The Bible tells us,
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"In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God,
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and the Word was God."
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It says to,
"Receive with meekness
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the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent to present
yourself approved to God,
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today
is Family Seasons.
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Hello, friends.
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Welcome to the 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
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We are so excited
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that you've taken the
time to tune in today.
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And if you are
one of our regulars,
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thank you for
remembering this network
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for a walk
through the Word of God
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when we study our
Sabbath School lesson.
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We're excited about it.
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I know our panel
is and thank you,
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get your Bible, your pens,
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invite your
family to get together
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because no better time
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than spending it
in the Word of God
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can we think about today.
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Before we go any
further and tell you about
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how to get a copy of the lesson,
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let me introduce
our panelists today.
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To my immediate
left is my good friend,
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the singer in Israel
and the preacher also,
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Pastor Ryan Day.
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Good to have you here, Ryan.
It's great to be here, Brother.
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And the lady with many
hats and wonderful hair,
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Shelley Quinn.
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Good to have you
here, Shelley. Thank you.
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Well, we're family here.
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So we're very
comfortable with each other.
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So good to have you, a
woman of the Word of God
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and we appreciate that.
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Thank you.
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Pastor Kenny Shelton,
a man who loves to preach
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and proclaim and teach.
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Good to have you
here today. Thank you.
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Good to be here. Thank you.
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And Jill Morikone, our
general manager of 3ABN
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and another one
who is a list lady
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and I appreciate it
every time you teach,
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I'm writing.
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Thank you for being here today.
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I might have
some list today too.
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Good. Amen.
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You know, this lesson is
about entitled "When Alone."
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If you'd like to
get a copy of that,
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go to the following website,
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ABSG.Adventist.org
to download a copy but
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if you are in the area
of an Adventist church,
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do stop by, ask for a
copy, and then stay by,
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and join them in
their study of God's Word.
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This lesson is on relationships
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and particularly
the one from April 20-26
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is all entitled "When Alone."
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We live in a world that suffers
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from loneliness
to a great degree.
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There was a story that
this lesson began with.
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But let me go ahead
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and first read the
memory text for you
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that covers the
landscape of this lesson.
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The text is in Genesis 2:18.
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And obviously, the
Lord is saying this to Adam.
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"And the Lord God said,
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It is not good that
man should be," what?
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Alone. "Alone.
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I will make him a
helper, comparable to him."
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The King James
Version says the "helpmeet,"
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and I never forget
in the back of my mind,
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a pastor once said
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and that doesn't
mean help meet expenses.
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Helpmeet The King
James Version, a spin off.
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A light way of
thinking about it.
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It begins with a very
kind of a melancholy story.
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The lesson
begins with about a lady
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who was found in her apartment.
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But before we
talk about the story,
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you know, what we should do?
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We should begin with prayer.
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Jill, would you
have prayer for us?
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Sure.
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Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus.
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And we just thank You
for the gift of Your Word.
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We thank You for the
privilege of opening it up
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and studying today.
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And we ask that You
would anoint our minds,
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and our hearts, our
ears, and our tongues,
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and we thank You.
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In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.
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Thank you so
much. Thank you so much.
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On the Sabbath
afternoon edition of the lesson
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there was a story,
very melancholy story
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about a woman who had
been found in her apartment
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and she was
found dead, deceased.
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The sad reality was when
they really examined the scene,
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she had been dead for 10 years.
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Have mercy.
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And it was in a
very populated city.
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And the question was,
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how can someone living
in such a populated city,
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not be missed and be
deceased for 10 years.
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And it was a story
that was quite a moving one.
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But the story,
although very melancholy,
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very hard to fathom,
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opens the door to
a very real situation
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that many people deal with.
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Many people live lonely lives,
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many people are
in a crowded room,
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or walking in a
mall, or maybe on a train,
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or an airplane, and
they are very, very lonely.
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And so our lesson
is going to talk about
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how to handle those
lonely components of life.
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Companionship of the person
that is probably not married,
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the person that's going
through difficulty or hardship
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by himself or herself.
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So we're gonna
talk about that today
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because although
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we may and all
of us on this table
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are married every one of us is,
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but there are some people
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and Pastor Day is
gonna talk about this,
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that are not married,
how do they deal with life
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and how do they face loneliness?
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Thankfully, mine is
about companionship.
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And I like this because I
have a wonderful companion.
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I praise God for her every day.
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If you know me at all,
my wife's name is Angela.
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And she's an
English girl born in England
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with Jamaican descent.
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But God knew exactly
who I needed in my life
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to become the man
that he molded me to be.
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And by the way,
she helped him mold me.
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Oh, all husbands
got to admit that.
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Lord's helped me.
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The Lord said,
you need a molder.
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Amen.
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And praise God,
she helped me mold,
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help the Lord mold me.
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He gave her instructions
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and she
followed them to the tee.
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But Ecclesiastes
4, let's turn there.
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Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.
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A beautiful passage.
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And as we turning there.
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There are some
components here, it says,
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"Two are better than one
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because they have a
good reward for their labor."
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My wife and I
traveled everywhere together.
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Amen. Because Pastor C.D.
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Brooks, I remember years ago.
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He said to me, and to
her, he says, you know,
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"When you get old and
you're no longer traveling,
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when you look at your pictures,
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make sure both
of you are in it."
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Amen.
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What a blessing
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because I know a lot
of leaders that travel
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and you don't know
who their spouses are.
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Either she's a woman
that's traveling for reasons
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that are various in
or pastor traveling.
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And I know some very
famous speakers in our church,
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I don't even know
who their spouses are.
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And that goes for men and women.
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I don't know who
they're linked to.
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But the encouraging thing
is, every time I get a letter,
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or an email, or phone
call, or people leave a message,
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they say, "Tell
your wife hello for us."
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Oh, hey, we appreciate
what you and Angela are doing.
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And that shows that our
impact, our intentional purpose.
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Even when I get
invite to places,
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I say, another ticket, please.
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And when they say
they can't afford,
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when I say well then cancel me.
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And that's worked.
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So I don't even have
to say that any longer
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because two are better than one.
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Come on now. Amen.
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Somebody said, what
is your wife going to do
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when she comes?
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I said, she's gonna be my wife.
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After I speak to all of you,
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I need somebody to get
me back to be saying again.
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Come on now. Right,
two are better than one.
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And look at verse 10.
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Here's the
reason, "For if they fall,
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one will lift up his companion,
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but woe to him who
is alone when he falls,
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for he has no
one to help him up.
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Again, if two lie down together,
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they will keep warm.
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But how can one be warm alone?
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Though one may be
overpowered by another,
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two can withstand him."
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And I love this,
the God component.
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"And a threefold cord
is not quickly broken."
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And so the question is,
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what is the basic
idea of these passages?
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And what principle
of life is it taking?
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Is it talking about in general?
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The point I think is
bringing out panel is
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very few of us can
make it through life alone.
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You know, we have
people in our congregation
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that are loners,
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when I say loners,
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it's not that
they don't like people,
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but either maybe
the loss of a spouse,
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or maybe circumstances of life.
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And so whenever we
have Testimony Time,
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they stand up and they speak.
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And sometimes people say,
wow, they always stand up.
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They always have something
to say, you know, what I say?
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There's no one at
home for them to talk to.
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Yeah.
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This is their only
chance to express themselves,
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let them talk.
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And people have said,
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Pastor, I really
appreciate you let me talk
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and I know that I
always have something to say.
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But I think about
when they go home,
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there's no one to converse with.
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No one to sit down, no
one to say welcome home,
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no one to turn to
in those quiet moments,
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and we talked on the phone.
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Sometimes I've talked to
them and I'm driving in my car,
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we speak for an
hour and five minutes
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and they say,
okay, thanks so much,
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people in care homes.
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I think of our good
friend Betty Smith, you know.
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We're talking about a
little bit of everything.
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And I say her name because
we have a great relationship.
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And she says what?
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You called at the right time.
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I just needed
somebody to talk to.
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Amen.
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And it makes a
difference in people's lives.
00:09:11.95\00:09:13.28
So let's look at
some of the components
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of the things that
we can face in life.
00:09:14.68\00:09:16.55
And, Jill, you did rub off on me
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because I'm
starting to write list.
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I'm looking number
one, two, three, four.
00:09:19.82\00:09:21.42
It's starting to work.
00:09:21.46\00:09:22.79
But today, I'm
gonna give you two things
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right off the bat that I believe
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all of us will face
at one time or another.
00:09:26.26\00:09:28.60
That's why companionship
is so vitally important.
00:09:28.63\00:09:31.83
And let's look at
John 16:32 and 33.
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John 16:32 and 33.
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I was, as you're turning there,
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there was a story told
about a man who goes to church.
00:09:44.15\00:09:46.72
Matter of fact, he
goes to church on Sabbath.
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He goes to work
from Monday to Friday.
00:09:49.38\00:09:52.32
And he said his loneliest
day of the week is Sunday
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because he has
people around him at work,
00:09:55.82\00:09:58.06
people around him at church.
00:09:58.09\00:09:59.43
Yeah. That's true.
00:09:59.46\00:10:00.80
On Sunday, he has
no one to talk to.
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And so that may be the neighbor,
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that may be the person
living right next door to you.
00:10:03.93\00:10:05.60
So if you see somebody
00:10:05.63\00:10:07.54
sitting in the local coffee shop
00:10:07.60\00:10:09.30
or the donut shop,
00:10:09.34\00:10:10.77
and they're sitting
there by themselves,
00:10:10.81\00:10:12.14
slide over and
say hello to them.
00:10:12.17\00:10:13.74
You'd be surprised how
many people will appreciate
00:10:13.78\00:10:15.78
just an
encouraging word from someone.
00:10:15.81\00:10:18.55
What are the
principles here? John 16:32-33.
00:10:18.58\00:10:21.25
Do you have that, Shelley? I do?
00:10:21.28\00:10:23.08
"Indeed the hour is
coming, yes, has now come,
00:10:23.12\00:10:26.96
that you will be
scattered, each to his own,
00:10:27.02\00:10:30.09
and you will leave me alone.
00:10:30.13\00:10:32.39
And yet I am not alone
because the Father is with me.
00:10:32.43\00:10:35.43
These things I
have spoken to you,
00:10:35.46\00:10:37.20
that in Me you may have peace.
00:10:37.23\00:10:39.53
In the world you
will have tribulation,
00:10:39.57\00:10:42.64
but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world."
00:10:42.67\00:10:45.74
Amen.
00:10:45.77\00:10:47.11
And notice the
component, Jesus said,
00:10:47.14\00:10:48.84
"I will, you
will leave me alone,"
00:10:48.88\00:10:50.95
but I won't really be alone
because the Father is with me.
00:10:50.98\00:10:54.42
Now we know that the Lord says
00:10:54.45\00:10:58.09
He'll never leave
us nor forsake us.
00:10:58.12\00:10:59.65
Am I right?
00:10:59.69\00:11:01.09
But there are some people that
we need to be Jesus to them.
00:11:01.12\00:11:05.83
We need to be
Jesus in the flesh.
00:11:05.86\00:11:08.10
Like a little girl who
was in the dark thunderstorm,
00:11:08.13\00:11:10.33
the lights went out.
00:11:10.37\00:11:11.70
And she didn't see her father.
00:11:11.73\00:11:13.07
She said, "Daddy, I'm afraid."
00:11:13.10\00:11:15.20
He said, "You may not
see me, but I'm here."
00:11:15.24\00:11:17.67
But she was able to touch him.
00:11:17.71\00:11:19.04
We need to be Jesus in the flesh
00:11:19.07\00:11:20.44
for those who are
going through those moments
00:11:20.48\00:11:22.38
because this
text also points out
00:11:22.41\00:11:24.41
that every one of us
will face tribulation.
00:11:24.45\00:11:26.51
Yes. That's right.
00:11:26.55\00:11:27.88
And how difficult
and how compounded
00:11:27.92\00:11:29.62
that tribulation is,
00:11:29.65\00:11:31.05
when there's no one
to help you through it.
00:11:31.09\00:11:33.09
Sometimes people
just need advice.
00:11:33.12\00:11:34.46
I was sitting with a
church member just last week.
00:11:34.49\00:11:36.69
And they said,
00:11:36.73\00:11:38.06
I just need some
practical advice.
00:11:38.09\00:11:39.43
I just need to know what to
do in this particular situation.
00:11:39.46\00:11:41.76
And they spelled it out.
