The third quarter 3ABN Sabbath
School panel is In the Crucible
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With Christ. Today lesson
10 is Meekness in the Crucible.
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If you have yet to get your
adult Bible study guide go to
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3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com
and you can download a lesson
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and follow along with us.
We're so glad you're joining us
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because you're the
reason this program exists.
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¤ ¤
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Hi, I'm Shelley Quinn, and
we welcome you to 3ABN Sabbath
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School panel. We are studying
In the Crucible With Christ and
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today Lesson 10 is Meekness in
the Crucible. Let me introduce
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you to your 3ABN family who are
joining me at the table today.
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Pastor John Lomacang.
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Yeah, it's good to have you here
Shelley and good to be here. I'm
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talking about Interceding
for Grace. We'll find out how
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important grace is
in our Christian walk.
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Amen. Pastor James Rafferty.
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Good to be here with you Shelley
I have Tuesday's lesson which is
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entitled Loving
Those Who Hurt Us?
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Oh, wonderful. And
Pastor John Dinzey.
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It's a blessing to be here. I
have Wednesday's A Closed Mouth.
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I thought you were having
a little accident and finally
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Evangelist Ryan Day.
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I have Thursday's lesson
entitles Our Rock and Refuge.
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Praise the Lord. Ryan you
want to have our opening prayer?
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Absolutely. Let's pray.
Our Father in heaven, Lord we
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need the Holy Spirit right
now to lead and guide us in this
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study. We are so blessed and
honored to be able to study, to
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be alive at this time and to
be able to represent you and for
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all of us around the world
and sitting on this panel to be
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drawn together in the study of
your word that's going to uplift
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you Lord. So take over this time
We give it to you and we ask you
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to lead and guide us and draw
us to our uplifted Savior Jesus
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Christ, we ask in
Jesus' holy name, Amen.
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Amen and amen. Thank
you. Our memory text today is
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Matthew 5:5-Blessed are the
meek for they shall inherit the
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earth. What does this word meek
mean. It means gentle, mild and
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humble. Meekness accepts God's
will and submits to God's will.
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Meekness prepares our hearts for
sanctification. It fosters self
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control. You know, Moses was a
very strong leader, was he not?
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But Numbers 12:3 says: Now the
man Moses was very humble more
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than all who were on the face of
the earth. Some translations say
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that he was very meek. You know
in Micah 6:8 I love what Micah
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says: You have shown us O man
what is good, what does the Lord
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require of us but to do justly,
to love mercy and to walk
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humbly with our God. When I
think of meekness you know who I
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think of? Jesus Christ, the man
of all authority. He possessed
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all the authority of heaven but
in Matthew 11:29 He says: Take
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my yoke upon you, learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly, meek
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I am lowly in heart and if
you do this you're going to find
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rest in me. He gives us
the perfect example of selfless
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humility. To preach the good
tidings to the poor, heal the
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broken-hearted, proclaim liberty
to the captives and He also
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consoled those who mourn.
He gave them beauty instead of
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ashes and the oil of joy
for mourning. So in Philippians
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2:5-8 Paul says: Hey, let
this mind be in you that was in
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Christ Jesus who humbled himself
to become a man and to be
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obedient to the point of death.
In Galatians 5:22 and 23 the
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fruit of the Spirit is listed.
And one of the fruit, it's one
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fruit, but one portion of that
fruit is meekness. So we are to
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pursue gentleness is what the
Bible tells us. In 1 Peter 3:4
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He said a gentle and quiet
spirit is acceptable in the
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sight of God. It's precious in
the sight of God. You know what?
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Our culture doesn't celebrate
meekness, do we? You know, we
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want to exalt ourself. That's
the way our culture is, but God
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said if you exalt yourself
you're going to be humbled.
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Humble yourself and you'll be
exalted. And the day is coming
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when all the kingdoms of the
universe are going to be given
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to the saints. Now meekness
is defined in our quarterly as
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enduring injury with patience
and without resentment. It says
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it's one of the most powerful
characteristics of Jesus and His
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followers. So that gets us to
Sunday's lesson and I love this
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lesson. It is: Broken Bread
and Poured-Out Wine. Before we
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jump into the lesson I just have
to add this. When I'm thinking
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of broken bread and poured-out
wine I think of the sacrificial
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ministry of Jesus. In
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
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Paul write: The Lord Jesus on
the same night in which He was
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betrayed, He took bread,
and when He had given thanks, He
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broke it and He says take, eat,
this is my body which is broken
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for you. Do this in remembrance
of Me. And in the same manner He
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also took up the cup...the wine
after supper...and He said, this
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cup is the New Covenant in my
blood. This do as often as you
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drink it in remembrance of Me.
So Christ was broken bread and
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poured-out wine. You know what?
In Philippians 2:7 Paul said,
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hey: I'm being offered as
a drink offering. And it's
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interesting because the drink
offering we find in Numbers
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15:3-4, it was poured on top of
the animal sacrifices and then
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as the flames were burning
the sacrifice the wine that was
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poured on top of the sacrifice
vaporized into the air and it
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was...the only reason that Paul
could be a drink offering is
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because he had drunk deeply
of the living water of the Holy
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Spirit is what I believe. And
that's the same Spirit that's
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poured out on us. So our lesson
brings out that Oswald Chambers
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says: In the process of being
made broken bread and poured-
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out wine, it means that you have
to be the nourishment for others
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for their souls until they learn
to feed on God, until they learn
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to draw on the life of the
Lord Jesus directly. And Oswald
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Chambers says we have to
learn how to be broken bread and
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poured-out wine where? On the
line of intercession more than
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on the line of personal contact.
I find that very fascinating. He
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says quit praying about yourself
and spend your life for the sake
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of others as the bondservant of
Jesus. I always say intercessory
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ministry is the highest calling
to ministry that there is. Why?
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It's the ministry of our risen
and exalted Savior. He lives to
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intercede for us now. Now
we have various examples in our
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lesson today of people who were
broken bread and poured-out wine
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It mentions Moses who endured
waves of gossip and criticism
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as he led the people to
the promised land. It mentions
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Joseph who was betrayed and
imprisoned before he was brought
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to a position of service
in Egypt. And I love what our
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writer, Anthony Gavin, says.
He says that God permitted these
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situations so that these
people's lives could become
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theaters of grace. Isn't' that
beautiful? Theaters of grace and
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care, not only for themselves
but for others. But the crucible
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that was endured by Ezekiel
is one of our primary points in
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today's lesson and here's what
happened. God tells Ezekiel his
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wife is going to die. Now
Ezekiel was madly in love with
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this wife. She was the desire
of his eyes. She was precious in
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his sight. It says she was
his pride, his delight. But God
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tells him she's going to die and
you can't mourn. Don't you mourn
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Can you imagine losing Angie and
God said no tears, no mourning.
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But God did this because He's
going to use Ezekiel as a sign
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and Ezekiel submits to God's
will. But this was a symbolic
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act. It was a heartbreaking sign
to show all of the exiles that
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they could not mourn
publicly over the destruction of
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Jerusalem for which their sins
were responsible. Wow! In other
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words the national sorrow would
eclipse personal sorrow. Think
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about that. National sorrow
should eclipse personal sorrow.
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So Ezekiel when he was in
Babylon he remained silent for
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two years until his prophecies
of the destruction of Judah and
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Jerusalem came true and the
captives arrived. Our lesson
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says Ezekiel 24:24: God says
Ezekiel will be a sign to you
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You will do just as he has done.
When this happens you will know
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that I am the Sovereign Lord.
So Ezekiel in meekness accepted
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God's commandment and through
his example the children of
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Israel were going to be
convicted of the truth of who
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God was, the Sovereign Lord and
they then would see this truth
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as they experienced the
fulfillment of the prophecy that
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Ezekiel's life was symbolizing.
So here's the point of the
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lesson. Sometimes things happen
to us and the way we react
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suffering has a relationship
with meekness. If we learn to
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be meek before the Lord, to
be gentle, we can be a sign to
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other people. It's like when we
learn to accept, meekness can be
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a strength, not a weakness
because God will use us to
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minister to others. You know
it's easy to feel hurt or to
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feel angry in certain situations
but meekness is a God-given
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ability, it's part of the
fruit of the Spirit, to endure
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suffering with patience and
without resentment. So let me
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read something to you from The
Desire of Ages, p. 301, Ellen
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White writes: The difficulties
we have to encounter may be very
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much lessoned by that meekness
which hides itself in Christ.
