Hello, friends, this is John Lomacang. 00:00:01.36\00:00:02.70 Thank you for joining us here at 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:00:02.73\00:00:06.13 This entire quarter, we've been talking about The Promise, 00:00:06.17\00:00:09.07 the New Covenant Life, 00:00:09.10\00:00:10.57 the life that we have in Christ Jesus, 00:00:10.61\00:00:12.37 and that covenant has covered a number of topics, 00:00:12.41\00:00:15.88 from the fall of man, 00:00:15.91\00:00:17.25 to the exile of the children of Israel, to their freedom, 00:00:17.28\00:00:20.45 to the re-ratifying of that covenant 00:00:20.48\00:00:22.38 through giving the commandments of God. 00:00:22.42\00:00:24.29 But today, we're going to be talking 00:00:24.32\00:00:25.65 about the new covenant life. 00:00:25.69\00:00:27.46 You know, many people think that we have to wait till 00:00:27.49\00:00:29.12 we get to heaven to enjoy life. 00:00:29.16\00:00:30.59 But Jesus said, "I've come that you might have life 00:00:30.63\00:00:33.50 and have it more abundantly." 00:00:33.53\00:00:36.23 So we're going to end this quarter study on a high note, 00:00:36.26\00:00:39.13 how you can have joy in Christ, not waiting till heaven, 00:00:39.17\00:00:43.07 but having that joy now. 00:00:43.10\00:00:44.61 If you'd like to follow us, you can get a lesson 00:00:44.64\00:00:46.78 by going to ABSG.Adventist.org download a copy, 00:00:46.81\00:00:50.51 or you can go to your local Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:00:50.55\00:00:52.81 and join them in a hands-on study. 00:00:52.85\00:00:55.18 But we prefer that you join us here 00:00:55.22\00:00:57.65 as we take the time to make Christ real to you. 00:00:57.69\00:01:00.56 So don't go away. 00:01:00.59\00:01:02.02 We'll be right back. 00:01:02.06\00:01:03.43 Hello, friends, welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:01:33.76\00:01:36.62 I cannot believe it but this is lesson number 13 00:01:36.66\00:01:40.60 for the second quarter. 00:01:40.63\00:01:42.40 And we've been covering The Promise, 00:01:42.43\00:01:43.83 God's Everlasting Covenant. 00:01:43.87\00:01:45.77 And we have been really working 00:01:45.80\00:01:47.87 through some difficult passages in the Bible. 00:01:47.90\00:01:50.44 Abraham has been one of the central themes, 00:01:50.47\00:01:52.44 but Christ is always the supreme theme 00:01:52.47\00:01:55.54 of the issue of salvation and redemption. 00:01:55.58\00:01:58.81 And today we have a family that's rearing to go. 00:01:58.85\00:02:01.18 So let me go ahead and introduce 00:02:01.22\00:02:02.55 those family members to you. 00:02:02.58\00:02:04.12 To my immediate left is our COO and vice president, 00:02:04.15\00:02:07.12 Jill, good to have you here today. 00:02:07.16\00:02:08.49 Thank you, Pastor John. Privileged to be here. 00:02:08.52\00:02:10.33 I have a question. 00:02:10.36\00:02:11.69 Do you have a list? There's a list of three things. 00:02:11.73\00:02:13.06 Oh, good to have you. 00:02:13.09\00:02:14.43 And somebody sneaked in on us, Jason Bradley, 00:02:14.46\00:02:17.33 head of Dare to Dream Network. 00:02:17.37\00:02:19.00 Good to have you here, Jason. 00:02:19.03\00:02:20.37 It's great to be here. 00:02:20.40\00:02:21.74 I'm looking forward to hearing 00:02:21.77\00:02:23.10 what all of you are going to share today. 00:02:23.14\00:02:24.47 Okay. And the lady with many hats. 00:02:24.51\00:02:27.21 The lady from Texas, 00:02:27.24\00:02:28.58 the state of Texas, Shelley Quinn. 00:02:28.61\00:02:30.05 Good to have you here, Shelley. Thank you. 00:02:30.08\00:02:31.58 It's such a privilege to study with you. 00:02:31.61\00:02:33.85 And if I call him at 2:30 in the morning, 00:02:33.88\00:02:35.62 he'll be ready to sing, Ryan Day Pastor. 00:02:35.65\00:02:37.75 Amen. Blessing, blessing to be here. 00:02:37.79\00:02:39.85 Good. We are going to talk about... 00:02:39.89\00:02:42.76 My lesson is going to be about joy, about joy. 00:02:42.79\00:02:47.33 But in order to have joy, let's begin with prayer. 00:02:47.36\00:02:49.60 Jason, would you start with prayer for us? 00:02:49.63\00:02:51.10 Absolutely. 00:02:51.13\00:02:52.47 Dear Heavenly Father, 00:02:52.50\00:02:53.84 we thank You so much for the opportunity 00:02:53.87\00:02:55.37 and privilege of studying Your Word, Lord, 00:02:55.40\00:02:57.67 and we thank You for the joy that comes with it. 00:02:57.71\00:03:00.34 And, Lord, I just ask that 00:03:00.38\00:03:01.71 You would guide this study today. 00:03:01.74\00:03:03.48 In Jesus' name we pray, amen. 00:03:03.51\00:03:05.18 Amen. Amen. 00:03:05.21\00:03:07.08 I just really appreciate the fact 00:03:07.12\00:03:08.92 that the writer of this lesson had highlighted, 00:03:08.95\00:03:12.55 even though Dr. Gerhard Hasel is deceased, 00:03:12.59\00:03:15.62 this compilation has been so wonderfully put together 00:03:15.66\00:03:18.03 to commemorate his works. 00:03:18.06\00:03:20.20 And he's been a man who has established such a credible 00:03:20.23\00:03:23.13 approach to Bible prophecy, understanding the Old Covenant 00:03:23.16\00:03:26.43 in a beautiful way. 00:03:26.47\00:03:28.14 But I love the fact that this one is saying, okay, 00:03:28.17\00:03:31.57 we have gone through the legalistic aspects of it, 00:03:31.61\00:03:33.98 the legitimates walks through the Old Covenant, 00:03:34.01\00:03:37.48 the New Covenant, but what about the joy in all of it. 00:03:37.51\00:03:41.28 And that's something that we have to keep in mind. 00:03:41.32\00:03:43.08 And the memory text really highlights that joy. 00:03:43.12\00:03:46.15 John 10:10, 00:03:46.19\00:03:48.16 "The thief does not come except to steal and to kill, 00:03:48.19\00:03:51.76 and to destroy." 00:03:51.79\00:03:53.60 Look at the segue, 00:03:53.63\00:03:54.96 "I have come that they may have life, 00:03:55.00\00:03:57.80 and that they may have it more abundantly." 00:03:57.83\00:04:01.10 Let me make it very clear from the very beginning. 00:04:01.14\00:04:03.30 You will never really experience true joy, 00:04:03.34\00:04:06.37 guiltless joy until you turn your life over to Jesus. 00:04:06.41\00:04:11.08 The joy at His right hand is a guiltless joy. 00:04:11.11\00:04:14.35 It's a joy that continues growing. 00:04:14.38\00:04:16.58 And if we can have that much joy in Christ in this life, 00:04:16.62\00:04:19.32 just imagine what kind of joy we're going to have 00:04:19.35\00:04:21.26 when He unfolds to us the untold secrets 00:04:21.29\00:04:24.56 of the limitless billions of galaxies 00:04:24.59\00:04:27.60 and worlds that are unknown. 00:04:27.63\00:04:29.33 I'm looking forward to that 00:04:29.36\00:04:30.70 because if in this sinful society, 00:04:30.73\00:04:33.03 we can have technology like 00:04:33.07\00:04:34.50 iPads and iPhones and can communicate 00:04:34.54\00:04:37.21 in the frail inventions of humanity. 00:04:37.24\00:04:40.78 Just imagine. 00:04:40.81\00:04:42.24 The Apostle Paul says, 00:04:42.28\00:04:43.61 "Eye had not seen nor ear heard." 00:04:43.65\00:04:45.85 So we are going to go ahead and try to highlight 00:04:45.88\00:04:48.58 and give you a glimpse, 00:04:48.62\00:04:49.95 an internal glimpse of the faithful glory 00:04:49.98\00:04:52.65 and the joy that we can have in Christ. 00:04:52.69\00:04:55.36 The writer also brought out the point that 00:04:55.39\00:04:57.69 though the outcome of the grand finale 00:04:57.73\00:05:00.00 of the covenant promise is, of course, eternal life, 00:05:00.03\00:05:03.47 and the world made new. 00:05:03.50\00:05:05.40 These points are brought out so well, he says, 00:05:05.43\00:05:07.44 "We don't have to wait for eternity to enjoy 00:05:07.47\00:05:10.71 the covenant blessings. 00:05:10.74\00:05:12.11 We can enjoy those covenant blessings today," 00:05:12.14\00:05:14.28 right Shelley? 00:05:14.31\00:05:15.64 The Lord cares about our lives now. 00:05:15.68\00:05:18.15 He wants the best for us, when? Now. 00:05:18.18\00:05:20.88 One of my wife's favorite words, 00:05:20.92\00:05:23.12 "The covenant is not some deal 00:05:23.15\00:05:25.52 where you do this and that and this and that then, 00:05:25.55\00:05:28.89 and a long way off, 00:05:28.92\00:05:30.39 wait for the blessings to come." 00:05:30.43\00:05:32.03 We can have the blessings of the New Covenant right now. 00:05:32.06\00:05:35.13 The rewards, the gifts, they are blessings 00:05:35.16\00:05:37.87 that those who by faith enter into the covenant relationship 00:05:37.90\00:05:42.60 can enjoy now. 00:05:42.64\00:05:46.11 When the Lord says I will supply all of your need 00:05:46.14\00:05:48.14 according to my riches and glory, 00:05:48.18\00:05:49.91 you will never really know what that means 00:05:49.94\00:05:52.51 unless you enter into that covenant relationship 00:05:52.55\00:05:54.45 with God. 00:05:54.48\00:05:55.82 The lesson also points out that the final in our series 00:05:55.85\00:05:59.19 looks at some of these immediate blessings, 00:05:59.22\00:06:01.96 some of the promises that come from God's grace 00:06:01.99\00:06:04.53 shed into our hearts because having heard Him knock, 00:06:04.56\00:06:08.33 Revelation 3,"Behold, I stand at the door knock." 00:06:08.36\00:06:11.33 If we open that door, 00:06:11.37\00:06:12.83 He will not only come in and sup with us, 00:06:12.87\00:06:14.47 have fellowship, but He will begin to unfold to us 00:06:14.50\00:06:17.27 the mysteries of His salvation, 00:06:17.31\00:06:19.34 the glories of redemption, 00:06:19.37\00:06:21.38 and the willingness to have us as children 00:06:21.41\00:06:24.15 of the eternal God by His side forevermore. 00:06:24.18\00:06:27.92 I'm looking forward to the day. I don't know about you guys. 00:06:27.95\00:06:30.09 I know Jason loves to eat. 00:06:30.12\00:06:31.92 So I can say this is true about Jason, sure, 00:06:31.95\00:06:33.66 but I'm looking forward to the day 00:06:33.69\00:06:35.02 when we can sit down at the welcome table. 00:06:35.06\00:06:37.23 If my wife can cook that good, 00:06:37.26\00:06:38.93 just imagine what the Lord is going to unfold before us 00:06:38.96\00:06:40.96 and you know, you've eaten my wife soup before. 