The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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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
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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 Family Seasons.
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Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
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And we are so excited
that you're joining us
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for Sabbath School panel today.
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We are on the second
lesson of a new quarterly
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called Family Seasons.
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And today's lesson
is the choices we make.
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And we're gonna
look at in this week,
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not only some of
the choices we make,
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but how we should
make those decisions
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and the impact that it has
on not just us but on families.
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Let me introduce
our wonderful panel.
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Next to me, Pastor Ryan Day.
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Amen. It's good to be here.
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Oh, pastor, we are
glad you're on this panel.
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Then my pastor,
Pastor John Lomacang.
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Praise the Lord.
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Always exciting to
walk through God's Word.
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It's an excursion
that's new every time.
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Amen.
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And then 3ABN General
Manager, Jill Morikone.
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Always a privilege to
study with each one of you.
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And we're so glad
my precious sister
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that you're on this panel,
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and then my precious
brother, Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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Always a pleasure.
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Thank you. Thank you.
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Kenny, would you have
opening prayer for us?
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Sure, sure.
Let's pray, shall we?
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Our merciful heavenly Father,
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we thank You for the
privilege of prayer this today.
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We thank You that we
can call You our Father,
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thank You that we
belong to the family of God.
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Lord, as we open
the beautiful pages
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of this book called the Bible,
this lesson study for today,
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we ask that the Holy
Spirit would take possession of
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each of our
hearts and our lives.
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Lord, maybe not just
take it as just a job to do
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but maybe look as
heaven is speaking to us,
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giving us encouragement,
and help us to watch,
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we pray because
the time is coming
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when Jesus is soon to come here,
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we need to be ready.
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We're thankful for the lessons
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that talk about the importance
of not only serving God,
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putting Him first, but
to remember our families.
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Bless us now we pray to this
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and may You have
Your will and Your way.
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All that said
and all that's done,
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empty our hearts from anything
that needs not be there.
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We only need to see Jesus,
we only need to hear from Jesus
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and we're gonna thank
You in His precious name,
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we pray in for His sake, amen.
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Amen, and amen.
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And we want to
encourage those of you at home.
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If you do not have a quarterly,
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you can always go to your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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they'll be happy to
give you a quarterly
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or you can go online
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to ABSG.Adventist.org
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and download your very own copy.
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So lesson to
the choices we make.
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Life is full of choices
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from the moment we
wake up till we go to bed.
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Some choices are routine,
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some choices can
be very consequential.
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All right.
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And may impact not only
us, but those around us.
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That's right.
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And so it is
critical to consider
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the consequences of
our choices, is it not?
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Yes.
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But I wanna say
this just right up front.
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The good news is no
matter how many bad choices
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that you've made in your life,
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there is mercy,
and love, and grace,
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and forgiveness in our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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So do not worry,
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even if you've made
the worst of decisions,
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God is the God
of new beginnings.
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Let's look at our memory text,
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Joshua 24:15 from the
New King James Version.
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And here's what Joshua says,
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"If it seems evil to
you to serve the Lord,
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choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve,
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whether the gods
which your fathers served
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that were on the
other side of the river,
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or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you dwell.
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But as for me and my house,
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we will serve the Lord."
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So that is absolutely
the most important choice
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we will ever make.
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I have way too
much for Sunday's lesson
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because I've added some stuff,
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but I'm gonna try
to get through it.
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Sunday, we're talking
about free will, free choice.
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And I just have to say this.
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Calvinism is a type of,
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one of their
beliefs is it's rather,
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it promotes the idea that
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and it's a mistaken belief
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that God chooses
some to be saved or lost,
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even before they're born.
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This is a
distortion in our opinion,
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a biblical predestination
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because it's saying
regardless of your choice,
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you're condemned, some
are condemned to be lost.
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And you know what?
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You add that to the false notion
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that there is an eternal
burning hell and punishing
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and that makes God
out to be a monster.
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That's right.
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It has absolutely turned
some people into atheists.
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As the Seventh-day
Adventist Christians,
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our church does not
believe that theology.
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We believe, as the Bible
clearly states in 1 Timothy 2:4
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that "God desires
all men to be saved
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and come to the
knowledge of the truth."
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And even before the world began,
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He created us and chose us
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to have eternal life in Christ.
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But it depends on our choices.
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So here's what I want
to add as a little bonus.
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God granted humanity,
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the freedom of will,
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the freedom of choice.
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We can either choose
or reject God's love.
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But He must honor
whatever choice we make.
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And for those who misuse
this gift of this freedom,
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if we use a free will to
do wrong instead of right,
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following Satan
and his rebellion,
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the consequences
of sin will follow.
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But people ask me,
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"Why did God create
humanity with free will?
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If He knew we
were gonna do this,
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why didn't He just, you know...
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Was this some
kind of experiment?
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Why didn't He just programmed us
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so that we would
always do what's right.
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And if He loves us,
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why does He allow
us to experience pain?
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From eternity past,
God has been involved
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in a
relationship of perfect unity,
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the Father, Son and the Spirit.
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And when He created us,
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that perfect unity is because
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the essence of God's
character is love, right?
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So when He created
us to be His children,
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He created us and designed us
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so that we could have
reciprocal relationships,
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that we could love Him,
that we could love others.
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And His loving plan is
that He gave us this free will,
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if He programmed us,
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you can't program love, can you?
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No.
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If He just made
us little robots,
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we would have nothing
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by which we could
determine what was love.
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So He created us in His
image with His intelligence,
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His ability to choose,
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His ability to create
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and to make us like Himself.
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He made this little special part
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called the prefrontal lobe.
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And that's what
makes us creative.
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That's what gives
us freedom of choice.
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Guess what?
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It's also the
area that creates pain.
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So that is the
same part of the...
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I shouldn't say creates
pain, but identifies pain.
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So what you have to
know is God loved us enough
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to create us
like Himself and He,
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without choice we cannot love.
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He is a God of
self-sacrificing love,
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and that's what He created.
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He's not the author
of pain and suffering.
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Where did that come from?
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Sin. From Satan.
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So, God could
have programmed us,
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but then we'd have no
choice, no creative ability,
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no ability to rule.
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And that's why He
wanted us to experience love.
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So when you think about this,
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it wasn't some
kind of experiment.
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Yes, God knew we
were going to go astray.
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I mean, the lamb was slain
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from the
foundation of the world.
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But parents, when
parents decide to have
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or when a couple
decides to have children,
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they know the child
could, maybe end up rebelling.
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But why did they do it?
For the experience of love.
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So let's look at Ephesians
1, I'm gonna begin in verse 2.
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In Ephesians 1:2, now
I'm gonna have to turn.
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He says, this is Paul writing,
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"Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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who has blessed us with
every spiritual blessing
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in heavenly places in Christ."
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What a promise!
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We've already been blessed
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with every
spiritual blessings in Christ.
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"Just as He chose us in Him
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before the
foundation of the world."
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So, see when it
says, "He chose us in Him,"
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it is referring to
spiritual union with Christ.
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So election flows from
that union, does it not?
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"So He chose us in Him
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before the
foundation of the world
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that we should be holy
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and without blame
before Him in love,
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having predestined us,
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His predetermined loving plan,
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to adoption as sons by
Jesus Christ to Himself
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according to the good
pleasure of His will."
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So He planned from the beginning
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to adopt those
who accepted His Son
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who are in
Christ, to be part of His,
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to enter into this special
covenant of family relationship
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where He would accomplish
His will in our lives.
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And then He says,
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"To the praise of
the glory of His grace
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by which He's made us
accepted in the beloved."
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Hallelujah!
00:10:36.83\00:10:38.17
"In Him we have
redemption through His blood,
00:10:38.20\00:10:41.74
the forgiveness of sins,
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according to the
riches of His grace."
00:10:43.24\00:10:45.61
So we know that
grace is His favor,
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and we're not
deserving of His favor.
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But holiness and blamelessness
are the results of grace,
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not the basis of God's election.
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So He redeemed us
from sin and Satan,
00:11:01.52\00:11:03.73
bought us with the
price of His own Son's blood.
00:11:03.76\00:11:09.93
Titus 1 verses...
00:11:09.96\00:11:13.60
I'm gonna look at
verse 2, and in 2 Timothy 1,
00:11:13.64\00:11:16.34
I wanna look at verse 9.
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It's interesting in
both of these passages,
00:11:18.67\00:11:21.81
Paul mentions before time began.
00:11:21.84\00:11:24.38
Look at Titus 1:2, it says,
00:11:24.41\00:11:26.78
"In hope of eternal life,
00:11:26.82\00:11:28.15
which God who cannot lie,
promised before time began."
00:11:28.18\00:11:33.86
And in 2 Timothy 1:9, says that,
00:11:33.92\00:11:36.59
"God who has
saved us and called us
00:11:36.62\00:11:39.63
with a holy calling,
not according to our works,
00:11:39.66\00:11:43.06
but according to His
own purpose and grace,
00:11:43.10\00:11:46.53
which was given to
us in Christ Jesus,
00:11:46.57\00:11:50.57
before time began."
00:11:50.64\00:11:54.28
You know what's
interesting to me,
00:11:54.31\00:11:56.78
physicists have now proven
00:11:56.81\00:12:00.12
time did not exist
before our world began.
00:12:00.15\00:12:06.35
Isn't that interesting?
00:12:06.39\00:12:07.72
I mean, the
Bible says it all over.
00:12:07.76\00:12:09.09
But they finally, actually
this was probably 15 years ago
00:12:09.12\00:12:11.89
that they finally
came out and said,
00:12:11.93\00:12:14.50
"Time didn't exist
before our world began."
00:12:14.56\00:12:17.43
But God has had a plan all along
00:12:17.47\00:12:21.04
from the very beginning,
00:12:21.07\00:12:23.27
that whoever would
accept His salvation
00:12:23.30\00:12:27.44
would become part of His family
00:12:27.48\00:12:29.08
and would spend
eternity with Him.
00:12:29.11\00:12:31.45
And you know,
however good this news is,
00:12:31.48\00:12:33.38
some people are gonna be lost.
00:12:33.42\00:12:35.55
Why?
00:12:35.58\00:12:36.95
Because of their
choices. That's true.
00:12:36.99\00:12:39.55
Because God has chosen us,
00:12:39.59\00:12:42.49
but He's given us
this most sacred human gift
00:12:42.52\00:12:46.66
and that is free will.
00:12:46.70\00:12:48.00
Amen. Free will.
00:12:48.03\00:12:49.80
So our lesson asks us,
00:12:49.83\00:12:52.97
what does Matthew
22:35-37 teach about free will.
00:12:53.00\00:12:57.87
Let's look at
that. Matthew 25:35.
00:12:57.91\00:13:01.71
Matthew 22:35.
00:13:01.74\00:13:04.88
"One of them, a lawyer,
asked him, Christ, a question,
00:13:04.91\00:13:10.49
testing Him and saying,
00:13:10.52\00:13:12.92
'Teacher, which is the
great commandment in the law?'
00:13:12.95\00:13:17.73
Jesus said to him,
00:13:17.76\00:13:19.59
'You shall love
the Lord your God
00:13:19.63\00:13:20.96
with all your
heart, with all your soul,
00:13:21.00\00:13:23.63
with all of your mind.'"
00:13:23.67\00:13:26.90
See, let me tell you something.
00:13:26.94\00:13:28.34
The Lord doesn't
force us to love Him.
00:13:28.37\00:13:30.94
And you might say,
00:13:30.97\00:13:32.31
"Well, He's
commanding us to love Him."
00:13:32.34\00:13:34.81
Anytime He commands us
00:13:34.84\00:13:38.05
that bidding to do something
is an enabling in His mind.
00:13:38.08\00:13:42.15
You know, that's
right. So what God does?
00:13:42.18\00:13:43.89
Romans 5:5, says, is that,
00:13:43.95\00:13:45.79
"He pours His
love into our hearts
00:13:45.82\00:13:47.76
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:13:47.79\00:13:49.66
so that we can love Him."
