Hello, I'm Shelley
Quinn, and we are so excited
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that you are joining
us for this Bible study.
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We are in the Quarterly
titled "Oneness in Christ,"
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and, oh, I hope you've
been blessed as much as we've
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been blessed as we all
study our individual lessons and
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we come together and we
just have church, it is so good!
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We're on Lesson 9,
"The Most Convincing Proof"
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You know, last week we looked
at how unity is made visible
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through our doctrines and
our common beliefs, everything,
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the message that is
all based on Christ,
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but this week, we're going
to see how visible unity is the
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expression found in
our day-to-day lives,
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and the mission of the church.
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So what I would like to
do is introduce this lovely
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panel that's sitting
here, my brothers and sisters.
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I have my Pastor, John Lomacang
next to me and we always
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love what you've got to say.
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Praise the Lord!
God leads and guides.
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Pastor Kenny Shelton,
and Kenny, we're always
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thrilled to have you here.
It's a blessing, thank you.
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My dear friend and
sister, the very talented,
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Jill Morikone, and we
give God all the glory Jill,
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and God has given
you a teaching gift.
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And then we're very
excited to have evangelist,
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Pastor Ryan Day with
us, and one of these days,
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I promise you, we're
going to quit calling you,
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"The new kid on the block."
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But last week was your
first time with us? True.
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and you're a wonderful teacher,
so glad to have you. Amen
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Thank you.
As-a-matter-of-fact Ryan,
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would you open in
prayer? Absolutely.
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Father in Heaven... We praise
You because You are worthy.
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We thank You for all
that You have done for us,
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and for being the mighty and
wonderful loving God that You
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are. As we take on
this incredible study,
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as we are studying "Oneness
in Christ," I pray, Lord,
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that You will give
us the Holy Spirit.
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Lead us and guide us in
every word, every thought,
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every action - that
the message may be clear,
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and that each and
every one of us will be drawn
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to the uplifted Savior.
We praise You continually.
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And we ask this in
Jesus Holy name... Amen.
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Amen and Amen! Thank you Ryan.
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Alright, the memory
text for this week is
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John 11:51-52, let
me read that to you...
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"Now this he (speaking of
Caiaphas) did not say on his
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own authority; but being high
priest that year he prophesied
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that Jesus would die for
the nation, and not for that
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nation only, but also that
He would gather together in one
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the children of God
who were scattered abroad."
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So Ellen White makes a
comment and I found this in the
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"SDA Bible Commentary," it says,
"Unity with Christ establishes
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a bond of unity
with one another.
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This unity is the most
convincing proof to the world
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the majesty and the virtue
of Christ and of His power
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to take away sins."
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So it's as others
see us; united in love,
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united in mission - that we
really are lifting up Jesus.
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Alright, let's look at Sunday,
"Under the Cross of Jesus"
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The spiritual unity of
the church is actually a
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gift and a
blessing from God. Amen!
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It isn't something that we
attain through human efforts
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that we can create - it
is through Jesus Christ,
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and His death and resurrection
that we have this unity.
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So as we appropriate His death
by faith and His resurrection
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through baptism,
through forgiveness of sins
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and we join in common
fellowship, we, as we're
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spreading the Three Angels'
Messages around the world,
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this is what helps us to
be united one-to-the-other.
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Let's look at John 11, I'm
going to begin in verse 49.
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John 11:49... "And one of them,
Caiaphas, being high priest
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that year, said to them, "You
know nothing at all (they're
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having their council together)
nor do you consider that it
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is expedient for us that one
man should die for the people,
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and not that the
whole nation should perish."
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So in his arrogance,
Caiaphas is concerned about
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retaining power.
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He is concerned about
keeping the nation together,
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that there would
be no dissolution...
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But what he didn't realize,
he thought he was making a
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political statement in
condemning Jesus to die,
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but what he didn't realize
is God was using him to be
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a channel of divine
revelation. That's right.
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It goes on in verse 51
and John points this out.
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"Now this, he, (Caiaphas)
did not say on his own
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authority, but being
high priest that year,
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he prophesied that Jesus
would die for the nation."
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So Caiaphas was
saying something that was way
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beyond his own
understanding, wasn't he?
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And what John says is he
was anticipating the atoning
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the atoning death of
Jesus Christ for all the people.
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So he thought Caiaphas
was saying... Hey, if Jesus
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dies, this one man, that will
save the nation politically.
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But what he was actually
saying by God's grace is that
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Jesus would save
the nation spiritually.
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So, John adds the
comment about the scattered
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people and I believe
that these scattered children
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he is talking about the
other sheep that the Good
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Shepherd said He had and
He's going to gather them
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all together one day into one.
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Ephesians 1,
let's turn there because
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back and forth I've got
some things from Ephesians.
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Ephesians 1:7-10, I
love this Scripture.
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Ephesians 1:7... "In
Him (in who? in Christ)
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we have
redemption through His blood,
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the forgiveness of
sins, according to the
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riches of His grace
which He made to abound
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toward us in all
wisdom and prudence."
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Redemption is when a price
is paid to gain the freedom
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of a slave and we
were all slaves not only to
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sin and Satan but
slaves to self, were we not?
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So anytime you see when
it's speaking through the blood
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or about the blood, this
is talking about His perfect
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and final sacrifice for
sin, so it's talking about
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the death of Jesus.
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And we don't have
time to turn to each one,
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but I just
wanted to share this...
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We're not only redeemed
by His blood, Ephesians 1:7;
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Romans 5:9 says...
"We're justified by the blood;
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Hebrews 9:14 says...
"Our conscience is purged by
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His blood; Colossians
1:14 says... We are forgiven by
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His blood; Revelation
7:14 says... We are cleansed by
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His blood; Colossians
1:20 says... We have peace
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through His blood and
Hebrews 10:19 says... We enter
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the holy of
holiest by His blood.
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Halleluiah,
we're got to remember
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what 1 Corinthians 6:20 says
that we were bought at a price,
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and that means that,
when you think about it,
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you are worth nothing less
to Christ, to God, than the
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than the price that
He paid for you with His
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own precious blood.
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1 Peter 1:18 actually
states that, doesn't it?
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It says, "... knowing
that you were not redeemed with
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corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless
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conduct that you received
by tradition from your fathers,
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(the traditions of
man) but you were redeemed
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with the precious blood
of Christ as a lamb without
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blemish, without spot.
He indeed was foreordained
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(He was the Lamb that was
slain) from the foundation
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of the world, but was
made manifested in these
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last days."
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Now I want to go back
to Ephesians, I'm sorry
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I'm popping around here...
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but five times in Ephesians
Paul mentions the riches
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that God lavished upon us.
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Once again, you might just want
to jot these Scriptures down.
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Ephesians 1:7 says that,
"In Him we have redemption
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through His blood, the
forgiveness of sin, according
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to the riches of His grace.
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Ephesians 1:18 says...
"The eyes of your understanding
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being enlightened; that
you may know what is the
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hope of His calling, what
are the riches of the glory of
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His inheritance in the saints."
00:10:00.70\00:10:03.16
Ephesians 2:7 says... "That
in the ages to come He might
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show the exceeding
riches of His grace in His
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kindness toward
us in Christ Jesus."
00:10:14.41\00:10:17.01
Ephesians 3:8, Paul
says, "To me, who am less
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than the least of all
the saints, (how many of you
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could ever feel like
that and know it's true?)
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this grace was given,
that I should preach among the
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Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ."
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Unsearchable! I mean, we
can study - you know this is
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what I love about
the word of God...
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I can have studied a
chapter hundreds of times,
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and you pick it up and
pray for the leading of the
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Holy Spirit and greater
understanding and all of a
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sudden you realize knowing
God, this is unsearchable
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riches than are
in the Scriptures.
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And then in Ephesians 3:16-17,
Ooo! this is a good one!
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Ah ha, I love this Scripture!
Paul is praying that God
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would grant them -
that He would grant to you,
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according to the riches
of His glory... That's right!
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To be strengthened with might!
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This is with
dynamite! Power! Dunamis power!
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How? Through His
Spirit in the inner man.
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So as you allow the Holy
Spirit, invite Him to come
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into your heart - He is
saying, "You're going to be
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strengthened with
power," and then look what He
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says in verse 17... "That
Christ may dwell in your hearts
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through faith and you will
be rooted and grounded in love."
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So how does Christ
dwell in our hearts?
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You know, when we think
about it, Jesus said God is
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a Spirit - before Christ
came to earth, He was a Spirit,
00:12:00.55\00:12:04.95
but one thing that I know
I've said this before, but I
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can't help it... Every day I
thank Christ for the greatest
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sacrifice that He made which,
to me, isn't dying on the cross,
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the greatest sacrifice He
made is that He came to earth
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and took on our flesh;
He, God, humiliated Himself
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to become a man, and the
reason I say it's His greatest
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sacrifice is - He came as our
second Adam, He united Himself
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to us, but what did He
take back to heaven that He
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didn't have when
He came here? A body!
00:12:42.46\00:12:44.96
So He limited Himself for
eternity by having this body
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like we have - I
think that is so amazing.
00:12:52.27\00:12:54.80
And then He was
obedient even to the point of
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death on the cross for you
and for me. Praise the Lord!
00:12:57.81\00:13:01.78
Ephesians 1:7-10, I'm
going to read this again...
00:13:01.81\00:13:06.11
"In Him, we have
redemption through His blood,
00:13:06.15\00:13:09.02
the forgiveness of
sins according to the riches
00:13:10.05\00:13:12.45
of His grace which He
made to abound toward us
00:13:12.49\00:13:16.76
through all wisdom and
prudence having made known to us
00:13:16.79\00:13:20.63
the mystery of His will
according to his good pleasure
00:13:20.66\00:13:26.50
which He purposed in Himself."
00:13:26.53\00:13:28.20
See, it's not a
mystery that you cannot know,
00:13:28.24\00:13:32.97
God's will, all of His covenants
are a progressing revelation,
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and you know, Jesus told His
disciples often, "I'd tell you
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more but you
can't receive it yet."
