Hello, welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We thank you for
taking the time to join us.
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We are starting on
lesson number four,
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"The Bible-the Authoritative
Source of Our Theology."
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And our overall
study for this quarter is
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"How To Interpret Scripture."
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Get your Bible, get your pens,
invite your family to sit down.
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If you'd like a
copy of the lesson,
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go to absg.adventist.org
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or go to your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and join them for a
tremendous Bible study.
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But right now join
us as we walk through
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the Word of God
and understand His plan
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for our lives in this lesson.
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Welcome to our 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
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We are so thankful that
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you've taken
the time to join us.
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We are going to dive
into an exciting study today,
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The Bible-the Authoritative
Source of Our Theology.
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All you need is a Bible
and some time to sit down
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and find out what the Lord
has in store for you today.
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But before we go any further
meet our panelists today,
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to my immediate left
is Pastor John Dinzey,
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Head of 3ABN Latino.
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Good to have you today.
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It's a pleasure to be here
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and it's wonderful to be
able to dig into God's Word.
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And my forever evangelist,
Pastor Kenny Shelton, always,
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I know you're always ready,
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you bring that down
home flavor to our panel.
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Thank you for being here
today. It's always a pleasure.
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Thank you.
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And I assume that
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Jill might have a
list back of my mind.
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Good to have you here, Jill.
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Thank you, Pastor John,
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that assumption
might be accurate.
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Might be accurate.
And my singer in Israel.
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Pastor Ryan Day, good
to have you here today.
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And I'm blessed
and so glad to be here.
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Amen.
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Well, why don't you
begin with prayer for us?
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Absolutely. Okay.
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Father in heaven, Lord, God,
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we just thank You so
much for being able to
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gather here to break bread.
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Amen. Break
bread with You, Lord.
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And we would dare
not go into the study
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without asking
for the leadership
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and guidance of
Your Holy Spirit.
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And so, Father,
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I pray that You
will give us again,
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the spiritual
eyesight, the spiritual hearing,
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the spiritual mind of Jesus
to be able to rightly divide
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Your word of truth at this time.
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And Lord, as this
message goes around the world,
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may someone be blessed,
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may someone be
brought closer to Jesus
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because of this study
we ask in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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The Bible-the Authoritative
Source of Our Theology.
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You know, I cannot
think of a Christian church
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that does not use the Bible
to conclude what they believe.
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And the ironic thing about that
is how can so many conflicting,
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contradicting beliefs be found
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in so many
different denominations
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and all claim to be
reading the same Bible.
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I mean, think about
that if we had a GPS,
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and we all bought it
from the same company,
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and we all began at
the same beginning point
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going to the same destination,
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how could we all be going
in all different directions,
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claiming to have
the same destination?
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What we've discovered though,
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is the role of
Scripture plays a different role
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in the minds of
each person handling it
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and each person looks through
a window of their experiences.
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We know that the
Protestant Reformation
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was a movement
back to the Bible,
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but out of the
Protestant Reformation,
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people came out of that
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and as we studied
this, Pastor Dinzey,
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you seen that the
churches that broke away
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from the Church of
Rome during the Dark Ages.
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Different leaders
grappled with different topics
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like Martin Luther
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dealt with
justification by faith,
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"The judge shall live by faith."
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You had Calvinism, you
had Zwingli, Hus, Jerome,
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Wycliffe, all of
these individuals
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had different beliefs that
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they decided to
bring to the forefront.
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Baptism was reestablished
based on scripture.
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The just shall live by faith.
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Jill, it was established
based on the Word of God.
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The Sabbath eventually came back
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in the 1800s through
the Millerite Movement
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by a name of a lady by
the name of Rachel Oakes
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who was a Seventh-day Baptist.
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And what we found is that
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through the plethora of beliefs,
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some understandings of Scripture
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have been placed in concrete
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that really are not
linked to Scripture.
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And the role that has played
so much significance in that
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is the role of tradition.
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Now let's begin with our text
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because the Bible gives
us an unmistakable blueprint
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that we can follow to
examine whether or not
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what is being taught
is from the Word of God.
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So we begin in Isaiah 8:20
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the memory text for this lesson.
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The Bible says, "To
the law and to the...
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Testimony. Testimony!
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If they do not speak
according to this word,
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it is because there
is no light in them."
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So there's an
acid test in Isaiah,
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there's an acid
test in 1 John 2:3-4.
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"Hereby we do
know that we know Him,
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if we keep His commandments.
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He who said, 'I know Him,'
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and does not
keep His commandments,
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is a liar, and the
truth is not in him."
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In both of these cases you
find the commandments of God
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and the testimony there.
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But I wanna talk about tradition
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for a brief
moment because tradition,
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while it's on the 80%
side, not a good thing
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when it comes to the Bible.
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There are some
traditions that are not bad.
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But I heard a
story about a person
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who had a
tradition in their family
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and we don't need him.
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I just wanna
make that point clear,
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but the story fits in this role.
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There was a lady on
a particular holiday
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during the year
she decided to cut off
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two inches from the hand
before she put it in the oven.
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And her husband said
why are you doing this?
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She said, "Well,
my mother did that
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while she called her mom.
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Mom, why do we do that?"
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Well, grandma does that thing.
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Thank the Lord three generations
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and she called grandma.
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"Grandma, why do we do
that? Does it add to the taste?"
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She said, "No, I
cut off two inches
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because it was just
too big to fit in the pan."
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No relevant
reason to cut it off,
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but traditions usually exist
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without any explanation
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as to why this tradition exists.
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That's good.
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I saw there at
Buckingham Palace.
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I saw soldiers
standing at a spot
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and he was
guarding absolutely nothing,
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but he was standing
at an odd ironic spot.
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And I thought why
are they changing guards
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and I'm looking down
all I see is pavement.
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Came to find out that
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must have been 70 years earlier,
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that there was a
plant that had been planted
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there by one of
the royal children
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and that child requested
that nobody destroys that plant
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so they put a guard to guard it.
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Well, the plant
had since long died,
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but there was nothing to guard,
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but tradition
carried it through.
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That's right.
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Traditional system establishing
routines in our lives.
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Tradition also establishes
consistent practices,
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but it's important that
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those practices
are biblically based.
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Tradition tends to
grow in its requirements,
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whereas truth is constant.
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Let's look at some of
the dangers of tradition.
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Hebrews 13:8.
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Tradition is a
cumulative, but Jesus is fixed.
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Now I say that in
the sense, Hebrews 13:8,
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"Jesus Christ is the
same," come on together...
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Yesterday.
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"Yesterday, today, and forever."
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Right. Amen.
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Since He is the same,
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what does the
Bible say about truth?
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It's the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
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Even when the phrase
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new light comes
to the forefront,
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you may have just discovered it,
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but France has
always been there.
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That's right.
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It's not new light to
those who live in France,
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as in the New World,
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wasn't the New
World to the Indians
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when Christopher
Columbus got here,
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it was their backyard.
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So tradition is a cumulated,
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meaning, tradition
tends to add more requirements
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over the course of time.
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Read some of the Jewish
traditions in the Bible.
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You can walk more than a
half a mile on the Sabbath,
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they call it the
Sabbath day's journey.
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So they added another tradition
to violate that tradition.
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If I left food at
your house on Friday, Ryan,
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then I could walk
more than a half a mile.
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It was ridiculous.
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That was a tradition
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that was not based
on Scripture at all.
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And many Christians today
don't adhere to certain things
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in Scripture that
are a command of God,
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like remember the
Sabbath to keep it holy
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because they have
embraced tradition,
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which is not
supported by Scripture.
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The other one, let's go to
Mark 7:2-3 tradition views,
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non compliance as disrespect,
I want you to get that.
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Tradition often views
non compliance as disrespect.
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So people might say
why don't you keep this?
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Look at Mark 7:2-3.
Jill, do you have that?
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I do. Just read that for us.
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Mark 7:2-3.
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"Now when they saw
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some of His disciples
eat bread with defiled,
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that is, with unwashed
hands, they found fault.
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For the
Pharisees and all the Jews
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do not eat unless
they wash their hands
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in a special way,
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holding the
tradition of the elders."
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Notice what happened
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non-compliance was
seen as disrespect,
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they found fault.
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In a lot of traditions
that people hold special
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that are not
scripturally required,
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they find fault when
you don't adhere to it.
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It's embarrassing to
them or it's disrespectful.
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That's why it says holding
the tradition of the elders.
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And there're those of you
watching that might think that
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the Sabbath is a tradition.
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It's not a tradition.
It's a scriptural requirement.
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It's the fourth commandment.
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It's not a
commandment taken out of the 10
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and set aside for any
particular denomination
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like all the
other 9 commandments.
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It's a requirement by
Christ for those who follow Him.
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The other thing,
let's go to Mark 7:7-9.
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Doctrine based on tradition
is a hindrance to true worship.
00:10:07.57\00:10:12.61
Ryan, do you have
verse 7-9? Yes, absolutely.
00:10:12.64\00:10:15.04
It says, "And in
vain they worship Me,
00:10:15.08\00:10:16.68
teaching as doctrines
the commandments of men.
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For laying aside
the commandment of God,
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you hold the tradition of men,
00:10:21.82\00:10:23.55
the washing of pitchers of cups,
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and many other
such things you do.
00:10:25.92\00:10:27.72
And He said to them,
00:10:27.76\00:10:29.09
'All too well you
reject the commandment of God,
00:10:29.12\00:10:31.96
that you may
keep your tradition.'"
00:10:31.99\00:10:33.80
And that's happening in
the Christian world today,
00:10:33.83\00:10:35.60
the commandments
of God is seen as,
00:10:35.63\00:10:37.37
look at the excuses,
tradition makes people say
00:10:37.40\00:10:40.00
it was nailed to the cross.
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Well, if it was nailed to cross,
00:10:41.40\00:10:42.74
if the commandments of
God were nailed to the cross
00:10:42.77\00:10:44.11
based on traditional views,
00:10:44.14\00:10:46.04
then all the churches
have no reason to exist
00:10:46.07\00:10:48.48
because the commandments
00:10:48.51\00:10:49.84
is the standard
of righteousness.
00:10:49.88\00:10:52.41
It is in fact the
blueprint of our relationship
00:10:52.45\00:10:54.92
between God and our fellow man.
00:10:54.95\00:10:57.09
If the
commandments are done away with,
00:10:57.12\00:10:59.15
then the church
has no reason to exist.
00:10:59.19\00:11:01.42
You cannot call
people to repentance
00:11:01.46\00:11:03.16
because there's
no longer any sin.
00:11:03.19\00:11:05.13
So don't allow tradition
to make you believe that
00:11:05.16\00:11:07.50
somehow what you don't like
00:11:07.53\00:11:09.63
in the commandments
now causes you to think
00:11:09.66\00:11:12.27
that it is done away with.
00:11:12.30\00:11:14.24
The third thing about
tradition is or four thing.
00:11:14.27\00:11:17.87
Tradition is more important.
Truth is more important.
00:11:17.91\00:11:21.68
And I wanna say this correctly,
more important than admiration.
00:11:21.71\00:11:25.35
Yes.
00:11:25.38\00:11:26.72
Let's look at Matthew 15:2,
00:11:26.75\00:11:29.28
tradition is more
important than admiration
00:11:29.32\00:11:32.09
because a lot of
people think that well.
00:11:32.12\00:11:34.66
Let's just read Matthew 15:2,
it says, "Why do Your disciples
00:11:34.69\00:11:39.49
transgress the
tradition of the elders?
00:11:39.53\00:11:43.40
For they do not wash their hands
00:11:43.43\00:11:44.93
when they eat bread."
