Hello, I'm Lance.
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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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We were so privileged to
go through the Word of God
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and see how God is
giving us principles
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on what constitutes peace,
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but also giving us warnings
about false forms of peace.
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And we've been looking
at that in our past episode
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because we were
again doing the contrast
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between what we see
in Christian culture
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as well as what we
see in hip-hop culture.
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And one of the
cornerstones of hip-hop culture
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that we are
currently studying right now
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was none other than peace.
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Establishment of unity
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or rather peace and
removing perplexity,
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and of course,
when you think of peace,
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you think of ending violence,
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you think of ending
all sorts of forms of rape
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and any type of
degrading activities
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that can take
place in a society,
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which is ultimately good.
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I mean, who
doesn't want these things.
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But as we were reviewing,
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as we looked at
some of the concepts
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that are coming
from hip-hop culture,
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specifically the
declaration of peace
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that they have
established as a movement.
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Once you start to look at
it, you begin to see some things
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and they really
don't line up very well
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because they're not definitive
and they do not point us
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to an ultimate source
of how to get it done.
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I kind of
referenced in one episode,
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where I talked about a parent.
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And I am privileged to be
the father of four children,
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so I know this firsthand.
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When you have a child,
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it is not enough to
tell them what to do,
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but it's imperative
that you empower them
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and show them how to do
what you want them to do.
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And so it is
with any declaration
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that comes from
any organization.
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It's not enough to
say, we want good behavior,
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you have to define
what is good behavior.
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It's not enough that you
want to demonstrate love,
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you have define what is love.
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And so it is,
it's not enough to say
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we need to have peace,
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you have to
define what is peace,
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and how do we bring it
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into our
practical day-to-day living.
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It's for this reason
that as we were studying
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in our last episode,
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we were looking at some
of the declarations of peace
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and we were kind of,
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taking a close look at
one of the declarations
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that was mentioned.
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And I want to read it again
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because I want us
to consider something.
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And this was a declaration
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that was coming from
the declaration of peace
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from the hip-hop
culture, which stated,
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"Hip-hop culture respects
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the dignity and sanctity of life
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without
discrimination or prejudice
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and we shall
consider it our duty
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to protect the
development of life,
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over and before our individual
free choice to destroy it
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or seek to alter its
natural development."
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And when we close this,
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we talked about
the question marks
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that were inside of the quote,
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especially when it
talked about natural development
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because there's a lot of things
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that we call
natural developments,
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that may very well be
connected to our nature
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but just because it's
according to our nature,
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doesn't mean it's right.
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It doesn't mean that we
should not seek to overcome it.
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We used the example
when we talked about
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those who are going through
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the experience of homosexuality,
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and I wanna put a
little point here.
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When we made the
points about homosexuality
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not being endorsed
by the Word of God,
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we cannot deny
what scripture says.
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And the Bible condemns
the practice of homosexuality.
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However, we do not endorse
what is often represented
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through Christian organizations,
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which is a rude, brash,
ungodly attitude towards
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those who choose to
live a homosexual lifestyle.
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We believe, here at TKS,
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that individuals though
they may choose a lifestyle
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that is against God's will,
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they are still worthy of
being receiving love, respect,
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and being treated
like a human being.
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And as a result of
that, I wanna make it clear
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that by no means do we
endorse some of the behaviors
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that we see some
organizations demonstrate,
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when it comes even to
the homosexual community.
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But true love for anybody
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mean sometimes you got
to tell them the truth,
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but you got to tell it in love
as the Book of Ephesians says.
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And so it is,
Lance, that you know,
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when we were looking at
some of these principles,
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we're going through it,
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we're trying to
get an understanding
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and get a grip on
what's being purported
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through this
organization of hip-hop culture,
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the Temple of Hip Hop
and its declaration of peace
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as one of its cornerstones.
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There was something
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that was stated in one
of the other principles
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that I wanted to bring by you
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'cause we're just gonna
look at a couple of them,
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but more importantly,
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we're gonna talk
about biblical peace.
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What really constitutes
the peace that God offers?
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How can we obtain it
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and how can it become a
living reality in our lives.
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So what I'm gonna do here is
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I looked at this one
and I thought to myself,
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this would be something good,
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to maybe have some comments on.
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It was what they
call the fourth principle.
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It says, "Hip-hop
culture encourages womanhood,
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manhood, sisterhood,
brotherhood, and family.
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We are also conscious
not to bring any disrespect
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to the dignity and
reputation of our ancestors."
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Now again, you
know, I'm reading this
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and I'm saying, what ancestors?
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Who you are referring
to? What do you mean by this?
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And I think you
had some thoughts
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that you wanted to share
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that might be enlightening
even to our viewers.
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Yeah, this idea
really comes from
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almost ancient form,
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there's form of
indigenous religion
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in many cultures, Asia, Africa,
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and many other
places called Animism.
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So it's pretty much
like ancestor worship.
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So again, I haven't, you know,
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consulted with the
author of this document,
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so I don't know
exactly what they meant
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but to me, based on the origins
and kind of the background
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and hip-hop culture
like from, you know,
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where you came
from Nuwaubianism,
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I came from Five Percent Nation.
