Participants: JD & Shelley Quinn (Host), John & Rosemary Malkiewycz, Mollie Steenson, Tim Parton
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW017019A
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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 word 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 01:06 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. And I'm JD Quinn. 01:08 And we are so glad that you are joining us 01:12 for Family Worship. 01:14 This is one of our favorite times of the week 01:17 when we all can get around the table 01:20 and welcome in the Sabbath of the Lord, 01:22 that sweet refreshing rest 01:24 and the time that we get to spend with God. 01:27 You know, my favorite Sabbath scripture 01:30 is Exodus 31:13 01:32 where God says 01:34 that "He gave us the Sabbath as a sign 01:37 that He is the Lord who sanctifies us." 01:40 Amen. 01:41 So the Sabbath is about the grace of God 01:43 and the sanctification of God. 01:45 Oh, we're really excited tonight 01:47 because we have some special guests 01:50 and we're going to be talking about the topic 01:54 of the "Gift of Repentance" tonight. 01:57 And I think you're going to really enjoy this. 01:59 I hope you have your Bibles and your pens 02:01 and that you will be joining in with us, 02:04 but before I go any further, 02:06 let me introduce our family around the table. 02:08 I'm gonna start actually to my right. 02:11 We have Tim Parton, 02:12 and, Tim, thank you so much for being here with us. 02:15 It's always an honor to be here. 02:17 Thank you for asking me. 02:18 And thank you for play. 02:19 I know you're gonna play the piano for us 02:21 in just a minute. 02:22 So you make us sound good no matter how we sing. 02:24 Well, that's important, I guess. 02:27 Thank you. Thank you. 02:28 Then I have my dear friend 02:30 Mollie Steenson sitting next to me, 02:32 and, Mollie, you're looking extra beautiful tonight 02:35 in that blue jacket. 02:36 Well, thank you. You're very kind. 02:38 It's a joy to be here. 02:39 Thank you for inviting me. 02:41 Oh, absolutely. 02:42 And then we've got some special guests 02:46 that have come from across the pond. 02:48 Well, no, that's not across the pond, 02:50 from down under. 02:51 Here is Ricky, that's an insult, isn't it? 02:54 It's actually bigger than a pond. 02:56 It's bigger than a pond. 02:58 And we have with us John and Rosemary Malkiewycz 03:01 from 3ABN Australia 03:03 and, John, you are the general manager? 03:04 That's right. 03:06 And then I guess this lovely bride of yours 03:08 is the assistant to the general manager. 03:10 Is that right? Well, he keeps reminding me. 03:14 All I know is that they are mighty good to me. 03:16 Yes, they are. 03:17 They are a godly couple. 03:18 You know, they work wonderfully together 03:20 and they get so much done. 03:21 We love the Lord and we sure want to do 03:23 what we can while we are able. 03:25 Amen. 03:26 You know, is it fair to say 03:27 that almost everyone sitting at this table tonight 03:31 is a workaholic. 03:35 I know that there is a few of us. 03:37 But, you know, what would we do 03:39 if God hadn't given us the Sabbath. 03:41 I think, I probably already be in my grave, so... 03:44 I look forward to the Sabbath. 03:46 Every night, I go to bed early. 03:48 It's just some... 03:49 Every Friday night. Yep. 03:50 It's really good to put your head down on the pillow 03:53 and just go to sleep and think tomorrow, 03:55 I'm spending the time with the Lord. 03:56 Amen. 03:58 And I don't have to worry about work. 03:59 I don't have to get out and do all the activities. 04:02 It's just good to spend the time with the Lord. 04:04 You know, why I like Friday nights? 04:08 Because usually through the week, 04:09 the alarm goes off at 4:30 in the morning. 04:12 Yes. 04:13 And on Sabbath mornings, 04:15 I don't have to be at church until just after nine. 04:17 Yes. 04:19 And so I can stay in bed longer. 04:20 I really look forward to it. Amen. Amen. 04:22 Well let's... We know what that means. 04:23 They do. 04:25 That's the same time our alarm is set everyday. 04:27 Well, let us then go ahead and start with prayer. 04:31 We'll just have a prayer of praise. 04:33 This is just when we think of something 04:36 that you want to praise the Lord for 04:38 and, John, we'll start at your end 04:40 and we'll work down and let Tim finish for us. 04:43 Father in heaven, we just want to praise You 04:45 that You in Your wisdom gave us a day of rest. 04:48 We just thank You for it in Jesus' name. 04:51 Father, I want to thank You for the Holy Spirit. 04:54 I want to thank You that 04:55 He's the one who sanctifies us on Your behalf, 04:58 and He's the one who leads us to repentance. 05:02 And, Father, I just want to praise Your name. 05:04 Your name above all names, Lord, 05:06 because we know that all good and perfect things 05:08 come from you. 05:09 Father, also I just want to thank You 05:11 for our immediate family, our extended family, Lord, 05:15 our church family and of course our 3ABN family. 05:18 Holy and righteous Father, we just come with hearts 05:21 that are overflowing with gratitude. 05:24 We thank You that Jesus is our new covenant 05:27 and that He's the surety of that covenant 05:30 that He makes, 05:32 He guarantees Your promises to us 05:35 that He guarantees our obligations to you. 05:39 So thank you, Father, 05:41 that we have such a wonderful savior. 05:44 Thank you, Father, that You gave us this opportunity 05:47 to share with our brothers and sisters, 05:49 both here at Shelley's table and around the world. 05:52 Thank you Lord for Your grace and mercy 05:54 and goodness to all of us. 05:56 Yes, Lord, and we want to thank You for Your kindness. 05:59 Thank you for treating me like I'm your only child. 06:03 You love me and I can come to you at any time 06:07 and I can lay my heart before you 06:09 and that's what we're going to do today. 06:10 We're going to spend this time just loving on you 06:14 and declaring Your Word and growing in Your Word. 06:17 So I pray that You'll bless our time together. 06:19 We are grateful to You for being our heavenly Father, 06:21 in Jesus' name, amen. 06:23 Amen and amen. 06:24 Well, you know, we are so blessed 06:27 to have such a gracious God 06:29 and we're going to sing a song now 06:31 that if you want to join with us, 06:33 the words will be on the bottom of the screen. 06:36 This is from the Seventh-day Adventist hymnal number 318, 06:41 "Whiter than Snow". 