00:11:41.80\00:11:43.43
And I said, here's what to do.
And they said, you know what?
00:11:43.50\00:11:45.50
This person said, you know what?
00:11:45.53\00:11:46.87
I should have
known this years ago,
00:11:50.04\00:11:52.21
but I was raised
without a father,
00:11:52.24\00:11:54.44
without a father
figure in my life.
00:11:54.48\00:11:56.44
And what you told me as a man,
I never saw it that way before.
00:11:56.48\00:12:00.62
Maybe I should have
known this years ago.
00:12:00.65\00:12:02.52
Thank you for
spending the time with me.
00:12:02.55\00:12:04.55
So those moments
00:12:04.59\00:12:05.92
when they're going through
their personal tribulations,
00:12:05.95\00:12:07.82
that sometimes we
could be that helping hand
00:12:07.86\00:12:09.42
that word encouragement
00:12:09.46\00:12:10.96
because all it
takes is just a good word
00:12:10.99\00:12:14.10
in season to lift
someone's burdens.
00:12:14.20\00:12:16.20
Another one,
Philippians 4:11-13.
00:12:16.23\00:12:19.77
This one, we
like Philippians 4:13.
00:12:19.80\00:12:21.97
We all know that by heart,
but it has a context to it.
00:12:22.00\00:12:26.27
Jill, do you have that one?
00:12:26.31\00:12:27.64
Yeah, 11 to 13? Yes.
00:12:27.68\00:12:29.24
"Not that I speak
in regard to need,
00:12:29.28\00:12:31.15
for I have learned
in whatever state I am,
00:12:31.18\00:12:33.05
to be content,
00:12:33.08\00:12:34.65
for I know how to be abased,
and I know how to abound.
00:12:34.68\00:12:37.59
Everywhere and in all things
00:12:37.62\00:12:39.39
I have learned both to
be full and to be hungry,
00:12:39.42\00:12:42.46
both to abound
and to suffer need.
00:12:42.49\00:12:45.23
I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me."
00:12:45.26\00:12:48.73
That's right. Amen.
00:12:48.76\00:12:50.10
And so the Apostle
Paul was talking about
00:12:50.13\00:12:52.03
the changing moments of life.
00:12:52.07\00:12:54.34
There are moments that abound,
00:12:54.37\00:12:57.47
the championship
moments I refer to them as.
00:12:57.54\00:13:00.28
But then there are
those rugged moments,
00:13:00.31\00:13:01.71
Pastor Kenny, where
you're on the field,
00:13:01.74\00:13:03.08
you don't even know
00:13:03.11\00:13:04.45
if you're gonna
make the championship.
00:13:04.48\00:13:05.81
And those are, you
know, imageries of sports.
00:13:05.85\00:13:09.25
But there are those
people that are fighting
00:13:09.28\00:13:10.69
in the trenches of life,
00:13:10.72\00:13:12.65
it's raining on them,
00:13:12.69\00:13:14.06
and they have no idea
whether I'm gonna make it
00:13:14.09\00:13:15.42
to the very next day.
00:13:15.46\00:13:16.79
So they relish those moments
00:13:16.83\00:13:18.26
when the church
has a special event,
00:13:18.29\00:13:20.40
or when the church has something
00:13:20.43\00:13:21.73
that they could be involved in,
00:13:21.76\00:13:23.10
when the church gives
them some special function.
00:13:23.13\00:13:24.97
And they say, "Are
you asking me to do that?"
00:13:25.00\00:13:27.64
Sure because,
00:13:27.67\00:13:29.00
it puts them in a
context of they feel valuable,
00:13:29.04\00:13:31.87
they feel needed.
00:13:31.91\00:13:33.24
And so while I have
00:13:33.27\00:13:34.61
the joy of sharing
companionship with the wife,
00:13:34.64\00:13:36.64
who God has blessed
me tremendously with,
00:13:36.71\00:13:38.81
I think that the focus
00:13:38.85\00:13:40.18
I'd like to leave today
as I transition to Ryan is,
00:13:40.22\00:13:42.75
think about the lonely
people in your church community.
00:13:42.78\00:13:45.45
The lonely people
in your neighborhood,
00:13:45.49\00:13:46.82
if you're not a part
of a church community,
00:13:46.86\00:13:48.36
and become that person,
00:13:48.39\00:13:49.72
that arm of flesh
that could encourage them,
00:13:49.76\00:13:52.26
could help them through
the ups and downs of life
00:13:52.29\00:13:54.30
like the Apostle Paul,
00:13:54.30\00:13:55.83
and be there in the
moments of tribulation,
00:13:55.86\00:13:58.47
to at least be a listening ear
00:13:58.50\00:14:00.44
and you will be amazed
how much not only they,
00:14:00.47\00:14:03.30
but you also will be blessed.
00:14:03.34\00:14:04.67
Amen. That's way powerful.
00:14:04.71\00:14:07.51
You know, this is, this
is such a sensitive topic,
00:14:07.58\00:14:10.88
as many of these topics
throughout this lesson are.
00:14:10.95\00:14:13.82
And I can see how some people
might respond in a negative way
00:14:13.85\00:14:17.09
because of their
preconceived idea
00:14:17.12\00:14:19.32
or, you know,
kind of the mindset
00:14:19.35\00:14:22.86
that they go into
these particular topics.
00:14:22.89\00:14:24.73
But, you know, I
want to encourage
00:14:24.76\00:14:26.09
everyone at home,
and those listening,
00:14:26.13\00:14:27.76
and those studying
around the world that,
00:14:27.76\00:14:29.36
you know,
00:14:29.40\00:14:30.73
we have to humble ourselves,
00:14:30.77\00:14:32.10
we have to go before
the Lord in His Word,
00:14:32.13\00:14:34.04
and allow the Word
of God to speak to us,
00:14:34.10\00:14:36.50
just as it says, you know,
00:14:36.54\00:14:37.87
sometimes the Lord
makes it very clear
00:14:37.91\00:14:39.57
and we kind of
complicate things.
00:14:39.61\00:14:41.68
And concerning my particular
topic on Monday's lesson.
00:14:41.71\00:14:46.28
It's entitled
"The Unmarried Life."
00:14:46.31\00:14:49.48
And perhaps maybe no
other passage in all the Bible
00:14:49.52\00:14:53.02
is more clear on this
subject or at least the counsel
00:14:53.05\00:14:55.86
that Paul gives us in
this particular chapter
00:14:55.89\00:14:58.09
is very straightforward.
00:14:58.13\00:14:59.46
I would like for us to go
to 1 Corinthians Chapter 7.
00:14:59.49\00:15:01.80
We're gonna start here and then,
00:15:01.83\00:15:03.90
we'll jump to some other text
00:15:03.97\00:15:05.50
just to kind of
build a case for this
00:15:05.53\00:15:08.77
what we're talking
about the unmarried life.
00:15:08.80\00:15:11.94
So I'm gonna start
with 1 Corinthians.
00:15:11.97\00:15:13.51
Now, I just want to make mention
00:15:13.58\00:15:14.91
before we get to
the base scriptures
00:15:14.94\00:15:16.58
we're gonna use in this chapter.
00:15:16.61\00:15:18.58
It's important
00:15:18.61\00:15:19.95
that we understand this
passage from the context.
00:15:20.02\00:15:22.68
You know, a lot of
people are gonna jump in
00:15:22.72\00:15:24.09
and they're gonna
isolate certain texts,
00:15:24.12\00:15:25.65
are gonna read certain texts,
00:15:25.69\00:15:27.06
that Paul expresses
here and communicate,
00:15:27.09\00:15:28.92
and they're gonna
take it out of context,
00:15:28.96\00:15:30.43
and think what
is Paul saying here?
00:15:30.46\00:15:32.23
But if we put it
in proper context,
00:15:32.26\00:15:33.93
it makes perfect sense.
00:15:34.00\00:15:35.40
I want to draw your
attention to 1 Corinthians 7:1.
00:15:35.43\00:15:38.27
Notice it says,
00:15:38.30\00:15:39.63
"Now concerning the things
of which you wrote to me."
00:15:39.67\00:15:43.04
So Paul in discussing
the contents of this passage,
00:15:43.07\00:15:45.91
and by the way,
00:15:45.94\00:15:47.28
much of 1
Corinthians and 2 Corinthians,
00:15:47.34\00:15:49.51
it's his response to a
letter that was written to him
00:15:49.54\00:15:52.81
from the Corinthian church.
00:15:52.85\00:15:54.58
And so he's addressing
a concern that they have,
00:15:54.62\00:15:57.15
they had written to him
obviously concerned about,
00:15:57.19\00:15:59.55
you know, what about
people that are married?
00:15:59.59\00:16:01.16
What about people
that are not married?
00:16:01.19\00:16:02.59
What is your counsel on them?
00:16:02.62\00:16:04.53
And so he sets it up nicely
00:16:04.56\00:16:05.89
first verse
concerning those things
00:16:05.93\00:16:07.23
which you wrote to me.
00:16:07.30\00:16:08.63
But I also want
to make mention here.
00:16:08.66\00:16:10.17
I love the way
Paul is very open.
00:16:10.20\00:16:12.03
He's very honest in this chapter
00:16:12.07\00:16:13.44
because there are moments
00:16:13.47\00:16:14.80
throughout this
particular chapter
00:16:14.84\00:16:16.17
that he makes note that, look,
00:16:16.20\00:16:17.91
I'm not necessarily
communicating something to you
00:16:17.94\00:16:20.18
that the Lord has given
me, the Lord has told me,
00:16:20.21\00:16:22.64
I'm simply
giving you my opinion.
00:16:22.68\00:16:24.31
However, he
instructs us, for instance,
00:16:24.35\00:16:26.92
1 Corinthians 7:12,
00:16:26.95\00:16:29.05
he says, "But to the
rest I, not the Lord say."
00:16:29.08\00:16:31.69
And I appreciate that because
while he was a very wise man,
00:16:31.72\00:16:35.12
I think we can
trust in his counsel.
00:16:35.16\00:16:37.36
But much of the counsel
in this particular chapter,
00:16:37.43\00:16:39.76
as we're gonna see,
00:16:39.79\00:16:41.10
is based on a
specific situation in time,
00:16:41.13\00:16:44.03
in historical time,
from our perspective
00:16:44.07\00:16:46.63
of what they were dealing
with at that particular time.
00:16:46.70\00:16:49.00
I wanna start though
in 1 Corinthians 7:25.
00:16:49.04\00:16:53.01
Notice what Paul says here,
00:16:53.04\00:16:54.38
we're just gonna kind of take it
00:16:54.41\00:16:55.74
verse by verse,
00:16:55.78\00:16:57.11
and let the Word
of God speak to us.
00:16:57.15\00:16:58.48
Now I wanna give
kind of a disclaimer here.
00:16:58.51\00:16:59.85
When I was reading
00:16:59.88\00:17:01.28
the New King James Version
and the King James Version,
00:17:01.32\00:17:03.15
there were some
terms and some words
00:17:03.18\00:17:05.45
that were
probably a little difficult
00:17:05.49\00:17:08.49
for some people to kind
of grasp and understand.
00:17:08.52\00:17:10.86
So I went to the NIV
00:17:10.89\00:17:12.79
and I kind of
compared the translations
00:17:12.83\00:17:15.70
and they were almost identical.
00:17:15.73\00:17:17.70
So I'm gonna be
reading from the NIV today,
00:17:17.73\00:17:20.14
you are more than welcome
to follow in any translation.
00:17:20.17\00:17:22.54
But notice the context
and notice the details.
00:17:22.57\00:17:25.67
1 Corinthians 7:25, it
says, "Now about virgins.
00:17:25.71\00:17:30.78
I have no
command from the Lord,"
00:17:30.85\00:17:32.55
and I like how he says,
00:17:32.58\00:17:33.92
"I had no command from the Lord,
00:17:33.95\00:17:35.28
but I give a judgment as one
00:17:35.32\00:17:36.99
who by the Lord's
mercy is trustworthy."
00:17:37.02\00:17:39.02
So he's building his
credibility, saying, look,
00:17:39.05\00:17:41.29
I'm being honest with you.
00:17:41.32\00:17:42.66
The Lord hasn't necessarily
commanded me to tell you this.
00:17:42.69\00:17:44.46
But, you know, I
think you can trust me
00:17:44.49\00:17:46.33
being that I'm a
worthy servant of God.