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If we possess the humility of
our Master, we shall rise above
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the slights, the rebuffs,
the annoyances to which we are
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exposed and they will cease
to cast a gloom over the spirit.
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This highest evidence of
nobility in a Christian is self
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control. He who will
endure abuse or cruelty fails to
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maintain a calm and trustful
spirit robs God of His right to
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reveal in him His own perfection
of character. Lowliness of
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heart is the strength that gives
victory to the followers of
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Christ. It is the token of their
connection with the courts above
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That's The Desire of Ages,
p. 301. Meekness in the Crucible
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Thank you, thank you, Shelley.
Wow! Each of these lessons are
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going to build on the other
one and mine is about grace.
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Interceding for Grace.
Let's go right to Exodus 32. I'm
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going to go all the way down to
verse 14 but let's break them up
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into two
categories. (John Lomacang)
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One is the sin of Israel. The
second is the interposition and
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intercession of Moses and how
God's grace was poured through
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his life at a moment when
the people were deserving of
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something other than grace.
Exodus 32 verses 1-10: Now when
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the people saw that Moses
delayed coming down from the
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mountain, the people gathered
together to Aaron and said to
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him, Come make us gods that
shall go before us. For as for
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this Moses, the man who brought
us up out of the land of Egypt
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we do not know what has become
of him. And Aaron said to them
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break off the golden earrings
which are in your ears and the
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ears of your wives, your sons
and your daughters, and bring
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them to me. Just like today.
Men and women and girls wear
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earrings. So all the people
broke off the golden earrings
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which were in their ears
and brought them to Aaron and he
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received the gold from their
hands and he fashioned it with
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the engraving tool and made
a molded calf. Then they said,
00:15:06.90\00:15:11.17
This is your god O Israel that
brought you out of the land of
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Egypt...Hmm...today...Wow...So
when Aaron saw it he built an
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altar before it and Aaron made a
proclamation and said, Tomorrow
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is a feast to the Lord. Then
they rose early on the next day,
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offered burnt offerings and
brought peace offerings and the
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people sat down to eat and drink
and rose up to play. And the
00:15:31.99\00:15:35.40
Lord said to Moses. Go, get down
for your people whom you brought
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out of the land of Egypt have
corrupted themselves...Notice
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God's disassociations. We
do that today when they're
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misbehaving, go get your son.
When they're doing well, Look at
00:15:47.91\00:15:51.88
my son. God fit the pattern. The
people whom you brought out of
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the land of Egypt...verse 9...
And the Lord said to Moses I
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have seen this people and indeed
it is a stiff-necked people. Now
00:15:59.72\00:16:03.43
therefore, let Me alone that My
wrath may burn hot against them
00:16:03.46\00:16:06.90
and I may consume them and I
will make of you a great nation.
00:16:06.93\00:16:12.10
Now Moses's interposition
and intersession. Notice what he
00:16:12.13\00:16:16.81
asks for in verses 11-14. Then
Moses pleaded with the Lord his
00:16:16.84\00:16:21.24
God and said, Lord why does
your wrath burn hot against your
00:16:21.28\00:16:26.38
people whom you brought out
of the land of Egypt with great
00:16:26.41\00:16:30.42
power and with a mighty hand.
Why should the Egyptians speak
00:16:30.45\00:16:34.02
and say He brought them out
to harm them to kill them in the
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mountains and to consume them
from the face of the earth. Turn
00:16:37.63\00:16:40.50
from your fierce wrath and
relent from this harm to your
00:16:40.53\00:16:46.13
people. Remember Abraham, Isaac
and Israel your servants to whom
00:16:46.17\00:16:51.94
you swore by your own self and
said to them, I will multiply
00:16:51.97\00:16:55.11
your descendants as the stars of
heaven and all this land that I
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have spoken of I give to
your descendants and they shall
00:16:58.45\00:17:02.92
inherit it forever...And here's
the response of God...So the
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Lord relented from the harm
which He said He would do to His
00:17:07.36\00:17:12.09
people. So often we don't
understand the beauty of our
00:17:12.13\00:17:16.40
intercession in behalf of those
that cannot do better or are
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choosing not to do better. I
look at my sister for example.
00:17:19.10\00:17:22.84
So many times throughout the
years, she left the church at 16
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she's now 66, 50 years. And
she's been in so many situations
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even as an EMT at Ground Zero on
September 11 back in 2001. And
00:17:30.48\00:17:35.75
she made the decision. I believe
God touched her heart to make
00:17:35.78\00:17:39.09
the decision to go to work four
hours later. Had she gone four
00:17:39.12\00:17:42.52
hours earlier she would have
died with the compatriots when
00:17:42.56\00:17:45.69
the building came down. And all
through our lives, every day, I
00:17:45.73\00:17:49.80
pray for my sister for God
to sustain her. She lost so many
00:17:49.83\00:17:52.93
friends in the post 9/11
incident that died of all the
00:17:52.97\00:17:56.57
diseases, kidney failure, cancer
from all the harmful toxins that
00:17:56.60\00:18:00.68
were there. She was there nine
months at ground zero and lost
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the use of her kidneys but she's
still doing well today. Got a
00:18:05.58\00:18:08.72
new kidney that's been lasting
for a long time. And I'm still
00:18:08.75\00:18:11.95
praying that God will bring
her in and I believe that if we
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decide to intercede in behalf of
those who are not yet where God
00:18:15.02\00:18:18.63
wants them to be
00:18:18.66\00:18:20.00
we'll appreciate something
that's called, not grow because
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because of grace but grow in
grace. Now let's look at this.
00:18:26.10\00:18:31.07
2 Peter 3 verse 17. Grow in
grace is a very powerful thing.
00:18:31.11\00:18:35.94
Now I'm just going to simply
read verses 17 and 18: You
00:18:35.98\00:18:39.68
therefore beloved since you know
this beforehand, beware lest you
00:18:39.71\00:18:44.65
also, fall from your own
steadfastness being led away
00:18:44.69\00:18:47.82
with the errors of the wicked.
But grow in the grace and
00:18:47.86\00:18:52.56
knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. Now notice
00:18:52.59\00:18:55.53
something. Grow IN grace. The
illustration I could use is a
00:18:55.56\00:19:00.70
plant doesn't grow into the pot
to become a plant. It grows in
00:19:00.74\00:19:03.87
the pot because it is a plant.
A fish doesn't swim into the sea
00:19:03.91\00:19:08.64
to become a fish. It swims
in the sea because it is a fish.
00:19:08.68\00:19:11.35
We don't grow into God's grace.
We grow IN God's grace because
00:19:11.38\00:19:16.42
that's the only place that
a Christian can allow human
00:19:16.45\00:19:21.02
frailty to still reveal the
glory of God. We need the grace
00:19:21.06\00:19:24.99
of God. When we get to heaven
we're not going to get to heaven
00:19:25.03\00:19:27.30
because of the 28 fundamentals.
We're going to get to heaven
00:19:27.33\00:19:29.60
because of God's grace. You know
the Bible talks about the 12
00:19:29.63\00:19:32.07
gates to the new Jerusalem and
one writer suggests that we'll
00:19:32.10\00:19:35.20
go through the gate that best
describes what we overcame, but
00:19:35.24\00:19:39.14
I believe that every gate
is going to be a gate of grace.
00:19:39.17\00:19:42.68
Titus 2 verse 11: For the grace
of God that brings salvation
00:19:42.71\00:19:46.88
has appeared to all men.
So everyone that will be saved
00:19:46.92\00:19:52.19
everyone that will not be saved
will recognize that God has not
00:19:52.22\00:19:56.09
withheld His grace from anyone.
But those who receive the grace
00:19:56.12\00:19:59.39
of God and grow in it, here's
what we have the obligation to
00:19:59.43\00:20:02.53
do. Teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts we
00:20:02.56\00:20:07.44
should live soberly, righteously
and Godly in this present age.
00:20:07.47\00:20:13.27
How can we do that? John 1 verse
14, because Jesus is the one
00:20:13.31\00:20:18.25
referred to as full of grace and
truth. So when Christ is abiding
00:20:18.28\00:20:23.15
in us all that we need is
revealed in and through His life
00:20:23.18\00:20:27.46
Let me also go further down in
the interest of sharing with you
00:20:27.49\00:20:31.96
what I believe I can cover at
this particular time. We have to
00:20:31.99\00:20:35.33
also, remember that when people
are in difficulty there's a
00:20:35.36\00:20:38.43
grace that God is requiring
of us to extend to those who are
00:20:38.47\00:20:43.47
not yet where they ought to be.
