Participants: Greg & Jill Morikone (Host), Jason Bradley, John & Idalia Dinzey
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW016036A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I wanna spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words Let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I wanna spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I wanna spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:07 Hello, and welcome to another 3ABN Today Family Worship. 01:12 Happy Sabbath to you, 01:13 hope that you've had a wonderful week. 01:15 Here at 3ABN, it's been a great week 01:18 and it's always a blessing to coming to the Sabbath hours. 01:22 Now every week's a great week, here at 3ABN, 01:25 hopefully in your life as well, 01:27 it doesn't mean that we have no challenges 01:30 or any types of struggles. 01:32 We've had a good week because God is good. 01:35 I like Psalms 118:24 and it says, 01:40 "This is the day which the Lord has made, we will..." 01:43 What? Rejoice. 01:45 "Rejoice and be glad in it." 01:48 For God is good, right? Amen. 01:49 We have a lot to be thankful for 01:51 and we just wanna thank you for joining us 01:53 as you do each and every day for the family worships 01:56 as we open the Sabbath hours 01:57 and we just appreciate your prayers and financial support 02:01 to the ministry of 3ABN, 02:03 because of you 02:05 and the Lord Jesus Christ, of course, 02:06 and your financial support and prayers 02:08 that this ministry continues to spread the gospel 02:11 around the world 02:12 and souls are being won to Jesus Christ. 02:15 Can't get any better than that, can we? 02:17 Amen. 02:18 That's right, that's why this ministry exists. 02:19 The verse you read, I think everyday is special 02:22 'cause God created each day... That's true. 02:23 But especially the Sabbath. 02:26 He set it apart as a holy day 02:28 that we can come apart and spend time with Him, 02:32 time in His word, time in worship 02:35 and time with our brothers and sisters, 02:37 that's you're at home, 02:39 and that's our brothers and sisters around the table. 02:41 And we wanna introduce them. 02:42 On my left is brother John Dinzey 02:44 and his wife, sister Adalia Dinzey. 02:46 And you both are such a blessing 02:48 to the ministry here, 02:50 such an integral part of the ministry. 02:51 I will second and third of that and fourth... 02:55 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 02:56 All glory to God. Amen. 02:57 Praise the Lord. God blesses inspite of us. 02:59 That's right. Amen. 03:01 We're grateful to the Lord for His, 03:02 the blessings and the opportunities 03:04 He gives us to be used by Him. 03:05 Amen. Yeah. 03:07 It is, isn't it? Amen. 03:08 I mean, when you think about the blessings 03:09 that you've been able to share... 03:11 Yes. God's love to other people. 03:12 Boy, it's a blessing. Overwhelming. 03:14 You and your family have been here for a number of years, 03:16 I don't wanna be disrespectful saying you're old 03:18 'cause you're not. 03:20 You came as a child. 03:23 You came as a child. 03:26 I have come to accept that I'm transitioning into that. 03:29 The transformation. 03:31 Yeah, I guess I went into... 03:33 That's the topic today, it's transformation. 03:35 That's true. 03:36 And life goes through changes too, right? 03:38 Yeah, that actually is our topic today, 03:39 it's transformation. 03:41 So that was good, Pastor John. 03:43 Actually, I remember one lady in Guatemala, 03:48 when we went last year to an evangelistic campaign 03:51 and she asked, "How old are you?" 03:53 And... 03:54 I said, "Well, I'm 57". 03:55 "You're 57? 03:57 Wow, well, you look really old on TV." 04:05 That does not make you feel... 04:07 I was fine with it. You know, it's... 04:09 I guess, I don't know. 04:10 I guess different TVs, they do different things. 04:14 So you have two wonderful sons that I know, 04:17 those that followed on 3ABN have seen them grow up 04:21 and I know they're... 04:22 Well, tell us what they're doing actually right now? 04:24 Your eldest is Samuel. 04:25 Well, we'll divide the task, 04:27 our eldest son is Samuel, 04:31 he is a student missionary in Micronesia. 04:33 Yeah, praise God. 04:35 And we're grateful to the Lord for... 04:37 What God is doing in his life. Amen. 04:39 He's being used by the Lord 04:40 and he has gone on several mission trips, started with, 04:43 when he was in the academy in Sunnydale Academy, 04:50 went on two trips to India to preach 04:52 and after that it was like he was just interested 04:55 in going on missionary trips. 04:57 Went with Maranatha several times 04:58 and now he's a student missionary for one year 05:01 and he's half way through. 05:02 Amen. In Pohnpei. 05:04 In Pohnpei, Micronesia. It's a small little place. 05:08 There in the... Up north of Australia 05:13 and kind of west, no, east of the Philippines 05:18 and those islands. 05:20 And he loves the Lord and... 05:23 Amen. Praise God. 05:24 The Lord has blessed them with the musical talent. 05:26 Yup. And that's great. 05:27 And we are grateful to the Lord for our children. 05:29 Amen. Maybe you can talk about Caleb. 05:31 Yeah, it's... 05:33 These boys, I'm very proud to be their mom. 05:37 Amen. I'm proud to call them my sons. 05:41 You know, life just happens, takes its courses 05:45 and we pray for our children, before we had children, 05:49 we prayed for other people's children. 05:51 Amen. That's good. 05:52 And now that we have children, we pray a lot for our children, 05:55 a lot for other people's children. 05:58 Caleb is our baby. 06:00 And Caleb used to introduce himself to his new buddies, 06:05 "Hi, I'm Caleb from Tiny Tots". 06:10 Because he was at Tiny Tots for years. 06:12 That's right. 06:13 And we still air some of those. 06:14 He's a little guy 06:16 but Caleb is a lot taller than me 06:17 and he's growing... Oh, me too. 06:20 So he's so cute. 06:21 But anyhow he has grown up to be a fine young man. 06:26 He is very talented in the music area. 06:30 Yes, he is. He is. 06:31 And he is a student 06:32 at the Great Lakes Academy in Michigan 06:36 and he works in the music department. 06:39 So he is really enjoying his time there at the academy. 06:43 So... Keeping his talents for God. 06:45 Amen. 06:46 Praise the Lord. Yes, exactly. 06:47 It's amazing. 06:49 To me, it's a beautiful testimony 06:50 because both of your sons, 06:51 I mean, they're gifted and they... 06:53 Whatever, but the important thing is 06:54 they use those gifts for Jesus. 06:56 And they have a heart and a desire to follow God 06:58 and that's a testimony to what God has done 07:00 in and through each one of you. 07:02 And, Brother Johnny, you look very young, 07:04 much younger than 57. 07:06 Mrs. Dinzey too. 07:07 And Mrs. Dinzey, I say we need to put that all day. 07:09 Thank you for your... 07:11 And on this side of the table is Jason Bradley 07:13 and we are so blessed to have you here as well, Jason. 07:16 And you've been here, is it two years now? 07:18 How long? Going on three. 07:20 It's great. Sure, he is. 07:21 Wow. Wow. 07:23 And I call you our neighbor, my neighbor 07:25 because your office and your mom's office 07:27 is right next door to mine. 07:28 That's right. 07:29 So as we go by each other's offices, 07:31 we'll say, "Hey, neighbor. 