Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP190038A
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00:01 The Bible tells us, "In the beginning was the Word,
00:03 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 00:07 It says, "To receive with meekness 00:09 the implanted Word, 00:11 which is able to save your souls. 00:13 And to be diligent 00:15 to present yourself approved to God, 00:17 rightly dividing the Word of truth." 00:20 Join us now for the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:25 Our study today is, "The Least of These." 00:33 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:34 And it is my joy to welcome you to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:39 We are having an exciting time this quarter as we study 00:44 "The Least of These, 00:46 Ministering to The Poor And The Suffering." 00:48 And our lesson today 00:51 is going to be called To Love Nursing. 00:54 Now, this is lesson 12. 00:56 But it is not too late for you 00:58 to get one of these wonderful studies. 01:01 You can download one 01:03 from ABSG.Adventist.org 01:09 for we always want to encourage you to drop 01:12 by your nearest Seventh-day Adventist Church, 01:15 and they'd be happy to give you a copy. 01:18 And I'm sure they'd probably be twisting your arm 01:20 to try to come join them because Bible study in a group 01:23 is always so much fun. 01:25 Let me introduce my family. 01:30 I'm just so excited to be here. 01:32 First we have my pastor, Pastor John Lomacang. 01:35 It's been an exciting journey through the Word 01:38 and we are praising God for every step. 01:39 Amen and amen. 01:41 And then Pastor Kenny Shelton. 01:43 Good to be here always. Thank you. 01:44 Oh, we're glad that you're here with us. 01:47 And then my dear friend, 01:49 and my sister in Christ, Jill Morikone. 01:52 Thank you, Shelley. 01:53 It's a privilege to share with each one of you. 01:54 And I learned so much from this panel. 01:56 Yeah, we do. 01:58 And, you know, we are so blessed on at 3ABN. 02:01 And we've got some good Bible teachers, 02:03 some serious students of the Word 02:05 and that describes Pastor Ryan Day. 02:10 That's a blessing. Thank you. 02:12 It's a blessing 02:13 to always be a part of this incredible panel. 02:14 Well, it's exciting to open the Word of God. 02:19 And, you know what I've found? 02:21 I think if we took the lesson that we did last week, 02:24 and just reassigned the days to different people, 02:29 we had a completely different lesson. 02:31 God leads each one of us in such an interesting way. 02:34 And that's what's exciting about having a panel. 02:36 Jill, would you like to have our opening prayer please? 02:38 Sure. 02:39 Holy Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus. 02:41 And we thank You for Your Word. 02:43 We thank You that is living and active. 02:46 And we ask that You would allow it 02:48 to cut into our hearts just now 02:49 by the power of Your Holy Spirit. 02:51 You would speak 02:52 and that we would hear and obey in Jesus' name. 02:55 Amen. Amen. 02:57 Amen. Thank you. 02:58 Thank you. All right. 02:59 So let me just jump right into this. 03:04 I'm gonna start in a little bit different way. 03:06 And you may wonder, where am I going? 03:08 Lesson 12 is To Love Mercy. 03:10 But the first thing I thought that was Jeremiah 31:3, 03:14 where God says, "I have loved you 03:16 with an everlasting love. 03:20 Therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you." 03:25 That word loving-kindness in Hebrew is hesed. 03:30 Sometimes people say, 03:31 "Well, there's no grace in the Old Testament." 03:34 And see this is covenant love language 03:36 that God is using. 03:37 I loved you, I wooed you with loving-kindness. 03:43 This Hebrew word hesed is the equivalent, 03:47 well, no, actually, it's much greater 03:49 than the word grace, but it is when you see, hesed, 03:52 it was used 240 times in the Old Testament. 03:55 And let me read you a definition I have 03:59 for the Hebrew word hesed. 04:01 It says it can't be translated with one English word. 04:04 This is a covenant term, 04:06 wrapping up in itself 04:08 all of the positive attributes of God, 04:10 love, covenant, faithfulness, 04:13 mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty, in short, 04:18 acts of devotion and loving-kindness 04:22 that go beyond the requirements of duty. 04:26 So He is saying, "I've loved you with hesed, 04:32 and I've drawn you to me." 04:34 But here's the bottom line. 04:37 The conclusion of the matter as Solomon would say, 04:40 God wants to recreate His image in us, 04:45 our character, our behavior matters greatly to Him. 04:50 So in response to His covenant love 04:53 and His commands, 04:54 He wants us to adopt that same loving-kindness, 04:58 that mercy and grace toward other people 05:02 and share His concern 05:04 for the poor and the afflicted and the oppressed. 05:07 God wants us to stand up to evil. 05:11 And, you know, sometimes that's not easy. 05:15 But we know that we can only do it 05:17 as He pours His love into our heart 05:19 by the power of the Holy Spirit and the courage, 05:23 and the zeal, and the boldness that the Holy Spirit gives us. 05:26 So our memory text is Psalm 112:4-5. 05:30 And in Psalm 112:4-5. 05:34 This is what the Bible says, 05:37 "Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness, 05:42 He the upright is gracious, 05:44 He is full of compassion, He is righteous. 05:48 A good man deals graciously and lends, 05:53 He will guide his affairs with discretion." 05:56 So as God shines His darkness into our light, 06:01 He changes our priorities. 06:03 And that's the segue 06:05 to Sunday's lesson Kingdom Priorities. 06:08 You know, in today's materialistic society, 06:11 I would say, John, 06:12 this is your play boards usually or you do this? 06:16 We no longer possess possessions, 06:19 but possessions possess us. 06:21 Yes. That sounds like me. 06:22 You know, you've got people, I talk with people who, 06:25 they've got car payments, boat payments, this payments, 06:28 that payments, gym payments, and they're all, 06:30 you know, like this. 06:34 I think that many people are on a hedonistic treadmill. 06:38 It's all about pleasure, pleasure, pleasure. 06:41 And in our secular society 06:44 pleasure is more prevalent than a commitment to God. 06:48 So Jesus and the New Testament writers 06:52 were trying to show us 06:53 and we're gonna look at Matthew 6, 06:56 if you want to turn to Matthew 6:25. 06:59 That believers have to live 07:02 by a different set of values and priorities 07:09 than the warped values and priorities of the world. 07:12 Okay, let's read through this quickly. 07:14 Matthew 6:25. 07:17 Jesus says, "Therefore I say to you, 07:19 do not worry about your life, 07:21 what you will eat or what you will drink, 07:23 nor about your body, what you will put on. 07:26 Is not life more than food 07:28 and the body more than clothing? 07:30 Look at the birds of the air, they neither reap," 07:34 excuse me, "sow nor reap nor gather into the barns, 07:37 yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 07:42 Are you not of more value than they? 07:46 Which of you by worrying 07:47 can add one cubit to his stature? 07:50 So why do you worry about clothing? 07:51 Consider the lilies of the field, 07:54 how they grow, they neither toil nor spin, 07:57 and yet I say to you that even Solomon 08:00 in all of his glory 08:01 was not arrayed like one of these. 