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, we
were studying the word of God.
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And we were
looking at the very pillars
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of what constitutes
the Christian lifestyle.
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And this was important
because we're talking a lot
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about hip-hop culture
which also has pillars.
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And we looked at
some of those pillars
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and we'll be
building on them even more
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in up and coming episodes.
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And we were trying to
see, do they blend together
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or is there a contrast?
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And thus far, we are seeing
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there is a tremendous
contrast between the two.
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Yet, so many Christians
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are also engrossed
in hip-hop culture.
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And it's for these
reasons that God has allowed us
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to put forth these episodes
where we can really study,
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take a fair look at it
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and let the word of
God get the final say.
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Thus far, we looked
at four powerful pillars
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as it relates to
the Christian faith.
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And we were looking at it from
the Book of 2 Peter Chapter 1
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and we started right
there from verse 4 and onward.
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And we saw that there were
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four very important
foundational pillars
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to the Christian faith,
one beginning with Faith.
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The second was Virtue.
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The third was Knowledge,
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and then the
fourth was Temperance.
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And these are experiences
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that the Lord
wants to bring us in
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and the beautiful
part of all of this
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is that He holds
Himself responsible
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to help us develop these things.
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This is one of the
comforts of Christianity.
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It is not something that we
have to conjure up ourselves
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or accomplish by ourselves.
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Christ is our
aid, He is our help.
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His spirit is
there to empower us,
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to lead us, to teach us,
to guide us, and instruct us
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so that we don't fail
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and ultimately God's word
can be fulfilled now unto Him
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that is able to
keep me from falling
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and to present you faultless
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before the presence of
His glory with exceeding joy.
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We are very grateful
for these precious promises.
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And now, what we're going to do
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is we're going to build
on the remaining pillars
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that we have not
reviewed thus far.
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So, Lance, I'm excited.
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It looks like God is,
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is speaking to
your heart and mine
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as He is speaking
to the several viewers
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that are watching.
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And I believe that the
Lord is really helping us
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to get settled into His truth,
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both
intellectually and spiritually
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so that by His
grace, we cannot be moved.
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That's right
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So now we're looking at
some of these pillars here
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and we looked at the first four
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but there's more
to even continue.
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So you take us over,
man, and help us to see
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what are the remaining pillars
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and how can we bring this
into our daily experience.
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So the next step in
the ladder is patience.
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I mean, that is something
that we don't really think about
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as being
supernatural, but many of us,
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I'm sure have gone
through experiences
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where they require a
supernatural, you know,
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other worldly patience to
get through and to deal with.
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So we're going to, again,
go through some Bible verses
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'cause we're
trying to figure out
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what does the Bible say,
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how does the Bible define these
principles that is laying out?
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So I'm going to start
in Revelation Chapter 14
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or Revelation
12 for that matter.
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So we're
looking at Revelation 12
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and see how the Bible deals
with this subject of patience.
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Revelation 12 in verse 17.
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Now, Revelation 12 is
really dealing with this...
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I know in previous episodes,
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we talked about
The Great Controversy.
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You know, the war
that started in Heaven
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and the fall of Lucifer
from Heaven to this Earth,
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then becoming Satan
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and the Accuser of the Brethren,
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and the Devil, the Adversary.
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And we saw that he
eventually took that war
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to the earth against God
but through his created beings.
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And so Revelation 12 is
dealing with that context
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and in verse 17 of Revelation
Chapter 12, it says thus,
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it says, "And the dragon..."
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which is Satan in
according to verse 9.
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"And the dragon was
wroth with the woman.
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And went to make war
with the remnant of her seed,
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which keep the
commandments of God,
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and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
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Now, we're
talking about patience,
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so what does that
have to do with patience?
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Well, if we go
forward a couple of chapters
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and look at
Revelation Chapter 14.
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In Revelation Chapter 14
it says here in verse 12,
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it says, "Here is the
patience of the saints:
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Here are they that
keep the commandments of God
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and the faith of Jesus."
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So we see that the
patience of the saints
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is communicated as those that
keep the commandments of God
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and have the
testimony or the faith of Jesus.
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And now, when we talk
about Peter's ladder here
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and we talked about the Faith,
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and the Virtue,
and the Knowledge,
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and the Temperance
and now the Patience.
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We realize that patience is
one of the identifying marks
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of God's people essentially.
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So, you know, there's more
verses we're gonna look at,
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but it's
interesting that the Bible
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goes out of its
way to note and repeat
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the characteristics of those
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that are standing
ultimately in the Last Days
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and kind of standing against
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the warfare of Satan
against God's remnant
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or His last remaining people
on the earth before He comes.
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So look at Revelation Chapter 2.
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And we're going to
turn to Revelation 2
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and seek to
understand this further.
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It says Revelation Chapter...
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in Revelation 2
in verse 10, it says,
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"Fear none of those
things which thou shalt suffer:
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Behold, the Devil shall
cast some of you into prison,
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that he may be tried,
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and ye shall have
tribulation ten days:
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Be thou faithful unto death,
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and I will give
you a crown of life."
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Now, this idea...
Remember, the faith of Jesus.