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You know, there was
a lot of Afrocentric,
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you know, back to Africa,
you know, all of that stuff,
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Kwanzaa and all
kinds of other things.
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And part of this also was
the idea of ancestor worship.
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The idea that our predecessors,
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you know, die, pass
on into the spirit world
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and that they're constantly,
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you know, there to help us,
some are there to oppress us.
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And so there is a
constant need to please them,
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to offer them things,
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so the religious
worship kind of revolves
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around these ancestors
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that are passed
into the spirit world.
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So we have, you know, in
by itself, the idea that,
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you know, you should honor those
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that have come before you,
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you should, you
know, do right by those
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who have paved the way for you,
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all of that is basic
honor and respect and dignity.
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There's nothing wrong with that.
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However, it does, you
know, start to border on these,
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you know, ancient, you
know, pagan spiritualism
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that you still see today.
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I mean, you can go to,
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you know, the jungles in Amazon,
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you can go to
certain tribes in Africa,
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in certain places in Asia
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that practice this
fundamental animism.
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And so, when it says here
that they are not to bring,
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we are also
conscious not to bring
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any disrespect to the dignity
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and reputation of our ancestors.
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What happens is...
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And we do the same
thing in the western culture.
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Somebody could live
the most corrupted life
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of any person on the planet,
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they die and all of a sudden
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they become some holy
person and some saint.
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And so we have to
honor in reverence and not...
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Well, they lived a life
that was contrary to that,
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all of a sudden now
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that they've passed
into the spirit world,
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doesn't necessarily
make them, you know,
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they didn't practice honor
and dignity in their lifetime,
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now all of a sudden
because they've passed away,
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I have to practice
something that they didn't.
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So there's a little bit
of a contradiction in that,
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there's a little bit
of irony in that, that,
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you know, these
people that have passed away,
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all of a sudden become heroes,
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but they were nobody
to hold up as a standard.
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They weren't an individual
that we should live our lives
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according to their example.
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So, you know,
we have to treat it
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with a grain of salt
but the bottom line is
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it kind of
speaks to that ancient,
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you know, African animism.
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Yeah, and these
are things that I think
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we have to consider
from this standpoint.
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What you're saying can be
innocent in and of itself.
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However, the problem is,
is that it is so open ended
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that it can be
interpreted in various ways
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and therefore it can
create more confusion
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rather than peace.
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You remember the Bible
says in 1 Corinthians 14:33,
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I referenced it
earlier in another episode.
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"God is not the
author of confusion,
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but of peace as
in all the churches."
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It's interesting
when the Lord brought
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the children of
Israel out of Egypt,
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and He was preparing them
now to enter into Canaanland.
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You read the
accounts in the Bible
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and it's very interesting
how God lays things out.
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When you look at
how He brought them out
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in Exodus 15, in Exodus 16,
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God begins to change the diet.
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Exodus 17, God is teaching
a principle of cooperation,
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every time they
held Moses' arms up,
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they were winning
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and when they
allowed his arms to go down,
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then they will start to lose.
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Exodus 18,
Moses' father, Jethro,
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father-in-law of Jethro
introduces organization.
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Yep.
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Exodus 19, God is
reminding them of the covenant.
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In Exodus 20, you
get the Ten Commandments.
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But then in Exodus 21-24,
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I thought it was
very interesting.
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God wanted to make sure
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that the principles
in the Ten Commandments
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were so well
understood, that literally,
00:10:01.86\00:10:05.67
Exodus 21-24 is dedicated
to something called judgments.
00:10:05.70\00:10:10.77
And those
judgments were literally
00:10:10.81\00:10:12.77
taking the Ten Commandments
00:10:12.81\00:10:14.58
and making it
absolutely practical
00:10:14.61\00:10:17.25
in day-to-day living.
00:10:17.28\00:10:18.61
What you see is, God putting
forth a tremendous effort
00:10:18.65\00:10:21.75
to remove
private interpretation.
00:10:21.78\00:10:24.99
Right. This is
the mindset of God.
00:10:25.02\00:10:26.79
He wants to remove it. Why?
00:10:26.82\00:10:28.32
Because God knows something
that many unfortunately,
00:10:28.36\00:10:30.69
even in hip-hop
culture don't understand,
00:10:30.73\00:10:32.59
our hearts are deceitful,
our hearts are deceitful,
00:10:32.63\00:10:35.46
our hearts are deceitful.
00:10:35.50\00:10:36.83
We have a carnal nature.
00:10:36.87\00:10:38.20
We cannot determine
right from wrong on our own.
00:10:38.23\00:10:41.50
This is why the Bible
is so incredibly explicit,
00:10:41.54\00:10:44.47
when God wants what He
wants and He makes it clear,
00:10:44.51\00:10:47.18
"This is why I want it,
here's the benefits to you,
00:10:47.21\00:10:49.68
here's the benefits to me,
here's the benefits to those
00:10:49.71\00:10:52.51
that you will demonstrate
these principles to."
00:10:52.55\00:10:54.68
I mean, He lays it out
00:10:54.72\00:10:56.72
so individuals
can understand it.
00:10:56.75\00:10:58.99
Now the reason
why this is important
00:10:59.02\00:11:00.52
is because the
children of Israel
00:11:00.56\00:11:03.46
were recognized at a time
00:11:03.49\00:11:05.13
in earth's history
as God's chosen people.
