Hello and welcome to the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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On behalf of the Panel, my
name is Pastor James Rafferty
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and we are studying
the Sabbath School Lesson,
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for the fourth quarter
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and that lesson is entitled:
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Present Truth in
the book of Deuteronomy.
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Now, we are on Lesson Number
5, The Stranger in The Gate
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and if you don't
have that lesson,
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you can get it...
you can acquire it
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if you visit a local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and if you can't do that,
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you can also acquire
it by going online at:
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ABSG.Adventist. org.
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We are so thankful
that you're joining us.
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Don't go away
because we'll be right back.
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Music...
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James: Hello Friends and welcome
to our Sabbath School Panel
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for 3ABN.
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We are studying Present Truth
in the book of Deuteronomy.
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We are on Lesson number
5: The Stranger in Your Gate
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and I am flanked
by a super crew...
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family of 3ABN Presenters.
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My name is Pastor James Rafferty
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and to my left, I
have Jill Morikone.
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Jill: Thank you Pastor James,
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I'm excited to study
the Word of God with you
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and with you at home too.
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James: Praise God and
past Jill is Ryan Day.
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Ryan: I'm Pastor Ryan Day
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and I am excited to be a
part of this Panel as always.
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We're going to be talking about
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your love for the
strangers in Egypt.
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James: Amen, and
following Ryan...
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Pastor Ryan Day is
Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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Kenny: It's always good
to study the Word of God
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and I do look forward to this...
this lesson specifically.
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James: Amen, praise God
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and last but not
least is Shelley Quinn.
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Shelley: It's
always so wonderful
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to get to study with you...
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we learn so much from each other
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and I hope
you're learning as well.
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James: Amen... amen...
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so our lesson
begins with this phrase:
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The Stranger in Thy Gate
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and I've got Sunday
which is an introduction
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and then we're
going to move into...
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or Sabbath which
is the introduction
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and then we're
going to move into Sunday:
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Circumcise your hearts.
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Of course, before we do that,
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we need to ask the
Holy Spirit to be here
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and guide our
minds and our hearts
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and so, I'm going
to ask Pastor Ryan Day
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if he would pray for us.
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Ryan: Absolutely... let's pray,
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"Our Father in heaven, Lord,
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we are so blessed and thankful
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again to just be
alive another day...
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to be able to breath
the fresh breath of life
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that you gave us, Lord,
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and here at this Sabbath
School Panel table right now,
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as we're going to go through
these individual lessons, Lord,
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may it not just
be another lesson,
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may it not be just
another Sabbath School Panel
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but may it be one that
your Word just comes alive...
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speaks to us Lord
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and draws us to
our loving Savior Jesus
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and that goes for all
of our Viewers at home.
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Thank You for our
Viewers and supporters
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and may You bless
them abundantly as well
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as we go through
this study today,
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we ask in Jesus'
holy name, amen. "
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Panel: Amen... amen.
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James: I was smiling
just a little bit there
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because in a sense, I'm a
stranger in the gate here,
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this is my first time to
host a Sabbath School Panel
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and my friends
here... my family here
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were reminding me of the things
I needed to do and they said,
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"If you forget
something, we'll remind you... "
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and so, they're all like this...
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pray, pray, pray, pray, pray...
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got it... got it... got it.
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Often in my peripheral vision,
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I'm seeing every
one of them saying,
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"Got to remember to pray. "
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So, thankful for each one of you
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and for this opportunity
that we have to study together
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and to be real
in the Word of God.
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Stranger in your
gates... Sabbath afternoon.
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You know, the lesson begins
with this picture of God's love
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and this picture is so
powerful because it tells us
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that love is the first
and foremost commandment
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because God brings to us
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to love God with all
our heart, mind and soul
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and love our
neighbor as ourselves
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but the question I think that's
really important for us to ask
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right now... in the
context of our world is:
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what is love?
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I believe love
has been kidnapped...
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I believe it's
been misunderstood,
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I believe it's
been misinterpreted
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and so, how do
we understand love?
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You know, do we understand
love by what politicians tell us
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love is and the
loving thing to do is.
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Do we understand love
by what people tell us...
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by what doctors tell us...
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by what the majority tells us?
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Is love defined by these...
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these influences that are
around us in our world today?
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We believe here at 3ABN
that love can only be defined
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by the Word of
God... by the Bible.
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We need to open the Bible
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and the Bible will
define for us what love is.
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We find that for
example, in Exodus chapter 20
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reading verses 1 all
the way through to verse 20,
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well verse
17... we realize there
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that love is
defined in the context
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of the commandments of God
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which begin... surprisingly
enough for some people
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with the phrase,
"I am the Lord thy God
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that brought you out
of the land of Egypt...
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out of the house of bondage,
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thou shall have no
other gods before me. "
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That's the first commandment
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and you see there as you read it
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that it's
inclusive of the gospel.
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The gospel is the essence...
the foundation of God's love.
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His love for us motivates us
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to have no other
God's before Him...
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motivates us not to
take His name in vain,
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motivates us to rest
in all He's done for us
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with others in His Sabbath
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so, we see that in
the Old Testament...
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we also see it in
the New Testament...
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a very clear definition of love
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in 1st Corinthians chapter 13.
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Now, I want to tell
you something interesting
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about 1st
Corinthians chapter 13.
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That's the last place...
the last book of the Bible
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that you'd expect to have this
incredible definition of love.
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Now, most people... when
they read 1st Corinthians 13
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and Paul there waxes
eloquent about what love is
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and what love isn't...
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if I have the faith of angels...
if I have tongues of angels
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and the faith
that can move mountains
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and give all my
goods to the poor
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and my body to be
burned and I have not love...
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love hopes all
things... believes all things...
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endures all things
and if I have not love...
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it profits me nothing.
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The reason why this is
the last place is because
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1st Corinthians
chapter 13... it's surrounded
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with rebuke... admonition...
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Paul is talking to a church
that's supposed to be sanctified
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in Jesus... and he
actually identifies it that way
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but it's filled with all kinds
of backsliding and failures.
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I mean, these people are
Paul says: carnally minded.
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They're... they're
gluttons at the Lord's Supper...
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they're... they're
practicing sexual immorality
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that isn't even
heard of in the world.
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These people are... are... are
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coveting the
gifts of the Holy Spirit
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so they can use
them to exalt themselves
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instead of
exalting other people.
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This church is rife...
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is filled with
backsliding and apostasy
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and in the midst of all that,
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Paul identifies this principle
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this... this
amazing truth of God's love
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and he does
that because he knows
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that the only way he can
get church back on track...
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that the only way we
can get back on track
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is if God's
love is identified...
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if God's love is focused.
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In fact, Paul
begins with a focus
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in 1st
Corinthians of God's love.
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Again, he calls the
church "Sanctified... "
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that's an act of
faith on God's part
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when we think about the church
and the condition it's in.
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But when God acts in
us... towards us by faith,
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it motivates us to live
up to what God sees in us...
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our potential and
that's what Paul does
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and then he goes
right to the cross...
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you know, the
job of the preacher
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is to get across country
to Calvary as fast as possible
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and so, God gets across...
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Paul gets across country to
Calvary as fast as possible,
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he talks about... in... in
1st Corinthians 1 he talks about
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Christ crucified... he
says, "Foolishness... it's...
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it's ridiculous
to... to the world
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and to the... to educated...
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but for us... the cross
is the power of God... "
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and I don't want to
know anything else he says
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in chapter 2 but Jesus
Christ and Him crucified
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and this love is what causes
us as strangers in the gate
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to realize
something of God's character.
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It draws us not only to God
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but it draws us to His people
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and the... the... the
amazingly challenging thing is
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is that many times when God's
love comes into the human heart
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and that person starts
looking for God's people,
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that sometimes they get
in contact with the people
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who aren't actually
revealing the love of God.
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Now, why is that? why is that?
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I think one of the reasons
is because we as Christians
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many times are... are insecure
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in our relationship
with God... we're insecure
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and we become negative...
we become critical...
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we become judgmental, you know,
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there's a lot of
hypocrisy that takes place
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so, it's really vital for us...
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if we find ourselves in the
condition that Paul outlines
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in 1st Corinthians...
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it's really vital for us to
saturate ourselves in God's love
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so that... so that when
we come into communion...
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we come into fellowship...
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despite our failures we
know that God is there for us.
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So, the lesson for
Sabbath begins with this phrase:
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The Stranger in the Gate
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and then it goes
into Sunday's Lesson
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which has the title:
circumcise your hearts...
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circumcise your hearts.
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Now, what does that
mean? circumcise your hearts?
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It's based in
Deuteronomy chapter 10
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verses 1 through 11, so
let's just open our Bibles
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there to Deuteronomy chapter 10
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and we'll begin with verse 1
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and we'll read all the
way through to verse 11.
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Deuteronomy chapter 10,
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"At that time the
Lord said unto me,
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'Hew thee two tables of
stone like unto the first,
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and come up unto
me into the mount,
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and make thee an ark of wood.
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And I will write on the tables
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the words that
were in the first tables
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which thou breakest
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and thou shalt
put them in the ark. '
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And I made an
ark of shittim wood,
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and hewed two tables of
stone like unto the first,
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and went unto the
mount... " verse 3
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"having the two
tables in my hand... "
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and verse 4, "And He...
God... wrote on the tables,
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according to the first writing,
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the ten commandments,
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which the Lord spake
unto you in the mount
00:10:01.16\00:10:03.06
out of the midst of the
fire in the day of assembly:
00:10:03.10\00:10:05.33
and the Lord gave them unto me.
00:10:05.37\00:10:07.40
And I turned
myself... " verse 5...
00:10:07.44\00:10:09.24
"and I came down from the mount
00:10:09.27\00:10:10.97
and put the tables in
the ark which I had made;
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that there they be,
as the Lord commanded me.
00:10:13.54\00:10:15.98
And the children of Israel
took their journey from Beeroth
00:10:16.01\00:10:19.18
of the children
of Jaakan to Mosera:
00:10:19.21\00:10:23.02
there Aaron died,
and there he was buried;
00:10:23.08\00:10:26.59
and Eleazar his son ministered
in the priest's office
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in his stead.
00:10:29.52\00:10:30.93
From thence they
journeyed unto Gudgodah;
00:10:30.96\00:10:34.13
and from Gudgodah
they went to Jotbath... "
00:10:34.20\00:10:37.80
I should have read these
words ahead of time, I think.
00:10:37.83\00:10:39.63
Panel: Laughter.
Ryan: You're doing great.
00:10:39.67\00:10:41.94
James: We need to have...
00:10:41.97\00:10:43.30
we need to have Ryan
in here with the Hebrew.
00:10:43.34\00:10:44.67
"A land of rivers and waters. "
00:10:44.71\00:10:46.91
Now, the point here
that I want to bring out
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before we run out of
time in this intro is
00:10:49.94\00:10:53.21
that... the...
the... the... the act of God
00:10:53.25\00:10:56.52
re-writing the Ten Commandments
00:10:56.55\00:10:58.29
because you remember,
Moses broke the Ten Commandments
00:10:58.32\00:11:00.59
almost immediately...
00:11:00.62\00:11:01.96
40 days after they had
made this covenant with God...
00:11:01.99\00:11:05.56
they were dancing around
the golden calf and partying
00:11:05.59\00:11:09.30
and Moses came down and...
00:11:09.33\00:11:11.20
in absolute horror he
just broke the Ten Commandments
00:11:11.23\00:11:15.30
which was...
00:11:15.34\00:11:16.67
which was the evidence that
the covenant had been broken
00:11:16.71\00:11:18.11
not by God but by the people.
00:11:18.14\00:11:19.47
So, God's re-writing
of these Ten Commandments
00:11:19.51\00:11:22.24
was His way of
saying, "I forgive you. "
00:11:22.28\00:11:24.05
Panel: Hmmm...
00:11:24.08\00:11:25.41
James: It was His way of
manifesting love toward us
00:11:25.45\00:11:28.12
before we
manifested love toward Him.
00:11:28.15\00:11:30.19
In other words, He's stepping
back into this relationship...
00:11:30.22\00:11:33.25
He's stepping back into
this agreement if you will...
