Hi, I'm Lance. And I'm Dwayne.
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And welcome to
another episode of TKS.
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A True Knowledge of Self,
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where we get to know ourselves
from a biblical perspective.
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In our last episode,
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we were looking at the
realities of the pillars
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of the hip-hop culture.
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But then we compared it
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to the pillars of
the Christian culture,
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and we were able
to see definitely
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a vast
difference between the two.
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And we were
looking at the word of God
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briefly through the
Book of 2 Peter Chapter 1
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where it was going through
those pillars point by point.
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And, Lance, I think,
it's important for us
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to take some time
through this episode
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to really kind of
give an understanding
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of each of these elements
or pillars as we would call it
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of what we read in 2
Peter 1, because, again,
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it's kind of like Proverbs 4:7,
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you know, " Wisdom
is the principal thing,
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therefore get wisdom:
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and with all thy
getting get understanding."
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It's one thing to
mention something,
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it's another thing to understand
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what has been mentioned.
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It's because of
that, that we mentioned
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these elements,
these wonderful pillars
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of what really constitutes
a Christian lifestyle
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which I think is
really important,
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so because of that, we
wanted to take some time
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in this episode
to help our viewers
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to really get a
chance to understand,
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you know, how do I
apply these wonderful pieces
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of the latter that
Peter has pointed out
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that ultimately
leads to God Himself.
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How can I make
that real in my life
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and in my circumstances?
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So, I'm really excited man.
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I love to talk
about practical godliness
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in light of all the events
happening in our world so.
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This is gonna be a study
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where we're going to
be focusing on that so.
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You know, how can you help us
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get a true understanding
of these various points,
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these ladders that are
steps on the ladder rather that.
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You know, we can walk on
by faith in trusting God.
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Right, so there's
basically eight steps,
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we looked at 2 Peter 1:4.
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Well, we looked at
I believe verses 2-10.
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And I just want to
focus on the latter aspect,
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those principles,
those pillars, if you will
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and so I'm going to pick up
reading in 2 Peter Chapter 1.
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I'm just going to
read verses 4 through 7.
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And we're gonna
walk this thing through.
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It says, "Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great
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and precious promises:
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that by these ye
might be partakers
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of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption
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that is in the
world through lust."
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And then it goes on
to say, "And beside this,
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giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue,
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and to virtue knowledge,
And to knowledge temperance,
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and to temperance patience,
and to patience godliness,
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And to godliness
brotherly kindness,
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and to brotherly
kindness charity."
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So, these are the eight
steps if you will on the ladder
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and we just want
to spend some time
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walking through point by point,
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step by step, to just
say what the Bible says.
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How does the
Bible define these words
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because we talked
about in a previous episode,
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the importance
of defining terms.
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It's one thing to say a word
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and leave
everybody to subjectively,
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subjectively interpret
that word is another thing
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to allow the Bible to
objectively define it so.
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We're going to start
right there in order so.
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We're talking about
faith first, what is faith?
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Because faith is the first step
in the ladder, in the process
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and so we're just
gonna look at verses
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many, many
places we can go here.
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But, you know, we
don't have too much time
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so Romans Chapter
4, Romans Chapter 4
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we're going to
read verses 3 to 5
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to look at a
simplistic definition of faith.
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So in Romans 4
starting on verse 3, it says,
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"For what say at the scripture?
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Abraham believed God,
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and it was counted
unto him for righteousness.
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Now to him that
worketh is the reward
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not reckoned of
grace, but of debt.
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But to him that worketh not,
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but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly,
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his faith is
counted for righteousness."
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So the faith is
counted for righteousness,
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i.e. belief is
counted for righteousness,
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that's why we ultimately
call it righteousness by faith.
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Faith is in its most simplistic
form is a belief in God.
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God says this and no
matter the circumstances,
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no matter the
situation I believe it,
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and I'm going to
live based on that belief.
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It's not just, you
know, intellectual belief.
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It's a belief
that, that bears action,
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that warrants action,
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it solicits
action, requires action.
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And so that's why,
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there's always
the Bible constantly,
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you know, juxtaposes
the idea of faith and works,
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so some people get
caught up in either extreme.
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So I want to look at another
verse in Hebrews Chapter 11,
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the Book of Hebrews and
the 11 Chapter of Hebrews.
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And we're going to go ahead
and read from verses 6 and 7.
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Hebrews 11:6, 7, it
says, "But without faith
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it is impossible
to please him..."
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He's talking about God.
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"For he that cometh to
God must believe that he is,
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and that he is
a rewarder of them
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that diligently seek him.
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By faith Noah,
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being warned of God of
things not seen as yet,
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moved with fear,
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prepared an ark to
the saving of his house,
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by the which he
condemned the world,
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and became heir
of the righteousness
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which is by faith."
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So, Noah believed,
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he exhibited faith and
the faith was exhibited
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through his
preparation of the ark.
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The building of the ark is
what made the faith genuine.
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If he believed what God
said and didn't build the ark,
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then he wouldn't be exhibiting
faith, he wouldn't have faith.
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And the Bible says,
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"Without faith, it's
impossible to please God."
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So faith is the very
first step in the ladder.
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And the Bible
says that God has dealt
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to every man a measure of faith.
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That's right.
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So, you know, we all, we all
are capable of believing God.
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He has given more than enough
evidences that we can do that
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and this becomes foundational.
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It's one of the things I really
appreciate about scripture
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because when I
think about the Bible,
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God doesn't just
tell you what to do?
