The Bible tells us,
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"In the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says to,
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"Receive with
meekness the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent
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to present
yourself approved to God,
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now
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for the 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is,
"The Least of These."
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Hello, friends, and welcome
to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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A panel that if you've
been following us by now,
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you know we thoroughly enjoy
what the Lord challenges us
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to do every program every week.
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So thank you
for taking the time.
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Get your Bibles, your pens,
your family, and your friends
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and get ready for
a beautiful excursion
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through God's Word together.
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And I am excited
because of the people
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that are on the panel.
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There are some here today
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or one particular we have
today that we don't always have
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but it's always a
pleasure when he does join us.
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But I'll begin with my left,
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Jill Morikone, good
to have you here, Jill.
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Thank you, Pastor John.
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You know, we are
partners in lists,
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you know, we'd like
to have those lists.
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That's right, we
got to have them.
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Got to have those lists.
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Danny, good to
have you here today.
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Thank you. It's good to be here.
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I'm always humbled to be
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in the midst of
all these theologians.
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Oh, no, we need practicality
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and you don't
lack any wisdom at all.
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We appreciate you very much.
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I'm happy to be here.
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Shelley, the
lady with many hats.
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I'll tell you what, Danny,
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I learned something
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every time we do
Sabbath School Panel,
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I just so appreciate
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everyone's study and the insight
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that God gives them
and that they share.
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That's right. Amen.
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Ryan, good to
have you here, brother.
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The Word of God is incredible.
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It's great to be here
to study with you guys.
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Thank you, Pastor,
good to have you here.
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And you know, by the way, I
just say this realistically,
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none of us would be
here if it weren't for Danny.
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So we appreciate the
vision God has given to you
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and it kind of fits
into this motif today,
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ministry in the
New Testament Church.
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Who would think that a
guy from Brooklyn, New York
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would be in Thompsonville,
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ministry in a
New Testament Church?
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The Lord takes us
where He wants us to be
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and develops us for His glory.
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If you'd like to get
a copy of the lesson,
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here is where
you go to get that.
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Download it at
ABSG.Adventist.org.
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That's AdultBibleStudyGuide
.Adventist.org.
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Or, better yet,
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go to your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and join a group of believers
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that really
allow the Word of God
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to come to life.
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And we surely know
you'll be blessed by that.
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Before we go any further though,
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I'd like to invite you to
bow your heads with us and,
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Danny, would you
have our prayer for us?
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I would.
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Heavenly Father, we thank You
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for Your many
wonderful blessings.
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We thank You for life,
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and for health,
and for strength,
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and we thank You
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for the
opportunity of being alive
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in the closing
moments of earth's history.
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And You've given
us the opportunity
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to share the
good news of salvation
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to a lost and dying world.
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And today, I pray that.
You'll anoint each of us
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on the panel and those at home,
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that we will be
drawn closer to You
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because of this study today.
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In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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Lesson nine, is
that a hallelujah?
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Lesson nine.
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Every time we get together
to start our lesson studies,
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we think 13 lessons,
and then we get to nine,
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we say, "Wow, it's
been wonderful excursion."
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And I want to
thank all the authors
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that have taken the
time to put this together
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because we literally, you know,
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that we take the
mind of the authors
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and try to communicate
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what God has
inspired the individuals
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to write the lessons
to be able to communicate.
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But beginning with our text,
the memory text is James 1:27
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and the overall
theme is ministry
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in the New Testament Church.
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Here's what James
the Apostle writes to us,
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"Pure and undefiled religion
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before God and
the Father is this
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to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble
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and to keep oneself
unspotted from the world."
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It's a lot different than
we sometimes think ministry is
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because we are all involved
in ministry in some degree,
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but it does behoove us to pause
and ask ourselves the question,
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how often do we visit
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the orphans and the
widows and their trouble.
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And praise God that,
I like that third part,
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we always are
prayerfully approaching,
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keeping ourselves
unspotted from the world,
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but that's just one
third of the equation
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because there's so many people
that need to be ministered to
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and sometimes we could
be locked into our offices
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and think that
sometimes coming down
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from the wall could
be a subservient process
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but it really isn't.
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What I like
about the lesson though
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and I'll dive right into Sunday
is a new kind of community.
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One of the statements
Jesus made was He said,"
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My kingdom is
not of this world."
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But even though His
kingdom is not of this world,
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He came to
establish a kingdom on earth
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to be a prelude
to what is to come.
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Look at the prayer in Luke 11:2.
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And wonderful
words of Jesus, He said,
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"My kingdom is
not of this world,
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but I need to give
the world a glimpse
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of what the kingdom is to come."
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So He said to them,
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"When you pray, say
our father in heaven,
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hallowed be Your
name, Your kingdom come,
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Your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven."
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So Jesus came to
unfold His will on earth
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so that when we get to heaven,
it wouldn't be a foreign place.
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Amen.
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I mean, can you imagine saying,
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"Well, we
really won't have unity
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till we get to heaven."
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That would be awful.
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Well, we really
won't love each other
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till we get to heaven.
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Well, we'll
really never overcome sin
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till we get to heaven.
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Well, we'll never really know
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what it means
to love our brother
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till we get to heaven.
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The church will
be a miserable place.
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Amen. Can you imagine that?
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And so we come
to church and say,
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"Look, don't bother me.
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Wait till we get to
heaven, we'll talk."
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That's not what God intended.
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And that's not
why He sent Jesus.
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So He gave some
wonderful examples of the unity
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that could exist among believers
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when Christ is
the central focus.
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Go with me to Acts Chapter 2.
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He ascended not just
to deliver us from sin,
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but to deliver us from a world
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that keeps us into sin.
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The world has a
different character
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than the kind of community
that the Lord came to set up.
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He gives us some
of the characteristics
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of the kind of world
that we could look forward to.
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Look at Acts 2:42-47.
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Jill, walk through that,
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and I'll pause along the
way and give some insights.
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Sure,
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"And they continued steadfastly
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in the apostles
doctrine and fellowship,
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in the breaking of
bread and in prayers.
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Then fear came upon every soul
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and many wonders and signs
were done through the apostles.
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Now all who
believed were together
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and had all things in common,
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and sold their
possessions and goods
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and divided them among
all as anyone had need.
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So continuing daily,
with one accord in the temple
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and breaking bread
from house to house.
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They ate their
food with gladness
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and simplicity of heart,
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praising God and having
favor with all the people.
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And the Lord added
to the church daily,
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those who were being saved."
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Now that's before the
Protestant Reformation,
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that's before the Dark Ages,
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that's before Satan unleashed
his anger against the church
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during the tenure of
Roman Emperor Diocletian
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through year 230,
that's when things were good.
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That's when the
only problem they had
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were people that just
wanted to distort the way
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that God wanted them to worship.
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And the Lord rooted
that out very quickly
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like Ananias and Sapphira.
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I think I read in
the Bible commentaries,
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one of the
reasons why the Lord dealt
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with Ananias and
Sapphira right away,
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He didn't want the
beginning of the church
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to start on the spoiled note.
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He wanted to make it very clear
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that being double
minded and making pledges
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that you don't follow through
on are not what I appreciate.
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And so, but look
at some of the things
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that were brought up
in just this passage.
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They built their community
on prayer and Bible studies,
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breaking bread,
and from house to house
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they did this on a daily basis.
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So when people say,
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I got to insert
this, it just came to me.
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And I think the Lord
brought it to my mind.
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When people say the
reason why we keep Sunday
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is that's the day
that the Lord broke bread.
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They broke bread, how many days?
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Every day from house to house,
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every day.
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So Acts 20:7 was
not a new institution.
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But it's simply a recognition
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of what they did
on a daily basis.
00:08:28.24\00:08:30.61
Not only that,
00:08:30.64\00:08:31.97
when was the last
time that we could say
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the believers had
all things in common?
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Can you say that now
about the Christian church?
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No.
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Farther from the truth.
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The Christian church right now
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is so segmented,
it's so broken up
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that the Lord is saying,
but this is my ideal approach
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to what I want the church to be.
00:08:49.16\00:08:51.36
The simplicity and the gladness
00:08:51.39\00:08:54.43
that the New
Testament Christian shared
00:08:54.46\00:08:56.77
was an amazing
revelation of the kingdom
00:08:56.80\00:08:59.87
that the Lord intended
00:08:59.90\00:09:01.24
because sometimes
we get bogged down
00:09:01.27\00:09:02.90
with our possessions,
00:09:02.94\00:09:05.61
and they were not bogged
down with their possessions.
00:09:05.64\00:09:07.84
They sold what they had
00:09:07.88\00:09:09.28
to make sure the
needs of everybody else
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in the community
were taken care of.
00:09:11.08\00:09:13.21
And I think 1Timothy 6:16.
00:09:13.25\00:09:15.85
Let's look at
that, 1Timothy 6:16.
00:09:15.88\00:09:17.79
If we have that,
notice what it points out.
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Jill, could you
read that for us?
00:09:20.89\00:09:22.22
Sure, "Who alone
has immortality."
00:09:22.26\00:09:24.39
1Timothy 6:6, my mistake.
00:09:24.43\00:09:26.23
Oh, 6:6,
00:09:26.26\00:09:27.70
"Now godliness with
contentment is great gain."
00:09:27.73\00:09:30.67
That's a powerful short passage.
00:09:30.70\00:09:32.53
He didn't say that
00:09:32.57\00:09:34.50
great gain with
contentment is godliness
00:09:34.54\00:09:37.61
or contentment with
great gain is godliness.
00:09:37.64\00:09:41.61
He says," Godliness
first with contentment
00:09:41.64\00:09:44.31
is great gain."
00:09:44.35\00:09:45.68
It puts the
benefit on the godliness
00:09:45.71\00:09:48.48
and not on the great gain.
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Not only that,
let's go to Acts 4:32-37.
00:09:50.12\00:09:54.49
Let's look at
some other qualities
00:09:54.52\00:09:55.86
that the New
Testament believers had,
00:09:55.89\00:09:57.86
the kind of community
00:09:57.89\00:09:59.23
that the Lord was
building for them to appreciate.
00:09:59.26\00:10:01.50
And I believe that
00:10:01.53\00:10:02.86
when we begin to
build community down here
00:10:02.90\00:10:05.83
and build that
camaraderie, that brotherhood,
00:10:05.87\00:10:07.90
that unity, that oneness,
that spirit of Koinonia,
00:10:07.94\00:10:11.81
not just friendship,
00:10:11.84\00:10:13.17
we don't go to
church for friendship,
00:10:13.21\00:10:14.54
we go to church for fellowship,
00:10:14.58\00:10:16.11
and the friendship
comes as a result of that.
00:10:16.14\00:10:18.21
But verse 32-37.
00:10:18.25\00:10:20.58
Ryan, you have that?
00:10:20.62\00:10:21.95
Sure, says now,
00:10:21.98\00:10:23.32
"The multitude
of those who believe
00:10:23.35\00:10:24.69
to wear of one
heart and one soul,
00:10:24.72\00:10:26.86
neither did anyone say that
00:10:26.89\00:10:28.26
any of the things he
possessed was his own.
00:10:28.29\00:10:31.29
But they had all
things in common,
00:10:31.33\00:10:33.63
and with great power,
the apostles gave witness
00:10:33.66\00:10:36.13
to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
00:10:36.16\00:10:38.53
and great grace
was upon them all
00:10:38.57\00:10:41.50
nor was there anyone among them
00:10:41.54\00:10:43.37
who lacked for all
who were possessors
00:10:43.41\00:10:45.71
of lands or houses, sold them
00:10:45.74\00:10:47.68
and brought the proceeds
of the things that were sown,
00:10:47.71\00:10:51.55
and laid them at
the apostles' feet,
00:10:51.58\00:10:53.62
and they distributed to
each as anyone had need."