07:32 How're you doing, neighbor?" 07:34 That's a lot of fun working here, that's for sure, 07:36 but we appreciate you and how God has grown you 07:38 in just marvelous ways 07:40 and we're talking about the Dinzey sons. 07:42 They kind of have the "Mission bug", 07:43 if you wanna call that... Yes. 07:45 I'm kind of getting in the prison bug. 07:47 I don't know if you are too 07:48 and explain that a little bit... 07:50 It's for the ministry. Correct. 07:51 So explain what prison bug is? Oh, man. 07:52 I like to see you catching that bug. 07:54 Oh, I've got it. I caught it. 07:56 Amen. 07:58 The Prison Ministry is so amazing 08:00 because there are so many people 08:02 that are in there 08:03 whose families don't come visit them. 08:05 Who feel like they're lost and forgotten. 08:08 Yeah. 08:09 So it provides us with an opportunity to, 08:13 I guess, bring practical Christianity to them, 08:17 to share with them gifts both physical and spiritual. 08:21 So meeting their needs 08:23 and also ministering to their souls. 08:25 Yeah. 08:26 We went to a prison, all of us... 08:28 We had the opportunity, it was... 08:29 Not too long ago. 08:32 And it was absolutely amazing. 08:34 I mean, God really blessed 08:36 and the Holy Spirit was in there 08:37 working on those ladies' hearts, 08:39 that they were crying 08:40 and just seemed like they want a genuine transformation. 08:45 Amen. Amen. 08:46 That's a... It's a segway. 08:48 Good, segway, 08:49 because we're talking about transformation today. 08:51 That's what the Lord Jesus Christ 08:52 wants to do in your heart and our hearts 08:54 and the women we minister to at the prison, 08:57 before we get going on our topic, 08:59 we want to go to some music 09:01 and that means we get to introduce 09:03 our brother, Tim Parton at the piano. 09:05 Amen. He is such a blessing. 09:06 Tim, you are a blessing to the ministry here. 09:09 Tim has a heart for ministry, a heart for God 09:11 and his passion about sharing that with other people. 09:14 So, Tim, thank you for being here. 09:15 My privilege. Thanks. 09:17 Let's go to, 'Lord Prepare me to be a sanctuary.' 09:27 Okay, we want you to sing along with us 09:29 as we sing these praises to God. 09:31 Lord Prepare me 09:34 To be a sanctuary 09:39 Pure and holy 09:43 Tried and true 09:47 With thanksgiving 09:50 I'll be a living 09:55 Sanctuary 09:59 For You 10:03 Lead me on Lord 10:07 From temptation 10:11 Purify me 10:15 From within 10:19 Fill my heart with 10:22 Your Holy Spirit 10:27 Take away 10:31 All my sin 10:35 Lord Prepare me 10:38 To be a sanctuary 10:43 Pure and holy 10:47 Tried and true 10:51 With thanksgiving 10:54 I'll be a living 10:59 Sanctuary 11:03 For You 11:07 Praise His name. 11:08 He wants to make each one of us a sanctuary, the temple 11:13 where the Holy spirit can dwell in us. 11:15 And we just want to invite Him in. 11:17 So at home, we invite you to bow your heads, 11:20 this is really a prayer. 11:21 As called the next song, 11:23 'Lord Jesus, will you come into my heart? 11:26 Will you change me? 11:27 Will you transform me? 11:29 Will you make me into the image of you? 11:32 And once Jesus comes in, 11:34 He wants to shine out of our hearts. 11:38 That's right. 11:43 Into my heart 11:48 Into my heart 11:52 Come into my heart 11:57 Lord Jesus 12:02 Come in today 12:08 Come in to stay 12:13 Come into my heart 12:18 Lord Jesus 12:26 Out of my heart 12:31 Out of my heart 12:34 Shine out of my heart 12:39 Lord Jesus 12:44 Shine out today 12:48 Shine out always 12:53 Shine out of my heart 12:59 Lord Jesus 13:08 Pastor Johnny, let's open in prayer. 13:10 Yes. 13:13 Our loving heavenly Father, we want to thank you, Lord, 13:17 for the opportunity we have today 13:19 to invite you into our hearts. 13:22 We thank you, Lord, that the door of mercy is still open 13:25 and that you will knock at the door of our heart, 13:28 and we ask, Lord, that you will come in. 13:30 Thank you. 13:31 We pray that you will be with us 13:33 as we worship together 13:35 and we pray that you will be with everyone 13:37 that is joining us. 13:39 Wherever they may be, Lord, may you be there with them. 13:42 And we ask you for a blessing for all 13:44 and we ask it in the lovely and blessed name of Jesus. 13:48 Amen. Amen. 13:50 Amen. 13:51 We're having worship already. 13:52 My heart is blessed. 13:54 We worship through music, worship through prayer, 13:56 worship through study of the Word 13:58 so, get your Bibles and open up with us 14:01 as we talk about this topic of transformation. 14:04 As we launch into our topic of transformation, 14:08 what is transformation? 14:10 If I were to ask you, what is transformation? 14:13 What would you say, Jason? 14:14 I would say that it's a complete and thorough change 14:17 from the inside out 14:18 in terms of spiritual transformation. 14:23 Now it's interesting, you said from the inside out. 14:26 Yeah, just like to that... When we accept Christ. 14:28 That's right. 14:29 And then He changes us from the inside 14:31 and we manifest that on the outside. 14:33 Fantastic. Amen. 14:34 Have you ever tried the other method of transformation? 14:39 From the outside in. 14:40 Has anybody ever tried that? Oh, of course. 14:42 Like behavioral modification. Right. 14:44 Uh-huh, yes, I have. 14:48 Tried and failed. I would be lying if I... 14:50 Yeah, didn't work so well. Yes, it isn't. 14:52 But I think even as Christians a lot of times we think, 14:56 the outside-in is the method that we're supposed to do. 14:58 We're something, you know, 14:59 like, somehow, you read the Bible, 15:01 "Oh, I'm supposed to look like Jesus." 15:03 I don't know how to accomplish that. 15:05 Yes, yes. 15:06 And then maybe we get discouraged 15:07 'cause we think, "I don't know how to do that." 15:10 Sometimes when we are practicing our Christianity, 15:15 we want to be just like Jesus 15:17 but we seed like we're so imperfect. 15:20 But we have yet to understand to see us as Jesus sees us. 15:25 You know, sometimes we don't recognize the transformation 15:29 that's taking place in our lives. 15:31 I want to be a Christian, 15:33 I want to be a good faithful follower of Christ 15:37 but the obstacles, you know, one challenge after the other, 15:40 you may think it's against you 15:42 but eventually you look back and, 15:44 "Lord, thank you, that was such a blessing 15:45 because I was able to grow from that." 15:48 You know. Wow. 15:49 So eventually, you see this transformation 15:52 happening in your life 15:53 when you have the spiritual eyes on. 15:56 When we don't have the spiritual eyes on, 15:58 it seems like everything that's going on 16:00 is just against you. 16:01 Yes. 16:03 So it's a process. Go ahead, brother Johnny. 16:04 It is a process 16:06 and it's a marvelous, wonderful process 16:07 that we participate in. 16:10 We submit and allow the Lord to change us. 16:15 It's just a moulding process. 16:17 And it's very interesting, 16:18 I like one of the things that I see in the life of Peter 16:22 and I'll take you to the scene when he was denying Christ. 16:27 Yes. 16:28 And Jesus was being judged by the high priest 16:33 and the scribes and the Pharisees. 