00:17:46.36\00:17:49.06
Notice what he goes
on the same verse 26,
00:17:49.10\00:17:50.97
"Because of the present crisis."
00:17:51.00\00:17:54.74
So I like to mention
this because everything
00:17:54.77\00:17:57.31
we're about to
read is in response
00:17:57.37\00:17:59.54
to a present crisis that himself
00:17:59.57\00:18:02.11
and the church in
Corinth and some of the churches
00:18:02.14\00:18:04.55
around that area
00:18:04.58\00:18:05.91
were dealing with
a particular crisis.
00:18:05.95\00:18:07.45
Now, there's not any
specific mention in this text,
00:18:07.48\00:18:10.22
or any other texts
00:18:10.25\00:18:11.59
that I'm aware of that tells
us what this specific crisis is.
00:18:11.62\00:18:14.86
But if you consider it
from a historical standpoint,
00:18:14.89\00:18:17.39
most biblical
scholars and theologians
00:18:17.46\00:18:19.96
actually
00:18:20.03\00:18:21.33
are leaning more
towards the fact that obviously,
00:18:21.36\00:18:23.23
at this particular time,
00:18:23.26\00:18:24.60
give or take 50, 51,
52 AD which is probably
00:18:24.63\00:18:28.50
when the book of 1
Corinthians was written by Paul,
00:18:28.54\00:18:31.44
or the letter of Corinthians.
00:18:31.47\00:18:32.91
We know that this was during
the time of great tribulation
00:18:32.94\00:18:36.04
and persecution of Christians.
00:18:36.08\00:18:37.71
Not only that, just given
the context of this passage,
00:18:37.75\00:18:40.42
Paul is addressing these issues
00:18:40.45\00:18:42.28
because Paul was
of the conviction
00:18:42.32\00:18:44.32
that Jesus was
coming back very, very soon.
00:18:44.35\00:18:47.66
And so when you
read this chapter,
00:18:47.69\00:18:49.02
it makes perfect sense as
why he would say in verse 26,
00:18:49.06\00:18:51.79
"Because of the present crisis,
00:18:51.83\00:18:53.53
" he continues to say,
00:18:53.60\00:18:55.36
I think that it is good
for a man to remain as he is.
00:18:55.40\00:18:59.63
Are you pledged to a woman?
00:18:59.67\00:19:02.70
Do you seek to be released?
00:19:02.74\00:19:06.14
Are you free from...
00:19:06.17\00:19:08.14
Excuse me, do not seek
to be released, he says.
00:19:08.18\00:19:10.48
Are you free from
such a commitment?
00:19:10.51\00:19:13.25
Excuse me, "Do
not look for a wife.
00:19:13.28\00:19:16.65
But if you do
marry, you have not sinned,
00:19:16.72\00:19:19.22
and if a virgin
marries, she has not sinned.
00:19:19.25\00:19:21.09
But those who marry will
face many troubles in this life,
00:19:21.12\00:19:24.16
and I want to spare you this."
00:19:24.19\00:19:26.06
Now obviously, Paul is simply,
00:19:26.09\00:19:28.80
he's obviously
he's not condemned.
00:19:28.83\00:19:30.27
I want to say this very clear.
00:19:30.30\00:19:31.63
He's not condemning
people for marrying.
00:19:31.67\00:19:33.00
In fact he plainly says here,
00:19:33.03\00:19:34.37
if you're married
you have not sinned.
00:19:34.40\00:19:35.77
In fact, he's not
necessarily saying it,
00:19:35.80\00:19:37.81
you know, he
makes it very clear.
00:19:37.84\00:19:39.17
If you're
married, please don't go
00:19:39.21\00:19:40.58
and undo this commitment
00:19:40.61\00:19:42.24
because of what
I'm about to say.
00:19:42.28\00:19:43.98
But he makes it very, very clear
00:19:44.05\00:19:45.78
that he strongly
counsels against it
00:19:45.81\00:19:48.05
giving the current
circumstances of his time.
00:19:48.08\00:19:50.79
Let's continue on to verse 29.
00:19:50.82\00:19:53.66
"What I mean
brothers and sisters is,"
00:19:53.69\00:19:55.82
notice at the time, is the time.
00:19:55.86\00:19:58.89
Excuse me.
00:19:58.93\00:20:00.30
"What I mean,
brothers and sisters,
00:20:00.33\00:20:01.63
is that the time is short.
00:20:01.66\00:20:03.53
From now on those
00:20:03.57\00:20:04.90
who have wives should
live as if they do not,
00:20:04.93\00:20:09.07
those who mourn,
as if they did not,
00:20:09.10\00:20:13.07
those who are
happy, as if they were not,
00:20:13.11\00:20:15.58
those who buy something,
00:20:15.61\00:20:16.95
as if it were
not theirs to keep,
00:20:17.01\00:20:20.28
those who use the
things of the world,
00:20:20.32\00:20:22.88
as if not engrossed in them.
00:20:22.92\00:20:24.69
For this world in its
present form is passing away."
00:20:24.72\00:20:28.56
So Paul is simply emphasizing
the urgency of the time
00:20:28.59\00:20:32.03
and the importance of people
preparing to meet their Maker.
00:20:32.06\00:20:35.50
Okay, so he's saying, look,
you know, Jesus is coming soon,
00:20:35.53\00:20:37.93
we're living in a
very treacherous time.
00:20:37.97\00:20:39.53
You could call
that particular time,
00:20:39.57\00:20:40.90
a little time of trouble,
00:20:40.94\00:20:42.27
and they were going through
a very tribulation time period.
00:20:42.30\00:20:45.34
He goes on to say in verse 32,
00:20:45.37\00:20:46.71
"I would like you to
be free from concern.
00:20:46.74\00:20:49.51
An unmarried man is concerned
about the Lord's affairs,
00:20:49.54\00:20:53.55
how he can please the Lord.
00:20:53.58\00:20:55.18
But a married man is concerned
00:20:55.22\00:20:56.55
about the affairs of this world,
00:20:56.62\00:20:58.09
how he can please his wife,
00:20:58.12\00:21:00.16
and his interests are divided."
00:21:00.19\00:21:02.22
Okay?
00:21:02.26\00:21:03.63
Now understand the context.
00:21:03.66\00:21:04.99
He's not saying in general,
00:21:05.03\00:21:06.36
he's saying even a certain
circumstances in the time
00:21:06.39\00:21:07.73
we're living look,
this is simply the fact.
00:21:07.76\00:21:09.60
An unmarried woman
or virgin is concerned
00:21:09.63\00:21:11.37
about the Lord's affairs.
00:21:11.40\00:21:12.73
Her aim is to be
devoted to the Lord,
00:21:12.77\00:21:14.74
in both body and spirit.
00:21:14.77\00:21:16.77
But a married woman
00:21:16.81\00:21:18.54
is concerned about
the affairs of this world,
00:21:18.57\00:21:21.04
how can she please her husband.
00:21:21.08\00:21:22.54
He communicates the
reality of a divided heart
00:21:22.58\00:21:25.48
given the marital
status of that particular time,
00:21:25.51\00:21:27.72
he counsels against it.
00:21:27.75\00:21:29.08
He says, look, the
times we're living in,
00:21:29.12\00:21:30.45
we need to be focusing
on the work of the Lord.
00:21:30.49\00:21:32.12
And, you know, the
truth of the matter is,
00:21:32.15\00:21:34.69
and I was talking
this about to Pastor John
00:21:34.72\00:21:38.39
and some of the panel, you know,
00:21:38.43\00:21:39.89
marriage is not for everyone.
00:21:39.96\00:21:41.43
That's right. It's true.
00:21:41.46\00:21:42.86
You know, truthfully,
00:21:42.90\00:21:44.23
sometimes we allow
00:21:44.27\00:21:46.13
our desire to be
married to a certain person
00:21:46.17\00:21:48.17
that may not be for us,
00:21:48.20\00:21:49.60
come in between us and the Lord,
00:21:49.64\00:21:51.51
and between our
work and the Lord.
00:21:51.54\00:21:53.41
And we had wonderful
examples in scripture given,
00:21:53.44\00:21:56.04
Jeremiah Chapter 16 tells us
00:21:56.08\00:21:58.21
that Jeremiah even
though he was a great prophet,
00:21:58.25\00:22:01.02
yet commanded, he was
commanded to be single,
00:22:01.05\00:22:03.79
given the historical
situation of his time.
00:22:03.82\00:22:06.49
We even have another
example in the prophet Ezekiel.
00:22:06.52\00:22:09.46
You can read this
in Ezekiel 24:15-18.
00:22:09.49\00:22:13.60
Ezekiel, the prophet
lost his wife suddenly,
00:22:13.63\00:22:16.36
yet was expected by the Lord
00:22:16.40\00:22:18.43
to continue in the
ministry with no time to mourn.
00:22:18.47\00:22:21.60
I mean, it wasn't like the
Lord was being mean or harsh,
00:22:21.64\00:22:24.07
but yet the
seriousness of the time
00:22:24.11\00:22:26.14
and the work at hand.
00:22:26.17\00:22:27.54
You know, God
counsels us at times that
00:22:27.58\00:22:29.78
to be unmarried sometimes
can be a blessing for some.
00:22:29.81\00:22:33.98
It's not
necessarily for everyone,
00:22:34.02\00:22:35.35
Hosea, he was
forced into a marriage,
00:22:35.38\00:22:37.75
I wouldn't say
force, but he was,
00:22:37.79\00:22:39.49
he was kind of on the receiving
end of an object lesson
00:22:39.52\00:22:42.06
that he simply was
encouraged to marry
00:22:42.09\00:22:44.56
and did marry a harlot.
00:22:44.59\00:22:46.53
And, of course, through this
00:22:46.56\00:22:48.00
God was able to
show obviously we can see
00:22:48.03\00:22:50.73
that God was
trying to illustrate
00:22:50.80\00:22:52.13
the one sided love
00:22:52.17\00:22:53.50
that He has for
Israel and for us.
00:22:53.54\00:22:56.74
I wanna leave you
with this in closing,
00:22:56.77\00:22:58.81
you know, some of these topics
00:22:58.84\00:23:00.48
for some may be a little
hard to do with and understand.
00:23:00.51\00:23:03.45
But in the
context of being alone
00:23:03.48\00:23:05.75
sometimes for some
people in certain situations,
00:23:05.78\00:23:08.68
it's the Lord's plan
for a person to be alone
00:23:08.72\00:23:11.29
because he knows
what's best for them.
00:23:11.32\00:23:12.85
Isaiah 55:8-9,
00:23:12.89\00:23:14.99
"For my thoughts
are not your thoughts
00:23:15.02\00:23:17.36
and my ways are not your ways."
00:23:17.43\00:23:19.63
He simply says it Proverbs 3:5,
00:23:19.66\00:23:22.30
we have to live by
this promise 5 and 6,
00:23:22.33\00:23:24.73
"Trust in the Lord
with all your heart
00:23:24.77\00:23:26.17
and lean not on
your own understanding,
00:23:26.20\00:23:28.24
in all your
ways acknowledge Him,
00:23:28.27\00:23:30.27
and He shall direct your paths."
00:23:30.31\00:23:32.44
I like this what
the lesson said today.
00:23:32.47\00:23:35.18
In this particular
lesson, the writer says,
00:23:35.21\00:23:37.71
many voices today will tell
us that unless we are married,
00:23:37.75\00:23:40.68
we are not complete.
00:23:40.72\00:23:42.98
Paul would
respond and I like this.
00:23:43.02\00:23:45.35
Do not be
conformed to this world.
00:23:45.39\00:23:47.72
Instead, present your
bodies a living sacrifice,
00:23:47.76\00:23:50.39
holy, acceptable unto God,
00:23:50.43\00:23:52.53
which is your
reasonable service.
00:23:52.56\00:23:54.03
And, of course, that
comes from Romans 12:1-2.
00:23:54.10\00:23:58.10
So I just,
00:23:58.13\00:23:59.47
I pray for my
brother and sister.
00:23:59.50\00:24:01.34
Seek counsel in the Word of God.
00:24:01.37\00:24:03.17
Pray for the path
that the Lord has for you.
00:24:03.20\00:24:05.81
And follow it
with all your heart.
00:24:05.84\00:24:07.18
Amen. Amen.
00:24:07.21\00:24:08.54
Thank you, Ryan,
and wonderful job.
