Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP190016A
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00:01 The Bible tells us,
00:02 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 00:05 and the Word was God." 00:07 It says to, 00:09 "Receive with meekness the implanted Word, 00:11 which is able to save your souls 00:14 and to be diligent 00:15 to present yourself approved to God, 00:18 rightly dividing the Word of truth." 00:20 Join us now 00:22 for the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:25 Our study today is Family Seasons. 00:33 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:36 I'm Jill Morikone, and we're so glad 00:38 that you've taken time from your day to join us, 00:40 as we go through the Word of God. 00:43 We're in the second quarter, lesson number three. 00:46 This quarter is on Family Seasons. 00:48 All about family 00:50 and we know that family is especially under attack 00:52 in these last days. 00:54 So what better lessons study than this lesson study? 00:57 Last week we discussed "The Choices We Make" 01:01 and this week lesson number three 01:02 is "Preparing for Change." 01:05 I want to introduce our panel at this time. 01:07 To my left is my sister and friend, Shelley Quinn. 01:09 It's a privilege to have you here. 01:11 Always good to be with you. 01:12 Sitting next to you is Pastor Ryan Day 01:14 and, Ryan, we love opening up 01:16 the Word of God with you as well. 01:17 It's always a blessing to be here. 01:18 Amen. 01:20 Sitting next to you is my Pastor, 01:21 Pastor John Lomacang, 01:23 and it's privilege to share with you as well. 01:24 You know, I said, 01:26 "Birds of a feather flock together," 01:27 we love the Word of God, all of us I believe. 01:29 Amen. 01:30 And sitting next to you is Pastor Tom Ferguson 01:32 from the Marion district. 01:33 And we're delighted 01:35 that you could take time from your schedule 01:36 and join us today, Pastor Tom. 01:38 Good to be here. 01:39 And we're so glad 01:40 that you have joined us as well. 01:42 We wanna encourage you 01:43 to get your own copy of the quarterly. 01:45 You can always visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church, 01:49 join a Sabbath School class 01:50 and they would give you a copy of the quarterly 01:52 and invite you for discussion, 01:54 or you can go online to ABSG.Adventist.org. 02:00 That stands for 02:01 AdultBibleStudyGuide .Adventist.org. 02:05 You can download your own copy and follow along with us, 02:09 lesson number three, "Preparing for Change." 02:12 Before we go any further, 02:13 we wanna go to the Lord in prayer. 02:15 Pastor Tom, would you pray for us? 02:17 Yes. 02:18 Heavenly Father, we thank You 02:19 for the privilege of opening Your Word 02:23 and reading Your truth. 02:24 We invite Your Holy Spirit 02:26 to inspire our hearts and our minds. 02:29 Bring us to Yourself we pray 02:31 and teach us the things You want us to know 02:33 just now, in Jesus' name, amen. 02:35 Amen. Amen. 02:36 We'll read our memory text first 02:38 and then jump into the lesson. 02:39 The memory text is from Psalm 85:13. 02:44 "Righteousness will go before Him 02:47 and shall make His footsteps our pathway." 02:51 Now this core, this lesson is preparing for change. 02:54 You know, they say, 02:55 the only thing that does not change 02:57 is the reality of change itself. 02:59 And that is true. 03:01 Life is full of change, Shelley. 03:03 Yes, it is. 03:04 Ben Franklin wrote, 03:06 this is back in 1789 03:07 in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy. 03:11 He said, the only thing in this world 03:12 that is said to be certain is... 03:14 Change. Death and taxes. 03:17 And we've heard that before. 03:19 From a worldly perspective, you could say, 03:20 well, death is a certainty because we know, 03:22 at one point or another, 03:24 everyone is eventually going to meet with death. 03:26 And we know the taxes for sure, seems to be certain, 03:29 but from a biblical perspective, 03:32 we know that we're saved by the blood of Jesus, 03:34 and that is not going to change, 03:36 today, tomorrow, forever, 03:38 we're saved by the blood of Jesus. 03:40 We know that this world is not our home 03:42 that we are looking for an eternal home. 03:45 And that is not gonna change. 03:46 That is we know with certainty. 03:48 We know that the peace of Christ can be ours, 03:51 that the joy of the Lord is our strength, 03:54 that He is coming again 03:55 and He will never leave us nor for sake us. 03:58 So I just wanna tell you, 03:59 there's a lot more sure in this world, 04:02 lot more surer things in this world 04:03 than just death and taxes. 04:05 We have the Lord Jesus Christ, that assurance of salvation. 04:09 But as we think about life being full of change, 04:12 even with that certainty, 04:14 that assurance of salvation of and of the Lord Jesus Christ, 04:18 there is still change in life. 04:20 There are unexpected things that happen, 04:23 a sudden car crash, 04:25 and then your life changes dramatically 04:28 and suddenly in just a moment. 04:30 Then there is expected changes, 04:32 and we're gonna look at some of those today. 04:34 Sunday's lesson is on how to prepare for change. 04:36 And then we'll look on how to prepare for marriage, 04:39 or for parenting, or for old age, or for death. 04:42 Each one of these are, 04:43 you could say maybe expected changes. 04:45 You expect one of those to happen 04:47 at some point or another in your life. 04:49 But how are we to prepare for change? 04:53 We all experienced trials. 04:54 Would you say that's accurate? Absolutely. 04:55 We all experience temptations and heartaches. 05:00 But how do we deal with that? 05:03 I wanna talk about five keys to handling change. 05:05 But before we do that, 05:07 we're gonna go to 1 Corinthians Chapter 10. 05:09 So if you wanna open up your Bibles with me, 05:11 the lesson takes us here first. 05:13 1 Corinthians Chapter 10. 05:14 We're gonna look at the first 13 verses. 05:17 This is Paul writing to the Corinthian believers, 05:19 the Corinthian church, 05:21 but he's reminding them of some things 05:24 that the children of Israel went through. 05:26 Verse 1, "Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware 05:31 that all our fathers were under the cloud." 05:35 They all experienced the presence of God, right? 05:39 The cloud, the pillar of fire, 05:41 and they all experienced the presence of God. 05:44 "All passed through the sea," the Red Sea, 05:47 "all were baptized into Moses, in the cloud and in the sea." 05:51 Verse 3, "All ate the same spiritual food," 05:54 that would be the manna in the wilderness. 05:57 Verse 4, "All drank the same spiritual drink. 06:00 For they drink of that spiritual Rock 06:02 that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." 06:07 So we're saying the Israelites, 06:08 they all experienced the presence of God. 06:10 They all had that baptism, 06:12 you could say as it were in the Red Sea. 06:14 And in a sense, 06:15 you could talk about the manna and the water 06:18 being the communion bread and the grape juice, okay? 06:22 They all had some sort of experience. 06:25 But verse 5, we see, it didn't save them. 06:28 It says, "But with most of them God was not well pleased, 06:31 for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness." 06:35 Why? 06:37 Because we look at how they chose to respond 06:40 to the difficulties along the way. 06:42 And they experienced some pretty incredible difficulties 06:45 in the wilderness. 06:47 Paul writes in verse 6, 06:48 "These things became our examples 06:51 to the intent that we should not lust 06:53 after evil things as they also lusted." 