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God, our Father in
heaven truly is a good parent
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because I can remember times.
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You know, it's kind of
like a parent telling a child
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behave
yourself, behave yourself.
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And the child
doesn't behave himself
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and the reason why
is because the parent
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never gave him a model.
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They never said, "Here
is how you behave yourself.
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Here's a model
of good behavior."
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So, a lot of times parents
can cripple their children
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by telling them to do things
without giving them a model
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and ability to
accomplish the thing
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they're telling them to do.
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God in verse 6
says, "Without faith,
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it is impossible to please God
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for he that comes to
God must believe that he is.
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And that he is
a rewarder of them
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that diligently seek him."
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And God says, now let me give
an example of how faith works.
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Then He goes to verse 7.
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"Noah, being warned of God
of things not yet seen as yet,
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he moved with fear."
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So, that's an action word.
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So, God gives us not
only the instruction,
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but He gives us an example
of how the instruction works,
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and He did that through Noah.
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So, this is how the
Lord is teaching all of us,
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so we can know practically
how to demonstrate faith.
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And how really does
faith develop anyhow?
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Because, you
know, somebody may say,
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okay, well, fine I need faith.
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How do I develop faith?
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You know, and that's
a legitimate question.
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Yeah, so basically
if we look at a verse
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that comes to
mind Romans Chapter 10.
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So, if we look at Roman 10,
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I think it answers
that question directly.
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Okay.
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Romans Chapter 10,
we're looking at verse 17,
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and Romans 10:17 it says,
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"So then faith
cometh by hearing,
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and hearing by the word of God."
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So, faith is obtained from God,
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it's something
that comes from God.
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And it's something that can
be obtained through His Word.
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That's right.
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In another word, spending time,
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consuming His
Word produces faith.
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That's right.
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And faith essentially is
that first step in the ladder.
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And this was
perhaps the deceptive factor
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that hit me growing
up in hip-hop culture
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is that I was not
taught to look to the Word,
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I was taught to look to myself.
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And this is where people
are constantly being taught
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is that you don't have to look
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to an organized
religion or any of that.
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You don't have to
look to these various books
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that they claim
contradict themselves.
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Just go ahead and consider
the fact that you are God,
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you can be the
architect of your future.
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And all the devil wants
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is to keep our
eyes from this word,
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because as long as our
eyes stay off of this Word,
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it is going to be
impossible to develop faith,
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which means it's going to
be impossible to please God.
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And that is exactly
what Satan wants us.
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So, we have to get
back to the blueprint.
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We have to get
back into the Word,
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so that we can develop a faith,
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and that faith will
be settled in Christ,
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and it leads to all the
wonderful other privileges
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that we're about to
look at through the rest.
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That's right, so, the next
step on the ladder is virtue.
00:09:09.84\00:09:12.61
So, what is virtue?
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Essentially the definition
of virtue is moral purity.
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That's what the
word means literally, so,
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that's what the word in
the original language means,
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that's what the English
word means moral purity.
00:09:20.96\00:09:23.29
So, the Bible is
talking about faith,
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producing moral purity.
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So, I want to look at
a verse in Philippians,
00:09:27.40\00:09:29.30
Philippians 2:13, 15
Philippians 2:13, 15.
00:09:29.33\00:09:35.87
It says, "For it is
God which worketh in you
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both to will and to
do of His good pleasure
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that ye may be
blameless and harmless.
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The sons of God without
rebuke in the midst of a crooked
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and perverse nation.
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Among whom ye shine
as lights in the world."
00:09:50.82\00:09:53.76
So this idea of
purity being blameless,
00:09:53.79\00:09:56.22
being harmless, being pure,
00:09:56.26\00:09:58.69
morally pure is
something number one
00:09:58.73\00:10:01.46
that comes from God.
00:10:01.50\00:10:02.83
But the only way I can
get it essentially is by faith
00:10:02.86\00:10:05.77
according to that
outline of Peter's ladder.
00:10:05.80\00:10:08.24
So, faith allows
me to have access
00:10:08.27\00:10:10.77
to what God is providing.
00:10:10.81\00:10:12.67
And we've talked
about righteousness,
00:10:12.71\00:10:14.04
we've talked about you
know, God's commandments,
00:10:14.08\00:10:15.78
God's way, His character.
00:10:15.81\00:10:17.31
The only way that can
we can truly obtain it
00:10:17.35\00:10:19.28
is through that
first step of faith.
00:10:19.31\00:10:21.15
Once we believe, like we
read in 1 John 1:9 it says,
00:10:21.18\00:10:25.69
"For if we confess
our sins, He is faithful
00:10:25.72\00:10:28.42
and just to forgive us our sins,
00:10:28.46\00:10:30.23
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:10:30.26\00:10:32.99
Essentially to
make us righteous,
00:10:33.03\00:10:34.56
to make us pure,
00:10:34.60\00:10:35.96
to give us virtue
that is true virtue.
00:10:36.00\00:10:38.13
Virtue is not just fleeting,
00:10:38.17\00:10:39.50
it's not just what I feel like
in this moment or that moment.
00:10:39.53\00:10:42.47
You know, it's interesting
and we're going to talk
00:10:42.50\00:10:43.91
about this in
future episodes here.
00:10:43.94\00:10:45.81
But there's a lot of
social unrest going on.
00:10:45.84\00:10:48.54
There's a lot of, of feeling
and there's a lot of passion
00:10:48.58\00:10:54.38
toward things that people
are perceiving to be wrong.