00:13:49.69\00:13:52.63
And you know, we can argue
00:13:52.66\00:13:54.00
that the Bible
is the story of God
00:13:54.03\00:13:55.73
reaching out to lost humanity
00:13:55.76\00:13:59.23
to restore us to,
00:13:59.27\00:14:04.64
to restore human beings
00:14:04.67\00:14:06.27
to this loving
relationship without coercion.
00:14:06.31\00:14:10.15
And I'm gonna stop there.
00:14:10.18\00:14:11.65
Wow, that's powerful.
00:14:11.68\00:14:13.08
I think it was, maybe
misquoting this slightly,
00:14:13.11\00:14:17.09
but paraphrasing and I
think will be sufficient.
00:14:17.12\00:14:19.12
I think it was
CS Lewis who wrote
00:14:19.15\00:14:20.86
and I have to agree with him.
00:14:20.89\00:14:23.22
Let's see if I
can get this right.
00:14:23.26\00:14:25.73
The greatest mystery
00:14:25.76\00:14:27.50
that I think none of
us can begin to fathom
00:14:27.60\00:14:29.90
is the fact that the
Creator created the created
00:14:29.93\00:14:36.30
with the free will
to reject His love,
00:14:36.34\00:14:39.77
with the free will to
reject Him in general.
00:14:39.81\00:14:43.91
That's right. That's a choice.
00:14:43.95\00:14:45.65
In other words, God has
given us the gift of free will.
00:14:45.68\00:14:48.48
He does not force Himself.
00:14:48.52\00:14:49.95
He does not force His love
or His will upon our lives.
00:14:49.98\00:14:54.52
My lesson is covering
making the right choices.
00:14:54.56\00:14:58.23
We know we have now
the free will to choose,
00:14:58.26\00:15:01.83
but how can I ensure,
00:15:01.86\00:15:03.20
how can I know for sure
00:15:03.23\00:15:04.57
that I can make
the right choices?
00:15:04.60\00:15:05.93
And if that's
possible, how is that possible?
00:15:05.97\00:15:08.60
I'm just gonna take us
00:15:08.64\00:15:10.01
to a good old
fashioned Bible study.
00:15:10.04\00:15:11.71
I think the best way to
do it is just simply allow...
00:15:11.74\00:15:14.18
In fact, I'm gonna
exercise, hopefully,
00:15:14.21\00:15:17.38
the ability to make the right
choice in letting God speak
00:15:17.45\00:15:20.62
rather than myself
00:15:20.65\00:15:21.98
because His Word
is so much better than
00:15:22.02\00:15:23.62
what I can possibly
say in this subject.
00:15:23.69\00:15:25.69
I want to start here in
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17.
00:15:25.72\00:15:31.23
So again, just
keep in your mind.
00:15:31.26\00:15:33.06
Again, how can we make sure
that we make the right choices?
00:15:33.09\00:15:36.26
How can I make
the right choices?
00:15:36.30\00:15:38.43
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17.
00:15:38.47\00:15:42.54
I like to just... I wanna...
00:15:42.57\00:15:43.91
In fact, I added verse 16.
00:15:43.97\00:15:45.31
I think in the lesson
it might only include 17
00:15:45.34\00:15:47.44
but I added verse 16.
00:15:47.48\00:15:49.64
Two words, here it
is, "Rejoice always."
00:15:49.68\00:15:52.65
Amen.
00:15:52.68\00:15:54.08
Now when I read that,
00:15:54.12\00:15:55.45
following what we're
about to read in verse 17.
00:15:55.48\00:15:57.79
What that tells me
is, I have to make sure,
00:15:57.82\00:15:59.62
I get my mind right first.
00:15:59.65\00:16:01.52
In other words, put
yourself in the right mindset,
00:16:01.56\00:16:04.49
set yourself up for victory
in making the right choices.
00:16:04.53\00:16:08.10
Rejoice always,
00:16:08.13\00:16:09.53
always take the
time to be thankful
00:16:09.56\00:16:11.67
and rejoice to God,
00:16:11.70\00:16:13.54
you know, on behalf of
00:16:13.57\00:16:14.90
what He's done for
you and just who He is.
00:16:14.94\00:16:16.27
Amen. Yeah.
00:16:16.30\00:16:17.64
You know, putting
yourself in that right mindset
00:16:17.67\00:16:19.01
can so much help you in
setting up the possibility
00:16:19.04\00:16:21.98
and the reality of you
making the right choice
00:16:22.01\00:16:24.61
every single
time, rejoice always.
00:16:24.65\00:16:26.92
Verse 17, it says,
"Pray without ceasing."
00:16:26.95\00:16:32.29
"Pray without ceasing,
00:16:32.32\00:16:33.79
in everything,"
here it is, "give thanks,
00:16:33.86\00:16:35.86
for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you."
00:16:35.89\00:16:39.93
So get your mind right and then,
00:16:40.00\00:16:42.06
of course, you
know, if you're scared
00:16:42.10\00:16:44.13
that you can't make the
right choice or you fear that,
00:16:44.17\00:16:46.30
"Oh, am I making
the right choice?"
00:16:46.33\00:16:48.27
How about trusting in
the counsel of God's Word,
00:16:48.30\00:16:50.67
when he says,
"You know, come to Me,
00:16:50.71\00:16:52.51
ask and it
shall be given to you.
00:16:52.54\00:16:53.94
Knock and it shall be opened.
I will present that to you.
00:16:53.98\00:16:56.81
I will give you the gift
of making the right choice."
00:16:56.85\00:16:59.05
James 1:5-8, notice
what the Bible says,
00:16:59.08\00:17:02.98
"If any of you lacks wisdom,"
00:17:03.02\00:17:04.49
and I think all of us lack
wisdom to a certain extent,
00:17:04.52\00:17:07.39
"let Him," there it is,
00:17:07.42\00:17:08.89
"ask of God who
gives to all liberally
00:17:08.92\00:17:13.23
and without reproach,
00:17:13.26\00:17:15.10
and it will be given
to him," I love that.
00:17:15.13\00:17:17.90
"But let him ask in faith."
00:17:17.93\00:17:20.24
It's one thing to say,
"Okay, I'm gonna say a prayer,
00:17:20.27\00:17:22.74
and I'm gonna
ask God for wisdom."
00:17:22.77\00:17:24.31
But are you asking in faith?
00:17:24.34\00:17:25.84
Are you truly believing
00:17:25.87\00:17:27.21
that He's gonna
come through for you?
00:17:27.28\00:17:28.61
Do you truly believe
that He can grant you
00:17:28.64\00:17:31.08
the victory and the ability
to make the right choice?
00:17:31.11\00:17:33.75
He says, you know what?
00:17:33.82\00:17:35.15
"But let him ask in faith,"
00:17:35.18\00:17:36.52
this is verse 6
of James Chapter 1,
00:17:36.55\00:17:38.79
"with no doubting,
00:17:38.82\00:17:41.36
for he who doubts is
like a wave of the sea
00:17:41.39\00:17:43.83
driven and tossed by the wind."
00:17:43.86\00:17:45.89
I love this verse 7 here.
00:17:45.93\00:17:47.30
"For let not that man suppose,
00:17:47.30\00:17:50.63
let not that man suppose
00:17:50.67\00:17:52.00
that he will receive
anything from the Lord."
00:17:52.03\00:17:53.54
In other words,
"Well, I might receive it.
00:17:53.60\00:17:56.37
I might receive it."
00:17:56.40\00:17:57.74
No, you will receive it,
00:17:57.77\00:17:59.11
maybe not in the time
that you want to receive it.
00:17:59.14\00:18:02.01
I like to think of
God as an on time God.
00:18:02.04\00:18:04.98
There was a song out
there years ago called
00:18:05.01\00:18:07.45
"He's an on time God."
00:18:07.48\00:18:08.82
Yes, He is.
00:18:08.85\00:18:10.22
He may not come
when you want Him,
00:18:10.25\00:18:11.59
but He'll be
there right on time.
00:18:11.62\00:18:12.95
I know that's a
reality in my life
00:18:12.99\00:18:14.32
because I have come to learn.
00:18:14.36\00:18:16.26
Lord, when I pray
and ask of something,
00:18:16.29\00:18:17.79
I'm not just expecting always
the Lord to answer immediately.
00:18:17.83\00:18:20.63
Sometimes He does.
00:18:20.66\00:18:21.96
But then most of the time,
00:18:22.00\00:18:23.33
He knows the exact
spot, the exact point
00:18:23.37\00:18:26.33
in which He's gonna bless
you and answer that prayer.
00:18:26.37\00:18:29.07
And in this case,
He's going to come on time
00:18:29.10\00:18:32.34
to deliver you and
give you the ability
00:18:32.37\00:18:34.64
to make the right
choice every single time.
00:18:34.68\00:18:37.38
Praying, ask, trust
in the Lord's counsel,
00:18:37.45\00:18:40.65
believe in faith.
00:18:40.72\00:18:42.15
And, of course,
He is an on time God.
00:18:42.18\00:18:43.99
He will show up. He
will answer your prayer.
00:18:44.02\00:18:46.52
Isaiah 1:19, I'm just
gonna spit them out here.
00:18:46.55\00:18:49.26
They're beautiful verses,
promises that we can count on.
00:18:49.29\00:18:53.16
And I love that, I love
how this starts out here.
00:18:53.19\00:18:54.83
Isaiah 1:19.
00:18:54.86\00:18:57.63
And I'm also
gonna read verse 20.
00:18:57.67\00:18:59.80
It says, "If you are
willing and obedient..."
00:18:59.83\00:19:02.50
That's right. Yes.
00:19:02.54\00:19:03.87
Okay, notice this,
00:19:03.94\00:19:05.27
first of all you
have to be willing
00:19:05.31\00:19:08.24
to respond the way the
Lord would have you to respond.
00:19:08.28\00:19:10.31
Yes.
00:19:10.38\00:19:11.71
In other words, to
make the right choice,
00:19:11.75\00:19:13.08
you have to be willing."
00:19:13.11\00:19:14.45
Lord, I'm willing
to follow Your counsel.
00:19:14.48\00:19:15.82
Lord, I'm willing
to follow Your will."
00:19:15.85\00:19:17.75
"If you are
willing and obedient,
00:19:17.79\00:19:19.22
you shall eat of
the good of the land."
00:19:19.25\00:19:21.49
But notice, "If
you refuse and rebel,"
00:19:21.52\00:19:23.76
we don't want that
rebellious attitude,
00:19:23.79\00:19:25.33
but if you are
that way, it says,
00:19:25.36\00:19:26.73
"you will be
devoured by the sword,
00:19:26.76\00:19:28.60
for the mouth of
the Lord has spoken.'
00:19:28.63\00:19:30.57
" So when you go into a
decision making process,
00:19:30.60\00:19:33.34
going with an obedient
heart and obedient spirit.
00:19:33.37\00:19:36.44
Lord, You know what?
00:19:36.47\00:19:37.81
I don't know what's
best for me, but You do.
00:19:37.84\00:19:39.77
You know what's best for me.
00:19:39.81\00:19:41.14
Help me to make
the right decision,
00:19:41.18\00:19:42.61
because I don't trust myself.
00:19:42.64\00:19:44.48
That's the spirit
that we have to have here.
00:19:44.51\00:19:46.35
A rebellious people
00:19:46.38\00:19:47.72
never make the
best decisions, okay?
00:19:47.75\00:19:50.29
When you rebel,
00:19:50.32\00:19:51.65
you're always gonna
end up making the decision
00:19:51.69\00:19:53.36
that you're
gonna regret later on.
00:19:53.39\00:19:55.26
The Lord knows
what's best, He created you.
00:19:55.29\00:19:56.96
Amen? Yes.
00:19:57.03\00:19:58.36
He is the Creator.
