The Bible tells us, "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
receive with meekness
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the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent
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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 for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is,
"The Least of These."
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Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
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And it is my joy to welcome you
to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We are having an exciting
time this quarter as we study
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"The Least of These,
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Ministering to The
Poor And The Suffering."
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And our lesson today
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is going to be
called To Love Nursing.
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Now, this is lesson 12.
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But it is not too late for you
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to get one of
these wonderful studies.
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You can download one
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from ABSG.Adventist.org
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for we always want
to encourage you to drop
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by your nearest
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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and they'd be
happy to give you a copy.
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And I'm sure they'd
probably be twisting your arm
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to try to come join them
because Bible study in a group
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is always so much fun.
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Let me introduce my family.
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I'm just so excited to be here.
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First we have my
pastor, Pastor John Lomacang.
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It's been an exciting
journey through the Word
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and we are
praising God for every step.
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Amen and amen.
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And then Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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Good to be here
always. Thank you.
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Oh, we're glad that
you're here with us.
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And then my dear friend,
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and my sister in
Christ, Jill Morikone.
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Thank you, Shelley.
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It's a privilege to
share with each one of you.
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And I learned so
much from this panel.
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Yeah, we do.
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And, you know, we are
so blessed on at 3ABN.
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And we've got some
good Bible teachers,
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some serious
students of the Word
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and that
describes Pastor Ryan Day.
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That's a blessing. Thank you.
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It's a blessing
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to always be a part
of this incredible panel.
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Well, it's exciting
to open the Word of God.
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And, you know what I've found?
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I think if we took the
lesson that we did last week,
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and just reassigned the
days to different people,
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we had a
completely different lesson.
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God leads each one of us
in such an interesting way.
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And that's what's
exciting about having a panel.
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Jill, would you like to
have our opening prayer please?
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Sure.
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Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus.
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And we thank You for Your Word.
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We thank You that
is living and active.
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And we ask that
You would allow it
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to cut into our hearts just now
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by the power of
Your Holy Spirit.
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You would speak
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and that we would hear
and obey in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen. Thank you.
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Thank you. All right.
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So let me just
jump right into this.
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I'm gonna start in a
little bit different way.
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And you may
wonder, where am I going?
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Lesson 12 is To Love Mercy.
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But the first thing I
thought that was Jeremiah 31:3,
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where God says,
"I have loved you
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with an everlasting love.
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Therefore with loving-kindness
I have drawn you."
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That word loving-kindness
in Hebrew is hesed.
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Sometimes people say,
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"Well, there's no
grace in the Old Testament."
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And see this is
covenant love language
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that God is using.
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I loved you, I wooed
you with loving-kindness.
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This Hebrew word
hesed is the equivalent,
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well, no,
actually, it's much greater
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than the word grace, but
it is when you see, hesed,
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it was used 240
times in the Old Testament.
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And let me read
you a definition I have
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for the Hebrew word hesed.
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It says it can't be translated
with one English word.
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This is a covenant term,
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wrapping up in itself
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all of the
positive attributes of God,
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love, covenant, faithfulness,
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mercy, grace,
kindness, loyalty, in short,
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acts of devotion
and loving-kindness
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that go beyond the
requirements of duty.
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So He is saying,
"I've loved you with hesed,
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and I've drawn you to me."
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But here's the bottom line.
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The conclusion of the
matter as Solomon would say,
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God wants to
recreate His image in us,
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our character, our
behavior matters greatly to Him.
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So in response
to His covenant love
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and His commands,
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He wants us to adopt
that same loving-kindness,
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that mercy and
grace toward other people
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and share His concern
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for the poor and the
afflicted and the oppressed.
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God wants us to
stand up to evil.
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And, you know,
sometimes that's not easy.
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But we know that
we can only do it
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as He pours His
love into our heart
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by the power of the
Holy Spirit and the courage,
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and the zeal, and the boldness
that the Holy Spirit gives us.
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So our memory
text is Psalm 112:4-5.
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And in Psalm 112:4-5.
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This is what the Bible says,
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"Unto the upright there
arises light in the darkness,
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He the upright is gracious,
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He is full of
compassion, He is righteous.
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A good man deals
graciously and lends,
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He will guide his
affairs with discretion."
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So as God shines His
darkness into our light,
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He changes our priorities.
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And that's the segue
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to Sunday's lesson
Kingdom Priorities.
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You know, in today's
materialistic society,
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I would say, John,
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this is your play
boards usually or you do this?
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We no longer
possess possessions,
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but possessions possess us.
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Yes. That sounds like me.
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You know, you've got
people, I talk with people who,
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they've got car payments,
boat payments, this payments,
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that payments, gym
payments, and they're all,
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you know, like this.
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I think that many people
are on a hedonistic treadmill.
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It's all about
pleasure, pleasure, pleasure.
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And in our secular society
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pleasure is more prevalent
than a commitment to God.
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So Jesus and the
New Testament writers
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were trying to show us
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and we're gonna
look at Matthew 6,
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if you want to
turn to Matthew 6:25.
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That believers have to live
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by a different set
of values and priorities
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than the warped values
and priorities of the world.
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Okay, let's read
through this quickly.
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Matthew 6:25.
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Jesus says,
"Therefore I say to you,
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do not worry about your life,
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what you will eat
or what you will drink,
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nor about your body,
what you will put on.
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Is not life more than food
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and the body more than clothing?
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Look at the birds of
the air, they neither reap,"
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excuse me, "sow nor reap
nor gather into the barns,
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yet your heavenly
Father feeds them.
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Are you not of
more value than they?
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Which of you by worrying
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can add one
cubit to his stature?
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So why do you
worry about clothing?
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Consider the
lilies of the field,
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how they grow, they
neither toil nor spin,
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and yet I say to
you that even Solomon
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in all of his glory
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was not arrayed
like one of these.
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Now if God so clothes
the grass of the field,
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which today is, and tomorrow
is thrown into the oven,
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will He not
much more clothe you,
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O you of little faith?"
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You know, God
promises to meet our needs.
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Worry erodes our trust in Him.
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When we are filled with fear,
and just consumed with fear,
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it's difficult to trust God.
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And so we have to remember
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He is the
creator of the universe,
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He created us.
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And if He's got
that kind of power,
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don't you believe
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He has the power
to take care of you?
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So now Jesus goes
on, and He says this.
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Therefore,
based on His argument,
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this is bridging
what he just said,
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"Hey, you shouldn't be
worried about all these things."
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God's got it.
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He says, "God's got your back."
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He says,
"Therefore do not worry,
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saying, 'What shall we eat?'
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'What shall we drink?'
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'What shall we wear?'
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For after all these
things the Gentiles seek.
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For your heavenly Father knows
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that you have need
of all these things."
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Did you know worrying
is damaging to your health.
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Worry, stress, brings
about inflammation in the body.
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But worry will immobilize us,
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it will disrupt
your productivity,
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and it's a waste
of our valuable time.
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So now here's Jesus' solution.
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"Seek first the kingdom."
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This is verse 33, Matthew 6:33,
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"Seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness,
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and all of these
things will be added to you.
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Therefore," based
on your trust in God,
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"do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow
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will worry about its own things.
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Sufficient for the
day is its own trouble."
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Let me point out one
thing, Jesus is not saying,
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don't be concerned,
Jesus is not saying,
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you know, true
concern is a call to action.
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He's not saying don't plan.
00:10:13.21\00:10:16.18
What He is
saying is don't worry,
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don't be
stressing over these things.
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Instead of worrying, go to God.
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Pray for His
guidance to make a plan.
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Get into the Word.
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You know, in our hectic pace,
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there's so many things
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that compete for our priorities.
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Don't think we
need to seek God first.
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And I always say
little word, little faith.
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If you wanna
increase your faith,
00:10:46.51\00:10:48.08
faith comes by
hearing, hearing by the Word.
00:10:48.11\00:10:50.28
Get into the Word of
God, pray His promises back,
00:10:50.31\00:10:54.12
ask Him to help
you, seek His face,
00:10:54.15\00:10:57.15
seek to know Him
in an intimate way.
00:10:57.19\00:11:00.86
And He will reveal the
plan He has for your life,
00:11:00.89\00:11:04.39
then we need to know
that if we're pursuing God
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and His
righteousness, guess what?
00:11:07.93\00:11:10.03
We can trust in Him
to meet all of our needs.
00:11:10.07\00:11:14.94
We need to look at things
in light of the kingdom of God
00:11:14.97\00:11:21.68
and follow in Jesus footsteps,
00:11:21.71\00:11:24.25
focusing more on others
than we do on ourselves.
00:11:24.28\00:11:28.55
I have just a moment,
00:11:28.58\00:11:29.92
so I'd like to
read you something
00:11:29.95\00:11:31.65
from our Sabbath
School quarterly.
00:11:31.69\00:11:36.06
The author says,
00:11:36.09\00:11:37.43
"This different
set of priorities,
00:11:37.46\00:11:39.03
the priorities
Christian should led
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by changes our relationship
00:11:40.63\00:11:43.33
with those in power over
us and over the oppressed.
00:11:43.37\00:11:48.40
While the Bible
instructs Christians
00:11:48.44\00:11:50.51
to respect and
obey their government,
00:11:50.54\00:11:52.37
as far as possible," we
know that's in Romans 13,
00:11:52.41\00:11:56.28
"there comes a point
00:11:56.31\00:11:57.68
where we need to
echo the words of Peter,
00:11:57.71\00:11:59.88
who said, 'We must obey God
00:11:59.91\00:12:04.79
rather than human beings!'
00:12:04.82\00:12:06.15
" Amen. Yes.
00:12:06.19\00:12:07.52
And so what He's
showing us here is He comes down
00:12:07.56\00:12:12.13
and gives us an example saying,
00:12:12.16\00:12:13.76
you know,
there's gonna come a day,
00:12:13.80\00:12:15.40
when the government
is asking us to do things
00:12:15.43\00:12:18.13
that are
against the Word of God.
00:12:18.17\00:12:20.00
And we need to learn to stand up
00:12:20.04\00:12:21.70
for the
oppressed, the afflicted.
00:12:21.74\00:12:23.14
Now it gives an example,
00:12:23.17\00:12:25.07
I thought this was a good
00:12:25.11\00:12:29.68
example to use.
00:12:29.71\00:12:32.31
In dealing with
slavery, Ellen White wrote this,
00:12:32.35\00:12:36.85
"When the laws of men
conflict with the word
00:12:36.89\00:12:39.59
and the law of God, we
are to obey the latter,
00:12:39.62\00:12:42.92
the law of God,
00:12:42.96\00:12:44.29
whatever the
consequences may be."
00:12:44.33\00:12:47.20
That takes courage, doesn't it?
00:12:47.23\00:12:49.00
"The law of our
land requiring us
00:12:49.03\00:12:51.13
to deliver a
slave to his master,
00:12:51.17\00:12:53.10
we are not to obey,"
00:12:53.13\00:12:54.57
she says, and she's writing
during the days of slavery,
00:12:54.60\00:12:58.04
"We must abide the consequences
of violating this law.
00:12:58.07\00:13:02.64
The slave is not
the property of any man.
00:13:02.68\00:13:05.35
God is his rightful master,
00:13:05.38\00:13:06.92
and man has no right
to take God's workmanship
00:13:06.95\00:13:10.49
into his hands, and
claim him as his own."
00:13:10.52\00:13:14.36
That's from
Testimonies for the Church,
00:13:14.39\00:13:16.62
Volume 1, page 201 and 202.
