The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
00:00:01.36\00:00:04.07
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
00:00:04.10\00:00:08.34
It says to,
"Receive with meekness
00:00:08.37\00:00:10.54
the implanted Word,
00:00:10.57\00:00:12.11
which is able to save your souls
00:00:12.14\00:00:14.51
and to be diligent to present
yourself approved to God,
00:00:14.54\00:00:18.35
rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
00:00:18.38\00:00:21.32
Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:21.35\00:00:25.59
Our study today
is Family Seasons.
00:00:25.62\00:00:28.69
Hello, and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:33.73\00:00:36.46
I'm Jill Morikone,
and we're so excited
00:00:36.50\00:00:38.43
that you have
taken time to join us
00:00:38.47\00:00:40.57
in our journey
through the Word of God.
00:00:40.60\00:00:43.74
This quarter,
Sabbath School quarterly
00:00:43.77\00:00:45.67
is on Family Seasons
00:00:45.71\00:00:47.04
and it's been an
incredible study,
00:00:47.08\00:00:48.68
hasn't it on the family?
00:00:48.71\00:00:50.78
Last week we looked
at the beautiful intimacy
00:00:50.81\00:00:53.11
between husband and wife
and the marriage relationship.
00:00:53.15\00:00:56.75
And this week we
talk about family unity.
00:00:56.79\00:01:00.22
Want to encourage you,
00:01:00.26\00:01:01.59
you can get your own
copy of the quarterly
00:01:01.62\00:01:03.09
by going to ABSG.Adventist.org,
that stands for
00:01:03.12\00:01:08.96
AdultBibleStudyGuide
.Adventist.org.
00:01:09.00\00:01:13.34
We always encourage you
00:01:13.37\00:01:14.70
to visit your local
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:01:14.74\00:01:17.94
They would give you
a copy of a quarterly
00:01:17.97\00:01:19.74
and they would
invite you to fellowship
00:01:19.77\00:01:22.18
and study with them.
00:01:22.21\00:01:23.95
I want to introduce
our panel at this time,
00:01:23.98\00:01:25.78
to my left is my
friend Pastor Ryan Day.
00:01:25.81\00:01:28.55
Amen. It's good to be here.
00:01:28.58\00:01:29.92
Pastor Kenny
Shelton. Good to be here.
00:01:29.95\00:01:32.12
Another friend and
preacher of the Word.
00:01:32.15\00:01:34.92
My sister Shelley Quinn.
00:01:34.96\00:01:36.62
Love you. Love you too, Sis.
00:01:36.66\00:01:38.69
And my pastor,
Pastor John Lomacang.
00:01:38.73\00:01:41.13
It's always a joy. Amen.
00:01:41.16\00:01:42.60
It's a privilege to
share with each one of you.
00:01:42.63\00:01:44.47
Before we go any further,
00:01:44.50\00:01:45.87
we want to go to
the Lord in prayer.
00:01:45.90\00:01:47.24
Pastor John,
would you pray for us?
00:01:47.27\00:01:48.60
Sure.
00:01:48.64\00:01:49.97
Loving Father in heaven,
00:01:50.01\00:01:51.34
thank You for this
wonderful opportunity
00:01:51.37\00:01:52.71
as Your Word open
our hearts and minds.
00:01:52.74\00:01:55.74
Through your Holy
Spirit speak to us,
00:01:55.78\00:01:58.08
not only inform us,
but transform us we ask.
00:01:58.11\00:02:01.58
On this lesson
about relationships
00:02:01.62\00:02:03.85
we do pray that we could
seek to increase our strength
00:02:03.89\00:02:07.16
between one another
by the power and presence
00:02:07.19\00:02:09.82
of the Holy Spirit,
we ask in Jesus' name.
00:02:09.86\00:02:12.89
Amen. Amen.
00:02:12.93\00:02:14.26
Thank you so much, Pastor John.
00:02:14.30\00:02:16.30
We're talking about
keys to family unity.
00:02:16.33\00:02:18.70
You know, if you
read the entire Bible,
00:02:18.73\00:02:20.37
there's only four chapters
00:02:20.40\00:02:22.50
that are written
where there's no sin,
00:02:22.54\00:02:24.87
that would be Genesis 1 and 2.
00:02:24.91\00:02:26.68
Because sin was
introduced in Genesis Chapter 3,
00:02:26.71\00:02:29.34
that would be
Revelation 21 and 22.
00:02:29.38\00:02:32.25
When we get all the
way to the end of the book,
00:02:32.28\00:02:34.48
and we see where sin
is finally eradicated.
00:02:34.52\00:02:38.05
Scripture shows
the consequences of sin
00:02:38.09\00:02:40.82
on family unity, on
family togetherness.
00:02:40.86\00:02:44.33
It's replete with examples
00:02:44.36\00:02:46.76
of what happens as a result
of sin to the family unit.
00:02:46.80\00:02:50.87
You think about Adam and
Eve and the first sin initially
00:02:50.90\00:02:54.17
when they partook of
that fruit, what happened?
00:02:54.20\00:02:56.20
He blamed her, she
blamed the serpent.
00:02:56.24\00:02:58.77
There was initially, Ryan,
00:02:58.81\00:03:00.68
that sense of
disunity in the family
00:03:00.71\00:03:03.41
as a result of sin.
00:03:03.45\00:03:05.28
Now the first two kids
they had Cain and Abel,
00:03:05.31\00:03:07.52
they killed each other.
00:03:07.55\00:03:08.88
One killed the
other I should say.
00:03:08.92\00:03:10.25
So that is
definitely not family unity.
00:03:10.29\00:03:13.25
Abraham was chosen by God
00:03:13.29\00:03:16.26
to be a special
peculiar people to himself,
00:03:16.29\00:03:18.93
the father of a nation.
00:03:18.96\00:03:21.00
And yet he was
engaged with Hagar,
00:03:21.03\00:03:25.17
not engaged to Hagar
00:03:25.20\00:03:26.53
but he became
involved with Hagar
00:03:26.57\00:03:29.64
and he had to send
her and his son away,
00:03:29.67\00:03:33.17
that's family disunity.
00:03:33.21\00:03:35.34
Think about Jacob, he
married several wives.
00:03:35.38\00:03:38.31
And then 10 of
the brothers decided
00:03:38.35\00:03:40.58
they didn't like
their little brother
00:03:40.62\00:03:41.95
and they cast him in a
pit and sold him as a slave,
00:03:41.98\00:03:44.85
that's family disunity.
00:03:44.89\00:03:46.82
You think about David,
his son raped his sister.
00:03:46.86\00:03:51.53
Okay, that's family disunity.
00:03:51.56\00:03:54.23
The biblical
narrative is full of stories
00:03:54.26\00:03:57.30
of lust and
adultery, power and control,
00:03:57.33\00:04:00.94
hatred, strife,
division, and murder
00:04:00.97\00:04:03.10
and it's all a result of sin.
00:04:03.14\00:04:07.38
God's idea is that
we would have unity
00:04:07.41\00:04:09.94
in the family
00:04:09.98\00:04:11.31
and unity in the body of Christ.
00:04:11.35\00:04:14.02
Psalm 133:1, David says,
00:04:14.05\00:04:16.69
"Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is
00:04:16.72\00:04:18.72
for brothers and sisters
to dwell together in unity!"
00:04:18.75\00:04:23.86
Our memory text, John 17,
00:04:23.89\00:04:25.79
which is Jesus
prayer there in the garden,
00:04:25.83\00:04:28.96
John 17:21, "That
they all may be one,"
00:04:29.00\00:04:32.93
His prayer is
for us to have unity.
00:04:32.97\00:04:35.37
"As You, Father,
are in me, and I in You,
00:04:35.40\00:04:38.07
that they also may be one in us,
00:04:38.11\00:04:39.57
that the world may
believe that You sent Me."
00:04:39.61\00:04:43.21
So this week we
talked about unity.
00:04:43.24\00:04:44.75
Sunday specifically, Christ
as the center of any unity,
00:04:44.78\00:04:49.42
then we'll talk about love,
00:04:49.45\00:04:51.42
we'll talk about selfishness,
and submission, and commitment
00:04:51.45\00:04:54.62
and all of those things
as they relate to unity.
00:04:54.66\00:04:57.89
But let's look at
Christ as the center.
00:04:57.93\00:05:01.03
Turn with me to
Ephesians Chapter 2,
00:05:01.06\00:05:02.83
we'll look at how
does Christ unite us?
00:05:02.86\00:05:05.77
Now Ephesians Chapter
2, the first 10 verses
00:05:05.80\00:05:07.97
probably is one of my favorite
passages in the Word of God,
00:05:08.00\00:05:12.24
wonderful
treatise on justification
00:05:12.27\00:05:14.38
by faith and salvation
by grace through faith.
00:05:14.41\00:05:18.21
Ephesians 2 really
has two parallel passages.
00:05:18.25\00:05:20.62
Verses 1-10 talks about
our condition as individuals,
00:05:20.65\00:05:24.69
whether we're Jews or Gentiles.
00:05:24.72\00:05:27.19
I call it the
vertical reconciliation
00:05:27.22\00:05:29.59
between us and
the Father, right?
00:05:29.62\00:05:31.39
By grace we had
been saved through faith.
00:05:31.43\00:05:34.13
Ephesians 2:11-22,
00:05:34.16\00:05:36.46
which is the
passage we're gonna look
00:05:36.50\00:05:37.83
at today in Sunday's lesson,
00:05:37.87\00:05:39.63
is about our standing as
Gentiles and Jews, corporately.
00:05:39.67\00:05:44.37
This is the
horizontal relationship
00:05:44.41\00:05:46.81
and how Christ unites us,
00:05:46.84\00:05:49.44
breaks down the
middle wall of partition,
00:05:49.48\00:05:51.55
and unites us as
brothers and sisters.
00:05:51.58\00:05:54.08
So we first have
to be reunited to Him,
00:05:54.12\00:05:57.79
then we can be united to
our brothers and sisters,
00:05:57.82\00:06:01.42
so let's pick it up
for an Ephesians 2:11.
00:06:01.46\00:06:05.76
If you divide this section up,
there's kind of three sections
00:06:05.79\00:06:08.53
we're looking at
what we were in the past,
00:06:08.56\00:06:10.47
then what Christ has
accomplished in our lives
00:06:10.50\00:06:13.60
as a result of what He did,
00:06:13.64\00:06:15.70
and then the goal
or result of this work.
00:06:15.74\00:06:17.51
So what we are in
the past is verses 11-13,
00:06:17.54\00:06:21.61
"Therefore remember that
you, once Gentiles in the flesh,
00:06:21.64\00:06:25.38
who are called Uncircumcision
00:06:25.41\00:06:27.15
by what is
called the Circumcision
00:06:27.18\00:06:29.38
made in the flesh by hands,
00:06:29.42\00:06:31.69
that at that time
you were without Christ,"
00:06:31.72\00:06:35.59
that was all of us at one point,
00:06:35.62\00:06:37.43
"being aliens from
the commonwealth of Israel
00:06:37.46\00:06:40.00
and strangers from
the covenants of promise,
00:06:40.03\00:06:42.56
having no hope and
without God in the world.
00:06:42.60\00:06:44.93
But now in Christ Jesus
00:06:44.97\00:06:47.14
you who once were far off
00:06:47.17\00:06:50.77
have been brought near
by the blood of Christ."
00:06:50.81\00:06:53.84
Now the word
for far-off in Greek
00:06:53.88\00:06:55.31
is the same word in Luke 15
00:06:55.34\00:06:56.81
when the
prodigal was a long ways.
00:06:56.85\00:06:59.08
Remember, it says
when he was still far off,
00:06:59.11\00:07:01.42
when he was a long ways,
00:07:01.45\00:07:02.78
the same word, when
we were far off from God,
00:07:02.82\00:07:05.65
when we were lost in
transgression and sin
00:07:05.69\00:07:07.92
a long ways from him.
00:07:07.96\00:07:09.79
We were brought near, how?
00:07:09.82\00:07:11.43
By the blood of Christ.
00:07:11.46\00:07:13.19
That's right.
00:07:13.23\00:07:15.03
The blood of Christ cleanses us,
00:07:15.06\00:07:16.53
the blood of
Christ offers a salvation
00:07:16.56\00:07:18.43
but also it
reconciles us to the Father,
00:07:18.47\00:07:21.10
that's vertically
and to each other,
00:07:21.14\00:07:23.47
that's horizontally.
00:07:23.51\00:07:25.21
Now let's look at what Christ
has accomplished, verses 14-18.
