I want to spend my life
00:00:01.63\00:00:06.67
Mending broken people
00:00:07.50\00:00:12.31
I want to spend my life
00:00:12.41\00:00:18.01
Removing pain
00:00:18.85\00:00:23.22
Lord, let my words
00:00:23.85\00:00:28.79
Heal a heart that hurts
00:00:29.89\00:00:33.90
I want to spend my life
00:00:34.50\00:00:39.50
Mending broken people
00:00:40.24\00:00:44.81
I want to spend my life
00:00:45.74\00:00:50.95
Mending broken people
00:00:51.35\00:00:56.08
- Hello and welcome
to another 3ABN Today
00:01:09.33\00:01:11.83
program! I am excited
about this program today,
00:01:11.93\00:01:14.80
because today, we are
going to be discussing
00:01:14.87\00:01:18.01
a topic entitled,
"Being in God's Presence." What
00:01:18.07\00:01:22.94
does it mean to be
in God's presence? What
00:01:23.01\00:01:24.91
does that look like? What
happens if you leave God's
00:01:24.98\00:01:27.72
presence? We have so
many questions, and Lord
00:01:27.82\00:01:30.79
willing, we're going
to provide so many answers
00:01:30.85\00:01:32.75
from the Word of
God. And here with me to
00:01:32.82\00:01:35.76
discuss this wonderful
topic is, of course, no
00:01:35.82\00:01:38.89
stranger to 3ABN: we
have Jill Morikone, who
00:01:38.96\00:01:42.80
is the general manager
of 3ABN, and we have Pastor
00:01:42.90\00:01:46.33
Kenny Shelton of Behold
the Lamb Ministries, and
00:01:46.43\00:01:49.37
he's also no stranger
to 3ABN. We're so happy-
00:01:49.47\00:01:53.84
well, I'm so happy, I
should say, to have you
00:01:53.94\00:01:56.38
here, as well as our
viewing audience is so
00:01:56.48\00:01:59.61
happy to have you here.
- Good to be here; amen.
00:01:59.68\00:02:01.68
- So, I wanna start by
telling you guys a little
00:02:01.75\00:02:04.22
story. - Oh, yay! - So
we'll start with a little
00:02:04.29\00:02:06.69
story, and then segue
into this topic. When I
00:02:06.76\00:02:10.53
was about 15 years old,
I received my hardship's
00:02:10.63\00:02:13.46
license. So, I had a
car, I had my license at 15...
00:02:13.53\00:02:16.97
I had it for a
couple years; I think I was
00:02:19.23\00:02:23.17
in my sophomore or junior
year. I ended up going into
00:02:23.24\00:02:26.78
my junior year about
16, and you know how you
00:02:26.84\00:02:30.38
have SATs? So, I had to
prepare for the SAT. So,
00:02:30.45\00:02:35.38
I was in Arlington, Texas;
I had a friend with me, and
00:02:35.48\00:02:40.02
I had to drive all
the way to Dallas, which
00:02:40.06\00:02:41.82
was about 30-something~
40-minute drive. I had to
00:02:41.89\00:02:44.86
drop him off at home, so
I'm flying down the highway,
00:02:44.89\00:02:48.13
going 100 miles per
hour, literally-a hundred miles
00:02:48.23\00:02:51.87
per hour. All of a sudden,
I see red and blue flashing
00:02:51.97\00:02:56.40
lights behind me. Now,
it's safe to say that I
00:02:56.47\00:03:01.38
wasn't excited to be
in the presence of that
00:03:01.48\00:03:03.55
cop at the moment. On
the flip side of that, had
00:03:03.61\00:03:07.78
I been at a bank that
got robbed, I would've
00:03:07.88\00:03:12.12
been very happy to be
in the presence of that
00:03:12.22\00:03:14.42
cop. So, when it comes
to being in the presence
00:03:14.49\00:03:18.13
of the Lord, are there
times in the Bible where
00:03:18.23\00:03:21.56
we see people that
may be happy to be in the
00:03:21.63\00:03:25.40
presence of the Lord
or may be afraid to be in
00:03:25.47\00:03:28.04
the presence of the Lord.
- I think of Jonah right off,
00:03:28.10\00:03:30.41
you know? He fled
from what God had asked him
00:03:30.51\00:03:35.61
to do, but what he discovered
was that you can never leave
00:03:35.68\00:03:41.65
the presence of God...
and you can never leave
00:03:41.78\00:03:44.39
the will of God, because
He chases you down, Pastor
00:03:44.45\00:03:46.39
Kenny, and He will find
you! I think of Psalm 139,
00:03:46.45\00:03:49.79
if I can read a scripture?
- Oh, absolutely. - Psalm
00:03:49.89\00:03:51.79
139:7 says, "Where can
I go from Your Spirit, or
00:03:51.86\00:03:57.03
where can I flee from
Your presence if I ascend
00:03:57.13\00:03:59.43
into heaven, You are
there? If I make my bed
00:03:59.53\00:04:02.37
in hell, behold, You are
there. If I take the wings
00:04:02.47\00:04:05.87
of the morning and dwell
in the uttermost parts of
00:04:05.97\00:04:09.01
the sea, even there, Your
hand shall lead me," 'cause
00:04:09.08\00:04:13.68
Jonah went, actually,
to the sea-remember? He
00:04:13.75\00:04:16.58
took the ship, and
then there was the storm and
00:04:16.69\00:04:19.45
all of that took place,
and they threw him overboard,
00:04:19.52\00:04:21.62
and he was in the sea.
You'd think he was going
00:04:21.69\00:04:23.99
to drown and that would
be the end of Jonah, but
00:04:24.09\00:04:26.03
God's presence was even
in the uttermost part of
00:04:26.09\00:04:28.50
the sea. "Even
there, Your hand shall lead
00:04:28.60\00:04:31.33
me, and Your right hand
shall hold me. If I say,
00:04:31.40\00:04:34.54
'Surely, the darkness
shall fall on me, even
00:04:34.64\00:04:36.87
the night shall be
light about me; indeed, the
00:04:37.01\00:04:39.97
darkness shall not
hide from You, but the night
00:04:40.08\00:04:43.55
shines as the day.
The darkness and the light
00:04:43.65\00:04:45.95
are both alike to
You.'" So, we can THINK we run
00:04:46.05\00:04:50.72
from the presence of God,
but there is no place-heaven
00:04:50.79\00:04:54.49
and earth, in the
sea, anywhere-where we
00:04:54.59\00:04:57.86
can actually leave;
escape from the presence of God.
00:04:57.96\00:05:01.40
- Mhm. And you know
what, that can be comforting...
00:05:01.50\00:05:03.70
and scary at the same time,
depending on... That's depending
00:05:03.80\00:05:07.10
on the situation,
like when you look at Adam
00:05:07.20\00:05:08.90
and Eve, and they committed
that sin and they realized
00:05:09.00\00:05:13.38
they were naked and
were ashamed and they hid
00:05:13.48\00:05:15.71
themselves from God...
And so, yeah, it can be
00:05:15.74\00:05:20.25
either scary or a comforting
thing, as well. - Amen. - What
00:05:20.35\00:05:25.55
do you think? - Well, you
know, I, say, a lot of the
00:05:25.62\00:05:28.02
time draw from personal
experiences, which I think
00:05:28.12\00:05:30.63
is some of the best things
that can happen as we read
00:05:30.73\00:05:33.60
the Word of God, but
then also, we begin to draw
00:05:33.70\00:05:35.60
experiences-and I
think of my own experiences.
00:05:35.66\00:05:39.23
I think I was a
runner at one time. You know,
00:05:40.40\00:05:44.04
you think about a runner.
I mean, sometimes we think-
00:05:44.14\00:05:45.97
you just read you
can't run away from God, but
00:05:46.01\00:05:48.51
sometimes we feel the
unction or the call of
00:05:48.61\00:05:51.35
the Holy Spirit on our
lives. I think of myself
00:05:51.41\00:05:55.28
in calling to the ministry:
I decided for about seven
00:05:55.38\00:05:59.55
years that I would run-
that I wouldn't accept the
00:05:59.65\00:06:02.22
call and made all
the excuses that I could
00:06:02.32\00:06:05.46
think of-why I wasn't
qualified to be a pastor
00:06:05.56\00:06:09.10
and so on and so forth.
It was always interesting;
00:06:09.20\00:06:11.83
every time, it's just
like Moses or anyone else in
00:06:11.93\00:06:14.57
the Bible-maybe each
one of you that there may be
00:06:14.64\00:06:17.77
many out there that when
the Lord calls, you say, "Well,
00:06:17.87\00:06:19.97
I can't accept the
call, because..." You know?
00:06:20.08\00:06:23.48
And I always tell
my- and it's true. I say,
00:06:23.58\00:06:25.18
"Well, Lord, I'm slow
of mind." And I love the
00:06:25.25\00:06:27.38
answer; He comes back
and says, "Well Kenny,
00:06:27.45\00:06:28.85
I know that." [laughter]
You know? "I know that."
00:06:28.92\00:06:30.95
And I said, "I haven't
been to a school of the
00:06:30.99\00:06:33.09
prophets?" He
said, "I know that, too."
00:06:33.15\00:06:35.12
- Uh-huh. - But then
He said something very
00:06:35.22\00:06:36.73
interesting (the
Holy Spirit impresses your
00:06:36.79\00:06:38.43
mind). He said, "You
stay close to me, and I can
00:06:38.53\00:06:40.80
teach you more in 5 seconds
than all the learned men of
00:06:40.90\00:06:43.33
the world can in a lifetime."
So, that was a real tool;
00:06:43.40\00:06:46.84
but I still try to
make excuses over the years,
00:06:46.94\00:06:49.60
but I'm so thankful that
He continued to work with
00:06:49.70\00:06:52.97
me and continues along
till one day I finally answered
00:06:53.07\00:06:56.71
that call and say, "Okay,
Lord." It's like, you talk
00:06:56.81\00:07:00.72
3 A.M. of a morning and
kind of lying on the floor
00:07:00.82\00:07:04.45
there, 'cause I
couldn't sleep because of the-
00:07:04.55\00:07:06.32
I knew what I should do;
and finally, I responded.
