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! Happy
Sabbath, and welcome to 3ABN's
00:01:11.33\00:01:14.40
family worship.
I'm Chris Shelton along
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with my husband,
Pastor Kenny Shelton, and
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we're so thankful
that you have chosen
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to spend these
wonderful hours with us here
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this evening. -
Amen. - Pastor Kenny, I'm
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looking forward
to a wonderful study.
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It is entitled,
"When Heaven Calls,
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Don't Hesitate." You
know, as I was studying
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this, I was
thinking about all the times
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that we have
been in churches and
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ministering, or
maybe doing an evangelistic
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series, and you
sense the Holy Spirit so
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strong, and you
just know that there are
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people out there that
are just fighting. It's
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such a spiritual warfare. You
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want them not to
hesitate, but in that
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battle, sometimes
we've walked away and we've
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seen a lot of hesitation. That's
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those that
really haven't come to
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Christ, and even
some that do know Christ.
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We're going to
talk about both groups
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tonight. - We pray
that the lesson will
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be a blessing,
because for those who are
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hesitating, today
is the day. So as we
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talk about dozens
and we have prayer here
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in a little bit, we
believe that there's-
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people will make
decisions even yet today,
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because they've been
putting it off. Probably
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every one of us
sitting here at one
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time or the other,
maybe in the beginning
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stages, or even
now, we put off things
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that we know
that God is impressing
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our hearts to do,
or to give our life
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to Him. Whatever
it might be, ministry
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work or whatever,
I'm just finding out the
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older I get,
today really is the day
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we need to do what
we have to do. Jesus
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is coming. We need
to be ready for that
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wonderful day. We
do know that our folks
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really, really
appreciate family worship. We
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know that
firsthand, because we get to
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talk to so many a
month. Seemed like
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one of the first
things they say. "Ooh, I love
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family worship!"
So, praise God. It's
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just exciting as
encouraging to keep
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on keeping on
because people are listening.
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- Why, I think part
of it's because it is
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on the Sabbath, it
is a special time, and
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people are gathered
around and they want
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their focus to
be heavenward, so we
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pray that this
will be something that
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will touch your
heart from heaven and move
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you and motivate you
to make some changes.
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It has me, and I'm
sure it did you. And
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we have some
wonderful guests; it's not just
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Pastor Kenny and I.
We have some wonderful
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guests that we'd
like to introduce.
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To your right,
Pastor, is brother Don Owen
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and his lovely wife,
Janelle. I would like-
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brother Don, why
don't you- you've
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got a wonderful position here at
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3ABN. Tell us about
it. - Hmm. Well, where
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do I start? What do
I say? No, actually,
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I'm just very
blessed and privileged that
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3ABN has asked me
to be in their pastoral
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department. I think
like what Isaiah said,
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"Who am I, Lord?"
You know? "Why should
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I be here and praying
with folks?" It's just
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been incredible,
so I've been thankful
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for that. The
Lord has used Janelle
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and I as we moved
here- what, 5 years ago?
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He's put us into
an addiction recovery
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ministry, so
that's been a powerful
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experience, seeing all kinds of-
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- Challenging. - Yeah. Oh, my.
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You want to talk about people
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are just right on
the cusp, and it just
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go the opposite way
and then it get pulled
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into total
darkness. We've seen a lot of
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that, so this is
a very big topic for
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us today. - Amen.
- We're very blessed.
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- Well, one thing I
love about you guys-
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you are real, and
you're very honest!
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Good, bad, or
ugly, you're very honest.
00:04:29.56\00:04:31.57
You hide nothing.
We're all learning;
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we're all
climbing Jacob's ladder and
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you let people know
that. You don't have
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to meet you very
long and you see the love
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of Jesus in both of
your hearts. - Praise
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the Lord. - And
we love to have them
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with us, all
working together here,
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because we sense
that. You like to be around
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people that love
Jesus. Not elevating people;
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it's just simply
we've asked Jesus into
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our heart, but
we're going to challenge
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our folks tonight
to accept Jesus as
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their Lord and
Savior. Lives just change.
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Your lives have
all changed. Our lives
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have all changed
because we simply
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met the challenge;
we didn't hesitate.
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We just accepted it.
- Well, Pastor, would
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you start our
program by leading in a word
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of prayer? -
Absolutely, and we invite those
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at home. Please
pray with us. It's so
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precious before we
pray I can't hardly
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help this- I just
met at ASI a 90-year-old
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lady who says
what- every time, 'cause
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here, it's a
little difficult to get on
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her knees. "When
your program comes on and
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you get on your knees,
I get down on my knees,
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too, and I pray,
and I take down every
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word that's said,
and go back and study."
00:05:38.37\00:05:40.20
There are people-
Bible students-out
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there, whether
young or old, that are
00:05:42.17\00:05:44.04
searching more to
get a better handle
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on their
relationship with Christ. So, we
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want to pray for
you where you can pray
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along with us.
Please do. Let's bow as we
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pray. Our kind,
loving Heavenly Father, it
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is a privilege we
have to be able to
00:05:55.62\00:05:57.29
communicate with
Thee. How awesome; what
00:05:57.39\00:06:00.02
an awesome thought
that is- heaven came
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down in glory;
filled our souls. As we come
00:06:02.59\00:06:05.86
this Sabbath, we come
asking special blessings.
00:06:05.93\00:06:09.46
Lord, special blessings-
it's not things of this
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earth; it's not what's
going on even in the world
00:06:12.00\00:06:14.20
right now. It's
just that we need more of
00:06:14.27\00:06:16.47
You. We invite Thy
Holy Spirit presence
00:06:16.54\00:06:19.74
to be with us in
our hearts and in our
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lives as we open
these beautiful pages
00:06:21.54\00:06:23.98
of the Word of
God. Oh, speak to our
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hearts; speak to
every heart, every listener,
00:06:26.55\00:06:28.98
every watcher,
and for those who are
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struggling with
whatever issue it might be
00:06:31.42\00:06:33.89
and may be
hesitating, today is the day
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as the Spirit
works upon your heart. I
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pray that they
will hear that; they'll
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understand it
and they'll make that
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decision and not
hesitate. We just
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thank You for
the promise of Your
00:06:45.37\00:06:46.70
Word, "I am
coming soon." Help us to
00:06:46.74\00:06:48.74
be ready- each
one here- Holy Spirit,
00:06:48.80\00:06:51.34
abide in our
hearts and in our minds
00:06:51.44\00:06:53.34
and our life.
Sometimes it seems like just a
00:06:53.41\00:06:56.04
big mess we're
getting ready to make. We
00:06:56.11\00:06:57.98
rely up on the Holy
Spirit to take these
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words and make sure
that each one hears. Make
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sure each one is
comforted, and make
00:07:03.89\00:07:05.45
sure each one now
makes that decision
00:07:05.52\00:07:07.06
for Jesus. Thank You
for this privilege and
00:07:07.12\00:07:08.76
opportunity and for
all of our viewers, Lord.
00:07:08.82\00:07:10.96
We love them and we
appreciate them-3ABN.
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In Jesus' name, amen. [Amen.]
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- You know, our
opening text is really
00:07:16.56\00:07:19.23
geared towards
those that do know Jesus.
00:07:19.33\00:07:23.20
It's somewhat of a
warning. It's found
00:07:23.30\00:07:25.94
in Revelation
chapter 2 verses 4 and 5,
00:07:26.01\00:07:30.55
and it reads,
"Nevertheless I have
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this against you
that you have left
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your first love." When we commit
00:07:35.78\00:07:38.02
to Christ and we
fall in love with Him,
00:07:38.09\00:07:41.42
we sense the Spirit
of God working. Many
00:07:41.52\00:07:45.26
times, we don't continue on that
00:07:45.29\00:07:47.83
path and
continue to grow our roots
00:07:47.90\00:07:49.70
deeper. The winds of
strife begin to blow,
00:07:49.76\00:07:53.00
and we find
ourselves on other paths that
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we shouldn't be on.
Jesus is saying here
00:07:55.20\00:07:57.54
that you have
left your first love.
00:07:57.61\00:07:59.74
"Remember
therefore from where you have
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fallen. Repent and
do the first works,
00:08:02.94\00:08:07.78
or else I will come
quickly and remove your
00:08:07.85\00:08:11.19
lampstand." What
is a lampstand? When
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I read this, I
thought, "He says He's going
00:08:13.32\00:08:14.86
to remove your
lampstand." Most of
00:08:14.92\00:08:16.73
us wouldn't think
of that if Christ was
00:08:16.79\00:08:18.16
talking to you;
says, "Janelle, if you
00:08:18.23\00:08:19.89
don't remember your
first love, I'm going
00:08:20.00\00:08:23.10
to come in and
remove your lampstand."
00:08:23.16\00:08:24.80
What do you think
that means? - You know,
00:08:24.83\00:08:26.43
as you say, you
can't hide behind a bushel
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or under a bed.
You have to put on
00:08:28.60\00:08:30.74
a lampstand, and
that lampstand is allowing
00:08:30.84\00:08:32.51
the light to
shine. - Yeah, exactly.
00:08:32.57\00:08:34.28
I was thinking
about the Holy Spirit;
00:08:34.34\00:08:35.68
allowing the Holy
Spirit into our lives,
00:08:35.71\00:08:38.05
because that lamp
is like a vessel or
00:08:38.11\00:08:41.05
container for the
oil. So, that's what we
00:08:41.12\00:08:44.99
are. - I think
that's the original wording-
00:08:45.05\00:08:48.02
King James, isn't
it? It's 'lampstand-'
00:08:48.09\00:08:50.36
I mean 'candlestick;'
not lampstand. So,
00:08:50.43\00:08:54.10
it just makes
it a little more...
00:08:54.20\00:08:55.53
Again, it's talking
about light, truth...
00:08:55.63\00:08:58.57
And it's
interesting- at least, seems to
00:08:58.67\00:09:01.37
me-you have to have
it. You have it on a
00:09:01.44\00:09:05.27
stand, it's going to
shine brighter. Here,
00:09:05.37\00:09:07.91
what kind of made my
heart sad is you look
00:09:07.98\00:09:10.78
at it here,
because Jesus says, "I have
00:09:10.85\00:09:13.62
something against
you." Now, what if He
00:09:13.68\00:09:17.32
looked at us today
and said, "I've got
00:09:17.39\00:09:18.72
something against
you," each one of us
00:09:18.75\00:09:20.59
would have ears to
hear. "Lord, what is
00:09:20.66\00:09:23.16
it?" And I don't think any of us
00:09:23.26\00:09:25.26
would hesitate-part
of our lesson here-
00:09:25.33\00:09:27.36
to get rid of that,
by the grace of God.
00:09:27.43\00:09:29.83
- That's right. -
Put it right there,
00:09:29.90\00:09:31.43
'cause He gotta
have something against
00:09:31.47\00:09:32.80
you. He had
something against the church.
00:09:32.83\00:09:35.17
The church was in
the backslidden condition
00:09:35.27\00:09:37.61
at this passage. The
apostate had come in.
00:09:37.67\00:09:40.78
The church was listening to air,
00:09:40.88\00:09:43.21
and they were
accepting that air as truth.
00:09:43.35\00:09:46.78
Jesus comes in quickly and says,
00:09:46.92\00:09:48.75
"Look. That needs to
cease; I got something
00:09:48.85\00:09:50.42
against you right
here. And if you don't,
00:09:50.52\00:09:52.39
I'm going to give
you an opportunity- I'd
00:09:52.49\00:09:54.46
love this to
repent." We talk about being
00:09:54.52\00:09:57.26
redeemed this
week. I've been redeemed
00:09:57.33\00:09:58.93
every day of my
life by the blood of the
00:09:59.03\00:10:01.10
Lamb. If you think
about this, He said,
00:10:01.16\00:10:03.97
"I'm going to give
you an opportunity.
00:10:04.07\00:10:05.57
You're in bad
shape;" we have a chance
00:10:05.70\00:10:08.07
to repent, and all
is going to be well.
00:10:08.14\00:10:10.81
"But if you do not,
then I'm going to take
00:10:10.91\00:10:12.51
the light that
you have." And what
00:10:12.57\00:10:14.94
happens if the
light's taken? Then, we're...
00:10:15.01\00:10:16.85
- Left in darkness. -
I like this word here.
00:10:16.91\00:10:20.05
It says, "Repent
and do the first works."
00:10:20.15\00:10:22.05
What are the
first works? That's what
00:10:22.15\00:10:24.22
jumped out at me
when I read that. "Do the
00:10:24.32\00:10:25.75
first works." I
mean, if- like you say.