00:13:42.82\00:13:44.65
So it is as we have the
mystery that has been revealed
00:13:44.69\00:13:50.19
from the beginning
until the end we are growing
00:13:50.23\00:13:55.23
in the fullness of times,
in the right place when He says
00:13:55.26\00:13:59.33
that in the dispensation
of the fullness of times
00:13:59.37\00:14:01.87
(the right place in history)
that He might gather together
00:14:01.90\00:14:06.24
all things which are in
Christ Jesus, both which
00:14:06.27\00:14:10.55
are in heaven and in earth.
00:14:10.58\00:14:13.18
And let me add
this one last thought...
00:14:13.21\00:14:16.58
We are all sons of God
through faith in Christ.
00:14:16.62\00:14:20.16
Galatians 3:27 says...
"For as many of you as have been
00:14:20.19\00:14:26.53
baptized into
Christ have put on Christ."
00:14:26.56\00:14:31.07
So let me ask you a question...
00:14:31.10\00:14:32.60
Have you put on Christ today?
00:14:32.63\00:14:35.30
You know, baptism is an
important act of obedience.
00:14:35.34\00:14:39.84
It is symbolic - something
that's already happened
00:14:39.87\00:14:42.31
in us, but Romans 6 says,
It is symbolic that we are
00:14:42.34\00:14:47.42
being buried with Christ
and that we are resurrected
00:14:47.45\00:14:50.95
to live in the newness of
life, and it is so important
00:14:50.99\00:14:55.52
because that brings you
into unity, into the fellowship.
00:14:55.76\00:15:00.10
It's God who adds people
to the church, but it brings
00:15:00.83\00:15:05.43
you into unity as
you put on Christ.
00:15:05.47\00:15:08.80
And I want to invite you,
if you haven't accepted Christ
00:15:08.84\00:15:11.81
as your Savior, aww
please just take a moment,
00:15:11.84\00:15:15.54
even if you don't listen
to the rest of this study,
00:15:15.58\00:15:18.41
take a moment now,
and say, "Lord, I want You
00:15:18.45\00:15:22.28
to be not only my Savior,
but the Lord of my life."
00:15:22.32\00:15:25.85
And then be baptized
as a public confession of
00:15:25.89\00:15:29.69
your faith and put
on Christ! Amen! Amen!
00:15:29.72\00:15:32.46
Thank you Shelley, boy!
The more we dive into this
00:15:32.49\00:15:35.50
lesson about unity, the more
we see it's really about Christ.
00:15:35.53\00:15:38.13
Absolutely! There can
be no unity without Christ
00:15:38.17\00:15:41.20
which takes us to the
"Ministry of Reconciliation"
00:15:41.24\00:15:44.47
You know, reconciliation
is bringing things together.
00:15:44.51\00:15:48.21
Another word for reconciliation
would be "atonement."
00:15:48.24\00:15:51.21
The Lord atoned for us
to bring us into oneness
00:15:51.25\00:15:54.08
with Him and with the Father.
00:15:54.12\00:15:55.45
Now He has given us the
ministry of reconciliation
00:15:55.48\00:15:58.22
to bring us, as brothers
and sisters, that He sends us
00:15:58.25\00:16:01.86
forth as ministers of
reconciliation to reconcile
00:16:01.89\00:16:04.66
the world through Himself
and we become ambassadors,
00:16:04.69\00:16:07.53
as it were, pleading on His
behalf, be reconciled to God.
00:16:07.56\00:16:12.23
I want to begin in
Ephesians 2:13, the very chapter
00:16:12.77\00:16:17.27
Wait, I'm sorry...
Ephesians 2:13. Okay
00:16:17.77\00:16:22.24
And when you look at
the word "but," now it's
00:16:22.28\00:16:24.58
talking about a
transition, Ephesians 2:13,
00:16:24.61\00:16:28.08
and just to dive into the
transition, it talks about the
00:16:28.12\00:16:32.09
reconciliation of the
Jews and the Gentiles.
00:16:32.12\00:16:35.19
In verse 13... "But
now in Christ Jesus,
00:16:35.22\00:16:38.73
you, who were once far
off have been brought near
00:16:42.10\00:16:45.20
by (once again) the blood
of Christ. For He, Himself,
00:16:45.23\00:16:48.70
is our peace, who has
made both one and has broken
00:16:48.74\00:16:51.97
down the middle wall of
separation, having abolished
00:16:52.01\00:16:55.84
in His flesh the enmity,
that is, the law of commandments
00:16:55.88\00:17:00.88
contained in ordinances,
so as to create in Himself
00:17:00.92\00:17:05.19
one new man from the
two, thus making peace,
00:17:05.22\00:17:09.69
and that He might reconcile
them both to God in one body
00:17:09.72\00:17:13.36
through the cross, thereby
putting to death the enmity."
00:17:13.40\00:17:18.13
This passage was so
misconstrued by many...
00:17:18.17\00:17:22.44
They often use this to
say that the commandments of
00:17:22.47\00:17:25.47
God are done away with.
00:17:25.51\00:17:27.14
The commandments of
God are not the enmity.
00:17:27.18\00:17:30.38
The enmity is the
sin. That's right. Yes.
00:17:30.41\00:17:33.25
You know, when the Lord
said to the serpent, "I will put
00:17:33.28\00:17:35.95
enmity between you and
the woman, between your seed
00:17:35.98\00:17:38.69
and her seed, the word
there in Hebrew "enmity"
00:17:38.72\00:17:41.02
is "discomfort."
00:17:41.06\00:17:42.62
And I remember a
number of years ago, one of my
00:17:42.66\00:17:44.69
favorite speakers
had a sermon called:
00:17:44.73\00:17:46.86
"The Comfort of
Discomfort," meaning when that
00:17:46.90\00:17:50.37
discomfort arises, it lets
us know the Spirit of God is
00:17:50.40\00:17:53.60
still in our lives. Amen!
00:17:53.64\00:17:55.20
When we become recalcitrant
and our minds are seared
00:17:55.24\00:17:59.14
with a hot iron, we no
longer have any feeling
00:17:59.17\00:18:01.61
toward immorality or sin
or transgression or anything
00:18:01.64\00:18:06.51
that is corroding and
eroding our spirituality.
00:18:06.55\00:18:11.92
When we lose the sensitivity,
that enmity is dying.
00:18:11.95\00:18:16.36
That discomfort
is now evaporating.
00:18:16.39\00:18:18.69
So when the Lord talks
about this enmity, He is saying,
00:18:18.73\00:18:21.80
the law, the commandments
of God is not what the
00:18:21.83\00:18:25.87
enmity is, but as Paul
made it clear... he said, "I was
00:18:25.90\00:18:28.97
doing fine until I found
out about the commandments."
00:18:29.00\00:18:32.81
You know, Romans is
one of our favorite books.
00:18:32.84\00:18:34.64
"I was living just
great, but when the commandments
00:18:34.68\00:18:37.31
came up, sin revived and I died.
00:18:37.35\00:18:40.85
I found the most uncomfortable
existence and that's what
00:18:40.88\00:18:44.55
happens when we are confronted."
00:18:44.59\00:18:46.22
The enmity is not the
law of God, but when it talks
00:18:46.25\00:18:49.32
about it here, it talks
about it also contained in
00:18:49.36\00:18:51.79
ordinances and so
these fleshy ordinances;
00:18:51.83\00:18:55.50
the shedding of blood - so much
blood on a-day-by-day basis;
00:18:55.53\00:18:59.37
the taking of the countless
lives of lambs to redeem
00:18:59.40\00:19:03.24
to have the sins of
someone atoned for...
00:19:03.27\00:19:08.18
To transfer from the
sinner to the substitutionary
00:19:08.21\00:19:11.85
sacrifice, this constant
shedding of blood was something
00:19:11.88\00:19:16.32
that the Lord never intended.
00:19:16.35\00:19:18.25
He said, "The blood of
bulls and goats, I don't
00:19:18.29\00:19:20.16
need that, but this
is just a symbol to show
00:19:20.19\00:19:23.93
that this is what I'm
going to do - I'm going to come
00:19:23.96\00:19:26.09
in My own flesh and
bring about reconciliation.
00:19:26.13\00:19:28.86
I'm going to be that
substitutionary sacrifice."
00:19:28.90\00:19:31.90
And in 2
Corinthians 5, where we know the
00:19:31.93\00:19:35.47
wonderful passage in verse
17, "If anyone is in Christ,
00:19:35.50\00:19:38.44
He is a new creation;
old things have passed away;
00:19:38.47\00:19:41.64
behold, all
things have become new."
00:19:41.68\00:19:43.14
That's reconciliation! Amen.
00:19:43.18\00:19:45.15
You know, when you're
finally, as accountants,
00:19:45.18\00:19:47.45
or when you balance
your checkbook - if we even
00:19:47.48\00:19:49.35
do that any longer because
we get our bank statements
00:19:49.38\00:19:52.12
and balance that, and we
do it all online nowadays...
00:19:52.15\00:19:56.19
But, if something is
missing it will all show up at
00:19:56.22\00:19:59.16
the very end - I
came up with this amount,
00:19:59.19\00:20:01.26
they came up with that amount.
00:20:01.30\00:20:03.20
I'd like to think of that
picture as - the Lord is saying,
00:20:03.23\00:20:06.20
"All of My children
are not accounted for,
00:20:06.23\00:20:09.24
some of them are
missing, so I've got to
00:20:09.27\00:20:13.17
keep going
until I get them all."
00:20:13.21\00:20:15.08
That's why he's not
willing that ANY should perish.
00:20:15.11\00:20:18.21
So the Lord, in His love and
His ministry of reconciliation
00:20:18.25\00:20:21.38
to us - He's not willing
to say to the enemy at all...