00:07:06.45\00:07:09.59
I encourage people:
don't be a runner. If the Holy
00:07:10.49\00:07:12.43
Spirit is calling you
to be into the presence of
00:07:12.49\00:07:16.00
God or to be a worker for
God, just answer that call,
00:07:16.13\00:07:19.80
because He's everything.
You know, you don't need
00:07:19.90\00:07:22.57
to say, "Am I
qualified for this?" We're not
00:07:22.64\00:07:24.31
qualified for
anything, but He's qualified for
00:07:24.37\00:07:26.31
everything and He's
willing to give that to you and
00:07:26.37\00:07:28.74
willing to give it to
me. - You know how sin brings
00:07:28.84\00:07:32.31
separation from God; sin
brings separation from the
00:07:32.41\00:07:35.48
Father. You mentioned
Adam and Eve. And sin,
00:07:35.55\00:07:37.75
sometimes, makes us want
to run. I'm not saying you
00:07:39.02\00:07:41.39
were walking in sin
in that time; I just know
00:07:41.49\00:07:43.22
in my own life, if there's-
the Bible says, "If I regard
00:07:43.29\00:07:46.70
iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not, cannot, hear
00:07:46.76\00:07:50.33
me." And it's not that
He doesn't want to hear
00:07:50.43\00:07:52.40
me, but my sin is pushing
God away. It's separating
00:07:52.50\00:07:55.94
between me and Him;
so, I think the presence of
00:07:56.04\00:07:59.21
God is frightening
and it's disturbing if I'm
00:07:59.31\00:08:04.18
hanging onto junk in
my life. - Mhm. - As you
00:08:04.25\00:08:07.28
mentioned-Adam and
Eve. God always walked with
00:08:07.38\00:08:10.22
them in the cool of
the day. In the evening, He
00:08:10.32\00:08:13.32
would come and visit
with them. And then after they
00:08:13.42\00:08:17.16
partook of the forbidden
fruit-Eve and then Adam...
00:08:17.26\00:08:22.06
And then that evening,
God calls to them, "Where
00:08:22.16\00:08:24.33
are you?" "Where are
you?" And there, what did the
00:08:24.43\00:08:28.74
Bible say? Genesis 3:
they hid, because they were
00:08:28.80\00:08:31.44
afraid. They
recognized their sin. Sin brings
00:08:31.51\00:08:35.41
separation and fear and
guilt; but Jesus came to
00:08:35.48\00:08:38.91
bridge the gap. By the
blood of Christ, we are
00:08:39.05\00:08:43.39
reconciled again. We
have the privilege of making a
00:08:43.49\00:08:46.72
choice to follow Him and
be reconciled again to the
00:08:46.79\00:08:49.72
Father, and then the
presence of God is no
00:08:49.79\00:08:51.86
longer scary. It's a
delight and a joy, and
00:08:51.96\00:08:55.46
it brings so much
peace. [Amen.] - So, what would
00:08:55.56\00:09:00.30
you say that it
means to be in the presence
00:09:00.44\00:09:02.44
of God? - Well, you
know, maybe an example: you
00:09:02.54\00:09:08.64
go to- I think it's Exodus
3 verse 5 is what Moses...
00:09:08.74\00:09:11.81
You remember?
[Mhm.] Because being in the
00:09:11.88\00:09:13.92
presence of God,
there's something very special
00:09:13.98\00:09:15.62
there. And
sometimes, maybe we forget that;
00:09:15.72\00:09:19.35
because what did he
do when he came to the
00:09:19.45\00:09:21.56
burning bush, as it
were? Could be in the presence
00:09:21.62\00:09:23.66
of God. He said sometimes,
there should be the right
00:09:23.73\00:09:26.59
kind of fear. Is
that agreeable? - That's
00:09:26.70\00:09:28.66
right. - A fear should be
there, which is reverential;
00:09:28.73\00:09:32.23
it's respect; it's
so much bigger than we
00:09:32.33\00:09:35.40
are. And so, he
wanted to know where God's
00:09:35.50\00:09:38.64
presence- you said,
"Well in the presence of God!"
00:09:38.71\00:09:40.18
If we are in the presence
of God, we must realize,
00:09:40.28\00:09:43.85
as the song says, we are
on holy ground. He emphasized
00:09:43.95\00:09:48.58
that to Moses. He said,
"Take off your shoes for
00:09:48.68\00:09:52.55
the ground on which
you stand is holy ground."
00:09:52.65\00:09:56.29
Now, we knew the old
bush, it wasn't holy. [laughter]
00:09:56.36\00:09:59.43
It was His presence that
00:09:59.53\00:10:02.73
was there that counted
for holy ground. So therefore,
00:10:02.80\00:10:06.30
I think, at least to
me, there's a certain amount
00:10:06.37\00:10:10.11
I want to be the right
kind of fear of respect
00:10:10.24\00:10:12.71
for who God is if I want
to come into His presence-
00:10:12.81\00:10:17.25
and that can be so
many different ways: through
00:10:17.35\00:10:18.95
prayer... Whatever it
might be. We go in our
00:10:19.01\00:10:21.48
closet, we pray, we
spend time going down the road,
00:10:21.58\00:10:23.79
we get into His presence,
and a lot of the time when
00:10:23.89\00:10:26.49
we're in the presence of
God, we really don't want
00:10:26.59\00:10:28.12
that time to fly by.
We love that time we spend
00:10:28.22\00:10:35.16
with God. There's church
services. In church service,
00:10:35.26\00:10:39.53
sometimes, the Spirit
of God, I want to say,
00:10:39.63\00:10:41.07
is thick. Is it okay
to say "thick"? - Yes!
00:10:41.17\00:10:43.44
- So thick, you can
reach out and almost touch it;
00:10:43.57\00:10:46.14
why? Because it's following
scriptural truths, you know?
00:10:46.24\00:10:50.95
You know that it's not
just, "It's emotion and
00:10:51.01\00:10:54.12
it's just feeling"-
praise God for feeling! Right?
00:10:54.22\00:10:57.92
Praise God for emotions.
But that to be sound and
00:10:58.02\00:11:00.92
based upon the
Word of God, too. "?
00:11:01.02\00:11:03.59
Thus saith the Lord."
But there's been, absolutely,
00:11:03.69\00:11:06.66
services that we've been in,
that everyone's been in, that
00:11:06.76\00:11:09.13
you've been in-I know
at home-that you really
00:11:09.23\00:11:11.73
hated to see end. You
wanted to continue it,
00:11:11.83\00:11:14.84
because why? You invited-
it's like it's a shock to
00:11:14.94\00:11:18.17
some people. - Uh-huh.
- We invite His presence
00:11:18.31\00:11:20.44
to come in through the
power of the Holy Spirit,
00:11:20.54\00:11:22.24
take possession, go up
and down the aisles, sit
00:11:22.38\00:11:25.11
in empty pews,
right? You hear that phrase
00:11:25.25\00:11:27.22
sometimes, you know? And
that's- it's good! And then
00:11:27.28\00:11:29.95
when there's an outworking
of the Holy Spirit, it's like,
00:11:30.05\00:11:34.66
"Oh, what happened?!" -
We get a little stressed.
00:11:34.79\00:11:37.13
- Yeah, we get a
little stressed, like "What's
00:11:37.19\00:11:38.53
happened here?!" We just
invited the Spirit to come
00:11:38.56\00:11:40.63
in and work on our hearts.
Somebody got up and stood
00:11:40.70\00:11:43.20
up, and maybe testified.
Somebody said, "Praise
00:11:43.30\00:11:45.40
God. Somebody's asked for
forgiveness of sin. That's
00:11:45.53\00:11:49.54
what the Holy Spirit
does in the presence of God.
00:11:49.60\00:11:52.01
There's conviction
in the presence of God.
00:11:52.11\00:11:54.41
There's joy and there's
peace and there's happi-
00:11:54.51\00:11:57.05
all kinds of things take
place! I get excited here
00:11:57.15\00:12:00.12
about this right
here. To think about being
00:12:00.22\00:12:02.18
in the presence of
God- but there again, on the
00:12:02.28\00:12:04.69
other side is that
fear of revere... "I'm not
00:12:04.75\00:12:06.52
equal with Him." No
one is equal with Him, and
00:12:06.59\00:12:09.42
don't try to stand
side by side and say, "Well,
00:12:09.56\00:12:11.69
yeah, I'm..." He's
so far, high, and above
00:12:11.79\00:12:14.83
us that we have to respe-
it's holy ground. Who else-
00:12:14.93\00:12:19.57
you mentioned another-
in the Bible- was it Joshua?
00:12:19.63\00:12:21.97
I think it was J-
wasn't it Joshua? When Joshua
00:12:22.07\00:12:25.31
was getting ready to
take over, whatever- there was
00:12:25.41\00:12:27.41
the same kind of a situation.
He told Joshua to do what?-
00:12:27.48\00:12:29.51
I think in the same
chapter. He said, "Take off your
00:12:29.61\00:12:32.01
sandals, because it's
holy ground." God wanted us
00:12:32.11\00:12:36.45
to know, as well as
Moses and me: "Kenny, when you
00:12:36.52\00:12:40.92
invite Me in, you
need to be prepared. You
00:12:41.02\00:12:43.59
need to be ready
when you invite me in, and
00:12:43.69\00:12:45.83
there are conditions."
I'm sure we'll get into
00:12:45.93\00:12:47.30
some of those as we go
along here. Just invite
00:12:47.40\00:12:50.20
the Holy Spirit in. To
invite the presence of God in,
00:12:50.30\00:12:52.97
really to me, means we
need to be ready for His
00:12:53.07\00:12:56.34
presence coming in.
God always reminded here
00:12:56.44\00:12:59.81
as He did His
leaders, "This is holy ground.
00:12:59.91\00:13:03.45
It's holy because
I'm here." - Amen. - "And
00:13:03.51\00:13:06.11
I'm going to be the leader."
So, that's exciting; oh, yeah.
00:13:06.21\00:13:08.78
- It is, it is! I
think it's a great way to-
00:13:08.88\00:13:10.72
I think we should
segue into that. Like, how do
00:13:10.82\00:13:13.22
we conduct ourselves in
the presence of the Lord?
00:13:13.32\00:13:15.89
- It's amazing. I have
a whole list. - I love it.
00:13:15.99\00:13:21.70
- If you watch
Sabbath School, you don't like
00:13:21.80\00:13:23.13
lists. [laughter] -
I'm always having lists.
