I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, and welcome to
3ABN's Family Worship.
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I'm Chris Shelton.
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And this is my
husband, Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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And we have a wonderful
panel of 3ABN family here
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with us today.
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So we welcome you,
our family at home,
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happy Sabbath. That's right.
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And we are looking forward
to a wonderful lesson tonight.
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Our lesson title is going
to be "Agents for Heaven".
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But first, I want to
introduce the panel to you.
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Over to my right
is Jason Bradley.
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And, Jason, you
work in Dare to Dream.
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What is your official title?
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Assistant to
the general manager.
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I figured it had to be close
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'cause you guys are
really just right there.
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Who is that general
manager, by the way?
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Well, I've known
her for about 31 years.
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You're pretty close, right?
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It's my mother, Yvonne Lewis.
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You guys spearhead about
everything, wear lots of hats,
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I'm sure like we
do, so that's awesome.
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Wonderful
programming by the way.
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I love watching it myself.
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So, and next to him is JD.
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JD, you work in...
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Pastoral...
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Pastoral and probably about
anything they want you to...
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Just close to it.
Close to it, all right.
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You know, to the
best of my ability
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which that limits
everything right there.
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Okay.
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And over to my left
is Sister Irma Murray.
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And, Irma, you work
in Spanish department.
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What do you do?
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In Latino department as well,
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I also have lots of little hats,
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not big hats but little hats.
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And I do production sometimes
and I work with marketing.
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I love how
she's... Cable relations.
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Yeah, I love how
you said little hats
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'cause I'm sure there's time
those hats feel pretty heavy.
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Heavy, yeah, they do.
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And next to her is someone...
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He's even taken his
hair and maybe shaved it off,
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seeing wear
lots of hats at 3ABN.
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As we stay on,
that's what happens.
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Well, it is family time.
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You know how
families care, right?
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Indeed.
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But you work with Proclaim now.
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You're the general director,
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and you also
work for today program
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and just whatever.
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I mean, I don't know
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there's anything
you can't do, right?
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Lot of whatever. Yeah.
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I don't know if you
would admit it or not but...
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All the little things I
can't do is to ask her about,
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she can tell you what I can't...
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I know one thing you
guys haven't been able to do
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and that's retire.
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They've been
talking about retiring.
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We won't let them
retire. I don't want you retire.
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My lens of love
would be lost without you.
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That's right.
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And we're gonna
open this evening
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with the song entitled
"This world is not my home."
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And we have, yes, we
have Sister Marlene Hall
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on the piano.
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Sister Marlene.
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This world is not my home
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I'm just a passing through
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My treasures are laid up
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Somewhere beyond the blue
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The angels beckon me
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From heaven's open door
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And I can't feel at home
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In this world anymore
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Oh, Lord, you know
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I have no friend like you
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If heaven's not my home
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Then Lord what will I do
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The angels beckon me
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From heaven's open door
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And I can't feel at home
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In this world anymore
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They're all expecting me
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And that's one thing I know
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My saviors pardoned me
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And now I onward go
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I know He'll take me through
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Though I am weak and poor
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And I can't feel at home
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In this world anymore
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Oh, Lord, you know
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I have no friend like you
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If heaven's not my home
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Then Lord what will I do
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The angels beckon me
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From heaven's open door
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And I can't feel at home
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In this world anymore
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Just over in glory land
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We'll live eternally
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The saints on every hand
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Are shouting victory
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Their songs of sweetest praise
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Drift back from heaven's shore
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And I can't feel at home
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In this world anymore
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Oh, Lord, you know I
have no friend like you
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If heaven's not my home
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Then Lord what will I do
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The angels beckon me
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From heaven's open door
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And I can't feel at home
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In this world anymore
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And I can't feel at home
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In this world anymore
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Amen. Amen.
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Praise the Lord,
I love that song.
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I like that song.
Yes, that is a happy song.
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This world is not our home,
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we really are
just passing through.
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Amen. Amen.
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Thank you, Marlene. Wow.
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Oh, mercy.
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She just had some
really, really good singers
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over here, right?
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At least for me, I'm
talking about myself.
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You guys sounded really
good. I heard some parts.
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I've been hearing your
voice, that was awesome.
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I know, in heaven, Jason,
with those who has to struggle,
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we're gonna be able to sing.
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We might be able
to play that piano.
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That's right, Jason.
Yeah, I would love that.
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You know, how many,
maybe thousands and thousands
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that were singing
right along with us.
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Good, down to south.
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I'm not talking
about the angels of heaven
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because they're
making it beautiful.
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People sitting at home,
those of you sitting at home,
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million people know this song.
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And I bet they know every word
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and they were just
singing it to the glory of God.
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So we are thankful
you're doing that and joining us
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and gonna have a good time
together studying the word.
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Agents for heaven.
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You know, when
I was reading this
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and studying over it,
I thought in actuality,
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we might actually open
a few cans of worms here.
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Yes, yes. All right.
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You know, but we
all, that's true.
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We do need to have prayer,
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why don't we go ahead
and just have prayer now?
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I'm gonna do that.
Yes, let's pray right now.
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We're gonna invite those of you
at home to pray along with us.
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You know, and
telling where you may be,
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what's going on in your life.
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But it's so nice
that we can come together.
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Bible says two or three come,
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you know, any two agree or
touch upon anything is sown.
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I think so often we miss.
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We miss so much because
we don't spend that time
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in really in prayer.
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And I know for here when
we study the Word of God,
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if we, you know,
if we don't pray,
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something would be wrong.
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Holy Spirit would be absent.
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And it just be going
through some motions here.
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And would not affect any
life, no one will be changed
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because the power
of the Holy Spirit
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is not in full possession.
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So that's what we pray
for is that outpouring,
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getting ready, something,
maybe on the back-burner,
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we're over here somewhere
and just to move forward.
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So we're gonna invite
you pray along with us
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for that power
of the Holy Spirit.
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Let's pray, shall we?
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Loving Father in
heaven, truly it is,
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we thank You for
another Sabbath day.
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We thank You, we thank
You, and we praise You for it.
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It's so wonderful to know
that after six days of labor
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that we can lay everything
down and as we come to you
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and we lay our
burdens, and our perplexities,
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and our joys,
and may our sorrows,
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and things that
we're perplexed about.
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We can lay them at
Your feet knowing sure well
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that You'd love us
with an everlasting love,
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knowing the Bible has promised
that You'd never leave us,
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You'd never forsake us.
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And for those who may be
going through little struggle
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right now tonight,
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may it just
change, change as we open
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the beautiful pages of
this book called the Bible.
00:09:06.91\00:09:09.61
May the Holy
Spirit take possession of
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each of our
hearts and our minds.
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Lord, it's not
just another program,
00:09:14.12\00:09:17.65
we want it to be
what you'd have it to be.
00:09:17.69\00:09:20.09
So we ask that
You'd fill our hearts,
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our minds with
Thy sweet Holy Spirit.
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Bless now, we pray to this
end that we may hear Your voice
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and that we may
respond in Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen.
00:09:30.80\00:09:32.63
For all out there that
we'll work around here.
00:09:32.67\00:09:37.24
Well, in this study,
we're gonna be looking at
00:09:37.27\00:09:39.81
how we can be agents of heaven.
00:09:39.84\00:09:41.94
Agents of heaven,
in particular to those
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who we may think
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or we actually
know might be an error.
00:09:46.08\00:09:49.82
You know, as I was
reading through this,
00:09:49.85\00:09:52.12
I realized that
so often, Christians,
00:09:52.15\00:09:54.76
we fall short in how
to deal with one another.
00:09:54.79\00:09:58.36
And I can recall my
parents many times saying
00:09:58.39\00:10:01.73
if it were just for
the people in the church,
00:10:01.76\00:10:04.70
they wouldn't be
coming to church.
00:10:04.73\00:10:07.84
So hopefully that's not
any of you but I think that...
00:10:07.87\00:10:14.31
I think that we
probably have all experienced
00:10:14.34\00:10:17.58
some of what we
studied prior to this lesson.
00:10:17.61\00:10:21.22
I know Pastor Kenny, he
was just sharing a story,
00:10:21.25\00:10:23.69
maybe he'll share it
later but I know for myself,
00:10:23.72\00:10:25.99
I've experienced this
where others have felt
00:10:26.02\00:10:28.79
maybe I had done something wrong
00:10:28.82\00:10:30.36
and how they dealt with me
and I know I probably have,
00:10:30.39\00:10:33.70
especially, I might
as well just admit it.
00:10:33.73\00:10:35.93
I know I haven't always
done it properly myself.
00:10:35.96\00:10:39.03
So the Lord is so
kind in reminding us
00:10:39.07\00:10:41.90
over and over and over again,
00:10:41.94\00:10:44.04
how we are to treat,
how we are to respect,
00:10:44.07\00:10:47.28
how we are to love
those He's died for.
00:10:47.31\00:10:50.38
That's wonderful,
you know, like you said,
00:10:50.41\00:10:53.08
being in the work for years
00:10:53.11\00:10:54.58
and in ministry
and different things,
00:10:54.62\00:10:56.42
is this the subject
that's really misunderstood,
00:10:56.45\00:11:00.86
or people, we say ignorant,
not knowing the subject
00:11:00.89\00:11:03.39
when it seems very simple
00:11:03.43\00:11:05.16
because it seems to be a subject
00:11:05.19\00:11:07.63
that is brutally abused.
00:11:07.66\00:11:10.43
And then always
make excuses to say
00:11:10.47\00:11:13.84
I know what it says, but...
00:11:13.87\00:11:15.90
Have you felt that? I felt that.
00:11:15.94\00:11:17.77
It's interesting that
comes out of a pastor's mouth
00:11:17.81\00:11:20.04
because as your
wife was talking,
00:11:20.08\00:11:22.08
I was thinking, you
know, as I was trying to think
00:11:22.11\00:11:25.25
the number of churches I
pastored, I think it's seven.
00:11:25.28\00:11:28.88
And I find when
you go to the church,
00:11:28.92\00:11:31.32
it's better to
listen than to speak.
00:11:31.35\00:11:33.89
Listen to what
people are telling you
00:11:33.92\00:11:35.72
because I found in
churches in general,
00:11:35.76\00:11:39.69
Adventist church in particular,
00:11:39.73\00:11:41.30
people tend to
project themselves
00:11:41.33\00:11:43.40
on to the church by
saying that, I say this.
00:11:43.43\00:11:46.00
When you come to a new church,
00:11:46.03\00:11:47.47
there are those who
will quickly tell you
00:11:47.50\00:11:48.87
what kind of church this is.
00:11:48.90\00:11:50.47
This is a cold church.
This is not a nice church.
00:11:50.51\00:11:52.61
These people aren't friendly.
00:11:52.64\00:11:53.98
And then there
are others come to,
00:11:54.01\00:11:55.34
and say this is
such a warm church.
00:11:55.38\00:11:57.51
Everybody loves each other here.
00:11:57.55\00:11:59.05
And I tend to find
that the cold people think
00:11:59.08\00:12:02.98
it's a cold church.
00:12:03.02\00:12:04.85
And the warm people
think it's a warm church.
00:12:04.89\00:12:07.16
So what they're
doing is projecting, JD,
00:12:07.19\00:12:09.12
their own
personality on the church.
00:12:09.16\00:12:12.46
So when people speak to
you, you really ought to listen
00:12:12.49\00:12:15.23
'cause they're
telling you a lot about them
00:12:15.26\00:12:17.37
as much as they're
telling you about the church.