00:10:54.42\00:10:57.85
Right.
00:10:57.89\00:10:59.22
We need to take a
stand because this is wrong.
00:10:59.25\00:11:02.36
I believe some of
these things are wrong.
00:11:02.39\00:11:06.33
But who tells us
what's wrong or right?
00:11:06.36\00:11:07.70
Where do you get--
00:11:07.73\00:11:09.06
Where do you get
your moral compass?
00:11:09.10\00:11:10.57
If morality is relevant, right?
00:11:10.60\00:11:12.90
And morality is not biblical,
00:11:12.93\00:11:14.90
you know, there's no necessarily
00:11:14.94\00:11:16.54
the saith the Lord
to dictate morality.
00:11:16.57\00:11:18.61
Then who is--
00:11:18.64\00:11:19.97
Who are you to say
or who is this group
00:11:20.01\00:11:22.51
or that group to
say that this is wrong.
00:11:22.54\00:11:23.88
That's right. People
say, "Oh well, this is.
00:11:23.91\00:11:26.88
Well, something has to
give you the moral framework
00:11:26.92\00:11:29.45
to make a moral
determination, a moral judgment.
00:11:29.48\00:11:32.05
So you can't on one hand
say, I'm a moral or moral,
00:11:32.09\00:11:35.02
morality is subjective
and there's no absolute truth,
00:11:35.06\00:11:39.09
but on the other hand come out
00:11:39.13\00:11:40.70
and so empathically
say, this or that is wrong.
00:11:40.73\00:11:42.46
That's right.
00:11:42.50\00:11:43.83
So, you know, we are comfortable
00:11:43.87\00:11:45.97
with this as
Christians, but a lot of people
00:11:46.00\00:11:48.04
have difficulty
dealing with that question.
00:11:48.07\00:11:51.21
If morality is not
in stone somewhere,
00:11:51.24\00:11:54.28
if morality does
not come from somewhere
00:11:54.31\00:11:56.41
and kind of
transcends human existence,
00:11:56.44\00:11:58.65
then how can you or whoever else
00:11:58.68\00:12:00.92
say this or that is wrong.
00:12:00.95\00:12:02.68
It just is. Right.
00:12:02.72\00:12:04.69
So, virtue, moral purity
00:12:04.72\00:12:06.42
is something
that comes from God.
00:12:06.45\00:12:07.82
And we can only
access it through faith.
00:12:07.86\00:12:10.79
And we read
Philippians 2:13, 15.
00:12:10.83\00:12:13.96
So, when we go to the next step
00:12:14.00\00:12:15.80
and essentially this is kind of
what we're talking about here.
00:12:15.83\00:12:18.57
Fundamentally, it's knowledge.
00:12:18.60\00:12:20.77
So it says, add
to your faith virtue
00:12:20.80\00:12:23.20
and to virtue knowledge.
00:12:23.24\00:12:25.41
So, knowledge is something that,
00:12:25.44\00:12:28.48
you know, many
people try to obtain.
00:12:28.51\00:12:30.78
Now, knowledge can't
necessarily save you.
00:12:30.81\00:12:34.12
Knowing something
can't necessarily save you.
00:12:34.15\00:12:36.65
It's how, what you do,
00:12:36.69\00:12:38.02
how you respond
to that knowledge.
00:12:38.05\00:12:39.49
But nevertheless, a
knowledge is required
00:12:39.52\00:12:41.86
in order to make an
intelligent decision.
00:12:41.89\00:12:43.69
That make sense, right?
00:12:43.73\00:12:45.06
So, when we talk
about knowledge...
00:12:45.09\00:12:48.10
Well, let's go ahead
and look at Hosea 4:6
00:12:48.13\00:12:50.37
Okay.
00:12:50.40\00:12:51.73
Hosea, there in
the Old Testament
00:12:51.77\00:12:53.54
as one of the prophets.
00:12:53.57\00:12:55.14
And Hosea 4:6
says the following.
00:12:55.17\00:12:59.61
It says, "My
people are destroyed
00:12:59.64\00:13:04.95
for lack of knowledge:
00:13:04.98\00:13:06.98
Because thou hast
rejected knowledge.
00:13:07.02\00:13:09.75
I will also reject thee,
00:13:09.78\00:13:13.76
that thou shall
be no priest to me:
00:13:13.79\00:13:16.06
Seeing now has
forgotten the law of thy God.
00:13:16.09\00:13:18.63
I will also
forget thy children."
00:13:18.66\00:13:20.26
That's strong
language. Yes, it is.
00:13:20.30\00:13:21.76
Very strong
language, but, it is a truth.
00:13:21.80\00:13:24.23
It is a transcendent truth.
00:13:24.27\00:13:27.67
Without the knowledge
00:13:27.70\00:13:29.14
and without the knowledge
means you don't have it,
00:13:29.17\00:13:31.47
not because it wasn't there.
00:13:31.51\00:13:33.11
Not because it was inaccessible,
00:13:33.14\00:13:34.48
not because you
couldn't have it,
00:13:34.51\00:13:35.84
not because God withheld it.
00:13:35.88\00:13:37.21
It's because
when God offered it,
00:13:37.25\00:13:38.61
you rejected it.
00:13:38.65\00:13:39.98
You didn't just rejected
once, you rejected twice.
