Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW017020A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:07 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN's Family Worship. 01:10 I'm Chris Shelton. 01:11 And this is my husband, Pastor Kenny Shelton. 01:14 And we have a wonderful panel of 3ABN family here 01:18 with us today. 01:19 So we welcome you, our family at home, 01:21 happy Sabbath. That's right. 01:22 And we are looking forward to a wonderful lesson tonight. 01:26 Our lesson title is going to be "Agents for Heaven". 01:29 But first, I want to introduce the panel to you. 01:31 Over to my right is Jason Bradley. 01:34 And, Jason, you work in Dare to Dream. 01:36 What is your official title? 01:38 Assistant to the general manager. 01:39 I figured it had to be close 01:41 'cause you guys are really just right there. 01:43 Who is that general manager, by the way? 01:44 Well, I've known her for about 31 years. 01:48 You're pretty close, right? 01:50 It's my mother, Yvonne Lewis. 01:51 You guys spearhead about everything, wear lots of hats, 01:54 I'm sure like we do, so that's awesome. 01:56 Wonderful programming by the way. 01:58 I love watching it myself. 02:00 So, and next to him is JD. 02:02 JD, you work in... 02:03 Pastoral... 02:04 Pastoral and probably about anything they want you to... 02:07 Just close to it. Close to it, all right. 02:09 You know, to the best of my ability 02:11 which that limits everything right there. 02:13 Okay. 02:15 And over to my left is Sister Irma Murray. 02:18 And, Irma, you work in Spanish department. 02:20 What do you do? 02:21 In Latino department as well, 02:23 I also have lots of little hats, 02:26 not big hats but little hats. 02:28 And I do production sometimes and I work with marketing. 02:33 I love how she's... Cable relations. 02:35 Yeah, I love how you said little hats 02:36 'cause I'm sure there's time those hats feel pretty heavy. 02:39 Heavy, yeah, they do. 02:41 And next to her is someone... 02:42 He's even taken his hair and maybe shaved it off, 02:46 seeing wear lots of hats at 3ABN. 02:49 As we stay on, that's what happens. 02:55 Well, it is family time. 02:57 You know how families care, right? 02:59 Indeed. 03:00 But you work with Proclaim now. 03:02 You're the general director, 03:04 and you also work for today program 03:05 and just whatever. 03:07 I mean, I don't know 03:08 there's anything you can't do, right? 03:09 Lot of whatever. Yeah. 03:11 I don't know if you would admit it or not but... 03:13 All the little things I can't do is to ask her about, 03:16 she can tell you what I can't... 03:18 I know one thing you guys haven't been able to do 03:20 and that's retire. 03:22 They've been talking about retiring. 03:23 We won't let them retire. I don't want you retire. 03:26 My lens of love would be lost without you. 03:28 That's right. 03:29 And we're gonna open this evening 03:31 with the song entitled "This world is not my home." 03:34 And we have, yes, we have Sister Marlene Hall 03:37 on the piano. 03:38 Sister Marlene. 03:49 This world is not my home 03:52 I'm just a passing through 03:55 My treasures are laid up 03:58 Somewhere beyond the blue 04:01 The angels beckon me 04:04 From heaven's open door 04:06 And I can't feel at home 04:09 In this world anymore 04:14 Oh, Lord, you know 04:17 I have no friend like you 04:20 If heaven's not my home 04:23 Then Lord what will I do 04:26 The angels beckon me 04:29 From heaven's open door 04:32 And I can't feel at home 04:35 In this world anymore 04:40 They're all expecting me 04:43 And that's one thing I know 04:46 My saviors pardoned me 04:49 And now I onward go 04:52 I know He'll take me through 04:55 Though I am weak and poor 04:58 And I can't feel at home 05:01 In this world anymore 05:06 Oh, Lord, you know 05:09 I have no friend like you 05:12 If heaven's not my home 05:15 Then Lord what will I do 05:18 The angels beckon me 05:21 From heaven's open door 05:23 And I can't feel at home 05:26 In this world anymore 05:31 Just over in glory land 05:35 We'll live eternally 05:38 The saints on every hand 05:41 Are shouting victory 05:44 Their songs of sweetest praise 05:47 Drift back from heaven's shore 05:50 And I can't feel at home 05:53 In this world anymore 05:58 Oh, Lord, you know I have no friend like you 06:04 If heaven's not my home 06:07 Then Lord what will I do 06:10 The angels beckon me 06:13 From heaven's open door 06:16 And I can't feel at home 06:19 In this world anymore 06:22 And I can't feel at home 06:26 In this world anymore 06:32 Amen. Amen. 06:34 Praise the Lord, I love that song. 06:36 I like that song. Yes, that is a happy song. 06:37 This world is not our home, 06:39 we really are just passing through. 06:40 Amen. Amen. 06:42 Thank you, Marlene. Wow. 06:44 Oh, mercy. 06:46 She just had some really, really good singers 06:47 over here, right? 06:49 At least for me, I'm talking about myself. 06:51 You guys sounded really good. I heard some parts. 06:53 I've been hearing your voice, that was awesome. 06:56 I know, in heaven, Jason, with those who has to struggle, 07:00 we're gonna be able to sing. 07:01 We might be able to play that piano. 07:03 That's right, Jason. Yeah, I would love that. 07:05 You know, how many, maybe thousands and thousands 07:07 that were singing right along with us. 07:08 Good, down to south. 07:09 I'm not talking about the angels of heaven 07:11 because they're making it beautiful. 07:12 People sitting at home, those of you sitting at home, 07:15 million people know this song. 07:17 And I bet they know every word 07:19 and they were just singing it to the glory of God. 07:21 So we are thankful you're doing that and joining us 07:23 and gonna have a good time together studying the word. 07:26 Agents for heaven. 07:28 You know, when I was reading this 07:30 and studying over it, I thought in actuality, 07:32 we might actually open a few cans of worms here. 07:34 Yes, yes. All right. 07:38 You know, but we all, that's true. 07:40 We do need to have prayer, 07:41 why don't we go ahead and just have prayer now? 07:42 I'm gonna do that. Yes, let's pray right now. 07:44 We're gonna invite those of you at home to pray along with us. 07:47 You know, and telling where you may be, 07:49 what's going on in your life. 07:50 But it's so nice that we can come together. 07:52 Bible says two or three come, 07:53 you know, any two agree or touch upon anything is sown. 07:56 I think so often we miss. 07:58 We miss so much because we don't spend that time 08:00 in really in prayer. 08:02 And I know for here when we study the Word of God, 08:05 if we, you know, if we don't pray, 08:07 something would be wrong. 08:09 Holy Spirit would be absent. 08:10 And it just be going through some motions here. 08:12 And would not affect any life, no one will be changed 08:16 because the power of the Holy Spirit 08:17 is not in full possession. 08:19 So that's what we pray for is that outpouring, 08:21 getting ready, something, maybe on the back-burner, 08:23 we're over here somewhere and just to move forward. 08:26 So we're gonna invite you pray along with us 08:27 for that power of the Holy Spirit. 08:29 Let's pray, shall we? 08:30 Loving Father in heaven, truly it is, 08:32 we thank You for another Sabbath day. 08:34 We thank You, we thank You, and we praise You for it. 08:37 It's so wonderful to know that after six days of labor 08:40 that we can lay everything down and as we come to you 08:44 and we lay our burdens, and our perplexities, 08:46 and our joys, and may our sorrows, 08:48 and things that we're perplexed about. 