\00:43:38.31
We're looking at our mind,
00:43:38.35\00:43:39.88
how to develop the new habits
or new behaviors for our minds.
00:43:39.91\00:43:44.62
Jill, Philippians 4:8.
00:43:44.65\00:43:46.35
"Finally, Brethren,
whatsoever things are true,
00:43:46.39\00:43:48.56
whatsoever things are noble,
whatsoever things are just,
00:43:48.59\00:43:51.73
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
00:43:51.76\00:43:55.16
whatsoever things
are of good report?
00:43:55.20\00:43:57.63
If there is any
virtue, if there is any praise,
00:43:57.67\00:44:00.67
meditate on these things."
00:44:00.70\00:44:02.87
And, Greg.
00:44:02.90\00:44:05.07
Shelley? Shelley.
00:44:05.11\00:44:06.44
Shelley. Me.
00:44:06.47\00:44:07.81
Proverbs 14:30.
00:44:07.84\00:44:09.58
"A second heart..."
00:44:09.61\00:44:10.95
Excuse me,
00:44:10.98\00:44:12.31
"A sound heart
is life to the body
00:44:12.35\00:44:14.02
but envy is
rottenness to the bones."
00:44:14.05\00:44:16.62
And I will...
00:44:16.65\00:44:17.99
Greg, I meant to
give you Isaiah 26:3,
00:44:18.02\00:44:20.02
but let me just
read that to you.
00:44:20.06\00:44:22.42
"You will keep
him in perfect peace,
00:44:22.46\00:44:25.53
whose mind is stayed on
you, because He trusts in you."
00:44:25.56\00:44:30.13
And, Pastor Lomacang, I
think you have 3rd John 1-2.
00:44:30.17\00:44:34.60
Okay.
00:44:34.64\00:44:35.97
To the 3rd John,
just verse one and two.
00:44:36.00\00:44:38.24
Okay.
00:44:38.27\00:44:39.61
"To the beloved
Gaius whom I love in truth.
00:44:39.64\00:44:43.18
Beloved, I pray
00:44:43.21\00:44:44.58
that you may
prosper in all things
00:44:44.61\00:44:46.31
and be in health just
as your soul prospers."
00:44:46.35\00:44:49.82
Okay. And 1st
Thessalonians 5:23.
00:44:49.85\00:44:53.22
"Now may the
God of Peace himself
00:44:53.25\00:44:55.62
sanctify you completely
00:44:55.66\00:44:57.73
and may your whole
spirit and soul and body
00:44:57.76\00:45:02.03
be preserved blameless
00:45:02.06\00:45:04.13
at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:45:04.17\00:45:06.43
We develop new
patterns of behavior
00:45:06.47\00:45:11.07
by spending time in God's Word,
00:45:11.11\00:45:13.24
allowing Him to
change those things
00:45:13.27\00:45:15.51
that are important to us.
00:45:15.54\00:45:16.88
Don't be short sighted.
This isn't all there is.
00:45:16.91\00:45:19.85
There is an
eternity to be gained.
00:45:19.88\00:45:22.68
Lomacang? Amen.
Thank you, Mollie.
00:45:22.72\00:45:24.05
Thank you all for
preparing the table,
00:45:24.09\00:45:28.39
putting all the vegetables on
00:45:28.42\00:45:29.76
and now it comes to
me and I can eat it.
00:45:29.79\00:45:33.23
Habit, self
discipline. March 22nd.
00:45:33.26\00:45:38.57
You know, discipline not desire,
00:45:38.60\00:45:40.00
determines our destiny.
00:45:40.04\00:45:42.37
Discipline not desire,
determines our destiny.
00:45:42.40\00:45:44.21
Yeah, that's good.
00:45:44.24\00:45:45.57
And when I
thought about this lesson,
00:45:45.61\00:45:48.71
you know, in a society,
00:45:48.74\00:45:50.81
in the vacuum that
we live in here at 3ABN.
00:45:50.85\00:45:54.32
Let me just quote
and draw in briefly.
00:45:54.35\00:45:57.35
What we need
00:45:57.39\00:45:58.72
more than anything
else is self-discipline,
00:45:58.75\00:46:01.22
because every day
something new comes our way.
00:46:01.26\00:46:03.93
I mean, Shelley just...
00:46:03.96\00:46:05.29
As the director
of new programming,
00:46:05.33\00:46:08.36
you know that.
