Hi, I'm Shelley Quinn, and
we welcome you to 3ABN Sabbath
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School Panel. This quarter we're
studying In the Crucible With
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Christ. Great encouragement from
the Bible to help you through
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your trials with strength and
hope and courage. If you don't
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yet have your adult
Bible study guide go to
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3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com
You can download it there. You
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can also watch future programs
and pause them and take notes.
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We do this for you so
we're glad that you're with us.
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¤ ¤
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Oh hello, I'm Shelley Quinn
and we're so glad you're with us
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today. Our lesson is Seeing the
Goldsmith's Face. If you don't
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understand what that is
right now, you will soon. Let me
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introduce the rest of the family
here at the table. My dear
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brother Ryan Day.
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Amen, always a blessing. I'm
talking today about Having Faith
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Amid the Refining Fire.
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Oh, wonderful. And my
precious sister, Jill Morikone.
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Thank you Shelley.
Excited to be here today.
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My pastor John Lomacang.
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Mine is entitled The Wise.
Whether you'll be wiser although
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for it, that's up to you.
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And then our dear
brother, John Dinzey.
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Thank you, a blessing to be here
Thursday's portion, Character
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and Community.
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Ah wonderful. Jill would you
like to have our opening prayer?
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Sure. Holy Father, we come
before you in the name of Jesus
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grateful for the gift of your
word, grateful for the gift of
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your Holy Spirit. And right now
we open up our minds and hearts
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to what you have for us
today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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Amen! Well we're starting on
Sabbath Seeing the Goldsmith's
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Face. Our memory text is
one of my favorite verses,
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2 Corinthians 3:18 which says:
But we all with unveiled face
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beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord, are being
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transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as by
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the Spirit of the Lord. We
behold in the word of God the
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glory of His character and the
Holy Spirit takes us from one
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level to the next as He
develops in us the image of
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Jesus. You know the interesting
thing about this is new covenant
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believers don't have a veil that
obstructs the view of the glory
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of God in the person of Jesus
Christ. Remember Moses had to
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wear a veil because there
was the fading glory of the old
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covenant that was based on
nothing more than symbols and
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shadows. But we by beholding
Christ's character we become,
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we're changed and we become what
we behold. So we're transformed.
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I love the word in the Greek.
It's metamorfu, it's to be
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like the metamorphosis, from the
caterpillar to the butterfly.
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So our ultimate goal as
Christians is to grow in the
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grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ and to
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become Christlike. In Sabbath's
lesson there's a story from a
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book Amy Carmichael wrote called
Learning of God and what she did
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is she took a group of students
to see an Indian, in India, an
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Indian goldsmith. And when they
got there in the middle of the
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charcoal fire there was a curved
tile, it was a roof tile, and on
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that tile there was a mixture of
salt, tamarind fruit, and brick
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dust. But embedded in the brick
dust was gold. So what happened
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as the fire devoured the mixture
the gold began to separate all
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the dross came to the top where
he could skim it off. And the
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goldsmith took the gold out
with tongs and if it wasn't pure
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enough he replaced it back in
the fire. So each time the gold
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was replaced, the heat was
increased and the group asked
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how do you know when the gold is
purified. He said, that's easy.
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When I can see my image
reflected in the gold. You know
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we go through trials and
God sometimes allows us and
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sometimes places us in a trial.
And I had the thought as I was
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reading this when I'm in a trial
am I quick to say Lord let me
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become more like Jesus through
this. I loved an extra thought
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that was added on Friday from
Helen Keller. Here's what she
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wrote in her book Leadership.
Character cannot be developed
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in ease and quiet. Only through
the experience of trial and
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suffering can the soul be
strengthened, vision cleared,
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ambition inspired and success
achieved. Are you in a trial
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today? Then just know that God
is going to work out something
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special. Malachi 3:3 says: He
sits as a refiner and a purifier
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of silver. He will purify His
people and purge them as gold
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and silver that they may
offer to the Lord an offering in
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righteousness. So just like the
precious metals we're refined,
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our character is refined by fire
Trials help us to overcome our
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character defaults if we are
smart. Now we're going to look
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at Sunday's lesson, In His Image
Genesis 1:27 in Sunday's lesson
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says: God created man in His own
image, in the image of God He
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created him, male and female,
He created them. I want to say
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something. The Bible tells us
God is love. Love is the absence
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of sin. That's what makes God
holy. There's no sin. So it is
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God's nature of love that makes
Him separated from sin that
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makes Him holy. Now in the
garden something happened and
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it occurred to me this way the
other day, it's an interesting
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thought. Adam and Eve declared
their independence from God in
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the garden. Think about that for
a minute. They went against His
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instructions. They said we don't
need you, God. And that is the
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root of all sin. When we declare
our independence from God and
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when sin entered the world it
entered us. It marred the image
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of our God in us. So this is
what...you know there's a cosmic
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conflict between good and evil,
Satan and the Lord, and it is
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still unfolding today before our
very eyes. In fact, I think it's
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heated up. But what God wants
to do is recreate us. He wants
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to transform us and conform
us to the image of His Son. God
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wants to restore this image
of Jesus in us so He gives us a
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hope and a destiny. Hang on
because here we go. Romans 8:28
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is our hope. It says that God
works all things together for
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good for those who love Him
and are called according to His
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purpose. Are you kidding, my
children, my husband, just got
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killed in a car wreck. How is
God going to work that together
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for my good. Well you can't
separate Romans 8:28, which is
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our hope from Romans 8:29,
which says those He foreknew He
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predestined to be conformed
to the image of Jesus. So
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everything that happens, even
our trials, difficulties, all
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these perplexities and pain that
we go through God is recreating
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in us the image of Jesus making
us a little bit more like Him.
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And I have to say something.
Somebody will say, oh that's for
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those who are called. It upsets
me so when people say God has
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an elect people, certain people
are called to be saved, certain
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aren't. That's not what the
Bible says. 1 Timothy 2:4. It
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says that God desires all men to
be saved (That's right) and to
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comes to the knowledge of the
truth. 2 Peter 3:9 says He's not
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willing that any should perish
but that all should come to
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repentance and Ezekiel 33:11
God says: As I live I have no
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pleasure in the death of
the wicked, but that the wicked
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would turn from his way and live
And then He says, Turn, turn
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from your evil ways for why
should you die. So those who are
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described as the called are
those who have accepted Christ
00:10:17.65\00:10:23.62
Jesus, the free salvation that
He offers us, but not all accept
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the gospel invitation and
God won't violate our free will.
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So here we've got, He's working
everything together for our good
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to create in us a heart, a
character, like Jesus. You know
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what, God knows the end from the
beginning. He knows every event
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that's going to happen and He
knows how to work it out for our
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eternal benefit. Now His
foreknowledge doesn't cause it
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to happen. But He knows in
advance and He predestined those
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who would accept Christ to
become His children, to become
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His family, to be justified
and sanctified. Our afflictions,
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what we go through is the
refining of our character. He's
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like the goldsmith. We're not on
a little roof tile. He's holding
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in His hands, that's the
crucible and He's going to let
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us stay in the heat until the
dross comes to the surface and
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He can skim it off. His purpose
is that all who are called, all
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who accept Christ will be
recreated in His image. What is
00:11:50.44\00:11:57.25
the image of Christ? Philippians
2:5: Let this mind be in you
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that was in Christ Jesus. He
was God. He humbled Himself to
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become a man. He was obedient
to the point of death, even the
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death on the cross, so what God
wants is that we would regain a
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humble spirit. And His plan
of salvation is total dependence
00:12:20.97\00:12:24.21
upon Him. Remember claiming or
declaring independence from God
00:12:24.24\00:12:30.71
is how we got in this mess in
the first place. So He's looking
00:12:30.75\00:12:35.78
for that humble spirit. Jesus
was fully dependent upon God.
00:12:35.82\00:12:39.95
He said, I only do what the
Father tells me to do, I only
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say what He tells me to say.
His was a self-sacrificing love.
00:12:44.09\00:12:50.57
That's what God wants to
recreate in us to get rid of the
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selfishness. You talk about
dross. His character is patient,
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it is tender and He wants us
like Jesus that we would live in
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obedience to the will of God.