00:11:33.29\00:11:35.46
He's stepping
back into His promise
00:11:35.49\00:11:37.86
to put His law in
our hearts and minds
00:11:37.89\00:11:40.23
and He's doing this by faith.
00:11:40.26\00:11:41.80
The tables of stone re-done
tell us of God's forgiveness
00:11:41.83\00:11:45.97
and it's really important
for us to recognize this
00:11:46.00\00:11:48.74
because when we look at
the circumcising of our hearts,
00:11:48.77\00:11:52.71
it's the cutting
away of our flesh
00:11:52.74\00:11:55.38
which really means, the
cutting away of our dependence
00:11:55.41\00:11:59.01
on our flesh.
00:11:59.05\00:12:00.38
The reason why the
people failed initially
00:12:00.42\00:12:04.22
in their covenant
agreement with God
00:12:04.25\00:12:06.65
was because they
were too quick to say,
00:12:06.69\00:12:08.86
"All that the Lord has said
we will do and be obedient. "
00:12:08.92\00:12:11.39
They were too quick
to rely upon themselves.
00:12:11.43\00:12:13.33
They were too quick to choose
00:12:13.40\00:12:15.76
the source of their
strength as themselves
00:12:15.80\00:12:18.20
and God wants to cut
that self-sufficiency away.
00:12:18.23\00:12:20.94
He wants to cut that
self-dependence away from us...
00:12:20.97\00:12:23.54
away from our hearts
00:12:23.57\00:12:24.91
and so, circumcision was
kind of like a... a symbolic way
00:12:24.94\00:12:28.58
of revealing...
00:12:28.61\00:12:30.15
picturing that relationship that
God wants us to have with Him,
00:12:30.18\00:12:33.45
that cutting away of the
flesh is that cutting away
00:12:33.48\00:12:36.35
of dependence on ourselves
00:12:36.38\00:12:37.82
and that's what the
focus that we see here
00:12:37.85\00:12:40.09
in relationship to
Sunday's lesson is.
00:12:40.16\00:12:42.96
Circumcision of our
hearts was a reminder
00:12:42.99\00:12:45.86
that the law is there
to convict us of sin...
00:12:45.89\00:12:48.36
the law is there to
show us our need of Christ
00:12:48.40\00:12:50.83
but the law cannot save
us, we're not saved by the law.
00:12:50.87\00:12:53.74
The law leads us to Jesus
00:12:53.77\00:12:56.00
so that we can be
justified by faith
00:12:56.07\00:12:58.27
and so, God has to
put that law in place.
00:12:58.34\00:13:01.24
If... if He doesn't
replace the law of God,
00:13:01.28\00:13:03.85
we have no way of
being convicted of our sins
00:13:03.88\00:13:06.41
and it's really
interesting to me,
00:13:06.48\00:13:07.82
so many people today...
00:13:07.85\00:13:09.28
so many Christians today...
00:13:09.32\00:13:10.69
so many pastors today
are saying, "You know,
00:13:10.72\00:13:13.15
that old law... those
old Ten Commandments...
00:13:13.19\00:13:15.56
they were nailed to the cross. "
00:13:15.59\00:13:16.99
Really? So where
does that leave us?
00:13:17.03\00:13:18.36
That leaves us
without the conviction of sin
00:13:18.39\00:13:20.33
and if that leaves us
without the conviction of sin,
00:13:20.36\00:13:22.33
where are we?
00:13:22.36\00:13:23.73
"If we confess our sins,
00:13:23.77\00:13:25.10
He's faithful and just
to forgive us of our sins
00:13:25.13\00:13:26.70
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. "
00:13:26.74\00:13:28.27
What if we don't confess them?
00:13:28.30\00:13:29.64
What if we don't
know what sin is?
00:13:29.67\00:13:31.07
Romans 7:7, Paul says,
"I wouldn't have known sin,
00:13:31.14\00:13:33.24
but by the law... "
00:13:33.27\00:13:34.64
in Romans 3 verse 19, Paul says,
00:13:34.68\00:13:36.68
"The law came so that
every mouth will be stopped
00:13:36.71\00:13:39.31
and all the world will
become guilty before God... "
00:13:39.38\00:13:41.95
and under that
guilt, we're led to Jesus.
00:13:41.98\00:13:45.05
Panel: That's right. Wow!
00:13:45.09\00:13:46.42
James: We are led to Jesus to
receive justification by faith
00:13:46.45\00:13:48.79
in His righteousness
and not on our own.
00:13:48.82\00:13:51.16
So, that is our introduction
00:13:51.19\00:13:52.69
and from that introduction,
00:13:52.73\00:13:54.06
I'm going to
hand it over to Jill.
00:13:54.10\00:13:56.36
Jill: Thank you
so much Pastor James.
00:13:56.40\00:13:57.80
I just want to say this,
00:13:57.83\00:13:59.17
we're delighted to have you
on the Sabbath School Panel.
00:13:59.20\00:14:01.44
Pastor James has been
part of 3ABN for many years
00:14:01.47\00:14:04.24
as far as appearing on Programs,
00:14:04.27\00:14:05.67
but we're so glad that he's
officially part of the family
00:14:05.71\00:14:08.34
and on Sabbath School.
00:14:08.38\00:14:10.18
You have a wealth of
Bible knowledge, so thank you.
00:14:10.21\00:14:12.08
I have Monday which
is: Love the Stranger.
00:14:12.11\00:14:15.42
Now, I took the liberty...
00:14:15.45\00:14:16.79
I'm not sure I
ever did this before
00:14:16.82\00:14:18.15
with the Sabbath School Panel,
00:14:18.19\00:14:19.52
of re-naming my lesson.
00:14:19.55\00:14:21.79
So, the name of
the lesson I've given
00:14:21.82\00:14:25.06
is: You are not
the only one chosen.
00:14:25.09\00:14:28.30
Panel: Well... hmmm...
00:14:28.33\00:14:29.76
Jill: Let's look at
Deuteronomy 4 verse 37
00:14:29.80\00:14:31.63
and we're going to
look at a few verses here.
00:14:31.67\00:14:33.47
Deuteronomy 4 verse 37,
00:14:33.50\00:14:35.04
And because He
loved your fathers... "
00:14:35.07\00:14:38.51
God loved... this is
the children of Israel.
00:14:38.54\00:14:41.01
"Therefore He chose
their descendants after them;
00:14:41.04\00:14:44.01
and He brought you out
of Egypt with His Presence,
00:14:44.05\00:14:46.95
with His mighty power... "
00:14:47.02\00:14:48.35
The children of Israel
were called out of Egypt.
00:14:48.38\00:14:50.82
They were chosen...
they were delivered...
00:14:50.85\00:14:53.02
they were loved...
00:14:53.05\00:14:54.39
yet... they were not
the only ones chosen.
00:14:54.42\00:14:59.13
Turn over to Deuteronomy 7,
00:14:59.16\00:15:01.60
we're going to
look at Deuteronomy 7
00:15:01.63\00:15:03.67
verses 6 through 8.
00:15:03.70\00:15:05.03
"You are a holy
people to the Lord your God;
00:15:05.07\00:15:07.64
the Lord your God has chosen you
00:15:07.67\00:15:10.01
to be a people to Himself,
00:15:10.04\00:15:11.47
a special treasure
above all the peoples
00:15:11.51\00:15:14.18
on the face of the earth.
00:15:14.21\00:15:15.54
The Lord did not
set His love on you
00:15:15.61\00:15:18.28
nor choose you
00:15:18.31\00:15:19.65
because you were more in
number than any other people,
00:15:19.68\00:15:21.55
for you were the
least of all the peoples;
00:15:21.58\00:15:24.12
but because the Lord loves you,
00:15:24.15\00:15:26.49
and because He
would give the oath
00:15:26.52\00:15:28.42
which He swore to your fathers,
00:15:28.46\00:15:30.26
the Lord has brought
you out with a mighty hand,
00:15:30.29\00:15:33.16
and redeemed you
from the house of bondage,
00:15:33.19\00:15:35.00
from the hand of
Pharaoh king of Egypt. "
00:15:35.03\00:15:36.67
Panel: Hmmm...
00:15:36.73\00:15:38.07
Jill: Again it's
the same premise.
00:15:38.10\00:15:39.73
God delivered them...
00:15:39.77\00:15:41.10
God redeemed them...
00:15:41.14\00:15:42.47
God brought them out of Egypt.
00:15:42.50\00:15:44.01
They were chosen...
they were special...
00:15:44.07\00:15:46.51
they were highly
favored... they were loved.
00:15:46.54\00:15:49.84
And yet, "You are not
the only one chosen. "
00:15:49.88\00:15:53.25
Come down to Galatians.
00:15:53.28\00:15:54.78
Galatians chapter 3 verse 26,
00:15:54.82\00:15:57.19
we find that not only were
the children of Israel chosen
00:15:57.22\00:16:00.62
but spiritual Israel...
children of the promise...
00:16:00.66\00:16:04.26
the church of
God today is chosen.
00:16:04.29\00:16:06.19
Galatians 3:26...
"You are all sons of God
00:16:06.23\00:16:09.30
through faith in Christ Jesus.
00:16:09.33\00:16:10.90
For as many of you as
were baptized into Christ
00:16:10.93\00:16:13.74
have put on Christ. "
00:16:13.77\00:16:15.10
Jump down to verse 29,
00:16:15.14\00:16:16.47
"And if you are Christ's,
then you are Abraham's seed,
00:16:16.50\00:16:19.57
and heirs
according to the promise. "
00:16:19.61\00:16:22.08
The promises extended
to the children of Israel
00:16:22.14\00:16:24.25
are extended down through
the ages to you and I today.
00:16:24.28\00:16:27.62
We have become spiritual Israel.
00:16:27.65\00:16:29.72
If we are Christ's...
00:16:29.75\00:16:31.32
yet, we are not
the only ones chosen.
00:16:31.35\00:16:36.16
Panel: Hmmm... amen.
00:16:36.19\00:16:37.53
Jill: 1st Peter 2:9,
00:16:37.56\00:16:38.89
you... we... are
a chosen generation,
00:16:38.93\00:16:41.93
a royal priesthood,
00:16:41.96\00:16:43.30
a holy nation... "
God's own special people,
00:16:43.33\00:16:45.43
that we would
proclaim the praises of Him
00:16:45.47\00:16:47.74
who called us out of darkness
into this marvelous light,
00:16:47.77\00:16:50.91
yet, we are not
the only ones chosen.
00:16:50.94\00:16:55.64
Ryan: That's right.
00:16:55.68\00:16:57.01
Jill: Revelation 14 verse 12.
00:16:57.05\00:16:58.95
This is a verse we like to quote
00:16:58.98\00:17:00.68
as Seventh-day
Adventists Christians...
00:17:00.72\00:17:02.95
"Here is the
patience of the saints;
00:17:02.98\00:17:05.15
here are those who
keep the commandments of God
00:17:05.19\00:17:07.39
and have the faith of Jesus. "
00:17:07.42\00:17:08.82
The testimony of Jesus...
00:17:08.86\00:17:10.49
God's end-time movement
00:17:10.53\00:17:12.06
would keep His commandments
and have the faith of Jesus...
00:17:12.09\00:17:14.93
the Spirit of Prophecy...
00:17:14.96\00:17:16.36
yet, we are not
the only ones chosen.
00:17:16.43\00:17:20.97
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:17:21.00\00:17:22.34
Jill: It's easy
to become isolated.
00:17:22.37\00:17:23.71
It's easy to become superior.
00:17:23.74\00:17:25.97
It's easy to become elitist
00:17:26.01\00:17:28.41
and say, "We are chosen...
00:17:28.44\00:17:30.78
we have the
Spirit of Prophecy...
00:17:30.81\00:17:32.88
we pay tithe...
00:17:32.91\00:17:34.82
we eat vegemeat...
00:17:34.85\00:17:36.69
we keep the
Seventh-day Sabbath...
00:17:36.72\00:17:39.62
we understand the prophecies
of Daniel and Revelation. "
00:17:39.65\00:17:43.19
Several years ago,
00:17:43.22\00:17:44.63
Greg and I had the
privilege to go to Israel
00:17:44.66\00:17:46.49
and we went to the Dead Sea.
