Participants: J. D. & Shelley Quinn (Host), John & Angie Lomacang, Kenny & Chris Shelton
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW016007A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:07 Hello, and we welcome you to 3ABN Family Worship. 01:11 I'm Shelley Quinn. 01:13 I'm JD Quinn. 01:14 And it is our pleasure 01:15 to spend these Sabbath hours with you. Amen. 01:17 We hope that wherever you are around the world, 01:20 whether you are welcoming in the Sabbath 01:22 or maybe it is already Sabbath 01:24 that you will get your Bibles out and join us. 01:26 Tonight we are going to be talking about 01:29 assurance of hope and assurance of salvation. 01:34 Which, how many people do we talk to 01:36 that don't seem to have assurance of either? 01:39 It is absolutely amazing that there are some people 01:41 that just cannot understand that God loves him so much 01:46 and that there is the assurance of salvation. 01:49 The Bible makes it perfectly clear. 01:51 And we are not talking about one saved always saved. 01:53 So stay tune 01:55 because we know that you can't walk away. 01:57 But let me introduce our 3ABN family here 02:01 who we love very much 02:03 and I'm gonna start to my right, 02:04 we have Pastor John Lomacang. 02:06 Good to be here. 02:07 And, Pastor, you are our pastor so that makes it special. 02:11 Great privilege. Yes. 02:13 And you are also the director of? 02:16 World Evangelism. 02:17 World Evangelism for 3ABN. 02:19 We are getting ready to do 02:20 an evangelistic series in London 02:22 and we are excited about that. 02:23 Thanks a lot. 02:25 And then we have your beautiful wife Angela. 02:27 Hello. It's good to be here. 02:29 Tell us what you do at 3ABN. 02:31 Okay, I work at 3ABN Radio and I do what, 02:36 radio editing, production and things like that. 02:38 You know, what I love about 3ABN 02:40 is there so many couples who work here together. 02:44 You know, married couples and family members. 02:46 I think the Babb family, 02:48 we got the whole family working. 02:49 That's true. The Poling family. 02:51 The Poling family but that makes it wonderful. 02:54 Into my left 02:55 I have my dear sister Chris and Chris Shelton. 02:59 And, Chris, you 03:00 and your precious husband Pastor Kenny Shelton 03:05 are with Behold the Lamb Ministries. 03:06 Yes. 03:08 And that is your ministry I should say. 03:09 You are with it, you founded that ministry. 03:12 So we are so glad 03:13 that you are here with us tonight. 03:14 Amen. Good to be here. 03:16 Praise the Lord. Amen. 03:18 We are gonna have some fun. Yes. 03:20 But, JD, why don't you start with just a prayer? 03:23 Father, we thank You so much, Lord, 03:25 for this, for the opportunity to be able to celebrate 03:29 this time together on Your Sabbath evening. 03:31 Lord, we give you praise and glory. 03:34 Father, also I just ask that You be with us 03:36 as we go around this table 03:37 and we talk about assurance, Lord, 03:40 about a gift that You've given each one of us. 03:43 Be with us, anoint our minds, our mouths 03:45 and more important, Lord, there are people 03:47 that are very hungry and very thirsty for this word 03:49 and we're just asking in the name of Jesus 03:51 that they are attentive. 03:54 Lord, they maybe talking directly to one person, 03:57 thousand people or million people, Lord. 04:00 We give You all that You deserve 04:02 and only You, Lord. 04:04 In the name of Jesus, amen. 04:05 Amen. Amen. 04:07 Well, we have one more member 04:08 that we want to introduce as well, 04:10 she is not at the table with us but she is, 04:12 we are gonna be singing some songs, 04:14 the words will be on the screen for you to follow along. 04:18 But that's Jill Morikone 04:20 my precious sister over there behind the piano. 04:22 And Jill is administrative assistant 04:25 to Danny Shelton. 04:26 She also wears a lot of hats around here. 04:29 Danny, Danny can keep an army of people. 04:31 He can. 04:32 Absolutely. 04:34 And some. 04:35 And Jill has a program on 3ABN Heart Lift 04:38 and she is also a fantastic pianist. 04:40 So, we are glad she uses her gifts 04:43 for the glory of the Lord. 04:45 So, let's begin. 04:46 We are going to sing a song called "Trust and Obey" 04:49 one of my favorites. 04:51 Amen. Amen. Amen. 04:57 When we walk with the Lord 05:01 In the light of His Word 05:04 What a glory He sheds on our way! 05:10 While we do His good will 05:14 He abides with us still 05:17 And with all who will trust and obey 05:24 Trust and obey 05:27 For there's no other way 05:31 To be happy in Jesus 05:35 But to trust and obey 05:40 But we never can prove 05:44 The delights of His love 05:48 Until all on the altar we lay 05:54 For the favor He shows 05:57 And the joy He bestows 06:01 Are for them who will trust and obey 06:07 Trust and obey 06:11 For there's no other way 06:14 To be happy in Jesus 06:19 But to trust and obey 06:24 Amen. Amen. 06:26 And trust is the foundation for faith. 06:29 So that's why it is so important 06:31 that we trust in the Lord 06:33 with all of our heart and not our own understanding. 06:36 You know, one thing I've noticed 06:37 that I know about you all 06:39 that the older I get the lower I sing 06:41 and finding a key 06:43 in which we can all sing is a challenge. 06:45 But we are going to sing another song 06:47 one of my most favorites 06:50 and this is entitled 06:52 "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" 06:54 hymn number 522 in your hymnal. 06:57 Amen. Amen. 07:00 My hope is built on nothing less 07:04 Than Jesus' blood and righteousness 07:08 I dare not trust the sweetest frame 07:12 But wholly lean on Jesus' Name 07:16 On Christ the solid Rock I stand 07:21 All other ground is sinking sand 07:25 All other ground is sinking sand 07:31 When He shall come with trumpet sound 07:35 Oh, may I then in Him be found 07:39 Dressed in His righteousness alone 07:43 Faultless to stand before the throne 07:47 On Christ the solid Rock I stand 07:52 All other ground is sinking sand 07:56 All other ground is sinking sand 08:02 Hallelujah. Amen. 08:03 Amen. Thank you, Jesus. 08:04 And that's why when we are standing on Christ, 08:09 on His righteousness 08:11 we can have assurance of hope because it is written 08:14 we can have assurance of salvation 08:16 because it is written. 08:18 So what we are going to do tonight 08:21 is we are talking about-- 08:24 first we will begin with assurance of hope 08:27 and we are going to be doing this 08:29 as affirmations from scripture. 08:32 I would like to read just a little paragraph 08:34 and these, these words are all taken from scripture 08:38 and they are something 08:40 that we can confess over our life 08:42 or that we can pray back to the Lord. 08:44 Here is what it says. 08:46 "I'm sure of what I hoped for 08:48 and certain the things I do not yet see will happen. 08:52 It is written and God watches over His word 08:56 to see, assure that it is fulfilled. 08:59 Trust is a foundation for my hope and faith. 09:03 I trust God completely and put my hope in His word 09:06 eagerly anticipating the fulfillment of His promises 09:10 in my life. 09:11 Nothing can sway me from the truth. 09:14 My soul is well anchored. 09:16 I live by faith 09:18 which is my title deed to God's promise. 09:23 My faith is made operative by my actions of obedience. 09:27 Obedience is a pathway to God's blessings 09:31 when I do His will I receive the promise." 