00:13:23.16\00:13:26.57
But I just want to
mention one, and that is...God
00:13:26.70\00:13:32.37
requires purity. - Yes.
- You know, I referenced
00:13:32.51\00:13:37.85
before if I regard iniquity
in my heart, the Lord will
00:13:37.95\00:13:40.38
not hear me. But turn
with me to Matthew 5:8.
00:13:40.45\00:13:42.88
We'll do an interesting
look at this. This is the
00:13:42.98\00:13:45.99
Sermon on the Mount
of course which is one of
00:13:46.09\00:13:48.92
Jesus' major discourses
in the gospels: Matthew
00:13:49.02\00:13:53.29
chapter 5 and verse 8.
We have the Beatitudes,
00:13:53.40\00:13:59.80
which are just simply...ways
that we can live, you know?
00:13:59.90\00:14:05.44
It reminds me of
Romans chapter 12. It's just
00:14:05.51\00:14:07.21
practical tips on
godly living for today. So,
00:14:07.31\00:14:11.28
Beatitude-let's see verse
7... No, verse 8. "Blessed
00:14:11.38\00:14:14.98
are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God."
00:14:15.08\00:14:19.35
So, how are you going
to see God if you're not in
00:14:19.42\00:14:22.29
His presence? So to
me, you could make those
00:14:22.39\00:14:24.43
almost synonymous. In
other words, blessed are
00:14:24.53\00:14:26.80
the pure in heart for
they're going to be in
00:14:26.90\00:14:28.96
God's presence... You know?
Because if you're not pure,
00:14:29.06\00:14:31.93
you won't see God; how
do you see God if you're
00:14:32.03\00:14:36.20
not in His presence? They're
connected. So, it reminds me:
00:14:36.30\00:14:40.11
if we get to the end
of Revelation... You see
00:14:40.21\00:14:42.58
Revelation chapter 6,
the seals-all the six seals-
00:14:42.64\00:14:47.92
and you get to the end of
the sixth seal...Revelation
00:14:48.02\00:14:49.92
6:17. It says, "The
great day of His wrath is come.
00:14:49.98\00:14:54.66
And who shall be able
to stand?" And the wicked
00:14:54.76\00:14:58.93
are just crying out,
"What am I going to do here?"
00:14:58.99\00:15:01.10
And then, there's an
interlude, as it were,
00:15:01.20\00:15:03.53
in Revelation chapter 7,
and it talks about the sealed
00:15:03.60\00:15:05.83
people of God-those who
are sealed in their forehead-
00:15:05.90\00:15:09.57
and the 144,000. And
what are their qualities?
00:15:09.67\00:15:13.41
They are without guile;
they stand without fault
00:15:13.54\00:15:16.48
before the throne of God.
So in order to abide in His
00:15:16.61\00:15:21.45
presence, we need to walk
in purity of heart. That means
00:15:21.55\00:15:25.65
that... I don't mean that
in a scary fashion for you
00:15:25.72\00:15:29.62
to say, "Oh, maybe there's
sin, and that means I can't
00:15:29.69\00:15:31.76
have God's presence." All
you do is open up your heart
00:15:31.83\00:15:34.13
to God, and you just
say, "Would you come in?"
00:15:34.26\00:15:37.17
"Would you change me?"
"Would you transform me?"
00:15:37.33\00:15:41.57
1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just to
00:15:41.67\00:15:47.51
forgive us and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness."
00:15:47.61\00:15:52.45
So, God's the One who
brings purity; it doesn't
00:15:52.55\00:15:55.02
come from us. All our
righteousness is as filthy
00:15:55.08\00:15:57.45
rags. Our job is to
allow Him to work. Our job is
00:15:57.55\00:16:02.39
to say, "Will you come
in and will you change me?
00:16:02.49\00:16:05.26
And I choose to surrender
and allow Him to do that."
00:16:05.39\00:16:07.96
- Amen. - Isn't that
wonderful to know that
00:16:08.06\00:16:11.00
we serve a God that's
plentiful, the Bible says
00:16:11.07\00:16:15.14
in Psalm, in mercy,
in forgiveness, and He
00:16:15.20\00:16:18.57
wants to forgive us.
It's James-I think-4 that
00:16:18.67\00:16:22.24
says, "Submit
yourself." So, we need to submit
00:16:22.34\00:16:25.05
ourselves unto God.
Like you say: when in the
00:16:25.11\00:16:27.65
presence of God, there
are conditions, I think,
00:16:27.72\00:16:29.72
to really get in
the presence of God, as
00:16:29.82\00:16:31.15
you mentioned there,
is the forgiveness of sin;
00:16:31.19\00:16:33.22
you know-confessing our
sins, getting our life right
00:16:33.32\00:16:36.32
and hidden in Christ.
And when it's there and we
00:16:36.42\00:16:39.79
are covered by the blood
of the Lamb, there is only
00:16:39.89\00:16:42.53
one way that we can
get in the presence of God-
00:16:42.63\00:16:45.10
and that is through Jesus
Christ. - Yes. - Isn't that
00:16:45.17\00:16:47.00
right? Jesus Christ.
He's our Mediator. We go to
00:16:47.10\00:16:51.34
God to get into God's
presence through Jesus
00:16:51.47\00:16:53.91
Christ. And so, we have
to have that experience.
00:16:54.01\00:16:57.61
I think it's so wonderful-
had the experience with
00:16:57.71\00:16:59.55
Jesus that we might come
boldly to the throne. Now,
00:16:59.65\00:17:04.89
when you think about
coming boldly... I've been
00:17:04.99\00:17:06.32
thinking about the coming
boldly to the throne, because
00:17:06.35\00:17:08.92
when years passed, maybe
as we're searching and we're
00:17:08.99\00:17:12.66
looking for relationship
with Christ, it's kind of
00:17:12.76\00:17:16.83
scary-talked about scary a
little, fear-to come boldly
00:17:16.90\00:17:21.00
toward, because I realize,
soon as I say, "Come boldly
00:17:21.10\00:17:23.51
to the throne," I
realize how unworthy I am. - Mm.
00:17:23.61\00:17:26.11
- I have no right to
come boldly. And then the
00:17:26.21\00:17:28.94
scriptures always remind
me, "Yes, you do." - Yes.
00:17:29.04\00:17:31.85
- "But what right?
I've not done any good."
00:17:32.01\00:17:34.15
"No, you haven't done
any good," but we come
00:17:34.25\00:17:36.99
boldly because of who He
is because of Jesus Christ-
00:17:37.05\00:17:40.36
right?-claiming His merits,
claiming grace that we come
00:17:40.46\00:17:45.09
boldly to the throne.
And then, we live in an hour
00:17:45.19\00:17:48.73
that we're in the judgment
hour. I'm going to try to tie
00:17:48.83\00:17:54.20
that together. We're
in the judgment hour, and
00:17:54.30\00:17:56.24
the scriptures make
it very clear that since
00:17:56.34\00:17:58.24
we're in the judgment
hour, we need boldness. We need
00:17:58.31\00:18:02.84
to be able to come, because
we're living in such a time
00:18:02.94\00:18:05.11
that we need to come quickly
to the throne room of God,
00:18:05.21\00:18:08.28
quickly claiming the merits
of Christ, quickly claiming
00:18:08.38\00:18:11.99
the promises of God, because
we need help in our time of
00:18:12.05\00:18:16.39
need. And I kind of feel
like we're in our time of
00:18:16.49\00:18:18.23
need right now; don't
you? - Oh, absolutely. - Amen.
00:18:18.33\00:18:21.40
- Tremendous need
right now. - Yes, definitely.
00:18:21.50\00:18:23.77
- If... Can I share? -
Oh, please. - I'll share them
00:18:23.87\00:18:26.97
quickly here. I
don't want to take up too
00:18:27.04\00:18:28.57
much time, but I
gotta get through my 5 here
00:18:28.64\00:18:31.01
[laughter] how we enter
the presence of God. #1)
00:18:31.11\00:18:34.91
We enter with
praise. Psalm 100:4 - you can
00:18:34.98\00:18:38.95
jot that verse down. "Enter
His gates with thanksgiving
00:18:39.01\00:18:42.62
and into His courts
with praise. Be thankful unto
00:18:42.75\00:18:45.95
Him and bless His
name," or praise His name. So,
00:18:46.05\00:18:50.33
we enter His
presence with praise, which is
00:18:50.43\00:18:52.89
beautiful! Sometimes,
I enter God's presence
00:18:52.99\00:18:54.76
with complaints, Pastor
Kenny. Sometimes, I enter
00:18:54.90\00:18:57.90
His presence with self-pity.
Sometimes, I enter it with
00:18:58.00\00:19:01.17
my own stuff, and...I'm
called to enter His presence
00:19:01.27\00:19:04.91
with thanksgiving. - Oh,
when you said complaints,
00:19:05.04\00:19:07.74
I don't mean to butt
in, because people will have
00:19:07.84\00:19:09.84
that, too, in our minds.
It seems like when I come
00:19:09.94\00:19:13.08
with a heavy heart, sometimes,
there are things that are heavy;
00:19:13.21\00:19:16.45
and as you begin to spill
them out, it does sound like
00:19:16.55\00:19:19.29
complaints. But really,
is it complaints? - That's
00:19:19.39\00:19:23.43
a good point. - I
mean, there can be; but is it
00:19:23.49\00:19:25.26
really complaints that
we're doing, or is it a
00:19:25.33\00:19:27.33
heavy heart, and we're
laying things out as we
00:19:27.46\00:19:30.10
see them as human beings?
And so, I want to make sure
00:19:30.20\00:19:34.14
that people, still,
will be able to do that, you
00:19:34.24\00:19:36.60
know? - Good, thank you.
- Right? You know. No, you
00:19:36.71\00:19:38.47
said the right thing, but
it's... His ear never gets
00:19:38.57\00:19:42.94
heavy, right? He always
can hear; He always wants
00:19:43.01\00:19:45.48
to hear as we come before
Him into His presence. And
00:19:45.58\00:19:50.42
so go ahead with the list
there, but it's just something
00:19:50.52\00:19:52.25
I said- 'cause I think
I'm guilty of that sometimes,
00:19:52.35\00:19:55.02
you know? But I'm not
meaning to complain, but
00:19:55.12\00:19:59.89
maybe I am murmuring and
complaining, but I'm just
00:19:59.96\00:20:02.26
trying to tell Him;
and then He says, "Kenny,
00:20:02.36\00:20:03.70
you don't need to. I
already know." [laughter]?
