Hello friends and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel. We're
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so glad you've joined
us. This week's lesson is
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A Life of Praise and of
course the quarter study is
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In the Crucible With Christ.
Again, we're glad you've joined
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us. If you need to get a copy
of the lesson, you can go to
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3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com
Don't go away.
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¤ ¤
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Hello friends and welcome to
our Sabbath School lesson In the
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Crucible With Christ. My name
is James Rafferty and we are in
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lesson number nine, A Life of
Praise. Before we get into our
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lesson let's introduce our 3ABN
Sabbath School panel. To my left
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is Jill Morikone.
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Thank you, Pastor James. I have
Monday which is Praying Down
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Walls.
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Amen. And then we
have Pastor John Dinzey.
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It's a blessing to be here. I
have Tuesday, The Life of Praise
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Amen and Pastor Ryan Day.
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Man, I'm excited about
Wednesday's lesson which is
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entitled A Witness Who Convicts.
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Finally, we have
Pastor John Lomacang.
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I'm down here and I have A
Weapon that Conquers. Looking
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forward to this lesson.
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Amen. So before we get started
on our lesson, we want to pause
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and ask the Holy Spirit to be
here with us. I'm going to ask
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Pastor John Dinzey if he
would have prayer for us.
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Sure. Let's pray together.
Our wonderful and loving
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heavenly Father. Lord you are
great and marvelous. We praise
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you for your goodness and mercy
to us. And Lord we ask for the
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blessing of your Holy Spirit. We
dare not trust in ourselves but
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in You. So we pray that
You will speak through us and
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we pray that
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Your blessing will be extended
to all those that hear this
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message wherever they may be in
this world. And heavenly Father,
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help us to learn new things
and to praise You for them.
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In Jesus' name, Amen.
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Amen. So we're starting
with Sunday's lesson or Sabbath
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actually, a bit of an overview
of the lesson here. We're going
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be looking this week at
Philippians chapter 4:4-7. Those
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are the verses I'll be covering
and we'll also be looking in
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Joshua chapter 5, Psalm
145, Acts chapter 16 and
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2 Corinthians chapter 20. I
love the fact that the lesson
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quarterly is saturated with
the Bible, with the word of God,
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because that's what we need.
We're going to be looking at
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praise, A Life of Praise. You
know, sometimes when you think
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about praise, you think about
being happy. You know, Praise
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the Lord. I feel so good today,
I'm so happy today. We're going
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be looking at it, at least in my
lesson, from a different angle.
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And that is, the importance of
using praise when we're not so
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happy, when things aren't going
so well and tapping into that
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power of praise. So the memory
text for the lesson for the days
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that I have is found in
Philippians chapter 4. If you'd
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like to open your Bibles there
to Philippians chapter 4 and
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we're going to look
at verse 4 specifically.
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Philippians chapter 4 and verse
4. It says there: Rejoice in the
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Lord, always and again I
say rejoice. Now it's really
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significant to understand the
context in which this is written
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Paul, at this point, is in
prison. He's in jail. He is a
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prisoner for the gospel of Jesus
Christ. And this is emphasized
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several times in the context of
the book of Philippians chapter
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1. He's in bonds for the
gospel's sake. And yet he's
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calling out to his fellow
believers to rejoice always and
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again I say rejoice. Because
you got to understand, they
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understand his context and
for him to be saying rejoice and
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then to add the word always.
Well wait a minute, this isn't
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a time to rejoice, you're in
prison. We're mourning, we're
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weeping, we're praying, we're
sad, we're...no, no, no. Always.
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Always, and again I just want
to emphasize just in case you
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didn't understand what I was
saying. I was actually, actually
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saying Rejoice. I was saying
rejoice. I want you to do it
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always, even when you're in
circumstances that are dire,
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that are not so great and I want
to say that again, I want to
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repeat that again just to make
it crystal clear, Rejoice in the
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Lord, always and again I say
Rejoice! So the author goes on
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to say, it's always easy to
shout with joy to the Lord when
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you feel joy. It's not so easy,
however, when things are bad.
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When we are in the worst
situation imaginable. When the
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crucible heats up. Yet, it
is precisely then that we need
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perhaps more than ever, to
praise God, for praise, is a
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means of helping us to sustain
faith. Indeed, the author goes
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on to say, praise can transform
even our darkest circumstances,
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maybe not in the sense of
its changing the facts around us
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but in the sense that it can
change us and those around us.
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In a way, it helps us to face
our challenges. Praise is faith
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in action. It may not always
be natural to us, but when we
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practice praise so that it
becomes a natural part of our
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lives, it has power both to
convert us and to conquer. So
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it impacts us and it impacts
those around us. So This Week at
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a Glance: Some questions that
are asked here in the quarterly:
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What is praise? And how could
praise be a powerful spiritual
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weapon in
difficult circumstances?
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And then how can praise
transform us and the situation
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around us? Right? So we're going
to be looking at some of those
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questions. That's the framework
for Praise. And that's Sunday's
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lesson, The Framework for Praise
Basically, we want to look at
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praise as a power that we can
tap into and not a happy flight
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of feelings that we get when
everything's going well. O yeah!
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We want to look at praise as
something that can be a weapon
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for us. We're going to look
in Philippians chapter 4, let's
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start with verse 4 where we left
off and we'll read all the way
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through verse 7. Philippians
chapter 4, if someone has that
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for me. Let's read Philippians
4 verses 4-7. Jill would you
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like to read that for us?
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Sure. Rejoice in the Lord
always again I will say rejoice.
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Let your gentleness be known to
all men. The Lord is at hand. Be
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anxious for nothing, but
in everything by prayer and
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supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known
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to God, and the peace
of God which surpasses all
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understanding will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ
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Jesus.
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Amen. So when you think about
these verses in the context of
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Paul's surroundings the
quarterly asks well how could
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Paul have written such things
when he himself is sitting in
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prison? Right? And again in this
passage what are the keys of
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of gaining peace with God. So
I just went through the passages
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and just highlighted a few
points. In verse 4 one of the
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first points that you read
here is rejoice, rejoice. I mean
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that's the obvious point that
Paul is making. I want you to
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be...and that word means to be
cheerful or calmly happy. And I
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think there is a difference. You
know sometimes when things are
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going really well we're uncalmly
happy. That's not a word of
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course but we're just like
naturally happy. It just kind of
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flows out of us and we do goofy
things, you know. We act goofy,
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we sing goofy songs. My wife
You know, I just make her laugh
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sometimes when I'm really happy
I'm just like I'm out of myself.
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But in circumstances like this
we want to be calmly happy. So
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there's this atmosphere that we
develop where we're saying, you
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know what, I'm going to be
happy in this situation. We're
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thinking about it, we're
purposing to be happy in the
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Lord. And of course, that's
the only way we can actually be
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happy in a bad circumstance or
situation. It has to be in the
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Lord. Not because of the present
trial, not because of what we're
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going through or circumstances
but because of Christ and
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because we're in Christ. And in
Christ, all things work together
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for good. Right? In Christ
we recognize that our names
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are in the
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book of life and that's of
course the context of Paul's
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writings here that we should
rejoice because our names are
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written in the book of life. And
that, by the way, is verse 3 of
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Philippians chapter 4. So we
started in verse 4 but if you go
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back to verse 3, he mentions you
know that our names are written
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in the book of life. And then
another word that I think is
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really significant here is the
word always. Rejoice in the Lord
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always. There's a consistency
there you know and consistency
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is a jewel. You know, we go
up and we go down, based on our
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feelings and our emotions. You
know, we can feel one way and
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then we feel another way. And
maybe the weather is affecting
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us or maybe the way people
relate to us is affecting us but
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Paul is laying out a principle
for Christian experience here.
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Rejoice in the Lord always. Be
consistent, right? We need the
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Lord always to guide us and
to sustain us so that we can be
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consistent. Because He's the
Source of all we are, He's the
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Source of all that we do.
So this is a call to abide in
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Christ. When we abide in Christ
nothing comes to us except
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through Christ. Everything that
comes to us first hits Christ.
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Christ is surrounding us. We're
abiding in Him so anything that
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comes toward us first comes to
Christ and Christ decides, Hmm
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whether or not this is going to
be a blessing to us, a benefit
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to us, a help to us, and then
He'll let it in to us so that we
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experience it in Him and with
Him and we can trust Him for
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that. We can trust Christ for
that. And that's the blessing
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about abiding in Christ. You
know sometimes people say you
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know it's so hard for me to
abide in Christ. I'm like...You
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know, if I'm in an ocean and the
waves are coming up and down and
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you know I'm out there swimming
and all of a sudden the seas get
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rough...I was at a lake once,
beautiful lake, Christina Lake
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in Grand Forks, Canada; huge
lake, beautiful lake and it's
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such a big lake that when a
storm hits it you almost feel
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like you're in an ocean.
The waves start coming you know,
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we're in this little boat and
the waves are coming over the
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part of this boat and you feel
like wow what's going to happen
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here? Well, I tell you when I
was in the water and that storm
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hit, I got in the boat. Right?
Because the boat is going to
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help protect me from the waves
that are coming. The waves are
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going to hit the boat and of
course I'm going to be rocked
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about. That's what we want.