08:03 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, 08:07 which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 08:11 will He not much more clothe you, 08:14 O you of little faith?" 08:17 You know, God promises to meet our needs. 08:21 Worry erodes our trust in Him. 08:26 When we are filled with fear, and just consumed with fear, 08:32 it's difficult to trust God. 08:34 And so we have to remember 08:36 He is the creator of the universe, 08:38 He created us. 08:40 And if He's got that kind of power, 08:42 don't you believe 08:43 He has the power to take care of you? 08:44 So now Jesus goes on, and He says this. 08:49 Therefore, based on His argument, 08:53 this is bridging what he just said, 08:56 "Hey, you shouldn't be worried about all these things." 08:58 God's got it. 09:00 He says, "God's got your back." 09:02 He says, "Therefore do not worry, 09:04 saying, 'What shall we eat?' 09:06 'What shall we drink?' 09:07 'What shall we wear?' 09:08 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. 09:11 For your heavenly Father knows 09:14 that you have need of all these things." 09:17 Did you know worrying is damaging to your health. 09:21 Worry, stress, brings about inflammation in the body. 09:25 But worry will immobilize us, 09:28 it will disrupt your productivity, 09:31 and it's a waste of our valuable time. 09:34 So now here's Jesus' solution. 09:37 "Seek first the kingdom." 09:39 This is verse 33, Matthew 6:33, 09:42 "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 09:46 and all of these things will be added to you. 09:50 Therefore," based on your trust in God, 09:54 "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow 09:57 will worry about its own things. 09:59 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." 10:03 Let me point out one thing, Jesus is not saying, 10:07 don't be concerned, Jesus is not saying, 10:10 you know, true concern is a call to action. 10:13 He's not saying don't plan. 10:16 What He is saying is don't worry, 10:19 don't be stressing over these things. 10:21 Instead of worrying, go to God. 10:25 Pray for His guidance to make a plan. 10:28 Get into the Word. 10:32 You know, in our hectic pace, 10:35 there's so many things 10:36 that compete for our priorities. 10:39 Don't think we need to seek God first. 10:42 And I always say little word, little faith. 10:46 If you wanna increase your faith, 10:48 faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word. 10:50 Get into the Word of God, pray His promises back, 10:54 ask Him to help you, seek His face, 10:57 seek to know Him in an intimate way. 11:00 And He will reveal the plan He has for your life, 11:04 then we need to know that if we're pursuing God 11:07 and His righteousness, guess what? 11:10 We can trust in Him to meet all of our needs. 11:14 We need to look at things in light of the kingdom of God 11:21 and follow in Jesus footsteps, 11:24 focusing more on others than we do on ourselves. 11:28 I have just a moment, 11:29 so I'd like to read you something 11:31 from our Sabbath School quarterly. 11:36 The author says, 11:37 "This different set of priorities, 11:39 the priorities Christian should led 11:40 by changes our relationship 11:43 with those in power over us and over the oppressed. 11:48 While the Bible instructs Christians 11:50 to respect and obey their government, 11:52 as far as possible," we know that's in Romans 13, 11:56 "there comes a point 11:57 where we need to echo the words of Peter, 11:59 who said, 'We must obey God 12:04 rather than human beings!' 12:06 " Amen. Yes. 12:07 And so what He's showing us here is He comes down 12:12 and gives us an example saying, 12:13 you know, there's gonna come a day, 12:15 when the government is asking us to do things 12:18 that are against the Word of God. 12:20 And we need to learn to stand up 12:21 for the oppressed, the afflicted. 12:23 Now it gives an example, 12:25 I thought this was a good 12:29 example to use. 12:32 In dealing with slavery, Ellen White wrote this, 12:36 "When the laws of men conflict with the word 12:39 and the law of God, we are to obey the latter, 12:42 the law of God, 12:44 whatever the consequences may be." 12:47 That takes courage, doesn't it? 12:49 "The law of our land requiring us 12:51 to deliver a slave to his master, 12:53 we are not to obey," 12:54 she says, and she's writing during the days of slavery, 12:58 "We must abide the consequences of violating this law. 13:02 The slave is not the property of any man. 13:05 God is his rightful master, 13:06 and man has no right to take God's workmanship 13:10 into his hands, and claim him as his own." 13:14 That's from Testimonies for the Church, 13:16 Volume 1, page 201 and 202. 13:19 What are we saying? 13:21 We do have different values. 13:22 We do have different priorities. 13:24 We seek God and His way first, 13:27 and then we walk in obedience to His kingdom principles. 13:31 Amen. Thank you, Shelley. 13:33 My lesson is one that 13:35 really I could identify with as a pastor. 13:38 This is something that people I know that you, 13:41 I think, honestly, I think that all of us on this panel, 13:44 in one sense of the other, 13:45 those who are involved in ministry 13:47 continually driven in ministry, 13:48 they will understand this lesson very well. 13:51 Those who are in the medical field, 13:52 those who are firemen, 13:55 those who are involved in emergency services, 13:57 those who may work for large restaurants, 13:59 and all of the sudden on holiday, 14:01 everybody's wanting their food right now. 14:05 The word fatigue, fatigue is a terrible word 14:09 because fatigue tends to take the normal things of life 14:13 and push them into the category of careless. 14:16 I don't really care. 14:17 I'm over, I'm done with that. 14:19 I'm overloaded, it's your problem. 14:21 If you don't like it, fine, go to another restaurant. 14:24 If you don't like my sermons, leave. 14:26 I mean, you can really push a person 14:28 to the place of carelessness, 14:29 you don't wanna work here, then quit. 14:31 You don't want my program and change your channel. 14:34 Really fatigue could do that to you. 14:36 We've been doing our best, if you don't like it, too bad. 14:39 And fatigue can take 14:40 the normal circumstances of life 14:41 that are kind and compassionate, 14:43 and throw it into a category of carelessness. 14:46 And Jesus identified 14:48 how while the world is falling down around us, 14:52 compassion is fatigue. 14:53 While the world is falling down around us, 14:56 one thing that the Christian cannot afford to do 14:59 is fall down with it. 15:01 Amen. 15:03 You can't fall down with it because one of the challenges 15:06 that we face in a society, 15:09 and I know Jesus went through that, 15:10 He tried to even find a place to rest. 15:13 And when the people heard 15:14 where He was going they follow Him 15:16 around the outside of the lake. 15:18 He went to a heathen city to find rest. 15:21 And when He got there, there was a multitude, 15:23 got anything to eat? 15:25 He had fatigue. 15:27 That's why sometimes 15:28 He spent entire nights in prayer. 15:30 He had to get away. 15:31 He had to come aside and rest. 15:33 Okay, I take a hint. 15:35 He had to come as I've read. 15:36 We love Shelley. 15:38 Shelley is driven. 15:39 The programming that happens here 15:40 3ABN is amazing. 15:42 But we always say to Shelley, take a vacation, 15:44 relax, breathe, get a cup of water 15:46 and just drink it slowly. 15:49 But fatigue can really do you in. 15:51 Look what Jesus said in Matthew 13:22, 15:54 how it often happens. 15:56 Matthew 13:22, it talks about this. 15:59 "Now he who received seed among the thorns." 