In Galatians 6 and verse 1: It
00:20:43.51\00:20:48.34
says, brethren if a man
is overtaken in a trespass...
00:20:48.38\00:20:54.12
here's the prerequisite...You
who are spiritual restore such a
00:20:54.15\00:20:56.52
one in the spirit of gentleness
considering yourself lest you
00:20:56.55\00:21:00.26
also be tempted. And Paul
told Timothy, his protégé, in
00:21:00.29\00:21:05.69
2 Timothy 2 verses 24 and 26...
Why do we need grace? Because
00:21:05.73\00:21:09.63
there are times when I'll be
honest with you I think my good
00:21:09.66\00:21:12.50
friend, I won't mention his name
but a pastor once said, very
00:21:12.53\00:21:16.91
well-known pastor he says, why
don't God allow us to slap some
00:21:16.94\00:21:19.64
people sometimes. A very, very
familiar pastor, I won't mention
00:21:19.67\00:21:27.68
his name. But sometimes we feel
that we just kind of want to
00:21:27.72\00:21:31.99
just kind of grab somebody and
shake them up. But listen what
00:21:32.02\00:21:35.92
the Bible says. 2 Timothy 2
verses 24-26: A servant of the
00:21:35.96\00:21:43.16
Lord must not quarrel but be
gentle to all, able to teach,
00:21:43.20\00:21:48.40
patient, in humility, correcting
those who are in opposition if
00:21:48.44\00:21:52.34
God perhaps will grant them
repentance so that they may know
00:21:52.37\00:21:55.11
the truth and that they may come
to their senses and escape the
00:21:55.14\00:21:58.35
snare of the devil, having been
taken captive by him to do his
00:21:58.38\00:22:02.48
will. So, yes, we need the grace
of God because there are times
00:22:02.52\00:22:05.29
when our humanity tries to
overwhelm the fact that we are
00:22:05.32\00:22:09.09
partakers of the divine nature
and we want to appeal to our
00:22:09.12\00:22:13.16
humanity rather than to
the divinity that Christ has so
00:22:13.19\00:22:16.56
freely offered to us. That's why
this quotation is significant
00:22:16.60\00:22:20.77
before I pass it back to Shelley
Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 113.1
00:22:20.80\00:22:27.04
And this has helped me through
the years. Since 1995 when God
00:22:27.08\00:22:30.01
revealed this to me, this has
given me the blueprint of how
00:22:30.05\00:22:35.68
to be in times of difficulty.
It says: Life is disciplinary.
00:22:35.72\00:22:39.75
While in the world, the
Christian will meet with adverse
00:22:39.79\00:22:44.26
influences. There will be
provocations to test the temper
00:22:44.29\00:22:47.60
and it is by meeting these in a
right spirit that the Christian
00:22:47.63\00:22:52.10
graces are developed. If
injuries and insults are meekly
00:22:52.13\00:22:56.91
borne, if insulting words are
responded to by gentle answers
00:22:56.94\00:23:02.41
and oppressive acts by kindness
this is evidence that the Spirit
00:23:02.44\00:23:08.02
of Christ dwells in the heart,
that sap from the Living Vine is
00:23:08.05\00:23:14.39
flowing to the branches. So it's
not what happens to us and I've
00:23:14.42\00:23:19.63
said this before but God has
given me, this and I'm becoming
00:23:19.66\00:23:22.60
repetitious here because it's
not what happens to us but it's
00:23:22.63\00:23:26.43
what happens in us that
determines whether or not we are
00:23:26.47\00:23:30.91
evidenced to be connected to
Christ or connected to the enemy
00:23:30.94\00:23:34.08
and displaying human
flesh rather than God's abundant
00:23:34.11\00:23:39.05
grace. Why is it important
for us to display God's abundant
00:23:39.08\00:23:42.78
grace? Matthew 5 and verse
9. I believe this is the cadence
00:23:42.82\00:23:46.59
for all Christians: Blessed are
the peacemakers for they shall
00:23:46.62\00:23:50.79
be called the sons of God. Only
as we display God's abundant
00:23:50.83\00:23:55.73
grace can we
display the grace of God.
00:23:55.76\00:23:58.70
Amen and grace is most
needed when it's least deserved.
00:23:58.73\00:24:03.51
I love that.
00:24:03.54\00:24:06.24
Oh please stay
tuned. We'll be right back.
00:24:06.27\00:24:08.21
¤ ¤
00:24:08.24\00:24:13.78
Ever wish you could watch a
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Now as we continue we're going
to invite Pastor James Rafferty
00:24:42.94\00:24:46.55
to do Tuesday's lesson.
00:24:46.58\00:24:48.18
(James Rafferty) I have
Tuesday's lesson which is
00:24:48.22\00:24:50.45
entitled Loving Those Who
Hurt Us. It's based in Matthew
00:24:50.49\00:24:53.86
chapter 5 verses 43-48. And the
author calls us to read these
00:24:53.89\00:24:58.93
verses. We're going to take a
look at Matthew chapter 5 verses
00:24:58.96\00:25:02.06
43-48. It's basically a summary
of a sermon that Jesus is
00:25:02.10\00:25:07.80
sharing with a group of people
on the mount of Beatitudes and
00:25:07.84\00:25:12.61
as He summarizes His thoughts
here beginning in verse 43 He
00:25:12.64\00:25:17.18
literally shocks the people that
are listening to Him. Now these
00:25:17.21\00:25:19.98
people are religious people.
A lot of them are Jews. Some of
00:25:20.02\00:25:22.08
them are Pharisees and He has
taken them to a whole new level,
00:25:22.12\00:25:26.12
a whole new standard of belief
in Christianity in what it means
00:25:26.15\00:25:29.29
to be a believer in God. And He
summarizes here in these verses
00:25:29.32\00:25:33.90
beginning in verse 43: You have
heard it has been said...this is
00:25:33.93\00:25:36.93
something that's used all
through the sermon...Thou shalt
00:25:36.97\00:25:39.27
love thy neighbor and hate thine
enemies, but I say unto you love
00:25:39.30\00:25:45.71
your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that
00:25:45.74\00:25:50.25
hate you, pray for them
that despitefully use you and
00:25:50.28\00:25:53.78
persecute you, that you may
be the children of your Father
00:25:53.82\00:25:57.35
which is in heaven. Stop right
there. Now this is shocking to
00:25:57.39\00:26:01.76
those who are listening. They're
overwhelmed, as we are today
00:26:01.79\00:26:04.83
probably, overwhelmed with this
idea. But then He adds something
00:26:04.86\00:26:08.86
kind of like you know the cherry
on the top. Something that goes
00:26:08.90\00:26:12.77
even further to astound them if
you will. He says: Not only that
00:26:12.80\00:26:17.24
you may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven...but
00:26:17.27\00:26:19.81
He says: For He, for He makes
His sun to rise on the evil and
00:26:19.84\00:26:29.58
on the good and He sends rain
on the just and the unjust. Now
00:26:29.62\00:26:33.25
it's one thing for God to be
calling the people there to this
00:26:33.29\00:26:37.29
standard that is maybe higher
than them, but for Jesus to add
00:26:37.33\00:26:40.20
to that that God actually
has that standard before you do.
00:26:40.23\00:26:43.47
And, of course, this is
the basis of our Christian
00:26:43.50\00:26:46.57
experience. God is calling
us not to do something that He
00:26:46.60\00:26:49.07
doesn't already do. God is
calling us to step into the
00:26:49.10\00:26:51.64
reality of who He is. God is
calling us to step into His very
00:26:51.67\00:26:55.61
own experience. He's sending sun
He's sending rain on the just,
00:26:55.64\00:27:00.42
on the unjust, on the good and
on the evil. You don't see this
00:27:00.45\00:27:03.62
phenomenon unless of course
you're right at a point where
00:27:03.65\00:27:06.79
the rain is no longer falling.
