Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW190007A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:11 Hello and happy Sabbath. 01:13 Welcome to 3ABN's Family Worship. 01:15 I'm Chris Shelton along with my husband, 01:17 Pastor Kenny Shelton. 01:19 We're gonna be their host for this evening. 01:21 And what a blessing to be able to come into your home 01:24 and fellowship with you, to open the Sabbath, 01:26 talk about things of the Lord on the Sabbath, 01:29 and draw our hearts closer to Him. 01:31 What a blessing. 01:32 Before we get started, we always like to talk 01:34 about who's joining us. 01:36 They're 3ABN family that's joining us 01:38 around this wonderful table. 01:40 I started on your side the last time. 01:42 So I'm gonna start on this side this time. 01:45 I picked on Tim last time, he got little offensive. 01:49 So I'm gonna pick on Bruce. 01:51 He fits that way. He does fit that way. 01:54 I know, I know. We have to tread softly here. 01:58 Bruce, how you doing? I know you keep busy. 02:01 And what is that center called 02:04 where you receive all the gifts? 02:05 We actually call it the 3ABN Donation Center. 02:08 Donation Center, yes. 02:10 I always remember what's that you have in your hand 02:13 that something that you talked about for years. 02:16 So how is... It was called the barn. 02:17 The barn? 02:19 It was called the barn, 02:20 but we got a little more sophisticated. 02:22 It kinda went on, so... 02:23 Hey, the barn wasn't bad 02:24 'cause the barn was full of goodies. 02:26 And I know people that come for camp meeting 02:28 which by the way, 02:29 you know, isn't too far in the future. 02:31 Everyone likes to go to the barn 02:33 because they can find wonderful gifts to take home 02:36 and it also supports the ministry. 02:39 Absolutely, yes, 02:40 it's been a great blessing for 3ABN. 02:41 Amen. 02:43 I know when we have something from Behold the Lamb 02:45 that we don't know about, we call on you too and say, 02:47 "Help, Bruce." 02:50 I try to help. 02:51 No one can know everything about everything. 02:53 Right. 02:54 But, you know, I tried to do the best I can. 02:55 You should have told me that. I thought you did. 02:57 Oh, you just busted my bubble. 03:02 And next to me is my sister-in-law Tammy, 03:05 and it's Bruce's lovely wife. 03:07 Thank you. 03:08 Tammy Chance Shelton, can't forget that. 03:11 She's got enough Shelton blood. 03:12 I don't know she could ever drop that 03:13 completely. 03:18 Tammy, tell us again what you've been up to? 03:21 Raising labs, labs and lab puppies. 03:24 Big dogs and little dogs and... Wonderful. 03:28 It's fulfilling and yeah, and it's a ministry to me. 03:32 So I try to talk to people about the Lord 03:34 and give everybody Steps to Christ 03:37 in their puppy folders. 03:38 And so, sometimes you can reach people that way 03:42 that don't attend church 03:44 or that don't listen to pastors. 03:47 And sometimes I had a... I'll just tell this real quick. 03:50 I had a man that called me the other day and he said, 03:53 "Did you put the Steps to Christ," 03:55 or he just said a little booklet. 03:57 He said, "Did you put this little booklet 03:58 in this folder? 04:00 Are you the one that did that?" 04:01 And I thought, "Oh, boy." 04:03 And I said, "Yes, sir. I am." 04:05 And he said, "I'll tell you what? 04:06 I'm gonna read it." 04:08 I said, "All right." Praise the Lord. 04:09 Thank you, Lord. I love that. 04:11 And as long as my husband's not listening, 04:13 it's a ministry to those of us 04:16 who have one of your lab puppies too. 04:18 Yes, thank you. 04:19 I think he loves even though he won't always admit it. 04:21 Amen. 04:26 He is so full of energy. 04:27 He's so happy, 04:29 you know, maybe you'll meet him 04:30 one of these days. 04:31 You know, he just loves everybody, 04:35 and he loves every dog in the neighborhood, 04:37 which has been a problem. 04:38 So he's learned to run off and we finally bought him 04:42 one of these trackers. 04:43 So twice we've had to track him. 04:46 And the first time we didn't realize 04:48 because he left in the middle of the night. 04:49 He went in eight hours 24 miles. 04:52 Oh, my goodness. That's unbelievable. 04:54 Crossing over highways. 04:55 It was so scary is that, yesterday we tracked him again 05:00 and found him in the woods. 05:01 We got him in woods the last time Tracking. 05:05 Yes. 05:06 They know how to get back, you know. 05:07 You can throw them some miles before, 05:10 they come back every time, so hey... 05:13 I love him. 05:14 His name is Riley and he's a beautiful black lab. 05:17 So they're really nice. 05:18 Bruce stepped in the nursery the other day 05:20 and I was sitting in the pen, I've got 10 six weeks old. 05:24 And I had one in this arm, one in this arm, 05:26 both on their backs like this and I'm rocking them. 05:29 Yeah, I'm rocking them saying... 05:30 He said, "No wonder, you can't get any..." 05:34 'Cause they're babies, they're babies. 05:37 Oh, I know it's beautiful. A can of puppies. 05:41 Okay, we've got a lot of people that are at home 05:43 and I bet they love puppies too. 05:45 'Cause, I mean, they bring such joy. 05:47 God gave them to us, you know. 05:49 So, Janelle, tell us about you. What's new in your department? 05:54 You're in graphics. 05:56 Well, I work in the publishing department 05:58 and the team that I'm on, 06:00 we work on the 3ABN World Magazine 06:03 and so many other projects 06:05 that are web based or print based. 06:07 All the websites, and social media, 06:09 and things like that. 06:11 That is awesome. That is such a talent. 06:13 I mean, it's very artistic. 06:15 And I love things that are artistic, 06:17 you get to express that. 06:19 And nothing's ever the same probably. 06:21 I mean, there's some things but you get to create a lot. 06:24 It's fun, yeah. Yeah, have fun. 06:25 Yeah. 06:27 She's very patient 06:28 when she comes to take photographs 06:29 of different departments and stuff. 06:32 She's very patient with some of it. 06:36 It's fun, you know, as every experience is unique. 06:39 You know, we've taken the photos, 06:41 that helps get to kind of pose 06:42 and arrange things and that's always fun. 06:45 It's just a little bit notably different, 06:47 something different to do. 06:48 And I probably challenge you the most. 06:50 No, no. 06:52 We have fun over there with you guys. 06:53 I don't know, I think I have challenged her. 06:55 I'm like, I have no idea and she'll say, 06:57 "Well, what about this? 06:58 What about that?" 07:01 All right, Brother Timmy Parton. 07:03 Oh, nice. Right. 07:06 You have really been busy. I have been. 07:08 I mean, I've looked at some of your schedule 07:10 and I see you more and more doing a great job 07:13 not just on your channel 07:15 but on the main 3ABN, so tell us? 07:17 I'm very blessed. 07:19 Well, as general manager 07:20 of the Praise Him Music Network, 07:21 of course, we're always creating content, trying to, 07:24 you know, songs are like three or four minutes at the longest 07:27 and when you try to run a 24/7 program full of songs, 07:31 that's a lot of little bites. 07:32 Yeah. 07:33 So we're trying to constantly feed the monster with content, 07:37 new content. 07:38 So very blessed doing that 07:40 and then like you say also interviewing, 07:43 doing some things that I never thought 07:44 I would have to do. 07:46 When I always sat behind the piano, 07:48 it was just easy. 07:49 All I had to need to worry about was what key I was in 07:51 and where middle C was. 07:52 And then now, oh, my goodness, I'm having to use words, 07:57 that's out of my comfort zone. 07:58 So, but the Lord has blessed, He's so good. 08:00 Yes, He will bless as long as you give it to Him, 08:02 that is so awesome. 