00:19:58.39\00:19:59.73
Matthew 7:24-25,
00:19:59.76\00:20:01.26
"Therefore whoever hears these
sayings of mine and does them
00:20:01.30\00:20:04.53
I will liken him to a wise man
00:20:04.57\00:20:06.13
who built his house on the...?"
00:20:06.17\00:20:07.90
Rock. "On the rock."
00:20:07.94\00:20:09.27
Christ is that rock
00:20:09.30\00:20:10.67
and who better person to go to
or what better person to go to
00:20:10.71\00:20:13.24
than that of Jesus Christ.
00:20:13.27\00:20:14.94
He knows how to counsel us.
He knows what's best for us.
00:20:14.98\00:20:17.65
Thy Word oh, Lord, what is that?
00:20:17.68\00:20:19.65
Psalm 119:105.
00:20:19.68\00:20:21.45
"Your Word, oh, Lord
00:20:21.48\00:20:23.18
is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path."
00:20:23.22\00:20:25.45
Ryan, how can I make sure
00:20:25.49\00:20:27.22
that I can make
the best decisions?
00:20:27.26\00:20:29.29
How about go to the Lord?
00:20:29.32\00:20:30.69
Yes. Amen.
00:20:30.73\00:20:32.06
How about trust in His Word?
00:20:32.09\00:20:33.43
I have, you know, I
don't always do this perfect,
00:20:33.46\00:20:35.43
I have to admit.
00:20:35.46\00:20:36.80
But I strive in
all situations to
00:20:36.83\00:20:40.87
when I'm put in a situation
00:20:40.90\00:20:42.27
where I'm having
to endure a trial
00:20:42.30\00:20:43.94
or some type of
temptation or something that,
00:20:43.97\00:20:46.24
you know, I'm not very sure
about even as a minister who,
00:20:46.27\00:20:48.94
you know, I like to think
I know the Bible pretty well.
00:20:48.98\00:20:50.91
But you know there's
always that temptation
00:20:50.95\00:20:52.71
to think you know more
than what the Lord does,
00:20:52.75\00:20:55.72
and I can reassure
you that you don't,
00:20:55.75\00:20:58.82
and so we have to
trust in the Word of God.
00:20:58.85\00:21:01.29
The Word of God will
always give you the answer.
00:21:01.32\00:21:03.83
Trust in the Lord.
00:21:03.86\00:21:05.19
It's a light unto your path,
it's a lamp unto your feet,
00:21:05.23\00:21:09.00
submit to the
council of scripture
00:21:09.03\00:21:11.87
in how many things?
00:21:11.90\00:21:13.23
All things. All things.
00:21:13.30\00:21:15.54
Proverbs 3:5-6.
This is a powerful text.
00:21:15.57\00:21:18.94
Trust in yourself
with all your heart.
00:21:18.97\00:21:20.94
No. The Lord.
00:21:20.98\00:21:22.31
Is that what it says? No.
00:21:22.34\00:21:23.68
That's not what it says.
00:21:23.71\00:21:25.05
Notice again, Proverbs 3:5-6,
00:21:25.08\00:21:26.72
"Trust in the Lord
with all your heart
00:21:26.78\00:21:28.55
and lean not on
your own understanding,
00:21:28.58\00:21:32.42
in all ways acknowledge
Him and He," notice this,
00:21:32.45\00:21:35.59
"He's promised us He
will direct our paths."
00:21:35.62\00:21:38.43
There is a way...
00:21:38.46\00:21:39.79
Proverbs 14:12,
00:21:39.83\00:21:41.13
"There is a way which
seemeth right unto a man."
00:21:41.16\00:21:44.53
I have not met a person yet,
00:21:44.57\00:21:47.60
who in some point in their life,
00:21:47.64\00:21:49.00
or in some point
throughout their day
00:21:49.04\00:21:50.57
thinks that they can
make the best decision
00:21:50.64\00:21:52.04
or that they know
all that there is to know
00:21:52.07\00:21:54.11
about a certain situation.
00:21:54.14\00:21:55.48
In other words, everything
that they choose to do,
00:21:55.51\00:21:57.48
everything they choose to
say, it's their way seems best.
00:21:57.51\00:22:01.12
But at the end of
the day, you know what?
00:22:01.15\00:22:02.48
Our way always fails.
00:22:02.52\00:22:03.89
His way is
perfect. That's right.
00:22:03.92\00:22:05.45
Submit your will to
God. Submit your will to God.
00:22:05.49\00:22:10.63
Submit to the will of God
00:22:10.66\00:22:13.60
that will always
guide you in this lifetime.
00:22:13.63\00:22:16.30
You know, we just came
from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17.
00:22:16.33\00:22:21.94
Notice 1 Thessalonians 5:19,
very short, but very profound.
00:22:21.97\00:22:27.14
In this, again,
we're asking the question,
00:22:27.18\00:22:28.88
how can I make sure that
I'm making the right decisions?
00:22:28.91\00:22:32.18
First of all, 1
Thessalonians 5:19 says,
00:22:32.21\00:22:36.32
"Do not quench the spirit."
00:22:36.35\00:22:39.15
Amen.
00:22:39.19\00:22:40.56
Yes, we can rebel to a point,
00:22:40.62\00:22:42.76
we can reach the
point in our life
00:22:42.79\00:22:44.13
where we think, we
have it all figured out
00:22:44.19\00:22:46.13
that we are actually,
00:22:46.16\00:22:47.50
where we're creating a
spiritual call us on our ear
00:22:47.56\00:22:49.86
that the Holy Spirit
can't reach our heart.
00:22:49.90\00:22:51.97
And what did Jesus
say about the Holy Spirit
00:22:52.00\00:22:53.47
in John 14 and John Chapter 16?
00:22:53.50\00:22:55.90
I'm gonna read John 14:26.
00:22:55.94\00:22:58.61
Notice what he said
about the Holy Spirit,
00:22:58.64\00:23:00.88
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit,
00:23:00.91\00:23:02.34
whom the Father
will send in My name,
00:23:02.38\00:23:03.98
He will teach you all
things," you have to be willing,
00:23:04.05\00:23:08.55
"and he will
bring your remembrance,"
00:23:08.58\00:23:10.19
notice, "to your remembrance
all things that I said to you."
00:23:10.22\00:23:12.49
Chapter 16.
00:23:12.52\00:23:14.06
This is John 16:8, 13.
00:23:14.09\00:23:17.36
Notice what he says here,
00:23:17.43\00:23:18.76
"He," speaking
of the Holy Spirit,
00:23:18.79\00:23:20.13
"will convict the world of sin
00:23:20.16\00:23:21.63
and of
righteousness and of judgment."
00:23:21.66\00:23:23.83
Verse 13, "He will
guide you into all truth."
00:23:23.87\00:23:27.77
Lord, I don't trust myself.
00:23:27.80\00:23:29.60
I know there's a possibility,
00:23:29.64\00:23:30.97
I'm gonna make the wrong choice.
00:23:31.01\00:23:32.34
Lord, I need You to send
the Holy Spirit to guide me,
00:23:32.37\00:23:35.08
to teach me to make sure
00:23:35.11\00:23:36.81
that I submit to the
council of the Holy Spirit.
00:23:36.85\00:23:39.65
That's a very important point.
00:23:39.68\00:23:41.12
That little voice,
00:23:41.15\00:23:42.48
sometimes we
call it a conscience,
00:23:42.52\00:23:44.62
call it what you want,
but at the end of the day,
00:23:44.65\00:23:46.39
we know that that is
the Spirit of the Lord
00:23:46.42\00:23:47.96
trying to steer us
in the right direction.
00:23:47.99\00:23:50.09
That's right.
00:23:50.13\00:23:51.46
You know, I just
want to end with this.
00:23:51.49\00:23:54.03
2 Chronicles 7:14,
00:23:54.10\00:23:56.40
"If My people who
are called by My name
00:23:56.43\00:23:59.53
will humble themselves,
and pray and seek My face,
00:23:59.57\00:24:03.00
and turn from their wicked ways,
00:24:03.04\00:24:04.51
then will I hear from heaven,
00:24:04.54\00:24:06.01
and I will forgive their
sin and heal their land."
00:24:06.04\00:24:08.04
Humility is the key to
making the right decision.
00:24:08.08\00:24:12.05
When you humble
yourself before the Lord,
00:24:12.08\00:24:14.12
reject self, deny self,
00:24:14.15\00:24:16.28
you can be
victorious in Jesus Christ.
00:24:16.32\00:24:18.45
Praise God. Amen.
00:24:18.49\00:24:19.92
The Word of God is
powerful and it tells us
00:24:19.95\00:24:22.56
how to make the right choices.
00:24:22.59\00:24:24.39
Please stay tuned, we'll
be back in just a moment.
00:24:24.43\00:24:26.80
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00:24:32.23\00:24:33.60
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School panel again,
00:24:33.64\00:24:35.74
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00:24:38.77\00:24:43.81
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00:24:43.85\00:24:46.35
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00:24:46.38\00:24:48.42
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00:24:48.45\00:24:51.85
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00:24:58.29\00:25:01.33
We are ready to advance
now to Tuesday's lesson.
00:25:04.63\00:25:07.34
Pastor John
Lomacang who's gonna tell us
00:25:07.37\00:25:09.67
what the Bible says
about choosing friends.
00:25:09.70\00:25:12.61
I absolutely,
00:25:12.64\00:25:14.51
am excited about this
topic, Choosing Friends.
00:25:14.54\00:25:19.18
You know, one of the
most important choices
00:25:19.21\00:25:20.98
we will ever make in
life is choosing our friends.
00:25:21.02\00:25:24.92
There's a saying
that goes this way,
00:25:24.95\00:25:26.39
"Show me your friends,
I'll show you your destiny."
00:25:26.42\00:25:30.66
Every one of us is
molded by the people
00:25:30.73\00:25:33.53
that are in the
circle of our influence,
00:25:33.60\00:25:35.70
undeniable.
00:25:35.73\00:25:37.07
You've heard the phrase
00:25:37.13\00:25:38.47
"Birds of a
feather flock together."
00:25:38.50\00:25:39.83
That's why we're always together
00:25:39.87\00:25:41.20
because we're
birds of a feather.
00:25:41.24\00:25:42.57
We love God's Word,
00:25:42.60\00:25:43.97
that's why
we're always together.
00:25:44.01\00:25:45.34
Birds of a
feather flock together.
00:25:45.37\00:25:48.14
And a lot of times people
don't choose their friends,
00:25:48.18\00:25:52.05
but sometimes just
by hanging around people
00:25:52.08\00:25:54.82
that see things the
way that they see things,
00:25:54.85\00:25:57.15
all of a sudden they
begin to develop a friendship.
00:25:57.19\00:25:59.85
But today, in
this electronic world,
00:25:59.89\00:26:03.16
a lot of people say they
have friends on Facebook,
00:26:03.19\00:26:05.36
or Twitter, or Instagram,
or whatever, the Snapchat
00:26:05.39\00:26:09.40
or whatever the
video portal might be.
00:26:09.43\00:26:14.24
That's not really
what I mean by friends.
00:26:14.27\00:26:16.81
Because when the challenges
of life come your way,
00:26:16.84\00:26:20.38
oftentimes people that
choose digital friends,
00:26:20.41\00:26:23.85
default back to literal friends,
00:26:23.88\00:26:27.02
people that are
right next to them,
00:26:27.05\00:26:29.05
a mom, a dad, or
brother, or sister,
00:26:29.08\00:26:30.99
people that are in their circles
00:26:31.02\00:26:32.65
that really take to heart,
00:26:32.69\00:26:34.26
their wellbeing
and their future.
00:26:34.29\00:26:36.19
So today, we're gonna talk about
00:26:36.22\00:26:37.56
some of the
principles of choosing a friend.
00:26:37.63\00:26:39.59
And the Bible gives us
some beautiful counsel.
00:26:39.63\00:26:42.46
Let's begin with Proverbs 12:26.