00:20:21.42\00:20:24.32
"Okay, alright, alright,
alright, I'll give you Kenny,
00:20:24.35\00:20:26.49
but that's it." NO,
He resisted the devil
00:20:26.52\00:20:31.83
and I love the way
the Lord said to Satan...
00:20:31.86\00:20:36.03
"You're just upset because he's
a brand plucked from the fire."
00:20:36.06\00:20:40.87
When I read that, I
feel good about that because
00:20:41.94\00:20:44.74
He is saying, "I'm not
even willing to give you
00:20:44.77\00:20:46.37
John; I'm not going to
give you Shelley, not Jill,
00:20:46.41\00:20:48.31
not Ryan - I'm not
giving you anybody."
00:20:48.34\00:20:50.18
Satan says, "give
me the worse sinner."
00:20:50.21\00:20:52.21
"I'm not giving
you the worse sinner."
00:20:52.25\00:20:54.08
He is able to save to
the uttermost, those who come
00:20:54.12\00:20:58.39
to God through Him.
00:20:58.42\00:20:59.85
Seeing that He ever lives
to make intercession for us.
00:20:59.89\00:21:02.46
So this ministry that makes us
all new... now goes to verse 20
00:21:02.49\00:21:06.33
of 2 Corinthians 5 and
says, "Now then because of what
00:21:06.36\00:21:09.96
Christ did to bring about
reconciliation, "Now then,
00:21:10.00\00:21:12.83
we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God were
00:21:12.87\00:21:17.41
pleading through us: we
implore you on Christ's behalf,
00:21:17.44\00:21:20.88
be reconciled to God."
00:21:20.91\00:21:23.08
So when we preach, our sermons
are not, and I'm saying this
00:21:23.11\00:21:27.25
as a preacher, I don't want to
communicate great information,
00:21:27.28\00:21:30.19
I want you to find an exit
door out of sin and an entrance
00:21:30.22\00:21:34.62
door into reconciliation. Amen!
00:21:34.66\00:21:38.06
I want you to find an
exit door out of darkness,
00:21:38.09\00:21:40.26
and an entrance door
into this marvelous life.
00:21:40.30\00:21:42.83
And so we implore... and
so I say a preacher without
00:21:42.86\00:21:45.83
passion doesn't understand
the ministry of reconciliation;
00:21:45.87\00:21:48.84
a teacher without
passion, we all have that here.
00:21:48.87\00:21:51.61
That's why we sound
sometimes like we preaching
00:21:51.64\00:21:53.68
when we're not, we're
just excited about the fact
00:21:53.71\00:21:55.54
that the Lord has
granted to us the ministry of
00:21:55.58\00:21:58.65
reconciliation.
00:21:58.68\00:22:00.02
So I can walk up to
the worse person and say,
00:22:00.05\00:22:01.95
"Hey, you know what?
You are not so bad that
00:22:01.98\00:22:05.12
the Lord can't save you."
00:22:05.15\00:22:06.49
We used to say in New York,
00:22:06.52\00:22:07.86
"He will reach to the
"guttermost" and bring us
00:22:07.89\00:22:09.76
to the uttermost,"
that's what we say in the city.
00:22:09.79\00:22:12.69
Look at John 17:21,
another beautiful picture of the
00:22:12.73\00:22:15.90
united ability of Christ.
00:22:15.93\00:22:18.23
This message of
Christ, the chapter of unity.
00:22:18.27\00:22:21.20
John 17:21-22,
Jill, do you have that?
00:22:21.24\00:22:23.54
I do... Go ahead
read that for us...
00:22:23.57\00:22:25.84
"That they all may be
one, as You, Father, are in Me,
00:22:25.87\00:22:28.64
and I in You, that
they also may be one in Us,
00:22:28.71\00:22:31.25
that the world may
believe that You sent Me.
00:22:31.28\00:22:34.58
And the glory which You
gave Me I have given them,
00:22:34.62\00:22:37.09
that they may be
one just as We are one."
00:22:37.12\00:22:39.92
And so the church is
also God's people reconciled
00:22:39.95\00:22:43.86
to one another and here's
one of the beautiful things...
00:22:43.89\00:22:46.73
You see, before they could go
forth on the Day of Pentecost,
00:22:46.76\00:22:49.56
to reconcile
the world to Christ,
00:22:49.60\00:22:52.13
they had to
reconcile with each other. Yes
00:22:52.17\00:22:55.67
Begin in Jerusalem -
the place where you worship,
00:22:55.70\00:22:58.34
then Judea - your
fellow brethren, then Samaria -
00:22:58.37\00:23:02.14
the people you
don't like the Samaritans.
00:23:02.18\00:23:04.38
You can't go into the
world unless you can deal with
00:23:04.41\00:23:06.31
how you feel about the people
you don't like. That's right!
00:23:06.35\00:23:08.48
THEN to the uttermost part
of the earth - did you get that?
00:23:08.52\00:23:11.15
That's why He had
to take His disciples
00:23:11.19\00:23:13.92
to the Samaritans continually.
00:23:13.96\00:23:15.72
They said, "Why do you
give your food to dogs?
00:23:15.76\00:23:17.86
Don't cast your
pearl to the swine.
00:23:17.89\00:23:19.79
Then the Samaritans
who they so looked down on,
00:23:19.83\00:23:23.30
were the very ones that
cared about the needs of
00:23:23.33\00:23:25.53
the people for He was a
Samaritan. That's right!
00:23:25.57\00:23:28.20
And the woman at the
well... "We don't have any
00:23:28.97\00:23:31.07
dealings with each
other, she was a Samaritan.
00:23:31.11\00:23:33.21
The Lord said to them,
"You deal firstly - start at the
00:23:33.24\00:23:37.08
church where you
worship, then deal with your
00:23:37.11\00:23:38.85
fellow brethren in
Judea, but you cannot
00:23:38.88\00:23:41.28
get to the world
unless you go past the people
00:23:41.32\00:23:43.18
that you just don't
like. Excellent point!
00:23:43.22\00:23:45.19
And when you get
past them, here's what the
00:23:45.49\00:23:47.39
"Review and Herald"
says, February 25, 1890...
00:23:47.42\00:23:50.96
"The only way the truth
can be presented to the world,
00:23:50.99\00:23:54.10
in its pure and holy character,
is for those who claimed
00:23:54.13\00:23:58.03
to believe it to the
exponents of its power.
00:23:58.07\00:24:01.50
The Bible requires the
sons and daughters of God
00:24:01.54\00:24:04.51
to stand on an elevated
platform for God calls upon
00:24:04.54\00:24:08.34
them to represent
Christ to the world.
00:24:08.38\00:24:10.41
As they represent Christ,
they represent the Father.
00:24:10.45\00:24:14.12
Unity of believers testifies
of their oneness with Christ,
00:24:14.15\00:24:19.15
and this unity is required
by the accumulated light
00:24:19.19\00:24:24.43
which now shines upon the
pathway of the children of God.
00:24:24.46\00:24:28.26
So we've been given light,
but if the light has made no
00:24:29.26\00:24:31.53
difference in us,
how am I going to say,
00:24:31.57\00:24:33.23
"Be reconciled," and I can't
be reconciled. That's true.
00:24:33.27\00:24:36.34
One more... "The Home
Missionary," August 1, 1896,
00:24:36.37\00:24:39.21
"The church will never, as a
whole, receive the latter rain
00:24:39.24\00:24:42.98
unless they put away all envy,
00:24:43.01\00:24:45.35
evil surmising
and evil-speaking.
00:24:45.38\00:24:47.55
Those who have cherished
hatred in the heart until
00:24:47.58\00:24:51.09
it has strengthened and
become part of their character,
00:24:51.12\00:24:54.29
must have a different experience
if they would share in the
00:24:54.32\00:24:57.13
latter rain.
00:24:57.16\00:24:58.49
Many are not awake to the
fact that the Lord is testing
00:24:58.53\00:25:01.33
and proving them to make
it manifest whether or not
00:25:01.36\00:25:04.43
they really love Jesus.
00:25:04.47\00:25:06.60
The spirit and attitude
manifested to their brethren
00:25:06.63\00:25:09.90
tells their spirit
and attitude toward God."
00:25:09.94\00:25:13.01
Ooo! Have mercy!
00:25:13.04\00:25:14.54
So if you can't
reconcile to each other,
00:25:14.58\00:25:16.21
we cannot have the ministry
of reconciliation to the world.
00:25:16.24\00:25:19.01
Amen! And you
know, we are studying...
00:25:19.05\00:25:21.05
"The Most Convincing Proof"
00:25:21.08\00:25:23.75
The most convincing proof
to the world will be the unity
00:25:23.79\00:25:27.69
that is expressed in
our day-to-day lives.
00:25:27.72\00:25:30.43
We're going to take a one minute
break, we'll be right back!
00:25:30.46\00:25:32.89
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We are glad that you
have stayed tuned with us
00:26:08.50\00:26:11.20
we're on Lesson 9,
"The Most Convincing Proof"
00:26:11.23\00:26:13.87
and we're ready for Tuesday's
Lesson, "Practical Unity."
00:26:13.90\00:26:18.07
I felt this is a great lesson.
00:26:18.11\00:26:20.98
Pastor John, like you
say, what you were feeding,
00:26:21.01\00:26:23.24
and what you were
doing there, really helped,
00:26:23.28\00:26:25.01
at least in my thinking
on this is "Practical Unity."
00:26:25.05\00:26:28.22
You know, first of all,
can we really have this unity
00:26:28.25\00:26:31.95
that the Bible talks
about and can we have this
00:26:31.99\00:26:34.02
practical unity
and what is practical?
00:26:34.06\00:26:37.53
It is interesting, I
looked up the word and it says,
00:26:37.56\00:26:39.83
"Something that is obtained
through practice or action."
00:26:39.86\00:26:43.83
So, you know, that's very good.
00:26:43.87\00:26:45.23
"Something that's realistic;
something that is useful."
00:26:45.27\00:26:49.10
So you talk about
"practical unity."