08:03 You're doing a good job. 08:05 And I'm around people who are patient with me 08:06 and gracious so they gave me an opportunity to be... 08:09 They have some faults, 08:11 but then we'll get better at it so... 08:12 That's awesome. We haven't seen those. 08:14 Okay, thank you. See, for instance, thank you. 08:17 All right, why don't we open with prayer, 08:20 and then we're gonna sing a song 08:22 and I know that people at home will sing with us. 08:24 It's going to be "Draw Me Nearer." 08:26 So Pastor, would you please pray for us? 08:27 Absolutely, yeah, let's pray. Pray with us at home please. 08:30 Loving Father in heaven, 08:31 we truly thank You for this privilege, 08:33 this opportunity to come before the Lord 08:36 and we just want to give You praise, 08:38 give You honor, and give You glory. 08:39 Thank You for the cross of Calvary. 08:41 Thank You for that blood that flows so freely 08:43 in our behalf. 08:44 Lord, we claim that blood right now 08:46 so therefore we come boldly to the throne to find help 08:49 in our time of need. 08:50 And, Lord, we have a time of need right now 08:52 as we open the pages of this book called The Bible. 08:54 Yes. 08:56 We need the power of thy Holy Spirit 08:57 please to descend upon us, 08:58 be in our hearts and our minds, 09:00 and every viewer, every listener, 09:01 may their heart and mind be open. 09:03 May they hear these beautiful truths 09:05 that You have for each and every one of us 09:07 and may they accept those and go deep inside their heart 09:10 and mind and a change come about in their lives. 09:13 Thank You, Lord, for hearing, for answering prayer, 09:15 thank You for this panel. 09:17 Thank You for every viewer, every listener, 09:19 Lord, may they now be drawn closer to Jesus, 09:21 we pray in Jesus' name, amen. 09:23 Thank you. "Draw Me Nearer." 09:35 I am Thine, O Lord 09:37 I have heard Thy voice 09:40 And it told Thy love to me 09:45 But I long to rise in the arms of faith 09:51 And be closer drawn to Thee 09:56 Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord 10:01 To the cross where Thou hast died 10:07 Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord 10:14 To Thy precious, bleeding side 10:21 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord 10:27 By the pow'r of grace divine 10:32 Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope 10:38 And my will be lost in Thine 10:44 Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord 10:49 To the cross where Thou hast died 10:55 Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord 11:03 To Thy precious, bleeding side 11:09 O the pure delight of a single hour 11:15 That before Thy throne I spend 11:21 When I kneel in prayer 11:23 And with Thee, my God 11:26 I commune as friend with friend! 11:32 Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord 11:38 To the cross where Thou hast died 11:43 Draw me nearer, nearer, 11:47 Nearer, blessed Lord 11:51 To Thy precious, 11:54 Bleeding side 12:00 Wow! Amen. That was beautiful. 12:02 You know, I think sometimes we may need 12:04 to just take every verse and the chorus here 12:07 and break that down and talk about it, 12:08 wouldn't that be wonderful? 12:10 Beautiful song. 12:11 Last time we were together, 12:13 we did part one of Truth Transforms. 12:16 And we had the same panel. 12:17 So I asked everyone to come back 12:19 because I know you've all studied it, 12:21 and you're ready for it. 12:23 And it was such a blessing. 12:24 We were talking last time about 12:26 how we can know 12:28 with all the spiritual confusion 12:29 in the world, 12:31 how we can really know what truth is. 12:33 That's right. 12:34 And so I'm looking forward to going on 12:37 because really, we touched on a lot of different things. 12:40 And I pray, I know it's a blessing for us here. 12:43 So I pray it was a blessing for you at home. 12:45 Tonight or today we're going to cover, 12:50 we're gonna begin to start talking about those 12:54 who accept the truth 12:56 in the love of it will die to the world. 12:58 So we want to talk about that passage a little bit 13:02 and understand the difference between 13:04 loving the truth and knowing the truth. 13:07 Good. 13:08 There's a lot of people that know what truth is. 13:12 But what's really the difference 13:13 when you love the truth. 13:14 So we're gonna start with a couple of Bible verses. 13:17 And Tim has the first one, it's Titus 2. 13:19 If you want to open your Bibles at home, 13:21 Titus 2:11-14. 13:26 And I'm reading from the Amplified version. 13:28 Titus 2:11-14, 13:30 "For the grace of God has come forward, 13:32 for the deliverance, from sin and eternal salvation 13:36 for all mankind. 13:38 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness 13:42 and worldly desires to live discreet, upright, 13:45 devout lives in this present world." 13:47 Wow! 13:49 "Awaiting and looking for the fulfillment, 13:51 the realization of our Blessed Hope, 13:53 even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, 13:56 Jesus Christ, who gave Himself on our behalf 13:59 that He might redeem us from all iniquity, 14:02 and purify for Himself of people, 14:04 eager and enthusiastic about living a life 14:07 that is good and filled with beneficial deeds." 14:09 Isn't that beautiful? Wow! 14:12 I know, and what God wants to do, 14:15 He doesn't leave us where we are. 14:16 He says, "Come as you are." 14:18 But then He begins to mould in fashion 14:20 and give us a new heart, a heart of flesh. 14:23 Okay, and Bruce has the second one. 14:26 It's Psalm 91:4. 14:29 "He shall cover thee with his feathers, 14:32 and under his wings shall thou trust. 14:34 His trust shall be thy shield and buckler." 14:37 Don't you love that? 14:39 His truth, His truth shall be thy shield 14:41 and buckler. 14:42 So is truth important? 14:44 Oh, yes. Absolutely. 14:45 I think we definitely 14:47 put a nail on the head with that one, 14:49 we have decided absolutely it's vital. 14:53 So we wanna talk about, what the difference is between 14:57 loving and knowing the truth. 15:00 You know, in part of that what we're talking about, 15:02 and I think we mentioned last time 15:04 in our study that, 15:06 almost everybody you talk to, every Christian you talk to 15:09 in all the different hundreds of churches and so on, 15:12 each one had probably an honest heart, 15:14 said we have what? 15:16 Truth. 15:17 We have the truth, and we are no exceptions. 15:18 We think we have the truth. 15:20 So again, part of our study should be how we distinguish 15:24 what is truth. 15:26 And I jotted some down, I thought was very interesting 15:27 and just... 15:28 And then we'll go on with that, 15:30 because, you know, 15:31 if every one of us teach Jesus Christ, 15:34 the way that we want to teach Jesus Christ, 15:38 there's always going to be a difference. 15:39 You know, our background, the way we were raised 15:43 and maybe some of our training and so on. 15:44 So there would always be a difference. 15:46 But if we teach the truth, 15:49 the Bible says, as we teach the truth, as... 15:51 Notice this, as it is in Jesus, that's in Ephesians 4:21. 15:57 "Teach the truth as it is in Jesus, 15:59 then there will be no difference." 16:03 Now why do I say there'd be no difference 16:05 in any of us, 16:06 excuse me, as we teach it in Jesus, 16:08 because the same Holy Spirit is doing what? 16:12 The work. 16:13 The work, the teaching, 16:15 because it says, was in John 16? 16:17 What is it? 16:18 John 16:13, I think it is, 16:21 that as the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us 16:24 into all truth. 16:25 Right. 16:26 So the Holy Spirit then accompanies what is truth. 