08:50 We can lay them at Your feet knowing sure well 08:54 that You'd love us with an everlasting love, 08:56 knowing the Bible has promised that You'd never leave us, 08:59 You'd never forsake us. 09:01 And for those who may be going through little struggle 09:03 right now tonight, 09:04 may it just change, change as we open 09:06 the beautiful pages of this book called the Bible. 09:09 May the Holy Spirit take possession of 09:11 each of our hearts and our minds. 09:14 Lord, it's not just another program, 09:17 we want it to be what you'd have it to be. 09:20 So we ask that You'd fill our hearts, 09:22 our minds with Thy sweet Holy Spirit. 09:24 Bless now, we pray to this end that we may hear Your voice 09:27 and that we may respond in Jesus' name, amen. 09:30 Amen. 09:32 For all out there that we'll work around here. 09:37 Well, in this study, we're gonna be looking at 09:39 how we can be agents of heaven. 09:41 Agents of heaven, in particular to those 09:44 who we may think 09:46 or we actually know might be an error. 09:49 You know, as I was reading through this, 09:52 I realized that so often, Christians, 09:54 we fall short in how to deal with one another. 09:58 And I can recall my parents many times saying 10:01 if it were just for the people in the church, 10:04 they wouldn't be coming to church. 10:07 So hopefully that's not any of you but I think that... 10:14 I think that we probably have all experienced 10:17 some of what we studied prior to this lesson. 10:21 I know Pastor Kenny, he was just sharing a story, 10:23 maybe he'll share it later but I know for myself, 10:26 I've experienced this where others have felt 10:28 maybe I had done something wrong 10:30 and how they dealt with me and I know I probably have, 10:33 especially, I might as well just admit it. 10:35 I know I haven't always done it properly myself. 10:39 So the Lord is so kind in reminding us 10:41 over and over and over again, 10:44 how we are to treat, how we are to respect, 10:47 how we are to love those He's died for. 10:50 That's wonderful, you know, like you said, 10:53 being in the work for years 10:54 and in ministry and different things, 10:56 is this the subject that's really misunderstood, 11:00 or people, we say ignorant, not knowing the subject 11:03 when it seems very simple 11:05 because it seems to be a subject 11:07 that is brutally abused. 11:10 And then always make excuses to say 11:13 I know what it says, but... 11:15 Have you felt that? I felt that. 11:17 It's interesting that comes out of a pastor's mouth 11:20 because as your wife was talking, 11:22 I was thinking, you know, as I was trying to think 11:25 the number of churches I pastored, I think it's seven. 11:28 And I find when you go to the church, 11:31 it's better to listen than to speak. 11:33 Listen to what people are telling you 11:35 because I found in churches in general, 11:39 Adventist church in particular, 11:41 people tend to project themselves 11:43 on to the church by saying that, I say this. 11:46 When you come to a new church, 11:47 there are those who will quickly tell you 11:48 what kind of church this is. 11:50 This is a cold church. This is not a nice church. 11:52 These people aren't friendly. 11:54 And then there are others come to, 11:55 and say this is such a warm church. 11:57 Everybody loves each other here. 11:59 And I tend to find that the cold people think 12:03 it's a cold church. 12:04 And the warm people think it's a warm church. 12:07 So what they're doing is projecting, JD, 12:09 their own personality on the church. 12:12 So when people speak to you, you really ought to listen 12:15 'cause they're telling you a lot about them 12:17 as much as they're telling you about the church. 12:19 Sometimes you go to a church 12:20 and people very quickly tell you, 12:22 "Oh, people here aren't friendly, 12:23 they're cliquish, they're clannish." 12:24 And there are people 12:26 who just find holes to pick all the time. 12:28 Then there are people, "Oh, this is the warmest church, 12:30 people are loving here." 12:31 And you'll find those are people 12:33 who tend to be warm and loving people 12:34 and tend to the see the world in that kind of lens. 12:38 So if God's people, 12:40 and I've got a text I want to sort of dig 12:42 into in just a little bit, 12:44 would work on being the kind of person 12:48 that they want people to be to them, 12:50 you would find the church would be much more harmonious. 12:52 And the thing about being a, real quick, I have a book. 12:57 And forgive me, on the cover of the book is a cartoon. 13:00 It's a picture of a guy laying on his back 13:03 and there's another fellow standing on his chest 13:04 with his Bible up in the air 13:06 and he's got the finger like this, you know, yeah. 13:07 Oh, yeah. Oh, yes. Okay, this is it. 13:10 He's got his Bible up in the air. 13:11 He's correcting this guy, 13:12 you know, by something on his chest. 13:14 And sometimes, we can do that. 13:15 We can give the wrong image of who God is, 13:19 and actually run people away from God 13:22 by our unchrist like attitude. 13:26 So, you know, Ellen White says Christ did utter, 13:28 and she says this word a lot, scathing rebukes, Christ, 13:32 but they were scathing rebukes against sin, 13:35 not against sinners. 13:37 And even when he did his scathing rebukes, 13:39 he had tears in his eyes. 13:40 So I'll take something from you, 13:42 if I know you care about me. 13:43 If I see tears in your eyes, I'll take it. 13:45 But if you're kind of just laying me out, 13:46 there's something in me, 13:48 you know, I'm not all there yet. 13:49 I'm on the way, I'm not there yet. 13:52 That will kind of resist that, but if I see the caring, 13:54 I'll take it. 13:56 I'll take the tongue lashing 13:57 because I knew you care about Me. 13:59 Yeah. 14:00 That's precisely, I think, 14:01 maybe the whole thing in a nutshell right there 14:03 where we need to get to. 14:04 Because if we were like that, 14:05 I mean we would certainly have a taste of heaven. 14:08 But most of the times, we're up, 14:09 we're standing on somebody. 14:11 We've got the Bible 14:12 and we've got our finger pointed. 14:13 And whether or not we go to them or not, 14:15 you know, sometimes we'd rather talk about them 14:18 than go to them. 14:19 And that's... 14:20 I've got quotes on that too, 14:22 that's actually you're working for the enemy. 14:24 But I need to know, as the pastor mentioned. 14:26 And you talk to a lot of people on the phone, 14:28 lot of people as you travel. 14:29 I need to know to the best of my ability that they care. 14:34 That's the whole thing. I'm like you. 14:36 I can take a rebuke 14:37 and people can really chew and go. 14:39 If I know they really care, I'll give you example. 14:40 My mother used to do a lot of correcting, 14:43 you know, for 12 years, 14:45 she went to church as a pastor so, you know, as mommas, 14:49 you know and they're and what? 14:50 That I could always listen to that sweet voice. 14:54 Even though she might be in off track 14:56 because some things she didn't understand the ins and outs 14:58 that might be in business meeting, 15:00 board meeting, 15:01 things you can't really reveal but she'd give her two cents. 15:04 But I knew she cared. 15:07 But when she said, 15:08 I talked to so and so the other day 15:10 and they said you ought to do so and so. 15:13 Couple times, I caught myself, I said, 15:14 really since when they had my interest at heart. 