00:11:44.97\00:11:46.43
Now we read that
in a different gospel,
00:11:46.47\00:11:49.94
but the reason I read it
again is because admiration,
00:11:49.97\00:11:53.34
they say we would
admire your disciples
00:11:53.38\00:11:55.11
more if they would follow
the tradition of the elders,
00:11:55.14\00:11:58.61
but truth is more
important than admiration.
00:11:58.65\00:12:01.02
Simply put another way.
00:12:01.05\00:12:02.85
Some people might
say, "Well, Pastor Kenny,
00:12:02.88\00:12:04.29
I really would like you
if you honor our traditions."
00:12:04.32\00:12:06.79
Well, I would forego admiration
for being in harmony with God.
00:12:06.82\00:12:10.93
Amen. Right.
That's a very important.
00:12:10.96\00:12:13.33
So don't do things to
be in harmony with people
00:12:13.36\00:12:15.80
and be out of harmony with God.
00:12:15.83\00:12:17.17
That's right.
00:12:17.20\00:12:18.53
Tradition should never push
you out of harmony with God.
00:12:18.57\00:12:21.67
Also tradition that harmonizes
with truth is not necessary,
00:12:21.70\00:12:26.74
but admissible.
00:12:26.78\00:12:28.11
Now that's a powerful one.
00:12:28.14\00:12:29.48
Tradition that harmonizes
with truth is not necessary,
00:12:29.51\00:12:33.31
but admissible.
00:12:33.35\00:12:35.02
Let's go to 1 Corinthians
11:2 an example here.
00:12:35.05\00:12:38.05
I'm not gonna go
all the way through it.
00:12:38.09\00:12:39.45
And I can see by the clock,
00:12:39.49\00:12:40.82
I won't get through all of mine,
00:12:40.86\00:12:42.19
but I'll save it
for another time.
00:12:42.22\00:12:44.76
There are certain traditions
00:12:44.79\00:12:46.13
that are not bad
if you keep them,
00:12:46.16\00:12:48.06
but they're not necessary.
00:12:48.10\00:12:49.93
1 Corinthians 11:2, it says,
"Now I praise you, brethren,
00:12:49.96\00:12:55.04
that you
remember me in all things
00:12:55.07\00:12:56.81
and keep the traditions
just as I deliver them to you."
00:12:56.84\00:13:00.98
And in verse 16.
00:13:01.01\00:13:02.34
And I'll give you
the middle verses.
00:13:02.38\00:13:04.15
Verse 16 says,
00:13:04.18\00:13:05.71
"But if anyone
seems to be contentious,
00:13:05.75\00:13:07.55
we have no such custom,
nor do the churches of God."
00:13:07.58\00:13:11.75
The topic here
was whether or not
00:13:11.79\00:13:15.52
a woman should cover her head.
00:13:15.56\00:13:18.19
And there are some
people, I had some people,
00:13:18.23\00:13:20.53
sadly enough in our own church,
not our church physically here,
00:13:20.56\00:13:23.47
but in our own
denomination saying,
00:13:23.50\00:13:25.33
"Why don't you
women cover their hair?"
00:13:25.37\00:13:28.10
And I said, they
said, 1 Corinthians 11:2,
00:13:28.14\00:13:30.64
there's a joke in our family.
00:13:30.67\00:13:32.24
We say we had a guy that said,
00:13:32.27\00:13:33.61
"You mean to tell
me you're not gonna do
00:13:33.64\00:13:34.98
what the Bible says."
00:13:35.01\00:13:36.34
And I said,
"Read the whole story
00:13:36.38\00:13:37.75
and don't forget verse 16."
00:13:37.78\00:13:39.35
Because it says,
00:13:39.38\00:13:40.72
"If any of you
seem to be contentious,
00:13:40.75\00:13:42.45
we have no such custom,
nor do the churches of God."
00:13:42.48\00:13:45.82
The push was women
need to cover their head.
00:13:45.85\00:13:48.62
And the Apostle Paul says,
00:13:48.66\00:13:50.23
"That's why God gave them hair."
00:13:50.26\00:13:52.56
That's right.
00:13:52.59\00:13:54.00
First and secondly,
that's why God gave them
00:13:54.03\00:13:56.77
a husband for
covering, but that,
00:13:56.80\00:13:59.60
so if you wanna cover your head,
00:13:59.63\00:14:01.30
it's not against truth,
00:14:01.34\00:14:03.61
but don't make it a requirement
00:14:03.64\00:14:06.17
that is not a
necessary command of God.
00:14:06.21\00:14:08.78
On that note,
00:14:08.81\00:14:10.15
I'm gonna give
it to Pastor Dinzey.
00:14:10.18\00:14:11.51
I have some more,
but I'll cover later on.
00:14:11.55\00:14:13.28
Well, moving to Monday's
part we go to Experience.
00:14:13.31\00:14:17.12
And what does
experience have to do as far as
00:14:17.15\00:14:20.42
in our theology and
interpreting scripture?
00:14:20.46\00:14:22.56
Let's go to our first
question in the lesson,
00:14:22.59\00:14:25.39
which is "How do we
experience the goodness,
00:14:25.43\00:14:28.76
forbearance, forgiveness,
and kindness and love of God?"
00:14:28.80\00:14:32.73
The wonderful thing is that God
is working behind the scenes,
00:14:32.77\00:14:35.94
working in our hearts,
working in our minds to lead us
00:14:35.97\00:14:39.07
to a personal
experience with Him.
00:14:39.11\00:14:42.18
So for this, we
turned to Romans Chapter 2.
00:14:42.21\00:14:45.68
And we're gonna go to verse 4.
00:14:45.71\00:14:48.18
In Romans 2:4,
if someone has found
00:14:48.22\00:14:52.59
that would you kindly
read that for us, Romans 2:4?
00:14:52.62\00:14:56.12
"Or do you despise the
riches of His goodness,
00:14:56.16\00:14:58.76
forbearance, and
longsuffering, not knowing that
00:14:58.79\00:15:01.13
the goodness of God
leads you to repentance?
00:15:01.16\00:15:03.53
Amen.
00:15:03.57\00:15:04.90
So we have here this scripture
with a wonderful question.
00:15:04.93\00:15:08.14
And this tells us
that the goodness of God
00:15:08.17\00:15:11.41
leads us to repentance.
00:15:11.44\00:15:13.88
We have to go
from being spectators
00:15:13.91\00:15:16.44
and having head
knowledge to actually entering
00:15:16.48\00:15:20.02
into the experience that
the Bible invites us into.
00:15:20.05\00:15:23.55
You know, I remember that
we had a Dr. Meshach Samuel.
00:15:23.59\00:15:27.76
Pastor Lomacang
can remember Samuel.
00:15:27.79\00:15:29.39
I think some,
most of you. Oh, yeah.
00:15:29.42\00:15:31.09
He said something
that really impacted me
00:15:31.13\00:15:34.00
because in India they
have over 50 million gods
00:15:34.03\00:15:38.70
that are not really
gods because there are trees
00:15:38.73\00:15:41.34
that are gods
and different things,
00:15:41.37\00:15:43.07
but there's one Creator God,
00:15:43.10\00:15:44.84
and he said that in his country,
00:15:44.87\00:15:47.44
there's no such
thing as these the people
00:15:47.48\00:15:50.18
having a
relationship with the God
00:15:50.21\00:15:53.98
because it's
something they fear,
00:15:54.02\00:15:56.12
something they
respect and worship
00:15:56.15\00:15:58.42
but no personal
experience and relationship.
00:15:58.45\00:16:01.76
God invites us
00:16:01.79\00:16:03.12
into a personal
relationship with Him
00:16:03.16\00:16:05.69
and embracing
the message of hope
00:16:05.73\00:16:08.23
that He gives to us.
00:16:08.26\00:16:09.73
So I like to now
go to Titus 3:4-5.
00:16:09.76\00:16:15.57
Notice these wonderful words,
00:16:15.60\00:16:17.11
"But when the kindness
and love of God our Savior
00:16:17.14\00:16:20.38
toward man appeared,
00:16:20.41\00:16:22.01
not by works of righteousness
which we have done,
00:16:22.04\00:16:25.01
but according to
His mercy He saved us,
00:16:25.05\00:16:27.72
through the
washing of regeneration
00:16:27.75\00:16:29.55
and renewing of
the Holy Spirit."
00:16:29.58\00:16:31.79
Coming into the
knowledge of these things
00:16:31.82\00:16:34.32
should draw us to the Lord,
00:16:34.36\00:16:36.79
so that we can get the full,
00:16:36.83\00:16:41.30
wonderful blessing of
knowing a God that loves
00:16:41.33\00:16:44.83
because the
Bible says God is love.
00:16:44.87\00:16:46.84
But if you just stay there
and say, "Oh, that's great.
00:16:46.87\00:16:50.41
That's good to know."
00:16:50.44\00:16:52.01
But if you don't
experience the love of God,
00:16:52.04\00:16:54.81
then you are just a spectator.
00:16:54.84\00:16:58.05
This is why as the
lesson brings out very well,
00:16:58.08\00:17:03.32
that we have to
move from an abstract
00:17:03.35\00:17:07.46
intellectual knowledge to moving
00:17:07.49\00:17:10.09
into an actual
experience with God.
00:17:10.13\00:17:12.89
And so one of my
favorite passages
00:17:12.93\00:17:15.53
in the Bible is Psalms 34:8.
00:17:15.56\00:17:17.97
Amen. Oh, yeah.
00:17:18.00\00:17:19.33
Psalm 34:8, and I see that
00:17:19.37\00:17:20.97
the memory has
already said, I know that.
00:17:21.00\00:17:23.77
That's right.
00:17:23.81\00:17:25.14
The Bible says, "Oh, taste
00:17:25.17\00:17:26.51
and see that the Lord is," what?
00:17:26.54\00:17:28.71
Good. "Good."
00:17:28.74\00:17:30.08
So this is an
invitation from God
00:17:30.11\00:17:32.28
to just don't just stand there,
00:17:32.31\00:17:34.95
taste and see
that the Lord is good.
00:17:34.98\00:17:37.99
Enter into the experience
00:17:38.02\00:17:40.19
of tasting and seeing, you know,
00:17:40.22\00:17:42.09
when you taste something,
you go from merely admiring
00:17:42.12\00:17:45.79
how good it looks,
and merely admiring
00:17:45.83\00:17:48.83
how good it smells, you
know, something that you...
00:17:48.86\00:17:52.37
Like, when my wife is
cooking something that
00:17:52.40\00:17:54.70
the aroma just hits, you
know, I wanna taste that,
00:17:54.74\00:17:58.67
but if I just stay
there I never enjoy it.
00:17:58.71\00:18:01.64
And so likewise God invites us
00:18:01.68\00:18:03.88
to not only read the Scriptures,
00:18:03.91\00:18:05.75
study the Scriptures,
00:18:05.78\00:18:07.12
but enter into the
actual experience of loving God
00:18:07.15\00:18:11.22
and loving our
neighbor as ourselves.
00:18:11.25\00:18:13.52
Now the verse
concludes with these words,
00:18:13.56\00:18:17.13
"Blessed is the man
whose trust in Him!"
00:18:17.16\00:18:20.33
So besides just
having the, you know,
00:18:20.36\00:18:24.77
like the Bible says that
the devils believe and tremble,
00:18:24.80\00:18:29.97
so it is not
enough to just believe,
00:18:30.01\00:18:31.97
but they believe and tremble
00:18:32.01\00:18:33.54
because but their
belief is not a belief
00:18:33.58\00:18:36.21
that brings them
into a saving experience.
00:18:36.24\00:18:39.28
They've rejected God.