00:12:17.40\00:12:19.23
Sometimes you go to a church
00:12:19.27\00:12:20.60
and people very
quickly tell you,
00:12:20.64\00:12:21.97
"Oh, people
here aren't friendly,
00:12:22.00\00:12:23.34
they're cliquish,
they're clannish."
00:12:23.37\00:12:24.71
And there are people
00:12:24.74\00:12:26.07
who just find holes
to pick all the time.
00:12:26.11\00:12:28.38
Then there are people,
"Oh, this is the warmest church,
00:12:28.41\00:12:30.25
people are loving here."
00:12:30.28\00:12:31.61
And you'll find those are people
00:12:31.65\00:12:32.98
who tend to be
warm and loving people
00:12:33.01\00:12:34.48
and tend to the see the
world in that kind of lens.
00:12:34.52\00:12:38.02
So if God's people,
00:12:38.05\00:12:40.62
and I've got a text
I want to sort of dig
00:12:40.66\00:12:42.46
into in just a little bit,
00:12:42.49\00:12:44.66
would work on
being the kind of person
00:12:44.69\00:12:48.36
that they want
people to be to them,
00:12:48.40\00:12:50.37
you would find the church
would be much more harmonious.
00:12:50.40\00:12:52.63
And the thing about being
a, real quick, I have a book.
00:12:52.67\00:12:57.84
And forgive me, on the
cover of the book is a cartoon.
00:12:57.87\00:13:00.51
It's a picture of a
guy laying on his back
00:13:00.54\00:13:03.08
and there's another
fellow standing on his chest
00:13:03.11\00:13:04.95
with his Bible up in the air
00:13:04.98\00:13:06.38
and he's got the finger
like this, you know, yeah.
00:13:06.41\00:13:07.75
Oh, yeah. Oh,
yes. Okay, this is it.
00:13:07.78\00:13:10.09
He's got his
Bible up in the air.
00:13:10.12\00:13:11.45
He's correcting this guy,
00:13:11.49\00:13:12.82
you know, by
something on his chest.
00:13:12.85\00:13:14.49
And sometimes, we can do that.
00:13:14.52\00:13:15.92
We can give the
wrong image of who God is,
00:13:15.96\00:13:19.89
and actually run
people away from God
00:13:19.93\00:13:21.96
by our unchrist like attitude.
00:13:22.00\00:13:26.20
So, you know, Ellen
White says Christ did utter,
00:13:26.23\00:13:28.90
and she says this word a
lot, scathing rebukes, Christ,
00:13:28.94\00:13:32.77
but they were
scathing rebukes against sin,
00:13:32.81\00:13:35.24
not against sinners.
00:13:35.28\00:13:37.61
And even when he did
his scathing rebukes,
00:13:37.65\00:13:39.01
he had tears in his eyes.
00:13:39.05\00:13:40.38
So I'll take something from you,
00:13:40.42\00:13:42.15
if I know you care about me.
00:13:42.18\00:13:43.69
If I see tears in
your eyes, I'll take it.
00:13:43.72\00:13:45.42
But if you're kind
of just laying me out,
00:13:45.45\00:13:46.96
there's something in me,
00:13:46.99\00:13:48.32
you know, I'm not all there yet.
00:13:48.36\00:13:49.69
I'm on the way,
I'm not there yet.
00:13:49.72\00:13:52.19
That will kind of resist
that, but if I see the caring,
00:13:52.23\00:13:54.93
I'll take it.
00:13:54.96\00:13:56.30
I'll take the tongue lashing
00:13:56.33\00:13:57.67
because I knew
you care about Me.
00:13:57.70\00:13:59.03
Yeah.
00:13:59.07\00:14:00.40
That's precisely, I think,
00:14:00.44\00:14:01.77
maybe the whole thing
in a nutshell right there
00:14:01.80\00:14:03.14
where we need to get to.
00:14:03.17\00:14:04.51
Because if we were like that,
00:14:04.54\00:14:05.87
I mean we would certainly
have a taste of heaven.
00:14:05.91\00:14:08.48
But most of the times, we're up,
00:14:08.51\00:14:09.84
we're standing on somebody.
00:14:09.88\00:14:11.21
We've got the Bible
00:14:11.25\00:14:12.58
and we've got
our finger pointed.
00:14:12.61\00:14:13.95
And whether or not
we go to them or not,
00:14:13.98\00:14:15.72
you know, sometimes
we'd rather talk about them
00:14:15.75\00:14:18.12
than go to them.
00:14:18.15\00:14:19.49
And that's...
00:14:19.52\00:14:20.86
I've got quotes on that too,
00:14:20.89\00:14:22.22
that's actually
you're working for the enemy.
00:14:22.26\00:14:24.23
But I need to know,
as the pastor mentioned.
00:14:24.26\00:14:26.73
And you talk to a lot
of people on the phone,
00:14:26.76\00:14:28.33
lot of people as you travel.
00:14:28.36\00:14:29.80
I need to know to the best
of my ability that they care.
00:14:29.83\00:14:34.64
That's the whole
thing. I'm like you.
00:14:34.67\00:14:36.10
I can take a rebuke
00:14:36.14\00:14:37.47
and people can
really chew and go.
00:14:37.51\00:14:39.17
If I know they really
care, I'll give you example.
00:14:39.21\00:14:40.81
My mother used to
do a lot of correcting,
00:14:40.84\00:14:43.38
you know, for 12 years,
00:14:43.41\00:14:45.25
she went to church as a
pastor so, you know, as mommas,
00:14:45.28\00:14:48.98
you know and they're and what?
00:14:49.02\00:14:50.35
That I could always
listen to that sweet voice.
00:14:50.39\00:14:54.29
Even though she
might be in off track
00:14:54.32\00:14:56.06
because some things she didn't
understand the ins and outs
00:14:56.09\00:14:58.63
that might be in
business meeting,
00:14:58.66\00:15:00.03
board meeting,
00:15:00.06\00:15:01.40
things you can't really reveal
but she'd give her two cents.
00:15:01.43\00:15:04.47
But I knew she cared.
00:15:04.50\00:15:07.27
But when she said,
00:15:07.30\00:15:08.64
I talked to so
and so the other day
00:15:08.67\00:15:10.04
and they said you
ought to do so and so.
00:15:10.07\00:15:13.27
Couple times, I
caught myself, I said,
00:15:13.31\00:15:14.74
really since when they
had my interest at heart.
00:15:14.78\00:15:18.25
Have to pray.
00:15:18.28\00:15:19.61
But it balances
out as you need to know
00:15:19.65\00:15:22.35
that we need to
know somebody cares
00:15:22.38\00:15:24.89
and that they love you,
00:15:24.92\00:15:26.25
and that's why they come
to you in some of the quotes
00:15:26.29\00:15:28.02
and different ones that
you'll have on here was,
00:15:28.06\00:15:29.92
unless we can do that we
need not go to anyone else
00:15:29.96\00:15:34.23
who try to help them out
00:15:34.26\00:15:35.60
if we're not
really on the right track.
00:15:35.63\00:15:36.97
And I think that one
of the issues is the fact
00:15:37.00\00:15:39.33
that people
confuse their standard
00:15:39.37\00:15:41.84
for God's standard.
00:15:41.87\00:15:43.20
So people will have
their own interpretation
00:15:43.24\00:15:47.18
or their own standard
00:15:47.21\00:15:49.18
but God's standard
is totally different.
00:15:49.21\00:15:51.05
So like you're saying,
00:15:51.08\00:15:52.41
how people are
just holding their Bible
00:15:52.45\00:15:54.02
and thumping them over the head.
00:15:54.05\00:15:56.62
Where were they
before in their own lives?
00:15:56.65\00:15:59.65
How much patience, and love,
00:15:59.69\00:16:01.02
and kindness has God shown them?
00:16:01.06\00:16:04.69
Amen.
00:16:04.73\00:16:06.06
But yet that's not
carried out in their rebukes,
00:16:06.09\00:16:08.40
you know, there is a
way to have a loving rebuke.
00:16:08.43\00:16:12.07
And the Bible
teaches about that, right?
00:16:12.10\00:16:14.90
Who was it that owned
someone a lot of money
00:16:14.94\00:16:17.97
and the king forgave him
00:16:18.01\00:16:19.97
and yet right
after he forgave him
00:16:20.01\00:16:22.14
and didn't put him in
prison, then he goes out
00:16:22.18\00:16:23.98
and someone who owed
him just a little bit,
00:16:24.01\00:16:26.41
he demanded it and
had him thrown in prison.
00:16:26.45\00:16:28.88
So, you know, I think the Lord
has to teach us over and over
00:16:28.92\00:16:33.59
because unfortunately
00:16:33.62\00:16:34.96
we have trouble getting
it right the first time.
00:16:34.99\00:16:37.86
JD, I want you to
talk about owe somebody?
00:16:37.89\00:16:41.53
Didn't he grab
the garb by the neck?
00:16:41.56\00:16:44.03
He got him by the
throat. He surely did.
00:16:44.07\00:16:46.03
You know what I'm saying.
00:16:46.07\00:16:47.40
I'm gonna get, you're
gonna do the right thing.
00:16:47.44\00:16:48.97
I'm gonna make you
do the right thing.
00:16:49.00\00:16:50.34
Well, that's, you know,
00:16:50.37\00:16:51.71
that made a little
different situation
00:16:51.74\00:16:53.07
then in our Christian walk.
00:16:53.11\00:16:55.18
It doesn't work.
No, it doesn't work.
00:16:55.21\00:16:57.68
You know, the things that
I'm learning over the years
00:16:57.71\00:16:59.91
and everything is how
consistent a person is,
00:16:59.95\00:17:02.32
you know, if they're
consistently a shaker,
00:17:02.35\00:17:05.59
all right, we
can deal with that,
00:17:05.62\00:17:08.02
you know, we can work in love.
00:17:08.06\00:17:10.09
When you're a
peace maker by nature,
00:17:10.13\00:17:12.09
you're looking to those gentle,
more gentle compassionate eyes.
00:17:12.13\00:17:16.00
And so, you kind of
overlook once they shake.
00:17:16.03\00:17:21.47
But now if you're
shaker with a shaker,
00:17:21.50\00:17:24.74
now all of a sudden, it
can get unchristian like.
00:17:24.77\00:17:29.51
But what I found out that
00:17:29.54\00:17:31.11
if they truly
have a heart for God,
00:17:31.15\00:17:33.98
they then know who to go to.
00:17:34.02\00:17:36.18
And invariably they
go to the peacemakers
00:17:36.22\00:17:38.62
because they do care.
00:17:38.65\00:17:40.09
I do sense the Holy
Spirit is impressing upon them
00:17:40.12\00:17:43.53
that there is an issue
00:17:43.56\00:17:44.99
and they do want
to be kind of rebuked
00:17:45.03\00:17:48.66
rather than popped.
00:17:48.70\00:17:50.97
And now, who are they really?
00:17:51.00\00:17:55.44
Is that the battle
that they're fighting?
00:17:55.47\00:17:57.47
It may be that my
battle being a peacemaker
00:17:57.51\00:18:01.14
could be over here.
00:18:01.18\00:18:03.18
Has nothing to
do with being angry
00:18:03.21\00:18:05.31
or having attitude issue.