15:18 Have to pray. 15:19 But it balances out as you need to know 15:22 that we need to know somebody cares 15:24 and that they love you, 15:26 and that's why they come to you in some of the quotes 15:28 and different ones that you'll have on here was, 15:29 unless we can do that we need not go to anyone else 15:34 who try to help them out 15:35 if we're not really on the right track. 15:37 And I think that one of the issues is the fact 15:39 that people confuse their standard 15:41 for God's standard. 15:43 So people will have their own interpretation 15:47 or their own standard 15:49 but God's standard is totally different. 15:51 So like you're saying, 15:52 how people are just holding their Bible 15:54 and thumping them over the head. 15:56 Where were they before in their own lives? 15:59 How much patience, and love, 16:01 and kindness has God shown them? 16:04 Amen. 16:06 But yet that's not carried out in their rebukes, 16:08 you know, there is a way to have a loving rebuke. 16:12 And the Bible teaches about that, right? 16:14 Who was it that owned someone a lot of money 16:18 and the king forgave him 16:20 and yet right after he forgave him 16:22 and didn't put him in prison, then he goes out 16:24 and someone who owed him just a little bit, 16:26 he demanded it and had him thrown in prison. 16:28 So, you know, I think the Lord has to teach us over and over 16:33 because unfortunately 16:34 we have trouble getting it right the first time. 16:37 JD, I want you to talk about owe somebody? 16:41 Didn't he grab the garb by the neck? 16:44 He got him by the throat. He surely did. 16:46 You know what I'm saying. 16:47 I'm gonna get, you're gonna do the right thing. 16:49 I'm gonna make you do the right thing. 16:50 Well, that's, you know, 16:51 that made a little different situation 16:53 then in our Christian walk. 16:55 It doesn't work. No, it doesn't work. 16:57 You know, the things that I'm learning over the years 16:59 and everything is how consistent a person is, 17:02 you know, if they're consistently a shaker, 17:05 all right, we can deal with that, 17:08 you know, we can work in love. 17:10 When you're a peace maker by nature, 17:12 you're looking to those gentle, more gentle compassionate eyes. 17:16 And so, you kind of overlook once they shake. 17:21 But now if you're shaker with a shaker, 17:24 now all of a sudden, it can get unchristian like. 17:29 But what I found out that 17:31 if they truly have a heart for God, 17:34 they then know who to go to. 17:36 And invariably they go to the peacemakers 17:38 because they do care. 17:40 I do sense the Holy Spirit is impressing upon them 17:43 that there is an issue 17:45 and they do want to be kind of rebuked 17:48 rather than popped. 17:51 And now, who are they really? 17:55 Is that the battle that they're fighting? 17:57 It may be that my battle being a peacemaker 18:01 could be over here. 18:03 Has nothing to do with being angry 18:05 or having attitude issue. 18:07 And, but time goes on, 18:10 but if you're consistent with who you are 18:12 and then if they truly want to grow 18:14 as you were talking about while ago, CA, 18:16 if they truly want to grow, 18:18 the Holy Spirit is there to continue to woo them. 18:22 And, I mean, I know people today, 18:24 they're just some of my favorite people. 18:27 Boy, what a past they had. Oh, absolutely. 18:30 And so that's good news, you know. 18:32 Yes. That's good news. 18:33 Yeah. Amen. 18:35 But that's one reason that through the Bible 18:37 that we've been studying through Spirit of Prophecy 18:39 that we've been reading in preparation for this 18:42 that God is bringing out that we're not to be browbeaters. 18:47 We're not to go over, 18:48 "I told you this, or this is wrong. 18:50 You shouldn't be doing this." 18:52 You know, we're to come with them. 18:54 One of the quotes that I could not have find, 18:56 I have a lot here but one I could not find was 18:59 Mrs. White brought out that we need to love 19:02 that person enough before we go to them 19:05 that we're willing to die for them. 19:07 That's love. Yeah, that's forgiving. 19:09 That's why in the one quote, I might as well read it now. 19:12 I was gonna save it for later but you brought it up already. 19:14 This one is from Steps to Christ. 19:16 That's why this is so valuable 19:19 because Christ is constantly telling us 19:22 to deny your service, 19:23 it's not that we're not to go speak to somebody, we are. 19:26 If we have odd against one another, 19:29 or we actually see someone in error, 19:31 but it's how we do it. 19:33 Amen. 19:34 He's always telling us over and over, 19:36 "Don't browbeat, don't put them down, 19:39 don't belittle them, but love them back." 19:43 There's a different way to talk to people than 19:45 what we generally find ourselves entangled in. 19:49 And so we all need to listen. 19:51 This one is from Steps to Christ. 19:52 This is what Pastor CA was quoting. 19:55 It says, "Jesus did not suppress one word of truth. 19:58 In other words, 20:00 and even part of what our lesson is for tonight. 20:02 It's not what they were not supposed to say, 20:04 in fact, Mrs. White many a times 20:06 didn't want to get up and give the rebukes 20:09 that she was given to give. 20:11 The Lord told her to give it, you know, but through a kind, 20:16 loving heart, she gave it. 20:18 Not browbeating just as Christ did, 20:21 but He uttered it always in love. 20:25 He exercised the greatest, tactless into that. 20:28 How many times you'll... 20:30 'Cause a lot of times, we get emotional, we're upset. 20:34 You know attack is thrown out of the window. 20:37 And thoughtful, kind attention in His inner course 20:41 with the people. 20:42 He was... 20:44 This hit me hard, He was never rude. 20:46 Amen. 20:48 Never needlessly spoke a severe word. 20:53 Never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. 20:59 He did not censor human weakness, 21:01 He spoke the truth but always in love. 21:04 He denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, 21:07 and iniquity but tears were in His voice 21:11 as He uttered His scathing rebukes. 21:13 He wept over Jerusalem, the city He loved." 21:18 It was His mission to come and to save all of those, 21:23 save all of us who are in error. 21:25 I quoted that just this past Sabbath 21:26 and that sermon got exact passage 21:29 that He never gave needless pain. 21:31 You know, the thing about life is 21:32 and I wrote a book several years ago, 21:34 good number of years ago, 21:35 I'll call it "I Will Fear No Evil." 21:37 And in it, one of the things I said is most people know 21:42 when they're wrong, when they've made a mistake. 21:44 There are some who walk through life 21:45 and never think that they never did anything wrong. 21:47 They're really unaware of who they are and what they are. 21:50 But the average person, 21:51 when they do something wrong, they know. 21:54 And when they come in a broken condition, 21:59 they don't really need you to grind your heel into them. 22:03 That's not what they need. 22:05 They're coming because they are broken 22:07 and they don't need you to power, 22:08 pulverize them, you know, that fracture, 22:10 they don't need you to pulverize. 22:11 So the kind hand, the... 22:14 And Ellen White says this 22:16 and I'm not sure where it's found 22:17 but I remember reading this 22:18 that kindness is never inappropriate. 