00:18:39.31\00:18:40.82
So besides
believing, we have to trust God
00:18:40.85\00:18:44.99
and that when you
enter into that experience,
00:18:45.02\00:18:48.22
you're entering
into an experience
00:18:48.26\00:18:49.69
a saving experience with God.
00:18:49.72\00:18:52.86
Now experience, of
course, leads us to trust God,
00:18:52.89\00:18:57.27
and to know God is
to really love God.
00:18:57.30\00:19:00.10
And this is why Isaiah 26:3-4
00:19:00.14\00:19:03.61
another very known,
well-known scripture.
00:19:03.64\00:19:06.17
In Isaiah 26:3-4.
00:19:06.21\00:19:09.14
And I like to
ask our, Pastor Ryan,
00:19:09.18\00:19:11.28
if you find that
there for us and read.
00:19:11.31\00:19:14.12
Isaiah 26:3-4 says,
00:19:14.15\00:19:16.99
"You will keep
him in perfect peace,
00:19:17.02\00:19:19.49
whose mind is stayed on
You, because he trusts in You.
00:19:19.52\00:19:23.59
Trust in the Lord
forever, for in Yah, the Lord,
00:19:23.63\00:19:27.40
is everlasting strength."
00:19:27.43\00:19:29.53
Amen, amen.
00:19:29.56\00:19:30.93
Now there is another scripture
that helps us understand that
00:19:30.97\00:19:34.80
we have to enter
into the experience.
00:19:34.84\00:19:37.74
Not only do you see the
Bible talking about peace,
00:19:37.77\00:19:41.38
Jesus says, peace I give to you,
00:19:41.41\00:19:44.41
my peace, give I unto you.
00:19:44.45\00:19:46.11
Now if Jesus is holding
out this opportunity for peace.
00:19:46.15\00:19:49.85
And you say
thank you, thank you,
00:19:49.88\00:19:51.22
but you don't embrace it.
00:19:51.25\00:19:53.92
You never experience that
00:19:53.96\00:19:56.36
wonderful peace that
passes all understanding.
00:19:56.39\00:19:59.03
And here again,
Isaiah 26 it says,
00:19:59.06\00:20:03.97
"You will keep
him in perfect peace,
00:20:04.00\00:20:05.57
whose mind is," what?
00:20:05.60\00:20:06.94
"Stayed on You."
00:20:06.97\00:20:08.30
That's an
experience that you enter into.
00:20:08.34\00:20:10.84
And that brings you the blessing
00:20:10.87\00:20:13.07
and trust in the Lord forever.
00:20:13.11\00:20:15.28
And in Him you have
everlasting strength.
00:20:15.31\00:20:17.41
Amen. That's right.
00:20:17.45\00:20:18.78
Enter into the
experience receive the blessing,
00:20:18.81\00:20:21.45
the joy, the peace, that
God wants to give to you.
00:20:21.48\00:20:25.65
Now when we are
talking about the scriptures,
00:20:25.69\00:20:29.36
I like to bring to you a
book written by Ellen G. White
00:20:29.39\00:20:33.26
called Acts of the
Apostles, page 388.
00:20:33.29\00:20:37.60
Notice these
words, "Paul pleaded
00:20:37.63\00:20:39.23
with those who had once known
00:20:39.27\00:20:41.27
in their lives the power of God,
00:20:41.30\00:20:43.07
to return to their
first love of gospel truth.
00:20:43.10\00:20:46.78
With unanswerable
arguments he said before them
00:20:46.81\00:20:49.58
their privilege
of becoming free men
00:20:49.61\00:20:52.25
and women in Christ,
00:20:52.28\00:20:54.12
through whose atoning grace
all who make full surrender,"
00:20:54.15\00:20:58.99
notice, the word full surrender,
00:20:59.02\00:21:00.36
"are clothed with the
robe of His righteousness.
00:21:00.39\00:21:03.63
He took the
position that every soul
00:21:03.66\00:21:07.16
who would be saved
must have a genuine,
00:21:07.20\00:21:11.80
personal experience
in the things of God."
00:21:11.83\00:21:15.44
Every individual has to have
00:21:15.47\00:21:17.94
a genuine personal
experience with God.
00:21:17.97\00:21:22.71
Some people stay
at the head knowledge,
00:21:22.74\00:21:24.55
but the people stay at the...
00:21:24.58\00:21:26.05
Oh, that's good to
know. But they never enter.
00:21:26.08\00:21:28.92
You know, there are
millions of people that say,
00:21:28.95\00:21:33.05
"Oh, yes, I
believe there's a God."
00:21:33.09\00:21:34.69
But that's it.
00:21:34.72\00:21:36.06
They believe there's a God,
00:21:36.09\00:21:37.43
but they do not take
the step of knowing God.
00:21:37.46\00:21:40.90
And it's a sad,
sad thing to know that
00:21:40.93\00:21:44.83
salvation is available full
and free through Jesus Christ,
00:21:44.87\00:21:48.74
but you never accept it,
00:21:48.77\00:21:50.41
you never enjoy it in this world
00:21:50.44\00:21:55.21
and the world to come.
00:21:55.24\00:21:56.68
That's why when
you look at the Bible,
00:21:56.71\00:21:58.18
you see a picture,
it's a brief picture
00:21:58.21\00:22:01.62
but a very sorrowful picture
00:22:01.65\00:22:03.92
because the Bible says that
00:22:03.95\00:22:05.32
there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
00:22:05.35\00:22:08.26
These people that
rejected the grace of God,
00:22:08.29\00:22:11.16
rejected the
experience of salvation,
00:22:11.19\00:22:13.70
reject their
salvation through Jesus Christ.
00:22:13.73\00:22:16.67
Now in the last
moments that remain,
00:22:16.70\00:22:20.44
I like to mention something.
00:22:20.47\00:22:22.54
As far as
interpreting Scripture,
00:22:22.57\00:22:25.01
we have to,
00:22:25.04\00:22:26.37
as we have said
before in these programs,
00:22:26.41\00:22:28.24
we have to study
to show ourselves
00:22:28.28\00:22:30.78
approved unto God,
00:22:30.81\00:22:32.25
a workman that
needs not to be ashamed,
00:22:32.28\00:22:36.02
rightly dividing
the word of truth.
00:22:36.05\00:22:40.89
Because the Bible also
gives us a warning that
00:22:40.92\00:22:44.59
there will be
deceivers that will come,
00:22:44.63\00:22:47.23
twisting the scriptures,
00:22:47.26\00:22:49.26
and every wind of
doctrine is blowing,
00:22:49.30\00:22:51.90
that is not
founded on the scriptures.
00:22:51.93\00:22:54.90
That's why we have to
study to show ourselves approved
00:22:54.94\00:22:59.01
and some people have
entered into a wrong experience.
00:22:59.04\00:23:02.21
I remember a young
man that followed a group.
00:23:02.24\00:23:05.95
There was a guy that claimed
00:23:05.98\00:23:07.32
to be Jesus Christ in the flesh,
00:23:07.35\00:23:09.55
you may remember this man.
00:23:09.58\00:23:10.95
He claimed, I heard him
in the news, I cannot die.
00:23:10.99\00:23:15.06
Well, he died
about three years ago.
00:23:15.09\00:23:17.56
But this man told his followers
00:23:17.59\00:23:20.33
that sin does not exist.
00:23:20.36\00:23:25.07
That's not scriptural.
00:23:25.10\00:23:26.94
But hundreds of
people followed him
00:23:26.97\00:23:30.64
and entered into a
horrible experience
00:23:30.67\00:23:33.88
in which they
thought, I can do anything,
00:23:33.91\00:23:36.61
I have freedom to do anything,
00:23:36.64\00:23:39.41
but forgetting that the
Bible is balanced and true,
00:23:39.45\00:23:43.62
the Bible says, "For
the wages of sin is death,
00:23:43.65\00:23:48.16
but the gift of
God is eternal life."
00:23:48.19\00:23:50.13
This scripture helps
us to understand that`
00:23:50.16\00:23:52.83
these people
were completely wrong
00:23:52.86\00:23:54.46
and other scriptures, of course.
00:23:54.50\00:23:56.00
So as far as our
experience is concerned,
00:23:56.03\00:23:58.80
we have to weigh it in
the balance of Scripture
00:23:58.83\00:24:03.41
and study to show
ourselves approved up to God
00:24:03.44\00:24:06.41
rightly dividing
the word of truth.
00:24:06.44\00:24:09.31
Amen. Thank you, Johnny.
00:24:09.34\00:24:10.68
That was a wonderful. Yes.
00:24:10.71\00:24:12.35
You know, when we
think about experience,
00:24:12.38\00:24:15.48
experience can pull us
to God or may lead us to God
00:24:15.52\00:24:18.35
or propel us away from God.
00:24:18.39\00:24:20.12
On that note, we're
gonna just take a short break.
00:24:20.16\00:24:22.62
Don't go anywhere.
We'll be right back.
00:24:22.66\00:24:24.69
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Welcome back to our
Sabbath School Panel,
00:24:59.93\00:25:01.83
we now transition
from Experience to Culture.
00:25:01.86\00:25:05.17
Pastor Kenny. I do.
00:25:05.20\00:25:06.60
This is on
Tuesday's lesson Culture.
00:25:06.63\00:25:08.34
That's right.
00:25:08.37\00:25:09.70
And that, to me it's
very interesting subject
00:25:09.74\00:25:11.87
when you talk about the culture
00:25:11.91\00:25:13.24
because everybody has a culture.
00:25:13.27\00:25:15.14
That's right.
00:25:15.18\00:25:16.51
You know, some part of it,
00:25:16.54\00:25:17.88
you know, it has an
influence on our life.
00:25:17.91\00:25:20.95
Wherever we come from some time
00:25:20.98\00:25:22.32
we come across the
other side of the tracks,
00:25:22.35\00:25:23.79
and some were born
here, some, you know,
00:25:23.82\00:25:26.02
but there's a culture there.
00:25:26.05\00:25:27.69
And sometimes culture
might possibly get in the way
00:25:27.72\00:25:30.89
of our belief in the Word of God
00:25:30.93\00:25:32.59
if we're not careful.
00:25:32.63\00:25:33.96
So hopefully in the lesson
00:25:34.00\00:25:35.33
we see a little
bit of balance on this,
00:25:35.36\00:25:36.70
give a definition of culture.
00:25:36.73\00:25:38.70
This is from the
dictionary, so I read it,
00:25:38.73\00:25:40.70
and then I had to read it again.
00:25:40.74\00:25:42.14
Then I read it again
and I thought I'd put
00:25:42.17\00:25:43.54
a little
something simple down there,
00:25:43.57\00:25:44.97
if that's all right with you.
00:25:45.01\00:25:46.34
The definition of culture
00:25:46.37\00:25:47.71
from the
dictionary says the arts
00:25:47.74\00:25:49.24
and other
manifestations of human
00:25:49.28\00:25:51.81
intellectual achievement
regarded collectively.
00:25:51.85\00:25:56.28
So I didn't get a
whole lot out there.
00:25:56.32\00:25:59.55
So I thought of just go ahead
and do it little simple this,
00:25:59.59\00:26:02.72
what is this, is that okay?
00:26:02.76\00:26:04.09
Yeah.
00:26:04.13\00:26:05.46
Now simply put culture is a way
00:26:05.49\00:26:07.66
there's a word for
simply the way of life.
00:26:07.70\00:26:11.20
The way of life or
for groups of people
00:26:11.23\00:26:14.00
meaning simply the
way they do things.
00:26:14.04\00:26:17.31
People do things, different ways
00:26:17.34\00:26:19.14
in different
places of the world,
00:26:19.17\00:26:21.14
they eat different,
they talk different,
00:26:21.18\00:26:22.51
they believe different
00:26:22.54\00:26:23.88
and you mentioned a lot of
gods and different things here.