00:26:49.14\00:26:51.84
You know, Paul
applies and I think he appeals
00:26:51.87\00:26:55.34
to the Philippians and
he says this in one of my
00:26:55.38\00:26:57.58
favorite passages always
in the Book of Philippians,
00:26:57.61\00:26:59.91
I think you were talking
about before in 2 verse 5. Yes
00:26:59.95\00:27:02.62
It said, "Let this mind
be in you which was also
00:27:02.65\00:27:06.09
in what? In Christ Jesus!
00:27:06.12\00:27:07.46
So he was appealing...
if you want to have unity...
00:27:07.49\00:27:10.26
if there's going to be
unity in the church locally or
00:27:10.29\00:27:12.89
worldwide church, we have
to have the mind of Christ
00:27:12.93\00:27:16.46
because we cannot do
it with the fleshly mind,
00:27:16.50\00:27:18.63
that's an
impossibility. That's right.
00:27:18.67\00:27:20.24
We're having a lot of
different issues and a lot of
00:27:20.27\00:27:22.34
problems and we need to
have the mind of Christ.
00:27:22.37\00:27:25.54
And I read this article,
I thought was interesting...
00:27:25.57\00:27:28.28
"Signs of the Times,"
July 16, 1902 it was written.
00:27:28.31\00:27:32.45
It puts it this way...
"What Christ was in His life
00:27:32.48\00:27:35.72
on earth, that
every Christian is to be."
00:27:35.75\00:27:40.46
That just puts a real challenge
out for me and it's not
00:27:40.49\00:27:43.99
beyond reach because Christ
is our all in all, it should be.
00:27:44.03\00:27:47.00
But what Christ was in
(notice this) His life on earth,
00:27:47.03\00:27:50.67
that every Christian is to be.
00:27:50.70\00:27:53.44
He is (we know this...
what?) our example not only
00:27:53.47\00:27:57.87
in His spotless
purity, but in His patience and
00:27:57.91\00:28:01.64
gentleness and in His (I
like this) winsome disposition.
00:28:01.68\00:28:07.52
You know I have to check
my own disposition once in a
00:28:07.55\00:28:09.42
while - I don't
know if it is "winsome."
00:28:09.45\00:28:11.12
It needs to be our
disposition and our patience.
00:28:11.15\00:28:14.32
But what Christ was
while He was on earth,
00:28:14.36\00:28:16.59
that's their example for
us, that we must meet that
00:28:16.62\00:28:19.13
by the grace of God.
00:28:19.16\00:28:20.70
So our lesson, our
most convincing proof...
00:28:20.73\00:28:23.13
what would it be?
00:28:23.16\00:28:24.70
Most convincing proof
that we are of Christ would be
00:28:24.73\00:28:28.00
in our character - that needs
to be changed in His image.
00:28:28.04\00:28:33.51
It deals with our
character and people do watch,
00:28:33.54\00:28:36.64
I've found this out,
Pastor, and they do listen.
00:28:36.68\00:28:40.25
You may not know
they're around, but their ears
00:28:40.28\00:28:42.62
are perked up and they're
listening and sometimes they
00:28:42.65\00:28:45.29
don't get the whole
message; they're not getting the
00:28:45.32\00:28:47.82
whole thing, but they get
enough - they think they can
00:28:47.86\00:28:49.99
run with it and talk about it.
00:28:50.03\00:28:51.99
So we have to realize that
if our religious experience
00:28:52.03\00:28:55.63
is genuine...
00:28:55.66\00:28:57.00
I heard somebody say, gen-u-ine.
00:28:57.03\00:28:58.83
If our religious
experience is gen-u-ine.
00:28:58.87\00:29:01.64
Genuine! It's going to
reveal itself in our character,
00:29:01.67\00:29:05.64
and it's going to have impact,
I believe this on every person
00:29:05.67\00:29:09.21
that we come in contact with.
00:29:09.24\00:29:10.65
They may not tell you that,
but again, they're looking,
00:29:10.68\00:29:12.85
they're watching,
they're listening...
00:29:12.88\00:29:14.38
But it's going to be revealed
the way we deal in our home,
00:29:14.42\00:29:17.45
the way we deal with our
family, the way we deal with
00:29:17.49\00:29:19.79
our friends.
00:29:19.82\00:29:21.16
And I thought about this,
just imagine if you will...
00:29:21.19\00:29:24.63
Just imagine if, you know,
as a people, if we were unified
00:29:24.66\00:29:28.53
the way that Christ said it's
going to happen before He comes,
00:29:28.56\00:29:32.07
think what a different
world this would be. Yes
00:29:32.10\00:29:34.90
Think about the character of
Christ being around the world.
00:29:34.94\00:29:39.54
You know, how could this be?
00:29:39.57\00:29:41.24
How can it be that we can
have this character of Christ,
00:29:41.28\00:29:44.41
and you know, I say
simply this, real simple...
00:29:44.45\00:29:46.98
You can go into a long
Bible study; you can go into
00:29:47.02\00:29:48.95
a long spiel; you can do
a lot of things, but to me,
00:29:48.98\00:29:51.52
the answer simply is by
beholding Jesus. That's right.
00:29:51.55\00:29:55.06
The character can be
changed by beholding,
00:29:55.09\00:29:57.49
that's how we become
changed and then I think
00:29:57.53\00:30:01.36
about it... is look at
Him the way that He loved,
00:30:01.40\00:30:03.97
and the way that He served,
that should be a good example.
00:30:04.00\00:30:07.24
The way He
loved, I need to love.
00:30:07.27\00:30:09.70
Unless we love our fellow man
the way that Christ loved them,
00:30:09.74\00:30:12.57
heaven will never be our
home, that's pretty heavy!
00:30:12.61\00:30:14.38
I cried like a baby
after the first time
00:30:15.34\00:30:16.81
I read that because I
realized I fell so short.
00:30:16.85\00:30:20.22
When I was in the Spirit
of Prophecy, it came out...
00:30:20.25\00:30:22.58
unless we love people the
way that Christ loved them,
00:30:22.62\00:30:25.62
and willing to give
your life and die for them,
00:30:25.65\00:30:27.66
heaven will never be our home.
00:30:27.69\00:30:29.49
And I said, "Oh Lord, help
me to have that kind of love,
00:30:29.52\00:30:31.66
and then help me to
have that kind of service.
00:30:31.69\00:30:33.93
This is part of realizing
are we... is this part of unity?
00:30:33.96\00:30:37.63
This practical unity together.
00:30:37.67\00:30:40.07
And then, I like 1 John 3 talks
about there... 1 John 2:3-6,
00:30:40.10\00:30:45.77
I won't read them all,
but the bottom line is this...
00:30:45.81\00:30:48.04
I like to get to the bottom
line; I don't like to mince
00:30:48.08\00:30:50.25
around, mess around,
dance around, be called around.
00:30:50.28\00:30:53.38
I like to just get down
to the bottom to say this...
00:30:53.42\00:30:56.48
Simply walk as He walked. Amen!
00:30:56.52\00:31:00.19
I mean that's
getting down to it simply...
00:31:00.22\00:31:02.09
you cannot go wrong,
my brothers and sisters,
00:31:02.12\00:31:03.93
today, if you
simply walk as He walked.
00:31:03.96\00:31:06.83
Teach the things that
He taught, just teach them!
00:31:06.86\00:31:09.40
Live them, let it
become a part of you.
00:31:09.43\00:31:12.23
You can't go wrong... instead
of saying, "Well I would,
00:31:12.27\00:31:14.70
but now we don't do it, just
as things have changed now. No!
00:31:14.74\00:31:17.97
Jesus never
changes! Notice that.
00:31:18.01\00:31:20.38
In fact, in this practical
unity, we have to let this
00:31:20.41\00:31:26.31
thing called, "The golden
rule," I think, a lot of people
00:31:26.35\00:31:28.28
talk about - what's that,
Matthew 7:12, it talks about in
00:31:28.32\00:31:31.25
"Whatsoever man should
say to you, do even so to them
00:31:31.29\00:31:35.99
for this is the
law of the prophets."
00:31:36.02\00:31:38.29
ALL things whatsoever.
00:31:38.33\00:31:39.93
Notice this - that
men would do to you - do.
00:31:39.96\00:31:44.00
This is what we should do.
00:31:44.03\00:31:45.63
To them, this is
the law of the prophets.
00:31:45.67\00:31:47.74
That means seek, (at
least to me), seek the welfare
00:31:47.77\00:31:50.97
of others, wouldn't
you think? Absolutely!
00:31:51.01\00:31:53.01
You know, how many of us
really do... I mean, to me
00:31:53.04\00:31:54.61
that's a challenge,
that's your question...
00:31:54.64\00:31:56.08
How often do I really
seek the welfare of others
00:31:56.11\00:31:59.18
the way I seek the
welfare of myself. That's true!
00:31:59.21\00:32:02.38
When I get done with
everything... my son said
00:32:02.42\00:32:04.85
one time - "Dad,
what am I gonna do?"
00:32:04.89\00:32:07.56
He was asking to go somewhere,
I said to him one time...
00:32:07.59\00:32:09.36
he was asking to go somewhere
and I said, "No, you can't
00:32:09.39\00:32:11.23
go there, son, that's
not a place you ought to be."
00:32:11.26\00:32:13.56
"Dad, everybody is doing it!"
00:32:13.60\00:32:15.36
"Everybody is gonna be there!"
00:32:15.40\00:32:16.93
I said, "That's exactly
why you're not gonna be there."
00:32:16.97\00:32:19.93
So he looked around - tears,
he was crying and carrying on...
00:32:19.97\00:32:22.80
"But dad, what am I gonna do?"
00:32:22.84\00:32:24.67
So sometimes, even as
young persons - we grow up...
00:32:24.71\00:32:27.38
"What am I gonna do?"
00:32:27.41\00:32:29.28
You know, we walk
the way that He walked.
