Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP190025A
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00:01 The Bible tells us, "In the beginning was the Word,
00:04 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 00:08 It says to, "Receive with meekness 00:10 the implanted Word 00:12 which is able to save your souls. 00:14 And to be diligent to present yourself 00:17 approved to God, 00:18 rightly dividing the Word of truth." 00:21 Join us now 00:22 for the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:25 Our study today is Family Seasons. 00:33 Hello, friends, 00:35 and welcome to the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:37 My name is John Lomacang. 00:38 And I am excited 00:40 that we have been trekking along 00:41 on this wonderful lesson about family, 00:43 about seasons, 00:45 about all different types of aspects and components 00:48 of the family unit, 00:49 the church unit, 00:50 tradition versus the Word of God. 00:53 And today is going to be another wonderful lesson, 00:55 which kind of somewhat takes a turn 00:58 in an unpredictable direction with the question, 01:01 what have they seen in your house? 01:03 And so this is one 01:04 that's gonna really jar your memory 01:06 to really find out 01:08 what's behind that question 01:09 and how can we move in harmony with the will of God 01:11 as He reveals to us 01:13 what He would like us to do in our house? 01:15 Before we go any further, 01:17 if you'd like to get a copy of the lesson, 01:18 go to the following website, 01:20 ABSG.Adventist.org. 01:23 And you could download a digital copy 01:24 or go to your local Seventh-day Adventist Church, 01:27 where they will be glad to invite you 01:28 into a study group. 01:30 As you inquire, "Can I have a lesson?" 01:32 "Sure. Come on in and study with us." 01:34 And you will grow in tremendous ways. 01:36 Before we go any further, we're gonna have prayer 01:38 after we introduce our panel and then we're gonna go 01:41 and dive into this wonderful lesson. 01:43 What have they seen in your house, 01:45 and I'll be covering Sunday which is entitled, 01:47 "Learning from a King's Mistake." 01:49 But to my immediate left is Pastor Ryan Day. 01:51 Good to have you here. 01:52 Man, it's a blessing to be here, Brother. 01:54 You're fired up, young man. 01:55 Always, always. Stay lit for Jesus. 01:57 Amen. Amen. 01:58 Jill Morikone, our General Manager of 3ABN. 02:01 I appreciate your lists, don't ever change. 02:04 You put it together 02:06 and God is a blessing through your life. 02:07 Good to have you here. 02:09 It's a privilege to be here, Pastor John. 02:10 I love to study the Word of God. 02:11 It shows, it shows. 02:13 Pastor Kenny, 02:14 you bring to the board an experience of man 02:15 who has been out there proclaiming God's Word 02:17 for some time. 02:18 So good to have you here today. 02:20 It's good to be here. Thank you. 02:21 And Shelley, who loves... 02:23 She likes to write books, love to teach, 02:27 and she has a passion for God's Word. 02:29 Good to have you here today, Shelley. 02:30 Thank you. It's just always a joy. 02:32 Matter of fact, would you have our prayer for us? 02:34 Absolutely. 02:35 Heavenly Father, we come in the name of Jesus, 02:37 thanking You for Your Word, Lord. 02:39 Thanking You that it is a light to our feet 02:41 and lamp to our path. 02:42 And we thank You also for Your Holy Spirit. 02:44 We ask now that 02:46 He would come and speak through us 02:48 and let us all learn from this lesson. 02:51 We thank You for the answer to the prayer, 02:53 thank in Jesus' name. 02:54 Amen. Amen. 02:56 Amen. 02:57 What have they seen in your house? 02:59 Well, I could say right now 03:00 they're gonna see less and less in our house 03:02 because my wife and I've been purging. 03:04 We've discovered that you can't take it 03:06 with you so get rid of it before the call, 03:08 the leave comes. 03:09 I've also discovered and we have seen this 03:12 after being married 35 years, we have seen... 03:14 It's amazing and you know it. 03:16 Kenny, you probably more likely in that category. 03:19 And, Shelley... 03:20 And Jill's married too. 03:22 You're married too. 03:23 Just hang on, you have as much junk as I have. 03:26 But stuff just tends to accumulate and we find, 03:30 we tend to find meaning in everything we touch. 03:33 It is humbling to think as many times as we've moved, 03:37 we have touched everything in our house 03:39 to get out of a place where you used to live, 03:41 you have to touch everything from the minutest paperclip 03:45 to the largest piece of furniture. 03:47 And the reality is, friends, we cannot take it with us. 03:50 Say that with me. 03:52 We cannot take it with us. 03:54 What have they seen in your house? 03:55 Our houses are intended by God to be a blessing. 03:59 And the story of Hezekiah takes us to that very platform, 04:03 a man of God, 04:05 who was confronted with a life changing illness. 04:10 You know, you never know, 04:11 you cannot prepare for the unpredictable, 04:14 but you can live your life 04:15 so that when the unpredictable come, 04:18 your worship to God does not change. 04:20 There's a difference. 04:23 When you make it a pattern in your life 04:25 to worship the Lord in times of blessings, 04:28 when the times of trial come, 04:30 you don't ask the question where is God 04:32 because you have known 04:34 where He's been from day to day. 04:35 So when you live your life as though God is always there, 04:38 which He is, 04:39 you will not have to worry about where He is 04:40 when times of challenge come. 04:42 Amazing story in Isaiah 38 and 39. 04:45 I'm gonna summarize it because it's a long story. 04:47 I encourage you to read it. 04:49 Hezekiah is faced with an illness. 04:51 And he's confronted with the reality that, 04:53 "Hey, I'm going to die." 04:55 And he pleads with the Lord to spare his life. 04:58 And the Lord gives him, how many years? 05:00 Fifteen. Fifteen years. 05:02 I'm still trying to figure out why 15, not why 14 05:05 which is 7 times 2, why not 7. 05:07 But He gives him 15 years, and he asks for evidence. 05:10 And the Lord does... What does He do? 05:12 Sundial goes back. 05:13 The sundial goes back. 05:14 Today, it'll be our watch it will go back, 05:16 all of a sudden we say, "Did you see that?" 05:18 The sun is going up when it should be going down. 05:21 The Lord made it unmistakable through Isaiah the prophet 05:24 that God has heard your prayers, 05:26 He's going to extend your life, 05:28 this disease is not unto death. 05:31 And he is so excited, 05:32 he forgets to give God the glory. 05:35 So people come to his house... 05:36 And the Lord left him. 05:39 I like the way the writer says, 05:41 "The Lord left him to test him." 05:44 God blessed him and stood back and said, 05:46 "Now let me see what he's gonna do. 05:47 Let me see what his reaction is going to be in harmony 05:49 and light of what I just did for him." 05:51 The Lord left him to test him. 05:52 So people came to Hezekiah's house, 05:54 and Hezekiah did not hesitate to show them 05:58 everything that was in his house 06:01 from the smallest to the grandest. 06:04 He didn't leave anything. 06:06 The Lord said, "What did you show them in your house?" 06:09 "I didn't leave anything out. 06:10 I showed them everything. 06:12 A trophy I got from the singing contest 06:16 in New York 35 years ago 06:18 to the commendation I got from the president of Zimbabwe. 06:22 I showed them everything." That's right. 06:24 And He said, "Hezekiah, 06:28 this was a perfect opportunity to tell people about Me. 06:32 And what did they see instead your stuff? 06:34 Yeah. 06:36 You know what, Hezekiah. 06:38 It reminds me of the rich fool 06:43 who said self, 06:46 "I have many things laid up for many years. 