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Well, what was Jesus?
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Jesus was faithful unto death,
even the death of the cross,
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as the Bible says.
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So he endured great
affliction and trial.
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Essentially, he was the
object of Satan's wrath,
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the wrath that we read
there it means his anger,
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his intense
murderous rage, right?
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So Jesus was the
object of that rage
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while he was walking the earth.
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And ultimately Satan
tried to kill him literally.
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And he thought that, you know,
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the suffering that
he would put on them
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and the cross
experience was Satan
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somehow getting a
victory, getting an upper hand,
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winning a battle, if you will.
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We know that Jesus rose
from the dead on the third day
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and that was the victory.
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That, that completely
solidified, if you will,
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that process of
Jesus dying on the cross
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and raising from death unto life
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was that kind of
the nail in the coffin,
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if you will, for
Satan's whole agenda.
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But when Jesus ascended,
Satan eventually turned his...
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to inflict his
wrath and that new object
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became God's people, okay?
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And God's people
now, just like Christ,
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as Christ said,
for example in John 15.
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He says, "If the world hates me,
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it's going to hate you as well."
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You know, you'll be hated by
all nations for my name sake.
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So now, God's people become
the object of Satan's wrath.
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And they now find themselves
enduring the same trials
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and afflictions of Christ
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and the tribulation
that Jesus went through.
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And now, he's
saying to his people,
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"As I did be thou
faithful into death.
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And now shall have and
receive a crown of life."
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And essentially this is
what he's talking about.
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Here is the
patience of the saints.
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Patience is really endurance.
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The ability to supernaturally
to endure trial, persecution,
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oppression that
is coming from Satan,
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from a supernatural force.
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A greater supernatural
force is willing to protect you
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and willing to save
you and deliver you,
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even though you might have to
go through this present danger
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and present suffering.
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I see so many parallels.
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I mean, I can see a
lot of lessons even that,
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that comes from this.
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Again, patience.
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Another term for patience is if
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we were to actually
define the word "patience,"
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it's also longsuffering.
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You know, being able to
suffer long to endure, right?
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And when you look at this, this,
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this speaks volumes
to our society today.
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What are some of the reasons
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why God
encourages us to be patient?
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One of the first reasons
why is 'cause He says, well,
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first of all vengeance is Mine.
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The Lord says, "I'll
take care of everything."
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So God is saying,
you can be patient,
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because you don't
have to lose your patience
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and take control
of the circumstance,
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because I'm going to be
able to take care of it myself.
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I am going to take vengeance.
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"Vengeance is
mine, saith the Lord."
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The guilty, will
suffer sooner or later.
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So, one of the things that
can enable us to be patient
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is that very
fact that we can trust
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God is going to do this.
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God is going to handle these
things in life that happens
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that causes me
sometimes to lose my patience.
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If ever there was a time for
a message like that is right now
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because there is a lot of,
as you stated, social unrest.
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There's a lot of
things happening right now
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that does not look fair.
00:09:07.54\00:09:08.91
There are judicial systems
00:09:08.94\00:09:10.28
that are being put in questions.
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There are police officers
that are being put in question.
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There are civilians that
are being put in question.
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And it seems like everybody
is in a state of unrest
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and we're losing patience
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in trying to handle
situations ourselves.
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And we're not
necessarily saying,
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"God, what have
you told us to do?
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Or how to respond to the
crisis we're in right now?"
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And one of them
is to be patient,
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to be longsuffering.
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In the midst of
crisis and trial,
00:09:34.84\00:09:36.87
do not lose your Christianity.
00:09:36.91\00:09:39.87
Maintain your Christ likeness
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in the midst of
whatever trial or tribulation
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you are going through.
00:09:43.68\00:09:45.01
So, oppression and
persecution and injustice
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is not an excuse
to abandon morality.
00:09:47.98\00:09:50.42
Correct.
00:09:50.45\00:09:51.79
And this is a message
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that is needed right now, today,
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because individuals
are losing their patience.
00:09:55.52\00:09:57.76
And I understand the
frustration of the patience
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because it's never a good thing
00:09:59.93\00:10:01.46
to see injustice
take place on either side.
00:10:01.50\00:10:03.83
We have police
officers right now,
00:10:03.87\00:10:05.20
they're looking at
themselves as victims.
00:10:05.23\00:10:06.94
We have civilians right now
00:10:06.97\00:10:08.30
that are looking at
themselves as victims.
00:10:08.34\00:10:09.90
And both of them are in
such a perplexed situation,
00:10:09.94\00:10:12.54
they're responding to
it but the response is,
00:10:12.57\00:10:14.98
many a times, is not the counsel
00:10:15.01\00:10:17.28
that God is
giving from His words.
00:10:17.31\00:10:19.55
And as a result of that,
00:10:19.58\00:10:20.98
we are allowing
the flesh to lead us.
00:10:21.02\00:10:22.75
And we have to be careful.
00:10:22.78\00:10:24.12
It's funny enough,
00:10:24.15\00:10:25.49
and we're going to talk
about this in another episode.