00:17:46.53\00:17:48.83
Now, when you see the river
that flows into the Dead Sea,
00:17:48.86\00:17:52.40
it's beautiful
and it's life giving
00:17:52.43\00:17:53.97
and it's powerful
00:17:54.04\00:17:55.37
but there is no
outlet in the Dead Sea
00:17:55.40\00:17:57.31
and when you walk in...
we swam in the Dead Sea.
00:17:57.34\00:18:00.28
When you walk
in, you just float...
00:18:00.31\00:18:02.01
it's dead... why?
00:18:02.04\00:18:04.08
We can take in truth
00:18:04.11\00:18:05.95
but if we don't give...
00:18:05.98\00:18:07.55
if we don't share...
00:18:07.58\00:18:09.05
if we don't share who God is
00:18:09.08\00:18:11.55
and that the
gospel is not exclusive,
00:18:11.59\00:18:14.32
the gospel is inclusive...
00:18:14.36\00:18:16.73
we become like the Dead Sea.
00:18:16.76\00:18:19.09
You see, we are not
the only ones chosen.
00:18:19.13\00:18:21.63
Panel: That's
right... hmmm... hmmm...
00:18:21.66\00:18:23.57
Jill: Turn with me
to the book of Ezekiel.
00:18:23.60\00:18:25.43
Ezekiel 16... I
love this passage.
00:18:25.47\00:18:27.10
If you look at the beginning,
you see this unwanted baby
00:18:27.14\00:18:30.34
that is thrown
out in the open field.
00:18:30.41\00:18:33.14
Nobody wanted it
00:18:33.17\00:18:34.51
and it was
covered in its own blood.
00:18:34.54\00:18:36.91
Nobody cleaned it...
00:18:36.95\00:18:38.28
nobody wrapped it...
00:18:38.31\00:18:39.65
nobody covered it...
00:18:39.68\00:18:41.02
nobody cut the umbilical cord
00:18:41.05\00:18:42.78
and yet, God
looked at this baby...
00:18:42.85\00:18:44.45
this is
representative, of course,
00:18:44.49\00:18:45.95
of the Nation of Israel
00:18:45.99\00:18:47.32
and God said,
"Live... I love you... "
00:18:47.36\00:18:49.72
is representative down through
the steam of time of you and I.
00:18:49.76\00:18:52.69
I love you... I want you...
00:18:52.73\00:18:54.20
I will clean
you... I will cover you...
00:18:54.23\00:18:55.86
I will marry you...
00:18:55.90\00:18:57.83
and then what happens in
this nation... these people...
00:18:57.87\00:19:00.67
us... who God has called?
00:19:00.70\00:19:02.07
We look in verse 13...
the second half of verse 13.
00:19:02.10\00:19:05.77
Ezekiel 16:13...
00:19:05.81\00:19:07.68
"You were exceedingly beautiful,
and succeeded to royalty. "
00:19:07.71\00:19:11.35
Your fame went
out among the nations
00:19:11.38\00:19:14.05
because of your beauty,
00:19:14.08\00:19:15.62
for it was perfect
through My splendor
00:19:15.65\00:19:18.82
which I bestowed on you...
00:19:18.85\00:19:20.19
But you trusted
in your own beauty,
00:19:20.22\00:19:22.69
played the harlot
because of your fame,
00:19:22.72\00:19:25.59
and poured out your
harlotry on everyone
00:19:25.63\00:19:28.46
passing by who would have it. "
00:19:28.50\00:19:30.07
Why did they walk away from God?
00:19:30.10\00:19:32.07
They became
proud in who they were.
00:19:32.10\00:19:34.64
Proud in what God
had given to them.
00:19:34.70\00:19:37.17
God gave the
beauty... God gave the fame...
00:19:37.21\00:19:39.67
the purpose of both
was to point back to God.
00:19:39.71\00:19:42.11
Never never think that we are
special because we have truth.
00:19:42.14\00:19:46.55
That truth is
extended to everyone.
00:19:46.58\00:19:48.95
Because we were
somehow chosen by God
00:19:48.98\00:19:51.25
because that call to be God's
child is extended to everyone.
00:19:51.29\00:19:54.26
Because we were
somehow wanted...
00:19:54.29\00:19:56.12
God wants all of us.
00:19:56.16\00:19:57.99
You see, the
gospel is inclusive,
00:19:58.03\00:19:59.89
it's not exclusive.
00:19:59.93\00:20:01.26
The gospel is for
sinners not just saints...
00:20:01.30\00:20:03.67
the gospel is for the
outcast... the marginalized...
00:20:03.70\00:20:06.57
the stranger in your gates...
00:20:06.60\00:20:08.04
not just the
accepted and the elite.
00:20:08.07\00:20:09.87
The gospel is for the
stranger not just the chosen.
00:20:09.90\00:20:14.01
The gospel is for everyone.
00:20:14.04\00:20:15.61
Panel: Amen.
00:20:15.64\00:20:16.98
Jill: So let's
look at Deuteronomy 10,
00:20:17.01\00:20:18.35
love the stranger
00:20:18.38\00:20:19.71
and as we look at
loving the stranger,
00:20:19.75\00:20:21.25
we remember that we were
not the only ones chosen.
00:20:21.28\00:20:25.52
God wanted everybody.
00:20:25.55\00:20:27.89
Deuteronomy 10 verse 17,
00:20:27.92\00:20:30.23
"For the Lord
your God is God of gods
00:20:30.26\00:20:32.79
and Lord of lords,
00:20:32.83\00:20:34.16
the great God,
mighty and awesome,
00:20:34.20\00:20:36.46
who shows no
partiality nor takes a bribe. "
00:20:36.50\00:20:39.20
What is he saying?
00:20:39.23\00:20:40.57
God is sovereign...
00:20:40.60\00:20:42.07
God is Lord over all.
00:20:42.10\00:20:43.61
God has
supremacy over everything.
00:20:43.67\00:20:46.17
There are no lesser Gods...
00:20:46.21\00:20:48.14
God is the one true God.
00:20:48.18\00:20:50.01
He is the great
God... He is the mighty God.
00:20:50.05\00:20:52.48
He is the awesome God
00:20:52.51\00:20:54.85
and in light of
that in who our God is
00:20:54.88\00:20:58.72
and our God's sovereignty
as the lesson brought out,
00:20:58.75\00:21:01.72
our God is impartial...
00:21:01.79\00:21:03.32
our God is fair...
00:21:03.36\00:21:05.29
our God is just.
00:21:05.33\00:21:07.20
Let's look at the
next verse, verse 18,
00:21:07.23\00:21:09.83
"He administers justice for
the fatherless and the widow,
00:21:09.86\00:21:12.93
and loves the stranger,
00:21:12.97\00:21:15.04
giving him food and clothing. "
00:21:15.10\00:21:17.01
This powerful God...
this sovereign God...
00:21:17.04\00:21:20.01
this God who is
above everything.
00:21:20.04\00:21:22.01
He cares for even the widows.
00:21:22.04\00:21:24.65
He cares for
those who are oppressed.
00:21:24.68\00:21:27.12
He cares for the stranger.
00:21:27.15\00:21:29.42
He cares for all...
00:21:29.45\00:21:30.99
I think of...
in the Word of God,
00:21:31.02\00:21:32.42
we have the widow
with the two mites.
00:21:32.45\00:21:33.79
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:21:33.82\00:21:35.16
Jill: We have the widow of Nain
00:21:35.19\00:21:36.52
whose son...
Jesus raised to life.
00:21:36.56\00:21:38.09
We have the widow of
Zarephath who sheltered Elijah
00:21:38.13\00:21:41.16
and whose son
was raised to life.
00:21:41.20\00:21:43.10
We have the widow...
remember she collected the oil
00:21:43.13\00:21:45.57
to... the miracle was performed
00:21:45.60\00:21:47.70
to save her sons
from being sold as slaves.
00:21:47.74\00:21:50.91
The next verse, verse 19...
00:21:50.94\00:21:52.94
"Therefore love the stranger,
00:21:52.97\00:21:54.91
for you were strangers
in the land of Egypt. "
00:21:54.94\00:21:57.78
That word "stranger" in Hebrew
00:21:57.81\00:22:00.12
means a stranger... a foreigner
00:22:00.15\00:22:02.45
with no inherited rights.
00:22:02.48\00:22:04.35
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:22:04.39\00:22:06.15
Jill: We're called to love
those not of our religion...
00:22:06.22\00:22:08.32
those not of our race...
00:22:08.39\00:22:09.72
those not of our culture...
00:22:09.76\00:22:11.09
those not of our status...
00:22:11.13\00:22:12.46
for we are not
the only ones chosen
00:22:12.49\00:22:14.30
and if you look... the
same word for "stranger"
00:22:14.33\00:22:17.03
the same Hebrew word is used
00:22:17.07\00:22:19.10
and God calls that this stranger
00:22:19.13\00:22:22.10
can also share in
the Sabbath rest...
00:22:22.14\00:22:24.24
can also have like obligations
to the Nation of Israel.
00:22:24.27\00:22:28.31
Can have similar rights...
00:22:28.34\00:22:30.25
can have similar privileges
00:22:30.28\00:22:32.11
and oppression against
a stranger was prohibited.
00:22:32.15\00:22:35.88
So, my closing time...
let's look at Psalm 146.
00:22:35.92\00:22:39.52
Psalm 146... we're going
to pick it up in verse 5.
00:22:39.55\00:22:42.99
"Happy is he who has the
God of Jacob for his help,
00:22:43.02\00:22:46.46
whose hope is in
the LORD his God. "
00:22:46.49\00:22:48.26
What does that
say? God is our helper
00:22:48.30\00:22:50.47
and you and I are
called to extend help
00:22:50.53\00:22:52.70
to those who need it most.
00:22:52.73\00:22:54.30
Verse 6, "Who
made heaven and earth,
00:22:54.34\00:22:56.87
the sea, and all that
in them... is in them;
00:22:56.91\00:22:59.37
who keeps truth forever... "
00:22:59.44\00:23:01.14
what does that
say? God isn't changing.
00:23:01.21\00:23:02.81
We are called to be
consistent to everyone...
00:23:02.84\00:23:05.41
not just the
people we happen to like.
00:23:05.45\00:23:07.28
Verse 7, "Who executes
justice for the oppressed. "
00:23:07.32\00:23:10.39
God is our judge...
00:23:10.42\00:23:11.75
we are called to bring justice
00:23:11.79\00:23:13.86
to those who are
marginalized and oppressed.
00:23:13.89\00:23:16.36
"Who gives food to the hungry. "
00:23:16.39\00:23:18.33
God is our provider...
00:23:18.39\00:23:19.89
we are called to give
food to those who are hungry.
00:23:19.93\00:23:21.86
"The LORD gives
freedom to the prisoners. "
00:23:21.90\00:23:24.40
God is our deliverer...
00:23:24.43\00:23:25.77
we are called to set
free those who are bound.
00:23:25.80\00:23:28.34
Verse 8, The Lord opens
the eyes of the blind... "
00:23:28.37\00:23:30.94
God is our healer.
00:23:30.97\00:23:32.31
We are called
to provide eyesight
00:23:32.34\00:23:34.04
to those who cannot see.
00:23:34.08\00:23:35.41
"The LORD raises those
who are bowed down... "
00:23:35.44\00:23:37.75
God is our encourager...
00:23:37.78\00:23:39.45
we are called to encourage
and lift up the downtrodden.
00:23:39.48\00:23:42.55
"The LORD loves the righteous. "
00:23:42.58\00:23:44.92
God is our friend
00:23:44.95\00:23:46.55
and we are called to
love and befriend others.
00:23:46.62\00:23:49.39
"God watches
over the stranger... "
00:23:49.42\00:23:50.93
He is our protector...
00:23:50.96\00:23:52.76
we are called to protect those
who cannot protect themselves.
00:23:52.79\00:23:56.40
Panel: That's right.
00:23:56.46\00:23:57.83
Jill: Love the
stranger in your gates
00:23:57.87\00:23:59.93
because you are not
the only one chosen.
00:23:59.97\00:24:02.40
Panel: Hmmm...
hmmm... wow... amen... amen.