00:10:53.65\00:10:57.92
Okay, that's good.
00:10:57.95\00:10:59.29
Up to that point it's
good. Notice what's happening.
00:10:59.32\00:11:01.32
It says not only were
they of one heart and one soul,
00:11:01.36\00:11:05.03
but can you imagine
being in a community
00:11:05.06\00:11:06.49
where you just hear
your car start up at night
00:11:06.53\00:11:09.83
and somebody said, "Is
that your car starting up?"
00:11:09.86\00:11:13.03
"Yeah, it's one of
the church members,
00:11:13.07\00:11:14.90
they need to use it."
00:11:14.94\00:11:16.40
And you can just lay down
and don't even flinch about it.
00:11:16.44\00:11:19.37
Can you imagine that?
00:11:19.41\00:11:20.81
Or you hear the tractor
in the backyard starting up
00:11:20.84\00:11:23.78
and it gets lower and lower
in sound and somebody says,
00:11:23.81\00:11:26.72
"Is somebody
driving with your tractor?"
00:11:26.75\00:11:28.52
"No, that's my
neighbor. he just needs it.
00:11:28.55\00:11:29.98
He'll bring it back."
00:11:30.02\00:11:31.65
I mean, that's deep,
00:11:31.69\00:11:33.02
that's the kind
of church they had
00:11:33.05\00:11:34.89
or somebody knock on the door
00:11:34.92\00:11:36.39
and when they knock on the door,
00:11:36.42\00:11:37.76
you just say, "Come on in."
00:11:37.79\00:11:39.13
and they go to the fridge
00:11:39.16\00:11:40.66
and get what they
need and slam the door,
00:11:40.70\00:11:42.03
"I'll see you later."
00:11:42.06\00:11:43.40
"Did they just
go in your fridge?"
00:11:43.43\00:11:45.10
"Yeah, they did,
00:11:45.13\00:11:46.47
but they just needed something."
00:11:46.50\00:11:47.84
"But is that what
you guys do here?"
00:11:47.87\00:11:49.70
"Yeah, that's what we do."
00:11:49.74\00:11:51.07
And people leave your
weekend after they said,
00:11:51.11\00:11:54.81
"I just came back from
the weirdest place on earth.
00:11:54.84\00:11:57.98
People driving each other's car
00:11:58.01\00:11:59.55
back in each
other's tractors out
00:11:59.58\00:12:00.92
without any permission,
00:12:00.95\00:12:02.28
walking into people's house
and going in the refrigerator."
00:12:02.32\00:12:04.85
That's the kind of
community that they had
00:12:04.89\00:12:07.49
and nobody
thought it to be unusual,
00:12:07.52\00:12:09.49
because each person and it says,
00:12:09.52\00:12:12.09
"No one claimed
the exclusive right
00:12:12.13\00:12:14.73
to their possessions."
00:12:14.76\00:12:16.36
They sold it and made
sure that each person had
00:12:16.40\00:12:18.90
and that's why the
Lord was very upset
00:12:18.93\00:12:20.90
with Ananias and Sapphira
00:12:20.94\00:12:22.27
because they
wanted to contribute,
00:12:22.30\00:12:24.14
but they kept
back part of the price.
00:12:24.17\00:12:26.57
They didn't
show by their actions
00:12:26.61\00:12:28.58
that this was
their kind of community.
00:12:28.61\00:12:30.58
They said, "Wait a
minute, I gave this to God,
00:12:30.61\00:12:33.11
I gave this to God,
He blessed it abundantly.
00:12:33.15\00:12:35.45
Now, let's get that
car we always wanted
00:12:35.48\00:12:37.15
but don't tell anybody."
00:12:37.19\00:12:38.52
And God rooted out selfishness
in the very beginning.
00:12:38.55\00:12:41.36
And then it says
here, and there was no lack.
00:12:41.39\00:12:44.33
No lack, each
person's needs were met.
00:12:44.36\00:12:47.16
But this is the very same
thing in the Old Testament.
00:12:47.20\00:12:49.70
Deuteronomy 15:4.
00:12:49.73\00:12:51.77
Notice what this says,
00:12:51.80\00:12:56.24
"Except when there
may be no poor among you,
00:12:56.27\00:12:59.67
for the Lord will
greatly bless you in the land,
00:12:59.71\00:13:02.78
which the Lord your God
00:13:02.81\00:13:04.15
has given you to
possess as an inheritance."
00:13:04.18\00:13:07.08
And so we clearly see
00:13:07.12\00:13:08.45
that the
inheritance that they possess
00:13:08.48\00:13:09.98
was not because they
were able to take the land,
00:13:10.02\00:13:13.96
but the Lord gave it to them.
00:13:13.99\00:13:15.49
And so the Canaan on earth,
00:13:15.52\00:13:17.36
the Canaan that they experienced
00:13:17.39\00:13:19.16
by God giving it to
them is the very Canaan
00:13:19.19\00:13:22.36
that we're gonna one
day be able to inhabit.
00:13:22.40\00:13:24.97
And what's happening?
00:13:25.00\00:13:26.33
They're getting it
ready for us right now.
00:13:26.37\00:13:28.17
Amen. Amen.
00:13:28.20\00:13:30.11
Wonderful job, Pastor John.
00:13:30.14\00:13:31.54
Thank you so much.
00:13:31.57\00:13:32.91
What an incredible experience
to be part of the early church.
00:13:32.94\00:13:36.95
I mean, I just can't imagine
00:13:36.98\00:13:38.31
but we can have
that experience again.
00:13:38.35\00:13:41.22
My day on Monday
00:13:41.25\00:13:42.88
is Dorcas's
ministry and witness.
00:13:42.92\00:13:46.05
So you are in
Acts Chapter 2 and 4,
00:13:46.09\00:13:48.52
we're going to jump
over just a couple chapters
00:13:48.56\00:13:50.53
to Acts Chapter 9.
00:13:50.56\00:13:51.89
So turn in your
Bibles to Acts Chapter 9
00:13:51.93\00:13:54.53
and we see an incredible miracle
00:13:54.56\00:13:57.30
that takes place here.
00:13:57.33\00:13:58.67
Let's just set some groundwork.
00:13:58.70\00:14:00.10
And then you know,
00:14:00.14\00:14:01.47
Pastor John and
I like our lists,
00:14:01.50\00:14:02.90
we're going to talk about
00:14:02.94\00:14:04.27
legacy, loss, and
Lord, those three things.
00:14:04.31\00:14:08.58
Acts Chapter 9,
00:14:08.61\00:14:09.94
let's do some
background, verses 32-34.
00:14:09.98\00:14:13.95
"Now it came to pass
00:14:13.98\00:14:15.32
as Peter went through
all parts of the country,
00:14:15.35\00:14:18.12
that he also came down
00:14:18.15\00:14:19.49
to the saints
who dwell in Lydda.
00:14:19.52\00:14:21.46
There he found a
certain man named Aeneas,
00:14:21.49\00:14:24.33
who had been
bedridden eight years
00:14:24.36\00:14:26.33
and was paralyzed.
00:14:26.36\00:14:27.73
And Peter said to him, "
00:14:27.76\00:14:29.10
Aeneas, Jesus,
the Christ heals you,
00:14:29.13\00:14:32.17
Arise and make your bed."
00:14:32.20\00:14:34.24
Then he rose immediately.
00:14:34.27\00:14:36.10
So all who dwelt
at Lydda and Sharon
00:14:36.14\00:14:38.71
saw him and turned to the Lord."
00:14:38.74\00:14:41.34
So this miracle of the man
00:14:41.38\00:14:42.88
who was bedridden and paralyzed,
00:14:42.91\00:14:44.88
and then now he could walk
00:14:44.91\00:14:46.82
and he has
strengthened his body again.
00:14:46.85\00:14:48.92
This miracle caused many
people to turn to the Lord.
00:14:48.95\00:14:52.65
Many people saw that
00:14:52.69\00:14:54.52
and they made a decision
00:14:54.56\00:14:55.89
to follow the
Messiah, Jesus Christ.
00:14:55.92\00:14:58.46
Now, we come to this story,
00:14:58.49\00:15:00.96
a few miles away from Lydda
00:15:01.00\00:15:02.73
is the town of Joppa
and we see a woman here.
00:15:02.76\00:15:06.80
Let's talk first
about the legacy of Tabitha.
00:15:06.84\00:15:09.40
Now she's known
as Tabitha or Dorcas.
00:15:09.44\00:15:11.77
I might use the
terms interchangeably here,
00:15:11.81\00:15:14.18
but one is an Aramaic
and the other ones in Greek,
00:15:14.21\00:15:16.88
but they mean the same thing.
00:15:16.91\00:15:18.65
So verse 36, this is Acts 9:36.
00:15:18.68\00:15:23.39
We're going to look
at the legacy of Tabitha,
00:15:23.42\00:15:25.79
then the loss of Tabitha,
and then the Lord of Tabitha.
00:15:25.82\00:15:30.79
So the legacy, verse 36,
00:15:30.83\00:15:32.53
"At Joppa, there was a
certain disciple named Tabitha,
00:15:32.56\00:15:37.20
which is translated Dorcas."
00:15:37.23\00:15:39.63
Now, this is the only
time in the New Testament
00:15:39.67\00:15:43.57
that the word
disciple is applied to a woman.
00:15:43.61\00:15:46.34
So that's kind of
fascinating to me,
00:15:46.37\00:15:48.61
that means we're gonna see
00:15:48.64\00:15:50.15
what she did for the
New Testament Church,
00:15:50.18\00:15:52.28
but she had an important role
in the New Testament Church,
00:15:52.31\00:15:55.95
the word disciple
being applied to her.
00:15:55.98\00:15:58.09
And it's actually the only
time that word for disciple
00:15:58.12\00:16:01.09
is used in the New Testament
00:16:01.12\00:16:02.72
and it literally
means a female disciple.
00:16:02.76\00:16:06.63
"This woman was
full of good works
00:16:06.66\00:16:09.86
and charitable
deeds which she did."
00:16:09.90\00:16:12.17
Now her name,
00:16:12.20\00:16:13.54
Tabitha, means
gazelle in Aramaic.
00:16:13.57\00:16:17.77
And Dorcas is the
same word for gazelle,
00:16:17.81\00:16:20.98
but it's in
Greek and it also means
00:16:21.01\00:16:23.31
an animal with
large, bright eyes.
00:16:23.35\00:16:25.81
So I don't know.
00:16:25.85\00:16:27.18
It doesn't tell us anything
about what she looks like.
00:16:27.22\00:16:28.78
But I would imagine
maybe she had big eyes.
00:16:28.82\00:16:30.72
I don't know, you know,
00:16:30.75\00:16:32.09
maybe they were
the type that you know,
00:16:32.12\00:16:33.46
you notice certain
people in characteristics,
00:16:33.49\00:16:35.42
and maybe they really stood out
and they were really beautiful.
00:16:35.46\00:16:38.36
It says she was
full of good works.
00:16:38.39\00:16:40.80
The word in Greek for
full, play race, means full,
00:16:40.83\00:16:44.33
abounding and
completely occupied with.
00:16:44.37\00:16:48.10
So when I read that,
00:16:48.14\00:16:49.94
I think this woman Tabitha
00:16:49.97\00:16:52.61
was not just
occasionally doing good works.
00:16:52.64\00:16:55.74
She was not just saying,
00:16:55.78\00:16:57.11
I'm gonna do a
good thing once a week.