00:10:25.52\00:10:26.86
We see that even in the midst
00:10:26.89\00:10:28.32
of this social unrest right now,
00:10:28.36\00:10:29.89
they are hip-hop icons
00:10:29.92\00:10:31.56
and individuals that are
kind of putting themselves
00:10:31.59\00:10:34.00
in the forefront to
try to be the leaders
00:10:34.03\00:10:36.06
and to lead
people and to guide them
00:10:36.10\00:10:38.13
but we're understanding
00:10:38.17\00:10:39.50
there's a deeper picture
going on in the backdrop.
00:10:39.53\00:10:41.57
And when we start
talking about Bible prophecy,
00:10:41.60\00:10:43.44
this thing is going to
come together really powerfully.
00:10:43.47\00:10:45.67
So I'm grateful for the way
that we're studying something
00:10:45.71\00:10:48.61
as simple as patience
00:10:48.64\00:10:50.05
and being able to
see how necessary it is.
00:10:50.08\00:10:52.58
And it must be applied in
our lives even unto death,
00:10:52.61\00:10:56.52
as Christ did when
he walked on this earth.
00:10:56.55\00:10:59.75
Very, very important
point. I appreciate it.
00:10:59.79\00:11:01.72
So, let's go on and I want
to look at Matthew 10 and 22.
00:11:01.76\00:11:04.73
We are still
talking about patience,
00:11:04.76\00:11:06.26
an essential step
in this Peter's ladder
00:11:06.29\00:11:08.96
that we've been talking about.
00:11:09.00\00:11:10.40
Matthew 10 and verse
22 says the following.
00:11:10.43\00:11:14.50
And we said this, but
I want to read it here.
00:11:14.54\00:11:16.97
It says, "And ye shall be hated
of all men for my name's sake.
00:11:17.01\00:11:21.91
But he that endureth to
the end shall be saved."
00:11:21.94\00:11:24.91
Sensible again, reiterated.
00:11:24.95\00:11:27.12
Endurance, patience,
longsuffering as you said.
00:11:27.15\00:11:30.75
Hebrew 6:12.
00:11:30.79\00:11:33.22
Hebrews 6:12.
00:11:33.25\00:11:36.29
We turn there and read it.
00:11:36.32\00:11:38.36
Hebrews 6:12, it says,
00:11:38.39\00:11:42.36
"That ye be not slothful,
00:11:42.40\00:11:45.20
but followers of them who
through faith and patience
00:11:45.23\00:11:49.27
inherit the promises."
00:11:49.30\00:11:50.84
So, remember we talked about
00:11:50.87\00:11:54.64
faith there
previously in Hebrew 11?
00:11:54.68\00:11:57.18
And the idea that
faith translates into action
00:11:57.21\00:11:59.95
and that essentially is
how men are able to access
00:11:59.98\00:12:03.92
the grace of God and
the salvation of God.
00:12:03.95\00:12:06.39
But it says here now,
that the faith and patience
00:12:06.42\00:12:10.89
was what allowed
individuals in the past
00:12:10.93\00:12:14.90
to inherit the promises of God.
00:12:14.93\00:12:17.60
So God is putting
forth these promises.
00:12:17.63\00:12:19.63
Again, we have to
choose whether or not
00:12:19.67\00:12:21.80
we're going to
subscribe and follow them.
00:12:21.84\00:12:23.71
Not just intellectually,
but at this level
00:12:23.74\00:12:26.54
that is going to
actually dictate and influence
00:12:26.57\00:12:29.81
and command our
actions and our behavior.
00:12:29.84\00:12:32.41
And if we do this
and exhibit these things,
00:12:32.45\00:12:34.78
we, like others in the past,
00:12:34.82\00:12:36.32
other faithful
individuals in the past,
00:12:36.35\00:12:38.15
we will inherit the promises.
00:12:38.19\00:12:40.12
Now, let's look at James.
00:12:40.16\00:12:42.32
James 1 and 12.
00:12:42.36\00:12:45.49
It says, "Blessed is the
man that endureth temptation.
00:12:45.53\00:12:50.77
For when he is tried,
00:12:50.80\00:12:53.20
he shall receive
the crown of life,
00:12:53.23\00:12:55.34
which the Lord hath
promised to them that love Him."
00:12:55.37\00:12:59.14
So again, endurance,
inheriting the promises.
00:12:59.17\00:13:02.24
Now we know it's
salvation, the crown of life.
00:13:02.28\00:13:04.68
Enduring to the end,
the same shall be saved.
00:13:04.71\00:13:06.85
And it says again,
"That there's a blessing
00:13:06.88\00:13:09.78
to the man that
endureth temptation."
00:13:09.82\00:13:13.72
Those that are able,
supernaturally to receive
00:13:13.76\00:13:17.59
what God is offering
00:13:17.63\00:13:19.06
and withstands the advances
00:13:19.09\00:13:22.16
in the offensive force
00:13:22.20\00:13:24.33
of Satan's wrath
will be rewarded.
00:13:24.37\00:13:28.87
God is going to repay.
00:13:28.90\00:13:30.44
God is going to recompense.
00:13:30.47\00:13:31.94
God is going to have vengeance.