00:46:08.40\00:46:09.86
And Mollie, each
one of us has hats that,
00:46:09.90\00:46:13.84
when we go home sometimes
00:46:13.87\00:46:15.50
we figure out which
one do we wear today.
00:46:15.54\00:46:18.47
So self-discipline,
sometimes discipline
00:46:18.51\00:46:21.14
could be as
simple as saying, no.
00:46:21.18\00:46:24.01
Sometimes discipline
00:46:24.05\00:46:25.38
could be as
gritty as saying, yes.
00:46:25.41\00:46:29.28
But discipline also
comes with something else,
00:46:29.32\00:46:32.42
because we're
talk about habit here,
00:46:32.45\00:46:34.19
habit and discipline together.
00:46:34.22\00:46:35.56
Habit is stronger than
reason. Why should I do this?
00:46:35.59\00:46:41.03
If I make a decision
about what I'm going to do
00:46:41.06\00:46:43.20
and I repeat that
discipline over and over again,
00:46:43.23\00:46:46.33
it becomes a habit.
00:46:46.37\00:46:47.70
A habit becomes a character.
A character becomes a destiny.
00:46:47.74\00:46:53.21
But the singular
act and the thing
00:46:53.24\00:46:55.64
that oftentimes works against us
00:46:55.68\00:46:57.88
is because
00:46:57.91\00:46:59.25
we are sometimes
motivated to get started
00:46:59.28\00:47:01.28
but its habits
that's gonna keep us going.
00:47:01.32\00:47:04.35
So motivation,
habit, self-discipline,
00:47:04.39\00:47:08.02
all these things
are determining factors
00:47:08.06\00:47:09.62
as to what our
future is going to be.
00:47:09.66\00:47:11.56
So when the
author of this lesson
00:47:11.59\00:47:13.66
or the authors of this lesson,
00:47:13.70\00:47:15.33
they pointed out
in the very beginning
00:47:15.36\00:47:17.83
of Thursday, March 22nd says,
00:47:17.87\00:47:21.54
"Self-discipline
00:47:21.57\00:47:24.31
is one of the most
important character traits
00:47:24.34\00:47:27.31
a steward can have."
00:47:27.34\00:47:29.78
And 2nd Timothy 1:7
00:47:29.81\00:47:32.68
in the NIV
communicates you this way.
00:47:32.71\00:47:35.82
"For God did not give
us a spirit of timidity
00:47:35.85\00:47:41.22
but a spirit of power,
00:47:41.26\00:47:43.32
of love and of self-discipline
or of a sound mind."
00:47:43.36\00:47:47.60
God did not give
us a spirit of fear
00:47:47.63\00:47:49.26
but of power of
love and of a sound mind.
00:47:49.30\00:47:51.03
I like that one better
because I'm used to that.
00:47:51.07\00:47:53.64
You know, we're used to that.
00:47:53.67\00:47:55.00
Because
timidity, it seem like...
00:47:55.04\00:47:57.17
But fear is a different word.
00:47:57.21\00:47:58.91
He's not given
us a spirit of fear.
00:47:58.94\00:48:00.28
Fear to me is greater
than just being timid.
00:48:00.31\00:48:03.65
But of power of
love and of a sound mind,
00:48:03.68\00:48:06.82
a good friend of ours,
many of you know her, Monic,
00:48:06.85\00:48:09.42
used to work here.
00:48:09.45\00:48:10.79
I was so thrilled.
00:48:10.82\00:48:12.99
Monic has been
stretching herself in areas
00:48:13.02\00:48:15.02
that most of us
wouldn't even think of
00:48:15.06\00:48:17.13
and just
recently she jumped out,
00:48:17.16\00:48:18.63
she went to skydiving.
00:48:18.66\00:48:20.00
Oh, wow.
00:48:20.03\00:48:21.36
And you skydive at a
maximum of 12,000 feet,
00:48:21.40\00:48:23.67
at 13,000 feet, you need oxygen.
00:48:23.70\00:48:26.40
So she did a tandem skydive
00:48:26.43\00:48:27.94
and I saw the
picture of her on Facebook
00:48:27.97\00:48:29.90
with a hand stretched wide
and the earth beneath her feet.
00:48:29.94\00:48:34.04
And she said, it was
a great, great feeling.
00:48:34.08\00:48:36.75
How many of us
would do that? Me.