00:24:02.44\00:24:04.87
James: What a
powerful, powerful thought.
00:24:04.91\00:24:07.28
God wants all of us...
00:24:07.31\00:24:10.45
don't go away...
we'll be right back
00:24:10.48\00:24:12.15
because we've got
lots more to cover.
00:24:12.18\00:24:13.82
Panel: Amen.
00:24:13.85\00:24:17.32
Music...
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James: Welcome back to
the Sabbath School Lesson,
00:24:49.65\00:24:52.72
we're going to kick it off
to Ryan for Tuesday's lesson.
00:24:52.75\00:24:55.26
How's that?
00:24:55.29\00:24:56.62
Ryan: That was great,
amen, I love the energy...
00:24:56.66\00:24:59.63
I have to
continue with that energy
00:24:59.69\00:25:01.36
because the two before me
did such a fantastic job...
00:25:01.40\00:25:03.87
I'm Ryan Day and I
have Tuesday's lesson
00:25:03.90\00:25:07.20
entitled: For You
Were Strangers in Egypt
00:25:07.24\00:25:10.51
and I actually did not plan
00:25:10.54\00:25:12.47
to read this particular
quote that came to my mind
00:25:12.51\00:25:15.48
as the two of you were
going through Sunday's lesson...
00:25:15.54\00:25:17.35
Monday's lesson...
00:25:17.38\00:25:18.85
wow! this quote came to my mind,
00:25:18.88\00:25:21.42
this comes from
Desire of Ages page 309
00:25:21.45\00:25:23.85
and it really just
to me speaks to the idea
00:25:23.89\00:25:26.22
that again, the concept of
1st Corinthians chapter 13...
00:25:26.25\00:25:30.03
if we do not have love,
what else really matters, right?
00:25:30.06\00:25:32.63
And, of course you
know, ministering and...
00:25:32.66\00:25:34.13
to... to our
brothers or the stranger
00:25:34.16\00:25:36.73
which is what I'm going to
get into during this time...
00:25:36.77\00:25:38.60
this really, really applies here
00:25:38.63\00:25:40.34
and this is the...
it's a lengthy quote
00:25:40.37\00:25:42.90
Desire of Ages page 309
but I want you to hear this,
00:25:42.94\00:25:45.37
tune into
this... powerful message.
00:25:45.41\00:25:46.74
She says, "The greatest
deception of the human mind
00:25:46.78\00:25:49.98
in Christ's day
00:25:50.05\00:25:51.38
was that a mere assent to the
truth constitutes righteousness.
00:25:51.41\00:25:54.15
In all human experience
00:25:54.18\00:25:56.28
a theoretical
knowledge of the truth
00:25:56.32\00:25:58.25
has been proved
to be insufficient
00:25:58.29\00:26:00.22
for the saving of the soul.
00:26:00.26\00:26:01.72
It does not bring forth
the fruits of righteousness.
00:26:01.76\00:26:05.23
A zealous regard for what
is termed theological truth
00:26:05.29\00:26:08.70
often accompanies a
hatred of genuine truth
00:26:08.76\00:26:11.73
as made manifest in the life.
00:26:11.80\00:26:13.74
The darkest
chapters of earth's history
00:26:13.77\00:26:16.10
are burdened with
the record of crimes
00:26:16.14\00:26:18.37
committed by
bigoted religionists.
00:26:18.41\00:26:20.54
The Pharisees claimed to
be the children of Abraham,
00:26:20.58\00:26:23.91
and boasted of their possessions
of the oracles of God;
00:26:23.95\00:26:27.18
yet these advantages did not
preserve them from selfishness,
00:26:27.22\00:26:31.72
malignity, greed for gain,
00:26:31.75\00:26:33.89
and the basest of hypocrisy.
00:26:33.92\00:26:35.99
They thought themselves
the greatest religionists
00:26:36.02\00:26:37.99
of the world,
00:26:38.06\00:26:39.39
but their so-called orthodoxy
00:26:39.43\00:26:41.26
led them to crucify
the Lord of glory. "
00:26:41.30\00:26:44.10
And this is what she says,
00:26:44.13\00:26:45.47
"The same danger
still exists... "
00:26:45.50\00:26:47.97
okay... even for us today.
00:26:48.00\00:26:49.57
"Many take it for granted
that they are Christians,
00:26:49.60\00:26:52.51
simply because they subscribe
to certain theological tenets. "
00:26:52.57\00:26:56.31
Okay... 28 Fundamentals...
00:26:56.34\00:26:58.11
all right... but notice...
00:26:58.15\00:26:59.81
"But they have not brought
the truth into practical life.
00:26:59.85\00:27:03.02
They have not
believed and loved it,
00:27:03.08\00:27:04.55
therefore they have not
received the power and grace
00:27:04.59\00:27:07.32
that comes through
sanctification of the truth.
00:27:07.36\00:27:10.09
Men may profess
faith in the truth;
00:27:10.13\00:27:12.69
but it does not
make them sincere,
00:27:12.73\00:27:15.20
kind, patient,
forbearing, heavenly-minded,
00:27:15.23\00:27:19.70
it is a curse to its possessors,
00:27:19.73\00:27:21.67
and through their influence
it is a curse to the world. "
00:27:21.70\00:27:24.01
My goodness... have mercy.
00:27:24.04\00:27:25.87
You know, when I... as I was...
00:27:25.91\00:27:27.24
as I was listening to
what you guys were saying,
00:27:27.28\00:27:28.91
that came to my
mind simply because
00:27:28.94\00:27:30.51
you know,
oftentimes we think that we...
00:27:30.55\00:27:32.45
we again... we're
the... as Israel...
00:27:32.48\00:27:34.32
we're the elites...
we're God's people...
00:27:34.35\00:27:35.98
you know, we're the
remnant church of God,
00:27:36.02\00:27:37.62
we have all
these powerful truths
00:27:37.65\00:27:39.59
and we do... we
are called by God
00:27:39.65\00:27:41.52
but if we do not have love
00:27:41.56\00:27:42.89
and if we cannot
minister again to the stranger,
00:27:42.92\00:27:46.29
because... why?
00:27:46.33\00:27:47.66
Because we once were strangers
00:27:47.70\00:27:49.10
and that's what
Tuesday's lesson is all about.
00:27:49.13\00:27:51.73
"For you were
strangers in Egypt... "
00:27:51.77\00:27:54.14
Deuteronomy chapter 10 verse 19,
00:27:54.17\00:27:55.94
This is where we
get this concept from.
00:27:56.00\00:27:57.91
It says, "Therefore... "
00:27:57.94\00:27:59.27
we have to ask... as
Brother Asscherick would say,
00:27:59.31\00:28:01.74
"We have to ask, what's
that 'therefore,'" right?
00:28:01.78\00:28:04.28
"Therefore... " He
says, "Love the stranger,
00:28:04.31\00:28:08.15
for you were strangers
in the land of Egypt. "
00:28:08.18\00:28:12.02
He's reminding
them of their past
00:28:12.05\00:28:14.26
because God is pouring out
His grace... His mercy upon them
00:28:14.29\00:28:17.39
even though they're unworthy...
00:28:17.43\00:28:18.76
even though they
don't deserve it,
00:28:18.79\00:28:20.13
He's saying, "Wait a second,
00:28:20.16\00:28:21.50
you have
strangers in your midst,
00:28:21.53\00:28:22.86
you need to be reminded that
you also once were strangers
00:28:22.90\00:28:25.30
in a strange land and, in fact,
00:28:25.33\00:28:26.67
this was told to them in...
00:28:26.70\00:28:28.04
many, many years
prior before this...
00:28:28.07\00:28:29.84
this bondage happened in Egypt,
00:28:29.87\00:28:32.24
of course what
it's referring to...
00:28:32.27\00:28:33.68
Genesis chapter 15 verse 13,
00:28:33.71\00:28:35.54
we see there that God had
specifically told Abraham...
00:28:35.81\00:28:38.35
it says there
"Then He said to Abraham,
00:28:38.38\00:28:40.02
'Know certainly that your
descendants will be strangers
00:28:40.08\00:28:42.68
in a land that is not theirs,
00:28:42.72\00:28:44.49
and will serve them,
00:28:44.52\00:28:45.85
and they will afflict
them four hundred years. '"
00:28:45.89\00:28:49.09
So, in other words,
00:28:49.12\00:28:50.46
what God is trying to
express here... is He's saying,
00:28:50.49\00:28:53.43
"Remember when you were on
the margins of society... "
00:28:53.46\00:28:56.50
outcast... even slaves...
00:28:56.53\00:28:58.67
"and thus at the mercy of
those who was stronger than you
00:28:58.70\00:29:01.50
and could often abuse you... "
and indeed, they did that often
00:29:01.57\00:29:04.91
and though Israel was a
chosen nation called by God,
00:29:04.94\00:29:08.44
a kingdom of priests...
00:29:08.51\00:29:09.88
as we see there in
Exodus chapter 19 verse 6,
00:29:09.91\00:29:12.31
and though there were
some differences between them
00:29:12.35\00:29:14.98
and the strangers among them,
00:29:15.05\00:29:16.45
especially in regards to, like,
religious practices and services
00:29:16.48\00:29:19.35
you see when it came to human
rights... and this is key here,
00:29:19.39\00:29:22.66
when it came to human rights,
00:29:22.69\00:29:24.06
the stranger...
the widow... the orphan
00:29:24.09\00:29:26.29
needed to be treated with
the same fairness and justice
00:29:26.33\00:29:29.36
as the Israelite
expected for themselves...
00:29:29.40\00:29:32.03
"Love your neighbor
as you love yourself... "
00:29:32.07\00:29:34.67
even the stranger... right?
00:29:34.70\00:29:36.47
and you know, this
shouldn't surprise us
00:29:36.50\00:29:38.01
because even Jesus
echoed these very words...
00:29:38.04\00:29:40.44
this very concept often
throughout His ministry,
00:29:40.48\00:29:42.78
but what comes to my mind
is Matthew chapter 7 verse 12,
00:29:42.81\00:29:45.51
right there, in the
midst of that great,
00:29:45.55\00:29:47.92
beautiful sermon on the mount.
00:29:47.95\00:29:49.65
Jesus says these words in
Matthew chapter 7, verse 12,
00:29:49.68\00:29:53.02
"Therefore, whatever
you do... " excuse me...
00:29:53.05\00:29:55.39
"whatever you
want men to do to you,
00:29:55.42\00:29:57.06
do also to them... "
00:29:57.09\00:29:58.76
notice, "for this is
the Law and the Prophets. "
00:29:58.79\00:30:01.60
Right, that great
beautiful rule of:
00:30:01.63\00:30:03.50
Do unto others as you
would want done unto you.
00:30:03.53\00:30:06.63
But oftentimes, I
think in Christianity,
00:30:06.70\00:30:08.54
we forget that principle.
00:30:08.57\00:30:10.24
We oftentimes sometimes get so
focused on our own relationship,
00:30:10.31\00:30:13.74
our own knowledge...
our own wisdom of God's Word
00:30:13.78\00:30:16.14
that we forget of the love
that we need to be pouring out
00:30:16.18\00:30:19.31
and expressing to others.
00:30:19.35\00:30:20.78
Even that person that
you don't know from Adam,
00:30:20.82\00:30:23.42
the stranger
within your gates...
00:30:23.45\00:30:25.65
someone that may be from another
country... from another faith...
00:30:25.72\00:30:28.69
from another walk of life...
00:30:28.72\00:30:31.13
with another different aspect of
life and understanding than you,
00:30:31.16\00:30:35.06
how do you treat that person?
00:30:35.10\00:30:37.13
So, there's a few principles
that I took away from this
00:30:37.17\00:30:39.57
that I... as I was
studying this lesson,
00:30:39.60\00:30:41.27
a few principles that we
need to apply as believers...
00:30:41.30\00:30:44.41
as Christians of the Lord.
00:30:44.44\00:30:45.87
First of all, the
way we treat the stranger
00:30:45.91\00:30:48.38
is the way we treat God.
00:30:48.41\00:30:49.78
That's a... that's a...
that's an important one.
00:30:49.81\00:30:52.08
The way we treat the stranger
is the way we treat God.