00:06:41.00\00:06:43.16 Those are blessings we look forward to, 00:06:43.20\00:06:44.93 but God has given us glimpses in His Word. 00:06:44.97\00:06:48.30 But the question that I'd like to segue 00:06:48.34\00:06:49.70 into that in 1 John1:4, 00:06:49.74\00:06:52.77 here the questions that we'd like to think 00:06:52.81\00:06:54.21 about when we move in that direction. 00:06:54.24\00:06:57.41 Why should we feel joy? 00:06:57.45\00:06:59.68 Why should we feel joy in a world 00:06:59.71\00:07:01.68 that's filled with sorrow and sadness, 00:07:01.72\00:07:03.22 and death and suffering, and hardship and disease 00:07:03.25\00:07:06.29 on every side and pandemic? 00:07:06.32\00:07:07.96 And the list goes on and on. 00:07:07.99\00:07:10.16 Why should the Christian feel joy? 00:07:10.19\00:07:12.43 On what basis can we claim that promise of joy? 00:07:12.46\00:07:16.63 What is it about the covenant that should free us 00:07:16.67\00:07:19.83 from the burden of guilt? 00:07:19.87\00:07:21.77 And what does it mean to have a new heart 00:07:21.80\00:07:24.61 and a new experience in Christ now? 00:07:24.64\00:07:27.48 1 John 1:4, we read these words of the apostle, 00:07:27.51\00:07:31.18 "And these things we write to you, 00:07:31.21\00:07:34.18 that your joy may be full." 00:07:34.22\00:07:37.25 Full joy, not partial joy, but that your joy may be full. 00:07:37.29\00:07:42.49 And the apostle that wrote this understood the challenges 00:07:42.52\00:07:45.39 of being persecuted for righteousness sake. 00:07:45.43\00:07:49.20 But one of the greatest advantages of those who know 00:07:49.23\00:07:51.43 that their joy can be full, he made it clear, 00:07:51.47\00:07:54.37 the sufferings of this present life 00:07:54.40\00:07:55.84 are not worthy 00:07:55.87\00:07:57.21 to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. 00:07:57.24\00:08:00.04 One of the great advantages 00:08:00.08\00:08:01.41 is we as the covenant people of God, 00:08:01.44\00:08:03.51 we know that the promise that God has given to us 00:08:03.55\00:08:05.81 is amen, and it's true, and it's hallelujah, 00:08:05.85\00:08:09.32 whatever the Lord promises is true. 00:08:09.35\00:08:11.89 As Christians, we are often told not to go by feelings, 00:08:11.92\00:08:16.42 faith is not a feeling, 00:08:16.46\00:08:18.09 and that we need to get beyond our feelings, 00:08:18.13\00:08:20.86 all of which is true to some degree, 00:08:20.90\00:08:22.63 but at the same time, 00:08:22.66\00:08:24.67 we would not be human beings if we didn't have feelings, 00:08:24.70\00:08:28.64 or if we did not have emotions, or if we did not have moods, 00:08:28.67\00:08:33.58 or as in some people's case, mood swings, 00:08:33.61\00:08:36.44 from one side to the other. 00:08:36.48\00:08:38.58 God has given us the ability to smile, to laugh, 00:08:38.61\00:08:41.62 to shed a tear, to be excited, to be joyful. 00:08:41.65\00:08:43.95 That's right. 00:08:43.99\00:08:45.32 And with too much chocolate to be cynical. 00:08:45.35\00:08:48.22 And which we know that what that's all about, 00:08:48.26\00:08:50.56 but we cannot deny our feelings, we need to do, 00:08:50.59\00:08:54.36 what we need to do is understand them, 00:08:54.40\00:08:56.63 give them their proper role as much as possible, 00:08:56.67\00:08:59.30 but also keep our feelings and our emotions 00:08:59.33\00:09:01.60 under righteous control. 00:09:01.64\00:09:03.27 So, Jill, here are nine things 00:09:03.30\00:09:07.68 that can be the foundation of our joy. 00:09:07.71\00:09:10.71 I think you might have a six or seven 00:09:10.75\00:09:12.08 but I don't know if you've ever had nine. 00:09:12.11\00:09:13.98 But let's look at these nine things. 00:09:14.02\00:09:15.35 Let's go to Deuteronomy 28:47-48. 00:09:15.38\00:09:18.52 When Israel chose not to serve God, 00:09:18.55\00:09:20.09 we're going to begin with a downer 00:09:20.12\00:09:21.56 and then end with an upper. 00:09:21.59\00:09:22.99 When Israel chose not to serve God in joy, 00:09:23.02\00:09:24.99 they received His displeasure. 00:09:25.03\00:09:26.93 And listen to what the Bible says, 00:09:26.96\00:09:28.43 this is the reason why we should worship God 00:09:28.46\00:09:30.30 with great joy. 00:09:30.33\00:09:31.70 Deuteronomy 28:47, 00:09:31.73\00:09:34.14 "Because you did not serve the Lord your God 00:09:34.17\00:09:36.44 with joy and gladness of heart, 00:09:36.47\00:09:39.31 for the abundance of everything, 00:09:39.34\00:09:41.88 therefore you shall serve your enemies, 00:09:41.91\00:09:44.91 whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, 00:09:44.95\00:09:47.08 in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything, 00:09:47.12\00:09:50.65 and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck 00:09:50.69\00:09:52.92 until He has destroyed you." 00:09:52.95\00:09:55.02 That's a sad chapter. 00:09:55.06\00:09:56.79 What is being said there is the Lord said, 00:09:56.83\00:09:58.59 "Wait a minute, didn't I free you from Egypt? 00:09:58.63\00:10:00.80 Didn't I give you everything you asked Me for, 00:10:00.83\00:10:02.56 but you wouldn't even worship Me 00:10:02.60\00:10:04.10 in joy and gladness of heart? 00:10:04.13\00:10:06.27 So I'm going to go ahead and return you 00:10:06.30\00:10:07.80 to the prior state 00:10:07.84\00:10:09.54 until you get to the place where as in Hosea, 00:10:09.57\00:10:12.04 I'm going to go back to my husband, to my Lord, 00:10:12.07\00:10:14.61 because it was better with me then than it is with me now." 00:10:14.64\00:10:18.08 Joy was spoken of as an expression of our worship. 00:10:18.11\00:10:21.05 1 Chronicles 15:16. 00:10:21.08\00:10:23.62 And the Bible says, "Then David spoke to the leaders 00:10:23.65\00:10:26.25 of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers, 00:10:26.29\00:10:30.73 oh, Ryan, accompanied by instruments of music, 00:10:30.76\00:10:34.46 stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, 00:10:34.50\00:10:36.56 by raising the voice with resounding joy." 00:10:36.60\00:10:41.94 If you're going to worship the Lord, 00:10:41.97\00:10:43.30 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 00:10:43.34\00:10:45.21 Nothing is worse or more diabolical 00:10:45.24\00:10:48.38 than a humdrum drawn filled, 00:10:48.41\00:10:51.08 sad expression of worship. 00:10:51.11\00:10:53.25 If the Lord has done anything to you, 00:10:53.28\00:10:55.78 let the redeemed of the Lord say so. 00:10:55.82\00:10:57.39 Amen somebody? 00:10:57.42\00:10:58.82 Number three, a life that does not face 00:10:58.85\00:11:00.46 the blessings of repentance is robbed of the joy 00:11:00.49\00:11:03.32 that's found in Christ. 00:11:03.36\00:11:05.09 Psalm 51:8, 00:11:05.13\00:11:06.56 David prayed this prayer after his transgression. 00:11:06.59\00:11:09.53 Look what he prayed for. 00:11:09.56\00:11:12.03 Psalm 51:8 and 12, "Make me hear the joy and gladness 00:11:12.07\00:11:16.64 that the bones You have broken may rejoice." 00:11:16.67\00:11:20.48 David fell before the Lord in repentance. 00:11:20.51\00:11:22.28 And he said in verse 12, 00:11:22.31\00:11:23.68 "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, 00:11:23.71\00:11:26.15 and uphold me by Your generous Spirit." 00:11:26.18\00:11:29.02 But let's go on further. 00:11:29.05\00:11:30.52 The cleansing of one's heart also results in joy. 00:11:30.55\00:11:34.09 Psalm 126:5, 00:11:34.12\00:11:37.09 "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy." 00:11:37.13\00:11:40.86 Sometimes you got to cry before you can rejoice. 00:11:40.90\00:11:44.07 Sometimes you have to go through the darkness of night 00:11:44.10\00:11:46.47 before the joy of morning comes. 00:11:46.50\00:11:48.67 Number five, when we abide in the presence of God, 00:11:48.70\00:11:51.74 we will find genuine joy. 00:11:51.77\00:11:53.91 Psalm 16:11, 00:11:53.94\00:11:56.58 "You will show me the path of life in Your presence is," 00:11:56.61\00:11:59.95 what, "fullness of joy, and that Your right 00:11:59.98\00:12:03.08 hand are," what, "pleasures forever more." 00:12:03.12\00:12:07.09 I'm looking forward to that. 00:12:07.12\00:12:09.69 Number six, Psalm 5:11. 00:12:09.72\00:12:12.69 When we trust in God, we discover there 00:12:12.73\00:12:15.06 is no greater joy. 00:12:15.10\00:12:19.73 The Bible says, "But let all those rejoice 00:12:19.77\00:12:22.94 who put their trust in You, Let them ever shout for joy, 00:12:22.97\00:12:28.88 because You defend them, 00:12:28.91\00:12:31.08 Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You." 00:12:31.11\00:12:36.62 You know, friends, right now you can have joy in Christ, 00:12:36.65\00:12:38.42 you don't have to wait 00:12:38.45\00:12:39.99 until the clouds clear and the sun comes out, 00:12:40.02\00:12:42.39 especially if you live in the northeast, 00:12:42.42\00:12:45.66 where it gets cloudy and foggy most of the year. 00:12:45.69\00:12:48.36 But I tell you, as you begin to move through the year, 00:12:48.40\00:12:50.73 as we're doing now, 00:12:50.77\00:12:52.33 you begin to discover as the clouds dissipate, 00:12:52.37\00:12:54.60 you'll find as the saying goes, 00:12:54.64\00:12:56.40 behind every cloud, there's a silver what? 00:12:56.44\00:12:59.01 Lining, and that's the joy of God that is never absent. 00:12:59.04\00:13:01.51 Number seven, do not be afraid to face temporary pain, 00:13:01.54\00:13:06.35 because joy is eternal. 00:13:06.38\00:13:09.85 The Apostle Paul, Romans 8:18, 00:13:09.88\00:13:12.72 "For I consider that the sufferings 00:13:12.75\00:13:15.29 of this present time are not worthy to be compared 00:13:15.32\00:13:19.89 with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 00:13:19.93\00:13:21.96 "It's going to be tough, 00:13:22.00\00:13:23.37 but one day is going to be good, 00:13:23.40\00:13:24.87 or as one young man said, gooder than ever before. 00:13:24.90\00:13:27.84 And we're looking forward to that day. 00:13:27.87\00:13:29.50 Number eight, joy looks beyond the here 00:13:29.54\00:13:32.47 and now to the hereafter and the days ahead of us. 00:13:32.51\00:13:36.21 2 Timothy 1:12. 00:13:36.24\00:13:38.01 "For this reason, I also suffer these things and nevertheless 00:13:38.05\00:13:41.72 he said, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed 00:13:41.75\00:13:46.45 and persuaded that he is able to keep 00:13:46.49\00:13:48.69 what I've committed to him until that day." 00:13:48.72\00:13:51.29 The Apostle Paul says, "I know it's tough. 