00:48:36.78\00:48:39.31
I mean, I'd love to
do that, but, you know,
00:48:39.35\00:48:41.32
when you jump out of the plane
00:48:41.35\00:48:42.68
and here is
where habit comes in.
00:48:42.72\00:48:45.19
When you jump out of a
plane, there is no going back.
00:48:45.22\00:48:49.12
That's right.
00:48:49.16\00:48:50.49
But that first act of starting
00:48:50.53\00:48:53.53
to develop a new habit is
where, it is irreversible.
00:48:53.56\00:48:58.60
When you jump out or
when you decide to dive
00:48:58.63\00:49:00.77
into something to
create a new habit,
00:49:00.80\00:49:03.04
there's no going back.
00:49:03.07\00:49:04.67
You may live with regret.
00:49:04.71\00:49:06.68
And I have a saying
here that really makes...
00:49:06.71\00:49:10.28
This is very,
very, very powerful.
00:49:10.31\00:49:14.75
"The pain of self-discipline
00:49:14.78\00:49:18.65
will never be as great
as the pain of regret."
00:49:18.69\00:49:21.19
Amen. I like that.
00:49:21.22\00:49:23.93
So should I have
jumped out of this plane?
00:49:23.96\00:49:27.10
I've heard some
horrible stories of people
00:49:27.13\00:49:28.53
that went skydiving.
00:49:28.56\00:49:29.90
A young lady
00:49:29.93\00:49:31.27
who was skydiving
in Lodi, California,
00:49:31.30\00:49:34.47
and it was a solo skydiving,
00:49:34.50\00:49:36.00
and her chute didn't open
and she landed on the Vineyard,
00:49:36.04\00:49:38.51
while the rest of
the story is obvious.
00:49:38.54\00:49:40.51
But the pain of self-discipline
00:49:40.54\00:49:45.61
is not as great as
the pain of regret.
00:49:45.65\00:49:48.52
So when we...
00:49:48.55\00:49:49.88
When we think
about self-discipline,
00:49:49.92\00:49:52.69
it's the ability to do
00:49:52.72\00:49:55.96
what must be done
and not to deviate.
00:49:55.99\00:49:59.46
The ability to do
00:49:59.49\00:50:00.83
what must be done
and not to deviate.
00:50:00.86\00:50:02.23
And I'll be honest with you.
00:50:02.26\00:50:04.30
Sometimes we live
00:50:04.33\00:50:05.73
with what I might refer to
as a spirit of entitlement.
00:50:05.77\00:50:10.37
I've worked
hard. I have this time.
00:50:10.41\00:50:13.78
I'm just gonna do what
I want to do right now,
00:50:13.81\00:50:15.64
I really worked hard.
00:50:15.68\00:50:17.01
And sometimes we take
what I want to do to a level
00:50:17.05\00:50:19.41
that we think,
00:50:19.45\00:50:20.78
"Wow, I mean, I
really overdid it,"
00:50:20.82\00:50:22.55
or I shouldn't have
done what I've done,
00:50:22.58\00:50:24.15
but I thought of
myself as being entitled
00:50:24.19\00:50:26.86
to this free time to
do what I wanted to do.
00:50:26.89\00:50:29.06
And that comes in all
the areas we talked about.
00:50:29.09\00:50:30.69
Sometimes entitled to
spend the money we don't have,
00:50:30.73\00:50:34.10
sometimes to go on a
vacation we can afford,
00:50:34.13\00:50:36.40
sometimes to purchase an
item that we don't really need,
00:50:36.43\00:50:39.57
whatever that may be,
self-discipline is important
00:50:39.60\00:50:43.00
because
self-discipline teaches us
00:50:43.04\00:50:44.87
to govern our actions
in a principal manner.
00:50:44.91\00:50:48.94
It teaches us to govern
our actions in a principle
00:50:48.98\00:50:51.61
not in a feeling.
00:50:51.65\00:50:52.98
And when
principle guides the way,
00:50:53.01\00:50:54.58
the moment will never override.
00:50:54.62\00:50:56.25
My wife and I have developed
a way to go to Best Buy
00:50:56.28\00:50:59.85
with principles,
00:50:59.89\00:51:01.22
because Best Buy,
you know, Black Friday,
00:51:01.26\00:51:02.59
gray Friday,
whatever they may call it.