00:24:08.58\00:24:10.35
Friends, we'll be
right back. Don't go away.
00:24:10.38\00:24:12.51
Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN
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00:24:19.42\00:24:20.96
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Welcome back to the
Sabbath School Panel.
00:24:50.65\00:24:52.49
We're gonna give Miss
Shelley Quinn the time
00:24:52.52\00:24:54.49
to talk about a
very sensitive topic,
00:24:54.52\00:24:56.69
when a marriage ends.
00:24:56.73\00:24:58.06
Oh, yes and it is sensitive.
00:24:58.09\00:24:59.86
I just, I want you to know,
00:24:59.89\00:25:02.46
really been praying about this
00:25:02.50\00:25:04.07
because let me just
start off by saying,
00:25:04.10\00:25:06.87
Satan hates marriage
00:25:06.94\00:25:10.84
because it is the
reflection of the love
00:25:10.91\00:25:15.54
union of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
00:25:15.58\00:25:18.58
It's a reflection of Christ
relationship with the church.
00:25:18.61\00:25:23.89
And families are the
smallest unit of the church.
00:25:23.92\00:25:27.92
So Satan knows if he
can destroy families,
00:25:27.96\00:25:31.56
he'll destroy the church.
00:25:31.59\00:25:33.93
I think the consequences of
sin have touched all families.
00:25:34.00\00:25:40.10
I mean, you hear the word
dysfunctional use so much.
00:25:40.14\00:25:42.77
I don't know if anybody
has a functional relationship
00:25:42.80\00:25:45.47
nowadays.
00:25:45.51\00:25:46.84
But divorce is one
of the hardest emotions
00:25:46.88\00:25:50.71
and I come from a divorce term.
00:25:50.75\00:25:52.91
And I know it's
one of the hardest
00:25:52.95\00:25:54.55
emotional experiences
for a family to go through.
00:25:54.58\00:25:58.75
And as far as actually going
through it, I cannot imagine.
00:25:58.79\00:26:04.76
To me the death of
a spouse is horrible.
00:26:04.79\00:26:08.93
But I've heard people say
that a divorce is even worse
00:26:08.96\00:26:12.10
because there's no closure.
00:26:12.13\00:26:13.84
And divorce is
the death of a vision.
00:26:13.87\00:26:17.97
And it causes grief,
00:26:18.01\00:26:19.71
and it causes
financial insecurities,
00:26:19.74\00:26:23.04
and fear of coping, and anxiety,
00:26:23.08\00:26:25.65
and depression, and anger.
00:26:25.68\00:26:27.42
There's all these
emotions that are wrapped up.
00:26:27.45\00:26:30.89
And, you know, what I've found?
00:26:30.92\00:26:32.52
Even when someone,
00:26:32.55\00:26:34.59
the person who
actually files for the divorce,
00:26:34.62\00:26:37.66
they go through all
these stages of grief as well.
00:26:37.69\00:26:40.80
But there is
something that I want to say
00:26:40.83\00:26:43.47
and if you want to
throw eggs at me, okay.
00:26:43.53\00:26:46.80
Divorce is not
the unpardonable sin.
00:26:46.84\00:26:50.47
Please get that into
your head. That's right.
00:26:50.51\00:26:53.14
Divorce is not
and we'll come back
00:26:53.17\00:26:57.11
and look at that
00:26:57.15\00:26:58.48
because I know people and
my mother was one of them.
00:26:58.51\00:27:02.28
The church,
00:27:02.32\00:27:03.65
it was a Sunday keeping church,
00:27:03.72\00:27:05.19
but the church
in which I grew up,
00:27:05.22\00:27:07.59
made her feel like
because she was divorced,
00:27:07.62\00:27:11.33
she had this
scarlet letter A and I mean,
00:27:11.36\00:27:13.66
she never returned
to church afterwards.
00:27:13.73\00:27:16.06
It was very difficult.
00:27:16.10\00:27:17.63
So let's read what God says
about this and discuss this,
00:27:17.67\00:27:21.30
Malachi 2.
00:27:21.34\00:27:23.41
Malachi 2 and we're
gonna begin with verse 14,
00:27:23.44\00:27:29.48
Malachi 2:14
00:27:29.51\00:27:32.01
and this is the Lord speaking.
00:27:32.05\00:27:34.58
"Yet you say, 'For what reason?'
00:27:34.62\00:27:37.19
Because the
Lord has been witness
00:27:37.22\00:27:38.79
between you and
the wife of your youth,
00:27:38.82\00:27:41.09
with whom you have
dealt treacherously,
00:27:41.12\00:27:44.76
yet she is your companion
and your wife by," what?
00:27:44.79\00:27:48.60
Covenant. "By covenant."
00:27:48.63\00:27:51.33
That's important,
00:27:51.37\00:27:52.70
"But did He not make them one,
having a remnant of the Spirit?
00:27:52.73\00:27:55.64
And why one?
00:27:55.67\00:27:57.01
He seeks godly offspring.
00:27:57.07\00:27:58.97
Therefore take
heed to your spirit,
00:27:59.01\00:28:01.28
let none deal treacherously
with the wife of his youth.
00:28:01.31\00:28:04.91
For the Lord God of Israel
says that He hates divorce."
00:28:04.95\00:28:11.25
Notice, He doesn't say
00:28:11.29\00:28:12.72
He hates those who are divorced.
00:28:12.75\00:28:15.29
That's right. Or
go through a divorce.
00:28:15.32\00:28:17.26
He hates divorce.
00:28:17.29\00:28:19.06
God knows the
pain that it causes.
00:28:19.09\00:28:22.13
And it says, "For it covers
one's garment with violence,
00:28:22.16\00:28:25.60
says the Lord of hosts.
00:28:25.63\00:28:26.97
Therefore take
heed to your spirit,
00:28:27.04\00:28:30.11
that you do not
deal treacherously."
00:28:30.14\00:28:33.01
So we see that the
marriage covenant typified
00:28:33.04\00:28:39.68
Israel's covenant with God.
00:28:39.71\00:28:42.32
And, you know,
00:28:42.35\00:28:43.69
Jesus has experienced them
and tempted in all ways, right?
00:28:43.72\00:28:46.69
So He understands us.
00:28:46.76\00:28:49.12
He even understands divorce
00:28:49.16\00:28:50.96
because He went
through it with Israel.
00:28:50.99\00:28:52.93
He went through
the unfaithfulness
00:28:52.96\00:28:55.73
and so only men in this day
00:28:55.76\00:28:59.20
when this scripture was written,
00:28:59.23\00:29:00.70
only men could
initiate the divorce.
00:29:00.77\00:29:03.84
And they were
just ignoring the vow
00:29:03.87\00:29:06.24
that they made before God.
00:29:06.27\00:29:08.08
They should have
practiced what God is saying
00:29:08.11\00:29:11.21
is practice the same
commitment I do to you,
00:29:11.25\00:29:14.48
you know, with your wife.
00:29:14.52\00:29:16.25
So marriage is
more than earthly bond.
00:29:16.28\00:29:20.79
It's a spiritual bond.
00:29:20.82\00:29:22.82
It's the product of the Holy
Spirit to bring forth what end?
00:29:22.86\00:29:27.23
To produce godly children.
00:29:27.23\00:29:29.66
God hates divorce
00:29:29.70\00:29:31.57
because it breaks the covenant
and it causes so much pain.
00:29:31.60\00:29:35.14
Now, let's look at
what a reason for divorce
00:29:35.17\00:29:39.07
that was given in Matthew 5:31.
00:29:39.11\00:29:43.65
Matthew 5:31.
00:29:43.68\00:29:46.25
And the scripture reads,
00:29:46.28\00:29:49.02
"Furthermore,"
this is Jesus speaking,
00:29:49.05\00:29:51.05
"it has been said,
00:29:51.09\00:29:53.15
'Whoever divorces his wife,
00:29:53.19\00:29:54.79
let him give her a
certificate of divorce.'
00:29:54.82\00:29:57.73
" Actually, this
comes from Deuteronomy 24.
00:29:57.76\00:30:01.80
And, you know, what happened?
00:30:01.83\00:30:03.63
Moses was the
reason, not Deuteronomy 24.
00:30:03.67\00:30:08.54
I'll figure it out.
Yeah, you actually do right.
00:30:08.57\00:30:09.97
Okay, okay, Deuteronomy 24,
00:30:10.01\00:30:12.21
the reason Moses
gave the certificate,
00:30:12.24\00:30:14.71
he was actually...
00:30:14.74\00:30:16.71
See, Deuteronomy 24 says,
you can divorce for adultery.
00:30:16.75\00:30:22.52
But the rabbinical
tradition started changing that.
00:30:22.55\00:30:27.86
You could divorce a wife
because she burnt your toast.
00:30:27.89\00:30:31.23
If she was a bad
cook, or if she had fading,
00:30:31.26\00:30:34.86
her looks were fading.
00:30:34.93\00:30:36.90
I mean, all man
had to do is just say,
00:30:36.93\00:30:39.50
I divorce you, I
divorce you, I divorce you.
00:30:39.53\00:30:42.07
So the rabbinical traditions
that were written at that time,
00:30:42.10\00:30:46.61
when Moses
permitted it by certificate,
00:30:46.64\00:30:49.24
he was actually
putting in protection
00:30:49.28\00:30:53.15
because at least a man had to
00:30:53.18\00:30:54.85
write out his reasons
for wanting a divorce.
00:30:54.88\00:30:57.75
It's like going
through the filing process.
00:30:57.79\00:31:00.29
Would make them pause and think
00:31:00.36\00:31:01.82
instead of just in a moment
of passion dismissing the wife.
00:31:01.86\00:31:05.66
So Jesus says, "I say to you,
00:31:05.69\00:31:07.40
whoever divorces
his wife for any reason,
00:31:07.40\00:31:09.66
except sexual immorality
causes her to commit adultery.
00:31:09.70\00:31:12.93
Whoever marries a woman
00:31:12.97\00:31:14.30
who is divorced
commits adultery."
00:31:14.34\00:31:15.67
Now, of course,
00:31:15.70\00:31:17.07
adult sexual
immorality goes both ways.
00:31:17.11\00:31:20.54
So this is the
only stated reason
00:31:20.58\00:31:23.51
in Scripture for divorce.
00:31:23.55\00:31:25.71
But we understand
that for reasons of safety,
00:31:25.75\00:31:31.52
for reasons,
00:31:31.55\00:31:33.42
there's people
00:31:33.46\00:31:35.02
who need to protect
themselves or their child,
00:31:35.06\00:31:38.06
and they need to either
legally separate or divorce.
00:31:38.09\00:31:42.76
And I believe God
understands that as well.
00:31:42.80\00:31:46.10
I know our
church recognizes that.
00:31:46.13\00:31:48.64
Let me read the scripture that
I would use to support that,
00:31:48.67\00:31:51.51
2 Timothy 3:1-5 says,
00:31:51.54\00:31:54.58
"But know this,
00:31:54.61\00:31:55.94
that in the last days
perilous times will come:
00:31:55.98\00:31:59.55
For men will be
lovers of themselves,
00:31:59.58\00:32:01.32
lovers of
money, boasters, proud,
00:32:01.35\00:32:03.39
blasphemers,
disobedient to parents,
00:32:03.42\00:32:06.19
unthankful, unholy, unloving,
unforgiving, slanderers,
00:32:06.22\00:32:09.92
without self-control,
brutal, despisers of good,
00:32:09.96\00:32:13.50
traitors, headstrong, haughty,
00:32:13.53\00:32:15.30
lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
00:32:15.33\00:32:18.60
having a form of godliness,
but denying its power.
00:32:18.63\00:32:23.67
From such people turn away!"
00:32:23.71\00:32:26.14
We did at Thanksgiving,
00:32:26.17\00:32:28.34
we went to St. Louis,
00:32:28.38\00:32:30.61
and we were at a
ministry that reaches out
00:32:30.65\00:32:35.12
to help those who
are homeless or abused.
00:32:35.15\00:32:38.69
It was so interesting to
hear women's testimonies,
00:32:38.72\00:32:43.22
women who had been through years
00:32:43.26\00:32:47.03
of verbal abuse,
00:32:47.10\00:32:50.70
and whose husbands had
treated them so poorly.
00:32:50.73\00:32:55.30
And then,
00:32:55.34\00:32:56.67
when it's often
escalated into physical abuse,
00:32:56.74\00:33:00.58
I don't think
that anybody can say...