00:26:23.91\00:26:25.71
So hopefully we can put
it together in the culture
00:26:25.75\00:26:27.72
here that it
doesn't get in our way
00:26:27.75\00:26:30.02
of what the
Bible teaches as truth.
00:26:30.05\00:26:32.75
Now included in that culture
00:26:32.79\00:26:34.62
could be knowledge,
00:26:34.66\00:26:36.32
included in that
could be a belief,
00:26:36.36\00:26:38.26
it could be a behavior,
it could be an outlook,
00:26:38.29\00:26:41.80
it could be an
attitude, it could be values,
00:26:41.83\00:26:44.67
it could be moral.
00:26:44.70\00:26:46.03
So a lot of this is
included and customs.
00:26:46.07\00:26:49.44
We are all
influenced and shaped.
00:26:49.47\00:26:51.34
I know I have
been shaped by certain,
00:26:51.37\00:26:54.41
you know, things like culture,
00:26:54.44\00:26:56.04
I've been shaped or just things
00:26:56.08\00:26:57.55
that are there that you grew up
00:26:57.58\00:26:58.91
with that you
automatically believe,
00:26:58.95\00:27:00.28
this is it and you
put into experience.
00:27:00.32\00:27:02.78
We live in a
cultural transmission world.
00:27:02.82\00:27:05.99
And what I mean by that?
00:27:06.02\00:27:07.96
Well, we learn a behavior
00:27:07.99\00:27:10.83
by observing someone else.
00:27:10.86\00:27:14.96
Does that ever happen to anyone?
00:27:15.00\00:27:16.33
Absolutely, I've
learned a lot of things
00:27:16.36\00:27:18.07
by watching someone else.
00:27:18.10\00:27:20.17
And then we have to
decide whether it's the thing
00:27:20.20\00:27:21.70
we wanna
incorporate in our life or not.
00:27:21.74\00:27:24.31
And so where did
they learn their behavior?
00:27:24.34\00:27:27.38
By watching someone
else. And how did that go?
00:27:27.41\00:27:30.41
They watch somebody else.
00:27:30.45\00:27:31.78
And so it goes on and on and on.
00:27:31.81\00:27:33.58
So we learn that way.
00:27:33.62\00:27:34.95
It covers all
ages, it can be young,
00:27:34.98\00:27:37.99
it can be old,
it doesn't matter.
00:27:38.02\00:27:39.89
And for
instance, I've got a story,
00:27:39.92\00:27:42.72
it's kind of
interesting, a child,
00:27:42.76\00:27:44.76
that he sees another
child getting his way
00:27:44.79\00:27:46.80
when he throws a fit.
00:27:46.83\00:27:48.36
Right quick,
they pick up on that,
00:27:48.40\00:27:51.73
you know, I have
had a wonderful step,
00:27:51.77\00:27:53.94
stepdad Earl.
00:27:53.97\00:27:55.87
And I didn't call him
stepdad I call him my dad.
00:27:55.90\00:27:59.41
You know, he was
such a good person.
00:27:59.44\00:28:01.18
And I often told him,
00:28:01.21\00:28:02.54
we will be doing these things.
00:28:02.58\00:28:03.91
Well, parents, grandparents,
stepparents are still alive,
00:28:03.95\00:28:07.28
you know, Torre
Morris that I loved him,
00:28:07.32\00:28:09.25
and that I appreciated him.
00:28:09.28\00:28:10.75
And I said, you
know, if I could choose
00:28:10.79\00:28:13.19
some man in the world
to take care of my mother
00:28:13.22\00:28:16.39
after my dad passed
away, it would be you.
00:28:16.42\00:28:19.59
Now that's pretty
good as far as my thinking.
00:28:19.63\00:28:21.86
So he was that kind of man,
but anyway, he had two sons.
00:28:21.90\00:28:25.67
And we talked about
the influence and culture.
00:28:25.70\00:28:27.84
It was different many years ago.
00:28:27.87\00:28:29.64
So just to kind of
hang on to your hats
00:28:29.67\00:28:31.17
and don't get excited
00:28:31.21\00:28:32.54
about some of these
things 'cause we said,
00:28:32.57\00:28:33.91
"We don't do that nowadays."
00:28:33.94\00:28:35.64
But he took his
youngest son into the store.
00:28:35.68\00:28:38.65
And the son said,
"I want this toy."
00:28:38.68\00:28:41.28
I've got to have this toy.
00:28:41.32\00:28:42.65
And dad said,
00:28:42.68\00:28:44.22
"No, you can't
have that toy right now.
00:28:44.25\00:28:45.82
We don't have time. Let's go."
He said, "No, I want that toy."
00:28:45.85\00:28:48.82
He said, "No, you
can't have that toy."
00:28:48.86\00:28:50.23
Well, pretty soon.
00:28:50.26\00:28:51.59
The boy just lays
down on the concrete floor.
00:28:51.63\00:28:53.93
All right.
00:28:53.96\00:28:55.66
And he looks at his dad,
00:28:55.70\00:28:57.80
all the people
start to get around.
00:28:57.83\00:28:59.37
And then he goes banging
his head on the concrete.
00:28:59.40\00:29:04.27
He started, and dad
looked him and said,
00:29:04.31\00:29:06.14
"He's never done this before.
00:29:06.17\00:29:08.11
Why is he doing this?"
00:29:08.14\00:29:09.48
You know, so we
got down real quick
00:29:09.51\00:29:11.01
and said, "Son
get off of the floor."
00:29:11.05\00:29:12.71
I want that toy.
00:29:12.75\00:29:14.08
He's about
saying, I want that toy.
00:29:14.12\00:29:16.18
Dad thought, you know what,
00:29:16.22\00:29:17.55
evidently the
banging of the head
00:29:17.59\00:29:18.92
is not doing any good.
00:29:18.95\00:29:20.29
So I'm gonna help him.
00:29:20.32\00:29:21.66
So he got a hold of his
neck and he went boom, boom.
00:29:21.69\00:29:23.02
And all of a
sudden the boy thought
00:29:27.63\00:29:29.03
this is not quite
what I had in mind.
00:29:29.06\00:29:31.40
So he decided to change his mind
00:29:31.43\00:29:33.10
and get up and go.
00:29:33.13\00:29:34.54
So dad wanted to get
out of it gathered a group,
00:29:34.57\00:29:38.71
but right now just as
soon as that happened,
00:29:38.74\00:29:40.61
there would be phones,
dialing 911, and family server,
00:29:40.64\00:29:44.51
you know, all
kinds of stuff going on,
00:29:44.55\00:29:45.88
way back then it didn't.
00:29:45.91\00:29:47.25
You know, a lot of
them probably say good
00:29:47.28\00:29:49.08
give it to him, you
know, he took him outside.
00:29:49.12\00:29:52.05
I guess the whole
point took him outside.
00:29:52.09\00:29:53.49
He said, "Son,
Ted," was his name,
00:29:53.52\00:29:55.76
"Ted, why in the
world did you do that?
00:29:55.79\00:29:58.46
You've never done that before."
00:29:58.49\00:30:00.23
He said, "Dad because
00:30:00.26\00:30:01.60
I saw the boy next door
over here he wanted the toy.
00:30:01.63\00:30:04.90
They said no.
00:30:04.93\00:30:06.27
And he began to bang
his head on the floor
00:30:06.30\00:30:07.64
and he got the toy."
00:30:07.67\00:30:09.10
So we see that
they learn by what?
00:30:09.14\00:30:12.27
What they see and
thought he was going to get.
00:30:12.31\00:30:14.38
All he got was a
bigger knot on his head.
00:30:14.41\00:30:17.68
And he never did do that again.
00:30:17.71\00:30:20.18
So we know, we did,
00:30:20.22\00:30:21.55
throwing a fit
sometime it depends.
00:30:21.58\00:30:23.22
You know, the outcome depends
upon how the parent handles it.
00:30:23.25\00:30:26.96
And we're gonna
handle it by the Word of God
00:30:26.99\00:30:28.52
here in the time
that we have left.
00:30:28.56\00:30:29.89
God warned ancient Israel.
00:30:29.92\00:30:32.06
He warned them up
against, you know,
00:30:32.09\00:30:33.80
about mingling
with other nations.
00:30:33.83\00:30:35.23
Why?
00:30:35.26\00:30:36.60
Because they will be influenced.
00:30:36.63\00:30:38.03
God did not want
them to pick up on things
00:30:38.07\00:30:39.83
and have them in their culture
00:30:39.87\00:30:41.30
to bring it into God's
special seed, His people.
00:30:41.34\00:30:45.04
So He warned them.
00:30:45.07\00:30:46.44
And I wonder how many of us
00:30:46.47\00:30:47.81
as I read the one
passage of scripture
00:30:47.84\00:30:49.34
in Ezra 9:1-2, I
thought was so interesting,
00:30:49.38\00:30:53.48
and I'm just paraphrasing
here because of the time.
00:30:53.52\00:30:56.02
This says, "The people of Israel
00:30:56.05\00:30:57.55
are doing abominations.
00:30:57.59\00:30:59.59
The Holy seed have mingled
00:30:59.62\00:31:01.49
with other
people in other lands."
00:31:01.52\00:31:03.93
So we see that there and notice,
00:31:03.96\00:31:05.79
what the Prophet Ezra did?
00:31:05.83\00:31:08.76
I thought it was
very, very interesting.
00:31:08.80\00:31:10.47
It tore him up.
00:31:10.50\00:31:14.64
You know, as a pastor
00:31:14.67\00:31:16.00
sometime do we get torn
up elders of the church,
00:31:16.04\00:31:17.87
leaders of the
church get torn up
00:31:17.91\00:31:19.34
when our people are
going in the wrong direction.
00:31:19.37\00:31:22.14
This tore him up so much,
it said he rent his clothes.
00:31:22.18\00:31:26.68
It said he pulled
some of his hair out.
00:31:26.72\00:31:29.38
He pulled some of his beard out.
00:31:29.42\00:31:31.59
And some have said,
"Oh, man I'm not gonna go
00:31:31.62\00:31:33.32
through that I hate
that the Joe is doing this."
00:31:33.36\00:31:35.29
But we don't
maybe get so connected,
00:31:35.32\00:31:37.13
but this tore him up.
00:31:37.16\00:31:38.49
Not so much of what
but because God said
00:31:38.53\00:31:41.23
don't do that these
things are abomination.
00:31:41.26\00:31:43.97
When God says come apart
00:31:44.00\00:31:45.57
and be separate
touch not the unclean.
00:31:45.60\00:31:47.97
That's exactly what's
that 2 Corinthians 6:17
00:31:48.00\00:31:51.87
is that's exactly
what God means why?
00:31:51.91\00:31:54.28
He wants to protect us.
That's right. That's right.
00:31:54.31\00:31:56.11
He doesn't want
us to get in trouble,
00:31:56.14\00:31:57.48
pick up any of these bad habits
or sins from other nations.
00:31:57.51\00:32:01.68
He doesn't want us to
get old knot on our head.
00:32:01.72\00:32:05.42
He doesn't want that to happen.
00:32:05.45\00:32:06.92
But there has to be a
good balance in Scripture
00:32:06.96\00:32:08.72
because you can't just
leave everything out there.
00:32:08.76\00:32:12.33
The Bible says
that we are in the world
00:32:12.36\00:32:14.63
but not to be of the
world there in John 17:16.
00:32:14.66\00:32:19.47
And so we have a
place in this world
00:32:19.50\00:32:21.54
and we have an
influence in this world.