16:03 That means the Word of God 16:04 is really, really nothing wrong with it. 16:06 But when your life is choked out, 16:09 "The thorns is he who hears the word, 16:12 and the cares of this world 16:15 and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, 16:20 and he becomes unfruitful." 16:21 You know, there are people in tenements and in cities, 16:23 in crowded places, there are people 16:26 who have experienced the loss of one family, 16:28 then another, then another, 16:30 then another, they lost their job, 16:31 their cat got run over, the kids don't wanna behave. 16:34 The house was on fire last week, 16:35 the food got burned. 16:39 And they asked the question, "What next?" 16:41 And something horrible happens. 16:42 Yeah. 16:44 And the fatigue that comes with it takes them to the place 16:47 where they are no longer they don't feel, 16:49 you can touch them 16:50 and they have just no reaction to that. 16:52 I heard the story of a little girl 16:53 who had been in a situation 16:55 where the physicians couldn't find an answer 16:56 to her condition. 16:58 And one nurse took the particular interest 17:00 and sat down with that little girl 17:03 and just drew her, closer to her 17:04 and just began to stroke her here, 17:07 began to hug her and talk softly to her. 17:10 And a couple of days 17:11 this kid was up and moving and talking like, 17:13 they said, "Who gave, 17:16 what medication did you give to her?" 17:18 Nurse said, "All she really needed was a hug." 17:21 All she needed was somebody to be 17:23 compassionate, and tender, and caring. 17:25 And you find Jesus in the dredges of life, 17:29 taking the last journey. 17:30 You know, the woman 17:32 who was bound with the issue of blood, 17:34 servant of the Lord said that was the last journey 17:37 that Jesus was taking. 17:38 And the Bible says, "He needed to go through Samaria." 17:41 Yes. 17:43 You know, when I read that, I said to myself, 17:45 when he found me he needed 17:47 to go through Manhattan in New York 17:49 to find a little boy abandoned by his mother. 17:52 He needed to go, He needed to go, 17:55 He was thinking about her on His way to the cross. 17:57 That was the last time 17:59 He was gonna go through that city. 18:01 And the man that cried out, 18:05 son of David, have mercy on me. 18:07 That was the last journey 18:09 Jesus taking through that town He needed to go. 18:12 And so today in this world, 18:14 where fatigue is just grabbing at our heels and saying, 18:18 "But don't forget me, I need something to drink too. 18:21 Could you come visit me?" 18:24 We got to say, okay, 18:25 and we got to pray and ask the Lord for strength. 18:28 And, you know, we live in that kind of world, 18:30 I know that I could look at each one of you 18:31 in a different way. 18:33 I know we all live in that world. 18:34 Those of us who are here at 3ABN, 18:36 we live in that kind of world. 18:38 Maybe many of you that are managers and people 18:40 that have a lot of children to take care of, 18:42 or daycare people or teachers or professors in college 18:45 or flight attendants 18:47 where they keep pressing the button, 18:48 I want something to drink, 18:49 you may live in that world 18:51 where fatigue is just driving you nuts. 18:53 But be a professional in that sense and realize, 18:55 I cannot allow. 18:57 There's a term I use here. 19:01 We cannot allow the anxieties of life 19:04 to drain our compassion. 19:06 That's good. 19:08 Because they could do it. 19:09 Don't allow the anxieties of life 19:11 to drain your compassion, 19:12 and redefine who you are. 19:14 And who's our perfect example? 19:16 Jesus. Jesus. 19:18 Even on the cross, 19:19 He said to John, "John, here's your mother." 19:23 And to his mother, "Here's your son." 19:25 And even at that moment, 19:26 when He was being hammered and accused, 19:28 He said, "Father, forgive them. 19:31 They don't know what they're doing." 19:32 The compassion. 19:34 So let's look at some aspects of how we can get to the place 19:39 where we won't allow the fatigue of life 19:43 to redefine who we are. 19:45 Because, you know, when people are often redefined, 19:47 they do strange things. 19:49 I've heard of pastors that have, 19:50 you know, that have taken their lives. 19:53 Other pastors who couldn't deal 19:54 with anxiety, and distress, and depression. 19:57 And we know that some of those are clinical, 19:58 so I'm not gonna minimize that at all. 20:01 But when the cares of life choke you out, 20:04 you don't wanna hear another sermon, 20:05 you don't really wanna, you don't care to go to church. 20:07 I remember years ago, 20:09 oh, while ago, easily 13 years ago, 20:12 as I remember once I was going through 20:13 a really great challenge here at 3ABN 20:15 and I was about to start prayer meeting 20:16 close to camp meeting. 20:18 And I said to the people that will gather, 20:20 even some visitors have said, "You know, I have that feeling 20:22 he want to just drive right past the church not come back." 20:26 That's how I feel tonight. 20:27 I need your help. 20:29 We gathered around me and pray for me. 20:30 So I understand this topic very well. 20:34 Galatians 6:9, let's look at some of these things. 20:37 Don't allow the demand 20:39 to exhaust your supply of compassion. 20:41 Don't allow life's demands 20:43 to exhaust your supply of compassion. 20:46 Galatians 6:9, "And let us not grow weary 20:49 while doing good, for in due season 20:52 we shall reap if we do not faint." 20:55 That is so true. 20:56 You wanna give up. 20:58 But, you know, what keeps me from not giving up? 21:00 As I go to the hospital, we have Clinton John's, 21:03 you know, recently he, you know, he lost his wife. 21:07 And it was a terrible tragedy. 21:09 And I go to him and he says, 21:11 you know, what keeps me holding on in light of loss. 21:15 I know that the people at this church love me. 21:17 Yes. 21:18 And that is a huge pick me up for people 21:21 that just lose all the support teams 21:23 around them, all the people that they love, 21:25 but don't be weary in doing well 21:27 because you cannot ever think that your investment of good 21:31 is not gonna return tremendous dividends. 21:33 Amen. 21:35 You'll never understand it until later on somebody says 21:37 and I remember this, those who show mercy, 21:40 mercy will be shown to them. 21:42 Here's another one, endure difficulty. 21:45 2 Timothy 2:3. 21:47 "You therefore must endure hardship 21:49 as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 21:52 Another one. 21:54 Remember that one the affliction comes, 21:55 it's not permanent. 21:57 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 21:59 "Therefore we do not lose heart..." 22:01 Yes. 22:02 "Even though our outward man is perishing, 22:06 yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 22:09 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 22:13 is working for us a far more exceeding 22:16 and eternal weight of glory, 22:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, 22:21 but at the things which are not seen. 22:23 For the things which are seen are temporary, 22:25 but the things which are not seen are eternal." 22:27 I know that's like, I mean, 22:29 here I am in the 10th year of my injury 22:32 after getting hit in my voice, 22:33 and I've come to the conclusion that range will never occur, 22:37 that range will never be there again, 22:38 but the Lord says, "Oh, no, you'll sing 22:40 when you get to the kingdom." 22:41 So I understand these are light afflictions, 22:43 Paul had a thorn in his flesh, 22:45 he prayed, he prayed, he prayed. 