00:16:57.15\00:16:58.85
You know, recently Greg
and I were in another church.
00:16:58.88\00:17:01.48
And they asked
her in Sabbath school,
00:17:01.52\00:17:03.28
they might have done this
00:17:03.32\00:17:04.65
in the States here
years ago, I don't know,
00:17:04.69\00:17:06.02
but they still do
it in this country.
00:17:06.05\00:17:07.39
They said,
00:17:07.42\00:17:08.76
"Okay, how many good
deeds did you do this week?"
00:17:08.79\00:17:11.83
Wow!
00:17:11.86\00:17:13.19
"How many Bible
studies did you get this week?"
00:17:13.23\00:17:14.80
This was during
the Sabbath school
00:17:14.83\00:17:16.16
and they asked and
they wrote it down.
00:17:16.20\00:17:18.00
But this woman
would not be saying,
00:17:18.03\00:17:19.57
I did one good week this week,
00:17:19.60\00:17:21.40
one good work, one
good deed this week.
00:17:21.44\00:17:24.01
And the Bible says,
"She was full and abounding
00:17:24.04\00:17:27.54
in good works, in
charitable deeds."
00:17:27.58\00:17:30.81
Jump down to Acts 39,
the end of that verse.
00:17:30.85\00:17:35.22
It says, "All the
widows stood by him weeping,
00:17:35.25\00:17:37.29
showing the tunics and garments
00:17:37.32\00:17:39.62
which Dorcas had made
while she was with them."
00:17:39.65\00:17:42.96
So what were her
good works that she did?
00:17:42.99\00:17:44.83
She used her needle and thread,
00:17:44.86\00:17:46.80
and she sewed
garments and tunics.
00:17:46.83\00:17:50.13
Tunics been the undergarment
00:17:50.17\00:17:51.73
and the garments
being the outer garments.
00:17:51.77\00:17:53.70
So she sewed clothes
for the people there,
00:17:53.74\00:17:56.67
especially the
widows and the children.
00:17:56.71\00:18:00.61
What was her legacy?
00:18:00.64\00:18:01.98
She saw a need,
00:18:02.01\00:18:03.51
that there were women,
that there were children
00:18:03.55\00:18:05.21
who were needing
basic necessities,
00:18:05.25\00:18:07.58
lacking things in the church.
00:18:07.62\00:18:09.88
And she worked to
fulfill that need.
00:18:09.92\00:18:12.82
She used the gifts
that had been given to her
00:18:12.85\00:18:15.49
to help someone else.
00:18:15.52\00:18:17.69
You know, often
when we see a need,
00:18:17.73\00:18:19.13
we want someone else,
00:18:19.16\00:18:20.50
Pastor John, to
fulfill that need.
00:18:20.53\00:18:21.86
You know, sometimes people
call the office and they say,
00:18:21.90\00:18:24.20
"The Lord has laid on me
this vision and this ministry,
00:18:24.23\00:18:27.64
and you need to
take it up at 3ABN."
00:18:27.67\00:18:30.27
And I say, "No,
God has called us
00:18:30.31\00:18:31.87
to proclaim the undiluted
three angels' messages.
00:18:31.91\00:18:34.34
If God has given
you that ministry,
00:18:34.38\00:18:36.71
you need to
take that ministry up
00:18:36.75\00:18:38.41
and you need to run with it."
00:18:38.45\00:18:40.02
So she saw a need
and she didn't say
00:18:40.05\00:18:41.78
you know what, Sister Smith,
you need to fill that need.
00:18:41.82\00:18:44.52
She stepped in and
she felt the need herself.
00:18:44.55\00:18:47.99
She devoted herself completely
to the ministry for others.
00:18:48.02\00:18:52.43
James 1:27,
00:18:52.46\00:18:54.06
"Pure and undefiled religion
00:18:54.10\00:18:55.83
before God and
the Father is this,
00:18:55.86\00:18:57.77
to visit the
orphans and the widows
00:18:57.80\00:18:59.50
in their trouble
and to keep yourself
00:18:59.53\00:19:01.37
unspotted from the world."
00:19:01.40\00:19:02.94
So she exemplified this
pure and undefiled religion."
00:19:02.97\00:19:07.28
Now what about
the loss of Tabitha?
00:19:07.31\00:19:09.04
We'll go back to verse 37-39,
00:19:09.08\00:19:11.71
"It happened in those days
that she became sick and died.
00:19:11.75\00:19:14.95
When they had washed her,
they laid her in an upper room,
00:19:14.98\00:19:18.12
and since Lydda was near Joppa
and the disciples had heard
00:19:18.15\00:19:20.89
that Peter was there,
they sent two men to him,
00:19:20.92\00:19:24.16
imploring not to
delay and coming to them.
00:19:24.19\00:19:27.33
Then Peter arose
and went with them.
00:19:27.36\00:19:29.36
When he had come,
00:19:29.40\00:19:30.73
they brought him
to the upper room,
00:19:30.77\00:19:32.67
and all the widows
stood by him weeping,
00:19:32.70\00:19:35.07
showing the tunics and
garments which Dorcas had made
00:19:35.10\00:19:38.01
while she was with them."
00:19:38.04\00:19:39.71
That is probably
ten miles from Joppa.
00:19:39.74\00:19:42.58
And the loss was so devastating
00:19:42.61\00:19:47.22
that they said, "We
need to bring Peter in.
00:19:47.25\00:19:49.78
We don't know
exactly what he's gonna do,
00:19:49.82\00:19:51.69
but we need to bring Peter in."
00:19:51.72\00:19:54.52
Sometimes I wonder
what is the ability
00:19:54.56\00:19:56.76
that God values the most?
00:19:56.79\00:19:58.89
Is it dependability?
00:19:58.93\00:20:00.86
Is it responsibility?
00:20:00.90\00:20:02.53
Is it adaptability?
00:20:02.56\00:20:04.50
Is it accountability?
00:20:04.53\00:20:06.37
Is it
reliability or sociability?
00:20:06.40\00:20:09.70
I think it's availability.
00:20:09.74\00:20:11.44
Peter was willing,
00:20:11.47\00:20:13.41
when they came to
Peter, what's it say?
00:20:13.44\00:20:15.24
He rose up and
he went with them.
00:20:15.28\00:20:17.98
He was willing and available.
00:20:18.01\00:20:19.58
Dorcas was available,
00:20:19.61\00:20:22.05
willing and
available while she was alive
00:20:22.08\00:20:24.25
to sew and make those
garments for the poor.
00:20:24.29\00:20:27.12
Now, there's not that
many resurrections documented
00:20:27.16\00:20:31.53
in the Word of God.
00:20:31.56\00:20:32.89
I don't know a 100%.
00:20:32.93\00:20:35.00
So, but in my study,
00:20:35.03\00:20:37.07
I found at least 10
that are documented.
00:20:37.10\00:20:39.63
There is Elijah, the
widow of Zarephath's...
00:20:39.67\00:20:42.44
Elijah resurrected the
widow of Zarephath's son.
00:20:42.47\00:20:44.94
Remember when he went
there during the drought?
00:20:44.97\00:20:47.31
Elijah resurrected
the Shunammite's son.
00:20:47.34\00:20:50.21
Remember the room on
the home that they built.
00:20:50.25\00:20:52.78
Also there was a man resurrected
00:20:52.81\00:20:54.32
who touched Elisha's grave,
and then he was resurrected.
00:20:54.35\00:20:58.52
Of course we know
Jesus was resurrected,
00:20:58.55\00:21:00.42
and there were many saints
who were resurrected with Him
00:21:00.46\00:21:03.63
and we don't know
the number of them.
00:21:03.66\00:21:05.69
Moses was resurrected.
00:21:05.73\00:21:08.10
We know the widow of
Nain's son was resurrected.
00:21:08.13\00:21:10.73
Lazarus was resurrected
after four days in the tomb,
00:21:10.77\00:21:13.90
Jairus's
daughter was resurrected.
00:21:13.94\00:21:16.87
And then of course
Dorcas here and Eutychus.
00:21:16.91\00:21:20.48
Remember, he fell out
of the window and Paul,
00:21:20.51\00:21:22.68
the Lord used Paul to
bring him back to life.
00:21:22.71\00:21:24.91
But of all those stories,
00:21:24.95\00:21:26.78
there's only one
woman and that's Tabitha.
00:21:26.82\00:21:29.75
The rest are
either men or of course
00:21:29.78\00:21:32.05
there's the
daughter, Jairus's daughter,
00:21:32.09\00:21:33.76
but he was an important man
and a ruler in the synagogue.
00:21:33.79\00:21:36.93
To me, this shows the importance
00:21:36.96\00:21:38.86
of her work there in the church.
00:21:38.89\00:21:42.66
So let's look at
the Lord of Tabitha
00:21:42.70\00:21:45.17
in our final moments,
00:21:45.20\00:21:46.53
Acts 9:40-41.
00:21:46.57\00:21:50.17
"Peter put them all out
and knelt down and prayed
00:21:50.21\00:21:53.44
and turned into the body.
00:21:53.48\00:21:54.81
He said, 'Tabitha
arise,' and she opened her eyes
00:21:54.84\00:21:57.88
and when she saw
Peter, she sat up.
00:21:57.91\00:22:00.02
Then he gave her his
hand and lifted her up
00:22:00.05\00:22:02.08
and when he had
called the saints and widows,
00:22:02.12\00:22:03.75
he presented her a life.'"
00:22:03.79\00:22:07.02
Amen. Now it's
interesting to me.
00:22:07.06\00:22:09.52
Excuse me.
00:22:09.56\00:22:11.03
Jesus said in Luke 6:40,
00:22:11.06\00:22:13.16
"Everyone who was fully trained
will be like their teacher.
00:22:13.19\00:22:18.13
Remember when Jesus
resurrected Jairus's daughter,
00:22:18.17\00:22:21.60
He put everyone out of the room,
00:22:21.64\00:22:23.20
but He brought with
him Peter, James and John.
00:22:23.24\00:22:26.78
And He did the same thing,
00:22:26.81\00:22:28.14
"Little girl, I
say to you arise."
00:22:28.18\00:22:29.94
And Peter said what?
00:22:29.98\00:22:31.45
"Tabitha, arise.
00:22:31.48\00:22:33.68
Our Lord can heal the sick,
00:22:33.72\00:22:36.08
he can cast out demons.
00:22:36.12\00:22:38.39
He can raise the dead.
00:22:38.42\00:22:40.09
He can restore
broken relationships.
00:22:40.12\00:22:43.12
He can break the
bonds of addiction and sin.
00:22:43.16\00:22:46.36
He can transform the sinner."
00:22:46.39\00:22:48.26
And what was the result
of Tabitha's resurrection?
00:22:48.30\00:22:52.13
Verses 42 and 43,
00:22:52.17\00:22:54.50
"It became known
throughout all Joppa
00:22:54.54\00:22:57.27
and many believed on the Lord."
00:22:57.31\00:23:00.61
It's a miracle,
00:23:00.64\00:23:01.98
many people believed on the Lord
00:23:02.01\00:23:03.35
because of that.
00:23:03.38\00:23:04.85
My takeaways in closing,
00:23:04.88\00:23:07.05
never underestimate
the value of service.
00:23:07.08\00:23:11.32
We think preaching
is important and it is.
00:23:11.35\00:23:13.19
We think Bible studies
are important and it is,
00:23:13.22\00:23:15.66
but service is
equally as important.
00:23:15.69\00:23:18.96
Recognize that true faith
00:23:18.99\00:23:20.40
always
expresses itself in deeds.