16:29 I mean, does that makes sense if we all would teach it, 16:33 and I know what's everybody gonna say, 16:34 "Yeah, but we do, we do, we do." 16:35 So we have to get into that part of it. 16:37 But there will not be various opinions 16:40 of what truth is if we teach it. 16:42 Now let... 16:43 Jesus, we let the Holy Spirit do the teaching, 16:46 we're gonna find out there's gonna be 16:48 much more agreement rather than my church says, 16:51 or the pastor says, or my friend says. 16:55 What does Jesus say on? 16:57 And then it's going to, I think make a difference 16:59 if we're willing to, 17:01 and we'll see that in our lesson, 17:02 Follow Through. 17:03 That's the difference, Follow Through, 17:05 what we read in the Bible 17:07 and then God gives grace and strength to follow through. 17:09 Amen. 17:10 But the beautiful thing is we look to Jesus 17:12 and if we would just follow in His footsteps, 17:15 did what He has done, we'll be safe. 17:18 We will be safe. 17:19 Which is the exact point when you follow, you emulate, 17:21 you copy, you idol yourself after, 17:24 you know, fashion yourself after who you follow. 17:27 And I believe that 17:29 that is the difference in love... 17:33 Knowing the truth and loving it. 17:35 Loving it is living it. 17:37 So it's almost, it's like, 17:40 it's rather than so much of loving it, it is. 17:43 Do you live it? 17:45 You know, because there are things that I love 17:47 but that I had because... 17:50 And there are things that I know. 17:52 I know, you know, things to eat, right. 17:54 I know ice cream is not good for me 17:55 but I still love it. 17:59 And, Chris, we get on this about every time. 18:01 Did we? What? I'm just saying. 18:04 And then I go home and I sulk 18:06 because you don't like me eating ice cream 18:08 'cause you told me how bad it is for me. 18:09 What? 18:10 But, and so, you are the knowledge 18:14 and my palate is the love. 18:17 So I have to battle between those, 18:19 but when I live the truth, 18:22 that shows that I love it enough to embrace it 18:25 and to fashion and model myself after it. 18:27 Exactly. 18:28 Well, truth be told, 18:30 I love the taste of ice cream too. 18:31 So that's why I have to get some, what is it? 18:34 Coconut ice cream of Suncity. Oh, now, don't be ridiculous. 18:38 That's not ice cream. Really good. 18:40 It is good. It is good. 18:42 No, the good thing is... Whatever. 18:43 And the good thing about that is, it's not... 18:47 We say Sister Chris or Brother Bruce or myself... 18:50 Yes. 18:51 That tells what truth is and what is good for us. 18:53 The Word of God does so, 18:55 we kind of jolt back and forth with, 18:56 you know, they say, 18:58 because there are certain people 18:59 who bring to thought, into mind certain things 19:02 after we've left. 19:03 We'll go and we'll remember 19:04 someone said something like this is, 19:06 we shouldn't eat this, we shouldn't do that. 19:08 Praise God for that because I believe 19:09 that's the Holy Spirit leading us into truth 19:12 and then Holy Spirit also convicts us of sin. 19:15 I think John 16 or 13 I think it is, 19:17 or, you know, 16:8, 9, yeah. 19:19 But he gave an awesome, awesome example 19:23 of knowing something and loving something 19:25 because it doesn't matter how much you know 19:28 about the Word of God. 19:29 That's right. 19:31 There are so many facets of our lives 19:33 that will never ever change 19:36 unless we fall in love with Jesus. 19:39 Unless we look at all that He's done 19:42 and think about what He has paid 19:45 for our redemption. 19:46 We will never change. 19:47 And there's different things that begin to change in us. 19:51 You know, what's our topic? 19:52 Truth Transformed. Yes. 19:54 Knowing the truth might look like 19:56 we're transformed on the outside, 19:58 but we're really not gonna be transformed on the inside. 20:02 It just doesn't work. 20:04 I was just gonna kind of add to what Tim was saying to you 20:06 and what you're saying, Chris, about the difference 20:09 between knowing and loving. 20:11 And like, you know, I guess for me, 20:13 I would define the knowing as having an awareness, 20:16 but it's just like, it's there and I'm here, 20:18 but loving it is like you're saying, 20:20 you're embracing it, 20:21 and you're like, you're living it. 20:23 And not only that, 20:24 but you're continually seeking more of it, 20:26 and you're applying what you're learning as you go, 20:29 you know, and you're not just staying in there 20:31 but you're actually seeking more, you know. 20:34 Because you weren't where you begin... 20:36 In fact, the beautiful thing is, 20:37 if we do not hunger and thirst for righteousness, 20:41 all we need to do is pray and ask God, 20:44 ask the Holy Spirit to give us that desire 20:47 to study, to hunger for the Word. 20:50 And our part many times is just submitting our will and saying, 20:55 "Okay, here I am, Lord." 20:56 And to just add to this too is, 20:58 you know, I feel like, 21:00 you know, if we do love the truth 21:01 we'll share it. 21:03 You know, and we can't keep what we don't share. 21:06 So it's kind of like, 21:08 if the truth is transforming us, 21:09 we will naturally want to share that with somebody. 21:11 Praise God. Yes. Amen. 21:13 So we have three things what we bring out here is, 21:17 knowing the truth, loving the truth, 21:20 and then simply follow the truth. 21:22 You know, that's kind of like somebody 21:24 giving the Bible study, 21:26 and they'll say, or they may be coming to Christ 21:28 and they'll say, "This is good, 21:29 there's nothing wrong with this." 21:31 Just open the Bible and start reading. 21:32 There's a difference in, you can say three things, 21:34 reading the Word of God, 21:36 and there's difference in studying the Word of God, 21:39 and there's even a difference when you study, 21:41 when you won't study to show thyself approved 21:43 or what is truth. 21:45 Subject matter. 21:47 So we look at all three different aspects, 21:48 you just say, "Well, I'm reading the Word, 21:50 I'm reading every day." 21:51 Well, that's good, but is that really enough? 21:53 Because I'm gonna ask the panel here once here is, 21:56 what effect does truth have on the soul? 22:01 What? 22:02 You talking about taking it inside, 22:04 each one you mentioned, said. 22:05 Does it have an effect or should it have an effect? 22:09 Does error have an effect when it goes in? 22:12 And truth and error is two distinct things. 22:16 And so for somebody who's drinking in error 22:18 all the time, 22:19 then that's gonna be something that's not gonna happen. 22:22 Transformation is not gonna take place. 22:24 But truth... Then what would truth be? 22:26 Well, it changed in a wrong way. 22:27 Transformation would take place but may be not the way 22:28 we want it to take place. 22:31 See that goes back to loving the truth too, 22:33 because, Brother Tim, 22:35 since you brought up the ice cream, 22:37 and I'm not saying ice cream here, 22:39 but because we love the truth when we begin to study. 22:43 Let's say, it's listening or watching a program 22:48 that has a lot of expletives on it 22:51 that we shouldn't be watching. 22:53 And, you know, once the Holy Spirit begins 22:55 to point out those things to us 22:58 that we're to dwell on the things 22:59 that edify our bodies, our minds, our souls, 23:02 and but we say, 23:04 "But I love that," you know, 23:06 and every Tuesday evening it comes on. 23:08 And "Man, I just really, I've got to unwind." 23:11 You see what I'm saying? 23:13 But because we love the truth enough, 23:15 we begin to say, "Lord, You take it from me. 23:19 I give it to you. Please take it from me." 23:23 May I read what my answer was, and then we can kind of jump 23:26 'cause we're kind of touching on it. 23:27 I just wrote it out. 23:29 I hope you don't mind if I read it to you. 23:30 It says, "Those who know the truth 23:33 can make a lot of noise. 