Sometimes I've been driving down
00:27:06.82\00:27:08.92
the road when a rain storm
and all of a sudden we get to a
00:27:08.96\00:27:11.83
certain point on the road and
there's no more rain. But most
00:27:11.86\00:27:14.63
of the time when it's raining
it's raining on the houses of
00:27:14.66\00:27:17.47
the Christians and it's also
raining on the houses of those
00:27:17.50\00:27:20.00
who aren't Christians. You
know when you see the sunshine
00:27:20.04\00:27:22.94
and it's shining on all the
houses of the Christians and
00:27:22.97\00:27:25.21
it's also shining on the houses
that aren't Christians. This is
00:27:25.24\00:27:28.61
God's what we call grace,
unmerited favor to the whole
00:27:28.64\00:27:36.48
world. And Jesus is bringing
this up in the context of this
00:27:36.52\00:27:40.16
new sermon, if you will,
this cutting edge sermon to the
00:27:40.19\00:27:43.76
people there on the mount of
Beatitudes. He goes on here and
00:27:43.79\00:27:46.90
He says, verse, where did
we leave off, verse 46 yeah.
00:27:46.93\00:27:54.27
For if you love them which love
you what reward have ye for do
00:27:54.30\00:28:00.64
not even publicans the same...
And publicans would be tax
00:28:00.68\00:28:03.45
collectors, IRS, right,
government workers, whatever
00:28:03.48\00:28:05.35
you want to apply them to in
our day...And if you salute your
00:28:05.38\00:28:09.42
brethren only what do you
more than others, do not even
00:28:09.45\00:28:13.15
publicans so?... Here it comes.
Here's the conclusion, verse 48:
00:28:13.19\00:28:17.43
Be you therefore perfect even as
your Father which is in heaven
00:28:17.46\00:28:21.76
is perfect. Now how many times
have we taken that last verse
00:28:21.80\00:28:24.60
completely out of context and
we've applied that to everything
00:28:24.63\00:28:28.27
and anything but what Christ
was applying it to. In fact,
00:28:28.30\00:28:31.54
we've applied it to the very
things that He was rebuking here
00:28:31.57\00:28:34.31
We've applied it to a lower
standard, we've applied it to
00:28:34.34\00:28:36.75
our outward appearance and
the things that we eat and the
00:28:36.78\00:28:39.68
things that we believe and
you know the fundamentals. We're
00:28:39.71\00:28:41.85
not applying it to relationships
that have gone awry,
00:28:41.88\00:28:45.62
relationships that are
difficult for us to navigate,
00:28:45.65\00:28:48.19
relationships with people
who despitefully use us and
00:28:48.22\00:28:50.99
persecute us, relationships with
people that we find difficulty
00:28:51.03\00:28:55.76
navigating. And that's what
Jesus is doing here because He's
00:28:55.80\00:28:58.27
taking us right to the crux
of the issue and the crux of the
00:28:58.30\00:29:01.14
issue is you can look good but
you are not good and you need a
00:29:01.17\00:29:07.61
heart transformation and God
is going to allow us to come in
00:29:07.64\00:29:10.08
contact with situations and
difficulties in the guise of
00:29:10.11\00:29:13.38
people just like with Job and
his friends that bring out the
00:29:13.42\00:29:16.22
need that we have which is a
heart transformation. Don't be
00:29:16.25\00:29:20.89
upset, don't even question
whether or not you are a
00:29:20.92\00:29:24.36
believer or a Christian or a
follower of God because these
00:29:24.39\00:29:27.00
things come out, but praise the
Lord, praise the Lord that they
00:29:27.03\00:29:30.07
come out because God is seeking
to get you to turn to Him and a
00:29:30.10\00:29:34.34
revelation of who He is that can
bring you to that higher plane
00:29:34.37\00:29:38.04
the higher standard. You
know the words of that hymn, I'm
00:29:38.07\00:29:42.18
walking on the onward way, new
heights I'm gaining every day.
00:29:42.21\00:29:45.55
I'm pressing on the upward way.
New heights I'm gaining every
00:29:45.58\00:29:46.92
day. God is bringing us to
new heights every day. And He
00:29:46.95\00:29:50.55
doesn't bring it to us all at
once. You know, because it would
00:29:50.59\00:29:53.25
overwhelm us. It would overwhelm
us. So next week and then the
00:29:53.29\00:29:57.23
next month and the next year
and then you know I've been at
00:29:57.26\00:29:59.89
this for 38 years now plus and
all of a sudden I'm starting to
00:29:59.93\00:30:02.56
see things that I never saw
before. When I was a single guy
00:30:02.60\00:30:04.87
man I was just on the straight
and narrow. I had all my ducks
00:30:04.90\00:30:09.70
in a row. I had every T crossed
and ever I dotted and then I got
00:30:09.74\00:30:14.08
married. And it had nothing
to do with my wife. I started
00:30:14.11\00:30:17.71
seeing things in myself that
I hadn't noticed before, right?
00:30:17.75\00:30:21.72
You notice things about yourself
when you're around other people.
00:30:21.75\00:30:23.85
And then we got some pets and
then we got kids. In other words
00:30:23.89\00:30:30.13
right, God is showing us more
and more of ourselves. Great
00:30:30.16\00:30:33.66
peace have they that love
thy law and nothing shall offend
00:30:33.70\00:30:36.87
them. And when things offend and
when things are coming in and
00:30:36.90\00:30:39.93
rubbing us it's a call for us to
come into that peace, that grace
00:30:39.97\00:30:44.47
that God has for us. And so God
is revealing this to the people
00:30:44.51\00:30:48.78
through Christ. You can just
imagine what they're thinking.
00:30:48.81\00:30:52.55
Probably the same thing
we're thinking but even more so
00:30:52.58\00:30:54.68
because they hate the Romans. Ah
we just hate the Romans. And God
00:30:54.72\00:30:58.02
saying hey, I love the Romans.
You know I send rain, I send
00:30:58.05\00:31:01.22
sunshine on the Romans. I love
the Romans. In fact, God loves
00:31:01.26\00:31:04.89
all people. You know, the Bible
says in John 3:16 God so loved
00:31:04.93\00:31:08.66
the...(world) world that He
gave his only begotten Son. And
00:31:08.70\00:31:11.63
that's an unconditional gift
that God has given to us. Now
00:31:11.67\00:31:15.17
why did He give us that
unconditional gift? So that
whosoever will would
00:31:15.20\00:31:18.84
believe, right? God loves us
unconditionally in order for us
00:31:18.87\00:31:22.74
to be saved. He knows that the
power of salvation comes through
00:31:22.78\00:31:27.42
a manifestation of this
unconditional love. That's why
00:31:27.45\00:31:30.69
we're told in John chapter 1
verse 9 that Jesus Christ is the
00:31:30.72\00:31:34.29
light that lights all those
who come into the world, right?
00:31:34.32\00:31:38.53
Every single person is lighted
by Jesus Christ. We're told in
00:31:38.56\00:31:43.57
Acts chapter 17, Paul is hanging
out there in Athens Mars Hill
00:31:43.60\00:31:46.50
and he says you know To the
Unknown God. In Him you live and
00:31:46.53\00:31:51.21
move and have your being. All
people have life and breath and
00:31:51.24\00:31:55.48
all things through Jesus Christ.
And then we're told in Romans
00:31:55.51\00:32:01.02
chapter 10 and of course Hebrews
chapter 12 verse 1 but Romans
00:32:01.05\00:32:04.15
chapter 10, no not Romans
chapter 10, Romans chapter 14
00:32:04.19\00:32:08.59
God has given a measure of faith
to all people. He's the author
00:32:08.62\00:32:13.03
of our faith. So God give us His
love, He gives us His life, He
00:32:13.06\00:32:17.07
gives us light, He gives us
faith. Titus 2 verse 11: The
00:32:17.10\00:32:21.94
grace of God has appeared unto
all. He's bathed us with this
00:32:21.97\00:32:26.11
atmosphere of grace. The sun
and the rain remind us of the
00:32:26.14\00:32:29.78
atmosphere of grace in which we
are bathed. God draws all people
00:32:29.81\00:32:32.51
Jesus says in John chapter 12:32
I, if I be lifted up...on the
00:32:32.55\00:32:37.09
cross of Calvary...will draw
all...not just the Christians,
00:32:37.12\00:32:40.06
not just the believers, not just
those who have potential. I'm
00:32:40.09\00:32:42.82
going to draw everyone to
me. I'm even going to draw the
00:32:42.86\00:32:45.36
fallen angels to me, not that
they can be saved. I'm going to
00:32:45.39\00:32:49.46
draw them because they're
going to see something that this
00:32:49.50\00:32:51.80
universe needs to see and that
is my unconditional love for the
00:32:51.83\00:32:55.90
the world, my self-sacrificing,
others-centered love for the
00:32:55.94\00:32:58.81
world. And it's going to answer
the great controversy. And
00:32:58.84\00:33:01.34
that's what we're told in
Revelation chapter 12. I always
00:33:01.38\00:33:03.55
go back to Revelation; you
know that. John chapter 12: The
00:33:03.58\00:33:06.35
prince of this world is cast
out That's what Jesus says in
00:33:06.38\00:33:08.78
Revelation chapter 12 Now
is come salvation and strength
00:33:08.82\00:33:11.02
we're told in Revelation chapter
12. He died for all. Hebrews
00:33:11.05\00:33:16.26
chapter 2 verse 9 tells us. He
mediates for all, right Shelley?