00:13:31.97\00:13:33.51
It's not in, it's
not our responsibility
00:13:33.54\00:13:37.91
to take it into our
own hands in exact justice.
00:13:37.95\00:13:41.65
It's not in our, it's
not our responsibility.
00:13:41.68\00:13:43.75
So we have to be
willing to acknowledge that,
00:13:43.79\00:13:45.55
accept that
00:13:45.59\00:13:47.19
and see that God's
wisdom must have a solution,
00:13:47.22\00:13:50.56
it must provide a solution
through a different avenue,
00:13:50.59\00:13:53.53
a different means by
which we can obtain this.
00:13:53.56\00:13:55.50
Now, so that
individuals who may be viewing
00:13:55.53\00:13:57.67
do not see this position
00:13:57.70\00:13:59.60
we're taking in
an extreme fashion.
00:13:59.63\00:14:01.57
We are not saying
that we do not respond
00:14:01.60\00:14:04.91
to social injustice
or things of that nature,
00:14:04.94\00:14:08.64
that we should
just simply sit back
00:14:08.68\00:14:10.18
and let evil just ride
00:14:10.21\00:14:11.71
and have its course
simply because, you know,
00:14:11.75\00:14:14.62
we are to exercise patience
that God will take care of it.
00:14:14.65\00:14:17.69
What we are saying is that,
God has given us a methodology
00:14:17.72\00:14:21.49
of how to
approach social injustice.
00:14:21.52\00:14:23.86
But it was always in the context
00:14:23.89\00:14:25.23
of the Great Controversy.
00:14:25.26\00:14:26.59
It was always in
the context of the war
00:14:26.63\00:14:29.13
between Christ and
Satan over the mind of men
00:14:29.16\00:14:32.03
and dealing with the issue
of sin versus righteousness.
00:14:32.07\00:14:36.17
We again, I stated before,
00:14:36.20\00:14:37.54
and I think it's
worthy to state again.
00:14:37.57\00:14:39.07
An individual
cannot legislate evil.
00:14:39.11\00:14:41.01
You cannot put together
enough laws to stop evil.
00:14:41.04\00:14:45.15
Evil just constantly keeps
00:14:45.18\00:14:46.55
coming up in new manifestations.
00:14:46.58\00:14:48.85
Years and years and years ago,
00:14:48.88\00:14:50.35
individuals would
use sticks and stones,
00:14:50.39\00:14:51.89
today they use guns.
00:14:51.92\00:14:53.25
And now they're
using lasers and also...
00:14:53.29\00:14:55.22
I mean, it's just
new manifestations
00:14:55.26\00:14:57.16
of the same
issue, which is violence,
00:14:57.19\00:14:59.23
violence in the heart.
00:14:59.26\00:15:00.60
So what Christ wants
us to understand is that
00:15:00.63\00:15:02.70
our battle is against sin,
00:15:02.73\00:15:04.77
our battle is
against the issue of sin
00:15:04.80\00:15:06.74
and dealing with that.
00:15:06.77\00:15:08.10
And that's how Jesus worked.
00:15:08.14\00:15:09.47
He didn't allow
himself to get caught up
00:15:09.50\00:15:10.84
into the political games
and all these things like
00:15:10.87\00:15:12.54
we see a lot of
people doing today.
00:15:12.57\00:15:14.34
But he dealt with the
issue of sin in the human heart.
00:15:14.38\00:15:16.88
And this is when an
individual was truly delivered
00:15:16.91\00:15:19.61
from all these evils.
00:15:19.65\00:15:21.12
But if we just simply,
you know, doing other things,
00:15:21.15\00:15:24.09
it may not meet the goal
and we constantly see that.
00:15:24.12\00:15:27.02
So we're not negating the fact
00:15:27.06\00:15:28.42
that we have to
address social injustice.
00:15:28.46\00:15:30.19
We're saying it needs to
be addressed in the context
00:15:30.23\00:15:32.19
of the Great Controversy.
00:15:32.23\00:15:33.56
It's an issue of
sin, and that's our fight,
00:15:33.60\00:15:35.43
that is our issue.
00:15:35.46\00:15:36.80
We must go
territory after territory
00:15:36.83\00:15:38.70
and make aggressive warfare
against soul destroying sins
00:15:38.73\00:15:42.27
that are taking
place in our world today.
00:15:42.30\00:15:44.94
And so, when we talk
about the steps again,
00:15:44.97\00:15:47.24
we've got to go
to the next step,
00:15:47.28\00:15:48.61
and it's equally important.
00:15:48.64\00:15:50.11
These steps are not
00:15:50.15\00:15:51.48
one is better than
the other or this or that.
00:15:51.51\00:15:52.98
They're all equally valuable
00:15:53.01\00:15:55.28
and equally important
and equally essential.
00:15:55.32\00:15:57.55
And it's not
like He gives you one
00:15:57.59\00:15:59.29
and He doesn't
give you the other.
00:15:59.32\00:16:00.66
Or you got to...
00:16:00.69\00:16:02.02
He gives you one, you got
to work towards the other.
00:16:02.06\00:16:03.89
He's willing to give you
all if you receive by faith,
00:16:03.93\00:16:06.90
all right?