23:35 They can say a lot of things but a person's life, 23:41 their thoughts, compassion," 23:43 listen closely, "Thoughts, compassion, actions, 23:45 reactions remain virtually the same." 23:49 So they could know the truth, talk about the truth, 23:51 you know, maybe even look like they're, 23:55 you know, living the truth. 23:56 "But all these things remain the same. 23:58 There's no real separation from the world." 24:01 Hey, I have been there years ago when it came 24:04 to accepting things of the world, 24:06 but I didn't let go of the things, 24:08 I mean, of the Word, 24:09 I didn't let go of the things of the world. 24:11 I thought I could have them both. 24:13 And I didn't understand, 24:15 I was pretty happy having them both 24:16 to be honest, you know. 24:17 Happens a lot. 24:19 "They can speak words of Christianity and yet live 24:22 and participate in worldly attractions." 24:25 On the other hand, which is what you read 24:27 in that Bible verse. 24:29 "On the other hand, a love of the truth 24:33 will bring conviction and conversion." 24:36 You will take time... 24:38 Here it goes, what we're talking about. 24:39 "You will take time with those things 24:41 in which you love." 24:42 That's true. 24:43 In other words, if we love Jesus, 24:46 we're gonna take time with Jesus every single day, 24:50 not a day goes by. 24:52 I tell you, if I miss three days in a row 24:53 all of a sudden, 24:55 I've got things coming to my mind, I'm like, 24:57 "Where did that come from?" 24:58 I don't want to think that. 25:00 I've got to get back into the Word. 25:02 Love will bring sacrifice... 25:04 Can I say, Brother Tim? 25:06 "Love will bring sacrifice for the good of the gospel 25:11 and for AA." 25:13 Sister Chris, I can throw this right back at me. 25:15 Hey, this is all... 25:17 Hey, this came from me 'cause I lived it. 25:20 "Love will bring sacrifice for the good of the gospel 25:23 and the good of others." 25:25 Absolutely. Amen. 25:26 You know, so... That's good. 25:27 Well, that's... 25:29 Jesus was the perfect example of that. 25:30 Amen. Oh, please, yes. 25:32 So that's why we say He is love. 25:34 Yes. 25:35 Because, you know, He sacrificed, 25:37 He gave up what was, you know, life, so but He... 25:40 For our better good. 25:42 You know, it's interesting they say that the distance 25:47 between knowledge 25:51 and love or is like 18 inches. 25:55 It's from our brain to our heart. 25:57 So that's the difference, 25:59 you know, from our head knowledge, 26:00 from what we know the truth and what we love. 26:03 So it's an interesting, wonderful. 26:05 What if you're seven foot tall? 26:07 Well... 26:10 Bruce, what do you think about that? 26:12 More study in the Word of God, that's right, yeah. 26:15 He's thinking of basketball. 26:17 You know, you didn't have to say that. 26:18 I think that was... 26:19 I think part of what you mentioned was, 26:21 we kind of do what we love to do, 26:24 what we like to do. 26:25 We make time for what we like to do. 26:29 Tammy, you can remember that, dad would say to mom sometimes. 26:32 I was thinking the exact thing. You're saying the same thing. 26:34 Yeah, well, correct me if I get off track here, 26:37 you can add too. 26:39 It's and I'll give illustration of it, she... 26:43 Not kind of a distant friend but a friend had passed away. 26:46 And she was, you know, there's gonna have a funeral 26:49 and mom was busy doing a lot of stuff 26:50 and I remember shuffling around the house. 26:52 And she said, "I tell you, 26:53 I really need to go to that funeral. 26:55 I really need to go to that funeral." 26:56 Dad said, "Well, go ahead and go. 26:58 You know, if you need to, go ahead and go." 27:00 So she shuffled around little long, she said, 27:01 "No, I really need to go." 27:04 He said, "Honey, if you really thought you needed to go, 27:06 you would, because you do other things that way." 27:09 She said, "Oh, well, that's right, 27:11 if I really wanted to, I would." 27:13 Wow! 27:14 That's in studying the Word, that's taking time to do 27:16 what we should do, that's accepting truth, 27:19 things that we're learning as truth. 27:21 And then again, remember, we are accountable, Tammy. 27:25 We are accountable 27:26 for what we understand is truth. 27:30 And so that's a lot of accountability. 27:31 You used to talked about the mind, knowledge, 27:33 we try to put a lot of knowledge in up here 27:35 and lot of people like to have it for, maybe for, 27:37 you know, conversation they want to have for debate, 27:40 but I want to have because I know... 27:42 It's 1 Peter 1:22. 27:45 It says, "With a purify..." Notice this. 27:48 "Purify our souls by obeying the truth." 27:53 To me that's big words. Right. 27:55 Purified, or set apart, or made holy, 27:59 victory over sin comes from having truth inside of us, 28:04 truth is none other than, of course, Jesus, 28:05 the Holy Spirit. 28:07 And none of us will make it to the kingdom without that. 28:09 So, I mean, that's just, to me that's big word. 28:12 You just gave the definition of sanctify. 28:14 Right. You did. 28:16 We haven't got to it yet. 28:17 Right. Right. 28:19 But I like what he says because, 28:22 you know, so often we don't want to do those things, 28:28 but if we have a love for Jesus, 28:31 then that will change. 28:32 We will make time for it, 28:34 because we know it's the right thing to do. 28:36 You know, the Bible is described 28:37 as a two-edged sword. 28:39 It's gonna cut, it's gonna separate, 28:40 it's gonna divide. 28:41 There's a lot of things in there that, 28:43 we living in this world, 28:44 we don't even understand as being wrong, Tammy, 28:47 until we begin to study and all of a sudden it's like, 28:50 oh, praise God that He's our physician, 28:54 that He's doing that cutting, He's doing. 28:56 So we're not to cut each other, you know. 28:59 Sometimes that happens and we were just funning. 29:01 So those of you at home, 29:03 Tim and I were just kind of teasing 29:05 each other here this morning. 29:07 It's all in good faith. 29:08 Is it dangerous, let me ask a question there. 29:10 Bruce, Tammy, anybody, can knowledge be dangerous? 29:14 Oh, sure. Absolutely. 29:15 You know, and then how can it be dangerous, 29:17 because in the world that we live in, 29:19 and if I'm mistaken here. 29:21 We want a good education, 29:23 we want children to have good education 29:24 and we want knowledge, 29:26 but can at least in the spiritual realm 29:29 can it be dangerous? 29:30 And I found one Bible passage and you can... 29:32 Then we can go from here with it. 29:34 It said there in 1 Corinthians 8:1, 29:36 "Knowledge puffeth up," you know, puffeth up, 29:39 "But charity," notice this, "Charity edifyeth." 29:44 Love edifyeth. 29:45 Yes. Right? 29:47 But knowledge used in the wrong way, 29:49 it puffs it up and gives us we call the big head. 29:53 You've heard, they said, 29:54 they know just enough to be dangerous. 29:56 Yeah. I've been that a lot. 29:59 Yeah, absolutely. You know what I mean? 30:01 But the thing here is, 30:04 it can hurt our Christian experience 30:06 if we just always think we have the answer 30:09 and that's all we're interested in the answer 30:11 and not letting it, as I mentioned here, 30:13 come inside of us 30:14 and do a work that I desperately need. 30:16 And I can't do that from here, true. 30:18 Especially when we're dealing with unbelievers, 30:20 you know, we don't... 30:22 We use the knowledge but we don't have... 30:25 Tamper it with love. 30:27 And so we're all accusatory and condemning. 30:31 Love edifyeth. 30:32 Yeah, right, exactly. Points it up, right? 30:33 Right. Right. 30:35 It shows out, why... 30:36 But you know why we give them Bible studies. 30:38 You know, why do you give Bibles study? 30:39 Why do you put books, 30:41 you know, and give those things out. 30:42 Right. 