00:13:16.66\00:13:19.73
What are we saying?
00:13:19.76\00:13:21.10
We do have different values.
00:13:21.13\00:13:22.56
We do have different priorities.
00:13:22.60\00:13:24.20
We seek God and His way first,
00:13:24.23\00:13:27.07
and then we walk in obedience
to His kingdom principles.
00:13:27.10\00:13:31.61
Amen. Thank you, Shelley.
00:13:31.64\00:13:33.74
My lesson is one that
00:13:33.78\00:13:35.11
really I could
identify with as a pastor.
00:13:35.14\00:13:38.91
This is something that
people I know that you,
00:13:38.95\00:13:41.65
I think, honestly, I think
that all of us on this panel,
00:13:41.68\00:13:44.35
in one sense of the other,
00:13:44.39\00:13:45.72
those who are
involved in ministry
00:13:45.75\00:13:47.09
continually driven in ministry,
00:13:47.12\00:13:48.69
they will understand
this lesson very well.
00:13:48.72\00:13:51.16
Those who are in
the medical field,
00:13:51.19\00:13:52.93
those who are firemen,
00:13:52.96\00:13:55.16
those who are
involved in emergency services,
00:13:55.20\00:13:57.70
those who may work
for large restaurants,
00:13:57.73\00:13:59.87
and all of the
sudden on holiday,
00:13:59.90\00:14:01.24
everybody's wanting
their food right now.
00:14:01.27\00:14:05.21
The word fatigue,
fatigue is a terrible word
00:14:05.24\00:14:09.31
because fatigue tends to
take the normal things of life
00:14:09.34\00:14:13.11
and push them into
the category of careless.
00:14:13.15\00:14:16.35
I don't really care.
00:14:16.38\00:14:17.89
I'm over, I'm done with that.
00:14:17.92\00:14:19.32
I'm overloaded,
it's your problem.
00:14:19.35\00:14:21.92
If you don't like it,
fine, go to another restaurant.
00:14:21.96\00:14:24.39
If you don't like
my sermons, leave.
00:14:24.43\00:14:26.80
I mean, you can
really push a person
00:14:26.83\00:14:28.16
to the place of carelessness,
00:14:28.20\00:14:29.53
you don't wanna
work here, then quit.
00:14:29.56\00:14:31.93
You don't want my
program and change your channel.
00:14:31.97\00:14:34.77
Really fatigue
could do that to you.
00:14:34.80\00:14:36.50
We've been doing our best,
if you don't like it, too bad.
00:14:36.54\00:14:39.01
And fatigue can take
00:14:39.04\00:14:40.38
the normal circumstances of life
00:14:40.41\00:14:41.91
that are kind and compassionate,
00:14:41.94\00:14:43.85
and throw it into a
category of carelessness.
00:14:43.88\00:14:46.55
And Jesus identified
00:14:46.58\00:14:48.78
how while the world is
falling down around us,
00:14:48.82\00:14:52.02
compassion is fatigue.
00:14:52.05\00:14:53.66
While the world is
falling down around us,
00:14:53.69\00:14:56.86
one thing that the
Christian cannot afford to do
00:14:56.89\00:14:59.69
is fall down with it.
00:14:59.73\00:15:01.63
Amen.
00:15:01.66\00:15:03.00
You can't fall down with it
because one of the challenges
00:15:03.03\00:15:06.17
that we face in a society,
00:15:06.20\00:15:09.14
and I know Jesus
went through that,
00:15:09.17\00:15:10.94
He tried to even
find a place to rest.
00:15:10.97\00:15:13.58
And when the people heard
00:15:13.61\00:15:14.94
where He was
going they follow Him
00:15:14.98\00:15:16.31
around the outside of the lake.
00:15:16.34\00:15:18.71
He went to a
heathen city to find rest.
00:15:18.75\00:15:21.18
And when He got
there, there was a multitude,
00:15:21.22\00:15:23.75
got anything to eat?
00:15:23.79\00:15:25.65
He had fatigue.
00:15:25.69\00:15:27.12
That's why sometimes
00:15:27.16\00:15:28.49
He spent entire
nights in prayer.
00:15:28.52\00:15:30.16
He had to get away.
00:15:30.19\00:15:31.53
He had to come aside and rest.
00:15:31.56\00:15:33.76
Okay, I take a hint.
00:15:33.80\00:15:35.33
He had to come as I've read.
00:15:35.36\00:15:36.70
We love Shelley.
00:15:36.73\00:15:38.07
Shelley is driven.
00:15:38.10\00:15:39.43
The programming
that happens here
00:15:39.47\00:15:40.80
3ABN is amazing.
00:15:40.84\00:15:42.17
But we always say to
Shelley, take a vacation,
00:15:42.20\00:15:44.44
relax, breathe,
get a cup of water
00:15:44.47\00:15:46.88
and just drink it slowly.
00:15:46.91\00:15:49.31
But fatigue can
really do you in.
00:15:49.34\00:15:51.91
Look what Jesus
said in Matthew 13:22,
00:15:51.95\00:15:54.38
how it often happens.
00:15:54.42\00:15:56.45
Matthew 13:22,
it talks about this.
00:15:56.48\00:15:59.65
"Now he who received
seed among the thorns."
00:15:59.69\00:16:03.09
That means the Word of God
00:16:03.12\00:16:04.46
is really, really
nothing wrong with it.
00:16:04.49\00:16:06.66
But when your
life is choked out,
00:16:06.70\00:16:09.36
"The thorns is he
who hears the word,
00:16:09.40\00:16:12.93
and the cares of this world
00:16:12.97\00:16:15.20
and the deceitfulness
of riches choke the word,
00:16:15.24\00:16:20.08
and he becomes unfruitful."
00:16:20.11\00:16:21.84
You know, there are people
in tenements and in cities,
00:16:21.88\00:16:23.85
in crowded
places, there are people
00:16:23.88\00:16:26.01
who have experienced
the loss of one family,
00:16:26.05\00:16:28.65
then another, then another,
00:16:28.68\00:16:30.02
then another,
they lost their job,
00:16:30.05\00:16:31.75
their cat got run over,
the kids don't wanna behave.
00:16:31.79\00:16:34.09
The house was on fire last week,
00:16:34.12\00:16:35.92
the food got burned.
00:16:35.96\00:16:39.16
And they asked the
question, "What next?"
00:16:39.19\00:16:41.23
And something horrible happens.
00:16:41.26\00:16:42.86
Yeah.
00:16:42.90\00:16:44.27
And the fatigue that comes
with it takes them to the place
00:16:44.30\00:16:47.20
where they are no
longer they don't feel,
00:16:47.24\00:16:49.57
you can touch them
00:16:49.60\00:16:50.94
and they have just
no reaction to that.
00:16:50.97\00:16:52.54
I heard the
story of a little girl
00:16:52.57\00:16:53.91
who had been in a situation
00:16:53.94\00:16:55.28
where the physicians
couldn't find an answer
00:16:55.31\00:16:56.95
to her condition.
00:16:56.98\00:16:58.31
And one nurse took
the particular interest
00:16:58.35\00:17:00.52
and sat down
with that little girl
00:17:00.55\00:17:03.25
and just drew her, closer to her
00:17:03.28\00:17:04.89
and just began
to stroke her here,
00:17:04.92\00:17:07.52
began to hug her
and talk softly to her.
00:17:07.56\00:17:10.23
And a couple of days
00:17:10.26\00:17:11.59
this kid was up and
moving and talking like,
00:17:11.63\00:17:13.60
they said, "Who gave,
00:17:13.63\00:17:16.46
what medication
did you give to her?"
00:17:16.50\00:17:18.77
Nurse said, "All she
really needed was a hug."
00:17:18.80\00:17:21.70
All she needed
was somebody to be
00:17:21.74\00:17:23.14
compassionate, and
tender, and caring.
00:17:23.17\00:17:25.74
And you find Jesus
in the dredges of life,
00:17:25.77\00:17:29.31
taking the last journey.
00:17:29.34\00:17:30.91
You know, the woman
00:17:30.95\00:17:32.28
who was bound with
the issue of blood,
00:17:32.31\00:17:34.92
servant of the Lord said
that was the last journey
00:17:34.95\00:17:37.29
that Jesus was taking.
00:17:37.32\00:17:38.75
And the Bible says, "He
needed to go through Samaria."
00:17:38.79\00:17:41.82
Yes.
00:17:41.86\00:17:43.19
You know, when I read
that, I said to myself,
00:17:43.22\00:17:45.76
when he found me he needed
00:17:45.79\00:17:47.40
to go through
Manhattan in New York
00:17:47.43\00:17:49.03
to find a little boy
abandoned by his mother.
00:17:49.06\00:17:52.17
He needed to
go, He needed to go,
00:17:52.20\00:17:55.00
He was thinking about
her on His way to the cross.
00:17:55.04\00:17:57.81
That was the last time
00:17:57.84\00:17:59.17
He was gonna go
through that city.
00:17:59.21\00:18:01.54
And the man that cried out,
00:18:01.58\00:18:05.91
son of David, have mercy on me.
00:18:05.95\00:18:07.82
That was the last journey
00:18:07.85\00:18:09.35
Jesus taking through
that town He needed to go.
00:18:09.38\00:18:12.52
And so today in this world,
00:18:12.55\00:18:14.79
where fatigue is just grabbing
at our heels and saying,
00:18:14.82\00:18:18.39
"But don't forget me, I
need something to drink too.
00:18:18.43\00:18:21.23
Could you come visit me?"
00:18:21.26\00:18:24.33
We got to say, okay,
00:18:24.37\00:18:25.70
and we got to pray and
ask the Lord for strength.
00:18:25.73\00:18:28.10
And, you know, we
live in that kind of world,
00:18:28.14\00:18:30.07
I know that I could
look at each one of you
00:18:30.11\00:18:31.84
in a different way.
00:18:31.87\00:18:33.21
I know we all
live in that world.
00:18:33.24\00:18:34.84
Those of us who
are here at 3ABN,
00:18:34.88\00:18:36.58
we live in that kind of world.
00:18:36.61\00:18:37.98
Maybe many of you that
are managers and people
00:18:38.01\00:18:40.32
that have a lot of
children to take care of,
00:18:40.35\00:18:42.28
or daycare people or teachers
or professors in college
00:18:42.32\00:18:45.69
or flight attendants
00:18:45.72\00:18:47.22
where they keep
pressing the button,
00:18:47.26\00:18:48.59
I want something to drink,
00:18:48.62\00:18:49.96
you may live in that world
00:18:49.99\00:18:51.33
where fatigue is
just driving you nuts.
00:18:51.36\00:18:53.03
But be a professional
in that sense and realize,
00:18:53.06\00:18:55.63
I cannot allow.
00:18:55.66\00:18:57.27
There's a term I use here.
00:18:57.30\00:19:01.00
We cannot allow
the anxieties of life
00:19:01.04\00:19:04.54
to drain our compassion.
00:19:04.57\00:19:06.78
That's good.
00:19:06.81\00:19:08.14
Because they could do it.
00:19:08.18\00:19:09.51
Don't allow the
anxieties of life
00:19:09.54\00:19:11.41
to drain your compassion,
00:19:11.45\00:19:12.81
and redefine who you are.
00:19:12.85\00:19:14.52
And who's our perfect example?
00:19:14.55\00:19:16.72
Jesus. Jesus.
00:19:16.75\00:19:18.42
Even on the cross,
00:19:18.45\00:19:19.79
He said to John,
"John, here's your mother."