09:35 Now every one of those statements 09:37 is backed up by the scripture. 09:39 That's right. 09:41 And as we've kind of decided who is gonna do what 09:43 I'll start with the fist scripture, 09:45 one of my favorites. 09:47 This is a scripture from Hebrews 11 09:50 and this is something, 09:52 sometimes that people try to say 09:54 is the definition for faith. 09:56 I'll say it's just part of faith 09:58 as how I will get it 10:02 and here's what the Bible says. 10:04 I'm actually going to read from the Amplified Version. 10:08 "Faith is the assurance it is the confirmation, 10:13 the title deed" In Greek, that's hupostasis 10:16 and it was a written document 10:19 that how they transacted business. 10:21 It's like if I'm giving you a home 10:23 and I write over the title, 10:25 sign over the title deed to you, 10:26 it belongs to you 10:28 whether you've ever seen it or not. 10:29 Well, we still do that. 10:30 We still have today. Yeah, we do. 10:32 Real estate you give a title deed basically. 10:35 Absolutely. 10:36 So faith is our title deed, that's that written, 10:40 "Of the things that we hope for, 10:42 being the proof of things we do not see 10:46 and the conviction of their reality." 10:49 Now, I like this little statement 10:51 that translators added. 10:55 "Faith perceiving as real fact 10:58 what is not revealed to the senses." 11:02 Isn't that true, John, when we've got that faith? 11:06 The fact of what is not revealed to the senses 11:09 and really it's saying I remember a story years ago 11:13 where they talked about 11:15 how important it is to have faith. 11:16 Where father 11:18 put his young child on the, you know, 11:20 we have different size dresses in our home, 11:22 the family one and the taller one 11:24 I forgot what they call it. 11:26 But he said-- What's it called? 11:28 Okay. 11:30 Obviously, boy, it's not English. 11:34 But he said to his child jump 11:38 and they said 11:40 when babies are young and when they are, 11:43 when you have not disappointed them 11:46 they will jump without reservation. 11:48 But the moment they get disappointed, 11:50 they feel apprehensive and hesitant. 11:51 That's right. 11:53 And so the title deeds you're talking about is, 11:55 the Lord is saying to us as our heavenly Father, 11:57 jump, I guarantee you I'll catch you. 12:00 So, that's another way I think about it. 12:02 The guarantee we have that I'll catch you 12:04 and then He won't disappoint us. 12:05 Amen. 12:07 You know what I say? He won't drop us. 12:08 Amen. Amen. 12:10 Grace writes the check, faith takes it to the bank. 12:15 You know, you can have 12:16 all of these gifts God's given us, 12:18 all of His promises are ours in Christ Jesus 12:21 but you can have them even as head knowledge 12:24 but if you don't put it into application. 12:27 If there is not deeds of action behind it 12:29 you are never gonna know because it is by faith 12:33 that you actually draw on those promises. 12:37 Chris, why don't you do Jeremiah 1:12? 12:41 Okay. 12:42 And, you know, what you were talking about too 12:44 I think that's something that we have to continue 12:46 to learn with the faith and that title deed 12:51 because we have to believe 12:53 and so much of our actually receiving these blessings 12:58 depends on how much we believe 13:00 and you find that over and over. 13:02 So this is something Lord continues to teach us 13:05 and we're gonna look at a little bit of that 13:07 here in Jeremiah 1:12 13:08 and this is the Amplified Version as well. 13:11 It says, "Then the Lord said to me, 13:14 'You have seen well, for I am alert and active, 13:17 watching over My word to perform it.' 13:21 "See, here God was calling Jeremiah 13:22 to be a prophet 13:24 and Jeremiah said, I'm too young. 13:25 I'm a child I can't do this. 13:29 And He touched his mouth, He put His words in his mouth 13:32 and He began to show him things 13:33 and He says, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" 13:36 And He told him, he told God what he was seeing 13:39 and He says, you see well 13:41 because he was revealing to him in symbols 13:44 what he was about to do prophetically. 13:48 And I think as we look at this 13:50 we need to be looking at God's word 13:52 whether it's the prophecies and what a time we live in. 13:55 We get to look back. Oh, yes. 13:58 Our faith should be built so strong, 14:00 so much stronger than these people 14:02 because we can look back and see where 14:04 God has fulfilled those promises. 14:06 And so we can say yes, 14:08 what I see that and what a promise. 14:10 He says, I'm alert, I'm active. 14:12 He's not given up on us. 14:14 He will never leave us. 14:15 He is not leave us out there floundering 14:17 and He is watching over His word. 14:20 The one thing that we are talking about, 14:22 that the enemy is trying so hard to throw out 14:26 is the Word of God. 14:27 He says he's watching over and he will perform it. 14:30 And you at home, you can take it to the bank. 14:33 Amen. 14:34 It's your title deed 14:37 and it's such a blessing. 14:38 So I mean, that's probably a verse 14:40 that many people read over 14:42 and they don't think much about it 14:43 but when you begin to put it into perspective 14:47 as we are doing here, 14:49 it says so much to each and every one of us. 14:51 And you know He said in Isaiah 55:11 14:54 that "My word does not return void 14:56 but it accomplishes for every purpose 14:58 for which I sent it." 15:00 This is why I think one thing 15:02 is we return the Word of the Lord to Him. 15:05 It builds our faith. Amen. 15:07 If we are praying and we are saying, 15:08 "Oh, Father, thank You. 15:10 I claim this promise. 15:12 Thank You that You are alert and active. 15:15 You're watching over Your word to perform it." 15:17 That is so faith building. 15:20 So it is something 15:21 that the Lord wants us to truly accept. 15:25 And I know you grew a whole lot when you started doing this. 15:29 Amen. 15:30 Most certainly 15:32 because it does open up that avenue of communication. 15:34 It does give you that confidence that, 15:36 if that child jumps off that he will be caught. 15:39 And the more you get into the word, 15:42 the more truthful it becomes 15:44 because now you are staying on His promises. 15:46 Excellent. Made so. 15:47 And, you know, I forgot to say this 15:49 when I first started. 15:50 You know, what the word hope means in the Greek? 15:54 When we say hope nowadays, 15:56 if I say, Kenny, are you all come to church this Sabbath? 16:00 I'll hope so. 16:02 I'll hope that I can make it." 16:04 That doesn't give us certainty 16:07 but in the Bible, in the Greek 16:10 the word hope means eager expectation. 16:15 Amen. Right. 16:16 So we can have eager expectation 16:20 because all of God's promises are 16:21 as we need to stake our claim by faith 16:25 and know that He is gonna watch over His word to perform it. 16:28 So that's what so exciting. 16:31 Angie, why don't you read Habakkuk 2? 16:34 Oh, John. 16:35 Oh, that's there is John. 16:37 John, Habakkuk 2:2, 3. 16:40 Okay, Habakkuk 2, 16:41 "Then the Lord answered me, and said, 16:45 Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, 16:47 that he may run who reads it. 16:50 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, 16:53 but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie, 16:57 though it tarry, wait for it, 16:59 because it will surely come, it will not tarry." 