00:07:25.24\00:07:30.45
"For He Himself,
Jesus Christ is our peace,
00:07:30.48\00:07:34.98
who has made both one,
00:07:35.02\00:07:37.02
and has broken down the
middle wall of separation,
00:07:37.05\00:07:40.19
having abolished in
His flesh the enmity,
00:07:40.22\00:07:42.42
that is the law of commandments
contained in ordinances,
00:07:42.46\00:07:46.43
so as to create in Himself
one new man from the two,
00:07:46.46\00:07:49.40
thus making peace,
00:07:49.43\00:07:51.43
and that He might reconcile them
00:07:51.47\00:07:52.93
both to God in one
body through the cross,
00:07:52.97\00:07:55.24
thereby putting
to death the enmity.
00:07:55.27\00:07:58.41
And He came and
preached peace to you
00:07:58.44\00:08:00.38
who were afar off and
to those who were near.
00:08:00.41\00:08:03.28
For through Him
we both have access
00:08:03.31\00:08:06.85
by one Spirit to the Father."
00:08:06.88\00:08:09.48
Now first of all,
00:08:09.52\00:08:10.85
Paul is not
saying that that law,
00:08:10.89\00:08:12.62
the Ten Commandment law
was abolished or done away
00:08:12.65\00:08:14.96
with, that is not the
point at all of this passage.
00:08:14.99\00:08:17.96
He's talking about some of those
00:08:17.99\00:08:19.33
Old Testament ordinances
00:08:19.36\00:08:20.70
and one of those
Old Testament ordinances
00:08:20.73\00:08:22.86
had to do with the separation
of the Jews and the Gentiles.
00:08:22.90\00:08:25.43
You think about in the temple,
00:08:25.47\00:08:27.27
they had several
courts as it were, right?
00:08:27.30\00:08:29.40
They had the
Court of the Gentiles
00:08:29.44\00:08:31.37
then the next level
in, the Court of the Women,
00:08:31.41\00:08:34.14
next level, the
Court of the Israelites,
00:08:34.18\00:08:36.78
next level Court of the Priests
00:08:36.81\00:08:38.21
and then you get all the
way into the Holy place itself.
00:08:38.25\00:08:41.22
Remember in
Acts, I think it's 21.
00:08:41.25\00:08:43.79
Paul was accused of bringing
a Gentile into the temple
00:08:43.82\00:08:47.96
and that's how he got
arrested in the first place.
00:08:47.99\00:08:49.92
Now he was falsely
accused, he never did that.
00:08:49.96\00:08:52.59
But he was accused of that.
00:08:52.63\00:08:54.16
They had a sign
posted in Greek and in Latin,
00:08:54.20\00:08:57.70
whoever is caught
entering the inner court
00:08:57.73\00:09:00.14
will have himself to
blame for his ensuing death.
00:09:00.17\00:09:04.21
In other words, you better know
00:09:04.24\00:09:06.07
that if you cross this boundary,
00:09:06.11\00:09:08.18
that you have yourself to blame,
00:09:08.21\00:09:09.54
you're gonna be put to death.
00:09:09.58\00:09:11.31
When Jesus came, He
broke down and tore down
00:09:11.35\00:09:15.38
that middle wall of separation
between Jew and Gentile.
00:09:15.42\00:09:20.62
But also today, I think,
00:09:20.66\00:09:24.09
what middle wall do
you have in your life?
00:09:24.13\00:09:26.13
You know this
middle wall of partition,
00:09:26.16\00:09:28.66
maybe it's pride or arrogance,
00:09:28.70\00:09:30.37
that middle wall
00:09:30.40\00:09:31.73
that's in the
midst of your family.
00:09:31.77\00:09:34.27
Maybe it's prejudice
or a sense of superiority,
00:09:34.30\00:09:37.67
maybe it's hatred and
strife for envy and jealousy
00:09:37.71\00:09:41.01
or resentment and bitterness.
00:09:41.04\00:09:42.48
These are all
middle walls of partition
00:09:42.51\00:09:45.38
that disrupt the family unity
00:09:45.41\00:09:49.68
and Christ came to be
the center of our homes
00:09:49.72\00:09:52.75
and the center of our hearts,
00:09:52.79\00:09:54.59
and to break that down
00:09:54.62\00:09:56.42
and then we see the
result of this, verses 19-22,
00:09:56.46\00:10:00.00
"You are no longer
strangers and foreigners,
00:10:00.03\00:10:03.03
but fellow
citizens with the saints
00:10:03.06\00:10:05.07
and members of
the household of God."
00:10:05.10\00:10:06.67
God has united us as
brothers and sisters.
00:10:06.70\00:10:12.67
Five takeaways in
my remaining time.
00:10:12.71\00:10:16.01
And when we talk
about family unity,
00:10:16.04\00:10:17.78
and we talk about making
Christ the center of our hearts
00:10:17.81\00:10:21.35
and the center of our home.
00:10:21.38\00:10:23.08
First, allow Christ to
break down the barriers,
00:10:23.12\00:10:26.19
the walls in your home,
00:10:26.22\00:10:28.89
whether it's in your home,
00:10:28.92\00:10:30.39
whether it's in your church,
00:10:30.43\00:10:32.09
whether it's in your community,
00:10:32.13\00:10:34.00
allow him to be that middle wall
00:10:34.03\00:10:36.36
and to take that down
00:10:36.40\00:10:38.30
and to break that
partition down as it were.
00:10:38.33\00:10:41.20
Number two, don't
dwell in the physical
00:10:41.24\00:10:44.21
or in the emotional,
00:10:44.24\00:10:45.97
but we're called to
dwell in the spiritual.
00:10:46.01\00:10:48.98
Colossians 3:2 says,
set your mind, where?
00:10:49.01\00:10:53.58
On things above.
00:10:53.62\00:10:54.95
On things above, not
on things of the earth.
00:10:54.98\00:10:59.85
So many times in
our family relationships
00:10:59.89\00:11:02.42
we set our mind in the physical,
00:11:02.46\00:11:04.26
we set our mind on
the things that bug us,
00:11:04.29\00:11:07.10
or that irritate us,
00:11:07.13\00:11:08.46
or that we want to do
differently, or whatever.
00:11:08.50\00:11:12.03
Instead of setting
our mind on things above,
00:11:12.07\00:11:14.77
we set them on
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:11:14.80\00:11:17.17
that makes a
difference in the family unity.
00:11:17.21\00:11:20.58
Take away number three,
00:11:20.61\00:11:22.58
consent to let Christ
put to death your old man
00:11:22.61\00:11:27.02
or your old woman,
00:11:27.05\00:11:28.62
and the old way of doing things.
00:11:28.65\00:11:31.12
This is also in
Colossians 3:5-8,
00:11:31.15\00:11:33.76
remember Paul
talks about putting off
00:11:33.79\00:11:36.46
those works of the flesh
00:11:36.49\00:11:37.83
that would be
fornication and uncleanness,
00:11:37.86\00:11:40.13
and passion and evil
desire and covetousness.
00:11:40.16\00:11:44.27
That would be anger
and wrath and malice,
00:11:44.30\00:11:47.47
and blasphemy
and filthy language.
00:11:47.50\00:11:50.21
So can you imagine a home
00:11:50.24\00:11:51.87
where there's a
great deal of anger?
00:11:51.91\00:11:54.94
Okay, well, that's the home.
00:11:54.98\00:11:56.31
Number one, Christ
cannot be the center of
00:11:56.34\00:11:58.05
but that's the home of disunity.
00:11:58.08\00:12:00.38
Can you imagine a
home where there's a lot of
00:12:00.42\00:12:02.38
filthy talk and filthy language
00:12:02.42\00:12:04.52
or there's a home
where there's fornication
00:12:04.55\00:12:07.12
or stepping outside
the bounds of marriage
00:12:07.16\00:12:10.19
and some sort of
adulterous affair.
00:12:10.23\00:12:12.66
All of those are ways to
break up the family unit.
00:12:12.69\00:12:16.46
But God calls us
to put off the old man
00:12:16.50\00:12:20.80
with all of those old
habits and carnal practices,
00:12:20.84\00:12:25.17
but we don't
just empty the house
00:12:25.21\00:12:27.08
and sweep it
clean and sit there.
00:12:27.11\00:12:29.91
And okay, I'm good,
Pastor Ryan, what do we do?
00:12:29.94\00:12:32.71
We have to be
filled with the spirit
00:12:32.75\00:12:35.02
and that's takeaway number four.
00:12:35.05\00:12:37.19
This is Colossians 3:12-15.
00:12:37.22\00:12:39.09
We won't read it all here,
but we are called to put on.
00:12:39.12\00:12:42.19
He says not only to put off,
but to put on tender mercies.
00:12:42.22\00:12:47.03
Imagine a home
where there's mercy.
00:12:47.06\00:12:49.00
You know, you extend
grace and mercy to other people.
00:12:49.03\00:12:52.37
We're to put on
kindness, put on humility.
00:12:52.40\00:12:56.30
Whoo!
00:12:56.34\00:12:57.67
If you walk in humility
00:12:57.71\00:12:59.97
and being willing
to forgive each other,
00:13:00.01\00:13:03.04
all issues and conflicts
are resolved in a moment,
00:13:03.08\00:13:06.92
if you're willing to do that,
00:13:06.95\00:13:08.32
if both parties
are willing to do that.
00:13:08.35\00:13:10.59
Put on humility,
meekness, long suffering,
00:13:10.62\00:13:13.92
forbearance with other
people, forgiveness, peace.
00:13:13.96\00:13:17.53
These are the qualities
00:13:17.56\00:13:18.89
that we can't
conjure up ourselves.
00:13:18.93\00:13:21.13
They come as a result
00:13:21.16\00:13:23.70
of opening up our hearts
to the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:13:23.73\00:13:26.30
setting our mind
and affection on Him,
00:13:26.33\00:13:29.40
and letting Him work
that in our hearts and lives.
00:13:29.44\00:13:32.77
And finally number five.
00:13:32.81\00:13:34.54
make that choice
for Jesus every day.
00:13:34.58\00:13:36.58
I could say, I made a
choice for Jesus years ago,
00:13:36.61\00:13:39.01
when I was baptized.
00:13:39.05\00:13:40.38
I'm good.
00:13:40.42\00:13:41.75
But no, every day.
00:13:41.78\00:13:43.52
Paul says, I die daily.
00:13:43.55\00:13:45.05
Every day we make
the choice for Jesus
00:13:45.09\00:13:46.99
and many times
throughout the day,
00:13:47.02\00:13:49.29
make the choice
to have Jesus Christ
00:13:49.32\00:13:52.36
as the center of your home.
00:13:52.39\00:13:54.93
Pastor Ryan.
00:13:54.96\00:13:56.36
Wow!
00:13:56.40\00:13:57.73
Jill, that was fantastic
and it was really flawless.
00:13:57.77\00:14:00.67
I probably appreciated that.
00:14:00.70\00:14:02.60
I guess Monday's
lesson, let's move on to it
00:14:02.64\00:14:04.47
because this one is
00:14:04.51\00:14:07.14
a very, very
sensitive topic, in my opinion,
00:14:07.18\00:14:09.78
because it deals
with an issue and as topic
00:14:09.81\00:14:14.75
that is really being
misused and abused today.
00:14:14.78\00:14:17.55
First of all, there's a
lot of talk in Christianity
00:14:17.59\00:14:19.75
about unity these days.
00:14:19.79\00:14:21.62
What is true biblical unity?
00:14:21.66\00:14:24.63
And, of course,
Monday's lesson is entitled,
00:14:24.66\00:14:26.90
"Becoming One Through His Love."
00:14:26.93\00:14:30.07
And so there I
find more and more
00:14:30.10\00:14:31.67
as I'm listening
to more ministers
00:14:31.70\00:14:33.37
and talk about
this subject today.
00:14:33.40\00:14:35.64
There's this sense of
ecumenism floating around
00:14:35.67\00:14:39.31
that let's all be one in love,
00:14:39.34\00:14:41.71
just push aside
doctrine and all these things
00:14:41.74\00:14:44.18
and, you know, the
truth is we do need to be.
00:14:44.21\00:14:46.28
I just want to clear the air,
00:14:46.31\00:14:47.65
we do need to become one
00:14:47.68\00:14:49.38
and it has to
happen through love.
00:14:49.42\00:14:51.95
But there has to be a
proper, healthy, mature,
00:14:51.99\00:14:54.82
biblical approach to
unity through this love.
00:14:54.86\00:14:58.26
And so what I would like to do
00:14:58.29\00:14:59.63
is just, just kind of set all
personal interpretation aside
00:14:59.66\00:15:02.90
and just allow the Bible
to speak for itself as always,
00:15:02.93\00:15:05.67
you can never
go wrong with that.
00:15:05.70\00:15:07.40
I want to start in
1 Thessalonians 3:12,
00:15:07.44\00:15:12.07
beautiful text.