16:36 And there, several said, "You're one of them." 16:41 And at one point, he was said, 16:44 actually it's the last time they asked him, 16:47 "You are one of them because you talk like them." 16:50 Yeah. 16:51 And Peter, through the three and a half years 16:54 that he was with Jesus 16:56 may not have noticed that he was being transformed, 16:58 that his speech was changed. 17:01 He was a fisherman 17:02 and his words were prior to Christ very crude and, 17:06 but now he's talking differently. 17:09 And they say, "You're talking like Him." 17:10 And then he realized he's talking like Jesus, 17:12 so he changed. 17:13 He decided to go back to his former way of speaking. 17:17 And so we have that option to go back into the former way 17:21 but it's better to let Christ transform us. 17:25 Amen. And, you know what? 17:26 That's, adding on to that, I think where we fail is 17:29 when we try and do things in our strength. 17:32 Yes. 17:33 God's strength is made perfect in our weakness 17:36 but we have to recognize that we're weak 17:38 and we need God to change us. 17:41 Can I share something with you guys? 17:42 Please. Oh, yeah. 17:44 This comes from 'Steps to Christ' page 43. 17:47 'The whole heart must be yielded to God 17:49 or the change can never be wrought in us 17:51 by which we are to be restored to His likeness. 17:53 By nature, we are alienated from God. 17:56 God desires to heal us, to set us free. 17:59 But since this requires an entire transformation, 18:01 a renewing of our whole nature, 18:03 we must yield ourselves wholly to Him.' 18:07 So it's not like a partial thing. 18:10 It's not a only on Sabbath thing. 18:12 It's... Yes. 18:14 Gotta yield your whole heart to the Lord 18:16 and let Him work on you, in you and through you 18:20 to bring about that change 18:22 and by beholding, we become changed. 18:24 So what we're putting into our minds, 18:26 what we're focusing on and dwelling on, 18:29 that brings about that change. 18:31 If you're polluting your mind, it's just like you're gas tank. 18:34 If your gas tank takes 93 and you're putting 87 18:38 or what's the other one? 18:40 85. Oh, yeah. That's right. 18:42 In your gas tank, it's not gonna run very well. 18:45 You know, your life is not going to be running well. 18:49 So to speak if you're putting, 18:51 if you're polluting your mind with a bunch of filth. 18:54 Well, Ecclesiastes 3, you know, 18:56 to everything there is a season. 18:58 You know, we, everything transforms around us. 19:01 You know, sometimes, 19:03 we look at the word, transformation, 19:06 transformed in Christ 19:07 and for someone that is not as familiar 19:11 with the Christian terminology or... 19:14 Christianese. Yes. 19:16 How do I understand... 19:19 Yes. That I want the transformation? 19:22 How can I identify the transformation 19:24 that I need in my life? 19:26 I think that gradually we see how we are... 19:29 I remember when I got here to, 19:32 when I got married with John Dinzey in '94, 19:36 he was here in 86, 87, you started? 19:39 89. 89. 19:41 And I was fighting. 19:43 I said, "Lord, what am I doing here? 19:46 I don't like this place. These people are weird." 19:49 You know. "It's just... 19:51 I can't, I could not acclimate to, 19:53 from the country living 19:55 and bunch of people home schooling their kids. 19:59 Oh, my, I am in the wrong area, I married a wrong man, Lord. 20:03 What is happening?" You know. 20:05 Well, since I wasn't here at that time, 20:06 I wont take any offence to what you've said. 20:09 And since I was born in '86... 20:12 Oh, excuse me. Well, I didn't know. 20:15 I'm just giving you a hard time, go ahead. 20:19 Well... 20:21 It wasn't a fit for you... 20:23 It was not a fit and everybody, 20:26 it's just the whole culture thing. 20:28 It was shocking. 20:29 I came in from, well, I'm originally, 20:33 I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. 20:35 I moved into Chicago. 20:37 And then from there, 20:39 my mom was looking for a small community. 20:41 So we went to Zion working 20:43 and ended up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 20:45 I was very active 20:46 in seven Hispanic Spanish-speaking churches, 20:49 so I've never been in a English congregation. 20:51 Yes, that's a change. So that was the change. 20:54 And you're like, "What am I doing here?" 20:56 And I was staying at home, 20:58 eventually I started volunteering at 3ABN, 21:01 but even volunteering here, 21:04 I would just look at the people here, 21:06 I mean, everyone, "Who are these people? 21:09 What are we doing here? 21:10 Is this God's plan for me to be here?" 21:12 So I don't know 21:14 when the transformation took place 21:18 but it was gradual. 21:20 And it was incredible when I found myself saying, 21:25 when I went back home, 21:26 "I can't wait to go back to Southern Illinois." 21:30 I mean, to visit family in Wisconsin in Chicago area. 21:34 I'm like, my heart is in Southern Illinois, 21:36 my heart is at 3ABN, you know, 21:39 and there's nothing I wouldn't do for the ministry. 21:42 And we have said, you know, as long as our roof is sure 21:46 and food on the table, we don't care 21:47 if we don't even get paid. 21:49 We'll just go to work for the Lord at 3ABN. 21:51 Amen. 21:52 So how does a person get from fighting these "demons" 21:58 because I wanna just this culture, 22:01 this environment... 22:02 You wanted to leave. Oh, yes. 22:04 I wanted to leave 22:06 and I was just battling it and I was praying, 22:08 "Lord, give me a heart for this ministry. 22:11 Let me see what this is all about 22:12 'cause I didn't get it". 22:14 But we're talking about transformation 22:17 on the outside and in the inside. 22:19 I think that we both, I think we need to make an effort 22:22 and our effort to show this is what I wanna try to do. 22:26 "Please, Lord, help my effort, you know. 22:28 And help me draw to you 22:30 and give me the transformation that I need." 22:31 And it came. Amen. 22:33 Now it's like, "Oh, I love this place". 22:35 Amen. And we love having you here. 22:37 That's a practical example of what Romans 12 says, 22:40 so let's turn there. 22:41 It reminds me of that when you were sharing that. 22:43 That was a great example because... 22:45 Oh, fantastic. 22:46 That's real life and we all experience real life. 22:49 Romans 12: 1 and 2. 22:53 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, 22:55 by the mercies of God, 22:56 that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, 22:59 holy, acceptable to God, 23:01 which is your reasonable service". 23:02 And then verse 2 has the word transformation. 23:05 If you're saying, "I don't know what this means." 23:07 "And do not be conformed to this world 23:09 but be transformed". 23:12 Now that we're transformed in the Greek, is metamorphs. 23:16 Metamorphist, it's where we get our English word 23:19 'metamorphist.' 23:20 So it literally means, 23:22 you think about the caterpillar. 23:23 That's right. 23:25 You know, the caterpillar crawling 23:27 and they're on the ground 23:28 and by no effort of their own in their mind can they say, 23:31 "I'm going to begin to fly", 'cause they can't. 23:34 All they do is crawl on their belly. 23:36 But through the power of God, you know, in the caterpillar, 23:40 they form that cocoon. 23:42 Chrysalis cocoon and then they break out. 23:46 And they are butterflies. 