00:18:05.35\00:18:07.28
And, but time goes on,
00:18:07.32\00:18:10.59
but if you're
consistent with who you are
00:18:10.62\00:18:12.75
and then if they
truly want to grow
00:18:12.79\00:18:14.69
as you were talking
about while ago, CA,
00:18:14.72\00:18:16.52
if they truly want to grow,
00:18:16.56\00:18:18.49
the Holy Spirit is
there to continue to woo them.
00:18:18.53\00:18:22.46
And, I mean, I
know people today,
00:18:22.50\00:18:24.73
they're just some
of my favorite people.
00:18:24.77\00:18:27.27
Boy, what a past
they had. Oh, absolutely.
00:18:27.30\00:18:30.21
And so that's
good news, you know.
00:18:30.24\00:18:32.51
Yes. That's good news.
00:18:32.54\00:18:33.88
Yeah. Amen.
00:18:33.91\00:18:35.24
But that's one reason
that through the Bible
00:18:35.28\00:18:37.28
that we've been studying
through Spirit of Prophecy
00:18:37.31\00:18:39.28
that we've been
reading in preparation for this
00:18:39.31\00:18:42.25
that God is bringing out that
we're not to be browbeaters.
00:18:42.28\00:18:47.19
We're not to go over,
00:18:47.22\00:18:48.56
"I told you
this, or this is wrong.
00:18:48.59\00:18:50.76
You shouldn't be doing this."
00:18:50.79\00:18:52.59
You know, we're
to come with them.
00:18:52.63\00:18:54.40
One of the quotes
that I could not have find,
00:18:54.43\00:18:56.13
I have a lot here but
one I could not find was
00:18:56.16\00:18:59.53
Mrs. White brought
out that we need to love
00:18:59.57\00:19:02.20
that person enough
before we go to them
00:19:02.24\00:19:05.51
that we're
willing to die for them.
00:19:05.54\00:19:07.28
That's love.
Yeah, that's forgiving.
00:19:07.31\00:19:09.38
That's why in the one quote,
I might as well read it now.
00:19:09.41\00:19:11.98
I was gonna save it for later
but you brought it up already.
00:19:12.01\00:19:14.48
This one is
from Steps to Christ.
00:19:14.52\00:19:16.72
That's why this is so valuable
00:19:16.75\00:19:19.55
because Christ is
constantly telling us
00:19:19.59\00:19:22.22
to deny your service,
00:19:22.26\00:19:23.59
it's not that we're not to
go speak to somebody, we are.
00:19:23.63\00:19:26.66
If we have odd
against one another,
00:19:26.70\00:19:29.06
or we actually
see someone in error,
00:19:29.10\00:19:31.43
but it's how we do it.
00:19:31.47\00:19:33.10
Amen.
00:19:33.13\00:19:34.47
He's always
telling us over and over,
00:19:34.50\00:19:36.14
"Don't browbeat,
don't put them down,
00:19:36.17\00:19:39.14
don't belittle
them, but love them back."
00:19:39.17\00:19:43.41
There's a different
way to talk to people than
00:19:43.45\00:19:45.45
what we generally find
ourselves entangled in.
00:19:45.48\00:19:49.12
And so we all need to listen.
00:19:49.15\00:19:51.12
This one is
from Steps to Christ.
00:19:51.15\00:19:52.49
This is what
Pastor CA was quoting.
00:19:52.52\00:19:55.26
It says, "Jesus did not
suppress one word of truth.
00:19:55.29\00:19:58.69
In other words,
00:19:58.73\00:20:00.06
and even part of what
our lesson is for tonight.
00:20:00.10\00:20:02.20
It's not what they
were not supposed to say,
00:20:02.23\00:20:04.23
in fact, Mrs. White many a times
00:20:04.27\00:20:06.67
didn't want to get
up and give the rebukes
00:20:06.70\00:20:09.14
that she was given to give.
00:20:09.17\00:20:11.71
The Lord told her to give it,
you know, but through a kind,
00:20:11.74\00:20:15.98
loving heart, she gave it.
00:20:16.01\00:20:18.31
Not browbeating
just as Christ did,
00:20:18.35\00:20:21.15
but He uttered
it always in love.
00:20:21.18\00:20:25.25
He exercised the
greatest, tactless into that.
00:20:25.29\00:20:28.86
How many times you'll...
00:20:28.89\00:20:30.23
'Cause a lot of times, we
get emotional, we're upset.
00:20:30.26\00:20:34.26
You know attack is
thrown out of the window.
00:20:34.30\00:20:37.83
And thoughtful, kind
attention in His inner course
00:20:37.87\00:20:41.37
with the people.
00:20:41.40\00:20:42.74
He was...
00:20:42.77\00:20:44.11
This hit me hard,
He was never rude.
00:20:44.14\00:20:46.64
Amen.
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.34
Never needlessly
spoke a severe word.
00:20:48.38\00:20:53.58
Never gave needless
pain to a sensitive soul.
00:20:53.62\00:20:59.02
He did not
censor human weakness,
00:20:59.05\00:21:01.62
He spoke the truth
but always in love.
00:21:01.66\00:21:04.66
He denounced
hypocrisy, unbelief,
00:21:04.69\00:21:07.00
and iniquity but
tears were in His voice
00:21:07.03\00:21:11.33
as He uttered
His scathing rebukes.
00:21:11.37\00:21:13.90
He wept over
Jerusalem, the city He loved."
00:21:13.94\00:21:18.04
It was His mission to
come and to save all of those,
00:21:18.07\00:21:23.21
save all of us who are in error.
00:21:23.24\00:21:25.21
I quoted that
just this past Sabbath
00:21:25.25\00:21:26.85
and that sermon
got exact passage
00:21:26.88\00:21:29.28
that He never
gave needless pain.
00:21:29.32\00:21:31.52
You know, the
thing about life is
00:21:31.55\00:21:32.89
and I wrote a
book several years ago,
00:21:32.92\00:21:34.26
good number of years ago,
00:21:34.29\00:21:35.62
I'll call it "I
Will Fear No Evil."
00:21:35.66\00:21:37.09
And in it, one of the things
I said is most people know
00:21:37.13\00:21:42.86
when they're wrong,
when they've made a mistake.
00:21:42.90\00:21:44.53
There are some
who walk through life
00:21:44.57\00:21:45.90
and never think that
they never did anything wrong.
00:21:45.93\00:21:47.57
They're really unaware of
who they are and what they are.
00:21:47.60\00:21:49.97
But the average person,
00:21:50.01\00:21:51.34
when they do
something wrong, they know.
00:21:51.37\00:21:54.88
And when they come
in a broken condition,
00:21:54.91\00:21:59.88
they don't really need you
to grind your heel into them.
00:21:59.91\00:22:03.39
That's not what they need.
00:22:03.42\00:22:05.75
They're coming
because they are broken
00:22:05.79\00:22:07.19
and they don't
need you to power,
00:22:07.22\00:22:08.56
pulverize them, you
know, that fracture,
00:22:08.59\00:22:10.16
they don't need
you to pulverize.
00:22:10.19\00:22:11.59
So the kind hand, the...
00:22:11.63\00:22:14.80
And Ellen White says this
00:22:14.83\00:22:16.16
and I'm not
sure where it's found
00:22:16.20\00:22:17.53
but I remember reading this
00:22:17.57\00:22:18.90
that kindness is
never inappropriate.
00:22:18.93\00:22:21.87
It's never
appropriate to be kind.
00:22:21.90\00:22:23.84
You might say,
00:22:23.87\00:22:25.21
"Well, this person
needed a good tongue lashing."
00:22:25.24\00:22:26.57
Well, you don't know that.
00:22:26.61\00:22:28.31
That may be inappropriate
00:22:28.34\00:22:29.88
but kindness is
not inappropriate.
00:22:29.91\00:22:32.21
So can you ever say, "You know
what, I was too kind to them,
00:22:32.25\00:22:35.62
I was too merciful?"
00:22:35.65\00:22:36.99
You know, that's
where I don't know,
00:22:37.02\00:22:39.12
and I was just too nice.
00:22:39.15\00:22:40.96
And I've heard people say that.
00:22:40.99\00:22:42.32
But that's more of a self
thing than it's a God thing,
00:22:42.36\00:22:45.03
you know, because it's
never inappropriate to be kind.
00:22:45.06\00:22:47.06
And when people come to
you bleeding and battered,
00:22:47.10\00:22:50.37
you're going to
give them a razor blade
00:22:50.40\00:22:51.73
and say, "You
know, finish the job,"
00:22:51.77\00:22:53.50
or are you going to
give them a band aid?
00:22:53.54\00:22:55.40
They need some healing
and they need some wholeness.
00:22:55.44\00:22:57.57
And that's what I
think that alludes to it.
00:22:57.61\00:22:58.94
You know, I had an
experience somewhat like that
00:22:58.97\00:23:00.81
but this was me and a dog.
00:23:00.84\00:23:04.88
You know, and it seems
all right thinking about.
00:23:04.91\00:23:07.25
This just happened yesterday.
00:23:07.28\00:23:09.18
So, you know,
confession is good for the soul
00:23:09.22\00:23:11.05
so we don't have to look at it
00:23:11.09\00:23:12.42
but through the
study of this and looking.
00:23:12.45\00:23:14.89
I was like what,
walked out on the porch.
00:23:14.92\00:23:18.03
And of course, you know,
00:23:18.06\00:23:19.39
we had a dog that
loves to tear up anything
00:23:19.43\00:23:21.20
he can get his
mouth on to, you know,
00:23:21.23\00:23:23.37
you got to have a ball,
00:23:23.40\00:23:24.73
he's got to have us
stick it all the time in his...
00:23:24.77\00:23:27.47
And I walked out there
00:23:27.50\00:23:28.84
and he had taken one of
the mats up off the chairs
00:23:28.87\00:23:30.44
and he just ripped it to shreds.
00:23:30.47\00:23:32.87
It was all
pieces every which way
00:23:32.91\00:23:34.71
and he is right
in the middle of it,
00:23:34.74\00:23:36.08
just having a
big time, you know.
00:23:36.11\00:23:37.75
So I thought, "Oh,
man." You know, you're good.
00:23:37.78\00:23:39.91
You catch him around in the act,
00:23:39.95\00:23:41.28
there's a good
time to let him know
00:23:41.32\00:23:43.12
he's not supposed to do it.
00:23:43.15\00:23:44.49
So we would just a little
bit a piece of foam, you know.
00:23:44.52\00:23:46.65
So I looked at him, he
went, "Oh, like, I know what,"
00:23:46.69\00:23:49.12
so I took the phone up."
00:23:49.16\00:23:50.49
You know, I did
boom, boom, boom, boom,
00:23:50.53\00:23:52.19
bang forced on his nose.
00:23:52.23\00:23:53.56
Don't do this boy, don't this.
00:23:53.60\00:23:56.00
And all of a
sudden, he did, you know,
00:23:56.03\00:23:58.07
he rolled over on
his back and put all,
00:23:58.10\00:24:01.74
he gave up all four
legs up into the air.
00:24:01.77\00:24:04.87
And I thought
this is unacceptable,
00:24:04.91\00:24:06.44
he hasn't learned yet.
00:24:06.47\00:24:07.81
It reminds you of what,
sometime we do as Christians,
00:24:12.21\00:24:15.08
you know what I'm
saying to human beings
00:24:15.12\00:24:17.92
because I felt right then,
he has not learned his lesson.
00:24:17.95\00:24:20.56
Next time I come out,
he's going to be into another
00:24:20.59\00:24:22.42
so two, three little
swats now didn't hurt him
00:24:22.46\00:24:25.36
but it was just enough,
00:24:25.39\00:24:26.73
"You don't do this
kind of stuff right here."