00:20:03.73\00:20:05.97
But it's not getting it
off your chest sometimes
00:20:06.07\00:20:10.44
and telling it as a friend,
and so... - That's beautiful.
00:20:10.54\00:20:13.78
And it helps to talk about
it, don't you think? - I think
00:20:13.88\00:20:15.78
to me, it does. - It
makes a tremendous difference,
00:20:15.91\00:20:17.75
'cause who better than
Jesus to be our Friend-
00:20:17.88\00:20:20.45
to bear our burdens... We
can come with our supplications,
00:20:20.58\00:20:25.69
as it were. And David says,
"Pour out your heart before
00:20:25.79\00:20:29.06
Him"-you know, in
Psalm?- pour it out before Him.
00:20:29.16\00:20:32.19
So, thank you for bringing
that up, because I would
00:20:32.29\00:20:34.73
never want people to feel
like, "I can only come with
00:20:34.83\00:20:37.53
praise," because we can
come with whatever is in
00:20:37.63\00:20:40.84
our heart. So, thank
you, Pastor Kenny. - Oh, no.
00:20:40.97\00:20:43.47
That's just another aspect
of it; no, no. - Amen. Second,
00:20:43.61\00:20:47.18
we enter the presence of
God with humility. Ephesians
00:20:47.31\00:20:51.18
3:14 - "For this
reason, I bow my knees to the
00:20:51.31\00:20:54.82
Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ. We enter it with
00:20:54.92\00:20:59.05
humility." It doesn't
mean every time we're in the
00:20:59.15\00:21:00.76
presence of God, we're
on our knees; we can be
00:21:00.86\00:21:02.86
driving in the car,
you can be talking with a
00:21:02.96\00:21:05.99
friend... We can have the
presence of God at all times
00:21:06.09\00:21:09.86
throughout the day,
but we still enter with our
00:21:09.96\00:21:12.23
attitude of
humility, knowing who God is in
00:21:12.33\00:21:16.24
comparison to who I am.
I already talked about with
00:21:16.34\00:21:19.14
purity; you talked about
with boldness. I LOVE that
00:21:19.24\00:21:23.08
scripture-the Hebrews
4:16, "Come boldly before the
00:21:23.21\00:21:26.95
throne of grace." And
then my fifth one was with
00:21:27.05\00:21:28.78
surrender. I want to look
that scripture up. - Yeah,
00:21:28.88\00:21:32.45
and unpack that. - Romans
chapter 12... This is one of
00:21:32.55\00:21:38.19
my- well, I like the
book of Romans, anyway, but
00:21:38.33\00:21:40.80
Romans 12:1 and 2-"I
beseeched you therefore,
00:21:40.90\00:21:45.43
brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present
00:21:45.53\00:21:48.47
your bodies a living
sacrifice." That's that
00:21:48.57\00:21:52.87
surrender, as it were,
going on the altar before
00:21:52.97\00:21:57.48
Him; you know: laying
my plans, my thoughts, my
00:21:57.58\00:22:00.98
dreams, my hopes - all
of that at His feet. - Amen.
00:22:01.08\00:22:04.55
- Because who better
to entrust them to than
00:22:04.65\00:22:08.12
the Lord Jesus Christ?
"...a living sacrifice,
00:22:08.22\00:22:10.56
holy, acceptable to
God, which is your reasonable
00:22:10.69\00:22:13.93
service; and do not be
conformed to this world,
00:22:14.06\00:22:18.43
but be transformed
by the renewing of your
00:22:18.53\00:22:22.80
mind, that you may
prove what is that good and
00:22:22.87\00:22:25.74
acceptable and perfect
will of God." That word
00:22:25.84\00:22:28.44
"transformed" in
Greek means "metamorphosed,"
00:22:28.54\00:22:30.85
like the symbolism of the
caterpillar to the butterfly.
00:22:30.95\00:22:35.45
You know, Greg and I,
our front porch-we have a
00:22:35.55\00:22:37.82
little front
porch-and we like to go out and
00:22:37.92\00:22:40.02
sit in the evening or whatever,
talk about the day, watch the
00:22:40.12\00:22:43.89
sun go down...just
nice, some couple time, you
00:22:43.96\00:22:47.76
could say. So, this
one time, Greg was saying,
00:22:47.86\00:22:50.93
"Look here, Jilliane!"
There was a little caterpillar,
00:22:51.00\00:22:53.30
and he was spinning
his cocoon. It was right
00:22:53.40\00:22:55.44
underneath- you know,
the porch has, like, the
00:22:55.50\00:22:57.77
railings this way, but
it was the railing this
00:22:57.87\00:23:00.11
way, and he was
right underneath here. He
00:23:00.21\00:23:02.14
was spinning it, so
then every day, we'd go out
00:23:02.31\00:23:04.58
and we'd look at him. He's
still there... Next day, he's
00:23:04.68\00:23:07.55
still there. Next
day... And then, it was on a
00:23:07.65\00:23:12.49
Sabbath that he broke
open. Now, there's gotta
00:23:12.59\00:23:15.66
be a spiritual lesson
there. - Oh, absolutely.
00:23:15.76\00:23:18.29
- But it was on Sabbath!
When Greg said, "Jillie,
00:23:18.43\00:23:22.96
come quick," so I
rushed out the front door and
00:23:23.06\00:23:25.20
looked in. You could see
the cocoon breaking open,
00:23:25.30\00:23:28.10
and here he comes out
with one wing and then
00:23:28.24\00:23:31.04
the other wing, and
we just watched. It was a
00:23:31.14\00:23:33.84
beautiful butterfly...
And then it flew off.
00:23:33.94\00:23:36.18
That's the transforming
grace of Christ, you know?
00:23:36.34\00:23:40.88
I look like a caterpillar,
just crawling in the dirt-
00:23:40.98\00:23:43.89
you know?-eating dirt,
crawling on your belly...
00:23:43.99\00:23:46.79
And then God says, "Through
this process, we're transformed
00:23:46.89\00:23:51.86
by the renewing of
your mind," the metamorphose
00:23:51.96\00:23:54.23
process, I'm going to
make you into a butterfly-
00:23:54.36\00:23:59.33
which is just incredible.
- It is. That is. You know,
00:23:59.47\00:24:05.21
what would you say to
that person who may have been
00:24:05.27\00:24:09.54
walking with the
Lord, they have been in the
00:24:09.64\00:24:12.08
Lord's presence and
really felt God's presence, but
00:24:12.21\00:24:15.68
I guess maybe, they
made a mistake. Maybe, they
00:24:15.82\00:24:18.55
sinned; maybe, they've
experienced God's presence.
00:24:18.69\00:24:22.42
But now, they just don't
feel it as much. What would
00:24:22.52\00:24:26.09
you guys say to that?
- Well, #1) We serve a
00:24:26.19\00:24:29.26
God who's willing to
take us back. I think, to me,
00:24:29.36\00:24:32.20
that has always been
the good news - the grace of
00:24:32.33\00:24:35.44
Christ. So, if we
have sinned-even willfully;
00:24:35.54\00:24:40.14
you know better, that
you went ahead and did that-
00:24:40.28\00:24:43.08
the Holy Spirit is
still working on the heart.
00:24:43.21\00:24:45.81
I praise God for
that. None of us could ever
00:24:45.91\00:24:48.25
come- we know these things,
but it's good to be reminded.
00:24:48.35\00:24:51.09
None of us could ever come
to Christ if it were not for
00:24:51.25\00:24:53.32
the Holy Spirit,
living and working inside,
00:24:53.42\00:24:56.22
wooing us and drawing us
into that relationship. I
00:24:56.36\00:24:59.93
think- you talk about a
Christian, you say, that
00:25:00.06\00:25:04.33
didn't know Christ,
and they experience these
00:25:04.43\00:25:06.53
things. I believe,
really, when they turn away from
00:25:06.63\00:25:08.80
Christ, they're a person
most miserable-if I might
00:25:08.90\00:25:12.07
put it that way-because
you have tasted, the Bible
00:25:12.17\00:25:15.91
said, and you've seen that
He is good. - Yes. - And you
00:25:16.01\00:25:19.08
miss that taste, you
miss that inner feeling and
00:25:19.18\00:25:24.29
emotion that you have to
be in His presence, to know
00:25:24.39\00:25:26.86
that you someone that's
going to fight your battles
00:25:26.99\00:25:28.79
for you, to know
that someone's going to be
00:25:28.89\00:25:30.96
there, if someone's
going to encourage you and
00:25:31.06\00:25:33.80
strengthen you, if
it's somebody that has the
00:25:33.90\00:25:35.30
answers...then when we
turn from that and we go
00:25:35.36\00:25:39.10
out here, we're doing
things on our own; we're making
00:25:39.17\00:25:43.17
making choices on
our own. And when we make
00:25:43.30\00:25:44.97
choices, we know that we're
making maybe even the wrong
00:25:45.04\00:25:46.71
choice. And really, how
can it be blessed if God-
00:25:46.88\00:25:49.14
and we're looking for things
maybe to blow up. But when
00:25:49.24\00:25:51.18
the Holy Spirit gets
our attention and we come
00:25:51.28\00:25:55.02
back to Him, Psalm 86:5
says, "He's ready to forgive."
00:25:55.12\00:26:00.86
I like this. "He's
ready to forgive plenteous in
00:26:00.99\00:26:04.09
mercy and to all them that call
upon Him." So, the beautiful
00:26:04.19\00:26:08.93
thing is, it says
He's ready. - Amen. - The
00:26:09.06\00:26:12.67
question is, are we
ready? So I encourage you to get
00:26:12.77\00:26:14.97
ready. - Yeah. - To get
ready! This is what it's
00:26:15.10\00:26:18.14
all about-ready for
the coming of Christ! Ready
00:26:18.24\00:26:20.58
because He's sending
out; He's saying right now,
00:26:20.64\00:26:22.91
"I've got my arms stretched
open," like the prodigal son
00:26:23.01\00:26:26.01
and the father.