00:13:51.33\00:13:53.56 I'm about to die. 00:13:53.60\00:13:54.93 But I'm looking beyond the here and now 00:13:54.96\00:13:56.30 to the day that's ahead of me." 00:13:56.33\00:13:57.67 And number nine, the words, 00:13:57.70\00:13:59.60 the testament of the Apostle Paul before he left the scene, 00:13:59.63\00:14:02.60 joy looks beyond the cross to the crown. 00:14:02.64\00:14:05.31 2 Timothy 4:7-8, "I have fought a good fight. 00:14:05.34\00:14:09.28 I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 00:14:09.31\00:14:12.91 Finally he said, 00:14:12.95\00:14:14.38 "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, 00:14:14.42\00:14:17.62 which the Lord," who friends? 00:14:17.65\00:14:21.06 "The Lord, the righteous judge will give me on that day," 00:14:21.09\00:14:25.09 and listen to this ending words, 00:14:25.13\00:14:27.80 "and not to me only, 00:14:27.83\00:14:30.47 but also to all who love His appearing." 00:14:30.50\00:14:35.10 Praise God for that. Amen. 00:14:35.14\00:14:36.77 Thank you, Pastor John, I love those nine points, 00:14:36.81\00:14:39.24 the joy we have, the joy we can have here 00:14:39.27\00:14:42.41 and now as part of the New Covenant life. 00:14:42.44\00:14:44.91 My lesson on Monday is Guilt-Free. 00:14:44.95\00:14:47.68 Meaning as part of the covenant life, 00:14:47.72\00:14:50.42 you and I can live guilt-free. 00:14:50.45\00:14:53.29 I've divided my lesson into three sections. 00:14:53.32\00:14:55.89 So here's the three sections and then we'll unpack them. 00:14:55.92\00:14:58.33 Section one is feeling guilty. 00:14:58.36\00:15:01.43 Section two is being in guilty. 00:15:01.46\00:15:05.27 Section three, living guilt-free. 00:15:05.30\00:15:08.34 So let's start with feeling guilty. 00:15:08.37\00:15:11.11 Since Adam and Eve, 00:15:11.14\00:15:12.47 remember Adam and Eve walked with God 00:15:12.51\00:15:14.54 in the cool of the garden, there was no guilt, 00:15:14.58\00:15:16.54 there was no shame, 00:15:16.58\00:15:17.91 there was nothing that separated them from God. 00:15:17.95\00:15:21.48 When sin entered, there came guilt, 00:15:21.52\00:15:24.92 there came fear, 00:15:24.95\00:15:26.55 there came separation from God 00:15:26.59\00:15:28.92 and their Redeemer, their Maker. 00:15:28.96\00:15:31.26 Ever since that time, 00:15:31.29\00:15:33.26 guilt has been a part of this world 00:15:33.29\00:15:36.50 because sin brings guilt. 00:15:36.53\00:15:39.73 Now, I think some people 00:15:39.77\00:15:41.10 maybe feel guiltier than others. 00:15:41.14\00:15:44.01 Maybe it's due to personality, 00:15:44.04\00:15:45.47 some people naturally might feel more guilty. 00:15:45.51\00:15:48.14 Sometimes it's due to the hardening of the heart 00:15:48.18\00:15:51.08 toward evil and the harder your heart 00:15:51.11\00:15:53.21 becomes maybe the less guilt you might feel. 00:15:53.25\00:15:56.99 I think about before the flood, Genesis 6:5, 00:15:57.02\00:15:59.49 what does the Word of God say? 00:15:59.52\00:16:00.86 The thoughts of their mind were only evil continually. 00:16:00.89\00:16:05.79 So I'm not sure, 00:16:05.83\00:16:07.16 I'm sure they had some twinges of guilt, 00:16:07.20\00:16:08.90 but maybe not as much guilt as someone else. 00:16:08.93\00:16:12.33 But we all know what guilt feels like. 00:16:12.37\00:16:14.00 Our cat, all I have to do is snap my fingers 00:16:14.04\00:16:17.17 and she know she did something wrong 00:16:17.21\00:16:19.47 and she better get herself in line. 00:16:19.51\00:16:21.78 You think of the child 00:16:21.81\00:16:23.14 when their hands in the cookie jar 00:16:23.18\00:16:25.01 and mama comes. 00:16:25.05\00:16:26.38 What are you doing with your hand in the cookie jar? 00:16:26.41\00:16:28.62 The child knows, "I wasn't supposed to do that." 00:16:28.65\00:16:31.35 They know that feeling of guilt. 00:16:31.39\00:16:35.36 I think of an adult, maybe if they stole something, 00:16:35.39\00:16:39.43 or if they lied about a neighbor or a coworker, 00:16:39.46\00:16:42.93 maybe they're sleeping with someone 00:16:42.96\00:16:44.30 who's not their spouse, that feeling of guilt. 00:16:44.33\00:16:48.37 There's a certain segment of the population 00:16:48.40\00:16:50.11 we don't really consider has that feeling of guilt. 00:16:50.14\00:16:53.84 That might be the serial killer. 00:16:53.88\00:16:55.64 We might consider a lot of them might not even feel guilt. 00:16:55.68\00:17:00.02 I read an article. 00:17:00.05\00:17:02.75 This is published in 2017. 00:17:02.78\00:17:05.02 It says, "Remorse is rare for serial killers, 00:17:05.05\00:17:07.39 but it can happen." 00:17:07.42\00:17:08.76 And they mentioned one person 00:17:08.79\00:17:10.36 who actually was in prison for being a serial killer. 00:17:10.39\00:17:13.76 And they actually hung themselves in their cell. 00:17:13.80\00:17:17.87 And they left behind a note that it said, 00:17:17.90\00:17:20.87 "I made a deal with myself I will come back 00:17:20.90\00:17:22.84 and take responsibility 00:17:22.87\00:17:24.64 for every evil act I committed in life. 00:17:24.67\00:17:27.64 If these people are not alive, 00:17:27.68\00:17:29.38 I should not be allowed to live either." 00:17:29.41\00:17:32.85 Feeling a sense of guilt. And why is that? 00:17:32.88\00:17:36.05 That leads us to section two because they are guilty. 00:17:36.08\00:17:38.92 We feel that guilt 00:17:38.95\00:17:40.69 because we have transgressed the law of God. 00:17:40.72\00:17:46.03 If you look at Romans 1:1-3. 00:17:46.06\00:17:48.66 Romans Chapter 1 talks about the sins of the Gentiles 00:17:48.70\00:17:52.30 or the sins of those who do not know God. 00:17:52.33\00:17:56.27 It's a huge list of sins if you look at Romans 1. 00:17:56.30\00:17:59.81 In verse 32, it says, 00:17:59.84\00:18:01.64 "Those who practice such things," 00:18:01.68\00:18:03.85 this entire list of sins, "are deserving of death." 00:18:03.88\00:18:07.75 Why are they deserving of death? 00:18:07.78\00:18:09.28 We know Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death, 00:18:09.32\00:18:13.09 but the gift of God is eternal life 00:18:13.12\00:18:15.22 through Jesus Christ our Lord." 00:18:15.26\00:18:17.96 So Romans 1 is all about the sins of the Gentiles 00:18:17.99\00:18:20.13 or the sins of those who do not know 00:18:20.16\00:18:23.47 walking covenant relationship with God. 00:18:23.50\00:18:27.24 But unless you think the Christians are left out, 00:18:27.27\00:18:29.57 or the Jewish people are left out, 00:18:29.60\00:18:31.54 we get to Romans 2 00:18:31.57\00:18:32.91 and Paul enumerates the sins of the Jewish people. 00:18:32.94\00:18:37.58 And especially verse 1, Romans 2:1, 00:18:37.61\00:18:40.08 "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, 00:18:40.12\00:18:43.02 whoever you are who judge, 00:18:43.05\00:18:45.02 for in whatever way you judge another you condemn yourself, 00:18:45.05\00:18:49.22 for you who judge practice the same things." 00:18:49.26\00:18:52.39 And jump down to verse 24, Romans 2:24, 00:18:52.43\00:18:56.70 he says, "The name of God is blasphemed 00:18:56.73\00:18:59.60 among the Gentiles because of you." 00:18:59.63\00:19:02.87 So because of people who claim the name of Christ, 00:19:02.90\00:19:05.67 because of Christians, in this case, it was Jews, 00:19:05.71\00:19:08.44 but we could say us today as Christians, 00:19:08.48\00:19:10.85 because they do not walk the talk 00:19:10.88\00:19:13.25 because they do not live as Christians. 00:19:13.28\00:19:16.12 It blasphemes the name of God. 00:19:16.15\00:19:19.05 By the time we get to Romans 3:23. 00:19:19.09\00:19:20.92 It just says, "All have sinned, 00:19:20.96\00:19:23.09 and come short of the glory of God." 00:19:23.12\00:19:25.86 I'm so thankful the Word of God, it doesn't stop there. 00:19:25.89\00:19:28.53 We don't have to live feeling with that guilt. 00:19:28.56\00:19:31.07 We don't have to know that we are guilty. 00:19:31.10\00:19:33.94 We can live guilt free. 00:19:33.97\00:19:36.74 So let's look at that. 00:19:36.77\00:19:38.11 Three keys to how you can live guilt free. 00:19:38.14\00:19:42.78 Key number one, accept Christ's forgiveness for your sins. 00:19:42.81\00:19:48.45 Key number one is to accept it. 00:19:48.48\00:19:49.82 1 John 1:9. 00:19:49.85\00:19:51.45 I remember our precious Miss Mollie Steenson 00:19:51.49\00:19:54.02 used to quote this verse 00:19:54.06\00:19:55.52 probably every single Sabbath School Panel, 00:19:55.56\00:19:57.49 right Shelley? 00:19:57.53\00:19:58.86 "If we confess our sins, 00:19:58.89\00:20:00.23 He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 00:20:00.26\00:20:02.90 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 00:20:02.93\00:20:07.20 Accept what God's Word says about you by faith, 00:20:07.24\00:20:11.14 not by how you feel. 00:20:11.17\00:20:13.88 Don't wait until you feel better. 00:20:13.91\00:20:15.98 Don't wait until you think God has forgiven you. 00:20:16.01\00:20:19.48 Feelings can be fickle and feelings can be changing, 00:20:19.51\00:20:22.92 accept what His Word says. 00:20:22.95\00:20:25.55 It says, "If you confess your sins, 00:20:25.59\00:20:27.62 He is faithful and just, He will forgive you. 00:20:27.66\00:20:30.33 He will cleanse you, He will bring you back 00:20:30.36\00:20:33.36 into covenant relationship with Himself." 00:20:33.40\00:20:37.27 We're not Christians by how we feel. 00:20:37.30\00:20:39.43 We are Christians because of what God's Word says 00:20:39.47\00:20:42.34 about us. 00:20:42.37\00:20:43.71 God's Word says you are forgiving. 00:20:43.74\00:20:45.11 God's Word says that you can be His child. 00:20:45.14\00:20:48.14 God's Word says that He can transform you. 00:20:48.18\00:20:51.85 God's forgiveness, 00:20:51.88\00:20:53.55 Christ's forgiveness is instantaneous. 00:20:53.58\00:20:56.38 Christ's forgiveness is complete. 00:20:56.42\00:20:58.85 Christ's forgiveness requires no goodness on our behalf. 00:20:58.89\00:21:02.79 But Christ's forgiveness is dependent 00:21:02.82\00:21:06.43 on you and I asking for it. 00:21:06.46\00:21:08.46 Otherwise, everybody in the world would be forgiven. 