00:11:05.16\00:11:09.10
And one of the
reasons for this is found
00:11:09.13\00:11:11.13
in the Book of Romans 3,
and this is what it says.
00:11:11.17\00:11:13.94
It says, "What
advantage then," Romans 3:1,
00:11:13.97\00:11:17.84
"What advantage
then hath the Jew?
00:11:17.87\00:11:21.21
Or what profit is
there of circumcision?
00:11:21.24\00:11:24.41
Much every way,
chiefly, because that unto them
00:11:24.45\00:11:28.68
were committed
the oracles of God."
00:11:28.72\00:11:31.55
One of the things
that made Israel stand out
00:11:31.59\00:11:33.89
as a people in the
midst of all the other nations
00:11:33.92\00:11:36.52
was not simply the covenant
00:11:36.56\00:11:37.89
that God made
with their fathers,
00:11:37.93\00:11:39.26
but God gave
unto them His oracles.
00:11:39.29\00:11:40.90
He spoke these words,
especially His commandments
00:11:40.93\00:11:43.53
and He gave that to them
00:11:43.57\00:11:45.27
that they were
supposed to take it
00:11:45.30\00:11:46.87
and represent it to the world.
00:11:46.90\00:11:48.67
Now even though Israel
had the very oracles of God,
00:11:48.70\00:11:53.64
they had agency of God's spirit,
00:11:53.68\00:11:55.71
they had a
tabernacle, a sanctuary,
00:11:55.74\00:11:57.58
and when they transported,
the fire would attend them
00:11:57.61\00:12:00.02
which was representing
the presence of God by night,
00:12:00.05\00:12:02.42
and then the cloud
that kept them cool by day.
00:12:02.45\00:12:05.19
God was constantly
making it known, "I'm with you."
00:12:05.22\00:12:09.72
Even with this people, however,
00:12:09.76\00:12:12.16
shortly after
their probation close
00:12:12.19\00:12:14.10
as a nation to represent God,
00:12:14.13\00:12:16.43
the Apostle Paul still
had a burden for his people
00:12:16.46\00:12:18.57
to see and understand
God and His righteousness.
00:12:18.60\00:12:21.60
Now in Romans 10, this
is how Paul spells it out.
00:12:21.64\00:12:24.77
And I thought it was interesting
00:12:24.81\00:12:26.14
because I'm making a point here.
00:12:26.17\00:12:27.71
In Romans 10:1, it says
"Brethren, my heart's desire
00:12:27.74\00:12:32.88
and prayer to God for Israel is,
00:12:32.91\00:12:35.55
that they might be saved."
00:12:35.58\00:12:37.92
Now that obviously indicates
00:12:37.95\00:12:39.29
that Israel was
in a lost condition.
00:12:39.32\00:12:41.52
And then Paul says,
"For I bear them record
00:12:41.56\00:12:44.33
that they have a zeal of God,
but not according to knowledge.
00:12:44.36\00:12:48.36
For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness,
00:12:48.40\00:12:51.27
and going about to establish
their own righteousness,
00:12:51.30\00:12:55.60
have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God."
00:12:55.64\00:12:59.37
Israel received the
very oracles of God.
00:12:59.41\00:13:03.18
Israel as a
nation had privileges
00:13:03.21\00:13:05.98
that no other nation has had.
00:13:06.01\00:13:08.28
Yet, Israel did not faithfully
understand God's oracles.
00:13:08.32\00:13:13.25
And as a result of that,
00:13:13.29\00:13:14.62
they went about
trying to establish
00:13:14.66\00:13:16.02
their own
righteousness rather than God's.
00:13:16.06\00:13:20.03
How much the more it is today
00:13:20.06\00:13:21.43
when you look at
sinful frail humanity?
00:13:21.46\00:13:24.37
Many of which who have not been
exposed to the oracles of God,
00:13:24.40\00:13:27.67
who have not been exposed
00:13:27.70\00:13:29.04
to God's
principles of righteousness
00:13:29.07\00:13:30.51
from generation to generation,
00:13:30.54\00:13:32.07
yet they're supposedly
gonna learn these virtues of God
00:13:32.11\00:13:35.54
like love and
peace and everything
00:13:35.58\00:13:37.31
and it's so open ended
00:13:37.35\00:13:39.35
that we can
interpret it ourselves.
00:13:39.38\00:13:42.52
Are we not in danger
00:13:42.55\00:13:43.89
of making the same
mistakes that Israel did?
00:13:43.92\00:13:45.92
That even thought
Israel was privileged,
00:13:45.95\00:13:47.96
they lost sight of God
00:13:47.99\00:13:49.32
and then try to establish
their own righteousness.
00:13:49.36\00:13:51.79
Could it be that, if principles
00:13:51.83\00:13:53.93
that are supposedly
a declaration of peace
00:13:53.96\00:13:56.30
but at the end of the day,
00:13:56.33\00:13:57.67
they're so open ended,
00:13:57.70\00:13:59.37
it's absolutely open
to private interpretation,
00:13:59.40\00:14:02.50
individuals can then set
up their own righteousness
00:14:02.54\00:14:05.94
and try to claim it
as God's righteousness
00:14:05.97\00:14:07.98
and fall down the path of error
00:14:08.01\00:14:09.51
and possibly perdition
just like Israel of old.