00:19:19.82\00:19:23.12
And to his
mother, "Here's your son."
00:19:23.16\00:19:25.36
And even at that moment,
00:19:25.39\00:19:26.80
when He was being
hammered and accused,
00:19:26.83\00:19:28.73
He said, "Father, forgive them.
00:19:28.76\00:19:31.10
They don't know
what they're doing."
00:19:31.13\00:19:32.90
The compassion.
00:19:32.93\00:19:34.27
So let's look at some aspects
of how we can get to the place
00:19:34.30\00:19:39.17
where we won't
allow the fatigue of life
00:19:39.21\00:19:43.24
to redefine who we are.
00:19:43.28\00:19:45.31
Because, you know, when
people are often redefined,
00:19:45.35\00:19:47.65
they do strange things.
00:19:47.68\00:19:49.02
I've heard of pastors that have,
00:19:49.05\00:19:50.89
you know, that
have taken their lives.
00:19:50.92\00:19:52.99
Other pastors who couldn't deal
00:19:53.02\00:19:54.36
with anxiety, and
distress, and depression.
00:19:54.39\00:19:57.49
And we know that some
of those are clinical,
00:19:57.53\00:19:58.96
so I'm not gonna
minimize that at all.
00:19:58.99\00:20:00.96
But when the cares
of life choke you out,
00:20:01.00\00:20:04.03
you don't wanna
hear another sermon,
00:20:04.07\00:20:05.40
you don't really wanna,
you don't care to go to church.
00:20:05.43\00:20:07.54
I remember years ago,
00:20:07.57\00:20:09.24
oh, while ago,
easily 13 years ago,
00:20:09.27\00:20:12.27
as I remember once
I was going through
00:20:12.31\00:20:13.84
a really great
challenge here at 3ABN
00:20:13.88\00:20:15.54
and I was about to
start prayer meeting
00:20:15.58\00:20:16.95
close to camp meeting.
00:20:16.98\00:20:18.65
And I said to the
people that will gather,
00:20:18.68\00:20:20.35
even some visitors have said,
"You know, I have that feeling
00:20:20.38\00:20:22.62
he want to just drive right
past the church not come back."
00:20:22.65\00:20:26.02
That's how I feel tonight.
00:20:26.05\00:20:27.39
I need your help.
00:20:27.42\00:20:29.19
We gathered around
me and pray for me.
00:20:29.22\00:20:30.93
So I understand
this topic very well.
00:20:30.96\00:20:34.03
Galatians 6:9, let's
look at some of these things.
00:20:34.06\00:20:37.07
Don't allow the demand
00:20:37.10\00:20:39.03
to exhaust your
supply of compassion.
00:20:39.07\00:20:41.64
Don't allow life's demands
00:20:41.67\00:20:43.17
to exhaust your
supply of compassion.
00:20:43.20\00:20:46.27
Galatians 6:9, "And
let us not grow weary
00:20:46.31\00:20:49.48
while doing
good, for in due season
00:20:49.51\00:20:52.11
we shall reap if
we do not faint."
00:20:52.15\00:20:55.58
That is so true.
00:20:55.62\00:20:56.95
You wanna give up.
00:20:56.99\00:20:58.32
But, you know, what
keeps me from not giving up?
00:20:58.35\00:21:00.86
As I go to the hospital,
we have Clinton John's,
00:21:00.89\00:21:03.93
you know, recently he,
you know, he lost his wife.
00:21:03.96\00:21:07.66
And it was a terrible tragedy.
00:21:07.70\00:21:09.13
And I go to him and he says,
00:21:09.16\00:21:11.50
you know, what keeps me
holding on in light of loss.
00:21:11.53\00:21:15.30
I know that the people
at this church love me.
00:21:15.34\00:21:17.17
Yes.
00:21:17.21\00:21:18.54
And that is a huge
pick me up for people
00:21:18.57\00:21:21.58
that just lose
all the support teams
00:21:21.61\00:21:23.91
around them, all the
people that they love,
00:21:23.95\00:21:25.91
but don't be weary in doing well
00:21:25.95\00:21:27.58
because you cannot ever think
that your investment of good
00:21:27.62\00:21:31.32
is not gonna return
tremendous dividends.
00:21:31.35\00:21:33.66
Amen.
00:21:33.69\00:21:35.02
You'll never understand it
until later on somebody says
00:21:35.06\00:21:37.86
and I remember this,
those who show mercy,
00:21:37.89\00:21:40.53
mercy will be shown to them.
00:21:40.56\00:21:42.90
Here's another
one, endure difficulty.
00:21:42.93\00:21:45.20
2 Timothy 2:3.
00:21:45.23\00:21:47.57
"You therefore
must endure hardship
00:21:47.60\00:21:49.44
as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ."
00:21:49.47\00:21:52.64
Another one.
00:21:52.67\00:21:54.01
Remember that one
the affliction comes,
00:21:54.04\00:21:55.54
it's not permanent.
00:21:55.58\00:21:57.01
2 Corinthians 4:16-18,
00:21:57.05\00:21:59.95
"Therefore we do
not lose heart..."
00:21:59.98\00:22:01.48
Yes.
00:22:01.52\00:22:02.85
"Even though our
outward man is perishing,
00:22:02.88\00:22:06.25
yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day.
00:22:06.29\00:22:09.62
For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment,
00:22:09.66\00:22:13.33
is working for us
a far more exceeding
00:22:13.36\00:22:16.77
and eternal weight of glory,
00:22:16.80\00:22:18.87
while we do not look at
the things which are seen,
00:22:18.90\00:22:21.74
but at the things
which are not seen.
00:22:21.77\00:22:23.34
For the things which
are seen are temporary,
00:22:23.37\00:22:25.44
but the things which
are not seen are eternal."
00:22:25.47\00:22:27.94
I know that's like, I mean,
00:22:27.98\00:22:29.51
here I am in the
10th year of my injury
00:22:29.54\00:22:32.21
after getting hit in my voice,
00:22:32.25\00:22:33.82
and I've come to the conclusion
that range will never occur,
00:22:33.85\00:22:37.22
that range will
never be there again,
00:22:37.25\00:22:38.85
but the Lord says,
"Oh, no, you'll sing
00:22:38.89\00:22:40.22
when you get to the kingdom."
00:22:40.26\00:22:41.59
So I understand these
are light afflictions,
00:22:41.62\00:22:43.63
Paul had a thorn in his flesh,
00:22:43.66\00:22:45.06
he prayed, he prayed, he prayed.
00:22:45.09\00:22:46.83
But the Lord said,
"I'm not gonna remove it
00:22:46.86\00:22:48.23
unless you be
exalted above measure."
00:22:48.26\00:22:50.17
God knows exactly why He
doesn't remove affliction
00:22:50.20\00:22:53.03
and why He
sometimes allow affliction.
00:22:53.07\00:22:55.50
But here's another one.
00:22:55.54\00:22:56.87
Stay involved, by
educating yourself
00:22:56.91\00:22:58.94
so that your advice
will not hinder a situation.
00:22:58.97\00:23:01.31
Sometimes, Pastor
Kenny, we could be so tired,
00:23:01.34\00:23:03.95
that we say to
people, it's your problem,
00:23:03.98\00:23:05.81
solve it yourself.
00:23:05.85\00:23:08.38
Or we could say,
"I don't understand
00:23:08.42\00:23:10.49
what's happening but
let me ask the Lord."
00:23:10.52\00:23:12.45
James 1:5, "If any
of you lack wisdom,
00:23:12.49\00:23:15.19
let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally
00:23:15.22\00:23:17.63
and without reproach,
and it will be given."
00:23:17.66\00:23:20.56
Also we cannot
believe in what we're asking.
00:23:20.60\00:23:26.57
We must believe
in whom we're asking.
00:23:26.60\00:23:28.54
Amen. Difficulties of life.
00:23:28.57\00:23:30.81
We have to say,
"Lord, come to me,
00:23:30.84\00:23:33.14
all you who are
weary and heavy-laden,
00:23:33.17\00:23:34.84
and I'll give you rest."
00:23:34.88\00:23:36.21
When you come to the
Lord in a fatigue world.
00:23:36.24\00:23:39.18
Really, if you got to
take a week off or time off,
00:23:39.21\00:23:41.62
you will find rest.
00:23:41.65\00:23:42.98
Don't let fatigue break
down your witness for Christ.
00:23:43.02\00:23:46.19
You know, you didn't
think about compassion fatigue,
00:23:46.22\00:23:48.29
you see so much on the media,
00:23:48.32\00:23:51.13
you know, all
the various floods,
00:23:51.16\00:23:52.76
and the fires, and
the murders, and this,
00:23:52.79\00:23:55.46
that sometimes you
become so overwhelmed,
00:23:55.50\00:23:58.50
you can forget
to pray for people
00:23:58.53\00:24:01.04
that you're seeing just
because we see so much of it.
00:24:01.07\00:24:03.77
Great lesson, thank you so much.
00:24:03.81\00:24:05.24
We are going to
take a quick break
00:24:05.27\00:24:07.04
and encourage you to stay tuned,
00:24:07.08\00:24:08.98
we'll be right back.
00:24:09.01\00:24:10.35
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Welcome back.
00:24:47.75\00:24:49.08
Now we are going to continue
with Pastor Kenny Shelton
00:24:49.12\00:24:51.39
who will be teaching
Tuesday's lesson on generosity.
00:24:51.42\00:24:54.99
Generosity. Yes. Good.
00:24:55.02\00:24:56.36
Yeah, it's really
such a good lesson.
00:24:56.39\00:24:59.76
I found out that I needed it.
00:24:59.79\00:25:02.16
That was a real blessing,
you know, because sometimes
00:25:02.20\00:25:04.43
in these things we
think they're very simple,
00:25:04.47\00:25:06.97
and we spend a
whole lot of time on it.
00:25:07.00\00:25:08.87
But yet, when you
really start digging deep,
00:25:08.90\00:25:10.71
you find that
sometimes we've missed the mark.
00:25:10.74\00:25:13.11
We've missed what God wants us
00:25:13.14\00:25:14.48
to be in generosity because I...
00:25:14.51\00:25:16.61
Just a definition of generosity,
00:25:16.64\00:25:18.35
just willingness to
give, willingness to share.
00:25:18.38\00:25:21.62
That's right.
00:25:21.65\00:25:22.98
And it has to do
with unselfishness.
00:25:23.02\00:25:24.99
And so that's kind of
maybe where that's pretty much
00:25:25.02\00:25:27.59
the root of every
sin has to do with self,
00:25:27.62\00:25:29.76
doesn't it?
00:25:29.79\00:25:31.13
That's right.
00:25:31.16\00:25:32.49
So there's a
reason that God wants us
00:25:32.53\00:25:33.86
to be generous and I'm
sure it's just not because
00:25:33.90\00:25:35.33
He needs or He wants.
00:25:35.36\00:25:36.93
But I think it's
because we need it.
00:25:36.97\00:25:38.80
Amen.
00:25:38.83\00:25:40.17
I think the
lesson brings that out.
00:25:40.20\00:25:41.97
I've always heard it
said, now what's that?
00:25:42.00\00:25:43.94
"Well, it's more
blessed to give than to receive.
00:25:43.97\00:25:45.87
Well, there was times
00:25:45.91\00:25:47.24
that I didn't
quite believe that."
00:25:47.28\00:25:48.61
I'm the only one I know
00:25:48.64\00:25:49.98
but I don't mind
being honest about it.