00:24:26.76\00:24:28.63
And I said to him
and looked at him.
00:24:28.66\00:24:31.43
All four...
00:24:31.47\00:24:32.80
So you'll give him
some more kindness.
00:24:32.83\00:24:34.17
He submitted, he submitted.
00:24:34.20\00:24:37.01
And I really not feel
like again, I don't feel,
00:24:37.04\00:24:38.87
I think you have
but I might ought to do
00:24:38.91\00:24:40.48
and I thought,
poor dog is laid there,
00:24:40.51\00:24:43.51
he's rolled up and
he said, "Okay, I give,
00:24:43.55\00:24:45.78
I caught what you
said," maybe you know,
00:24:45.81\00:24:48.42
so maybe when
we're talking to others
00:24:48.45\00:24:51.39
and we understand
they come with contrition,
00:24:51.42\00:24:54.19
they want to get
change in their life.
00:24:54.22\00:24:56.02
You never go and smack and
beat and bring up what they did
00:24:56.06\00:24:59.29
and how they did it
and why they did it.
00:24:59.33\00:25:01.80
You put some ointment,
balm of Gilead on them.
00:25:01.83\00:25:05.97
And I said one of best
thing I've read one time,
00:25:06.00\00:25:08.14
it says and some time
with these individuals
00:25:08.17\00:25:10.51
who had been hurt so
bad and maybe hurt others
00:25:10.54\00:25:12.67
and you go to them because
that is a job of the church
00:25:12.71\00:25:15.84
who are pastors, the leaders.
00:25:15.88\00:25:17.88
And one thing I learned too,
00:25:17.91\00:25:19.25
I had to be very careful
about it is talking about here
00:25:19.28\00:25:21.05
in our memory verse
there, talks about here.
00:25:21.08\00:25:24.89
The one who is
spiritual, go see them.
00:25:24.92\00:25:29.42
I look that word up
and I thought, "Oh, my!"
00:25:29.46\00:25:31.49
That means one who is
filled of the Holy Spirit
00:25:31.53\00:25:34.20
and the Spirit of God is the one
00:25:34.23\00:25:36.43
that goes to win that soul back.
00:25:36.46\00:25:38.27
Not just who almost said
some jackleg going out there,
00:25:38.30\00:25:41.60
you know, who's going,
00:25:41.64\00:25:42.97
"I'm going to take
care of this situation
00:25:43.00\00:25:44.34
because it's not right."
00:25:44.37\00:25:46.14
So one that is spiritual,
00:25:46.17\00:25:47.94
so lessons we can
learn on those things.
00:25:47.98\00:25:50.38
One thing that I have learned
00:25:50.41\00:25:51.91
because I've learned
that some people like...
00:25:51.95\00:25:54.45
Let's talk about the
dog. What's the dog's name?
00:25:54.48\00:25:56.69
Riley. Riley, poor Riley.
00:25:56.72\00:25:58.35
Riley, poor Riley.
00:25:58.39\00:25:59.72
He possibly could...
00:25:59.75\00:26:01.92
Riley could sit here
you know pound with all four
00:26:01.96\00:26:06.06
and everything and
then this is a game,
00:26:06.09\00:26:07.70
I like this, you know.
00:26:07.73\00:26:09.16
You don't know what he got.
00:26:09.20\00:26:10.53
But there are people
that really like madness.
00:26:10.57\00:26:14.17
They like being in the
pigsty, they love confrontation.
00:26:14.20\00:26:19.71
And so maybe purposely,
00:26:19.74\00:26:21.14
they're just setting up to get
the attention that they need.
00:26:21.18\00:26:24.01
They can be.
00:26:24.05\00:26:25.38
You know, what
I have found that,
00:26:25.41\00:26:29.45
"Let's start
everything off with prayer."
00:26:29.48\00:26:31.22
Yes.
00:26:31.25\00:26:32.59
Now let's get on a level ground.
00:26:32.62\00:26:35.22
And does it always work?
00:26:35.26\00:26:36.62
Not always, but most of
the time it works because...
00:26:36.66\00:26:39.66
And I don't want
to be in control.
00:26:39.69\00:26:43.00
Why don't I open with
prayer and you close with prayer
00:26:43.03\00:26:45.87
before we've ever
said another word?
00:26:45.90\00:26:48.00
And it seems like that
has a way of diffusing.
00:26:48.04\00:26:51.14
But it tells us, it was
talking about our memory verse.
00:26:51.17\00:26:53.34
It's a fantastic
one. 1 Peter 3:8.
00:26:53.38\00:26:57.15
And I want to read out in a NIV
00:26:57.18\00:26:58.51
'cause it was the
simplest for me to understand.
00:26:58.55\00:27:01.45
I'm not saying it's any
better than any of the others
00:27:01.48\00:27:03.39
but I just like it.
00:27:03.42\00:27:04.92
"Finally all of you..."
00:27:04.95\00:27:06.29
Now this is Peter
talking and he's saying,
00:27:06.32\00:27:07.66
"Hey, all of you, all
of you, be likeminded,
00:27:07.69\00:27:11.23
be sympathetic,
love one another,
00:27:11.26\00:27:13.80
be compassionate, and humble."
00:27:13.83\00:27:16.33
And then in verse 9,
he really drives it home.
00:27:16.36\00:27:20.20
"Do not repay evil with
evil or insult with insult.
00:27:20.24\00:27:23.81
On the
contrary, my dear brother,
00:27:23.84\00:27:26.78
my dear sister,
repay evil with blessing
00:27:26.81\00:27:30.91
because to you,
00:27:30.95\00:27:34.02
because to this, you were called
00:27:34.05\00:27:36.12
so that you may
inherit the blessing."
00:27:36.15\00:27:39.19
Amen.
00:27:39.22\00:27:40.56
Now, we all like good gifts
00:27:40.59\00:27:42.92
but we have no
idea of the blessing
00:27:42.96\00:27:44.93
of being rewarded by
the king of the universe.
00:27:44.96\00:27:49.13
But so, he says
being likeminded,
00:27:49.16\00:27:51.60
being likeminded, you
know, where it doesn't say
00:27:51.63\00:27:54.10
that we shouldn't
have disagreements
00:27:54.14\00:27:56.44
but we should have
different opinions,
00:27:56.47\00:27:58.97
but we should have
a common agreement.
00:27:59.01\00:28:02.51
And that is, we
have fundamental beliefs
00:28:02.54\00:28:04.68
that we believe in,
you know, and to that.
00:28:04.71\00:28:06.95
But then let the Holy Spirit
00:28:06.98\00:28:08.88
take care of those
personality issues.
00:28:08.92\00:28:10.89
No, absolutely.
00:28:10.92\00:28:12.55
But we're looking, it's
kind of a self-examination
00:28:12.59\00:28:16.12
because if we
have that personality,
00:28:16.16\00:28:18.56
if we're one of those
that go in aggressively,
00:28:18.59\00:28:21.93
you know, the Lord
is teaching us that
00:28:21.96\00:28:24.13
that's not the right way.
00:28:24.17\00:28:26.17
And if we would follow...
00:28:26.20\00:28:27.77
If we would follow...
00:28:27.80\00:28:29.14
Yes, we would, really would have
00:28:29.17\00:28:31.37
an atmosphere of
heaven here on this earth.
00:28:31.41\00:28:34.41
Back to our lesson, I
think this is this day with God.
00:28:34.44\00:28:39.08
And then I'm going
to read a couple other,
00:28:39.11\00:28:41.02
one is the upward
look and then Matthew.
00:28:41.05\00:28:42.98
I'll finish with Matthew 25.
00:28:43.02\00:28:44.49
It says, "Those who
are quick to censure others
00:28:44.52\00:28:48.29
who speak words,"
and you mention this,
00:28:48.32\00:28:50.66
Pastor CA, "who
speak words that cut
00:28:50.69\00:28:53.93
and bruise the
already wounded soul."
00:28:53.96\00:28:57.17
And listen
closely, family at home,
00:28:57.20\00:28:59.93
"are doing Satan's work."
00:28:59.97\00:29:02.47
Yes.
00:29:02.50\00:29:03.84
You're not
doing the work of God.
00:29:03.87\00:29:05.21
So many people they go
out, like you've mentioned,
00:29:05.24\00:29:07.68
with the Bible standing
on top, pointing the finger,
00:29:07.71\00:29:10.45
"Oh, I'm doing
this for the church,
00:29:10.48\00:29:12.58
I'm doing this for the Lord.
00:29:12.61\00:29:13.95
This is... I'm
called to do this.
00:29:13.98\00:29:15.58
They're in error and I
have to straighten it out."
00:29:15.62\00:29:17.62
No, you're working for Satan.
00:29:17.65\00:29:21.72
And are laborers of
the prince of darkness.
00:29:21.76\00:29:25.09
Now the upward look says
00:29:25.13\00:29:27.10
and I think you've
mentioned this somewhat too,
00:29:27.13\00:29:29.56
we are to guard
carefully and that would...
00:29:29.60\00:29:32.10
this is bringing
home to us, Sister Irma.
00:29:32.13\00:29:34.77
We, you and I are to
guard carefully against wounding
00:29:34.80\00:29:38.74
or bruising the
hearts of God's children.
00:29:38.77\00:29:42.91
And you could say,
00:29:42.94\00:29:44.28
"Well, they weren't
God's child, really?"
00:29:44.31\00:29:47.15
He came to seek and
save that which was lost.
00:29:47.18\00:29:49.52
Amen. He's not his child, right.
00:29:49.55\00:29:51.65
He's still extending
His mercy, it's His grace...
00:29:51.69\00:29:54.22
Who is not His child? To them.
00:29:54.26\00:29:55.76
But, you know, we had
an illustration on it,
00:29:55.79\00:29:57.19
I might have
mentioned it one time before,
00:29:57.23\00:29:58.93
just as, you know,
00:29:58.96\00:30:00.30
you're praying for
someone to come back.
00:30:00.33\00:30:03.10
They've left,
you know, the church.
00:30:03.13\00:30:04.47
They're outside
00:30:04.50\00:30:05.83
and they're living for the world
00:30:05.87\00:30:07.20
and the things of the world
and naturally when you do that,
00:30:07.24\00:30:09.54
a lot of times you
begin to talk like them,
00:30:09.57\00:30:11.67
eat like them, dress like them,
what the world has, you know.
00:30:11.71\00:30:15.38
So we're praying for
about four, five years
00:30:15.41\00:30:17.21
for this one young lady,
00:30:17.25\00:30:18.71
actually was part of the family.
00:30:18.75\00:30:20.92
And came in one Sabbath morning,
00:30:20.95\00:30:23.72
you know, looked
through the glass doors
00:30:23.75\00:30:25.22
and here she walks up.
00:30:25.25\00:30:27.36
And I seen her, I did,
00:30:27.39\00:30:28.72
"Oh, praise the
Lord, answer to prayer.
00:30:28.76\00:30:31.19
She's coming back
in the door," you know.
00:30:31.23\00:30:33.73
And when the deacon
was standing at the door,
00:30:33.76\00:30:36.56
she stepped up into
that and greet us, said,
00:30:36.60\00:30:38.70
"Well, hi how are you doing?"
00:30:38.73\00:30:40.07
'Cause he knew her
well. "Hi, how are you doing?"
00:30:40.10\00:30:42.00
She said, "Well, I'm doing fine.