00:30:52.11\00:30:54.32
Of course, this comes
from Matthew chapter 25
00:30:54.35\00:30:56.52
where Jesus is
talking about the judgment...
00:30:56.55\00:30:58.59
the separation between
the sheep and the goats
00:30:58.65\00:31:00.66
and notice what He
says here in Matthew 25,
00:31:00.69\00:31:02.62
we're going to read verses 24,
excuse me, verses 34 through 40
00:31:02.66\00:31:08.33
and it says, "Then the king will
say to those on his right hand,
00:31:08.36\00:31:10.07
'Come, you blessed of My Father,
00:31:10.13\00:31:12.07
inherit the
kingdom prepared for you
00:31:12.10\00:31:14.10
from the
foundation of the world:
00:31:14.14\00:31:15.80
for I was hungry
and you gave Me food;
00:31:15.84\00:31:18.27
I was thirsty and
you gave Me drink;
00:31:18.31\00:31:20.64
I was a
stranger... " there it is...
00:31:20.68\00:31:22.28
"I was a stranger
and you took Me in;
00:31:22.31\00:31:24.41
I was naked and you clothed Me;
00:31:24.45\00:31:25.88
I was sick and you visited Me;
00:31:25.91\00:31:27.62
I was in prison
and you came to Me.
00:31:27.65\00:31:30.22
Then the righteous
will answer Him and say,
00:31:30.25\00:31:32.39
'Lord, when did...
when did we see You
00:31:32.42\00:31:33.99
when You were
hungry and fed you,
00:31:34.02\00:31:35.49
or when You were
thirsty and gave you drink?
00:31:35.52\00:31:37.56
When did we see You a
stranger and take You in,
00:31:37.59\00:31:40.26
or naked and clothe You?
00:31:40.30\00:31:41.83
or when did we see You sick,
or in prison, and come to You?'
00:31:41.86\00:31:44.63
And the King will
answer and say to them,
00:31:44.67\00:31:46.30
'Assuredly, I say to you,
00:31:46.33\00:31:47.67
inasmuch as you did
it to one of the least
00:31:47.70\00:31:50.34
of these My brethren... '"
00:31:50.37\00:31:52.34
He says, "you did it to Me. "
00:31:52.37\00:31:54.08
So, again, the way
we treat the stranger
00:31:54.11\00:31:56.31
is the way we treat God.
00:31:56.34\00:31:57.71
There should be... this
is another great point...
00:31:57.75\00:32:00.22
there's another great principle,
00:32:00.25\00:32:01.58
there should be
no difference made
00:32:01.62\00:32:02.95
between us and the foreigner
00:32:02.98\00:32:04.59
especially in the eyes of
God, there is no difference.
00:32:04.62\00:32:06.96
Leviticus chapter 19 verse 34,
00:32:06.99\00:32:08.99
notice what the Bible says,
00:32:09.02\00:32:11.09
again, Leviticus 19:34,
00:32:11.13\00:32:13.09
"The stranger
who dwells among you
00:32:13.13\00:32:15.03
shall be to you as
one born among you,
00:32:15.06\00:32:17.77
and you shall
love him as yourself;
00:32:17.80\00:32:20.44
for you were strangers
in the land of Egypt... "
00:32:20.47\00:32:22.14
there it is again...
00:32:22.17\00:32:23.51
"for you were
strangers in the land of Egypt:
00:32:23.54\00:32:24.97
I am the Lord your God. "
00:32:25.01\00:32:27.18
And, of course, it's echoed
even in the writings of Paul.
00:32:27.21\00:32:29.98
Galatians chapter 3 verse 28,
00:32:30.01\00:32:31.98
we referenced Galatians 3
earlier from Jill's lesson,
00:32:32.01\00:32:35.08
Galatians 3 verse 28,
00:32:35.12\00:32:36.89
"There is neither Jew nor Greek,
00:32:36.92\00:32:38.72
there is neither slave nor free,
00:32:38.75\00:32:40.36
there is
neither male nor female;
00:32:40.39\00:32:41.89
for you are all
one in Christ Jesus. "
00:32:41.92\00:32:44.73
God sees us all the same
00:32:44.76\00:32:46.09
so, we have to remember,
00:32:46.13\00:32:47.46
we have to treat the
strangers with love, why?
00:32:47.50\00:32:49.70
Because we once
were strangers as well.
00:32:49.73\00:32:52.20
All right, let's go to
our third principle here.
00:32:52.23\00:32:54.44
Foreigners are to be accepted
as a part of the community.
00:32:54.47\00:32:58.24
Now, I'm going to
reference these texts...
00:32:58.27\00:32:59.61
there's a lot of text here...
00:32:59.64\00:33:00.98
we have just a
little bit of time left here
00:33:01.01\00:33:02.48
but I'm going to
reference these texts
00:33:02.51\00:33:04.08
but make the points very clear.
00:33:04.11\00:33:05.45
Number 1: Cities of refuge
were available to the Israelites
00:33:05.48\00:33:08.88
and foreigners in
cases of accidental murder
00:33:08.95\00:33:12.15
and we see that in
Numbers chapter 35 verse 15.
00:33:12.19\00:33:15.39
Also, point number 2 here,
00:33:15.42\00:33:17.63
foreigners were to be included
in festivals and celebrations
00:33:17.66\00:33:20.90
mandated in the law,
00:33:20.93\00:33:22.26
so, this is found in
Deuteronomy chapter 16 verse 14
00:33:22.30\00:33:25.23
as well as chapter 26 verse 11.
00:33:25.30\00:33:27.80
Some of the tithe collected
by the priest was to be used
00:33:27.84\00:33:30.97
to not only feed
them and their families
00:33:31.01\00:33:33.14
but also to help
provide food for foreigners,
00:33:33.17\00:33:35.54
widows and orphans
00:33:35.58\00:33:36.91
and we see that in Deuteronomy
chapter 14 verses 28 to 29.
00:33:36.95\00:33:40.78
Also, farmers... okay...
00:33:40.82\00:33:43.15
we are
instructed to leave the...
00:33:43.18\00:33:44.79
leave the
gleaning of their fields
00:33:44.82\00:33:47.22
for the poor and the foreigner,
Leviticus 23 verse 22,
00:33:47.26\00:33:50.26
and to treat the stranger
00:33:50.29\00:33:52.13
as they would the
poor among the Israelites,
00:33:52.19\00:33:55.00
Leviticus chapter 25 verse 35.
00:33:55.03\00:33:58.10
So, again, go back
and watch this over again,
00:33:58.13\00:33:59.90
write those down
00:33:59.93\00:34:01.27
because those are
very... very important points
00:34:01.30\00:34:02.64
that we also need
to be accepting them
00:34:02.67\00:34:04.67
as part of the community.
00:34:04.71\00:34:06.04
Believers are to show
hospitality to strangers.
00:34:06.07\00:34:08.88
Hebrews 13:1 and 2,
why should we do that?
00:34:08.91\00:34:11.75
It says, "Let
brotherly love continue,
00:34:11.78\00:34:14.92
do not forget to entertain...
" or to give hospitality
00:34:14.95\00:34:17.69
"to strangers, for by doing so,
00:34:17.72\00:34:19.85
some have unwittingly
entertained angels. "
00:34:19.89\00:34:23.19
You don't know
who you're talking to
00:34:23.22\00:34:24.69
when you're
talking to that stranger...
00:34:24.73\00:34:26.19
it could be an angel
00:34:26.23\00:34:27.56
and how you treat them again
00:34:27.60\00:34:28.93
is how you're not
only treating an angel
00:34:28.96\00:34:30.50
but you're also
treating the Lord.
00:34:30.53\00:34:32.23
And the last point
that I want to make here
00:34:32.27\00:34:33.87
with the little
time that I have left...
00:34:33.90\00:34:35.47
at the end of
the day, my friends,
00:34:35.50\00:34:36.91
we are all
foreigners just passing through.
00:34:36.94\00:34:38.61
Panel: Hmmm...
that's right... that's good.
00:34:38.67\00:34:40.31
Ryan: 1st Peter
chapter 1 verse 17,
00:34:40.38\00:34:41.71
"And if you call on the Father,
00:34:41.74\00:34:43.08
who without partiality judges
according to each one's works,
00:34:43.11\00:34:47.25
conduct yourself throughout the
time of your stay here in fear"
00:34:47.28\00:34:51.55
and the NIV... I love it,
00:34:51.59\00:34:52.92
it just makes it a
little bit more clearer
00:34:52.95\00:34:54.29
as far as the word that's here,
00:34:54.32\00:34:55.66
it says, "Live out
your time as foreigners here
00:34:55.69\00:34:58.03
in reverent fear. "
00:34:58.06\00:34:59.39
We're just a passing through.
00:34:59.43\00:35:00.76
We're all strangers in this land
00:35:00.80\00:35:02.86
but we're preparing
for the Promised Land.
00:35:02.90\00:35:05.80
Panel: Amen. Ryan: I love that.
00:35:05.83\00:35:07.17
Kenny: Yes, praise
the Lord, thank you.
00:35:07.20\00:35:09.07
You know, what
I'm gathering already
00:35:09.10\00:35:10.61
from what I've heard
already from the lesson is...
00:35:10.64\00:35:12.61
Jesus said, "On these
two hang all the laws... "
00:35:12.67\00:35:14.64
right? Panel: That's right.
00:35:14.68\00:35:16.01
Kenny: Duty to God
00:35:16.04\00:35:17.38
and then, there's duty
to our... our fellowman
00:35:17.41\00:35:19.61
and this is very
clear... Lesson Number 5...
00:35:19.65\00:35:22.28
this is Wednesday's lesson,
00:35:22.32\00:35:23.79
I name is Pastor Kenny Shelton
00:35:23.85\00:35:25.55
and we're going
to judge righteously
00:35:25.59\00:35:27.06
so, what we've
learned beautifully there...
00:35:27.09\00:35:28.72
now, we've got to
put it in operation...
00:35:28.76\00:35:30.33
Judge Righteously...
00:35:30.36\00:35:31.79
and I find sometime maybe...
haven't always done that
00:35:31.86\00:35:35.60
and I think we need to.
00:35:35.63\00:35:37.13
There's an outcry
in our land today...
00:35:37.17\00:35:39.60
I'm talking about a big outcry.
00:35:39.63\00:35:40.97
It's going on in our
world today about justice.
00:35:41.00\00:35:44.21
We're all crying for justice
00:35:44.24\00:35:46.07
and sometimes we
have to be careful,
00:35:46.11\00:35:47.44
if it's, "I want
what's coming to me... "
00:35:47.48\00:35:48.81
be careful... you asked
that... you might get it.
00:35:48.84\00:35:50.88
Now, think about that,
00:35:50.91\00:35:52.35
you know, everyone
just wants a fair shake.
00:35:52.38\00:35:54.48
Really they do...
just give me a fair shake
00:35:54.52\00:35:56.58
and so, you know,
00:35:56.62\00:35:57.95
our Constitution talks
about giving us a fair shake
00:35:57.99\00:35:59.95
and it talks
about life and liberty
00:35:59.99\00:36:03.06
and pursuit of
happiness and justice for all.
00:36:03.12\00:36:05.86
That's what we're
talking about here,
00:36:05.89\00:36:07.60
judge righteously
so that's what we want.
00:36:07.63\00:36:10.13
Is it really
possible to judge righteously?
00:36:10.17\00:36:12.67
Is it possible if
we think about it?
00:36:12.70\00:36:15.00
Or give justice and equality
00:36:15.04\00:36:17.67
but listen, to someone
who doesn't know Christ.
00:36:17.71\00:36:20.01
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:36:20.04\00:36:21.38
Kenny: Think about it,
someone who doesn't know Christ.
00:36:21.41\00:36:23.85
someone who does know
Christ, is there a difference?
00:36:23.88\00:36:26.51
If Christ is not in the heart,
00:36:26.55\00:36:28.88
we make, maybe
different decisions.
00:36:28.92\00:36:30.89
How often we hear in
the world that the...
00:36:30.92\00:36:33.25
about the weak
and about the poor
00:36:33.29\00:36:35.46
and the... they never
get the same advantages
00:36:35.49\00:36:38.26
as maybe the rich and those
with, you know, the good job.