00:32:21.57\00:32:23.41
We have a culture,
00:32:23.44\00:32:24.84
all of us do come
from different places.
00:32:24.87\00:32:26.94
We hear about New York,
you know, different things.
00:32:26.98\00:32:29.18
And it's not kind of coming
00:32:29.21\00:32:30.55
from a cornfield
in Southern Illinois.
00:32:30.58\00:32:32.51
There's a difference in culture,
00:32:32.55\00:32:34.12
but yet we need to have
00:32:34.15\00:32:35.48
the Bible as the
basic and the rule,
00:32:35.52\00:32:37.25
the influence that
transcends all culture,
00:32:37.29\00:32:42.96
all other tradition that
you're talking about here
00:32:42.99\00:32:45.33
and traditions, the
Bible and the Bible only.
00:32:45.36\00:32:47.40
Why?
00:32:47.43\00:32:48.76
Because the
Bible is the only book
00:32:48.80\00:32:50.13
that can transform your life.
00:32:50.17\00:32:52.30
It can change your life.
It can make the ugly pretty.
00:32:52.33\00:32:56.54
That's right. Did you get it?
00:32:56.57\00:32:57.91
Right. It can
make the ugly pretty.
00:32:57.94\00:32:59.71
It can take the things
that Paul talked about things
00:32:59.74\00:33:02.51
he once loved that we now hate.
00:33:02.54\00:33:04.41
It can change you just right
around in a circle for sure.
00:33:04.45\00:33:07.68
That's why the
question is asked there
00:33:07.72\00:33:09.32
in 1 John 2:15-17.
00:33:09.35\00:33:11.62
We can't read that right now,
00:33:11.65\00:33:12.99
but it's talking about
that we're not to love what?
00:33:13.02\00:33:15.59
The world.
00:33:15.62\00:33:16.96
Of the world, love the world
00:33:16.99\00:33:18.33
or things that are in the world.
00:33:18.36\00:33:19.69
John just simply says,
00:33:19.73\00:33:21.06
"Love not stop
loving, do not, you know,
00:33:21.10\00:33:23.90
continue to love the
world, the things in the world
00:33:23.93\00:33:27.24
or even the
people of the world."
00:33:27.27\00:33:28.90
It's very difficult sometimes
for us when people are involved
00:33:28.94\00:33:32.21
and yet they're say it
nicely, they're worldly,
00:33:32.24\00:33:35.18
they just
haven't accepted Jesus,
00:33:35.21\00:33:37.05
but, you know
what, we hang around
00:33:37.08\00:33:38.41
with those kind of
folks sometime we'll,
00:33:38.45\00:33:40.08
you know, their
culture will come back on us
00:33:40.12\00:33:42.68
and be able to change
our thoughts and our opinion,
00:33:42.72\00:33:44.89
rather than
staying in the Word of God.
00:33:44.92\00:33:47.22
So we realized here
this good, we must be aware
00:33:47.26\00:33:50.93
and resist these
things the enemy puts on us in
00:33:50.96\00:33:54.93
I think it's James 4:7
00:33:54.96\00:33:57.20
says submit yourself
unto God, right, and do what?
00:33:57.23\00:34:00.87
Resist. That means fight.
00:34:00.90\00:34:02.70
That means we have to be
willing to fight to the death
00:34:02.74\00:34:05.07
as it were like Jesus did,
that we'd rather in our life,
00:34:05.11\00:34:08.04
we'd rather die
than commit annoying sin.
00:34:08.08\00:34:11.75
That's pretty
heavy duty. That's right.
00:34:11.78\00:34:13.55
But God wants us
to come to that point.
00:34:13.58\00:34:16.08
It's not to be
influenced by the world.
00:34:16.12\00:34:17.69
So we resist the enemy.
00:34:17.72\00:34:19.15
Quickly here in
just less than a minute.
00:34:19.19\00:34:21.29
There's about seven things
we can look at real quick,
00:34:21.32\00:34:23.32
we submit to God,
we resist the devil,
00:34:23.36\00:34:25.73
the Bible said we
draw a nigh to God,
00:34:25.76\00:34:27.66
we clean hands, right?
00:34:27.70\00:34:29.03
Purify hearts, humble
ourself, and then one thing down
00:34:29.06\00:34:32.00
there in verse 10
there of James 4:7-10.
00:34:32.03\00:34:35.30
It says, "Don't speak
evil, about one another."
00:34:35.34\00:34:38.71
You know, probably all of
us could learn that lesson
00:34:38.74\00:34:41.48
by the grace of
God not to speak evil.
00:34:41.51\00:34:44.01
Man, I always said, if I
can't say something good,
00:34:44.05\00:34:45.81
you know, you've
heard that input.
00:34:45.85\00:34:47.68
Don't say if you
can't say something good,
00:34:47.72\00:34:49.18
don't say
anything to the person.
00:34:49.22\00:34:51.09
You know, because
that's the following scripture.
00:34:51.12\00:34:53.22
And then James 4:10 simply says,
00:34:53.25\00:34:55.89
"Then if you do these things,
then He will lift you up."
00:34:55.92\00:34:59.06
And by the grace of
God I wanna be lifted up.
00:34:59.09\00:35:00.86
I wanna be lifted
up in higher plane.
00:35:00.90\00:35:02.53
I don't wanna be
influenced by culture.
00:35:02.56\00:35:04.13
I don't wanna be
influenced by the world,
00:35:04.17\00:35:05.57
even though culture is
good in some things, but what?
00:35:05.60\00:35:08.27
We wanna be
influenced by the Word of God.
00:35:08.30\00:35:09.97
Amen.
00:35:10.01\00:35:11.34
Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny.
00:35:11.37\00:35:12.81
Each one of you as I
think about this lesson,
00:35:12.84\00:35:15.48
tradition is not all bad,
00:35:15.51\00:35:17.85
but if tradition
supersedes the Word of God,
00:35:17.88\00:35:20.02
there's a problem.
00:35:20.05\00:35:21.38
Experience is good, but
if experience supersedes
00:35:21.42\00:35:24.72
the Word of God,
there's an issue.
00:35:24.75\00:35:26.19
Culture is not all bad,
00:35:26.22\00:35:28.62
but if culture
supersedes the Word of God,
00:35:28.66\00:35:30.43
there's an issue.
00:35:30.46\00:35:31.79
So on Wednesday,
we look at Reason.
00:35:31.83\00:35:34.76
Reason is not bad,
00:35:34.80\00:35:36.46
but if it
supersedes the Word of God,
00:35:36.50\00:35:38.47
there is a problem.
00:35:38.50\00:35:40.20
Yes.
00:35:40.24\00:35:41.57
We're looking at
four aspects here.
00:35:41.60\00:35:43.51
I'll tell you that upfront
so, you know, where we're going.
00:35:43.54\00:35:46.68
We're gonna look at empiricism,
irrationalism, rationalism,
00:35:46.71\00:35:51.51
and then biblical faith.
00:35:51.55\00:35:54.42
The first three might
all have some elements
00:35:54.45\00:35:57.29
of truth mixed with error.
00:35:57.32\00:35:59.15
We get to the end biblical faith
00:35:59.19\00:36:00.82
that is 100% solid.
00:36:00.86\00:36:02.62
So let's look
at that empiricism.
00:36:02.66\00:36:03.99
What is that?
00:36:04.03\00:36:05.79
True Christians
must reject empiricism.
00:36:05.83\00:36:09.56
Empiricism is a theory
that all knowledge is derived
00:36:09.60\00:36:13.13
from experience
or from your senses.
00:36:13.17\00:36:17.61
It's a philosophical belief
00:36:17.64\00:36:19.27
that states your
knowledge of the world
00:36:19.31\00:36:20.84
is based on your experiences,
00:36:20.88\00:36:23.55
based on your
sensory experiences.
00:36:23.58\00:36:27.15
This is where what
Pastor Johnny talked about,
00:36:27.18\00:36:29.92
you could get the
danger of having experience
00:36:29.95\00:36:32.42
when it's not in
line with a Word of God.
00:36:32.45\00:36:35.46
Of course, we know experience
00:36:35.49\00:36:36.89
is important as Pastor
Johnny brought out so well,
00:36:36.93\00:36:39.03
taste and see
that the Lord is good.
00:36:39.06\00:36:41.00
Psalm 34:8, we are
called to experience God.
00:36:41.03\00:36:45.50
1 John 1:1-3.
00:36:45.53\00:36:47.84
This is some of my
favorite scriptures,
00:36:47.87\00:36:50.31
John the Apostle writing,
00:36:50.34\00:36:52.17
"That which was
from the beginning,
00:36:52.21\00:36:53.68
which we have heard,
00:36:53.71\00:36:55.04
which we have
seen with our eyes,
00:36:55.08\00:36:57.11
which we have looked upon,
and our hands have handled,
00:36:57.15\00:37:00.22
concerning the Word of life."
00:37:00.25\00:37:02.62
We jumped to verse 3.
00:37:02.65\00:37:04.75
"That which we have seen
and heard we declare to you,
00:37:04.79\00:37:07.89
that you also may
have fellowship with us,
00:37:07.92\00:37:10.39
and truly our
fellowship is with the Father
00:37:10.43\00:37:12.83
and with His Son Jesus Christ."
00:37:12.86\00:37:15.00
John saying what
we have experienced
00:37:15.03\00:37:17.63
walking and talking with Jesus,
00:37:17.67\00:37:20.30
we are sharing that with you.
00:37:20.34\00:37:22.57
So there's elements
of truth and experience
00:37:22.60\00:37:24.81
because we want an experience.
00:37:24.84\00:37:26.84
God calls us to experience Him,
00:37:26.88\00:37:29.51
but there's also a
danger of empiricism.
00:37:29.54\00:37:33.01
I see that in 2 Peter 1.
00:37:33.05\00:37:34.88
2 Peter 1:16-19.
Verses 16 and 19.
00:37:34.92\00:37:39.59
Verse 16, says,
00:37:39.62\00:37:40.96
"We did not follow
cunningly devised fables
00:37:40.99\00:37:43.22
when we made
known to you the power
00:37:43.26\00:37:44.86
and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:37:44.89\00:37:47.20
but were
eyewitnesses of His majesty."
00:37:47.23\00:37:49.16
So Peter again is
saying, we experienced
00:37:49.20\00:37:52.00
and were telling
you just like John did,
00:37:52.03\00:37:54.07
were telling you
what we experienced.
00:37:54.10\00:37:57.01
But then verse 19,
Peter goes on to say,
00:37:57.04\00:37:59.54
"We have the
prophetic word confirmed."
00:37:59.57\00:38:01.91
We have a more
sure word of prophecy.
00:38:01.94\00:38:05.68
We have the prophetic word
more fully confirmed meaning
00:38:05.71\00:38:08.85
that the Word of
God is to be trusted
00:38:08.88\00:38:11.29
even above our experience.
00:38:11.32\00:38:13.96
Yes. That's empiricism.
00:38:13.99\00:38:16.16
Next, let's look
at irrationalism.
00:38:16.19\00:38:19.59
The true Christian
must reject irrationalism.
00:38:19.63\00:38:24.10
Irrationalism is
a system of belief
00:38:24.13\00:38:26.13
or action that disregards
00:38:26.17\00:38:28.37
or contradicts
rational principles.
00:38:28.40\00:38:31.47
Irrational would be
something that's not logical,
00:38:31.51\00:38:34.21
something that's not reasonable.
00:38:34.24\00:38:36.34
Now Mark Twain said,
00:38:36.38\00:38:37.71
"Faith was believing
what you know ain't so."
00:38:37.75\00:38:41.08
Some people say,
00:38:41.12\00:38:45.09
"Faith takes over
where reason leaves off."