22:21 It's never appropriate to be kind. 22:23 You might say, 22:25 "Well, this person needed a good tongue lashing." 22:26 Well, you don't know that. 22:28 That may be inappropriate 22:29 but kindness is not inappropriate. 22:32 So can you ever say, "You know what, I was too kind to them, 22:35 I was too merciful?" 22:37 You know, that's where I don't know, 22:39 and I was just too nice. 22:40 And I've heard people say that. 22:42 But that's more of a self thing than it's a God thing, 22:45 you know, because it's never inappropriate to be kind. 22:47 And when people come to you bleeding and battered, 22:50 you're going to give them a razor blade 22:51 and say, "You know, finish the job," 22:53 or are you going to give them a band aid? 22:55 They need some healing and they need some wholeness. 22:57 And that's what I think that alludes to it. 22:58 You know, I had an experience somewhat like that 23:00 but this was me and a dog. 23:04 You know, and it seems all right thinking about. 23:07 This just happened yesterday. 23:09 So, you know, confession is good for the soul 23:11 so we don't have to look at it 23:12 but through the study of this and looking. 23:14 I was like what, walked out on the porch. 23:18 And of course, you know, 23:19 we had a dog that loves to tear up anything 23:21 he can get his mouth on to, you know, 23:23 you got to have a ball, 23:24 he's got to have us stick it all the time in his... 23:27 And I walked out there 23:28 and he had taken one of the mats up off the chairs 23:30 and he just ripped it to shreds. 23:32 It was all pieces every which way 23:34 and he is right in the middle of it, 23:36 just having a big time, you know. 23:37 So I thought, "Oh, man." You know, you're good. 23:39 You catch him around in the act, 23:41 there's a good time to let him know 23:43 he's not supposed to do it. 23:44 So we would just a little bit a piece of foam, you know. 23:46 So I looked at him, he went, "Oh, like, I know what," 23:49 so I took the phone up." 23:50 You know, I did boom, boom, boom, boom, 23:52 bang forced on his nose. 23:53 Don't do this boy, don't this. 23:56 And all of a sudden, he did, you know, 23:58 he rolled over on his back and put all, 24:01 he gave up all four legs up into the air. 24:04 And I thought this is unacceptable, 24:06 he hasn't learned yet. 24:12 It reminds you of what, sometime we do as Christians, 24:15 you know what I'm saying to human beings 24:17 because I felt right then, he has not learned his lesson. 24:20 Next time I come out, he's going to be into another 24:22 so two, three little swats now didn't hurt him 24:25 but it was just enough, 24:26 "You don't do this kind of stuff right here." 24:28 And I said to him and looked at him. 24:31 All four... 24:32 So you'll give him some more kindness. 24:34 He submitted, he submitted. 24:37 And I really not feel like again, I don't feel, 24:38 I think you have but I might ought to do 24:40 and I thought, poor dog is laid there, 24:43 he's rolled up and he said, "Okay, I give, 24:45 I caught what you said," maybe you know, 24:48 so maybe when we're talking to others 24:51 and we understand they come with contrition, 24:54 they want to get change in their life. 24:56 You never go and smack and beat and bring up what they did 24:59 and how they did it and why they did it. 25:01 You put some ointment, balm of Gilead on them. 25:06 And I said one of best thing I've read one time, 25:08 it says and some time with these individuals 25:10 who had been hurt so bad and maybe hurt others 25:12 and you go to them because that is a job of the church 25:15 who are pastors, the leaders. 25:17 And one thing I learned too, 25:19 I had to be very careful about it is talking about here 25:21 in our memory verse there, talks about here. 25:24 The one who is spiritual, go see them. 25:29 I look that word up and I thought, "Oh, my!" 25:31 That means one who is filled of the Holy Spirit 25:34 and the Spirit of God is the one 25:36 that goes to win that soul back. 25:38 Not just who almost said some jackleg going out there, 25:41 you know, who's going, 25:43 "I'm going to take care of this situation 25:44 because it's not right." 25:46 So one that is spiritual, 25:47 so lessons we can learn on those things. 25:50 One thing that I have learned 25:51 because I've learned that some people like... 25:54 Let's talk about the dog. What's the dog's name? 25:56 Riley. Riley, poor Riley. 25:58 Riley, poor Riley. 25:59 He possibly could... 26:01 Riley could sit here you know pound with all four 26:06 and everything and then this is a game, 26:07 I like this, you know. 26:09 You don't know what he got. 26:10 But there are people that really like madness. 26:14 They like being in the pigsty, they love confrontation. 26:19 And so maybe purposely, 26:21 they're just setting up to get the attention that they need. 26:24 They can be. 26:25 You know, what I have found that, 26:29 "Let's start everything off with prayer." 26:31 Yes. 26:32 Now let's get on a level ground. 26:35 And does it always work? 26:36 Not always, but most of the time it works because... 26:39 And I don't want to be in control. 26:43 Why don't I open with prayer and you close with prayer 26:45 before we've ever said another word? 26:48 And it seems like that has a way of diffusing. 26:51 But it tells us, it was talking about our memory verse. 26:53 It's a fantastic one. 1 Peter 3:8. 26:57 And I want to read out in a NIV 26:58 'cause it was the simplest for me to understand. 27:01 I'm not saying it's any better than any of the others 27:03 but I just like it. 27:04 "Finally all of you..." 27:06 Now this is Peter talking and he's saying, 27:07 "Hey, all of you, all of you, be likeminded, 27:11 be sympathetic, love one another, 27:13 be compassionate, and humble." 27:16 And then in verse 9, he really drives it home. 27:20 "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. 27:23 On the contrary, my dear brother, 27:26 my dear sister, repay evil with blessing 27:30 because to you, 27:34 because to this, you were called 27:36 so that you may inherit the blessing." 27:39 Amen. 27:40 Now, we all like good gifts 27:42 but we have no idea of the blessing 27:44 of being rewarded by the king of the universe. 27:49 But so, he says being likeminded, 27:51 being likeminded, you know, where it doesn't say 27:54 that we shouldn't have disagreements 27:56 but we should have different opinions, 27:59 but we should have a common agreement. 28:02 And that is, we have fundamental beliefs 28:04 that we believe in, you know, and to that. 28:06 But then let the Holy Spirit 28:08 take care of those personality issues. 28:10 No, absolutely. 28:12 But we're looking, it's kind of a self-examination 28:16 because if we have that personality, 28:18 if we're one of those that go in aggressively, 28:21 you know, the Lord is teaching us that 28:24 that's not the right way. 28:26 And if we would follow... 28:27 If we would follow... 28:29 Yes, we would, really would have 28:31 an atmosphere of heaven here on this earth. 28:34 Back to our lesson, I think this is this day with God. 28:39 And then I'm going to read a couple other, 28:41 one is the upward look and then Matthew. 28:43 I'll finish with Matthew 25. 