00:30:42.04\00:30:43.51
I felt like I
needed to get back,
00:30:43.54\00:30:46.61
you know, my
life's been a wreck,
00:30:46.64\00:30:48.01
and I needed to get back."
00:30:48.04\00:30:49.74
He stepped back
and he looked at her,
00:30:49.78\00:30:51.35
of course, she put
on a lot of things that,
00:30:51.38\00:30:53.21
you know, Bible
may be teaches against.
00:30:53.25\00:30:55.22
And he said,
"Well, I'd say one thing,
00:30:55.25\00:30:56.89
I hope you don't fall in
the pool 'cause if you do,
00:30:56.92\00:30:58.72
you'd drown
with all that stuff."
00:30:58.75\00:31:00.16
Oh, man. Oh, man.
00:31:00.19\00:31:01.52
She did an about face,
00:31:01.56\00:31:03.83
this is true, she
did an about face,
00:31:03.86\00:31:05.56
walked out those doors
00:31:05.59\00:31:07.26
and that's been
many, many years ago
00:31:07.30\00:31:11.30
and she's never returned
nor does she plan on it.
00:31:11.33\00:31:14.77
If that's the way
people think of me, say,
00:31:14.80\00:31:18.57
there was a group,
00:31:18.61\00:31:19.94
"Ah, we're so glad, you're here,
00:31:19.97\00:31:21.41
we'd look beyond that.
00:31:21.44\00:31:22.78
We didn't care what
they had on the time,
00:31:22.81\00:31:24.35
you know that doesn't matter."
00:31:24.38\00:31:25.81
But then you got
the others gonna look at
00:31:25.85\00:31:27.62
and you're wound and you're hurt
00:31:27.65\00:31:29.32
and it could be for eternity
and that's what we're saying.
00:31:29.35\00:31:31.12
Very careful.
00:31:31.15\00:31:33.02
That's precisely
what it's saying here
00:31:33.05\00:31:35.06
because when we do this,
00:31:35.09\00:31:36.42
when we wound and
when we bruise others,
00:31:36.46\00:31:38.53
we wound and we bruise
the heart of Christ as well.
00:31:38.56\00:31:41.03
Matthew 25:40,
just to bring it home,
00:31:41.06\00:31:44.93
"In as much as ye have done it
00:31:44.97\00:31:47.40
unto the least of
these my brethren..."
00:31:47.44\00:31:49.44
And that was Christ
walking into that church's door.
00:31:49.47\00:31:52.71
That young lady
was Christ walking in.
00:31:52.74\00:31:54.81
Wow. "Ye have done it unto me."
00:31:54.84\00:31:58.61
You know, John, 1
John, it says that,
00:31:58.65\00:32:03.69
"If we don't love one
and other or love others,
00:32:03.72\00:32:07.92
we don't know God."
00:32:07.96\00:32:09.39
You know, we
don't have God in us.
00:32:09.42\00:32:11.66
And I was thinking
that we had a pastor
00:32:11.69\00:32:17.10
that came to our church
00:32:17.13\00:32:19.07
and the first thing
he told us, he says,
00:32:19.10\00:32:23.54
he looked around and
things how they were.
00:32:23.57\00:32:26.64
He says, "You sing too much,
00:32:26.68\00:32:28.24
it's too much
singing in this church.
00:32:28.28\00:32:30.65
And everybody,
if you're not vegan,
00:32:30.68\00:32:33.88
you're not going to heaven."
00:32:33.92\00:32:35.45
And in the first
sermon came with a kidney
00:32:35.48\00:32:38.52
or something in
a jar on the pulpit
00:32:38.55\00:32:42.36
and then he told
us like that, he says,
00:32:42.39\00:32:45.86
"Every church I go, I fix it."
00:32:45.89\00:32:49.06
So to this day
there are only about
00:32:49.10\00:32:51.83
five members in the church.
00:32:51.87\00:32:54.84
But I work for this
school in Massachusetts
00:32:54.87\00:32:59.41
and I worked in there
for about three years.
00:32:59.44\00:33:02.54
And we had my supervisor,
00:33:02.58\00:33:05.28
I don't know what
denomination he was,
00:33:05.31\00:33:08.02
he was not an Adventist
00:33:08.05\00:33:10.72
but he was the most
gentlemen that I ever have seen.
00:33:10.75\00:33:16.32
And he dealt with everybody
in such kind ways sometimes,
00:33:16.36\00:33:21.70
you know, we knew that
people had done things wrong
00:33:21.73\00:33:25.33
and they were in order.
00:33:25.37\00:33:26.80
And he will call them
in the office and will say,
00:33:26.84\00:33:30.77
"Oh, so what
happened, what did he say?"
00:33:30.81\00:33:32.54
Because we knew
exactly what they have done.
00:33:32.57\00:33:34.68
"Oh," he says,
"Nothing, he just gave me
00:33:34.71\00:33:39.01
some good advice
about doing something."
00:33:39.05\00:33:42.98
He say, "He didn't
say anything about that."
00:33:43.02\00:33:45.82
And then I realized
00:33:45.85\00:33:47.52
when we would have
meetings that he was...
00:33:47.56\00:33:52.76
he has such a
talent of telling you
00:33:52.79\00:33:56.77
what you did wrong
that you didn't even know.
00:33:56.80\00:34:00.47
That you wouldn't
even know that he did
00:34:00.50\00:34:02.70
because he built you up instead.
00:34:02.74\00:34:05.94
And I know that
there were people
00:34:05.97\00:34:08.54
that they were very
dishonest in doing things,
00:34:08.58\00:34:11.51
you know, workers and
he will build them up.
00:34:11.55\00:34:15.25
He will go by there, "Oh,
thank you so much for that,
00:34:15.28\00:34:18.39
such a wonderful job
that you're doing today."
00:34:18.42\00:34:21.79
And what a difference. Yeah.
00:34:21.82\00:34:24.69
So people just love him.
00:34:24.73\00:34:26.70
And then before, you
know, you see people changing
00:34:26.73\00:34:30.20
and not doing were
afraid to do the things
00:34:30.23\00:34:34.94
that they were doing before
00:34:34.97\00:34:36.30
because they were reprimanded
with such love and kindness.
00:34:36.34\00:34:40.94
It makes such a difference.
00:34:40.98\00:34:42.84
You made me think of
an old friend of mine,
00:34:42.88\00:34:45.21
Thomas Jackson, he's been here,
he was just on Dare to Dream...
00:34:45.25\00:34:47.88
Yes...
00:34:47.92\00:34:49.25
The modern day Lazarus
because of what had happened.
00:34:49.28\00:34:52.49
But he's been on
3ABN years and years ago
00:34:52.52\00:34:55.32
with the health message
and you know, a lot times,
00:34:55.36\00:35:00.30
I kind of shuddered to
say it, but those that are in,
00:35:00.33\00:35:02.56
you mentioned the health reform,
00:35:02.60\00:35:04.70
sometimes they become kind
of a little bit belligerent,
00:35:04.73\00:35:08.00
you know, you gotta do this
00:35:08.04\00:35:09.67
or else your
salvation is on the line.
00:35:09.70\00:35:11.91
You know what?
00:35:11.94\00:35:13.27
He preached and he spoke
00:35:13.31\00:35:14.71
and he lived a
wonderful health message
00:35:14.74\00:35:17.31
but you could
stay and talking to him
00:35:17.35\00:35:19.18
even be a member of the church
00:35:19.21\00:35:20.55
and he might catch you
out smoking a cigarette
00:35:20.58\00:35:22.78
and he still came up and
loved you, you know, by...
00:35:22.82\00:35:25.95
It's the same principle
00:35:25.99\00:35:28.19
because he wasn't
pounding you over the head,
00:35:28.22\00:35:30.36
he was loving you into the truth
00:35:30.39\00:35:32.49
and that's where all of
us as agents for heaven,
00:35:32.53\00:35:35.53
you know, it all
goes back to Corinthians,
00:35:35.56\00:35:39.73
you can have all knowledge,
all wisdom, everything
00:35:39.77\00:35:41.87
but it's a
symbol, it's just a noise,
00:35:41.90\00:35:43.81
it's a brass making
noise if we don't have love.
00:35:43.84\00:35:47.28
Amen.
00:35:47.31\00:35:48.64
You know, if you
don't have love...
00:35:48.68\00:35:50.01
And we saw him do
this, we saw him do this
00:35:50.05\00:35:51.48
in action to several
different people and it worked.
00:35:51.51\00:35:55.72
It worked for them because they,
00:35:55.75\00:35:57.09
since they saw him, it's like,
00:35:57.12\00:35:58.45
"I don't have
any hands, I don't...
00:35:58.49\00:35:59.82
pockets, I can't
get rid of water,"
00:35:59.85\00:36:01.19
and no matter what they had
00:36:01.22\00:36:02.92
he made sure
he'd look elsewhere,
00:36:02.96\00:36:05.56
looked them into the eye
00:36:05.59\00:36:07.66
and said how much
you're so happy...
00:36:07.70\00:36:10.43
I see you, haven't seen
you in a long time and boy,
00:36:10.47\00:36:13.40
we love you and how
we appreciate our time,
00:36:13.44\00:36:15.10
again just go right on
talking, we've seen you,
00:36:15.14\00:36:17.47
just see sometime they
have something in their hand,
00:36:17.51\00:36:19.17
they just kind of
like drop it on the ground
00:36:19.21\00:36:21.68
and just continue to talk
00:36:21.71\00:36:23.04
and he never one time
brings it up and people loved.
00:36:23.08\00:36:27.35
And I think
that's a right thing,
00:36:27.38\00:36:28.85
you know, 'cause that's...
00:36:28.88\00:36:30.42
Jesus did a lot
of times He didn't,
00:36:30.45\00:36:32.15
He had the culprit right,
you know, his back to wall,
00:36:32.19\00:36:35.86
and He could really
embarrassed him, was it Simon.
00:36:35.89\00:36:39.63
Wasn't he healed of leprosy?
00:36:39.66\00:36:41.36
Was it Simon? Simon, hmm-mm.
00:36:41.40\00:36:42.83
Simon, and then he comes in
00:36:42.86\00:36:45.00
and then Mary is down
there washing Jesus' feet
00:36:45.03\00:36:47.47
and she's crying and pouring oil
00:36:47.50\00:36:48.97
and if he has said,
"Man, she is a sinner."
00:36:49.00\00:36:52.11
Right, if he knew
who was touching him,
00:36:52.14\00:36:53.48
wouldn't let her.
00:36:53.51\00:36:54.84
Yeah, yeah.
00:36:54.88\00:36:56.21
Basically get her out of here,
she's a sinner and da-da-da
00:36:56.24\00:36:58.65
and Jesus wanted to show
him who is in worst shape
00:36:58.68\00:37:02.32
and even tells
him, I say, you know,
00:37:02.35\00:37:03.95
the one who's done so
much and then forgiven much.
00:37:03.99\00:37:07.16
Who's gonna love the most?
00:37:07.19\00:37:09.42
And I've told about
that in my own life.
00:37:09.46\00:37:10.86
I said, "You know, love Jesus
00:37:10.89\00:37:12.96
because He has
forgiven me so much."
00:37:12.99\00:37:16.13
So much, if you feel
that you're righteous,
00:37:16.16\00:37:18.73
those of you at home,
well, I don't do any wrong,
00:37:18.77\00:37:23.27
you're not gonna love much,
00:37:23.30\00:37:25.41
you're not gonna
love Christ much.