00:15:12.11\00:15:13.44
In fact, in the
lesson, there's really...
00:15:13.48\00:15:14.91
You'll notice in the lesson
00:15:14.94\00:15:16.28
there's not even any
commentary prior to this.
00:15:16.31\00:15:18.41
The writer just jumps
right into 1 Thessalonians 3:12.
00:15:18.45\00:15:22.15
Now in the
lesson, it's in the NIV,
00:15:22.18\00:15:23.65
I think I'm reading mine
from the New King James Version.
00:15:23.69\00:15:27.12
But it says this,
1 Thessalonians 3:12,
00:15:27.16\00:15:30.76
it says, "And may the
Lord make you increase
00:15:30.79\00:15:33.56
and abound in love to
one another and to all,
00:15:33.60\00:15:38.07
just as we do to you,"
00:15:38.10\00:15:40.00
So Paul is basically writing
to the church at Thessaloniki
00:15:40.04\00:15:42.94
and saying, look, you
know, we need more love.
00:15:42.97\00:15:45.14
I hope that the God increases
you in love as we have to you.
00:15:45.17\00:15:49.61
So he's saying we set
that example, please continue
00:15:49.64\00:15:52.38
to increase and abound
in love much, much more.
00:15:52.41\00:15:55.92
When I think of love,
00:15:55.95\00:15:57.82
when I think of
just that the word love,
00:15:57.85\00:15:59.22
the concept of love,
00:15:59.25\00:16:00.59
there is one text
that comes to my mind.
00:16:00.62\00:16:02.02
To me, it's the master,
00:16:02.06\00:16:03.39
it's the champion
of all love scriptures
00:16:03.43\00:16:05.69
and it might
actually surprise you.
00:16:05.73\00:16:07.60
Because most people
when they think of love,
00:16:07.63\00:16:10.13
they think of the love chapter,
1 Corinthians Chapter 13,
00:16:10.17\00:16:13.13
which we will spend some time in
00:16:13.17\00:16:14.60
during this particular lesson.
00:16:14.64\00:16:15.97
But 1 John 4:8, in my opinion,
00:16:16.00\00:16:19.47
is the champion
of all love verses,
00:16:19.51\00:16:22.38
and it's very short, very
simple, but very profound.
00:16:22.41\00:16:25.01
Notice what the Bible says here.
00:16:25.05\00:16:27.32
"He who does not
love does not know God,"
00:16:27.35\00:16:33.69
and why is that?
00:16:33.72\00:16:35.32
"For God is love."
00:16:35.36\00:16:38.79
Okay, notice how it doesn't
say that, He's just mere loving.
00:16:38.83\00:16:43.16
Okay, there's a difference
between someone being loving
00:16:43.20\00:16:45.67
and, of course, this
identification of God
00:16:45.70\00:16:48.30
being love.
00:16:48.34\00:16:49.90
God is not just
loving, He is love.
00:16:49.94\00:16:54.08
Okay, that means
that's who He is,
00:16:54.11\00:16:56.01
that's his identity
that is his very character.
00:16:56.04\00:16:59.65
If you were too, there
was another name for God,
00:16:59.68\00:17:01.98
the only proper
name would be love.
00:17:02.02\00:17:04.35
And I believe this verse
particularly brings it out.
00:17:04.39\00:17:07.19
And notice here the
first part of this verse,
00:17:07.22\00:17:09.42
"He who does not
love does not," what?
00:17:09.46\00:17:11.36
"Know God."
00:17:11.39\00:17:12.73
You don't know God.
00:17:12.76\00:17:14.10
And there's a lot
of Christians today
00:17:14.13\00:17:15.46
that you know, Oh, I'm saved,
00:17:15.50\00:17:17.00
or I got saved
back at this time.
00:17:17.03\00:17:18.37
But you know, the Bible says
00:17:18.40\00:17:20.00
that you will know
them by their fruits
00:17:20.04\00:17:22.27
and there's many
people they claim to know God,
00:17:22.30\00:17:24.24
but they don't have love.
00:17:24.27\00:17:25.77
And so at the end of the
day, we have to come to know
00:17:25.81\00:17:28.31
that God love to have
00:17:28.34\00:17:29.74
that God love been
manifest in our lives,
00:17:29.78\00:17:31.91
that we may be able to,
00:17:31.95\00:17:33.55
you know, be unified
as a unit, as a group,
00:17:33.58\00:17:35.92
as a people in the Lord.
00:17:35.95\00:17:38.49
John 17:3, we
mentioned our scripture.
00:17:38.52\00:17:41.89
I think our memory text
is from John Chapter 17.
00:17:41.92\00:17:45.46
But perhaps maybe
the most popular verse
00:17:45.49\00:17:47.56
in John Chapter 17 is verse 3
00:17:47.60\00:17:50.07
because it deals
directly with salvation.
00:17:50.10\00:17:52.20
And I want you to
notice the connection
00:17:52.23\00:17:53.57
between 1 John 4 and
8 and John Chapter 17:3,
00:17:53.60\00:17:57.37
and of course, we know it says,
00:17:57.41\00:17:58.74
"And this is eternal
life, that they may..."
00:17:58.77\00:18:01.84
There it is.
00:18:01.88\00:18:03.21
"Know You, the only true God,
00:18:03.24\00:18:04.58
and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent."
00:18:04.61\00:18:07.42
So it is
essential for us to know God
00:18:07.45\00:18:09.92
because that is directly
associated with our salvation
00:18:09.95\00:18:12.92
and our redemption.
00:18:12.95\00:18:14.29
So I want to know God,
00:18:14.32\00:18:15.69
but the only way
that I can know God
00:18:15.72\00:18:18.26
is if I'm growing closer to Him,
00:18:18.29\00:18:19.93
if I'm being unified
under His manifestation of love.
00:18:19.96\00:18:23.67
To know God is our goal
00:18:23.70\00:18:25.17
and it is eternal
life, that's clear.
00:18:25.20\00:18:27.17
This love will mend and
unite the coldest of hearts
00:18:27.20\00:18:31.24
only the true love of God.
00:18:31.27\00:18:32.84
And one must simply be
willing, we have to be willing
00:18:32.87\00:18:35.88
to receive and humble
ourselves as Jill mentioned,
00:18:35.91\00:18:38.55
humility is key in
uniting the church,
00:18:38.58\00:18:41.58
uniting each one of
us under the love of God.
00:18:41.62\00:18:44.02
I want to continue
on in John 17:20-26.
00:18:44.05\00:18:48.16
Christ really expounds
00:18:48.19\00:18:49.79
on how this love
is to be manifest
00:18:49.82\00:18:52.29
and what it's gonna look like.
00:18:52.33\00:18:54.66
Once we have accepted,
00:18:54.70\00:18:56.03
we've been willing to
allow God to work in us
00:18:56.06\00:18:58.00
through the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:18:58.03\00:18:59.67
what will this look like?
00:18:59.70\00:19:01.04
What is the
goal that Christ set?
00:19:01.07\00:19:03.07
He explains it right here
in His prayer to the Father.
00:19:03.10\00:19:06.34
Verse 20 says, "I do not pray,"
00:19:06.37\00:19:08.41
excuse me, "I do not
pray for these alone,
00:19:08.44\00:19:12.15
but also for those
00:19:12.18\00:19:13.78
who will believe in
Me through their word
00:19:13.82\00:19:16.28
that they all,"
notice, "may all be one,
00:19:16.32\00:19:19.75
as You, Father, are
in Me, and I in You."
00:19:19.79\00:19:23.19
Does Christ
want anyone left out?
00:19:23.22\00:19:24.99
No.
00:19:25.03\00:19:26.36
You know, God loves us
all and that's the thing
00:19:26.39\00:19:28.43
you know, we are
all the children of God.
00:19:28.46\00:19:30.80
And we're all
in different paths.
00:19:30.83\00:19:32.57
We've all had
different experience,
00:19:32.60\00:19:34.00
we're all coming
from different backgrounds
00:19:34.04\00:19:35.97
but at the end of the
day, Christ wants us all
00:19:36.00\00:19:38.07
to be a part of His church.
00:19:38.11\00:19:40.98
He goes on to say,
00:19:41.01\00:19:42.34
"That they also may
be one" notice, "in us."
00:19:42.38\00:19:48.35
It says,
00:19:48.38\00:19:49.72
"That the world may
believe that You sent Me.
00:19:49.75\00:19:52.52
And the glory which You
gave Me I have given them,
00:19:52.55\00:19:55.22
that they may be
one just as we are one."
00:19:55.26\00:19:58.36
So notice the correlation here
00:19:58.39\00:20:00.50
Christ is praying to
Him and saying look, Father,
00:20:00.53\00:20:02.16
we have a good thing,
we have a great thing.
00:20:02.20\00:20:04.97
You and me, we're like this.
00:20:05.00\00:20:06.63
You know, we're
like two peas in a pod,
00:20:06.67\00:20:08.24
you know, that's
what I want for them.
00:20:08.27\00:20:11.11
I want My
children, I want Our church,
00:20:11.14\00:20:12.64
I want My people to
be one as we are one.
00:20:12.67\00:20:15.84
Because again, when we reflect
that of the character of Jesus,
00:20:15.88\00:20:18.61
we are reflecting love.
00:20:18.65\00:20:20.05
When people look into
us, when they see the church,
00:20:20.08\00:20:22.38
they should see God.
00:20:22.42\00:20:23.75
They should see God's love.
00:20:23.79\00:20:25.12
Verse 24, it says,
"Father, I desire that they also
00:20:25.15\00:20:27.96
whom You gave Me may
be with Me where I am,
00:20:27.99\00:20:30.59
that," notice,
"they may behold My glory
00:20:30.63\00:20:33.06
which You have given
Me, for You loved Me,"
00:20:33.09\00:20:36.00
notice the thing "You loved Me
00:20:36.03\00:20:37.37
before the
foundation of the world
00:20:37.40\00:20:38.93
O righteous Father!
00:20:38.97\00:20:40.50
The world has not known You,"
00:20:40.54\00:20:42.24
there it is again,
notice how this correlation
00:20:42.27\00:20:44.07
between knowing God and
love keeps popping back up,
00:20:44.11\00:20:47.04
"but I have known You,
00:20:47.08\00:20:48.91
and these have
known that You sent Me.
00:20:48.94\00:20:52.31
And I have declared to them
Your name, and I will declare,"
00:20:52.35\00:20:55.42
notice here it is again,
00:20:55.45\00:20:56.79
"that the love
which You loved Me
00:20:56.82\00:20:59.15
may be in them, and I in them."
00:20:59.19\00:21:01.52
This love draws
and unites everyone.
00:21:01.56\00:21:05.06
That was Christ prayer,
Lord, draw them together,
00:21:05.09\00:21:07.66
unite them into one
as You and I are one,
00:21:07.70\00:21:10.70
but how does it happen?
00:21:10.73\00:21:12.90
Through love.
00:21:12.93\00:21:14.30
So love brings unity.
00:21:14.34\00:21:17.01
John 13:35,
00:21:17.04\00:21:19.04
"By this all will know
that you are My disciples,
00:21:19.07\00:21:23.14
if you have love
for one another."
00:21:23.18\00:21:26.48
Love is the outward sign.
00:21:26.51\00:21:28.42
It is the clear indicator
that the most powerful witness
00:21:28.45\00:21:32.35
that we truly belong to Him.
00:21:32.39\00:21:35.26
Plain and
simple, plain and simple.
00:21:35.29\00:21:38.59
The Fruit of the Spirit,
00:21:38.63\00:21:39.96
many people say
the Fruit of the Spirit
00:21:40.00\00:21:41.33
and it's this
long list of things,
00:21:41.36\00:21:42.70
but I want you to notice
00:21:42.73\00:21:44.07
that the very
beginning of that list
00:21:44.10\00:21:45.43
the Fruit of the Spirit is love.
00:21:45.47\00:21:46.87
Everything else
falls into that banner.
00:21:46.90\00:21:48.37
Everything else falls
under the banner of love,
00:21:48.40\00:21:50.71
if only we just have
love for one another.
00:21:50.74\00:21:52.61
And when the
outward world sees us,
00:21:52.64\00:21:54.54
when the world
sees that love in us,
00:21:54.58\00:21:56.21
they are seeing the love of God.
00:21:56.24\00:21:58.55
That is a good indicator,
00:21:58.58\00:21:59.91
a clear, powerful
witness that we belong to God.
00:21:59.95\00:22:03.18
If we love one another,
00:22:03.22\00:22:04.55
Christ's love will be put
on display for all to see.
00:22:04.59\00:22:07.26
Amen.
00:22:07.29\00:22:08.62
I just want to skip down here.