So we're conformed inwardly or
00:13:10.09\00:13:16.76
transformed but we're conformed
to the image of Christ's
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character and at the
resurrection we're going to be
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conformed the image of his
glorious body. Romans 8:14-17
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says this: As many as are led by
the Spirit of God these are the
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sons, the children, of God. For
you did not receive the spirit
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of bondage again to fear but you
received the spirit of adoption
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by whom we cry out Abba, Papa,
Father. The Spirit Himself bears
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witness with our spirit that
we are God's children and if
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children then heirs, heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ
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if indeed we suffer with Him
that we may also be glorified
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together.
00:14:07.94\00:14:09.28
Amen. Thank you so much Shelley
for that great introduction.
00:14:09.31\00:14:11.61
Praise the Lord. I am Ryan
Day and I have Monday's lesson
00:14:11.65\00:14:14.35
entitled Faith Amid the Refining
Fire. Man! This lesson really
00:14:14.38\00:14:21.22
hit home because you know
each and every one of us if you
00:14:21.26\00:14:23.53
profess to believe in
Jesus Christ and you are on that
00:14:23.56\00:14:27.43
journey, on that path of growth
and you know at some point in
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your life, if you haven't
already but at least you're
00:14:30.03\00:14:31.83
headed there, but most of us
can probably say that we have
00:14:31.87\00:14:35.10
experienced some type of
refining experience, some type
00:14:35.14\00:14:36.47
of refining moment in our
life. And the question is can we
00:14:36.50\00:14:40.41
remain faithful, can we keep
the faith through this refining
00:14:40.44\00:14:44.81
moment in our life through the
refining fire. Of course, the
00:14:44.85\00:14:47.75
lesson begins on Monday by
taking us to Job chapter 23. Job
00:14:47.78\00:14:53.02
is really the greatest example,
one of the greatest examples,
00:14:53.05\00:14:56.06
when it comes to you know
talking about keeping the faith
00:14:56.09\00:15:00.96
through the fire. This brother
went through it all. This
00:15:01.00\00:15:03.26
brother experienced so much
and chapter 23 really records a
00:15:03.30\00:15:10.31
special record here of you know
the heaviness that's upon the
00:15:10.34\00:15:14.48
heart of Job, but yet at the
same time, even though in his
00:15:14.51\00:15:17.35
groanings and his murmurings and
his complaints you know as he's
00:15:17.38\00:15:20.68
wondering why and asking
all of these questions he still
00:15:20.72\00:15:24.42
expresses his trust, his
faithfulness in God even though
00:15:24.45\00:15:28.79
there are so many unknowns,
so many question marks as to why
00:15:28.82\00:15:32.63
this is occurring to him in his
life. Let's begin reading there
00:15:32.66\00:15:35.03
in verse 1 and we're going to
read through to verse 10. So Job
00:15:35.06\00:15:38.60
23 and we're going to read
through to verse 10. Starting
00:15:38.63\00:15:40.94
with verse 1. It says: Then Job
answered and said, Even today my
00:15:40.97\00:15:45.34
complaint is bitter...and then
of course, it says...My hand...
00:15:45.37\00:15:49.18
this is the New King James
Version...My hand is listless
00:15:49.21\00:15:51.31
because of my groaning...The
original Hebrew here actually
00:15:51.35\00:15:54.12
should read His hand...is
heavier, His hand is listless
00:15:54.15\00:15:58.05
because of my groaning...And
verse 3 says: O that I knew
00:15:58.09\00:16:01.19
where I might find Him, that
I might come to His seat...You
00:16:01.22\00:16:05.73
know, I'm feeling this brother
because there's times in life
00:16:05.76\00:16:10.40
I have said and I know many
of us have probably said, Man if
00:16:10.43\00:16:13.80
only I could just see God
and talk to Him. If only I could
00:16:13.84\00:16:17.51
just be in His presence and
just ask Lord why and maybe just
00:16:17.54\00:16:20.84
conversate about why are
you allowing this, why are you
00:16:20.88\00:16:23.95
allowing that, why do I have to
go through this? If only I could
00:16:23.98\00:16:27.02
just meet with Him and see
Him. You know maybe I could make
00:16:27.05\00:16:32.19
sense of all of this. You know
I would be extra encouraged. But
00:16:32.22\00:16:35.56
yet you know it just showed
the humanity of Job. But yet
00:16:35.59\00:16:38.13
he continues on even through the
unknowns, even through not being
00:16:38.16\00:16:41.43
able to see God, not being able
to talk to God or hear from God
00:16:41.46\00:16:45.43
verbally. He continues on in his
faith. Notice what it says here
00:16:45.47\00:16:48.20
in verse 4. He said: I would
present my case before Him...
00:16:48.24\00:16:51.37
he's talking about if only I
could see Him, if only I could
00:16:51.41\00:16:53.51
meet Him and be at His seat I
would present my case before Him
00:16:53.54\00:16:56.71
But then notice he says:
And fill my mouth with arguments
00:16:56.75\00:16:59.81
I would know the words which He
would answer me and understand
00:16:59.85\00:17:05.35
what He would say to me. Would
He contend with me in His great
00:17:05.39\00:17:09.92
power. No but He would take note
of me...It's interesting because
00:17:09.96\00:17:13.80
Job is acknowledging God's
goodness and patience here. He's
00:17:13.83\00:17:17.27
saying, you know what, even
though I'm having to go through
00:17:17.30\00:17:19.50
this you know God would know me,
He would hear me out but yet I
00:17:19.53\00:17:23.34
would understand His words. I
would understand His judgment.
00:17:23.37\00:17:27.14
Because God is patient, God is
good. Notice what he continues
00:17:27.18\00:17:30.61
to say from 7 on to 10. It says:
There the upright could reason
00:17:30.65\00:17:34.95
with Him and I would be
delivered forever from my judge,
00:17:34.98\00:17:38.85
Look, I go forward but He is not
there and backward but I cannot
00:17:38.89\00:17:43.56
perceive Him. When He works
on the left hand I cannot behold
00:17:43.59\00:17:48.20
Him and when He turns to
the right hand I cannot see
00:17:48.23\00:17:52.20
Him...and love this last
verse...But...I love this...But
00:17:52.23\00:17:56.07
He knows the way that I take.
When He has tested me I shall
come forth as gold.
00:17:56.10\00:18:02.74
I love that. I love that. Even
though you can kind of sense
00:18:02.78\00:18:06.98
the humanity and the complaints
and the murmuring and the ugh
00:18:07.02\00:18:10.45
he's wrestling with what's
happening in his life, Job still
00:18:10.49\00:18:14.56
acknowledges that while he can't
see or hear God, he realizes
00:18:14.59\00:18:18.29
that this is all to produce a
better version of himself. You
00:18:18.33\00:18:23.00
know it takes a generous amount
of spiritual maturity to view
00:18:23.03\00:18:27.90
the trials of your life as
something positive and worth
00:18:27.94\00:18:30.91
while in the end my friends.
And that's tough, that's tough.
00:18:30.94\00:18:34.28
especially when you're enduring
it. It takes a lot of spiritual
00:18:34.31\00:18:36.95
maturity to be able to come to
the realization, you know what,
00:18:36.98\00:18:40.98
this is for the better. This is
for good. That's why I've always
00:18:41.02\00:18:45.22
completely enamored the words
there in James 1; we read a
00:18:45.25\00:18:49.52
couple of times here where it
says, Count it all joy when you
00:18:49.56\00:18:51.39
fall into various trials.
You know I don't know a single
00:18:51.43\00:18:54.80
person who really needed to be
somewhere on time but then they
00:18:54.83\00:18:57.90
had a flat and had to end up on
the side of the road, Oh praise
00:18:57.93\00:19:01.10
God that I had this flat, Lord
thank you for this various trial
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.71
or this tribulation or this
difficulty or whatever it is I'm
00:19:04.74\00:19:07.21
going through. You know I've
very rarely ever met anyone that
00:19:07.24\00:19:10.48
praises God through their trial
but yet that's what we have to
00:19:10.51\00:19:14.28
grow in spiritual maturity
to understand it's all for the
00:19:14.32\00:19:17.59
building of our character, it's
all to build patience, it's all
00:19:17.62\00:19:20.52
so that Christ can see Himself
in us. Shelley read this text
00:19:20.56\00:19:23.32
earlier, Malachi chapter 3
and I'm going to add verse 2, so
00:19:23.36\00:19:26.49
verses 2 and 3 and I love this
because it says: But who can
00:19:26.53\00:19:30.57
endure the day of His coming?