00:14:09.54\00:14:12.01
And essentially it was
culture superseding the creator.
00:14:12.05\00:14:16.15
That's right.
00:14:16.18\00:14:17.52
And we have a
similar situation here
00:14:17.55\00:14:19.79
and a desperate
holding on to culture
00:14:19.82\00:14:22.92
and a continual rejection
of the author of culture.
00:14:22.96\00:14:26.29
That is correct.
00:14:26.33\00:14:27.66
So let's talk more
about peace because I mean,
00:14:27.70\00:14:29.46
we have to
really see it defining
00:14:29.50\00:14:30.83
what does the
Bible say about peace,
00:14:30.87\00:14:32.83
you know, how do we get
it, where does it come from,
00:14:32.87\00:14:34.44
what is it essentially?
00:14:34.47\00:14:35.80
That's right, now again,
00:14:35.84\00:14:37.17
a quote that I gave
earlier in another episode
00:14:37.21\00:14:39.01
was Galatians 5.
00:14:39.04\00:14:40.41
In Galatians 5:22 and 23,
00:14:40.44\00:14:43.91
the Bible talks about
the fruit of the spirit.
00:14:43.95\00:14:45.85
It says, "But the
fruit of the Spirit
00:14:45.88\00:14:47.22
is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness,
00:14:47.25\00:14:51.35
goodness, faith,
meekness, and temperance,
00:14:51.39\00:14:52.72
against such there is no law."
00:14:52.75\00:14:54.69
In 1 Corinthians 14:33 again,
00:14:54.72\00:14:56.66
"God is not the author
of confusion, but of peace."
00:14:56.69\00:15:01.36
So peace comes from God.
00:15:01.40\00:15:03.57
Peace is something
that only God can give.
00:15:03.60\00:15:06.33
And this is important
because in hip-hop culture
00:15:06.37\00:15:08.50
and in many cultures
at large quite honestly,
00:15:08.54\00:15:10.87
not just hip-hop,
individuals are pursuing peace
00:15:10.91\00:15:14.01
because there's a lot
of perplexity in the world.
00:15:14.04\00:15:15.88
The Bible prophesied that
these things were gonna happen,
00:15:15.91\00:15:18.01
that the world, the
people and the nations
00:15:18.05\00:15:20.88
were gonna become perplexed
00:15:20.92\00:15:22.45
and they were gonna go through
various points of confusion.
00:15:22.48\00:15:25.15
Well, these are
the opposites of peace.
00:15:25.19\00:15:27.16
And here it is that we
need it, we know we want it
00:15:27.19\00:15:30.26
but sometimes we can't get it
00:15:30.29\00:15:32.09
because we don't
know where to get it from.
00:15:32.13\00:15:34.30
So the first point
that we need to establish
00:15:34.33\00:15:36.30
is that peace comes from God.
00:15:36.33\00:15:38.47
And this kind of
peace that comes from God
00:15:38.50\00:15:40.64
should be deeply coveted after
00:15:40.67\00:15:42.94
because the Bible
tells us how long it last.
00:15:42.97\00:15:44.97
It says in the
Book of Philippians 4,
00:15:45.01\00:15:48.41
it tells us
something that is beautiful
00:15:48.44\00:15:50.41
as it relates to the
peace that God offers.
00:15:50.45\00:15:52.88
In Philippians 4,
00:15:52.91\00:15:55.32
we're just gonna
consider Philippians 4:7.
00:15:55.35\00:15:58.55
And the Bible says,
"And the peace of God,
00:15:58.59\00:16:02.09
which passeth all understanding,
00:16:02.12\00:16:05.49
shall keep your hearts and minds
00:16:05.53\00:16:07.86
through Christ Jesus."
00:16:07.90\00:16:09.23
So this is the kind
of peace that sticks,
00:16:09.26\00:16:11.40
this is not the one
that is here for a minute
00:16:11.43\00:16:13.50
when I'm smoking weed and
then next thing, you know,
00:16:13.54\00:16:15.87
when the effect
of the weed is gone,
00:16:15.90\00:16:17.24
I'm back down in the slum.
00:16:17.27\00:16:18.61
This is not the kind of peace
that when an individual goes
00:16:18.64\00:16:21.58
and enters into
sexual relationships
00:16:21.61\00:16:23.28
and they have this
moment of a thrill,
00:16:23.31\00:16:25.01
but then when it's all over,
00:16:25.05\00:16:26.51
they're back down
to that dumps again.
00:16:26.55\00:16:28.18
This is bigger, better,
deeper than the kind of thing
00:16:28.22\00:16:31.15
where people listen to
a certain form of music
00:16:31.19\00:16:33.22
and while the music's playing
they have a state of peace,
00:16:33.25\00:16:35.86
but when the
music is turned off,
00:16:35.89\00:16:37.23
they're back in that slum.
00:16:37.26\00:16:38.59
This is a peace that
passes all human understanding,
00:16:38.63\00:16:41.96
it has a stick-to-itiveness
that nothing else has like it.