00:36:38.29\00:36:41.83
All of a
sudden, I think about...
00:36:41.86\00:36:44.67
and you might... you
might experience this,
00:36:44.73\00:36:47.00
you can go to an
airport, you know,
00:36:47.04\00:36:49.84
and you can be dressed up
00:36:49.90\00:36:51.24
and may I say you get
a little R E S P E C T.
00:36:51.27\00:36:53.94
You get a little respect...
somebody still with me?
00:36:53.98\00:36:57.55
Yeah, dress up a little
bit and go to a restaurant...
00:36:57.58\00:37:01.08
you get a
little bit more respect
00:37:01.12\00:37:02.52
than if you go in like
you're going to a picnic.
00:37:02.55\00:37:04.42
Not that maybe you want that...
00:37:04.45\00:37:06.96
but I'm just saying
that it just seems like it...
00:37:06.99\00:37:08.92
that's kind of what happens...
00:37:08.96\00:37:10.29
that's not really
judging righteously
00:37:10.33\00:37:13.19
because we... we prefer
one above the other here...
00:37:13.23\00:37:17.07
we think maybe
they have something
00:37:17.10\00:37:18.73
and... so we want to do
a little more for them...
00:37:18.77\00:37:21.07
you know, tip might be a
little bit more or something...
00:37:21.10\00:37:24.11
I don't know... you know...
00:37:24.14\00:37:25.47
it could be just
that simple, you know.
00:37:25.51\00:37:27.51
Well, think about that.
00:37:27.54\00:37:28.88
We've been called to
reflect the character of God.
00:37:28.91\00:37:31.35
I think that's very
important in our Lesson.
00:37:31.38\00:37:33.95
Paul wrote it this
way in Galatians 4:19.
00:37:34.02\00:37:36.52
I like the way he started out,
he said, "My little children. "
00:37:36.55\00:37:39.15
I say that a lot of
times, it just kind of...
00:37:39.19\00:37:41.99
not really jokingly but I say,
00:37:42.02\00:37:43.76
"Okay children
lets... " you know,
00:37:43.79\00:37:45.53
those who are, you know,
a little older in the faith
00:37:45.56\00:37:47.10
I say, "Come on
children, let's go. "
00:37:47.13\00:37:48.76
Let's... I want it to
be a little more respect,
00:37:48.80\00:37:51.03
Paul did it with respect,
he said, "My little children,
00:37:51.07\00:37:53.40
of whom I travail in birth again
00:37:53.44\00:37:56.14
Christ be formed in
you... " I like that.
00:37:56.17\00:37:59.17
We're not going
to be any justice
00:37:59.21\00:38:01.14
unless Christ is
formed within us.
00:38:01.18\00:38:02.91
When he says, "My
little children... "
00:38:02.94\00:38:04.58
it's an expression to
me of love that he has
00:38:04.61\00:38:07.35
but at the same time, he
was showing spiritual immaturity
00:38:07.38\00:38:11.22
to these individuals...
00:38:11.25\00:38:12.72
he was looking at
them... talking to them...
00:38:12.75\00:38:14.12
he understood where
they were at spiritually
00:38:14.16\00:38:16.09
and he was trying to
reach them and he says,
00:38:16.12\00:38:17.96
"Here I am... I'm
going to have to travail
00:38:17.99\00:38:19.79
like a woman
actually in birth again
00:38:19.86\00:38:21.86
until Christ is
formed within you. "
00:38:21.90\00:38:23.67
People were
coming into the church...
00:38:23.70\00:38:25.43
people were leaving the church.
00:38:25.47\00:38:27.07
They were... they
were weak spiritually
00:38:27.10\00:38:29.17
and Paul was trying
to get their attention
00:38:29.20\00:38:30.81
the way we should today...
00:38:30.84\00:38:32.17
he said... until
Christ is formed within you
00:38:32.21\00:38:34.31
and that means... to me...
00:38:34.34\00:38:35.68
it's... it's full
stature right there
00:38:35.71\00:38:37.71
in Ephesians 4:13.
00:38:37.75\00:38:39.08
Adventist Home page 423...
00:38:39.11\00:38:41.72
it says... there's an
interesting quote here
00:38:41.75\00:38:44.82
"True polish... true
polish and true politeness
00:38:44.85\00:38:47.66
is obtained only
from a practical knowledge
00:38:47.69\00:38:50.46
of the gospel of Christ.
00:38:50.49\00:38:52.09
True politeness... true courtesy
is a kindness shown to all:
00:38:52.13\00:38:57.70
high, low, rich and poor. "
00:38:57.73\00:39:00.00
Now, you can see a lot of
the injustice done today...
00:39:00.04\00:39:02.60
it's just... there's not...
the respect's not there...
00:39:02.64\00:39:05.04
the same is not shown, you know,
00:39:05.07\00:39:07.11
we... we...
even in... in our job
00:39:07.14\00:39:09.21
or even in ministry sometimes.
00:39:09.24\00:39:11.25
We kind of look around like,
"I'd better be careful... "
00:39:11.28\00:39:15.28
who... who can
do the most for me?
00:39:15.32\00:39:16.99
Panel: Laughter.
00:39:17.05\00:39:18.65
Kenny: We have to
be willing to do...
00:39:18.72\00:39:20.29
if we're doing it
the way the Bible says...
00:39:20.32\00:39:22.12
the same for every
person... it's the same.
00:39:22.16\00:39:23.89
Panel: That's right... amen.
00:39:23.93\00:39:25.26
Kenny: He's no
respecter of persons...
00:39:25.29\00:39:26.63
we read some of
those so we know that...
00:39:26.66\00:39:28.00
Jesus gave these powerful words
00:39:28.03\00:39:29.36
and again you read
that, I think, Brother Ryan,
00:39:29.40\00:39:31.27
was that... somebody
did... Matthew 7:12...
00:39:31.33\00:39:33.23
it's the... I call it
the golden rule there,
00:39:33.27\00:39:35.14
"However you want men to
do to you, just do to them. "
00:39:35.17\00:39:37.94
What a different
world that would be...
00:39:37.97\00:39:39.47
what a wonderful place
maybe it would be to live
00:39:39.51\00:39:41.64
and even in
this world right here
00:39:41.71\00:39:43.65
if we just...
would treat each other
00:39:43.68\00:39:45.51
the way that we
would like to be treated.
00:39:45.55\00:39:47.52
Signs of the Times,
September 9, 1886, it says,
00:39:47.55\00:39:51.55
"A willingness to
do by... by others
00:39:51.59\00:39:54.42
as we would like
them to do to us... "
00:39:54.46\00:39:57.23
notice, "would banish
half of the ills of life. "
00:39:57.26\00:40:00.90
Panel: Hmmm...
00:40:00.93\00:40:02.26
Kenny: You know, we got
a lot of ills in this life,
00:40:02.30\00:40:03.87
I mean, we agree with
that, there's a lot of problems
00:40:03.90\00:40:05.63
but just simply
treating each other
00:40:05.67\00:40:07.37
the way we'd like to be treated
00:40:07.40\00:40:08.74
is going to banish some of that,
00:40:08.77\00:40:10.11
we're... we're faced with...
00:40:10.14\00:40:11.47
I'm talking about a
challenge in God's people.
00:40:11.51\00:40:13.84
His challenge is
Number 1: to be holy...
00:40:13.88\00:40:16.88
Leviticus 19:2, "Be
holy as He is holy. "
00:40:16.95\00:40:19.55
So, I'm challenged
with that aspect...
00:40:19.58\00:40:22.12
I'm challenged with that
but I know the possibility...
00:40:22.15\00:40:24.45
but I know all things
are possible through Christ
00:40:24.49\00:40:26.09
and that's the one He's going to
taking back to heaven with Him.
00:40:26.12\00:40:28.42
We have the... you might have
brought out the principle...
00:40:28.49\00:40:32.03
we have... God's
given us information
00:40:32.06\00:40:34.20
of how this can all be obtained
00:40:34.23\00:40:36.36
and actually it's through Him
00:40:36.40\00:40:38.50
and so, we just kind of
take the one, two, three...
00:40:38.53\00:40:41.20
we give our life to Him...
00:40:41.24\00:40:42.67
we go to church...
we give our offerings...
00:40:42.70\00:40:44.64
our tithes and we do
this and we do that...
00:40:44.67\00:40:46.57
that was the same as Israel.
00:40:46.61\00:40:48.24
Israel had all the
knowledge they needed
00:40:48.28\00:40:51.68
but it was all on the out
and not in the inward man.
00:40:51.71\00:40:55.68
If they neglected the poor...
00:40:55.88\00:40:57.85
if they mistreated the weak...
00:40:57.89\00:41:00.09
what good was
all the rest of it?
00:41:00.12\00:41:02.42
It's interesting
notice... to do one thing right
00:41:02.46\00:41:06.66
and leave all the others undone,
00:41:06.70\00:41:08.16
Matthew 23:23, Jesus said,
00:41:08.20\00:41:11.00
"You have omitted... " what?
00:41:11.03\00:41:12.63
"the weightier
matters of the law,
00:41:12.67\00:41:14.64
judgment, mercy, faith... "
00:41:14.67\00:41:17.44
these are... you to... what?
00:41:17.47\00:41:19.51
"have done, and not
leave the others undone. "
00:41:19.54\00:41:22.58
See, we might do all
these other things...
00:41:22.61\00:41:24.31
and hears
good... people see it...
00:41:24.35\00:41:25.68
people hear it: blah...
blah... blah... blah... blah...
00:41:25.71\00:41:27.05
but we're not doing
what the Bible says to do.
00:41:27.08\00:41:29.05
Panel: That's right.
00:41:29.08\00:41:30.42
Kenny: So, are
we really following
00:41:30.45\00:41:31.79
what Christ would have us to do?
00:41:31.82\00:41:33.15
Well, we need to maybe
re-evaluate... I do... I know.
00:41:33.19\00:41:34.89
Our lesson gives
four passages of Scripture
00:41:34.92\00:41:36.76
to try to figure out
the common thing here,
00:41:36.79\00:41:39.79
maybe we can get as
many as we can here.
00:41:39.83\00:41:41.40
Deuteronomy 1:16, it says here,
00:41:41.43\00:41:43.80
"And I charge your
judges at this time, saying,
00:41:43.83\00:41:47.60
'Hear the cause
between your brethren...
00:41:47.64\00:41:49.94
judge righteously
between... '" what?
00:41:49.97\00:41:52.17
"every man and his brother,
00:41:52.21\00:41:54.14
and the stranger... "
that you brought out there,
00:41:54.18\00:41:56.08
"is... is with him. "
00:41:56.14\00:41:57.48
Every one of us is to
receive equal treatment.
00:41:57.51\00:42:01.25
Judges are to be impartial
00:42:01.28\00:42:05.19
but a lot of times
when a person comes in
00:42:05.22\00:42:08.59
or you're trying
to judge something...
00:42:08.62\00:42:10.26
we look at the outward of man...
00:42:10.29\00:42:12.49
one of our lessons brings
that out a little further...
00:42:12.53\00:42:14.36
the faceless... they look
at the face of the individual
00:42:14.40\00:42:17.17
and try to make a
judgment based upon that.
00:42:17.20\00:42:18.93
Deuteronomy 16:19 says,
00:42:18.97\00:42:20.54
"Thou shalt not respect persons,
neither take a... " notice this,
00:42:20.57\00:42:24.01
"a gift, for a gift doth
blind the eyes of the wise
00:42:24.04\00:42:27.18
and prevent the... the
words of the righteous. "
00:42:27.21\00:42:30.05
So, sometimes you
have to be careful about...
00:42:30.08\00:42:33.05
sometimes we give gifts
00:42:33.08\00:42:34.42
and it's a nice thing to be
able to do all that and so on
00:42:34.45\00:42:36.85
but do we give
everyone kind of the same gift?
00:42:36.89\00:42:39.79
Do we... do we spend
the same amount on this one
00:42:39.85\00:42:42.72
as we do on this one over here?
00:42:42.76\00:42:44.09
Or will it do us some
good if we spend more...
00:42:44.13\00:42:45.83
okay, you know what
I'm talking about here.