Hmm. Who can endure the day of
00:19:30.60\00:19:36.67
His coming and who can stand
when He appears. For He is like
00:19:36.71\00:19:41.44
a refiner's fire and like
launderer's soap. And then verse
00:19:41.48\00:19:46.11
He will sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver.
00:19:46.15\00:19:48.78
He will purify
00:19:48.82\00:19:50.15
the sons of Levi and purge them
as gold and silver that they may
00:19:50.19\00:19:53.36
offer to the Lord an offering in
righteousness. It's interesting,
00:19:53.39\00:19:58.19
He starts this by saying who can
endure the day of His coming?
00:19:58.23\00:20:02.50
In other words, it's like
Malachi's saying look Jesus is
00:20:02.53\00:20:05.93
coming soon. The Lord is going
to come sooner than you think.
00:20:05.97\00:20:07.57
Will you be able to stand
prepared ready, will you be able
00:20:07.60\00:20:12.57
to stand confident at the
appearing knowing that you are
00:20:12.61\00:20:16.75
ready to walk in the kingdom?
You know, I found this quote,
00:20:16.78\00:20:19.21
it's a popular quote we've
often heard from Christ's Object
00:20:19.25\00:20:22.28
Lessons, p. 69, but it really
amplifies the importance of this
00:20:22.32\00:20:26.32
whole refining process because
it says here: Christ is waiting
00:20:26.35\00:20:29.82
with longing desire for the
manifestation of Himself in His
00:20:29.86\00:20:33.93
church. When the character
of Christ shall be perfectly
00:20:33.96\00:20:36.90
reproduced in His people then He
will come to claim them as His
00:20:36.93\00:20:41.57
own. My friends are we ready
for that? Are we ready for that
00:20:41.60\00:20:44.81
appearing of Jesus Christ,
because amid this refining fire
00:20:44.84\00:20:48.68
process some people are throwing
their hands up and saying, I
00:20:48.71\00:20:51.85
can't take it anymore. I can't
handle this anymore. And some
00:20:51.88\00:20:54.18
people fall of by the wayside.
They're not persevering through
00:20:54.22\00:20:58.35
the faith and that's the whole
point of this lesson is can you
00:20:58.39\00:21:01.42
remain faithful in the midst of
the refining fire? I Peter 1:7,
00:21:01.46\00:21:06.16
we've read this many times
so far, but it says that: The
00:21:06.19\00:21:10.07
genuineness of your faith being
much more precious than gold
00:21:10.10\00:21:12.43
that perishes though it is
tested by fire may be found to
00:21:12.47\00:21:16.74
praise, honor and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ. This
00:21:16.77\00:21:20.41
is a lifelong journey.
That's the beautiful thing about
00:21:20.44\00:21:23.88
sanctification. We don't talk
about a giant leap with the Lord
00:21:23.91\00:21:26.95
or a sprint with the Lord but
it is a walk. We talk about our
00:21:26.98\00:21:30.59
walk with God, but along
that walk oftentimes we find
00:21:30.62\00:21:33.49
ourselves having to walk through
the water walk through the fire.
00:21:33.52\00:21:36.19
And that's the beautiful thing
I love about Isaiah chapter 43
00:21:36.22\00:21:39.29
verse 2 is that you know you may
be walking through that fire,
00:21:39.33\00:21:42.83
though you may be walking
through some deadly waters in
00:21:42.86\00:21:46.63
your life, whatever the case may
be, God says, you know what, I'm
00:21:46.67\00:21:49.80
there with you. Even though
the refining process may be
00:21:49.84\00:21:53.07
difficult, even though you may
find yourself seeming at times
00:21:53.11\00:21:57.15
like there's no hope, when is
this going to end? Jesus says I
00:21:57.18\00:22:00.12
know what you can bear and what
you can't. I'm not going to let
00:22:00.15\00:22:04.89
you be tested, I'm not going to
let you be tried, I'm not going
00:22:04.92\00:22:07.36
let you be pushed past the point
that you can bear. That's why I
00:22:07.39\00:22:10.13
love Isaiah 43 verse 2, it says:
When you pass through the waters
00:22:10.16\00:22:13.03
I will be with you. I love that.
He says: And through the rivers,
00:22:13.06\00:22:17.33
they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire
00:22:17.37\00:22:20.04
you shall not be burned nor
shall the flames scorch you. I
00:22:20.07\00:22:24.37
love that. Jesus says you know
what I'm going to try you, I'm
00:22:24.41\00:22:26.91
going to test you. You may have
to stand a little bit in that
00:22:26.94\00:22:29.01
fire but you know what, It's for
the better because I'm going to
00:22:29.04\00:22:30.91
let you stand there just in the
amount of time that it needs to
00:22:30.95\00:22:33.68
perfectly reproduce my character
my image in you. I love that,
00:22:33.72\00:22:38.09
it's beautiful. Noah. There's
so many examples in the Bible.
00:22:38.12\00:22:41.89
So many examples in the Bible
of those who went through the
00:22:41.92\00:22:45.03
refining fire but remained
faithful. Noah was the only
00:22:45.06\00:22:47.73
righteous man on earth during
the time of global apostasy but
00:22:47.76\00:22:51.13
this brother remained faithful
amid the refining fire. Abraham
00:22:51.17\00:22:54.87
experienced trial when he was
asked to leave his home to be a
00:22:54.90\00:22:57.37
stranger in the land of Cainan.
But throughout his life that
00:22:57.41\00:23:00.54
brother remained faithful amidst
the refining fire. Joseph was
00:23:00.58\00:23:04.51
constantly ridiculed by his
brothers, sold into slavery and
00:23:04.55\00:23:07.98
went to prison for something he
didn't even do. But that brother
00:23:08.02\00:23:11.25
remained faithful amidst
the refining fires of his life.
00:23:11.29\00:23:13.72
Moses was raised in a pagan home
asked to remain faithful during
00:23:13.76\00:23:17.39
Egypt's time of trouble,
the 10 plagues, and then led an
00:23:17.43\00:23:20.20
ungrateful group of degenerates
wondering in the desert for over
00:23:20.23\00:23:23.33
40 years. This brother went
through 80 years of refining
00:23:23.37\00:23:26.94
fire but he remained faithful
through it all. David was called
00:23:26.97\00:23:29.60
to face a giant nearly three
times his size, spent years
00:23:29.64\00:23:32.57
running from Saul who wanted him
dead, and also spent the vast
00:23:32.61\00:23:36.01
majority of his life in war
defending Israel. That brother
00:23:36.04\00:23:39.41
spent his life in the valley
of the shadow of death, but he
00:23:39.45\00:23:41.88
remained faithful amidst the
refining fire. Daniel, Hananiah,
00:23:41.92\00:23:46.39
Mishael, Azariah were taken
captive to Babylon. The three
00:23:46.42\00:23:51.13
them brothers literal went into
a fire but of course they were
00:23:51.16\00:23:54.26
tested and they passed the test.
They were thrown in a fiery
00:23:54.30\00:23:57.50
furnace and of course Daniel in
a den of lions but they remained
00:23:57.53\00:24:01.97
faithful through the refining
fire. Paul, Paul is one of the
00:24:02.00\00:24:04.27
greatest examples. Go read 2
Corinthians 11:23-27 what this
00:24:04.31\00:24:07.74
brother went through. It's
amazing. Jesus what He went
00:24:07.78\00:24:11.71
through even though his
testimony and his character and
00:24:11.75\00:24:15.92
everything was perfect. Jesus
still went through the fire. He
00:24:15.95\00:24:19.02
remained faithful to His Father.
The question is: Will you remain
00:24:19.05\00:24:22.42
faithful amid the refining fire.
Trust in the Lord with all your
00:24:22.46\00:24:25.69
heart and He
will direct your path.
00:24:25.73\00:24:27.96
Amen, thank you Ryan. That was
a beautiful lesson and we've got
00:24:28.00\00:24:34.27
more to come. Just a quick
break and we'll be right back.
00:24:34.30\00:24:37.74
¤ ¤
00:24:37.77\00:24:41.98
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And now we're going to
Jill Morikone who has Tuesday's
00:25:11.14\00:25:15.24
lesson.