00:13:40.02\00:13:41.65
So if you look in the context,
and you look at how God dealt
00:13:41.68\00:13:43.92
with His people through history,
00:13:43.95\00:13:45.35
He gave it to them
thousands, millions arguably,
00:13:45.39\00:13:48.82
you know countless times.
00:13:48.86\00:13:50.69
So, knowledge is
there, God is knowledge,
00:13:50.73\00:13:54.76
He embodies knowledge,
and He's revealed Himself
00:13:54.80\00:13:57.93
continually in
countless ways to His creation.
00:13:57.97\00:14:02.14
Our job or our
responsibility is to choose
00:14:02.17\00:14:06.11
to either
accept it or reject it.
00:14:06.14\00:14:08.61
And if we reject it,
we will be destroyed.
00:14:08.64\00:14:11.28
That is a Bible timeless truth.
00:14:11.31\00:14:14.15
If we reject the
knowledge that God is offering,
00:14:14.18\00:14:16.42
we will be destroyed.
00:14:16.45\00:14:17.79
If we accept it,
we will be saved.
00:14:17.82\00:14:20.32
We will be redeemed.
00:14:20.36\00:14:21.69
We will be given
everlasting life.
00:14:21.72\00:14:23.06
And there's an
order to knowledge.
00:14:23.09\00:14:25.63
In other words,
God is not saying
00:14:25.66\00:14:28.30
that we should just
obtain knowledge in every ray
00:14:28.33\00:14:32.63
and every sphere of
life, that's not the context
00:14:32.67\00:14:34.84
of what the
verses are talking about.
00:14:34.87\00:14:36.57
What the context of the verses
00:14:36.60\00:14:37.94
are talking about
is a knowledge of him.
00:14:37.97\00:14:40.41
It's the knowledge
of Him and His will.
00:14:40.44\00:14:43.18
He is the object.
Yes, right, that's right.
00:14:43.21\00:14:44.68
It's great to have knowledge
00:14:44.71\00:14:46.58
on many, many
other subjects of life
00:14:46.61\00:14:48.28
because, you know, it
can help us in this world.
00:14:48.32\00:14:50.59
But how much the more important
00:14:50.62\00:14:52.45
that we gain a knowledge of God.
00:14:52.49\00:14:54.36
That was his focus
when he's bringing up
00:14:54.39\00:14:57.23
these verses like in 2
Peter 1, Hosea 4:6 etcetera.
00:14:57.26\00:15:01.13
And that's really, when we
say true knowledge of self,
00:15:01.16\00:15:04.60
what we're really talking
about is true knowledge of God.
00:15:04.63\00:15:07.74
The idea that God made us,
00:15:07.77\00:15:09.64
and He is the only
one worthy of worship,
00:15:09.67\00:15:11.57
and He is the object
of all our affections,
00:15:11.61\00:15:13.84
and the solution
for all of our problems.
00:15:13.88\00:15:15.21
That's right.
00:15:15.24\00:15:16.58
So look at John
17:3 for example.
00:15:16.61\00:15:18.21
Because this is
even more profound,
00:15:18.25\00:15:20.15
in the Gospel of John 17: 3
00:15:20.18\00:15:24.12
it says something
very interesting here.
00:15:24.15\00:15:26.12
It says, "And
this is life eternal,
00:15:26.15\00:15:29.56
that they might know
thee the only true God,
00:15:29.59\00:15:33.06
and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent."
00:15:33.09\00:15:35.46
So, the knowledge
00:15:35.50\00:15:37.47
that this is God
and this is His Son.
00:15:37.50\00:15:41.64
This is the solution
for all of life's problems,
00:15:41.67\00:15:44.17
essential the solution for sin.
00:15:44.21\00:15:47.21
This knowledge is eternal life.
00:15:47.24\00:15:51.21
And it's not talking about
00:15:51.25\00:15:52.58
an intellectual
knowledge per se,
00:15:52.61\00:15:54.18
it's talking about
an intimate knowledge.
00:15:54.22\00:15:56.15
You know, the Bible talks
about Adam knowing his wife.
00:15:56.18\00:15:59.52
That's right. And
then they had children.
00:15:59.55\00:16:02.49
He is talking
about a level of intimacy
00:16:02.52\00:16:04.43
that exists at the
highest rung of humanity.
00:16:04.46\00:16:07.20
So, God is even, has a
greater level of intimacy
00:16:07.23\00:16:10.27
because He made us
with His own hands,
00:16:10.30\00:16:12.70
He breathed into our
nostrils the breath of life.
00:16:12.73\00:16:15.14
So, this intimacy that God
has and will talk about love,
00:16:15.17\00:16:18.34
but the love
that God has for us,
00:16:18.37\00:16:20.28
we can't measure it.
00:16:20.31\00:16:21.64
And I like this
because this is again
00:16:21.68\00:16:23.55
another contrast that we do
00:16:23.58\00:16:24.98
unfortunately see
between hip-hop culture
00:16:25.01\00:16:28.28
and Christianity, two cultures.
00:16:28.32\00:16:30.52
And one is promoting knowledge
but it's the knowledge of God.
00:16:30.55\00:16:34.76
The other is knowledge of self.
00:16:34.79\00:16:36.46
You know, I mean, literally
00:16:36.49\00:16:37.83
it is
understanding yourself more
00:16:37.86\00:16:40.80
and exalting yourself
to the place of God versus
00:16:40.83\00:16:44.57
understanding yourself
more that you are a based
00:16:44.60\00:16:47.70
and you have a true
knowledge of our Creator
00:16:47.74\00:16:50.51
and what He
desires for the creation
00:16:50.54\00:16:53.01
and it causes a submission
unto the Lord that is,
00:16:53.04\00:16:55.91
"We live a life of not my
will but Thy will be done."