06:57 He says, this is written to you 06:58 as an example as it were, Shelley. 07:00 So that you, the Corinthian believers today 07:02 or you and I today, 07:04 we don't fall into those same traps. 07:06 We don't go down the same route. 07:10 When we experienced trials and temptations and heartaches, 07:13 we don't respond in the same fashion. 07:17 So what were some of those things 07:18 he's warning them against, against idol worship. 07:20 Verse 7, 07:21 "And do not become idolaters as were some of them." 07:25 We're warned against sexual immorality. 07:27 Verse 8, "Nor let us commit sexual immorality, 07:30 as some of them did, and in one day 23,000 fell." 07:35 Verse 9, we're warned against complaining 07:39 against God and His messengers. 07:43 Verse 9, "Let us not tempt Christ 07:45 to some of them also tempted 07:46 and were destroyed by serpents." 07:48 Now, what is Paul referencing here? 07:50 This is all the way back to Deuteronomy Chapter 21 07:54 when they journeyed by the way, 07:55 and they got discouraged and they spoke out 07:58 and complained against Moses and against God. 08:02 And then remember, 08:03 God sent these fiery serpents in amongst them 08:06 and then the bronze serpent was raised up, 08:07 they could look and they could live. 08:09 So they complained against God and His messengers. 08:12 In verse 10, they complained along the way, it says, 08:15 "Nor complain, as some of them also complained 08:17 and were destroyed by the destroyer." 08:19 The Israelites had experienced God, 08:22 His miracles, His grace, His life changing power, 08:27 but still they reacted kind of badly 08:30 to change in their life, right? 08:31 To the difficulties that they experienced. 08:36 But not just the Israelites, think about Abraham and Sarah, 08:38 she couldn't get pregnant and he decided, 08:40 he's gonna handle things his own way. 08:43 Think about Saul, 08:44 he felt a threat to his kingdom. 08:46 And he thought he's gonna eliminate the competition 08:48 by trying to kill David. 08:50 Think about Ananias and Sapphira, 08:52 they were faced with a question. 08:54 Peter said, "Is this all the money 08:56 that you got from the proceeds of the land?" 08:58 And they both decided to lie. 09:00 Think about Peter, 09:01 faced with the mob arresting Jesus, 09:03 he thought he's taking things into his own hand 09:05 and he's going to cut off the ear of the high priest. 09:08 Those are all almost impulse decisions 09:11 in the midst of difficulty. 09:13 So how do we handle change? 09:15 How do we deal with trials and difficulties 09:18 and these things that arise in our lives? 09:20 In my remaining time 09:22 we'll look at those five keys for handling change. 09:26 Number one is expected. 09:29 Amen. Expected. 09:30 1 Peter 4:12, 09:32 "Dear friends, do not be surprised 09:33 at the painful trial you are suffering 09:37 as though something strange were happening to you." 09:40 King James says, "The fiery trial 09:42 that you are experiencing." 09:44 You know, I often would fail a test, 09:47 if I didn't study for it, right? 09:49 You need to study. 09:50 Or if I didn't even know the test was coming, 09:52 you might fail it. 09:54 Don't get mad at the test, or the trial, or the change 09:58 that you're experiencing in your life. 10:00 Don't blame God. 10:01 Expect that something is going to happen. 10:04 Expect change. 10:06 Number two, 10:08 understand God has already provided grace and strength. 10:12 And He's already equipped you for everything you need 10:15 to deal with it. 10:17 1 Corinthians 10:13, 10:19 "No temptation has overtaken you 10:21 except this is common to man. 10:22 But God is faithful, 10:24 who will not allow you to be tempted 10:26 above what you're able 10:27 but will with the temptation make a way of escape, 10:31 that you may be able to bear it." 10:34 So what is the preparation that He has given to us? 10:38 He's given us the armor of God. 10:40 Ephesians Chapter 6, 10:41 "The belt of truth 10:43 and the breastplate of righteousness, 10:46 the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts 10:48 of the wicked one, the helmet of salvation 10:50 and the sword of the Spirit." 10:52 Speaking of the sword of the Spirit, 10:53 which we know is the Word of God. 10:55 He has given us the Word 10:57 to reveal the thoughts and intents of the heart. 11:00 That's from Hebrews 4:12. 11:02 He's given us Jesus. 11:04 "We all with open face beholding as in a glass, 11:06 the glory of the Lord 11:08 are changed into the same image," 11:10 2 Corinthians 3:18. 11:12 "He's given us a new heart," Ezekiel 36. 11:15 "He has made you and I a new creation," 11:18 2 Corinthians 5:17. 11:20 "He's given us the privilege of prayer," 11:22 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18. 11:25 "He's given us faith 11:26 that of a mustard seed that grows. 11:28 So number one, when you're experiencing change 11:31 or trials or difficulties, expect it. 11:34 Number two, understand that God has already given you 11:38 the grace and strength you need to deal with that. 11:42 And number three, 11:44 recognize that we do not possess answers. 11:47 Some things in life are unexplainable. 11:50 How do you explain a child suddenly being killed, 11:53 or someone running away, 11:55 or someone walking away from Jesus, 11:57 or your spouse dying of cancer? 11:59 Some things are because we live in this world of evil, of sin, 12:05 but yet we can still trust God in the midst of the pain. 12:09 Job 13:15, Job says, 12:11 "Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him." 12:16 Number four, 12:17 learn to practice immediate obedience. 12:22 I think of Abraham when God said, 12:24 "Take your son and sacrifice him 12:25 on Mount Mariah," 12:27 and he could have said, 12:28 "God, give me a week to pray about it. 12:29 How can I know, I'm really hearing from you?" 12:31 But he's... 12:32 Next morning he got up 12:34 and he practiced immediate obedience. 12:36 James 1:22, "Be doers of the Word 12:39 and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." 12:44 There's a blessing to be obtained in obedience. 12:46 When we walk through these changes in life, 12:49 whether we understand the change, 12:50 whether we even want to obey, 12:53 whether it hurts, there's a blessing 12:55 to be obtained in that obedience. 12:57 And finally, number five, realize that life is about God, 13:01 it's not about you and I. 13:03 Often my life, 13:05 I know centers around my own thoughts, 13:06 and my own feelings and hurts instead of Him. 13:09 We might get mad in the trial because we think it's about us, 13:12 when in reality it's not. 13:13 It's all about Him. 13:16 Know that, Romans 5, "We glory in tribulation 13:19 because that produces perseverance, 13:22 perseverance produces character, 13:25 and character produces hope." 13:27 Amen. Shelley? 13:29 Jill, you are such a good Bible teacher 13:31 and I give all the glory to God 13:32 that He's given you the gift of teaching 13:34 and thank you for laying such a wonderful foundation. 13:38 Okay, I have Monday's lesson and I'll tell you what? 13:43 There is probably no bigger change. 13:46 Well, two really huge changes in your life, 13:50 one is getting married and then, of course, 13:52 another is having a trial. 13:54 So I have Monday's lesson, "Preparing for a marriage." 14:00 Now, I wanna talk about some myths, 14:03 myths, I can hardly say that of marriage. 14:07 The Hollywood... 14:09 What Hollywood has set us up with this fantasy, it's a myth. 14:14 I mean, all the romance novels and the things 14:17 that some people are ingesting all the time, 14:20 this just set you up for unrealistic expectations. 