06:49 Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole 06:56 I want Thee forever to live in my soul 07:02 Break down every idol, cast out every foe 07:08 Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow 07:15 Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow 07:21 Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow 07:28 Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies 07:34 And help me to make a complete sacrifice 07:40 I give up myself, and whatever I know 07:46 Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow 07:53 Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow 07:59 Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow 08:07 Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat 08:13 I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet 08:19 By faith, for my cleansing I see Thy blood flow 08:26 Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow 08:33 Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow 08:39 Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow 08:46 Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait 08:52 Come now, and within me a new heart create 08:58 To those who have sought Thee, Thou never said'st No 09:05 Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow 09:12 Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow 09:17 Now wash me, and I shall be 09:21 Whiter than snow 09:26 Amen. Amen. 09:28 Amen. That's a beautiful hymn. 09:30 Amen. It is a beautiful hymn. 09:32 Well, tonight we are going to talk about repentance 09:37 being a gift from God, 09:40 and what I'd like to do to begin. 09:42 I'm going to read you a little prayer that I wrote 09:45 and it's a prayer of affirmation. 09:47 Just taking the scriptures 09:49 and actually, the six scriptures 09:52 that we'll discuss tonight are in this prayer. 09:55 So listen to this prayer and you will see 09:58 or hear these scriptures. 10:02 And here is how the prayer goes. 10:04 Oh, Lord my God, 10:05 how often I have been crushed and crippled in spirit. 10:09 Yet you have not broken me off and tossed me away. 10:13 How often has my spiritual zeal been reduced 10:16 to a flickering flame. 10:17 That sins and offensive haze smoke upward. 10:21 Yet you do not snuff me out. 10:23 When I shut you out of my heart, 10:25 you stand at the door and knock. 10:28 I thank you for your goodness that leads me to repentance. 10:32 I want to repent. Give me a change of heart. 10:36 Cause me to change my conduct. 10:39 Turn me back full faced to you. 10:42 Turn me away from self-seeking unrighteousness. 10:45 I don't want to store up wrath 10:47 for myself in the Day of Judgment. 10:48 Cause me to seek glory, honor and immortality 10:53 by obeying the truth. 10:54 Lord, grant me repentance and forgiveness of my sins. 10:58 Turn me around please. 11:01 Cause me to cooperate with your spirit. 11:03 To put to death the misdeeds of my flesh. 11:07 Thank you Lord for the answer to the prayer. 11:09 Thank you for leading me by Your good spirit 11:14 on a level path. 11:15 What is repentance? 11:17 How would you do define repentance? 11:21 For me repentance is turning around 11:23 and walk in the other direction, 11:24 walking away from something that you're sick 11:26 and tired of being sick and tired of. 11:28 That's good. That's very good. 11:30 You know, Shelley, 11:32 it's the Holy Spirit that convicts us 11:33 when we've done something wrong. 11:35 When we realize we have something wrong, 11:37 we have done something wrong, 11:39 we turn from it. 11:40 Amen. Yes. 11:41 And that's repentance, turning from our sins. 11:43 And it is a whole U-turn. 11:45 Is it not, you're walking in one direction as JD said 11:48 and to repent. 11:49 You're walking away from God and His will 11:52 and when the Holy Spirit convicts you, 11:54 then you turn around and walk toward God. 11:59 My scripture for tonight is Matthew 12:20. 12:02 So let's turn in our Bibles to Matthew 12:20. 12:08 And this has special meaning to me 12:11 because I remember there was a time 12:14 that I felt that God must just be sick and tired of me. 12:20 Have you ever felt like that? 12:21 This was many years ago. 12:23 Many, many years ago. 12:25 And I came upon these words of Jesus and... 12:30 actually he says 12:34 or speaking of Jesus, the Messiah. 12:36 It says, A bruised reed he will not break, 12:41 and smoked flax, smoking flax, he will not quench, 12:45 till he sends forth justice to victory." 12:49 If we just focus on the first part of that, 12:52 a bruised reed, he will not break. 12:56 That's what I was. 12:57 I was crushed. 12:59 I was crushed 13:00 and thought that surely God must be 13:06 just ready to give up on me 13:09 and smoking flax, he says, he will not quench. 13:13 You know, this is like the wick of a lamp 13:16 and you know, you want the light of the lamp 13:18 but the wick of the lamp is just getting down so low 13:22 and it's just smoking. 13:23 It does not have enough fuel 13:25 and that was me, 13:27 and I read this, and I thought how precious 13:31 that if God sees anything in us, 13:35 any potential, 13:38 He's never going to, 13:40 and it's the potential He's gonna give us 13:41 in the first place. 13:43 But He won't snuff you out. 13:44 He is longing for us to return to Him. 13:49 So to me, that's a very special scripture. 13:53 It's a paraphrasing in my own words, 13:55 Ellen White wrote that God doesn't waste his time 13:59 on worthless material, 14:03 and so when God is working in your life 14:05 and maybe you're going through really difficult times, 14:10 just know that God is working with you 14:12 because He sees such great potential in you. 14:16 You know, and I just feel like there is somebody 14:17 that's watching tonight 14:19 that you may be feeling like, I've just gone too far. 14:22 I, you know, boy, you talk about being crushed 14:26 and a broken reed, 14:28 you know, there is just nothing, 14:29 you don't feel like there is anything good left in you, 14:31 and you feel like your actions 14:33 have been offensive to the Lord, 14:34 and you may be afraid to come back to Him again. 14:38 Maybe you've asked Him 14:39 for forgiveness for many years for something, 14:42 but you can turn back to the Lord 14:44 and just say, help, Lord, here I am, help me. 14:49 Well, Mollie, I think you've got the next scripture. 14:51 Why don't you read to us Revelation 3:19 and 20? 14:57 Revelation 3:19 and 20. 15:00 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." 15:04 Now think about that. 15:06 He's saying, I love you, so I'm gonna rebuke you 15:10 and I'm gonna chasten you. 15:12 What does chastening mean? 15:13 What is the chastening of the Lord? 15:15 Now rebuke, we know what rebuke is. 15:18 Rosemary, you shouldn't do that. 15:21 Chastening, that's a little more, isn't it? 15:24 I don't know if we like that. 15:25 No, that word chastening, 15:27 it kind of has to do with correction. 