00:25:50.01\00:25:51.35
When I was listening,
wait a minute here now,
00:25:51.38\00:25:52.71
I kind of like
the, you know, get it,
00:25:52.75\00:25:54.38
but that's what Acts 20:35,
00:25:54.42\00:25:57.42
"It's more blessed to
give than to receive."
00:25:57.45\00:25:59.49
But we know, we
really look down,
00:25:59.52\00:26:00.86
the Word of God
is always correct,
00:26:00.89\00:26:02.26
is always right,
there's a blessing in store,
00:26:02.29\00:26:04.59
and then I
think of other passage
00:26:04.63\00:26:06.56
in Matthew 10:8,
it was talking about,
00:26:06.59\00:26:08.46
"Freely you have
received, so freely give."
00:26:08.50\00:26:11.77
So the Bible is just full
of just wonderful promises
00:26:11.80\00:26:14.57
those who are willing
by the of grace of God
00:26:14.60\00:26:17.41
to deny itself and
see needs out there.
00:26:17.44\00:26:20.34
See needs of others
rather than just me, mine,
00:26:20.38\00:26:24.81
I 'cause everyone
that was probably here
00:26:24.85\00:26:26.58
have some me, mine, I things.
00:26:26.61\00:26:29.85
Their needs, there is it
whether it's a house payment,
00:26:29.88\00:26:32.95
it was a car
payment, it was buying gas,
00:26:32.99\00:26:34.56
it was buying food,
is things take care of.
00:26:34.59\00:26:36.76
And then when
everything is seemed like it's
00:26:36.79\00:26:38.66
you've given
about all you can give,
00:26:38.69\00:26:40.50
then that's when the brother
shows up and says, "I need."
00:26:40.53\00:26:44.03
And you sometime you
think you told about fatigue,
00:26:44.07\00:26:46.60
sometime you thought is,
00:26:46.63\00:26:47.97
"Hey, wait a
minute, what about me?"
00:26:48.00\00:26:49.57
You know, and so, you know,
we take it to God in prayer
00:26:49.60\00:26:52.41
and we claim these promises.
00:26:52.44\00:26:53.78
Our lesson begins
with this passage.
00:26:53.81\00:26:55.28
I think it's really good.
00:26:55.31\00:26:57.38
Have your Bible just
turn to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
00:26:57.41\00:27:01.92
2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
00:27:01.95\00:27:04.79
This is one that you
read over and over and over
00:27:04.82\00:27:07.72
but there's something to it
00:27:07.76\00:27:09.16
and I think we
really need to look at,
00:27:09.19\00:27:11.53
you know, sit here
today, "He which soweth," what?
00:27:11.56\00:27:14.86
How you sow?
00:27:14.90\00:27:16.23
"Sow sparingly
shall also reap sparingly,
00:27:16.26\00:27:19.03
he which soweth
bountifully shall reap" what?
00:27:19.07\00:27:21.80
"Also bountifully."
00:27:21.84\00:27:23.17
This is a real promise of
God, you're gonna be stingy,
00:27:23.20\00:27:25.91
you're not gonna get much back,
if you're gonna be liberal,
00:27:25.94\00:27:28.78
you're gonna get
some things back.
00:27:28.81\00:27:30.18
You don't give
just for that reason.
00:27:30.21\00:27:32.38
You do it from the right reason.
00:27:32.41\00:27:34.32
You know, we do right.
00:27:34.35\00:27:35.95
I preached a
sermon long time ago,
00:27:35.98\00:27:37.32
do right because it's right.
00:27:37.35\00:27:39.72
You know, the right motivation,
certainly of the heart.
00:27:39.75\00:27:42.22
But God makes it
very, very clear that
00:27:42.26\00:27:44.06
if we're willing to
give, we're willing to help,
00:27:44.09\00:27:46.36
He's gonna meet
all of our needs.
00:27:46.39\00:27:48.46
That's why we don't
need to worry so much
00:27:48.50\00:27:49.96
like if someone
was reading there,
00:27:50.00\00:27:51.70
it was Matthew 6,
00:27:51.73\00:27:53.37
you know, "If you take
no thought for the morrow,
00:27:53.40\00:27:55.24
for the morrow shall
take thought of itself.
00:27:55.27\00:27:56.81
Sufficient unto the
day is evil thereof."
00:27:56.84\00:27:58.81
The King James.
00:27:58.84\00:28:00.18
That's very interesting,
we don't worry about it
00:28:00.21\00:28:01.54
because we put our care
and trust in Jesus Christ.
00:28:01.58\00:28:04.45
Verse 7 says, "So let him give."
00:28:04.48\00:28:07.58
This is what,
"Let him give," what?
00:28:07.62\00:28:08.95
"Not grudgingly,
or of necessity."
00:28:08.98\00:28:11.12
I thought that's
the interesting word
00:28:11.15\00:28:12.49
is necessity.
00:28:12.52\00:28:14.32
That means constraint.
00:28:14.36\00:28:15.89
Don't feel like you're
gonna have to, you just,
00:28:15.92\00:28:18.26
God wants to scuffed
up because He loves what?
00:28:18.29\00:28:20.56
Cheerful giver. Cheerful giver.
00:28:20.60\00:28:21.93
That's the bottom line,
00:28:21.96\00:28:23.30
it was most people
understand of this passage,
00:28:23.33\00:28:25.17
"God loves a cheerful giver."
00:28:25.20\00:28:27.57
Now that man, what
does that mean cheerful?
00:28:27.60\00:28:30.21
There have been times
I've given, I'm not cheerful.
00:28:30.24\00:28:35.11
Nobody is gonna get that,
00:28:35.14\00:28:36.48
they're gonna say,
"What do you mean?"
00:28:36.51\00:28:37.85
It's time to be
honest, there's times,
00:28:37.88\00:28:40.28
you know, that maybe
not so cheerful about maybe
00:28:40.32\00:28:42.45
'cause I didn't like the
situation and what it was.
00:28:42.48\00:28:44.55
But the Bible says we need
to be cheerful in our what?
00:28:44.59\00:28:47.16
In our giving.
00:28:47.19\00:28:48.52
So it's a lesson
to be learned here.
00:28:48.56\00:28:50.46
And I thought,
simply cheerful here
00:28:50.49\00:28:52.36
means I guess in
a Greek is willing,
00:28:52.39\00:28:55.16
I need to be willing to give.
00:28:55.20\00:28:57.30
I have to want to give.
00:28:57.33\00:28:58.67
I'm happy when I give.
00:28:58.70\00:29:01.27
Another one is
marry, we need to be married
00:29:01.30\00:29:03.64
when I give and
translations aside that,
00:29:03.67\00:29:06.61
I didn't know how to take this
00:29:06.64\00:29:07.98
when pastor
said, "Be hilarious."
00:29:08.01\00:29:09.81
Be hilarious when you give.
00:29:09.84\00:29:11.31
Now I said I've
never been hilarious.
00:29:11.35\00:29:13.52
I've been happy, I've
been thankful to give,
00:29:13.55\00:29:16.85
I've been willing to give.
00:29:16.89\00:29:18.35
But there's a new word for me.
00:29:18.39\00:29:20.16
I'm not sure how
I act that one out
00:29:20.19\00:29:22.12
but in my heart,
00:29:22.16\00:29:23.49
hilarious
because I'm willing to,
00:29:23.53\00:29:25.06
right, by the grace
of God help somebody
00:29:25.09\00:29:27.70
for the cause of Christ.
00:29:27.73\00:29:29.53
Okay, well, we
better get on with that one.
00:29:29.56\00:29:32.13
We know that God
is generous, don't we?
00:29:32.17\00:29:34.50
Amen. He's so generous, so good.
00:29:34.54\00:29:36.40
I mean, Calvary, prove that,
you know, He gave His only Son.
00:29:36.44\00:29:39.37
Jesus died for us.
00:29:39.41\00:29:40.74
And because of His death,
His burial, His resurrection,
00:29:40.78\00:29:44.38
shouldn't I be happy to,
00:29:44.41\00:29:45.75
shouldn't I be willing to
give God gave His only Son,
00:29:45.78\00:29:49.82
and that we should
be willing to give.
00:29:49.85\00:29:51.35
So I look at generosity.
00:29:51.39\00:29:55.76
Whoever assigned this
to me knew I needed it.
00:29:55.79\00:30:00.70
I needed it,
00:30:00.73\00:30:02.06
you know, because
generosity is an attitude.
00:30:02.10\00:30:04.40
Yes. You know, the attitude.
00:30:04.43\00:30:06.63
It's our attitude toward God.
00:30:06.67\00:30:08.57
It's our attitude
toward each other.
00:30:08.60\00:30:11.94
It's our
attitude toward the world,
00:30:11.97\00:30:13.98
the attitude toward the poor,
00:30:14.01\00:30:15.48
the attitude
those who are in need.
00:30:15.51\00:30:19.48
Generosity challenges self.
00:30:19.51\00:30:23.89
It's a dual, it's a knockdown,
00:30:23.92\00:30:26.19
drag out when
you think about here.
00:30:26.22\00:30:27.72
This is what is it?
00:30:27.76\00:30:29.09
It is, it challenges self
and one's going to win out.
00:30:29.12\00:30:33.23
One's going to win.
00:30:33.26\00:30:34.60
I think I'm faithful God did
00:30:34.63\00:30:35.96
what tithes and
offerings so on so forth.
00:30:36.00\00:30:37.33
It's challenge for some people,
00:30:37.37\00:30:38.70
but it's what
someone's going to win.
00:30:38.73\00:30:40.47
Selfishness is
going to take priority,
00:30:40.50\00:30:42.60
or we're going to submit
00:30:42.64\00:30:44.07
and let self dies
as we look at Jesus.
00:30:44.11\00:30:46.51
Deuteronomy 8:18.
00:30:46.54\00:30:47.88
Just quickly jot it
down, Deuteronomy 8:18.
00:30:47.91\00:30:51.01
It says, "Thou shalt remember."
00:30:51.05\00:30:52.85
So let's go back
to the beginning.
00:30:52.88\00:30:54.22
"Thou shalt remember," whom?
00:30:54.25\00:30:55.98
"The Lord thy God for it
is he which giveth," what?
00:30:56.02\00:30:59.95
Power.
00:30:59.99\00:31:01.32
"He giveth power to get wealth."
00:31:01.36\00:31:03.43
That's right.
00:31:03.46\00:31:04.79
So number one, I own
nothing, I have nothing,
00:31:04.83\00:31:06.16
everything I have
this 'cause God says,
00:31:06.19\00:31:08.93
He's loaned it to me.
00:31:08.96\00:31:10.37
And He expects a little interest
00:31:10.40\00:31:11.80
when right when He comes back.
00:31:11.83\00:31:13.37
So Review and Herald,
00:31:13.40\00:31:15.17
5 and 15 1900s has this to say,
00:31:15.20\00:31:18.61
"It were better
not to give at all
00:31:18.64\00:31:21.11
than to give grudgingly."
00:31:21.14\00:31:23.58
There'll be some
that will take that,
00:31:23.61\00:31:24.95
but grudgingly is not pleasing
in the sight of God either.
00:31:24.98\00:31:27.02
So God's not going to accept it.
00:31:27.05\00:31:28.45
But it says, "It were
better not to give at all
00:31:28.48\00:31:30.79
than to give grudgingly,
00:31:30.82\00:31:32.52
for if we impart our means
00:31:32.55\00:31:34.42
when we have not the spirit
00:31:34.46\00:31:37.36
to give freely, we mock God."