00:16:55.94\00:16:58.18
Very, very
contrast one to the other.
00:16:58.21\00:17:00.25
So this is why, this
is an important study
00:17:00.28\00:17:02.02
that we're doing right
now to really help people see,
00:17:02.05\00:17:04.22
this is what God wants.
00:17:04.25\00:17:06.15
And this is a
growing in knowledge,
00:17:06.19\00:17:08.62
because can you
really have faith in God
00:17:08.66\00:17:11.99
which remember
faith the first step,
00:17:12.03\00:17:13.36
virtue second and
then knowledge third.
00:17:13.40\00:17:15.40
We can't really
have a faith in God
00:17:15.43\00:17:16.90
unless you know
something about Him obviously.
00:17:16.93\00:17:19.43
So, we get to this
third layer right here,
00:17:19.47\00:17:21.40
this is a growing knowledge,
00:17:21.44\00:17:22.77
this is, this is
something where...
00:17:22.80\00:17:24.14
An intimate knowledge.
Yeah, intimate knowledge.
00:17:24.17\00:17:25.51
In other words, the
intellect can be stimulated
00:17:25.54\00:17:27.84
on the foundation, that's okay.
00:17:27.88\00:17:29.61
But it has to become intimate.
00:17:29.64\00:17:31.38
I like how 2 Thessalonians
2 talks about individuals,
00:17:31.41\00:17:35.75
who will be
destroyed in the last days.
00:17:35.78\00:17:38.35
And it says, "The reason why
00:17:38.39\00:17:40.69
was because they had
not the love of the truth."
00:17:40.72\00:17:43.69
Not just the
knowledge of the truth,
00:17:43.73\00:17:45.13
but it says they had
not the love of the truth.
00:17:45.16\00:17:47.86
So, God wants knowledge
to ultimately produce a love
00:17:47.90\00:17:51.73
that brings us into a place
00:17:51.77\00:17:53.10
where we do keep
His commandments.
00:17:53.13\00:17:54.80
We experience
true righteousness,
00:17:54.84\00:17:56.57
and we can go home with
Him, so this is why faith,
00:17:56.60\00:18:00.01
virtue, knowledge growing
in an understanding of God
00:18:00.04\00:18:03.41
in Jesus Christ
whom He has sent.
00:18:03.45\00:18:04.78
Yeah. Very powerful.
00:18:04.81\00:18:06.15
And so, when we take
that even a step further.
00:18:06.18\00:18:10.19
Jeremiah 9:23 and 24 it
says, "Thus saith the Lord,
00:18:10.22\00:18:16.22
let not the wise
man glory in his wisdom,
00:18:16.26\00:18:19.33
neither let the mighty
man glory in his might,
00:18:19.36\00:18:22.56
let not the rich
man glory in his riches.
00:18:22.60\00:18:25.40
But let him that
glorieth glory in this.
00:18:25.43\00:18:28.84
That he
understandeth and knoweth me
00:18:28.87\00:18:31.41
that I am the Lord which
exercise loving kindness,
00:18:31.44\00:18:34.51
judgment, and
righteousness, in the earth:
00:18:34.54\00:18:36.54
For in these things
00:18:36.58\00:18:37.95
I delight light
saith at the Lord."
00:18:37.98\00:18:39.61
Amen.
00:18:39.65\00:18:40.98
I mean that
completely destructs.
00:18:41.02\00:18:43.05
You know, it blows
apart this idea of self.
00:18:43.08\00:18:47.22
That's right.
00:18:47.26\00:18:48.59
And there's no glory in anything
00:18:48.62\00:18:50.76
we can generate ourselves
and obtain by ourselves.
00:18:50.79\00:18:53.50
The only glory
is in the knowledge
00:18:53.53\00:18:55.46
that God is the one who
possesses the true virtues,
00:18:55.50\00:18:58.40
the true essence,
the true character,
00:18:58.43\00:18:59.90
the true righteousness
and when we do this,
00:18:59.93\00:19:01.60
that's the freedom.
00:19:01.64\00:19:02.97
Powerful.
00:19:03.00\00:19:04.34
So, the next
step, and the next rung
00:19:04.37\00:19:05.91
in the ladder is temperance.
00:19:05.94\00:19:08.38
Something that's not
really talked about a lot,
00:19:08.41\00:19:10.15
especially in today's society.
00:19:10.18\00:19:11.71
So, we're dealing with faith,
virtue, knowledge, temperance.
00:19:11.75\00:19:17.32
What is temperance?
00:19:17.35\00:19:18.69
I'm just going to, you
know, read another verse
00:19:18.72\00:19:21.42
to kind of show the
importance of it in kind of,
00:19:21.46\00:19:23.83
I think it gives us a
definition if you will
00:19:23.86\00:19:25.76
and we kind of
talk more about it.
00:19:25.79\00:19:27.36
So, it says here in 1
Corinthians 9:24 to 27,
00:19:27.40\00:19:31.33
1 Corinthians 9:24 to
27, it says, "Know ye not
00:19:31.37\00:19:35.50
that they which
run in a race run all,
00:19:35.54\00:19:38.47
but one receiveth the prize?
00:19:38.51\00:19:40.74
So run, that ye may obtain.