We want to get in Christ and we
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want to let Him protect us from
the storms and the waves of life
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Right? We don't want to be out
there floating without Christ.
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Abiding in Christ is a
protection. Abiding in Christ is
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a safety. It's not just a
duty or a responsibility. It's
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something that God wants us
to have in order to surround us
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with His presence. And
then verse 5, it talks about
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moderation which means
gentleness. That's the NIV.
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Be gentle. The Lord is at hand.
In other words, God wants us to
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be gentle in the way we interact
in trials and situations,
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because I tell you what being
gentle in trying situations can
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be quite challenging at times.
I'm so thankful that sometimes
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when I get a trial through an
email or through a text message
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it's not something that
I'm directly facing in person.
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Because I can write out my
response and I write out my text
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I can give it to my editor,
my wife and she can read it
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through and she says, you
know James, I'm not feeling what
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you're feeling, I'm not
going through what you're going
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through. Let me edit this for
you a little bit. You need to
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take that sentence out, take
that word out, change this. Or
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maybe if my wife's not around
I can just pray about it, I
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should anyway, and say Lord
help me to edit this down by the
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Spirit of Grace. Right?
To respond with gentleness.
00:11:30.25\00:11:33.19
Because we're on trial as a
witness to the world and those
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around us and God wants to use
that trial to bring others to
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Him. And then verse 6, I love
this most of all. Be anxious
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about nothing. The word in the
King James is careful. It means
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to actually...the root word
means to disunite, to disunite,
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to separate. You know a lot of
times trials separate us. They
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cause separation in the church.
They cause division in the
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church. They cause disunity in
the church. And the reason for
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that is because...and another
of the Greek words here is to
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differ. We differ in our trials.
We differ and we separate. Due
00:12:07.69\00:12:12.19
to the anxiety we have fear, we
have apprehension and it causes
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division and separation. You've
seen a lot of that recently, you
00:12:16.50\00:12:19.00
know, with some of the
different crises that we've been
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experiencing in this country and
in the world, there's a lot of
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division taking place.
Why? Because of anxiety. Right?
00:12:24.07\00:12:26.64
Because of fearfulness and so
Paul is encouraging us, Don't be
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anxious about all of that. Give
that to God in prayer. Pass that
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burden over to the Lord and then
verse 7: The peace of God shall
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keep your hearts. Right? The
Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ
00:12:38.59\00:12:41.72
is our Savior. He's not just our
example but He's there for us
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and he can keep our hearts
through all of this anxiety,
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through all of this trial.
So again, no time to cover
00:12:48.83\00:12:52.00
everything in this week's lesson
but just wanted to highlight
00:12:52.03\00:12:55.07
a couple of key points that the
author brings out. He says that
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first of all, if we take
Paul's writing, what Paul writes
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literally, there are two
critical implications for us.
00:13:03.85\00:13:06.95
First of all we are to rejoice
always. It must mean that we
00:13:06.98\00:13:09.95
should be rejoicing even when
circumstances do not appear to
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give grounds for rejoicing and
secondly, if we are to rejoice
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always it must also mean that
we are going to have to learn to
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rejoice at times when we do
not feel like it. So we lay our
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feelings aside and we go
by faith. We don't look at our
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circumstances, we look at
the Father who is our Author and
00:13:27.80\00:13:31.67
Finisher, the Author and
Finisher of that faith that
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we're exercising. And we step in
and through that trial as Paul
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encourages us to do with
rejoicing. In other words,
00:13:37.95\00:13:40.78
praise is an act of faith.
Some times you don't feel like
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praising, sometimes we don't
seem like we should praise, but
00:13:46.79\00:13:49.06
praise becomes an act of faith.
00:13:49.09\00:13:52.49
Mm-hum, amen. Thank you so
much Pastor James. I love that
00:13:52.53\00:13:55.16
passage in Philippians 4. Yeah.
Beautifully done. Thank you.
00:13:55.20\00:13:58.30
I'm Jill Morikone. I
have Monday's lesson which is
00:13:58.33\00:14:02.47
Praying Down Walls. And if you
don't know where we're going,
00:14:02.50\00:14:05.57
we're going to Jericho. So turn
over in your Bibles to the book
00:14:05.61\00:14:09.64
of Joshua. We're looking at
Joshua 5 and Joshua 6, chapters
00:14:09.68\00:14:14.02
5 and 6. We do not have time
to read all of that, but we're
00:14:14.05\00:14:16.38
going to hit some of the
high points. You think about the
00:14:16.42\00:14:18.75
Israelites. When they came out
of Egypt, they were in a hard
00:14:18.79\00:14:21.89
place, were they not? They had
the Red Sea in front of them,
00:14:21.92\00:14:24.79
they had the mountains around
them and the Egyptian army
00:14:24.83\00:14:30.17
behind them. They were in a hard
place. Now they've gone through
00:14:30.20\00:14:34.20
40 years of wandering in the
wilderness and they come to a
00:14:34.24\00:14:38.31
hard place again. Jericho.
Highly fortified city. God, how
00:14:38.34\00:14:44.91
the world are the walls going to
fall? How are we going to breach
00:14:44.95\00:14:49.78
this city? How are we going to
get in? And of course, you know
00:14:49.82\00:14:52.75
the story. They marched once
daily around the city six times
00:14:52.79\00:14:58.76
six days, for six days every day
they marched around the city.
00:14:58.79\00:15:04.70
This was with carrying the
ark, this was with the priests.
00:15:04.73\00:15:06.60
The soldiers, the warriors,
marched in silence and then on
00:15:06.63\00:15:12.17
the seventh day they marched
seven times around the city and
00:15:12.21\00:15:16.51
they shouted and the walls came
tumbling down. I don't know what
00:15:16.54\00:15:24.72
Jericho experience you
are facing. I think there are
00:15:24.75\00:15:29.29
lessons we can learn. So I
want to back up before the story
00:15:29.32\00:15:31.26
actually takes place. We're
going to divide the lesson up
00:15:31.29\00:15:34.30
into two sections: The first is
the preparation for the battle,
00:15:34.33\00:15:37.37
and the second is the keys for
victory. Now the preparation for
00:15:37.40\00:15:40.70
the battle when I study Joshua
5 I find three keys to the
00:15:40.74\00:15:45.01
preparation: Covenant renewal,
Celebration of the Passover,
00:15:45.04\00:15:49.54
and the Theophany or the
experience with God. And then I
00:15:49.58\00:15:54.25
look at the keys for victory
which was the preparation, then
00:15:54.28\00:15:57.85
obedience and then praise.
So let's look at the preparation
00:15:57.89\00:16:02.06
for battle. In Joshua 5 verse
2, this is the covenant renewal.
00:16:02.09\00:16:06.49
At that time the Lord said
to Joshua, Make flint knives for
00:16:06.53\00:16:11.87
yourself and circumcise the sons
of Israel again the second time.
00:16:11.90\00:16:16.71
Now wait, wait, wait, does this
mean they're being circumcised
00:16:16.74\00:16:19.57
twice. No it does not
mean that. This is a first time
00:16:19.61\00:16:22.94
circumcision for the second
generation that came out of
00:16:22.98\00:16:28.45
Egypt. If you read verses 4-7
it's very clear that they were
00:16:28.48\00:16:32.22
all circumcised coming out of
Egypt. But many of those people
00:16:32.25\00:16:35.82
we know died in the wilderness
and for whatever reasons they
00:16:35.86\00:16:39.86
had not kept up this rite
of circumcision there in the
00:16:39.89\00:16:44.37
wilderness. We know circumcision
marked every male as a son of
00:16:44.40\00:16:48.74
Abraham and a member of God's
covenant-keeping family. It
00:16:48.77\00:16:53.21
indicated that the people
were heirs of the covenant.
00:16:53.24\00:16:55.94
Circumcision was also a
prerequisite for the Passover
00:16:55.98\00:16:59.48
which is the second step in
preparation that will be coming.
00:16:59.51\00:17:02.78
Israel needed to renew their
covenantal relationship with
00:17:02.82\00:17:07.56
God. Why is that? Canaan was
a covenantal land was it not?
00:17:07.59\00:17:11.96
It was the land of promise that
had been promised to Abraham,
00:17:11.99\00:17:15.10
Isaac and Jacob. And they could
only possess it if they were in
00:17:15.13\00:17:19.87
covenant relationship with their
God. Of course the outward rite
00:17:19.90\00:17:24.51
of circumcision merely indicated
the circumcision that takes
00:17:24.54\00:17:28.11
place in the heart. I think
of Jeremiah 4 verse 4. The Lord
00:17:28.14\00:17:32.28
says, Circumcise yourselves to
the Lord. Take away the foreskin
00:17:32.31\00:17:37.05
of your hearts, you men
of Judah and inhabitants of
00:17:37.09\00:17:40.52
Jerusalem. So this indicates the
heart work. It was an outward
00:17:40.56\00:17:44.09
sign, yes, but it indicated the
heart work that God wanted to do
00:17:44.13\00:17:48.70
that covenant relationship with
His people. Romans 2:29, Paul
00:17:48.73\00:17:54.57
puts it this way: He is
a Jew who is one inwardly.