00:25:15.28\00:25:16.61
Thank you so much, Shelley and
Pastor Ryan. What an incredible
00:25:16.64\00:25:18.75
lesson, Seeing the Goldsmith's
Face. I love that. I'm
00:25:18.78\00:25:22.98
Jill Morikone. I have Tuesday's
lesson which is Jesus's Last
00:25:23.02\00:25:27.52
Words. Turn with me to Matthew
chapter 25. This is of course
00:25:27.56\00:25:31.13
the week before Passover and
Jesus' crucifixion. These are
00:25:31.16\00:25:35.16
some of Jesus' last words last
words to his disciples. He's
00:25:35.20\00:25:39.30
leaving them and He wants
to instruct them how to prepare
00:25:39.33\00:25:42.87
for when He comes again. Now
the lesson wants us to discuss
00:25:42.90\00:25:47.74
two of these parables which
we don't have time for so we're
00:25:47.78\00:25:51.38
only going to focus on the
10 virgins which is Matthew 25
00:25:51.41\00:25:56.92
verses 1-13. How can we be ready
for the second coming of Jesus?
00:25:56.95\00:26:02.66
How can we be ready for His
return? We have 10 takeaways
00:26:02.69\00:26:07.70
from the 10 virgins. Let's
go. We're in Matthew 25 verse 1:
00:26:07.73\00:26:12.10
Then the kingdom of heaven shall
be likened to 10 virgins who
00:26:12.13\00:26:15.47
took their lamps and went out to
meet the bridegroom...So who are
00:26:15.50\00:26:19.84
the virgins? We know in Bible
prophecy a woman represents what
00:26:19.87\00:26:24.51
A church. And the virgin would
represent the pure church, the
00:26:24.55\00:26:29.88
true church, the church with
doctrines in accordance with the
00:26:29.92\00:26:34.19
word of God. We know in
Revelation 12:17 this woman
00:26:34.22\00:26:39.19
keeps the commandments of God
and has the testimony of Jesus
00:26:39.23\00:26:42.90
Christ. This is not the scarlet
woman who's riding the beast in
00:26:42.93\00:26:46.70
Revelation 17. These 10 virgins
have the word of God. We also
00:26:46.74\00:26:51.57
see that because all 10 had
lamps, did they not? The lamps
00:26:51.61\00:26:55.71
represent the word of God. Psalm
119 verse 105: Your word is a
00:26:55.74\00:27:01.98
lamp to my feet and a light
to my path. So this end time,
00:27:02.02\00:27:08.82
Bible-believing, pure church was
waiting for the second coming of
00:27:08.86\00:27:14.13
Christ. Are you familiar with an
end time, Bible-believing church
00:27:14.16\00:27:19.53
that's waiting for the second
coming of Christ? Takeaway
00:27:19.57\00:27:23.27
number one: Knowledge of God's
word is essential for salvation.
00:27:23.30\00:27:28.61
I'm reminded of Paul writing to
Timothy, his son in the faith.
00:27:28.64\00:27:31.98
This is 2 Timothy 3:15: That
from childhood, you have known
00:27:32.01\00:27:36.55
the Holy Scriptures which
are able to make you wise to
00:27:36.58\00:27:40.62
salvation through faith which is
in Christ Jesus. Do you want to
00:27:40.66\00:27:45.63
be ready for Jesus's second
coming. Study His word. Let's
00:27:45.66\00:27:51.87
see the next verse. Matthew 25
verse 2: Five of them were wise
00:27:51.90\00:27:55.74
and five were foolish. Takeaway
number two: Church membership
00:27:55.77\00:28:01.58
does not guarantee salvation,
even membership in God's end
00:28:01.61\00:28:08.65
time, Bible
believing, commandment keeping
00:28:08.68\00:28:11.69
church does not guarantee
salvation. Take away number
00:28:11.72\00:28:17.16
three: Outside appearances
are not always an indicator of
00:28:17.19\00:28:21.63
salvation. If you had looked
at the virgins you probably
00:28:21.66\00:28:23.57
wouldn't have known right
off, these are the five wise and
00:28:23.60\00:28:27.47
these are the five foolish. You
would not have seen that. The
00:28:27.50\00:28:30.84
scribes and Pharisees looked
holy, did they not? But yet they
00:28:30.87\00:28:34.11
were whitewashed sepulchers. The
thief on the cross looked like a
00:28:34.14\00:28:39.81
sinner and the onlookers looked
at him and all they saw was a
00:28:39.85\00:28:43.79
sinner. But heaven looked down
and saw a forgiven saint. The
00:28:43.82\00:28:49.52
sheep and the goats: The goats
were surprised. Why? That they
00:28:49.56\00:28:53.33
didn't make it to heaven. Do
you want to be ready for Jesus's
00:28:53.36\00:28:58.63
second coming. Don't rely on
church membership. Don't rely on
00:28:58.67\00:29:03.37
outward indicators of holiness.
Let's read the next verse. We're
00:29:03.41\00:29:08.91
in Matthew 25 verses 3 and
4: Those who were foolish took
00:29:08.94\00:29:13.95
their lamps and took no oil
with them but the wise took oil
00:29:13.98\00:29:17.22
in their vessels with
their lamps. Now we know oil
00:29:17.25\00:29:22.09
symbolizes here the Holy Spirit.
Remember David was anointed with
00:29:22.12\00:29:25.26
oil and what happened? The
Spirit of the Lord came upon him
00:29:25.29\00:29:28.33
from that day forward. We also
know in Zechariah 4, this is the
00:29:28.36\00:29:32.83
vision of the lampstand with the
seven lamps and Zechariah 4:6:
00:29:32.87\00:29:37.91
He answered and said this is the
word of the Lord to Zerubbabel;
00:29:37.94\00:29:40.41
Not by might nor by power but
by my, Spirit says the Lord of
00:29:40.44\00:29:47.08
hosts. So the wise had oil
in their lamps but they also had
00:29:47.12\00:29:51.09
oil, additional oil in
their vessels or their flasks or
00:29:51.12\00:29:55.36
whatever you call. But
the foolish did not have that
00:29:55.39\00:30:00.50
additional oil. They were
unready. Ellen White says they
00:30:00.53\00:30:06.97
are destitute of the Holy Spirit
It reminds me of 2 Timothy 3
00:30:07.00\00:30:13.94
verse 5: Having a form of
godliness but denying its power.
00:30:13.98\00:30:17.58
From such people turn away.
Destitute of the Holy Spirit.
00:30:17.61\00:30:23.62
Takeaway number four: An
anointing or infilling of the
00:30:23.65\00:30:29.66
Holy Spirit is essential for
salvation. Church membership in
00:30:29.69\00:30:34.40
the remnant church is not enough
An outward knowledge of the
00:30:34.43\00:30:37.63
word of God is not enough.
Cultural Christianity is not
00:30:37.67\00:30:42.74
enough. We must be changed.
We need the Holy Spirit to
00:30:42.77\00:30:46.88
understand. We need the Holy
Spirit to change our characters
00:30:46.91\00:30:51.68
I look at the foolish virgins
as those stony ground hearers in
00:30:51.71\00:30:57.49
the parable of Jesus, I think
it's Matthew 13 with the sower
00:30:57.52\00:31:00.52
going forth to sow. Stony ground
hearers, a superficial knowledge
00:31:00.56\00:31:04.89
of God, a superficial knowledge
of His word and yet none of
00:31:04.93\00:31:09.20
those roots had gone deep. Do
you want to be ready for Jesus's
00:31:09.23\00:31:13.37
second coming? Receive the Holy
Spirit. I like this quote Though
00:31:13.40\00:31:20.31
Jesus was bruised in service He
never lacked power. By contrast
00:31:20.34\00:31:25.81
you and I, we are rarely bruised
broken or ground in service but
00:31:25.85\00:31:31.42
we are usually powerless. The
truth is the greatest zeal and
00:31:31.45\00:31:37.06
knowledge are useless without
God's Holy Spirit providing the
00:31:37.09\00:31:40.90
right perspective, the right
attitude and intention for any
00:31:40.93\00:31:44.03
service we perform. Now what
is the connection between the
00:31:44.07\00:31:48.54
Holy Spirit and character?