30:43 Is it to edify Christ, isn't it? 30:45 To build up the cause of Christ, isn't it? 30:46 Exactly. 30:48 It's like when we send our kids to college 30:50 and we want them to have education. 30:52 Sometimes they come home 30:54 believing what they've been taught. 30:57 You know, and some of those things 30:58 that they're taught is completely contrary 31:01 to what we believe as Christians 31:02 and when they hear it over and over and over, 31:05 and they're starting to say this and, you know, 31:08 this is how the world was formed 31:09 and this is how we were formed. 31:11 Then all of a sudden they started out in God. 31:13 Yeah, so knowledge, once again, it came up, 31:16 as I looked the passage, I thought very interesting, 31:18 Ephesians 3:19 says, 31:20 "And to know the love of Christ," 31:22 notice, "to know the love of Christ, 31:25 passes all knowledge." 31:28 Wow! 31:29 See it's more important to know Jesus Christ. 31:31 Listen, I can get to heaven by the grace of God 31:34 with the help of my report card. 31:35 Right, there you go. There you go. 31:37 Are you still with me? Yes, absolutely. 31:39 Man with an A might not. 31:40 I thank you hear what I'm talking about there. 31:42 It's our love for Jesus Christ, it passes all knowledge. 31:46 Again, why do I want to read and learn the Bible? 31:49 So it would transform me and then God can use me 31:51 to help transform someone else. 31:54 There's a reason why you want. 31:55 And, you know, it's not a bad thing. 31:57 Like you're saying, it's not a bad thing 31:58 to have that knowledge 32:00 but when you need to mix that, it's love and truth together, 32:04 you know, it's in mercy and truth. 32:06 In the mercy that we need to have on others 32:08 that are not... 32:09 Don't have the understanding that we have is, 32:11 you know, can I share this in a way that is, 32:14 you know, they'll receive it in a good way instead of, 32:17 you know, like backing away from me, 32:19 you know, like, 32:21 if you ever have that kind of reaction from somebody, 32:22 you know, it's all in vain, you know. 32:26 What do you like if someone's coming up 32:27 and sharing Jesus 32:29 and they're going to tell you everything, 32:30 and how's it going instead of maybe, 32:33 I like it personally someone comes up 32:35 and asked me a question about it 32:36 or challenged me with a question. 32:38 I know you believe this but, you know, 32:40 I read this in Scripture, what do we do with this? 32:42 Right, more of a conversation instead of monologue. 32:44 Conversation between too much. Right. 32:46 Like, whoa! In my face. 32:48 What I started doing for years was just asking the Lord 32:51 to open a door. 32:52 You know, many times you shared how you asked Lord, 32:55 put someone in my path today. 32:57 I want to jump back, 32:58 'cause I really never got to finish them answering 33:00 what I was talking about earlier 33:02 when you talked about obedience. 33:05 Oh, yes. 33:06 Because, I mean, obedience is such a big thing 33:08 and you don't realize it. 33:10 You know, a lot of times people say, 33:11 "Well, all you have to do is love, love, love. 33:13 Well, when I started reading my Bible, 33:15 I kept seeing this word, 33:16 obedience, obedience, obedience, 33:18 obey, and I will. 33:19 You know, His promises are always on condition 33:22 of obedience. 33:25 And that's why I was trying to get at is a lot of things 33:28 when we study the Bible we didn't realize were wrong, 33:31 but, you know, 33:32 as we begin to study the Bible and take time 33:34 because of what we're beginning to love, 33:37 it may not be that we love God enough 33:40 to give our lives at that point. 33:42 You see what I'm saying, 33:43 it's kind of a progressive revelation, 33:45 praise God for that. 33:47 But as we progress and we draw closer to Him 33:49 and we're studying Him, 33:51 there's gonna be times that God is gonna call us 33:54 to obedience 33:55 and our flesh is gonna rise up against it. 33:57 Right, yeah. 33:59 So you see there's a real choice. 34:01 So I think the love of the truth 34:04 needs to trump 34:06 how we feel at that time. 34:08 Absolutely. 34:09 You know, I was thinking earlier, 34:11 I'm glad you said that because, you know, 34:12 something you said earlier even tied in with that that, 34:15 you know, like we can say we love to eat those, 34:19 or we love to watch that or whatever. 34:21 But how do we really define love? 34:23 You know, we're talking about the love of the truth. 34:25 And to me, that's two totally different kinds of love. 34:28 It's like, 34:30 you like that story, you love that stuff 34:31 because it makes you feel good like it's in the flesh, 34:34 but we love the truth because like you're saying, 34:36 it cuts and it heals and it transforms us. 34:39 And that's a different... 34:40 To me, that's a different kind of love. 34:41 And, you know, 34:43 to say that we love something that's on this earth, 34:45 it's really a totally different motive. 34:47 Oh, yes. 34:49 Could it be a selfish love, is that what can be. 34:52 I like something I know it hurts me, but I like it. 34:54 So that's a selfish, 34:55 wouldn't that be a selfish behavior? 34:56 And why would we worry about things hurting our body? 35:01 It's only because in the Bible we go back, and our body, 35:04 Jesus says, it's the temple, 35:06 and those who destroy this temple, 35:08 He says, I will destroy. 35:09 So we have to be very careful. 35:11 We live in a world and in a country 35:13 where they're messing with our food 35:15 in so many different ways. 35:16 It's difficult to find things that are really healthy, 35:19 really build good blood cells. 35:22 And why does God want these temples 35:23 to be healthy? 35:25 So the Holy Spirit can work in and through us, 35:29 and we have a clear mind. 35:30 Because if we're sick and we can't think, 35:33 then we're gonna continue to make bad decisions. 35:35 You know, so... 35:36 You brought up one there and I jot this down, 35:39 so I'm not trying to get way off 35:41 the subject or anything about it 35:42 because we're talking about sanctification here too, 35:44 aren't we? 35:46 Mm-hmm. Yes. 35:47 Almost. We're almost. 35:48 We're not quite there yet. 35:50 I'm going to get ahead, I just got to get ahead 35:51 and just be front. 35:52 I got to do because she asked for... 35:54 When she talked about something about health 35:55 and it's so very, very important 35:57 because I realized that God wants us be sanctified, 36:00 He wants us to be more set apart. 36:02 He wants to use us. 36:03 He wants us to be holy. 36:04 That's the only individual who will repopulate heaven. 36:06 I'm convinced of that, 36:08 so I see my great need of a savior. 36:10 See, must understand, say, oh, I'm saved, I'm ready to go. 36:14 I see my need of a savior desperately. 36:17 And so what I read these things here, 36:19 and we're really working on and so on so forth. 36:21 And it's not to try to hurt anyone or discourage anyone. 36:24 But it says here Three Testimonies 162. 36:27 Says, "Man cannot be sanctified, 36:29 while cherishing," 36:30 notice this, "Cherishing health, 36:32 destroying habits." 36:35 You can't be sanctified, set apart for holy use. 36:39 To be ready for heaven, 36:41 if we're willfully, knowingly 36:44 taking things into our temple... 36:46 that's what the Bible says... 36:47 That's very convicting. To destroy. 36:49 That is... 36:51 And I have to read it and it wasn't for anybody else. 36:53 It was for me. Yeah. 36:55 I've never read anything. 36:56 I think by the grace of God, 36:57 I've learned that lesson many, many years ago 36:59 as a youngster. 