00:38:45.12\00:38:49.32
Some people say,
00:38:49.36\00:38:50.69
"Well, Christianity
just can't be proven."
00:38:50.73\00:38:53.76
There might be one element
00:38:53.80\00:38:55.90
of truth in
this in irrationalism
00:38:55.93\00:38:59.30
when God asks us to do something
00:38:59.33\00:39:01.17
that maybe seems contradictory,
00:39:01.20\00:39:03.44
Pastor Ryan, to
rational thought.
00:39:03.47\00:39:06.04
That would be maybe
when God called Abraham
00:39:06.07\00:39:08.74
to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
00:39:08.78\00:39:10.91
Now that would be
considered irrational,
00:39:10.95\00:39:12.51
would it not?
00:39:12.55\00:39:13.88
You would say, well,
that goes against God,
00:39:13.92\00:39:15.25
you promised my son, right?
00:39:15.28\00:39:17.75
And there's supposed to be a
great nation coming from him.
00:39:17.79\00:39:20.66
So that might appear
irrational when God asked that.
00:39:20.69\00:39:25.69
What are the
dangers of irrationalism?
00:39:25.73\00:39:28.36
Faith involves reason.
00:39:28.40\00:39:29.90
And we know that when
we get to biblical faith,
00:39:29.93\00:39:32.07
we will see that.
00:39:32.10\00:39:33.44
In fact, the word for
faith in Greek is pa-stis.
00:39:33.47\00:39:36.60
It's used over 240
times in the New Testament,
00:39:36.64\00:39:41.58
and it literally
means to be persuaded.
00:39:41.61\00:39:45.25
Faith involves that reason.
00:39:45.28\00:39:47.42
Isaiah 1:18,
Pastor Kenny, God says,
00:39:47.45\00:39:50.09
"'Come now and let
us reason together,'
00:39:50.12\00:39:53.89
says the Lord.
00:39:53.92\00:39:55.26
Though your sins
are like scarlet,
00:39:55.29\00:39:56.62
they shall be white as snow."
00:39:56.66\00:39:58.76
1 Peter 3:15.
00:39:58.79\00:40:00.93
Peter tells us,
00:40:00.96\00:40:02.30
"Sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts,
00:40:02.33\00:40:04.13
and always be ready to
give a defense to everyone
00:40:04.17\00:40:07.44
who asks you a reason
for the hope that is in you,
00:40:07.47\00:40:10.27
with meekness and fear."
00:40:10.31\00:40:11.64
So reason is
important to our faith.
00:40:11.67\00:40:15.11
The next danger is rationalism.
00:40:15.14\00:40:17.71
Now we swing from irrationalism,
00:40:17.75\00:40:19.78
where there's no
logic to the opposite end
00:40:19.81\00:40:21.98
of the spectrum.
00:40:22.02\00:40:23.35
True Christians
must reject rationalism.
00:40:23.39\00:40:26.92
The definition of rationalism
would be a belief or a theory,
00:40:26.96\00:40:30.23
that opinions and actions
should be based on reason
00:40:30.26\00:40:33.63
and knowledge rather
than religious belief
00:40:33.66\00:40:37.60
or emotional experience.
00:40:37.63\00:40:41.30
It's the practice of
treating reason as the ultimate
00:40:41.34\00:40:45.14
authority in religion.
00:40:45.17\00:40:48.18
Now clearly we
already talked about that
00:40:48.21\00:40:51.15
we are to reason and
God calls us to do that,
00:40:51.18\00:40:53.82
we are to study and
what the Word of God
00:40:53.85\00:40:56.89
said the Word of God,
the faith in the Word of God.
00:40:56.92\00:41:00.16
There is reason behind
that, but there's also a danger.
00:41:00.19\00:41:05.63
If we use our minds and senses
to begin to judge God's Word.
00:41:05.66\00:41:10.73
Eve did that in
the Garden of Eden,
00:41:10.77\00:41:13.13
that first
temptations, Genesis 3:6.
00:41:13.17\00:41:17.07
Bible says, "When
the woman saw that
00:41:17.11\00:41:18.97
the tree was good for food,
00:41:19.01\00:41:20.68
that it was
pleasant to the eyes,
00:41:20.71\00:41:22.21
and a tree
desirable to make one wise,
00:41:22.24\00:41:24.61
she took of the fruit and ate.
00:41:24.65\00:41:27.52
She also gave to her
husband with her, and she ate."
00:41:27.55\00:41:30.22
She decided that her mind,
00:41:30.25\00:41:32.35
her reason would be above
what the Word of God said.
00:41:32.39\00:41:35.49
And God said,
00:41:35.52\00:41:36.86
"Don't eat of the tree of
knowledge of good and evil."
00:41:36.89\00:41:39.96
And she decided her
mind, her intellect,
00:41:40.00\00:41:42.70
her reason would be even above
00:41:42.73\00:41:45.80
what the Word of God said.
00:41:45.83\00:41:48.84
2 Corinthians Paul tells
us. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6.
00:41:48.87\00:41:53.38
This is when we
can use arguments
00:41:53.41\00:41:55.28
and false reasoning
to judge God's Word.
00:41:55.31\00:41:58.81
"Casting down
imaginations." King James says.
00:41:58.85\00:42:02.05
New King James says,
"Casting down arguments
00:42:02.08\00:42:04.89
and every high
thing that exalts itself
00:42:04.92\00:42:07.66
against the knowledge of God,
00:42:07.69\00:42:09.72
and bringing into captivity
00:42:09.76\00:42:11.39
every thought to the
obedience of Christ."
00:42:11.43\00:42:15.83
We are called to
cast down those arguments
00:42:15.86\00:42:18.17
that exalt themselves
against the Word of God.
00:42:18.20\00:42:21.44
So true Christians must
exercise biblical faith.
00:42:21.47\00:42:25.47
All right.
00:42:25.51\00:42:26.84
Hebrews 11:1,
00:42:26.88\00:42:28.21
"Faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
00:42:28.24\00:42:31.41
the evidence of
things not seen."
00:42:31.45\00:42:34.42
Biblical faith
is not blind faith.
00:42:34.45\00:42:36.69
Biblical faith is the
substance of things hoped for.
00:42:36.72\00:42:39.52
The word hoped for
means confident expectation.
00:42:39.55\00:42:44.43
We believe and trust
00:42:44.46\00:42:46.63
and know that God
stands back of His Word.
00:42:46.66\00:42:50.80
Let's look quickly
in closing five keys
00:42:50.83\00:42:54.30
to understanding
biblical faith and reason.
00:42:54.34\00:42:57.94
Key number one.
00:42:57.97\00:42:59.31
God invites questions
and discussion and dialogue.
00:42:59.34\00:43:03.75
God invites that.
00:43:03.78\00:43:05.11
We read the
scripture earlier, Isaiah 1:18.
00:43:05.15\00:43:07.92
"'Come now, let
us reason together,'
00:43:07.95\00:43:09.35
says the Lord,
00:43:09.38\00:43:10.72
'Though your sins be a scarlet,
they'll be white as snow,
00:43:10.75\00:43:13.29
though they'd be
red like crimson,
00:43:13.32\00:43:14.99
they shall be as wool.'"
00:43:15.02\00:43:16.52
God invites questions
discussion and dialogue.
00:43:16.56\00:43:20.13
Number two,
understanding God precedes
00:43:20.16\00:43:24.53
any true wisdom or reason.
00:43:24.57\00:43:26.70
In other words,
00:43:26.74\00:43:28.07
we need to understand God first,
00:43:28.10\00:43:29.57
before we ever have any
wisdom or any understanding.
00:43:29.60\00:43:33.68
Proverbs 9:10,
00:43:33.71\00:43:35.14
"The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom,
00:43:35.18\00:43:37.98
and the knowledge
00:43:38.01\00:43:39.35
of the Holy One
is understanding."
00:43:39.38\00:43:41.32
We need to know God first,
before we have anything else.
00:43:41.35\00:43:44.82
Number three, obeying God
00:43:44.85\00:43:47.66
precedes any true
knowledge or wisdom.
00:43:47.69\00:43:50.59
So not only do we
need to understand God,
00:43:50.63\00:43:52.69
we need to obey Him.
00:43:52.73\00:43:55.10
Proverbs 1:7,
00:43:55.13\00:43:56.83
"The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of knowledge,
00:43:56.87\00:43:58.80
but fools despise
wisdom and instruction."
00:43:58.83\00:44:03.34
Number four,
sanctification precedes
00:44:03.37\00:44:07.94
sharing the reason
for our faith with others.
00:44:07.98\00:44:11.18
Let's look at a
scripture for that.
00:44:11.21\00:44:12.71
1 Peter 3:15.
00:44:12.75\00:44:14.78
"Sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts,
00:44:14.82\00:44:18.15
and be ready
always to give a defense
00:44:18.19\00:44:20.99
to everyone who
asks you a reason
00:44:21.02\00:44:22.82
for the hope that is in
you, with meekness and fear."
00:44:22.86\00:44:25.83
What does that
say before we witness,
00:44:25.86\00:44:27.83
before we share the truth,
00:44:27.86\00:44:29.70
before we share the
Word of God with others?
00:44:29.73\00:44:32.63
God wants to
sanctify our hearts.
00:44:32.67\00:44:34.84
He wants to sanctify our
lives first then we're equipped
00:44:34.87\00:44:39.44
to share our
faith with someone else.
00:44:39.47\00:44:41.91
And finally, number five,
00:44:41.94\00:44:43.65
reason is part of
biblical teaching and sermons.
00:44:43.68\00:44:48.55
Acts 17:17 Paul.
00:44:48.58\00:44:51.09
"Paul reasoned in the
synagogue with the Jews
00:44:51.12\00:44:54.19
and with the Gentile worshipers,
00:44:54.22\00:44:56.36
and in the marketplace daily
00:44:56.39\00:44:58.29
with those who
happen to be there."
00:44:58.33\00:45:00.86
He reasoned, he discussed
00:45:00.90\00:45:02.80
because reason is
an important piece,
00:45:02.83\00:45:05.43
an integral part of our faith.
00:45:05.47\00:45:07.44
We just need to make
sure it is always subject
00:45:07.47\00:45:10.01
to the Word of God.
00:45:10.04\00:45:11.37
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:45:11.41\00:45:13.31
Man, this particular lesson
00:45:13.34\00:45:14.94
was very, very
relevant to me personally,
00:45:14.98\00:45:17.95
and I know it had to
be relevant to you guys
00:45:17.98\00:45:19.88
because going
through this, you know,
00:45:19.91\00:45:21.68
hearing Pastor Lomacang
00:45:21.72\00:45:23.05
talk about the
traditional aspect
00:45:23.08\00:45:24.99
and, of course,
Brother Dinzey talking about
00:45:25.02\00:45:27.22
the experience,
00:45:27.26\00:45:28.59
and then Pastor
Kenny with the culture,
00:45:28.62\00:45:30.56
and then of course,
you with the this reason
00:45:30.59\00:45:34.43
aspect of Scripture.
00:45:34.46\00:45:36.03
Thursday's lesson
is entitled The Bible.
00:45:36.06\00:45:38.43
And it kind of
brings all of these,
00:45:38.47\00:45:40.10
kind of ties all
of these together,
00:45:40.14\00:45:42.07
but it adds an element
00:45:42.10\00:45:43.84
in which we have to
put in proper perspective,
00:45:43.87\00:45:46.68
the relationship
between the Holy Spirit
00:45:46.71\00:45:49.78
and Scripture because again,
00:45:49.98\00:45:52.01
all of these aspects
that we've discussed so far,
00:45:52.05\00:45:54.75
you know, there's many people
00:45:54.78\00:45:56.12
that will say, you know
what, because of my tradition,
00:45:56.15\00:45:59.45
I believe this
is Holy Spirit led
00:45:59.49\00:46:02.06
my experiences this and I know,
00:46:02.09\00:46:03.89
the Holy Spirit led me to
experience this, you know,
00:46:03.93\00:46:06.59
in this culture that we live in,
00:46:06.63\00:46:08.83
you know, God's
Spirit would not be,
00:46:08.86\00:46:11.23
you know, would not
be leading me astray
00:46:11.27\00:46:13.27
into a culture that's not right.