I think they're inseparable. I
00:31:48.57\00:31:52.44
don't think you can separate the
two. The foolish did not have
00:31:52.47\00:31:55.08
the Holy Spirit meaning
the foolish did not have God's
00:31:55.11\00:32:00.65
character inside and that was
due to a lack of the Holy Spirit
00:32:00.68\00:32:04.19
working in and through their
lives. Takeaway number five:
00:32:04.22\00:32:07.36
Allowing the Holy Spirit access
to our hearts to change us, it's
00:32:07.39\00:32:12.66
essential for salvation. Do
you want to be ready for Jesus's
00:32:12.69\00:32:17.50
second coming. Allow His
Spirit to change you in the
00:32:17.53\00:32:22.27
the image of
00:32:22.30\00:32:23.64
Jesus. Let's read the next
verse Matthew 25:5: While the
00:32:23.67\00:32:26.81
bridegroom was delayed they all
slumbered and slept. Does this
00:32:26.84\00:32:30.35
remind you of the church of
Laodicea, the seventh church in
00:32:30.38\00:32:34.65
Revelation chapter three,
the lukewarm church. The problem
00:32:34.68\00:32:37.49
with that church, the Laodicean
church, they did not understand
00:32:37.52\00:32:40.72
their true condition The foolish
virgins probably didn't even
00:32:40.76\00:32:44.86
they didn't have extra oil.
Even the wise slept. Everyone
00:32:44.89\00:32:49.50
slumbered and slept. Takeaway
number six: Even the most
00:32:49.53\00:32:53.84
dedicated, Bible believing,
Spirit following Christian can
00:32:53.87\00:32:57.94
become weary in the delay. Do
you want to be ready for Jesus's
00:32:57.97\00:33:02.74
second coming. Do not be weary
in doing good. That's Galatians
00:33:02.78\00:33:07.78
6 verse 9. Matthew 25:6. At
midnight a cry was heard behold
00:33:07.82\00:33:12.42
the bridegroom's come. Go out
to meet him. Who gives the cry
00:33:12.45\00:33:16.99
that the bridegroom is
coming? Now this is Jill's
00:33:17.03\00:33:20.73
interpretation alone, okay. This
is just Jill's interpretation of
00:33:20.76\00:33:24.07
it. We always say there's two
groups. We say there's the wise
00:33:24.10\00:33:27.90
and the foolish. But I think
there's three groups. The wise
00:33:27.94\00:33:31.77
had the Holy Spirit and a deep
experience with God but they
00:33:31.81\00:33:35.14
become weary and they
fall asleep. The foolish are
00:33:35.18\00:33:37.68
apathetic. They have a
superficial experience with
00:33:37.71\00:33:40.85
God. But the third group is
those who delivered the cry.
00:33:40.88\00:33:45.85
Those who deliver that message,
those who say the bridegroom's
00:33:45.89\00:33:50.29
coming, everybody wake up. Verse
7-10. All the virgins arose and
00:33:50.33\00:33:55.50
trimmed their lamps. The foolish
said to the wise, Give us your
00:33:55.53\00:33:59.57
oil for our lamps are going out.
But the wise said no we cannot
00:33:59.60\00:34:04.84
give it to you. Takeaway number
eight: The Holy Spirit cannot be
00:34:04.87\00:34:10.11
bought or sold. One's experience
with God, one's character cannot
00:34:10.15\00:34:14.12
be transferred. We know in Acts
8 Simon tried to buy the Holy
00:34:14.15\00:34:18.35
Spirit, but it didn't
work. Let's read the last couple
00:34:18.39\00:34:21.39
verses, Verses 11 and 12.
Afterward, the other virgins
00:34:21.42\00:34:23.99
came saying Lord, Lord, open to
us. They're the foolish. But he
00:34:24.03\00:34:27.46
answered and said I do not
know you. Takeaway number nine:
00:34:27.50\00:34:32.73
Knowing Christ is essential for
salvation. It's not enough to
00:34:32.77\00:34:37.51
know about Him. We must know Him
And the last verse, verse 13:
00:34:37.54\00:34:41.78
Watch therefore for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:34:41.81\00:34:45.51
in which the Son of man is
coming. Watching and waiting
00:34:45.55\00:34:50.32
are essential for preparation
for the second coming. So do
00:34:50.35\00:34:54.49
you want to be ready for Jesus's
second coming? Study His word.
00:34:54.52\00:34:58.06
Don't rely on your church or
outward indicators of holiness.
00:34:58.09\00:35:02.36
Receive the Holy Spirit and
allow His Spirit to transform
00:35:02.40\00:35:06.03
your life. Do not be
weary in doing good. Receive the
00:35:06.07\00:35:11.07
righteousness of Christ. Know
Jesus. Don't just know about Him
00:35:11.11\00:35:14.01
and watch and be ready for He is
coming when you least expect it.
00:35:14.04\00:35:18.41
Wow, thank you Jill. Wow. That's
a perfect segue into why it's
00:35:18.45\00:35:22.18
important to be wise. And mine
is Wednesday. Thank you for that
00:35:22.22\00:35:26.15
foundation. Thank each one of
you. Why it is important to be
00:35:26.19\00:35:29.62
wise. (John Lomacang) Let's
to to Daniel chapter 12 and the
00:35:29.66\00:35:33.13
writer and I looked up an
article about Gavin Anthony and
00:35:33.16\00:35:38.30
according to this he's currently
a pastor in Dublin, Ireland.
00:35:38.33\00:35:41.67
The one who constructed the
lesson and I was very pleased by
00:35:41.70\00:35:45.21
the practical nature of this
lesson but what he brought out
00:35:45.24\00:35:48.88
is what I want to talk about
right now, how important it is
00:35:48.91\00:35:51.01
to be wise, knowing what is
coming. Starting with Daniel
00:35:51.05\00:35:54.98
12 and I'm going to read verses
1 down to verse 4: At that time
00:35:55.02\00:36:00.52
Michael shall stand up, the
great Prince who stands watch
00:36:00.56\00:36:04.79
over the sons of your people...
I like the King James Version,
00:36:04.83\00:36:08.86
stands in behalf of His
people...And there shall be a
00:36:08.90\00:36:12.47
time of trouble such as never
was since there was a nation
00:36:12.50\00:36:15.37
even to that time and at
that time your people shall be
00:36:15.40\00:36:20.21
delivered everyone who is found
in the book and many of those
00:36:20.24\00:36:24.91
sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting
00:36:24.95\00:36:29.08
life and some to shame and
everlasting contempt. Those...
00:36:29.12\00:36:33.92
and this is the focal point...
those who are wise shall shine
00:36:33.96\00:36:37.86
like the brightness of the
firmament and those who turn
00:36:37.89\00:36:41.06
many to righteousness like the
stars forever and ever. But you
00:36:41.10\00:36:46.03
Daniel shut up the words and
seal the book until the time of
00:36:46.07\00:36:49.60
the end. Many shall run to and
fro and knowledge shall increase
00:36:49.64\00:36:54.78
You know the question I was
asked in the beginning of the
00:36:54.81\00:36:57.28
lesson is what is the context?
What time in earth's history is
00:36:57.31\00:37:00.35
being referred to and most
importantly what can we tell
00:37:00.38\00:37:03.79
from these verses about the
character of God's people during
00:37:03.82\00:37:07.92
these times What characteristics
are given them in contrast to
00:37:07.96\00:37:10.79
the wicked. This is a time that
we've talked about quite a bit.
00:37:10.83\00:37:14.53
But it's a time that's hardly
imaginable. Because when the
00:37:14.56\00:37:19.23
servant of the Lord, Ellen
White talks about this time and
00:37:19.27\00:37:21.94
looking forward to this time
she says usually in anticipation
00:37:21.97\00:37:25.24
something is worse that it is in
experience, but such is not the
00:37:25.27\00:37:30.01
case. The Bible says a time of
trouble such as never was and if
00:37:30.05\00:37:33.35
you think about the coalescing
together of all the difficulties
00:37:33.38\00:37:37.39
that humanity has faced and you
think a time is coming that is
00:37:37.42\00:37:40.79
hardly imaginable it's something
that really boggles the mind.
00:37:40.82\00:37:44.83
You find in the book of
Zephaniah, let me just give you
00:37:44.86\00:37:47.10
an example of the context of the
time. Zephaniah chapter 1 verses
00:37:47.13\00:37:51.77
14-18. And Zephaniah talks about
this time of trouble, talks
00:37:51.80\00:37:55.90
about the context that Daniel
introduces. This is the context,
00:37:55.94\00:38:00.78
this is the setting, if you can
put this into a mental picture
00:38:00.81\00:38:04.78
here it is: The great day of the
Lord is near. (Where's that?)
00:38:04.81\00:38:10.05
Zephaniah 1 verses 14-18.
(thank you) The great day of the
00:38:10.09\00:38:15.39
Lord is near, it is near and
hastens greatly. The noise of
00:38:15.42\00:38:18.89
the day of the Lord is bitter.
There mighty men shall cry out.