Regardless of what went on. That
00:26:26.11\00:26:30.85
always goes through my
mind. You see the father,
00:26:30.95\00:26:32.92
you see the son coming
up, and you see the father;
00:26:33.02\00:26:35.19
his arms are outstretched
like our Heavenly Father. In
00:26:35.29\00:26:38.29
His presence, He's
saying, "Oh, come on back home."
00:26:38.39\00:26:40.70
You know? "Why would
you die? Come on back home."
00:26:40.80\00:26:44.33
And so His arms are
out. They're outstretched,
00:26:44.47\00:26:46.90
and He's saying, "Come
on; I'm ready," and He's
00:26:46.97\00:26:49.60
willing to do it. So
I mean, don't put it off
00:26:49.70\00:26:51.51
any longer; just do
it today. - The scripture
00:26:51.61\00:26:54.68
you referenced, I just
turned there. Ezekiel 18,
00:26:54.78\00:26:58.18
verse 30, and some
30 and 31. Sometimes, we
00:26:58.31\00:27:02.52
look at Ezekiel and we
think, "There's a lot of
00:27:02.62\00:27:04.69
hard condemnation in
there," because there
00:27:04.79\00:27:06.92
was a lot of
judgment that was going to be
00:27:07.02\00:27:09.76
coming upon the
people because of their idol
00:27:09.89\00:27:12.13
worship, because
they had left and forsaken
00:27:12.19\00:27:14.26
God-but there's this
beautiful promise and
00:27:14.36\00:27:17.80
plea! You just
imagine from the heart of God.
00:27:17.93\00:27:20.54
It says-verse 30-
"'Therefore, I will judge
00:27:20.64\00:27:24.27
you, O house of
Israel, everyone according to
00:27:24.37\00:27:26.51
his ways,' says the
Lord God. 'Repent and turn
00:27:26.61\00:27:30.38
from all your transgressions
so that iniquity will not be
00:27:30.48\00:27:34.72
your ruin. Cast away
all the transgressions which
00:27:34.78\00:27:39.45
you have committed, and
get yourselves a new heart
00:27:39.52\00:27:42.69
and a new spirit.'" And we
know we don't do the getting;
00:27:42.79\00:27:45.29
we just ask, and God does
the giving. [laughter] And
00:27:45.43\00:27:48.83
then it says, "'For why...
00:27:48.93\00:27:51.57
...should you die?'" - That's
it. - "'O house of Israel?'"
00:27:52.67\00:27:57.04
And I just imagine
God pleading-you know?-
00:27:57.14\00:28:00.18
to each one of us, saying,
"I love you with an everlasting
00:28:00.28\00:28:03.85
love. I've drawn you
with my courts of love." And
00:28:03.95\00:28:06.72
whether you walked with
God for years and someone
00:28:06.82\00:28:10.62
criticized you in the
church and you thought,
00:28:10.72\00:28:12.82
"I'm done with God"...whether
someone in your family got
00:28:12.92\00:28:17.19
sick and died and you
thought, "I'm done with
00:28:17.29\00:28:19.53
God"...whether you went
through a difficult, painful
00:28:19.63\00:28:23.00
divorce or situation in
your life and you thought,
00:28:23.10\00:28:26.63
"I'm done with God"...
Wherever you have been,
00:28:26.74\00:28:30.41
God says, "Turn. Come
back to Me. Why do you want to
00:28:30.51\00:28:35.84
die? I don't want you
to die." And we know Romans
00:28:35.94\00:28:39.58
2:4-you referenced this-
the goodness of God leads
00:28:39.65\00:28:43.59
us to repentance. So, God's
the One who draws, so just right
00:28:43.69\00:28:48.52
now, I just want to make an
appeal to you: make a choice.
00:28:48.69\00:28:52.59
Choose you today whom you
will serve and say, "As for me
00:28:52.69\00:28:57.27
and my house, I will serve
the Lord." [Amen.] - That's
00:28:57.37\00:29:01.87
good stuff, mhm. - Do
you guys have any examples
00:29:01.97\00:29:04.67
of, you know, from your
own personal lives where,
00:29:04.81\00:29:08.88
maybe, you've experienced
the presence of God? And
00:29:08.98\00:29:13.01
what did that look like? - I
think, personally, absolutely.
00:29:13.15\00:29:17.49
I think if we've
missed that, we've missed an
00:29:17.62\00:29:21.96
experience. We've
really missed an experience to,
00:29:22.06\00:29:25.09
#1) is we have to be asking
and pleading-ask to be able
00:29:25.19\00:29:30.33
to come and stand in His
presence-and again, follow
00:29:30.43\00:29:32.77
what's been thought
here from scripture, our life
00:29:32.87\00:29:35.64
needs to be right
with God that we may come
00:29:35.74\00:29:38.17
fully into His presence...
and things that will happen.
00:29:38.31\00:29:41.91
For instance, just through
prayer, we're talking about
00:29:42.01\00:29:44.98
here, we're gonna
clo- pray! "Oh, God, what
00:29:45.08\00:29:48.18
will it take? I want to
be in Your presence." I do-
00:29:48.28\00:29:51.09
and it's okay to say
it: "I want to feel Your
00:29:51.22\00:29:52.85
presence. I want to
feel"- because part of when we
00:29:53.02\00:29:55.92
come into His presence is
that joy, that contentment,
00:29:56.02\00:29:59.73
that excitement. But now
for me, if being in the church
00:29:59.83\00:30:03.47
all my life
basically from a young person
00:30:03.60\00:30:05.87
all up, there still
has to come a time when
00:30:05.97\00:30:08.27
you're converted. - That's
right. - And that was years
00:30:08.40\00:30:11.47
down the road. I've often
said it, and it's really sad
00:30:11.61\00:30:14.18
to be a lukewarm Christian
for a lot of years that I was.
00:30:14.28\00:30:16.51
The dangerous part about
it was that I didn't even
00:30:16.64\00:30:21.48
know I was. How dangerous
can you be? See, if you know
00:30:21.58\00:30:25.95
you're lukewarm-
there's a difference in knowing
00:30:26.09\00:30:28.02
you're lukewarm and-
but going through the
00:30:28.16\00:30:30.46
motions of always going
to church and always doing
00:30:30.59\00:30:32.99
the things that a Christian
does, and not really realize
00:30:33.13\00:30:38.27
that you're lukewarm. And
finally, God wanted to get
00:30:38.33\00:30:41.44
my attention, because I
had been praying, as it were,
00:30:41.54\00:30:44.57
I wanted to be in
His presence. I wanted
00:30:44.67\00:30:46.37
something-something
that was missing. Even being
00:30:46.47\00:30:48.81
born and raised and listened
to all this stuff, there's
00:30:48.91\00:30:50.61
something needed to
change- something be right-and I
00:30:50.71\00:30:53.45
pray, "Oh, God, I
want to better experience-
00:30:53.58\00:30:56.62
I want to know what
it is to be born again."
00:30:56.72\00:30:58.55
And of course, the Lord
did that in a dream for me.
00:30:58.72\00:31:02.82
My life changed over a
dream. - Really? - I didn't
00:31:02.92\00:31:07.76
know that! - It was
over a dream. It was just...
00:31:07.86\00:31:09.66
You look at the goosebumps
now that I get on me, and
00:31:09.76\00:31:13.64
that's been many years
ago. And so, I pray this,
00:31:13.70\00:31:16.30
and I went to bed
that night and just went to
00:31:16.40\00:31:18.01
sleep. And all of a sudden-
I'll try to make it fast-
00:31:18.14\00:31:21.01
it's like I was in
His pres- I knew I was in
00:31:21.11\00:31:24.85
His presence. That's what
we're talking about, being
00:31:24.95\00:31:27.42
in the presence of
God. Now, how did I know I
00:31:27.55\00:31:28.98
was in the presence?
Because all I heard was-
00:31:29.08\00:31:31.85
some of my goosebumps-
all I heard was is, "Kenny."
00:31:31.95\00:31:37.93
And immediately when I
heard, "Kenny," I said,
00:31:38.69\00:31:42.53
"Yes, Lord?" - Oh,
wow. - Wow. - Oh, oh, why?
00:31:42.66\00:31:46.13
Because it says the
sheep knows His voice. And I'm
00:31:46.23\00:31:49.90
not trying to elevate-
'cause I was still lukewarm;
00:31:50.04\00:31:52.47
I still needed some changes,
and I need some bad changes,
00:31:52.57\00:31:55.08
and I wanted some changes.
But He said, "Kenny." First
00:31:55.21\00:31:58.78
thing: "Yes, Lord?"
I recognized His voice.
00:31:58.88\00:32:00.72
I stood as one as a
word like Adam and Eve when
00:32:00.82\00:32:04.65
sin came. He's seen right
on through me. There wasn't-
00:32:04.75\00:32:08.09
I couldn't even make
an excuse, I couldn't make
00:32:08.19\00:32:10.99
some alibis, I couldn't
say, "Sister Jill made me
00:32:11.09\00:32:13.13
do it... [laughter] I
couldn't say that brother
00:32:13.23\00:32:16.10
Jason made me- you see
what I'm saying? You couldn't
00:32:16.16\00:32:18.13
blame the pastor, I couldn't
blame the church... - Uh-huh.
00:32:18.23\00:32:20.80
- I knew He knew
every thought about me...
00:32:20.87\00:32:24.11
everything. So, there
was no denying anything. And
00:32:24.21\00:32:27.71
so, He asked me a PROFOUND
question. It just blew my
00:32:27.84\00:32:32.21
mind. He said this;
He said, "Kenny, do you
00:32:32.31\00:32:35.48
love Me?" [Mm.] Now,
I knew He's seen through
00:32:35.58\00:32:40.49
me: everything I'd ever
said, every thought, every
00:32:40.59\00:32:43.12
deed, every action - I
knew it, but I could say
00:32:43.22\00:32:45.89
to Him... I said,
"Yes, Lord; I do love You."
00:32:45.99\00:32:49.46
He said, "Kenny."
"Yes, Lord." Second time. He
00:32:49.60\00:32:55.54
said, "Do you love Me?"
- Just like Peter! - Yes!
00:32:55.67\00:32:59.54
3 times. "Kenny, do
you love Me?" And I knew
00:32:59.64\00:33:02.74
again, it just shot through
my whole system. He reads
00:33:02.91\00:33:06.35
the intents of the
heart; He knows everything about
00:33:06.45\00:33:08.42
you. You can't say anything-
you have to tell the truth.