00:21:08.50\00:21:10.73 We need to ask, we need to confess our sins. 00:21:10.77\00:21:14.70 Then He is faithful and just to forgive us, 00:21:14.74\00:21:17.14 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:21:17.17\00:21:22.28 I love 1 John 1:9, 00:21:22.31\00:21:24.38 because it talks about two aspects 00:21:24.41\00:21:27.25 of Christ's work in our life. 00:21:27.28\00:21:30.85 It says, "If we confess our sins, 00:21:30.89\00:21:32.29 He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins." 00:21:32.32\00:21:34.56 That's aspect number one, that justification process. 00:21:34.59\00:21:38.23 "And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 00:21:38.26\00:21:42.30 That is the sanctification process. 00:21:42.33\00:21:45.37 So the first key is we just accept Christ's forgiveness 00:21:45.40\00:21:47.77 for our sins. 00:21:47.80\00:21:49.14 The second key is we allow Him to exchange 00:21:49.17\00:21:51.91 His garment of righteousness for our filthiness. 00:21:51.94\00:21:56.21 Turn with me to the Book of Zechariah. 00:21:56.24\00:21:58.05 Zechariah Chapter 3, I love this analogy. 00:21:58.08\00:22:02.92 Zechariah 3, this is, of course, Joshua, 00:22:02.95\00:22:05.65 the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord 00:22:05.69\00:22:08.72 and he is clothed in filthy garments. 00:22:08.76\00:22:12.33 Zechariah 3:4, "Then He answered 00:22:12.36\00:22:14.66 and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, 00:22:14.70\00:22:16.77 "Take away the filthy garments from him." 00:22:16.80\00:22:19.63 Now those filthy garments were representative of sin. 00:22:19.67\00:22:23.07 You and I stand before God 00:22:23.10\00:22:24.61 and we are clothed in filthy garments. 00:22:24.64\00:22:27.38 Now, the word filthy, Jason, 00:22:27.41\00:22:29.04 in Hebrew literally means to soil from excrement. 00:22:29.08\00:22:33.38 So this is pretty bad. 00:22:33.42\00:22:34.75 This is filthy garments. 00:22:34.78\00:22:37.99 "And to him, he said, 00:22:38.02\00:22:39.35 'I have removed your iniquity from you. 00:22:39.39\00:22:41.09 I've taken off those filthy garments, 00:22:41.12\00:22:43.39 and I will clothe you with rich robes.'" 00:22:43.43\00:22:46.49 Cover you. 00:22:46.53\00:22:47.86 The minute we accept Christ, the minute we say, 00:22:47.90\00:22:50.73 "Will You forgives me? 00:22:50.77\00:22:52.10 He forgives us and we are clothed 00:22:52.13\00:22:54.60 in His white righteous robe. 00:22:54.64\00:22:57.37 That's that double imputation, 00:22:57.41\00:22:58.74 I talked about a couple weeks ago. 00:22:58.77\00:23:01.14 2 Corinthians 5:21, "He made Him, 00:23:01.18\00:23:04.45 God made Jesus who knew no sin, to be sin for us, 00:23:04.48\00:23:09.58 that we might be made the righteousness of God 00:23:09.62\00:23:12.69 in Him." 00:23:12.72\00:23:14.06 So my sin is credited or pushed on Jesus, 00:23:14.09\00:23:17.73 He bore on the cross, and His righteousness 00:23:17.76\00:23:21.13 is credited to my account. 00:23:21.16\00:23:24.17 The third key is to allow Him to empower you 00:23:24.20\00:23:28.40 to live a righteous life. 00:23:28.44\00:23:31.31 This is that cleanliness from all unrighteousness. 00:23:31.34\00:23:35.64 It reminds me of Romans 8:1. 00:23:35.68\00:23:37.31 Let's look at that scripture, Romans 8:1. 00:23:37.35\00:23:40.38 Remember in Romans 7, there's this whole controversy 00:23:40.42\00:23:43.69 in the Christian's life saying, what I want to do, 00:23:43.72\00:23:46.32 I don't do and what I don't want to do, I do. 00:23:46.35\00:23:49.59 We get to Romans 8:1, and it says, 00:23:49.62\00:23:51.99 "There is therefore now no condemnation 00:23:52.03\00:23:54.70 to those who are in Christ Jesus, 00:23:54.73\00:23:56.77 who do not walk according to the flesh, 00:23:56.80\00:23:59.10 but according to the Spirit." 00:23:59.13\00:24:02.00 He said the difference the Holy Spirit 00:24:02.04\00:24:04.21 makes in the life of the believer, 00:24:04.24\00:24:06.41 that imparted righteousness of Christ, 00:24:06.44\00:24:09.68 that is Christ in us the hope of glory 00:24:09.71\00:24:11.65 that is you and I being crucified with Christ. 00:24:11.68\00:24:14.48 And we're not the ones living 00:24:14.52\00:24:15.88 but it is Christ who lives in us. 00:24:15.92\00:24:18.95 Romans 8:13, "If you live according to the flesh 00:24:18.99\00:24:21.99 you gonna die, 00:24:22.02\00:24:23.36 but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, 00:24:23.39\00:24:27.23 you will live." 00:24:27.26\00:24:28.76 You and I don't have to feel guilty, 00:24:28.80\00:24:30.43 you and I don't have to be guilty 00:24:30.47\00:24:32.17 because we can live guilt-free because of Jesus Christ. 00:24:32.20\00:24:36.20 Amen, Jill. 00:24:36.24\00:24:37.74 Well, homerun. 00:24:37.77\00:24:39.31 Praise the Lord for that thought provoking 00:24:39.34\00:24:42.08 as well as life empowering message. 00:24:42.11\00:24:44.11 But don't go away, we have a lot more to come. 00:24:44.15\00:24:46.21 We'll be right back in just a moment. 00:24:46.25\00:24:47.85 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel 00:24:54.49\00:24:57.29 again, or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 00:24:57.33\00:25:01.06 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com 00:25:01.10\00:25:06.07 A clean design makes it easy 00:25:06.10\00:25:08.44 to find the program you're looking for. 00:25:08.47\00:25:10.67 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 00:25:10.71\00:25:14.11 so you can follow along. 00:25:14.14\00:25:15.94 Sharing is easy. 00:25:15.98\00:25:17.31 Just click share and choose your favorite social media. 00:25:17.35\00:25:20.48 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 00:25:20.52\00:25:25.05 Welcome back to our Sabbath School Panel. 00:25:25.09\00:25:26.82 We're going to go now to Tuesday. 00:25:26.86\00:25:29.72 Jason Bradley has New Covenant and New Heart. 00:25:29.76\00:25:33.26 In today's lesson we're going to witness the world's 00:25:33.29\00:25:36.06 most impactful heart transplant, as you stated, 00:25:36.10\00:25:40.97 it's the New Covenant and New Heart. 00:25:41.00\00:25:42.84 And we'll begin by looking at Ephesians 3:17-19. 00:25:42.87\00:25:47.71 Now you may want to jot these verses down 00:25:47.74\00:25:49.58 because we're going to go through them rather rapidly. 00:25:49.61\00:25:53.18 Again, that's Ephesians 3:17-19. 00:25:53.21\00:25:56.45 And the Word of God says, 00:25:56.48\00:25:58.19 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, 00:25:58.22\00:26:01.62 that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 00:26:01.66\00:26:05.26 may be able to comprehend with all the saints 00:26:05.29\00:26:08.23 what is the width and length and depth and height 00:26:08.26\00:26:12.40 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, 00:26:12.43\00:26:15.74 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." 00:26:15.77\00:26:19.97 Now you may be asking, what is the New Covenant? 00:26:20.01\00:26:23.14 And I'm so glad that you asked that question. 00:26:23.18\00:26:26.01 You see in Jeremiah 31:31-33, 00:26:26.05\00:26:32.02 it describes it so beautifully. 00:26:32.05\00:26:34.26 "Behold the days are coming," says the Lord, 00:26:34.29\00:26:37.96 "when I will make a new covenant 00:26:37.99\00:26:40.13 with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, 00:26:40.16\00:26:43.43 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers 00:26:43.47\00:26:46.53 and the day that I took them by the hand 00:26:46.57\00:26:48.40 to lead them out of the land of Egypt, 00:26:48.44\00:26:51.07 my covenant which they broke, 00:26:51.11\00:26:52.91 though I was a husband to them," says the Lord. 00:26:52.94\00:26:55.81 "But this is the covenant 00:26:55.84\00:26:57.35 that I will make with the house of Israel 00:26:57.38\00:26:59.51 after those days," says the Lord. 00:26:59.55\00:27:01.72 "I will put My law in their minds 00:27:01.75\00:27:04.72 and write it on their hearts, 00:27:04.75\00:27:06.96 and I will be their God and they shall be My people." 00:27:06.99\00:27:12.29 When you get married and exchange wedding vows, 00:27:12.33\00:27:14.70 you don't have to keep consulting your wedding vows 00:27:14.73\00:27:17.20 because they're written in your heart, 00:27:17.23\00:27:18.73 right, married people? 00:27:18.77\00:27:20.10 It's good, amen. 00:27:20.14\00:27:21.47 I'm just coaching, I'm not married. 00:27:21.50\00:27:23.51 They're written in your heart. 00:27:23.54\00:27:25.14 You know, you shouldn't cheat on your husband or wife, 00:27:25.17\00:27:27.61 you know that he or she 00:27:27.64\00:27:29.61 should be a priority in your life, 00:27:29.64\00:27:32.35 you know that you shouldn't steal from them. 00:27:32.38\00:27:34.88 You shouldn't kill them. 00:27:34.92\00:27:36.89 You shouldn't lie to them. 00:27:36.92\00:27:40.06 But you should have an unforgettable time 00:27:40.09\00:27:43.93 set aside for them. 00:27:43.96\00:27:47.06 As with any form of progress, there is a process. 00:27:47.10\00:27:50.87 And in Desire of Ages, page 176, 00:27:50.90\00:27:54.40 Ellen White speaks about the process of transformation. 00:27:54.44\00:27:57.81 And she says this, 00:27:57.84\00:27:59.34 "The cross reveals the love of God. 00:27:59.37\00:28:02.34 If we do not resist, 00:28:02.38\00:28:03.71 we shall be led to the foot of the cross 00:28:03.75\00:28:05.61 in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Savior. 00:28:05.65\00:28:10.22 Then the Spirit of God through faith 00:28:10.25\00:28:12.25 produces a new life in the soul. 00:28:12.29\00:28:15.12 The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience 00:28:15.16\00:28:18.33 to the will of Christ. 00:28:18.36\00:28:20.13 The heart, the mind are created a new 00:28:20.16\00:28:23.37 in the image of Him 00:28:23.40\00:28:24.73 who works in us to subdue all things to Himself, 00:28:24.77\00:28:29.30 then the law of God is written in the mind and heart." 00:28:29.34\00:28:33.71 What a beautiful process, 00:28:33.74\00:28:35.28 we're not even the ones doing the heavy lifting, 00:28:35.31\00:28:37.71 God is. That's right. 00:28:37.75\00:28:39.65 In our text for today, 00:28:39.68\00:28:41.02 Paul stressed the element of love 00:28:41.05\00:28:43.55 saying that we must be rooted and grounded in it. 00:28:43.59\00:28:47.59 When we look at a plant, we see the outward appearance 00:28:47.62\00:28:50.49 and the fruit that's being produced or the lack thereof. 