00:10:25.82\00:10:27.26
When you have that
love and that- you'd
00:10:27.36\00:10:28.92
hit that song when
you prayed earlier.
00:10:28.99\00:10:30.36
You said,
"We're climbing Jacob's
00:10:30.46\00:10:31.86
ladder." It says in
that last verse, "If
00:10:31.96\00:10:33.96
you love Him,
why not serve Him?"
00:10:34.03\00:10:36.06
- It just shows you
how much He loves us,
00:10:36.13\00:10:38.77
too, that He gives
us another opportunity
00:10:38.87\00:10:40.90
before He removes the
candlestick. He's given
00:10:41.00\00:10:44.87
us a warning. -
And sometimes, another,
00:10:44.94\00:10:47.58
and another, and
another... I always
00:10:47.64\00:10:52.11
hear someone say,
"Oh, boy, am I glad we
00:10:52.21\00:10:53.55
serve a God of
second chances," and I'm
00:10:53.58\00:10:55.18
lookin', "Ooh, a
whole lot more than second
00:10:55.28\00:10:57.72
chances;" praise
God. He gives us-
00:10:57.82\00:10:59.52
- But see, that's
part of the problem is
00:10:59.59\00:11:01.59
we just presume
that God's going to be
00:11:01.66\00:11:04.39
merciful, He's
going to be forgiving, and
00:11:04.49\00:11:06.66
we just put it
off, put it off, put it
00:11:06.76\00:11:09.13
off, and we think,
"Maybe another time,
00:11:09.23\00:11:11.30
I'll do this; another
time, I'll accept this.
00:11:11.40\00:11:14.24
Well, if I accept
this part of scripture,
00:11:14.34\00:11:16.14
it's going to change
my working, it's going to
00:11:16.27\00:11:18.17
change my whole
family life; will I
00:11:18.27\00:11:19.94
accept that? Well,
maybe in the future,
00:11:20.01\00:11:21.68
I'll do that."
You see? We never know
00:11:21.74\00:11:23.95
when it's the
last time that the Holy
00:11:24.01\00:11:27.18
Spirit will speak
to our hearts. You
00:11:27.25\00:11:29.92
never know when
it's the last time that
00:11:30.02\00:11:31.95
the Holy Spirit
will speak to YOUR heart.
00:11:32.02\00:11:34.62
And then, we're
left. Jesus is never going
00:11:34.69\00:11:37.63
to force us. What
He's speaking about here,
00:11:37.69\00:11:40.33
you're getting into
that Laodicean church.
00:11:40.40\00:11:42.93
And what did Jesus
say? "I would rather
00:11:43.03\00:11:46.74
you be hot or cold,
or I'm just going to
00:11:46.80\00:11:48.30
spew you out of
my mouth!" That's how
00:11:48.40\00:11:50.74
important this
is. This first little
00:11:50.84\00:11:53.27
part of it-
paragraph, I'd like to read it
00:11:53.38\00:11:57.78
to us, 'cause it
really points out
00:11:57.88\00:11:59.61
just how
dangerous a ground this is.
00:11:59.71\00:12:02.08
It's going to
talk about Sodom and
00:12:02.15\00:12:04.79
Gomorrah, and we
think there could be no
00:12:04.89\00:12:06.89
more wickedness
than Sodom and Gomorrah,
00:12:06.99\00:12:08.82
and yet, look
what the prophet says
00:12:08.92\00:12:10.59
here. - With that
boiled down for us
00:12:10.73\00:12:12.23
before she reads
this, at least in my mind,
00:12:12.33\00:12:15.60
to simply say,
"God has shed on us the
00:12:15.70\00:12:19.60
light of truth," or
those who understand
00:12:19.67\00:12:22.14
what you
understand as His truth. He
00:12:22.24\00:12:23.67
expects us, then-
accountability, or
00:12:23.77\00:12:27.18
to walk in that
light. If you don't walk
00:12:27.28\00:12:29.51
in that light,
then darkness is going
00:12:29.58\00:12:31.91
to come. So we
have to honor what is-
00:12:32.01\00:12:34.98
and again, don't
hesitate; make a decision on
00:12:35.05\00:12:37.12
it, then walk in
that, 'cause if you don't
00:12:37.19\00:12:39.79
walk in it, you
don't make a decision for
00:12:39.89\00:12:41.26
Christ, we start
getting off the path
00:12:41.36\00:12:43.02
and then darkness
comes. - Precisely.
00:12:43.09\00:12:45.06
That's why this warning,
I think, is so appropriate.
00:12:45.16\00:12:49.83
You can find this in
Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:12:49.93\00:12:52.73
I believe - page 165.
It reads, "The Redeemer
00:12:52.80\00:12:58.04
of the world declares
that there are greater
00:12:58.14\00:13:01.01
sins than that for
which Sodom and Gomorrah
00:13:01.08\00:13:04.28
would destroy it,"
and as I said a moment
00:13:04.35\00:13:06.28
ago... - That's a huge
00:13:06.35\00:13:07.68
statement. -
Exactly! With laws that are
00:13:07.72\00:13:12.19
being passed in
our country, I think,
00:13:12.29\00:13:13.66
"How can it get
any worse?" And some of
00:13:13.76\00:13:16.42
the situations
that we, unfortunately,
00:13:16.46\00:13:19.83
are privy to see,
think, "How can it
00:13:19.89\00:13:22.06
get any worse?" But
this is how God looks
00:13:22.16\00:13:24.27
at it. "Those
who hear the gospel
00:13:24.33\00:13:27.30
invitation calling
sinners to repentance."
00:13:27.40\00:13:30.67
Think about it.
What separates us from
00:13:30.74\00:13:33.71
God? Sin! Self! So, our
decisions, our choices...
00:13:33.78\00:13:40.18
We're going to
get into that as we
00:13:40.25\00:13:41.58
study on. It's
sin that separates us.
00:13:41.65\00:13:44.65
"And heed it
not..." "When you hear the
00:13:44.72\00:13:48.02
voice of God calling,
giving you an invitation
00:13:48.12\00:13:49.86
and you heed it not,
are more guilty before
00:13:49.99\00:13:52.79
God; the more the
dwellers in the Vale
00:13:52.89\00:13:55.90
of Siddim, and still
greater sins is theirs
00:13:56.00\00:13:59.30
who profess to
know and to keep His
00:13:59.40\00:14:02.34
commandments." Okay,
that's talking to many
00:14:02.44\00:14:04.64
of you at home. You
know who God is. You
00:14:04.74\00:14:08.34
profess to keep His
commandments. In fact,
00:14:08.44\00:14:10.61
I know personally;
it breaks my heart.
00:14:10.68\00:14:12.98
People, they'll
stand up and say they
00:14:13.08\00:14:15.42
won't work on
the Sabbath, they're
00:14:15.52\00:14:16.92
going to keep
this commandment, going
00:14:17.02\00:14:18.35
to keep that
commandment, but there's certain
00:14:18.42\00:14:20.29
commandments and
certain living situations
00:14:20.39\00:14:22.32
that it's as if
it doesn't matter. It
00:14:22.42\00:14:25.26
doesn't matter
which commandment you
00:14:25.36\00:14:27.50
don't keep; it's
still all 10. - If
00:14:27.60\00:14:29.96
you broke one, you
broke it all. - Exactly.
00:14:30.07\00:14:32.10
And who denied Christ
in their character and
00:14:32.23\00:14:34.70
in their daily
life? Now, we want to
00:14:34.84\00:14:37.21
start out with a
question here, and
00:14:37.27\00:14:39.51
that question is,
"What does it mean
00:14:39.57\00:14:41.71
to deny Christ in
our character or in our
00:14:41.78\00:14:45.11
daily lives?" - I
was just thinking about
00:14:45.18\00:14:47.05
that question as
we were preparing for
00:14:47.12\00:14:48.85
this study. I
really think that, at least
00:14:48.92\00:14:53.19
for me personally,
it's like, what areas in
00:14:53.25\00:14:55.26
my life am I not
surrendering to Him?
00:14:55.36\00:14:58.43
I think
sometimes, we only let Him
00:14:58.49\00:15:00.76
come into our
lives so far. It's like,
00:15:00.83\00:15:03.67
you can take
this and this and this
00:15:03.73\00:15:05.47
away, but no, this
area's untouchable.
00:15:05.53\00:15:07.60
You know what I mean?
So, it made me personally
00:15:07.74\00:15:11.64
reflect about
which areas of my life am
00:15:11.74\00:15:14.21
I not surrendered
in? So to me, that's
00:15:14.28\00:15:17.28
what it means. - I
guess you're giving
00:15:17.35\00:15:19.41
the Lord complete
permission. Something
00:15:19.51\00:15:21.78
really spoke to
me. It was really- when
00:15:21.88\00:15:23.85
you started reading that,
Chris, it was interesting.
00:15:23.95\00:15:25.59
It said, "Those
who hear the gospel
00:15:25.65\00:15:27.06
invitation, calling
sinners to repentance
00:15:27.16\00:15:29.79
and heed it not,"
that made me think of
00:15:29.89\00:15:31.93
blaspheming the
Holy Spirit. - Precisely!
00:15:31.99\00:15:34.73
And which is the
unpardonable sin!
00:15:34.86\00:15:37.67
- Yeah. - So, we
can see why God feels
00:15:37.80\00:15:40.07
that this is top
on the list of sins,
00:15:40.17\00:15:43.30
because it
separates us, and pretty soon,
00:15:43.37\00:15:46.51
as you continue to
deny the Holy Spirit,
00:15:46.61\00:15:48.84
then you stop hearing His call.
00:15:48.91\00:15:51.01
But I think,
basically, it's not implementing
00:15:51.11\00:15:54.95
any of the beautiful
character traits that
00:15:55.02\00:15:58.32
we read in
scripture. God has inspired men
00:15:58.45\00:16:02.12
and women of old
to teach and preach,
00:16:02.22\00:16:04.16
and many writers to
write this beautiful
00:16:04.26\00:16:06.29
Book. A couple of
chapters that I would
00:16:06.39\00:16:10.07
encourage you
at home to read are
00:16:10.13\00:16:12.10
Ephesians chapter 4
and Psalms chapter 121,
00:16:12.17\00:16:16.44
because in there,
you'll see a lot of
00:16:16.54\00:16:18.31
these beautiful
things. God is wanting to
00:16:18.37\00:16:20.18
recreate in us, and
we'll see that as we
00:16:20.31\00:16:23.88
go on, His image. - I
was going to say, something-
00:16:23.95\00:16:26.41
we've been
talking about this (and I
00:16:26.51\00:16:28.05
get a lot of ideas in
my head all the time).
00:16:28.15\00:16:29.48
I was thinking
about an image for people
00:16:29.52\00:16:31.79
to get an idea like this, and it
00:16:31.89\00:16:33.36
happens in our churches, too! We
00:16:33.42\00:16:35.62
tend to sweep
things under the rug. I
00:16:35.69\00:16:37.89
said, "It'd be
interesting- you do
00:16:37.99\00:16:40.40
like, a little- I
don't know how you
00:16:40.46\00:16:42.06
put it together,
but some little motion
00:16:42.13\00:16:43.47
thing you can
show." All of a sudden, the
00:16:43.50\00:16:44.83
carpet keeps
getting bigger and bigger,
00:16:44.87\00:16:46.20
and you're trying to
look around it. You're
00:16:46.23\00:16:48.70
on the couch
trying to see the TV, and
00:16:48.77\00:16:50.57
you just got this
big mound and you're
00:16:50.64\00:16:52.34
just looking past
it. - No, that's true.
00:16:52.41\00:16:56.44
- It's like,
you're sweeping things
00:16:56.51\00:16:57.85
under the rug and
you're not wanting
00:16:57.88\00:16:59.21
to deal with it.
We really need to deal
00:16:59.25\00:17:01.78
with it. - You
don't want to grieve the
00:17:01.85\00:17:03.22
Holy Spirit,
because what was mentioned
00:17:03.28\00:17:04.82
here- you said
read- encourage people
00:17:04.85\00:17:06.76
to Ephesians 4:30.
That's exactly what
00:17:06.82\00:17:09.79
it says there.
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit
00:17:09.89\00:17:12.16
of God, whereby ye
are sealed into the
00:17:12.26\00:17:14.96
day of redemption."