00:33:08.55\00:33:11.22
- Oh, yeah. - Every
knee will bow, every tongue
00:33:11.35\00:33:13.12
will confe- I had to say-
I said, "Yes, Lord; I do."
00:33:13.25\00:33:16.69
See, I had that
longing. I wanted to love Him.
00:33:16.86\00:33:19.59
I wanted to do more; just
something in me was yearning
00:33:19.73\00:33:22.10
to be in His presence.
And so I said, "Yes, Lord;
00:33:22.20\00:33:26.10
I do." And then one more
time, He said, "Kenny..."
00:33:26.20\00:33:29.04
I know He could've
said, "Hey, you." Silly, but,
00:33:29.14\00:33:34.01
"Hey, Mr. Shelton." [laughter]
You know what I mean? He
00:33:34.11\00:33:38.25
didn't! He knew me -
first name basis - it's
00:33:38.35\00:33:40.78
like He knows-sorry-every
one of us. He calls us by name.
00:33:40.88\00:33:45.45
- That's right. - He
said, "Kenny"... Notice this-
00:33:45.59\00:33:48.12
profound. "Do you
REALLY love Me?" [Mm.] I said,
00:33:48.22\00:33:54.56
"Yes, Lord, I do love
you." And it's like it was with
00:33:54.66\00:33:57.47
Peter: "Feed My sheep.
Do you really love Me?"
00:33:57.57\00:34:02.44
"Yes, Lord; I do." And
then, He only said, "Kenny,
00:34:02.57\00:34:06.68
then why do you persist
in this?" - Hmm. - He named
00:34:06.78\00:34:10.81
that only God would
know. - Wow. - He named three
00:34:10.91\00:34:14.62
things in my life that
had to go, or I had to go.
00:34:14.72\00:34:17.95
- Wow. - And every
time, He said, "Kenny, then...
00:34:18.05\00:34:20.76
You said you love me,
but why do you per..." And I
00:34:20.86\00:34:24.49
said to Him, "Lord, I'm
sorry. I never realized-
00:34:24.66\00:34:27.90
it didn't seem like a
big thing. I didn't know it
00:34:28.03\00:34:30.23
hurts You!" See, in
ignorance sometimes... And I was
00:34:30.37\00:34:34.14
telling Him the truth;
that's all I could tell
00:34:34.24\00:34:35.57
Him in His presence. And
I said, "I didn't know it
00:34:35.60\00:34:39.14
hurt You like that!"
He named the second thing;
00:34:39.24\00:34:42.04
I said, "Oh, God, please
forgive me; give me strength
00:34:42.11\00:34:43.71
that"... You know? "I didn't
know it hurt You like this."
00:34:43.81\00:34:46.68
It hurt me that I
knew He hurt...and then He
00:34:46.78\00:34:48.78
named the third
thing. And I said, "Oh, Lord,
00:34:48.88\00:34:51.79
forgive me." And at
that time, I knew. You say,
00:34:51.89\00:34:55.39
"How'd you know it
was the presence of God?"
00:34:55.46\00:34:56.93
I heard singing...
God does everything
00:34:57.03\00:35:02.70
different for everybody,
so nothing special about
00:35:02.76\00:35:04.47
anything, but it was
for me. That's what it took
00:35:04.60\00:35:07.10
to change my life. And
all of a sudden, I could hear
00:35:07.20\00:35:10.11
singing, and it was
like, angelic-that the angels
00:35:10.21\00:35:13.34
of heaven were just singing,
and I could think about the
00:35:13.44\00:35:15.48
singing, rejoicing,
over that one that left the
00:35:15.58\00:35:19.88
fold-you know?-and was
coming back. - Yes. - But
00:35:19.95\00:35:24.82
you know what? The
words that came back- and it
00:35:24.95\00:35:26.82
comes back to you and
it's going to come back
00:35:26.92\00:35:28.26
to me; and someday,
it may be sooner than
00:35:28.29\00:35:29.62
we think. God said
to me, He said, "Kenny,
00:35:29.66\00:35:32.09
you have another opportunity,
and you need to make it good
00:35:32.16\00:35:38.20
this time." That's
pretty heavy-duty. I've never
00:35:38.30\00:35:41.80
forgotten that. But everything
that He said, everything that
00:35:41.90\00:35:46.64
He did, everything harmonized
with what scripture and what
00:35:46.74\00:35:49.58
I'd been praying for to
somehow be more into His
00:35:49.68\00:35:54.05
presence and what it would
be like...and He fulfilled that.
00:35:54.15\00:35:57.72
I immediately opened my
eyes with tears and crying-
00:35:57.79\00:36:01.92
right? I've been asleep,
dreaming... I immediately
00:36:02.02\00:36:06.39
just got on my knees
beside the bed and I thanked God
00:36:06.49\00:36:09.76
for a new heart. Was that
David in, what, Psalms 51...
00:36:09.90\00:36:15.97
What was it? "Create
in me a clean"... - 51:10.
00:36:16.07\00:36:19.87
"...Clean heart and renew
a right spirit in me." - And
00:36:19.97\00:36:23.31
I think if I said,
"Thank you God for that"- and
00:36:23.45\00:36:26.41
I mean, I was so
happy. There was a burden that
00:36:26.51\00:36:28.62
was left at Calvary. A
whole change took place-
00:36:28.72\00:36:32.35
and I'll tell you the change.
This has nothing to do with
00:36:32.45\00:36:34.82
individual- again, I
said I- you know, I taught
00:36:34.92\00:36:37.03
the Sabbath school class,
I taught the young married
00:36:37.09\00:36:39.23
class for years,
got little plaques,...
00:36:39.33\00:36:41.16
That didn't mean diddly,
if I can say that. - Mhm!
00:36:41.26\00:36:43.80
You can say that. - It's
the heart; it's not quite
00:36:43.93\00:36:45.33
tuned like it used to
be. I need it tweaked. He
00:36:45.43\00:36:47.84
was tweaking it for me.
- Uh-huh, recalibrating.
00:36:47.97\00:36:50.34
- And it was so interesting,
because I had never said
00:36:50.44\00:36:51.77
anything to anybody about
it. I just... Woo! I was so
00:36:51.81\00:36:55.44
overjoyed. But I remember
the first Sabbath school
00:36:55.58\00:36:58.01
lesson I taught the
next Sabbath, people come up
00:36:58.11\00:37:03.18
and... "What...what happened
to you?" - That's Jesus.
00:37:03.28\00:37:09.26
- Praise God the old
man was dead! You know what
00:37:09.32\00:37:10.73
I'm talking about? And
I'm not talking about self
00:37:10.83\00:37:13.40
at all; get rid of
that! - Yes. - Because what
00:37:13.50\00:37:16.06
they'd seen and what they
heard was different than the
00:37:16.16\00:37:18.33
guy who'd been
standing for years before them.
00:37:18.40\00:37:20.17
And I didn't know I
said anything different, but
00:37:20.27\00:37:22.94
it was accompanied
by the power of the Holy
00:37:23.04\00:37:24.37
Spirit. And they
said, "You"-listen to this!-
00:37:24.47\00:37:26.34
"You even LOOK different!"
- Thank you, Jesus! - Wow.
00:37:26.47\00:37:31.71
Countenance changed!
- I'm getting chills by-
00:37:31.81\00:37:33.25
"You even look"-and
it had nothing to do with
00:37:33.35\00:37:34.98
this sinful mess! - Mhm.
Mhm. - I was on the ropes;
00:37:35.08\00:37:37.72
didn't even realize I
was on the ropes, and He...
00:37:38.65\00:37:40.79
"Before you call,
I'll answer." He had the
00:37:40.92\00:37:44.13
answer. That... I'm sorry
it's taking so long. - It's
00:37:44.19\00:37:49.13
a beautiful story. -
That was true conversion,
00:37:49.23\00:37:51.30
at least for me, and
I'm conscious of that every
00:37:51.40\00:37:54.44
day of my life that
I don't go back, 'cause
00:37:54.54\00:37:57.81
He'll say to you as
He said to me, "You have
00:37:57.91\00:38:00.24
another chance." - Amen.
- "You need to make it good
00:38:00.34\00:38:03.35
this time," 'cause you
noticed I'd failed before.
00:38:03.45\00:38:06.05
He said it, so I knew-
so I praise God for that.
00:38:06.15\00:38:08.72
It is just as live
and fresh umpteen years-
00:38:08.75\00:38:13.79
I was just a young man
then-umpteen years ago...
00:38:13.89\00:38:16.96
It's alive and fresh in
my heart as it was then,
00:38:17.09\00:38:20.33
so I don't want to forget
that. That, for me personally,
00:38:20.43\00:38:25.87
it was in the presence of
the Lord. - That is beautiful.
00:38:25.97\00:38:28.64
- It changed my heart
and it changed my life, and I
00:38:28.70\00:38:31.11
pray, forever. -
That's powerful, Pastor Kenny.
00:38:31.21\00:38:37.78
Praise the Lord. I have
no story compared to that;
00:38:37.88\00:38:41.68
this is just my experience,
but that's the beautiful
00:38:41.78\00:38:44.85
thing: God works,
leads us along, in different
00:38:44.95\00:38:48.06
journeys-through different
paths. That's... Thank you
00:38:48.16\00:38:51.73
for sharing that. That
was powerful. My experience...
00:38:51.83\00:38:56.00
You know, Psalm 16:11
says, "In Your presence
00:38:56.10\00:38:59.63
is fullness of joy." -
Yes. - "At Your right hand are
00:38:59.73\00:39:03.20
pleasures forevermore."