00:23:20.43\00:23:24.07
Use your God
given gifts in ministry
00:23:24.10\00:23:28.00
and learn to understand
and appreciate the ministry
00:23:28.04\00:23:31.84
that God has given to others.
00:23:31.87\00:23:34.01
Amen.
00:23:34.04\00:23:35.38
Thank you Jill,
just before we go to...
00:23:35.41\00:23:36.75
Absolutely beautiful.
00:23:36.78\00:23:38.11
Wow, just before we
go to the next lesson,
00:23:38.15\00:23:40.38
we're gonna take a short
break and we will be right back.
00:23:40.42\00:23:43.55
Ever wish you could watch
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School Panel again,
00:23:50.09\00:23:52.23
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Welcome back to our
Sabbath School Panel.
00:24:20.79\00:24:22.62
We'll continue on
our Tuesday's lesson
00:24:22.66\00:24:24.83
with Danny Shelton,
00:24:24.86\00:24:26.19
giving as a way of sharing.
00:24:26.23\00:24:28.10
All right, thank
you, John and Jill,
00:24:28.13\00:24:29.53
that was beautiful.
00:24:29.56\00:24:31.00
I love talking
about the early church
00:24:31.03\00:24:33.37
and the beginning
of the Christian church
00:24:33.40\00:24:35.17
and it's amazing
to me that, you know,
00:24:35.20\00:24:38.27
we have something we
can look back and we say,
00:24:38.31\00:24:42.01
"Wow, I'd like to
be a part of that."
00:24:42.04\00:24:44.05
Ryan, wouldn't that be
great to be a part of that?
00:24:44.08\00:24:46.35
But you know what?
00:24:46.38\00:24:47.72
God has given us
the opportunity today
00:24:47.75\00:24:49.75
to be a part of that, right?
00:24:49.78\00:24:51.52
We're gonna talk
about mine at Tuesday
00:24:51.55\00:24:53.39
is giving as a way of sharing.
00:24:53.42\00:24:55.09
After his conversion,
00:24:55.12\00:24:56.62
Paul took up the mission
00:24:56.66\00:24:57.99
to bring the
gospel 'to the world.
00:24:58.03\00:25:00.00
But there were some
questions that were raised.
00:25:00.03\00:25:02.13
He was very successful,
00:25:02.16\00:25:03.73
but the relationship
between his Jewish roots
00:25:03.77\00:25:06.84
and the emerging Christian faith
00:25:06.87\00:25:08.94
and the Gentile
followers of Jesus.
00:25:08.97\00:25:11.11
So there was a meeting
between the Jewish leaders
00:25:11.14\00:25:13.91
and the new Christians,
and about how do we do this?
00:25:13.94\00:25:17.88
How do we combine all of this,
00:25:17.91\00:25:19.45
of course, can
be very confusing.
00:25:19.48\00:25:21.68
So they met in Jerusalem.
00:25:21.72\00:25:23.59
And what's neat about
it, they got together,
00:25:23.62\00:25:26.12
we call it maybe
like conferences,
00:25:26.15\00:25:27.79
getting together and maybe
our General Conference session,
00:25:27.82\00:25:30.59
but you know,
00:25:30.63\00:25:31.96
these young folk coming
from backgrounds from Jews,
00:25:31.99\00:25:34.56
new Gentile
Christians, followers of Jesus
00:25:34.60\00:25:38.27
and so they get
together, but Paul says
00:25:38.30\00:25:40.67
and, of course,
you can read about it
00:25:40.70\00:25:42.04
in Acts Chapter15,
00:25:42.07\00:25:43.41
but Paul's
answer to what happened
00:25:43.44\00:25:46.14
was pretty simple.
00:25:46.17\00:25:47.51
And Galatians 2:10, it says,
00:25:47.54\00:25:49.78
"All they ask was
that we should continue
00:25:49.81\00:25:52.48
to remember the poor
that I had been eager to do.
00:25:52.51\00:25:56.62
The very thing I had
been eager to do all along."
00:25:56.65\00:25:59.29
So after all of these meetings,
00:25:59.32\00:26:01.99
a great emphasis was put on
00:26:02.02\00:26:04.06
what we've termed
today as social justice maybe
00:26:04.09\00:26:07.63
and so great
emphasis was put on that.
00:26:07.66\00:26:09.56
So I think we can say
00:26:09.60\00:26:11.03
that there are
many ways of giving,
00:26:11.07\00:26:12.97
but it's safe to say
that the early church,
00:26:13.00\00:26:15.54
and I think the church of today
should follow the early church.
00:26:15.57\00:26:19.47
But they put a great
emphasis on social justice.
00:26:19.51\00:26:23.55
The question would be is
how much of the church's time
00:26:23.58\00:26:26.55
and resources today should be.
00:26:26.58\00:26:29.28
Pastor, you're
pastor of this church.
00:26:29.32\00:26:31.35
How much time and resources
should be used to feed the poor
00:26:31.39\00:26:35.96
and clothe those who
need it and they're hungry?
00:26:35.99\00:26:39.89
And how much time do we put
00:26:39.93\00:26:41.36
versus spiritually
that we're feeding them?
00:26:41.40\00:26:44.70
So what we do is
we have to look back
00:26:44.73\00:26:46.27
at Jesus's actions
while He was on earth.
00:26:46.30\00:26:48.64
And we find that
He actually spent
00:26:48.67\00:26:50.34
more time doing what?
00:26:50.37\00:26:51.71
Healing the sick,
then He really did
00:26:51.74\00:26:54.98
and preaching and
also feeding the poor
00:26:56.48\00:27:01.38
and clothing
those who needed it.
00:27:01.42\00:27:03.08
So it's very
interesting that Jesus tells us
00:27:03.12\00:27:06.12
to take care of the poor.
00:27:06.15\00:27:07.79
But He didn't seem to put
00:27:07.82\00:27:09.32
a tremendous amount of
emphasis on that Himself.
00:27:09.36\00:27:13.90
So from what I can make of it,
I just wrote down some notes.
00:27:13.93\00:27:17.30
He used His three and
a half years of ministry
00:27:17.33\00:27:19.43
on this earth to do
His Father's business
00:27:19.47\00:27:21.60
and that was to
carry out the plan
00:27:21.64\00:27:23.41
of being the
Savior of the world.
00:27:23.44\00:27:26.14
John 3:16, we can find it.
00:27:26.17\00:27:28.14
While Jesus healed the sick,
00:27:28.18\00:27:29.51
there were many around
Him that He did not heal.
00:27:29.54\00:27:32.41
While He raised
the dead on occasion,
00:27:32.45\00:27:34.62
when He was at
the tomb of Lazarus,
00:27:34.65\00:27:36.45
He said, "Lazarus come forth,"
00:27:36.48\00:27:38.49
because had He
just said come forth,
00:27:38.52\00:27:39.89
all the graves
would have opened,
00:27:39.92\00:27:41.56
and all those that have
died would have come forth
00:27:41.59\00:27:43.29
because this is a
Creator, who's saying this.
00:27:43.32\00:27:46.56
So while He was
there, He raised Lazarus,
00:27:46.59\00:27:49.36
and on occasions others,
00:27:49.40\00:27:50.93
but He didn't spend
a lot of time feeding.
00:27:50.97\00:27:54.07
There's no
record that I can read.
00:27:54.10\00:27:56.00
Now, we know
about the multitudes
00:27:56.04\00:27:57.44
who came to hear Him preaching,
00:27:57.47\00:27:58.81
the five loaves and
fishes and all of that.
00:27:58.84\00:28:01.54
But I'm saying in general,
00:28:01.58\00:28:03.08
Jesus didn't go
from town to town
00:28:03.11\00:28:06.11
distributing food and clothing
the folks who needed it.
00:28:06.15\00:28:10.79
So yet He tells us
00:28:10.82\00:28:12.45
that we're to
take care of those.
00:28:12.49\00:28:14.29
So we, I think we
should talk about that
00:28:14.32\00:28:16.59
for just a little bit.
00:28:16.62\00:28:18.43
But let's go,
00:28:18.46\00:28:19.79
so I'm not to say
Jesus didn't care.
00:28:19.83\00:28:21.46
I'm trying to make a point.
00:28:21.50\00:28:22.83
And I'll see if I
can get to that point.
00:28:22.86\00:28:24.57
The point is this,
00:28:24.60\00:28:25.93
that we today
we have a decision,
00:28:25.97\00:28:28.10
how much time do we put
as our resources in feeding.
00:28:28.14\00:28:32.77
For instance, if we look
around Southern Illinois,
00:28:32.81\00:28:35.04
not a lot of people,
00:28:35.08\00:28:36.41
but there's a lot,
let's say 50,000, 60,000,
00:28:36.44\00:28:39.61
40,000 this county.
00:28:39.65\00:28:41.48
If this church,
John, your church said,
00:28:41.52\00:28:43.79
we're gonna feed
everybody that needs food,
00:28:43.82\00:28:46.12
and we're going to clothe
everybody that needs clothes.
00:28:46.15\00:28:48.79
You wouldn't
accomplish anything else.
00:28:48.82\00:28:50.93
Right? Because
you couldn't do it.
00:28:50.96\00:28:53.36
Yeah, there's a lot of
talk about social justice.
00:28:53.40\00:28:56.56
So let's see what Jesus says.
00:28:56.60\00:29:00.14
Jesus says in Matthew 25:35,
00:29:00.17\00:29:02.37
"For I was hungry
and you gave Me food.
00:29:02.40\00:29:04.91
I was thirsty and
you gave Me drink.
00:29:04.94\00:29:07.28
I was a stranger
and you welcomed Me."
00:29:07.31\00:29:09.44
Okay, Isaiah 58:10,
00:29:09.48\00:29:11.61
I'm going to go
through these quickly.
00:29:11.65\00:29:13.31
"If you pour
yourself out for the hungry
00:29:13.35\00:29:15.32
and satisfy the
desire of the afflicted,
00:29:15.35\00:29:18.02
then shall your
light rise in the darkness
00:29:18.05\00:29:20.76
and your gloom
be as the noon day."
00:29:20.79\00:29:23.26
Now James, we read it earlier,
but in James, James 2:14-18,
00:29:23.29\00:29:28.33
"What good is it brothers
if someone says, 'He has faith,
00:29:28.36\00:29:31.77
but does not have
works,' Can faith save him?'
00:29:31.80\00:29:35.00
If a brother or
sister is poorly clothed,
00:29:35.04\00:29:37.37
and lacking in daily food
and one of you says to them,
00:29:37.41\00:29:40.34
'Go in peace and
be warmed and filled
00:29:40.38\00:29:42.88
without giving them the
things needed for the body?
00:29:42.91\00:29:45.48
What good is that?"
00:29:45.51\00:29:46.85
So also faith by itself
00:29:46.88\00:29:49.42
if it does not
have works is dead.
00:29:49.45\00:29:51.55
But if someone will say
00:29:51.59\00:29:53.36
you have faith,
and I have works,
00:29:53.39\00:29:55.82
show me your faith,
apart from your works
00:29:55.86\00:29:57.63
and I will show you
my faith by my works.
00:29:57.66\00:30:00.40
Quickly Proverbs 28:27,
00:30:00.43\00:30:02.53
"Whoever gives to
the poor will not want,
00:30:02.56\00:30:05.00
but he who hides his
eyes will get many a curse."
00:30:05.03\00:30:08.37
Last one, 1 John 3:17-18.
00:30:08.40\00:30:11.57
"But if anyone
has the world's goods
00:30:11.61\00:30:13.34
and sees his brother in need,
00:30:13.38\00:30:15.28
yet closes his
heart against him,
00:30:15.31\00:30:17.25
he does God's.