00:28:50.53\00:28:54.36 Underneath the soil lies the roots 00:28:54.40\00:28:57.63 that act as an anchor 00:28:57.67\00:28:59.53 and supports the plant body. 00:28:59.57\00:29:01.30 Now the primary function of the roots is to absorb water 00:29:01.34\00:29:05.27 and dissolve minerals from the soil. 00:29:05.31\00:29:07.78 This function plays a vital role 00:29:07.81\00:29:09.74 in helping in the process of photosynthesis. 00:29:09.78\00:29:12.88 Now the word photosynthesis 00:29:12.91\00:29:14.38 and I'm going to journey into an area 00:29:14.42\00:29:16.22 where I don't normally go which is Greek, 00:29:16.25\00:29:18.79 is derived from the Greek words 00:29:18.82\00:29:21.12 phos and synthesis. 00:29:21.16\00:29:24.93 Phos means light and synthesis means combining together. 00:29:24.96\00:29:28.10 This means combining together with the help of light. 00:29:28.13\00:29:32.97 There are a couple factors that affect photosynthesis, 00:29:33.00\00:29:35.34 but we're going to focus on two of them, 00:29:35.37\00:29:37.71 and that's light intensity and pollution. 00:29:37.74\00:29:41.98 Increased light intensity results 00:29:42.01\00:29:44.15 in a higher rate of photosynthesis. 00:29:44.18\00:29:46.95 John 8:12 says, "Then Jesus spoke to them again, 00:29:46.98\00:29:51.75 saying, 'I am the light of the world. 00:29:51.79\00:29:55.52 He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness 00:29:55.56\00:29:58.89 but have the light of life." 00:29:58.93\00:30:02.76 Now let's go to pollution. 00:30:02.80\00:30:05.10 Pollutants and other particles may settle on the leaf surface. 00:30:05.13\00:30:08.57 This can block the pores of the stomata, 00:30:08.60\00:30:11.07 which makes it difficult to take in carbon dioxide. 00:30:11.11\00:30:15.08 Are there any pollutants in your life that 00:30:15.11\00:30:17.35 may be blocking you from receiving the Word of God? 00:30:17.38\00:30:23.08 Now is a good time for us to take a look at our lives 00:30:23.12\00:30:25.69 and ask God to clean up any pollution that we may have. 00:30:25.72\00:30:30.96 And why do we need a new heart? 00:30:30.99\00:30:33.09 Well, let's take a look at the physical heart 00:30:33.13\00:30:35.26 for a moment. 00:30:35.30\00:30:36.63 The heart is at the center of the circulatory system. 00:30:36.67\00:30:40.14 Its job is to pump blood throughout the body. 00:30:40.17\00:30:43.57 The blood carries important nutrients and oxygen 00:30:43.61\00:30:46.78 that all body organs need. 00:30:46.81\00:30:49.24 The bad thing about the blood is it can also carry diseases. 00:30:49.28\00:30:54.25 So if we're consuming foods, 00:30:54.28\00:30:56.08 as we were speaking about food earlier. 00:30:56.12\00:30:58.79 If we're consuming foods that are nutrient deprived, 00:30:58.82\00:31:01.62 we're not going to have good blood. 00:31:01.66\00:31:05.13 Now, our bodies can't provide nutrients 00:31:05.16\00:31:07.26 that we didn't feed it, right? 00:31:07.30\00:31:09.76 So the same is true with our spiritual lives. 00:31:09.80\00:31:12.07 If we aren't feasting on the Word of God, 00:31:12.10\00:31:15.37 then we're left with nutrient deprived blood. 00:31:15.40\00:31:18.27 Our blood has been marred by a fatal disease called sin. 00:31:18.31\00:31:22.68 And we need a heart transplant. 00:31:22.71\00:31:24.51 We need the new heart that Christ wants to give us. 00:31:24.55\00:31:28.65 Look at what God wants to do for us 00:31:28.68\00:31:30.52 in Ezekiel 36:26-27. 00:31:30.55\00:31:36.39 Again, that's Ezekiel 36: 26-27, 00:31:36.42\00:31:42.03 "I will give you a new heart 00:31:42.06\00:31:44.50 and put a new spirit within you, 00:31:44.53\00:31:47.14 I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh 00:31:47.17\00:31:51.24 and give you a heart of flesh. 00:31:51.27\00:31:53.91 I will put My Spirit within you 00:31:53.94\00:31:55.68 and cause you to walk in My statutes, 00:31:55.71\00:31:58.75 and you will keep My judgments and do them." 00:31:58.78\00:32:02.05 Ephesians 1:7, 00:32:02.08\00:32:06.62 "In Him, we have redemption through His blood, 00:32:06.65\00:32:11.19 the forgiveness of sins, 00:32:11.23\00:32:12.56 according to the riches of His grace." 00:32:12.59\00:32:15.86 So what changes will be manifested 00:32:15.90\00:32:17.77 in those who have a new heart? 00:32:17.80\00:32:19.73 In Matthew 22:37-39, 00:32:19.77\00:32:24.57 "Jesus said to him, 00:32:24.61\00:32:26.37 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 00:32:26.41\00:32:30.58 with all your soul, and with all your mind. 00:32:30.61\00:32:34.42 'This is the first and great commandment.' 00:32:34.45\00:32:36.05 And the second is like it: 00:32:36.08\00:32:37.49 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" 00:32:37.52\00:32:40.59 In Ephesians 5:8, the Apostle Paul writes, 00:32:40.62\00:32:44.89 "For you were once darkness, 00:32:44.93\00:32:47.43 but now you are light in the Lord, 00:32:47.46\00:32:50.90 walk as children of light." 00:32:50.93\00:32:53.44 With a new heart we will walk as children of light 00:32:53.47\00:32:56.24 exemplifying practical godliness 00:32:56.27\00:32:59.24 and the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, 00:32:59.27\00:33:04.28 longsuffering, kindness, goodness, 00:33:04.31\00:33:07.42 faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 00:33:07.45\00:33:11.29 With a new heart we will abide in love. 00:33:11.32\00:33:15.36 1 John 4:16, 00:33:15.39\00:33:19.03 "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. 00:33:19.06\00:33:24.00 God is love. 00:33:24.03\00:33:25.53 And he who abides in love abides in God and God in Him." 00:33:25.57\00:33:31.21 With a new heart we will walk in wisdom. 00:33:31.24\00:33:34.84 Ephesians 5:17 says, "Therefore do not be unwise, 00:33:34.88\00:33:39.68 but understand what the will of the Lord is." 00:33:39.71\00:33:43.99 As the lesson so gracefully points out 00:33:44.02\00:33:45.79 with a new heart our lives are changed, 00:33:45.82\00:33:48.69 our thoughts are changed, our desires are changed, 00:33:48.72\00:33:51.66 and, our goals are changed. 00:33:51.69\00:33:54.46 Do you want to be a new creation? 00:33:54.50\00:33:56.43 Do you want old things to pass away? 00:33:56.46\00:33:59.97 Well, we know where to go. 00:34:00.00\00:34:01.34 Turn to 2 Corinthians 5:17. 00:34:01.37\00:34:05.17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 00:34:05.21\00:34:09.81 he is a new creation. 00:34:09.84\00:34:12.31 Old things have passed away, behold, 00:34:12.35\00:34:14.92 all things have become new." 00:34:14.95\00:34:19.02 The pledge of the New Covenant is progress is a process. 00:34:19.05\00:34:24.06 So begin the journey today. 00:34:24.09\00:34:26.23 A new start will bring a new heart 00:34:26.26\00:34:29.50 with Christ along the way. 00:34:29.53\00:34:33.34 You had nailed that one too. 00:34:33.37\00:34:35.17 Praise God. 00:34:35.20\00:34:36.54 I have Wednesday, 00:34:36.57\00:34:37.91 the New Covenant and Eternal Life. 00:34:37.94\00:34:40.84 Do you know what the word juxtaposition means? 00:34:40.88\00:34:43.41 It's when you've got two contrasting truths 00:34:43.45\00:34:46.21 that are placed closely together. 00:34:46.25\00:34:48.15 Let me show you two juxtapositions in Scripture. 00:34:48.18\00:34:52.49 There's many more, but John 3:14 or 3:16 says, 00:34:52.52\00:34:57.43 "For God so loved the world 00:34:57.46\00:34:59.29 that He gave His only begotten Son 00:34:59.33\00:35:01.53 that whoever believes in Him should not perish, 00:35:01.56\00:35:07.54 "here's the juxtaposition, 00:35:07.57\00:35:10.54 "but have ever lasting life." 00:35:10.57\00:35:13.84 The word perish means to destroy completely. 00:35:13.88\00:35:17.31 God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son 00:35:17.35\00:35:20.42 that they would not perish. 00:35:20.45\00:35:22.12 Here's the opposing truth, but have everlasting life. 00:35:22.15\00:35:27.42 Romans 6:23, another great example of the juxtaposition. 00:35:27.46\00:35:32.36 "The wages of sin is death. 00:35:32.39\00:35:36.03 But the gift of God 00:35:36.06\00:35:40.74 is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord." 00:35:40.77\00:35:43.97 Two contrasting truths, 00:35:44.01\00:35:47.78 perish or have eternal life, 00:35:47.81\00:35:50.88 death or have the eternal life 00:35:50.91\00:35:55.72 in Christ Jesus. 00:35:55.75\00:35:58.55 Satan's lie, his first lie to humanity 00:35:58.59\00:36:02.36 was you will not surely die and he's still preaching it. 00:36:02.39\00:36:07.50 I remember when I was writing a book, 00:36:07.53\00:36:09.00 and my sister called me, 00:36:09.03\00:36:10.37 I kept telling her I don't have time to talk 00:36:10.40\00:36:12.37 but she called anyway, so I would just read her. 00:36:12.40\00:36:14.60 Every day, I'd write a new chapter in the book, 00:36:14.64\00:36:16.87 I read it to her. 00:36:16.91\00:36:18.24 So one day, she called and I'm reading along, 00:36:18.27\00:36:20.28 and I get to John 5:28-29. 00:36:20.31\00:36:23.98 It was in the book. 00:36:24.01\00:36:25.35 And these are Christ's words. 00:36:25.38\00:36:27.08 He said, "Do not marvel at this, 00:36:27.12\00:36:29.38 for the day is coming 00:36:29.42\00:36:31.09 when all who are in their graves 00:36:31.12\00:36:32.85 will hear My voice 00:36:32.89\00:36:34.22 and some will come forth, those who have done good." 00:36:34.26\00:36:38.43 Well, they're all going to come forth 00:36:38.46\00:36:40.00 in one or two resurrections. 00:36:40.03\00:36:42.00 "Those who have done good, the resurrection of life, 00:36:42.03\00:36:45.53 those who have done evil, 00:36:45.57\00:36:47.74 to the resurrection of condemnation." 00:36:47.77\00:36:49.64 My sister says to me, I keep reading and she's, 00:36:49.67\00:36:52.34 "Wait a minute, wait a minute, go back to that." 00:36:52.37\00:36:54.61 And she's, "What do you mean, 00:36:54.64\00:36:56.14 all who are in their graves are going to hear the voice?" 