37:00 I never read and say this is good for so and so. 37:03 Every time I read it, even though it hurts, 37:05 and even though it's something selfish, maybe, 37:07 I'm gonna have to give up, because I realize, 37:11 "I don't have to give up, but God asked me to." 37:12 He says, "It's hurting you." 37:14 You want to give it. 37:15 I want to give it up, because I... 37:16 Especially, yeah. 37:18 I'm the same way, but, you know, 37:19 one of the worst deaths 37:20 I've ever seen anybody died from is lung cancer. 37:25 And yet 37:26 the cigarette smoking 37:28 was the cause of the lung cancer. 37:30 But the whole time they're barely breathing, 37:33 they're still smoking. 37:35 It's so hurtful. 37:36 And, you know, and it is hurtful. 37:38 But sanctification is impossible 37:40 while we disobey God's commandments. 37:44 It's an impossibility. Think about that one. 37:46 That gets heavier again, 37:48 how can we be sanctified 37:50 if we're breaking one of God's commandment? 37:51 That's pretty heavy duty stuff that we need to sort out, 37:54 because we're looking at truth that transforms. 37:56 So there's hope and help for everybody. 37:58 Well, and what we're talking about here, 38:00 it's getting personal, it's hitting home, it's hit me, 38:03 I have been beat up here with stuff so many times. 38:06 I mean black and blue literally. 38:09 Your mom used to come out of the sanctuary and saying, 38:11 "Kenny, why just stepped on my toes." 38:13 You know... 38:15 But John 15:18 reads, 38:19 "If the world hate you, 38:21 you know that it hated me before it hated you." 38:23 You see the Bible says that, "Let this mind be in you, 38:26 which is also in Christ Jesus." 38:28 So as we draw close to Him, as we're in love with Him, 38:31 as His mind is becoming our mind, 38:35 it's only then that we begin to see, 38:37 you know, we're barely getting, 38:40 we're becoming separate from the world. 38:42 We're really not like the world. 38:44 You know, remember the Christ calls us 38:46 to be that peculiar separate people. 38:48 And... 38:49 And how far does that go? 38:51 It goes long way. 38:52 That's all for discussion, is how far does that go, 38:54 because people say well that doesn't include 38:57 my family or da-da, da-da. 38:59 When it says, come apart and be separate. 39:01 I mean, that's heavy duty as how far do we go 39:04 with that according outline of the Word of the God, 39:07 not because somebody said we can have this 39:09 but, you know, where's our mind, 39:11 is it on heavenly things 39:12 or is it on things of the world. 39:14 And it's very difficult to, 39:16 can I say hang around with those who have the world, 39:18 and things of the world going on all the time, 39:20 because that's... 39:22 I pray to God that's not in my mind. 39:23 I like to be around those who're talking 39:25 about the Word of God 39:26 or, you know, your Christian folks 39:28 are giving you something to chew on. 39:31 And the separation sometime comes from family 39:33 or friends or different one, not because you want it to... 39:35 Right, yeah. 39:37 But you no longer have anything in... 39:38 Does that make sense? Anything in common? 39:41 Has anybody seen that? Have you experienced that? 39:44 Oh, yes. Oh, yes. 39:45 That we had to separate from other people that were... 39:47 I've seen all through my life. 39:48 And not because that's any bad at all I talk about. 39:50 It was just things that bothered my consensus. 39:53 I heard them talk about a different thing. 39:54 I thought, I don't want to talk about, 39:56 I don't want to hear about those things. 39:58 Sorry, go ahead. No, ladies first. 40:00 You know, I was just thinking something that, 40:02 you know, has happened with me in the last couple of years, 40:04 is like, you know, music is a big thing, 40:07 I love listening to music. 40:08 And we used to have 40:10 this really big collection of music, 40:12 and that was one of the things that the Lord convicted, 40:14 both Don and I have is getting rid of all that. 40:16 Well, now when I hear to some of those songs or even, 40:21 you know, newer music, 40:23 there is something that God has done with me like he, 40:25 like, right here, you know, the frontal lobe, 40:27 my head actually hurts, I feel pressure 40:29 when I hear something that's bad. 40:31 And it actually has, like, I can feel physical, 40:35 you know, result from listening that stuff and it's like, 40:38 it's amazing. 40:40 So it's just something that He's done for me 40:42 to know like an uncomfortable feeling 40:44 that this is not right, you know... 40:45 How did Paul say that, you remember? 40:47 He said the things are... 40:49 Once loved. 40:50 I once loved I now... 40:51 Hate. 40:53 That was after His conversion, after he met Jesus Christ. 40:56 And I thought there's things that are, 40:57 you know, they're not bad within himself, 40:59 I never want to... 41:00 But the Holy Spirit kind of all of sudden, like, 41:02 wake up one day, "I don't want to do that anymore." 41:05 I don't want to go there anymore. 41:07 It's amazing. 41:08 You know, it's like something just happened, 41:10 and I think that's Christ in there. 41:11 Oh, yeah. Absolutely. 41:12 I need that little pound up here 41:14 once I knew all he is. Oh, yeah. 41:15 May be because of the way 41:17 that we were raised as a Christian family 41:19 and all of our music was Christian music. 41:22 And... 41:23 We didn't have any other, did we? 41:25 We didn't have any other, and maybe that's why... 41:27 And I'm thankful for it, 41:28 but I mean if I go in stores, restaurants 41:30 and they are playing... 41:32 I mean, it's all I can think about, 41:33 it's just like my head hurts, 41:35 I just, it makes me a nervous wreck. 41:38 Yeah. 41:40 And that's not trying to condemn by what they do, 41:42 that's not what we're doing here. 41:44 We realize that, because their background 41:45 and what they were raised around, 41:47 so on and so forth, but believe it or not, 41:49 a change can take place. 41:50 We're talking about transforming. 41:51 That transforms. Yes. 41:53 And again, the more the Christ comes in, 41:55 the more the world goes out. 41:57 There is no doubt in my mind. 41:58 And then obedience you're talking about. 42:00 Obedience naturally follows if you love Me. 42:04 He said that very simple 42:06 Well, and I was making the point 42:07 that sometimes it's not so natural, 42:09 but because of the love we do it. 42:11 You know, I've come to the point 42:12 that a lot of times 42:14 I've to sacrifice my own thoughts, 42:15 my own feelings, my own beliefs on something 42:19 when I read it in Scripture because that's what God says. 42:23 That's right. 42:24 And I have to go on principle, and so I have to change. 42:27 You know, and then He will help the heart. 42:30 Just like you were talking about music, 42:31 I don't want to take away from you 42:33 because I know you've got something 42:34 you wanted to share with us. 42:35 But she was mentioning music 42:37 and I can remember the same thing 42:38 when I first started college, 'cause we didn't... 42:42 I lived with my grandparents at the time, 42:44 it was a Christian home but, I mean, 42:46 it was kind of we had the world 42:48 and Christianity at the same time. 42:51 And I always listened to worldly music. 42:53 I had, you know, I wish I can say 42:55 that if I hear some of those old songs 42:58 I got a headache, 42:59 but if I hear some of those old songs 43:00 they are the ones that make my foot wanna tap. 43:02 Oh, pray, kids. 43:04 So I've to watch myself there. 43:07 But I had to make a conscious decision 43:09 'cause lot of it was considered rock, 43:11 it was acid rock, never liked that sound. 43:15 But it was kind of the contemporary rock, 43:17 I guess is what you would call it. 43:19 And when the Lord began to convict me on it 43:22 and show me some of the things 43:24 that was happening behind the scenes, 43:27 then all of a sudden I thought, "Oh, wow!" 43:29 But then I went from Christian to like gospel rock. 43:34 It was kind of a step down, I was like, 43:39 you know, either you've been making 43:40 Tim Parton up and stepping down. 43:42 Right, right. 