00:30:17.28\00:30:18.61
It says, how does
God's love abide in Him?
00:30:18.65\00:30:20.88
Little children, let us not love
00:30:20.92\00:30:23.15
in word or talk,
00:30:23.18\00:30:24.52
but indeed, and in
truth, so in action."
00:30:24.55\00:30:27.09
So as I mentioned earlier today,
00:30:27.12\00:30:28.89
we hear a lot
about social justice.
00:30:28.92\00:30:31.76
And it's very
important, but many people
00:30:31.79\00:30:33.56
including those who
claim to be Christians
00:30:33.60\00:30:36.87
are out proclaiming
social justice in a way to me
00:30:36.90\00:30:42.04
that we need to think about
00:30:42.07\00:30:43.87
people get out and
they have the signs
00:30:43.91\00:30:45.41
and they're marching,
00:30:45.44\00:30:46.78
and they're trying to put
all of this on the government.
00:30:46.81\00:30:49.58
And there's a lot of Christians
and a lot of churches,
00:30:49.61\00:30:52.28
even in our own denomination
00:30:52.31\00:30:54.35
who are putting
tremendous amount of emphasis
00:30:54.38\00:30:56.69
on social justice, so
I'm not belittling that.
00:30:56.72\00:30:59.82
That is our responsibility.
00:30:59.85\00:31:01.26
It's very interesting to
see what Jesus says about it.
00:31:01.29\00:31:05.16
But, it's also
where's that fine line
00:31:05.19\00:31:07.56
as a church and as a people,
00:31:07.60\00:31:09.40
you know, how
to respond to that.
00:31:09.43\00:31:11.03
My thought is
that we as Christians
00:31:11.07\00:31:13.50
should take that responsibility.
00:31:13.54\00:31:15.60
We should not put it off
00:31:15.64\00:31:16.97
on the
government, on anyone else.
00:31:17.01\00:31:18.54
Now, the government does
have some responsibility,
00:31:18.57\00:31:21.21
but I believe that we
as Christians should do it.
00:31:21.24\00:31:23.68
How do we relate that to today,
00:31:23.71\00:31:25.55
our church right
here in Thompsonville?
00:31:25.58\00:31:27.58
You know, in every church,
those of you who are watching,
00:31:27.62\00:31:30.52
I believe that
every church should have
00:31:30.55\00:31:32.92
what we used to
call the Dorcas society,
00:31:32.95\00:31:35.49
or now we call
community services.
00:31:35.52\00:31:37.73
Now, why do we want to do that?
00:31:37.76\00:31:39.49
We won't be able
to help everybody.
00:31:39.53\00:31:41.23
But why do we wanna do it?
00:31:41.26\00:31:42.63
We wanna do it
because it brings us
00:31:42.66\00:31:44.57
in contact with those in need.
00:31:44.60\00:31:47.20
So community services
00:31:47.24\00:31:48.64
could offer a
number of services,
00:31:48.67\00:31:50.71
but one of those of
course is clothing that you do.
00:31:50.74\00:31:53.58
I think every church
should have a food pantry.
00:31:53.61\00:31:58.01
Because we all can bring
00:31:58.05\00:31:59.38
few cans of food
or bring some bread
00:31:59.41\00:32:01.38
or bring something
to drink, some water
00:32:01.42\00:32:04.05
that would help
people in the community.
00:32:04.09\00:32:05.95
So to me,
00:32:05.99\00:32:07.32
this is an
opportunity for the church
00:32:07.36\00:32:08.82
to make contact with
those in the community
00:32:08.86\00:32:11.36
and share Jesus with them.
00:32:11.39\00:32:13.16
But the main
focus of the church is
00:32:13.19\00:32:14.76
to proclaim the Gospel
of Christ to the world.
00:32:14.80\00:32:17.17
We have an opportunity, I
call it to introduce people
00:32:17.20\00:32:20.24
to the Creator,
God of the universe,
00:32:20.27\00:32:23.27
where there will
be no more starvation,
00:32:23.30\00:32:25.41
no more pain, no more
sickness, no more death,
00:32:25.44\00:32:28.34
and all of that for the
length of eternity versus here.
00:32:28.38\00:32:32.81
For instance,
00:32:32.85\00:32:34.18
each church should
prayerfully consider
00:32:34.22\00:32:36.15
what their mission is, to me,
and what is their priorities?
00:32:36.18\00:32:39.79
If this church tried to
meet all the physical needs
00:32:39.82\00:32:42.32
that we mentioned while ago,
00:32:42.36\00:32:43.83
John, we wouldn't have room
to meet their spiritual needs.
00:32:43.86\00:32:47.30
That's right.
00:32:47.33\00:32:48.66
So I've seen churches
in our own denomination
00:32:48.70\00:32:50.77
put so much as I
mentioned earlier,
00:32:50.80\00:32:52.40
so much emphasis on the
social, we forget the spiritual,
00:32:52.43\00:32:56.00
but I think that
each of us right now
00:32:56.04\00:32:58.47
is the time let's
look at the early church,
00:32:58.51\00:33:00.61
see what they did,
come together in unity,
00:33:00.64\00:33:03.41
come together and say, Lord,
what would You have us to do?
00:33:03.45\00:33:06.41
We realize our mission.
00:33:06.45\00:33:07.82
Jesus knew what His
mission was on earth.
00:33:07.85\00:33:10.02
It wasn't to try to
make it a perfect world
00:33:10.05\00:33:11.85
and then, back then
00:33:11.89\00:33:13.36
it's when He comes
back into second coming,
00:33:13.39\00:33:15.59
and sin is done away
with once and for all.
00:33:15.62\00:33:18.53
So I think following
that lead, let's be conscious.
00:33:18.56\00:33:22.16
Let's help those around us.
00:33:22.20\00:33:23.97
Let's feed, let's clothe,
00:33:24.00\00:33:26.17
but bring these people
00:33:26.20\00:33:27.54
so that we can show them
Jesus in more ways than one.
00:33:27.57\00:33:30.57
Johnny comes to church.
00:33:30.61\00:33:32.04
He says, "I'm starving."
00:33:32.07\00:33:33.64
And you say, "Oh,
Johnny, I gotta tell you,
00:33:33.68\00:33:35.21
Jesus will
supply all your need."
00:33:35.24\00:33:37.21
And you pray for
him and send him away.
00:33:37.25\00:33:38.88
What happens to Johnny?
00:33:38.91\00:33:40.25
You think he'll be back
next week, Ryan, to church?
00:33:40.28\00:33:42.55
I doubt it.
00:33:42.58\00:33:43.92
We need to give Johnny
that food that he needs.
00:33:43.95\00:33:45.92
Then we can talk
to him about Jesus
00:33:45.95\00:33:48.12
because he will
see Jesus in action.
00:33:48.16\00:33:51.36
So I think, we as a
people should get back
00:33:51.39\00:33:53.66
to the early Christian church,
00:33:53.70\00:33:55.16
come together in one
accord providing both
00:33:55.20\00:33:58.23
the physical and
the spiritual needs,
00:33:58.27\00:34:00.20
but it's gonna be
a combination of you
00:34:00.24\00:34:02.20
and the church members saying,
00:34:02.24\00:34:03.74
how much emphasis
do we put on each one?
00:34:03.77\00:34:06.14
In the long run,
00:34:06.17\00:34:07.51
our goal is to be a witness
to a lost and dying world,
00:34:07.54\00:34:10.75
to let them know that
Jesus is coming very soon
00:34:10.78\00:34:13.65
in the clouds of glory,
00:34:13.68\00:34:15.02
and that all the
sickness and the pain
00:34:15.05\00:34:16.85
and the lack of things
that we have on this earth
00:34:16.89\00:34:19.75
is only temporary.
00:34:19.79\00:34:21.19
Once we accept Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior of our life,
00:34:21.22\00:34:24.26
go and tell what
He's done for us.
00:34:24.29\00:34:26.13
Very soon we
can look up and say,
00:34:26.16\00:34:27.60
"Lo, this is our God,
whom we've waited for,
00:34:27.63\00:34:29.93
He has come to save us."
00:34:29.96\00:34:31.73
Amen. Amen. Thank you, Danny.
00:34:31.77\00:34:33.74
That's perfect
set up for my lesson,
00:34:33.77\00:34:35.67
which is Wednesday.
00:34:35.70\00:34:37.11
And it is Paul's guide
00:34:37.14\00:34:39.97
to living and loving well.
00:34:40.01\00:34:44.81
I'm going to be
focusing on Romans Chapter 12
00:34:44.85\00:34:48.18
and I just have to say this,
00:34:48.22\00:34:49.55
if there were only one book
in the entire New Testament,
00:34:49.58\00:34:53.12
Romans would be sufficient.
00:34:53.15\00:34:55.26
Romans is,
00:34:55.29\00:34:56.62
the first 11 Chapters of Romans,
00:34:56.66\00:34:58.86
Paul lays out the doctrine
00:34:58.89\00:35:00.56
of salvation, and justification,
00:35:00.60\00:35:03.00
and righteousness,
and sanctification,
00:35:03.03\00:35:05.63
and God's sovereignty.
00:35:05.67\00:35:07.27
I mean, it is so amazing,
00:35:07.30\00:35:09.94
those first 11 Chapters
00:35:09.97\00:35:12.14
but then what he
does, he makes the shift
00:35:12.17\00:35:14.81
when it comes to
of the 12th Chapter
00:35:14.84\00:35:17.98
and now he shifts to something
00:35:18.01\00:35:20.22
that's very
practical application.
00:35:20.25\00:35:22.88
I mean, he has set God up
00:35:22.92\00:35:24.82
as the covenant
making, covenant keeping God.
00:35:24.85\00:35:28.29
But now in verse
12, I mean, Chapter 12,
00:35:28.32\00:35:31.59
he's switching to
what our covenant response
00:35:31.63\00:35:34.73
should be as God's children
00:35:34.76\00:35:37.07
'cause God has done everything
He can to win our love,
00:35:37.10\00:35:41.54
and He's got something
00:35:41.57\00:35:43.37
that there should
be a response to that.
00:35:43.41\00:35:46.54
I wanted to read just one quote
00:35:46.57\00:35:49.74
from the quarterly and it says,
00:35:49.78\00:35:54.12
this is a practical guide
00:35:54.15\00:35:56.28
and he's talking
about Romans Chapter 12.
00:35:56.32\00:35:58.79
"To living and loving well,
00:35:58.82\00:36:00.36
based on the
grace and love of God
00:36:00.39\00:36:02.62
is revealed in Jesus
Christ and the gospel story."
00:36:02.66\00:36:07.53
So here's the deal.
00:36:07.56\00:36:09.43
Paul's gone through
all of these 11 Chapters.
00:36:09.46\00:36:12.77
When he gets to that,
00:36:12.80\00:36:14.14
I guess I'd open
to Romans Chapter 12.
00:36:14.17\00:36:17.14
When he gets to
Romans Chapter 12,
00:36:17.17\00:36:20.18
he starts off
with his earnest appeal
00:36:20.21\00:36:23.24
that we're gonna
spend most of our time on.
00:36:23.28\00:36:26.11
"I beseech you
therefore, brethren,
00:36:26.15\00:36:29.52
by the mercies of God,
00:36:29.55\00:36:31.09
that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice,
00:36:31.12\00:36:33.69
holy, acceptable to God,
00:36:33.72\00:36:35.72
which is your
reasonable service."
00:36:35.76\00:36:38.56
He goes to this chapter
00:36:38.59\00:36:40.43
and it's talking about
the gifts of the Spirit.