00:38:18.93\00:38:24.47
That day is a day of wrath, a
day of trouble and distress, a
00:38:24.50\00:38:28.30
day of devastation and
desolation, a day of darkness
00:38:28.34\00:38:31.11
and gloominess, a day of clouds
and thick darkness, a day of
00:38:31.14\00:38:35.98
trumpet and alarm against the
fortified cities and against the
00:38:36.01\00:38:40.05
high towers...Then he says: I
will bring distress upon men and
00:38:40.08\00:38:43.55
they shall walk like blind men
because they have sinned against
00:38:43.59\00:38:47.19
the Lord. Their blood shall be
poured out like dust and their
00:38:47.22\00:38:50.33
flesh like refuse...Now what
about those who have a lot?...
00:38:50.36\00:38:55.70
Neither their silver nor their
gold shall be able to deliver
00:38:55.73\00:38:58.77
them in the day of the Lord's
wrath, but the whole land shall
00:38:58.80\00:39:01.87
be devoured by the fire of His
jealousy for He will make speedy
00:39:01.90\00:39:07.21
riddance of all those who dwell
in the land. Speedy riddance.
00:39:07.24\00:39:11.31
Two words that you don't often
put together, speedy riddance.
00:39:11.35\00:39:14.22
I've not used the word riddance
in a long time. But look at the
00:39:14.25\00:39:18.05
time. It's a difficult time that
we're facing, however, there's a
00:39:18.09\00:39:22.72
contrast to that side. This is
where the wise come in. Go back
00:39:22.76\00:39:25.93
to Daniel again. We see
in Daniel 12 verse 3, it says
00:39:25.96\00:39:30.93
speaking about this time while
men are in distress what are the
00:39:30.97\00:39:35.47
conditions of the people of
God? Verse 3: Those who are wise
00:39:35.50\00:39:40.98
shall shine like the brightness
of the firmament and those who
00:39:41.01\00:39:44.25
turn many to righteousness like
the stars forever and ever. So
00:39:44.28\00:39:48.85
while the world is wrapped in
darkness the people of God are
00:39:48.88\00:39:52.29
standing forth illuminated by
the glory of God. And I think in
00:39:52.32\00:39:56.12
some ways similar to what Moses
experienced when he came down
00:39:56.16\00:39:59.06
from the mountain. His face was
so enraptured by the glory of
00:39:59.09\00:40:02.73
God that they had to veil his
face. At a time of darkness when
00:40:02.76\00:40:06.77
the world is wrapped in darkness
spiritual darkness and physical
00:40:06.80\00:40:10.24
darkness, not just a physical
darkness. Look at Isaiah 60
00:40:10.27\00:40:13.94
verses 1-2, talking about this
time that the people of God are
00:40:13.98\00:40:17.61
going to stand forth. This gives
me encouragement because right
00:40:17.65\00:40:20.95
my wife and I went down to
Southern California once. We
00:40:20.98\00:40:24.12
were living in California and
we went down...we happened to be
00:40:24.15\00:40:27.19
visiting a friend but it was
around the time of the Oscars or
00:40:27.22\00:40:31.33
one of those major awards and
we ended up driving through a
00:40:31.36\00:40:35.16
community where we saw all these
black long limousines. There
00:40:35.20\00:40:40.10
were limousines everywhere,
I mean hundreds of them and all
00:40:40.14\00:40:42.40
the windows were darkened and
there was a red carpet, it was
00:40:42.44\00:40:45.37
by the Kodak Theater and
here we are driving through in a
00:40:45.41\00:40:47.98
Nissan Maxima. We looked like
get out of the neighborhood type
00:40:48.01\00:40:50.45
of look. And it was like what
we were doing we were looking
00:40:50.48\00:40:54.28
to see if anybody would roll
down the window, because you
00:40:54.32\00:40:56.75
can't see through it. We were
wondering. We know all these
00:40:56.79\00:40:58.75
people are famous, maybe
we might recognize somebody.
00:40:58.79\00:41:01.56
or even still they might
recognize us. Long before 3ABN,
00:41:01.59\00:41:05.39
we had no kind of platform at
all. But just in our own minds.
00:41:05.43\00:41:08.76
So we saw someone roll their
window down partially and looked
00:41:08.80\00:41:13.03
out and all we saw, just the
eyes, couldn't recognize who it
00:41:13.07\00:41:15.17
was. On the way home, we were
just so frustrated. I said you
00:41:15.20\00:41:18.74
know that's terrible. I mean
here we are, these people don't
00:41:18.77\00:41:21.54
even want to let us see who they
are, what they look like. And
00:41:21.58\00:41:25.58
the Lord tapped me on the back
of my head and He said: Okay
00:41:25.61\00:41:29.02
they live in a world where you
can't get in but one day you're
00:41:29.05\00:41:33.46
going to be living in a world
where they can't get in. The
00:41:33.49\00:41:36.52
walls of the New Jerusalem
are going to be clear as crystal
00:41:36.56\00:41:39.13
and He said don't worry
you can't see them but one day
00:41:39.16\00:41:43.03
they'll see you. And I thought
wow. Not judging any of them to
00:41:43.06\00:41:46.74
be saved or lost but I thought
that's a contrast. That's a time
00:41:46.77\00:41:50.61
those who are shining now,
if you don't know the Lord, you
00:41:50.64\00:41:53.94
won't shine then. So Isaiah 60
talks about the contrast, which
00:41:53.98\00:41:58.61
is what the lesson brought out.
Look at what it says. Isaiah 60
00:41:58.65\00:42:01.65
verses 1-2. Do you have it,
Jill? (I do) Read that for us.
00:42:01.68\00:42:04.55
Arise, shine for your light is
come and the glory of the Lord
00:42:04.59\00:42:07.32
is risen upon you. For behold
the darkness shall cover the
00:42:07.36\00:42:11.03
earth and deep darkness the
people, but the Lord will arise
00:42:11.06\00:42:13.76
over you and His
glory will be seen upon you.
00:42:13.80\00:42:17.40
That's right. So the contrast
between the difficulty which was
00:42:17.43\00:42:20.40
pointed out in the lesson, what
makes the wise wise? It's the
00:42:20.44\00:42:25.14
glory of God that's lighting
upon then but where did this
00:42:25.17\00:42:28.54
wisdom come from. Go to
Colossians 3 and verse 16,
00:42:28.58\00:42:32.78
Colossians 3 and verse 16. We
don't just get wisdom because we
00:42:32.81\00:42:35.65
hang around in church but
there's something that makes the
00:42:35.68\00:42:37.92
difference between those who are
in darkness and those who are in
00:42:37.95\00:42:41.49
the light. Colossians 3 and
verse 16. Let's look at that
00:42:41.52\00:42:43.89
together. It says: Let the word
of Christ dwell in you richly
00:42:43.93\00:42:47.83
in all wisdom teaching and
admonishing one another in Psalm
00:42:47.86\00:42:53.27
and hymns and spiritual
songs singing with grace in your
00:42:53.30\00:42:57.61
hearts to the Lord. Singing Ryan
grace in your hearts to the Lord
00:42:57.64\00:43:01.11
Now where does that wisdom come
from? The word of God dwells in
00:43:01.14\00:43:04.08
us richly. And when the word of
God dwells in us richly notice
00:43:04.11\00:43:07.88
Psalm 119 verse 130. At a time
of darkness here's where the
00:43:07.92\00:43:11.52
wisdom comes from. The entrance
of your word gives light. He
00:43:11.55\00:43:15.92
gives understanding to the
simple. So wisdom comes from
00:43:15.96\00:43:19.73
to word of God and then we read
in Psalm 119 verse 105: Your
00:43:19.76\00:43:23.97
word is a lamp unto my feet and
a light unto my path. So here we
00:43:24.00\00:43:27.94
go. At a time of darkness
the people of God are wise not
00:43:27.97\00:43:31.84
because all of a sudden they've
had wisdom rained on them, but
00:43:31.87\00:43:35.94
they were studying God's word.
God's word is the source of
00:43:35.98\00:43:40.15
wisdom. I've been in
conversations where people have
00:43:40.18\00:43:41.98
been...their minds have been
you know their words boggle me
00:43:42.02\00:43:45.79
sometimes but then I find a way
to introduce God's word and all
00:43:45.82\00:43:49.49
of a sudden you realize
that the wisdom of man is really
00:43:49.52\00:43:52.53
foolishness in the eyes of God.