17:02 Amen. 17:04 When you talked about the introduction 17:05 of the topic assurance 17:06 that a lot of people don't have, 17:08 what this says to me 17:09 is the Lord is saying to those who have been waiting 17:12 for the fulfillment of the vision. 17:16 I think of the apostles, I think of the disciples, 17:19 one of the things that actuated their passion 17:21 for the work is 17:22 they could not wait for the promise 17:24 the Lord had made to be fulfilled. 17:25 When He said, I will come again and they ignited the world, 17:29 they set the world on fire. 17:30 One of things that, with that said, 17:33 one of the things that we hold on to is 17:36 when He says, "This gospel of the kingdom 17:38 will be preached in all the world, 17:40 when it's done, then the end will come." 17:42 If we really believe the vision, 17:44 we will be busy 17:45 to hasten the coming of the Lord 17:47 that is we'll be so busy as the apostles were 17:50 because we so believe the vision 17:52 that we are going to do our part 17:55 knowing that if the work, if the gospel 17:56 doesn't get to the remainder of the world 17:58 then He says, okay, I can't return. 18:00 But it says here the assurance, it will not tarry. 18:04 In other words, it's not gonna, it's not going to be delayed. 18:07 It's not going to be postponed. 18:09 It's not gonna be disappointing. 18:11 It may appear that way but it's not going to be. 18:14 So wait for it, it will speak. 18:17 It is assured it will not lie. 18:20 And so this idea of waiting, somebody once said, 18:23 it wouldn't be bad to wait if it didn't take time. 18:26 Well, you know, waiting takes time 18:28 but the beauty of waiting for the Lord 18:30 is he says, I'm not lying, My word will not lie. 18:33 It's plain, I wrote it down. 18:36 In this part I guess it says, that those who read it may run. 18:40 Now this is very amazing when you think about that 18:42 because in Bible times when kings wrote a message 18:46 he had a runner. 18:48 Yes, they did. 18:49 That carried the message and they declared the message. 18:51 And in sometimes some of the ways you saw 18:54 that the king had a message 18:55 it would be introduced with the... the king 18:59 and then they would un-scroll unroll the scroll 19:01 and read the message that the king had penned. 19:04 Well, that's what it says in essence being said, 19:06 I wrote it. 19:07 Take this message to everyone you can, 19:10 run with it because it's true. 19:13 So if you believe something is true 19:14 you run with it. 19:16 And so there is a man, boy, I tell you, 19:18 he's running everywhere with that statement. 19:20 So the promises of God we can hold on to it. 19:23 We can run with it 19:24 and we can proclaim it with all assurance 19:26 that is going to come to the pass 19:28 and it will not lie. 19:29 That's right. Amen. 19:30 One thing that you do, Honey, is you always encourage people 19:34 to write God's promise on 3x5 cards 19:38 and to explain what you do there 19:40 because it's good. 19:41 Well, what I believe is, 19:43 is that everybody has a different issue 19:45 and through the aid of the Holy Spirit 19:46 you are giving the promises 19:48 and I think that everyone wants a ministry 19:51 that loves the Lord 19:52 and the ministry can be great, it can be small 19:55 but I'll guarantee you that the Lord will-- 19:57 there's other people who got the same issue 19:59 that you may have 20:01 and you've taken those promises 20:03 then the Lord by divine appointment 20:05 will bring those people to you. 20:07 Sometimes I know the answer but let me call Pastor John. 20:12 But why don't you take a 3x5 card? 20:15 Why don't you write these down 20:16 and then whenever that divine appointment comes, 20:20 the card will be there inside your purse or whatever, 20:22 you can pull them out and share with them. 20:25 And so, now you're being reinforced 20:28 because the Holy Spirit is working through you. 20:30 And so then the message just goes out. 20:32 Amen. Oh, yes. 20:34 You know, so, and it really 20:37 and people, people are excited to be able to do that. 20:43 Yes. Amen. 20:45 And, you know, some of the faith 20:46 that you are talking about here and writing those things down 20:49 what helps us fortify our minds and our heart. 20:51 But I remember I put it this way, 20:53 faith was developed at a early age 20:57 even through the, I won't say the promise of my dad. 21:00 If when we went to town and there's little children 21:04 you go in the store 21:05 and there's lot of difference now as today. 21:07 But he always said to me 21:09 "If we ever get separated you can be assured 21:15 I will not leave this place until I found you." 21:19 Amen. Wow. 21:20 "I will look until I find you." 21:22 Amen. 21:24 Somehow my mind right 21:25 then, I get goose bumps now I think about it. 21:29 The assurance was there. 21:30 I could bank on that. 21:33 Just as a human being said that, 21:35 mere human being but it was my dad. 21:38 Dad said I'm not going to leave you. 21:41 I will look for you. Amen. 21:43 I will come and get you. 21:45 I will search for you and you can always hang on that 21:48 and I always hung on that. 21:49 And I felt an assurance 21:51 that if something happen he is going to be there. 21:53 He is going to keep looking till he finds me. 21:55 I can think spiritual lessons 21:58 as sometime we wander way out there 22:01 and we have a God 22:03 and I'm thankful by faith that He searched. 22:06 He said, "I'm gonna search to you 22:07 until I find you." 22:09 And then He asked for us to search for Him 22:11 with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind 22:14 and then we will find Him. 22:16 Amen. 22:17 So, it's coming together by faith. 22:19 The promises that you're talking about 22:21 that help establish, 22:22 I think it's important 22:24 for our people who are watching. 22:25 In the home you're having worship with us now. 22:27 Your children are seated there. 22:29 Encourage them with those thoughts 22:31 even as a human Mom and Dad, 22:33 the faith, they grasp that faith 22:36 they will begin to grasp 22:37 but believe it they see it, they understand it 22:40 and they will begin to apply spiritually too 22:42 to the Word of God it will help them to grow. 22:43 It did me. 22:45 And you know something you just said 22:46 a thought occurred to me. 22:48 Sometimes I think parents are too quick 22:53 to gratify every desire of their children. 22:56 Delayed gratification, 22:58 there is something about saying, 23:00 okay, we are going to do such and such. 23:03 Let's say you're gonna get an ice cream cone 23:05 but we are gonna do this after we have gone shopping, 23:09 we are gonna have your treat but not before. 23:12 There is not gonna be whatever but when you tell a child 23:16 that there is something coming up 23:17 and then you fulfill it you, you create in them 23:22 that eager expectation of your word. 23:26 And see this is what God, I'll tell you, you know, 23:28 when people are brand new Christians 23:31 isn't it amazing 23:32 how their prayers, their simplest prayers 23:34 are just answered, answered, answered, 23:36 and it's like God showing. 