00:17:54.60\00:17:58.21
Circumcision is that of the
heart, in the Spirit, not of the
00:17:58.24\00:18:02.14
letter whose praise is not from
men but from God. So takeaway
00:18:02.18\00:18:05.35
number one: Before going into
battle be right with God. We
00:18:05.38\00:18:10.89
often think we can handle it on
our own. We got this, God. Oh we
00:18:10.92\00:18:14.52
can take on Jericho. No we can't
Before going into battle be
00:18:14.56\00:18:19.73
right with God. And that's what
was happening with this covenant
00:18:19.76\00:18:23.40
renewal. Israel was becoming
right again with God. Listen to
00:18:23.43\00:18:28.74
verse 8, Joshua 5 verse 8:
So it was when they had finished
00:18:28.77\00:18:32.24
circumcising all the people that
they stayed in their places in
00:18:32.27\00:18:35.18
the camp till they were
healed. So this time after the
00:18:35.21\00:18:38.71
circumcision when they couldn't
go out and fight, they would be
00:18:38.75\00:18:42.12
more vulnerable to attack would
they not? Because they weren't
00:18:42.15\00:18:45.29
able to fight. It demonstrated
their faith in God. Take away
00:18:45.32\00:18:49.89
number two: Before going into
battle wait on God to work in
00:18:49.92\00:18:55.03
your heart. Key number one was
to be right with God but many
00:18:55.06\00:18:58.83
times we think okay I'm right,
I prayed. Okay God will you take
00:18:58.87\00:19:01.90
my heart and we run off and
we don't wait in the presence of
00:19:01.94\00:19:06.98
God. Wait on God. Don't be
hurried. Surrender is a process
00:19:07.01\00:19:11.45
Prayer is a process. Time in His
word is a process. Wait on God.
00:19:11.48\00:19:17.45
Don't just say okay God, I'm
right with you, I'm rushing into
00:19:17.49\00:19:20.32
battle. Wait on God before you
do. Let's read verse 9: Then the
00:19:20.36\00:19:24.63
Lord said to Joshua, This day I
have rolled away the reproach of
00:19:24.66\00:19:27.73
Egypt from you. Therefore
the name of the place is called
00:19:27.76\00:19:31.10
Gilgal to this day. At Gilgal
you could say the years of
00:19:31.13\00:19:34.34
wilderness wandering, their
rejection for their rebellion
00:19:34.37\00:19:38.17
years before was ended. God
rolled away Israel's past guilt.
00:19:38.21\00:19:44.15
Take away number three: Your
past does not define your future
00:19:44.18\00:19:48.55
2 Corinthians 5:17: If you
are in Christ, you are a new
00:19:48.58\00:19:53.25
creation. Old things are past,
the new has come. So your past,
00:19:53.29\00:19:57.06
whatever you've done in the past
that does not define your future
00:19:57.09\00:20:00.43
Now let's look at the second
step in preparation which is the
00:20:00.46\00:20:03.43
Passover that's celebrated.
We're just going to read one
00:20:03.47\00:20:05.83
verse, verse 10, Joshua 5 and
verse 10: The children of Israel
00:20:05.87\00:20:10.31
camped in Gilgal and kept the
Passover on the 14th day of the
00:20:10.34\00:20:14.08
month at twilight on the plains
of Jericho. Now we know that the
00:20:14.11\00:20:17.45
previous, chapter 4, Israel had
erected two stone monuments at
00:20:17.48\00:20:21.72
the crossing of the Jordan.
Now they're erecting two living
00:20:21.75\00:20:25.85
memorials, circumcision and the
Passover. What was Passover a
00:20:25.89\00:20:31.33
reminder of? A reminder of
their deliverance from Egyptian
00:20:31.36\00:20:34.86
bondage. Take away number four:
Never forget where God brought
00:20:34.90\00:20:40.24
you from. There's a quote I love
from Ellen White that says we
00:20:40.27\00:20:44.47
have nothing to fear for the
future except as we forget the
00:20:44.51\00:20:47.64
was the Lord has led us and His
teaching in our past history.
00:20:47.68\00:20:52.98
Now never forget where God
brought you from. Now we have
00:20:53.01\00:20:56.92
the third step in the
preparation which is the
00:20:56.95\00:20:59.85
theophany. We won't read it but
it's in verses 13-15. And you
00:20:59.89\00:21:03.66
see Joshua was there by Jericho.
I would imagine they've done the
00:21:03.69\00:21:05.93
circumcision, the covenant
renewal. They've celebrated
00:21:05.96\00:21:08.46
Passover remembered where God
brought them from and now he's
00:21:08.50\00:21:12.40
looking at this huge city. God,
what's going to happen? And all
00:21:12.43\00:21:15.97
of a sudden, a man appears. And
what does Joshua say? Are you
00:21:16.00\00:21:19.51
for us or against us?
This is none other than the
00:21:19.54\00:21:24.05
pre-incarnate Christ and Jacob
wrestled with Him by the river
00:21:24.08\00:21:30.99
Jabbok. But here He comes to
meet Joshua before the taking of
00:21:31.02\00:21:35.02
the city. Take away number five:
Before going into battle, behold
00:21:35.06\00:21:40.80
Jesus. You see, it's not enough
to have your heart right with
00:21:40.83\00:21:43.47
God. It's not enough to know
that your past is forgiven and
00:21:43.50\00:21:47.67
that guilt is washed away. It's
not enough to remember where God
00:21:47.70\00:21:51.47
brought you from. It is
important to behold Jesus. Now
00:21:51.51\00:21:55.78
let's look at the keys to
victory. We have the
preparation, that was key number
00:21:55.81\00:21:59.08
one and we covered that. The
second key is obedience. We're
00:21:59.11\00:22:03.12
Joshua 6 verses 3 and 4. God was
very specific in how they were
00:22:03.15\00:22:08.52
to overthrow the city of Jericho
Obedience is important. You
00:22:08.56\00:22:13.96
shall march around the city
all you men of war. You shall go
00:22:14.00\00:22:16.16
around the city once. This
you shall do six days. And seven
00:22:16.20\00:22:20.07
priests shall bear seven
trumpets of rams horns before
00:22:20.10\00:22:22.30
the ark. But the seventh day
you shall march around the city
00:22:22.34\00:22:25.01
seven times and the priests
shall blow the trumpets. And see
00:22:25.04\00:22:28.88
our God is specific. Many times
we think we're going to go into
00:22:28.91\00:22:32.61
battle; okay I'm going to
prepare and then I'll do it my
00:22:32.65\00:22:35.28
way. I'll do whatever I feel
like. God, I'm doing it my way.
00:22:35.32\00:22:38.99
You know we often say it doesn't
matter what day we worship on.
00:22:39.02\00:22:41.96
Yes, it does. Our God is
specific It doesn't matter who I
00:22:41.99\00:22:47.90
marry. Yes, it does. Our God
is specific When you are facing
00:22:47.93\00:22:53.90
your Jericho know that it is
vitally important not only to
00:22:53.94\00:22:57.41
prepare but to walk in obedience
to what God's word has laid out
00:22:57.44\00:23:02.81
in your life, to walk in
obedience to what His Spirit is
00:23:02.84\00:23:06.85
telling you. Finally key number
3 is praise. We have to get to
00:23:06.88\00:23:11.09
this. What happened at the end
of the seventh trip around on
00:23:11.12\00:23:14.19
the seventh day. They shouted
with a great shout. The lesson
00:23:14.22\00:23:17.99
brought out this fact that
that was a shout of praise.
00:23:18.03\00:23:21.00
It reminds us of Psalm 66: Shout
for joy all the earth. Sing the
00:23:21.03\00:23:26.70
glory of His name. Make His
praise glorious. So what happens
00:23:26.74\00:23:31.41
here? First, they prepared. They
were right with God. And they
00:23:31.44\00:23:35.24
walked in obedience to what God
had said. Now did the walls fall
00:23:35.28\00:23:38.45
down through anything they did?
Absolutely not. They praised God
00:23:38.48\00:23:42.35
they shouted and God stood
up and God acted on their behalf
00:23:42.38\00:23:47.29
and God got the victory.
00:23:47.32\00:23:50.86
Amen, amen. Lots of good points
there Jill. Wait on the Lord, be
00:23:50.89\00:23:53.70
of good courage and He will
strengthen thine heart; wait, I
00:23:53.73\00:23:56.23
say, on the Lord. Lots of good
points. We are studying lesson
00:23:56.26\00:23:59.23
number nine: A Life of Praise.
We're going to take a short
00:23:59.27\00:24:01.60
break and then be back with
Pastor John Dinzey Don't go away
00:24:01.64\00:24:04.67
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Hello friends and welcome back
to our 3ABN Sabbath School panel
00:24:40.41\00:24:43.31
We are handing over our next
study to Pastor John Dinzey.
00:24:43.35\00:24:46.51
Thank you so much, Pastor James.
We are now moving into Tuesday's
00:24:46.55\00:24:51.45
lesson, The Life of Praise. The
Life of Praise. And I invite you
00:24:51.49\00:24:57.13
to get your Bibles and see if we
can follow along. We're going to
00:24:57.16\00:24:59.96
be looking into Psalm 145 but
before we do this, I'd like to
00:25:00.00\00:25:04.27
read something from the lesson
that brings out a message that
00:25:04.30\00:25:08.40
we need to consider. It says:
Praise is something that we must
00:25:08.44\00:25:13.21
practice until it changes
from being an activity done at a
00:25:13.24\00:25:17.31
particular time to an atmosphere
in which we live. Praise
00:25:17.35\00:25:22.85
shouldn't be so much a specific
act but a specific way of life
00:25:22.88\00:25:28.32
itself. Very powerful thought.