23:47 That is a complete revolution, a complete change. 23:51 So it's the same word that Paul used here, 23:53 "Do not be conformed to the world, 23:55 be transformed" 23:57 or a complete change like the metamorphist, 23:59 like the caterpillar. 24:00 "By the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good 24:05 and acceptable in perfect will of God." 24:06 In the New Living translation, renewing of your mind, it says, 24:10 "Be not confirmed to this world, 24:11 be transformed by changing the way you think". 24:16 A mind is a strong... 24:18 The mind... 24:19 Yes. 24:20 No, very true. 24:22 You know, in my Bible here, okay, right after transformed, 24:24 it says, "By the renewing of your mind". 24:27 I have a little note here, It's tough for me 24:29 to even read my own handwriting but I have in here, 24:31 sad is it, to read my own handwriting 24:34 but I have a word here... 24:35 We need reading glasses. 24:37 I will need glasses eventually but I have the little word 24:40 scribbled here that says, renovate, 24:42 which I have the opportunity 24:44 sometimes to doing some renovation on some houses, 24:46 which is really demolition as you call it. 24:49 On your off days... 24:50 That's true. That's true. 24:52 So, yeah, when I think of renovate, 24:54 I think of change. 24:55 Again, transformation, you take care of them, 24:58 something that may be falling apart 24:59 and having a lot of issues and you renovate it 25:02 and you make it something beautiful. 25:04 Something that does practical, 25:05 something you can use from something 25:07 that's basically nothing. 25:08 Something that's useful. 25:10 So to renovate or can I use the word remodel, maybe. 25:13 Yes. 25:14 I don't know, when I think of renovate, 25:15 I think almost of remodeling, as well. 25:17 But the thing is the remodeling process 25:20 isn't just on our own power. 25:21 Is it Pastor Johnny, 25:23 we have to rely upon... 25:24 The Lord. 25:25 And it was beautiful the way each one of us is talking 25:29 but there is this concept of helplessness. 25:35 The Lord's strength is made perfect in weakness. 25:38 When we recognize, understand that of our own, as Jesus says, 25:42 "Without me you can do nothing". 25:45 And so the opposite is true, with Him we can do all things. 25:50 He gives us the power. 25:51 And we provide the will for that to happen. 25:54 And this scripture that, 25:57 Romans 12:1 and 2 is marvelous 25:59 with the first song that we sang. 26:01 Yes. And notice the wording. 26:03 We've sang, 'Lord prepare me to be a Sanctuary, 26:06 pure and holy, tried and true.' 26:08 And this says, "I beseech you therefore, 26:09 brethren, by the mercies of God..." 26:11 Paul understood. 26:13 He understood that we need to submit to God. 26:16 "I beseech you", 26:17 is like, it's like, I'm begging you, please. 26:21 "Brethren, by the mercies of God, 26:23 that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, 26:26 holy, acceptable unto God, which is", it says, 26:29 "A reasonable service." 26:30 That's like the very least that you can do. 26:33 And this is a passage worthy of study 26:38 and contemplation asking the Lord to help us 26:40 but it is true. 26:42 We have a great need, 26:45 it's a vital need to have our minds 26:48 transformed by the renewing of your mind. 26:52 Because as time goes on, the life choices 26:57 that we make mould our mind into a certain way of thinking, 27:02 a certain way of speaking, a certain way of walking, 27:04 a certain way of eating. 27:06 And, of course, we inherit also, 27:09 hereditary tendencies whether for good or for evil. 27:12 Yeah. 27:14 And so by God's grace, we collaborate with Him, 27:16 be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 27:19 It's a process like we've been talking about. 27:21 But, and, you know, there are many a scriptures 27:24 that we can think of, Jesus said, 27:26 "If you want to follow me, 27:29 take up your cross daily". 27:31 Yes. So it's a daily process. 27:32 It's not one time, 27:34 "I'll take up the cross" and then never do it again. 27:35 Yeah. 27:37 It's a daily process 27:38 and we have to cooperate with the Lord 27:40 for our own benefit. 27:42 Go ahead, Ja. 27:44 I think we should take a look at where change comes from too 27:47 because, I mean, we're born with the propensity to sense. 27:50 So it's only through the Holy Spirit, 27:52 the convicting of the Holy Spirit 27:55 that we realize our need for change. 27:57 That's right. 27:59 Also I like what you're saying about, basically, 28:03 how we need to surrender and follow Christ. 28:09 Christ said that He doesn't do anything 28:12 without the Father. 28:13 That's right. 28:14 I forgot where that's found but He said, 28:16 He doesn't do anything without the Father. 28:17 Now Jesus is saying that 28:20 He doesn't do anything without the Father, 28:22 how are we, as mere mortals, as mere human beings, 28:27 gonna do anything without Christ? 28:29 Yeah. Yeah, that's right. 28:30 It's a good point. 28:32 You know, so I'm thinking then about transformation, 28:34 "Is transformation..." 28:37 I mean, obviously, it's a process, 28:38 but is it something that just takes place at a point, 28:41 okay, now I'm transformed, 28:43 because I think about the butterfly, 28:44 he's now transformed and he's a butterfly. 28:46 So, then, he's done, he's a butterfly, 28:48 there's no more transforming into anything else. 28:51 So as a Christian, 28:52 is there such a thing as a Christian butterfly that, 28:54 okay, now we've arrived and we're now this butterfly 28:57 that needs no more transforming, 28:59 we're talking about that. 29:00 So what do you... 29:02 We've talked about on a daily... 29:03 Something of that where you can start to fall apart 29:05 at a certain level. 29:07 No, no. But you're talking about daily. 29:08 Yes. 29:10 You know, we're talking about transforming. 29:11 So is transformation... 29:12 Okay, now I'm transformed but now it's a daily process 29:14 or is transforming a daily process in itself. 29:16 Sanctification is the worth of a life time. 29:18 That's right. So it's an ongoing process. 29:21 And as brother Johnny was saying, 29:23 like, the hardest thing is dying to self. 29:28 That's true. 29:29 And that is a daily struggle, second by second, 29:33 minute by minute, hour by hour, we have to die to self. 29:36 Self wants to rear up and poke its ugly head out. 29:40 You know, but we have to give it to God 29:42 and let Him work, 29:44 honest and innocent through us. 29:46 Yeah, excellent, well said. 29:47 Being submissive is the hardest things, 29:50 it's because we're just set in our own ways. 29:52 I have learned a lot from my children. 29:55 Sometimes, being a teacher and you too, 29:58 being a music teacher and all, 30:00 I'm sure you've learned lessons from the kids. 30:04 And it's incredible how you see, 30:07 how the Lord is using that child to see myself 30:12 or my faults and you have to be, 30:15 the word is 'humble' to accept that you're wrong 30:20 and accept that a child can correct you. 30:22 Yes. 30:23 Because the Lord will use a child to bring salvation. 30:26 So that is one lesson that I really thank the Lord 30:31 for the opportunity of working with the children. 30:32 Amen. 30:34 They reflect and they show you 30:36 what the areas that you'd need to... 30:37 And thanks for me. Yeah, growing. 