00:32:29.31\00:32:31.78
In Galatians 6, do I
really care about my fellowmen?
00:32:31.81\00:32:34.48
In Galatians 6:2...
"Bear ye one another's - what?
00:32:34.52\00:32:36.92
Burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ.
00:32:36.95\00:32:40.56
And I'm thinking about that...
00:32:40.59\00:32:41.99
You know, we have to consider
another person's problems
00:32:42.59\00:32:46.23
as if they were
our own. That's right.
00:32:46.26\00:32:49.43
And I look at
that and I'm saying...
00:32:49.46\00:32:51.00
"You know, I
don't always do that."
00:32:51.03\00:32:52.53
I'm not trying to say -
good, I'm just simply saying,
00:32:52.60\00:32:54.50
because sometimes
when they're heavy on you,
00:32:54.54\00:32:56.64
you're just compelled to
kind of try and deal with what's
00:32:56.67\00:32:59.71
dished out for
that day, and so on.
00:32:59.74\00:33:02.51
But I need to, I
need to look at them...
00:33:02.54\00:33:05.45
whatever you're going
through, you're going through,
00:33:05.48\00:33:07.22
I need to deal with it
as if they were my own.
00:33:07.25\00:33:10.29
If we apply that
thinking, I think, to our home,
00:33:10.32\00:33:15.46
to our
community, to our church...
00:33:15.49\00:33:19.93
you know - in that
aspect, think about it,
00:33:19.96\00:33:23.40
the world would
be a different world.
00:33:23.43\00:33:25.00
I mean, our life
would be made very positive!
00:33:26.03\00:33:29.67
And we certainly could
fulfill living out the lesson
00:33:29.70\00:33:33.41
that we're talking about
here, our lesson brings this
00:33:33.44\00:33:36.14
out so clearly.
00:33:36.18\00:33:37.51
I read one part that
was very interesting,
00:33:37.55\00:33:40.25
that it would do well for
us to focus on simplicity,
00:33:41.82\00:33:43.79
notice that, and in
spiritual things instead of
00:33:43.82\00:33:47.92
outward display... so
lot of times we do that.
00:33:47.96\00:33:51.49
As 1 Peter 3:3 says...
it tells us about, you know,
00:33:51.53\00:33:55.30
we're worried so much
about the adorning of the body;
00:33:55.33\00:33:57.90
the hair; the wearing of
gold and all the putting on of
00:33:57.93\00:34:01.44
apparel... instead of
worrying so much about that,
00:34:01.47\00:34:03.97
we need to get back to
the simplicity of the gospel.
00:34:04.01\00:34:06.34
Get back to the
spiritual things.
00:34:06.37\00:34:07.98
Even though those things
are very, very important,
00:34:08.01\00:34:10.21
as a Christian,
we have to look them.
00:34:10.25\00:34:12.08
"Manuscript 52, 1892
as this is winding down...
00:34:12.11\00:34:15.62
It says, "There are
idols cherished in our families
00:34:15.65\00:34:18.52
and in our churches
today which have the same
00:34:18.55\00:34:21.36
influence upon us
as did the golden calf
00:34:21.39\00:34:24.39
upon the Israelites."
00:34:24.43\00:34:25.76
So when I read those things,
00:34:25.79\00:34:27.60
I say, "Man, we need to
be very careful with that.
00:34:27.63\00:34:29.23
"Review of Herald, 7, 1899,"
It says, "The time has come
00:34:29.26\00:34:32.83
(notice this) when we as a
people should search ourselves
00:34:32.87\00:34:36.20
to see what idols
we are cherishing.
00:34:36.24\00:34:39.77
It's time... the article goes
on saying, "When the shepherds
00:34:39.81\00:34:42.58
of the flock should do faithful
work as sentinels of God...
00:34:42.61\00:34:47.45
(notice this) we do it in
dress; we do it in speech;
00:34:47.48\00:34:50.55
we do it in deportment.
(notice this) We are to be
00:34:50.59\00:34:55.32
a people distinct and
separate from the world." Amen.
00:34:55.36\00:35:00.00
Sometimes that just seems
like, sad to say sometimes
00:35:00.03\00:35:03.47
that we put on what
God said to take off.
00:35:03.50\00:35:08.30
You know, and
sometimes we haven't covered up
00:35:08.34\00:35:10.51
what God says to cover up.
00:35:10.54\00:35:12.14
And sometimes, those
people just say, "Well, we just
00:35:12.17\00:35:15.78
can't really do that,
this is the way we want to do."
00:35:15.81\00:35:19.31
But, are we
really following Christ?
00:35:19.35\00:35:21.28
Do we really have that
practical unity that we're
00:35:21.32\00:35:23.89
willing to lay aside
these things and to follow
00:35:23.92\00:35:25.75
Jesus Christ as our example?
00:35:25.79\00:35:28.69
And you know, this says
that we talk about unity.
00:35:28.72\00:35:30.66
I'll leave these thoughts
with you from "First Selected
00:35:30.69\00:35:32.76
Messages, p.175,"
says... "Goes does not call for
00:35:32.79\00:35:35.93
unity on wrong practices."
00:35:35.96\00:35:38.07
He never calls for unity...
00:35:38.10\00:35:39.93
He never calls for unity
on compromising the truth.
00:35:39.97\00:35:44.41
Unity is not to be
secured by compromise - "Great
00:35:44.44\00:35:48.24
Controversy, p.45."
00:35:48.28\00:35:50.05
Nice to have unity,
nice to come together,
00:35:50.08\00:35:53.08
but we never lower the
principle - the truth of
00:35:53.11\00:35:55.75
God's word in
order to have the unity.
00:35:55.78\00:35:59.05
In fact, we need practical
unity and it can be based
00:35:59.09\00:36:02.56
on God who lives
in our hearts. Amen!
00:36:02.59\00:36:05.86
Thank you so much
Pastor Kenny, that's powerful.
00:36:05.89\00:36:08.86
It challenges my own
heart, as I think about that...
00:36:08.90\00:36:12.37
that practical unity and how God
00:36:12.40\00:36:15.27
wants me to come
higher and I know He does.
00:36:15.30\00:36:17.84
So praise the Lord that
He doesn't give up on us!
00:36:17.87\00:36:20.21
And He wants to keep
working in our hearts and lives.
00:36:20.24\00:36:24.68
I have "Unity Amid Diversity."
00:36:24.71\00:36:27.52
This is in Romans 14, so if
you want to turn in your Bibles,
00:36:27.55\00:36:31.79
we're going to spend
our time in Romans 14.
00:36:31.82\00:36:33.76
Romans 14... this is all
about the strong and the weak
00:36:33.79\00:36:40.60
existing together and tolerance
and patience toward those
00:36:40.63\00:36:46.33
who believe differently,
but we're not talking about
00:36:46.37\00:36:48.94
doctrinal
issues in this chapter.
00:36:48.97\00:36:51.77
We're not talking
about salvational issues
00:36:51.81\00:36:54.01
in this chapter... but those
who believe differently from us.
00:36:54.04\00:36:58.08
Maybe even in a matter of
personal preference, as it were.
00:36:58.11\00:37:01.42
You know, the story is
told of a man who went to his
00:37:01.45\00:37:03.59
doctor and, of course, we know
this is just an illustration...
00:37:03.62\00:37:06.82
And he said, "I'm misbehaving,
doctor, and my conscience
00:37:06.86\00:37:10.66
is really bothering me."
00:37:10.69\00:37:12.23
And so the doctor
said, "Oh, you want something
00:37:12.26\00:37:15.43
that's going to
strengthen your willpower?"
00:37:15.46\00:37:17.87
And the man said, "No
doc, I was really thinking of
00:37:17.90\00:37:20.37
something that would
weaken my conscience."
00:37:20.40\00:37:23.54
So as we take that into
consideration, as we look at
00:37:25.17\00:37:28.31
Romans 14... The
strong and the weak.
00:37:28.34\00:37:33.35
First, I want to set the
stage, what the issue is not.
00:37:33.38\00:37:37.32
What the issue is
not here in Romans 14.
00:37:37.35\00:37:39.65
It's not about absolutes or
fundamental doctrines of faith.
00:37:39.69\00:37:43.29
Paul is very
clear about the gospel.
00:37:43.32\00:37:45.93
He's clear about the law of
God and the Ten Commandments,
00:37:45.96\00:37:49.00
and the importance to
keep those Ten Commandments.
00:37:49.03\00:37:52.43
Paul is clear that salvation
is by grace through faith.
00:37:52.47\00:37:56.10
He's clear about
moral purity and integrity.
00:37:56.14\00:38:00.54
There's a difference in
Paul's response here and we'll
00:38:00.58\00:38:03.91
find this in Romans 14- to say
his response to the Judaizers
00:38:03.95\00:38:08.68
in the Book of Galatians
and the way he addressed
00:38:08.72\00:38:11.72
the issue is
completely different
00:38:11.75\00:38:13.32
in the way that he addressed it.
00:38:13.36\00:38:14.82
Paul was very severe with
those in Galatians who were
00:38:14.86\00:38:19.59
accepting this concept
that you had to be circumcised
00:38:19.63\00:38:23.20
in order to be saved and
that circumcision was essential
00:38:23.23\00:38:26.50
or necessary for salvation.
00:38:26.53\00:38:28.74
He was very severe with
them, in fact, in Galatians 3,
00:38:28.77\00:38:31.57
he calls them
"foolish Galatians,"
00:38:31.61\00:38:33.78
"O foolish Galatians."
00:38:33.81\00:38:35.61
In the Greek it
means "stupid or mindless,"
00:38:35.64\00:38:37.88
so he was pretty
strong with them.
00:38:37.91\00:38:39.68
Now in Galatians 2,
Paul refused to have Titus
00:38:39.71\00:38:45.39
circumcised - Titus was not
circumcised and in Galatians 2,
00:38:45.42\00:38:48.92
he says, "He should
not be circumcised because
00:38:48.96\00:38:52.36
this was becoming a
point, a doctrine of salvation.