00:36:56.18\00:36:59.11 And I say, "Well, you know, death is asleep, 00:36:59.15\00:37:02.25 and I'm explaining things to her what the Bible says. 00:37:02.28\00:37:05.95 And she goes, "What, what, 00:37:05.99\00:37:08.76 I hate you every time I talk to you, 00:37:08.79\00:37:10.13 I'm learning something that I didn't believe 00:37:10.16\00:37:11.63 when I came up," and she was so mad at me. 00:37:11.66\00:37:14.36 And I said, "Just get out your Concordance, 00:37:14.40\00:37:17.77 go through it, look up death, look up sleep." 00:37:17.80\00:37:20.70 And she just says, "I'll never talk to you again." 00:37:20.74\00:37:23.67 Bang and she hangs up on me. 00:37:23.71\00:37:25.87 I knew she was very melodramatic. 00:37:25.91\00:37:29.74 About eight hours later, she calls me back. 00:37:29.78\00:37:33.11 You know what she says, "Oh, you're right, death is a sleep. 00:37:33.15\00:37:36.75 There's no question about it." 00:37:36.79\00:37:38.12 She'd been studying that all time. 00:37:38.15\00:37:40.36 And just got into the Word and found that out. 00:37:40.39\00:37:43.22 See, the Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 6:16, 00:37:43.26\00:37:47.93 only God has immortality. 00:37:47.96\00:37:51.00 Now we are not immortal, but the will of God, 00:37:51.03\00:37:55.80 Jesus said in John 6:40 is that everyone 00:37:55.84\00:37:59.77 who sees the son and believes him 00:37:59.81\00:38:02.38 will have ever lasting life. 00:38:02.41\00:38:06.01 When do we get this everlasting, eternal life? 00:38:06.05\00:38:08.72 Well, He said, "I will raise Him up on the last day." 00:38:08.75\00:38:12.35 The first, 00:38:12.39\00:38:13.72 there's two different resurrections in the Bible. 00:38:13.76\00:38:15.56 The first resurrection is the righteous. 00:38:15.59\00:38:18.39 When Jesus comes down with the sound of the trumpet 00:38:18.43\00:38:22.80 and He calls forth and it says that the dead in Christ 00:38:22.83\00:38:25.87 will rise first, this is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 00:38:25.90\00:38:31.04 And then we who are alive will be caught up in the air 00:38:31.07\00:38:34.41 joining them. 00:38:34.44\00:38:35.98 And this is at the last trump, that's the first resurrection. 00:38:36.01\00:38:41.55 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 00:38:41.58\00:38:45.19 also explains the first resurrection. 00:38:45.22\00:38:48.32 It impulses at this way. 00:38:48.36\00:38:49.69 He says, "Hey, I'll tell you a mystery. 00:38:49.72\00:38:52.03 We're not all going to sleep, we're not all going to die," 00:38:52.06\00:38:54.90 is what he is saying. 00:38:54.93\00:38:56.56 "But we will all be changed in a moment, 00:38:56.60\00:38:59.60 in the twinkling of an eye." 00:38:59.63\00:39:01.20 When? At the last trumpet. 00:39:01.24\00:39:03.77 For the trumpet will sound, 00:39:03.81\00:39:05.14 the dead will be raised incorruptible, 00:39:05.17\00:39:08.04 and we shall be changed, 00:39:08.08\00:39:12.41 for this corruptible must put on incorruption. 00:39:12.45\00:39:15.62 This mortal must put on immortality." 00:39:15.65\00:39:20.86 When? At the last trumpet. 00:39:20.89\00:39:23.53 But now let's talk about this, 00:39:23.56\00:39:25.83 this second resurrection. 00:39:25.86\00:39:31.00 You see, the devil told Adam and Eve, you won't die. 00:39:31.03\00:39:36.71 Well, they did die. 00:39:36.74\00:39:38.14 They got blocked from the access to the tree of life. 00:39:38.17\00:39:42.31 They died physically, we all die physically 00:39:42.34\00:39:45.38 unless we're among the people. 00:39:45.41\00:39:47.32 There's been a couple 00:39:47.35\00:39:48.68 that has been caught up to heaven. 00:39:48.72\00:39:50.52 But the point is that biological death, 00:39:50.55\00:39:55.19 what's certain taxes and death, right? 00:39:55.22\00:39:57.93 Unless you're alive when Jesus returns. 00:39:57.96\00:40:00.73 So, what does He mean 00:40:00.76\00:40:03.87 about the second resurrection and the second death? 00:40:03.90\00:40:09.64 Did you know the Bible talks about the second death 00:40:09.67\00:40:12.51 four different times. 00:40:12.54\00:40:15.28 In Revelation 20:6, he says, 00:40:15.31\00:40:18.98 "Blessed and holy is he who has part 00:40:19.01\00:40:21.38 in the first resurrection. 00:40:21.42\00:40:25.55 "That's the resurrection of the righteous. 00:40:25.59\00:40:27.86 "Over such the second death has no power, 00:40:27.89\00:40:30.86 but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, 00:40:30.89\00:40:34.50 and shall reign with Him a thousand years." 00:40:34.53\00:40:37.07 So this first resurrection, 00:40:37.10\00:40:39.83 we go to heaven and we get to reign for 1,000 years 00:40:39.87\00:40:43.71 and would after that would come back down to earth 00:40:43.74\00:40:45.61 when the New Jerusalem comes, 00:40:45.64\00:40:47.41 and God recreates the earth, right? 00:40:47.44\00:40:49.98 But what is the second death? This is interesting. 00:40:50.01\00:40:55.45 Revelation 2:11 says, "He who overcomes 00:40:55.48\00:40:58.45 will not be harmed by the second death." 00:40:58.49\00:41:01.12 Revelation 21:8 says, "But the cowardly, 00:41:01.16\00:41:04.99 the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderer, 00:41:05.03\00:41:07.73 the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, idolaters, 00:41:07.76\00:41:10.37 and all liars shall have their part in the lake 00:41:10.40\00:41:15.34 which burns with fire and brimstone, 00:41:15.37\00:41:19.64 which is the second death." 00:41:19.67\00:41:23.51 You are either going to be granted immortality 00:41:23.55\00:41:28.68 when you put on immortality, 00:41:28.72\00:41:31.05 at that first resurrection, 00:41:31.09\00:41:33.15 and you're going to have the gift of eternal life. 00:41:33.19\00:41:36.73 Or guess what? 00:41:36.76\00:41:38.09 You're going to perish. 00:41:38.13\00:41:39.46 There's going to be a second death. 00:41:39.49\00:41:41.26 God destroyed the world once with the lake of water. 00:41:41.30\00:41:46.00 The next time it's going to be a lake of fire, 00:41:46.03\00:41:48.54 and all who are in that lake of fire are going to be dead, 00:41:48.57\00:41:52.31 gone eternally. 00:41:52.34\00:41:54.21 Let me read this to you. 00:41:54.24\00:41:55.81 In Malachi 4:1, it says, 00:41:55.84\00:42:01.32 "Behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, 00:42:01.35\00:42:04.22 and all the proud, 00:42:04.25\00:42:05.59 all that do wickedly will be stubble." 00:42:05.62\00:42:08.59 What, that's stubbles, what's left after the fire. 00:42:08.62\00:42:11.79 "And the day which is coming shall burn them up," 00:42:11.83\00:42:14.33 says the Lord of hosts that will leave them 00:42:14.36\00:42:16.03 neither root nor branch." 00:42:16.06\00:42:18.03 It goes on in verse 3, it says, 00:42:18.07\00:42:19.93 hey, you're going to trample on the wicked, 00:42:19.97\00:42:22.40 they're just going to be ashes under your feet. 00:42:22.44\00:42:25.94 That sounds like total destruction. 00:42:25.97\00:42:27.78 That sounds just like you're either going to perish, 00:42:27.81\00:42:31.15 or you're going to have eternal life. 00:42:31.18\00:42:33.75 Jesus said, and here's where our lesson begins 00:42:33.78\00:42:38.02 is John 11:25-26. 00:42:38.05\00:42:43.26 Jesus says, 00:42:43.29\00:42:45.39 "I am the resurrection and the life." 00:42:45.43\00:42:49.53 He's talking to Martha, her brother's in the tomb. 00:42:49.56\00:42:53.80 He says, "I am the resurrection and the life. 00:42:53.84\00:42:57.07 He who believes in Me, will live, 00:42:57.11\00:43:01.88 even if he dies, and everyone who lives 00:43:01.91\00:43:06.05 and believes in Me will never die." 00:43:06.08\00:43:09.38 See, God came down in the person of Jesus Christ, 00:43:09.42\00:43:13.72 He became a human to unite Himself with us, 00:43:13.76\00:43:17.59 He paid the penalty for our sin. 00:43:17.63\00:43:20.30 And you know what? 00:43:20.33\00:43:21.66 The grave couldn't hold Him. 00:43:21.70\00:43:23.57 No, He had life in Himself. 00:43:23.60\00:43:26.60 He was resurrected. 00:43:26.63\00:43:28.37 He says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." 00:43:28.40\00:43:31.97 And He will give eternal life at the last trumpet 00:43:32.01\00:43:36.64 to all who believe in Him. 00:43:36.68\00:43:39.45 He says, "I am the true vine." 00:43:39.48\00:43:41.32 He will give new covenant eternal life 00:43:41.35\00:43:44.75 to all who are united in Him. 00:43:44.79\00:43:47.82 There are two dimensions of New Covenant life in Christ, 00:43:47.86\00:43:52.63 the present, that's John 10:10 00:43:52.66\00:43:55.40 that He came to give us abundant life. 00:43:55.43\00:43:58.43 But then the future is the true eternal life, 00:43:58.47\00:44:03.00 the promise of the resurrection, 00:44:03.04\00:44:06.24 of being changed from mortal, to immortal. 00:44:06.27\00:44:10.05 And even though that's in the future, 00:44:10.08\00:44:12.78 that's the one. 00:44:12.81\00:44:14.22 That's the one that makes everything worth it. 00:44:14.25\00:44:16.89 To know that whatever we suffer right now is nothing. 00:44:16.92\00:44:22.16 It's temporary. 00:44:22.19\00:44:23.53 It's nothing compared to the eternal glory 00:44:23.56\00:44:26.73 of living face to face with our Savior. 00:44:26.76\00:44:31.17 Hallelujah, glory to God. 00:44:31.20\00:44:34.74 What a joy to know that our life 00:44:34.77\00:44:37.77 if we're in Christ 00:44:37.81\00:44:39.14 in that new covenant relationship, 00:44:39.17\00:44:41.61 it doesn't end in the grave. 00:44:41.64\00:44:44.08 Well, she, they started the fire 00:44:47.15\00:44:49.88 so I got to continue on. 00:44:49.92\00:44:51.72 Praise the Lord. I'm so excited. 00:44:51.75\00:44:53.29 You got to pray for that clock right now 00:44:53.32\00:44:54.66 because this last subject here Thursday's lesson, 00:44:54.69\00:44:58.06 New Covenant and Mission. 00:44:58.09\00:45:01.43 This is the fuel for the machine right here. 00:45:01.46\00:45:03.33 I love evangelism. 00:45:03.37\00:45:04.93 I love the mission of the church. 00:45:04.97\00:45:06.57 I love the commission that Christ has given us. 00:45:06.60\00:45:08.94 And I believe with all my heart and mind 00:45:08.97\00:45:11.07 that that is where we are today, 00:45:11.11\00:45:12.47 we need to be preaching the gospel, 00:45:12.51\00:45:14.64 we need to be getting this message out 00:45:14.68\00:45:16.14 because Jesus is coming soon. 00:45:16.18\00:45:18.11 So let's go to Matthew 28. 