00:33:00.61\00:33:03.48
I would say from
such people turn away.
00:33:03.55\00:33:06.38
You know,
00:33:06.41\00:33:07.85
divorce is not
the unpardonable sin
00:33:07.88\00:33:09.92
because we do
believe in the law of God.
00:33:09.95\00:33:13.79
But we believe in the
forgiving mercy of God.
00:33:13.86\00:33:18.99
And victory and salvation
00:33:19.03\00:33:21.33
can be found as
surely for the person
00:33:21.36\00:33:24.27
who's been through a divorce
00:33:24.30\00:33:25.67
and remarriage
as for anybody else
00:33:25.70\00:33:28.97
that has
transgressed the law of God.
00:33:29.00\00:33:31.41
So we have to be so
careful not to be judgmental,
00:33:31.44\00:33:35.11
did we not?
00:33:35.14\00:33:37.81
Jesus...
00:33:37.85\00:33:39.65
Or let me read what Paul
had said 'cause my time's going.
00:33:39.68\00:33:43.55
Paul says to the
married I command,
00:33:43.59\00:33:45.79
yet not I but the Lord.
00:33:45.82\00:33:47.66
This is 1 Corinthians 7:10,
00:33:47.69\00:33:50.49
"A wife is not to
depart from her husband.
00:33:50.53\00:33:53.46
But even if she does depart,
00:33:53.50\00:33:55.36
let her remain unmarried
00:33:55.40\00:33:56.73
or be reconciled to her husband.
00:33:56.80\00:33:58.40
A husband is not
to divorce his wife."
00:33:58.43\00:34:01.04
Says pretty clear, isn't it?
00:34:01.07\00:34:03.07
And listen what he
says, "But to the rest,"
00:34:03.10\00:34:06.41
and now he's talking to
those who have mixed marriages.
00:34:06.44\00:34:09.08
Right.
00:34:09.11\00:34:10.45
Whether, you know,
00:34:10.48\00:34:11.81
where ones become a believer
and the other hasn't yet.
00:34:11.85\00:34:14.32
He says, "I not the Lord, say,
00:34:14.35\00:34:17.75
if any brother has a
wife who does not believe,
00:34:17.79\00:34:22.56
and she's
willing to live with him,
00:34:22.59\00:34:24.53
let him not divorce her.
00:34:24.56\00:34:26.09
And a woman who has a
husband who does not believe,
00:34:26.13\00:34:29.03
if he's willing
to live with her,
00:34:29.06\00:34:31.27
let him not divorce."
00:34:31.30\00:34:32.63
Let me read one quick thing.
00:34:32.67\00:34:34.40
This is coming directly from
our Sabbath School quarterly.
00:34:34.44\00:34:41.11
The church has a
redemptive agency
00:34:41.14\00:34:42.91
if Christ is to
minister to its members
00:34:42.94\00:34:45.48
in all of their
needs to nurture everyone,
00:34:45.51\00:34:48.52
so that all may grow
00:34:48.55\00:34:50.05
into a mature
Christian experience.
00:34:50.09\00:34:53.02
Particularly, this is true
00:34:53.05\00:34:54.79
when members face
lifelong decisions,
00:34:54.82\00:34:57.23
such as marriage and
distressful experiences
00:34:57.29\00:35:01.46
such as divorce.
00:35:01.50\00:35:02.83
When a couple's marriage
is in danger in breaking down,
00:35:02.86\00:35:06.60
every effort should
be made by the partners
00:35:06.63\00:35:08.87
and those in
the church or family
00:35:08.90\00:35:10.94
who minister to them
00:35:10.97\00:35:12.44
to bring about
their reconciliation
00:35:12.47\00:35:14.61
in harmony with
divine principles
00:35:14.64\00:35:17.08
for restoring
wounded relationships.
00:35:17.15\00:35:20.02
And I'm gonna leave it
at that other than to say,
00:35:20.05\00:35:22.85
please, as the Indians,
00:35:22.88\00:35:26.12
an Indian proverb is,
00:35:26.15\00:35:27.89
"Do not judge another man
00:35:27.92\00:35:29.29
unless you've walked a
mile in his moccasins."
00:35:29.32\00:35:32.39
Right. Thank you.
00:35:32.43\00:35:33.90
Pastor Kenny. Yes.
00:35:33.93\00:35:35.23
Miss Shelley,
thank you very much.
00:35:35.26\00:35:36.60
Amen.
00:35:36.63\00:35:37.97
These topics are designed
to just really help us get
00:35:38.00\00:35:39.70
to the root of relationships.
00:35:39.73\00:35:41.54
And I know that we have
some other topics coming up
00:35:41.57\00:35:44.17
that we've been
really praying about.
00:35:44.21\00:35:46.07
And so, Pastor Kenny,
yours is death and loneliness.
00:35:46.11\00:35:48.88
Yes.
00:35:48.91\00:35:50.25
Confirmation of a
little bit to follow this.
00:35:50.31\00:35:51.65
You know, what a subject
00:35:51.68\00:35:53.01
when you think
about what groundwork
00:35:53.05\00:35:54.95
that everyone's laid
here, there comes a time
00:35:54.98\00:35:57.15
when, you know,
maybe someone passes away,
00:35:57.19\00:35:59.22
this is death the Bible said.
00:35:59.25\00:36:00.99
We all have to face the reality
00:36:01.02\00:36:03.12
that someday
it's going to hit us,
00:36:03.16\00:36:05.56
or hit some loved ones,
or whatever it might be,
00:36:05.59\00:36:07.86
and others because
the Bible is clear,
00:36:07.93\00:36:10.70
three little small
passages about reality of death.
00:36:10.77\00:36:13.47
Some people say,
oh, I'll just live on
00:36:13.54\00:36:14.87
or, you know,
00:36:14.90\00:36:16.24
it doesn't really
matters nothing after this,
00:36:16.27\00:36:17.61
but the Bible is really
clear, and Hebrews 9:27 says,
00:36:17.64\00:36:20.28
"It's appointed
unto man wants," what?
00:36:20.31\00:36:22.81
"To die, but after
this the judgment."
00:36:22.84\00:36:25.21
So there's
something beyond death
00:36:25.25\00:36:26.82
that just, you know,
00:36:26.85\00:36:28.18
little food for
thought that we move on here.
00:36:28.22\00:36:29.55
In Genesis 2:17.
00:36:29.58\00:36:32.49
The Bible says, you know,
00:36:32.52\00:36:34.16
when you look at,
00:36:34.19\00:36:35.52
if you eat of this tree of
knowledge of good and evil,
00:36:35.56\00:36:37.56
you shall surely, what?
00:36:37.63\00:36:38.96
If you eat, you're going to die.
00:36:38.99\00:36:40.40
So we understand we're under,
00:36:40.43\00:36:41.73
you know, the
death sentence here.
00:36:41.76\00:36:43.20
Is appointed to man to die
and after this the judgment.
00:36:43.23\00:36:46.23
1 Corinthians 15:22
says, "As in Adam," what?
00:36:46.27\00:36:50.17
"All sinned and die."
00:36:50.21\00:36:51.54
That's right.
00:36:51.57\00:36:52.91
Yeah, I'm not giving you
much time to look them up.
00:36:52.94\00:36:54.28
Just jot them down quickly,
00:36:54.31\00:36:55.64
and you can
look those things up.
00:36:55.68\00:36:57.01
But it's very
clear from Scripture
00:36:57.05\00:36:58.38
already we realized this
appointed man once to die.
00:36:58.41\00:36:59.81
If Jesus doesn't come,
00:36:59.85\00:37:02.68
we're gonna die.
00:37:02.72\00:37:04.05
Our friends and
relatives are gonna die.
00:37:04.12\00:37:05.45
Something's going to happen
and death brings loneliness.
00:37:05.49\00:37:09.02
A lot of fears involved.
00:37:09.06\00:37:10.86
Fear of can I make it by myself?
00:37:10.89\00:37:13.36
The husband should
die, the wife should die,
00:37:13.43\00:37:15.20
you know, just look at
in your own life right now,
00:37:15.23\00:37:17.47
how lost many of us would be
00:37:17.50\00:37:19.67
because God has
given us a good mate
00:37:19.70\00:37:21.77
that takes care of
so many things for us,
00:37:21.80\00:37:24.74
where would we be?
00:37:24.77\00:37:26.24
And the lady,
00:37:26.27\00:37:27.61
lot of times the
woman will think and tell,
00:37:27.64\00:37:28.98
well, my husband's
gone, who's gonna...
00:37:29.01\00:37:30.35
And it's okay to think
00:37:30.38\00:37:31.71
that we're more than
fixing the wash machine
00:37:31.75\00:37:33.72
and doing electrical work.
00:37:33.75\00:37:35.08
There's that combination.
00:37:35.12\00:37:36.45
It's we work with one another.
00:37:36.48\00:37:37.82
And it's just
such a wonderful thing
00:37:37.85\00:37:39.92
to have a helpmeet.
00:37:39.95\00:37:41.29
But sometimes
that may be changed,
00:37:41.32\00:37:42.96
sooner or later
the time will come
00:37:42.99\00:37:44.73
just as simple.
00:37:44.76\00:37:46.09
And whenever it
comes, I found this.
00:37:46.13\00:37:48.20
It's an unwelcome,
I read that before.
00:37:48.23\00:37:49.96
It's an unwelcome guest.
00:37:50.03\00:37:51.37
No matter when it comes,
there's never a good time.
00:37:51.40\00:37:53.74
So we live in this
world of suffering.
00:37:53.80\00:37:55.90
We live in a world of death.
00:37:55.94\00:37:57.27
We live in a world of sin
00:37:57.31\00:37:58.67
and these issues
are going to be set us
00:37:58.71\00:38:00.81
how we're going to react,
00:38:00.84\00:38:02.51
you know, with this.
00:38:02.54\00:38:03.91
Do we choose to cling to
God when a disaster happens,
00:38:03.98\00:38:06.85
when death happens?
00:38:06.88\00:38:08.22
Do we cling to God?
00:38:08.25\00:38:09.58
To me it's like,
there's two choices,
00:38:09.62\00:38:10.95
we either cling to
Him to gather strength
00:38:10.99\00:38:12.55
and
encouragement to continue on.
00:38:12.59\00:38:14.66
I don't know about you,
if you ever come to a time
00:38:14.69\00:38:16.19
where you almost,
00:38:16.22\00:38:17.73
you know almost
said, man, why hang on?
00:38:17.76\00:38:20.43
Why continue on and right quick,
00:38:20.46\00:38:22.30
the Holy Spirit
says there's a reason why
00:38:22.33\00:38:24.37
because I've called you.
00:38:24.40\00:38:25.73
I've called you out of
darkness into marvelous light.
00:38:25.77\00:38:27.14
Amen.
00:38:27.17\00:38:28.50
I've called you
to do a work for me.
00:38:28.54\00:38:29.87
It's encouraging
and it brings hope to,
00:38:29.90\00:38:32.37
you know, to each of
our hearts and our minds.
00:38:32.41\00:38:34.41
So there is a choice,
or we simply fall apart.
00:38:34.44\00:38:37.75
I've seen people fall
apart, they quit church,
00:38:37.78\00:38:39.38
they give up on God.
00:38:39.41\00:38:40.75
And so we have to
make the right choice.
00:38:40.82\00:38:43.05
And again, death
was never intended
00:38:43.08\00:38:45.59
to be a part of life.
00:38:45.62\00:38:46.96
It was never intended to
be a part of your thinking.
00:38:46.99\00:38:49.19
I got a question, it's
interesting in our lesson.
00:38:49.22\00:38:51.33
So it brought out this question,
00:38:51.36\00:38:52.69
I don't know if any
of you have read or not,
00:38:52.73\00:38:54.10
I chuckled to
begin with and I'm not,
00:38:54.10\00:38:55.93
I don't really mean to,
just that's the way I am.
00:38:55.96\00:38:58.07
I chuckle with
it because it said,
00:38:58.10\00:38:59.67
the question is
asked in our lesson.
00:38:59.70\00:39:01.37
What's the difference
between humans and chickens?
00:39:01.40\00:39:05.91
Somebody stay with it now.
00:39:05.94\00:39:07.61
What's the difference
between humans and chickens?
00:39:07.64\00:39:10.78
And my quick thought,
00:39:10.81\00:39:12.15
I think there's
a lot of difference
00:39:12.18\00:39:13.52
between human and chickens.