14:25 Now, there's another myth about marriage that it's 50-50. 14:30 Have you ever found it to be 50-50? 14:32 We're all married. 14:34 It's 100-100 all the time, isn't it? 14:36 Amen. 14:37 Another myth about marriage 14:39 is your spouse will complete you. 14:43 Your spouse will never complete you. 14:45 Ecclesiastes 3:11 says 14:48 that God has put eternity in our hearts. 14:51 And only God can fill that God's shaped void. 14:58 So what we need to do in preparing for marriage 15:03 is learn to let God fulfill His love 15:08 and His purposes in us. 15:11 You've got to before you get married, 15:13 if you don't know God 15:15 as your true source of unconditional love, 15:20 you're going to put too many demands, 15:23 unrealistic demands on the person you marry. 15:26 And we have to remember Jeremiah 31:3, God says, 15:30 "He loves us with an everlasting love." 15:34 So He's constantly wooing us 15:36 and drawing us with chords of love. 15:40 So what's the purpose of marriage? 15:42 Look at Genesis 2:24. 15:46 And this is what the Bible says, 15:48 "Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother 15:54 and shall cleave," that is a covenantal term, 15:58 "shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh." 16:05 God instituted the covenant, 16:08 and I'm gonna call it the covenant of marriage 16:12 in the Garden of Eden. 16:14 And as I said that word cleave 16:16 is used for other close covenantal relationships. 16:21 One flesh means 16:23 that this is a very permanent covenantal tie, 16:29 it's more important than any other relationship. 16:31 That's why you're to leave your father and your mother. 16:34 And the covenant of marriage is a defined picture 16:39 of Christ and His bride. 16:42 So becoming one flesh 16:47 is more than just talking about sex. 16:50 Of course, God, aren't we glad that God gave us marriage 16:54 in which He created marriage 16:56 for the arena of our sexual expression. 16:59 But when you get married, 17:00 you're gonna share more than a bed. 17:02 You're going to share a lifetime of companionship, 17:06 personal space, time, and money and goals, 17:11 and responsibilities and experiences. 17:14 So you need to be ready 17:15 to become one in all those areas. 17:19 Genesis 1:28 says this. 17:24 Genesis 1:28, talking about this marriage covenant, 17:28 "Then God blessed them and He said to them," 17:30 Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, 17:33 fill the earth and subdue it, 17:35 have dominion over the fish of the sea, 17:37 over the birds of the air, 17:39 and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 17:43 So we see that the family unit 17:46 was to reflect His image, 17:50 the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, 17:51 their harmonious image of love. 17:56 God wants us to love 18:00 as He loves in a self-sacrificing way. 18:03 And trust me, 18:05 I bet every little hand on this panel will go up. 18:08 How many of us know that, 18:10 it helps change us into the image of Jesus? 18:15 That's His purpose, I think in marriage. 18:17 Amen. 18:18 Because there's always self-sacrifice in marriage. 18:21 So was to reflect His image, 18:24 the family unit is to reproduce, 18:27 to be fruitful and multiply. 18:29 And it's more than just multiplying children 18:32 but nurturing children in His image. 18:35 In Malachi 2:14-15... 18:43 God in speaking to the prophet, 18:45 He talks about the wife of your youth, 18:49 your wife by covenant. 18:52 He says, 18:53 "But did He not make them one, 18:56 having a remnant of the spirit? 18:58 And why one? 18:59 He seeks godly offspring." 19:02 So this is one of the reasons 19:06 that we are to reproduce godly offspring. 19:10 This is why it is important 19:12 to why chastity is important before marriage. 19:16 And then the family unit is to reign over the earth. 19:22 They are to work together as helpmates, 19:24 encouraging, cooperating in perfect unity. 19:29 So how do you prepare yourself 19:31 for such a serious commitment as this? 19:34 So that you can have a successful relationship. 19:37 Because when you get married, 19:39 you are making a lifelong commitment 19:43 to one imperfect person with all of their securities, 19:48 all of their baggage, 19:50 you can't expect, you're not perfect 19:51 and you can't expect your partner to be perfect. 19:55 And we are going to be called upon 19:58 many times in our marriage 20:00 to give up individual preferences 20:03 for the sake of our relationship. 20:05 So here's one little piece of advice. 20:08 Make sure you're ready to get married. 20:11 Make sure you're mature enough 20:13 to make these self-sacrificial of this commitment, 20:20 because if you're focused on other goals, 20:22 maybe you should put marriage off 20:24 for a little while, 20:26 become a person worth marrying. 20:31 When JD and I were engaged, I prayed earnestly, 20:36 probably all throughout the day. 20:37 "Lord, make me a scriptural wife." 20:40 I prayed even more earnestly after we married. 20:43 "Lord, make me a scriptural wife, 20:45 make me a scriptural wife." 20:47 I didn't want to try to become my husband's God. 20:51 And I would tell the Lord, 20:52 "Don't let me say something to him 20:54 unless it's coming directly from You or he's asked me." 20:57 And boy, I can't tell you how many times I bit my tongue. 21:01 So we need to also grow 21:05 in relationship and communication skills. 21:08 Learn to communicate. 21:10 If you have to take a class, learn to communicate, 21:14 because what your history, your hopes or dreams, 21:18 your spouse is not going to be able 21:20 to read your mind. 21:21 And if you're not a communicator, 21:23 you're gonna make 21:25 a very difficult start in marriage. 21:28 I'm not gonna get to everything. 21:29 But I do wanna read this because our lesson says, 21:33 there are some crucial traits 21:35 that are important for all Christians, 21:38 for all of us, 21:39 but they're especially important 21:41 to the aspects of preparing for marriage. 21:44 So let's turn to 1 Corinthians 13. 21:47 And I invite you at home to turn with us, 21:50 1 Corinthians 13. 21:52 We're going to look at verses 4-8. 21:56 And it begins... This is a beautiful passage. 22:00 This is describing love. 22:02 And it says in verse 4, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 22:05 "Love suffers long and is kind." 22:12 Let me tell you something, conflict is normal. 22:15 You have two people with two different opinions, 22:19 everybody's got an opinion. 22:21 And usually there are pros in. 22:25 So conflict is normal. 22:27 So you have to learn to deal openly and fairly with it. 22:32 Love suffers long. 22:34 Learn to listen, 22:36 that's the most important communication skill. 22:39 Don't ever walk out on a disagreement 22:42 and be quick to forgive. 22:44 Love, it carries, goes on in verse 4. 22:48 "Love does not envy. 22:50 Love does not parade itself. 22:52 It is not puffed up." 22:55 You need to learn humility. 22:57 You know, it's not about winning. 23:00 Anytime you get into a disagreement 23:03 with your spouse, 23:04 it's not about winning. 23:06 Seek first to understand, 23:10 because that helps tear down the walls. 23:14 Verse 5, 23:15 "Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, 23:18 is not provoked, thinks no evil." 23:21 Don't keep score. 23:23 Oh, if you are a scorekeeper, pray and say, 23:26 "Lord, take this away from me. 23:28 Don't let me be a scorekeeper." 