00:16:42.00\00:16:45.67
This is what God is
offering to humanity.
00:16:45.70\00:16:47.44
And my question is,
00:16:47.47\00:16:48.80
why in the world would
somebody not want this?
00:16:48.84\00:16:50.91
Yeah, and essentially, God
is the one that provides it
00:16:50.94\00:16:54.61
and then there
is an expectation.
00:16:54.64\00:16:56.01
That's right.
00:16:56.04\00:16:57.38
So if it is
something that God offers
00:16:57.41\00:16:59.75
and He's giving us instruction
to live a certain way,
00:16:59.78\00:17:03.69
then the expectation
is that we receive it,
00:17:03.72\00:17:05.55
we accept it and it
will yield something,
00:17:05.59\00:17:07.66
it will produce something.
00:17:07.69\00:17:09.02
So, you know, the
question remains is what...
00:17:09.06\00:17:13.60
How can we reciprocate?
00:17:13.63\00:17:15.16
I know that we cannot...
00:17:15.20\00:17:16.53
When we talk
about reciprocation,
00:17:19.87\00:17:21.44
it's not something
00:17:21.47\00:17:22.80
that we are doing
to earn God's favor
00:17:22.84\00:17:24.84
or something that we
can do to impress God.
00:17:24.87\00:17:27.38
It's really simply us
pleasing God based on us
00:17:27.41\00:17:30.41
accepting what He is offering.
00:17:30.45\00:17:31.81
That's right. So
He's living through us.
00:17:31.85\00:17:33.62
So, you know, I wanna
make that kind of clear,
00:17:33.65\00:17:35.55
so as it relates to peace
00:17:35.58\00:17:37.12
how is it that
this exchange works?
00:17:37.15\00:17:40.02
What is now the human response
to what God is offering?
00:17:40.06\00:17:43.29
Well, God offers peace
but it comes through someone,
00:17:43.32\00:17:47.70
and if we don't
accept the medium
00:17:47.73\00:17:49.66
that God has offered His peace
through then we can't get it.
00:17:49.70\00:17:52.17
It's just that simple.
00:17:52.20\00:17:53.54
What is that medium?
00:17:53.57\00:17:54.90
The Bible spells
it out in John 16:33.
00:17:54.94\00:17:58.31
Jesus says, "These
things I have spoken unto you,
00:17:58.34\00:18:02.11
that in me ye might have peace.
00:18:02.14\00:18:05.85
In the world ye
shall have tribulation,
00:18:05.88\00:18:08.48
but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world."
00:18:08.52\00:18:11.35
So Jesus makes it clear,
"In me you'll have peace."
00:18:11.39\00:18:14.06
And this is why
the Christian position
00:18:14.09\00:18:16.42
is the biblical position,
00:18:16.46\00:18:17.96
which is to call
individuals to Jesus.
00:18:17.99\00:18:20.53
To let them
know, come unto Jesus
00:18:20.56\00:18:22.63
because He is the author
00:18:22.66\00:18:24.00
but He's also the
finisher of our faith.
00:18:24.03\00:18:25.73
It is through Christ
that we can have a peace
00:18:25.77\00:18:28.64
that passes all understanding.
00:18:28.67\00:18:30.31
And when we receive it,
00:18:30.34\00:18:31.81
Christ can first
and foremost remove
00:18:31.84\00:18:33.54
one of the greatest burdens
00:18:33.58\00:18:34.91
that hinders our
peace which is guilt.
00:18:34.94\00:18:37.21
Almost every human
being, I would dare to say
00:18:37.25\00:18:39.15
every human being
goes through a state
00:18:39.18\00:18:41.25
or phase of life
when they get a chance
00:18:41.28\00:18:43.12
to look at
themselves in the mirror,
00:18:43.15\00:18:44.75
they can look at
mistakes that they have made,
00:18:44.79\00:18:46.59
they can look at
areas in their past
00:18:46.62\00:18:48.12
where they had just
perhaps in their minds
00:18:48.16\00:18:50.39
at least ruined their lives,
00:18:50.43\00:18:51.96
and sometimes there are other
instruments like other people
00:18:51.99\00:18:55.50
that can be influential
to us and put us down
00:18:55.53\00:18:57.80
and make us just feel
horrible over our past decisions
00:18:57.83\00:19:01.34
and that will put you
in a state of depression.
00:19:01.37\00:19:04.24
Christ says, "I'm
here to offer you peace
00:19:04.27\00:19:06.37
because while you
were yet a sinner,
00:19:06.41\00:19:08.31
I was willing to die
the death you should die
00:19:08.34\00:19:10.88
that you can have
the life I should have.
00:19:10.91\00:19:12.58
And I'm willing to accept
you if you will accept Me."
00:19:12.61\00:19:16.12
And that offer gives
peace to the human heart.
00:19:16.15\00:19:19.15
When an individual can say,
00:19:19.19\00:19:20.52
"You mean to tell me that
you're willing to take me.
00:19:20.56\00:19:22.52
And you're
willing to let my life
00:19:22.56\00:19:24.56
start all over again in
you and you can erase my past
00:19:24.59\00:19:27.43
and wash it
clean with Your blood",
00:19:27.46\00:19:29.10
as 1 John 1:7 says.