15:30 But something I learnt a long time ago. 15:33 Every time God does something, it may appear to be punitive, 15:39 but it's always redemptive. 15:40 Amen. 15:42 God never deals in bringing, in punishing us. 15:45 What He does is sometimes He chastens us, 15:49 but the whole purpose for that chastening 15:51 is our redemption. 15:53 It's like with your children. 15:55 Jeremy used to love to go play in the big ditch. 15:59 We had a big ditch out behind our house. 16:02 There were critters in that ditch. 16:04 Who knows what else was in that. 16:06 It was a drainage ditch for pretty sake. 16:08 And I was telling, 16:09 "Son, please don't go play in the ditch. 16:12 You can't play in the ditch. 16:14 You're forbidden to play in the ditch." 16:15 He'd come in mud from head to toe. 16:17 Where had he been? In the big ditch. 16:19 Was I trying to keep him to play in the big ditch 16:22 because I didn't want him to have fun 16:25 or I didn't want him to get sick and suffer? 16:27 See, so if mother had to apply the Board of Education 16:32 to the seed of learning, 16:34 it wasn't because I was trying to punish him. 16:37 It wasn't punitive, it was redemptive. 16:40 And that's how God is. 16:42 Whom the Lord loves, He rebukes and He chastens, 16:46 therefore, look at this, 16:48 therefore, be zealous to repent. 16:51 What's the word zealous? 16:53 What's the connotation of the word zealous? 16:56 It's kind of the opposite of uh... 16:59 Apathy. Apathy. 17:00 Zealous. 17:01 Which would you rather be? 17:03 Zealous or apathetic? 17:05 And I usually say, 17:07 you know when, remember 17:09 when you first met Jesus the Lord, you laugh. 17:11 You all remember that? 17:12 Oh, Tim, we were so on fire. 17:15 We had come out of darkness and into light. 17:17 We had felt the burden of our sins come off of us, 17:21 and the light was brighter, and we were so joyful. 17:25 We had been born again. 17:28 Came out of darkness and into light. 17:29 Amazing grace. Oh, amazing grace. 17:32 We were so excited, so full of zeal 17:35 and not two words worth a wisdom. 17:38 No wisdom, lots of zeal. 17:40 And so we were just telling everybody, 17:42 everything we knew about God which was not much. 17:48 And then the longer we served the Lord 17:51 and the more we learned 17:53 and the more wisdom got imparts to us. 17:56 Now, do we have that same zeal we had back then? 17:59 So here is what I think. 18:01 Oh, God, give me the zeal I had back then 18:04 to match the wisdom 18:06 that we're supposed to have today. 18:08 So be zealous, that zeal, but to do what? 18:12 To repent. 18:13 Oh, you asked about repentance. 18:16 What is repentance? 18:18 Oh, it's when God by the power of His spirit 18:21 quickens you 18:23 that what you're doing is wrong and... 18:26 See there is a difference in confession and repentance. 18:31 Intellectually I can know 18:33 that I should not have stole that money from Tim. 18:36 Intellectually I know, I shouldn't, whoops. 18:39 So I confess my sin and God says, now repent. 18:46 Confess, so I confessed but now repent. 18:49 What does that mean? 18:50 Okay, so I acknowledge that I did it 18:52 and it was wrong. 18:54 What is repentance? 18:55 We looked at that a few minutes ago. 18:57 Now Mollie, don't do it again. 19:00 Repent and God will help you to not do it again. 19:04 That's what we need is to be zealous to repent 19:08 and then God who not only forgives us of our sins. 19:14 What does He do? 19:16 Cleanses us from all unrighteousness, 19:18 will help us not to do it no more, 19:22 to stop sinning. 19:23 That's what repentance is. 19:25 Behold Jesus says, I stand at the door and knock, 19:29 if anyone hears My voice and opens the door. 19:33 What is He going to do? 19:35 Then I come into Him, 19:37 and dine with Him, and He with me. 19:40 That's what when we're standing before God, 19:43 clean hands and a pure heart, 19:45 then He is coming into us, 19:47 to dine with us, and to meet with us. 19:50 So that's kind of what I got out of this, Shelley. 19:52 Amen. In 25 words really. 19:54 In 25 words. Right, I love this. 19:56 I totally loved, that's awesome. 19:58 You just preached a sermon. 20:00 A lady at camp meeting says, I love your enthusiasm 20:03 and I thought, well, I'm kind of 20:04 a quite passive person and... 20:06 Till you start talking about the Word of the Lord. 20:09 Right. That's awesome, I love it. 20:10 Amen. 20:12 Well, obviously you paint a beautiful picture as it is. 20:14 Yes, amen. 20:15 I mean, that was very, very good. 20:17 One thing I get out of the situation 20:20 with the church in Laodicea 20:22 'cause it says, as many as I love, 20:25 I rebuke and chasten, 20:27 is that prior to this, Jesus had to rebuke the church 20:31 in Laodicea. 20:32 He loves Laodicea. 20:35 But they are not walking as they should be. 20:38 And so not only is he telling them 20:41 what their problem is and what they're doing wrong, 20:44 he's offering the solution. 20:47 He tells them to buy the gold, 20:49 to buy the white raiment, 20:52 to apply the eye salve. 20:53 So He doesn't just leave us chastened and rebuked, 20:58 but He gives us the answer. 21:00 He tells us how to make amends. 21:02 What we need to do to fix the problem. 21:04 You know, and the interesting thing is, 21:06 is that when He's rebuking and chastening, 21:10 where is He? 21:11 Standing at the door knocking. 21:12 So that means, we've shut Him out, 21:15 and that's why He has to rebuke and chasten us. 21:18 I actually pray. 21:19 I haven't done this recently and I probably need to. 21:22 I used to do this all the time. 21:24 That I would pray for the Lord's correction 21:27 for his chastening, 21:28 and I remember saying this once in front of a very large group 21:32 to whom I was speaking and they all just went, 21:36 like you're praying for God's chastening. 21:39 And the reason that I did 21:41 was because, I know, He's going to 21:43 because He loves me. 21:44 He's going to rebuke and chasten me 21:47 when I do wrong. 21:48 What I'd rather He gives me in ear 21:51 because how does a parent start off with a child 21:54 when you rebuke? 21:55 Jeremy, don't do this, no, no. 21:59 And then if the child doesn't respond, 22:02 Jeremy, no, no, don't do this. 22:05 But then if the child still doesn't respond, 22:08 maybe then comes as you said the Board of Education, 22:10 that's a great one, Mollie. 22:12 So I'd rather hear God 22:15 when He is still in that stage 22:18 or even where the scripture 22:19 that says, He will guide you with His eye. 22:22 I'd rather be sensitive to that 22:24 so, so that I'm responding before it gets to the point 22:28 that He has to really, 22:31 you know, step in and do something more dramatic. 