06:50 I'm gonna tear down my old bonds, 06:53 build new ones, 06:54 pack it with stuff, 06:56 and I'm gonna sit back and take ease." 06:59 And the Lord said, "Tonight, thy fool, 07:02 your soul is required of you. 07:05 Who's gonna get all the stuff?" 07:08 An unfortunate reality. 07:09 Go with me to the Book of Luke Chapter 12. 07:12 An unfortunate reality. 07:14 And the lesson that we immediately learned 07:17 is don't allow our stuff 07:20 to eclipse our God. 07:21 That's right. 07:23 Don't allow our stuff to eclipse our God. 07:27 Luke 12:15, 07:30 "He said to them, 07:31 'Take heed and beware of covetousness." 07:35 And by the way, the 10th Commandment, 07:36 I believe is the foundation 07:38 for all the other ones being violated. 07:40 When we enter into the place 07:44 where we covet with God has never given to us. 07:46 Those last six commandments will always be violated. 07:49 When we covet the place that belongs to God alone, 07:52 when we covet the glory that belongs to God alone... 07:55 One of my favorite writers, Oswald Chambers, 07:57 he says, "Never use God's gifts 08:00 to rob God of His glory." 08:03 And there are so many people that can preach well, 08:05 sing well, they can administer well, 08:06 they're good at what they do. 08:08 But my wife and I've always prayed, 08:09 "Lord, never allow us to use our gift 08:11 to rob You of Your glory." 08:13 And the Lord has been gracious to keep us humble. 08:15 Amen. Praise the Lord. 08:16 But a man's life does not consist 08:18 in the abundance of the things he possesses. 08:21 I remember saying this many years ago, 08:23 and I reiterated here, 08:24 never allow your possessions to possess you. 08:27 Yes. 08:29 Hezekiah had to deal with the reality 08:33 that God was not honored. 08:35 And we know the end of the story. 08:38 Hezekiah was laid to rest by the Lord 08:40 because he didn't use the opportunities 08:42 granted to him. 08:44 I think Pastor Kenny may have said this 08:46 in one of our programs, 08:47 a few programs back maybe. 08:49 He says, "I've never met anybody on a hospital bed 08:52 that said, 'I wish I had more money in the bank. 08:54 Or I wish I had a bigger car.'" That's right. 08:56 "Or I wish I had worked longer hours." 09:00 We always say, "I wish I spent more time 09:03 with my family." 09:04 And they are those 09:06 who in those regrettable moments wish I said, 09:07 "Oh, I think of the lamenting moments. 09:10 I wish I told more people about Jesus." 09:11 Amen. 09:13 And the unfortunate thing is while we are healthy, 09:15 let us use our opportunities to give God the glory 09:18 which takes me to these points. 09:20 I didn't put numbers next to them, 09:21 Jill, for whatever reason. 09:23 Well, let's go to point number one. 09:24 I'll give a point number one. 09:25 1 Peter 2:9. 09:27 1 Peter 2:9. 09:33 Every one of us, by the way, 09:34 whether you are in private or in public, 09:36 whether you are living in a fishbowl 09:37 like each one of us is 09:39 or whether you are in a solitude of your own home 09:42 working in a very, 09:43 maybe even the most docile of environments, 09:46 every one of us is called to be witnesses 09:48 first to God and then for God. 09:51 1 Peter 2:9. 09:52 Notice what we are called to proclaim. 09:54 Who has that? 09:56 Shelley, would you read that for us? 09:57 "But you are a chosen generation, 09:59 a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 10:02 His own special people, 10:05 that you may proclaim the praises of Him 10:07 who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 10:12 I mean, how many times, thank you, Shelley, 10:13 we are called to proclaim? 10:15 Proclaim is not always done verbally. 10:18 Proclaiming sometimes is done by the actions of our own life. 10:21 Absolutely. Yes. 10:23 And by the way, 10:24 I don't even subscribe to this 10:26 because, you know, we love to preach 10:27 but some people said the best sermon 10:29 ever preached was never done verbally, 10:30 but it was done through our lives. 10:32 Proclaiming, reflecting, revealing, 10:34 and giving God always the glory. 10:35 But we are called to proclaim 10:37 the praises of Him. 10:41 When you want praises, you cannot proclaim praise. 10:44 That's true. 10:45 And it's so sad. I wanna make this point here. 10:47 Be very, very careful when God has gifted you 10:50 because the gift is not intended for your praise, 10:53 the gift is intended for God's grace. 10:56 You may be good at what you do, 10:57 but don't ever get too comfortable 11:00 in the accolade of men. 11:01 I like it. 11:03 I have a book actually on how to handle flattery. 11:05 It was written by 11:07 one of my favorite professors down at Southern College. 11:12 I won't mention his name publicly 11:13 because he may or may not want me to. 11:16 But how to handle flattery 11:17 and one of the wonderful things he said. 11:19 If somebody comes in and begin to say, 11:21 "Oh, what a wonderful message, what a wonderful song, 11:23 what a wonderful seminar, what a wonderful presentation," 11:25 say this, 11:27 "If the Lord can use me 11:29 to give Him glory 11:31 and to bless your life, praise His name." 11:33 Amen. 11:34 If the Lord can use me to be a blessing to you, 11:36 praise His name. 11:38 And he talked about how flattery is an instrument 11:40 that kills people 11:42 and eventually gets them 11:43 to build an altar to themselves. 11:45 And later on, they find themselves 11:47 surrounded by monuments that look all just like them. 11:50 And they want everyone else to recognize that. 11:52 The most dangerous thing is to get the gift of God 11:55 and rob God of His glory, 11:56 and then try to build yourself a monument 11:58 to your own glory. 12:00 It'll end your life in a tragic way. 12:02 We are not only called to reflect, 12:04 we are called to shine. 12:07 Matthew 5:16, 12:09 "Let your light so shine before men, 12:12 that they may praise you." 12:14 So what is it say, Jill? See your good works. 12:16 And do what? 12:17 Glorify your Father which is in heaven. 12:19 That they may see your good works 12:20 and glorify your Father which is in heaven, 12:23 not glorify his son, which is on earth. 12:28 When we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, 12:32 He will exalt us in due season. 12:33 That's right. 12:35 But to be exalted 12:36 when the season doesn't come 12:38 is the most dangerous thing. 12:41 Being at the top is a very dangerous place 12:44 to be when God hasn't put you there. 12:47 Desiring to be at the top is a dangerous thing 12:50 when God hasn't put you there. 12:52 Read the life of Uzziah. 12:53 All of Uzziah's life was a blessing 12:56 until the Bible says, 12:58 "He was marvelously helped by God 13:02 until he became great." 13:05 When he became great, he knew it, 13:06 and then he became a leper 13:08 because his greatness was to his own glory. 13:10 We are also called to declare. 13:12 John 9:25. 13:14 We are to declare what God has done for us. 13:17 "He answered and said, 13:19 'Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. 13:22 One thing I know that though I was blind, 13:26 now I see.'" 13:27 Tell somebody about the changes 13:30 that Jesus has made in your life. 13:32 Amen? Amen. 13:33 Not about the stuff He's given you. 13:35 If the Lord wants to give you stuff... 13:37 And I believe this, panel. 13:38 I believe that the Lord never gives you anything 13:40 that will cause you to stumble. 13:41 That's right. 13:43 So if it's causing you to stumble, 13:44 I can guarantee you 13:45 it's been a desire of your heart 13:47 and you found a way to make it happen. 13:48 God will never give you a gift to cause you to fall. 13:51 He'll give you a gift to give Him glory, 13:53 which is the last part, which is the last part. 13:55 Also declare how God has been gracious. 