30:39 Kids are pretty honest. Oh. 30:41 You're really honest. 30:43 Yes. That's true. I love it. 30:45 I like to say, you know, 30:48 I have never heard anybody express themselves, 30:51 "Look, there is a flying caterpillar." 30:53 Okay. 30:54 No, they call it a butterfly. 30:56 They only see the... 30:57 Right. 30:58 I believe the Lord has placed a nature, 31:00 things to help us understand spiritual things. 31:02 I agree. 31:04 And the transformation that takes place 31:05 in the caterpillar 31:07 that is a worm just on the ground 31:10 and you look at it and you're not attracted, 31:12 "Oh, this is such a beautiful little creature." 31:16 Very few children like to play with caterpillars. 31:18 They do. 31:19 But the caterpillar turns into a butterfly 31:21 by a process that the Lord makes happen. 31:25 Amen. Is it a painful process? 31:28 I have to talk to a caterpillar to find out. 31:32 But we see that the coming out of the cocoon is difficult 31:35 because, you know, if you try to help them... 31:36 Yes. 31:37 It's in the struggle that the wings become strong. 31:39 Oh, exactly. Yeah. 31:41 So that means in the process... 31:42 There is a process. There is pain. 31:44 I mean, there is... 31:47 Your children or co-workers or spouse 31:49 or God brings circumstances into your life that show you, 31:53 "Wow, my heart is not surrendered." 31:54 I see. 31:56 "My heart is still not like Jesus." 31:58 And so it grows us. Yes, yes. That's right. 32:00 I'm sorry, brother John. No, no, it's wonderful. 32:03 Each one of us, God works 32:07 at where we are to lead us to be like Jesus. 32:11 Yes. 32:12 One of the things I used to do when I was younger, 32:13 I used to listen to a lot of secular music. 32:16 Not the heavy rock things. 32:17 I know people have different taste. 32:19 I used to like the softer things. 32:23 However, I used to listen to it so much that I could, 32:29 when the song first starts, two or three notes, I can say, 32:32 "Oh, that's such and such a song. 32:34 And then one day, I'm in my car and the Lord said, the Lord, 32:39 it's like He spoke to me. 32:40 I'm not telling I heard an audible word 32:42 but I know He spoke to me and said something like this, 32:46 "Son, you listen to a lot of this 32:49 and it's not good for you." 32:52 And it was an immediate, "Yes, Lord. 32:55 I understand. 32:57 You're right." 32:58 And I turned off the radio and from that day I decided to, 33:01 I'm just gonna listen to Christian music. 33:03 Wow. 33:04 But it's a yielding process, 33:06 the Lord leads us to make decisions 33:08 along the way that we are transformed 33:11 by the renewing of your mind. 33:12 Of your mind. Yes. 33:13 I made a decision to allow the Lord to change my tastes. 33:18 And so I like to look at this verse 33:19 because we're talking about the butterfly, 33:24 it's now a butterfly, not a caterpillar anymore. 33:28 But for us, it's a daily process. 33:30 And this verse helps us to understand when it's done 33:33 because I don't think anyone can say, "That's it. 33:37 I'm all right." 33:38 That's right. No more, I'm perfect. 33:40 That's right. I agree a 100%. 33:42 That's right. And here's Philippians. 33:43 Oh, good. Philippians 1:6. 33:45 Oh, I like this one. 33:47 And the, notice... 33:48 Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. 33:50 Yes. Chapter 1. 33:51 Chapter 1 and verse 6. 33:53 It says, "Being confident..." 33:56 I like the way it starts from the beginning. 33:57 "Of this very thing that He..." 33:59 that is Jesus Christ, 34:01 "Which have begun a good work in you 34:04 will perform it when until the day of Jesus Christ." 34:08 So this is the process that lasts until... 34:11 The day of Jesus Christ. 34:13 And it is at that moment 34:15 and that is described in I Corinthians 15, 34:20 it says that "We will all be..." 34:21 Be changed 34:22 "Changed..." In a moment. 34:24 "In a moment, in the blinking of an eye... 34:25 In the blinking of an eye. 34:27 At the last trump." 34:28 There's a time when you are settled 34:29 into the truth. 34:31 And, you know, you look at Revelation 22 34:32 where it says, "Let him," God makes that, 34:34 God makes that determination, 34:36 the time of grace closes, it says, 34:37 "Let him who is filthy be filthy still. 34:39 Let him who is holy be holy still." 34:42 So there's that process that the Lord is... 34:45 That, I'm making that person holy. 34:46 Yes. 34:47 And you are settled in that 34:49 but it's God that makes that happen. 34:50 Amen. 34:52 You said, something like, people don't say, 34:55 "Oh, there goes a flying caterpillar." 34:56 I love that. I love that. Me too. 34:58 Because looking at II Corinthians 5:17. 35:02 That's right. Wonderful. 35:04 It's a good verse. 35:05 "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, 35:08 he is a new creature." 35:10 That's right. 35:11 "Old things are passed away, behold, 35:13 all things are become new." 35:15 Amen. A new creature. 35:16 So it's not the, to say, 35:18 "It's not a flying caterpillar now. 35:20 It's a butterfly, you know." Amen. 35:23 So I love that. That's great. 35:25 In correlation with what you just said, Ja, 35:27 let's go to Ephesians, that reminds me of that. 35:29 It talks the same process, 35:30 the old has gone away and the new has come. 35:34 If you look at Ephesians 4, I think we're in 22 to 24. 35:39 And it's the same concept where we're putting off the old 35:42 and then putting on the new. 35:44 Amen. 35:45 "That you put off concerning your former conduct, 35:47 the old man which grows corrupt 35:50 according to the deceitful lusts 35:52 and be renewed..." 35:53 there is our word, "In the spirit of your mind 35:56 that you put on the new man 35:58 which was created according to God, 35:59 in true righteousness and holiness." 36:02 And to me, it takes II Corinthians 5 36:04 and it even expounds on it further, 36:06 instead of just saying, 36:07 "The old is gone, the new has come." 36:09 This explains a little bit of the process, 36:11 that verse in the middle, 36:12 "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind." 36:14 That process there. Amen. 36:16 Yeah, I think about the story of Saul to Paul. 36:21 I mean, that was dramatic, wasn't it? 36:22 Didn't you say the definition in the beginning, 36:25 it was a dramatic change, transformation. 36:27 Yes, sir, thorough complete change. 36:29 But I think about that, that was dramatic. 36:31 It was basically a direct turn around from his direction... 36:33 Yes. 36:34 You know, he was going to serving the Lord. 36:37 Yeah, I mean, with all of his heart. 36:39 You know, so that's dramatic for sure. 36:41 Nebuchadnezzar too. 36:43 King Nebuchadnezzar, he went from like, 36:45 one extreme to the other extreme. 36:47 It was, yeah. 36:49 But, you know, don't you think, 36:50 even though it is dramatic 36:51 that God by His spirit is leading ahead of time. 36:54 Yes. 36:55 You think of Nebuchadnezzar, he dramatically fell. 36:57 In that moment, God's voice came from heaven 37:00 and he was made like an ox and he ate the grass 37:03 but that was a process, 37:04 God had given him the warning a whole year before, saying, 37:07 humble your heart. 37:09 But he wouldn't. And he wouldn't listen. 