And now I move to Psalm 29 verse
00:25:28.36\00:25:34.86
2 before we go to Psalm 145.
It says: Give unto the Lord the
00:25:34.90\00:25:41.70
glory due unto His name. Worship
the Lord in the beauty of
00:25:41.74\00:25:47.61
holiness. In reality, the Lord
is worthy of praise. The Lord is
00:25:47.64\00:25:55.85
worthy of every praise. Really
there's no other name under
00:25:55.88\00:25:58.55
heaven that should be praised.
We sometimes give praise to
00:25:58.59\00:26:02.86
people and we bring up people
for things they have done and
00:26:02.89\00:26:08.96
you know this is very dangerous
for people to praise people.
00:26:09.00\00:26:12.03
It's a very dangerous thing.
Their head becomes lifted up and
00:26:12.07\00:26:16.44
it leads them to a fall. So
praise the Lord. There is glory
00:26:16.47\00:26:22.81
due to his name. In the
manuscript release from 1900
00:26:22.84\00:26:29.32
it says this, very powerful.
Our tongues should be used to
00:26:29.35\00:26:35.29
express the appreciation in our
hearts for God's goodness. Thus
00:26:35.32\00:26:39.39
God requires us to return to Him
gratitude offerings. But this is
00:26:39.43\00:26:44.03
not the only way in which
we are to praise God. We are to
00:26:44.07\00:26:48.40
praise Him by tangible service,
by doing all we can to advance
00:26:48.44\00:26:52.84
the glory of His name. By
improving our entrusted talents
00:26:52.87\00:26:58.85
we are to offer God thanksgiving
So even by living according to
00:26:58.88\00:27:04.19
the way God wants us to live is
a praise to His name. And really
00:27:04.22\00:27:09.99
we have so much to praise the
Lord for. I remember one time
00:27:10.03\00:27:14.66
many years ago, been here a
long time at 3ABN, there was a
00:27:14.70\00:27:18.73
program on 3ABN and Danny said
we want to hear you praise the
00:27:18.77\00:27:23.34
Lord, tell us what you're
thankful for. Tell us something
00:27:23.37\00:27:25.77
that you want to praise the Lord
for. And I was one of the people
00:27:25.81\00:27:28.11
helping to answer the phone. And
a man called he said what do I
00:27:28.14\00:27:33.01
have to be thankful for? What do
I have to praise the Lord for?
00:27:33.05\00:27:35.15
And the Lord blessed me to say
to him, well are you in jail?
00:27:35.18\00:27:39.15
No. So are you in an insane
asylum. And he said no. Are you
00:27:39.19\00:27:47.30
in the hospital? No. I said,
so you do have some things to be
00:27:47.33\00:27:51.90
thankful for. I guess I do.
Did you get to eat today? Yes, I
00:27:51.93\00:27:56.20
did. Well you have some things
to be thankful for don't you?
00:27:56.24\00:27:59.57
Yes I do I didn't think about
those things. And yes there are
00:27:59.61\00:28:02.44
so many things to be thankful to
the Lord for and to praise His
00:28:02.48\00:28:07.75
name. Psalm 139 verse 14 says:
I will praise thee for I am
00:28:07.78\00:28:12.15
fearfully and wonderfully made.
Marvelous are thy words and that
00:28:12.19\00:28:18.29
my soul knoweth right well.
We are fearfully and wonderfully
00:28:18.33\00:28:24.43
made. We should praise the Lord
for the reality that He made us
00:28:24.47\00:28:29.57
and not only did He make us and
create us but we were created
00:28:29.60\00:28:33.14
in His image. Praise be to
God for that. And so let's go to
00:28:33.17\00:28:38.85
Psalm 145 beginning in verse 1.
We'll get as far as we can. Time
00:28:38.88\00:28:42.48
is limited. I will extol thee.
This word extol in the Hebrew
00:28:42.52\00:28:46.86
is to lift on high and to be
exalted. I will extol you my God
00:28:46.89\00:28:54.00
O King, and I will bless your
name forever and ever. He is
00:28:54.03\00:28:58.57
worthy to be blessed. And
really bless the Lord. This is
00:28:58.60\00:29:03.14
interesting. You say, the Lord
bless us. But we are also to say
00:29:03.17\00:29:07.18
bless the Lord. And notice how
the psalmist says every day I
00:29:07.21\00:29:11.05
will bless you. It was a way of
life. Every day I will bless you
00:29:11.08\00:29:14.75
and I will praise your name
forever and ever. Great is the
00:29:14.78\00:29:18.99
Lord and greatly to be
praised and His greatness is
00:29:19.02\00:29:23.29
unsearchable. I remember being
in school one time and we were
00:29:23.32\00:29:26.76
taking a look at a single cell.
And as we looked in there they
00:29:26.80\00:29:32.43
started talking to us about the
different parts in the cell and
00:29:32.47\00:29:35.40
I said, Wow God is amazing. And
this little tiny thing that you
00:29:35.44\00:29:40.84
cannot even see with the unaided
eye, I was going to say the
00:29:40.88\00:29:46.55
naked, the unaided eye. Then you
see and say wait a minute God
00:29:46.58\00:29:52.29
has so much creativity that you
can see this in nature that even
00:29:52.32\00:29:58.03
in this tiny cell that you
cannot see without the aid of a
00:29:58.06\00:30:01.83
microscope, He has beauty,
and He has exact design that is
00:30:01.86\00:30:10.21
worthy of praise. Let's
go quickly to verse 4: One
00:30:10.24\00:30:14.24
generation shall praise your
works to another and shall
declare your mighty acts.
00:30:14.28\00:30:17.48
Why is that? It's because daily
God loads us with benefits.
00:30:17.51\00:30:21.78
Daily God is doing things
and so every generation, every
00:30:21.82\00:30:25.39
individual has something
to praise the Lord for to tell
00:30:25.42\00:30:28.42
someone else. Hey, praise the
Lord! This is what he did for me
00:30:28.46\00:30:31.79
I remember there was a pastor in
this area several years ago and
00:30:31.83\00:30:35.70
the first time I met him, I went
to say hello to him, he says,
00:30:35.73\00:30:40.54
the first thing he said, God is
good isn't He? I said wow yes He
00:30:40.57\00:30:45.91
is. I had to say yes He is.
And so I saw him weeks later and
00:30:45.94\00:30:49.64
again how are you doing? God is
good isn't He? And I said yes He
00:30:49.68\00:30:54.38
is and I noticed that this was
the way that he greeted people
00:30:54.42\00:30:57.29
set the stage for praising the
Lord. We should praise the Lord.
00:30:57.32\00:31:02.26
He has so much to be praised for
(Ps. 145:5) I will meditate on
00:31:02.29\00:31:06.90
the glorious splendor of your
majesty and on your wondrous
00:31:06.93\00:31:13.07
works. Praise the Lord. Recently
I saw this video of some birds
00:31:13.10\00:31:18.34
that were carrying something in
their mouth and they were by the
00:31:18.37\00:31:21.58
water and they threw this thing
in the water. I said why is
00:31:21.61\00:31:24.08
this bird throwing this thing in
the water? Pretty soon I saw him
00:31:24.11\00:31:27.68
go and grab something. He
grabbed a fish out of the water.
00:31:27.72\00:31:31.49
I said, hey wait a minute, who
taught this bird to use bait to
00:31:31.52\00:31:36.86
catch fish. God is amazing. I've
seen birds grab a stick and try
00:31:36.89\00:31:41.90
to dig little insects out of
a log or a rock. I said what do
00:31:41.93\00:31:47.90
mean, they're using tools. God
is amazing. He is worthy of all
00:31:47.94\00:31:52.54
praise. And there are more.
I've see animals grab a rock and
00:31:52.57\00:31:56.85
throw it on an egg to break it.
He is amazing, God is amazing.
00:31:56.88\00:32:00.45
Worthy to be praised. 145 verse
Man shall speak of the might
00:32:00.48\00:32:04.75
of your awesome acts and I will
declare your greatness. So much
00:32:04.79\00:32:10.86
we can say here. They shall
utter the memory of your great
00:32:10.89\00:32:13.40
goodness and shall sing of your
righteousness. Praise the Lord
00:32:13.43\00:32:17.07
for His goodness. The Lord is
gracious and full of compassion
00:32:17.10\00:32:19.93
slow to anger and great in mercy
I'm going to read the next one
00:32:19.97\00:32:25.07
That is tied to this one.
The Lord is good to all and His
00:32:25.11\00:32:27.94
tender mercies are over all His
works. All of us, every single
00:32:27.98\00:32:32.88
one of us can praise the Lord
for His goodness and His mercy
00:32:32.91\00:32:37.62
because His salvation, the plan
of salvation is extended to all.
00:32:37.65\00:32:42.16
Consider John 3:16: God so loved
the world that He gave His only
00:32:42.19\00:32:46.03
begotten Son, that whosoever
believes in Him shall not perish
00:32:46.06\00:32:50.20
but have everlasting life.