00:26:42.50\00:26:46.94
Proverbs 12:26.
00:26:47.00\00:26:49.17
And the reason why this
is also encouraging to me
00:26:49.20\00:26:51.44
is because I was
raised in New York City,
00:26:51.47\00:26:53.44
I had a lot of friends,
00:26:53.48\00:26:54.98
but if I didn't choose
the Lord above my friends,
00:26:55.01\00:26:58.98
I would be dead today,
I honestly believe that.
00:26:59.01\00:27:00.95
Amen.
00:27:00.98\00:27:02.32
I lived the gambler life,
the pool, hustler, partier,
00:27:02.35\00:27:05.32
I was the
consummate disc jockey,
00:27:05.35\00:27:07.49
I was in the street
life of New York City.
00:27:07.52\00:27:10.46
Thank the Lord, I had
enough sense not to take drugs
00:27:10.49\00:27:12.43
and I drank alcohol casually.
00:27:12.46\00:27:15.03
But I didn't buy a
beer, I never bought whiskey.
00:27:15.06\00:27:17.07
And that was not
the kind of person,
00:27:17.10\00:27:18.50
I was in the
highty-tighty mindset of,
00:27:18.53\00:27:20.54
you know, you do it in the club.
00:27:20.57\00:27:22.40
But I made enough choices that
00:27:22.44\00:27:23.91
if I continued
in that trajectory,
00:27:23.94\00:27:25.47
I wouldn't be here today.
00:27:25.51\00:27:26.88
I would not be in my right mind,
00:27:26.91\00:27:28.98
because many of my friends
I go back to New York City,
00:27:29.01\00:27:31.38
back to
Brooklyn, back to Bed-Stuy
00:27:31.41\00:27:33.72
and a lot of them
are not alive any longer.
00:27:33.75\00:27:35.78
Because they've chosen the path,
00:27:35.82\00:27:37.19
they stayed on a path
that led to their destruction.
00:27:37.22\00:27:39.82
So council number
one Proverbs 12:26.
00:27:39.85\00:27:42.52
Jill, do have that, read for me?
00:27:42.56\00:27:43.93
Yeah.
00:27:43.96\00:27:45.29
Choose friends
carefully, listen to this.
00:27:45.33\00:27:46.80
"The righteous should
choose his friends carefully,
00:27:46.83\00:27:49.16
for the way of the
wicked leads them astray."
00:27:49.20\00:27:51.27
Amen.
00:27:51.30\00:27:52.63
The righteous to
choose his friends carefully.
00:27:52.67\00:27:55.94
Lot of people say, "Well,
00:27:55.97\00:27:57.51
my friends don't
influence me to do wrong things,
00:27:57.57\00:28:00.44
it's my own choices."
00:28:00.51\00:28:01.84
That may be true.
00:28:01.88\00:28:03.38
Because we each one of us
has a choice that we must make.
00:28:03.41\00:28:06.68
But friends do
tend to impress us
00:28:06.75\00:28:10.32
as to how to make decisions
00:28:10.35\00:28:12.12
and what kinds of
decisions to make,
00:28:12.15\00:28:14.66
to make a years ago,
00:28:14.69\00:28:16.39
and we're
influenced a lot by our media,
00:28:16.42\00:28:18.36
by the culture that we live in.
00:28:18.39\00:28:20.06
A years ago, there
was a song that says,
00:28:20.13\00:28:21.66
parents just don't understand.
00:28:21.70\00:28:23.37
Remember that TLC?
Parents just don't understand.
00:28:23.40\00:28:26.57
Well, the good news is one
of those young ladies in TLC
00:28:26.60\00:28:29.10
is now an ardent follower
of Pastor Doug Batchelor,
00:28:29.14\00:28:31.77
and God is changing her life.
00:28:31.81\00:28:33.88
But parents do understand
00:28:33.91\00:28:36.11
because what a lot of
young people fail to realize
00:28:36.14\00:28:38.48
is parents are
where they used to be.
00:28:38.51\00:28:41.95
That's right.
00:28:41.98\00:28:43.32
So choose your
friends carefully.
00:28:43.39\00:28:44.82
And when your parents
give you advice to say,
00:28:44.85\00:28:47.09
"That's not a good friend."
00:28:47.16\00:28:48.59
Don't make the parent
00:28:48.62\00:28:50.53
appear to be
ignorant about the things
00:28:50.56\00:28:52.96
that you are getting
yourself involved in.
00:28:52.99\00:28:55.16
And I made that example one day
00:28:55.20\00:28:56.53
to a girl that was 15 years old,
00:28:56.56\00:28:57.90
I said, "Is your three year
old sister smarter than you?"
00:28:57.93\00:29:00.30
She said, "No".
00:29:00.37\00:29:01.70
I said, "Why would you think
your mother's dumber than you?"
00:29:01.74\00:29:05.21
She said, "Well, I never
ever thought about it that way."
00:29:05.24\00:29:07.44
Choose friends carefully.
00:29:07.51\00:29:08.84
Here's another
one, Proverbs 17:17.
00:29:08.88\00:29:10.88
Who can get to that for us?
00:29:10.91\00:29:12.25
Proverbs 17:17.
00:29:12.28\00:29:14.58
You have that, Shelley?
00:29:14.62\00:29:15.95
"A friend loves at all times
00:29:15.98\00:29:17.52
and a brother is
born for adversity."
00:29:17.55\00:29:20.62
That means friend,
00:29:20.69\00:29:22.09
that means love
and adversity coexists.
00:29:22.12\00:29:27.23
Love and adversity coexist.
00:29:27.23\00:29:29.03
Now, in adversity
it's important to know
00:29:29.06\00:29:32.13
who really loves you.
00:29:32.17\00:29:33.84
And love is not conditional,
love is not materialistic.
00:29:33.87\00:29:36.60
We should not love people
00:29:36.64\00:29:37.97
because they
speak the way we do,
00:29:38.01\00:29:39.97
or because they
always have something for us.
00:29:40.01\00:29:42.98
One person once said,
00:29:43.01\00:29:44.35
"A person with much
money has a lot of friends."
00:29:44.38\00:29:48.62
You'll really know
who your friends are
00:29:48.65\00:29:50.02
when you really have nothing.
00:29:50.09\00:29:51.59
That's a true friend.
00:29:51.62\00:29:53.46
A friend loves at all times,
00:29:53.49\00:29:55.46
that's the
purpose of the scripture.
00:29:55.49\00:29:57.16
A brother is born for adversity.
00:29:57.23\00:29:58.66
That means,
sometimes the worst trials
00:29:58.69\00:30:00.73
you can have could be
with your own siblings.
00:30:00.80\00:30:02.83
Right.
00:30:02.86\00:30:04.23
Right? Yes.
00:30:04.27\00:30:05.60
Sibling rivalry, a
brother is born for adversity.
00:30:05.63\00:30:08.87
And so, if you have
adversity in your home...
00:30:08.90\00:30:12.64
My sister and I, for example,
00:30:12.67\00:30:14.41
she's three
years older than I am,
00:30:14.44\00:30:16.34
I won't tell you
what that age actually is.
00:30:16.38\00:30:18.41
But we speak to
each other straight.
00:30:18.45\00:30:20.48
I mean, my wife laughs.
00:30:20.52\00:30:22.62
My wife, Angela,
she just the other day
00:30:22.65\00:30:24.65
she said, "I cannot help
00:30:24.69\00:30:26.76
getting over the way you
and your sister converse."
00:30:26.82\00:30:28.72
What I don't like, I tell her.
00:30:28.76\00:30:30.09
What she doesn't
like, she tells me.
00:30:30.13\00:30:31.73
And she says to me,
00:30:31.76\00:30:33.09
"No matter what,
you're gonna love me anyway."
00:30:33.13\00:30:34.46
I said, "You're right.
I don't care what you do.
00:30:34.46\00:30:35.80
I'm gonna love you
anyway." She's said,
00:30:35.83\00:30:37.20
"All right. So shut up."
00:30:37.23\00:30:39.97
Well, we're that straight. Yeah.
00:30:40.00\00:30:41.64
But if I don't like the
guy she's hanging around with
00:30:41.67\00:30:43.24
or the choice that she's making
and the place she's going.
00:30:43.27\00:30:45.14
I said, "Come on,
Val, really honestly."
00:30:45.17\00:30:47.58
And she says, "It's my choice."
00:30:47.61\00:30:48.94
I said, "I know
it's your choice,
00:30:48.98\00:30:50.38
but I'm gonna tell
you when I don't like it."
00:30:50.41\00:30:52.38
A brother is born for adversity.
00:30:52.41\00:30:55.28
Here's another
one, Proverbs 18:24.
00:30:55.32\00:30:57.32
Look at that one.
00:30:57.35\00:30:58.99
This is really important.
00:30:59.02\00:31:00.46
Who has that one?
00:31:00.49\00:31:01.82
Okay, Ryan, you have it?
00:31:01.86\00:31:03.19
Yeah, sure, absolutely.
00:31:03.22\00:31:04.56
You said 18:4? 18:24.
00:31:04.59\00:31:06.63
18:24 and it says,
00:31:06.70\00:31:08.13
"A man who has friends
must himself be friendly,
00:31:08.16\00:31:11.63
but there is a friend
00:31:11.67\00:31:13.00
who sticks
closer than a brother."
00:31:13.03\00:31:14.37
That friend is
Jesus but... That's right.
00:31:14.40\00:31:16.67
The principle is
so vitally important,
00:31:16.71\00:31:18.77
people say, "I
don't have friends."
00:31:18.81\00:31:20.24
But they're not friendly.
00:31:20.28\00:31:22.71
Some people are morose.
00:31:22.74\00:31:24.95
You know what morose means? Yes.
00:31:24.98\00:31:26.38
It means they're sully,
they're sober, they're crabby,
00:31:26.41\00:31:29.45
they're grouchy, they are testy,
00:31:29.48\00:31:31.25
they're
snappish, they're peevish,
00:31:31.29\00:31:33.15
they're crusty, they're waspish,
00:31:33.19\00:31:35.92
they're low
spirited, they're melancholy,
00:31:35.96\00:31:37.76
they're doleful,
they're miserable,
00:31:37.79\00:31:39.43
they're dismal,
they're depressed,
00:31:39.46\00:31:40.80
dejected,
despondent, downcast...
00:31:40.86\00:31:43.00
Do I need to keep going? Whoo!
00:31:43.03\00:31:44.60
No, I don't think so.
I'm starting to get it.
00:31:44.63\00:31:46.50
Don't be any of those things
and say, "Nobody likes me."
00:31:46.53\00:31:51.87
People are not attracted.
00:31:51.91\00:31:54.11
Bugs, even bugs
00:31:54.14\00:31:57.81
don't go to light
bulbs that are turned off.
00:31:57.85\00:32:02.12
A bulb will give his
life for a bright light.
00:32:02.15\00:32:05.52
Even bugs know
when lights are bright.
00:32:05.55\00:32:08.32
Don't have a dull bulb and
say nobody's attracted to you.
00:32:08.36\00:32:12.63
Pray for the Lord
to change who you are.
00:32:12.66\00:32:15.16
People will be attracted
00:32:15.20\00:32:17.60
to the lovely
characteristical traits.
00:32:17.63\00:32:20.60
Ellen White says,
we must learn to put
00:32:20.64\00:32:22.67
loveliness into our character.
00:32:22.70\00:32:24.87
You got to learn to do
that and that's not even
00:32:24.91\00:32:26.51
because Ellen White said so,
00:32:26.54\00:32:28.14
but the Bible
makes it very clear,
00:32:28.18\00:32:30.21
those who have
friends must first
00:32:30.25\00:32:31.81
to show
themselves to be friendly.
00:32:31.85\00:32:33.88
Here's another
one, Proverbs 22:24-25.
00:32:33.92\00:32:36.45
I'll read that.