13:58 After being married 35 years, I end with this one. 14:01 Zechariah 3:2. 14:02 I love the Lord and I believe He said this in my behalf. 14:05 The devil came, 14:07 angry with what the Lord have done in Zechariah's life. 14:08 He said, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan! 14:10 The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! 14:13 Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" 14:15 I am one. 14:17 So I'm gonna give God the glory the rest of my days. 14:19 Praise the Lord. 14:20 Amen. Amen. 14:22 Well, 14:23 Monday's lesson is entitled "Family First." 14:27 And I just wanna say just ride off... 14:29 You know, 14:32 this message, this particular lesson 14:34 is very, very much needed today 14:36 because over the years as a minister I have 14:39 set in the church, 14:40 and I think we've all done this to certain extent 14:42 we observe, we do. 14:44 We see things, we hear things, 14:46 and, you know, as you grow and mature in the Lord, 14:48 you learn not to so much keep your eyes 14:51 and attention focused on people. 14:53 But nonetheless, you know, when something is in your face, 14:55 and you're seeing it, 14:57 you know, you're experiencing something, 14:58 you're observing something... 14:59 You know, I have been through many different churches, 15:02 I have sat under many different pastors. 15:04 And I'm telling you almost every other pastor 15:07 that I've talked to. 15:08 I ask them this question, you know, 15:10 what is your greatest challenge as a pastor? 15:13 And maybe not all of them with the same words, 15:15 but in some way form or fashion 15:16 would communicate that, you know, 15:18 trying to get my people engaged 15:21 in experiencing the true gospel, 15:24 trying to get my people to be involved in the work. 15:29 And as I hear them use those words and describe, 15:32 you know, what it is, my mind goes to, 15:34 well, it sounds like those people 15:36 they need a transformation. 15:38 They need to come to know Jesus. 15:40 And we know that, yes, there's wheat and there's tares 15:42 and they have to coexist. 15:44 But at the end of the day, you know, 15:45 every single one of us, we have to realize, 15:47 and I've said this over and over, 15:48 we have to have a personal daily 15:50 relationship with Jesus Christ. 15:52 Where does that start? 15:54 Some people think they have this false understanding that, 15:57 you know, "I'm gonna just live my life 15:58 throughout the week, and I'm gonna come to church, 16:00 and I'm gonna fill up on God's goodness, 16:02 I'm gonna hear this powerful sermon, 16:03 and that's gonna last me the rest of the week." 16:05 You know, that's not how it works. 16:07 You know, truthfully, I find that, you know, 16:09 the reason why there's so many people 16:11 that are bringing their problems 16:12 and their issues, 16:13 and we all have them, 16:15 we've all have experienced them, 16:16 it's because they lack Jesus in their home. 16:19 And their family is suffering 16:21 from not knowing Jesus personally. 16:23 Monday's lesson "Family First." 16:26 The most natural first recipients of our gospel 16:29 sharing endeavors 16:30 are the people in our households. 16:32 That's right. 16:33 There is no more important mission field than this. 16:36 If you can get Jesus in the home, 16:38 if each and every one of your family members, 16:39 including yourself, 16:41 can come to know Jesus on a daily basis 16:43 in your home, 16:44 when you leave that home, 16:46 wherever you go, you're gonna take Him with you. 16:47 When you come to church, guess what? 16:49 When the pastor gives a sermon and says, 16:50 "Hey, I need some people to, you know, join me and, 16:53 you know, taking the gospel to this community." 16:55 It's kind of second nature. 16:57 You're just gonna do it 16:58 because you have Jesus in your heart. 17:00 But it seems like today... 17:01 And, Pastor, you know this, 17:02 Brother Kenny, you know this, we all know it. 17:04 It seems like the day you give a gospel call, 17:05 it's like, "Hey, let's go reach the community with Jesus." 17:07 You know what? 17:09 People in that church need to hear Jesus. 17:11 They still need a transformation. 17:13 You know, I look at example given in the Bible, 17:15 John 1:40-42. 17:19 John 1:40-42. 17:21 Notice the experience here of couple of these disciples. 17:24 It says, "One of the two who heard John speak, 17:28 and followed Him, was Andrew, 17:31 Simon Peter's brother. 17:34 He first found his brother Simon, 17:36 and said to him, 17:38 'We have found the Messiah.'" 17:39 Which of course is translated anointed. 17:41 "He brought Simon to Jesus 17:44 who looked at him and said, 17:45 'You are Simon, son of John. 17:47 You are to be called," is it Cephas? 17:50 Which is translated, Peter. 17:52 Now when you read this particular text, 17:54 what does it tell us? 17:56 Andrew, here's John, 17:58 about how the Messiah has come 18:00 who's the first person he runs and tells? 18:02 His brother. 18:03 I mean, you know, I got to tell my family, 18:04 this is great news, 18:06 I'm gonna go back and tell my brother 18:07 because, you know, truthfully, 18:09 I don't believe there's any person in the world 18:10 who loves Jesus 18:11 and who wants to come to know Jesus better. 18:13 I don't know of any person in the world 18:14 who doesn't desire to see their family members saved. 18:17 I believe more than anything, 18:18 I wanna see my family in heaven. 18:19 I wanna see everyone in heaven. 18:21 But, you know... 18:22 But first my mind goes to I wanna see my brother there. 18:24 I wanna see my father there. 18:26 I wanna see my mother, my sister. 18:27 I wanna see my whole family. 18:28 I wanna see my wife. 18:30 And, you know, those who have little ones, 18:31 you wanna see your little ones there. 18:33 Amen. 18:34 Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 18:39 "And these words which I command to you today 18:41 shall be in your heart. 18:43 You shall teach them diligently to your children, 18:46 and you shall talk of them 18:48 when you sit down in your house, 18:50 when you walk by the way, 18:52 when you lie down, and when you rise up." 18:54 You know, that covers the whole spectrum. 18:56 In other words, Jesus is saying here, 18:57 you know... 18:59 Hey, in your home 19:00 that should be a Christ filled home, 19:02 that should be a gospel filled home. 19:04 Whatever you're doing, 19:05 always make sure 19:06 that you have the Lord on your mind. 19:08 The Word of the Lord should be the living manual 19:10 for your household. 19:11 It shall be diligently shared and taught within your home 19:14 as the standard for godly living. 19:16 I found this quote here, powerful quote. 19:18 Testimonies for the Church, volume six, page 93. 19:21 Notice what it says here. 19:23 "Religious instruction should be given to children 19:26 from their earliest years. 19:28 It should be given, not in a condemnatory spirit, 19:32 but in a cheerful, happy spirit. 19:35 Mothers need to be on the watch constantly, 19:37 lest temptation shall come to the children in such a form 19:41 that is not to be recognized by them. 19:44 The parents are to guard their children with wise, 19:47 pleasant instruction. 19:49 As the very best friends of those inexperienced ones, 19:52 they should help them in the work of overcoming, 19:55 for it means everything to them to be victorious." 19:58 This is a powerful quote, it goes unto say, 20:01 "This must be a daily, hourly work. 20:05 Parents, must watch, 20:06 watch and pray, 20:08 and make your children 20:09 your companions." 20:11 That's a powerful quote. 20:12 And it really, really is. 20:14 It should be the experience in our homes. 20:17 Ruth Chapter 1. 