00:19:40.78\00:19:43.24
And every man that
striveth for the mastery
00:19:43.28\00:19:46.68
is temperate in all things.
00:19:46.72\00:19:48.68
Now they do it to
obtain a corruptible crown.
00:19:48.72\00:19:51.25
But we an incorruptible,
00:19:51.29\00:19:53.36
I therefore so run
not as uncertainly.
00:19:53.39\00:19:57.19
So fight I, not as
one that beateth the air:
00:19:57.23\00:20:00.50
But I keep under my body,
00:20:00.53\00:20:02.03
and bring it into subjection:
Less that by any means,
00:20:02.06\00:20:06.03
when I have preached to others,
I myself should be a castaway."
00:20:06.07\00:20:10.64
Very deep, very
profound. Absolutely.
00:20:10.67\00:20:12.84
So, Paul, here is contrasting
00:20:12.87\00:20:14.21
literally
professional athletics.
00:20:14.24\00:20:16.34
You know, the Olympic Games
00:20:16.38\00:20:18.31
you know, started way
back in the Greek culture.
00:20:18.35\00:20:20.72
The same culture that
Paul was ministering in.
00:20:20.75\00:20:24.02
So he's taken
professional athletes and he's,
00:20:24.05\00:20:27.26
he's using illustration,
00:20:27.29\00:20:28.66
he's saying look at
professional athletes.
00:20:28.69\00:20:30.99
They all run a race, and
they're all running to win.
00:20:31.03\00:20:34.06
Nobody's running to lose.
00:20:34.10\00:20:35.80
They're running a race
00:20:35.83\00:20:37.17
and they're willing
to sacrifice everything
00:20:37.20\00:20:40.07
to achieve their goal.
00:20:40.10\00:20:41.50
And that goal is that crown,
00:20:41.54\00:20:42.87
that prize, that victory wreath.
00:20:42.90\00:20:44.94
You know, that famous,
00:20:44.97\00:20:46.31
I, you know, that,
that, like we see--
00:20:46.34\00:20:50.25
And what do they call it?
00:20:50.28\00:20:52.31
The winner's crown, the
ivy wreath that goes on,
00:20:52.35\00:20:57.29
on the head and he says,
"Well, how much more do we,
00:20:57.32\00:21:03.32
who are chasing
and running a race
00:21:03.36\00:21:05.53
for an incorruptible crown..."
00:21:05.56\00:21:06.96
essentially
eternal life salvation.
00:21:07.00\00:21:09.50
"How much more should
we strive for the mastery
00:21:09.53\00:21:12.90
like the professional athlete
does for his corruptible crown.
00:21:12.93\00:21:16.00
His perishable crown, we
haven't imperishable crown.
00:21:16.04\00:21:19.21
So, we should be
temperate in all things
00:21:19.24\00:21:21.24
just like a
professional athlete is
00:21:21.28\00:21:23.18
and we can go down the list.
00:21:23.21\00:21:24.55
Some people look at
these professional athletes
00:21:24.58\00:21:26.85
and say, "Oh, you
know, they want to be
00:21:26.88\00:21:28.38
like LeBron
James or whoever else."
00:21:28.42\00:21:30.95
And they think
somehow LeBron James
00:21:30.99\00:21:32.89
is just sitting on his couch
00:21:32.92\00:21:34.32
and he goes outside
and plays basketball like,
00:21:34.36\00:21:36.46
like people on the street do.
00:21:36.49\00:21:38.63
He has the highest
level of science and fitness
00:21:38.66\00:21:42.73
and physiology at his disposal.
00:21:42.76\00:21:44.80
You know,
therapy, physical therapy,
00:21:44.83\00:21:46.77
physician's
surgery whatever he needs.
00:21:46.80\00:21:49.10
He has the best
equipment, he has custom shoes.
00:21:49.14\00:21:51.67
You know, he has
luxury facilities.
00:21:51.71\00:21:54.08
He has all of these things.
00:21:54.11\00:21:56.21
And a personal
trainer, and a personal chef,
00:21:56.24\00:21:59.08
and a nutrition, a dietician,
all that stuff to put his body
00:21:59.11\00:22:02.68
in the best possible condition
to go through the taxing
00:22:02.72\00:22:06.05
that's required to
get his corruptible crown.
00:22:06.09\00:22:09.02
You can't just
walk off the street
00:22:09.06\00:22:11.23
and do what those guys do.
00:22:11.26\00:22:12.59
That's correct.
00:22:12.63\00:22:13.96
Nor can you try to
obtain a incorruptible crown,
00:22:14.00\00:22:18.13
eternal life and salvation
by just walking off the street
00:22:18.17\00:22:21.04
and calling
yourself a Christian,
00:22:21.07\00:22:22.47
and throwing on it like throwing
00:22:22.50\00:22:23.87
on a basketball
jersey is going to make you
00:22:23.91\00:22:25.94
an NBA basketball player,
this is not going to happen.
00:22:25.97\00:22:28.41
So he says here,
00:22:28.44\00:22:30.55
and this is where
the definition come in,
00:22:30.58\00:22:32.25
temperance, right?
00:22:32.28\00:22:33.62
He says in, you know,
00:22:33.65\00:22:35.55
in the closing
part of the passage.
00:22:35.58\00:22:37.75
"But I keep under my body
and bring it into subjection."
00:22:37.79\00:22:42.02
That's right.
00:22:42.06\00:22:43.39
So, temperance is
really the idea of abstinence
00:22:43.43\00:22:47.50
from everything
that's going to harm me.