00:38:52.39\00:38:56.16
They were saying, "You
had to be circumcised in order
00:38:56.20\00:38:59.20
to become a
Christian, in order to be saved.
00:38:59.23\00:39:01.37
So because of that and
because of Paul's strong stance
00:39:01.40\00:39:04.44
against that, he said "Titus
should not be circumcised."
00:39:04.47\00:39:07.88
Now you contrast that
with how Paul treats the Roman
00:39:07.91\00:39:13.75
Christians here in Romans 14.
00:39:13.78\00:39:16.12
It's a very different approach
that you see take place here.
00:39:16.15\00:39:20.99
It reminds me of Acts
16:3, Paul in this case...
00:39:21.02\00:39:27.66
Timothy was not
circumcised either.
00:39:27.70\00:39:29.36
Titus wasn't circumcised
and Paul said, "You don't need
00:39:29.40\00:39:32.53
to be circumcised."
00:39:32.57\00:39:33.90
Now in Timothy's case, he said,
"You should be circumcised."
00:39:33.94\00:39:38.24
Now that's interesting because
in one case, "No, you should
00:39:38.27\00:39:41.94
no be circumcised," and
that is because the Judaizers
00:39:41.98\00:39:45.18
were making it a salvational
issue and Timothy's case
00:39:45.21\00:39:49.12
it was so that he would
not be a stumbling block.
00:39:49.15\00:39:53.25
The Gentiles knew the
Jews knew that his father
00:39:53.29\00:39:55.89
was a Greek and so that he
would not be a stumbling block.
00:39:55.92\00:39:58.83
So when we look at Romans
14, we're looking at differences
00:39:59.33\00:40:05.87
of opinion, conviction,
preferences and looking at
00:40:05.90\00:40:10.14
not being a stumbling block
to our weaker brother or sister.
00:40:10.17\00:40:15.58
So what are the
issues in Romans 14?
00:40:15.61\00:40:17.98
One of the issues is
disputes over doubtful things.
00:40:18.01\00:40:21.12
We see that in Romans
14:1... "Receive one who is weak
00:40:21.15\00:40:25.35
in the faith, but not to
disputes over doubtful things.
00:40:25.39\00:40:30.03
"Doubtful" in Greek
means reasoning that is
00:40:30.06\00:40:32.99
back and forth.
00:40:33.03\00:40:34.36
Have you ever
known someone like that?
00:40:34.40\00:40:36.06
You ask them a question...
"Oh yes, this is the way it is."
00:40:36.10\00:40:39.00
And then... tomorrow maybe
you get a different response.
00:40:39.03\00:40:42.34
You get a different answer!
00:40:42.37\00:40:44.44
So we're not to engage in
disputes over doubtful things.
00:40:44.47\00:40:48.64
And what are some
of the doubtful things?
00:40:48.68\00:40:50.28
In Romans 14, it's
really two different
00:40:50.31\00:40:52.61
issues that we're addressing.
00:40:52.65\00:40:54.35
One would be the types of
food that is eaten and we're
00:40:54.38\00:40:58.29
going to address that,
but this is not talking about
00:40:58.32\00:41:00.72
clean and unclean
food. That's right.
00:41:00.76\00:41:02.66
Paul is not
putting aside the law.
00:41:02.69\00:41:06.56
What he's saying is...
we're talking about ceremonial
00:41:06.59\00:41:09.56
impurity - that's what
he's talking about here.
00:41:09.60\00:41:12.67
The other issue - and we
will look into that... is about
00:41:12.70\00:41:17.01
a dispute regarding days,
and in here, we're going to
00:41:17.04\00:41:20.14
see this has nothing to do
with the Sabbath or Sunday.
00:41:20.18\00:41:23.75
This has to do with the
feast days and the fast days
00:41:23.78\00:41:28.15
that lead up to the feast days.
00:41:28.18\00:41:29.72
So if we look at the disputes
over the type of food eaten,
00:41:29.75\00:41:32.85
we see in Romans 14:2...
"For one believes he may eat
00:41:32.89\00:41:36.76
all things, but he who is
weak eats only vegetables."
00:41:36.79\00:41:41.00
Now, how do we know what
he's really talking about here?
00:41:41.03\00:41:44.30
How do we know if
this is clean or unclean or
00:41:44.33\00:41:46.40
if this is really just dealing
with ceremonial impurity?
00:41:46.43\00:41:49.37
There is no evidence in the
New Testament that Christians
00:41:49.40\00:41:53.71
ate anything unclean.
00:41:53.74\00:41:55.84
Every Scripture, every
time something is referenced...
00:41:55.88\00:41:59.31
a lesson or two ago,
we talked about Peter
00:41:59.35\00:42:02.45
with the sheet that came
down and the thing, and he said,
00:42:02.48\00:42:05.95
"I have never eaten
anything common or unclean."
00:42:05.99\00:42:09.72
So this is well after the
time of Jesus and it makes it
00:42:09.76\00:42:12.79
very evident, very clear that
00:42:12.83\00:42:15.53
the disciples did not
all of a sudden start eating
00:42:17.17\00:42:20.30
what was common
or what was unclean.
00:42:20.34\00:42:23.44
And it also talks
about beverages later...
00:42:23.47\00:42:26.74
he introduces beverages...
well, you know, clearly
00:42:26.78\00:42:29.11
then, we're not discussing
clean and unclean because
00:42:29.14\00:42:31.15
that would not
involve beverages either.
00:42:31.18\00:42:33.31
We also look at
Romans 14:14, it says...
00:42:33.35\00:42:39.55
Paul says, "I know and
am convinced by the Lord
00:42:39.59\00:42:41.62
Jesus, there is
nothing unclean of itself,
00:42:41.66\00:42:44.99
but to him who
considers anything to be unclean
00:42:45.03\00:42:47.66
to him it is unclean.
00:42:47.70\00:42:49.23
Now it's interesting to note
00:42:49.26\00:42:50.87
what the word for "unclean" is.
00:42:50.90\00:42:52.67
In English, it's
simply translated "unclean."
00:42:52.70\00:42:55.50
But in the Greek,
it means it's "koinos."
00:42:55.54\00:42:59.44
I guess that's how you
pronounce it and it literally
00:42:59.47\00:43:01.54
means "impure animals," it's
not talking about being unclean.
00:43:01.58\00:43:06.51
It refers to maybe the
uncleanness of food eaten
00:43:06.55\00:43:09.28
with unwashed hands some
of those ceremonial laws...
00:43:09.32\00:43:12.29
ceremonial impurity,
some of those ceremonial laws
00:43:12.32\00:43:17.09
that the Jews held -
some of those laws we know
00:43:17.13\00:43:21.20
were nailed to the cross,
NOT the Ten Commandment Law,
00:43:21.23\00:43:24.83
but those ordinances
and those ceremonies were.
00:43:24.87\00:43:27.90
And then we look at
disputes over days...
00:43:27.94\00:43:30.41
Romans 14:5-6... "One person
esteems one day above another;
00:43:30.44\00:43:35.08
another esteems every day alike.
00:43:35.11\00:43:37.28
Let each be fully
convinced in his own mind.
00:43:37.31\00:43:40.28
He who observes a day,
observes it to the Lord,
00:43:40.32\00:43:43.95
and he who does not
observe the day to the Lord
00:43:43.99\00:43:47.32
he does not observe it."
00:43:47.36\00:43:49.42
Now, we're not talking
about the Sabbath day here,
00:43:49.46\00:43:51.86
we know clearly, Acts
13:14, Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2...
00:43:51.89\00:43:59.53
all talk about Paul
going into the synagogue
00:43:59.57\00:44:02.70
on the Sabbath day; Paul
worshipping on the Sabbath;
00:44:02.74\00:44:05.37
Paul meeting at the
riverside on the Sabbath day,
00:44:05.41\00:44:08.14
with the women
there, to worship.
00:44:08.18\00:44:10.18
And the controversy in the
early church was never over
00:44:10.21\00:44:12.55
whether they should
even keep the Sabbath.
00:44:12.58\00:44:14.48
Sometimes it was over
HOW to keep it and there was
00:44:14.52\00:44:17.72
controversy concerning
that, but there was NEVER
00:44:17.75\00:44:19.89
any controversy concerning
over whether they should
00:44:19.92\00:44:22.46
keep the Sabbath.
00:44:22.49\00:44:23.83
So what is Paul's
counsel to the issues?
00:44:23.86\00:44:25.96
Four things in closing:
00:44:25.99\00:44:27.93
#1... Look at your own
life. Your own issues and don't
00:44:27.96\00:44:32.40
judge someone else.
00:44:32.43\00:44:34.30
Romans 14:10... "Why
do you judge your brother,
00:44:34.34\00:44:36.71
why do you show
contempt for your brother?
00:44:36.74\00:44:38.71
We shall all stand
individually before the
00:44:38.74\00:44:41.34
judgment seat of Christ."
00:44:41.38\00:44:42.81
#2... Practice tolerance
towards those who believe
00:44:42.84\00:44:46.88
differently from you.
00:44:46.92\00:44:48.88
Romans 14:3... "Let not
him who eats despise him
00:44:48.92\00:44:52.22
who does not
eat, and let not him
00:44:52.25\00:44:54.66
who does not eat,
judge him who eats
00:44:54.69\00:44:56.32
for God has received him.
00:44:56.36\00:44:57.93
#3... Do not be a
stumbling block to others.
00:44:57.96\00:45:02.96
#4... Be willing
to give something up
00:45:03.00\00:45:08.27
if it's hurting your brother.
00:45:08.30\00:45:11.01
Romans 14:15... "Yet
if your brother is grieved
00:45:11.04\00:45:13.71
because of your
food, you are no longer
00:45:13.74\00:45:15.74
walking in love.
00:45:15.78\00:45:17.11
Do not destroy, with your food
the one for whom Christ died.