00:31:37.39\00:31:42.13
Who's big enough to mock God?
00:31:42.16\00:31:43.67
Somebody might think
you're big enough to mock God.
00:31:43.70\00:31:45.60
You're not big
enough to tangle with God.
00:31:45.63\00:31:47.17
I'm not big enough
to tangle with God.
00:31:47.20\00:31:49.17
We mock God.
00:31:49.20\00:31:50.54
Who would have
the audacity to say,
00:31:50.57\00:31:51.91
"Well, I'm gonna
mock God to His face."
00:31:51.94\00:31:53.78
But it says in
the things that we do,
00:31:53.81\00:31:56.21
how we conduct our life,
00:31:56.24\00:31:57.58
and just this thing
called just giving generosity,
00:31:57.61\00:32:01.75
that we better be careful
00:32:01.78\00:32:03.12
that we don't mock God
is kind of interesting here.
00:32:03.15\00:32:06.82
He said, "Let us
bear in mind," reading on,
00:32:06.86\00:32:08.82
"that we are
dealing with One upon whom
00:32:08.86\00:32:11.29
we depend for every blessing."
00:32:11.33\00:32:14.26
Don't you love that?
00:32:14.30\00:32:15.63
"One who reads every
thought of the heart,
00:32:15.66\00:32:18.07
every purpose of the mind."
00:32:18.10\00:32:20.64
So we can't just give and
we, you know, giving grudgingly,
00:32:20.67\00:32:22.97
and we might be tight,
we don't want to do it.
00:32:23.00\00:32:25.47
It's marked down the
way we gave from the heart.
00:32:25.51\00:32:27.98
And, you know, and again,
00:32:28.01\00:32:29.34
if we're having
trouble with that,
00:32:29.38\00:32:30.71
wouldn't it be
nice if we take it
00:32:30.75\00:32:32.08
to the Lord in prayer,
and say, "Lord, I'm selfish.
00:32:32.11\00:32:35.35
I don't like to give.
00:32:35.38\00:32:36.99
I'm not hilarious about it.
00:32:37.02\00:32:38.35
I'm not beside myself
when I give but I want to be."
00:32:38.39\00:32:41.22
I mean, that's the
way that I've learned
00:32:41.26\00:32:42.59
through years is this,
00:32:42.62\00:32:43.99
admitted to God talk about
00:32:44.03\00:32:45.46
just like I'm
talking about right now,
00:32:45.49\00:32:47.10
and give it to God and say,
but I know what the Bible says.
00:32:47.13\00:32:49.86
And that's the way
I want my life to be.
00:32:49.90\00:32:51.53
So I give it to you and
God can change that for sure.
00:32:51.57\00:32:54.07
Psalms 112:5, the Bible says.
00:32:54.10\00:32:56.91
Psalms 112:5,
00:32:56.94\00:32:58.27
that's in the New
King James Version,
00:32:58.31\00:33:00.98
I said, "God will come to those
00:33:01.01\00:33:02.88
who are generous
and lend freely."
00:33:02.91\00:33:07.82
Boy, that's another
one that gets challenged.
00:33:07.85\00:33:09.58
Yeah.
00:33:09.62\00:33:10.95
You know, so I may
be a little short today.
00:33:10.99\00:33:12.32
So I may come to
somebody on the panel and say,
00:33:12.35\00:33:13.69
"I need a loan."
00:33:13.72\00:33:15.06
Somebody's gonna lend to me.
00:33:15.09\00:33:16.42
You'll get that tomorrow.
00:33:16.46\00:33:17.79
Notice, "God will come
to those who are generous
00:33:17.83\00:33:20.76
and lend freely, who conduct
their affairs with justice."
00:33:20.80\00:33:26.30
So naturally you
want to lend to those who,
00:33:26.33\00:33:27.70
you know, can
certainly pay back.
00:33:27.74\00:33:29.64
Psalms 24:1 and
certainly you want to get
00:33:29.67\00:33:31.91
to those may who really
need you don't want it back.
00:33:31.94\00:33:34.28
Says, "The earth is the Lord's
and the fullness thereof."
00:33:34.31\00:33:37.91
Who's it, the earth,
everything belongs to Him.
00:33:37.95\00:33:39.51
So always goes back,
no matter what we do.
00:33:39.55\00:33:41.38
There's nothing as ours.
00:33:41.42\00:33:42.75
God's loaned it to us and
see, my grandpa always said
00:33:42.78\00:33:45.09
when he gave me the
shovel and the corn van,
00:33:45.12\00:33:46.92
"Here, Kenny, here's a shovel.
00:33:46.96\00:33:48.29
Now let's see how
you're gonna act?"
00:33:48.32\00:33:51.49
Yeah, see how you're
gonna act, he's gonna act good,
00:33:51.53\00:33:53.33
you're gonna
shovel and you do well.
00:33:53.36\00:33:54.70
So God loans His
things and then He says,
00:33:54.73\00:33:56.53
"Let me see how you
gonna act with these things.
00:33:56.56\00:33:57.93
Are you gonna be
selfish with them?"
00:33:57.97\00:33:59.53
It cause your ruin,
00:33:59.57\00:34:00.90
it cause you to
miss out on heaven.
00:34:00.94\00:34:02.40
'Cause I wish more, if you
have more time everybody does.
00:34:02.44\00:34:05.51
But you have a real generosity,
00:34:05.54\00:34:07.74
and then you have
a false generosity.
00:34:07.78\00:34:11.15
And they're hard to distinguish
00:34:11.18\00:34:12.51
unless you go to the Word of God
00:34:12.55\00:34:13.88
and you can do that.
00:34:13.92\00:34:15.25
I don't think we
don't have time to do that.
00:34:15.28\00:34:16.62
But I'll give you the
passage in Matthew Chapter 6.
00:34:16.65\00:34:19.15
You can go, verse,
read verses 1 and 2
00:34:19.19\00:34:21.59
in Matthew 6:3-4.
00:34:21.62\00:34:24.76
And one of them talks
about the genuine one,
00:34:24.79\00:34:27.30
right heart that's right,
00:34:27.33\00:34:28.66
and that's giving
to the cause of Christ
00:34:28.70\00:34:30.73
and to our mankind, and
the other is a counterfeit.
00:34:30.77\00:34:34.60
You remember how, when we give,
00:34:34.64\00:34:37.14
we want everybody to
know that we're giving.
00:34:37.17\00:34:39.87
We wanna make a big sound
00:34:39.91\00:34:41.28
when it goes in
the offering plate.
00:34:41.31\00:34:44.01
We want everybody to know.
00:34:44.05\00:34:45.38
Instead Bible says what?
00:34:45.41\00:34:46.75
Don't let your right hand know
what your left hand is doing.
00:34:46.78\00:34:49.05
There's things
that need to be done.
00:34:49.08\00:34:50.42
But we don't need to
be shouting and blowing
00:34:50.45\00:34:51.79
the trumpet and making
a lot of noise with it.
00:34:51.82\00:34:54.12
But there's something
that needs to be done.
00:34:54.16\00:34:56.02
Desire of Ages 312, last thing,
says, "By the life we live."
00:34:56.06\00:35:00.46
Notice this,
"By the life we live
00:35:00.50\00:35:02.00
through the grace of
Christ the character is formed,
00:35:02.03\00:35:05.63
either generous or selfish."
00:35:05.67\00:35:09.80
Well done.
00:35:09.84\00:35:11.17
Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny.
00:35:11.21\00:35:12.61
I was thinking back
to the very beginning
00:35:12.64\00:35:14.48
and the prayer and
asking God to cut our heart
00:35:14.51\00:35:17.11
by His Word, and
the powerful spirit.
00:35:17.15\00:35:19.81
And He's done that in
my own heart right now
00:35:19.85\00:35:22.58
as we're sitting on the panel,
00:35:22.62\00:35:24.19
about generosity,
about compassion, fatigue,
00:35:24.22\00:35:26.89
about ordering our priorities.
00:35:26.92\00:35:28.96
So praise God for His Word.
00:35:28.99\00:35:31.69
I have Wednesday,
which is Peacemaking.
00:35:31.73\00:35:35.83
Oh, wow.
00:35:35.86\00:35:37.20
I'm excited about this topic.
00:35:37.23\00:35:38.57
Thank you,
Shelley, for this topic.
00:35:38.60\00:35:40.47
Peacemaking.
00:35:40.50\00:35:42.30
We know that sin is
what brings division.
00:35:42.34\00:35:45.17
Sin brings separation.
00:35:45.21\00:35:47.24
I think about Pastor
Ryan in Genesis Chapter 3,
00:35:47.28\00:35:50.18
there was perfect
harmony before that point.
00:35:50.21\00:35:52.95
And Adam and Eve
would walk with God
00:35:52.98\00:35:54.88
in the cool of the day,
00:35:54.92\00:35:56.25
but sin brought fear and guilt,
00:35:56.28\00:35:57.85
sin brought separation
from them and the Father.
00:35:57.89\00:36:02.12
But it didn't
begin on this earth,
00:36:02.16\00:36:03.49
it began in heaven,
00:36:03.53\00:36:04.86
that separation and that strife.
00:36:04.89\00:36:07.26
Ezekiel 28:15-16.
00:36:07.30\00:36:10.70
Lucifer, this is
speaking of Lucifer in heaven,
00:36:10.73\00:36:13.74
the covering cherub.
00:36:13.77\00:36:15.44
Ezekiel 28:15-16.
00:36:15.47\00:36:17.71
"You were perfect in your ways
from the day you were created,
00:36:17.74\00:36:20.81
till iniquity was found in you.
00:36:20.84\00:36:23.91
By the abundance
of your trading..."
00:36:23.95\00:36:26.72
That word means to slander
00:36:26.75\00:36:28.18
or to go about
trading in goods or words.
00:36:28.22\00:36:33.02
"'By the
abundance of your trading
00:36:33.05\00:36:34.72
you became filled
with violence within,
00:36:34.76\00:36:36.73
and you sinned and
therefore I cast you
00:36:36.76\00:36:38.73
as a profane thing out
of the mountain of God."
00:36:38.76\00:36:42.23
And we know Revelation 12:7-8,
"War broke out in heaven,
00:36:42.26\00:36:46.80
Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon,"
00:36:46.84\00:36:49.30
that meaning Satan,
00:36:49.34\00:36:50.71
"and he fought and
they did not prevail."
00:36:50.74\00:36:52.51
So this
conflict, this separation,
00:36:52.54\00:36:55.88
became originated
with sin in heaven,
00:36:55.91\00:37:01.08
with Adam and Eve
here on this earth,
00:37:01.12\00:37:03.25
and God sent
Jesus to reconcile us
00:37:03.28\00:37:07.49
back to the Father.
00:37:07.52\00:37:09.59
2 Corinthians 5:18-19.
00:37:09.62\00:37:12.79
Some of my favorite
passages of Scripture,
00:37:12.83\00:37:15.36
2 Corinthians 5.
00:37:15.40\00:37:17.20
"Now all things are of God,
00:37:17.23\00:37:18.57
who has reconciled us to Himself
00:37:18.60\00:37:21.87
through Jesus Christ."
00:37:21.90\00:37:23.24
Because God knew
there was a great chasm
00:37:23.27\00:37:24.81
and gulf between us
and God because of our sin.
00:37:24.84\00:37:29.64
"And He sent Jesus to reconcile.