00:45:18.15\00:45:19.95 We got to start there, Matthew Chapter 28, 00:45:19.98\00:45:22.12 and we're going to read the last two verses 00:45:22.15\00:45:23.52 of that chapter. 00:45:23.55\00:45:24.89 Matthew 28:19-20. 00:45:24.92\00:45:27.49 And this is what the Bible says, of course, 00:45:27.52\00:45:28.96 this is the words of Christ. 00:45:28.99\00:45:30.43 And He says, "Go, therefore, and make disciples 00:45:30.46\00:45:34.06 of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 00:45:34.10\00:45:37.20 and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 00:45:37.23\00:45:39.63 teaching them to observe all things 00:45:39.67\00:45:42.17 that I have commanded you. 00:45:42.20\00:45:43.57 And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 00:45:43.61\00:45:49.28 So Christ is He simply gave the commission. 00:45:49.31\00:45:51.55 It's just this beautiful farewell address 00:45:51.58\00:45:54.05 as He's about to leave and He's about to depart. 00:45:54.08\00:45:56.62 One of the last things He said to them 00:45:56.65\00:45:58.35 is, "Go, go tell them everything 00:45:58.39\00:46:00.52 that I've taught you. 00:46:00.56\00:46:01.89 Go share with them, 00:46:01.92\00:46:03.26 the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:46:03.29\00:46:04.63 go tell them of the good news about how they have a Savior, 00:46:04.66\00:46:07.40 a Savior that has come and died for them, 00:46:07.43\00:46:09.03 a Savior who has given His life for them 00:46:09.06\00:46:11.53 so that they might live eternally. 00:46:11.57\00:46:13.54 Go out there and tell them this good news." 00:46:13.57\00:46:16.40 And we, what is the church doing today? 00:46:16.44\00:46:19.01 Well, some of us are giving that message, 00:46:19.04\00:46:21.68 some of us are not. 00:46:21.71\00:46:23.04 And that's why we have these type of studies 00:46:23.08\00:46:24.78 to remind us of what our mission is. 00:46:24.81\00:46:27.72 The lesson brings out here at the very beginning, 00:46:27.75\00:46:30.02 the writer says all over the world, 00:46:30.05\00:46:31.85 people often struggle 00:46:31.89\00:46:33.29 with what South African writer Laurens van der Post 00:46:33.32\00:46:36.83 called the burden of meaninglessness. 00:46:36.86\00:46:41.06 People find themselves he writes with or this, 00:46:41.10\00:46:44.33 that's actually, I don't know if this is a man or a woman. 00:46:44.37\00:46:46.33 So I don't know if Laurens van der Post 00:46:46.37\00:46:47.87 is a man or woman. 00:46:47.90\00:46:49.24 So I'll just say they write that people find themselves 00:46:49.27\00:46:52.51 with the gift of life, yet they do not know 00:46:52.54\00:46:55.58 what to do with it, 00:46:55.61\00:46:56.95 do not know what the purpose of this gift is, 00:46:56.98\00:46:59.21 and do not know how to use it. 00:46:59.25\00:47:01.32 It is like giving someone a library 00:47:01.35\00:47:04.05 filled with rare books 00:47:04.09\00:47:05.89 only to have the person not read the books, 00:47:05.92\00:47:08.02 but use them to build fires. 00:47:08.06\00:47:10.19 What a terrible waste of something so precious. 00:47:10.23\00:47:14.23 And I have to agree we have this amazing, 00:47:14.26\00:47:16.87 powerful message that Christ has bestowed upon us. 00:47:16.90\00:47:20.24 And some of us we have this precious treasure 00:47:20.27\00:47:22.67 that we're supposed to be sharing with everyone. 00:47:22.70\00:47:24.37 He said, "Go, go share it, go, give this beautiful message 00:47:24.41\00:47:27.74 to as many people as possible because I'm going to return 00:47:27.78\00:47:30.71 and I'm coming for a wholly people, a transformed people, 00:47:30.75\00:47:34.28 a people who are not a part of that processed, 00:47:34.32\00:47:37.49 refined worldly group," but we're talking 00:47:37.52\00:47:39.32 about a people who are on fire for the Lord. 00:47:39.35\00:47:42.46 Jesus is coming back for a church. 00:47:42.49\00:47:44.69 In fact, it reminds me 00:47:44.73\00:47:46.06 of a little bit of a story that I heard. 00:47:46.09\00:47:47.80 I've used this in sermons 00:47:47.83\00:47:49.33 before, but I got to use it right now, 00:47:49.36\00:47:50.70 because it's just perfect. 00:47:50.73\00:47:52.07 It's a story about four people named everybody, 00:47:52.10\00:47:54.74 somebody, anybody and nobody. 00:47:54.77\00:47:57.47 There was an important job to be done. 00:47:57.51\00:47:59.24 And everybody was sure that somebody would do it. 00:47:59.27\00:48:01.91 Anybody could have done it. 00:48:01.94\00:48:03.55 But nobody did it. 00:48:03.58\00:48:04.91 Somebody got angry about this, because it was everybody's job. 00:48:04.95\00:48:08.22 Everybody thought anybody could do it. 00:48:08.25\00:48:09.88 But nobody realized that everybody wouldn't do it. 00:48:09.92\00:48:12.19 It ended up that everybody blamed somebody 00:48:12.22\00:48:14.06 when nobody did what anybody could have done. 00:48:14.09\00:48:16.66 I love it. 00:48:16.69\00:48:18.19 And that's the truth, if I never heard it, 00:48:18.23\00:48:19.63 it also reminds me of that beautiful song 00:48:19.66\00:48:21.96 that Lanny Wolfe wrote years ago. 00:48:22.00\00:48:23.40 I grew up listening to it and singing it in the church. 00:48:23.43\00:48:25.80 It tells the heart of the father as he's pleading, 00:48:25.83\00:48:29.97 My house is full. 00:48:30.01\00:48:33.98 But my field is empty. 00:48:34.01\00:48:37.35 Who will go in and work for me today. 00:48:37.38\00:48:41.35 I love that song. 00:48:41.38\00:48:42.72 Because it goes on to say it seems my children all 00:48:42.75\00:48:46.09 want to stay around my table, 00:48:46.12\00:48:50.59 but no one wants to work in my field. 00:48:50.63\00:48:56.36 No one wants to work in my field. 00:48:56.40\00:49:02.24 It's a beautiful song with beautiful music 00:49:02.27\00:49:04.37 and beautiful words. 00:49:04.41\00:49:05.74 But the message makes you almost want to go 00:49:05.77\00:49:07.74 my house is full. 00:49:07.78\00:49:09.11 And then you get to that part. 00:49:09.14\00:49:10.48 It's like oh, but my field is empty. 00:49:10.51\00:49:13.62 My children want to come into my synagogue, 00:49:13.65\00:49:16.48 they want to come into My house of worship. 00:49:16.52\00:49:18.75 They want to sit around My table, 00:49:18.79\00:49:20.49 but they don't want to go out 00:49:20.52\00:49:21.86 and they don't want to work in My field. 00:49:21.89\00:49:25.09 And you know a lot of Christians today 00:49:25.13\00:49:26.46 they have something that I like to call pew paralysis. 00:49:26.49\00:49:29.90 Pew paralysis, the condition brought on by an indifferent, 00:49:29.93\00:49:33.44 careless and lukewarm disposition. 00:49:33.47\00:49:35.90 One with pew paralysis is so overly comfortable 00:49:35.94\00:49:38.57 in their lackadaisical condition 00:49:38.61\00:49:40.58 that they slip into a spiritual paralytic state 00:49:40.61\00:49:43.61 to which the gospel message 00:49:43.65\00:49:45.11 they have been commissioned to share 00:49:45.15\00:49:47.02 has become stationary and immobile. 00:49:47.05\00:49:49.78 This person is content in warming a pew every week, 00:49:49.82\00:49:53.12 but thinks it's too difficult and challenging to do 00:49:53.15\00:49:55.86 any personal evangelism beyond the church walls. 00:49:55.89\00:49:59.36 And, Pastor, you know, as a pastor, 00:49:59.39\00:50:01.06 I know that many, many, many years of pastoring, 00:50:01.10\00:50:02.93 you've seen these type of Christians. 00:50:02.96\00:50:04.67 They are devoted to anything that's going on within those 00:50:04.70\00:50:07.90 four walls of a church building, 00:50:07.94\00:50:09.80 but they are too slow to go out and share 00:50:09.84\00:50:12.31 the gospel commission that God has given them. 00:50:12.34\00:50:14.18 Is that you? I hope that's not the case. 00:50:14.21\00:50:17.85 Because Jesus has given us a powerful commission. 00:50:17.88\00:50:20.95 He says, "Do you know Me? 00:50:20.98\00:50:22.78 Do you have a relationship with Me? 00:50:22.82\00:50:24.72 Have I done something good in your life? 00:50:24.75\00:50:27.06 Do you know Me and have come to know Me on a daily basis? 00:50:27.09\00:50:30.49 Have I been good to you? 00:50:30.53\00:50:31.93 Do you have a story that you can go tell someone 00:50:31.96\00:50:34.16 about Me and what I've done for you in your life? 00:50:34.20\00:50:36.87 "That's what the good news is. 00:50:36.90\00:50:38.53 It doesn't have to be some deep theological breakdown 00:50:38.57\00:50:41.20 of the Book of Daniel or Revelation, 00:50:41.24\00:50:42.87 or some deep theological dividing of the Word of God, 00:50:42.90\00:50:45.87 so that you can showcase how much 00:50:45.91\00:50:47.51 you know, it can simply be a wonderful, beautiful story 00:50:47.54\00:50:50.88 and how God has transformed your life, 00:50:50.91\00:50:53.55 how God has blessed you, 00:50:53.58\00:50:54.92 how God has bestowed upon you such a powerful blessing 00:50:54.95\00:50:58.05 that all you got to do is just go and tell someone. 00:50:58.09\00:51:00.06 When somebody is passing you in the grocery store, 00:51:00.09\00:51:02.19 they may say, "Hi, how are you?" 00:51:02.22\00:51:03.86 And maybe as simply as that, "I'm blessed, I am blessed." 00:51:03.89\00:51:08.10 And you know what I respond like that often 00:51:08.13\00:51:09.66 when somebody says, "Hey, brother, how are you?" 00:51:09.70\00:51:11.17 I can't complain, I'm blessed. 00:51:11.20\00:51:12.67 The Lord is good, 00:51:12.70\00:51:14.04 no matter what's going on in your life. 00:51:14.07\00:51:15.67 That's why I love to sing that song also that, 00:51:15.70\00:51:17.81 you know, I can't complain. 00:51:17.84\00:51:19.17 It's one of my favorite songs that God is so good to me 00:51:19.21\00:51:21.48 that I can't complain. 00:51:21.51\00:51:23.01 That is the gospel message that we serve a God who cares, 00:51:23.04\00:51:26.35 we serve a God who loves us. 00:51:26.38\00:51:28.08 Indeed, even the disciples, 00:51:28.12\00:51:29.78 when they came back from the cities, 00:51:29.82\00:51:31.55 they were in Samaria as Jesus had just completed 00:51:31.59\00:51:34.02 His conversation with the woman at the well. 00:51:34.06\00:51:35.99 And they come back 00:51:36.02\00:51:37.36 and they got the food and they say, 00:51:37.39\00:51:38.73 "Jesus, we brought lunch." 