23:38 Now as we grow they don't always answer that fast 23:42 but you begin to have eager expectation 23:45 that God is a God of His word 23:47 and His word is for the appointed time 23:50 and He is watching over His word to perform it 23:53 and you can claim it. 23:55 Hallelujah. Amen. 23:57 And that's why you made a point that I want to build on. 24:00 Sometimes we pray 24:01 and it's not fulfilled right away. 24:04 I was talking to somebody and I was saying to them, 24:06 'cause here we're bringing that point out, 24:07 why is that I'm praying 24:09 my prayers don't seem to be answered? 24:10 And I have been a Christian for so long, 24:12 the Lord is testing you to see whether or not 24:14 you are with Him for just what He response to 24:17 or if you still believe Him when He is silent. 24:20 So sometimes God is silent 24:22 but His silence doesn't equate to His absence. 24:24 That's right. 24:25 And so we have to sometimes wait, 24:27 there is a text says, 24:28 "Wait, wait for a point of time. 24:30 Why would I answer a prayer 24:32 that you don't need answered till tomorrow." 24:34 So God sometimes will stretch you to the point 24:36 where you get to that place and say now step off in faith. 24:39 Yes. 24:40 But the other part of that is that 24:42 sometimes God's answer is no. 24:43 If you're praying for a motorcycle 24:45 and God can see, He sees the end from the beginning 24:48 and He knows that motorcycle is gonna end up 24:50 and wrapped around tree. 24:51 He may just tell you, no. Right. 24:53 What you're gonna say, Honey? 24:54 To every sincere prayer, an answer will come. 24:57 It may not come just as we think 24:59 that it should come, 25:00 but it will always come for our eternal benefit... 25:03 Okay. At the right time. 25:05 And, Angie, why don't you do Hebrews 6:18, 19. 25:10 Okay. 25:11 It says, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, 25:17 both sure and steadfast 25:20 and which enters the presence behind the veil, 25:24 where the forerunner has entered for us, 25:28 even Jesus having become a high priest forever 25:32 according to the order of Melchizedek." 25:35 Okay, so verse 18, read 18. 25:37 Did you read that one 18 and 19? 25:39 Oh, 18? Yeah, 18 and 19. 25:40 Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay. 25:42 "That by two immutable things 25:45 in which it is impossible for God to lie, 25:49 we might have strong consolation 25:52 who have fled for refuge 25:54 to lay hold of the hope set before us." 25:58 And then it goes on to say, 26:00 "This hope we have as an anchor." 26:01 Amen. Yeah. 26:03 So when He is saying we take hold of hope. 26:09 Yes. 26:10 How do we take hold of hope? 26:12 If hope is eager expectation and what God is gonna do 26:15 how can I take hold of hope? 26:18 Somebody watching today is wondering, 26:20 how can I have that eager expectation. 26:23 I think it always goes back. 26:25 Now, you guys have given 26:26 a lot of wonderful examples already 26:29 but it always goes back to the time 26:31 that we spend with God. 26:32 That's it. 26:34 You got and people need to begin to spend time 26:37 each and every day and it gives you the hope. 26:40 And He begins to communicate with you in your heart 26:44 and your mind becomes like the mind of Christ. 26:46 This is it. 26:47 And I always tell people "little word, little faith." 26:50 That's right. 26:52 And little faith means you have no hope. 26:54 And an anchor, you wonder what is an anchor? 26:58 A boat has an anchor 26:59 and it drops to the bottom, yes. 27:02 And I looked up that word what is an anchor? 27:04 It said, "Device made of metal is strong. 27:08 It connects to the vessel, okay, 27:10 and it goes to the bottom of the water, the bed. 27:13 And it prevents the craft from drifting 27:16 due to wind or tide." 27:18 So what does the scripture say? What is our anchor? 27:21 We have an anchor of the soul, both sure-- 27:23 But it says, we have this hope. 27:27 So it is, the word hope. 27:30 When we had eager anticipation in God's word being fulfilled 27:36 that is what keeps us from drifting. 27:38 We can wait, no, it's for the appointed time. 27:41 I love it. 27:43 That's not I like that whole idea of, it's heavy. 27:46 I've seen anchors where we were in Hawaii 27:48 not too long ago and there was this big anchor 27:49 from one of the ships that had sunk from World War, 27:53 you know, the bombing of the Pearl Harbor 27:54 but they were able to savage one of the anchors. 27:57 And it's displayed there. 27:59 We just tapped on it 28:01 how heavy this is and that anchor is, 28:03 it has to be of such weight that it has to hold 28:06 that multiple tonnage vessel from moving 28:10 and I thought, "Well, unless that anchor is lifted 28:13 that vessel is not going anywhere." 28:14 And I looked at the size of that anchor 28:17 compared to this structural size of that vessel 28:19 and I think, "This anchor can stop that vessel?" 28:22 And it's not just the weight of the anchor 28:24 but what it's made of. 28:25 And so our anchor is the Word of God. 28:27 Our anchor is hope. 28:28 Our anchor is the promises of God. 28:30 It's not just the weight of the word 28:32 but it's what it's made of it. 28:33 It's made of assurance. 28:35 And it prevents you from drifting. 28:36 I like that. Yes. 28:37 I want to add to it because, you know, 28:39 we've been in a lot of smaller boats too 28:41 that used anchors and it's not always the size 28:44 but it's what is grabbing on to. 28:46 It's got to grab deep 28:48 just like our roots need to grab deep. 28:51 And isn't that beautiful 28:52 because we live in such a world 28:54 where there is so much chaos, so much heartache. 28:57 You know, people don't know, I thought back 29:00 to the people that I was in high school with 29:02 and so many of them committed suicide. 29:06 You know, they died early and I thought, 29:08 I was just thinking about this last night and I thought, 29:10 you know, the enemy had their young minds so early 29:14 because they didn't have an anchor, 29:15 they didn't have hope. 29:17 They didn't have hope. And they drifted. 29:18 Didn't not have the hope. That's it. 29:20 That hope, that anchor 29:21 and if we put our hope in the Word of God. 29:24 If we are putting that every day 29:25 into our mind, into our heart 29:28 then He keeps us from blowing around. 29:30 And I've been in storms and it's no fun to be in a boat 29:34 that's not anchored, let me tell you. 29:35 You're scared to death. 29:37 And it's blown by the winds into which direction. 29:38 But your point is so well taken because 29:41 what gives somebody a suicidal thought 29:45 is lack of hope. 29:46 It's when they get to the point they feel hopeless 29:48 that's when they want to check out. 29:50 But the point that I have, 29:51 I mean, some serious sermon material 29:53 that keeps you from drifting. 29:55 That's the main thing 29:56 and if you do find yourself drifting 29:59 well, then you know that you need to get into the word. 30:03 And so intellectually you know that you, 30:06 "Oh, I need to get back into the word." 30:08 And it's so important again because of the people 30:10 that 3ABN is reaching and this is, you know, 30:12 that we are talking to have worship in the home. 30:14 Still always goes back my opinion, 30:17 In the home where the children 30:19 and mom and dad, and they were sitting around 30:22 and I have to go back again and say, 30:24 "I can't remember a time, 30:26 this helped me in my Christian experience." 30:28 My dad always kept his word. 30:32 Never one time though I can remember 30:34 that he ever went back on a promise. 