22:46 But the Lord said, "I'm not gonna remove it 22:48 unless you be exalted above measure." 22:50 God knows exactly why He doesn't remove affliction 22:53 and why He sometimes allow affliction. 22:55 But here's another one. 22:56 Stay involved, by educating yourself 22:58 so that your advice will not hinder a situation. 23:01 Sometimes, Pastor Kenny, we could be so tired, 23:03 that we say to people, it's your problem, 23:05 solve it yourself. 23:08 Or we could say, "I don't understand 23:10 what's happening but let me ask the Lord." 23:12 James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, 23:15 let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally 23:17 and without reproach, and it will be given." 23:20 Also we cannot believe in what we're asking. 23:26 We must believe in whom we're asking. 23:28 Amen. Difficulties of life. 23:30 We have to say, "Lord, come to me, 23:33 all you who are weary and heavy-laden, 23:34 and I'll give you rest." 23:36 When you come to the Lord in a fatigue world. 23:39 Really, if you got to take a week off or time off, 23:41 you will find rest. 23:43 Don't let fatigue break down your witness for Christ. 23:46 You know, you didn't think about compassion fatigue, 23:48 you see so much on the media, 23:51 you know, all the various floods, 23:52 and the fires, and the murders, and this, 23:55 that sometimes you become so overwhelmed, 23:58 you can forget to pray for people 24:01 that you're seeing just because we see so much of it. 24:03 Great lesson, thank you so much. 24:05 We are going to take a quick break 24:07 and encourage you to stay tuned, 24:09 we'll be right back. 24:14 Ever wish you could watch 24:16 a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again, 24:18 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:21 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com. 24:26 A clean design makes it easy to find the program 24:30 you're looking for. 24:31 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:34 so you can follow along. 24:36 Sharing is easy. 24:37 Just click share 24:39 and choose your favorite social media. 24:41 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 24:47 Welcome back. 24:49 Now we are going to continue with Pastor Kenny Shelton 24:51 who will be teaching Tuesday's lesson on generosity. 24:55 Generosity. Yes. Good. 24:56 Yeah, it's really such a good lesson. 24:59 I found out that I needed it. 25:02 That was a real blessing, you know, because sometimes 25:04 in these things we think they're very simple, 25:07 and we spend a whole lot of time on it. 25:08 But yet, when you really start digging deep, 25:10 you find that sometimes we've missed the mark. 25:13 We've missed what God wants us 25:14 to be in generosity because I... 25:16 Just a definition of generosity, 25:18 just willingness to give, willingness to share. 25:21 That's right. 25:23 And it has to do with unselfishness. 25:25 And so that's kind of maybe where that's pretty much 25:27 the root of every sin has to do with self, 25:29 doesn't it? 25:31 That's right. 25:32 So there's a reason that God wants us 25:33 to be generous and I'm sure it's just not because 25:35 He needs or He wants. 25:36 But I think it's because we need it. 25:38 Amen. 25:40 I think the lesson brings that out. 25:42 I've always heard it said, now what's that? 25:43 "Well, it's more blessed to give than to receive. 25:45 Well, there was times 25:47 that I didn't quite believe that." 25:48 I'm the only one I know 25:50 but I don't mind being honest about it. 25:51 When I was listening, wait a minute here now, 25:52 I kind of like the, you know, get it, 25:54 but that's what Acts 20:35, 25:57 "It's more blessed to give than to receive." 25:59 But we know, we really look down, 26:00 the Word of God is always correct, 26:02 is always right, there's a blessing in store, 26:04 and then I think of other passage 26:06 in Matthew 10:8, it was talking about, 26:08 "Freely you have received, so freely give." 26:11 So the Bible is just full of just wonderful promises 26:14 those who are willing by the of grace of God 26:17 to deny itself and see needs out there. 26:20 See needs of others rather than just me, mine, 26:24 I 'cause everyone that was probably here 26:26 have some me, mine, I things. 26:29 Their needs, there is it whether it's a house payment, 26:32 it was a car payment, it was buying gas, 26:34 it was buying food, is things take care of. 26:36 And then when everything is seemed like it's 26:38 you've given about all you can give, 26:40 then that's when the brother shows up and says, "I need." 26:44 And you sometime you think you told about fatigue, 26:46 sometime you thought is, 26:48 "Hey, wait a minute, what about me?" 26:49 You know, and so, you know, we take it to God in prayer 26:52 and we claim these promises. 26:53 Our lesson begins with this passage. 26:55 I think it's really good. 26:57 Have your Bible just turn to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. 27:01 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. 27:04 This is one that you read over and over and over 27:07 but there's something to it 27:09 and I think we really need to look at, 27:11 you know, sit here today, "He which soweth," what? 27:14 How you sow? 27:16 "Sow sparingly shall also reap sparingly, 27:19 he which soweth bountifully shall reap" what? 27:21 "Also bountifully." 27:23 This is a real promise of God, you're gonna be stingy, 27:25 you're not gonna get much back, if you're gonna be liberal, 27:28 you're gonna get some things back. 27:30 You don't give just for that reason. 27:32 You do it from the right reason. 27:34 You know, we do right. 27:35 I preached a sermon long time ago, 27:37 do right because it's right. 27:39 You know, the right motivation, certainly of the heart. 27:42 But God makes it very, very clear that 27:44 if we're willing to give, we're willing to help, 27:46 He's gonna meet all of our needs. 27:48 That's why we don't need to worry so much 27:50 like if someone was reading there, 27:51 it was Matthew 6, 27:53 you know, "If you take no thought for the morrow, 27:55 for the morrow shall take thought of itself. 27:56 Sufficient unto the day is evil thereof." 27:58 The King James. 28:00 That's very interesting, we don't worry about it 28:01 because we put our care and trust in Jesus Christ. 28:04 Verse 7 says, "So let him give." 28:07 This is what, "Let him give," what? 28:08 "Not grudgingly, or of necessity." 28:11 I thought that's the interesting word 28:12 is necessity. 28:14 That means constraint. 28:15 Don't feel like you're gonna have to, you just, 28:18 God wants to scuffed up because He loves what? 28:20 Cheerful giver. Cheerful giver. 28:21 That's the bottom line, 28:23 it was most people understand of this passage, 28:25 "God loves a cheerful giver." 28:27 Now that man, what does that mean cheerful? 28:30 There have been times I've given, I'm not cheerful. 28:35 Nobody is gonna get that, 28:36 they're gonna say, "What do you mean?" 28:37 It's time to be honest, there's times, 28:40 you know, that maybe not so cheerful about maybe 28:42 'cause I didn't like the situation and what it was. 28:44 But the Bible says we need to be cheerful in our what? 28:47 In our giving. 28:48 So it's a lesson to be learned here. 28:50 And I thought, simply cheerful here 28:52 means I guess in a Greek is willing, 28:55 I need to be willing to give. 28:57 I have to want to give. 28:58 I'm happy when I give. 29:01 Another one is marry, we need to be married 29:03 when I give and translations aside that, 29:06 I didn't know how to take this 29:08 when pastor said, "Be hilarious." 