28:44 It says, "Those who are quick to censure others 28:48 who speak words," and you mention this, 28:50 Pastor CA, "who speak words that cut 28:53 and bruise the already wounded soul." 28:57 And listen closely, family at home, 28:59 "are doing Satan's work." 29:02 Yes. 29:03 You're not doing the work of God. 29:05 So many people they go out, like you've mentioned, 29:07 with the Bible standing on top, pointing the finger, 29:10 "Oh, I'm doing this for the church, 29:12 I'm doing this for the Lord. 29:13 This is... I'm called to do this. 29:15 They're in error and I have to straighten it out." 29:17 No, you're working for Satan. 29:21 And are laborers of the prince of darkness. 29:25 Now the upward look says 29:27 and I think you've mentioned this somewhat too, 29:29 we are to guard carefully and that would... 29:32 this is bringing home to us, Sister Irma. 29:34 We, you and I are to guard carefully against wounding 29:38 or bruising the hearts of God's children. 29:42 And you could say, 29:44 "Well, they weren't God's child, really?" 29:47 He came to seek and save that which was lost. 29:49 Amen. He's not his child, right. 29:51 He's still extending His mercy, it's His grace... 29:54 Who is not His child? To them. 29:55 But, you know, we had an illustration on it, 29:57 I might have mentioned it one time before, 29:58 just as, you know, 30:00 you're praying for someone to come back. 30:03 They've left, you know, the church. 30:04 They're outside 30:05 and they're living for the world 30:07 and the things of the world and naturally when you do that, 30:09 a lot of times you begin to talk like them, 30:11 eat like them, dress like them, what the world has, you know. 30:15 So we're praying for about four, five years 30:17 for this one young lady, 30:18 actually was part of the family. 30:20 And came in one Sabbath morning, 30:23 you know, looked through the glass doors 30:25 and here she walks up. 30:27 And I seen her, I did, 30:28 "Oh, praise the Lord, answer to prayer. 30:31 She's coming back in the door," you know. 30:33 And when the deacon was standing at the door, 30:36 she stepped up into that and greet us, said, 30:38 "Well, hi how are you doing?" 30:40 'Cause he knew her well. "Hi, how are you doing?" 30:42 She said, "Well, I'm doing fine. 30:43 I felt like I needed to get back, 30:46 you know, my life's been a wreck, 30:48 and I needed to get back." 30:49 He stepped back and he looked at her, 30:51 of course, she put on a lot of things that, 30:53 you know, Bible may be teaches against. 30:55 And he said, "Well, I'd say one thing, 30:56 I hope you don't fall in the pool 'cause if you do, 30:58 you'd drown with all that stuff." 31:00 Oh, man. Oh, man. 31:01 She did an about face, 31:03 this is true, she did an about face, 31:05 walked out those doors 31:07 and that's been many, many years ago 31:11 and she's never returned nor does she plan on it. 31:14 If that's the way people think of me, say, 31:18 there was a group, 31:19 "Ah, we're so glad, you're here, 31:21 we'd look beyond that. 31:22 We didn't care what they had on the time, 31:24 you know that doesn't matter." 31:25 But then you got the others gonna look at 31:27 and you're wound and you're hurt 31:29 and it could be for eternity and that's what we're saying. 31:31 Very careful. 31:33 That's precisely what it's saying here 31:35 because when we do this, 31:36 when we wound and when we bruise others, 31:38 we wound and we bruise the heart of Christ as well. 31:41 Matthew 25:40, just to bring it home, 31:44 "In as much as ye have done it 31:47 unto the least of these my brethren..." 31:49 And that was Christ walking into that church's door. 31:52 That young lady was Christ walking in. 31:54 Wow. "Ye have done it unto me." 31:58 You know, John, 1 John, it says that, 32:03 "If we don't love one and other or love others, 32:07 we don't know God." 32:09 You know, we don't have God in us. 32:11 And I was thinking that we had a pastor 32:17 that came to our church 32:19 and the first thing he told us, he says, 32:23 he looked around and things how they were. 32:26 He says, "You sing too much, 32:28 it's too much singing in this church. 32:30 And everybody, if you're not vegan, 32:33 you're not going to heaven." 32:35 And in the first sermon came with a kidney 32:38 or something in a jar on the pulpit 32:42 and then he told us like that, he says, 32:45 "Every church I go, I fix it." 32:49 So to this day there are only about 32:51 five members in the church. 32:54 But I work for this school in Massachusetts 32:59 and I worked in there for about three years. 33:02 And we had my supervisor, 33:05 I don't know what denomination he was, 33:08 he was not an Adventist 33:10 but he was the most gentlemen that I ever have seen. 33:16 And he dealt with everybody in such kind ways sometimes, 33:21 you know, we knew that people had done things wrong 33:25 and they were in order. 33:26 And he will call them in the office and will say, 33:30 "Oh, so what happened, what did he say?" 33:32 Because we knew exactly what they have done. 33:34 "Oh," he says, "Nothing, he just gave me 33:39 some good advice about doing something." 33:43 He say, "He didn't say anything about that." 33:45 And then I realized 33:47 when we would have meetings that he was... 33:52 he has such a talent of telling you 33:56 what you did wrong that you didn't even know. 34:00 That you wouldn't even know that he did 34:02 because he built you up instead. 34:05 And I know that there were people 34:08 that they were very dishonest in doing things, 34:11 you know, workers and he will build them up. 34:15 He will go by there, "Oh, thank you so much for that, 34:18 such a wonderful job that you're doing today." 34:21 And what a difference. Yeah. 34:24 So people just love him. 34:26 And then before, you know, you see people changing 34:30 and not doing were afraid to do the things 34:34 that they were doing before 34:36 because they were reprimanded with such love and kindness. 34:40 It makes such a difference. 34:42 You made me think of an old friend of mine, 34:45 Thomas Jackson, he's been here, he was just on Dare to Dream... 34:47 Yes... 34:49 The modern day Lazarus because of what had happened. 34:52 But he's been on 3ABN years and years ago 34:55 with the health message and you know, a lot times, 35:00 I kind of shuddered to say it, but those that are in, 35:02 you mentioned the health reform, 35:04 sometimes they become kind of a little bit belligerent, 35:08 you know, you gotta do this 35:09 or else your salvation is on the line. 35:11 You know what? 35:13 He preached and he spoke 35:14 and he lived a wonderful health message 35:17 but you could stay and talking to him 35:19 even be a member of the church 35:20 and he might catch you out smoking a cigarette 35:22 and he still came up and loved you, you know, by... 35:25 It's the same principle 35:28 because he wasn't pounding you over the head, 35:30 he was loving you into the truth 35:32 and that's where all of us as agents for heaven, 35:35 you know, it all goes back to Corinthians, 35:39 you can have all knowledge, all wisdom, everything 35:41 but it's a symbol, it's just a noise, 35:43 it's a brass making noise if we don't have love. 35:47 Amen. 35:48 You know, if you don't have love... 35:50 And we saw him do this, we saw him do this 35:51 in action to several different people and it worked. 35:55 It worked for them because they, 35:57 since they saw him, it's like, 35:58 "I don't have any hands, I don't... 35:59 pockets, I can't get rid of water," 36:01 and no matter what they had 36:02 he made sure he'd look elsewhere, 36:05 looked them into the eye 36:07 and said how much you're so happy... 