22:34 You know, Shelley, at the beginning He says, 22:36 as many as I love. 22:38 You know, when Jeremy was doing things 22:40 that he wasn't supposed to do, 22:42 God loves him so much, He just doesn't, 22:44 He gives us discipline, He gives us, He chastises us. 22:48 But you know what? 22:49 For every bucket of discipline, 22:51 we have to give two buckets of love to our kids. 22:54 You know, it's very important. 22:56 You just can't give the discipline 22:57 without giving the love 22:58 and the principle is two to one. 23:00 Two of love to one of discipline. 23:02 I like that. 23:04 And that's what God does with us, isn't He? 23:06 He certainly does. Certainly. 23:08 Well, Tim, you get to tackle a big one. 23:10 Let's all turn tow Romans 2. 23:15 Romans 2. 23:19 Now read Romans 2:4-9. 23:26 "Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, 23:30 forbearances and long suffering 23:33 not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance. 23:36 But in accordance with your hardness 23:38 and impenitent heart, 23:40 you are treasuring up for yourself 23:41 wrath in the day of wrath 23:43 and revelation of the righteous judgment of God 23:45 who will render to each one according to his deeds. 23:48 Eternal life to those who by patient continuance 23:51 in doing good 23:52 seek for glory, honor and immortality 23:55 but to those who are self seeking 23:57 and do not obey the truth, 23:58 but obey unrighteousness, 24:00 indignation and wrath, 24:02 tribulation and anguish 24:04 on every soul of man who does evil." 24:08 So whenever I saw this scripture, 24:11 I don't think I realize how long it was to know 24:16 how much was in there 24:18 and yet my takeaway as they say 24:22 is simply found in the second line, 24:26 in the way that it's typed out here. 24:29 Know that the goodness of God lead you to repentance. 24:32 If I had to, if I met someone on the street 24:36 and if I could, 24:38 you know, I think a lot of people know, 24:40 if the Holy Spirit is working in their lives 24:43 as His word says that He will, 24:44 He will do the work preparing their spirit 24:46 and then you go minister to them. 24:50 That would be my direction to them, 24:53 to let them know that it's the goodness 24:56 and goodness doesn't mean goodness 24:59 as compared to badness. 25:01 We're talking about God. 25:02 The goodness means kindness. 25:04 It's a quality, a loving, caring, 25:06 compassionate quality and I think... 25:11 everybody longs to know 25:13 that this is not a God on the throne 25:16 that is waiting to strike you for your misconduct. 25:25 It's kind of like they say, you can get more, 25:27 you draw more flies with honey than vinegar. 25:31 It's the kindness of God. 25:32 It's your kindness that leads us 25:34 to repentance, oh Lord. 25:36 I remember as a little kid, there was a song that, 25:38 it was a contemporary song we listened to that said, 25:41 it's your kindness that leads us 25:42 to repentance, oh, Lord. 25:44 Knowing You love us, no matter what we do 25:47 makes us want to love you. 25:49 And it was, um... 25:50 it's that, that has just endeared me so many times. 25:54 So as then I became a parent myself 25:57 and just like you and Mollie 25:59 both were talking about raising our children, 26:02 giving them the instruction, 26:05 starting out first just out of kindness 26:07 and, you know, out of wanting them 26:10 to get the idea of, 26:11 this is compassion, this is for your own good 26:14 that I'm telling you this. 26:15 But them not really getting it 26:17 and you having to after they disobey, 26:21 you know, you gradually build up to an iron road. 26:25 That's the way I see God. 26:28 He wants us to see 26:30 that it's His, He, all these qualities about Him, 26:33 the bruised reed, He will not break. 26:35 What compassion, 26:37 and as many as I love, I rebuke. 26:40 Those, I love the fact that we don't serve a God 26:43 who is just knocking on us in the head 26:46 when we do wrong. 26:48 His is such a parental loving approach 26:51 and, you know, the rest of the verse 26:54 is pretty self-explanatory, if you want, I'm trying, 26:58 not trying to get out of anything, 27:00 but I can read it again. 27:02 It says, "In accordance with your hardness 27:03 and impenitent heart, 27:05 you're treasuring up for yourself wrath." 27:07 Well, that's pretty obvious what He's saying and then... 27:12 Again for every action, there is a consequence. 27:16 So He's saying... 27:19 If you can read on in, 27:21 who will render to each one according to his deeds. 27:24 It doesn't mean we work for our salvation, 27:26 it's not a work situation. 27:28 It's again the consequence for your action. 27:31 Eternal life, 27:33 the reward for those who by patient continuance 27:36 in doing good seek for glory, 27:38 God's glory, and honor, 27:40 and immortality, eternal life. 27:42 But to those who are self-seeking 27:44 and do not obey the truth 27:46 but obey unrighteousness or sin, 27:49 indignation and wrath. 27:50 These are the rewards for doing the wrong thing. 27:54 Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish 27:56 on over the soul of man who does evil. 27:58 So I'd just like to... 28:01 Not that I don't like to focus on the bad, 28:03 but I do love to dwell on the fact 28:06 that it's the goodness, 28:08 the kindness of God that leads me to repentance. 28:11 So I know, and I like you, Shelley, 28:13 I pray for that conviction 28:16 that I will kind of be ahead of the rebuke 28:22 so that God will keep my heart tinder, 28:25 so that I don't have to be called on the carpet 28:28 in a drastic way. 28:30 So the fact that I remind myself, 28:34 as I want my, want my children to respond to me, 28:38 me whenever I tell whenever I give them a command 28:42 and knowing that it's out of kindness 28:43 that I'm doing that. 28:44 I believe that, that's the same way 28:46 that God wants us to know, 28:47 it's His kindness that leads us 28:49 so, if we can just keep Him in that place 28:52 where He doesn't have to go, 28:53 you know, to an extent of rebuking us and, you know. 28:59 In other words, Lord, make me quick to recognize 29:02 when I'm displeasing you and even quicker to repent. 29:04 Right, right. 29:06 In this passage, God is being, even in this five, 29:11 He's, it's almost an invitation. 29:14 Don't be impenitent. 29:16 Don't harden your heart 29:18 because I don't want you to have to suffer this. 29:21 But if you choose to because we have choice, 29:25 this will be what happens as a natural outcome 29:29 of your choice to not choose My way 29:32 because I'm trying to lead you to repentance. 29:35 And so this will be the outcome. 