00:37:29.68\00:37:32.05
Has given to us the
ministry of reconciliation,
00:37:32.08\00:37:35.48
that is, that God was in Christ
00:37:35.52\00:37:38.22
reconciling the
world to Himself,
00:37:38.25\00:37:40.86
not imputing their
trespasses to them,
00:37:40.89\00:37:43.06
and has committed to us
the word of reconciliation."
00:37:43.09\00:37:47.13
Verse 21, "For He made Him,
00:37:47.16\00:37:50.27
God made Jesus who knew
no sin to be sin for us,
00:37:50.30\00:37:55.44
that we might
00:37:55.47\00:37:56.81
become the
righteousness of God in Him."
00:37:56.84\00:37:59.74
That's the double imputation,
I always like to call it
00:37:59.77\00:38:03.01
where my sin was
credited to Jesus
00:38:03.04\00:38:07.28
and His righteousness
was credited to my account.
00:38:07.32\00:38:11.55
We are called as
Christians to proclaim peace,
00:38:11.59\00:38:15.19
and to live peace.
00:38:15.22\00:38:17.33
We're gonna
spend most of our time
00:38:17.36\00:38:18.69
on how to live peace,
00:38:18.73\00:38:20.20
but first we wanna talk about
proclaiming peace, Isaiah 52.
00:38:20.23\00:38:24.53
Isaiah Chapter 52,
00:38:24.57\00:38:26.17
we are called to
proclaim the gospel of peace,
00:38:26.20\00:38:29.90
"How beautiful
upon the mountains
00:38:29.94\00:38:31.94
are the feet of Him
who brings good news."
00:38:31.97\00:38:35.04
And what is that good
news, "Who proclaims peace,
00:38:35.08\00:38:38.75
who brings good
tidings of good things,
00:38:38.78\00:38:41.98
who proclaims salvation,
00:38:42.02\00:38:44.22
who says to Zion,
'Your God reigns!'"
00:38:44.25\00:38:47.12
So we are called to
proclaim the gospel of peace.
00:38:47.16\00:38:51.09
Amen.
00:38:51.13\00:38:52.46
The gospel of salvation
to a lost and dying world,
00:38:52.49\00:38:55.96
but we are also not
only called to proclaim it,
00:38:56.00\00:38:58.30
we're called to
live the gospel of peace.
00:38:58.33\00:39:00.57
That's right.
00:39:00.60\00:39:01.94
Turn with me to Matthew 5:9.
00:39:01.97\00:39:04.67
This is the seventh beatitude,
00:39:04.71\00:39:06.74
this is Jesus'
Sermon on the Mount
00:39:06.78\00:39:08.21
and a few weeks ago,
00:39:08.24\00:39:09.58
Shelley, I think it
was had the beatitudes
00:39:09.61\00:39:11.51
and did a wonderful job.
00:39:11.55\00:39:13.25
Matthew 5:9.
00:39:13.28\00:39:15.48
"Blessed are the peacemakers,
00:39:15.52\00:39:18.85
for they shall be
called the sons of God."
00:39:18.89\00:39:22.79
This beatitude is
really a paradox as it were,
00:39:22.82\00:39:26.03
as citizens of
the kingdom of heaven
00:39:26.06\00:39:29.46
we are called to
pursue peace, Pastor Kenny.
00:39:29.50\00:39:31.67
Absolutely.
00:39:31.70\00:39:33.03
But our peaceful
overtures will often be answered
00:39:33.07\00:39:35.50
with hatred and violence
00:39:35.54\00:39:36.91
as we see in the
following beatitudes.
00:39:36.94\00:39:40.38
And making peace is
not a passive activity.
00:39:40.41\00:39:45.11
We can think,
"Well, if I'm a peacemaker,
00:39:45.15\00:39:47.62
that means I just roll
over and I try to, okay,
00:39:47.65\00:39:51.45
what is really a peacemaker."
00:39:51.49\00:39:53.86
It takes courage
to confront an issue,
00:39:53.89\00:39:56.66
when you rather
walk the other way.
00:39:56.69\00:39:59.43
Sometimes
peacemaking requires us
00:39:59.46\00:40:02.00
to take a difficult stand.
00:40:02.03\00:40:04.33
Making peace is a pursuit,
it involves action, not apathy.
00:40:04.37\00:40:10.01
The word for peacemakers
00:40:10.04\00:40:11.37
comes from two Greek
words, shalom, peace.
00:40:11.41\00:40:14.81
And makers meaning to do or
to make, it involves energy.
00:40:14.84\00:40:20.98
It's interesting to
me Jesus didn't say,
00:40:21.02\00:40:22.98
blessed are the
peacewishers or the peacehelpers
00:40:23.02\00:40:26.96
or the peacedreamers
or the peacelovers.
00:40:26.99\00:40:30.86
He said, "Blessed
are the peacemakers,"
00:40:30.89\00:40:33.53
because
peacemaking is gonna take work,
00:40:33.56\00:40:37.50
and they are
called the Sons of God.
00:40:37.53\00:40:40.10
Why the Sons of God?
00:40:40.14\00:40:41.64
Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
00:40:41.67\00:40:43.94
Isaiah 9:6, "God
is the God of peace."
00:40:43.97\00:40:49.14
Romans 15:33, "Now may
the God of peace be with you."
00:40:49.18\00:40:53.48
1 Thessalonians 5:23,
00:40:53.52\00:40:55.35
"May the God of
peace sanctify you wholly."
00:40:55.38\00:40:58.79
There's different
aspects to peacemaking,
00:40:58.82\00:41:02.12
and I wanna discuss
three in my remaining time.
00:41:02.16\00:41:05.09
We're gonna look
at peace with God,
00:41:05.13\00:41:06.83
that's number
one, peace with others,
00:41:06.86\00:41:10.50
that's number
two, and then peace
00:41:10.53\00:41:12.50
with our brothers and
sisters in the church.
00:41:12.53\00:41:16.20
So let's look at peace with God.
00:41:16.24\00:41:18.34
There's two
aspects to peace with God.
00:41:18.37\00:41:20.11
First is my peace
with God, me, coming back,
00:41:20.14\00:41:24.35
reconciling as it
were, into right relationship
00:41:24.38\00:41:27.88
with God, Romans 5:1,
00:41:27.92\00:41:29.75
"Since we've been
justified by faith,
00:41:29.78\00:41:32.52
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:41:32.55\00:41:36.99
So Jesus is the
one who justifies us,
00:41:37.03\00:41:39.89
and He's the one who
brings that peace with us.
00:41:39.93\00:41:42.66
And God reconciles
us back to the Father.
00:41:42.70\00:41:46.63
But also we're called to
make to call other people
00:41:46.67\00:41:52.07
to make peace with God.
00:41:52.11\00:41:53.44
So not only are we to
make our own peace with God,
00:41:53.48\00:41:56.34
and we to be
reconciled back to Him,
00:41:56.38\00:41:58.11
we're called to
have other people
00:41:58.15\00:42:00.52
be reconciled back to God.
00:42:00.55\00:42:02.48
2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then,
we are ambassadors for Christ,
00:42:02.52\00:42:07.59
as though God were
pleading through us,
00:42:07.62\00:42:10.79
we implore you
on Christ's behalf,
00:42:10.83\00:42:13.29
be reconciled to God."
00:42:13.33\00:42:15.10
So God is the one
who does the reconciling.
00:42:15.13\00:42:17.40
We can't
reconcile anybody with God.
00:42:17.43\00:42:19.83
But we can ask, we
can offer the gospel,
00:42:19.87\00:42:23.57
we can proclaim that
message of peace and salvation,
00:42:23.61\00:42:27.74
and encourage other
people to make a choice,
00:42:27.78\00:42:31.81
to allow themselves to
be reconciled back to God.
00:42:31.85\00:42:35.78
The second aspect to peacemaking
00:42:35.82\00:42:37.79
is peace with others.
00:42:37.82\00:42:39.62
We had peace with God
and now peace with others.
00:42:39.65\00:42:42.62
Let's look at Hebrews 12:14.
00:42:42.66\00:42:46.26
Hebrews 12:14, the Bible says,
"Pursue peace with all people,
00:42:46.29\00:42:50.27
and holiness,
00:42:50.30\00:42:52.33
without which no
one shall see the Lord."
00:42:52.37\00:42:54.47
In other words,
00:42:54.50\00:42:55.84
we're to make every effort
to live in peace with all men.
00:42:55.87\00:42:59.91
Yes.
00:42:59.94\00:43:01.28
You know, Pastor
Kenny, few years ago,
00:43:01.31\00:43:04.85
I was doing my dishes.
00:43:04.88\00:43:07.58
And I was working on
00:43:07.62\00:43:08.95
memorizing this
particular scripture.
00:43:08.98\00:43:10.45
So I had it written
on a three by five card
00:43:10.49\00:43:12.39
and it was up above the sink
00:43:12.42\00:43:13.76
and, you know,
working on memorizing it,
00:43:13.79\00:43:15.86
and I was praying pursue peace
with all people and holiness,
00:43:15.89\00:43:19.26
without which no
one shall see God.
00:43:19.29\00:43:21.36
Thinking, thank you, Jesus,
00:43:21.40\00:43:23.20
and I'm walking in peace
with my brothers and sisters.
00:43:23.23\00:43:26.87
And He said, "No, you're not."
00:43:26.90\00:43:28.87
Yep.
00:43:28.90\00:43:30.67
I'm not.
00:43:30.71\00:43:32.04
And He brought to
mind a certain person
00:43:32.07\00:43:35.04
that I had angst
against but that,
00:43:35.08\00:43:38.31
I didn't really
even know about it.
00:43:38.35\00:43:39.75
It's so deeply buried,
you don't really process it.
00:43:39.78\00:43:42.45
And I said, "God, thank
You for showing me my heart.
00:43:42.48\00:43:46.19
And will You work to
remove that root of bitterness
00:43:46.22\00:43:50.46
from my life
against that person."
00:43:50.49\00:43:52.93
So we are
called to walk in peace
00:43:52.96\00:43:56.13
with our brothers and sisters.
00:43:56.16\00:43:58.20
Romans 12:18, Paul
says, "If it is possible,
00:43:58.23\00:44:01.47
as much as depends in you."
00:44:01.50\00:44:03.24
Or King James says,
"As much as lieth in you,
00:44:03.27\00:44:06.41
live peaceably with all men."
00:44:06.44\00:44:08.51
Amen.
00:44:08.54\00:44:09.88
Now it's interesting to me,
it says, "If it is possible,"
00:44:09.91\00:44:12.25
so that means there are
times it is not possible.
00:44:12.28\00:44:16.08
But if it is, we are
called to walk in peace
00:44:16.12\00:44:19.55
with our brothers and sisters.
00:44:19.59\00:44:21.26
Matthew 5:43-48,
00:44:21.29\00:44:23.46
part of the Sermon on the Mount,
00:44:23.49\00:44:25.26
Jesus says, "Don't just
love your friends and neighbors,
00:44:25.29\00:44:29.63
and hate your enemies.
00:44:29.66\00:44:31.00
We are called
to love our enemies
00:44:31.03\00:44:33.90
and to do good to
those who spitefully use us
00:44:33.94\00:44:37.44
or to those who persecute us."
00:44:37.47\00:44:39.41
And the third
aspect of peacemaking
00:44:39.44\00:44:41.54
is we are
called to walk in peace
00:44:41.58\00:44:43.71
with our brothers and
sisters in the church.
00:44:43.75\00:44:46.35
Not just walk in peace
with people in general,
00:44:46.38\00:44:49.45
but with our
brothers and sisters
00:44:49.48\00:44:50.82
in the church.