00:22:08.66\00:22:09.99
You know, let's
talk practicality
00:22:10.03\00:22:11.36
in these last
few seconds I have.
00:22:11.39\00:22:13.56
Ryan, I know it's
love, I need the love of God
00:22:13.60\00:22:15.80
and I know that love
00:22:15.83\00:22:17.17
is what truly
unites God's people,
00:22:17.20\00:22:19.07
and we want to be united
under the banner of love.
00:22:19.10\00:22:21.94
But how can I make sure...
00:22:21.97\00:22:24.97
Is there something I can do
00:22:25.01\00:22:27.11
in response to the
Lord's calling in my life
00:22:27.14\00:22:29.78
because the Bible
clearly communicates
00:22:29.81\00:22:31.65
that the Holy
Spirit, this is Romans 5:5,
00:22:31.68\00:22:33.92
as well as John 16:14,
00:22:33.95\00:22:36.79
the Holy Spirit is the one
00:22:36.82\00:22:39.39
who brings and
it works through you
00:22:39.42\00:22:41.46
to make that love
manifest in your life.
00:22:41.49\00:22:43.99
But I want you to just...
00:22:44.03\00:22:45.36
I want to use the
example of John 3:14.
00:22:45.39\00:22:48.13
Notice what Christ says here,
00:22:48.16\00:22:49.70
speaking to Nicodemus, He says,
00:22:49.73\00:22:51.30
"As Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness,
00:22:51.33\00:22:53.64
even so must the Son
of man be lifted up."
00:22:53.67\00:22:56.44
Now why would I read that text
in connection with this topic?
00:22:56.47\00:22:59.57
Because that is
the practicality,
00:22:59.61\00:23:01.28
in the entire Chapter of John 3
00:23:01.31\00:23:03.98
where Mrs. White says, in
no other part of the Bible
00:23:04.01\00:23:06.95
is salvation made more clear.
00:23:06.98\00:23:09.85
When you read that chapter,
00:23:09.88\00:23:11.22
the only time that
Christ communicate something
00:23:11.25\00:23:13.92
that we can do
to, I guess swiftly,
00:23:13.96\00:23:19.09
you know, increase the chances
00:23:19.13\00:23:20.80
of the process
of the Holy Spirit
00:23:20.83\00:23:22.70
working in us and changing us.
00:23:22.73\00:23:24.67
The one thing
that He says we can do,
00:23:24.70\00:23:26.63
He mentions it right here,
00:23:26.67\00:23:28.00
as Moses lifted a
serpent in the wilderness,
00:23:28.04\00:23:29.44
even so must the
Son of man be lifted up,
00:23:29.47\00:23:32.44
as we look to
Christ, and we behold Christ.
00:23:32.47\00:23:38.68
Like looking into a
mirror, as Paul writes,
00:23:38.71\00:23:41.15
glory to glory he mentions.
00:23:41.18\00:23:43.15
That glory of the Father,
00:23:43.18\00:23:44.52
the love of the
Father will reflect in us.
00:23:44.55\00:23:47.16
By beholding we become changed.
00:23:47.19\00:23:49.42
And I just want to
say here in closing,
00:23:49.46\00:23:51.16
Look unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of your faith.
00:23:51.19\00:23:54.16
Look at the uplifted
Savior, as we are drawn to Him,
00:23:54.20\00:23:57.37
His love will be
made manifest in us
00:23:57.40\00:23:59.63
and therefore the church,
00:23:59.67\00:24:01.07
and therefore
we will be unified.
00:24:01.10\00:24:02.70
Glory to God. Amen.
00:24:02.74\00:24:04.37
Thank you so much, Ryan.
00:24:04.41\00:24:05.74
What an incredible job.
00:24:05.77\00:24:07.11
Praise God that He is love,
00:24:07.14\00:24:08.71
and He can pour His
love into our hearts.
00:24:08.74\00:24:11.28
We're gonna take a
break, we'll be right back.
00:24:11.31\00:24:13.25
Amen.
00:24:13.28\00:24:14.62
Ever wish you could watch
00:24:19.39\00:24:20.72
a 3ABN Sabbath
School Panel again,
00:24:20.76\00:24:22.89
or share it on
Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?
00:24:22.92\00:24:26.06
Well, you can by visiting
3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com.
00:24:26.09\00:24:31.00
A clean design makes it easy
00:24:31.03\00:24:33.47
to find the
program you're looking for.
00:24:33.50\00:24:35.70
There are also links to
the Adult Bible Study Guide
00:24:35.74\00:24:39.07
so you can follow along.
00:24:39.11\00:24:40.88
Sharing is easy.
00:24:40.91\00:24:42.24
Just click share and choose
your favorite social media.
00:24:42.28\00:24:45.41
Share a link, save
a life for eternity.
00:24:45.45\00:24:48.48
Welcome back to
our study on unity
00:24:52.02\00:24:54.52
and we're gonna pick
up with Tuesday's lesson.
00:24:54.56\00:24:56.22
Pastor Kenny, you have
a lesson on selfishness.
00:24:56.26\00:24:58.99
Yes, that was
kind of interesting
00:24:59.03\00:25:00.50
that I get selfishness,
00:25:00.53\00:25:01.86
you know, I love the,
00:25:01.90\00:25:03.93
you know, Christ the center.
00:25:03.97\00:25:05.63
And you know, I
love when you're talking
00:25:05.67\00:25:07.30
about the love of
Christ and what we need,
00:25:07.34\00:25:09.14
you know, what we can
become through Him, love.
00:25:09.17\00:25:11.71
But also we have to face
this thing called selfishness
00:25:11.74\00:25:14.61
'cause I really believe
00:25:14.64\00:25:15.98
that selfishness is at the
root of every sin, is it not?
00:25:16.01\00:25:18.05
Yes.
00:25:18.08\00:25:19.41
Every sin, it
begins at the very bottom,
00:25:19.45\00:25:20.95
the self for somehow
00:25:20.98\00:25:22.38
has insinuated
itself up in the issue.
00:25:22.42\00:25:25.15
And I thought that'd be good
00:25:25.19\00:25:27.02
if we just kind
of went back and look
00:25:27.06\00:25:29.06
at the importance of
selfishness, 'cause selfishness
00:25:29.09\00:25:32.59
can and will
destroy your family,
00:25:32.63\00:25:34.70
it will destroy your marriage,
it destroys friendships,
00:25:34.73\00:25:37.83
it destroys the
church, if we let it go.
00:25:37.87\00:25:40.94
And it is a sour, it's a disease
00:25:40.97\00:25:44.57
and it continues to
get worse, if it's not,
00:25:44.61\00:25:47.11
you know, if it's not directly
attack by the Word of God.
00:25:47.14\00:25:50.48
And I went back and
I read in Jeremiah 8:10
00:25:50.51\00:25:53.88
because this here...
00:25:53.92\00:25:55.25
And we're gonna
look over several things
00:25:55.28\00:25:57.09
that the selfishness,
00:25:57.12\00:25:58.45
and I'm gonna say
selfishness destroys.
00:25:58.49\00:26:00.66
Now remember,
selfishness does what?
00:26:00.69\00:26:02.29
Selfishness destroys.
00:26:02.32\00:26:03.66
Jeremiah 8:10 says,
00:26:03.69\00:26:05.03
"For everyone from the
least even unto the greatest
00:26:05.06\00:26:08.40
is given,"
notice, " to covetousness,
00:26:08.43\00:26:11.63
from the prophet
even to the priest
00:26:11.67\00:26:14.20
everyone dealeth falsely."
00:26:14.24\00:26:17.41
So this was talking
about going back to the church
00:26:17.44\00:26:20.04
and even to the leadership
that there was selfishness.
00:26:20.08\00:26:23.14
Now you will say we used a
word covetousness in there,
00:26:23.18\00:26:25.75
but as we read on that
that's selfishness too.
00:26:25.78\00:26:28.32
That's right. So we
didn't realize that.
00:26:28.35\00:26:29.88
So selfishness destroy,
00:26:29.92\00:26:31.25
let's go quickly as
we can through this.
00:26:31.29\00:26:32.95
Notice this, now if
I asked the question,
00:26:32.99\00:26:35.62
I got excited here and I
start asking the question
00:26:35.66\00:26:37.26
to raise your hand
00:26:37.29\00:26:38.63
and I'll tell you up front,
it might be a trick question.
00:26:38.66\00:26:42.33
It might be a trick question,
00:26:42.36\00:26:43.87
but do you know
00:26:43.90\00:26:45.23
can Christ abide in
the heart or in the soul,
00:26:45.27\00:26:48.90
you know, if
selfishness is present?
00:26:48.94\00:26:54.41
No.
00:26:54.44\00:26:55.78
Okay, good.
00:26:55.81\00:26:57.15
It really wasn't that
hard, but you think about it.
00:26:57.18\00:26:58.51
We were little hesitant.
We might say as Christ...
00:26:58.55\00:27:01.72
Okay. Does Christ
abide in your soul?
00:27:01.75\00:27:03.99
Or do you love
Jesus with all your heart
00:27:04.02\00:27:05.55
what you've been telling here.
00:27:05.59\00:27:06.92
Every one of us, I
think would raise our hand.
00:27:06.96\00:27:09.09
But the test would
come and it came to me
00:27:09.12\00:27:12.09
as I looked at this, I said,
00:27:12.13\00:27:13.46
Christ cannot abide in the soul,
00:27:13.50\00:27:15.33
only way He can is
when selfishness is dead.
00:27:15.36\00:27:18.77
And I'm not sure
when I look at myself,
00:27:18.80\00:27:20.40
is selfishness is really dead.
00:27:20.44\00:27:22.50
What motivates me to
do the things that I do?
00:27:22.54\00:27:24.57
What motivates
you to do what you do?
00:27:24.61\00:27:26.61
Remember, Christ
cannot abide in the soul
00:27:26.64\00:27:30.48
unless self is completely dead.
00:27:30.51\00:27:32.31
That's right.
00:27:32.35\00:27:33.68
So we need some
self examination,
00:27:33.72\00:27:35.52
at least I do here.
00:27:35.55\00:27:37.35
And here's what
Christ come back.
00:27:37.39\00:27:39.45
He knew that, He struck right
at the root of selfishness.
00:27:39.49\00:27:42.99
And you know why?
00:27:43.02\00:27:44.36
Because He denied himself
and He went to the cross,
00:27:44.39\00:27:46.26
and He died for me
and He died for you.
00:27:46.29\00:27:48.66
What is selfishness?
00:27:48.70\00:27:50.03
I jotted down a few things
00:27:50.07\00:27:51.40
I thought were very interesting.
00:27:51.43\00:27:52.77
Selfishness number
one is an abomination
00:27:52.80\00:27:54.97
in the sight of God.
00:27:55.00\00:27:56.97
We like to label things.
00:27:57.01\00:27:58.47
This is bad. This is worse.
00:27:58.51\00:28:00.61
Oh, I'd never do that.
00:28:00.64\00:28:02.48
But think, we almost
like eliminate selfishness,
00:28:02.51\00:28:05.25
it's like, it's
not such a big deal.
00:28:05.28\00:28:07.48
But it's an
abomination in the sight of God.
00:28:07.52\00:28:09.75
Like many other things
we've been in our lesson panel,
00:28:09.78\00:28:11.95
they are abomination to God,
00:28:11.99\00:28:13.32
we need to look
at that very closely.
00:28:13.36\00:28:15.19
Selfishness is covetousness,
selfishness is idolatry.
00:28:15.22\00:28:21.66
We're gonna break
all the commandments here
00:28:21.70\00:28:23.06
if we keep right on going here,
00:28:23.10\00:28:24.43
and we'll find that really we do
00:28:24.47\00:28:26.63
because self gain
is at the very bottom.
00:28:26.67\00:28:30.41
What does it do?
00:28:30.44\00:28:31.77
It blinds us and it deceives us.
00:28:31.81\00:28:34.31
That's what selfishness does.
00:28:34.34\00:28:35.68
And that's what it
does in the family sometime
00:28:35.71\00:28:37.31
in the family
circle, in the church.
00:28:37.35\00:28:39.38
It brings discord.
00:28:39.41\00:28:41.78
Wherever you are at,
whatever you're doing,
00:28:41.82\00:28:44.39
you'll find if there are
selfish individuals around,
00:28:44.42\00:28:47.32
we all have a little of that in,
00:28:47.36\00:28:48.69
God help us and when
I make that statement,
00:28:48.72\00:28:50.63
I'm saying does God can
really abide in my heart
00:28:50.66\00:28:52.76
when it's there.
00:28:52.79\00:28:54.13
So I'm gonna be praying day
00:28:54.16\00:28:55.50
that all goes and I hope
that you're praying that too.