30:36 Amen. 30:37 Any promise he made, 30:39 he did his best to make sure he fulfilled that, 30:41 helped me to understand my Father's promises. 30:43 Amen. 30:45 Every time he went back and he went back and he say, 30:47 and that was when, you know, you boys weren't good at church 30:52 and you're gonna get a spanking, whipping. 30:55 He usually said after sundown. 30:57 You're gonna get a spanking. You could count on it. 31:00 You could count on if he said, you know, 31:02 or you won't spend the night with somebody. 31:04 When you came back home Sunday evening 31:07 you met him at the door. 31:08 He had the belt in his hand. 31:10 He fulfilled the promise. 31:12 That may sound little bit odd that is exactly 31:14 how I understood and begin to relate it 31:17 with my heavenly Father, 31:18 He always fulfill, He is always there. 31:20 He keeps His word and my dad always did it 31:23 and I'm always thankful for that. 31:24 Kenny, you are on a role so why don't you do James 2:17. 31:27 Okay, 2:17. 31:31 It says, "Even so faith, 31:33 if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." 31:37 Though how interesting so many discussions on this 31:41 but if you notice that faith and it really, 31:43 literally here means, 31:44 here in the original language it means the faith. 31:47 It's talking about the faith. 31:49 Faith without works is dead. 31:51 Faith without works is just-- Someone mentioned it. 31:54 What's works? Yeah. 31:55 Deeds and action of obedience. Deeds and actions. 31:58 But he is talking about faith without works here is, 32:00 which someone mentioned a while ago 32:02 is just an intellectual knowledge of the truths, 32:06 the doctrines, the teachings, you have those 32:09 but unless there is the fruits, 32:11 lest there is a work that's correspond with that, 32:13 it is a dead faith. 32:15 It's literally here says, it's being dead, being dead. 32:18 That means it's lifeless. 32:20 Dead, dead plant 32:24 doesn't bear fruit, doesn't at all. 32:26 I like what the Amplified says, it says, 32:28 "It's destitute of power." 32:31 It's inoperative. 32:32 So if we, if we say we have faith in God's word 32:37 but we don't act on that. 32:39 See, that's why I said, 32:41 part of the definition of faith is actions of obedience. 32:44 So without that what difference does it make? 32:48 Exactly. Destitute. 32:49 It's destitute, you know, 32:50 James makes it real clear here when you look at. 32:52 Says, faith without, notice faith without works 32:55 but he is not really comparing, he is talking about 32:58 a genuine faith with a dead faith. 33:01 So comparison there is a genuine, 33:03 we say genuine faith 33:04 and then there is this dead faith 33:06 that many sad to say Christians have today. 33:10 They believe there is a God, 33:12 they believe in the teachings 33:13 but your life doesn't correspond with that 33:16 in their works, in their love 33:17 for their fellow man and their love for God. 33:20 So it becomes dead and unacceptable to God. 33:23 It's like perceivable faith. 33:24 Yeah. 33:26 It looks like it because 33:27 it's all dressed up in Christian things 33:30 but it's really not anchored. 33:32 And when the storms come, you will discover 33:34 that your perceivable faith is empty. 33:36 It's destitute, it's inoperative. 33:38 There is nothing to it. 33:40 And so there are so many of it. 33:41 That's why we have to remember 33:42 that faith is not just singing songs 33:44 and studying your Sabbath school lesson. 33:45 Come on now. 33:47 It is a full relationship. Amen. 33:48 You know, when Peter talks about 33:50 that a few had virtue and knowledge and wisdom 33:52 and he began the building block of Christianity 33:56 is something that so many of us have to keep in mind. 33:58 It's not just one thing, not even a gift, 34:01 it's not even the ability to speak or sing 34:03 but it's that relationship first 34:05 and then it goes all way back 34:06 to the substance of things hope for. 34:09 If you really believe someone is there, 34:11 think of the young people today 34:12 and I want to add a component here quickly 34:14 to something JD said. 34:16 Young people text a lot 34:17 because they know the person is there. 34:19 So, if we believe the Lord is there, 34:20 we keep that active relationship going with Him. 34:22 Amen. Amen. 34:23 So, JD, why don't you do Hebrews 10:36? 34:26 I think this is important too. Yeah. 34:28 And, you know, this is just basically 34:31 here we just talked about it does not have works. 34:33 Now we are talking about in Hebrews 10:36, 34:36 "When you have done the will of God," 34:39 when, key words when. 34:41 "When you have done the will of God you will" 34:44 strong word there, 34:45 "you will receive what he has promised." 34:47 Amen. 34:49 And so there, I mean, a perfect example here, 34:53 is in our backyard right now. 34:56 Whenever we move to this place 34:58 I put out seven peach trees, 35:00 two apricot trees, an apple tree. 35:03 Man, I got one of the best peach tree crops there is. 35:06 I've got two apricot trees. 35:08 I've got two apricot trees that are absolutely beautiful. 35:13 The trunk is this size and I've got three apricots 35:17 over the last five years where I'm getting 35:19 hundreds and hundreds of peaches. 35:22 Now and going back to faith it does not have works. 35:26 I'm making a decision on those apricot trees. 35:29 Beautiful, fluffy, the most beautiful leaves 35:34 but I'm not getting a thing out of it. 35:36 So now I'm making and say, but here it says, 35:39 "When you have done the will" 35:40 and so I'm sitting here having this little battle within 35:42 because they are so pretty good but they got no fruit 35:45 but they are so pretty, Jesus, they got no fruit. 35:48 That's right. Yeah. 35:49 So now, whenever you've done the will of God. 35:53 Does this mean, Lord, 35:54 I need to grasp something back into this apricot tree 35:57 so I'm gonna have fruit? 35:59 What am I gonna do, Lord? 36:00 Oh, wow. 36:02 And I want to point out one thing here very quickly 36:04 because I think I've got two. 36:06 We bit off too much, 36:07 we could have probably spent the whole time. 36:09 That's true. Come on. 36:10 But on Hebrews 10:36 36:13 the version that you were reading there is from the NIV. 36:15 I just want to read it to you from the King James says, 36:19 "For you have need of endurance, 36:20 so that after you have done the will of God, 36:25 you will receive the promise." 36:26 Come on. Yes. 36:27 There are so many people 36:29 who believe that they are going to get God's promises 36:31 without walking in obedience. 36:33 Right. 36:34 But obedience is the pathway to God's blessings. 36:38 His blessings come as, I mean, His love is unconditional 36:43 but all of His promises are conditional. 36:46 You do this, I'll do this. 36:48 You do this, I'll do that. Right. 36:50 And I think we need to go back 36:52 when we were talking about prayer. 36:53 We talked about, you said, people coming into the faith, 36:56 how their prayers are answered very quickly 36:58 and you expounded on it. 37:00 And I thought of this verse but I didn't mention it. 37:03 But see, I think a lot of times 37:05 as we are growing as a Christian, you know, 37:07 the Lord begins to test us, show us things 37:09 and if we turn our back, you know, 37:12 we have the faith but not the works. 