So, don't grieve it,
00:17:15.06\00:17:17.03
because when you
grieve the Holy Spirit,
00:17:17.13\00:17:18.60
what chance do we
have? The Holy Spirit
00:17:18.67\00:17:20.04
is the One that's
awaking inside of us
00:17:20.14\00:17:22.87
the need for a
Savior, convicting us of
00:17:23.00\00:17:26.31
sin, making sure
we understand what
00:17:26.41\00:17:28.04
truth is; giving us
power and victory in
00:17:28.14\00:17:30.25
our lives. So,
more, we definitely need-
00:17:30.35\00:17:32.15
NOT hesitate, and
certainly in these
00:17:32.25\00:17:34.58
areas. - That
first sentence is very
00:17:34.65\00:17:36.58
powerful. It
really just, like- whoa!
00:17:36.65\00:17:38.95
I had to reread
that a few times. "The
00:17:39.02\00:17:40.46
Redeemer of the
world declares that there
00:17:40.52\00:17:42.42
are greater sins
than that for which
00:17:42.52\00:17:45.29
Sodom and
Gomorrah were destroyed." I
00:17:45.36\00:17:49.00
think, sometimes,
our tendency is, we're
00:17:49.06\00:17:50.90
following Christ,
we're in church, we're
00:17:51.00\00:17:55.64
serving in ministry,
then we can sometimes
00:17:55.70\00:17:59.14
send a look down
on people that are in
00:17:59.24\00:18:01.48
the world, doing
what they're doing,
00:18:01.54\00:18:02.88
but what about
our pride and our this
00:18:02.98\00:18:05.21
and our that? You
know what I mean? So, there
00:18:05.31\00:18:08.18
are greater
sins than- sometimes,
00:18:08.32\00:18:11.95
we just want to
judge others, but it
00:18:12.02\00:18:13.92
says right there
that, in that whole
00:18:14.02\00:18:16.96
paragraph, it talks
about the things that
00:18:17.06\00:18:18.86
are greater
sins. There's ones-that
00:18:18.93\00:18:21.53
last sentence-it
says, "Greater sin is theirs
00:18:21.63\00:18:24.10
who profess to
know God and keep His
00:18:24.23\00:18:25.83
commandments yet
deny Christ." To God,
00:18:25.90\00:18:28.97
that's even greater
than somebody that's
00:18:29.07\00:18:30.94
a drunkard or
prostitute or whatever.
00:18:31.01\00:18:33.41
- When you said
that, it spoke in my mind
00:18:33.48\00:18:36.34
when the
commandment says, "Don't take
00:18:36.44\00:18:37.95
the Lord's name in
vain." So, what are
00:18:38.01\00:18:40.62
we doing when
we're pretending or we're
00:18:40.68\00:18:42.35
putting on a mask
(or whatever it be)
00:18:42.45\00:18:45.69
and saying,
"Yeah, we're Christians,"
00:18:45.79\00:18:47.12
and you go along,
go back home, and beat
00:18:47.16\00:18:49.29
your wife or
whatever. You go back in church,
00:18:49.36\00:18:51.49
"Oh, yeah! I'm worshiping, I pay
00:18:51.56\00:18:52.89
my tithe; I do all
the stuff." And right
00:18:52.93\00:18:54.83
behind closed
doors, who knows what's
00:18:54.93\00:18:56.36
going on? That's
huge. - I like some of
00:18:56.43\00:18:59.63
the things that she
pointed out - pride.
00:18:59.73\00:19:01.70
Pride. "Pride
cometh before a fall,"
00:19:01.80\00:19:03.74
the Bible
teaches. What about Lucifer
00:19:03.81\00:19:05.61
in heaven? He
appeared to be holy, but he had
00:19:05.71\00:19:08.84
this pride and this
envy and this jealousy.
00:19:08.91\00:19:11.65
You mentioned that
it's worse than somebody
00:19:11.75\00:19:13.85
who may be drunk or
beating up their wife;
00:19:13.98\00:19:15.98
but you know what? If
they knew better, they
00:19:16.08\00:19:18.89
probably, possibly,
would change. But if
00:19:18.99\00:19:23.02
you have that pride
issue in your heart,
00:19:23.12\00:19:25.59
no matter what's
on the outside, you're
00:19:25.66\00:19:28.56
still lost. So, we
need- the beautiful
00:19:28.63\00:19:31.47
thing says- but
go back to Revelation
00:19:31.53\00:19:33.84
12:5. The last
part says, "Unless you
00:19:33.94\00:19:37.51
repent." So, we
need to ask God, "Father,
00:19:37.61\00:19:40.71
what is it that's
separating me from
00:19:40.78\00:19:42.44
You?" Ask Him,
then confess that, then
00:19:42.54\00:19:45.88
repent of that and
turn away from that.
00:19:45.98\00:19:48.95
- There's some words
in there that- everybody's
00:19:49.05\00:19:50.75
pickin' a word
here. It intrigued me
00:19:50.82\00:19:52.65
just a little bit
where it talks about the Vale
00:19:52.75\00:19:54.99
of Siddon. I looked
at 'vale,' and it simply
00:19:55.12\00:19:59.93
means, 'valley.'
What happened in that
00:20:00.00\00:20:02.16
valley- right
there, there was a war
00:20:02.26\00:20:04.63
that went on, but
it was all full of
00:20:04.73\00:20:07.24
wells. Big, deep
holes. So when they went
00:20:07.34\00:20:11.54
out into war, they
had to be very careful.
00:20:11.61\00:20:13.58
As Christians, we're
in a warfare. Sometimes,
00:20:13.68\00:20:16.41
we fall into these
pits (they're called
00:20:16.48\00:20:18.68
slime pits is what
they were). And when
00:20:18.81\00:20:21.55
you fall into one of
those pits, you can't
00:20:21.65\00:20:23.05
get out. So,
there are some times
00:20:23.12\00:20:25.75
you fall in the
pit of sin, you cannot
00:20:25.85\00:20:27.39
get out unless the
Spirit of the living
00:20:27.46\00:20:29.89
God lifts you
out. [Amen.] You can't
00:20:29.99\00:20:32.46
climb on your
own, you can't dig, you
00:20:32.56\00:20:34.20
can't carry on; the
walls are too straight-up.
00:20:34.30\00:20:36.23
It's too
difficult. The only way is to
00:20:36.33\00:20:38.43
repent and ask God
to lift you out of that
00:20:38.53\00:20:40.14
pit. I thought it
was very interesting.
00:20:40.20\00:20:42.30
There's a passage of
scripture in Ecclesiastes
00:20:42.40\00:20:44.47
10:18? It says, "He that
00:20:44.54\00:20:47.08
diggeth a pit shall
fall into it." So we
00:20:47.14\00:20:50.48
do what as
Christians? Sometimes, we dig
00:20:50.58\00:20:52.81
our own pit, we
fall in, and then I look
00:20:52.91\00:20:55.95
up and I say,
"Don made me do it." I
00:20:56.02\00:20:59.42
wouldn't have dug this pit
if Don hadn't- you know what
00:20:59.52\00:21:01.12
I mean. - Adam
and Eve syndrome. - I
00:21:01.22\00:21:02.76
think that happens
sometimes. We dig the
00:21:02.82\00:21:05.19
pit, we're going to
fall into it. And then
00:21:05.26\00:21:07.60
Psalms, I think
it's 9:15. It says, "The
00:21:07.70\00:21:11.40
heathen are sunk
down into the pit that
00:21:11.47\00:21:15.04
they made." So as a
heathen, we get away
00:21:15.10\00:21:18.07
from God. We're
Christians, we let
00:21:18.14\00:21:19.47
God go, we hesitate,
we don't make decisions,
00:21:19.57\00:21:22.11
we turn our back on
light, darkness comes
00:21:22.18\00:21:25.11
in, we dig a pit, but we dug it.
00:21:25.18\00:21:28.68
- If I could
just add to that, too,
00:21:28.82\00:21:30.22
that sometimes,
it's not a direct
00:21:30.32\00:21:31.95
fall. Sometimes
it's a slow progression.
00:21:32.05\00:21:33.72
That's really, I
think, where Satan
00:21:33.82\00:21:37.43
can really trip us
up, because it's not like
00:21:37.49\00:21:39.33
an all-of-a-sudden
thing where we're
00:21:39.39\00:21:41.30
Christians one
day and the next day,
00:21:41.36\00:21:43.50
we're not.
Sometimes, it can be through,
00:21:43.57\00:21:46.23
maybe, music or
entertainment, or
00:21:46.30\00:21:49.24
just going, "Oh,
well, this doesn't
00:21:49.30\00:21:51.11
seem too bad."
Then before you know it,
00:21:51.17\00:21:53.11
you're like, "How
did I get here?" You
00:21:53.17\00:21:54.94
know what I
mean? So, it could be a
00:21:55.01\00:21:56.54
slow progression by
those daily choices,
00:21:56.64\00:21:58.58
too; going in
the wrong direction.
00:21:58.68\00:22:00.42
- A little trifling
here, but I remember
00:22:00.48\00:22:02.88
you guys telling
me about- yeah, you're
00:22:02.98\00:22:04.32
hitting right on
it. We talk about, in
00:22:04.35\00:22:06.92
our recovery
groups, the first step is to
00:22:07.02\00:22:08.92
acknowledge and
admit that you're powerless
00:22:09.02\00:22:13.23
and something has
come over you. Then
00:22:13.33\00:22:14.86
this third step
is that we made a
00:22:14.93\00:22:16.46
decision to turn
our wills and our lives
00:22:16.53\00:22:19.47
over to the care
of God, and that's the
00:22:19.53\00:22:20.87
big thing. When you
spoke about the pits,
00:22:20.94\00:22:22.87
you made me
think about that movie
00:22:22.97\00:22:24.31
we watched called
Pilgrim's Progress;
00:22:24.34\00:22:27.01
they redid it in
the 1990s. Christian
00:22:27.11\00:22:29.44
fell in that lake
of despondency, and
00:22:29.54\00:22:31.78
Pliable said, "Uh,
I'm done. I'm out of
00:22:31.81\00:22:34.68
here." He's burned
with all this big sin on his
00:22:34.78\00:22:37.72
back-burdens-and
it just made me think
00:22:37.82\00:22:39.72
about how we
fall in those pits so
00:22:39.79\00:22:41.19
easily. We have to-
we just talked about
00:22:41.29\00:22:43.59
our recovery group
having a plumb line.
00:22:43.66\00:22:46.03
You have to have
that plumb line in a
00:22:46.13\00:22:49.20
stander, and if you
don't have that plumb
00:22:49.26\00:22:50.87
line, you're going
to fall in those pits.
00:22:50.93\00:22:52.33
- And the fall
there. It was kind of
00:22:52.40\00:22:54.34
interesting,
talking about falling, then
00:22:54.40\00:22:55.74
you brought this
into my mind too, because
00:22:55.77\00:22:57.64
the translation of
that-the valley where
00:22:57.71\00:23:00.81
the pits were
at-they were really called,
00:23:00.88\00:23:03.01
we mentioned,
slime pits. Now, what it
00:23:03.08\00:23:05.48
is- yeah.
Sometimes, they're beveled in
00:23:05.55\00:23:08.58
and you get a
little too close to sin,
00:23:08.65\00:23:12.69
get a little
close to the issue, it
00:23:12.79\00:23:14.59
gets a little slippery,
and there you're trying
00:23:14.62\00:23:16.96
to backpedal a
little bit, then you're down
00:23:17.03\00:23:19.19
on your backside
and you just slide right
00:23:19.33\00:23:21.86
on into the pit.
So that's what it
00:23:21.96\00:23:24.37
is-a slime pit. So
sometimes, we don't
00:23:24.43\00:23:25.77
mean to get into
the pit. - Well, it's
00:23:25.80\00:23:28.04
a good lesson for
all of us. We don't even
00:23:28.10\00:23:30.04
get close. If you
know it's wrong, just
00:23:30.11\00:23:33.07
stay away. A lot
of us think, "Well,
00:23:33.14\00:23:35.81
maybe just a little
bit this time." There
00:23:35.88\00:23:37.88
are some people
in this world that we
00:23:38.01\00:23:40.42
live in. Just one
drink is all it takes, and
00:23:40.48\00:23:43.08
they become an
alcoholic. Just one
00:23:43.15\00:23:46.86
puff of a joint,
and they can't get off
00:23:46.96\00:23:48.86
certain drugs like marijuana.
- Or when a racy image comes
00:23:48.92\00:23:52.03
past you. - You gotta shut it
down right then and right there.