00:44:50.85\00:44:52.19
1 Peter 3:8,
00:44:52.22\00:44:53.56
"Finally, all of
you be of one mind,
00:44:53.59\00:44:56.49
having
compassion for one another,
00:44:56.52\00:44:59.43
love as brothers,
00:44:59.46\00:45:01.66
be tenderhearted, be courteous."
00:45:01.70\00:45:05.13
God reconciles us by
the power of the Spirit
00:45:05.17\00:45:07.74
and the blood of
Jesus back to Him.
00:45:07.77\00:45:10.77
And He calls us to walk in peace
00:45:10.81\00:45:14.18
with our brothers and
sisters to be an active agent,
00:45:14.21\00:45:18.11
as it were,
00:45:18.15\00:45:19.48
in the peacemaking
process with other people.
00:45:19.51\00:45:22.18
Amen. Wow, amen.
00:45:22.22\00:45:23.69
Praise God.
00:45:23.72\00:45:25.19
We gonna move on
to Thursday's lesson,
00:45:25.22\00:45:27.42
it's entitled "A
voice for the Voiceless."
00:45:27.46\00:45:30.79
And just wanna start with
what the lesson begins with,
00:45:30.83\00:45:34.30
and that is the
wisest man ever created.
00:45:34.33\00:45:37.80
Solomon, he would
write these words.
00:45:37.83\00:45:41.27
This is found in
Ecclesiastes 3:7,
00:45:41.30\00:45:45.11
and I'm at all looking
at the latter part of this,
00:45:45.14\00:45:46.88
he says, "There's a
time to keep the silence
00:45:46.91\00:45:50.55
and a time to speak."
00:45:50.58\00:45:53.25
And I agree with that
100%, I think he's right on key.
00:45:53.28\00:45:57.75
And the lesson brings out that,
00:45:57.79\00:45:59.55
you know, finding this balance
is not simple for any of us.
00:45:59.59\00:46:04.73
However, when it comes to
speaking for the oppressed,
00:46:04.76\00:46:08.03
and being a voice
for the voiceless,
00:46:08.06\00:46:10.70
and seeking to
overcome evil with good,
00:46:10.73\00:46:13.20
it is possible that as a church,
00:46:13.23\00:46:17.14
we have erred, and on
the side of too much silence
00:46:17.17\00:46:20.68
when our voice
should have been heard.
00:46:20.71\00:46:22.58
And, you know, I think
that, you know, it's all of us,
00:46:22.61\00:46:25.21
I think I'm guilty of that,
00:46:25.25\00:46:26.58
every single one of
us are guilty of that.
00:46:26.61\00:46:27.95
And I think we
have to recognize that
00:46:27.98\00:46:29.98
in this particular
time that we're living in,
00:46:30.02\00:46:32.05
we need to speak up,
we need to defend those
00:46:32.09\00:46:34.62
that God has
called us to defend.
00:46:34.66\00:46:36.52
We often talk
about being like Jesus,
00:46:36.56\00:46:38.86
you know, walking as He
walked, and living as He lived,
00:46:38.89\00:46:42.46
and all those
things are true and great.
00:46:42.50\00:46:44.40
But however, God also
needs us to be His mouthpiece,
00:46:44.43\00:46:48.60
speaking up on
behalf of His people
00:46:48.64\00:46:50.71
in need of defense.
00:46:50.74\00:46:52.31
In fact, we see God's
heart of this particular issue
00:46:52.34\00:46:55.58
shared with us
through Psalm Chapter 146.
00:46:55.61\00:46:58.41
If you would go with
me to Psalm 146:6-10,
00:46:58.45\00:47:03.42
and notice what
the Bible says here.
00:47:03.45\00:47:06.25
He starts by saying,
"Who made heaven and earth,
00:47:06.29\00:47:09.52
the sea, and
all that is in them,
00:47:09.56\00:47:13.23
who keeps truth forever,
00:47:13.26\00:47:15.76
who executes
justice for the oppressed,
00:47:15.80\00:47:19.70
who gives food for the hungry,
00:47:19.73\00:47:21.80
the Lord gives
freedom to the prisoners.
00:47:21.84\00:47:25.84
The Lord opens
the eyes of the blind,
00:47:25.87\00:47:28.71
the Lord raises
those who are bowed down,
00:47:28.74\00:47:31.05
the Lord loves the righteous,
00:47:31.08\00:47:33.55
the Lord watches
over the strangers,
00:47:33.58\00:47:35.82
He relieves the
fatherless and widow,
00:47:35.85\00:47:39.89
but the way of the
wicked He turns upside down.
00:47:39.92\00:47:43.53
The Lord shall reign
forever, your God, O Zion,
00:47:43.56\00:47:47.26
to all generations."
00:47:47.30\00:47:48.93
Amen.
00:47:48.96\00:47:50.30
You know, what
I'm thinking about.
00:47:50.33\00:47:53.10
My mind has been open
so much to the studies
00:47:53.13\00:47:55.37
because
oftentimes, we study God's Word
00:47:55.40\00:47:58.77
almost like through a tunnel,
00:47:58.81\00:48:00.14
what we become almost,
00:48:00.18\00:48:01.51
you know, totally
the tunnel vision,
00:48:01.54\00:48:02.91
we see certain
things that we want to see
00:48:02.94\00:48:04.95
but there's other things
that perhaps is standing out.
00:48:04.98\00:48:07.35
And it's the Bible is
obviously flooded with text
00:48:07.38\00:48:10.45
and scriptures on this subject
00:48:10.49\00:48:11.82
that I never
really considered before.
00:48:11.85\00:48:13.49
And one popular
passage that I have read often,
00:48:13.52\00:48:16.83
that I've never
really, I mean, I saw it,
00:48:16.86\00:48:19.46
you know, I knew it was there,
00:48:19.49\00:48:20.83
but I never really considered
in connection to this subject,
00:48:20.86\00:48:23.40
you know, being a
voice for the voiceless.
00:48:23.43\00:48:25.23
And that's Isaiah Chapter 58,
00:48:25.27\00:48:26.87
that powerful,
powerful chapter in Isaiah 58.
00:48:26.90\00:48:30.07
Let's go read
verses 1 through 10.
00:48:30.11\00:48:31.54
This is a
rather lengthy passage,
00:48:31.57\00:48:33.48
but I believe this is definitely
00:48:33.51\00:48:37.11
a much needed
read for all of us.
00:48:37.15\00:48:39.41
Now, this is that passage
where God begins with a plea
00:48:39.45\00:48:44.69
for His people to speak up.
00:48:44.72\00:48:46.59
And it's one of those pleas
that we often kind of overlook.
00:48:46.62\00:48:49.06
But notice what He says here,
He says, "Cry aloud, spare not,
00:48:49.09\00:48:53.36
lift up your
voice like a trumpet,
00:48:53.40\00:48:56.26
tell My people
their transgression,
00:48:56.30\00:48:59.23
and the house of
Jacob their sins."
00:48:59.27\00:49:01.30
I just wanna pause
there and clarify something
00:49:01.34\00:49:03.91
just for the record.
00:49:03.94\00:49:05.44
Obviously, we are to do
this, we are to be rebukers,
00:49:05.47\00:49:08.74
as Christ would have
done in a spirit of love
00:49:08.78\00:49:11.15
and a spirit of compassion,
not going to people in groups
00:49:11.18\00:49:14.15
or large groups
and pointing out,
00:49:14.18\00:49:15.58
you know, people's sin.
00:49:15.62\00:49:16.95
I've actually had
this done to me before,
00:49:16.99\00:49:18.92
and it's very, very,
00:49:18.95\00:49:20.32
it doesn't win
over anyone's heart.
00:49:20.36\00:49:22.09
But yet the Bible makes
it very, very clear that,
00:49:22.12\00:49:25.16
you know, there is a
time, there is a need,
00:49:25.19\00:49:26.96
and we are actually,
00:49:27.00\00:49:28.53
we are actually
commissioned by God,
00:49:28.56\00:49:30.03
you know, spare not, cry aloud,
00:49:30.07\00:49:32.50
lift up the voice,
00:49:32.53\00:49:33.87
show my people
their transgressions
00:49:33.90\00:49:35.24
in a biblical righteous
way, as God has called us.
00:49:35.27\00:49:38.31
And then He begins to
deliver somewhat of a rebuke
00:49:38.34\00:49:41.28
to those people who
again claim to be close to God,
00:49:41.31\00:49:44.78
claim to be, you know, fasting
00:49:44.81\00:49:47.65
and really following
the ritualistic practices.
00:49:47.68\00:49:50.15
But yet, you know, God
sends them the message.
00:49:50.19\00:49:52.12
Notice in verse 2, He
says, "Yet they seek Me daily,
00:49:52.15\00:49:55.86
His people and their sins.
00:49:55.89\00:49:58.59
And as a nation
that did righteousness,
00:49:58.63\00:50:03.06
and did not forsake
the ordinance of their God.
00:50:03.10\00:50:05.83
They ask of Me the
ordinances of justice,
00:50:05.87\00:50:09.37
they take delight
in approaching God.
00:50:09.40\00:50:12.27
'Why have we fasted,' they
say, 'and You have not seen?
00:50:12.31\00:50:15.91
Why have we afflicted our souls,
00:50:15.94\00:50:17.41
and You take no notice?'
00:50:17.45\00:50:19.35
'In fact, in the day of
your fast you find pleasure,
00:50:19.38\00:50:22.48
and exploit all your laborers.
00:50:22.52\00:50:26.96
Indeed you fast
for strife and debate,
00:50:26.99\00:50:30.26
and to strike with
the fist of wickedness.
00:50:30.29\00:50:32.76
You will not fast
as you do this day,
00:50:32.79\00:50:35.36
to make your
voice heard on high."
00:50:35.40\00:50:38.30
It goes on to say,
00:50:38.33\00:50:39.67
"Is it a fast
that I have chosen,
00:50:39.70\00:50:42.97
a day for a man
to afflict his soul?
00:50:43.00\00:50:45.64
Is it to bow down
his head like a bulrush,
00:50:45.67\00:50:48.58
and to spread out
sackcloth and ashes?
00:50:48.61\00:50:51.18
Would you call this a fast,
00:50:51.21\00:50:53.55
and an
acceptable day to the Lord?
00:50:53.58\00:50:56.05
'Is this not the
fast that I have chosen,
00:50:56.08\00:50:58.42
to loose the
bonds of wickedness,
00:50:58.45\00:51:00.62
to undo the heavy burdens,
00:51:00.66\00:51:03.73
to let the oppressed go free,
00:51:03.76\00:51:05.96
and that you break every yoke?
00:51:05.99\00:51:08.46
Is it not to share
your bread with the hungry,"
00:51:08.50\00:51:10.83
now he's pleading, He's saying,
00:51:10.87\00:51:12.20
"Is it not to share
your bread with the hunger,
00:51:12.23\00:51:14.04
and that you bring
to your house the poor
00:51:14.07\00:51:16.50
who are cast out,
when you see the naked,
00:51:16.54\00:51:18.84
that you cover him,
00:51:18.87\00:51:21.64
and hide not
yourself from your own flesh?"
00:51:21.68\00:51:24.91
He goes on to say,
00:51:24.95\00:51:26.28
"Then your light shall
break forth like the morning,
00:51:26.31\00:51:29.12
your healing shall
spring forth speedily,
00:51:29.15\00:51:31.45
and your righteousness
shall go before you,
00:51:31.49\00:51:33.52
the glory of the Lord
shall be your rear guard."