00:28:55.53\00:28:58.00
It blinds us and deceives us.
00:28:58.03\00:29:00.10
It brings discord
that we talked about.
00:29:00.14\00:29:02.44
It's a
spiritual corroding power.
00:29:02.47\00:29:06.61
You know, on the
batteries what you get,
00:29:06.64\00:29:08.54
you know, they were going good
00:29:08.58\00:29:09.91
but every once in a
while they start to do what?
00:29:09.94\00:29:11.48
Corrode. Corrode.
00:29:11.51\00:29:12.85
You don't see it at first.
00:29:12.88\00:29:14.22
Sometime we can
hide some selfishness
00:29:14.25\00:29:15.58
but every once in a
while when we hit a point
00:29:15.62\00:29:17.32
oh, you can see some
selfishness is popped out.
00:29:17.35\00:29:20.52
With the battery cable
you have to get in there
00:29:20.56\00:29:22.49
and you have to
take a wire brush.
00:29:22.52\00:29:24.03
It's not easy.
00:29:24.06\00:29:25.53
You know, if you
approached it a little sooner
00:29:25.56\00:29:27.60
and got you a little ratchet
00:29:27.63\00:29:28.96
and undone one
little nut on there
00:29:29.00\00:29:30.43
and take the little sandpaper...
00:29:30.47\00:29:32.17
It's taking care of,
00:29:32.20\00:29:33.54
you don't have
to worry about it.
00:29:33.57\00:29:34.90
But when it's corroded,
00:29:34.94\00:29:36.27
you take the wire brush,
at least that's what I do
00:29:36.30\00:29:38.14
wire brush and, boy,
you really clean that baby
00:29:38.17\00:29:40.11
but, you know, it
leaves some scars.
00:29:40.14\00:29:43.45
Those battery post on there,
00:29:43.48\00:29:44.98
you know, like a lead,
they're very tender and soft.
00:29:45.01\00:29:49.12
And when you hit
them with that wire brush,
00:29:49.15\00:29:50.49
it leaves some...
00:29:50.52\00:29:52.29
That's a spiritual
thinking here I think.
00:29:52.32\00:29:54.46
It corrupts the heart.
00:29:54.49\00:29:55.92
It's deadly evil.
00:29:55.96\00:29:57.83
Selfishness is, the
influence of it is very evil.
00:29:57.86\00:30:02.46
Interesting here I read,
00:30:02.50\00:30:03.83
I think it was in Life Sketches,
00:30:03.87\00:30:05.63
it said, "Every other sin
00:30:05.67\00:30:07.20
comes under the general
heading of selfishness."
00:30:07.24\00:30:11.74
It's in the
church, it's in the family
00:30:11.77\00:30:13.74
and notice this, we're
talking about the family,
00:30:13.78\00:30:15.81
selfishness is
developed in our children.
00:30:15.84\00:30:19.91
And the most dominant
00:30:19.95\00:30:21.52
is the first three
years of their life.
00:30:21.55\00:30:23.69
Mom and dad parenting,
we have to catch that,
00:30:23.72\00:30:26.69
that's our obligation
is to catch the selfishness
00:30:26.72\00:30:29.59
in our own children.
00:30:29.62\00:30:30.96
And lot of time mom and
dad don't want to be fair,
00:30:30.99\00:30:32.86
all they see is a
little angel laying there.
00:30:32.89\00:30:34.73
You know, we need to
open our eyes a little bit
00:30:34.76\00:30:36.56
and we should see it with love.
00:30:36.60\00:30:38.57
So yeah, we need to be
able to see if there's false.
00:30:38.60\00:30:40.64
We need to see if
there's problems there.
00:30:40.67\00:30:42.70
I've seen that happen
over, and over, and over,
00:30:42.74\00:30:44.27
where you put two babies in
the little, you know, cradle
00:30:44.31\00:30:47.08
put them in a bassinet,
00:30:47.11\00:30:48.44
what are you put them
in, put them into bed.
00:30:48.48\00:30:50.11
And they're not a year old,
but there's 20 toys in there.
00:30:50.15\00:30:53.62
They'll fight over the same one.
00:30:53.65\00:30:55.75
They don't know that
they're really doing that,
00:30:55.78\00:30:57.35
I don't think but it's
just something inherit,
00:30:57.39\00:30:59.82
we have a sinful nature.
00:30:59.85\00:31:01.56
We've had that sinful nature,
00:31:01.59\00:31:02.92
and we prone to be
very, very selfish.
00:31:02.96\00:31:06.03
And I'm gonna say this
because our time is gonna go by
00:31:06.06\00:31:07.90
for, you know, just go
but, how can we really shun it?
00:31:07.93\00:31:11.20
You know, how can we
really gain the victory?
00:31:11.23\00:31:12.57
And then we'll continue
on what time we have but...
00:31:12.60\00:31:14.54
I thought this 2 Testimonies
132, very simple answer.
00:31:14.57\00:31:18.31
I like simple answers.
00:31:18.34\00:31:19.67
I'm a simple person.
00:31:19.71\00:31:21.04
It says,
"Through God's strength."
00:31:21.08\00:31:22.68
I can't do it on my own.
00:31:22.71\00:31:24.05
I'm a selfish guy.
00:31:24.08\00:31:25.98
I can't do it on my own,
00:31:26.01\00:31:27.35
but I can do it
through the strength of Christ.
00:31:27.38\00:31:29.18
We can live, notice
this, how do we conquer?
00:31:29.22\00:31:31.82
I can live to
do good for others.
00:31:31.85\00:31:34.79
I can learn to
share, I can learn to give,
00:31:34.82\00:31:36.93
I can learn to go out
and give Bible studies,
00:31:36.96\00:31:38.89
you know, I can learn
to do good for others.
00:31:38.93\00:31:41.30
In that way we shun
the evil of selfishness.
00:31:41.33\00:31:45.00
I mean, that's pretty heavy duty
00:31:45.03\00:31:46.37
and we're talking about here
00:31:46.40\00:31:47.74
in our lesson it brought
out in Early Writings page 119.
00:31:47.77\00:31:50.87
It brought this out, I
thought was very interesting,
00:31:50.91\00:31:53.11
just a couple of lines.
00:31:53.14\00:31:54.48
"If pride and selfishness,"
00:31:54.51\00:31:57.11
that's another dirty word pride.
00:31:57.15\00:31:59.81
We have to careful
with that. Same thing.
00:31:59.85\00:32:01.18
Yeah, "pride and
selfishness were laid aside,
00:32:01.22\00:32:03.99
five minutes would
remove most difficulties."
00:32:04.02\00:32:06.72
Yeah.
00:32:06.76\00:32:08.09
And that's very difficult
so just pride and self,
00:32:08.12\00:32:09.69
just lay it aside
00:32:09.72\00:32:11.06
and then all these
difficulties will disappear.
00:32:11.09\00:32:12.93
You know, again, I mentioned
our first problem that we have
00:32:12.96\00:32:15.56
when we deal with this issue of,
00:32:15.60\00:32:17.60
in the family it destroys family
00:32:17.63\00:32:20.47
and we kind of had
the tendency to do it,
00:32:20.50\00:32:22.10
you know, I grew up in a family,
00:32:22.14\00:32:23.47
there's a lot of woo!
00:32:23.51\00:32:24.84
There's a lot of competition.
00:32:24.87\00:32:26.21
You know, and the younger
brother beat you in something,
00:32:26.24\00:32:28.51
you got just a
little bit selfish.
00:32:28.54\00:32:30.11
Not in your family.
00:32:30.15\00:32:31.75
No, it's pretty heavy duty.
00:32:31.78\00:32:33.82
You know, pastor, you know it.
00:32:33.85\00:32:35.45
But especially, if the
one was younger than you
00:32:35.48\00:32:38.99
and can kind of
beat you in something.
00:32:39.02\00:32:41.42
You have to be very careful
00:32:41.46\00:32:42.79
that because
pride begins to come in,
00:32:42.82\00:32:44.33
selfishness
will begin to come in
00:32:44.36\00:32:46.06
and somehow
you're gonna figure out
00:32:46.09\00:32:47.43
how you're gonna gain
the upper hand on that.
00:32:47.46\00:32:49.36
So problem we're born
in sinful fallen nature.
00:32:49.40\00:32:53.54
That's a debate
many people have.
00:32:53.57\00:32:55.34
There's no doubt
about it. That's right.
00:32:55.37\00:32:56.71
We're born into this world
in the sinful, fallen nature,
00:32:56.74\00:32:59.94
we're subject to it.
00:32:59.97\00:33:01.44
And the change has to come.
00:33:01.48\00:33:03.98
Like you've been talking
about, a change has to come
00:33:04.01\00:33:06.31
because I'm born this
way, this is the way that I am.
00:33:06.35\00:33:08.62
But by the grace of
God, we invite Him in.
00:33:08.65\00:33:10.55
So everybody has
to make a decision,
00:33:10.59\00:33:11.95
if you never made a
decision for Christ,
00:33:11.99\00:33:13.66
you need to do that right now.
00:33:13.69\00:33:15.29
It's our only hope
what we have in here,
00:33:15.32\00:33:17.36
and we become a nation
and we have a family sometime.
00:33:17.39\00:33:21.30
I, me, mine, what about me?
00:33:21.33\00:33:23.80
What am I gonna do?
00:33:23.83\00:33:25.83
I said that, my son
said that to me one time
00:33:25.87\00:33:27.84
because he didn't
get to go to a place
00:33:27.87\00:33:29.27
where he wanted to
go, everybody was going.
00:33:29.30\00:33:32.31
And then I said,
"No, you can't go."
00:33:32.34\00:33:33.68
He said, "Why?"
00:33:33.71\00:33:35.04
I said, "Because
everybody's going."
00:33:35.08\00:33:36.95
Somebody didn't get that.
00:33:36.98\00:33:38.31
Yeah, I got it.
Because everybody's going.
00:33:38.35\00:33:39.81
He said, "Yeah, but dad."
00:33:39.85\00:33:41.58
Tear coming down.
00:33:41.62\00:33:42.95
What about me?
00:33:42.98\00:33:44.95
What am I gonna do?
00:33:44.99\00:33:47.09
I said, "What you're
gonna do, you're not gonna go."
00:33:47.12\00:33:48.79
That's what...
00:33:48.82\00:33:51.83
Family, they're
there to protect.
00:33:51.86\00:33:53.46
They realize there's
things that are out there
00:33:53.50\00:33:55.03
and we should be able to
try to protect our children.
00:33:55.06\00:33:57.87
And then we'll notice
this in a minute or so we have.
00:33:57.90\00:34:00.44
We say many, many
children think about,
00:34:00.47\00:34:02.90
many children have
inherited selfishness
00:34:02.94\00:34:05.77
from their parents.
00:34:05.81\00:34:07.14
Signs of the Times 813, 1896.
00:34:07.18\00:34:10.11
We look at the
children, we blame the children,
00:34:10.15\00:34:11.88
but what happened?
00:34:11.91\00:34:13.65
They've seen it in
their own moms and dad.
00:34:13.68\00:34:15.58
We need to gain the
victory ourselves over that.
00:34:15.62\00:34:18.35
How we talk to them, how
we handle this situation.
00:34:18.39\00:34:20.86
Show them what it's
like to be unselfish.
00:34:20.89\00:34:23.19
And I think about that myself,
00:34:23.22\00:34:25.19
that's the root,
is have to come out
00:34:25.23\00:34:28.16
that rudeness of selfishness
00:34:28.20\00:34:29.56
has to, you take the axe to it
00:34:29.60\00:34:31.27
and you've got to
cut, you've got to shape,
00:34:31.30\00:34:32.73
you've got to mold,
you've got to get it out there.
00:34:32.77\00:34:34.80
And we have to be aware
00:34:34.84\00:34:36.17
of that association
with other children,
00:34:36.20\00:34:37.77
how they watch
other children react,
00:34:37.81\00:34:39.41
how we react in the home,
how we react with one another.
00:34:39.44\00:34:43.04
The children catch
every little thing.
00:34:43.08\00:34:45.31
Oh, absolutely.
00:34:45.35\00:34:46.68
And I say with me,
why do they act like this?
00:34:46.72\00:34:49.92
And sometimes they look and say,
00:34:49.95\00:34:51.29
well, 'cause mom and dad.
00:34:51.32\00:34:52.65
They have inherited that.
00:34:52.69\00:34:54.02
So we need to be
very careful with that.
00:34:54.06\00:34:55.39
But, you know, one of the most
unselfish things in the world
00:34:55.42\00:34:58.29
we can learn from this
is simply look to Jesus,
00:34:58.33\00:35:01.43
look to the cross of Calvary.