Whoever, whosoever can have
00:32:50.23\00:32:54.34
eternal life through the Lord.
That is enough to praise the
00:32:54.37\00:32:57.47
Lord for eternity because of His
great mercy. I mean, everyone
00:32:57.51\00:33:02.11
of us deserves the wages of
sin. But God, Christ, has paid
00:33:02.14\00:33:08.58
the penalty, the wages of
sin for us. We have much to be
00:33:08.62\00:33:13.46
thankful for. I just want to say
when you consider God, He is a
00:33:13.49\00:33:19.83
gentleman. You know I was
thinking that, I remember that,
00:33:19.86\00:33:24.33
everybody has experienced this.
You're sleeping in a room. It's
00:33:24.37\00:33:27.67
nice and dark in there. And
suddenly somebody who doesn't
00:33:27.70\00:33:30.51
know you're there turns on the
light. Turn off the, wait, what.
00:33:30.54\00:33:34.11
Why did you do that? God is
so good. Every day the sun rises
00:33:34.14\00:33:39.71
gently upon the world and slowly
the light of day comes and
00:33:39.75\00:33:45.65
eventually, by noon, the sun is
shining in its strength. What if
00:33:45.69\00:33:49.26
God decided tomorrow I'm just
going to turn on the sun full
00:33:49.29\00:33:53.50
blast all of a sudden so that
people will know hey I've been
00:33:53.53\00:33:57.80
good to you all these years
in letting the sun rise slowly.
00:33:57.83\00:34:00.54
God is a gentleman and He cares
for us. He is so good to each
00:34:00.57\00:34:04.44
and every one of us. Verse 10:
All your works shall praise you
00:34:04.47\00:34:07.48
O Lord and your saints shall
bless you. They shall speak of
00:34:07.51\00:34:12.75
the glory of your kingdom and
talk of your power to make know
00:34:12.78\00:34:15.82
to the sons of men His mighty
acts and the glorious majesty of
00:34:15.85\00:34:20.16
His kingdom. So my time is
limited so I want to say to you
00:34:20.19\00:34:27.46
get into the daily practice
of looking over things in nature
00:34:27.50\00:34:33.27
and things that God has done for
you. Really God has blessed you
00:34:33.30\00:34:36.97
just as I'm speaking the very
breath you took is a gift from
00:34:37.01\00:34:40.08
God, the fact that your heart is
beating is a gift from God, so
00:34:40.11\00:34:44.41
praise the Lord for life itself
and praise the Lord for He has
00:34:44.45\00:34:48.95
given you another day.
00:34:48.98\00:34:50.39
Amen, thank you so much every
one. On that note, my name is
00:34:50.42\00:34:55.62
Ryan Day and we're going to
continue on that theme of praise
00:34:55.66\00:34:58.29
with Wednesday's lesson entitled
A Witness Who Convicts. You know
00:34:58.33\00:35:03.20
we know the Holy Spirit is the
one who ultimately convicts but
00:35:03.23\00:35:07.44
yet God can use us, He can
use us to be a witness that will
00:35:07.47\00:35:12.17
bring conviction by what the
Holy Spirit's doing through us
00:35:12.21\00:35:15.31
It can bring a conviction
to those who need Jesus. That's
00:35:15.34\00:35:19.18
what Wednesday's lesson is
all about. We're going to find
00:35:19.21\00:35:21.32
ourselves in Acts chapter 16 so
let's go there. Acts chapter 16
00:35:21.35\00:35:25.22
Man I'm excited because this
is one of my favorite stories.
00:35:25.25\00:35:27.49
I love this story because I can
just imagine, I can picture Paul
00:35:27.52\00:35:31.53
and Silas in jail. And oh man
it's a horrible situation to be
00:35:31.56\00:35:36.40
in, right, to be found in
jail at any time but nonetheless
00:35:36.43\00:35:39.87
we're going to learn that Paul
and Silas made the best out of
00:35:39.90\00:35:41.64
their situation and someone came
to Jesus because of it. We're
00:35:41.67\00:35:45.34
going to start in verse 16,
Acts chapter 16 verse 16. It
00:35:45.37\00:35:48.68
says: Now it happened as we went
to prayer that a certain slave
00:35:48.71\00:35:53.68
girl, possessed with the spirit
of divination met us who brought
00:35:53.72\00:35:58.55
her masters much profit
by fortune telling. The girl
00:35:58.59\00:36:01.62
followed Paul and us and cried
out saying, These men are the
00:36:01.66\00:36:04.89
servants of the Most High God
who proclaim to us the way of
00:36:04.93\00:36:08.60
salvation and she did this for
many days. You know on one hand
00:36:08.63\00:36:12.83
you could say even the
demons recognize when they see
00:36:12.87\00:36:15.40
righteousness when they know
someone's led by the Spirit of
00:36:15.44\00:36:17.77
God but in this case it was
kind of done, obviously, she's
00:36:17.81\00:36:20.54
possessed with a demon. It's
being done in kind of a mocking
00:36:20.58\00:36:24.75
fashion, in an annoying kind
of fashion and it kind of annoys
00:36:24.78\00:36:27.88
Paul. But I just made a note
here You know the devil doesn't
00:36:27.92\00:36:30.89
waste his time on the wicked
because he has them right where
00:36:30.92\00:36:33.72
he wants them to be. But the
enemy has set his sights on the
00:36:33.76\00:36:37.26
righteous because they
are a threat to the evil...the
00:36:37.29\00:36:41.06
righteous are a threat to his
evil agenda. And so in this case
00:36:41.10\00:36:43.67
he is annoying Paul and Silas.
He's going to be a thorn in
00:36:43.70\00:36:48.10
their flesh all he can. This
of course brought to my mind
00:36:48.14\00:36:51.47
Matthew chapter 5 verses 10-12
where Jesus says: Blessed are
00:36:51.51\00:36:53.44
those who are persecuted for
righteousness sake for their is
00:36:53.48\00:36:56.75
the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are you when they revile and
00:36:56.78\00:37:00.05
persecute you and say all kinds
of evil against you falsely for
00:37:00.08\00:37:02.15
my sake. Rejoice and be
exceedingly glad, Jesus says,
00:37:02.18\00:37:06.99
for great is your reward in
heaven for so they persecuted
00:37:07.02\00:37:10.09
the prophets who were before
you. So this demon is just you
00:37:10.13\00:37:14.83
know whaling away and following
Paul and Silas where they're
00:37:14.86\00:37:17.60
going and if you continue on in
the verse there, in verse 18, it
00:37:17.63\00:37:22.07
says: But Paul greatly annoyed
turned and said to the spirit, I
00:37:22.10\00:37:24.57
command you in the name of Jesus
to come out of her and he came
00:37:24.61\00:37:27.41
out of her that very hour. But
when her masters saw that their
00:37:27.44\00:37:31.95
hope of profit was gone
they seized Paul and Silas and
00:37:31.98\00:37:35.75
dragged them into the
marketplace to the authorities
00:37:35.78\00:37:38.59
and they brought them to the
magistrates and said these men
being Jews exceedingly
00:37:38.62\00:37:42.36
trouble our city and they teach
customs which are not lawful for
00:37:42.39\00:37:46.43
us being Romans to receive
or observe. And you know it's
00:37:46.46\00:37:50.47
interesting because Jesus
forewarned the apostles and the
00:37:50.50\00:37:55.44
disciples of this. In Matthew
chapter 10...and the message
00:37:55.47\00:37:57.61
still applies to us today.
You might find yourself in a
00:37:57.64\00:38:00.11
situation where you are
representing Jesus, you are
00:38:00.14\00:38:02.94
being faithful to Jesus and
one of these days Jesus says
00:38:02.98\00:38:06.21
according to Matthew 10:16-20
He says: Behold I send you out
00:38:06.25\00:38:09.65
as sheep in the midst of wolves
therefore be wise as serpents
00:38:09.68\00:38:13.29
and harmless as doves but beware
of men for they will deliver you
00:38:13.32\00:38:17.53
up to the councils and scourge
you in their synagogues. You
00:38:17.56\00:38:21.60
will be brought before governors
and kings for my sake as a
00:38:21.63\00:38:24.77
testimony to them and to
the gentiles...I love this...but
00:38:24.80\00:38:28.90
when they deliver you up do
not worry about what you should
00:38:28.94\00:38:32.71
speak for it will be given
you in that hour what you should
00:38:32.74\00:38:35.31
speak. For it is not you
who speak but the Spirit of your
00:38:35.34\00:38:39.48
Father who speaks in you. I love
this that Paul and Silas in a
00:38:39.51\00:38:42.28
horrible situation, evil men who
have taken them captive, brought
00:38:42.32\00:38:45.99
them before these magistrates,
but God is about to show up and
00:38:46.02\00:38:50.06
show out through these men in
a way that's powerful. So let's
00:38:50.09\00:38:53.43
continue on in verse 22 there
in Acts chapter 16. It says:
00:38:53.46\00:38:56.93
Then the multitudes rose up
together against them and the
00:38:56.97\00:38:59.63
magistrates tore off their
clothes and commanded them to be
00:38:59.67\00:39:03.10
beaten with rods and when they
had laid many stripes on them
00:39:03.14\00:39:05.71
they threw them into prison
commanding the jailer to keep
00:39:05.74\00:39:08.88
them securely. Having received
such a charge he put them into
00:39:08.91\00:39:12.61
the inner prison and fastened
their feet in the stocks.