37:14 You know, we are not being obedient 37:16 I think even our prayer life 37:17 we are not gonna receive those promises. 37:19 He can't answer those prayers 37:21 because we are not living up to the will of the Lord. 37:24 And back to James 2:17, that one is I think 37:29 that is such a simple verse but so critical. 37:31 Oh, mercy. 37:33 So critical in today's society, people will say, 37:35 I had the faith I'm saved. 37:37 It's okay, I have the faith. 37:38 I don't have to do that. 37:40 I don't have to go there. I don't have to-- 37:41 Just mercy. 37:42 Man, it's all done away with but I believe and I receive. 37:44 Oh, mercy. 37:45 You know, and I deal with those people a lot 37:47 and I love those people but they are just so stuck 37:51 and, you know, with just one part of it. 37:54 They don't have it. 37:55 And that's why we want to get to. 37:56 Why do, how can we have assurance of salvation? 37:58 Yes. 38:00 So let's, I'm gonna read an affirmation 38:02 and then we want to get into these 38:03 because I really want to get as many of these done 38:06 as we can to show that 38:09 we can have that not the assurance of hope, 38:12 that eager expectation of what God, 38:15 we can have assurance of salvation 38:17 but there are even, I'll say conditions on that. 38:20 Would you agree? 38:21 Let's read the affirmation says, 38:23 "I abide in Christ keeping His commandments. 38:26 I know He abides in me by His spirit." 38:29 These all come from scripture. 38:31 "Therefore, because I'm abiding in Christ 38:34 keeping His commandments and His spirit is in me, 38:37 therefore I have assurance of salvation. 38:40 God has given me eternal life found only in His Son. 38:43 No one can snatch me from His hand. 38:45 The Lord preserves me from evil making me complete in Him, 38:49 I'm saved by grace through faith 38:53 being fully persuaded 38:54 that God is able to keep me by His power." 38:57 John, why don't you do 1 John 3:24. 39:01 "Now he who keeps His commandments 39:06 abides in Him, and He in him. 39:09 And by this we know that He abides in us, 39:13 by the Spirit whom He has given us." 39:15 Amen. 39:16 So you know the Lord abides and this comes back to 39:22 I think it's Acts 5:29 where the apostle says, 39:28 "God has given His spirit to those who obey Him." 39:30 Yes. Yes. 39:31 Yeah. 39:33 So often we pray for this, we pray for the spirit 39:35 but we don't want to be obedient. 39:36 Right. Yes. 39:38 And obedience is a condition that's what I'm talking about. 39:40 So the Lord says, let's use an example a classic one. 39:43 "If you love Me keep my commandments." 39:44 I do love You but I'm not doing that 39:48 and we give all our conditions and our reasons why it's not-- 39:50 We have grace. We have grace. 39:52 We have grace, is we are done away with. 39:53 We are in the new covenant. 39:55 We are in new dispensation. 39:56 We add our conditions to God's command and He says, 39:59 but there is so much I want to do for you 40:02 and on the heels of that He cannot actively 40:05 and this is a very powerful point. 40:07 When we intentionally 40:09 turn away from a command of God, 40:11 I remember the scripture 40:13 and we talked about this on a program we did together. 40:17 "He that turneth his ear from hearing the law, 40:19 even his prayer is an abomination." 40:22 Amen. Yeah. 40:23 So God is saying, wait a minute, wait a minute, 40:24 and let's put that back in the context but parent now, 40:26 parent to children. 40:27 You talked about your dad. 40:29 Now, I use Kenny's dad 40:30 because I've heard so much knowing Kenny and Danny 40:32 and his brother Ronny and the list goes on and on. 40:35 But I doubt your dad will honor your request 40:39 if you're recalcitrant and disobedient 40:42 just because you asked him. 40:43 Would he say, 40:44 "Sure, Kenny, you want the car keys, no problem. 40:46 You haven't done your homework, 40:48 you haven't done any house work, 40:49 you don't listen to me but here are the car keys." 40:51 Did that happen in your house? There was conditions. 40:53 Man, and you had to follow them, the conditions 40:57 and if you messed upon one, you didn't get the keys. 40:59 Right, and it was not, it was not just 41:01 because you're my son, it is what I'm talking about. 41:03 Sometimes we claim son ship and daughter ship 41:06 and we cry "Abba! Father" 41:08 but we have to cry Abba, Father, 41:09 in the context of speak 41:11 oh, Lord for your servant listens. 41:13 Yes. That's right. 41:14 And how does, I mean, just look at that scripture 1 John, 41:16 "He who keeps His" I mean, 41:19 to have salvation we have to be abiding in Christ. 41:21 That's right. 41:22 So right here He says in 1 John 3:24, 41:25 "He who keeps His commandments abides in Him." 41:29 So, if we are not keeping His commandments, 41:31 we are not abiding. 41:33 And you know it's like, it's the, 41:34 "I'm the vine, you're the branches." 41:37 We were grafted in and He says, 41:40 "By this we know that He abides in us, 41:42 by the Spirit He gives us." 41:43 Yes. 41:44 So the SAP, I call it 41:46 the Spirit Anointing Power, the SAP. 41:48 We have to be abiding in the vine, 41:51 keeping His commandments 41:53 and like you said in Acts 5:29, 41:59 when He says, 42:02 "That the spirit is given to those who obey Him." 42:04 When we accept Christ as our Savior, 42:06 we get the measure of the spirit. 42:08 But we are not going, you know, 42:10 we can quench and resist the spirit of God, 42:13 we can grieve the spirit of God and it's only, 42:16 I mean, we can only obey with the spirit of God 42:18 but we have to have that attitude that guide me, 42:21 fill me and it's a day by day thing. 42:23 Yes, it is. Let me correct something. 42:25 Was that Acts 5:29 "As we ought to obey God rather than men." 42:28 But verse 32, "He gives His spirit to those who obey Him." 42:31 Amen. Correct. 42:33 And also just real quick 42:34 and also the "B" part of that sentence, 42:37 "He who keeps my commandments abides in Him" 42:39 but more importantly is that His and Him. 42:43 That's so good. So there is that reciprocation. 42:45 Yeah. Amen. 42:46 It's not a one way street. A hand and glove. 42:48 Yeah. 42:49 This is you can't separate the two. 42:51 Now, I really I'm anxious to get to this scripture 42:52 because I've had people tell me before. 42:55 I know, especially, well, I've just had some people say, 42:59 "Well, you can't have assurance of salvation." 43:02 And I just want to, if you ever felt like that 43:05 I want you to open your Bible to 1 John 5 43:08 we're gonna read verses 11 and 13. 43:12 Here's how you can have assurance of salvation. 43:17 1 John 5:11-13, and John writes, 43:24 "This is the testimony that God has given us eternal life, 43:30 and this life is in His Son. 43:33 He who has the Son has life," 43:39 has this eternal life 43:41 "he who does not have the Son does not have the life. 43:47 These things I have written to you 43:48 who believe in the name of the Son of God, 43:51 that you may know that you have eternal life." 43:56 That's right. Praise the Lord. 43:57 So, we have to have a son, 44:00 how do we know we have the son? 44:02 You just read it earlier. 44:04 The spirit confirms that. 44:06 We're abiding in Christ. 