So, somehow in my experience,
00:39:03.30\00:39:06.57
I always equated the presence
of God with some sort of
00:39:06.71\00:39:09.78
feeling, so... There
is some biblical basis for
00:39:09.84\00:39:15.52
that, because it definitely
says, "In Your presence is
00:39:15.62\00:39:17.95
fullness of joy"; but
at the same time-and I
00:39:18.09\00:39:21.46
don't know if this
is just a woman thing or
00:39:21.56\00:39:24.53
if, maybe, a certain
personality type deals
00:39:24.63\00:39:27.33
with this-but I used
to think if I would get up
00:39:27.46\00:39:30.23
in the morning (and I
struggled with this for
00:39:30.33\00:39:31.93
years)... If I get up
in the morning and spend
00:39:32.03\00:39:34.70
my time with God in
His Word and pray, and if
00:39:34.80\00:39:38.21
I felt, somehow, the
presence of Jesus, like
00:39:38.34\00:39:41.78
you felt that sense
of peace and just being
00:39:41.88\00:39:44.91
wrapped up in His
presence and that He's going to
00:39:45.01\00:39:48.02
sustain you throughout
the day, I felt that joy,
00:39:48.15\00:39:51.02
I would think,
"Okay, my relationship with
00:39:51.12\00:39:53.96
God, Jay, is going
well"- you know? You just feel
00:39:54.02\00:39:56.52
like you're
connected. - Uh-huh. - But maybe
00:39:56.62\00:39:59.26
the next day, I
would wake up, and I would
00:39:59.36\00:40:02.10
spend the same time
with God in His Word, and I
00:40:02.23\00:40:05.93
would pray the same, you
know, "God, take my heart;
00:40:06.03\00:40:09.70
search me and know me and
try me and take away anything
00:40:09.80\00:40:13.71
that's displeasing to You"-
all of that!...But I wouldn't
00:40:13.81\00:40:18.31
feel His presence,
and I would feel like my
00:40:18.41\00:40:21.42
prayers would just hit
the ceiling and then bounce
00:40:21.55\00:40:24.35
back, and I'd think, "Where's
the joy today?" So, what am
00:40:24.45\00:40:28.22
I doing wrong? And I would
think in my mind that, "Then,
00:40:28.32\00:40:33.29
I'm not connected with
Jesus." There's something.
00:40:33.40\00:40:36.20
So, I would equate
feeling with assurance-feeling
00:40:36.30\00:40:44.21
with presence, okay?
And I discovered that I'm to
00:40:44.31\00:40:50.01
walk by faith, not by how
I feel. If I walk by faith,
00:40:50.15\00:40:57.79
God always brings the
feelings. I have never
00:40:58.55\00:41:02.52
had an experience where I
chose to claim the promises
00:41:02.62\00:41:06.63
in His Word and I chose
to walk by faith whether
00:41:06.70\00:41:10.57
I felt it or not. He
ALWAYS has brought the feelings
00:41:10.70\00:41:14.87
along. I might not
have them at the beginning,
00:41:14.97\00:41:17.07
and I might be making a
choice to praise, making
00:41:17.14\00:41:19.44
a choice to claim
His Word and the promises
00:41:19.54\00:41:22.14
in His Word. I can
think of one time Greg and I
00:41:22.21\00:41:25.85
had been praying
over something that was
00:41:25.98\00:41:27.42
deeply personal, and
just like a dream we really
00:41:28.48\00:41:32.62
wanted...and God
had said no. And when I
00:41:32.69\00:41:36.26
realized that it was
a no, I remember just
00:41:36.36\00:41:39.86
leaving the house and
running out... We lived
00:41:39.96\00:41:42.56
on a gravel road. We
still live on a gravel
00:41:42.66\00:41:44.17
road! The same
house. So, running down the
00:41:44.27\00:41:46.90
road... It was springtime,
and the leaves were coming
00:41:47.04\00:41:50.51
out, and the birds are
singing; the sky's blue,
00:41:50.61\00:41:53.71
but I couldn't hear
that, I couldn't see that, I
00:41:53.81\00:41:56.44
couldn't sense anything!
I'm just crying, "God, where
00:41:56.51\00:42:00.68
ARE You?! I want You
and I need You! Where ARE
00:42:00.75\00:42:04.79
You?!" And all of
the sudden, it was like I
00:42:04.89\00:42:07.29
heard His voice. Now,
I'm not saying an audible
00:42:07.39\00:42:10.29
voice, but, you know,
the Holy Spirit speaks
00:42:10.39\00:42:12.03
to your heart. - Amen.
- And He said, "Jill, my
00:42:12.13\00:42:15.03
daughter, count your
blessings." - Ooh. - And
00:42:15.13\00:42:18.37
I thought, "Okay, God.
I'm going through a hard
00:42:18.43\00:42:20.77
time right now, and I'm
dealing with some stuff.
00:42:20.87\00:42:23.71
You could give me some
pity!" And He said, "Count
00:42:23.81\00:42:26.11
your blessings." "Okay..."
So, I didn't understand
00:42:26.21\00:42:30.85
why, but I thought, "Okay,
I want to walk in obedience."
00:42:30.95\00:42:34.38
- Amen. - So I made
a choice and I began to
00:42:34.48\00:42:36.62
count my blessings-promises
from His Word, what He had
00:42:36.72\00:42:42.22
given to me... And as I
did that, God changed my
00:42:42.32\00:42:48.50
heart. As I claimed
those promises, as I chose to
00:42:48.56\00:42:53.00
walk in counting blessings
in praise when I didn't
00:42:53.13\00:42:56.97
feel it, He changed my heart.
The tears dried, and I could
00:42:57.07\00:43:02.71
feel the sun on my face,
and I could hear the birds,
00:43:02.78\00:43:06.18
and all of that! And
so for me, with experience
00:43:06.25\00:43:10.22
in the presence of
God, it always goes back to
00:43:10.32\00:43:13.32
the Word. - Amen. - I base
my faith on the Word of God,
00:43:13.39\00:43:17.53
on the promises of
God's Word, and His presence
00:43:17.63\00:43:21.16
always follows that. -
Amen. Who was that in... Was it
00:43:21.26\00:43:26.40
in Scripture... Was
that Mary went to the tomb
00:43:26.53\00:43:28.64
and Jesus had already
risen, and she was crying
00:43:28.77\00:43:31.61
so hard, and He was right
there with her? "He's gone!
00:43:31.71\00:43:34.81
He's gone; I don't
know where He's at, 'cause
00:43:34.91\00:43:36.58
nobody told me where He
went"... He was right there
00:43:36.64\00:43:38.21
beside her all the
time, but she could not see
00:43:38.31\00:43:40.15
Him because of the
tears and the emotions. So
00:43:40.25\00:43:43.55
sometimes, by God's grace,
He wipes those tears away,
00:43:43.62\00:43:46.19
and then it changes your
whole heart and your whole
00:43:46.29\00:43:48.09
life, and then we see
Jesus. What you said on there- I
00:43:48.16\00:43:50.86
jotted a note down; thought
it was interesting-just a line,
00:43:50.93\00:43:53.13
because it's dealing with
faith and it's dealing with
00:43:53.26\00:43:56.13
feelings. It says,
"Faith is ours to express. Joy
00:43:56.16\00:44:02.50
and feeling and blessings
are God's to give." - Ooh,
00:44:02.57\00:44:06.98
that's deep! - Say that one
more time! - "Faith is ours"-
00:44:07.01\00:44:12.48
notice this-"to exercise."
And then we have, "Joy and
00:44:12.55\00:44:16.75
feelings and
blessings are for God to give."
00:44:16.85\00:44:21.36
- Mm. - Isn't that wonderful?
And He gives those to us!
00:44:21.49\00:44:24.63
He doesn't rob us all that!
A lot of people were afraid
00:44:24.73\00:44:27.60
because people are around
us, maybe showing a little
00:44:27.70\00:44:30.07
bit of emotion sometimes.
"Oh, you're a little bit too
00:44:30.17\00:44:32.37
excited when it comes to
the Word of God!" I don't
00:44:32.43\00:44:34.47
know if you can get too
excited for preaching the
00:44:34.57\00:44:36.07
truth-you know? I get
excited about it; and the
00:44:36.14\00:44:38.47
day I don't get
excited about it, by the grace
00:44:38.54\00:44:40.68
of God, I'm going
to hang it up. Really!
00:44:40.78\00:44:43.55
Because there's
something about the Word that's
00:44:43.61\00:44:46.15
exciting, 'cause it
just speaks to you. Doesn't
00:44:46.28\00:44:49.02
it speak to your
heart? - Absolutely. - It just
00:44:49.12\00:44:50.69
wrenches your
heart sometimes, and it's
00:44:50.79\00:44:52.35
always...He's speaking
to me always first, not
00:44:52.42\00:44:54.52
trying to speak to somebody
else; speaking to my heart
00:44:54.59\00:44:57.33
so I can be ready to
meet Him when He comes in the
00:44:57.43\00:44:58.99
clouds of glory. -
Yes. - But I know that we
00:44:59.13\00:45:01.53
can experience joy and
excitement and blessings
00:45:01.66\00:45:05.37
from the Lord, and
just feeling-that you just
00:45:05.47\00:45:08.50
know that you know
that you know-when you're
00:45:08.60\00:45:11.41
going through stress or
a scary situation, maybe,
00:45:11.54\00:45:14.54
that He's there. He said,
"I was there all the time,"
00:45:14.64\00:45:18.15
and then I feel ashamed
and embarrassed I didn't
00:45:18.31\00:45:20.62
exercise that kind of
faith...you know? What'd
00:45:20.72\00:45:23.32
He say? "I'll never"...
- "...leave you nor forsake
00:45:23.45\00:45:25.92
you." - Right? So,
faith is ours to exercise.
00:45:26.02\00:45:31.53
- That's deep. - I
love that. What do you guys
00:45:31.66\00:45:34.63
think about when you
help others? Let's say, Jill,
00:45:34.76\00:45:38.60
I know that we've gone
and done prison ministry
00:45:38.73\00:45:40.70
together. What
about when you're going to
00:45:40.80\00:45:43.57
minister to others, when
you're helping others, do
00:45:43.71\00:45:46.11
you feel like you're in
the presence of the Lord?
00:45:46.24\00:45:49.58
Do you feel the Lord's
presence in the prison?
00:45:49.64\00:45:52.81
- Absolutely. You
know, I think every time you
00:45:52.91\00:45:56.05
Word, every time you
share your own walk and journey
00:46:00.36\00:46:03.89
and experience, you're
going to feel the presence
00:46:03.99\00:46:06.73
of God. I can remember
I went for five years to
00:46:06.83\00:46:09.80
our local jail, and
we've done prison ministry
00:46:09.93\00:46:11.30
together too,
Jay. To see...the Holy
00:46:11.43\00:46:17.87
Spirit move... You
know, to see people who are
00:46:17.97\00:46:21.01
hardened to the
gospel... People, when you first
00:46:21.11\00:46:24.05
walk in, and the girls
are in there and they're
00:46:24.15\00:46:26.08
like... "Hey." - Yeah.