00:16:06.93\00:16:08.26
So, we talked
about Faith, and Virtue,
00:16:08.30\00:16:11.30
and Knowledge and
Temperance, and Patience.
00:16:11.33\00:16:13.44
And now we're going to
talk about the next step,
00:16:13.47\00:16:15.34
which is Godliness.
00:16:15.37\00:16:16.91
And so, I'm going to
look at Leviticus 19.
00:16:16.94\00:16:20.04
We're going back
to an important place
00:16:20.08\00:16:24.35
in the Old
Testament in Leviticus 19
00:16:24.38\00:16:27.62
and the second verse.
00:16:27.65\00:16:30.32
Leviticus 19 and
the second verse.
00:16:30.35\00:16:35.66
And it says the following.
00:16:35.69\00:16:38.36
Leviticus 19 and verse 2.
00:16:38.39\00:16:43.20
All right.
00:16:43.23\00:16:46.10
It says, "Speak
unto all the congregation
00:16:46.13\00:16:50.71
of the children of
Israel, and say unto them.
00:16:50.74\00:16:54.11
Ye shall be holy, for I,
the Lord, your God, am Holy."
00:16:54.14\00:16:59.85
That's a revolutionary concept.
00:16:59.88\00:17:01.62
This is something in
the theological world
00:17:01.65\00:17:04.09
that we call,
"corporate solidarity".
00:17:04.12\00:17:06.42
The idea that like is like.
00:17:06.45\00:17:08.59
So if God is Holy, then
His people are to be holy.
00:17:08.62\00:17:13.53
And that's just the way it is
00:17:13.56\00:17:14.90
because God is going to
take care of His people.
00:17:14.93\00:17:17.30
God is going to give
something to His people.
00:17:17.33\00:17:19.40
He's going to give
them something that
00:17:19.43\00:17:20.94
they cannot generate themselves.
00:17:20.97\00:17:22.60
He's going to cover
them with His garment
00:17:22.64\00:17:24.51
and take away
their filthy garment.
00:17:24.54\00:17:26.17
They are going to become
sons and daughters of God.
00:17:26.21\00:17:29.31
And as His children,
00:17:29.34\00:17:30.68
they're going to
reflect their parent, all right?
00:17:30.71\00:17:32.31
So, God is Holy, so
His people must be holy.
00:17:32.35\00:17:36.32
And this is
reiterated, 1 Peter Chapter 1.
00:17:36.35\00:17:40.49
1 Peter 1.
00:17:40.52\00:17:43.49
And it kind of quotes
from the same passage.
00:17:43.53\00:17:47.43
And we'll look at it this way.
00:17:47.46\00:17:49.90
1 Peter 1:15 and 16.
00:17:49.93\00:17:53.90
It says, "But as He
which hath called you is holy,
00:17:53.94\00:17:58.34
so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation.
00:17:58.37\00:18:02.81
Because it is written,
be ye holy, for I am Holy."
00:18:02.84\00:18:06.68
So when we talk about godliness,
00:18:06.72\00:18:08.55
we're talking
about holiness, right?
00:18:08.58\00:18:10.95
And we're
talking about holiness,
00:18:10.99\00:18:12.35
we're talking about God
and His people being both holy.
00:18:12.39\00:18:18.79
In other words,
when God looks at us,
00:18:18.83\00:18:21.36
He should see Himself
00:18:21.40\00:18:23.16
and not because
we've done anything good,
00:18:23.20\00:18:25.63
not because we deserve it,
00:18:25.67\00:18:29.84
but because if we access
the grace that God is offering
00:18:29.87\00:18:34.08
and He forgives us of our sins
00:18:34.11\00:18:35.54
and cleanses us
from all unrighteousness,
00:18:35.58\00:18:37.15
so it essentially
makes us righteous.
00:18:37.18\00:18:38.55
If He does that,
then when He looks at us,
00:18:38.58\00:18:41.22
He sees Himself
00:18:41.25\00:18:42.58
because He
clothed us, He filled us,
00:18:42.62\00:18:45.69
He baptized us, He
did all of these things.
00:18:45.72\00:18:48.02
And He changed
us, transformed us,
00:18:48.06\00:18:50.53
so He looks at us
00:18:50.56\00:18:51.89
and it's like He's
looking in a mirror.
00:18:51.93\00:18:53.36
And that's what
really God is looking for.
00:18:53.40\00:18:55.30
He's not looking for us,
He's looking for Himself in us.
00:18:55.33\00:19:01.27
And when He sees that, He
says, "Here are my children.
00:19:01.30\00:19:05.41
I am Holy, my
children are holy."
00:19:05.44\00:19:07.74
And He's the one that
makes all of it happen.
00:19:07.78\00:19:10.95
So it says,
00:19:10.98\00:19:14.88
that in 1 Corinthians 1:30.
00:19:14.92\00:19:19.29
It says, "But of him
are ye in Christ Jesus,
00:19:19.32\00:19:23.22
who of God is
made unto us Wisdom,
00:19:23.26\00:19:26.49
and Righteousness
and Sanctification
00:19:26.53\00:19:29.56
and Redemption."