00:19:29.13\00:19:30.90
"And you can give
me a brand new start?"
00:19:30.93\00:19:33.34
Christ says, "Yes."
00:19:33.37\00:19:34.84
When an individual
accepts that, Romans 5:1,
00:19:34.87\00:19:39.47
"Therefore being
justified by faith,
00:19:39.51\00:19:42.74
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:19:42.78\00:19:47.65
I mean, it's so
simple, man. Yeah.
00:19:47.68\00:19:49.02
And this is what the Lord offers
00:19:49.05\00:19:51.32
and this is why we
have to tell our friends
00:19:51.35\00:19:53.42
in hip-hop culture,
00:19:53.46\00:19:54.79
"Listen, you can't have peace
00:19:54.82\00:19:56.29
just because you
want to pursue it.
00:19:56.32\00:19:57.73
You certainly can't have peace
if it's not clearly defined.
00:19:57.76\00:20:00.40
You need to
understand peace is something
00:20:00.43\00:20:02.10
that comes from God
00:20:02.13\00:20:03.77
and it comes through
an acceptance of His son
00:20:03.80\00:20:05.90
that He sent that would
die the death you should die
00:20:05.93\00:20:08.17
that you can have
the life He should have.
00:20:08.20\00:20:10.31
And live a life that
is designed to please Him,
00:20:10.34\00:20:14.48
and when you do that
00:20:14.51\00:20:16.54
it has a wonderful
reciprocal experience,
00:20:16.58\00:20:18.91
which is it brings
peace to the human heart."
00:20:18.95\00:20:22.08
That's a blessing, so it's
not necessarily a declaration,
00:20:22.12\00:20:25.45
you know, on a piece of
paper, it's not a document.
00:20:25.49\00:20:27.56
Oh, no. No, no, no.
00:20:27.59\00:20:28.92
And so once that is realized,
00:20:28.96\00:20:30.93
again I'll come
back to this idea
00:20:30.96\00:20:33.90
what is the response?
00:20:33.93\00:20:35.33
We accept it, we get it,
00:20:35.36\00:20:37.83
what is now that human
response moving forward
00:20:37.87\00:20:39.83
because that is one critique,
you know, that we used to use
00:20:39.87\00:20:43.30
when we were
outside of Christianity
00:20:43.34\00:20:45.21
that is still used today.
00:20:45.24\00:20:47.58
Once I leave
the church building,
00:20:47.61\00:20:49.88
you know, once I'm
through with that experience
00:20:49.91\00:20:52.21
that makes me feel good
and makes me feel the peace
00:20:52.25\00:20:54.68
and feel the joy.
00:20:54.72\00:20:56.05
Once I'm out of
that time of meditation
00:20:56.08\00:20:59.85
where I'm studying
and praying and, you know,
00:20:59.89\00:21:01.92
I kind of isolate
spending time with God,
00:21:01.96\00:21:03.86
and I go out into the world
00:21:03.89\00:21:05.63
and I'm
experiencing all of this stuff.
00:21:05.66\00:21:07.86
Yeah.
00:21:07.90\00:21:09.23
And I'm feeling
all of these things
00:21:09.26\00:21:10.60
and I'm getting frustrated,
and I'm getting stress,
00:21:10.63\00:21:12.37
I'm getting...
00:21:12.40\00:21:13.74
How does the peace now
work in the human heart?
00:21:13.77\00:21:16.91
What is the next
step, the next level?
00:21:16.94\00:21:18.84
I understand.
00:21:18.87\00:21:20.21
You see, again, in
Isaiah 59:2, it says,
00:21:20.24\00:21:24.41
"But your
iniquities have separated
00:21:24.45\00:21:26.68
between you and your God."
00:21:26.72\00:21:28.05
Your sins have caused
God to hide His face from us
00:21:28.08\00:21:30.22
that He will not hear us.
00:21:30.25\00:21:31.59
So sin separates us from God.
00:21:31.62\00:21:33.76
And any individual
who is separated from God
00:21:33.79\00:21:36.89
will definitely
have a perplex life.
00:21:36.93\00:21:38.73
They're gonna have a life
filled with confusion, trail,
00:21:38.76\00:21:40.86
tribulation, sadness,
sorrow and all sorts of things,
00:21:40.90\00:21:43.67
temporal peace,
temporal happiness
00:21:43.70\00:21:46.03
but it won't
certainly last long.
00:21:46.07\00:21:47.87
So then the goal is
to be reunited with God
00:21:47.90\00:21:50.61
because He is
the author of peace
00:21:50.64\00:21:52.04
and He offers
it through His son.
00:21:52.07\00:21:53.88
Well, once an
individual is willing to see,
00:21:53.91\00:21:57.81
it was my sins that
broke up the relationships,
00:21:57.85\00:22:01.42
it was my sins that
broke the peaceful union
00:22:01.45\00:22:03.45
that I had with
God, then what I need is
00:22:03.49\00:22:05.29
I need to have a power
source that can enable me
00:22:05.32\00:22:07.49
to have victory over sin,
00:22:07.52\00:22:08.86
so that I can be
reunited with God.