00:39:12.65\00:39:17.09
So they're receiving some legit
persecution. These men were beat
00:39:17.12\00:39:20.32
with rods. I can imagine their
backs all bloody and cut open
00:39:20.36\00:39:23.12
and now they're placed in
the innermost part of the prison
00:39:23.16\00:39:24.79
and you know all because they
are representing Christ. They
00:39:24.83\00:39:29.00
are faithful in their work and
in their characters and in their
00:39:29.03\00:39:32.77
deeds with Christ. And
this brought to my attention or
00:39:32.80\00:39:35.40
brought to my memory a quote
from Great Controversy p. 48,
00:39:35.44\00:39:39.71
which is a powerful one. It says
here: Why is it that persecution
00:39:39.74\00:39:43.14
seems is a great degree to
slumber...speaking of our time
00:39:43.18\00:39:46.35
...The only reason is that
the church is conformed to the
00:39:46.38\00:39:48.95
world's standard and therefore
awakens no opposition. The
00:39:48.98\00:39:52.29
religion which is current in our
day is not of the pure and holy
00:39:52.32\00:39:54.12
character which marked the
Christian faith in the days of
00:39:54.16\00:39:57.33
Christ and His apostles. It
is only because of the spirit of
00:39:57.36\00:40:00.90
compromise with sin because the
great truths of the word of God
00:40:00.93\00:40:04.27
are so indifferently regarded,
because there is so little vital
00:40:04.30\00:40:07.77
Godliness in the church that
Christianity is apparently so
00:40:07.80\00:40:10.97
popular with the world. Let
there be a revival of faith and
00:40:11.01\00:40:15.04
power of the early church and
the spirit of persecution will
00:40:15.08\00:40:18.18
be revived and the fires of
persecution will be rekindled.
00:40:18.21\00:40:21.92
When you have a genuine faith in
Jesus, it's an irritation to the
00:40:21.95\00:40:26.82
devil and it will bring
sometimes harm upon God's people
00:40:26.86\00:40:30.09
but God will see us through it.
God is with us through it all as
00:40:30.13\00:40:33.70
he was with Paul and Silas. So
now we continue on. They're in
00:40:33.73\00:40:37.30
prison, right? They're in prison
but notice what happens in verse
00:40:37.33\00:40:41.07
25. I love this. It says: But at
midnight...in the middle of the
00:40:41.10\00:40:44.87
night these brothers, they're
sore, they're hurting, they're
00:40:44.91\00:40:48.88
bleeding, they're dry, itching.
Ooo they're there just itching
00:40:48.91\00:40:52.08
and stinging, you know, you
can just imagine the discomfort
00:40:52.11\00:40:54.05
that they're experiencing. But
they wait till midnight. I love
00:40:54.08\00:40:58.02
this...but at midnight Paul and
Silas were praying and singing
00:40:58.05\00:41:02.86
hymns to God and the prisoners
were listening to them. I just
00:41:02.89\00:41:06.49
got to make a note here. No
matter what our situation is,
00:41:06.53\00:41:10.60
good or bad, it will never take
away the fact that God is worthy
00:41:10.63\00:41:13.90
of our praise and worship. I
hope I never have to end up in
00:41:13.94\00:41:19.21
prison but if I ever end up
in prison, for God's sake, I'm
00:41:19.24\00:41:21.98
going to be just like these
brothers right here. Everybody
00:41:22.01\00:41:24.05
in that cell, block's going to
hear me praising the Lord. It's
00:41:24.08\00:41:26.41
going to be concert city every
day when Ryan Day ends up in
00:41:26.45\00:41:30.19
prison. Because God is worthy.
God is worthy. He should be
00:41:30.22\00:41:32.89
praised whether in the good
situation or the bad situation.
00:41:32.92\00:41:35.56
He is worthy. Psalm 34:1-I love
this: I will bless the Lord at
00:41:35.59\00:41:40.73
all times. His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. I
00:41:40.76\00:41:46.84
love that. Let's continue on
to verse 26: Suddenly...okay so
00:41:46.87\00:41:52.41
they're praising God, right?
They're praising God, singing
00:41:52.44\00:41:55.78
and just lifting up their voices
in the darkest hour of the night
00:41:55.81\00:41:58.81
and it says in verse
26... Suddenly there was a great
00:41:58.85\00:42:01.88
earthquake so that the
foundations of the prison were
00:42:01.92\00:42:05.82
shaken. And immediately all the
doors were opened and everyone's
00:42:05.85\00:42:09.42
chains were loosed. I love
this. Because of their witness,
00:42:09.46\00:42:13.03
because these brothers in the
most horrific situation found
00:42:13.06\00:42:16.60
time to stop and pause and say
you know what, Our God is good
00:42:16.63\00:42:19.83
and we're going to let everybody
in this prison know how good our
00:42:19.87\00:42:22.74
God is. Jesus is in the business
of prison breaks. I'm just
00:42:22.77\00:42:26.54
telling you. He's in the
business of prison breaks.
00:42:26.57\00:42:28.44
If we are faithful to Him,
He will move heaven and earth to
00:42:28.48\00:42:32.25
see that our fetters are broken
and our chains are loosed. Just
00:42:32.28\00:42:35.58
simply surrender to Him. I love
Psalm 107 verses 13-16. It says:
00:42:35.62\00:42:40.02
Then they cried out to the Lord
in their trouble and He saved
00:42:40.06\00:42:42.52
them out of their distress. He
brought them out of the darkness
00:42:42.56\00:42:45.59
of the shadow of death and broke
their chains in pieces. Oh that
00:42:45.63\00:42:49.83
men would give thanks to the
Lord for His goodness and for
00:42:49.86\00:42:53.40
His wonderful works to the
children of men, for He, has
00:42:53.44\00:42:56.37
broken the gates of bronze
and cut the bars of iron in two.
00:42:56.40\00:43:00.28
There is no chain, there is no
prison, there is no prison door,
00:43:00.31\00:43:03.98
there is no prison cell, there
is no gate, there is nothing
00:43:04.01\00:43:06.65
that is going to prevent God
from being there for His people
00:43:06.68\00:43:09.48
if we will stand firm for Him.
Verse 27, let's continue on:
00:43:09.52\00:43:14.09
Then the keeper of the prison
awakened from sleep and seeing
00:43:14.12\00:43:16.79
the prison doors open, supposing
the prisoners had fled, drew his
00:43:16.83\00:43:20.03
sword and was about to kill
himself but Paul called out with
00:43:20.06\00:43:22.96
a loud voice saying, Do yourself
no harm for we are all here.
00:43:23.00\00:43:27.00
Then he called for a light and
ran in and fell down trembling
00:43:27.04\00:43:30.91
before Paul and Silas and
brought them out and said, Sirs
00:43:30.94\00:43:34.54
What must I do to be saved?
This brother had a life-changing
00:43:34.58\00:43:37.65
experience. You can imagine him
hearing Paul and Silas's voices
00:43:37.68\00:43:41.92
echoing throughout the halls
at midnight. He was probably
00:43:41.95\00:43:44.79
thinking I wish these brothers
would shut up. I might be going
00:43:44.82\00:43:47.22
down there and smack them on
the head and telling them to be
00:43:47.26\00:43:49.52
quiet. But because of all of
this happening, because of all
00:43:49.59\00:43:51.83
that the Lord allowed to unfold
now his heart has been humbled
00:43:51.86\00:43:55.76
now the scenario is changed.
He's now looking to Paul and
00:43:55.80\00:43:58.73
Silas and saying Man this is a
mighty work from your God. What
00:43:58.77\00:44:02.27
shall I do to be saved. Because
of Paul and Silas's powerful
00:44:02.30\00:44:07.28
witness it brought conviction
upon this brother's heart and
00:44:07.31\00:44:10.15
also upon his family. I made
a note here: God will use you
00:44:10.18\00:44:14.78
sometimes in the most unlikely
circumstances to lead the
00:44:14.82\00:44:18.05
captive free. Isaiah 42 verses
I the Lord have called you
00:44:18.09\00:44:24.13
in righteousness and will hold
your hand. I will keep you and
00:44:24.16\00:44:27.76
give you as a covenant to
the people, as a light to the
00:44:27.80\00:44:30.93
Gentiles to open blind eyes, to
bring out prisoners from prison.
00:44:30.97\00:44:35.24
Those who sit in darkness from
the prison house. God wants to
00:44:35.27\00:44:39.41
use us to bring conviction upon
others. Not in replacement of
00:44:39.44\00:44:43.24
the Holy Spirit but because
of the Holy Spirit's work in us.
00:44:43.28\00:44:46.41
God will allow us to be a light
to those who are in darkness.
00:44:46.45\00:44:49.42
Allow yourself, my friends,
to be that beacon of light for
00:44:49.45\00:44:53.42
Jesus today and never ever cease
from praising His Holy name.
00:44:53.46\00:44:56.86
Amen, Wow! Wow.