00:39:13.55\00:39:15.08
And we could write a lot of,
00:39:15.12\00:39:16.45
when you think what's
different in human and chickens.
00:39:16.48\00:39:18.95
We do have one thing in common
with chickens and human being,
00:39:18.99\00:39:22.86
we all die,
00:39:22.89\00:39:24.26
they die.
00:39:24.29\00:39:25.79
But there's
different to it with men
00:39:25.83\00:39:27.30
when we're
looking at the man here,
00:39:27.36\00:39:29.30
we're talking about
the difference is man
00:39:29.33\00:39:31.77
knows he's going to die,
00:39:31.80\00:39:33.77
the chicken doesn't know it.
00:39:33.84\00:39:35.17
It's good.
00:39:35.20\00:39:36.54
My dad always
said we got some time,
00:39:36.57\00:39:37.91
he said, boys, are you
worried about boys growing up?
00:39:37.94\00:39:39.34
Are you worried
about your payments?
00:39:39.37\00:39:41.21
We don't have any payments,
00:39:41.24\00:39:42.58
you know,
00:39:42.61\00:39:43.95
the chicken
doesn't have any payments.
00:39:43.98\00:39:45.38
He doesn't have any worry.
00:39:45.41\00:39:47.35
Guarantee there's not a thought
that goes to the chicken's mind
00:39:47.42\00:39:50.02
that I'm gonna die.
00:39:50.09\00:39:52.29
And they stroll
around in the barn yard
00:39:52.32\00:39:53.96
or out by the house like
00:39:53.99\00:39:55.32
they're gonna live
forever and they go with it
00:39:55.36\00:39:56.93
and realizing I'll be careful.
00:39:56.96\00:39:58.29
This won't go into too
much but I used to visit house
00:39:58.33\00:40:00.96
to wherever once in a
while we go through their,
00:40:00.96\00:40:02.83
mama would go out she'd
have an axe in her hand.
00:40:02.86\00:40:05.43
And all the
chickens are playing around
00:40:05.47\00:40:06.90
having a good time out there,
00:40:06.94\00:40:08.27
they didn't
realize that one of them
00:40:08.30\00:40:09.64
was going to be nailed.
00:40:09.67\00:40:11.01
One of them was gonna
be sitting on the table.
00:40:11.04\00:40:13.07
Are you still with me?
00:40:13.11\00:40:14.44
No, I'm seriously,
00:40:14.48\00:40:15.81
I'm just simply saying
00:40:15.84\00:40:17.21
there's a
difference between human beings
00:40:17.25\00:40:18.58
and God made that
difference and the chicken.
00:40:18.61\00:40:21.68
Since we know that
we're going to die,
00:40:21.72\00:40:23.59
the chicken didn't
know he was for dinner.
00:40:23.65\00:40:27.26
But we know so what do we do?
00:40:27.32\00:40:29.19
Since we know
we're going to die,
00:40:29.22\00:40:30.59
we need to prepare.
00:40:30.63\00:40:31.96
Yes.
00:40:31.99\00:40:33.33
We need to keep it in our heart
and get in our minds that we...
00:40:33.36\00:40:35.26
It impacts our life.
00:40:35.30\00:40:36.90
It does impacts my
life every day to think,
00:40:36.93\00:40:38.90
this could be my
last day on this planet.
00:40:38.93\00:40:41.40
It's not feeling
sorry for yourself.
00:40:41.44\00:40:42.87
It's not saying
oh, boy, what was me?
00:40:42.90\00:40:45.11
It's simply that's how
life is the Bible talks about,
00:40:45.14\00:40:47.64
it's like a
vapor, we're just here,
00:40:47.68\00:40:49.08
we're here, you
don't like to do,
00:40:49.11\00:40:50.48
we're here in
moment and then we're gone.
00:40:50.51\00:40:52.28
And then what?
00:40:52.31\00:40:53.65
Then there's gonna be a judgment
00:40:53.68\00:40:55.02
and then there's heaven.
00:40:55.05\00:40:56.38
So we need to be prepared.
00:40:56.42\00:40:57.75
Someone
mentioned previous series
00:40:57.79\00:40:59.12
that we need to be preparing,
00:40:59.15\00:41:00.56
maybe you, Ryan mentioned.
00:41:00.59\00:41:01.92
We need to be
preparing for a better place.
00:41:01.96\00:41:03.53
So with that in
mind that we're here
00:41:03.56\00:41:04.99
and then we're gone,
00:41:05.03\00:41:06.36
we need to be
preparing for that better place.
00:41:06.39\00:41:08.46
Amos 4:12.
00:41:08.50\00:41:10.83
We know this, it says, the
words are just so fantastic
00:41:10.87\00:41:14.94
and so bold.
00:41:14.97\00:41:16.30
It says,
"Prepare to meet thy God."
00:41:16.34\00:41:18.97
If we don't know
farther with that,
00:41:19.01\00:41:20.34
I mean that's just
of an interest to me,
00:41:20.38\00:41:21.91
prepare to meet thy God.
00:41:21.94\00:41:24.11
Isn't that what we're here for,
00:41:24.15\00:41:25.65
for preparation to meet God
00:41:25.68\00:41:27.28
when He shall come
in the clouds of glory?
00:41:27.32\00:41:29.28
Several passages of
scripture I know in the Bible
00:41:29.32\00:41:32.52
teaches us about death.
00:41:32.55\00:41:33.92
And this is not
a message on death
00:41:33.96\00:41:36.52
and what really
happens at death.
00:41:36.56\00:41:38.19
But I've often wondered
00:41:38.23\00:41:39.56
and I think everybody has too
00:41:39.59\00:41:40.93
is many times there's
a lot of people whose,
00:41:40.96\00:41:43.30
it seems taken prematurely,
00:41:43.33\00:41:45.50
but the righteous sometime
they go to the grave early,
00:41:45.53\00:41:48.24
we lose our children right by,
so all kinds of things happen.
00:41:48.27\00:41:50.84
We just can't quite
put it all together.
00:41:50.87\00:41:52.87
But, you know, Isaiah 57:1
00:41:52.91\00:41:56.08
just really helped me,
00:41:56.11\00:41:58.01
I think I
understood the principle.
00:41:58.05\00:41:59.38
Maybe I did, maybe I didn't,
but this verse just really
00:41:59.41\00:42:02.25
brought it out to me,
00:42:02.28\00:42:03.79
God's still in control.
00:42:03.82\00:42:05.85
Why does good people,
and that's a question.
00:42:05.89\00:42:07.66
Why do good people die young?
00:42:07.69\00:42:09.79
There may be a reason for that.
00:42:09.82\00:42:11.16
And I think there is Isaiah 57:1
00:42:11.19\00:42:13.70
it says, "The righteous perish,
00:42:13.73\00:42:15.66
they perish,
00:42:15.70\00:42:17.47
no man layeth it to heart,
00:42:17.53\00:42:19.87
the merciful man are taken away,
00:42:19.90\00:42:22.94
none consider
00:42:22.97\00:42:24.31
that the righteous is taken away
00:42:24.34\00:42:26.11
from the evil to come."
00:42:26.14\00:42:28.68
Wow!
00:42:28.71\00:42:30.05
We're laid to rest sometime
because of what's before us.
00:42:30.11\00:42:33.68
Just like we
realized before Jesus comes,
00:42:33.72\00:42:36.02
there's gonna be a
terrible time of trouble.
00:42:36.05\00:42:38.12
God in His mercy
is going to lay away
00:42:38.15\00:42:40.22
I believe the older
who couldn't go through it,
00:42:40.26\00:42:42.72
and the younger ones,
00:42:42.76\00:42:44.39
you know, we can
read about, that scripture
00:42:44.43\00:42:45.76
I think is clear,
Spirit Prophecy is clear,
00:42:45.79\00:42:48.30
Councils on Health, page 375,
00:42:48.33\00:42:50.50
A Child Guidance,
00:42:50.53\00:42:51.87
page 556 talks about
this, the merciful God.
00:42:51.90\00:42:55.80
We just say, oh,
they left us too early
00:42:55.84\00:42:57.24
but God knows
what's in the future.
00:42:57.27\00:42:59.47
And in His mercy some
time He allows us to rest.
00:42:59.51\00:43:03.48
That's an
encouraging scripture to me
00:43:03.55\00:43:05.61
that God has a watchful eye
00:43:05.65\00:43:07.02
over each and every one of us.
00:43:07.05\00:43:08.65
Isaiah 56:9,
00:43:08.68\00:43:11.02
refers to a nation
soon to be divided,
00:43:11.05\00:43:13.86
we're talking about Judah.
00:43:13.89\00:43:15.42
I mean it's going to
be a horrible nightmare
00:43:15.46\00:43:16.96
take place with him,
00:43:17.03\00:43:18.36
horrible time was
to come upon them.
00:43:18.39\00:43:20.20
And then in Chapter 57,
00:43:20.23\00:43:21.70
it goes on to say
there's a reason there
00:43:21.73\00:43:24.13
because of what
was soon to take place
00:43:24.17\00:43:26.47
all that they
would have to go through,
00:43:26.50\00:43:28.74
all that they
would have to deal with.
00:43:28.77\00:43:31.01
God...
00:43:31.04\00:43:32.37
He took care of
them, there was trials,
00:43:32.41\00:43:33.94
there was test,
there were situations,
00:43:33.98\00:43:35.98
and God looked that everyone
was precious little saints,
00:43:36.01\00:43:38.81
it'd be better if they rest
for a while from these things.
00:43:38.85\00:43:40.95
So God is
merciful and He's good.
00:43:40.98\00:43:42.58
Amen.
00:43:42.62\00:43:43.95
Here's a promise
that I just want to...
00:43:43.99\00:43:45.32
As we go here, Revelation 21:4,
00:43:45.35\00:43:47.36
these are things that
we've read all the time,
00:43:47.42\00:43:49.12
these are things I never...
00:43:49.16\00:43:50.79
I get
encouragement every time I read.
00:43:50.83\00:43:52.56
Amen.
00:43:52.59\00:43:53.96
It never get old, I don't
care how many times we read it.
00:43:54.00\00:43:55.56
That's right.
00:43:55.60\00:43:56.93
It brings me hope and
brings me encouragement,
00:43:57.00\00:43:58.33
Revelation 21:4 promise.
00:43:58.37\00:44:00.47
"And God shall wipe away," what?
00:44:00.54\00:44:01.94
All tears.
00:44:01.97\00:44:03.30
"All tears from their eyes
00:44:03.34\00:44:04.67
and there shall
be no more death,
00:44:04.71\00:44:06.04
neither sorrow, nor crying,
00:44:06.07\00:44:07.71
neither shall there
be any more pain," why?
00:44:07.74\00:44:10.65
"For the former,"
oh good, they're what?
00:44:10.68\00:44:12.98
"They're passed away."
That means to me they're gone.
00:44:13.01\00:44:14.95
That's right.
00:44:14.98\00:44:16.32
They think we've had,
they're gone, they've departed,
00:44:16.35\00:44:18.99
they've come to a completion.
00:44:19.02\00:44:20.56
We don't have to worry
about those things anymore.
00:44:20.59\00:44:22.79
And John speaks about
00:44:22.82\00:44:24.26
I won't say the
death he talks about that.
00:44:24.33\00:44:26.90
That comes as a result
from, you know, from sin.
00:44:26.93\00:44:30.13
"The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is," what?
00:44:30.17\00:44:32.23
We know, "death"
00:44:32.27\00:44:33.84
literally the death
00:44:33.90\00:44:35.27
is what it's talking about there
00:44:35.30\00:44:36.67
in 1 Corinthians 15:26.
00:44:36.71\00:44:38.74
So there'll be a time that come
00:44:38.77\00:44:40.24
there will be no
cause for sorrow.
00:44:40.28\00:44:43.14
Praise God.
00:44:43.18\00:44:44.51
Yeah, there's no
cause for sorrow,
00:44:44.55\00:44:45.88
completely remove.
00:44:45.91\00:44:47.28
The time will come
00:44:47.32\00:44:48.65
when there would be
no cause for crying.
00:44:48.68\00:44:50.15
Oh, hallelujah, praise God.
00:44:50.19\00:44:52.05
There come a time
00:44:52.09\00:44:53.42
when there's no
cause for pain anymore.
00:44:53.46\00:44:56.02
They're all gone.