00:32:36.48\00:32:37.82
Be careful when your
friends display constant anger,
00:32:37.85\00:32:40.22
don't follow their example.
00:32:40.26\00:32:41.59
Here's what the Bible says.
00:32:41.62\00:32:42.96
"Make no
friendship with an angry man.
00:32:42.99\00:32:45.26
And with a
furious man do not go.
00:32:45.29\00:32:48.13
Lest you learn his ways
and set a sneer for your soul."
00:32:48.16\00:32:52.63
I recently told a story
about three young people
00:32:52.67\00:32:55.10
that inadvertently
thought it was a prank
00:32:55.14\00:32:56.64
to remove a stop sign.
00:32:56.67\00:32:59.17
It took the life
of three 18-year-olds
00:32:59.21\00:33:01.21
that were
returning home from bowling.
00:33:01.24\00:33:03.75
They removed the stop sign,
00:33:03.78\00:33:05.11
these young people
ran through the stop sign
00:33:05.15\00:33:07.25
that was supposed to be there
00:33:07.32\00:33:08.65
and got hit by
an 8 ton 18 wheeler.
00:33:08.68\00:33:11.45
It was a joke to them.
00:33:11.49\00:33:13.86
Sadly, enough,
00:33:13.89\00:33:15.99
their lives were snatched
out and plunged into eternity.
00:33:16.02\00:33:20.50
But there are
people that are angry
00:33:20.53\00:33:21.90
and they don't think
about the next decision.
00:33:21.93\00:33:23.83
And so many young
people they get angry,
00:33:23.87\00:33:26.40
they stab friends at
school, they carry guns,
00:33:26.43\00:33:29.97
they talk about what
they're gonna do to hurt people,
00:33:30.01\00:33:32.87
brothers, young people,
00:33:32.91\00:33:34.28
don't let your mind
with the angry moments
00:33:34.31\00:33:37.95
destroy the future of your life
because people are in prison.
00:33:37.98\00:33:41.28
There are some
teenagers that are 13
00:33:41.32\00:33:43.55
that are in delinquency homes,
00:33:43.59\00:33:44.99
and they're gonna
go to the big house
00:33:45.02\00:33:46.72
when they hit 18
00:33:46.76\00:33:48.09
because they could
not control their anger.
00:33:48.12\00:33:50.09
Here's another one.
00:33:50.13\00:33:51.86
God can work
through any circumstance.
00:33:51.89\00:33:53.56
Amen.
00:33:53.60\00:33:54.93
God can work
through any circumstance,
00:33:54.93\00:33:56.60
but we must
practice forbearance.
00:33:56.63\00:33:58.67
Romans 8:28, do we know that?
00:33:58.70\00:34:00.14
Yes.
00:34:00.17\00:34:01.50
"And we know all
things work together
00:34:01.54\00:34:02.87
for good to those who love God,
00:34:02.90\00:34:04.94
those who are the called
according to God's purpose,
00:34:04.97\00:34:07.28
according to His purpose."
00:34:07.31\00:34:08.64
God can work
through every circumstance.
00:34:08.68\00:34:11.45
Another one,
00:34:11.48\00:34:13.35
whatever work that
God has begun in you,
00:34:13.42\00:34:15.08
He will complete it.
00:34:15.12\00:34:16.62
Proverbs 17:17.
00:34:16.69\00:34:18.19
Well, actually, Philippians 1:6,
00:34:18.22\00:34:20.46
"He who has begun a
good work in you will what?"
00:34:20.49\00:34:22.96
"Complete it."
He will complete it.
00:34:22.99\00:34:24.96
Let the Lord work on
whatever challenges you have,
00:34:24.99\00:34:27.93
because He will complete it.
00:34:27.96\00:34:29.26
I look at who I am
today and who I used to be,
00:34:29.30\00:34:31.93
and I end with this one.
00:34:31.97\00:34:33.60
We will be surprised
00:34:33.64\00:34:34.97
at the perfection of God's work.
00:34:35.00\00:34:36.97
1 John 3:1-2,
00:34:37.01\00:34:39.81
"Behold what manner of love
the Father has bestowed on us,
00:34:39.84\00:34:42.91
that we should be
called children of God.
00:34:42.94\00:34:45.08
Therefore the
world does not know us
00:34:45.11\00:34:46.45
because He did not know Him.
00:34:46.48\00:34:47.82
When we change the world loses,
00:34:47.85\00:34:49.82
gauging He doesn't
know who we have become."
00:34:49.85\00:34:52.15
But listen, this
is the verse I love.
00:34:52.19\00:34:54.59
"Beloved, now we
are children of God,
00:34:54.62\00:34:56.99
and it has not yet been revealed
00:34:57.03\00:34:58.63
what we shall be,
00:34:58.66\00:35:00.06
but we know
00:35:00.13\00:35:01.43
that when He is
revealed we shall be like Him,
00:35:01.46\00:35:03.16
for we shall see Him as He is."
00:35:03.20\00:35:05.57
When you let the
Lord mold your life,
00:35:05.60\00:35:07.97
your choices will be different.
00:35:08.00\00:35:09.87
You'll be amazed at
who you have become,
00:35:09.90\00:35:12.51
because your life is now
in the hand of a capable Lord.
00:35:12.54\00:35:16.04
Amen.
00:35:16.08\00:35:17.45
Thank you so much, Pastor John.
00:35:17.48\00:35:18.91
Wonderful
principles for finding friends
00:35:18.95\00:35:21.35
and for keeping friends.
00:35:21.38\00:35:23.59
And I know I want to
incorporate more of those
00:35:23.62\00:35:25.79
into my own life and heart.
00:35:25.82\00:35:27.36
On Wednesday, I have
choosing a life partner,
00:35:27.39\00:35:31.23
and I love this
topic, so I'm excited.
00:35:31.26\00:35:33.53
Thank you, Shelley for
picking this one for me.
00:35:33.60\00:35:36.03
I like this one.
00:35:36.06\00:35:37.43
A sign from accepting
Jesus as Lord and Savior,
00:35:37.47\00:35:41.24
the choice for who you marry.
00:35:41.27\00:35:43.71
Your spouse is the
most important decision
00:35:43.77\00:35:47.54
you could ever make.
00:35:47.58\00:35:48.91
It has eternal consequences.
00:35:48.94\00:35:51.08
Now our choice for friends
has eternal consequences too,
00:35:51.11\00:35:53.68
we're not negating that choice.
00:35:53.72\00:35:56.05
But I think in a special way,
00:35:56.08\00:35:57.45
the choice for a spouse
has eternal consequences.
00:35:57.49\00:36:01.46
1 Corinthians 15:33,
00:36:01.49\00:36:03.66
"Do not be deceived,
00:36:03.69\00:36:05.03
'Evil company
corrupts good habits.' "
00:36:05.06\00:36:08.90
So who else would you associate
with more than your spouse,
00:36:08.93\00:36:12.10
so it can have
a negative impact,
00:36:12.13\00:36:15.14
but also can have
a positive impact.
00:36:15.17\00:36:18.94
Proverbs 27:17,
"As iron sharpens iron,
00:36:18.97\00:36:23.04
so a man sharpens the
countenance of his friend."
00:36:23.08\00:36:25.98
Now the Bible says friend,
but you could even say spouse.
00:36:26.01\00:36:28.75
Greg and I've been
married going on 17 years.
00:36:28.78\00:36:32.55
The best 17 years of my life,
00:36:32.59\00:36:34.42
but marriage has changed me,
00:36:34.46\00:36:37.06
and I know that it has.
00:36:37.13\00:36:38.83
I'm watching Greg.
00:36:38.86\00:36:41.33
He's my best friend
00:36:41.36\00:36:42.70
but watching his
unconditional love for me,
00:36:42.73\00:36:47.04
there's nothing like that,
00:36:47.10\00:36:48.44
having that sense
of peace and security.
00:36:48.47\00:36:51.31
Marriage can be heaven on earth.
00:36:51.34\00:36:53.11
I know that, but it
can also be painful.
00:36:53.14\00:36:56.61
It can also be difficult.
00:36:56.64\00:36:59.25
Think about Adam and
Eve in the Garden of Eden.
00:36:59.28\00:37:02.82
We say, how do we
know who to marry?
00:37:02.85\00:37:06.02
What are the
principles we should look for
00:37:06.05\00:37:07.86
in finding a godly spouse?
00:37:07.89\00:37:09.66
Adam and Eve didn't
have a lot of choices,
00:37:09.69\00:37:11.53
it was only two of them, right?
00:37:11.56\00:37:13.13
One man and one woman,
00:37:13.16\00:37:14.60
it wasn't so hard
to find a godly spouse.
00:37:14.63\00:37:16.97
But today, it can
seem much more difficult.
00:37:17.00\00:37:20.54
Who should I marry?
00:37:20.57\00:37:23.04
We're gonna
talk about three keys
00:37:23.07\00:37:24.91
to finding a life partner.
00:37:24.94\00:37:27.51
And then we get
to key number three
00:37:27.58\00:37:29.14
and there's five points
springboard enough of that.
00:37:29.18\00:37:31.38
So first is the three
keys, first is to pray.
00:37:31.41\00:37:34.38
Prayer brings our will
into line with God's will.
00:37:34.42\00:37:39.12
Psalm 37:4 says,
00:37:39.15\00:37:40.76
"Delight yourself in the Lord
00:37:40.79\00:37:42.69
and He will give you
the desires of your heart."
00:37:42.72\00:37:46.70
It brings my
will and to align with
00:37:46.73\00:37:49.10
who God has for me
00:37:49.13\00:37:50.47
and what God has for my life.
00:37:50.53\00:37:53.30
Adventist Home, page 71,
00:37:53.34\00:37:55.24
"If men and women
00:37:55.27\00:37:56.60
are in the habit
of praying twice a day
00:37:56.67\00:37:59.71
before they
contemplate marriage,
00:37:59.74\00:38:02.11
they should
pray four times a day
00:38:02.14\00:38:05.91
when such a step is anticipated.
00:38:05.95\00:38:08.62
Marriage is something
00:38:08.65\00:38:09.98
that will influence
and affect your life,
00:38:10.02\00:38:12.72
both in this world
and in the world to come."
00:38:12.75\00:38:15.29
So first we want to pray.
00:38:15.32\00:38:16.99
Second is you want to practice.
00:38:17.06\00:38:19.06
What I mean by that...
00:38:19.09\00:38:20.43
We're not talking
about a pseudo marriage.
00:38:20.46\00:38:21.83
What I mean by that,
00:38:21.86\00:38:23.20
if you are looking for
the right person to marry,
00:38:23.23\00:38:26.94
first you have to
become the right person.
00:38:26.97\00:38:31.14
Matthew 7:12,
00:38:31.17\00:38:33.27
"Therefore whatever
you want men to do to you,
00:38:33.31\00:38:36.51
do also to them
for this is the law
00:38:36.54\00:38:39.08
and the prophets."
00:38:39.11\00:38:40.45
We're looking
for certain character
00:38:40.52\00:38:42.42
and habits and all
of that in other people.
00:38:42.45\00:38:44.49
Well, that means God calls
us to develop within ourselves
00:38:44.52\00:38:48.76
those same
character, that same character,
00:38:48.79\00:38:51.46
those same habits.
00:38:51.49\00:38:53.60
Now, I want to be careful here,
00:38:53.63\00:38:55.30
sometimes we try to
explain the unexplainable
00:38:55.33\00:39:00.50
and we hurt people
right here at this point.
00:39:00.57\00:39:03.44
We criticize or blame
because I have heard it,
00:39:03.47\00:39:07.01
unmarried people, by saying,
00:39:07.04\00:39:10.08
"You haven't
become the right person,
00:39:10.11\00:39:11.55
that's why God hasn't
brought anybody into your life.
00:39:11.58\00:39:14.28
If you would
just have more faith,
00:39:14.35\00:39:16.08
you would be married today.