29:09 Be hilarious when you give. 29:11 Now I said I've never been hilarious. 29:13 I've been happy, I've been thankful to give, 29:16 I've been willing to give. 29:18 But there's a new word for me. 29:20 I'm not sure how I act that one out 29:22 but in my heart, 29:23 hilarious because I'm willing to, 29:25 right, by the grace of God help somebody 29:27 for the cause of Christ. 29:29 Okay, well, we better get on with that one. 29:32 We know that God is generous, don't we? 29:34 Amen. He's so generous, so good. 29:36 I mean, Calvary, prove that, you know, He gave His only Son. 29:39 Jesus died for us. 29:40 And because of His death, His burial, His resurrection, 29:44 shouldn't I be happy to, 29:45 shouldn't I be willing to give God gave His only Son, 29:49 and that we should be willing to give. 29:51 So I look at generosity. 29:55 Whoever assigned this to me knew I needed it. 30:00 I needed it, 30:02 you know, because generosity is an attitude. 30:04 Yes. You know, the attitude. 30:06 It's our attitude toward God. 30:08 It's our attitude toward each other. 30:11 It's our attitude toward the world, 30:14 the attitude toward the poor, 30:15 the attitude those who are in need. 30:19 Generosity challenges self. 30:23 It's a dual, it's a knockdown, 30:26 drag out when you think about here. 30:27 This is what is it? 30:29 It is, it challenges self and one's going to win out. 30:33 One's going to win. 30:34 I think I'm faithful God did 30:36 what tithes and offerings so on so forth. 30:37 It's challenge for some people, 30:38 but it's what someone's going to win. 30:40 Selfishness is going to take priority, 30:42 or we're going to submit 30:44 and let self dies as we look at Jesus. 30:46 Deuteronomy 8:18. 30:47 Just quickly jot it down, Deuteronomy 8:18. 30:51 It says, "Thou shalt remember." 30:52 So let's go back to the beginning. 30:54 "Thou shalt remember," whom? 30:56 "The Lord thy God for it is he which giveth," what? 30:59 Power. 31:01 "He giveth power to get wealth." 31:03 That's right. 31:04 So number one, I own nothing, I have nothing, 31:06 everything I have this 'cause God says, 31:08 He's loaned it to me. 31:10 And He expects a little interest 31:11 when right when He comes back. 31:13 So Review and Herald, 31:15 5 and 15 1900s has this to say, 31:18 "It were better not to give at all 31:21 than to give grudgingly." 31:23 There'll be some that will take that, 31:24 but grudgingly is not pleasing in the sight of God either. 31:27 So God's not going to accept it. 31:28 But it says, "It were better not to give at all 31:30 than to give grudgingly, 31:32 for if we impart our means 31:34 when we have not the spirit 31:37 to give freely, we mock God." 31:42 Who's big enough to mock God? 31:43 Somebody might think you're big enough to mock God. 31:45 You're not big enough to tangle with God. 31:47 I'm not big enough to tangle with God. 31:49 We mock God. 31:50 Who would have the audacity to say, 31:51 "Well, I'm gonna mock God to His face." 31:53 But it says in the things that we do, 31:56 how we conduct our life, 31:57 and just this thing called just giving generosity, 32:01 that we better be careful 32:03 that we don't mock God is kind of interesting here. 32:06 He said, "Let us bear in mind," reading on, 32:08 "that we are dealing with One upon whom 32:11 we depend for every blessing." 32:14 Don't you love that? 32:15 "One who reads every thought of the heart, 32:18 every purpose of the mind." 32:20 So we can't just give and we, you know, giving grudgingly, 32:23 and we might be tight, we don't want to do it. 32:25 It's marked down the way we gave from the heart. 32:28 And, you know, and again, 32:29 if we're having trouble with that, 32:30 wouldn't it be nice if we take it 32:32 to the Lord in prayer, and say, "Lord, I'm selfish. 32:35 I don't like to give. 32:37 I'm not hilarious about it. 32:38 I'm not beside myself when I give but I want to be." 32:41 I mean, that's the way that I've learned 32:42 through years is this, 32:44 admitted to God talk about 32:45 just like I'm talking about right now, 32:47 and give it to God and say, but I know what the Bible says. 32:49 And that's the way I want my life to be. 32:51 So I give it to you and God can change that for sure. 32:54 Psalms 112:5, the Bible says. 32:56 Psalms 112:5, 32:58 that's in the New King James Version, 33:01 I said, "God will come to those 33:02 who are generous and lend freely." 33:07 Boy, that's another one that gets challenged. 33:09 Yeah. 33:10 You know, so I may be a little short today. 33:12 So I may come to somebody on the panel and say, 33:13 "I need a loan." 33:15 Somebody's gonna lend to me. 33:16 You'll get that tomorrow. 33:17 Notice, "God will come to those who are generous 33:20 and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice." 33:26 So naturally you want to lend to those who, 33:27 you know, can certainly pay back. 33:29 Psalms 24:1 and certainly you want to get 33:31 to those may who really need you don't want it back. 33:34 Says, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." 33:37 Who's it, the earth, everything belongs to Him. 33:39 So always goes back, no matter what we do. 33:41 There's nothing as ours. 33:42 God's loaned it to us and see, my grandpa always said 33:45 when he gave me the shovel and the corn van, 33:46 "Here, Kenny, here's a shovel. 33:48 Now let's see how you're gonna act?" 33:51 Yeah, see how you're gonna act, he's gonna act good, 33:53 you're gonna shovel and you do well. 33:54 So God loans His things and then He says, 33:56 "Let me see how you gonna act with these things. 33:57 Are you gonna be selfish with them?" 33:59 It cause your ruin, 34:00 it cause you to miss out on heaven. 34:02 'Cause I wish more, if you have more time everybody does. 34:05 But you have a real generosity, 34:07 and then you have a false generosity. 34:11 And they're hard to distinguish 34:12 unless you go to the Word of God 34:13 and you can do that. 34:15 I don't think we don't have time to do that. 34:16 But I'll give you the passage in Matthew Chapter 6. 34:19 You can go, verse, read verses 1 and 2 34:21 in Matthew 6:3-4. 34:24 And one of them talks about the genuine one, 34:27 right heart that's right, 34:28 and that's giving to the cause of Christ 34:30 and to our mankind, and the other is a counterfeit. 34:34 You remember how, when we give, 34:37 we want everybody to know that we're giving. 34:39 We wanna make a big sound 34:41 when it goes in the offering plate. 34:44 We want everybody to know. 34:45 Instead Bible says what? 34:46 Don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. 34:49 There's things that need to be done. 34:50 But we don't need to be shouting and blowing 34:51 the trumpet and making a lot of noise with it. 34:54 But there's something that needs to be done. 34:56 Desire of Ages 312, last thing, says, "By the life we live." 35:00 Notice this, "By the life we live 35:02 through the grace of Christ the character is formed, 35:05 either generous or selfish." 35:09 Well done. 35:11 Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny. 35:12 I was thinking back to the very beginning 35:14 and the prayer and asking God to cut our heart 35:17 by His Word, and the powerful spirit. 35:19 And He's done that in my own heart right now 35:22 as we're sitting on the panel, 35:24 about generosity, about compassion, fatigue, 35:26 about ordering our priorities. 35:28 So praise God for His Word. 35:31 I have Wednesday, which is Peacemaking. 