44:08 If we are keeping His commandments 44:09 we abide in Him, He in us, we have Him. 44:13 But, you know, I'm not open there but 1 John 5:10, 44:18 I love this because it says that 44:21 "If we don't accept the testimony of God, 44:24 we're regarding Him as a liar. 44:25 Oh, yes. 44:27 Now I want to ask you a question, 44:28 have you ever read a promise 44:31 in God's word that sounds too good to be true 44:33 and you think, oh, surely not for me? 44:36 Not me. 44:37 You know, I mean, God may mean this for everybody else 44:40 but He can't possibly mean it for me. 44:43 If we are not accepting what God says 44:45 about who we are in Christ, 44:47 if we are not accepting this, this word 44:50 if you can't accept the fact 44:51 that you can have eternal salvation, 44:53 you're calling God a liar. 44:55 Wow. 44:57 An assurance of eternal salvation. 44:58 That's what the enemy is out to do 45:00 because he wants to discourage. 45:03 He wants you to be depressed. 45:04 He wants you to feel like those are for other people 45:07 but they can't apply to you 45:08 because you're just not good enough, 45:10 and you can never be good enough. 45:13 Yeah. Let's amplify that for a moment. 45:14 You can't be good enough, that's the fact. 45:17 We have to keep in mind, I think, 45:19 I don't know if you read this text 45:20 but I think it's perfectly 45:21 where Ephesians 2:8, 9 fits into. 45:23 Go ahead and read that real quick, 45:24 because that fits in perfectly right now. 45:26 Ephesians 2, this perfectly fits into that context. 45:28 Okay. 45:29 Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, 45:30 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, 45:35 and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 45:39 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 45:43 For we are His workmanship, 45:46 created in Christ Jesus for good works, 45:50 which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them." 45:55 And it's a gift. 45:56 Have you ever received a gift before? 45:59 You have to accept it, don't you? 46:01 We have to accept. Amen. 46:02 You have to receive. Amen. 46:03 Yes, receive it. 46:05 I receive gifts. 46:06 If I don't receive it then I don't want it. 46:09 But you have to receive what God has for you. 46:12 He has a gift for us and it says that, 46:15 it says it here. And go ahead. 46:17 And the gift, the gift cost something 46:19 but doesn't cost you anything. 46:21 They want you to respond to the price 46:24 that I paid for that. 46:25 I love, you know, it's not Christmas we know that 46:27 but birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas people just love, 46:30 sometimes somebody will send you a gift inadvertently. 46:33 You know, you don't call, you don't call them up and say, 46:35 "How much does this cost?" 46:37 That's an insult. It is. 46:40 You know, what do you mean how much does it cost? 46:43 What's the point? Just receive it, enjoy it. 46:46 Forget about the cause and then you open and say, 46:48 "Oh, this must have cost you a whole lot. 46:50 I don't feel, I don't know if I could accept this." 46:53 You have to accept that I purchased it, it's for you 46:55 and I'm not gonna take it back. 46:56 Well, you did that for me. 46:58 You bought me a gift and I said, 46:59 "John, how much was this?" 47:01 Yes, you did that. 47:03 I said, "Honey, you're worth every penny of it. 47:05 I'm not taking it back, don't even ask me. 47:09 This can't be-- oh, no, I can't. 47:11 No, no, Honey." He is such a good. 47:12 How do you, how do you, how do you, how do you look at 47:15 when people say, they say to be an Christian 47:18 is gonna cost you because we realize the cost at Calvary 47:21 but yet in this life being a Christian 47:24 can it cost you and what does it cost you? 47:28 You know, what it costs you and I like that. 47:31 There's a scripture in Matthew says, 47:33 when a person is building house 47:35 hasn't counted the cost, can't finish it. 47:39 The way that I look at the cost because people often say, 47:42 "What do I have to give up?" 47:44 Go ahead now, here's getting deep. 47:45 All right. I say, okay. 47:47 Okay, I saw a picture this is so cute, 47:48 my wife showed this to me on Facebook. 47:51 Artist concept, a little girl with a teddy bear, 47:55 little small teddy bear and Jesus was saying to her, 47:58 give me, come on give me that teddy bear. 48:01 And she said, no but I love it so much. 48:04 But she didn't know behind his back 48:06 he had a super huge teddy bear for her. 48:10 Yes. 48:11 And sometimes the Lord wants to test us He says, 48:12 "You think what you have given up is something. 48:14 You wait till I replace it." 48:16 Yes. 48:17 So it's not what we are giving up at all 48:18 but it's what is being replaced by what we have. 48:21 And so He is able to do what? 48:24 "Exceedingly, abundantly 48:28 above all that we can ask or think." 48:31 Oh, that's big. That's huge. 48:33 That covers all the basis. Thank you. 48:34 Amen. 48:35 You can't even think what I can do for you. 48:37 So when I say to people, 48:38 "You ain't giving them nothing." 48:40 Let me tell you what the benefits are. 48:42 You know, I say this real quickly. 48:44 As a Christian I'm not only a pastor 48:46 but I sell life insurance and fire insurance 48:49 and a retirement plan that's out of this world. 48:51 That's right. 48:52 Okay, so those are the benefits. 48:54 We don't serve God either though 48:55 for what we are receiving. 48:57 No. That's right. 48:58 We serve Him because we love Him. 49:00 We love Him. 49:01 And He never asks us to give up anything that's good for us. 49:03 It's always those things 49:05 that can hurt us or hurt others. 49:07 He's so good, He looks inside the heart and the mind. 49:10 He knows where we are at and He ask us 49:12 graciously, loving and kindly, 49:14 Kenny, you need to get rid of this 49:16 because it will hurt you 49:17 and I don't want you to get hurt. 49:18 But there is one more thing, 49:20 Kenny, and we want to finish these scriptures. 49:21 Sometimes He asks you to give up something 49:24 that is good for you just to see if you're willing. 49:27 Like Abraham. 49:29 Like Abraham and his son. Thank you. 49:30 Said, come on are you willing to sacrifice your son? 49:32 I'll do it Lord if that's what you're asking. 49:35 Abraham, Abraham. Yeah. 49:36 He wants to see if we are willing. 49:38 That's right. And then it's okay. 49:39 You're willing to give it up, you can keep it. 49:40 Wonderful. Praise the Lord. Yes. 49:42 Boy, so many, so many directions we could go. 49:45 Now back to the faith, there needs to be 49:47 a balance of everything we've talked about. 49:49 What you're talking about the little teddy bear 49:51 and the big teddy bear I feel like 49:52 I've been living 49:54 that the last several weeks and months. 49:56 And I don't want to say too much, 50:00 I could but, you know, for 26 years we've lived 50:04 in a very beautiful part of Southern Illinois. 50:06 I said, it's a closest to Tennessee 50:08 without leaving the state. 50:10 You know, waterfalls, ponds, 50:12 just you name it, just gorgeous. 50:14 And then my husband and his brother 50:17 I call them the boys, you know, 50:19 I said the boys had this idea 50:22 and for us to move closer to 3ABN 50:25 and to shorten that drive. 50:27 And that was really tough because I thought well, 50:31 we've done this drive for 26 years why change it now? 50:36 Oh, boy. 50:37 And in a way-- 50:39 And I like where I met. I love my little teddy bear. 50:41 You know, I like and I don't want to give... 50:45 But let me move here little quicker here 50:47 because after a lot of things that were happening 50:50 I didn't sleep night very well at all 50:52 and I spent about a hour and half 50:54 that next morning praying 50:55 and I know that God speaks to us through His word. 50:58 And I said, God, would You please. 