23:30 We don't give to receive 23:32 and if you get married, and you are saying, 23:36 "Okay, I'm gonna do this for them, 23:37 so they'll do that for me." 23:39 You know what that raises up in you? 23:41 A critical spirit, you will become critical. 23:45 As my time is all gone, 23:48 I won't get to do any more of this. 23:50 I just looked at the clock. 23:52 But continue on reading. 23:54 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. 23:56 Amen. What an incredible! 23:58 Thank you, Shelley, for that. 23:59 What an incredible scripture. 24:01 It always challenges me to come up higher 24:03 and that God wants to pour His love in my heart. 24:06 We're gonna take a short break. 24:07 We'll be right back. 24:14 Ever wish you could watch 24:16 a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again, 24:18 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:21 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com. 24:26 A clean design makes it easy 24:28 to find the program you're looking for. 24:30 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide, 24:34 so you can follow along. 24:36 Sharing is easy. 24:37 Just click share 24:38 and choose your favorite social media. 24:40 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 24:47 Welcome back to our study on Preparing for Change. 24:50 And, Ryan, you have preparing for parenthood. 24:52 Absolutely! 24:54 Rather interesting but important topic indeed, 24:58 "Preparing for parenting." 24:59 You know, I'm gonna actually piggyback 25:00 on a scripture you just read in just a few moments ago. 25:03 I didn't plan to read this one but it sets it up perfectly. 25:05 And that is Malachi 2:15. 25:10 Notice what the Bible says here. 25:13 "But did he not make them one, 25:14 having a remnant of the Spirit?" 25:17 And then it says, "And why one?" 25:20 I love this. 25:22 "He seeks godly offspring." 25:26 He seeks godly offspring. 25:30 What does the Bible tell us about preparing for parenting? 25:34 How do we prepare for parenting? 25:36 I found this interesting quote 25:37 that I think will set us up nicely. 25:40 It's from the Ministry of Healing, page 372. 25:42 So notice what it says here. 25:45 "The nobler the aims, 25:47 the higher the mental and spiritual endowments 25:51 and the better developed the physical powers 25:54 of the parents. 25:56 The better will be the life equipment 25:58 they give their children." 26:00 Amen. Very good. 26:01 "In cultivating that which is best in themselves, 26:04 parents are exerting an influence to mold society 26:08 and to uplift future generations." 26:10 Amen. 26:11 Then it goes on to say, "Fathers and mothers 26:13 need to understand their responsibility. 26:16 The world is full of snares for the feet of the young. 26:19 Multitudes are attracted by a life of selfishness 26:24 and sensual pleasure. 26:26 They cannot discern the hidden dangers 26:28 of the fearful ending of the path 26:29 that seems to them the way of happiness. 26:33 Through the indulgence of appetite and passion, 26:36 their energies are wasted and millions are ruined 26:40 for this world and for the world to come. 26:42 Parents should remember that their children 26:45 must encounter these temptations. 26:47 Even before the birth of the child," notice this, 26:51 "even before the birth of the child, 26:53 the preparation should begin that will enable it 26:57 to fight successfully the battle against evil." 27:01 So I wanna just kind of say just right out front, 27:03 and then I'm gonna let the Bible speak for itself. 27:06 But you asked the question, 27:08 how do we prepare for parenting. 27:09 Okay, to properly prepare for parenting, 27:12 it begins with the parents placing themselves in Christ. 27:16 It's good. Amen. 27:17 Absolutely 100% connected to the vine 27:20 that Christ can change them, that Christ can transform them, 27:24 that when this little one comes into the world, 27:26 you are prepared and in tune 27:28 with the spirit in raising that child. 27:31 We have a few wonderful biblical examples, 27:33 and I might not be able to get through them all, 27:34 but I wanna start with a wonderful example, 27:36 we find in 1 Samuel 1:27-28. 27:41 Of course, this is the example we have 27:43 of a lady that was previously barren. 27:46 But, of course, you know, you have Hannah, 27:48 that's the mother of Samuel the Prophet. 27:51 Notice what it says here, 27:53 "For this child I prayed," okay? 27:57 "And the Lord has granted me my petition, 27:59 which I asked of Him. 28:01 Therefore, I also have lent him to the Lord, 28:05 as long as he lives, he shall be lent to the Lord." 28:09 How do I prepare for a child? 28:13 How do I prepare to be the greatest parent? 28:15 The best thing you can do is spiritually, figuratively 28:20 let that child go into the hands of the Lord. 28:23 It's a good one. 28:24 Be the example, 28:26 be connected to the vine and allow God 28:29 to raise that child through you as the parent. 28:33 Another great example we have, of course, 28:34 is found in Judges 13-7, the Bible says, 28:38 "And he said to me, 'Behold...'" 28:39 And, of course, this particular scripture 28:41 is talking about Samson's parents, 28:44 and so notice what it says here, 28:46 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, now,' 28:51 excuse me, 'now drink no wine, 28:54 or similar drink nor eat anything unclean, 28:58 for the child shall be a Nazarite to God 29:01 from the womb to the day of his death.'" 29:03 Now, many people would read that text and say, 29:05 "Well, that principle is for only those Nazarites. 29:08 But I assure you, my friends, 29:09 this is a great biblical principle, 29:11 not just for those who are preparing 29:13 for raising a child, 29:15 but this is a great biblical principle in general. 29:18 We know that our bodies 29:19 are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 29:21 Amen. 29:22 And, you know, here recently, I just have to say this 29:23 just for myself, 29:25 just in principle and just in general. 29:27 You know, God has had to bring me to a place 29:28 where I've had to surrender this part of my life to Him. 29:31 I recently attended 29:32 the Black Hills Health and Education Center, 29:34 where I learned a whole new lifestyle. 29:36 And the Lord has begun to transform me. 29:37 And I recognize that this is not just, 29:40 this is not something I'm preparing just myself for, 29:43 but also this affects others around me. 29:45 My decisions and my choices affects those around me 29:48 and potentially the children to come. 29:50 Amen. Very good point. 29:52 Your lifestyle needs to be brought 29:53 into submission to God. 29:55 And, of course, we need to learn 29:56 to apply those biblical principles, indeed. 30:00 Of course, perhaps no better passage 30:01 would give us a clear insight 30:03 to how to prepare to be a parent 30:07 than that of Luke Chapter 1, 30:08 because we have multiple examples given to us here 30:11 through a couple of different important characters. 30:13 So I'm going to begin with Luke 1:6. 30:16 And we can see that this is where 30:19 God is speaking to the parents of John the Baptist. 30:23 Notice what it says here, "And they were both..." 30:25 Now this is speaking about them, 30:27 "And they were both righteous before God, 30:29 walking in all the commandments and ordinances 30:33 of the Lord blameless." 30:35 How can I make sure 30:36 that I'm going to prepare myself 30:38 to be a good godly parent? 30:40 How about follow the example 30:42 of some of perhaps the greatest parents 30:44 that we've ever known, 30:45 and that is the parents of John the Baptist 30:46 whom Christ said, was the greatest of all men, 30:49 greatest born of any person, any woman. 