00:36:40.46\00:36:42.83
He's talking about
having spiritual zeal.
00:36:42.86\00:36:46.74
He's talking about
all kinds of things,
00:36:46.77\00:36:49.04
living in peace with people.
00:36:49.07\00:36:51.34
And he ends up with
verse 21 of Romans 12, saying,
00:36:51.37\00:36:54.74
"Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good."
00:36:54.78\00:36:59.48
Well, it all
starts with verse 1.
00:36:59.51\00:37:02.95
And that's where I wanna
spend the bulk of our time.
00:37:02.98\00:37:05.65
As I said, 11 Chapters
00:37:05.69\00:37:07.46
Paul's been talking
about what God did for us.
00:37:07.49\00:37:10.69
Now, our response to
this God of covenant love
00:37:10.73\00:37:16.77
should be one of surrender,
00:37:16.80\00:37:19.23
of submitting and
committing our life to Him,
00:37:19.27\00:37:21.90
yielding to His control.
00:37:21.94\00:37:23.47
So let's look at this.
00:37:23.51\00:37:24.87
Romans 12:1, "I beseech you,"
00:37:24.91\00:37:28.28
this is an earnest appeal.
00:37:28.31\00:37:30.71
Therefore, now
remember what I said,
00:37:30.75\00:37:33.55
I believe last program,
00:37:33.58\00:37:34.95
anytime you see
the word therefore,
00:37:34.98\00:37:37.82
it is a bridge.
00:37:37.85\00:37:39.39
It is taking you
from the material
00:37:39.42\00:37:41.52
that has been presented before.
00:37:41.56\00:37:43.43
And in this case,
00:37:43.46\00:37:45.29
it's 11 Chapters of
doctrinal foundation
00:37:45.33\00:37:48.43
that he has laid out.
00:37:48.46\00:37:50.63
Now he's
bridging and he's saying,
00:37:50.67\00:37:53.07
"Because of all of
this, I beseech you, brethren,
00:37:53.10\00:37:57.27
by the mercies of God."
00:37:57.31\00:37:59.07
Now, let me just hit a
few things real quickly.
00:37:59.11\00:38:01.78
When we're talking
about the mercies of God,
00:38:01.81\00:38:03.45
this is the
compassionate tender mercies.
00:38:03.48\00:38:06.92
Let me give you
a few of the things
00:38:06.95\00:38:09.28
that Paul has already told them.
00:38:09.32\00:38:11.19
In Romans 5:8,
00:38:11.22\00:38:12.55
he said that "God
loved them so much,
00:38:12.59\00:38:14.46
He sent His Son to die for them
while they were yet a sinner."
00:38:14.49\00:38:17.66
That's right.
00:38:17.69\00:38:19.03
In Romans 6:23, he said,
00:38:19.06\00:38:20.40
"The gift of God is eternal life
00:38:20.43\00:38:22.10
in Christ Jesus."
00:38:22.13\00:38:23.53
He's talked about
Jesus redeeming us,
00:38:23.57\00:38:25.83
reconciling us,
justifying us freely,
00:38:25.87\00:38:28.80
and that he gave
us peace with God
00:38:28.84\00:38:31.04
in Romans 6:18 says that,
00:38:31.07\00:38:32.67
"He freed us from
the power of sin."
00:38:32.71\00:38:34.81
Romans 8:1, he said,
00:38:34.84\00:38:36.18
"There is
therefore now no condemnation
00:38:36.21\00:38:38.98
for those who
are in Christ Jesus."
00:38:39.01\00:38:41.02
He talks about in 8:11,
00:38:41.05\00:38:43.79
"The abiding Holy
Spirit that God gives us."
00:38:43.82\00:38:47.12
And then he talks
about adopting us,
00:38:47.16\00:38:51.19
he talks about the
assurances of His promises.
00:38:51.23\00:38:54.20
So Paul's saying,
00:38:54.23\00:38:55.56
recognize all
these great mercies
00:38:55.60\00:38:58.03
and the motivation of your heart
00:38:58.07\00:39:01.24
will be that you want to respond
00:39:01.27\00:39:04.14
to this God of covenant love,
00:39:04.17\00:39:06.98
as you except His free grace,
00:39:07.01\00:39:09.71
that you will
therefore present your bodies
00:39:09.74\00:39:14.62
a living sacrifice.
00:39:14.65\00:39:18.65
This present your bodies means
you're yielding to God's mercy.
00:39:18.69\00:39:23.96
You're voluntarily
handing over your life
00:39:23.99\00:39:26.93
as a gift to Him.
00:39:26.96\00:39:28.30
You say, Lord, You created
me, You've done all this for me,
00:39:28.33\00:39:31.30
You've redeemed me.
00:39:31.33\00:39:32.67
This is an act of worship.
00:39:32.70\00:39:34.10
It is the same word
when He says to present,
00:39:34.14\00:39:40.01
it's the same word that was used
00:39:40.04\00:39:41.48
when Jesus was
presented in the temple.
00:39:41.51\00:39:44.05
And in Romans 6:16, you
know what Paul had said,
00:39:44.08\00:39:47.55
"Do you not know
that you are a slave
00:39:47.58\00:39:52.09
to whom you
present yourselves to obey,
00:39:52.12\00:39:55.12
either slaves to
sin leading to death
00:39:55.16\00:40:00.20
or of obedience
leading to righteousness."
00:40:00.23\00:40:04.67
So, when Paul
says, present yourselves,
00:40:04.70\00:40:10.24
he is saying,
00:40:10.27\00:40:12.17
it's your debt of
love that you owe to God,
00:40:12.21\00:40:17.21
consider what He's done for us.
00:40:17.25\00:40:19.48
That's a compelling
reason, God, we belong to Him.
00:40:19.51\00:40:23.79
We need to submit to His plan
00:40:23.82\00:40:25.35
and say, Lord,
here I am, send me
00:40:25.39\00:40:28.06
and when he talks
about your complete life.
00:40:28.09\00:40:30.86
This is more than when he says
00:40:30.89\00:40:32.43
present your
bodies a living sacrifice.
00:40:32.46\00:40:35.73
He's not just
talking about health.
00:40:35.76\00:40:38.07
He is talking about
your mental, your physical,
00:40:38.10\00:40:41.80
and your spiritual self.
00:40:41.84\00:40:43.44
You cannot separate
mind, body, and spirit.
00:40:43.47\00:40:47.48
So Paul is saying,
"Hey, present it all,
00:40:47.51\00:40:49.98
this is a
wholehearted surrender."
00:40:50.01\00:40:52.58
And it's reasonable considering
what God's done for us.
00:40:52.61\00:40:57.25
So he goes on, he says that,
00:40:57.29\00:40:59.09
"We are to present
ourselves a living sacrifice
00:40:59.12\00:41:04.33
under the old
covenant, in the Mosaic Law."
00:41:04.36\00:41:08.60
They had Levitical sacrifices
of slain animals, right?
00:41:08.63\00:41:14.37
This was a
propitiatory blood sacrifice.
00:41:14.40\00:41:19.01
It was in the
physical temple service.
00:41:19.04\00:41:22.44
Under the new covenant,
00:41:22.48\00:41:24.61
Christians are to
be a living sacrifice,
00:41:24.65\00:41:28.45
it is not propitiatory.
00:41:28.48\00:41:30.85
And you know,
00:41:30.89\00:41:32.22
when you think about
the lamb in the old covenant
00:41:32.25\00:41:35.26
was supposed to be spotless.
00:41:35.29\00:41:36.76
Hey, by faith we are spotless
00:41:36.79\00:41:38.69
because the robe of
Jesus Christ covers us, right?
00:41:38.73\00:41:41.26
That's right.
00:41:41.30\00:41:42.63
But this is in the
spiritual temple service.
00:41:42.66\00:41:46.74
It is, we lay our
lives on the spiritual altar
00:41:46.77\00:41:50.21
and allow God to fill
us is what it's all about.
00:41:50.24\00:41:53.34
But I'll tell you what?
00:41:53.38\00:41:54.71
You know what the one problem
is with a living sacrifice?
00:41:54.74\00:41:57.81
It's always
crawling off the altar.
00:41:57.85\00:42:00.52
You know, it's a
day by day surrendering
00:42:00.55\00:42:04.35
is what this takes.
00:42:04.39\00:42:05.85
Because when he says
00:42:05.89\00:42:07.52
present yourselves your
bodies a living sacrifice.
00:42:07.56\00:42:11.43
He goes on and he says
00:42:11.46\00:42:12.93
that we are to be
holy and acceptable to God.
00:42:12.96\00:42:18.33
Did you realize
we are losing track?
00:42:18.37\00:42:24.34
And I say we,
00:42:24.37\00:42:25.97
the Christian community
at all around the world.
00:42:26.01\00:42:31.28
Oh, it's so important.
00:42:31.31\00:42:32.65
You know, if you know me at all,
00:42:32.68\00:42:34.02
you know that I'm
a preacher of grace.
00:42:34.05\00:42:35.82
I mean, that's all I
talk about is God's grace.
00:42:35.85\00:42:39.62
But we cannot be so blindsided
as to ignore God's holiness
00:42:39.65\00:42:44.79
and God's got, who God is.
00:42:44.83\00:42:47.76
He expects us to have
a holy sanctified life,
00:42:47.80\00:42:51.90
that means to be
separated from sin.
00:42:51.93\00:42:53.80
He promises to do it for us.
00:42:53.84\00:42:56.91
That is His promise.
00:42:56.94\00:42:58.47
Justification was an
act of God when our sin,
00:42:58.51\00:43:02.68
when Christ died on the cross.
00:43:02.71\00:43:04.61
That was an act
of God at the cross.
00:43:04.65\00:43:07.32
And that's over our past sins.
00:43:07.35\00:43:09.48
But
sanctification is a work of God
00:43:09.52\00:43:13.02
and it's something He's
working in us day by day.
00:43:13.05\00:43:16.56
So if we're gonna be
an acceptable sacrifice,
00:43:16.59\00:43:20.43
this means we're
worthy of His acceptance.
00:43:20.46\00:43:23.26
And Paul says,
00:43:23.30\00:43:24.63
"Hey, this is your
reasonable service."
00:43:24.67\00:43:26.57
This is logican in the Greek,
00:43:26.60\00:43:30.41
it means it's
rational, it's intelligent,
00:43:30.44\00:43:33.11
we need to voluntarily
make this commitment.
00:43:33.14\00:43:37.61
And when we step forward
to put ourselves on the altar,
00:43:37.65\00:43:42.08
this is not what
we do to be justified.
00:43:42.12\00:43:44.95
It's what we do to
give God permission
00:43:44.99\00:43:48.36
to work in our lives.
00:43:48.39\00:43:49.72
And then you know what?
00:43:49.76\00:43:52.13
As we surrender
day by day, He says,
00:43:52.16\00:43:57.50
"Do not be
conformed to this world,
00:43:57.53\00:43:59.00
but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind,
00:43:59.03\00:44:02.07
that you may
prove what is that good
00:44:02.10\00:44:04.11
and acceptable and
perfect will of God."
00:44:04.14\00:44:06.88
And see the
purpose of daily surrender
00:44:06.91\00:44:10.18
is spiritual transformation,
00:44:10.21\00:44:12.71
and when we are
spiritually transformed,
00:44:12.75\00:44:15.22
guess what?
00:44:15.25\00:44:16.58
We're gonna be doing
what you talked about.
00:44:16.62\00:44:18.25
We're gonna be
ministering to the poor.