00:22:08.89\00:22:10.43
This comes through Jesus Christ.
00:22:10.46\00:22:12.03
This is why Jesus
said, "Be of good cheer,
00:22:12.06\00:22:13.66
I've overcome the world,
00:22:13.70\00:22:15.03
you can overcome the
world through my power."
00:22:15.06\00:22:17.00
Well, when an individual
comes in contact with Christ,
00:22:17.03\00:22:20.20
then what they're gonna do now
00:22:20.24\00:22:21.60
is seek to live
the life Christ lived.
00:22:21.64\00:22:24.44
Jesus was temped in all
points but He didn't sin.
00:22:24.47\00:22:27.34
Sin is the breaking
of God's commandments.
00:22:27.38\00:22:30.58
So the goal of
God is to offer Jesus
00:22:30.61\00:22:33.95
to allow His blood
00:22:33.98\00:22:35.48
to be a
propitiation for our past sins
00:22:35.52\00:22:37.59
but then also to give us
power to live a life above sin,
00:22:37.62\00:22:40.99
which is to keep
His commandments.
00:22:41.02\00:22:42.92
If this takes place,
00:22:42.96\00:22:44.59
Proverbs 3 comes
beautifully in the experience.
00:22:44.63\00:22:48.96
"My son, forget not my law,
00:22:49.00\00:22:51.87
but let thine heart
keep my commandments:
00:22:51.90\00:22:55.00
for length of days,
and long life, and peace,
00:22:55.04\00:22:59.57
shall they add to thee."
00:22:59.61\00:23:02.01
Now this is in direct contrast
to the ideologies of Satan.
00:23:02.04\00:23:06.25
Satan try to
introduce to humanity,
00:23:06.28\00:23:09.12
the more that you
break and violate God's law,
00:23:09.15\00:23:12.15
the greater peace you have.
00:23:12.19\00:23:13.66
Well, people can
actually see today I believe,
00:23:13.69\00:23:16.22
that that is truly a lie.
00:23:16.26\00:23:18.06
God is actually saying,
"When you keep My commandments,
00:23:18.09\00:23:21.03
it actually brings
about peace in the life."
00:23:21.06\00:23:23.50
There is nothing like a life
00:23:23.53\00:23:25.00
that is in
harmony with God's law.
00:23:25.03\00:23:27.87
Well, it's not only that
you and I get the benefit of,
00:23:27.90\00:23:32.17
you know, obeying
God's commandments
00:23:32.21\00:23:33.78
and enjoying all this
peace but it also pleases Him.
00:23:33.81\00:23:36.64
In fact, there's a
even greater benefit
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.38
or not greater but
there's another benefit
00:23:39.41\00:23:41.92
that happens in the
midst of pleasing God
00:23:41.95\00:23:44.35
as a result of
keeping His commandments
00:23:44.39\00:23:46.19
that brings
peace to our own lives.
00:23:46.22\00:23:47.82
It spelled out real
nice in Proverbs 16:7.
00:23:47.86\00:23:51.23
Here's what the Bible says,
00:23:51.26\00:23:52.99
"When a man's
ways please the Lord,
00:23:53.03\00:23:56.23
he maketh even his enemies
to be at peace with Him."
00:23:56.26\00:24:01.27
So now peace is
becoming contagious.
00:24:01.30\00:24:03.47
You know what I'm
saying, it's like now here it is
00:24:03.51\00:24:05.21
that an
individual can look and say,
00:24:05.24\00:24:06.78
"Wow, the more that
my life is in harmony
00:24:06.81\00:24:09.18
with God and His law,
00:24:09.21\00:24:10.61
it actually can bring
a peace to my own heart."
00:24:10.65\00:24:13.38
Then I also please God
00:24:13.42\00:24:16.58
and now that I am a
"law abiding citizen,"
00:24:16.62\00:24:20.42
if you will, I
even can bring at peace
00:24:20.46\00:24:23.09
my enemies with me
because now you're manifesting,
00:24:23.12\00:24:26.29
remember we talked
about the law of God
00:24:26.33\00:24:27.66
as a revelation
of God's character.
00:24:27.70\00:24:29.46
God loved His enemies
00:24:29.50\00:24:31.67
and even His
enemies was one to His heart
00:24:31.70\00:24:33.74
of which you and I
make a part of that number.
00:24:33.77\00:24:35.97
So it is that when
individuals truly understand
00:24:36.00\00:24:38.84
and live a life in
harmony with God's commandments,
00:24:38.87\00:24:41.14
it helps bring about a peace
not just between them and God
00:24:41.18\00:24:44.65
but even by God's grace
between them and their enemies.
00:24:44.68\00:24:47.92
Ain't that same, Dwayne,
00:24:47.95\00:24:49.28
if we look at
Isaiah 26:3, it says,
00:24:49.32\00:24:53.36
"Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace,
00:24:53.39\00:24:56.52
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee."
00:24:56.56\00:25:00.93
So again, the
continual focus on God
00:25:00.96\00:25:03.93
and focus on God is
really loving God, right?
00:25:03.97\00:25:06.37
So that reminds me of 1
John 5, we want to turn to it.
00:25:06.40\00:25:10.64
Oh, yeah. That's a good text.