20:18 This is another one that in the lesson brought out 20:20 that I thought was very, very good. 20:22 And there's a powerful message 20:23 behind this as well talking about sharing Christ 20:26 with your family members, 20:27 your loved ones. 20:28 Ruth Chapter 1, 20:30 I'm gonna begin reading in verse 14 to 16. 20:34 It says, "Then they lifted up their voices 20:37 and wept again, 20:38 and Orpa, Orpah," excuse me, 20:41 "kissed her mother-in-law, 20:42 but Ruth clung to her." 20:44 Okay? 20:46 "And she said, 'Look, 20:48 your sister-in-law has gone back to her people 20:50 and to her gods, 20:52 return after your sister-in-law.'" 20:54 Now notice this, Ruth, 20:57 you know, she was of a polytheistic belief, 20:59 okay? 21:00 She worshiped many other false gods that was in her culture, 21:02 that's way she was raised and when her husband died 21:05 and the family all was starting to split up. 21:07 Naomi, the mother, she served the God of Israel, 21:09 she served the true God. 21:11 And, of course, Naomi, 21:12 you know, 21:13 again mourning the death of her son, 21:16 all the emotion, all of the stress, 21:18 all of the worry, 21:19 she just tells Ruth, "You know what, 21:21 you just follow that you guys worship other gods, 21:23 you might as well go ahead 21:25 and follow her going back to previous life. 21:26 There's really nothing here." 21:27 Ruth clung to her. 21:29 And then notice her response, verse 16. 21:31 "But Ruth said, 21:32 'Entreat me not to leave you, 21:35 or to turn back from your following after you, 21:37 for wherever you go, I will go. 21:40 And wherever you lodge, I will lodge. 21:42 Your people shall be my people.'" 21:43 Oh, I love that. 21:45 And notice this, "Your God, my God." 21:47 That's powerful. 21:48 "Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. 21:51 The Lord do so to me, and more also, 21:54 if anything but death parts you and me." 21:58 And it says, "When she saw that," 21:59 notice she is talking about, "When she saw that 22:00 she was determined to go with her, 22:03 she stopped speaking to her." 22:04 In other words, Naomi said, 22:06 "Okay, just whatever if that's what she wanna do." 22:07 Now this was powerful here. 22:09 No more... 22:10 This was in the study. 22:11 So in your study on Monday's lesson, 22:13 it says, 22:14 "No more eloquent testimony 22:16 then Ruth's can be given to show 22:18 that youth can meet 22:19 and make a commitment to a perfect God," 22:21 check this out, 22:23 "even when introduced to Him by an imperfect parent." 22:26 You know, in that particular moment, 22:28 you know, Naomi in her weakness, 22:30 in her struggling, in her mournful spirit 22:34 her lifestyle up to this point had been a witness 22:37 to Ruth who was to worship false gods. 22:41 But when it came time 22:42 when this family was splitting up, 22:43 and it looked like they were about to go 22:45 through a really hard time of trouble, 22:46 Ruth decided, "No, no, no, I'm going with you. 22:49 I want what you have." 22:50 And, you know, we all are imperfect. 22:52 We're striving for that perfection in Christ 22:54 but your lifestyle, 22:56 your choices, especially in the home, 22:58 it affects every single person. 23:00 Family First. 23:02 Child Guidance, page 233. 23:03 I found this powerful. 23:04 I've read this before 23:06 in this particular series of studies. 23:07 Got to read it again. 23:08 It says, "It is the duty of those 23:10 who claim to be Christians to present to the world 23:13 well-ordered, well-disciplined families, 23:16 families that will show 23:18 the power of true Christianity." 23:20 When God is in the home 23:21 and you take that family out in the world, 23:23 you look different, not in a bad way. 23:25 You are different in a good way. 23:27 People notice that and they want what you have. 23:29 And that's a wonderful, powerful witness. 23:31 This comes from Review and Herald, 23:33 November 17, 1896. 23:35 "God would have our families symbols 23:38 of the family in heaven. 23:40 Let parents and children bear this in mind every day, 23:44 relating themselves to one another 23:45 as members of the family of God. 23:48 Then their lives will be of such a character 23:51 as to give to the world an object-lesson 23:54 of what families who love God 23:56 and keep His commandments may be. 23:59 Christ will be glorified, 24:01 His peace and grace and love 24:03 will pervade the family circle like a precious perfume." 24:07 Amen. That is so powerful. 24:09 And my prayer for each and every one of you 24:11 is that you will surrender your home to Jesus Christ. 24:14 Open that front door, 24:16 invite Him in, kick out the devil. 24:17 He doesn't need to be there. 24:19 Allow Jesus Christ to transform your life 24:20 and your family and be a witness for Him. 24:23 Amen. Amen. 24:24 Thank you. Wonderfully done, Pastor Ryan. 24:27 And we're gonna take a short break 24:29 and we'll be right back. 24:35 Ever wish you could watch 24:37 a 3ABN Sabbath School panel again 24:39 or share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter? 24:42 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com. 24:47 A clean design makes it easy 24:49 to find the program you're looking for. 24:51 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:55 so you can follow along. 24:57 Sharing is easy. 24:58 Just click share 25:00 and choose your favorite social media. 25:01 Share a link, 25:03 save a life for eternity. 25:09 Welcome back to our Sabbath School Panel. 25:11 We'll continue with Jill on the topic, 25:14 "Peace That Wins." 25:15 Absolutely. 25:17 What an incredible study so far. 25:18 Thank you so much, Pastor John and Pastor Ryan. 25:21 I love it that God wants to be the center of our hearts, 25:24 the center of our homes, 25:27 the center of our families. 25:29 And when that happens, that influence is unstoppable. 25:32 It influences the entire world. 25:34 But what if you live in a spiritually divided home 25:37 and you have an unbelieving spouse? 25:40 That's what my day is about Peace That Wins. 25:43 How to witness to your unbelieving spouse? 25:47 For that, we're gonna go to 1 Corinthians Chapter 7. 25:52 So turn with me to 1 Corinthians Chapter 7. 25:55 Marriage in Paul's day was under attack. 25:59 We know that from, obviously, 26:01 the counsel he gave to the Corinthian Church. 26:04 But we also know that from records 26:06 and historians of that day 26:08 saying that the early Roman world of that time, 26:12 marriage was under attack. 26:13 Seneca wrote, 26:15 "That women were married to be divorced 26:17 and divorced to be married." 26:19 That the Romans did not date their years by numbers, 26:24 they call them by the name of their husbands. 26:28 There was an example given of a woman 26:29 who had 10 husbands. 26:31 Now this is in the time of Paul, 26:33 when he's writing to the Corinthian Church. 26:35 Another woman who had 8 husbands in 5 years, 26:40 another woman who married her 23rd husband, 26:44 and she was his 21st wife. 26:48 So marriage was... 26:50 We say it's under attack today, and I believe that, 26:52 but it was also under attack in the time of Paul 26:56 when he wrote to the Corinthian Church. 26:58 The Christians in Corinth weren't really even shocked 27:01 by sexual immorality 27:03 because it was all around them. 27:05 If you read in 1 Corinthians 5, 27:08 Paul writes about a man who had... 27:10 Let's read it actually, 1 Corinthians 5:1. 27:14 He says, "It is actually reported that 27:15 there is sexual immorality among you." 27:19 This was in the church. 27:20 So we're talking not only in the world was it degraded 27:23 but in the church. 27:25 "And such sexual immorality 27:26 as is not even named among the Gentiles 27:28 that a man has his father's wife!" 27:30 So the church was almost even more degraded 27:33 in some of their practices than the world of that time. 27:37 1 Corinthians 6, 27:39 Paul talks about sexual relationships 27:41 with a prostitute being wrong. 