00:44:18.29\00:44:20.82
We're gonna be
filled with the love of God,
00:44:20.86\00:44:23.63
and have such a love for people,
00:44:23.66\00:44:25.83
that God's compassionate
heart will be ours.
00:44:25.86\00:44:29.93
Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:44:29.96\00:44:31.60
This has been such
an eye opening study.
00:44:31.63\00:44:34.50
And Thursday's lesson
does not leave us shorthanded,
00:44:34.54\00:44:38.37
it takes us into
the Book of James.
00:44:38.41\00:44:41.31
So the title of
Thursday's lesson
00:44:41.34\00:44:42.68
is James the Just.
00:44:42.71\00:44:44.85
And the Book of James
is an interesting book.
00:44:44.88\00:44:48.48
It's actually one
of my favorite books
00:44:48.52\00:44:50.39
in all of the Bible.
00:44:50.42\00:44:51.82
In fact, I've actually,
00:44:51.85\00:44:53.46
we know that the gospel is
kind of a threefold process
00:44:53.49\00:44:57.66
in the sense that we know
00:44:57.69\00:44:59.13
that the process in
which a person should walk,
00:44:59.16\00:45:02.90
that salvational walk of faith.
00:45:02.93\00:45:05.20
You know, God takes
us from justification
00:45:05.23\00:45:07.00
to sanctification and
eventually glorification.
00:45:07.04\00:45:10.07
And I've heard
ministers say this while I know
00:45:10.11\00:45:12.84
that Paul, all of his
writings completely encapsulate
00:45:12.87\00:45:16.85
all of the gospel.
00:45:16.88\00:45:18.21
I've heard people, minister say
00:45:18.25\00:45:19.58
where Paul's writings
00:45:19.61\00:45:21.02
communicates the justification
aspect of the gospel.
00:45:21.05\00:45:24.99
By the time you get
to the Book of James,
00:45:25.02\00:45:26.82
now, James opens up a
big can of sanctification
00:45:26.86\00:45:30.16
and he's communicating
it to us in a very deep way.
00:45:30.19\00:45:33.36
And so, James the
Just, just a fantastic book
00:45:33.40\00:45:38.13
and Thursday's lesson
actually highlights the fact
00:45:38.17\00:45:41.67
that Christian
tradition suggests that James,
00:45:41.70\00:45:45.47
the brother or
step brother of Jesus
00:45:45.51\00:45:48.18
became a leader
00:45:48.21\00:45:49.94
of the early church in Jerusalem
00:45:49.98\00:45:51.55
and was the James.
who acted as chairman
00:45:51.58\00:45:55.15
of the Jerusalem Council
00:45:55.18\00:45:56.52
and you can find
this in Acts Chapter 15,
00:45:56.55\00:45:58.79
Galatians 1, and
also Galatians 2.
00:45:58.82\00:46:01.52
If so, it is likely that he
was the author of the letter
00:46:01.56\00:46:05.33
preserved in the
Bible as the Book of James.
00:46:05.36\00:46:09.80
And so James was
a very common name
00:46:09.83\00:46:12.53
during the Bible times,
00:46:12.57\00:46:13.90
but if these
were the same person,
00:46:13.94\00:46:16.10
of course, the two James is,
00:46:16.14\00:46:17.77
obviously if this
was the same person,
00:46:17.81\00:46:19.51
he may also have
been the church leader
00:46:19.54\00:46:21.51
known as James, the Just,
00:46:21.54\00:46:23.65
which suggests a wiser leader
00:46:23.68\00:46:26.95
who properly prioritized
his treatment of others
00:46:26.98\00:46:29.92
and cared for
those often forgotten,
00:46:29.95\00:46:32.15
or downtrodden.
00:46:32.19\00:46:33.52
And so in this proverbial book
and you know the Book of James
00:46:33.56\00:46:37.09
is almost like a
New Testament Proverbs
00:46:37.13\00:46:39.29
and so he's given
us much, much knowledge
00:46:39.33\00:46:42.03
and wisdom in this book.
00:46:42.06\00:46:43.40
James reminds us not to
just merely listen to the word
00:46:43.43\00:46:46.74
as we have
brought out many times,
00:46:46.77\00:46:48.64
but to do what it says.
00:46:48.67\00:46:50.51
And so we noticed this
00:46:50.54\00:46:51.87
as we start
reading in James Chapter 1.
00:46:51.91\00:46:53.91
I'm gonna take us
to James Chapter 1,
00:46:53.94\00:46:55.78
beginning with verse 22-27.
00:46:55.81\00:46:59.11
Notice what the Bible tells us.
00:46:59.15\00:47:02.18
It says, "But be
doers of the word
00:47:02.22\00:47:04.79
and not hears only
deceiving yourselves."
00:47:04.82\00:47:08.59
And I just wanna pause
and just highlight that,
00:47:08.62\00:47:11.26
because I think
that is a great thesis
00:47:11.29\00:47:13.29
for this entire message
that we're covering here
00:47:13.33\00:47:15.93
is that many people like
to listen to a good sermon,
00:47:15.96\00:47:18.77
they like to hear
someone preach the Word of God.
00:47:18.80\00:47:21.07
They like to even
read it themselves
00:47:21.10\00:47:22.74
and discuss it
and talk about it.
00:47:22.77\00:47:24.51
But do you follow its councils.
00:47:24.54\00:47:26.94
Do you allow the
reality of the Word of God
00:47:26.98\00:47:29.08
to be a reality in your own life
00:47:29.11\00:47:31.51
by following and
doing exactly what it says?
00:47:31.55\00:47:33.72
Otherwise you deceive
yourself according to James.
00:47:33.75\00:47:36.38
Verse 23 continues on to say,
00:47:36.42\00:47:37.85
"For if anyone is a hearer
of the word and not a doer,
00:47:37.89\00:47:41.89
he is like a man observing
his natural face in a mirror,
00:47:41.92\00:47:45.33
for he observes
himself goes away
00:47:45.36\00:47:47.30
and immediately forgets
what kind of man he was.
00:47:47.33\00:47:50.30
But he who looks into
the perfect law of liberty,
00:47:50.33\00:47:54.17
and continues in it..."
00:47:54.20\00:47:55.54
Notice how,
00:47:55.57\00:47:56.91
I just wanna
highlight for a moment,
00:47:56.94\00:47:58.27
throughout these entire
studies over the past few weeks
00:47:58.31\00:48:00.61
as we've been discussing,
you know those in need,
00:48:00.64\00:48:03.51
the least of these,
00:48:03.55\00:48:05.18
notice how the law of
God keeps coming back up
00:48:05.21\00:48:07.82
and I can't highlight
enough or emphasize enough,
00:48:07.85\00:48:10.09
we recognize that we
are not saved by works.
00:48:10.12\00:48:12.82
We do not, we are not saved
or do not gain our salvation
00:48:12.85\00:48:16.32
by the keeping of the law.
00:48:16.36\00:48:18.26
But rather that is
the response of someone
00:48:18.29\00:48:20.33
who is saved by Jesus,
00:48:20.36\00:48:22.26
but I want you to notice
how that keeps coming back up
00:48:22.30\00:48:24.67
because a person who
does not meet the needs
00:48:24.70\00:48:27.17
of their brother or
their sisters in Christ
00:48:27.20\00:48:29.10
is more than likely someone
00:48:29.14\00:48:30.81
who is rejecting the moral law
and the moral character of God.
00:48:30.84\00:48:33.88
And we see that right here,
as James is highlighting that,
00:48:33.91\00:48:36.44
he goes to say,
00:48:36.48\00:48:37.81
"But he who looks into
the perfect law of liberty
00:48:37.85\00:48:39.41
and continues in it and
is not a forgetful hearer,
00:48:39.45\00:48:42.25
but a doer of the work.
00:48:42.28\00:48:43.79
This one will be
blessed in what he does."
00:48:43.82\00:48:47.02
And then verses 26 and 27.
00:48:47.06\00:48:49.26
He says, "If
anyone among you thinks
00:48:49.29\00:48:50.76
he is religious and
does not bridle his tongue,
00:48:50.79\00:48:53.86
but deceives his own heart,
00:48:53.90\00:48:55.23
this one's religion is useless,
00:48:55.26\00:48:57.37
pure and undefiled religion
00:48:57.40\00:48:58.97
before God and
the Father is this,"
00:48:59.00\00:49:01.20
and here it is
00:49:01.24\00:49:02.57
"to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble
00:49:02.60\00:49:06.14
and keep one's self
unspotted from the world."
00:49:06.17\00:49:10.18
So basically, James,
00:49:10.21\00:49:11.68
in this particular passage here,
00:49:11.71\00:49:13.28
he shares his very different,
00:49:13.31\00:49:15.25
yet inspired thoughts
on the subject of the rich
00:49:15.28\00:49:18.49
as compared to the poor.
00:49:18.52\00:49:20.06
And he holds a
very different attitude
00:49:20.09\00:49:23.02
towards riches
compared to those of the world.
00:49:23.06\00:49:25.99
And if you go on
to James Chapter 2,
00:49:26.03\00:49:28.10
he really highlights this
00:49:28.13\00:49:29.63
as he gets kind of
personal with the church.
00:49:29.66\00:49:31.37
He's writing to the
saints and he's saying,
00:49:31.40\00:49:33.23
"Look, I got
something to say to you."
00:49:33.27\00:49:34.67
Let's go to James
Chapter 2, and read verses 1-9.
00:49:34.70\00:49:38.57
Notice what the
Bible tells us here.
00:49:38.61\00:49:40.34
He says, "My
brethren, do not hold the faith
00:49:40.38\00:49:42.38
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:49:42.41\00:49:44.01
the Lord of
Glory, with partiality.
00:49:44.05\00:49:47.28
For if there should
come into your assembly
00:49:47.32\00:49:50.02
a man with gold
rings, in fine apparel,
00:49:50.05\00:49:53.56
and there should also come in
00:49:53.59\00:49:57.13
poor man in filthy clothes.
00:49:57.16\00:50:00.50
And you pay attention
00:50:00.53\00:50:02.00
to the one
wearing the fine clothes
00:50:02.03\00:50:03.97
and say to him,
00:50:04.00\00:50:05.33
you sit here in a good place
00:50:05.37\00:50:06.70
and say to the poor man,
00:50:06.74\00:50:08.07
you stand there or
sit here at my footstool."
00:50:08.10\00:50:10.57
In other words,
you're making a difference.
00:50:10.61\00:50:12.27
You're being partial.
00:50:12.31\00:50:13.64
You're uplifting
and paying much respect
00:50:13.68\00:50:15.41
to that of the rich man.
00:50:15.44\00:50:17.11
But you know, not much attention
00:50:17.15\00:50:18.48
or neglecting that of the poor.
00:50:18.51\00:50:19.95
He says, "Have you not shown
partiality among yourselves
00:50:19.98\00:50:22.95
and become judges
with evil thoughts?"
00:50:22.98\00:50:25.82
Verse 5 says,
"Listen, my beloved brethren,
00:50:25.85\00:50:28.56
has God not chosen the poor
00:50:28.59\00:50:30.26
of this world to
be rich in faith,
00:50:30.29\00:50:33.53
and heirs of the kingdom
00:50:33.56\00:50:34.90
which he promised
to those who love Him.
00:50:34.93\00:50:37.70
But you have
dishonored the poor man?
00:50:37.73\00:50:40.27
Do not the riches oppress you
and drag you into the courts?