00:39:16.12\00:39:17.82
If you would only
bloom where you're planted
00:39:17.85\00:39:19.92
and serve God
in your singleness,
00:39:19.95\00:39:22.92
then God would bring
someone into your life."
00:39:22.96\00:39:25.99
It's damaging when we
say that to other people.
00:39:26.03\00:39:30.37
I have friends, godly friends,
00:39:30.40\00:39:33.00
seeking God's
face seeking the spouse
00:39:33.03\00:39:35.70
who are unmarried.
00:39:35.74\00:39:37.84
So we have to be
careful with this whole concept
00:39:37.87\00:39:41.68
that we don't criticize,
00:39:41.71\00:39:43.85
or we don't
jump on top of people
00:39:43.88\00:39:45.68
because some things
we don't understand,
00:39:45.71\00:39:48.32
some things,
00:39:48.35\00:39:49.75
maybe when we get
to heaven will know.
00:39:49.78\00:39:51.22
I don't even begin
to comprehend that.
00:39:51.25\00:39:53.56
The third key is principles.
00:39:53.59\00:39:55.96
Now these are
principles to look for
00:39:55.99\00:39:57.43
in a potential partner.
00:39:57.46\00:39:58.79
Okay.
00:39:58.83\00:40:00.16
And these are conversion,
character, chemistry,
00:40:00.20\00:40:03.33
compatibility, and
conflict resolution.
00:40:03.37\00:40:06.53
So let's look
at those principles
00:40:06.57\00:40:08.20
when looking for
a potential partner.
00:40:08.24\00:40:10.81
First is conversion.
00:40:10.87\00:40:12.97
Now we often say,
00:40:13.01\00:40:14.38
we're Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
00:40:14.41\00:40:16.28
We quote Amos 3:3,
00:40:16.31\00:40:18.85
"Can two walk together
unless they are agreed?"
00:40:18.88\00:40:21.58
So we say Pastor Kenny,
you need to look for a spouse
00:40:21.62\00:40:24.59
within the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:40:24.62\00:40:26.82
within your
denominational affiliation.
00:40:26.86\00:40:29.86
But I also want to say,
00:40:29.89\00:40:31.23
you have to look for
spouse that's converted.
00:40:31.26\00:40:32.59
Amen.
00:40:32.63\00:40:33.96
There could be men
and women in the church
00:40:34.00\00:40:36.30
and we know this happens,
00:40:36.33\00:40:38.03
who don't know
Jesus, are not Christians.
00:40:38.07\00:40:42.30
They claim the name
of a certain denomination
00:40:42.34\00:40:46.17
of Seventh-day Adventist,
00:40:46.21\00:40:47.64
but you could marry them
and be just as unequally yoked,
00:40:47.68\00:40:51.65
as if they did not
share your same faith.
00:40:51.68\00:40:53.98
So it's important
to look for someone
00:40:54.05\00:40:56.05
with spiritual unity,
00:40:56.08\00:40:57.75
someone who is converted.
00:40:57.79\00:41:00.59
Number two, look
at their character.
00:41:00.66\00:41:02.56
Who is the person inside?
00:41:02.59\00:41:05.39
Now I just jotted down
00:41:05.43\00:41:06.80
qualities that
are important to me.
00:41:06.83\00:41:09.26
Are they honest?
00:41:09.30\00:41:10.83
Do they possess integrity?
00:41:10.87\00:41:13.07
Are they truthful?
00:41:13.10\00:41:14.47
Are they unselfish,
00:41:14.50\00:41:17.47
compassionate, kind?
00:41:17.51\00:41:20.28
Are they loving
toward God and other people?
00:41:20.34\00:41:22.88
Are they generous?
00:41:22.91\00:41:24.25
Do they possess joy?
00:41:24.28\00:41:26.48
Are they peaceful, and patient,
and humble, and teachable?
00:41:26.51\00:41:29.38
And now these are
character qualities
00:41:29.42\00:41:31.95
that are important to me.
00:41:31.99\00:41:33.72
But I think in any marriage,
00:41:33.76\00:41:35.59
those qualities
would be important.
00:41:35.62\00:41:38.13
So look to make sure the person
00:41:38.16\00:41:40.16
that you're looking
at are they converted,
00:41:40.20\00:41:42.43
look at their character traits.
00:41:42.46\00:41:44.30
Third is chemistry.
00:41:44.33\00:41:45.83
Now, this is vitally important
because sometimes people say,
00:41:45.87\00:41:50.74
"Oh, this
person's really converted.
00:41:50.77\00:41:52.91
This is a good
spiritual, godly person."
00:41:52.94\00:41:55.78
And they have great character.
00:41:55.81\00:41:57.58
You ought to marry them.
00:41:57.61\00:41:58.95
Well, chemistry
is an important piece
00:41:58.98\00:42:02.12
to this entire puzzle.
00:42:02.15\00:42:04.52
Some Christian beliefs
00:42:04.55\00:42:08.62
because I used
to be taught this,
00:42:08.66\00:42:10.36
say that you can
grow in chemistry
00:42:10.43\00:42:13.40
as long as you have
00:42:13.43\00:42:14.83
the biblical
principles in place,
00:42:14.86\00:42:16.53
chemistry is gonna grow,
00:42:16.56\00:42:18.37
but you know what?
00:42:18.40\00:42:19.73
James 1:17, says,
00:42:19.77\00:42:21.10
"Every good gift
00:42:21.14\00:42:22.47
and every perfect
gift is from above."
00:42:22.50\00:42:25.77
So why would God bring someone
into your life, Pastor John,
00:42:25.81\00:42:28.98
who you can't get along with
00:42:29.01\00:42:30.35
or who you're not
even attracted to.
00:42:30.41\00:42:32.68
I remember when Greg and
I, we met over 20 years ago,
00:42:32.71\00:42:37.05
that makes me feel
little old in college.
00:42:37.09\00:42:39.32
And I remember, I was
really attracted to him,
00:42:39.35\00:42:45.29
not only did I like
the character qualities,
00:42:45.33\00:42:47.50
but I just liked him.
00:42:47.56\00:42:49.76
And I remember thinking,
00:42:49.80\00:42:51.47
"Surely the one I naturally like
00:42:51.50\00:42:53.37
can't be the
one God has for me."
00:42:53.40\00:42:55.90
But how could
that be more wrong,
00:42:55.94\00:42:58.07
because every good gift
00:42:58.11\00:42:59.44
and every perfect
gift is from above.
00:42:59.47\00:43:00.88
There you go.
00:43:00.91\00:43:02.24
So we look for the
conversion, and the character,
00:43:02.28\00:43:03.65
and chemistry, then we
look for compatibility.
00:43:03.68\00:43:05.91
Now, this is not
spiritual things.
00:43:05.95\00:43:08.08
This is just similar interests.
00:43:08.12\00:43:10.89
Do you both like
hiking, and biking,
00:43:10.92\00:43:12.65
and camping, and skiing?
00:43:12.69\00:43:14.39
Okay, well, those
are similar interests,
00:43:14.42\00:43:16.42
you can do things together.
00:43:16.46\00:43:18.16
Maybe you like quiet bookstores,
00:43:18.19\00:43:20.13
and walks by the beach,
and candlelight dinners.
00:43:20.20\00:43:23.57
Those are similar interests.
00:43:23.63\00:43:25.73
Maybe you like to travel,
or to garden, or to cook.
00:43:25.77\00:43:28.70
You don't have to have
all interests in common,
00:43:28.74\00:43:31.87
but you need
some, that's important
00:43:31.91\00:43:34.51
that you have
similar interest things
00:43:34.54\00:43:36.81
to do together.
00:43:36.85\00:43:38.61
Greg, if you were here,
00:43:38.65\00:43:40.38
he would tell you he
always kept a list for who,
00:43:40.42\00:43:43.15
what he wanted
in a future spouse,
00:43:43.18\00:43:45.12
and this would be some
of these similar interests,
00:43:45.15\00:43:47.12
some of this compatibility.
00:43:47.16\00:43:48.89
And he said, he
never wrote the list down
00:43:48.92\00:43:51.06
because he's afraid
someone would find it.
00:43:51.09\00:43:52.96
And then they'd say
now, who are you looking for?
00:43:52.99\00:43:55.40
So said, he kept
the list in his head.
00:43:55.43\00:43:58.07
Compatibility.
00:43:58.10\00:43:59.43
Finally is conflict
resolution. Very good.
00:43:59.47\00:44:03.44
In marriage
conflicts are gonna rise.
00:44:03.51\00:44:05.24
That's right.
00:44:05.27\00:44:06.61
Conflicts over
money, conflicts over sex,
00:44:06.68\00:44:08.41
or kids or career
00:44:08.44\00:44:09.91
or when you go through a
stressful or traumatic time,
00:44:09.94\00:44:14.22
conflicts are gonna arise.
00:44:14.25\00:44:16.55
How do you
handle those conflicts?
00:44:16.58\00:44:19.62
And how does the
person that you're looking at
00:44:19.65\00:44:22.09
as a potential spouse,
00:44:22.12\00:44:23.73
how do they handle conflicts?
00:44:23.76\00:44:25.66
I can tell you, Greg
00:44:25.69\00:44:27.03
and I handle
conflict very differently.
00:44:27.10\00:44:30.63
But almost 17
years, Pastor Kenny,
00:44:30.67\00:44:33.30
we've each adjusted
how we handle conflict,
00:44:33.34\00:44:38.07
and now we actually handle
conflict fairly similarly.
00:44:38.11\00:44:40.88
Why because we
grew from each other,
00:44:40.94\00:44:42.54
we learned, these are
areas that you can grow in.
00:44:42.58\00:44:46.35
So principles to look for
is conversion and character,
00:44:46.38\00:44:51.02
chemistry, compatibility,
conflict resolution,
00:44:51.05\00:44:53.86
that is not an
all inclusive list,
00:44:53.92\00:44:55.46
there's more things as well.
00:44:55.49\00:44:57.19
But the most important thing
00:44:57.23\00:44:58.96
is to pray and
to seek God's face,
00:44:58.99\00:45:02.16
and He will show you
00:45:02.20\00:45:03.87
and He will bring
you to the right person.
00:45:03.90\00:45:06.50
Pastor. Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:45:06.53\00:45:08.20
What a platform you set up here,
00:45:08.24\00:45:10.94
so we come to the
point Thursday's lesson
00:45:10.97\00:45:13.11
is choosing a course.
00:45:13.14\00:45:15.14
So they're all pretty similar.
00:45:15.18\00:45:16.51
But you know, there
comes a point in time,
00:45:16.54\00:45:18.08
we have to make a choice.
00:45:18.11\00:45:19.61
We look at all the principles,
and we line them all up,
00:45:19.65\00:45:21.68
and so on, so forth.
00:45:21.72\00:45:23.05
But there comes a time,
00:45:23.08\00:45:24.42
we have to
choose and someone said,
00:45:24.45\00:45:25.79
pull the trigger.
00:45:25.82\00:45:27.16
So there's times we
have to make that...
00:45:27.19\00:45:28.66
I'm gonna start with a question.
00:45:28.69\00:45:31.16
And let's take
it right from there.
00:45:31.19\00:45:32.89
So how many people, notice this,
00:45:32.93\00:45:34.93
at the end of their lives
00:45:34.96\00:45:37.03
would wish that they
spent more time at work,
00:45:37.07\00:45:40.70
more time at the office
00:45:40.74\00:45:42.47
than they did and
less time with the family?
00:45:42.50\00:45:45.57
Nobody.
00:45:45.61\00:45:46.94
Probably all of us
would probably say,
00:45:46.98\00:45:48.31
"Well, no, we wouldn't."
00:45:48.34\00:45:49.68
But many people are
making that choice today.
00:45:49.71\00:45:51.38
Oh, it's so true.
00:45:51.41\00:45:52.75
Because we're
trying to gain the world.