43:43 But then I kind of went from that 43:45 and then he kept working on my heart, 43:47 working on my heart, as softer, softer, softer, 43:49 till then I was able to... 43:51 My eyes were more open. 43:53 Praise God, he doesn't work on us 43:56 like we work on each other, 43:57 because, you know, that be, yeah. 44:02 It's a progressive revelation with me and it was a step, 44:04 and, you know, lot of people would say, 44:07 they would come to you and say, "Oh, that's wrong, 44:09 don't listen to that, da-da, da-da... 44:10 I didn't know that at the beginning 44:11 and it was a step, it was a step. 44:14 It can be dangerous too, 44:17 to understand something as truth 44:19 and then as we talked about not follow it. 44:21 I'm not talking about just will, 44:23 I'm talking about so dangerous 44:25 that the Holy Spirit is eventually withdrawn. 44:27 It's true. 44:29 And that we no longer hear anymore 44:30 Spirit's always working on us. 44:31 I read something in Great Controversy, 44:33 page 559, said this, 44:35 it said, "Multitude close their eyes to light 44:38 and walk straight on regardless of warnings, 44:42 while Satan weaves his snares about them 44:45 and they become His prey." 44:47 Now put a question mark, "Why?" 44:49 Is simply because they receive not love, 44:52 and we come back to it. 44:53 Love of the truth. Love of the truth. 44:55 So there's some repercussions. 44:59 We can't afford and many probably do that, 45:03 and I think time's passed in my own life, 45:05 you know, looking at it's like, 45:06 "Well, it's not that bad," you know. 45:11 If it's not right and it's not the truth, 45:14 then there is something wrong with it. 45:17 You know, so we need to make that change as God gives us 45:20 the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God to do. 45:23 I won't call the want to. Absolutely. 45:25 You see, I pray all time, "Lord, give me wisdom." 45:27 I don't want wisdom of the world, 45:29 I don't care about wisdom what's going on in the world. 45:32 I like to know, you know, things are happening, 45:33 but not wisdom of the world, 45:34 but give me wisdom of spiritual things. 45:37 Because I'm not naturally smart, 45:39 I don't worry about the thing called knowledge, 45:41 but I know the Holy Spirit can give me 45:44 what I need in my time. 45:45 He will give you what you need in your time, 45:47 each one of us. 45:48 Kenny, think the definition of loving the truth 45:51 is that you can live it, you can live it without burden. 45:56 Right. Good. 45:57 If you think about it. Yes. 45:59 It shouldn't be burden to live with. 46:00 If you really love the truth, 46:02 it shouldn't be a burden to live with. 46:03 Thank you, thank you, that's an important... 46:05 Paul said that, didn't he? 46:07 Talk about, he said if perfect freedom 46:09 and one more time, he had freedom, why? 46:11 Because he chose not to do those things 46:13 that weren't pleasing in sight of God. 46:15 I feel like I've perfect freedom to do exactly 46:17 what I want to do in this life. 46:19 Sounds strange unless you balance it up. 46:20 Right. 46:22 I can do what I really want to do, 46:24 by the grace of God I just choose 46:26 not to do those other things by His grace and strength. 46:28 Your "Want to" is gone. Your "Want to" is changed. 46:30 I mean there is nothing, I look out of the window 46:32 and say, 46:33 "Oh, I wished I could," or "I wished we could..." 46:35 Yeah. 46:37 Don't mean... It didn't mean I'm right. 46:39 It's just... 46:41 And you two don't have that may be. 46:42 But you talk about even like music styles, 46:44 you were raised in with that. 46:47 And so for people who aren't raised in that, 46:50 who aren't raised in any certain ways, way. 46:54 There is a transition period, where you do have to, 46:57 you know, learning the truths and there's the love, 47:01 there is the sacrificial love, but there is the selfish love. 47:05 And like I've talking about the things 47:06 that we want to do, me eating ice cream, 47:09 you know, that's a selfish thing 47:10 that I know it's not necessarily... 47:15 A tub of it is not good for me. 47:18 But let me tell you, that I know there are coconut 47:22 and recently I had ice cream made with sunflower seed milk. 47:27 And it almost made me 47:29 want to stop eating ice cream all together. 47:32 It was just... 47:33 I was so mad, I had paid like $6 for a thimble full. 47:39 And so... 47:41 You know, it's one of those things 47:43 that might be even a progressive thing. 47:45 And again, that goes back to us, 47:47 loving each other as we lead each other 47:50 in knowledge of the truth as the Holy Spirit convicts us. 47:52 That's the sanctification. 47:54 You're talking about sanctification. 47:55 We must be trying to get to that. 47:57 It's a work of the lifetime and it's a step at a time. 48:00 It's progressive to some. 48:01 Some will get it just like that, praise God. 48:04 But others, it's progress even, praise God. 48:06 The Holy Spirit is there to encourage, 48:07 and knows the mind and knows the heart. 48:09 Even though we are not quite to that question yet, 48:13 it's still a part of the love of God. 48:16 When you talked about, 48:17 you know, walking in the footsteps 48:18 when God shows us something we are to obey and walk in it. 48:22 It reminded me of a lady 48:23 that came to our church several years ago, 48:25 she was very much in the world 48:28 and, oh, the Holy Spirit was working on her so strong. 48:32 I can remember during a prayer meeting time 48:35 where the Spirit of God was so, because when a soul is coming, 48:40 hungering, and thirsting, He pours out His Spirit. 48:44 And there were tears and we were on our knees 48:47 and crying and praying for this woman. 48:50 Eventually, I mean, 48:51 she seemed like she was on fire, 48:53 seemed like she was gonna make the right decision for Jesus, 48:57 but she turned away. 48:58 And it wasn't... 49:00 But may be two, three months at the most that woman died. 49:06 We never know 49:07 when the Holy Spirit is speaking 49:08 and convicting and converting our hearts, 49:11 when it might be the last opportunity 49:14 that we have to obey God. 49:16 And this is withdrawing things 49:18 that we are talking about here in this lesson, 49:20 The Great Controversy says again, 49:21 "As they reject teaching of His Word, that's all of us, 49:25 as we reject the teachings of His Word 49:27 God withdraws His Spirit and leaves him 49:30 to deceptions which they love. 49:33 So He gives you what? 49:35 He gives you what you want. 49:36 You want heaven, 49:37 heaven is there for you if you want it. 49:39 You'll love it enough, you want it, it's there. 49:42 If you want the deceptions, 49:44 the way the enemy is working here 49:45 in these last days to deceive, 49:46 the whole world deceived it's going to happen. 49:49 And don't think it didn't happen. 49:50 You remember what Jesus said there in Matthew 23:58? 49:53 We're talking about the Jews, gave him the truth as a nation, 49:56 they rejected, he said, 49:58 "Your house is left until you desolate." 50:02 Think about, Holy Spirit withdrawn 50:04 at the time of the flood in Genesis, you remember? 50:07 Spirit of God will not always strive with man. 50:08 So we're just trying to say, is not to try to scare anybody, 50:11 but simply, we don't know 50:12 when that last invitation is again... 50:13 No, we don't. I'm glad you brought that up. 50:15 And I have grieved the last few weeks 50:17 because we... 50:19 I have so many friends that I met through puppies 50:22 and been working with her somewhat and I... 50:26 They're good people, I'm not saying that, 50:28 but they are not Christians. 