36:10 I see you, haven't seen you in a long time and boy, 36:13 we love you and how we appreciate our time, 36:15 again just go right on talking, we've seen you, 36:17 just see sometime they have something in their hand, 36:19 they just kind of like drop it on the ground 36:21 and just continue to talk 36:23 and he never one time brings it up and people loved. 36:27 And I think that's a right thing, 36:28 you know, 'cause that's... 36:30 Jesus did a lot of times He didn't, 36:32 He had the culprit right, you know, his back to wall, 36:35 and He could really embarrassed him, was it Simon. 36:39 Wasn't he healed of leprosy? 36:41 Was it Simon? Simon, hmm-mm. 36:42 Simon, and then he comes in 36:45 and then Mary is down there washing Jesus' feet 36:47 and she's crying and pouring oil 36:49 and if he has said, "Man, she is a sinner." 36:52 Right, if he knew who was touching him, 36:53 wouldn't let her. 36:54 Yeah, yeah. 36:56 Basically get her out of here, she's a sinner and da-da-da 36:58 and Jesus wanted to show him who is in worst shape 37:02 and even tells him, I say, you know, 37:03 the one who's done so much and then forgiven much. 37:07 Who's gonna love the most? 37:09 And I've told about that in my own life. 37:10 I said, "You know, love Jesus 37:12 because He has forgiven me so much." 37:16 So much, if you feel that you're righteous, 37:18 those of you at home, well, I don't do any wrong, 37:23 you're not gonna love much, 37:25 you're not gonna love Christ much. 37:27 It's those of us who slipped and went really far down 37:31 that He's forgiven us much 37:33 that we love Him much in return for that. 37:36 And so He didn't chastise him in a way, 37:39 he used kind of a parable and went around the horn. 37:41 Yeah. 37:42 But also what happens at a time. 37:43 He could have publicly humiliated him but he didn't. 37:45 He could have embarrassed him and he may have went out 37:47 and never come back but he did not do that 37:49 and I thought this is the kind of illustration, 37:51 this is what I need to learn 37:54 and we'd learn as a people how wonderful it would be 37:56 and some of them talked about here, 37:58 this side stepping issue, and there's a time, 38:02 it's being pastor working on that 38:03 that you have to call sin by its right name. 38:06 I'm not talking about padding, I'm not talking about covering, 38:10 and there is, there's a time. 38:12 But then you do because you care. 38:15 Someone said to me one time, "Well, you can't go, 38:17 as soon as you go and tell them this right here, 38:18 they're gonna be so mad. 38:20 They can't hardly stand you, you're gonna lose a friend, 38:22 you're gonna lose a mentor." 38:24 I said, "You know what? I'm going to risk that. 38:26 I love them enough and they are good friends 38:29 but I'm going to risk losing them as a friend 38:31 to try to help them to find out what is right thing to do. 38:35 There are some times when you have... 38:36 I'm sorry, Jason. 38:37 When you have things that are uncomfortable for you 38:39 to bring up 38:41 and certainly uncomfortable for them to hear. 38:43 And yet does being kind means leaving a person 38:47 in their error. 38:49 You know, Ezekiel tells me that if a person is overtaken 38:52 in a trespass in a sin, 38:54 and I say nothing and they die in that sin. 38:56 That's on me. Yeah. 38:58 'Cause I should have said something. 38:59 So sometimes we say, 39:01 "Well, I don't want to disturb them, really, 39:02 it's you don't want to disturb yourself." 39:04 So being kind doesn't mean backing off of 39:08 what needs to be said, it means culturing it in a way 39:11 that it can be received by the person 39:12 that you're speaking to. 39:14 Amen. 39:15 And there are a lot of people that are really just searching 39:17 and by your consistent life 39:19 and the good things that you do, they enquire. 39:24 I mean I'd like to know more, 39:26 I mean what is your trace about this, 39:28 where you gonna cross a number of people that, 39:32 "Are you really Seventh-day Adventist?" 39:34 Well. Yes, we are. 39:38 Well, we have some friends that were Seventh-day Adventists 39:41 and they did this, this, this so, you know, 39:44 just because you choose a denomination to believe in 39:48 or a truth to believe in doesn't mean everybody plays 39:51 by the same rules. 39:53 But, you know, it goes back to that 1 Peter 3:8. 39:57 I think it's, what you're saying playing 39:59 by the same rules, they really weren't converted yet. 40:02 Yeah. 40:03 You see we have to be converted and as I was reading this, 40:06 I think someone is not really converted, 40:08 should not be doing... 40:11 No, 'cause you have to be spiritual. 40:12 Did you have something to say? 40:13 Yeah, I would hate for it to basically be the end 40:17 and somebody come up to me and say, 40:19 "You knew this? 40:20 You knew all this information 40:21 but you didn't love me enough to share that with me." 40:25 And I also think about how Christ loves us 40:27 and how we have the choice of whether 40:30 or not we want to serve Him 40:31 or if we want to serve the devil. 40:34 You know, He loves us so much 40:36 that He actually gives us that choice. 40:38 But then you take a look at 40:41 how some things go down in churches, 40:43 and how people approach people, 40:46 you know, how we've been talking about. 40:49 And it's like people don't give that choice 40:54 how Christ gives us that choice, 40:55 they'll just try and say, 40:57 "I don't eat this and you should neither." 41:01 They make, it's almost like 41:03 they make their choices your choices 41:06 like their choices have to be your choices. 41:09 Mm-hmm. 41:10 But God doesn't even do that, he doesn't operate like that. 41:14 No, never does. 41:15 If we are, I started to say it, if he operated us as we do, 41:20 none of us would be saved. 41:23 Exactly. Get out there. All right. 41:26 My husband has a sermon 41:27 and he talks about the convicts in the church 41:31 because there are so many that have convictions. 41:35 And you think because God gave you that conviction is 41:40 sometimes you think that is not for you, 41:42 it is for everybody that you know that falls into 41:46 that category doing something wrong. 41:50 And I was reading here in this passage 41:54 and I thought that was really powerful, says that, 41:58 "The claims of Christ are upon us, 42:01 we must understand our duty, and do it in the fear of God, 42:06 with an eye single to His glory, 42:09 and not prove unfaithful. 42:12 Let no thought of self 42:15 or of natural feelings be cherished 42:18 to keep the lips silent. 42:21 Speak, and be not afraid. 42:23 With the heart full of tenderness and love for souls, 42:26 warn, exhort, and entreat." 42:30 To me that has been little difficult to do 42:33 and when I was working in back in New York in the laboratory. 42:39 There are many people that came, 42:42 you know, with just very difficult situations. 42:46 And I was afraid to tell them about the Lord, you know, 42:52 and I was, because I know that they were very against, 42:56 you know, I have heard them talking 42:59 and yeah, I was comfortable with those that I said, 43:02 "Oh God knows" and things like that, 43:05 and I started to pray because I said, 43:08 "Lord, you know, what about 43:11 if I never see these people again? 43:12 What about if because that would happen, 43:15 some days they will come to have their test done, 43:20 and the next day we would hear that they're no longer alive. 43:23 Mercy. 