00:37:25.44\00:37:27.78
It's those of us who
slipped and went really far down
00:37:27.81\00:37:31.51
that He's forgiven us much
00:37:31.55\00:37:33.62
that we love Him
much in return for that.
00:37:33.65\00:37:36.22
And so He didn't
chastise him in a way,
00:37:36.25\00:37:39.25
he used kind of a parable
and went around the horn.
00:37:39.29\00:37:41.02
Yeah.
00:37:41.06\00:37:42.39
But also what happens at a time.
00:37:42.42\00:37:43.76
He could have publicly
humiliated him but he didn't.
00:37:43.79\00:37:45.13
He could have embarrassed
him and he may have went out
00:37:45.16\00:37:47.00
and never come back
but he did not do that
00:37:47.03\00:37:49.23
and I thought this is
the kind of illustration,
00:37:49.26\00:37:51.73
this is what I need to learn
00:37:51.77\00:37:54.00
and we'd learn as a
people how wonderful it would be
00:37:54.04\00:37:56.74
and some of them
talked about here,
00:37:56.77\00:37:58.37
this side stepping
issue, and there's a time,
00:37:58.41\00:38:01.98
it's being
pastor working on that
00:38:02.01\00:38:03.81
that you have to call
sin by its right name.
00:38:03.85\00:38:06.72
I'm not talking about padding,
I'm not talking about covering,
00:38:06.75\00:38:10.39
and there is, there's a time.
00:38:10.42\00:38:12.15
But then you do
because you care.
00:38:12.19\00:38:15.19
Someone said to me one
time, "Well, you can't go,
00:38:15.22\00:38:17.23
as soon as you go and
tell them this right here,
00:38:17.26\00:38:18.96
they're gonna be so mad.
00:38:18.99\00:38:20.50
They can't hardly stand
you, you're gonna lose a friend,
00:38:20.53\00:38:22.63
you're gonna lose a mentor."
00:38:22.66\00:38:24.00
I said, "You know
what? I'm going to risk that.
00:38:24.03\00:38:26.13
I love them enough
and they are good friends
00:38:26.17\00:38:29.00
but I'm going to risk
losing them as a friend
00:38:29.04\00:38:31.87
to try to help them to find
out what is right thing to do.
00:38:31.91\00:38:35.08
There are some
times when you have...
00:38:35.11\00:38:36.44
I'm sorry, Jason.
00:38:36.48\00:38:37.81
When you have things
that are uncomfortable for you
00:38:37.85\00:38:39.91
to bring up
00:38:39.95\00:38:41.28
and certainly
uncomfortable for them to hear.
00:38:41.32\00:38:43.92
And yet does being
kind means leaving a person
00:38:43.95\00:38:47.49
in their error.
00:38:47.52\00:38:48.99
You know, Ezekiel tells me
that if a person is overtaken
00:38:49.02\00:38:52.69
in a trespass in a sin,
00:38:52.73\00:38:54.40
and I say nothing
and they die in that sin.
00:38:54.43\00:38:56.93
That's on me. Yeah.
00:38:56.97\00:38:58.50
'Cause I should
have said something.
00:38:58.53\00:38:59.87
So sometimes we say,
00:38:59.90\00:39:01.24
"Well, I don't want
to disturb them, really,
00:39:01.27\00:39:02.60
it's you don't want
to disturb yourself."
00:39:02.64\00:39:04.64
So being kind
doesn't mean backing off of
00:39:04.67\00:39:08.61
what needs to be said, it
means culturing it in a way
00:39:08.64\00:39:11.25
that it can be
received by the person
00:39:11.28\00:39:12.68
that you're speaking to.
00:39:12.71\00:39:14.05
Amen.
00:39:14.08\00:39:15.42
And there are a lot of people
that are really just searching
00:39:15.45\00:39:17.49
and by your consistent life
00:39:17.52\00:39:19.65
and the good things
that you do, they enquire.
00:39:19.69\00:39:24.53
I mean I'd like to know more,
00:39:24.56\00:39:26.19
I mean what is
your trace about this,
00:39:26.23\00:39:28.63
where you gonna cross
a number of people that,
00:39:28.66\00:39:32.20
"Are you really
Seventh-day Adventist?"
00:39:32.23\00:39:34.60
Well. Yes, we are.
00:39:34.64\00:39:38.11
Well, we have some friends
that were Seventh-day Adventists
00:39:38.14\00:39:41.68
and they did this,
this, this so, you know,
00:39:41.71\00:39:44.41
just because you choose a
denomination to believe in
00:39:44.45\00:39:47.98
or a truth to believe in
doesn't mean everybody plays
00:39:48.02\00:39:51.55
by the same rules.
00:39:51.59\00:39:53.56
But, you know, it goes
back to that 1 Peter 3:8.
00:39:53.59\00:39:57.29
I think it's, what
you're saying playing
00:39:57.33\00:39:59.86
by the same rules, they
really weren't converted yet.
00:39:59.89\00:40:02.43
Yeah.
00:40:02.46\00:40:03.80
You see we have to be converted
and as I was reading this,
00:40:03.83\00:40:06.94
I think someone is
not really converted,
00:40:06.97\00:40:08.94
should not be doing...
00:40:08.97\00:40:11.07
No, 'cause you
have to be spiritual.
00:40:11.11\00:40:12.51
Did you have something to say?
00:40:12.54\00:40:13.88
Yeah, I would hate for
it to basically be the end
00:40:13.91\00:40:17.25
and somebody
come up to me and say,
00:40:17.28\00:40:18.98
"You knew this?
00:40:19.01\00:40:20.35
You knew all this information
00:40:20.38\00:40:21.92
but you didn't love me
enough to share that with me."
00:40:21.95\00:40:25.55
And I also think
about how Christ loves us
00:40:25.59\00:40:27.96
and how we have
the choice of whether
00:40:27.99\00:40:30.43
or not we want to serve Him
00:40:30.46\00:40:31.79
or if we want
to serve the devil.
00:40:31.83\00:40:34.53
You know, He loves us so much
00:40:34.56\00:40:36.26
that He actually
gives us that choice.
00:40:36.30\00:40:38.83
But then you take a look at
00:40:38.87\00:40:41.37
how some things
go down in churches,
00:40:41.40\00:40:43.87
and how people approach people,
00:40:43.91\00:40:46.21
you know, how
we've been talking about.
00:40:46.24\00:40:49.14
And it's like people
don't give that choice
00:40:49.18\00:40:54.25
how Christ gives us that choice,
00:40:54.28\00:40:55.92
they'll just try and say,
00:40:55.95\00:40:57.85
"I don't eat this
and you should neither."
00:40:57.89\00:41:01.46
They make, it's almost like
00:41:01.49\00:41:03.73
they make their
choices your choices
00:41:03.76\00:41:06.46
like their choices
have to be your choices.
00:41:06.49\00:41:08.96
Mm-hmm.
00:41:09.00\00:41:10.33
But God doesn't even do that,
he doesn't operate like that.
00:41:10.37\00:41:14.40
No, never does.
00:41:14.44\00:41:15.77
If we are, I started to say
it, if he operated us as we do,
00:41:15.80\00:41:20.24
none of us would be saved.
00:41:20.28\00:41:23.35
Exactly. Get out
there. All right.
00:41:23.38\00:41:26.11
My husband has a sermon
00:41:26.15\00:41:27.88
and he talks about
the convicts in the church
00:41:27.92\00:41:31.12
because there are so
many that have convictions.
00:41:31.15\00:41:35.82
And you think because God
gave you that conviction is
00:41:35.86\00:41:40.03
sometimes you think
that is not for you,
00:41:40.06\00:41:42.33
it is for everybody
that you know that falls into
00:41:42.36\00:41:46.84
that category
doing something wrong.
00:41:46.87\00:41:50.24
And I was reading
here in this passage
00:41:50.27\00:41:54.94
and I thought that was
really powerful, says that,
00:41:54.98\00:41:58.15
"The claims of
Christ are upon us,
00:41:58.18\00:42:01.85
we must understand our duty,
and do it in the fear of God,
00:42:01.88\00:42:06.65
with an eye single to His glory,
00:42:06.69\00:42:09.52
and not prove unfaithful.
00:42:09.56\00:42:12.43
Let no thought of self
00:42:12.46\00:42:15.76
or of natural
feelings be cherished
00:42:15.80\00:42:18.80
to keep the lips silent.
00:42:18.83\00:42:21.50
Speak, and be not afraid.
00:42:21.54\00:42:23.54
With the heart full of
tenderness and love for souls,
00:42:23.57\00:42:26.88
warn, exhort, and entreat."
00:42:26.91\00:42:30.75
To me that has been
little difficult to do
00:42:30.78\00:42:33.45
and when I was working in back
in New York in the laboratory.
00:42:33.48\00:42:39.85
There are many people that came,
00:42:39.89\00:42:42.16
you know, with just
very difficult situations.
00:42:42.19\00:42:46.26
And I was afraid to tell
them about the Lord, you know,
00:42:46.29\00:42:52.93
and I was, because I know
that they were very against,
00:42:52.97\00:42:56.94
you know, I have
heard them talking
00:42:56.97\00:42:59.57
and yeah, I was comfortable
with those that I said,
00:42:59.61\00:43:02.81
"Oh God knows"
and things like that,
00:43:02.84\00:43:05.88
and I started to
pray because I said,
00:43:05.91\00:43:08.72
"Lord, you know, what about
00:43:08.75\00:43:11.02
if I never see
these people again?
00:43:11.05\00:43:12.75
What about if
because that would happen,
00:43:12.79\00:43:15.26
some days they will
come to have their test done,
00:43:15.29\00:43:20.53
and the next day we would hear
that they're no longer alive.
00:43:20.56\00:43:23.83
Mercy.
00:43:23.87\00:43:25.20
And, oh, you know,
that was just so load
00:43:25.23\00:43:27.67
so heavy in my heart and...
00:43:27.70\00:43:30.64
So praise God that he
help us in those times
00:43:30.67\00:43:33.68
when we ask of him,
and so this reminds me that
00:43:33.71\00:43:39.08
because not to put our feelings.
00:43:39.11\00:43:43.99
When we put our feelings,
then we're gonna probably,
00:43:44.02\00:43:48.92
more likely say
things not in a good way
00:43:48.96\00:43:54.03
or in a way that you accept it.
00:43:54.06\00:43:56.40
So we have to always
remember that God is judging us
00:43:56.43\00:44:03.24
as well as He's judging other
00:44:03.27\00:44:05.31
and it's not our
right to judge...
00:44:05.34\00:44:07.31
That's right.
00:44:07.34\00:44:08.68
And to speak harshly,
you know, you know what,
00:44:08.71\00:44:11.15
you shouldn't do these or...
00:44:11.18\00:44:14.08
God wants us to be
kind and it is true.
00:44:14.12\00:44:18.99
And loving, if we don't do it,
00:44:19.02\00:44:22.19
means that even though
we pretend to love God,
00:44:22.22\00:44:25.96
then that means
we're not loving God,
00:44:25.99\00:44:28.16
and I think that's pretty deep
to think that your words can go
00:44:28.20\00:44:33.27
and then you said, you
know, you don't love God...
00:44:33.30\00:44:37.77
Love sometime is
taking care of God's business.
00:44:37.81\00:44:40.84
Right?
00:44:40.88\00:44:42.21
If you really love like
it's been brought out here
00:44:42.24\00:44:44.11
and one thing that really...