27:43 Now you and I would think that's a given, 27:44 they ought to know that. 27:46 But Paul wrote that the union of a Christian 27:48 with a pagan prostitute 27:49 has serious spiritual implications. 27:53 So some of the Christians were newly baptized, 27:58 new to Jesus 28:01 coming out of paganism and pagan worship. 28:04 And now they're wondering, 28:06 "Well, if Paul says that 28:08 sexual relationships 28:10 with a pagan prostitute is wrong, 28:11 I'm married to an unbelieving spouse." 28:13 You know, they were both pagans 28:15 when they got married. 28:16 Now they became Christians in the church in Corinth. 28:19 What am I supposed to do with that? 28:21 So what is Paul's counsel 28:23 to those married to unbelievers? 28:26 We see that in 1 Corinthians 7:10-16. 28:30 And we're gonna unpack that as we go through here. 28:33 Well, look at Paul 28:34 and Peter's counsel to those 28:36 who are married to an unbeliever. 28:38 There's a lot of difference 28:39 between those entering marriage with an unbeliever 28:42 versus those staying in a marriage 28:45 with an unbeliever. 28:47 What I mean by that, you know, Amos says, 28:48 "Can two walk together, unless they're agreed?" 28:50 And God has serious counsel, 28:52 that if you're considering marriage, 28:54 do not marry an unbeliever. 28:57 But what happens if you are already married 29:00 and your spouse is an unbeliever, 29:02 maybe you became a Christian later, 29:04 what are you supposed to do with that? 29:05 First principle is do not initiate divorce. 29:09 Paul accounts this in 1 Corinthians 7:12 and 13. 29:14 "But to the rest." 29:15 Now he has given counsels in different categories before, 29:17 so in this case, he's saying 29:19 to those with unbelieving spouses 29:21 this is my counsel for you. 29:23 "I, not the Lord, say this." 29:25 Now Paul was clear to say, 29:26 this is not a direct command of Jesus, 29:28 but I as an apostle, 29:29 I'm giving you counsel concerning this, 29:32 "If any brother..." 29:34 Let me read that. 29:36 Verse 12, 29:37 "If any brother has a wife who does not believe, 29:41 and she is willing to live with him, 29:43 let him not divorce her." 29:46 Verse 13, 29:48 "And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, 29:51 if he is willing to live with her, 29:52 let her not divorce him." 29:55 So the first counsel would be not to say, 29:57 "Okay, I'm unbeliever, 29:58 I'm going to free myself from this unbelieving spouse, 30:01 and I'm gonna marry someone who's a Christian." 30:03 No, the first counsel is do not initiate divorce. 30:07 Second counsel is that your union... 30:10 If you're a believer with an unbelieving spouse, 30:13 results in benefits to the unbeliever. 30:17 We see that in verse 14, 30:19 "The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, 30:24 and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband, 30:28 otherwise your children would be unclean, 30:30 but now are they holy." 30:33 Now what does that mean? 30:34 I think about Joseph, 30:36 when he was sold as a slave into Egypt, 30:39 and he served in Potiphar's house. 30:41 What does the Bible say? 30:43 Potiphar and his entire household 30:45 were blessed. 30:47 Why? 30:48 Because of Joseph. 30:49 Now Potiphar wasn't a believer, 30:51 he wasn't following the true God, 30:52 but Potiphar was blessed 30:54 because Joseph within his household. 30:56 Think about Sodom. 30:58 God would have spared that city, 31:00 and it was a horribly wicked city. 31:02 If there were what, 31:03 15 righteous people or less, right? 31:06 Less righteous people in that city, 31:09 God would have spared the city. 31:10 Think about Abraham, Genesis 12:3, God says, 31:14 "I will bless those who bless you, 31:16 and the ones who curses you I will curse. 31:20 And in you shall all families of the earth be blessed." 31:24 So there's almost fringe benefits you could say 31:26 by being married to a believer. 31:30 Paul's not saying that the unbeliever will be saved 31:32 because of the believer. 31:33 They have to make their own choice, that's clear. 31:36 You can't save someone else. 31:38 But at the same time, 31:40 the unbelieving spouse is going to be blessed 31:42 because they live in a home where there was someone 31:46 who follows the Lord Jesus Christ. 31:49 Number three, we're called to seek, 31:51 to win the unbelieving spouse to Christ. 31:54 We're gonna turn to Peter's counsel here 31:56 and then we'll look at Paul. 31:57 1 Peter 3:1 and 2. 31:59 And we referenced this text on a previous lesson. 32:02 1 Peter 3:1 and 2, 32:04 "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, 32:09 that even if some do not obey the word." 32:11 In other words, some are not Christians, 32:13 some are not believers. 32:15 "They, without a word," 32:18 That means without your preaching to them 32:22 or nagging to them they, 32:24 "may be won by the conduct of their wives, 32:28 when they observe your chaste conduct 32:29 accompanied by fear." 32:32 Nowhere in Scripture are men told to ask their wives 32:36 to submit to them. 32:37 But the Bible is very clear to women 32:40 that we are called to submit to our husbands. 32:44 And men are counseled 32:45 to sacrificially love their wives 32:48 and give themselves for her. 32:51 So this counsel says, 32:52 even if you don't speak a word in your home, 32:56 but you actively live Christianity, 32:59 your unbelieving spouse can be won to Christ. 33:03 Paul says the same thing in 1 Corinthians 7, 33:06 we're back to 1 Corinthians 7:16. 33:09 "How do you know, O wife, 33:12 whether you will save your husband? 33:15 Or how do you know, O husband, 33:17 whether you will save your wife?" 33:19 Now it's not that the believing spouse 33:22 can physically save their other spouse. 33:24 But it means that your godly example, 33:27 your conduct, your love is going to make 33:32 such an incredible difference in their life. 33:34 Have you ever been around someone 33:36 that when you're with them, 33:38 you want to become more like Jesus? 33:40 You know, there's a certain woman 33:42 I can think of I won't mention her name. 33:44 Probably, one of the godliest women I know. 33:46 And every time I'm with her, 33:48 when I leave her presence, 33:50 just a conversation or just a hi 33:52 or phone call or anything, 33:54 when I leave her presence, 33:55 I want to become more like Jesus. 33:58 So be that type of person in your marriage 34:02 for the unbelieving spouse. 34:04 Number four, 34:05 do not resist divorce proceedings 34:07 unless the unbeliever initiates it. 34:10 That's in 1 Corinthians 7:15. 34:12 "If the unbeliever departs, 34:14 let him depart, a brother or a sister 34:16 is not under bondage in such cases. 34:19 But God has called us to peace." 34:22 And finally, number five, trust God in your marriage, 34:27 trust God for your spouse's salvation. 34:31 2 Peter 3:9, 34:33 "God is not willing that any should perish 34:37 but that all should come to repentance." 34:41 So I just want to make a special appeal 34:42 to those of you 34:44 who are walking in a difficult marriage. 34:47 Your spouse doesn't know God, 34:48 your spouse doesn't care about God, 34:51 your spouse doesn't love God, 34:53 make a choice today 34:55 to make Christ center of your home 34:58 and with your children. 35:00 And God can use you to influence them 35:04 to make a decision to follow Jesus 35:06 and your home can become a united home. 35:09 Amen. Praise the Lord. 35:11 I say, I like the way you covered 35:13 and the way it's been covered down here 35:15 because it really sets up... 35:16 And I think we've all said this and it really does. 35:18 What each one says we're gleaning from it 35:21 and to see how the lesson really fits together. 35:24 For my lesson, Wednesday is "Family Life Is for Sharing." 