29:38 But if you do choose to surrender to Me, 29:41 to repent of your evil ways, 29:43 then you will have eternal life. 29:45 Right. Amen. 29:46 And so God is giving both sides of the coin. 29:49 He's letting us know this will happen 29:51 if you choose that way, 29:52 but then this will be the reward 29:54 if you choose this way. 29:56 And also I just love this word patient continuance. 30:00 I mean, it's not done in a second 30:02 but it's just that walk of sanctification. 30:04 Baby step by baby step 30:06 but you're going three steps forward anyway. 30:09 And maybe two steps back at time. 30:11 And boy, lot of times. 30:12 But it is a patient continuance in doing good. 30:17 Not giving up. 30:18 You know, there's something that just struck me, 30:20 I don't know why. 30:21 I don't think I've ever used those two words together about, 30:24 it says to those who are self-seeking 30:26 and do not obey the truth. 30:28 So if we're not obeying God's truth, 30:30 we're being self-seeking. 30:32 But He says, but obey unrighteousness. 30:36 You know, I don't think people think about the fact 30:38 that they are obeying sin. 30:40 We talk about obedience to God's commandments 30:43 and people sometimes just roll their eyes 30:46 like oh, you're being legalistic. 30:48 We're doing it as an expression of our love and loyalty to God. 30:52 But if we're not obeying righteousness, 30:55 then we're obeying unrighteousness 30:57 and it reminded me of Romans 6:16 31:00 where a few chapters over where Paul says, 31:03 do you not know that to whom you present yourself 31:06 slaves to obey. 31:07 You are that one slaves whom you'll obey 31:11 whether of sin leading to death 31:14 or of obedience leading to righteousness. 31:18 So you're right, it is an invitation from God. 31:22 He is saying, why would you want 31:25 to treasure up wrath for the judgment. 31:29 I've been patient, I've been long suffering 31:31 and out of My goodness, 31:33 I want to turn you around for this 31:35 so that you in patient continuance 31:38 can seek My glory and honor 31:40 and then have that gift of eternal life. 31:42 Amen. 31:44 Just by doing that 31:45 that we get to understand God's goodness 31:48 and to love His goodness. 31:50 That when we are obeying unrighteousness, 31:54 we have a disdain for God. 31:57 We don't understand Him, we don't love Him. 32:00 But what does that say then about us 32:02 when we're going out to talk with people 32:05 who, we're trying to explain to them the love of God. 32:10 How do we reach people 32:11 who have a disdain for the things of God, 32:15 I mean, I think you probably said it earlier 32:19 when you were talking about, it's that love quotient. 32:23 You know, you've got to have the love 32:26 and the patience of God, don't you think? 32:28 That's right. 32:29 You know, why so many people don't want to know God 32:32 because they have a misunderstanding 32:35 of who God is. 32:36 They think He is waiting to strike them. 32:39 They think He is a vengeful, distant, you know, hating God. 32:45 They don't know 32:46 that His goodness is what leads us to repentance. 32:49 And so really what we've got to do is engrave it, 32:51 yeah God is not, you know, 32:53 I wouldn't want to serve a God like that. 32:55 But the God I know is actually very different. 32:59 And this is the reason 33:00 our testimonies are so important. 33:03 Because only you can talk with a passion 33:06 that you have that will get that point across so... 33:12 You know, I wasn't raised in the Adventist Church and... 33:16 Tim, you weren't either, and when some of the teaching 33:21 that I received before... 33:24 Well, some of the teaching just was not accurate teaching, 33:28 and it taught us to feel like that God was sitting there 33:32 just waiting for you to make a mistake 33:34 and some of the teachings even concerning, 33:39 you know, an eternal burning hell 33:41 and that sort of thing 33:42 leaves you with this concept of a God 33:45 that's not a loving merciful God, 33:48 and it's the truth that sets you free 33:49 from the error that you have been taught, 33:52 and so coming into the knowledge of the truth 33:55 of the goodness of God that lead you to repentance 33:58 that you don't have to be taught 34:01 the harsh hardness of God 34:03 that will scare you into repenting. 34:07 But it's that goodness. 34:08 You know, Mollie, we weren't, I myself and Rosemary, we were, 34:11 well, I wasn't brought up as a Christian, 34:13 but I had a little bit of smackering of, you know, 34:16 about God in there. 34:17 And to me God was always stopping me doing things 34:20 that, you know, my Mom and Dad kept Sunday, 34:23 well, Mom did, and I thought, I don't want to do this. 34:25 I want to go and do my own thing. 34:28 But, you know, God is very patient with us. 34:30 In time, we realize who God is 34:33 and that's what makes it important. 34:35 Let say you and I were brought up 34:36 in the same denomination 34:38 and I can remember, 34:40 it was considered a New Testament church 34:43 but I can remember, I had a love affair with Jesus. 34:46 But, boy, did I fear the Father because I did. 34:49 I felt like He was just watching me 34:51 and the minute I did something wrong, 34:53 He's gonna zap me and it was Hebrews 1:3 34:57 that set me free from that one because in Hebrews 1:3, 35:00 it says that Jesus is the out ring, 35:03 the affluence. 35:05 He is, you know, He is the very image of God. 35:09 So as loving, and patient and kind as Jesus was, 35:15 He came to show us the Father. 35:18 That is exactly who the Father is. 35:20 And so... 35:22 Haven't you known me long enough Philip 35:23 to know that love. 35:25 Yeah, so that to me was, uh... 35:27 That was a life changing experience 35:29 and I don't know how many times 35:31 I've read that scripture 35:32 and I always focused on the A part of the scripture 35:34 that said that Christ upholds all things 35:37 with His mighty word of power, and that was my takeaway. 35:41 Within one day, 35:42 it was just like the B part of the scripture 35:44 became a neon sign. 35:46 And I finally did get to understand 35:48 the goodness of God. 35:50 Amen. Amen. 35:52 John, I think you have the verse that is basically 35:58 where the title of tonight's study repentance, 36:01 a gift from God, this is where it comes from. 36:05 And we are looking at Acts 5:31 and 32. 36:09 Bible says, "Him hath God exalted with His right hand 36:12 to be a Prince and a Savior, 36:14 for to give repentance to Israel 36:17 and forgiveness of sins. 36:19 And we are his witnesses of these things, 36:21 and so is also the Holy Ghost, 36:23 whom God hath given to them that obey him." 36:26 I find this an incredible act by God 36:30 through Jesus to forgive those 36:32 who had actually put Him on the cross. 