35:35 Oh, wow. 35:37 I'm excited about this topic. 35:38 Thank you, Shelley, for this topic. 35:40 Peacemaking. 35:42 We know that sin is what brings division. 35:45 Sin brings separation. 35:47 I think about Pastor Ryan in Genesis Chapter 3, 35:50 there was perfect harmony before that point. 35:52 And Adam and Eve would walk with God 35:54 in the cool of the day, 35:56 but sin brought fear and guilt, 35:57 sin brought separation from them and the Father. 36:02 But it didn't begin on this earth, 36:03 it began in heaven, 36:04 that separation and that strife. 36:07 Ezekiel 28:15-16. 36:10 Lucifer, this is speaking of Lucifer in heaven, 36:13 the covering cherub. 36:15 Ezekiel 28:15-16. 36:17 "You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, 36:20 till iniquity was found in you. 36:23 By the abundance of your trading..." 36:26 That word means to slander 36:28 or to go about trading in goods or words. 36:33 "'By the abundance of your trading 36:34 you became filled with violence within, 36:36 and you sinned and therefore I cast you 36:38 as a profane thing out of the mountain of God." 36:42 And we know Revelation 12:7-8, "War broke out in heaven, 36:46 Michael and his angels fought against the dragon," 36:49 that meaning Satan, 36:50 "and he fought and they did not prevail." 36:52 So this conflict, this separation, 36:55 became originated with sin in heaven, 37:01 with Adam and Eve here on this earth, 37:03 and God sent Jesus to reconcile us 37:07 back to the Father. 37:09 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. 37:12 Some of my favorite passages of Scripture, 37:15 2 Corinthians 5. 37:17 "Now all things are of God, 37:18 who has reconciled us to Himself 37:21 through Jesus Christ." 37:23 Because God knew there was a great chasm 37:24 and gulf between us and God because of our sin. 37:29 "And He sent Jesus to reconcile. 37:32 Has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, 37:35 that is, that God was in Christ 37:38 reconciling the world to Himself, 37:40 not imputing their trespasses to them, 37:43 and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." 37:47 Verse 21, "For He made Him, 37:50 God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, 37:55 that we might 37:56 become the righteousness of God in Him." 37:59 That's the double imputation, I always like to call it 38:03 where my sin was credited to Jesus 38:07 and His righteousness was credited to my account. 38:11 We are called as Christians to proclaim peace, 38:15 and to live peace. 38:17 We're gonna spend most of our time 38:18 on how to live peace, 38:20 but first we wanna talk about proclaiming peace, Isaiah 52. 38:24 Isaiah Chapter 52, 38:26 we are called to proclaim the gospel of peace, 38:29 "How beautiful upon the mountains 38:31 are the feet of Him who brings good news." 38:35 And what is that good news, "Who proclaims peace, 38:38 who brings good tidings of good things, 38:42 who proclaims salvation, 38:44 who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" 38:47 So we are called to proclaim the gospel of peace. 38:51 Amen. 38:52 The gospel of salvation to a lost and dying world, 38:56 but we are also not only called to proclaim it, 38:58 we're called to live the gospel of peace. 39:00 That's right. 39:01 Turn with me to Matthew 5:9. 39:04 This is the seventh beatitude, 39:06 this is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount 39:08 and a few weeks ago, 39:09 Shelley, I think it was had the beatitudes 39:11 and did a wonderful job. 39:13 Matthew 5:9. 39:15 "Blessed are the peacemakers, 39:18 for they shall be called the sons of God." 39:22 This beatitude is really a paradox as it were, 39:26 as citizens of the kingdom of heaven 39:29 we are called to pursue peace, Pastor Kenny. 39:31 Absolutely. 39:33 But our peaceful overtures will often be answered 39:35 with hatred and violence 39:36 as we see in the following beatitudes. 39:40 And making peace is not a passive activity. 39:45 We can think, "Well, if I'm a peacemaker, 39:47 that means I just roll over and I try to, okay, 39:51 what is really a peacemaker." 39:53 It takes courage to confront an issue, 39:56 when you rather walk the other way. 39:59 Sometimes peacemaking requires us 40:02 to take a difficult stand. 40:04 Making peace is a pursuit, it involves action, not apathy. 40:10 The word for peacemakers 40:11 comes from two Greek words, shalom, peace. 40:14 And makers meaning to do or to make, it involves energy. 40:21 It's interesting to me Jesus didn't say, 40:23 blessed are the peacewishers or the peacehelpers 40:26 or the peacedreamers or the peacelovers. 40:30 He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers," 40:33 because peacemaking is gonna take work, 40:37 and they are called the Sons of God. 40:40 Why the Sons of God? 40:41 Jesus is the Prince of Peace. 40:43 Isaiah 9:6, "God is the God of peace." 40:49 Romans 15:33, "Now may the God of peace be with you." 40:53 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 40:55 "May the God of peace sanctify you wholly." 40:58 There's different aspects to peacemaking, 41:02 and I wanna discuss three in my remaining time. 41:05 We're gonna look at peace with God, 41:06 that's number one, peace with others, 41:10 that's number two, and then peace 41:12 with our brothers and sisters in the church. 41:16 So let's look at peace with God. 41:18 There's two aspects to peace with God. 41:20 First is my peace with God, me, coming back, 41:24 reconciling as it were, into right relationship 41:27 with God, Romans 5:1, 41:29 "Since we've been justified by faith, 41:32 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 41:37 So Jesus is the one who justifies us, 41:39 and He's the one who brings that peace with us. 41:42 And God reconciles us back to the Father. 41:46 But also we're called to make to call other people 41:52 to make peace with God. 41:53 So not only are we to make our own peace with God, 41:56 and we to be reconciled back to Him, 41:58 we're called to have other people 42:00 be reconciled back to God. 42:02 2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, 42:07 as though God were pleading through us, 42:10 we implore you on Christ's behalf, 42:13 be reconciled to God." 42:15 So God is the one who does the reconciling. 42:17 We can't reconcile anybody with God. 42:19 But we can ask, we can offer the gospel, 42:23 we can proclaim that message of peace and salvation, 42:27 and encourage other people to make a choice, 42:31 to allow themselves to be reconciled back to God. 42:35 The second aspect to peacemaking 42:37 is peace with others. 42:39 We had peace with God and now peace with others. 42:42 Let's look at Hebrews 12:14. 42:46 Hebrews 12:14, the Bible says, "Pursue peace with all people, 42:50 and holiness, 42:52 without which no one shall see the Lord." 42:54 In other words, 42:55 we're to make every effort to live in peace with all men. 42:59 Yes. 43:01 You know, Pastor Kenny, few years ago, 43:04 I was doing my dishes. 43:07 And I was working on 43:08 memorizing this particular scripture. 43:10 So I had it written on a three by five card 43:12 and it was up above the sink 43:13 and, you know, working on memorizing it, 43:15 and I was praying pursue peace with all people and holiness, 43:19 without which no one shall see God. 43:21 Thinking, thank you, Jesus, 43:23 and I'm walking in peace with my brothers and sisters. 43:26 And He said, "No, you're not." 43:28 Yep. 43:30 I'm not. 43:32 And He brought to mind a certain person 43:35 that I had angst against but that, 43:38 I didn't really even know about it. 43:39 It's so deeply buried, you don't really process it. 43:42 And I said, "God, thank You for showing me my heart. 