00:42:45.86\00:42:47.70
Judge righteously is what
the Bible is telling us to do.
00:42:47.73\00:42:51.40
God is no respecter
of persons, why are we
00:42:51.43\00:42:54.24
unless there is some
selfish motives of the heart.
00:42:54.27\00:42:57.64
When it comes to right
doing... judgment cannot...
00:42:57.67\00:43:01.04
notice that...
respect that person...
00:43:01.08\00:43:02.61
respect here...
what does that mean?
00:43:02.64\00:43:04.11
"Respect" here means
that we are not to recognize
00:43:04.15\00:43:07.02
that's the word
"face" is here...
00:43:07.05\00:43:08.58
or show a difference
between those... you know...
00:43:08.65\00:43:11.15
and the stranger.
00:43:11.19\00:43:12.52
We must be careful
about bearing gifts.
00:43:12.55\00:43:15.59
I like to give... and you know,
00:43:15.62\00:43:17.83
everybody likes to receive gifts
and I'm no exception to that
00:43:17.86\00:43:19.79
but we have to be careful.
00:43:19.83\00:43:21.23
Psalm 26... notice
this... 10 says this,
00:43:21.26\00:43:23.63
"We must be
careful of someone who...
00:43:23.67\00:43:26.00
in whose hand is mischief
00:43:26.03\00:43:28.27
and the right hand
is full of bribes. "
00:43:28.30\00:43:31.31
Interesting...
00:43:31.34\00:43:32.74
in a sense could it be that
we are trying to bribe our way?
00:43:32.77\00:43:36.51
You know, if we're not
doing from the right motives
00:43:36.54\00:43:38.98
of the heart and
treating everyone the same,
00:43:39.01\00:43:40.92
you know, I've
often said to myself...
00:43:40.95\00:43:42.92
doing construction for
years and so on and so forth,
00:43:42.95\00:43:45.09
we're all the same...
00:43:45.12\00:43:46.45
you may have a
boss on the job...
00:43:46.49\00:43:47.82
you may this on here...
and the work is a different...
00:43:47.86\00:43:49.56
we're all the same
that's the bottom line.
00:43:49.59\00:43:50.96
All of us here... if
we're required to into...
00:43:50.99\00:43:53.76
be careful now...
00:43:53.80\00:43:55.13
if we get into a septic tank
00:43:55.16\00:43:56.50
and shovel things
you don't want to shovel,
00:43:56.53\00:43:58.30
I'd be the first to get in it...
00:43:58.33\00:43:59.83
be the first to get in
00:43:59.87\00:44:01.37
and then people are apt to...
00:44:01.40\00:44:02.84
to want to follow
that, you see what I mean
00:44:02.87\00:44:04.51
so... that's... but no one's
any better than anybody else
00:44:04.54\00:44:08.41
and so we need to make
sure we judge properly.
00:44:08.44\00:44:11.21
Psalm 26:11 says...
00:44:11.28\00:44:13.05
tell us of our
position as a child of God,
00:44:13.08\00:44:15.75
"But as for me, I
will walk in my... "
00:44:15.78\00:44:18.45
notice this, "integrity...
00:44:18.49\00:44:19.92
redeem me and be... "
what? "merciful unto me. "
00:44:19.95\00:44:23.86
Deuteronomy 24:17 says this,
00:44:23.89\00:44:27.00
"Thou shalt not pervert
the judgment of the stranger
00:44:27.06\00:44:29.93
nor the fatherless,
00:44:29.96\00:44:31.30
nor take a widow's
raiment to pledge. "
00:44:31.33\00:44:33.13
Justice is not to be denied
even for the most helpless...
00:44:33.17\00:44:37.54
stranger... widow...
we can't do that, right?
00:44:37.61\00:44:40.34
And you know, you
see that when you...
00:44:40.38\00:44:41.91
when you go to court
and you've got big bucks,
00:44:41.94\00:44:44.08
you can hire a big
fancy million... is this okay?
00:44:44.11\00:44:46.95
Million-dollar
lawyer to take care of you
00:44:46.98\00:44:49.65
and the other guy
sitting next to you
00:44:49.78\00:44:51.29
might be as innocent as can be
00:44:51.32\00:44:52.65
but you're going to get a
State's person appointed to you
00:44:52.69\00:44:55.72
who got so many cases,
00:44:55.76\00:44:57.33
he can't... he
can't look after you...
00:44:57.36\00:44:58.93
somebody's not
getting a fair shake
00:44:58.99\00:45:00.53
but God's
asking us as Christians
00:45:00.56\00:45:02.50
to give everybody a fair shake
00:45:02.53\00:45:04.40
and don't be a
respecter of persons...
00:45:04.43\00:45:06.47
God's not... why should we?
00:45:06.50\00:45:08.14
Panel: Amen... amen.
00:45:08.17\00:45:10.24
Shelley: This is
a fired-up Panel.
00:45:10.31\00:45:14.78
I'm Shelley Quinn and
I have Thursday's lesson:
00:45:14.81\00:45:19.55
Pure Religion Before God.
00:45:19.58\00:45:22.05
When you think about
something that's pure,
00:45:22.08\00:45:24.12
it's uncontaminated
00:45:24.15\00:45:26.59
and I think that pure religion
00:45:26.65\00:45:30.13
is a relationship of love,
00:45:30.16\00:45:33.56
you know, I sometimes say,
"We've got too much religion
00:45:33.60\00:45:36.97
and not enough
Christianity going on.
00:45:37.00\00:45:39.83
So, pure religion is to have
that love relationship with God
00:45:39.87\00:45:45.97
and then we are
channels of His love.
00:45:46.01\00:45:48.44
This... I'm going to give
you all a break this time,
00:45:48.48\00:45:50.91
we're just going to
look in two different books.
00:45:50.95\00:45:53.35
Turn to
Deuteronomy chapter 24...
00:45:53.38\00:45:58.32
Deuteronomy chapter 24
00:45:58.35\00:46:01.19
because it's so
interesting to me...
00:46:01.22\00:46:03.93
you know, God directs His
people in all aspects of life
00:46:03.96\00:46:08.66
how we are to act righteously
00:46:08.73\00:46:11.87
and that word
"righteously" just means
00:46:11.93\00:46:13.90
it lines up with God's
right way of doing and being.
00:46:13.94\00:46:19.64
So, in Deuteronomy 24
verse 10 is where we will begin,
00:46:19.67\00:46:24.05
this is what He's saying,
00:46:24.08\00:46:26.92
"When you lend
your brother anything,
00:46:26.95\00:46:28.65
you shall not go into his
house to get his pledge. "
00:46:28.68\00:46:34.42
That's interesting.
00:46:34.46\00:46:35.79
"You shall stand outside
and the man to whom you lend
00:46:35.82\00:46:39.63
shall bring the
pledge out to you.
00:46:39.66\00:46:42.16
If the man is poor, you shall
not keep his pledge overnight"
00:46:42.20\00:46:46.97
you know... well, I'll
break this down in a second...
00:46:47.04\00:46:50.87
"You shall in any case
return the pledge to him again
00:46:50.91\00:46:54.74
when the sun goes down,
00:46:54.78\00:46:56.21
that he may sleep
in his own garment,
00:46:56.24\00:46:58.18
and bless you:
00:46:58.21\00:46:59.71
and it shall be
righteousness to you
00:46:59.75\00:47:03.89
before the Lord your God. "
00:47:03.92\00:47:05.52
I think this is so fascinating
that God got so detailed
00:47:05.55\00:47:11.73
in what was righteous,
pure, uncontaminated religion.
00:47:11.76\00:47:17.90
He is prohibiting
His covenant people
00:47:17.93\00:47:21.17
from taking
advantage of the poor
00:47:21.20\00:47:24.31
and, you know, loans to the poor
00:47:24.37\00:47:27.44
were made without interest
00:47:27.48\00:47:29.84
and they were subjected to the
forgiveness of the unpaid debt
00:47:29.88\00:47:33.08
in the Sabbatical year now,
00:47:33.11\00:47:35.15
if somebody was a
foreigner in commerce,
00:47:35.18\00:47:38.62
hey, they can charge
interest on the loans
00:47:38.65\00:47:41.92
but people were to
look out for the poor
00:47:41.96\00:47:45.19
and often, the poor had nothing
but their outer garment...
00:47:45.23\00:47:50.17
their coat that they
could use as a pledge
00:47:50.20\00:47:52.80
and here God is
so tenderhearted,
00:47:52.83\00:47:55.57
He says, "Hey, if... if this
is what he needs to stay warm,
00:47:55.60\00:48:00.04
even though you've
taken it as a pledge,
00:48:00.08\00:48:02.24
give it back to him at
night so he can sleep in warmth.
00:48:02.31\00:48:05.48
I mean, that's
just amazing to me.
00:48:05.51\00:48:08.32
But the idea that he says,
"Don't go into his house... "
00:48:08.35\00:48:13.25
God is showing that He
has concern for the dignity
00:48:13.29\00:48:21.26
of the poor... do we?
00:48:21.33\00:48:23.93
Panel: Oh... oh.
00:48:23.97\00:48:25.30
Shelley: I mean,
that's so important.
00:48:25.33\00:48:26.67
So, look at Deuteronomy
chapter 24 verse 14 now,
00:48:26.70\00:48:32.71
because these principles
are how we are to treat people
00:48:32.74\00:48:37.01
who are kind of under
our control, if you will.
00:48:37.05\00:48:41.08
"You shall not... "
this is Deuteronomy 24:14,
00:48:41.12\00:48:45.09
"You shall not
oppress a hired servant
00:48:45.15\00:48:48.52
who is poor and needy,
00:48:48.56\00:48:51.03
whether one of your
brethren or one of the aliens
00:48:51.09\00:48:55.26
who is in your
land within your gates.
00:48:55.30\00:48:58.87
Each day you shall
give him his wages,
00:48:58.90\00:49:02.37
and not let the sun go
down on it, for he is poor
00:49:02.40\00:49:06.24
and has set his heart on it;
00:49:06.27\00:49:07.98
lest he cry out
against you to the Lord,
00:49:08.01\00:49:12.61
and it be sin to you. "
00:49:12.65\00:49:15.02
Day laborers
counted on their wages
00:49:15.05\00:49:19.09
just to get by from day to day
00:49:19.12\00:49:21.69
and the rich could
not withhold those wages,
00:49:21.72\00:49:25.13
even if they owed them a debt,
00:49:25.16\00:49:27.06
the rich could not
garnish their wages as we recall
00:49:27.10\00:49:32.13
so, in the eyes of
God, what does this say?
00:49:32.17\00:49:35.54
It would be sin to you...
00:49:35.57\00:49:37.77
it is a sin to oppress the poor.
00:49:37.81\00:49:42.18
We are to be God's witness.
00:49:42.21\00:49:46.72
We are to be walking
memorials of God's truth
00:49:46.75\00:49:49.72
and His
righteousness and His love...
00:49:49.75\00:49:52.05
His concern for all.
00:49:52.09\00:49:54.42
So, God is demanding them
00:49:54.46\00:49:57.66
to be kind to the weak
and marginalized people.
00:49:57.69\00:50:01.73
That's pure
religion in the eyes of God.
00:50:01.76\00:50:05.70
Now, let's turn to James
because we're going to be
00:50:05.73\00:50:08.90
in James for a few minutes here.
00:50:08.94\00:50:10.44
James chapter 1... I'm
going to look at verse 27,
00:50:10.47\00:50:15.14
James 1:27,
00:50:15.18\00:50:17.31
"Pure and undefiled...
" unpolluted religion
00:50:17.35\00:50:23.62
"before God and
the Father is this,
00:50:23.65\00:50:26.35
to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble,
00:50:26.39\00:50:30.23
and to keep oneself
unspotted from the world. "
00:50:30.26\00:50:34.36
Pure religion is
based on worshipping God
00:50:34.40\00:50:38.27
and you know what the highest
expression of worship is?
00:50:38.30\00:50:43.20
Obedience.
00:50:43.27\00:50:44.61
So, God is saying
we are to demonstrate
00:50:44.64\00:50:49.14
by actions of
compassion and sacrificial love.