36:34 Yes. 36:35 And put Him to death, and yet our God, 36:39 Jesus was willing to forgive them. 36:42 He said on the cross just before, before He died, 36:45 He said, "Father forgive them 36:46 for they don't know what they do." 36:48 And to me, that's probably the ultimate act of, 36:52 you know, forgiveness 36:54 when someone has done such a hideous crime 36:57 as to kill the Lord Jesus Christ. 37:00 So here we see the real character of God 37:04 because it's what is really revealing. 37:06 And you know what, it says there 37:08 and we are His witnesses. 37:09 Who is that? Paul and his apostles. 37:10 They were there to see it. 37:12 They knew that Jesus had come 37:15 to reach those people in Israel, the Jews, 37:18 the Sadducees and the Pharisees 37:20 with the knowledge that He is the Messiah, 37:22 He's the one that gives you life 37:24 and yet they did that to Jesus. 37:27 So to me, I think 37:29 this is a crowning act of forgiveness. 37:30 Yes. 37:32 The part that to me 37:33 is the most exciting part is not only... 37:38 Well, I can't say, it's the most exciting part. 37:40 It's exciting to know that Jesus grants forgiveness 37:44 but what's the rest of that, 37:46 that He grants or gives repentance. 37:51 I mean, because you know, I can confess the same sin 37:55 over and over asking for forgiveness 37:58 and it just makes me feel guilty 37:59 if I have to come and ask God again, 38:01 you know just, oh, it's like, 38:03 Lord, surely You're tired of listening to this. 38:06 But to know that Jesus who is the Prince and Savior 38:13 not only grants us forgiveness 38:17 but He gives us repentance. 38:20 I think that is the most amazing thing 38:22 because that was another life changing scripture. 38:24 Yeah, as we cooperate with Him, as He gives us repentance, 38:28 we cooperate with Him and then, 38:32 I'm gonna use the word delivered, 38:34 isn't that a good word? 38:35 Yes. It's a great word. 38:37 We are delivered from that thing 38:38 that had a hold on us. 38:40 Now, did He not forgive us every time we went 38:42 and asked Him to forgive us. 38:44 But again I'm gonna say, oh, yes, I forgive you, now repent. 38:49 You know, just when, when you, when you ask for forgiveness, 38:55 then in your mind just remember 38:57 that He's also saying now repent. 38:59 Don't do it anymore. 39:00 Go and sin no more. Go and sin no more. 39:02 And so, but here, it says, 39:04 He will also give you repentance. 39:06 He will give that deliverance 39:08 from that thing that has such a hold on you 39:11 and it can be something like the outward sins, 39:13 you know, those sins, they smell, the drinking, 39:15 cursing, carousing and running with whammy, 39:18 and whatever it is that's got a hold on you. 39:21 Surely not those. 39:22 But also the... 39:24 The gossiping, the backbiting, 39:29 those sins that you can justify, 39:33 and dress up and put a little shine on 39:36 and take to church with you. 39:37 No, you need to be delivered 39:38 from those things just as surely, 39:41 and so He'll grant you repentance from those. 39:44 Aren't they called secret sins? 39:46 Those sins that are in your heart 39:48 that you don't know that I've got, 39:50 because I've got it so well hidden. 39:52 Oh, God, deliver us from those things. 39:54 Yes. 39:55 You know, what I was thinking about while ago 39:57 when we were talking about this. 39:58 I've never thought of that just exactly 39:59 but, let's just say that we, and I think that we all do this 40:04 trying our best to progress people like Jesus. 40:08 But there is sins 40:10 that I probably have asked for repentance for. 40:13 I may be exaggerating, 40:15 may be under exaggerating perhaps sometimes. 40:16 As repentance for or forgiveness for? 40:20 Forgiveness. 40:21 Okay. And forgiveness. 40:24 I'm still working on all of this 40:25 because, you know, only by, 40:28 the point that I'm making is that as I mature, 40:34 I may be asking to be forgiven for this particular sin here. 40:39 And I may have started asking 20 years ago, 40:42 but I'm not the same person I was 40:44 but I may still be asking. 40:46 So is that a more mature asking for forgiveness. 40:50 I know that He knows my heart. 40:52 I know that good enough, JD. 40:56 But it may not have been good enough for me. 40:59 I don't know but, you know, the reason I ask you 41:01 what you were, what you just said was, 41:05 you were praying for forgiveness. 41:08 When this scripture really hit home with me 41:12 that Acts 5:31 tells us, "God gives us repentance." 41:18 Repentance is a gift. 41:20 Just like salvation is a gift. 41:23 That's when I quit just praying and asking, 41:27 like you said confession and asking for forgiveness, 41:31 I pray for repentance. 41:33 I mean, this is something that... 41:35 They won't do it anymore. 41:36 Yes. 41:37 Lord, please forgive me 41:39 but now, Father, grant me repentance. 41:41 Give me the power, work in me 41:43 to will and to do Your good pleasure. 41:45 Turn me around, Lord, so that I don't do this again. 41:49 And see, I think this is something 41:50 that we're not taught very often. 41:52 We're taught to confess our sin, 41:55 but I think we need to pray, 41:57 that's why I included it in a little prayer 41:59 that we said earlier is, 42:02 Lord grant me repentance and forgiveness of my sin. 42:06 You know, I hate to compare the Word of God with my GPS, 42:09 but some of the... 42:11 One of the sweetest features in my GPS 42:14 is the little woman will tell me, 42:17 make a U-turn, make the nearest U-turn. 42:19 Yes. 42:21 Because she could just keep me, 42:22 you know, once she realizes that I'm lost 42:24 and I should be going the other way, 42:26 she could like direct me through some, you know, 42:29 long convoluted way, you know, down this road and, you know, 42:33 finally make your back around by making several blocks 42:36 turn right and turn right, another right. 42:39 Make a U-turn. 42:40 The nearest U-turn and I think that's that repentance 42:44 that God is giving us that He says, 42:46 make the nearest U-turn and then just do it 42:50 and, and if we will just listen to that 42:53 and you know not saying but God I enjoy this sin 42:56 or, you know, I'll get it figured out. 42:59 I'm working, it's a character flaw 43:00 that I need to. 43:02 He just says make the U-turn 43:03 and go the way I want you to go. 43:05 It's just as simple as that. 43:07 And if you miss it, 43:08 then come back to the nearest block. 43:10 Exactly. She's there to tell you. 43:12 I said, "Make a U-turn." 43:14 Now, Shelley, it's the Holy Spirit 43:16 that convicts us we've done wrong. 