God uses the simple things to
00:43:52.56\00:43:56.30
confound the wise. The word
of God is powerful at that time.
00:43:56.33\00:44:00.37
And what makes the time of
darkness even more comforting
00:44:00.40\00:44:04.67
for the people of God...2 Peter
1 verse 19...What does the word
00:44:04.71\00:44:08.98
of God do for those who follow
the word of God? 2 Peter 1:19
00:44:09.01\00:44:13.68
says: So we have the prophetic
word confirmed or word of
00:44:13.72\00:44:17.85
prophecy that is made sure,
which you do well to heed as a
00:44:17.89\00:44:21.82
light that shines in a dark
place until the day dawns and
00:44:21.86\00:44:25.03
the morning star arises in your
heart. Notice, light is coming
00:44:25.06\00:44:28.96
the morning star is arising.
When we look at prophecy and we
00:44:29.00\00:44:33.23
forecast through God's word
we're able to say we know what's
00:44:33.27\00:44:36.50
coming, then all of a sudden we
know what kind of preparation to
00:44:36.54\00:44:39.67
make. It's not the time that's
coming that causes trepidation
00:44:39.71\00:44:42.78
but it's nonpreparation for the
time that coming that will cause
00:44:42.81\00:44:47.68
trepidation. If you know what's
coming the best thing to do is
00:44:47.72\00:44:50.72
to be wise in preparation
for that day. Daniel was told in
00:44:50.75\00:44:56.69
Daniel 12 verse 4: But you
Daniel shut up the words and
00:44:56.73\00:44:58.79
seal book until the time of the
end. Many shall run to and fro
00:44:58.83\00:45:02.16
and knowledge shall be increased
At that time why will it be
00:45:02.20\00:45:07.20
necessary for the people of God
to be in the light? Revelation
00:45:07.24\00:45:09.47
18 verse 4. Here's the reason
why. In darkness the people of
00:45:09.50\00:45:13.17
God have one final message,
Revelation 18 verse 4: And I
00:45:13.21\00:45:17.81
heard another voice from heaven
saying, Come out of her, my
00:45:17.85\00:45:21.12
people lest you share in her
sins and lest you receive of her
00:45:21.15\00:45:24.95
plagues. Wisdom causes us to
be the final light to the world.
00:45:24.99\00:45:28.89
Amen, amen. Praise the
Lord. Well we have Thursday's
00:45:28.92\00:45:33.29
portion. My name is John Dinzey.
The title for Thursday is
00:45:33.33\00:45:39.77
Character and Community. And the
lesson here focuses in Ephesians
00:45:39.80\00:45:43.57
chapter 4 verse 11-16. I am
going to back up to verse 7.
00:45:43.77\00:45:49.28
Ephesians chapter 4 verse 7 and
here we have the words: But to
00:45:49.31\00:45:54.78
each one of us grace was given
according to the measure of
00:45:54.82\00:46:01.82
Christ's gift. Therefore, he
says, when He ascended on high
00:46:01.86\00:46:06.03
He led captivity captive and
gave gifts to men. Now let's go
00:46:06.06\00:46:12.23
to Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11:
And He Himself...that is Christ
00:46:12.27\00:46:16.87
...gave some to be apostles
and some prophets and some
00:46:16.91\00:46:20.98
evangelists and some pastors and
teachers. So it is Christ that
00:46:21.01\00:46:25.91
gives the gifts so all glory
should go to Christ. Remember
00:46:25.95\00:46:31.29
that we are supposed to see the
goldsmith's face, keeping the
00:46:31.32\00:46:36.79
focus on the goldsmith, which
is Jesus Christ, there will be
00:46:36.83\00:46:40.80
growth, there will be unity,
there will be love for one
00:46:40.83\00:46:44.37
another. So here in John chapter
1 and verse 16 notice that it is
00:46:44.40\00:46:54.74
Jesus again the focus. John
writes: And of His fullness we
00:46:54.78\00:47:01.58
have all received grace for
grace. Each and every one of
00:47:01.62\00:47:07.12
God's children has received
of the fullness of Jesus Christ
00:47:07.16\00:47:12.09
and grace for grace. So the
gifts come from Jesus and as we
00:47:12.13\00:47:17.37
maintain a close relationship
with Him the gift that He has
00:47:17.40\00:47:22.57
given will be put to the use
that God has intended for that
00:47:22.60\00:47:27.04
gift. Not for glorifying
self, not for you to be put on a
00:47:27.08\00:47:31.75
pedestal, but the Bible tells
us in Ephesians chapter 4 verse
00:47:31.78\00:47:35.78
For the equipping of the
saints for the work of ministry
00:47:35.82\00:47:42.29
for the edifying of the body
of Christ. So the gifts that God
00:47:42.32\00:47:47.86
has given to each and everyone
of us are to benefit everyone
00:47:47.90\00:47:52.77
else, benefit the family of
God. So as we consider Ephesians
00:47:52.80\00:47:57.84
chapter 4 verses 11, 12 we can
conclude that this is referring
00:47:57.87\00:48:01.98
to the necessity for God's
people to be joined together
00:48:02.01\00:48:06.31
in community. The title for the
lesson for Thursday is Character
00:48:06.35\00:48:10.02
and Community. So the gifts that
we get...consider for a moment
00:48:10.05\00:48:15.42
you're given the gift to be an
evangelist. But you live out by
00:48:15.46\00:48:20.03
yourself on your own on a
mountain in a cave and you're
00:48:20.06\00:48:25.63
supposed to have the gift of a
pastor or evangelist, that gift
00:48:25.67\00:48:28.80
is going to what? You're not
going to put it to the use that
00:48:28.84\00:48:31.97
God intended. You need to come
to the community, you need to
00:48:32.01\00:48:35.44
come together with God's family
for that gift to be put to the
00:48:35.48\00:48:39.71
use that God has intended. Verse
13, Ephesians 4:13: Till we all
00:48:39.75\00:48:48.09
come to the unity of the faith
and of the knowledge of the Son
00:48:48.12\00:48:54.96
of God to a perfect man, to the
measure of the stature of the
00:48:55.00\00:48:59.83
fullness of Christ. This is
the goal. To the measure and the
00:48:59.87\00:49:04.84
stature of the fullness of
Christ. To be a perfect man.
00:49:04.87\00:49:07.34
And we all need one another
to help another. We need to pray
00:49:07.38\00:49:11.55
one for another. And the idea
of being lone ranger Christians
00:49:11.58\00:49:16.08
is not according to God's plan.
If you're the lone ranger and
00:49:16.12\00:49:19.35
you're out there by yourself
doing all these things and glory
00:49:19.39\00:49:22.66
to yourself, glory to yourself,
that is not God's plan. God's
00:49:22.69\00:49:26.59
plan is for the church,
God's family, to be a body of
00:49:26.63\00:49:30.60
believers. The family in heaven
and a family in earth are to be
00:49:30.63\00:49:35.10
united. Remembering that
there's to be the unity of the
00:49:35.14\00:49:42.01
faith and of the knowledge
of Jesus Christ and when we come
00:49:42.04\00:49:44.81
together, you know the Sabbath
School lesson is to bring the
00:49:44.85\00:49:49.95
church community together
to discuss the lesson. Yes you
00:49:49.98\00:49:53.56
study by yourself but when you
come to the classroom, we're all
00:49:53.59\00:49:57.66
sharing. What did the Lord
show you this week as you were
00:49:57.69\00:49:59.83
studying the lesson. And we
share with one another. We edify
00:49:59.86\00:50:03.70
one another. As I've
been listening here, I've been
00:50:03.73\00:50:07.64
edified and I'm sure you have as
well. This is why we do the 3ABN
00:50:07.67\00:50:12.21
Sabbath School Panel to edify
God's family. And we rely upon
00:50:12.24\00:50:18.28
the Lord Jesus Christ. We
pray, we ask for the Holy Spirit
00:50:18.31\00:50:22.12
because this is all leading us
to the unity of the faith. I'm
00:50:22.15\00:50:25.39
going to read from Steps to
Christ, p. 101.1: God does not
00:50:25.42\00:50:32.06
mean that any of us should
become hermits or monks and
00:50:32.09\00:50:35.93
retire from the world in order
to devote ourselves to acts of
00:50:35.96\00:50:40.37
worship. The life must be
like Christ's life, between the
00:50:40.40\00:50:44.44
mountain and the multitude. Yes
you need time alone by yourself
00:50:44.47\00:50:47.71
to pray and to ask the Lord to
give you strength and to bless
00:50:47.74\00:50:52.51
you with the Holy Spirit, but we
also need to pray together. We
00:50:52.55\00:50:56.15
need to sing together, we need
to worship together, we need to
00:50:56.18\00:50:59.25
testify of the Lord's goodness
and as we hear how the Lord is
00:50:59.29\00:51:03.12
blessing one another we are
encouraged in the faith. Our
00:51:03.16\00:51:06.59
faith will grow as we hear how
God is leading in the lives of
00:51:06.63\00:51:10.50
His children. And everyone will
face challenges. And we are to
00:51:10.53\00:51:15.84
come together to say, brethren
pray for me. Even Paul himself
00:51:15.87\00:51:20.74
he said brethren pray for
us. We all need to pray one for
00:51:20.78\00:51:26.28
another. And you know what?