00:33:16.29\00:33:19.66
Jesus Christ is the mediator for
all men. He is the Savior of all
00:33:19.69\00:33:24.27
men. In 1 Timothy 4 and verse 10
He's the mediator of all men. He
00:33:24.30\00:33:27.34
gives love to all, He gives life
to all men, He gives faith to
00:33:27.37\00:33:29.60
all men, He gives grace to
all men and so Jesus Christ has
00:33:29.64\00:33:32.01
come to reveal the Father. This
is what the Father is like. This
00:33:32.04\00:33:36.95
what the Father looks like. If
you've seen me you've seen the
00:33:36.98\00:33:39.38
Father. And of course these
words are going to come out of
00:33:39.41\00:33:41.58
His mouth. What else would
come out of His mouth? Be ye
00:33:41.62\00:33:44.62
therefore perfect as your Father
in heaven is perfect. But in
00:33:44.65\00:33:50.13
we have a little bit different
ending to the sermon on the
00:33:50.16\00:33:53.90
mount. Luke chapter 6 and
verse 36 gives a little bit of a
00:33:53.93\00:33:56.70
different slant to the sermon
on the mount and I really think
00:33:56.73\00:33:59.83
that perhaps because of our
misunderstanding of the word
00:33:59.87\00:34:02.74
perfect that perhaps Luke gives
us a better ending that helps us
00:34:02.77\00:34:08.11
to understand what Jesus is
really talking about. He goes
00:34:08.14\00:34:11.51
through all of the same points
and he ends in Luke 6:36 and he
00:34:11.55\00:34:15.28
says: Be ye therefore merciful
as your Father in heaven is
00:34:15.32\00:34:19.85
merciful. In other words,
perfection is being merciful.
00:34:19.89\00:34:23.93
Mercy and perfection are one and
the same thing. And of course
00:34:23.96\00:34:29.10
mercy implies the imperfection
of the object upon which it is
00:34:29.13\00:34:32.97
bestowed. Unfallen angels don't
need mercy. But human beings
00:34:33.00\00:34:36.77
need mercy and God is saying
listen, I have poured out upon
00:34:36.81\00:34:39.84
you every good thing. I have
saturated you with my grace.
00:34:39.87\00:34:45.05
Now what I want you to do
to those Romans, what I want
00:34:45.08\00:34:47.95
you to do to those republicans
and those democrats, what I want
00:34:47.98\00:34:51.05
to do to those people that you
have such a hard time with is I
00:34:51.09\00:34:54.09
want you to be merciful as
your Father in heaven has been
00:34:54.12\00:34:57.09
merciful to you.
00:34:57.13\00:34:58.93
Amen, amen. Praise the Lord.
What a blessing so far we have
00:34:58.96\00:35:01.40
received and I hope you have
been blessed so far. We are now
00:35:01.43\00:35:05.97
on Wednesday's portion of the
lesson. My name is John Dinzey.
00:35:06.00\00:35:08.50
and the lesson is entitled,
creative title, A Closed Mouth.
00:35:08.54\00:35:14.11
Why is it give this title? It
is because sometimes we have to
00:35:14.14\00:35:20.15
endure things as Christians
and keep our mouths shut. So the
00:35:20.18\00:35:25.22
most powerful example the lesson
says of meekness in the crucible
00:35:25.25\00:35:29.62
comes from Jesus. When He said
to come and learn of me for I am
00:35:29.66\00:35:35.23
meek and lowly in heart. Matthew
11:29. This is interesting
00:35:35.26\00:35:40.37
because Jesus, when you consider
Him, He is worthy of all praise
00:35:40.40\00:35:44.04
The very presence of Jesus
commands respect and you want
00:35:44.07\00:35:46.98
to bow before Him but He says
come and learn of me for I am
00:35:47.01\00:35:50.85
meek and lowly of heart. What
an example we have in Jesus. He
00:35:50.88\00:35:56.32
says in the lesson He
meant it in ways we probably
00:35:56.35\00:36:00.12
can't imagine.
00:36:00.16\00:36:02.49
I also want to read this
from the lesson. It says: It is
00:36:02.52\00:36:05.46
terrible watch someone else
treat another unjustly and it is
00:36:05.49\00:36:09.73
extremely painful when we
are at the receiving end of such
00:36:09.76\00:36:16.81
treatment. So this is because,
it says here, we normally have a
00:36:16.84\00:36:21.64
strong sense of justice. When
injustice occurs our instincts
00:36:21.68\00:36:25.15
are to put things right while
carrying out what we believe to
00:36:25.18\00:36:29.22
be a righteous and just anger.
I remember when I was I think it
00:36:29.25\00:36:33.76
was the second grade something
happened by where we were
00:36:33.79\00:36:37.89
sitting, it was in a public
school. And the guy sitting
00:36:37.93\00:36:42.13
across from me, he made a mess
and everybody was giggling about
00:36:42.16\00:36:45.03
it in that area and the teacher
said, What's going on back there
00:36:45.07\00:36:48.00
And the teacher walked over to
where we were and he asked who
00:36:48.04\00:36:51.27
made this mess. And he looked at
both of us because apparently he
00:36:51.31\00:36:56.44
thought one of us did it. And
the guy next to me he says, I
00:36:56.48\00:37:01.05
swear by the Virgin Mary it
wasn't me. And so the teacher
00:37:01.08\00:37:06.09
automatically, Come here! I was
in trouble. I didn't swear by
00:37:06.12\00:37:08.69
the Virgin Mary so he thought
I must be guilty. So he made an
00:37:08.72\00:37:12.09
example of me and put me in
front of the class and he says
00:37:12.13\00:37:14.80
For anybody else that makes a
mess like this, this is what's
00:37:14.83\00:37:17.17
going to happen to you. And I
was there sad, upset. And I was
00:37:17.20\00:37:22.64
like, Why in the world did that
make him automatically innocent?
00:37:22.67\00:37:26.37
He was the guilty one, but he
used, I swear by the Virgin Mary
00:37:26.41\00:37:30.45
and he got away with it. And so
sometimes we suffer unjustly. I
00:37:30.48\00:37:34.75
didn't like being up there in
the front, being an example to
00:37:34.78\00:37:37.79
the whole class. Oh, he's
guilty, he's the one that did
00:37:37.82\00:37:42.89
this mess. And so we suffer and
sometimes we have to understand
00:37:42.92\00:37:48.06
the best witness that can be is
for us to be silent. I'm going
00:37:48.10\00:37:54.60
to read this also from the
lesson: It is not easy to live
00:37:54.64\00:37:58.34
like this. It is perhaps
impossible unless we embrace one
critical truth that
00:37:58.37\00:38:03.11
in all unjust situations, we
must believe that our Father in
00:38:03.14\00:38:07.98
heaven is in control and that He
will act on our behalf when it
00:38:08.02\00:38:11.79
is according to His will. In
the lesson we are called to read
00:38:11.82\00:38:16.49
from 1 Peter chapter 2 verses
18-25. I'm going to back up a
00:38:16.52\00:38:20.80
little bit to give a background
so I'm going to 1 Peter chapter
00:38:20.83\00:38:23.87
1 verses 15 and 16. Notice: But
as he who called you is holy,
00:38:23.90\00:38:30.24
you also be holy in all your
conduct because it is written
00:38:30.27\00:38:34.71
be holy, for I am holy.