00:51:02.62\00:51:03.96
Now it's
becoming Black Thursday,
00:51:03.99\00:51:05.83
used to be open on
early Friday morning.
00:51:05.86\00:51:07.20
There's some people
00:51:07.23\00:51:08.56
who are so determined
to get that next thing
00:51:08.60\00:51:10.47
and I'm looking at
that, they spend the night,
00:51:10.50\00:51:13.07
they camp out two
days ahead or week ahead,
00:51:13.10\00:51:16.04
because they
have this perception
00:51:16.07\00:51:17.51
that the moment that door opens,
00:51:17.54\00:51:18.94
there's something
00:51:18.97\00:51:20.31
that I'm gonna be
able to get access
00:51:20.34\00:51:21.84
to that no one
else will get access to.
00:51:21.88\00:51:25.25
Why if people have
that self-discipline
00:51:25.28\00:51:26.82
about eternity?
00:51:26.85\00:51:28.18
Amen. Wow.
00:51:28.22\00:51:30.39
How badly and I
think about this.
00:51:30.42\00:51:32.25
I am a person
who has had a habit,
00:51:32.29\00:51:34.49
and this is a good one,
00:51:34.52\00:51:35.86
over the last six, seven years,
00:51:35.89\00:51:37.89
I really,
really loved astronomy.
00:51:37.93\00:51:40.20
And I have on my
iPad a few software apps
00:51:40.23\00:51:45.30
that I love to use
when I turn the lights off.
00:51:45.33\00:51:49.07
And it is designed
00:51:49.10\00:51:50.47
when I just got most
recent one about satellites.
00:51:50.51\00:51:53.34
And it's designed in such a way,
00:51:53.38\00:51:54.71
you could find every satellite
that circles the earth.
00:51:54.74\00:51:57.01
And so when you turn the
light off in your bedroom,
00:51:57.05\00:51:58.38
you lean in
different directions,
00:51:58.41\00:52:00.05
and tells me when that satellite
00:52:00.08\00:52:01.92
is going to come around again,
00:52:01.95\00:52:03.39
how long the rotation
00:52:03.42\00:52:04.75
of that
satellite is going to be.
00:52:04.79\00:52:06.49
And I thought about that,
about missed opportunities.
00:52:06.52\00:52:09.59
When will that
opportunity come around again?
00:52:09.62\00:52:11.33
That's good.
00:52:11.36\00:52:12.69
You know, when will it
rotate in your direction?
00:52:12.73\00:52:15.76
And I thought as of those...
00:52:15.80\00:52:17.47
for those of us who
in Southern Illinois,
00:52:17.50\00:52:19.40
we just had an
event a few months ago
00:52:19.43\00:52:21.90
where we had a total eclipse,
00:52:21.94\00:52:23.67
one of the best
places to be was here
00:52:23.71\00:52:25.04
in Southern Illinois,
in Makanda, particularly,
00:52:25.07\00:52:28.41
in Makanda particularly.
00:52:28.44\00:52:30.75
And now to know that
in the next seven years,
00:52:30.78\00:52:32.58
we're gonna have another
event in the same small town.
00:52:32.61\00:52:36.62
What are the chances?
Well, you think about that.
00:52:36.65\00:52:39.05
In life, if you look
at the life of Christ,
00:52:39.09\00:52:41.36
there are many instances
00:52:41.39\00:52:42.72
where coming
through a particular town,
00:52:42.76\00:52:44.96
when the woman who was bleeding
for many years was healed,
00:52:44.99\00:52:47.20
that was the last journey
of Jesus through that town.
00:52:47.23\00:52:50.33
And you find in many instances.
00:52:50.37\00:52:52.30
When the lepers
said, "Have mercy on us,"
00:52:52.33\00:52:54.67
that was the last journey
of Jesus through that town.
00:52:54.70\00:52:57.64
He wasn't coming back.
00:52:57.67\00:52:59.07
But these are the opportunities
00:52:59.11\00:53:00.81
where self-discipline
becomes imperative for us
00:53:00.84\00:53:03.68
to be able to develop.
00:53:03.71\00:53:05.05
So I've put some things together
00:53:05.08\00:53:07.62
that I believe will help
us develop self-discipline.
00:53:07.65\00:53:11.75
Let's go to Hebrews 5:14.
00:53:11.79\00:53:16.02
We have to...