00:50:49.18\00:50:53.82
We're to demonstrate
His love to everyone else
00:50:53.85\00:50:58.45
and everything we do
is done in God's presence
00:50:58.49\00:51:01.12
and you know
this is interesting.
00:51:01.16\00:51:02.49
The orphans and the widows
00:51:02.52\00:51:05.49
generally can't
reciprocate, can they?
00:51:05.53\00:51:08.90
So what... we're going to
have a pure religion is...
00:51:08.93\00:51:13.10
we are being
generous toward them
00:51:13.13\00:51:15.94
if our hearts are
the right motivation
00:51:16.00\00:51:19.57
because if you're
doing it for a tax deduction,
00:51:19.61\00:51:22.34
I think that's all you get.
00:51:22.38\00:51:24.28
Panel: That's true.
00:51:24.31\00:51:25.68
Shelley: You know, in
Micah... we won't turn here
00:51:25.71\00:51:27.78
but Micah 6:8 says,
00:51:27.82\00:51:29.15
"He has shown you,
O man, what is good;
00:51:29.18\00:51:31.19
and what does the
Lord require of you,
00:51:31.22\00:51:35.26
but to walk
justly... to love mercy,
00:51:35.29\00:51:39.26
and be humble
before the Lord your God. "
00:51:39.29\00:51:41.76
So, let's continue
in James chapter 2...
00:51:41.80\00:51:44.20
James chapter 2 verses...
we'll begin with verse 1,
00:51:44.23\00:51:48.50
"My Brethren, do not hold the
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:51:48.54\00:51:52.01
the Lord of
glory, with partiality. "
00:51:52.04\00:51:55.11
We've already said,
00:51:55.14\00:51:56.54
God doesn't show any partiality.
00:51:56.58\00:51:59.05
He is not a
respecter of people... for...
00:51:59.11\00:52:02.12
verse 2...
00:52:02.15\00:52:03.49
"For if there should
come into your assembly
00:52:03.52\00:52:05.15
a man with gold
rings, in fine apparel,
00:52:05.19\00:52:07.59
and there should also come
in a man in filthy clothes,
00:52:07.62\00:52:11.19
and you pay attention to
the one wearing the fine clothes
00:52:11.26\00:52:14.80
and say to him, 'Oh, you
sit here in a good place... '
00:52:14.86\00:52:18.57
and say to the poor man,
00:52:18.60\00:52:20.54
'but you stand there,'
or 'sit on this footstool,'
00:52:20.57\00:52:24.67
have you not shown
partiality among yourselves,
00:52:24.71\00:52:28.78
and become judges
with evil thoughts?"
00:52:28.81\00:52:32.95
Ooooh, haven't we all kind
of fallen into this trap before?
00:52:32.98\00:52:38.02
Panel: That's right.
Shelley: It is a trap.
00:52:38.05\00:52:39.89
The law of love and liberty
00:52:39.92\00:52:43.12
is to... obligates us to
treat everyone equally...
00:52:43.16\00:52:49.26
without partiality to
race... to rank or to wealth.
00:52:49.30\00:52:53.37
Giving greater attention...
00:52:53.40\00:52:57.04
greater social
attention to the rich
00:52:57.11\00:53:01.04
based on their social status
00:53:01.08\00:53:03.85
or any superficial
external circumstance.
00:53:03.88\00:53:06.65
What is he saying?
00:53:06.68\00:53:08.02
This is sin... ouch...
00:53:08.05\00:53:09.52
so, it's sin to
cater to the rich
00:53:09.55\00:53:12.69
and hold the poor in contempt
00:53:12.72\00:53:15.69
and you know like you said,
00:53:15.72\00:53:18.59
I think sometimes
when people do that,
00:53:18.63\00:53:21.56
you see somebody...
00:53:21.60\00:53:22.93
we went to a big... it
was a big church ministry
00:53:22.96\00:53:26.74
not an Adventist church
00:53:26.77\00:53:28.10
but we walked in... JD and I...
00:53:28.14\00:53:30.17
we were all dressed up...
00:53:30.21\00:53:31.54
boy, they had Ushers
00:53:31.57\00:53:33.31
and they paraded us
right down to the front row
00:53:33.34\00:53:36.28
so we could be on camera.
00:53:36.31\00:53:37.75
Panel: Come on now... hmmm...
00:53:37.78\00:53:39.41
Shelley: Catering to somebody...
00:53:39.51\00:53:42.42
sometimes I think we
think we're going to get a...
00:53:42.45\00:53:44.82
maybe a bigger
tithe or whatever...
00:53:44.85\00:53:47.29
okay, James 2:5 through 7,
00:53:47.32\00:53:50.93
James 2:5, "Listen,
my beloved brethren:
00:53:50.96\00:53:54.63
Has not God chosen the poor of
this world to be rich in faith
00:53:54.66\00:53:58.83
and heirs to the kingdom
00:53:58.87\00:54:00.20
which he promised
to those who love Him?
00:54:00.24\00:54:03.67
But you've
dishonored the poor man.
00:54:03.71\00:54:06.64
Do not the rich oppress you
and drag you into the courts?
00:54:06.68\00:54:10.85
Do they not
blaspheme that noble name
00:54:10.88\00:54:14.38
by which you are called?"
00:54:14.42\00:54:15.95
James 2 verse 8,
00:54:15.98\00:54:18.02
"If you really
fulfill the royal law
00:54:18.05\00:54:20.92
according to the Scripture,
00:54:20.96\00:54:22.29
'You shall love your neighbor
as yourself,' you do well;
00:54:22.32\00:54:26.63
but if you show
partiality, you commit sin,
00:54:26.66\00:54:30.30
and are convicted by
the law as transgressors.
00:54:30.33\00:54:33.94
For whoever shall
keep the whole law,
00:54:33.97\00:54:36.64
and yet stumble in one point,
00:54:36.67\00:54:38.87
he is guilty of it all.
00:54:38.91\00:54:40.88
Because He who said,
'Don't commit adultery,'
00:54:40.91\00:54:43.88
also said that you
can't lust in your heart. "
00:54:43.91\00:54:46.82
So, the royal law is to
love your neighbor as yourself
00:54:46.85\00:54:51.85
and favoritism
violates this command.
00:54:51.89\00:54:56.36
It violates God's law
00:54:56.39\00:54:58.43
and if we break one,
we're guilty of them all.
00:54:58.46\00:55:01.73
Panel: Hmmm... wow!
00:55:01.76\00:55:03.10
powerful...
powerful... beautifully put.
00:55:03.13\00:55:04.67
James: What a great lesson!
00:55:04.70\00:55:06.03
what a great lesson... lots
of good, good thoughts there.
00:55:06.07\00:55:09.50
We're going to just see if
there is any closing comments
00:55:09.54\00:55:13.24
that our Panel would
like to make... Jill.
00:55:13.27\00:55:15.11
Jill: It's an incredible lesson
00:55:15.14\00:55:16.91
I know, the Lord
brought conviction to my heart
00:55:16.95\00:55:18.91
as we were just
talking here together
00:55:18.95\00:55:20.42
and reading
from the Word of God,
00:55:20.45\00:55:21.82
so, just remember that you
are not the only one chosen.
00:55:21.85\00:55:25.59
That God so loved the world...
00:55:25.62\00:55:27.46
He gave His only begotten Son
00:55:27.49\00:55:29.72
that whosoever... that's anyone
00:55:29.76\00:55:31.96
believes in Him
should have everlasting life.
00:55:31.99\00:55:34.33
Panel: Amen... amen.
00:55:34.36\00:55:35.70
Ryan: Amen... you
know, how we treat others
00:55:35.73\00:55:37.50
is a reflection
of our relationship
00:55:37.53\00:55:39.73
or lack thereof with God
00:55:39.77\00:55:42.07
and as we have seen here very
clearly in this Panel today,
00:55:42.10\00:55:45.94
we... we need the Holy Spirit.
00:55:45.97\00:55:47.74
As... as the Holy
Spirit fills us...
00:55:47.78\00:55:50.48
as we behold Jesus
Christ in His Word,
00:55:50.51\00:55:53.11
we have the mind of
Christ, we have the heart of God
00:55:53.15\00:55:56.28
and therefore, we
can serve and love others
00:55:56.32\00:55:58.52
as Jesus has loved us.
00:55:58.55\00:55:59.89
Kenny: Amen, the
thought I had was
00:55:59.92\00:56:01.92
there's a lot of unfairness...
00:56:01.96\00:56:03.63
it's everywhere in the world
00:56:03.66\00:56:05.03
but it should not
be among God's people.
00:56:05.06\00:56:08.10
We need to pray
about it and behold Him,
00:56:08.13\00:56:11.40
you know, and then
we are to represent Him
00:56:11.43\00:56:14.64
to the world
00:56:14.67\00:56:16.04
and so, may God
help each one of us
00:56:16.07\00:56:18.21
to do what we need to do
00:56:18.27\00:56:19.61
to make sure we
love Him supremely
00:56:19.64\00:56:21.74
and love others as ourselves.
00:56:21.78\00:56:23.51
Shelley: Amen, and
my Father says that
00:56:23.55\00:56:25.51
that the... the
highest expression of God's law
00:56:25.55\00:56:31.35
is to love your
neighbor as yourself.
00:56:31.39\00:56:33.42
Love God with all
your heart and soul
00:56:33.46\00:56:35.32
and love your
neighbor as yourself
00:56:35.36\00:56:37.16
and this includes
the stranger in your gate
00:56:37.19\00:56:40.13
and even though
the Ten Commandments
00:56:40.16\00:56:42.43
don't
specifically talk about this,
00:56:42.46\00:56:44.67
it makes a mockery of our faith
00:56:44.70\00:56:46.97
if we don't follow
what these words say.
00:56:47.00\00:56:50.01
Panel: That's
right. Ryan: That's true.
00:56:50.04\00:56:53.04
James: The book
of Deuteronomy...
00:56:53.07\00:56:54.51
the book of the law is
all about love, love, love.
00:56:54.54\00:56:58.31
Loving the stranger...
loving the foreigner...
00:56:58.35\00:57:01.92
loving without partiality.
00:57:01.95\00:57:03.69
No wonder Moses renewed it...
00:57:03.72\00:57:05.62
no wonder He said... God said,
00:57:05.65\00:57:07.49
"You've got to give
them this law again... "
00:57:07.52\00:57:09.26
because we need it...
00:57:09.32\00:57:10.86
we need it to
help us to understand
00:57:10.93\00:57:12.93
what it means to
treat people with equity...
00:57:12.96\00:57:15.90
without partiality...
00:57:15.93\00:57:17.27
what it means to be impartial
in relationship to race
00:57:17.30\00:57:20.07
and in relationship to riches
00:57:20.14\00:57:22.17
in relationship to rank...
00:57:22.20\00:57:24.24
you know, we...
00:57:24.27\00:57:25.61
God wants us to hold on
to the principles of His law
00:57:25.64\00:57:28.71
so that we can
understand and get our direction
00:57:28.74\00:57:31.85
in the way of love.
00:57:31.88\00:57:33.21
God's Word defines love.
00:57:33.25\00:57:34.68
Our community doesn't define
it, the world doesn't define it.
00:57:34.72\00:57:37.09
No one around us can
define love but the Word of God
00:57:37.12\00:57:39.99
and the Word of God has defined
it really well in this Lesson.
00:57:40.02\00:57:42.82
You know, each one
of us have brought out
00:57:42.86\00:57:45.03
what God... that God wants us
00:57:45.06\00:57:47.60
and that He wants the stranger
00:57:47.63\00:57:50.13
and He wants impartiality
00:57:50.17\00:57:51.87
and that He wants pure religion.
00:57:51.90\00:57:54.40
Panel: Amen. James:
He wants all of that
00:57:54.44\00:57:55.90
and that's why
He's given us this law.
00:57:55.94\00:57:57.37
So, praise God for the present
truth in the book of Deuteronomy
00:57:57.41\00:58:00.68
and we're looking
forward to continuing our Study
00:58:00.71\00:58:03.45
in this
Quarter... join us next time.
00:58:03.48\00:58:05.68
Panel: Amen... amen.
00:58:05.71\00:58:07.05