00:22:47.53\00:22:49.00
Just like a
professional athlete,
00:22:49.03\00:22:50.63
you know, is not
going to do certain things
00:22:50.67\00:22:52.27
and when he is training
00:22:52.30\00:22:53.64
because it's going to
give him negative results.
00:22:53.67\00:22:55.50
So, if he wants
the best results,
00:22:55.54\00:22:57.11
he needs to
abstain from anything
00:22:57.14\00:22:58.74
that's going to harm him.
00:22:58.77\00:23:00.11
And then, moderation in
all things that are good.
00:23:00.14\00:23:04.65
It's not moderation
in everything, right?
00:23:04.68\00:23:06.82
As I always used
to say sometimes that,
00:23:06.85\00:23:08.78
you know, we know
things that are bad.
00:23:08.82\00:23:10.39
You know, and for example
00:23:10.42\00:23:11.75
we would never
give somebody counsel
00:23:11.79\00:23:13.12
and say, "Oh, it's okay to
smoke crack in moderation."
00:23:13.15\00:23:15.49
That would be absurd, and
ridiculous to most people.
00:23:15.52\00:23:17.93
That's something that's harmful.
00:23:17.96\00:23:19.29
As a society we've
agreed that crack is bad.
00:23:19.33\00:23:22.03
So, we would never say,
"It's okay in moderation."
00:23:22.06\00:23:24.67
But yet other things that
are more socially acceptable
00:23:24.70\00:23:26.87
like drinking
alcohol, smoking cigarettes,
00:23:26.90\00:23:29.40
you know, and other harmful
substances that people...
00:23:29.44\00:23:31.14
Now smoking marijuana.
00:23:31.17\00:23:32.51
Yeah, people consume
on the regular basis.
00:23:32.54\00:23:34.74
We say, "Oh, that's
okay in moderation."
00:23:34.78\00:23:36.58
Right. You know,
just don't do it.
00:23:36.61\00:23:38.81
If it's bad it's
not good in moderation.
00:23:38.85\00:23:40.58
It should be, we should abstain
00:23:40.62\00:23:42.82
but if it's good,
00:23:42.85\00:23:44.22
moderation in those
things that are good,
00:23:44.25\00:23:45.65
so that's really
what temperance is.
00:23:45.69\00:23:47.39
So, it's not Paul is striving
00:23:47.42\00:23:49.66
not like one that's
training for a boxing match
00:23:49.69\00:23:52.26
as one that beat at the air.
00:23:52.29\00:23:53.76
But as one that is striving
for incorruptible crown,
00:23:53.80\00:23:56.83
that's what temperance is.
00:23:56.87\00:23:58.20
So, when it talks about
this idea of faith, virtue,
00:23:58.23\00:24:01.50
knowledge and now temperance
00:24:01.54\00:24:02.87
we see something that's really
jelling everything together.
00:24:02.90\00:24:05.01
Now, the reason
why this is important
00:24:05.04\00:24:06.37
is because, it kind of
brings us back to a point
00:24:06.41\00:24:09.28
we established earlier.
00:24:09.31\00:24:10.65
When we were talking
about righteousness by faith,
00:24:10.68\00:24:12.51
we were talking about
something God can do for us
00:24:12.55\00:24:14.95
that we cannot do for ourselves.
00:24:14.98\00:24:16.32
That's right.
00:24:16.35\00:24:17.69
And we talked
about God's ability
00:24:17.72\00:24:19.05
not only to
pardon but to empower.
00:24:19.09\00:24:21.42
This is a great point,
00:24:21.46\00:24:22.79
great time to make this point
00:24:22.82\00:24:24.19
because, temperance
is something we need.
00:24:24.23\00:24:27.03
The Bible says,
"Tempered in all things."
00:24:27.06\00:24:29.16
So that means, in
your physical activities,
00:24:29.20\00:24:31.53
that means in your sleeping,
that means in your working,
00:24:31.57\00:24:35.40
in your playing, in all of
the different areas of life,
00:24:35.44\00:24:38.27
God wants us to
have a self-control.
00:24:38.31\00:24:40.84
Yet, a lot of
people try to do that.
00:24:40.88\00:24:43.41
Have success in certain places,
but then they fail in others.
00:24:43.45\00:24:46.85
But yet the Bible
says, "All things."
00:24:46.88\00:24:48.92
So how do we jell this?
The way we do it is simple.
00:24:48.95\00:24:52.59
The Bible says, in
Galatians 5:22 and 23.
00:24:52.62\00:24:56.22
"But the fruit of
the Spirit is love,
00:24:56.26\00:24:58.29
joy, peace, long suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
00:24:58.33\00:25:01.50
meekness and temperance
against such there is no law.
00:25:01.53\00:25:05.47
An individual cannot have
total control over themselves
00:25:05.50\00:25:10.07
void of the Spirit of God."
00:25:10.11\00:25:11.97
It is impossible.
00:25:12.01\00:25:13.34
So, we need the
spirit of Christ,
00:25:13.38\00:25:14.81
to come within our
hearts to enable us
00:25:14.84\00:25:17.28
to live this
incredibly controlled life
00:25:17.31\00:25:19.98
in all the areas
and dynamics of life.
00:25:20.02\00:25:22.58
This is why I get so notice,
00:25:22.62\00:25:24.25
Temperance is literally
pulling us out of ourselves.