00:23:52.13\00:23:58.23
If you can, you don't go where a
00:23:58.30\00:24:00.47
racy image would
be, or you don't go
00:24:00.54\00:24:02.17
where they're
drinking or they're
00:24:02.27\00:24:03.61
smoking, you know?
It's our choice. It's
00:24:03.67\00:24:05.97
our daily choices.
- It's interesting to
00:24:06.07\00:24:07.74
talk about, too,
because the bottom line on all
00:24:07.81\00:24:09.61
these pits, you get
into Revelation 9:1.
00:24:09.68\00:24:14.15
It had keys to the
bottomless pit. You
00:24:14.22\00:24:17.12
see? Even the enemy
digs himself a hole,
00:24:17.25\00:24:19.52
gets into the pit,
he can't get out of
00:24:19.65\00:24:22.22
the pit until God
allows him to come
00:24:22.32\00:24:24.06
out of the pit. -
Actually, I want to
00:24:24.16\00:24:25.49
share something.
We're talking about racy
00:24:25.53\00:24:26.86
images. About a
few months ago, I had
00:24:26.90\00:24:29.20
a racy image pop
up in my texts, and
00:24:29.30\00:24:31.80
I instantly, like, "Oh
my goodness!" So I just,
00:24:31.90\00:24:33.57
"Ahh!" I saw
Janelle was sitting next to
00:24:33.64\00:24:35.60
me, so I'm like- I
turned my phone real
00:24:35.67\00:24:37.17
quick so she
couldn't see it, and I'm like,
00:24:37.24\00:24:38.57
"What do I do,
Lord?" She went to
00:24:38.61\00:24:40.68
the bathroom, and
I'm like, "Delete it!
00:24:40.74\00:24:42.08
Delete it! Delete
it!" Well, it did. Praise
00:24:42.11\00:24:44.25
the Lord that erased
the-you know, whatever.
00:24:44.31\00:24:46.78
- Apparently,
this is not an uncommon
00:24:46.82\00:24:48.15
thing for a lot of
people to get these.
00:24:48.18\00:24:49.55
- But the thing
is that, we try to
00:24:49.62\00:24:51.19
hide things. The shame
and the guilt automatically
00:24:51.29\00:24:54.09
comes on us, and we
have to turn to Jesus.
00:24:54.22\00:24:55.89
He can take that shame and guilt
00:24:55.99\00:24:57.63
away. This, I want
to say, just happened
00:24:57.69\00:24:59.09
a couple days ago,
and it's- "Ope, there's
00:24:59.19\00:25:01.36
another one. But this
time, I'm going to show
00:25:01.43\00:25:02.93
her." I said, "Look.
This is what's popping
00:25:03.00\00:25:04.70
on my phone. I
want you to know. Just
00:25:04.80\00:25:06.60
look at this
image, and I'm going to
00:25:06.67\00:25:08.00
delete it." So,
it was getting out of
00:25:08.04\00:25:09.80
that slime pit. No
more shame and no more
00:25:09.87\00:25:12.44
guilt; the Lord
redeem you. - You
00:25:12.54\00:25:15.28
didn't ask for it;
it came. - Since we're
00:25:15.31\00:25:17.65
on these pits, I
might as well say
00:25:17.71\00:25:19.45
they're such a
good example. As the
00:25:19.51\00:25:21.88
children of Israel are
going across the desert-
00:25:21.95\00:25:23.92
Achan. When they
went in and they-
00:25:23.99\00:25:26.69
I don't remember
right now which battle it
00:25:26.76\00:25:28.89
was, but they were
told, "You're not to
00:25:28.99\00:25:30.59
bring anything
back," but he saw the gold;
00:25:30.63\00:25:33.03
he saw those
things that were sparkling
00:25:33.16\00:25:34.73
and worth a lot of
money, and what did
00:25:34.86\00:25:37.00
he do? He dug a
pit in his tent and he
00:25:37.07\00:25:40.47
buried it-but it
doesn't stay buried
00:25:40.54\00:25:43.77
from our
Heavenly Father. Nothing
00:25:43.87\00:25:46.71
that we try to
hide will ever escape
00:25:46.78\00:25:50.11
His view. So, he
gave us a prime example.
00:25:50.18\00:25:53.78
Achan had time
to share as you did,
00:25:53.88\00:25:56.89
your picture,
with your wife, but he
00:25:56.99\00:25:58.92
chose not to.
Every time, he would not
00:25:58.99\00:26:01.02
admit that it was
him. His whole family
00:26:01.09\00:26:04.66
was lost because of
the pit. - Wow. That's
00:26:04.79\00:26:08.56
big. - You made a
comment earlier, Chris,
00:26:08.63\00:26:12.63
that I was just
thinking about not going to
00:26:12.70\00:26:15.77
the places or the
areas where we could be
00:26:15.90\00:26:18.67
tempted. I'm just
learning more and more
00:26:18.74\00:26:23.01
that it's not necessarily
that we do that because
00:26:23.08\00:26:27.42
we feel like- we
don't go to these places
00:26:27.48\00:26:29.78
because it's not
more that we are trying
00:26:29.85\00:26:33.96
to do it based on
behavior, but because
00:26:34.06\00:26:36.96
we love God and
we want to do what He
00:26:37.03\00:26:39.66
wants, and it's
not that we're fighting
00:26:39.73\00:26:42.46
like, "We want
to go to this place,
00:26:42.56\00:26:44.17
but we won't do
it because we won't
00:26:44.23\00:26:45.57
be a good
Christian," you know? It's not
00:26:45.60\00:26:46.94
that. It's more
like, "I don't want to
00:26:47.00\00:26:48.77
hurt my Savior." -
Amen. - And the beautiful
00:26:48.84\00:26:51.67
thing is that
the closer we draw to
00:26:51.74\00:26:54.51
Him, the more we
study, the more we
00:26:54.58\00:26:56.28
pray, the things
that we used to love
00:26:56.38\00:26:57.85
and the places we
used to want to get
00:26:57.95\00:27:00.52
close to, all of a
sudden, we don't have
00:27:00.58\00:27:02.08
that desire, and
it's because of what I see
00:27:02.18\00:27:04.45
in your eyes
right now. It's because
00:27:04.52\00:27:05.99
of that love for
Him that keeps us safe.
00:27:06.05\00:27:09.76
Isn't that
beautiful? That's all He gives
00:27:09.82\00:27:11.69
us-His love, law for is
to keep us safe; to make
00:27:11.76\00:27:15.66
us into His image so that we can
00:27:15.76\00:27:17.60
rightly go. He's
not going to allow sin
00:27:17.70\00:27:20.90
to enter heaven
again, so for us to be
00:27:21.00\00:27:23.87
fit, He's gotta
recreate us, because
00:27:23.97\00:27:27.24
we have just
been so bombarded with
00:27:27.31\00:27:29.38
the wrong things
in this life. We think
00:27:29.44\00:27:33.28
that a lot of things
are good which really
00:27:33.38\00:27:35.32
aren't. Let's go onto the next-
00:27:35.42\00:27:38.22
- There's a couple
things that I think
00:27:38.29\00:27:39.62
is interesting,
because when you pose a
00:27:39.65\00:27:42.16
question like this,
it's dynamite, really,
00:27:42.26\00:27:44.56
to deny Christ in
our character and in
00:27:44.66\00:27:49.23
our daily life.
So, there's an article
00:27:49.36\00:27:51.87
here in 3
testimonies. I want to read it
00:27:51.97\00:27:53.44
just kind of as a
bottom line, because
00:27:53.54\00:27:54.90
it gets down to
nitty-gritty simplicity
00:27:54.97\00:27:57.81
of where we can
deny Him when we think
00:27:57.91\00:27:59.81
sometimes that we're
really not in denial.
00:27:59.87\00:28:01.64
But in scripture,
you find several things
00:28:01.71\00:28:03.81
'denial.' You think
of- I wrote one down
00:28:03.91\00:28:06.65
here when they
talked to Peter. Remember?
00:28:06.75\00:28:09.78
Peter. "Are you
His disciple?" "I don't
00:28:09.85\00:28:12.79
know Him!" he
says. "I-" I think it's
00:28:12.89\00:28:16.39
in John 18:17.
"I am not!" Man, you
00:28:16.46\00:28:20.20
talk about a denial.
And when it came time
00:28:20.26\00:28:22.60
for Pilate, you
really could find no fault
00:28:22.66\00:28:25.17
with him. He basically said,?
00:28:25.23\00:28:27.60
he's
accountable, "I have power to
00:28:27.67\00:28:29.07
release you; I
have power to put you on
00:28:29.17\00:28:30.64
the cross," you
know; paraphrasing, but
00:28:30.71\00:28:32.84
he wanted to
wash his hands in two
00:28:32.91\00:28:34.94
verses, I think it
was; John 19:4. Pilate
00:28:35.01\00:28:41.18
looks at Jesus;
he says, "I find no
00:28:41.32\00:28:42.78
fault in Him." Two
verses down, he said,
00:28:42.85\00:28:46.25
"Crucify Him." You
see this quick denial;
00:28:46.35\00:28:49.76
these things that
go on. Deny Him in
00:28:49.86\00:28:52.76
character. And then
I found this. I thought
00:28:52.83\00:28:54.80
so many- "There
are many ways," if you
00:28:54.86\00:28:57.00
don't mind me
reading just a paragraph
00:28:57.10\00:28:58.43
then we can all
talk about it, because
00:28:58.47\00:29:00.10
this really hit
home for me. It says,
00:29:00.20\00:29:03.00
"There are many
ways wherein we may
00:29:03.10\00:29:05.07
acknowledge our
Lord and many ways where
00:29:05.14\00:29:07.28
we may deny Him."
This is in Testimonies
00:29:07.34\00:29:11.88
Volume 3, 332. "We
may deny Him in our words
00:29:11.95\00:29:16.05
by speaking evil
of others," listen to
00:29:16.12\00:29:20.72
THIS one, "by
foolish talking, jesting and
00:29:20.82\00:29:24.73
joking, by idle or
unkind words, speaking
00:29:24.83\00:29:29.80
contrary to the
truth. In our words, we may
00:29:29.90\00:29:33.74
confess that Christ
is not in us." Simply
00:29:33.84\00:29:37.67
as our words. Notice
this. "In our character,
00:29:37.77\00:29:40.94
we may deny Him
by loving our ease or
00:29:41.01\00:29:44.61
by shunning the
duties and burdens of life
00:29:44.71\00:29:47.45
which someone else
must do if we don't."
00:29:47.52\00:29:49.85
Put it off on
somebody else. "And by loving
00:29:49.95\00:29:53.15
sinful pleasure. We
may also deny Christ
00:29:53.25\00:29:56.73
by-" we mention over
here, pride. This goes
00:29:56.79\00:29:59.19
on deeper. It
says, "We deny Christ
00:29:59.26\00:30:01.53
by pride of dress and
conformity to the world
00:30:01.66\00:30:05.70
or by
uncourteous behavior. We may
00:30:05.73\00:30:08.97
deny Him by loving
our own opinions and by
00:30:09.07\00:30:11.81
seeking," notice,
"to maintain and justify
00:30:11.87\00:30:14.88
self. We may also
deny Him in allowing
00:30:14.94\00:30:18.98
the mind to run in
the channel of lovesick
00:30:19.08\00:30:21.82
sentimentalism
and to brood over our
00:30:21.88\00:30:24.79
supposed hard lot and
trials." I mean, there
00:30:24.89\00:30:28.86
are just hundreds,
it seems, of different
00:30:28.92\00:30:30.33
ways that we
deny Him that we say,
00:30:30.39\00:30:32.23
"I don't deny
Jesus! I know He exists!
00:30:32.29\00:30:34.10
I know He sits on
the throne." But look-
00:30:34.20\00:30:35.96
the things that
we talk about... It's
00:30:36.03\00:30:37.83
so broad and so
wide; we can deny him
00:30:37.90\00:30:39.70
in hundreds of
different areas, so
00:30:39.80\00:30:41.54
we have to be
careful; but it starts out
00:30:41.64\00:30:42.97
with one word.
Words. Just words. - I was
00:30:43.04\00:30:45.84
going to say that
when you spoke, what
00:30:45.94\00:30:47.48
popped in my mind...
I do prison ministry,
00:30:47.58\00:30:49.64
actually, on
Wednesday nights. One of the
00:30:49.74\00:30:52.05
gentlemen, he
began sharing, and as he
00:30:52.11\00:30:54.18
did, his tone,
even, it broadened the
00:30:54.25\00:30:57.19
spirit that was- I
mean, the guys were
00:30:57.25\00:30:59.85
agitated; they're
getting angry, like,
00:30:59.92\00:31:01.26
"You're preaching
at us!" You know? This
00:31:01.29\00:31:02.79
kind of stuff,
and it's getting ugly
00:31:02.86\00:31:04.49
in this room.