00:35:01.46\00:35:03.13
Amen and amen.
00:35:03.16\00:35:04.50
Boy, you have
set me up perfectly.
00:35:04.53\00:35:06.77
My lesson for is on submission.
00:35:06.80\00:35:11.67
And I would submit to you that,
00:35:11.71\00:35:14.91
you know, it is God
who works in us to will
00:35:14.94\00:35:17.18
and to do His good pleasure.
00:35:17.21\00:35:18.75
We know that.
00:35:18.78\00:35:20.12
And Philippians 4:13 says,
00:35:20.15\00:35:22.12
"We can do all
things through Him
00:35:22.15\00:35:24.99
who strengthens us."
00:35:25.02\00:35:26.49
So submission is the
way to overcome selfishness.
00:35:26.52\00:35:33.16
Let's look at this.
00:35:33.19\00:35:34.53
Philippians 2:5-8.
00:35:34.56\00:35:38.53
Philippians 2:5-8.
00:35:38.57\00:35:41.10
Paul counsels us and he says,
00:35:41.14\00:35:43.00
"Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ Jesus,
00:35:43.04\00:35:49.61
who being in the form of God,
00:35:49.64\00:35:51.98
did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God,
00:35:52.01\00:35:56.42
but made Himself
of no reputation,
00:35:56.45\00:35:59.35
taking the form
of a bondservant,
00:35:59.39\00:36:01.12
coming in the likeness of men.
00:36:01.16\00:36:02.72
And having been found
in the appearance of man,
00:36:02.76\00:36:06.49
He humbled Himself
00:36:06.53\00:36:08.66
and became obedient
to the point of death,
00:36:08.70\00:36:12.87
even the death of the cross."
00:36:12.90\00:36:16.17
I could talk on this
for 30 minutes, an hour,
00:36:16.20\00:36:20.84
but I'm gonna limit myself
00:36:20.88\00:36:22.24
'cause I wanna
get to the rest of it.
00:36:22.28\00:36:24.05
The bottom line is Jesus
00:36:24.08\00:36:27.98
set the standard
for us, for humility.
00:36:28.02\00:36:31.75
That's right.
00:36:31.79\00:36:33.12
Let this mind be in you
which was in Christ Jesus
00:36:33.15\00:36:36.16
who humbled Himself.
00:36:36.19\00:36:38.29
The definition I'll tell you
00:36:38.33\00:36:40.86
what God has led
me to understand.
00:36:40.90\00:36:45.27
The definition of humility
is total dependence upon God.
00:36:45.30\00:36:50.34
Yes. It's good.
00:36:50.37\00:36:52.14
Think about that.
00:36:52.17\00:36:53.88
Anytime we are
not dependent upon God
00:36:53.91\00:36:58.08
that is His
whole plan of salvation
00:36:58.11\00:37:00.05
is to be depended upon Him.
00:37:00.08\00:37:01.65
But anytime we take it
upon our self and it's like,
00:37:01.68\00:37:04.25
oh, I don't need to worry
00:37:04.29\00:37:05.62
about what God
wants me to do here.
00:37:05.65\00:37:08.52
That is when pride is
rearing its ugly head.
00:37:08.56\00:37:13.36
And so that's just the opposite
00:37:13.40\00:37:15.13
Jesus set the bar
00:37:15.16\00:37:16.50
and we are to be
of the same attitude.
00:37:16.53\00:37:19.00
So let's look at Ephesians 5:21
00:37:19.03\00:37:22.40
because the Bible counsels
all of us regarding humility,
00:37:22.44\00:37:29.01
and service, and relationships.
00:37:29.04\00:37:31.81
Hebrew, excuse
me Ephesians 5:21.
00:37:31.85\00:37:36.28
Paul says that we all are to be
00:37:36.32\00:37:40.22
"Submitting to one
another in the fear of God."
00:37:40.26\00:37:44.86
The word submit means
to place yourself humbly
00:37:44.89\00:37:49.20
before another person.
00:37:49.23\00:37:51.13
It means that this is voluntary.
00:37:51.17\00:37:53.94
It's a personal choice.
00:37:53.97\00:37:55.37
It's, but it's he
shows us reciprocity,
00:37:55.40\00:37:58.71
a mutuality, that we
are to submit to one another
00:37:58.74\00:38:03.08
because this is the
way we achieve harmony.
00:38:03.11\00:38:06.48
This is how we
overcome selfishness.
00:38:06.51\00:38:09.92
This is how we gain unity.
00:38:09.95\00:38:14.16
This is what it's all about.
00:38:14.19\00:38:16.86
And the opposite of humility
00:38:16.89\00:38:21.16
is self-seeking, self-assertion,
00:38:21.20\00:38:23.63
when people got to
have their own opinion
00:38:23.67\00:38:26.33
and in their own
selfish preferences,
00:38:26.37\00:38:29.44
and they're rude,
and they're hardy,
00:38:29.47\00:38:32.11
they're selfish.
00:38:32.14\00:38:33.91
They're selfish.
00:38:33.94\00:38:35.28
So submission is
an important attitude,
00:38:35.31\00:38:39.81
not only in a marriage, in
a family, but in the church.
00:38:39.85\00:38:44.55
That's right.
00:38:44.59\00:38:45.92
Reverence for Christ
00:38:45.95\00:38:47.29
is the
motivation for submission.
00:38:47.32\00:38:50.33
And we are to let
this mind be in us
00:38:50.36\00:38:53.09
that we're in Christ Jesus
and follow in His footsteps.
00:38:53.13\00:38:57.30
So I would submit to you
00:38:57.33\00:39:00.57
that as we submit
to God and others,
00:39:00.60\00:39:03.61
this is what
characterizes a true Christian.
00:39:03.64\00:39:06.88
I mean, it's all about being
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:39:06.91\00:39:10.21
And you know what?
00:39:10.25\00:39:11.58
This principle is unique
to Christianity, is it not?
00:39:11.61\00:39:15.68
I mean, how many
leaders of religions
00:39:15.72\00:39:19.32
submitted themselves
and humbled themselves.
00:39:19.35\00:39:24.13
So Christ talks
about servant leadership
00:39:24.16\00:39:26.83
in Matthew 20:26-28.
00:39:26.86\00:39:30.87
He says, He's
talking about those
00:39:30.90\00:39:33.87
who kind lorded over others.
00:39:33.90\00:39:35.74
And He says,
"Hey, no, no, no, no,
00:39:35.77\00:39:37.17
don't let that be
more like that among you."
00:39:37.21\00:39:40.84
But whoever desires to
become great among you,
00:39:40.88\00:39:45.25
let it be your servant,
00:39:45.28\00:39:46.61
whoever desires to be
first let him be your slave.
00:39:46.65\00:39:49.62
Just as the Son of
man did not come to serve,
00:39:49.65\00:39:52.79
to be served, but to serve,
00:39:52.82\00:39:55.32
and He gave His
life a ransom for many.
00:39:55.36\00:39:58.83
Remember in John
Chapter 13 at the Last Supper,
00:39:58.86\00:40:05.63
there shouldn't be
in a slave or a servant,
00:40:05.67\00:40:10.11
I will put it that way
there to at these banquets.
00:40:10.14\00:40:13.98
There was always a
servant who washed the feet.
00:40:14.01\00:40:18.21
The feet, you
know, were pretty dirty
00:40:18.25\00:40:20.88
'cause I mean, you think
00:40:20.92\00:40:22.25
about what was
going on in the streets
00:40:22.28\00:40:24.09
and there was maneuver
dung, there was everything.
00:40:24.12\00:40:27.16
And so they'd walk through this,
00:40:27.19\00:40:28.82
and the feet were dirty.
00:40:28.86\00:40:30.49
Well, here, they're all seated
and everybody's looking around
00:40:30.53\00:40:33.53
like, hey, there's no
servant here to do this.
00:40:33.56\00:40:35.96
And you can just see
Peter, I'm not gonna do it,
00:40:36.00\00:40:39.00
you know, you can,
Judas, I'm not gonna do it.
00:40:39.03\00:40:42.30
Jesus gets up
and He puts a towel,
00:40:42.34\00:40:44.21
I mean, girds
Himself and puts a towel
00:40:44.24\00:40:46.71
and He washes their feet.
00:40:46.74\00:40:49.04
What humility?
00:40:49.08\00:40:51.21
So humility, a submission
00:40:51.25\00:40:55.42
is a mutuality in self-giving.
00:40:55.45\00:40:58.45
And as I said, this is a
revolutionary philosophy.
00:40:58.49\00:41:03.06
I mean, I don't see
that we find it anywhere
00:41:03.09\00:41:05.86
except in Christianity.
00:41:05.89\00:41:07.80
So let me skip over here.
00:41:07.83\00:41:10.87
My, our time flies.
00:41:10.90\00:41:13.97
We're gonna read some
more in Ephesians Chapter 5.
00:41:14.00\00:41:17.64
Now Paul's writings,
00:41:17.67\00:41:19.91
he consistently
speaks first to those
00:41:19.94\00:41:23.78
who are socially weaker.
00:41:23.81\00:41:27.65
So like he will
speak to the wife
00:41:27.68\00:41:29.98
before the husband,
00:41:30.02\00:41:32.19
he will speak to the
child before this, the parents.
00:41:32.22\00:41:36.06
He speaks rights to the
slaves before the owner.
00:41:36.09\00:41:40.30
And there is a
qualifying phrase,
00:41:40.33\00:41:44.70
he's gonna be
talking about submission.
00:41:44.73\00:41:46.30
First, he says submit everybody,
00:41:46.33\00:41:48.40
but there's a qualifying phrase
00:41:48.44\00:41:51.51
always attached
to their submission.
00:41:51.54\00:41:54.21
And each one of these people
00:41:54.24\00:41:57.38
is going to receive a directive.
00:41:57.41\00:42:01.28
And the directives,
00:42:01.32\00:42:02.98
probably astonished the
people of the first century.
00:42:03.02\00:42:06.76
You know, probably
when you think about it,
00:42:06.79\00:42:08.92
and what they do
is level the ground,
00:42:08.96\00:42:12.36
that the cross around the cross
00:42:12.39\00:42:15.10
and open the
way for true oneness
00:42:15.13\00:42:17.57
to be
experienced in relationships.
00:42:17.60\00:42:19.57
So let's look at Ephesians 5:22.
00:42:19.60\00:42:24.97
It says, "Wives
submit to your own husbands,
00:42:25.01\00:42:28.81
as to the Lord.
00:42:28.84\00:42:30.28
For," this is the
qualifying phrase,
00:42:30.31\00:42:33.48
"submit to your husbands,"
what? "As to the Lord.
00:42:33.52\00:42:38.69
For the husband
is head of the wife,
00:42:38.72\00:42:40.99
as also Christ is
head of the church,
00:42:41.02\00:42:43.26
He is the Savior of the body.
00:42:43.29\00:42:44.99
Therefore, just as the
church is subject to Christ,
00:42:45.03\00:42:48.33
so let the wives
00:42:48.36\00:42:49.70
be to their own
husbands in everything."
00:42:49.73\00:42:51.47
Let me ask you.
00:42:51.50\00:42:53.13
Does Christ demand
that the church do this?
00:42:53.17\00:42:57.31
Does Christ lord it over us?
00:42:57.34\00:43:00.28
How does Christ lead the church?
00:43:00.31\00:43:02.74
Think about that.
00:43:02.78\00:43:04.51
It's through
love, through wooing,
00:43:04.55\00:43:08.25
through gentle
correction from time to time.
00:43:08.28\00:43:11.55
You may go off
in this direction,
00:43:11.59\00:43:13.25
He is leading you back.
00:43:13.29\00:43:14.82
So the husband
is to do likewise,
00:43:14.86\00:43:17.99
and the bottom line is,
00:43:18.03\00:43:19.79
the husband has a
spiritual authority
00:43:19.83\00:43:25.03
or a spiritual responsibility,
00:43:25.07\00:43:27.57
which requires
spiritual at the work.
00:43:27.60\00:43:30.51
You were talking
about the husband
00:43:30.54\00:43:31.87
being the priest of the home.
00:43:31.91\00:43:35.68
If you're a man
00:43:35.71\00:43:37.05
and you are not
stepping up to the plate,
00:43:37.08\00:43:40.55
to have your
children and your family
00:43:40.58\00:43:43.32
have a family
worship, teach them to pray.
00:43:43.35\00:43:46.35
God is holding you accountable.
00:43:46.39\00:43:48.02
Amen. That's right.
00:43:48.06\00:43:49.39
And women have to
often step into that position
00:43:49.42\00:43:51.86
'cause their husbands won't.