00:45:17.15\00:45:20.88
I think so many times,
in the Christian community,
00:45:20.92\00:45:23.95
now our issue is
not ceremonial impurity,
00:45:23.99\00:45:26.22
and our issue isn't
circumcision or any of that,
00:45:26.25\00:45:28.52
but we have our own issues
in the church to contend with.
00:45:28.56\00:45:31.93
And, so many times we think,
"Well they need to change."
00:45:31.96\00:45:35.10
And instead of thinking,
"Am I being a stumbling
00:45:35.13\00:45:37.83
block to someone else,
in the way that I live,
00:45:38.03\00:45:41.84
in my lifestyle, in my
habits, in my practice."
00:45:41.87\00:45:44.77
So Romans 14 is about
the strong and the weak,
00:45:44.81\00:45:48.21
and we are to adjust
and change our own conduct
00:45:48.24\00:45:52.31
in order that we are not a
stumbling block to someone else.
00:45:52.35\00:45:55.12
Amen!
00:45:55.15\00:45:57.42
Ooo, hard to follow that one.
00:45:57.45\00:45:58.79
That was a powerful study. Amen!
00:45:58.82\00:46:01.06
This is Thursday's lesson
and, of course, the lesson
00:46:01.09\00:46:03.99
is entitled: "Unity in Mission"
00:46:04.03\00:46:06.56
And, you know, being an
evangelist for quite some time,
00:46:06.59\00:46:10.67
that really is...
Pastor Lomacang, I think you
00:46:10.70\00:46:13.17
and the Pastor here
can understand this better
00:46:13.20\00:46:16.07
than anyone and that
is... isn't our ultimate goal
00:46:16.10\00:46:18.91
to make disciples, but
eventually you want those
00:46:18.94\00:46:22.58
disciples to be grafted into
the mission of our church. Amen!
00:46:22.61\00:46:25.28
The mission and the movement
in which God has called us,
00:46:25.31\00:46:27.62
and I think that
is the ultimate goal,
00:46:27.65\00:46:30.25
but yet that
mission is a process.
00:46:30.29\00:46:32.79
It is a process and
sometimes within that mission,
00:46:32.82\00:46:37.09
that unity in
mission, there can be some
00:46:37.13\00:46:39.23
contentions or there
can be some challenges.
00:46:39.26\00:46:41.10
And I think that we see
that in the example given to us
00:46:41.13\00:46:43.90
in the Bible, right
there with the disciples...
00:46:43.93\00:46:46.87
For instance, Luke
22:24... you'll notice prior
00:46:46.90\00:46:50.57
to the Pentecost experience,
we see in Luke 22:24,
00:46:50.61\00:46:55.54
it says... "Now there was
also a dispute among them...
00:46:55.58\00:46:59.21
(now keep in mind, this
dispute that was happening
00:46:59.25\00:47:01.88
they were with Jesus
at the table at the Last
00:47:01.92\00:47:04.82
Supper and Christ
is literally hours from
00:47:04.85\00:47:08.22
being crucified and giving His
life on the cross of Calvary)
00:47:08.26\00:47:11.69
and so we see here in
Luke 22:24, "Now there was a
00:47:11.73\00:47:14.33
dispute among them as
to which of them should be
00:47:14.36\00:47:17.17
considered the...
greatest, the greatest!"
00:47:17.20\00:47:20.50
You know, as a minister in
traveling around the country,
00:47:20.54\00:47:25.21
around the world and
having the wonderful privilege
00:47:25.24\00:47:27.61
and opportunity of
preaching the gospel,
00:47:27.64\00:47:30.61
you know, you would like
to believe that everyone is
00:47:30.65\00:47:33.62
in one mind and in one
accord, as the Bible tells us.
00:47:33.65\00:47:36.65
That everyone is
pressing forward in that mission
00:47:36.69\00:47:39.35
as God has ordained us
and called us as a group,
00:47:39.39\00:47:41.82
as a movement.
00:47:41.86\00:47:43.49
But truly, I think some
of us, in our weaknesses,
00:47:43.53\00:47:45.99
we sometimes get side-tracked
and those weaknesses
00:47:46.03\00:47:49.66
cause our mission to
sometimes often fail.
00:47:49.70\00:47:52.53
But God is not a God of
failure, He is a God of victory,
00:47:52.57\00:47:56.37
He is a God of grace and mercy.
00:47:56.40\00:47:59.27
Notice the change in
the disciples pre and post
00:47:59.31\00:48:04.21
Pentecost - we're going to
see that in just a few moments.
00:48:04.25\00:48:06.15
Notice what it says
here in Acts 1:14, it says...
00:48:06.18\00:48:09.88
"These all continued
with one accord in prayer and
00:48:09.92\00:48:13.59
supplication with the woman,
Mary, the mother of Jesus,
00:48:13.62\00:48:17.53
and with His brothers."
00:48:17.56\00:48:18.89
Now the crucifixion
of Christ has occurred;
00:48:18.93\00:48:22.00
they are literally days
from this Pentecost experience;
00:48:22.03\00:48:25.50
they know something is
coming, but they can't quite
00:48:25.53\00:48:27.64
put their thumb on it,
but they know that Christ
00:48:27.67\00:48:29.97
has promised them
another Comforter,
00:48:30.01\00:48:31.47
a power than can endure.
00:48:31.51\00:48:33.41
Notice Acts 2:1, 46... it
says, "When the day of Pentecost
00:48:33.44\00:48:38.88
had fully come, they were all
with one accord in one place."
00:48:38.91\00:48:43.18
Wouldn't it be nice
to see all of our people
00:48:43.22\00:48:45.82
in one accord and in
one place in every aspect
00:48:45.85\00:48:49.82
of church mission and
then that is the ultimate goal.
00:48:49.86\00:48:52.33
Verse 46 of Acts 2 says...
"So continuing (and I love
00:48:52.36\00:48:56.50
this word here) daily...
(not just on the Sabbath,
00:48:56.53\00:48:59.87
but daily) with one accord
in the temple (it says here)
00:48:59.90\00:49:05.37
and breaking bread
from house-to-house,
00:49:05.41\00:49:07.71
they ate their
food with gladness
00:49:07.74\00:49:09.74
and simplicity of heart."
00:49:09.78\00:49:12.31
And so you can see a change
in the disciples that may be
00:49:12.35\00:49:16.55
pre-Pentecost, you
know, even there in the waking
00:49:16.58\00:49:19.65
moments in which Christ
was about to give His life
00:49:19.69\00:49:21.96
for all the world -
we see the disciples
00:49:21.99\00:49:23.93
are disputing,
there is a struggle there.
00:49:23.99\00:49:25.89
You can see the great
controversy at play there,
00:49:25.93\00:49:28.10
but yet, moving closer
and closer to that Pentecost
00:49:28.13\00:49:31.07
experience, we start to
see almost a revival. Yes
00:49:31.10\00:49:34.07
It was a revival, a
change happening in their hearts
00:49:34.10\00:49:37.21
and in their minds - as
they began to see that while
00:49:37.24\00:49:40.01
Christ is not with
them, yet He's with them,
00:49:40.04\00:49:42.44
and then they have to
be in oneness as well.
00:49:42.48\00:49:44.95
How were the
disciples able to come together
00:49:44.98\00:49:49.28
in this oneness
and in this unity?
00:49:49.32\00:49:50.85
Not in and of their own power,
not in and of their own strength
00:49:50.89\00:49:55.16
for we know that Acts
1:8 tells us very clearly...
00:49:55.19\00:49:58.89
"But you shall receive
power when the Holy Spirit
00:49:58.93\00:50:03.37
has come upon you,
and you shall be... what?
00:50:03.40\00:50:06.70
A witness to Me in Jerusalem
and in all Judea and Samaria,
00:50:06.74\00:50:11.01
and then here's the
most important part...
00:50:11.04\00:50:12.64
and to all the
ends of the earth."
00:50:12.67\00:50:14.31
So we are a
global mission-minded
00:50:14.34\00:50:16.51
people, at least we should be.
00:50:16.54\00:50:18.61
God has called us not just
to preach here to Thompsonville,
00:50:18.65\00:50:21.72
not just to preach
to our individual towns,
00:50:21.75\00:50:23.52
in our individual
states, while those missions are
00:50:23.55\00:50:25.72
most important - but we are
a global mission-minded people.
00:50:25.75\00:50:28.46
But the only way we can
be unified in the mission
00:50:28.99\00:50:32.59
that God has called us
to, is only by submitting
00:50:32.63\00:50:35.46
and adhering to the
power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
00:50:35.50\00:50:38.60
And I often remind
people... some people ask me
00:50:38.63\00:50:41.00
all the time on the road,
they say, "Ryan, how can I
00:50:41.04\00:50:42.97
know for sure that I
have the Holy Spirit?"
00:50:43.00\00:50:45.57
Well it tells us right
here... "And when you receive
00:50:45.61\00:50:47.54
the Holy Spirit, you shall
receive power to be a witness."
00:50:47.58\00:50:51.21
If you don't have
that zeal and that passion
00:50:51.25\00:50:54.78
to go up there and
tell the world about Christ,
00:50:54.82\00:50:56.85
and to be in unity and
oneness with your brethren,
00:50:56.89\00:50:59.59
and going to declare the good
news of the gospel of Jesus,
00:50:59.62\00:51:02.06
then that is a good test...
"Do I have the Holy Spirit?"
00:51:02.09\00:51:04.83
Because if you do, you
just can't keep your mouth shut!
00:51:04.86\00:51:07.46
You can't keep from
sharing that joy, that passion
00:51:07.50\00:51:10.00
that you so desire to.
00:51:10.03\00:51:11.80
But, you know, the
truth is... even within this
00:51:11.83\00:51:15.90
process of growing this
mission, we know that there are
00:51:15.94\00:51:21.84
contentions that we have to deal
with even amongst our church.
00:51:21.88\00:51:23.71
We know that the devil
is attacking our people.