00:44:44.15\00:44:45.51
Is it okay to
say aggravate? Yes.
00:44:45.55\00:44:47.68
Of course, you get aggravated.
Aggravation is a real word.
00:44:47.72\00:44:50.29
Aggravated life
could sink the nation.
00:44:50.32\00:44:52.15
You know,
always to look at it is
00:44:52.19\00:44:55.72
when there is
issues that need to
00:44:55.76\00:44:57.13
and there's less in here
00:44:57.16\00:44:58.49
when you talk
about how you do it,
00:44:58.53\00:44:59.86
you realize there's issues
that have to be dealt with
00:44:59.89\00:45:02.56
that we kind of
touched on two-three times.
00:45:02.60\00:45:04.60
But when you go to
your maybe another elder,
00:45:04.63\00:45:06.94
or deacon, or
someone in the church,
00:45:06.97\00:45:08.90
or you want
someone to go with you,
00:45:08.94\00:45:10.84
you're going to talk
to someone, or whatever.
00:45:10.87\00:45:13.04
And they look
around and they'll say,
00:45:13.07\00:45:14.54
"Hey, I don't want to
get involved in that."
00:45:14.58\00:45:18.21
You might ask
another member of the church
00:45:18.25\00:45:20.22
or someone in the
position that they should be
00:45:20.25\00:45:22.15
and they say, "No, I don't
want to get involved in that
00:45:22.18\00:45:23.82
because sometime
there's gonna be split here
00:45:23.85\00:45:25.95
and peoples gonna be..."
00:45:25.99\00:45:27.32
I mean, how can we
as a body, or believers,
00:45:27.36\00:45:30.19
or the church that you go to
00:45:30.23\00:45:31.56
and these are all your
brothers and sisters there
00:45:31.59\00:45:33.33
and there is an issue,
00:45:33.36\00:45:34.70
it's gonna
split the church maybe
00:45:34.73\00:45:36.50
or it can be healed
back up and fixed again.
00:45:36.53\00:45:38.60
To say, "Basically,
it's none of my business,
00:45:38.63\00:45:40.90
I don't want to get involved."
00:45:40.94\00:45:42.94
Well, that's...
00:45:42.97\00:45:44.31
I've been saving this paragraph
00:45:44.34\00:45:45.67
'cause you guys
are all hitting on
00:45:45.71\00:45:47.04
and that's the...
00:45:47.08\00:45:48.41
I think here's the conclusion.
00:45:48.44\00:45:49.91
And when we spoke about it
00:45:49.94\00:45:51.51
when we read
that one about Christ,
00:45:51.55\00:45:53.11
He always spoke the
truth, He always went ahead
00:45:53.15\00:45:56.65
and said what needed to be said.
00:45:56.69\00:45:58.29
But here in Spirit
of Prophecy, it says,
00:45:58.32\00:45:59.95
"Never cease to labor for a soul
00:45:59.99\00:46:03.79
while there is one ray of hope.
00:46:03.83\00:46:05.93
Your words may cut to the soul.
00:46:05.96\00:46:09.90
Oh, then be
cautious, and here it is,
00:46:09.93\00:46:13.37
you still go but you have
to be cautious and clothe them
00:46:13.40\00:46:18.01
with love and
tenderness of Jesus.
00:46:18.04\00:46:21.04
Soften every accent
with love and sympathy."
00:46:21.08\00:46:24.58
See that goes back to a
little while ago I said,
00:46:24.61\00:46:26.92
"If we just would
listen and do this
00:46:26.95\00:46:29.18
and put it into practice,
00:46:29.22\00:46:31.72
we would have an atmosphere
of home on this earth."
00:46:31.75\00:46:34.72
Amen.
00:46:34.76\00:46:36.09
"As you deal with
others, as you judge others,
00:46:36.12\00:46:38.96
so the Lord will
judge and deal with you.
00:46:38.99\00:46:42.66
Let the agent who
claims to be a child of God,
00:46:42.70\00:46:45.27
practice the lessons of Christ.
00:46:45.30\00:46:47.94
If he is compelled to wound,
00:46:47.97\00:46:50.07
or to feel the duty of
healing as compulsory upon him.
00:46:50.11\00:46:54.74
The truth is ever
to be spoken in love,
00:46:54.78\00:46:59.01
with the Spirit of
Christ abiding in the soul."
00:46:59.05\00:47:03.75
And I thought it
was interesting to see
00:47:03.79\00:47:05.42
who this was
originally written to.
00:47:05.45\00:47:07.46
It was to the dear brethren
in responsible positions
00:47:07.49\00:47:11.93
and I think that
every one of us here
00:47:11.96\00:47:14.56
as a member of Christ family
00:47:14.60\00:47:16.10
and you're at home
to represent Christ,
00:47:16.13\00:47:19.33
to represent your church.
00:47:19.37\00:47:20.87
You're in a
place of responsibility
00:47:20.90\00:47:23.91
because you're
representing the King of kings.
00:47:23.94\00:47:27.31
But we wrongly represent Him
00:47:27.34\00:47:29.14
when we don't
follow His council.
00:47:29.18\00:47:30.95
Yeah, and self would make
you want to do the cutting.
00:47:30.98\00:47:33.68
If a person is in error,
the truth will cut on its own
00:47:33.72\00:47:36.89
because that's
the natural truth.
00:47:36.92\00:47:38.55
I remember, I had a
member, she told a story once,
00:47:38.59\00:47:41.79
she said, "The first time I
went to an Adventist church,
00:47:41.82\00:47:44.59
I dolled up, I
went to my jewelry,
00:47:44.63\00:47:46.93
I wore everything, I had
double strands or pearls,
00:47:46.96\00:47:49.60
I had the whole deal.
00:47:49.63\00:47:51.33
And I walked into this church
00:47:51.37\00:47:53.07
and as I walked in
the church I looked around
00:47:53.10\00:47:54.77
and said, "Oh, oh man.
00:47:54.80\00:47:57.44
I'm a little overdressed."
00:47:57.47\00:47:59.01
And so during a hymn, she
kind of slid down in a pew
00:47:59.04\00:48:03.01
and then she kind of pop
this one off, pop this one off
00:48:03.04\00:48:05.55
and then during that
she held up the Bible
00:48:05.58\00:48:07.68
and she popped this one off.
00:48:07.72\00:48:09.82
So no one had to tell
her like, your friends said,
00:48:09.85\00:48:12.75
oh, you got all that stuff
on you, you'll drown yourself.
00:48:12.79\00:48:15.12
Because people know
if their heart is honest,
00:48:15.16\00:48:17.89
the truth will set them
free to do the right thing.
00:48:17.93\00:48:21.06
You don't have to
be the one to come in
00:48:21.10\00:48:23.70
and do all the cutting
00:48:23.73\00:48:25.07
because in
cutting down the weed,
00:48:25.10\00:48:26.43
you gonna cut down
some tears and some weed,
00:48:26.47\00:48:27.87
and you gonna cut
down some good plants.
00:48:27.90\00:48:29.97
The other day I
was doing some cutting,
00:48:30.01\00:48:31.34
and I cut right
down Irma's mint thing,
00:48:31.37\00:48:33.54
you know, and she said,
"What happened to the mint."
00:48:33.58\00:48:36.21
I said, "Somebody cut it down."
00:48:36.24\00:48:40.08
Somebody did. Yeah.
00:48:40.12\00:48:41.92
Well, I was the only one
out there with the shears
00:48:41.95\00:48:44.02
so she know it was me but she...
00:48:44.05\00:48:46.12
You know what I think is,
mint, weeds, flowers, grass,
00:48:46.15\00:48:51.66
once you're pruning
it, it's getting cut,
00:48:51.69\00:48:53.03
you know, I was
just chopping them down.
00:48:53.06\00:48:55.00
Please get ready for
a sermon didn't know it.
00:48:55.03\00:48:57.57
It was so bushy that
he just cut it right down.
00:48:57.60\00:49:01.74
So we do, sometimes in
trying to cut out the bad,
00:49:01.77\00:49:05.41
you make a mistake
and cut out something
00:49:05.44\00:49:06.78
that you think
is bad that is good.
00:49:06.81\00:49:08.14
Yes.
00:49:08.18\00:49:09.51
It's my point, you got
to be very, very careful
00:49:09.54\00:49:10.88
with that pruning process,
00:49:10.91\00:49:12.25
to let the spirit do
the pruning and not us.
00:49:12.28\00:49:13.82
The Bible tells us...
00:49:13.85\00:49:15.45
I'm sorry, go ahead.
00:49:15.48\00:49:16.82
The Bible tells us
that it's much easier for us
00:49:16.85\00:49:19.19
to see the peck on
the eye of somebody else
00:49:19.22\00:49:23.09
than it is in ours.
00:49:23.12\00:49:24.63
And I had experienced when I...
00:49:24.66\00:49:30.03
The Lord has spoken to
me and says look at you
00:49:30.07\00:49:33.47
and He brought to me things
00:49:33.50\00:49:36.57
that I needed to look
before I open my mouth
00:49:36.60\00:49:40.94
and I said, "Praise
the Lord for the bad."
00:49:40.98\00:49:43.61
That is the beauty
of the Holy Spirit.
00:49:43.65\00:49:45.21
You know, 'cause
sometimes we are, yeah...
00:49:45.25\00:49:49.15
So there's a lot of watchman
on the wall but very few...
00:49:49.18\00:49:51.55
Some are there among all
those watchmen on the wall,
00:49:51.59\00:49:56.22
some are more
active than the others.
00:49:56.26\00:49:58.06
When we're talking about love,
00:49:58.09\00:50:00.50
in order for love to be
able to be all that it could be,
00:50:00.53\00:50:03.77
there has to be action.
00:50:03.80\00:50:05.80
And whenever you
take that action,
00:50:05.83\00:50:08.80
then you may make
two or three mistakes.
00:50:08.84\00:50:11.84
Yes.
00:50:11.87\00:50:13.21
I got into a business one time,
didn't know what in the world
00:50:13.24\00:50:15.34
I was doing, I said, "Yes,
when I should've listened."
00:50:15.38\00:50:18.38
And all of a sudden
I had responsibilities
00:50:18.41\00:50:21.58
and there's only
one way I knew it,
00:50:21.62\00:50:23.79
I had the manual but
that, I'm not a manual reader.
00:50:23.82\00:50:28.12
Doer and learn the
hard way I experienced.
00:50:28.16\00:50:31.23
And so, I went out there
00:50:31.26\00:50:32.89
and, oh, I probably butchered
it up three or four times
00:50:32.93\00:50:36.40
but it weren't long,
that started making sense,
00:50:36.43\00:50:41.17
started making sense to me.
00:50:41.20\00:50:43.37
And really became
quite a good salesman
00:50:43.41\00:50:45.54
for this product
00:50:45.57\00:50:46.91
because, wow, I talked
my way into it who I become
00:50:46.94\00:50:51.45
and so, those who
allow the Holy Spirit to be
00:50:51.48\00:50:54.88
in charge of their lives
00:50:54.92\00:50:56.38
and if they get
up and be active,
00:50:56.42\00:50:59.99
they will learn these lessons,
00:51:00.02\00:51:02.32
they may get their hands
slapped two or three times
00:51:02.36\00:51:04.33
but people see your heart,
00:51:04.36\00:51:06.46
they know you want to
do that which is right.
00:51:06.49\00:51:09.50
And so, get off that wall
and do something, you know.
00:51:09.53\00:51:12.53
Yes.