00:19:29.60\00:19:30.93
So Jesus Christ
now, the Son of God,
00:19:30.97\00:19:34.17
is the embodiment of
all of these attributes
00:19:34.20\00:19:37.54
and all of these virtues.
00:19:37.57\00:19:38.94
And He is the one that is to us,
00:19:38.97\00:19:43.04
Wisdom, Righteousness,
00:19:43.08\00:19:45.11
Sanctification, and Redemption.
00:19:45.15\00:19:47.12
So the godliness that we need,
the godliness that God says
00:19:47.15\00:19:50.55
we are to be, the
holiness that we are to be,
00:19:50.59\00:19:53.66
that we are to
have, is only accessible
00:19:53.69\00:19:55.96
and only embodied
00:19:55.99\00:19:57.33
and only
realized in Jesus Christ.
00:19:57.36\00:19:59.49
And as we accept Him
and accept His merits,
00:19:59.53\00:20:03.50
then we can be
that which God said
00:20:03.53\00:20:05.63
and originally
actually designed us to be.
00:20:05.67\00:20:07.70
And this is important because
00:20:07.74\00:20:09.34
when we think about why
hasn't Jesus come back yet?
00:20:09.37\00:20:12.01
You know, when you think about
00:20:12.04\00:20:13.38
how many people
you may have seen
00:20:13.41\00:20:14.78
in your youth that have said,
00:20:14.81\00:20:17.65
"The Lord is coming,
00:20:17.68\00:20:19.01
the world is coming
to an end, etcetera."
00:20:19.05\00:20:20.65
And I remember seeing
that when I was four years old,
00:20:20.68\00:20:23.32
I'm 42 years old now,
00:20:23.35\00:20:24.95
and I still have not
seen the Lord come yet so,
00:20:24.99\00:20:27.62
someone could fall
into a state of disbelief
00:20:27.66\00:20:30.23
as a result of this.
00:20:30.26\00:20:31.59
But we don't understand
what God is trying to do.
00:20:31.63\00:20:33.90
What God is
trying to do is produce
00:20:33.93\00:20:36.40
a character within us
that is just like His.
00:20:36.43\00:20:39.13
This is how the
world got started with man
00:20:39.17\00:20:40.97
and this is how
the world must end
00:20:41.00\00:20:42.34
when it comes to those
00:20:42.37\00:20:43.71
whom He's going to
bring home with Him.
00:20:43.74\00:20:45.17
It was because of
Lucifer becoming unlike him
00:20:45.21\00:20:48.38
that he earned the name
Satan, which means adversary.
00:20:48.41\00:20:51.35
He earned the name
Devil, which means slanderer.
00:20:51.38\00:20:53.92
And God does not want to
bring another adversary, enemy,
00:20:53.95\00:20:56.82
or slanderer into His house.
00:20:56.85\00:20:58.65
So the reason why the
Lord has not come back yet
00:20:58.69\00:21:00.92
is because He still doesn't
see the character reflected.
00:21:00.96\00:21:03.43
He is waiting
with longing desire
00:21:03.46\00:21:06.23
to see the character of Christ
00:21:06.26\00:21:07.60
perfectly
reproduced in His people.
00:21:07.63\00:21:08.96
And when this
happens, He will come.
00:21:09.00\00:21:11.00
So, godliness is very
much high upon the ladder
00:21:11.03\00:21:13.74
but nevertheless it's there.
00:21:13.77\00:21:15.30
And we can
obtain it through Christ
00:21:15.34\00:21:17.94
and His power enabling
us, as we talked about,
00:21:17.97\00:21:21.38
to accomplish anything
that He has called us to do.
00:21:21.41\00:21:23.58
That's right.
00:21:23.61\00:21:24.95
So eight steps, we're
moving on to the next one.
00:21:24.98\00:21:26.31
so far we have Faith,
Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance
00:21:26.35\00:21:31.15
Temperance Patience
00:21:31.19\00:21:32.52
Patience, Godliness and
now, Brotherly Kindness.
00:21:32.55\00:21:36.32
So this is something
that humanity struggles with.
00:21:36.36\00:21:41.13
And this is
why, in my estimation
00:21:41.16\00:21:42.50
why it's so high on
the ladder, if you will...
00:21:42.53\00:21:44.63
That's right.
00:21:44.67\00:21:46.00
Is because it can only be done
00:21:46.03\00:21:48.47
by possessing those
things that preceded.
00:21:48.50\00:21:51.97
So let's look at John
15, Brotherly Kindness.
00:21:52.01\00:21:55.48
I mean, it is as simple
as the phrase communicates.
00:21:55.51\00:21:59.85
John 15 and
we're reading 13 to 15.
00:21:59.88\00:22:03.22
It says, "Greater
love hath no man than this,
00:22:03.25\00:22:06.52
that a man lay down
his life for his friends.
00:22:06.55\00:22:10.43
Ye are my friends, if you
do whatsoever I command you.
00:22:10.46\00:22:13.50
Henceforth I
call you not servants,
00:22:13.53\00:22:15.93
for the servant knoweth
not what his Lord doeth,
00:22:15.96\00:22:18.63
but I have called you friends.