50:30 And I have talked to her some and she's been receptive, 50:36 him maybe not so much. 50:38 And just a few weeks ago, he had texted me on Friday 50:41 about something with the dog, and we talked back and forth 50:45 and Saturday night he collapsed and Sunday he was dead. 50:50 And he had an aneurysm that he didn't know he had. 50:53 Yeah. 50:54 And I just have grieved because I just... 50:58 But, you know, I tell myself who am I though 51:00 in those few minutes of consciousness 51:03 when he first collapsed, 51:04 then he went into a coma, but, you know, maybe God knows. 51:08 God knows. Yeah. 51:10 There was the reason... 51:11 But we never know, when you have aneurysm 51:13 you usually have no signs, you know, you're just gone. 51:17 And, so like he said, you never know. 51:21 It's your last minute, your last day on this earth. 51:24 Probably something that you said 51:26 that he was, you know, 51:29 thinking about that may be he didn't vocalize or whatever, 51:31 but you never know where that could go, you know. 51:35 Acts 3:19 describes what's on our heart. 51:39 Why we want to even draw close to God and love the truth. 51:44 And it brings us to repentance, it says, 51:46 "Repent ye therefore and be converted." 51:49 See God has just... 51:50 He is doing everything He can Christ is. 51:54 To say, Sister Chris, please be converted. 51:57 Why? 51:59 That your sins may be blotted out. 52:02 You see, it's the sins 52:03 that separate us from salvation, 52:06 from Christ, from our Savior, our Lord. 52:08 "When the times of refreshing shall come 52:11 from the presence of the Lord." 52:14 So He is literally... 52:17 If you want to use the word begging, 52:18 He is doing everything He possibly can. 52:20 Yes, He is. 52:21 He is trying to restore us into His image. 52:26 He is preparing us. 52:27 Tim, so you can bring the... 52:29 Can you imagine if there is pianos in heaven. 52:33 Oh, wow! Oh, boy! 52:35 Oh, wow! 52:37 That will be wonderful to be up. 52:39 He is preparing our hearts 52:41 to live as citizens of the kingdom. 52:44 Amen. 52:46 And that's why to get rid of sin, 52:48 that's what all this transformation's 52:50 all about. 52:51 Will there ever be a time that could be better for us 52:53 not to have learned what truth is? 52:57 That's kind of a loaded question. 52:59 Will there ever come a time... 53:00 If I was a thief on the cross as long as I accepted Christ, 53:04 maybe, don't know, but outside of that, no. 53:08 You know, if there come a time it'd been better that we had 53:11 and if we just profess to keep it 53:13 and we are really not keeping it, 53:15 because "To him that knoweth to do good, 53:16 and doeth it not to him, it is sin." 53:20 Yeah, it would be better. 53:21 Well, that goes back to 53:22 what we were talking about, obedience. 53:24 Yeah. Absolutely. Obedience. 53:25 I've heard people say when you try to study with 53:29 and I've heard people say, "I don't want to know that. 53:31 I don't want to hear that 53:33 because I don't want to change, so I don't..." 53:35 Yes! 53:37 My paternal grandmother was that way, 53:39 she was illiterate, she lived in the south, 53:42 grew up really in a sad situation 53:45 and was unable to go to school. 53:48 She worked out in a field, 53:49 she picked cotton and tobacco and all the stuff. 53:52 And back when I was in college 53:54 I went to Southern Missionary College for a while 53:56 which is now Southern University, 53:58 and they just had started 54:00 to putting the Bible on cassette. 54:02 And when I would go down to visit her, of course, 54:06 she ate totally different than I did. 54:10 And there was a lot of things 54:11 that she would ask me, questions like, "Grandma," 54:13 you know, and I would start to share 54:15 with her some of the things. 54:17 But then, when I offered to get her 54:19 the Bible on cassette, 54:21 I was thinking she will love that, 54:23 she will welcome it, 54:25 she'll want that, because she loves Jesus. 54:27 And she said, no. 54:29 She did not want to know anything 54:31 more than what she knew. 54:35 It's a frightening thought. 54:37 Yeah. 54:38 I have some thought. Only God knows. 54:40 He remembers that, you know, we wanted to just share 54:43 this sanctuary message with them 54:45 and, I think maybe it was just too soon, 54:48 you know, we're praying for the opportunity 54:50 but they were comfortable with what they understood 54:53 about the Bible and they just weren't ready for it but, 54:57 you know, they didn't, they said they didn't think 55:00 they needed to know that. 55:01 And it's sad, you know, when people don't want more, 55:07 but, you know, only God can do that, 55:10 you know, transformation to make them, 55:12 you know, want to know more 55:14 and you know, if we're there 55:15 and we're willing to be that vessel 55:18 that helps them understand then it's a privilege 55:21 but it's sad when they reject it. 55:23 Yes. 55:25 There's timing, 55:26 you know, I found out it's what the timing 55:28 is very, very important 55:30 because you might think this study is important, 55:32 the other person is not ready for it. 55:34 I'll give a quick illustration. 55:36 When I was in my 20s, 55:38 I want to give a Bible study to a school teacher 55:41 that I'd actually went to school with, 55:42 so anyway, and he was very interested, 55:44 he asked question on Daniel 8:14, 55:47 "2300 days and so the sanctuary will be cleansed." 55:50 Well, didn't know everything about 55:51 but I knew enough, 55:52 I could go to his house and do it. 55:54 And so I went to his house 55:55 and we sat down around the Bible. 55:57 He said, "Well, where's that found? 55:58 I know there's somewhere in the sanctuary 55:59 in the 2300 days, 56:01 but I don't know anything about it. 56:02 I said that's Daniel 8:14 and turn right to it, 56:05 and it wasn't there. 56:08 Now it sounds strange. 56:09 It wasn't there. 56:11 His name was Steve. You know his last name. 56:15 I looked again and my eyes got big. 56:17 I said, "Lord, what is wrong?" 56:19 I know it's Daniel 8:14. 56:21 And then it got me doubting. 56:22 I went to Daniel 9:14, 56:24 you know what I mean, then I went to 7:14, 56:26 and I went back to 8:14, I read. 56:27 I looked in there and looked... 56:29 It just wasn't there. 56:31 And I said, "Oh, it's not time, evidently." 56:34 It's not, because I know it's there, 56:36 but I can't see it right now. 56:38 So I said, "You know, why don't we discuss something else," 56:39 and we went home and anyhow, 56:41 never had the opportunity to go back again. 56:43 So that, you know, that... 56:45 I'm just saying God has a time, timeframe 56:48 and we need to be ready for it when that person is ready, 56:50 something happens, be there with the Word. 56:52 Now the good news is some will plant. 56:54 Yes. Right. Some will water. 56:55 Thank you. It's very good. 56:56 You know, and yes. 56:58 God will give the increase in all. 56:59 You know one thing I do love 57:01 and that should be part of this message too is, 57:04 in every stage of that plant is perfection 57:07 as long as we have the love of God, 57:09 it's perfection. 57:11 You know, the first the blade, and then the stalk 57:13 and then the full layer of corn. 57:14 It's all perfect. 57:16 It's hard for me because I don't naturally 57:17 have a green thumb like majority. 57:19 We're talking spiritually here. We're talking spiritually here. 57:23 As you close the first line of that song, 57:25 I am buying, oh, Lord, I've heard thy voice. 57:28 Amen. 57:29 And I want you to pray to be a vessel of honor to God. 57:32 We've talked about so many things, 57:34 truth transforms. 57:35 May our Lord continue to bless you and yours. 57:38 Amen. |
Revised 2019-03-14