30:52 And He says that they were devoted, 30:54 blameless commandment keepers 30:56 and they kept the ordinance of the Lord. 30:58 So John had a great example to follow. 31:00 His parents were godly people, 31:02 they placed their faith in the Lord 31:04 and they were obedient to the Lord 31:05 with all their heart and minds. 31:07 Let's continue on to Luke 1:13-17, again, 31:10 not gonna probably read the entire passage, 31:12 but Luke 1:13-17, again, talking about the leadership 31:18 of John the Baptist's parents here. 31:20 Notice what it says in verse 14, it says, 31:22 "And you will have..." 31:24 This is them, 31:25 basically telling what the parents will experience 31:27 as parents, it says, 31:29 "And you will have joy and gladness 31:31 and many will rejoice at his birth." 31:33 Okay. 31:34 They were so devoted to the Lord 31:36 that they were giving a promise, 31:37 these children will bring joy to your life. 31:39 But we are told that through and through, 31:41 notice when it goes on to say, 31:42 verse 15, tell me if this sounds familiar, 31:44 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord 31:46 and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink." 31:49 Did we read something like that a few minutes ago? 31:51 That's right. All right. 31:52 So obviously, it's important 31:53 that we take care of our bodies, 31:55 because the habits, and the principles, 31:57 and the practices that we have, 31:58 we're going to pass on and share with our children. 32:01 And so it's best that we prepare now. 32:03 And let me tell you something, if you're a parent right now, 32:05 and you say, "You know what, 32:06 I haven't been practicing those things." 32:08 It's not too late. 32:09 It's not too late to prepare 32:10 and to continue to practice to be a better godly parent. 32:15 The Bible gives us those promises. 32:17 Notice in verse 17, it says, 32:18 "He will also go before him 32:20 and the spirit and power of Elijah, 32:22 'to turn the hearts of the," notice, 32:24 "the father's to the children,' 32:27 and the disobedient to the wisdom and the just," 32:29 notice, "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.'" 32:32 When you are practicing being a good godly parent, 32:35 you're preparing to be the best parent you can be. 32:38 The principles and the practices 32:39 and the mentality that you pass on to that child, 32:42 that child could go on to be to do great things. 32:45 And obviously, John the Baptist did that 32:46 because of the godly leadership he had from his parents, 32:50 the right leadership of the parents, 32:52 through John the Baptist's parents 32:53 led to a spirit filled servant, 32:55 making a major difference for the kingdom of God. 32:58 Amen. 32:59 And that's powerful to consider. 33:01 There's so many more texts that I could read through here, 33:03 my time's going away from me, 33:04 I encourage you to read verses 39-45, 33:07 because that tells us the experience of Mary. 33:10 What type of parent was Mary who fathered the Son of God? 33:15 That would have been a big, big, huge responsibility. 33:19 But again, godly parents 33:21 who were in tune with the Holy Spirit, 33:23 you'll notice that Mary chose good company. 33:25 It tells us that she went to... 33:27 She was friends, obviously came to in friends 33:29 with John the Baptist's parents. 33:30 So that's important 33:31 that we make sure that we choose good company 33:33 that we trust in the Lord always. 33:35 You see the praises of Mary coming forth in her song 33:38 in verses 46-40, 33:40 excuse me 46-55, that Song of Mary. 33:44 You could just see the humility pouring from her 33:47 and, of course, an example of praise. 33:49 Your praises, of course, are noticed. 33:51 And they're almost contagious. 33:53 When you're around a person who is contagious, 33:55 there's nothing more powerful to being around a person 33:57 who is always bringing praise and glory to God. 33:59 Amen. 34:00 And I hope to be that type of father one day 34:02 that I can bring praises 34:04 out of my mouth and from my life 34:05 that will rub off on my children 34:06 that they also may walk 34:08 in the presence and in the way of the Lord. 34:10 I wanna share this last little quote here. 34:16 This is from Ministry of Healing, page 352. 34:19 "The mission of the home extends beyond its own members. 34:23 The Christian home is to be an object lesson, 34:26 illustrating the excellence of the true principles of life. 34:31 Such an illustration will be a power 34:33 for good in the world. 34:35 More powerful than any sermon 34:37 that can be preached is the influence of a true home 34:40 upon the human hearts and lives. 34:43 As the youth go out from such a home, 34:45 the lessons they have learned are imparted. 34:48 Nobler principles of life 34:50 are introduced into other households, 34:53 and an uplifting influence works in the community." 34:57 I pray for our homes, I pray for our parents. 34:59 It can be done. 35:00 Trust in the Lord, and you will be a great parent. 35:04 Amen. Thank you, Ryan. 35:06 Well, I don't know, 35:08 I think this is chosen by accident, 35:09 but I'm tending not to think so. 35:11 Preparing for old age. 35:13 How did I get that one? 35:14 Cause I didn't want to know. 35:18 Honesty is the best policy, they say. 35:20 Thank you, Shelley, for choosing this one. 35:22 I mean, instead give me yours, Pastor Tom 35:24 and pram for you when we get to you. 35:26 We love you all. I appreciate it. 35:28 Preparing for old age. 35:30 I think I'm starting to settle into the reality 35:32 that the clock just doesn't listen to my desire. 35:37 The truth and the clock are marching on. 35:41 David the Psalmist recorded the words of Moses. 35:45 In Psalm 90:10... 35:47 And this is Wednesday's lesson, April 17. 35:49 Look at these words. 35:51 "The days of our lives," 35:53 if you've been around long enough, 35:54 you remember that soap opera 35:56 that really didn't have anything to it so... 35:58 "The days of our lives are seventy years 36:01 and it by reason of strength they are at eighty. 36:04 Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow, 36:08 for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." 36:13 You know, these words of Moses are inexorable or unstoppable. 36:19 There's an unstoppable march of time. 36:22 We said that so many times on this program. 36:24 I think Ryan just said, my time is going away. 36:27 Pastors, we say that same thing, 36:29 teachers that love to teach, the clock is against me. 36:33 But as time moves on, 36:35 we should notice the evidences of time, 36:38 we see the changes in our bodies. 36:40 Now I won't tell you my age. 36:43 But I was born a little while ago, 36:47 and thankful, Lord, I still have good health. 36:52 When I went to Australia walking through customs, 36:54 the custom's officer asked my wife and I, 36:56 says, "Where are you from?" 36:58 We said, "America." 36:59 They said, "Do you have any medication to declare?" 37:01 We said, "No." 37:02 He said, "Where are you from?" I said, "The United States." 37:04 He says, "Do you have any medication to declare?" 37:06 I said, "No, we don't." 37:08 He says, "Every American has medication to declare." 37:10 I said that we don't. 37:12 He said, "Go ahead and go through." 37:14 Thank the Lord that 37:15 when you follow the principles of life, 37:17 you don't have to get too old. 37:19 There are certain things about getting older 37:20 that are not default. 37:22 And we know that Pastor Turner, he's 99. 