00:45:52.78\00:45:54.12
Maybe we might
lose our own soul,
00:45:54.18\00:45:55.52
maybe lose our own family,
but there comes a time that
00:45:55.55\00:45:57.55
we need to make
a decision on that.
00:45:57.59\00:45:58.92
That's right.
00:45:58.95\00:46:00.36
So when choosing a course,
there's a warning here, beware.
00:46:00.39\00:46:03.76
And then our lesson
brings out, 1 Timothy 6:10.
00:46:03.79\00:46:07.30
That's very familiar, it says,
00:46:07.36\00:46:08.80
"For the love
of money is the..."
00:46:08.83\00:46:10.30
Root.
00:46:10.37\00:46:11.70
1 Timothy 6:10,
"Is root of all evil,
00:46:11.73\00:46:14.24
which while some coveted,"
00:46:14.27\00:46:15.90
notice, "after, they
have erred from the faith,
00:46:15.94\00:46:18.71
and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows."
00:46:18.74\00:46:21.74
Well, that's kind
of interesting here
00:46:21.78\00:46:23.11
and I'm not gonna try
to re-punctuate the Bible,
00:46:23.14\00:46:24.98
Pastor, but I
thought very interesting.
00:46:25.01\00:46:26.48
It says, "Which
while some coveted it,"
00:46:26.51\00:46:31.39
put it, comma
there instead of after,
00:46:31.42\00:46:34.49
"they have
erred from the faith."
00:46:34.52\00:46:36.52
If you're in the faith,
00:46:36.56\00:46:37.96
you probably wouldn't
come to that point to covet
00:46:37.99\00:46:40.23
after all these other things.
00:46:40.30\00:46:41.60
Right.
00:46:41.63\00:46:42.96
You know, just think
about while you're in the faith,
00:46:43.00\00:46:44.33
really money or
the love of money
00:46:44.37\00:46:46.30
should not really be an issue,
00:46:46.33\00:46:47.87
if Christ is your
object or my object,
00:46:47.90\00:46:50.67
money really
wouldn't be the issue.
00:46:50.71\00:46:52.64
And so, you know,
Paul implies this,
00:46:52.67\00:46:54.94
the love of money,
material things in verses 9-10,
00:46:54.98\00:46:58.21
I thought was very interesting.
00:46:58.25\00:47:00.18
He implied, they're
really not God's men or women.
00:47:00.25\00:47:04.35
If you have a love for the world
00:47:04.39\00:47:06.42
and things of
the world and money,
00:47:06.45\00:47:08.72
you're really not man,
not God's man or woman.
00:47:08.76\00:47:10.86
I thought how
interesting that is.
00:47:10.89\00:47:12.99
For because Matthew 6:24
says, "No man can serve," what?
00:47:13.03\00:47:16.67
Two masters. "No man
can serve two masters."
00:47:16.70\00:47:18.23
It seem like
00:47:18.27\00:47:19.60
we have a world
full of people that try.
00:47:19.63\00:47:21.37
And maybe you've tried,
maybe I've tried in times past,
00:47:21.40\00:47:24.34
but the Bible is always right.
00:47:24.37\00:47:26.37
Principles are always there.
You can't serve two masters.
00:47:26.41\00:47:29.64
And then in Luke 12:34,
says, "Where your treasure is,
00:47:29.68\00:47:34.12
there will your heart be also."
00:47:34.15\00:47:37.95
And I know from
decisions that we make
00:47:37.99\00:47:39.72
are going down lives road,
and we begin to make decisions
00:47:39.75\00:47:44.23
and some of the
decisions that we have made,
00:47:44.26\00:47:47.00
we might regain.
00:47:47.03\00:47:49.00
We may have
fallen by the wayside.
00:47:49.03\00:47:51.23
We may have made
the wrong choice.
00:47:51.27\00:47:53.30
But you know, when
we can come back to God
00:47:53.34\00:47:55.84
and when we come back to God,
00:47:55.87\00:47:57.77
you know, there's
gonna be some bruises,
00:47:57.81\00:47:59.84
and some bumps and
there's gonna be some scars
00:47:59.87\00:48:03.04
many time that
remain just like, you know,
00:48:03.08\00:48:05.68
with our
precious Lord and Savior,
00:48:05.71\00:48:07.55
these scars you'll
have them for all eternity.
00:48:07.58\00:48:10.15
It makes me weak to think about
00:48:10.22\00:48:12.09
that what he carries
with him for eternity
00:48:12.12\00:48:13.79
to remind us about sin.
00:48:13.82\00:48:15.59
And sometime we carry
some things around with us
00:48:15.62\00:48:17.89
because we made
bad choices maybe,
00:48:17.93\00:48:20.33
you know, long ago
or maybe last week,
00:48:20.36\00:48:23.13
but we know we can
recover, praise God from that.
00:48:23.16\00:48:27.17
I think of some don't.
Wasn't it the rich young ruler?
00:48:27.24\00:48:31.24
What God's, you
know, Jesus said to him.
00:48:31.27\00:48:33.01
Go sell what you
had all, sell everything
00:48:33.04\00:48:36.24
and give to the poor and
he turned away sorrowfully.
00:48:36.28\00:48:39.71
So sometime riches, you know,
money, things of the world,
00:48:39.75\00:48:42.75
people make final
decisions right there
00:48:42.78\00:48:44.85
need to be very careful.
00:48:44.89\00:48:46.22
Paul makes it a
difference between, I like this,
00:48:46.25\00:48:48.86
between the love of money
and the possession of riches.
00:48:48.89\00:48:52.79
You know, it's not wrong.
It's not wrong to have money.
00:48:52.83\00:48:55.40
It's not wrong
to be blessed of God
00:48:55.43\00:48:58.07
and have things of God.
00:48:58.10\00:49:00.97
For those he be trustworthy.
00:49:01.00\00:49:03.24
You know, I said
many times on here I,
00:49:03.27\00:49:05.27
I prayed every day I think,
00:49:05.31\00:49:07.21
I'll say God help
me to be trustworthy,
00:49:07.24\00:49:10.21
trustworthy in
the little things,
00:49:10.28\00:49:11.61
trustworthy in a
bit, whatever it might be
00:49:11.65\00:49:13.08
just to be trustworthy
that you could trust me.
00:49:13.11\00:49:15.62
And, of course, God
knows how to work on you
00:49:15.65\00:49:17.82
when you pray
those kinds of prayers.
00:49:17.85\00:49:19.62
Interesting, this,
the passage we read,
00:49:19.65\00:49:21.76
it says, the
root, money is the what?
00:49:21.79\00:49:24.89
Root. Is the root of all evil.
00:49:24.93\00:49:26.39
Love of money. Huh?
00:49:26.43\00:49:28.16
Love of money.
The love of it. Yeah.
00:49:28.20\00:49:29.63
So I think about,
00:49:29.66\00:49:31.20
I'm gonna use
the word root here.
00:49:31.23\00:49:32.67
If you think about
the interesting enough,
00:49:32.70\00:49:34.40
the roots are
not seen in anything,
00:49:34.44\00:49:37.81
the roots are below the surface.
00:49:37.84\00:49:39.64
So sometimes we think
because you have something,
00:49:39.67\00:49:41.38
you have money, we
begin to judge and,
00:49:41.41\00:49:43.14
you know, whether
not this or not that.
00:49:43.18\00:49:44.65
We don't see the
roots down below.
00:49:44.68\00:49:46.58
And we're not to judge
the motives of the heart
00:49:46.61\00:49:49.08
that only the, you know,
what's below the surface.
00:49:49.12\00:49:52.42
So we need to be very careful.
00:49:52.45\00:49:53.79
There's danger in prosperity,
there's no doubt about it.
00:49:53.86\00:49:56.39
But you know what?
00:49:56.42\00:49:57.76
I think the
danger and prosperity
00:49:57.79\00:49:59.26
is of our own doing,
00:49:59.29\00:50:01.56
not being prosperous,
but how we act with that.
00:50:01.60\00:50:04.97
My grandpa used to give
us a shovel in the corn bin
00:50:05.00\00:50:07.87
and he say, "Now
how you gonna act?"
00:50:07.90\00:50:10.07
In other words, how
you're gonna shovel,
00:50:10.11\00:50:11.44
where you got to act
right when you shovel?
00:50:11.47\00:50:13.58
There's pitfalls,
there's sorrows that happen,
00:50:13.64\00:50:16.51
you know, in this
life, but a lot of them
00:50:16.54\00:50:18.41
when it pertains to
money material things
00:50:18.45\00:50:19.85
are self-induced.
00:50:19.88\00:50:21.22
That's true.
00:50:21.25\00:50:22.58
They're self induced,
we bring them on our self,
00:50:22.62\00:50:24.49
it doesn't have to be that way.
00:50:24.52\00:50:26.29
But the choices that we make,
we put other things before God,
00:50:26.32\00:50:29.22
we certainly
don't want to do that.
00:50:29.26\00:50:31.39
Many spend their whole life...
00:50:31.43\00:50:33.29
And I think
maybe good intention.
00:50:33.36\00:50:35.83
I've always loved to work.
00:50:35.86\00:50:37.33
I've always loved
to work with my hands.
00:50:37.40\00:50:39.30
And I think in times past,
00:50:39.33\00:50:40.67
I spent too
much time doing that,
00:50:40.70\00:50:42.74
and less time with my family,
which we come back later on
00:50:42.77\00:50:46.41
and you know, and sometimes
those are wrong choices
00:50:46.44\00:50:48.44
and wrong decisions.
00:50:48.48\00:50:49.81
But as always
busy and always felt
00:50:49.84\00:50:51.18
this is the way it should be
00:50:51.21\00:50:52.55
and the man is judged
by what he accomplishes,
00:50:52.58\00:50:55.02
you know, and the other
stuff will take care of itself,
00:50:55.05\00:50:57.45
that's not true and
maybe too late in life.
00:50:57.52\00:51:00.39
That many, some of you may be,
00:51:00.46\00:51:02.02
you know, you're
watching or listening,
00:51:02.06\00:51:03.43
you may come to the
point that you wake up one day,
00:51:03.46\00:51:05.06
mom and dad you wake up one day,
00:51:05.09\00:51:06.80
"I don't even know my children."
00:51:06.83\00:51:08.73
And the children may
wake up some day and say,
00:51:08.76\00:51:10.33
"I don't even
know mom and dad." Why?
00:51:10.37\00:51:12.73
Maybe we made wrong choices
00:51:12.77\00:51:14.37
because we went to
the ways of the world
00:51:14.40\00:51:16.37
not just wanted so much,
00:51:16.40\00:51:17.77
we just figured
that's the way it was,
00:51:17.81\00:51:19.14
we were making
decisions along the way.
00:51:19.17\00:51:20.94
And I can guarantee you this,
00:51:20.98\00:51:23.35
there's no amount of money
that can be put in the bank,
00:51:23.41\00:51:26.72
you know, that's gonna
buy back our neglected time.
00:51:26.78\00:51:30.89
You can't get it back.
00:51:30.95\00:51:32.29
Once it's gone,
you cannot get it back.
00:51:32.32\00:51:34.52
So at some point in life,
00:51:34.56\00:51:35.89
we just all have to
make a decision, a choice of
00:51:35.92\00:51:38.73
what we're gonna do in life,
00:51:38.76\00:51:40.26
whether it's a
job, whether it's a,
00:51:40.30\00:51:41.90
you know, kind of career,
what we're gonna make a living,
00:51:41.93\00:51:44.63
which is where we're gonna work,
00:51:44.67\00:51:46.13
but whatever the choice.
00:51:46.17\00:51:47.50
And many times there's
choices around the world
00:51:47.57\00:51:49.10
that's limited.
00:51:49.14\00:51:50.47
Say, I feel
like in this country,
00:51:50.54\00:51:51.87
where we're not really limited.
00:51:51.91\00:51:53.24
There's a lot of
things that we can do.