00:51:24.08\00:51:27.35
He is at war with
God's remnant people who keep
00:51:27.38\00:51:29.65
the commandments of God and
have the testimony of Jesus.
00:51:29.68\00:51:32.85
You know, one of the major
things that can destroy this
00:51:32.89\00:51:35.59
unification of
mission in our church
00:51:35.62\00:51:38.03
is criticism of
our brethren. Amen!
00:51:38.06\00:51:40.46
And, you know,
not just our brethren,
00:51:42.10\00:51:43.43
but also ministries within
our church and we're going to
00:51:43.47\00:51:46.63
get into this in just a
few moments very briefly,
00:51:46.67\00:51:48.80
but I take into consideration
some of the issues that the
00:51:48.84\00:51:52.44
disciples could have brought
up as they were gradually
00:51:52.47\00:51:56.58
getting closer to
that Pentecost experience.
00:51:56.61\00:51:58.55
They were not with
Christ anymore - He has promised
00:51:58.58\00:52:00.98
them but yet the
human side of them is
00:52:01.02\00:52:02.88
challenging and doubting.
00:52:02.92\00:52:04.25
You know, is the
Comforter really going
00:52:04.29\00:52:05.75
to come - is Christ
really going to be with us
00:52:05.82\00:52:07.86
as He said that He would be?
00:52:07.89\00:52:09.49
I could imagine them
bringing up Peter's denial...
00:52:09.52\00:52:11.76
"YOU denied Him," and
criticizing Peter for being the
00:52:11.79\00:52:14.66
great denier that he was.
00:52:14.70\00:52:16.26
You know, doubting Thomas.
00:52:16.30\00:52:17.80
"Thomas, you doubted
the resurrection of Christ,"
00:52:17.83\00:52:20.30
you can't be a leader of
this church, you can't go out
00:52:20.34\00:52:22.20
and do the mission that God has
00:52:22.24\00:52:23.61
called you to be
because you're a doubter."
00:52:23.64\00:52:25.17
I take in consideration
the instance in which John and
00:52:25.21\00:52:28.11
James request to receive
the most powerful position
00:52:28.14\00:52:30.98
in Christ's kingdom.
00:52:31.01\00:52:32.51
You can imagine how maybe
contending against each other
00:52:32.55\00:52:35.62
about that and
arguing and complaining...
00:52:35.65\00:52:37.75
And sometimes we look at our
brethren and we look at their
00:52:37.79\00:52:40.36
faults, their past faults and it
often can come to mind and cause
00:52:40.39\00:52:44.06
us to have a negative
outlook or negative experience
00:52:44.13\00:52:47.40
with our brethren and
towards our brethren that it's
00:52:47.43\00:52:49.60
actually working against
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:52:49.63\00:52:52.60
to fulfill and complete the
mission that God has called us.
00:52:52.63\00:52:55.77
I think of Matthew - that former
tax collector, "You're not
00:52:55.80\00:52:59.04
even really a true
disciple, you were a publican,
00:52:59.07\00:53:02.18
you were a tax collector."
00:53:02.21\00:53:03.55
But yet, I read this quote
here, I have to read it here,
00:53:03.58\00:53:06.25
it's powerful - this is in
"Acts of the Apostles," p.37,
00:53:06.28\00:53:09.35
and it tells us here...
"The disciples prayed with
00:53:10.29\00:53:13.32
intense earnestness
for a fitness to meet men
00:53:13.36\00:53:18.73
and in their daily intercourse,
to speak words that would
00:53:18.76\00:53:21.90
lead sinners to Christ." Amen!
00:53:21.93\00:53:23.83
This is a lengthy quote but
listen to this, it's powerful!
00:53:23.87\00:53:25.20
The experience that
they're experiencing as they are
00:53:26.67\00:53:28.60
approaching this
Pentecost revival.
00:53:28.64\00:53:30.84
It says, "Putting away all
differences, all desire for the
00:53:30.87\00:53:34.94
supremacy, they came
close together in Christian
00:53:34.98\00:53:38.45
fellowship. (Shouldn't we all?)
00:53:38.48\00:53:40.62
They drew nearer and nearer
to God and as they did this,
00:53:40.65\00:53:44.05
they realized what a
privilege had been theirs
00:53:44.09\00:53:47.66
in being permitted to associate
so closely with Christ.
00:53:47.69\00:53:51.63
Sadness filled their hearts
as they thought of how many
00:53:51.66\00:53:54.80
times they had grieved
Him by their slowness and
00:53:54.83\00:53:57.73
comprehension of
their failure to understand
00:53:57.77\00:54:00.64
the lessons that, for
their good, He was trying
00:54:00.67\00:54:03.71
to teach them. (and then
this last part here - powerful)
00:54:03.74\00:54:05.94
These days of preparation were
days of deep heart-searching.
00:54:05.97\00:54:10.11
The disciples felt
their spiritual need and cried
00:54:10.15\00:54:12.75
to the Lord for the Holy
unction that would fit them
00:54:12.78\00:54:16.15
for the working of soul-saving.
00:54:16.18\00:54:19.39
They did not ask for a
blessing for themselves merely,
00:54:19.42\00:54:23.32
they were weighted
(notice) with the burden of the
00:54:23.36\00:54:28.16
salvation of souls. That's it!
00:54:28.20\00:54:30.03
They realized that the gospel
was to be carried to the world
00:54:30.07\00:54:33.17
and they claimed the
power that Christ had promised."
00:54:33.20\00:54:37.11
Amen! That's powerful! Amen!
00:54:37.14\00:54:38.47
That is really the ultimate
desire - when we're putting our
00:54:38.51\00:54:40.04
attention on Christ and not
on each other, but necessarily
00:54:40.08\00:54:42.81
on Christ, then all of us
together as a mission-minded
00:54:42.84\00:54:45.78
unified people, can complete
00:54:45.81\00:54:47.52
the work that God has
called us to do. Amen!
00:54:47.55\00:54:49.52
You know, we are sanctified
as John 17:17 tells us...
00:54:49.55\00:54:53.72
"We are sanctified by the truth
because His word is truth." Amen
00:54:53.76\00:54:56.66
So we're not talking about
setting aside differences...
00:54:57.69\00:55:00.20
like in an ecumenical
sense where we are just putting
00:55:00.23\00:55:02.86
aside all of the truths
of God's word and, you know,
00:55:02.90\00:55:05.07
compromising the truth of
God's word so that we can be
00:55:05.10\00:55:07.07
unified in love and
in happiness, but rather,
00:55:07.10\00:55:09.67
we ARE unified but
what are we unified upon?
00:55:09.70\00:55:12.51
According to John 17- Truth!
00:55:12.54\00:55:14.51
So I want to leave us
with this wonderful quote
00:55:14.54\00:55:16.68
that I found here, powerful!
00:55:16.71\00:55:18.78
This comes from the 6th volume
of the Testimonies, p.295,
00:55:18.81\00:55:22.88
and it says here... "Someone
must fulfill the commission
00:55:22.92\00:55:27.02
of Christ. Someone
must carry on the work which
00:55:27.06\00:55:30.79
He began to do on earth
because He set the example,
00:55:30.83\00:55:35.10
and (notice) the church
has been given this privilege
00:55:35.13\00:55:37.83
for this purpose it
has been organized." Amen!
00:55:37.87\00:55:42.87
Praise the Lord,
thank you so much, Ryan.
00:55:42.90\00:55:45.74
You know, you can see
what a wonderful study this is.
00:55:45.77\00:55:48.88
This Quarterly is:
"Oneness in Christ"
00:55:48.91\00:55:51.35
and if you would like to
get a copy of the Quarterly,
00:55:51.38\00:55:55.18
you can go to:
ABSG.adventist.org
00:55:55.22\00:56:00.89
to download it so that
you can study in advance
00:56:00.92\00:56:04.36
and study along with us.
00:56:04.39\00:56:06.06
We have just a minute
left, quick comment anyone?
00:56:06.09\00:56:10.27
Yeah, God united the
church with the early rain,
00:56:10.30\00:56:12.73
and the church must be
united for the latter rain.
00:56:12.77\00:56:15.60
Amen!
00:56:15.64\00:56:17.11
What would be seen? A question?
00:56:17.14\00:56:18.87
What would be seen in our
lives, my life - that would
00:56:18.91\00:56:21.91
encourage somebody
else to follow Jesus? Amen!
00:56:21.94\00:56:24.91
My appeal to you would be
for myself as well as for you
00:56:24.95\00:56:28.78
at home - get out of
yourself, surrender yourself
00:56:28.82\00:56:31.45
to the Lord Jesus; allow
Him to work in you. Amen!
00:56:31.49\00:56:35.66
Unity of the faith -
that's what we have to have,
00:56:36.36\00:56:38.19
and I love this quote here,
very short but very profound...
00:56:38.23\00:56:40.93
"Heavenly angels have long
been awaiting for human agents
00:56:40.96\00:56:45.00
the members of the
church to cooperate with them
00:56:45.03\00:56:48.07
in the great work to be
done, they are waiting for you."
00:56:48.10\00:56:52.07
Powerful quote! Thank you Ryan.
00:56:52.11\00:56:54.71
You know, the one
thing that we know is that
00:56:54.74\00:56:58.21
as we are filled
with the Spirit of God,
00:56:58.25\00:57:02.82
filled with the love of
God, that we will be united
00:57:02.85\00:57:06.19
and we'll work together
in mission and that's when
00:57:06.22\00:57:09.09
we will reflect the love,
the light and the life of our
00:57:09.12\00:57:12.29
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
00:57:12.33\00:57:14.30
We will hold Him high
and all with be drawn to Him.
00:57:14.33\00:57:17.90
Our prayer for you is that the
grace of our Lord and Savior,
00:57:17.93\00:57:21.24
the love of the Father
and the fellowship of the Holy
00:57:21.27\00:57:23.91
Spirit will be with
you today and forever!
00:57:23.94\00:57:29.31