43:25 And, oh, you know, that was just so load 43:27 so heavy in my heart and... 43:30 So praise God that he help us in those times 43:33 when we ask of him, and so this reminds me that 43:39 because not to put our feelings. 43:44 When we put our feelings, then we're gonna probably, 43:48 more likely say things not in a good way 43:54 or in a way that you accept it. 43:56 So we have to always remember that God is judging us 44:03 as well as He's judging other 44:05 and it's not our right to judge... 44:07 That's right. 44:08 And to speak harshly, you know, you know what, 44:11 you shouldn't do these or... 44:14 God wants us to be kind and it is true. 44:19 And loving, if we don't do it, 44:22 means that even though we pretend to love God, 44:25 then that means we're not loving God, 44:28 and I think that's pretty deep to think that your words can go 44:33 and then you said, you know, you don't love God... 44:37 Love sometime is taking care of God's business. 44:40 Right? 44:42 If you really love like it's been brought out here 44:44 and one thing that really... 44:45 Is it okay to say aggravate? Yes. 44:47 Of course, you get aggravated. Aggravation is a real word. 44:50 Aggravated life could sink the nation. 44:52 You know, always to look at it is 44:55 when there is issues that need to 44:57 and there's less in here 44:58 when you talk about how you do it, 44:59 you realize there's issues that have to be dealt with 45:02 that we kind of touched on two-three times. 45:04 But when you go to your maybe another elder, 45:06 or deacon, or someone in the church, 45:08 or you want someone to go with you, 45:10 you're going to talk to someone, or whatever. 45:13 And they look around and they'll say, 45:14 "Hey, I don't want to get involved in that." 45:18 You might ask another member of the church 45:20 or someone in the position that they should be 45:22 and they say, "No, I don't want to get involved in that 45:23 because sometime there's gonna be split here 45:25 and peoples gonna be..." 45:27 I mean, how can we as a body, or believers, 45:30 or the church that you go to 45:31 and these are all your brothers and sisters there 45:33 and there is an issue, 45:34 it's gonna split the church maybe 45:36 or it can be healed back up and fixed again. 45:38 To say, "Basically, it's none of my business, 45:40 I don't want to get involved." 45:42 Well, that's... 45:44 I've been saving this paragraph 45:45 'cause you guys are all hitting on 45:47 and that's the... 45:48 I think here's the conclusion. 45:49 And when we spoke about it 45:51 when we read that one about Christ, 45:53 He always spoke the truth, He always went ahead 45:56 and said what needed to be said. 45:58 But here in Spirit of Prophecy, it says, 45:59 "Never cease to labor for a soul 46:03 while there is one ray of hope. 46:05 Your words may cut to the soul. 46:09 Oh, then be cautious, and here it is, 46:13 you still go but you have to be cautious and clothe them 46:18 with love and tenderness of Jesus. 46:21 Soften every accent with love and sympathy." 46:24 See that goes back to a little while ago I said, 46:26 "If we just would listen and do this 46:29 and put it into practice, 46:31 we would have an atmosphere of home on this earth." 46:34 Amen. 46:36 "As you deal with others, as you judge others, 46:38 so the Lord will judge and deal with you. 46:42 Let the agent who claims to be a child of God, 46:45 practice the lessons of Christ. 46:47 If he is compelled to wound, 46:50 or to feel the duty of healing as compulsory upon him. 46:54 The truth is ever to be spoken in love, 46:59 with the Spirit of Christ abiding in the soul." 47:03 And I thought it was interesting to see 47:05 who this was originally written to. 47:07 It was to the dear brethren in responsible positions 47:11 and I think that every one of us here 47:14 as a member of Christ family 47:16 and you're at home to represent Christ, 47:19 to represent your church. 47:20 You're in a place of responsibility 47:23 because you're representing the King of kings. 47:27 But we wrongly represent Him 47:29 when we don't follow His council. 47:30 Yeah, and self would make you want to do the cutting. 47:33 If a person is in error, the truth will cut on its own 47:36 because that's the natural truth. 47:38 I remember, I had a member, she told a story once, 47:41 she said, "The first time I went to an Adventist church, 47:44 I dolled up, I went to my jewelry, 47:46 I wore everything, I had double strands or pearls, 47:49 I had the whole deal. 47:51 And I walked into this church 47:53 and as I walked in the church I looked around 47:54 and said, "Oh, oh man. 47:57 I'm a little overdressed." 47:59 And so during a hymn, she kind of slid down in a pew 48:03 and then she kind of pop this one off, pop this one off 48:05 and then during that she held up the Bible 48:07 and she popped this one off. 48:09 So no one had to tell her like, your friends said, 48:12 oh, you got all that stuff on you, you'll drown yourself. 48:15 Because people know if their heart is honest, 48:17 the truth will set them free to do the right thing. 48:21 You don't have to be the one to come in 48:23 and do all the cutting 48:25 because in cutting down the weed, 48:26 you gonna cut down some tears and some weed, 48:27 and you gonna cut down some good plants. 48:30 The other day I was doing some cutting, 48:31 and I cut right down Irma's mint thing, 48:33 you know, and she said, "What happened to the mint." 48:36 I said, "Somebody cut it down." 48:40 Somebody did. Yeah. 48:41 Well, I was the only one out there with the shears 48:44 so she know it was me but she... 48:46 You know what I think is, mint, weeds, flowers, grass, 48:51 once you're pruning it, it's getting cut, 48:53 you know, I was just chopping them down. 48:55 Please get ready for a sermon didn't know it. 48:57 It was so bushy that he just cut it right down. 49:01 So we do, sometimes in trying to cut out the bad, 49:05 you make a mistake and cut out something 49:06 that you think is bad that is good. 49:08 Yes. 49:09 It's my point, you got to be very, very careful 49:10 with that pruning process, 49:12 to let the spirit do the pruning and not us. 49:13 The Bible tells us... 49:15 I'm sorry, go ahead. 49:16 The Bible tells us that it's much easier for us 49:19 to see the peck on the eye of somebody else 49:23 than it is in ours. 49:24 And I had experienced when I... 49:30 The Lord has spoken to me and says look at you 49:33 and He brought to me things 49:36 that I needed to look before I open my mouth 49:40 and I said, "Praise the Lord for the bad." 49:43 That is the beauty of the Holy Spirit. 49:45 You know, 'cause sometimes we are, yeah... 49:49 So there's a lot of watchman on the wall but very few... 49:51 Some are there among all those watchmen on the wall, 49:56 some are more active than the others. 49:58 When we're talking about love, 50:00 in order for love to be able to be all that it could be, 50:03 there has to be action. 50:05 And whenever you take that action, 50:08 then you may make two or three mistakes. 50:11 Yes. 50:13 I got into a business one time, didn't know what in the world 50:15 I was doing, I said, "Yes, when I should've listened." 50:18 And all of a sudden I had responsibilities 50:21 and there's only one way I knew it, 50:23 I had the manual but that, I'm not a manual reader. 50:28 Doer and learn the hard way I experienced. 