I'm like, "Whoa, I've
00:31:04.56\00:31:05.89
gotta do something
here." So I'm like,
00:31:05.93\00:31:07.26
"What do I do,
Lord? This is like-" so I
00:31:07.30\00:31:08.63
had to control
them. I said, "You know,
00:31:08.66\00:31:10.00
what's going on
here is you're allowing
00:31:10.03\00:31:11.37
a satanic spirit
in this room." I said,
00:31:11.40\00:31:13.13
"You can't have
that. We're here to recover
00:31:13.20\00:31:15.27
together. We
gotta work together."
00:31:15.37\00:31:16.77
Seeing that, that
harshness, the tone,
00:31:16.87\00:31:19.27
the way you speak,
what you say, it can
00:31:19.34\00:31:21.38
bring death or life.
- Another thing, too,
00:31:21.44\00:31:23.24
that we can deny
Christ- I was thinking
00:31:23.35\00:31:25.45
of the
commandment is, "Do not take
00:31:25.58\00:31:28.85
the name of the
Lord thy God in vain."
00:31:28.95\00:31:30.75
So, we take the
name of Christ, and if
00:31:30.85\00:31:32.92
we don't live the
way Christ would live,
00:31:33.02\00:31:35.09
then we're
taking His name in vain,
00:31:35.19\00:31:37.43
and in a way,
that's denying Him. - Yes.
00:31:37.53\00:31:40.10
- So, this moral character, the
00:31:40.20\00:31:42.63
character of God,
character of Jesus
00:31:42.73\00:31:44.30
in us, is life
and death issue. It
00:31:44.37\00:31:47.14
centers around our
words and our actions
00:31:47.24\00:31:49.50
and our deeds.
Review and Herald 6 and 10
00:31:49.57\00:31:52.17
of 1890. We've read
this and we've heard it
00:31:52.27\00:31:54.48
many times, but it's
just like it makes more
00:31:54.54\00:31:56.78
and more sense to
me all the time. Some
00:31:56.85\00:31:59.28
people try to push
it back a little bit;
00:31:59.35\00:32:01.58
push it
underneath the rug. That rug
00:32:01.65\00:32:04.12
builds up so
big, we can't really
00:32:04.19\00:32:05.65
see plain anymore.
It says, "Unless the
00:32:05.72\00:32:08.52
moral image of
God is seen in man,"
00:32:08.62\00:32:13.90
right, "he can
never enter in the city of
00:32:14.00\00:32:18.37
God as a conqueror."
- There you go. - Unless
00:32:18.47\00:32:21.50
the moral image of
God is seen in us-say all
00:32:21.60\00:32:25.47
we want, talk all
we want, do all what we
00:32:25.54\00:32:27.38
want-unless the
motives, the heart, is right,
00:32:27.48\00:32:29.98
unless we're
really seeking to be like
00:32:30.05\00:32:31.45
Him, unless we
really submit totally,
00:32:31.51\00:32:34.58
fully, and
completely. Because the enemy's
00:32:34.65\00:32:36.52
going to take
what's not. We will never
00:32:36.62\00:32:39.32
enter the city
of God, and we think
00:32:39.42\00:32:42.49
we're going to slip
by this, and this'll
00:32:42.56\00:32:44.19
be alright, and
peek at this, and listen
00:32:44.26\00:32:46.43
to that... This
is just heavy duty.
00:32:46.49\00:32:49.86
Moral image of God.
That's talking about
00:32:49.93\00:32:52.43
perfection that
only the Spirit of God
00:32:52.50\00:32:55.14
can give-the Holy
Spirit- as we submit everything.
00:32:55.24\00:32:58.81
So, when we're
holding onto things,
00:32:58.87\00:33:00.74
it's only because
we want to hold onto
00:33:00.81\00:33:02.51
them. If we want
victory, our Bible says, "It's
00:33:02.58\00:33:05.51
sure." When I
fail, it's because I've
00:33:05.58\00:33:07.92
taken my eyes off of
Christ. It's just that
00:33:07.98\00:33:10.42
simple. When I've got my eyes on
00:33:10.52\00:33:11.85
Christ and my hand
in His hand, no such
00:33:11.95\00:33:14.52
thing as failure
with God. - Well, that's
00:33:14.59\00:33:16.52
one reason the
Bible teaches us to pray
00:33:16.59\00:33:18.36
without ceasing.
And part of my answer,
00:33:18.46\00:33:21.16
of course- I did
realize when I came up with
00:33:21.26\00:33:24.33
this question that
it could be very, very
00:33:24.43\00:33:26.10
deep. Part of my answer was, our
00:33:26.17\00:33:28.60
wills, our
actions, our reactions- a
00:33:28.67\00:33:31.41
lot. I cannot tell
you how many times I've
00:33:31.47\00:33:33.48
heard somebody
say, "Well, YOU made me
00:33:33.51\00:33:35.18
do it." No one- Mrs.
White, the Bible declares
00:33:35.24\00:33:38.68
no one can make you
react. No one made that
00:33:38.75\00:33:42.88
man react when
you were at the prison
00:33:42.98\00:33:44.79
that time that way,
except the prompting
00:33:44.89\00:33:46.79
of the enemy. It
was his choice. It was
00:33:46.89\00:33:49.22
our choice.
Someone hurt you, someone
00:33:49.39\00:33:51.73
is mean to you- it
is your choice. She
00:33:51.83\00:33:54.00
says, sometimes,
that silence is golden.
00:33:54.10\00:33:57.60
It's our actions,
our reactions; it's how
00:33:57.67\00:34:00.07
you speak, it's
the way you talk to one
00:34:00.14\00:34:02.14
another. It will
truly expose the character
00:34:02.20\00:34:06.24
that you possess.
It's one or the other.
00:34:06.31\00:34:09.28
- See, it's almost
like saying, "Here,
00:34:09.34\00:34:12.11
let's balance
it," right? "I want to
00:34:12.15\00:34:13.68
balance it. Balance
it here." It's always
00:34:13.82\00:34:15.85
the guy that's
guilty of sin who responds
00:34:15.95\00:34:19.25
the wrong way. It's
true, too. But let's
00:34:19.32\00:34:22.72
not forget the
person that agitated you.
00:34:22.82\00:34:25.66
Let's not forget the
person that called it
00:34:25.76\00:34:27.80
up in the wrong attitude of-
00:34:27.90\00:34:29.36
- That's the
whole point. - I'm just
00:34:29.43\00:34:31.47
saying. It
doesn't mean you respond
00:34:31.63\00:34:33.03
different ways, but
you're still accountable,
00:34:33.10\00:34:35.90
right? The person
who started it. Does that
00:34:35.97\00:34:39.27
make sense? - Well,
God will work on both
00:34:39.37\00:34:41.24
hearts, but that's
the whole point. If
00:34:41.38\00:34:43.75
someone is agitating
you... - I need somebody
00:34:43.85\00:34:45.78
to say amen.
[laughter] - But that's true.
00:34:45.88\00:34:48.72
Because if someone
is agitating you, how
00:34:48.78\00:34:52.85
do you respond?
It's between you and
00:34:52.95\00:34:55.86
your Savior.
You're not accountable for
00:34:55.92\00:34:58.36
your wife, your
husband, your- no one else.
00:34:58.43\00:35:00.90
They're accountable
for themselves. - But the
00:35:00.96\00:35:02.96
agitator's in
trouble, too. - If someone's
00:35:03.06\00:35:05.33
agitated- well, if
it's me or somebody else,
00:35:05.40\00:35:07.67
it's still our
responsibility to-
00:35:07.74\00:35:10.71
dart a prayer to
heaven! If you can't-
00:35:10.74\00:35:15.48
- But I always
hear- do you not always
00:35:15.58\00:35:16.91
hear this? "It's
the way they responded.
00:35:16.95\00:35:18.81
They responded, and
this is all wrong..."
00:35:18.91\00:35:21.48
Somebody say amen.
- I just think that
00:35:21.55\00:35:23.18
the guilt can be
on both sides. - Both
00:35:23.22\00:35:27.02
parties are guilty.
- I was just thinking
00:35:27.09\00:35:29.06
as you're saying
that, we've talked before
00:35:29.12\00:35:30.63
about when we
first came to the Lord.
00:35:30.73\00:35:33.36
It's tempting
sometimes to look at the other
00:35:33.43\00:35:37.03
person and think
that they're always the
00:35:37.13\00:35:38.53
problem or they're
always the one that-
00:35:38.63\00:35:40.14
"See, they're the
one that needs to change,
00:35:40.20\00:35:41.80
but you're
okay." We talk to people
00:35:41.87\00:35:45.71
sometimes in
recoveries if it's couples we're
00:35:45.81\00:35:48.31
working with.
Maybe one looks at the
00:35:48.38\00:35:50.75
other and says,
"Well, do something to help
00:35:50.85\00:35:53.15
that person, 'cause
they're hopeless," or
00:35:53.18\00:35:55.72
whatever. And it's
like, "Wait a minute.
00:35:55.78\00:35:57.42
There's a couple situation
here, so what could you
00:35:57.52\00:36:00.89
do a little
different that would help that
00:36:01.02\00:36:02.82
person? You can
make new choices together
00:36:02.89\00:36:06.86
instead of
pointing the finger at that
00:36:06.96\00:36:08.60
other person all
the time." That just
00:36:08.70\00:36:10.37
doesn't go
anywhere. - It doesn't! It's
00:36:10.43\00:36:12.30
the same thing that
happened in the garden.
00:36:12.43\00:36:14.40
"She made me do
it." - "Well, God..."
00:36:14.50\00:36:16.97
- "You made the
woman." - Precisely!
00:36:17.04\00:36:20.91
See, God makes it
very clear that we
00:36:21.01\00:36:24.58
cannot throw that
back. It's your respo- it
00:36:24.65\00:36:28.08
was Adam's responsibility.
Did he take the fruit?
00:36:28.18\00:36:31.29
How did he handle
it? - I was going to say
00:36:31.42\00:36:33.52
something when you
mentioned something. What came
00:36:33.59\00:36:36.12
to my mind- this is
going back to prison.
00:36:36.19\00:36:37.63
One night, we
talked about this, and it
00:36:37.69\00:36:39.76
was idea of forgiveness.
It kind of touched on it
00:36:39.86\00:36:42.13
a little bit. We need
to forgive one another,
00:36:42.23\00:36:43.77
and- I think it
was a gentleman by the
00:36:43.83\00:36:45.77
name of Dennis
Smith. He wrote one of his
00:36:45.87\00:36:47.20
books-40 Days, I think it was-he
00:36:47.24\00:36:49.20
wrote in there
if we don't forgive,
00:36:49.30\00:36:50.74
that it opens a
door for Satan to cause
00:36:50.81\00:36:53.64
demonic oppression. -
It does! - Absolutely.
00:36:53.71\00:36:57.25
- And the beautiful
thing- Cheri Peters.
00:36:57.35\00:37:01.15
I was watching one
of her programs one
00:37:01.28\00:37:02.85
time, and many of
you viewers-you've
00:37:02.92\00:37:05.05
watched her
program, and you realize how
00:37:05.15\00:37:07.22
she has been abused
since an infant. Part
00:37:07.32\00:37:11.96
of that abuse came
from her father. On
00:37:12.03\00:37:15.00
his dying bed, she
heard the Lord tell
00:37:15.06\00:37:18.17
her, "You have
to forgive him." She
00:37:18.23\00:37:21.50
was arguing. "But
God, he never said he's
00:37:21.60\00:37:23.77
sorry. He hasn't
changed one bit." And
00:37:23.84\00:37:27.54
the thought came to
her mind and she thought
00:37:27.61\00:37:30.35
it was God. What
really has helped me is
00:37:30.45\00:37:32.81
that forgiveness is
not always fair. But
00:37:32.91\00:37:38.95
when you forgive,
then that sets YOU
00:37:39.15\00:37:42.69
free. It's not
always fair. You can forgive
00:37:42.79\00:37:47.06
that person that's
agitating you, that's
00:37:47.16\00:37:49.83
hard to work with-
whatever it might be.
00:37:49.90\00:37:53.27
You lift them up in prayer. But
00:37:53.34\00:37:55.34
because you're
able to forgive, you're
00:37:55.44\00:37:57.21
the one that's displaying
the character of Christ.