00:22:18.67\00:22:20.47
For all things that I
have heard of my Father,
00:22:20.50\00:22:22.64
I have made known unto you."
00:22:22.67\00:22:24.81
So, how is brotherly kindness,
you know, in its truest sense,
00:22:24.84\00:22:29.24
in its essence,
how is that exhibited?
00:22:29.28\00:22:32.21
Laying down your
life for your friends.
00:22:32.25\00:22:37.49
That's a tall order. It is.
00:22:37.52\00:22:39.29
And look at John 13.
00:22:39.32\00:22:41.22
John 13:34 and 35.
00:22:41.26\00:22:43.79
John 13:34 and 35 says this,
00:22:43.83\00:22:46.80
"A new commandment
I give unto you that,
00:22:46.83\00:22:49.26
ye love one another
as I have loved you,
00:22:49.30\00:22:52.87
that He also love one another.
00:22:52.90\00:22:55.24
By this shall all men
know that you are My disciples,
00:22:55.27\00:22:59.24
if ye have love one to another."
00:22:59.27\00:23:02.68
Brotherly Kindness.
00:23:02.71\00:23:04.21
This is actually now,
00:23:04.25\00:23:05.81
from the words of Jesus Himself,
00:23:05.85\00:23:07.82
is the way that people will know
00:23:07.85\00:23:10.55
if you are one of My disciples.
00:23:10.59\00:23:11.95
This is how men will know
00:23:11.99\00:23:14.06
if you are one of
My sons or daughters.
00:23:14.09\00:23:16.19
So, this idea of, you know,
00:23:16.22\00:23:21.83
Peter's ladder, these pillars,
00:23:21.86\00:23:23.53
if you will, we're
talking about the Faith,
00:23:23.57\00:23:25.50
and the Virtue,
and the Knowledge,
00:23:25.53\00:23:27.54
and the Patience,
and the Temperance
00:23:27.57\00:23:30.37
and the Patience, and Godliness,
00:23:30.41\00:23:33.11
Brotherly Kindness...
00:23:33.14\00:23:36.54
It leads us naturally
into the final in the eighth,
00:23:36.58\00:23:42.15
you know, leg of the ladder.
00:23:42.18\00:23:45.02
And it is charity, right?
00:23:45.05\00:23:48.06
It says, "charity,"
which means love, right?
00:23:48.09\00:23:50.73
Charity means love.
00:23:50.76\00:23:53.23
Love is so vitally
sensual and important.
00:23:53.26\00:23:57.20
Essentially, the central
pillar of God's government,
00:23:57.23\00:24:00.67
that we're
going have to dedicate
00:24:00.70\00:24:02.04
an entire
episode to this subject.
00:24:02.07\00:24:04.87
Love happens to be
also one of those pillars
00:24:04.91\00:24:07.74
that hip-hop
articulates and highlights
00:24:07.78\00:24:10.75
in that peace, love,
unity, safely having fun.
00:24:10.78\00:24:14.88
And I believe that the love
00:24:14.92\00:24:16.99
that the Bible is
going to talk about
00:24:17.02\00:24:19.15
and the love that
hip-hop is talking about
00:24:19.19\00:24:21.52
are going to be
completely opposite things.
00:24:21.56\00:24:24.09
Yeah. And these is one of the...
00:24:24.13\00:24:25.46
This is one of
the most abused terms
00:24:25.49\00:24:28.66
in the human language
today is the word, "love."
00:24:28.70\00:24:31.37
I mean, we can
say we love somebody
00:24:31.40\00:24:32.83
and then I'll
follow up, follow through,
00:24:32.87\00:24:35.07
can absolutely
contradict what we just said.
00:24:35.10\00:24:37.71
And that's,
that's where we are today
00:24:37.74\00:24:39.67
and that's the reason why
love does need to be qualified.
00:24:39.71\00:24:43.48
You know, we're
talking about pillars
00:24:43.51\00:24:45.18
because we need to set a
foundation because, again,
00:24:45.21\00:24:48.08
"With all thy
getting get understanding."
00:24:48.12\00:24:49.72
We want to know how do we walk
00:24:49.75\00:24:51.15
in the
experience of these things
00:24:51.19\00:24:52.82
but at the same time,
there is a power out there
00:24:52.85\00:24:55.52
that is seeking to
contrast what God has stated.
00:24:55.56\00:24:58.33
And one of the terms
they're using is the very thing
00:24:58.36\00:25:00.96
that is foundational
00:25:01.00\00:25:02.33
to God and His
government, which is love.
00:25:02.36\00:25:04.43
So, there needs
to be an exposure,
00:25:04.47\00:25:07.10
there needs to be a
clear line divided showing
00:25:07.14\00:25:10.91
what is love from
the biblical context
00:25:10.94\00:25:14.14
and then how does
that compare to the love
00:25:14.18\00:25:16.41
that is being purported
throughout hip-hop culture.
00:25:16.44\00:25:19.05
And we have to see
those lines clearly
00:25:19.08\00:25:21.08
and then we have
to make a choice.