00:51:38.76\00:51:40.10 And He says, "That's okay, I've got food 00:51:40.13\00:51:41.73 that you don't even know about." 00:51:41.76\00:51:43.10 And I can imagine, as the Scripture says, 00:51:43.13\00:51:44.47 "They look around, 00:51:44.50\00:51:45.83 "But who brought this brother food? 00:51:45.87\00:51:47.20 Did He, did He pack a lunch?" And what did Jesus say? 00:51:47.24\00:51:48.94 John 4:34. 00:51:48.97\00:51:50.31 Pastor, I think you referenced this 00:51:50.34\00:51:51.67 before, in one of the previous lessons. 00:51:51.71\00:51:53.34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him 00:51:53.38\00:51:56.34 who sent me and to, "don't miss this part, 00:51:56.38\00:51:58.81 "and to finish His work." 00:51:58.85\00:52:01.88 God wants us to co-labor with Him, 00:52:01.92\00:52:04.72 with all of heaven with the angels 00:52:04.75\00:52:06.89 and all the kingdom of God, 00:52:06.92\00:52:08.36 co-labor with Him and helping to finish this work 00:52:08.39\00:52:11.23 to send this beautiful gospel commission to all the world. 00:52:11.26\00:52:14.90 That's a part of the great New Covenant message, 00:52:14.93\00:52:17.87 the part of the great New Covenant gospel message 00:52:17.90\00:52:20.40 is that Jesus is returning soon, 00:52:20.44\00:52:22.24 and He's coming back for people who are ready, 00:52:22.27\00:52:24.11 He's coming back for people 00:52:24.14\00:52:25.47 who have consecrated themselves to Him. 00:52:25.51\00:52:27.34 He's coming back for a people that He can take 00:52:27.38\00:52:29.64 to His kingdom that they can repopulate heaven 00:52:29.68\00:52:32.55 with from all those fallen angels that had fallen, 00:52:32.58\00:52:34.22 He wants to make you a part of that population. 00:52:34.25\00:52:37.75 Seventh-day Adventist, 00:52:37.79\00:52:39.29 I'm a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. 00:52:39.32\00:52:41.29 And Seventh-day Adventist Christians get their name 00:52:41.32\00:52:43.69 from a great and mighty work that God did all 00:52:43.73\00:52:46.80 the way back at the beginning in the origins, 00:52:46.83\00:52:49.66 and we started actually this study 13 weeks ago 00:52:49.70\00:52:52.80 at the origins talking 00:52:52.83\00:52:54.17 about the great Sabbath commandment 00:52:54.20\00:52:56.17 that the Lord had established, all the great work 00:52:56.20\00:52:58.01 that He had done, but yet He rested 00:52:58.04\00:52:59.94 on the seventh day, 00:52:59.97\00:53:01.31 He ceased from doing His work on the seventh day. 00:53:01.34\00:53:03.85 Seventh-day Adventist, what is your commission? 00:53:03.88\00:53:06.92 It's right there in your very name. 00:53:06.95\00:53:08.68 Just as God ceased from His work 00:53:08.72\00:53:11.25 and He finished His work, 00:53:11.29\00:53:12.65 we also need to rest 00:53:12.69\00:53:15.09 but also help the Father finish the work. 00:53:15.12\00:53:17.73 We've to co-labor with Him and help finishing the work. 00:53:17.76\00:53:20.76 Acts 1:8, do you have the Holy Spirit, 00:53:20.80\00:53:24.10 are you a spirit lead Christian? 00:53:24.13\00:53:25.93 Are we filled with the Holy Spirit 00:53:25.97\00:53:27.30 in these last days? 00:53:27.34\00:53:28.67 Because the Bible says that one indication 00:53:28.70\00:53:30.24 of how you know you are full of the Holy Ghost 00:53:30.27\00:53:32.54 is that you have received power 00:53:32.57\00:53:35.08 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you 00:53:35.11\00:53:36.98 that you shall be a witness to Me, He says, 00:53:37.01\00:53:39.35 in Jerusalem in all Judea, and Samaria, 00:53:39.38\00:53:42.05 and all the uttermost parts of the world 00:53:42.08\00:53:44.25 and to all the earth. 00:53:44.29\00:53:45.75 Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? 00:53:45.79\00:53:47.42 Are you fired up for Jesus to give that gospel commission? 00:53:47.46\00:53:50.46 Are you fired up for Jesus to tell the world 00:53:50.49\00:53:52.33 about what He has done for you? 00:53:52.36\00:53:54.10 I love, I love, love, love evangelism. 00:53:54.13\00:53:58.40 That's what I live for. 00:53:58.43\00:53:59.77 It's not something that I do. 00:53:59.80\00:54:01.54 Evangelism isn't an event on a calendar. 00:54:01.57\00:54:04.17 Evangelism isn't something that you, 00:54:04.21\00:54:06.04 you know, circle a particular day 00:54:06.07\00:54:07.41 on a calendar to say, 00:54:07.44\00:54:08.78 "This day, I've set aside to do this." 00:54:08.81\00:54:10.75 Evangelism is a way of life. 00:54:10.78\00:54:13.31 It's a way of existence. 00:54:13.35\00:54:14.88 It's just who I am. It's what I do. 00:54:14.92\00:54:16.79 Because I serve a mighty God 00:54:16.82\00:54:18.15 that I'm not worthy to even loose His sandals. 00:54:18.19\00:54:20.46 I'm not even worthy to even mention His name. 00:54:20.49\00:54:22.62 But I'll tell you, His name is Jesus. 00:54:22.66\00:54:24.49 And Jesus is coming back for people who are already. 00:54:24.53\00:54:27.10 Six volume of the Testimony, page 295, 00:54:27.13\00:54:29.56 someone must fulfill the commission of Christ, 00:54:29.60\00:54:32.77 someone must carry on the work which He began to do on earth. 00:54:32.80\00:54:35.90 And the church has been given this privilege. 00:54:35.94\00:54:38.17 Don't miss this next point. 00:54:38.21\00:54:39.57 For this purpose, it has been organized. 00:54:39.61\00:54:43.71 Did you catch that? 00:54:43.75\00:54:45.08 For the purpose of giving the commission of Christ, 00:54:45.11\00:54:48.35 sharing the gospel. 00:54:48.38\00:54:49.78 That is why the church has been organized for us to rise up, 00:54:49.82\00:54:54.02 band together in unity. 00:54:54.06\00:54:55.72 Pick up this Word of God and go share the good news. 00:54:55.76\00:54:58.93 The Gospel of Jesus Christ with the entire world. 00:54:58.96\00:55:01.80 Amen. 00:55:01.83\00:55:04.00 I think what Ryan is trying to say 00:55:04.03\00:55:06.60 is that the burden of uselessness 00:55:06.63\00:55:08.64 and pew paralysis will be resolved 00:55:08.67\00:55:10.91 if we accept the New Covenant and the new mission. 00:55:10.94\00:55:13.58 Thank you so much for that enthusiastic appeal 00:55:13.61\00:55:16.58 to those who are right now 00:55:16.61\00:55:18.71 on this trying hour of earth's history. 00:55:18.75\00:55:21.18 There is no need for inactivity, 00:55:21.22\00:55:23.15 the New Covenant is calling for a new commitment 00:55:23.18\00:55:26.09 to the mission of saving souls. 00:55:26.12\00:55:27.56 Jill, give us a summary of you. 00:55:27.59\00:55:29.46 This has been a beautiful lesson, hasn't it been? 00:55:29.49\00:55:30.83 Oh, it has, incredible lesson. What a gift, what a blessing. 00:55:30.86\00:55:33.86 My lesson Monday was Guilt-Free. 00:55:33.90\00:55:36.00 I don't know maybe you are feeling guilty, 00:55:36.03\00:55:38.13 maybe you are feeling that you have wandered far from God 00:55:38.17\00:55:41.14 and don't know if He can forgive you, 00:55:41.17\00:55:43.57 if He can restore you. 00:55:43.61\00:55:45.07 I want to assure you right now, that the Lord Jesus loves you 00:55:45.11\00:55:48.78 and He is extending to you the blood of Jesus and He says, 00:55:48.81\00:55:53.85 "Accept this, I will forgive and cleanse 00:55:53.88\00:55:56.12 and make you whole." 00:55:56.15\00:55:57.49 Amen. Jason? 00:55:57.52\00:55:59.65 I don't know if, you know, you know anything 00:55:59.69\00:56:02.19 about the heart transplant list or getting on a donor list. 00:56:02.22\00:56:06.39 But God wants to give you a new heart. 00:56:06.43\00:56:09.20 He wants to give you, 00:56:09.23\00:56:10.57 wants you to take advantage of the New Covenant. 00:56:10.60\00:56:13.57 And so if that's your desire today, 00:56:13.60\00:56:15.20 then I just ask that 00:56:15.24\00:56:16.57 you would ask Christ to come into your life 00:56:16.60\00:56:19.97 and enjoy the fullness of His joy. 00:56:20.01\00:56:23.65 Amen. Amen. 00:56:23.68\00:56:25.01 The Lord is just strongly impressing me 00:56:25.05\00:56:26.92 that I need to explain a Greek term, 00:56:26.95\00:56:30.55 and the term is eternal or everlasting. 00:56:30.59\00:56:34.09 In the Greek it is aionios and it is a relative term. 00:56:34.12\00:56:40.06 In other words, it is defined by what it is related to, 00:56:40.10\00:56:43.80 whatever it is, explaining, modifying. 00:56:43.83\00:56:48.04 So, when we use everlasting in connection 00:56:48.07\00:56:52.94 with God and things of God, 00:56:52.97\00:56:55.64 it means infinitely, without end. 00:56:55.68\00:57:00.35 But when you use everlasting, like the everlasting fire, 00:57:00.38\00:57:05.95 and it's talking about, 00:57:05.99\00:57:08.32 it's connected with mortal things 00:57:08.36\00:57:11.09 or people, that means it's just till it ends. 00:57:11.13\00:57:15.83 So in Jude 7, Sodom and Gomorrah 00:57:15.86\00:57:18.80 are a sign of everlasting fire. 00:57:18.83\00:57:21.64 That's the second death. 00:57:21.67\00:57:24.27 My house is full, my field is empty, 00:57:24.31\00:57:26.98 who will go and work for Me today. 00:57:27.01\00:57:29.01 The Father is calling us. 00:57:29.04\00:57:30.51 He's commissioned you to go out into the field. 00:57:30.55\00:57:32.61 That's right. 00:57:32.65\00:57:33.98 1 Peter, "For you are chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 00:57:34.02\00:57:38.19 a holy nation, His own special people. 00:57:38.22\00:57:40.66 The proclamation is to go therefore and proclaim 00:57:40.69\00:57:43.22 the praises of Him, who called us out of darkness 00:57:43.26\00:57:46.53 into this marvelous, marvelous light." 00:57:46.56\00:57:49.76 We have enjoyed sharing the covenant, 00:57:49.80\00:57:51.73 the promises of God is everlasting covenant. 00:57:51.77\00:57:54.40 We would like to invite you to join us 00:57:54.44\00:57:56.24 again next quarter when the lesson study 00:57:56.27\00:57:58.61 is going to be Rest in Christ. 00:57:58.64\00:58:02.01 Friends, the commission is for you, 00:58:02.04\00:58:03.55 we pray that you'll accept the New Covenant, 00:58:03.58\00:58:05.65 the Christ of the New Covenant, 00:58:05.68\00:58:07.45 and be a part of that New Jerusalem. 00:58:07.48\00:58:09.45 God bless you until we see you again. 00:58:09.48\00:58:11.19