00:43:51.89\00:43:53.46
But when he is
saying wives, be submissive,
00:43:53.50\00:43:57.93
there is a responsibility
which requires authority.
00:43:57.97\00:44:01.74
Husbands have to
be the protectors.
00:44:01.77\00:44:03.20
But now look what he says,
"Husbands, love your wives,"
00:44:03.24\00:44:07.91
here's the qualifier,
00:44:07.94\00:44:09.44
"just as Christ loved the church
00:44:09.48\00:44:12.58
and gave Himself for her,
00:44:12.61\00:44:14.02
that He may
sanctify and cleanse her
00:44:14.05\00:44:16.12
with the washing of
the water of the word."
00:44:16.15\00:44:18.02
Hey, husbands
that's your responsibility,
00:44:18.05\00:44:20.56
you are to see that your
wife is growing spiritually,
00:44:20.59\00:44:24.66
and you can't, nobody
can change your heart,
00:44:24.69\00:44:27.20
you can't change another person.
00:44:27.23\00:44:29.26
So what you have to
do is what Christ did.
00:44:29.30\00:44:32.13
You have to model that behavior.
00:44:32.17\00:44:34.60
You have to be
loving and supportive.
00:44:34.64\00:44:37.11
You have to be
setting up an environment
00:44:37.14\00:44:41.08
that makes them
want to grow in Christ.
00:44:41.11\00:44:44.31
Wow!
00:44:44.35\00:44:45.68
I can go on and on
on this, but let's look.
00:44:45.71\00:44:48.18
The Christian home
00:44:48.22\00:44:51.65
is to be a little
bit of heaven on earth.
00:44:51.69\00:44:54.12
That's right.
00:44:54.16\00:44:55.49
That's what God intended
00:44:55.52\00:44:57.53
and the symbol
of Christianity...
00:44:57.56\00:45:00.03
What do we think of
when we think of church?
00:45:00.06\00:45:01.96
The army of Christ, right?
00:45:02.00\00:45:04.00
Well, there's
rules of engagement.
00:45:04.03\00:45:07.67
In the army, aren't
there? You were in the army.
00:45:07.70\00:45:09.90
I mean, and there are people
00:45:09.94\00:45:11.47
who have
different responsibilities,
00:45:11.51\00:45:13.38
different authorities.
00:45:13.41\00:45:15.54
So submission
00:45:15.58\00:45:17.81
is just to build a loyal living
00:45:17.85\00:45:22.95
to the Lord in the home.
00:45:22.98\00:45:24.49
Amen. Amen.
00:45:24.52\00:45:25.85
Okay, thank you all.
00:45:25.89\00:45:27.96
You know, what I
like about going last
00:45:27.99\00:45:29.49
is I'm gleaning
from everyone of you.
00:45:29.52\00:45:32.39
But surely, this
topic is a tremendous topic,
00:45:32.43\00:45:36.03
whereas Ryan
would say incredible.
00:45:36.06\00:45:37.97
That's right.
And it's wonderful.
00:45:38.00\00:45:40.60
Thursday, May 16, lesson number,
00:45:40.64\00:45:45.01
lesson number seven
Living the Love We Promise.
00:45:45.04\00:45:49.14
Now what I like
about this lesson,
00:45:49.18\00:45:51.11
it brings this out
00:45:51.15\00:45:52.48
in four primary
areas of our lives.
00:45:52.51\00:45:54.98
It brings it out in the
parent child commitment.
00:45:55.02\00:45:58.49
It talks about the
sibling commitment,
00:45:58.52\00:46:01.22
the family commitment,
00:46:01.26\00:46:03.09
and then the marital commitment.
00:46:03.12\00:46:05.49
And Jill and
carrying on the tradition,
00:46:05.53\00:46:09.16
I'll have six points at the end.
00:46:09.20\00:46:12.40
She has affected me in
a real good way though.
00:46:12.43\00:46:15.20
I'll have six points at the end.
00:46:15.24\00:46:16.74
But let's look at
a couple of examples.
00:46:16.77\00:46:18.27
We'll start in the
Book of Genesis Chapter 33.
00:46:18.31\00:46:23.28
You know, submission,
00:46:23.31\00:46:24.78
one of the most
beautiful stories in the Bible
00:46:24.81\00:46:27.05
is Abraham and Isaac.
00:46:27.08\00:46:29.38
You know, Abraham,
an older man, his son,
00:46:29.42\00:46:33.19
could have
easily overpowered him.
00:46:33.22\00:46:35.82
That's right.
00:46:35.86\00:46:37.19
But he chose to submit
00:46:37.23\00:46:39.86
that was the child
submitting to the parent.
00:46:39.89\00:46:44.27
But then this
example is brought out
00:46:44.30\00:46:45.93
in Genesis Chapter
33 a different example.
00:46:45.97\00:46:49.04
But it says in verse 12,
00:46:49.07\00:46:50.87
"Then Esau said,
'Let us take our journey,
00:46:50.91\00:46:55.34
let us go, and I
will go before you.'
00:46:55.38\00:46:58.21
But Jacob said to him,
00:46:58.25\00:47:00.12
'My lord knows that
the children are weak,
00:47:00.15\00:47:03.22
and the flocks and herds
which are nursing are with me.
00:47:03.25\00:47:07.72
And if the men should
drive them hard one day,
00:47:07.76\00:47:11.26
all the flock will die.
00:47:11.29\00:47:13.19
Please let my lord go
ahead before his servant.
00:47:13.23\00:47:16.97
I will lead on slowly at a pace
00:47:17.00\00:47:19.73
which the
livestock that go before me,
00:47:19.77\00:47:22.17
and the children,
are able to endure,
00:47:22.20\00:47:24.37
until I come to
my Lord in Seir.'"
00:47:24.41\00:47:27.04
Notice, even though Esau
had one desire, he submit it.
00:47:27.08\00:47:31.81
A better plan.
00:47:31.85\00:47:33.18
A lot of times
in family circles,
00:47:33.21\00:47:36.15
people are more
desirous to get the praise
00:47:36.18\00:47:39.29
than to choose the best plan.
00:47:39.32\00:47:41.79
I've seen that
in so many settings,
00:47:41.82\00:47:43.66
a person would be
married to their decision,
00:47:43.69\00:47:46.43
rather than to the
decision that will be best.
00:47:46.46\00:47:49.96
And there are some people
00:47:50.00\00:47:51.33
that will be
quick to grab an idea.
00:47:51.37\00:47:53.23
Not because it's the best idea
00:47:53.27\00:47:56.77
but it's
because it's their idea.
00:47:56.81\00:47:58.94
And then even when
another one is suggested
00:47:58.97\00:48:01.04
they would push, and
push, and push, and push,
00:48:01.08\00:48:03.35
and not commit or
submit to the better idea.
00:48:03.38\00:48:06.35
And in the corporate settings,
00:48:06.38\00:48:08.18
there's a book
called, like 360 Leadership,
00:48:08.22\00:48:11.99
which teaches you,
00:48:12.02\00:48:13.36
it's not important to
always get the credit,
00:48:13.39\00:48:15.06
but it's important
to let the team win.
00:48:15.09\00:48:17.76
And if somebody on the team
comes up with a better idea,
00:48:17.79\00:48:20.80
I may not be, I may be
the leader of the project,
00:48:20.83\00:48:23.20
but somebody in the project
may come up with a better idea,
00:48:23.23\00:48:26.60
take the better idea.
00:48:26.63\00:48:28.37
Don't look for the credit.
00:48:28.40\00:48:29.74
And what they say,
00:48:29.77\00:48:32.44
"Success has many mothers,
00:48:32.47\00:48:33.94
but failure is
always an orphan."
00:48:33.98\00:48:37.51
That's a great saying.
00:48:37.55\00:48:39.51
So people want that success.
00:48:39.55\00:48:41.15
They wanna
identify with a success.
00:48:41.18\00:48:43.39
Parent does the same thing.
00:48:43.42\00:48:44.85
When a child is doing well
00:48:44.89\00:48:46.22
and mother says,
"Look at my child."
00:48:46.25\00:48:48.19
When he's messing up
she says her husband,
00:48:48.22\00:48:49.62
"Would you go get your child."
00:48:49.66\00:48:51.49
Your child just
like your father,
00:48:51.53\00:48:54.50
and in a lot of cases,
00:48:54.53\00:48:55.86
it's actually
the other way around.
00:48:55.90\00:48:57.37
The parents often
sometimes disconnect themselves
00:48:57.40\00:49:00.27
from the failure of a situation.
00:49:00.30\00:49:01.94
Another one in Genesis 37:17-18,
00:49:01.97\00:49:06.11
17 to 28
00:49:06.14\00:49:07.48
I'm not gonna
read the whole thing,
00:49:07.51\00:49:08.84
but just verse 22.
00:49:08.88\00:49:10.21
Because Joseph's
brothers, Joseph had a problem.
00:49:10.25\00:49:15.65
He praised himself a lot.
00:49:15.68\00:49:18.09
And he knew he was a good kid
00:49:18.12\00:49:20.52
and he told
everybody was a good kid.
00:49:20.56\00:49:22.59
You know, when the
Lord gave him a vision
00:49:22.62\00:49:24.13
that his sons were
gonna praise him one day,
00:49:24.16\00:49:25.59
he said, "You know, one day
you guys gonna bow down to me."
00:49:25.63\00:49:28.23
I mean, I'd probably
want to choke that sibling too
00:49:28.26\00:49:31.03
because he's always bragging.
00:49:31.07\00:49:32.40
Then he has the most
beautiful coat in the house
00:49:32.43\00:49:34.04
and he's bragging up.
00:49:34.07\00:49:35.40
You like my coat?
00:49:35.44\00:49:36.77
So they said, "Here he is.
00:49:36.81\00:49:38.14
He's coming. Let's kill him."
00:49:38.17\00:49:39.51
But sibling to
sibling commitment.
00:49:39.54\00:49:41.11
Then verse 22.
00:49:41.14\00:49:42.48
"And Reuben said to
them, to his other brothers,
00:49:42.51\00:49:44.31
'Shed no blood, but
cast him into this pit,
00:49:44.35\00:49:47.18
which is in the wilderness,
and do not lay a hand on him.'
00:49:47.22\00:49:50.35
" Now had the other siblings
not submitted to Reuben,
00:49:50.39\00:49:55.22
Joseph would have been dead.
00:49:55.26\00:49:56.83
So sometimes siblings,
in this sibling's rivalry
00:49:56.86\00:50:00.36
sometimes we don't wanna submit.
00:50:00.40\00:50:01.93
That's right.
00:50:01.96\00:50:03.30
And the anger
that had festered up
00:50:03.33\00:50:05.13
in the other brothers was enough
00:50:05.17\00:50:06.57
to overpower
Reuben's one decision
00:50:06.60\00:50:08.64
they'll say, "Okay, let's vote."
00:50:08.67\00:50:10.21
You one, us 10,
00:50:10.24\00:50:12.91
which one should we do?
00:50:12.94\00:50:14.38
We're gonna do
because more of us,
00:50:14.41\00:50:15.81
but they submitted to Reuben.
00:50:15.84\00:50:17.68
And I believe there was
a God component in that.
00:50:17.71\00:50:20.02
Absolutely.
00:50:20.05\00:50:21.38
Because when you look
at the rest of the story,
00:50:21.42\00:50:22.78
there could not be
anything but a God component.
00:50:22.82\00:50:25.62
The Lord used Reuben
00:50:25.65\00:50:27.19
because the plan
that he had for Joseph
00:50:27.22\00:50:29.26
was for the safety
of his entire family.
00:50:29.29\00:50:32.06
What a saga.
00:50:32.09\00:50:33.43
I preached a sermon
call from pits to palaces.
00:50:33.46\00:50:36.06
And that story,
how long sometimes
00:50:36.10\00:50:37.90
it takes for us to understand
00:50:37.93\00:50:39.53
the juxtaposition of life
00:50:39.57\00:50:40.90
and why things
happen the way they do.
00:50:40.94\00:50:42.90
And then we come
back and look and realize,
00:50:42.94\00:50:44.97
really Joseph
wasn't the problem,
00:50:45.01\00:50:46.88
Joseph was the solution.
00:50:46.91\00:50:48.68
Yes.
00:50:48.71\00:50:50.05
So we look at the
person sometimes that
00:50:50.08\00:50:51.41
doesn't agree
with us and seems to be
00:50:51.45\00:50:52.78
out of step as the problem.
00:50:52.81\00:50:54.68
Sometimes that
person is the solution.
00:50:54.72\00:50:57.22
And then the other
one, family commitment.
00:50:57.25\00:50:59.45
One Ruth and Ruth 1:16-18,
00:50:59.49\00:51:02.52
you know the
story of Naomi and Ruth,
00:51:02.56\00:51:05.06
the suggestion
was you go your way
00:51:05.09\00:51:06.43
and we'll go my way.