00:25:21.12\00:25:22.45
That's right, and
I have to, you know,
00:25:22.48\00:25:24.69
give a little foreshadowing,
you know, a little teaser.
00:25:24.72\00:25:28.29
One is very deep
and one is very shallow.
00:25:28.32\00:25:31.13
That is correct.
00:25:31.16\00:25:32.49
I mean, one is
extremely deep and limitless.
00:25:32.53\00:25:35.36
And one is very surface
and superficial and shallow.
00:25:35.40\00:25:38.13
Yeah.
00:25:38.17\00:25:39.50
And once we start
peeling things back
00:25:39.53\00:25:41.40
and understand that, really,
we don't want superficial.
00:25:41.44\00:25:47.38
We don't want something
that's only going to go so far
00:25:47.41\00:25:50.35
because we need
something greater,
00:25:50.38\00:25:51.91
we need something that's
going to solve life's problems.
00:25:51.95\00:25:53.92
We need something that's
going to correct situations.
00:25:53.95\00:25:56.58
And well, we're not saying
00:25:56.62\00:25:59.35
is we're trying to
fix all worldly systems.
00:25:59.39\00:26:02.32
That's not we're talking about.
00:26:02.36\00:26:03.76
We're talking about a
situation that is so critical
00:26:03.79\00:26:07.66
that God is going to
have to step in Himself
00:26:07.70\00:26:10.87
and literally
recreate the whole thing
00:26:10.90\00:26:14.80
in order for it to
be set up properly.
00:26:14.84\00:26:16.27
That's right.
00:26:16.30\00:26:17.64
We're not looking
to change this system.
00:26:17.67\00:26:19.64
We're looking for this
system to eventually expire
00:26:19.67\00:26:24.31
and be replaced by God system.
00:26:24.35\00:26:26.25
And only those who
endure to the end will be saved.
00:26:26.28\00:26:28.78
So, you know, this is,
00:26:28.82\00:26:30.39
when we talk
about these principles,
00:26:30.42\00:26:32.02
we want to promote
00:26:32.05\00:26:34.29
and we want to kind
of instill principles
00:26:34.32\00:26:38.83
that are going to lead
to true knowledge itself.
00:26:38.86\00:26:43.97
Amen, amen.
00:26:44.00\00:26:45.83
Well, once again we have
been very blessed in our studies
00:26:45.87\00:26:49.14
and we have gotten through
00:26:49.17\00:26:50.54
seven of those
very precious pillars
00:26:50.57\00:26:52.87
that really constitutes
what it is to be a Christian
00:26:52.91\00:26:56.44
and to live a life according
to the principles of Christ.
00:26:56.48\00:27:00.02
And I believe
that as we, day-by-day,
00:27:00.05\00:27:02.58
put into practice
what we have learned...
00:27:02.62\00:27:04.22
There's a beautiful term that
I'd like to share with you all,
00:27:04.25\00:27:07.16
that is a term called,
"Experimental Religion."
00:27:07.19\00:27:10.26
And what that simply means is,
00:27:10.29\00:27:11.73
taking the words of
God as you see them.
00:27:11.76\00:27:14.43
And then once
you understand them.
00:27:14.46\00:27:16.80
Seek to apply it.
00:27:16.83\00:27:18.17
Seek to apply it in your life.
00:27:18.20\00:27:19.53
How can I apply Faith
or Virtue or, you know,
00:27:19.57\00:27:22.74
Temperance, and Knowledge
00:27:22.77\00:27:24.11
and all of these
other wonderful things?
00:27:24.14\00:27:25.67
And you will see that it is
through experimental religion
00:27:25.71\00:27:28.24
that it becomes real to you.
00:27:28.28\00:27:29.74
Because a gospel
that is not practical
00:27:29.78\00:27:32.21
quite honestly is
a worthless gospel.
00:27:32.25\00:27:34.55
And this is what
we need to look at
00:27:34.58\00:27:36.05
when we think
about the true gospel,
00:27:36.08\00:27:38.35
and we also think
about the gospel of hip-hop.
00:27:38.39\00:27:41.12
We have to make that comparison
00:27:41.16\00:27:42.79
and let the word of God be true
00:27:42.82\00:27:44.29
and let every
other man be a liar.
00:27:44.33\00:27:46.06
And therefore, I
want to encourage you
00:27:46.09\00:27:47.73
to keep studying to show
yourselves approved unto God.
00:27:47.76\00:27:50.37
Share with a friend
what you've been learning.
00:27:50.40\00:27:52.40
Go ahead and dig
deeper and deeper.
00:27:52.43\00:27:55.07
And my hope and prayer is
that the next time we come
00:27:55.10\00:27:57.24
that you will
join us and until then,
00:27:57.27\00:28:00.01
remember the blessed
words of Proverbs 2:6,
00:28:00.04\00:28:03.55
which tells us,
00:28:03.58\00:28:04.91
"It is the Lord
that giveth wisdom,
00:28:04.95\00:28:07.32
and out of his
mouth comes knowledge
00:28:07.35\00:28:09.82
and understanding."
00:28:09.85\00:28:11.19
God bless you.
00:28:11.22\00:28:12.55