37:10 So I think, day by day, 37:12 he hardened his heart against God. 37:14 He allowed pride to build up and then that was an instant, 37:18 in it the outward people, it looked instant. 37:22 And same thing with Saul. 37:23 Don't you think the Holy spirit was working on his heart 37:25 even when he's persecuting and killing Christians. 37:28 Well, I think he saw the stoning of Stephen. 37:29 The stoning of Steven. 37:30 The Bible gives us a little glimpse into that. 37:32 So outwardly, it might look instant 37:34 but the Holy spirit's been at work a long time. 37:36 Yeah. Yes. 37:37 And you wanna make sure you humble yourself. 37:39 You don't want to have to be... 37:41 You don't wanna have to experience God humbling you. 37:43 Humbling you. 37:44 'Cause it can be... 37:47 Quite intent. 37:49 That's true. 37:50 Do you think you wanna meet Saul 37:52 when he was in the persecuting stage? 37:53 No. 37:54 But it is a time that God's Holy spirit 38:00 is working on each person. 38:02 Leading them little by little to understand 38:06 and when we see the results, 38:08 it's for someone looking like, "Wow, look at the change." 38:13 Yes. 38:15 And Saul's conversion is dramatic 38:19 because of what he was. 38:21 Yes. That's right. 38:22 He says, he was exceedingly mad and he forced them to... 38:28 What's the word I'm looking for? 38:29 He forced them to confess that, you know, that God was, 38:33 that Jesus was not the Christ and things like that. 38:36 So when he was converted, they were like, "Wait a minute. 38:38 Isn't that..." 38:40 It was, it was something unbelievable. 38:42 But that's the power of God. 38:43 Amen. That's the power of God. 38:45 I remember when we went to, I went to visit in Wisconsin 38:49 and I went to a particular store. 38:51 And I was just doing, minding my own business 38:54 and just going on and somebody said, "Excuse me?" 39:00 I said, "Yes. 39:02 Did you study at such as school?" 39:03 "Yes." 39:05 "Are you so and so?" 39:07 Idalia Maria Rita, you know, 39:08 that is my maiden last name. 39:11 I said, "Yes, I am." 39:12 I did not recognize the person and she says, "Are you Idalia? 39:19 De Jesus?" I'm like, "Yes. Why? 39:22 Am I in trouble?" 39:24 "No, you're demeanor. 39:26 Everything has changed about you." 39:27 Praise the Lord. 39:28 "I don't know, where have you been, 39:30 what have you done." 39:31 I'm like, "Well, I gave my life to Christ." 39:34 "I got re-baptized in the church 39:36 and the Lord has transformed my life." 39:39 Yes. 39:40 I was like, and transforming here, 39:43 today, you know. 39:44 And I praise the Lord for that. 39:46 But I never saw myself 39:49 or imagined that somebody would see myself. 39:52 Well, yes, I was bad. 39:54 I mean, I used to get suspended from school 39:57 and fights and this and that. 39:59 Yes, anyway, and then, 40:02 somebody to just be impacted by the Christ in me, 40:07 you know, without me even realizing it. 40:09 So it's the Lord transforming us. 40:13 If we want to have it, we can have it. 40:16 Amen. 40:17 Right, so... 40:19 A lot of these verses that we read talk of decision, 40:23 you know, you read here 40:26 Ephesians 4 and 22. 40:30 It says that, it says, "That ye put off..." 40:34 it's a decision. 40:35 "And be renewed..." 40:37 that's a decision. 40:38 "And that ye put on the new man..." 40:39 another decision. 40:41 It's good. 40:42 John 3:16, "For God so loved the world 40:44 that He gave His only begotten son, 40:45 that whosever believeth..." 40:47 a decision to believe or not to believe. 40:48 Right. 40:50 "Let this light therefore, let your light..." 40:51 another decision. 40:52 So shine. 40:54 "So shine before men, 40:55 that they may see your good works..." 40:57 decision after decision needs to be made 40:58 in favor of being transformed. 41:00 Yes. 41:02 And when we do, we are happier by it. 41:05 You know, the decisions that we make 41:07 just like what you were mentioning, 41:10 in my home, when I was growing up, 41:12 it's funny because I used to love secular music. 41:16 And then all of a sudden I'm just playing the, 41:19 in my teenage years, out of all the years, 41:21 I started listening to Christian music. 41:22 Amen. Wow. 41:24 And my folks and my family continued listening to secular 41:27 and I was listening to Christian. 41:29 And all of a sudden, my parents noticed 41:33 the difference and then they stopped listening to secular 41:37 and started listening to the Christian music. 41:39 But all of a sudden, 41:41 I'm offered to be an assistant DJ, right? 41:46 At a radio station. 41:48 Not at a Christian... 41:49 Not at a Christian radio station. 41:50 In a secular radio station. 41:54 And, you know, I'd have to say I did take the job 41:58 but I didn't last long in it because it just, 42:01 my heart was no longer into the secular music. 42:04 Praise the Lord. It's not a mate. 42:07 And it's incredible how life takes its turns and curves 42:11 and the transformation comes without you even realizing it. 42:16 You know, like, I'm not into this anymore. 42:18 Yeah. 42:19 Well, go ahead. You know, okay. 42:20 Going to Ephesians 4, sweetie, 42:22 you've just read in Ephesians 4:22, 42:25 "That you put off concerning the former conversation 42:27 and the old man", you know, I was thinking, Pastor, 42:29 what you were saying, you've made a conscious decision. 42:32 Yes. Turn that radio off. 42:35 You know, my dad described when I was a child, he said, 42:37 "Think of having two paths," like dirt paths. 42:40 And he said, "If you go down the wrong path," as in the say, 42:43 choosing secular music or other things 42:45 that God doesn't want us to do 42:48 and you keep going down that path, 42:49 that path will become then a rut, you know, 42:51 because you'll kick out the dirt 42:52 and it'll get deeper and deeper. 42:54 But when you start choosing Jesus 42:56 and forget that path, 42:58 let's say this pick music for that, 43:00 the example you've brought up, yes. 43:02 And you decided to go down the path 43:04 that God wanted you to go, 43:06 then that path will become deeper and deeper 43:08 and the other one will start to fill in, you know, 43:09 the rains, so to speak and pretty soon 43:10 that path won't be there. 43:12 Grass will grow in 43:13 and it won't be a well used rut. 43:15 My dad said, "You want to get a rut", 43:16 you know, when you're in the right direction, 43:18 deep, you want to trench. 43:20 You want just a path, you want to trench. 43:22 So as it takes time, 43:23 that's that process that we're talking about 43:25 because sometimes things are just dramatic 43:27 for some people and for others, I know, even in my own life, 43:30 it's a decision like, no, and yes, for this. 43:35 And it's like, boy, both paths are fairly strong, you know. 43:37 But then after a while, 43:39 this one will become deeper and deeper 43:40 or this will become deeper and deeper for Christ. 43:43 You know, as I, you know, don't listen to the radio. 43:45 And then after a while passed, you've probably noticed 43:47 when you went into a store and some song came on, 43:48 you're like, "Boy, I don't even know who that is 43:50 or what that musical bizarre, 43:51 even the name of that song anymore?" 43:53 Do you know the way you've explained that 43:56 is marvelous 43:57 because what happens is that as we make these decisions, 44:02 these conscious yes, you're following the Lord, 44:05 you're choosing Jesus. 