43:18 And when he does, we've got someone to go to. 43:22 That's our savior, now Lord Jesus Christ 43:24 because He then frees us of the guilt 43:28 and we can move on and do more. 43:30 True, in this verse that tells us, 43:33 also is the Holy Spirit a witness, 43:36 whom God has given to those who obey Him. 43:41 So the God, we're told in the Bible 43:44 that we are to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit 43:47 because He's more willing to give him 43:49 than we give out good things to our children. 43:52 So God is willing to give us the power of the Holy Spirit, 43:55 the Holy Spirit to dwell in us to help us to obey. 44:00 It's not us doing it, us doing it. 44:02 It is God doing it in us because we are willing. 44:04 Amen. 44:06 All it takes is a willing heart, isn't it? 44:08 Amen. 44:10 Rosemary, you want to take Romans 8:13. 44:16 Romans 8:13 says, 44:19 "For if you live according to the flesh, you'll die. 44:24 But if by the spirit, 44:25 you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." 44:30 This setting in a way is a summary 44:32 of the other previous verses in Chapter 8 44:36 and so this is just going through saying 44:39 what those verses are saying 44:40 about living in the flesh or the carnal person 44:43 and the person who is filled with the spirit, 44:46 a person living the way 44:49 the spirit is leading and directing them. 44:52 And it's sort of this verse takes me back 44:54 to what we were saying before about Laodicea. 44:58 When Jesus said that they were to repent 45:02 that He wanted to fix up their problems, 45:05 He was rebuking and chastening them 45:08 because there were problems, they weren't walking the way 45:10 He wanted to have them walk, but they thought they were. 45:14 And He was saying, 45:15 you are actually missing the point. 45:18 If you do these things, 45:19 then I will be able to heal you. 45:21 I'll be able to help you. 45:23 And so the ones who are lukewarm, 45:26 they are walking according to the flesh. 45:29 They are not walking according to the spirit. 45:33 And so Jesus here is, it's basically the same ideas 45:37 what Jesus is saying to the Laodiceans. 45:41 That we're to stop walking according to the flesh 45:44 because it's not a good outcome. 45:47 But if we walk with the spirit and we don't let self, 45:51 remember self-seeking, you pointed that out 45:53 in one of the other verses. 45:54 When we put aside self and say, 45:57 Lord, please help me today 45:59 to do what You want me to do 46:00 to will and to do of your good pleasure 46:03 instead of doing what I want to do. 46:06 Please help me to make room 46:09 for the Holy Spirit in my heart, 46:11 because while self is on the throne, 46:13 my heart is hard because our hearts are hard 46:16 because self is in control. 46:19 And we only want what we want. We are seeking for ourselves. 46:22 But when we say, Lord, take self away from me. 46:26 Fill me with the Holy Spirit. 46:28 Put Jesus on the throne of my heart. 46:30 Then God can work with us. 46:33 We modify the deeds of the death 46:35 or here the death of the deeds of the body. 46:38 We will then live. 46:40 God has the gift of eternal life for us and... 46:42 And He wants us to live. Amen. 46:44 And we become doers not just hearers. 46:47 The Laodiceans who don't listen to Jesus heard what He said. 46:52 But they didn't do what He said. 46:54 He says that little parable He tells in Matthew 7 46:57 about the wise man built his house upon the rock. 47:01 We all know that song. 47:02 You know, we learnt as children 47:05 and what does Jesus say the wise man 47:07 did before he built his house on the rock? 47:10 He was a hearer and a doer of the Word of God. 47:15 The foolish man heard but didn't do it. 47:19 That parable is full of information 47:22 for our spiritual growth and so we should go 47:25 and read it the end of Matthew 7. 47:27 That's powerful. 47:29 You know, to me when we talk 47:30 about walking in the power of surrender... 47:37 What this scripture says to me, Jesus said in Luke 9:13 what? 47:42 "If any man would come after me, 47:44 let him deny himself and pick up his cross daily." 47:48 Daily. Says in Luke. 47:50 Now, we know that means 47:53 anybody that heard that expression 47:55 during Christ day 47:56 knew that meant you were about to be crucified. 48:00 So He is saying, we need to, 48:02 that old man needs to be crucified day by day 48:04 and, boy, I'll tell you, 48:06 that old sin nature can rear its ugly head in a hurry. 48:09 So, but what he's saying here, if, you see, I can't crucify, 48:14 I can't put to death the misdeeds of my flesh 48:18 because he says, okay, Shelley, 48:20 if you're gonna live according to the sinful nature, 48:22 you're going to die. 48:24 You'll suffer the second eternal death. 48:27 But if by whom? 48:28 If by the spirit, you put to death. 48:33 So you've got two people here, I mean two persons. 48:36 The Holy Spirit of God and me, you. 48:40 It's by the spirit you put to death, 48:43 so you have to use that word earlier, cooperate. 48:46 We have to work in cooperation 48:49 'cause the Holy Spirit won't put to death the misdeeds 48:54 of our old sinful flesh. 48:55 With us fighting it. We're fighting. 48:58 And we can't do it without His power. 49:01 So we have to say, 49:02 okay, Lord, please fill me with Your spirit, 49:06 please Holy Spirit, lead me, guide me, 49:08 help me to put to death, you know by your power, 49:12 let me put to death, the misdeeds of my flesh. 49:15 And you have some secret sin, 49:19 let's say that you realize 49:21 that is separating you from God, 49:22 but you don't want to turn it loose. 49:25 So you can pray. 49:27 Father, make me willing to be willing. 49:29 Father here I am, you know, I don't want to quit, 49:33 doing whatever this is that I'm doing. 49:35 You know, I don't, but Father, 49:37 I do want to be in right relationship with You. 49:40 I want that more than I want this 49:42 but I don't, so help God, help me. 49:45 Help me. 49:46 I'm willing for You to make me willing. 49:48 And you know what? He'll honor that prayers. 49:50 Absolutely. 49:51 He works in us to will and to do. 49:54 Two separate stages. 49:56 That is a perfect segue for where I'm going. 49:59 Thank you. 50:01 Psalm 143:10. 50:05 Teach me, 50:06 so that's what you're willing to make. 50:09 "Teach me to do your will Lord, for you're my God. 50:12 Let your holy, let the good spirit, 50:14 the Holy Spirit lead me, put me on level ground." 50:19 Well, I think if any, as I've learned in life, 50:23 if I'm putting together a team, 50:26 I want people that are teachable. 50:28 Because there are some people that are teachable, 50:30 there are some that are not 50:31 and here, he's saying, hey, ask, 50:35 as you were just saying, you know. 50:37 And so as I was looking at this teaching, 50:40 all of a sudden, it came up at a number of places. 