In 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 17
00:38:34.74\00:38:39.61
And if you call on the Father
who without partiality judges
00:38:39.65\00:38:44.65
according to each one's work,
conduct yourselves throughout
00:38:44.69\00:38:48.62
the time of your stay here...
that's right, for us here...in
00:38:48.66\00:38:53.40
fear knowing that you were not
redeemed with corruptible things
00:38:53.43\00:38:57.43
like silver or gold from
your aimless conduct received by
00:38:57.47\00:39:01.10
tradition from your fathers
but with the precious blood of
00:39:01.14\00:39:06.74
Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot. This
00:39:06.78\00:39:11.88
is who we have been redeemed by,
Jesus Christ as a lamb without
00:39:11.91\00:39:17.62
spot or without blemish. So
now we go into 1 Peter chapter 2
00:39:17.65\00:39:22.79
verses 18-25. Notice he's making
a special focus on servants
00:39:22.82\00:39:28.16
because they are in a situation
that could be out of their
00:39:28.20\00:39:31.57
control. It says: Servants, be
submissive to your masters with
00:39:31.60\00:39:36.47
all fear, not only to the good
and gentle but also to the harsh
00:39:36.50\00:39:43.08
What? Paul don't you understand
how hard I have it, this guy
00:39:43.11\00:39:47.88
this is horrible. He's harsh,
they're harsh on me. But he says
00:39:47.92\00:39:51.82
to be submissive. Why?
Continuing on, he says: For this
00:39:51.85\00:40:00.23
is commendable. If because
of conscience toward God one
00:40:00.26\00:40:04.03
endures grief, suffering
wrongfully. This is commendable.
00:40:04.07\00:40:08.44
This is worthy of honor. God is
honoring us with the privilege
00:40:08.47\00:40:12.77
of demonstrating before people
the character of God. Why?
00:40:12.81\00:40:19.38
because it is a witness to
people reminding us that in
00:40:19.41\00:40:22.88
Matthew chapter 5 it says: Let
your light so shine before men
00:40:22.92\00:40:26.39
that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father
00:40:26.42\00:40:30.13
which is in heaven. There is
a similar passage in Colossians
00:40:30.16\00:40:32.96
chapter 3 verse 22-24. Notice
what it says here: Bondservants
00:40:32.99\00:40:37.40
obey in all things your masters
according to the flesh not with
00:40:37.43\00:40:42.80
eye service as men pleasers but
in sincerity of heart fearing
00:40:42.84\00:40:49.34
God. So we should do it with
sincerity of heart. For this we
00:40:49.38\00:40:52.98
have to be surrendered to the
Lord. It's not putting on an act
00:40:53.01\00:40:56.32
Oh I have to do this because
I have to do it. No, with
00:40:56.35\00:40:59.12
sincerity of heart allowing the
Lord to work through you. And
00:40:59.15\00:41:02.92
notice what it says in verse
23. In whatever you do, do it
00:41:02.96\00:41:06.39
heartily as to the Lord and not
to men, knowing that from the
00:41:06.43\00:41:11.50
Lord you will receive the reward
of the inheritance for you serve
00:41:11.53\00:41:15.57
the Lord Christ. So in the
situations that we are whatever
00:41:15.60\00:41:19.27
our situation is, whether it is
at home, school, or work, and we
00:41:19.31\00:41:23.95
have to deal with harsh
people we should serve doing it
00:41:23.98\00:41:28.98
heartily as serving the Lord and
not men. So moving on to verse
00:41:29.02\00:41:34.59
For what credit is it if
when you are beaten for your
00:41:34.62\00:41:39.29
faults you take it patiently,
but when you do good and suffer
00:41:39.33\00:41:43.30
if you take it patiently, this
is commendable before God. This
00:41:43.33\00:41:48.37
maybe a message to them to help
them make a decision to follow
00:41:48.40\00:41:53.91
the Lord Jesus Christ. It is
very interesting in the book The
00:41:53.94\00:41:56.81
Great Controversy there is a
quote here that is very, very
00:41:56.85\00:41:59.48
powerful. I want you to
consider it. It says: The gospel
00:41:59.51\00:42:02.95
continued to spread. I'm reading
from Great Controversy, p. 41.
00:42:02.98\00:42:08.69
The gospel continued to spread
and the number of the adherents
00:42:08.72\00:42:11.19
to increase. It penetrated into
regions that were inaccessible
00:42:11.23\00:42:15.36
even to the eagles of Rome. Said
a Christian, expostulating with
00:42:15.40\00:42:20.67
the heathen rulers who were
urging forward the persecution.
00:42:20.70\00:42:24.71
You may kill us, torture us,
condemn us. Your injustice is
00:42:24.74\00:42:29.34
proof that we are innocent. Nor
does your cruelty avail you. It
00:42:29.38\00:42:35.18
was but a stronger invitation to
bring others to their persuasion
00:42:35.22\00:42:39.72
The oftener we are mown down by
you the more in number we grow.
00:42:39.75\00:42:43.99
The blood of Christians is
seed. This is quoted also in
00:42:44.03\00:42:48.43
Tertullian Apology, paragraph 50
So here we have an example even
00:42:48.46\00:42:55.40
they in those times the
way Christians suffered was a
00:42:55.44\00:43:01.04
message to others and hearts
were touched and lives were
00:43:01.08\00:43:04.51
converted. Recently a few months
ago I read in a magazine, I
00:43:04.55\00:43:07.42
think it was the ASI magazine,
a story. A modern story. It's a
00:43:07.45\00:43:11.12
real story of a place in a
Muslim country and this Muslim
00:43:11.15\00:43:16.59
man, his story was being told,
his picture was there and his
00:43:16.62\00:43:19.79
face was darkened so you do
not see who he is. He used to be
00:43:19.83\00:43:23.06
part of a gang. And as a Muslim
his job was to find Christians,
00:43:23.10\00:43:27.10
beat them and torture them and
if necessary, kill them. And he
00:43:27.14\00:43:32.74
said, I was so impressed by the
way these Christians suffered
00:43:32.77\00:43:37.28
that I said, there's something
about what they believe in.
00:43:37.31\00:43:38.65
There's something about this
Jesus, they believe in. So he
00:43:38.68\00:43:41.85
decided to look into it and the
story was telling his testimony
00:43:41.88\00:43:45.59
that because of the way these
Christians suffered, He was led
00:43:45.62\00:43:50.69
to follow Jesus and he was
converted. Powerful, powerful
00:43:50.73\00:43:56.13
testimony. And so I encourage
you if you are in a situation
00:43:56.16\00:44:00.14
and if you are called to suffer
for Christ and if it's your part
00:44:00.17\00:44:05.87
to be quiet, be quiet. Let
that be...Sometimes silence is
00:44:05.91\00:44:10.71
eloquence, I've heard and this
is a time when silence can be
00:44:10.75\00:44:14.62
eloquence in favor of the gospel
1 Peter chapter 2 verse 21: For
00:44:14.65\00:44:19.55
this you were called because
Christ also suffered for us
00:44:19.59\00:44:23.46
leaving us an example that you
should follow His steps. Christ
00:44:23.49\00:44:28.56
suffered and He was beaten and
abused, tortured and he suffered
00:44:28.60\00:44:35.10
quietly. He suffered and that
was a testimony that we should
00:44:35.14\00:44:41.24
imitate. Verse 22: Who committed
no sin nor was deceit found in
00:44:41.28\00:44:45.91
His mouth. And so we have
here that Christ has left us an
00:44:45.95\00:44:51.29
example to follow and if need
be if the Lord wants us to speak
00:44:51.32\00:44:55.12
He will give us the words to
speak. But they will be spoken
00:44:55.16\00:44:58.13
in love and demonstration
of the Spirit of Christ.
00:44:58.16\00:45:02.13
(Amen.) Amen, amen. Thank you
so much. I'm Ryan Day. I have
00:45:02.16\00:45:06.94
Thursday's lesson entitled Our
Rock and Refuge. And man this
00:45:06.97\00:45:13.54
lesson who this lesson really
spoke to me. And I know that
00:45:13.58\00:45:16.21
much of what we're going to
study in this lesson, many of
00:45:16.24\00:45:19.18
you can understand it, you can
relate to it and I know many of
00:45:19.21\00:45:22.15
us here on this panel. I
tried to avoid just reading big
00:45:22.18\00:45:26.86
sections of the lesson because
I know you at home are going to
00:45:26.89\00:45:28.69
do that and around the world
at your churches, but sometimes
00:45:28.72\00:45:32.23
it's worded just so well you
just got to read it. And I love
00:45:32.26\00:45:34.66
the intro to this lesson because
it really sets us up for the
00:45:34.70\00:45:37.63
content that we're going to be
covering and so it brings out,
00:45:37.67\00:45:40.10
it says: So often the most proud
people, the most arrogant and
00:45:40.14\00:45:43.94
pushy are those who suffer from
low self-esteem. Their arrogance
00:45:43.97\00:45:48.91
and pride and total lack of
meekness or humility exist as a
00:45:48.94\00:45:54.55
cover perhaps even unconsciously
for something lacking inside.