35:28 I thought just a beautiful lesson for me 35:30 because of experiences in life and home 35:33 and so on and so forth, 35:34 and how valuable they are. 35:36 But I know this from experience, 35:38 and I think we all do, and we've shared it. 35:40 People become like who they behold. 35:42 Yes. 35:43 If we're watching the TV a lot, 35:45 we want to become like those who are in Hollywood. 35:46 If we're studying the Word of God, 35:48 we wanna become certainly like God. 35:50 So, you know, that's a church, that's social media, 35:53 it doesn't matter what work or play, 35:55 we're always beholding somebody. 35:58 We're looking at somebody, 36:00 you know, like what are they doing, 36:02 why are they doing all these things. 36:03 So we're beholding, and it's going 36:05 sinking in our mind whether we think it not, 36:07 whether we're at Walmart, 36:08 music stuff that's going on, 36:10 whatever it might be, 36:11 subconsciously, I think it's going in. 36:13 We always have to be careful. 36:15 I think about all these things here. 36:16 In the home, 36:18 we realized that children imitate the parents. 36:21 And as first ones they really do 36:22 whatever mom and dad did. 36:24 "Well, dad did it." 36:25 I've heard, you know, "Dad did it, Mom, you know..." 36:28 I realized even in the home 36:29 when my mother came to be a Seventh-day Adventist, 36:32 several years before my dad did. 36:35 Mom just made sure the kids went. 36:36 We all went to church. 36:38 We came over my church, 36:39 my dad was sitting there one day watching TV, you know? 36:41 And so I thought, "Well, this is good deal." 36:43 He's watching, I think it was Lone Ranger, 36:45 and I love the cowboys. 36:46 And so, you know, just a little tot 36:48 but, you know what, I seen him doing. 36:50 I didn't say anything. 36:51 But I thought there's really nothing wrong 36:52 with some of this thing because dad's doing it. 36:55 I never considered that 36:57 he hadn't really given his heart 36:58 and remit changed his life, but I was influenced by that. 37:02 You know, our influence is powerful we realize... 37:04 Ministry of Healing, page 354 says this. 37:08 It speaks about social influences. 37:09 It says, "It's a wonderful power. 37:12 We can use it if we will 37:14 as a means of helping those about us." 37:16 And that's what we should be doing. 37:18 Everything to me is to help others, 37:20 everything is the winning of souls, 37:22 doing something for Christ. 37:25 I know there's many ways, you know, 37:26 in families and friends and home and marriage 37:29 things that we can do 37:30 that will point someone to Jesus Christ. 37:32 But, you know, there are many I found out, 37:35 they have no example. 37:37 What goes on in their home, 37:38 they didn't have a clue 37:41 of what they need to be doing for the cause of Christ 37:43 or even given their life to Christ. 37:45 I found this even years ago growing up in home. 37:48 And I'll just share a couple of those examples 37:50 I think in our home, you know, as we were growing up 37:52 there was a number of occasions, 37:54 number of occasions 37:55 that kids from school would be over, 37:58 neighbors would come over, 37:59 then it was really acceptable, you know? 38:01 I need a cup of this or whatever, 38:04 I need a potato, I need... 38:05 And everybody just borrow then you give back. 38:08 Somebody was coming and going seem like in the house 38:10 and we had children to play or to visit, 38:12 regardless of when it was time for worship 38:15 or Bible study or even setting down. 38:18 And I hear mom start playing the piano, 38:20 you know? 38:21 And so they'd say, call, "Kids, come on in." 38:25 You know, that's homes for witnessing 38:26 and for those who are around. 38:28 And it didn't matter 38:29 if we're playing out there in the yard or not. 38:31 But the invitation was given 38:33 for the neighbor kids to come in with us. 38:35 Amen. 38:36 Or the neighbors that are older 38:37 or the mayor, they would come in 38:39 and they would sit down and it's like... 38:42 Sometimes they just sit and they'd stare 38:44 and you want to... 38:46 And as a younger person 38:47 I don't know about your religion 38:49 and things you kind of... 38:50 I'm like, well, that's not what they do in their home 38:51 because I've been over there, you know, 38:53 you're little bit embarrassed somewhat. 38:54 Mom and dad really didn't care. 38:56 "Just come on in, kids, 38:57 we're gonna have a little worship." 38:58 And they always encourage them to, you know, 39:00 to join in and they did. 39:02 I don't think it ever failed. 39:05 It never failed when we had worship 39:07 or we're singing some songs or doing whatever. 39:10 At the end, we maybe go outside... 39:12 And they're not 8, 10-year-old, 39:14 they'd look at you and they say, 39:16 "Wow, I wish we did that in our home. 39:20 My mom and daddy, 39:21 they've never prayed, they never sang a song, 39:26 but we're here hearing it, and we like this." 39:29 So you kind of felt sorry for the way things were going. 39:32 And, you know, again, mom and dad would just, 39:34 you know, encourage them in and we just say, "Well, good. 39:37 Come back, we'll do this thing again." 39:40 And I like too because mom and dad 39:41 talking about examples of witnessing in the home. 39:44 Mom and dad were not ashamed or, you know, 39:47 to show affection and love in the right way. 39:51 And that's something I found out 39:52 that many of my classmates never seen in their home. 39:56 All they seen in their home was dad punching mom, 39:58 mom punching him or cursing each other. 40:01 Really? Not a good word. 40:03 They didn't realize that there were actually a mom and dad 40:06 that loved each other. 40:08 And like go outside the kid would say again. 40:11 "Why so your dad puts his arm around mama? 40:14 He gave her a kiss before." 40:16 I said, "Yeah, they do that all the time. 40:17 It's nothing strange. I grew up with that. 40:19 It's all good." 40:21 Then they said, "I wish," again, 40:22 "I wish my mom and daddy would do that. 40:24 I really wish they did. 40:25 You know, we just don't have that in our home." 40:29 And another thing I thought it was interesting 40:30 is mom and dad used to dress alike. 40:35 Be careful with that word because they dress alike. 40:39 Similar color. I try to clear that. 40:40 Yeah... 40:42 'Cause I thought what we always grin and say, 40:43 "Well, they kind of dressed like they had a shirt 40:45 or some they had the same gown." 40:46 I kind of thought, 40:48 and I didn't would know enough to realize, 40:49 I thought maybe he's going through middle-aged crisis. 40:51 I didn't know why they were, 40:52 you know, putting on the same thing. 40:54 And I notice the other neighbors 40:55 didn't do that, they didn't have that. 40:57 Mom and dad go outside, 40:58 they go for a walk around the block, 41:00 they'd be holding hands, talking as they went. 41:02 And the other kids say, 41:04 "Look, your mom and dad, look their dress, 41:05 and they're going to... 41:07 I wish my mom and dad would do that." 41:08 We know what a witness that was. 41:09 But anyway, it may be kind of funny today 41:12 because people will say something like, you know, 41:14 they'll say, well, I notice you... 41:16 You know, husband and wife and grandma and grandpa 41:19 and stuff right now. 41:21 Here I go again. 41:22 "You and your wife dress alike." 41:24 And I say, "We wear the same colors." 41:26 You know? 41:28 People notice that if something that kind of I think bonds, 41:32 not everybody has to do that. 41:33 It's just your own thing. 41:34 But I find it's good that you're kind of bound together. 41:40 Other people see it. 41:42 They saw when we were growing up, 41:43 they saw it on Warden Street in the house 41:45 that we were born and raised in. 41:47 And all the children came around 41:49 and they always said, 41:50 "We love to go to Shelton's house." 