00:51:06.46\00:51:07.80
And Ruth says,
"Entreat me not to leave thee."
00:51:07.83\00:51:11.13
I'm hearing the song, but to it
00:51:11.17\00:51:12.83
not to return
from following thee.
00:51:12.87\00:51:15.04
We had a trio many years
ago when I lived in Florida,
00:51:15.07\00:51:17.81
Ruth, Jack, and
John, the three of us.
00:51:17.84\00:51:19.97
And whenever Ruth
would sing that song,
00:51:20.01\00:51:21.34
we had a lady named
Ruth that sang that song.
00:51:21.38\00:51:24.25
And she and Jack
would, he played the guitar,
00:51:24.28\00:51:26.85
and I could hear them
still many, many years later,
00:51:26.88\00:51:29.28
"Entreat me not to leave thee."
00:51:29.32\00:51:32.39
And that's the whole key.
00:51:32.42\00:51:34.36
Ruth says, I am not leaving you.
00:51:34.39\00:51:37.63
Entreat me not to leave thee,
00:51:37.66\00:51:39.53
and that was a
family commitment.
00:51:39.56\00:51:40.96
Wherever you go, I
am going to be there.
00:51:41.00\00:51:43.87
You know what
happened to family members
00:51:43.90\00:51:45.57
committed themselves
to one another that way?
00:51:45.60\00:51:47.14
Yes.
00:51:47.17\00:51:48.50
I think the larger
the family and, Kenny,
00:51:48.54\00:51:50.37
how you were preaching
'cause I was on your side,
00:51:50.41\00:51:52.51
but I think the larger
families have larger issues.
00:51:52.54\00:51:56.71
Because there's
so much diversity
00:51:56.75\00:51:58.75
and then you were
raised with how many brothers?
00:51:58.78\00:52:00.32
Four brothers? Okay.
00:52:00.35\00:52:02.12
So I mean, each one of you
is gifted in your own right,
00:52:02.15\00:52:05.35
then you have cousins
gifted in their own right,
00:52:05.39\00:52:07.49
lot of gifts in this family.
00:52:07.52\00:52:09.62
And so in this case,
00:52:09.66\00:52:11.19
members of the same family
committed one to the other.
00:52:11.23\00:52:15.00
So we're gonna go ahead
and then marrow commitment,
00:52:15.03\00:52:17.80
which is
something my wife and I have
00:52:17.83\00:52:19.17
so appreciated for the last 35,
00:52:19.20\00:52:21.20
36 years.
00:52:21.24\00:52:22.57
When the Lord told
Hosea in Hosea 3:1-3.
00:52:22.60\00:52:25.44
"Go love a woman
who is loved by a lover
00:52:25.47\00:52:28.01
and is committing adultery,
00:52:28.04\00:52:29.94
just like the love of the Lord."
00:52:29.98\00:52:32.48
And he had a
lesson to teach Hosea
00:52:32.51\00:52:35.02
and that's an amazing story.
00:52:35.05\00:52:36.85
And I did a sermon years
ago called remember when,
00:52:36.89\00:52:39.42
how God looks
at us where we are,
00:52:39.45\00:52:41.62
and he looks at us
where we used to be
00:52:41.66\00:52:43.06
and he brings us in.
00:52:43.09\00:52:44.93
So let's quickly in
time we have remaining
00:52:44.96\00:52:46.73
I'll see if I
can do like Jill can.
00:52:46.76\00:52:49.10
Ecclesiastes 5:6-8.
00:52:49.13\00:52:51.67
The first suggestion of
living the love we promise,
00:52:51.70\00:52:55.40
follow through
on your commitments.
00:52:55.44\00:52:57.67
Amen. That's good.
00:52:57.71\00:52:59.67
Solomon says Ecclesiastes 5:5-6,
00:52:59.71\00:53:02.71
"Better not to vow
than to vow and not to pay.
00:53:02.74\00:53:05.78
Do not let your mouth
cause your flesh to sin,
00:53:05.81\00:53:08.38
nor say before the messenger
of God that it was an error.
00:53:08.42\00:53:11.35
Why should God be
angry at your excuse
00:53:11.39\00:53:13.15
and destroy the
work of your hands?
00:53:13.19\00:53:15.12
For in the multitude of dreams
00:53:15.16\00:53:16.83
and many words
there is also vanity.
00:53:16.86\00:53:19.29
But fear God."
00:53:19.33\00:53:20.80
Never say your
relationship is a mistake.
00:53:20.83\00:53:24.53
But work through the
mistakes of your relationship.
00:53:24.57\00:53:27.47
So that God can be glorified.
00:53:27.50\00:53:29.37
Second one become a peacemaker.
00:53:29.40\00:53:31.97
1 Peter 3:11.
00:53:32.01\00:53:33.71
"Let him turn away
from evil and do good,
00:53:33.74\00:53:35.71
let him seek
peace and pursue it."
00:53:35.74\00:53:37.81
Psalm 34:14,
00:53:37.85\00:53:39.71
"Depart from evil and do
good, seek peace and pursue it."
00:53:39.75\00:53:43.65
So many people don't have peace.
00:53:43.69\00:53:45.02
You know why?
00:53:45.05\00:53:46.39
Because they don't pursue peace.
00:53:46.42\00:53:47.76
Peace will run right by him.
00:53:47.79\00:53:49.12
He won't go after it.
00:53:49.16\00:53:50.59
They'll see peace right there,
00:53:50.63\00:53:51.96
you wait till I
get my emotions out.
00:53:51.99\00:53:53.96
And so many of us are,
00:53:54.00\00:53:55.36
we love our emotions
and I think in some cases,
00:53:55.40\00:53:58.33
emotions to some people,
is like an endorphin release,
00:53:58.37\00:54:01.50
it's just like a
flooding of dopamine.
00:54:01.54\00:54:04.14
They just like
that feeling of anger,
00:54:04.17\00:54:06.01
and hostility, and revenge.
00:54:06.04\00:54:07.88
No, you wait.
00:54:07.91\00:54:09.24
One lady came to
church on Sabbath, not here,
00:54:09.28\00:54:11.01
she said, "Pastor, I'm angry
and do not try to convince me
00:54:11.05\00:54:13.95
to leave my anger outside."
00:54:13.98\00:54:16.99
I'm angry and I'm
gonna hold on to it.
00:54:17.02\00:54:19.25
Let me go quicker.
00:54:19.29\00:54:20.69
Third one, use love as medicine,
00:54:20.72\00:54:23.22
use love as medicine.
00:54:23.26\00:54:24.59
Love suffers long and is kind.
00:54:24.63\00:54:26.90
Love does not envy,
love does not parade itself,
00:54:26.93\00:54:30.17
it is not puffed up,
00:54:30.20\00:54:31.53
does not behave
rudely, does not seek its own.
00:54:31.57\00:54:33.70
You know the whole list.
00:54:33.74\00:54:35.07
Sure.
00:54:35.10\00:54:37.21
Use love as a medicine.
00:54:37.24\00:54:39.17
Another one, pray
for a sanctified life.
00:54:39.21\00:54:41.44
A life that's not sanctified,
00:54:41.48\00:54:42.94
you could do everything
you can in your human ability
00:54:42.98\00:54:45.31
and you'll fail every time.
00:54:45.35\00:54:46.88
But a sanctified life
will experience success.
00:54:46.92\00:54:50.62
Sanctify them by your
truth. Your word is truth.
00:54:50.65\00:54:52.99
If God's Word says
it pray for the power
00:54:53.02\00:54:54.89
to live in harmony with it.
00:54:54.92\00:54:57.13
The other one pray for I to die.
00:54:57.16\00:54:59.59
Yes.
00:54:59.63\00:55:00.96
Galatians 2:20.
00:55:01.00\00:55:02.33
"It is no longer I who live,
but Christ who lives in me."
00:55:02.36\00:55:04.43
So many of us
00:55:04.47\00:55:05.80
I think Kenny was
talking about this.
00:55:05.83\00:55:07.17
We have I
problems and I is the altar
00:55:07.20\00:55:09.30
in the middle of
sin is the letter I.
00:55:09.34\00:55:12.51
Right in the center of sin is I.
00:55:12.54\00:55:15.48
Pray for I to die,
so Christ could live.
00:55:15.51\00:55:18.41
And then number six,
stop living in the flesh.
00:55:18.45\00:55:23.05
Those who live in the
flesh cannot please God.
00:55:23.08\00:55:26.99
And finally, Hebrews 13:5,
00:55:27.02\00:55:29.06
"Let your conduct be
without covetousness,
00:55:29.09\00:55:31.36
be content
00:55:31.39\00:55:32.86
with such things as you have.
00:55:32.89\00:55:34.93
For He Himself has said,
00:55:34.96\00:55:36.36
'I will never leave
you nor forsake you.'
00:55:36.40\00:55:39.07
" Let Christ be at the
center of every solution.
00:55:39.10\00:55:40.77
Amen.
00:55:40.80\00:55:42.14
Thank you so much, Pastor
John, I love the six points.
00:55:42.17\00:55:45.67
We want to give the
panel just a few moments each
00:55:45.71\00:55:48.24
to share a closing thought.
00:55:48.28\00:55:49.61
Pastor Ryan?
00:55:49.64\00:55:50.98
Absolutely. Yeah.
00:55:51.01\00:55:52.35
My lesson was
about love and unity
00:55:52.38\00:55:55.28
and unity comes through love.
00:55:55.32\00:55:57.69
And I just love this
scripture in 1 John 4:19,
00:55:57.72\00:56:00.39
it says, "We love Him
because He first loved us."
00:56:00.42\00:56:02.92
You know, we have to
follow the example of our Lord
00:56:02.96\00:56:05.53
and Savior Jesus
00:56:05.56\00:56:06.90
and that's my prayer for myself,
00:56:06.93\00:56:08.26
for my family,
and for God's people.
00:56:08.30\00:56:10.83
Amen. Amen.
00:56:10.87\00:56:12.20
You know, and this lesson,
00:56:12.23\00:56:13.57
it really brought
out at least clear to me,
00:56:13.60\00:56:14.94
the cause of division,
and discord in the families,
00:56:14.97\00:56:17.51
the church, and in the world.
00:56:17.54\00:56:19.37
It is simply because
our separation from God,
00:56:19.41\00:56:22.51
the secret of
unity, union with Christ.
00:56:22.54\00:56:25.78
Amen. Amen.
00:56:25.81\00:56:27.15
Submission to the Lord,
let this mind be in you,
00:56:27.18\00:56:29.72
which was also in Christ Jesus,
00:56:29.75\00:56:31.55
we need to be
humble depended upon God
00:56:31.59\00:56:34.39
in our
relationships to really submit
00:56:34.42\00:56:38.76
to one another.
00:56:38.79\00:56:40.13
That's right.
00:56:40.16\00:56:41.50
And tackle the problem.
00:56:41.53\00:56:42.86
Don't tackle each other.
00:56:42.90\00:56:44.23
Amen.
00:56:44.27\00:56:46.43
Fight that problem together,
and you'll win together.
00:56:46.47\00:56:49.10
Amen.
00:56:49.14\00:56:50.47
Thank you so much, Pastor Ryan,
00:56:50.51\00:56:51.84
Pastor Kenny,
Shelley, and Pastor John.
00:56:51.87\00:56:53.54
What an incredible
study, Keys to Family Unity.
00:56:53.58\00:56:57.08
I want to leave
you with this quote
00:56:57.11\00:56:58.45
from Adventist Home,
00:56:58.48\00:56:59.81
page 179,
00:56:59.85\00:57:02.18
"The cause of division
and discord in families
00:57:02.22\00:57:05.12
and the church is
separation from Christ."
00:57:05.15\00:57:08.26
Yes.
00:57:08.29\00:57:09.62
"To come near to Christ is
to come near to one another.
00:57:09.66\00:57:12.93
The secret of true
unity in the church
00:57:12.96\00:57:15.23
and in the
family is not diplomacy,
00:57:15.26\00:57:17.67
not management,
00:57:17.70\00:57:19.03
not a superhuman effort
to overcome difficulties,
00:57:19.07\00:57:22.80
but union with Christ."
00:57:22.84\00:57:25.81
We want to encourage you
to accept Jesus into your life
00:57:25.84\00:57:28.54
and make Him the
center of your home,
00:57:28.58\00:57:30.85
your church, and your community.
00:57:30.88\00:57:33.21
That's all the
time we have for today.
00:57:33.25\00:57:34.72
We will see you at next week.
00:57:34.75\00:57:36.28
Bye-bye.
00:57:36.32\00:57:37.65