37:26 Praise the Lord for that. 37:28 And we are all looking at him as an example 37:30 of what we would like to be, 37:31 if the Lord would give us that time. 37:33 My preference would be, I rather be in the kingdom, 37:36 not here on earth when I'm 99 years old. 37:38 The other changes is 37:40 hair turns gray or it falls out, 37:42 those are the two categories. 37:44 And society has done its best to try to substitute that, 37:48 either, you know, 37:49 you go to places around the world 37:50 where they have to color their hair, it has to. 37:52 It's a standard thing of society. 37:54 I've kind of gotten over that. 37:55 And you know what helped me one day, 37:57 Pastor Ryan is... 37:59 One of the young ladies in our church, 38:00 one of the young girls in our church, said, "Pastor?" 38:02 Because you know, we think 38:03 sometimes you're cutting out hair 38:05 to make the young people think we're older. 38:06 She said, "I like your gray hair, 38:08 stop coloring your gray hair." 38:09 And you know what, 38:11 now people are paying for their hair to be gray. 38:14 So young people. Huh? Young people. 38:16 Young people are paying for gray hair nowadays. 38:18 So mine is courtesy of God's divine hand. 38:23 The other thing is old age comes, 38:25 we begin to slow down, 38:26 there are aches and pains that come. 38:28 As Pastor Mark Finley, one day, he said, 38:30 he doesn't play basketball any longer. 38:31 He says, "And at home when I kneel down, 38:33 I say, what else can I do while I'm down here." 38:37 He say, "What else can I do while I'm down here." 38:39 Those are the changes of life. 38:41 For those of us that don't have children, 38:42 my wife and I are childless, 38:44 but we'd like to spoil other people's children 38:47 and send them back home. 38:48 But for those who have children, 38:50 then later on in life, 38:52 they can enjoy their grandchildren. 38:53 That's another blessing of life. 38:55 And then also, 38:57 Psalm 71 also teach us to prepare for the inevitable. 39:01 So I'm going to bring out so to speak, 39:04 Jill's been rubbing off on me, 39:05 I'll bring out seven quick principles 39:07 that Psalm 71 has illustrated. 39:10 See, infectious. 39:11 Her chronicling is very good. 39:13 The first one is Psalm 71:17, 39:17 develop a deep personal knowledge 39:19 of God from youth. 39:21 Remember the Creator in the days of your youth. 39:24 The wise man Solomon said that to the young people, 39:27 in Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, 39:29 "Develop a deep personal relationship 39:32 or knowledge of God from youth." 39:33 Because you know what? 39:35 All the things that are going to be valuable 39:37 as we get older, 39:38 we begin when we are young. 39:39 Yes. Yes. 39:41 "Train up a child in the way that..." 39:42 He should go. 39:43 "He should go, and when he is old, 39:45 he won't depart from it." 39:46 We learn things from young, 39:47 and whether those things are biblical or not, 39:49 they tend to stick with us longer sometimes 39:52 than we want them to, 39:53 and sometimes you try to get rid of them, 39:54 but they're so ingrained in our personality 39:56 that they take over by default. 39:58 Like the person who once... 40:00 Now we don't need him we know but this is an illustration. 40:02 Young lady, when she had Thanksgiving, 40:04 she would cut off an inch of the ham. 40:06 And her husband said, "Why do you do that every year? 40:08 She said, "My mother did that." 40:10 She asked her mom, "Why do you that?" 40:11 "Well, my mother did." 40:13 Thankfully, they had three generations here. 40:14 "Grandma, Mom, why did you do that?" 40:16 She said, 40:18 "Because it was too big for the pan." 40:20 They had no other value, none whatsoever. 40:24 But they saw generational things happen. 40:26 And so when you establish practices 40:28 in your own life personally, 40:30 it becomes a generational practice. 40:31 Let your children know. 40:34 When you study your Bible, 40:35 make it short, make it interesting, 40:37 let them appreciate the time they spend in the Bible. 40:40 Don't put your family together. 40:42 As fathers and mothers, 40:43 those of you who are overly religious 40:44 and I say this respectfully, 40:46 sometimes we could wear children down with Bible. 40:49 And we say, tonight our Bible study 40:51 is gonna be hour and half before you go to bed. 40:52 They dread the idea. 40:54 It's time for Bible studies. 40:55 Even Ellen White counsels, 40:56 make it interesting, make it short, 40:58 make it delightful, 41:00 so that they can establish habits from young 41:02 to know who God is. 41:04 The other one, these are the promises we get. 41:07 Psalm 71:1-7. 41:09 By the way, I didn't read Psalm 71:17, 41:11 did I? 41:13 It says, "Oh God, You have taught me 41:15 from my youth. 41:16 And to this day, I declare Your wondrous works." 41:20 So when we learn from young about God, 41:22 we declare Him through our lives. 41:24 And by the way, let me make a point. 41:26 It is okay to be young and godly. 41:30 Amen. Amen. 41:31 It's a beautiful thing to be young and godly. 41:33 Forget the generation around you. 41:35 It's a beautiful thing 41:36 as one person when they called me square. 41:38 They said, "You're so square." 41:40 I said, "That's okay." 41:41 Jerusalem is a perfectly square city, 41:42 I'll fit right in. 41:44 So it's okay to be spiritual when you're young. 41:46 It's okay to talk about Jesus when you're young. 41:49 Let no one despise your youth. 41:51 Because you notice some things about growing up 41:53 and the promise that God made to us. 41:54 One, God will be our strong tower. 41:58 He will be our strong refuge. 42:00 Psalm 71:1, 42:02 "Can you, O Lord, I put my trust 42:04 let me never be put to shame." 42:06 Verse 7, 42:08 "I have become as a wonder to many, 42:11 but you are my strong refuge." 42:13 You know what that means? 42:14 That means sometimes people see God in your life 42:17 and they wonder, 42:18 "I've never seen a godly young man like that 42:20 or a godly young woman." 42:21 They become wonder too many. 42:22 People say, "Man! 42:24 That kid is way beyond her years, 42:26 or way beyond his years." 42:28 The entrance of God's Word 42:30 develops us quicker than the words of man. 42:33 It gives us wisdom and understanding. 42:35 Dr. Ben Carson, he said, 42:36 his wisdom came from a practice 42:38 his mother instilled in him when he was young. 42:40 She said, "Every day before you leave this house, 42:43 read a chapter in the book, 42:44 read a verse in the Book of Proverbs." 42:46 He said, "To this very day it carries him in wisdom." 42:49 So that's from your young. 42:50 The other one, 42:52 the Lord promises to be our Savior, 42:53 not only our strong refuge, but our Savior. 42:56 Psalm 71:2, 42:58 "Deliver me in Your righteousness, 43:00 and cause me to escape. 43:01 Incline Your ear to me and," what? 43:04 Save me. "And save me." 43:05 Only the Lord can be the Savior in our lives, 43:08 if we put Him there when we're young, 43:11 so that when we're old, we won't say, 43:13 "Where is God?" 43:14 So many people wonder where God is 43:16 because they didn't look from when they... 43:17 He says, "Seek me, when you can find me," right? 43:20 Seek the Lord while He may be found, 43:22 call upon Him while He's near. 43:24 When you fail to do that when you're young, 43:26 you have those moments where you wonder where God is. 43:28 God is not missing. 43:30 We just haven't saw Him when we should have. 43:32 Third one, God is a rock and a fortress. 43:35 Psalm 71:3, "Be my strong refuge, 43:38 to which I may resort continually. 43:41 You have given the commandment to save me, 43:43 for You are my rock and my fortress." 43:46 He's our rock and our fortress. You know what? 43:48 He wants to be your rock and your fortress. 