00:37:57.31\00:38:01.18
- How is that so important? It's
00:38:01.28\00:38:04.51
really- isn't it a
life-and-death issue?
00:38:04.61\00:38:06.92
Forgiveness? Even
though someone doesn't
00:38:07.02\00:38:08.88
ask you? [Mhm.]
What does the Bible
00:38:08.95\00:38:11.19
say? - "Forgive and
you shall be forgiven."
00:38:11.25\00:38:13.59
- Right. "Forgive
others" is how Christ
00:38:13.66\00:38:15.62
will forgive us.
If you want to be
00:38:15.69\00:38:17.03
forgiven of your sins,?
00:38:17.13\00:38:19.29
shortcomings? I
have to be willing
00:38:19.36\00:38:21.13
to forgive those
who, we said, trespass,
00:38:21.20\00:38:22.76
use you, abuse
you, step on you, wipe
00:38:22.86\00:38:27.64
on you- right? You
know? All those things
00:38:27.70\00:38:29.80
that go on, we
have to be willing to
00:38:29.84\00:38:31.17
overlook and go on.
What comes to my mind
00:38:31.21\00:38:34.01
is if Christ is
living in the heart, they
00:38:34.08\00:38:36.08
would never have
said or never really
00:38:36.14\00:38:37.85
would have done that.
- One of the gentlemen
00:38:37.91\00:38:42.02
in there said, "If I
can't forgive myself,
00:38:42.12\00:38:44.29
how can I forgive
others?" I thought,
00:38:44.35\00:38:46.39
"Wow, that's a very
powerful statement."
00:38:46.49\00:38:48.46
I mean, we have
to be able to forgive
00:38:48.56\00:38:49.89
ourselves. There's a
lot of things that we
00:38:49.99\00:38:52.96
do. We've been
talking about this- beating
00:38:53.06\00:38:54.53
ourselves up. We tend
to do that, and I think
00:38:54.60\00:38:56.77
Satan can hold swear
of us if we're not keeping
00:38:56.83\00:39:00.04
in line with Christ
and His commandments
00:39:00.14\00:39:01.94
the way He's
given us, we can look to
00:39:02.00\00:39:03.91
self too much. -
And one of the biggest,
00:39:03.97\00:39:06.11
probably the
strongest, the most motivating
00:39:06.17\00:39:08.81
examples is Christ
laying on the cross,
00:39:08.91\00:39:14.08
and they're
nailing the nails through
00:39:14.18\00:39:17.19
His hands. And what
does He say? "Father,
00:39:17.25\00:39:20.99
forgive them."
They didn't say, "We're
00:39:21.02\00:39:23.73
sorry we have to
do this." And He's
00:39:23.83\00:39:30.23
already been
beaten and He's had the
00:39:30.33\00:39:32.53
crown of thorns pressed upon His
00:39:32.60\00:39:35.37
head. He did
nothing wrong; He was an
00:39:35.44\00:39:38.21
innocent lamb led
to the slaughter. And
00:39:38.31\00:39:42.34
yet, He was able to
say, "Father, forgive
00:39:42.41\00:39:45.05
them." It came
from His heart, as well.
00:39:45.11\00:39:48.32
- So many of the
martyrs that followed, that so
00:39:48.38\00:39:52.39
closely related to
Jesus Christ, they let Christ
00:39:52.49\00:39:55.76
so live in Him-
it was no longer I,
00:39:55.82\00:39:57.99
but Christ, and
they would set fire to,
00:39:58.06\00:40:00.80
or stoning of Paul
or Stephen. And we're,
00:40:00.90\00:40:04.53
"Father, forgive
them." First thing out of
00:40:04.63\00:40:06.07
their mouth is, "Father, forgive
00:40:06.17\00:40:07.50
them. They just
don't know what they're
00:40:07.57\00:40:08.90
doing." I think it
helps us to realize
00:40:08.94\00:40:12.04
when people say
and do things and are
00:40:12.11\00:40:14.11
nasty and ugly, sometimes-bless
00:40:14.18\00:40:16.31
their heart-they
don't have Christ within.
00:40:16.38\00:40:18.95
- One of my
friends was telling me- I
00:40:19.11\00:40:21.38
guess someone had
told them, and it's
00:40:21.48\00:40:23.59
just good advice.
It's the idea that
00:40:23.69\00:40:26.79
if we knew someone's
whole story, we couldn't
00:40:26.89\00:40:28.89
help but love
them. [Mhm!] You know?
00:40:28.96\00:40:31.69
Sometimes, we make
quick judgments based
00:40:31.76\00:40:34.53
on something we see,
and it's just an idea
00:40:34.60\00:40:38.20
that, you know,
if we knew what that
00:40:38.27\00:40:40.34
person was going
through, what they
00:40:40.40\00:40:41.74
had just been
through that morning, or
00:40:41.77\00:40:43.81
whatever, we could
have more mercy and sympathy
00:40:43.91\00:40:46.64
for them. That's
what God sees - the whole
00:40:46.74\00:40:52.18
picture from the
beginning to the end,
00:40:52.25\00:40:55.42
and that's why He
has that unconditional
00:40:55.48\00:40:58.95
love and that's
where our faith and trust
00:40:59.02\00:41:01.32
should come in.
To know that He loves
00:41:01.39\00:41:03.89
that person so, then
why can't we? - I was
00:41:03.96\00:41:06.39
going to say, when
you're talking about
00:41:06.46\00:41:07.80
that, what came
to mind: the last, we
00:41:07.83\00:41:09.50
did a 14-week
program in the prison for
00:41:09.56\00:41:11.20
addiction
recovery. One of the guards
00:41:11.27\00:41:12.70
there, he said,
"What are you doing here?"
00:41:12.77\00:41:14.27
- I said, "Well,
I'm doing addiction
00:41:14.34\00:41:15.67
recovery here."
He says, "Oh, you're
00:41:15.70\00:41:17.04
wasting your
time. It's not worth it.
00:41:17.07\00:41:20.84
These guys are just
pretending." I walked
00:41:20.91\00:41:23.14
in that chapel, I
started talking, I
00:41:23.24\00:41:25.58
asked the guys-it
was the last day-the
00:41:25.68\00:41:28.22
guy, he said, "You
know, I've been coming
00:41:28.28\00:41:30.89
to your group for 9
years, the Adventist
00:41:30.95\00:41:33.05
group here, and I
have been hesitating to
00:41:33.15\00:41:35.02
make the decision to
be baptized." He said,
00:41:35.12\00:41:37.79
"But because you came in, you're
00:41:37.89\00:41:39.23
starting us in
recovery," he said, "it gave me
00:41:39.26\00:41:41.30
the courage to say I
want to be baptized."
00:41:41.36\00:41:42.90
- Praise God. - Hesitating for 9
00:41:42.96\00:41:46.60
years. It can
take time. Sometimes,
00:41:46.67\00:41:48.87
it takes time, and
we want results now.
00:41:48.94\00:41:51.27
Sometimes,
because of hesitating and
00:41:51.34\00:41:54.28
not wanting to give up? things
00:41:54.34\00:41:57.65
of the world, but
the time will come.
00:41:57.71\00:41:59.61
A word in due
season, a prayer prayed at
00:41:59.71\00:42:01.78
the right time can
just break a heart,
00:42:01.85\00:42:05.55
which is part of
this lesson it's talking
00:42:05.65\00:42:06.99
about is how we
gain these things. It's
00:42:07.02\00:42:08.89
simply by
beholding Jesus; letting Him
00:42:08.99\00:42:12.06
into our hearts
and life. That's sort
00:42:12.16\00:42:13.50
of farther down
the lesson, but ooh!
00:42:13.53\00:42:15.06
- Accepting the
power of the Holy
00:42:15.16\00:42:17.27
Spirit, because
it's the power of the
00:42:17.37\00:42:19.10
Holy Spirit, that
gift, that comforter that
00:42:19.17\00:42:21.24
Christ sent to us
after He left that
00:42:21.30\00:42:24.04
enables us to
forgive, even when it's not
00:42:24.11\00:42:27.28
fair, that
enables you to be quiet
00:42:27.34\00:42:29.98
when your body
all of a sudden- your
00:42:30.08\00:42:32.38
first reaction
would've been- or, you know,
00:42:32.45\00:42:34.95
years ago, your first
reaction would've been-
00:42:34.98\00:42:36.69
the nice thing is-
and I can honestly say
00:42:36.75\00:42:39.85
this: I have
changed over the years,
00:42:39.95\00:42:42.39
because my first
reaction would've
00:42:42.46\00:42:43.83
been to just fight
right back. - Thatta
00:42:43.89\00:42:45.79
girl. Look at
her. - But there's a
00:42:45.89\00:42:47.33
lot of times
that I have learned to
00:42:47.43\00:42:49.46
hold my tongue, to
be silent. - That's our
00:42:49.53\00:42:52.37
natural tendency,
what she just said.
00:42:52.43\00:42:53.97
Fight back. -
When that guy spoke
00:42:54.04\00:42:55.57
to me like that, I
just kind of turned
00:42:55.64\00:42:57.04
around and said, "Pbbt, that was
00:42:57.11\00:42:58.44
Satan. Okay, I know
where it's coming from."
00:42:58.47\00:43:00.14
I've seen it. - How
do martyrs go to the
00:43:00.21\00:43:04.41
stake singing?
How did they go to the
00:43:04.45\00:43:07.25
stake praying? You
see, there's healing
00:43:07.32\00:43:11.15
in the presence of
the Holy Spirit, and when
00:43:11.25\00:43:14.06
God's people cannot
take the pain anymore,
00:43:14.19\00:43:18.19
He takes it.
I've had that happen
00:43:18.29\00:43:21.30
firsthand. I had
it happen, actually,
00:43:21.36\00:43:24.17
during childbirth;
my first child. Back
00:43:24.27\00:43:27.40
then, they would
teach you-Lamaze classes-
00:43:27.50\00:43:29.84
they'd say,
"Keep your eyes open.
00:43:29.94\00:43:31.27
Focus on a little dot." This was
00:43:31.31\00:43:33.78
interesting how
the Lord taught me.
00:43:33.88\00:43:36.21
I didn't keep my
eyes open; I actually
00:43:36.28\00:43:39.95
closed them, and I
was picturing Christ in
00:43:40.02\00:43:42.85
the Holy of
Holies? The whole time,
00:43:42.92\00:43:45.49
I was singing. I
was singing hymns.
00:43:45.55\00:43:48.42
Well, this went
on for several hours-
00:43:48.49\00:43:50.49
about 18 hours. It
was a long time, and
00:43:50.56\00:43:54.46
all of a sudden,
I got so weak and
00:43:54.53\00:43:56.46
the pain was so
great. I remember
00:43:56.56\00:43:58.40
saying, "Lord, I
can't see your face anymore.
00:43:58.47\00:44:02.17
I can't concentrate.
I can't sing anymore."
00:44:02.24\00:44:05.07
No one knew. My mother was right
00:44:05.17\00:44:07.51
next to me. She
had no idea what had
00:44:07.58\00:44:09.18
been happening
all those hours. The
00:44:09.24\00:44:11.38
moment I told
Him I couldn't do it,
00:44:11.45\00:44:13.98
she began to
sing. - Wow. - She just
00:44:14.05\00:44:16.58
began to sing. I
fell asleep for 10
00:44:16.65\00:44:20.06
minutes. I woke up
and I told the nurses.
00:44:20.16\00:44:23.39
I said, "The
baby's here." "Oh, no,
00:44:23.46\00:44:25.93
honey. You're
just now going into
00:44:26.03\00:44:27.43
transition. Oh,
no, no." The baby was
00:44:27.50\00:44:30.40
there. It was
something, because when I
00:44:30.50\00:44:37.64
couldn't take
the pain anymore, God
00:44:37.71\00:44:40.44
came in and He took
it and I fell asleep.
00:44:40.54\00:44:42.84
That has been a
lesson as I've studied over
00:44:42.94\00:44:45.21
the years to
understand how those martyrs-
00:44:45.31\00:44:48.65
'cause you
think, "How in the world
00:44:48.72\00:44:50.22
could we ever do
that knowing that-
00:44:50.35\00:44:52.99
maybe our babies
would be ripped apart, or
00:44:53.09\00:44:55.26
our bodies would be
ripped apart. How do
00:44:55.32\00:44:57.43
we go to a
death like that?" It's
00:44:57.49\00:45:00.80
because when
you're so filled with the
00:45:00.90\00:45:02.50
Holy Spirit, he's
going to strengthen you.