00:50:40.30\00:50:44.94
Do they not
blaspheme that noble name
00:50:44.97\00:50:46.94
which you are called,
00:50:46.98\00:50:49.24
if you really
fulfill the royal law,
00:50:49.28\00:50:51.68
there it is, again,
that law comes back up,
00:50:51.71\00:50:53.52
if you really
fulfill the royal law
00:50:53.55\00:50:55.28
according to the Scriptures,
00:50:55.32\00:50:56.65
you shall love your
neighbor as yourself.
00:50:56.69\00:50:59.62
You do well, but if
you show partiality,
00:50:59.65\00:51:02.12
you commit sin and are convicted
00:51:02.16\00:51:03.96
by the law as transgressors."
00:51:03.99\00:51:06.13
So again, James is speaking
00:51:06.16\00:51:08.06
very plainly, very
directly he's saying,
00:51:08.10\00:51:09.76
"Look, if you do
this, I don't care
00:51:09.80\00:51:11.83
what kind of
Christian you may think you are.
00:51:11.87\00:51:13.84
I don't care what type
of religious experience
00:51:13.87\00:51:16.07
or worship you think
you're giving to the Lord.
00:51:16.10\00:51:18.14
At the end of the day
he likens it unto sin,
00:51:18.17\00:51:20.21
you are sinning against God,
00:51:20.24\00:51:21.58
you are violating and
transgressing God's law
00:51:21.61\00:51:24.15
by neglecting
those who are in need."
00:51:24.18\00:51:26.58
James doesn't seem
to regard the rich,
00:51:26.61\00:51:28.75
the rich in a positive light.
00:51:28.78\00:51:31.35
That is not to say
that all rich people
00:51:31.39\00:51:33.49
are doomed to eternal judgment.
00:51:33.52\00:51:34.92
However, clearly we know that
James is rebuking the very idea
00:51:34.96\00:51:38.59
that such a
worldly mentality of riches
00:51:38.63\00:51:41.06
would contaminate our mind.
00:51:41.10\00:51:43.00
We have heard,
00:51:43.03\00:51:44.37
have you ever
heard the expression?
00:51:44.40\00:51:45.73
Money makes the world go round?
00:51:45.77\00:51:47.84
I've heard that
many, many times.
00:51:47.87\00:51:49.44
You know, this almost seems
to be true in a negative sense
00:51:49.47\00:51:52.24
because of the world
that we live in today.
00:51:52.27\00:51:54.11
I'm thinking of, you know,
00:51:54.14\00:51:55.48
Hollywood movies
and music industry
00:51:55.51\00:51:57.81
and the food industry
and the health industry.
00:51:57.85\00:51:59.85
You start looking at all
00:51:59.88\00:52:01.22
of the major
aspects of this life.
00:52:01.25\00:52:02.78
And you see that it all hinges
on the making of a dollar,
00:52:02.82\00:52:07.16
or the progression
of someone's riches,
00:52:07.19\00:52:09.66
putting more and more
money into pockets of men
00:52:09.69\00:52:12.59
who need Jesus abundantly.
00:52:12.63\00:52:15.10
And much of this, much
of the immorality today
00:52:15.13\00:52:17.80
is driven by the strong
desire to be rich and wealthy,
00:52:17.83\00:52:21.60
and abundant in
things of the world.
00:52:21.64\00:52:23.87
In fact, we
shouldn't be surprised by this
00:52:23.91\00:52:25.77
because we know that
the counsel given to us
00:52:25.81\00:52:27.88
in 1 Timothy 6:10,
00:52:27.91\00:52:30.15
reminds us and tells us
00:52:30.18\00:52:31.58
that the desire
or the love of money
00:52:31.61\00:52:34.22
is the root of all evil,
00:52:34.25\00:52:36.38
and you can pretty
much just trace that
00:52:36.42\00:52:38.42
all the way back to its origin,
00:52:38.45\00:52:39.79
and you will find that
much of the sin of today's world
00:52:39.82\00:52:42.39
is driven by someone's desire
00:52:42.42\00:52:44.39
or love for more, and
more, and more, and more.
00:52:44.43\00:52:48.76
I wanna go to James
5:1-5 here in closing,
00:52:48.80\00:52:52.77
and I wanna to
read these five verses
00:52:52.80\00:52:54.14
because they're
very, very powerful.
00:52:54.17\00:52:55.70
He says, "Come now you rich,
00:52:55.74\00:52:58.57
weep and howl for your miseries
that are coming upon you.
00:52:58.61\00:53:03.41
Your riches are corrupted
00:53:03.45\00:53:04.78
and your
garments are moth eaten,
00:53:04.81\00:53:06.55
your gold and
silver are corroded,
00:53:06.58\00:53:08.62
and their corrosions
will be a witness against you
00:53:08.65\00:53:11.35
and will eat
your flesh like fire.
00:53:11.39\00:53:14.36
So he's not speaking positively.
00:53:14.39\00:53:16.26
He says, "You
have heaped up treasure
00:53:16.29\00:53:18.06
in these last days.
00:53:18.09\00:53:19.43
Indeed the wages of
your labors who mowed your,
00:53:19.46\00:53:22.10
laborers who mowed your fields,
00:53:22.13\00:53:23.90
which you kept
back by fraud cry out,
00:53:23.93\00:53:26.87
and the cries of the reapers
00:53:26.90\00:53:28.34
have reached the ears
of the lord of Sabaoth."
00:53:28.37\00:53:31.74
He goes on to say,
00:53:31.77\00:53:33.11
"You have lived on the
earth in pleasure and luxury,
00:53:33.14\00:53:36.51
you have fattened your
hearts as in a day of slaughter,
00:53:36.54\00:53:40.72
you have condemned,
you have murdered the just,
00:53:40.75\00:53:44.02
he does not resist you.
00:53:44.05\00:53:45.52
So basically, you
know, if we consider
00:53:45.55\00:53:47.82
the world we live in today that
00:53:47.86\00:53:49.19
that the rich and the
wealthy of the world today,
00:53:49.22\00:53:50.63
they seem to have, you know,
00:53:50.66\00:53:51.99
all these
people who gain riches,
00:53:52.03\00:53:53.36
but there's some of
the most miserable people
00:53:53.40\00:53:55.90
in depression and
always wanting more,
00:53:55.93\00:53:57.70
and more, and more.
00:53:57.73\00:53:59.07
And he actually is condemning,
00:53:59.10\00:54:00.44
perhaps these are the miseries
00:54:00.47\00:54:02.10
and spoken of
there in James 5:1,
00:54:02.14\00:54:04.91
the miseries that
James is speaking of
00:54:04.94\00:54:06.74
is this curse
that comes upon those
00:54:06.78\00:54:08.58
who seek after these things,
00:54:08.61\00:54:09.94
but neglect
those who are in need.
00:54:09.98\00:54:12.55
And so I wanna end here
with James 2:14-17, he says,
00:54:12.58\00:54:16.92
"What does it
profit, my brethren,
00:54:16.95\00:54:18.59
if someone says He has
faith but does not have works,
00:54:18.62\00:54:23.59
Can faith save him?
00:54:23.63\00:54:24.96
If a brother or sister is naked
in destitute of daily food,
00:54:24.99\00:54:28.36
and one of you says
to them, depart in peace,
00:54:28.40\00:54:30.63
be warmed and filled,
00:54:30.67\00:54:32.23
but you do not
give them the things
00:54:32.27\00:54:33.94
which are needed for the body?
00:54:33.97\00:54:35.30
What does it profit of?
00:54:35.34\00:54:37.31
He says, 'That's
also faith by itself,
00:54:37.34\00:54:39.67
if it does not
have works, it's dead,'
00:54:39.71\00:54:41.81
we have a moral obligation
to live as Christ lived.'"
00:54:41.84\00:54:44.91
Amen. Wow. Very good.
00:54:44.95\00:54:47.25
I'm sitting here
listening to a gospel
00:54:47.28\00:54:49.38
that's kind of
foreign in a great sense
00:54:49.42\00:54:51.22
all the putting self aside,
00:54:51.25\00:54:53.99
allowing the work of God
00:54:54.02\00:54:55.36
to be permeated
through our lives.
00:54:55.39\00:54:56.73
Thank you each one of you.
00:54:56.76\00:54:58.09
Jill, I give you an opportunity
to recap because I know you,
00:54:58.13\00:55:01.50
people might not
remember all that you said,
00:55:01.53\00:55:03.26
just recap what you covered.
00:55:03.30\00:55:05.43
What really touched me
about the life of Dorcas
00:55:05.47\00:55:07.80
and as I've been
hearing each one of you share,
00:55:07.84\00:55:09.87
is that motive matters.
00:55:09.90\00:55:11.87
We can think it's enough
00:55:11.91\00:55:13.74
to believe in the
doctrines of the church
00:55:13.78\00:55:15.71
and that's a good
thing, we wanna believe in that
00:55:15.74\00:55:17.65
or it's enough
to quote scripture
00:55:17.68\00:55:20.02
and we want to
quote the Word of God.
00:55:20.05\00:55:22.68
But what really
matters is our experience.
00:55:22.72\00:55:26.65
Have we experienced
Jesus for ourselves?
00:55:26.69\00:55:30.36
And do we get out of
ourselves and focus on the needs
00:55:30.39\00:55:33.86
of other people like Dorcas did?
00:55:33.90\00:55:36.97
Amen. Danny?
00:55:37.00\00:55:38.33
Well, once we become Christians
and give our life to Jesus,
00:55:38.37\00:55:42.84
it's so important that we
share what God has given us
00:55:42.87\00:55:47.54
and that's to be able to
help people both mentally,
00:55:47.58\00:55:50.55
physically, spiritually,
00:55:50.58\00:55:52.21
and be there for
them representing Christ,
00:55:52.25\00:55:55.15
to know that
there's a better day ahead.
00:55:55.18\00:55:57.09
Amen and amen.
00:55:57.12\00:55:58.45
I just think back to you know,
00:55:58.49\00:56:00.26
my love for the Book of
Romans and Paul's writings,
00:56:00.29\00:56:02.69
but Paul was so clear
00:56:02.72\00:56:04.76
about justification by
faith, righteousness by faith.
00:56:04.79\00:56:08.63
He was a great
preacher of sanctification
00:56:08.66\00:56:10.83
and I just want to give
you this one quick promise.
00:56:10.87\00:56:13.13
A, Paul wrote later
to the Thessalonians,
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1 Thessalonians 5:23,
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"May the God of peace
himself sanctify you completely,
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remove you from sin,
and may your whole spirit,
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soul, and body
can't be separated,
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be preserved blameless
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at the coming of
our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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He who calls you is
faithful who will also do it.
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Amen.
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The Bible says that God is love.
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And if we take His name,
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if we are representatives
of Him, you know,
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this whole conversation
of service, you know,
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we should just be
reeking of God's love,
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and it shouldn't
even be a question to us.
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It just should be
a natural response.
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I think of 1 John 4:20-21.
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It says, "If
someone says I love God,
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and hates his
brother, he is a liar.
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For he who does
not love his brother,
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whom he has seen,
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how can he love God
whom he has not seen?"
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And this
commandment we have from him,
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that he who loves God
must love his brother, also.
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A short saying,
I'll leave with you.
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We live in deeds,
not ears and thoughts,
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not breaths and
actions, not figures on a dial.
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We should count
time by heartthrobs.
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He who loves most,
thinks most, feels most,
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and acts the best.
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And Lord has given us
a great responsibility
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in every aspect of our
lives to reflect a character
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that is really not of this world
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and we pray that you
will also embrace the power
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that can make the
kingdom life available to you
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and real to you even
before the Lord returns.
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Join us next time for the topic,
00:57:54.00\00:57:55.90
"Living the Gospel."
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Until we see you the next time
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may the Lord bless you
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and may you
experience the kingdom life now.
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