44:07 It will become as a natural to do good. 44:10 Yes. 44:12 As it was as natural to do evil in the past. 44:14 That's what God wants to do in each one of us. 44:16 It reminds of Galatians 6:9, you know, 44:19 "Whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap." 44:21 So if we sow to the flesh, we reap corruption. 44:25 If we sow to the spirit, we reap everlasting life 44:28 and that could sound a kind of, 44:30 "Oh, that's philosophical and I don't get that." 44:32 But in practical terms, 44:33 it's what we've been discussing. 44:35 If I choose, we're using example on music, 44:37 that secular music, if I choose that TV program 44:40 that has violence and sexual content 44:42 and whatever, 44:44 I'm going to develop the rut towards sin, 44:47 toward the pleasures of sin, 44:48 toward the passions of the world. 44:50 If I choose to spend time in the Word of God, 44:54 if I choose to share with Godly friends and family, 44:58 if I choose to pray and to surrender 45:01 and to choose Jesus way, that rut becomes deeper. 45:05 That's beautiful, what God wants to do. 45:07 It's right, absolutely. 45:09 We have the choice to choose life 45:11 or we can choose death. 45:12 Yeah. 45:14 We've all been sentenced to death 45:16 but Christ died in our place to pay death for us, 45:19 so that we don't have to experience that 45:21 but we have to make the choice, to serve Him. 45:25 Amen. 45:26 I just wanna encourage those 45:27 that are in prison that are watching, 45:31 that is your cocoon right now, you know, all of a sudden... 45:34 That's good. 45:35 I just feel the impression that, you are in a cocoon 45:38 because for whatever consequences 45:41 you ended up in prison 45:43 but you have the opportunity to focus, 45:47 you know, and God that loves you, 45:51 that forgives you, 45:52 that is willing to transform your life 45:55 into a peaceful plentiest life, right? 45:58 In Christ. 45:59 So I remember I'm going to Prison Ministries 46:02 every Sabbath, to visit a friend of ours 46:07 and the kids were babies and people will be like, 46:10 "Don't take the babies in there. 46:11 They're gonna think that it's okay to live in prison, 46:14 they're gonna think it's okay." 46:16 But, you know, they know that it's not okay 46:20 and it's your duty as an adult to bring into them, 46:24 it's okay to do good, 46:25 it doesn't matter how deep the people have gone, 46:28 there's always an opportunity to help people... 46:31 In their transformation process because Johnny has been part 46:36 of my transformation process in my life. 46:38 Amen, great. 46:40 You have been a transformation... 46:41 All of us do. 46:42 And, yes, exactly, and our family in Christ 46:44 because if we don't have the support of each other, 46:46 yes, the Lord will do His work with or without us 46:50 but how beautiful it is for God's children 46:53 just to pull together and see God's plans unfold 46:56 before our very eyes in your life, you know, 46:58 I think about your testimony and I always choke up. 47:01 Yes. 47:02 Praise the Lord for your transformation. 47:04 And you should have heard him share at prison, 47:06 same thing what God did and... 47:09 And where you were in, the transformation 47:11 that God sent in your life is incredible. 47:12 Yes, it's a miracle. 47:15 My mom, you know, sometimes we'll talk and she's like, 47:19 "Look at where you are today." 47:21 And she's like, you know, 47:24 "Not too long ago you didn't even, 47:26 you didn't want anything to do spiritual things. 47:28 When I talked to you about God, 47:29 you wouldn't be disrespectful 47:31 but you just didn't wanna hear about Him, like, you didn't..." 47:33 I didn't wanted... 47:35 I wasn't spiritual at the time, 47:36 like, I didn't wanna go to church, 47:38 I didn't wanna, I wanted to do what I wanted to do. 47:40 Yes. 47:41 And I saw where that lead 47:43 and that didn't lead in a positive direction 47:46 and I knew that, I was weak 47:49 and I couldn't depend on my own strength, 47:52 you know, I had to look to the Lord 47:54 and it was the Holy Spirit that really had been tugging 47:57 and pulling in my heart 47:59 and working on me and finally... 48:00 Amen. 48:02 Coming out here for that day of prayer was amazing. 48:04 Yeah, I remember that. 48:05 Because, Mr. Danny was saying, 48:06 Danny Shelton was saying that if you leave this place 48:10 and you can't get it out of your mind, 48:12 then this is where God would have you to be. 48:14 And I was working 70 hour work weeks. 48:17 And I went back to Atlanta 48:18 and I was just thinking 3ABN, 3ABN, 3ABN 48:22 and I'm like, but those are cornfield, 48:25 there is nothing there in a cornfield, 48:26 not a lot of good response. 48:28 We understand. 48:29 And but I was like, you know what? 48:31 I'm gonna stop fighting God as I had for all these years 48:34 and finally, surrendered. 48:36 Amen. 48:37 And that was the best decision that I've ever made. 48:39 Yes. Praise the Lord. 48:41 Best, because, I also... 48:43 It's like, I was talking to the ladies 48:46 about this at the prison, 48:48 is that God wants to restore us, 48:50 it's a law abiding citizens. 48:52 Yes. 48:53 And we just have to let Him like the, 48:57 how we're talking about perspective... 48:59 Yeah. 49:00 How we view God's laws like, the ten commandments, 49:04 I've used to look at it as a burden, 49:06 you mean, I can't watch all the best cartoons, 49:08 everything comes on on Saturday. 49:11 I can't do X, Y and Z. 49:14 But it's out of love that He gives us these laws 49:18 that's gonna help extend and prolong our lives, 49:20 that's gonna lead to a happier life, 49:23 that's gonna lead to eternal life... 49:26 And it's, yes, it's hedge of protection around us, 49:29 it's for our benefit. 49:30 You know, so, I mean, looking at it, 49:33 seeing it on this side, I would much rather be on this side... 49:37 Than the side I was on a while ago. 49:40 Amen. Praise the Lord. 49:42 Let's see if we can get one more Bible verse in, 49:44 let's go to Ezekiel 36. 49:46 Great. 49:48 And praise God for the transformation, 49:49 you know... 49:51 He wants to work in each one of our hearts and lives. 49:53 Ezekiel 36, and whoever gets there, 49:56 if you wanna read them. 49:57 Sure. 49:59 24 through 28. 50:01 Yes. 50:03 "'For I will take you from among the heathen 50:06 and gather you out of all countries, 50:09 and will bring you into your own land. 50:13 Then will I sprinkle clean water up on you, 50:16 and you shall be clean, from all your filthiness 50:20 and from all your idols will I cleanse you. 50:24 A new heart also will I give you, 50:26 a new spirit will I put within you, 50:30 and I will take away the stony heart 50:33 out of your flesh 50:36 and I will give you a heart of flesh. 50:39 And I will put my Spirit within you 50:42 and cause you to walk in my statutes, 50:46 and you shall keep my judgments and do them." 50:49 Amen. 50:50 I love that verse. Oh, yeah. 50:52 I don't know what it says to all of you 50:54 but to me it says, first of all, 50:55 God wants to take me out from where I was... 50:59 From the heathen, from the life of sin 51:02 and He says, "I wanna pull you out of that, Jill, 51:04 I wanna clean you." 51:06 Amen. "And sprinkle clean water. 