43:46 And will You work to remove that root of bitterness 43:50 from my life against that person." 43:52 So we are called to walk in peace 43:56 with our brothers and sisters. 43:58 Romans 12:18, Paul says, "If it is possible, 44:01 as much as depends in you." 44:03 Or King James says, "As much as lieth in you, 44:06 live peaceably with all men." 44:08 Amen. 44:09 Now it's interesting to me, it says, "If it is possible," 44:12 so that means there are times it is not possible. 44:16 But if it is, we are called to walk in peace 44:19 with our brothers and sisters. 44:21 Matthew 5:43-48, 44:23 part of the Sermon on the Mount, 44:25 Jesus says, "Don't just love your friends and neighbors, 44:29 and hate your enemies. 44:31 We are called to love our enemies 44:33 and to do good to those who spitefully use us 44:37 or to those who persecute us." 44:39 And the third aspect of peacemaking 44:41 is we are called to walk in peace 44:43 with our brothers and sisters in the church. 44:46 Not just walk in peace with people in general, 44:49 but with our brothers and sisters 44:50 in the church. 44:52 1 Peter 3:8, 44:53 "Finally, all of you be of one mind, 44:56 having compassion for one another, 44:59 love as brothers, 45:01 be tenderhearted, be courteous." 45:05 God reconciles us by the power of the Spirit 45:07 and the blood of Jesus back to Him. 45:10 And He calls us to walk in peace 45:14 with our brothers and sisters to be an active agent, 45:18 as it were, 45:19 in the peacemaking process with other people. 45:22 Amen. Wow, amen. 45:23 Praise God. 45:25 We gonna move on to Thursday's lesson, 45:27 it's entitled "A voice for the Voiceless." 45:30 And just wanna start with what the lesson begins with, 45:34 and that is the wisest man ever created. 45:37 Solomon, he would write these words. 45:41 This is found in Ecclesiastes 3:7, 45:45 and I'm at all looking at the latter part of this, 45:46 he says, "There's a time to keep the silence 45:50 and a time to speak." 45:53 And I agree with that 100%, I think he's right on key. 45:57 And the lesson brings out that, 45:59 you know, finding this balance is not simple for any of us. 46:04 However, when it comes to speaking for the oppressed, 46:08 and being a voice for the voiceless, 46:10 and seeking to overcome evil with good, 46:13 it is possible that as a church, 46:17 we have erred, and on the side of too much silence 46:20 when our voice should have been heard. 46:22 And, you know, I think that, you know, it's all of us, 46:25 I think I'm guilty of that, 46:26 every single one of us are guilty of that. 46:27 And I think we have to recognize that 46:30 in this particular time that we're living in, 46:32 we need to speak up, we need to defend those 46:34 that God has called us to defend. 46:36 We often talk about being like Jesus, 46:38 you know, walking as He walked, and living as He lived, 46:42 and all those things are true and great. 46:44 But however, God also needs us to be His mouthpiece, 46:48 speaking up on behalf of His people 46:50 in need of defense. 46:52 In fact, we see God's heart of this particular issue 46:55 shared with us through Psalm Chapter 146. 46:58 If you would go with me to Psalm 146:6-10, 47:03 and notice what the Bible says here. 47:06 He starts by saying, "Who made heaven and earth, 47:09 the sea, and all that is in them, 47:13 who keeps truth forever, 47:15 who executes justice for the oppressed, 47:19 who gives food for the hungry, 47:21 the Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. 47:25 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind, 47:28 the Lord raises those who are bowed down, 47:31 the Lord loves the righteous, 47:33 the Lord watches over the strangers, 47:35 He relieves the fatherless and widow, 47:39 but the way of the wicked He turns upside down. 47:43 The Lord shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, 47:47 to all generations." 47:48 Amen. 47:50 You know, what I'm thinking about. 47:53 My mind has been open so much to the studies 47:55 because oftentimes, we study God's Word 47:58 almost like through a tunnel, 48:00 what we become almost, 48:01 you know, totally the tunnel vision, 48:02 we see certain things that we want to see 48:04 but there's other things that perhaps is standing out. 48:07 And it's the Bible is obviously flooded with text 48:10 and scriptures on this subject 48:11 that I never really considered before. 48:13 And one popular passage that I have read often, 48:16 that I've never really, I mean, I saw it, 48:19 you know, I knew it was there, 48:20 but I never really considered in connection to this subject, 48:23 you know, being a voice for the voiceless. 48:25 And that's Isaiah Chapter 58, 48:26 that powerful, powerful chapter in Isaiah 58. 48:30 Let's go read verses 1 through 10. 48:31 This is a rather lengthy passage, 48:33 but I believe this is definitely 48:37 a much needed read for all of us. 48:39 Now, this is that passage where God begins with a plea 48:44 for His people to speak up. 48:46 And it's one of those pleas that we often kind of overlook. 48:49 But notice what He says here, He says, "Cry aloud, spare not, 48:53 lift up your voice like a trumpet, 48:56 tell My people their transgression, 48:59 and the house of Jacob their sins." 49:01 I just wanna pause there and clarify something 49:03 just for the record. 49:05 Obviously, we are to do this, we are to be rebukers, 49:08 as Christ would have done in a spirit of love 49:11 and a spirit of compassion, not going to people in groups 49:14 or large groups and pointing out, 49:15 you know, people's sin. 49:16 I've actually had this done to me before, 49:18 and it's very, very, 49:20 it doesn't win over anyone's heart. 49:22 But yet the Bible makes it very, very clear that, 49:25 you know, there is a time, there is a need, 49:27 and we are actually, 49:28 we are actually commissioned by God, 49:30 you know, spare not, cry aloud, 49:32 lift up the voice, 49:33 show my people their transgressions 49:35 in a biblical righteous way, as God has called us. 49:38 And then He begins to deliver somewhat of a rebuke 49:41 to those people who again claim to be close to God, 49:44 claim to be, you know, fasting 49:47 and really following the ritualistic practices. 49:50 But yet, you know, God sends them the message. 49:52 Notice in verse 2, He says, "Yet they seek Me daily, 49:55 His people and their sins. 49:58 And as a nation that did righteousness, 50:03 and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. 50:05 They ask of Me the ordinances of justice, 50:09 they take delight in approaching God. 50:12 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? 50:15 Why have we afflicted our souls, 50:17 and You take no notice?' 50:19 'In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, 50:22 and exploit all your laborers. 50:26 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, 50:30 and to strike with the fist of wickedness. 50:32 You will not fast as you do this day, 50:35 to make your voice heard on high." 50:38 It goes on to say, 50:39 "Is it a fast that I have chosen, 50:43 a day for a man to afflict his soul? 50:45 Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, 50:48 and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? 