50:43 Here, we're sitting here, teach me do your will Lord. 50:47 Here it says up here David says, 50:50 teach me, or no Job, 50:52 teach me what I do not say and if I've done wrong, 50:55 I don't want to do that. 50:56 Here it comes along again 50:58 and David, "Create in me a clean heart, oh, God. 51:00 Renew a steadfast spirit within me." 51:03 Here we go back down here. 51:04 Show me Your ways, oh, Lord, teach me Your paths. 51:08 Teach me, so I have no problem anymore 51:14 because I think they would go through the peaks and valley 51:16 of asking the Lord 51:18 yeah, there is something that I need to be chased on. 51:22 Let me know 51:24 because I know what it is to chase bunny rabbits. 51:27 I know what it is to come to the T in the road 51:30 and you don't know what to do. 51:31 So I'm giving you Lord permission to teach me, 51:34 and I know that, I know that, I know as I'm sitting here 51:37 that He's not going to say, 51:39 well, ha-ha-ha, we got Quinn, 51:41 what we want to say, he's at a dead end. 51:44 That's when the Calvary comes right there. 51:46 Boy, you say, Jesus help me. 51:48 I give you permission to work in my life and made it, 51:51 that's vulnerable, and then, boy I just choose to believe. 51:56 Please, Lord, help that boy. 51:58 You know, he needs some help. 52:00 He's calling out. 52:01 So the gift of being able to ask, 52:07 teach me, Lord, I think is a precious, 52:11 precious characteristic that as you grow in Christ, 52:15 and even if you're a baby, 52:18 you know, give permission, give Him permission, 52:21 He's got ears to hear and eyes to see. 52:24 Amen. 52:25 You know, JD, it's a special thing 52:28 to be able to say, Lord, teach me 52:30 because that's make, you're a humble person. 52:33 A humble person is teachable and we all have to be humble 52:36 when it comes to the things of God, 52:38 we really have to submit to Him and sit at His feet. 52:42 In James, it says, 52:43 "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord." 52:46 Don't ask God to humble you because you won't like it. 52:52 But humble yourself so that God can then teach you. 52:57 I always think of... 52:58 One of my favorite Psalms is 1:39. 53:01 I love that psalm and at the very end, verse 23, 53:05 it says, search me, oh, God and know my heart, 53:09 try me and know my thoughts. 53:11 Verse 24, "And see if there would be wicked way in me 53:13 and lead me in the way everlasting." 53:15 We have to be able to say, 53:17 Lord, search me, show me my faults. 53:20 I don't want them anymore. 53:22 I don't want them to be between you and me. 53:25 I want the closeness with Jesus that Jesus had. 53:28 I want to be closer to you than I could ever expect to be. 53:31 Amen. Sweet. 53:33 Well, this, this is really, and I'll just take a second, 53:35 the last call I received before I came down here 53:38 was this guy calling from Tennessee 53:41 and he was just, he says, "Help me." 53:45 And I said, "What's the problem?" 53:47 He just said that I'm just, 53:49 I'm just at a place in my life where I just hate myself. 53:53 I'm 60 years old. 53:54 I used to love the Lord and I have this background 53:57 and this background. 53:59 I just need help. 54:00 And, man, I just got through seeing my assignment... 54:04 Praise the Lord. 54:06 And the sign of Psalms 143 teach me to do Your will, 54:10 for You're my God, 54:11 let the Holy Spirit lead me to level ground. 54:13 I said, sir, that's in the Bible. 54:15 Do you know where Psalms are? 54:16 I do know where Psalms is, 54:18 and so it just kind of worked in there. 54:19 So it's just confirmation, you know, like, wow, thank you. 54:24 This is real stuff. 54:25 These are real, 54:26 this is a real road map right here. 54:30 Yes, and the answers are there so... 54:33 Allow the Lord to work in your life. 54:35 Amen. Amen. 54:37 So we see then that as we go through this 54:42 that God doesn't give up on anyone, does He? 54:46 No. 54:48 He's, not until the end of time, 54:49 that was the rest of Matthew 54:51 but He's not going to put out a smoking flax, 54:56 He's not going to toss out or break off the bruised reed. 55:02 But we do know, 55:04 He's going to rebuke and chasten us. 55:06 We do know that it is His riches, 55:09 His goodness that turns us around, 55:12 that leads us to repentance. 55:14 We do know that repentance is a gift 55:19 as Acts 5:31 tells us, 55:23 and that we can only put to death 55:26 the misdeeds of our flesh 55:28 by the power of the Holy Spirit, 55:31 and when we're praying to be taught by the Lord, 55:34 teach me Your will. 55:36 Who is the one that's teaching us 55:38 according to the scripture, 55:40 but your good spirit lead me, 55:42 so it is the Holy Spirit who is doing this teaching 55:47 and to me this is one of the most beautiful truths 55:50 of God to recognize 55:52 is that just like salvation is a gift, 55:55 repentance is a gift and if we learn... 56:00 From now on I just challenge you, 56:02 I always say that confession is the clearinghouse 56:06 of the conscience. 56:08 This, when we confess our sins before the Lord, 56:10 it gives us a clear conscience and we know He is, 1 John 1:9. 56:16 "Faithful and just to forgive us 56:18 of our sins and goes one step further, 56:20 He cleanses us from all unrighteousness." 56:23 All unrighteousness. 56:25 So, but when that has happened, 56:28 pray also that God will grant you repentance, 56:33 say, Lord, help me to turn away from this. 56:37 Lord, I need Your power, I need Your leading, 56:41 I need the Holy Spirit to work with me. 56:44 Don't expect God to do it. 56:45 I mean, you know Paul said, 56:47 "Make no provision for the flesh." 56:49 Romans 14:13, right? 56:51 So if you're praying to give up smoking, 56:54 don't go buy a carton of cigarettes, put them, 56:57 don't make any provision for your flesh. 57:00 You've got to cooperate. 57:01 Sometimes you got to ask God to take away the desire. 57:04 There's something we know 57:05 we're going to give up but we not. 57:07 But once again, I think that if he's going to, 57:10 oh, my goodness, where did our time go. 57:11 Sometimes that desire is taken away 57:13 because we do something else 57:14 like we begin exercising or something. 57:17 I cannot believe our time is all gone. 57:19 Thank you, thank you so much. 57:20 I wasn't watching the clock. 57:22 We're so glad you joined us tonight. 57:25 Our prayer for you 57:26 is that the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 57:29 the love of the Father, 57:30 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 57:32 will be with you always. 57:34 Bye-bye. Thanks, Shelley. |
Revised 2017-07-06