00:44:56.89\00:44:58.23
I'm starting to the think Ryan's
getting excited. Are you a
00:44:58.26\00:45:01.33
little excited. Praise God.
00:45:01.36\00:45:03.03
I'm excited.
00:45:03.06\00:45:04.40
You know I believe it's true
wherever Ryan is he will praise
00:45:04.43\00:45:06.40
the Lord. We experienced that
in Australia. There will be a
00:45:06.43\00:45:10.51
Holy Ghost concert all the time.
(John Lomacang) Thank you for
00:45:10.54\00:45:13.21
that Ryan. Wow it's been
a blessing thus far. Mine is
00:45:13.24\00:45:17.11
Thursday-The Weapons
That Conquer. Let's go to
00:45:17.15\00:45:20.32
2 Chronicles 20 verses 3-7. And
you know this is the story of
00:45:20.35\00:45:26.55
Jehoshaphat facing a huge
army and his immediate response
00:45:26.59\00:45:31.23
should be an example to
us. Let's look at 2 Chronicles
00:45:31.26\00:45:35.10
chapter 20 verses 3-7. Thank you
for that Ryan. And Jehoshaphat
00:45:35.13\00:45:41.17
feared and set himself to
seek the Lord...What's the first
00:45:41.20\00:45:43.30
thing he did? Seek the Lord...
And proclaimed a fast throughout
00:45:43.34\00:45:47.28
all Judah. So Judah gathered
together to ask help from the
00:45:47.31\00:45:51.85
Lord and from all the cities
of Judah, they came to seek the
00:45:51.88\00:45:54.88
Lord Notice everyone is coming
together because the leader set
00:45:54.92\00:45:57.95
the pace to seek the Lord.
I believe that when the leader
00:45:57.99\00:46:00.89
sets the pace to seek the Lord
the followers will do the same.
00:46:00.92\00:46:04.49
It says: And from all the cities
of Judah, they came to seek the
00:46:04.53\00:46:09.73
Lord. Verse 5. Then Jehoshaphat
stood in the assembly of Judah
00:46:09.76\00:46:12.93
and Jerusalem, in the house of
the Lord before the new court.
00:46:12.97\00:46:17.01
And said, O Lord God of
our fathers, Are you not God in
00:46:17.04\00:46:23.68
heaven and do you not rule over
all the kingdoms of the nations?
00:46:23.71\00:46:27.25
...What a challenge...And in
your hand is there not power and
00:46:27.28\00:46:32.12
might so that none is able to
withstand you? Are you not our
00:46:32.15\00:46:36.69
God who drove out the
inhabitants of this land before
00:46:36.73\00:46:39.59
your people Israel and gave
it to the descendants of Abraham
00:46:39.63\00:46:43.63
your friend forever?...What a
reminder. He's not trying to jar
00:46:43.67\00:46:49.20
God's memory. He is saying, I
know you remember that. So you
00:46:49.24\00:46:53.07
see when we are overwhelmed
by vast armies of thoughts that
00:46:53.11\00:46:57.21
oppose us, people that dispute
us, circumstances that confuse
00:46:57.25\00:47:01.65
us, situations that stunt
us, here is what we should do.
00:47:01.68\00:47:06.89
2 Chronicles 20 and verse
12, here's what we should do:
00:47:06.92\00:47:10.66
And he said, O our God will you
not judge them for we have no
00:47:10.69\00:47:16.43
power against this great
multitude that is coming against
00:47:16.46\00:47:19.83
us nor do we know what to
do, but our eyes are upon you.
00:47:19.87\00:47:24.27
Here's my first statement: Never
appeal to humanity for that
00:47:24.31\00:47:29.08
which can only be done by
Divinity. (Amen) When we see a
00:47:29.11\00:47:33.85
vast army approaching
the question is what is your
00:47:33.88\00:47:35.62
instinctive reaction? He said,
my eyes are upon You. He looked
00:47:35.65\00:47:39.92
upon the Lord. So the statement
is, it's not what's happening to
00:47:39.95\00:47:44.19
you but the question is where
are you looking? You notice when
00:47:44.23\00:47:47.40
the Israelites were
being pursued by Pharaoh's army
00:47:47.43\00:47:50.20
they looked to the army rather
than to the Lord. In the very
00:47:50.23\00:47:54.20
same way Jehoshaphat said wait,
wait, wait, let's remember what
00:47:54.24\00:47:57.14
they did and not do that. Let's
look to the Lord. Our eyes are
00:47:57.17\00:48:01.01
on you. Exodus 14 verse 13,
let's go there and the statement
00:48:01.04\00:48:05.31
is stop moving until God removes
the opposition. Stop moving
00:48:05.35\00:48:09.12
until God resolves the
circumstance. And Moses said to
00:48:09.15\00:48:12.39
the people, Do not be
afraid. Stand still and see the
00:48:12.42\00:48:16.29
salvation of the Lord which He
will accomplish for your today.
00:48:16.32\00:48:19.59
For the Egyptians whom you see
today you will see again no more
00:48:19.63\00:48:23.53
forever. Some of us cannot stand
still. We are faced with anxiety
00:48:23.57\00:48:29.24
and we keep moving rather than
waiting for God to resolve the
00:48:29.27\00:48:32.84
circumstances. If you let God
resolve the circumstances, the
00:48:32.87\00:48:37.31
anxieties that contend with
us will not be our experience.
00:48:37.35\00:48:40.52
Instead of waiting for God to
try to solve our problems some
00:48:40.55\00:48:43.75
people exacerbate them by trying
to solve the problems for God.
00:48:43.79\00:48:47.19
But notice 2 Chronicles 20 and
verse 17. This is very amazing
00:48:47.22\00:48:51.93
what is being told here to us?
We read: You will not need to
00:48:51.96\00:48:56.70
fight in this battle...I love
these two words, this is a great
00:48:56.73\00:49:00.10
sermon title. Position yourself.
That's a sermon right there.
00:49:00.14\00:49:04.41
Position yourself. Some
people are in the wrong position
00:49:04.44\00:49:08.24
spiritually. Some people are
in the wrong position in their
00:49:08.28\00:49:11.21
faith. Some people are in
the wrong position mentally.
00:49:11.25\00:49:13.38
Whatever your position, if it's
not in the right place, God's
00:49:13.42\00:49:17.32
counsel to you is, Position
yourself, stand still, and see
00:49:17.35\00:49:21.69
the salvation of the Lord who is
with you, O Judah and Jerusalem.
00:49:21.72\00:49:25.59
Do not fear nor be dismayed.
Tomorrow go out against them
00:49:25.63\00:49:29.20
for the Lord is with you. And
when they went out the next day
00:49:29.23\00:49:31.93
they realized the victory
was not theirs, the victory was
00:49:31.97\00:49:34.54
really God's. You see God is
able to resolve our situation
00:49:34.57\00:49:38.47
and God is also able to change
our position. Many are in the
00:49:38.51\00:49:42.78
wrong position because they fail
to put the situation in the hand
00:49:42.81\00:49:47.35
of the almighty God. Sometimes
God allows circumstances to
00:49:47.38\00:49:50.35
challenge us, but those
circumstances will never defeat
00:49:50.39\00:49:54.72
us if we follow the instructions
of God. Joshua 1 verse 9. Here's
00:49:54.76\00:50:00.10
what the...and by the way the
Lord didn't say here's what I
00:50:00.13\00:50:02.26
suggest. He says, have I not
commanded you, be strong and of
00:50:02.30\00:50:06.94
good courage, do not be afraid
nor be dismayed, for the Lord
00:50:06.97\00:50:10.04
your God is with you wherever
you go. You see when you are
00:50:10.07\00:50:14.58
serving God, you can't go to the
left or to the right without God
00:50:14.61\00:50:18.21
being with you because God is
not following your steps but the
00:50:18.25\00:50:23.89
steps of a righteous man
are ordered by the Lord. You are
00:50:23.92\00:50:27.52
following the steps that
God outlined so therefore God is
00:50:27.56\00:50:30.33
always with you. (Joshua 1:9)
That's right Joshua 1:9, thank
00:50:30.36\00:50:33.90
you. Joshua 1:9: Haven't I
commanded...Thank you James.
00:50:33.93\00:50:37.60
Now we go to Matthew 6 and verse
30. Fear causes trepidation and
00:50:37.63\00:50:42.44
this is often the reason for
our concern but notice how Jesus
00:50:42.47\00:50:45.47
illustrates and addresses this.
He says in Matthew 6 verse 30:
00:50:45.51\00:50:49.78
Now if God so clothed the grass
of the field which today is and
00:50:49.81\00:50:54.25
tomorrow is thrown into the oven
will He not much more clothe you
00:50:54.28\00:50:58.22
O you of little faith. I love
the fact that God looks at our
00:50:58.25\00:51:03.02
circumstances, He rebukes our
circumstances rather than rebuke
00:51:03.06\00:51:08.20
us. Here's the evidence. Matthew
8 and verse 26: It says, But He
00:51:08.23\00:51:13.00
said to them, Why are you so
fearful, O you of little faith,
00:51:13.03\00:51:17.07
then he arose and rebuked the
wind and the sea, and there was
00:51:17.11\00:51:22.28
a great calm. God rebukes our
storms rather than our faith.