00:53:16.06\00:53:18.73
In order for us to
be able to get here,
00:53:18.76\00:53:20.50
we have to be able to know that.
00:53:20.53\00:53:21.90
The Bible says,
00:53:21.93\00:53:23.26
"But solid food belongs
to those who are of full age,
00:53:23.30\00:53:26.43
that is, those
who by reason of use."
00:53:26.47\00:53:30.14
That's constant practice.
00:53:30.17\00:53:31.84
"Have their senses exercise
to discern both good and evil."
00:53:31.87\00:53:36.51
You know,
there's something's now,
00:53:36.54\00:53:37.88
Mollie, I'm sure.
00:53:37.91\00:53:39.25
As we're older,
00:53:39.28\00:53:42.28
we say, "If I had only
known then what I know now..."
00:53:42.32\00:53:47.62
I think everybody say,
00:53:47.66\00:53:48.99
"I would have
done things, what?"
00:53:49.02\00:53:50.36
Differently. Different.
00:53:50.39\00:53:51.73
If I had all the
known then, what I know now,
00:53:51.76\00:53:54.16
I would have done
things differently.
00:53:54.20\00:53:56.13
But we're living
in an information age
00:53:56.16\00:53:57.50
and Shelley talked about this.
00:53:57.53\00:53:58.87
We're living in
an information age
00:53:58.90\00:54:00.24
where it's important
00:54:00.27\00:54:01.60
to really, really,
really research something
00:54:01.64\00:54:02.97
before we dive into it.
00:54:03.00\00:54:04.47
So the point being
made here is guidance,
00:54:04.51\00:54:07.21
pray for guidance to
discern good and evil.
00:54:07.24\00:54:09.41
Yes. In the Word of God.
00:54:09.44\00:54:10.78
Instead of saying,
00:54:10.81\00:54:12.15
"How does this
feel and whether or not
00:54:12.18\00:54:13.52
this is what I want."
00:54:13.55\00:54:14.88
Pray for guidance
and God will guide you.
00:54:14.92\00:54:16.25
Another one,
Shelley go to Ezekiel 44:23.
00:54:16.28\00:54:21.12
And the other one is James 1:5.
00:54:21.16\00:54:27.10
Greg, go there for me. Yeah.
00:54:27.13\00:54:29.70
And then one more, I'm
gonna try to get this in,
00:54:29.73\00:54:31.83
which I'm gonna do it.
00:54:31.87\00:54:33.20
Because in this
case self-discipline
00:54:33.23\00:54:34.64
just went out the window.
00:54:34.67\00:54:36.44
But let's go ahead
hit that for me, Shelley,
00:54:36.47\00:54:37.81
Ezekiel 44:23.
00:54:37.84\00:54:39.17
Ezekiel 44:23, "And
they shall teach my people
00:54:39.21\00:54:41.44
the difference between
the holy and the unholy,
00:54:41.48\00:54:44.48
and cause them to discern
00:54:44.51\00:54:46.21
between the
unclean and the clean."
00:54:46.25\00:54:48.75
So the Lord will
give us discernment.
00:54:48.78\00:54:50.82
And that's where
self-discipline discerned.
00:54:50.85\00:54:52.85
And I like the
stories in the Bible.
00:54:52.89\00:54:54.22
I'll make some references here.
00:54:54.26\00:54:55.79
Daniel, when he was
faced with the decision
00:54:55.82\00:54:58.66
to eat the king's food,
he purposed in his heart.
00:54:58.69\00:55:01.66
That's right.
00:55:01.70\00:55:03.03
But that purpose
didn't come at that moment,
00:55:03.06\00:55:04.63
it was a practice from the
time he was the young person.
00:55:04.67\00:55:07.57
The three Hebrews
on the plain of Dura,
00:55:07.60\00:55:09.54
they said, we were
friends, Nebuchadnezzar,
00:55:09.57\00:55:11.37
but I'm not gonna
00:55:11.41\00:55:12.74
even talk to you
about this matter."
00:55:12.77\00:55:14.11
Because before
they were captives,
00:55:14.14\00:55:15.48
they made up their mind
00:55:15.51\00:55:16.85
in their
training as young children
00:55:16.88\00:55:18.61
to determine not to violate
00:55:18.65\00:55:20.05
any of the commandments of God.
00:55:20.08\00:55:21.95
Which one did I give
you? Oh, Hebrews, James.