00:45:54.58\00:45:58.52
What they need is something
we all need, a sense of security
00:45:58.55\00:46:03.76
of worthiness, of acceptance,
especially in times of distress
00:46:03.79\00:46:08.16
and suffering. We can find
it only through the Lord in...it
00:46:08.20\00:46:15.67
says we can only find that
through the Lord. And then it
00:46:15.70\00:46:17.04
says, In short meekness
and humility, far from being
00:46:17.07\00:46:20.98
attributes of weakness are often
the most powerful manifestation
00:46:21.01\00:46:25.08
of a soul firmly grounded on the
Rock. That one right there is a
00:46:25.11\00:46:31.72
little bit of a conviction to
myself, because the Lord is...
00:46:31.75\00:46:35.12
we're all growing, right? And
that's the one thing. I've kind
00:46:35.16\00:46:38.53
have been open about my lack of
patience and sometimes meekness.
00:46:38.56\00:46:41.40
The Lord is working on me, so
pray for me brothers and sisters
00:46:41.43\00:46:43.83
But I love that last line there.
That in short meekness and
00:46:43.87\00:46:48.14
humility, far from being
attributes of weakness, are
00:46:48.17\00:46:51.34
often the most powerful
manifestation of a soul firmly
00:46:51.37\00:46:54.58
grounded on the Rock. And then
it brings us to Psalm chapter 61
00:46:54.61\00:47:00.02
verses 1-8. So we're going
to go there, Psalm 61 and we're
00:47:00.05\00:47:03.39
going to read verses 1-8 and the
lesson basically brings out, it
00:47:03.42\00:47:07.12
says what can we learn from this
great passage and ah man as I
00:47:07.16\00:47:10.59
was reading it, it's just
powerful. I've read it many
00:47:10.63\00:47:13.03
times but the fact that it's
brought within the context of
00:47:13.06\00:47:16.00
this lesson you know Christ,
or God, our refuge and our Rock.
00:47:16.03\00:47:20.90
our Rock and refuge. It's a
powerful message. So Psalm 61
00:47:20.94\00:47:24.04
we're going to start with verse
1 and read through verse 8.
00:47:24.07\00:47:26.44
It says: Truly my soul silently
waits for God. From Him comes my
00:47:26.47\00:47:32.65
salvation. He only is my
rock and my salvation. He is my
00:47:32.68\00:47:39.12
defense. I shall not be greatly
moved. How long will you attack
00:47:39.15\00:47:46.19
a man. You shall be slain all
of you like a leaning wall and a
00:47:46.23\00:47:51.33
tottering fence. They only
consult to cast him down from
00:47:51.37\00:47:55.20
his high position. They delight
in lies. They bless with their
00:47:55.24\00:48:00.68
mouth but they curse inwardly.
Selah it says. My soul waits
00:48:00.71\00:48:06.82
silently for God alone for my
expectation is from Him. He only
00:48:06.85\00:48:11.92
is my rock and my salvation.
He is my defense. I shall not be
00:48:11.95\00:48:17.46
moved. In God is my salvation
and my glory; the rock of my
00:48:17.49\00:48:22.86
strength and my refuge is in God
Trust in Him at all times you
00:48:22.90\00:48:29.70
people. Pour out your heart
before Him. God is a refuge for
00:48:29.74\00:48:35.21
us. Selah. (Reference for that
again?) Psalm 61 verses 1-8.
00:48:35.24\00:48:40.35
Sixty-two Psalm 62.
00:48:40.38\00:48:41.72
Oh is it Psalm 62? Oh okay. Well
thank you for that correction.
00:48:41.75\00:48:45.89
So let's just correct that,
Psalm 62 verses 1-8 is what I
00:48:45.92\00:48:48.89
was just reading, just for those
who might want to go back and
00:48:48.92\00:48:51.26
read that again. But it's
a powerful passage. It's just
00:48:51.29\00:48:56.00
highlighting the humility of the
writer here who's pouring out
00:48:56.03\00:48:58.83
his heart and saying you know
what, God is my refuge, God is
00:48:58.87\00:49:01.47
my strength. I don't have to
go out and open myself up and
00:49:01.50\00:49:05.44
exhaust myself and my energies
to fight my battles or to come
00:49:05.47\00:49:10.01
against my enemies. God is the
one who does that for me. And
00:49:10.05\00:49:14.02
you know, there's an Ellen White
quote here in the Upward Look,
00:49:14.05\00:49:17.72
p. 177 that man when I read this
thing it was just like I have
00:49:17.75\00:49:22.39
been here I understand this part
here because I think all of us
00:49:22.42\00:49:26.70
many times in our life
we experience aspects in our
00:49:26.73\00:49:30.60
relationship with God, in our
walk with God, where the enemy
00:49:30.63\00:49:33.57
will try to use others, within
the ministry context, I'll just
00:49:33.60\00:49:36.87
say sometimes the devil will
use others in ministry or within
00:49:36.91\00:49:40.28
your ministry sphere of
influence to sometimes bring you
00:49:40.31\00:49:45.91
down or to try to discourage you
or to try to attack you in a way
00:49:45.95\00:49:49.65
that will cause contentions.
And it's interesting because in
00:49:49.68\00:49:53.39
this quote here...this is the
Upward Look, p.177. Listen to
00:49:53.42\00:49:57.16
this. Powerful words. It says:
Without cause, men will become
00:49:57.19\00:50:01.70
our enemies. The motives
of the people of God will be
00:50:01.73\00:50:05.77
misinterpreted, not only by the
world but by their own brethren.
00:50:05.80\00:50:11.17
The Lord's servants will be put
in hard places, a mountain will
00:50:11.21\00:50:16.75
be made of a molehill to
justify men in pursuing a
00:50:16.78\00:50:21.65
selfish, unrighteous course.
By misrepresentation these men
00:50:21.68\00:50:25.65
will be clothed in the dark
vestments of dishonesty because
00:50:25.69\00:50:30.36
circumstances beyond
their control made their work
00:50:30.39\00:50:33.96
perplexing. They will be pointed
to as men that cannot be trusted
00:50:34.00\00:50:40.17
and this will be done by
the members of the church. God's
00:50:40.20\00:50:46.47
servants must arm themselves
with the mind of Christ. They
00:50:46.51\00:50:51.28
must expect to escape insult and
misjudgment. Excuse me let me
00:50:51.31\00:50:56.08
read that again. They must NOT
let me clarify, they must not
00:50:56.12\00:51:00.36
expect to escape insult and
misjudgment. They will be called
00:51:00.39\00:51:05.93
enthusiasts and fanatics. But
let them not become discouraged.
00:51:05.96\00:51:09.56
God's hands are on the wheel of
His providence guiding His work
00:51:09.60\00:51:15.54
to the glory of His name. Wow!
Wow! That is so true. And as I
00:51:15.57\00:51:20.11
was reading through that also
taking in consideration what we
00:51:20.14\00:51:23.68
read in Psalm 62 just a moment
ago at the beginning portion of
00:51:23.71\00:51:26.98
this lesson. As I was going
through this lesson, I thought
00:51:27.02\00:51:29.92
of Daniel. Daniel was a
righteous man. In fact, while we
00:51:29.95\00:51:35.39
know that he was a sinner
because the Bible says that all
00:51:35.42\00:51:37.49
have sinned there's nothing
negative recorded about Daniel
00:51:37.53\00:51:39.89
the Prophet as there are of
other major Bible characters.
00:51:39.93\00:51:42.33
But it's interesting that if you
read Daniel chapter 6 verses 1-5
00:51:42.36\00:51:46.13
it gives us a glimpse of just
what we just read, that in times
00:51:46.17\00:51:51.57
where the enemy has a plan to
even possibly use members of our
00:51:51.61\00:51:54.21
church, brethren within our
influence or our sphere or close
00:51:54.24\00:51:58.25
by us sometimes we have to as
we just learned close our mouths
00:51:58.28\00:52:04.19
and recognize that the Lord
is leading us, that the Lord is
00:52:04.22\00:52:05.99
guiding in the situation, that
He will take over and He will
00:52:06.02\00:52:08.39
bring us out of this dark
situation that we may be in.
00:52:08.42\00:52:12.03
Daniel chapter 6 verses 1-5.