50:51 Would you call this a fast, 50:53 and an acceptable day to the Lord? 50:56 'Is this not the fast that I have chosen, 50:58 to loose the bonds of wickedness, 51:00 to undo the heavy burdens, 51:03 to let the oppressed go free, 51:05 and that you break every yoke? 51:08 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry," 51:10 now he's pleading, He's saying, 51:12 "Is it not to share your bread with the hunger, 51:14 and that you bring to your house the poor 51:16 who are cast out, when you see the naked, 51:18 that you cover him, 51:21 and hide not yourself from your own flesh?" 51:24 He goes on to say, 51:26 "Then your light shall break forth like the morning, 51:29 your healing shall spring forth speedily, 51:31 and your righteousness shall go before you, 51:33 the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard." 51:37 Amen. 51:38 You see, it goes on to say, "Then you shall call, 51:40 and the Lord will answer, and you shall cry, 51:42 and He will say, 'Here am I.' 51:43 And 'If you take away the yoke from your midst, 51:47 the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 51:50 if you extend your soul to the hungry 51:53 and satisfy the afflicted soul, 51:56 then your light shall dawn in the darkness, 51:58 and your darkness shall be as the noonday.' 52:01 " It's a powerful passage, when you consider. 52:03 Yes. 52:04 You know, God is basically pleading 52:05 with His people saying, "I hear you, I hear your calls. 52:08 But let me show you something 52:10 that you need to pay attention to." 52:11 And that is, there's people among you, 52:12 that's a need. 52:14 There's people that are crying out, 52:15 they need, they need to be fed, they need to be clothed, 52:17 they need the attention, 52:19 and you need to come to their rescue, 52:20 you need to speak up for them, you need to be a voice 52:23 for the voiceless, the prophets. 52:27 A call to justice was never a path 52:29 of popularity by no means, 52:32 but motivated by their commission from God, 52:34 understanding God's passion for justice, 52:37 sympathizing with the plight of the poor, 52:39 and oppressed 52:41 and seeking the best for their society. 52:43 These prophets dare to be a voice 52:47 for the voiceless in their time, and place, 52:49 despite opposition, discomfort and danger. 52:52 And we have a little bit of insight 52:53 as to what type of mentality these prophets 52:55 had when we go to 1 Peter 3:17, 52:59 very short, but very simple 53:01 and profound words from Peter himself, 53:04 under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 53:05 He says in 1 Peter 3:17, "For it is better, 53:10 if it is the will of God, 53:13 to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 53:18 And, you know, based on our understanding 53:20 of the gospel, and the call to reflect Jesus to the world, 53:24 you know, I think of the Seventh-day Adventist 53:27 standing on the subject, when we consider, 53:29 you know, standing up for the injustices 53:32 and those who are in need, 53:33 and those who are being oppressed. 53:35 I find this in the lesson 53:37 and it's the Seventh-day Adventist 53:38 official statement on Global Poverty 53:40 from June 24, 2010. 53:42 I love the way they worded it. 53:43 And it says this, "Seventh-day Adventist 53:45 believe that actions to reduce poverty 53:48 and its attendant injustices are an important 53:51 part of Christian social responsibility. 53:54 The Bible clearly reveals God's special interest 53:57 in the poor and His expectations 53:59 as to how His followers should respond to those 54:02 who are unable to care for themselves. 54:05 All human beings bear the image of God 54:08 and are the recipients of God's blessings. 54:12 In working with the poor, 54:13 we follow the example and teaching of Jesus. 54:15 As a spiritual community, 54:17 Seventh-day Adventist advocate justice for the poor 54:21 and 'speak up for those who cannot speak 54:23 for themselves' 54:25 and against those who 'deprive the poor of their rights.' 54:28 We participate with God 54:30 who 'secures justice for the poor.' 54:34 " And I think if you really wanted 54:35 to kind of put a cap on all of this, 54:38 I found this wonderful quote 54:39 from Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, page 137. 54:43 Beautiful quote, 54:44 notice what Mrs. White says here. 54:46 She says, "Search heaven and earth, 54:48 and there is no truth revealed more powerful 54:52 than that which is made manifest 54:55 in works of mercy to those who need our sympathy and aid. 55:01 This is the truth as it is in Jesus. 55:04 When those who profess the name of Christ 55:07 shall practice the principles of the golden rule, 55:11 that same power will attend the gospel 55:14 as an apostolic times." 55:16 That's what I want to be a reality in my life. 55:18 I know that Ryan needs improvement. 55:20 And I know that Ryan needs the Holy Spirit. 55:22 And I pray that for each and every one of us 55:24 that we will be a voice indeed for those who have no voice. 55:27 Amen. 55:28 Mercy, thank you so much. 55:30 What a powerful lesson. 55:32 Lesson number 12, To Love Mercy, 55:35 we know that in Matthew 5 beatitudes, 55:38 Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful 55:41 for they will obtain mercy. 55:43 So there is a law of reciprocity 55:45 in the kingdom as well." 55:47 We have just a couple of minutes, 55:48 which you'd like to each 55:50 just take a comment on your day. 55:51 Sure. 55:54 Compassionate Anxiety or Compassionate Fatigue, 55:58 one of the ways to get rid of your fatigue, 1 Peter 5:7, 56:03 "Casting all your care upon Him, 56:07 for He cares for you." 56:09 I'm amazed by that statement because God has enough space 56:12 for every one of our cares. 56:13 Begin today by getting rid of the fatigue 56:16 and finding the God of compassion. 56:18 Amen. Amen. 56:19 Praise the Lord. 56:21 Well, the key, the lesson to me something struck a note, 56:23 at least to me is that 56:25 when we become a real follower of Christ, 56:27 you know, our attitude changes, 56:29 our life changes, our giving changes the way 56:31 we deal with people, everything changes. 56:33 And that's when you take Christ in your heart. 56:36 And I think right now, we need to be doing for Christ 56:39 and the cause of Christ right now 56:40 rather than doing for self. 56:42 Amen. Amen. 56:43 Wednesday, we looked at Peacemaking. 56:46 God calls each one of us to actively be involved 56:50 in the process of peacemaking. 56:52 No matter where you are, no matter what situation 56:55 you're involved in, 56:56 God can pour His peace into that situation. 56:59 Yes. Amen. 57:00 You know, I love the words of Christ 57:03 in the closing verses of Matthew 11. 57:06 I think not only does it apply to those 57:09 who are oppressed and those that need 57:11 but also those who may not be, 57:13 but yet still struggling in Samaria. 57:15 Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who are labor 57:18 and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 57:21 He says, "Take My yoke upon you, 57:22 learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 57:25 and you will find rest for your souls. 57:28 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 57:30 And I say praise you, Lord God Almighty. 57:33 This lesson 12 has been such a spectacular lesson. 57:37 I love each and every one of you 57:40 and we love you at home too. 57:41 And don't think that we're just saying 57:42 that in a superficial manner. 57:45 We pray and ask that God will pour His love for you 57:49 into our hearts. 57:51 That's why we do what we do. 57:52 And that's to me, that's the mark of a Christian. 57:55 Please join us next time, 57:58 we are, will be doing our final lesson. 58:01 And we thank you so much for being with us. |
Revised 2019-09-30