51:08 I wanna purify you, 51:09 I wanna forgive you of your sins 51:12 and then I'm not gonna say, 51:14 'Okay, now you have to stumble along as a child,' 51:16 I'm going to put my Spirit in you, 51:19 take out that hard heart that's resistant to my way 51:23 and I'm gonna put in you a heart of flesh 51:25 and I will put my Spirit within you." 51:27 Amen. 51:28 It's a beautiful testimony 51:30 of what God wants to do in our lives. 51:31 He gave the ten commandments but then He didn't say, 51:33 "Okay, now keep them." 51:35 He said, "I will put them in your heart." 51:37 In your heart. Amen. 51:38 I think one of the key things that you mentioned, 51:40 Ja, was, the part of transformation 51:43 is really surrender to Jesus Christ, 51:44 that's the beginning. 51:46 Saying, "Okay, God, here I am." Yes. 51:48 "Make me into who you want me to be." 51:50 For me, to be willing, to be willing... 51:52 That's right. Yes. 51:54 Yeah, that's right. 51:56 It's just laying it all and giving it all 51:57 to Jesus Christ 51:58 and that's the beginning of transformation. 52:00 You know what are the steps, giving it all to Jesus Christ. 52:02 Well, our time is going quickly, isn't it? 52:04 This family worship's been great, 52:05 we like to spend some time in prayer. 52:07 Amen. 52:08 And, Pastor John, do you wanna start, 52:10 we'll just go around the circle? 52:11 Sure. 52:13 Our loving heavenly Father, 52:15 we want to thank you so much, Lord, 52:18 that as we enter into the Sabbath hours. 52:20 Yes. 52:21 Or as we are finishing, 52:23 we pray that you will help us to always remember 52:25 and that you have promised to always be with us 52:29 and never forsake us. 52:31 We thank you, Lord, 52:33 for the things that we have heard and shared, 52:36 we pray, Lord, that you will help us all 52:38 to choose to follow Jesus. 52:41 Yes. 52:42 We ask you, Father, to help us understand 52:43 even more of the wonderful things 52:46 you have to teach us. 52:47 Amen. 52:49 We pray, Father, for you to be 52:50 with each one of our listeners and viewers 52:52 and lead them in their lives, Father, 52:54 that they may taste and see that you're good. 52:56 Thank you. 52:57 We ask you for these things, in Jesus name. 52:59 Amen. 53:01 And, Lord, we thank you for your transforming power. 53:03 Amen. 53:05 Thank you, Father, for the hope we have in Christ, 53:07 help us to be willing to be willing to do your will 53:11 and have our hearts, "Here I am, Lord. 53:13 Change my heart." 53:15 And I pray, Father, that as you transform our lives, 53:19 others will be drawn to you. 53:21 Yes. Thank you. Amen. 53:24 Dear heavenly Father, we thank you so much 53:26 for second chance opportunities. 53:28 We thank you that you sent the Holy Spirit 53:30 to convict us of our need for change. 53:33 We thank you for transforming us 53:36 from the inside out 53:37 and bringing about genuine change 53:40 and that behavior of modification. 53:42 Lord, we thank you for your loving, 53:46 your love, your compassion, your mercy 53:49 and your desire to restore us 53:51 to law abiding citizens, Father. 53:53 I ask that whoever is watching this program, 53:56 our viewers, our listeners, 53:58 that they would want and have a strong desire 54:02 for that change, Lord, 54:03 that you would come into their lives 54:05 and that you would transform them 54:06 from the inside out as time is running out, 54:10 there is a sense of urgency, 54:12 our prophecy is being fulfilled. 54:14 That's right. 54:15 It's time to get right with you, 54:17 now there is no time to delay. 54:18 Yes. 54:19 So please be with them and transform them 54:21 and continue working 54:23 and refining our characters as well, 54:25 in Jesus name, amen. 54:27 Amen. 54:28 Father, I come in agreement 54:29 with my brothers and sisters here 54:31 and those at home and we thank you 54:33 for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 54:35 We thank you for the blood of Jesus 54:38 to cleanse us from all of sin. 54:40 We thank you that you want to change us, 54:43 make us into the image of Jesus 54:45 and transform our lives, our hearts, our characters 54:49 so that Jesus could shine out to others. 54:53 We just pray for our brothers and sisters 54:55 at home right now and in our lives 54:58 that you would do a new thing and we thank you in Jesus name. 55:01 Amen. 55:03 Father in heaven, we're so grateful 55:04 for your transforming power 55:07 that you're so willing to give to each one of us. 55:11 I know today as we've been studying your Word 55:13 and on the topic of transformation, 55:15 that I have been convicted that many times 55:18 you've spoken to me and I have resisted so, 55:21 Lord, I just wanna again surrender my life to you... 55:23 That's right. 55:24 And when you're speaking that I would listen right away. 55:28 Amen. 55:29 We think of those that are at home that today 55:31 are just like, "Oh, God, I want my stony heart taken out." 55:34 That's right. 55:36 And I want Christ in my own heart 55:39 and so, Father, just we thank you 55:41 for the decisions that I know are being made. 55:43 Now for you so, Father, we're grateful 55:46 that you're so willing to provide 55:49 such wonderful things 55:50 to each one us and as you hear these cries of help, 55:51 Father, you listen... 55:53 Amen. 55:54 You will attend to each one 55:55 and in Jesus name we pray, amen. 55:57 Amen. 55:58 Thank you all so much for sharing. 56:00 Our time has gone quickly. 56:02 We just have a couple of moments. 56:03 We'll start with brother Johnny. 56:05 Would you like to each give us a closing thought? 56:07 I think I like to leave with the thought, 56:11 'Taste and see that the Lord is good.' 56:12 That the Lord is good. Amen. 56:14 Amen. Amen. 56:15 Well, "God is never too busy to turn to your needs 56:20 and God wants to transform your life." 56:22 Amen. 56:23 Fantastic. Ja? 56:25 "I will say that you've tried everything your way 56:27 and that didn't work, you know, so why not try Christ, 56:32 you have nothing to lose and everything to gain." 56:33 That's right. Amen. Praise the Lord. 56:35 Well said. 56:36 I like to pray the Bible also over on lives 56:40 and I think of Psalms 51:10, 56:43 I mean, there's multiple text in the Bible. 56:45 "Now create in me." 56:46 Amen. Create in you. 56:48 Amen. 56:49 "A clean heart, oh, God 56:52 and renew a right sprit within me." 56:55 Amen. 56:56 Praise God for the transforming work. 56:58 I like II Corinthians 3:18, we referenced it earlier. 57:01 We did. 57:02 "That by beholding, we become changed." 57:05 With open face, beholding the glory of the Lord. 57:08 So we wanna encourage you this week, everyday, 57:11 behold Jesus and by doing that 57:14 we would be transformed into His image. 57:16 Yeah, absolutely. 57:18 And we thank you for joining us 57:20 as you do each and everyday and for this family worship, 57:22 we hope that you have a wonderful Sabbath 57:25 and that as Jesus is in you... 57:26 Amen. 57:28 That as referenced earlier, 57:29 that you would shine out to others 57:30 and that you will be a powerful witness, 57:32 that we will be a powerful witness 57:33 for Jesus Christ. 57:34 That's right. 57:36 God bless and again, happy Sabbath. 57:37 Happy Sabbath. Sabbath. |
Revised 2017-01-05