00:44:56.06\00:44:57.39
The former
things as we know them
00:44:57.43\00:44:58.76
are gone forever.
00:44:58.79\00:45:00.23
They've all
passed away, praise God.
00:45:00.26\00:45:02.83
I'm looking for
a better country.
00:45:02.86\00:45:04.20
I don't know
about each of you today.
00:45:04.27\00:45:05.70
Yes.
00:45:05.73\00:45:07.07
I'm just a stranger,
I'm just passing through.
00:45:07.14\00:45:09.47
Amen.
00:45:09.50\00:45:10.84
You know, and I need
to be planning for that
00:45:10.91\00:45:12.24
because death's going to
come, sorrow's going to come.
00:45:12.27\00:45:15.14
And God has a wonderful plan
00:45:15.18\00:45:16.51
and a wonderful,
beautiful, watchful eye,
00:45:16.54\00:45:18.98
not to see what you're
up to, what you're doing,
00:45:19.01\00:45:20.92
so I could help you.
00:45:20.95\00:45:22.28
Kenny, you're gonna
need some help here.
00:45:22.32\00:45:23.79
I'm here to help you.
00:45:23.82\00:45:25.15
And I just throw that
out each one of you today.
00:45:25.19\00:45:26.99
God said, I'm watching
over you and I want to help you,
00:45:27.06\00:45:29.66
I'm gonna be an encouragement
regardless of what happens.
00:45:29.69\00:45:32.33
Regardless of
what touches your life.
00:45:32.36\00:45:33.90
I'm here, I'm bigger,
00:45:33.93\00:45:35.23
I can touch you
in a wonderful way.
00:45:35.26\00:45:36.63
Amen.
00:45:36.67\00:45:38.00
Bring it to the
foot of the cross,
00:45:38.03\00:45:39.37
I believe it's
what God wants to do
00:45:39.40\00:45:40.74
to each and
every one of us today,
00:45:40.77\00:45:42.30
through sorrow, through
death, through problems,
00:45:42.34\00:45:45.21
is to bring us to
the foot of the cross
00:45:45.24\00:45:46.84
'cause I know
that's where I need to be
00:45:46.88\00:45:48.58
day by day, hour by hour.
00:45:48.61\00:45:50.31
I need to be at
the foot of the cross.
00:45:50.35\00:45:52.15
As the old song said,
00:45:52.18\00:45:53.52
oh, there's room
at the cross for you
00:45:53.58\00:45:55.05
though millions have come,
there's still room for one.
00:45:55.08\00:45:57.69
There's room at
the cross for you.
00:45:57.72\00:45:59.35
Amen.
00:45:59.39\00:46:00.79
Thank you so much,
Pastor Kenny, so well done.
00:46:00.82\00:46:03.66
Praise the Lord
that He loves us.
00:46:03.69\00:46:05.59
Amen.
00:46:05.63\00:46:06.96
And that even in
the midst of that,
00:46:07.03\00:46:08.33
He wants to work in
our hearts and lives.
00:46:08.36\00:46:09.93
I know, every Sabbath night
00:46:09.96\00:46:11.60
when Greg and I
kneel down by our couch,
00:46:11.63\00:46:13.74
you know, sundown vespers,
00:46:13.77\00:46:15.84
he always prayed
something different.
00:46:15.87\00:46:17.94
But one thing
is always the same.
00:46:17.97\00:46:19.31
God, we don't know
00:46:19.34\00:46:20.68
if one of us will be
alive next week at this time.
00:46:20.71\00:46:24.05
But we give our
lives to You. Amen.
00:46:24.08\00:46:25.95
And we want to live every day
00:46:25.98\00:46:29.15
for the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:46:29.18\00:46:30.52
Amen.
00:46:30.59\00:46:31.92
You know, it's important
to live in that context.
00:46:31.95\00:46:33.29
I have Thursday,
00:46:33.32\00:46:34.99
which is spiritually single.
00:46:35.02\00:46:38.69
My definition for that
00:46:38.73\00:46:40.40
is someone who
is legally married
00:46:40.43\00:46:43.00
while their home is
spiritually divided.
00:46:43.03\00:46:47.64
At home I know each one of us
00:46:47.67\00:46:49.97
are blessed here on
this panel with godly spouses
00:46:50.01\00:46:52.81
but at home I know
there are many of you
00:46:52.84\00:46:55.78
walking this pain of
spiritual singleness today.
00:46:55.81\00:47:00.05
And so this lesson
specifically is for you.
00:47:00.08\00:47:02.35
Wow.
00:47:02.38\00:47:03.72
Spiritual
singleness is a different pain
00:47:03.75\00:47:06.39
than the pain of singleness,
00:47:06.42\00:47:08.02
or the pain of divorce,
00:47:08.06\00:47:09.46
or the pain of widowhood.
00:47:09.49\00:47:10.99
It's a different type of pain.
00:47:11.03\00:47:13.83
These are the people
who sit in church alone
00:47:13.86\00:47:16.87
because their
husband or their wife
00:47:16.90\00:47:18.63
doesn't want to come to church
00:47:18.67\00:47:20.04
and doesn't
want to be with them.
00:47:20.07\00:47:21.67
These are
people who try to bring
00:47:21.70\00:47:23.51
their children to church.
00:47:23.54\00:47:25.21
But yet,
00:47:25.24\00:47:26.88
there's the pole
of the other parents
00:47:26.91\00:47:28.91
in the home for
those worldly things.
00:47:28.94\00:47:31.55
These are people
who have to have worship
00:47:31.58\00:47:33.08
at home alone and
have to pray alone
00:47:33.11\00:47:35.22
and can never
discuss spiritual things
00:47:35.25\00:47:38.75
with their spouse,
00:47:38.79\00:47:40.16
that's the most intimate thing
00:47:40.19\00:47:42.29
and they can never
discuss that with their spouse.
00:47:42.32\00:47:45.19
You might have married
a person of another faith.
00:47:45.23\00:47:48.60
Maybe you married
someone with no faith at all,
00:47:48.63\00:47:51.53
and you just
said, but I love them.
00:47:51.57\00:47:54.74
And now you're walking
00:47:54.77\00:47:57.27
in the
consequences of that decision.
00:47:57.31\00:48:00.71
You might have discovered Jesus
00:48:00.74\00:48:02.94
years into marriage as
the lesson brought out,
00:48:02.98\00:48:05.48
Natalie, seven
years into marriage,
00:48:05.51\00:48:08.05
she found Jesus,
00:48:08.08\00:48:10.02
she discovered the
truth in God's Word.
00:48:10.05\00:48:12.85
And then her husband said,
00:48:12.89\00:48:14.22
this isn't what I signed
up for when we got married.
00:48:14.29\00:48:16.79
You're a whole new person
and I want the old person back,
00:48:16.86\00:48:20.13
spiritual singleness.
00:48:20.16\00:48:21.70
Now they didn't plan that.
00:48:21.73\00:48:23.06
But seven years into
marriage, one of them changed.
00:48:23.10\00:48:26.03
Maybe you got married to someone
00:48:26.07\00:48:27.57
and you were both in church
00:48:27.64\00:48:29.17
and then years down the road,
00:48:29.20\00:48:31.34
your spouse left the church
00:48:31.37\00:48:33.14
or chose to
walk away from Jesus.
00:48:33.17\00:48:35.81
There's a great loneliness
with being spiritually single,
00:48:35.84\00:48:40.12
with having to
walk this journey alone,
00:48:40.15\00:48:43.82
even while you're
married to someone
00:48:43.89\00:48:45.62
but still walking alone.
00:48:45.65\00:48:47.46
Pastor John, you
said I always give list.
00:48:47.49\00:48:50.13
Today I'm not sure
I have list for you.
00:48:50.16\00:48:52.49
But if you're
spiritually single,
00:48:52.53\00:48:55.16
this is for you.
00:48:55.20\00:48:57.03
I want you to know
that you are never alone.
00:48:57.07\00:49:00.20
That's good. Amen.
00:49:00.27\00:49:01.60
Let's look at Isaiah 54.
00:49:01.64\00:49:02.97
Let's turn there.
00:49:03.00\00:49:04.34
Isaiah Chapter 54.
00:49:04.37\00:49:05.71
You are never alone.
00:49:05.74\00:49:07.31
Why are you never alone?
00:49:07.34\00:49:08.68
Because Christ is with you.
00:49:08.71\00:49:11.48
In the midst of that,
00:49:11.51\00:49:12.85
Isaiah 54:5,
00:49:12.88\00:49:15.12
you have that,
Shelley, can you read that?
00:49:15.15\00:49:16.48
Yes.
00:49:16.52\00:49:17.85
"For your maker is your husband,
00:49:17.89\00:49:19.22
the Lord of hosts is His name.
00:49:19.25\00:49:21.89
And your Redeemer is
the Holy One of Israel,
00:49:21.92\00:49:25.03
for He is called the
God of the whole earth."
00:49:25.06\00:49:27.96
Oh, yeah.
00:49:28.00\00:49:29.33
So this is talking
specifically to a wife,
00:49:29.36\00:49:31.10
your maker is your husband,
00:49:31.13\00:49:32.97
but I think it can
work in both camps.
00:49:33.00\00:49:34.87
Absolutely.
00:49:34.90\00:49:36.24
We also know Hebrews 13:5,
00:49:36.27\00:49:38.44
Jesus speaking,
"Never will I leave you,
00:49:38.47\00:49:42.21
never will I forsake you."
00:49:42.24\00:49:44.08
So you might feel forsaken,
00:49:44.15\00:49:45.91
you might feel alone.
00:49:45.95\00:49:48.08
You might feel
00:49:48.12\00:49:49.45
that I'm treading this marriage,
00:49:49.48\00:49:50.82
I'm walking alone,
but you are never alone.
00:49:50.89\00:49:53.56
The Lord Jesus Christ
is right by your side,
00:49:53.59\00:49:57.13
in the midst of your marriage.
00:49:57.16\00:49:59.49
Also, Christ will bring
00:49:59.53\00:50:01.60
godly people into your life.
00:50:01.63\00:50:04.13
Let's look at Psalm 68.
00:50:04.17\00:50:07.30
And, Pastor, you
want to read that verse,
00:50:07.34\00:50:08.67
Pastor John, Psalm 68:6.
00:50:08.70\00:50:12.74
Okay, Psalm
68:6, reads as follows.
00:50:12.77\00:50:17.81
"God set the
solitary in families."
00:50:17.85\00:50:22.48
"God sets the
solitary in families.
00:50:22.52\00:50:26.29
He brings out those who
are bound into prosperity."
00:50:26.32\00:50:29.49
So I think with this means
00:50:29.52\00:50:30.89
is God is going to bring
00:50:30.93\00:50:32.56
other godly
people into your life.
00:50:32.59\00:50:34.83
So if you're a woman and
you feel spiritually alone,
00:50:34.83\00:50:37.30
God's gonna bring
other woman into your life.
00:50:37.33\00:50:39.83
Women you meet in the church,
00:50:39.87\00:50:41.27
women you can be accountable to,
00:50:41.30\00:50:43.44
women that you can
associate with and pray with.
00:50:43.47\00:50:46.81
If you're a man and
you're spiritually single,
00:50:46.84\00:50:48.88
God is gonna bring
other godly men in the church
00:50:48.91\00:50:52.35
into your life
that you can pray with
00:50:52.38\00:50:55.22
and for and that
you can be accountable.
00:50:55.25\00:50:56.72
That's a good thing.
00:50:56.75\00:50:58.09
First, you're never alone.
00:50:58.12\00:50:59.45
The second thing,
I want you to know
00:50:59.49\00:51:00.89
is that you are loved.
00:51:00.96\00:51:03.56
Amen.
00:51:03.63\00:51:04.96
Jeremiah 31:3, you
are loved by Christ.
00:51:04.99\00:51:07.50
He says, "I have loved
you with an everlasting love.
00:51:07.60\00:51:11.17
Therefore with lovingkindness
00:51:11.20\00:51:13.94
I have drawn you."
00:51:14.00\00:51:15.34
But you're not just
loved by the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:51:15.37\00:51:17.57
you're loved by other people.
00:51:17.61\00:51:19.24
1 John 4:7,
00:51:19.27\00:51:21.51
dear friends,
00:51:21.54\00:51:22.88
"Let us love one another,
00:51:22.91\00:51:25.15
for love comes from God."