- You know-arms crossed,
00:46:26.15\00:46:29.92
just closed... They
just came out of their cell
00:46:30.02\00:46:33.02
because they want to get
out of the cell, and they're
00:46:33.09\00:46:36.69
not allowed out; so this
is an opportunity to come
00:46:36.79\00:46:38.99
out. They didn't
come out to hear the Word
00:46:39.06\00:46:40.40
of God; they just came
out to sit. And then all of
00:46:40.50\00:46:43.23
a sudden, you see the
Holy Spirit begin to break
00:46:43.33\00:46:46.17
down those barriers and
the conviction come in, and
00:46:46.27\00:46:51.17
the people just...the
tears start to flow, and you
00:46:51.34\00:46:54.81
sense and know the presence
of Jesus...and you get the
00:46:54.91\00:47:00.58
goosebump experience,
you know?! Just knowing that
00:47:00.68\00:47:03.59
God is there, and
knowing that there's nothing you
00:47:03.65\00:47:06.55
could've ever said or done
to affect that change. That
00:47:06.65\00:47:11.86
is the work of the Holy
Spirit. That's the result
00:47:11.96\00:47:16.00
of the presence of God. I
mean, that's just incredible.
00:47:16.10\00:47:18.97
- It is. You know, I remember
being in one of the facilities,
00:47:19.07\00:47:22.50
and I remember being
in there with Lemuel Vega
00:47:22.60\00:47:25.04
with Christmas Behind
Bars, and there was... He always
00:47:25.11\00:47:29.08
calls for volunteers. And
so, he called for a volunteer,
00:47:29.14\00:47:32.11
and the volunteer came
up- and he always gives them
00:47:32.21\00:47:36.12
something for volunteering.
Well, in this particular case,
00:47:36.22\00:47:40.49
he gave them a Remnant
Study Bible, and this grown
00:47:40.59\00:47:45.59
man who's behind
bars, who's supposed to be a
00:47:45.69\00:47:48.26
hardened criminal in
society's eyes, and...
00:47:48.33\00:47:52.23
He just began to weep.
Like, he was crying because
00:47:52.30\00:47:55.94
he was so happy to receive
the Word of God. And yet,
00:47:56.04\00:48:00.78
you know, when we
really take a look at our lives
00:48:00.91\00:48:04.05
out here in the free world,
it's like, "Am I that hungry?
00:48:04.15\00:48:10.45
Am I that hungry for the
Word that I get so excited
00:48:10.59\00:48:14.09
that I would begin to weep,
that"... You know, it amazes
00:48:14.22\00:48:19.69
me to see the hunger
that exists behind those walls
00:48:19.79\00:48:23.30
and the freedom that exists
behind those walls. Though
00:48:23.40\00:48:28.07
they're held captive
behind bars, they're so set free
00:48:28.17\00:48:31.77
in the sense that they've
accepted Christ. That, to
00:48:31.87\00:48:36.64
me, is just
amazing. - Freedom. - Mhm.
00:48:36.75\00:48:39.45
- You know? And when you
think about it, it's, like you
00:48:39.55\00:48:42.02
say, shedding tears sometimes.
Growing up all the time as a
00:48:42.15\00:48:45.99
young man, I don't know
if anybody's ever seen me
00:48:46.12\00:48:48.16
shed a tear; but it
wasn't till I was converted-till
00:48:48.29\00:48:51.53
my heart had been changed
and softened. That's when
00:48:51.69\00:48:55.26
you connect with
other people: you hear what
00:48:55.40\00:48:57.20
they're saying; you hear
the call of Christ. I often
00:48:57.27\00:49:01.14
said the first
song I ever sang after a
00:49:01.24\00:49:03.97
conversion experience
was, "What a Friend We Have
00:49:04.07\00:49:07.88
in Jesus." I
couldn't sing one line of the
00:49:07.98\00:49:11.21
whole song-why? Because
I cried like a baby. Why?
00:49:11.35\00:49:15.48
I sang that all of my
life! ...But it was different
00:49:15.58\00:49:19.52
eyes and a
different heart, you see, and
00:49:19.62\00:49:22.39
the tears come, for the
tears of joy and excitement
00:49:22.52\00:49:24.89
that what a friend,
Kenny, you have in Jesus. - Mhm.
00:49:24.99\00:49:28.56
- I tell you, that's
an awesome thing. Let God
00:49:28.70\00:49:30.30
come in your heart; let
Him come in your life. Tell
00:49:30.40\00:49:32.93
you-just- it's a different
person. That's what you
00:49:33.07\00:49:34.84
told-transform, you read
there in Romans 12. That's
00:49:34.94\00:49:38.17
what the Spirit of
the living God... In the
00:49:38.34\00:49:39.94
presence of God,
there's going to be conversions.
00:49:40.08\00:49:42.61
In the presence of God, there's
going to be joy; in the presence
00:49:42.71\00:49:45.38
God, changes are
going to take place. If any
00:49:45.48\00:49:48.12
change is not taking
place, God's not present.
00:49:48.22\00:49:51.15
- Let me ask you a question.
- That's deep. - I like that.
00:49:51.25\00:49:53.76
What would you say is
the difference between,
00:49:55.32\00:49:57.19
let's say, a
behavioral modification versus a
00:49:57.29\00:50:00.96
genuine transformation? -
It's night and day. - Yes.
00:50:01.13\00:50:07.60
- I mean, it's
completely different. Behavior
00:50:07.74\00:50:10.44
modification is all about
myself. It's all about what
00:50:10.54\00:50:13.31
I can change, what I
can do, what I can modify...
00:50:13.41\00:50:17.65
It's all about self,
and it's inward-focused,
00:50:17.75\00:50:20.95
because it says, "Okay,
I have an issue here; I'm
00:50:21.05\00:50:24.15
going to work on chipping
this part off. Okay, I have
00:50:24.25\00:50:26.69
an issue here; I'm going
to work on my personality
00:50:26.79\00:50:28.69
or my character here."
But transformation just
00:50:28.82\00:50:32.56
says, "God, I am
nothing. God, my righteousness,"
00:50:32.69\00:50:36.90
as it says in Isaiah,
"is filthy rags. God, there's
00:50:37.00\00:50:40.17
nothing good in me.
Would You come in? Would You
00:50:40.27\00:50:44.77
change me? Would You convert
me?" And God is the One who
00:50:44.87\00:50:51.05
does that. So to me,
transformation is about
00:50:51.18\00:50:54.82
looking at Jesus. 2 Corinthians
3:18, "We all, with open face
00:50:54.92\00:50:58.85
beholding as in the glass
the glory of the Lord, are
00:50:58.92\00:51:03.12
transformed into the same
image from glory to glory."
00:51:03.26\00:51:07.26
- Yes. - Even as by the Spirit
of the Lord. Now, the word
00:51:07.40\00:51:09.73
for 'transformed'
is metamorphosed. It's
00:51:09.83\00:51:12.03
the same Greek word as
in Romans 12. So, we are
00:51:12.13\00:51:15.80
transformed
completely when we look at Jesus
00:51:15.90\00:51:19.77
and when we look at Him.
- Amen. - That's beautiful.
00:51:19.87\00:51:23.11
- And there's times,
I think in our Christian
00:51:23.21\00:51:24.55
experiences like we
were talking about, sometimes
00:51:24.58\00:51:26.82
we talk a lot. The Bible
is very, very clear there's
00:51:26.92\00:51:29.58
times that we need to
be still and know-right?-
00:51:29.68\00:51:32.92
that He said that "I am
God." What's that, Psalm
00:51:33.02\00:51:34.82
46:10? Yeah. "Be still
and know that I am God."
00:51:34.89\00:51:38.96
Well, you need that
time every day. You need that
00:51:39.06\00:51:41.20
every morning and you're
studying when you get up.
00:51:41.30\00:51:42.76
Sometimes during the
day, I say to myself, "Less
00:51:42.83\00:51:46.27
talking, Kenny; more
listening." I can't learn
00:51:46.37\00:51:49.70
anything while I'm talking.
- Uh-huh! - I learn while
00:51:49.84\00:51:53.44
I'm listening, and
then God: "Be still and know
00:51:53.51\00:51:56.34
that I am God." - I
like that. - I encourage us
00:51:56.44\00:51:59.01
to spend a little thoughtful
hour each day. Meditate on
00:51:59.11\00:52:02.58
the last scenes of
Jesus on Calvary. It'll change
00:52:02.68\00:52:05.82
your whole life.
You'll be in His presence. - I
00:52:05.89\00:52:09.36
heard somebody say once
that, you know, when you're
00:52:09.46\00:52:11.86
talking, you're
just repeating things you
00:52:11.96\00:52:13.29
already know. But when
you're listening, you're
00:52:13.40\00:52:15.86
taking in new things
and learning new things. I
00:52:15.96\00:52:19.13
think that is beautiful.
You know, there's... It's
00:52:19.23\00:52:23.27
amazing how wonderful
it is to be in the presence
00:52:23.34\00:52:27.18
of the Lord, having been
outside of that presence-
00:52:27.28\00:52:31.51
you know?-not really
experiencing that because
00:52:31.61\00:52:34.28
I've gone off on my own,
to coming back to the Lord
00:52:34.38\00:52:38.02
and being in His presence
is just truly an amazing,
00:52:38.09\00:52:41.76
amazing experience, and
I can truly say that it is
00:52:41.82\00:52:46.03
much better on this
side. There is a joy that is
00:52:46.13\00:52:50.27
undescribable, a peace
that passes all understanding.
00:52:50.37\00:52:54.54
There's- I mean, it's
truly a blessing to be
00:52:54.64\00:52:58.41
on the side of the
Lord. That doesn't mean that
00:52:58.54\00:53:00.14
we don't mess up!
Right? That doesn't mean that
00:53:00.24\00:53:02.54
we don't make mistakes
as Christians...but it's
00:53:02.64\00:53:07.02
such a blessing to be
on the side of the Lord. I
00:53:07.12\00:53:09.35
can't believe our
time's almost up! We have to go
00:53:09.42\00:53:11.59
to a quick news break,
and we'll be right back.
00:53:11.69\00:53:14.76