41:51 That doesn't mean we're good or anything, 41:53 it just simply means things were going on in there 41:55 which this lesson brings out here what is... 41:58 This is a place, the home is for witnessing. 42:00 The family is for witnessing and you can do it 42:02 without setting them in the corner 42:04 and tell them how good, how bad 42:05 or your house should be like this 42:07 or it should be like that. 42:08 Not at all. 42:09 Simply just set the right example 42:11 and then when you hear that you say, 42:13 "Man, I wish I could do that." 42:14 Influence is more powerful than most of us think today. 42:18 And so 2 Corinthians 3:18, 42:21 I wanna read this real quickly here. 42:23 We know this, what a powerful passage. 42:25 2 Corinthians 3:18. 42:27 Again, the Bible is already said 42:29 these things, we just need to 42:30 by the grace of God follow them. 42:32 "But we all with an open," what? 42:33 "Face beholding as in a glass the glory." 42:37 Notice who we beholding. 42:38 "The glory of the Lord, 42:40 we are changed into the same image." 42:43 Oh, isn't that beautiful? 42:44 "From glory to glory, 42:46 even by the Spirit of the Lord." 42:48 Changes will come. 42:49 People are beholding, people are watching you today. 42:52 They're watching how you act, 42:53 they're watching you 42:54 when you're in a stressful situation, 42:56 they're watching you 42:57 when the other world would fall apart 42:58 and somehow you're holding it together. 43:00 And sometimes they want to know how can you hold it together? 43:02 How can people hold it together in this world 43:04 when it's falling apart before our very eyes right now? 43:07 Wars, rumors of wars or pestilence, 43:09 there's everything you can think of 43:11 going on in the world today. 43:12 Threat of disaster and so on... 43:15 And the situation to where we need extra help. 43:17 People say, "How can you be so calm?" 43:20 Because we know the one that sits on the throne, 43:22 we can point them to Jesus Christ. 43:24 Letter 108, 1899 says this, "When Christ is loved..." 43:28 Notice this, 43:29 "When Christ is loved more than self." 43:31 Here self comes again. 43:33 "The Savior," notice this, 43:35 "beautiful image is reflected in the believer." 43:38 So notice, what is it? 43:39 When Christ is loved more than self, 43:42 then Jesus is seen. 43:44 Itself is loved more 43:45 and we're worried about me, my, I all the time, 43:48 Christ cannot be seen, all it can be seen is me, 43:51 all I can see is my miserable character maybe 43:53 or the way that I act or may I react 43:55 and so on and so forth that needs to go, 43:57 so Jesus can come in. 43:58 So we can reflect Jesus. 44:00 Manuscript 102, 1903 says this, "There is only one..." 44:05 Notice this, "There's only one need 44:10 after which human character is to be formed 44:13 and that certainly is the character of Christ," 44:15 isn't it? 44:16 The character of Christ formed within, what is it? 44:19 The hope of glory. 44:20 We need that and we can do it in our family. 44:23 Our lesson brings it out the importance of our family 44:25 and witnessing to those round about. 44:27 And, again, people tend to be like those who are around. 44:30 So, you know, 44:31 I'm encouraging you there at home, 44:33 I'm encouraging this panel, 44:34 we know this very simple is to let Jesus come in, 44:37 let Him shine through, let Him be our example. 44:40 In the home don't be afraid if you have visitors, 44:43 people coming in. 44:44 If it's your custom, 44:46 if that's what you do in family worship, 44:47 invite them to come and sit. 44:49 You don't have to make them read anything 44:51 or they don't have to pray, 44:52 they had to just come in and what? 44:54 To just witness and to behold Jesus living in that home. 44:58 And how the children can learn to pray, 45:00 how we can learn to sing together 45:03 and to simply just lift up the name of Jesus, 45:05 the home certainly is a place, is a witnessing tool. 45:08 Use your home for the honor and the glory of God. 45:12 Amen. 45:13 What a blessing as some of you experienced 45:15 in growing up in families that had family worship. 45:20 We never had a family worship in my family. 45:22 So it's quite different. 45:24 I have Thursday's lessons 45:26 "Sinners of Contagious Influence." 45:28 Let me read you a quote, 45:30 "Far more powerful than any sermon 45:32 that can be preached 45:34 is the influence of a true home upon human hearts and lives. 45:38 Our sphere of influence 45:40 may seem narrow, our ability small, 45:43 our opportunities few, our requirements limited, 45:47 yet wonderful possibilities are ours 45:50 through a faithful use of opportunities of our home." 45:55 We're talking about using our home 45:57 as a place of ministry, are we not? 45:59 And it can be as simple as inviting someone 46:02 to come have lunch with you from church 46:05 or one of your neighbors. 46:07 It can be having a Bible study, opening your home can be... 46:12 Maybe you're offering to put up another Christian for the night 46:15 who's traveling through or lending a room 46:19 to an abused victim. 46:21 There's so many ways 46:22 we can use our home to minister. 46:27 But I wanna point out something that our lesson points out. 46:31 And that is sometimes 46:34 we confuse hospitality and entertaining. 46:41 Let me just tell you real quickly the difference. 46:44 We're graded entertaining when we're in town. 46:47 I mean, this is something that when you entertain 46:50 or I'm gonna speak for myself. 46:52 I want my house perfect. 46:54 I've got menu plan. 46:55 I've got everything out there, and it's already... 46:58 And I remember once Jill showed up 47:00 about 15 minutes early, 47:02 and she looked in 47:03 and saw look of panic on my face. 47:05 And she went out with JD to the garden. 47:08 The point that I want everything 47:10 to look so perfect and clean 47:12 that nobody would know that I've been cooking. 47:15 Everything's displayed and then I wanna look so relaxed. 47:20 It is staged to the tee 47:23 when you're really entertaining a large crowd sometimes. 47:27 Hospitality is not about you, 47:30 it's all about meeting the basic needs 47:35 of the other person. 47:36 Whatever rest, 47:38 refreshment if they need to eat whatever it is. 47:41 In the Greek hospitality, the word is filoxenía. 47:48 And you know what it means love of strangers. 47:51 Philia is the first part, I mean, that comes from lio. 47:55 Philia is brotherly love, 47:58 xenía is a stranger or a guest. 48:02 So hospitality is meeting the needs 48:07 of a stranger or a guest. 48:09 And you can invite somebody over, 48:12 maybe from church or you see somebody 48:14 that's going through something. 48:16 If you just open up a can of soup, 48:18 that's hospitality. 48:20 Your house doesn't have to be perfect. 48:22 It's just warm and inviting. 48:24 It is a tangible expression of self-giving love. 48:29 And you know what Jesus absolutely attached 48:32 theological significance to hospitality. 48:36 Turn to Matthew 25. 48:37 Well, I'm just gonna kind of summarize it for you 48:39 because we just don't have time 48:41 for everything that I've got here. 48:43 But in Matthew 25, 48:46 reference would be verses 34-40. 48:52 And beginning with verse 35, 48:53 He says, 48:55 He's talking to His disciples, 48:56 He said, "I was hungry and you gave Me food. 48:58 I was thirsty and you gave Me drink. 49:00 I was a stranger and you took Me in. 49:02 I was naked and you clothed Me. 49:04 I was sick and you visited Me. 49:07 I was in prison and you came to Me." 49:09 And His disciples are surprised and they're saying, "When? 49:12 When did we do any of these things for You? 49:14 And in verse 40, 49:16 He answers them and says to them, 49:18 "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it 49:22 to one of the least of these My brethren, 49:26 you did it to Me." 49:28 You know, we need to have a genuine concern 49:32 for the poor and the needy. 