00:45:02.56\00:45:05.23
When you can't
take it, he's going to
00:45:05.30\00:45:06.74
take it. Praise
God. By His stripes-His
00:45:06.84\00:45:10.24
stripes-we are healed. They may
00:45:10.31\00:45:12.61
be hitting us, but
they're touching Him.
00:45:12.71\00:45:14.34
Beautiful. - I
had a young lady call
00:45:14.41\00:45:17.41
into our pastoral
department a while
00:45:17.48\00:45:18.98
back, and she told
me she's been struggling
00:45:19.08\00:45:20.85
with the idea of suicide for 10
00:45:20.92\00:45:22.25
years. You just
feel a heaviness over the
00:45:22.28\00:45:25.02
phone, so I
started sharing with her
00:45:25.05\00:45:26.42
Zechariah 3. I
love that story and
00:45:26.49\00:45:29.06
showing people how
Jesus Christ values
00:45:29.12\00:45:31.29
your life, as a
daughter or son of
00:45:31.39\00:45:34.20
God; whatever it
may be. I started
00:45:34.26\00:45:35.96
sharing it with
her, and then the Lord
00:45:36.06\00:45:37.70
impressed me the
following week to
00:45:37.73\00:45:39.43
call her back,
and I started speaking
00:45:39.53\00:45:40.94
to her. I spoke
something specific
00:45:41.00\00:45:43.84
to her, and it
said something to me.
00:45:43.94\00:45:45.64
It prompted me;
the Holy Spirit said,
00:45:45.74\00:45:47.41
"There's a
demonic possession here."
00:45:47.48\00:45:49.14
She had said,
"I've heard a voice, and
00:45:49.21\00:45:51.55
I'm told that I'm
not to proclaim the
00:45:51.61\00:45:53.31
blood of Jesus over
me." - Oh my. - And I
00:45:53.38\00:45:56.08
said, "Whoa,
okay." As soon as she
00:45:56.15\00:45:57.89
started getting
agitated on the phone,
00:45:57.95\00:45:59.29
and she said,
"You're obligating me! You're
00:45:59.32\00:46:00.69
making me feel
obligated!" She hung
00:46:00.76\00:46:02.09
up. I saw her
call back, and the Lord
00:46:02.12\00:46:03.83
says, "She is
fighting right now. You need
00:46:03.93\00:46:05.26
to call her
back." So I did. I called
00:46:05.29\00:46:07.03
her back and I
prayed with her. I talked to
00:46:07.10\00:46:08.90
her, and after we
got done praying- again,
00:46:09.00\00:46:11.87
fighting- she
said, "Well, okay. If I
00:46:11.97\00:46:14.24
commit
suicide..." I said, "No... You
00:46:14.30\00:46:17.04
know in your
heart..." I told her, "You know
00:46:17.11\00:46:20.28
in your heart what
the right answer is.
00:46:20.38\00:46:21.74
You are the only
you. You are the only
00:46:21.81\00:46:23.28
one with that eye
color, that hair color,
00:46:23.38\00:46:24.75
those fingerprints...
That means you're
00:46:24.81\00:46:26.61
special to God! That
means you're special."
00:46:26.72\00:46:28.82
Then she started
saying, "Well, I am thankful."
00:46:28.88\00:46:31.05
I said, "You are?
What are you thankful
00:46:31.15\00:46:32.49
for?" She said,
"I'm thankful I've got a
00:46:32.52\00:46:33.89
roof over my head,
I've got food on the
00:46:33.96\00:46:35.46
table, and I'm
alive today." - Started
00:46:35.52\00:46:38.26
changing. There you
go. - That evil spirit was
00:46:38.33\00:46:40.66
cast out. - Amen.
- Praise the Lord. We
00:46:40.73\00:46:44.47
wrestle not with
flesh and bones, and we
00:46:44.53\00:46:47.84
realize that it's the
enemy. It's definitely
00:46:47.94\00:46:51.81
a warfare for our
minds and our hearts
00:46:51.87\00:46:54.01
and our souls. - We
encourage the people-
00:46:54.11\00:46:55.98
the story you
related is, when you're going
00:46:56.04\00:46:59.05
through very
painful situations and you
00:46:59.11\00:47:00.82
just seem like you
can't go on anymore,
00:47:00.92\00:47:04.42
for those who at
least have accepted
00:47:04.52\00:47:06.35
Jesus, and others- we
say shouldn't- we want you to
00:47:06.42\00:47:09.32
accept Christ. But
when He comes to you
00:47:09.39\00:47:12.19
in the middle of
the night, when He comes
00:47:12.29\00:47:14.63
to you when you're
just maybe so weak,
00:47:14.73\00:47:17.13
you can't go on,
you don't feel like
00:47:17.23\00:47:18.57
breathing, you
don't feel like going on
00:47:18.60\00:47:20.14
'cause everything's
fallen apart... If a
00:47:20.24\00:47:22.94
person can start
quoting scripture
00:47:23.04\00:47:24.61
to themselves,
they can start singing
00:47:24.71\00:47:27.78
songs and trying
to remember all the
00:47:27.84\00:47:29.78
verses that you
used to sing 20 and 30
00:47:29.84\00:47:32.85
years ago. It's
a whole attitude.
00:47:32.95\00:47:36.95
You can't sleep;
sleep won't come. But the
00:47:37.05\00:47:39.29
more that you
begin to sing to Him, the
00:47:39.39\00:47:41.86
more you quote Bible
passages, I'm tellin'
00:47:41.92\00:47:43.86
you, there is a power, and you
00:47:43.93\00:47:46.66
just start to rest in Him.?
00:47:46.73\00:47:50.50
He takes the pain.
00:47:50.57\00:47:52.33
He takes that. I
experienced that in
00:47:52.43\00:47:54.57
the hospital. That
when I couldn't breathe
00:47:54.64\00:47:57.14
and I stopped
breathing, He would say every
00:47:57.21\00:47:59.14
time, "Kenny,
breathe," 'cause I'd just
00:47:59.21\00:48:02.28
drop off and just
quit breathing. And
00:48:02.34\00:48:06.48
He'd say,
"Kenny, breathe. Kenny,
00:48:06.51\00:48:09.32
breathe." They
think, "Well, he's not going
00:48:09.38\00:48:12.22
to make it." But
then the Holy Spirit said,
00:48:12.25\00:48:16.93
"Kenny, you
shall not die, but live
00:48:16.99\00:48:19.83
to proclaim the
gospel of Jesus Christ."
00:48:19.89\00:48:21.90
- Amen. - Now, that
was encouraging. But
00:48:22.00\00:48:23.63
for somebody who
couldn't move and
00:48:23.70\00:48:25.03
couldn't get out
of bed-had been there
00:48:25.13\00:48:26.47
for weeks. By
faith, just accept it.
00:48:26.50\00:48:29.37
There's many going
all through it; I'm
00:48:29.47\00:48:30.97
not just talking
about myself. Hundreds and
00:48:31.04\00:48:32.67
thousands are
going through that, but I
00:48:32.77\00:48:34.24
tell you, I know
where your help is at.
00:48:34.31\00:48:35.71
You just have to
reach out by faith
00:48:35.84\00:48:37.45
and claim it. - Well,
it's these testimonies
00:48:37.55\00:48:40.48
that we've been
talking about- they
00:48:40.55\00:48:42.88
give strength;
they give hope- they
00:48:42.95\00:48:45.09
give hope to those
of you at home who are
00:48:45.15\00:48:47.52
studying with us,
because you can hold
00:48:47.59\00:48:49.62
onto these.
There's real power in the
00:48:49.72\00:48:52.73
presence of God.
There's real power in the
00:48:52.79\00:48:55.23
Holy Spirit. It's
just such a blessing to
00:48:55.33\00:48:58.67
hear these stories,
to realize that once
00:48:58.73\00:49:01.60
we submit and commit
and we don't hesitate
00:49:01.70\00:49:04.51
when heaven calls,
then He gives us that
00:49:04.57\00:49:07.91
gift. That's a
gift He wants to give
00:49:07.98\00:49:10.05
us. He wants to. For
those of you at home,
00:49:10.15\00:49:12.91
we actually had 8
questions. We've got
00:49:12.98\00:49:15.58
through one. I'm
going to propose that this
00:49:15.68\00:49:21.52
is going to be part
one, and we're going
00:49:21.62\00:49:23.83
to come back as a
group. Let's do it
00:49:23.93\00:49:26.13
as long as the
Holy Spirit leads and
00:49:26.23\00:49:29.73
guides and
directs. They are important,
00:49:29.83\00:49:32.80
and as he was mentioning
about singing and praising
00:49:32.90\00:49:36.40
God through
scripture, I read, one time,
00:49:36.50\00:49:39.91
many years ago-I
was probably in my 20s-
00:49:39.97\00:49:41.94
maybe early
30s-that there's power when
00:49:42.01\00:49:44.25
you sing in the name
of Jesus. I remember,
00:49:44.28\00:49:47.12
my oldest
daughter- she had a fever of
00:49:47.18\00:49:50.62
105+ and I kept
calling the doctor.
00:49:50.72\00:49:53.39
They said, "Well,
any other symptoms?"
00:49:53.46\00:49:54.79
"No, no, no."
So I was giving her
00:49:54.92\00:49:56.36
a lukewarm bath.
She was crying; she was
00:49:56.39\00:49:58.76
miserable. This
went on for hours. I'm
00:49:58.83\00:50:01.46
sitting in the bed,
trying to console her
00:50:01.53\00:50:04.20
about 2 o'clock in
the morning; the fever's
00:50:04.27\00:50:06.27
still raging, and
all of a sudden, after
00:50:06.40\00:50:09.00
several hours, I heard the Holy
00:50:09.10\00:50:11.31
Spirit say, "Sing
in the name of Jesus."
00:50:11.41\00:50:14.18
And I began to
sing. Within 30 seconds, I
00:50:15.34\00:50:19.91
kid you not, 30
seconds, she stopped
00:50:20.02\00:50:22.88
crying, the fever
was gone; everything
00:50:22.95\00:50:26.25
was back to
normal. There's power.
00:50:26.35\00:50:29.82
- Computers can
be healed, too. We
00:50:31.16\00:50:33.16
know that. We
told that story a few
00:50:33.23\00:50:34.96
times. Just
sing to it. By faith,
00:50:35.06\00:50:38.27
just sing. That's
right. Sing about Jesus.
00:50:38.33\00:50:40.77
- I was thinking
about the idea of hesitation
00:50:40.84\00:50:42.24
and how early on in
my walk with Christ...
00:50:42.30\00:50:44.91
Actually, God
called Don out first, then
00:50:44.97\00:50:49.11
I saw those changes
in him; but I wasn't
00:50:49.18\00:50:51.88
ready to give up
the things that I
00:50:51.95\00:50:53.95
was doing at
that time. Slowly but
00:50:54.02\00:50:57.15
surely, though, the
Holy Spirit was kind
00:50:57.29\00:50:59.19
of chipping away
there. So, the biggest
00:50:59.25\00:51:02.82
impact, though,
for me was the changes
00:51:02.92\00:51:04.56
I saw in Don and
the things that he had
00:51:04.59\00:51:06.73
wanted to quit
that he couldn't. So at
00:51:06.83\00:51:10.70
that time, when I
was seeing the changes
00:51:10.80\00:51:12.53
in him, I was
still kind of- I was
00:51:12.63\00:51:14.24
paying attention
to what was going on
00:51:14.34\00:51:15.67
with him, but I
still wasn't ready. I was
00:51:15.70\00:51:19.84
hesitating, but
because of our relationship
00:51:19.94\00:51:23.68
and what I wanted
for our relationship, I
00:51:23.75\00:51:28.22
think that was, at that time, my
00:51:28.32\00:51:29.72
motivation. Now,
of course, I know that
00:51:29.78\00:51:32.55
God should be first in a
marriage and at home so that
00:51:32.65\00:51:35.82
spouse should be
second. But at that time,
00:51:35.89\00:51:38.59
that was the
hesitation- this selfishness
00:51:38.69\00:51:41.63
that I didn't want
to give up. I wanted
00:51:41.66\00:51:43.63
HIM to change, but I
didn't want to change
00:51:43.70\00:51:45.03
what I was doing.