00:25:10.67\00:25:12.01
Yeah, 1 John 5 and we're just
gonna read first three verses.
00:25:12.04\00:25:16.08
Sure. 1 John 5?
00:25:16.11\00:25:18.48
Yes, 1 John 5.
00:25:18.51\00:25:21.52
You want me to
read it? Yeah, go ahead.
00:25:21.55\00:25:23.45
"Whosoever believeth
00:25:23.49\00:25:24.82
that Jesus is the
Christ is born of God,
00:25:24.85\00:25:28.66
and every one that loveth
Him that begat loveth Him also
00:25:28.69\00:25:33.13
that is begotten of Him.
00:25:33.16\00:25:34.76
By this we know that we
love the children of God,
00:25:34.80\00:25:37.83
when we love God, and
keep his commandments.
00:25:37.87\00:25:40.74
For this is the love of God,
that we keep his commandments,
00:25:40.77\00:25:44.41
and his
commandments are not grievous."
00:25:44.44\00:25:47.41
So we're not talking
about, you know, just a sterile,
00:25:47.44\00:25:53.01
you know, robotic,
you know, obedience.
00:25:53.05\00:25:56.05
We're talking
about an intimate love
00:25:56.08\00:25:58.12
that exists between the
creator and His creation.
00:25:58.15\00:26:01.16
And as we love God
with all of our heart
00:26:01.19\00:26:04.06
and all of our mind,
00:26:04.09\00:26:05.43
all of our
strength as the Bible says,
00:26:05.46\00:26:07.36
then we will do the
things that please Him.
00:26:07.40\00:26:10.50
We do the
things that please Him,
00:26:10.53\00:26:12.47
then He offers
us peace in return.
00:26:12.50\00:26:14.47
It's a continual peace,
00:26:14.50\00:26:16.44
it's kind of like a
marriage relationship.
00:26:16.47\00:26:19.14
If, you know, you
have a wife, I'm married,
00:26:19.17\00:26:22.68
again I have
four children as well.
00:26:22.71\00:26:24.38
And if I'm doing things...
00:26:24.41\00:26:27.75
For example, if I go
out and cheat on my wife,
00:26:27.78\00:26:31.72
I can't expect
peace to exist in my home,
00:26:31.75\00:26:34.09
if I'm actively
cheating on my wife.
00:26:34.12\00:26:36.42
I can't come home
and say, you know,
00:26:36.46\00:26:37.79
"Honey, I cheated on you today,
00:26:37.83\00:26:39.73
I hope everything
is okay, you know,
00:26:39.76\00:26:41.26
I'm real hungry,
so is dinner ready?"
00:26:41.30\00:26:43.50
It's not gonna happen. Right.
00:26:43.53\00:26:44.87
There's not gonna
be peace in my home.
00:26:44.90\00:26:46.43
So we want
peace, the question is,
00:26:46.47\00:26:49.00
are we willing to obey,
00:26:49.04\00:26:51.01
are we willing to
accept what God is offering,
00:26:51.04\00:26:52.91
the power to obey and overcome?
00:26:52.94\00:26:55.28
And if we do
that, John 14:27 says,
00:26:55.31\00:26:59.91
"Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give unto you."
00:26:59.95\00:27:04.29
Now watch this,
"Not as the world giveth,
00:27:04.32\00:27:08.12
give I unto you.
00:27:08.16\00:27:09.62
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid."
00:27:09.66\00:27:14.26
My friends, I hope and
pray that this is the peace
00:27:14.30\00:27:18.23
that you will
definitely make a covenant
00:27:18.27\00:27:20.37
with God to receive even today,
00:27:20.40\00:27:22.74
that you will allow
this peace to be the means
00:27:22.77\00:27:25.71
that governs your life
00:27:25.74\00:27:27.08
and that you and I can
experience what God wants.
00:27:27.11\00:27:29.91
And I believe
that as you do that,
00:27:29.94\00:27:31.95
you're gonna see
great and marvelous things
00:27:31.98\00:27:34.08
take place in your life.
00:27:34.12\00:27:35.45
And you're gonna
see a lot of that stress
00:27:35.48\00:27:36.92
and a lot of the
perplexities go away,
00:27:36.95\00:27:38.85
and you'll see this is a
peace that only Christ can give
00:27:38.89\00:27:41.62
and the world
certainly cannot give this.
00:27:41.66\00:27:45.06
We want to really thank
God for you joining with us
00:27:45.09\00:27:47.26
and I trust that you
have been tremendously blessed
00:27:47.30\00:27:49.93
as I know I have been blessed.
00:27:49.96\00:27:51.30
And we just want you to
tune into our next episodes
00:27:51.33\00:27:53.54
coming up, where you can receive
00:27:53.57\00:27:54.90
more of these blessings.
00:27:54.94\00:27:56.27
And until then,
remember those wonderful words
00:27:56.30\00:27:58.41
which tells us,
00:27:58.44\00:28:01.18
"It is the Lord
that giveth wisdom
00:28:01.21\00:28:03.88
and out of His mouth
00:28:03.91\00:28:05.45
comes knowledge
and understanding."
00:28:05.48\00:28:08.08
God bless you.
00:28:08.12\00:28:09.52