00:25:24.29\00:25:27.56
It's calling us out of
self, and saying come to God,
00:25:27.59\00:25:30.96
because there's no way you
can have this outside of God.
00:25:30.99\00:25:33.66
So this is a
liberating and not oppressive.
00:25:33.70\00:25:36.46
And opposite of what
we would normally think.
00:25:36.50\00:25:38.47
That's correct.
00:25:38.50\00:25:39.83
We think well, if I got
to give all of my rights
00:25:39.87\00:25:41.70
essentially
over to someone else.
00:25:41.74\00:25:44.77
I have to completely relinquish
my ability to dictate,
00:25:44.81\00:25:51.08
what I'm going
to do with my life,
00:25:51.11\00:25:52.45
how I'm going to think,
00:25:52.48\00:25:53.82
how I'm going to
do this and that?
00:25:53.85\00:25:55.18
I'm going to be
totally dependent on another
00:25:55.22\00:25:57.59
and there's not another person.
00:25:57.62\00:25:58.95
There's not a government,
this is not whatever,
00:25:58.99\00:26:00.42
this is on the
creator of the universe.
00:26:00.46\00:26:03.06
I got to be completely dependent
00:26:03.09\00:26:04.79
and by doing that I actually
achieve freedom and liberty,
00:26:04.83\00:26:09.03
that is something
00:26:09.06\00:26:10.40
that is contrary to
all worldly thinking.
00:26:10.43\00:26:12.33
And it is contrary
directly even to the principles
00:26:12.37\00:26:15.64
contained in hip-hop culture.
00:26:15.67\00:26:17.31
And this is why God
wants to open our eyes,
00:26:17.34\00:26:19.64
to help us see the realities.
00:26:19.67\00:26:21.58
Again, as we stated before
it's not that what God wants
00:26:21.61\00:26:25.65
cannot be accomplished.
00:26:25.68\00:26:27.05
This is typically
what makes people give up.
00:26:27.08\00:26:29.08
This is what makes them say,
"Forget this stuff doesn't work
00:26:29.12\00:26:31.59
you know, I'm just
going to try something else."
00:26:31.62\00:26:33.82
It's because, it's not
that God's counsel was wrong.
00:26:33.86\00:26:37.03
It was how many of
us have approached it.
00:26:37.06\00:26:39.26
God wants us to
understand of course,
00:26:39.29\00:26:41.10
anything I tell you to do.
00:26:41.13\00:26:42.46
I read in a little book
called, "Christ Object Lessons,
00:26:42.50\00:26:44.53
page 333, which
tells us clear as day.
00:26:44.57\00:26:47.77
"All God's
biddings are enablings."
00:26:47.80\00:26:50.91
Whatever the Lord calls us
to do, He not only bids us,
00:26:50.94\00:26:54.64
He says, "I will
enable you to do everything
00:26:54.68\00:26:57.55
that I've called you to do."
00:26:57.58\00:26:58.91
It's for this reason
that the Lord wants us
00:26:58.95\00:27:00.65
to start understanding,
00:27:00.68\00:27:02.12
that you cannot do
anything without me.
00:27:02.15\00:27:05.99
Not what I'm calling you to do.
00:27:06.02\00:27:07.46
You can do things in life,
00:27:07.49\00:27:08.99
but you can't do
anything without me,
00:27:09.02\00:27:10.36
anything that
I've called you to do.
00:27:10.39\00:27:11.73
But with me, you can do
all things through Christ,
00:27:11.76\00:27:15.23
who will be your strength.
00:27:15.26\00:27:16.60
And so there's a, there's
eight steps in the ladder.
00:27:16.63\00:27:19.13
We went through half of them.
00:27:19.17\00:27:20.54
I think is a
good place to pause,
00:27:20.57\00:27:21.97
and we're going
to have to continue
00:27:22.00\00:27:23.34
in another
episode to walk through
00:27:23.37\00:27:24.71
the final steps
in Peter's ladder.
00:27:24.74\00:27:26.81
Okay, great.
00:27:26.84\00:27:28.18
Well, friends,
again we've have been
00:27:28.21\00:27:30.05
very, very blessed.
00:27:30.08\00:27:31.41
The Lord is helping us to
get a true understanding of Him,
00:27:31.45\00:27:35.68
a true knowledge of self.
00:27:35.72\00:27:37.42
And this is all true education.
00:27:37.45\00:27:39.29
And it's a blessing and
I'm grateful for the things
00:27:39.32\00:27:41.89
that we're studying right now,
00:27:41.92\00:27:43.26
about how to practically
walk up this little ladder
00:27:43.29\00:27:46.70
that we are seeing
through the writings
00:27:46.73\00:27:48.13
of the Apostle Peter.
00:27:48.16\00:27:49.53
And I pray that you will just
continue to seek God, ask Him.
00:27:49.56\00:27:53.64
Lord, help me to live
out these truths in my life
00:27:53.67\00:27:56.40
and tell a friend
and encourage others.
00:27:56.44\00:27:58.87
And I believe you will
be tremendously blessed.
00:27:58.91\00:28:01.24
Again, thank you for joining us
00:28:01.28\00:28:02.64
and we know that the
words of Christ are true
00:28:02.68\00:28:05.08
when he says in Proverbs 2:6.
00:28:05.11\00:28:07.32
"That it is the
Lord that gives wisdom
00:28:07.35\00:28:09.65
and out of his mouth comes
knowledge and understanding."
00:28:09.68\00:28:12.55