00:51:25.18\00:51:28.05
So if you are in a body,
00:51:28.08\00:51:31.09
a church,
00:51:31.12\00:51:32.45
I want to encourage you
to be involved in church
00:51:32.49\00:51:34.82
because the brothers
and sisters in church
00:51:34.86\00:51:37.93
can love you, can reach out
00:51:37.96\00:51:40.06
and be the hands as it were,
00:51:40.10\00:51:41.53
as you talked about Pastor John,
00:51:41.56\00:51:43.16
the hands of Jesus.
00:51:43.20\00:51:44.83
Amen.
00:51:44.87\00:51:46.43
Third, know that,
00:51:46.47\00:51:48.40
and I don't know
00:51:48.44\00:51:49.77
if this might cause
a little controversy,
00:51:49.80\00:51:51.14
but know that
you are not judged.
00:51:51.17\00:51:53.54
That's good.
00:51:53.61\00:51:54.94
You're not judged for
failing to convert your spouse.
00:51:54.98\00:51:58.65
God never brings
00:51:58.68\00:52:00.98
shame and condemnation.
00:52:01.02\00:52:03.62
I know that in this situation
00:52:03.69\00:52:05.32
you might be
feeling a lot of guilt.
00:52:05.35\00:52:06.79
You might be
feeling a lot of shame.
00:52:06.86\00:52:08.19
Maybe you're
walking spiritually alone
00:52:08.22\00:52:10.13
because of choices
you made years ago.
00:52:10.16\00:52:14.10
God brings conviction.
00:52:14.20\00:52:15.50
Yes, the Holy
Spirit convicts us of sin
00:52:15.53\00:52:17.97
and He brings us to repentance.
00:52:18.00\00:52:21.00
But at the same time,
He never brings us shame.
00:52:21.04\00:52:23.51
He never brings us condemnation.
00:52:23.57\00:52:26.74
That comes from the enemy. Amen.
00:52:26.78\00:52:29.31
So its Satan is
putting that on top of you.
00:52:29.34\00:52:32.15
And you're
walking not only in a home
00:52:32.18\00:52:33.88
that's divided and you
feel spiritually alone,
00:52:33.92\00:52:36.25
but you're walking
00:52:36.28\00:52:37.62
with that sense of
shame and condemnation.
00:52:37.65\00:52:40.66
That is a lie from the enemy.
00:52:40.72\00:52:43.09
Jesus says that He loves you
00:52:43.12\00:52:44.66
and He is not judging you.
00:52:44.69\00:52:46.26
You can come to Him,
00:52:46.29\00:52:47.66
He will forgive
00:52:47.73\00:52:49.03
and He will walk in the midst
of your difficult marriage.
00:52:49.06\00:52:52.53
And finally,
00:52:52.57\00:52:53.90
know that your actions
00:52:53.97\00:52:55.87
always speak
louder than your words.
00:52:55.90\00:52:58.97
What do I mean by that?
00:52:59.01\00:53:00.88
Let's look at 1 Peter Chapter 3.
00:53:00.91\00:53:04.18
1 Peter Chapter 3.
00:53:04.25\00:53:06.41
You know, we're told
00:53:06.45\00:53:07.78
I can think of
several scriptures,
00:53:07.82\00:53:09.18
as we turn there,
00:53:09.22\00:53:10.59
James 1:22, "Be
doers of the word,
00:53:10.62\00:53:12.52
and not hearers only,
00:53:12.55\00:53:14.26
deceiving your own selves."
00:53:14.29\00:53:16.16
I think in Matthew 5:16,
00:53:16.19\00:53:17.99
"Let your light
so shine before men,
00:53:18.03\00:53:19.73
that they may
see your good works
00:53:19.76\00:53:21.56
and glorify your
Father who is in heaven."
00:53:21.60\00:53:24.07
Amen.
00:53:24.13\00:53:25.47
So if you're in the midst
of a spiritually divided home,
00:53:25.50\00:53:29.14
you're godly example,
00:53:29.17\00:53:31.57
the life that you live
00:53:31.61\00:53:33.64
speaks stronger to your spouse,
00:53:33.68\00:53:36.91
that anything
you could ever say.
00:53:36.95\00:53:38.28
Absolutely.
00:53:38.31\00:53:39.65
We see this
clearly in 1 Peter 3.
00:53:39.68\00:53:42.25
Do you have that, Ryan?
00:53:42.28\00:53:43.65
1 Peter 3:1. Yes.
00:53:43.69\00:53:45.02
1 Peter 3:1 says,
00:53:45.05\00:53:47.62
"Wives, likewise, be submissive
00:53:47.66\00:53:49.36
to your own husbands,
00:53:49.39\00:53:50.93
that even if some
do not obey the word,
00:53:50.96\00:53:53.86
they, without a word,
00:53:53.90\00:53:55.50
maybe won
00:53:55.53\00:53:56.90
by the conduct of their wives."
00:53:56.93\00:53:58.27
Now that's a powerful passage.
00:53:58.30\00:54:00.87
If you read it in
New Living Translation,
00:54:00.94\00:54:02.77
it says, "In the same way,
00:54:02.80\00:54:04.14
you wives must accept
00:54:04.21\00:54:05.54
the authority of your husbands."
00:54:05.57\00:54:06.98
That's that submission.
00:54:07.01\00:54:08.94
"Then, even if some
refuse to obey the good news,
00:54:08.98\00:54:11.95
your godly lives
will speak to them
00:54:11.98\00:54:14.05
without any words.
00:54:14.12\00:54:16.38
They will be won over."
00:54:16.42\00:54:18.42
So if your wife and your husband
00:54:18.45\00:54:21.06
is not a believer,
00:54:21.09\00:54:23.46
without you ever
preaching the gospel,
00:54:23.53\00:54:26.16
you can live the gospel,
00:54:26.19\00:54:28.60
you can have an
opportunity to win him
00:54:28.63\00:54:32.73
to the Lord Jesus Christ
00:54:32.77\00:54:34.20
because of how you act.
00:54:34.24\00:54:36.54
Now I know this
whole submission thing
00:54:36.57\00:54:39.41
we discussed
sometimes Shelley as woman,
00:54:39.44\00:54:41.98
and we say we're
not sure about that,
00:54:42.01\00:54:43.85
but it's biblical.
00:54:43.91\00:54:45.85
Absolutely.
00:54:45.88\00:54:47.22
The principle of
submission is biblical.
00:54:47.28\00:54:49.25
And attitude to me
is what it's all about
00:54:49.28\00:54:51.39
when we talk about
the submission concept.
00:54:51.42\00:54:54.39
Here is a disobedient little boy
00:54:54.42\00:54:55.79
who was told to
sit in the corner.
00:54:55.82\00:54:57.29
You're being bad,
go sit in the corner
00:54:57.33\00:54:59.33
and he said, "I may
be sitting on the outside
00:54:59.36\00:55:01.93
but I'm standing on the inside."
00:55:01.96\00:55:04.27
And he sat outwardly
00:55:04.30\00:55:05.73
but inside he was defiant.
00:55:05.77\00:55:07.80
Okay, that's not submission,
00:55:07.84\00:55:09.44
that is defiance.
00:55:09.47\00:55:11.17
Submission is
about a heart attitude.
00:55:11.21\00:55:14.68
It's about that
attitude of respect
00:55:14.71\00:55:16.41
unless we think we're
leaving the menfolk out.
00:55:16.44\00:55:19.35
1 Peter 3:7,
00:55:19.38\00:55:20.92
"Husbands, likewise,
00:55:20.95\00:55:22.55
dwell with them
with understanding,
00:55:22.58\00:55:26.12
giving honor to the wife,
00:55:26.15\00:55:28.09
as to the weaker vessel,
00:55:28.12\00:55:29.79
as being heirs
together of the grace of life,
00:55:29.82\00:55:32.09
that your prayers
may not be hindered."
00:55:32.13\00:55:34.46
Amen.
00:55:34.50\00:55:35.83
We referenced earlier, Ryan,
00:55:35.86\00:55:37.73
you reference is
1 Corinthians 7:16
00:55:37.77\00:55:42.27
talks about the
unbelieving spouse
00:55:42.30\00:55:45.21
when you have a
spiritually divided home
00:55:45.24\00:55:47.24
and it says, "How
do you know, O wife,
00:55:47.28\00:55:49.38
whether you will
save your husband?
00:55:49.41\00:55:51.61
Or how do you know O husband,
00:55:51.65\00:55:53.98
whether you
will save your wife?"
00:55:54.02\00:55:55.95
Now, of course,
00:55:55.98\00:55:57.35
we don't
physically save someone else,
00:55:57.39\00:55:58.72
but our godly example
00:55:58.75\00:56:01.39
has a tremendous impact
00:56:01.42\00:56:03.46
and influence on
the husband or wife
00:56:03.49\00:56:06.29
who is an unbeliever
00:56:06.33\00:56:07.86
in that
spiritually divided home.
00:56:07.86\00:56:09.90
Amen.
00:56:09.93\00:56:11.57
Pastor John.
00:56:11.60\00:56:12.93
Thank you, Jill, all of
you did a wonderful job.
00:56:12.97\00:56:14.77
I'm just...
00:56:14.80\00:56:16.14
You gave me so many
notes to write down here.
00:56:16.17\00:56:18.54
And I've just
enjoyed this lesson study,
00:56:18.57\00:56:21.14
we went through companionship,
00:56:21.18\00:56:23.01
the unmarried life,
00:56:23.04\00:56:24.38
when marriage ends,
death, and loneliness,
00:56:24.41\00:56:25.91
and what a wonderful
00:56:25.95\00:56:27.32
approach to
spiritual singleness.
00:56:27.35\00:56:29.35
Let me give a few minutes to,
00:56:29.38\00:56:31.05
not a few
minutes, but a few thoughts
00:56:31.09\00:56:32.45
that you have before we close,
00:56:32.49\00:56:33.86
we have just about a minute,
00:56:33.89\00:56:35.22
make it short and to the point.
00:56:35.26\00:56:36.59
You know, I'm just
praise the Lord that,
00:56:36.62\00:56:38.16
you know, God is with us.
00:56:38.19\00:56:39.56
We're not alone.
00:56:39.59\00:56:40.93
Married, unmarried,
00:56:40.96\00:56:42.26
whatever
situation we are in life,
00:56:42.30\00:56:43.63
I can trust in the
promises of God's Word
00:56:43.67\00:56:45.23
that He is always with me.
00:56:45.27\00:56:46.60
Amen.
00:56:46.63\00:56:47.97
God hates divorce,
00:56:48.00\00:56:49.34
but He loves even
those who are divorced.
00:56:49.37\00:56:51.14
It is not the unpardonable sin,
00:56:51.17\00:56:53.78
and don't ever believe that.
00:56:53.84\00:56:55.98
Okay, Pastor Kenny.
00:56:56.01\00:56:57.61
Now, if you're going
through any kind of suffering,
00:56:57.65\00:56:59.08
heartache, pain,
00:56:59.11\00:57:00.75
know that God is there.
00:57:00.78\00:57:02.18
He's gonna be right
with you to the end.
00:57:02.22\00:57:03.75
Just don't give
up whatever you do.
00:57:03.82\00:57:06.55
And don't forget to
tell your church family.
00:57:06.59\00:57:08.32
Don't forget to pray about,
00:57:08.36\00:57:09.69
they'll be
praying along with you.
00:57:09.72\00:57:11.06
Amen.
00:57:11.09\00:57:12.43
If you're in a church
family where there's people
00:57:12.46\00:57:13.83
who are spiritually
alone, spiritually divided home,
00:57:13.86\00:57:15.46
reach out and minister to them.
00:57:15.50\00:57:17.40
Amen.
00:57:17.47\00:57:18.80
And as we've said,
00:57:18.83\00:57:20.17
the Lord promises
never to leave us,
00:57:20.20\00:57:23.04
never to forsake us.
00:57:23.07\00:57:24.41
You are not alone.
00:57:24.44\00:57:25.84
Put your life in
the hand of the Lord
00:57:25.87\00:57:27.88
and you'll see
the blessings flow.
00:57:27.91\00:57:29.81
Join us next time as
we begin the next lesson
00:57:29.84\00:57:32.55
on "Wise Words for Families."
00:57:32.58\00:57:34.98
Until we see you again,
00:57:35.02\00:57:36.35
may the Lord
continue to bless you.
00:57:36.38\00:57:38.05