There's enough division in the
00:51:26.31\00:51:30.15
world. We need to see the
example of unity that God has
00:51:30.19\00:51:34.02
intended. The world needs to see
this. I continue reading: He who
00:51:34.06\00:51:38.99
does nothing but pray will soon
cease to pray or his prayers
00:51:39.03\00:51:43.87
will become a formal routine.
When men take themselves out of
00:51:43.90\00:51:47.80
social life away from the sphere
of Christian duty and cross
00:51:47.84\00:51:51.97
bearing, when they cease to work
earnestly for the Master who
00:51:52.01\00:51:55.74
worked earnestly for them,
they lose the subject matter of
00:51:55.78\00:51:59.78
prayer and have no incentive to
devotion. Their prayers become
00:51:59.81\00:52:05.15
personal and selfish. They
cannot pray in regard to the
00:52:05.19\00:52:08.72
wants of humanity or the
upbuiding of Christ's kingdom
00:52:08.76\00:52:12.36
pleading for strength and
wherewith to work. So the idea
00:52:12.39\00:52:16.80
of a unity of believers is what
we should strive for. Notice
00:52:16.83\00:52:23.37
what Christ prayed in John
chapter 17 and verse 11. He said
00:52:23.41\00:52:29.54
to the Father: And now I am no
more in the world but these are
00:52:29.58\00:52:35.22
in the world and I come to thee.
Holy Father keep through thine
00:52:35.25\00:52:41.32
own name those whom thou has
given me...Why?...That they may
00:52:41.36\00:52:46.56
be one as we are one. And we
should strive to see that prayer
00:52:46.59\00:52:54.14
answered in our lives and in our
community of believers. So if
00:52:54.17\00:52:58.77
you're pulling one way if the
apostles are pulling one way,
00:52:58.81\00:53:03.68
the prophets are pulling another
the teachers are pulling another
00:53:03.71\00:53:05.85
way, you will have division, you
will have strife, you will have
00:53:05.88\00:53:10.29
jealousy, you will
have selfishness displayed.
00:53:10.32\00:53:12.62
This is not God's plan. Now I
want to go to Ephesians chapter
00:53:12.65\00:53:16.93
4 verse 14. Notice that: We
should no longer...apparently
00:53:16.96\00:53:21.46
there was a time that people
were being happened what was
00:53:21.50\00:53:26.10
what we're about to mention.
That we should no longer be
00:53:26.13\00:53:30.14
children tossed to and fro and
carried about with every wind of
00:53:30.17\00:53:35.51
doctrine by the trickery of
men in the cunning craftiness of
00:53:35.54\00:53:40.32
deceitful plotting. Now this you
can see here that Satan has to
00:53:40.35\00:53:45.85
be involved in this idea,
trickery of man and cunning
00:53:45.89\00:53:49.46
craftiness of deceitful plotting
Satan works through people and
00:53:49.49\00:53:53.09
he is trying to deceive God's
people from following the Lord.
00:53:53.13\00:53:57.63
He worked upon the disciples.
I mean, Jesus Christ was about
00:53:57.67\00:54:00.77
to be crucified. What were they
doing? They were arguing with
00:54:00.80\00:54:03.87
one another who was going to sit
next to Him as He went to the
00:54:03.91\00:54:08.28
kingdom. So we need to be united
The prayer of Christ that we may
00:54:08.31\00:54:13.55
be one as He and the Father
are one. Now I want to point out
00:54:13.58\00:54:21.32
that we should all be anchored
in Jesus Christ and so this is
00:54:21.36\00:54:27.46
why as we come together we
learn more about Christ from one
00:54:27.50\00:54:32.33
another. I need to move quickly
to Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15:
00:54:32.37\00:54:35.97
But speaking the truth in love
may grow up in all things into
00:54:36.00\00:54:42.34
Him who is the head, Christ.
Christ is the head and by
00:54:42.38\00:54:48.22
speaking the truth in love as
He did we will grow up as He is.
00:54:48.25\00:54:54.79
So why does Paul tell us that we
should speak the truth in love?
00:54:54.82\00:54:57.99
Really. How many people do you
win by speaking the truth with
00:54:58.03\00:55:00.80
hate. When you speak the truth
with love and that is the way
00:55:00.83\00:55:05.07
you will touch people's hearts
through the blessing of the Holy
00:55:05.10\00:55:09.20
Spirit. Ephesians 4:16, have to
get that in From whom the whole
00:55:09.24\00:55:13.44
body joined and knit together.
These words talk about such a
00:55:13.48\00:55:18.91
unity that we need to strive for
by the grace of the Lord. Knit
00:55:18.95\00:55:22.88
together by what every joint
supplies according the effective
00:55:22.92\00:55:27.56
working by which every part does
Its share causes growth of the
00:55:27.59\00:55:33.13
body for the edifying of itself
in love. We need to strive for
00:55:33.16\00:55:37.43
this and by God's grace we
shall achieve it. It is needed.
00:55:37.47\00:55:40.94
Hey, I have been so blessed by
each one of you today and want
00:55:40.97\00:55:46.07
to just give you a few
seconds for a closing thought.
00:55:46.11\00:55:48.74
Amen. You know Job strived and
desired to see God. If only I
00:55:48.78\00:55:54.02
could see Him and talk to Him.
You know even Thomas, he doubted
00:55:54.05\00:55:58.19
that Jesus had been resurrected.
He said I have to see him
00:55:58.22\00:56:01.59
before I believe Him. The Jesus
says in John chapter 20 verse 29
00:56:01.62\00:56:04.96
I love the words: Thomas because
you have seen me you have
00:56:04.99\00:56:08.66
believed. Blessed are those
who have not seen and yet have
00:56:08.70\00:56:12.97
believed.
00:56:13.00\00:56:14.34
Amen. The 10 virgins the bottom
line is we are called to have
00:56:14.37\00:56:19.94
the Holy Spirit, the word of God
but to be filled with the Holy
00:56:19.97\00:56:23.24
Spirit and to allow Him to
transform our characters into
00:56:23.28\00:56:26.95
His image so
that we can be ready.
00:56:26.98\00:56:28.75
And if we are to be ready
at that time if you lack wisdom
00:56:28.78\00:56:32.19
James 1 verse 5 says: If any of
you lack wisdom, let him ask of
00:56:32.22\00:56:36.62
God. God is willing and waiting
to supply to you what you need
00:56:36.66\00:56:41.03
for the times that
are just ahead of you.
00:56:41.06\00:56:43.03
Amen. And I would like to remind
you that the disciples by God's
00:56:43.06\00:56:48.50
grace became of one accord and
the Lord wants us to do the same
00:56:48.54\00:56:52.24
Pray for one another, confess
our sins before the Lord and ask
00:56:52.27\00:56:56.78
for the blessing
of the Latter Rain.
00:56:56.81\00:56:59.38
Amen, amen. We are so thankful
that you've been with us today
00:56:59.41\00:57:03.28
Seeing the Goldsmith's Face...
you know in the Garden of Eden
00:57:03.32\00:57:08.02
Adam and Even rejected God's
word and they declared their
00:57:08.06\00:57:13.80
independence of God and that's
where all these crucibles were
00:57:13.83\00:57:19.03
initiated, but God will work all
things together for your good
00:57:19.07\00:57:22.94
to make you a little bit
more like Jesus when you walk
00:57:22.97\00:57:27.71
through the crucible with Him in
faith. And you want to join us
00:57:27.74\00:57:33.95
for our next lesson
which is Extreme Heat.
00:57:33.98\00:57:39.32
¤ ¤
00:57:39.35\00:57:55.60