00:55:21.98\00:55:24.79
James 1:5. Okay. Hebrew, James.
00:55:24.82\00:55:26.15
Sorry. Okay.
00:55:26.19\00:55:27.52
1 verse 5 says," If
any of you lack wisdom,
00:55:27.56\00:55:29.22
let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally,
00:55:29.26\00:55:32.93
and upbraideth not,
and it shall be given him."
00:55:32.96\00:55:35.56
Okay.
00:55:35.60\00:55:36.93
And Benjamin Franklin
says this, think about this.
00:55:36.97\00:55:39.30
"Your net worth to the
world is usually determined
00:55:39.33\00:55:42.30
by what remains
after your bad habits
00:55:42.34\00:55:44.57
are subtracted
from your good one."
00:55:44.61\00:55:47.88
That's good. From
Benjamin Franklin?
00:55:47.91\00:55:49.24
Your net worth,
what's your net worth?
00:55:49.28\00:55:51.28
If you subtract your bad
habits from your good ones,
00:55:51.31\00:55:53.58
what's your net worth?
00:55:53.62\00:55:54.95
There you go. Amen.
00:55:54.98\00:55:56.32
Thank you so
much each one of you.
00:55:56.35\00:55:57.69
Pastor John,
00:55:57.72\00:55:59.05
discipline not desire
determines our destiny.
00:55:59.09\00:56:01.19
Mollie, we are
00:56:01.22\00:56:02.56
in the restoration
process of body, mind and soul.
00:56:02.59\00:56:05.53
Shelley, time is not
neutral and redeem the time.
00:56:05.56\00:56:08.86
And, Greg, we are
to occupy till I come
00:56:08.90\00:56:11.23
and focus on the eternal
00:56:11.27\00:56:12.63
as we look for
the return of Jesus.
00:56:12.67\00:56:14.40
I want to give each
one of you a moment,
00:56:14.44\00:56:16.20
just a few seconds,
00:56:16.24\00:56:17.57
share a key
thought from your day.
00:56:17.61\00:56:19.77
Well, I think for me is exactly
what you were saying is that,
00:56:19.81\00:56:22.08
actually focus that
Christ is coming soon
00:56:22.11\00:56:24.91
and do everything I
can for His soon return.
00:56:24.95\00:56:26.55
Amen. Shelley?
00:56:26.58\00:56:27.92
Time is life, how
you invest your time
00:56:27.95\00:56:29.88
is how you invest your life.
00:56:29.92\00:56:32.69
And the Lord Jesus
Christ loves you so much
00:56:32.72\00:56:35.69
that He died on
the cross for you
00:56:35.72\00:56:38.16
to be reform
mentally, physically,
00:56:38.19\00:56:40.86
and restored mentally,
physically and emotionally.
00:56:40.90\00:56:43.63
Take that seriously.
00:56:43.67\00:56:45.90
And simply, who
you are going to be,
00:56:45.93\00:56:48.00
you are now becoming.
00:56:48.04\00:56:49.40
Oh, that's good. Oh, amen.
00:56:49.44\00:56:52.34
Who you are going to
be, you are now becoming.
00:56:52.37\00:56:55.64
Praise the Lord.
00:56:55.68\00:56:57.01
So what a wonderful
privilege is ours to spend time
00:56:57.05\00:56:59.58
in the Word of God,
00:56:59.61\00:57:00.95
to know that we
can become like Jesus.
00:57:00.98\00:57:04.65
He can fashion and form
00:57:04.69\00:57:06.42
and make us into
the image of Jesus.
00:57:06.45\00:57:08.59
We have one more
lesson in this quarter.
00:57:08.62\00:57:12.03
Next lesson is "The
Results of Stewardship."
00:57:12.06\00:57:14.56
We want to invite
you to join us for that.
00:57:14.60\00:57:16.63
Thank you, Pastor John,
00:57:16.67\00:57:18.00
Miss Mollie, Miss
Shelley, and Greg.
00:57:18.03\00:57:19.57
Thank you so much for
sharing from your heart
00:57:19.60\00:57:21.30
and the Word of God.
00:57:21.34\00:57:22.67
We thank you for
joining us as well.
00:57:22.70\00:57:25.54
You know that we pray for you
00:57:25.57\00:57:26.91
that you would redeem the
time because the days are evil.
00:57:26.94\00:57:29.81