00:51:22.31\00:51:27.48
That's amazing. God rebukes our
circumstances rather than His
00:51:27.52\00:51:32.32
children. Here's another one.
The weapon that confronts us
00:51:32.35\00:51:37.13
can be reversed by the weapon
that comforts us. Isaiah 54
00:51:37.16\00:51:40.50
verse 17: No weapon formed
against you shall prosper...Can
00:51:40.53\00:51:45.10
we say that together? No weapon
formed against you shall prosper
00:51:45.13\00:51:49.50
And every tongue which rises
against you in judgment you
00:51:49.54\00:51:53.61
shall condemn. This is the
heritage of the servants of the
00:51:53.64\00:51:59.25
Lord and their righteousness is
from Me, says the Lord. So what
00:51:59.28\00:52:03.02
is God saying here? When you are
His servant don't worry about
00:52:03.05\00:52:07.56
the weapons formed against you.
Don't worry about the tongues
00:52:07.59\00:52:10.03
that rise against you, do not
worry about those who seek to
00:52:10.06\00:52:13.46
judge you because in reverse God
will allow your testimony to be
00:52:13.50\00:52:19.23
a judgment to those who stand in
accusation of you. God will give
00:52:19.27\00:52:24.11
you the words that will
cause your enemies to fall back.
00:52:24.14\00:52:27.58
That's why the 23rd Psalm verse
4 is so beautiful in one of our
00:52:27.61\00:52:32.15
prior lessons but it fits again
here. It says, Yea though I walk
00:52:32.18\00:52:35.18
through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil.
00:52:35.22\00:52:37.79
Why? For you are with me, your
rod and your staff they do what?
00:52:37.82\00:52:42.06
They comfort me. So the writer
of the lesson asked the question
00:52:42.09\00:52:45.66
What spiritual principles can
you find and can apply to your
00:52:45.69\00:52:50.47
walk with God especially in
times of trials? 2 Chronicles
00:52:50.50\00:52:55.50
20 verses 21 and 22: And when
he had consulted with the people
00:52:55.54\00:53:00.24
he appointed those who should
sing to the Lord and who should
00:53:00.28\00:53:04.08
praise the beauty of holiness...
Ryan, you had it right, you had
00:53:04.11\00:53:07.12
it on target...as they went out
before the army and were saying:
00:53:07.15\00:53:12.45
Praise the Lord for His mercy
endures forever...Now here it is
00:53:12.49\00:53:16.86
...When they began to do what
Ryan, sing and to praise the
00:53:16.89\00:53:21.76
Lord set ambushes against the
people of Ammon, Moab and Mount
00:53:21.80\00:53:24.63
Seir who came against Judah and
they were defeated! Oh what am I
00:53:24.67\00:53:29.90
saying, Ryan? When we learn how
to praise God in the midst of
00:53:29.94\00:53:34.21
our trials God will turn our
praise into a triumph. Praise
00:53:34.24\00:53:38.81
God. That's why He says in 2
Corinthians chapter 10 verses
00:53:38.85\00:53:42.18
4 and 5: For the weapons of
our warfare are not carnal but
00:53:42.22\00:53:46.62
mighty in God for pulling
down strongholds, casting down
00:53:46.65\00:53:50.33
arguments and every high thing
that exalts itself against the
00:53:50.36\00:53:54.20
knowledge of God, bringing every
thought into captivity to the
00:53:54.23\00:53:58.57
obedience of Christ. Why do
we need that friends? Ephesian 6
00:53:58.60\00:54:01.37
and verse 12: For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood
00:54:01.40\00:54:04.31
but against principalities,
against powers, against the
00:54:04.34\00:54:07.91
rulers of the darkness of this
age, against spiritual hosts of
00:54:07.94\00:54:11.41
wickedness in heavenly places.
And when we do that what can we
00:54:11.45\00:54:15.68
have the assurance
of. Romans 8 verse 37:
00:54:15.72\00:54:17.79
Yet in all these things we are
more than conquerors through Him
00:54:17.82\00:54:21.49
who loves us. For I am persuaded
Paul said that neither death nor
00:54:21.52\00:54:25.63
life nor angels nor
principalities nor powers nor
00:54:25.66\00:54:28.96
things present nor things to
come nor height nor depth nor
00:54:29.00\00:54:32.07
any other created thing shall
be able to separate us from the
00:54:32.10\00:54:37.24
love of God which is in Christ
Jesus. So here's my statement,
00:54:37.27\00:54:40.41
once again, when you see
the vast army it is not what's
00:54:40.44\00:54:44.38
happening it is where are you
looking when you come up against
00:54:44.41\00:54:47.38
those who stand against you let
the praise go up and the victory
00:54:47.42\00:54:53.72
come down. Trust God. He is the
only weapon that will win the
00:54:53.76\00:54:58.63
victory in our behalf.
00:54:58.66\00:55:01.03
Amen, amen.
00:55:01.06\00:55:02.40
Thank you, Pastor John. I am
reminded by Ryan that if I ever
00:55:02.43\00:55:05.67
get arrested for being a witness
for Jesus and I want one request
00:55:05.70\00:55:09.20
and that's he gets arrested
with me so I can praise...
00:55:09.24\00:55:12.97
We have a few more minutes now.
We're just going to have some
00:55:13.01\00:55:16.08
closing thoughts. We'll
start with Jill Morikone.
00:55:16.11\00:55:17.81
Thank you. What an incredible
lesson. I'm just reminded that
00:55:17.85\00:55:21.78
praise makes an incredible
difference in the life of the
00:55:21.82\00:55:24.72
Christian. So turn up
that music and praise Jesus.
00:55:24.75\00:55:27.32
Amen, amen. (John Dinzey) Well
we have much to be thankful for
00:55:27.36\00:55:31.56
and to praise the Lord for.
I encourage you to look and see
00:55:31.59\00:55:34.83
that He has been good to you
Psalm 146 verse 2 says: While I
00:55:34.86\00:55:40.17
live will I praise the Lord.
I will sing praises unto my God
00:55:40.20\00:55:44.47
while I have any being.
00:55:44.51\00:55:47.04
Hmm. You may not feel that way
at 12 o'clock midnight when I'm
00:55:47.08\00:55:50.51
singing ¤ Rise and
shine and give God the glory ¤
00:55:50.55\00:55:56.08
Oh, we got to praise the Lord.
That's what 1 Chronicles 16
00:55:56.12\00:55:59.15
verses 8 and 9
00:55:59.19\00:56:00.52
says: O give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name; make known
00:56:00.56\00:56:02.62
His deeds among the people!
Sing to Him, sing psalms. Talk
00:56:02.66\00:56:07.16
of His wondrous
works! (Ryan Day)
00:56:07.20\00:56:09.36
(John Lomacang) That's right and
the most powerful weapon is the
00:56:09.40\00:56:11.60
weapon of praise. Isaiah 54:17
I must end with this again.
00:56:11.63\00:56:15.94
No weapon formed against you
shall prosper and every tongue
00:56:15.97\00:56:20.24
which rises against you in
judgment you shall condemn.
00:56:20.28\00:56:23.85
Why? This is the heritage of the
servant of the Lord and their
00:56:23.88\00:56:27.35
righteousness is
from me. Praise His name!
00:56:27.38\00:56:31.22
(James Rafferty) Amen, amen.
I'm thinking about the book
00:56:31.25\00:56:32.69
of Daniel. You know Daniel was
praising God in Daniel chapter 2
00:56:32.72\00:56:36.52
because he and his friends
through prayer had been revealed
00:56:36.56\00:56:40.66
the dream that the king had. And
they were going to be delivered
00:56:40.70\00:56:43.87
from death, from the death
decree. So he's praising the
00:56:43.90\00:56:45.80
Lord you know. And then
you get to Daniel chapter 6 and
00:56:45.83\00:56:48.70
Daniel chapter 6, it wasn't
prayer that delivered them by
00:56:48.74\00:56:52.37
revealing the king's dream. It
was prayer that delivered Daniel
00:56:52.41\00:56:54.74
into a lion's den. And so
because of his prayer, he was
00:56:54.78\00:56:59.81
going to be receiving the
death decree and yet it says in
00:56:59.85\00:57:02.18
Daniel 6 verse 10 that he went
to his room, opened his windows
00:57:02.22\00:57:05.85
and prayed just like he did
beforehand but it also says and
00:57:05.89\00:57:08.92
praised the Lord. And you know
what he was praising the Lord
00:57:08.96\00:57:11.99
for? Saying now it's my turn
to be in that fiery furnace. You
00:57:12.03\00:57:14.93
know all my friends got to go
through that experience and now
00:57:14.96\00:57:16.87
I get to go through that
experience. And friends, we
00:57:16.90\00:57:19.37
don't need to be afraid of the
fiery furnaces. God is going to
00:57:19.40\00:57:22.07
be with us and we need to praise
Him by faith for that. Well our
00:57:22.10\00:57:26.78
lesson is all finished. Next
week we're going to be looking
00:57:26.81\00:57:28.41
at lesson number 10: Meekness
in the Crucible. We look forward
00:57:28.44\00:57:32.51
to studying with
you then. God bless.
00:57:32.55\00:57:34.28
¤ ¤
00:57:34.32\00:57:54.97