43:50 So many young people today 43:52 don't have the assurance of God. 43:54 And when they get older, they fall into this, 43:56 what I call this reprieve, 43:57 this encampment that they build around themselves. 44:00 They have no assurance when they get older. 44:02 I can count the number of times 44:03 that I've met with older Christians 44:05 that have said, 44:06 "I'm not sure I'm gonna be saved." 44:07 And I thought, "How tragic to be a Christian all your life 44:11 and have no assurance of salvation." 44:13 And they say, "I don't think 44:14 I have enough time to get ready." 44:15 And I'm thinking, "Don't you realize, 44:17 it's His righteousness and not your own." 44:20 The other one, 44:21 God is our hope and our confidence. 44:23 Psalm 71:5, "For You are my hope, 44:26 O, Lord God, You are my trust from my youth." 44:30 Young people make that 44:31 a principal staple in your life. 44:34 Don't leave your house in the morning without praying, 44:36 reading a devotional thought. 44:37 My wife and I do that now in our marriage 44:39 and that holds us together, praise God for that. 44:41 But if you want to have a strong relationship 44:43 as the future unfolds, become the person, 44:46 I think and one of the problems you mentioned, 44:47 become the person that you'll one day desire 44:49 for the other person in your life to be. 44:51 And finally, develop a passion for God's mission. 44:55 Psalm 71:8, 44:57 "That my mouth be filled with Your praise, 45:00 and with Your glory all the day." 45:03 Develop a passion in your life for the mission of Christ. 45:06 And when the years come, 45:08 you will find pleasure in knowing the Lord. 45:10 Pastor Tom? Amen. 45:12 Well, thank you. 45:13 You know, one of the things 45:14 that a lot of people do struggle with is old age, 45:17 as they're aging, 45:19 I think one of the reasons they struggle so much 45:20 is because what I'm gonna be covering today. 45:22 It's a very good point. 45:23 And that is the fact that you know, 45:25 there's a time for everything, 45:26 there's a time to be born and there is a time to die. 45:29 There's a time for everything, it has a purpose under the sun. 45:32 Now when it comes to our birth, we like to celebrate that, 45:35 as matter of fact, so much we do it every single year. 45:37 When we get married, 45:39 we celebrate our marriage every year 45:41 through our anniversaries. 45:42 We'll even celebrate our retirement. 45:45 But when it comes to death, 45:46 it's something that we don't wanna face 45:48 and we wanna think 45:50 that it never it's gonna happen to us. 45:52 As a matter of fact, so much so that around the world 45:55 from pulpits is being preached of the lie of Genesis 3:4, 46:00 and that, "You shall not surely die." 46:01 Wow! 46:03 Because nobody wants to go through that experience. 46:05 But I want you to think about the fact 46:08 that no one is really ready or prepared for death, 46:11 unless they are a Christian, a born again Christian. 46:14 Because that is where you get an understanding 46:17 of the cosmic conflict, 46:18 what's going on between good and evil, 46:20 and the great controversy 46:21 and the plan that God has for each one of our lives here. 46:25 And you know, it's interesting, just recently, just yesterday, 46:30 I came across a man because death can happen 46:32 at a time you do not expect to happen. 46:35 Every one of us is terminal. 46:37 There's not one of us unless Jesus comes first, 46:39 that is going to escape death. 46:41 But nobody wants to prepare for it often. 46:44 But I was just talking to a gentleman yesterday 46:46 and he said that his wife wasn't feeling well. 46:49 And when she finally went to the doctor, 46:52 they took some tests and discovered 46:54 that she had pancreatic cancer. 46:57 He said, it was four days later that she passed. 47:00 And he said that, 47:02 you know, she handled all the bills, 47:04 she did all the housework, she did all the laundry, 47:08 and he didn't do any of that. 47:09 He went out worked, made the money 47:10 and came home. 47:12 And I guess, 47:13 he was not prepared for her loss. 47:15 And he told me a kind of humorous story 47:18 about how he did his first load of laundry. 47:20 And he didn't know exactly what to do, 47:22 so he put the detergent 47:24 and he saw the bleach sitting there 47:25 and figured why not you're supposed to put that 47:26 and he poured half of a container of bleach in. 47:29 He said, his clothes, he had to pull out in pieces. 47:32 And then his daughter finally stepped up in 47:34 and helped him. 47:36 Oftentimes, one spouse will take care 47:38 of a lot of important things, 47:40 and the other one does not learn those things. 47:41 I think in preparation for death, 47:44 as you go through life, it's important for your spouse 47:46 to be in step with and in tune with, 47:49 what will be happening. 47:51 Another thing that is important too is to have a will. 47:55 I remember talking about that for 10 years or more, 47:58 I got to do that. 47:59 We kept saying we have to do that. 48:01 And finally, a number of years ago, 48:02 my wife and I sat down 48:04 and we had our will made out, because you do not know. 48:08 It could be sudden, 48:09 it could be an accident in a car, 48:11 it could be a heart attack, 48:13 it could be a terminal illness, 48:16 you know, 48:17 preparation for death. 48:19 I want us to turn together. 48:21 Let's go to 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. 48:33 And there's a question in our lesson, 48:34 what do these verses tell us about death? 48:36 Well, this is actually some scriptures 48:38 that I go to at a time, at a funeral usually. 48:42 And I'm gonna skip verses 24 and 25 right now, 48:45 but I just wanna jump down to verse 26. 48:47 "The last enemy 48:49 that will be destroyed is death." 48:51 And that tells us that death is an enemy of God. 48:54 Oftentimes, people are confused, 48:56 and they think, "Well, if God is good, 48:57 why does he allow something like death?" 49:00 I remember one time hearing of somebody 49:01 who was very angry 49:03 because their 90 year old relative passed away. 49:06 And I thought they have never wrapped their mind 49:08 around the fact that they're not gonna live forever 49:10 here in this world. 49:12 And, but realizing that death is indeed an enemy. 49:16 You know, as you go back to verses 24 and 25, 49:20 it mentions here, "Then comes the end, 49:23 when He delivers the kingdom of God the Father, 49:25 when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 49:28 For He must reign 49:30 till He has put all enemies under His feet." 49:31 And then it talks about the last one 49:33 to be defeated is death. 49:35 You know, prior to those verses, 49:37 I wanna go back to verse 20. 49:38 It says this, "But now Christ is risen from the dead, 49:41 and has become the firstfruits 49:43 of those who have fallen asleep. 49:46 For since by man came death, 49:47 by man also came the resurrection of the dead. 49:50 For as in Adam all die, 49:52 even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 49:55 But each one in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, 49:57 afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." 50:02 And what I love about that verse is 50:04 that is the blessed hope for everyone 50:07 who is a born again Christian, 50:08 who dies, who passes away in Christ. 50:13 You talked about assurance of salvation 50:15 and how you come across people that aren't sure of it. 50:16 I'm gonna give you another example. 