It's quite interesting. I love
00:52:12.06\00:52:16.06
this story because it says: It
pleased Darius to set over the
00:52:16.10\00:52:20.37
kingdom 120 satraps and being
over the whole kingdom and over
00:52:20.40\00:52:24.51
these three governors of whom
Daniel was one and the satraps
00:52:24.54\00:52:28.01
might give account to them
so that the king would suffer no
00:52:28.04\00:52:31.41
loss. This this Daniel
distinguished himself above the
00:52:31.45\00:52:35.35
governors and satraps because
an excellent spirit was in him
00:52:35.38\00:52:39.22
and the king gave thought to
setting him over the whole realm
00:52:39.25\00:52:43.43
So the governors and satraps
sought to find some charge
00:52:43.46\00:52:48.60
against Daniel concerning the
kingdom but they could find no
00:52:48.63\00:52:52.87
charge or fault because he was
faithful nor was there any error
00:52:52.90\00:52:56.87
or fault found in him. Then
these men said we shall not find
00:52:56.91\00:53:02.24
any charge against this Daniel
unless we find it against him
00:53:02.28\00:53:05.38
concerning the law of his God.
Notice where they're going. You
00:53:05.41\00:53:09.45
know we're not going to find any
fault with this brother but we
00:53:09.48\00:53:12.55
can find some type of fault in
the law of his God and you know
00:53:12.59\00:53:14.89
the rest of the story. They
go on to conspire against Daniel
00:53:14.92\00:53:17.79
and to basically deceive the
king into passing this law of
00:53:17.83\00:53:21.90
the Medes and the Persians that
says Daniel can't pray or anyone
00:53:21.93\00:53:24.53
in the kingdom can't pray to
anyone or praise anyone other
00:53:24.57\00:53:27.44
than the king of the Medes
and the Persians. And it's quite
00:53:27.47\00:53:30.21
interesting because Daniel
6 verse 10, it says: Now when
00:53:30.24\00:53:33.04
Daniel knew that the writing was
signed he went home and in his
00:53:33.07\00:53:36.98
upper room with his windows open
toward Jerusalem, he knelt down
00:53:37.01\00:53:39.81
on his knees three times a
day and prayed and gave thanks
00:53:39.85\00:53:42.68
before his God as it was his
custom since early days. This
00:53:42.72\00:53:46.55
brother went to that window, he
opened one, he opened the second
00:53:46.59\00:53:49.02
one, he kneeled down right
there so the world could see him
00:53:49.06\00:53:51.66
and he was praising God and he
was praying to his God because
00:53:51.69\00:53:55.16
there was no one or anything
that was going to keep him from
00:53:55.20\00:53:58.13
being the righteous man that
he was. And so in this case my
00:53:58.17\00:54:01.70
friends, I just have to ask the
question, can you be bold for
00:54:01.74\00:54:05.07
God? Can we be bold for God?
Can you and us, can all of us be
00:54:05.11\00:54:09.31
radical for God among the
culture, among the people,
00:54:09.34\00:54:11.58
among the society that scoffs
at the thought of true, genuine
00:54:11.61\00:54:16.58
Christianity? We have to come to
a point where we allow God to be
00:54:16.62\00:54:20.02
our refuge, that we stake our
faith in Him and know that He
00:54:20.06\00:54:23.06
will fight out battles. I think
of Matthew chapter 7 verses
00:54:23.09\00:54:26.09
24-27. It says: Therefore
whoever hears these sayings
00:54:26.13\00:54:28.96
of mine and does them, I will
liken unto a wise man who built
00:54:29.00\00:54:32.00
his house upon a rock, and the
rains descended, the floods came
00:54:32.03\00:54:35.47
the winds blew and beat on that
house and it did not fall for
00:54:35.50\00:54:38.87
it was founded on the rock...But
in contrast, Jesus says...But
00:54:38.91\00:54:43.78
everyone who hears these sayings
of mine and does not do them
00:54:43.81\00:54:46.11
will be like a foolish man who
built his house on the sand and
00:54:46.15\00:54:50.59
the rain descended and the
floods came and the winds blew
00:54:50.62\00:54:52.59
and beat on the house and it
fell and great was its fall. My
00:54:52.62\00:54:56.86
friends, get out of the sand.
Leave that sand alone. Put your
00:54:56.89\00:55:01.46
life, stake your faith and
ground yourself on the rock of
00:55:01.50\00:55:04.87
Jesus Christ today.
00:55:04.90\00:55:07.20
Amen. Glory to God! What a
wonderful lesson. We're really
00:55:07.24\00:55:11.44
enjoying this quarterly and
I know you are as well. We have
00:55:11.47\00:55:14.44
just a couple of moments
for some closing comments.
00:55:14.48\00:55:17.15
Pastor John.
00:55:17.18\00:55:18.51
Yes, Romans 3 verse 23 and 24.
You know, I love the fact that
00:55:18.55\00:55:23.62
there's only one thing higher
than God's law. It is His grace.
00:55:23.65\00:55:27.39
It's His mercy. The mercy seat
is above the law of God. Romans
00:55:27.42\00:55:33.19
3:23: For all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God.
00:55:33.23\00:55:36.36
Verse 24: Being justified
freely by His grace through the
00:55:36.40\00:55:41.17
redemption that
is in Christ Jesus.
00:55:41.20\00:55:44.44
(Amen) That's grace.
00:55:44.47\00:55:45.81
Amen, amen. 1 Corinthians
chapter 13 verse 7 says: Love
00:55:45.84\00:55:49.14
hopes all things bears all
things and endures all things.
00:55:49.18\00:55:52.35
God isn't necessarily calling
us to like other people or like
00:55:52.38\00:55:57.12
what other people but he's
calling us to love them, that is
00:55:57.15\00:55:59.22
to hope the best for them, to
bear with them, to pray for them
00:55:59.25\00:56:02.79
to intercede for them.
That is the principle of love.
00:56:02.82\00:56:07.36
Amen, amen. Sometimes we have
to suffer for things that we
00:56:07.40\00:56:10.77
have not done. In other words,
suffer wrongfully. But by the
00:56:10.80\00:56:15.37
grace of the Lord we can suffer
for things we have not done
00:56:15.40\00:56:19.61
with grace and dignity. Jesus
said in John 16:33: These things
00:56:19.64\00:56:24.78
I have spoken to you that in me
you may have peace. In the world
00:56:24.81\00:56:29.02
you will have tribulation,
but be of good cheer, I have
00:56:29.05\00:56:31.95
overcome the world.
00:56:31.99\00:56:33.32
Amen. I love what Jesus says
to the Pharisees in Matthew 21
00:56:33.36\00:56:36.39
verses 42 and 44. He says: Have
you never read in the scriptures
00:56:36.42\00:56:39.73
the stone which the builders
rejected has become the chief
00:56:39.76\00:56:43.50
cornerstone, that this is the
Lord's doing and it is marvelous
00:56:43.53\00:56:45.77
in our eyes. And then verse 44.
He says: And whoever falls on
00:56:45.80\00:56:49.50
this stone will be broken but on
whomever it falls it will grind
00:56:49.54\00:56:54.48
him to powder. And I can't help
but every time I read that text
00:56:54.51\00:56:57.81
to fall on this stone, whoever
falls on the stone will be
00:56:57.85\00:57:02.05
broken, I think of that song
¤ Lean on me when you're not
00:57:02.08\00:57:06.96
strong, I'll be your friend,
I'll help you carry on, Lean on
00:57:06.99\00:57:12.96
me ¤ Lean on Jesus. Make
Him your rock and refuge today.
00:57:12.99\00:57:18.27
Oh thank you so much, Ryan,
Johnny, James, and John. And we
00:57:18.30\00:57:21.84
just have to remember what Jesus
said in Matthew 5:5 Blessed are
00:57:21.87\00:57:27.04
the meek for they shall inherit
the earth. Meekness is to be
00:57:27.08\00:57:31.31
mild, to be gentle, to be humble
like our Savior Jesus Christ who
00:57:31.35\00:57:36.62
said I am meek and lowly in
heart...And His ministry of self
00:57:36.65\00:57:42.29
sacrificing love made him broken
bread and poured-out wine for
00:57:42.32\00:57:50.63
all and what you can do to
do that is start interceding, be
00:57:50.67\00:57:54.77
like Jesus. Hebrews 7:25
says: He's able to save to the
00:57:54.80\00:57:59.27
uttermost who come to God
through Him because he always
00:57:59.31\00:58:04.28
lives to make intercession for
them. Join us next week and we
00:58:04.31\00:58:09.58
will be talking about
Waiting in the Crucible.
00:58:09.62\00:58:13.22
¤ ¤
00:58:13.25\00:58:25.03