00:51:12.57\00:51:14.14
I think that's what it's
all about, it's our heart.
00:51:14.17\00:51:15.64
It is. Amen.
00:51:15.67\00:51:17.27
Our hearts need surgery,
they need that stony heart
00:51:17.31\00:51:21.21
or flesh that needs to go
00:51:21.24\00:51:22.88
and that soft heart
needs to come in from Christ.
00:51:22.91\00:51:25.95
When Jesus was here,
00:51:25.98\00:51:27.32
He came to reveal not
Himself but His Father.
00:51:27.35\00:51:30.69
You know, the enemy
likes us to think that the God,
00:51:30.72\00:51:33.25
the Father was
stern and exacting
00:51:33.29\00:51:35.59
and da-da-da beating
the people over the head
00:51:35.62\00:51:38.16
'cause you guys are in sin.
00:51:38.19\00:51:39.86
But Jesus came to show
us, no, He's very loving,
00:51:39.89\00:51:42.83
He's very kind, He's forgiving
and He has mercy beyond mercy,
00:51:42.86\00:51:48.17
love beyond love, you know,
for each and every one of us.
00:51:48.20\00:51:51.77
As I said earlier, if it
were for us individually,
00:51:51.81\00:51:55.84
none of us would save
the other, I don't think.
00:51:55.88\00:51:58.31
Yeah. Amen.
00:51:58.35\00:52:00.02
In the beginning of
Matthew when he's talking about
00:52:00.05\00:52:03.49
Jesus coming as a baby
and the Lord sending Jesus,
00:52:03.52\00:52:08.02
the Messiah to us,
00:52:08.06\00:52:10.53
and I read in there
that really touched my heart.
00:52:10.56\00:52:15.06
That the main mission
of God sending His Son
00:52:15.10\00:52:21.40
so that we would have the
love that He has for His Son.
00:52:21.44\00:52:27.18
And I say, "Wow, I
mean, that is really powerful
00:52:27.21\00:52:32.65
to have that love
that God has for Jesus."
00:52:32.68\00:52:37.09
He knows how
could we attain that
00:52:37.12\00:52:40.46
but that was the mission of
God and that's what He wants.
00:52:40.49\00:52:43.12
So if He says that He
wants that love in us,
00:52:43.16\00:52:49.10
is for us to
surrender and to let the Lord,
00:52:49.13\00:52:53.60
you know, teach us
and put that love in us.
00:52:53.64\00:52:57.31
You never gonna
be as perfect as God.
00:52:57.34\00:53:01.51
But you will be as perfect
as God knows that he can be.
00:53:01.54\00:53:05.38
It's interesting
00:53:05.41\00:53:06.75
'cause Ellen White
makes that statement,
00:53:06.78\00:53:08.12
she says, "We need to
be by the grace of God
00:53:08.15\00:53:10.39
as perfect in
our flesh and human
00:53:10.42\00:53:12.75
as God is in our sphere
as God is in His sphere.
00:53:12.79\00:53:17.63
And that's you know
used two different spheres,
00:53:17.66\00:53:19.69
you know what I'm saying,
00:53:19.73\00:53:21.06
but still yet
by the grace of God
00:53:21.10\00:53:22.43
that how wonderful that is
because we've all come short
00:53:22.46\00:53:26.74
and that's what the
text I think is right there.
00:53:26.77\00:53:29.90
We've all erred, you know,
I'm gonna deal with erring,
00:53:29.94\00:53:33.01
you know, I'm
gonna go touch my...
00:53:33.04\00:53:35.18
We've all sinned,
we've all come short,
00:53:35.21\00:53:36.54
we've all been, we've
erred, and we need some grace,
00:53:36.58\00:53:40.52
and if we see
that we have that grace
00:53:40.55\00:53:42.42
that He bestows upon
us, and He's very forgiving.
00:53:42.45\00:53:44.95
But you know,
people need to learn that.
00:53:44.99\00:53:47.06
I meet people nowadays
that will still come up,
00:53:47.09\00:53:51.09
they'll come up
maybe you never had a chat
00:53:51.13\00:53:53.70
and they're a Christian,
their name's on the book,
00:53:53.73\00:53:55.46
we'll put it that way
00:53:55.50\00:53:56.83
and they'll talk
to somebody's close
00:53:56.87\00:53:58.20
as we're talking right here.
00:53:58.23\00:53:59.57
They'll come back close to them,
00:53:59.60\00:54:00.94
talk to them and turn
right around and move on.
00:54:00.97\00:54:03.84
There is
something wrong with that.
00:54:03.87\00:54:06.27
There is something wrong
to say I'm a child of God
00:54:06.31\00:54:08.98
and you can walk
within a two foot of a person
00:54:09.01\00:54:12.31
and it consistently is done
over the years, several years.
00:54:12.35\00:54:16.48
And they'll turn around
and will eyeball you look at
00:54:16.52\00:54:19.25
so you can say
hi or respond first.
00:54:19.29\00:54:21.72
So I'm saying,
we need to realize
00:54:21.76\00:54:23.53
that's not Christ like.
00:54:23.56\00:54:27.53
Who needs the help?
00:54:27.56\00:54:29.20
I fell off the
cliff, I need some help,
00:54:29.23\00:54:31.73
don't continue
to push me on over,
00:54:31.77\00:54:33.10
you know what
I'm saying, that's...
00:54:33.13\00:54:34.87
You know, he left the 99
and so we need to revaluate...
00:54:34.90\00:54:38.74
This is where, you know, we
can have different opinions,
00:54:38.77\00:54:42.44
but we do need to
have a common agreement
00:54:42.48\00:54:44.91
and the common
agreement say we are Christians.
00:54:44.95\00:54:47.45
Amen. Amen.
00:54:47.48\00:54:48.82
That's what we have in common.
00:54:48.85\00:54:50.82
Because we are
Christ's possession.
00:54:50.85\00:54:52.19
Exactly.
00:54:52.22\00:54:53.56
Regardless of what
someone else had to say.
00:54:53.59\00:54:54.96
We belong to Christ, whether
you have given your life,
00:54:54.99\00:54:57.36
you're still his child
00:54:57.39\00:54:58.73
until you get
that final decision.
00:54:58.76\00:55:00.23
And it's our duty.
00:55:00.26\00:55:01.83
I think that it's
important for people at home
00:55:01.86\00:55:04.00
to know that if they have
gone in the wrong direction,
00:55:04.03\00:55:07.17
if they have made mistakes
that Christ still loves them
00:55:07.20\00:55:10.77
and He's longing for
them to come back to Him
00:55:10.81\00:55:14.08
and to surrender
their lives to Him,
00:55:14.11\00:55:16.04
do not wait
until you are perfect
00:55:16.08\00:55:19.71
because you'll never make it.
00:55:19.75\00:55:21.55
You know, you don't know
when your time of probation
00:55:21.58\00:55:23.62
is going to
close, God forbidden,
00:55:23.65\00:55:26.25
and accident could happen
00:55:26.29\00:55:27.62
and you could pass away
today, where would you stand?
00:55:27.66\00:55:31.06
That's right. You
know, God wants you now.
00:55:31.09\00:55:33.73
And I think it's
wise to understand
00:55:33.76\00:55:36.20
what biblical profession is.
00:55:36.23\00:55:38.30
All that person has to do
00:55:38.33\00:55:39.67
is say God
forgive me and mean it,
00:55:39.70\00:55:41.60
and they're perfect
right then and there.
00:55:41.64\00:55:43.74
They're justified. Yes.
00:55:43.77\00:55:45.54
I want to read a
text very quickly
00:55:45.57\00:55:46.91
which I call it as iceberg text
00:55:46.94\00:55:48.28
and I do this
in just 20 seconds.
00:55:48.31\00:55:49.94
"Let this mind be in you,
which is also in Christ Jesus."
00:55:49.98\00:55:51.61
Yes.
00:55:51.65\00:55:52.98
Philippians 2:5, I say iceberg
because what comes after that
00:55:53.01\00:55:58.05
is an explanation of
what that text means,
00:55:58.09\00:56:01.19
but there's some
below the surface
00:56:01.22\00:56:02.72
and that's what
comes before that.
00:56:02.76\00:56:04.63
So let this mind
deals what's before the text
00:56:04.66\00:56:07.76
and what's after.
00:56:07.80\00:56:09.13
So here's what's
before, two verses,
00:56:09.16\00:56:10.50
"Let nothing be done
00:56:10.53\00:56:11.87
through selfish
ambition or conceit,
00:56:11.90\00:56:13.84
but in lowliness of mind,
00:56:13.87\00:56:15.20
let each esteem
others better than himself."
00:56:15.24\00:56:18.57
That's one, and
that's three, here's four,
00:56:18.61\00:56:22.38
"Let each of you look out
not only for his own interest,
00:56:22.41\00:56:25.61
but also for the
interest of others.
00:56:25.65\00:56:27.95
Let this mind be
in you." You see?
00:56:27.98\00:56:30.09
So that's the
basis of the mindset,
00:56:30.12\00:56:32.12
then you have all
this other material about
00:56:32.15\00:56:34.06
Christ not being nothing
00:56:34.09\00:56:36.06
and robbery to
be equal with God,
00:56:36.09\00:56:37.53
but made himself of no repute,
took the form of a servant,
00:56:37.56\00:56:41.66
but it's based on
you let nothing be done
00:56:41.70\00:56:44.37
through selfish
ambition or conceit,
00:56:44.40\00:56:46.23
but in lowliness
of mind esteem others
00:56:46.27\00:56:48.20
better than yourselves.
00:56:48.24\00:56:49.57
So the foundation for
that mind is a humble attitude
00:56:49.60\00:56:53.71
that is willing to serve
and give it to Jesus Christ.
00:56:53.74\00:56:56.24
Beautiful. Beautiful.
00:56:56.28\00:56:57.65
Christ, He elevates humanity
00:56:57.68\00:56:59.68
when He took the
form of a servant.
00:56:59.71\00:57:01.15
Sure, He did.
00:57:01.18\00:57:02.52
So that we can be
called the sons of God.
00:57:02.55\00:57:04.25
Amen.
00:57:04.29\00:57:05.62
Isn't that
wonderful to know Jesus,
00:57:05.65\00:57:06.99
you look over all
these list of things
00:57:07.02\00:57:08.36
that God has laid out for
us that we can grasp by faith,
00:57:08.39\00:57:12.03
put them in our
hearts and in our minds.
00:57:12.06\00:57:13.40
And remember,
this is so we may learn
00:57:13.43\00:57:16.90
how to handle these
situations and they went why?
00:57:16.93\00:57:20.04
To win our
brother and sister back.
00:57:20.07\00:57:21.90
We've got 10
seconds left, honey,
00:57:21.94\00:57:23.77
to make sure we
have a closing prayer.
00:57:23.81\00:57:25.21
Oh, yes. You
like to pray for us.
00:57:25.24\00:57:27.61
Father, we come to
you in the name of Jesus.
00:57:27.64\00:57:29.34
We thank You for
this Sabbath day.
00:57:29.38\00:57:30.98
We thank You for this word.
00:57:31.01\00:57:32.35
We thank You Lord that
we've given You permission
00:57:32.38\00:57:35.18
to be in charge of our lives.
00:57:35.22\00:57:36.79
We love you and thank you
in the name of Jesus, amen.
00:57:36.82\00:57:39.12
Amen. Amen.
00:57:39.15\00:57:40.96
Thank you. Amen.
00:57:40.99\00:57:42.56