51:00 Nothing I've prayed about 51:01 has been answered the way I've asked it. 51:03 I said, would You please speak to me, Lord? 51:06 And the first verse I opened up was Deuteronomy 30:16 51:10 which kind of fits with everything 51:11 we've been talking about. 51:12 It says, "In that I command thee this day to love the Lord" 51:16 everything has to be loved. 51:18 Everything, every truth. 51:20 "Thy God, to walk in his ways," We've been talking about that, 51:24 faith without works is dead. 51:26 Prayers can't be answered. 51:28 "And to keep his commandments 51:30 and his statutes and his judgments, 51:32 that thou mayest live and multiply" and here it goes 51:35 "and the Lord thy God shall bless thee 51:39 in the land whither thou goest to possess it." 51:43 Amen. 51:44 And of course I began to cry. 51:46 Yeah. I understand that. 51:48 Because I knew right then, I knew right then 51:51 God was telling me this is My will 51:54 and I will bless you 51:56 and if nothing else I feel like 51:58 I have been blessed by so many people here 52:02 that I just feel. 52:03 You're gonna love it. 52:05 You're gonna. Blessed assurance. 52:06 Amen. So-- 52:08 To bring that assurance into them. 52:09 Absolutely. 52:10 Okay, so let's look at this 52:12 because I want to get to a couple more scriptures. 52:13 We only have a few minutes left here but, 52:16 but so the Bible is telling us in 1 John 52:21 that if we keep His commandments, 52:23 we abide in Christ, Christ abides in us. 52:25 We know it by the spirit is with us. 52:27 And then John goes on to tell us 52:29 we can have complete assurance of salvation. 52:32 If we have the Son, you have eternal life. 52:35 If you don't have the Son, you don't. 52:36 That's right. 52:38 Now we just saw what you were reading, 52:40 salvation is a gift. 52:42 It is by grace. 52:43 Now, you know, it's interesting that Hebrews 5:9 says, 52:46 "Having been perfected, 52:48 He" Christ" became the author 52:50 of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." 52:53 Obey. Now wait a minute. 52:55 Okay, but salvation is a gift there's no doubt, 52:59 there is nothing we can do to earn, 53:01 there is nothing that we could 53:03 ever do to be good enough to merit this. 53:07 But I want to tie in real quickly 53:09 Hebrews 13:20, 21 53:12 because God's plan has always been the everlasting covenant 53:19 has been that it would be Him substituting Himself for us 53:25 the righteousness of Christ. 53:27 The righteousness of God 53:30 being is what's going to perfect us. 53:33 So read Hebrews 13:20, 21, 53:35 Okay, 20 and 21, Hebrews 13 says, 53:38 "Now the God of peace, 53:40 that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, 53:43 that great shepherd of the sheep, 53:45 through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 53:48 make you perfect 53:49 in every good work to do his will, 53:52 working in you that 53:54 which is well pleasing in his sight, 53:56 through Jesus Christ, 53:58 to whom be glory for ever and ever. 53:59 Amen." So who is doing the work here? 54:02 Yeah. God is doing. That's right. 54:03 Yeah, He says, He is doing the work 54:05 and I love the way it started out. 54:07 It said, the God of peace. That's right. 54:10 What a wonderful that is you see the God of peace here 54:13 because the Lord said 54:14 He is going to bless His people. 54:16 You know, peace, He is going to give them peace. 54:18 And I thought what is this? 54:19 Peace to me is like tranquility 54:21 and really that's what the word really means 54:23 but even it expands beyond that here. 54:27 He said, "I'm God of peace." 54:28 In other words, I'm going to give you peace. 54:30 In original language means safety. 54:32 I'm gonna give you safety. 54:33 I'm gonna give you tranquility. 54:36 I'm going to give you security. 54:38 I'm gonna prosper you 54:41 if you will hear and be obedient 54:43 and keep His commandments, walk in faith and not by sight. 54:47 He's promised to meet 54:48 all the needs of our life every day 54:50 with us go before, go behind us, 54:52 go on each side of us. 54:54 Angels to be doubled around us to take care of us, 54:56 see to me that gives me goose bumps 54:59 to realize so insignificant as an individual. 55:02 So unworthy as I am, 55:05 I will just put it that way that He said, 55:07 "I will be with you always, Kenny, even to the end." 55:09 Wow. Amen. 55:10 He made that promise 55:12 "I'll never leave you and I'll never forsake you." 55:13 Amen. Amen. 55:15 And the promise is He said, and I'm going to do this. 55:16 Notice it's through the blood, 55:20 the covenant being ratified by the blood of Jesus Christ 55:24 not of animals and bulls and ghost 55:26 but the blood of Jesus Christ. 55:28 Hebrews 9, read more about that. 55:29 It's just, it's wonderful but it's quick thought, 55:32 He said, it's going to make you perfect 55:34 is what I read in my Bible to make you perfect. 55:37 To me, I read and I thought He is gonna make you perfect 55:39 and you can go a lot of different directions 55:41 because you mentioned the vine and the branches 55:44 and if I'm attached to that the vine 55:48 and I'm receiving all the nourishment, 55:49 I become like Him. 55:51 Not partially like Him, I become completely 55:53 because I'm taking all of my nourishments from Him. 55:56 So if I say I'm attached and I've done this, 56:00 I'm not really attached. 56:01 So that's kind of buy own salt. 56:03 We only have a minute left. Oh, glory. 56:05 So, we are going to get little break. 56:07 We can preach, uh. Let's go on with it. 56:08 Let me ask you this one question, 56:11 how many of you have assurance of hope? 56:14 Praise the Lord. Amen. 56:15 So we have either anticipation 56:17 and we hope for those of you at home 56:20 that you have assurance of hope 56:22 that you have eager expectation. 56:25 God is watching over His word to perform 56:27 and all of His promises are yours in Christ Jesus. 56:30 Here's a trickier question. 56:32 How many of you have assurance of salvation? 56:34 Oh, praise the Lord. absolutely. 56:36 Absolutely. Absolutely. 56:39 And our prayer is for you at home 56:42 1 John 5:11-13 56:46 that you will also have assurance of salvation 56:49 it is written that if you have the son, 56:53 if you are abiding in Him, you can have that assurance. 56:56 Amen. Well, we are out of time. 56:58 I cannot believe how rapidly this went. 57:01 Yes. 57:03 We are not even gonna get to pray now 57:04 but we are gonna be praying for you when we finish. 57:08 I just want to thank you, John and Angie, 57:10 thank you so much for coming. 57:12 And Kenny and Chris, thank you so much. 57:13 It's, you know, our blessing. 57:15 Thank you for sharing. Absolutely. 57:16 We could have had two hours on this 57:18 very easily. 57:20 I've learned, when I get the script together not to do, 57:23 that is not to be quite so ambitious. 57:27 But anyway our prayer for you is that 57:30 the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 57:32 the love of the father 57:33 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 57:35 will be with you this Sabbath and always. 57:37 Amen. Amen. |
Revised 2016-04-04