00:46:13.30\00:46:14.64
And, of course, in my reasoning,
00:46:14.67\00:46:16.14
in my thoughts, in my ideas,
00:46:16.17\00:46:17.67
and the Holy Spirit's
leading and guiding me,
00:46:17.71\00:46:20.91
this particular
lesson on Thursday,
00:46:20.94\00:46:22.91
there was a part in
here that I have to read.
00:46:22.94\00:46:24.98
It's very well put,
00:46:25.01\00:46:26.45
and so I just want
to read it right now.
00:46:26.48\00:46:27.82
It says, "The Holy
Spirit, who has revealed
00:46:27.85\00:46:29.95
and inspired the content
of the Bible to human beings,
00:46:29.98\00:46:33.69
will never lead us
contrary to God's Word
00:46:33.72\00:46:38.19
or astray from the Word of God."
00:46:38.23\00:46:41.00
Very simple put,
but very powerful.
00:46:41.03\00:46:43.16
And it goes on to say,
"For Seventh-day Adventists,
00:46:43.20\00:46:45.73
the Bible has a higher authority
00:46:45.77\00:46:47.64
than human tradition,
experience, reason, or culture.
00:46:47.67\00:46:52.24
The Bible alone is the
norm by which everything else
00:46:52.27\00:46:55.98
needs to be tested."
00:46:56.01\00:46:57.91
So hence why this
study is entitled The Bible
00:46:57.95\00:47:00.68
because you have all
these different aspects
00:47:00.72\00:47:02.32
that people are led by,
but at the end of the day,
00:47:02.35\00:47:04.29
we must allow God's Word
00:47:04.32\00:47:06.15
and God's Word alone
to lead and guide us.
00:47:06.19\00:47:08.82
In fact, this is very true
00:47:08.86\00:47:10.39
for Jesus Christ
in the scriptures.
00:47:10.43\00:47:12.53
Go with me to John
Chapter 5. John 5:46-47.
00:47:12.56\00:47:18.40
And then we're gonna
jump over to John Chapter 7.
00:47:18.43\00:47:21.14
And you'll see that
there's a common theme
00:47:21.17\00:47:23.34
in these two
particular texts in relation
00:47:23.37\00:47:25.81
to how Jesus allowed
scripture to lead His life.
00:47:25.84\00:47:29.88
John 5:46-47.
00:47:29.91\00:47:32.81
Jesus says here, "For
if you believed Moses,
00:47:32.85\00:47:35.68
you would believe Me,
for he wrote about Me.
00:47:35.72\00:47:39.42
But if you do not
believe his writings,
00:47:39.45\00:47:41.66
how will you believe My words?"
00:47:41.69\00:47:43.99
Okay, so that's John Chapter 5.
00:47:44.03\00:47:45.79
Jesus says it's
strongly emphasizing
00:47:45.83\00:47:48.23
the importance of scripture,
00:47:48.26\00:47:49.60
go back to the
Bible, study the scripture
00:47:49.63\00:47:51.43
because if you've
read these, and of course,
00:47:51.47\00:47:53.27
he's referring to
the Old Testament text.
00:47:53.30\00:47:55.24
If you read this Old Testament,
00:47:55.27\00:47:56.94
if you read the
scriptures that come before,
00:47:56.97\00:47:58.77
you know that they
are testifying of Me.
00:47:58.81\00:48:01.34
John 7:37-38,
very similar context.
00:48:01.38\00:48:05.78
Notice, what it says
here, "On the last day,
00:48:05.81\00:48:08.62
the great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried out,
00:48:08.65\00:48:11.49
saying, 'If anyone thirsts,
let him come to Me and drink.
00:48:11.52\00:48:16.69
He who believes
in Me," notice this,
00:48:16.73\00:48:19.23
"as the Scripture has said,
00:48:19.26\00:48:21.70
out of his
heart will flow rivers
00:48:21.73\00:48:23.43
of living waters.'"
00:48:23.47\00:48:24.80
So Christ is always emphasizing
God's Word in His preaching,
00:48:24.83\00:48:28.87
in His teaching, in His counsel.
00:48:28.90\00:48:31.17
But notice this
first off notice,
00:48:31.21\00:48:33.07
notice how Jesus is
confirming His divinity
00:48:33.11\00:48:36.41
and His Messiahship here?
00:48:36.44\00:48:39.61
This is a powerful, it's
simple, but powerful here.
00:48:39.65\00:48:42.35
Notice, how He's not showing
up on the scene and saying,
00:48:42.38\00:48:45.05
you know, "Hey, look,
00:48:45.09\00:48:46.42
look at all
these wonderful signs
00:48:46.45\00:48:47.79
and wonders that
I'm working here.
00:48:47.82\00:48:49.16
Oh, let me turn
this water into wine,
00:48:49.19\00:48:50.93
that proves that
I'm your Messiah.
00:48:50.96\00:48:52.56
Let me raise the
sky from the dead.
00:48:52.59\00:48:53.96
Surely that proves
that I'm your Messiah.
00:48:54.00\00:48:55.90
Let me work all these signs
and wonders and these miracles.
00:48:55.93\00:48:58.27
Surely that is
the solidified proof
00:48:58.30\00:49:00.64
that I am your coming Messiah."
00:49:00.67\00:49:02.37
That's not what we find here.
00:49:02.40\00:49:03.74
Jesus never pointed the people
to the signs and the wonders
00:49:03.77\00:49:06.94
and the experience
and the things that
00:49:06.98\00:49:08.81
they were
seeing with their eyes.
00:49:08.84\00:49:10.18
He always pointed them
back to the scripture saying,
00:49:10.21\00:49:11.78
"Look, I'm your Messiah."
00:49:11.81\00:49:13.15
Why? Because the
Bible confirms it.
00:49:13.18\00:49:15.28
Go back to the Scripture,
study the Word of God,
00:49:15.32\00:49:18.05
then you will see that
I am indeed your Savior.
00:49:18.09\00:49:22.52
It's powerful. You
know, he's not using...
00:49:22.56\00:49:24.69
In any of these cases
He's not using convoluted,
00:49:24.73\00:49:26.86
you know, out of thin
air spiritualistic revelation
00:49:26.90\00:49:31.47
to be the basis
of His Messiahship.
00:49:31.50\00:49:33.90
He allows the Word
of God to be the basis
00:49:33.94\00:49:36.14
and proof for His ministry
and His accomplishments.
00:49:36.17\00:49:41.38
And, you know, this
really hit home for me
00:49:41.41\00:49:43.58
because I grew
up going, you know,
00:49:43.61\00:49:46.21
to many different churches
00:49:46.25\00:49:47.58
studying with many
different denominations,
00:49:47.62\00:49:48.95
but my primary experience
growing up in Christianity
00:49:48.98\00:49:52.62
was in the
charismatic Pentecostal churches
00:49:52.65\00:49:55.42
and I just want to
say for the record,
00:49:55.46\00:49:56.79
I love those people, you
know, there's good people,
00:49:56.83\00:49:59.16
wonderful people
in this movement.
00:49:59.19\00:50:01.76
But nonetheless, I
remember growing up,
00:50:01.80\00:50:03.70
you know, much
of that experience
00:50:03.73\00:50:05.80
is based on personal
feeling, personal experience,
00:50:05.83\00:50:10.61
and then you'll
hear a lot of people say,
00:50:10.64\00:50:12.54
"Well, the Holy
Spirit said to me.
00:50:12.57\00:50:14.91
Well, the Holy Spirit told me.
00:50:14.94\00:50:16.78
Well, God said to me last night.
00:50:16.81\00:50:18.78
Well, God came and told
me to give you this message."
00:50:18.81\00:50:21.98
And then, you know,
some of the things that
00:50:22.02\00:50:23.65
would come out
of people's mouths,
00:50:23.69\00:50:25.02
years later, I would find out
00:50:25.05\00:50:26.39
that's not in
harmony with God's Word.
00:50:26.42\00:50:28.52
The Holy Spirit will
never ever speak to someone
00:50:28.56\00:50:32.29
and lead them
contrary to God's Word
00:50:32.33\00:50:34.10
and that's what this
lesson here on Thursday's lesson
00:50:34.13\00:50:37.17
is emphasizing the
fact that, you know,
00:50:37.20\00:50:39.97
you can have this
spiritualistic experience,
00:50:40.00\00:50:44.21
but it leads you to
personal philosophies
00:50:44.24\00:50:46.78
and these secret revelations
00:50:46.81\00:50:48.21
that you think
are coming from God,
00:50:48.24\00:50:50.38
but it's not from
the Spirit of God.
00:50:50.41\00:50:53.52
I think of Desire of
Ages, page 671 notice,
00:50:53.55\00:50:56.48
powerful statement from
Desire of Ages, page 671.
00:50:56.52\00:51:00.52
"Through the Scriptures
00:51:00.56\00:51:02.26
the Holy Spirit
speaks to the mind."
00:51:02.29\00:51:04.86
How does the Holy
Spirit minister us?
00:51:04.89\00:51:06.86
Through the Scriptures.
00:51:06.90\00:51:08.46
"And impresses
truth upon the heart.
00:51:08.50\00:51:11.20
Thus He exposes error
and expels it from the soul.
00:51:11.23\00:51:14.90
It is by the Spirit of
truth." I wanna emphasize that.
00:51:14.94\00:51:18.24
Spirit of truth,
never will the Holy Spirit.
00:51:18.27\00:51:21.21
Again, I've
said this many times.
00:51:21.24\00:51:22.74
Never will the Holy
Spirit, teach you something,
00:51:22.78\00:51:25.15
give you something or
share something with you
00:51:25.18\00:51:27.25
that is not in
harmony with God's truth.
00:51:27.28\00:51:28.95
That's why it's
referred to the spirit of truth.
00:51:28.98\00:51:30.82
Jesus said, "I am the
way, the truth, and the life."
00:51:30.85\00:51:33.05
And, of course, Jesus
said, you know, "Sanctify them
00:51:33.09\00:51:35.86
by thy truth,
thy word is truth."
00:51:35.89\00:51:38.56
This particular
quote goes on to say,
00:51:38.59\00:51:40.33
"It is by the Spirit of truth,
00:51:40.36\00:51:41.76
working through the word of God,
00:51:41.80\00:51:43.53
that Christ subdues His
chosen people to Himself."
00:51:43.57\00:51:47.27
So, you know, when I
hear a brother or sister say,
00:51:47.30\00:51:49.07
you know, the word...
00:51:49.10\00:51:50.67
I did many
different evangelistic series
00:51:50.71\00:51:53.07
and, you know, you meet
a lot of different people,
00:51:53.11\00:51:55.31
and you give out, you know,
00:51:55.34\00:51:56.68
you send out those
public announcements
00:51:56.71\00:51:59.45
that you're gonna
have an evangelistic series
00:51:59.48\00:52:00.92
and you invite people,
you want people to come,
00:52:00.95\00:52:02.88
but you never know
who's gonna show up,
00:52:02.92\00:52:04.59
and what kind of
experience you're gonna have?