00:51:33.56\00:51:37.43
Amen.
00:51:37.46\00:51:38.79
You see, it goes on to
say, "Then you shall call,
00:51:38.83\00:51:40.16
and the Lord will
answer, and you shall cry,
00:51:40.20\00:51:42.20
and He will say, 'Here am I.'
00:51:42.23\00:51:43.87
And 'If you take away
the yoke from your midst,
00:51:43.90\00:51:47.20
the pointing of the
finger, and speaking wickedness,
00:51:47.24\00:51:50.54
if you extend
your soul to the hungry
00:51:50.57\00:51:53.88
and satisfy the afflicted soul,
00:51:53.91\00:51:55.98
then your light
shall dawn in the darkness,
00:51:56.01\00:51:58.35
and your darkness
shall be as the noonday.'
00:51:58.38\00:52:01.52
" It's a powerful
passage, when you consider.
00:52:01.55\00:52:03.15
Yes.
00:52:03.18\00:52:04.52
You know, God is
basically pleading
00:52:04.55\00:52:05.89
with His people saying, "I
hear you, I hear your calls.
00:52:05.92\00:52:08.46
But let me show you something
00:52:08.49\00:52:09.99
that you need to
pay attention to."
00:52:10.03\00:52:11.36
And that is,
there's people among you,
00:52:11.39\00:52:12.89
that's a need.
00:52:12.93\00:52:14.26
There's people
that are crying out,
00:52:14.30\00:52:15.63
they need, they need to be
fed, they need to be clothed,
00:52:15.66\00:52:17.87
they need the attention,
00:52:17.90\00:52:19.23
and you need to
come to their rescue,
00:52:19.27\00:52:20.80
you need to speak up for
them, you need to be a voice
00:52:20.84\00:52:23.37
for the voiceless, the prophets.
00:52:23.41\00:52:27.14
A call to
justice was never a path
00:52:27.18\00:52:29.94
of popularity by no means,
00:52:29.98\00:52:32.15
but motivated by
their commission from God,
00:52:32.18\00:52:34.62
understanding God's
passion for justice,
00:52:34.65\00:52:37.39
sympathizing with
the plight of the poor,
00:52:37.42\00:52:39.75
and oppressed
00:52:39.79\00:52:41.12
and seeking the
best for their society.
00:52:41.16\00:52:43.63
These prophets
dare to be a voice
00:52:43.66\00:52:46.96
for the voiceless in
their time, and place,
00:52:47.00\00:52:49.66
despite opposition,
discomfort and danger.
00:52:49.70\00:52:52.27
And we have a
little bit of insight
00:52:52.30\00:52:53.64
as to what type of
mentality these prophets
00:52:53.67\00:52:55.94
had when we go to 1 Peter 3:17,
00:52:55.97\00:52:59.34
very short, but very simple
00:52:59.37\00:53:01.08
and profound words
from Peter himself,
00:53:01.11\00:53:04.21
under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
00:53:04.25\00:53:05.78
He says in 1 Peter
3:17, "For it is better,
00:53:05.81\00:53:10.92
if it is the will of God,
00:53:10.95\00:53:13.15
to suffer for doing
good than for doing evil."
00:53:13.19\00:53:18.23
And, you know,
based on our understanding
00:53:18.26\00:53:20.50
of the gospel, and the call
to reflect Jesus to the world,
00:53:20.53\00:53:24.07
you know, I think of
the Seventh-day Adventist
00:53:24.10\00:53:27.27
standing on the
subject, when we consider,
00:53:27.30\00:53:29.80
you know, standing
up for the injustices
00:53:29.84\00:53:32.51
and those who are in need,
00:53:32.54\00:53:33.88
and those who
are being oppressed.
00:53:33.91\00:53:35.51
I find this in the lesson
00:53:35.54\00:53:37.01
and it's the
Seventh-day Adventist
00:53:37.05\00:53:38.58
official
statement on Global Poverty
00:53:38.61\00:53:40.75
from June 24, 2010.
00:53:40.78\00:53:42.12
I love the way they worded it.
00:53:42.15\00:53:43.49
And it says this,
"Seventh-day Adventist
00:53:43.52\00:53:45.72
believe that
actions to reduce poverty
00:53:45.75\00:53:48.02
and its attendant
injustices are an important
00:53:48.06\00:53:51.19
part of Christian
social responsibility.
00:53:51.23\00:53:54.63
The Bible clearly
reveals God's special interest
00:53:54.66\00:53:57.37
in the poor and His expectations
00:53:57.40\00:53:59.93
as to how His followers
should respond to those
00:53:59.97\00:54:02.47
who are unable to
care for themselves.
00:54:02.50\00:54:05.67
All human beings
bear the image of God
00:54:05.71\00:54:07.98
and are the
recipients of God's blessings.
00:54:08.01\00:54:12.01
In working with the poor,
00:54:12.05\00:54:13.38
we follow the example
and teaching of Jesus.
00:54:13.42\00:54:15.95
As a spiritual community,
00:54:15.98\00:54:17.62
Seventh-day Adventist
advocate justice for the poor
00:54:17.65\00:54:21.62
and 'speak up for
those who cannot speak
00:54:21.66\00:54:23.73
for themselves'
00:54:23.76\00:54:25.13
and against those who 'deprive
the poor of their rights.'
00:54:25.16\00:54:28.73
We participate with God
00:54:28.76\00:54:30.37
who 'secures
justice for the poor.'
00:54:30.40\00:54:34.47
" And I think if
you really wanted
00:54:34.50\00:54:35.84
to kind of put a
cap on all of this,
00:54:35.87\00:54:38.31
I found this wonderful quote
00:54:38.34\00:54:39.84
from Thoughts from the
Mount of Blessings, page 137.
00:54:39.87\00:54:43.28
Beautiful quote,
00:54:43.31\00:54:44.65
notice what
Mrs. White says here.
00:54:44.68\00:54:46.01
She says,
"Search heaven and earth,
00:54:46.05\00:54:48.88
and there is no truth
revealed more powerful
00:54:48.92\00:54:52.89
than that which is made manifest
00:54:52.92\00:54:55.29
in works of mercy to those
who need our sympathy and aid.
00:54:55.32\00:55:01.06
This is the truth
as it is in Jesus.
00:55:01.10\00:55:04.47
When those who
profess the name of Christ
00:55:04.50\00:55:07.17
shall practice the
principles of the golden rule,
00:55:07.20\00:55:11.01
that same power
will attend the gospel
00:55:11.04\00:55:14.34
as an apostolic times."
00:55:14.38\00:55:16.24
That's what I want to
be a reality in my life.
00:55:16.28\00:55:18.51
I know that Ryan
needs improvement.
00:55:18.55\00:55:20.25
And I know that Ryan
needs the Holy Spirit.
00:55:20.28\00:55:22.32
And I pray that for
each and every one of us
00:55:22.35\00:55:24.02
that we will be a voice indeed
for those who have no voice.
00:55:24.05\00:55:27.39
Amen.
00:55:27.42\00:55:28.76
Mercy, thank you so much.
00:55:28.79\00:55:30.13
What a powerful lesson.
00:55:30.16\00:55:32.06
Lesson number 12, To Love Mercy,
00:55:32.09\00:55:35.03
we know that in
Matthew 5 beatitudes,
00:55:35.06\00:55:38.73
Jesus said,
"Blessed are the merciful
00:55:38.77\00:55:41.57
for they will obtain mercy.
00:55:41.60\00:55:42.97
So there is a law of reciprocity
00:55:43.00\00:55:45.24
in the kingdom as well."
00:55:45.27\00:55:47.38
We have just a
couple of minutes,
00:55:47.41\00:55:48.91
which you'd like to each
00:55:48.94\00:55:50.31
just take a comment on your day.
00:55:50.35\00:55:51.81
Sure.
00:55:51.85\00:55:54.42
Compassionate Anxiety
or Compassionate Fatigue,
00:55:54.45\00:55:58.59
one of the ways to get rid
of your fatigue, 1 Peter 5:7,
00:55:58.62\00:56:03.83
"Casting all your care upon Him,
00:56:03.86\00:56:07.30
for He cares for you."
00:56:07.33\00:56:09.53
I'm amazed by that statement
because God has enough space
00:56:09.56\00:56:12.30
for every one of our cares.
00:56:12.33\00:56:13.87
Begin today by
getting rid of the fatigue
00:56:13.90\00:56:16.87
and finding the
God of compassion.
00:56:16.91\00:56:18.51
Amen. Amen.
00:56:18.54\00:56:19.87
Praise the Lord.
00:56:19.91\00:56:21.24
Well, the key, the lesson
to me something struck a note,
00:56:21.28\00:56:23.78
at least to me is that
00:56:23.81\00:56:25.15
when we become a
real follower of Christ,
00:56:25.18\00:56:27.82
you know, our attitude changes,
00:56:27.85\00:56:29.28
our life changes, our
giving changes the way
00:56:29.32\00:56:31.32
we deal with
people, everything changes.
00:56:31.35\00:56:33.72
And that's when you
take Christ in your heart.
00:56:33.76\00:56:36.42
And I think right now, we
need to be doing for Christ
00:56:36.46\00:56:39.13
and the cause
of Christ right now
00:56:39.16\00:56:40.80
rather than doing for self.
00:56:40.83\00:56:42.30
Amen. Amen.
00:56:42.33\00:56:43.80
Wednesday, we
looked at Peacemaking.
00:56:43.83\00:56:46.67
God calls each one of
us to actively be involved
00:56:46.70\00:56:50.44
in the process of peacemaking.
00:56:50.47\00:56:52.64
No matter where you
are, no matter what situation
00:56:52.67\00:56:55.11
you're involved in,
00:56:55.14\00:56:56.48
God can pour His
peace into that situation.
00:56:56.51\00:56:59.55
Yes. Amen.
00:56:59.58\00:57:00.92
You know, I love
the words of Christ
00:57:00.95\00:57:03.59
in the closing
verses of Matthew 11.
00:57:03.62\00:57:06.25
I think not only
does it apply to those
00:57:06.29\00:57:09.09
who are oppressed
and those that need
00:57:09.12\00:57:11.09
but also those who may not be,
00:57:11.13\00:57:13.19
but yet still
struggling in Samaria.
00:57:13.23\00:57:15.16
Jesus says, "Come to
Me, all you who are labor
00:57:15.20\00:57:18.30
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest."
00:57:18.33\00:57:21.20
He says, "Take My yoke upon you,
00:57:21.24\00:57:22.84
learn from Me, for I am
gentle and lowly in heart,
00:57:22.87\00:57:25.24
and you will find
rest for your souls.
00:57:25.27\00:57:28.08
For My yoke is easy
and My burden is light."
00:57:28.11\00:57:30.75
And I say praise
you, Lord God Almighty.
00:57:30.78\00:57:33.65
This lesson 12 has been
such a spectacular lesson.
00:57:33.68\00:57:37.62
I love each and every one of you
00:57:37.65\00:57:39.99
and we love you at home too.
00:57:40.02\00:57:41.42
And don't think
that we're just saying
00:57:41.46\00:57:42.86
that in a superficial manner.
00:57:42.89\00:57:45.13
We pray and ask that God
will pour His love for you
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into our hearts.
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That's why we do what we do.
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And that's to me,
that's the mark of a Christian.
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Please join us next time,
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we are, will be
doing our final lesson.
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And we thank you so
much for being with us.
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