50:31 And so, I went out there 50:32 and, oh, I probably butchered it up three or four times 50:36 but it weren't long, that started making sense, 50:41 started making sense to me. 50:43 And really became quite a good salesman 50:45 for this product 50:46 because, wow, I talked my way into it who I become 50:51 and so, those who allow the Holy Spirit to be 50:54 in charge of their lives 50:56 and if they get up and be active, 51:00 they will learn these lessons, 51:02 they may get their hands slapped two or three times 51:04 but people see your heart, 51:06 they know you want to do that which is right. 51:09 And so, get off that wall and do something, you know. 51:12 Yes. 51:14 I think that's what it's all about, it's our heart. 51:15 It is. Amen. 51:17 Our hearts need surgery, they need that stony heart 51:21 or flesh that needs to go 51:22 and that soft heart needs to come in from Christ. 51:25 When Jesus was here, 51:27 He came to reveal not Himself but His Father. 51:30 You know, the enemy likes us to think that the God, 51:33 the Father was stern and exacting 51:35 and da-da-da beating the people over the head 51:38 'cause you guys are in sin. 51:39 But Jesus came to show us, no, He's very loving, 51:42 He's very kind, He's forgiving and He has mercy beyond mercy, 51:48 love beyond love, you know, for each and every one of us. 51:51 As I said earlier, if it were for us individually, 51:55 none of us would save the other, I don't think. 51:58 Yeah. Amen. 52:00 In the beginning of Matthew when he's talking about 52:03 Jesus coming as a baby and the Lord sending Jesus, 52:08 the Messiah to us, 52:10 and I read in there that really touched my heart. 52:15 That the main mission of God sending His Son 52:21 so that we would have the love that He has for His Son. 52:27 And I say, "Wow, I mean, that is really powerful 52:32 to have that love that God has for Jesus." 52:37 He knows how could we attain that 52:40 but that was the mission of God and that's what He wants. 52:43 So if He says that He wants that love in us, 52:49 is for us to surrender and to let the Lord, 52:53 you know, teach us and put that love in us. 52:57 You never gonna be as perfect as God. 53:01 But you will be as perfect as God knows that he can be. 53:05 It's interesting 53:06 'cause Ellen White makes that statement, 53:08 she says, "We need to be by the grace of God 53:10 as perfect in our flesh and human 53:12 as God is in our sphere as God is in His sphere. 53:17 And that's you know used two different spheres, 53:19 you know what I'm saying, 53:21 but still yet by the grace of God 53:22 that how wonderful that is because we've all come short 53:26 and that's what the text I think is right there. 53:29 We've all erred, you know, I'm gonna deal with erring, 53:33 you know, I'm gonna go touch my... 53:35 We've all sinned, we've all come short, 53:36 we've all been, we've erred, and we need some grace, 53:40 and if we see that we have that grace 53:42 that He bestows upon us, and He's very forgiving. 53:44 But you know, people need to learn that. 53:47 I meet people nowadays that will still come up, 53:51 they'll come up maybe you never had a chat 53:53 and they're a Christian, their name's on the book, 53:55 we'll put it that way 53:56 and they'll talk to somebody's close 53:58 as we're talking right here. 53:59 They'll come back close to them, 54:00 talk to them and turn right around and move on. 54:03 There is something wrong with that. 54:06 There is something wrong to say I'm a child of God 54:09 and you can walk within a two foot of a person 54:12 and it consistently is done over the years, several years. 54:16 And they'll turn around and will eyeball you look at 54:19 so you can say hi or respond first. 54:21 So I'm saying, we need to realize 54:23 that's not Christ like. 54:27 Who needs the help? 54:29 I fell off the cliff, I need some help, 54:31 don't continue to push me on over, 54:33 you know what I'm saying, that's... 54:34 You know, he left the 99 and so we need to revaluate... 54:38 This is where, you know, we can have different opinions, 54:42 but we do need to have a common agreement 54:44 and the common agreement say we are Christians. 54:47 Amen. Amen. 54:48 That's what we have in common. 54:50 Because we are Christ's possession. 54:52 Exactly. 54:53 Regardless of what someone else had to say. 54:54 We belong to Christ, whether you have given your life, 54:57 you're still his child 54:58 until you get that final decision. 55:00 And it's our duty. 55:01 I think that it's important for people at home 55:04 to know that if they have gone in the wrong direction, 55:07 if they have made mistakes that Christ still loves them 55:10 and He's longing for them to come back to Him 55:14 and to surrender their lives to Him, 55:16 do not wait until you are perfect 55:19 because you'll never make it. 55:21 You know, you don't know when your time of probation 55:23 is going to close, God forbidden, 55:26 and accident could happen 55:27 and you could pass away today, where would you stand? 55:31 That's right. You know, God wants you now. 55:33 And I think it's wise to understand 55:36 what biblical profession is. 55:38 All that person has to do 55:39 is say God forgive me and mean it, 55:41 and they're perfect right then and there. 55:43 They're justified. Yes. 55:45 I want to read a text very quickly 55:46 which I call it as iceberg text 55:48 and I do this in just 20 seconds. 55:49 "Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus." 55:51 Yes. 55:53 Philippians 2:5, I say iceberg because what comes after that 55:58 is an explanation of what that text means, 56:01 but there's some below the surface 56:02 and that's what comes before that. 56:04 So let this mind deals what's before the text 56:07 and what's after. 56:09 So here's what's before, two verses, 56:10 "Let nothing be done 56:11 through selfish ambition or conceit, 56:13 but in lowliness of mind, 56:15 let each esteem others better than himself." 56:18 That's one, and that's three, here's four, 56:22 "Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, 56:25 but also for the interest of others. 56:27 Let this mind be in you." You see? 56:30 So that's the basis of the mindset, 56:32 then you have all this other material about 56:34 Christ not being nothing 56:36 and robbery to be equal with God, 56:37 but made himself of no repute, took the form of a servant, 56:41 but it's based on you let nothing be done 56:44 through selfish ambition or conceit, 56:46 but in lowliness of mind esteem others 56:48 better than yourselves. 56:49 So the foundation for that mind is a humble attitude 56:53 that is willing to serve and give it to Jesus Christ. 56:56 Beautiful. Beautiful. 56:57 Christ, He elevates humanity 56:59 when He took the form of a servant. 57:01 Sure, He did. 57:02 So that we can be called the sons of God. 57:04 Amen. 57:05 Isn't that wonderful to know Jesus, 57:07 you look over all these list of things 57:08 that God has laid out for us that we can grasp by faith, 57:12 put them in our hearts and in our minds. 57:13 And remember, this is so we may learn 57:16 how to handle these situations and they went why? 57:20 To win our brother and sister back. 57:21 We've got 10 seconds left, honey, 57:23 to make sure we have a closing prayer. 57:25 Oh, yes. You like to pray for us. 57:27 Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus. 57:29 We thank You for this Sabbath day. 57:31 We thank You for this word. 57:32 We thank You Lord that we've given You permission 57:35 to be in charge of our lives. 57:36 We love you and thank you in the name of Jesus, amen. 57:39 Amen. Amen. 57:40 Thank you. Amen. |
Revised 2017-07-24