00:52:04.62\00:52:06.39
One particular
experience comes to my mind,
00:52:06.42\00:52:08.46
where I had done a
sermon on the Holy Spirit
00:52:08.49\00:52:11.29
and the gifts of the Spirit.
00:52:11.33\00:52:12.66
And in a small portion
of that particular sermon,
00:52:12.69\00:52:15.20
I talked about how, you know,
00:52:15.23\00:52:16.87
the gift of speaking in tongues.
00:52:16.90\00:52:19.20
And I noticed
this one lady who came,
00:52:19.23\00:52:21.24
she came every night
to my evangelistic series,
00:52:21.27\00:52:23.41
but after that
particular sermon,
00:52:23.44\00:52:24.77
she didn't come back.
00:52:24.81\00:52:26.14
And so a day or two kind
of went by and I thought,
00:52:26.17\00:52:27.74
"Oh, this isn't,
this isn't like her."
00:52:27.78\00:52:29.11
So I called her.
00:52:29.14\00:52:30.48
I said, "Hey, you
know, we're missing you,
00:52:30.51\00:52:31.85
is everything okay?"
00:52:31.88\00:52:33.21
And she commenced to tell me,
00:52:33.25\00:52:34.58
"Well, I didn't agree
with what you said about that
00:52:34.62\00:52:35.95
because I speak in tongues
00:52:35.98\00:52:37.59
and the Holy
Spirit speaks through me
00:52:37.62\00:52:39.95
and the Holy Spirit tells me
00:52:39.99\00:52:41.32
that what I've
experienced is real."
00:52:41.36\00:52:43.56
And I remember asking her,
00:52:43.59\00:52:44.93
but what if what
you're experiencing
00:52:44.96\00:52:47.50
what you're feeling,
and these revelations
00:52:47.53\00:52:50.20
that you're receiving
from the Spirit of God
00:52:50.23\00:52:52.53
is not in
harmony with God's Word.
00:52:52.57\00:52:54.47
And her response
didn't surprise me,
00:52:54.50\00:52:56.37
but yet it did.
00:52:56.40\00:52:57.74
Her response was,
"Well, I'm not sure exactly
00:52:57.77\00:53:00.78
what all the Bible
teaches on this subject,
00:53:00.81\00:53:03.01
but I know what
I've experienced.
00:53:03.04\00:53:05.48
And I know what the
Holy Spirit has told me,
00:53:05.51\00:53:08.98
even though it's not in
harmony with God's Word."
00:53:09.02\00:53:10.72
And so we got to be careful
00:53:10.75\00:53:12.32
because the Bible
tells us in 1 John 4:1,
00:53:12.35\00:53:16.56
"Beloved, do not
believe every spirit,
00:53:16.59\00:53:18.99
but test the spirits,
whether they are of God,
00:53:19.03\00:53:22.43
because many false prophets
have gone out into the world."
00:53:22.46\00:53:25.33
We need to make sure that
00:53:25.37\00:53:26.70
the spirit that
is ministering to us
00:53:26.74\00:53:29.37
and teaching us and guiding
us is that of the Spirit of God
00:53:29.40\00:53:31.77
and that it's in
harmony with God's Word.
00:53:31.81\00:53:34.21
There's no doubt in my mind
00:53:34.24\00:53:35.64
that a Spirit
spoke to that woman that
00:53:35.68\00:53:38.51
she was experiencing
something that was real,
00:53:38.55\00:53:41.95
but it was not of the
genuine Spirit of God.
00:53:41.98\00:53:46.02
Just in closing here,
00:53:46.05\00:53:50.26
and also
referencing John 16:8, 13-14.
00:53:50.29\00:53:54.93
We learn what
the Bible teaches us
00:53:54.96\00:53:56.46
about the Holy Spirit
00:53:56.50\00:53:57.83
and what we can
experience from this,
00:53:57.87\00:53:59.20
"But the Helper,
the Holy Spirit,"
00:53:59.23\00:54:00.60
this is John 14:26,
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit,
00:54:00.64\00:54:03.71
whom the Father
will send in My name,
00:54:03.74\00:54:05.51
He will teach you all things,
00:54:05.54\00:54:07.11
and bring to your remembrance
00:54:07.14\00:54:09.11
all things that I
have said to you."
00:54:09.14\00:54:10.65
Jesus says.
00:54:10.68\00:54:12.01
So He's not gonna send
the Holy Spirit and say,
00:54:12.05\00:54:13.38
you know, just going down there
and just tell them whatever.
00:54:13.42\00:54:15.05
No, no, no, the Holy
Spirit ministers to us
00:54:15.08\00:54:17.42
of the Word of God.
00:54:17.45\00:54:18.99
John 16:8, 13-14
says, "And when He has come,
00:54:19.02\00:54:24.29
He will convict
the world of sin,
00:54:24.33\00:54:25.99
and of
righteousness, and of judgment.
00:54:26.03\00:54:28.13
However, when He, the
Spirit of," there it is,
00:54:28.16\00:54:30.63
"truth, has come,
00:54:30.67\00:54:32.00
He will guide
you into all truth,
00:54:32.03\00:54:33.44
for He will not speak
of His own authority,"
00:54:33.47\00:54:36.00
there it is, "but
whatever He hears He will speak,
00:54:36.04\00:54:39.24
and He will tell
you things to come.
00:54:39.27\00:54:41.01
He will glorify Me,
for He will take of Mine
00:54:41.04\00:54:43.95
and declare it unto you."
00:54:43.98\00:54:45.91
So there's five things here.
00:54:45.95\00:54:47.28
I'm gonna give, I'm
gonna use the list here,
00:54:47.32\00:54:48.65
five things in
closing really quickly here.
00:54:48.68\00:54:50.65
The Holy Spirit will teach you
00:54:50.69\00:54:52.32
all things
according to Christ's Word.
00:54:52.35\00:54:54.76
He will remind you
always of God's ways,
00:54:54.79\00:54:57.99
He will reprove that is
convict the world of sin,
00:54:58.03\00:55:01.10
He will guide
you into all truth,
00:55:01.13\00:55:03.77
and of course, number five,
He always will glorify Christ
00:55:03.80\00:55:06.67
by revealing His
character to you.
00:55:06.70\00:55:08.64
So the ultimate lesson
00:55:08.67\00:55:10.01
we can learn here
is trust in God's Word.
00:55:10.04\00:55:12.51
Go back to the Bible,
00:55:12.54\00:55:14.11
and the Holy
Spirit will continue
00:55:14.14\00:55:15.48
to lead you always.
00:55:15.51\00:55:16.85
Amen. Wow, this
is powerful lesson.
00:55:16.88\00:55:18.91
I've really, really enjoyed this
00:55:18.95\00:55:20.75
because all these aspects,
00:55:20.78\00:55:23.08
that quote that you made
just a moment ago, tradition,
00:55:23.12\00:55:25.75
experience, culture, reason,
00:55:25.79\00:55:28.79
don't put any of
those above the Bible.
00:55:28.82\00:55:30.73
Pastor Dinzey,
your closing thought?
00:55:30.76\00:55:32.86
My closing
thought is from John 17:2,
00:55:32.89\00:55:36.36
"As you have given Him
authority over all flesh,
00:55:36.40\00:55:40.87
He should give eternal life
00:55:40.90\00:55:42.27
to as many as
You have given him.
00:55:42.30\00:55:45.01
And this is life
eternal, that they may know You,
00:55:45.04\00:55:47.94
the only true
God, and Jesus Christ
00:55:47.98\00:55:50.35
whom You have sent."
00:55:50.38\00:55:51.71
Enter into the
experience of knowing
00:55:51.75\00:55:54.65
the Father and the Son,
and you have eternal life.
00:55:54.68\00:55:57.19
That's right.
Thank you. Pastor Kenny?
00:55:57.22\00:55:58.75
Just a quick thought
on the Counsels to Parents
00:55:58.79\00:56:00.66
and Teachers, page 323, it says,
00:56:00.69\00:56:02.52
"The followers of
Christ are to be separate
00:56:02.56\00:56:04.83
from the world in
principle and interests,
00:56:04.86\00:56:07.66
but they are not
to isolate themselves
00:56:07.70\00:56:09.90
from the world.
00:56:09.93\00:56:11.43
The Savior mingled
constantly with men,
00:56:11.47\00:56:13.80
to uplift and ennoble them."
00:56:13.84\00:56:15.90
That's right. Amen.
00:56:15.94\00:56:17.57
Psalm 119:105, we
know the scripture,
00:56:17.61\00:56:22.31
"Your word is a lamp to my
feet and a light to my path."
00:56:22.34\00:56:26.72
God's Word illumines our reason,
00:56:26.75\00:56:29.68
our mind, our intellect
to enable us to understand
00:56:29.72\00:56:33.92
and share that Word with others.
00:56:33.96\00:56:35.52
That's right. Powerful.
00:56:35.56\00:56:36.89
There was a particular message
in Thursday's lesson that
00:56:36.93\00:56:41.06
I just wanna read
again, it's powerful.
00:56:41.10\00:56:42.96
It says, "The Holy Spirit
should never be understood
00:56:43.00\00:56:47.90
to replace the Word of God."
00:56:47.94\00:56:50.57
And that makes perfect sense
because it works in harmony
00:56:50.61\00:56:52.57
with the Word of God, right?
00:56:52.61\00:56:53.94
Rather, as it says,
"He works in harmony with
00:56:53.98\00:56:56.44
and through the
Bible to draw us to Christ,
00:56:56.48\00:56:58.75
thus making the
Bible the only norm
00:56:58.78\00:57:01.22
for authentic
biblical spirituality."
00:57:01.25\00:57:04.85
Wow, this lesson
is one and I thought,
00:57:04.89\00:57:07.92
I wondered to myself
where is this lesson going?
00:57:07.96\00:57:10.96
But if you look at
00:57:10.99\00:57:12.33
what we've just
talked about tradition,
00:57:12.36\00:57:14.26
experience, culture, reason,
00:57:14.30\00:57:16.97
all are subject
to the Word of God.
00:57:17.00\00:57:19.77
That's right. Amen.
00:57:19.80\00:57:21.14
I've met so many people,
Ryan, I was really listening
00:57:21.17\00:57:23.17
from an
evangelistic perspective,
00:57:23.20\00:57:24.61
and it's so true.
00:57:24.64\00:57:26.14
The wall against accepting truth
00:57:26.17\00:57:27.91
has been all these categories,
00:57:27.94\00:57:29.94
but I know what
the Spirit said to me,
00:57:29.98\00:57:31.31
well, my culture doesn't fit.
00:57:31.35\00:57:32.68
Well, I mean, I've
experienced certain things
00:57:32.71\00:57:34.75
that you also
experience so this must be
00:57:34.78\00:57:36.55
from the Spirit of God.
00:57:36.58\00:57:37.92
Well, I'm not sure about that.
00:57:37.95\00:57:39.29
Let me see what's the reason
I should keep the Sabbath?
00:57:39.32\00:57:41.92
It all comes back
to the Word of God.
00:57:41.96\00:57:43.83
So all things are
from the Word of God,
00:57:43.86\00:57:46.53
"Sanctify them by Your truth.
00:57:46.56\00:57:48.16
Your word is truth." John 17:17.
00:57:48.20\00:57:50.47
Join us next time
00:57:50.50\00:57:52.03
for the following
study lesson number five,
00:57:52.07\00:57:54.57
By Scripture
Alone-Sola Scriptura.
00:57:54.60\00:57:57.77
May the Lord bless you,
tradition, experience, culture,
00:57:57.81\00:58:00.41
reason, may it all
lead you to know Christ.
00:58:00.44\00:58:02.84
Amen.
00:58:02.88\00:58:04.21
Amen.
00:58:04.25\00:58:05.58