00:51:53.27\00:51:54.61
But in some
country you're limited to
00:51:54.64\00:51:55.98
how far maybe you can go,
00:51:56.01\00:51:57.35
we're not talking about
how God can bring us but just,
00:51:57.38\00:51:59.28
you know, they're
limited with that.
00:51:59.31\00:52:00.85
But I just encourage you this,
when you're making a choice,
00:52:00.92\00:52:04.09
you're going down life's road,
00:52:04.12\00:52:05.45
you're making decision of
00:52:05.49\00:52:06.86
who and what
you're gonna be doing,
00:52:06.89\00:52:08.22
do not leave God
out of the calculation.
00:52:08.26\00:52:12.06
Put Him in there.
That's the very first thing.
00:52:12.09\00:52:14.10
I think,
everybody's kind of brought that
00:52:14.10\00:52:15.43
out on their own,
their principal here,
00:52:15.46\00:52:17.87
because it says whatever
we do, was it 1 Corinthians,
00:52:17.90\00:52:20.34
whatever we do, 10:31,
00:52:20.40\00:52:23.47
"Whatever we do,
do to the," what?
00:52:23.51\00:52:25.44
Glory of God. "Do
all to the glory of God."
00:52:25.47\00:52:27.48
See, I like that.
00:52:27.54\00:52:28.88
Whatever we do,
whatever we choose to do,
00:52:28.91\00:52:30.25
whatever occupation,
wherever you go in life,
00:52:30.28\00:52:32.48
if we do all to
the glory of God,
00:52:32.51\00:52:34.08
you know what?
00:52:34.12\00:52:35.45
It's gonna be good,
because we're doing it
00:52:35.48\00:52:37.55
for His honor and for His glory.
00:52:37.59\00:52:39.29
Work is good.
00:52:39.32\00:52:40.66
Nothing wrong with
that, that was given to us
00:52:40.72\00:52:42.06
in the very
beginning, in the garden,
00:52:42.09\00:52:43.43
when we go back
to the Genesis 2:15.
00:52:43.46\00:52:45.83
But I encourage
you this, work is good,
00:52:45.86\00:52:48.16
but balance it,
learn to balance.
00:52:48.20\00:52:50.10
I don't know that I've
learned to balance it yet.
00:52:50.13\00:52:52.17
I want to balance it.
00:52:52.20\00:52:53.57
I wanna do the right,
I'm just being honest,
00:52:53.60\00:52:55.07
I'm just laying it out.
00:52:55.10\00:52:56.44
And I say church, pray for me.
00:52:56.47\00:52:58.17
Because sometimes it's
just there things there
00:52:58.21\00:52:59.54
and you're just doing one
thing right after the other,
00:52:59.57\00:53:02.11
and we need to
be balanced with it.
00:53:02.14\00:53:04.08
Don't make your work
or whatever might be,
00:53:04.15\00:53:06.21
and we're talking about
not in ministry and so on,
00:53:06.25\00:53:08.05
but don't make that
the center of your life
00:53:08.08\00:53:10.09
and your joy, make your
family, bring them in there.
00:53:10.12\00:53:12.39
Make them, you
know, it's important
00:53:12.42\00:53:13.76
and certainly
the cause of Christ.
00:53:13.79\00:53:16.19
And you know, I
keep thinking about,
00:53:16.22\00:53:18.49
this is one way
we can stay on track.
00:53:18.53\00:53:20.70
That the end of all,
you know, it was Solomon,
00:53:20.73\00:53:22.93
remember, he
looked over everything,
00:53:22.96\00:53:24.33
we don't have
time to go through it.
00:53:24.37\00:53:25.70
But just quickly run a
couple of things, Solomon,
00:53:25.73\00:53:27.70
as he tried everything.
00:53:27.74\00:53:29.07
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11,
there's a lot of things,
00:53:29.10\00:53:31.27
there's 11 things
that he mentioned there.
00:53:31.31\00:53:33.54
And I'm gonna mention
quickly as I can, first of all,
00:53:33.58\00:53:35.51
he just starts off, it's vanity.
00:53:35.54\00:53:37.51
He talked about laughter,
00:53:37.55\00:53:38.88
we're talking about
foolish gesture here.
00:53:38.91\00:53:40.25
Merry heart doeth
good like a medicine.
00:53:40.28\00:53:42.22
Praise God. I like
to chuckle some time.
00:53:42.25\00:53:44.09
I love to laugh. It
does good for the heart.
00:53:44.15\00:53:46.09
But he's talking
about foolishness here.
00:53:46.12\00:53:47.82
And he said, "It's
all mad and all mirth."
00:53:47.86\00:53:50.13
He also, he tried wine.
00:53:50.19\00:53:52.06
And he said,
"Along with my wisdom,
00:53:52.09\00:53:53.66
and it's folly, great works..."
00:53:53.70\00:53:56.13
He had great
works. He had houses.
00:53:56.16\00:53:57.87
He had vineyards.
He made pools of water.
00:53:57.90\00:54:00.84
He had servants. He had maidens.
00:54:00.87\00:54:02.37
He had great possessions.
00:54:02.40\00:54:03.74
Do you notice all that,
all these things he had?
00:54:03.81\00:54:05.44
He had silver and gold
00:54:05.47\00:54:07.08
and singers
there in verse, was 8
00:54:07.11\00:54:09.81
and musical
instruments, verse 9.
00:54:09.84\00:54:11.65
"So I was great."
00:54:11.68\00:54:13.01
He even come, I was great,
he said, my wisdom remain.
00:54:13.05\00:54:16.52
Whatever I saw, he said, I what?
00:54:16.55\00:54:18.92
I enjoyed it. I enjoyed.
00:54:18.95\00:54:21.49
This was the
portion, he said of what?
00:54:21.52\00:54:23.96
Of my labor.
00:54:24.03\00:54:25.56
But when he backed up, he
looked at all these things.
00:54:25.59\00:54:27.73
Verse 11, he said, "I
looked at the works of my hands,
00:54:27.76\00:54:30.33
had brought on my labor,"
00:54:30.37\00:54:31.70
he said, "Behold all is
vanity and vexation of spirit."
00:54:31.73\00:54:36.07
Without Jesus,
without Him being you control,
00:54:36.10\00:54:37.57
your heart, and your life,
00:54:37.61\00:54:38.94
without putting
Him first in your home,
00:54:38.97\00:54:41.11
first in the world,
everything, just put Him right,
00:54:41.14\00:54:42.71
the center of your joy is Jesus.
00:54:42.74\00:54:44.91
Everything at the bottom
line, when the bottom falls out,
00:54:44.95\00:54:47.48
your time runs out in this life,
00:54:47.52\00:54:48.85
you wake up you were 30 one day,
00:54:48.88\00:54:50.45
it seemed like the
next day you were 65,
00:54:50.49\00:54:52.42
I'm telling you right
now, you don't leave Jesus out,
00:54:52.45\00:54:54.59
and make Him the
center of your joy.
00:54:54.62\00:54:56.79
He shattered nerves, quickly,
I'm gonna read this right here,
00:54:56.83\00:54:58.93
Review and Herald said,
00:54:58.96\00:55:00.36
"He shattered
nerves and wasted frame
00:55:00.43\00:55:02.46
show the results of
violating nature's law.
00:55:02.50\00:55:05.03
He confessed to a wasted
life and then successful chase
00:55:05.07\00:55:08.70
after happiness is mournful,"
00:55:08.74\00:55:11.11
notice this, "is
mournful will was all is vanity
00:55:11.14\00:55:14.81
and vexation of the spirit."
00:55:14.84\00:55:16.54
Amen.
00:55:16.58\00:55:17.91
And then thank you for that,
you know, as you were talking,
00:55:17.95\00:55:19.78
I was thinking, I
sometimes thank God that
00:55:19.81\00:55:23.15
He didn't trust me with riches
00:55:23.18\00:55:25.39
because it would
be easy to get prissy.
00:55:25.42\00:55:29.46
I mean, you see it
happened to too many people.
00:55:29.49\00:55:32.39
So what is this
lesson saying this week?
00:55:32.43\00:55:35.66
It's the choices we make.
00:55:35.70\00:55:37.87
I believe that
number one important choice
00:55:37.90\00:55:40.30
that we can make in our life
00:55:40.34\00:55:41.67
is to accept
Christ as our Savior.
00:55:41.70\00:55:44.01
But beyond that,
00:55:44.07\00:55:45.41
there's no eeny,
meeny, miny, moe.
00:55:45.44\00:55:47.98
We need to pray and go
by biblical principles.
00:55:48.01\00:55:51.31
Why don't each one of you
just give us a little wrap?
00:55:51.35\00:55:53.62
And I just wanna really quickly
00:55:53.68\00:55:55.02
talk about on my lesson entitled
00:55:55.05\00:55:56.79
making the right choices.
00:55:56.85\00:55:58.32
There was an aspect, I
didn't get to go through
00:55:58.35\00:56:00.29
And that is that
Proverbs 24:6, reminds us
00:56:00.32\00:56:03.66
that there is safety in
a multitude of counselors.
00:56:03.69\00:56:06.36
Amen.
00:56:06.39\00:56:07.73
You know, God has placed
spirit filled people in our life
00:56:07.76\00:56:10.17
that when we
can't trust ourselves,
00:56:10.20\00:56:11.97
and sometimes
00:56:12.00\00:56:13.34
we don't have the
faith to go straight to God,
00:56:13.37\00:56:14.87
you know, He has
placed people in our life.
00:56:14.90\00:56:16.81
And I praise the
Lord for this panel
00:56:16.84\00:56:18.67
because I can trust
these wonderful people
00:56:18.71\00:56:20.78
and the people that
God has put in my life.
00:56:20.81\00:56:22.74
Praise God. Amen.
00:56:22.78\00:56:24.45
Well, above choosing what to do,
00:56:24.48\00:56:27.98
we are told to
choose who to serve.
00:56:28.02\00:56:30.99
When we choose who to
serve, He chooses what to do.
00:56:31.02\00:56:34.26
Choose you this day
00:56:34.29\00:56:35.62
whom you will
serve as the council.
00:56:35.66\00:56:37.26
And then He your
Savior will choose what to do.
00:56:37.33\00:56:40.90
He'll do it through you.
00:56:40.93\00:56:42.23
Piggybacking up
for what you said,
00:56:42.26\00:56:43.60
Pastor, choose you this
day whom you will serve.
00:56:43.63\00:56:45.57
But as for me, and my
house, we will serve the Lord.
00:56:45.60\00:56:49.14
So whether you're
married or single,
00:56:49.17\00:56:51.11
with a family or
whatever state you're in,
00:56:51.14\00:56:54.04
choose today to serve Him.
00:56:54.08\00:56:56.11
Decisions that we
made, gonna be making,
00:56:56.14\00:56:58.78
make sure we
keep Christ in mind,
00:56:58.81\00:57:00.48
if we realize how
they impact our own life,
00:57:00.55\00:57:03.95
and our family's
life and our future life,
00:57:04.02\00:57:06.55
it'd be a lot different
than we made in the past.
00:57:06.59\00:57:08.66
Amen and amen.
00:57:08.69\00:57:10.06
Well, thank you so much
each and every one of you
00:57:10.09\00:57:12.16
for the study you put into this,
00:57:12.19\00:57:13.73
and we hope that you
have really learned something
00:57:13.76\00:57:16.67
that you can take home.
00:57:16.70\00:57:18.70
Take it to the
bank, if you will.
00:57:18.73\00:57:20.64
Grace writes the check,
faith takes it to the bank.
00:57:20.67\00:57:24.01
So join us next week,
00:57:24.04\00:57:26.81
we will be looking at a lesson
called Preparing for Changes.
00:57:26.88\00:57:31.35
Our prayer for you
is the grace of our Lord
00:57:31.38\00:57:33.21
and Savior Jesus
Christ, the love of the Father,
00:57:33.25\00:57:35.88
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:57:35.92\00:57:37.59
will be with you always.
00:57:37.62\00:57:39.09