49:34 We need to let our hospitality extend as automatically 49:41 to strangers as did Abraham. 49:45 Let's consider this. 49:46 I'll give you the scripture reference 49:48 and then we may just kind of hit on it 49:50 as far as reading it. 49:52 But Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18:1-8. 49:58 Abraham is... 49:59 It's the heat of the day. 50:01 He's sitting in the tent, at the door of this tent, 50:04 he looks out, he sees three men coming. 50:06 He jumps up and runs out to them, 50:09 he bows to the ground, 50:10 which was the typical oriental greeting. 50:13 And he says, "My lord." 50:15 Now that's like using... 50:17 That word is like sir. 50:19 It's not Yahweh, he is not referring. 50:22 Abraham hasn't recognized too this initially. 50:25 He just says, "My lord, 50:27 if I found favor in your sight." 50:28 In other words, "Good sir. 50:30 If I have found favor in your sight, 50:32 don't pass me by, accept my hospitality." 50:36 Now he saw three weary strangers. 50:41 Abraham had no idea that one of them was God. 50:45 Anytime that we see God appearing in, I mean, 50:48 a manifestation of God like this, 50:51 we call it the ophany. 50:54 But we know the other two were angels 50:56 because in the next chapter in Genesis 19, 50:58 it refers to them. 50:59 So what does Abraham doing here? 51:02 He's offering three total strangers hospitality 51:08 and he says to them, "Hey, I'll get some water. 51:10 I'll wash the feet. 51:12 Here's a little morsel. 51:13 Here's an appetizer, little morsel and bread 51:15 so that you can refresh your heart, 51:17 but hold on while you're doing that, 51:20 we're gonna kill the fatted calf, 51:22 we're gonna do this with." 51:23 He prepares a feast for them 51:26 and then somewhere during that meal, 51:29 either during or afterwards, 51:31 the identity of Yahweh becomes apparent. 51:36 And he gives them the promise 51:38 that Sarah would have a son in due time. 51:43 is what this reminds me of. 51:48 Hebrews 13:2 says, "Do not neglect or refuse 51:52 to extend hospitality to strangers." 51:57 In other words, 51:59 "If somebody is in the brotherhood, 52:01 be friendly, be cordial, be gracious, 52:03 share the comforts of your home, 52:05 do your part generously." 52:08 Why? 52:10 "For through it some had entertained angels 52:15 without knowing it." 52:17 Angels unaware. 52:19 So here, the servant of the Lord, 52:23 He's praying to God... 52:26 Oops! I'm skipping something. 52:28 So here we've got Abraham, 52:31 and we're gonna skip over Rebecca and Zacchaeus. 52:35 Let's go to 1 Corinthians Chapter 4. 52:40 And let me repeat that because I said it wrong. 52:42 1 Peter Chapter 4, 52:45 1 Peter Chapter 4. 52:47 We have various examples 52:52 of hospitality. 52:55 And as I said, 52:56 we're going to skip over some 52:57 like Rebecca in the Old Testament 52:59 and her family, 53:02 Zacchaeus in the New Testament. 53:04 But let me tell you, 53:05 we are all called as Christians to practice hospitality. 53:11 1 Peter 4:9, 53:14 "Practice hospitality to one another." 53:17 He's speaking to those of the household of faith. 53:20 "Be hospitable, 53:22 be a lover of strangers 53:24 with brotherly affection for unknown guests, 53:27 the foreigners, the poor, and all others 53:30 who come your way who are in Christ body. 53:33 And in each instance, do it ungrudgingly." 53:37 That's right. Wow! 53:38 "Be cordial, be gracious, don't complain about it 53:41 because you're representing Christ. 53:43 As each of you has received a gift, 53:47 a particular spiritual talent, 53:49 employ it for one another 53:53 as befits good trustees of God." 53:55 God didn't give you that gift for your own benefit, 53:58 He gave it so that you can minister to others. 54:02 You know, meeting the needs of others 54:03 is certainly the responsibility of the church at large. 54:07 But each one of us are called to practice hospitality 54:11 and meet the needs of our brothers and sisters. 54:14 And we certainly know people 54:16 who have a special gift at that. 54:18 But let me leave you with one last scripture. 54:22 This is 3 John 1:5-8. 54:26 And He says, 54:27 "Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do 54:31 for the brethren and for strangers, 54:33 who have borne witness of your love before the church. 54:37 If you send them forward on their journey 54:39 in a manner worthy of God, you do well 54:42 because they went forth for His name's sake, 54:45 taking nothing from the Gentiles. 54:47 We therefore ought to receive such," 54:50 In the NIV translates that as hospitality, 54:54 "That we may become fellow workers for the truth." 54:59 Practice hospitality when you have visiting ministers 55:03 and send them forward. 55:06 Amen. Thank you, Shelley. 55:08 Thank you, Pastor Kenny, Jill, Pastor Ryan. 55:10 Let me give you an opportunity to summarize what you covered. 55:13 Yeah, absolutely. 55:14 You know, I have a lot of stuff that I want to say, 55:16 didn't get to get it all in. 55:18 So I'm gonna say another quote right now 55:20 that I think really sums up my particular day. 55:22 This comes from Signs of the Times, 55:24 June 20, 1911. 55:26 It says, "The sweetest type of Heaven 55:29 is a home where the Spirit of the Lord presides. 55:34 If the will of the God is fulfilled, 55:36 the husband and the wife will respect each other, 55:38 and cultivate love and confidence." 55:40 And, of course, we know that will rub off on the children 55:43 and that will be a godly home, indeed. 55:45 Amen. Jill. 55:47 I wanna quote 1 Peter 2:9 which was our memory text. 55:49 Pastor John, you already mentioned that. 55:51 "Your chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 55:53 God's own special people, 55:56 that we should proclaim the praises of Him 55:58 who called us from darkness into marvelous light." 56:01 Now we're called to proclaim that to the world 56:03 but most importantly to our families 56:06 and those in our inner circle who don't walk with God. 56:10 Amen. Pastor Kenny. 56:11 Follow believers who simply follow Christ. 56:14 And then we'll see that many will catch that spirit. 56:17 And they'll see it demonstrated in the lives of others 56:19 and they also see it demonstrated in the home. 56:22 Amen. 56:23 And I would just say that hospitality 56:25 the word in the Greek is filoxenía, 56:28 it's made of two words philia is the brotherly love, 56:32 xenia is strangers or guests. 56:34 So we are to show our love towards strangers 56:38 and in 1 Peter 4:9 and 10 56:41 tells us don't do it grudgingly, 56:43 meet their needs. 56:44 That's right. Praise the Lord. 56:46 In Colossians 3:23 and 24, 56:50 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, 56:53 as to the Lord and not to men, 56:55 knowing that from the Lord 56:56 you will receive the reward of the inheritance, 56:59 for you serve the Lord Christ." 57:02 You know what we want that to be the principal. 57:03 And remember this vitally important point. 57:06 We all lead by influence, not by authority. 57:11 Lead by your influence, not by your authority. 57:14 People remember what you have done, 57:17 not just what you have said. 57:18 And thank you for talking about that 57:20 in family and peace. 57:21 It was wonderful examples that you brought out Kenny 57:24 and then the hospitality aspect is so vitally important 57:27 in what we do. 57:28 Join us next time for the final lesson 57:30 "Turning Hearts in the End Times." 57:33 May the Lord bless you 57:34 and richly strengthen your heart, 57:36 until we see you again. |
Revised 2019-06-20