50:18 Just in this last month, I had a member pass away. 50:22 He was feeling a lot of pain for six months, 50:24 had some tests done, discovered he had bone cancer, 50:28 and he ended up in the hospital, 50:30 and they were gonna put them in hospice. 50:32 Just before he went to the hospice 50:34 there at the hospital, 50:35 I walked into his room 50:36 and his wife was standing by his side. 50:38 And he said, "Preacher," he always called me a preacher, 50:41 "I want to go home." 50:42 And he started to cry. And he pointed up. 50:45 He said, "I don't want to go to that home, 50:46 I want to go to that home." 50:47 He was ready to be with Jesus. 50:50 He was ready to rest 50:51 and wait for his Savior's arrival 50:54 at the Second Coming. 50:56 And his wife is standing right there by his side, 50:58 she was prepared for his death as well 51:00 because she didn't say, 51:01 "Oh, no, I want you here. 51:03 I want you to hang on to you." 51:04 Instead, she knew it was his time. 51:07 And as soon as he finished with that, 51:09 a CNA walked in the hospital room. 51:12 And he said to her, he says, "This is my preacher. 51:16 You need to come to our church. 51:18 You need to meet my Jesus." 51:20 And he started witnessing to this young lady. 51:24 And as I thought about that experience, 51:26 later on, I realized, wow! 51:28 That is the Ten Commandments being lived out 51:30 and he loved God with all his heart, 51:31 mind and soul and he loved his neighbor as himself, 51:33 right there, 51:34 all the way through to till he passed. 51:37 He was in that state of mind. 51:40 So being ready for death 51:41 is something that I believe is... 51:43 Well, we need to have Galatians 2:20 experience, 51:45 really. 51:47 Galatians 2:20 says, 51:50 "I have been crucified with Christ. 51:53 It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. 51:58 And the life which I now live, I live in the flesh. 52:01 I live by faith in the Son of God 52:03 who loved me and gave himself for me." 52:07 It is a journey of faith. 52:10 You know, the lesson also talks 52:11 about the experience that David had, 52:14 and we can go to 1 Kings 52:18 Chapter 2. 52:20 One of the things that I have noticed, 52:22 you know, David did not live a perfect life 52:24 and our lesson brings that out. 52:26 But also there isn't another person 52:28 that I know of that has lived a perfect life 52:30 and a perfect example. 52:32 But there is one of the most serious times in life 52:34 and that is when they are near death, 52:36 and their children are around them, 52:39 they may be have not fully lived the example 52:41 but they have. 52:42 They wanna make sure, that the final words they have 52:44 to their loved ones are ones that are going to be lasting. 52:48 And so we see here David saying in verse 1-4, here. 52:54 "Now the days of David drew near that he should die, 52:58 and he charged Solomon, his son saying, 53:00 'I go the way of all the earth, to be strong, therefore, 53:03 improve yourself a man 53:05 and keep the charge of the Lord your God 53:08 to walk in His ways, 53:09 to keep his statutes and His commandments, 53:11 His judgments, and His testimonies, 53:14 as it is written in the law of Moses, 53:17 that you may prosper in all that you do 53:19 and wherever you turn. 53:20 That the Lord may fulfill His word, 53:22 which He spoke concerning me saying, 53:25 'If your sons take heed to their way, 53:27 to walk before Me in truth 53:29 with all their heart, with all their soul,' he said, 53:35 'You shall not lack man on the throne of Israel.'" 53:38 So God was promising a blessing. 53:40 If you train up your children the way they should go 53:43 and commission them as well, 53:45 just as has been covered as Ryan had shared earlier. 53:49 You know, I think that is a very important thing. 53:52 I've watched time and time again, 53:54 where someone is preparing for death. 53:57 The children maybe are out there in the world. 54:00 And I have watched that faithful soul 54:03 and the way they faced 54:04 the biggest trial of their life, 54:06 which is death, 54:07 do that in God's strength and not their own. 54:10 And I have found children converted thereby. 54:14 And sometimes it is at those funerals that I find 54:17 that's when children finally come home. 54:19 The prodigal comes back. 54:21 So what a testimony that can be. 54:24 You know, I'm almost out of time, 54:27 let's turn to 2 Timothy 54:28 because I think this is probably 54:30 a good example. 54:32 The Apostle Paul, who also was not perfect, 54:34 he was a murderer. 54:36 2 Timothy 4:6-8. 54:45 And he says these words, 54:48 "For I am already being poured out 54:50 as a drink offering, 54:51 and the time of my departure is at hand. 54:53 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, 54:56 I have kept the faith. 54:58 Finally, there is laid up for me 55:00 a crown of righteousness, 55:01 which the Lord, the righteous judge 55:02 will give to me on that Day, 55:04 and not to me only, 55:06 but also to all who have loved His appearing." 55:09 And I'll tell you, 55:10 that is a commission for all of us 55:12 to follow the example 55:14 of the Apostle Paul and of David, 55:17 to live faithfully to the very end. 55:19 I think the greatest preparation for death 55:21 is staying in Christ. 55:22 Amen. Amen. 55:23 Thank you so much, Pastor Tom, and each one of you. 55:25 What an incredible study, preparing for change. 55:29 The biggest change of all I think of is Revelation 21:5. 55:33 "He who sat on the throne said, 55:34 'Behold, I make all things new.'" 55:36 So that is the decision we make 55:38 to accept Christ into our life and to spend eternity with Him. 55:42 We have just a few moments left, 55:43 wanna give you each a few moments to share. 55:46 Preparing for marriage, Proverbs 11:14, says, 55:50 that there's great wisdom in a multitude of counselors, 55:53 I would recommend everyone who's preparing for marriage 55:57 as a couple would go through pre-marital counseling, 56:01 and be open to self-examination and growth. 56:05 Amen. I won't mind to be... 56:06 Ministry of Healing, page 376 and 377. 56:10 It says, "Happy are the parents 56:12 whose lives are a true reflection of the divine, 56:14 so that the promises and commands of God 56:16 awaken in the child gratitude and reverence. 56:20 The parents whose tenderness and justice and long-suffering 56:23 interpret to the child the love and justice 56:26 and long-suffering of a God 56:28 and who, by teaching the child to love and trust 56:30 and obey them are teaching him to love and trust 56:33 and obey His Father in heaven." 56:36 Amen. 56:37 And David the Psalmist made a very important point. 56:40 He says, "I once was young, and now I am old. 56:44 And I've never seen the righteous forsaken 56:46 nor their seed begging for bread." 56:47 What a promise! I embrace that. 56:49 Amen. 56:51 And I wanna say that death is nothing to fear. 56:54 It is one of the things that is part of our life, 56:57 course of life here on this earth. 57:00 And that we serve a God 57:01 that has victory over the grave, 57:03 and He has given us promises, 57:04 if we hang on to those in faith, 57:05 He will see us through. 57:07 Amen! Amen. 57:08 What a wonderful study! 57:10 Thank you so much, Shelley, 57:11 and Pastor Ryan, and Pastor John, 57:12 and Pastor Tom, thank you 57:14 for your study of the Word of God. 57:15 And we thank you for joining us as well. 57:18 Education, 57, 57:19 "The greatest want of the world is the want of men or woman 57:23 who will not be bought or sold 57:26 and who will be true to God though the heavens fall." 57:29 That is our prayer for you. 57:31 Next week, join us for our study on "When Alone." |
Revised 2024-08-26