So, I think that was
00:51:45.07\00:51:47.44
what kind of
held me back at that
00:51:47.50\00:51:49.87
time. But praise
the Lord He doesn't
00:51:49.94\00:51:52.17
give up on us. -
I want to say just
00:51:52.24\00:51:55.34
in reflecting on
that, I'm just so thankful
00:51:55.41\00:51:57.61
that God pulls a mirror up to us
00:51:57.68\00:51:59.35
individually, and
people- God is not a God
00:51:59.41\00:52:02.08
of force, and
I'm very thankful for
00:52:02.12\00:52:03.89
that. God has been
very gracious to both
00:52:03.95\00:52:06.96
of us and pulling
us out of stupidity-
00:52:06.99\00:52:09.66
slime pits, if
you want. He's got a
00:52:09.72\00:52:13.86
strong arm. - Oh,
yes He does. - Praise the
00:52:13.90\00:52:15.70
Lord He's got a
strong arm. Just so
00:52:15.76\00:52:17.43
thankful. I think
about being in pastoral,
00:52:17.47\00:52:20.40
I'm like, "Lord,
how- 10 years ago, even
00:52:20.44\00:52:24.47
when I was in
prison that night- we
00:52:24.54\00:52:26.27
celebrated our
10-year anniversary just a
00:52:26.31\00:52:27.84
little while back,
and I told the guys-
00:52:27.91\00:52:29.74
it was a
Wednesday night; I remember-
00:52:29.81\00:52:31.15
they said, "What
are you doing here?"
00:52:31.18\00:52:32.51
I said, "Well, I
wouldn't be anywhere
00:52:32.55\00:52:33.88
else. I want to be
here." I just said,
00:52:33.92\00:52:35.92
"If you saw me 10
years ago, I would not
00:52:35.98\00:52:37.75
be standing in
front of you." I would not
00:52:37.85\00:52:40.26
be, 'cause I
was such a mess, and
00:52:40.32\00:52:42.36
the Lord came
and changed me. That
00:52:42.42\00:52:43.96
hesitation- we
think, "I can control this;
00:52:43.99\00:52:46.33
I've got this under
control." I actually
00:52:46.39\00:52:48.60
was writing a
book called All Bottled
00:52:48.66\00:52:50.00
Up-a poetry book
a long time ago. I
00:52:50.03\00:52:51.87
used to write
poetry. The idea is that
00:52:51.93\00:52:53.84
we tend to
bottle things, we hold
00:52:53.90\00:52:55.40
onto it, and go,
"No, Lord. No, God.
00:52:55.47\00:52:57.54
I'm under
control. I've got it. Don't
00:52:57.61\00:52:59.31
worry," and you're
like, [inhales sharply]
00:52:59.37\00:53:00.91
inside, you're
just welling up; you're
00:53:00.98\00:53:02.31
getting bigger and
bigger, and you're about
00:53:02.38\00:53:03.75
ready to just
blow up if you keep
00:53:03.81\00:53:05.31
hesitating. - And
sometimes, we don't
00:53:05.41\00:53:06.98
even know we're in
the slime pit until
00:53:07.05\00:53:08.52
God comes along
and tells us we are.
00:53:08.58\00:53:10.49
Sometimes, we
think we're okay in the
00:53:10.55\00:53:11.89
slime pit. - That's
right. That's so true. And
00:53:11.92\00:53:16.32
we've been talking
about His mercy on our
00:53:16.42\00:53:18.26
hesitation. I
want to reiterate -
00:53:18.33\00:53:21.06
we don't know about
tomorrow. It is your
00:53:21.16\00:53:24.07
choice, for Jesus
could be right now.
00:53:24.17\00:53:26.53
We're not promised
tomorrow. The Bible
00:53:26.60\00:53:28.90
says that today is
the day of salvation.
00:53:29.00\00:53:31.61
We make our
decisions as we hear the Holy
00:53:31.67\00:53:34.61
Spirit speaking to
our heart. So for those
00:53:34.68\00:53:37.01
of you at home,
for those of us here,
00:53:37.11\00:53:39.01
we're learning not to
hesitate; right? We're
00:53:39.08\00:53:42.18
learning to just
accept and follow.
00:53:42.28\00:53:44.29
What a wonderful,
loving, strong Savior
00:53:44.35\00:53:48.66
that we have to be
able to pull us out
00:53:48.72\00:53:50.46
of those slime
pits. I would love for
00:53:50.56\00:53:52.93
you to bring some of those poems
00:53:52.99\00:53:54.33
with you next time.
- Well, some of them
00:53:54.36\00:53:56.70
are...okay... That was the
past. There's some in there that
00:53:56.77\00:54:00.80
aren't so nice. - May have
to do a little editing. - Yeah,
00:54:00.87\00:54:03.34
yeah. Just a
little cleaning up. - I
00:54:03.41\00:54:04.91
guess I misunderstood.
- That was the bottle-up
00:54:05.01\00:54:07.48
days. - Okay, okay.
- What I was going to
00:54:07.58\00:54:09.24
say- something
that- and you were talking
00:54:09.31\00:54:11.01
about the idea of
hesitation. We talked
00:54:11.08\00:54:12.55
about this. I used
to work at a place -
00:54:12.65\00:54:14.72
Save-A-Lot food
stores, back in Indiana. This
00:54:14.82\00:54:17.95
young man- I don't
want to go into great
00:54:18.02\00:54:19.42
detail about this
story, but anyway,
00:54:19.49\00:54:21.22
he would do some
things that were very
00:54:21.32\00:54:22.72
flirtatious toward
me. It was very- it just
00:54:22.79\00:54:26.03
felt dirty, and I
said, "Lord, there's-
00:54:26.09\00:54:27.43
I can't handle
this. This is disgusting.
00:54:27.46\00:54:29.13
I don't want to deal with this."
00:54:29.16\00:54:30.57
So, I said, "I'm
going to give him
00:54:30.60\00:54:32.33
this book, Steps
to Christ. I want to
00:54:32.40\00:54:33.87
give this book to
him." I said, "I just
00:54:33.94\00:54:35.67
don't know what else
to do, Lord, but when
00:54:35.70\00:54:37.04
he gets alone, I'm
going to give him this
00:54:37.07\00:54:38.41
book." Sure
enough, he went around the
00:54:38.44\00:54:39.91
corner this one day,
and I said, "This is the
00:54:39.97\00:54:41.41
time I'm going to
do it, Lord. So give me
00:54:41.48\00:54:42.81
that opportunity."
I went. I said, "Here.
00:54:42.84\00:54:44.18
I want you to have
this book. I care for
00:54:44.25\00:54:45.58
you, and I just
want you to-" I can't
00:54:45.61\00:54:47.05
remember all of
it, but something like
00:54:47.15\00:54:48.48
that. "I care for
you; here's the book."
00:54:48.52\00:54:49.85
He's like, "That's
interesting." Well,
00:54:49.88\00:54:51.49
4 months later- 3
or 4 months later-
00:54:51.52\00:54:53.19
he comes back and
he's clean-cut. He
00:54:53.25\00:54:55.09
looks at me and
he says, "I want to
00:54:55.16\00:54:56.49
tell you
something. I read that book
00:54:56.52\00:54:58.23
3 or 4 times
over. I'm now going to
00:54:58.29\00:54:59.89
church." He
said, "By the way, my
00:54:59.93\00:55:01.33
name is..." You
know, and he shook my hand.
00:55:01.40\00:55:03.20
I was like, "Whoa,
man. This is incredible."
00:55:03.26\00:55:06.07
What was my enemy
at one time is now
00:55:06.13\00:55:08.24
my friend. That's
what I like about the
00:55:08.34\00:55:10.37
gospel. That's what
I like about turning
00:55:10.44\00:55:11.84
our lives over
to Him is now we're
00:55:11.87\00:55:13.21
creating brothers
and sisters in heaven
00:55:13.27\00:55:15.21
that are going to
say, one day, "I'm here
00:55:15.28\00:55:18.18
because of you."
- No more denying
00:55:18.28\00:55:20.95
the character of
Christ in our minds and
00:55:21.02\00:55:24.19
in our hearts." -
Amen. That is beautiful.
00:55:24.25\00:55:26.49
- And overcoming
those barriers, sometimes
00:55:26.55\00:55:28.46
we meet people, sometimes Satan
00:55:28.52\00:55:30.13
will immediately throw
a barrier there to keep
00:55:30.23\00:55:32.39
us from reaching
out to that person. I
00:55:32.49\00:55:34.26
think that's
important, too-recognizing;
00:55:34.30\00:55:36.60
having that
spiritual discernment when
00:55:36.70\00:55:38.20
Satan's trying to
create that barrier.
00:55:38.27\00:55:39.70
- Yeah. Don't we ask
the question sometimes,
00:55:39.80\00:55:41.84
"Should I give them
a piece of literature?
00:55:41.94\00:55:43.74
Should I tell
them about Jesus?" It's
00:55:43.81\00:55:45.57
in the gospel. It's
exactly what we should
00:55:45.64\00:55:48.68
be doing. We
hesitate because we might be
00:55:48.74\00:55:50.38
a little weak-a
little vacillating-
00:55:50.45\00:55:52.05
we don't know how
the outcome's going
00:55:52.11\00:55:53.45
to be, but we've
already been commissioned
00:55:53.48\00:55:55.52
to go into the world
giving gospel, giving
00:55:55.58\00:55:57.49
printed pages,
telling them about Jesus, so
00:55:57.55\00:55:59.39
we can feel
assured that if we do that,
00:55:59.45\00:56:01.36
the blessings of
the Holy Spirit will
00:56:02.06\00:56:03.56
accompany us,
and some good things
00:56:03.66\00:56:04.99
will develop (as
you've seen in your life).
00:56:05.03\00:56:07.70
- It's beautiful.
In some of the cities,
00:56:07.80\00:56:09.83
you see a lot of
these homeless people,
00:56:09.90\00:56:11.40
and that's what we
like to do is get a Steps
00:56:11.50\00:56:13.34
to Christ, maybe
stick a little bit of
00:56:13.40\00:56:15.50
money, but there's
been more than once
00:56:15.57\00:56:17.54
that they've come
back and said, "You
00:56:17.61\00:56:19.14
know, thank you for
the book." They just
00:56:19.21\00:56:22.11
bypass them and
you- "Thank you. I need
00:56:22.21\00:56:24.41
this book." -
We pass by the same
00:56:24.51\00:56:27.32
ones quite a bit;
series of meetings.
00:56:27.42\00:56:29.58
- It's beautiful.
I can't believe we're
00:56:29.68\00:56:32.25
down to a
minute! Our time is about
00:56:32.35\00:56:34.76
gone! It's about
gone. Praise God for His
00:56:34.82\00:56:39.69
working in and
through and speaking, and I
00:56:39.76\00:56:42.80
pray that He has
spoken to everyone
00:56:42.86\00:56:44.33
at home. Pastor,
will you just have
00:56:44.40\00:56:45.77
a real quick
closing prayer? - Mhm; yes.
00:56:45.83\00:56:48.40
Merciful Father
in heaven, again, we
00:56:48.47\00:56:50.21
thank You for the
privilege to study
00:56:50.27\00:56:51.81
Your Word. As we've
looked into the Word,
00:56:51.91\00:56:54.04
You have revealed
Yourself-Holy, High,
00:56:54.14\00:56:57.15
and lifted up from
this earth. Father,
00:56:57.25\00:56:59.35
we thank You for revealing Your
00:56:59.41\00:57:00.85
character,
revealing the steps that we
00:57:00.92\00:57:03.22
need to be taking,
and the effort that
00:57:03.28\00:57:05.15
needs to be put forward that we
00:57:05.22\00:57:06.79
may be like You,
that we want to be in
00:57:06.82\00:57:08.82
character in
deed, in action, in word
00:57:08.89\00:57:11.59
like Jesus. We
need Your help and the
00:57:11.66\00:57:14.30
grace of Jesus
Christ. Thank You, Lord, for
00:57:14.36\00:57:16.36
our precious
watchers and those who view,
00:57:16.43\00:57:18.43
those who listen- we
pray decisions, right
00:57:18.50\00:57:20.90
now, have been
made. Not for just today,
00:57:20.97\00:57:22.77
but for eternity.
No hesitating; accept
00:57:22.80\00:57:25.61
Jesus now as your
Lord and Savior. In
00:57:25.67\00:57:27.84
Jesus' name we
pray, amen. - Until next
00:57:27.91\00:57:30.31
time, may our
precious Lord and Savior
00:57:30.41\00:57:32.28
continue to richly
bless you and yours.
00:57:32.35\00:57:36.12